HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2003-03-27 MinutesMINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
On the 27th day of March 2003, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its regular
meeting place in City Hall Chambers, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida in regular
session.
The meeting was called to order at 9:12 a.m. by Vice Chairman Teele with the following
members of the Commission found to be present:
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez (District 1)
Commissioner Joe Sanchez (District 3)
Commissioner Tomas Regalado (District 4)
Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr. (District 5)
ABSENT:
Chairman Johnny L. Winton (District 2)
ALSO PRESENT:
City Manager Carlos Gimenez
City Manager Joe Arriola
City Attorney Alejandro Vilarello
City Clerk Priscilla A. Thompson
Assistant City Clerk Sylvia Scheider
Note for the Record: Audio recording problems during this meeting resulted in portions of this
transcript to be inaudible and/or unintelligible.
1 March 27, 2003
1. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
CONDOLENCE TO FAMILY OF RAMOND MCELROY;
PROCLAMATION TO THE MIAMI COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN;
PROCLAMATION TO MARGARITA ROHAIDY DELGADO (NO APPEARANCE).
Vice Chairman Teele: Ladies and gentlemen, with your permission, we will begin the protocol
component of our agenda. Before we start, I'd like to explain very briefly where we are and
what we're going to do. The time is approximately 9:10. We were scheduled to start the
executive session, which means we have to have a formal meeting to call the executive session,
and then retire into the room where the Attorney will give a presentation or will give a report to
the Commissioners regarding the litigation. That should have been scheduled for 9 o'clock, and
then we would come back so that we can honor, especially, certain individuals that are being
honored; the family of one of our great board members, especially. What I would like to do,
with Commissioner Regalado's permission, is have the presentation. We will then start the
formal meeting for the purpose of having an executive session, and no business will commence
prior to 10 p.m. -- 10 a.m. this morning, other than the proclamations.
Presentations and proclamations delivered.
An invocation was delivered by Vice Chairman Teele, followed by the pledge of allegiance to
the flag.
2. CLOSED DOOR ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING LITIGATION
RELATED TO: ACCESS NOW, INC., AND CHRIST TAVANTZIS VS. CITY, MIAMI DADE
COUNTY, AND STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
Vice Chairman Teele: The Chair recognizes Commissioner Regalado for a motion for an
executive session.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman, I have a motion to start an executive session as
requested by the City Attorney.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved and second. Mr. Attorney, would you read into the record the
necessary information as it relates to an executive session?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Yes, sir. Under Florida Statue 286.011 --
Vice Chairman Teele: Ladies and gentlemen, we need your cooperation because we don't really
have sound.
Mr. Vilarello: The City Commission will now enter an attorney-client session, which is closed
to the public, for the purpose of discussing pending litigation: Access Now, Incorporated versus
the City of Miami; Dade County and the state of Florida Department of Transportation of the
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. The closed door session will start at
2 March 27, 2003
approximately 9:30 and conclude at approximately 10 o'clock in the morning. The session will
be attended by members of the City Commission: Commissioner Regalado, Commissioner
Gonzalez, Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Teele; the City Manager, Joe Arriola; the City
Attorney, Alejandro Vilarello; and Assistant City Attorney Henry Hunnefeld. A certified court
reporter will be present to ensure that the session is fully transcribed and upon the conclusion of
the litigation it will be made available to the public. Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. We have a motion on the floor and a second. All those in
favor, signify by the sign of "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-246
A MOTION TO RECESS THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING IN
ORDER TO COMMENCE AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION TO DISCUSS
PENDING LITIGATION RELATED TO: ACCESS NOW, INC., A FLORIDA
NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION, AND CHRIST TAVANTZIS VS. CITY
OF MIAMI, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, MIAMI DADE COUNTY,
AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
SCHEDULED FOR 9:00 A.M. ON THIS SAME DATE.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: The motion is adopted and the Commission stands in recess for the
executive session.
THEREUPON THE COMMISSION RECESSED AT 9:29 A.M, and RECONVENED AT 10:15
AM.
Mr. Vilarello: (INAUDIBLE)
Vice Chairman Teele: We have already started the Commission meeting, for those of you that
were not here when we started. We've already done the pledge of allegiance to the flag and
3 March 27, 2003
we've had prayer. We should acknowledge that the Chairman of the Commission,
Commissioner Johnny Winton, is with us in spirit. He's monitoring the proceedings, but due to a
accident, he's unable to physically attend, and we are wishing him well. We've also been asked
to retroactively amend our prayer, and so, without further a due, I'm going to ask everyone to
stand and join us in a silent prayer for our men and women who are overseas in harm's way.
Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Attorney, would you read into the record the
necessary language?
Mr. Vilarello: The attorney-client session is now closed. (INAUDIBLE).
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a motion?
Commissioner Regalado: Move it.
Vice Chairman Teele: Second?
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection?
Mr. Vilarello: Closing (INAUDIBLE) public recess.
Vice Chairman Teele: Closing the session, all those in favor, say, "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed, say "no."
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-247
A MOTION TO RECESS THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION REGARDING
PENDING LITIGATION RELATED TO: ACCESS NOW, INC., A FLORIDA
NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION, AND CHRIST TAVANTZIS VS. CITY
OF MIAMI, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, MIAMI DADE COUNTY,
AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
IN ORDER TO RECONVENE THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING.
4 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
3. BRIEF STATEMENTS BY VICE CHAIRMAN TEELE REGARDING MAYOR'S STATE
OF CITY ADDRESS.
Vice Chairman Teele: We should also advise the public that we will be breaking today at 11:45
sharp to allow for the State of the City Address to be presented by our Mayor today at 12 noon.
That -- Mr. Manager, that speech will be given where? Over there? Be right next door in the
Coconut Grove Convention Center, as last year, and the public is certainly welcome to attend.
There are no vetoes before the Commission.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
Vice Chairman Teele: The consent agenda is the next item. Are there - - Oh, the Chair should
announce order of the day. It is the -- unless there is objection from the dais, the Chair intends to
accept a deferral on any item that requires a 4/5tns vote that any Commissioner would choose to
do so, subject, of course, to a vote of the Commission. Additionally, the Chair intends to
commence with the update on the Little Haiti Park at 10 a.m. The CBDG [sic] items have been
noticed properly for 3 p.m., and the Model Cities Revitalization Trust has been noticed for 4 p.m.
It would also be the Chair's request that all items relating to appointments, which includes the --
that would require five votes or should have a full Commission, including the matters relating to
the Auditor General and any other appointments would be deferred until there are five
Commissioners on the dais. Of course, if anyone feels very strongly about a particular item that
is being deferred, we can debate it, and of course, the majority of three votes would rule, but I
think in the order -- in the essence of the manner in which collegiality should be extended,
Commissioner Winton is not present, and I think it would be inappropriate to take up the
Comptroller General without him being present, in that that is a board that work -- a body that
works directly for the five -member commission. Is there objection to the order of the day? If
not, the order is so ordered. Consent agenda items. Are there requests for deferrals, or
withdrawals, or amendments of the consent agenda, Mr. Manager?
Joe Arriola (City Manager): I guess nothing is perfect. I would like to request to withdraw item
from the regular agenda, Item 7.
Vice Chairman Teele: You want to go to the regular agenda --
5 March 27, 2003
Mr. Arriola: Well --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- or to the -- ?
Mr. Arriola: -- I could start with the consent agenda then, first.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK.
Mr. Arriola: Mr. Chair, on item CA -5 and CA -11, I would like to withdraw them.
Vice Chairman Teele: Without objection, CA -5 and CA -11 is withdrawn.
Mr. Arriola: I would also like to, if you allow me, make a statement why we're withdrawing this
items; is that OK?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Mr. Arriola: We have looked --
Commissioner Regalado: Excuse me.
Mr. Arriola: We have looked --
Commissioner Regalado: CA (Consent Agenda) what?
Vice Chairman Teele: 5 and CA. 11.
Mr. Arriola: CA -5 and CA -11.
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Mr. Arriola: As we looked into those items, we were going to take a contract away from a
business in the City of Miami because they didn't have the capacity of bonding necessary. This
is on a contract for radiators, and my understanding was that we had asked for a million -dollar
bond from this small business, and the statement I want to make is that we are going to be
looking into how we do a business practice in the future. I don't think that this is a good practice
and we will look into it and make it more accessible to small business to do business with the
City. On Item CA -23 there are 22 City employees currently serving on military duty. We have a
list of these employees that we can hand out to you right now. On Item PA -2 and 3 --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Excuse me, Mr. Manager.
Mr. Arriola: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Are you pulling CA -23, too?
6 March 27, 2003
Mr. Arriola: CA -23, I'm not pulling. I'm correcting, there's 22 City employees currently serving
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK.
Mr. Arriola: -- in military duty. I think you have a number of 14, but there are 22.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Right. All right.
Mr. Arriola: On Item PA -2 and 3 we would, respectfully, like to represent our recommendation
in favor to one to be made when the item is presented?
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager.
Mr. Arriola: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: This item is being presented now, so anything you're going to do to 2 --
to CA -2 and 3, you need to do it right this moment.
Mr. Arriola: It's PA -2 and 3, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: What?
Mr. Arriola: PA -2 and 3.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are you saying P -- ?
Mr. Arriola: Personal appearances.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. Just so that we could do it this way, could we just deal with the
consent—
Mr. Arriola: OK. Well --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- agenda items at this time?
Mr. Arriola: I'm sorry that --
Vice Chairman Teele: The consent agenda is on the floor.
Mr. Arriola: It's over. It's Item CA -23 and -- is the last one, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: So, you want to pull 23?
Mr. Arriola: No, sir. I want to make a correction on 23. We actually have 22 City employees
instead of 14, which, I think, is what your book shows --
7 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: OK.
Mr. Arriola: -- and we have a list of these employees.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, further corrections on CA items.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Commissioner Teele -- well, I'm ready to move the consent agenda for
discussion.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Well, normally, consent agenda is not discussed.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: That's the whole purpose of having it. If you want to pull an item out for
a discussion, then you pull it out and we'll discuss it --
Commissioner Sanchez: Then vote on it.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- with the rest of them. Mr. Attorney.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Would you read into the record the CA 1-- the S -Special -CA -1 through
68 items that I've requested be pulled out? While you're doing that --
Mr. Vilarello: It's a special -- I'm sorry?
Vice Chairman Teele: Would you -- ? I requested that you pull out several items of that packet
on yesterday.
Mr. Vilarello: Oh, I'm sorry, Commissioner, I did not identify those. Those are related to the
Orange Bowl.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, that's exactly what -- while you're doing that, Mr. Knox, you're
recognized on what item?
George Knox: (INAUDIBLE).
Vice Chairman Teele: Why don't you take the other mike and see if that one's working, Mr.
Knox?
Mr. Knox: It's working. For the record, my name is George Knox. I'm a resident of the City of
Miami at 3863 Southwest Douglas Road. I am a principal of the Bunkers joint venture, which is
the subject matter of Item CA -18, and on behalf of the parties, I would like to ask the
Commission to please consider this item outside of the consent agenda, and if it is at all possible,
8 March 27, 2003
I would ask that you please consider it. We don't think that it would be a lengthy discussion, but
we would ask that you consider it during the course of your consideration of the CA items.
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Vice Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez had asked to be recognized. Commissioner
Sanchez, Commissioner Gonzalez. Commissioner Sanchez.
Commissioner Sanchez: Oh, thank you. Just to keep the order of the day in order, why don't we
approve the consent agenda items that we all agree and you know, discuss -- not move the ones
that we're willing to discuss. I believe Commissioner Gonzalez wants to discuss CA -23, but that
way, we don't get them confused. Let's just go ahead -- and I'm prepared to make a motion on
all the items.
Vice Chairman Teele: There's a motion to approve all of the CA items, except the ones that
have been removed, which, at this point, are CA -23, CA -5, and CA -11. Are there others?
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: We have to share the mike, all three of us, so it's a little bit of an
inconvenience, but --
Commissioner Regalado: Well --
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: I --
Vice Chairman Teele: Did you want that item pulled?
Unidentified Speaker: I want to speak on it?
Vice Chairman Teele: We're not going to speak on it. We either approve it -- you want to
withdraw it so that you can speak on it?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, that's why I wanted to -- that's why I said that I
wanted to discuss some items, and actually, what I wanted to do is recognize Charlie Cox, and I
also have some comments in reference to --
Vice Chairman Teele: Unless Commissioner Sanchez has an objection, I think the way you're
proceeding is excellent. His motion is on the floor and it doesn't have to be acted upon until
someone calls the question. Would you allow Commissioner -- your colleague, Commissioner
Gonzalez, to have a discussion on some items?
9 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: I don't want to deny anybody the opportunity to speak. I just want to
maintain some order as to whether we approve the CA items, and the one that we pulled out,
we'll discuss. I think we've always done that. I mean, unless there's a problem with it. We're
just going to confuse the issues. Let's vote on the ones that we're going to approve, and the ones
that have --
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK, so --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- been pulled, we'll bring them out for discussion.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK, so I'm going to ask to pull Item 20 to be discussed later on.
Vice Chairman Teele: You want to pull what item?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Item CA -20.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item CA -20 is pulled.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Right.
Commissioner Sanchez: CA -23 was also pulled.
Vice Chairman Teele: CA -23 was not pulled. It was modified to show 14 to 22, is what my
records are showing.
Commissioner Sanchez: Oh, I'm sorry. CA -23 is not pulled, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Sanchez: 22 and 23 have been amended.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, on 22, we don't have the amendment. Does the maker of the
motion accept the amendment of 22?
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, 22 is substituted, as amended. That includes the $1 million --
Unidentified Speaker: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- dollars increase?
Unidentified Speaker: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, and it's understood, Mr. Attorney, that that doesn't trigger a bond
requirement unless the work order itself exceeds $200,000, is that --
10 March 27, 2003
Mr. Vilarello: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- correct?
Mr. Vilarello: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Further discussion on --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Wait.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman? Mr. Chairman?
Commissioner Gonzalez: I have a question.
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm going to remove all of this S -CA -1 through 68 from the agenda --
from the packet, OK? Further discussion.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Vilarello: I'm sorry. Mr. Chairman, two items.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado, you're recognized.
Commissioner Regalado: CA-18,1--
Vice
A-18,I--
Vice Chairman Teele: Do you want to defer it? I mean, you want to pull it?
Commissioner Regalado: No. I think it --I couldn't exactly hear what Mr. Knox had to say
about it.
Vice Chairman Teele: Do you want to discuss it, Mr. Knox?
Mr. Knox: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: CA -18 is withdrawn from the packet.
Commissioner Regalado: OK, we'll discuss it immediately.
Vice Chairman Teele: We'll discuss it. We'll take that up next. Next -- any other items
withdrawn? Pursuant to Commissioner Sanchez's request, we're only taking items out of the
packet. We'll discuss them individually, as soon as this is over, so Madam Clerk, would you
read into the record the items that have been amended or withdrawn from the consent agenda?
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): According to my records, I have withdrawn by the City
Manager CA -5; withdrawn by the City Manager CA -11. Item number 22, CA -22 is modified;
11 March 27, 2003
CA -23 is modified; and I show that Commissioner Teele pulled all of the specials S -CA -1
through S -CA -8 from the agenda.
Vice Chairman Teele: 18, Ma'am.
Ms. Thompson: I'm sorry.
Vice Chairman Teele: CA --
Commissioner Regalado: 18. CA -18 has been pulled.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- CA -1 through CA -68. That's S -CA -1 through 68, as well as
Commissioner Regalado --
Commissioner Sanchez: CA -20 was --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- removed CA -18 --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- and CA -20.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- as well as CA -20. Further discussion on the items that are going
forward, Mr. Attorney.
Mr. Vilarello: I need to correct the record. Out of the 68 items that you refer to are part of a
separate consent agenda, so they are not considered within the consent agenda. It's identified as
S -CA -1 through 68.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, so you're going to require a second vote on that item, so we
stand corrected on that. It's not in the -- contain of the motion.
Mr. Vilarello: It's not within this consent agenda.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Further discussion? All those in favor of the consent agenda,
as amended and withdrawn, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Ms. Thompson: I'm sorry, Commissioner, I didn't get a second. I had Commissioner --
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez made the motion. Commissioner Gonzalez
second the motion.
Mr. Thompson: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All those in favor, say "aye."
12 March 27, 2003
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: The Chair records four votes voting in the affirmative.
4.1 ACCEPT BID OF MEF CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR PROJECT ENTITLED "CITYWIDE
SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT PROJECT PHASE 24, B-4664", TOTAL COST $215,000;
ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.
RESOLUTION NO. 03-248
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE
BID OF MEF CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR THE PROJECT ENTITLED
"CITYWIDE SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT PROJECT PHASE 24, B-4664",
IN THE AMOUNT OF $189,050 FOR CONTRACT COSTS, PLUS $25,950
FOR EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE CITY, FOR A TOTAL ESTIMATED
COST OF $215,000; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NO. 341183; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PROJECT.
4.2 ACCEPT BID OF EL CARIBENO FOR PROVISION OF EVENT MAINTENANCE
SERVICES AT COCONUT GROVE EXPO CENTER FOR DEPARTMENT OF
CONFERENCES, CONVENTIONS AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, TOTAL CONTRACT
AMOUNT $240,000; ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM COCONUT GROVE EXPO CENTER
DIVISION BUDGET.
RESOLUTION NO. 03-249
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE
BID OF EL CARIBENO FOR THE PROVISION OF EVENT MAINTENANCE
SERVICES AT THE COCONUT GROVE EXPO CENTER FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONFERENCES, CONVENTIONS AND PUBLIC
FACILITIES, ON A CONTRACT BASIS FOR A ONE-YEAR PERIOD, WITH
THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR PERIODS,
IN AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $80,000, FOR A TOTAL
CONTRACT AWARD AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $240,000;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE COCONUT GROVE EXPO CENTER
DIVISION BUDGET, ACCOUNT CODE NO. 415000.350201.6.340, SUBJECT
TO BUDGETARY APPROVAL; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
13 March 27, 2003
4.3 ACCEPT RECOMMENDATION OF MANAGER APPROVING FINDINGS OF
EVALUATION COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 01-
02-224, THAT MOST QUALIFIED FIRMS TO PROVIDE ENERGY PERFORMANCE
SAVINGS CONTRACTING SERVICES ARE: (1) FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT, (2)
JOHNSON CONTROLS, INC., AND (3) TECO BGA, INC.; AUTHORIZE MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH FLORIDA POWER AND
LIGHT.
RESOLUTION NO. 03-250
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY
MANAGER APPROVING THE FINDINGS OF THE EVALUATION
COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 01-
02-224, THAT THE MOST QUALIFIED FIRMS TO PROVIDE ENERGY
PERFORMANCE SAVINGS CONTRACTING SERVICES ARE, IN RANK
ORDER: (1) FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT, (2) JOHNSON CONTROLS,
INC., AND (3) TECO BGA, INC.; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO NEGOTIATE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
("AGREEMENT") WITH FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT, THE
TOP-RANKED FIRM, FOR AN INITIAL TEN-YEAR PERIOD, WITH THE
OPTION TO EXTEND FOR ONE ADDITIONAL FIVE-YEAR PERIOD;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE SECOND -RANKED FIRM AND THE
THIRD -RANKED FIRM, RESPECTIVELY, IN THE EVENT
NEGOTIATIONS FAIL WITH THE TOP-RANKED FIRM; DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER TO PRESENT THE AGREEMENT TO THE CITY
COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION.
14 March 27, 2003
4.4 APPROVE PROCUREMENT OF ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS FROM GRAYBAR
ELECTRIC COMPANY, FOR DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING, TO BE USED BY
VARIOUS USER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, UNDER EXISTING LOS ANGELES
COUNTY CONTRACT NO. 41902; ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM GENERAL OPERATING
BUDGETS OF VARIOUS USER DEPARTMENTS.
RESOLUTION NO. 03-251
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPROVING THE
PROCUREMENT OF ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS FROM GRAYBAR
ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING,
TO BE USED BY VARIOUS USER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES,
UNDER EXISTING LOS ANGELES COUNTY CONTRACT NO. 41902, ON
AN AS -NEEDED CONTRACT BASIS, EFFECTIVE THROUGH JANUARY
31, 2006, SUBJECT TO FURTHER EXTENSIONS BY LOS ANGELES
COUNTY; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL OPERATING
BUDGETS OF THE VARIOUS USER DEPARTMENTS, SUBJECT TO
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
4.5 AUTHORIZE FUNDING OF POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE (PAL) PROGRAM, TO
ASSIST WITH EXPENSES RELATED TO OPERATION OF PROGRAM, 510,000;
ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND.
RESOLUTION NO. 03-252
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE FUNDING OF THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE ("PAL") PROGRAM,
TO ASSIST WITH EXPENSES RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE
PROGRAM, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $510,000; ALLOCATING
FUNDS FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND, PROJECT
NO. 690001, SUCH EXPENDITURES HAVING BEEN APPROVED BY THE
CHIEF OF POLICE AS COMPLYING WITH SECTION 932.7055, FLORIDA
STATUTES (2002), AS AMENDED.
15 March 27, 2003
4.6 AUTHORIZE FUNDING OF POLICE EXPLORERS PROGRAM, AND ALLOCATE
$50,000, FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND.
RESOLUTION NO. 03-253
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
FUNDING OF THE POLICE EXPLORERS PROGRAM TO ASSIS WITH
EXPENSES RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM, IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000, FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
TRUST FUND, PROJECT NUMBER 690001, SUCH EXPENDITURES
HAVING BEEN APPROVED BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE AS COMPLYING
WITH FLORIDA STATE STATUTES, CHAPTER 932.7055, AS AMENDED;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANGER TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
FOR SAID PURPOSE.
4.7 AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF CELLULAR EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES FROM
VARIOUS VENDORS FOR DEPARTMENT OF POLICE UNDER EXISTING STATE OF
FLORIDA CONTRACT NO. 725-000-03-1, $100,591; ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM POLICE
GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET.
RESOLUTION NO. 03-254
A RESOULUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE PURCHASE OF CELLULAR EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES FROM
VARIOUS VENDORS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE, ON AN AS -
NEEDED BASIS, UNDER EXISTING STATE OF FLORIDA CONTRACT
NO. 725-000-03-1, EFFECTIVE UNTIL DECEMBER 19, 2005, AND ANY
EXTENSIONS, IN AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $100,591;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE POLICE GENERAL OPERATING
BUDGET, ACCOUNT CODE NOS. 001000.290201.6.510,
001000.290201.6.840 AND 001000.290201.6.850, SUBJECT TO
BUDGETARY APPROVAL.
16 March 27, 2003
4.8 AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF CELLULAR EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES FROM
VARIOUS VENDORS FOR DEPARTMENT OF POLICE, UNDER EXISTING STATE OF
FLORIDA CONTRACT NO. 725-000-03-1; ALLOCATE $105,000, FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND.
RESOLUTION NO. 03-255
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE PURCHASE OF CELLULAR EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES FROM
VARIOUS VENDORS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE, ON AN AS -
NEEDED BASIS, UNDER EXISTING STATE OF FLORIDA CONTRACT
NO. 725-000-03-1, EFFECTIVE UNTIL DECEMBER 19, 2005, SUBJECT TO
ANY EXTENSIONS; SUCH EXPENDITURES HAVING BEEN APPROVED
BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE AS COMPLYING WITH THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY'S "GUIDE TO EQUITABLE
SHARING;" ALLOCATING FUNDS, IN AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $105,000, FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND,
PROJECT NO. 690003.
4.9 AUTHORIZE MANAGER'S ENGAGEMENT OF EDWARDS AND KELCEY, INC., FOR
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, PREPARATION OF BIDDING AND CONSTRUCTION
DOCUMENTS, CONSTRUCTION AND ADMINISTRATION CONSULTING SERVICES
RELATED TO BICENTENNIAL PARK SHORELINE STABILIZATION PROJECT;
ALLOCATE $378,407 FOR SERVICES AND EXPENSES FROM CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ENTITLED `BICENNTENIAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS."
RESOLUTION NO. 03- 256
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER'S ENGAGEMENT OF EDWARDS AND KELCEY,
INC., SELECTED FROM THE LIST OF PRE -APPROVED ENGINEERING
FIRMS, APPROVED BY RESOLUTION NO. 02-144, FOR THE DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT, PREPARATION OF BIDDING AND CONSTRUCTION
DOCUMENTS, CONSTRUCTION AND ADMINISTRATION CONSULTING
SERVICES RELATED TO THE BICENTENNIAL PARK SHORELINE
STABILIZATION PROJECT, AT SPECIFIC COSTS TO BE DETERMINED
BY (1) THE SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUIRED FOR SAID PROJECT, AND
(2) TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT WITH
EDWARDS AND KELCEY, INC., EXECUTED PURSUANT TO
RESOLUTION NO. 02-144; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE; AND ALLOCATING
FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $378,407 FOR SERVICES
AND EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE CITY, FROM CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT NO. 331418, ENTITLED `BICENNTENIAL
PARK IMPROVEMENTS."
17 March 27, 2003
4.10 AUTHORIZE ROLLOVER OF $31,871, FROM FISCAL YEAR 2001-2002 TO 2002-
2003, FROM 2000 SUPER NOFA SUPPORTIVE SERVICES GRANT AWARDED TO
HOMELESS PROGRAM BY UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST.
RESOLUTION NO. 03- 257
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE ROLLOVER OF FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$31,871, FROM FISCAL YEAR 2001-2002 TO 2002-2003, FROM THE 2000
SUPER NOFA SUPPORTIVE SERVICES GRANT AWARDED TO THE
HOMELESS PROGRAM BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY HOMELESS TRUST; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
AMEND THE EXISTING WORK PROGRAM AND BUDGET TO REFLECT
THE ROLLOVER OF SAID FUNDS.
4.11 AUTHORIZE ROLLOVER OF UNEXPENDED REVENUES, $16,768, FROM FISCAL
YEAR 2001-2002 TO FISCAL YEAR 2002-2003 "ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN SERVICES
GRANT TO CITY HOMELESS PROGRAM AWARDED TO HOMELESS PROGRAM BY
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, ALLIANCE FOR
HUMAN SERVICES.
RESOLUTION NO. 03- 258
A RESOLUTON OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE
ROLLOVER OF UNEXPENDED REVENUES, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$16,768, FROM FISCAL YEAR 2001-2002 TO FISCAL YEAR 2002-2003
"ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN SERVICES GRANT TO THE CITY OF MIAMI
HOMELESS PROGRAM," AWARDED TO THE HOMELESS PROGRAM BY
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES,
ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN SERVICES; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO AMEND THE EXISTING WORK PROGRAM AND
BUDGET TO REFLECT THE ROLLOVER OF FUNDS.
18 March 27, 2003
4.12 AUTHORIZE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY AS SETTLEMENT TO PLAINTIFF,
DAVID F. McCRANIE, SUM OF $85,000, IN COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ALL CLAIMS
AGAINST CITY IN CASE OF DAVID F. McCRANIE VS. CITY; ALLOCATE $85,000,
FROM SELF-INSURANCE AND INSURANCE TRUST FUND. (See #6)
RESOLUTION NO. 03- 259
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY AS SETTLEMENT TO PLAINTIFF,
DAVID F. MCCRANIE, WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, THE SUM
OF $85,000, IN FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ANY AND ALL
CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI, ITS
OFFICERS, AGENTS AND SERVANTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO OFFICER GUILLERMO GONZALEZ, IN THE CASE OF DAVID F.
MCCRANIE VS. THE CITY OF MIAMI, FILED IN THE CIRCUIT COURT
IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, CASE NO. 02-11472 CA
(05), UPON THE EXECUTION OF A GENERAL RELEASE, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, RELEASING THE CITY OF
MIAMI, ITS PRESENT AND FORMER OFFICERS, AGENTS AND
EMPLOYEES FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS;
ALLOCATING FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $85,000,
FROM THE SELF-INSURANCE AND INSURANCE TRUST FUND, INDEX
CODE NO. 515001.624401.6.652.
4.13 AUTHORIZE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY GEORGE DOUGLAS SCOLLIN
AND LINDA ZIBELLI-SCOLLIN, SUM OF $65,000 IN FULL SETTLEMENT OF ALL
CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST CITY IN CASE OF GEORGE DOUGLAS SCOLLIN
AND LINDA ZIBELLI-SCOLLIN V. CITY; ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM SELF-INSURANCE
AND INSURANCE TRUST FUND.
RESOLUTION NO. 03- 260
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY GEORGE DOUGLAS SCOLLIN
AND LINDA ZIBELLI-SCOLLIN, WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY,
THE SUM OF $65,000 IN FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ANY
AND ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI, ITS
OFFICERS, AGENTS AND SERVANTS, IN THE CASE OF GEORGE
DOUGLAS SCOLLIN AND LINDA ZIBELLI-SCOLLIN V. CITY OF MIAMI,
IN THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, CASE NO. 01-31252 CA (22), UPON EXECUTING A
GENERAL RELEASE FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI, ITS PRESENT AND
FORMER OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES FROM ANY AND ALL
CLAIMS AND DEMANDS; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE
SELF-INSURANCE AND INSURANCE TRUST FUND, INDEX CODE NO.
515001.624401.6.651.
19 March 27, 2003
4.14 AUTHORIZE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY SETTLEMENT TO PLAINTIFF,
ELENA PRUNEDA, SUM OF $65,000, IN FULL SETTLEMENT OF ALL CLAIMS
AGAINST CITY IN CASE OF PRUNEDA VS. CITY; ALLOCATE $65,000, FROM
SELF-INSURANCE AND INSURANCE TRUST FUND. (See #6)
RESOLUTION NO. 03-261
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY AS SETTLEMENT TO PLAINTIFF,
ELENA PRUNEDA, WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, THE SUM OF
$65,000, IN FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ANY AND ALL
CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI, ITS
OFFICERS, AGENTS AND SERVANTS, IN THE CASE OF PRUNEDA VS.
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FILED IN THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, CASE NO. 01-29823 CA O1, UPON
THE EXECUTION OF A GENERAL RELEASE BY ELENA PRUNEDA AND
LAZARO PRUNEDA, ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, OF ALL
CLAIMS AND RELEASING THE CITY OF MIAMI, ITS PRESENT AND
FORMER OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES FROM ANY AND ALL
CLAIMS AND DEMANDS; ALLOCATING FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED $65,000, FROM THE SELF-INSURANCE AND INSURANCE
TRUST FUND, INDEX CODE NO. 515001.624401.6.652.
4.15 AUTHORIZE CITY ATTORNEY'S CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT OF GREENBERG
TRAURIG, P.A. TO REPRESENT CITY IN MATTER OF TERMINATION OF
EMPLOYMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST JESUS "JESSE" AGUERO, $50,000, PLUS
COSTS AS APPROVED BY CITY ATTORNEY; ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM SELF-
INSURANCE AND INSURANCE TRUST FUND. (See #6)
RESOLUTION NO. 03-262
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE CITY ATTORNEY'S CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT OF GREENBERG
TRAURIG, P.A. TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF MIAMI IN THE MATTER
OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST JESUS
"JESSE" AGUERO, IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000, PLUS COSTS AS
APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY; AND ALLOCATING FUNDS
FROM THE SELF-INSURANCE AND INSURANCE TRUST FUND,
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 515001.624401.6.661, FOR SAID LEGAL SERVICES
20 March 27, 2003
4.16 AUTHORIZE MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE SPECIFIC COST
AGREEMENT WITH EDWARDS AND KELCEY, INC. FOR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
PREPARATION OF BIDDING AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, CONSTRUCTION
ADMINISTRATION, AND POST -CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION CONSULTING
SERVICES RELATED TO PROJECT S.W. 16TH TERRACE, STREET IMPROVEMENTS;
ALLOCATE $250,000 FOR SERVICES EXPENSES INCURRED BY CITY FROM CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ENTITLED "S.W. 16TH TERRACE STREET
IMPROVEMENTS".
RESOLUTION NO. 03-263
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER'S ENGAGEMENT OF EDWARDS AND KELCEY,
INC., SELECTED FROM THE LIST OF PRE -APPROVED LIST OF
ENGINEERING FIRMS, APPROVED BY RESOLUTION NO. 02-144, FOR
THE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PREPARATION OF BIDDING AND
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION,
AND POST -CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION CONSULTING
SERVICES RELATED TO THE PROJECT S.W. 16TH TERRACE, STREET
IMPROVEMENTS, AT SPECIFIC COSTS TO BE DETERMINED BY (1) THE
SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUIRED FOR SAID PROJECT, AND (2) TERMS
AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT WITH EDWARDS
AND KELCEY, INC. EXECUTED PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. 02-
144; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE; AND ALLOCATING FUNDS IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $250,000 FOR SERVICES AND EXPENSES
INCURRED BY THE CITY, FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
NO. 341206 ENTITLED "S.W. 16TH TERRACE STREET IMPROVEMENTS".
21 March 27, 2003
4.17 AUTHORIZE INCREASE IN CONTRACT AMOUNT WITH METRO EXPRESS, INC.,
TO COVER COSTS FOR ADDITIONAL WORK ON PROJECT ENTITLED "CITYWIDE
CURB REPLACEMENT PROJECT 2003, B-4661", $200,000, INCREASING CONTRACT
AMOUNT FROM $98,050 TO $298,050; ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS.
RESOLUTION NO. 03-264
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING AN
INCREASE IN THE CONTRACT AMOUNT WITH METRO EXPRESS, INC.,
TO COVER COSTS FOR ADDITIONAL WORK ON THE PROJECT
ENTITLED "CITYWIDE CURB REPLACEMENT PROJECT 2003, B-4661",
IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $200,000, INCREASING THE TOTAL
CONTRACT AMOUNT FROM $98,050 FOR CONTRACT COSTS, PLUS
$22, 950 FOR EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE CITY, TO $298,050 AND
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NO.
311714 FOR SAID PROJECT; FURTHER AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE IN
THE CONTRACT AMOUNT WITH METRO EXPRESS, INC., IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1 MILLION, FOR WORK REQUIRED FOR
THE 9TH STREET MALL PROJECT, LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("CRA"), ONTINGENT UPON THE CRA ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 799126.452502.6.930; FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE CITY TO USE ANY UNUSED PORTION OF THE CRA INCREASE
FOR PROJECT B-4661 WITH FUNDS ALLOCATED FROM CIP 341183;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY NECESSARY
DOCUMENT(S), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
FOR SAID PROJECTS.
22 March 27, 2003
4.18 AUTHORIZE MANAGER TO PROVIDE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE MEMBERS
OF UNITED STATES MILITARY RESERVE OR FLORIDA NATIONAL GUARD AND
ORDERED TO REPORT FOR ACTIVE DUTY IN RESPONSE TO UNITED STATES' WAR
WITH IRAQ OR TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST UNITED STATES, SUPPLEMENT,
RETROACTIVE TO SEPTEMBER 25, 2002, IF APPLICABLE, TO CONTINUE UNTIL
SEPTEMBER 25, 2003, TO MILITARY PAY.
RESOLUTION NO. 03- 265
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE CITY OF MIAMI EMPLOYEES WHO
ARE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY RESERVE OR
FLORIDA NATIONAL GUARD AND ORDERED TO REPORT FOR ACTIVE
DUTY IN RESPONSE TO THE UNITED STATES' WAR WITH IRAQ OR
TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES, A
SUPPLEMENT, RETROACTIVE TO SEPTEMBER 25, 2002, IF
APPLICABLE, TO CONTINUE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 25, 2003, TO
MILITARY PAY RECEIVED IN AN AMOUNT NECESSARY TO BRING
TOTAL SALARY, INCLUSIVE OF BASE MILITARY PAY, TO THE LEVEL
EARNED AT THE TIME OF THE ORDER TO ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY;
APPROVING CERTAIN OTHER SPECIFIED BENEFITS, WITH THE
MONIES FOR SUCH EXPENDITURE BEING ALLOCATED FROM
PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED SALARY AND SALARY SURPLUS
FUNDS; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DETERMINE THE NEED
TO CONTINUE OR TERMINATE SUCH BENEFITS EVERY SIX MONTHS
AND TO ADVISE THE CITY COMMISSION ACCORDINGLY; AND
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL THE NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS FOR SAID PURPOSE.
4.19 ACCEPT REPORT FROM CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
MOTION NO. 03-266
A MOTION ACCEPTING A REPORT FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD.
23 March 27, 2003
5. DIRECT CITY ATTORNEY TO PROCEED WITH BINDING ARBITRATION WITH
BUNKERS OF MIAMI; STIPULATE THAT ISSUE OF STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BE
CONTINUED TO 6:55 P.M. ON THIS SAME DATE TO ALLOW BOTH PARTIES TIME TO
DISCUSS THIS MATTER. (See #4.15 & 78)
Vice Chairman Teele: CA -18. Mr. Knox, you're up.
George F. Knox: Thank you so much, Mr. Chair and members of the Commission. I've
identified myself previously as George F. Knox, resident of the City of Miami, residing at 3863
Southwest Douglas Road, and I do represent the interest of Bunkers of Miami and those parties
identified in CA -18. I think that on behalf of Bunkers, we can advise the City that we believe
that there is an adversary relationship which exists between the parties and the City of Miami at
this moment. We would ask that that be resolved in a manner that's consistent with the good
faith that's been shown by both parties, and in lieu of adopting the resolution that's been
presented to you by your City Attorney, we request that you direct your City Attorney to refer
the matter to binding arbitration. We all know the advantages of arbitration, most importantly of
which the efficiency and speed at which the resolution of a dispute can be accomplished. We
suggest, also, that there be three persons who would serve on the arbitration panel, and that your
City Attorney be directed to work in a manner consistent with your desire to resolve this matter
both effectively, fairly and expediently, and so we would therefore request that you not adopt the
resolution presented by CA -18, but in lieu of the resolution, that you direct your City Attorney to
do all things necessary in order to achieve a resolution of the dispute by binding arbitration.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner -- Who's district is this in?
Commissioner Gonzalez: My district.
Commissioner Regalado: Gonzalez.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez, I'm going to always respect the chair -- the
person who has the district first. Did you have a point of view that you want to be heard on?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, sir. I happen to agree with Mr. Knox, and the fact of the matter
is that ever since I became Commissioner of District 1, I've been fighting to get this contract --
this golf course taken care of, to have this golf course upgraded, to have a club house built, to
have whatever -- This is the only -- and I'm going to repeat it once again -- this is the only golf
course in the City of Miami, and let me tell you. It's shameful, it's shameful to go to that place,
and I don't want to go into the history of what happened with that golf course. I think everybody
knows the history of it. The reason that golf course is in the condition that it is today is because
of personal political vendettas of the prior administration and the prior -- and some of the prior
governments in this City, and that is something that we cannot tolerate, and we -- if we're
working to bring this City in a different course, and we're constantly talking about "One City,
One Future," and we really want to have a different future for this City, it's time for us to cut
down this BS and start being proactive on solving the problems that we have in this City, and
24 March 27, 2003
this golf course is a problem. It's a shame to our City, and every time that I sit down and I
discuss this issue, I get different arguments and I get promises from the administration. I get
promises from the Sports and Exhibition Authority. I get promises -- but the end result, I get
promised one thing and two weeks later, the story is different. There was supposed to have been
a meeting and when I tried to find the results of that meeting, I got five different versions of what
happened at that meeting, so yes, I'm supporting Mr. Knox's request, and furthermore, I will
propose that -- yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a motion?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, sir. My motion is to approve Mr. Knox's request and send this to
an arbitration.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): The --
Vice Chairman Teele: Explain the motion --
Commissioner Regalado: I'll second the motion.
Vice Chairman Teele: Let the Attorney explain the motion.
Mr. Vilarello: On the motion, Mr. Knox has requested that the City Commission consent to an
alternative dispute resolution method, which would be a three-judge binding arbitration on this
matter. I have no -- and the balance of that is that you not authorize my office to file suit and
serve the lawsuit to preserve the City's interest with regard to a settlement that the City entered
into approximately one year ago. That's the nature of the motion and I'd like to speak to the
motion at the appropriate time, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: The motion has been moved and second. The discussion now is on the
item. Commissioner Regalado second the motion. Commissioner Sanchez, did you want to be
heard on it?
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes, sir. This deal goes back to January 25 of 1996. I wasn't around
and many of us wasn't around here. Let me just say that right off the bat, it was a bad deal. It
was a bad deal for this City. The City received bad press, and so did the partners involved in that
deal. I, as one, would like to avoid a long, dragged out court battle, which will embarrass both
sides on this issue. I stand with the position that Commissioner Gonzalez states. It's every great
city should have a golf course, and that golf course, which I play in, is an embarrassment to this
City. I don't have a problem with the binding arbitration, but I would feel much, much
comfortable if the City Attorney would assure us that we will not put the City in harm's way.
Although, I do think that we avoid that long drawn court battle. It's going to save the City
hundreds and thousands of dollars in the process, so at this time, I would yield to any of my
colleagues who would want to address the issue.
25 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are you supporting the motion? Are you supporting the motion by
Commissioner -- ?
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, at this time, I'd like to hear from the City Attorney on the issue.
Vice Chairman Teele: And we want to hear from the City Manager.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: Commissioner Sanchez mentioned January 1996. On my first meeting
of September `96, we were addressing the issue of this legal battle, and since then, it has come
up, and come up, and come up. It's like that bunny that keeps walking and doing things, and so,
we need to get this over with. I will support the arbitration, and hopefully, a panel would decide.
Whoever wins, wins, but something has to be done to that golf course. I mean, MSEA, Miami
Sports and Exhibition Authority, there are three members here; Commissioner Teele,
Commissioner Gonzalez and myself. We could have money to do things in that golf course, and
yet, we have to return that money to the County because it's impossible to do something, so
might as well get it over with, and I will support the arbitration.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Now, we'd like to hear from the Manager and the Attorney, or
the Attorney and the Manager, and then we're going to bring this to a vote.
Mr. Vilarello: Mr. Chairman, with regard to the alternative dispute resolution method, I have no
objection to that process. It is a process that can expedite a litigation and resolve the issues in a
final way. I do have an objection to the motion on the second part; that is that we not proceed to
serve the lawsuit and preserve the City's interest. We have been working on -- for the last three
or four days -- a tolling agreement that would allow that the Statute of Limitations would not run
on the processing of our claim, and we've been unable to achieve a satisfactory conclusion on
that agreement. However, if you don't authorize us to proceed to file this lawsuit, what happens
is you may give up a right of indemnification. Obviously, the parties dispute whether or not
there's an obligation to indemnify or not. However, I would like to resolve that issue in the
appropriate forum, so I would request that the motion be amended.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez, you have the request. Will you take that under
advisement?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, I sure will. See, that is the problem. That is exactly the problem
that has been going on for years, and years, and years. I was told that Bunkers' attorneys were
working with the City Attorney in order to extend the Statute of Limitations, so the City would
be protected. Yesterday afternoon, they were still talking and they were discussing negotiations
to this fact, and I know from experience that sometimes it's very hard to communicate with our
City Attorney, because sometimes you call his office and you cannot get him on the phone
26 March 27, 2003
because he's busy doing ten million other things. I'm not going to -- I'm not blaming the City
Attorney. What I would like to do, if it is possible and we have the consensus, is to give the City
Attorney and Bunkers' attorney an opportunity, until 3 o'clock, to get together and work out the
negotiation of extending -- compromising to extend the Statute of Limitations, but one thing that
I'm not going to compromise is the City not being able to take legal action later on and review
whatever process the City has, so my motion is to table the decision of the Statute of Limitations
until 3 o'clock, give Mr. Knox -- give you enough time to get a hold of your attorney, and give
Mr. City Attorney the opportunity and the time to get together with your attorney and come back
with an answer at 3 o'clock, whenever we come back for session.
Mr. Knox: May I please speak to that?
Vice Chairman Teele: No, no, no, no, Mr. Knox. Mr. Attorney.
Mr. Vilarello: That is an acceptable solution.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Would you state the motion in accordance with the acceptable
solution?
Mr. Vilarello: The motion, at this point, is a motion to table until 3 o'clock.
Commissioner Gonzalez: No, no. The motion is that we want this to go to arbitration. That's --
we need this to go to arbitration. Now, separate from this going to arbitration, OK --
Vice Chairman Teele: You'll take --
Commissioner Gonzalez: I don't want to take the City -- I don't want to take away from the City
the opportunity to take legal action later on and like I told you, supposedly there was a
compromise between Bunkers' attorneys and the City Attorney to come to an agreement to
extend, and accepts extending the Statute of Limitations so the City could later on take legal
action.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Let me tell you what the chair is going to rule. The chair is
ruling that the issue must be bifurcated for a vote; that the first vote this morning will be on
whether or not to go to binding arbitration.
Commissioner Gonzalez: That's right.
Vice Chairman Teele: There will be a secondary vote based upon when the Attorney can come
back today or at the next meeting regarding the lawsuit, giving everybody time to meet and to
work it out. Is that satisfactory to you, Mr. Attorney?
Commissioner Gonzalez: That's correct, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: So, you will amend your motion only to deal with binding arbitration,
leaving open the issue of the lawsuit. Would you accept it as the seconder of the motion?
27 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, so right now, we're discussing solely the issue of binding arbitration.
Mr. Manager, you've not been heard.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Mr. Chairman, I find myself in a very tough spot here, because I
work for the City and I have friends in Bunkers and I want to solve this situation as quickly as
possible. As you know, I've gone to mediation with them once before. I am all for going to
arbitration. I just want to warn you of what I heard through mediation, and you should be very
aware of it. I am all for this -- let me start with that statement -- but I think that you have to
know exactly what they are asking through arbitration. Now, if the process of -- some of the
ideas that were thrown out there was that the City -- and I know you understand that you want to
put this under MSEA.
Vice Chairman Teele: I don't believe a decision -- I don't believe any decision like that has been
debated, discussed. I have no idea what the Mayor wants, or what anyone else wants, but I think
that issue is certainly not a policy decision of the Commission.
Mr. Arriola: No, but let me get back to the issue. We just need to understand what Bunkers is
trying to accomplish, what they're asking for, because I understand that your feelings is to put
this under MSEA and bring this in -- which I'm all for it. I'm really feel very strongly about it. I
think we should do it. This is something that is the right thing to do, but I think that it's very
important that we have an agreement that this is something that's going to be acceptable, that all
of a sudden it doesn't come out that now, through this mediation or arbitration, we're asked to,
all of a sudden, put money not through MSEA, but put money to repair the golf course and
continue the contracts as -is. Now, if that's your wish, it's fine with me. I mean, I want to help
this, but I think that their plan or what they want to do with the golf course should be explained
to you so you have a better understanding where all parties are coming from. I know where this
Commission is coming from and what this Commission is willing to do and wants to do, which is
the right thing, but I don't think that it's very clear, and you should understand -- and by the way,
I'm going to agree with whatever you say and support it 100 percent, but I think before you jump
into things, you should understand what they're going to be asking for before it kind of gets you
as a surprise.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Mr. Attorney. I'm sorry. Commissioners take precedence.
Commissioner Sanchez.
Commissioner Sanchez: I will yield to the City Attorney.
Mr. Vilarello: Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, and I'm sure Mr. Knox will agree, with regard to
the alternative dispute resolution method, only legal issues with regard to the contracts between
the parties would be litigated. I believe the Manager is correct to point out that we are in
ongoing discussions to try to resolve -- mutually resolve the disputed issues between the parties,
and in that respect, we will continue to try to resolve that pending -- the litigation, but the
binding arbitration only addresses litigation issues.
28 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Is binding arbitration binding, Mr. Attorney?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is it binding on all parties?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: Will the City and the -- Bunkers be obliged to do what the three judges
rule?
Mr. Vilarello: We would enter into an agreement that would resolve those issues between the
parties.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Knox.
Mr. Vilarello: That's why I wanted to bifurcate the motion.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are you all prepared to accept the agreement, as outlined by the Attorney,
that you all will enter into such a binding agreement?
Mr. Knox: An agreement to arbitrate.
Vice Chairman Teele: To arbitrate.
Mr. Knox: But we regard arbitration as an adversary proceeding. The findings, conclusions --
Vice Chairman Teele: The question is, will you and your principals agree to enter into that
agreement with the principals and your -- their attorney signing as required by the
(UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Mr. Knox: That we would enter into binding arbitration.
Vice Chairman Teele: Right.
Mr. Knox: And we feel that that would moot the second concern that's been expressed by your
City Attorney, because questions of statutes of limitations and other legal questions are to be
resolved by the arbitrator, and there would be no further legal proceeding. In other words, he's
trying to preserve a Statute of Limitations and bind the parties to arbitration at the same time, and
that makes, frankly, not too much logical sense. We want to resolve -- there are issues that can
be resolved by --
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Knox: -- a tribunal, and we suggest that tribunal --
29 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Knox, you've given the attorney's reputation something to respond
to, so Mr. Attorney, would you like to discuss the logic? Just so that he can at least defend his
honor.
Mr. Vilarello: The second part of the motion that I objected to simply preserves the City's
interest until such time as the parties agree to the binding arbitration agreement. Once -- Mr.
Knox is correct. Once the parties have come to that agreement, certainly we can go forward, but
however, you're on a very short time frame to preserve that interest. In fact, I've deferred this
matter several times from the City Commission agenda because we were trying to reach a
settlement on the overall issues.
Vice Chairman Teele: What is the consensus of the Statute of Limitations tolling the date?
Mr. Vilarello: With regard to a settlement that we entered into and our entitlement to
indemnification -- contractual indemnification by Bunkers for the payment of that settlement
with Gregori International --
Vice Chairman Teele: What's the date?
Mr. Vilarello: We have to serve, I believe, before April Stn
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, I could tell you right now, I'm going to be voting to instruct the
Attorney to file the lawsuit, but not to be --
Mr. Vilarello: We've actually already filed the lawsuit, Commissioner. I have not served it
without Commission authorization, so I need to serve it.
Vice Chairman Teele: Why didn't you serve it on him here? He's right there.
Mr. Vilarello: Well, as is the standard before the City Commission, I always request authority
before we file litigation.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Commissioner Sanchez, and then Commissioner Gonzalez to
close.
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Vice Chairman, the only sticking issue here is, of course, the
Statute of Limitation that basically protects our interest at the City. I don't have a problem with
the binding arbitration, but the issue here is that we cannot allow to either waive or to have the
Statute of Limitation expire because then we're no longer in the ballgame, and that's a concern
that I have, and I want assurance -- and I made it very clear on the record -- that one, we do not
lose the Statute of Limitation, and that's why it's paramount that the City Attorney take that
position.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. The chair is going to rule that at 6:55 this evening, the chair
will recognize the City Attorney to discuss the Statute of Limitations and the lawsuit, giving all
30 March 27, 2003
the parties ample time to meander around and to socialize, and to, hopefully, resolve this matter
amicably, and the sole issue before us now is a resolution relating to the binding arbitration, as
proffered by Commissioner Gonzalez. Is there further discussion or debate on the motion before
us?
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. City Attorney, do you have any objections to that motion?
Mr. Vilarello: I have no objection to that policy decision being made by the City Commission to
pursue an alternative dispute resolution method.
Vice Chairman Teele: And further recognizing you at 6:55 to discuss the other part of the
motion.
Commissioner Sanchez: Call the question.
Vice Chairman Teele: No. Commissioner Gonzalez to close, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: Oh.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes. Let me tell you. It's frustrating to see that after 15 months, we
have to -- this has to end up this way. I feel, personally, that I have been played with from the
City administration because I have been promised over, and over, and over, and over that this
issue was going to get resolved, and now I'm at the point that I want a judge to be the one to
decide what's going to happen with this deal. Because at this point, I don't trust the
administration. I don't trust anybody here in anything that they tell me in reference to this golf
course. It's been too long. It's been meeting after meetings, and all I ask the City administration
and I ask Bunkers was to, please, sit down and discuss this in good faith, to act in good faith, and
I can tell you that there has not been good faith in here. I have heard comments of people in this
administration that they didn't want to pursue with a solution to this problem because they just
didn't like this golf course to play there. That should not be a reason, OK. I should not deny you
-- Commissioner Teele, I should not deny you the right to do sidewalks in your district or streets,
or a park because I don't like your park, I don't like to play in your park, or I don't like to walk
on your sidewalks. That should not be a reason to deny your community of the things that your
community are entitled to, and that is exactly what happened here with Bunkers, and I'm sick
and tired of it, and that's why I support a hundred percent that this goes before a judge and a
judge make the final decision in this case.
Vice Chairman Teele: According --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- to your motion, it's going to go before three judges. Madam Clerk, call
the roll.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call on binding arbitration. Commissioner Sanchez?
31 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Thompson: Commissioner Regalado?
Commissioner Regalado: Yes.
Ms. Thompson: Commissioner Gonzalez?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Thompson: Vice Chair Teele?
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez, I strongly support what you're doing. Let me
tell you what you need to be careful about. Anytime there is vacant land in this City, everybody
wants to do something with it, and we are having a real problem with the Bayfront Park, because
there's going to be a policy question that we're going to have to make. Are we going to let the
park be used for festivals? Because as the urban encroachment comes in, it squeezes out things.
At the end of the day, I will not be supporting you or anyone else in trying to put a hotel here.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Well --
Vice Chairman Teele: Because I'm going to tell you, at the end of the day, I saw this during the
east/west expressway. I've seen it with the lobbyists that are running around, and at the end of
the day, what's going on is a hotel, and I'm not -- whether you want it or not, I'm not going to
support it.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I --
Vice Chairman Teele: I just want to be clear about where I am on your district, because it's not
about your district. It's about parks, green space and open space in this City, so --
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK. If you allow me. That's exactly -- you mentioned exactly -- let
me tell you what the deal was, OK. Up to the day of the meeting, supposedly everybody was
acting in good faith and everything was going to be resolved. The next morning, the first thing
that I heard the next morning, at 9 a.m. in the morning, was that the deal was going to go down.
It went down because there was a petition to build a hotel in that golf course, and I said, "Over
my dead body and over my community's dead body." I will not allow a hotel to be built there. I
will not allow anything to be built there, as long as I'm Commissioner of that district, and I will
mobilize my community and bring it down to City Hall or to whomever's office is pretending to
build a hotel in that golf course.
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm glad to hear you say it because --
Commissioner Gonzalez: There are a lot of games being played here and we will talk about it
later on this afternoon, I'm sure, so you know --
32 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner, I'm glad you said it because, to me, the golf course may
be your district, but that golf course, like every park, belongs to the entire City. Tomorrow
evening, there will be some 60 children, inner city children playing golf on that golf course.
Tiger Woods has come and taught children on that golf course. That golf course resides in your
district and I respect you as the district Commissioner, but open space, our vistas, our parks,
belong to the citizens, and I'm happy to hear that that's how you feel about that particular one
because, you know, we differ on Sewell Park maybe and some of these other things. We're
certainly in agreement with Maceo Park, but on this, I'm voting yes because I want to see
Bunkers, or the successor to Bunkers, or a new Bunkers, or an old Bunkers make this a first-class
golf course for the citizens of this City and for the visitors, so I'm voting "yes," Madam Chair.
The vote is 4 to 0. The item is unanimously adopted.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-267
A MOTION DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROCEED WITH
BINDING ARBITRATION WITH BUNKERS OF MIAMI; FURTHER
STIPULATING THAT THE ISSUE OF THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BE
CONTINUED TO 6:55 P.M. ON THIS SAME DATE TO ALLOW BOTH
PARTIES TIME TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
33 March 27, 2003
6. BRIEF COMMENTS ON SETTLEMENTS IN CASES OF DAVID F. McCRANIE VS.
CITY AND PRUNEDA VS. CITY; AND ENGAGEMENT OF GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A.
TO REPRESENT CITY IN MATTER OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST JESUS "JESSE" AGUERO. (See #4.12,4.14, & 4.16).
Vice Chairman Teele: What are the other consent items that were withdrawn for discussion?
Commissioner Regalado: 20
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Item number 20.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 20. Mr. Cox, you're recognized. Commissioner Gonzalez,
I think you withdrew it. Did you want to say anything?
Commissioner Gonzalez: No sir. I just wanted to recognize Charlie Cox on Item 20.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, before you start -- Mr. Cox, I didn't realize -- is Mr. Cruz here?
Mr. Cruz? Mr. Cruz? Mr. Cruz, the Clerk has just given me this new form. I'm -- would you
take the dais? I'm responsible -- you had asked to be recognized --
Mariano Cruz: (INAUDIBLE).
Vic Chairman Teele: Well, you need to get your information. You had asked to be recognized
on CA Item 15, 16, 17, and 19. Would you ask your question so that you can get that? Take the
other podium there.
Mr. Cruz: This one is working. OK. Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 26th Street. Just for
information, I see in every agenda that we paying so much money in out-of-court settlement, and
this one, specifically, is 65,000, 65, 000, 85,000, 215,000 that we pay. I would like to see when
we will be collecting money for the people that are at fault accidents against the City, like a
subrogate or something, a way, because I'll tell you, we always pay, pay, pay, pay, but I don't
see -- maybe the Administration is doing something with that, since they will have a new
administration, and that's one, and then, on the other item, 19, on the case of Aguero Jesse to add
50,000 more plus to the case. How much is that total already? Is that becoming a bottomless pit;
that we give money to all these -- ?
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, all right, that's a good question. Mr. Attorney --
Mr. Cruz: All right. I want to know that.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- what is the total amount on Item CA -19?
Mr. Cruz: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: He says the resolution says you're adding 50, but he wants to know -- Mr.
Cruz desires to know how much has already been spent.
34 March 27, 2003
Mr. Cruz: Greenberg Traurig.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney)
(INAUDIBLE).
Mr. Cruz: A hundred thousand dollars.
(INAUDIBLE) including the amount requested
Vice Chairman Teele: So 50,000 had been previously spent.
Mr. Cruz: And anyway, we -- what -- how come we farming so much work out when we have a
Law Department? OK, that case, we don't need; we just did an administration. This we settle
out of court and this we litigate, and that's it, but why we have a Law Department if we farming
so much business out of the City? Fifty thousand -- you know, talking 50,000 plus that can take
care of two employees in a park. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Cruz, this form is new. I apologize that
you didn't get your information before we voted. Thank you for being here.
7. TABLED: PROPOSED RESOLUTION APPROVING FINDINGS OF EVALUATION
COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 02-03-010, FOR
WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION (PART I SERVICES);
GENERAL, AUTOMOBILE AND PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY HANDLING CLAIMS
ADMINISTRATION (PART II SERVICES), AND/OR MANAGED CARE SERVICES (PART
III SERVICES) (See #4.17 & 23).
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Cox you're recognized.
Charlie Cox: Thank you. Charlie Cox, 4011 West Flagler Street, Suite 405 --
Vice Chairman Teele: Are you in favor or opposed --
Mr. Cox: --Miami.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- to the Manager's recommendation?
Mr. Cox: Opposed. We have a major problem in Risk Management. These problems need to be
fixed. The problems you are facing are not with the workers. The issue is safety, safety, and
more safety. As long as the workers of the City are injured, you will have workman's comp
claims, and as long as the users of the City's facilities get injured, you will have general liability
claims. The problems with the approach that you're being asked to take, it ignores the key issue
of safety. You have before you a recommendation that you should enter into a contract that will
take public service and outsource them to a company with its quarter -- with its corporate
headquarters in Illinois. It should come as no surprise to any of you that I rise in opposition to
the proposal that public services should be outsourced and that taxpayers' money sent to Illinois.
Make no mistake, in the long run, outsourcing will cost you more money. It has to. Gallagher
Bassett is in this to make money. You can't have huge corporate salaries and parks without
35 March 27, 2003
charging more money than it cost to provide those services. Gallagher Bassett will charge you
$1.3 million for 900 workman comp. cases, and you now pay 639,000 for all 1,382 cases.
Gallagher Bassett will charge you 920,000 for 710 liability cases. You now pay 2,009 for 962
general liability cases. You haven't spent the money or made the effort it takes to make risk
management work. No wonder it doesn't work properly. If you give the workers the tools and
the chance, they will come through for you every time. Right now you pay 130,000 per year for
a computer system in Risk Management that is useless. You pay this 130,000 each year over and
over. Instead of going on the radio talking about how bad civil service is, why don't you do
what managers do and manage: Install a proper computer system; give the people the tools to do
their job, and what will happen at the end of the contract period? You will have no in-house
experience in administering claims. How much will Gallagher Bassett charge you? Are they
lowballing you now so they can make much more money later? You will not save money by
outsourcing public services. We are aware of Gallagher Bassett and it generally has a good
reputation. The proposal states that certain costs will be extra. These costs are where the big
money is. The costs that are not included are legal fees, professional photographs, medical
records, expert rehab. (rehabilitation) costs, fees for service process, architects, contracts,
engineers, property damage appraisals, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) investigations, official documents
and transcripts, travel, court reports, accident reconstruction, outside investigation. Once again,
management's failings are blamed on the workers. Your ordinance creates a self-insurance
program. There is a board of trustees which is made up of the City Manager, the Director of
Finance, and the Insurance Manager. If the program isn't working, it's their fault. The ordinance
also provides that the City Manager appoint a City self-insurance committee. The ordinance
says and has said since 1975 that the City be self-insured, but that it purchase umbrella coverage.
It wasn't till 2001 that you had an umbrella policy. This isn't the workers' fault; it's the fault of
management. We can dance around the issues of Workman's Compensation and general liability
claims and how much it's costing this City and talk about how it is administered and how it can
change the Administration and what kind of reports we should get and the like, but it's an
avoidance of the real issue, safety. Not just workers' safety, but safety of the residents and the
visitor to the City of Miami, what you do sometimes to promote workers' safety and make the
City a safer place so you don't have as many general liability and workman's comp claims. I
have looked through this proposal; read it over and over again. Not a word is mentioned about
safety. The City Manager was a businessman and, obviously, a successful one at that, so he
should be aware of Alcoa Aluminum and how its workers' safety program increased its bottom
line. Paul O'Neil, the former Secretary of Treasury, became chief executive of Alcoa Aluminum
in 1987. The company profits were $4.8 million. When he left the company, the profits were
1.5 billion. This is a pretty good lesson in sound business management. How did he do it? By
increasing workers' safety. On the first day on the job O'Neil told the company executives that
the company was in terrible financial shape and that the company couldn't talk people into
buying more aluminum and couldn't raise the prices, so for the company to get better, it had to
cut costs. In order to cut costs, he told executives we had to work with the workers, and the way
to do that was to show the workers that you care about them, and the way to do that was to
actually care about them, and the way to do that was to eliminate job-related injuries, and the
executives were judged on how well they did with eliminating job-related injuries. Alcoa did
that and the company's profits were huge. On August 29, 2001, Liberty Mutual Insurance
Company released a report showing that for every $1 invested in work place safety, $3 or more is
saved. The workers in this city are engaged in difficult, specialized jobs where injuries can
36 March 27, 2003
happen; yet, the City has one safety officer. None of you have ever sat with the family of a City
worker who died on an on-the-job injury, but I have. Why don't you do something about
workers' safety? OK, let's say that the Manager doesn't care about the workers and the workers'
safely [sic]. Surely, you must care about the safety of the users of the City property and
facilities. There's nothing in any of the proposals that cuts down on the extent of the injuries,
and here's the proposal. The Manager's memorandum to you states that Gallagher Bassett
would implement an enhanced comprehensive safety program. Where? I challenge you to show
me where in this proposal there is any discussion about safety and implementation of an
enhanced safety program. In fact, we called the Miramar office of Gallagher Bassett on
Tuesday. We spoke to Mr. Carter, the branch manager, and asked to speak to the safety officer,
and we were told that none -- there were none in the Miramar office. Didn't the evaluation
committee realize that there was no safety program in the proposal? Tell the workers and the
taxpayers the truth. You have done and will continue to do nothing for workplace safety or the
safety of the users of the city. APM (Administrative Procedures Manual) 195 establishes a
safety management program. Its purpose is to, and I quote, "to identify and mitigate and/or
eliminate safe -- unsafe acts practices and conditions that have the potential to result in financial
liability for the City of Miami." This program is not being followed. It is not being followed
because safety has not and is not a priority of the City, and there will be no improvement in
workman's comp or general liability until this City tells its workers and residents that we care
about you and we will work to make it safer for you. Your safety coordinator works
exceptionally hard and does the best she can, but one person is not enough. Safety needs to
become the central organizing principle of the City if you want to save money.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right --
Mr. Cox: You can save money by cutting down claims and cutting down claims by making the
City safer. You have workers who care about the system and want to keep their work. Keep the
money here in South Florida. Don't send it to Illinois. Care about the workers and care about
the residents. Give the workers the tools to do their job.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Mr. --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you, Charlie.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a motion on the item?
