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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1998-11-16 MinutesCITY MIAMI * ': INCORW OF2ATEU Ilk - COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON November 16, 1998 (Special Meeting) PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERKUTY HALL Walter A FoemanlCity Clerk MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING November 16,1998 ITEM NO. SUBJECT LEGISLATION 1. PERSONAL APPEARANCE: PEGGY DEMON TO READ 11/16/98 INTO RECORD LETTER FROM CONGRESSWOMAN DISCUSSION CARRIE MEEK REGARDING OVERTOWN. 2-5 2. DISCUSS UNITED STATES HOUSING AND URBAN 11/16/98 DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL FUNDING DISCUSSION ALLOCATION DESIGNATIONS - FURTHER DISCUSS 5-9 INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS' NEEDS FOR HUD ALLOCATIONS. 3. INSTRUCT ADMINISTRATION TO EXECUTE 11/16/98 INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT R 98-1091 (DISTRIBUTED AT COMMISSION MEETING OF 9-11 OCTOBER 27, 1998, PREPARED BY COUNSEL FOR CRA) AS MODIFIED BY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BETWEEN CITY AND SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. 4. DISCUSS CITY ADMINISTRATION INTERLOCAL 11/16/98 COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY AND DISCUSSION COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. 11-12 5. APPROVE FIRST READING ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE V OF CODE ENTITLED DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY - FURTHER AMENDING SECTION RELATED TO OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT - TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING (SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY) OF SAID AGENCIES FOR FISCAL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2O04 - TO PROVIDE FOR COMPREHENSIVE SUNSET EVALUATION AND REVIEW OF SAID COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES BY POLICY AND PROGRAM COMMITTEE. 6. SUPPORT JOINT APPLICATION OF FT. LAUDERDALE AND WEST PALM BEACH - FOR SUBMITTAL OF LETTER OF INTENT WITH FLORIDA EAST COAST TRANSIT FEASIBILITY ORGANIZATION - FOR GRANT TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT TRANSIT FOR TRANSIT GREENWAY AND TRI-CITY CORRIDOR STUDY - AUTHORIZE MAYOR TO PROVIDE LETTER OF INTENT. 11/16/98 FIRST READING ORDINANCE 12-22 11/16/98 R 98-1092 22-24 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the 16th day of November, 1998, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at the Miami Arena, Miami, Florida in special session. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m., by Vice Chairman J. L. Plummer, Jr., with the following Commissioners found to be present: ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Joe Carollo Commissioner Wifredo Gort Commissioner Tomas Regalado Commissioner Arthur E. Teele, Jr. Commissioner Joe Sanchez Vice Chairman J. L. Plummer, Jr. Walter J. Foeman, City Clerk Maria J. Argudin, Assistant City Clerk Vice Chairman Plummer: I have been informed contrary to what I was informed previously that the Mayor wishes to preside at this meeting, and as such has asked us not to start until he arrives. It is anticipated that he will be here within the next 15 minutes. So, until such time... Unidentified Speaker: You have an echo up there. Vice Chairman Plummer: You can hear me, but they have an echo. I was told to speak very, very, close. Is that better? Commissioner Sanchez: Can you...? Vice Chairman Plummer: Slam dunk. Commissioner Sanchez: Can you have the staff turn on the lights at the penalty box? Vice Chairman Plummer: ... We have to speak like we are eating the microphone. The Interlocal Cooperation Agreement authorizing and directing the City Manager to execute the Interlocal Cooperation agreement in substantially the attached form between the City of Miami, Florida, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency and the Community Redevelopment Agency for the Omni Redevelopment District. (A) Agreement as distributed the City Commission meeting of November 16, 1998 October 27, 1998, and prepared by the Counsel for CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), (B) City Administration proposes Interlocal Agreement. Unidentified Speaker: [Inaudible — off microphone] Vice Chairman Plummer: The... No, the Mayor is coming. We will have the first reading amending the Charter 14, Article V, entitled Downtown Development/Southeast Overtown/Park West Redevelopment District and Community Redevelopment Agency. The Code of the City of Miami, Florida as amended, and amending certain sections related to the Community Redevelopment Agency for the Omni Redevelopment district to provide for additional funding of said Community Redevelopment Agencies for fiscal years 2000 through 2004 and to provide for a comprehensive sunset evaluation and review of said Community Redevelopment Agencies by the Independent Community Redevelopment Agency and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development funding Policy Program and Procedures Review Committee; more particularly by adding new sections 14-310 through 14-311; containing a repealer provision and a severability clause. And, Commissioner Teele will be offering a pocket item in reference to the"choo- choo" railroad. Again, we are waiting for the Mayor's arrival. Mr. City Attorney. Mr. Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Yes. sir. Vice Chairman Plummer: You might be prepared to answer a question that was asked of me. Should there have been two budgets prepared, one for the Park West Overtown, and one for the Omni portion of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)? Mr. Vilarello: At the time... Vice Chairman Plummer: I don't need the answer sir, until such time as we start the meeting Commissioner Gort: J.L., whar's this number here? Commissioner Plummer: nine -seven -seven -three, 1936. Commissioner Gort: (Inaudible) data? Commissioner Plummer: No, not with me. To my colleagues or anyone that wishes, we have been informed for the people to be able to understand, you have to almost eat the microphone. We are still awaiting the arrival of the Mayor. For your edification, this City Commission will meet tomorrow morning at its regular Commission agenda starting at nine thirty, and there is a full, full agenda. If you have not had the opportunity to see the agenda, it is now published five days in advance on Cable 9 prior to the Commission's meeting. 1. PERSONAL APPEARANCE: PEGGY DEMON TO READ INTO RECORD LETTER FROM CONGRESSWOMAN CARRIE MEEK REGARDING OVERTOWN. Ms. Peggy Demon: How are you doing? Vice Chairman Plummer: I am fine, and yourself? Ms. Demon: Good. I enjoyed your meeting. Vice Chairman Plummer: Thank you. 2 November 16, 1998 Ms. Demon: Good. The Congresswoman has a letter that she wants me to read to the Commission on Overtown. Vice Chairman Plummer: You want to give it to me? Ms. Demon: I have it... Vice Chairman Plummer: All right. You have it ready to go? Ms. Demon: Yes, if I can, can I read it or is it...? Vice Chairman Plummer: Do we have a microphone set up for the public? Commissioner Teele: Right over there. Vice Chairman Plummer: All right. We have a letter from Congress Meek, Congresswoman Carrie Meek to be read at this, by Peggy De... How do you spell, pronounce it? Commissioner Teele: Demon, Demon. Vice Chairman Plummer: Demon. Let me tell you what this Carrie Meek did for this Commission. When we wanted to get 168 policemen we had to come up with 50 percent of the money to be able to be eligible for those monies, for those policemen. Through the good offices of Carrie Meek who personally and single-handedly went before her colleagues and her Commission of Washington and was able to get no dollars by the City. We get the 168 policemen, and I think that amounted to, Mr. Manager, what was it, around three million dollars ($3,000,000)? Mr. Donald H. Warshaw (City Manager): More than that. Vice Chairman Plummer: Near five million dollars ($5,000,000) that Carrie Meek single-handedly delivered to this City and to this community and we love her dearly. You wish to read the letter? Please, remember you have got to eat the microphone. Ms. Demon: OK, can you hear me? Vice Chairman Plummer: Boy can we. Ms. Demon: OK, that's great. My name is Peggy Demon. I am Chief -of -Staff for Congresswoman Carrie Meek who of course, wanted to be here very much. Because for her the mobilization of the Overtown community is a very, very exciting kind of thing for a warrior who has been there for a very, very long time. This letter is to the Mayor who is not here, but will be coming and the City Commission as well as those of you who are in the audience. "Dear Mayor Carollo, City Commissioners and citizens. I am sorry that I could not be here at this very important meeting as my constitutional duties in Washington require my presence there to vote as well as to prepare for the 106 Congress. Today's focus on Overtown is a very important one, and I want to commend Commissioner Teele for mobilizing the community, and also commend the Commission for holding this meeting in the neighborhood. Let me say from the very first onset, that I strongly support any funds that can be redirected to the Overtown neighborhood through the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and all other funding sources. As always, I am continually working