HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1997-02-20 MinutesOF MMING HELD ON FEORUARY 20, 1997
REGULAR
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
CITY HALL
WALTER J. FOEMAN
CITY CLERK
ITEM
NO,
1.
2.
3.
3. (B)
4.
5.
6.
6.1
INDEX
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
February 20, 1997
SUBJECT LEGISLATION PAGE
NO.
VICE MAYOR REGALADO ANNOUNCES
DISCUSSION
BEGINNING OF ATTORNEY -CLIENT CLOSED
2/20/97
SESSION, POTTINGER V. CITY, CASE 88-
2406.
PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS,
DISCUSSION
2/20/97
(A) ASSIGN COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
SEOPW/CRA
AGENCY (CRA) INTEREST IN MIAMI ARENA
R 97-1
LAND LEASE AGREEMENTS TO CITY --
2/20/97
TRANSFER DEED OF LAND UNDER MIAMI
ARENA TO CITY.
(B) DESIGNATE BOARD MEMBER
HUMBERTO HERNANDEZ AS CHAIRPERSON
FOR OMNI AND SOUTHEAST/OVERTOWN
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
BOARDS.
APPOINT COMMISSIONER HUMBERTO
SEOPW/CRA
HERNANDEZ AS CHAIRPERSON OF BOTH
M 97-2
BOARDS OF COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
2/20/97
AGENCY (SEOPW AND OMNI CRA).
ACCEPT TRANSFER OF LAND UNDER MIAMI
R 97-80
ARENA TO CITY FROM CRA -- PREPARE
2/20/97
DEED TRANSFER.
AUTHORIZE $225,000 TO ENGAGE
R 97-81
SERVICES OF ACCOUNTANTS ON CALL TO
2/20/97
PROVIDE TEMPORARY ACCOUNTING
SERVICES TO FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
CONSENT AGENDA.
DISCUSSION
2/20/97
CLASSIFY SURPLUS USED HELICOPTER
R 97-82
PARTS FROM MIAMI POLICE FIELD
2/20/97
SUPPORT SECTION AS CATEGORY "A"
SURPLUS STOCK -- AUTHORIZE SALE OF
SAID STOCK TO SHERIFF'S OFFICES IN LEE,
INDIAN RIVER, AND PASCO COUNTIES,
STATE OF FLORIDA.
1
2
2-4
4-6
C�
9-10
10
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
w
AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF LAERDAL
R 97-83 10-11
BRAND STIFFNECK CERVICAL COLLARS
2/20/97
(UNDER EXISTING DADE COUNTY
CONTRACT NO, 5241-1/98) FROM AERO
PRODUCTS CORP -- FOR FIRE -RESCUE --
ALLOCATE FUNDS ($37,000, ACCT. CODE
001000.280501.6340.71426)
AMEND RESOLUTION 96-858, TO CORRECT
R 97-84 11
SCRIVENER'S ERROR -- REFLECT THAT BID
2/20/97
ACCEPTED FROM INTERCONTINENTAL
HOTEL TO PROVIDE HOTEL
ACCOMMODATIONS AND SERVICES FOR
INTERNATIONAL TRADE BOARD ("ITB"), FOR
HEMISPHERIC HEALTH MINISTERS
CONFERENCE, WAS FOR $36,014.87, NOT
$26,014.87.
RELAX LIMITATIONS ON FIREWORKS --
R 97-85 11
ALLOW STAGING OF PYROTECHNIC
2/20/97
DISPLAYS UNTIL 12:00 MIDNIGHT IN THE
VIZCAYA AREA ON 3/7/97 -- FOR CARNAVAL
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AT BAYFRONT PARK
ON 3/8/97,
ACCEPT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM KIWANIS
R 97-86 12
CLUB OF LITTLE HAVANA FOR $500/
2/20/97
GREENBERG, TRAURIG, HOFFMAN, LIPOFF,
ROSEN, & QUENTEL, P.A., (THROUGH DADE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, INC.) FOR $500/
VALSAN OF MIAMI, $250 / DIGITAL
DRAFTING SYSTEMS, $100 -- TO DEFRAY
COSTS OF STAGING PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL
"SNOW IN THE SUNSHINE" EVENT HELD
12/21 /96.
ACCEPT PLAT: BLUE LAGOON CENTRE
R 97-87 12-13
FIRST ADDITION.
2/20/97
J
7.
(A) REQUEST FROM UNITED STATES
R 97-88
IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION
2/20/97
SERVICES TO EXPEDITE SWEARING IN
CEREMONNIES FOR NEW CITIZENS.-- VICE
MAYOR REGALADO DISCUSSES IMPACT ON
CITY RESIDENTS WHEN NEW IMMIGRATION
LAW CURTAILS SOCIAL BENEFITS.
(B) PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING CITY'S
97/98 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED PLAN --
INCLUDING PROJECTED USE OF GRANT
FUNDS: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT; SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES
HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS;
EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT; HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH
AIDS.-- SEE LABELS 9 AND 11.
8.
DISCUSS RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF 3-LANE
DISCUSSION
AREA FOR VALET PARKING DOWNTOWN BY
2/20/97
SEYBOLD BUILDING -- INSTRUCT CITY
ATTORNEY TO REVIEW /RE -DRAFT
ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE VALET PARKING --
POLICE ADMINISTRATORS TO MEET WITH
ORLANDO SAN MIGUEL,
9.
REQUEST FROM LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL
DISCUSSION
FOR ASSISTANCE TO REMOVE GARBAGE
2/20/97
DEBRIS FORM HURRICANE ANDREW AND
TO FILL OR CLEAN POOL (BROKEN).
10.
DISCUSS NEW WALGREEN'S STORE WITHIN
DISCUSSION
CITY LIMITS -- SEND LETTERS OF
2/20/97
APPRECIATION.
11.
(A) PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING CITY'S
M 97-89
PROPOSED FY 97/98 CONSOLIDATED
M 97-90
PLAN. -- DEFER CONSIDERATION OF FIRST
2/20/97
READING ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING NEW
SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS UNDER
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
(CDBG); HOME; ESG; HOPWA; FOR TOTAL
APPROPRIATION OF $28,987,000 -- SEE
LABELS 7 AND 9.
(B) SPECIAL SERVICE AGENCIES
PRESENTATIONS.
(C) MONEY AVAILABLE FROM WATESS
COALITION BOARD.
(D) HOUSING AGENCIES
PRESENTATIONS.
(E) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
AGENCIES PRESENTATIONS.
(F) PUBLIC FACILITIES AGENCIES
PRESENTATIONS.
13-50
50-57
58-61
61
62-104
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
FIRST READING ORDINANCE: APPROVE
ORDINANCE
CREATION OF SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT
FIRST
BY METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY FOR
READING
MORNINGSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD -- FOR
2/20/97
TWENTY-FOUR HOUR STATIONARY
SECURITY GUARD SERVICE (GUARD
HOUSE) AND ROVING POLICE PATROL
SERVICE -- NOT 1-0 EXCEED $350,000 FOR
SAID CIP PROJECT.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: ROBERT V.
M 97-91
FITZSIMMONS TO DISCUSS ZONING ON
2/20/97
S.W. 28TH STREET BETWEEN S.W. 26TH
AVENUE, JEFFERSON STREET AND S.W.
27TH AVENUE, PROPOSED SITE FOR A
LARGE HOTEL.
DISCUSS PROPOSED PLANS FOR VIRRICK
M 97-92
GYM RENOVATIONS -- PROPOSED
2/20/97
PURCHASE OF NAVY PROPERTY ON
BAYSHORE DRIVE -- EVICTION OF TENATS
AT DINNER KEY BOAT YARD -- DEFER
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: JOHN A.
BRENNAN TO REQUEST REPLACEMENT OF
ROOF ON VIRRICK GYM.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: JORGE A. CALIL,
DISCUSSION
FROM MARCUS & MILLICHAP (REAL ESTATE
2/20/97
BROKEN FIRM), -- TO PRESENT PROPOSAL
TO ASSIST CITY IN SALE OF PROPERTIES --
DISCUSS / REFER ITEM TO CITY MANAGER
FOR FURTHER REVIEW.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: MANUEL
DISCUSSION
GONZALEZ-GOENAGA -- REGARDING
2/20/97
ABOLITION OF CITY OF MIAMI, HIGH
SALARIED EMPLOYEES.
APPROVE REMOVAL OF BARRICADES
R 97-93
FROM CERTAIN STREETS IN MODEL CITY
2/20/97
AREA AS REQUESTED BY METRO
COMMISSIONER BARBARA CAREY.
104-108
108-114
115-125
126-128
129-132
132-136
M
18.
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH
ORDINANCE 136-138
SPECIAL REVENUE FUND: "OUTREACH TO
11442
HOMELESS GUANTANAMO REFUGEES" --
2/20/97
ACCEPT $16,000 GRANT FROM DADE
COUNTY'S HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR
HOMELESS, INC.
19.
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE: AMEND CITY
ORDINANCE 138-141
CABLE TELEVISION LICENSE ORDINANCE
11443
9332 -- EXTEND TERM OF CABLE
2/20/97
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND MIAMI
TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. (TCI) FOR
THREE MONTHS, TO 5/18/97.
20.
SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND
ORDINANCE 141-142
SECTION 22-1 OF CHAPTER 22 OF CODE,
11444
"GARBAGE & TRASH" -- DEFINE/CLARIFY
2/20/97
DEFINITIONS OF "BIOLOGICAL WASTE",
"BIOMEDICAL WASTE", AND
"CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION
DEBRIS" -- FURTHER AMEND SECTION 22-
18.12 (A) .
21.
SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND
ORDINANCE 143-146
CHAPTER 42 OF CODE -- CREATE ARTICLE
11445
VI, SECTIONS 42-82 THROUGH 42-87
2/20/97
ENTITLED "VEHICLE IMPOUNDMENT"; -- SET
FORTH CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH
VEHICLES MAY BE IMPOUNDED
(CONFISCATED)-- PROVIDE FOR
ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY FOR THE USE
OF VEHICLES / PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW
OF IMPOUNDMENT (FORFEITURE)
DECISION.
22.
ALLOCATE $1,217,549 FROM CITY'S FY'95-
R 97-94 147-149
'96 STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES
2/20/97
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (SHIP) -- FOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT BY
EAST LITTLE HAVANA COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT CORP. / FLORIDA HOUSING
COOPERATIVE, INC., / ALLAPATAH
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, INC.
23.
DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF BAY HEIGHTS
DISCUSSION 149-150
SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT FOR EXTRA
2/20/97
POLICE PATROL.
t
►i
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
EXECUTE AGREEMENTS/ ALLOCATE FUNDS
($100,000) FOR SOUTH FLORIDA JAIL
MINISTRIES/ AGAPE WOMEN'S CENTER,
INC -- ALLOCATE $29,280 TO CURE AIDS
NOW, D/B/A FOOD FOR LIFE NETWORK --
FROM FY '96 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS (HOPWA) GRANT
TO PROVIDE HOUSING DRUG
REHABILITATION AND COUNSELING FOR
LOW INCOME PERSONS WITH AIDS.
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH
NEW SPECIAL REVENUE FUND: "DHRS (PY
'97) - ENTRANT / REFUGEE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM" -- APPROPRIATE $112,342 FOR
ITS OPERATION -- FROM GRANT AWARD
THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA EMPLOYMENT
AND TRAINING CONSORTIUM (SFETC).
FIRST READING ORDINANCE: RELATED TO
LOBBYISTS; AMEND SECTIONS 2-313, 2-314,
2-316, 2-318 OF CODE; FURTHER ALL 2-319
SECTION CODE -- ADD / AMEND
DEFINITIONS -- AMEND LOBBYISTS'
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS --
ESTABLISH FEES / DISCLOSURE
REQUIREMENTS -- PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS
FROM FEES -- REQUIRE CITY CLERK TO
MAINTAIN A LOG OF REGISTERED
LOBBYISTS -- AMEND "ANNUAL
STATEMENT" AND RENAMING AS "ANNUAL
EXPENDITURES REPORT" -- SET FORTH
PROCEDURES / REQUIREMENTS FOR
COMPLIANCE -- PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES
FOR VIOLATIONS -- PROHIBIT
CONTINGENCY FEES.
FIRST READING ORDINANCE: AMEND
SECTION 54-86 OF CODE -- REQUIRE
OWNERS OR PROPERTIES THAT FACE,
ABUT OR OPEN UPON MIAMI RIVER TO
AFFIX BUILDING NUMBERS ADDRESS
VISIBLE FROM MIAMI RIVER.
FIRST READING ORDINANCE: ADOPT
REVISION AND CODIFICATION OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY ENTITLED: "THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA" --
REPEAL CERTAIN ORDINANCES.
R 97-95
2/20/97
ORDINANCE
11446
2/20/97
ORDINANCE
FI RST
READING
2/20/97
ORDINANCE
FIRST
READING
2/20/97
ORDINANCE
FIRST
READING
2/20/97
151-153
153-155
155-156
157
158-160
It,
29.
APPROVE FOR NO MORE THAN 90 DAYS --
R 97-96 160-165
ISSUE REVOCABLE LICENSE, TO
2/20/97
SOUTHEAST MARINE REPAIR, INC.
("SOUTHEAST') TO OCCUPY CERTAIN AREA
AT MARINE STADIUM MARINA, AT 3501
RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY -- FOR
PROVISION OF MARINE RELATED
REPAIRS --SOUTHEAST TO PAY CITY $1,500
MONTHLY.
30.
AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO METROPOLITAN
R 97-97 166-167
DADE COUNTY FOR DISPOSAL OF SOLID
2/20/97
WASTE MATERIALS COLLECTED IN & BY
CITY -- PURSUANT TO INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO ON
SEPTEMBER 29, 1995 -- ALLOCATE FUNDS
($7,940,000, ACCT. CODE 422001-421301-
531).
31.
(A) CONTINUE ENGAGEMENT OF LAW FIRM
R 97-98 168-171
OF (OUTSIDE COUNSEL) ECKERT SEAMANS
2/20/97
CHERIN & MELLOT FOR POST -TRIAL
LITIGATION SERVICES AND RETRIAL FOR
CASE OF PERRY L. ANDERSON, JR. VS.
CITY OF MIAMI, JORGE L. FERNANDEZ, & A.
QUINN JONES, III, CASE 92-0435-CIV-
GRAHAM -- ALLOCATE FUNDS ($75,000 SELF
INSURANCE TRUST FUND, # 620.103-661).
(B) MAYOR CAROLLO DIRECTS CITY
ATTORNEY TO RESEARCH PROPOSED
APPEAL CASE OF JOSEF'INA FERNANDEZ --
RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH
APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS.
32.
CONTINUE ENGAGEMENT OF LAW FIRM
R 97-99 172-174
(OUTSIDE COUNSEL) WEISS, SEROTA &
2/20/97
HELFMAN, P.A. IN CONNECTION WITH
PERSONNEL MATTERS PERTAINING TO
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT -- ALLOCATE
FUNDS ($10,000, SPECIAL_ PROGRAMS AND
ACCTS.).
33.
AUTHORIZE ENGAGING LAW FIRM
R 97-100 174-176
(OUTSIDE COUNSEL) WEISS, SEROTA &
2/20/97
HELFMAN, P.A., IN CONNECTION WITH NEW
TIMES NEWSPAPERS OF FLORIDA, INC. VS.
P. ANTHONY RIDDER, DADE COUNTY, CITY
OF MIAMI, & MIAMI SPORTS AND
EXHIBITION AUTHORITY, CASE 96-09374 CA
02 -- ALLOCATE FUNDS ($10,000, ACCT.
CODE 620103-653).
34.
AUTHORIZE SETTLEMENT: ROOSEVELT
R 97-101 176-178
WALKER AND ALBERTA WILSON WALKER
2/20/97
($87,500) --1-O YVONNE WILSON ($62,500).
._f
'S
35.
AUTHORIZE CONTINUED FINANCING OF
PROTRACTED, COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS,
IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $160,000,
FOR POLICE -- ALLOCATE LETF FUNDS,
ACCT. 69002.029032.6, 679,
36.
AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
CONTRACT WITH MIAMI-DADE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, SCHOOL OF JUSTICE AND
SAFETY ADMINISTRATION -- FOR
PROVISION OF TRAINING SERVICES -- FOR
RECRUITS -- ALLOCATE FUNDS ($164,103.40
ACCT. 001000. 290201. 6, 270) .
37.
DISCUSS / DEFER CONSIDERATION OF
EXTENSION OF CONTRACT WITH MARTIN
LAMAR UNIFORMS FOR PROVISION OF
POLICE UNIFORMS AND LEATHER GOODS.
38.
BRIEFLY DISCUSS MEMORANDUM FROM
RON WILLIAMS REGARDING SOLID WASTE
SERVICE LEVELS,
39.
BRIEFLY DISCUSS / DEFER
CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED
REINSTATEMENT" OF BENEFITS TO
PENSION BOARD MEMBERS.
40.
BRIEFLY DISCUSS: ANNUAL REPORTS OF
CITY BOARDS / COMMITTEES.
41.
MAYOR CAROL.L O APPOINTS VICE -MAYOR
REGAL -ADO TO A REVIEW COMMITTEE OF
ONE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
CITY MANAGER ON DEVELOPMENT OF NET
9 TELEVISION STATION.
42.
DISCUSS 1997 CITY OF MIAMI STATE
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA -- APPOINT
COMMISSIONER GORT AS TALLAHASSEE
REPRESENTATIVE OF CITY -- URGE
LOBBYING EFFORTS FOR FUNDS
AVAILABLE FROM STARE FOR
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS.
43.
NOMINATE INDIVIDUALS TO REPRESENT
NEIGHBORHOODS OF LITTLE HAVANA /
MODEL CITY / WYNWOOD -- FROM WHICH
SAID NOMINEES, COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS WILL SELECT TWO
INDIVIDUALS FROM EACH NEIGHBORHOOD
TO SERVE ON FEDERAL ENTERPRISE
COMMUNITY COUNCIL (HELENS DE MONTE,
RALPH PACKINGHAM, MARK VALLE,
SABRINA BOWIE, FRANKJOHNSON)
R 97-102
2/20/97
R 97-103
2/20/97
178-180
180-181
M 97-104 181-183
2/20/97
DISCUSSION 183
2/20/97
M 97-105 183-185
2/20/97
DISCUSSION 185-186
2/20/97
M 97-106 186-187
2/20/97
M 97-107 187-189
2/20/97
R 97-108
2/20/97
m
189-191
Rik
44.
DISCUSS APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSION
DISCUSSION
192
ON STATUS OF WOMEN,
2/20/97
45.
APPOINT PAUL SINGERMAN/ LINDA FADS
R 97-109
192-193
TO BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST.
2/20/97
46.
APPOINT JACK KING TO WATERFRONT
R 97-110
193-194
BOARD.
2/20/97
47.
A. APPOINT RUBEN ARIAS TO TAX-EXEMPT
R 97-111
195-196
PROPERTY STEERING COMMITTEE.
2/20/97
B. BRIEF COMMENTS BY ELBERT WATERS
ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVISORY
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.
48.
APPOINT MATTHEW CICERO / SANTIAGO
R 97-112
196-197
ECHEMENDIA TO DOWNTOWN
2/20/97
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
49.
ESTABLISH CITY OF PALERMO, ITALY, AS
R 97-113
197-198
SISTER CITY.
2/20/97
50.
AUTHORIZE CITY OF MIAMI CEMETERY
R 97-114
199-201
TASK FORCE TO BECOME A CITY BOARD.
2/20/97
51.
ISSUE CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF
R 97-115
201-202
NATHANIEL "TEDDY" DEAN ON HIS PASSING
2/20/97
AWAY.
52.
BRIEF DISCUSSION REGARDING DINNER
DISCUSSION
202-203
KEY WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT
2/20/97
PROJECT.
53.
RE -SCHEDULE CITY COMMISSION MEETING
R 97-116
203-204
OF MARCH 13, 1997 TO MARCH 20, 1997.
2/20/97
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
On the 20th day of February, 1997, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its
regular meeting place in the City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida in regular
session.
The meeting was called to order at 8:28 a.m. by Mayor Joe Carollo with the following
members of the Commission found to be present:
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
ABSENT:
Mayor Joe Carollo
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
ALSO PRESENT:
Edward'Marquez, City Manager
A. Quinn Jones, III, City Attorney
Walter J. Foeman, City Clerk
Maria J. Argudin, Assistant City Clerk
An invocation was delivered by Commissioner Gort, after which Mayor Carollo led those
present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. VICE MAYOR REGALADO ANNOUNCES BEGINNING OF ATTORNEY -
CLIENT CLOSED SESSION, POTTINGER V. CITY, CASE 88-2406.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Good morning. We are now going to go into executive session. This
meeting will be closed to the public and at 9:00 a.m. we'll start the public meeting. So, that's it.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Thereupon, the City Commission
went into recess at 8:29 a.m., and reconvened at 9:39 a.m., with
all members of the City Commission found to be present.
R
1 February 20, 1997
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. A. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS.
Mayor Carollo: We've had a late start this morning but we had an unusual proceeding today,
where the Commission had to meet in executive session early this morning on a matter that's
also very important to the City and that was with different attorneys that we have representing
the City. And, that meeting went over the time that we thought that it would be finished by.
But, nevertheless, we are ready to begin now, and if I could ask everyone to stand so that
Commissioner Gort will lead us in prayer.
(1) DETECTIVE SHAGAY FORD- OUTSTANDING POLICE OFFICER FOR 1/97.
(2) POLICE SGT. JUAN CASIANO; POLICE OFFICER LEON LEONARD POLICE LT.
ALBERT VILA - OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP.
(3) PETER FEDELE- FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT OF
ALLAPATTAH.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Thereupon, the City Commission,
under authority of Section 163.01, Florida Statutes, and part III,
Chapter 163, Florida statutes, constituted itself as the Omni and
Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency of the City of Miami, in order to deal with the following
issue:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. (A) ASSIGN COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA)
INTEREST IN MIAMI ARENA LAND LEASE AGREEMENTS TO
CITY -- TRANSFER DEED OF LAND UNDER MIAMI ARENA TO
CITY.
(B) DESIGNATE BOARD MEMBER HUMBERTO HERNANDEZ AS
CHAIRPERSON FOR OMNI AND SOUTHEAST/OVERTOWN
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARDS.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Board Member Carollo: OK, now the... Before we move on with the regular Commission
meeting, we have to recess the Commission meeting for about three to four minutes so that we
can put our other hats on as the board of the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). So, we
will now begin the CRA board meeting. Commissioner Plummer, I believe you're chairing the
CRA meeting. Someone told me that. But...
Board Member RegaIado: There is no chair yet. There is no chair yet.
Board Member Carollo: Well, then you are chairing it.
2 February 20, 1997
Board Member Plummer: Yes.
Board Member Carollo: As a senior member of the Commission. Then you will chair it. It's a
quick item.
Board Member Plummer: Mr. Bailey, I declare the CRA meeting open for the purposes of
conducting business. It's a one item agenda. Mr. Bailey, it' you will, proceed with what you
wish for this CRA board to consider.
Mr. Herb J. Bailey (Executive Director/CRA): We've prepared the documents to permit the
CRA to transfer the land under the Arena back to the City for other purposes. The document
before you is a resolution authorizing us to prepare the deed transfer.
Board Member Plummer: Is there any questions by members of the CRA board? Hearing none,
is there a motion?
Board Member Gort: Move it.
Board Member Carollo: There is a motion.
Board Member Regalado: Second.
Board Member Plummer: All right. Any further discussion by members of the public? Hearing
none, Mr. CRA Clerk, would you call the roll please?
Board Member Carollo: Before the roll call is made, we need to read the legal description into
the motion and the minutes. Mr. Bailey, do you have that before you so you could read it,
please?
Board Member Plummer: Miami Arena Subdivision tracts A, B and C (Folio Numbers 01-3137-
025-0010,01-3137-025-0020, and 01-3137-025-0030) situated under the Miami Arena.
Mr. Bailey: We're having a discussion here with the City Attorney. Apparently, there seems to
be an opinion that the legal description needs some modification. I suggest that, if we pass a
resolution, we will put the legal description in with the modifications that has been
recommended by the City Attorney. It's still the same tracks of land. And, it's just a matter of
making the deed correct.
Board Member Carollo: Would that be appropriate, Mr. City Attorney?
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney); Yeah, that's appropriate. But, let me understand
that, you know, since I'm not counsel to the CRA. And, we discovered that there was an error
last evening and... But, anyway, insofar as looking out for the City's interest, we can do it that
way.
Mr. Bailey: We've put it in exactly the way it was transferred to us. We didn't make up any
different description. The way it was transferred, we transferred it back. t
Board Member Plummer: Any further questions or clarifications? Hearing none, call the roll.
3 February 20, 1997
-'1
The following resolution was introduced by Board Member Gort, who moved its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA RESOLUTION NO. 97-1
A RESOLUTION OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") AUTHORZING THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSIGNING
THE CRA'S INTEREST IN THE MIAMI ARENA LAND LEASE AGREEMENT TO
THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"); AND TRANSFERRING DEED TO THE CITY FOR
CERTAIN LAND, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS MIAMI ARENA SUBDIVISION,
TRACTS A, B, AND C (FOLIO NOS. 01-3137-025-0010, 01-3137-025-0020, AND 01-
3137-025-0030) SITUATED UNDER THE MIAMI ARENA.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Board Member Regalado, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Board Member J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Humberto Hernandez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
----- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3(B) APPOINT COMMISSIONER HUMBERTO HERNANDEZ AS
CHAIRPERSON OF BOTH BOARDS OF COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY (SEOPW AND OMNI CRA).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Board Member Plummer: Can you tell, Mr. Bailey, when is the next meeting of the CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency)?
Mr. Herb Bailey (Executive Director): We haven't scheduled one, Mr. Plummer. We would
hope that we would have a chairman that we can discuss matters with, because the chairman
usually sets the meetings for the CRA. We, as staff, just provide the chairman with information.
And, we don't have a chairman yet.
Board Member Plummer: All right. Mr. Mayor, for the temporary one meeting, I'll be glad to
do it. Or let Humberto?
Board Member Carollo: Yeah, let's nominate Commissioner Hernandez to be the chair of that.
Board Member Plummer: Well, we have to do that at a City Commission meeting, correct?
Board Member Carollo: Yeah. Once we go back to it, yes.
4 February 20, 1997
Board Member Plummer: Right. I would ask Mr. Bailey, that consideration be given to the new
chairman of the following. That, rather than City Commission sitting in monthly meetings, that
a board which has already been constituted by the citizens of that area, be the board of the CRA
with a City Commissioner being the chairman. Any major problems still have to come back
before the City Commission. But, I think that if we have those people who are directly involved
in that area, as the day to day people and having now, Commissioner Hernandez to be the
chairman, as we do with other boards. The ITB (International Trade Board), the Bayfront Park,
DDA (Downtown Development Authority) they have a board of citizens and one Commissioner
as its chairman. So, I would like that on the next board meeting agenda for the purposes of
discussion. Are there any other matters?
Mr. Bailey: Commissioner, I would just like to point out that they can only be advisory. The
County Ordinance specifies that you have to be the CRA board but we can have them as
Advisory Boards. When we come before you with an item we do as we've done today, we will
set up a CRA meeting and, then, you'll continue with the Commission meeting.
Board Member Carollo: That is correct, Mr. Bailey. Two for two, today.
Board Member Plummer: That's fine.
Board Member Carollo: We tried. If we can now, I would like to nominate Commissioner
Hernandez to be designated chairman of the CRA board?
Board Member Gort: Second.
Board Member Plummer: That is a motion.
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, 111, Esq. (City Attorney): Just a clarification. Is that for both the Omni and
for Southeast Overtown Parkwest?
Board Member Carollo: That's correct.
Board Member Plummer: Yes. Do we do that, we're still the CRA meeting?
Board Member Carollo: No, we would do it as the CRA, yeah.
Mr. Jones: Do it as the CRA.
Board Member Plummer: OK, that's fine. It is now acceptable, and is there any further
nominations? Hearing none, closed. All in favor say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Board Member Plummer: Any position? Hearing none, it's unanimous.
5
February 20, 1997
4
The following motion was introduced by Board Member Carollo, who moved its adoption:
SEOPW/CRA MOTION NO. 97-2
A MOTION OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD, APPOINTING HUMBERTO HERNANDEZ
AS CHAIRPERSON OF BOTH THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST AND
OMNI COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARDS.
Upon being seconded by Board Member Gort, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Wifredo Gort
Board Member Humberto Hernandez
Board Member Tomas Regalado
Board Member Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Board Member Plummer: Is there any other matters to come before this CRA board? The
motion to adjourn is always in order.
Board Member Carollo: Motion to adjourn.
Board Member Plummer: So, be it.
Board Member Hernandez: Second.
Board Member Plummer: Unanimous vote.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Thereupon, the City Commission, in
its capacity as t )e Omni and Southeast Overtown/Park West
Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Miami,
adjourned consideration of the hereinabove issues, in order to
resume consideration of regular agenda items at 9:56 a.m.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. ACCEPT TRANSFER OF LAND UNDER MIAMI ARENA TO CITY FROM
CRA -- PREPARE DEED TRANSFER.
Mayor Carollo: All right. Now, we're back to the regular City Commission Meeting again.
OK, the first item before we get to regular business and the Commission meeting, should be that
we have a motion to accept a property that the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) board
transferred back to the City.
0
February 20, 1997
"11
Commissioner Plummer: So moved.
Mayor Carollo: There is a motion by Commissioner Plummer.
Commissioner Hernandez: Second.
Mayor Carollo: Second by Commissioner Hernandez. All in favor, signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-80
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE TRANSFER OF THE REAL PROPERTY
UNDER THE MIAMI ARENA (THE "ARENA LAND") TO THE CITY OF MIAMI
(THE "CITY") FROM THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY; AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER AND THE CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS,
IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, TO EFFECTUATE SAID
TRANSFER.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. AUTHORIZE $225,000 TO ENGAGE SERVICES OF ACCOUNTANTS ON
CALL TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY ACCOUNTING SERVICES TO
FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
Mayor Carollo: All right. Now, we're back to the Regular Commission agenda.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, if I may? And, it's only because the City Manager is
hurting and wants to get this pocket item done immediately. It's not mine, it's his. If I could
read it into the record. And, I think you all will concur, it is very important. (At this point,
Commissioner Plummer read the title of the resolution into the public record).
Mayor Carollo: Do you recommend that Mr. Manager?
7 February 20, 1997
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): Yes, sir. I am recommending this because we're... We
need to address and put all sorts of professional help on our staffs right now.
Commissioner Plummer: The rest of my pocket items can wait.
Mayor Carollo: All right. There is a motion by Commissioner Plummer second by
Commissioner Hernandez. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-81
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE INFORMAL QUOTATION OF
ACCOUNTANTS ON CALL FOR THE FURNISHING OF TEMPORARY
ACCOUNTING SERVICES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE;
ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR, IN THE AMOUNT OF $225,000, AS HEREIN
SPECIFIED; FURTHER, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A
CONTRACT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH
ACCOUNTANTS ON CALL FOR THIS PURPOSE.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None
Mayor Carollo: I don't believe we have any other pocket items right now of that nature. So...
Commissioner Plummer: The rest of mine can wait. We will proceed.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: The minutes of the Regular
Commission Meeting of October 10, 1996, were unanimously
approved by the City Commission.
r�
February 20, 1997
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. CONSENT AGENDA.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: ON CONSENSUS OF THE CITY
COMMISSION, IT WAb DETERMINED THAT ANY CONSENT
AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS PULLED BY A GIVEN
COMMISSIONER FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR
FURTHER DISCUSSION AND/OR CLARIFICATION WILL BE
AUTOMATICALLY DEFERRED AND SCHEDULED, AS A
REGULAR ITEM, ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE AGENDA.
Mayor Carollo: We're now in the Consent Agenda. If the Commissioners could go through the
Consent Agenda and if there is anything that needs to be pulled out.
Vice Mayor Regalado: I would like to discuss one or two items here.
Mayor Carollo: OK, what items are those, Commissioner?
Vice Mayor Regalado: The one about the sale of helicopter parts. The one, CA-1.
Mayor Carollo: CA-1.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Now, we know that we have to sell this to other law enforcement
agencies but how much did we pay for this and is that all that we're going to get? Maybe, Chief
Martinez...
Asst. Police Chief Martinez: Commissioner, those parts that you are voting for today are parts
that we got free from the federal government. We're giving it to another law enforcement
agency but they're paying us for the money that it cost us to upgrade those parts. They're paying
us approximately twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for the upgrade that we did to those parts.
Mayor Carollo: OK, and they're transporting it themselves, up to North Florida, right?
Asst. Police Chief Martinez: Yes sir, they are.
Mayor Carollo: All right. Any...?
Commissioner Plummer: If there is no other, no other members of the public that want to speak,
I'll move the consent agenda.
Commissioner Hernandez: Second.
Mayor Carollo: There is a motion by Commissioner Plummer, second by Commissioner
Hernandez. Hearing no further discussion from the Commission and since no one from the
public wanted to address us on it, all in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
9
February 20, 1997
t
THEREUPON MOTION DULY MADE BY
COMMISSIONER PLUMMER AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER HERNANDEZ, THE CONSENT
AGENDA ITEMS WERE PASSED BY THE
FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
6.1 CLASSIFY SURPLUS USED HELICOPTER PARTS FROM MIAMI POLICE FIELD
SUPPORT SECTION AS CATEGORY "A" SURPLUS STOCK -- AUTHORIZE SALE
OF SAID STOCK TO SHERIFF'S OFFICES IN LEE, INDIAN RIVER, AND PASCO
COUNTIES, STATE OF FLORIDA.
RESOLUTION NO. 97-82
A RESOLUTION CLASSIFYING SURPLUS USED HELICOPTER
PARTS FROM THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FIELD
4SUPPORT SECTION AS CATEGORY "A" SURPLUS STOCK AND
AUTHORIZING THE SALE OFSAID SURPLUS STOCK, PURSUANT
TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT. SECTION
1208, TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICES IN LEE, INDIAN RIVER, AND
PASCO COUNTIES, STATE OF FLORIDA.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of
the City Clerk.)
6.2 AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF LAERDAL BRAND STIFFNECK CERVICAL
COLLARS (UNDER EXISTING DADE COUNTY CONTRACT NO. 5241-1/98)
FROM AERO PRODUCTS CORP -- FOR FIRE -RESCUE -- ALLOCATE FUNDS
($37,000, ACCT. CODE 001000.280501.6340.71426)
RESOLUTION NO. 97-83
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF LAERDAL
BRAND STIFFNECK CERVICAL COLLARS UNDER EXISTING
DADE COUNTY CONTRACT NO. 5241-1/98 FROM AERO
PRODUCTS CORP. (NON-MINORITY/NON-LOCAL VENDOR) ON A
CONTRACT BASIS FOR ONE (1) YEAR, FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF FIRE -RESCUE, AT A TOTAL PROPOSED ANNUAL COST OF
$37,000; ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR FROM THE ;
DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -RESCUE FY '97 BUDGET ACCOUNT
CODE NO. 001000.280501.6340.71426; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO INSTRUCT THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER
TO ISSUE PURCHASE ORDERS FOR SAID ACQUISITION.
10 February 20, 1997
A
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of
the City Clerk.)
6.3 AMEND RESOLUTION 96-858, TO CORRECT SCRIVENER'S ERROR -- REFLECT
THAT BID ACCEPTED FROM INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL TO PROVIDE
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS AND SERVICES FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE
BOARD ("ITB"), FOR HEMISPHERIC HEALTH MINISTERS CONFERENCE, WAS
FOR $36,014.87, NOT $26,014.87.
RESOLUTION NO. 97-84
A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 96-858, ADOPTED
NOVEMBER 21, 1996, TO CORRECT A SCRIVENER'S ERROR TO
REFLECT THAT THE BID ACCEPTED FROM THE
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL TO PROVIDE HOTEL
ACCOMMODATIONS AND SERVICES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
TRADE BOARD ("ITB"), FOR A THREE DAY PERIOD DURING THE
HEMISPHERIC HEALTH MINISTERS CONFERENCE, WAS IN THE
AMOUNT OF $36,014.87 AND NOT $26,014.87 AS SET FORTH IN
SAID RESOLUTION.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of
the City Clerk.)
6.4 -RELAX LIMITATIONS ON FIREWORKS -- ALLOW STAGING OF PYROTECHNIC
DISPLAYS UNTIL 12:00 MIDNIGHT IN THE VIZCAYA AREA ON 3/7/97 -- FOR
CARNAVAL MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AT BAYFRONT PARK ON 3/8/97.
RESOLUTION NO. 97-85
A RESOLUTION RELATED TO CARNAVAL MIAMI 1997,
THEREBY RELAXING THE LIMITATIONS ON THE DISPLAY OF
FIREWORKS TO ALLOW THE STAGING OF PYROTECHNIC
DISPLAYS UNTIL 12:00 MIDNIGHT IN THE VIZCAYA AREA FOR
A SPONSORS PARTY ON MARCH 7, 1997 AND FOR CARNAVAL
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AT BAYFRONT PARK ON MARCH 8,
1997; CONDITIONING ALL APPROVALS AND AUTHORIZATIONS
HEREIN UPON THE ORGANIZERS PAYING FOR ALL NECESSARY
COSTS OF CITY SERVICES AND APPLICABLE FEES ASSOCIATED
WITH SAID EVENT AND OBTAINING INSURANCE TO PROTECT
THE CITY IN THE AMOUNT PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY
MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of
the City Clerk.)
11 February 20, 1997
tx:'
6.5 ACCEPT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM KIWANIS CLUB OF LITTLE HAVANA FOR
$500/ GREENBERG, TRAURIG, HOFFMAN, LIPOFF, ROSEN, & QUENTEL, P.A.,
(THROUGH DADE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, INC.) FOR $500/ VALSAN OF
MIAMI, $250/ DIGITAL DRAFTING SYSTEMS, $100 -- TO DEFRAY COSTS OF
STAGING PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL "SNOW IN
THE SUNSHINE" EVENT HELD 12/21/96.
RESOLUTION NO. 97-86
a
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
FROM THE KIWANIS CLUB OF LITTLE HAVANA IN THE
AMOUNT OF $500; GREENBERG, TRAURIG, HOFFMAN, LIPOFF,
ROSEN, & QUENTEL, P.A., (THROUGH THE DADE COMMUNITY
FOUNDATION, INC.) IN THE AMOUNT OF $500; VALSAN OF
MIAMI IN THE AMOUNT OF $250; AND DIGITAL DRAFTING
SYSTEMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $100, USED TO DEFRAY THE
COSTS OF STAGING THE PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL "SNOW IN THE SUNSHINE" EVENT
HELD DECEMBER 21, 1996; SAID DONATIONS TO BE DEPOSITED
IN THE RECREATION ACTIVITY CONSOLIDATED SPECIAL
REVENUE FUND.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of
the City Clerk.)
6.6' . ACCEPT PLAT`BLUE LAGOON CENTRE FIRST ADDITION.
RESOLUTION NO. 97-87
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE PLAT ENTITLED BLUE
LAGOON CENTRE FIRST ADDITION, A SUBDIVISION IN THE
CITY OF MIAMI, SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE
PLAT AND STREET COMMITTEE, AND ACCEPTING THE
DEDICATIONS SHOWN ON SAID PLAT; AUTHORIZING AND
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO
EXECUTE THE PLAT; AND PROVIDING FOR THE RECORDATION
OF SAID PLAT IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF DADE COUNTY,
FLORIDA.
r
12 February 20, 1997
W
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of
the City Clerk.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. (A) REQUEST FROM UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND
NATURALIZATION SERVICES TO EXPEDITE SWEARING IN
CEREMONNIES FOR NEW CITIZENS.-- VICE MAYOR REGALADO
DISCUSSES IMPACT ON CITY RESIDENTS WHEN NEW
IMMIGRATION LAW CURTAILS SOCIAL BENEFITS.
(B) PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING CITY'S 97/98 PROPOSED
CONSOLIDATED PLAN -- INCLUDING PROJECTED USE OF
GRANT FUNDS: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT;
SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES HOME INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIPS; EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT; HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS.-- SEE LABELS 9
AND 11.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Carollo: We are now in item number three, public hearings.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. Mayor, this is a very important issue that we have to deal with.
And, I have gone through the list of the different programs that need funds from the City of
Miami. And, what the CD (Community Development) board has recommended and what the
City staff has recommended. We should be fair, especially in this moment, that because of a
federal law many people in Miami, in Dade County, but in Miami, especially in Miami, will be
hurting. So, I would ask the members of the Commission to study item by item, line by line the
different requests and see the merits of the different organizations. And, my position is that
priority should he food for the people, then housing and then other social services.
Mayor Carollo: That has always been the policy and tradition of this Commission...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, excuse me.
Mayor Carollo: .. that food is number one.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, almost. Because, I established the policy in the first year, I was
the only one here. And, my policy is still the same and I think it's modified just a little and I'm
sure you won't disagree. We feed the hunger, we take care of the sick, we put a roof over their
head and the rest we'll argue about.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Absolutely.
Commissioner Plummer: OK. Now...
Vice Mayor Regalado: But, I want to point out that we do need to study each and every one of
these requests because this is a different year than any other year. We are going to have 56,000
people impacted in Dade County. We believe that in the City of Miami, we are going to have
more than 20,000 of those people hurting because of the new federal regulations on the reform,
Welfare Reform Act. As a matter of fact, I would call on this Commission also, to get in touch
with the Department of Immigration because there are many people who are trying to become
citizens to avoid being left without any aid. And, the INS (Immigration and Naturalization
Services) had scheduled a swearing in ceremony for the month of March in which 6,000 people
13 February 20, 1997
k
were to be sworn and they have postponed that, we don't know, until when. So, these people are
going to get letters. These people are going to be very nervous and these people will not have
the certificate to go to the Social Security Offices and inform this office that they do, have
complied with the law. And, we're talking May, the cut off date for some of these programs and
August, the final cut off date. So.. I would ask also this Commission, to officially ask the
Immigration Department to expedite all these swearing in ceremonies because we do need to
make the people here in the City of Miami aware that they will not he affected if they have
complied with the law.
Mayor Carollo: Commissioner, we'll take that as a form of a motion. Second by Commissioner
Gort asking the Immigration Department to expedite that process. If there are no further
questions on that motion, then all in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Mayor Regalado, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-88
A RESOLUTION (Pending the Law Department.)
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gort, the resolution was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Mayor Carollo: OK. I agree with you that we need to, more than ever, take the adequate time
and go item by item, program by program as carefully as we can. We're not going to be able to
please everyone. But, we have to try to he as fair as we possibly can in going about this process.
I would like to hear from everyone today as was scheduled in the public hearing. But, I would
like to, even though this is only a first reading, I would like to reserve my right, even in first
i
14 February 20, 1997
W
reading on whether we would vote upon the recommendations given to us today, or whether we
will bring it back at the next meeting to be able to go on first reading on a vote that might be fair
after the Commission as a whale has more ample time. And, after hearing you today, to analyze
and decide for ourselves which is the most fairest way of going about it. I know Mr. Bert Waters
has taken a lot of time of his staff in going about this, trying to do the very hest jot) that they
possibly can in being fair. It's not an easy task, I realize that. But, at the end the buck stops
here. We're the ones that are going to have to make the toughest decision, so we have to analyze
it to the fullest.
Commissioner Hernandez: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Hernandez: After receiving numerous complaints about the whole process, and
you're right, it's a tough decision for all of us, including City staff. My biggest concern has been
in experiencing; what I've gone through in the last week, is the disparity and the discrepancy
between City staff recommendations and CD board recommendations. I often, in looking at this
process, wonder if we need an independent review committee or board to go out there to inspect
and review each of these agencies to see really what they're doing, are they worth the money that
we're giving them? And, take it outside the hands as an independent auditor would do.
(APPLAUSE)
Mayor Carollo: This is something, Commissioner, that we've discussed this in the past for some
time. And, I think it's something that we should give serious consideration to, once we're done
with the process this year. And, I would be willing to bring it up at a future Commission
meeting so that we can discuss it, -and maybe find a fair way, a more accurate way that can give
us the best firsthand information on decisions that we make every year on this. I would be very
pleased to listen to that at a regular Commission meeting.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Gort: I think that is very important. I think we took a step last year, when we
decided to award the Economical Development CBOs (Community Based Organizations)
according to performance and that's something... But I think that that outside audit to be even a
lot better, working in the City. I think it's an excellent idea.
Mayor Carollo: However, that's tomorrow, we're here today. So, we have to bite the bullet and
we want to give each and everyone of you the most time that we possibly could give to hear your
case and you know, maybe there might be a lot of other things that we could learn from this
process today. I know that in the past years when I've been here, there hasn't been one single
time that we didn't hear from different programs that we didn't receive new information and
there were changes that we've made. So, having said that, let's move on. Mr. Manager.
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): Mr. Mayor, Bert Walters is here to describe to you how
staff conducted the process in detail and how and why they differ from various board
recommendations.
15 February 20, 1997
Mr. Elbert Waters (Director, Neighborhood Enhancement Teams (NET)/Community
Development): Good morning Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission. For the record, my
name is Elbert Waters, Director of the Department of Community Development/NET. Today,
the administration respectfully recommends that the City Commission adopts the attached
resolution and ordinance for the City of Miami's, FY'97-'98 consolidated plan which includes
our action plan for the various different programs. That is, our Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) program in the amount of thirteen million one hundred and six thousand dollars
($13,106,000). Our Home Program, Home Investment Partnership Program which is four
million two hundred and three thousand dollars ($4,203,000). Our ESG which is the Emergency
Shelter Grant, which is three hundred and forty-six thousand dollars ($346,000), and our
HOPWA Program, Housing Opportunity for Persons with Aids at the amount of eight million
eight hundred and thirty-two thousand ($8,832,000). Bring the total allocations which includes
this consolidated plan at twenty-six million four hundred and eighty-seven thousand dollars
($26,487,000). The staff anticipates Commissioners, receiving approximately two point five
million dollars ($2,500,000) in program income. And, program income basically is attributable
to our housing development programs, our building demolition and economic development as it
relates to our revolving loan funds. And those funds are placed back into the various different
programs to be administered or implemented throughout this year. What our staff has done in
terms of reviewing all of the applications that have been submitted for this year's allocation.
There is a required federal requirement for public participation and in that regard, staff had
begun to meet with the various different Citywide Advisory Board and also the various different
neighborhood organizations which began in August of 1996. We held eight meetings within the
various different targeted areas. In addition to that, we had five meetings with our Citywide
Advisory Board of which this Commission appointed those individuals. We met starting in
October, which culminated really in February of this year. We have this public hearing... Our
total number of public meetings as it pertains to this project or this program is approximately 25.
And what staff is attempting to do, is to go through the various different program categories. At
least give you the rationale behind how we were able to make our recommendations versus what
the board has recommended and to express to you that staff has done what this Commission has
asked us to do. And that is, prioritize City related projects as it relates to our current physical
crisis and staff has done so. As it relates to the process, this year the Citywide Advisory Board
did something slightly different than what they had done in the past previous years. And what
transpired was the hoard had indicated its intent to allocate approximately one million dollars
($1,000,000) per CD targeted area. And, that the board members would go out and meet with
the various different community groups in those areas and they would come back and make their
recommendations. Staff in the spirit of the intent of what the hoard wanted to do, went ahead
and again, we made an allocation. We are making recommendations as it relates to the
allocation based on the program categories. Of which, we are looking at public services and
social programs, Housing Development programs, our Economic Development programs, Public
Facilities and also City administration for this current fiscal year. I might note also, that staff, in
its expression to the board, there is a 15 percent cap on social programs, which is mandated by
Congress. And therefore, it only allows us to make recommendations and we cannot exclude
that particular program cap. I have a summary that I would like to provide to the Commission,
starting out by indicating what we're expected to receive this year. If you would make note.
Commissioner Plummer: I know I'm getting old, but I can't see that.
Mr. Waters: What we have, as soon as we get it clear. If I may go on and hopefully they will
have it focussed in a minute. This bar graph Commissioners, basically reflects what we
anticipate receiving in the amount of thirteen point one million dollars ($13,100,000) from our
CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) program. What you have on the right side is the
amount of requests that we received from the various different communities here. And that
amount totalled thirty-eight million dollars ($38,000,000). So, what we're saying, showing; here
is the voluminous amount of projects that came before the staff and the Citywide Advisory
Board. But, by the same token, we are limited in terms of the amount of dollars that we have to
fund the various different programs. And, so what you have before you would be this bar chart
which basically shows that. Again, what start' has attempted to do is to go through each of the
programs, project categories, and to make an assessment as to what projects would he most
beneficial within our respective communities as it relates to the public services aspect, ie., the
public services piece, what we've said at the direction of this Commission is to fund those
programs that feed the hungry, that provide transportation to the needy and also specialize or
focus on the elderly. And so with that what staff has attempted to do is, to make
recommendations relating to those programs that we currently fund and those programs that we
currently fund are doing a pretty good job in providing those services. We were unable to accept
new projects under this category, except for two City projects of which is attributable to our
Parks Department. That is, Daycare Services and also services that relate to transportation. So,
with that in mind, what staff has done is in its recommendations, under that category which we
call Public Services, the current allocation total, current allocation is two million dollars
($2,000,000). We had the requested amount totalling six point six million dollars ($6,600,000).
The City staff recommended approximately one point nine million dollars ($1,900,000). And,
the Advisory Board in that same category made recommendations of approximately one point
seven. In the Advisory Board's recommendations, in their intent to fund or to make
recommendations on those projects, in the tune of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for their
respective areas, what they did not include in their assessment was the administration of the
program which is at 20 percent and in addition to that, they did not include Citywide programs.
And so, what you will see is the variance or the difference between those amounts and those
program categories. What I'm saying to you is, what the board's intent, as staff has understood
it was, they left the charge of how the programs are to be administered and also the charge of the
cap with, as it relates to Citywide programs with the City administration. Under the next
category which is Housing Development and Rehabilitation, our grant amount for this current
fiscal year is approximately four point one million dollars ($4,100,000). There was an amount
requested in the tune of approximately ten million dollars ($10,000,000). City staff recommends
for this current action year, this current year three point two million dollars ($3,200,000). The
Advisory Board's recommendations was approximately seven hundred and forty-seven thousand
($747,000). Under the category of Economic Development, the current allocation is two point
three million dollars ($2,300,000). The requested amount is three point eight ($3,800,000).
Staff's recommendation is one point three ($1,300,000) and the Citywide Advisory Board's
recommendations under this category was one million dollars ($1,000,000). Under Public
Facilities and Improvements, our current allocation is one point seven ($1,700,000). The
requested amount in terms of projects throughout the City was in the tune of fifteen point six
million dollars ($15,600,000). City staff's recommendations, three point eight million dollars
($3,800,000). And the Citywide Advisory Board's recommendation is approximately three point
five million ($3,500,000). The Administration and that is, the monies that are allowable to
actually administer and run the various different programs are at a cap of 20 percent. Last year's
allocation was two point six ($2,600,000). The requested amount is two point six ($2,600,000),
and staff's recommendation is two point six ($2,600,00). I need to also express to the
Commission that last year's allocation was thirteen point three million dollars ($13,300,000).