Commissioner Sanchez: I'd like to hear from the Administration (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Stuart Myers: Good morning. My name is Stuart Myers. I live at 119 Thorton Drive, Palm
Beach Gardens, Florida. My phone number is 625-3255. I'm advisor to the City Manager on
risk management matters.
Diane Erickson: I am Diane Erickson, the new director of Risk Management; started February
10; got involved in this as soon as I got in here; address is 335 Southwest 79th Court; phone
number is (305) 269-7002.
37 March 27, 2003
Mr. Myers: Almost everything that Mr. Cox has said I actually agree with wholeheartedly. This
is a matter of safety, safety for the employees of the City and for the visitors of the City and the
citizens of the City. We have a misdirected effort, however, at the Risk Management
Department at the current time. We are bogged down there with relentless, day-to-day claims
activity. What we propose to do today is to move forward to negotiate a contract with Gallagher
Bassett to take over the day-to-day handling of the actual claims after they exist. Mr. Cox
numbers, however, are way off base. I would prefer not to get into an argument about the
numbers because we haven't negotiated the contract yet, but I assure you that we will actually
save money for the City by outsourcing this on hard dollars in the budget. In addition, what we
hope to do is to redefine the direction of the Risk Management Department. Instead of spending
every single day handling many, many claims and the details of those claims, we'll get to
redirect our energies toward safety, safety, and safety. We propose, as part of this process, to
triple the size of the safety department, at least. The claims people who will be left in the City,
who will be working, will be reviewing the work of the third -party administrator, and so we will
continue to maintain a high degree of claims expertise within the City, but instead of doing the
grunt work every single day on every single claim, we will be doing a supervisory role. Most of
our effort can then be turned to the issue of safety within the City. The number of people that
will be displaced, although displacing anyone I find very difficult, we are down to 11 people
being displaced, of which three are protected employees by earlier contracts, leaving eight non -
protected employees. Of the non -protected numbers, four have rollback rights, so we are left
with four people unprotected, without rollback rights. We believe that we will be able to save a
huge amount of money for the City by going forward with this, increase safety dramatically, the
safety program, and increase the benefits to the City employees in terms of when they do,
unfortunately, have a claim, they'll have better access to their physicians, quicker medical
treatment, 24-hour call centers, the kind of work that we cannot do for ourselves in this City, but
a larger organization like Gallagher can provide for us.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. We're going to have to -- we're just going to have to bring this
to a head. Do we have an opinion from the Manager? Is there anybody else? Yes, sir. Do you
wanted to speak on this?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Do we have a written advice -- ?
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Vice Chairman, I understand we have a voluminous agenda, sir,
but this is a very, very important issue for the City. This is a battle that's been going on for five
years and I think that it's very important that we address this issue today and give it as much time
as it may take because I consider it one of many important issues today on this agenda, sir.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: I don't know what I did to give you the impression that I don't want to
deal with it today. I mean --
Commissioner Sanchez: Well --
38 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- I'll take the reprimands anytime from anybody when I'm presiding --
Commissioner Regalado: No.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- but I'm trying to move the agenda, sir, and I'm going to do that with
your cooperation. Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: I just want to say that it has been your policy and the policy of the
City Commission always that when we have guests here, we'll take the issue first. I see a lot of
people here that are for one issue that this is not the one, and I do agree that I'm willing to spend
whatever time is necessary, but I think that we, out of courtesy to the people here on other issue,
I believe this Little Haiti report, if we can --
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, since we don't have a motion on the floor, sir, if you want to ask
that that item be taken up ahead of this -- this seems to be all family here. The union presidents
are our family and we can all --
Commissioner Regalado: It's about -- it's a mathematical thing. We have three or four people
here willing to discuss this item, but we have several people that are interested, so I would really
ask you to --
Vice Chairman Teele: Without objection --
Commissioner Regalado: -- defer.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- the item will be moved to the side, and the item scheduled for 10 a.m. -
- it's now 11:15 -- it will be brought forward and that's the item relating to the Post Buckley
report regarding Little Haiti.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: We'll come right back to this item.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you very much.
Vice Chairman Teele: It'll be this afternoon.
39 March 27, 2003
8. UPDATE REPORT CONCERNING LITTLE HAITI PARK.
Vice Chairman Teele: And the item scheduled for 10 a.m. -- it's now 11:15 -- it will be brought
forward, and that's the item relating to the Post Buckley Report regarding Little Haiti. We'll
come right back to this item.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you very much.
Vice Chairman Teele: It'll be this afternoon.
Keith Carswell (Director, Economic Development): Mr. Vice Chair, fellow Commissioners, Mr.
Manager. Following the directive to the staff --
Vice Chairman Teele: Did you give your name and title and address and all that?
Mr. Carswell: Keith Carswell, Director for Economic Development, with the City of Miami.
Following the directive from the March 27th agenda, we've asked the consultants who were
involved in the acquisition cause for the Little Haiti Park to come and provide a presentation
relative to the factors that were used in considering the parameters that were established by the
Internal Working Group in the Commission directive relative to looking at all the acquisition
costs. Also, within looking at the acquisition costs, there were two scenarios that included
relocation, and they will talk about the relocation issues and the potential implications associated
with that. I'm going to ask Mr. Norris Smith, who's the project manager for Acquisition Services
with PBS&J (Post Buckley Shuh & Jernigan) to come forward and introduce the rest of his team.
Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Let's just get the flow of what's here before it's straight. The
sole item before us today is the Post Buckley Shuh and Jernigan Study and the methodology, and
certain questions that were asked, I think, in February, that they be updated in the first meeting in
March -- this being the first meeting in March -- that's here. I think, Mr. Carswell and Mr.
Manager -- Mr. Manager, I think, so that we can have a full discussion and debate and have a full
public hearing on the Little Haiti Park, with your permission -- because this is a limited item,
based upon a report that I asked for regarding Post Buckley -- I would appreciate if we would
schedule, with a public notice, for the second meeting in April -- now, I checked with your staff.
They felt that that time would be better than the first meeting in April -- and to bring any items
that need to be acted upon regarding the Little Haiti Park, and so that the public will have a full
opportunity to express their views on the items that are being presented, and if that's acceptable
to you, we will then -- Mr. Carswell indicated that he would be ready to have action items for the
Commission at that time. This item has no action items before us today, but this is a report, and
so Commissioner Regalado, for the purpose of getting a public hearing date and a public hearing,
that is, a meeting that will be noticed to the public, would you move, please, that there be an
item, with a time certain of let's say 4:30 p.m., for the second meeting in April, to discuss the
Little Haiti Park. Would you so move?
Commissioner Regalado: I will do so.
40 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's been moved and second, that there'll be a discussion on items relating
to the Little Haiti Park, with action items included by the Manager on those, and the public
would be invited for the second meeting of April. Madam Clerk, what is that date?
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): I'm just checking the calendar, sir. I'm sorry.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, normally, we'd have a calendar back there so we can all look at it.
Ms. Thompson: We're still in the planning stages, trying to figure out how we'll handle
everything.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's scheduled for April 24th?
Commissioner Regalado: So --
Vice Chairman Teele: Thursday, April 24th. It will be, again, at 4:30.
Commissioner Regalado: So, today, Mr. Chairman, we're listening --
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. Let me just carry the motion, if I could. All those in favor of the
motion --
Unidentified Speaker: May I speak?
Vice Chairman Teele: -- say "aye."
Unidentified Speaker: May I speak?
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed say "no."
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-268
A MOTION SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 24, 2003, AT
4:30 PM, TO DISCUSS ALL PROPOSED ACTIONS RELATING TO LITTLE
HAITI PARK.
41 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: This is an item that's just setting up an agenda. Now, the item before us -
- would you just take a seat, sir? Would you just take a seat until we get at least to a point where
we can allow people to speak? The item before us today is a request by this Commissioner to
update regarding the Post Buckley Shuh Study, specifically relating to three things: One was the
question relating to the relocation costs, and why was relocation costs factored in in the price that
went out, to which a number of people said, "I told you so. You couldn't afford it." We've also
asked the City Attorney to issue a written opinion, and I believe that opinion has been issued,
and I would assume that you'll make that available to both the public and the Commissioners.
Secondly, we asked that the cost factor be recalculated to exclude what the Commission had
adopted, which was the Working Group's recommendation, that all of the businesses along
Northeast 2nd Avenue and all of the businesses along 62nd Street, essentially would retain --
would stay, because it was a very strong sense that the community wanted to maintain the unique
Haitian/Caribbean influence, flavor, architecture and mix, and that those items would not be
removed, but the study did assume the removal of those businesses; is that correct?
Mr. Carswell: Correct.
Unidentified Speaker: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: And then the third thing's related to the actual costs, as it relates to
eminent domain and whether or not eminent domain numbers included all property being
eminent domain or some portion of the property being eminent domain. There were several
questions related to the relocation, such as who would get relocation and the public policy issues
associated with that, and I would hope that if the Manager and the Attorney feel the need for
direction, that that relocation direction would come forth at the second meeting in April for a
policy determination and giving everybody an opportunity to study. I note, for the record, Mr.
Manager, that the City Attorney's opinion was not released until yesterday, I believe, and again,
it does not lend itself to thoughtful discussion, and that's one of the reasons we want to make sure
that everybody's on the same page. Commissioner Sanchez or Gonzalez or Regalado, did you
have any questions regarding where we are and what we're doing?
Commissioner Sanchez: No, sir.
42 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Mr. Carswell, you're recognized, and sir, if you -- did you have
a question, sir?
Kent Robbins: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Please.
Mr. Robbins: My name is Kent Harrison Robbins. I represent Michael O., an artist and owner of
a business at 6444 Northeast 4th Avenue. Michael O. is a nationally recognized artist, who has a
business in the area -- subject area. I know that this Commissioner -- I know that this
Commission has recognized the importance of encouraging the arts and art places in the project
area. However, this particular report does not address that issue, given that my client is in the
artistic area.
Vice Chairman Teele: Could you let them give the report and then come up with that item?
Mr. Robbins: I'll be more than happy to. I just want to make certain that we're going to have an
opportunity -- because there are over 200 people here that wishes to --
Vice Chairman Teele: We only have a small number of people signed up.
Mr. Robbins: Right. That's correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: Did you sign up?
Mr. Robbins: I did sign up, sir. I am registered, but I just want to make it clear for the record,
there are over 200 people, employees from the area, who's jobs will be lost as a result of this
project, who wish to be recognized as being in this room.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, that -- sir, just so that the record is --
Mr. Robbins: And I will come back and speak.
Vice Chairman Teele: Just so that the record is clear, I have before me 18 persons that have
signed up that want to be recognized, so your statements, while they may be helpful to your
client in some future litigation, are not correct for the record, OK? Have a seat.
Mr. Robbins: May I respond to that?
Vice Chairman Teele: No, sir.
Mr. Robbins: I reserve my right.
Vice Chairman Teele: No, no. Have a seat and you'll be called upon to speak at an appropriate
time, counsel. Are you a member of the Florida Bar?
43 March 27, 2003
Mr. Robbins: Yes, I am.
Vice Chairman Teele: Then act in accordance.
Mr. Carswell: Mr. Vice Chair, with your pleasure, I'd just like for Post Buckley to come up and
talk about the methodology that was used in developing the report.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you.
Norris Smith: Mr. Chairman, Commission. My name is Norris Smith. I am the Program
Manager for PBS&J, Post Buckley Shuh and Jernigan. Our address 3600 107th Avenue, here in
the City of Miami. I have with me here this morning some staff, who will be presenting a short
presentation with regards to our methodology as to how the cost estimate was developed, what
items -- some of the items that are retained in the cost estimate, as well as addressing why we
had included those relocation costs and exactly what is relocation as it relates to these types of
projects, so without further ado, I'll introduce Mitch Hammer. Mitch Hammer is our Cost
Estimate Supervisor. He's a state registered appraiser here in the state of Florida, and part of
what he does on a daily basis is cost estimates for clients, such as the City of Miami, so Mitch
Hammer.
Mitch Hammer: We have prepared a slide presentation to help you follow through. It should be
on the overhead here and on your screens in front of you, when that comes up.
Vice Chairman Teele: Why don't you just give us an abbreviated version of what you would
have done on slide? We're having technical difficulties. We can't even hardly hear you.
Mr. Hammer: I certainly will. I am here to describe the purpose and the function of what we
were hired to do and that, namely, an acquisition of cost estimate and relocation analysis. We're
on screen now. For the acquisition of cost estimates, we were hired for the scope of the project,
the Little Haiti Park Project, to estimate partial acquisition costs within two study areas. Those
study areas being divided into north and south, with 29 properties located north of 62nd Street
and 82 parcels located south of 62nd Street. Here is the project map that shows our study area.
Again, it's just a study area. We have a north section in the light green and a southern section in
the beige, orange. Again, that is not to scale. It was adjusted for the computer -- for the
overhead. Again, the purpose of the cost estimate was to provide guidance to decision makers
for planning and budgeting purposes. It is a tool, and we utilized four scenarios to identify
potential total project costs, using different acquisition and relocation criteria. This allows
flexibility so study areas can be divided and arranged to provide different, you know, potential
acquisition cost scenarios. Again, this would allow the study areas to be either phased or looked
at differently, depending on what businesses are determined that would remain, and what might
be needed for the park project. The format that we had utilized is an FDOT (Florida Department
of Transportation) approved process. We were modified for four scenarios to allow, again, the
flexibility as a planning tool, and we have --
Vice Chairman Teele: Isn't the FDOT assuming federal funding? Doesn't the FDOT process
assume compliance with federal rules, based upon federal dollars?
44 March 27, 2003
Mr. Hammer: Well, not all FDOT projects are federally funded.
Vice Chairman Teele: Does this scenario -- then let me ask this. Does the FDOT approved
process, whichever one you use --
Mr. Hammer: It covers both. This is a format that they utilize for all projects, whether federally
funded or state funded.
Vice Chairman Teele: So, when you say all negotiations, no relocation benefit, you used two
formulas: One assuming the federal process and one assuming the non-federal process?
Mr. Hammer: No. The processes involved, we -- the scenarios -- I'll explain -- is negotiation
scenarios and the condemnation scenario. The negotiation scenario was just to allow the
Commission to see potential budgeting costs that would be required --
Vice Chairman Teele: But that's not my question. My question is, are you assuming the federal
4F standard of compliance? Yes or no.
Mr. Hammer: I can't answer that, because this is -- for FDOT, that assumes either. It is the
budgeting process, and in either scenario --
Vice Chairman Teele: Sir, for the record, the FDOT process always assumes federal funds.
Mr. Hammer: That would be correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: Always assumes federal funds. In that the 95 percent of the DOT
(Department of Transportation) projects are federally funded.
Mr. Hammer: Well, they used this as a budgeting tool in --
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm not disputing that. I'm just simply saying, you're imputing something
that is really not before us, because this is not a federally -- I wish to God it were a federally
funded program, but it's like using CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) dollars. If
you use CDBG dollars, you have to have David Bacon's compliance, you have to have 4F
compliance, you have to have the kind of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance
that's going on now. That adds 20 -- 15 to 20 percent in the baseline. That's all that I'm saying.
That's all that I'm saying.
Mr. Hammer: Yes. Well, we definitely do that, and that, again --
Vice Chairman Teele: You definitely do what?
Mr. Hammer: Utilize -- it's the state process, and they assume all projects have the potential for
federal dollars.
45 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Now, how much federal dollars are you aware of is in this project?
Mr. Hammer: I'm not aware of federal dollars in this project.
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm not either.
Mr. Hammer: This --
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager. Mr. Manager, do you understand what I'm -- I mean, Mr.
Manager, you are very knowledgeable on these issues.
Victor Monzon-Aguirre (Chief of Neighborhood Services): Yes, Commissioner.
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm willing to yield to you on this, but do you understand the premise that
I'm showing you?
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: I -- Commissioner, I understand, and the only issue that we, as the
administration, have to bring to light to you is that we may lose opportunities to obtain grants to
assist us in further expansion beyond those dollars that we have allocated for this park.
Vice Chairman Teele: That may be true and that may not be true. The point is this, what we
have is locally funded, non-federal dollars for this project, and at best, we're talking about land
acquisition. If we wanted to partition off a portion of the park and say we're going to save this
for potential federal dollars, I wouldn't object, but to assume that this entire project is going to be
federally funded, when there are no federal dollars at hand, clearly assumes that we're not going
to do anything on this project until we get federal dollars. Because if -- the first time we use
non-federal dollars, OK, and we don't comply with all the federal rules, then you basically are
barred from that. I understand that, but clearly we're not going to -- how much federal money
did we put in Margaret Pace Park? Zero, so I mean --
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: The point I wanted the Commissioners to understand, you know, and the
public that cares, is that the study was impregnated with an assumption that, based upon my
years of federal experience, no local government would do. No local government would do it,
unless you're trying to kill it.
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: Commissioner, the instructions to the consultant was to provide all
scenarios, including those scenarios without --
Vice Chairman Teele: And what I'm telling you is, the only scenario here is a federally approved
process scenario.
Mr. Carswell: Well, let me just clarify, if I may.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman, can I --
46 March 27, 2003
Mr. Carswell: The relocation -- well, the federal process -- the federal regulations in the four
scenarios that you have only apply to relocation costs, and the process that was used in
determining the costs was relative to the process of relocating tenants or people who are
occupying certain properties that are acquired. You're absolutely correct, that the current funds
that we have available to us are not federal dollars. In looking at this whole acquisition -- in
looking at the acquisition scenarios that were laid out, one included negotiated sales.
Vice Chairman Teele: Right.
Mr. Carswell: Then the second scenario included negotiation with relocation under federal
guidelines.
Vice Chairman Teele: Right.
Mr. Carswell: And then the third scenario included condemnation, and then the fourth scenario
condemnation with relocation under federal guidelines. One of the concerns that was expressed -
- and I think we're going to get into a discussion on it -- was that if we don't pay relocation, there
may be future implications down the road that should federal funds become available, we may be
precluded from applying for those federal dollars, so that --
Vice Chairman Teele: I would just only say this. I've been here for seven years -- five years
trying to get state dollars or federal dollars. We have not gotten any federal dollars for this City
for parks in the last "X" number of years, so while that may be true, that we could, but reality is,
in the constraints that we're in now, it's highly unlikely. The only point that I would make is, if
the staff wants to make that assumption, then compartmentalize that assumption in some
segmented area and then let's all go out and try to get federal dollars, but we're not going to get
federal dollars for "A" to "Z." If we get federal dollars, it's going to be for a limited role or a
limited purpose for some "federal" nexus, and there is no federal nex -- I mean, so --
Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: I am -- I think that Chairman Teele is correct, but my concern --
because he understands and we sort of also understand what is going on here, at least a little, but
my only concern, my main concern is that the residents, the merchants, the people that are here
are getting bad information in terms of what we will decide. Because we're using this federal
guidelines presuming that we some day will get some funding from the federal government, and
that might not be the case. It may be that we never get federal money, and what the people are
listening here or will be reading in this report is that according to federal regulations, if there is a
land acquisition, we have to do this and we have to do that, and the fact of the matter is that that
might not be the case, so we cannot mislead the people from the area, and I would urge you,
anybody who's here from this firm or the administration, to stick to what we have now --
Vice Chairman Teele: Exactly.
Commissioner Regalado: -- and to tell these people what is really going on, not what could
happen if we get tomorrow's or if we, you know, probably win the power ball lottery or
47 March 27, 2003
something. They need to know that we are not governed by certain standards that are here if we
don't have federal dollars, so all this about, you know, moving expenses and land acquisitions --
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Regalado: -- is not what the reality is, so I would urge you to tell us, so they can
understand the reality with what -- the money that we have now, which is the bond money.
That's all, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez.
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, I would like to hear the report. After all, you directed
the consultants to recalculate the costs of acquiring the properties, and if the residents that are
being affected are not getting the proper information, well, this is one way to get information as
to what's going to be the land cost, what's going to be the cost of relocation, to make sure that we
are -- whatever steps we take, that we fall within the guidelines and we follow the rules, so I
would like to hear the report.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Cars --
Mr. Smith: I don't know if you can hear me. Norris Smith again, PBS&J. I want to make
something clear in terms of what our role is with regards to this -- the scenario and what we were
hired to do. We were not hired to make decisions for the City of Miami. We were hired to give
staff the tools necessary to bring forth to this Commission what they thought necessary to make
the rational decisions regarding going forward with the park. That's what this report did. The
scenarios that you see on that board gives you, one, that first one that says "all negotiations,"
that's strictly costs. That's what, in our opinion, from a cost -estimating standpoint, it would cost
you to go out and buy the property on behalf of the City of Miami. The second scenario says to
you that, if you buy this property and include relocation costs, this is what we think it will cost
you. The third scenario says, if you buy this property and go through the eminent domain
process and do not provide relocations, this is what it will cost you. The fourth scenario says, if
you condemn and go through the relocation process, this is what it will cost you. We're -- it has
nothing to do with the decision-making process, in terms of the total -- in terms of making a final
decision. What this is is a tool for staff to use to look at different scenarios, within these four
options, so -- to present to this Commission, so you can make a rational decision and go forth
with or with --
Vice Chairman Teele: Would you go through --
Mr. Smith: -- to the park.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- the thing as Commissioner Sanchez has requested?
Mr. Smith: We'll do just that.
Commissioner Sanchez: Thank you.
48 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: The problem is, sir -- sir, just before you get your "b" out of your bonnet.
The problem is, it was not consistent with the instructions of the Commission, because it
contained land in it along Northeast 2nd Avenue and Northwest 62nd Street, so if we could just
go through what the presentation is, I would be grateful. You've said the same thing three times,
so let's just go through --
Mr. Smith: Mr. Hammer will continue with the presentation.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you.
Mr. Hammer: Allow me to back up a slide. Again, I want to re-emphasize that the purpose was
to provide guidance for planning and budgeting, and at the bottom it allows flexibility for the
study areas can be divided and arranged, provide different or unlimited acquisition scenarios.
This is a tool, again, so you can look at different properties and do different -- four different
scenarios that would allow you to make decisions. Again, here we have -- within the cost
estimate itself, it is a budgeting tool, strictly, and only an estimate. We have support costs that
cover direct labor. This is for the management of the project by City staff. We have acquisition
consultant support as a potential budget item. Again, all these can be moved, taken out. It's a
tool. We have operations, and that is the actual cost that the City would incur; appraisal fees,
demolition costs, other expert witness fees. They're all involved in the purchase of properties,
and this is before condemnation. This would be even just under negotiations.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are those numbers cumulative or are they aggregated -- to be aggregated?
Mr. Hammer: Well, they can be aggregated. Those number are aggregated within the
percentages.
Vice Chairman Teele: What's the bottom line, based upon this assumption, what are you saying,
13 plus 3 plus 2, or a total of 18?
Mr. Hammer: This is just one part. I have another slide that continues with more percentages.
We have our land costs, which make up the bulk of the percentage of the project. Land
improvements, plus the administrative settlement increases, and that can run from 49 percent to
almost 84 percent of your project, where, if, under a condemnation scenario -- and many
properties require eminent domain. Eminent domain costs would obviously be high, and so your
land costs would only be roughly 49 percent of your total project costs, where if you were able to
buy a few properties strictly by negotiation of settlement without condemnation, you could --
your budget would be primarily just for the cost of the land and real estate, upwards of 84
percent. If condemnation costs are involved in those other two scenarios, you have litigation
awards, owner appraisal fees, defendant and attorney fees, and additional expert witness fees.
Again, you see some percentages there of the costs, and then relocation. Again, if federal
funding were involved, we offer -- we have that as a scenario, so you would be aware of
relocation costs and what they would range, depending on the different scenarios, and again, all
these can be worked as a tool with a City -- they have the ability to take different properties in
and out of the estimate to provide different ideas of how you'd like to proceed with the project.
49 March 27, 2003
Again, to end our presentation, we have an explanation of the relocation assistance with Eric
Watkins.
Eric Watkins: Good morning. As establishment of the Uniform Relocation --
Vice Chairman Teele: Name and address for the record.
Mr. Watkins: Thank you, sir. Eric Watkins, PBS&J. As establishment of the Uniform
Relocation and Real Properties Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, our needs assessment
document was prepared with the expressed intent of stating that the Uniform Act helps to ensure
the equitable treatment of all those who are displaced by federally funded projects. Now, the
reason why we did such was to inform the City that failure to comply with the Uniform Act may
negate eligibility for federal assistance on all phases of the project. There are two types of
relocations: Residential and non-residential displacements. Under residential relocation, you
have personal property, residential -owned occupants and residential tenants. Personal property
relocation involves the move of personal items from the real estate that is being acquired as part
of this project.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. -- Commissioner Regalado is going to have to leave, but again, Mr.
Attorney -- Mr. Manager, Commissioner Regalado is going to have to leave, but again, Mr.
Manager, I just want to communicate to you, this study has been impregnated with this
relocation factors. Let me tell you, the more of this you put out there, the more there's some
presumption, and I'm going to tell you right now, except for Homestead exemptions, except for
residential Homestead exemptions, I have no desire to vote -- I mean, I'll support whatever three
people vote for, but we've never done it before, and if we do it here, we're going to do it
everywhere else in this City, but this City has never had the position and policy of paying these
relocation costs where it's not mandated, and to start briefing on this as if we are is very
misleading to the public, and Commissioner Regalado, you can speak for yourself, but he's about
to leave, and he's saying, look, why are we talking about this?
Commissioner Regalado: Look, Commissioner -- Mr. Chairman, I think it's wrong to send a
very wrong message of misleading the people, because then -- what we're saying here is that we
are mandated to do this and that, and that would probably make some people change their mind
and this is wrong. We cannot mislead the people of Miami. We cannot give wrong information
to the merchants. This is very wrong. I would -- you know, if you all want to listen to this study,
it's fine by me, but I think that the merchants in the area, the residents in the area should be told
the truth and nothing but the truth. Do not think that this is what is going to happen. Because
you know, some people may make some decisions based on this and then, at the end of the day,
when you make the decision, you're not getting that and you are going to say, "Well, like always,
government cheated on us." I'm not going to be part of this. Either we tell the people the truth --
you know, we're going to do this or we're going to do that, or we don't say anything. I'm not
going to be part of this. I've got to leave anyway, because I've got to go to work, but -- my
second work, but this is -- to me, it's very wrong. We are sending a very different message of
what is the reality and, you know -- that's all I wanted to say.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez.
50 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, you know -- but we need information. There is a million
questions that have not been answered on this. Cost being a factor. I have one. If we don't pay
the relocation, would be able to use CDBG money? I mean, there are a lot of questions
pertaining to this --
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner, you know and I know that we ain't going to get CDBG
dollars. Because I, for one --
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, Commissioner Teele --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- am not -- I mean, we're short CDBG dollars and it's no need in
impregnating the discussion any further with something in my district that you're not going to
even vote to support. You're not going to send any money from your district to my district for
CDBG dollars.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, Commissioner Teele, I've done that already.
Vice Chairman Teele: And my district doesn't have --
Commissioner Sanchez: I've done that already on the record. I've given you money from my
district to your district, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Not in my lifetime.
Commissioner Sanchez: The CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency).
Vice Chairman Teele: Not in my lifetime.
Commissioner Sanchez: And the record reflects --
Vice Chairman Teele: Not in my lifetime.
Commissioner Sanchez: And later on we'll dispute it, but I'm just saying that this is a sensitive
issue that we're not going to steamroll down -- as quickly as possible, and there are a lot of
questions, and these are the experts that were hired to give us the numbers.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner, --
Commissioner Sanchez: I want to know how much --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- those numbers are available for you. I've gone through them.
Commissioner Sanchez: Sir --
Vice Chairman Teele: I've spent --
51 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: The report that's here clearly states that if -- let's say we don't get any
federal -- although you don't agree with the report. If we do not --
Vice Chairman Teele: I fully agree with the report now.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, then, it's forty-three point six million dollars ($43,600,000). All
negotiations, no relocation benefits.
Vice Chairman Teele: I fully agree with the report now, now that the numbers have been
quantified and broken out.
Commissioner Sanchez: And just for the record, I support this park, OK. There's just a lot of
questions --
Vice Chairman Teele: That remains to be seen, Commissioner.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, there's a lot of questions that have not been answered.
Vice Chairman Teele: That remains to be seen, but the point is simply this. This report, when it
came out, did not -- it had factored into it the acquisition of land along Northeast 2nd Avenue,
which everybody in the community found offensive, because we said we were going to maintain
the unique Haitian character of Northeast 2nd and the entire area, as well as Northeast 62nd
Street or MLK (Martin Luther King) Boulevard. There's a 61st and a 62nd. Secondly, the
notion was, is that we would buy first from those volunteer property owners and secondarily, we
would look at eminent domain consistent with the need for particular buildings and projects,
recognizing that we have CD (Community Development) dollars and the all like -- we have bond
dollars and the all likelihood is we're not going to be able to use significant CD dollars in this
project, and we will not get significant federal dollars in this project and that has been the
premise all along. I have no objections to taking one area or one fourth of the park and saying
we'll make it federal compliant. I don't have any objections to that, but to say that a soccer field
that needs to be built yesterday, while we're all talking -- to say that a soccer field is going to
need federal money is just to delay, and the vast majority of this park is going to be open space,
athletic fields, and hammocks and shaded area. That's the vast majority of the park, so why
would you take an entire park, 100 percent, and factor federal dollars in it and factor all these
other things as if to say we're going to lose federal money? Every federal dollar we're going to
get during your political lifetime we can capture into this park by saying we'll just section off an
eighth of the park or a fourth of the park and make it federal compliant. I don't have any
problem with that, but there's no reason to hold up soccer fields being built while we pray for
money from Washington, which hasn't come in the last 20 years and it ain't going to come in the
next four years.
Commissioner Sanchez: Commissioner Teele, that's not the issue here. The issue here today is
to find out exactly --
52 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: That was the issue, that I asked that the item be put on the agenda,
Commissioner.
Commissioner Sanchez: Everyone has supported the park. It is the largest ticket item on the
Defense -- Homeland Defense Bond, and let me just say, the only concern that I have is that I
don't want to economically destroy that area building a park. I'm all for the park, but I'm very
concerned --
(APPLAUSE)
Commissioner Sanchez: --that you --people will be losing their jobs and people are going to be
run out of an area that although needs a park, it also needs an economy.
(APPLAUSE)
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Would you -- want to go ahead and wind up your presen -- Mr.
Manager. All right. Would you go ahead and wind up your presentation?
Mr. Watkins: OK, sir. Getting back to residential owner occupants and tenants, they'll ultimately
receive --
Vice Chairman Teele: Sir?
Mr. Watkins: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: Your presentation relating to relocation has been put on the record.
Mr. Watkins: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: Did you read the City -- see, the problem is this, Mr. Manager. Nobody
asked the City Attorney for an opinion until I did, and the City Attorney's opinion would have
mitigated, I'm certain, a lot of the discussion and work that Post Buckley Shuh and Jernigan did,
because it's very exhaustive, and I will say this: I am in favor of paying relocation costs, as long
as we're doing it citywide. If we're going to do something citywide, then we can do it, but you're
not going to pick on a community, under the guise of whatever you want to call it,
Commissioner, and do something over here that you're not doing in your district or the next
district or the next district, and so this City has never paid relocation costs for local projects that
are not federally funded, so I know we like to make the rules up as we go, but that's just the way
it is.
Mr. Watkins: Sir, I'd like to amend one statement, though. With regards to federal funding on a
segment of the project, what they're going to want to see is federal compliance with regards to
the entire project corridor, so if there hasn't been compliance on all phases of the park project,
then that endangers receipt of federal funds on any one phase of the project.
53 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: But I think we would have to work with the attorneys in Washington to
see if we can define the project a little bit differently, and I would have no problem de -annexing
a portion of the boundary to become a different project. That's just simply semantics. I did that
for the Downtown People Mover when I renamed it Downtown Metro Mover, because the
federal government wasn't funding People Movers, and we funded it. It's just a change in the
name and a change in the structure. Do you have anything else that's added, that's not -- that is
not going to mislead the public?
Mr. Watkins: Other than the relocation, no, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you very much. Is there anything else, Mr. Carswell,
from Post Buckley? Did they readdress the numbers relating to -- what were the dollars reflected
in Northeast 2nd Avenue and 62nd Street, if we -- their report assumed that we were going to
purchase that. If you de -annex the acquisition of the land along -- the commercial area, not the
vacant land, but the commercial area along Northeast 2" d --
Mr. Carswell: In taking a look at the four scenarios, for negotiated purchases, the number was
about 43.7 million; for negotiated purchases with relocation, it was about 50.3 million; for
condemnation with no relocation, 56.1 million, and for condemnation with relocation, 62.8
million, and that exclude or it de -annex all the commercial properties along Northeast 2nd
Avenue and Northeast 62nd Street.
Vice Chairman Teele: What is the value of the excluded properties? That's the question.
Mr. Carswell: The value --
Vice Chairman Teele: Roughly.
Mr. Carswell: If you were to assume the notion -- the negotiated sales, where the value would be
43 -- four --
Vice Chairman Teele: Four million.
Mr. Carswell: About 10 million.
Vice Chairman Teele: About ten million dollars ($10,000,000)?
Mr. Carswell: About 10 million, yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. That's along Northeast 2nd?
Mr. Carswell: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, so that was my main issue, that the cost of the project inflated it by at
least fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) along Northeast 2nd and Northeast 62nd. Did you
give -- is the 10 million Northeast 2nd and 62nd?
54 March 27, 2003
Mr. Carswell: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, so your number's 10 million?
Mr. Carswell: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: And I'll adopt that number. OK.
Mr. Carswell: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: Further discussion by the Commission on this item? Is there any person
who would like to be heard on the report related to Post Buckley, on the methodology and
technology -- the methodology for the appraisal? Madam Clerk, do you have any names?
Commissioner Sanchez: Did that conclude their report, Mr. Chairman?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: It did?
Vice Chairman Teele: That was the only thing that I asked them for.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. Anyone who would like to be heard on the methodology and the
report that was just heard? I'm going to start with Ms. Irma Esquibel, Mr. Caridad Gomez, Maria
-- would you please come forward as your name is called? Maria Lubina, 550 Northeast 61st
Street, number 9, Duania Baca, Apartment C-308, on 63rd and Northeast 2nd, Gladys Alvarado.
Would any of those persons please come forward and be heard, please? I guess they have all
gone? Let the record reflect their names are being called. Ms. Nancy Delgado, Northeast 4th
Avenue. Ms. Alberta Fernandez, 6301 Northeast 4th Avenue. Any persons desiring to be heard,
as we've called, please come forward. Gesenia Barrio, 6301 Northeast 4th Avenue. Del Bryan,
Gladys Flete, 6700 Southwest 113th Court, Damara Frometa, 520 Northeast 82nd Terrace,
Hortencia Zamora, 6301 Northeast 4th Avenue, Dunia Beps, 6301 Northeast 4th Avenue. Yes,
sir.
Del Bryan: My name is Del Bryan, 201 --
Vice Chairman Teele: Take the mic over there.
Mr. Bryan: My name is Del Bryan, 201 Northwest 7th Street, Miami, 33136. Well, myself and
the others that filled up the form that we want to speak --
Vice Chairman Teele: Sir, just speak for yourself. You don't know what they're speaking.
55 March 27, 2003
Mr. Bryan: All right.
Vice Chairman Teele: This is a public record --
Mr. Bryan: Well, for myself -- OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: This is a public record and I -- it's my duty to keep the record straight.
Mr. Bryan: Thank you, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Speak for yourself, not for anyone that didn't show up.
Mr. Bryan: What I need to say is not necessarily the Post Buckley Study, as you had it here.
Vice Chairman Teele: Then it's out of order.
Mr. Bryan: And we are here on the agenda item, Little Haiti, and that's why we signed the form
to speak on the agenda item, not the narrow Post Buckley.
Vice Chairman Teele: What -- say what you want to say.
Mr. Bryan: On the entire Haiti -- on the entire Little Haiti Park?
Vice Chairman Teele: Whatever you want to say.
Mr. Bryan: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: You're recognized for an additional minute.
Mr. Bryan: Thank you, sir. As a citizen and a resident of the City of Miami, we're concerned
about jobs and building the city and building the residents, and what we want to be sure is that
Little Haiti gets its park. It should have a great park, but not at the expense of taking out jobs
and not at the expense of demonetizing the community again, and we end up with a lot of
blighted space over years. It just builds in itself. We would like to know -- or what we all want
to know as residents is that when this park -- the land acquisition, is there money also set aside to
build a park; that this process will take place within a certain time frame and not end up again
creating more displacement? We want to protect jobs in the area so we can have residents, we
can have business coming in and build a community. If we can see -- or what I think we all want
to see is a total package to protect the persons who live here now and to bring more persons in.
Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you. Mr. Manager, and I'd ask that you, on the 4th -- or
the second meeting in April, that we address those concerns. Mr. Hernandez, Miriam Viulloa,
V -I -U -L -L -O -A, 1177 Northwest 8th Street Road, Nathaniel -- I'm sorry. Natividad Cabrera,
4430 Northwest 1st Avenue, Beverly Gay -- Brenda Gayle, 550 Northeast 2"d. A number of
people signed as employees, and we can't call names of em -- we have to -- we need a name.
56 March 27, 2003
Nehemie Jacques, Nelson at 400 67th Street, Marie Dorcilin, Marie Sebea, S -E -B -E-A, Sandra
Akerman. Welcome, Ms. Akerman.
Sandra Akerman: Thank you. Do you want me to give you my name and address?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, ma'am, for the record.
Ms. Akerman: Sandra Akerman, location 275 Northeast 59th Street, Miami. My question is: If
there are parks that are already located in the area, why couldn't they be refurbished and the
money be spent on refurbishing the park, rather than tearing down our buildings and displacing
the people in the neighborhood?
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, and we'll ask the Manager to answer that question directly on
the second meeting. He's going to take all of this into consideration. This meeting is regarding
the methodology of the Post Buckley Study. We will have all questions answered. Counsel, did
you want to be heard at this time? Was there -- I don't -- I haven't gotten to your name, yet.
Peter, would you like to be heard, because I've not gotten to your name, yet? Go right ahead, sir.
Peter Erlich: Thank you. For the record, my name is Peter Erlich, with offices at 395 and 385
Northeast 59 Street, in Little Haiti. My question is on the methodology for the Post Buckley
Study. We have -- those of us that have looked at the study have questions about how the
assumptions were made based on the land acquisition costs. We have heard that the assumptions
are much too low, and the actual assumptions that should be used today and, for the purposes of
the Commissioners making decisions, should be much greater than the numbers that you've seen
today.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, that would suggest -- they got it probably just about right. If I'm
saying they're too high and you're saying they're too low, that would suggest they got it right in
the middle there. Why don't we ask the consultants to make time with you and to spend time
with the -- under the supervision of the Manager's staff, and try to see if we can answer those
questions before the second meeting in April.
Mr. Erlich: Thank you very much.
Vice Chairman Teele: Would that be satisfactory to you?
Mr. Erlich: We appreciate that.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. Mr. Manager, could you facilitate that? They would like to sit down
with the consultant and discuss the assumptions. They think they're a little too low. I -- Peter
correctly referenced that I think they're a little too high.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): I will personally be part of that. I will personally get involved.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you very much, Peter. All right.
57 March 27, 2003
Mr. Erlich: Thank you very much.
Vice Chairman Teele: Counsel, does that satisfy you? Did you want to be heard, counsel, on the
methodology?
Mr. Robbins: Yes. I'd like to address an issue concerning the methodology. My name is Kent
Harrison Robbins. I represent Michael O. Michael O. is the principal of Plastic Design
Unlimited, Inc. They have an artistic workshop located 6444 Northeast 4th Avenue in Miami,
Florida, in the project -- on the project site. Michael O. has been in this city for 26 years. Has
been -- is a graduate of the Florida International University/School of Architecture, and will be
speaking shortly, but I, as his attorney, are speaking on essential issue concerning methodology.
I think it's very correct what Post Buckley did in discussing relocation costs, because the issue
here is whether or not you're going to have adequate funding to provide a park, which we all
agree that we need, but the question is, how much is that park going to cost? And that the area
may appear to be way too ambitious for the amount of money available, and I think what we
need to look at is what we have available and how much moneys we can spend reasonably and
rationally to have the park that we all want, and I think Mr. Sanchez was very correct in asking
for us to go through the relocation costs, because I find it hard to believe that -- Mr. Teele, I find
it hard to believe that you would not want to pay for the relocation costs of your own
constituents, if they're forced out of their homes and forced out of their businesses. It seems the
very thing that you should be fighting for in your district, is to protect these people and their
interests, and if they're pushed out for a park, that they be relocated not at their expense, but at
the government's expense that's pushing them out, and it seems --
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Robbins: And that's why I think the Post Buckley Study should be considered with the cost
of relocation. We have to consider -- stand up everybody, everybody with white shirts with Jobs.
They're going to lose their jobs if they're -- because -- stand up. Look at all the people in here.
They are going to be displaced from their jobs, and that these employers and property owners
aren't adequately compensated, they're going to leave and every one of these people that are
staying there are going to lose their jobs, because jobs are the issue here. Relocation is the issue
here.
(APPLAUSE)
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, counsel. Your time has expired. Would you like --
Mr. Robbins: Thank you. I'd like to just introduce my client, Michael O., the artist. Come
forward, Michael.
Michael Oguns: How are you?
Vice Chairman Teele: Good to see you, Mike.
Mr. Oguns: My name is Michael. I think I met Mr. Arthur Teele --
58 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Michael, you need to give us your address for the record, and you've got
to speak right into the mike. We apologize.
Mr. Oguns: OK. Address is 6444 Northeast 4th Avenue. Phone number 305-751-6394. I think
I met Arthur Teele in my showroom last year, when we had Black History Month --
Unidentified Speaker: Can't hear him.
Mr. Oguns: -- with me and Cecil Hayes.
Vice Chairman Teele: That's correct, during the Cecil Hayes exhibit.
Mr. Oguns: Yes, me and Cecil, and I was one of the artist -- one of the guys that you met there. I
can't believe that I've been in this neighborhood now for 26 years, OK. When I graduate from
college, I started my business in Little Haiti, 64th Street, in Banpumus (phonetic) building. I
worked for five years, and in 1980s, when the riot came, I was devastated by the riot and lost
$65,000. I decided not to leave this neighborhood because I want to see the neighborhood grow.
I stayed in this neighborhood and I've been there for 26 years, OK. I've -- I did not go to the park
to play after they devastated me in 1980. I went back to work and I stayed there all these years
and I bought my building on 64th Street, OK. I'm an artist. I'm a designer. I'm known all over
the country. Even you guys might not know me, but I'm covered by Miami Herald all the time.
I don't see any reasons why you want to move my building and don't want to pay to move me.
What is that? The building that I own, Mr. Arthur Teele, the building that I own, I don't know
how much you're going to pay for it, but I have in the excess of a million dollars machinery in
my shop. When I came to this country, I had a hundred and fifty dollars in my pocket. I have
over a hundred -- over a million dollars machinery in my shop, so I'm going to move those
machinery with my own money? I don't think so, so I think you guys need to re-evaluate what
you're doing. I'm for the park. I'm for -- I don't care. Anybody could -- you know, I want Little
Haiti people to -- yeah -- to have a park, because they're a part of me. I'm part of them, but for
you to want to build a whole -- for you to want to build 60 -acre park in the Little Haiti, when all
the jobs is going to begone, it doesn't make sense tome, OK. All my employees, they live in the
neighborhood there, and I live -- I move my -- I moved and bought a building and my house
close to this neighborhood here. I make this neighborhood grow. Because when I bought my
building, it was trash all over the place. Now, the neighborhood is clean. It's nice. It's decent.
It's now that you guys want to put a 60 -acre park there. Why don't you think about us? Why
don't you think about Little Haiti kids? Why don't you bring a vocational school in there? Let
them learn how to become a businessman, like these people you're going to get rid of. That's
what we need in Little Haiti, people that will come and learn vocational school. These Haitian
kids that come here, that don't know much, why don't you put a vocational school there? Why
don't you let them learn so they could become, in 10 years, I bet you -- in 10 years, these Little
Haiti people, little kids will grow up and learn and use that money to buy their neighborhood and
build their factories there. This is what I did and this is what we need to do. All right.
(APPLAUSE)
59 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Ladies and gentlemen, we're pretty much out of time. If there's
anyone who would like to be heard on this item, we're going to ask you to come forward, put
your name and address on the record, make a brief statement, and allow everyone else so that we
can ensure that when we have the next public hearing, those persons that want to be heard are
recognized. Yes, sir. Give us your name and address just for the record. Just go over there.
Anyone who would like to be heard, just line up. Give us your name and address for the record.
You can make a brief statement, and we'll allow those persons to be able to speak first at the next
meeting -- at the next meeting on this, second reading. Yes, sir.
Victor Juste: Thank you, Commissioners. My name is Victor Juste, and everybody in Little Haiti
know me because I'm the one who gave the name to Little Haiti, which is out here. I am -- and I
have proof. I've got something to --
Vice Chairman Teele: No, no, no. You're going to have to make -- let the next person speak.
Come right on. Yes, sir. Thank you. We're going to get your name and address, just for the
record, any concerns that you'd like to make. You've got to make one statement. Thank you.
Abe Rudman: I had put my name on the list.
Vice Chairman Teele: Your name and --
Mr. Rudman: Yeah. Abe Rudman, 6501 Northeast 2nd Court. I'm a business owner in the
affected area. I'm very -- extremely concerned about relocation costs. Our building was built
with a specific purpose; to design, manufacture and distribute sportswear.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK.
Mr. Rudman: This -- I had prepared a statement that I wanted to share with --
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, we'll ask you to just submit your statement for the record and when
we have the public hearing -- this is on the methodology and that's what we're going to just stay
limited to. Would you allow the next person to speak, please? And when we have the next
hearing, we're going to call on you to speak. Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir.
Mr. Rudman: You know, it's not right. I came here to talk to you and you're not giving me a
chance.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, we're going to hear you. This was on -- this item was agendaed for
the purpose of allowing the Commissioner -- this Commissioner to understand the methodology,
and that's what we're talking about, are the technical issues. Sir, go right ahead. The gentleman
behind you. Yes, sir.
Bennett Pumo: Hello, honorable Commission. I am Bennett Pumo, owner/partner/manager of
the Bennett Pumo Enterprises within the City of Miami. The majority of our properties are in
Little Haiti.
60 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Did you give an address?
Mr. Pumo: Our office address is 7327 Northwest Miami Court. As to the methodology of the
appraisals and the acquisition of the properties, it appears that Post Buckley has ventured into a
mass appraisal technique, utilizing mass appraisal -type sales, whatever. I don't think a mass
appraisal approach is proper, because we have a limited number of businesses that are affected.
It's only a hundred and something buildings. They should be able to go to each individual
property and assess that property as an individual property, not mass methodology appraisal -
types.
Vice Chairman Teele: Sir, thank you very much.
Mr. Pumo: One more comment is --
Vice Chairman Teele: Your comment is to the point --
Mr. Pumo: On the Northeast --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and very helpful for the record.
Mr. Pumo: You made a comment about the Northeast 2nd Avenue properties. This is also a part
of that that came up today, that the Northeast 2nd Avenue properties were to stay and you -- for
the purpose of trying to reduce the estimate of costs, you've pulled these from it, but I have to
remind you, on your last Commission hearing that we attended, you said we have no intentions
of bulldozing 2nd Avenue and 62nd Street and taking down any of those activities, except those
activities that are totally inconsistent with the park. All of my properties are industrial zoned.
All of my properties are totally inconsistent with a baseball field, soccer field, or playground, so
am I subject to City wrath of bulldozers?
Vice Chairman Teele: That would be subject to the City Planning Director's determination as to
what's compatible? But as I drive down Northeast 2nd, speaking for myself, virtually every
activity that I have noted on Northeast 2nd, including the church, all the way down to the
telecommunications center at 59th, I consider those to be -- including the laundry -- I consider
those to be consistent with the park.
Mr. Pumo: I have 27 units that face 27th Avenue. Of 36,000 --
Vice Chairman Teele: Are you saying 27th Avenue?
Mr. Pumo: Second Avenue. Twenty-seven units that face 2nd Avenue. Of those units, they're
all zoned industrial. The use may be a mile years down, but it could go into an industrial use at
the change of use. That brings up the second question that I asked the Commission to -- direct --
was directed to at the last hearing and that was, does the City planners, does the City
Commission plan on down zoning the surrounding properties that are inconsistent with a park?
Are my industrial properties that are going to share the property line with a playground
comparable or consistent? Of course they're not.
61 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, let me answer your question.
Mr. Pumo: Yeah.
Vice Chairman Teele: As far as I'm concerned -- and I don't make the policy determination,
because I'm not an expert, but as far as I'm concerned, everything that is architecturally along
Northeast 2nd Avenue today fits into Little Haiti, and as far as I'm concerned, those properties
are going to stay just like they are, as far as I'm concerned. Now, the Planning Director will
make the determination as to what's consistent or not consistent. Recently, they came to us for
that determination regarding a -- what was it, a Wendy's or something? And the Commission
voted that a Wendy's was consistent with the park, so hopefully, that answers your question. If
not, we'll ask the staff to work closely with you.
Mr. Pumo: I would like the Planning Department and this Commission to compile a list of what
is consistent and not consistent with a park for I-1 uses in the City of Miami.
Vice Chairman Teele: That's not the question, I-1. The question is Northeast 2nd Avenue.
Mr. Pumo: That is correct, because Northeast 2nd Avenue is zoned industrial.
Vice Chairman Teele: But the question is going to be, what are the uses that are currently on
Northeast 2nd Avenue.
Mr. Pumo: You can have a welding shop on I-1. You can have a car repair. You can have an
auto repair. You can have a body shop. You can have a distributor.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you very much, sir.
Mr. Pumo: You can have a machine shop. You can have a cabinet shop.
Vice Chairman Teele: Sir, we are well aware of what industrial --
Mr. Pumo: Thank you very much. I just want this Commission to be aware of what is on 2nd
Avenue, and the majority of the property is owned by me.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, ma'am.
Gepsie Metellus: Yes. Good morning, Commissioners.
Vice Chairman Teele: Your properties are safe.
Ms. Metellus: Gepsie Metellus, Executive Director of the Haitian Neighborhood Center, to the
issue of methodology by the PBSJ Study. Wondering if there's been a thorough assessment of
the available affordable housing units in this area, such that if you contemplate relocating
residents, where are they going? Are there units available out there that would fill this gap? And
62 March 27, 2003
in light of the fact that we know that today there's a crisis in Little Haiti with respect to
affordable housing units, and so I look forward to coming back to the public hearing to actually
put all of my concerns on the record. Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
Vice Chairman Teele: Ladies and gentlemen, I just want to get the record straight, because
Commissioner Winton is the proper presiding officer. Counsel, specifically, to you, who have
lead the applauding four times. Applauding, booing or any forms of this, just like in the State
chambers, just like in a judges' chambers, just like in the Congress, just like in City Hall is not
permitted, and I'm going to ask you, again, to please comport yourself in accordance with the Bar
standard. It is prohibited activity in this chamber. I'm making -- am I making myself clear to
you? You can respond by saying you will comport yourself or you will not. Go right ahead, sir.
Marco Azucar: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Marco Azucar, along with
(INAUDIBLE) Hernandez, two of the five owners of (INAUDIBLE), probably the larger -- the
largest employer in Little Haiti. Our address is 6301 Northeast 4th Avenue. We employ 125
people. We've been in Little Haiti for 14 years. We have brought in 38 people wearing the
white shirt. We have 125 working in there, and we really oppose this because it will affect, not
only our business, but also our employees, and we want to be on record on that.
Vice Chairman Teele: Sir, thank you for coming.
(APPLAUSE)
Vice Chairman Teele: Ladies and gentlemen, we've been very liberal today. I'm asking if you
would please comport yourself so that we can have order. Now, when we have the hearing on
the second week in April, the Sergeant At Arms will be instructed to ask anyone to leave who
applauds or, in any way, violates the rules of decorum of this chamber. We're not doing that
today, but I'm just putting everybody on notice so that nobody says "that didn't happen the last
time." Anyone who applauds or makes noises, et cetera, outside of the speaker, will be asked to
leave the chambers. We have to have decorum. We can respect everyone's rights, but we must
have decorum. Would you translate, please?
Ondina Suarez (Spanish Interpreter): Yes, Your Honor.
Note for the Record: At this time, Spanish interpreter Ondina Suarez translated the above -
referenced comments addressed by Vice Chairman Teele.
Vice Chairman Teele: In the future, let's make sure that when we bring this item up, we also
have a translator who's fluent in Creole, Mr. Manager. It's ironic that we would have the
discussion -- yes, sir.
Manny Wong: Good evening -- good afternoon. My name is Manny Wong. I'm at 400
Northeast 67th Street, Miami. I'm a property owner, a business owner, a concerned citizen of
63 March 27, 2003
this community for the last 40 years. I have one question: A project of this magnitude, all parties
affected should be notified. Why were some of us not notified until August of last year?
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Wong: I presently have 165 employees in my building.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager, could we get an answer and could we get that in writing, as
well, on the second meeting? And I think it would be very helpful if we had staff to go back and
get all of the notices that were held over the last two years on this of the meetings, but I think the
question is a very good question that needs to be answered on the record. Thank you very much.
Mr. Wong: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are there any other persons -- Mr. McKnight, welcome. Are there any
other persons? Mr. McKnight will be the last speaker.
Irby McKnight: I'm Irby McKnight, 1600 Northwest 3rd Avenue. I did sign one of these forms
requesting appearance. I will reserve my comment until the April 24th meeting, and between
now and then, I would like to have a copy of the study. I cannot comment on it because I've
never seen it. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: The meeting stands recessed until 2:45, at this chambers, and -- unless
any Commissioner -- Mr. Manager, Mr. Attorney, Mr. Commissioners, comments? Thank you
all very much for being here. Let me remind you that when you come on the second week of
April -- our second meeting in April, we will ask you to conform yourselves, and please do come
back. Thank you for being here.
THEREUPON, THE CITY COMMISSION WENT INTO RECESS AT 12:21 P.M, and
RECONVENED AT 2:49 P.M., WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION
FOUND TO BE PRESENT, EXCEPT VICE CHAIRMAN WINTON.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): (INAUDIBLE) before the Commission today, I need you to
fill out this form, the speaker appearance record. It's in duplicate. Please fill out the form with
the agenda item you're speaking on, today's date. Please, print your name and fill in the other
information, as requested. Definitely, we need to know if you're a lobbyist and you're -- making
sure that you're registered, whether you're speaking as information or for and against -- or
against an item, and I need you to return this form to our City Clerk staff over here. You can
pick up forms from our City Clerk staff or from the window, the City Clerk's window, or from
the security desk out front. We just make sure -- you need to fill these out and return them to us.
Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: The Chair notes the presence of a quorum.
64 March 27, 2003
9. RELATED TO TWENTY-FIRST FAIR OF CUBAN MUNICIPALITIES IN EXILE FAIR,
SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 3 - 6, 2003, AT GROUNDS OF FLAGLER DOG TRACK;
GRANT REQUESTS TO: (1) WANE LIMITATIONS CONTAINED IN SECTION 906.9 OF
CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE AS RELATES TO NUMBER OF TEMPORARY EVENTS
PERMITTED PER SITE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY PER YEAR, AND (2) DECLARE
EXEMPTION FROM PROHIBITIONS CONTAINED IN SECTIONS 364(a) AND 36-5(a)
OF CITY CODE AS THEY RELATE TO LEVEL AND HOURS OF NOISE; CONDITIONING
SAID GRANTS UPON ORGANIZERS PAYING FOR COSTS OF CITY SERVICES AND
APPLICABLE FEES AND OBTAINING INSURANCE TO PROTECT CITY.
Vice Chairman Teele: Could we pick up with the item -- ? Did you want to pick up with the
item that we interrupted Mr. Sanchez, or did you want -- ? We have items scheduled for 3 p.m.
certain involving Community Development. We also have the mandate, that I failed to
acknowledge properly, that public appearances would be held in the morning. You know, we
advertise these public appearances for 9 o clock and we had said that we would make sure
they're handled, so at this point we need to get to the public appearances that were on the
morning agenda. I believe those Items 2, 3, and 4. We also recessed the item -- 2, 3 -- we also
recessed the item relating to the worker's comp. (compensation), Risk Management, and we have
also scheduled, I believe, a 3 p.m. time certain public -- Community Development.
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, if we could go with the 3 p.m. time certain, then we
could -- if it's OK with you and my colleagues, we'll do the people that are present here today,
and then we'll take up CA -20, the presentations or -- ?
Commissioner Telex: All right, then what we'll do is -- it's not 3 yet. What we'll do is we'll
call upon items number 2 and 3. Is the representative from the Cuban Municipalities Fair
available?
Hugo Arza: Yes, I am.
Vice Chairman Teele: Sir, I apologize. We've advertised that you'll be able to be heard in the
morning and that was my omission.
Mr. Arza: No problem.
Vice Chairman Teele: Please be recognized.
Mr. Arza: My name is Hugo Arza, A -R -Z -A. My address is 12800 Southwest 47th Street. I
appear before you today representing the Cuban Municipalities Fair Corporation, which, next
weekend, April 3 through 6, will be hosting its 20 Annual Feria de Los Municipios, or Cuban
Municipalities Fair, at the Flagler Dog Track parking lot, the parking lots adjacent to Flagler Dog
Track, and as has been the custom for many years, the City of Miami has granted us permits and
waivers so as to allow the organization to hold the fair. Once again, we appear before you to ask
for that, and my understanding originally was that the Administration's recommendation was
that there was no problem.
65 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chairman --
Vice Chairman Teele: Have you confer --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- so move the waiver.
Vice Chairman Teele: Excuse me, sir. Have you conferred with the district Commissioner?
Have you conferred with the ?
Mr. Arza: Yes, we have conferred with all -- actually, we had sent stuff to all Commissioners.
Vice Chairman Teele: What district is this in?
Mr. Arza: I'll be honest with you, I'm not sure. It's 37th Avenue --
Commissioner Sanchez: Commissioner Gonzalez's.
Mr. Arza: Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Regalado: No.
Commissioner Sanchez: It's yours?
Mr. Arza: Is it? OK.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right, it's yours.
Mr. Arza: I apologize, Commissioner.
Commissioner Regalado: No, that's OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner, do you have any objection to this item?
Commissioner Regalado: Not at all. That's something that we have done throughout the years.
It's something that brings thousands of people to the Flagler Dog Track. It's employees, a lot of
vendors, and it's something very family-oriented, and I am fully supporting it.
Vice Chairman Teele: Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner
Regalado. Is there a discussion? Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye
Vice Chairman Teele: Let the record reflect a unanimous vote.
66 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-269
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RELATED TO THE
TWENTY-FIRST FAIR OF THE CUBAN MUNICIPALITIES IN EXILE
("FAIR"), CONDUCTED BY THE CUBAN MUNICIPALITIES FAIR
CORPORATION ("ORGANIZERS"), SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 3 - 6, 2003,
AT THE GROUNDS OF THE FLAGLER DOG TRACK; GRANTING THE
REQUESTS OF THE ORGANIZERS TO: (1) WAIVE, BY A FOUR-FIFTHS
AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, THE LIMITATIONS CONTAINED IN SECTION
906.9 OF ORDINANCE NO. 11000, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS IT RELATES TO THE
NUMBER OF TEMPORARY EVENTS PERMITTED PER SITE ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY PER YEAR, AND (2) DECLARING AN EXEMPTION FROM
THE PROHIBITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED IN
SECTIONS 364(a) AND 36-5(a) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS THEY RELATE TO THE LEVEL AND
HOURS OF NOISE CONCERNING SAID FAIR; CONDITIONING SAID
GRANTS UPON THE ORGANIZERS PAYING FOR ALL NECESSARY
COSTS OF CITY SERVICES AND APPLICABLE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH
THE FAIR AND OBTAINING INSURANCE TO PROTECT THE CITY IN
THE AMOUNT AS PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Mr. Arza: Thank you very much.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you.
67 March 27, 2003
10. RELATED TO GREATER MIAMI MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL, TO BE HELD AT
BISCAYNE BOULEVARD FROM SOUTHEAST 2ND TO NORTHEAST 5TH STREETS, ON
APRIL 13, 2003; AUTHORIZE WAIVER OF FEES AND PERMITS PERMISSIBLE BY LAW
FOR USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AND PROVISION OF IN-KIND SERVICES FROM
DEPARTMENTS OF POLICE, FIRE -RESCUE, SOLID WASTE AND PARKS AND
RECREATION, $36,000 (See #97).
Vice Chairman Teele: Item --
Commissioner Regalado: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- number 2, Mr.
Incorporated; Administration recommendation
recognized, sir.
Cayard of the Haitian American Foundation
To be discussed. Welcome, Ringo. You're
Ringo Cayard: Ringo Cayard, Haitian American Foundation, 5080 Biscayne Boulevard, in
Miami, Florida. I'm here today, gentlemen of the Commission, to remind you again the fact that
we're going to have the Marti Gras in Miami. This is going to be the first time that Miami will
have a Marti Gras with the float in the style of New Orleans. The reason being is because New
Orleans generate over $1.2 billion a year for Marti Gras, and we have all the ethnic groups right
here in Miami, meaning the Haitian, the Brazilian, the Nicaraguan, the Cubans, and the Africans,
and the Trinidadians, and we all are in the spirit of Marti Gras. In our homeland we have it and
it's bigger than that. It's a cultural event. It's a cultural feeling. As a matter of fact,
Commissioner Teele took me to Morocco and I was trying to convince the Arab world to come
up with Marti Gras, but they have something similar to that and they understand it because every
one of us, we understand the concept of Marti Gras.
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Ringo, how much exactly are you asking in in-kind services?
Mr. Cayard: We are asking in in-kind for the Police (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Sanchez: Is there a budget?
Mr. Cayard: Yes, we have a budget, which we give to the Administration.
Commissioner Sanchez: I don't -- Exactly what -- it says here total City of Miami grant request
of $171,600 --
Mr. Cayard: That's what we're asking, but I know that you are constraint for monies, and we are
definitely working closely with Michelle Spence and with the Administration, and I think they
came up with an idea of what we need to have in order to make it happen, but I have to let you
understand that Dade County already help us out, Bayfront Park Trust had help us out in the
form of a grant; we receive a grant from Miami Herald, Liberty Newspaper, and a lot of in-kind
services. The money that we are asking is partly for Police, Sanitation, Fires [sic], barricade, and
also, part of the money is for the advertising --
68 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: But how much? How much -- ?
Mr. Cayard: We would really like to have at least maybe 50,000 from the City in cash and the
balance to pay the Police in in-kind and -- because it's like -- it's such a great event, and
Commissioner Sanchez, you know that yourself, we talk many times about it. The 50 would
enable us to properly advertise the event with all the groups coming from all over the world.
Commissioner Sanchez: Is there anybody here from the Special Events office?
Mr. Arriola: Yes.
Commissioner Sanchez: Michelle, do you have a recommendation? Does the City Manager
have a recommendation?
Mr. Arriola: Yes. Michelle will --
Michelle Spence: Good afternoon. My name is Michelle Spence. I am the director for Special
Events in the Mayor's office. Yes, we are recommending the in-kind services of $36,000 for all
in-kind services, which is Fire, Solid Waste, and Police services. Additionally, I believe Mr.
Cayard needs some additional assistance with marketing efforts, so I guess we discussed maybe
perhaps including an additional $25,000 to assist him with the marketing efforts, so it'll --
Commissioner Sanchez: So it's a total --
Ms. Spence: -- be $30,000 in-kind services from the Special Events fund --
Commissioner Sanchez: And 25,000 in --
Ms. Spence: -- and 25,000 -- it's 20 -- it would be 25,000 that we'd be assisting him with, as far
as the marketing dollars that's associated with it, so it would be $25,000 grant --
Commissioner Sanchez: I got it.