on financial and other assistance in this community, and I am always November 16, 1998 ready to work with you or anyone else who is prepared to make things happen here. As I reflect on my career over the years, both in the Florida Legislature and now in Congress, Overtown has been a recurring issue which I have addressed as a part of a larger Black community, a larger Black community issue in general, and sometimes with specific appropriations just for Overtown. Some of the specific projects which were funded from the state level in Overtown include two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) in 1985 and ' 86 for the Inner -City Drop -Out Prevention Program; two hundred and ninety thousand for Chapman House; two hundred and forty-nine thousand for the historic buildings of Overtown; one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for the Overtown Public Health Unit; funding for the Lyric Theater, the historic buildings of Overtown; funding for Booker T. Washington High School are just some of the specific things that come to my mind. Beyond these specific appropriations, while I was in the Florida Legislature, a host of my initiatives had a decided impact upon life in Overtown, including the documentary surtax program providing housing assistance, loan trust funds for the purpose of making mortgage loans to assist families in low and moderate income areas in the construction and rehabilitation of those homes. The Affordable Housing Act of 1988, which created the Coalition for the Homeless, and created Housing Pre-tax, Predevelopment Trust Funds. The creation of a state plan for minority children requiring comprehensive approach to their problems. The creation of comprehensive AIDS (Anti - immune Deficiency Syndrome) policy on a state level. The funding of teenage pregnancy with health departments working on drop -out prevention. The creation of Teenage Parents Housing Assistance Grant. I address bias in the courts and the judicial system by requiring a minority representation in the judicial system. I have provided funding increases in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Grant Program. I helped to create the Housing Finance Authority bank providing for the State's Housing Finance Authority to own and operate a savings and loan bank. I secured Community Development Corporation funding around the State. I created the Enterprise Zone Tax -Exemption. I amended the State lottery bill to include minority set -asides. I created, I helped to createMLK (Martin Luther King) as a paid State holiday. I worked tirelessly to make sure that we had emergency home repair so that low and moderate income persons and the elderly could fix -up their places. And, the list goes on and on and on, Commissioners. Even recently, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, I was able to earmark two point four million dollars ($2,400,000) for Overtown issues. This money is here, ready to be spent in this community." Unidentified Speaker: All right. Ms. Demon: "This consistent level of commitment to this neighborhood and others clearly demonstrates a recognition of tremendous obstacles which mediate necessary improvements and quality of life for the Overtown community. I, therefore, urge you to do whatever you can, at your meeting today, to move this community forward. When we reflect on your record, let it be clear, that as far as Overtown is concerned, you did the right thing. Please feel free to call on me at any time so that we can maximize our efforts in this community. Sincerely, Carrie P. Meek, Member of Congress." Commissioner Plummer: Thank you. Ms. Demon: I want to say to you, Commissioners that I thoroughly enjoyed the CRA meeting today because it gave me a real good feel for some of the issues that you are wrestling with. I think the State audit, you need to make sure that the Congresswoman is on top of those issues and where you are in the process, and that she is constantly given feedback so that as things emerge she can work with you on that. I finally would like to say Commissioners, do what you know is right. We are going to be here, the Congresswoman has made a commitment. Whatever you want, she is going to be there to make it happen. Thank you. 4 November 16, 1998 Vice Chairman Plummer: As always. Thank you. Now, for the record to make it absolutely clear, this is now a special Commission meeting of the City of Miami Commission. I will waive the prayer and the pledge of allegiance since we have already done it once, unless somebody has an objection. Commissioner Sanchez: No objection. Vice Chairman Plummer: This should be a very short meeting, and it's going to be, simply because we have the potential of losing two of our Commissioners. So, we are going to go through the agenda pretty quickly here, and, then, we will have it open for public hearing, public input. 2. DISCUSS UNITED STATES HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ;DEPARTMENT'S' ANNUALFUNDING 'ALLOCATION DESIGNATIONS - FURTHER DISCUSS INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS' NEEDS FOR HUD ALLOCATIONS. Vice Chairman Plummer: The first item is a discussion regarding the annual allocation of funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Mr. Manager. You must talk right into the microphone. Who wishes to discuss the annual allocation of funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development? Does anyone...? Gwendolyn Warren. Ms. Gwendolyn Warren (Director, Community Development): Good evening, gentlemen. Based on a request of Commissioner Gort's, he requested that we provide background information on how the City receives its CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) or HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) funds. What makes us eligible as an entitlement community? And historically over the last five year time period, what has been the formula that HUD has used to award the City of Miami monies and subsequent to that how the Commission itself has allocated funds. I think one of the concerns echoed by the Commissioner is that he wanted to, wanted to know what the process was, and also wanted to make sure that within reason the Commission was pretty much allocating resources along the lines that they consider areas of need. Vice Chairman Plummer: Commissioner Sanchez. Commissioner Sanchez: Yes. Vice Chairman Plummer: Speak... Eat the mike. Commissioner Sanchez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let me just elaborate a little bit about the importance of HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) and CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) money for each Commissioner up here which basically count on this money for a lot of the social events and charitable events in the community; they provide a lot of service. Let me take the leadership position on this item because I am the Commissioner of District 3, which is the poorest district in the City of Miami. Out of the eight targeted areas in the City of Miami, my area, Little Havana has 69,000, and let me just elaborate on it. This is a 1990 census by the U.S... It says here 1990. So, this does not even count the illegal residents that we have in the district. But, just to give you some numbers and just to show you the importance that we rely on this is, my area, Little Havana district has 69,327 total population. Out of that we have 25,626 people living under the poverty level. Now, in the other meeting we elaborated a little bit on how this money is allocated by HUD to the business area, the services. And that is, by population, by living overcrowding, and what's the other one? Ms. Warren: Housing density. November 16, 1998 Commissioner Sanchez: And, housing... yeah. So, that is one of the things that I want to elaborate on, and I have some charts here. And, the important thing is, I want to make sure that through all this, my district does not lose any money allocated, and just to add to my argument is that if anything, my district needs more money allocated. We look at a formula allocated by CDBG target areas and it shows, and I am just going to give you some more information. Little Havana, Little Edison River receives nineteen percent of this. Downtown receives one percent; Coconut Grove two percent; Allapattah sixteen percent; Wynwood seven percent; Overtown six percent; Model City twelve percent; Little Havana thirty-seven percent of CDBG money. And, that's based on the population and the resident overcrowding and some other factors. Now, money allocated in the last... in a couple of years have basically stayed the same while my district has increased in population. The last total that we received for District 3 was thirty thous... thirty million three hundred and twenty-seven thousand six hundred and fifty-nine dollars ($30,327,659.) But it goes to show you that Commission allocated funds, we do get like thirty-four percent. Correction on that. Commission allocated funds we have twenty percent. HUD formerly allocated, we have thirty-seven percent, but when it comes to variance, we are way under and we are the only district that is in the red. Therefore, we don't receive that much funding. So, the importance is, and I add, that whatever happens here and whatever decision is made by this legislative body, I employ to you that my district does not, and will not receive any reduction on HUD or CDBG money. And, I want to make it very clear for the records, I represent District 3 and it's my obligation to be here, and, basically, voice a strong opinion to any money deviated from HUD or CDBG money being allocated to District 3. Thank you. [NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Mayor Carollo entered the Commission meeting at 6:11 p.m.] Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman. Mayor Carollo: Yes, go ahead. Commissioner Gort: I'll yield to Tomas. Commissioner Regalado: Yes, very briefly, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Commission. I think that we have to find out from the Manager whether this fifteen to twenty percent amount can and will be used when we decide to award with some money, the different social programs. The reason being is that last year, you remember when there was some reductions and a lot of social programs suffered and if it had not been for the money that were allocated for the different Commissioners we could not have helped those programs. So, I urge you to tell us, exactly, what does this mean in terms of dollars for the social programs when we start the process, that's all. Mr. Donald H. Warshaw (City Manager): Commissioner, before Ms. Warren responds, the amount went from fifteen to twenty-five percent. Commissioner Regalado: OK, which is much better. Mr. Warshaw: Right, which is better. And, I understand that it's already been tacked on to a bill that I believe is on the President's desk. I am not sure if he's signed it yet. He has signed it, OK. And, it's not just for one year. Ms. Warren: Three. November 16, 1998 Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman. Mayor Carollo: Yes, go ahead, Commissioner Gort. Commissioner Gort: One of the reasons that I asked, and it's ashamed that there is no more people in here for this to be explained because I want everybody to understand how the process works. How the allocations are made so everyone understands that sometimes like Commissioner Sanchez was saying, his was only twenty percent; Allapattah is only one percent. We are a little luckier than that. But, I think it's important so everybody understand what we try to do. When we make a decision here we try to be as fair as we can with the process, and I think it's important that people understand that. Ms. Warren: OK. Again, to complete the report, as Commissioner Sanchez has indicated, the first several pages of the report identifies four key factors that make us the fourth poorest City, and as the letter also indicates, based on some additional data, possibly the most poorest City in the nation. We presented you information on the poverty levels in the eight CD (Community Development) target areas. We also produced you... prepared information on medium and household income in the CD target areas. I think probably one of the most important points to point out there is that based on the state and national average the City is significantly lower and in the eight CD target areas the poverty level is significant. The range median per capita income per family is somewhere between five to eleven thousand dollars ($11,000) per household. The lower end of that range is Overtown. I think that again, what we are looking at is, you need to look at the bigger picture. The first part of it says, why is the City of Miami itself eligible as an entitlement community? Because in eighty-five percent of our community we suffer significant poverty, lack of housing and jobs and other kinds of issues. The City of Miami's Commission chose to take all of its CD resources and target them to eight communities. We provided you again, some demographic information, labor market information, educational obtainments. Again, to give you an overview of what our community looks like. What Commissioner Gort had requested was that, again, after we figure out why we are entitled to special consideration and federal and state funds, that we also look at how we have awarded those funds locally. The first chart, the pie chart, the big one that Commissioner Sanchez read off. Basically, if you take the federal formula and you apply it to the eight CD target areas, it's an indication of how we generate monies, OK. And, again, if it's based on population, poverty, housing, the lion share of the resources or thirty-seven percent is generated in the Little Havana community. Again, I think one of the questions was, are we equitably distributing the funds? That question was not answered by looking at the chart. I think it's also important to say something that Commissioner Teele said. Although population, housing and poverty may generate the monies, it is the Commission's responsibility to figure out how to use the monies to benefit the community as a whole. So, just because funds are generated by certain areas, do not necessarily mean that you want to allocate them back. Case in point, downtown. Downtown generates by population only one percent of the resources, but it could be the greatest job creator for all of the other CD target areas. So, you want to think about it in terms of a planning process. I have never been in an arena, I am hearing this echo, it's terrible. So, again, we talk about how the money is generated, how it gets here. One of the other issues that the Commission was interested in is how have you spent the money, not who is generating it or what areas of poverty generates funds. But over the last five years, how have you managed the distribution. Again, if you look at the first chart, we provided you with a series of them. One that talks about all of the program income, the monies that come through to the Department of Community Development. There are other sources of funds, this only deals with our department. Again, we have given you the total of the one hundred and forty-two million dollars that have been allocated, which districts they have gone to, out of which funding sources. And, again what percent the Commission has allocated and a variance of what percentage of the funds that CD target area actually generates. The next chart is only CD funds. Again, you are looking at, and I won't read it for you because I understand everybody has a chart in front of them. I think you will see that with the exception 7 November 16, 1998 of a couple of districts we are in line. The... and we give you information on the housing which probably, we singled that one out and looked at all of the funding sources for housing because one, most housing projects have multiple funding sources. Secondly, to again get a five-year picture of what we have done with the resources, and I think again, it echoes the whole tenor of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting. When you look at Overtown, and you look at fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) in housing related funds in a five-year time period, or thirty percent of all the housing allocations, you have to admit that fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) on housing in Overtown is not reflected when you drive through Overtown. The issue there, as I would submit to you is planning. A lot of the resources that have gone into the Overtown community have gone into rental rehab. That HOP (Homeownership Properties), those are not Homeownership properties, and there have been significant issues with it. I think that there needs to be a deliberate planning process. On the other hand, when you look at some of the other communities that have received somewhat less funds, but again, when you look at rental versus homeownership, I think the long-term benefit in terms of taxes, wages, and other kinds of reoccurring revenue to those target areas have been beneficial, more beneficial than the rental properties and the issues that go along with them. I think what this basically says, is that we need to look at our spending pattern, we need a five-year plan to ensure the next time we spend one hundred and fifty million or one hundred and forty-two million dollars ($142,000,000) we know where it went. We can reap, see the benefit and I think it's very important that the community be involved in that process and that those funds again, in terms of housing, economic development and business development, that they directly benefit CD target area residents, and that's your report. Any questions? Commissioner Sanchez: I have a question, Mr. Chair. Mayor Carollo: Yes, go ahead. Ms. Warren: Yes, sir. Commissioner Sanchez: Ms. Warren, what additional steps could the City of Miami take to basically try to find more funds for the City of Miami especially the targeted areas? Ms. Warren: I think that probably the one fundamental thing that I would argue and try to impress upon the Commission, is that in order for us to generate additional dollars, and if you only need to look at the poverty statistics for our community to know that we are eligible for just about anything. But one of the things initially when we went for the waiver for the social service programs, it was some of our own legislators who refused to actively pursue us getting that Congressional waiver because of our past administrative practices and procedures. We didn't have the staff, they weren't confident that we could manage it. I think in order to go and get future dollars you have to have sound administration. We have to follow through on our corrective action. We need to have a strong administrative structure so that when we get monies we can be accountable for them. What's occurred in the past, we dolled out monies without accountability. And, what happens when you do that, the community says "what happened?," you have problems with your funding sources and it lowers your credibility when you go back and say, "we are really poor and we need more money." They ask, "who is going to manage the money?" And, we spend too much time and not enough time on good management practices that will make us eligible. We should go after federal funds. In order to do that you need a real good team of professionals to do it, which means we need to fund, support that effort. Commissioner Sanchez: Thank you very much, Ms. Warren. Thank you so much. Mayor Carollo: Any other members of the Commission would like to state anything or to ask any questions? OK, is there any kind of motion that anyone would like to present on item one? November 16, 1998 Vice Chairman Plummer: Move as presented. Mayor Carollo: Discussion. Vice Chairman Plummer: You don't want to... You don't want to have anything as far as a motion by the Commission? Mr. Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): Unless you are directing the Manager to do something, it's a discussion item. Mayor Carollo: OK. Vice Chairman Plummer: Move on. I INSTRUCT ADMINISTRATION TO EXECUTE INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT (DISTRIBUTED AT COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 27, 1998, PREPARED BY COUNSEL' FOR CRA) AS MODIFIED BY COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BETWEEN CITY' AND SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. Mayor Carollo: All right, we are now on item two. A resolution authorizing and directing the City manager to execute the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement. Commissioner Teele: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Carollo: Go ahead, sir. Commissioner Plummer: You have got to be right up to it, Art. Commissioner Teele: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would move that the Manager... Unidentified Speaker: We can't hear you. Commissioner Teele: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would move that the Manager be instructed to execute the agreement as negotiated by the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) as amended by the Gort amendment that makes available the City staff on a contractual basis to carry out any necessary or needed activity based upon the direction of the CRA board. Vice Chairman Plummer: For the purposes of discussion, I second the motion. Mayor Carollo: There is a motion, there is a second. Discussion. Vice Chairman Plummer: Under discussion, Mr. Mayor. I said before and I will say again in the CRA meeting, and that is, that even though we are separate and apart, we are not. The same five people that sit here as Commissioners sit as a CRA board. And, at any time that three members of the party of the CRA wish to amend the Interlocal Agreement by three votes, three favorable votes, they can do such. Hopefully, it would never have to be done, but if something is not working we have the opportunity to fix it. So, I have no problem. Anything has to come before the CRA board. Contrary to the City, not a dollar of CRA money can be spent without approval of the CRA board and as far as I am concerned, I 9 November 16, 1998 take Commissioner Teele's wording and I have quoted it in the document, that the agreement that we are agreeing upon today does not cost the City of Miami or the taxpayers a single dollar in this agreement. So, Mr. Mayor, as long as we retain control we, whatever hat we are wearing, that we do retain control, I have no problem with the Interlocal Agreement as proffered. Mayor Carollo: OK, any further...? Mr. Vilarello: Mr. Mayor, if can address one point? Mayor Carollo: Yes, go ahead. Mr. Vilarello: Commissioner Plummer pointed out that the agreement can be amended by the CRA by three votes. Of course, the CRA and the City both, the City Commission both have to take that action to amend. I think it might go without saying, I think, however, just let me point out that it would require a vote of both the CRA board and the City Commission to amend the agreement once it's entered into. Vice Chairman Plummer: I have sat many times with Commissioners who change their mind quickly, but never with one that changes his mind from putting on one hat to the other. Mr. Vilarello: OK. Commissioner Sanchez: And, if we don't vote fast on this, I might be changing my mind. Mayor Carollo: Any further statements from any of the members of the Commission? Any further discussion, questions? OK, hearing none, can you call the roll, Mr. Clerk? The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Teele, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO.98-1091 A RESOLUTION WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT. (Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the city Clerk.) 10 November 16, 1998 Upon being seconded by Vice Chairman Plummer, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner Wifredo Gort Commissioner Tomas Regalado Commissioner Joe Sanchez Commissioner Arthur E. Teele, Jr. Vice Chairman J. L. Plummer, Jr. NAYS: None. ABSENT: None 4. DISCUSS CITY ADMINISTRATION INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENTBETWEEN CITY AND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. Mayor Carollo: OK. Commissioner Plummer: I have got an "A" and "B", Joe. Mayor Carollo: Well, we are back on the... Commissioner Teele: We have moved "A" not `B." Mayor Carollo: Yeah, "A" is the one that was moved. Right now we are on `B." The City Administration proposed Interlocal Agreement. Vice Chairman Plummer: Mr. Mayor, for your edification, at the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting which you were not in attendance and did not have to be because you are not required to be, there was an indication that the City's portion of the Interlocal or their feelings that were to be expressed had not been prepared prior to the meeting of today, I am sorry, not distributed to us, to the members of the Commission prior to the meeting of today, of the City's proposal. And that was that in fact at this meeting, we would hear what the City's proposal was different than that is put forth by the CRA board. I think it was Commissioner Gort who made the proposal that left if open that we could modify, if in fact, we agreed with any of the City's position on what they felt the Interlocal should be, just to bring you up-to-date. Mayor Carollo: Yes, thank you. Mr. City Attorney. Mr. Vilarello: Mr. Mayor, I believe that the discussion of the proposed Interlocal Agreement by the administration was fully discussed at the CRA meeting. The distinctions between the two were articulated by Ms. Warren, myself and Counsel for the CRA. I don't know if the Commission has any further inquiry. I guess we can address it, but other than I don't know that we have anything else to add. Vice Chairman Plummer: I don't know that this would come under the interpretation of the Interlocal. The question has been asked by a member of the audience of me and I'll ask you, Mr. City Attorney, to delineate on the record. Was there the necessity in your opinion of two budgets to be submitted by the CRA, one for Park West Overtown and a second one for OMNI, because what we did do was, we agreed on one? 11 November 16, 1998 Commissioner Teele: No. Ms. Vilarello: No, the CRA agreed on a consolidated budget, both the Southeast Overtown Park West and OMNI CRA. When this City Commission considers an appropriations ordinance, it will have to have separate line items for both the Southeast Overtown Park West CRA, and the OMNI CRA. Commissioner Teele: Mister... Just for the record, the motion will reflect that the motion was not just a consolidated budget, but it was all of the separate budgets that were read into the record, starting with item budget number two, fiscal year '99 consolidated; Roman numeral three, four, five, six, seven, and eight, as well as, the plan which actually prioritizes this, if you recall this discussion, which is item number nine which is the policy document associated with the budget. It was approved as a separate line item, J.L. Vice Chairman Plummer: OK. I'm just... The question was asked to be put on the record whether it was correct or not. Mayor Carollo: Mr. City Attorney, any further statements that you need to make? Mr. Vilarello: No, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Carollo: OK, any...? Vice Chairman Plummer: The Manager. Mayor Carollo: Anyone else from the Commission, from the administration side? Mr. Donald H. Warshaw (City Manager): No, sir. Mayor Carollo: OK, let's move on, then, to... Vice Chairman Plummer: Final. Mayor Carollo: ... item three. It's a first reading ordinance. Commissioner Teele: Mr. Mayor, I would move the ordinance for first reading which establishes in effect a 5-year plan beginning in October of 1999 and would establish as a goal twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) subject to the annual element being approved each year by the Commission. The annual element would be subject to the annual CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) process and of course, that would be coming up in the April, May, June category, timetable of the coming year for FY '99. 