Our current, or this program year's allocation which the dollar amount is stipulated in Congress,
is approximately thirteen point one. So, there is a variance there of approximately two hundred
thousand dollars ($200,000) less than what we received from last year. Our total current
allocation for this fiscal year is thirteen point three. The requested amount, as I mentioned
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17 February 20, 1997
4
earlier, for all program categories is thirty-eight point eight million dollars ($38,800,000) worth
of requests. The City staff's recommendations balances out at thirteen point one. And the
Citywide Advisory Board's recommendations total seven million dollars ($7,000,000).
Commissioner Plummer: Isn't that higher than what we had in the past for administration?
Mr. Waters: No, sir. The program stipulates 20 percent for administration and we've all
adhered to HUD's (Housing and Urban Development) recommendations.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, that's the max.
Mr. Waters: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: That doesn't mean that we have to go to the max.
Mr. Waters: Well, right now we're at the max, Commissioner. We are, and we've been in our
discussions with HUD, they have said to us time and time again that in terms of the level of
programs that we have, we need to beef -up staff and we've tried to hold that and the 20 percent
is where we are. And, we really don't have a whole lot of roam to move around.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, you know that's all well and good. But each one of us sitting up
here in this City, everybody had to take a 15 percent cut.
Mr. Waters: And, Commissioner...
Commissioner Plummer: And I'm wondering why, if we have to do it, why aren't the people
who are administering these programs any different than us?
Mr. Waters: We have Commissioner, in the sense that last year's allocation, thirteen point three
million dollars ($13,300,000). You may recall, I had my presentation that time, we were
anticipating a 45 percent reduction in our funds. At the final analysis HUD reduced us by three
percent. Your administration, the staff absorbed that three percent reduction in our last year's
allocation. And so...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, I'm going to. My vote is going to be reduce administrative cost.
So that's...
Mr. Waters: In addition to that Commissioner, we are. I mean, and in a sense that how we've
been able to administer the program. The program allows us to inject into the City's General
Fund for indirect costs. And we've been providing an indirect cast in the amount of one paint
three million dollars ($1,300,000). In addition to that, we are funding those Citywide programs
that are priority to this City as it relates to, you know our, the current situation. And those
programs that we've identified totals approximately five million dollars ($5,000,000), as it
relates to those entities. In addition to that, we are at the cap. So what we've tried to do, is to
address this Commission's concerns, following your directive, that is, to prioritize City related
projects. In addition to that, while it is not before this body today, you may recall that, well, at
the next City Commission meeting we've been asked to reallocate funds from our current year in
a tune of approximately one point seven million dollars ($1,700,000), which that information
will be before this body at the next City Commission meeting. So, what I'm saying to you is,
staff has done a lot in trying to address this Commission's directives. We're at the hill, as it
relates to that. We've tried to absorb as much as we could and in that regard again, the
administration is making its recommendations that are before you today.
Commissioner Plummer: Was the Advisory Board advised of this City's long standing position
of no new programs?
18 February 20, 1997
Uhl
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Mr. Waters: No. The Advisory Boards, in same areas, have recommended new projects.
Commissioner Plummer: It's not my point. This Commission, has had a long standing policy of
no new programs.
Mr. Waters: And the administration has followed that.
Commissioner Plummer: Without a long infusion of more money, we had less money. This
year, thank God, we are seeing a small increase. But, my question again is, did they have the
benefit of knowing the long standing, understanding of this Commission? And, the answer
obviously is no.
Mr. Waters. Yes. No, they. No staff advised - yes, they did have the benefit of having that
information.
Commissioner Plummer: And in spite of that the advisory council recommended 20 new
projects.
Mr. Waters: Approximately. Yes, sir.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Can we use funds from one area of the project to another area. That is,
suppose that we want to change or switch funds from parks, to social programs?
Mr. Waters: For that question, Commissioner Regalado we're at the 15 percent cap. So, as it
relates to a public service project, the answer to that is no. We're at the 15 percent cap that is
`mandated by Congress. We cannot'exceed that 15 percent cap.
Commissioner Plummer: How much contingency fund in the social area?
Mr. Waters: None.
Commissioner Plummer: No contingency at all?
Mr. Waters: No, sir. We're budgeting it out by each one...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, where does that other one hundred and seventy-four thousand
($174,000) go that we could have gone to on the 15 percent? From what I'm reading here, we
could have allocated in social programs one million nine six five ($1,965,000). The
recommendation was one million seven nine one ($1,791,000), which leaves a difference of one
hundred and seventy-four thousand six hundred ($174,600). For all practical purposes, what was
the so-called designation for that? Or was there, I thought that was the contingency fund?
Mr. Waters: No, sir. That, the numbers that you just read are the board's recommendations.
Again...
Commissioner Plummer: But my question is, what was the designation for those funds that they
did not allocate?
Mr. Waters: Oh, no. They just left those out. In my earlier presentation, I indicated that the
board said that they would fund one million dollars ($1,000,000) in the area. And, they left it
with the staff to fund, Citywide projects. That's where the variance comes in. The Citywide
projects and the City Administration funding for running the programs. So that's where the
variance occurs.
19 February 20, 1997
h
Commissioner Plummer: So what they're doing, the additional one hundred and seventy-four
thousand ($174,000), they're giving to the City for programs?
Mr. Waters. Yes, yes.
Commissioner Plummer: I'm asking, what was the designation for those monies?
Mr. Waters: The designations for those monies were attributable to all of the Citywide programs
that we have existing. In other words, they didn't worry about the board, did not make any
recommendations, staff did. That's where the difference is.
Commissioner Plummer: Very confusing.
Ms. Waters: Well, what we've... They did not meet the cap and again, in our delivery and
presentation, to this body we have to at least make recommendations based on our limit, which is
the 15 percent cap. We also tried to adhere, or we did adhere to this board's directives, that is,
fund all programs. Those programs that are currently in our "hoppers" (phonetic). We did not
fund any new projects, except for two City projects of which the board had directed the staff to
prioritize City related projects. In your document, items 16 and 17, would be the City Parks
projects and those are the two new social services projects that are in this year's action plan.
One has to do with the child care services at our seven sites and the other one has to do with
leisure and referrals transportation for the disabled. Outside of that, we are recommending
funding at the current, close to the current level based on our reduction of all of our existing
public service agencies. And, that's where a lot of the differences have occurred between what
staff has recommended versus what the hoard has recommended.
Mayor Carollo: All right. If I may suggest the following, to trying to expedite this today, and
we could leave here hopefully before midnight. I am going to suggest to the Commission that
staff stops for now. That we start listening to each group. We haven approximately 62 potential
groups that might he here today, maybe more, that we have to listen to.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: Commissioner.
Commissioner Plummer: I think it's only fair, Eleanor Kluger is here, that we ought to hear
from her, which I don't want to say is the other side. But, she headed up the Advisory Board and
I think that she needs to step up to the plate and give a definition of what they did and what they
were trying to accomplish. We've heard staff's side and we know what they're trying to do.
And, I for one would like to hear from the representative of the Advisory Board as to what they
did and why.
Mayor Carollo: Well, Commissioner you are correct. And it is my intention to hear from them,
because they have done a goad job for us. Now and in the past and they certainly have put in a
lot of hours too. What I'm trying to do is, to try to move as quickly as we can. And, if Eleanor
maybe, could come up and maybe limit for this first round now, her comments if it's possible.
And then, what I'd like to do is, proceed in listening to the different groups. We don't need to
hear from everyone so, unless you really must get up, we have to limit one person for each
organization and depending on how many would want to speak, then we'll decide how many
minutes we can allow to each organization. And, right after Eleanor speaks, the first person that
we will listen to is one of our colleagues from the County Commission that has always been our
policy, likes theirs, that we give that courtesy to come up first. Particularly, since I know this
Commission has got a lot of work to do at the County.
20 February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, one other thing.
Mayor Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Levine is here from Parrot Jungle. He has an item, lie has to
leave. Can we tell him either go ahead, forget it today. Or can we say to him what, so he
knows? Because the way we're going right now, we're looking at least four hours of testimony.
Mayor Carollo: I would say that we're not going to be listening to him this morning.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, that's obvious.
Mayor Carollo: Absolutely, not listening to him this morning. But at the same time, you know,
If we start taking items out of order, Commissioner with so many people we have here.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, I...
Mayor Carollo: Especially, we have elderly. We have some people here that...
Commissioner Plummer: The only question I was asking is. The question I was asking is, tell
him forget it today and come back next Thursday or what?
Mayor Carollo: I don't mind if you come back late today, Bernie, and I'll gladly stay here as
late as we have to, to listen to you.
Mr. Ronald Krongold:. If I might?
Mayor Carollo: Unless you want to come back next Thursday?
Mr. Krongold: If I might? I think that each and every one of the items that are on that schedule
have been settled to...
Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me, that's not my point in bringing it up. I just wanted to have
some information to give to Mr. Levine, as to whether or not he was going to be heard today or
tonight or next...
Mayor Carollo: I would say check with us around three p.m., and we'll let you know how we're
doing then Bernie.
Commissioner Plummer: Six p.m.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, I just. I'm trying to get the schedule.
Mayor Carollo: All right, is Eleanor here? I don't know if she is. Yes, she is.
Mr. Irby McKnight: Ms. Kluger is here but I'm the chairperson of the board, not Ms. Kluger.
I'm, your information is wrong.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, excuse me. Then, I apologize because this is what I received.
Mayor Carollo: Irby, thank you. We apologize. This is three strikes for Plummer today. He
can't speak anymore.
21 February 20, 1997
year,;.
Mr. McKnight: All right, well let me hurry up and threw the other two strikes now.
Mayor Carollo: He can't speak anymore for today.
Commissioner Plummer: That's only one batter out. I've still got a lot more left.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah. You know, I've been keeping count, he's out early today.
Mr. McKnight: Let me throw the other two strikes now, then?
Mayor Carollo: No, he had two before. I just didn't let him know.
Ms. Eleanor Kluger: Irby is president and I am vice-president.
Mr. McKnight: We, the board decided that each one of the target areas would get one million
dollars ($1,000,000) for programs in those areas and that the residents of those areas will make
the decision as to how those programs would go. Because we, who live in the area, actually
know organizations and agencies are being funded that are not serving our purpose. And we
thought the best way to make them serve our purpose was to have some control at the local level.
Each board member then, that was elected from one of the eight target areas, went back to their
area and met with their service provider. Not Irby McKnight as some of you here today have
accused me of doing. That's not what happened at all. And if your representative told you that,
then you need a representative that will represent you. Because they're not representing you,
when they told you that I made the decision and if I were you, I would replace them. They made
the decision as to what programs would be funded. They all had one million dollars
($1,000,000). They knew that 15 percent was the cap for social programs. Meaning, they had
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for social programs. And, math is an exact
science. So with that, they should not have come hack programming more dollars into social
programs than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($1.50,000). However, some of them did.
We left five million dollars ($5,000,000) unattached so that Citywide projects and pet projects
would continue to he funded. And, Mr. Plummer, board members were not told that new
programs would not be funded. As a matter of fact, the ten years that I am on the board, we have
fought tooth and nail for new programs to he funded. We don't think that for 24 years funding
the same program is helping us because our living condition is getting worse. Su, we who sit
there really think some new people ought to receive these dollars if it's going to make a change.
We know that there are agencies who are serving their constituencies beyond the dollars that
they get from CD (Community Development) and other sources. But then, we also know that
there are agencies that are not doing that. And when we are not allowed to recommend new
agencies then it just stays at a stalemate. And in order to move away from that, board members
did recommend new agencies. They do it every year. At least the time that I'm there, they've
always recommended new agencies. New agencies do not get the funds, because normally I say
at the board meeting that Commissioner Plummer is going to vote to feed old people and little
children. And I say that at every meeting. And when they come up with new programs that are
really good programs, and I'll even vote for the new program to be funded. I also will say the
Commission is not going to give new people the money. They want us to stay in poverty. I also
say that. Because, if your rule is not to ever fund anybody new, then our conditions are not
going to change. I mean, I may climb the 21 step ladder in ten seconds but the next generation
might do it in eight. And if speed is the essence, it would be redundant to just keep letting me do
it.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, Irby...
Mr. McKnight: If that what. And we're trying to change the suffering condition. If we want to
restore faith in this City by its residents, then we need to do something different.
22 February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: Yes, but where we differ. And it's a strong difference. I respect you
and hope you respect me.
Mr. McKnight: I do.
Commissioner Plummer: All right. My basic policy. It you wanted new programs, still must
meet my vote's criteria of feeding, sick and housing. Not training for sewing machine training
and not for soccer games. My other concern happens to be, what do you do with an agency that
presently or was receiving... Let's say the one, let me take the first one, two hundred and
seventy-seven thousand dollars ($277,000) worth of food programs. And tomorrow, you tell
them that the maximum that you can have because of the decision is one hundred and fifty
thousand ($150,000). Now, I don't know how many people represents, but I am sure it
represents at least 100 people, who tomorrow morning instead of food on your table, that money
is going to go to a soccer program. Now, I've got a problem with that, Irby, I'm sorry.
Mr. McKnight: Well, sir. Sir.
Commissioner Plummer: I'm not sorry. I'm saying, my policy has been, will continue to be, as
I sit here my vote will he predicated on food, medicine and housing. Now, if money is left over,
we'll argue about it.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. McKnight: Sir, we don't object to that. We're not opposed to that at all. We just wanted a
level playing field. We just wanted each neighborhood to be given one million dollars
($1,000,000) and decide if each neighborhood is the receiver of one million dollars ($1,000,000),
and then they divide it up, court said that you could only have 15 percent in social programs. If
you have followed the process, and God knows I have. Then, my target area where I live, we
have never in 21 years, 24 years, we have never had one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
($150,000) in social programs, never. However, it is the demographics from that community
that produces the fourteen million dollars ($14,000,000). So, the only thing we wanted was a
fair playing field. We don't want anybody not to be fed. But, if the area, and I think that's what
you're referring to, if I remember correctly. If that is the case, the million dollars ($1,000,000),
they put more monies from that million but they cannot exceed the 15 percent cap. How did
these other communities who have never gotten that amount of money, what did they do?
Maybe they could correlate with them and learn. How will they do it. Because Allapattah,
Wynwood, Overtown, Coconut Grove, these are the target areas. Downtown, these are the target
areas. Maybe downtown did not need one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) in
social programs. As a matter of fact, Ms. Kluger is a downtown representative, did say they
didn't and would gladly share with other target areas. But for once, give us a level playing field.
For once, do that. You have five million dollars ($5,000,000) unattached that you could still
fund those programs with, if you wish to do that. But, for once, allow each of the target areas to
receive one million dollars ($1,000,000). Now, in the past, I have carried in this spreadsheet the
first, the second column, the third column say "Current Allocation." And, my years on the
board, I've kept a running record of Current Allocation for every area for every year. And, it is
amazing if you ever look at that, it is amazing that some of these areas still need this kind of
money in social programs. That's another reason there ought to be new service providers. It's
amazing some of these target areas have never gotten one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)
in any, in any category, at all. I don't think that's fair. And since the federal government said,
citizens participation is a must, then as the board to satisfy that requirement, we thought the best
way to involve our citizens was to let them decide what agencies they want to provide service for
them. Again, that's how we came to the term of each target area receiving one million dollars
($1,000,000). Five million dollars ($5,000,000) is still there, not identified by the board so that
23 February 20, 1997
projects that feed children, teed senior citizens can still be funded. I don't know who is taking
monies from feeding people to play soccer, but it might not be a bad idea. It's not the worst
thing that has happened with the CD (Community Development) process.
Commissioner Plummer: I'm not arguing that.
Mr. McKnight: So there's a lot other things that have gone on, is going on and I am sure will go
on, that if the public: would he aware of, they'll be up in arms about. I have not met anyone in
any of the target areas that was not in favor of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for their target
area. I just, those people just not out there. And God knows that I have met the trainer at the
Heat game. I have stood at the Arena and talked to thousands of them to say, "If the hoard does
this, will you support it?" The voters will support one million dollars ($1,000,000) to their area.
I can't imagine who wouldn't, at all. Now, in the areas where we're not using the monies, it can
be carried over to other areas. Nothing precludes you from doing that at all. But, we who sit on
the board and know about some of the programs, some of us know about all of them, and some
of us don't know about any of them. That was another reason that it should he done in the
neighborhood level. Because, on the hoard you have people that doesn't know where Overtown
is, voting religiously against programs there. So, I thought what sense does that make. You
don't even know what the needs or the requirements of people there are, and you're raising your
hand at no, they don't need that. Well, if we let each area get one million dollars ($1,000,000),
and let the people in those areas decide how hest to use the million dollars ($1,000,000), they
won't he influenced by Irby McKnight. He won't he voting to close the pool. He wouldn't be
doing that. He would not have that authority. He shouldn't have it. No one in another target
area should he voting on CD board level on what happens in my target area. They just, that's
just not... Just like, I'm not voting on what happens in Delaware. They shouldn't be doing here.
Just as, if you're required to live in your precinct so that you're not making decisions that will
affect other people and not affect you. And the best way to do that, and we have public support
for it, is one million dollars ($1,000,000) to the target area, some target area not using all of the
million dollars ($1,000,000), meaning the City, who I represent, not a target area, the City. And
we who are City representatives brought five million dollars ($5,000,000) to the City. We... only
eight million dollars ($8,000,000) are going to neighborhoods. I think the City made out like a
fat rat. I think we, who represent the City, did well. That the board would agree to just turn over
five million dollars ($5,000,000) unattached to the City in a time that the City is cutting back on
service. Now, there are agencies that were not recommended for funding by the representative
of the board. They were told that the board didn't recommend them. But that's not what
happened at all. Your representative didn't recommend you.
Mayor Carollo: OK. Irby, you've been very eloquent in making your point. We've heard you
loud and clear. You're going to have more time during this process at this meeting and other
meetings to speak, if you would like. I need to move on now. And, if I may, I was going to give
Eleanor a few minutes before we then go...
Mr. McKnight: You may.
Mayor Carollo: .. from organization to organization. But, I must give the courtesy to
Commissioner Milian to come up and address us because I know she some very important
business that she has to go too, and she's late already for it. Commissioner, if you'll come up,
please? You needed to get some breath back in you anyway, Irby. So.
Mr. McKnight: Oh, no. I played a musical instrument for 20 years of my life.
Mayor Carollo: I'm never going to go into a debate against you. I'll be out of breath before you
will.
24 February 20, 1997
Ms. Natacha Millan (Dade County Commissioner): He's was very gracious. He gave me his
seat, but he did call me old. So, I'm kind of confused, I don't know.
Mr. McKnight: I have to justify giving her the seat somehow in my mind,
Ms. Millan: That's very gracious, anyway. Thank you very much. While your courtesy is
extended to me as a Commissioner, and my respect and my tremendous empathy for what you're
going to have to do as you decide on what it is that you're going to choose. Not what is best
because they're. all good. But, is it that you're going to choose. I do stand here today, as a
YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) vice president. And I want to call to your
attention that we have two items on your agenda, And I do want to address the services that
would be rendered. To highlight one of them, would he almost covering the criteria of feed, roof
and illness. And because we will be feeding children in the afternoon, about 84. Well, there's
93 registered now. Perhaps the sustenance is a highly well provided substance. It might be the
only one they're getting until that afternoon. And the only thing we'll be giving, we'll he giving
them a roof form two to six until the parents get out of work, which makes a difference because
we don't want the children on the street. And illness, yes, we would he monitoring their
symptoms and be sure they went to the correct doctor. We'd he sure they have the vaccinations
and then we do have prevention care. So, just to address that because I think they are very good
criteria to follow. That would be addressing it. And I just want to call to your attention the years
of services the YMCA in this community and the commitment they have. Nevertheless,
whatever decision you would raise, whatever decision you would make, this person here,
standing as their vice president, and those of my staff that are standing on this certainly would
accept it gracefully and hopefully we will he part of the ones you choose. And if not, Mr.
Mayor, we stand behind you. It is a difficult time, and I think you're going to have to allow
difficult decisions and the YMCA would be respectful of your choices. Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Commissioner, thank you very much for being so understanding and taking your
time to be with us here today and caring about our community. And, most of all, thank you very
much for the strong support that you have been giving us at the County Commission in order to
get the City back in the right financial track again. We're very appreciative. Thank you.
Eleanor, you're not going to take as long as Irby now, will you?
Ms. Eleanor Kluger: No.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Ms. Kluger: Let me explain that...
Mayor Carollo: I am sorry, give your name and address for the record? We need it.
Ms. Kluger: Eleanor Kluger. All right, native Miami, resident of the downtown area. I am a
new member to the board. I knew many of the board members. I was surprised that I knew so
many because most of the board members are long time activists. As you know, the downtown
area has not prospered in the last few years and, quite a few years. And I have, in the last three
years become quite involved and active in the area in order to try to help the City and help my
City Commissioners to revive it. Being a board member, an elected hoard member to this group,
I was honored by being made vice president in my first year there. And being vice president, I
felt it would be a large responsibility that I had in order to try to revise and to change the norm of
the way 22 years of spending has gone on and most of the board members that were on this
board for all these years, would complain that they didn't see where the dollars went to in their
particular areas. Their areas were still depressed and funding was not going there. As a business
person, when I looked overall of the requests and so on, I see that the administrative costs for all
of these projects seemed to he growing and many of those people do not live in the target areas
25 February 20, 1997
and so the funding to the administrative people is going out of the target areas. Some salaries are
sixty thousand ($60,000), seventy thousand ($70,000), one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000),
going to people that I am sure are interested in helping, but still the salaries increase because for
one thing, Mr. Plummer, we did not know that there is a cap on any new. So the old groups were
receiving each year more and more funding and then able to grow their administrations. And
many of those projects may be very worth while. I am not saying that I am knowledgeable in
any of these programs because I do not know the complete workings of them. But I could see
that the fundings were not getting down. This is to help poor target areas. And I would look
around at the target areas and many of them are not getting the funding that they need. And so
when Irby McKnight came up with the idea of one million dollars ($1,000,000) for each of us to
spend and five million dollars ($5,000,000), five point two million ($.5,200,000) would go to the
City to look over all of the City projects that maybe we are not familiar with, it sounded like a
great idea. And, we all worked hard. It gave us an opportunity, each in our area, to really study
what goes on in our area because we could not absorb in the tour or five months knowing all
about these projects. We do know what happens in our particular area. Now, there is a lot of
changes just like you now change the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) that need to
go on with these hoards. I am sure staff has tried to do a very job and they were quite
cooperative with the citizens, but there needs to be a more meshing of their ideas and our ideas
and we need to have more workshops in order to learn more of what goes on. And so therefore,
we are preparing a program of changing some of the ways that all of these meetings are
conducted. We're asking for a workshop, we are asking for when you appoint people, that at the
first three meetings there was not a quorum because many of your appointees were not
appointed. So it made it difficult for us to make any kind of decisions. Many times we've heard
reports from our citizens, maybe seven or eight times, and we only needed to hear from them
once or twice. So, we want to limit how many times the public can speak before us so that we
get a chance to hear everybody and also too many of them do write to us and give us an outline.
We have paperwork on it. Basically, what we really need to do is work closer with staff so that
we wouldn't have such a difference of opinion, as you see on here. And I know we've made it
very difficult for you Commissioners to now try to decide what is the hest plan. We are all
interested in the City. You will see that the citizens board members have worked hard for all
these years. And, like Irby says, the target areas have received, the downtown has received very
little. And see, also demographics are changing. How many people actually live in the
downtown. And we're talking about that I could give 15 percent to social services in the
downtown. And yet, there were no people to give it to. So, some areas that have grown with
people and really need the services shouldn't be capped at 15 percent. They should maybe have
30 percent. So, a lot of the rules need, and I don't know how you go about changing all these,
but these rules need to be changed. And in the future, I would strongly recommend we all look
at these rules and you know, we're not going to please everybody as the staff mentioned. The
requests are enormous as compared to the amount of dollars. So, no matter what we decide, it's
not going to please everybody here. But I think that after 22 or 23 years of operating this kind of
program, that it is time to review it, to change some of the bylaws and to get together with the
citizens in the area and talk a little more with them and see what is really needed and how can we
resolve it. We all want to help. Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you, Eleanor. And again, thank you Irby. Now, the procedure that we're
going to follow is going to be the following. I'm going to have the City Clerk go by alphabetical
order each of the agencies that have requested funding and if there is anyone from each of these
agencies that would like speak, then raise your hand and acknowledge that you're here. We will
only allow one individual to speak for each agency, no matter how many different requests or
grants you're looking to get. How many proposals, rather.
Mr. McKnight: Mr. Mayor, there are other board members here that wish to speak also.
Mayor Carollo: OK, well. We've heard from the chairman and the vice chairman. We're going
to allow two more minutes. How many more board members do we have here?
26 February 20, 1997
Unidentified Speaker: One, two.
Mayor Carollo: One, two that want to speak. Three. Are you a board member, sir?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Mayor Carollo: And behind you, Fred. Now, OK, only from the board members that work on
this. You'll have time during the process to speak. I'm going to allow two minutes to each of
the board members to speak. You've had your chairman and vice chairman address us for some
time, so. We've got to finish the meeting sometime today. Go ahead, Mariano.
Mr. Mariano Cruz: Mariano Cruz, 1227
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, with the understanding that at noon, the speaker at noon is
the last speaker for the lunch break.
Mayor Carollo: That's our policy.
Commissioner Plummer: That's fine. So everybody knows that at noon, we're going to say,
siesta.
Mayor Carollo: Otherwise, you're at`° your own risk,. as, Commissioner, Plummer gets real
grouchy without food.
Commissioner Plummer: That's right, the. Gringo. has'to have a siesta.
Mayor Carollo: All right, go ahead.
Mr. Cruz: OK, Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 26th Street, in Allapattah. I represent the
Allapattah target area as an elected representative. I am going to say something because these
numbers or whatever it says here from the meeting. Some persons knows exactly what happened
there because when they mentioned the thing of the one million dollars ($1,000,000), I wanted to
say, I am going to vote whatever the neighborhood wanted. Whatever, and I sent that to the City
Commission. I vote three hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) for the Allapattah
Community Action, that social service. That was the main priority. That social service has been
serving there for a long, long, time. Twenty years now, since 1977. And, not only that, the
executive director, live right there, across the street. He's just got to walk across the street. Not
live 20 blocks away, 20 miles away or anything. Live right there, across the street. That's one
thing that always got me, you know. The director lives right there. Now, another part, we vote
fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for Dominican -American Community Service and then seventy-
five thousand dollars ($75,000) on business park and for ABDA (Allapattah Business
Development Authority), one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) more and the rest for the
parks. Curtiss, Allapattah, Comstock, Moore Park and Melrose Park. And that was... And then
they came and say no, that's not the way it is, you have to come down to one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars ($150,000). It was then, I think. One hundred and fifty thousand dollars
($150,000) for Allapattah Community Action, that's it. And then the rest would have to come
from the other five million dollars ($5,000,000). And remember that Allapattah is not only
Allapattah, it's where the most concentration of public housing in the whole of Dade County
there. So, it serves not only Allapattah, but it serves people that come west of 27th Avenue from
the County, from other places, from Little Havana. And they come there because there is no one
to stop them, to tell them no, you can't come here because you don't live inside the target area.
You have people there from every place, coming to that center there. And, we would like to see
the level of funding, Commissioners, remember before when there was revenue sharing. The
27 February 20, 1997
other day I was in a meeting with Carrie Meek, and she is now in the Appropriations Committee.
She say that she would try to change that...
Mr. Walter J. Foeman (City Clerk: Mr. Mayor, the two minutes are up.
Mr. Cruz: .. in Congress about that 15 percent because it shouldn't he the administration get 20
percent. And social services...
Mayor Carollo: OK, Mariano, thank you very much.
Mr. Cruz: Right.
Mayor Carollo: We appreciate your input. Fred, we need your name, full name and address.
Mr. Fred St. Amand: Good afternoon, sir. Good afternoon, to members of the Commission. I
am Fred St. Amand, new board member. And, I know, in the past the excuse have been citizen
of Little Haiti, Little River have not been, you know, been heard of. But, I have made a decision
to retire from my business and be more involved because as the second largest ethnic, group in
Dade County, we are the most abandoned one. You know, I agree with Commissioner Plummer,
I agree with Commissioner Hernandez and Regalado. I think most of those agencies have to be
investigated. When I decided to run to be elected, I said the only way I would do it, I would
have to be personally involved to know what the agencies are doing because when I look at this
and see the amount of dollars that have been allocated every year, and then I go around in my
community, let me tell you, all I see is poverty, hunger. Yes, we have, we need money for social
services. But, when we in the hoard, we propose funds for the social services which is badly
needed in Little Haiti, Little River, we don't even have ten percent of what we ask for. You have
an agency like HACAD (Haitian American Community Association of Dade), Haitian American
Civic Associations. You know, and so forth, so forth. When you look at what's been allocated
in the past, comparing to what the other agencies from other target areas are you know, given.
God, I mean it is unfair. We are the second largest ethnic group in Dade County and we are
second to last as far as funding is concerned. Something is wrong. All I want you guys to know
is, let me tell you this, there are people in Little Haiti right now, who are going to he here. You
are going to hear from us. The excuse I heard when doing my first meeting at the Commission,
at the hoard meeting, is the fact that yeah, you know you guys are not here when they do this, did
this. So, they take our funds and give to ethertarget areas. So, we are here now. I would like
you to take a good look of, out of the million dollars ($1,000,000). The 15 percent cap has hurt
us. That, we have not received anything. If you look at it, for example, I am very familiar with
most of the agencies, which by the way, I have visited with them. And then I make it my
business to investigate them. Because, I would never recommend a dollar ($1) for no agency
that I, that you know, that I don't know what they're doing with it. And then I completely agree
with Commissioner Plummer, when he says that housing, food for the people on the table. Now,
with the new immigration laws, you know that that our community is going to he badly hurt.
And then immigration is doing that on purpose to postpone things just to hurt the people. So, it's
up to you, the City Commission to open your eyes and help the citizens of our City. Thank you,
very much.
Mr. Foeman: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you. OK, thank you, Fred. Mr. Clerk, what I need for you to do now is
to go down each of the different agencies that we have and ascertain if there are any
representatives from those agencies that would want to address the Commission on behalf of
their agency. If there is, then we need to have one representative from each agency be the one
that is going to address us. This is the same procedure that Dade County follows. Once I know
how many people are going to address this, then I'll try to allocate the time, as much time as we
can, to each one of you.
28 February 20, 1997
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Mr. Foeman: Action Community Center.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Mr. Foeman: Allapattah Community Action.
Commissioner Plummer: Sound off, if you're here.
Unidentified Speaker: Sorry.
I Mayor Carollo: Yeah, we don't want to come up first. We just want to know, if you're here and
you want to address us. All right.
Mr. Foeman: Alternative Programs.
i
4 Commissioner Plummer: This is a roll call.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Unidentified Speaker: It's a roll call.
Mayor Carollo: Hold on for a minute, Walter. Once he calls the name of your agency, if there is
a representative of the agency that wants to address us, please speak up loud, raise your hand and
speak up loud, so that we know you're here. And then, it's up to your organization to decide, if
'there is more than one, who is going -to he the point person to address the Commission.
Unidentified Speaker: Excuse, me. Commissioners, I think there was some representative from
the Community Action Agency.
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, I am here.
Unidentified Speaker: OK.
Mayor Carollo: Yes.
i
Unidentified Speaker: So, would you like to speak first, or? I think she's first in line.
i
E
Mayor Carollo: Well, she'll be first, but we're going to go through all the agencies...
Commissioner Plummer: We've got to finish the roll call.
Mayor Carollo: .. to see how may are here that wants to speak. And then we'll know how many
minutes each of you can speak.
Unidentified Speaker. OK, OK. I am sorry.
Mr. Foeman: OK.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you, ma'am. Go ahead.
Mr. Foeman: Allapattah Community Action.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
29 February 20, 1997
I
Mr. Foeman: Alternative Programs.
Commissioner Plummer: They are here.
Mayor Carollo: Alternative Programs. Speak louder it you can, Walter. Right into the mike.
Mr. Foeman: Alternative Programs.
Mayor Carollo: OK, they are not here.
Mr. Foeman: ASPIRA.
Mayor Carollo: ASPIRA, OK.
Mr. Foeman: Association for Useful Aged. Association for Development of Except...
Unidentified Speaker: They are not here.
Mr. Foeman: BESTA.
Mayor Carollo: Hold on for a minute. LA ASOCIACION DE LOS VIEJOS UTILES ESTA
AQUI?. It's the Association for the Useful Aged. OK, they are not here.
Mr. Foeman: BESTA.
Mayor Carollo: BESTA. Next.
Mr. Foeman: Boys and Girls Club of Miami?
Mayor Carollo: Boys and Girls Club of Miami?
Commissioner Plummer: I don't see any of them here.
Mr. Foeman: No. CCS, Central Hispanic Catholic Church? OK. CCS-Centro Master Teen.
CCS-Notre Dame Child Care? CCS-Sagrada Family Child Care. City of Miami Neighborhoods
Jobs?
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: City of Miami Parks Department.
Unidentified Speaker: They are here.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mayor Carollo: Somebody better speak up on that one.
Commissioner Plummer: Three times.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Coconut Grove Local Development Corporation. Coconut Grove Family Health
Center. Credit is Due Project. De Hostos Senior Center. Dominican -American National
30 February 20, 1997
Foundation. Dr. Rafael Pineval Clinic. FACE. First United Methodist Church? Greater Bethel
American. HACAD.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Haitian -American Civic Association.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Haitian -American Foundation.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Haitian Community Center.
Services. KIDCO Child Care.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Hispanic Coalition. JESCA? Jewish Family
Mr. Foeman: Liberty City Optimist Club. Lyons Home for the Blind. Little Haiti Housing.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Little Havana Activity and Nutritional Centers. Miami Jewish Horne Hospital for
the aged? Miami Mental Health Center. Negro Airmen International Flying Corporation.
Overtown Community Optimist Club. Southwest Social Services. St. Agnes Rainbow Village.
St. Alban's Day Nursery: St. John's Community Development Corporation.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: St. John's Tot Center.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Superior Referral Services. Tacolcy Economic Development Corporation. Town
Park Day Care. Vecinos en Accion. YMCA (Carver Branch). OK, yes. OK. YMCA (Jose
Marti Branch). Youth of America.
Commissioner Plummer: While we're waiting for the Mayor to come back, I'd like to ask, Bert.
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: I am very concerned in some of these areas and I won't mention
individuals. But I want to make sure that you have gone through, that these cuts are so severe
that the program cannot survive. Now, then are we making a mistake to allocate a pittance
amount of money after a severe cut, that the program can't survive, are we making a serious
mistake? So, I want assurances from staff, that you've gone through these programs that have
these severe cuts and have established that they can survive even with the severe cuts.
Mr. Waters: In response to that Commissioner, we have gone through each application. We
have indicated to those various different groups that we are making recommendations to fund, in
the amounts that we so indicated. And in terms of whether or not the recommendations would
severely impact them, the answer to that is, they fully understand exactly where we are and no
significant impact, it., will dismantle a program. We're basing it on what our allocations would
be in that regard and that's a reduction that we're receiving from HUD (Housing and Urban
Development).
31 February 20, 1997
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Commissioner Plummer: Let me, without mentioning a name. I'm looking at one in particular
that's fourteen thousand ($14,000), current allocation. Forget about their request and the
difference. The City staff recommended the same. Yet, the CD (Community Development)
board recommended seventeen hundred dollars ($1,700). Now, that's the kind of question I'm
asking. Can that organization, and you know who I talking about. Can they survive with the
equivalent of a 90 percent cut?
Mr. Waters: No, sir. They cannot.
Commissioner Plummer: Then, what are we doing?
Mr. Waters: But, what we're doing, what the administration is doing is, basing its
recommendations on the performance level of those current organizations that's in the system,
number one. Number two, we are at a 15 percent cap.
Commissioner Plummer: No, no, no. You said all that. You're being repetitious. Now, my
question is, did you bring that kind of a thing, scenarios that I just drew for you to the attention
of the advisory council who recommended a 90 percent cut in that one program?
Mr. Waters: Yes, and those...
Commissioner Plummer: They couldn't survive?
Mr. Waters: Yes. The advisory board, even when the staff...
Commissioner Plummer: You understand what I am saying?
Mr. Waters: Yeah, I understand exactly what you're saying. What we said to them was that, if
they make a recommendation for that severe cut, the agency will not survive. They were fully
aware...
Commissioner Plummer: But yet, they are still allocating.
Ms. Waters: Yes. That's the advisory board recommendations. Staff's recommendation is to
fund them at its current level to maintain its current program. We, in some instances we may
agree with the board and in other instances, we have not, but we are making the assessment on
performances out there, and their delivery of those services to the community.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Let me ask you this. If we were to fund at the current level all the social
programs, what will we have in terms of numbers, today's level?
Mr. Waters: If I understood the question.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yeah.
Mr. Waters: If we fund them... We cannot fund them at thier current level because our grant has
been reduced. However, there is a small decrease in terms of its allocations recommended by
staff. Currently, it's two million ($2,000,000). What we're recommending is one point nine
($1,900,000). And that would allow those agencies to operate with a slight modification at its
current level.
Vice Mayor Regalado: You did say that we, we will be able to switch some funds? If we were
to switch some funds, can we fund at the current level?
32 February 20, 1997
Mr. Waters: Yes, Commissioner. And this body can make a recommendation to switch the
allocations that staff is proposing. My only caveat to this body is that if we, it that
recommendation comes down, we're going to have to take money from another agency in order
to accommodate that particular wish.
Vice Mayor Regalado: We will still have six million ($6,000,000), that you haven't identified.
Mr. Waters: The bottom line is for social programs, we're still dealing with one point nine
million dollars ($1,900,000). That's our budget under the social programs category.
Commissioner Plummer: Without doing a calculation, am I to understand that City staff
recommended all of the present allocations less seven and a half percent?
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: With no exception?
Mr. Waters: No. Well, not. Except.the two new programs that we have mentioned.
Commissioner Plummer: We can throw those out, OK.
Mayor Carollo: Commissioners.
Commissioner Gort: I only have one question.
Mayor Carollo: • Go ahead, Commissioner.
Commissioner Gort: We do perform audit during the whole year. We do visit the programs to
see the effectiveness and what they do in the community?
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir. We are mandated federally to do all of which you have so stated.
Commissioner Gort: Because I remember when I first got here, we cut four agencies becuase
they were for not performing.
Mr. Waters: And, it's based on performance Commissioner. If, the agency does not meet...
Commissioner Plummer: That was in the Economic Development.
Commissioner Gort: That was in the Economic Development not in social services.
Mr. Waters: Housing is the same. In the housing category as an example, you have... It's 15
units in three years. If you can't build at least five units a year, staff has recommended even in
this proposed allocation to not fund those agencies who we can't see or touch a product that they
would like to have implemented.
Commissoner Gort: Thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, I want to ask you again. If we were on this program, social services
only, funds for this coming year, at the same level that we have today. Can we do that? Not that
you recommend it or that there was a cut in services. Can we fund the social programs on the
current level? Even if we have to take, and let me ask you. Can we take money for instance
from Parks? I mean the County has just approved two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) in
parks. And the City of Miami is going to get several million and we're placing some money in
33 February 20, 1997
}
parks. And I know it's very important, but this year it's important. Mr. Manager, I would really
like to stress the fact that this year it's very, very different than any other year. That we are
going to be impacted whether we like it or not. It's out of our hands. And there is going to be
thousands of people who are not going to get the food stamps and their checks come next May.
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): Mr. Commissioner, the administration shares the concern
that this year is going to be extremely difficult because of what's happening as to welfare
reform. And, through the offices of our jobs programs, through the coordination group we hope
to help address those concerns. The maximum under the CD (Community Development)
program before you today. And correct me where I am wrong. The maximum amount of money
out of a thirteen paint one million dollars ($13,100,000) that can be spent, under this federal law
for the social programs, is one million nine hundred and sixty-five thousand nine hundred dollars
($1,965,900). That is...
Commissioner Plummer: That was not his question.
Mr. Marquez: That is the maximum that can he spent. And that is the maximum that City staff
is recommending to he spent on it.
Commissioner Plummer: It still wasn't his question. His question was, can you take the money
that's delegated here for parks and move it somewhere else?
Mr. Marquez: The answer to that is, you can move it to somewhere else, but you cannot exceed
the maximum for social services.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, that's fine. You know, because, let me give you one example.
And the one question that I'm going to he asking of you. You've got "X" number of dollars
allocated in here for lot clearing. Now, what we're talking about right now, and hopefully we're
talking about, that this CD (Community Development) money is not going to go for lot clearing.
The individual homeowners are going to be taxed to keep the lots clean, if they don't do it. So,
that's one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000). Use that money for the parks, OK.
That's what I'm trying to say.
Mr. Marquez: You can do that as an allocation request. There maybe problems and concerns
staff may have in trying to explain why you may not want to do that. But the answer is yes. You
can move money from lot clearing to parks.
Commissioner Plummer: Well.
Mr. Marques: What you cannot do right now is move money from lot clearing and put it into
social services.
Commissioner Plummer: That's. We understand that. OK. The other question that I have, OK.
What happened when we had all these beautiful budget workshops that we were going to put day
care, City operated day care on a nonsubsidy basis?
Mr. Albert Ruder (Director, Parks and Recreation Dept.): Commissioner Plummer, if you recall,
I spoke to you and the day cares are... If they go the way they're going now, with the fee
increases that we instituted about a year ago, we agreed to review them at the end of this year
and they should be very close to breaking even. The fees that are coming in should cover the
expenses.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, no, that's not what this Commission told you, Mr. Ruder. This
Commission said, make them no subsidy.
34 February 20, 1997
ria
Mr. Ruder: Right, well... it took...
Commissioner Plummer: OK. And I would like to see that go private personally, OK. Because
our day care system is not for the needy. Our day care system is for the middle in -class. And
I've always said, that I think that that was unfair. Simply because it cost us per child in our day
care center more than it costs me to send my child to a private school. And something is wrong.
And I've said that before and I've been chastised before because those people who are the
recipients become very loud and long.
Mr. Ruder: OK, well.
Commissioner Plummer: I'm saying to you, for one member of this Commission. It is my
understanding that the City operated day care will not receive any subsidy in the upcoming
budget.
Mayor Carollo: Good. Commissioner, can we try to move on...
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah.
Mayor Carollo: .. and we need to have the City Clerk finish going through some additional lists.
No, there's more housing and...
Mr. Foeman: ... social programs.
Commissioner Plummer: Can we agree that really we shouldn't even start on this until after
lunch?
Mayor Carollo: Well, I would do whatever you like but, I'd like to take at least about two, or
three or four agencies that are those that have senior citizens that they have to get back.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, this is the first time that we've really dealt with it on
Commission meeting day, where it wasn't just a special meeting for this purpose alone.
Because you're talking about at least... If you give every one of these agencies, you're talking
about midnight for sure.
Mayor Carollo: This is why I want to find out how many people are going to be speaking now.
You know, we're going to through all the different lists, Social Services, Housing, the works.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. Mayor, it seems that the will of this Commission is that the priority
will be food, and social services.
Mayor Carollo: I understand and I am in agreement with that. But, we still have to give every
agency, no matter what their services are, an opportunity to speak.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yeah, absolutely. I hear you, but what I was trying to establish is,
whether or not can we today, right now say, we are funding these social agencies? Then, we're
going to deal with the other agencies. These social agencies with the current funds that they
have now, do we have any problem of not doing that?
Mayor Carollo: Well.
35
February 20, 1997
Vice Mayor Regalado: I mean not one dollar ($1) more. But not one dollar ($1) less.
Mayor Carollo: The problem that I have, Commissioner is that it's hard to do this in a vacuum.
I think that we need to look very closely, each of us, at every one of these agencies. We might
come back with the same suggestion that you've given. But, we need to look at them very
closely and come back at the next meeting and make that decision.
Vice Mayor Regalado: But, I just wanted to determine whether or not we can do it legally? If
we are coming back and saying, all of these agencies need the money that they have now.
Mayor Carollo: Legally, this will be first reading anyway. So.
Mr. Marquez: Mr. Mayor.
Commissioner Plummer: Of course you can do it. See the only problem I have, Joe. Even
though I have a problem with new agencies. The gentleman from Little Haiti hit it right on the
head as far as I was concerned. To be... I know some of the agencies involved but their
programs, I have no idea what these programs are to do. And I don't know how I can sit here
and be fair to those programs that are new programs to not know what their programs do. I
mean, I know Catholic Services Agency. I know them well. But they're allocating new
programs here, OK. And, I don't know what those programs do and it's not fair to them or to me
to not know exactly what the new programs are even though I have to admit, my basic thoughts
are no monies left for new programs. So, I'm just saying that's, that's...
Mr. Emilio Lopez: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: I am sorry. If I let you speak Emilio, I'm going to have to let everybody else
speak.
Mr. Lopez: No, it's only one comment, you know. And I think it's unfair.
Mayor Carollo: Emilio, everybody has a comment now. I have to bring an orderly process.
Mr. Lopez: I'm a board member and I think I should be allowed...
Mayor Carollo: Well, but you didn't raise you hand before Emilio.
Mr. Lopez: But, but Commissioner, Commissioner.
Mayor Carollo: Please, you'll have time before this is over.
Mr. Lopez: No.
Mayor Carollo: I need to follow an orderly process.
Mr. Lopez: I think you're doing something that is unfair. You haven't given a chance. This,
this group...
Mayor Carollo: Emilio, you're out of order. I am sorry. If you think I am unfair, you know, so
be it. I am unfair. But, I think I am being very fair.
Mr. Lopez: You are being unfair to the agencies that are not here to answer that you know.
Mayor Carollo: Emilio, no. We will give them an opportunity later. We're going to hear from
the ones that are here today.
36
February 20, 1997
Mr. Lopez: But the problem was, that they were not advised that you were going allow to do
this today.
Mayor Carollo: Well, don't you worry, Emilio everyone will have an opportunity. Everyone
will have an opportunity. Now, Irby you know, that's it. We have to get a meeting going.
We've heard from you, from staff. I'm going to go straight to hear from the agencies. I want the
City Clerk to finish off reading some of the other agencies and some of the other categories...
Mr. McKnight: I'm not here to speak.
Mayor Carollo: .. so that I could - I appreciate it. So that we can decide how many minutes we
can allow to each one of them. Mr. Clerk.
Mr. Foeman: Continuing, Mr. Mayor. Housing Development and Rehabilitation. Allapattah
Business Development Authority, Inc.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: BAME Development Corporation of South Florida, Inc.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Citywide Code Enff-)rcdment/NET.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Citywide Multifamily Housing Rehab. Program.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: OK, Citywide Residential Paint Program/NET.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Citywide Single Family Housing Rehabilitation.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Citywide Prevention of Substandard Building/Demolition.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Coconut Grove Local Development Corporation, Inc. CODEC.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: The De Hostos Senior Center, Inc.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: East Little Havana Community Development Corporation. East little Havana
Community Development Corporation.
37 February 20, 1997
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Commissioner Plummer: That's Maria Elena.
Mr. Foeman: Edgewater Economic Development Corporation.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Florida Housing Corporative, Inc. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami.
Greater Miami Neighborhoods, Inc. Little Haiti Housing Association, Inc.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Little Haiti. OK, one second. Mt. Zion Development, Inc. Mt. Zion
Development Inc. Rafael Hernandez Housing.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Rainbow Beginning Ministries.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Senior Crime Prevention/Victims Assistance.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: St. John Community Development Corporation.
..Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Tacolcy Economical Development Corporation.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Town Park Plaza North, Inc. Town Park Village I, Inc. Town Park Plaza South?
Tri-City Community Association, Inc.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Southeast Overtown Park West Redevelopment CRA. Urban League of Greater
Miami, Inc.? Little Haiti Housing Reserve. Home Multifamily New Construction Program.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Homebuyers Financing Program. OK, Home Community Housing Development
Organization Program.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Home Program Administration.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Short Term Mortgage/Rental Assistance.
Mr. Waters: Here.
38
February 20, 1997
4
Mr. Foeman: Bert, are all of these yours?
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir.
Mr. Foeman: OK.
Mr. Waters: Go to. Before you move to Economic Development, Mr. Clerk. If you would go
back please to Public Services. There is a category that you missed. At the bottom of page two
of ten, it...
Mr. Foeman: OK, BetterWay of Miami.
Mr. Waters: Yes, Emergency Shelter grant. So, it's BetterWay of Miami, and would you... I
am sorry.
Mayor Carollo: Bert, we only want to know if you want to speak on each one of those, you
know.
Mr. Waters: I understand.
Mayor Carollo: You don't have to speak on them.
Mr. Foeman: BetterWay of Miami. Christian Community Service Agency.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: City of Miami Homeless. Lively Stones for Jesus. The next category Mr. Mayor,
Economic Development The agencies are Coconut Grove Local Development Corporation, I
think I've mentioned them once. Commercial Facade/NET.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: DEEDCO.
Unidentified Speaker: DEEDCO. Here.
Mr. Foeman: DEEDCO, I am sorry. Downtown Miami Partnership. Edgewater Economic
Development Corporation.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Greater Biscayne Chamber of Commerce. Latin Chamber of Commerce. Little
Haiti Housing Authority.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Little Havana Development Authority. Miami Capital Development.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: OK. Miami Dade Chamber. Neighborhoods Jobs Program.
Mr. Waters: Here.
39 February 20, 1997
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Mr. Foeman: New Washington Heights. Pierre Toussaint -Haitian Chamber of Commerce.
Small Business Opportunity Center. St. John Community Development Corporation. The
Credit is Due Project? Wynwood Commercial Economic Development? For the category
Public Facilities and Improvements. Allapattah Sidewalk Replacement. A D Professional
Training Kitchen. Claude Pepper M-Square. CCSA, Eligan Center Acquisition.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: CCSA Facility Acquisition.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Central Hispanic Catholic Child Care.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Coconut Grove Family House Center of Rehabilitation. ,Coconut Grove Sidewalk
Replacement. CHS Property Acquisition. Downtown ;Environment And Public Improvement.
Downtown Signage.
Commissioner Plummer: I would assume that's Commissioner Gort; as chairman of the DDA
(Downtown Development Agency).
Mr. Foeman: I really, I don't know.
Commissioner Plummer: No, I'm just saying.
Mr. Foeman: Economic Development/Modern BLK. Edgewater Street Improvements.
Mr. Waters: Here, these are City projects.
Mr. Foeman: OK. All of these are City projects, Bert?
Mr. Waters: No, if I may? Fourteen, the Edison Little River Sidewalk Replacement, which is
Public Works, City of Miami. That one and then you can go ahead with the others.
Mr. Foeman: So, after fourteen I can proceed.
Mr. Waters: Yes, that's item 14.
Mr. Foeman: OK, 18. Street Fishing Pier. Flagler Market Place. Flagler Riverside Link.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
i
Mr. Foeman: Goombay Plaza. Grove Park Revitalization -Little Havana. INT Assist Debris.