Ms. Spence: -- OK, and $30,000 in-kind service -- $36,000 in-kind services. Lena Blanco,
which is from the Office of Special Events -- I guess, they didn't -- she didn't know the item was
coming up this early. I have no idea where she is, but there's a -- she has a breakdown of the
total amount.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Why don't we do this: Why don't we entertain the Man -- does
the Manager have a written recommendation?
Mr. Arriola: Unfortunately, I just got the budget this morning from him --
Vice Chairman Teele: OK.
Mr. Arriola: --and I just talk --
69 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Why don't we entertain right now the in-kind service issue, and then why
don't we ask Lena to meet with the staff, the Mayor's staff, the Manager, whatever, and then
let's come back with all of these things that we're going to --
Commissioner Sanchez: I'm prepared to move the $30,000 in in-kind service at this time.
Vice Chairman Teele: I thought she said 35?
Ms. Spence: It's $36,000 for the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chairman Teele: Thirty-six thousand.
Mr. Arriola: Thirty-six.
Commissioner Sanchez: It's 36?
Ms. Spence: It's 36.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, the $36,000 in in-kind donation at this time, so move.
Vice Chairman Teele: There's a motion by Commissioner Sanchez --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez for the in-kind services. All
those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All those opposed.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-270
A MOTION RELATED TO THE GREATER MIAMI MARDI GRAS
FESTIVAL, TO BE HELD AT BISCAYNE BOULEVARD FROM
SOUTHEAST 2ND TO NORTHEAST 5TH STREETS, MIAMI, FLORIDA, ON
APRIL 13, 2003; AUTHORIZING THE WAIVER OF FEES AND PERMITS
PERMISSIBLE BY LAW FOR THE USE OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AND
THE PROVISION OF IN-KIND SERVICES FROM THE DEPARTMENTS OF
POLICE, FIRE -RESCUE, SOLID WASTE AND PARKS AND RECREATION,
IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $36,000.
70 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Now, would you all mind coming back so that, at the end of the day, we
know exactly what we're doing, but let the Manager's office and Lena, and would you all work
to the balance of the year -- ? Because what we need to make sure we do is recognize that there
are a number of events -- are we going to have the music fest this year?
Ms. Spence: Yes. It will be taking place this year, but I believe it's taking place in November,
though.
Vice Chairman Teele: So, then, the next fiscal year?
Ms. Spence: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, that's great news, so why don't we ask and look at everything that
we've got on the agenda so we know where we are? Because last year people said we took a raid
and nobody was acknowledged, but I wish you all would look at -- we've got Goombay. If
Commissioner Winton were here, he would certainly advocate for Goombay, as we have. We've
got Copa fest.
Unidentified Speaker: Copa.
Vice Chairman Teele: We've got request from Senator Graham's office for Roots and Culture,
and we've got some activities undesignated for the Bicentennial of Haiti, so -- and we've done
nothing there; yet, we keep saying we want to be the gateway to the world and we want to be
this, that, and the other. That's another story, so could we get a comprehensive recommendation
tonight, Mr. Manager --
Mr. Arriola: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- on this and everything else so we know where we are? And I'd like to
support -- some support for the marketing effort, and a part of the marketing effort could also be
utilization of Net 9, as well, for banners or streamers --
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
71 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: -- crawlers, I think they call them. I mean, we don't use any crawlers on
Net 9, do we? I've not seen any, but we could use crawlers, you know, during programming to
alert people of things that are going on in our venues. All right.
Ms. Spence: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Cayard, you're about 60 percent there -- 70 percent there.
Mr. Cayard: Yes. Thank you so much, and of course, the fact that we're getting the grant from
the City and the County, you know, you all co-chairing automatically the event, so this is going
to be maybe the greatest thing for us as a community because we have all the ethnic groups
together participating. We have for the one who dance, the sound of Samba. We have the group
from Brazil. We have Grupo Niche from Columbia. We have (UNINTELLIGIBLE) from Haiti.
We have Hansel from Cuba. I mean, we have large group of people, different ethnic group,
different culture also, and food.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you very much.
Mr. Cayard: Thank you.
11. AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 02-1133, RELATING TO ALLOCATION OF
$2,223,400 OF 281H YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
FUNDS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY.
Vice Chairman Teele: Those are the two items that we should have gotten on this morning. It's
now 3:09 and we scheduled for 3 p.m. the public hearing regarding the Community Development
grant. Mr. Manager, I don't have a copy of the Mayor's State of the City. I think it would be
very helpful if we did, and I think one of the things we should take under consideration in our
community development process are those initiatives that we personally agree with, at least as
relates to our districts that may be incorporated.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): We'll make sure you get it.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager.
Mr. Arriola: We'll make sure you get it. You want it right now?
Vice Chairman Teele: No, no, no. Your 3 o'clock item.
Commissioner Gonzalez: What item is that? Mr. Chairman, what item is that?
Mr. Arriola: We're on Item 10.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Ten.
Mr. Arriola: CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) items.
72 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Actually, aren't there nine items with this package?
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): There's ten.
Vice Chairman Teele: There's 10 items, so we're talking about items 10 through what?
Mr. Arriola: Seventeen -- 17-B.
Ms. Rodriguez: Seventeen B. Barbara Rodriguez, Department of Community Development.
Item 10, what it does basically is, we're looking for an approval to deobligate District 1 pilot
project for $50,000, and fund the Allapattah Business Development Corporation for $50,000 to
complete the Ralph Plaza Project. This was a set aside that District 1 had available. This will
leave them a balance of $27,000 that have not been allocated.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. This is a public hearing on this matter. Any person desiring to
be heard on the matter as identified by the staff and identified as item number 10 should come
forward, somehow, I knew you would.
Commissioner Regalado: What is the -- what item are we --
Ms. Rodriguez: Number 10.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 10.
Commissioner Regalado: Item 10 is two million --
Ms. Rodriguez: No. It's $50,000 de --
Commissioner Regalado: My 10 is a resolution.
Commissioner Gonzalez: My 10 is a resolution also, so we have a --
Vice Chairman Teele: Yeah, but if you read the details, it is transferring $50,000 --
Commissioner Regalado: Oh, OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- of an amount of money.
Commissioner Regalado: I read the fine print. OK. I see.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK. Yeah.
73 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir, you're recognized. Mr. Manager, it's getting a little warm in
here. I don't know if the air conditioner --
Mr. Arriola: It is getting warm?
Mariano Cruz: It's a little hot air. Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 26th Street. Asa resident of
Allapattah and seeing what ABDA (Allapattah Business Development Authority) has done there,
they have a track record and you could see tangible homeownership there (INAUDIBLE) I'd like
to see this $50,000 go into there. That's out of my tax money. I'd like to see it properly used.
Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you. Madam Clerk, do you have any other persons signed up for
item number 10? If not, are there any other persons? The public hearing is closed.
Commissioner Gonzalez, you're recognized for a motion.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to move Item 10.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, signify by the sign of "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: Those opposed have the same right.
74 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-271
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
RESOLUTION NO. 02-774, AS AMENDED BY RESOLUTION NOS. 02-879
AND 02-1133, RELATED TO THE ALLOCATION OF $2,223,400 OF 28TH
YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
PROGRAM FUNDS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY
AND AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 02-775, AS AMENDED BY
RESOLUTION NOS. 02-881 AND 02-1133, RELATED TO THE
ALLOCATION OF $1,117,500 OF 28TH YEAR CDBG PROGRAM FUNDS IN
THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY BY TRANSFERRING
FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 FROM DISTRICT 1 ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PILOT PROJECTS RESERVE FUND IN THE CATEGORY
OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO ALLAPATTAH BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, INC. IN THE CATEGORY OF HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2002; AND FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND THE EXISTING
AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
WITH THE AGENCY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
12. ALLOCATING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS FROM
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED DISTRICT 5 LITTLE HAITI JOB CREATION PILOT PROJECT.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 11.
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): Item number 11, we're looking for a
recommend -- we're looking for approval to transfer seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) that
was allocated to the City of Miami Planning Department, to the City of Miami Retired Police
Officers in the historical old black police precinct. What happened was that when we funded the
seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) to the Planning Department, after knowing what they
75 March 27, 2003
wanted to do and seeing the proposed activities, it falls under the administration, and the
administration at this time is to the maxed capacity.
Vice Chairman Teele: In other words, the administration cannot legally use these dollars?
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Is it your recommendation that this be done?
Ms. Rodriguez: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. The public hearing's opened. Would those officers that are
here on behalf of the transfer of the $75,000 -- now is the correct name "Black" precinct or
"Colored" precinct?
Unidentified Speaker: Colored precinct.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, so Madam --
Ms. Rodriguez: Oh, we have it.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- it's the "Colored" precinct.
Ms. Rodriguez: I'll make sure it's changed.
Vice Chairman Teele: Let's don't rewrite history. If one person would just get to the mic and
start talking, we could help this thing go. Otis, welcome, sir.
Otis Davis: My name is Otis Davis. Business address is 6102 Northwest 7th Avenue. I'm the
president of the organization of City of Miami Retired Police Benevolent Association. We are in
the process of restoring an old precinct that many years ago was -- it's a courtroom and a
precinct. We're trying to make that into a museum. In addition to that, we want to have
classrooms there. We're going to have classrooms where we'll be tutoring kids in that area. We
have four schools still in that area that need our -- in dire need of our help. We have before you
a picture of the old precinct as it looks right now. I also have some rendering here that shows
you what it's going to look like later. We have already gone to -- we've had the architect to
draw the renderings, to draw the plans; we've also had it declared a historic site. We've done an
environmental piece. We're not at the point of recon -- of doing the construction. What you see
here is how it will look when it's finished. What you have there is what it looks like now, but
the plans are already -- everything has been done at this point here, except for the construction
part of it, and we are asking that you assist us in trying to carry this endeavor on to what it's
supposed to be. It was one of the first in the south. It was the only one of its kind. The first
black judge in the south presided at this place. We also worked out of it. I worked out of there
and many other officers worked out of that particular precinct.
Vice Chairman Teele: That was Judge Thomas.
76 March 27, 2003
Mr. Davis: Judge Thomas was the first black judge in the south.
Vice Chairman Teele: And his wife is Eugenia Thomas.
Mr. Davis: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: And a member of the Virginia Key Trust, just so everybody's aware.
Mr. Davis: This place was the only one of its kind in the south. There was no other courtroom
or police agency in the South at all, so we feel very proud that we can restore this and make it be
what it should be. We can guarantee you, with your help, this will be a state-of-the-art building.
It's going to be a building that we can all be proud of When tourists come down, they can see
what we're going to be doing, but as I said, in addition to it just being a museum, we're going to
be -- we have police officers who will be teaching out of there for our kids in that area. We have
four schools in there right now, and those schools are "C" or "D" and "F" schools, so we plan to
assist in bringing back some kind of education to those kids that are in dire need of our help.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Could we just get each of the officers that's here or the persons
to identify yourself. Put your name and address on the record, please, just so that the record is
complete, and if you were a police officers, just state what years you served. Really, the mic --
try not to touch the mic because if you touch it, it distorts the voice.
Willie Calhoun: Willie Calhoun, 1090 Northwest 53rd Street, 20 years service.
Vice Chairman Teele: What year to what year?
Mr. Calhoun: Nineteen fifty-six through 1971.
Gaddy Rawls: My name is Gaddy Rawls, address 1861 Northwest 47th Terrace. Twenty-five
years. Went on 1956 to 1980.
Jesse Hill: Jesse W. Hill, 3211 Percevil Avenue, Coconut Grove. Nineteen fifty-one October --
corrections. November '51, January 1980.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thirty years.
David Fincher: David Fincher, 2412 Northwest 58th Street. Fourth of January 1957 to July
1966.
Samuel Stubbs: Samuel Stubbs, 1825 Northeast 154th Terrace. Nineteen seventy to 1992.
Thomas Marshall: Thomas Marshall, 800 Northwest 42nd Street, 25 years of service.
Leroy Smith: Leroy Smith, 3241 Northwest 11th Place, 27 years police service, Major of Traffic
Section, Miami Police Department.
77 March 27, 2003
Clarance Dickson: Good morning, Commissioners. Clarance Dickson, 1960 to 1989. You
know, it's very privileged to be here to address you and also to give you a little bit about the
history of the Miami Police Department. I happen to be the first black to go through the Miami
Police Academy during those days, and I also later became the first black police chief of the City
of Miami, and the precinct really stands as a snapshot of history as to how we finally arrived to
where we are, and we really appreciate the opportunity to come here and address you and, you
know, ask for your support and we are very appreciative. Thank you very much.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Just one more.
Willie Jackson: Yes. I'm Officer Willie Jackson. I work out of the north district substation, and
I'm here because I'm standing on their shoulders.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you. Are there any other persons to say anything? If not, the
public hearing is closed. Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, Mr. Chairman. Wish you would allow me the honor to make --
to be the maker of the motion to approve this funding.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's moved by Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's seconded by Commissioner Sanchez. Commissioner Regalado, did
you --
Commissioner Regalado: Yes, sir. You know, sometime history get rewrite and whoever write
it, get it wrong or list different, so when we are done with this motion, Mr. Chairman, I'm going
to have another motion, and the purpose of that motion is to try to save history as it was. My
motion will be to direct the administration to use the facility of Net 9 for -- in the next three to
four months, with time, one by one, each of the members of this association will come in to an
improvised studio here in City Hall and will be taping an interview with the memories and the
details of their career in the Police Department. When we start construction of the museum, that
-- those tapes will be edited to be shown as a program in Net 9, but the whole entirety of the
interview should be always running in the museum as part of a loop with all the members, and
we should -- starting to next month or two or in three months -- set aside some money -- and I
understand that Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority can do that -- in order to do state-of-the-
art video facility, small corner in the museum, so the visitors will have everyday, all day the
memories of the black police officers of the City of Miami. I think it's important and it's
nothing new. It's been done in many museums throughout the world, but I think that we have
the responsibility of saving that part of history in the City of Miami, so when we get done with
this, that will be my motion, Mr. Chairman.
78 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. On the motion on the floor, all those in favor say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All those opposed?
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-272
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE
REALLOCATION OF 28TH YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT ("CDBG') PROGRAM FUNDS FOR PROGRAM YEAR BEGINNING
OCTOBER 1, 2002; IN THE CATEGORY OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION,
IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000, FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI PLANNING
DEPARTMENT — HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES TO CITY OF
MIAMI RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS COMMUNITY BENEVOLENT
ASSOCIATION, INC., ("ASSOCIATION") FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING
AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
WITH THE ASSOCIATION, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: That's item number 11. Commissioner Regalado is recognized to just --
to make the motion that he just stated.
Commissioner Regalado: Motion will be to direct the administration to tape in the next four to
five months, one by one, all the members of this group. Save those tapes for a loop to be used in
the museum, and whenever the construction and grand opening kicks in, it will be edited and it
will be shown in a special program in Net 9.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
79 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 02-273
A MOTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO INSTRUCT THE
ADMINISTRATION TO USE THE NET 9 FACILITY DURING THE NEXT 4
TO 5 MONTHS TO INTERVIEW EACH MEMBER OF THE RETIRED
POLICE OFFICERS COMMUNITY BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, INC.,
DETAILING THEIR MEMORIES AND DETAILS OF THEIR CAREERS IN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT; SAID INTERVIEWS TO BE CONTINUALLY
SHOWN IN THE PROPOSED BLACK POLICE OFFICERS MUSEUM AS
WELL AS ON MIAMI TV.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Now, on this item, Mr. Manager, the CIP (Capital Improvement Project)
staff has got two resolutions that have been passed requesting that some of the historic funds
dollars be brought forward to round out the construction of this project. Again, this is a city
owned facility and there are three or four things that need to happen: number one, the Law
Department and the management need to get together and design and develop a mechanism so
that the retired police officers can have some management and control over this building once
they do this. I know it may sound a little silly, but I've been around here long enough to know
you all will do all this work and they'll be 500 people rushing in to take it over and tell you all,
"You just -- y'all need to get out the way," theoretically, so one of the things that need to happen,
Mr. Attorney, just like we have a management agreement at the park there, the baseball, just like
we have one at Bunkers, just like we have one -- but, you know, the Manager needs to use his
full authority in brining that forward because, candidly, you all have no rights to help the
programming that you've talked about, which we all know is good, and I would hate to get to the
end of this and then wind up with some usurpers trying to tell you all, you don't' have a right to
do this and we have these rights, et cetera, and candidly, they would be within their rights, so I'd
80 March 27, 2003
like to try to confirm that, Mr. Manager, with your support and that of the Attorney's. Secondly,
we've requested, under the CIP, that the CIP come forward with a recommendation to complete
the construction of this facility using historic designation funds, and this is a historic venue and
facility by any standards, and it's one of the more significant buildings, and so I would ask that
that item be presented -- has it been presented? Chief, has it been presented? Chief, that item
hasn't been presented final, has it? See, the previous CIP Director was coming forward with that
item in March, so I don't want to get into a disconnect situation that it was previously discussed
on the dais, it was previously directed and agreed to that, in March, the management would come
forth with a recommendation. It's my understanding that the balance of the construction costs is
about one point five million, one point eight. What's the right number at this point?
Mr. Dickson: It's about one point five right now.
Vice Chairman Teele: About one point five, and I'm also advised that the state of Florida is
going to -- based upon applications for grants from the State that had been previously submitted,
this organization will do very well, will continue to do well in bringing money to the project, so
while one point five is needed for construction, there's going to be probably a budget of
something like four to six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) lead for the furnishings, the
interiors and all of those. This is just a total budget cost, so can you agree, Mr. Manager, to
come forth, with the CIP, with a recommendation within 30 days on this?
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Absolutely. It would be no problem. I had the honor of meeting
with Chief Dickerson about two weeks ago, and would love to get involved in the project to
make sure it happens.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, so we'll stay tuned, and thank you all very much. Thank you.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner -- yes, sir.
Mr. Vilarello: Do you want to direct the Manager and the City Attorney by motion to prepare a
management agreement with the management of the facility?
Vice Chairman Teele: I will yield to Commissioner Regalado, and Commissioner, would you
recognize me for the motion?
Commissioner Regalado: Sorry?
Vice Chairman Teele: Would you recognize me for the motion?
Commissioner Regalado: Oh, yes, absolutely, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: I would so move that the Manager and the Attorney come back with the
recommendation within the second meeting in April.
81 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second by Commissioner
Sanchez. All in favor say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Commissioner Regalado: It passes.
The following motion was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-274
A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY
TO DRAFT A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE BLACK MUSEUM.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Regalado: Back to you, sir.
13. ALLOCATE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS FROM
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED DISTRICT 5 LITTLE HAITI JOB CREATION PILOT PROJECT,
SET-ASIDE $90,000 TO SUPER KIDS CHRISTIAN DAY CARE, INC., $90,000 TO TENDER
LOVING CHRISTIAN DAY CARE CENTER INC, and $90,000 TO WEBERMAN' S
TRADITIONAL FOODS INC. IN FORM OF FIVE YEAR DEFERRED, FORGIVABLE
LOANS.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Item number 12.
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): Item number 12 is basically, 1998 we
made a funding commitment of 225,000 for a five-year to implement the Little Haiti Job
Creation project. In 2001 the City Commission approved project guidelines. The purpose of the
projects was a one-time deferred, forgivable loan to businesses in Little Haiti, and the goal was
82 March 27, 2003
to create jobs through business expansion and retention. Basically, in order for you to qualify,
you had to create one full-time job for every $15,000 we provided --
Vice Chairman Teele: What's the federal guideline, 35,000?
Ms. Rodriguez: Thirty-five thousand to one. The maximum available per business, we were
going to fund $90,000. An advisory board was created in January 2002, and right now we are
recommending three businesses. They've gone through the advisory board, and the names of the
businesses is Super Kids Christian Day Care, Inc. for $90,000, Tender Loving Christian Day
Care Center, $90,000, Weberman's Traditional Food, Inc., $90,000. Still leaves an available
balance of $730,000 that we're working to complete it soon.
Vice Chairman Teele: You have a number of companies in the pipeline and this is taking way
too long.
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: You are aware that we allowed your department to use the consultant that
had been selected for this to deal with the problem in the housing stock?
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: And so this program got about a year behind because of that --
Ms. Rodriguez: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and I'm requesting that we expedite the program. This is a public
hearing. Any person desiring to be heard should come forward. Any person desiring to be heard
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Vice Chairman Teele, we have two individuals signed up to
speak, Ms. Adline Aurbin from Super Kids Day Care, and Ms. Irmide Valcin from Tender
Loving Christian Day Care Center.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Give the times constraint. Unless you are against it, just put
your name and address on the record and make a brief statement, please, ma'am. Come right up.
Irmide Valcin: My name is Irmide Valcin. I'm the director at Tender Loving Christian Day Care
Center, located at 51 Northeast 82nd Terrace, and we are here to request a grant from the City for
90,000. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: How long have you -- did you apply? How long ago did you apply?
Ms. Valcin: About a year ago.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. Thank you.
83 March 27, 2003
Adline Aurbin: Good afternoon. My name is Adline Aurbin. I represent Super Kids Day Care.
We are seeking for a grant funds to help expand in the amount of $90,000.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Is there anybody here in opposition of these items? If not, the
public hearing is closed.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move Item 12 --
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Commissioner Gonzalez: --Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed have the same right. The item is unanimously adopted.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-275
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE RE -ALLOCATION OF $270,000 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED FOR
DISTRICT 5, LITTLE HAITI JOB CREATION PILOT PROJECT SET-ASIDE,
TO SUPER KIDS CHRISTIAN DAY CARE, INC., TENDER LOVING
CHRISTIAN DAY CARE CENTER INC., AND WEBERMAN' S
TRADITIONAL FOODS INC., EACH IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,000, TO BE
USED TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN SIX (6) NEW EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES PER PROJECT FOR RESIDENTS OF THE LITTLE HAITI
NEIGHBORHOOD FO FIVE-YEAR PERIOS, SUBJECT TO: (1) THE
APPLICANT SUBMITTING EVIDENCE OF AVAILABLE FINANCING TO
COMPLETE EACH PROJECT, (2) PROJECT RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT
CLEARANCE FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND (3) PROJECT MEETING ALL
APLLICABLE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
AGREEMENTS. IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
WITH SAID AGENCIES FOR SAID PURPOSES.
84 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
14. ADOPT 29TH YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
POLICY FOR PUBLIC SERVICES CATEGORY.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 13.
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): Item number 3 -- Item number 13
we're looking for policy decision. This one has to do with Public Services dollars. This is a
very hard year, as we all know, and we heard it at the CDBG (Community Development Block
Grant) public hearing. The 29th Year of funding is approximately $10,000,140, which represents
approximately $2,000,000 of reduction from prior year funding. Federal regulations only permit
15 percent to the public service category, which is an equivalent to $1.5 million. They also allow
15 percent of any program income from the prior year. We're calculating that this year we will
have another approximately $225,000 that we will be able to put on this category, which will
take it up to a million seven. This represents 46.1 percent reduction from last year funding. The
Administration recommends that an RFP (Request for Proposals) process be district driven,
number one, that we only allow proposals from agencies that are providing services that were
priority identified at the public hearings from each district. Just to give you some data, 10
percent of the City -- and we are recommending basically two types of category, elderly and
child care. There was -- and just to go through district, District 1, elderly meals and
transportation, child care services; District 2, elderly, child care, including after-school program;
District 3, elderly service, child care services; District 4, the same, elderly and child care
services; District 5, after-school programs but priority for programs that are located in city parks.
That's basically some of the categories we've heard. There will be a drastic change on how we
pay for child care. We will only play according to the child. We will no longer fund agencies
based on budgets, but actual the child that it gets enrolled, and it is determined that is a City
resident. Our recommendation again is the proposals be driven by the priorities identified by
each of your districts and what we heard at the public hearing. According to the 2000 census, 10
percent of the City residents living at or below poverty line are children under the age of five; 29
percent of the City's elderly residents age 65 and over are living below poverty, so we feel very
strongly that those categories are some that we should consider, and again, this is policy
guidance to put out an RFP.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. First and foremost, I'm going to ask the staff to ensure that
Commissioner Winton, if he has input, that that input is given in by his staff on these because
85 March 27, 2003
these policy guidelines are going out and it needs to be incorporated today, so I note that
Commissioner Winton is what district?
Ms. Rodriguez: District 2.
Commissioner Sanchez: Two
Vice Chairman Teele: District 2, and the priority of the staff recommendation would be elderly
and child care, and I think it will be very good if we could get some input from Commissioner
Winton's office before this public hearing process is closed. This is only on public services?
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: The goal would be to allow each Commissioner at this point to amend the
staff recommendation, if you would like, or agree with the staff recommendation, then we'll
have a public hearing on what it is you're saying you want for your district, and this is the point
in time. As I look at this, District 1, elderly and transportation and child care, and so I'll just go
down in the line. Commissioner Gonzalez, do you agree or will you -- ?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, Commissioner, because this decision came out of the CDBG
community meetings that we had in our communities, and those were the concerns that were
expressed by the residents of the area, so definitely, in my district I have a big population of
senior citizens and a lot of child care services that need this assistance --
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- and then -- and whatever -- you know, if we have any money left
after we distribute these monies, then I will address some other programs and issues, but the
priority is the elderly and the childrens.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Commissioner Sanchez.
Commissioner Sanchez: My recommendation is based on the public hearing that we had in my
district based on the needs of my district. Although we're faced with a 21 percent reduction, we
find ourselves in a very tough situation because Tallahassee finds itself in almost in a
$5,000,000,000 budget, and this is a tough time to be either a House rep (representative) or
senator up in Tallahassee, but we realize that we represent the poorest city in the nation, and
times are tough, and you do the best you can. I want to just add on what Commissioner
Gonzalez says. If there is money left over or whatever, I think that, you know, it should be --
once again, the word here is "fairness," and cuts should be across the board to everybody
because we realize that times are tough and we have to represent our constituents.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the public hearing that we had several
days ago we brought some numbers and figures, and the elderly population in Miami -Dade
86 March 27, 2003
County is larger than the elderly population in 18 states of the Union, 18. Only one county has
more persons 65 and older than 18 states put all together in the United States, so I would have to
agree that there is a need to set the priority as the elderly. Also, in the district hearing, economic
development and persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities is one of the issues that the
City is dealing in another area now, so I would recommend that we open the window for persons
with disabilities to apply also for this funding.
Vice Chairman Teele: Now, we're talking about public services and -- Are you adding that as a
third category?
Commissioner Regalado: I am adding as a third category.
Vice Chairman Teele: So the district Commissioner has -- you're District 4, right? You're 4?
Commissioner Regalado: Yes, sir.
Ms. Rodriguez: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: So adding elderly, child care, and disability -- persons with disabilities.
As you know, Mr. Manager, we had again, perhaps, the most successful public hearing. We had
well over 250 people that stayed there with your staff up until 10 p.m. In fact --
Ms. Rodriguez: 11.
Vice Chairman Teele: 11 p.m. In fact, the bombing began while we were there, and I'm
particularly gratified that a number of people from outside of the district there -- it goes without
saying, you go to all of their meetings, but it was -- one thing is very clear, that the community
very much would like to see more partnering with city park partnership programs, and so we
would like to make that our number one priority, and that is, what we need to do is get our
community-based organizations to be more engaged in our parks activities, and I think, given the
tragedy of last night, it just again underscores the need to get more involvement. We --
government can't do it alone, and I think one way we can do a much better job with our parks is
to get community-based organizations to partner with our parks. We do a good job, for example,
with the Optimists in the areas that I represent. I know the Boys Club has done an outstanding
job in Gwen Cherry Park in the County and unincorporated Dade County, and there are some
other examples, but we could substantially leverage the use and the functionality of our parks by
encouraging, and again, encouraging partnership. Again, District 5 is the poorest district, and we
just don't have the advantages that Little Havana has as a direct example. We don't have the
businesses that are -- can underwrite the kinds of activities that in a thriving and vibrant business
community can be done. You know, we look hard and long for our sponsors, and so one of the
main components of our sponsorship has to be CD (Community Development) dollars, and so
we're looking at this as a partner, but again, it underscores, if you don't have a park, you're
going to get left out. For 20 years this City has delivered our summer feeding program, lunch
program and -- program in the summer through our Parks Department, and if you don't have a
park in your neighborhood, you don't get those services, so again, it just underscores the need for
all communities to have adequate services. With those adjustments --
87 March 27, 2003
Ms. Rodriguez: If I can make -- ? We had a meeting with District 2 Commissioner, and on
District 2 he would like to see proposals from every type of facet in public service, so he's not
going to have a priority in District 2. He wants the record to reflect that, so for District 2 --
Vice Chairman Teele: There'll be no priorities.
Ms. Rodriguez: There will not be.
Vice Chairman Teele: It'll just be wide open.
Ms. Rodriguez: It will be wide open.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- OK, so we'll be deleting --
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- references in District 2.
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. With that, are there comments regarding the policies of the five
districts that have been outlined? Mrs. --
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chairman. Barbara, can you provide us with a list of all CD
accounts that have a balance? Could you provide myself and the Commissioners --
Ms. Rodriguez: Yes, I can.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- a list of that --
Ms. Rodriguez: Yes, I can.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- of all accounts that have a balance, CD? Thank you.
Ms. Rodriguez: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are you saying activities or -- ?
Commissioner Sanchez: I'm saying any money that's in CD accounts that's not being used.
Ms. Rodriguez: Well, they've all been funded. They are -- they do have balances, but they've
been funded.
Commissioner Regalado: Let me ask you, if we were to approve these priorities, it means that,
for instance, programs for disabilities could only apply through District 2 and 4 and not --
88 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: No.
Commissioner Regalado: on -- ? Yes?
Ms. Rodriguez: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: That's what she said.
Barbara: Yes. The way this RFP and the way this resolution is saying is tell us what type of
proposal you want to receive. From those proposals there will be a rating, there will be a
process, and it will come to you June 24. The reason that we were assigning priority is taking
consideration that you have a million seven dollars less to go around. It was determined that it
was better upfront from now to tell the people what they will be able to apply instead of telling
them in June, you might not have dollars to fund them. That will help agencies that are currently
funded by the City to look out for other types of funding out there because we are in March and
the contract runs in September 30.
Vice Chairman Teele: Barbara, I respect what you're saying, but that's not my understanding,
and I'm wrong, obviously --
Ms. Rodriguez: Yeah.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- if both you and Commissioner Regalado have it. Last year what we did
was we had pretty much an open process, like Commissioner Winton is saying, and then we did
a reserve of "X" amount of dollars for projects of high priority.
Ms. Rodriguez: No. Last year we opened it up to every agency to apply. We deleted certain
agencies, such as we did not take proposal for job training. We did not take proposal for crime
prevention. We did not accept proposal --
Vice Chairman Teele: We had -- District 5 had a reserve in which we did a supplemental. I
thought this was a supplemental --
Ms. Rodriguez: Because when we came to funding, you made the reserve for your district. You
were the only one that made a reserve when the public service funding came up to be. Now, just
to give you an example, we received last year 200 proposals for $14,000,000, so public services -
Vice Chairman Teele: And how much did you have available?
Ms. Rodriguez: We had available last year 3.2, so now -- this year you have 1.7. You have a
reduction of 46.1 percent, so what I'm saying to you that our -- the Administration feels that it's
more fair if we know the priorities, and if certain people are not going to have funds. We're not
going to have fund not even to fund the agencies we currently have within these priorities --
89 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Ms. Rodriguez: -- so now it's --
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, I stand corrected, and I -- again, if Commissioner Regalado's got it,
you've got it; it's probably the way it's going, so thank you. The public hearing is open. Anyone
who wants to talk about categories -- anyone who mentions the name of their organization is
going to get a minus 10 points from their application. This is not about your organization. This
is about the policy. Anyone who gets up and talks about their organization -- I'm only joking.
I'm not evaluating --
Commissioner Sanchez: He's only kidding.
Vice Chairman Teele: Feel free to come forward, but really, this is not the time to sell your
particular community-based organization. This is the time to urge that policies be enhanced or
inclusive or excluded. Please, come right forward. Is there anyone else, Madam Clerk, that
asked to speak on this item?
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): We have registered five on number 13, Helena Del Monte,
Robert -- is it Ruand [sic]? -- from Regis House, Marylyn Alande from Tri -City Community,
Lidia C. Lewis [sic] from De Hostos Senior Center. Those are the ones we have registered.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. The public hearing's open. We're talking now about the policy
for public service funding. Yes, ma'am.
Helena Del Monte: As you wish, Commissioner. I come to the podium now as a resident of the
City of Miami. Helena Del Monte, 3680 Southwest 18th Terrace. As this day is knows for many
years I have represented a very, very weak, fragile, and needed segment of our society, and that
is the developmentally disabled. Disability, in itself, categorizes so, so many levels. When we
talk about developmentally disabled, it is an intellectual impairment that is a condition. Once
you are born with mental retardation, that condition will follow you until the day the Lord calls
you, and it is the duty of all of us, the stronger in society, to do for these souls that are weaker in
society. I do not want to be in your shoes -- it is such, such a hard year -- all of you
Commissioners, Madam Director, but we need to find a quantifiable way of, perhaps, all of the
agencies that have been receiving dollars from the City that we all pay a little bit of the price this
year together, but do not abandon these adults that will forever be children. Thank you very
much for your time.
Mariano Cruz: OK. Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 26 Street. I'm going to talking in policy. I
am -- I attend different meetings. One, the people agree, the elderly, the young, I'm going to add,
too, and I spoke about that, the programs in the park. The elderly important because a meal in an
elderly building, they are -- I always wonder how come the federal government spend so much
money on Medicare. You fall down, you got bad nutrition. They spend thousands of dollars to
put you in a nursing home, in a hospital, but they won't now; they're cutting money to feed
people or to deal with people (UNINTELLIGIBLE). It's not just eating there. It's a group
therapy of the people interacting, playing dominos, seeing each other there. That's what is
90 March 27, 2003
important about this dollars they're going to cut. Because I understand the State is cutting all the
money, and probably, most of the other federal money will be -- is being cut, too, but they don't
spend that money, few dollars for meal on wheels, or whatever, it will prevent that person from
going to a nursing home, and then we'll have to spend thousands of dollars for that care, and then
the young people, the child care, good quality child care for the people to be able to work
because most of the people, they got to have two salaries to buy a home. What sense to have
affordable housing if you don't have the money to buy the house?
Vice Chairman Teele All right.
Mr. Cruz: You don't have a job, right, and the other one is the programs in the parks are being --
Vice Chairman Teele: The what?
Mr. Cruz: The programs in the parks. Important because you know why there is not so much
money spent in programs in the park? Because there is no money with the children. There's
money in building prisons, more police, more this, more that, more that, no. Prevention
programs. An ounce is worth a pound of cure. Go around there. You take one soccer ball and a
few things, and with a few dollars, you have a program, but then that don't produce money or the
special interest. You know, when somebody kills somebody, you have to have a expert witness
testify, the psychiatrist, the business -- it's a big business in the law with (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
that's what we need. Now they're going to put $122,000,000 in parks, in -- I mean, capital
improvement. We need the program because for years, I remember, I got to take my children to
Hialeah and pay a non-resident permit for them to be able to participate in programs because the
City of Miami didn't have any programs at Comstock Park and that's wrong, that's wrong. We
have to take care of everybody. With few dollars we can -- that's a long-term solution. Sure,
common sense tells you, oh, you have to have more police and more jails and the 10-20
(UNINTELLIGIBLE), or whatever, but that's not the solution, that's not the solution. Thank
you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone else on this item? If not, the public hearing -- go right
ahead, ma'am.
Marlene Arribas: Marlene Arribas, 5659 West Flagler Street. I'm here to talk about somebody
that's always forgotten -- a part of our society that's always forgotten and that's our youth. As
you can see by what I just gave you, Tallahassee is about to cut out over $80,000,000 on youth
prevention programs and sending a lot of it back to the counties. We are going to have a terrible
problem when these programs get eliminated, and somebody has to start thinking about our
youth because they are our future, and we have some big problems with our youth in this county,
especially in the Cit, so I would like you to think about prevention programs because if the state
cuts them, then there'll be no place for our youth to go. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you very much. All right, the public hearing is -- sir, ma'am, if
there's anyone else, please just line up here so we can keep it moving. If there's anyone else
going to speak -- this will be our last speaker on this item. Thank you. Go right ahead, sir.
91 March 27, 2003
Robert Ruano: All right. Commissioners, my name is Robert Ruano, Regis House, 2010
Northwest 7th Street. I realize this is a very difficult year. I applaud the Commission and the
Administration for making elderly and children a priority. I think they really are -- they are
really our citizens that really need the most care. I wanted to ask a point of clarification, if I
could, of child care. Is -- does that -- is that just day care services or does that include after-
school programs and services that serve children?
Ms. Rodriguez: It will include day care and it will include after-school.
Mr. Ruano: After school, OK, great. It's very difficult to be up here and not just talk about my
organization, but I just want to say thank you very much for the past funding, and if there is no
funding for the coming year -- I realize this is a very difficult year -- as we have in the past, we
will try to look for other ways to fund these very important programs. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: But you're with Regis.
Mr. Ruano: Regis House, yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: Would they be eligible under child care?
Ms. Rodriguez: They have after-school program. They have a variety of programs that we fund
them in the past --
Mr. Ruano: We --
Ms. Rodriguez: -- but they do have a after-school program. The other program that they have
might not qualify --
Mr. Ruano: Yes.
Ms. Rodriguez: -- but after-school, yes.
Mr. Ruano: After-school and adolescent program for first-time offenders at -- you know, most
of them are either first-time offenders or kids with conduct problems or substance abuse issues,
and I don't know if they would be -- qualify under that, but --
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Ruano: OK. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, ma'am. This is the last speaker on this item.
Lidia Lemus: Good afternoon. My name is Lidia Lemus and I'm representing De Hostos Senior
Center. We provide meals, recreation, transportation, and social services to the low-income
elderly communities of Wynwood, Melrose, Allapattah, and surrounding areas. It is very
important that we continue delivering these vital services to our elders since to most of them our
92 March 27, 2003
center is their only source of recreation, orientation and meals, perhaps even the closest thing
they have to a family. In addition to the last mention, we would like to ask your cooperation
with our home improvement programs for the elderly. We already have a commitment from
OCED (Office Community and Economic Development), but there is a match that is needed
from the City of Miami. According to the Department of Elderly Affairs, 85 percent of Florida
homeowners are in the low-income elderly population --
Vice Chairman Teele: Another category.
Ms. Rodriguez: That's another category.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. We're going to take that up in just one minute.
Ms. Lemus: Oh, OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: Let's just stay focused on --
Ms. Lemus: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- the public service. I think you said elderly --
Ms. Lemus: Elderly.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- feeding and lunch --
Ms. Lemus: Meals, transportation, and social services recreation. In concluding, we would like
to appeal to all of you in behalf of the elderly so that they can live a little happier, safer lives.
Look at yourselves in the mirror and realize that one day you will be in the same predicament
these folks are in right now. Imagine, how will it feel. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. The public hearing is closed. Is there discussion? Is there a
motion?
Commissioner Sanchez: Motion, as amended.
Vice Chairman Teele: A motion, as amended.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Seconded, as amended. The only --
Commissioner Regalado: When -- Mr. Chairman, just to make sure. When you say as amended,
it means that those categories that were added would only be able to apply in two district, is that
the intent of this Board?
93 March 27, 2003
Ms. Rodriguez: The amendment will include adding the disability programs on District 4. It
will also change District 2 priority to be open.
Commissioner Regalado: And the other --
Vice Chairman Teele: Let me tell you.
Commissioner Regalado: -- three districts will be closed for other categories, other than the
priorities. I just want to understand that.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yeah. Are you -- ?
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, I'm done.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado raises a very important issue, and I just want to
advise you that I'm probably going to ask that there be a reserve at the end, before we make
recommendations, of about 12 to 15 percent of District 5 because I think, while what we have
done over the last five years is move this process forward -- I mean, we were funding everything
and anything -- it may be a little too narrow, and I don't want to do what Commissioner Winton
is doing, but he's sort of got the right idea, that maybe we may be engineering it too much
without any discretion. I'm very much persuaded, based upon the public hearing, about the
disability issue, and I also would like to understand better how Commissioner Winton is going to
deal with Wynwood. You know, this is a situation where we cannot get caught in one -size -fits -
all. Wynwood is sort of caught between District 2 and District 5, and while, as a matter of
policy, I've worked hard to keep District 5 out of the elderly feeding program, I've worked very
hard to keep them out of that program, there's a history in Wynwood that I have to have some
responsibility for insuring that those programs that are going on are not unplugged, and I'm just
as concerned about Wynwood as I am about Overtown or Model Cities. I represent a portion of
it. Now, when you've got two Commissioners representing -- Commissioner Winton actually
represents the majority of Wynwood, but I want to make sure that Wynwood doesn't fall through
the crack, and that's really my main concern going forward. However, Mr. Manager, I want to
make public one of the things that I've urged your assistant manager and director to do. This
process needs a desk officer, a staff person who is assigned without regard to the subject matter
to each of the five districts. In other words, right now everything is so compartmentalized in CD
that if somebody picks up the phone and they call about something, they've got to get to the right
church, the right pew, and probably even the right seat in the right pew to get the answer. I'm
about to make a big mistake, and staff is not helping me, because the overwhelming consensus in
my district, in addition to everything that we had agreed on, was that there should be money for
the Haitian Bicentennial activities. You remember when -- ?
Ms. Rodriguez: You basically requested that staff finds out if it can be paid with CDBG money,
and that research is going on right now.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, I would like to make sure that that is included --
Ms. Rodriguez: OK.
94 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: -- because this comes every 200 years, or every 100 years, and I can
assure you, if this were another country's 200 year celebration, like America, we would all be
doing things to celebrate that, and so that was the category that a number of people got up and
spoke, at least 10 people, and then we even asked for a show of hands and it was unanimous --
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- so it's community -- you know, we need to make sure that the thoughts
of these public hearings are captured, and I fully accept responsibility, so if you would allow it as
an amendment to District 5, that is, the Bicentennial activities of Little Haiti -- of Haiti that are
eligible in your motion, Commissioner Sanchez?
Commissioner Sanchez: The question is, is it eligible?
Ms. Rodriguez: We are doing the research for it.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's eligible.
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: Will you allow that in your motion?
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Madam Director, the fact that we may have priorities doesn't mean
that once we cover our priorities or once the funds have been assigned to each district, we will
have the option of applying the monies. Once we cover our priorities, if we have any money left,
then we can distribute the balance in any organization that does social services, right?
Ms. Rodriguez: In public service, just to give you an idea, your district is being reduced 55.5
percent in funding --
Commissioner Gonzalez: I understand.
Ms. Rodriguez: -- so you're going to have only $279,000 going out for an RFP, which, if you
just consider the meal program in your district and child care -- I don't want to, you know, lift
your faith and say that you're going to have a lot of money --
Commissioner Gonzalez: I know --
95 March 27, 2003
Ms. Rodriguez: --later on.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- exactly -- believe me, that I know exactly what's going on and I
understand exactly what you're saying. Allapattah Community Action Center, they're going to
be suffering a drastic and dramatic cut from the funds that they get from the State, and the
director has already been notified, and they serve about 400 or 500 meals daily, so that means
that probably half of the senior citizens that go to that center are not going to be able to eat next
year.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. On the motion, all those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All those opposed have the same right. The item is unanimously adopted.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-276
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ADOPTING THE ATTACHED POLICIES RELATING
TO THE PUBLIC SERVICES CATEGORY OF THE 29TH YEAR
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
96 March 27, 2003
15. ADOPT 29TH YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
PROGRAM FUNDS POLICY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 14.
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Department of Community Development): OK. Item number 14
is, again, policy decision, but this one deals with economic development. Again, it's district
driven. On this one we would like to make a change. One of the parts of this resolution is that
we want to start a pilot project. It's going to be administered by the City of Miami Department
of Economic Development. There are two areas that are being identified here that we would like
to make a modification to it. The number one is Martin Luther King Boulevard. We want that
one from Biscayne Boulevard to Northwest 19th Avenue, and we would like to make the other
modification is Southwest 8th Street from 37th Avenue to I-95. This pilot program is a program
that the Department of Economic Development is working on. It's going to have match from the
County. We will be coming back to you with some policy guidance as to what is entailed.
We're looking for a two -to -one ratio funded by the County. It's still in the negotiation stage. It
will provide loans to businesses up to $50,000. We're planning to put an allocation of $500,000
in that -- in those two pilot project combined with a million dollars from the County. We will be
back June 24 with the policy guidance of how much did we get in leverage, what will entail.
We're just identifying the areas. The rest of the dollars, which is a million five, will be
distributed among the districts, and in the same way, priorities. For priority for District 1 we're
looking for commercial facade; for District 2, commercial facade and for infrastructure; District
3, commercial facade and business loans; District 4, commercial facade and business loan;
District 5, infrastructure and business loans. These are the priorities that we are recommending
in this resolution, and it's a policy decision item.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. I just want to make one thing very clear. This issue that is
coming very fast is the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance. The facade
programs are going to be severely constrained based on the new HUD (Department of Housing
and Urban Development) interpretations relating to ADA, so I think -- and I'm not trying to ask
anybody to put something -- but I think the only way facades are going to be approved is you do
facade --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Code compliance.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- ADA.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Code compliance.
Vice Chairman Teele -- or code compliance.
Ms. Rodriguez: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: Because you know, you can't do facade improvements anymore -- Angel,
you're the expert --
97 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- if you don't -- if the building doesn't deal with the ADA issue, am I
correct?
Commissioner Gonzalez: You're correct, and what I suggest -- well, at least what I will drive in
my district -- in the CBO (Community -Based Organization) in my district is to make sure that
they do code compliance in order to bring the businesses that are not to code to bring them up to
code with the ADA requirements in order for them to get the facade and assessments afterwards.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Let's go down the --
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- let's just go down the line -- hold on -- and let each Commissioner
make any changes on the areas that have been listed, starting with you, Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: No. I just -- first, I want to that I thank the Administration for
amending this pilot program from 27 to 37 because it is important that the merchants in --
between 27th and 37th do not feel disenfranchised, abandoned, and we have to realize that these
are the only areas in the City of Miami where we have both sides of the street, Southwest 8th
Street; after 37th, then it's only the north side, and it's West Miami, Unincorporated Coral
Gables, et cetera. The second thing I want to say is that the facade program has been something
that has been a success. The merchants are very happy with the facade program. We have seen
in Allapattah, in West Little Havana, and East Little Havana an enthusiasm by the merchants, but
we have a problem, and the City of Miami is at fault in this problem. I have some colleagues
that are about to open a theatre in Southwest 8th Street, on a television studio in Southwest 8th
Street close to Brickell, in Joe's district, and they went to downtown -- Miami downtown. Josie
is there, and she did all the paperwork. She did everything; all the application because they
needed a sign to announce their place and all, and the show time and all that, and this is stuck in
the City because according to somebody, I don't know, the City does not have somebody who
can certify this building in compliance because it's a building that is older than 40 years or 50
years. It's sort of a historic --
Ms. Rodriguez: Fifty years.
Commissioner Regalado: -- thing. Now, I have found out that we have like 30 or 40 --
Ms. Rodriguez: Fifty-three.
Commissioner Regalado: -- or 50 of these cases, and you know what? They're calling me at
least three or four have done that, saying "Well, you guys in the city offer something," and you
know, it happened. It doesn't happen because, you know, the government promises and the
government does not deliver. This is wrong. This is -- and, you know, if we promise something,
we put our names and the City's name, we gotta deliver.
98 March 27, 2003
Ms. Rodriguez: Commissioner, you're totally correct that the system has taken long. As you
know, the last year the City had a -- an issue with HUD due to environmental studies. As part of
the environmental study, one piece is historic preservation. The biggest problem that Josie has is
that she does have 53 buildings that have requested assistance. Tomorrow there's a gentleman
coming down. Because the problem that the City has is that we cannot sign off on it; it goes to
the State.
Commissioner Regalado: Excuse me.
Ms. Rodriguez: We are -- they are coming tomorrow to see how we can streamline the system,
so we've gone through a training; it has been very slow. I'm not going to tell you that it has not.
We are working on it to achieve that being possible.
Commissioner Regalado: Well, how come other cities have somebody who is certified to sign?
Ms. Rodriguez: We are working with the Planning Department -- the Mayor's office is also got
involved -- to see how we do an interlocal with the State and become a certified representative so
that we could do it inside. The State has said that that process will take approximately a year.
However, they are willing to sit and find out ways to do it better. They are scheduled to be
tomorrow at my office, so we hope to come up with procedures that will expedite the process,
but it is correct, it's taken long. The City went through training on it. We were stopped last year
from doing these things, and I think it was a learning curve, but we are working on it, and I hope
to move them faster.
Commissioner Regalado: But isn't anybody who is certified --
Ms. Rodriguez: No.
Commissioner Regalado: -- like other cities that can sign on?
Ms. Rodriguez: It's not the issue of being certified. You have to have an interlocal agreement
with the State so that a person that they certify at the city level -- I would feel very comfortable
that we do have that person, so now we're in the process of negotiating an agreement to see how
can that be possible, so we are on talks with them. Hopefully, tomorrow they'll come up with
ideas to expedite the process.
Commissioner Regalado: OK, thank you. Mr. Chairman, I'm done on this item.
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, I would like to amend mine to include it has commercial
facade, business loan, and ADA compliance.
Vice Chairman Teele: Without objection. We don't have a motion on this yet, do we? Without
objection.
Commissioner Sanchez: If there's no further debate --
99 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado, you amended yours, right?
Commissioner Regalado: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner --
Commissioner Regalado: Well, actually, I didn't amend mine. I just supported the amendment
of the Administration.
Commissioner Sanchez: I would like to include in mine ADA compliance.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Actually, as was stated by Vice Chairman Teele, in order to do a
facade, the business has to be --
Ms. Rodriguez: In compliance.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- ADA approved, so it's going to be an automatic. The only thing is
that aside from the funding for facade, for project money, we're going to need to have a certain
amount of project money to do ADA compliance, but to do code compliance, you know --
Ms. Rodriguez: Right.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- we're going to need to double funding.
Commissioner Sanchez: Other funding.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Huh?
Commissioner Sanchez: Other funding.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Or other fund, right.
Vice Chairman Teele: Further changes? I would like to change from the business loan to code
compliance/business loan.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: Again, you cannot do a business loan under this if you don't get the full
code -- the full ADA --
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- compliance on this thing, so code compliance -- ADA -- code
compliance or, specifically, ADA is going to drive this whole program --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Right.
100 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: -- in the future. That's the new --
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- sheriff in town. All right.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK, so -- I'm ready to move 14 --
Vice Chairman Teele: No, no.
Commissioner Gonzalez: --Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: We got to --
Ms. Rodriguez: It's a public hearing.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- have a public hearing.
Ms. Rodriguez: It's a public hearing.
Vice Chairman Teele: Public hearing.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Oh, I'm sorry.
Vice Chairman Teele: Madam Clerk.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): We have signed up, is it Mirlande Allende from Tri -City
Community.
Vice Chairman Teele: Anyone else? All right. The Tri -City's representative, please? Anyone
else that would like to be heard on Item 14, now is the time to do so. Mirlande, are you coming
forward? No?
Ms. Rodriguez: She's going to do it for Item 15.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, fine. There are no persons coming forward. There are no
persons coming forward. There are no persons coming forward. The public hearing is closed.
Mr. Attorney -- I mean, Mr. --
Commissioner Sanchez: So move, as amended.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Move, second. Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
101 March 27, 2003
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed, say "nay." The item is unanimously adopted.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-277
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ADOPTING THE ATTACHED POLICIES RELATING
TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY OF THE 29TH YEAR
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
16. ADOPT 29TH YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
FUNDS POLICIES FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY AND
HOMEOWNERSHIP ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS
PROGRAM.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item 15.
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): Number 15 is another policy decision.
This has to do with housing development. We are fund -- the total funding here is two million -
three -six hundred, on CDBG (Community Development Block Grant).
Commissioner Regalado: How much?
Ms. Rodriguez: Two million -three -six hundred in CDBG; three point eight -five -five -six -eighty-
five in HOME (Home Investment Partnership), for a total allocation of five million, eight
hundred and fifty-nine thousand, two hundred and eighty-five dollars ($5,859,285). A hundred
percent of this funding is recommended for projects that deal with homeownership. We would
no longer fund housing administration, as we've done in the past. However, we will be funding
developer fees, project development, as long as the non-profit group has a developer, a project in
mind, so basically, the way it would work, you would come in. You would tell us the project.
We will do benchmarks and you will have to achieve the benchmark in order for you to get the
102 March 27, 2003
dollars. The RFP (Request for Proposals) is going to be very global, meaning that you will be
able to apply for a variety of services. It's going to be -- the priorities will be district driven.
District 1 will have down payment assistance, second mortgage, new construction. District 2,
new construction, homeownership, down payment assistance, second mortgages. District 3 will
have down payment assistance, second mortgages, multi -family rehab, new construction.
District 4 will have multi -family rehab. It will have down payment assistance, second mortgage,
new construction. District 5 will have down payment assistance, second mortgages, new
construction, homeownership. The second part of this resolution includes two things. One is
that in 1998, there was a resolution that passed by this City Commission that basically said that
there was a leverage requirement, five to one on rental projects, three to one in homeownership
projects. This will continue in this resolution. There is also a maximum funding for eligible
home, will be twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).
Vice Chairman Teele: Has that changed?
Ms. Rodriguez: This is the same thing you approved for the SHIP (State Housing Initiatives
Partnership) Program when it came here around six months ago. This is what -- the State
program that you approved for. It's less than the one that we had two years ago, which was forty
thousand dollars ($40,000). These are loans that will be payable at the --
Vice Chairman Teele: May I ask why did we reduce the amount?
Ms. Rodriguez: When we did the SHIP Program, it was determined by this Commission that
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) was a substantial amount of money for rehab, and that
was the same system that was used for second mortgage. At that same Commission,
Commissioner Winton brought up the issue that these loans should be payable, to start like a
revolving loan, to be able to make it happen in the future, so last year, in June, these -- the
program guidelines were basically changed. These loans are being recommended at this time
that they will be payable at time of sale, in the event that the property is leased or rented, and the
terms of the loan will be basically, the interest rate will depend on the income. If you're 50 to 55
percent, it will be a loan of 15 years and zero percent interest. If your income is 55 to 60 percent
of income, it's up to 15 years and you will pay one percent of interest, and if it's 61 to 70 percent
of median income, it will be 15 years and two percent will be your interest rate. At the
Commissioner Gonzalez public hearing, there was a comment and a request that the leverage
requirement for homeownership be dropped, instead of three point three to one, be two to one.
The Commissioner has requested that the administration take that in consideration, and we have,
and we recommend that it is true, it is harder for homeownership, so we are recommending that
amendment to this resolution.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, there was -- I think it was in 1998 or 1997/1998, there
was a discussion in reference to the leverage on homeownership projects. What happens is that
when a community-based organization gets involved in building affordable housing, especially
homeownership, which is mostly what the CBOs (Community -Based Organizations) do, it's very
difficult, it's very difficult to work on a ratio of three to one. Usually, the way that it was done --
and as you know, I was doing this for many years -- it was on a ratio of two to one. The City
come up with a pot of funding, the County will come up with an equal part, and then the private
103 March 27, 2003
banking industry will come up with the balance, so it was a three to one -- it was a two to one
funding used in these projects, and based on my experience on doing these developments -- you
don't know the hardship that we went through in order to be able to complete Ralph Plaza 1, and
now, I know the agency is going through a real, real tough time in order to get financing to
complete the financing to do Ralph Plaza 2, so if we are moving forward with building
homeownership housing which actually provide a stake of people in the community, people feel
part of the community, because they own their homes and that helps improve every
neighborhood. If it's going to be done through CBOs, community-based organizations and CDC
(Community Development Corporation), I believe the only way these agencies are going to be
able to do these projects and complete these projects will be on a two to one ratio.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: I couldn't agree with you more. Before you do, I just --
Commissioner Gonzalez: And if you'd forgive me, I remember Ralph Packingham and
Reverend Dunn, and I worked with them, you know, and tried to assist them, and I know they
went through real, real rough times in order to complete their projects, and thank God -- you
know, Ralph passed away, but we -- you know, but he saw his project completed, but he really
suffered a lot, because I remember that we had conversations late at night, and he was going
crazy, you know, trying to get this project completed.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman, members of the Commission, I think all of you -- I
have attended in the past three or four years to several ground breakings, and grand opening of
buildings in Commissioner Sanchez' district, in Commissioner Gonzalez, and Commissioner
Teele and Commissioner Winton, but I will bet you anything that you have never attended a
ground breaking inauguration or opening of a HUD (Department of Housing and Urban
Development) building in District 4, because there aren't any, and my question to you, Barbara,
is, is this first come/first served, in terms of the money?
Ms. Rodriguez: This resolution does that. It's going to be basically on projects, and the projects
will have certain leverage requirements, some financing, which is one of the issues that was
brought up at your public hearing, was that because projects are not available in District 4, then
District 4 is not getting housing dollars, so one of the recommendations that was made at your
public hearing was that a set aside portion be directed to District 4 so that we could develop a
pilot project for District 4 to get developers to come into the area, or to get rehab work in the
area of District 4, so that was some of the recommendations that were brought up at your public
hearing, Commissioner.
Commissioner Regalado: And let me tell you, I am sure that if we seek rehab programs, there
will be a lot, because there are many, many buildings in dire need of repairs in District 4, so I
would like to amend this to set aside some funds for District 4 to establish, actually, the Housing
Development Pilot Project Reserve Fund in District 4. That would be my amendment to --
104 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: There is no motion on the floor right now, so it's adopted without
objection.
Commissioner Regalado: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. Can we get to the public hearing on this item, perhaps? Have we
had it? All right. This is a public hearing on Item Number 15, please. Madam Clerk, would you
read the names of the people?
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): We do have the tri -City Community representative; a Mr.
Diaz, from CODEC (Community Development Corporation); Ms. Ann Manning, from Habitat
for Humanity and Mr. Mariano Cruz.
Mariano Cruz: Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 26th Street. I am going to ask some questions
that nobody asked. Ms. Rodriguez, when is it that the money for administration will be finished?
In this year or next year?
Ms. Rodriguez: I don't understand.
Mr. Cruz: The administration money, the money going to the CBO for administration.
Ms. Rodriguez: Well, there is no housing administration. That's number one. There is housing
development funds that non-profit will be able to use, as long as they have a project, and it will
be a benchmark system, which is the same thing that we were able to change this year. You
make a benchmark, you get dollars. You don't make the benchmark, you don't get dollars.
Mr. Cruz: That's something, because I've seen for years and years, people come here and, oh,
we planning this, and we going to do a hotel, we going to do this, and nothing ever get done.
Nobody shows me documentation that something tangible is being done. I want to see. At least
I can say I have a record. They got a record of doing something, housing is there, but all these
people that being CBO, they been getting the money for salaries for years and years. I think they
should show something, I mean, something.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. That's what she said she's going to do. Ms. Manning.
Anne Manning: Anne Manning, 2641 Southwest 30th Court.
Vice Chairman Teele: Speak up a little, Anne, please.
Ms. Manning: OK. Let me get that higher.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yeah, there you go.
Ms. Manning: Our request is in regards to the homeownership assistance program, the second
mortgage program, that the amount of the subsidy would be increased at least to thirty thousand
per unit. We would also ask that payment would not be payable, but would be deferred. Unlike,
105 March 27, 2003
I think, the SHIP program is being now, it's payable back. Particularly, we work with
homeowners that are earning less than 60 percent of the AMI, and working in very difficult
neighborhoods, and getting people to invest in those neighborhoods, and working with the poor,
we would ask that special consideration would be made, and change the guidelines of the
program.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. You're requesting -- very fair. Let me see if I understand. It
was my understanding that the pay back is only triggered under three or four circumstances.
You sell the unit, you lease the unit -- what was the other?
Ms. Rodriguez: Well, at that time, you pay everything back, if you lease the unit or you sell the
unit.
Vice Chairman Teele: But let's say someone moves in and they don't do anything but be a
model --
Ms. Rodriguez: They do pay. They pay the loan. If you are 50 to 55 percent, you pay with zero
interest. If you're 55 to 60, it's one percent. If it's 61 to 70, it's two percent.
Ms. Manning: So in all those situations, the homeowners are paying something, either --
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Ms. Manning: -- on principal, at zero, or principal at one percent, where it has been deferred.
There has been no payment on that second mortgage program.
Ms. Rodriguez: Habitat was grand -fathered in. They have still not been under these new
guidelines, because they had a commitment from the administration, and this Commission, with
the houses that they were building at that time. What Anne is saying, that now, due to the new
change that took place last year, the new houses will be impacted by these guidelines. Also, she
was grand -fathered at $40,000, and now it's going down at $25,000.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, that raises a few questions in my mind. Number one, someone
who's building houses without the benefit of public dollars for administration, have none of the
other grant support, don't you think there should be an incentive for those? Otherwise, if we
have -- We still give housing CDC's an annual allocation of money, right?
Ms. Rodriguez: Again, in her case --
Vice Chairman Teele: No, no, no. Answer my question.
Ms. Rodriguez: We don't do housing administration. We do benchmarks for projects. In the
case of Habitat, we give her an allocation for impact fees and permits.
Vice Chairman Teele: Impact fees and permits. Does she get a benchmark?
106 March 27, 2003
Ms. Rodriguez: Every time that she has to pay a permit or an impact fee, she draws down from
those dollars.
Vice Chairman Teele: This has been my philosophical objection to this program as long as I've
been in government. A developer comes in, builds a house in a very difficult area, goes out and
finds a homeowner, potential homeowner who meets all of the federal criteria, and the federal
criteria is basically making -- what's the salary, Anne?
Ms. Manning: Well, I think for home, it's under 80 percent AMI, and we're building below that.
Vice Chairman Teele: So what does that refer to in dollars, roughly?
Ms. Manning: Twenty thousand for a family of four.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, so we're talking about people making $20,000 for a family of four,
with credit. It just seems to me that we would try to encourage those people, one; and we would
encourage the developers to come in and sell houses to those people.
Ms. Rodriguez: Commissioner, administration supports what you're saying. I can tell you that if
it wasn't because of some developers that are tapping in now to down payment assistance with
the policies of prior -- the commitment made and the changes last year -- the City would have
problems spending the homeownership dollars, so I can tell you we do -- This was an item that
was discussed heavily by this Commission, and Commissioner Winton was the one that
sponsored that resolution that basically stated that we should start collecting money to look for
the future and make sure that there was a revolving -- to continue to providing loans to additional
homeowners.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, I, for one, would like to ask that this item be brought back for
another discussion when Commissioner Winton is here, because I want to know two things:
One, the future is now. That's what Vince Lombardi used to always say. When they asked him
why was he always getting all these old has-beens and not getting these young jocks out of
college, he says, the future is now. I got to win next year, not ten years from now, and that's
number one. The future really is now for people trying to get their homes.
Ms. Rodriguez: I agree.
Vice Chairman Teele: And number two, Commissioner Winton's district represents 45 to 50
percent of the total tax base of the City. It is -- his district is more affluent than the other four
districts combined, simply stated. Now, I mean, he's not here, and I respect him as a developer,
but what I'm saying is what works in Upper Eastside and Coconut Grove and Brickell may not
work so well in Wynwood and Little Haiti, and I don't know that I want to agree with that
philosophy now that I see it, and specifically, I believe the developers who come in and get no
government money should be given some kind of carrot or benefit -- not to the developer but to
the homeowner who's buying the home, and so if a developer can come into the community,
compete with the CDC's and provide a product, you know, without any government money, that
homeowner should be able to get a loan of -- if everybody else is getting twenty-five, there ought
107 March 27, 2003
to be a bonus for that. If you put bonuses, you'll have people coming in, and all that I'm saying
is we ought to look at a carrot to get developers to come in, as opposed to trying to subsidize
CDC's to do what the marketplace may be able to do.
Ms. Rodriguez: I agree.
Vice Chairman Teele: So could we have that discussion when Commissioner --
Ms. Rodriguez: Can we --
Vice Chairman Teele: We'll approve this now.
Ms. Rodriguez: And then come back for more policy decision.