12 November 16, 1998 Mayor Carollo: Well, you are talking fiscal year 2000? Commissioner Teele: We are speaking... The five-year under this ordinance would begin fiscal year 2000, October 1, 1999. However, the first time it would come up for an annual element would be in April, May or March, April, May when the Community Development FY '99 budget comes up. Vice Chairman Plummer: I second the motion. Mayor Carollo: There is a motion, there is a second. Commissioner Teele: Could we read the ordinance into the record? Vice Chairman Plummer: You have to. Mayor Carollo: Well, before we do that why don't we give the opportunity to the members of the Commission to say anything else. Anyone else would like to say something? Commissioner Regalado: Yes, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Carollo: Go ahead. Commissioner Regalado: During the CRA meeting we discussed this five-year plan, and one of the things that was put into the Interlocal Agreement was, if money is available. So, is that...? That's what it was, Mr. City Attorney. Vice Chairman Plummer: Tell it by motion. Mr. Alejandro Vilarello: Yes. Commissioner Teele: Is that language in the ordinance "if available?" Mr. Donald H. Warshaw (City Manager): Yes. Mr. Vilarello: Yes. Mr. Warshaw: Yes. Vice Chairman Plummer: Call the roll, and let's go home. Commissioner Teele: There is a lady wanting to be speaking. It's just going to start it off. Mayor Carollo: Is that clear for the members of the Commission that the... "it's available" that Commissioner Regalado has stated it's on the ordinance. OK, ma'am do you want to address this body? Ms. Karen Cartwright: Yes, I would like to address the entire Commission on the reference of Overtown. Mayor Carollo: Yes, yes, ma'am. If we could have please, your name and address for the record, please. Ms. Cartwright: My name is Karen Cartwright, I am a resident of Overtown. 13 November 16, 1998 Mayor Carollo: Go ahead, ma'am, and your address, please. Ms. Cartwright: My address is 1770 Northwest 5th Avenue. Gentlemen, the people you represent in Overtown are not people with Phd's or MBA's. Webster's dictionary describes representation: "serving as an official delegate or spokesperson." So, if you all are speaking for us, why do we always here your wants instead of ours. The last Commission meeting I attended, October 27, 1998, was spent on personal issues and delays, meanwhile nothing was accomplished, another delay for Overtown. Commissioners, Mr. Mayor, Mr. City Manager, this fight is not about you; your families; your likes or your dislikes; more delays intentional or not. This is about funding the redevelopment of Overtown. Think about your children, think about ours. How would you like a role reversal? You are asking us for help, we delay, ignore and argue, how would you feel, how would you react? Come into the real world, our world. There are people in this very room who are ostriches in human form. They assume that if they ignore events, they will not happen. There are others who say, God will take care of it. He will, but he didn't say sit and do nothing. He enables each of us everyday to be the best person they can be. He will hold us up, but we should use the abilities he gave us. Each person has a talent to do good ensuring every living being is treated as they would treat themselves. Can anyone in this room say they have done every thing humanly possible to follow God's laws? Well, have you? This address is to the people of Overtown because talking to City officials has accomplished nothing for Overtown. But I want you to hear what I am telling the people of Overtown so you will understand the significance of the lack of action on your part in rebuilding Overtown for its people. Gentlemen and residents of Overtown, I know you have heard of the Seminole leader Oseola. He fought Caucasian settlers and presidential envoys. He had a weapon few people knew about. He spoke English and he only communicated in his native tongue. He refused to sign away his people's land, the people he represented. He died refusing. We could take lessons. We should learn from history. Mr. Walter J. Foeman (City Clerk): Two minutes have expired. Ms. Cartwright: I asked Mr. Plummer before this meeting even started for more than two minutes. We haven't changed... Mayor Carollo: Mrs. Cartwright, excuse me. I am chairing the meeting, not Mr. Plummer, that's why the Clerk said two minutes. How much more time do you need? Ms. Cartwright: I need at least eight minutes. Mayor Carollo: OK, is there anyone else from the public that needs to address this Commission on this item before it's over, because...? Commissioner Gort: OK, Mr. Mayor, I apologize, but I have to go. I would like to vote on this and be able to get out. Mayor Carollo: Well, all right. How many minutes, how many people do we have? OK, there are four people. Commissioner, when do you have to go? Vice Chairman Plummer: Now. Commissioner Gort: I should have gone a long time ago. I mean, I have to... a business to run. Mayor Carollo: You too, J. L.? 14 November 16, 1998 Vice Chairman Plummer: No, I... Mr. Mayor, maybe we can accommodate our colleague by going ahead. They are all in favor, they are not going to be up speaking against. We might go ahead and take the vote so that he can be counted. Mayor Carollo: Yeah, if we could do this. If we could go ahead and have the Commission vote upon this item and then... Vice Chairman Plummer: And, it is on first reading. There will be a second reading. Mayor Carollo: It is the first reading. And, then the others that would like to address themselves to the Commission can go ahead and do so to the remaining Commissioners that are here. Vice Chairman Plummer: The motion is on the floor, you would need the motion read. Mayor Carollo: Can you read the ordinance, Mr. City Attorney? [AT THIS POINT, THE CITY ATTORNEY READ THE ORDINANCE INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.] Vice Chairman Plummer: Call the question. Mayor Carollo: Call the roll, please. An Ordinance entitled - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER XIV ARTICLE V, ENTITLED: "DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN PARK WEST REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY" OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA AS AMENDED AND AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS RELATED TO THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY FOR THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF SAID COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES FOR FISCAL YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2O04 AND TO PROVIDE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SUNSET, EVALUATION AND REVIEW OF SAID COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES BY THE INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND U.S. HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FUNDING POLICY PROGRAM AND PROCEDURES REVIEW COMMITTEE, MORE PARTICULARLY BY ADDING NEW SECTIONS 14-310 THROUGH 14-311 CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. 15 November 16, 1998 was introduced by Commissioner Teele, seconded by Vice Chairman Plummer, and was passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner Wifredo Gort Commissioner Tomas Regalado Commissioner Joe Sanchez Commissioner Arthur E. Teele, Jr. Vice Chairman J. L. Plummer, Jr. NAYS: None. ABSENT: None. The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and to the public. [Gort leaving meeting at this point]. Mayor Carollo: Go ahead, Ms. Cartwright. Thank you. Ms. Cartwright: We, as I was saying, we haven't grown. We haven't changed. We have become more deceitful, more manipulative, more subtle. Overtown can be liken to the Everglades. The Seminole and the Mikasoukee Indian tribes call the River of Grass home, they fought to keep it, and even though they lost the war they won their home. The residents of Overtown have taken a stand, enough. Stop treating us like we are nameless and faceless. We are what used to be and will be again. We have a history we intend to keep. Give us our due. If you have lost all morals and principals, then I am wasting all of our time. We cannot change the past but we can improve the future. The CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) is the only department in the City that is not funded by the City. You, the City officials can all agree to disagree. We want funding, now. No more studies, we have been there, done that. Surveys, the kinds engineering surveyors do on the land, not on paper. Accountability by property home owners. The taxpayers cut overgrown lots. Remuneration, when? Streets cleaned; sidewalks repaired; abandoned or condemned buildings to be torn down. We need a memo, chain of command, more excuses. The chain of command only seems to work for some, not for African -Americans no matter what walk of life. Animals are freer than a Black man in America. Animals have protectors, who protects us? Recall, the dread Scott decision? Even though the slave lived in a free territory, he was denied freedom by the U.S. Supreme Court in a controversial decision. Why do we have laws, rules, if we don't enforce them? Never mind that we may not agree with them, they should be enforced for all. Lessons that we do not want to or cannot learn. Trust is lacking in this community, in this City. Whatever freedom the Black man has now, he has because of the Civil Rights Movement. The indignity suffered by Rosa Parks, the late Medger Evers, the late Dr. Martin Luther King. How much more blood do we need to shed to gain equality to be respected? To borrow a phrase from the children, "our ancestors didn't come here with their hands out, they came here in chains and shackles, battered and broken." The City of Miami and Overtown have a volatile domestic relationship, and like any abused spouse, Overtown became a recluse, and like any abused spouse everyone else sees the emotional physical destruction, but the victim. Why does anyone abuse another? It is a never ending cycle unless they empower themselves to break the cycle. Overtown say, I am never going to be an enabler ever again. Empower yourself, you can do it. Grow a backbone or borrow one. No more begging, pleading, demand justice, demand fairness and equality, but most of all freedom. We once were oppressed by slave masters, now we oppress ourselves, why? When we were oppressed, we now feel the need to oppress or less fortunate brothers and sisters. 