Mr. Waters: INT Assistance Debris Removal, that's the City of Miami.
Mr. Foeman: Little Havana Sidewalk Replacement.
Mr. Waters: The City of Miami.
Mr. Foeman: OK. Little Havana Comm Corr Beau. It the acronym. I'm not familiar with it.
What is it Bert.
40 February 20, 1997
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Mr. Waters: Corridor beautification.
Mr. Foeman: OK, is that City of Miami.
Mr. Waters: No.
Mr. Foeman: OK. LeSalle HS Restoration.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: OK, Mini Transfer Station.
Mr. Waters: City of Miami.
Mr. Foeman: Modernization, Sidewalk Replacement.
Mr. Waters: I am sorry, Mr. Clerk. Model City Sidewalk Replacement.
Mr. Foeman: Model City, I am sorry. Anyone present for that? North Fourteenth Street
Streetscape Improvement. North Bayshore Drive Connector.
Mr. Waters: That's planning, yes.
Mr. Foeman: OK. Northeast 79th Street Medel - I am not familiar with the acronym here - CIO
Building.
Mr. Waters: Medical.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Waters: Medical Office building. That's DEEDCO they're here.
Mr. Foeman: North Caribbean Market Place, New Caribbean Market Place. Overtown
Advisory Board Information Center.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Overtown Folklife Village. Overtown Sidewalk Replacement.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: OK. Physical Improvement/Job Training. Regis House Community Center. This
is a signage program, Miami Design District, is anyone present? Spring Garden Park.
Unidentified Speaker: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Southwest Social Services Building Repair. Target Area Park Improvement.
Mr. Waters: Here.
Mr. Foeman: Alternative Program, Inc./Building Acquisition. Talbot Theater Rehabilitation
Project.
41
February 20, 1997
Mr. Waters:
City.
Mr. Foeman:
Urban Land...
Ms. Waters:
Institute.
Mr. Foeman:
Institute.
Mr. Waters: Advisory Service. I am sorry.
Mr. Foeman: OK, Advisory Service. Wynwood Sidewalk Replacement.
Mr. Waters: City.
Mr. Foeman: YWCA (Young Womens' Christian Association) Facility, Expansion and
Renovation. Manuel Artime Community.
Mr. Waters: All of these are City projects.
Mr. Foeman: OK.
Mayor Carollo: We have a tremendous amount of agencies that have representatives that want
to speak here today.
Commissioner Plummer: My recommendation to you Mr. Mayor, is that I had a priest at St.
Michael's that used to tell me that nobody could speak more than two minutes without being
repetitious. I think two minutes is adequate.. If they hit their point, hit it hard and get out. If
they talk longer than that...
Mayor Carollo: I'm going to take Mr. Plummer's, excuse me, Commissioner Plummer's. Mr.
Plummer is his father. I am going to take his recommendation...
Commissioner Plummer: But that's a long distance call.
Mayor Carollo: If anybody is mad that they're going to get two minutes, you could address
Commissioner Plummer and not the Mayor. I don't want to get anybody else mad at me.
Commissioner Plummer: That's fine. In 27 years, they've had their opportunity.
Mayor Carollo: If we could find out how many of the senior citizens agencies are here, that have
to get back for their lunch? Can I see a show of hands?
Commissioner Plummer: All of them.
Mayor Carollo: Now, there is about three or four only. Can they come up, a representative from
each group? OK, senior citizens agencies only. OK. They have to get back. Go ahead. If you
could state your...
Vice Mayor Regalado: We could start. Mr. Mayor, we could start with Action, alphabetical
order.
Mayor Carollo: Hold on. Let's. I think it's only three or four. We're only talking about the
senior citizens agencies that have senior citizens here from the agencies for food, the meal
programs, that have to get back. OK, let me start with the De Hostos, if I may?
i 42 February 20, 1997
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Ms. Betzaida Ferrer: Good morning to all the Commissioners. And I really thank you for the
opportunity to address all of you particularly because our seniors are here, a large number and
they do need to go hack for lunch. I am Betzaida Ferrer, the executive director. I wrote a letter
to each one of the Commissioners, yesterday. We are without a secretary for the past year
because our funds were cut in 1995, fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), and this year. Even
though last year the Commission gave us ten thousand dollars ($10,000) emergency food,
recognizing our need. This year our budget was approved with ten thousand dollars ($10,000)
less. So already we're talking about a twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) cut, when the
elderly have been increasing in our community. And this year, it has devastated, the new
legislation. Already, 40 percent of our seniors, of the 450 active participants, and we have 500
on a waiting list, that we just cannot serve. We can only feed 110 a day. That is our maximum.
And now we have been fighting with City officials because we have 26 handicapped who are
mentally ill and we are not allowed to feed them anymore. So, we're taking money from the
County to feed them. We are faced with an increasing amount of people whose food stamps and
social services have been cut as well as social security. The SSI (Social Security Income) have
been cut already. They already have their letters. We're fighting without and we're trying to
outreach legal aid and all the other agencies. But meantime, at least we can give them a
breakfast, a lunch. We had to cut out the lunch boxes that we used to feed them for the weekend
meals because we don't have money in our budget. And we also are now giving bulk food. We
give them five items so that they will survive the weekend, till they come hack. I urge this
Commission to please not cut our funding any more. The increase that we had requested was so
that we can feed more people because they have been on a waiting list for a very long time. We
also submitted another grant understanding the constraints that the City was under to help them
with the rehabilitation of the elderly homes. Understanding that there is a cap on 15 percent and
trying to get additional monies where we can take some of our staff and perhaps take some of
their time and put them on this new grant, at the same time that we provide a service. So I thank
this Commission and I request to please understand the need of the elderly in this community.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Commissioner Plummer: Is it, isn't that De Hostos?
Mr. Ferrer: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: Of your monies presently, how much of it go to feed?
Ms. Ferrer: Of direct food money, eighteen thousand ($18,000). And of counselling, 30 percent
of our funding goes to direct counseling. And we also have transportation for the elderly. So we
provide multiple services. But of the City budget, we have eight thousand ($8,000) and we have
ten additional thousand that we're getting for food. And we still, just the lunch boxes would cost
us fifty-two thousand dollars ($52,000) a year. It's one dollar seventy-five ($1.75) per lunch
box.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Ms. Ferrer: Thank you.
Ms. Gloria Maura: I hope you will bear with me. This is my first Commission meeting and I'm
a novice at this. I'm here to address you on behalf of the Action Transportation Program. The
buzz words today, at all levels of government is cost efficiency. Budget cuts and ultimately
elimination of unnecessary welfare programs. My first order of business is to tell you that most
of the people who use this service are retired. And if disabled, have contributed to this system. E
This service makes it possible for many who would not be eligible for services to the STS
43 February 20, 1997
(Special Transportation Service) program which has much more stringent guidelines for
acceptance to do simple, ordinary things that all of us take for granted. But which in the long
run are cost efficient. Not only for the City of Miami but for the State and the federal
government. Medicare for instance, which we all know is and has been overburdened by the
increase in medical costs. Action provides transportation to doctors offices and all medical
facilities. A patient who is monitored by a doctor on a regular basis is less likely to need lengthy
hospital stays or expensive medical procedures. Monitoring by the trained physicians is
oftentimes not enough. The elderly and disabled oftentimes need medication, many medicines
provided by Medicaid. Action Transportation allows many to shop at pharmacies with discount
prices which would otherwise be out of their reach. Action Transportation is cost efficient.
Malnutrition is, and has been for some time now a grave problem which plagues our elderly.
Action provides transportation to community centers where hot lunches are provided. The
elderly and disabled who live on a fixed income are unable to purchase groceries at small
neighborhood stores where the prices of items is often double that which would it would be at
the nearest Winn -Dixie or Publix. They also provide a service where those able are taken to
supermarkets. Malnutrition in the elderly or disabled leading again, to expensive medical care.
Action is cost efficient. Banking sounds easy enough, but not for the elderly or disabled of our
community. Many cannot write a check, therefore what use is a checking account. Many need
more assistance than an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) can provide, even if one were able to
get to. Unable to sufficiently master the English language, they need help from tellers.
Mr. Foeman: Mr. Mayor, two minutes.
Mayor Carollo: I am sorry. Your time is up.
Ms. Maura: Oh, I am sorry. OK, I just wanted to say in conclusion that I would like to put a
-face behind all the words that we've been using here today, such as funding, budget cuts. The
faces are here, gentlemen. I am one of the clients of Action Transportation. I would forego my
privacy if the Mayor or the Commissioners would like to ask me any personal questions, dealing
with the program or my disabilities.
Commissioner Plummer: I know the program better than you do.
Ms. Maura: I bet you do. Having worked for Mitchell Wolfson, I do know you and I have
known you for quite a while.
Commissioner Plummer: Mitchell Wolfson and my grandfather were in a show together in Key
West in 1915. That might tell you something.
Mayor Carollo: Don't tell us the story today, Commissioner, please. We don't have the time.
Mr. Maura: What it does tell you is we both knew a pretty great man.
Commissioner Plummer: That's true. Long live the Colonel, he was a great man to this
community. Great man.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you very much, I appreciate your time.
Ms. Maura: Yes, thank you. Thank you gentlemen for your time.
Ms. Anatolia Patino: Mayor, Commissioners. My name is Anatolia Patino, I represent First
United Methodist Church program for the elderly.
Commissioner Plummer: Which agency are you, ma'am now?
44 February 20, 1997
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Ms. Patino: The FCC _ ministry for the elderly. First Methodist Church.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, the Methodist Church.
Ms. Patino: The Methodist Church, yes. We serve breakfast and lunch for 100 elderly and in
the last couple years the homeless elderly are increasing and we are serving them in the church.
So we request according to our we're requesting twenty-two thousand ($22,000). The
advisory council granted us, or request us for fifteen thousand ($15,000). And the City staff
recommended 15, the same amount last year. Last year, we got fifteen thousand nine hundred
($15,900). I beg if you cannot grant it as the amount that we are requesting, at least leave us
with the same amount last year, please? We really need that amount to serve the elderly and the
homeless, the handicapped living in downtown area.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Waters, you told me that everyone of the present funded were cut
seven and a half percent. Wasn't that your statement?
Mr. Waters: Approximately. Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: Not approximately. I asked across the board, was it seven and a half
percent? Your answer was, yes.
Mr. Waters: For those agencies that are under 25 percent, no cut. Twenty-five thousand
($25,000). I said twenty-five thousand ($25,000).
Commissioner Gort: Twenty-five thousand ($25,000).
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, under 25, no cut? You didn't say that.
Mr. Waters: I didn't have... Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, that clarifies it, thank you.
Ms. Patino: I thank you in advance for your help. Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you, ma'am.
Commissioner Plummer: When we come hack Mr. Waters, this afternoon. I would ask of you if
I may? Of the programs whether you recommended or the advisory board, of each of the eight
target areas, I would like to know of the staff, how much of that money is delegated for food,
how much is delegated for medicine or is State treating the ill? And how much is for housing
and the other you can just put "other." That's what I want to know when we come back this
afternoon, if it is possible. So that you can give me an idea if they're getting two hundred
thousand dollars ($200,000) and only ten thousand ($10,000) is going for food, I want to know
that. Because I might cut them. Because to me, if they are not using that money for my three
criteria, then I am going to prefer to cut them. So, you understand what I am saying?
Mayor Carollo: We understand, Commissioner.
Commissioner Plummer: OK. No, he needs to understand because he's going to do the work.
And if he doesn't, I'll tell you in another 11 minutes.
z
f
Mayor Carollo: OK, Miriam let's get you before noon time. We've got two other people we've
got to get. Let's address this. Give him the answer, right after 12. Miriam.
45 February 20, 1997
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Ms. Miriam Urra: Good morning, my name is Miriam Urra and I represent Allapattah
Community Action, Inc., elderly meals facility. Located 2257 Northwest, North River Drive in
the Allapattah area. Commissioners, I am here today to ask you that our funding through the
City of Miami he preserved. Many of you are familiar with our program. As you knew, our
agency was established in 1978. Since then, we have been serving the community and especially
the elderly citizens in our area. The City has not increased our funding; in over ten years. And
while our number of participants has increased, our funding has not. Still, we are not here to ask
you for more funding. Actually, we have a great need of social services in our area. As you well
know, our area has a very high numbers of elderly citizens. The thousands of low income
persons that are counting on you to do the right thing today are waiting. We'd really like to
thank you on behalf of our community for your past and continued support. Avid please keep in
mind that thousands of our elderly citizens would be effected as Commissioner Tomas Regalado
stated, by these cuts that are coming with the new law that has to do with immigration. So
please, help us. We need your help and we thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you, Miriam.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Excuse me, Miriam. How many people do you think that in your center
will be affected by this Welfare Reform Act?
Ms. Urra: In our center, I will say that about 100. But in our community, we have thousands.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, in your center about 100. And the difference between what the staff
recommended and what you have now is about twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). What will be
the impact of those twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) in the services?
Mr. Urra: Well, actually I think we will be... At the present time -now, we are rejecting every
single day, we are first to be, you know. We are rejecting clients that are coming to our center. I
will say that it will be a great amount. I cannot give you exact numbers, now. But it will be a
great amount.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you..
Mayor Carollo: Gracias, Miriam. Thank you.
Ms. Josefina Carbonell: Good morning, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners. My name is Josefina
Carbonell and I represent Little Havana Activities Center and Nutrition Centers at 700
Southwest 8th Street, which is our main facility. I'm here to first of all, thank the City of Miami
for your past support and for your consideration this year on behalf of the seniors that we are
entrusted to serve. We are particularly concerned because of the proposed recommendations and
both of the monies that we are allocated from the City of Miami, one goes to address one project
is the elderly meals programs which has, provide Citywide elderly meals, and home delivered
meals both congregate at Peter's Plaza. Our blind program, St. Dominque and Smarter
(phonetic) sight. And, serving a total of 1,416 seniors. And the Pro-salud Primary Health Care
Clinic housed in the Little Havana Center, but serving over 2,396 individuals, eighty percent of
which are City residents. So, it's not only Little Havana target area. I'm here to say that due to
the importance of these monies, because they are used as matching funds. That means, that the
money that comes from the City is not the only money that is invested to be able to provide
services at all these centers. It's critical for you to understand that for each dollar that the City
gives, we receive over seven dollars ($7) of federal funds. So any impact or any reduction, be it
seven percent by staff, or be it 71 percent by the advisory board recommendation, it's going to
impact tremendously the number of federal funds that we're going to lase. So that it critical
information for you to know. We particularly, of particular concern Citywide, is the greatest and
46 February 20, 1997
critical impact out of Welfare Reform that will create in the City of Miami particularly because
the City will be the greatest impacted within the County. And the substantial number of older
Miamians that will lose their basic benefits of cash assistance and food stamps, and possibly
Medicaid at the beginning of 1998. So I urge you to consider a minimum of the current
allocation to bath programs and that you respectfully consider the additional requests provided
for in our RFP (Request For Proposal) process. Thank you.
Commissioner Plummer: I have a question
Ms. Carbonell: Uh-huh.
Commissioner Plummer: Beside the one that we all know about on 8th Street and Seventh
Avenue, don't you supply food for St. Dominique's?
Ms. Carbonell: Right. Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: One of the areas you supply food for...
Ms. Carbonell: We have 16 centers Countywide. Eleven are within City limits and you only
pay for a part of. Peter's Plaza you pay completely. Peter's Plaza, City of Miami, CDBG
(Community Development Block Grant) funds completely. The Blind program...
Commissioner Plummer: I don't need all of that. What I'm trying to make a point is, is that you
are in multiple districts...
Ms. Carbonell: That's right.
Commissioner Plummer: .. and they have shown as a single district...
Mayor Carollo: Multiple communities.
Ms. Carbonell: Right.
Commissioner Plummer: .. and I think that's unfair.
Ms. Carbonell: I think there's a, right. There is a misunderstanding because our name is Little
Havana Activities and Nutrition Centers which we are very proud of.
Commissioner Plummer: So next year...
Ms. Carbonell: That, we only serve Little Havana, but we are Countywide.
Commissioner Plummer: So next year it will be the All City Nutritional Center?
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: No.
Ms. Carbonell: Yes.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: You ought to think about that.
47 February 20, 1997
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Mayor Carollo: We...
Ms. Carbonell: We are. We are not kidding about that.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Josefina, can?
Mayor Carollo: Joserina, thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Can you tell us how many people will he affected, in the Little Havana
Center, not in all your centers, because of the Welfare Reform coming May; food stamps coming
August, check..?
Ms. Carbonell: The Miami centers, not just the Little Havana. The Miami centers on passing,
over 50 percent of the population is going to be affected. If you look overall, the agency -wide,
it's about 33 percent agency -wide which represents approximately 16,000 of the current clients
that we serve in our caseload are going to be impacted. But Countywide, it's going to be 56,000
people losing benefits with an estimated 40 to 45 within the City of Miami limits. Thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you.
Commissioner Gort: Thank you. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to ask a question of Mr. Waters. When we
1 make a presentation to the advisory board, do they also understand that the services are being
j provided Citywide?
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir. We indicate and in your document it is indicated where those agencies
provide those services citywide.or a specific targeted area.
Commissioner Gort: OK, thank you.
Mayor Carollo: We're doing one last one, which is the CCS agencies that have to get back also.
This is the last one we'll do now.
Mr. Jacques Saint-Louis: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: Yes.
Mr. Saint-Louis: I have a group of people who want to go home.
Mayor Carollo: Well, we were doing the senior citizen agencies. I'll be happy to stay after
twelve to listen to you guys. You know, we stated before we were going to do the senior citizen
agencies. That the people have to get back to make sure that the senior citizens were being fed
now. That's what we're doing. And then we were going...
Mr. Saint-Louis: Sir, I am just going to have my group stand up, you know, to see about our
program, Little Haiti Housing.
Mayor Carollo: Well....
Mr. Saint-Louis: We can just stand up here?
Mayor Carollo: That's fine, thank you. We see them. Right after two you have plenty of time
to speak if you like. After 12, some of the Commissioners have to go. I'll be glad to stay over
and listen to you also.
i
48 February 20, 1997
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Commissioner Plummer: Right after two thirty.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Mr. Francisco Brizuela: Good afternoon...
Mayor Carollo: Two minutes we have.
Mr. Brizuela:., my name is Francisco Brizuela. I'm the new... I wanted to use myself as the
new director of Centro Hispano Catlico Daycare Service Center. And I want to use this
opportunity to thank you very much for all the support that you are giving to our center for both
social services and improvement facilities. Thank you.
Commissioner Plummer: Was that great? You'll be a director a long time.
Mayor Carollo: They have four in the same one. They've got a minute left.
Ms. Ana Rodriguez: Good morning, Commissioners. The City of Miami Mayor. I am going to
be very brief. I am representing Centro Mater in east Little Havana and Sagrada Familia in east
Little Havana too. For the past 29 years, we've been serving quality, child care services to the
area and this year, for the first time, the recommendation from the CD board, it's less than one
fourth. We would like to address too that we serve from seven in the morning to seven in the
afternoon including Saturdays and Sundays. The only meals that the children receive during the
day, four meals a day, are what we serve. We would like your consideration regarding the
allocation for this year.
.Mayor Carollo: Thank you very much. OK, it's noon. You're with what group, ma'am?
Ms. Marlene Etienne: Good afternoon, My name is Marlene Etienne. I'm here on behalf of
Notre Dame Child Care Center. This is a program of Catholic community service serving 220
children in Little Haiti. In 1994, our funds were cut from twenty-five thousand to nineteen
thousand dollars ($19,000). And since then, the City staff recommendation has to been to fund
our program to nineteen thousand dollars ($19,000). This year, the board has recommended
funding, I think to twelve thousand dollars ($12,000). These funds are very important for us in
order to maintain services to the families we serve. We are open ten hours per day, and we
provide four meals per day to those families. They are low income or working poor. And
without the funds, we would have to cut services during the summer months when we don't have
other funds to maintain the services. And we urge you to please consider the hoard's
recommendation and fund the center at thirty thousand ($30,000) this year.
Mayor Carollo: We will do the best we can, ma'am.
Ms. Etienne: Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you for your time. Sir, I don't know how many more have to go. I'll be
happy to listen to you. You'll he the last one that we'll listen to until we reconvene at two thirty.
Some of the Commissioners can't be hack until two thirty. So, if you like you have two minutes
and whoever is left here will listen to you.
Mr. Saint-Louis: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. My name is Jacques Saint-Louis and I am standing
here for Little Haiti Housing Association. And I have this homeowner with me, I have blind
men here, I have people that need in housing. People who would never be buying houses from a
real estate agent but with Little Haiti Housing Association, they've been having a home where
they pay decent afforable mortgage. So, with this cut... When I told them about this cut, with 38
49 February 20, 1997
percent of our money and they decided to came here to support us because we Little Haiti
Housing Association we stand right behind our mission to provide decent and affordable housing
for low income family in the Little Haiti area. We've served, you know, people of less than 30
percent of median income. And where those kind of people are going to buy a house, you know,
without no discount program. So, and also we've tried to expend our mission in providing, you
know, rental opportunity for family who can't buy houses right now. So we can build their
income until they can buy their own houses. So, we ask the Commission and the Mayor, please
don't cut our funding because we need those two functions to fulfill our mission. Thank you,
very much.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you, for being here. All right, the Commission now will reconvene at
two thirty.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Thereupon, the City Commission
went into recess at 12:03 p.m. and reconvened at 2:38 p.m., with
all members of the City Commission, except Commissioner
Hernandez, Commissioner Gort and Vice Mayor Regalado found
to be present.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S. DISCUSS RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF 3-LANE AREA FOR VALET PARKING
DOWNTOWN BY SEYBOLD BUILDING -- INSTRUCT CITY ATTORNEY
TO REVIEW /RE -DRAFT ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE VALET PARKING --
POLICE ADMINISTRATORS TO MEET WITH ORLANDO SAN MIGUEL.
Mayor Carollo: ... the new session of the City Commission. If everybody could get ready.
We're going to begin with taking up one of the items that a lot of you are here for, and that's the
Seybold Building, downtown. First of all, let me begin by saying that I want to apologize to you
that have business in that building, that you have had to come to City Hall today. That it's come
to that. It's something that should have never happened and we should he here to try to make
things easier For our businesses in downtown Miami and the rest of the City, not make things
harder. I, most of all have to apologize because I know last week we received some notification
but, you know, unfortunately if there were two of me these days, there still won't be enough For
me to handle everything and I took it for granted that people in our administration would have
done the right thing. Would have resolved that without my having to be making phone calls for
so many things. It didn't happen. You're here today, I apologize For that, but we will resolve it
this afternoon. So if I can proceed and not delay this any longer. Lucia, you're representing
them, do you need to say anything before we get the Police Department to come forward and
give us their solution to the problem.
Ms. Lucia Dougherty: Mr. Mayor, I would only like to introduce some folks that are here today.
Mayor Carollo: Certainly.
Ms. Dougherty: These are folks, probably 50 to 100, representing the 250 members of the
Seybold Building. I put a little statistics in front of you. They represent over 1,000 employees
and sales taxes of Fourteen point five million dollars ($14,500,000) which I thought was pretty
amazing. I also want to point out the difference to you, between the valet service we're
50 February 20, 1997
10
providing. We're paying for this valet services. Valets are not using the City street and
therefore, getting money. And we're not using the City streets and getting money for ourselves.
We're actually paying thirty-six thousand dollars ($36,000) a year for the service to the citizens
of Miami and to make sure that folks come downtown. My yolks want you to know that out of,
this is the singlemost important matter and singlemost important factor in bringing; people back
downtown. And that's why it's so important we very much appreciate you being able to hear us
on this emergency basis.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
(VOTE FOR THE RECORD: Vice Mayor Regalado entered the
Commission meeting at 2:40 p.m.
Commissioner Plummer: What I don't understand is, some years ago, Mr. Mayor, you won't
here, that I got involved and we established the valet parking. And I think these people need to
know, not that I am trying to throw a hot potato. The first I knew about the problem, the first
time, was yesterday when Lucia called me and told me she wanted to bring this up as a pocket
item. And I guess what I've got to find out from whomever, is why this has been in operation
for at least three or your years that I know of, and suddenly overnight, it was cancelled. Now, I
don't think we need to go into the tact that this is a hundred million dollar ($100,000,000)
business in this community. That in fact, the problem of people coming in and out with very
large amounts of whatever needs protection. And so, all I'm interested in finding out, number
one, why it was stopped and how soon we can get it back?
Assistant Police Chief Raul Martinez: Commissioners and Mr. Mayor, from talking to the
Lieutenant in charge of downtown, it was stopped temporarily based on traffic being impeded on
First Street because vehicles were blocking; First Street going west and the buses couldn't get
through. The officers ticketed some of the valet parkers and some of the others there. And I
guess, maybe a decision was made that now we are circumventing that decision, we have spoken
to Lucia and some of the other business people who are here from the Seybold. We were
allowing temporarily to do that until they can come back in front of the Commission and then
with some sort of resolution or ordinance that allows them to use either the public right-of-way
or the parking; meters, or the loading zones on the south side of the street for valet parking.
Commissioner Plummer: It was my understanding when we did it before, that there was a
designated area for at least, I think either three or four cars which was going to be allowed to be
used for the valet. Now, in all fairness valet parking has got to play right with us. They cannot
stack two and three deep and expect us to allow that to happen where they clog up a street. They
would have to understand that they would only have the one lane, which is a loading zone or
whatever it's designated to take and valet park in those areas. As I recall when we established it
before there were three parking spaces. I don't know whether they were called a loading zone or
exit zone or what it was, but those three spaces at that time were adequate to leave the other two
lanes open. Because that lane which they were utilizing further down the street trucks are
always in that lane. Cabs are in that lane. Everything is in that lane. So it's not a matter of
blocking that lane, it's already blocked. And all we did was designated, I think three spaces is
what we designated for the purposes of the valet parking. I think it's very important. I don't
think you really need to come back to this Commission. I think what you need to do is to
reinstigate it, make sure it's running properly, that nobody is abusing it and just do it. That's
that's. (APPLAUSE)
51 February 20, 1997
; -,"4 %) f"
Vice Mayor Regalado: If I can ask? This decision was made I think before Valentines Day and
it hurt the business during that week. If this was a Commission decision why was not the
Commission informed that a measure was taken?
Commissioner Plummer: All right, let me answer that because I am the one that was directly
involved. I don't think it came before the Commission. I think we handled it administratively
and it was handled that way. We, the Commission don't have the right to tell them directly what
to do. All we said was, at the particular time was, I went to the administration, I carried it to
them, they established it. The administrator went down and actually met with the people and
after that was done, they in fact created that zone.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yeah, but it's not only the problem of valet parking, because I
understand Lucia that yesterday, an armored car was towed. And, is that correct?
Ms. Dougherty: It was an attempt to tow an armored car and I believe from Lieutenant Payne's
standpoint it was a misunderstanding. On the other hand from our client's standpoint, they
thought that was the most absurd thing to try to tow an armored vehicle doing its job in a loading
zone.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Well, I think that all the members of this Commission, the Mayor
himself has been in the downtown area working very hard to bring back the life to downtown.
And I think that that Commission should go on record saying that anytime that you people have
a problem just come immediately to us because we need to solve your problem because it is our
problem, if we want to bring back downtown we cannot kill you. Because you are the
cornerstone of downtown. So, I just want to be on the record saying that you have all the support
of... at least of this member.
(APPLAUSE)
Mayor Carollo: Is Lieutenant Payne here? Lieutenant, how much do you make a year sir, in
salary?
Police Lieutenant Payne: Roughly, sixty thousand ($60,000).
Mayor Carollo: Sixty thousand ($60,000). So with benefits and everything you're probably
hitting in the City's cost, eighty-five, ninety thousand dollars ($90,000) a year. How we pay
your salary and the salary of every single officer that's assigned to downtown and in the salary
of many other officers, that are not assigned to downtown, is through the tax base that we have in
downtown Miami. Out of every dollar of property tax, the City of Miami collects, thirty cents
($.030) comes from downtown Miami. The only way that this City of Miami is going to be able
to establish the strong economical foundation that we need for the future, so that we not only
provide the type of service that we need to provide to downtown, which is not what we're
providing now, we're providing them minimal right now. So that we can provide the services to
the neighborhoods in that the average citizen doesn't have to see their taxes raised even more
than what we're paying now, is through the engine, the economical engine that's called
downtown Miami. The biggest provider of jobs in this whole County, not the City, is downtown
Miami. That's where the biggest amount of economical growth in this whole county is going to
come to in the near future. If we, instead of helping the merchants of downtown are going to be
part of the problem, not part of the solution, we might as well close shop right now. And I tell
you, what I have been seeing lately is not just with downtown Miami. And if I am wrong, Mr.
Manager, you have the right to speak up, but I am going to be speaking for you and for me and
for the rest of the Commission on this one. This is what you have been reporting to me. It's not
only come to that point, but it has come to the point that, I understand that either you or a few
people directly assigned to you have even gone to the extreme and frankly had the audacity of
52 February 20, 1997
having towed City of Miami vehicles of inspectors that are doing their job out there. And then to
further put a slap in their face, instead of using a towing service that's one of the assigned ones
for the City of Miami, you've gone and used the guy that does the towing for the parking, the
Offstreet Parking Authority. And this has been reported to me by the Manager and others. Now,
I don't know what's going on over there. I don't know who is getting what towing, who is doing
what. But the only thing that I want to say publicly is that whatever is going on is not right, it
better be stopped. Because if not, we're going to take action from up here. At the same time, all
that we want to do is, for you to go ahead and do the fine job that you have been doing in the
past. We need to work with the merchants. We need to have them stay in downtown Miami
because frankly we need their dollars to help pay your salary and many other salaries. So, I
didn't mean to try to say more than I would have liked to have said publicly, but I just hope that
you get the message across to all the fine officers that you have working under you, in downtown
Miami. We need to work with the merchants down there, not work against them. And you
know, when... (APPLAUSE). It's just amazing to me that we've had to take the time of so
many people, have cost them money and have cost us embarrassment for them to he here today,
when... For instance, the biggest valet parking provider that you have in the City streets is in the
Miami Arena. I haven't seen anybody get upset about it, except me last year. And I was told...
So I kept my mouth shut. You know I play ball.
Police Lieutenant Payne: Yes, sir. I was just about to ask you one thing before I left and I...
You are absolutely right. And whatever I need to do to correct it will be corrected.
Mayor Carollo: I appreciate it sir.
Police Lieutenant Payne: All right. This entails, not only deals with the Seybold but it also deals
with the theater downtown. And I was going to bring it up also I believe the Arena would be
also involved in this. Ms. Halerberth (phonetic), my partner is working on a... I think we're
going to have to change the ordinance on it, is what it is, because we've got an ordinance that
does not allow that.
Mayor Carollo: Well, whatever it is you all come back to us, give us the recommendations of
how we need to do it. But in the meantime if we have been working with these merchants for
the last several years, if the Miami Arena has had no problems, you know, we don't need to do
anything else other than to let things go as they have been going where everyone has been
working together, has helped the City of Miami and when you have a new ordinance ready to go,
if that's what we need and bring it up to this Commission and we'll change it.
Police Lieutenant Payne: We will, sir.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Police Lieutenant Payne: Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: At this point, Commissioner
ernandez entered the ommission meeting at 2:50 p.m.
Ms. Dougherty: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: Lucia.
53 February 20, 1997
N
r�
Ms. Dougherty: One of the jewelers has become the de facto, spokesman for this gaup, would
like to address the Commission for one minute.
Mayor Carollo: Surely.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Robert Buchwald: Good afternoon, and thank you...
Commissioner Plummer: Remember, all you can do is deteriorate your position.
Mr. Buchwald: No, it has nothing to do with that, right. I just want to thank everybody for what
they did for us today. And, just one little thing, yesterday. Well, there's two things really.
Number one, that we should be able to get somebody's name to contact in the City, when we
have a small problem to get it resolved. And also, in the Police Department I think I have it
already. One other thing I would like to ask and I think it would make everybody really happy
with the mistake that happened yesterday, or misjudgment as we would call it with the towing of
the truck and hundreds of people out on the street and everything. One gentleman was arrested
for saying "Whose going to pay the tow driver?" He's a jeweler downtown, he owns a stare on
First Street. And I don't know what the charges are but, if possible if that could be dismissed.
The man has no record and really wasn't interfering as I understand it. I think the whole thing
was just a misunderstanding and I think it would make everybody really, very, very happy. It
cost him money and ...
Mayor Carollo: I wasn't aware of that but...
Mr. Buchwald: Yeah. Well, we have pictures of him in handcuffs. But, we are going to forget
about that. We want to work. We love Miami. We want to work with Miami and work with
you people for everybody to make plenty of money. And, you know, that's what we're here for.
Mayor Carollo: By the way, which towing company did they have towing away, yesterday?
Mr. Buchwald: Kings. Kings, I guess, yes. So that gentleman I think is here now. Who is the
gentleman? Where is the gentleman? This is the gentleman that was arrested. I think it was just
a big misunderstanding really. I mean, these are the things that there's nobody one on one that
we can contact when we have a little problem like this, and...
Mayor Carollo: You know, all that we could do up here...
Mr. Buchwald: .. make a recommendation.
Mayor Carollo: .. is apologize to you for all this happening and Assistant Chief Martinez, can
you meet with the gentleman and...
Assistant Police Chief Martinez: Yes, sir I will. I will, sir. And I can tell you Mr. Mayor, I
spoke to the officer because I found our from Lucia about the incident of the truck later last
night. I spoke to the officers this morning. He forgot or he failed to advise me of the gentleman
being arrested. He told me about why the incident with the truck, it wasn't a Brinks truck, it was
another company that was involved. That's it, Dunbar. And, but I mean, I will meet with the
gentleman and I will give you all my name for any future problems that I'm sure we'll find a
way to work them out.
Mr. Buchwald: We appreciate it. Thank you very much.
54 February 20, 1997
h'
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, before you go let me give you several names that you can call...
Mr. Buchwald: OK.
Mayor Carollo: .. to make sure that this won't happen ever again.
Mr. Buchwald: Thank you.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD; At this point, Commissioner Gort
entered the City ommission at 2:52 p.m.
Commissioner Plummer: Can I ask a question real quick like? Raul, who is charge of the
service road from Biscayne Boulevard into Bayfront Park?
Assistant Police Chief Martinez: I think that's private Bayside property.
Commissioner Plummer: No, no. We own that. That's our service road, OK. I would ask
please, that you have the signs enforced about tour buses and start doing some towing in there
because they are absolutely violating everything that's going on in there and people are parking
in there that shouldn't be. And, I would open that road up, if you would go get some
enforcement.
Mayor Carollo: Where is this that you say?
Commissioner Plummer: The service road, Joe, that you go from Biscayne Boulevard...
Mayor Carollo: OK. Yeah, you're right. I've seen that.
Commissioner Plummer: .. into like the Hard Rock. That is... Now Bayside has put a couple of j
dumpsters in the road and I tell you, trying to get in and out of there is getting to be impassible.
Assistant Police Chief Martinez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Hernandez: Mr. Mayor.
i
Mayor Carollo: Yes, Commissioner.
i
Commissioner Hernandez: I had set this item up by way of a pocket item and I am sorry I '
arrived late. I just wondered if you can put me up to speed what's the status or what we're going I
to do here?
Mayor Carollo: It's all been resolved.
Commissioner Hernandez: It's all been resolved.
Mayor Carollo: It's all been resolved.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, if you want to know what we are doing, we're asking them to
reestablish that three car length parking area for valet parking. Work with a group, make the
group understand that they cannot take up lane two and three.
SS February 20, 1997
R
Commissioner Hernandez: Right.
Commissioner Plummer: They can only use the one along the curb. Don't abuse it but
reestablish.
Mayor Carollo: You know the... (APPLAUSE) The case that we were going over this morning
where we knew that someone was playing God in that.
Commissioner Hernandez: Right.
Mayor Carollo: Well, I think they understood what the situation is.
Commissioner Hernandez: OK.
Mayor Carollo: So, it's resolved.
Commissioner Hernandez: So, there. should be no need for revokable permit or anything like
that?
Mayor Carollo: No, no. It's going to be done the way: it's been done for quite a few years before
you and I, you know, were sitting here.
Commissioner Hernandez: OK.
Mayor Carollo: And they are going to work on an ordinance that whenever they're ready they'll
bring it back.: But everything will stay as status quo.
Commissioner Hernandez: Fantastic.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yes, can 1 ask until what time are you opened during the day? Six, nine?
Mr. Buchwald: Five thirty. Five, five thirty.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Five thirty. Is any day of the week that you open later than six or eight
o'clock? Because Mr. Mayor, this is part of the picture but the whole picture is that we had
complaints from merchants who are trying to stay open until around nine o'clock and by after
eight o'clock, tickets are being issued I think by the Offstreet Parking Authority. But, they have
no...
Mayor Carollo: Well, I don't know why...
Vice Mayor Regalado: I don't know why either.
Mayor Carollo: .. because you know, there is ghost town there after that time. But, that's one of
the things that we need to change. And I'm sure that if we brought some life back to downtown
Miami, there would he many of you that would then be able to... It would make business sense to
stay open later. We're working on that. The only thing, you know, that I have to ask you is to
be a little more patient. We're in fact working right now on several major plans for downtown.
One is in an area very close to you, downtown. There is a major group that's going to come in
and invest over a billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) in new construction, apartment building,
condominium, office building, additional construction that they are going to have. Who knows
maybe even a New World Trade Center.
1
(' 56 February 20, 1997
l
t
.EIL.X:.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Mayer.
Mayor Carollo: And that's going to bring the mass that we need to start the engines rolling again
in downtown Miami like it once was about a decade or so ago.
Mr. Buchwald: Let me just say one last thing. I know during this, that it happened the week
before Valentines Day and all the merchants were going bunkers. And some letters were sent
out, I apologize if we offended anybody. We were just looking for somebody to take our cause
and all we were doing was hanging our heads against the wall. Until, we had to go out and
spend a lot of money to get attorneys and get all these people away from the jabs today, to get
down here. So I do apologize to Mr. Gort, I knew you are a little perturbed about the letters and
things that went out. We were just looking for somebody to come and help us and I am sorry,
and I apologize. And, we want to all work together with the Police Department and the City to
make it the best.
Mayor Carollo: Well, there is no need for you to apologize to anybody here. We are the ones
that have the red face. We are the ones that need to apologize to you.
(APPLAUSE)
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Mayor, this program as I recall had started even before I got elected. I
was very active with Downtown Miami Business Association for ten or twelve years. And part
of the parking, we have free parking after six o'clock. At the same time, a lot of the merchants
are not aware that they can participate in the program but they can offer free parking in all three
of all municipal parking within the City of Miami, downtown. That's something that you're not
pushing. We've got a special district now that is going to use that money now for advertising,
bringing people into downtown Miami. But you do have a program with the DMP (Downtown
Miami Partners) that used to he the Downtown Miami Business Association before, where you
can buy stubs and offer free parking, three hours, free parking to your clients in any of the three
municipalities. And, one of the reasons we've got the valet parking because at that time the
Diamond Club was going to begin building and they needed the security because of the amount
of money in diamonds that was carried by those individuals. And, I remember once we got
elected we worked on the program, we established a program. What I feel had about is, the
person... We've always had a great relationship with your manager of your building. They
didn't call me to let me know, and I would have taken care of it right of way, or anyone of us
would have taken care of it right of way. Instead, we got a letter a week later, it's sort of, it was
a little insulting, the letter that we received and I did not appreciate it. But, we've always been
here, we believe in downtown and we've always worked with downtown. And, as a matter of
fact, we've got several things in here for the improvement of downtown Miami.
(APPLAUSE)
Mayor Carollo: Well, thank you all very much for coming here. Again, we apologize that you
had to come here.
Ms. Dougherty: Thank you, very much.
(APPLAUSE)
i
57 February 20, 1997
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9. REQUEST FROM LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL FOR ASSISTANCE TO
REMOVE GARBAGE DEBRIS FORM HURRICANE ANDREW AND TO
FILL OR CLEAN POOL (BROKEN).
Mayor Carollo: All right, we are going to move on to the regular Commission agenda. There is
one additional item that we have to take out of the agenda. That will he an emergency item that
we're taking out, and this is LaSalle High School. Sister, if you could just give your name and
address for the record, please?
Sister Maryann Shaefer: Sure. I am Sister Maryann Shaefer, the financial administrator for
LaSalle High School, located at 3601 South Miami Avenue. Mr. Mayor and City
Commissioners, first of all we applaud you highly for your commitment to a prioritize your
appropriations to the basic needs of the community, and also the concerns which can easily be
ratified with minimal assistance on your part. But with this mind, we respectfully request
emergency financial or in -kind assistance from the City of Miami for the following: One, to
remove the garbage and debris that has been left since 1992 on the school property as a result of
Hurricane Andrew. Two, to clean up and restore or fill the reflective pool which also contains
debris as well as stagnant water and insects. You are quite aware as well as all the members of
the Commission, that the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) funds were granted
to those of us who were hit quite seriously by Andrew, but those FEMA funds were clearly
depleted. And our total clean up was not able to be completed. Many City based community
organizations and individual artists are in residence at our location. These include the Coconut
Grove Childrens' Theater, now in its 25th year, the Momentum Dance Company, the Childrens'
Cultural Coalition with some over 200 members and the Hess Conservatory of Music. And
others, one personally our own summer camp program as an outreach program to young people
of Miami that were included in our proposal were displaced for one reason or another, and now
has been housed at our facility at La Salle. The debris, garbage and stagnant water had become
health and safety concerns for the thousands of City of Miami children who attend performances
and other outreach programs offered by these entities. Because of potential injury, illness these
factors ultimately will become a deterrent for participation not only in these programs, but our
general institutional operation with over 95 percent of our student population from the City of
Miami. Initially, it was suggested, as you saw in our proposal to pursue our request with a
historical reference. A request was made for one hundred twenty-nine thousand dollars
($129,000) which included other less pressing concerns. But today, Mr. Mayor and other
Commissioners, we make an emergency appeal. Children are getting hurt and there just isn't
enough revenue to take on this mammoth task produced by the school itself. We urgently but
respectfully need your assistance to bring this massive endeavor to fruition so that our institution
as well as our various community affiliations may remain viable and continue to serve the young
of Miami. And again we say, Mayor, in -kind or monetary to help us.
Mayor Carollo: Sister, this is one of the toughest ones for me yet, but I can't mislead you in any
way.
Sister Shaefer: I understand that, Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: The City of Miami just doesn't... We don't have the money. We don't have the
money.
Sister Shaefer: Do you have the businesses who can send their people over? We'll work side by
side with them.
58 February 20, 1997
C.
Mayor Carollo: Well, the thing that I'd he happy to do with you personally, is that I'd be happy
to sit down with you and others of the church that I know will volunteer and help and maybe we
could throw a fund raiser. I know where we can get the place donated, the food donated, you
know, a wonderful place that people would he happy to come fora fund raiser. Maybe we could
get Pat Riley and some of the heat. Some other people in the community that are better known
than we are that someone might like to have dinner with to come to a fund raiser and I think we
could raise a substantial amount of money that way. And I'd he happy to give: some of my time,
whatever I would have available to that cause. But I don't see where. we could come with some
money for this. First of all, we have a resolution that was made that you know, we do not give
any in -kind service anymore. Everyone has to pay. Maybe the Manager might have some other
ideas or some other member of the Commission. But, outside of that, I can't offer anything else.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, for one...
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Mayor, well I...
Commissioner Plummer: Go ahead.
Commissioner Gort: I would like to suggest Sister, that when you sit with me if you give me a
breakdown of your needs. And most important the debris part, we might be able to get some of
the private industry to pick the debris up. So, if you give me a,breakdown of the expenses.
Sister Shaefer: Commissioner, that is in our report that was7 initially handed to you.
Commissioner Gort: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: 'Well, I was. 'What I was going to say was, there is one contractor I
know who does an... multi, multi -million dollars worth of business with the City. I think he
ought to be approached to do something for the City and take, to go down and get rid of some of
that debris. And you walk out to the end of the street, he's there. He does millions of dollars a
year with the City. And I think you ought to ask him if he couldn't assist these people. With all
of the contracting equipment he's got out there, he could go and clean it up in a day. I think he
at least ought to have the right to refuse.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Well, not only that. That part of La Salle, used to be part of Vizcaya,
right?
Sister Shaefer: Yes.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, because when I attended La Salle many years ago, I remember that
pool and that was a problem then. But I know, I've seen it now and it's a bigger problem that
needs to be resolved because young people could be hurt or get sick. Sylvia Onzuveta, is
Director of Parks of Dade County and she is the one that takes care of Vizcaya, and I will call
her to see if the County in any way... because of being so close to Vizcaya, which is a tourist
center can help us in cleaning. Maybe, only the pool because, what you want is to close the
pool, right...
Sister Shaefer: We would like to have the pool cleaned.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Cleaned?
Sister Shaefer: Cleaned.
59 February 20, 1997
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Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, I...
Sister Shaefer: But if we can't get it cleaned, we'll get it filled. So then that's the way that
problem is solved.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Absolutely. I will call Sylvia and ask her. She knows about, I've talked
to her about that place the day we met with you and since that was part of Vizcaya a long time
ago, maybe the County can help us in the cleaning.
Commissioner Plummer: How the world changes. He went to La Salle. My daughter was there.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yeah, but many years ago.
Sister Shaefer: I have here also, Corky Dozier who you know very well.
Commissioner Plummer: We don't know here.
Sister Shaefer: So she's our. There's a lot of things which she'll do.
Commissioner Hernandez: Sister, when we met a couple of months ago and you left a booklet, I
don't have the booklet in front of me. What was the rough estimate that you?
Sister Shaefer: For the pool itself, Commissioner?
Commissioner Hernandez: Yes.
:. Sister Shaefer: - Forty-eight thousand dollars ($48,000). That's -with: restoration and cleaning it.
Commissioner Hernandez: That's to clean it up and fill it up?
Sister Shaefer: Yeah, yes.
Mayor Carollo: How big a pool is it?
Sister Shaefer: I'd say the pool is about 20 to 30 feet long by approximately 10 feet wide.
Commissioner Plummer: Would you consider a rock garden?
Sister Shaefer: Commissioner Plummer, we will consider anything that would take away the
health hazard that we have for the young people on our property.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, you know, many people do that. Many people just fill a pool in
and make a rock garden out of it.
Sister Shaefer: I'm considering people do see us from Vizcaya side, it would also add to the
beauty of what they are going to see when they get on top of the bridge.
Commissioner Plummer: I hear you.
Ms. Cornelia Dozier: On behalf of Coconut Grove Childrens' Theater and the numerous
organizations that are housed and given operational basis with La Salle High School, we
appreciate your consideration and we hope to work with you very soon. Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Sister, God works in very mysterious ways. So, let's see what divine
intervention we're going get on this within the next week or two.
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February 20, 1997
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j Sister Shaefer: Mayor, I have a personal thing to say, that he does work in strange ways.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, but the Mayor works in even stranger ways.
Mayor Carollo: My colleagues game me a few ideas and I think we're going to get some
volunteers...
Sister Shaefer: Thank you, Mayor, very much and thank you Commissioners.
Mayor Carollo: ...after I call them up and speak to them.
Sister Shaefer: OK, thank you. And you are all invited over any time.
Mayor Carollo: And my offer is still good, even if we end up being able to take care of the
problem. You know, you could always use money in a fund raiser...
Sister Shaefer: Definitely.
Mayor Carollo: .. for some of the other causes there.
Sister Shaefer: Thank you very much. God bless.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. -DISCUSS NEW WALGREEN'S STORE WITHIN CITY LIMITS --SEND
LETTER OF APPRECIATION.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I just found out and I think we ought to make it on the
record. The old ice house on 37th Avenue and Dixie Highway is being torn down. You know, a
lot of people are saying that businesses are leaving this community. I think Mr. Manager, you
should send a letter to Walgreen's. Walgreens is going to he putting a store at 37th Avenue and
Dixie Highway. We also know that Walgreen's is going to put another store at 15th Road and
Third Avenue. And I think a letter from us to Walgreens thanking them for having the
confidence in this community, is something that needs to be said. Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: I also hear they're putting up one in Bird Avenue about 60th or so...
Commissioner Plummer: God, I hope so. I'll sell that funeral home to 'em in a minute's notice.
From the pills to the earth.
61
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February 20, 1997
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11. (A) PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING CITY'S PROPOSED FY 97/98
CONSOLIDATED PLAN. -- DEFER CONSIDERATION OF FIRST
READING ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING NEW SPECIAL
REVENUE FUNDS UNDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT (CDBG); HOME; ESG; I-IOPWA; FOR TOTAL
APPROPRIATION OF $28,987,000 -- SEE LABELS 7 AND 9.
(B) SPECIAL SERVICE AGENCIES PRESENTATIONS.
(C) MONEY AVAILABLE FROM WATESS COALITION BOARD.
(D) HOUSING AGENCIES PRESENTATIONS.
(E) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES PRESENTATIONS.
(F) PUBLIC FACILITIES AGENCIES PRESENTATIONS.
Mayor Carollo: Mr. City Clerk, where were we in the different agencies we were going
through? Let's go down the line of the ones that are left. I am going to have to ask each of you
again, to limit your statements to two minutes. One spokesperson per agency. And we'll try to
limit our questions from the Commission side to move quicker and finish the agenda in time
today.
Mr. Walter J. Foeman (City Clerk): Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: Yes.
Mr. Foeman: I can, I've. highlighted:the tines we've covered.
Mayor Carollo: OK. I
f
Mr. Foeman: Would you *ust';like me to read
Mayor Carollo: Go down the 'alphabetibal'list then, i,t y0u could?
Mr. Foeman: Alternative Program, I;don'kknow if anyone came in since the morning session?
Mayor Carollo: The social services,:I don't believe we finished them, Mr. Clerk.
Vice Mayor Regalado: No, we have%not
Mayor Carollo: There's quite a few ,left
Vice Mayor Regalado: We haven't finished social services.
Mr. Foeman: Association for Development of the Exceptional.
Ms. Helena del Monte: Good afternoon Honorable Mayor, Commissioners. My name is Helena
del Monte, Associate Director for the Association for the Development of the Exceptional better
known in the areas as ADE. We have hen functioning in Wynwood at 2801 North Miami
Avenue since 1974. We are a nonprofit that offers academic and vocational training to high
level developmentally disabled adults suffering from mental retardation, epilepsy, cerebral palsy,
and multiple disabilities. We are not a national organization, nor do we receive any United Way
funds. All our clients are economically disadvantaged. We have been getting a steady fifteen
thousand dollars ($15,000) to fund a part-time position for our supported employment
62 February 20, 1997
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coordinator. One of our best torte is our supported employment program where we train our
adults in employability skills training and we place them in the community. We have 130
participants and about 37 of those presently are placed at Publix, Pizza Hut, Burger King. I can
go on and on. We're really turning tax burdens into taxpayers and really making them
productive citizens of our society. For the last five years, we have been receiving fifteen
thousand dollars ($15,000) as I mentioned previously. This past year due to a three percent
HUD (Housing and Urban Development) cut this was reduced to thirteen thousand nine sixty-
five ($13,96.5). I, we asked for twenty-nine thousand ($29,000) to fund this position fully this
year, mostly because we have received a 13 percent cut from Department of Family and Children
Services for our operational budget. So, this year we are in dire need and unfortunately
something must have happened at the last meeting of the CD (Community Development) board.