Vice Chairman Teele: And come back and have that discussion.
Ms. Rodriguez: I think that's --
Ms. Thompson: Is that fair, Ms. Manning?
Ms. Manning: Yeah. I would appreciate it. Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: And your minimum is -- what you all are saying, Habitat is saying, for
your program to work, twenty-five is too low? You'd rather see thirty, but forty would be ideal?
Ms. Manning: Even thirty is fine. I'm sure the families would appreciate forty, and it does make
it very affordable for them. At 40 percent, some families are still paying over 30 percent of their
income to the mortgage, and that's standard in the industry, but we believe for the very poor,
they have other expenses to be concerned with. Health insurance, the poor don't have that. They
have medical costs. They have transportation costs that other people don't have and that's --
Vice Chairman Teele: Would you put on the record again the range of salaries of families of
four that we're talking about? So that the public understands, we're not talking about people
making forty, fifty or sixty thousand.
Ms. Manning: We're definitely not, and you probably have the exact number.
Ms. Rodriguez: It's twenty $26,000 for a family of four.
Vice Chairman Teele: That's the upper limit?
Ms. Rodriguez: Yes.
Ms. Manning: That's 50 percent of AMI? Or is that 80?
Ms. Rodriguez: Let me see. I just had it.
108 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: Those are exactly the same people that apply and that have purchased
units that were built by Allapattah Business Development at Fern Isles Garden -- I'm sorry, at --
yeah -- Fern Isles Garden Condominiums and at Ralph Plaza 1. People that make -- families that
make $12,000 a year, $14,000 a year, and they are going to be paying the first mortgage on the
first eleven years, and then they're going to pay the surtax mortgage on the second 18 or 19 years
of the mortgage, so you know -- and actually, let me tell you, when you provide to poor families
-- and this is poor families. These are people that live in Allapattah, OK? It's not -- we're not
talking about people that live in the Grove or in the Gables. This is working family, very, very
low income families, and when you sell these families a town home, three bedroom, two bath,
totally equipped for $70,000, and they'd be paying, between the mortgage and the maintenance
fee, they will be paying $400 a month, let me tell you, that's a bargain, because actually, there is
no place in Miami -- Just one single bedroom in Miami costs you $400 today. Just one room --
Ms. Rodriguez: Commissioner I --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- just to go to sleep, so you know, they're already getting a real, real
big advantage and a real, real help in these projects.
Ms. Rodriguez: Let me give you the income I have exactly here. At 30 percent of median
income, four people, is $14,450. At 50 percent, it's $24,100, and 70 percent is $38,550 for a
family of four.
Vice Chairman Teele: What number applies?
Ms. Rodriguez: If you're doing CDBG, it's 70 percent. If it's HOME, it's 80, which gives you a
little bit more, but usually, Habitat deals with the 50 percent range. What you're talking about is
$24,100 for a family of four.
Vice Chairman Teele: You know, if anybody's got credit at $24,000 a year, supporting four
people, I can't see that we ought to hit them for a mortgage, a second mortgage and make them
pay it when, in fact, we've never -- It's not our money. It's government. It's just -- talk about
quality of life. It's just -- I mean, that's penny wise and pound foolish, in my opinion.
Ms. Manning: We agree.
Ms. Rodriguez: We agree.
Vice Chairman Teele: But, I mean, there's a logic in laying up something for future programs.
Further discussion. Public hearing is going on. Yes, ma'am. Tri -City.
Mirlande Allende: Good afternoon. How are you doing? My name is Mirlande Allende, and
I'm representing Tri -City Community Association. We're located at 5800 Northwest 7 t
Avenue. Tri -City Community Association has been in existence for 27 years, and we have been
focusing a lot on rehab, home rehab, single family rehab, job training, so if anybody knows about
the experiences in all the districts about the individuals who need services, it's Tri -City. We
109 March 27, 2003
focus a lot on the elderly, the handicapped, low to moderate income individuals. I don't condone
new affordable housing, but you got -- think about this, and about the elderly, who's 75 years
old, and they been in their residence for about 20 years. We can't tell them, oh, there's an
opportunity to buy a new home, when they're living by paycheck by paycheck, don't know
whether money is coming next month, and they don't know what to do with their bills. We have
serviced a lot of homes where we do carpentry work, we do roofing, we do windows, and all this
service is for free, and how we do it, we partnership with other organizations and have a job
training component, which I won't go any further with that, but please, you need to remember
them. We have a list right now. We were funded by the City of Miami for eight years, and we
were not refunded at 2001, due to the fact that the staff of Development said that they had the
same program, and so they can do it them self, but people are still calling our office. We have a
list of a hundred of people of the residents of City of Miami that needs our help. We service
homes right now that we can go in there, you can paint their homes, we can fix the windows, and
they have -- and we're looking up, and you see big holes on their roof, and they're living in that
particular conditions. We cannot forget those people, and that's the elderly and the handicapped,
and with your support and the funds, we want to continue to do the same service. Any questions
for me?
Vice Chairman Teele: Such an intelligent argument, I got to tell you.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman I --
Vice Chairman Teele: If she's right, if she's right that we discontinued that program so that we
could inflict that program that we've inflicted on the public, we not only owe them an apology,
we should be rushing them to the front like the 173rd just rushed in today. We should be
parachuting you all into Model City.
Ms. Rodriguez: It is a correct statement.
Vice Chairman Teele: Given what we've got, I mean, we've got a holy mess on our hands with
that repair program. Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I support a hundred percent what the lady is saying, because I served
on the Tri -City Board of Directors for three consecutive years, and I was their Vice President,
and I know exactly the kind of work that they do in the community, so you know, I don't know
what we'll be able to do this year as far as providing some funding for -- I think what you were
getting was administrative funds, right?
Ms. Allende: And also, we were also getting administrative funds and also for the program,
itself, programmatic.
Commissioner Gonzalez: And we used to get funding from the County, too.
Ms. Allende: I am still funded by the County. They support us.
Commissioner Gonzalez: All right.
110 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Madam Director, how -- I'm going to ask by separate motion that you all
bring this item back, but I'd like for you all to meet and design it, so we have an option, because
the truth of the matter is you know and the public knows that the home repair program that the
City took in-house did not work. We still have any number of problems with it.
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: And I remember vaguely this program being cancelled because we could
do it ourselves. What I don't want to do is legislate a program today that we've not sat down and
talked through on how the benchmarks are going to be, and whether or not the program, in effect,
could be a grant to the homeowner -- do you follow what I'm saying? -- with Tri -City basically
being like the construction manager kind of thing and bringing in the services, because that was
the way this program used to be run, and if you would look at it like a homeownership program,
the grant goes to the citizen, not to the agency, and then they get a fee from the grant to
administer it. Do you follow what I'm saying? I would be very supportive of that, and even
eliminating --
Ms. Allende: I would, too.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and eliminating home -- new construction, because when you recognize
that Model City Homeownership Trust is going to be doing new construction, it would seem to
me that the void would be in maintaining the existing stock.
Ms. Rodriguez: I'll be more than glad to meet with Tri -City.
Ms. Allende: OK. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. Further discussion on the item? Public hearing process works.
Guariano Diaz: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Guariano Diaz. I'm the President
of CODEC (Community Development Corporation), and I would like to ask you all, determine
priorities that you would consider projects that, in your own words, Commissioner, bring
partners to the City, bring underwriter of projects and bring a considerable influx of federal
dollars with no strings attached, as well as projects that leverage significant amounts of money
for the City of Miami, and I'd like to give you an extreme example, extreme in a very positive
sense that has been brought upon by the organization I represent. In the last 12 years, to give
you an example of what is possible, CODEC has brought to the City of Miami a total of $45
million, exactly $45,033,775 in funds for land, construction and design. This is totally funds that
are not attached to any other condition, other than the success of the project. In terms of rental
assistance for the next 20 years, we have brought another forty-two million, two hundred
thousand dollars and change. That means that by building seven buildings with a total of 705
new units, we have brought to the City of Miami a total of $87,248,000. That means
$87,248,000 that have come to benefit more than 700 low income seniors that live in the City of
Miami in these seven buildings, all in districts of several of you Commissioners, but one of the
most important things about these funds is not only that they bring a partnership, that they bring
111 March 27, 2003
influx of dollars from the federal government, that it doesn't require anything else from the City
of Miami, but also the human aspect of it. In these buildings that CODEC has constructed,
senior citizens only pay 30 percent of their income, which means that they are going to have a
guarantee of living a decent life without having to make hard choices of paying the rent, and
having a telephone or things of that sort, or perhaps deciding what food they're going to eat.
They are buildings that, in addition to that, because they're brand new, because they are well
kept -- and I know that some of you have visited our buildings. I hope that those of you that
haven't will soon. These are buildings that anybody that comes in wonders, how come
construction like this is possible for low-income individuals? Because they are typical of middle
and upper income persons, so they are also a focus of development for the City of Miami, in
addition to everything else, so I ask you that you will consider from both the financial and the
human aspect of this and all the benefits that it brings to the City of Miami projects -- and this
will be a criteria in your determining which projects get funded, under what conditions -- that
bring factors that some of you mentioned today, particularly Commissioner Teele. Those are,
they bring funds from maybe private, maybe federal government to the City of Miami, and they
have a demonstrated ability to provide a decent life to the citizens of the City of Miami. Thank
you very much, Commissioners.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you for your thoughtful presentation. One of the challenges is we
-- this Commission directed that there be a housing summit, and again, we're right back to trying
to rationalize and make sense out of a much more complex problem an opportunity than time
allow us, and quite candidly, expertise, and you make -- the point you make is very intelligent. I
mean, how do you argue with somebody who's brought the kind of money that CODEC has
brought? And there should be carrots, benefits, incentives, but unfortunately, we're in a
straightjacket, because we haven't really gotten the kind of policy input on this very complex
area, and that summit was supposed to have been held in July of last year.
Ms. Rodriguez: It didn't happen. It starts on Monday. There is the first meeting of the housing
summit that is being chaired by Commissioner Winton, and the County and the State will be
coming over, also.
Vice Chairman Teele: I know that Commissioner Regalado had expressed an interest in going to
that. I would hope --
Ms. Rodriguez: OK. Patrick Range is handling it from Commissioner Winton's office. I'll be
more than glad to let him know.
Vice Chairman Teele: They say it starts this Monday.
Commissioner Regalado: And? Can we get --
Vice Chairman Teele: I just said you had expressed an interest a year ago --
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- in participating.
112 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, I would like to go.
Ms. Rodriguez: I will let Patrick Range from Commissioner Winton's office -- they're
organizing the summit, the meeting on the summit.
Commissioner Regalado: How does it work?
Ms. Rodriguez: Well, the meetings will start. It's the first one that will start on Monday, and it
will continue developing. I think Patrick Range is on his way over to the podium, so he can give
you more information about it.
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, yeah, but how does it work in terms of the sunshine law?
Vice Chairman Teele: "Has it been noticed?" is what he's asking.
Ms. Rodriguez: Well, I think that the -- this was just a meeting of the County, the City and the
State, and other players, and one being --
Commissioner Regalado: No, but if Patrick is going, like you're going, and if I go or if Angel
goes, it becomes an issue of sunshine.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Could you explain it, please, how the committee was set
up? Because unless there's more than one member of the City Commission, there would not be a
sunshine law problem.
Commissioner Regalado: What?
Mr. Vilarello: As long as there's only one member of the City Commission, typically, there's
not a sunshine law problem, unless there's been a delegation of authority to that one
Commissioner.
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Mr. Vilarello: I'm not aware of the -- how the committee was set up.
Commissioner Sanchez: But, Mr. Attorney, if Commissioner Regalado goes, then you're going
to have two Commissioners. Therefore, it's a violation of the sunshine law, and therefore, it has
to be properly advertised as a public meeting.
Commissioner Regalado: Then I won't go this Monday. You know, you just let me know.
That's what I'm saying.
Patrick Range: If I can, just a moment.
113 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: Because he has the delegation of authority from Commissioner
Winton.
Mr. Range: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: See what I mean?
Mr. Vilarello: He's attending on Commissioner Winton's behalf?
Mr. Range: Yes, this is correct, and actually --
Mr. Vilarello: You would have a problem.
Mr. Range: Actually, as far as --
Commissioner Regalado: I know I have a problem. That's why I asked.
Mr. Range: It should not be a problem. This wasn't set up by Commissioner Winton, and
actually, he's planning to be present, if he is able, on Monday, and this would just be a planning
session. This is just a very initial meeting, just a planning session. Once the summit, itself
comes to fruition, everyone will be duly noticed.
Commissioner Regalado: Oh, OK.
Mr. Range: And everyone will have an opportunity to participate.
Commissioner Regalado: Oh, OK. I thought that the summit was on Monday.
Mr. Range: No. This is just a planning session, and we're just bringing the players together to
bring the issues to the table.
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Alberto Milo: Yeah. Good afternoon. My name is Albert Milo, from the Urban Development
Group. 301 Southwest 17th Road. I just have a couple questions for Ms. Rodriguez, just for
clarification purposes. In regards to the two funding sources, if you can -- it was two million,
three sixty of CDBG and three million, eight fifty-five of HOME funding as the anticipated
funding?
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct. There's two million, three, six hundred, CDBG; three point eight -five -
five -six -eight -five in HOME for a total of five million, eight five -nine, two eighty-five.
Mr. Milo: Correct, and the RFP's are going to be done predominantly all for homeownership is
the intent?
Ms. Rodriguez: A hundred percent will be homeownership.
114 March 27, 2003
Mr. Milo: And the only changes then being the second mortgages are anticipated being dropped
for 25,000, as part of like HOME funding, from the previous 40 to the 25?
Ms. Rodriguez: The way it looks right now is that we will be looking for proposals for
homeownership projects and you will be able to apply for a variety of funding within the project,
being construction, being down payment, depending on the district that the project is. In
reference to looking at how much for second mortgages, that's what Commissioner Teele
mentioned, that we will come back and discuss those types of policy decisions.
Mr. Milo: OK. One last question. Do you know when you expect the RFP to be --
Ms. Rodriguez: RFP goes out, according to what the Commissioners approve today, on Monday.
Vice Chairman Teele: And when do they close?
Ms. Rodriguez: They close April 25tH
Mr. Milo: OK. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Gus, you're recognized. Is there anyone else that needs to be
heard on this item? One other person. Two other people. OK.
Gus Dominguez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Gus Dominguez, 300 Northwest 12th
Avenue. I'm President of Greater Miami Neighborhoods. We're a not-for-profit housing
developer who's been developing housing in the City of Miami since 1985. I really want to
commend the administration on the idea of rewarding administrative funding based on
development fees. I think it's high time that people get paid for what they actually do, not for
what actually they promise. On the other hand, the policies, the recommendations on the policies
in reference to second mortgages to homeowners, let me give you a couple of ideas of where I
think the program could be improved. The main idea of getting lower income households into
homeownership is to get them into the mainstream of American life. For every subsidy dollar
that you make people pay back, you are denying those same people from borrowing the same
amount of money in the private sector, plus it gives you -- you have to spend a lot of money in
administering, in servicing those loans, so at the end of the day, you are not only reducing the
amount of dollars that the families can borrow in the private sector, because it's all based on
formulas, and ratios and so on, but also, you are spending more money in administration that you
don't need to. I would suggest that you can structure second mortgage dollars in a way that you
are not providing windfall profits to people to turn around and -- you know, it's not an outright
grant, but that if you have restrictions on the time, you know, if people sell or refinance before a
certain time period, they should have to pay the full amount of dollars to the City, and that will
be in the title by recording a mortgage, and a title company -- you don't have to worry about
administering that. Title companies will pick that up, will advise you, and then you just basically
give a payoff line. Then after a certain period of time, you can start forgiving or self -amortizing
those mortgages a month at a time for any number of years, so people also realize the benefit of
equity that people in the mainstream realize when they are paying their monthly mortgage, so
115 March 27, 2003
you know, I think this needs to be thought through, you know, a lot better, because in the present
proposal, you are going to be spending a lot of money in servicing mortgages, and if you look at
what banks do, only banks that have many millions of dollars in mortgages can afford to service
those mortgages. Most banks sell their servicing to companies who do hundreds of millions of
dollars, because that's where the efficiencies are. It is a problem. We have done that. We have
made that mistake in the past, so I'm talking from experience in which we have tried to service
the small portfolios of loans, cost us a lot of money, wasn't worth it, and then you're preventing
low-income people from borrowing more money in the private sector, which is what should be
the whole idea. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Gus, let me just get this straight. You're saying that we're getting to
create an administrative nightmare to try to service these loans.
Mr. Dominguez: Absolutely.
Vice Chairman Teele: And the cost of servicing these loans is going to wind up hitting your
administrative budget, Madam Director, because if you do it in-house, or if you do it, it's going
to be an administrative cost, and I thought you all were already tight on administrative dollars.
Ms. Rodriguez: We are very tight in administration.
Vice Chairman Teele: Have you all factored in the cost of servicing this?
Ms. Rodriguez: We have factored in doing servicing.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, he makes a very good common sense point. If big banks are selling
them off to be serviced --
Ms. Rodriguez: We're looking at that option, too, in the event that you do approve us charging
interest to these loans.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you for your --
Mr. Dominguez: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Tim Tierney: Yeah. My name is Tim Tierney. I live at 2965 Jackson Avenue in Miami, and
when you're structuring these grants -- I'm a private developer, and I just purchased properties
in your district. Don't let me interrupt you. I just purchased properties in your district, and for a
private developer, it's hard to get funds and to go in, like you were saying before, to initiate
private developers to come into these areas to do projects. It's hard for us to get grants from
agencies like -- they're private CDC's, so when you guys develop these guidelines, they should
try to start doing something with the private sector, also, to project more development in these
areas. Thank you.
116 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you. Madam Director, do you want to respond?
Ms. Rodriguez: Well we -- the issue has been on the past is that most for-profit developer that
we do business right now with them are the people that do tax credit deals. We are trying to
bring for-profit development to do homeownership, and I think that's how the housing summit --
that was one of the issues that came up, so we have very few for-profit developers that are doing
homeownership right now. We do have for-profit developers doing rental and tax credit deals,
so we are trying to give some --
Vice Chairman Teele: Our priority, according to the Mayor in the last state of the City, what
we've said in our five-year plan is homeownership. It would seem to me -- I mean, our five-year
plan is nothing but a homeownership plan.
Ms. Rodriguez: And this funding that you're seeing is homeownership, a hundred percent.
Vice Chairman Teele: But what the public was saying, that I agree with, is why don't we look at
this a little bit more creatively and create bonuses for the private sector? In other words, let's say
that we go with the Habitat for Humanity's recommendation of $30,000.
Ms. Rodriguez: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: Why don't we provide, say, an additional 20 percent or 25 percent to the -
- not to the developer, but to the home buyer in the case that they're buying from a private
sector?
Ms. Rodriguez: Commissioner, right now, the homeownership projects that you have funded,
that they were funded by the Housing and Loan Committee, we did that. In some cases, you're
giving up to $70,000 between down payment, buy down, sales price and down payment
assistance, so we are doing it. Unfortunately, every time we put an RFP out, for-profit
developers are not applying for these funds. The biggest problems that we have that the Loan
Committee had to deal with in December was that the people that have the funds right now, the
homeownership funds that have been allocated to projects are not moving, and if they don't
move fast enough, we're going to have a problem, because we're almost at the edge of the
regulation expiring.
Vice Chairman Teele: But that just makes the point that if they're not coming in at $40,000 --
Ms. Rodriguez: We don't put limits when they come in. You can come in for a construction --
Vice Chairman Teele: But I thought this --
Ms. Rodriguez: -- which we would negotiate.
Vice Chairman Teele: Excuse me, Barbara. I thought the policy we're approving now for --
Ms. Rodriguez: Is second mortgage.
117 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Yeah, but isn't that where the --
Ms. Rodriguez: No. You're approving a couple of things. You're approving that if you have a
project for construction, you can come in and ask for construction dollars, if it's a new
construction homeownership, which is the case of Ralph Plaza 2, which is the case of Jubilee that
is going to be speaking. That's one issue.
Vice Chairman Teele: Does that include private sector development?
Ms. Rodriguez: That comes -- anybody. As long as you do a homeownership project. That's
number one. The second policy that you're approving, which is the one that Habitat has a
problem, because they don't ask for construction dollars, is the $25,000 of down payment
assistance. That's very different, but right now, the way the program's structured, for-profit
developers should not have a problem in coming in and applying for dollars, because when you
apply for those construction dollars, we do a variety of ways. We do buy down. We do second
mortgage. We do a combination of both. We let you buy land. We let you do -- So, you know,
we give them everything they want.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. This is the time for me to go to school.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: I need to go to school. One more person and that's --
Commissioner Gonzalez: The fact of the matter is -- and, once again, once again, based on my
experience, private developers don't like to do affordable homeownership in districts like yours
and mine, where people are very, very low-income people, and they have a lot of difficulties
qualifying people for loans. At the Ralph Plaza 1 Project, we had a list of about 125 people,
potential buyers. When we started screening those people, credit -wise and all of that, it went
down to about 40, and the private developers don't want to go through that motion of losing
people and losing files, and getting more people. That is reality. The reality is that -- and if they
construct rental units, they build the building, they rent all the units, and then they sell it
occupied and make, you know, two, three million dollars or whatever on the deal, and that's it,
and then they leave your district, and leave mine, and leave a rental project right there for us.
That's the pure reality of this trade.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Cutler.
Charles Cutler: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Welcome.
Mr. Cutler: Thank you, sir. Yeah, the Commissioner is right, because --
Vice Chairman Teele: Your name. Your name and address for the record.
118 March 27, 2003
Mr. Cutler: All right. Charles Cutler. 706 Northwest 4th Avenue. The Commissioner is right,
because we do experience the same phenomenon, especially in the Overtown community, where
they come in and rehabilitate buildings, and they'll come in and make a few million dollars.
Then before you know it, the buildings are abandoned, and we're right back where we started
from, so I do think that homeownership is the right way to go, but I would just like to suggest,
Commissioners, that we make the public more aware of the opportunities that exist in the
community, because what's really starting to happen within the black community is other --
outsiders are starting to come in to take advantage of that community, and at the rate that things
are going now, within the next five or ten years down the road, we won't even have an African-
American community. They'll have a Little Haiti, a Little Havana, but we have a history here.
We have a lot of culture here, and I just want to -- and I plan on keeping it before you. We have
to make some concessions, and we have to preserve the integrity of the black community here
within the City of Miami. In terms of a lot of these workshops, a lot of the information comes
out to the public after the planning is done, but after the planning is done, all the parameters are
in place, so in terms of any flexibility, there is no flexibility in terms of what the public can do
and cannot do, and in terms input, they really have none, whatsoever, in terms of this planning,
so I think that in terms of the sunshine law, it might do be to the advantage of the public to have
another Commissioner to sit in, to open it up to the public, so that at least they'll be able to come
in to get their input, because we're talking about a very serious issue here, because the
community is slowly being bought up, and the sad part about it is, is it's been money and
opportunities coming into the community in which a lot of the blacks historically have not been
able to tap into these resources, and they have been totally left out of the mainstream, and now,
they're put into a position where they have to compete, and how can they compete when the
battle lines have already been drawn, and they're so far behind the eight ball? How, how can
they just catch up and compete on a basic competitive level when we haven't even reached the
starting gate? So I think that we have to look at this thing in a much more realistic and a much
more humanistic point of view, because there is the quality of life issues here, and I'm not
talking about just doing away with the class struggle, but I do recommend that we definitely look
at raising our standard of living, because with a lot of poverty that exists within the inner city, I
think America has come a long ways, and we've come much further than that, and I think that
it's a tragedy, with all the prosperity that exists in this country today that poverty is at the rate
that it is in the City of Miami, and as you know, the City of Miami is the poorest City of its size
within the United States, and I think that we're going to have to come up with some realistic
alternatives, and I think that if we are really sincere about addressing these issues, it can no
longer be business as usual. We have to show some compassion. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you, Mr. Cutler. Final speaker.
Dennis Russ: Commissioner, my name is Dennis Russ. I'm the program director for Greater
Miami LISC, the Local Initiative Support Corporation. I'm concerned about two things. I'm
concerned, first of all, about having a system that increases the development of affordable
housing and housing in our community, and one of the suggestions that is made is moving from
administrative housing assistance into benchmarking. The point is being made here, as well, that
we ought to take a look at incentivizing both the for-profit industries as well as the not-for-profit
industries. I'm not sure that we're moving forward and advancing in the productivity of the
119 March 27, 2003
system in either of those two instances, and I think some greater consideration and thought, some
greater discussion among all of the parties who are a part of this system has to go on. Second
thing that I reluctantly bring to your attention, the idea of investing 100 percent of the resources
of the City for housing in homeownership is of concern to me. In a community where there is a
great, great need for affordable housing, I wonder whether the conditions in which people are
living in our community is going to be advanced by the notion of putting all of our resources into
housing. This is particularly true, because we will be finding in these next several years that
there will be preservation projects, projects whose term limits on the use of Section 8 will have
expired, and the absence of investing in rental housing may seriously affect our ability to obtain
other resources that can also be put into that area. Those are my two concerns.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Gonzalez: In reference --
Vice Chairman Teele: The public hearing is closed.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Let me take it in two fronts. First of all, that the gentleman expressed
his concern that he doesn't know if there are enough projects going on or if there's any projects
at all going on. Let me tell you that I'm very pleased to say here today that actually, at this time,
we are building in Allapattah over 1200 units, between rental and homeownership, something
that hasn't happened in Allapattah for the last probably 15 years, and we have projected for
District 1 about another 1500 units for the next two years. What I envision for my district -- and
I don't know, each Commissioner determines what they would like to see in their district -- is a
combination of rental and homeownership, because I know that everybody probably don't want
to buy an apartment, or don't want to buy a town home, or don't want to buy a house. There are
people that like to rent, and that's up to each one or to everyone, but there are a lot of people that
would like to see -- to have the opportunity to at one time in their life be able to say, "I own my
home," and the only way that they can do that is through affordable housing and through
affordable homeownership housing. That's why I welcome all of this development in my
district, but I want a balance. I want to establish a balance, because if I go back and specifically
in Allapattah -- I've been in Allapattah for almost 15 years. There are buildings in Allapattah
that were constructed for rental units, and once they were built, once people moved in, it was
transferred from owner to owner, and those buildings look like ghettos today. They are not
painted. They are dilapidated. There is no landscaping. There is no light. There is -- you know,
the amount of problems -- And you know why? Because these are absentee landlords that all
they care about is to collect the checks at the beginning of the month, and you know, and
probably have a manager go by, pick up checks and bring to their homes, and that's what really
destroys communities. When people -- when we have a homeownership housing, people are the
owners of their homes, and they protect their property, and they protect the neighborhood, and
they make sure that the neighborhood is kept clean, and that we have security, and they're
concerned about crime, and they're concerned about every issue, because they are raising a
family right in that neighborhood, and it's their home, so you know, yeah, we have projects. We
have both types of projects, at least in my district, and from what I hear in this Commission,
120 March 27, 2003
there are projects going on everywhere. We have projects going in East Little Havana.
Commissioner Teele is fighting to get projects going on in his district. I have projects going in
mine. Johnny has I don't know how many developments going up in Brickell and Biscayne, so
there are projects going on, and projects for rental and projects for homeownership. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. The public hearing is closed. Is there a motion on the item?
Commissioner Gonzalez: So move, Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved and seconded. Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 02-278
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ADOPTING THE
29TH YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
FUNDS POLICIES FOR THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY AND
HOMEOWNERSHIP ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY THE HOME INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez, would you move that this item be brought back
for a discussion at the next meeting? Because I think, you know, Commissioner Winton is here.
We have not resolved any of these open issues and I really do -- April what?
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT)
121 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: The next meeting is April 10th. See, the problem is --
Ms. Rodriguez: Can we do it the second --
Vice Chairman Teele: The problem is you're going to be out on the street with RFP's, see, and
what you're going to do is put us into a train wreck, because if we come in and meet on the 2e
and the RFP's are due on the 25th, then we literally have just train -wrecked the whole process
again, and we did that a year ago, so we've got to focus on this thing with some real clarity, and I
don't think we have enough information, because I really think what Habitat is asking for is
reasonable. I think some of the points that Russ made, I don't disagree with him on them, but I
don't agree, but you know what I'd like to do? I'd like for you all to give us an analysis of the
amount of money, based upon whatever records we can pull together, that has been spent for
multi -family rehab and multi -family rentals versus homeownership, year by year by year. I can
tell you in my district, in Overtown, I mean, they spent $20 million and -- $20 million, you
know, in like an eight-year period. I think your staff was there when that was being done, and
expressed concern and objection, so --
Ms. Rodriguez: Commissioner, the problem that I have on the 10th is that I would have to
advertise what I'm going to be bringing here ten days before. Today is the 27th. That means I
would have to have that --
Vice Chairman Teele: You're going to be advertising the same thing that's on the agenda now.
Ms. Rodriguez: OK. Just saying that it's the housing policies. OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: The housing policies.
Ms. Rodriguez: All right.
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chair.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez.
Commissioner Sanchez: The housing summit was created to answer all these questions. That's
what --
Vice Chairman Teele: The what?
Commissioner Sanchez: It was designed or prepared so that we could have debate back and
forth. I remember last year, there was -- Every time we get to this process, we have either a very
healthy debate, because a lot of good things come out of the public hearing, but there's always
questions and answers, and that housing summit was supposed to be set forth to answer all those
questions, have the developers and all those providers meet with the administration to agree on
issues to come forth to this Commission.
122 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: But, see, the problem is -- and you're 100 percent right, Commissioner.
The problem is, here we go again. This year, we'll get the proposals back on the 25th, so now
we're talking about next year, and there are some things clearly wrong with this year's process
that I'm not comfortable with. I want to deal specifically with the $30,000 that Habitat is asking
for on the ceiling. I think that Commissioner Gonzalez has made some very important points,
particularly about homeownership as it relates to inducing private developers --
Ms. Rodriguez: Do you want to continue the item for the next Commission meeting?
Vice Chairman Teele: That would probably be the best thing if everybody would agree.
Ms. Rodriguez: We can continue this item and the RFP for housing will not go out until after the
meeting.
Vice Chairman Teele: That's probably the best thing.
Ms. Rodriguez: That's fine.
Vice Chairman Teele: We need Commissioner Winton on the dais so --
Ms. Rodriguez: That's fine.
Commissioner Sanchez: I am prepared to make a motion to defer it to the next Commission
meeting.
Ms. Rodriguez: To continue it at the next Commission.
Vice Chairman Teele: You are so recognized.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved and seconded. The item will be continued, and that obviates the
needs for a --
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- notice, but please try to get a notice out there.
Ms. Rodriguez: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK.
123 March 27, 2003
17. RATIFY, APPROVE, CONFIRM AND AUTHORIZE SALARY AND BENEFITS TO BE
RECEIVED BY CITY MANAGER JOE ARRIOLA.
Vice Chairman Teele: What -- do you have any more items?
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): I have three.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, I think the Mayor is here, and given his cameo performance today,
his Kennedy-ish [sic], boyish, ringing of all the chimes, I think we should give the Mayor the
courtesy of breaking the house rules and applauding and saluting the State of the City, as
delivered by our Mayor, Manny Diaz, as he comes forward to make whatever presentation he
wants, I believe, relating to the salary and benefits of the Manager. Could you join us in saluting
our Mayor on the occasion of his second State of the City -- ?
APPLAUSE
Mayor Manuel A. Diaz: Thank you, and my apologies again to Commissioner Sanchez for that
little (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Regalado: It was a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) vote.
Commissioner Sanchez: He's done some great things in my district.
Commissioner Regalado: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) vote.
Mayor Diaz: Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners on the -- in my blue pages I have,
for your consideration, approval of the compensation package for our new, poor City Manager.
You will note from the -- from what's before you that this is the same package that was
previously approved for our prior -- or for his predecessor, Carlos Gimenez, so I ask for your
consideration and approval of the same.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK.
Commissioner Gonzalez: We need a motion or what?
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Commissioner Regalado: I move it.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: There's been a motion and a second. Is there objection? All those in
favor, signify by the sign of "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
124 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Those opposed have the same right. By request of the Mayor, it's
unanimously adopted.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-279
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), RATIFYING, APPROVING, CONFIRMING AND
AUTHORIZING THE SALARY AND BENEFITS TO BE RECEIVED BY
CITY MANAGER JOE ARRIOLA.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Mayor Diaz: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. By the way, you all look great up there.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Commissioner Sanchez: Thank you, and once again, congratulations.
Vice Chairman Teele: Does that include severage pay?
Joe Arriola (City Manager): It's your call.
18. AUTHORIZE ALLOCATION OF EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT FUNDS, $426,800,
TO BE OFFERED THROUGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS, PLUS $13,200 FOR
GRANT RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$440,000, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003-2004.
Vice Chairman Teele: Madam Director.
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): Item 16 deals with emergency shelter
and grant funds, and this is another policy decision. In the last couple of years the City of Miami
has not gone out for an RFP (Request for Proposals). Under the Emergency Shelter Grant we
were funding the City of Miami homeless program. The City of Miami homeless programs and
125 March 27, 2003
CD (Community Development) would request waivers from US HUD (United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development) in order to run the type of program we were
running. US HUD has said that they are not willing to continue granting waivers, so we will be
going out with an RFP; it's for $426,800, and it will be to deal with three issues. You will be
able to apply if you're doing one of the three: One, renovation and rehabilitation of building
being used as emergency shelter for homeless individuals. The second one will be shelter
maintenance, operation, rent, repairs, security, and food supply, and the third one is we will be
requesting proposals for homelessness prevention programs, and it's a public hearing.
Vice Chairman Teele: This is a public hearing. What's the number?
Ms. Rodriguez: Number 16.
Vice Chairman Teele: This is a public hearing, item number 16. Any person desiring to be
heard should come forward. There are no persons coming forward. Are there any persons
coming forward on the Emergency Shelter Grant? If not, the public hearing is closed. Is there
anyone coming forward?
Commissioner Sanchez: So moved, Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's been moved by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded --
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- by Commissioner Gonzalez. Is there objection? All those in favor,
signify by the sign of "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: Those opposed have the same right.
126 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-280
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE ALLOCATION OF EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT FUNDS, IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $426,800, TO BE OFFERED THROUGH THE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS TITLE 24 PART 576 FOR
ELIGIBLE GRANT -RELATED ACTIVITIES, PLUS THE AMOUNT OF
$13,200 FOR GRANT -RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, FOR A
TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $440,000, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003-
2004.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
19. DIRECT ALLOCATION OF 29TH YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT (CDBG) PROGRAM FUNDS, $10,140,000, AND PROGRAM INCOME FUNDS,
$1,000,000, TO SUPPORT CITY MUNICIPAL SERVICES AND UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT RELATED ACTIVITIES
FOR 29TH PROGRAM YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2003.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item 17.
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): Item 17 is basically funding municipal
service. The municipal services we're considering this year are three. One is for lot clearing.
The other one is for NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team), Code enforcement, and the third
one is for unsafe structure. They're being reduced 21 percent, which was the same reduction that
we got under CDBG (Community Development Block Grant). We also have that we're no
longer funding the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) baseline funding. We're no
longer funding the CLUC-90; it was a five-year commitment. The Little Haiti Job Creation
project was a five-year commitment. The Downtown Development Authority, which was a
commitment that ended last year for 750,000, and we're also funding 20 percent to the
Administration.
127 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a discussion on this item from the dais? If not, is there public
discussion?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: Hold on just on minute, Commissioner. Is there any public discussion?
Is there anyone desiring to be heard? If not, the public hearing item is closed. Commissioner
Gonzalez, you're recognized.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, Mr. Chairman. I'm -- OK, on the NET, Code enforcement, I
have an issue, and I spoke to the Manager briefly about this issue this morning. We have certain
abandoned properties in our neighborhoods, and I'm sure that you have some of them too, that
neighborhoods call our office and inform us that there is this abandoned structure that is unsafe,
that is unsecure, that it's being used by people to consume drugs or to do illegal activities, and
when we call the NET office, the NET tells us that he has to -- the property has to be cite, and
then it's cited, and then it has to go to the process, and the process sometimes takes three months,
four months, six months, nine months. Meanwhile, the neighborhood -- the neighbors are
complaining and are paying the consequences of these delays, and I wonder if there is a way that
we, the City, once we notify the owner of the property, that we give a prudent amount of time,
like 30 days, you have 30 days to clean up your property and secure your property, and if you
don't do it, then the City does it, and collect from the home owner or from the property owner,
and if we have to put a lien against the property, let's put a lien against the property, but it's not
fair to have a neighborhood live under these conditions because there is a property owner that
doesn't care about it, and the property owner knows that they has to come to Code enforcement;
it takes three months to get to Code enforcement, then the person doesn't show up, and they
come up with another excuse, or come in and ask for another 45 days to take care of the problem.
They don't take care on the 45 days; come back and ask for an extension of time, and in this
interval, you know, the neighbors are suffering the consequences. There has to be a system that
we, the City, the government, should be -- should have the right or the way or the legal way to go
ahead and say, "Listen, Mr. Property Owner, either you take care of this problem or we're going
to take care of it and you're going to pay for it." What -- can I get --
Victor Monzon-Aguirre (Assistant City Manager/Chief of Neighborhood Services):
Commissioner --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- get an answer on this?
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: Yes. What we've able to determine is that we can give the owner 14 days
to resolve his problem; otherwise, we can go ahead and board it up temporarily until such time
that he makes the condition habitable for some other person to live there. If it's only temporary,
that temporary period is a short period of time. I believe it's up to six months, but we can then
back charge him; we'll put a lien on the property for the efforts by our staff. Not necessarily our
staff, but a contractor who would do that for us. If it's an unsafe structure, that's another process
and that generally takes 90 days to do that.
Commissioner Gonzalez: But if it is an insecure property that is being used for illegal activities.
128 March 27, 2003
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: If it's an abandoned property --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Right.
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: -- we could notify the owner, give `em 14 days to do it, if we wanted to
be very aggressive in that arena and as a matter of public policy and do it that way.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK. For example -- and I hope to have it here -- there is a property in
Allapattah that I have reported to the police department on three different occasions. This
building is a two-story building that has been abandoned for the last, probably, four or five
months. This building is being used to consume drugs, and there is a house next door that is
being used to stash and sell the drug that they consume at this building, OK? The neighbors --
and I'm talking about 38 Street, Commissioner Teele, between 17th Avenue and 18th -- and 16th
Avenue, right across the street from Miami Jackson High School, all right, so Allapattah
Business Development is building a 30 -unit town home there. They just install the fence to
secure the premises. Well, these vandals already vandalized the fence in order to communicate
from 39th Street to 38th Street, and nothing is being done about it. Code enforcement is not
doing anything about it. I have reported it to the NET Administrator in Allapattah. I was up
there Saturday and the neighbors came out and talked to me and said, "Commissioner, what is
going on?" I said, Oh, listen, you know, I have reported this three times and I don't know what's
going on. Actually, I can't tell you what's going on. I will have to ask what is going on, but it's
not fair for these people to be having these other people smoking grass and smoking coke and all
of that right next door to them and we are not doing anything about it. I mean, you know, what's
the matter? Is this happening because this is a poor neighborhood --
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: I wouldn't believe --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- and we're not going to take care of it?
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: Commissioner, I'll assure you that by tomorrow morning, I'll find out
what we're going to do and how fast we can do it and resolve this issue.
Vice Chairman Teele: Victor Monzon-Aguirre, assistant manager to the City. Go right ahead.
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: That's all I can say, Commissioner, right now, is --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Manager, I hope that we can take care of this situation tomorrow -
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- for the benefit of the neighbors, for the benefit of the neighbors of
this neighborhood, you know. The fact that these are Hispanics and Afro-American, the people
that live there, doesn't mean that they have to live under these conditions. I mean, if this is
happening in some other areas in this city, within ten minutes we have a response.
129 March 27, 2003
Joe Arriola (City Manager): I promise you, I personally will take care of it, sir.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Where are we now, Madam Director?
Ms. Rodriguez: Item 17, municipal services.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a motion and a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: I'll move.
Vice Chairman Teele: A motion.
Commissioner Sanchez: Are we done --
Vice Chairman Teele: The public hearing's been held.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- with the public hearing?
Ms. Rodriguez: Was closed.
Vice Chairman Teele: We asked the public hearing; it was closed. Motion by Commissioner
Gonzalez to approve it?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Second by Commissioner Sanchez. Is there objection? All those in
favor, "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: Opposed? It's unanimously adopted.
130 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-281
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE
ALLOCATION OF 29TH YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT ("CDBG') PROGRAM FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$10,140,000, AND PROGRAM INCOME FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,000,000, TO SUPPORT CITY MUNICIPAL SERVICES AND UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
RELATED ACTIVITIES AS SPECIFIED HEREIN FOR THE 29TH
PROGRAM YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2003, SUBJECT TO
APPLICABLE CITY CODE PROVISIONS.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
20. AMEND RESOLUTION NO. 99-204 THAT APPOINTED CITY'S HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR TO SERVE
AS VOTING MEMBER OF MIAMI-DADE HIV/AIDS PARTNERSHIP AND DIRECTOR OF
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OR DESIGNEE TO SERVE AS
ALTERNATE MEMBER, BY CHANGING SAID APPOINTMENTS TO DESIGNATE
DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, OR DESIGNEE, TO
SERVE AS VOTING MEMBER AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TO SERVE AS
ALTERNATE MEMBER.
Vice Chairman Teele: Next.
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): Item 17A is amending resolution 99-
204, which appointed the City Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome) program administrator to serve as a voting member of the Miami -
Dade HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
partnership and the CD (Community Development) director or the designee as alternate. We
wanted to change to the CD director or designee as a voting member, and the assistant director of
CD to serve as an alternate.
131 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: This is a public hearing. Anyone desiring to be heard on this item? If
not, the public hearing is closed, designating the assistant director -- I mean the director. Is there
a motion?
Commissioner Sanchez: So moved, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Second.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed, say "no." The item is adopted.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-282
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
RESOLUTION NO. 99-204, ADOPTED MARCH 23, 1999, THAT
APPOINTED THE CITY'S HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS
WITH AIDS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR TO SERVE AS A VOTING
MEMBER OF THE MIAMI-DADE HIV/AIDS PARTNERSHIP AND THE
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
OR DESIGNEE TO SERVE AS AN ALTERNATE MEMBER, BY
CHANGING SAID APPOINTMENTS TO DESIGNATE THE DIRECTOR
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, OR
DESIGNEE, TO SERVE AS A VOTING MEMBER OF THE
PARTNERSHIP AND AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO SERVE AS AN
ALTERNATE MEMBER.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
132 March 27, 2003
21. CERTIFY THAT REHABILITATION OF LITTLE HAITI COMMUNITY CENTER
LOCATED AT 181 NORTHEAST 82nd STREET AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW 16 -UNIT
AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING PROJECT LOCATED AT 6601 NORTHEAST MIAMI
PLACE, ARE CONSISTENT WITH FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN (1999-2004).
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): 17B is, basically, we're looking -- The
Little Havana -- The Little Haiti Housing Association, Inc., is trying to be credited through the
Community Contribution Tax Credit program, and basically, this provides an incentive to
encourage Florida corporations to make donations to community development and low-income
housing project. Little Haiti is seeking to become an approved sponsor of the State Community
Contribution Tax Credit program. What this resolution does is basically saying that we support
what they're doing. They will be requesting two projects. One is the rehabilitation of the Little
Haiti Community Center, and the other one is the construction of 16 -unit affordable rental
housing building. The developer for both is Little Haiti Housing Association, and this is just to
support the project and to make it part of their application.
Vice Chairman Teele: (INAUDIBLE) public hearing. Any person desiring to be heard should
come forward. There are no persons coming forward. Ma'am, are you coming forward? There
are no persons --
Ms. Rodriguez: No.
Vice Chairman Teele: There are no persons coming forward. Public hearing is closed. Is there
a motion?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move 17B.
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved and seconded by Commissioners Gonzalez and Sanchez
respectfully. Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed, say "no." The item is adopted.
133 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-283
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION CERTIFYING
THAT THE REHABILITATION OF THE LITTLE HAITI COMMUNITY
CENTER LOCATED AT 181 NORTHEAST 82ND STREET, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 16 -UNIT
AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING PROJECT LOCATED AT 6601
NORTHEAST MIAMI PLACE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, LOCATED IN THE
LITTLE HAITI NEIGHBORHOOD, AS COMPLETED AND AS
PROPOSED TO BE DEVELOPED, RESPECTIVELY, BY THE LITTLE
HAITI HOUSING ASSOCIATION, INC. ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE
FIVE-YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN (1999-2004); FURTHER
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS
RESOLUTION TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICE OF TOURISM,
TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
134 March 27, 2003
22. DEFER TO COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10,
2003, CONSIDERATION OF: NOMINATION OF DWAYNE WYNN TO MODEL CITY
REVITALIZATION TRUST BOARD; AND PROPOSED RESCINDING OF RESOLUTION
NO. 01-637 AND RESOLUTION NO. 02-547 AND CONFIRMING MANAGER'S
NOMINATION OF MEMBERS OF MODEL CITY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION
DISTRICT TRUST.
RESCIND RESOLUTION NO. 01-637 AND RESOLUTION NO. 02-547 AND CONFIRMING
MANAGER'S NOMINATION OF NORMAN POWELL TO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF
MODEL CITY HOMEOWNERSHIP TRUST.
Vice Chairman Teele: Members of the public, we have a 4 o'clock time certain. The time is
5:30. We want to apologize to the citizens that have come forward on the 4 o'clock time certain
Commissioner Sanchez: What's it for?
Vice Chairman Teele: -- involving the Model Cities Trust. I note the presence of the Chair and
Vice Chair of the Trust. They're sitting right together. I hope you haven't been disgusting it, but
please come forward. Sunshine law does apply. Ms. Shalley Jones, with Fannie Mae, and Mr.
Mr. Patrick Range.
Shalley Jones: Now, Mr. Chairman, we wouldn't do a thing like that. For the record, we have
two other Trust members with us, Lucia Dougherty is here, and Hector Brito is also here, if they
can join us, please?
Vice Chairman Teele: And for the record, you are?
Ms. Jones: For the record, I am Shalley Jones, office locations at --
Commissioner Sanchez: What item is that?
Ms. Jones: -- 111 Brickell Avenue, Miami. Mr. Chair, I'd like -- would you like for me to
proceed?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, please.
Ms. Jones: OK. I'd like to thank you for this opportunity to address the group. As the
chairperson of the Trust, I'd like to just reiterate our position and the opportunities that we've
had as serving as members of the Trust, the Model Cities Trust. Again, I'm Shalley Jones. I'm a
vice president with Fannie Mae, and I've had a splendid opportunity to probably stand with each
one of you on a podium somewhere in recognition of Fannie Mae's investment in the City, and
as a member of the Trust, I take great pride and pleasure in representing the City and my
company Fannie Mae, and looking to see what we can do to really work to help to revitalize the
Model Cities community. My role now, as well as my previous role as the director of our South
Florida partnership office of Fannie Mae, allowed Fannie Mae to probably be the single largest
135 March 27, 2003
investor in the City of Miami. In other words, we put a number of dollars in this community, and
my role on the Trust will help to continue that process. We have had a fantastic opportunity and
time working with the citizens in the Model Cities community. We've had some very hard
discussions. We've had some very entertaining discussions, and we have come to a meeting of
the mind and we will continue to have discussions, not always seeing eye -to -eye, but
understanding that we are there to do the best that we can in that community, and one of to help
to revitalize that community. I want to compliment the City on the vision, the foresight in
creating revitalization districts and homeownership zones. I understand what single-handedly
and firsthand working with Fannie Mae and what homeownership does in a community and the
investment that it makes for the community, and not only that, but for the families that own their
own home, what it does to that family's income. Homeownership, in my opinion, is wealth
creation. The Model Cities community is in vital need of wealth creation. The Model Cities
Trust is a dedicated group of individuals willing to do what we need to do to expend out time,
our resources, and our company's time to work with the City, and I'd like to emphasize to work
with the City under the leadership of the Commissioners so that we ensure that we carry out the
vision of the City. You created the community revitalization districts. You created the
homeownership zones. We are charged with helping to revitalize the Model Cities community.
We're not here to try and do it alone, do it by ourselves; we are to do it with the City not against
the City, or not separate and apart from the City or from the community. This is a partnership. It
is a tri -party partnership. We are private individuals, and I'd like to emphasize and to really
emphasize that Fannie Mae is a private corporation, and as probably the single largest investor in
the City of Miami, we probably know how to do some things right, and being at the table with
the rest of the Trust members will allow us that leg up in trying to do the right thing. What I'd
like to do is to turn the podium over to the other Trust members for them to just say a few words
to you, and again, before I sit down, I'd like to again emphasize that this is a partnership, and we
would like to carry out the Commissioner's vision for this partnership. We want to do the best
that we can. I've sat on a number or boards and I have not been as impressed with the leadership
and the caliber of individuals sitting on this Trust. You've got a wealth of talent and you have --
we have the propensity to be a very successful Trust in revitalizing this community to set a
model for the rest of the country. I'd like to call the call the vice chair of the Model City Trust,
Mr. Patrick Range, for a few words.
Patrick Range: Thank you very much, Ms. Chairlady. My name is Patrick Range. I live at 5720
-- I work at 5727 Northwest 17th Avenue, in the City of Miami. I also want to thank the Vice
Chair, thank the Commissioners, the Manager, the Attorney for allowing us to come today to ask
your continued support for this Model Cities Trust Revitalization Board. For the past nine
months I have been serving as vice chair of the board, and this board was created to bring private
sector experience and public sector resources to meet the challenge of large-scale development in
the City of Miami. The Commission's charge to us, the private sector individuals who comprise
the board of directors of the Model Cities Trust, was to embrace and champion this Model City
community revitalization effort as it would a private initiative. Though the City Commissioner
created the Model Cities Trust in February of 2001, the majority of the board members were
seated and confirmed by the City Commission on May 9, 2002. At that orientation that
commenced on June 13 and 16, 2002, Congresswoman Carrie Meek swore the board in to make
the board official. This orientation was a tremendous briefing for the board that explained the
depth of the work that had already been done by the City. On my first day on the job as a board
136 March 27, 2003
member, I saw renderings for new single-family homes that were envisioned by the master
planners. I think some of those you have before you now. I learned about the conditions of the
infrastructure as a result of the preliminary basis of design reports that the civil engineers
performed, and I was able to view all of these components in the context of other city successes
on similar comprehensive revitalization efforts. I quickly began to understand that the board's
commitment would be to the full scope of the homeownership zone pilot project beyond just the
housing, including economic opportunity zones, quality of life enhancements, new home
constructions and rehabilitation of existing homes. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm that inspired
me and my fellow board members at the onset of this initiative has been frustrated several times
due to several obstacles in a road that was milled before most of the members were even
appointed. These preexisting facts have created a series of stops and starts that had prevented the
board from going about its business, beginning with the closings on the properties that was slated
for acquisitions. Fundamentally, the impacts of the continued disconnect between the City and
the board jeopardizes its potential for a successful community revitalization effort throughout the
City of Miami. Already, unfortunately, the City and the Model Trust -- the Model Cities Trust
have sacrificed credibility with property owners who have not been able to get a straight answer
as to when closings will happen on property that contracts have already been set. If the Cities
commitment to the redevelopment effort is real and to be realized in some form, the greatest cost
is going to be borne by the City, due to the fact that property values have increased substantially
in just one year's time. My desired outcome from my visit here today at the City Commission
will be that the City Commission will affirm its commitment to the board driven redevelopment
effort and its vision to build upon the Cities strengths to create better opportunity for everyone. I
hope to each of you recognizes the values of our commitment and supports that commitment to
the benefit to the City of Miami and its residents. I would just add that, as did our chairlady, I'm
very proud to be a member of this board. This board is very committed and very talented.
We're very fortunate to have a chairperson who is as astute as she is, who is in a position to do
great things, not only for the Model Cities community, but for this City, for this County at large,
and we are proud to have her, we're proud to work with her. Thank you very much. I'd like to
turn it over to Ms. Dougherty, who's also a Trust board member.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. We're going to be limited about time here because we've sort
of talked around the issue, and nobody's dealing with the issue, and I guess the item on the
agenda would be items number 33 -- what's the item number again?
Unidentified Speaker: (INAUDIBLE).
Vice Chairman Teele: 5F, "I," and 33. It would be my intent, given the fact that Commissioner
Winton is not present, to ask that those items be deferred, Mr. Manager. I think there needs to be
some clarification, Mr. Manager, from you on what it is you're trying to rescind, if anything, but
your item number 33, which literally, throws a skunk at the family picnic, talks about rescinding
certain board members, that -- is that -- am I correct?
Joe Arriola (City Manager): I'm sorry. What I did is, I just brought a subsequent in, and if you
want me to pull it, it'll be fine, but I think that we -- all we're trying to do is just put a substitute,
and if you have an objection to the subsequent, then I'll pull it.
137 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, where we are is, just so that you understand and the public
understands why everybody's talking around this issue about how much they like serving on the
board and how good the board is --
Ms. Jones: Mr. Chair.
Vice Chairman Teele: Excuse me. Let me just finish. Please don't interrupt me. The
discussion has been that you are going -- that this document came out recommending the
rescinding of board members. That's what's stated here, and if you're going to recede from that,
which I hope you will, we can move to the next item.
Mr. Arriola: We distribute on Friday a substitute to this item, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: I asked twice of your office, as of Monday, and they said there are no
substitutes; is that correct, Karen, there's no substitutes agenda?
Unidentified Speaker: (INAUDIBLE).
Vice Chairman Teele: Didn't I -- when did this come out?
Mr. Arriola: Friday, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: As of yesterday, I did not receive it, but in any event, so the question then
becomes item -- the substitute item, and 5F and "I," and given the fact that Commissioner
Winton isn't here, and it's a board appointment, then I would ask that those items be deferred,
unless someone would like to discuss them at this time.
Mr. Arriola: If that's what you'd like, that's what we'll do.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Commissioner, would you move to defer those Items 33 --
Commissioner Regalado: Sure.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- 5F and 5I?
Commissioner Regalado: I'm sorry, which item?
Commissioner Sanchez: I don't --
Commissioner Regalado: It's --
Commissioner Sanchez: I don't have --
Commissioner Regalado: -- 33.
Commissioner Sanchez: Where's 5I and -- ?
138 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: Huh?
Commissioner Sanchez: Where's 5I? I don't --
Unidentified Speaker: In the blue pages, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's District --
Commissioner Regalado: Oh (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Unidentified Speaker: District 5.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- 5 --
Commissioner Sanchez: Oh, OK (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chairman Teele: -- Item number F, and District 5, Item -- in fact, District 5, Item F is
withdrawn --
Mr. Arriola: Yeah.
Commissioner Sanchez: Wait, wait, wait.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and District 5I, so the item would be District 5I and 33 --
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- so the motion would be to defer to those two items.
Commissioner Regalado: Motion to defer -- any date, April 7? Is it the next -- ?
Vice Chairman Teele: To the next meeting.
Commissioner Regalado: To the next meeting. 33 --
Commissioner Sanchez: Excuse me.
Commissioner Regalado: -- Item 33 on the regular agenda --
Vice Chairman Teele: And 5I.
Commissioner Regalado: -- and Item 5F and 5I.
Vice Chairman Teele: Just 5I.
Commissioner Regalado: 5I on the blue page of District 5.
139 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-284
A MOTION TO DEFER TO THE COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY
SCHEDULE FOR APRIL 10, 2003, CONSIDERATION OF:
• NOMINATION OF DWAYNE WYNN TO THE VACANCY CREATED BY
LINDA HASKINS ON THE MODEL CITY REVITALIZATION TRUST
BOARD;AND
• PROPOSED RESCINDING OF RESOLUTION NO. 01-637 AND
RESOLUTION NO. 02-547 AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S
NOMINATION OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF
THE MODEL CITY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION DISTRICT TRUST.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Now, let me yield the chair to Commissioner Regalado, and if I
may?
Commissioner Regalado: You're recognized, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you. Mr. Manager, the unfortunate quotes in the Miami Herald
that go back and forth about you and I talking to each other through the Herald -- and maybe we
should talk a little more directly -- doesn't bother me as I've said. Anything you say about me or
to me, that's fine. My concerns are the District that I represent and the people that are
representing the District. This city has appointed -- has created seven boards, seven
homeownership boards. To date, Mr. Manager, since you've been in office, you've done nothing
on the other six. We are under a federal obligation, under our five-year plan, to move forward
with five additional homeownership zones. The legislation that was created to create this zone
140 March 27, 2003
was written by me, substantially. I -- it is my work. I know what's in it. There have been a
number of amendments to it, which I accept. Commissioners that have other districts can do
what they want to in their district. The only thing that I asked respectfully of you is that when
we involve the citizens in community --
Mr. Arriola: Sorry.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- if we involve the citizens in the community on various boards, that we
treat them with dignity, with respect, and that we listen to them, and we take their advice. If
we're not going to take their advice, then we need to abolish the boards, and I've said that
consistently when we talk about the Waterfront board on projects that come before here. We
need to listen to them. I took personal offense to your comments on WMBM radio when you
attacked the Model Cities Trust, and gave as the example that the punch and the food caterer for
the Model Cities Trust is not even of the community, and that you're concerned about the
community, and if the Model Cities Trust was concerned, they'd at least have the caterer from
within the community. I consider that a cheap shot. Not that I'm not concerned about the
caterer, but then I fired off a memo (memorandum) to your office asking, since we're here in this
wonderful new building, how much African American and how much minority participation
there is in the reconstruction of this multimillion dollar reconstruction? You know how much?
Mr. Arriola: I have no idea.
Vice Chairman Teele: Zero, zero, zero African American participation in the contract, the
professional engineering, the professional architects, or even subcontracts, and as I said in the
Mayor's State of the City Address today relating to the comments, even Henry Flagler, 107 years
ago, recognized and appreciated the value of African American participation in the creation, in
the development of this city, and even Mr. Flagler, in 1896, incorporated and sought out to use
African American men as incorporators, as well as building the railroad. Now, if we come here
to this city 107 years later -- and we're very proud of this restoration, but we haven't even done
what was done 107 years ago in which we involved the full participation of this community, and
so I just want you to know, Mr. Manager, that I take exceptional offense to debating about a
particular community not involving a particular group of people when, in fact, we all can do
better, we all should do better, but before we start going out into Model Cities and looking for
things that that Trust has done wrong, I would respectfully ask that we at least ensure that the
taxpayers' dollars at City Hall are expended in a way and that the contract opportunities are
given in the same manner that you described your concern about who's fixing the punch for the
Model Cities Trust receptions, and my comments, Mr. Manager, for the press was simply this: I
expect an apology from you to the Model Cities Trust. You brought in Mr. Range, but not -- as
attributed by the watchdog, and you all had a candid discussion in which you did indicate you
regretted very much the manner in which the communication was handled, and I -- as I said to
one reporter, I guess the Watchdog or whatever it is -- I consider the matter to be fully and
thoroughly satisfied because it's not about me and you; it's about the district and the constituents,
and I'm -- all I'm requesting is that you read the ordinance, you respect the ordinance, and you
understand that I have never been to a Model Cities Trust board meeting because the Trust is set
up to avoid the Commission and management from being involved in the day-to-day until the
other night, a week ago. That was the first Model Cities Trust board meeting that I have ever
141 March 27, 2003
personally attended, and while I think it would be very helpful if your staff attends, and maybe
even if other Commissioners attend, I would just only offer you the challenge that there are six
other Trusts, and if you want to engineer one the way you would like, be my guest. Take the one
in Overtown, take the one in Little Haiti and engineer it, and I'll work with you, but let's don't
insult people who are working hard by trying to come in and hot dog it on the radio and talk
about the color of the punch and who's serving the punch and who's buying the punch because
we all know there's a lot more important things that this City can be involved in, and I really
appreciate the fact that you've opened a better line of communication because the notion of
asking that Trust members be removed is extremely damaging to the intent or the underlining
intent of the ordinance, and I thank you, Mr. Manager.
Mr. Arriola: Thank you.
Commissioner Regalado: OK. Commissioner Teele, you want the chairmanship back or you --
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes. If the Manager is agreeing and I'm agreeing to withdraw or to defer
the items regarding the appointment of Trust, then there's no other item on the agenda relating to
this, and if there are --
Ms. Jones: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- any points that the members of the Trust would like to make, we'll be
more than happy to receive them --
Ms. Jones: OK. Let me --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- given our short time constraint.
Ms. Jones: -- thank you again, and our purpose here today was to say that we're here to work
with you and not against you; that we'd like to devote our time as fully and as positively as we
possibly can, and I do thank you for your comments, and Ms. Dougherty would just like to close
us out.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, I think Mr. Brito ought to close it out since he hasn't had a chance
to speak, so come on down and put your name on the record, as well. I think it's important for
the public to see that the Trust is inclusive of the entire community, and I think a picture is worth
a thousand words.
Lucia Dougherty: Evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. Lucia Dougherty, with
offices at 1221 Brickell Avenue. I also am privileged to serve on this board, and I thank you for
that opportunity, but I'd like to speak for a few minutes about the things that have been
accomplished, and hasn't been only accomplished by the Trust, but it's also been accomplished
by the City. To date we have $5,000,000 worth of property in the Cities name, the Cities and/or
Trust name. We have contracts for another $3,400,000, or 210 contracts. They've prepared a
master plan, which is going to the community next month for community meetings; $2,000,000
142 March 27, 2003
have been appropriated from Congress to the Trust; $3,000,000 in Model Cities housing
initiatives from the City; $6,000,000 in Homeland Defense funds; $3,000,000 for this year;
7,000,000 in Home Investment Partnership program funds, so a total of $21,000,000 is allocated
to this effort. We've got the land. We've got the money. We have the expertise. We have a
enthusiastic board. We have a city staff that I think is an excellent city staff, and we are only
looking forward to finalizing and actually implementing a plan that has been started even before
we were appointed members, so we thank you. Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: I want to correct the record on a very important issue.
Ms. Dougherty: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: The Homeland defense bond appropriated zero dollars to this Trust, zero.
There is an earmark in there for Model Cities, but Model Cities is much bigger than the
geographic boundary of this Trust --
Ms. Dougherty: I stand correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- so I want to --
Ms. Dougherty: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- because this -- I understand one of your staff people was before the
Trust Oversight Board making a pitch for money without even conferring with my office, which
again, is totally inappropriate because I've got to represent the whole of Model Cities, not just
the area that you all are, and I want to be very clear, there is no money appropriated out of the
Homeland Security for the Model Cities Trust, but as I've said to the previous Manager, and I
said to this Manager, and I said to Ms. Haskins, the management and my office need to sit down
and look how we can swap out some dollars immediately to solve the problem that the CDBG
has, and I'm totally opened to that, but that is not a discussion that I'm prepared to entertain at
this point with the Model Cities Trust; that's a discussion that the Community Development
office has got to drive, because what we're doing is making the City come into compliance with
community development, and then as it relates to the other issues as it related to the like the
office and all of that, we said we would make money available for that as long as you all made
money available for programming in the community.
Ms. Dougherty: Understood, and we did pass a resolution to that effect.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, so I don't mean to switch sides here now.
Ms. Dougherty: Anyway, I just want to thank you for the opportunity to serve on this board, and
again, as somebody who is in the private sector -- and what I do is, I sell my time to the -- so, to
the extent that I am here, I'm either not selling time or I'm not on vacation, so I am here to serve
the community because I think that's the right thing to do. I do live and work in this city, and I
want to be somebody who is a participant, and I will tell you, both Mr. Chairman as well as Mr.
Manager, to the extent that I -- you find that I am not political liability to you, please, or if
143 March 27, 2003
there's somebody else better who can serve, I am very happy to step down for that person, but
until that happens, I look forward to continuing to work on this.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. Final Trust member that's here.
Hector Brito: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and distinguished Commissioners, Mr. Manager,
staff. Ms. Haskins, it's good to see you again, and it's good to be here and part of this new
renaissance that -- of sorts. Commissioner, I had some notes prepared, but I would rather speak
from the heart. I've been a resident of the community for 40 -plus years, address 2425 Northwest
3rd Street. I see the diversity. I see the talent. I see the potential again, Commissioner Sanchez,
that we have in this community. In our diversity lies out strength. I truly believe that we, as a
community, need to start overcoming a lot of the "my community versus this community" and
start working together and treating the community as a whole. It's incumbent upon our
generation, Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado, and --
Vice Chairman Teele: He's not in your zone.