16 November 16, 1998 Slavery may have been abolished but plantation rules are alive and well. Why do we feel the need to be in control, we belittle, taunt and basically destroy each other. Utter greed does not make you better, trust me, all it says is that you work to get a degree, but an education without common sense is useless. What right does any of us have to endanger and prohibit another. Each person can take one step towards justice and fairness, one small step. If each of us made a commitment to reach out to each other, there wouldn't be us and them, there would be just us. You, gentlemen, need to see the Overtown I see when I walk the street at midnight. Why is it that we preserve history for every race but the African race? Why must we tell our children this used to be, instead of here is? Personally, my countrymen gave their lives, time and talent to help build this City. And, I refuse to be quiet while you ignore this community that was hewn out of mangrove swamps. Many people in this City can claim Bahamian ancestry, or don't worry, be happy people, but when stepped on they became a force to be reckoned with. I am asking you all to remember your grandparents and parents, were they as accepting as we are of injustices? If so, the late Father Theodore Gibson, the late Father John Culmer and the late Mrs. Anne -Marie Acker [phonetic] were figments of our imagination. We haven't learned from our mistakes, therefore, we continue to repeat them. We are losing our culture. Work smarter not harder. Ensure we receive our rightful place and be more accountable by holding our representatives liable. We want a vibrant, thriving community to pass on to our children. The face of Overtown need serious plastic surgery and not lip service behind closed doors. African -American leaders get involved, don't sent the check, come out and see what you bought. Do you not want quality instead of quantity for your hard earned money? Mr. Foeman: Six minutes... Ms. Cartwright: Stop running, stand up and say, no more, never again. Support one another in fair and just practices. We do not have to like one another to work for a common goal. I am not asking you to take one another to dinner, just make life better for each other. How long are we going to allow ourselves to be divided? There is strength in unity. You call yourselves Christians when you action say it's all about self. Remember Judas Iscariot and Benedict Arnold? For how much was Overtown sold? Is that why it is not developed, and who holds the rights, the deed? How much more blood do we need to shed? How much is enough? There is a parable in Matthew in which Jesus answered his disciples question by saying "inasmuch as you have done on to one of these, you have done onto me." Very powerful. Have we done everything for our children, siblings, parents, grandparents ourselves? Gentlemen, get busy, you are 40 years late. Your predecessors are responsible, correct the wrong. It won't be easy, it will... but it will go a long way towards a peace offering. The late, great Bob Marley said it best "Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights." Someone else said, "if you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything" and boy, how we have fallen. We want a trust fund for our children, Overtown developed. Thank you. Mr. Foeman: Mr. Mayor, time has expired. Mayor Carollo: Mary, we need your name and address for the record, please. And, you could all take all the time you need. Vice Chairman Plummer: Oh, oh, no. Oh. Ms. Mary Hill: OK. Good afternoon, good evening. I'm... Is it on? Yeah. Good evening, my name is Mary Hill, I live at 146 Northwest 67th Street. I am the founder of the Economic Opportunity Acts and Amendments in the White House. I am the founder of EOPI, the first of its kind, anti -poverty program to elevate lives of the poor regardless to race, creed or color. Anything coming after that is circumventing, preaching and plagiarizing that we had something to come about in between or tried to divide us, divert our priorities and divert our policies, name, Johnson's War On Poverty. Johnson War on Poverty was 17 November 16, 1998 circumvented. Our laws, on the White House books. From 1962, Johnson's War on Poverty circumvented our laws in 1964, when I expanded from my home and that is the problem. This is no better than, than it was when that was abolished, because it was circumvented and preaching my idea and my plans. Now, in 1967, which I have my documents right here before me if you want to check me out, I am well documented from the White House on federal with the local effect [phonetic] which calls it all at the local level of, and the funds too, Title XX and revenue sharing which I also created to bring back into the poor, poverty areas. Now, it's not CAA anymore when I expanded from my home. It's effective community action which is not in place at this time. And, this regional office which is to be created according to statutory laws and guidelines. Now, here is the transfer over and the end of this shenanigan, or whatever you all call it, that is still blocking, diverting, and not adhering to, and I am going to read you this. "Opportunity Act in connection with its consideration of H period R period 40 and H period R period 6304 which calls for the extension of what I founded, not Johnson's War On Poverty, not anyone else of the Economic Opportunities Act and Amendments." They even had an expiration date which is after the expiration date, we are still doing the same old thing. The expiration date of June the 30th, 1931, and we still have Johnson's War On Poverty staffs, their elected officials. We have a lot of political propaganda and everything else. We are not abiding by the statutory laws and guidelines. Now, we had CETA (Comprehensive Employment Training Act) come in here, a lot of money that I am responsible for, that's coming into these places. And, I want you to know, the whole thing was taken out of the state and I am still hearing state procedures carrying out here no longer than tonight. The were taken out of the hand of state by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) in 1980, and what you have here is people have organized to come up with the program, and they call it, and we organize and we are in office because of the 1980 rights. I am here to tell you tonight, nothing can be organized or put into reality from a riot. It has to be documented, legal laws according to statutory laws is supposed to be here in Dade County at this time. We are the legal, private sector. I hear you all calling all the other people over this department, after I brought it here from my efforts to stop to, to stop this corruption, put it on the right track and put these monies where they belong according to statutory laws and guidelines in these poor areas. Commissioner Sanchez: Mrs. Hill. Ms. Hill: Yes. Commissioner Sanchez: Mrs. Hill, we recognize that you are the founder of that program. Ms Hill: And, also supposed to implement it. Commissioner Sanchez: This whole board... We recognize that and we highly recommend you for those efforts. Ms. Hill: Well listen, this is what I have been getting, a lot of pushing me and derailing me from bringing this administrative department forward to carry out the specifics at this local level under our regional office where I have had was being derailed and we do not have our regional office in place. This is why I am here, and I am going to keep talking. We don't want to hear, we hear this, we know this. This is law today, and this is what we are supposed to do today because we have to carry out our national responsibility. I am to work with the City, the County, state and back to the federal office. We are federal, with a local effect and we have to be adhered to. This is what we have to be... consider in order to straighten out this corruption, because there is a lot to be recognized in specifics to the orders that come in here to be followed and carried out, not creating your own department, not taking the funds and putting through your department. You have to recognize me, Mary Hill, first to set up our regional office and, then, work back with the City, the County and what have you. And, that's why I