The City staff is recommending us at the thirteen thousand nine sixty-five ($13,965) level. I
know that the representative from Wynwood, Mrs. Quintana had recommended us at twenty-nine
thousand ($29,000). There was a major confusion because even though we are in Wynwood, I
serve Citywide. Anyways, I have been left with one thousand seven hundred dollars ($1,700)
and again, this has to have been a confusion. I am desperately begging for the twenty-nine
thousand dollars ($29,000). We need it. If not, I am going to have let this person go. And, we
are going to lose from servicing 27 participants in this supported employment program.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you. We'll do our hest.
Mr. Foeman: The City of Miami Neighborhood Jobs.
Mr. Elbert Waters (Director, NET/Community Development): Do you want us to speak on it
now, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners?
Mayor Carollo: I think it's best that anything that'has to do with the City itself that we leave it
for another time.
Mr. Waters: OK, sir.
Mr. Foeman: Coconut Grove Local Development Corporation.
Commissioner Plummer: I cannot believe that David Alexander is not here.
Mayor Carollo: OK, maybe he is not in town.
Commissioner Plummer: That is just incredible.
Mr. Foeman: OK. HACAD. HACAD?
Mayor Carollo: HACAD?
Mr. Louis Lacroix: Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor and City Commissioners. My name is Louis
Ash Lacroix. I'm here on behalf of HACAD, which stands for Haitian American Community
Association of Dade County. We are located in Little Haiti on Northeast 2nd Avenue and 80th
Street. HACAD has been in existence since 1974, and for the past 11 years, in partnership with
the City of Miami, HACAD has been serving some of the needs of the Haitians living in Little
Haiti through its emergency food assistance program. Over the years, thousands and thousands
of needy families benefited from that program. Last year, we received sixty-five thousand one
hundred and fifty dollars ($65,150) from the City of Miami and for that we thank the Mayor,
City Commissioners and the citizens of Miami. This year, we are requesting ninety-one
thousand six hundred dollars ($91,600). The increase is due primarily to increase the manpower
services. In addition, we are requesting seventy-seven one hundred fifty dollars ($77,150) for an
63 February 20, 1997
after school child care tutoring program. This program, we believe will have a positive impact
on children now, education, juvenile delinquency and on top of that will allow some of our
families time to look for jabs and stay in the job while the kids have been taken care of. As you
know, the Haitian community is traditionally underserved. Right now our crime, violence is
increasing. Unemployment is rampant. Close to 47 percent of Haitians living in Little Haiti are
unemployed. Many families are unable to cope with a new system, they do often do not
understand and cannot relate to. HACAD's objective is to help these families cope and adjust
socially and economically to their new communities. I thank you for allowing me to make this
presentation. Your consideration and support to our request will be greatly appreciated by the
Haitian community.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you for your time, sir. We'll do the best we can.
Mr. Lacroix: Thank you, Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you. Next: Mr, Clerk; we're... next.
Mr. Foeman: Haitian American Civic Foundation. Haitian American Foundation.
Mr. Ringo Cayard: Mr. Mayor, gentlemen of the Commission. My name is Ringo Cayard with
the Haitian American Foundation. It's kind of amazing to see that the City is changing the
format and the shape of the presentation for the better, while they are decreasing the funds to our
community. In my letter to you Mr. Mayor, I expressed the fact that the Haitian community is
almost 20 percent now, of the total population of Miami. And a lot of the Haitians are getting to
vote now, and they have concerns such as, crime, unemployment. And I think it's fair, not fair.
I think it's an obligation from the City's fathers to make sure that they equally share the revenue
from the federal government to the inner cities. I remember some years ago, you visited the
foundation, and we were concerned then, you and myself with the past administration. I thought
it was like something, because of past administration was definitely against Haitians or some
kind of misunderstanding. And I'm seeing the same pattern again. And I said to myself, wait a
minute, you know, have we changed for the better, have we changed for worse or it's the pattern
if you are Haitian in the City you'll have no rights and you cannot benefits from anything? I see
here agencies who has three hundred and something thousand dollars, I applaud that. That's
more than all the Haitian agencies combined, I think it's wrong. It's definitely wrong. And it's
even worse than wrong. I think it's detrimental to what you men stand for in this community.
And, I think you do have a responsibility toward everyone to make sure that everything is shared
accordingly. We're saying that, people don't want to do this, people don't want to do that. And
all of a sudden people say, wow, why are we having a riot or why are we having problems?
Why people are killing each other? It's because one group is getting more than the other group.
It's what you call inciting people to hate others. I think that's what this administration has been
doing. Luckily, I hope that this Commission through your leadership Mr. Mayor, will guide this
administration to do the right thing. We met with the administration people, I think we only had
lip service, and we're just tired of it. I have been coming here for years. I don't come here and
ask for rezoning or for something personal. We just want to help the people in need. And we do
have need in this community. I don't just want to make the presentation, what I would like
today, if it's possible, just like you to of the people fro, Seybold Building, because it was the
right thing took care of is to make sure that we have our fair share. I talked to Commissioner
Plummer a few moments ago, I think he's going to make sure that we have the same concern in
all communities. I have to give him the credit, he and Commissioner Alonso four and a half
years ago were the only ones here who had the guts to stand up to your administration and say,
"no, we are going to pull aside three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000)." They were going to
give it to DDA (Downtown Development Agency) and you earmarked that for the Haitian
community.
64 February 20, 1997
Mayor Carollo: How long ago was that you say, four and a half years ago?
Mr. Caynard: About four years ago.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Mr. Caynard: Four years ago.
Mayor Carollo: That was...
Mr. Caynard: Before your time.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, but four years. OK, that was before the end of '93.
Mr. Caynard: That's correct.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Mr. Caynard: And he, along with Commissioner Alonso, were there saying "No, they have to
help the Haitian community. They have to help the Puerto Rican." So we don't have to come
here and look like beggars, you know. And it's frustrating that we have the feeling, not only we
are beggars but we are what you call, some kind of people that you don't want to see. And I
think it's wrong. So if you could instruct the administration not to give us lip service, I mean to
work something because the next time we come here it's going to be to vote on it. And we
would like that to be solved.
Mayor Carollo: Ringo, let me say this to you. The administration or people from the
administration can recommend whatever they would like. But you know that the buck stops
here. We're the ones that make the final decision. And one thing that I am going to tell you is,
whatever has been recommended, there are going to be changes on it. It's not going to be as
what was recommended to us. I respect the opinion of people in the administration but the pie
hasn't been cut the way that it should be in fairest way, in my opinion. The Haitian community,
whether there are more Haitians now than vote or not, it's irrelevant. The bottom line is that we
have a sizeable Haitian population in the City of Miami whether it's 20 percent, 15 percent or
over 20 percent, I don't know, but it's sizeable. And, it's a hard working population. It's a
population that pays taxes, that is important to our City and I'm going to make sure that we
allocate sufficient dollars into the Haitian community also. There are no easy decisions for us to
make here on this or anything else. But, I know that throughout the years, for whatever the
reason, the Haitian community has been left out, big time. I'm not going to tell you that you're
going to get everything you want out of this year's budget but I am going to tell you that you are
going to get more than has been given to you in the past.
Mr. Cayard: Mr. Mayor, we appreciate that.
Commissioner Plummer: Can I ask a question? Do I consider Edison Little River as the Little
Haiti area? Am I correct in that assumption?
Mayor Carollo: That's correct.
Mr. Caynard: That's right.
Commissioner Plummer: OK. Then, what I want to know is where is Irby?
Mr. Irby McKnight: Right here.
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65 February 20, 1997
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Commissioner Plummer: OK. You said that basically that each target area was given a million
dollars ($1,000,000) and come back and tell us how to spend it.
Mr. McKnight: That's correct.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, now unless what I have been handed here is completely crazy,
Edison Little River came very close to the million, all right? But when you come down to
Model City, it's five hundred and ten thousand ($510,000).
Mr. McKnight: That was the decision of the people in that area, sir. We didn't do that.
Commissioner Plummer: But they didn't get a million dollars ($1,000,000)...
Mr. McKnight: We under...
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mr. McKnight: That's why we know that in the event a program didn't get dollars from a target
area, there would be monies to still fund it. Because the target areas did, all of them did not use
the million dollars ($1,000,000). In the coase of Model City, their representative is not here. But
they made the decision, not us. Each target area went hack to the community and at the
community level, decided flow the monies would be spent. Monies left over, we recommended
casually that it go to the City for Citywide projects and for Mr. Plummer, Commissioner
Plummer who wants to... I said, Commissioner Plummer is going to feed senior citizens and
little children. So this will be the monies he can use to do that with. Model City's, you had to
have a proposal in. All areas didn't even have a million dollars ($1,000,000) worth of proposals
in, particularly the Black community who don't get a million dollars ($1,000,000). There wasn't
a million dollars ($1,000,000) worth of proposal from that area because they didn't expect to get
anything but the token five thousand ($5,000) here, twenty thousand ($20,000) there, fifty
thousand ($50,000) economic development that they have been getting for 23 years.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, the point I am trying to make is, that's what I was trying to find
out. Only Allapattah used the full allocation of the million dollars ($1,000,000).
Mr. McKnight: They have been accustomed to getting more than a million ($1,000,000) every
year.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, that's not my point. My paint simply was, is that I was concerned
where you had made the statement that everyone had got a million or the opportunity to take one
million dollars ($1,000,000). And I'm looking at it here and nobody but one, out of the eight
target groups actually came up to the million dollar ($1,000,000) total. The Edison Little River
is, if you're talking about... Edison is one, Little River is another. It's all not the same. Little
Haiti is not Edison Little River. Yet, you're grouping Little Haiti into that grouping because it's
so close to the Model City area, the Edison area, that they could have used some of that money
over there, and given more money to the Haitian community. I mean, I... That's where I am
losing it.
Mr. McKnight: The target area is not Little Haiti, it is Edison Little River. And it is inclusive of
the entire area. The Haitian community submitted applications pertaining to things that was dear
to them and their applications all fell under social programs which had the 15 percent cap. They
had no applications going for public improvement or other things.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, all right. I hear you.
66 February 20, 1997
Mr. Cayard: All right, thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Irby, thank you. Thank you, Commissioner.
Mr. Cayard: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: You need to rebuttal anything?
Mr. Cayard: What I want to say is that, that's the same pattern that they have been doing every
year. They earmark, the so called earmarked money for Little Haiti but the money never filter
through Little Haiti. We spoke about it many times, Mr. Mayor, and I know you were pretty
upset and you really want to help the community, you know. And, it's amazing all of you, you
are friends of the community and a personal friend of mine, but it is like, something is not going
right in the whole system. And I hope we'll fix that.
Mayor Carollo: Well, Ringo the reason why we're in the shape that we're in today is, that a lot
of things weren't going right in the system including four years ago as you mentioned. That was
part of the problem you know, that we're facing today. Including the clean up that the system
needs now, is falling on some of us to have to clean up someone else's garbage from hack then
when hurricane Andrew hit. So, all that I will tell you is that you and I are going to sit down. I
also want to sit down with other individuals from the Haitian community and I want to come
back with a much fairer proposal in how we're going to split the money within all of our
communities that's going to give a fair slice of the pie to the Haitian community.
-Mr. Cayard: Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Commissioners.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you. Next.
Mr. Foeman: Jewish Family Services.
Ms. Leslie Stahler: Good afternoon, gentlemen. My name is Leslie Stahler and I work for
Jewish Family Services and I am the coordinator of the Community Partnership for Travellers
Aid. I'd like to tell you a little bit about what we do, which is to provide emergency food and
shelter to those travellers who find themselves in crisis situations when they come to Miami. We
also help them by helping them to replace travel documents and lost clothing. We can provide
crisis counseling and case management. And assistance with local transportation and travel
home. By doing this, there is less of a drain or a strain on the food programs that we have here
and the shelters that we have here because these people want to go home. And by continuing the
program we can get them home and not have this drain. Are there any questions?
Vice Mayor Regalado: Questions from the Commission? Thank you very much.
Ms Stahler: Thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: City Clerk.
Mr. Foeman: KIDCO Child Care.
Ms. Nilsa Velazquez: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Nilsa Velazquez. I am the
executive director of KIDCO Child Care. As most of you know, we've been in the Wynwood
community for 20 years providing services to the needy children and families of the community.
Our main goal has always been to excel to bring the educational aspect to our program and a
strong component of training toward teachers. And basically we provide the same training to
67 February 20, 1997
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parents. We have a strong parent component where the... We have a parent committee and they
get involved in the decision making and activities of our centers. We thank the City of Miami
for their support in the past because thanks to the grass roots efforts of the community and the
funding provided by the City of Miami, we were able to increase our enrollment. And, we are
very concerned about the welfare reform. I know everyone talks about that but the reality is that
child care will he needed even more than what we're in need right now. At KIDCO, we were
affected by the federal cuts last year. We received a ten percent cut from the Pre-K program and
five percent from the Head Start program. The City of Miami has always been supportive. We
are very concerned every year about always getting small cuts but that eventually affects the
program operations. This year, if we receive the cuts that have been recommended, 20 of our
children will be affected and also two staff members will be without jobs. So please reconsider
when you discuss child care and funding for services. Thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you very much. I want to congratulate you for the show that you
gave us in Roberto Clemente Park, with the children.
Ms. Velazquez: Thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: It was very nice.
Ms. Velazquez: Thank you.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Vice Mayor, I'd like to ask the administration. You know what's
missing from this that we don't have, that we've had in years past? What is each individual's
total budget from all sources of funding, we don't have. Some of these organizations are getting
eight and ten times more from other sources of funding than what we have here before us. And I
want to telling you that I need to look at some of those again, as we have in the past. Because
you know the hand is faster than the eye. And you can hold them 15 percent of administrative
from the City funds and they're getting 80 percent from somewhere else for administrative.
And, unless we have that knowledge I think we would be making a mistake. So, I would ask that
each one of these by the next hearing that we have what the total amount of funding is for the...
each one of the applicants. And I am assuming that you have the breakdown of their budgets.
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir. It's in each community group's application.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, I , you know. And I am going to ask for some in particular. I am
going to pick numbers so I won't be picking on anybody. But, I would like to see a column that
tells me each organization, what is their total budget, annual budget, OK? That would be...
We've always had it in the past and I don't know why now.
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): Mr. Vice -Mayor, that's something that I'd to get
distributed to the City Commission for the next meeting so that you have some time to review it
before the meeting.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you, very much. Mr. City Clerk.
Mr. Foeman: Southwest Social Services.
Ms. Angela Vazquez: Good afternoon, my name is Angela Vasquez, I represent Southwest
Social Services. We have been funded by the City of Miami for the last 15 years. I think all of
you have been in our program one time or another and have seen the clients that we provide
meals for and the services we do. Unfortunately, we were not recommended by the board. None
of the board members with the exception of Mariano have been 15 years in our program, so I
don't think they are familiar with what we do. We lost five thousand dollars ($5,000) last year,
68 February 20, 1997
V141
and we are losing tour thousand ($4,000) this year. For every dollar that we lose, we use the
City funds for matching federal and state funds. And for every dollar that, every meal that we
lose from City, we lose nine between the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and
the federal and state funds. So I will like you to have that in consideration.
Commissioner Plummer: How many people do you feed?
Ms. Vazquez: We feed... Presently, we provide to City of Miami residents, 210 Congregate
meals and about 90 home delivered meals and we only get paid by the City for 35 of those
clients.
Commissioner Plummer: And if your funds are cut to zero, how many people can you feed?
i Ms. Vazquez: Well I don't. I think it will be really bad because since we use your funds for
matching, we lose the federal funds and the state funds.
Commissioner Plummer: The point I'm trying. I'm trying to make a point, OK.
Ms. Vazquez: Yes,
Commissioner Plummer: According to the CD (Community Development) board, you're
recommended for no funding.
Ms. Vasquez: Zero, that is what I said.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, zero. Now, if your feeding 212 now, at the sixty-five thousand or
the seventy thousand. ,If you get no money, I_would assume you can't feed anybody.
Ms. Vasquez: No, we won't...
Mr. McKnight: Flagami is not a target!area, sir.
Y
Commissioner Plummer: That's Citywide. I'm not. Excuse me, don't get upset. I'm not
accusing you.
Mr. McKnight: No, I am not upset. I just don't want you to think we ignored them. We did a
million dollars ($1,000,000) on each target area. That's not a target area.
Commissioner Plummer: OK. All right. Well, who cut them out?
Ms. Vazquez: Well, even when we are not a target area, we provide all these meals and serve to
people that are below poverty level, they are elderly like Commissioner Regalado said, most of
them are going to he affected by the reform, by the federal reform and social security and food
stamps. And it's really a sad situation. We didn't bring them today because we figure that it
will he more stress on them thinking they are going to lose on top of everything else, their lunch.
We have never had the luxury to provide breakfast and lunch because we have so many on a
waiting list that we rather provide lunch to more than two meals to some of them. I Have never !
i in 15 years had the luxury of having a secretary or a receptionist. We use volunteers. It's the
elderlies that volunteer for us, so our administration between all funding sources is nine percent
of our budget. And we'd like, you know, to have you consider that every meal we lose will
represent nine, and probably like Commissioner Plummer said, if we lose all of them we won't f
be able to provide anything to anybody because we lose the other funding. Thank you. i
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you. Mr. Clerk.
69 February 20, 1997
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Mr. Foeman: Alban's Day Nursery. OK. St. John's Community Development Corporation.
Mr. Henry Nevin: I'►n here.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mr. Nevin: Mr. Vice Mayor, and to the rest of the Commissioners. Commissioner Hernandez
and Commissioner Gort. To the Mayor in his absence and to Commissioner Plummer. I am
very, very hurt for the staff to come up with St. John and not... didn't even consider us for
funding for housing. When St. John in Overtown area has buildings up and we have tenants
living in those buildings. We also have approximately five hundred families waiting for housing
and I would recommend that they divide whoever came up with building five units per year, that
they would divide our units and spread them out and see that we are negotiating building much
more than five units per year in the Overtown area. As I said, I am very, very hurt that we were
not considered when we are the ones building the houses. And so, I am asking that you do
something for us because we need. If we do not get the money, our plans will be altered. We
have joint venture with several groups. In fact, we have 96 units coming up that we are working
on right now. And so, you can see the importance of the St. John's CDC (Community
Development Corporation) getting funded from your group. And so we... I wish you would
consider us for funding. Yes, sir.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Vice Mayor.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Sure.
Commissioner Gort: You are addressing the application for economic development and we're
addressing by now, social services.
Mr. Nevin: Not economic development. No, I am not that, we are at...
Unidentified Speaker: Housing.
Vice Mayor Regalado: He has several.
Mr. Nevin: .. housing.
Commissioner Gort: Right, in housing.
Mr. Nevin: St. John's Community Development Corporation, housing.
Commissioner Gort: But what we're calling right now, my understanding is what happened
here, you had an application for social services also.
Mr. Nevin: Yes.
Commissioner Gort: Is that correct?
Mr. Nevin: Yes. For economic development.
Commissioner Plummer: No, no.
Vice Mayor Regalado: No, no. He has, you have...
70
February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: This is a program for development information referral in Overtown.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Under child care.
Unidentified Speaker: Is that housing?
Commissioner Plummer: That's item number 50. Fifty-one. Well, fifty and fifty-one, isn't it?
Commissioner Gort: Yes.
Unidentified Speaker: OK, our mistake.
Mr. Nevin: Our mistake. We apologize sir.
Commissioner Plummer: Both are St. John's. I realize there is one saint, but two Johns.
Mr. Nevin: We have a different, different organization. Yes, that's right. We have... The 51, is
the St. John's Tot Center. St. John's Tot Center and we're asking please help us out in funding
that because we are preparing for the Welfare Act and we have several children, several families
that we are servicing and we do feed them. And that's very, very necessary for us right now.
And we're asking for your help.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you.
Mr. Nevin: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Vice Mayor, you know we can't let it go without being said.
There are untold amount of millions of dollars that are coming down from Washington for the so
called WAGESS Board of which Humberto Hernandez our colleague is sitting on that board.
There is money there for training, there is money there for day care, there is money there, there
is money there, there is money there. And what I am saying to the people of this community is,
don't get locked out. If you don't get everything, no one is going to get here today what they
really want. They are going to walk away from here, regardless of what you get, you're going to
want more. There are... The last I heard was what? Thirty-eight million ($38,000,000) was the
initial start-up. Was the initial start-up. This is money, that by the way, while they are training,
they'll pay you during the time that you are being trained. They will pay you a wage. There are
a certain amount. I can also tell you that the summer programs that are with the Private Industry
Council we have just received about two million, well a total of eight, but it's two million more
than last year, OK. We are going to serve almost 4,800 kids this summer in programs of training
and employment. And if you are one of the target areas that of the seven target job placements,
there are all kinds of moneys there. This is new. It's the new kid on the block. It is going to be
unbelievable because let's remember in less than 18 months, the welfare is gone. The programs
are gone. So I hope that each one of these people who in effect are a service provider, not
necessarily for training, find out what's available in these programs, find out how you may be
able to apply because the dollars are there.
Vice Mayor Regalado: J. L.
Commissioner Plummer: There is no questions about it.
Vice Mayor Regalado: J. L., you're right when you mention 18 months. But, keep in mind that
if President Clinton's budget is not approved by Congress as it is, the cutoff date for food stamps
will be May 1st. And for SSI (Social Security Income) checks will be August 1st.
71 February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: Of this year.
Vice Mayor Regalado: This year.
Commissioner Plummer: Right.
Vice Mayor Regalado: This very year.
Commissioner Plummer: Well...
Vice Mayor Regalado: If that budget is approved, food stamps will be cut in October and checks
will probably be extended two or three months. But still...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, the only reason I brought it up, Tomas. You guys sent me over
to the Private Industry Council and I just want it to be known that those dollars are there. And
you know we find it's like scholarships for colleges. It's amazing how many scholarships every
year go for... were not being used. That people just don't apply, they don't think about it. We
give away ten scholarships every year to the University of Miami School for Fisheries. You
can't believe how hard it is to try to find ten kids eligible to get into that program. And they
have to be City residents and primarily inner City kids. To try to get ten we had to go through all
kinds of things. All I am saying is, if you walk away from this table and you don't get a full
plate, there are other places. And the one place I know that is really ripe for picking is this
WAGESS scenario coming down from Washington. And I am hopeful, and you we've all got to
support Humberto who can get in there and scream loud and long that the City, who is going to
be most affected by all of Dade County, the City of Miami, to get its share of these WAGESS
money. For not only training, but for other things. So...
Vice Mayor Regalado: So, we need the support of our congressmen and senators.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, no now that's... Unfortunately, that's not where it's at.
Vice Mayor Regalado: We do.
Commissioner Plummer: They are allocating the dollars. The dollars have already been
allocated. The idea now is, that's it's coming through the State and it's down now to a local
JEPR (Jobs and Education Partnership Regional) Board. Well, it's not the JEPR Board. We
tried to make it, but they wouldn't go for it. But let me say to you, summer youth is there and
the WAGESS Board. Two unbelievable sources of funding. One is eight million ($8,000,000)
for the summer youth and I think it's thirty-eight or more million for the WAGESS.
Ms. Gwendolyn Warren (NET/Neighborhood Jobs Program Admistrator): Actually, just to
support you, there is a eight point three million dollars ($8,300,000) out for bid for the Summer
Youth Program. The local JTPA (Job Training Partnership Act) programs are going to do their
RFP (Request For Proposals) process within the...
Commissioner Plummer: No, it is out today.
Ms. Warren: That's thirty-six million ($36,000,000). The WAGESS Coalition which is a
separate group to deal with welfare reform, their board has been established. They are
anticipating approximately one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in the fall. So it's a
whole different pot of money.
Commissioner Plummer: Yes. Just for the... I don't know that this board had to eradicate, but
the ones that we've put on from this City Commission was Commissioner Humberto Hernandez,
Dorothy Baker from the...
72 February 20, 1997
t".
Ms. Warren: Black Archives. Or from the chamber.
Commissioner Plummer: No, no, from the chamber and Waldo from the CAMACOL (Latin
Chamber of Commerce).
Ms. Warren: Correct.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, so they gave us the representation that I think that we needed.
And those are our three representatives to the WAGESS Board. You are already of the JEPR
board so you didn't have to worry about it, but it was a proviso that all members of the
WAGESS Board had to become members of the "JEPR" board. Next.
Mr. Foeman: Lions Home for Blind.
Mr. Orestes Noriega: Good afternoon, Mayor and Commissioners. My name is Orestes
Noriega, Executive Director of the Lions Home for the Blind. The Lions Home for the Blind
since 1974 has been helping the blind in our community. At this moment, we are having 75
sight impaired and blind in our organization. We provide training and education. Also, we pick
them up early in the morning to take to our place at 970 S.W. First Street where we teach them
braille English lessons, Art and Craft, regular typing and physical education. For several years
we have been receiving a grant from the City of Miami and this amount of money has been
decreasing year after year and at the same time our program has been growing and growing and
we are confronting a situation which we cannot keep giving the help we have desired to all these
people. Also, it is very sad when somebody comes and asking to come to our place to say no,
and close the door. Remember that the blind in our community, if they don't have a place where
they can attend they live very lonely situation because for some of them, they live alone. And
some of them they have family, but the family have to work and they have to stay home. At
least, we are providing them a time for them to improve and I hope the Commission take care of
this matter and look at our program to see if we can at least have the same amount of money we
had last year. Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you. We'll do the best we can.
Commissioner Hernandez: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: Go ahead.
Commissioner Hernandez: I have a question for the Manager, or one of his Directors.
Discussing areas where we can tap into other sources of funds, like the WAGESS Board. What
does the City currently do with the income that is created from our programs, program income
that is called, I believe it's somewhere in the range of two and a half million dollars
($2,500,000)?
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): Under federal regulation any program income generated
from a federal grant gets put back into the program and it's part of the budget that you're seeing
here.
Commissioner Hernandez: Is it part of the thirteen million dollars ($13,000,000) that we have
to? Can we include that into the thirteen million?
Mr. Jose Cerdan (Income/Coordinator/Community Development): In addition to the thirteen
million, we recommend that two point five projected income be recycled into the existing
programs: Single Family, Multifamily and the program by Miami Capital.
73 February 20, 1997
Commissioner Hernandez: So, in reality we don't have 13, we have 15 million...
Mr. Cerdan: That's correct.
Commissioner Hernandez: .. that we can distribute?
Mr. Cerdan: You can decide so, you can eventually make that decision, yes. With the two point
five.
Commissioner Hernandez: Right. Are we currently doing that?
Mr. Cerdan: Presently, we are keeping the monies within the same program and they work like a
recycling loan program. We keep the money within the same project.
Commissioner Hernandez: And that would create more money, not only for the social programs,
but I guess more money for administration?
Ms. Cardan: Historically, we haven't made that decision. We've never tapped into that for
administration or social programs.
Mr. Marquez: I would believe that you're still capped to your maximum amount of 15 percent
for social programs and...
Mr. Cerdan: And 20 percent for administration.
Mr. Marquez: .. 20 percent for administration.
Commissioner Hernandez: Well, that's about, 15 percent for the programs about what, three
hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) it would be?
Commissioner Gort: This comes to a total of two point two million dollars ($2,200,000).
Commissioner Hernandez: Two point two?
Commissioner Gort: If you apply the 15 percent to the fifteen million, it comes out to two point
two five zero.
Commissioner Humberto: Well, why.don't we think about it, that's a couple hundred thousand
dollars more that we can spread around...
Mayor Carollo: Sure.
Commissioner Hernandez: .. to some of these agencies that obviously need the money.
Mr. Marquez: Let me...
Commissioner Hernandez: It's possible, right? You're saying it's legal?
Mr. Marquez: Let me get clarification from staff, because we're getting into a technical area
here. First question I have is, that the program income derived, let's say Revolving Loans
Program...
Mr. Elbert Waters (Director, NET/Community Development): Revolving Loan...
74 February 20, 1997
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Mr. Marquez: .. can it be used for other programs besides the Revolving Loan Program?
Mr. Waters: No. Historically it has always gone back into the same program in which it...
Mr. Marquez: But can it?
Commissioner Gort: Let me ask you a question. Historically, is that a federal guideline or
criteria that it has to be used that way? Because I know in the past, and I keep hearing from
people here that money cannot be used, other Counties and other Cities use it.
Mr. Marquez: Mr. Mayor, I believe we don't have the answer off the top of our heads, and
something that we need to...
Mr. Waters: We have to check the regs (regulations) for that.
Mayor Carollo: Well, doesn't surprise me, but we'll go on. No further questions?
Commissioner Gort: Let' me ask you a question, Mr. Manager. You had Tony Crapp working
with you here from the County, we borrowed him from the County.
Mr. Marquez: Yes.
Commissioner Gort: My understanding,he is very knowledgable in CDBG (Community
Development Block Grant) funding. Why don't we talk to him and find out from him?
Mr. Waters: Commissioners, we are working with Metropolitan Dade County, Mr. Tony Crapp.
We've been in constant communications with each other and we've been working together.
What we've done from this level is attempt to meet with the County to see whether or not they
would be in a position to assist us in funding some of the programs in which we are unable to
fund. And so that dialogue is ongoing, he hasn't...
Commissioner Gort: Well, as I understand historically there is a lot of things that we've been
doing, but as you can see the changes taken place. So we'd like to know if this is a criteria or a
federal guideline? If it is, there is nothing we can do about it, but if it's not and it's historically
what has been done by the Commission, then we can change it.
Mr. Waters: That's fine. Our response Commissioner would be to research the regs to see
whether or not that can be done.
Commissioner Gort: Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: OK, next.
Mr. Foeman: Vecinos en Accion.
Mr. Fernando Gonzalez: Good afternoon, my name is Fernando Gonzalez. I am from Vecinos
en Accion.
Commissioner Plummer: Which one are you, sir?
Mr. Gonzalez: Vecinos en Accion. Neighbors in Action.
Commissioner Plummer: What number is? Neighbors.
75 February 20, 1997
Mr. Foeman: Fifty-five.
Commissioner Plummer: Ali, ill, OK.
Mr. Gonzalez: You've got? You find it? OK, we are working for about four years in this
organization. And it's located in one of the poorest neighborhoods probably in the all the state
of Florida, East Little Havana. It's a real target area infected with drugs, crime and AIDS
disease. We have an office donated by one of the business persons in the area, Mr. Enrique
Benitez. And the Capiro Shopping Center is 300 Southwest 12th Avenue. We have a program,
an after school program for children for the last four years and those programs are the only help
that we have in the past, is the help from the Police Athletic League. But only the insurance that
we pay rive dollars ($5) a year for each child in that program. But we don't have money to pay
the coaches. We have a piece of land donated by another person for October soccer and we have
36 children in that program. Plus another amount of children in the baseball program. Also, we
had a gym donated by the same owner of the Capiro Shopping Center, Mr. Enrique Benitez
where there is a boxing program. And all those programs have peen done with our money.
Money from our pocket. We never receive help from anybody except the private sector. Also,
we have a crime watch program working in the area. The NET office, they know very well
about the program that we have and the crime watch and how many crimes we report every day.
Also, we have a health program trying to prevent those diseases in our area where it's confirmed
that the 70 percent of our people in the area is infected with that disease. And in this program
we deal with the HRS, which has given us a little hand on this. We don't have transportation to
take the children to the Jose Marti Park where they play baseball. We don't have transportation
to take the children to any pro ram, We do that in our care; with the help of the neighbors and
hildren. l the parents of those cease, we... This program Is in a very affected target area. We
need support, economical support. We know all the problem that the City has. We are helping
the City. We have another program, not mentioned yet, that is a program to clean the City. We
pick the tires from the street because the City as well as we know, they don't, they never do their
job. We're taking the tires to the NET office and the NET office take it to the City garbage
place. And also, we have a brigade to every day, the seven days of the week, we clean part of
the 8th Street, we sweep all the street, all the neighborhood. All the business people, they know
about what we are doing. Flagler Street, 12th Avenue. Only the avenues on the main streets
because the neighborhood is impossible to clean. So please I will request from you support and
for our children, for our poor people in our area, please give us some support, economic support.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Mr. Foeman: Christian Community Service Agency.
Mr. James Gustafson: We're listed under an emergency shelter grant, and I believe that the City
does have a recommendation they want to make on that first? Bert?
Commissioner Plummer: Which organization are you?
Mr. Gustafson: Christian Community Service Agency under the Emergency Shelter Grant.
Mr. Waters: Mr. Mayor, and members of the Commission. The agencies of Christian
Community Service last year there was the allocation of approximately eighty thousand dollars
($80,000). This year staff originally had looked at utilizing eighty thousand plus twenty
thousand that was earmarked for Better Way to incorporate it within its homeless program.
We've since had an opportunity, staff to the administration to meet with Metro Dade's Homeless
Trust and we've gotten assurances from them that they would assist us in our homeless program
76 February 20, 1997
and therefore, they strongly had encouraged us to support those two agencies at its current level.
That is, twenty thousand for Better Way and eighty thousand for Christian Community Services,
of which the gentleman is here. It...
Commissioner- Plummer: Question. And I'm crossing lines here now. There is a great deal of
money allocated for HIV, almost eight million dollars ($8,000,000), OK. And yet, I find in here
two housing, homeless AIDS of females that's not under the HIV housing. They have allocated
there $8,000,000 for housing for HIV.
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: Why is that under a social program? It seems like to me, it should be
over in the other program which is the HIV program.
Mr. Waters: There will be Commissioner Plummer, assuming that the Commission approves the
budget for the HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for People with Aids) program, the eight point
eight. The next process would he an RFP (Request for Proposal) process which would allow
agencies such as this to apply for those funds for those various different program categories
associated with...
Commissioner Plummer: But you've got that listed in here as part of the social programs. Now
are we doing it twice? Items 3-E and 4-E, Traditional Housing Homeless HIV AIDS females.
You only recommended on the one which is for three hundred and forty-six thousand dollars
($346,000).
.. Mr. Waters: Which is the City's.program.
Commissioner Plummer: It's City of Miami Homeless, OK.
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: Now, you have the otherone listed here. But why isn't even the City
program under the eight million dollar grant for HIV? It's for homeless. You understand what I
am saying?
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I'm trying to make...
Commissioner Plummer: No, no. Excuse me. Transitional housing? Now, come over here to
the HIV, under housing and you find all different categories of HIV money, OK. You have
under that, you have moving expenses, long term rentals, short term rentals, emergency housing.
Why have you got that three hundred and forty-six thousand dollars $346,000 in social programs
when it should he over here under this eight million dollar ($8,000,000) program ?
Mr. Waters: OK, Commissioner Plummer, that's a scriveners error. It's a typo. It should only
be transitional housing for the homeless. The HIV -AIDS females should not be included in that
category.
Commissioner Plummer: Do you have any more scriveners errors?
Mr. Waters: Well, I don't think so, sir. But...
Commissioner Gort: This is part of the program that we were discussing this morning, J.L. It
was part of the solution.
77 February 20, 1997
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Commissioner Plummer: I, excuse me, I understand that, but what I was trying to bring out as I
read it here, I have to do my homework once in a while. It says HIV -AIDS housing and I'm
asking why it was, it should have been in the other place. It it's a scriveners error, it's a
scriveners error. OK, I could accept that. We all make mistakes. I don't do it very often but...
Where is the Mayor, he didn't?
a
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, thank you. Anybody else?
Mr. Foeman: The next category is house...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, excuse me. Before you run off and I'm willing to run off. Is
there anyone else under Social Services that has not been heard? OK. Did everybody receive
notice that in fact this was going to be discussed today? Huh? There was no notice given?
Mr. Waters: I beg to differ, Commissioner. We have to notify through public notice through the
major newspapers, especially the Citywide Advisory Board members. Staff has met with them.
The last meeting that we had was February the 7th in which we advised the Board, or reminded
them at that time that this meeting was scheduled for February the 20th. So, if anyone out there
is indicating that they were unappraised of the meeting, then I would say that they probably were
not paying attention to staff's indication or they were not at the meeting.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, you send me a memo, please. Because I want to ask you to
personally call David Alexander and find out why he wasn't here? I can't imagine for the life of
me that that man would not be here representing that group in Black Grove. It just doesn't make
any sense to me. And you know, if you're leaving it up, I can't imagine why, what are we
talking 58 organizations? You can turn out 58 letters on a computer putting them on notice
pretty quick. And if you didn't send them notice individually, I think we dropped the ball, OK?
Because there is some, I mean there was like what, eight or ten of the groups that were here to
have any spokesman for them.
Commissioner Gort: Quite a few.
Commissioner Plummer: That's unfair.
Commissioner Gort: Let's go to the next one J.L.
k
c
Commissioner Plummer: Go ahead. What's the next one?
Mr. Foeman: Housing is the next one.
Vice Mayor Regalado: We have housing. So, let's begin. I think we have several
representatives here.
Mr. Foeman: Yes. Allapattah Business Development Authority, Inc.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Allapattah.
Commissioner Plummer: Do it the other way. Who's here wants to speak on housing?
Vice Mayor Regalado: We've got several.
Mr. Foeman: I have checked out all the ones who indicated they were present from the morning
session.
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78 February 20, 1997:
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK.
Mr. Foeman: BAME Development Corporation of South Florida.
Mr. Mariano Cruz: Yeah, we endorse that as part of the priorities of the community. There was
a seventy-five thousand dollar ($75,000).
Vice Mayor Regalado: Which one, Mariano?
Mr. Cruz: Seventy-five thousand for ABDA (Allapattah Business Development Authority).
Vice Mayor Regalado: Allapattah Business Development...
Mr. Cruz: Right. That is the second thing for the second phase of And they
have a track record because I've been there already and the of the first phase.
They already built one phase and they already...
Vice Mayor Regalado: So you're speaking for them now? I mean, you know...
Mr. Cruz: ... But 1 was...
Vice Mayor Regalado: Just to be on the record that you...
Mr. Cruz: Right.
Vice Mayor Regalado: •... will be speaking for them.
Mr. Cruz: Right, I was. At the meeting that was brought as one -of the priorities of the
community.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK.
i
Mr. Cruz: That and there is another one too, later on.
S
Mr. Foeman: OK. BAME Development Corporation of South Florida.
Vice Mayor Regalado: BAME Development.
Mr. Bill Mauzy: BAME Development.
Mr. Foeman: BAME Development.
Mr. Mauzy: Right. Bill Mauzy, Executive Director of BAME Development Corporation. Mine
is very short. I really appreciate it, you funding it. I did want to let the Commission know that
my board chairman, John White had to he hospitalized over the weekend and we think it's going
to be OK. But he wanted to be sure that you knew about that.
Commissioner Plummer: Is that the Reverend?
t
Mr. Mauzy: Reverend John White, yes. Thank you very much, and if anybody has any
questions, I'll be happy to answer.
Commissioner Plummer: Sorry to hear that. Who is next?
79 February 20, 1997
fey-.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, next. Wait a second J.L., we had...
Mr. Foeman: De Hostos Senior Center.
Commissioner Plummer: There's David Alexander again. And he's not here.
Vice Mayor Regalado: No, we're calling the be Hostos because they did have an obligation,
OK.
Ms. Betzaida Ferrer: Thank you, Ctitnmissioner. I was here this morning under the Social
Service program.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Right.
Ms. Ferrer: We have a small program
recognized as...
Commissioner Plummer: What number?
Vice Mayor Regalado: Eleven.
Ms. Ferrer: Eleven.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, OK.
that is currently funded by. Dade County. It was
Ms. Ferrer: It was recognized as one of the best programs in the nation. The only one of its
kind. And we only receive twenty-five thousand. We put a project, a pilot project where we hire
seniors and train seniors. People who have not worked or who worked many years ago in
plumbing, in electrical and in other skills to help the elderly fix their homes. This project we
requested funds from the City of Miami for the first time, realizing that many of our elderly will
be left without benefits immediately. And this is a program that with very little dollars, we are
able to fix the basic homes of the elderly in Wynwood and surrounding areas for a maximum of
two thousand dollars ($2,000) per house. So, we're requesting matching funds.
Vice Mayor Regalado: You say that this was paid last year by the County?
Ms. Ferrer: Right, and this coming year we got twenty-five thousand from the County so we
have two years experience with the program and it's been held as an excellent model program.
We do hope to apply under WAGESS for more funding but the problem is right now is that
WAGESS we don't know if the money is are going to come down through the Department of
Labor, through the Aging or through the PIC (Private Industry Council) or through the City and
County. And, until that program is implemented, at least we can begin to develop these skills
even further and help some of our elderly. Thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you.
Mr. Foeman: CODEC, Inc.
Mr. Jose Fabregas: Commissioners, good afternoon. My name is Jose Fabregas, Executive
Director of CODEC, Inc., 300 Southwest 12th Avenue. CODEC has been in existence since
1981. We're known as the CDC who house the elderly. At this point in time we have a project
Melrose Townhomes in the Allapattah area which we have finished Phase I and Phase II. Has
increased your tax base for 100 units. One hundred new homeowners. We still have Phase III to
go, 46 units. We have, we're completing an elderly section 202, 110 units in that same building
80 February 20, 1997
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that is going up in the Phase in Blue Lagoon in 57th and Seventh. And we just got funded for
another 202, in a property at the Miami River and Flagler Street. That's another 14 story high-
rise which we brought back to Miami, six point nine million dollars ($6,900,000). All we're
asking here is fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to help with the administrative cost. I am also
funded by Dade County, in case Commissioner Plummer, to the tune of three hundred and fifty
thousand dollars ($350,000). Total, four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000). That's my whole
funding and we bring back, I guess our leverage power is around fifty dollars ($50) to one, in
total. Thank you, sir.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you.
Mr. Foeman: East Little Havana Community Development Corporation.
Ms. Anita Rodriguez: Good afternoon, my name is Anita Rodriguez and I am the Executive
Director for East Little Havana CDC (Community Development Corporation). Before we start
discussing funding, and I know I only have two minutes, I'd like to show you the projects we're
doing for those of you that are not familiar with it. We currently have under development this
Townshouse project on Northwest 2nd Street, ten units. It's under construction.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Mike.
Ms. Rodriguez: It's on, but it's not working.
Vice Mayor Regalado: It's on now.
Ms. Rodriguez: It's on now? OK. We also have, starting construction this month about three
weeks ago, Casa Grande Phase I, 80 units on Southwest.lst Avenue. -,.We are in the process of
starting the foundation work on there.
Commissioner Plummer: First Avenue and where?
Ms. Rodriguez: Ninth Street. Across, in front of the Metrorail Station, OK. This is Riverside
Phase II, which is starting construction at the end of this month. This is how it's going to look,
just like Phase I, when it's done. And we're in the process of beginning this construction this
month. Under development, not under construction but under development it's the Latin Quarter
Specialty Center for which we are assembling the financing at this point and we're dealing with
environmental issues on the corner lot. We're trying to expedite this project with 60 units of
housing and 15,000 square feet of commercial space. We were granted development rights by
the City last year to handle this project. It had been on the drawing board by the City of Miami
since the 1980s.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Where's that?
Ms. Rodriguez: Eight Street Southwest and 15th Avenue. The vacant lot where the City of
Miami NET office used to be, on the trailers there. Across from the Domino Park. OK. And
Casa Grande Phase II, it's second Phase of Casa Grande I and we're seeking the financing for
this one. It's an adjacent lot to the ones that had begun construction already, OK. With that let
me mention that we requested one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for
administrative support. We've been recommended by the advisory hoard for one hundred
thousand ($100,000) as we received last year. Staff only recommended us for fifty thousand.
The reason we requested one hundred and fifty this year, is that we had a fifty thousand dollar
($50,000) grant from the Herald Foundation, that was a three year grant and it expires July this
year. And that's why we had a need of one hundred and fifty. We would appreciate if the
Commission at this point, would at least maintain the level that we received last year of one
81 February 20, 1997
hundred thousand. We also requested from CDBG (Community Development Block Grant)
three hundred thousand For pre -development cost for the Latin Quarter Speciality Center. We've
been Fronting a lot of the expenses related with the environmental problems From on site and we
need some additional assistance from the City for architectural costs and environmental
assessments and resolution to that. Something that I would like to mention. I visited all of your
offices yesterday, and I did get to talk to you, I didn't get to talk to your staff. I did drop off a
letter with an analysis of the tax based that we have increased on behalf of the City as a result of
all these developments. And in our study, we were able to show that we're generating or will be
generating at the end of this year.
Mr. Foeman: Excuse me, your two minutes is up.
Ms. Rodriguez: OK, one more word. Three hundred and eighty-four thousand dollars
($384,000) worth of property taxes annually for the City of Miami as a result of our
development. And all we're asking in exchange is some support with these federal dollars.
Thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you, Ms. Rodriguez.
Mr. Foeman: Edgewater Economic Development Corporation.
Mr. Lorenzo Rodriguez: Good afternoon, Honorable Vice Mayor and Commissioners. I am
Lorenzo Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Edgewater Economic Development Corporation
located at 2697 Biscayne Boulevard. Here with me is Armando Rodriguez, the President of our
Board of Directors. We have served the Wynwood target area providing technical assistance,
commercial racade assistance to the entire Wynwood area for several years now and we have
been doing, trying to get our housing development for the Edgewater area for a couple of years
now. I am speaking, relative to item 14 in housing and I am requesting that this Commission
follow the CD (Community Development) board recommendation because following the staff's
recommendation would only cut off a much needed housing program. I would like to advise you
that we did not receive any land from the City because any land that the City owns in Edgewater
is not developable for housing. We have identified properties that can be used for development.
We have verified that they are developable from the point of your sewer and water. We have
selected our architects, we have asked the staff to purchase at least one of these properties that
we have identified and we have not been able to do so because of a delay that has taken over four
months for staff to send in the money to purchase this property. Our hands are tied and now the
staff is recommending that we be cut off in funding. The board recommends that our housing
funding be continued to make sure that we achieve... what we do not get prematurely terminated
what we have achieved. I respectfully request that you follow the CD hoard's recommendation
regarding this housing item. Thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you.
Mr. Foeman: Florida Housing Cooperative, Inc.
Ms. Lisette Rodriguez: Good afternoon, my name is Lisette Rodriguez. I am the Program
Director for Florida Housing Cooperative, Inc. And we requested fifty thousand dollars
($50,000) in administrative monies for a project that we're building in East Little Havana at
1025 West Flagler Street. And we have not been recommended by staff, but we have been
recommended by the advisory board. Last year we were before this board and the land that
we're building the project on was donated by the City some years hack and the Commissioners
gave us another 18 months to bring this project forward and right now at this moment, if we are
cut off and we don't get this administrative funding that would jeopardize the project which we
expect we could have under construction by July 1st. In the past year, we were allocated all the
82 February 20, 1997
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surtax that we need. We have private funding from Northern Trust Bank and if you approve
Resolution 31, your item 31, the project will be fully financed. So at this point, if that
administrative money we do not receive it, we believe that it will be a great loss to the City who
has put a lot of time and effort on this project.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you very much.
Mr. Foeman: Greater Miami Neighborhoods, Inc.
Mr. Russell Sibley: Vice Mayor and members of the Commission, I am Russell Sibley with
Greater Miami Neighborhoods. I wanted to... We are now in our 12th year of providing
tangible housing here in the City of Miami with the City's support. We operate on a Citywide
basis. We work with a number of community development corporations that you may have
heard from today, including the Urban League, BAME Development, Little Haiti Housing
Association, St. John's CDC, many others as well. So we would ask that you follow the staff's
recommendation to continue our funding again, and so that we can continue to keep producing
housing directly and with our partners and colleagues. Thank you very much.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you.
Mr. Foeman: Little Haiti Housing Association, Inc.
Vice Mayor Regalado: I think they were here this morning and they had to leave so they...
Mr. Foeman: OK. Rafael Hernandez Housing Economic Development.
Mr. Angel Diaz: Good afternoon. My name is Angel Diaz. I am -the Secretary/Director of
Rafael Hernandez Housing and Economic Development Corporation. We are located at 2902
Northwest 2nd Avenue. The Rafael Hernandez Housing and Economic Development
Corporation is a nonprofit community based organization working in the areas of Wynwood and
East Allapattah. For the past three years, we have been trying to build houses and sell them to
low income families. This has proved to be a very difficult task for various reasons. The
traditional lending institutions have been very reluctant to create special programs that allow low
income people to buy new houses and otherwise people do not easily qualify for conventional
mortgages. Moreover the appraisals for lots in this area are far below the cost of construction
making it very difficult to obtain construction funds. Knowing this, we obtained a grant in the
amount of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) from the City of Miami for
construction purposes and also we obtained six lots from the City for which were will only pay
half of what the City paid for those lots. Finally, the transferring of deeds for the first two lots
were approved by the City and we are going to proceed with transferring, this same week. Also,
we have entered into a partnership with Fannie Mae and the Greater Miami Neighborhoods
through the Neighborhood In -field Stabilization Program which we guarantee that we will obtain
surtax funds from Dade County. In other words, at this moment we are ready to begin the
construction of the first two houses. Surprisingly the City staff is not recommending funding for
us through CDBG (Community Development Black Grant) for next year. If this
recommendation prevails, it would seriously jeopardize our ability to continue serving the
community. We recognize that the assistance through CDBG should be temporary and that the
program should identify means to sustain by itself. But at this critical moment we need your
assistance for at least one more year. On the other hand, you know that Rafael Hernandez
Housing is the only community based organization engaged in the promotion of affordable
housing in these neighborhoods. We are confident that you will take all the facts into
consideration and will help us in helping the community. We are counting on you. Thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you.
83 February 20, 1997
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Mr. Foeman: Rainbow Beginning Ministries.
Mr. Morris Drew: Goad afternoon, Commissioners, Vice Mayor, Commissioner Hernandez,
Commissioner Plummer and Commissioner Gort. I'm here to stress to you that we, Rainbow
Beginning Ministries. My name is Morris Drew, I'm the Project Manager of the project which
we hope to be funded with. We have a men's homeless facility at the Brownsville section of the
County, and we wish to expand into the Little Haiti area which is the Edison Little River area.
Commissioner Plummer mentioned the scrivener's errors. There was no scrivener's error in the
description note of our place indicating our housing project in the Wynwood neighborhood. Our
project is located in the Edison Little River Neighborhood. We hope to have established a single
woman's facility. Those who might he affected by spousal abuse, those who may he affected
adversely by the elimination of AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children), those who
will be needed to he housed, we hope to have an transitional permanent facilities established.
Once the proposal was submitted to the advisory boards, we were recommended twenty-five
thousand dollars ($25,000) out of a total project budget of five hundred thousand ($500,000).
The way in which they arrived at the twenty-five thousand wasn't a scientific method. We just
hope that we could count on you to consider this proposal and to maybe rectify certain things
that we feel that it was an error that was made. We plan to assist the Women and the women
with children in the Little Haiti area and in that particular area doesn't have a facility like ours.