Mr. Brito: I believe he's in my generation. I just used Grecian formula, and Mr. Manager, with
your experience from the private sector, you bring a whole new perspective to some of the
problems that we have in our city, in our community, and in all probably, in due time, you will
be able to address a lot of these problems and find a private sector solution, which is very, very
atypical in a government structure. I commend Mayor Diaz for kind of stepping back and
analyzing the past year and a half or two. I don't know how long it's been since he was elected.
Time flies when you're having fun, I guess, but obviously, he's chosen to take a step back and to
analyze and to make decisions, and we may not always agree with the decisions, but obviously,
they're well thought out. With all that said, Commissioner, I just wanted to say that this
revitalization zone, the Model Cities Trust, and the other revitalization zones certainly merit and
are worthy of moving forward and they all should be moving forward as quickly as possible.
Every day that passes by we fall farther behind. I thank you for your indulgence, and I hope that
you view -- again, I offer my -- just as Ms. Dougherty, if there's anyone that desires to serve on
this Trust, I certainly have a number of other things that I could be doing. I have four boys, Mr.
Manager, and catching baseball is part of --
Vice Chairman Teele: Are you still a member of the Dade County Finance -- Housing Finance?
Mr. Brito: Yes, I am, sir. I am a member. I have been a member for a number of years. I'm
exact -- the vice chair at this moment, and I viewed it and I saw it as a plus because of the
possible funding sources that couldn't be brought to --
Vice Chairman Teele: Leverage.
Mr. Brito: Exactly, sir, so again, thank you for your indulgence and --
Mr. Arriola: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Adios.
144 March 27, 2003
Mr. Arriola: Mr. Chair.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner -- before you do, Commissioner Sanchez and then the
Manager.
Commissioner Sanchez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, let me just say that Ordinance
12082, which was created -- created the new chapter, the Community Revitalization, and created
the Model Cities Home Trust. It's one that I know very well. Yes, it was amended numerous
times, for whatever reason, but I'm going to read what is basically says, and Commissioner said
it very clearly, that the City Commission approved the establishment of seven community
revitalization districts in the City of Miami in the efforts to begin with the Model City
neighborhood. We realize, the entire Commission, including myself, the need of the residents of
the Model City and the need that Commissioner Teele had for the people that he represents. In
those discussions I have patiently waited my turn, allowing the City to focus all the resources
and attention on the Model Cities Homeowners Trust that was established in 1999. I -- looking
at the blue pages, as Commissioner Teele is discussing his blue pages, there is an item here, "H,"
which reads "Discussion and motion to organize, activate, and provide initially funding in the
Little Haiti homeownership zone." It is well known that my District was going to be the follow -
- the following District (UNINTELLIGIBLE) homeowners. As a matter of fact, it was discussed
in this Commission. It was passed through an ordinance on first reading, which it was discussed
July 26, 2000, and at this time I want to make sure that everybody has the record, so there are --
the records are on the floor. "Whereas the City identified the Little Havana Community
Revitalization District as the next area to undergo comprehensive redevelopment." As a matter
of fact, $140,000 was put to start it up. Taking into consideration the City's financial situation
out of the kindness of my heart, I didn't pursue it because I didn't want to take the resources out
of the efforts to create the Model Cities, which I clearly support. However, I'm a little offended
-- since we're talking about being offended -- that Commissioner would have this discussion
item as to have Little Haiti being the next one. If you look at records here, I even have
Gwendolyn Warren, which at that time was the director, and Warren said "The Commission has,
through a resolutions, nominated East Little Havana as the next community revitalization
district," so it is very clearly that the next district, which is also a very poor district to start the
revitalization, is Little Havana, so being that Commissioner Teele withdrew some of the items,
and I'm going to be respectfully requesting that he withdraw Item H from his blue sheet.
Vice Chairman Teele: Sir, I absolutely will not. The fact of the matter is, is that if -- I mean,
you -- the fact of the matter is, is that you spent a considerable amount of time helping me, and I
appreciate all the help I can get in matters relating to my District, but it just seems to me that my
District shouldn't have to wait until you move your legislation because it's been more than a
year, and I would have thought that you would have taken care of your District, but -- and I
second it and supported the notion that you'd go next, but the understanding was you would have
gone about six months ago, and I don't think there's any reason to hold up the whole thing
because you haven't moved your District, so there are six of them. We're obliged -- there are
seven of them. By the Five -Year Plan, we're obliged to comply with the Five -Year Plan as a
condition of our CD dollars, and we're going to be at the end of five years before we get the
second one done, and I was moving Little Haiti to give the Manager something that I could work
145 March 27, 2003
with alone because if he wants to design one and work on it, you know, there's got plenty to do,
and so, when we get to that, we can discuss it, but this is the Model Cities one, but I certainly
intend not to stay behind your cue any longer. I'm going to move my District agenda forward,
and as long as I'm not spending money from the City coffers, but sending [sic] it from the
resources that I'm beginning to make available for this, I'm going ahead, and you know, you can
continue to do what you want to do. You've got plenty on the agenda relating to my District
today and that's fine
Commissioner Sanchez: Well -- and --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- but right --
Commissioner Sanchez: Would you yield, Art?
Vice Chairman Teele: -- now we're dealing with Model Cities, and I'm not about to deal with
the Little Haiti issue now. I want to deal with the Model City, if I could.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, you know, Commissioner Teele, you -- and I really -- I'm a very
diplomatic person. The last thing I want to do is, you know, disrespect anybody, but you know --
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- you could disrespect me, just like you've done in this Commission a
couple of times, turning issues into a racial issue, or calling me Willie Lish (phonetic), or calling
me anything you want; it really doesn't bother me, but when you betray and you do this thing,
you're basically going after my continuants, who I represent, and that's a terrible injustice when
you do that. I did it out of the kindness of my heart because we -- the City was in a financial
crisis, and all I would have done was taken resources out of your District. All I would have done
hampered the Model Cities effort, OK, and when you do this, this is clearly a retaliation against
me --
Vice Chairman Teele: No, it is not.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- for questioning your authority at the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Authority), and not question your authority, but question your action, when I'm
entitled to question your authority or your actions. I have supported your District in every
aspect. I supported the CRA when I gave you $5,000,000 -- each Commissioner here gave you
$5,000,000 when this City was in financial crisis. I gave you money out of a project that I had in
my District that was going to -- I was going to lose the money, and I said I will not allow for us
to lose the money; have Commissioner take that money. I supported your Model City. I
supported every issue that has come up, and I'll bring the records up because it's based on a fact,
sir, and I have the facts, and when you have the facts and you are an attorney, you argue the
facts, and what you've done is an injustice to the people that I represent in my community, and
I'm asking you, kindly, to con -- to do the same consideration and respect that I had for you and
your District to allow me to continue on now that money is available. Because if you're saying
that money is available, I've waited long enough and it's my turn now. For you to do that, when
146 March 27, 2003
each Commissioner up here has sacrificed funds from his Districts [sic] to help you, what you've
done, sir, is an injustice to the residents and the voters of my District, and they'll hear about this,
and I'll yield to you, and then I'll debate it some more because I'm prepared to debate this any
day of the week, twice on Sunday, to the late early mornings tomorrow.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner, let me remind you that 80 percent of the CRA district is in
a district that is chaired by another Commissioner, so every time you make those references, you
know, you obviously are factually narrow, but the item of Little Haiti and the movement of
another revitalization district has nothing to do with your District or the CRA, and in fact, the
reason that the Model City dollars are available is because I took the leadership, over very strong
community opposition, to remove the Section 8 nonconforming buildings, and it is the Section 8
nonconforming buildings that have generated the tremendous windfall of -- do you know how
much money, Madam Director? -- so, you know, let's make the record very, very clear. It is the
Section 8 windfall of the removal of all of that Section 8 stock that was non -code compliant, and
cancellation of those contracts that has generated well over $10,000,000 of the dollars that are
involved, but again, I am prepared, at the right time today, to move forward with Little Haiti
without CD dollars, without CD dollars, but there is no reason at all that this community should
wait while a Commissioner try to figure out how to move his program, and I respect you and I
respect your District, but I will say to you that it was my understanding you were going to move
this thing over a year ago or at least six months ago and certainly in time as a part of this budget
consideration in CD. You didn't bring it up one time. Not one time has the word
"homeownership zone" in your District been brought up in the context of CD funding, and so,
you know, to move forward now is to move forward in next year's funding. We're talking now
about October of 2005 if I move forward now, so I mean, you know -- I realize, you know, that
we all have our own challenges and opportunities, but the item today on the agenda is the Model
Cities Trust, and I'm going to yield to Commissioner Regalado, the Chair, so that I can make a
motion for the purpose of trying to close out the Model Cities Trust by asking that the Item 33
that was deferred be rescinded.
Commissioner Sanchez: Commissioner Teele, we are not done with this debate and --
Vice Chairman Teele: Say again.
Commissioner Sanchez: We're not done with this debate. I'm telling you, we're not done with
this debate.
Vice Chairman Teele: Sir, we can debate all day and all night and into tomorrow and we'll still
be where we are --
Commissioner Sanchez: Well --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and I think we ought to --
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, your Item H is going to require a vote from this Commission, and
I'll --
147 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Maybe --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- debate it then, when you --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- maybe not.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- bring it to the Commission.
Vice Chairman Teele: I can get money without getting a vote from this Commission, and that's
what I'm about to do --
Commissioner Sanchez: But see --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- so -- see -- but in any event, Mr. --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- Commissioner Teele --
Commissioner Regalado: Let me --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- you -- Mr. Chairman, who's chairing this? Let me just say
something.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado is chairing, and I've ask for permission --
Commissioner Regalado: I'm chairing.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- to move to reconsider item number 33 for the purpose of approving
Item 33 because I think it's important to send the signal to the Manager and the Trust that if the
Manager's got confidence in someone, I'd like to have the Manager have that appointment there,
and so, respectfully, I would move to reconsider Item 33 that was previously deferred to the next
meeting. I would so move.
Commissioner Regalado: OK, we have a motion to reconsider. Do we --
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: -- have a second? Second. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Commissioner Regalado: Motion is reconsidered.
148 March 27, 2003
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Teele, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-285
A MOTION TO RECONSIDER PRIOR MOTION TO DEFER TO THE
COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10, 2003
PROPOSED RESCINDING OF RESOLUTION NO. 01-637 AND
RESOLUTION NO. 02-547 AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S
NOMINATION OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF
THE MODEL CITY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION DISTRICT TRUST.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: I would move to approve the nomination of Mr. Norman Powell, a
distinguished Attorney, Item number 33, as recommended by the City Manager. I would so
move.
Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion and we have a second.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Regalado: Do we have a second?
Mr. Vilarello: Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Regalado: Yes.
Mr. Vilarello: That's the substitute resolution.
Vice Chairman Teele: This is substitute resolution, number 33, the Manager's recommendation.
Commissioner Regalado: OK. We still need a second to --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
149 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: OK, we have a second, Commissioner Gonzalez. All in favor, say
aye.
11
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Commissioner Regalado: It passes.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Teele, who moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-286
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RESCINDING
RESOLUTION NO. 01-637 AND RESOLUTION NO. 02-547 AND
CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S NOMINATION OF CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF THE MODEL CITY
HOMEOWNERSHIP TRUST.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: And Mr. Manager, I want very much for there to be harmony on this
issue. We've got six others to work through, and we, obviously, are going to have a lot of
discussion about that, and I'd like to get your permission to meet with your staff, Community
Development, and Ms. Haskins and let's see if we can't resolve all of the issues so that at the
next meeting we can go forward with the kind of legislation because, as Commissioner Sanchez
has said correctly -- you know, if this Trust doesn't fully comply with CD rules, it's going to
affect the entire city, and we need to do -- bring this into compliance.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well --
Mr. Arriola: I just want to --
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Commissioner Sanchez: If I may on that, that's always been a concern that I've had, and that
concern be that we, this City, has not done a very good job at complying with HUD (Department
of Housing and Urban Development) regulations, and we are faced right now on both the Model
150 March 27, 2003
City and the CRA where we are in clear violation of certain rules, and the Model City Trust,
Revitalization Trust, we are clearly in violation of land banking, we are clearly in violation of
relocation act and environmental issue. That is of great concern to me because when HUD
comes after us, we're not only going to have to give that money, it's going to have to come out of
our general fund, affecting the entire city, and you know that better than I do, Mr. Teele.
Vice Chairman Teele: And, Commissioner, you're right, except for one thing. The Model Cities
Trust did not do it. The City of Miami -- and Ms. Gonzalez [sic], if I'm wrong, let's correct the
record, but the acquisition and the staffing of the acquisition and the legal work for the
acquisition was done by the City of Miami, and it's not fair to keep blaming the Trust, as you
keep spreading it all over the record. It makes great copy, but it's not correct, and Ms. Gonzalez
[sic], you -- Ms. Rodriguez, you need to correct the record or state on the record who did the
acquisition. Did Model Cities Trust do the acquisition, the vast majority of it, or did the City of
Miami do it?
Barbara Rodriguez (Director, Community Development): The City of Miami did the buying of
the land.
Vice Chairman Teele: So, if there's a violation of the land banking, let's be very clear, it's the
City of Miami. Now, obviously, the Trust is the heir or is the successor to that, and so we're all
in it together --
Ms. Rodriguez: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and that's the message that Mr. Range and Ms. Jones and all of the
members of the Trust are trying to communicate, that this is a partnership, and it's no -- it
doesn't do any good, except for someone who wants to get a good --
Ms. Rodriguez: And, Commissioner --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- you know.
Ms. Rodriguez: -- the best thing that you've said is that we need to swap dollars, and I think,
from the beginning, when we noticed that there was going to be a land banking issue, the
Administration never stated that they wanted the program to end. What we said was leave the
funds for the project; just switch what has happened, because right now there is a potential of a
disallowed cost, and yes, the project is out of compliance, and there is $4,100,000 out there that
could come back to haunt us, so from the beginning this Administration stated let's swap the
dollars with other funds and leave these funds for the time that the construction comes up and
other types of services that it is allowable and will not cost the City or the Trust or those clients
to buy these houses with these restriction.
Commissioner Sanchez: And that even strengths [sic] my argument here, Commissioner Teele.
You're sitting on millions and millions of dollars when we are facing 21 percent cut. I mean,
we're in a tight situation and you're not going to be able to use that money. That money is going
151 March 27, 2003
to have to go back, and that even strengthens my argument here for us, an entire -- the
community to utilize those funds. It's -- how greedy can you get, sir?
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Chairman, if I may. All of those dollars can be used for
infrastructure. All of those dollars can be used for over $8,000,000 or $12,000,000 of civil work
that is projected in the plan, and yes, I'm prepared to switch the dollars, but again, there has been
a rule in this City that when dollars are switched, they stay within the community that they came.
That has been the rule long before you got here, sir, and that will continue to the rule unless you
know there's going to be a total chaos. You're not going to take money from one community
and ship it to the other. This Commission has voted against that consistently, and all that we're
saying is simply this: There's no windfall of dollars here. There's no windfall of dollars, even
though you're trying to characterize it is such. Those dollars were projected for the Model Cities
Trust, the homeownership bond money. It's for the Model Cities area. If you apply those
homeownership dollars in the matter for the land, we can use the CD dollars for the
infrastructure. It's just that simple. It's not a question of greed. It's not a question of excess. It's
a question that we don't have enough money to do the plan, but we'll get into that and --
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, if I may?
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Regalado: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. City Attorney --
Commissioner Regalado: You're recognized --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- the resolution --
Commissioner Regalado: Commissioner Sanchez.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- that was passed July 10, 2001, that was -- came for first reading, then
it was deferred, and it never came back; it fell through the cracks. I would ask that that
resolution come back to this Commission for second reading, and it's pertaining to the Little
Havana Homeownership Trust, at the next Commission meeting.
Mr. Vilarello: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. If that is it, Mr. Chairman, then the issue of Model Cities Trust
is resolved. Madam Clerk, would you read into the record the name of the board members as
based upon the Commission action today?
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): We have Ms. Shalley Jones.
Vice Chairman Teele: When does her term expire?
152 March 27, 2003
Ms. Thompson: According to our records, July 10, `05. We just had appointed today; you
confirmed Mr. Norman Powell. We have Mr. Patrick Range. We have Ms. Lucia Dougherty,
Mr. Hector Brito, Father Kenneth Major, and as the public advocate, Vincent Mitchell.
Vice Chairman Teele: And for that, Mr. Manager, I'm required, under the ordinance, to hold one
public hearing a year. That public hearing has not been held. I would like to coordinate with
your office and the public advocate for the time that's convenient for you, and if you would like,
I would very much like for you to be a part of the public hearing on the Model Cities Trust.
That'll be the first one that we've held.
Mr. Arriola: Thank you, sir. We'll do it.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you, Mr. Manager. All right.
Commissioner Regalado: OK. You're Chair again, sir?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
23. DEFER TO COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10,
2003, PROPOSED APPROVAL OF FINDINGS OF EVALUATION COMMITTEE
PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 02-03-010, FOR WORKERS
COMPENSATION CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION (PART I SERVICES); GENERAL,
AUTOMOBILE AND PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY HANDLING CLAIMS
ADMINISTRATION (PART II SERVICES), AND/OR MANAGED CARE SERVICES (PART
III SERVICES). (See #4.17 & 7).
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. What is the Commission's pleasure regarding the next -- ?
Commissioner Sanchez: CA -20, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Say what?
Commissioner Sanchez: CA -20.
Vice Chairman Teele: CA -20.
Commissioner Regalado: After we do CA -20, we have many people here on zoning matters, and
although we have done -- we have not done the blue pages, I think that, out of courtesy -- Oh, we
still have the --
Vice Chairman Teele: We haven't done the white pages.
Commissioner Regalado: No, but the blue pages come before the white pages.
153 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. According to the rule that Commissioner Regalado is
imposing, which is a proper one, after CA -20 we will go to the zoning items because those
involve substantially the public, and we'll hear all of the zoning items, and then we'll come back
and finish up the regular agenda --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- if that's satisfactory?
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- I would like to ask my colleagues to defer CA -20. We have -- we
still have most of this agenda, plus another agenda like this one on zoning, and you know, we're
going to be here -- I don't know if we're even going to be able to complete the agenda today
even if we stay here until 4 a.m. I'm the morning, so could we please -- ?
Commissioner Regalado: But excuse me, I cannot stay until 4. I have to stay until 3:30 --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Until 3 o'clock --
Commissioner Regalado: -- because I got to be --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- because he's got to be at --
Commissioner Regalado: -- at work at 4.
Commissioner Regalado: -- got to be at work, right.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Gonzalez: So could we --
Commissioner Regalado: So, if we can -- I work until 3:30 (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Well --
Commissioner Regalado: -- no problem.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- let's don't start taking this (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner
Sanchez, there's a request that the item be deferred. Will you defer the item?
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, I always respect my colleagues. It depend -- you know,
reference deferral, so I'm willing to accept the deferral.
Vice Chairman Teele: Did you want to defer it --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- to the next meeting?
154 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: For the next meeting.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Motion by Commissioner Gonzalez that Item CA -20 be
deferred. Is there a second?
Commissioner Regalado: I'll second it.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All those opposed, say "no." The item is deferred.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-287
A MOTION TO DEFER TO THE COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY
SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10, 2003, AT A TIME CERTAIN OF 9:15 A.M.,
PROPOSED APPROVAL OF FINDINGS OF THE EVALUATION
COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 02-03-010,
FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION (PART I
SERVICES); GENERAL, AUTOMOBILE AND PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY
HANDLING CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION (PART II SERVICES), AND/OR
MANAGED CARE SERVICES (PART III SERVICES).
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Regalado: But just -- Mr. Chairman, just -- I think that Commissioner Sanchez
was right. This is a very important. We have dealt with this hours and hours and hours. We
need to bring this, if possible, the earliest time on the first meeting of April and deal with it, you
know, because this is the black hole of the City of Miami, one of them, and so I hope that we can
-- maybe we could set it a time certain in the morning --
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Time certain.
155 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: -- if you want to, Mr. Chairman?
Commissioner Gonzalez: You want to set it 10 a.m. in the morning --
Vice Chairman Teele: 8:30.
Commissioner Regalado: 10 a.m.
Commissioner Gonzalez: --time certain? Fine with you? 10 o'clock in the morning.
Vice Chairman Teele: What time are you through in the morning?
Commissioner Regalado: 9.
Vice Chairman Teele: Why don't we set it for 9:15 and do it as the first item; get it out of the
way?
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is that all right?
Commissioner Gonzalez: 9:15.
Vice Chairman Teele: That's contained in the motion to defer. It'll be deferred to the next
meeting at 9:15 am.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, somebody please --
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Sure.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- inform Commissioner Winton.
156 March 27, 2003
24. WITHDRAW PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 11000, CITY'S
ZONING ORDINANCE, BY AMENDING ARTICLE 10, ENTITLED "SIGN
REGULATIONS", IN ORDER TO MODIFY AND CLARIFY PROVISIONS RELATED TO
SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS, BY ADDING MURAL AND JUMBO-
TRON SIGNS CONDITIONALLY AND TO MODIFY PROVISIONS RELATED TO
AWNING SIGNS; AMEND ARTICLE 25 ENTITLED "DEFINITIONS," TO ADD NEW
DEFINITIONS.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Madam Clerk, would you ask that everyone that's here on the
PZ (Planning & Zoning) items stand and be sworn?
Commissioner Regalado: Ringo, remember Ringo. He was there, and you told him to come
back.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): If you are here and you will be speaking on any of the PZ
items that are listed on our agenda, I need you to please stand raise your right hand.
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm advised, Ringo, that they're still working on the numbers back there,
and they're even pulling items off as we speak. The Mayor's office just called me and asked for
a change on something, so it's going to be at the end of the agenda, so you can go home and take
a shower, have a nap and come back.
Ms. Thompson: If you are going to be speaking on any of the PZ items that are on our agenda,
will you please stand. We have an interpreter here, sir, both Spanish and Creole. Would you
like for them to also interpret?
The City Clerk administered oath required under City Code Section 62-1 to those persons
giving testimony on zoning issues (as translated by Spanish and Creole interpreters).
Ms. Thompson: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Are there any items to be deferred or withdrawn from the
Planning agenda?
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): Yes. The
Administration --
Vice Chairman Teele: Your name for the record, ma'am.
Ms. Slazyk: Thank you. Lourdes Slazyk, Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department.
The Administration is withdrawing PZ -19.
Vice Chairman Teele: Did you say 19?
Ms. Slazyk PZ -19 is being withdrawn.
157 March 27, 2003
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): You're deferring it -- you're continuing it for 60 days, I
believe, not -- Are you withdrawing 19?
Ms. Slazyk: My understanding was we were going to take it back to the Planning Advisory
Board because it's going to come back to the Commission -- yes, this is a sign ordinance
revision.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Withdraw it. That's what --
Ms. Slazyk Yes, it's going to go back to the Planning Advisory Board. I'd rather withdraw it so
that we can readvertise it.
Commissioner Sanchez: (INAUDIBLE) PZ item is this?
Ms. Slazyk 19, it's an amendment to the sign ordinance.
Vice Chairman Teele: 19 is withdrawn. Why don't we do it by motion? Is there a motion to
withdraw at the request of the administration?
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: So this item is withdrawn.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-288
A MOTION TO WITHDRAW PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON SECOND
READING AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS AMENDED, THE
ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, BY AMENDING
ARTICLE 10, ENTITLED "SIGN REGULATIONS", IN ORDER TO MODIFY
AND CLARIFY PROVISIONS RELATED TO SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS
AND LIMITATIONS, BY ADDING MURAL AND JUMBO-TRON SIGNS
CONDITIONALLY AND TO MODIFY PROVISIONS RELATED TO
AWNING SIGNS; FURTHER AMENDING ARTICLE 25 ENTITLED
"DEFINITIONS," TO ADD NEW DEFINITIONS.
158 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Vice Chairman Teele: Now does that mean it's got to go back for first reading?
Mr. Vilarello: It has to -- it's going back to the Planning --
Mr. Maxwell: It'll go through the whole process.
Vice Chairman Teele: It'll go through the whole process.
Ms. Slazyk: Right, this way we can advertise.
25. CONTINUE TO COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24,
2003, CONSIDERATION OF: PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO.
10544, FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN BY CHANGING LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "MEDIUM DENSITY
MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL" TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL"; AND PROPOSED
ORDINANCE AMENDING PAGE NO. 9 OF ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE NO. 11000,
CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION 401, BY CHANGING ZONING
CLASSIFICATION FROM R-3 MULTIFAMILY MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO C-
1 RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL AT 544 NE 78TH STREET.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Next one.
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -22 and 23 are going
to be continued. We would ask for 30 days at this time to the meeting of April.
Vice Chairman Teele: 20 what?
Ms. Slazyk: 22 and 23.
Vice Chairman Teele: Motion to de --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move to continue, right?
Vice Chairman Teele: -- to continue Items 22 and 23 to the second meeting in April?
159 March 27, 2003
Ms. Slazyk: Yes, that's correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's moved by Commissioner --
Commissioner Regalado: I move it.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- Regalado. It's seconded by --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- Commissioner Gonzalez. Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed, say "no." The items are continued.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-289
A MOTION TO CONTINUE TO THE COMMISSION MEETING
CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24, 2003, CONSIDERATION OF:
�RDINANCE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING AMENDING
NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP
OF THE MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY
CHANGING THE LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "MEDIUM DENSITY
MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL" TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" AT
544 NE 78TH STREET; AND
• PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING AMENDING PAGE
NO. 9 OF THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS
AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
ARTICLE 4, SECTION 401, SCHEDULE OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY
CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R-3 MULTIFAMILY
MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO C-1 RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL
AT 544 NE 78TH STREET.
160 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): 26 and 27.
26. CONTINUE TO COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24,
2003, CONSIDERATION OF: PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO.
10544, FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN, BY CHANGING LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "CONSERVATION" TO
"RECREATION"; AND PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING PAGE NO. 25 OF ZONING
ATLAS OF ORDINANCE NO. 11000, BY CHANGING ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM
CS CONSERVATION TO PR PARKS AND RECREATION SOUTHEAST PORTION OF
SEWELL PARK AT 1815-1825 NW SOUTH RIVER DRIVE.
Vice Chairman Teele: Anything else?
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): Yes. We're also going
to be continuing the Sewell Park item, which is Items 26 and 27.
Commissioner Gonzalez: 27.
Vice Chairman Teele: 26 and 27. Is there a motion by Commissioner Regalado to --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- continue --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- 26 and 27.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- them? By Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second
Vice Chairman Teele: Second by Commissioner Sanchez. Is there objection?
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): The date for continuation.
161 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: How long do you want to continue them?
Ms. Slazyk: April is fine.
Vice Chairman Teele: Second meeting in April?
Ms. Slazyk: That's correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: Second meeting in April. Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed have the same right. It's continued.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-290
A MOTION TO CONTINUE TO THE COMMISSION MEETING
CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24, 2003, CONSIDERATION OF:
�RDINANCE
PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING AMENDING
NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF
THE MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, BY CHANGING
LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "CONSERVATION" TO
"RECREATION" AT 1815-1825 NW SOUTH RIVER DRIVEL; AND
• PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING AMENDING PAGE
NO. 25 OF ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS AMENDED,
BY CHANGING ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM CS CONSERVATION
TO PR PARKS AND RECREATION SOUTHEAST PORTION OF SEWELL
PARK AT 1815-1825 NW SOUTH RIVER DRIVE.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
162 March 27, 2003
27. WITHDRAW PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO CLOSE, VACATE, ABANDON AND
DISCONTINUE FOR PUBLIC USE PORTION OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY PORTION OF
AN ALLEY BETWEEN NE 2ND AVENUE AND BISCAYNE BOULEVARD NORTH OF NE
20TH TERRACE.
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): OK. Item number 4,
the applicant is here to withdraw.
Steve Helfman: We'd like to request -- Steve Helfman, 2665 South Bay Drive. I'd like to
request a withdrawal on PZ Item 4.
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03- 291
A MOTION TO WITHDRAW FROM TODAY'S AGENDA PROPOSED
RESOLUTION TO CLOSE, VACATE, ABANDON AND DISCONTINUE
FOR PUBLIC USE A PORTION OF A PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY PORTION
OF AN ALLEY BETWEEN NE 2ND AVENUE AND BISCAYNE
BOULEVARD NORTH OF NE 20TH TERRACE.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Mr. Helfman: Thank you.
163 March 27, 2003
28. DENY APPEAL OF ZONING BOARD DECISION, WHICH DENIED APPEAL BY MR,
ANDRE J. ZAMORANO, ESQUIRE, OF CLASS II SPECIAL PERMIT, TO ALLOW
PERMANENT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IN BAYFRONT PARK IN ASSOCIATION WITH
TEMPORARY EVENT AT 401 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD (Applicant(s): City of Miami,
Owner, City of Miami, Lessee, Raceworks, LLC.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, ma'am. Please proceed.
Lourdes Slyzak (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -1 is an appeal of a
Class II Special Permit. This was in order to conduct work in Bayfront Park. The work was in
conjunction with a race in the park, but the Class II Special Permit was not for the event. It was
for the actual physical work that was done in Bayfront Park. The City Commission had
remanded this back to the Zoning Board, as you may recall, in order to make more findings for
each of the criteria in 1305 and take it back to the Zoning Board and back to this Commission.
The Planning and Zoning Department has done that, and the Zoning Board has recommended
denial of the appeal, and it's here before you. The additional findings are in your package.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone here from the applicant?
Ms. Slazyk: From the appellant.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, why are we talking about this?
Ms. Slazyk Yeah, it was the appellant. I don't see them.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is the appellant here? All right. Mr. Attorney, what's the proper motion?
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): Because it is an appeal and because of the potential for it
going further, I would ask that you do allow staff to put on a brief presentation and then
incorporate the rest into the record for purposes of the record.
Vice Chairman Teele: A brief presentation.
Ms. Slazyk I'm just going to read the new findings into the record. It is found that the proposed
work by providing wider roadways through the park with the interconnectivity and stabilized
base offers safe and convenient ingress and egress to Bayfront Park for both automobiles and
pedestrians and further convenient access for fire and other emergency vehicles. The next
criteria was off-street parking and loading. It is found that the proposed work has no effect on
the off-street parking and loading. Next was refuse and service areas. It is found that the
proposed work has no effect on refuse and service areas. Signs and lighting, the same; it is found
that the proposed work has no effect on signs and lighting. Regarding utilities, it is found that
the proposed work has complied with the code requirements regarding utilities and will therefore
have no adverse effects from such on Bayfront Park. The next was drainage. It is found that the
proposed work has complied with code requirements regarding drainage as specified in the
Florida building code and will therefore have no adverse effects on drainage conditions in the
park, and finally, preservation of natural features. The proposed work by providing for tree
164 March 27, 2003
relocation and mitigation, as specified in the plans, will have no adverse effect on preservation of
natural features. The final one is on control of potentially adverse effects. It is found that the
proposed work involves permanent road improvements that are initially associated with a
temporary event in Bayfront Park. The permanent improvements will add flexibility to the park
that will make it more able to accommodate all sorts of other temporary events from races to
festivals. Such improvements are found to be in keeping with the regional nature of Bayfront
Park and that the benefits are to all residents and visitors within the region that is served by
Bayfront Park. It is therefore found that the proposed work would have no adverse effects on the
park and will be harmonious with future uses and events planned within the park and Biscayne
Boulevard, and we recommend denial of the appeal.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone here from the applicant that would like to be heard? Is
there anyone here? If not, the public hearing's closed, Mr. Attorney, what is the appropriate
motion based upon the staff recommendation and the evidence before us?
Mr. Maxwell: It'll be a motion to deny the appeals and affirm the Zoning Board decisions of
April 22, 2002, and February 24, 2003.
Vice Chairman Teele: Will someone so move it?
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Vice Chairman Teele: Move by --
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- Commissioner Sanchez, second by Commissioner Regalado. Madam
Clerk, call the roll.
Note for the Record: A roll call was taken, the result of which are stated below.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-292
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT, AFFIRMING THE DECISION OF THE ZONING BOARD
THEREBY DENYING THE APPEAL BY MR, andRE J. ZAMORANO,
ESQUIRE, OF CLASS II PERMIT APPLICATION NO. 02-007 ISSUED BY
THE PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR ON JANUARY 10, 2002, TO
ALLOW PERMANENT ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IN BAYFRONT PARK
IN ASSOCIATION WITH A TEMPORARY EVENT, FOR THE PROPERTY
LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 401 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD,
MIAMI, FLORIDA, LEGALLY DESCRIBED IN ATTACHED "EXHIBIT
A."
165 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
29. DENY APPEAL OF HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION BOARD
DECISION, WHICH APPROVED CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS, AFTER -THE -
FACT, FOR ENCLOSURE OF FORMER GARAGE DOOR AND PAVING AT 95 NE 47TH
STREET Guillermo and Jane Herrera, Owners).
Vice Chairman Teele: Next item.
Sarah Eaton: Mr. Chairman, members of the Commission, Sarah Eaton, Preservation Officer for
the City. PZ -2 is an appeal of a decision of the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board,
which approved a Certificate of Appropriateness, after the fact, for an enclosure of a garage door.
At least 20 some years ago, the applicant enclosed a garage door, a complaint was filed, and the
NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) Office cited the owner for work without a permit. The
owner, at the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board meeting, testified under oath that
the work was done with a permit. The Historic and Environmental Preservation Board approved
the work, after the fact, in effect, allowing the garage door enclosure to remain. The staff
recommends that the appeal be denied and the decision of the Historic and Environmental
Preservation Board be upheld because the work is consistent with the historic preservation
ordinance.
Vice Chairman Teele: I thought you said that the Board approved it.
Ms. Eaton: Correct, but an individual appealed the decision of the Board.
Vice Chairman Teele: And when did the Board approve it?
Ms. Eaton: That was at the meeting of --
Jane Herrera: January 21St
Ms. Eaton: January 21St. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: And the work was done 20 years ago?
166 March 27, 2003
Ms. Eaton: Correct.
Ms. Herrera: It was more than 20 years ago.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Yes, ma'am.
Jane Herrera: My name is Jane Herrera. I'm living at 95 Northeast 47th Street. I am the person
that Mr. Merker is talking about. I do have all my documents. I have a permit after the fact.
The inspectors were out, the Public Works was out and checked everything, and everything is
OK. I have all my documents here.
Commissioner Regalado: Excuse me. You did that work how long ago?
Ms. Herrera: That was in the 70's. I'm living there 32 years before historical preservation.
Commissioner Regalado: So you did the work 20 some years ago?
Ms. Herrera: Yeah. The garage door was broken. It fell on my foot when I was trying to stop it
from falling on my daughter, and then the Fire Station was there. Our local Fire Station man told
me, get a permit and take it out and I did, but I can't find my permits, so the City cannot find
theirs either.
Vice Chairman Teele: And when was it done?
Ms. Herrera: In the 70's.
Unidentified Speaker: Afterwards.
Vice Chairman Teele: When was the Historic Board set up?
Ms. Herrera: Eighty-six.
Ms. Eaton: The Board was created in 1982.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Penelas, welcome.
Luis Penelas: Thank you, and I apologize for wasting your time in this matter, but I represent --
Vice Chairman Teele: Your name.
Mr. Penelas: I represent -- my name is Luis Penelas, 133 Northeast 47th Street. I'm the co-chair
of the Buena Vista East Neighborhood -- Historic Neighborhood Association. If I may, I would
like to approach the dais with a letter for the Commissioners?
Vice Chairman Teele: Madam Clerk.
167 March 27, 2003
Mr. Penelas: We're here, a group of residents from the neighborhood. I'd like for them to stand
up so you can see that we're in support of Ms. Herrera, and we urge you to deny this appeal.
Please don't misunderstand this. It's not that we are against code enforcement. However,
although we would like to see all our homes returned to their original structures, we understand
that the hardships that some of these things can cause our residents. We want code enforcement.
We want code enforcement that is done fairly and with compassion, and Ms. Herrera has been
living in the neighborhood for over 30 years. Her family is on a fixed income, and this type of
alterations to her home would cause undo hardship. She has not gone out and renovated. She
hasn't done anything. She's just simply being picked on by somebody who doesn't even live in
the neighborhood.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Are there any other persons that are -- before you do, Mr.
Penelas, would the people that are here from Buena Vista East please come forward and just put
your name and address on the record --
Mr. Penelas: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- that Mr. Penelas said is supporting the app -- the homeowner. Just put
your name on the record right here, ma'am. Just say your name and address.
Mr. Penelas: Just say it in the mic.
Vice Chairman Teele: Just say it. Real easy.
Wendy Stephan: You want me to speak. I'm sorry. My name is Wendy Stephan. My address is
101 Northeast 43rd Street.
Vice Chairman Teele: Hold it. What about her?
Ms. Stephan: Zoe Stephan, age three and a half, also 101 Northeast 43rd
Jane Russell: Hello. My name is Jane Russell. I live at First Avenue and 44th Street. Thank
you.
Nina West: Nina West, 176 Northeast 44th Street. One seven six Northeast 44th Street. Nina
West.
Vice Chairman Teele: And your name again?
Ms. West: N -I -N -A W -E -S -T.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you.
Gregory Gay: Good evening, Commissioners. My name is Gregory Gay, also a City of Miami
employee. I live at 110 Northeast 46th Street.
168 March 27, 2003
Yaar Guedryz: Yaar Guedryz. I live in the 133 47th Street.
Vice Chairman Teele: Northeast or northwest?
Mr. Guedryz: Northeast.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you. All right. All right. Ma'am, did you have anything else you
wanted to say?
Ms. Herrera: Yes, sir. All this is going on because -- with Mr. Merker because at one of our
board meetings five years ago, I had him thrown out and from that time, he has hated me. I
stood up for the community --
Vice Chairman Teele: Ma'am.
Ms. Herrera: -- because of all the things that he has been doing.
Vice Chairman Teele: Let's don't --
Ms. Herrera: That's all. Thank you, Mr. Teele.
Vice Chairman Teele: Please, let's don't discuss any personalities. Let's just stay with the issue.
Thank you. You made a good presentation.
Kenneth Merker: Hi. My name is Kenneth Merker, 4424 Northeast 1st Avenue. Let me give
this to the Clerk to pass out to y'all. OK. To address this, this is not an issue of individuals.
This is an issue of historic preservation, as the City ordinance 23.1, and it's a group of --
actually, a whole group of homeowners actually has met with the Mayor's Office in the last year
addressing code enforcement in the neighborhood, but we're not here to discuss code
enforcement. As Mr. Penelas was saying, this is an issue of code enforcement. We're here to
address historic preservation to the City's ordinance. I personally sat on the Historic
Preservation Board, under Sarah Eaton as the staff representative, back in 1996 and '97. In 2001
I was appointed to District 5 Historic and Environmental Preservation Advisory Board, and this
is not a matter of an individual. This is a matter of what the Historic Preservation code says. It
states that "The guidelines for issuing Certificates of Appropriateness of the proposed works
shall not adversely affect the historic, architectural, or aesthetic character of the subject structure
or the relationship and congruity between the subject structure and its neighboring structures and
surroundings, including but not limited to form, spacing, height, yards, materials," et cetera.
This is on the front page of the document that I provided for you all. I also provided you
sections of the City code that outlines the purpose of the Historic and Environmental
Preservation Board, what their duties are, and exactly what the code stands for and what they're
supposed to follow the guidelines, the (INAUDIBLE) interior standards for rehabilitation. One
item is that to approve, as the Board did, the enclosure, you can physically enclose a garage if
you want to. Ms. Sarah Eaton's staff report to the Preservation Board on January 21st was not to
maintain it as it is today, was that the structure, the enclosure, bring back the facade of a garage
door. It was her staff s recommendation that she recorded, which is on -- I have a copy of the
169 March 27, 2003
tape here. Though the Board approved it, it had nothing to do with the Board's purpose as a
Historic Preservation Board, as set forth by the City ordinance, and twice before, in the last few
years, other properties came before the Board in the same manner. One was 121 Northeast 4e
Street. The other one 151 Northeast 46th Street, where the board made the homeowner restore
the garage door, and all we're asking is for congruity within the community and that the
standards be followed according to the City's ordinance.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you very much, sir.
Mr. Merker: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Madam Director, did you have anything else you wanted to
add?
Ms. Eaton: I'd just like to state on the record that the Historic and Environmental Preservation
Board did find that because this work existed prior to the designation of Buena Vista East as a
historic district, retaining the existing configuration would not adversely affect the historic
architecture or aesthetic character of the subject property, or the relationship between this
property and surrounding properties.
Vice Chairman Teele: What was the vote of the Board?
Ms. Eaton: Unanimous.
Vice Chairman Teele: It was unanimous?
Ms. Eaton: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you. Commissioner, would you preside, allow me to
make a motion?
Commissioner Regalado: Yes. Commissioner Teele is recognized.
Vice Chairman Teele: I move that the Historic Board's decision be sustained, and that the
appeal be denied without further action, so moved.
Commissioner Regalado: OK. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Commissioner
Sanchez seconded. All in favor say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Commissioner Regalado: Four to zero. It passes.
170 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-293
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DENYING THE
APPEAL FILED BY KENNETH MERKER, AND AFFIRMING THE
DECISION OF THE HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION
BOARD, WHICH APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS A CERTIFICATE OF
APPROPRIATENESS, AFTER THE FACT, FOR THE ENCLOSURE OF A
FORMER GARAGE DOOR AND PAVING AT 95 NORTHEAST 47TH
STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, LOCATED WITHIN THE BUENA VISTA
EAST HISTORIC DISTRICT.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Regalado: Thank you very much.
30. DENY APPEALS OF HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION BOARD
DECISION, WHICH DENIED APPEALS OF DECISION OF NET OFFICE, WHICH
APPROVED TREE REMOVAL/TREE RELOCATION PERMIT IN CONJUNCTION WITH
CONSTRUCTION OF MULTI -FAMILY PROJECT AT 2745-2833 COCONUT AVENUE
(Applicant(s): Michael A. Luis, Owner).
Vice Chairman Teele: Next item, please.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you.
Sarah Eaton: Sarah Eaton, Preservation Officer for the City of Miami. PZ -3 is an appeal of a
decision of the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board which denied, by virtue of a tie
vote, two appeals of the NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) office, which approved tree
removal for properties at 2745 to 2833 Coconut Avenue. Since that time all of the parties have
agreed to a revised plan, and we, therefore, recommend that the appeals be denied and the
decision of the NET office be modified to reflect the revised plans that have been produced by
the developer, dated 3-21-2003, in which I will enter into the record today.
171 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Would the parties that are here before us identify themselves
and state your support for the recommendation?
Tucker Gibbs: Yes. My name is Tucker Gibbs, with the law offices of Gibbs and Weiss
(phonetic), at 215 Grand Avenue, in Coconut Grove. I represent Sandy Karlan and Joe Lupo,
who are the adjacent property owners, and we accept the staff's recommendation because it
includes more trees and our settlement agreement includes more trees, so thank you very much.
Jim McMaster: Jim McMaster, 2940 Southwest 30th Court, Coconut Grove, president of the
Grove Tree -Man Trust. We also accept the staff's recommendation because it provides more
trees and actually saves some additional oak trees. Thank you.
Adrienne Pardo: Hi. My name is Adrienne Pardo, with law offices at Greenberg Traurig, 1221
Brickell Avenue. I'm here on behalf of the property owner, and we're also in support of staff s
recommendation. We would request that you accept it and make a motion in favor.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Are there any other parties to be heard? If not, the public
hearing's closed. Is there a motion to support the staff rec -- ?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move to accept the staff recommendation, Commissioner Teele.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney, did you want to embellish that in any way?
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): Yes, sir. That would be a motion to deny the appeal and
approve as modified.
Vice Chairman Teele: And approve as modified, supporting the recommendation. That motion
is clear and it's made by Commissioner Gonzalez, second by Commissioner Regalado. Is there
objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed have the same right.
172 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-294
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION IN
CONSIDERATION OF THE APEALS FILED BY SANDY KARLAN, JOE
LUPO, AND THE GROVE TREE -MAN TRUST ("APPELLANTS"),
MODIFYING, WITH A CONDITION, A DECISION OF THE HISTORIC
AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION BOARD ("HEPB"), WHICH
APPROVED A TREE REMOVAL/RELOCATION PERMIT IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTI -FAMILY
PROJECT LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 2745-2833 COCONUT
AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
31. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 10544, FUTURE
LAND USE MAP OF MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY
CHANGING LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "INDUSTRIAL" TO "RESTRICTED
COMMERCIAL" AT 615 SW 2ND AVENUE. (Applicant(s): William O, and Marjorie Brickell,
Trustees and Riverfront Village LLC (Contract Purchaser).
Vice Chairman Teele: Next Item.
Tucker Gibbs: Thank you.
Adrienne Pardo: Thank you. I just love the new chambers.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 5.
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -5 and 6 are
companion items for land -use and zoning change, 615 Southwest 2nd Avenue. Like I said, these
are second reading. PZ -5 is the land -use change from industrial to restricted commercial;
recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Department, approval by the Planning
173 March 27, 2003
Advisory Board, and passed by this Commission on first reading February 27. We recommend
approval.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone is opposition? Is there anyone in opposition? If not, the
public hearing's closed. Is there a motion, by Commiss -- ?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, move PZ -5.
Commissioner Regalado: I'll second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney, would you read the title?
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Madam Clerk, call the roll.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call.
Vice Chairman Teele: Next item.
Ms. Thompson: The ordinance is adopted on second reading, 3/0.
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP
OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, BY CHANGING THE
LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
APPROIXMATELY 615 SOUTHWEST 2ND AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA,
FROM "INDUSTRIAL" TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL"; MAKING
FINDINGS; DIRECTING TRANSMITTALS TO AFFECTED AGENCIES;
CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
174 March 27, 2003
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Gonzalez,
seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final
reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12334.
32. (A) BRIEF COMMENTS BY VICE CHAIRMAN TEELE REGARDING TORNADO
THAT HIT LIBERTY CITY. (See #77 & 104)
(B) SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND PAGE NO. 36 OF ZONING ATLAS
OF ORDINANCE NO. 11000, CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION 401, SCHEDULE
OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY CHANGING ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM SD -4
WATERFRONT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO SD -7 CENTRAL BRICKELL RAPID
TRANSIT COMMERCIAL -RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AT 615 SW 2ND AVENUE
(Applicant(s): William O, and Marjorie Brickell, Trustees and Riverfront Village LLC (Contract
Purchaser)
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move PZ -6, Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: PZ -6 is moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there discussion or objection? Mr. Attorney, read the title.
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): Public hearing item, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone from the pubic that would desire to come forward on the
companion item for which the public hearing was held?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is it raining?
175 March 27, 2003
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, it is, it is. It's raining a lot.
Vice Chairman Teele: We've also been advised that a tornado touched down right in the heart of
the Model City's Revitalization District while the discussion was going on, so maybe we
conjured this up, but we're advised that there's been no serious loss of property or life at this
time, and that the Manager is responding personally and with his staff, and Florida Power and
Light is on the scene. The tornado did touch down apparently around 54th Street and 12th
Avenue, is that correct?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, Commissioner.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Thank you.
Dick Bunnell: Thank you very much. My name is Dick Bunnell. I'm at 3033 Northwest North
River Drive. The Miami River Marine Group would like to put in the record a letter in favor of
the zoning request change of the property at Brickell Shipping. It follows the guidelines of the
Miami River Urban Infill Plan and it meets the expectations of the new river. One of the things
we'd like to bring to the City's attention, though, is that when these properties -- when these
industrial sites are lost to industrial use, a number of boat slips are lost, and we're painfully
aware that lost boat slips on the river that are not allowed to be replaced once they're destroyed
are forever lost, and a provision should be created to bank these boats for future use, and we urge
the City Commission to establish a method through which these slips could be banked for use in
other areas of the river. Thank you very much.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you very much.
Brett Bibeau: I'll be very brief. Brett Bibeau, assistant director of the Miami River
Commission, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway. The Miami River Commission, in addition to the
Miami River Marine Group, supports this zoning and land use change. We support it because it
is in the lower river, the downtown section, and we believe that the change is appropriate. It is in
correspondence with the Infill Plan. I just wanted to be clear that we're in support of this item
because sometimes there's a misperception that the Miami River Commission and the Miami
River Marine Group always oppose the removal of marine industrial zoning and that's not the
case; we only oppose the removal of marine industrial when it's in the inappropriate location.
Thank you for your time.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Mr. Attorney, would you -- ? The public hearing is still open.
Anyone else desiring to be heard? The public hearing's closed. Mr. Attorney, would you read
the title?
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Vice Chairman Teele: Madam Clerk.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call. Commissioner Sanchez?
176 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Thompson: Is Commissioner Regalado in the room?
Commissioner Sanchez: Four/fifths?
Vice Chairman Teele: Call his name.
Ms. Thompson: Commissioner Regalado?
Vice Chairman Teele: Does it require four/fifths?
Mr. Maxwell: No.
Ms. Thompson: Commissioner Gonzalez?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Thompson: Vice Chairman Teele?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes.
Ms. Thompson: The ordinance is adopted on second reading, 3/0.
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING PAGE NO. 35 OF THE ZONING ATLAS OF
ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, ARTICLE 4, SECTION 401, SCHEDULE
OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION FROM SD -4 WATERFRONT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT
TO SD -7 CENTRAL BRICKELL RAPID TRANSIT COMMERCIAL -
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT, FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
APPROXIMATELY 615 SOUTHWEST 2ND AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA,
LEGALLY DESCRIBED IN ATTACHED "EXHIBIT A;" CONTAINING A
REPEALER PROVISION, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
177 March 27, 2003
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Gonzalez,
seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final
reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12335.
33. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 10544, FUTURE LAND
USE MAP OF MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY CHANGING
LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL" TO "DUPLEX
RESIDENTIAL" AT 2407 SW 6TH STREET (Applicant(s): Mesi, Inc.)
Vice Chairman Teele: Next Item.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you.
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -7 and 8 are
companion items for land use and zoning change at 2407 Southwest 6th Street. PZ -7 is the land
use change. It was recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Department, approval
by the Planning Advisory Board, and passed by this Commission on first reading February 27,
2003. We recommend approval.
Eduardo De La Fuente: My name is Eduardo De La Fuente, 4925 Southwest 88 Court, on behalf
of my daughter Anna Maria Garcia.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are you here in opposition or in support?
Mr. De La Fuente: Support.
Vice Chairman Teele: Support?
Mr. De La Fuente: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's going your way. Anybody else here? Anyone here in opposition?
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): I'm sorry. Commissioner Teele, if he can repeat his name,
please?
178 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Just repeat your name again, sir.
Mr. De La Fuente: Eduardo De La Fuente.
Vice Chairman Teele: No, no, no. Just say it into the mike.
Mr. De La Fuente: Eduardo De La Fuente.
Vice Chairman Teele: No, no, no, just say it into the mic.
Mr. De La Fuente: Eduardo De La Fuente.
Vice Chairman Teele: There you go. All right. The public hearing is closed. You made a great
presentation.
Mr. De La Fuente: Yeah, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Mr. Attorney, would you read the title?
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, let me just get this straight. Was there a motion made by
Commissioner Gonzalez on this?
Commissioner Gonzalez: No, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: No motions have been made yet.
Vice Chairman Teele: No motion, OK, so there's a motion by Commissioner Gonzalez --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Motion, yeah.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and the second by Commissioner Sanchez. It's been read into the
record. Is there further need -- ? Madam Attorney -- Madam Clerk, are you straight? Would you
call the roll?
Ms. Thompson: Roll call. The ordinance --
Vice Chairman Teele: The item pass --
Ms. Thompson: -- has been adopted on second reading, 4/0.
179 March 27, 2003
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP
OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY CHANGING THE
LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
APPROXIMATELY 2407 SOUTHWEST 6TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA,
FROM "SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL" TO "DUPLEX RESIDENTIAL";
MAKING FINDINGS; DIRECTING TRANSMITTALS TO AFFECTED
AGENCIES; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Gonzalez,
seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final
reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12336.
34. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND PAGE NO. 34 OF ZONING ATLAS OF
ORDINANCE NO. 11000, CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION 401, SCHEDULE OF
DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY CHANGING ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R-1
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO R-2 TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AT 2407 SW 6TH
STREET (Applicant(s): Mesi, Inc.)
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -8 is a companion
land use, recommended for approval; approval by the Planning Advisory Board and approved by
the Commission first reading February 27.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone here on the companion item, PZ -8? Is there anyone here
on PZ -8? If not, the public hearing's closed. Would you read the title?
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): Motion.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Motion.
180 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move PZ -8, Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved and second. Title.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Vice Chairman Teele: Madam Clerk.
Commissioner Sanchez: Roll call.
Ms. Thompson: Roll call. The ordinance is adopted on second reading, 3/0.
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING PAGE NO. 34 OF THE ZONING ATLAS OF
ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, ARTICLE 4, SECTION 401, SCHEDULE
OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICTION FROM R-1 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO R-2
TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL, FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
APPROXIMATELY 2407 SOUTHWEST 6TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA,
LEGALLY DESCRIBED IN ATTACHED "EXHIBIT A"; CONTAINING A
REPEALER PROVISION, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Gonzalez,
seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final
reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12337.
181 March 27, 2003
35. CONTINUE TO COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL
24, 2003, CONSIDERATION OF: PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE
NO. 10544, FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN, BY CHANGING LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL" TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL"; AND PROPOSED ORDINANCE
AMENDING PAGE NO. 34 OF ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE NO. 11000, CITY'S
ZONING ORDINANCE, SCHEDULE OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY CHANGING
ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R-1 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO C-1
RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL AT 2264 SW 7TH STREET.
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning & Zoning): PZ -9 and 10 are also companion land
use and zoning change items for the property at 2264 Southwest 7th Street. This is second
reading. It was approved by the City Commission first reading February 27. PZ -9 is the land
use item.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone here who would like to be heard on this item? If not, the
public hearing is closed. Is there a motion? This is item number --
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): 9.
Ms. Slazyk: 9.
Commissioner Regalado: 9.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- 9, right?
Commissioner Sanchez: It states here Planning Advisory Board recommended denial due to
failure to obtain the required five favorable votes.
Ms. Slazyk Right. It was a motion to approve, and they got 4/2 vote, but for a comp. plan
amendment, they need five to get the approval, so the majority present voted in favor, but they
didn't get five.
Commissioner Sanchez: Is there any opposition here today?
Commissioner Regalado: It's your district.
Commissioner Sanchez: Move to deny.
Vice Chairman Teele: Motion to deny. Is there a second? All right, it carries over. Next item.
Ms. Slazyk Next item is the companion. Oh, don't they have to vote -- oh, wait.
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): I'm sorry.
Ms. Slazyk You have to vote on 9.
182 March 27, 2003
Mr. Maxwell: On number 9, there's a motion to deny.
Commissioner Sanchez: There's a motion, but there's no second.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): I did not have a second.
Vice Chairman Teele: The item didn't get a second; it carries over to the next agenda.
Ms. Slazyk: You want to --
Commissioner Regalado: Oh.
Ms. Slazyk -- continue PZ -9 and 10 to April?
Vice Chairman Teele: Continue PZ -9.
Commissioner Regalado: But excuse me. Do you want to deny or recommend? I don't know --
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, there's nobody here, and it's the single-family resident to
restricted commercial. I mean, I --
Ms. Slazyk: Yeah. We had recommended approval because on this particular block all of the
other properties on the block are being used for commercial purposes. The property right next
door is restricted commercial, and the rest of the block is commercial property for the properties
that front 8th Street, so we had recommended approval. At the Planning Advisory Board there
was concern from several members that possibly 7th Street should be looked at for a
conservation district, and a couple of the members felt that it shouldn't be changed to
commercial, but we should look for another solution to allow the homes on 7th Street to be used
for commercial purposes rather than changing the zoning.
Commissioner Sanchez: Let's go ahead and defer the item.
Vice Chairman Teele: Motion to defer. Is there a second, the two items?
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Mr. Maxwell: To --
Ms. Slazyk: Second meeting --
Vice Chairman Teele: You want to continue --
Ms. Slazyk: -- in April?
Vice Chairman Teele: -- till 30 days? To continue it for 30 days.
183 March 27, 2003
Ms. Slazyk: April 24.
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved and second. All those in favor.
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed? Items are deferred.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-295
A MOTION TO CONTINUE TO THE COMMISSION MEETING
CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24, 2003, CONSIDERATION OF:
• PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP
OF THE MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, CHANGING
LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL" TO
"RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" AT 2264 SW 7TH STREET; AND
• PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AMENDING PAGE
NO. 34 OF ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS AMENDED,
ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, ARTICLE 4, SECTION
401, SCHEDULE OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY CHANGING ZONING
CLASSIFICATION FROM R-1 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO C-1
RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL AT 2264 SW 7TH STREET.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
184 March 27, 2003
36. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 10544, FUTURE LAND
USE MAP OF MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY CHANGING
LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "DUPLEX RESIDENTIAL" TO "RESTRICTED
COMMERCIAL" AT 3221 SW 23RD STREET (Applicant(s): Shamrock at the Gables, LLC.)
Vice Chairman Teele: Next Item.
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -11 and 12 are also
companion land use and zoning change. These are second reading. This was approved by the
City Commission at first reading, and at that time the applicant had proffered a covenant. The
Planning and Zoning Department recommendation was for denial. The Commission accepted
the terms of the covenant and passed it on first reading. Since that time, we have received the
covenant from the applicant, and we have no further objections.
Commissioner Regalado: I move the second reading ordinance for approval.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Sanchez: There's a motion and a second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Motion and a second. Did you want to be heard on this? You're fine?
Commissioner Sanchez: That's a great presentation.
Commissioner Regalado: Read the ordinance.
Vice Chairman Teele: State your name for the record, please.
Vicky Garcia: Vicky Garcia -Toledo, with offices at 2500 Wachovia Center. Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney.
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): An ordinance of the Miami -- You closed the public
hearing, Mr. Chairman.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Ms. Thompson: Roll call. The ordinance is adopted on second reading, 3/0.
185 March 27, 2003
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP
OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY CHANGING THE
LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
APPROXIMATELY 3221 SOUTHWEST 23rd STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA,
FROM "DUPLEX RESIDENTIAL" TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL";
MAKING FINDINGS; DIRECTING TRANSMITTALS TO AFFECTED
AGENCIES; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Regalado,
seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final
reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12338.
37. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND PAGE NO. 42 OF ZONING ATLAS OF
ORDINANCE NO. 11000, CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION 401, SCHEDULE OF
DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY CHANGING ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM R-2
TWO FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO C-1 RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL AT 3221 SW 23RD
STREET (Applicant(s): Shamrock at the Gables, LLC.)
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -12 is a companion.
This is the zoning change so the covenant would be accepted as part of PZ -12.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move it.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there any discussion? Mr. Attorney.
186 March 27, 2003
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call on Item PZ -12. The ordinance is adopted on
second reading, 3/0.
Vicky Garcia -Toledo: Thank you.
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING PAGE NO. 42 OF THE ZONING ATLAS OF
ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, ARTICLE 4, SECTION 401, SCHEDULE
OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION FROM R-2 TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO C-1
RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL, FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
APPROXIMATELY 3221 SOUTHWEST 23rd STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA,
LEGALLY DESCRIBED IN ATTACHED "EXHIBIT A;" CONTAINING A
REPEALER PROVISION, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Regalado,
seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final
reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12339.
187 March 27, 2003
38. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND ORDINANCE 10544, FUTURE LAND
USE MAP OF MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY CHANGING
LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "INDUSTRIAL" TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL
AT 610 SW 1st AVENUE (Applicant(s): Planning and Zoning Department).
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -13 and 14 are
companion land use and zoning change items. As you recall, this is a little remnant parcel that's
owned by Florida Power and Light. It's wedged in between several properties that have already
been changed to restricted commercial with the SD -7 zoning classification. The property is
under 5,000 square feet, but just so it doesn't stay as an industrial site on the properties that have
already been changed throughout this part of the river, the Department, as a cleanup item, is
changing it so it's not a remnant parcel. This has been recommended for approval by the
Planning Advisory Board. This is second reading. This Commission had asked that this item be
sent to the Miami River Commission for a recommendation, and there's a letter in your package
stating that they recommend approval.
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Public hearing. Anyone desiring to be heard?
Brett Bibeau: Again, the River Commission is in support of -- Brett Bibeau, 4600 Rickenbacker
Causeway. Again, the River Commission is in support of removing SD -4 Marine Industrial at
this site because it is in the lower section of the river; it is in downtown. It is appropriate change
for that location. The middle section of the river, per the Infill Plan, is a mixed-use residential,
and the upper west of 22nd Avenue is the part of the marine industry of the river which employs
thousands and thousands of our residents. Thank you for your time.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you very much. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) brief.
Dick Bunnell: I would also like to speak. I'm Dick Bunnell, with the Miami River Marine
Group, at 3033 Northwest North River Drive. We are in favor of this zoning change. It does
meet the Urban Infill Plan and the vision for the river. Thank you very much.
Vice Chairman Teele: Anyone else, please? If not, then the public hearing's closed. There is a
motion and a second. Mr. Attorney, read it.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Vice Chairman Teele: Madam Clerk.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call on PZ -13. The ordinance is adopted on second
reading, 3/0.
188 March 27, 2003
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP
OF THE MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY
CHANGING THE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY
LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 610 SOUTHWEST IST AVENUE,
MIAMI, FLORIDA, FROM "INDUSTRIAL" TO "RESTRICTED
COMMERCIAL"; MAKING FINDINGS; DIRECTING TRANSMITTALS TO
AFFECTED AGENCIES; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 23, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Sanchez, seconded
by Commissioner Regalado, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final reading by
title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12340.
39. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND PAGE NO. 36 OF ZONING ATLAS OF
ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 11000, CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE, BY CHANGING
ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM (SD -4) "WATERFRONT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT" TO
(SD -7) "CENTRAL BRICKELL RAPID TRANSIT COMMERCIAL -RESIDENTIAL
DISTRICT" AT 610 SW 1sT AVENUE (Applicant(s): Planning and Zoning Department).
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -14 is a companion.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone here to be heard on PZ -14? If not, the public hearing's
closed. Is there a motion?
Commissioner Sanchez: Move.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second, please?
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
189 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a -- ?
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call, PZ -14. The ordinance is adopted on second
reading, 3/0.
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING PAGE
NO. 36 OF THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS
AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, BY CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM (SD -4)
"WATERFRONT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT" TO (SD -7) "CENTRAL
BRICKELL RAPID TRANSIT COMMERCIAL -RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT"
FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 610 SOUTHWEST
1 ST AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of October 10, 2002, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Sanchez, seconded
by Commissioner Regalado, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final reading by
title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12341.
190 March 27, 2003
40. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 10544, FUTURE LAND
USE MAP OF MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY CHANGING
LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "RECREATION" TO "SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL" AT 281 NE 84TH STREET (Applicant(s):Planning and Zoning Department).
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -15 and 16 are also
companion items for the property at 281 Northeast 84th Street. This is a parcel being changed
from recreation to single-family residential. It was found that the recreation category was not
appropriate for this property. It isn't private ownership. It is being used as a single-family
residence and that it appears in the research when we went back that there is a park at the end of
a street just next to this, and it looks like it was a mapping error; that the parks category was
added to a piece of private property. We did a records research, and we can't find any covenants
or anything that this was ever owned by the City or used as a park in any way, so we would
recommend approval. It was also recommended for approval by the Planning Advisory Board.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? Anyone here in opposition to this fine action? All
right, if not --
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- the public hearing's closed. Mr. Attorney -- Moved by Commissioner
Sanchez.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Seconded by Commissioner Regalado. Mr. Attorney.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call, PZ -15. The ordinance is adopted on second
reading, 3/0.