am very concerned 18 November 16, 1998 for you all to adhere, because the extension that I just read to you, and the laws, this is the United States Code book that I am reading from to carry out our national responsibility which brought here from my efforts even CETA money. You are talking about the riot money, we don't have our riot money. It wasn't yours in the first place, it's for the poor people, that I, from my responsibility. Ms. CarrieMeeks, I heard her note. She came in at the program of reality and she was only brought in from Dade Junior College in order to help train the poor people and so they can get their education from the will of this program. And this program was in reality before any of you, any of you knew about it from my home, and I only expanded into the area, into the community, so we can carry these programs out and help these poor people, not to redevelopment. And, I am noticing your issue here, your... right here. Now, I know documents. This has been watered down. This is put in your own language. This is not the legal federal audits that's here before us. This is your language, this is your special answers and I want you all to correct this and call Mary Hill in as the law permits. You had your orders here more than once, please adhere to it, because if you don't we are going to move legally to a higher ground. Thank you. Vice Chairman Plummer: The next speaker, your name and mailing address, please. Ms. Rosa Green: My name is Rosa Green, address 415 Northwest 6th Street, and that is here in Miami. I don't know if it's too much that I can say that hasn't already been said. But, I am deeply concerned about the monies that I heard that have been misused or misplaced or whatever, and I believe the area that I live in, I think Mrs. Warren said, fifteen million. Well, I want you to know, I am living in a townhouse in Overtown, and that's about all I can say. I mean, our area, I still say it looks like a garbage can. I mean, maybe right in front of my house or maybe the neighbor's house might look all right, but when you are driving home and you see all the open garbage on the street. I mean, we are going to have to, or you politicians or whomever, going to have to take a look at some of the laws and the loopholes that allow people to come in and misuse the monies that is designated for the poor and for the impoverished people. We know that there are some people that buy those houses that you build over there, and I constantly talk of it because I am a victim of those things and they don't... They buy them with no intentions of living in them. And, if you are impoverished, I find it very hard for someone to build a ninety-six thousand dollar ($96,000) home over there and expect the impoverished people to live in it and be able to pay the mortgage when most of them are on Section VIII. Now I was on the board, on a board, I won't call the name of it right now, but one of the ladies that happen not to live in Overtown she told me, she said"you know what it is, the slogan in Overtown", and I didn't say what, I just looked at her. "Feed them and fool them." And, I tell you, you have done an excellent job of it, but I would like to see it changed. And, as we know, culture governs nearly everything that we do. First of all, if some of those people who migrated in other parts of this City had stayed in Overtown and exerted those energies, Overtown wouldn't look like it looks, because I noticed when I arrived in Kendall, some parts ofOpa Locka, some parts of Coral City, those people that bought the homes out there, they looked like they are livable, not in Overtown. We get people who come over there, slap a little paint on those apartments, maybe put a few trees in the yard, and charge you what I know most of you are not paying for your mortgage. Now, we have to know that there are a lot of greedy people. The greedy are taking from the needy. I also know that you are trying to fool the people. You fool the people so much, until now you are trying to fool God. In the name of God, you are stealing from the poor, and I am not talking about no one individual, but, if you are getting the money and there is no accountability and you are not doing what you are supposed to do for it, then what are you doing? What do you call it? But, whatever you call it, it needs to stop. And, I want you to know, I don't like the subject. I had an English teacher that told me, you should never use that subject. But, I found by going down to Dade Auditorium to a meeting about how it is in Overtown, and about the parks, I won't say that I, did it, but I did go down there. It takes a lot of people to make things happen, and therefore I say, we. But, we still aren't satisfied and I think if the money came from us, then you should spend it there. I saw a lot of people today that I have never seen before in Overtown. I see them all the time, and I don't blame them, I would come too. It's like whosoever will, let them 19 November 16, 1998 come and get Overtown's money and use it and split. Commissioners, you got to be accountable for the people that you get to spend those monies in Overtown. You have to make them accountable, and I think you all are accountable because you have got to screen them. And, any other business, in no other country, I am sure, that you could go and do what you do in this one, and we pay taxes. And, I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart, the only difference in us and you, we spend all of our money, and I say it all the time, and you just spent some of yours, and most of ours going in taxes whether we want it or not. But, let me get back before I sit down, in closing let me say this, if somebody buy a house in Overtown, I hope you, Mr. Mayor and the Commissioners, would put something in writing that if they buy those houses they must live in them, and not get them to rent them out to people who can't afford to pay those rents, and not get Section VIII because the government is paying twice. If they give the money to build the house, and, then, you are going to get somebody in there with four or five children and give them Section VIII because like Mr. Carollo, Mayor Carollo, excuse me, said who don't want to work, and, then, we are victims, and we are poor, too. But, we just decide that the government shouldn't take care of something that we bought in the world. We should work and do it ourselves. So, let me tell you, please take a look at the loopholes. Use this word "accountability." If anybody gets money they got to show proof and do what they say with it or they must pay it back, and stop feeding those who you are feeding and fooling. Because, I done stop eating now since they told me that's what they were doing. When I go, I prefer not to eat. So, please, I beg of you, think of the poor. Thank you. Mr. Nathaniel Wilcox: Good evening, my name is Nathaniel Wilcox, I am the Executive Director of PULSE, People United to Lead the Struggle for Equality and my mailing address is 150 Northeast 19th Street. I didn't come this evening to cry over spilled milk. There are a lot of problems that have existed in the City of Miami for many, many years, and we can play the pointing a finger game, who is responsible, who did this, who did not do the other. We... what I am here tonight to do is to say from this point forward, we are going to hold our elected officials very accountable for what happens in our community, especially in the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) area in the development of our communities. Many of the people who are on the Commission now who weren't there when the problem originally started. Some are saying there is seventy-seven million dollars ($77,000,000) in a hole can't be accounted for, and the whole City of Miami was only fifty-eight million in the hole. I find that kind of strange. Nevertheless, I... one of the questions I want to ask, was the money...? You said if the money is available to work the five-year plan, how... exactly what does that mean, if the funds are available, for the redevelopment of the Overtown area? Mr. Alejandro Vilarello (City Attorney): The funding... Mr. Mayor. Mayor Carollo: Go ahead. Mr. Vilarello: The funding would have to be approved by the City Commission on an annual basis. And, I believe that was the condition that the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) board identified with which was simply stating that the funding would be... would have to be approved and available on an annual basis. Mr. Wilcox: OK. I don't think that the City Commission really had a hard time of funding the funds for Parrot Jungle. It wasn't a long drawn out process and a whole lot of this and a whole lot of talking, and begging and pleading had to take place, but you found the money for Parrot Jungle. And, you can find the money for whatever white areas, let me say that again, for whatever other white areas you decide right quickly or your buddies come to you or somebody else, you find the money for the white areas, but you won't find the money, you got to scratch your head. You got to always put, you know, different things, blockages in the way for Black... for the Black community. And, it continues to go down and down and down. And a part of the problem, I think that we have to take responsibility for it ourselves, because we 20 November 16, 1998 weren't diligent in watching