And this will he most likely an enhancement to the community, economic: development as well
as transitional in the permanent facility established there. I hope that could satisfy some of you
all concerns from the staff. We didn't receive any recommendation from the staff but we had
hoped that the Commission would somehow override some of their decisions.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you. OK. Go ahead. Go ahead, now. Just start.
Mr. Irby McKnight: Rafael Hernandez Housing was recommended for funds by us.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK.
Mr. McKnight: And that's what Ms. Quintana wants to get on record that we did recommend
funds.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yeah, it's here. The City staff did not recommend.
Ms. Quintana: That's unfair because we have... We have been working very hard on this.
Vice Mayor Regalado: You need to speak in the mike.
Ms. Quintana: I want you to hear...
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK.
Ms. Quintana: I mean, he's been working very hard and it's a long time and we don't get... We
recommend and yet the staff don't give what we recommended. I am very nervous right now
and that's why I don't want to speak. When I get angry I get...
Vice Mayor Regalado: Don't get angry.
Commissioner Plummer: You've never been lost for words.
Ms. Quintana: So I mean, why, what's the... when we recommend it?
84 February 20, 1997
I
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK. Message conveyed. Thank you.
Ms. Quintana: I am sorry, but I get nervous when I get mad.
Vice Mayor Regalado: No, that's OK. That's OK.
Ms. Quintana: Thank you very much.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. City Clerk, do we have anybody else or?
Mr. Foeman: Yes. Senior Crime Prevention/Victims Assistance.
Ms. Donna Cutler: Here.
Mr. McKnight: Senior Crime Prevention Victim Assistance. The CD (Community
Development) beard offered seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) and that's coming
from the Overtown Community who thought that they should fund projects outside of Overtown.
Particularly, this project that does a lot of things for senior citizens... I asked her to allow me to
have some of her time to remind the Commission that this is an organization that helps seniors
when their homes are burglarized and this is happening in Overtown. I have called them and
they were right there. The senior citizen is robbed and have no money to replace the screen
window or even the lock on the door, and this group actually does that. I was dismayed when
other organized, other target areas did not approve any of their funds to go for it because a lot of
these agencies say they provide service Citywide, that's the CW (Citywide) in the corner. If you
live in Overtown and call them, they never show up. But this group does.
Commissioner Plummer: You know the crime there?- -Those are HUD (Housing and Urban
Development) buildings.
Mr. McKnight: In the case of Overtown, sir they were not HUD buildings...
Commissioner Plummer: Oh.
Mr. McKnight: .. they did this for.
Commissioner Plummer: Who were they owned by?
Mr. McKnight: Two of them were single family homes owned by the owner who was victimized
and another one was a rental property, commercial property was the third one.
Commissioner Plummer: And the owner who is collecting the rent, wouldn't replace the screens
or lacks?
Mr. McKnight: That's correct.
Commissioner Plummer: That's the crime.
Mr. McKnight: Well, there is nothing I can do about that sir. But, maybe from where you sit,
something can be done about that, to make landlords responsible.
Ms. Cutler: And I'd be willing to help to do that. Hello, Commissioners, Mayor. My name is
Donna Cutler, I am the Project Director for the Jewish Family Service Senior Crime Prevention
and Victims Assistance Program. We do abbreviate it SCPDA, it's a little easier. This program
has been funded by the City of Miami for more than 15 years. We do go Citywide. Funding has
85 February 20, 1997
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4
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changed from time to time. We now have extra funding or additional funding from the County
and we are able to provide social services to the people who are also victims in the City of
Miami and help them get crime compensation or just get through the stress and the horror of
being a victim. We also work very closely with the City of Miami Police Department. We have
a ropy of the CATE report, the Crimes Against the Elderly Report and we go out with the
CATE officers to do home security surveys and they will make recommendations. We do not go
to HUD housing. We're pretty clear on not going into anything that's 202 housing. Fifty
percent of the people that we help are, single, older adult women, they are women or head of
household as you call. And I've made several crime prevention presentations for personal
safety. Last year, now that we have the additional funding, we'll have the social workers do that.
Are there any other questions? I thank you.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you.
Ms. Cutler: I hope you will take the staff recommendation and keep us funded Citywide. Thank
you.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Mayor, I've got a question. Irby, my understanding is City staff
recommends full funding.
Mr. McKnight: That is correct.
Commissioner Gort: CDC (Community,Developciment Corporation) only recommends seventy-
five hundred.
Mr. McKnight: - The Overtown -target area gave; seven. -thousand five :hundred. No other target
area did.
Commissioner Gort: Thank you.
Mr. Cruz: A point of information. When I was at the meeting... Now they say that the... is a
funny thing. When, they change the rules here every minute and they were saying the million
dollars ($1,000,000) is going to be for your target area. And don't you worry about that, even
though the social program don't get funded completely the City Commission with the other
projects for one million dollars ($1,000,000), they will fund the program. That's what I did
specifically, from anything because I used all the million dollars ($1,000,000) that I got there
specifically for Allapattah and then... Anyways, the final decision is your decision. It's not my
decision or the members. We are only an advisory board. And, we were not supposed... I say, I
was not supposed to be funding any Citywide project. Even if there's a lot of Citywide projects
that's good and worthwhile being funded, I didn't mention any of them. And they serve
Allapattah like Action serve Allapattah. Miami Capital serve Allapattah, a lot of these Citywide
programs serve Allapattah. But I didn't earmark any of the million dollars ($1,000,000) for any
of those programs. I just earmarked that money for Allapattah. The one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars ($150,000). Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for the other one; seventy-five
thousand, one hundred thousand, and the rest for the park, that's all.
Mayor Carollo: Next.
Mr. Foeman: St. John's Community Development Corporation.
Mr. Henry Nevin: Mr. Mayor and to the rest of the Commissioners we just thank you and I
apologize for the mistake little earlier. As I said before, that I am hurt that we were not funded
because of, we did not build 15 units in three years. I am inviting and I have invited most of the
Commissioners to came over to Overtown and see what we are presently doing. And I, the
86 February 20, 1997
reason that we did not build for the past three years is that we were stuck because of the water
and the sewer and then in between that we had change of staff. Now that we have our director
who is Mr. Benjamin things are going very, very good and we have completed our financing on
our 21 units on Northwest 21st Street and Third Avenue. Then we have been selected by the
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) together with the Related Group in a joint venture to
do the 96th unit and that is in the works right now. And then we have two other projects that we
are working on. We do ask the Commissioners to please, come and sec: what we are doing. And
at this time, I do not think it's fair that we have been denied funding. And I do recommend what
Mr. McKnight has been saying to give the target area that million dollars ($1,000,000) that we
could work because you do know that in Overtown we get little or not money to do the work
over there. I want to thank the Commissioners. Mr. Mayor, I want to thank you. I want to thank
all the Commissioners because you've been great, you've helped us and we thank you, and may
the Lord bless you. Thank you very much.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you, Reverend Nevin.
Mr. Foeman: Tacolcy Economic Development Corporation. Tacolcy Economic Development
Corporation. Tri-City Community Association, Inc.
Ms. Dorothy Hicks: Mayor Carollo and Commissioners of the City of Miami, I greet you with
joy and good health. My name is Dorothy Hicks and I'm the Executive Director of Tri-City
Community Association. Tri-City has been operating for 19 years in the City and it has been
funded through the City of Miami for seven years to improve the housing condition of low and
moderate home owners. Primarily, the elderly and the handicapped. We provide much needed
service to the County, to the community that assist in unemployment and unskilled residents and
low income home owners. We rehabilitate single family homes Citywide and train young men
and women to perform these skills. We train them in the area of painting and carpentry. With
this skill it allows them to get their hands on experience and render service to homeowners that
cannot afford these services. Because of this grant, you the City of Miami give us, the
homeowner is allowed to pay their taxes and get their home beautified and rehabilitated. I would
like for you to consider funding our agency back to the level that it was funded in the past. I
thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you ma'am, and we will do the best we can.
Mr. Foeman: Mr. Mayor, that was the last speaker I had on the housing category.
Mayor Carollo: OK. Anybody here that's for any housing agency that wasn't called up? OK.
Let's go to the next category that you have.
Mr. Foeman: The next category is Economic Development.
Mayor Carollo: OK, let's go there.
Mr. Foeman: DEEDCO.
Commissioner Plummer: Which one is this one?
Mr. Foeman: DEEDCO.
Ms. Bernice Butler: Economic Development. Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is
Bernice Butler and I am with DEEDCO. We are a Countywide community development
corporation engaged in real estate development in low and moderate income neighborhoods all
across Dade County.
87 February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: I'm sorry. What number is this?
Mr. Foeman: It's number four, under Economic Development.
Commissioner Plummer: We're finished with housing?
Mr. Foeman: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, I had some questions on housing. I am sorry, that's why I was
asking. I'd like to, if I may? Back to the housing under the HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for
People with AIDS) board. All right, H-O-P-W-A. HOPWA, OK. I noticed down at the bottom
on Assistance to Cure Aids and South Florida Jail Ministries, it states that both of these projects
reported under Public Service Social Programs and I don't find them in the Social Program,
unless they're by a different name.
Mr. Waters: If I may?
Commissioner Plummer: That's all right. Just as long as you aren't too short.
Mr. Waters: Commissioner Plummer if I may, that was last year's categories for those
individual programs and the Commission at that time instructed the staff to fund those agencies.
Commissioner Plummer: All right, let me ask this question. Is it possible under the HOPWA, if
I am pronouncing it correctly...
Mr. Waters: HOPWA.
Commissioner Plummer: .. HOPWA funding to in fact fund from this money the Cure AIDS
project for food and delivery of the food?
Mr. Waters: Yes. -
Commissioner Plummer: All right. Because then,:if I want to take and put more money into that
allocation, I can do such or recommend it to my colleagues?
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: My other question in reference to housing. I thought...
Mr. Waters: We're still on HOPWA, sir?
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, still on that.
Mr. Waters: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: I have a problem in the three areas of what I would call the three areas
of housing. 'rile emergency housing, which to me is very, very important you've dropped from
one million six down to two hundred thousand. Yet, in the long term rentals you've gone from
three nine to five five?
Mr. Waters: Commissioner, if I may?
Commissioner Plummer: Sure.
February 20, 1997
Mr. Waters: The recommendations that's before you today, are the recommendations of the
HOPWA board of which the Commission had created a board to provide them with
recommendations as to the proposed expenditures for the HOPWA fund. What the board has
done based on the needs within our respective communities, and they've made the
recommendations to shift those dollars to those areas of which you are speaking of, and that is,
moving monies to those areas where rent subsidies for the program are long term rental
assistance. You have individuals who have problems in the housing area and there appears to be
a greater need in that area and therefore the board has recommended that those dollars be moved
up to that level to accommodate those needs. We have the board chairperson here also, that can
speak on behalf of the hoard.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, but here, that's not my point. My point, for example, we're
paying mortgages out of that money?
Mr. Waters: You can, but...
Commissioner Plummer: No, but you've got that allocated here. Short term mortgage and rental
assistance. It just seems like to me that we should be addressing the rental aspect. Because I
remember at one time they were recommending, or somebody was recommending, you know
that we buy houses and give them the houses, you know. And that to me was greed. Now, my
point simply is, are we really helping the needy people not the greedy? And I just find it at a loss
to go form one million six in emergency housing to two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000).
Mr. Gene Suarez: Commissioner Plummer, may I?
Commissioner Plummer: Well, excuse -me. Let me. We can deal...
Mr. Waters: Let me go back to item one of which you spoke of. Under that category, Short
Term Mortgage or Rental Assistance. It's either or. If an individual who is impacted by the
disease has a problem and is in need of an emergency on a short term basis, the program allows
for us to accommodate that individual whether that individual is trying to pay a mortgage or
whether that individual is in a rental situation. And that's the flexibility of the program. And
again, here it is based on need.
Commissioner Plummer: All right, we'll deal with this later because we're not making decisions
today. But, I just have a serious problem with all of this monies going here, one million and a...
five and a half million dollars ($5,500,000) for long term rentals.
Mr. Waters: Again, Commissioner Plummer, please be reminded that the City being the
entitlement for this program, it is a Countywide program and again...
Commissioner Plummer: I understand that, but you're asking me to vote on it.
Mr. Waters: Well, we are the guarantee...
Commissioner Plummer: Remember that.
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir, we understand. We are the grantee for the program and we administer
here again for the entire Metropolitan Dade County area. We are working with the board along
with staff to make those assessments and based on their recommendations that's what is before
you today. And it's based on need as it relates to the program and the impact of the community
in Miami, Metro Dade County.
89 February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: OK, we'll deal with it. We'll deal with it.
Mr. Gene Suarez: May I? My name is Gene Suarez, I'm the chairperson of the HOPWA
advisory board and I want to thank the Commission and also staff for... We really agree with the
recommendations that staff is making. The reason that we are providing the rental assistance
from three million, from four million to five million is that we are proposing to assist 850 to 900
households. Now, in order to receive assistance you have to have cull blown AIDS and your
income has to be less than five hundred dollars ($500). So, this is really for people that are with
no income or income up to five hundred dollars ($500). So we, if you own your home we are
trying to prevent you from having to move and lose your home. The amount of mortgages that
we assist people with is a very, very small amount of people, number of people that own their
homes. For the most part it's rental assistance for 12 months and it's a maximum of five
hundred dollars ($500) a month. So, it's six thousand dollars ($6,000) per household and a
bigger... that's a household of one or two individuals. More in the household the assistance is a
little bit higher. But, that is why we're trying... As people are living longer, and people are
dying less the rate of dying went down like 30 percent so this assistance has to he extended
because we don't want to put people out that are so sick that have no place to go.
Commissioner Plummer: Who monitors this program?
Mr. Suarez: This is a HUD (Housing and Urban Development) program and it's monitored by
the City of Miami.
Commissioner Plummer: And what is the maximum amount, tor: rental?
Mr. Suarez: Five hundred dollars ($500) a month for a household of one or two individuals.
Commissioner Plummer: No, no, no. If you're .renting "an apartment. What is the maximum
rental that an individual can get?
Mr. Suarez: The maximum assistance that they ca'n get is five hundred dollars ($500). They
have to pay 30 percent of their income towards that rent, towards the...
Commissioner Plummer: It's not my question.
Mr. Suarez: That's the maximum that we would give them, five hundred dollars ($500).
Commissioner Plummer: So the max, but now you also have more money down here, for
example under Utilities Assistance.
Mr. Suarez: Right. We also assist them with things... You see people that get three hundred for
four hundred and seventy-five dollars ($475) a month and SSI (Social Security Income) cannot
pay rent and utilities. So, if they need utilities assistance, the maximum assistance that we give
them in a year is five hundred dollars ($500).
Commissioner Plummer: Do you want me to stop? I can go back... I have one final question.
Mr. Suarez: OK,
Commissioner Plummer: On this area, am I to he understood that in essence no one can receive
assistance for housing of more than five hundred dollars ($500) a month?
Mr. Suarez: For the household of one and two. If the household is bigger they can get up to
eight hundred dollars ($800). A household of five or six people, the assistance goes up to about
90 February 20, 1997
eight hundred dollars ($800). But a household of one and two individuals, the maximum they
can get is five hundred dollars ($500) and they have to contribute 30 percent of their income
towards that, towards the rental amount.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mr. Suarez: And the maximum in utility assistance is also five hundred dollars ($500) for the
year. So, it's really, you know, not a full assistance. And I also want to address quickly the food
that you were talking; about putting more money. I am also on the Red and White Title I and
Title II counsel and Cure AIDS, which is food for life now, they get quite a bit of funding from
those sources. So, we don't want to duplicate from HOPWA, we want to keep the money in
housing since there is no money for housing anywhere else. And so, Red and White Title I is
providing food for the people with AIDS. And what we're doing here is really paying for the
drivers to deliver the food. OK. Thank you very much.
Mayor Carollo: Next.
Mr. Foeman: Economic Development is the next category.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Foeman: DEEDCO.
Mayor Carollo: I think we had DEEDCO.
Ms. Bernice Butler: Hi, again Commissioners and Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: You've all had a big endorsement that I received...I got her letter.
Ms. Butler: Thank you. OK, I am Bernice Butler and I am the Executive Director of DEEDCO.
We are a Countywide community development corporation involved in real estate development.
Specifically, we build affordable housing and commercial projects in low and moderate income
neighborhoods around the City. We've got two requests in. Should I talk about both at the same
time or just talk about this one and then come back at the next one?
Mayor Carollo: You've got a minute for one and a minute for the other.
Ms. Butler: OK, let me talk about what we consider to be the most important first. The most
important one is we requested funds in the amount of one hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars
($155,000) to develop a medical clinic office facility in Little Haiti. That proposal was found
under the tab Public Facility Improvements, page eight of ten. Specifically item 28. We're
looking to acquire abandoned, dilapidated property on Northeast 79th Street between Northeast
1st Avenue and Northeast 2nd Avenue. That is the building just West of the Barnett Bank in the
surfaced parking lot. Right now again, there is an abandoned Triple X theater there and right
next to the theater there is an overgrown property. We're asking the City for CDBG
(Community Development Block Grant) for one hundred and fifty-five thousand dollars
($155,000) to buy that property. We have a commitment from Dade County to seek and support
a Section 108 loan guarantee to actually build a facility, it's a one point two million dollar
($1,200,000) facility. Now, this facility does three things that are very significant that's why we
feel that it does deserve consideration. First, it's going to provide much needed additional
medical services to the community. It's going to expand a medical facility that is currently
operating in the Little Haiti community about four blocks north of here, that run by Dr. Rudolph
Ruiz. It's currently 2,500 square feet. This facility will he eight to 10,000 square feet. Second,
when we acquired this property, we will automatically have to pay off thirty-two thousand
91 February 20, 1997
dollars ($32,000) in City of Miami municipal code liens that are currently attached to the
property. So by way of getting this federal funding, then we'll be able to provide some revenues
back into this community as well as begin to revitalize the property. And the third thing of
course is that DEEDCO has a demonstrated proven track record of being able to produce with
City of Miami funds. About two and a half years ago we received about two and a half million
dollars ($2,500,000) in home and CDBG funding from the City of Miami to do affordable
housing and just nine days ago we produced on that with the grand opening of the Olympia
Building, with affordable housing that we built. So that is what the one hundred and fifty-five
thousand dolla►:s ($155,000) is for. We have been approved by the CD advisory hoard for fifty
thousand ($50,000) in administrative funding. We've never received administrative funding
from the City before but again, we have received direct project funding. The administrative
funding is to do three things. It's to assist us in carrying out the Little Haiti project to build the
medical center. It is second, to allow us to go out and market and generate participation in the
City's commercial paint program. That program is already on the board. There is a pool of
about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) that the NET (Neighborhood
Enhancement Teams) office runs. We are committing that we will go out, DEEDCO will go out
and raise the funds to provide funds to those businesses who are not able to provide their match.
The City I think is two thousand dollars ($2,000) and the businesses are required to give up to six
hundred dollars ($600). We have applications now in to the Carnival Foundation as well as to
the Dade Community Foundations to give us money which we will in turn provide to the
businesses. This way, you have guaranteed assured consistent facade treatment. You don't have
a facade done here, a facade there. You will have the whole area done because we've been able
to provide the owners the money where they cannot afford it. And the third component that
we're asking for administrative funding for is to do predevelopment to address some of the
buildings up on Biscayne between 51st and 85th. You have a number of vacant and in some
°cases, abandoned buildings. We want to do predevelopment activities and determine the
feasibility of doing adaptive, reuse of some of those buildings. That is, taking the buildings and
doing affordable housing at tap and doing commercial at the floor level. So that's the three
components that we'll want administrative funding for and of course again, the one hundred and
fifty-five thousand to acquire the property in Little Haiti.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Ms. Butler: Thank you.
Commissioner Plummer: How much money did you get from the Public Health Trust for the
medical center?
Ms. Butler: At this point, we don't have any yet. However, we do have a Notice of Intent from
UM (University of Miami) on their radiology center. They are looking to place a radiology
center in the facility once we get it built. Oh, additionally too, we do, we just received a small
grant of five thousand dollars ($5,000) from the McGuire Foundation out of Boca to help do the
development work for the medical clinic also. Any questions? Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you, very much. Next.
Mr. Foeman: Edgewater Economic Development Corporation. Little Haiti Housing
Development Authority.
Mayor Carollo: I believe they spoke before.
Mr. Foeman: Miami Capital.
Mr. Raul Martinez: Good afternoon Mr. Mayor, Commissioners. We take pride in concurring
with the recommendation of the staff for Miami Capital. We can't get by without any additional
92 February 20, 1997
funding for our revolving loan fund. We can get buy with the administrative allocation of two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), which is one-third of the revised budget. We
were talking a while ago about program income. Program income provides two-thirds of our
administration expenses. We appreciate Mr. Cruz's comments about our contribution to
Allapattall and to other areas. We are distressed however, at the CD hoard's lack of recognition
of our work. We have just released a quarterly report as of December 31st and it shows, you
have copies of it, it shows our development efforts throughout the community. We have lent a
total of thirty-one and a half million dollars ($31,500,000) over our 16 year history. We have an
outstanding portfolio of ten and a half million dollars ($10,500,00). We have created new jobs
in excess of 3,000, and retained jobs almost to the tune of 1,500. If you have any questions,
we'll be happy to answer theta, but here again I think we can get buy with the present
recommendation.
Commissioner Plummer: Did Teatro Marti live up to its commitment?
Mr. Martinez: Partially. I was advised late this morning that late last afternoon, they provided a
receipt for the payment of taxes in the amount of seventeen thousand dollars ($17,000). That's
approximately one half of the total amount of taxes of thirty-three thousand of which 23
certificates have already been issued. So they did a great effort but they are quite short of the
agreement that we made here.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, our agreement was they had to pay 100 percent of the taxes by
the 31st of January?
Mr. Martinez: That is correct. No, not the 31st of January, by the 16th of this month. Being a
holiday, we extended it, you know, in 30 days they had to-do it. We extended the deadline to
Tuesday. They came up with the payment of�seventeen thousand as of yesterday, Wednesday.
Commissioner Plummer: They did not comply with this Commission's request?
Mr. Martinez: That is correct sir, they did not comply.
Commissioner Plummer: So, you'll proceed then with the alternative of what they didn't?
Mr. Martinez: We have no other choice and if it comes to it, if it ever comes back to the City
Commissioner, we'll be very happy to disclose what we're doing.
Commissioner Plummer: No reason to come back. In this, you have no administrative money
recommended here. How much do you have for a total of recommended... how much total do
you have for administration?
Mr. Martinez: Our total budget for administrative...
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah.
Mr. Martinez: ... '97-'98?
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah.
Mr. Martinez: Seven. At the revised level it's seven hundred and fifty-two thousand dollars
($752,000). We had originally in excess 'of eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000). I could
provide the detailed figure.
Commissioner Plummer: Is that with or without the two fifty from this source?
93 February 20, 1997
Mr. Martinez: Say it again, sir?
Commissioner Plummer: Is the seven hundred and fifty thousand included this two fifty or not?
Mr. Martinez: It does.
Commissioner Plummer: It does. So if this is not granted you would be down to five thousand,
five hundred thousand?
Mr. Martinez: Right. And not only that, we have already made very painful reductions of staff.
Thank you, very much. Oh, I forgot something. Our ultimate objective is, within the next two
or three years, if we get additional funding for loans, is to become financially independent. That
is, for administrative expenses to be self-sufficient. We think it's an obtainable goal in two or
three years.
Mayor Carollo: You can't do it by this next fiscal year?
Mr. Martinez: Well, with borrowers ,like Teatro Marti, it is very difficult to do it. But, we're
certainly trying.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you, you've been doing a good job. ,Next.
Mr. Foeman: Mr. Mayor, that's the lastspeaker I have on Economic Development.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Mr. Foeman: The next category...
Mayor Carollo: Public Facilities.
Mr. Foeman: .. yes.
Mayor Carollo: Let's go there
Ms. Eleanor Kluger: I did not sign up, but I would like to speak. OK, my name is Eleanor
Kluger and I am the downtown representative. As you know, downtown does not have very
many residents here, at this point. We are your core for jobs. We are the core for the bedroom
communities to come down to the downtown to enjoy it and hopefully, day and night. Our area
needs improvement and so most of the dollars that I, as your downtown rep. recommended were
for downtown improvements. There were many, and since I only had one million dollars
($1,000,000) to spend, I could not fund all of them or recommend all of them. And I looked
very carefully at the programs and tried to recommend the ones that I thought would help the
most for the least amount of dollars and not to waste any of the funding that we have. One of
those was the Flagler Marketplace, which we have already invested dollars into and in which the
j Flagler Street merchants are in dire need of help. There are so many commercial buildings and
areas that are being built elsewhere that are dragging customers from the downtown. For
instance a Saw Grass being built comes with a bus to the downtown area and picks up from all of
the hotels. This is very difficult for the downtown merchants to compete as their taxes are higher
and their expenses are more. So in order to keep the tourists down here spending money, we
need to fix up the downtown and the DDA (Downtown Development Agency) has worked very
hard so far in planning this, and as you can see there are pictures and it's already under way.
And you already designated five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). I would like to see them
continue their program in helping the downtown merchants. I did not think all the dollars should
94 February 20, 1997
tulle,
go to Flagler Street and the downtown merchants. There are other areas in the downtown that
need it. We could only work with what was presented here, and so therefore I have chosen what
was presented, what we could use. And I have issued all of you a paper of which I wrote telling
you why I had recommended them. We have three art schools in the downtown and they, these
students contribute a lot to the downtown both economically and it's a pleasure to have young
people down there. They also are artistic and can help us in many ways. And 1 would
recommend twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for their incubator program to help the DDA
and other people in the area design things that would improve the area. The other money that I
had recommended was to Carlos Batista who has done "The Light Up Miami," and he wants to
bring people to the west end of Flagler which right now is a very dead area and light that up.
And I don't know, he was here to speak and I think that his project for fifty thousand dollars
($50,000) to the west end of Flagler would be a welcome treat to everybody who has seen the
light -up work in the downtown area. Both our tourists and all of our residents enjoy his work.
And, I think that should cover all the things that I thought were important in our area. Oh, one
other thing that is very important to the people, the business people in the downtown is garbage
removal and so I have recommended fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to garbage removal
because many people from the beach and everywhere else dump trash into the downtown area
and our residents have to call or businesses have to call to get it cleaned up and the NET in our
area has been very helpful in removing this. But it is a constant ongoing problem and I am sure
that the City Commissioners recognize that and would want money for the NET clean up, and I
thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you. Next.
Mr. Foeman: The next category is Public Facilities. ADE Professional Training Kitchens.
Ms. Helena Del Monte: Again,. Helena Del -Monte, 2801 North Miami Avenue. First of all, I'd
like to correct that we do have a current allocation in regards to this. We wrote a grant for our
dream, a professional training kitchen. Again, what we do is, we train adults that are
developmentally challenged in different vocational areas and our main forte has been in the food
preparation and restaurant maintenance. We have numerous clients that are presently employed
with Pizza Hut, Fuddruckers, Picadilly's, Morrisons, you name it. We have had contracts with
the Private Industry Council and unfortunately we do not have an in-house professional training
kitchen. We have to bus our clients to other agencies that do pay rent, pay additional insurance
for the busing and so on and so forth. We wrote a grant last year to the City of Miami for one
hundred and forty-five thousand, out of that we received forty-seven thousand eight hundred
dollars ($47,800). So, we have written a grant for an additional ninety-one thousand four
hundred and seventy-five to complete this dream. In the project description it shows that it's a
rehab existing building and purchased adjacent lot. Basically, 90 percent of these dollars are for
the professional training kitchen. Only twelve dollars ($12) is to buy the additional lot space to
create more parking because the kitchen facility is going to take away eight of our parking spots.
And as you see, the CD board has recommended us at eighty-nine thousand level but
unfortunately, the City staff has not, even though they have recommended number 33, which is
another nonprofit and it is a very similar program to ours also of job training. Thank you very
much all of you, for your time.
Mr. Foeman: CCSA Eligan Center Acquisition.
Commissioner Plummer: Walter, would you give the number please, also?
Mr. Foeman: Sure. Number four.
Commissioner Plummer: Thank you.
95 February 20, 1997
Mr. James Gustafson: Jim Gustafson, Christian Community Service Agency, 3899 Northwest
7th. Thank you for hearing us earlier on the emergency shelter grants for New Life Family
Center. Our Eligan Center has been in the Allapattah area for approximately 15 years with a
primary concentration on serving youth in that area. For many years it was known as the
American Black Center and about five years ago, the name was changed to the Eligan Center.
We struggle continually for funding to fund youth programs. We've just gone through an urban
peace conference, that many of you were involved with and realizing; how much more we need
to invest in the area of our youth. Our Eligan Center has been at risk for at least the last four
years that I am aware of by continually being in situations where rent is going up. We cannot
afford to have the rent and we need to get a location. So we've put in for acquisition money for
one hundred and twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars ($127,500). The benefit, it's a
proven program for court- referred youth which reduce the rates of recidivism by over 50 percent
resulting in less public: cost for incarceration and loses due to criminal activity. Number two, a
proven program for introducing; the concepts of Kingian non -violence to the community has
resulted in less crime and gang activities. Earlier today, you honored Officer Leonard. Officer
Leonard is a strong part of the volunteer base and for the Eligan Center has worked hard to get
resources there. There is an increase in family stabilization through our center resulting; in
families that remain intact and also reduce the welfare dependency. The second project that we
have down there, we currently have a facility in Little Havana called the Esperenza Center for
which we provide homeless services to 60 family individuals. We continually work to find ways
to provide child care. What we need to do is acquire a building in that area in order to have child
care for the homeless residents at our facility, for other communities, low income residents need
it as well. So our second request is for one hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars ($165,000)
for child care. We thank you for your consideration.
Commissioner Plummer: Question.
Mr. Gustafson: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: Not of you, of the department. Bert, if we give them money to acquire
property and buildings, if they go out of existence with their program do those buildings and
property revert back to the City?
Mr. Waters: That's legal question, Commissioner Plummer.
Commissioner Plummer: Then, City Attorney?
(INAUDIBLE RESPONSE)
Commissioner Plummer: Well, I'm just thinking, you know, that it would seem like to me that if
we're giving them money to buy property or acquire a building; and they go out of existence, that
that ought to become the property of the City of Miami.
Ms. Linda Kearson, Esq. (Assistant City Attorney): I certain could draft documents to reflect
that. That wouldn't be a problem.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mayor Carollo: Next.
Mr. Foeman: Number six. Central Hispanic Catholic Child Care.
(INAUDIBLE COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO PUBLIC RECORD.)
96 February 20, 1997
Mr. Foeman: Number nine, CHS Property Acquisition.
Mr. Laurinus Pierre: I am Dr. Larry Pierre, Director for Center of Haitian Studies. We have
been recommended by the advisory board for an amount to purchase a property that we have
occupied for the last seven years. If you have any questions regarding to that, you can ask the
questions to me. But, I wanted to make a point, and I feel that I should make it because
somehow I am a dreamer. Somebody, I don't know, I have to get that out of my chest. I really
believe somehow, that public servants have to show kind of a moral example and we have a
moral responsibility towards people, the people of different communities and also people in the
community, they have their own responsibility into the way in which they do things. This
morning, I couldn't be more happier than when I heard Commissioner Hernandez mention that
we should go out, out in the community and look for people that are looking for funds. Looking
at track records because funds are available for people to provide services. There is a standard to
use to apply for funds under CDBGs (Community Development Block Grants), to fill out an
application and go and the application should he reviewed and looked careful, and being looked
upon carefully and people make recommendations. Because these funds are to be used for
people who can deliver services. However, in the procedure and with all due respect for staff
and Commissioners and everybody, and I am going to say that whatever the consequences may
be, I could care less. The thing is, that there have been a lot of questions that we have to ask as
public servants in the process. There are applications that came that arrived late, past the
deadline. They still fund it and have big recommendations. And we, the agencies we have is a
changing community. Agencies change, needs of the community change. We really have the
responsibility to look carefully before you award money to me, to our agency, to other people, to
whomever. And that's the final word I have. If you have a question about my proposal, I'm
ready to answer. Thank you.
,Mayor Carollo: Thank you. Next.
Mr. Foeman: Number 13, Edgewater Street Improvement -Northeast 25th.
Mr. Lorenzo Rodriguez: I will be very brief on this one Commissioners. This was an item that
was approved for the 22nd year plan. It is now going to he discussed next week at the
Commission meeting. We submitted it again in the event that it would not be funded this year
and the Public Works Department and our agency are looking into combining it for the Street
Improvement process in Edgewater. Hopefully, this will he achieved, if not this year, next year.
Because it is a sidewalk project that needs to be done as soon as possible. There are no
administrative funds for the agency and this one is all monies to be spent by Public Works.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Mr. Foeman: Number 17, Flagler Riverside Link.
Mr. Carlos Batista: Mayors and Commissioners, I am Carlos Batista, president of Light up
Miami. And for the sake of the new Commissioner, Light up Miami has been in existence for 10
years and we encourage and promote the exterior illumination of buildings. Mostly, not only the
downtown is Countywide but we use sometimes the downtown to be able to identify more
closely. In 1991, it was estimated by an economist Manuel LaSaga that the value to the City of
Miami of this lighting was thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) per year. That's in turns of the
new businesses and attraction to visitors and so on, that it brings to the City of Miami. If we take
the average that each building stands which is 80,000 divided by 21 buildings at that time, it
comes to a ratio of 1:15. It is one dollar ($1), provide fifteen dollars ($15) for the City of Miami.
The retail element of the City of Miami of the downtown usually brings in about 80 percent of its
income is from visitors and outsiders who come in and spend money in downtown Miami buying
retail. And it employs again, about 80 percent of the local people, which means all that money
97 February 20, 1.997
that comes in goes into the local economy. In the tax base, Mayer Carollo mentioned earlier that
30 percent of the City's tax comes from the downtown and about two percent of it goes back in
services. That again, is a ratio of about 1:15. So when you put all those ratios together you
realize that the downtown really provides an incredible amount of leverage for the entire City.
In terms of image and perception which is what lighting really does, it turns into a reality and
that is a thirty million dollar ($30,000,000) reality. What we want to do with the linkage of the
downtown and the Riverside is create an image and make that attractive. The underneath of the
I-95, which is pretty dark and damp, turned it into a really exciting and lively place that attracts
people and helps connect the river water from one side with the bay water on the other side and
it links the active Flagler downtown with the passive Riverside and encourage the pathway
through from people from one end to the other. It makes no sense really to penalize the rest of
Miami by not funding important projects in the downtown area. And I'm referring both to the
Flagler Marketplace, which is very important, and to other projects in the downtown. It's not
throwing money away, it's really putting more money into the City of Miami. If there is any
questions on the particulars of the Flagler Riverside, I'll be happy to. Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you. Next.
Mr. Foeman: Number 23, LaSalle HS Restoration.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, they were here before.
Mr. Foeman: All right. Number 27, North Bayshore Drive Connector. That's BRP, in-house.
Christina House (phonetic) Number 28, Northeast 79th Street. They spoke already. Number 30,
Overtown Advisory Board Information Center. Number 36, Spring Garden Park. Number 37,
Southwest Social Services Building and Repair.
Ms. Christina Penedo: Good afternoon, my name is Christina Penedo, and I represent Southwest
Social Services. We're requesting seventeen thousand six hundred dollars ($17,600) for the
repair of the roof in our building that has been damaged by acts of vandalism, and also two air
conditioning units that are practically beyond repair. Just this weekend some teenagers were on
the roof and they were throwing shingles to the floor and our roof has no guarantee anymore. Do
you have any questions?
Commissioner Plummer: They stole the air-conditioning?
Ms. Penedo: No, they broke them. And...
Commissioner Plummer: You're lucky; downtown they steal the copper out of them.
Ms. Penedo: Yes. And the roof, they're just. It's about to have no shingles at all on the top part.
Thank you.
Mr. Foeman: That's it.
Mayor Carollo: Next. That's it.
Ms. Eleanor Kluger: I am sorry, I have one more that I had missed. It's number 41, which is the
Urban Land Institute. No one from there seems to be here tonight. But, this is involving Park
West, the Omni area which I know all of you have tried very hard to revitalize. The grass roots
people, which are people from Overtown, leaders, people from Park West and the Omni area
would like to try one more thing in that area and that would be to bring the Urban Land Institute
to Miami to study this area and see if they could not come up with ways to improve and
revitalize that area. The Urban Land Institute, many of you know and I believe Mr. Waters
98 February 20, 1997
knows of too, have done wonders to other cities, and for one hundred and sixty-five thousand
dollars ($165,000) the communities of these three, Overtown, Omni and Park West would help
sponsor and we would work with the DDA in order to get the ULI down here and set them up
and maybe have a charette at a hotel and see if we couldn't get outsiders to help us in revitalizing
that area. They are nationwide and they have a lot of expertise and they might be able to bring
developers into the area and implement. This is problem, we've had studies before, we've not
had any implementation. We think they could do it. Let's try.
Mr. Mariano Cruz: Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 27th Street in the Allapattah target area.
And I say, I am representative, elected. I am going to say just a little thing about here it's mostly
for the City, Public Works. I don't like what I see the sidewalks being repaired by Capital
Improvement, like we did. No, we pay to the City, a lien on 26th Street. That's why those two
blocks were repaired, from 12th Avenue to 14th Avenue because we sign ourselves as a, to put a
lien on our property to have repair. But, the City awes us a lot of money because years ago they
took one million dollars ($1,000,000) of what was supposed to be for Allapattah, Overtown and
Little Havana to repair, to do sidewalk repair and they used that money for the moving of
Camillus House. It never was done, but the money was used for that, legal fees and all that. I
remember, I reminded that the other day to Mr. Suarez when he was on the radio about that.
How they took the money from Allapattah to move Camillus House to Allapattah. And, one
other thing. The reason I recommend for the park is because that's the only way that Capital
Improvement goes to the parks because there is nothing from the General Fund going to the
park. Between the Fire Department and the Police Department, they use all the money of the
City. So whatever money is left for the park is for salary. So that's why I was recommending
the monies for the Capital Improvements to all the parks in Allapattah: Moore Park, Curtis Park,
Allapattah Comstock and the little Park of Melrose Park on 29th Street. That's right. Thank
you.
Mr. Lorenzo Jackson: Sir, I am Lorenzo Jackson and I'm speaking; on. I am on the City's
advisory board for the Model City area. This is my first year and I came in wide-eyed with a
whole lot of dreams and hopes. But realistically, I came in, and trying to make a difference and
I've been watching the board meeting. Previously, I've heard Commissioner Plummer's
frustrations as well as the Mayor's and those of you who had to leave and conic back. And being
on this board as me... or to influence as small as it may seem, this is... I came on this hoard
because I felt like there was a difference that I could make. And one of things I want to say to
you is that, when I recommended certain programs, I'm not going to go through what Irby went
through and all what I heard this morning. I am not going to go through anything that
Commissioner Plummer mentioned about no new programs, but I ani going to reiterate that I had
not heard about that, that's a new program. I had never heard anything about there is no new
programs. But I'll say this to you gentlemen, I have been in the City for the rest of my, for my
short 35 years and I'm sure that's probably shorter than the vast majority of you. Most of that
has been spent in the unincorporated side and I remember the Model City programs in the
unincorporated area, and obviously I am a benefit of it. I was born in 1961. And I've been on
this side, as far as the City of Miami was still considered Model City, on that side, obviously for
the City of Miami. But this is my point, I recommend a very few programs. If you look at the
Model City recommendations that I made, we had decided that there are one million dollars
($1,000,000). We had decided that five million would go to the City. So I specifically say this
to you, that the only thing; that I ask you to do is, to give credence to what I recommended and
that's the only thing. I won't reiterate the people who have already specifically stated that we
will like to have, the improvements that we have, and you know. But I would like you to at least
consider the programs that I recommended. And if you look at the programs I recommended, the
Model City. City hoard recommended five hundred and almost a half a million dollars
($500,000), not only did we rely on that five million, we asked to a half million. So I'm
specifically asking you to consider the programs, that I specifically asked that I was aware of,
that I investigated and I'm hoping for your support for those programs. Thank you very much.
99 February 20, 1997
GIN
Mayor Carollo: Thank you for your input and your help. All right the public section of this
particular item and meeting will now be closed and I'll open it up to the members of the
Commission for any further discussion they would like to have at this point.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, if I'm not mistaken. Let me make sure I understand where
we're at. If Urn not mistaken, item three is the submission of the grant and each of the four
sections are designated as to the amount but not allocated? Is that corrected? In other words, we
are in this year we're saying that in the area of social services, we're going for 'X' number of
dollars for Economic Development and 'X' number. What I am saying is, this doesn't lock us in
to making changes later.
Mayor Carollo: Well, I will say this, Commissioner. I, for one, will be going through item by
item...
Commissioner Plummer: So will I.
Mayor Carollo: .. and I know that I am going to be making some changes.
Commissioner Plummer: Many.
Mayor Carollo: Well, obviously.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, I am concerned about the deadline. That's my only concern.
Mayor Carollo: Well, that's what we need to find out.
Mr. Marquez: Mr. Mayor. First of all,' I think, and Linda can back me up here, that the
resolution may very well lock you into certain things, so we would defer the resolution until the
second reading of the ordinance. Now, as far as deadlines are concerned, the ordinance second
reading should be heard no later than the end of March in order for us to meet all operating
deadline.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, this takes place June, starts June the 30th or June 1st?
Mr. Waters: July 1st.
Commissioner Plummer: July 1st. OK, I was close
we'll go ahead and defer three and four?
Mayor Carollo: We have time to do three and four..
Commissioner Plummer: I move to defer three.
So then are you saying, Mr. Mayor that
Mayor Carollo: There's a motion to defer three. Second.
Ms. Kearson: Well, except now you have an ordinance. Now, you're going to have two
readings of that ordinance and there has to be at least 10 days before the first and second reading.
Commissioner Plummer: Not if we do it the first reading.
Ms. Kearson: So you can pass the ordinance today on first reading and then at your March 13th
meeting, you can have a second reading of your ordinance as an emergency item.
100
February 20, 1997
Mayor Carollo: Or we can, well that's one way of doing it. Or we could have the first reading
on the 13th and the second reading the 23rd, if we have a meeting then.
Ms. Kearson: OK, as long as you have ten days between the first and second reading.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: I move to defer four.
Mayor Carollo: Well, there's a motion to defer three. Second by...
Vice Mayor Regalado: Second.
Mayor Carollo: .. Vice Mayor Regalado. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 97-89
A MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEM 3 (AUTHORIZE
SUBMITTAL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI'S FY 1997-98 PROPOSED
CONSOLIDATED PLAN) UNTIL THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING
SCHEDULING AGENDA ITEM 4 (PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF FOUR NEW
SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS -- COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT--
$1.3,106,000; HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS-44,203,000; EMERGENCY
SHELTER GRANT--$346,000 AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS
WITH AIDS--$8,832,000, FOR A TOTAL OF $26,487,000) TO THE FIRST
REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH, 1997.
Upon being seconded by Vice Mayor Regalado, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Mayor Carollo: There is a motion to deter four. Second by Commissioner Hernandez. All in
favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
101 February 20, 1997
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 97-90
i
A MOTION DEFER CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEM 4 (PROPOSED FIRST
READING ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF
EACH OF THE FOUR [4] NEW SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AS MORE FULLY
STATED ABOVE) TO THE FIRST REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING OF
MARCH, 1997.
[Note: THE Commission Meeting later rescheduled the March 13th Commission meeting to
take place on March 20, 1997].
Upon being seconded by Vice Mayor Regalado, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Mayor Carollo: OK, we're now...
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, Mr. Mayor how are we going to work this? Are we going to bring
to this Commission, when we get the information from the Manager a detailed list, item by item
of what we think should be funded and then present, each of us present it to the Commission?
Mayor Carollo: You know the administration through Mr. Bert Waters has made their
recommendations already. What I would suggest, that each of us studies each and every one of
thee agencies as closely as we can and try to work up in our own minds what we be in favor of
giving to each agency and then we're going to have to come and somehow even out the monies
the best way that we can. Now, to save time and energy for all us, I would like to see if staff
before the March 13th meeting, when we bring this back can meet with each and every one of us
and we could kind of discuss the areas where we have a difference in and they could run between
each of us to see if we could have some areas of understanding...
Vice Mayor Regalado: But, we still need to know if we can use the three hundred thousand
dollars ($300,000), and if we can switch funds.
Commissioner Hernandez: I'd like to, what hasn't been defined is what I was addressing earlier.
In the past they've bypassed the Commission and used the money however the administration
felt, without us having any input. I'd like to have some kind of definition as to where they're
going to spend the two point two million dollars ($2,200,000), how much is going to be
dispersed and to whom?
Mayor Carollo: OK, Mr. Manager.
Mr. Marquez: Mr. Mayor, what I would suggest is that prior to the 13th meeting, which is where
you're deferring the resolution and the first, reading of the ordinance to, that we issue the
102 February 20, 1997
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Commission a report, and I want to go through a number of items to make sure we picking up
everything in a written report to you as well as making our rounds to each and every individual
office and to see, to gather all concerns. But the items that I've written down that you had
wanted was a work up on the social costs and housing costs by target areas. A total budget for
each applicant, for each CBO (Community Based Organization) who is applying. An answer to
the question, can reprogrammed income he used for other, in other programs areas? How much
is that reprogram amount anticipated to be, and is there a staff recommendation as to how and
where those monies should be used? We will answer the question as to what happened to what
happened to Mr. David Alexander. After finding, after contact him and talking to Linda, there is
question about perhaps some escrow monies available through the St. Hugh Condominium
Association, maybe we can cover that in the memorandum to you also. If there is any other
items of information that you would request in written format...
Vice Mayor Regalado: If we can use funds from an area, one of the four areas to bring it to say,
not administration, but maybe Public Facilities and bring it to Social Services. What are the
restrictions on those...
Commissioner Plummer: Fifteen percent.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, but still.
Commissioner Plummer: That's your max. The max you can have is 15 percent.
Commissioner Gort: We've seen there is a lot of differences between the recommendation from
staff and the board. And I think a lot of times the board do not understand in the reductions of
some of programs, the effect that it would have in the community. I think whatever cuts is being
recommended, I'd also like to receive what would be the effectiveness of that decision. How it's
going to affect the program and how it's going to affect that people that are being served.
Commissioner Plummer: Yes.
Commissioner Gort: At the same time, I'd like for the next time, if staff could give a report,
what type of monitors that we provide for these agencies. Because as I recall, when we first got,
when I first got in here, we took the funding away from four different agencies because they
were not performing. Because there's a lot of people out there and we have agencies that are not
performing, let's get them out. Because there is plenty of people that are willing to work.
Commissioner Plummer: Let me tell you the only problem you're going to have with what's
being proposed. That is that I recommend that 'X' gets 'X' more and he recommends that 'X'
gets 'X' more. And you have to understand that if 'X' gets more, 'X' has got to take less. And
that's where this thing, the scenario that you're drawing here now is going to fall apart. Because
to say that they get, this one gets more and this one gets more, who is going to tell staff where to
take, who to take it from?
Mayor Carollo: Well, sometimes...
Commissioner Plummer: So these, this is the area. The only way we've been able to do that...
Huh?
Commissioner Gort: We do.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, OK. The only way we've been able to do that in the past is to
take and cut across the board a percentage.
103 February 20, 1997
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Mayor Carollo: And sometimes Commissioner, as you know, because you're one of the... Well,
you were the only one that was here back then. Sometimes 'X' gets the 'X.'
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, you got the 'X' all right.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Mayor, let me ask you a question. Regalado has been bringing a point
and he's repeated this point, which we have to be very careful. A lot of our senior citizens here,
a lot of the people today receiving social welfare, are not going to be receiving it. And I think
we should look into the impact that that's going to have in our community. And especially, in
the programs that are providing those services.
Vice Mayor Regalado: And you know, J.L., you said, you know, you've got to take from
somewhere, you do. But, this thing about the Welfare Reform, it's serious, very serious. And,
it's not going to be fixed because unless and until the budget is approved by Congress, exactly as
the President sends it to the Congress, which we won't see it. Even if that happens, there is only
going to be so much time before the cut off date. This is why I asked the Commission to get in
touch with Immigration because to get your aid restored, you need to bring your certificate. If
you don't have it, even if you pass the exam you're not going to get your benefits restored. So
from May to October you're going to see in the City of Miami at least 20,000 people affected
with no food stamps or SSI supplementary or disability benefits. Twenty thousand in the City of
Miami, that's Social Security figures.
Commissioner Plummer: That's this year alone. Next year, you're looking at potentially
60,000.
Vice Mayor Regalado: That's true --with- the: welfare cutoff,,with 18 months.
Ms. Kearson: Mr. Mayor, I have to clarify one thing that we're going to research together. And
that is whether or not the reprogrammed funds can be used to increase the social service funding.
While we know that for the forthcoming allocation, there is 15 percent cap, but what we don't
know is whether reprogrammed funds can be used for social services. So, we're also going to
research that for you.
Mr. Marquez: Mr. Mayor, answering to Commissioner Gort's request for, what's the impact of
the cuts. What I would, if it's OK with Commissioner Gort and the Commission. Let us discuss
the impacts of cuts individually with each Commissioner in each Commissioner's office because
to put that in writing would be astronomical. For the purpose of report.
Mayor Carollo: OK. Yes, that'll he fine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: APPROVE CREATION OF SPECIAL
TAXING DISTRICT BY METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY FOR
MORNINGSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD -- FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOUR
STATIONARY SECURITY GUARD SERVICE (GUARD HOUSE) AND
ROVING POLICE PATROL SERVICE -- NOT TO EXCEED $350,000 FOR
SAID CIP PROJECT.
Mayor Carollo: All right let's move on to item five. Item five is a first reading ordinance
approving creation of a special taxing district, Morningside neighborhood. Is there anyone who
wants to speak against it?
104 February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: I only have a questions.
Mr. Jim Kay: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: That it is understood by the residents who are asking for this, that you
cannot deny access to anyone.
Mr. Kay: That's correct.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, that's always the case.
Commissioner Plummer:. They're aware of that?
Mr. Jesse Diner: Completely understood.
Commissioner Plummer: They're aware of that?
Mr. Diner: Completely understood.
Mr. Kay: That's stated, yes.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, and you cannot...
Mr. Diner: It's in the ordinance, as a matter of fact.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, but there is one up there right now that I'm ready to take to task
because they have a gate that goes down and you cannot go through without that guard taking
your license number. I don't mind him taking the license number...
Mr. Diner: That's where that stops.
Commissioner Plummer: .. but to put a gate down and bar access to the public on public right-
of-way, I've got a problem with. So, I just wanmake sure it's understood. Do you
t understand it differently?
Mr. Kay: Well that. No, the gate is part of the district itself.
j Mr. Diner: Yeah, the gate is down.
Commissioner Plummer: The gate, but I'm talking about the bar that comes down.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, but... that's not in the City of Miami, Commissioner. The place you're
talking about is not City of Miami.
Commissioner Plummer: Yes, it is. OK, but I can show you one, unless they've changed
recently, that in fact goes down until that guard comes out, writes your license tag number down
and goes back in and pushes a button is when it goes up.