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP
OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY CHANGING THE
LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
APPROXIMATELY 281 NORTHEAST 84TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA,
FROM "RECREATION" TO "SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL"; MAKING
FINDINGS; DIRECTING TRANSMITTALS TO AFFECTED AGENCIES;
CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
191 March 27, 2003
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Sanchez, seconded
by Commissioner Regalado, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final reading by
title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12342.
41. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND PAGE NO. 9 OF ZONING ATLAS OF
ORDINANCE NO. 11000, CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION 401, SCHEDULE OF
DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY CHANGING ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM PR
PARKS AND RECREATION TO R-1 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AT 281 NE 84TH
STREET (Applicant(s): Planning and Zoning Department).
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -16 is the companion.
Vice Chairman Teele: Did you have any comments, Madam Director?
Ms. Slazyk: This is to change it to single-family residential, that's what the zoning is throughout
the whole neighborhood. It would be consistent with its existing use.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone here in opposition to the companion item? If not, is there
a motion?
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Madam -- Mr. Attorney.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call on PZ -16. The ordinance is adopted on second
reading, 3/0.
192 March 27, 2003
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING PAGE
NO. 9 OF THE ZONING ATLAS OF ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS
AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, BY CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM (PR)
"PARKS AND RECREATION" TO (R-1) "SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL"
FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 281 NORTHEAST
84 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Sanchez, seconded
by Commissioner Regalado, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final reading by
title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12343.
42. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 10544, FUTURE LAND
USE MAP OF MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY CHANGING
LAND USE DESIGNATION FROM "OFFICE" TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" AT 122,
130 AND 132 SW 2ND STREET, 201 SW 2ND AVENUE, 251, 259 AND 265 SW IST COURT
(Applicant(s): Planning and Zoning Department).
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): 17 and 18 are also
companion items to change a series of properties in the river quadrant area of downtown. This is
to change from office to restricted commercial and the companion zoning item to SD -6, which
already exists within the river quadrant area. This would allow this property to be used in a
mixed-use fashion. It was recommended for approval by the Planning Advisory Board, and
approved by the Commission first reading February 27. We recommend approval.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Is there anyone in here in opposition? Is there anyone here in
opposition? If not, the public hearing's closed. Is there a motion?
193 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: Move it.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED,
THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE COMPREHENSIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN BY CHANGING THE LAND USE DESIGNATION
OF THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 122,130 AND 132
SOUTHWEST 2ND STREET, 201 SOUTHWEST 2ND AVENUE, 251, 259
AND 265 SOUTHWEST 1 ST COURT, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FROM "OFFICE"
TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL"; MAKING FINDINGS; DIRECTING
TRANSMITTALS TO AFFECTED AGENCIES; CONTAINING A REPEALER
PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Regalado,
seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final
reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12344.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call, PZ -17. The ordinance is adopted on second
reading, 3/0.
194 March 27, 2003
43. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND PAGE NO. 36 OF ZONING ATLAS OF
ORDINANCE NO. 11000, CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE, SECTION 401, SCHEDULE OF
DISTRICT REGULATIONS, BY CHANGING ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM O
OFFICE TO SD -6 CENTRAL COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AT 122,130 AND
132 SW 2ND STREET, 201 SW 2ND AVENUE, 251, 259 AND 265 SW 1sT COURT
(Applicant(s): Planning and Zoning Department).
Vice Chairman Teele: On the companion item you have the same comments?
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): Exactly the same.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone here in opposition or would desire to be heard on Item
18? If not -- Item PZ -18, if not, the public hearing is closed. Is there a motion?
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second by Commissioner Regalado? Second. Is there
objection? Mr. Attorney.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call on PZ -18. Commissioner Regalado?
Commissioner Regalado: Yes.
Ms. Thompson: Commissioner Sanchez?
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Thompson: Vice Chairman Teele?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes.
Ms. Thompson: The ordinance is --
Vice Chairman Teele: No, hold it, hold it.
Ms. Thompson: I'm sorry.
Vice Chairman Teele: Call all names. Just call all names. Whether they're here or not, call all
four names.
Ms. Thompson: Oh, I'm sorry. Commissioner Gonzalez?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am.
195 March 27, 2003
Ms. Thompson: I'm sorry. Can I do the roll call again, please?
Vice Chairman Teele: No, ma'am.
Ms. Thompson: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: You've done it.
Ms. Thompson: According to my records then, I have the ordinance being adopted on second
reading, 4/0.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Ms. Thompson: Thank you.
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT, AMENDING PAGE NO. 36 OF THE ZONING ATLAS OF
ZONING ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS AMENDED, THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, BY CHANGING THE
ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM (0) "OFFICE" TO (SD -6) "CENTRAL
COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS" FOR THE PROPERTIES
LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN MIAMI AREA MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED AS 122, 130 AND 132 SOUTHWEST 2ND STREET, 201
SOUTHWEST 2ND AVENUE, 251,259 AND 265 SOUTHWEST 1 ST COURT,
MIAMI, FLORIDA; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Sanchez, seconded
by Commissioner Regalado, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final reading by
title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12345.
196 March 27, 2003
44. CONSIDERATION OF AMENDING ORDINANCE 10544, AS AMENDED, THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN 1989-2000 BY AMENDING THE
"INTERPRETATION OF THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP" SECTION OF THE GOALS,
OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES, IN ORDER TO ADD A NEW LAND USE CATEGORY
ENTITLED "LIGHT INDUSTRIAL."
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Next item. Item 19 was withdrawn.
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning): Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are we to 20 now? Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Slazyk: Yes, sir. PZ -20 is a second reading ordinance, in order to create a new land use
category called Light Industrial. You may recall, we brought this before you September 2e of
2002. This is a text amendment to the comprehensive plan, so between first and second reading,
it gets submitted to Department of Community Affairs, State of Florida for their comments, and
what I just handed out to you was the final revised legislation that contains the -- all the
comments -- the addressed comments from the DCA (District Court of Appeals) report. What's
before you in your package was the way you saw it at first reading. DCA had several concerns
they wanted us to address in the land use classification to put the density caps in, percentages of
use for work/live and live/work and put some FAR (Floor Area Ratio) limits in it. In the past we
didn't do these with out land use classifications because they were meant to be general categories
that apply to the City and in the zoning is where we would write these things, but DCA -- there
were new amendments to state law and they needed these things to be addressed in the
legislation for the land use category.
Vice Chairman Teele: Have you discussed this with Commissioner Winton?
Ms. Slazyk: Commissioner Winton was aware of it, but we haven't discussed the changes from
DCA with him.
Vice Chairman Teele: I think, in fairness -- he was the one sort stimulating this, and I really
think, in fairness, unless there is an emergency --
Ms. Slazyk We do have a deadline with DCA for adoption. There's time limitations in which
we have --
Vice Chairman Teele: What's the deadline?
Ms. Slazyk We have to have this approved at this month. There's no more meetings before
this. I think we have until the end of March.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Well, could we --
Ms. Slazyk: I could brief him and --
197 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Would you make sure that he's briefed?
Ms. Slazyk: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: And that we move it for reconsideration, if he's got some -- or
amendment, if he's got concerns?
Ms. Slazyk: OK. This is the land use category. The companion zoning category is still being
developed. That is something that still has to go through a whole adoption process. This doesn't
actually apply this land use classification to any property, so as we begin to apply this to
properties within the City, you'll start to see where and how this is going to be utilized to create
the work/live loft, you know, areas of the City.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Ms. Slazyk And, so we recommend approval. The legislation -- it was just approved by the
Planning Advisory Board at their -- at the meeting last week, and you're getting it literally hot
off the presses from the Law Department review.
Commissioner Regalado: This is what?
Ms. Slazyk This is an amendment to the comprehensive plan, to the text, to add a new land use
category called Light Industrial. This is the work/live live/work ordinance that we're going to
begin --
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone here in opposition? Staff has indicated they'll meet with
Commissioner Winton and if he's got concerns, he'll bring forth amendments.
Commissioner Regalado: What is light industrial?
Ms. Slazyk This is a category we look at applying in industrial areas of the City, where the
buildings are good candidates for adaptive reuse for work/live and live/work situations; to allow
certain level of commercial activity and accessory residential use or allow residential with the
accessory commercial use. Through DCA we worked out percentages that were -- it's kind of a
mandatory mixed use category to create a work/live environment for a 24-hour activity pattern.
There's a lot of area --
Commissioner Regalado: Will you tell me the street and an avenue where you will consider light
industrial?
Ms. Slazyk There are parts of Wynwood where we've had consultants already tell us, through
the FEC (Florida East Coast) Study that would be good candidates for this type of category. Old
pockets of industrial areas that kind of need revitalization and good adaptive reuse. Right now
the industrial category doesn't allow residential, so if somebody had an old warehouse in an
industrial district and they wanted to convert it to lofts for artists that allow them to do a certain
198 March 27, 2003
amount of commercial work within their structure, there's no category that really allows that
kind of mix. This would introduce that category.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone here in opposition? Is there anyone here in opposition?
If not, the public hearing is closed. We're under the state of Florida mandate to approve
something, but we're reserving the right to come back and amend it.
Ms. Slazyk: Absolutely.
Vice Chairman Teele: And the specifics will be contained in the zoning ordinance, which is
being written, so I hope Commissioner Winton's staff is paying close attention and they're going
to make sure he gets this for his review. If not, is there a motion and a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move PZ -20, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second, please?
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there -- OK. Mr. Attorney.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call on PZ -20. The ordinance is adopted on second
reading, 4/0.
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN 1989-2000 BY AMENDING THE
"INTERPRETATION OF THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP" SECTION OF
THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES, TO ADD A NEW LAND USE
CLASSIFICATION ENTITLED "LIGHT INDUSTRIAL;" CONTAINING A
REPEALER PROVISION AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
199 March 27, 2003
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of September 26, 2002, was taken up for
its second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Gonzalez,
seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final
reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12346.
45. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 11000, CITY'S
ZONING ORDINANCE BY AMENDING SECTIONS 914, 605, 606 AND 607, IN ORDER
TO MODIFY PROVISIONS RELATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND
(Applicant(s): City Manager).
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, 21.
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning and Zoning Department): PZ -21 is a second
reading amendment to the zoning ordinance in order to modify some of the provisions related to
the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. It was recommended for approval by the Planning Advisory
Board and passed by the Commission first reading February 27. Basically, this eliminates the
restrictions as to where these dollars can be used. This way we can use them throughout more
neighborhoods of the city than where they're limited for use now. We recommend approval.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Is there anyone here in opposition or desire to be heard? If not,
the public hearing is closed. Is there a motion and a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move PZ -1 -- PZ -21 I'm sorry.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the Deputy City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call in PZ -21. The ordinance is adopted on second
reading, 4/ 0.
200 March 27, 2003
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 11000, AS AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, BY AMENDING ARTICLES 9 AND 6,
SECTIONS 914, 605, 606 AND 607, TO MODIFY PROVISIONS RELATED
TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND; CONTAINING A
REPEALER PROVISION AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Gonzalez,
seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final
reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12347.
46. AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544 FROM "SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL"
AND "GENERAL COMMERCIAL" TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" TO CHANGE
FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD
PLAN; FURTHER AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 11000 FROM C-2 LIBERAL
COMMERCIAL AND R-1 SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO C-1 RESTRICTED
COMMERCIAL TO CHANGE ZONING ATLAS.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Now, what are we doing? 22 and 23 is what?
Lourdes Slazyk (Assistant Director, Planning & Zoning): 22 and 23 have been continue, so
we're up to 24. PZs 24 and 25 are companion items for zoning and land use change. The City
Commission actually denied this on first reading January 23, 2003, and reconsidered on February
13, 2003, so it's back before you today on a reconsideration.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes. I believe that the people on 24 and 25, they're here, at least the
attorney representing this case. OK. I opposed this project at the last -- this project is in my
district. I opposed it and I had some neighbors were contacting my office, and then I decided to
go for reconsideration. What I would like to do is, I would like to have the applicants meet with
Planning and Zoning and try to come to an agreement on what is going to be done in here,
because I do have serious concerns. I know that the site is an eyesore. I know that we need to do
201 March 27, 2003
something there. I'm a hundred percent in favor of developments and new businesses and all of
that, but I'm also very concerned in changing the zoning from residential to commercial,
especially when the rest of the area -- the entire block -- is residential. I talked to staff about this
issue and there is not a definition of what is going to go in here. All they're asking for is a
zoning change and, allegedly, they talk about an Eckerd or a Walgreen's or whatever, but once
we approve the zoning change, they can come back and build a restaurant or build a hardware
store or build whatever they want to build, and I'm really concerned with the neighborhood.
Even though some signatures were sent to my office, according to my chief of staff, what I
would like to do at this point is to refer this back to Planning and Zoning, have the applicant
meet with Planning and Zoning and try to meet -- because Planning and Zoning will recommend
this project, but with certain conditions, and I understand that the applicant doesn't want to meet
the conditions of Planning and Zoning, and I have to -- you know, I'm not an expert in this field,
and I believe that's why we pay our staff salaries and benefits and all of that to advise us on what
is all right to do and what is not all right to do, and in this case, I would like to go by a staff
recommendation.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: Commissioner.
Vice Chairman Teele: Did you want to --
Commissioner Regalado: Can I --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- approve this on first reading and send it, or do you want to send it back
now?
Commissioner Gonzalez: No, sir. I would like to send it back and have them meet and -- as it's
done here in many, many cases. You know, we send the applicant back, and they meet with
Planning and Zoning and --
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- they work out the difference, and then they'll bring it back.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is that on 24 and 25?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Twenty-four and 25, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Regalado: I just want to make a comment.
202 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: There's a motion by Commissioner Gonzalez, a second by Commissioner
Sanchez that the item be --
Ms. Slazyk: Continued until -- yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- continued with instruction that --
Ms. Slazyk Continued April 24th
Vice Chairman Teele: -- the applicant meet with the staff for 30 days.
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is that satisfactory?
Commissioner Regalado: Let me --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Lourdes, 30 days will be enough to resolve the issues?
Ms. Slazyk Yeah. What the applicant did here when it came around the first time was they had
proffered a covenant, so what we're going to do is meet with them on the items that they
proffered in their covenant, the site plan that they wanted to attach themselves to in the covenant.
I think that's enough time because they actually did submit what their plans were. It just arrived
in my office yesterday, so we have something to begin looking at. I believe April 24th, we could
come back with a recommendation.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK, but according to my meeting with Ms. Gelabert -- Madam
Director.
Commissioner Regalado: But can I ask something, Commissioner? They say here that they
recommended denial.
Ms. Slazyk: Yes. We recommend denial of the zoning change.
Commissioner Regalado: Are you going to come back and recommend denial?
Ms. Slazyk What we're going to do is give you our recommendations on their proffered
covenant. In the end, you have to decide whether you're going to accept a covenant or not. A
recommendation for a straight zoning change with no covenants or safeguards, we would still
recommend denial.
Vice Chairman Teele: You'll work with the City Attorney to make sure that it's totally
perfected, and we won't get in here and at the last minute -- and that everybody has a chance to
review it.
Unidentified Speaker: Right.
203 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: Even if you need to take more time to get it done, Ms. Gelabert, you
know, I'll appreciate it. I understand that one of the issues in our discussion was that we don't
know for sure. We don't have an assurance of what is going to be built there in that site.
Ana Gelabert (Director, Planning & Zoning): Right. When they come for a zoning change, the
project that they may be -- in this case, it's an Eckerd -- but the zoning change doesn't hold them
to the Eckerd. Once they have the zoning change, it doesn't mean that they cannot change the
project. The concern that the Planning Department had was we wanted to make sure that the
project that was going was going to be also protecting the neighborhood.
Commissioner Gonzalez: The neighborhood.
Ms. Gelabert: So what we were asking was, again, for us to be able to recommend to you that
perhaps the covenant that they would be able to proffer would have those concerns addressed as
they impact the neighborhood and where was the location and sighting of this project. That's
what we wanted to see, the Planning Department.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you, ma'am.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Ma'am, sir, you all have been so patient. Did you want to say
something?
Jennifer Sabattinia: Yes. I came here because --
Vice Chairman Teele: Give us your name and address for the record.
Ms. Sabattinia: Yes. Jennifer Sabattinia. I reside at 606 Northwest 57th Avenue. I have a small
family restaurant in the area that's being considered for rezoning. If this is approved, I will lose
my entire investment, worth a hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000), and on top of that,
all my employees will lose their jobs. You're talking about 10 families that live off of this
business. If I would have known in the past -- I've been there almost three years. We started the
business from scratch. If I would have known that this was going to happen, I would have never
stepped foot into that area to start a business, and if this happens, I will not get any compensation
whatsoever from the lease. The lease doesn't protect me at all.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK. That brings another concern. Was this properly advertised?
Vice Chairman Teele: Of course the answer's going to be "yes."
Commissioner Gonzalez: Well, I'm asking the question because we have now this lady here
who, according to the address that she gave on the record, is right next to the site and she wasn't
here at the last meeting.
204 March 27, 2003
Ms. Sabattinia: No, I never received a notice. The only reason why I found out about this is
because I saw the hearing and I started inquiring about it, and that's how I found out, you know,
that we're a part of this whole rezoning.
Commissioner Regalado: But are you the owner of the property -- not the restaurant -- the
property?
Ms. Carmine: No. I'm the -- no. I'm the tenant. I pay rent.
Commissioner Regalado: So the owner got --
Vice Chairman Teele: So the owner got notice.
Commissioner Regalado: -- got the notice.
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): But there was posting probably in the neighborhood, as
well.
Commissioner Gonzalez: The tenant should have gotten the notice too, right?
Mr. Maxwell: No.
Commissioner Gonzalez: No?
Mr. Maxwell: The notice goes to the property owner, but the posting in the neighborhood --
Vice Chairman Teele: Yeah, but you see, this is where I just don't agree with government. We
tax the people. We make them pay business tax. We make them pay a fire fee tax. We make
them pay this. We make them pay that.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Occupational license.
Vice Chairman Teele: And then we don't give them -- we make them pay license, and then we
don't give them notice.
Commissioner Gonzalez: And then we don't give them notice.
Vice Chairman Teele: I mean, you know, you can't have it every way. If you tax people, you
got a record. We ought to change our rules to make them do that.
Commissioner Regalado: No. In their case, we made them pay the license, the occupational
license.
Vice Chairman Teele: That's what I'm saying.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yeah. They pay --
205 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: So what are they getting from government?
Commissioner Gonzalez: They pay certificate of use. They pay occupational license. They pay
all type of taxes and, you know.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. --
Commissioner Regalado: But I tell you something. Barbarello just closed their doors.
Barbarello Supermarket, which is in the shopping center across the street, and Publix is taking
over that, and they have signs on the Eckerd saying that they're going to move across the street
on the same Eckerd that -- you know, the small Eckerd there, so --
Vice Chairman Teele: But would you modify your instructions --
Commissioner Regalado: I don't know.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- then, to ensure that the fine couple here that's before us are conferred
with by Planning Department --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Oh, yeah.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and that they collaborate --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Definitely.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- with them and any other person that has come forth?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Definitely, and as a matter of fact, you know, I know there is a strip of
businesses there that I don't know if the business owners -- and I'm very familiar with the area,
you know, some people may think that I'm not familiar. I'm familiar with the area. I know there
is about 12 businesses in that shopping center there, and I will appreciate it if you please let those
people know what's going on, and that they may lose their businesses, so you know --
Ms. Sabattinia Carmine: The problem is that I spoke to --
Commissioner Sanchez: Just have someone make sure that they're notified of the meeting. I
mean, whatever needs to be done to have yourself not -- and whoever else, whoever may be
around. Now, let me ask you one simple question. You are a tenant. Are you on a month -by -
month or you on --
Ms. Sabattinia: No. I have a lease. It's -- I've been there three years and now it's renewed for
another five, so --
Vice Chairman Teele: Another five years?
206 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: And you have renewed that lease --
Ms. Sabattinia: Yes.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- for five years?
Ms. Sabattinia: Yes.
Commissioner Sanchez: That's --
Vice Chairman Teele: What's the name of your business?
Ms. Sabattinia: It's Sabattini's. It's an Italian restaurant.
Vice Chairman Teele: See, this is a good time to get your advertising out.
Commissioner Gonzalez: It's an Italian restaurant. Yeah, I know. I know the restaurant.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. Well, it's a little more complicated, but I think -- Madam Director, I
think the maker of the motion's instructions were not only to meet with the attorneys, but to meet
with the residents -- the businesses and the surrounding property owners as you move forward in
trying to formulate a compromise or a recommendation.
Ben Fernandez: We'd be happy to meet with them.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is that all right with you all?
Mr. Fernandez: Absolutely.
Vice Chairman Teele: Would you state your name for the record, please?
Mr. Fernandez: Ben Fernandez, 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Law Offices of Bercow &
Radell. We'd be happy to talk to them, bring them up to speed, and meet with the Department.
We do have a covenant that we proffered --
Vice Chairman Teele: Do you like Italian food?
Mr. Fernandez: Absolutely.
Vice Chairman Teele: It would be nice touch for you to go down and have dinner and talk.
Mr. Fernandez: OK, but we do have a covenant, I wanted to mention, and we'd be happy to tie
the use of the Eckerd, you know, to the property, if that is what the Commission is inclined to
require.
207 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Why don't you work with the staff and get the staff recommendation
because it doesn't -- I mean, we're not in a position, other than Commissioner Gonzalez, to even
know.
Mr. Fernandez: OK.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right. We understand the motion. There's a second.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Fernandez: I think we would request that we make it until May 27th. Give us 60 days. Give
us sufficient time.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Pardon me, sir?
Vice Chairman Teele: Sixty days?
Mr. Fernandez: Give us 60 days to May 27th
Commissioner Gonzalez: Sixty days, OK.
Mr. Maxwell: Yeah. It'd be May 22nd
Commissioner Gonzalez: All right.
Commissioner Sanchez: Can it be done in 30 days? Why 60 days?
Commissioner Gonzalez: It's better to give them 60 days, Commissioner, so they have plenty of
time to meet with everybody and make sure that everybody's aware, because --
Vice Chairman Teele: Why don't we compromise?
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- I was informed that everybody was in favor of this.
Vice Chairman Teele: Why don't we do it the first meeting in May?
Commissioner Sanchez: I just want to be fair to both sides here, I mean.
Mr. Fernandez: Can we do the first meeting in May? I think that's fair. I think Commissioner
Teele's suggestion, first meeting in May.
Vice Chairman Teele: Forty-five days, first meeting in May, special item. Is that fair with you,
Commissioner Gonzalez?
Commissioner Gonzalez: It all depends on the staff. How much time do they need?
208 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: First meeting in --
Commissioner Gonzalez: I want this to be done right. I mean, I don't want to rush it and then,
you know, be sorry.
Ms. Slazyk: That was my concern. If you want us to also meet with some of the groups out
there, April might not be enough time to meet with everybody --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Well, there's -- take 60 days.
Ms. Slazyk -- then bring the results back to --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Sixty days. I want to make sure that this is done right. You know, I
want everybody -- as we discussed here many times, we want to have people input.
Vice Chairman Teele: As directed by the district Commissioner, it will be 60 days, as what he
said his motion implies, and I regret any hardship that that presents on the property owner, but
the goal here is to get a solution. Is there further discussion on the motion to continue for 60
days? They'll be no further notice, and hopefully, they'll come and meet with you, all right? All
those in favor of the motion to continue to the two items say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed have the same right. The item is continued by a vote of 4/0.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-296
A MOTION TO CONTINUE CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED
ORDINANCES ON FIRST READING RELATED TO 536, 602, 608 AND 690
N.W. 57 AVENUE AND 601, 605, 611, 631 AND 641 N.W. 57 COURT, TO
CHANGE FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN FROM SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL TO RESTRICTED
COMMERCIAL AND TO AMEND ZONING ORDINANCE 11000 TO
CHANGE ZONING ATLAS FROM C-2 LIBERAL COMMERCIAL AND R-1
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO C-1 RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL, TO
THE COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 22,
2003.
209 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Madam Director. Madam Director. Mr. Attorney, would you get back to
us on getting notices tied in through the occupational licenses to see --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Regular agenda.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- if we can get something on line as it relates to that?
Mr. Maxwell: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Madam Director.
Ms. Slazyk: That's it.
Vice Chairman Teele: You have nothing else?
Ms. Slazyk That's it. The last two items are Sewell Park. That was continued.
Commissioner Sanchez: Regular agenda.
Vice Chairman Teele: The regular agenda.
Note for the Record: At this point, the City Commission closes consideration of items from the
Planning and Zoning portion of the agenda to consider items from the regular portion of the
agenda.
210 March 27, 2003
47. RATIFY, APPROVE AND CONFIRM MANAGER'S FINDING OF SOLE SOURCE;
WAIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING PROCEDURES, AND
APPROVE PROCUREMENT OF SERVICES TO MIGRATE CITY'S SCI FINANCIAL
SYSTEM FROM UNISYS MAINFRAME TO AN NT SERVER -BASED COMPUTER
SYSTEM, FROM GEMS (GOVERNMENT E -MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, INC.), SOLE
SOURCE PROVIDER, FOR DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE; AUTHORIZING ONE-TIME
EXPENDITURE. $275,000; FUNDING ALLOCATED FROM CIP ACCOUNT.
Vice Chairman Teele: The regular agenda. OK, we deferred the -- is the City Attorney here?
Joel Maxwell (Deputy City Attorney): Mr. Vilarello is probably in the back.
Vice Chairman Teele: Could we temporarily pass the special consent agenda 1 thorough 68? Is
the Attorney here? He's got the item --
Mr. Maxwell: Mr. Vilarello is in the back. I believe he's on his way out, I'm sure.
Vice Chairman Teele: He's got the items we want to pull. Can we just go through the balance
of the white pages and then do the pocket items and blue pages? Do you want to do blue pages?
Commissioner Regalado: What about C-20.
Vice Chairman Teele: C-20 was deferred to 9/15 at the next meeting.
Commissioner Regalado: Oh, OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 4 is a resolution requiring a four-fifths vote. Item number 4.
Commissioner Gonzalez: On the regular agenda.
Vice Chairman Teele: A resolution -- yes, sir. This is a public hearing ratifying and confirming
the Manager's finding of a sole source for the City's SCI (Systems Consultants, Inc.) financial
systems from the unit's mainframe.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move 4, Item 4.
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved --
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and second. Madam Clerk, call the roll.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call on Item 4.
211 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-297
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION BY A FOUR-
FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED
PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING AND CONFIRMING THE
CITY MANAGER'S FINDING OF SOLE SOURCE; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING PROCEDURES,
AND APPROVING THE PROCUREMENT OF SERVICES, SOFTWARE
LICENSES AND MAINTENANCE FROM GOVERNMENT E -
MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, INC. (GEMS) THE SOLE SOURCE
PROVIDER, FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE TO MIGRATE THE
CITY'S SCI FINANCIAL SYSTEM FROM A UNISYS MAINFRAME TO AN
NT SERVER -BASED COMPUTER SYSTEM, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $275,000, AND PROVIDING FOR THE OPTION TO EXTEND
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE SERVICES, FOR A FIRST YEAR COST OF
$21,000, WITH ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FOR GEMS COMPONENTS
LIMITED TO NO MORE THAN $47,000 FOR THE SECOND YEAR, AND
INCREASES OF NO MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT (5%) PER YEAR
THEREAFTER; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT NO. 311027 AND 311613, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
212 March 27, 2003
48. RATIFY, APPROVE AND CONFIRM MANAGER'S FINDING OF SOLE SOURCE;
WAIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING PROCEDURES AND
APPROVE PROCUREMENT OF LIFEPAK DEFIBRILLATOR/MONITORS AND
ACCESSORIES, FROM MEDTRONIC PHYSIO -CONTROL CORPORATION, SOLE
SOURCE PROVIDER TOTAL CONTRACT AWARD $268,439.25, FOR DEPARTMENT OF
FIRE -RESCUE; ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM "MIAMI-DADE COUNTY EMS GRANT (FY
`2001-02)".
Vice Chairman Teele: Item 5, four-fifths vote.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move Item 5.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone saying "no?" It's unanimously adopted.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-298
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION BY A FOUR-
FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED
PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING AND CONFIRMING THE
CITY MANAGER'S FINDING OF SOLE SOURCE; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING PROCEDURES
AND APPROVING THE PROCUREMENT OF LIFEPAK
DEFIBRILLATOR/MONITORS AND ACCESSORIES, FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -RESCUE FROM MEDTRONIC PHYSIO -
CONTROL CORPORATION, THE SOLE SOURCE PROVIDER OF THIS
EQUIPMENT, ON A CONTRACT BASIS FOR A ONE-YEAR PERIOD,
WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR
PERIODS, IN AN ESTIMATED ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $89,479.75, FOR A
TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $268,439.25;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE "MIAMI-DADE COUNTY EMS GRANT
(FY `2001-02)," PROJECT NO. 104014, ACCOUNT CODE NOS.
280777.6.840 ($70,000) AND 280774.6.840 ($19,479.75), SUBJECT TO
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
213 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
49. RATIFY, APPROVE AND CONFIRM MANAGER'S FINDING OF SOLE SOURCE;
WAIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING PROCEDURES AND
APPROVE PROCUREMENT OF MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES OF FERNO
EMERGENCY AMBULANCE COTS, FROM MEDCO EQUIPMENT REPAIR, INC., D/B/A
EMSAR OF SOUTH FLORIDA ("EMSAR"), SOLE SOURCE PROVIDER, TOTAL
CONTRACT $54,599.69, FOR DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -RESCUE.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 6.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move 6.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there anyone saying "no"? The item is unanimously approved by a
four-fifths vote.
214 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-299
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION BY A FOUR-FIFTHS
(4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC
HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING AND CONFIRMING THE CITY
MANAGER'S FINDING OF SOLE SOURCE; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING PROCEDURES
AND APPROVING THE PROCUREMENT OF MAINTENANCE AND
REPAIR SERVICES OF FERNO EMERGENCY AMBULANCE COTS FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -RESCUE, FROM MEDCO EQUIPMENT
REPAIR, INC., D/B/A EMSAR OF SOUTH FLORIDA, THE SOLE SOURCE
PROVIDER, ON A CONTRACT BASIS FOR A ONE-YEAR PERIOD, WITH
THE OPTION TO EXTEND FOR TWO ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR
PERIODS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $17,316, FOR THE FIRST
YEAR, WITH ANNUAL INCREASES NOT TO EXCEED 5% FOR EACH
OPTIONAL YEAR, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $54,599.69„ ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO.
001000.280701.6.670.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 7.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move Item number 7.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Hello, hello --
Commissioner Sanchez: Public hearing.
Mr. Arriola: -- hello. Excuse me, I would like to withdraw item number 7.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right.
Commissioner Gonzalez: You would like to withdraw?
215 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: Withdraw.
Mr. Arriola: Yes.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): That -- Commissioners, that was pulled earlier this morning
before we started.
Vice Chairman Teele: I stand corrected. I stand corrected. Item number 7 has been withdrawn.
Item 7A is gone.
50. WITHDRAW PROPOSED (a) WAIVER OF CONFLICT AND (b) ENGAGEMENT OF
CARLOS GIMENEZ AS CONSULTANT TO COORDINATE AND ASSIST IN
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND ADVISE MANAGER CONCERNING ISLAND
GARDENS PROJECT OF WATSON ISLAND.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item 8. Item number -- sir, are you here on an item?
Unidentified Speaker: On 8A. I'll be 8A.
Vice Chairman Teele: On 8A?
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah, which is a companion.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Sir, 8 and 8A, we want -- is that where we are?
Vice Chairman Teele: 8 and 8A.
Mr. Arriola: We want to withdraw.
Vice Chairman Teele: You want to defer it or withdraw it?
Mr. Arriola: Withdraw.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Item 8?
Vice Chairman Teele: Item 8 is moved to -- request by the Manager to withdraw 8 and 8A. Is
there a motion?
Commissioner Sanchez: So moved.
Vice Chairman Teele: By Commissioner Regalado? Is there a second --
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
216 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second to withdraw? Commissioner --
Commissioner Sanchez: It's (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Which item, Commissioner Teele?
Vice Chairman Teele: Sir?
Commissioner Sanchez: Which item are we on now?
Vice Chairman Teele: Items 8 and 8A are being withdrawn at the request of the Manager. The
motion is by Commissioner Regalado. Is there a second?
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, signify by the sign of "aye." All
those opposed say, "no." No.
Commissioner Gonzalez: What are we doing here?
Vice Chairman Teele: One "no."
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03 -3 00
A MOTION WITHDRAWING FROM TODAY'S AGENDA PROPOSED (a)
WAIVER OF CONFLICT AND (b) ENGAGEMENT OF CARLOS GIMENEZ
AS CONSULTANT TO COORDINATE AND ASSIST IN THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND ADVISE THE CITY MANAGER
CONCERNING ISLAND GARDENS PROJECT OF WATSON ISLAND.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
217 March 27, 2003
51. AUTHORIZE MANAGER TO EXECUTE PERPETUAL NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT
TO STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OF 200 SQUARE FEET
OF CITY -OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1975 NORTHWEST 12TH AVENUE FOR
CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF STATE ROAD 933.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 9.
Commissioner Sanchez: So moved.
Vice Chairman Teele: Move --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and seconded. Is there objection?
Commissioner Gonzalez: FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) got me nervous.
Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed, say "no."
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-301
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
A PERPETUAL NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM, TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION OF APPROXIMATELY 200 SQUARE FEET OF CITY -
OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 1975
NORTHWEST 12TH AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED IN ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED "EXHIBIT A," FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF STATE ROAD 933.
218 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
52. DIRECT MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW ONE CENT SALES TAX
FOR TRANSIT AND TO PLACE ON AGENDA IN 30 DAYS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO
REVIEW ALL BUS BENCH AND BUS SHELTER POSITIONING, TAKING INTO
CONSIDERATION ADA, SIDEWALKS, EASEMENTS, ACQUISITION OF LAND.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager, on this Item, as a companion item, is Mr. Monzon-Aguirre
awake or around?
Joe Arriola (City Manager): He's right here, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Mr. Manager, I think one of the things that we've really got to
take another look at is this whole issue of the gas tax -- I'm sorry, the one -cent sales tax for
transit --
Mr. Arriola: Half a penny.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and I realize that we're looking at a lot of things. I would like to
request that we put on the agenda for the 30 days a request from you and the Attorney to come
forth with a comprehensive plan to review all of the bus bench and bench shelter positioning, and
to come in with a comprehensive plan to rationalize it and make sense out of it, and as we talk
about ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), as we talk about sidewalks being done, we don't
need to -- see, part of the problem with the sidewalk and all that is we don't need to submit past
problems; we need to rectify some problems. We're going to need a lot of easements. We're
going to need some acquisition of land because we've got a mess out there and there's no reason,
with the dollars that the citizens have voted, that we don't address it, but we need to address it
very quickly.
Victor Monzon-Aguirre: Commissioners, as part of my negotiations -- Victor Monzon-Aguirre,
Chief Neighborhood Services -- As part of my negotiations with the bus bench companies, we've
come up with two alternatives because of the ADA restrictions of benches without backs that
would allow us to have sufficient space for the ADA. I understand what you're saying about
other acquisitions of other properties in a whole complete plan.
219 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Part of the plan, Victor, from my point of view is we need to forget the
bus bench company, the bus shelter company, and we need to look at this as an ADA citizens
issue and not let the bus benches and bus shelters drive our policy, and the way we write these
contracts -- and this happened 20 years ago; they're all gone, dead, God bless them, but they
were sitting around at the golf club and they made all these decisions, and those decisions have
never been rationalized, and I've look at a lot of the bus benches that we are erecting and I'm not
being critical of it, but the bus bench company can't go out and be a city. They can't go out and
get easements. For some cases, we may need to acquire strips of land. We need a master
program to rationalize this, but what we're doing is we're just sticking bus benches wherever we
can without regard to the fact that half of the places -- if you go down Northwest 7th Avenue,
we've got bus benches stuck all over, and you know who owns most of the land? The DOT
(Department of Transportation), the University of Miami, or Miami -Dade County. There's no
way we can't get an agreement with them for an easement or setback and that, but we're just
letting the bus bench companies, the bus shelter companies -- we need to take control of this, and
this easement thing is the way to do it, Victor.
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: Fine, Commissioner, we'll take that under consideration in working with
the City Attorney's Office to come up with a comprehensive plan toward that direction.
Vice Chairman Teele: I really would appreciate it. I think the money is not the issue because we
need to prioritize this. Because you know, we're going to get ADA complaints about the way
some of this stuff is being --
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: Um -hum.
Vice Chairman Teele: You know, I don't want to raise any issues, but we really are.
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: We recognize that, Commissioner.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 10.
Commissioner Gonzalez: That was done, I believe.
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm sorry.
Commissioner Sanchez: Yeah.
Commissioner Gonzalez: 11 was done, I believe.
Commissioner Sanchez: 10, 11, and 12 were all CDBG (Community Development Block
Grant). They were all done.
Vice Chairman Teele: All of the CBDG [sic] items, which takes us over to --
Commissioner Regalado: 18.
220 March 27, 2003
53. EMERGENCY ORDINANCE: AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 12280, CAPITAL PROJECTS
APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE, TO ESTABLISH NEW CAPITAL PROJECT NO. 333138
ENTITLED "FERN ISLE CLEANUP AND RENOVATION" AND APPROPRIATE $580,000
FROM UNALLOCATED HOMELAND DEFENSE/NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT
BOND FUNDS FOR SAID PROJECT.
Vice Chairman Teele: 18. Now, what I said is this, if there's anybody who's opposed to an item
rather than killing it, if you'd move to defer, it's a much better way. OK.
Commissioner Regalado: I have a question.
Vice Chairman Teele: This requires a four-fifths vote.
Commissioner Regalado: I have a question.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado, Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Regalado: From where is this unallocated, homeland bond funds, from what
unallocated? Is it from Parks?
Jorge Cano: Commissioner, I'm Jorge Cano, director of Capital Improvements. This will come
from the unallocated $26,000,000 from Homeland Defense.
Vice Chairman Teele: No. There is no such title as that. What line item in the bond ordinance --
Mr. Cano: Oh, I'm sorry. It will be the Fern Isle Cleanup and Renovation, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
CIP (Capital Improvements Program) project 333138.
Vice Chairman Teele: Say again.
Mr. Cano: It's CIP project 333138.
Vice Chairman Teele: No. Look at the bond ordinance. The bond ordinance contains a list of
proj ects.
Mr. Cano: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: Where are you getting the money from?
Mr. Cano: It's called the Fern Isle Cleanup and Renovation.
Vice Chairman Teele: In the bond ordinance? That was not on the ordinance. The bond
ordinance is what the people voted for.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, it was. Fern Isle --
221 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: There was a Fern Island [sic]?
Mr. Cano: Yes.
Commissioner Gonzalez: The Fern Isle Park was the one that was contaminated by the entire
City of Miami. They used my district as a dump site to dump everything --
Vice Chairman Teele: I stand corrected Commissioner --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- that the City picked up in the entire --
Commissioner Sanchez: Serious --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- Gort --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- and dumped in my park --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- environment (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- OK?
Vice Chairman Teele: -- should be credited because he did put --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, definitely, he's credited for it.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- that line item there. OK, so it's coming from the Fern Island [sic], but
what we've asked everybody to do is to identify from the bond ordinance so that we can start
there and then these internal numbers don't get lost.
Mr. Cano: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: And what is that -- what category is that item?
Mr. Cano: That's under Parks and Recreation.
Vice Chairman Teele: Oh, that -- you're right.
Commissioner Sanchez: So, the question is was it properly appropriated and allocated? And the
question is yes.
Mr. Cano: Yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: No, it's not allocated. It's --
Mr. Cano: Well --
222 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: No, no, it's not allocated.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- coming from an unallo -- he's moving it from an unallocated pool.
Mr. Cano: Well, it has $9,000,000 approved, but not in the first series --
Commissioner Sanchez: Not in the first series.
Mr. Cano: -- and --
Vice Chairman Teele: So, it's coming against something. Let the games begin.
Commissioner Regalado: But --
Mr. Cano: -- we have received a letter of violation from DERM (Department of Environmental
Resources Management) that has received extension letters.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK. Let me -- if you allow me, Mr. Chairman. Let me refresh
everybody's memories.
Commissioner Sanchez: You don't (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Gonzalez: No, I just want to refresh everybody's memory because sometimes
you got to refresh people's memory. When I first became a Commissioner, this pie was already
cooked and divided, you know, with the Commissioner that presided [sic] me in this seat. Once I
came in, I noticed that a park in my district was used as a dump site for every Public Works work
that was done in the entire City of Miami for the last 30 years, probably, and I went to visit the
park and there were mountains of everything and anything that you can find in the entire city, so
whoever distributed the pie of the bond monies at that time that I was not a Commissioner said,
well, you know, let's have District 1 pay for the entire contamination and the cleanup of the park
that the entire City of Miami contaminated and screwed up, so I said no way, Jose. You are not
going to take the $9,000,000 from my neighborhood to clean up something that everybody in this
City polluted, so I said either this becomes a City work project or I'll assume one-fifth of the cost
of cleaning up the park, and I'll assume one-fifth for whatever my district contributed to the
contamination of this park, so now is the time to clean it up. At the time they told me -- first of
all, they told me that it will cost $9,000,000. I could not figure in my mind how it could cost
$9,000,000. I don't know what was going to -- what was happening with the figures. Maybe we
had somebody doing numbers here that didn't know how to add and subtract or whatever, and I
don't want to go into the detail of why that was going to cost $9,000,000, but I remember that I
said, if I have to hire professional consultants to give me a quote on how much this is going to
cost, I'm going to go to a private enterprise and find out how much this is actually going to cost,
and now we have an answer. From $9,000,000 it has come down to $580,000, so you know, I'm
willing to pay it from my fifth contribution or if you don't want to clean it, don't clean it; let
government -- the federal government jump on the City and, you know, hey, whatever. You
know, to me, I'm fine, I'm fine.
223 March 27, 2003
Mr. Cano: If I may add, Commissioner, already the cleanup has started --
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes.
Mr. Cano: -- because Public Works had some funds available and over 300 truckloads of
construction debris and material were removed, so I suspect that the cost is going to be below
what we quoted in the letter.
Commissioner Gonzalez: That's even better.
Mr. Cano: Yes.
Commissioner Gonzalez: That proves that we have the right administration in charge of this
City now. If it's going to cost even less than this, we have the right people in place now.
Commissioner Sanchez: So move to amend the ordinance.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman, question.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, before we do, whose district is this in?
Commissioner Gonzalez: My district.
Mr. Cano: Commissioner Gonzalez.
Vice Chairman Teele: Do you mind letting Commissioner Gonzalez move it for the sake --
Commissioner Sanchez: Does it matter?
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Second. OK, and discussion, Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: Just a question. On the ordinance, what was the amount, original
amount and the difference now?
Mr. Cano: The cleanup and renovation amount is listed at $9,000,000.
Commissioner Regalado: The cleanup and renovation.
Mr. Cano: That says that it's listed.
224 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: For that park?
Mr. Cano: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: On the ordinance?
Mr. Cano: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Regalado: So --
Vice Chairman Teele: What's the amount in the ordinance?
Commissioner Regalado: $9,000,000.
Mr. Cano: Well, there's two pieces here, cleanup and renovation.
Commissioner Regalado: OK. Now, my question is, let's work backwards, like we discussed
the other day. If there is in the ordinance, it cannot be modified. What do we do with the money
left over from half a million to $9,000,000?
Mr. Cano: Commissioner, I believe when it says cleanup and renovation was both for cleanup
and for the parks development, aspect of the park.
Commissioner Regalado: So, you mean to tell me that we have $9,000,000 for Fern Isle Park?
Mr. Cano: Right --
Commissioner Gonzalez: That's right.
Mr. Cano: -- and part of that is for the cleanup.
Commissioner Regalado: I understand that.
Mr. Cano: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: I understand that, because it was disputed to me that the only money
available for Bryan Park with $62,000 and that it was impossible to access more money, and that
is my question here.
Mr. Cano: OK. In the case of Fern Isle, it is capped at $9,000,000. In the case of -- let's see
where my analyst is -- Bryan Park, right? What was the figure in the ordinance for Bryan Park?
Wasn't it $60,000?
Unidentified Speaker: Sixty thousand.
225 March 27, 2003
Mr. Cano: It was -- $60,000 was the number identified for Bryan Park.
Commissioner Regalado: Right.
Mr. Cano: So, that was the cap, so according to the ordinance, we can't spend more than the cap,
so the cleanup for Fern Isle is within the $9,000,000 cap.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Chairman -- I mean, Commissioner Regalado, Commissioner
Gonzalez, you need to pay real close attention because this board has got to establish a policy
and we can't let one drift out. Speaking for myself, if Fern Park is going to have an excess in
dollars after it's been totally done, those dollars must remain within the district --
Commissioner Regalado: Of course.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- that it was allocated in. To do anything else is going to create all sorts
of discontent -- and I don't know, Mr. Attorney, if we have dealt with that contingency, but we
certainly need to have an ordinance that would say something; that it will stay there and -- unless
it's by unanimous consent moved somewhere else outside of the district.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, if you allow me, sir. Let's also, refreshing the
memory, remember that from the bond issue, from the actual bond issue, I only got $10,000,000
OK, so let's make that clear. From the bond issue, from the entire bond issue, I only got
$10,000,000.
Vice Chairman Teele: You got 900 --
Commissioner Gonzalez: No, no, no, no. Wait a minute. No, no, no. I didn't get the nine there.
I still don't have a penny. I got -- when the monies were assigned, $10,000,000 were assigned to
my district. When I got upset and I said I'm not going to take this, and this is offensive to my
people and to my district -- and let me tell you, this is not business as usual with me, as far as
District 1 is concerned. It's no more business as usual, OK. Then the administration told me,
"Don't worry. Take it easy. We're going to get you another ten million from another account so
you can do some streets and sidewalks," so you know, they were giving me some help. They
were giving the people in my district -- you know, we're going to give you something since you -
- some candy so you know, you can take it easy and don't create waves, so -- but actually, from
the bond issue, I just got $10,000,000, while each one of you got 20 and 30 and 25, so you know,
let's set the record straight.
Commissioner Regalado: No.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes.
Commissioner Regalado: No.
Commissioner Gonzalez: You got $20,000,000.
226 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: But $10,000,000 only from bond issue. How much you want to bet?
Commissioner Gonzalez: No, sir.
Commissioner Regalado: Yes.
Commissioner Gonzalez: No, sir.
Commissioner Regalado: Remember, Angel, Angel, Angel, $10,000,000 were from unallocated
and $10,000,000 for the bond issue.
Commissioner Gonzalez: What do you mean from allocated?
Vice Chairman Teele: See, we're confusing --
Commissioner Regalado: Those projects that never -- they came from the same place that came
your $10,000,000.
Vice Chairman Teele: We're confusing bond allocation with --
Commissioner Regalado: No, no, no, no, no. He's talking -- I know what he's talking about --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- bond authorization.
Commissioner Regalado: -- and he's right, but I'm right, too. Your $10,000,000 came from the
same way --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Then you and I --
Commissioner Regalado: -- that maintain (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- got the, you know, short end of the stick.
Commissioner Regalado: So, I didn't get 20 million.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Well -- and I'm not complaining, I'm not complaining.
Commissioner Regalado: I'm not complaining, but I just --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Listen --
Commissioner Regalado: -- want to set the record straight.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- as long as I do projects in my district and I'm -- that I can benefit
my constituents and do sidewalks and street and whatever my district needs, I don't care if you
227 March 27, 2003
get hundred millions, and you get another hundred million. You know, I'm not here to criticize
you going to get more than me, whatever, but my district is going to get its fair share --
Commissioner Sanchez: My advice to you --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- because (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- is get everything in writing because there's no more gentleman
agreement in this Commission.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Huh? Right, so you know --
Commissioner Sanchez: Put everything in writing because there's no more gentlemen's
agreement in this Commission.
Vice Chairman Teele: No. I think everything should be in writing. I don't think anything
should be done of a personal relationship basis.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Definitely.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's not fair to the constituents, and I've said repeatedly to Ms. Haskins
and, I mean, I'll say it to the Manager, Ms. Haskins, I've said repeatedly, I believe that if there is
an equity issue, Commissioner Gonzalez, and I believe there is, that we should do a second bond
issue. I think we should take a percentage of the gas tax and bond it out for streets, sidewalk,
drainage --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Infrastructure.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and I, for one, would be prepared to say that is should be done as a
holistic approach looking at the 255 and looking at the amount of money, and so if somebody
didn't get what they feel is the whole, then make the whole up on the streets and drainage, and
I'll support it. We could do $70,000,000 of bond capacity right now and still have half of the
reoccurring dollars to come back, but you know, the problem is this: we don't have a good
history as a city of being able to move capital projects, and I mean, Ms. Haskins, can write an
epistle on that I'm sure, and the point is until we can get the kind of program moving, you know,
the Manager may not be comfortable coming back with that bond issue for street, sidewalks, and
drainage that we have the capacity for, and all that I'm saying to you, whatever the Manager and
management is willing to do that, I'm going to support it and I'm going to support it to say let's
look at the 255 by district, OK, and let's look at any shortcomings and let's start out with any
supplemental bond issue for street, sidewalks, and infrastructure to make whole those districts
that feel that they were not made whole, and I mean, I'll rely on -- upon the professional
judgment, but you know, is the Orange Bowl a district resource or is it -- ?
Commissioner Sanchez: It is not as district resource.
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm asking the question rhetorically. Is it a district resource or is it a --
228 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: It's a regional.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- regional resource? And should District 5 be penalized for the fact that
107 years a community didn't have a park --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Of course not.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- when, in fact, all of the re -- the Mayor stood up today and he said he
wants a celebration -- we need to get -- Did we ever get the Mayor's State of the City speech?
He wants to have celebrations in parks. Well, you know what? Somebody's going to get left
out. If you don't have a park, you're left out. If you distribute the food, the hot food, the way
we've done for the last 20 years in this City through the parks, somebody's going to get left out,
so I don't mean do you punish the district for what the City didn't do?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Exactly.
Vice Chairman Teele: I mean, so we just have to be fair, and I think we all are -- you know, at
least some of us are going to be gentlemen about this.
Commissioner Gonzalez: That's exactly what I'm referring to --
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- and I think you and I are on the same (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: I am 100 percent in support of you, Commissioner Gonzalez, in your
desire to get reconciliation of what you believe may be a shortfall.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Thank you. I mean --
Commissioner Sanchez: And I don't -- I don't have a problem bonding out again. I think it's a
great idea, but I'm not comfortable -- we -- CIP has not moved to a point where I feel
comfortable that the City can deliver, and we are making progress. I feel very comfortable now
that we are making progress to deliver what the taxpayers voted for under the bond issuance.
Later on, a year from now, once we start putting up these major projects, and people feel
comfortable in the process, we have established a process where things tend to flow better, I
would consider and encourage that we look at those avenues, but now, I don't want to rush into
things where, you know, we'll end up, instead of helping the City, hurting the City on a bond
issuance.
Commissioner Gonzalez: All right.
229 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. On the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) item, we have a motion, we have
a second. It requires a four-fifths vote. It is an ordinance. Mr. Attorney, would you read the
ordinance?
An Ordinance Entitled —
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 12280, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS
APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE, TO ESTABLISH NEW CAPITAL
PROJECT NO. 333138 ENTITLED "FERN ISLE CLEANUP AND
RENOVATION" AND APPROPRIATE $580,000 FROM UNALLOCATED
HOMELAND DEFENSE/NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT BOND
FUNDS FOR SAID PROJECT; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION
AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez and seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, for
adoption as an emergency measure, and dispensing with the requirement of reading same on two
separate days, was agreed to by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Whereupon the Commission on motion of Commissioner Gonzalez and seconded by
Commissioner Sanchez, adopted said ordinance by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12348.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): The ordinance is adopted as an emergency measure, 4/0.
230 March 27, 2003
54. AUTHORIZE MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE SPECIFIC COST
AGREEMENT WITH BND ENGINEERS, INC. FOR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT,
PREPARATION OF BIDDING AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, CONSTRUCTION
ADMINISTRATION AND POST -CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION CONSULTING
SERVICES RELATED TO FERN ISLE CLEANUP PROJECT; AND ALLOCATE $580,000
FOR SERVICES AND EXPENSES INCURRED BY CITY FROM CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ENTITLED "FERN ISLE CLEANUP AND RENOVATION".
Vice Chairman Teele: Next item is --
Commissioner Gonzalez: 20.
Vice Chairman Teele: Did we do 19? That was 18. Did we do 19?
Joe Arriola (City Manager): (INAUDIBLE) 18 and 19.
Vice Chairman Teele: You took it off?
Mr. Arriola: 18, 19.
Commissioner Gonzalez: It's 18, 19, sir.
Jorge Cano (Assistant City Attorney): 19 is --
Commissioner Sanchez: No, no, no, no, no, you can't vote on two items at the same time.
Mr. Cano: No.
Commissioner Gonzalez: No.
Vice Chairman Teele: No. We only voted on 18.
Commissioner Sanchez: 18. This is 19.
Mr. Cano: Yeah.
Vice Chairman Teele: This is 19.
Commissioner Gonzalez: 18. Now we've got to do 19.
Mr. Cano: Right.
Commissioner Sanchez: So move nine -- well --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second 19.
231 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved and second. Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed have the same right.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-302
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER'S ENGAGEMENT OF BND ENGINEERS, INC.,
SELECTED FROM THE LIST OF PRE -APPROVED ENGINEERING FIRMS,
APPROVED BY RESOLUTION NO. 02-144, FOR THE DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT, PREPARATION OF BIDDING AND CONSTRUCTION
DOCUMENTS, CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION AND POST -
CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION CONSULTING SERVICES
RELATED TO THE FERN ISLE CLEANUP PROJECT, AT SPECIFIC COSTS
TO BE DETERMINED BY (1) THE SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUIRED FOR
SAID PROJECT, AND (2) TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE
AGREEMENT WITH BND ENGINEERS, INC. EXECUTED PURSUANT TO
RESOLUTION NO. 02-144; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE; AND ALLOCATING
FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $580,000 FOR SERVICES AND
EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE CITY, FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT NO. 333138, ENTITLED "FERN ISLE CLEANUP AND
RENOVATION."
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
232 March 27, 2003
55. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND SECTION 18-87 OF CITY CODE
ENTITLED "PURCHASING AND CONTRACTS GENERALLY," CITY PROCUREMENT
ORDINANCE, TO PROVIDE THAT MANAGER MAY AWARD CERTAIN
PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS UNDER CONSULTANTS' COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION ACT (CCNA) WHICH DO NOT EXCEED $500,000 IN VALUE.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 20.
Commissioner Regalado: It was deferred.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move Item 20.
Vice Chairman Teele: Was 20 deferred?
Commissioner Regalado: No.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): This is second reading ordinance.
Commissioner Regalado: Oh, it's second reading.
Commissioner Sanchez: See, 20 -- Item 20 goes along with what we're trying to accomplish
here on CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) expediting the projects. I mean, it just -- it's an
authorization for consulting competitive negotiation, not to exceed $500,000, so move.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Let me ask this. Mr. Manager, would you accept an amendment
requiring or amending this to require that you submit to the Commission, in writing, any actions
that you take pursuant to this?
Mr. Vilarello: This ordinance requires that --
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Mr. Vilarello: -- and allows the Commission five days to object to any such action he takes.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. That was -- all right. Does that -- isn't that required also on the
expert consultant?
Mr. Vilarello: No, sir, not on the expert consultant.
Vice Chairman Teele: On the ordinance, we have a motion and a second. Is there a public
hearing? Anyone desiring to be heard on this item? If not, the public hearing's closed. Mr.
Attorney.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
233 March 27, 2003
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call on the ordinance. The ordinance is adopted on
second reading, 4/0.
An Ordinance Entitled -
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE III, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "PURCHASING AND CONTRACTS
GENERALLY," THE CITY OF MIAMI PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE, TO
PROVIDE THAT THE CITY MANAGER MAY AWARD CERTAIN
PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE
REQUIREMENTS, UNDER THE CONSULTANTS' COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION ACT ("CCNA") WHICH DO NOT EXCEED $500,000 IN
VALUE; MORE PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING SECTION 18-87 OF THE
CODE; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS
ORDINANCE TO ALL DIRECTORS AND AGENCIES HEREIN
DESIGNATED; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION, A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 13, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Sanchez, seconded
by Commissioner Gonzalez, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final reading by
title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12349.
55. ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE FUND ENTITLED: "WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE PREPAREDNESS/FEMA GRANT AWARD
(FY 2002)."
Vice Chairman Teele: Next item.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move Item 21.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
234 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Public hearing. Any persons desiring to be heard? If not, the public
hearing is closed. Mr. Attorney.
Priscilla Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call on the ordinance. The ordinance is adopted on
second reading, 4/0.
An Ordinance Entitled --
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ESTABLISHING A
NEW SPECIAL REVENUE FUND ENTITLED: "WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION ADMINISTRATIVE PREPAREDNESS/FEMA GRANT
AWARD (FY 2002)" FOR THE OPERATION OF SAME IN THE AMOUNT
OF $740,000 CONSISTING OF A GRANT ALLOCATED BY THE FEDERAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) FOR THE PERIOD
BEGINNING JANUARY 10, 2003 THROUGH JANUARY 9, 2004 TO
PURCHASE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT, STORAGE AND
MAINTENANCE, TRAINING, MANAGEMENT, AND ADMINISTRATION
OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TASK FORCE
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE GRANT AWARD
FROM FEMA AND TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A
FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR ACCEPTANCE OF
THE GRANT; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
was passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of February 27, 2003, was taken up for its
second and final reading, by title and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Gonzalez,
seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and final
reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 12350.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
235 March 27, 2003
57. DEFERRED: PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 2-526 THROUGH 2-
532 OF CITY CODE ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENTS," BY REPEALING
DIVISION 13 ENTITLED "DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AUDIT AND REVIEWS,", AND
SUBSTITUTING IN LIEU THEREOF NEW CODE SECTIONS 2-526 THROUGH 2-531
ENTITLED "OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR GENERAL," TO ESTABLISH
RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPERATING PROCEDURES OF IAG; AND PROPOSED
APPOINTMENT OF VICTOR I. IGWE AS INDEPENDENT AUDITOR GENERAL OF CITY.
(See #59).
Vice Chairman Teele: Now, 22 and 23, so that Commissioner Winton could be present, was
deferred. Could we agree to hear this item at 9:10 at the next meeting? We have a 9:15 item, but
we have people who are on the board that advise us and we ought to at least let them come in and
get out. This was (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Sanchez: Following the Workmen's Comp. (Compensation) issue?
Vice Chairman Teele: Say again, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: Is that following the Workmen's Comp. scheduled for 9?
Vice Chairman Teele: The Workmen's Comp. is at 9:15, so we do 9:10 and they'd get in, and
hopefully, this --
Commissioner Regalado: What are we doing?
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, we deferred this item because it is an appointment of the board of
City Commissioners and we need five people, to be fair to Commissioner Winton.
Commissioner Regalado: It's 25?
Vice Chairman Teele: 22 and 23.
Commissioner Sanchez: 22 and 23.
Commissioner Regalado: Oh, oh, OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, 25.
Commissioner Regalado: I understand what you're saying.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney, would you explain what has been -- ?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): So Item 22 and 23 then are deferred to 9:10 a.m. on the
meeting of April 10?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
236 March 27, 2003
58. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: AMEND SECTION 2-33 OF CITY CODE ENTITLED:
"ORDER OF BUSINESS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE" TO PROVIDE THAT IF
ENGAGEMENT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ANY BOARD IS REQUIRED TO BE
APPROVED, RATIFIED, OR CONFIRMED BY COMMISSION, INDIVIDUAL ENGAGED
BY BOARD SHALL MEET WITH EACH MEMBER OF COMMISSION PRIOR TO SUCH
APPROVAL, RATIFICATION OR CONFIRMATION.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 25.
Commissioner Sanchez: Number 25.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item number 25 requires that executive directors --
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Oh, I'm sorry. This is the ordinance that --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- come before and at least meet with the board members. If you don't
want to meet, fine, but at least they're required to attempt to get a meeting with Commissioners.
Mr. Vilarello: Yeah. This was requested several meetings ago, since several members of the
City Commission did not have an opportunity to meet with an executive director who was being
appointed, and Commissioner requested -- Commissioner Teele requested that this item be
codified with the requirement that each executive director be given -- at least give each
Commissioner the opportunity to meet with them --
Commissioner Sanchez: Yeah.
Mr. Vilarello: -- prior to be --
Commissioner Sanchez: Which is fine.
Mr. Vilarello: -- considered by the Commission.
Commissioner Gonzalez: So move. Move 25.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second. Did we --
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved and second.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- vote on this before?
Mr. Vilarello: This is first reading.
Commissioner Sanchez: First reading.
237 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved and second. First reading. Is there anyone here to be heard? If
not, read the ordinance.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call on the ordinance. The ordinance is passed on first
reading, 4/0.
An Ordinance Entitled —
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
SECTION 2-33 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, ENTITLED:
"ORDER OF BUSINESS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE" TO PROVIDE
THAT IF THE ENGAGEMENT OF AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
REGARDLESS OF TITLE, OF ANY BOARD AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2-
882 OF THE CITY CODE, IS REQUIRED TO BE APPROVED, RATIFIED,
OR CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COMMISSION, THE INDIVIDUAL
ENGAGED BY THE BOARD SHALL MEET WITH EACH MEMBER OF
THE CITY COMMISSION PRIOR TO SUCH APPROVAL, RATIFICATION
OR CONFIRMATION, AND THE CITY CLERK SHALL ASSURE THAT
SUCH MEETINGS BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE MEMBERS OF
THE CITY COMMISSION HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED; CONTAINING A
REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, and was
passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
59. DIRECT MANAGER TO PROVIDE NOTICE OF CONFIRMATION PUBLIC HEARING
FOR INDEPENDENT AUDITOR GENERAL AT 9:10 A.M. ON COMMISSION MEETING
CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10, 2003. (See #57)
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Vice Chairman, before we move on to Item 22, being that that was
a referendum vote, the Independent Auditor General, I believe that it can be done through a
confirmation hearing.
Vice Chairman Teele: Would you like to take up Item 22?
238 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, we passed it. It's just a suggestion. I mean, it was a referendum
vote. I'm -- in a way I'm embarrassed that it took so long to create the Independent Auditor
General. I'm --
Vice Chairman Teele: If you would like to move Item 22, there's no --
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, no. I think that Commissioner Winton needs to be here. I just
think that when we discuss it at the next meeting, it should be done though a confirmation
hearing.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir. Thank you.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Commissioner, would you like us to advertise that as a
public hearing, the confirmation?
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes --
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- as a confirmation --
Vice Chairman Teele: It should be.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- hearing, yes.
Vice Chairman Teele: It really should be. Commissioner Sanchez is right. The point is that the
voters have mandated it and we're looking like the Florida High Speed Rail.
60. DEFER FOR 60 DAYS CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON FIRST
READING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON THE COCONUT GROVE
SPECIAL EVENTS AND MARKETING COMMITTEE FROM NINE TO TEN.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, next item is 26.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: I am -- I have a request to pull Item 26.
Vice Chairman Teele: Motion to defer or to withdraw?
Commissioner Regalado: To defer for 60 days.
Vice Chairman Teele: To defer --
239 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: Move to defer.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- for 60 days, second. Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03 -3 03
A MOTION TO DEFER FOR 60 DAYS CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED
ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
MEMBERS ON THE COCONUT GROVE SPECIAL EVENTS AND
MARKETING COMMITTEE FROM NINE TO TEN.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
61. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: AMEND CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE IX 2 OF CITY
CODE ENTITLED "FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES" TO REVISE DUE DATES
FOR MULTI-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN AND MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PLAN.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager, would you or Ms. Haskins explain what the financial
integrity of principles or dates -- due dates are doing?
Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance): Good evening, Mr. Vice
Chair and the Commission. I'm before you this evening to address the amendment to the
financial integrity --
240 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Spring, just give us your name and title for the record.