what was happening in terms of monies being used and going in other places in our community. But, I am just here to say that, you know, we are not going to go away. The PULSE organization will not go away. We have taken this on as a long protracted fight. It took us four years for the City of Hialeah to hire Black officers after they said, "well, we have enough." And, it's going to be a long drawn out process, but we're here for the long run. And, money has come into our communities, but it has been shifted out into other areas. Like the money that was used for the Gusman. The money that was used for other areas, and it was continually going out until some sand was raised. And, then, when Commissioner Teele started raising some sand, "The Miami Herald" and some of these other folks, who were not elected by the Black community, wanted to get on him for speaking out for what is right for our community. When a Black man stand up and be a Black man, you don't want him to say too much. You want him to scratch his head and say "yes, sir boss", but that time is over with. We are going to only support our Black elected officials who are going to stand up and do what is right for our community. White people stand up and do what's right for their community. Church people stand up and do what's right for their community. The Cubans, you all stand up and do what's right for your community, not only your community, your homeland. So, what's wrong with Black people standing up and demanding and accounting and demanding justice and fairness? So, we are here to work with you; we are not here to fight against you. But, we are going to do what it takes to get the job done, and we are not going to go away. We won't get bought away. We won't be intimidated. Whatever it takes to get the job done. You can take it lightly like Goliath did: he took David lightly. David ended up with his head. So, you can take us likely, we are not... I am not saying this as a threat, but you can take us lightly if you want, but we are going to be here to the end, and we are going to see that Overtown gets what it deserves. [APPLAUSE] Unidentified Speaker: Don't clap your hands. [phonetic — off microphone] Ms. Jacqueline Kleinhans: Hello, my name is Jacqueline Antoinette Kleinhans. I was not allowed to vote because I am not a citizen. Mayor Carollo: I am sorry, excuse me for a second. I need your address for the record. Ms. Kleinhans: I am sorry. Mayor Carollo: Thank you. Ms. Kleinhans: I live at 1917 Northwest 5th Place, Miami, Florida 33136. Again, I was not allowed to vote because I am a citizen. I am a resident of this country. I have been here for about 26 years. I have planted seeds here in that I have three children, three lovely daughters and I also have four grandsons. I am proud to be a mother and a grandmother, I love my children dearly. I have to address Carrie Meeks only in that she did come to my house and she said she would not come back. Well, I am in trouble. Where is Carrie Meeks? It was in her presence, in her absence then, and it's in her absence now. I brought one thing to this country with me that I can remember. I remember a lot of things happening to me here down at Jackson Hospital, down at the Mental, I have been all over this place, and I remember. But, I also remember one thing I brought from my country, from my homeland where I came from, Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica and it goes like this. "Back to Africa by Louise Bennett. Back to Africa , Ms. Mattie, you not know what yah dah say. You have to come from somewhere first before you go back dey. Me know say that your great, great, great grandpa was African, but Mattie, don't you great, great, great grandpa, was a Englishman. Then, your great grandmother father by your father side was a Jew and your grandpa by your mudda side was Frenchy Pale Vous. As according to that, all them blue eyed White American who for great grampa must go back ah England. What a devil of a bump and bore, rig gig and palampam if the world start to go back which part them great grandpuppa come from. Go a 21 November 16, 1998 foreign, seek your fortune, but no tell nobody say, you deh go for seek your homeland for a ride dey so you dey." And you know why, because you loved me. Do you know that song? I can't sing it because I don't know the words, but that's why, because you love me for all the times, you know the story I believe. Thank you. Mr. C. C. Reid: Good evening, Buenas Noches, Bon Soir, Bahaba and Hola. Hello to all of you, especially taxpayers, and all of you elected Commissioners, the Mayor and employees of Miami, Florida. With the exception of Commissioner Arthur Teele, the rest of you got to leave here. We, the taxpayers, are your bosses. Go ahead, keep laughing. What part of that statement all of you don't understand? In all races there are poor, Cubans, Blacks, Haitians, Hondurans, Guatemalans, Jamaicans, Bahamians. I can go on and on. But, dear Lord, we will wake up one day and fill up all of these seats in the Miami Arena and demand what we want or we would not let you out of here. We are long overdue our portion, our equality of freedom and justice. It is not over until it is all over, please believe that. Keep laughing, because this is no joke, this is serious business. And, it hurt us to see you laugh. It hurt us to hear you laugh, but out there, it's no joke. I think some of you need to make a requirement before you become elected, come spend a night with us, see what it's really like, because see, it seems to me and the rest of us, you don't care, you don't care. Because that's the way you show us, because action speaks louder than words, and enough is enough because every time you laugh you really think it's the ki-ki (phonetic), but let me tell you, we are all going to survive, because praise God, He is coming through. Keep laughing. My name is C. C. Reid, located at 1601 Northwest 1st Court, number 201. Overtown, Miami - Dade County, Florida 33136. Our website is WWW dot CCReid dot Com. And, E-mail address is Donation at CCReid dot Com. And, our 24-hour phone number, area code 305 dash 241 dash 7614. You best get on line, because we will be back. Hello? Vice Chairman Plummer: Call the question. Mayor Carollo: Anyone else who would like to address this body? Commissioner Teele: Pocket item. Mayor Carollo: Anyone else? Commissioner Teele: Pocket item. 6. SUPPORT JOINT APPLICATION OF FT. LAUDERDALEAND 'WEST PALM BEACH — FOR SUBMITTAL OF LETTER OF INTENT WITH FLORIDA EAST COAST TRANSIT FEASIBILITY ORGANIZATION - FOR GRANT' TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT TRANSIT'' FOR TRANSIT' GREENWAY AND TRI-CITY CORRIDOR' STUDY - AUTHORIZE MAYOR TO PROVIDE LETTER OF INTENT. Commissioner Teele: Pocket item. Mayor Carollo: OK, there is a pocket item that Commissioner Plummer wants to bring. Vice Chairman Plummer: Mr. Mayor, there is a pocket item from the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) meeting. A resolution supporting the joint application of the cities of Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach to authorize the submittal of a letter of intent with the Florida East Coast Transit Feasibility Organization for a grant to plan and implement transit for the transit Greenway and Tri-City Corridor Study; authorizing the Mayor to provide the necessary letter of intent for the application; providing an effective date; and for such other purposes. Mr. Mayor, it is indicated by the Honorable Mr. Gusterson 22 November 16, 1998 that, in fact, this application was already, this afternoon in our name where the five o'clock deadline was put forward. This will cost the City nothing in way of dollars and I move the resolution. Commissioner Sanchez: Second. I'll second it. Mayor Carollo: Seconded by Commissioner Sanchez. All those in favor signify by saying "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Carollo: It passes unanimously. No "nays." The following resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman Plummer, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO.98-1092 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE FLORIDA EAST COAST TRANSIT FEASIBILITY ORGANIZATION'S ("FEC-TPO") ENDORSEMENT OF A JOINT APPLICATION, ALONG WITH THE CITIES OF FORT LAUDERDALE AND WEST PALM BEACH, TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, AND THE TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY AND SYSTEM PRESERVATION PILOT PROGRAM FOR GRANT(S) TO FUND OR IMPLEMENT A TRANSIT GREENWAY AND TRI-CITY TRANSIT CORRIDOR; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO TRANSMIT A LETTER OF INTENT TO THE FEC-TFO INDICATING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ENDORSEMENT OF SAID APPLICATION. (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 Tomas Regalado Commissioner Joe Sanchez Commissioner Arthur E. Teele, Jr. Vice Chairman J. L. Plummer, Jr. NAYS: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wifredo Gort Mayor Carollo: Is there a motion to adjourn? Vice Chairman Plummer: Always in order, so moved. Mayor Carollo: Moved by Commissioner Plummer, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez. We now stand adjourned. 23 November 16, 1998 THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:15 P.M. FIX WOki IA Walter J. Foeman CITY CLERK Maria J. Argudin ASSISTANT CITY CLERK Joe Carollo MAYOR 24 November 16, 1998