Mayor Carollo: Maybe, it only happens with you, but...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, I just want to make sure that we understand, so that at later date
you say, "Why didn't you tell me."
105 February 20, 1997
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Commissioner Gort: Sure.
Commissioner Plummer: I think it's great.
Commissioner Hernandez: I move to adapt the ordinance. There is a motion.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Mayor Carollo: Second by Commissioner Gort. It's been made by Commissioner Hernandez.
Can you read the ordinance, please?
[AT THIS POINT, THE CITY ATTORNEY READ THE ORDIANCE INTO THE PUBLIC
REOCRD BY TITLE ONLY.]
Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. Mayor, I just have a question.
Commissioner Gort:
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK. Yeah, I know but, are we going to be assured that what you're
going to hire is off -duty City of Miami Police Officers.
Mr. Jesse Diner: Yes. Commissioner Jesse Diner, 644 Northeast 57th Street, Miami. We're
talking about hiring from off -duty police patrols from the City of Miami, not on -duty officers.
We're also talking about reimbursement from the County. The other question that you had, I
believe was how quickly the City would be reimbursed? Within 30 days of invoicing by the
City.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: OK, the only area that we need to bring up here is that there is a conflict with
the surcharge right now in this ordinance that we will need to change it from what we already
had passed.
Police Captain Longueira: Right. I believe we were supposed to be coming back with a
discussion on that issue to the Commission.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, I brought that up before...
Police Capt. Longueira: Right.
Commissioner Plummer: .. and it was supposed to have been on this agenda.
Police Capt. Longueira: Mr. Mayor, the only other issue though is... It is off -duty and it's
voluntary. If on Christmas Day or New Years Day or Thanksgiving Day officers don't want to
volunteer, they don't get anybody. We do not supplement with on -duty policemen. They just
don't get anybody. It's like...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, but they are not prohibited from getting a security service?
Mr. Diner: Understood.
Police Capt. Longueira: It's a voluntary signing up.
106 February 20, 1997
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Mr. Diner: That's understood.
Commissioner Plummer: I mean they could. Well, I want to make sure that if they wanted to
get a security service when it's not available that it can be done. They're not prohibited from
doing it.
Mayor Carollo: Well, the only other thing is...
Mr. Diner: It's probably more trouble than it's worth.
Mayor Carollo: The only other thing is that we're basically fixing the rate here at twenty-two
dollars ($22) an hour for the next two years. If for any reason we would change it, and hopefully
we will need to, then we're stuck with this rate for them. They'd he the only ones who would
have this rate. So that Mr. City attorney, needs to he reflected in the ordinance. That this is the
rate now, but the prevailing rate will always be the... whatever the rate is that Miami PD (Police
Department) charges across the hoard. Except for funerals.
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, Esq. III (City Attorney): Mr. Mayor, is it clear to the applicant that this is
still subject to the County approval as well as an election...
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, yeah.
Mr. Jones: .. approved by a majority?
Mr. Diner: Oh, understood. This is just one step in the process. We have to be before the
County Commission on two readings. We have to- have a special election. This is just the
Interlocal Agreement. That's all this is.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, this is on first reading with the amendments that have been made that
needed to be changed. All right, OK, it's been read. Can you call the roll? Thank you.
Mr. Diner: Thank you, very much.
Mayor Carollo: Surely.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING CREATION OF A SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT
BY METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY FOR THE MORNINGSIDE
NEIGHBORHOOD, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING
TWENTY-FOUR HOUR STATIONARY SECURITY GUARD SERVICE AND
ROVING POLICE PATROL SERVICE; SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE WITH
APPLICABLE CITY OF MIAMI AND METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY
REQUIREMENTS: APPROVING CONSTRUCTION OF TWO (2) GUARD HOUSE
FACILITIES, GATES, FOUR (4) STREET CLOSURES, INSTALLATION AND
OPERATION OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES, AND AUTHORIZING AND
APPROPRIATING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THREE HUNDRED FIFTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($350,000) FOR SAID CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND
ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR ROVING POLICE PATROL SERVICE;
REQUIRING REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL EXPENDITURES; PROVIDING FOR
TITLE, INSURANCE AND GUARD HOUSE LOCATION; REQUIRING
EXECUTION OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORM
ATTACHED HERETO, BETWEEN THE CITY AND METROPOLITAN DADE
COUNTY; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION SEVERABILITY CLAUSE,
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
107 February 20, 1997
Fes,
was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez, seconded by Commissioner Gort, and was
passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
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.
-- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. PERSONAL APPEARANCE: ROBERT V. FITZSIMMONS TO DISCUSS
ZONING ON S.W. 28TH STREET BETWEEN S.W. 26TH AVENUE,
JEFFERSON STREET AND S.W. 27TH AVENUE, PROPOSED SITE FOR A
LARGE HOTEL.
Mayor Carollo: - OK, now we're. in -.,personal appearances. We're. in number six. Mr.
Fitzsimmons.
Mr. Robert Fitzsimmons: Good evening, my name is Bob Fitzsimmons. I live at 2512 Abaco
Avenue. I'm here to speak about a local neighborhood matter that affects my neighborhood.
Before I do that, I would like to preface it with a few remarks to put it in perspective. You
know, I live in the City of Miami, and have for a long time. I moved down here from the City of
New York and I grew up in Brooklyn. We had, one of the issues going around Dade County
with all the incorporations and with the movement to abolish the City of Miami is whether we
get good, local government. You guys spent a lot of time doing a very important matter going
through our budget. You're worried about making our skyline look beautiful. Miami is a very
important City nationally, internationally. It's a destination'to the people around the world. But
you guys also sit up here as our local leaders. And you guys affect how I live my day to day
living, what my life style is like. And I fear that sometimes because we get involved in this big
metropolitan area, we also service a lot of metropolitan area, that the little aspects of our day to
day life get lost in the transition. You know, from nine to five we're a huge City to this
metropolitan area. After five o'clock everybody goes home. The travellers go home to Europe
and everywhere people go hack to Pinecrest and unincorporated Dade County and we live here.
Now, all I'm asking is that in this item that you consider us as living here and in the light of the
development because this is a development issue. And I don't oppose development. I'm a
lawyer, I represent commercial property owners fora living. I am not a zoning lawyer. But, so I
don't oppose development for development sake. But, what we have here is an issue on this
block where all of a sudden, we've gone from a very small structure to a huge structure. So you
could understand where this is, if you go up 27th Avenue to the Burger King, you turn right,
that's 28th Street. Right next to the Burger King. There used to be four single family dwellings.
Mayor Carollo: It's no longer there.
108
February 20, 1997
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Mr. Fitzsimmons: No longer there. Five years ago, it was zoned R-1. It was single family
dwelling. And five years ago, it changed to a residential office zoning. Well, :actually a little
more than five years ago. So now we had professional offices coming in there. When Mr.
Plummer was here, you know, we came down, we were concerned about that change and they
said no, it's a good transition from the commercial area across the street to professional office, to
a very sleepy single family street which abuts it to the rear, physically connected to it. Now,
when 9500 was changed to 11,000 the RO zoning that was disappeared and got merged into an
'O' zoning, which was a very significant upgrade in density and in use. And this went on
without any notice to the public except, you know, if you consider the half page notice in the
paper that we're changing the entire zoning ordinance, notice to the ordinary person, we really
didn't get notice. Nobody knew this had happened until five years later, now. And now, we're
faced with the prospect of a 68 foot hotel structure going on this property. I called the City
administrator in the Planning Department and related that I have a concern this happened and the
neighbors are concerned. It's a single family dwelling and all of a sudden we have this huge
hotel. All I got was, it's legal. It was done legally, we put a half page ad. You know, that's not
the greatest response. Twenty minutes later, the developer calls me and relates every point I'd
related on the phone to the City administrator. That didn't sound right either. I mean, I am the
City of Miami. I live here, you know, and I look to you for that guidance. When I call the City,
I'm expressing honest concerns. And I kind of resented it that the developer was immediately
told about the neighborhood being concerned.
Commissioner Plummer: Who is the developer?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: Carlos Rua.
Mayor Carollo: What company is that?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: I think it's under his name right now.
Commissioner Plummer: R-U-A?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: R-U-A.
Mayor Carollo: What is this company's name?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: I'm not sure. I show them as individual owners, he and his wife. Carlos and
Vicki Rua.
Mayor Carollo: And you said....
Mr. Fitzsimmons: That's the owner of the property.
Mayor Carollo: Who immediately told them that the neighbors were concerned?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: That's Lourdes Slazyk in the Planning Department. I spoke to her, I requested
a personal appearance. And I guess the new policy of the City Manager's office is to try to get it
resolved at an administrative level. I spoke to her at length about my concerns and I said it's
really a policy issue, and I'd really, still would like to address the Commission on this policy
issue.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, you always have that right and that's why you're here today.
Mr. Ftizsimmons: OK. So basically what I am concerned about is that we have this going in
there, I'm not sure what our remedies is. The zoning code change, it was legal. Yet, there must
109 February 20, 1997
A.
be something we could do to protect it. Now, it's a 36,000 square foot lot. The FAR (Floor area
ratio) is point five. So one would think that at worst we're looking at an 18,000 square foot
building. But no, the plans down there that I looked at yesterday, and the Planning Department
shows a 33,000 square foot building. Now, keep in mind I also went to the NET (Neighborhood
Enhancement Teams) office and Ellie Haydock showed me her plans several weeks ago. Mr.
Rua presented me with the plans a month or two ago. They show an 18,000 square foot building.
Now, all my neighbors are going to the NET office and they don't have the right plans. That's
one concern. But the big concern I have here is, we have a 33,000 square foot building going in
there that was, you knew, it was not intentional, I don't think. I don't think the slot was thought
about when they changed the zoning ordinance into 11,000. The net result is, we have a
hardship here and I went down and spoke to Juan Gonzalez today and he explained that in a
hotel you don't consider commercial area. You don't consider the 6,000 square foot banquet
facilities on top of FAR. You don't consider the whole first floor, 6,000 square feet as FAR. So,
I ask here, I don't know what can be done. I'm asking you, this is our neighborhood, we're
trying to protect it. We're willing to work with development. We're going to have development
there, but let's make it a rational development as best we can.
Mayor Carollo: Bob, are you saying that what's going to go up there is a hotel or?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: It's a hotel, scheduled to be a fifty room hotel. It has 60 rooms in it. Ten of
which they're calling meeting rooms even though they have....
Mayor Carollo: How are?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: .. bathrooms or bathtubs. I am sorry.
Mayor Carollo: What's the height of it?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: Sixty. The parapets are 68 feet.
Mayor Carollo: Sixty-eight feet, that...
Mr. Fitzsimmons: It's about. I guess it's about...
Mayor Carollo: Four...
Commissioner Plummer: Six floors.
Mr. Fitzsimmons: Five floors.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, four or five depending.
Commissioner Gort: Have they pulled the permits?
Commissioner Plummer: I had heard the only problem they were having was in reference to
parking.
Mayor Carollo: Well, I'll tell you, I know the area quite well. If you have a five, six story
structure there. I, you know, I sure as heck would not want to be the neighbor living behind it or
to the side of it, to the right of it, which is the residential area because there is not going to be
any privacy in their backyard or...
Commissioner Gort: Well, that's where Burger King is?
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February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, next to it.
Mayor Carollo: Sorry, J. L.
Commissioner Gort: Next to the Burger King.
Commissioner Plummer: But my question is, is do they? On the plans that you have do they
show adequate parking? Because someone said to me a while back that there was a possibility
that they were going to have to try to get some of the R-1 lots adjacent. I don't know in the hack
or the side for conditional use of parking or they couldn't build the hotel. So I'm asking you, is
that the case? Do they show on the plan? Have they drawn a permit?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: No, they have a Class II -Special Permit. They don't have their building
permit as yet.
Commissioner Plummer: OK. On any of the plans on file, do they show adequate parking or
not? I don't know.
Mr. Fitzsimmons: I'm not in zoning where I can answer that. What they have presented...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, let me ask Jack Luft. Jack, of any of the plans that you are
aware of have copies of, do they show adequate parking without intrusion, further intrusion into
the R-l?
Mr. Jack Luft (Director, Community Planning and Revitalization Dept.): Yes, I was told by
Lourdes that they have not only adequate parking, they have excess parking.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mr. Fitzsimmons: The parking ordinance, as I understand it, requires two spaces for every three
rooms. They say they have 50 rooms. I mean, it's physically about 65 rooms but what they call
meeting rooms, so meeting rooms are not counted in FAR parking. And once again, it contains a
bathroom that has a bathtub. It's an interesting meeting room. You have to relax every once in a
while in the bathtub.
Commissioner Plummer: For that many meeting rooms there ought to have more parking.
Mr. Fitzsimmons: But they have... But our concern right now, in the neighborhood on top floor
is a 6,000 square foot banquet facility with open terraces on both sides. So, not only do we have
a hotel, when we have a wedding up there it spills out outside, it towers over the single family
neighborhood next to it. I mean, tree coverage doesn't affect that. Trees go up 25 feet. These
people are up 60 feet in the air. I'm not sure exactly what relief I can ask from you but you
probably will see me again after the building permits is pulled. If nothing else challenging can
you have 15,000 square feet of accessory uses not considering your FAR.
Mayor Carollo: Well, you make a goad point. Jack, what can we do here?
Mr. Luft: Well, as I understand it, the project has required no variances, no conditional uses, no
exceptions. It was pulled strictly in accordance with the zoning code. He meets his parking
requirements. Our review was to the point of landscaping and architectural treatment which we
reviewed. It was posted at the NET office. We, he changed several things on the site to meet
our requirement for design esthetic improvements and it's now going for a building permit in
accordance with the existing code. I think what Mr. Fitzsimmons is concerned with is, the code
itself appears to allow for certain considerations on ancillary use that add to the gross floor area
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February 20, 1997
t
and height restrictions were not what he understood was the case. But, apparently some years
ago, before I was involved, the ordinance changed to 11,000 and with it comprehensively of the
Citywide use, some of these rules changed.
Mayor Carollo: When was that change, what year, more or less?
Commissioner Gort: Way back.
Commissioner Plummer: Ninety-one.
Mr. Luft: Must have been '89, '92?
Commissioner Gort: Eighty something. -Eighty-five; eighty-six.
Mr. Fitzsimmons: No, it's early nineties, I think.
Commissioner Plummer: What:11,000?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: Well, when 11000 dime in they changed.
Commissioner Plummer: It was like '`90
Mr. Fitzsimmons: What they did was, it was an RO, a whole different...
Mr. Luft: What, 89? Eighty-nine?
Mr. Fitzsimmons:.: RO zanings and there=me one '0'..zoning.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mr. Luft: It's been several years...
Commissioner Gort: That's way back, '89, yeah.
Mr. Luft: ... since that this has been the case.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah.
Mayor Carollo: Eighty-nine you're saying, or?
Mr. Luft: Pardon?
Mayor Carollo: Eighty-nine or '90?
Mr. Luft: Eighty-nine, I think it was.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, but wasn't that also affected by the SP district? Because I
remember...
Mr. Luft: It, when we put S...
Commissioner Plummer: ... when we redid the corridor of 27th Avenue, that....
Mr. Luft: Yes, we have since put SP overlays...
112
February 20, 1997
N
t
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, yeah.
Mr. Luft ... that have conditioned them that is not, those conditions were not applied here. It
wasn't...
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, '89-'90 it was changed.
Mr. Luft: Yeah. So, we have a property rights issue .here. I mean, this particular owner has
pulled that but I think what, what...
Mayor Carollo: Well I understand that and it's" been Quite a while to that it has been changed
and when it was changed ...
r
Mr. Fitzsimmons: Well, I...
Mayor Carollo: ... somebody made, whoever owned thattproperty, a lot of money overnight.
Mr. Fitzsimmons: It was held, it was already owned, a bank.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Luft: But...
Mr. Fitzsimmons: Nobody realized it. And just in parting, I really appreciate you taking the
time to think about this. But also, the other two lots may come up as an issue, so this is a
preliminary discussion.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, I think the motion that we ask is to ask the City Attorney to look
into it...
Mayor Carollo: Well...
Commissioner Gort: And to study,it.
Commissioner Plummer: ... not any further than to say, is there any options that this
Commission has to have some kind of control...
Mayor Carollo: You could make...
Commissioner Plummer: ... and report back to us at the next meeting?
Mayor Carollo: You could make that Commissioner, I'll vote for it.
Commissioner Plummer: Sure.
Mayor Carollo: Unfortunately, I...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, I don't even...
Mayor Carollo: ... feel for the neighbors because I certainly won't want to live in that condition
In fact, it's going to be hard just for me to come by and give my kids a hamburger now...
Mr. Fitzsimmons: Yeah, I thought... I mean, the building...
113
February 20, 1997
AL.
Mayor Carollo: .. once that goes up because I... the traffic that it's going to bring there, I know
it's going to be a lot more.
Mr. Luft: I have suggested to Mr. Fitzsimmons that we would undertake to look at that
immediate area, the zoning, any other similar circumstances that might apply to properties and
consider the SD overlay that could come in and correct some of the height questions.
Mayor Carollo: Jack, can you work with the Law Department on this, because it's not only a
legal question but they need some guidance from you...
Mr. Luft: Sure.
Mayor Carollo: ... in some of the matters that aren't legal.
Mr. Luft: Right.
Mr. Fitzsimmons: Thank you, Mr. Mayer.
Mayor Carollo: OK, there is a motion by Commissioner Plummer, there is a second by
Commissioner Gort. All in favor, signify bysaying "aye,"
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: Aye. No nays.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who -moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 97-91
A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO STUDY THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION ON S.W. 28 STREET BETWEEN S.W. 26 AVENUE,
JEFFERSON STREET AND S.W. 27TH AVENUE AND COME BACK AT THE
NEXT MEETING WITH A RECOMMENDATION AS TO HOW THE COMMISSION
COULD HAVE SOME CONTROL IN CONNECTION WITH SAME.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gort, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J L Plummer Jr
NAYS:
ABSENT:
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Jae Carollo
None.
None.
114 February 20, 1997
------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. DISCUSS PROPOSED PLANS FOR VIRRICK GYM RENOVATIONS --
PROPOSED PURCHASE OF NAVY PROPERTY ON BAYSHORE DRIVE --
EVICTION OF TL'-NATS AT DINNER KEY BOAT YARD -- DEFER
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: JOHN A. BRENNAN TO REQUEST
REPLACEMENT OF ROOF ON VIRRICK GYM.
Mayor. Carollo: Mr. Brennan, item number seven. John Brennan.
Vice Mayor Regalado: He's not here right now.
Mr. Jack Luft (Director, Community Planning and Revitalization Dept.): OK. I...
Commissioner Plummer: He was here earlier.
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): He asked that this item be deterred to the next meeting.
Mayor Carollo: OK, next meeting.
Mr. Luft: So the Commission, Mr. Brennan's concern was Virrick Gym. By next week the bids
will be on the streets. They will be advertised tomorrow and construction packages will be
issued on Monday.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, I have a problem, Jack...
Mr. Luft: Yes.
Mayor Carollo: ... on the Virrick Gym.
Mr. Luft: OK.
Mayor Carollo: We have a problem there with holes in the roof, beyond the holes in the roof.
We have the problems of asbestos,,we.have there. Is this what we're taking care of?
Mr. Luft: That's right.
Mayor Carollo: Only the asbestos removal:
Mr. Luft: No, we're fixing the roof, we're doing the curtain, we're doing the steel, we're doing
all the curtain walls...
Mayor Carollo: OK, now my...
Mr. Luft: .. and the roof and cleaning it out.
Mayor Carollo: What I want to make sure is, that we're not throwing good money out the door
in doing all this without finally seeing what we're going to do with that property and you know,
whatever is done to the facade in the front has got the emblem of the U.S. Coast Guard that's
going to be kept.
1
Mr. Luft: Yes.
Mayor Carollo: But as tar as the rest of it, you know, I don't know how much of it could be
saved, how much of it cannot be saved and I don't want to be spending money on a roof and all
j kinds of other things that is going to be torn down...
Mr. Luft: Right.
Mayor Carollo: .. or a lot of it is going to be replaced.
Mr. Luft: OK. We're only doing the shell structure of the hangar which is a historic structure, in
which the Department of Interior has said they expect us to restore that. We've got a four
hundred thousand dollar ($400,000) grant from the State of Florida and we're only doing that
historic portion. The rest of it remains to he resolved.
Mayor Carollo: Jack, look you know, it's almost a joke, calling that a historic structure. What
you've got is a, you know, alumni...
Commissioner Hernandez: Alumni.
Mayor Carollo: .. alumni up there that's falling apart. It looks horrendous. The only thing that's
historic there is the facade of the Coast Guard. Everything else you know, we probably couldn't
get a couple of hundred bucks in a junk yard for, and that's my concern.
Mr. Luft: Right.
Mayor Carollo: I mean, I have spoken to the people.even from Shake A Leg.
Mr. Luft: Yes.
Mayor Carollo: .. that if this Commission decides to do something with them, they prefer just to !
anew start there and leave the facade'to the Coast Guard. Now...
Mr. Luft: I don't think that's practical knowing what the federal government is expecting from
US.
Mayor Carollo: Well, see that's the...
Mr. Luft: It is a national register historic district structure.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, well I don't think the federal government wants you to keep a junk yard
as a national register.
Mr. Luft: No, sir.
Mayor Carollo: And that's basically what we have there. And it's going to take more money to
fix something up that's still going to look like an eye sore that is going to take a lot more
maintenance than if we would redo it all the right way. I'm the first one that will stand up to
preserve historic areas but all that junk that you call a roof in size, you know, what's there
historic about that? And if you want to get a piece of it and we'll put it, and you know, get
someone to make an art piece out of it, and we'll put it in the front, like what's standing in some
other parts. But, I really would like to hear from the people that have the final word on what
you're telling me because I can't believe that, not in this site.
116 February 20, 1997
W
Commissioner Plummer: What, I missed it. This is on Virrick Gym?
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, this is on...
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, well my question, and I haven't heard yours. My question is,
you're going to do just the root?
Mr. Luft: No, we're going to do the steel, the curtain walls and new roof on the hangar portion.
Commissioner Plummer: And what are we going to use it for? You know, I mean we're... This
City is over-facilitized and we're subsidizing every one of them...
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: OK?
Mr. Luft: Right. The proposal...
Commissioner Plummer: And I don't understand...
Mayor Carollo: Well what we're going to use it,for?
Commissioner Plummer: .. why are we going to build another facility, I don't know what we're
going to use it tor?
Mayor Carollo: Well, then we're going to have someone, that is going to come before us in the
next month or two and we're gain& to give it t.o.'tliem for one dollar ($1) a year, because we're
good guys.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, you know, that might be a bargain. And I don't know who that
group is, and why they're offering or what. But, let's also remember there is a great deed
restriction on that property.
Mayor Carollo: Well, Commissioner not, anywhere near as great as some people would like us
to believe.
Commissioner Plummer: I understand that. Now, the point I'm trying to make is, if all you're
going to do is a roof and steel structural, you know, it's unfortunate that that thing didn't go
down during Andrew. Because, how much money have you got to redo it?
Mayor Carollo: Well, if I would been the City Manager at the time...
Commissioner Plummer: No, wait a minute. Let me... I'm trying to make a point.
Mayor Carollo: ... it would have gone down.
Commissioner Plummer: How much money have you got to redo the roof and the structure?
Mr. Luft: One million one hundred thousand... one hundred and fifty thousand ($1,150,000).
Commissioner Plummer: How much have you got to redo and modernize it and bring it up to
use?
Mr. Luft: In the bond issue that was passed on November, one point eight million dollars
($1,800,000).
117 February 20, 1997
0
Commissioner Plummer: Haw much?
Mayor Carollo: One point eight.
Mr. Luft: One point eight million ($1,800,000).
Mayor Carollo: So, you've gat a total of two point nine.
Mr. Luft: In addition, there was an extra two million dollars ($2,000,000) in the bond issue for
the Virrick that was added as a part of the request from the Shake -a -Leg Organization. So, it's
subject to the approval by the trust bond review board. We have a potential of three point eight
million dollars ($3,800,000) in addition that we can put on that property to build what this
Commission approved in the Dinner Key Charrette Study that you adopted, was a community
water sport center for sailing, conoeing, kayaking, rowing, fishing, community water sports. A
regional center.
Commissioner Plummer: You know, my, my...
Mr. Luft: That's what the bond issue is for.
Mayor Carollo: Is the hotel public purpose?
Mr. Luft: Not on that site. We cannot have a commercial use on that site.
Commissioner Plummer: No, there... I think if you ,read the deed restriction, it must be for
recreational use.
Mr. Luft: That's correct.
Commissioner Plummer: That was my understanding. Because I was here when Julie
Eisenhouser came down and gave it to us...
i
Mr. Luft: Right.
Commissioner Plummer: .. OK?
Mayor Carollo: Which Eisenhouser?
Mr. Luft: It was actually Tricia Nixon.
Commissioner Plummer: Julie.
Mayor Carollo: Oh, OK.
Commissioner Plummer: Dwight's daughter.
Mr. Luft: No, it was Nixon. It was Nixon's daughter.
Mayor Carollo: All right. I just want to be sure.
Commissioner Plummer: I mean, you weren't alive when she was here. Don't worry about it. I !
just really, you know, I don't understand why we're spending all of that kind of money to a
facility which is not serving its purpose. And we have Dinner Key Auditorium, we don't even
118 February 20, 1997
have a sign out front to tell people what's going on there so they don't use the damn thing.
We've got the Artime Center, we're talking about selling.
Mr. Luft: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: Everything except the arena requires subsidy and here we are now
going to require subsidy for one more facility.
Mr. Luft: I don't...
Commissioner Plummer: We've got reoccurring expenses, not reoccurring revenues. And we're
increasing the reoccurring expenses and I don't understand this kind of way of doing things.
Mr. Luft: What we ought to bring you Commissioner, is a plan modeled after Mission Bay, the
San Diego Regional Water Sports Center which is a stand alone, self-supporting facility.
Commissioner Plummer: Does it bring in revenue?
Mr. Luft: Yes, sir it does. What they do is, they tie the water sports to university and junior
college programs regionally. This particular program which has been currently constructed by
Shake A Leg has signature now, letters of agreement from all the major universities and colleges
in South Florida who would bring for credit programs. They would pay to put these programs in
the area, it would he a training center for sailing, canoeing, water sports of all types.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, it would pay Shake A Leg, not the City of Miami.
Mr. Luft: They would pay for the right to use the property. The monies...
Mayor Carollo: It would pay to Shake A Leg, not the City of Miami.
Mr. Luft: Shake -A -Leg would only manage the property. The monies would go back into the
programs and we would build into that our own Parks Department recreational programs for the
community for own City residents. The federal government's condition was that no money can
leave that site.
Mayor Carollo: That's not true, Jack.
Mr. Luft: Whatever...
Mayor Carollo: That is not so.
Mr. Luft: That is from...
Mayor Carollo: When the federal government states that, and I've talked to a lot of people...
t
Mr. Luft: OK.
f
Mayor Carollo: .. is that it's got to he spent in parks.
Mr. Luft: It's got to be...
Mayor Carollo: Not necessarily in that site. This is what people would like for us to believe.
Mr. Luft: All right.
119 February 20, 1997
1131
Mayor Carollo: As long as it's put back into our parks —
Mr. Luft: I will get a letter.
Mayor Carollo: ., we could use that money.
Mr. Luft: If that's the case, then that's fine. I've been told personally by Bill Huey that the
money must remain in the programs for that facility.
Mayor Carollo: See, the problem is that everybody wants to take our properties. And, you
know, I'm tired of seeing this. I want to help as many programs as we can ...
j Mr. Luft: Sure.
j Mayor Carollo: .. but we're being boked:in and,.now, people are telling us what the deed says,
what the federal government says, `and .I'd like to see it in writing.
Mr. Luft: Yes, sir.
Mayor Carollo: Everything that we're being tol& is not there.
Mr. Luft: OK.
Mayor Carollo: It's not there.
Mr. Luft:. I will get that for you.,
Mayor Carollo: And you know, if we, have one point one million dollars ($1,100,000) and no
matter what we finally do with this or who is going to end up with it.
Commissioner Plummer: One point one was Artime, right?
Mayor Carollo: I want to make sure that it's going to go in repairing something that's going to
be there after we repair it and someone is not going to come and spend more money in tearing it
down, doing something different with it.
Mr. Luft: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: What happening across the street with the property over there that we
were trying so hard to acquire? Is there anything, I mean, all I see over there is a security guard
around the clock.
Mayor Carollo: Well, I...
Commissioner Plummer: I don't know what he's protecting, but...
Mayor Carollo: After our past administration missed a deadline and blew it for us.
Commissioner Plummer: But what, I mean what's happening?
Mayor Carollo: What's happening? The people that have the first rights to it, as I understand,
want an exorbitant amount so that we could have it now, when we could have had it if our
administration would have taken the right steps to have taken it.
120 February 20, 1997
�1.
W,
Commissioner Gort: Which property is this?
Commissioner Plummer: The Coast Guard.
Commissioner Hernandez: The Navy.
Mayor Carollo: The Coast Guard, the Navy.
Commissioner Hernandez: The Navy.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, so...
4
Mr. Luft: Commissioner, we have been in conference in the last few weeks with the Department
of the Navy. We have constructed a decision tree for the Manager. We provided that to him just
a few days ago. And, with his direction we will seek the counsel of this Commission and move
forward in negotiations to resolve the future of that property.
Mayor Carollo: I don't know what the will of the Commission is, but I'm not ready to spend one
point one million in redoing all this here, until I know exactly that we have a plan, a full plan,
not just part of a plan of what we're going to he doing with this particular property.
Mr. Luft: Commissioner, we would have to bring back to you in April the construction award.
j Nothing is going to happen until you decide to award the contract. What we can bring you is the
architectural drawings and the bids, the cost and the full set of plans, and attempt to come back
with the management agreement that assures you and the rest of the Commission that we can
build a facility and operate it without cast to the City.
Mayor Carollo: OK, you are saying a management agreement to whom?
i
Mr. Luft: To whoever you decide you want to give it to.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Mr. Luft: But, what I am going to try to show you is a typical management agreement that
acility and providing a service to the community.
would provide a foundation for operating the f
Mayor Carollo: Now, what do you estimate that we should be able to get, since you mentioned
that some of the plans that you have there will bring the City revenue? What do you think will
be some fair market value amounts that we can receive?
Mr. Luft: All the revenues that we're projecting now would meet the actual maintenance
operating cost for the site, the structure and the programs that would be conducted on the site.
There would not be a so called "profit margin" above that. It's a nonprofit facility with the
programs provided to meet the revenues available.
Mayor Carollo: OK, well that's exactly what I'm trying to find out Jack. Let's lay it on the
table. That's not going to bring any money to the City, OK.
Mr. Luft: If you're correct and the money could go to other parks programs, then in that sense it
could, yes.
Mayor Carollo: I am absolutely correct.
F
i 121 February 20, 1997
1
Mr. Luft: OK.
Mayor Carollo: And you know we better get some legal advise quickly on this before we lose
another piece of property. Being told something when that something is not anywhere in a deed
or contract.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, may I inquire real quick like right down the street? Did I
read in the paper that the people at the Merryll Stevens are not, are telling the City they're not
going to move? Did I read that in the paper, Mr. Manager?
Mr. Marquez (City Manager): I'm not sure, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Luft?
Mr. Luft: No, and I would have to defer to Christina Abrams.
Commissioner Plummer: Did I also hear they're filing a lawsuit against the City to stop the City
from making them move out? You knew, because I want to make sure that we understand each
other. That all those boats were to be out by the 31st of January. Are they out?
Mr. Luft: No, this Commission gave them till April 1st.
Commissioner Plummer: No, no, no, no. We gave to April 1st, but all of those structures had to
be out by the 31st, correct?
Ms. Christina Abrams (Director, Public Facilities):. The Commission said February. 13th. That's
the way we understood it, or 15th.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, OK. Excuse me. Are they out?
Ms. Abrams: And, the tenants leave April 1st. The Law Department is in the process of evicting
those tenants that refuse to sign the affidavit agreeing to leave by April 1st and also those who
refuse to pay outright. That is their priority. From then, they are going to work down to those
who have paid...
Commissioner Plummer: Woa, woa, woa, woa, woa! You know, this is why we're screwed up,
OK. They have a revokable 30 day notice and those that refuse to sign I fully expect you to
execute the 30 day notice. Let's don't beat around the bush about legal signing this and doing
this.
Ms. Abrams: The Law Department has to evict them.
Commissioner Plummer: Why you got to go through a process, when they agree.
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney): You can't go through a summary procedure
Commissioner. We explained that to you the last Commission meeting. You've got to go
through a process, it's not a...
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, you know what the process is, you put a damn lock on the door
and throw them out.
Mr. Jones: Yeah, well we, you know, we'll be paying hundreds of thousands of dollars again,
you know, so I'm telling you what the process is again. It's no self-help remedy, there is a
some... I mean, there is an eviction procedure that we have to follow.
122 February 20, 1997
Va
Commissioner Plummer: So, what you're saying to me is, that when we sit up here and we make
what we think is a 30 day revokable permit, it's not that.
Mr. Jones: Commissioner, when this issue came up before, we explained to you what the
process involved was in evicting and why we need it at the time, that's why you formed the
parameters as you did February 13th and April, whatever else. That's the exact reason you
formed those parameters.
Commissioner Plummer: OK. So you are telling me, is that the people who refuse to sign the
affidavit have been put on notice.
Mr. Jones: Commissioner, I can't tell you the exact status if you had asked me prior to today I
could tell you. I can tell you a full report tomorrow...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, I'll ask her, she should know.
Mr. Jones: .. or whatever, I don't know
Commissioner Plummer: Have they, been put on notice?
Ms. Abrams: Oh, yeah. No, everybody,:was put on notice.
Commissioner Plummer: And then how long after they are put on notice?
Ms. Abrams: The Law Department=is in the process of going tocourt to file an eviction.
Commissioner Plummer: Absolutely incredible.
Commissioner Hernandez: We have no other choice, J.L.
Commissioner Plummer: Where we're trying to be nice guys have been kicked in the teeth. We
allowed them in there fora little or no money, OK. And I think it ought to be a damn fine lesson
to us in the future. Because let me tell you, I don't know that I'll ever vote to give another 30
day revokable lease, if that's not what it means. And that's what I am listening to. That is
absolutely incredible. Well, can we not in the future say that you've got 30 days and you have to
put up 'X' number of dollars in a bond, if you don't vacate in 30 days, we estreet the bond?
Commissioner Gort: You can put that.
Commissioner Hernandez: You can do that.
Commissioner Plummer: Ali!
Commissioner Gort: You have to do it in the beginning J.L.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Commissioner Gort: You have to put it in the document before you sign it.
Commissioner Plummer: We got you.
Mr. Jones: This is the same thing that I've been saying over the years about these revokable
permits and how at certain points they take on the characteristics of a lease, whatever else. And
then you invoke certain rules that have to be followed.
123 February 20, 1997
N
Mayor Carollo: Well, whose idea was it to bring up the 30 days revokable permit?
Commissioner Plummer: Whose fault was it?
Mayor Carollo: No, whose idea? Whose idea was that?.
Commissioner Plummer: I don't know, it wasn't mine. No, sir.
Mayor Carollo: Short memory.
Commissioner Plummer: No, what I did in fact do was put it over to April the 1st because we
didn't have anything where they were going to move in immediately.
Mayor Carollo: At least you've got the right date in that one.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah.
Mayor Carollo: Let's move on.if we:can. What is the will of the Commission of seven, or
rather, yes, seven -- the replacemerit of the roof. Mr. Brennan wants to defer the item to the next
meeting.
Commissioner Plummer: Fine, so moved.
Mayor Carollo: I don't we're ready to vote on this and we need to get more information. By the
way, Jack, the full one point one do we have it in hand? Is it put away?
Mr. Luft: Yes, Yes. It's insurance money and state grants.
Mayor Carollo: OK. That insurance money is not part of the sixty-six million or so that we had
gotten from Andrew, right?
Mr. Luft: Not part of the deficit, no.
Mayor Carollo: No, I'm not talking about the deficit.
Mr. Luft: No, from... No, this is not... Well, this is our own insurance. It's our...
Mayor Carollo: But you are right, if Andrew hadn't come there would have been a major deficit
that would have exploded then.
Mr. Luft: OK, this is not part FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) money, though.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, OK.
Mr. Luft: This is our own insurance money.
Mayor Carollo: All right, just insurance money.
Commissioner Hernandez: Move it.
Mayor Carollo: When you can Jack, you and Christina can you also give me how much we got
in insurance monies too, and for different facilities so I could see the actual amount that the City
got then and get a better picture of, you know, how things were?
124 February 20, 1997
Mr. Luft: On City insurance policies or FEMA, or both?
Mayor Carollo: FEMA is one thing. I think, FEMA we know how much it was, close to seventy
million.
Mr. Luft: OK.
Mayor Carollo: I'm talking about all the other insurance monies.
Mr. Luft: OK.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Commissioner Hernandez: Move to defer.
Mayor Carollo: OK, on seven there is a motion by Commissioner Hernandez, second by
Commissioner Regalado to defer it. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: No nays.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 97-92
A MOTION TO DEFER TO THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEM 7 (PERSONAL APPEARANCE BY JOHN
BRENNAN TO REQUEST THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ROOF ON VIRRICK
GYM).
Upon being seconded by Vice Mayor Regalado , the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: CommissionerJ. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
125
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15. PERSONAL APPEARANCE: JORGE A. CALIL, FROM MARCUS &
MILLIC14AP (REAL ESTATE BROKEN FIRM), -- TO PRESENT PROPOSAL
TO ASSIST CITY IN SALE OF PROPERTIES -- DISCUSS 1 REFER ITEM TO
CITY MANAGER FOR FURTHER REVIEW.
Mayor Carollo: Seven A. Mr. Jorge Calil.
Mr. Jorge Callil: It is 6:20 and we're on the seventh agenda so my true feelings of condolences
to the Commission, Honorable Mayor, Vice Mayor, Commission and City of Miami. My name
is Jorge Calil, I preside at 13931 Leaning Pine Drive in Miami Lakes. And I truly want to
commend you. I won the community council in Miami Lakes in my area and I truly know the
kind of work that you're doing for your constituents and it's truly admirable. I represent Marcus
and Millichap. Basically ,I grew up in Little Havana. My main objective here is to try to
provide a solution to the... providing the City of Miami the opportunity to not leave too much
money on the table when they divest from their properties. Marcus and Millichap is the largest
investor of real estate brokerage firm in the country. We specialize in investment real estate
sales exclusively. And what I want to commend is the staff and everyone else who has tried to
provide a solution to how to follow the Charter's recommendations as to how to sell the
commercial properties. I truly believe that the Commissioners and staff sat and thought about
this and tried to resolve an issue to the best interest of the City of Miami. Now, we're pretty
much all in agreement that using a professional commercial investment broker would be the best
to the best interest to provide the City an opportunity to get price and terms for the properties
that are potentially in the market. What some might ask, why not provide, you know, a bidding
process to get a real estate broker involved? I would love to he able to convince the
Commissioners here that Marcus and Millichap is the firm that you need to give this contract to,
as a professional service agreement. Because, we are truly the company that would best
represent the City of Miami in all aspects of divesting your properties and getting flight capital
from other parts of this area and driving the prices up on your properties. Commissioner
Plummer, you were talking about the process and how it's boggled down some of the issues. A
hybrid situation, as I've spoken to staff, we feel that we would be able to provide the Charter's
recommendations to the... in detail. And at the same time, increase the exposure of those
properties on a nationwide level through our network. And not shopping the property because
that is negative. But, dealing with investors around the country that have provided, you know,
have done business with us, that we can bring this property which, let's say for instance, the
Miami Springs Golf Course, a property that an advertisement and sealed bids would not bring a
top price. A property that needs more than just advertising. What it needs is a plan of attack, a
marketing package and literally shoving it down several people's throats. Telling them hey,
there is a reason for this property, there is a value to this property and there is a deal in this
property. An ad and receiving bids is not the typical way an investment property can attain the
best price. That's where our speciality comes in. Like I said, I grew up in Little Havana. I have
been 20 years in Miami. I truly have an interest for the City of Miami to get out of their
situation. I believe that the City of Miami is doing the right thing, and I cornmend the
Commissioners for, you know, and the Mayor being in this situation and doing everything that
you can to try and provide the best solution for this. So, I'm here to... For the last week, I have
been trying to figure out. When I found out about the properties that were available, being it that
I am an investment real estate broker, I decided I need to bring this to their attention. An
investment broker will bring top dollar for a reason. Not, market or advertising and waiting for
bids will not provide you the best price. And, that is where our speciality comes in and I really
commend everyone here for listening to me.
126 February 20, 1997 4
Mayor Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Calil. The Manager's recommendation is the selection of
broker should be deferred. This is one that I have to agree with. We need to listen to additional
people and I think there has been a lot of people that have contacted the administration, each and
every one of us. And it is a process that if we're to follow, has to he more of an open process
where we give other people the opportunity to participate. We are very appreciative of your
time, however. But, that's... I will follow the recommendations of the administration on this
one. Any...?
Commissioner Hernandez: Mr.. Mayor, my biggest concern. I met with this firm and I met with
the City Attorney's office in reference to how we can go about obtaining the services of a real
estate brokerage firm or an investment firm. My biggest concern is, when are we going to start
moving these properties? I agree with you, we obviously have to go through procurement
procedures. We have to open up the process to... so we can interview as many...
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Hernandez: .. brokerage firms as we can so we can get the best deal for the City
of Miami.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, you're right. But the truth of the matter is that we're not really trying to
sell that many properties. It's only a handful of properties that we're trying to sell. The hulk of
them or the biggest ones, there are other governmental entities that have shown direct interest
where we might he able to make some quick sales at market value. But if that's not the case,
then I think we need to revisit it, get some guidance. And I agree with you then, for us to put
this out in a fashion that no one can question our actions, listen to other people that can make
presentations and go from there. He's certainly has made a fine presentation.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Mayor, let me ask you a question. This is a suggestion. My
understanding is, to sell any of our property we have to have three appraisals conducted.
Commissioner Plummer: Three or two?
Mayor Carollo: Two.
Commissioner Gort: Or two appraisals to find the value of the land. Can we do an RFP
(Request For Proposals) that once we have the appraisals and we know the value of the land,
whoever this investment banker, the broker that can bring the highest bid should be awarded it.
Commissioner Hernandez: Sure.
Mayor Carollo: Sure.
Commissioner Gort: Something like that.
Mr. Calil: Can I interject one second? I don't know if I am out of line. The purpose of creating
value is having, is not having several brokers chasing buyers. Because in essence, you'll end up
paying...
Commissioner Gort: You see, the problem that you have to understand...
Mr. Calil: Can I just finish one second, sir?
Commissioner Gort: .. and I think I explained this to you. There is a difference between the
private sector and public sector.
127 February 20, 1997
Mr. Calil: And I'd to commend you on that because I know it's hard to get through sometimes,
the process what Commissioner Plummer had referenced to. What we're trying to do is get the
hest price and terms for the City of Miami on those, on that property. And let's focus on the
Miami Springs Golf Course. You see, where value comes is having, since you're paying a
brokerage fee, then, it you have several brokers bringing buyers to your table, in essence they're
not working for you. They're working for the buyer because they're chasing those buyers and
not really representing the City of Miami. So, the value comes where you have a national firm
that specializes in investment brokerage, to represent the City of Miami in its hest interest to
finding the top dollar for the properties that you're trying to sell. When you talk about bidding
or say, finding a broker that provides best value for you, our industry is incentive. We work on
commissions and our brokerage firm which our firm happens to have 450 brokers nationwide.
By bringing say, a fee, and the Charter says five percent, bringing down that fee doesn't provide
you more value in a, say, an agreement. Because what you need is incentives to get people that
are not government, because, and they don't, they're not guidelined. These people are, we're the
private sector. I'm bringing in the private sector and saying "What's the. way to." I bring to you
an opportunity to use a national firm that will represent, and in my position I am going to look
for the best interest of the City of Miami. My question to you is, because I've worked this week
trying to find the answer, that is, you know, I bring it to you now. What is the hest way for you
to have me work for you and develop and establishment with the City of Miami, so that we can
bring you the top dollar? That's where Marcus and Millichap comes in and what I bring to the
table. And not forgetting that incentive is what drives the private sector. And the private sector,
it will find the top dollar for you...
Mayor Carollo: We understand what you're saying on that.
Mr. Calil: .. and bidding, bidding -the commission or say, bidding the fees down doesn't provide
you the best value.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, we understand what you're saying. I don't want to be impolite but we've
got a long meeting and we've got to move on. Mr. Manager.
Mr. Calil: Aboslutely.
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): There is some truth in what Mr. Calil says and some
merit. Truth is the wrong word. There is merit in what he says. I've asked Jack for our
purposes to outline those properties that we are interested in selling. The time line for each one
of those properties as to what steps need to be taken in order to dispose of them. When Jack and
his section prepares that, I will plan on meeting with each one of the Commissioners to talk
about you know, our options as f r as how we should go forward. Some of the properties should
go directly to governmental hands. Others, other properties could be put into broker type of
arrangement that Mr. Calil is talking about. But in that case, I would ask that we somehow or
another introduce some sort of competition, so that we know we're getting the best type of deal.
But, some more study is necessary.
Mayor Carollo: I don't think we need to make a motion then. We'll just instruct the Manager to
look further into it and then get hack to us on it. Thank you very much, we appreciate it.
Mr. Calil: Thank you.
128 February 20, 1997
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lb. PERSONAL APPEARANCE: MANUEL GONZALEZ-GOENAGA --
REGARDING ABOLITION OF CITY OF MIAMI, HIGH SALARIED
EMPLOYEES.
Mayor Carollo: OK, we're at 7-B.
Mr. Manuel Gonzalez-Goenaga: Good afternoon Commissioners, the citizens and the empty
seats. I was, I had a meeting with the Manager as provided originally on the advise of Mr.
Plummer. And I told him...
Mayor Carollo: Plummer again, eh?
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: Well, he is the old man and close to the sea.
Commissioner Plummer: Who did you have meeting with that I recommended?
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: With, because I think before this Commission came into power, you
suggested that before any personal appearance and I might be totally wrong that you have to go
through the, Mr. Odio. But now, it happens to be I have to through Mr. Marquez.
Commissioner Plummer: So,that they could be able to speak to the subject.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: Yes. Well, I am always able to speak without the advise of anybody.
And that you know for better. Anyway, I told him and he told me not to get, to name persons in
particular and I agreed to that. Yet, I did tell him that I was going to write a memo to be given to
all the Commissioners to be given to the City Manager and also to the press. So, I have to
change my procedure now and following and improvising from what I heard here today, we saw
the process, the issue of target areas. Well, my target area is as after seeing and hearing what I
heard today. If I were an employee of the City of Miami with a salary above fifty thousand
dollars ($50,000), I would be totally embarrassed. I, as a man with a heart, I would have
presented my resignation and give part of my salary to the needy people, because there is no
doubt that we are the first poorest City in the United States of America. Imagine the rest ones.
And yet, the one that best pays its employees, and it's understandable. If I were in their position
I would have tried to defend the job, but for different reasons. They are defending it. They, I
don't think and I, in generally speaking that they do love the City of Miami because if they really
do... I, they don't even deserve the salary that they have right now, from what I have seen and I
want to include in the record the article that came in the New Times, by chance yesterday or
today. And I understand from what I heard many years ago from Mr. Plummer, the most
knowledgeable Commissioner in this Commission, of course because of his longevity.
Commissioner Plummer: You hear that, you hear that, Mayor? You hear that? Listen to him.
Mayor Carollo: Yes, I am also hearing from Mr. Goenaga.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: (COMMENTS IN SPANISH) Longevity. (C)MMENTS IN
SPANISH) It's too late for me. Anyway, let me tell you, I have said it here before. Mr. Cruz,
we have been the cheapest advisers and the cheapest consultants for this City for years. It came
out in the Miami Herald in the article the first time they recognized our unpaid assistance and
consultations. And can you imagine now, I wonder how many consultants and how much money
129 February 20, 1997
we've spent in consultants that I have never seen here? And that's plenty of them. Well I, we
made a big mistake Mister... you for playing. I mean for working at the Post Office and I for
allegedly being retired. 1 am unemployed for the information of the Miami Herald. And let me
tell you, I remember when I performed, and it's better to remember the old things and I don't
know if I'm getting arterial sclerosis. When I performed in Cesar, I remembered that the eulogy
of Mark Anthony when there was a time that proper and material in this issue. That
when the poor have cried, Cesar has wept. Well, but I... the Roman Cesar not this one because
this one has gone to other things. I don't cry for any of the staff of the City of Miami, especially
with the high salaries that they have. Let's clean up the barn. Think slowly but quickly, we
don't have too much time and there is no money. And, for these federal funds on the federal
funds, I do not blame any one of you. I blame Newt Gingrich and the Republican congressman.
So, let's face it, I am a man who speak the truth whether they like it or not. And, we have to
realize after being here such a long time and I understand your position, that we do not resolve
anything by talking. These problems are resolved by action. And, when there, it says here that
no action required. I am going to tell you what action has to be required. I just advanc it. When
I part, and this is history because I think, except for Mr. Plummer, I am older than all of you
together, probably. When I was a, and I did explain to him, I was part of a takeover of a life
insurance company in Puerto Rico, Security National Life Insurance Company. You can verify
it in Puerto Rico. I was invited to he a member of the hoard, the first thing that was done,
everybody resigned from the president down. And then, salaries were cut and then rehired the
good ones and let the other ones get some work some place else. And I suggest that when, I will
give preference to people who live in the City of Miami. We have qualified people here, and
let's do something concrete and I have a lot of things about, to solve the five year. I don't know
if I have to be present before this Commission to explain my position or the before the other
Oversight Board and then I wonder, and then on top of that I think it's the governor. Anyway,
take me seriously. Miami can be saved. I know that some people want to bury it without, and
charging a lot of it. And, especially the undertakers.
Commissioner Plummer: Hey, hey.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: And... No, but it's... Miami is buried, your firm is outside of the City
of Miami.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, all right.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: It's in Westchester. You were smart enough. And, I think that we
should clean the barn. Let's start really working and let me tell you, I am ready to work. I am
ready to even pick up trash, but let's get away with human trash in the City of Miami. Thank
you, very much.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: And I will be very detailed with name and positions and salaries and
everything. But, in a general way I hope I made myself understood. Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you Mr. Goenaga, for being such a gentleman on your presentation. I am
very impressed of how the City Manager was able to convince you of giving such an articulate
presentation today. But, maybe you could also give some consultation to the City Manager in
the last part that you mentioned and how... What was the name of the insurance company that
got everybody to resign...
Mr. Gonzales-Goenaga: Security.
Mayor Carollo: .. and then hired back the good ones?
130 February 20, 1997
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f Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: Security National Life Insurance Company of Puerto Rico.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, well. All right, thank you.
r
IMr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: OK. Located... it. No, in case you want to double verify.
i
Commissioner Plummer: Joe, let me ask you a question?