Mr. Spring: Larry Spring, Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Performance, City of
Miami. As outlined in the Manager's memo (memorandum), Chapter 18, Article IX/Division 2
of the Code, was revised establishing March 31 as the annual due date for the Five -Year
Financial Plan and CIP (Capital Improvement Programs) plan. The intent of the change was to
allow the Administration to develop a comprehensive strategic plan in both of those items. With
the recent reorganization and change of personnel responsible for the development of those
plans, specifically myself and director Jorge Cano, who's in charge of CIP, that development
process has been delayed. In an effort to maintain compliance with the ordinance and to produce
a product that will be comprehensive and a valuable management tool, we're requesting that the
due date for the five-year fiscal plan moved to September 31.
Vice Chairman Teele: Be moved from what to what?
Mr. Spring: Moved from March 31 to September 31, and included in the annual budget, as it
was this past fiscal year, and that the CIP plan be moved from March 31 to October 31 and be
presented -- Oh, sorry. September 30, I'm sorry -- and be presented on the hills -- September 30
is in reference to the Five -Year Financial Plan. The CIP plan be moved to October 31 and
presented on the hills of the annual budget process. The Commission should also note that the
five-year fiscal plan will be presented in the same or similar format as the one currently in the
budget book.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, Commissioner Gonzalez, Commissioner Sanchez, here we go. I
mean, you know, this is the argument. I wasn't here. I need more time. There's something to be
said for continuity. I mean, the majority of the Commission could live with it, but first of all, I
think giving us something on September 30 is absolutely ridiculous. If we're going to get it, we
need it by August 30.
Mr. Spring: Well, in the budget process you will be receiving first reading --
Vice Chairman Teele: But that's not what you just said, sir, respectfully. If we're going to deal
with it in the budget process, we need it, literally, by July 30. I mean, because the budget
process is an earned by state law -- by state Constitution, I'm sorry, in September --
Commissioner Gonzalez: September.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and getting something on September 30, or for that matter, August 30,
you basically make us potted plants. We can, you know, just sit here and rubber-stamp it. That
should be required summer/August vacation reading.
Mr. Spring: If you will, Mr. Commissioner, you will be receiving a draft of the budget. We're
expected to give that to you in July, so you will have your entire recession period to review that
plan and the budget, but the-- to have the official due date in the ordinance moved to September
30 as a part of the annual budget process, which is --
241 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: But, sir, if it's a part of the budget process, we've got to have it at least by
August 15. The state Constitution starts the budget process, and Mr. Attorney, what does the
Constitution say?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): The Trim Act actually requires us to adopt the budget in
varying stages in the month of September.
Vice Chairman Teele: After the County Commissioners --
Mr. Vilarello: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- dah, dah, dah, dah, dah.
Mr. Vilarello: And before October.
Vice Chairman Teele: So, it has to be adopted, which means you have to have notice, which
means that things have to be published, and so you start backing up, and our ordinance requires
two hearings, which means there's got to be a first hearing, followed within 10 days, or not
sooner than 10 days, a second hearing, so if we -- you have to do it by September 30. We have
the last week of September, and at a minimum, the second week of September for the first
reading. We have to have it by then, and then to read it and be prepared and to have notice, we
have to have it at least 10 days before that, so you're back to August or September 1.
Mr. Vilarello: Commissioner, as I look at the ordinance, it simply requires the adoption of the
financial plan by September 30, so it's the final adoption of the plan by September 30, so that
will be consistent with Mr. Spring's comment --
Mr. Spring: With the --
Mr. Vilarello: -- that, certainly, you have to have information to consider it significantly before
that, but this just amends the final adoption of the Five -Year Financial Plan till September 30,
and the Multi -Year Capital Improvement Plan from March 31 of each year to October 31 of each
year.
Mr. Spring: Again, I will reiterate that we -- you will have drafts of that five-year plan included
in the budget process, which again, I've met with some of the Commissioners already to say that
that process will -- in that process you will receive drafts of that budget plan prior to your August
recession.
Commissioner Sanchez: The concern is that it really doesn't allow us enough opportunity to
have a say in the process, and although you're going to provide us with the information that we
could basically look at, what we're trying to see in the five-year is a forecast, five-year forecast -
Mr. Spring: Absolutely.
242 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: -- of the budget. I have a question that I asked you, which you know,
we have $1,600,000,000 in permits right now, and all these inline -- online revenues that are
coming in because of these major projects, but I don't think that -- I don't know if the City has
got something in place where it tells us when those big projects come online to generate revenue
for the City, and as I understand right now, we are faced with a 2005 deficit in the city, so how
do we know that we're getting a correct forecast budget of a five-year fiscal plan?
Ms. Spring: Part of my process in asking for this change in due date is for my staff and the rest
of the Administration to be able to develop that. Part of that development process is putting in
place procedures for us to identify things as permanent, coming online, things being added to the
tax roll so that we can appropriately value those items. In addition, take into account changes in
legislation. For instance, the Parking Surcharge, which is currently up in Tallahassee, being
dealt with. Again, my request is so that my staff has time to develop a very concrete and
valuable and comprehensive number that includes both administrative initiative, legislative
initiatives, all of the master plans that are being discussed right now that have been discussed this
evening, so --
Commissioner Sanchez: And because of the circumstances that are find -- that we find ourselves
in right now -- you coming in on board new, and all the things that are going on, I am prepared to
support it, so I make the motion. I don't know if I'm going to get a second, but I'll make the
motion.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well --
Commissioner Sanchez: Maybe for the second for the purpose --
Vice Chairman Teele: Motion.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- of discussion.
Vice Chairman Teele: But let me --
Commissioner Sanchez: Discuss it.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- just say this.
Commissioner Gonzalez: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) motion.
Vice Chairman Teele: There's a regular -- Are you trying to change this permanently or for one
year?
Mr. Spring: I am currently trying to change it for one year, sir. Actually, my plan is, after the
adoption of the current year budget, to have the date moved back to March 30, where we will
continue to give you a separate strategic plan document.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is that in the ordinance?
243 March 27, 2003
Mr. Spring: In the ordinance, it currently states for March 31 as the due date of a five-year plan.
Mr. Vilarello: It's currently a permanent change. However, you certainly can make this change
effective only for one year.
Vice Chairman Teele: But if that's your plan, would you agree to make that change now so that
this is a one-year adjustment?
Mr. Spring: I would agree to that change right now -- to that amended, to a one-year adjustment.
Commissioner Sanchez: So moved.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Sanchez: So moved with the one-year adjustment.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: All those -- this is an ordinance, right?
Mr. Vilarello: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: As amended, would you read the ordinance, Mr. Attorney?
Mr. Vilarello: The modification made on the floor does not change the title.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk)
Commissioner Gonzalez?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Thompson: Commissioner Sanchez?
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Thompson: Vice Chairman Teele?
Roll call, first reading. Commissioner Regalado?
Vice Chairman Teele: How many votes does it take to pass (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Mr. Vilarello: Three.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's not a majority?
M11
March 27, 2003
Mr. Vilarello: No, not on the first reading of an ordinance.
Vice Chairman Teele: I'll vote yes.
Ms. Thompson: The ordinance is passed on first reading, 3/0.
An Ordinance Entitled —
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE IX/DIVISION 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "FINANCIAL INTEGRITY
PRINCIPLES" TO REVISE THE DUE DATES FOR THE MULTI-YEAR
FINANCIAL PLAN AND THE MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PLAN; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION, A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, and was
passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Mr. Spring: Thank you, Commissioners.
62. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: AMEND SECTIONS 18-72 AND 18-73 OF CITY CODE
ENTITLED "FINANCE/CITY OF MIAMI PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE," TO CLARIFY
SCOPE AND APPLICATION OF PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE, ADD DEFINITIONS,
AND PROVIDE FOR EXEMPTION OF PROVISIONS OF PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE
AND CONE OF SILENCE FOR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES.
Vice Chairman Teele: Next Item. That was 27, right?
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Yes.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Commissioner Teele, if I may? Item 28 is a clarification of
the opt -out provision of the Cone of Silence for the CRAB (Community Redevelopment
Agencies). When the procurement was -- the new procurement code was adopted last fall, the
CRA was not part of that procurement code because it's governed by a different set of state
statutes. What happened was because the CRA was not part of that procurement code, it -- and
we opted the MSEA (Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority) board and DDA (Downtown
245 March 27, 2003
Development Authority) and Bayfront Park from the Cone of Silence provisions, the CRA
wasn't included in that, so what this would do is simply treat the CRA, for purposes of the Cone
of Silence, opting out of the Cone of Silence, the same as Bayfront, DDA, MSEA, all the
independent boards.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a motion?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move 28.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Second. Read the ordinance.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call, first reading ordinance. The ordinance has been
passed on first reading, 3/0.
An Ordinance Entitled —
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 18/ARTICLE III, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "FINANCE/CITY OF MIAMI
PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE," TO CLARIFY THE SCOPE AND
APPLICATION OF THE PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE, ADD
DEFINITIONS, AND PROVIDE FOR THE EXEMPTION OF THE
PROVISIONS OF THE PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE AND THE CONE OF
SILENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES; MORE
PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING SECTIONS 18-72 AND 18-73 OF SAID
CODE, CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION, A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, and was
passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
246 March 27, 2003
63. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: AUTHORIZE ACCEPTANCE AND APPROPRIATION
OF SIX GRANTS, $785,065 FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AS DESIGNATED UNDER
SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK BOND PROGRAM DISCRETIONARY INTEREST
EARNINGS FUNDING PROJECTS 2002 PROCEEDS; AND $92,345 FROM FLORIDA
RECREATION DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FRDAP) FOR
IMPROVEMENTS TO LEMON CITY PARK WITH MATCHING FUNDS IN SAME
AMOUNT FROM HOMELAND DEFENSE NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT BOND
FUNDS; AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS REQUIRED TO
COMPLETE SAID PROJECTS IF COSTS EXCEED GRANT ALLOCATION AND FUNDS
TO OPERATE, MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE PROGRAMMING AT EACH PROJECT
Vice Chairman Teele: Next item.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move Item 29.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney.
The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call, first reading. The ordinance is passed on first
reading, 3/0.
247 March 27, 2003
An Ordinance Entitled —
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE ACCEPTANCE AND APPROPRIATION OF SIX (6) GRANTS IN THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF $785,065 FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AS
DESIGNATED HEREIN UNDER THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
BOND PROGRAM DISCRETIONARY INTEREST EARNINGS FUNDING
PROJECTS 2002 PROCEEDS; AND $92,345 FROM THE FLORIDA
RECREATION DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FRDAP) FOR
IMPROVEMENTS TO LEMON CITY PARK WITH MATCHING FUNDS IN
THE SAME AMOUNT FROM THE HOMELAND DEFENSE
NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT BOND FUNDS; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY
DOCUMENT(S), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
TO IMPLEMENT ACCEPTANCE OF SAID GRANTS; FURTHER
PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD
PARKS ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE PAYMENT OF (1)
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE SAID PROJECTS IF
THE COSTS OF SAID PROJECTS EXCEED THE GRANT ALLOCATION;
AND (2) FUNDS TO OPERATE, MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE
PROGRAMMING AT EACH PROJECT UPON ITS COMPLETION.
was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, and was
passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
248 March 27, 2003
64. DIRECT MANAGER TO PROVIDE PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET WHICH HAS BEEN
HISTORICALLY ALLOCATED FOR PARKS WHEN PROPOSAL FROM FALCON AND
BUENO FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PARKS SYSTEM MASTER PLAN IS SCHEDULED TO
COME BACK BEFORE COMMISSION.
Vice Chairman Teele: Motion on 32.
Commissioner Sanchez: Thirty -- I'm sorry. Let me just get in order here. 32 is the --
Vice Chairman Teele: Master Plan for the park.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, so moved, yes, sir. Absolutely. It's embarrassing we don't know
where -- we don't know that -- you know, we've had parks here that we did not know we had in
our community, and that's embarrassing, so I think this is a step in the right direction, so so
moved.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Honestly, I can't second.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Let's temporarily pass it. I'll tell you what, would you
preside?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: How many votes does it take to pass something, a resolution? A
majority, right?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Three.
Commissioner Sanchez: A majority.
Vice Chairman Teele: A resolution. OK. All right. Commissioner Regalado is back. This is a
resolution to accept a proposal regarding the park master plan. Was this advertised?
Victor Monzon-Aguirre (Chief of Neighborhood Services): Yes, Commissioner, it was.
Vice Chairman Teele: And it was --
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: Commissioner, the whole purpose of this plan is not just to inventory the
parks, but also to evaluate and develop programs for the parks. This is part of the Mayor's
initiative originally of doing both things; doing an inventory of what we have and the assets, the
conditions they're in, as well as developing recreational programs and identifying those
programs as to how much they can better be served serving the community and doing outreach to
the community as to what programs they would like in their areas, so it's a comprehensive
master plan study of all the City parks.
249 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager.
Commissioner Sanchez: I believe it needs a second for discussion.
Vice Chairman Teele: It takes a second for discussion. Commissioner Regalado, in light of the
fact that there's a refusal to second, would you second, as a courteous, for discussion?
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, sure.
Vice Chairman Teele: Discussion.
Commissioner Sanchez: Discussion.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Sanchez: The City has a lot of resources, but I think one of the most important
resources that we have is our parks, and I think in the last couple of years, the city has taken the
right steps to make our parks more people friendly, attract families, attract children to come to
parks where they're overseen by adults and not out on the streets doing what they're not
supposed to, and although the administration -- although the past administration did a good job in
trying to maintain our parks, this study will basically allow us to know exactly where all our
parks are at, what boundaries our parks have, what equipments are in those parks. I mean, I have
parks in my district that I don't know -- I mean, I've driven by and I've seen them, and their
equipment is in such poor condition. There's basketball courts -- and we have spent millions of
dollars on parks, but we do not know how many picnic tables are in those parks, how many
barbeques are in those parks and, still, vandalism occurs in those parks and these items are being
stolen. I mean, we are taking this city to another level when we talk about putting computers
into parks because we realize that not every child is going to be a great athlete. There may --
intellectual -- and they may like to play with computers and read, but taking it to another step,
it's focusing on the programs, which is very important and that's something that we lack in our
parks, so this study basically will give us the avenues to know exactly what we have in our parks,
how much we could utilize to the fullest of our capacity our parks, so it's a step in the right
direction. I don't -- I really -- I would be shocked if it's not supported.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: Well, if you give me five dollars, I'll give you what is wrong with the
park in writing, and it's precisely -- we don't have people that works on weekends in most of the
parks. Bathrooms are closed. Bathrooms during the weekends are dirty. We have part-timers
that -- let me tell you, the parks workers are incredible. They work for nothing and they get wet
and sweat and all that. I -- the parks, like Joe said, are the most precious resource that we have
because it's something that everybody can use, but I just don't know what are these people going
to tell me that I don't already know. I know that the parks are in terrible shape. If you go to
Kennedy Park, the kids, whose families pay eighty and eighty-five dollars to be on the sailing
program during the summer, have to like do a little act to walk to the dock to get on the dinghies
250 March 27, 2003
because there was no pontoons there, and so and so, so I don't -- I just don't know. Mr.
Manager.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Let me give you a couple comments on this. When this was
proposed to me, I will tell you that I went through the roof because I always felt that our Parks
Department should know all the information that this company is going to give us now. I will
also tell you that in our present state, if we want to go ahead and get our Parks Department going
the way we want to, at the speed we want to because it has taken so long, it's the only reason that
I allow this to come before you, not that I agree, not that I like it. It's a matter of, we're so far
behind that I felt we needed to catch up. Now, there's two items in here. There's an item that
goes through -- in the proposal that talks about the inventory site and all that, and that's about a
hundred and --
Unidentified Speaker: Hundred thousand.
Mr. Arriola: A hundred thousand dollars. Now, if nothing else -- and I think we probably have
to bring it for the next Commission meeting -- that is the one item that I would always bring back
because we need to do that, and that takes time and these people will do a good job. If you want
to then defer some of the other items, as far as the activities of the parks and some of the
landscape that we're going to do in the park --
Commissioner Sanchez: I mean, they go hand in hand. You could have a great, beautiful park
and if you don't have programs in the park, you're not going to attract people to them.
Mr. Arriola: But, you know, we're just taking a lot of flack for this. I just hired a guy that's
supposed to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, you know, you've got to stand up for what you believe. I --
Mr. Arriola: Yeah.
Commissioner Sanchez: If you believe that, you know, our parks need improvement -- all our
parks -- you take a beautiful park and if it doesn't have a basketball net on the rings, it doesn't
look good and, you know, kids like to go play basketball and they want to have a net in the hoop.
They want to have -- they want to go out there and they want to have a -- play baseball or
softball. They want, you know, soccer. You know, the park that -- Margaret Pace Park --
Commissioner Teele, I want you to listen to this. Margaret Pace Park, with the soccer activity
out there, they're using that park so much, they're destroying the field because it's being utilized.
Mr. Arriola: Absolutely.
Commissioner Sanchez: So, I mean, now we have to work at, you know, having maintenance
done and being taken care of, but you know, if you have -- you create these parks and you don't
create an environment to attract people to come, feel safe, bring their families, then you'll have
the nicest parks in the world and no one will be there, and that's what we have to break away
from.
251 March 27, 2003
Mr. Arriola: Commissioner Sanchez, the only reason I allow this to come before you is because
we're so far behind what we're trying to do. I would be embarrassed if I ever bring anything like
this to you -- while I'm here -- to you again, because I think that our Parks Department should
have done this. Having said that, we are so far behind the eight ball here that that's the only
reason I brought this in front of you and -- you know, it's really up to you, but I will encourage
you to pass it because we need to go forward and not look back, and we can't make up for the
mistakes of other people, but what we need to do is, you know, look forward to it, but again, I
will tell you that I guarantee you that this will never happen again because this should have never
happened to start with.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: Joe, you said --Mr. Manager, you said $100,000 for the inventory.
Mr. Arriola: No.
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: Commissioner, there are six task to be performed in --
Mr. Arriola: Six tasks. Yeah, go ahead.
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: There are six tasks to be performed by the consultant. They're part of your
back up material.
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, I read the back up --
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: OK.
Commissioner Regalado: -- two months, three months and six months and all --
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: No. Yeah, two months, three months, but each of those months has
specific tasks they have to do.
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, I understand.
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: They've got to survey all the parks because we never have exact service.
Commissioner Regalado: No, no, but I'm not asking about that.
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: There's a hundred --
Commissioner Regalado: He said inventory, a hundred thousand dollars.
252 March 27, 2003
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: The inventory, Commissioner, is a hundred -- inventory of existing
physical conditions, which takes five months, concurrent with task two, is a hundred thousand
dollars. Recreation program analysis, five months concurrent with task one is a hundred and
sixty-five thousand. Task three is a public presentation, reaching out to the public, which takes
three months, that's fifty thousand dollars. Parks system master plan, two months, which is a
hundred and twenty-five thousand. The final documentation, which takes another two months, is
thirty-five. Task meeting and public presentations at the City's schedule is 25,000 for the total of
500,000. The sub -task or the task with the sub -task within those tasks is clearly defined in the
proposal submitted by Falcon and Bueno, which details specifically what those areas are going to
be and what you're trying to attain, so it's not just an inventory of what we have, but inventory of
what we can do with those facilities, as well as other facilities run by other parties in close -- in
proximity to these, as well as identifying school sites that can also expand recreational programs.
It's a very comprehensive program that we're trying to bring to the City, which we've never had.
It was approved by the Parks Advisory Board, recommended by the Parks Advisory Board.
Commissioner Regalado: OK. It's -- I still think that we only need the inventory, but I'm just
only one. I'm not going to vote for the half a million dollars, so you know.
Commissioner Sanchez: But -- would you yield? The inventory and the programs, are you
prepared to support the programs of the parks, just those two items, the inventory and the
programs?
Commissioner Regalado: Joe, they're not establishing programs. They're telling you what kind
of programs --
Commissioner Sanchez: What kind of programs could be established.
Commissioner Regalado: -- you need to do, but this we know. This is different in every part.
In Bryan Park -- and Victor was there and Cano was there -- in Bryan Park all the neighbors got
together and said, we can't have basketball here because of the midnight gangs, and we converted
that to tennis. In Robert King High, they said, oh, we don't like soccer here because we would
like tennis, because we want -- and in west end, you know, we want the pool and we want -- the
elderly residents in the area want to have a walking trail. That is -- it's different by area.
Mr. Monzon-Aguirre: Commissioner, I understand, but that's part of their task. They are to
meet with the homeowners' associations and give you that kind of information, that feedback
from the community.
Commissioner Regalado: But we do that.
Commissioner Gonzalez: But we do that. We, as Commissioners, do that.
Commissioner Regalado: That's my thing. We do that. I'm telling you, we do that. You know,
what we're going to have here --
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, let me make --
253 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: -- another Post Buckley, Little Haiti --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I do happen to concur with Commissioner Regalado. The matter of
the fact is -- I'm going to give you a perfect example. We have rebuild Maceo Park with money
that was allocated to that park seven years or eight years ago, and that was sitting in an account
here, as many of the monies that have been sitting around for years here. The park is almost
ready. We're going to have the ground -- the ceremony May 20, OK. We have bathrooms there
now, and the problem now is that I'm afraid on what can happen in those bathrooms because we
don't have any -- an attendant in the park, OK. We have problems with the park being opened
and closed. We have problems with gang members. We have calling constantly to the Police
Department. We know what's going on in our parks. We know what we need in our parks. We
don't need a consulting company, especially when we're going to pay them five hundred
thousand dollars to tell us what we need to do in the parks, and I can't -- to be honest with you, I
cannot vote on this in all conscience because, when we fire an executive -- Park Director that had
been with this City for 20 some years and we fire his assistant, who was with him for 16 years
because they were not doing a good job, and we hire somebody that's supposedly going to be the
best, as everybody that we're hiring new in this City, why should we pay five hundred thousand
dollars to a company, if we're going to bring a guy that is going to be so marvelous and so good,
that is going to do everything perfect? Well, let's pay that guy a salary and let him organize the
parks and let him go to the parks and inventory the parks and do everything that, supposedly, the
other Park Director never did and cost him his job, but I'm not going to be approving -- pay a
salary to a new director who, supposedly, is going to be doing a great job and at the same time,
pay a half a million dollars to this company to tell us what we need in the parks, so I cannot
support this.
Mr. Arriola: Mr. Chair --
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Before --
Mr. Arriola: I would like to defer this item so we could present --
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, before you defer it, may I just put my concerns on? First, I
think the amount of money for a master plan is grossly understated. I know that there's two
Commissioners who feel the contrary. This is America. We have -- I think they're going to be
back here for more money. Number two, we have these requirements. Mr. Spring, I -- Ms.
Haskins, we've got a requirement to inventory every asset of the City under this GASB
(Government Accounting Standard Board) -- whatever it is, by the end of this year. Now,
somebody in Asset Management or Finance or I guess it's Economic Development should be
well down the road with this asset and inventory, because it's got to be part of our financial
statement, we've been told now for two years, and it just seems to me, rather than having an
architect preparing the financial statement for this GASB -- what's the correct thing, Linda?
254 March 27, 2003
Don't make a fool of me. A bigger fool of me. What's the correct terminology? I'm not into
finance, see. I'm a budget guy.
Linda Haskins: Linda Haskins, CFO (Chief Financial Officer). It's GASB, you're right. GASB -
34.
Vice Chairman Teele: GASB -34?
Ms. Haskins: Um-hmm.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is it mandated, effective October 1.
Ms. Haskins: Actually, you'll see it in the past financial statements, and the inventory was
completed for assets. I believe this inventory is more like inventory for the sorts of facilities that
are in the park.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, I mean, I really would like to get the inventory passed out, because
you know what? I'd be willing to bet you that the five Commissioners who go into their district
everyday may or may not agree with that report.
Ms. Haskins: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: But I really do believe that we need to define, you know -- you know,
Victor, let me be honest with you. It's very difficult when we're talking -- because we don't meet
but once, twice a month. You all get to meet all the time, and then when somebody says they
didn't hear or they didn't understand, it's always this situation, because people are outside talking,
staff is talking to each other, and I really think, in fairness, you all should give Commissioners at
least the opportunity to meet with you once every two weeks, and get your undivided attention. I
want to support this, but let me tell you what my concerns are, Mr. Manager. My concern is,
first and foremost, we have no basic background information regarding who bid the evaluations
and we have passed resolution after resolution that said, when there is an evaluation, put the
scores in, the rating, et cetera. None of that information is in here. This just comes to us as a fait
accompli. I'm very concerned about the lack of minorities. I'm very concerned about minorities
not getting shots. The Mayor stood up and said, we're going to do a Miami first program. That's
what I heard him say. Well, this is a firm. I'm sure they're a great firm, but this is not a Miami
firm, and so these are the concerns that I have. Any professional service company -- architect,
engineer, landscape planner -- I believe, as the County requires, that an EEO (Equal Employment
Opportunity) profile of who the people are that we're recommending should be -- and if they
have, you know, 18 Martians and 10 people from, you know, planet Jupiter and 25 people from
Earth, you know, that are whatever, we should know that, and I think that's just basic
information. The package is not complete. The definition of what they're studying to me is a
bigger problem. Are they studying parks or are they studying open space? When this City got
evaluated and found to be deficient in parks, the rating agency or the rating -- the park rating
entity evaluates not just parks, but open space and cemeteries, and cemeteries. Is the cemetery a
part of this study? Because more and more, cemeteries are the catalyst for Economic
Development. They're the catalyst for tourism. They're the catalyst for a lot of things today as
255 March 27, 2003
you read the periodicals, so we need to understand what is contained in this. The final, Mr.
Manager, as it relates to this study, the biggest problem -- and I deeply -- sir, I deeply resent, I
deeply resent the aspersions that are being thrown off on people who have served this
community with honor and with dignity. The biggest problem that the Parks Department had for
the last eight years and the last 10 years is the City Commission. That's the biggest problem, and
if you look at the budget, sir, as my staff did four years ago, when I came in -- God bless her.
She's in Kuwait City. I saw her e-mail last night. She's all zipped up in chemical suit and -- the
alarm came across in Arabic and she didn't know if they were saying put it on or take it off, so
she just kept it on -- but the fact is, when we did a study in this City, this Commission, sir, not
the Parks Director, but this Commission has reduced the funding for parks for the last 10 years.
The Parks Department has had no resources to operate on. They have been nickel dime -- and
through the period of the emergency, they got nothing, and I would ask you and your staff to
prepare for the next time this item comes up, the historical funding of parks, not in dollars and
cents, but as a percentage of the budget, and if you see that picture -- one picture is worth a
thousand words. If you see that picture, if you see what has happened to parks for the last 20
years, OK, and look at the picture as a percentage of the budget, Parks Department has been
totally damaged by this Commission's decisions, and you know, it doesn't take a rocket scientist
to figure it out. Two departments have eaten up the whole City budget, OK. Every time we
needed something in the Fire Department, in the Police Department, we reduced parks, and so,
you know, of course there are some things that have not been done, and of course there are some
things that should have been done, but the resources have never been in the Parks Department,
and every time we go out and we meet and when we have budget hearings over the last four
years that I've been here, the Parks Department is saying, we need more money. We can't do
this. We can't do that, and we always say, we don't have the money, and so the only thing that I
want to just put on the record here is, we need to move forward, but it's not necessary to tramp
on people as we move forward. There are a lot of things that are wrong with this City. There are
a lot of things that are going to be straightened out, but before we start pointing fingers, the
blame for the Parks Department clearly, in my opinion, rests with the Mayor and the City
Commission over the last 15 -- 10 to 15 years because we looked at that five years ago, 10 years
-- over a 10 -year and the budget was coming down year after year after year.
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Vice Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez.
Commissioner Sanchez: And now we have the resources. This -- the funds are coming out of
the Homeland Defense Neighborhood Improvement Bond Capital Improvement Projects towards
the park. Once again, I would like to make a motion for the inventory, because I think we have
to start somewhere and I think it's important that we identify -- we happen to be a City that lacks
parks and open green space. I don't think anyone here will dispute the facts, but we have parks
or we have land that is park land that we have -- can't identify and it's out there, so this is a step
in the right direction. You know, I'm not going to, you know, argue with the statements made by
my colleagues, but a hundred thousand dollars, which is money that we have to put towards our
parks to identify these pieces of land or identify all our land -- maybe we would go out in the
right. We've identified all the land, but I assure you, there's pieces of land out there that
probably some homeowner, being such a smart little piece, took it over and we don't know, and
256 March 27, 2003
that land belongs to the taxpayers in Miami, so I am prepared to make a motion of the hundred
thousand dollars for the inventory of our City parks, so moved.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Regalado: I'll second.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Regalado: I'll second it because that's exactly what I said. I said that the only
thing we need was the inventory, and we figure out later or we know already the kind of
programs and the kind of things that we do want to do in -- more than a hundred thousand
dollars. I'm not voting for it. That's very simple, and -- but I tell you something. Maybe all of
you have seen Virginia Beach and what some people have done there. The nature trail, the
identifying the native species, but I tell you, that wasn't a program. That wasn't a project. These
were eight political -- former political prisoners from Cuba that were hired at minimum wage,
that with a machete cleared, during three years, the mangroves in Virginia Beach. One of them
is an arborist and has a Ph.D from Cuba, and he started identifying the native and the indigenous
plant, and now the Audubon Society and everybody in the world does tours there because they
have done that nature trail, and they did it because they liked it, so you know, we have the human
factor that we can use and -- like in Virginia Beach, it's -- you know, that area should be used as
a showcase the City of Miami in different tours, environmental, nature tours, so we know -- at
least I know in some of my district parks -- what we should need, but we do need an inventory,
and this is what I said from the beginning. I'm voting for an inventory. I'm not voting for
anything else than an inventory. If you guys are all right -- are OK with that, it's fine by me. If
not, I vote "no."
Vice Chairman Teele: On the motion, all in favor, say "aye." All opposed, say "no."
Commissioner Gonzalez: No.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Commissioner Teele.
Vice Chairman Teele: What is it?
Mr. Vilarello: This item needed to be modified. It currently authorizes the execution of an
agreement, which is not attached. It should have been modified to allow for it to be negotiated
and brought back now under the motion before you to prepare an inventory.
Commissioner Regalado: So, bring it back.
Vice Chairman Teele: Say what you just said again.
Mr. Vilarello: There was a -- this resolution needed to be modified.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK.
257 March 27, 2003
Mr. Vilarello: It needs to provide --
Vice Chairman Teele: What the motion was, the motion was to approve the scope of work and
the dollars associated with the past --
Commissioner Sanchez: Mr. Vice Chairman, I'm going to pull my vote, all right.
Vice Chairman Teele: You're pulling your motion?
Commissioner Sanchez: I'm pulling my motion.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Sanchez: This is -- you know, we might as well get everything right. We don't
want to push anything through and there's, you know, one opposition and then one
Commissioner is not here, so I withdraw, but let me just say that the taxpayers voted for this.
This is the Homeland Defense Neighborhood Improvement Bond to go toward the parks. I
mean, we may not agree on the concept of it, but this is money we have to go to the parks.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yeah. Let me tell you, Commissioner Sanchez. I agree with you a
hundred percent with that, but you know how much -- you know how much work we can do with
half a million dollars in one park? I rebuilt Maceo Park with less than five hundred thousand
dollars, with less than five hundred thousand dollars. You should go by there and see Maceo
Park now, so you know, half a million dollars --
Vice Chairman Teele: When are you going to have that opening at Maceo Park?
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- you can do a lot of things -- May 20th. You can do a lot of work
with half a million dollars. I mean, to pay, you know, some bureaucrats half a million dollars
from the bond issue so they can tell you exactly what you need to do in parks, I mean, this is
absurd. To me, it's irresponsible and I'm -- you know, you can vote on it. You can, you know --
and I respect yours, and you know, you can vote on it. You can propose it. You can make a
motion and everything and -- like I always say, we can agree to disagree. On this issue, we
disagree.
Commissioner Sanchez: And I was prepared to make the motion on the inventory, but I'll
withdraw it.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, and the Clerk points out that there was a motion made, a second, a
vote taken, and I pointed out to the Clerk that I did not announce the vote, nor did she, and so
that vote is not recorded because there was no announcement of what the vote is. Now, would
you like for me to -- are you in agreement, Mr. Attorney?
Mr. Vilarello: As long as -- what was passed? Nothing was passed.
258 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Nothing was passed because the vote was never announced.
Mr. Vilarello: And the vote was not announced. The Commissioner who made the motion
withdrew the motion.
Vice Chairman Teele: And the Commissioner has withdrawn his motion and the second has
been withdrawn, I suppose?
Commissioner Regalado: Yes, of course.
Vice Chairman Teele: And we can move on before it gets late and we start scratching each
other.
65. RATIFY, APPROVE AND CONFIRM MANAGER'S FINDING OF EMERGENCY,
WAIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCEDURES AND APPROVE
ACQUISITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION SERVICES
FROM EVANS ENVIRONMENTAL AND GEOSCIENCES, INC. FOR DEPARTMENT OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INCREASE CONTRACT, $52,000, FROM $250,000 TO
$302,000; ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM NON -DEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNTS.
Vice Chairman Teele: Next Item.
Commissioner Regalado: Which is?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): 33 --
Commissioner Gonzalez: 33.
Mr. Vilarello: -- was deferred.
Vice Chairman Teele: 33.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): No, no, it was not deferred.
Commissioner Gonzalez: No. That was done --
Commissioner Regalado: No, 33 --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- I think.
Vice Chairman Teele: Then 33 is done.
Commissioner Regalado: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Vilarello: Oh, I'm sorry.
259 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: 34, designating Commissioner Sanchez one member to the Bayfront
Trust.
Commissioner Sanchez: I'll defer at this time.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Commissioner.
Vice Chairman Teele: Defer it. 35, to the Code Enforcement Board.
Mr. Arriola: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes.
Mr. Arriola: We skipped 31, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: I apologize.
Commissioner Sanchez: Code Enforcement.
Vice Chairman Teele: 31 is a four-fifths vote. You all feel like a four-fifths vote --
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- if we agree? It's a resolution confirming --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move 31.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed, say "no." The item is unanimously adopted by four votes.
260 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-304
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR-
FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, RATIFYING, APPROVING AND
CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING OF AN EMERGENCY,
WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE BIDDING
PROCEDURES AND APPROVING THE ACQUISITION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION SERVICES
FROM EVANS ENVIRONMENTAL AND GEOSCIENCES, INC. FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INCREASING THE
CONTRACT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $52,000, FROM $250,000
TO $302,000; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM NON -DEPARTMENTAL
ACCOUNTS, ACCOUNT CODE NO. 001000.921002.6.830.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
66. APPOINT CHARLES McEWAN AND MILAGROS LOYAL AS MEMBERS OF CODE
ENFORCEMENT BOARD. (See #68)
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, Item 31 -- 35. Madam Clerk, would you just help us now?
Read in who the vacancies are.
Commissioner Sanchez: Is that Code Enforcement Board.
Vice Chairman Teele: Code Enforcement, Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Sanchez: Commissioner at Large, the vote I nominate Charles McEwan, who is -
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- the Chairman.
261 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's been moved and second by Commissioner that Mr. McEwan be
moved -- be adopted, and second. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-305
A MOTION REAPPOINTING CHARLES McEWAN AS A MEMBER OF THE
CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Who's the vacancy for Commissioner Regalado and Teele?
Commissioner Regalado: I am nominating Milagros Loyal because --
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
262 March 27, 2003
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03 -3 06
A MOTION APPOINTING MILAGROS LOYAL TO REPLACE DENIS ROD
AS A MEMBER OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
67. APPOINT DENIS ROD AS MEMBER OF PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD. (See #74)
Commissioner Regalado: Madam --
Vice Chairman Teele: You want to say something?
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. Madam City Clerk, Mr. Dennis Rod will be moving to the
Planning Board to take a seat left by the passing of Raymond Montgomery.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, hold on. Tomas, hold on one minute. Madam Clerk, who did you
have Commissioner Regalado's appointment replacing?
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): We had replacing Mr. Rod, due to excessive absences.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Who?
Ms. Thompson: Rod (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Vice Chairman Teele: Is that who you wanted?
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. I want him now to go to other board.
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, so now we're recognizing you for a separate motion --
Commissioner Regalado: Right.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- regarding Mr. Rawlin to go to replace the untimely death of --
263 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: Raymond Montgomery.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? Is that on the agenda anywhere?
Ms. Thompson: It's Item 42.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Just hold on. 42, so he's making one of his two appointments.
Commissioner Regalado: One.
Vice Chairman Teele: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-307
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING AN
INDIVIDUAL AS A REGULAR MEMBER OF THE PLANNING ADVISORY
BOARD FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Regalado: The other —
264 March 27, 2003
68. APPOINT MILAGROS LOYAL, JAMES KEANE AND CHARLES MCEWAN AS
MEMBERS OF CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD(See #66)
Vice Chairman Teele: We're back on Item 35.
Commissioner Regalado: The other I deferred.
Vice Chairman Teele: Hold on. We're back on 35.
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: Does Chairman Winton have an appointment?
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Yes, he does.
Vice Chairman Teele: Who would he be replacing?
Ms. Thompson: Michael Gongoya (phonetic). I'm sorry, Gongora (phonetic).
Vice Chairman Teele: OK, and who would I replacing on Teele?
Ms. Thompson: You would be replacing James Keane.
Vice Chairman Teele: James Who?
Ms. Thompson: K -E -- I'm sorry. Keane.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is he available for appointment?
Ms. Thompson: Yes, he is.
Vice Chairman Teele: Based upon the list?
Ms. Thompson: Yes.
Commissioner Sanchez: What board is that?
Vice Chairman Teele: OK. I would move the reappointment of Mr. Keane.
Commissioner Sanchez: What board is that? What -- ?
Commissioner Regalado: Code Enforcement.
Unidentified Speaker: Code Enforcement.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
265 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: Code Enforcement, OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-308
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AS REGULAR MEMBERS OF THE CODE
ENFORCEMENT BOARD FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
69. APPOINT HELENA DEL MONTE AND TERESA ZORILLA CLARK AS MEMBERS OF
COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Commissioner Sanchez has two appointments, Community
Relations, 36.
Commissioner Sanchez: How about the Commission on the Status of Women, did you skip that?
Vice Chairman Teele: No, we haven't come to that.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK. I would --
Vice Chairman Teele: 37, you also have an appoint --
Commissioner Sanchez: -- re -- Community Relations Board?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: I would like to reappoint Helena Del Monte and Teresa Zorilla Clark,
so moved.
266 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second on both appointments.
Vice Chairman Teele: Without objection, those have been moved --
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and second. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-309
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
RELATIONS BOARD FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
70. APPOINT FRED JACKSON AS MEMBER OF COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY
ADVISORY BOARD.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, 37. Community Technology Advisory, Commissioner Sanchez,
the Mayor.
Commissioner Sanchez: I would request a motion Fred Jackson -- appoint Fred Jackson.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Sanchez: And he also requires a resident waivers.
Vice Chairman Teele: With a waiver. It's been moved and second. Is there an objection? All in
favor, say "aye."
267 March 27, 2003
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed? Noting four-fifths vote.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-310
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING AN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY
ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
71. APPOINT LOURDES BLANCO AS MEMBER OF COMMISSION ON STATUS OF
WOMEN.
Vice Chairman Teele: Number 38. That's the Status of Women, Commissioner Sanchez.
Commissioner Sanchez: I would like to appoint Lourdes Blanco, so move.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is the objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
268 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-311
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING AN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS
OF WOMEN FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
72. APPOINT ALAN MORLEY, JOHN JONES, RAUL DOMINGUEZ, SAM MASON,
MARIA V. BAO AND HENRY S. HARRISON AS MEMBERS OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
ADVISORY BOARD.
Vice Chairman Teele: Number 39. Could we move the appointments of the Firefighter
appointment and the AFSCME (American Federal, State, County, and Municipal Employees)
appointment for the Equal Opportunity Board?
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Mr. -- I'm sorry. Commissioner Teele, we have received
notification from the FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) that they have appointed or they have
resubmitted Viona Browne for their appointment.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, this says Henry Harrison.
Ms. Thompson: No, no, for FOP, Fraternal Order of Police.
Commissioner Sanchez: And that's on the Equal Opportunity Advisory Board?
Ms. Thompson: That's correct.
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
269 March 27, 2003
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03- 312
A MOTION CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF VIONA BROWNE AS
THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE
MEMBER OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Now, does the Miami Association of Firefighters have an appointment
too?
Commissioner Sanchez: Do they have a --
Ms. Thompson: They do.
Commissioner Sanchez: Do they have a nomination?
Ms. Thompson: Yes, he's on. Henry Harrison.
Vice Chairman Teele: It's on the agenda. Henry S. Harrison by the Miami Association of
Firefighters and Maria V. Bao the AFSCME representative.
Ms. Thompson: Correct.
Vice Chairman Teele: Could we get a motion on those two?
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
270 March 27, 2003
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-313
A MOTION CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF MARIA V. BAO AS
THE REPRESENTATIVE OF AFSCME LOCAL 1907 AND HENRY S.
HARRISON AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MIAMI ASSOCIATION
OF FIRE FIGHTERS MEMBERS OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
ADVISORY BOARD.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Are there any individual appointments for the board?
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes. I have two, Mr. Vice Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez.
Commissioner Sanchez: I would like to reappoint Raul Dominguez and Sam Mason.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there any objection? Is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed.
271 March 27, 2003
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-314
A MOTION REAPPOINTING RAUL DOMINGUEZ AND SAM MASON AS
MEMBERS OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Regalado and Commissioner Teele, do you have
appointments?
Commissioner Regalado: Yes. John Jones and Alan Morley.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-315
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY BOARD FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED
HEREIN.
272 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: No appointments for the Vice Chair.
73. APPOINT COMMISSIONER ANGEL GONZALEZ AND MAX CRUZ AS MEMBERS OF
ORANGE BOWL ADVISORY BOARD.
Vice Chairman Teele: Regarding the Sister Cities, no appointments. Regarding number 41, the
Orange Bowl.
Commissioner Regalado: I have an appointment.
Commissioner Sanchez: I would like to appoint Angel Gonzalez as the new chairman of the
Orange Bowl Advisory Board, so move.
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-316
A MOTION APPOINTING COMMISSIONER ANGEL GONZALEZ AS
CHAIRPERSON OF THE ORANGE BOWL ADVISORY BOARD.
273 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you for the honor.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are there any individual appointments to the Orange Bowl Advisory
Committee?
Commissioner Regalado: I have an appointment.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Regalado: Let's see, Max Cruz, but I need a residency waiver.
Vice Chairman Teele: Max Cruz, is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second, with a waiver.
Vice Chairman Teele: With a waiver. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: He's a great man. All opposed?
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-317
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE ORANGE BOWL
ADVISORY BOARD FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
274 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Four-fifths vote, it's been done. No other appointments being
made.
74. BRIEF COMMENTS ON MEMBERS OF PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD. (See #67)
Vice Chairman Teele: Number 42, Planning Advisory Board. Commissioner Regalado has one.
Commissioner Regalado: I already did one and defer one.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is Mr. Canty available for this board? You have to be nominated, right --
Commissioner Regalado: No. You have --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- or apply?
Commissioner Regalado: -- to apply.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): You have to apply.
Vice Chairman Teele: Did he apply?
Ms. Thompson: No, he didn't. Our application -- he's an incumbent, but we do have
applications for the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chairman Teele: Who's an incumbent? Mr. Canty is an incumbent?
Ms. Thompson: No. Mr. --
Vice Chairman Teele: C -A -N -T -Y.
Teresita Fernandez (Executive Secretary, Hearing Boards): Mr. Teele, our -- your incumbent is
Mr. Chip Black.
Commissioner Regalado: The chairman.
275 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Let me talk to Chip see if he wants to say. Are we having any
quorum problems with that board?
Commissioner Regalado: I have appointments for the Zoning Board.
Ms. Fernandez: No, sir, we don't have any problems.
75. APPOINT ANGEL URQUIOLA, CHARLES GARAVAGLIA, CHARLES FLOWERS
AND GEORGE WILLIAMS AS MEMBERS OF ZONING BOARD.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: On the Zoning Board, reappoint Charles Garavaglia and Angel
Urquiola.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second, and if you could yield to me, Commissioner Regalado, I
appreciate it.
Commissioner Regalado: You have any appointment?
Vice Chairman Teele: On what board?
Commissioner Gonzalez: No, sir, I don't.
Vice Chairman Teele: On what board are we talking about?
Commissioner Sanchez: What board are we talking about?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Zoning Board.
Commissioner Regalado: Zoning Board.
Commissioner Sanchez: Oh.
Vice Chairman Teele: You don't have any appointments.
Commissioner Gonzalez: No, I don't, but I need to address the Commission on the Zoning
Board.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, let's just carry this motion. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
276 March 27, 2003
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-318
A MOTION A MOTION APPOINTING ANGEL URQUIOLA AND
CHARLES GARAVAGLIA AS MEMBERS OF THE ZONING BOARD.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez, you're recognized.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, I just discovered two days ago that every
Commissioner that sits in this dais has two permanent appointments to the Zoning Board. The
only Commissioner that has one appointment is District 1 Commissioner. How will you call that
if that were the case? In February we had two appointments and you would have only one.
What will you call that?
Vice Chairman Teele: You could call that a violation of the Civil Rights Act -- Federal Civil
Rights Act.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I'm glad you mentioned it because that's the way I feel about it.
Vice Chairman Teele: I mean, it really is.
Commissioner Gonzalez: It is, you know.
Vice Chairman Teele: You know.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I appointed two members to the board. My two members got to the
meeting and one was told "You just go home. You can't talk and you can't vote, so go home,"
so I don't know, Mr. Attorney, how we can solve this. Do you want me to hire legal counsel so
we defend the interest of my appointments? Maybe I can get some probono Attorneys friends of
mine that can, you know --
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner --
277 March 27, 2003
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): We'll take a look at the issue, Commissioner. I was not --
Commissioner Gonzalez: How soon?
Mr. Vilarello: Immediately.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you so much. I really appreciate it, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- it's a serious matter.
Commissioner Gonzalez: It is a serious matter.
Vice Chairman Teele: I mean, every district is entitled to equal representation --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Of course.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- under the Voting Rights Act and even under the so-called guise of
democracy. People can't run roughshod over districts, and that's the whole point, and you know,
Miami hasn't had a good law suit on this, but the fact of the matter is, is that the Constitution
does fully apply and everyone is equally protected whether you're politically in or politically out.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Exactly.
Vice Chairman Teele: So I think --
Commissioner Regalado: But if I --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- in all fairness --
Commissioner Regalado: But you know, that case is not the only one. If you check all the
appointments, you'll see that in some boards some Commissioners have one, some
Commissioners have two. To me, I don't understand that, why they did it. I guess that they did
it before we came to district and we ran by group, Group 4, Group -- because I run citywide the
first time in Group 4, and I remember that I had one appointment and one chairmanship at that
time.
Vice Chairman Teele: The problem was this, just so that everybody understands it, when this
Commission was a Mayor and four Commissioners, with the Mayor being a ceremonial
commissioner, every thing was divided two, two, two, two. When you created a Mayor and then
gave the Mayor appointments, which you may or may not -- should have done, given the fact
that the Mayor is an executive and getting legislative appointments, then there were some boards
that wound up with some shortage, and what we need to do is instruct the City Attorney to sit
278 March 27, 2003
down and work with you, if necessary, to bring in outside council on voter rights issues, if
necessary, but I'm certain that we can fix this thing legislatively if there's going to be a will --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- by a majority --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you --
Vice Chairman Teele: -- of the Commission.
Commissioner Gonzalez: --Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Could I yield to you, Commissioner Regalado, to make my two
appointments?
Commissioner Regalado: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: I would like to reappoint --
Commissioner Regalado: Recognize Commissioner Teele.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- Mr. Charles Flowers and Mr. Georges [sic] Williams.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Sanchez: To --
Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- what board?
Vice Chairman Teele: The board that was under discussion.
Commissioner Gonzalez: The Zoning Board.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: 43.
Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion and a second. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
279 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-319
A RESOULTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AS REGULAR MEMBERS OF THE ZONING
BOARD FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Sanchez: Did we address the Homeland Defense Neighborhood Bond Board?
Vice Chairman Teele: That was the one where the gentleman discuss -- on changing the dates?
Commissioner Sanchez: No, no, no, no, no, no. Don't we make an appointment, I think?
Commissioner Regalado: We already did. We already did.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, we need to go back because I didn't make my appointments on
that one.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Now on blue pages, right?
Vice Chairman Teele: What number is that?
Commissioner Sanchez: The Homeless Defense Neighborhood Bond.
Vice Chairman Teele: What number?
Commissioner Sanchez: I have to reappoint my two appointees.
Vice Chairman Teele: What number?
Commissioner Regalado: What number is it?
280 March 27, 2003
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): It's not on this agenda. It's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for the
next meeting.
Commissioner Sanchez: OK. Thank you.
76. DEFER CONSIDERATION OF SPECIAL CONSENT ITEMS S -CA -1 THROUGH S -CA -
68 (See #79).
Commissioner Regalado: Can we do the blue pages?
Commissioner Sanchez: Blue pages.
Vice Chairman Teele: We left off one special about a $19,000,000 consent item. We never took
that up.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): It's a special consent agenda.
Vice Chairman Teele: Let me just say this. I think, in fairness, we ought to let this thing sit and
look at it and take it up in April where everybody knows what were doing. It's a done deal, but --
if that's all right with you, Mr. Manager? It's waited Don Warshaw. Didn't he approve some of
this stuff?
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: So one more week with five Commissioners won't -- so we would move
that item to the next meeting. All right.
Mr. Arriola: The only reason I brought it up is because you had asked me to bring it up in this
meeting, but I'd be delighted, sir.
77. COMMENTS REGARDING PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CLEANING UP AFTER
TORNADO THAT HIT LIBERTY CITY (See #32 & 104).
Vice Chairman Teele: Blue pages.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Commissioner --
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Can I make one comment?
Commissioner Sanchez: Wait.
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: Before we -- did we address the CA -23? That was the military.
Mr. Vilarello: Yes.
281 March 27, 2003
Mr. Arriola: Yes, we did.
Commissioner Sanchez: We did, OK.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK.
Mr. Arriola: Can I make a comment?
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager, of course, yes.
Mr. Arriola: Because I'm always criticized for being a little too tough with our employees. I
want you to know that tonight we had a tornado, and our wonderful Public Works Department is
out there; they cleaned it up, and they're almost finished with that -- the big mess we had out
there, so I just wanted to bring that up so you would know.
Vice Chairman Teele: And Mr. Manager, you weren't here, but we commended you for being
on top of it --
Commissioner Gonzalez: That's right.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and noted that you were personally leading the charge, and we
appreciate your efforts for our citizens.
Mr. Arriola: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: See, your staff will tell you the bad news; they don't tell you the good
stuff, huh?
Mr. Arriola: Well, I -- that's why I brought it up, because they did an outstanding job getting out
there and fixing the problem.
78. DEFER CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED LEGAL ACTION AGAINST BUNKERS OF
MIAMI AND OTHER PARTIES TO THE COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY
SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10, 2003. (See #4.15 & 5)
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney, you had something.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Yes, Commissioner. Item CA -18 was deferred to 6
o'clock. We've met and this -- and I'd like to request that this matter be deferred to the April 10
meeting.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Motion to defer for the, what April 10?
282 March 27, 2003
Mr. Vilarello: April 10 meeting.
Commissioner Gonzalez: April 10 meeting.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: It wasn't as simple as we thought?
Mr. Vilarello: Hopefully, by the 10th we'll be able to withdraw that item altogether.
Vice Chairman Teele: All in favor of the motion to defer by Commissioner Gonzalez, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-320
A MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED LEGAL ACTION
AGAINST BUNKERS OF MIAMI AND OTHER PARTIES TO THE
COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10,
2003.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
79. DEFER CONSIDERATION OF SPECIAL CONSENT ITEMS S -CA -1 THROUGH S -CA -
68 TO COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10, 2003. (See
#76)
Vice Chairman Teele: And just so that the record is clear, could we just go ahead and defer it to
the next agenda, what do you call that, Special CA (Consent Agenda) items --
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Special CA items --
283 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: -- 1 through --
Mr. Vilarello: -- 1 through 68.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- 68, so moved by Commissioner Gonzalez and second by
Commissioner Regalado. Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed have the same right.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-321
A MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF SPECIAL CONSENT ITEMS
S -CA -1 THROUGH S -CA -68 TO THE COMMISSION MEETING
CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10, 2003.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
80. DIRECT MANAGER TO ORDER COMPLETE AUDIT AND QUARTERLY PROGRESS
REPORTS OF POLICE PROPERTY ROOM.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Blue pages. We have a key to the City here to present.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I think it's not going to be presented today, unless you go and find
them.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right.
Vice Chairman Teele: Who would like to go first on their blue pages?
Commissioner Sanchez: We'll go by districts, if you don't mind?
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner, any way you'd like to do it. District 1.
284 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you, sir. Yes. I'm sure that all of you received all the audit
report on the property unit of the Miami Police Department, and I'm sure that all of you read it,
and let me tell you, I was very disappointed and very concerned when I went through -- when I
read every paragraph of this audit report, and one thing that really concerns me is that in every
single inspection, it was a spot-checking or a spot -- yeah, spot-checking of different items, and
in every single item, even though it was done just on spots, there are very serious comments, and
actually, I could say that according to this report, everything is out of compliance, and I'm
requesting, with all due respect, that a complete, full-blown audit be done out of the property
room, and that is my first item on the blue pages.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is that a motion?
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Victor Igwe (Auditor General, Auditor General's Office): Commissioner, can I -- ?
Commissioner Gonzalez: I don't know if the audit has to be -- is that done in the form of a
motion or is -- ?
Commissioner Regalado: Well, we don't have an auditor yet for the Commission, so we have to
direct the Manager to --
Vice Chairman Teele: He could move to direct the Manager --
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- to have the internal auditor to do it.
Mr. Igwe: Commissioner, can I say something before the motion?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, sir.
Mr. Igwe: Going back to do that audit now will not really be very cost effective because
normally, when we do audits, we do them on a sample basis, and they've already started fixing
some -- most of the problems. If we go back now, we will find exactly the same problems that
we're already having that are poor. They pretty much accepted all the findings. They didn't
argue with any of the findings, so I probably will suggest or recommend that you give them some
time to implement adequate internal control procedures, and maybe we'll go back like in about a
year or so to determine the effectiveness of what they have in place.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Let me tell you.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): We need you -- I'm sorry, can we get your name for the
record, please.
285 March 27, 2003
Mr. Igwe: Name, Victor Igwe, Internal Audit.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Let me tell you, I don't have a problem with that, but going to the lack
of fidelity bond coverage -- it says the misappropriation note on page 8 and 9 would have been
recovered if the City have fidelity bond coverage. A similar outage finding was noted in the
other report of `98/'80, dated November 6, 1997 --
Mr. Igwe: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- so that means that since 1997, we're carrying this problem and
nothing has been done, and we're in 2003.
Mr. Igwe: That's correct, sir.
Commissioner Gonzalez: So what you're telling me is just give them an opportunity. How
many more years are we going to (UNINTELLIGIBLE)? What do you propose, another 20
years?
Mr. Igwe: Well, that's exactly what I'm saying. If we go back, the same problem will still be
there, so --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Well, then we have a serious problem. Because if you're the auditor
and you do an audit and whenever you do an audit, you write a report -- an audit report --
Mr. Igwe: Right.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- and there is supposed to be compliance, and if we go back and we
still have the same problems and they are not corrected, then Mr. Manager, I don't know what to
tell you. I mean, then we're out of --
Mr. Igwe: I believe they've started addressing some of the --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- then we're totally out of control. Then we're totally out of control.
Mr. Igwe: I think they've already started fixing most of the problems. I think they're here to
speak for themselves.
Commissioner Gonzalez: And let me clear -- let me put this clear for the record. I'm not
blaming the new Police administration for these problems because this goes back to `97, but we
have -- according to this report, we don't have control of firearms, we don't have control of
monies, we don't have control of narcotics, we don't have control of anything. Well, might as
well don't have, you know, a property unit. Just put it in the parking lot.
Mr. Igwe: That's a true statement.
Commissioner Sanchez: May I?
286 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Sanchez: Now that all these issues of great concern have been identified in the
audit, I guess the next question is what are we doing to correct the illness of that property room?
I mean, I just glanced through it, and really, I mean, I was shocked that for so many years that
type of lack of accountability, lack of responsibility, lack of, you know, walking in with having
no credentials -- I scanned it through the audit. I think now the appropriate issue is to -- you
know, for you to tell us what exactly is the Police Department to assure that these actions don't
happen again in the property room.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Well, if you read (UNINTELLIGIBLE) detail, you'll have a heart
attack because --
Commissioner Sanchez: Oh, no. I --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- you being a police officer -- an ex -police officer, you will have a
heart attack.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, I just -- first of all I'm shocked that anyone could walk in and just
go in and take money, take a firearm, put it back later; go in through the drugs and possibly take
the drugs out. I mean, there's a lot of things that could have gone wrong. I'm not saying they
went wrong, but the report clearly says that there was a lack of accountability in the property
room, so now what we'd like to know -- what this legislative body would like to know is what
actions is the Police Department taking to correct that?
John Gallagher: Commissioner, that's a very legitimate question. John Gallagher, Assistant
Chief, Administrative Division, Miami Police Department. When Chief Martinez arrived in
January of this year and took the reigns as Police Chief in Miami and then brought me on board,
one of the first places I went to look was our property room. You haven't been in the business.
This is a ticking time bomb in many agencies, not just in our Department, and Chief Martinez
and Chief Timoney have concurred with the findings of Mr. Igwe and his team. There is a lot
that -- I think that there's a lot of problems that they identified and even more. We're finding
more of our own. This is something that didn't happen overnight. It appears that it took years
for things to get this bad. Before this audit came out, Chief Timoney assigned a full major, a full
major in Miami Police Department to go down there with the direct order of finding out the
scope of the problem and to bring to us a comprehensive plan of what we need to do to straighten
this out, and we've had a major working down there for six or eight weeks now. There's a
number of things that we've already started to do and there's a number that we've identified and
that we've had many meetings and also conversations with our bosses at City Hall, but just a
sampling of the things we're doing, if I may. In addition to having the major, who's putting
together this comprehensive plan for the City, we are creating new methods of counting the
property we have. There was little to no controls over money. You're right, Commissioner,
people could come in and take out drugs and money, people within the Police Department.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Not only -- no, no. Let me correct you.
287 March 27, 2003
Mr. Gallagher: Yes.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Put the record correct. Not people could come in and --
Commissioner Sanchez: Policemen.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- take money; people came in and took money, and it's reflected in
here, and another serious concern that I have is that one employee of the City of Miami Police
Department Property Unit took some money from the Property Unit, and after it was discovered
this person was allowed to retire under the drug program or whatever you call it, and it's
reflected in this audit -- and Mr. Manager, I have a serious problem with that, because if a person
was stealing money from the property room of the Police Department, how can we allow that
person to retire and don't face criminal charges? I bet you that if I drop a match on the floor here
in City Hall, I'd be arrested within five minutes, OK, so I don't know how this got away, but it's
very serious and it is here, reflected by the auditor of the City of Miami. We have a -- it's even a
fake in financial of the City of Miami. Supposedly, according to the audit report, monies that are
confiscated are supposed to be deposited in a bank, in an interest-bearing account, and at one
point we were talking about $2,000,000. Would you imagine the interest in $2,000,000 that the
City didn't collect? So it's series. I mean, it's serious problems. We've got series problems
here.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Yeah, and he'll continue. I'm checking with this. I'm almost sure
that we did not accept that retirement by the way, but let me double check on that and I'll let you
know in a few minutes.
Commissioner Sanchez: Could you proceed with -- ?
Mr. Gallagher: Yes, please. It's my understanding, Mr. Manager, that she did file her
paperwork; it is not final, and the criminal charges, if there were to be any, would be determined
by the prosecutor's office, but there is no argument here that that's a place in need of a serious
fix and that what we're starting on now. Just to give you a laundry list, if I may. New
refrigerators are needed down there, so we're working on that. New cages to separate the items
to make sure we have a consistent chain of custody; separate the evidence from other items that
we keep down there, uniforms and quartermaster items. We need to do an inventory, and we're
trying to find out what that might cost. We're not even sure what's down there, to be honest
with you.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I know. I know you're not --
Mr. Gallagher: We need to do --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- sure what's --
Mr. Gallagher: -- an honest --
288 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: I know you don't know what's there.
Mr. Gallagher: We need to find out what's down there and then maybe we could find out what's
missing, but that's something that we need to do and we're speaking to our superiors about how
to afford that. You're right about the money, but it's also something that before the audit came
out, we identified right away. Two million dollars can bring a lot of money -- needed money
into this city, and we've been working with the Legal and the Budget people to find out if we can
take that money, and it's crazy to hold it downstairs, literally, in a vault collecting no interest
maybe for years. It makes absolutely no sense, never mind the potential for corruption, so these -
- we agree with this audit. We have been working for the past six weeks with our colleagues in
Budget and in Legal to verify that we can collect the money for the City coffers, the interest on
that money. We're repackaging the narcotics. That was another area that was rightfully pointed
out in the audit. We have done some things to improve the ventilation and the air conditioning
down there so this evidence doesn't rot. We're doing things to clear out backlogs. One of the
things that was mentioned in the report is we have some items for cases that were closed ten
years ago taking up valuable space. We have a limited amount of space in that property room.
We have to clear that backlog out. We have to work better with the State Attorney to get the
authority. We can't just dismiss those things, even if the case is closed, without their permission,
and we are doing that.
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK. Mr. Gallagher, I'm sorry.
Mr. Gallagher: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Gonzalez: What is your rank, sir, with the Police Department, major or chief or --
Mr. Gallagher: Assistant chief --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Assistant chief.
Mr. Gallagher: -- Administration Division.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Assistant Chief, I don't want to take advantage of my colleagues
and take forever with this issue.
Mr. Gallagher: Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Where is the auditor?
Commissioner Sanchez: The what?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Igwe, what do you recommend -- how much time would you said
that we should give the Police Department to get their house in order?
289 March 27, 2003
Mr. Igwe: Our yellow books (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that we use to do audits require us to go
back periodically. I will say that in about a year.
Commissioner Gonzalez: In about a year?
Mr. Igwe: Yeah. Give them some times to put the, you know, adequate control procedures in
place, then we go back and verify --
Commissioner Gonzalez: All right.
Mr. Igwe: -- the effectiveness.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I will ask you to please provide the City Commissioners and myself --
my colleagues and myself with a report of the progress that has been done in the property --
Commissioner Sanchez: Maybe a month --
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- room unit.
Commissioner Sanchez: Maybe a monthly update on --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Right.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- what --
Mr. Igwe: OK.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- you're doing.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Or quarterly. Are we --
Commissioner Sanchez: Or quarterly, yeah.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I'm not going to force him to do it monthly, but maybe quarterly to see
what areas have been corrected and we -- what we still have to correct.
Commissioner Sanchez: All right.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you, sir. I really --
Mr. Igwe: Sure.
Commissioner Gonzalez: -- appreciate it.
Mr. Gallagher: Thank you.
290 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Manager.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Gonzalez.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: May I compliment the Assistant Chief on coming clean and --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Sure.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and not spending a lot of our time trying to explain and defend.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Sure.
Vice Chairman Teele: I mean, you know, you've got a much better result by coming clean, I
think, than stonewalling and being defensive, and I don't know you. I don't think I've ever met
you, but I just want to compliment you because it's refreshing to hear someone just come down
and say "We got a problem and we're working on it and hear are the things that we're doing.
We sent a major down," dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, and that's makes everybody, you know -- that
gets the heat off of everybody. It's that, you know, constant, defensive, half-truths, people
skating through trying to say something that they don't mean to say something they don't want to
say, and it was very clear, and it's very clear that you all want to straighten the matter up. At
least you've convinced me you do, and I think it's a real tribute to Chief Timoney and the
Manager that you've come forth and been very direct.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I appreciate it. I also appreciate the frankness.
81. DIRECT MANAGER TO ORDER COMPLETE AUDIT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
TRUST FUND FOR LAST THREE YEARS.