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: Earlier this afternoon everybody kept talking about the meeting of
i March, as March the 13th.
Mayor Carollo: I don't know.
Commissioner Plummer: Did we change, I don't remember changing that meeting?
Mayor Carollo: I don't know either but we' 11, at the end 'of the day` let's.choose the best dates for
everybody's schedule on the March meetings.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. Mayor, now with...
Mayor Carollo: I don't remember either. What do we up there?
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Clerk; would you look and see if there was a reason given why?
Commissioner Gort: Twentieth and 27th'.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, twentieth and 27th is what I see up there. t
Commissioner Gort: Changed from 13th to 20th. f
Mayor Carollo: That will be fine for me.
Commissioner Plummer: I don't remember why we did it, though.
Mayor Carollo: Well, I don't remember either.
Commissioner Plummer: But people this afternoon were referring to the next meeting, March
the 13th...
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: .. and I'm looking up there and it's not.
Mayor Carollo: Well...
i
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mayor Carollo: All right. !.
131 February 20, 1997
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Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. Mayor, now that we are in...
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, we're done with the...
Vice Mayor Regalado: Personal appearances.
Mayor Carollo: .. personal appearances.
17. APPROVE REMOVAL OF BARRICADES FROM CERTAIN STREETS IN
MODEL CITY AREA AS REQUESTED BY METRO COMMISSIONER
BARBARA CAREY.
Vice Mayor Regalado: There is an item here 39-A, as I reported to you. I met with the Dade
County Commissioner Barbara Carey and, because she was concerned about the crime in GERM
City. She asked to speak to the Commission today. Well, in the morning she was available but
now she's holding a press conference. But, her Chief of Staff, is here. And the reason that she
wanted to speak to the Commission is that she wants the barricades on part of Model City taken
down. And I was wandering if we have a minute to listen to Dr. Carey's message.
Mayor Carollo: Sure, we'll take it out of item for a brief presentation by her.
.. Mr. Oscar Braynon: Thank you, Vice Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: By him.
Mr. Braynon: My name is Oscar Braynon, in the office of Commissioner Dr. Barbara Carey,
Metro Dade County Commissioner, District III, of which she represents a major portion of the
northern sector of the City of Miami. Commissioner Carey regrettably is unable to attend at this
hour. However, she did insist that I speak with you regarding this issue briefly. Commissioner
Carey is in the midst of developing a comprehensive and holistic approach to improving the lives
of law abiding citizens in the GERM City area as well as the landowners, while offering real
options to those who currently are not law abiding citizens. Commissioner Carey wishes for this
Commission to assist tier in the first step of this plan by removing the current barriers that are in
place that were approved by this Commission on July 11, 1996. These barriers currently were
sporadically placed. Some have already been removed basically on 17th Avenue to the west,
12th Avenue to the east, 58th Street to the south, and 61st Street to the north. The initial intent
of these barriers were to create a deterrence to the retail drug business by restricting access to the
respective sellers of the drugs. The drug business, however, still continues. What the
Commissioner is proposing is to bring; in a mobile trailer into that area that will he manned by
various agencies, including the State Family and Children, I think is the name of the current
agency, the Department of Labor, the State Department of Health as well as a couple other
nonprofit agencies who will be available for job training programs and this office can also be
utilized or will be utilized by the City of Miami's Police Department as well as NET
(Neighborhood Enhancement Teams) officials as they see necessary. The purpose is to provide
these services in the area with direct access to the citizens of the GERM City area. In fact, we're
trying to work on another name to refer to that area besides GERM City.
Commissioner Plummer: I was going; to tell you that's the first thing you ought to do.
Mr. Braynon: Plummerville?
132
February 20, 1997
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Commissioner Plummer: No.
Mr. Braynon: The Commissioner in the district office has also received numerous complaints
regarding the barricades. And the problems that some complaints in order are: lack of direct
access by the residents, lack of access by service companies who provide services to these
residents, and then also lack of insurability by property owners in the multifamily units. And
how this occurs is that apparently insurance companies see the barricades as a problem to putting
out a fire in the district or also some of the inspectors do not even go into the district after they
have run into two or three barricades. She has already had to write three or four letters to Bill
Nelson, the... State Insurance Commissioner to ask him to reconsider the, apparently it is a JUA
(Joint Underwriting Association) decision to not insure these areas. In terms of the barricades,
we actually applaud the initial efforts on the barricades by the parties who have worked to keep
the crime down in the area. However, we want to begin to open up the neighborhood and
attempt to solve the problems from within. She seeks your assistance and cooperation, Mr.
Mayor, Mr. Vice Mayor, Commission and City Manager, if he's going to help administrate it.
Mayor Carollo: The bottom line is, she would like to see all the barricades down?
Mr. Braynon: That's correct.
Mayor Carollo: OK, what is the recommendation from the administration and the Police
Department?
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): I've asked the Public Works Director, can the barricades
be removed without any additional cost. And it's just a matter of reallocating his resources so...
we're set to remove the barricades.
Police Deputy Chief Cheetham: All, yes, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: OK, quickly. Can it be done?
Police Deputy Chief Cheetham: We have eight down already, there are four to go. So I would, I
guarantee them by five o'clock Monday afternoon.
Mayor Carollo: OK. Who is here from the Police Department, let's see, is Chief Martinez back
there?
Police Deputy Chief Cheetham: No, he had to leave. The Deputy Chief. The Police
Department, we're basically neutral on that issue as to the wishes of the citizens.
Mayor Carollo: Chief, Chief. OK, 1 apologize. I didn't see you here. I was looking the other
way. Very good. What is the will of the Commission, is there a motion?
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: Taken them dawn.
Vice Mayor Regalado: We researched on that, there was a resolution by the Commission.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, there was by this Commission, we...
Vice Mayor Regalado: Can we just vote?
133
February 20, 1997
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Mayor Carollo: Well, we could do it by resolution to...
Vice Mayor Regalado: No, then I move a motion to take down the barricades and help...
Mayor Carollo: OK, there's a motion by Commissioner Regalado.
Commissioner Plummer: Second.
Mayor Carollo: Second by Commissioner Plummer.
Commissioner Gort: Under discussion.
Mayor Carollo: Discussion.
Commissioner Gort: I guess barricades anywhere but, some people ask for them, they... Now,
my understanding; when we voted on this issue, there was a meeting that took place between the
community, several agencies within the area, the police and they all agreed that one of the best
ways to combat the fire, and there was a comprehensive plan, my understanding that was
presented to us, that's why we took that decision. I don't have any problem voting in favor of
this but I'd like to see Dr. Carey, if possible, incorporate and sit down in two different groups
working on the solution if we can bring all these groups together. Because my understanding is
the reason the decision was made by us, because a comprehensive study was done of the area
after many months of studies and research and work. And I don't want those individuals who
did all this work, and all these people who got involved like the NET (Neighborhood
Enhancement Teams) and the Police, all of a sudden to see all their work go down the drain.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Vice Mayor Regalado: The problem with the barricades now Commissioner, is that people have
moved them so they can go through and then the trash and...
Commissioner Gort: No, no, I understand that. I am going to vote for it. But what I'd like to
have Dr. Carey to continue the work. And one of the biggest problems we've had in this
community in the past is the different groups working, they all... and if we can bring all the
resources together, we can make a hell of a lot of improvement.
Major Christmas: If I may? I am Major Christmas, Commander of the North District Station.
And Commissioner, you're exactly right. We have two opposing groups. One that's in favor of
the barricades and then there's a section that's opposing. Currently, there is a process where the
residents are going to vote whether they want them permanently or not and we're in the process
of doing that. In other words, the citizenry in that area will dictate whether they want them
permanently or not. And I think that you can elaborate a little more on that.
Mr. Jim Kay: The procedure according to code is these were temporary barricades that were put
up 90 days, and after 90 days an evaluation is made and the property owners have an opportunity
to vote whether or not they want to establish permanent barricades in that neighborhood. But,
what I am hearing today is, we've been given instructions just to take down these temporary
barricades completely and we may want to think about rescinding the original resolution in that
regard.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, it doesn't stop as if we take them down today, that the people of
that area still have the right for the evaluation and the right to vote. And if they ask us to put it in
on a permanent basis, doesn't deny us the right to do that either.
134 February 20, 1997
Mr. Kay: Is it the will of the Commission to go ahead with a vote in the neighborhood?
Commissioner Plummer: Absolutely.
Commissioner Gort: Well, maybe what I'd like to do in this vote is to make sure that we have
all the individuals within that one area to work together as a team. And I think it's an excellent
idea that the County and the City work together because we have jurisdiction within that area.
Mr. Braynon: Well, from the Commissioner's office, we are very willing, you know, work with
other agencies in getting this done.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Commissioner Carey, excuse me. Tile reason that I met with her is
because she wanted to meet with the Mayor. The Mayor was in New York and she requested an
emergency meeting, so I went with the Chief of Police and she promised that she will have the
support of County and State employees and we told her that we might have a trailer, one of those
Miami Police trailers that we can set there. She committed her office to have staff there and she
said that she will work out of that area and she said also that she had information from that area
that the people wanted the barricades down.
Mayor Carollo: Well, we've got to move along. We're very appreciative of the concern and
work that Commissioner Carey has done in this and very grateful for her help to the City of
Miami. There is a motion rescinding the previous resolution. There is a second with the
incorporation of these statements that Commissioner Gort made. That does not prevent the
process that you're doing now with having the people decide for what they want. So, having
said that, I'm going to call the question, all in favor signify. by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: No nays. Thank you.
Mr. Braynon: Thank you very much, gentlemen.
135
February 20, 1997
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-93
A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACI-IMENT(S), RESCINDING IN ITS ENTIRETY,
RESOLUTION NO. 96-506, ADOPTED JULY 11, 1996, THEREBY REMOVING THE
RESTRICTION OF VEHICULAR ACCESS TO CERTAIN STREETS IN THE
MODEL CITY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH PLAN "A", AS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART
HEREOF; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO INSTRUCT THE
ADMINISTRATION TO REMOVE ALL BARRICADES ON SUCH STREETS TO
PERMIT VEHICULAR ACCESS.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the resolution was passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS:
ABSENT:
None.
Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
-- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18. EMERGENCY ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH SPECIAL REVENUE FUND:
"OUTREACH TO HOMELESS GUANTANAMO REFUGEES" -- ACCEPT
$16,000 GRANT FROM DADE COUNTY'S HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR
HOMELESS, INC.
Mayor Carollo: We're in item number eight.
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Commissioner Hernandez: Second.
Mayor Carollo: Moved by Commissioner Gort, second by Commissioner Hernandez.
Mr. Mariano Cruz: Yeah.
Mayor Carollo: We really need to move along, Mariano. I mean, seriously.
Mr. Cruz: No, I am going to mention about the homeless because it affects me. See, I have
pictures here to take along to. See, the County is giving, what sixteen thousand dollars
($16,000)? And you know, we contribute a lot to that homeless fund there to the partnership with
136 February 20, 1997
the food and beverage tax. Myself, my family, my children take me along to all the restaurants I
can't afford, or they take me there to all these restaurants that serve alcohol and that and I...
{ Ranchos this, the other one is Rancho Luna. All different places, and I pay the food and
beverage tax. What the City of Miami? You know how much money goes into that fund? How
much we get? Because. here, I could... Look here, picture number one, 13 and 21 the homeless...
Mayor Carollo: We, we know. Believe me, we've seen that and have seen worse than that,
Mariano. This has got nothing...
Mr. Cruz: But this doesn't happen in Coconut Grove. Happens north of Flagler Street.
Mayor Carollo: .. well, let me telling something, this happens Citywide. And that's why we had
a meeting this morning, we started this late. You know, tell Judge Atkins about it, you know, go
see him. That's the guy you've got to see, not us.
I
Mr. Cruz: Who?
Mayor Carollo: Judge Atkins, federal judge.
Mr. Cruz: Well...
j Mayor Carollo: Well, you go to his house and you'll see him. Yeah, you bring him the pictures,
you bring him everything else.
Vice Mayor Regalado: The Bobby Maduro Stadium, you know has been closed already. I mean
it's, it's secured now.
Mayor Carollo: There is a motion, there is a second. All in favor? Well, that's an ordinance,
read the ordinance. Excuse me.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL REVENUE
FUND ENTITLED: "OUTREACH TO HOMELESS GUANTANAMO
REFUGEES", AD APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF SAME
IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,000, CONSISTING OF A GRANT FROM
METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY'S HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HOMELESS, INC.;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT SAID GRANT AWARD
FROM METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY AND TO EXECUTE THE
f NECESSARY DOCUMENT(S), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
I ATTORNEY, FOR T141S PURPOSE; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION
AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
137 February 20, 1997
was introduced by Commissioner Gort and seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, 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: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Whereupon the Commission on motion of Commissioner Gort and seconded by
Commissioner Hernandez, adopted said ordinance by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 11442.
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.
Mayor Carollo: Do me a favor Mariano, can you give it to the City Manager so he can give it to
the Fire Chief that's in charge of everything else in the City. Yeah, and then you can give it to
the judge. Thank you.
-------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. EMERGENCY ORDINANCE: AMEND CITY CABLE TELEVISION
LICENSE ORDINANCE 9332 -- EXTEND TERM OF CABLE FRANCHISE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND MIAMI
TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. (TCI) FOR THREE MONTHS, TO 5/18/97.
Commissioner Gort: OK, there is a request for the extension of the Miami TCI Cable TV
franchise. Move it.
Mayor Carollo: Emergency Ordinance. We have to extend this for another three months, we
extended it six months before until we're ready to sit down and decide what we're going to do
with the contract. But, we've got no choice but to do it now.
Commissioner Hernandez: Mr. Mayor, I had a conversation with the City Attorney a couple of
months ago. My understanding is, that we're stuck with this company.
138
February 20, 1997
11
t
Mayer Carollo: No, we're not stuck with this company.
Commissioner Hernandez: Under federal...
Mayor Carollo: Well, we're not stuck with it.
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney): We're not stuck with it but the presumption is so
great that you really got to show, really that they haven't performed period, in order not to grant
them a renewal. And of course, if you deny it, they have automatic right to go in federal court
and challenge it.
Commissioner Hernandez: I have the worst level of service from this company, it's
unbelievable. They just...
Mr. Jones: Yeah. I do believe that at the point that it comes to you for, you know, we'll be
scheduled for a public hearing and of course any complaints whatever that you have can
certainly be aired.
Mayor Carollo: Is Maureen O'Neil herewith? Do they have a representative here at all? OK.
Mr. Jones: And Quinn, and in order to do these extensions since the time has expired under
franchise agreement, do we not need some kind of emergency language to the fact, to go ahead
with this extension?
Mayor Carollo: It is an emergency ordinance.
Mr. Jones: It is an emergency ordinance.
Ms. Elaine Buza: Excuse me, Mayor. Maureen O'Neil was here earlier this morning but she
had to leave because she had another appointment. But she was here earlier this morning.
j
Mayor Carollo: OK, who are you, ma'am?
Ms. Buza: I am sorry, I am Elaine Buza. I am in charge of the negotiations for the City in the
TCI contract.
Mayor Carollo: OK, thank you. I appreciate it.
Vice Mayor Regalado: What are? Mr. Manager, what are several issues pending?
Mayor Carollo: Gentlemen, if I may ask. You could ask that of the City Attorney because there
is no way that we could go through this whole thing tonight. i
And, you know, we're going to extend it three more months so we could resolve it, hopefully.
Is there a motion?
Commissioner Hernandez: I'll make a motion.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, sure.
Mayor Carollo: There is a motion by Commissioner Hernandez second by Commissioner
Plummer. Can you read the ordinance?
[AT THIS POINT, THE CITY ATTORNEY READ THE ORDINANCE INTO THE PUBLIC
RECORD BY TITLE ONLY.]
139 February 20, 1997
W
Mr. Manuel Gonzalez-Goenaga: I want to make a comment for the record.
Mayor Carollo: Manny, I thought we gave you the appearance before.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: No, but the issue is that...
Mayor Carollo: Well, you got a minute Manny. We've have to move on, please?
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: Well no, no. Less than a minute.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: Lady, if I tell you my experience with TCI, you won't believe it. It
went all the way to the point where I have refused to pay unless they give me credit for the
constant, constant interruptions in service in my area. I have called them, I have written to them
and finally after six months, when I told them that I am Mr. Boom -Boom, a candidate for office,
that I was going to strongly oppose, and that I am aware of the financial problems of the holding
company. They have a, they do spend a lot of money in Argentina but they have not spent it
here. Because, let me tell you, I was for a month and a half in Puerto Rico, we have TCI there,
and it's perfect. And we're supposed to be a banana island. So please call me even though I am
extremely busy writing a novel but my phone number for the negotiations 643-6149.
Mayor Carollo: OK, all right. Call the...
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: And I will not pay up until they give me credit for the time and...
Mayor Carollo: Good, good for you. Call the roll, please.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY OF MIAMI CABLE
TELEVISION LICENSE ORDINANCE NO. 9332, AS AMENDED, BY
EXTENDING THE TERM OF THE CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND MIAMI
TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS, FROM
FEBRUARY 18, 1997 TO MAY 18,1997; CONTAINING A REPEALER
PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez and seconded by Commissioner Plummer,
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: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
140 February 20, 1997
tr
Whereupon the Commission on motion of Commissioner Hernandez and seconded by
Commissioner Plummer, adopted said ordinance by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
1
ABSENT: None.
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 11443.
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND SECTION 22-1 OF CHAPTER
22 OF CODE, "GARBAGE & TRASH" -- DEFINE/CLARIFY DEFINITIONS
OF "BIOLOGICAL WASTE", "BIOMEDICAL WASTE", AND
"CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS" -- FURTHER AMEND
SECTION 22-18.12 (A).
Mayor Carollo: Items 11 and 12 have been withdrawn. We're now on 13, second reading
ordinance. This is your garbage and trash..
Commissioner Hernandez: Yeah, we're: just expanding the definition of really... We're not
going to get into the street cleaning fee. We.jusf the left the expansion of, we're expanding our
base as to different...
Mayor Carollo: This is not going to increase the fees?
Commissioner Hernandez: No, it's not.
Mayor Carollo: OK
Commissioner Hernandez: It's not. Only expands the base of different types of solid waste
that...
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Commissioner Hernandez: .. private haulers can...
Mayor Carollo: All right, we're just changing...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, let me ask a question. We're not prepared in the City of Miami
to handle biological or biomedical waste are we?
141 February 20, 1997
ill
Mr. Ron E. Williams (Assistant City Manager/Dept. of General Services Administration & Solid
Waste): This is the... no, Commissioner. This base is to include those companies that provide
that service and we will charge them the franchise fee.
Mayor Carollo: No, it's for the private haulers, J.L., believe me. There is no way that I would
let that happen.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, OK. Well, you talk about a very lucrative business, let me tell
you something.
Mayor Carollo: All right, second rending ordinance is there a motion?
Mayor Carollo: Commissioner Hernandez makes it. Second by Commissioner Gort. Can you
read the ordinance, please? Call tho-'ro-1L!'
Mr. Walter J. Foeman (City Clerk): Roll call.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO CHAPTER 22 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "GARBAGE AND TRASH";
AMENDING SECTION 22-1 TO DEFINE AND OR CLARIFY THE DEFINITIONS
OF "BIOLOGICAL WASTE", "BIOMEDICAL WASTE", AND "CONSTRUCTION
AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS"; FURTHER AMENDING SECTION 22-18.12 (a) TO
INCLUDE THE DEFINITIONS OF "BIOLOGICAL WASTE", "BIOMEDICAL
WASTE", AND "CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS"; CONTAINING
A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of January 16, 1997, was taken up for
its second and final reading, by title, and adoption. On motion of Commissioner
Hernandez, seconded by Commissioner Gort, the ordinance was thereupon given its
second and final reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 11444.
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.
142 February 20, 1997
---------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
21. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: AMEND CHAPTER 42 OF CODE --
CREATE ARTICLE VI, SECTIONS 42-82 THROUGH 42-87 ENTITLED
"VEHICLE IMPOUNDMENT"; -- SET FORTH CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER
WHICH VEHICLES MAY BE IMPOUNDED (CONFISCATED)-- PROVIDE
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY FOR THE USE OF VEHICLES /
PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW OF IMPOUNDMENT (FORFEITURE)
DECISION.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Carollo: Fourteen, second reading ordinance. Is there a motion.
Commissioner Gort: Move it
Mayor Carollo: Moved by Commissioner Gort' ,
Commissioner Plummer: Second -;Under discussion.
Mayor Carollo: Second by'Commi stoner.Plummer:
Commissioner Plummer: This grdinanceas. I read it only speaks to impoundment. Is that
correct?
Police Chief Martinez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: It doesn't to, confiscation the automobile for the...?
Police Assistant Chief Raymond Martinez: No, sir..
Commissioner Plummer: Well, what are we trying to, accomplish here...
Unidentified Speaker: Well, we have that option under.:.
Police Chief Martinez: That's under...
Commissioner Plummer: .. beside the five hundred dollar ($500) fee? It's was my
understanding, and somebody tell me if I am wrong? That any car carrying cocaine...
Mayor Carollo: If you confiscate it, Commissioner, you can't get the five hundred dollar ($500)
fee.
Police Chief Martinez: Right, no.
Commissioner Plummer: No, no, you could. You could get both.
Unidentified Speaker: No, but we have that option under another code.
Police Chief Martinez: Under Florida State...
Unidentified Speaker: Right.
Mayor Carollo: Well, but that option is one that we have and...
Unidentified Speaker: We can still do that. .
Police Chief Martinez: Under Florida forfeiture laws we can still confiscate the vehicle if it
meets the statute criteria.
Commissioner Plummer: Let me tell you something. In my opinion, the day you start
confiscating ten and fifteen which you can do without batting an eye in Coconut Grove alone...
Mayor Carollo: I agree, why don't you all get with J.L.?
Commissioner Plummer: No,.no, too.`
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: Why aren't they being confiscated? These cars are down there, it is an
open drug market...
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, yeah.
Commissioner Plummer:.. and these cars are not being confiscated...
Mayor Carollo: That's right, OK.
Commissioner Plummer: .. and I don't understand. The minute you start doing that, you're
-going to send a message and you knew what's going t6happen? It's going to dry up, it's going
to dry up. Yet, we're pussy footing around here doing, you know, hit them with a powder puff
kind of operation.
Police Chief Martinez: If I could comment on that Mr. Commissioner?
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, please'do.
Mayor Carollo: We're in agreement with him. That's fine Chief. Can you call the roll, Mr. City
Attorney?
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney): Let me, before you do that, let me just?
Mayor Carollo: I mean can you read the ordinance?
Mr. Jones: There is only one section that's being.:. '
Commissioner Plummer: Wait a minute, whit are you concurring with?
Mayor Carollo: Everything you said. I just wa'ntto move the meeting along.
Mr. Jones: Just for the record, there's...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, you know, it's nice to move the meeting along, but we're not
accomplishing anything.
Mayor Carollo: J. L., we are. We're getting this done. They just explained that we can
confiscate.
144 February 20, 19971
N
Commissioner Plummer: But are they goitYg'to? That's the question.
Commissioner Gort: J.L., my understanditig,is, they're already doing that.
Mayor Carollo: I am going to assign you as a one member committee of the Commission to
assure that they will confiscate the vehicles that they should confiscate. How about that?
Commissioner Plummer: That's fine, because I want to tell you something. You schedule it
right now for the next agenda, OK. Because I want to know on a weekly basis how many cars
you have confiscated and taken away from these people that are down there buying drugs and I
don't want to make fun of you, so let me tell you something, you better come back with some
results. Not just for the revenue source part of it, that's fine. The revenue is great. But let me
tell you, when you start confiscating these Mercedes and BMWs and all those that are down
there buying drugs, all day long, you are going to make a big, big impact.
Commissioner Gort: J.L., let me tell you...
Police Chief Martinez: If I could just? Just real quickly, if I could comment, Mr. Mayor? If
there is a lien on the vehicle, if somebody owes payments, if it's a second party driver. If the
owner is the parent and the kid is driving the car, we cannot confiscate the vehicle.
Commissioner Plummer: To hell you say.
Police Chief Martinez: You cannot confiscate the vehicle.
Commissioner Plummer: You're -saying if that car? It's my understanding and... What are you
laughing at?
Commissioner Gort: Full moon last night.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, guys. Hey, I'm just saying to you...
Commissioner Gort: J.L.
Commissioner Plummer: .. I think it's a damn fine way of trying to do something, and if you all
aren't concerned about it, I am. I am very concerned.
Mayor Carollo: We agree with you J.L., we agree.
Commissioner Gort: J.L., my understanding is... I was in one sting operation, my suggestion is
go with them and you can see how many cars are confiscated.
Commissioner Plummer: Confiscate...
Commissioner Gort: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Commissioner Gort: I've seen it.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mr. Janes: For the record, just a note on, from first reading proposed Section 42-87 dealing; with
unclaimed vehicles is being deleted because it conflicts with the Florida forfeiture law and then
Section 42-86...
Commissioner Plummer: We're not doing it.
Mr. Jones: .. we're inserting the word "final" before ruling and "final" before "order". And with
those corrections, I'll read the ordinance.
Mayor Carollo: Mr. City Attorney, how come you're reading so slow today?
Mr. Jones: You thought that was slow?
Mayor Carollo: You're usually a lot quicker than that, . You must have a cold.
Commissioner Plummer: As half ass as it is, <zm going to vote for it.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 42 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY CREATING ARTICLE VI, SECTIONS 42-
82 THROUGH 42-87 TO BE ENTITLED "VEHICLE IMPOUNDMENT": SETTING
FORTH CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH VEHICLES MAY BE IMPOUNDED;
PROVIDING FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY FOR THE USE OF
VEHICLES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, A PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW
OF THE IMPOUNDMENT DECISION, AND A PROCEDURE FOR DISPOSITION
OF UNCLAIMED VEHICLES; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND
PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CITY CODE.
passed on its first reading, by title, at the meeting of January 15, 1997, was taken up for
its second and final reading, by title, and adoption. On motion of Commissioner Gort,
seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the ordinance was thereupon given its second and
final reading by title, and was passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 11445.
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.
146 February 20, 1997
A.
11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22. ALLOCATE $1,217,549 FROM CITY'S FY'95-'96 STATE HOUSING
INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (SHIP) -- FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT BY EAST LITTLE HAVANA COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT CORP. / FLORIDA HOUSING COOPERATIVE, INC., i
ALLAPATAH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, INC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vice Mayor Regalado: Mayor can... There are some people here that have been here since
morning with the...
Mayor Carollo: Well, let's take up the items where there are people here and then we'll come
hack.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Thirty-one, item 31. It has to do with several members of.. Which one?
Thirty-three, there are people here. Thirty-one and thirty-three.
Mayor Carollo: Thirty. Who's here for 31? OK, you are. And you are, ma'am? Thirty-two or
thirty-three? Thirty-two. OK, 31 and 32. We'll take 31 and go to 32. Let's see what's left.
Commissioner Plummer: The only question I have on 31, Mr. Mayor. Will that facility be
paying ad valorem taxes?
Commissioner Gort: Thirty-one?
Mr. Elbert Waters (Director, NET/Community'Development): Thirty-one?
Commissioner Plummer: Thirty-one
Mr. Waters: Yes, all the projects will.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, I'm just asking a question. I'll move 31.
Mayor Carollo: OK, hold on for a minute. Now, as I understand it, this is money from two
years ago. How much money have you gotten from the City over the last two years?
Ms. Anita Rodriguez: Mr. Mayor, this item in particular? I think we're talking about three
different groups. For this project we received six hundred thousand ($600,000) out of...
Mayor Carollo: How much?
Ms. Rodriguez: Six hundred thousand.
Mayor Carollo: Six hundred thousand.
Ms. Rodriguez: Out of home funds and this one hundred and ninety-eight thousand, that is in the
form of a loan and we intend to use it for permanent financing for the families to make the units
more affordable. This is a condominium project that is being sold to low and moderate income
families.
Mayor Carollo: OK, how many units have you actually produced for that amount so far, that
you've gotten over the last two years? How many units have you produced?
147 February 20, 1997
N
t
Ms. Rodriguez: We've completed to date a 12-unit project, a 22-unit town -house project. Have
10 units under construction, 15 starting construction this month and there's 80 units on which we
have already actually started construction this month.
Mayor Carollo: OK, very good. Thank you.
Commissioner Hernandez: Mr. Mayor, I want to second the motion.
Mayor Carollo: OK, there's a motion, there's a second.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Florida Housing, the representative of Florida Housing is here but the
other people are not here. I believe Allapattah.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Commissioner Hernandez: Yeah, let somebody else...
Mayor Carollo: All right.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Oh, OK. OK.
Mayor Carollo: All right?
Vice Mayor Regalado: I am sorry.
Mayor Carollo: Very good. -There is.a motion, there is a second. We're ready to vote. All in
favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: There are no nays.
148 February 20, 1997
a
41,
N
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-94
A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 98
UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE LITTLE HAVANA
NEIGHBORHOOD BY THE EAST LITTLE HAVANA COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND FLORIDA HOUSING COOPERATIVE,
INC. AND 21 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE ALLAPATTAH
NEIGHBORHOOD BY ALLAPATTAH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
INC.; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ALLOCATE FUNDING FROM
THE CITY'S FY '1995-96 STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM (SHIP PROGRAM) IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,217,549 AS SET FORTH
HEREIN; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED COMMUNITY
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS (CHDO'S) 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 Hernandez, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: -Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23. DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF BAY HEIGHTS SPECIAL TAXING
DISTRICT FOR EXTRA POLICE PATROL.
Mayor Carollo: All right, 32.
Commissioner Plummer: He is here, Mr. Marcus. Mr. Mayor?
i Mayor Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: For your information, this was not my idea. It was brought to my
house as a request to put in on an agenda and I did such, as such.
Mayor Carollo: OK, that's good.
Commissioner Plummer: Although my neighborhood is looking very closely as to the results.
149
February 20, 1997
Mayor Carollo: Well, Plummer just has just conflicted himself out of this one.
Commissioner Plummer: I have no problem.
i
Mr. Murray Marcus: My name is Murray Marcus and I live at 59 Shore Drive West in Miami,
Florida. And I am the president of the Bay Heights Homeowners Association. For two and a
half years through the generosity of Mercy Hospital, we had an off -duty Miami patrol in our
area. And, when that ceased to exist the homeowners got together and we ponied up "X" amount
of dollars to continue that patrol. And it is in existence right now. But, because there are 186
homes, we only had about 100 homeowners who were kind enough to contribute. So, a petition
was garnered in October or November and out of 186 homes, 135 homeowners have decided that
we'd like to have a special taxing district and 22 homeowners voted against it. We went to the,
the County gave us the petition to do and with that, we come to you because we understand the
County needs an ordinance from the City of Miami before they can go ahead and put this on the
tax roll so that each and every one of the homeowners would be taxed individually and really it
should he done because everybody is benefiting from this patrol.
Mayor Carollo: Very good. Mr. City Attorney, Mr. City Manager, can you assign someone to
meet with Mr. Marcus so that you could help them in the procedure that we would have to
follow to get it back to this Commission, so that we could vote upon it?
Commissioner Plummer: Why is the Police Department standing on your feet? Do you have
some problem here?
Mr. Marcus: No, not at all.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mayor Carollo: Anything, yeah. If, before you go you could give your name and address and
phone number to Mr. Weeks, who is here, that's the Chief of Staff of the City Manager, and
they'll help you in the process to do it. If you have any problems feel free to call my office and
we'll make sure that it is expedited.
Mr. Murray: All right, thank you very much.
Mayor Carollo: Then, we'll try. to get:' it .back here as soon as possible so that we can get it
approved for you.
Mr. Murray: Yeah, thank you, very much..
Mayor Carollo: Thank you, and I am sorry to keep,.you all waiting, today. Thank you.
s
t
150 February 20, 1997
4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24. EXECUTE AGREEMENTS / ALLOCATE FUNDS ($100,000) FOR SOUTH
FLORIDA JAIL MINISTRIES / AGAPE WOMEN'S CENTER, INC --
ALLOCATE $29,280 TO CURE AIDS NOW, D/B/A FOOD FOR LIFE
NETWORK -- FROM FY '96 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS
WITH AIDS (HOPWA) GRANT TO PROVIDE HOUSING DRUG
REHABILITATION AND COUNSELING FOR LOW INCOME PERSONS
WITH AIDS.
Mayor Carollo: Anybody else is here for any other items?
Commissioner Plummer: Did Lavin get back for the Parrot Jungle?
Commissioner Gort: No.
Mayor Carollo: Ma'am, what item''are you here for?
Ms. Edith Zewadski: Item 30:.'
Mayor Carollo: Item 30?
Ms. Zewadski: Yes.
Mayor Carollo: OK, we'll take up item 30. OK, this is from last year's HOPWA (Housing
Opportunities for People with AIDS)
money, correct?
Ms. Zewadski: Correct.
Mayor Carollo: How many people did you serve over the last year?
Ms. Zewadski: Through... That's a Womens' Center, a residential program where we've served
over 100. Of that population 10 percent, 20 percent have HIV/ AIDS. HIV positive or have
AIDS. At any one time we can figure 10 to 1.2 people with AIDS. So our HOPWA funds serve
that number of people. They stay six to nine months, I probably would have served 30 and
above. I can get those figures for you if you like.
Mayor Carollo: How many people will you be serving with this additional money?
Ms. Zewadski: I beg you pardon?
Mayor Carollo: How many people will you be serving with this additional money?
Ms. Zewadski: It would be a number of people and we keep them long term and then a couple
years after that, in our after care at no cost to the taxpayer we would serve let's see, about 30
individuals and they would stay the units of service, they would stay six to nine months. So,
there are a lot of days included in that service for each of those individuals.
Mayor Carollo: And how much money did your organization get from the City last year?
151
February 20, 1997
a
, 's...
Ms. Zewadski: One hundred thousand.
Mayor Carollo: One hundred thousand?
Ms. Zewadski: Yes.
Mayor Carollo: Mr. Manager, what do you recommend on this? What is your recommendation
on this?
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Attorney): We're recommending approval of the grants.
Mayor Carollo: OK, you're recommending approval.
Commissioner Hernandez: I move to approve.
Mayor Carollo: There is a motion for approval.
Commissioner Plummer: This is from last year's funding?
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Hernandez: Yeah.
.Mayor Carollo: Second by -Commissioner Gort. ;All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: No nays. Thank you, have a good day.
Ms. Zewadski: Thank you very much.
Mayor Carollo: Sorry to keep you waiting today.
152
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The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-95
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL
NECESSARY AGREEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH SOUTH FLORIDA JAIL
MINISTRIES/AGAPE WOMEN'S CENTER, INC. (AGAPE) TO PROVIDE
HOUSING, DRUG REHABILITATION AND COUNSELING TO LOW INCOME
PERSONS LIVING WITH I-IIV/AIDS, AND WITH CURE AIDS NOW, D/B/A FOOD
FOR LIFE NETWORK, TO PROVIDE NUTRITIONAL SERVICES TO LOW
INCOME PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS, ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR
FOR AGAPE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000, AND FOR CURE AIDS NOW, IN
THE AMOUNT OF $29,280, FROM FISCAL YEAR 1996 HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS (HOPWA) PROGRAM GRANT
FUNDS.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gort, the resolution was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25. EMERGENCY ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH NEW SPECIAL REVENUE
FUND: "DHRS (PY '97) - ENTRANT/REFUGEE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM" -- APPROPRIATE $112,342 FOR ITS OPERATION -- FROM
GRANT AWARD THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA EMPLOYMENT AND
TRAINING CONSORTIUM (SFETC).
Commissioner Plummer: Is there anybody else for the public?
Mayor Carollo: No, one else I see here.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, may I ask a favor please?
Mayor Carollo: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: I would dearly, I would have to have item 40-21.
153 February 20, 1997
F
Mayor Carollo: OK, we'll do it but I think we could finish the agenda if we go back to where we
started.
Commissioner Plummer: All right, all right, because I've got to get that done for Hernandez and
my appointments to that board.
Mayor Carollo: OK, yeah, we'll get to that.
Mayor Carollo: We were, let's see...
Commissioner Plummer: Fourteen?
Mayor Carollo: Fifteen.
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Mayor Carollo: We're in item 15 now. Ordinance second reading.
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): Mr. Mayor, we're requesting that this thing be approved
as an emergency ordinance.
Mayor Carollo: Well, this is a second reading ordinance. So, on number 15.
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney): The thing is, Mr. Mayor, if you keep it as a
second reading it won't go into effect for 30 days, so that's why they want it as an emergency.
-Mayor Carollo: OK, all right. That's fine-. .,We'll do it as an emergency ordinance.
Mayor Carollo: OK, can you call the roll, please?
Mr. Walter J. Foeman (City Clerk): I need a movant and a seconder, Mr. Mayor. i
Commissioner Plummer: Second. I move it. Second it. t
Mayor Carollo: There was. Hernandez and Gort.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE
FUND ENTITLED: "DHRS (PY '97) - ENTRANT/REFUGEE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE OPERATION OF
SAME IN THE AMOUNT OF $112,342 FROM A GRANT AWARD THROUGH
THE SOUGH FLORIDA EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING CONSORTIUM
(SFETC); AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT SAID GRANT
AWARD AND EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH THE SFETC FOR THIS
PURPOSE CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE; AND PROVIDING FOR
INCLUSION IN THE CITY CODE.
154 February 20, 1997
a
r —�
was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez and seconded by Commissioner Gort, for
adoption as an emergency measureand, dispensing with the requirement of reading same
on two separate days, was agreed to by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wit'redo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Whereupon the Commission on motion of Commissioner Hernandez and seconded by
Commissioner Gort, adopted said ordinance by the following vote:
AYES: CommissionerJ. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 11446.
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: RELATED TO LOBBYISTS; AMEND
SECTIONS 2-313, 2-314, 2-316, 2-318 OF CODE; FURTHER ALL 2-319
SECTION CODE -- ADD / AMEND DEFINITIONS -- AMEND LOBBYISTS'
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS -- ESTABLISH FEES / DISCLOSURE
REQUIREMENTS -- PROVIDE EXEMPTIONS FROM FEES -- REQUIRE
CITY CLERK TO MAINTAIN A LOG OF REGISTERED LOBBYISTS --
AMEND "ANNUAL STATEMENT" AND RENAMING AS "ANNUAL
EXPENDITURES REPORT" -- SET FORTH PROCEDURES /
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLIANCE -- PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES FOR
VIOLATIONS -- PROI4IBIT CONTINGENCY FEES.
Mayor Carollo: We're in 16. First reading ordinance.
Commissioner Plummer: Have we applied for any of the summer youth program money? Are
we going to be in that ballpark?
Commissioner Gort: Move 16.
155
February 20, 1997
i-
F
J&
Unidentified Speaker: Application is due Wednesday, and we applying for six hundred
thousand.
Commissioner Plummer: Fine, thank you. There is a lot of help that all of our offices can utilize
in the summertime.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, there's a motion by Commissioner Gort, second by Commissioner
Hernandez on 16. Call the roll. . '
Commissioner Plummer: We're letting them off cheap, but yes.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO LOBBYISTS; AMENDING THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY: ADDING AND AMENDING
DEFINITIONS; AMENDING LOBBYISTS' REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS;
ESTABLISHING FEES AND DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING
EXEMPTIONS FROM FEES; REQUIRING THE CITY CLERK TO MAINTAIN A
LOG OF REGISTERED LOBBYISTS; AMENDING THE "ANNUAL STATEMENT"
AND RENAMING SAME AS "ANNUAL EXPENDITURES REPORT"; SETTING
FORTH PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLIANCE; PROVIDING
FOR PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; AND PROHIBITING CONTINGENT FEES;
MORE PARTICULARLY, BY AMENDING SECTIONS 2-313,2-314, 2-316 AND 2-
318 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, S AMENDED, AND
ADDING NEW SECTION 2-319 TO SAID CODE; CONTAINING A REPEALER
PROVISION, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
was introduced by Commissioner Gort, seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, and was
passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote:
r
AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
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.
156 February 20, 1997
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: AMEND SECTION 54-86 OF CODE --
REQUIRE OWNERS OR PROPERTIES THAT FACE, ABUT OR OPEN UPON
MIAMI RIVER TO AFFIX BUILDING NUMBERS ADDRESS VISIBLE
FROM MIAMI RIVER.
Mayor Carollo: Yes, 17 has been withdrawn. We're in 18. First reading.
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Commissioner Plummer: Second.
Mayor Carollo: Moved by Plummer, second by Commissioner Hernandez. Call the roll.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 54-88 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TO REQUIRE THAT OWNERS OR
PROPERTIES THAT FACE, ABUT OR OPEN UPON THE MIAMI RIVER SHALL
AFFIX BUILDING NUMBERS THAT ARE VISIBLE FROM THE MIAMI RIVER;
CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, and
was passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
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.
157
February 20, 1997
141
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: ADOPT REVISION AND CODIFICATION
OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY ENTITLED: "THE CODE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA" -- REPEAL CERTAIN ORDINANCES.
Mayor Carollo: Nineteen has been withdrawn, we're in 20 for first reading ordinance.
Commissioner Plummer: Twenty, I don't understand at all.
Commissioner Hernandez: I move it.
Mayor Carollo: Moved by Commissioner Hernandez. Second by Commissioner Gort.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yeah, well... Can I ask when this will be uptdated because as of today
this Commission is doing something about the code?
Mr. Walter J. Foeman (City Clerk): Yes, this is a republication project which, the last one was
done in 1980. As far as the effective date of this, it will he 30 days after second reading which
will make it around April 15th. If we do it as an emergency ordinance the effective date would
be upon passage.
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney): But you should mention that the cut off date is
what, Walter?
Mr. Foeman: The cut off date as,far as the lastordinance thatwe had codified?
Mr. Jones: Yes.
i
Mr. Foeman: It was July of '96...
Mr. Jones: So the new publication will include everything up to, that point.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Well, thtE's what I was asking, that we,.. because of this crisis we have
the code...
Mr. Foeman: So we should do iris am emergency, is what you're..
Vice Mayor Regalado: No, what I am saying is, in terms.of printing, would it be appearing on
the new code?
Mr. Foeman: Oh, in terms of the effectiveness cif the ordinance?
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yeah, because we're spending twenty-four thousand dollars ($24,000).
Mr. Foeman: No, we do quarterly supplementations. Quarterly, we do supplementations so
whatever happens after this day forward, from this forth, we would have to pick up from July of
'96 current, the next supplementation period.
Commissioner Gort: My question is, I received a book yesterday, is there any changes on the
ordinances at all, or this is just a republication of the ordinance?
158 February 20, 1997
Mr. Foeman: Yeah, that's the republication and it's gone through a process with departments.
There is editorial review with the Codifier, the Municipal Code Corporation,
Commissioner Gort: So, there is no major changes in any of the ordinances?
Mr. Foeman: Well, the ordinances only changes in the reconciliation between what has
happened since the last republication as far as the changes in state law and I think that was
updated. But, no substantiative changes.
Commissioner Gort: And that changes that we have made ourselves?
Mr. Foeman: That we have made.
Commissioner Gort: OK, thank you.
Mr. Foeman: No other substantiative changes.
Mayor Carollo: OK, read the ordinance.
Mayor Carollo: Call the roll.
Mr. Foeman: Mr. Mayor I, who was the mover and seconder, I am sorry?
Mayor Carollo: Excuse me?
Mr. Foeman: I didn't get the movant and the seconder. ,
Commissioner Hernandez: I moved.
Mayor Carollo: Moved, second.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A REVISION AND CODIFICATION OF THE
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ENTITLED: "THE CODE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA"; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF CERTAIN
ORDINANCES NOT INCLUDED THEREIN, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES HEREINAFTER SET FORTH; PROVIDING A PENALTY
CLAUSE WHERE NO OTHER PENALTY IS PRESCRIBED; CONTAINING A
REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
159 February 20, 1997
was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez seconded by Vice Mayor Regalado, and
was passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote:
4
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29. APPROVE FOR NO MORE THAN 90 DAYS -- ISSUE REVOCABLE
LICENSE, TO SOUTHEAST MARINE REPAIR, INC. ("SOUTHEAST") TO
OCCUPY CERTAIN AREA AT MARINE STADIUM MARINA, AT 3501
RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY -- FOR PROVISION OF MARINE RELATED
REPAIRS -- SOUTHEAST TO PAY CITY $1,500 MONTHLY.
------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- __---------------------------------
Mayor Carollo: Twenty-one.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, Mr. City Attorney, I vote for nothing. No, sir.
Ms. Christina Abrams (Director, Conferences,'`Conventions and Public Facilities): We request
the City Commission's approval...
Commissioner Plummer: "Oye." "Revokable" don't mean nothing. How do I assure this City;
if they had to put up a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) bond, and if they don't move out in 30 days,
we can estreat the bond? Is that possible?
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney): Well, I mean they...
Commissioner Plummer: I'm asking you.
Mr. Jones: I don't know what's amenable. I mean, you know, I have negotiated this, I don't
know what's amenable to...
Commissioner Plummer: I'm not asking you to negotiate.
Mr. Jones: No, I'm saying but...
Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me. I am asking, can we establish...
Mr. Jones: Commissioner, you can set whatever terms you want, you know. The fact of the ;
matter is you can't...
160 February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: All right, what do you want to set?
Mr. Jones: You know, if that's agreeable to him, I don't know.
Ms. Abrams: May I give some background?
Commissioner Plummer: No, I don't want to hear it. I want to know that if we agree that we are
living up to the agreement, that they will live up to the agreement. Now, what do we got to do to
make sure that they are going to live up to their end of the agreement? That's all I want to know.
Mayor Carollo: Quinn, can you satisfy him?
Mr. Jones: Hey, you got to... that's the... By its very nature, a revokable permit is what it is.
You can revoke it at any time you want, you know.
Commissioner Plummer: So what?
Mr. Jones: Now, the fact that... What happened in the boatyard, they decided they didn't want
to leave. That's why we have to go to court. So, I mean, you know, I can't give you any other
assurances that's going to give you any greater sense of wellbeing or that they're going to... that
this person is going to leave, either. Technically, it's revokable.
Commissioner Gort: It's my understanding even if you put a bond, they go to court and the
judge says if you have a bond that that's payment, and you can stay for as long as the bond pays.
Unfortunately, that's the way it is.
Mayor Carollo: Christina, go ahead.
Ms. Abrams: If I can make a suggestion, maybe as an alternative would be to require two
months advanced rent, since that's about how long it would take us to go through a legal process.
At least we can guarantee that we have revenue to the City while we go through the legal process
of eviction.
Mayor Carollo: For fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) a month, if we are going to do that, let's do
three months. If they can't afford three months...
Commissioner Plummer: Three months in advance?
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, forty-five hundred.dollars ($4,500).
Commissioner Hernandez: Don't we need emergency language on this to... What's the
situation? Is this going to the public to... Were other people invited to rent the space or...?
Ms. Abrams: If I can give you an overview the City Commission instructed the Department of
Community Planning and Revitalization to develop a comprehensive plan for development of the
area. In the interim, the Department of Public Facilities would continue to run the marina. What
we're trying to do is seek every possible revenue source to increase our revenues from marinas.
What we're requesting is to enter into a revokable license with this vendor for comparable fair
market value, until such time as the City chooses to develop the property. Since it's very
tentative, it would not be possible to issue an RFP (Request for Proposal) for long-term, since
we're not sure how long we'll have control of the property.
Commissioner Hernandez: No, but don't we need to go by way of an emergency processing? If
not, wouldn't it he illegal?
161 February 20, 1997
011
Mr. Jones: This is a resolution, so it would become effective the date of adoption, which would
be today.
Mayor Carollo: Well, let me ask this, Christina. Why don't... You know, Commissioner
Hernandez made a good point. Why don't we approve this at the same time that we're putting it
out to bid, so at least this way, we're getting something in rent while we're waiting to get bid
response, and maybe we can get more money?
Ms. Abrams: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: Can I ask what kind of repairs they're planning on doing?
Ms. Abrams: Full repairs.
Commissioner Plummer: No, but, I am saying, is it mechanical? Because if it is, then we've got
to be concerned about...
Commissioner Gort: Pollution,
Commissioner Plummer: ... pollution in the ground. Mechanical repairs, you're not concerned
about that?
Mayor Carollo: I am, J.L. I'm just...
Mr. Jones: So, what action are we taking? What action are we taking?
Ms. Abrams: We're issuing... We're getting approval to authorize a revokable license
agreement requiring the three months advance payment.
Mayor Carollo: J.L., they have been doing this here for some time. The repairs that they're
doing is minor boat repairs that we don't really have to be worried about DERM (Department of
Environmental Resources Management) because there's no oils or anything like that going
down. It's not like they're changing the oil of cars, that they're going to dump it out. This is a
different type of repair that they're doing there.
Commissioner Plummer: I'm just concerned on any mechanical repairs, you do have the
problem of hazardous waste. And you know what this City has been through to try to eliminate
that problem.
Mayor Carollo: Well, I understand what you're saying and if you want to cut this out altogether,
you know...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, you can get revenue. But I'm just asking what they were doing.
If they are doing woodwork and fiberglass and things like that, that's one thing.
Ms. Abrams: It's mostly cosmetics.
Commissioner Plummer: Huh?
Ms. Abrams: It's mostly cosmetics, but there will be some engine work.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
162 February 20, 1997
Mayor Carollo: Yeah. The motion will he that we're going to approve this until we get hack
bids, and you're going to put it out right away.
Ms. Abrams: So you want us to...
Mayor Carollo: We're not going to approve it...
Ms. Abrams: Right.
Mayor Carollo: ... while we're waiting for bids and you're going to let it just lie there.
Ms. Abrams: No, of course not. :So you want us to issue an RFP?
Mayor Carollo: How...
Ms. Abrams: Under how many eirns, how many years?
Commissioner Plummer: 'Years?
Ms. Abrams: One year.
Mayor Carollo: Well, I don't know if you can even do it for a year, because the situation we
have there is like the restaurants, month to month, right?
Ms. Abrams: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: A.would do the same.
Mayor Carollo: Huh? Yeah, that's what I am saying.
Commissioner Plummer: I mean if we,'re.doing a master, trying to do a master plan for there...
Mayor Carollo: Do it month to month:
Ms. Abrams: OK. We'll get working 'bW it tomorrow.
Commissioner Plummer: Three months in advance.
Ms. Abrams: Three months in advance.
Mayor Carollo: Right. Minimum...
Commissioner Plummer: And at all times shall be 30 days in advance of rent due.
Mayor Carollo: Minimum fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500). Up to what amount before we start
getting a percentage?
Ms. Abrams: It was just a flat fifteen hundred. You know, calculating the gross sales, the
percent of gross sales is a very tedious and expensive process, and we think it would be, given
the volume, just to have a guaranteed rent per month.
Commissioner Plummer: It's an auditor's nightmare.
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): Seventeen hundred square feet.
163 February 20, 1997
Mayor Carollo: Are you satisfied?
Commissioner Plummer: As far as I'm concerned... I can't do anything else, I'm told.