Commissioner Gonzalez: My Item B is -- I'm also interest -- since Mr. Auditor, we're not going
to go back to do the property room of the Police Department. I'm very interested -- and this is
something that has been on my mind ever since I became a Commissioner. Based on things that
I know had happened with this organization and knowing a little bit about the past of this
organization. I would like, Mr. Manager, to request an audit of the Law Enforcement Trust
Fund, and the reason is that the monies from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund was used to
promote chief of Police in this city, OK, to buy tables, events where the chief of Police would
sponsor a complete banquet and all of that, you know, and I also heard comments that monies are
distributed there in envelopes, or at least were. You know, you needed some money; here is an
envelope. You know, let's put it in so and so account, so I will appreciate it, Mr. Manager, if we
could have an audit of the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, OK?
Victor Igwe (Auditor General, Auditor General's Office): Commissioner, we will definitely do
that audit, but we did that audit about two years ago.
Commissioner Gonzalez: I beg your pardon.
291 March 27, 2003
Mr. Igwe: We did that audit about two years ago, and they -- the problem -- the major problem
they had was they were giving monies to community-based organizations, which they were not
supposed to.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Well, let me tell you, let me tell you. That's maybe what they told
you, OK, but this Commissioner that you see sitting here now was used to put up an event for
Mr. Donald Warshaw, OK, and part of the money -- and this Commissioner that you see sitting
here now was used as the president of the Allapattah Chamber of Commerce to put up this event,
OK, and monies were used from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, so you know, I don't know
what they did two years ago, and I'm -- honestly, with all due respect, sir, I don't care what was
done two years ago. I'm asking, sir, with all due respect, Mr. Manager, I want a new, complete
audit report, but I got -- I also understand that there are $50,000 missing from this fund that
allegedly the ex -City Manager and ex -Chief of Police deal with, so you know, I just want an
audit report. I just want a report. I want to know what's going on with these funds. How we're
going to handle -- how are we handling the money, where the money is going to, and what are
we doing with this money?
Mr. Igwe: Which fiscal year are we talking about, just one fiscal year or two years for the --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Pardon me?
Mr. Igwe: -- audit?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes.
Mr. Igwe: Are we talking about on fiscal year audit or two?
Commissioner Gonzalez: I would like to have it for three years. If you can go back three years,
I would like to go back three years.
Mr. Igwe: OK.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): At least from the last audit.
Mr. Igwe: From the last audit.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, at least from the last audit. Right.
Mr. Igwe: OK.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you so much.
Mr. Igwe: Sure.
292 March 27, 2003
82. DISCUSSION CONCERNING CITY CODE ENFORCEMENT
Commissioner Gonzalez: And Item C was discussion in reference to code enforcement, and this
is something that you and I already discussed, Mr. Manager, but I know that probably every
Commissioner in this dais has the same problem that I have with the abandoned -- unsecured,
abandoned properties that are being used to consume drugs and illegal activates and an eyesore
in every neighborhood, and we need to make sure that we have a more proactive -- there be more
proactive in taking care of these problems in our neighborhoods.
83. RELATED TO LIGA CONTRA EL CANCER, INC. TELETHON TO BE HELD AT
COCONUT GROVE EXPO CENTER ON JUNE 11, 2003; AUTHORIZE WAIVER OF FEES
AND PERMITS PERMISSIBLE BY LAW FOR PROVISION OF IN-KIND SERVICES FROM
DEPARTMENTS OF POLICE, FIRE -RESCUE, MUNICIPAL SERVICES, SOLID WASTE,
AND PARKS AND RECREATION, $21,473; ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM SPECIAL
EVENTS FESTIVAL ACCOUNT CONDITIONING SAID AUTHORIZATIONS UPON
ORGANIZERS.
ALLOCATE $1,500 FROM SPECIAL EVENTS FESTIVAL ACCOUNT TO COVER
COST OF COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN BREAKFAST SCHEDULED FOR
MARCH 28, 2003 AT ORANGE BOWL ATHLETIC ROOM.
Commissioner Gonzalez: And Item D is related to Liga Contra Cancer, and I'm asking for
authorization for the waiver of all fees and permits permissible by law for the permission of in-
kind services from the Department of Police, Fire Rescue, Municipal Service, Solid Waste, and
Parks and Recreation, in an amount not to exceed $21,473; allocating from -- allocating funds
from account number 001000921054.6.289, entitled Special Event Festival Accounts. Even
though this is not a festival, this is an event that is done to raise money to cure people with
cancer that don't have insurance and don't have a way to access medical care, so that is my
request for my fellow Commissioners.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Regalado: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Discussion? Commissioner, would you consider amending this to
provide for the $15,000 for the Miami Status of Women to come from the same account --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- for the event -- the breakfast tomorrow --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- which is going to be held at the Orange Bowl, whatever that room is.
Commissioner Sanchez: The Athletic room.
293 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Athletic room, and again, I just think we have a special obligation to
make sure --
Commissioner Gonzalez: I'd be happy to do that, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right, then the amount should be not to exceed $1,500, and the Mayor
may have moved some money from one of his accounts.
Commissioner Regalado: I --
Commissioner Gonzalez: OK.
Commissioner Regalado: -- already did.
Vice Chairman Teele: Huh?
Commissioner Regalado: We already did.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Regalado: Two hundred dollars.
Vice Chairman Teele: But it won't -- anything that's not used will stay in the account --
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- but it's to cover the cost of the breakfast.
Commissioner Gonzalez: All right.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. As amended?
Commissioner Gonzalez: As amended.
Vice Chairman Teele: All in favor, "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
294 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-322
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RELATED TO THE
LIGA CONTRA EL CANCER, INC. TELETHON TO BE HELD AT THE
COCONUT GROVE EXPO CENTER ON JUNE 11, 2003; AUTHORIZING
THE WAIVER OF ALL FEES AND PERMITS PERMISSIBLE BY LAW FOR
THE PROVISION OF IN-KIND SERVICES FROM THE DEPARTMENTS OF
POLICE, FIRE -RESCUE, CONFERENCES, CONVENTIONS AND PUBLIC
FACILITIES AND SOLID WASTE, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$21,473; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO. 001000921054.6.289,
ENTITLED "SPECIAL EVENTS FESTIVAL ACCOUNT;" CONDITIONING
SAID AUTHORIZATIONS UPON THE ORGANIZERS: (1) OBTAINING ALL
PERMITS REQUIRED BY LAW; (2) PAYING FOR ALL OTHER
NECESSARY COSTS OF ALL OTHER CITY SERVICES AND APPLICABLE
FEES ASSOCIATED WITH SAID EVENT; (3) OBTAINING INSURANCE TO
PROTECT THE CITY IN THE AMOUNT AS PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY
MANAGER; AND (4) COMPLYING WITH ALL CONDITIONS AND
LIMITATIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you very much.
295 March 27, 2003
84. DEFER CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ROTATION OF CHAIRMANSHIP ON
BODIES THAT COMMISSIONERS SERVE TO COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY
SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10, 2003.
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Winton has asked that his blue page items be
withdraw, according to his aide. Commissioner -- Number 3, Commissioner Joe
Sanchez.
Commissioner Sanchez: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have several items pertaining to
the CRA (Community Redevelopment Authority) on my Commissioner items. However,
since Commissioner Johnny Winton is not here on Item A, I will ask that this item be
deferred to the next Commission meeting. This item is the discussion concerning
rotating the chairmens [sic] of all boards that the Commission serve on on governing
bodies of the City of Miami, so we'll -- I'll make a motion to defer to the next
Commission meeting, so move.
Commissioner Regalado: Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor, say
aye.
11
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-323
A MOTION DEFERRING CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ROTATION
OF CHAIRMANSHIP ON ALL BODIES THAT COMMISSIONERS SERVE,
SUCH AS THE CRA, BAYFRONT TRUST, ETC., TO THE COMMISSION
MEETING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 10, 2003.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
296 March 27, 2003
85. DIRECT MANAGER TO INSTRUCT DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AUDITS TO
CONDUCT FULL AND COMPLETE AUDIT OF CITY'S COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA); DIRECT THAT FUNDING FOR AUDIT BE
ALLOCATED FROM TAX INCREMENT FUNDS OF OMNI AND SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST CRA AREAS.
Commissioner Sanchez: The item that we universally endorse at the February CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) meeting, the Chairman and other CRA board members welcome the
full audit by Victor Igwe. I think this is a step in the right direction to restore credibility and
transparency at the CRA, so I will be making the motion on resolution directing the City
Manager to instruct the Department of Internal Audit to conduct a full and complete audit of the
City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, so move.
Vice Chairman Teele: Seconded by --
Commissioner Regalado: Me.
Vice Chairman Teele: Seconded. Is there objection? Would you include in that audit, and any
entity that disperses funds on behalf of the CRA? You can't audit the CRA and their books
without auditing the Finance Department and the Budget.
Commissioner Sanchez: I accept the amendment.
Vice Chairman Teele: So that was the intent, is the CRA and the fiduciary as it relates to the
books.
Commissioner Sanchez: Accept the amendment.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
297 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-324
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER TO INSTRUCT THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL
AUDITS TO CONDUCT A FULL AND COMPLETE AUDIT OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AND
ALL ASSOCIATED FIDUCIARY AGENTS, TO INCLUDE, BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, SPECIFIC CONCERNS AS SET FORTH HEREIN;
DIRECTING THAT THE AUDIT BE INITIATED IMMEDIATELY, AND
PROGRESS UNINTERRUPTED THROUGH COMPLETION; FURTHER
DIRECTING THAT FUNDING FOR THE AUDIT BE ALLOCATED FROM
TAX INCREMENT FUNDS OF THE OMNI AND SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST CRA AREAS.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
86. DEFER TO CRA APRIL BOARD MEETING CREATING AND ESTABLISHING
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
Commissioner Sanchez: The other, Item C, which is the Oversight Board -- creating an
oversight board, and I'll go ahead and also defer that one. I believe, Commissioner Teele, that
you wanted to bring this one back to the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), which you
felt that it was the appropriate venue to debate this issue. Do you still feel that way?
Vice Chairman Teele: Yes, but I also think that it would be helpful if Commissioner Winton
were there so we're not debating things twice, and just so that you all know this: Mr. Attorney, I
would hope that you would pass out a comprehensive restructuring consistent with the things that
Commissioner Sanchez has raised, but more consistent with the state law and the interpretations
of how most CRAB are functioned --
Commissioner Sanchez: Florida Statue 163.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- that go even beyond that, under Chapter 163.
298 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Sanchez: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: So I think, if we could get all of those matters before -- and you know, I'd
be more than happy for you to sort of do whatever you'd like to do in terms of looking over all of
it because I think, you know, the goal here is to have more transparency and openness relating to
this.
Commissioner Sanchez: Well, we'll address that issue, so we'll go ahead and send it over to the
CRA, but not this CRA which is on the 31, which I will not be; I will be out of town, so if we
can make it at the next CRA.
Vice Chairman Teele: The next CRA, or we could have a special board meeting, I think would
be the best thing for us to meet.
Commissioner Sanchez: I'd rather it be on the CRA regular agenda.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right.
Commissioner Sanchez: I don't think this needs to be debated.
Vice Chairman Teele: Whatever your preference is. All right. Without objection, the item will
be referred to the CRA for the April board meeting, regular board meeting.
Commissioner Sanchez: That is Item C.
Vice Chairman Teele: Item C.
Commissioner Sanchez: And we deferred Item A. We passed Item B, and then we deferred
Item C.
Vice Chairman Teele: And "D."
87. DEFER CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR
APPOINTMENT OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO OVERSEE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) INSTEAD OF GOVERNING BODY OF CITY
SERVING AS CRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY
SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24, 2003.
Commissioner Sanchez: And then we have -- we'll also defer Item D for Commissioner Johnny
Winton to be present, and if we could defer it to the second meeting in April so we could further
debate the issue and discuss it, so move.
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved and seconded that the item be -- by Commissioner Regalado -- be
deferred to the second meeting in April. Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
299 March 27, 2003
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed, say "no."
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-325
A MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE
ON FIRST READING TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO OVERSEE THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA) INSTEAD OF THE
GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI SERVING AS THE CRA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO THE COMMISSION MEETING CURRENTLY
SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24, 2003.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner, did you have other items?
Commissioner Sanchez: No, sir. Thank you.
88. UPDATE ON REPORT FROM ADMINISTRATION TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS FOR POSSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE
AND PARKING IMPROVEMENTS AROUND SOUTHWEST SOCIAL SERVICES
PROGRAM FACILITY LOCATED AT 25 TAMIAMI BOULEVARD.
Vice Chairman Teele: District 4, Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Regalado: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Several months ago we brought an item
here to the City Commission regarding CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds,
and one of the two -- actually, the only social service program in District 4, and the board -- this
board referred this item to the Parks Advisory Board, to the staff, and finally, we have this before
us, so it's a report from the administration regarding a directive given at the January 9th City
Commission meeting to identify Community Development Block Grants funds for infrastructure
300 March 27, 2003
and parking improvement around the Southwest Social Services Program, located at 25 Tamiami
Boulevard. Now, the reason that we are requesting this fund from CD (Community
Development) is that this building was built several years ago in what used to be a park of the
City of Miami, but it does not have parking, and the clients, although some of them are bused in,
have cars and they park in and around the building in the residential area in the neighborhood,
creating a hardship for the residents and the elderly clients, so I brought this here, with the
support of the Mayor, because I think that if we are -- if we can contribute to build some parking
places, we will facilitate the way that these people attend the service center, and of course, to
create a better quality of life in the neighborhood, so Barbara, could you tell us -- you had
meetings with them, and what is the amount needed and what is the process now?
Barbara Rodriguez: Barbara Rodriguez, Department of Community Development. As an
instruction from this City Commission, we needed to present this to the Parks Advisory Board.
It was presented March 12th. It passed unanimously. We've been working with Southwest
Social Service. The original proposal that they've brought was very understated for the nine
additional parking space. We had a conversation with Southwest Social Services for them to get
additional information of how much it's going to cost. I believe they're here today, if you can --
if they want to address this. The issue behind it is, basically, they went out. They requested
some information to get a feeling of how much we needed. We told them that it was complete
wrong -- it was very little what they were saying that it was needed. We've gotten information
that they're in the process of getting additional bids and they will come back to us, so that's
where we are right now.
Commissioner Regalado: And this includes the fence, which, by the way, was broken by a car
trying to exit the place, so it's fencing, a paved -- it's not a parking structure, by the way. It's
just a paved --
Ms. Rodriguez: For nine additional parking spaces.
Commissioner Regalado: Additional parking. Only nine, you mean?
Ms. Rodriguez: That's the only thing they're requesting.
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Ms. Rodriguez: Nine additional parking spaces.
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Ms. Rodriguez: So, right now, we're waiting for the information that they're gathering so that
we can then make an assessment. In reference to the funding, we have identified funding,
including some from District 4 that have been set aside that could be used to help the Southwest
Social Services for this additional parking, so I think, right now, we're waiting for them to
provide us some information and we will continue working with them. In the even that they feel
they need additional help from us, we'll be in a position to help them as well.
301 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: Thank you. Thank you, so we will know in the next meeting.
89. ESTABLISH WORKING GROUP FOR SIXTY-DAY PERIOD TO REVIEW AND
DETERMINE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF LIVING WAGE INCREASE ON CITY'S FISCAL
YEAR 2003-2004 BUDGET; DIRECT WORKING GROUP TO PRESENT FINDINGS TO
COMMISSION BY MAY 29, 2003.
Commissioner Regalado: The second item, Mr. Chairman, is a discussion concerning the
creation of a working group in charge -- with the responsibility of preparing a report on the
economic impact of a living wage ordinance, and to present their findings to the Miami City
Commission in 60 days, and as -- the membership of the group shall consist of Larry Spring,
Chief Strategic Planning, Budget, and Performance, Rosalie Mark, Director, Department of
Employee Relations, and two members to be appointed by the Mayor. This is part -- and also
Professor Bruce Neison of Florida International University, and this is just a follow-up of what
we discuss here many, many month ago.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Further discussion?
Commissioner Regalado: No discussion at all.
Vice Chairman Teele: Discussion -- further discussion, Commissioner?
Commissioner Regalado: No. I'm -- just, you know, Manager, are you OK with having those
members of your staff work on the study?
Joe Arriola (City Manager): I think they already started the study, so I'm --
Commissioner Regalado: OK, thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. -- on further discussion -- Mr. Manager, I understand that Mayor
Pinellas and somebody is coming out with this study about health care and where we're going.
Could -- you know this, whole living wage thing, I think if people would explain it in the context
of what's really happening is that government is generally subsidizing every contractor; the
airport is subsidizing all of those management companies that are out there, all of those
contractors because if they don't have health insurance, when those people get sick, when their
families get sick, rather than a company that is providing health care, those people go right to the
public health resources, they cash it in, and so it's much easier for a company to say -- bid $3
million on a job and just pay their people as cheap as they can and not provide health care versus
a company that does, and I think part of this living wage issue has got to factor in the health care
component because the real issue, as far as I see it, on the living wage is whether or not health
care is being provided and, you know, health care cost money, and so what I'm very interested in
is getting the research documents or the drafts from the Public Health Trust or from Mayor
302 March 27, 2003
Pinellas office and those places that are studying this because we really need to try to understand
how health care and the provision of health care and the cost of health care fits into the living
wage, because my view is this, the living wage ordinance is not so bad when you factor in health
care, and I really would like to test that, so I strongly support this study Commission, and I
would hope that Mr. Spring and others would help us get that information as quick as possible.
Commissioner Regalado: I have another item, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: On the motion, all --
Commissioner Sanchez: On the motion, I would like to amend that, if we can. You know, we --
it's truly a shame that the City of Miami has part-time employees who have worked for 25 years
in this City. You're talking about part-time employees who never collected retirement, who
never collected on any type of insurance and they've been great employees to the City, and today
they're faced in a situation where, you know, it's shameful and it's sad, and it's shameful that the
City is just going to retire these people and we're not going to afford them anything, so I would
like to amend this study to also look -- I don't know exactly how many employees the City may
have that are part-time employees that retire. I mean, if you want to put 20 years, if you want to
put 25 years, it's fine, but people that have worked for 25 years that have given their life to this
City and today, or tomorrow, or the next day, when they retire, they're not going to get a dime,
and I know several cases whom I've spoken to, and these people come to me and they cry and
they cry because you know what, they never had -- they were always scared that if they complain
they're going to get fired so they kept quiet because they did not want to lose their jobs and
today they were in a situation where they're about to retire or some that have retired, and really
that's something that we need to -- we need to take care of our employees. I mean, we don't
always agree with them, but if one thing that we need to do is, when they retire, we need to take
care of them, so I would like to amend that in this study, if the maker of the motion accepts my
amendment, that they look into those individuals that have worked part-time for the City for 20 -
plus years to see what we can do for them.
Commissioner Regalado: I agree. I accept the amendment.
Mr. Arriola: Can I add a little some -- ?
Vice Chairman Teele: Alright.
Mr. Arriola: Can I suggest something?
Commissioner Regalado: There is a lady 27 years working in this city and well, you know about
the case.
Mr. Arriola: I know the case very well, sir. I would also like to include, if it's OK with you,
temporary.
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes, sir. As a matter of fact, I was coming back to say that; part-time
and temporary employees.
303 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Alright. On the motion, all those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-326
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ESTABLISHING A
WORKING GROUP, FOR A SIXTY-DAY PERIOD, TO REVIEW AND
DETERMINE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF A LIVING WAGE INCREASE
ON THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2003-2004 BUDGET FOR CITY
EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING TEMPORARY AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES
WITH 2O-25 YEARS OF SERVICE; SAID GROUP TO CONSIST OF THE
CHIEF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STRATEGIC PLANNING, BUDGET
AND PERFORMANCE, THE DIRECTOR OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS,
PROFESSOR BRUCE NISSEN OF FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
UNIVERSITY, AND TWO MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE
MAYOR; DIRECTING THE WORKING GROUP TO PRESENT ITS
FINDINGS TO THE CITY COMMISSION BY MAY 29, 2003.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: Further discussion?
90. ALLOW MANAGER FROM MARCH 27, 2003 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2003, TO
PROVIDE CERTAIN RETIREMENT BENEFITS, NOT OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY
ORDINANCE, RESOLUTION OR OTHER APPLICABLE LAW TO EXECUTIVE
EMPLOYEES OF CITY.
Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman, the last thing I have is a resolution of the City of
Miami Commission, with attachments, allowing the City Manager, from March 27, tonight,
through April 30, 2003, to provide certain retirement benefits as listed on Attachment A, not
304 March 27, 2003
otherwise authorized by ordinance a resolution or other applicable law to executive employees of
the City of Miami, and what this does -- and I have the Manager memo (memorandum) here.
What this does is that it gives a window for some executive of the City who chose to remain,
after the window closed in January, to retire after more than 20 years of service in this city, so
that will be my motion.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? Mr. Manager, you have no objection, do you?
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Absolutely not.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. All those in favor, signify by the sign of "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-327
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ALLOWING THE CITY MANAGER, FROM MARCH
27, 2003 THROUGH APRIL 30, 2003, TO PROVIDE CERTAIN
RETIREMENT BENEFITS, AS LISTED ON ATTACHMENT A, NOT
OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY ORDINANCE, RESOLUTION OR OTHER
APPLICABLE LAW TO EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: On this matter, Mr. Attorney, does the Commission have the authority or
right to grant bonuses or cash incentives to employees?
305 March 27, 2003
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): To particular employees, the City Commission has nothing
to do with the salaries or benefits of any particular employee.
Vice Chairman Teele: The motion passes. It was unanimous. Did you have anything else?
Commissioner Regalado: No, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: Would you preside, please?
Commissioner Regalado: Yes, sir.
91. DEFER CONSIDERATION OF REPORT AND FUNDS FOR HISTORICAL
PRESERVATION GRANT OF $225,000 PROVIDED TO PLANNING AND ZONING
DEPARTMENT JULY 10, 2001; DISCUSSION REGARDING $255M HOMELAND
DEFENSE AND NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT BOND; PROPOSED INCREASE TO
ALLOCATION OF $10,000 FOR TOTAL APPROPRIATION NOT TO EXCEED $16,344
FOR DOWNTOWN CITY HOTEL AS COSTS OF 5,000 ROLE MODELS OF EXCELLENCE
BREAKFAST.
Vice Chairman Teele: I'd like to bring up -- first of all, I'm going to make mine very, in the
spirit of collegiality, as Commissioner --
Commissioner Regalado: Commissioner Teele is recognized.
Vice Chairman Teele: Thank you. I'm going to move that Items A, B, and C on my blue pages
be deferred to the next meeting, so move.
Commissioner Regalado: OK. We have --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: -- a motion and second. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Commissioner Regalado: No "nays."
306 March 27, 2003
The following motion was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-328
A MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF THE FOLLOWING ISSUES TO
THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING:
• REPORT AND FUNDS FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION GRANT
OF $225,000 PROVIDED TO PLANNING AND ZONING
DEPARTMENT JULY 10, 2001 (SPECIFICALLY, NAMES, GRANTS
AND CONTACT AMOUNTS OF ALL ENTITIES THAT HAVE
RECEIVED FUNDING UNDER THIS GRANT AND BALANCES);
• $255M HOMELAND DEFENSE AND NEIGHBORHOOD
IMPROVEMENT BOND — POLICE TRAINING FACILITY AND
HOMELAND DEFENSE INITIATIVES, $21M; LITTLE HAITI PARK,
$25M; ORANGE BOWL, $16M, QUALITY OF LIFE $25M (BY
DISTRICT); NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND
ACQUISITION, $21M (GIBSON/RANGE PARKS); SOCCER
COMPLEX, $10M; MARGARET PACE PARK, $4M; CALLE OCHO
IMPROVEMENT, $6M;
• INCREASE TO ALLOCATION OF $10,000 FOR TOTAL
APPROPRIATION NOT TO EXCEED $16,344 FOR DOWNTOWN
CITY HOTEL AS COSTS OF 5,000 ROLE MODELS OF EXCELLENCE
BREAKFAST (PARK OF MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY
CELEBRATION ON JANUARY 20, 2003).
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
92. WITHDRAW PROPOSED NOMINATIONS OF FATHER KENNETH MAJOR TO
REPLACE SHALLEY JONES AND DWAYNE WYNN TO REPLACE LINDA HASKINS ON
MODEL CITY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION TRUST.
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm going to move to withdraw Items F and I, in that the two matters have
already been taken care of in a spirit of collegiality with the Manager. I would so move.
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
307 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion, and a second by Commissioner Gonzalez. All in
favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
The following motion was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-329
A MOTION TO WITHDRAW FROM TODAY'S AGENDA THE
FOLLOWING ITEMS:
PROPOSED NOMINATION OF FATHER KENNETH MAJOR TO REPLACE
SHALLEY JONES ON MODEL CITY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION
TRUST;
PROPOSED NOMINATION OF DWAYNE WYNN TO REPLACE LINDA
HASKINS ON THE MODEL CITY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION
TRUST.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
93. RESCIND MOTION 03-242.1 WHICH HAD APPOINTED FATHER REGINALD JEAN -
MARY AND DANIEL FILS AIME TO HAITIAN BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
COMMITTEE.
Vice Chairman Teele: And as a matter of courtesy, I would like to take up the two items
involving two people that have been waiting here. First, there's a matter that needs to be cleaned
up that probably is a pocket item, but Max was -- had asked, as a result of the Community
Development Public Hearing that was held in the District in which there was a tremendous
outpouring of community residents -- we had over 250 people, and Mr. Cruz stayed from the
beginning to the end and was fully participant, and I want to commend you, Mr. Cruz, because
you add a lot to our -- you represent a lot of Wynwood and we're -- and Allapattah and we're
interested. One of the issues related to the Haitian Bicentennial and why the City is doing
nothing. It's regrettable that the Mayor today didn't get an opportunity to acknowledge it, but
even though the City has designated the Mayor as the permanent co-chair of the Centennial
Celebration -- and I think, in fairness to the City and the Mayor and everyone else, the economic
308 March 27, 2003
conditions in Haiti and the lack of international leadership is also a very important factor, and I
think that's regrettable. We have appointed a committee and that committee is slow getting
started, but what we did is we required that the Grassroots Coalition is the core group that has
made those appointments. Those appointments have been ratified. To clean up the ratifications -
- to clean up two appointments that were previously made, I'm moving to rescind the
appointments of Father Reginald and Daniel Fils Aime because these appointments are made
under a separate category, and I would so move.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Commissioner Regalado: No "nays."
The following motion was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-330
A MOTION TO RESCIND MOTION 03-242.1 WHICH PASSED AT THE
MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 2003, AND WHICH HAD APPOINTED
FATHER REGINALD JEAN -MARY AND DANIEL FILS AIME AS
MEMBERS TO THE HAITIAN BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
COMMITTEE.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Vice Chairman Teele: And the South Florida Historical Society and the Church of Notre Dame
of Haiti will have their individual appointments, so those two entities. Daniel Fils Aime is the
Chairman of the Historic Society, and you may note that he had the Mayor of Charleston here
last month in that Haitians came to this county and fought for American Independence in the
battle of Savannah, but in the battle for America's independence. Mr. Max, would you just
identify yourself for the record? Because a number of community organizations would like to
have a series of scholarly presentations and activities and they're just waiting for the City to get
309 March 27, 2003
our act together, and we are approximately 60 days behind, so Max, if you could just express
your concerns so the Commissioners can hear what I've heard?
Max Romeau: Sure. Max Romeau, 810 Northwest 47th Terrace. We have put together a
coalition of organizations, Haitian community organizations. Right now we have seven. We
have others who are waiting for them to vote so they could actually officially sign on. We're
putting together a plan. What we really want to do is see, obviously January 1, which is Haitian
Independence Day, have a January 1 big event extravaganza where we could have celebration
worthy of the 200th anniversary of Haiti, and we want to have three other events; two academic
discussions about Haiti's impact on the region and the world, including South Florida, obviously,
and also a cultural event which would celebrate Haiti's culture, particularly cultural contributions
to South Florida. There are events which are going to be going on that we have confirmed in
Paris, France; in Montreal, in New York -- several in New York, not only in New York City, but
the United Nations is going to be doing several events in New York; England; several African
countries; Chicago, Washington, D.C., and a number of others, so we want to at least, at a
minimum, given that this is probably the most politically advanced and active Americanized
Haitian community outside of Haiti, we want to at least have the same in Miami that we have in
all these other cities across the world, some of which don't even have a notable Haitian
population, so that's really what we're looking for; two academic events, a cultural event and
then some -- you know, obviously, a big January 1 event. We have several organizations signed
on in support, and you know, we want to make them first-class events all the way.
Vice Chairman Teele: And I talked to the Mayor about this and his chief of staff, as late as
today. They're going to come forward with a recommendation, Mr. Springs [sic], Mr. Manager,
on a budget adjustment and with a specific recommendation. The goal would be that these
recommendations will never come back to this Commission; they would come back to the
Haitian -- the Haiti Bicentennial Coordination Committee, which the Mayor is chairing, and a
part of what we would like to do is keep the Commission informed, and certainly, the goal, of
course, is to move beyond just the festivals, but to try to carry forth with some of the things the
Mayor is talking about relating to the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) and trying to
create more of an international academic and thoughtful body of discussion so that Miami is at
the center of that. In that regard, there is one event that is on my blue pages tonight and that is,
just so that everyone is aware, that before Haiti was independent, its flag was created on May 17,
1803, and so this year's Flag Day activity will be the 200th year of the flag. Haiti's
independence came on January 1, 1804, so the 200th anniversary is January, but the 200th year of
the flag is May 17, and we will be recommending that there be dollars transferred to MSEA
(Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority) so that the City could have a fireworks demonstration
to coincide with an event that's going to be held at Bayfront Park relating to the Flag Day, and so
going back directly to the blue page, Max, it's our intent to -- did we vote to rescind those two
appointments? It's our intent to have this thing done and to confer, you know, with the various
officials around the community that we've agreed on, and by next week that this will be having
its first meeting.
Mr. Romeau: That the committee would be having its first meeting.
Vice Chairman Teele: Its first meeting within the next ten days, OK.
310 March 27, 2003
94. RELATING TO 5 tH ANNUAL HAITIAN COMPAS FESTIVAL TO BE HELD MAY 17,
2003 AUTHORIZE 1) USE OF CITY LIGHT POLES FOR BANNERS 2) REQUEST
BAYFRONT TRUST TO PROVIDE ADVICE REGARDING EXTENSION OF EVENT BY
ONE HOUR 3) REQUEST COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE AIRINGS
OF FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS AND ANNOUNCE TIME AND PLACE OF 1sT HAITIAN
FLAG DAY AND C) REQUEST MANAGER TO PROVIDE ADVICE AND GRANT
WAIVER OF $15,000 PAYABLE TO BAYFRONT TRUST MANAGEMENT AND CITY
SERVICES TO BE SUBMITTED BY 1sT MEETING IN APRIL..
Vice Chairman Teele: And so to go back to the blue pages, I would move that the -- Item E, and
that is a motion relating to the Fifth Annual Festival -- Compas Festival, held May 17, at
Bicentennial Park, authorizing the use of City light poles for banners, including but not limited to
downtown, Little Haiti, Coconut Grove, and requesting that the Bayfront Trust provide advice
regarding the extension of the event by one hour -- and this is the wrong date -- by one hour, and
it's not May 18. I think this is a Saturday, and it would be Sunday morning, and further
requesting that the community --
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, because you're extending past midnight.
Vice Chairman Teele: Past midnight, but it would not be Tuesday. This is the wrong date. It
would be --
Commissioner Regalado: Oh.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- Sunday, and requesting that the Communications Department in the
context of the 200th anniversary of Haiti provide airings and highlights of the 5th Annual
Compas Festival announcing the time and place of the Haitian Flag Day, and further requesting
that the Manager to provide advice and grant waiver payable to the Bayfront Trust Management
for services, and that would be coming back as a part of the next meeting. I would so move.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion and a second. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Commissioner Regalado: It passes.
311 March 27, 2003
The following motion was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03 -3 31
A MOTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RELATING TO THE 5TH
ANNUAL HAITIAN COMPAS FESTIVAL TO BE HELD MAY 17, 2003
AUTHORIZING 1) THE USE OF CITY LIGHT AND POLES FOR
BANNERS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DOWNTOWN, LITTLE
HAITI AND COCONUT GROVE, 2) REQUESTING THE BAYFRONT
TRUST TO PROVIDE ADVICE REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF THE
EVENT BY ONE HOUR TO TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2003; FURTHER
REQUESTING THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT IN THE
CONTEXT OF THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF HAITI TO PROVIDE
AIRINGS OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 5TH ANNUAL HAITIAN COMPAS
FESTIVAL AND ANNOUNCING THE TIME AND PLACE OF THE 1sT
HAITIAN FLAG DAY AND C, REQUESTING THE CITY MANAGER TO
PROVIDE ADVICE AND GRANT WAIVER OF $15,000 PAYABLE TO THE
BAYFRONT TRUST MANAGEMENT AND FURTHER CITY SERVICES TO
BE SUBMITTED BY THE 1sT MEETING IN APRIL.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
95. AUTHORIZE CITY TO SEEK AGREEMENT WITH METROPOLITAN PLANNING
ORGANIZATION (MPO) TO ADVANCE FUNDS AND BE SUBSEQUENTLY
REIMBURSED FOR PLANNING AND EXPEDITING OF DEVELOPMENT OF MLK
BOULEVARD CORRIDOR FROM BISCAYNE BOULEVARD TO NORTHWEST 19TH
AVENUE, PROVIDING IN-KIND COSTS FOR CITY SERVICES IN ASSOCIATION WITH
APRIL ANNIVERSARY OF ASSASSINATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
INCLUDING $10,000 TO ASSIST IN HONORARIUM PROVIDED TO BERNICE KING'S,
(DAUGHTER OF DR. KING) APPEARANCE IN CITY.
Vice Chairman Teele: And then the other item involves the item that the Mayor touched upon
today, and again, I just think we should try to get our money, Mr. Manager. Sixty -Second, MLK
(Martin Luther King) Boulevard -- by the way, the chairman of the board of the Martin Luther
King Foundation takes great offense to referring to 62nd as anything other than MLK Boulevard,
312 March 27, 2003
so if I say MLK Boulevard, I'm referring to 62nd° and since the Chairman is here -- Mr.
Hardemon, do you want to introduce yourself?
Billy Hardemon: Billy Hardemon, 655 Northwest 48th Street, Miami, chairman of the Board of
the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corporation.
Vice Chairman Teele: We're seeking an agreement with the MPO (Metropolitan Planning
Organization) to advance funds -- that would be for the City to advance funds and be
subsequently reimbursed for the planning and the expediting of development along the MLK
Boulevard, from Biscayne Boulevard to 19th Avenue; 19th Avenue is the city limits. If you
remember, the Mayor discussed going from -- actually, he said 95. I'm sure he meant Biscayne
Boulevard, but from Biscayne Boulevard to 19th, and the Unincorporated Dade County will pick
it up, and then Hialeah, but MLK Boulevard is a county road --
Mr. Hardemon: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and all of the costs associated with that are eligible for reimbursement
from the county and the MPO, and rather than fighting about it now, what we're asking the
Manager and his Transportation staff to do, Public Works and transit -- Planning is to seek an
MP -- an agreement from the MPO to be reimbursed, and then to move forward with that, and
further to provide in-kind cost of City services for the services associated with the April
anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, including the provision of $10,000
honorarium to assist in the appearance of the daughter of Dr. King on April --
Mr. Hardemon: Fourth.
Vice Chairman Teele: On April 4th from the special events fund. I would so move.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion and we have a second. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Commissioner Regalado: It passes.
313 March 27, 2003
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-332
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH THE METROPOLITAN
PLANNING ORGANIZATION ("MPO"), FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF
FUNDS TO BE REIMBURSED, FOR THE EXPEDITIOUS PLANNING AND
DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD
CORRIDOR (62ND STREET), FROM BISCAYNE BOULEVARD TO
NORTHWEST 19TH AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA; AUTHORIZING THE
WAIVER OF ALL FEES AND PERMITS PERMISSIBLE BY LAW AND THE
PROVISION OF IN-KIND SERVICES; FURTHER AUTHORIZING A
GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,000, TO PROVIDE FOR
AN HONORARIUM FOR REVEREND BERNICE KING (THE DAUGHTER
OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.) TO BE PRESENT FOR THE 35TH
COMMEMORATING ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSASSINATION OF DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IN THE CITY OF MIAMI ON FRIDAY,
APRIL 4, 2003; CONDITIONING SAID AUTHORIZATIONS UPON THE
ORGANIZERS: (1) OBTAINING ALL PERMITS REQUIRED BY LAW; (2)
PAYING FOR ALL OTHER NECESSARY COSTS OF CITY SERVICES AND
APPLICABLE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH SAID EVENT; (3) OBTAINING
INSURANCE, TO PROTECT THE CITY IN THE AMOUNT AS
PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY MANAGER, AND (4) COMPLYING WITH
ALL CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY
THE CITY MANAGER.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Mr. Hardemon: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: All right. Mr. Hardemon, did you want to just give a little bit about what
you're trying to plan on April the 4th; this may be your 30 -second advertisement.
314 March 27, 2003
Mr. Hardemon: Well, thank you very much. April the 4th, Commissioners, is the 35th
anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. We're using the anniversary as a --
to kickoff our revitalization project for MLK Boulevard. As Commissioner said, his daughter,
Dr. King's daughter, Bernice King, will be our keynote speaker; on that Friday evening, the
Reverend Joseph Lawry will be our keynote speaker; on our Sunday event, you all are welcomed
to come. We're going to block off MLK Boulevard at about 8th Avenue, and you're all invited to
come, as well as the entire community, and I'd like to take this time to thank Vice Chairman
Teele for his support of this event. Thank you.
Commissioner Sanchez: Thank you.
Vice Chairman Teele: And I know that you should be honored that the Mayor included it in his
comments, and I do think MLK Boulevard, which begins in Commissioner Winton's District on
Biscayne Boulevard and comes over to the railroad track and goes through Little Haiti, through
Model Cities and through -- into Hialeah, possibly best -- is one of the better streets -- boulevards
that represents the total diversity, and there's no reason why MLK Boulevard in Miami has to be
like some of the streets that have been named by him across the country, and I commend Mayor
Diaz and his staff, Michelle Spence and others, for the leadership in working to ensure that the
MLK Boulevard is reflective of a world-class city, and Mr. Manager, I appreciate your efforts in
having the graffiti busters and the trash removal staying focused on that. Thank you.
96. WITHDRAW REQUEST OF PROFILE OF DESIGN, ENGINEERING AND
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INVOLVED IN RENOVATION OF CITY HALL AND
FUNDING AND LEGISLATION TO EFFECTUATE LITTLE HAITI HOMEOWNERSHIP
ZONE.
Vice Chairman Teele: I will, in the spirit of harmony, defer the other two items, items -- or
withdraw Items H and J. I would so move.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion and --
Vice Chairman Teele: For discussion.
Commissioner Regalado: -- second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Chairman --
Commissioner Regalado: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- Mr. Manager, I really do think that this is a beautiful project. I think
your Communications director deserves commendations. He's not an engineer. He's not an
architect. I think he's done a wonderful job. I, for one, am very pleased with what has been
presented. I would like to say on the record that I would like -- Mr. McDonald, you know, I'm
talking -- I just said some wonderful things about you. He's not accustomed to it? But I do wish
315 March 27, 2003
that these telephones were not -- I do wish these telephones were not radio transmitted phones.
I'm -- after what happened to Nute Gingridge and all those guys, I'm just nervous. With all due
respect to all of this, these wireless phones are radio transmissions any way you cut them, and
I'm not comfortable with wireless technology, particularly when you're putting them to your ear,
with all due respect to what everybody talks about doesn't happen on these emissions, so I just
wanted to get that in, but the point that I want to make is that I think this City should never again
do a signature project that represents the City without a tremendous affirmative effort to find
minorities and women and others to participate in a project this important, and I know that in
Atlanta, I know that in Cleveland, I know that in New Orleans and Washington, D.C., and other
cities --
Commissioner Sanchez: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chairman Teele: -- someone would have taken the effort to reach out and find qualified
and capable minorities to do that. In fact, the Treasury Department was done by a woman -
owned firm -- was restored in Washington, D.C., by a woman -owned firm, a black firm, that
built most of the churches in the country in the `30s, `40s, `50s and `60s, so it can be done, but
I'm withdrawing the item, and I would call the question.
Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Excuse me, Commissioner, for clarification. Which item
are you withdrawing?
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm withdrawing Items G, relating to the profile of the engineering and
construction services of City Hall, and the Little Haiti Homeownership Zone, which is --
Ms. Thompson: "H."
Vice Chairman Teele: -- H.
Commissioner Regalado: Right, so we're -- we have a motion on --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Commissioner Regalado: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
316 March 27, 2003
The following motion was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-333
A MOTION TO WITHDRAW FROM TODAY'S AGENDA THE
FOLLOWING ITEMS:
• REQUEST OF PROFILE OF DESIGN, ENGINEERING AND
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INVOLVED IN THE RENOVATION
OF CITY HALL;
• FUNDING AND LEGISLATION TO EFFECTUATE THE LITTLE
HAITI HOMEOWNERSHIP ZONE.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
97. ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL $30,000 FROM SPECIAL EVENTS FUNDS TO MARDI
GRAS EVENT ON APRIL 13, 2003 IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI TO ASSIST WITH MEDIA
MARKETING. (See #10).
Vice Chairman Teele: And finally, the Mayor's office and his chief of staff have indicated that
they have no objections to $30,000 going for the project of Mardi Gras and that they will be
coming in in the next meeting with budget adjustments to try to accommodate the balance of the
year, including the Compas Festival, Argentina active -- Argentina and a whole series of things,
and so what I'm trying to do is put everybody on notice that if there's anything between now and
October that's going to be a festival, you need to get to the Mayor's office, Ms. Spence, or to the
special events in the Knight Center, et cetera, because I think next week is going to be -- next
Commission meeting is going to be the last train out till September 30, and that's the way I'm
reading the numbers, so I would move from a special --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, in the same note of, you know, we should all
congratulate Carlos McDonald on the great job that he did here, but at the same time, we would
like to recognize Sarmiento company. I believe it's -- I don't know what the name -- the exact
name of the company, but the people that are installing the bus benches, you know, that we've
been waiting to have bus benches for donating the plasma TV (Television) to the City Hall
improvement. I think it's, you know, deserving that they be recognized.
Vice Chairman Teele: Good. I agree. I would so move that $30,000 from the special events --
317 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion and a second on the --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Thirty-five.
Commissioner Regalado: -- final decision on the --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yep.
Vice Chairman Teele: What's the date of the event?
Ringo Cayard: April 13.
Vice Chairman Teele: And where is it going to be?
Mr. Cayard: Downtown Miami, between 2nd Street to 5th Street.
Commissioner Regalado: Downtown Miami.
Commissioner Sanchez: Thirty thousand.
Vice Chairman Teele: That's the number that was given to me from the Mayor's chief of staff.
Commissioner Sanchez: On top of the 35,000?
Vice Chairman Teele: On top of the 35,000 in-kind that you've already done. You did 35,000
in-kind.
Commissioner Sanchez: In in-kind.
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Thirty-six thousand.
Vice Chairman Teele: And the recommendation that came in is $30,000.
Commissioner Gonzalez: From the Mayor's office.
Vice Chairman Teele: Ms. Spence, where are you? Would you state it on the record, Michelle?
Michelle Spencer: Yes. Recommendation --
Vice Chairman Teele: Your name.
Ms. Spence: Michelle Spence, Mayor's office, Special Events, and the recommendation was
$30,000 to assist with the media marketing portion of the campaign.
318 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: OK. We have a motion and a second. Roll call, please, Madam City
Clerk.
Ms. Thompson: Commissioner Sanchez?
Commissioner Sanchez: Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Thompson: Commissioner Gonzalez?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yes, I will support it, but definitely, the Mayor should be preferring to
approve some monies for a festival that I'm going to have in Allapattah on 20th Street.
Commissioner Sanchez: That's -- you know, that's what (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Gonzalez: So I hope the Mayor, you know, keeps his same type of --
Commissioner Sanchez: No. If you would yield? It's perfectly fine. I support your concept.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Yeah, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Sanchez: I support it at Bayfront Park. I support it today, but we are setting a
bad presence [sic] here.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Me, too.
Commissioner Sanchez: What we're going to have is that everyone who comes here and ask for
$30,000 -- you're going to have the Jewish Foundation, the Cuban National Foundation, the
Puerto Rican foundation, the Turks, the Iraqis; everybody's going to come here and they're ask
for money, and you know what? You -- we cannot stand here and tell somebody else, "No, we
can't give you that money," because we've given it to everybody else, and in the last
Commissioner meeting, with all due respect, Commissioners, I said we have to create a process.
We have to create a process of whatever avenue we want to take, but it's got to be a fair process
because we have great organizations in our community, but then again, we have some that aren't
that great, and when you have the taxpayers, "Well, you just gave them $60,000" -- and I'll stand
up and support your cause, Ringo, because I believe this is a great event for our community --
Commissioner Regalado: Me, too. Me, too.
Commissioner Sanchez: -- but how can I justify somebody else coming next month and saying,
well, you gave them $60,000 and you (UNINTELLIGIBLE) without a project; he just showed
up. He's a good-looking guy. He knows all the Commissioners. He got the money, you know.
I just want to make it fair for everybody. You know, I don't -- because later on, you know, you
people get to call your names and stuff around here when you disagree with people, so I don't
want to end up there, so I want to be fair to everybody.
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
319 March 27, 2003
Mr. Arriola: Commissioner.
Commissioner Regalado: We have a motion, and by the way, the Turks and the Iraqis don't get
along, so we can --
Commissioner Gonzalez: I second the motion.
Commissioner Regalado: We will not be able to fund them in one city. Anyway, we have a
motion and a second. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Commissioner Regalado: It passes.
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman Teele, who moved for its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-334
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RELATED TO THE
GREATER MIAMI MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL, TO BE HELD AT BISCAYNE
BOULEVARD FROM SOUTHEAST 2ND TO NORTHEAST 5TH STREETS,
MIAMI, FLORIDA, ON APRIL 13, 2003; AUTHORIZING A WAIVER OF
FEES AND PERMITS PERMISSIBLE BY LAW FOR THE USE OF THE
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AND THE PROVISION OF IN-KIND SERVICES
FROM THE DEPARTMENTS OF POLICE, FIRE -RESCUE, SOLID WASTE
AND PARKS AND RECREATION, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$37,000; AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED $30,000, TO ASSIST WITH MEDIA MARKETING OF
THE FESTIVAL; AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS, IN A
TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $67,000, FROM SPECIAL EVENTS
ACCOUNT CODE NO. 001000921054.289; SAID AUTHORIZATIONS
CONDITIONED UPON THE ORGANIZERS: (1) OBTAINING ALL
PERMITS REQUIRED BY LAW, (2) PAYING FOR ALL NECESSARY
COSTS OF ALL OTHER CITY SERVICES AND APPLICABLE FEES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE FESTIVAL, (3) OBTAINING INSURANCE TO
PROTECT THE CITY IN THE AMOUNT AS PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY
MANAGER, AND (4) COMPLYING WITH ALL CONDITIONS AND
LIMITATIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
320 March 27, 2003
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
Commissioner Sanchez: And that's a great day.
Mr. Arriola: Commissioner.
Commissioner Sanchez: April 13 is a great day.
Unidentified Speaker: Yep.
Ringo Cayard: That's your birthday. I know. May -- excuse me. May I ask -- because -
Vice Chairman Teele: Are there pocket items, ladies and gentlemen?
Mr. Arriola: Yes, I have --
Commissioner Regalado: Yes, I have --
Mr. Arriola: -- a pocket item.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager.
Mr. Cayard: Because of the time constraint, how early could we have the check, because usually
it takes weeks and months?
Vice Chairman Teele: Ringo, don't do that on the dais. Y'all go talk to him over there. Don't
put him on the spot like that.
Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, but he's right, you know. Mr. Chairman, I have --
Mr. Arriola: I got him here. Thank you.
Commissioner Regalado: -- two brief items.
Vice Chairman Teele: What you say? "Thank you. Where's the check?"
321 March 27, 2003
98. AUTHORIZE $15,000 AS COCONUT GROVE SPECIAL EVENTS AND MARKETING
COMMITTEE MATCHING FUNDS FOR 5TH ANNUAL COMMODORE PLAZA BLOCK
PARTY.
Commissioner Regalado: I have two brief items from the Coconut Grove Special Events and
Marketing Committee. This was approved by the committee and it needs to be brought here. I
have a motion that Coconut Grove Special Events and Marketing Committee respectfully request
the approval of 15,000 in matching funds for the 5th Annual Coconut Grove Commodore Block
Party. Now, this money is from the account of the Coconut Grove Special Events and Marketing
Committee. It's not from the general fund of the City, so I respectfully request the approval of
this motion that I move.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All those opposed, say "no."
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman Regalado, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-335
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$15,000, AS THE COCNUT GROVE SPECIAL EVENTS AND MARKETING
COMMITTEE'S MATCHING FUNDS CONTRIBUTION FOR THE 5TH
ANNUAL COMMODORE PLAZA BLOCK PARTY.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
322 March 27, 2003
Commissioner Regalado: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: The item has passed.
99. WAIVE 120 -DAY TIME REQUIREMENT FOR APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL EVENT
IN COCONUT GROVE SPECIAL EVENTS AND MARKETING COMMITTEE IN
CONNECTION WITH BLOCK PARTY.
Vice Chairman Teele: Second item.
Commissioner Regalado: The second Item is that we need a waiver of time for an application to
go in for a special event -- in the Coconut Grove Special Events and Marketing Committee. The
committees said 120 days, but there is a group that is going to do a block party in Coconut Grove
and they got one day, one day late with the application, so the committee voted in favor of asking
the Commission to waive the 120 -day requirements for this application, so that is my motion.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All those opposed?
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its adoption:
MOTION NO. 03-336
A MOTION WAIVING THE 120 -DAY TIME REQUIREMENT FOR
APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL EVENT IN COCONUT GROVE SPECIAL
EVENTS AND MARKETING COMMITTEE IN CONNECTION WITH
BLOCK PARTY.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
323 March 27, 2003
100. AUTHORIZE MANAGER TO SUBMIT APPLICATION TO FLORIDA INLAND
NAVIGATION DISTRICT (FIND) FOR GRANT FOR UNDERWATER WAYS
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF MOORING FIELD AT DINNER
KEY MARINA, $484,064 WITH MATCHING FUNDS, $538,000 ALLOCATED FROM
HOMELAND DEFENSE FUND.
Vice Chairman Teele: Can we hear from the Attorney -- I mean, the Manager on the FIND
(Florida Inland Navigation District) grant?
Commissioner Regalado: On the what?
Vice Chairman Teele: I'm sorry.
Christina Abrams: On behalf of the Manager, a -- Good afternoon, Christine Abrams, Director
of Public Facilities. I'm recommending a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an
application and execute the necessary documents in a form acceptable to the City Attorney to the
Florida Inland Navigation District for grants for underwater ways assistance program for the
implementation of a mass mooring field at Dinner Key Marina -- behind Dinner Key Marina.
The City of Miami is seeking funds in the amount not to exceed $484,064; matching funds in the
amount of 538,000 are allocated from the Homeland Defense Fund, so this is not requesting the
funding be spent, but it's requesting Commission approval to apply for the grant and allocate
matching funds.
Commissioner Gonzalez: This comes from the City Manager?
Ms. Abrams: This is coming on behalf of the City Manager.
Commissioner Gonzalez: The Chief Executive Officer? I move to deny, so move.
Vice Chairman Teele: Moved by Commissioner Gonzalez, seconded by Commissioner
Regalado. Is there objection?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Commissioner.
Vice Chairman Teele: Do you have an item on this?
Mr. Vilarello: With regard to this, just to make sure that the resolution contains the authorization
to submit on the appropriate FIND documents. The State is very particular with regard to the
adoption of the resolution, and we ran into a problem last year on this so --
Vice Chairman Teele: As amended to require that it's submitted on the appropriate FIND
documents. Christina, you got that? Thank you. All those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
324 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed, say "no."
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gonzalez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-337
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND EXECUTE
THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY, TO THE FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT
FOR A GRANT FUNDING UNDER ITS WATERWAYS ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MOORING AND
ANCHORAGE FIELD IN THE DINNER KEY MARINA AREA.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
101. EXPRESS OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 1164 AND HOUSE BILL 113 WHICH SET
FORTH AMENDMENTS TO BERT J. HARRIS, JR. ACT AND ANY AND ALL OTHER
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD SUBJECT LOCAL AND STATE
GOVERNMENTS TO FURTHER LIABILITY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL EXERCISE OF
THEIR LEGISLATIVE AND QUASI-JUDICIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Attorney, would you like to read into the record, and we'll see if we
can -- ?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Yes, Commissioner. There's three items that I'd like the
City Commission to consider.
Vice Chairman Teele: These are very important, Commissioners.
Mr. Vilarello: Two are legislative changes, which direct me --
Vice Chairman Teele: Excuse me just one minute. This is --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Which one are -- ?
325 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: Commissioner Sanchez, these are legislative matters that I just want to
get your attention on them.
Mr. Vilarello: The first one is with regard to the Bert J. Harris Junior Act --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Is that J-349.
Mr. Vilarello: J-03-320.
Commissioner Gonzalez: 320, I don't have that. I don't have a copy of that.
Mr. Vilarello: The Bert J. Harris Act is a private property act --
Commissioner Gonzalez: Oh, I'm sorry.
Mr. Villarello: -- which allows for compensation any time government regulations impact the
value of property -- of private property. There is an amendment up in Tallahassee that
essentially takes away -- we have very few of the Bert J. Harris Act cases in our city. However,
the City of Miami Beach has had a series of these litigations that have gone on under the Act.
We're -- exactly. This resolution would oppose the amendment, which essentially took away all
of the defenses that the City of Miami Beach was successful on, and as well as removes the
statutes -- removes the sovereign immunity that the City's entitled to and makes that the bill
that's presently before the State is retroactive to the commencement of the Bert J. Harris Act.
Commissioner Sanchez: So move.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Mr. Vilarello: So this would be in opposition to the amendment. Thank you.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Move and second. This is a very important legislative matter --
Commissioner Sanchez: It's in opposition to the amendment.
Vice Chairman Teele: This is in opposition to the bill, and does it require that our lobbyists be
informed and --
Mr. Vilarello: Yes, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- instructed, et cetera? Is there objection? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
326 March 27, 2003
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed?
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Sanchez, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-338
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION EXPRESSING
OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 1164 AND HOUSE BILL 113 WHICH SET
FORTH AMENDMENTS TO THE BERT J. HARRIS, JR. ACT AND ANY
AND ALL OTHER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD SUBJECT
LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TO FURTHER LIABILITY FOR
THE CONSTITUTIONAL EXERCISE OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE AND
QUASI-JUDICIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS; DIRECTING THE
CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT CERTIFIED COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION
TO THE HEREIN DESIGNATED OFFICIALS.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
102. URGE MIAMI-DADE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO ADOPT LEGISLATION TO
AMEND CHAPTER FLORIDA STATUTES, 197.3632, AMENDING DEFINITION OF NON -
AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT TO ALLOW FOR COLLECTION OF MUNICIPAL TAX
LIEN CERTIFICATES THROUGH TAX DEED PROCESS.
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): The second legislative item relates to an issue that we have
in the sale of tax deeds. The County has stopped selling our -- non -- or stopped including our
non -ad valorem assessments on the tax deeds that it sells on an annual basis. This request -- this
resolution would request that Chapter 197 of the Florida Statues be amended to allow counties to
include those non -ad volorem assessments in the tax details. It's very effective in our ability to
collect these non -ad valorem special assessments.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Move the resolution, Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Sanchez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: This has significant financial impact, and I hope that Mr. Springs [sic]
and the Budget people are on top of this, and this may be the one that you go to Tallahassee on,
327 March 27, 2003
sir. This is very important. If this is not done, then our fire fees and everything be -- the
compliance factor is going to drop down from 96, 98 percent right down to 80 or 70 -some
percent or worse, so this is a very important bill. On the motion, all those in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): "Aye."
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed, say "no."
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved for its
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-339
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE
MIAMI-DADE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND THE CITY ENGAGED
LEGISLATIVE LOBBYIST(S) DURING THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE
SESSION TO TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO PROMOTE AND ADOPT
LEGISLATION TO AMEND CHAPTER 197 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES,
SPECIFICALLY 197.3632, BY AMENDING THE DEFINITION OF NON -AD
VALOREM ASSESSMENT (I.E. TO ALLOW FOR THE COLLECTION OF
MUNICIPAL TAX LIEN CERTIFICATES THROUGH THE TAX DEED
PROCESS); FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A
COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS DESIGNATED
HEREIN.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
328 March 27, 2003
103. AUTHORIZING CITY ATTORNEY TO (1) SEEK INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FOR
REMOVAL AND ABATEMENT OF AN UNSAFE STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 348 N.E.
20TH TERRACE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, (2) SEEK AND INITIATE ANY AND ALL
APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES AND APPLICABLE ADMINISTRATIVE/CIVIL
ACTIONS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, AN ACTION BEFORE MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY UNSAFE STRUCTURES BOARD, AND (3) INITIATE FORECLOSURE
ACTIONS RELATED TO OUTSTANDING LIENS OF UNPAID CITY CHARGES OR
AMOUNTS WHICH CONSTITUTE A LIEN AGAINST SAID PROPERTY, CODE
ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS AND/OR COSTS AND FEES RELATED TO THESE
VIOLATIONS AT A TIME PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SUBJECT TO ACTION
ON SLUM BUILDING ON 8TH STREET AND 3RD COURT IN OVERTOWN WITHIN 30
DAYS.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a third one?
Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Commissioner, the third item is a request for authorization
to seek injunctive relief for the removal and abatement of an unsafe structure that's located at
348 Northeast 20th Terrace; to seek all appropriate alternatives, administrative relief that we
might be entitled to. This is a property that is holding up the development of the -- I believe the -
- it's for purchase of the Figures property along Biscayne Boulevard, adjacent to Margaret Pace
Park.
Vice Chairman Teele: Well, you know what? I have a problem with this. You know, now for a
developer, we're ready to do whatever we've got to do, but for the City, we've been asking you
on 8th Street and 3rd Court to get the building down, the slum and blighted building, and we're in
a paper chase. We're in a paper chase on all those buildings, and again, it just seems like the
lobbyists and the lawyers and the developers have more clout at City Hall than government has,
and I don't understand how you could be going for injunctive relief on that, but on the other
issues relating to the slum and blight that we've been trying to do, we've been doing it for three
years, so what's the difference?
Commissioner Regalado: Can I amend the motion?
Vice Chairman Teele: By all means.
Commissioner Regalado: I would move that motion predicated on that you act on that specific
building in Overtown; that you have concrete actions on that building in Overtown in the next 30
days, and that no action can be taken on 20th Street until the situation is clear and they're ready to
proceed with the building in Overtown. That would be my motion.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there a second, as amended?
Commissioner Gonzalez: Second.
Vice Chairman Teele: Is there objection? Mr. Attorney --
329 March 27, 2003
Mr. Vilarello: No, there's no objection, Commissioner.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- do you have objections? I mean, the whole issue here is this: We
respond to developers, we respond to lawyers, we respond to lobbyists, but we've got slum and
blight coming into this place and we just keep going through the motion, but when a developer's
project is held up, we can move. It just doesn't add up, so I'm glad you don't have an objection.
All those in favor say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chairman Teele: All opposed.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Regalado, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 03-340
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE
CITY ATTORNEY TO (1) SEEK INJUNCTIVE RELIEF FOR THE
REMOVAL AND ABATEMENT OF AN UNSAFE STRUCTURE LOCATED
AT 348 NORTHEAST 20TH TERRACE, MIAMI, FLORIDA ("PROPERTY"),
(2) SEEK AND INITIATE ANY AND ALL APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES
AND APPLICABLE ADMINISTRATIVE/CIVIL ACTIONS, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION, AN ACTION BEFORE THE MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY UNSAFE STRUCTURES BOARD, AND (3) INITIATE
FORECLOSURE ACTIONS RELATED TO OUTSTANDING LIENS OF
UNPAID CITY CHARGES OR AMOUNTS WHICH CONSTITUTE A LIEN
AGAINST THE PROPERTY, CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS
AND/OR COSTS AND FEES RELATED TO THESE VIOLATIONS AT A
TIME PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW; CONDITIONING SAID
AUTHORIZATIONS UPON CONCRETE ACTION BEING TAKEN AT THE
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 365 NORTHWEST 8TH STREET, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, WITHIN THIRTY BUSINESS DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS
MEETING.
330 March 27, 2003
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Vice Chairman Arthur E. Teele, Jr.
Commissioner Angel Gonzalez
Commissioner Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Joe Sanchez
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Chairman Johnny L. Winton
104. DIRECT MANAGER TO KEEP COMMISSIONERS GONZALEZ AND TEELE
INFORMED ABOUT UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT CONCERNING TORNADO IN MIAMI
THIS AFTERNOON; FURTHER WISHING THE AFFECTED FAMILIES GOD SPEED. (See
#32 & 77).)
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager, I'm advised that the Internet is carrying a story that there
may have been a fatality --
Joe Arriola (City Manager): Yeah. I just heard, sir.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- in the hurricane -- in the tornado that touched down today --
Commissioner Sanchez: See.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- and I would certainly hope that the appropriate City staff, the NET
(Neighborhood Enhancement Team) office, et cetera will work and keep us informed, both
Commissioner Gonzalez and myself, depending upon where this is, but --
Commissioner Sanchez: Wow.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- we certainly wish the family of those that may have been affected, all
of them, and particularly, the bereaved family, Godspeed.
331 March 27, 2003
105. DIRECT MANAGER TO REQUEST CHRISTINA ABRAMS TO WORK WITH
REPRESENTATIVES OF HAITIAN BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION COMMITTEE AND
TO MAKE KNIGHT CENTER AND UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CONFERENCE CENTER
HUB OF EVENTS RELATED TO SAID ACTIVITY.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are there any other matters to come before the Commission tonight? I
know that Commissioner Winton is watching. The time is 10:12. He's --
Joe Arriola (City Manager): I don't think so.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- probably willing to get up now and join us for a cup of coffee
somewhere, but Johnny --
Commissioner Sanchez: I doubt a cup of coffee.
Vice Chairman Teele: -- we wish you well, and I would make a request -- is Christina still here?
Commissioner Sanchez: I doubt a cup of coffee. Move to adjourn.
Mr. Arriola: I think he's in a different world right now.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chairman Teele: Mr. Manager, regarding the Haiti affair, we would like your permission to
work with Christina Abrams to try to make our Knight Center and the University of Miami
Conference Center sort of the unofficial but official hub of the intellectual things and academic
things that we're doing, and we'd like to get your cooperation in getting access to that, and we'll
be coming back asking for support for that activity.
Mr. Arriola: OK.
Vice Chairman Teele: Are there any matters to come before the Commission? Well, is there a
motion regarding the Manager? Is there a motion regarding the Manager? There being no
motion, the meeting is adjourned.
332 March 27, 2003
106. DIRECT MANAGER TO PREPARE APPROPRIATE PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF
ELADIO ARMESTO, WHO SERVED AS STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND MEMBER OF
CITY'S ZONING BOARD, AND WHO PASSED AWAY TODAY.
Commissioner Gonzalez: Mr. Chairman, before we adjourn, I would like to let my colleagues
and City staff and the public looking at this City Commission that I was called and notified that
State Representative Eladio Armesto passed away this afternoon, and he was also a member of
the Code Enforcement Board of the City of Miami for a term of three or four years, so you know,
I send my condolences to the Armesto family.
Commissioner Regalado: Me, too.
Vice Chairman Teele: And the City does -- and we would all like to instruct the Manager's
office to work with us in getting an appropriate proclamation that we all could sign in
conjunction with the Mayor. Thank you very much for bringing that to our attention. May God
bless you all.
333 March 27, 2003
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION,
THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 10:16 P.M.
Attest:
Priscilla A. Thompson
CITY CLERK
MANUEL A. DIAZ
MAYOR
334 March 27, 2003