Mayor Carollo: How long will it take you to have bids before this Commission, hack to the
Commission?
Ms. Abrams: We'll try to schedule it for the Commission meeting in March.
Mayor Carollo: OK. We're going to approve this to last no more than 90 days. OK, so you
have more time even than you requested to give the bids to us.
Commissioner Plummer: But I mean, if you were to approve this, why do you have to go to a
bidding process?
Mr. Jones: Because this is... From what I understand, this is on a temporary basis...
Ms. Abrams: Month to month.
Mr. Jones: .. until you get a permanent uses.
Mayor Carollo: On a tempoirary basis until,we get, the bids in.
Commissioner Plummer: But I ,mean; do we have to g0'to the RFP, is what I am asking?
Mr. Jones: Well...
Commissioner Plummer: Could we just approve this item in front of us?
Mr. Jones: Well, of you to... You y g can, approve this, but you have to... you have the same
problem that we have run into before. The -.use of revokable permits when you've got charter
provisions that require specifically how your property is supposed to be used.
i
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Ms. Abrams: OK. Could we allow a little more than 90 days in the event that... you know,
because this has to go to Procurement and...
Mayor Carollo: No. No, ma'am. You said you could bring it back in March.
a
Ms. Abrams: OK. All right, sir. Ninety days.
Mayor Carollo: We gave you beyond April. Now, you want more.
Commissioner Hernandez: I move the resolution.
Mayor Carollo: Moved with a 90-day provision.
Ms. Abrams: OK. Thank you.
Mayor Carollo: Second by Commissioner Plummer.
Commissioner Plummer: For the RFP.
164 February 20, 1997
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Mr. Jones: Yeah.
Mayor Carollo: Well, hearing no other discussion from the Commission, all in favor signify by
saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: No "nays."
The following resolution was introduced by Vice Mayor Regalado, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-96
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ISSUE A
REVOCABLE LICENSE, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
TO SOUTHEAST MARINE REPAIR, INC., ("SOUTHEAST"), THEREBY
AUTHORIZING SOUTHEAST TO OCCUPY ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS,
CERTAIN AREA AT THE MARINE STADIUM MARINA, LOCATED AT 3501
RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR PURPOSES OF
PROVIDING MARINE RELATED REPAIRS; SAID LICENSE CONTINGENT UPON
SOUTHEAST PAYING MONTHLY RENT TO THE CITY IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,500 AND COMPLYING WITH THE CITY'S STANDARD INSURANCE AND
INDEMNIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the resolution was passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer Jr.
NAYS:
ABSENT:
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
None.
None.
165
February 20, 1997
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30. AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY FOR
DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE MATERIALS COLLECTED IN & BY CITY --
PURSUANT TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO ON
SEPTEMBER 29, 1995 -- ALLOCATE FUNDS ($7,940,000, ACCT. CODE
422001-421301-531).
Mayor Carollo: We're on 22.
Commissioner Plummer: Move it.
Mayor Carollo: Moved 22.
t
Commissioner Hernandez: Second.
Mr. Ron E. Williams (Director/Dept. of General Services and Solid Waste): Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: You've got no questions? You have a problem, Ron?
Mr. Williams: Yes, I certainly do. I need to make a change Mr. Mayor. In the dollar amount,
we need to change the up to amount from six point two million to seven million nine hundred
and forty thousand ($7,940,000). And that change is due to the revision that we've made as part
•of the budget revision process. And I'd like to do it now so that we don't have to come back to
you later in the year.
Mayor Carollo: Mr. Manager
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): I agree with this.
Commissioner Plummer: A million seven,more.
Mr. Williams: That is the up to amount in the budget.
Mayor Carollo: Why has it gone up so much?
Mr. Williams: Because Mr. Mayor as you know, as part of the Stierheim plan the underfunding
amount was two point six million. At the same time, we were committed to reduce the disposal
cost by nine hundred thousand. This is the adjustment. This is adding back the two point six
million and reducing the nine hundred thousand to make the amount seven million nine hundred
and forty thousand. And that revision took place after we submitted this for your approval.
Mayor Carollo: We had plenty of other people verify this?
Mr. Marquez: We've had the Budget Department verify this, yes.
Mayor Carollo: OK, what's the exact amount so the Clerk can write it down?
Mr. Williams: Seven million nine hundred forty thousand. It's an up to amount.
Mayor Carollo: Seven million nine hundred and forty thousand, up to?
166 February 20, 1997
Lei,a.y:.
Mr. Williams: Yes, that is an up to amount.
Mayor Carollo: All right. There is a motion...
Commissioner Hernandez: Second.
Mayor Carollo: ... by Commissioner Plummer, second by Commissioner Hernandez. All in
favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: No nays.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-97
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT TO METROPOLITAN DADE
COUNTY FOR THE DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE MATERIALS COLLECTED IN
AND BY THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $7,940,000 FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR PURSUANT TO
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1995 BY
AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF IVIIAMI AND METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY,
FLORIDA; ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR FROM ACCOUNT CODE NO.
422001-421301-531.
(Here follows -body of resolution, omitted ,here and on file in the •Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
167 February 20, 1997
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31. (A) CONTINUE ENGAGEMENT OF LAW FIRM OF (OUTSIDE
COUNSEL) ECKERT SEAMANS CI-IERIN & MELLOT FOR POST -
TRIAL LITIGATION SERVICES AND RETRIAL FOR CASE OF
PERRY L. ANDERSON, JR. VS. CITY OF MIAMI, JORGE L.
FERNANDEZ, & A. QUINN JONES, 1II, CASE 92-0435-CIV-
GRAHAM -- ALLOCATE FUNDS ($75,000 SELF INSURANCE
TRUST FUND, # 620103-661).
(B) MAYOR CAROLLO DIRECTS CITY ATTORNEY TO RESEARCH
PROPOSED APPEAL CASE OF JOSEFINA FERNANDEZ --
RETURN TO COMMISSION WITH APPROPRIATE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Mayor Carollo: OK, we're now in item 23. -Item 23.
Commissioner Plummer: I'll move it. `I don''Cthink we have much choice.
Mayor Carollo: No. There is.a motion by;Plummer...
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City 'Att6r iey)': Let me just. Mister...
Mayor Carollo: ... second by Gort.
Commissioner Plummer: The only question I have. is, if we win can we suit for attorney fees...
Mr. Jones: Well...
Commissioner Plummer: ... to get the money back?
Mr. Jones: ... as prevailing party, yeah we can go after Mr. Anderson for attorney's fees. Of
course you know I was defending, I have... entitled to attorney's fees as well. But that's an issue
that just hasn't been dealt with yet. So I, you know, it's very possible that this whole scenario
may go on another two or three years, who knows.
Mayor Carollo: Right.
Commissioner Plummer: But what I read the other day...
Mr. Jones: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: ... the City of Miami, and I didn't know that you were involved. The
only remaining...
Mr. Jones: No, the first, the original trial, I was involved. I was the named defendant in...
Commissioner Plummer: OK. The only remaining is on Jorge, is that correct?
Mr. Jones: Well, for purpose of appeal the City is still a party, OK.
Commissioner Plummer: With the appeal, but I am not saying the appeal.
168
February 20, 1997
141
Mr. Jones: OK. In terms...
Commissioner Plummer: The decision of the other day.
Mr. Jones: The other... Now what remains is basically the jury verdict in the original trial
against Jorge Fernandez...
Commissioner Plummer: Yes.
Mr. Jones: ... on punitive damages.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mayor Carollo: Which is the name of the attorney that is going to be handling the case, the
firm?
Mr. Jones: On appeal?
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Jones: On appeal which this Commission had previously approved was Bruce Rogo.
Vice Mayor Regalado: How many suits the City has pending? How many cases in court do we
have pending?
Mr. Jones: Ali, right now including Workers'..Comp. cases, tort litigation and the like, we've got
=probably close to 1,000 active open cases.
Vice Mayor Regalado: We have close to one thousand cases.
Mr. Jones: Yes, yes.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Do we try to avoid by any means any suits?
Mr. Jones: Well Commissioner this... Mr. Vice Mayor, this goes back to what I have said on
many occasions, the risk avoidance comes in when you have a viable safety program. A follow-
up after you have an injury on a sidewalk or whatever. A car accident, what caused the car
accident to keep it from possibly having again, maybe it was improper training and the like. So
that's what will happen once we get in place, you'll start seeing, hopefully the number of suits
and the amount of money that the City pays out will go down.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Well, the reason I am asking is because I was informed that, the reason
that we paid Cesar Odio and Manohar Surana a certain amount of money was because we
wanted to avoid a suit.
Mr. Jones: Well, that was...
Commissioner Plummer: A suit you were probably going to lose. A suit according to the City
Attorney...
Mr. Jones: Yeah,
Vice Mayor Regalado: Right, right.
9
169
February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: ... a suit that you probably were going to lose.
Commissioner Hernandez: Right.
Mr. Jones: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: So, clarity it.
Mr. Jones: I thought it was, at least:.. .
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, I am asking that.
Mr. Jones: I thought it was very clear at least in my mind, and again that's what you have me
here for, to evaluate the propriety of a claim against the City, and it did make sense to me... not
that, and as I've indicated to you before, I have no problems with trying any case but when it's
going to be adverse and we're going to run up attorney fees, then I am going to recommend
something to you. The fact of the matter is, that the City had a policy in place where every
employee whose accrued vacation time and sick leave without regard for whether they were
involved in any criminal misgivings or whatever else, that they're entitled to that when they
leave the employ of the City. So with that policy in place, I could not very well tell you that I
should spend time and money defending a lawsuit and possibly paying attorneys fees when they,
in the best of my judgment, that a judge would order the City to pay that amount of money.
Vice Mayor Regalado: The reason I'm asking that is because we have here the case of Josefina
Fernandez that has not been resolved by the City. And she was fired, she claims for political
reasons. She went to the Civil Board, and the Manager knows about this case. And, well she's
prepared to sue. And I was wondering if the Legal Department will hear her case...
Commissioner Plummer: If...
Vice Mayor Regalado: ... and recommend...
Mr. Jones: Yeah.
i
Vice Mayor Regalado: ... a settlement.
Mr. Jones: Mr. Vice Mayor, if in fact and if it is the case that it is, that she did not prevail before
the Civil Service Board and has effected an appeal which my office would handle, certainly we
would look, as we do in every case, propriety of whether we're going to persevere and win on
appeal or whether the chances are... I, only thing I can tell you, if that in tact is the case, I will
look at it and tell you what my best, tell this Commission what my best "guesstimation" on our
prevailing on it. And if that's the case, if it's something that I would be predisposed to
recommend to you to settle, then I would be inclined to do that.
Commissioner Plummer: She did not appeal.
Mayor Carollo: Well...
Commissioner Plummer: All right, skip it over.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Well, it's only. I know it's a legal matter, but it's only a perception you
know. Perception on the street is that we gave the money to Cesar Odio. Regardless of if we
were going to lose or not, and we're denying the money to Josefina. And it's a perception that,
it's going to be out there on the streets, whether we like it or not.
170 February 20, 1997
Mayor Carollo: Mr. City Attorney. Mr. City Attorney.
Mr. Jones: Yes.
Mayor Carollo: Can you sit down with Commissioner Regalado on this so he could explain it to
you and you can give him your legal opinion on it and then you could advise any of us...
Mr. Jones: I'll be happy to do that.
Mayor Carollo: .. personally on what you have told him verbally? That will be sufficient,
Commissioner?
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yeah.
Mayor Carollo: For the step, OK. There is a motion, there is a second on 23. All in favor
signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: No nays.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-98
A RESOLUTION CONTINUING THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE LAW FIRM OF
ECKERT SEAMANS CHERIN & MELLOT TO SERVE AS COUNSEL TO THE CITY
OF MIAMI IN CONNECTION WITH POST -TRIAL LITIGATION SERVICES AND
RETRIAL FOR THE CASE OF PERRY L. ANDERSON, JR. VS. CITY OF MIAMI,
JORGE L. FERNANDEZ, AND A. QUINN JONES, I1I, CASE NO. 92-0435-CIV-
GRAHAM, WITH ADDITIONAL FEES FOR SAID SERVICES NOT TO EXCEED
$75,000; ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR FROM THE SELF-INSURANCE AND
INSURANCE TRUST FUND, ACCOUNT CODE NO. 620103-661..
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gort, the resolution was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J L Plummer Jr
NAYS:
ABSENT:
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
None.
None.
171
February 20, 1997
t.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32. CONTINUE ENGAGEMENT OF LAW FIRM (OUTSIDE COUNSEL) WEISS,
SEROTA & HELFMAN, P.A. IN CONNECTION WITH PERSONNEL
MATTERS PERTAINING TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT --
ALLOCATE FUNDS ($10,000, SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND ACCTS.).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Carollo: Twenty-four. What is this all about? Gentlemen, it's late.
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, I11, Esq. (City Attorney): Twenty. I am sorry.
Mayor Carollo: We've got to more. What' is twenty-four all about?
Mr. Jones: Twenty-four, basically you will remember, there was this big investigation involving
the Department of Community Development where several employees were dismissed.
Mayor Carollo: Who are we talking about? I don't know what...
Mr. Jones: When... There were three individuals. I think there was Ivey Kearson, there was
Frank Castaneda who was demoted. There were two other employees who were fired.
Mayor Carollo: OK, who were the others?
Mr. Jones: One was a lady and I forgot. -One. was, Fred Hobson, I think. And I forget, Sonia...
Commissioner Plummer: Sonia, she was'th&Housirig...
Mr. Jones: Yeah, yeah.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Mr. Jones: And what happened was because, as you well know, that one of the individuals
involved was married to one of my Assistant City Attorneys for whom we had given under
represented, given legal advise. I didn't think it proper and the Canons of Ethics for me to be
an advocate in this situation. And this is when this Commission authorized representation.
We're pretty much at the tail end of it now. Mr. Kearson did appeal and this should be the last
segment of this whole saga. And so, I am told by Mr. Serota that if in fact we have to, which we
do have to continue the representation, that this should be the last episode in this.
Commissioner Hernandez: How much money have we paid out on this already in attorney fees,
Quinn?
Mr. Jones: My initial recollection is that the Commission originally approved, I think it was
fifteen ($15,000) or twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). Then there was a, I came back again for
another ten and this would be it. Keeping in mind that this involved three different arbitrations,
separate days. A lot of work that went into that. So, essentially that's what that's for and now
this appeal, Circuit Court appeal.
Commissioner Plummer: And that doesn't include all of the money that was spent through Civil
Service Board hearings and all...
Mr. Jones: Oh, I forgot to mention that.
172 February 20, 1997
A.
Commissioner Plummer: ... that went through depositions. It was...
Mr. Jones: But did include the Civil Service Board hearings as well. Those amounts are
mentioned.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah. No, no, excuse me. That was for the lawyers only.
Mr. Jones: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: I'm talking about all of the rest of it that goes into it.
Mayor Carollo: Did you get an 6pinionlrom the Florida Bar that in fact that this could be or was
a conflict of interest?
Mr. Jones: Commissioner, Mr. Mayor, I did not call Bar Counsel and ask for them. I, you
know, what I essentially did was look at the Canons of Ethics and essentially what it says is that
where the attorney is going to be an advocate and a material witness, and furthermore given the
fact that we had represented Mr. Kearson and his office in various matters, that it's proper under
those circumstances that my office which, and if one lawyer was conflicted out, then the whole
office is conflicted out. We don't have many situations like that. And again, I didn't feel
comfortable, given the fact that, that of course, I have an assistant who is married, who happened
to have been, you know...
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: So, we -just take it out of your. -salary..
Mayor Carollo: Who made the motion for this?
Commissioner Plummer: I did.
Mayor Carollo: Plummer made the motion, thank you. And...
Commissioner Hernandez: Second.
Mayor Carollo: ... and Hernandez seconds it. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: No nays.
173
February 20, 1997
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-99
A RESOLUTION CONTINUING THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE LAW FIRM OF
WEISS, SEROTA & HELFMAN, P.A. TO SERVE AS COUNSEL 1.0 THE CITY OF
MIAMI IN CONNECTION WITH PERSONNEL MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WITH ADDITIONAL FEES
FOR SAID SERVICES NOT TO EXCEED $10,000; ALLOCATING FUNDS
THEREFOR FROM SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND ACCOUNTS, CONTINGENT
FUND.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33. AUTHORIZE ENGAGING LAW FIRM (OUTSIDE COUNSEL) WEISS,
SEROTA & HELFMAN, P.A., IN CONNECTION WITH NEW TIMES
NEWSPAPERS OF FLORIDA, INC. VS. P. ANTHONY RIDDER, DADE
COUNTY, CITY OF MIAMI, & MIAMI SPORTS AND EXHIBITION
AUTHORITY, CASE 96-09374 CA 02 -- ALLOCATE FUNDS ($10,000,
ACCT. CODE 620103-653).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Carollo: Twenty-five.
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney): Mr. Mayor, likewise. This is a matter that really
started as a result of a public records request, when of course we were involved along with your
office and the Manager...
Mayor Carollo: And the Sports Authority.
Mr. Jones: Yeah, and the Sports Authority for attempting to get the Miami Heat to stay here.
And again, the same rule applied because we, at least I was involved as well as my deputy and of
course the Bar rule basically says, where you're going; to be a material witness which we have
been in this particular case or still may he, it's not proper for us to represent the City in this
instance.
174 February 20, 1997
i F
j
Mayor Carollo: How much have we spent on this so far?
Mr. Jones: On this particular case, I think the initial was ten thousand dollars ($10,000). And of
course this, of course this is what, the very inception of this case we thought it was going to be
something that was cut and dried but the New Times has basically extended this thing and is
litigating it like it's a major matter. So, that's what's caused us to incur the additional expenses.
I am hoping that this will he concluded as well.
Mayor Carollo: We've previously approved what, forty-five hundred, is what I have down here.
Mr. Jones: I don't think, but I can check for you. I think I came back with, it may have been
forty-five. It was forty-five hundred, you're correct. It was.
Mayor Carollo: Well, how much have they spent over the forty-five; hundred?
Mr. Jones: Right now, I think it's somewhere around seven thousand dollars ($7,000) altogether.
Mayor Carollo: Altogether?
Mr. Jones: Yes. And, hopefully like I said, this will he brought to conclusion. But you know,
there have been depositions upon depositions and...
Mayor Carollo: How much work have they actually done because I know we've done a lot of
work from our side?
Mr. Jones: There've been actually,,there's: been'a good, I'll say, a good fifty to sixty hours put
in so far.
Mayor Carollo: Well, I'll go up'.to another. ten thousand instead of the, twelve thousand.
Mr. Jones: OK then... We
ll, that's tine That's fine._
Commissioner Hernandez: Second
Commissioner Plummer: The question here is Mr. Ruder. Has he engaged a lawyer since he's '
being sued?
i
Mayor Carollo: He certainly has.
Mr. Jones: Yes, he has.
Mayor Carollo: Everybody has.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mr. Jones: And see, that's what is causing this thing to be prolonged. Because you know, once
I lawyers get involved it's...
i
Mayor Carollo: Tell me about it.
Mr. Jones: I know we know so well...
Mayor Carollo: Yeah. All right, there is a motion, there's a second. All in favor signify by
saying "aye."
175 February 20, 1997
A
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Mayor Carollo, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-100
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE LAW FIRM OF
WEISS, SEROTA & HELFMAN, P.A., TO SERVE AS COUNSEL TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI IN CONNECTION WITH THE LAWSUIT, NEW TIMES NEWSPAPERS OF
FLORIDA, INC. VS. P. ANTHONY RIDDER, DADE COUNTY, CITY OF MIAMI,
AND THE MIAMI SPORTS AND EXHIBITION AUTHORITY, ELEVENTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT CASE NO. 96-09374 CA 02, WITH FUNDS FOR SAID
SERVICES NOT TO EXCEED $10,000; ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR FROM
THE SELF-INSURANCE AND INSURANCE TRUST FUND, ACCOUNT CODE NO.
620103-653.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following`vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
34. AUTHORIZE SETTLEMENT: ROOSEVELT WALKER AND ALBERTA
WILSON WALKER ($87,500) -- TO YVONNE WILSON ($62,500).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Carollo: Twenty-six. You're recommending settlement?
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney): Yes, sir. This is a... and of course I've, you've
indicated to me before to speak with the Police Department and get their input on this case. This
happen to have been an intersection collision where our police officer ran a red light, hit this
particular car. The injuries were particularly severe. A torn meniscus, which is a knee injury
which the jury verdicts alone in Dade County, run for a torn meniscus anywhere from one
hundred thousand plus.
Mayor Carollo: There was eighty-two thousand in medical bills alone?
Mr. Jones: Yes.
176
February 20, 1997
Commissioner Hernandez: There was a surgery to the shoulder also.
Mr. Jones: So you have three individuals here involved. There was as couple, Mr. and Mrs.
Walker. Mr. Walker was the one that had the torn meniscus and his wife had back injury. Her
medicals alone were forty thousand. And then of course, there was the passenger of course, who
suffered...
Mayor Carollo: Daughter.
Mr. Jones: Yes.
Mayor Carollo: Shoulder and arm injury.
Mr. Jones: Right.
Mayor Carollo: All right.
Mr. Jones: So this case has in my estimation, have at least a,'especially given the liability factor.
This is a case that you really don't go in and contest liability,you basically get into a, as you
well know, you get into a trial and the damages.
Commissioner Plummer: The Police Department agreed with that?
Police Assistant Chief Martinez: Yes, Commissioner.
Mayor Carollo: You want to make the...?
Commissioner Hernandez: Quinn, according to your..
Mr. Jones: Yes.
Commissioner Hernandez: ... tort memo.
Mr. Jones: Yes.
Commissioner Hernandez: You're looking at;predieting about a three hundred thousand verdict
from the jury, right?
Mr. Jones: Oh, easily. With three individuals involved.. Yeah.
Commissioner Hernandez: Basically, you're settling at 50 percent of the, what you predict?
Mr. Jones: And actually, this is a settlement of two separate lawsuits.
Commissioner Hernandez: Right. I'll move, Mr. Mayor, to accept the settlement.
Mayor Carollo: OK, there is a motion to accept. Second by Plummer. All in favor signify by
saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: No nays.
Mr. Manuel Gonzalez-Goenaga: Yeah, Mr. Mayor. I wonder what's the issue, where is this
policeman, was he promoted to sergeant, or lieutenant?
177
February 20, 1997
1%
Commissioner Plummer: Chief.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: I won't he surprised. And let me tell you, and I am going to speak on
24, for one minute.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-101
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY TO
ROOSEVELT WALKER AND ALBERTA WILSON WALKER THE SUM OF
$87,500, AND TO YVONNE WILSON THE SUM OF $62,500, WITHOUT ANY
ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, IN FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ANY
AND ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI, IN THE
CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF DADE COUNTY,
CASE NO. 94-24307 CA (30), AND CASE NO. 94-01882 CA (27) RESPECTIVELY,
UPON THE EXECUTION OF A GENERAL RELEASE RELEASING THE CITY OF
MIAMI FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS; ALLOCATING FUNDS
THEREFOR FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI SELF-INSURANCE AND INSURANCE
TRUST FUND, INDEX CODE NO. 620103-653.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the resolution was passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35. AUTHORIZE CONTINUED FINANCING OF PROTRACTED, COMPLEX
INVESTIGATIONS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $160,000, FOR
POLICE -- ALLOCATE LETF FUNDS, ACCT. 69002.029032.6.679.
Mayor Carollo: Twenty-seven.
Commissioner Plummer: On twenty-seven, I'll move it with the following condition that once
the investigations are completed, that they will forward to each member of this Commission
exactly where everyone of the dollars were used. I so move.
178
February 20, 1997
E
Commissioner Hernandez: Second.
Mayor Carollo: If what now?
Commissioner Plummer: That once the. investigations, these protracted investigations are
completed, finished, that they will forward to this Commission a document demonstrating where
those monies were used.
Commissioner Plummer: Yes, sir.
Mayor Carollo: OK. Got any problems with that?
Police Capt. Longueira: Yes, sir. When the cases are completed, we will.
Commissioner Plummer: When they're finished.
Mayor Carollo: All right, that's fine. There is a motion by Plummer, second by Regalado. All
in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: No nays.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-102
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONTINUED FINANCING OF
PROTRACTED, COMPLEX INVESTIGATIONS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $160,000 FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE; ALLOCATING FUNDS
THEREFOR, FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND (LETF), ACCOUNT
69002.029032.6.679, SUCH EXPENDITURES HAVING BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE
CHIEF OF POLICE AS COMPLYING WITH FLORIDA STATE STATUTES,
CHAPTER 932.7055, AS AMENDED.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Commissioner Plummer: On 28, Mr. Mayor...
Mr. Manuel Gonzalez-Goenaga: Excuse me. I did say I wanted to make a clarification here.
179 February 20, 1997
►i
Mayor Carollo: On what? On what number?.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: On 27.
Mayor Carollo: Twenty-seven. Go ahead.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: If this Police Department 1 and correct me if I am wrong, all the Chiefs
and Indians - has not been able to make a simple investigation of the robbery of the safe in the
Police Department. Who stole that one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)? After so many
years, I don't think that you are prepared for protracted and complex investigations unless it has
been done at me where habitual offender act were trying to get me through that, through the
Baker Act, through the crime, organized crime papers and I have copy of everything. And, you
requested permission of my order to the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), and let me tell
you. You don't deserve to be alive, the Police Department. And three case are corning very
soon. My case, Mr. Vibanco (phonetic) and Mrs. Herrera. Get ready, babies.
Police Capt. Longueira: Mr. Mayor, if I could just make one little comment, to give you an
example of a protracted cases. Officer Paez (phonetic) of our department was, won the Officer
of the Year Award for a very big case involving a Colombian cartel bringing drugs into our City.
And that's the kind of cases it funded and I'd just like to make that on record.
Mayor Carollo: We understand that, Captain. No need to explain it, but I appreciate it.
-------------------------------------------
'AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO -EXECUTE CONTRACT WITH MIAMI-
DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SCHOOL OF JUSTICE AND SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION -- FOR PROVISION OF TRAINING SERVICES -- FOR
RECRUITS -- ALLOCATE FUNDS ($164,103.40 ACCT.
001000.290201.6.270).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commissioner Plummer: Item 28, Mr. Mayor I have been asked to bring forth the amount of
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)...
Mayor Carollo: You move it?
Commissioner Plummer: Well... Excuse me.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: Hold on. It's for the future funding but there is a balance due from
previous classes which is to be added to this amount of sixty-four thousand one hundred and
three dollars and forty cents ($64,103.40), which would then make the total one hundred and
sixty-four thousand one hundred and three dollars and forty cents ($164,103.40) for the total of
the back and the forward. I so move.
Mayor Carollo: Moved by Plummer.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Mayor Carollo: Second by Gort. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
180 February 20, 1997
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-103
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A
CONTRACT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH
MIAMI-DADE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SCHOOL OF JUSTICE AND SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION, FOR THE PROVISION OF TRAINING SERVICES FOR THE
MIAMI POLICE RECRUITS, IN AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$164,103.40; ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET, ACCOUNT NO.
001000.290201.6.270.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gort, the resolution was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
37. DISCUSS / DEFER CONSIDERATION OF EXTENSION OF CONTRACT
WITH MARTIN LAMAR UNIFORMS FOR PROVISION OF POLICE
UNIFORMS AND LEATHER GOODS,
Mayor Carollo: Twenty-nine. I'd like to... I have a problem with accepting this.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, defer it.
Mayor Carollo: We need to reject this hid so that we can then go through - all the other bids
we've had and get the lower price out of each bid that we've had.
Police Capt. Longueira: We are. We are, Mr. Mayor. What we're asking for is an extension.
The bid is current... a rebid is currently out on the street which will come back Monday. We will
then evaluate the bids and bring them hack to the Commission. And what it'll allows us to do, in
the past we took the total low hid. In the rebidding what we'll do is, if one company gives us
better prices on some items than another company, we can split the bids.
Mayor Carollo: But I think you had that done already. Why can't we do it from the bids that
we've had?
181 February 20, 1997 t
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j Police Chief Longueira: No, the original one I don't believe allowed that. We made
modifications to the bid. And, the real issue on this is that some of the proposals came back and
they didn't meet the specifications, so we're rebidding the item.
Mayor Carollo: Captain, let me say this.
` Commissioner Plummer: Who threw it out?
Mayor Carollo: Let's get it right this time and no games playing for anybody, OK?
Police Capt. Longueira: Oh, I agree with you totally.
Commissioner Plummer: Who threw out the other bids?
Police Capt. Longueira: Judy Carter. There was a protest filed with Judy Carter and meeting
with our people, she rejected, you know, that process and we are rebidding it.
Commissioner Plummer: I thought only the City Commission could throw out the bids. Mr.
City Attorney, it was my understanding on an RFP (Request For Proposal) or a bidding process,
that only the City Commission could throw out bids.
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Clerk): I'm not sure whether it says this. I think it says the
City may reject any and all bids.
Police Capt. Longueira: Yeah. Yeah, we can reject at any point we're not happy with the
results.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mayor Carollo: Well, first of all, this is beginning of February 1st. We're on February 20th
now. You know what, this is one that I'll like to bring back on the 27th.
Commissioner Plummer: I said defer it.
Police Capt. Longueira: Commissioner, I mean Mayor. The issue with us is we're getting ready
to start police academy classes and that is what this'is for, is new uniforms for them.
i
Mayor Carollo: Another week ain't going to matter. I want my staff to research this whole thing
here.
Police Capt. Longueira: OK. All right.
Mayor Carollo: We'll bring it back on the 27th.
Police Capt. Longueira: OK.
Mayor Carollo: A motion to defer from Commissioner Plummer.
Commissioner Plummer: Always in order.
Commissioner Hernandez: Second.
Mayor Carollo: Second by Commissioner Hernandez. All in favor, signify by saying "aye."
182 February 20, 1997
i
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 97-104
A MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEM 29 (PROPOSED
EXTENSION OF A CONTRACT WITH MARTIN'S LAMAR UNIFORMS FOR
POLICE UNIFORMS AND LEATHER GOODS) TO THE COMMISSION MEETING
SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 27, I997.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, the motion was passed and adapted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: ITEM 33 - DISCUSSION
REGARDING PARROT JUNGLE LEASE MODIFICATIONS
PROPOSED BY LESSEE WAS DEFERRED.
i
38. BRIEFLY DISCUSS MEMORANDUM FROM RON WILLIAMS
REGARDING SOLID WASTE SERVICE LEVELS.
-- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Carollo: Let's see, 36. Discussion concerning Solid Waste service levels, we've got your
memo, Ron. You know, if we have any further questions we'll give you a call.
----------------- --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
39. BRIEFLY DISCUSS / DEFER CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED
REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS TO PENSION BOARD MEMBERS.
-------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
I
Mayor Carollo: So we're ready to move on 37.
Commissioner Plummer: A question on 37, to reinstate these people, are they paid by the
pension board?
Ms. Angela Bellamy (Assistant City Manager/Personnel Management): Yes, they are.
183 February 20, 1997
Commissioner Plummer: And is there medical. benefits which they're so much involved, is that
paid for by the pension board?
Ms. Bellamy: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: Then why are we worried about?
Ms. Bellamy: Well...
Mayor Carollo: Because it's coming out of the monies that we give them.
Commissioner Plummer: Not necessarily.
Ms. Bellamy: It's paid by the pension..board but it's out of the General Fund and it's part of the
administration. So in fact, we do pay f6r-it.
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager):Mr. Mayor, Ron Silver...
Mayor Carollo: We had... Excuse me, . Mr. Manager. We had given this to you so you could
come back to us with a recommendation.
Mr. Marquez: Right.
Mayor Carollo: That's what we really need.
..-Mr. Marquez: Well, all right. First off,.. let- me Just say Ron Silver has asked that this item be
deferred because he wanted to talk on the item as I gave my recommendations.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Mr. Marquez: Under the Stierheim plan...
Mayor Carollo: Well, if we're going to defer it...
Commissioner Plummer: Let's defer it.
Mayor Carollo: .. let's bring it...
Commissioner Hernandez: Defer it.
Mayor Carollo: .. back to the 27th it. Put it on the agenda, the 27th.
Commissioner Hernandez: Deferred,
Mayor Carollo: Thank you.
Commissioner Hernandez: Motion to defer.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Mayor Carollo: Second. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
184 February 20, 1997
R
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 97-105
A MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEM 37 (PROPOSED
REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS FORMALLY RECEIVED BY MEMBERS OF
THE PENSION BOARDS) TO THE COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULED FOR
FEBRUARY 27, 1997.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gort, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
-------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
40. BRIEFLY DISCUSS: ANNUAL REPORTS OF CITY BOARDS /
COMMITTEES.
Mayor Carollo: Discussion 38, concerning the annual reports to City board, committees, City
board and committees.
Commissioner Plummer: My two are --in. My two boards are in.
Commissioner Gort: Mine are in, too.
Commissioner Plummer: I don't know who we surrendered them to, but mine are in.
Commissioner Gort: City Clerk.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Clerk.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, have you gotten in the annual reports from the Sports Authority?
Mr. Walter J. Foeman (City Clerk): The Manager's office has those reports now.
Mayor Carollo: Good. Do you have them from the Sports Authority?
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): Not, I don't know sir. I am not aware of them.
Mayor Carollo: Can you let me know, because if you don't, I need to know right tomorrow, so
that on Tuesday you either get the report or someone gets another report.
185 February 20, 1997
Mr. Marquez: We will have the answer to your office, tomorrow morning.
Mayor Carollo: Thank you. OK. No further action needed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41. MAYOR CAROLLO APPOINTS VICE -MAYOR REGALADO TO A REVIEW
COMMITTEE OF ONE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY
MANAGER ON DEVELOPMENT OF NET 9 TELEVISION STATION.
Mayor Carollo: Thirty-nine. Did you ask for this to be put on the...
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yeah I, several weeks ago I asked the Manager to give me a report about
NET 9, and he suggested that we create a committee...
Mayor Carollo: Can I do the following, if we could? The only person that we have up here that
has the expertise in communications is Commissioner Regalado. I'd like to name him in a
committee of one, if he would like to get some other people in the field, maybe from the
University of Miami, Florida International University...
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Mayor Carollo: .. and their Communications Department to come back and give a proposal to
this Commission of what they would recommend to this Commission that we do with NET 9.
We have a prime television channel that's going to pure waste. Outside of Commissioner
meetings and some of our board meetings, it goes to waste. We need to do something
constructive with that, put it to some good use. So...
Commissioner Hernandez: I move to appoint Commissioner Regalado to a one person
committee and...
Commissioner Plummer: I agree. The problem Joe, that you're going to run into to. I've tried
to use Channel 9 for the International Trade Beard putting half hour programs together both in
English and in Spanish. And they don't have the money for production.
Mayor Carollo: Well...
Commissioner Plummer: And that's where you're going to have to be very careful.
Mayor Carollo: .. let's see if by him talking to the Communications Department of those
universities, something could be worked out.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, may I just offer you one suggestion? You might do like Channel
2, because we had offers before from a certain phone company who would not advertise but,
"this hour is brought to you by the foundation of."
Vice Mayor Regalado: J.L., that's what I told the Manager many weeks ago.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, but foundations are in the out by now.
Vice Mayor Regalado: We can have sponsors that will just like the Channel 2 type...
186 February 20, 1997
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Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, that's...
Vice Mayor Regalado: And as a matter of fact, we can have state money to fund...
Mayor Carollo: Sure, but also we might have same room in the negotiations that we're going to
have with whatever cable company we'll end up with. So, having said that there is a motion.
And I'd rather do it in the form of a motion, from Commissioner Hernandez.
Commissioner Plummer: Fine, I second it.
Mayor Carollo: Second by Commissioner Plummer, naming Commissioner Regalado to come
back to us with a report on this.
Commissioner Plummer: So be it.
Mayor Carollo: All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 97-106
A MOTION APPOINTING VICE MAYOR REGALADO AS A COMMITTEE OF
ONE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NET 9 TELEVISION STATION.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42. DISCUSS 1997 CITY OF MIAMI STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA --
APPOINT COMMISSIONER GORT AS TALLAHASSEE REPRESENTATIVE
OF CITY -- URGE LOBBYING EFFORTS FOR FUNDS AVAILABLE FROM
STARE FOR PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS.
Mayor Carollo: OK, 39-A we did. Thirty-nine B. Discussion concerning the 1997 City of
Miami State Legislative Agenda.
Commissioner Plummer: In reading it, the one thing that I asked for to be on there, I didn't find.
And that was the pilot program on tax exempt properties.
187
February 20, 1997
Mr. Edward Marquez (City Manager): That was an oversight, Commissioner. No, I stand
corrected.
Ms. Ana Proenza: We don't need a bill this year for the pilot program.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, no I'm not saying a bill. I'm just saying that we want to make
sure that it is addressed in the legislature in whatever way that it needs to be done.
Ms. Proenza: It is being addressed with staff as a continuation of what we did last year.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mayor Carollo: All right...
Vice Mayor Regalado: Is there a deadline to include anything on the agenda?
Commissioner Plummer: Tomorrow.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Tomorrow?
Mayor Carollo: OK, if I may, before we proceed on this item. It's been the tradition in the past
that the Mayor will appoint someone on the Commission to be sort of our liaison and
representative in Tallahassee. So, what I'd like to do is for this session to name Commissioner
Gort to be that representative in Tallahassee for us.
Commissioner Hernandez: I move to appoint Commissioner Gort as -liaison between the City of
Miami...
Mayor Carollo: There is a motion by Commissioner Hernandez, second by Vice Mayor
Regalado. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Commissioner Gort: Thank you. I want you to know that the Dade County League of Cities
City is working real closely with the City of Miami and all the cities through their whole
package and so are the Florida Legue Cities. Thank you.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 97-107
A MOTION APPOINTING COMMISSIONER GORT AS THE CITY
COMMISSION'S REPRESENTATIVE IN TALLAHASSEE REGARDING STATE
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AFFECTING MIAMI.
188 February 20, 1997
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Y�
Upon being seconded by Vice Mayer Regalado, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayer Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Mayor Carollo: OK. All right, is there anything else that we need to point in 39-13? If I may, if
you could tell Ms. Canton, I don't think I saw it in that list. There is two and a half million
dollars ($2,500,000) available from the state for professional sports teams for places like the
Orange Bowl. We need to put every effort on that. I've started that already in Tallahassee from
our side of the Sports Authority and some other people that have been helping but, we also need
her involved in that.
Commissioner Plummer: Did I read it in a memo or in that package about, involving soccer to
be qualified? It's in a memo?
Mayor Carollo: It's in the bottom here?
Commissioner Plummer: It's in the package, yeah. OK. It's in the package already so that they
could try to use soccer, which obviously is not a permitted use now. That soccer would be able
to be used, some of that monies that was designated for sports.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: It's already there.
Mayor Carollo: I believe it's this one, but if not make sure that you all let her know that it's the
two and a half million that's allocated for this year. This might be something else, I am not sure.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43. NOMINATE INDIVIDUALS TO REPRESENT NEIGHBORHOODS OF
LITTLE HAVANA / MODEL CITY / WYNWOOD -- FROM WHICH SAID
NOMINEES, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL SELECT TWO
INDIVIDUALS FROM EACH NEIGHBORHOOD TO SERVE ON FEDERAL
ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY COUNCIL (HELENS DE MONTE, RALPH
PACKINGHAM, MARK VALLE, SABRINA BOWIE, FRANK JOHNSON)
Commissioner Plummer: All right, let's go the appointments and get out of here.
Mayor Carollo: OK, let's go to the appointments.
Commissioner Plummer: On 40-1, I only have one Mr. Mayor, and that is for the Wynwood
area, Helena Del Monte.
189
February 20, 1997
Commissioner Hernandez: I have one, Model City, Ralph Packingham. I have a...
Mr. Walter J. Foeman (City Clerk): Excuse me. Commissioner, what target area?
Commissioner Plummer: I said Wynwood.
Mr. Foeman: Oh, Wynwood. OK.
Commissioner Hernandez: Quinn?
Commissioner Plummer: City Attorney?
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney): Yes, sir.
Commissioner Hernandez: I have a question. Can an'employee of the City of Miami serve on
one of these Federal Enterprise Committees?
Mr. Jones: I'll look into it. I am not sure.
Commissioner Hernandez: I don't... They don'.t get paid or anything, I mean...
Mr. Jones: Is it independent of the City?
Commissioner Plummer: Are they strictly advisory?
Commissioner Hernandez: Yeah, - it's strictly advisory.
Mr. Jones: I don't see why not. It's OK, if it's advisory.
Commissioner Hernandez: We've got Model City, Ralph Packingham and Wynwood I want
Mark Valle.
Vice Mayor Regalado: I have for Model City on the Federal Enterprise Community Council,
Sabrina Bouie.
Mayor Carollo: OK. For the same council. fcr Little Havana, I have Frank Johnson.
Commissioner Plummer: If there is no appointments...
Mr. Foeman: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor, what?
Commissioner Plummer: I move those names proffered be accepted.
Vice Mayor Regalado: There is more appointments.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, I'm sorry.
Vice Mayor Regalado: I have. I have.
Mr. Foeman: For what target, for what area Mr. Mayor, your appointments?
Mayor Carollo: Mine?
190
February 20, 1997
Vice Mayor Regalado: Little Havana.
Mayor Carollo: Little Havana, Frank Johnson.
Vice Mayor Regalado: I have two appointments for the Commission on the Status of Women.
Mr. Foeman: Can we get a roll call on the first one, Federal Enterprise Council?
Commissioner Plummer: I'll move that those names proferred for 40.1 be adopted.
Commissioner Hernandez: Second.
Mayor Carollo: There's a motion. There's a second. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Carollo: No nays.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-108
A RESOLUTION NOMINATING CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS TO REPRESENT THE
NEIGHBORHOODS OF ALLAPATTAH, LITTLE HAVANA, MODEL CITY,
OVERTOWN AND WYNWOOD, FORM WHICH SAID NOMINEES, ALONG WITH
NOMINEES PREVIOUSLY PROFERRED, THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS WILL SELECT TWO INDIVIDUALS FROM EACH
NEIGHBORHOOD TO SERVE ON THE FEDERAL ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY
COUNCIL.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS:
ABSENT:
None.
None.
191
February 20, 1997
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44. DISCUSS APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN.
Mayor Carollo: Anybody else wants to make any more appointments or...
Commissioner Hernandez: Yeah.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yes, I do. I have an appointment, two appointments on the Commission
on the Status of Women. Marisela Carballo and Susan Torriente.
Commissioner Plummer: Those names proffered. I move they be accepted.
Commissioner Hernandez: I have somebody for the Status of Women, also. Nilsa Velazques. I
believe that's my last appointment there.
---------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
45. APPOINT PAUL SINGERMAN / LINDA EADS TO BAYFRONT PARK
MANAGEMENT TRUST.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commissioner Plummer: Can I go. to 40.21? The last, next to the last one: Commissioner
Hernandez, you thought that at the last meeting you appointed Rick Singerman.
Commissioner Hernandez: Absolutely.
Commissioner Plummer: The motion was made and it was seconded but we found out later that
it was never voted on.
i
Commissioner Hernandez: Correct.' '
Commissioner Plummer: So you have t6rehominate him again'today...
Commissioner Hernandez: Correct.
Commissioner Plummer: .. for 40.21. The Commission at Large seat is Alan Weinstein who
resigned, who was my appointment. And I am appointing the name of Linda Eads.
Commissioner Hernandez: And I'm appointing Paul Singerman.
Mayor Carollo: OK.
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, so...
Mayor Carollo: There is a motion by Commissioner Gort, second by Vice Mayor Regalado. All
in favor signify by saying "aye,"
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
192 February 20, 1997
t
The fallowing resolution was introduced by Commissioner Gort, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-109
+ A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AN INDIVIDUAL TO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF
THE BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED
HEREIN.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Mayor Regalado , the resolution was passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
i------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------
46. APPOINT JACK KING TO WATERFRONT BOARD.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Carollo: Anyone else needs to appoint?
Vice Mayor Regalado: Yes, I do. I have an appointment for the Waterfront board, Jack King.
Commissioner Plummer: Which Jack King?
Vice Mayor Regalado: That, Jack King.
Commissioner Plummer: Which one?
Vice Mayor Regalado: That one, over...
Commissioner Plummer: You got to be kidding.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Well, he and I...
i
Commissioner Plummer: You didn't do that?
! Vice Mayor Regalado: Yes, I did.
f
Commissioner Plummer: You been drinking again?
i
Vice Mayor Regalado: Never do.
193 February 20, 1997
!
Commissioner Hernandez: I move that appointment be confirmed.
Commissioner Plummer: Can I vote against it?
Vice Mayor Regalado: Of course you can. But you take with him.
Mayor Carollo: Plummer moves to deter the item.
Commissioner Plummer: It's a deny.
Mayor Carollo: Hernandez seconds it.
Commissioner Plummer: It's a unammous vote.
Mayor Carollo: A motion and second. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively)`. Aye.
Commissioner Plummer: Definitely...
Mayor Carollo: That was the' first motion not the second, Jack.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-110
A RESOLUTION APPOINTING CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE AS
REGULAR MEMBERS OF THE WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD FOR TERMS
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
NAYS:
ABSENT:
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
None.
None.
194
February 20, 1997
r
-------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
47. (A)APPOINT RUBEN ARIAS TO TAX-EXEMPT PROPERTY STEERING
COMMITTEE.
(B)BRIEF COMMENTS BY ELBERT WATERS ON AFFORDABLE
HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.
Vice Mayor Regalado: I have the last appointment for the Tax -Exempt Property Steering
Committee, Ruben Arias.
Commissioner Hernandez: I move to approve.
Commissioner Plummer: Second.
Mr. Elbert Waters (Director, NET/Community Development); Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Carollo: There's a motion, there's a second. What's: the problem?
Mr. Waters: There is 40.2, the Affordable Housing at Large`seat.
Commissioner Plummer: Hey, Joe.
Mayor Carollo: Commission at Large:
Commissioner Hernandez: Yoti didn',t say all in favor because we...
Mayor Carollo: Who did you mention?''
Mr. Waters: No, there is not a name. that we mentioned. Lam saying that we, the board didn't
have an opportunity to make an appointment for this at large seat.
Mayor Carollo: Well, we don't have a name. We're going to have to bring it back on the 27th.
Mr. Waters: OK, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: What is that?
Commissioner Hernandez: He mentioned we made a motion to approve his appointment but we
haven't voted on it.
Commissioner Plummer: Please.
Mayor Carollo: OK, which one? Is that Jack King?
Vice Mayor Regalado: The last one was the tax-exempt property.
Mayor Carollo: Oh, that's right. There's a motion, there's a second. All in favor signify by
saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
195
February 20, 1997
Mayor Carollo: Passed unanimously.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Hernandez, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-111
A RESOLUTION APPOINTING CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE AS
MEMBERS OF THE TAX-EXEMPT PROPERTY STEERING COMMITTEE FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the resolution was passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48. APPOINT MATTHEW CICERO / SANTIAGO ECHEMENDIA TO
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commissioner Plummer: Are we on pocket items?
Commissioner Hernandez: I have a...
Mayor Carollo: Yes, we are. I have the first one,
Commissioner Plummer: No, who said so.
Commissioner Hernandez: Can I make one more, "two more appointments to the Downtown
Development board.
Mayor Carollo: Hold on we've got one more appointment, Downtown Development.
Commissioner Plummer: No, come on.
Commissioner Hernandez.: My two appointments are Matthews Cicero and attorney Santiago
Echemendia.
Mayor Carollo: OK. There is a motion by Commissioner Plummer,
Commissioner Plummer: Yeap.
196 February 20, 1997
Mayor Carollo: Second by Commissioner Regalado. All those in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-112
A RESOLUTION APPOINTING CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE AS
MEMBERS OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR TERMS AS
DESIGNATED HEREIN.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Mayor Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49. ESTABLISH CITY OF PALERMO, ITALY, AS SISTER CITY.
Mayor Carollo: OK, I have a pocket item. Now, that we're in pocket items, it's a resolution
designating the City of Palermo, Italy, as a "Sister City" of the City of Miami, Florida.
Commissioner Plummer: Thank you, Commissioner DeYurre. I move it.
Mayor Carollo: No, no. With DeYurre, you never got a "Sister City." You never got a "Sister
City" in Italy with him. Might have gotten other things, but not "Sister City" in Italy.
Commissioner Plummer: You understand under the policy of this City Commission, any man
that recommends a city has to be responsible for it?
Mayor Carollo: I will be responsible for Palermo.
Commissioner Plummer: So he it.
Mayor Carollo: There's a...
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, he can visit it as much as he wants to, at his expense.
197
February 20, 1997
Mayor Carollo: It's on them.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, right.
Mayor Carollo: And the Mayor of Palermo will be here in March.
Commissioner Plummer: Good, we'll buy him a pizza.
Mayor Carollo: Moved by the distinguished Commissioner Plummer.
Commissioner Plummer: You bet your bippy.
Mayor Carollo: Very senior member, Commissioner Plummer.
Commissioner Plummer: Loud mouth.
Mayor Carollo: See how much you can laugh when they get here. And second by
Commissioner Regalado. All in favor signify by saying "aye.11
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-113
A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE CITY OF-PALERMO, ITALY, AS A "SISTER
CITY" OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Mayor Regalado , the resolution was passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
NAYS:
ABSENT:
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
None.
None.
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February 20, 1997
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50. AUTHORIZE CITY OF MIAMI CEMETERY TASK FORCE TO BECOME A
CITY BOARD.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. Mayor, before we leave, can?
Commissioner Plummer: Wait a minute, wait. Wait a minute, we've got pockets.
Mayor Carollo: Yeah, pockets.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Oh, OK.
Vice Mayor Regalado: I have a question.
Commissioner Plummer: This one is a conflict of interest for me. Dade Heritage Trust is
asking, and I've run it by the City Attorney. The City of Miami Cemetery Task force they
established, and they're asking that that task force become a City Board for the protection,
security and beautification of one of Miami's landmarks, the City Cemetery. The City Attorney,
Linda advised me that there was no reason that it couldn't be.So I will move as to the request of
Enid Pitney that the City of Miami Cemetery Task Force become a City of Miami board. I so
move.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK.
Mayor Carollo: Could you repeat that again?
Commissioner Plummer: I move that the City of Miami Cemetery Task Force appointed by the
Dade Heritage Trust be as requested a City of Miami board. Hello, I moved it.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK, second.
Commissioner Plummer: I'm calling collect.
Mayor Carollo: There's a motion by Plummer.
Commissioner Gort: Are you going to serve on the Cemetery Board?
Commissioner Plummer: No, I am not serving on that Cemetery Board.
Mayor Carollo: There is a motion by Plummer. Well, you're the only that's got the experience
in that field.
Commissioner Plummer: No, no, no.
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III, Esq. (City Attorney): What are they going to do? Is it going to be
advisory?
Commissioner Plummer: They are to seek protection, security and beautification, and I think the
City has allocated now two hundred and sixty thousand dollars ($260,000) for the cemetery's
199 February 20, 1997
I
renovations or whatever. I would assume that they want to be sitting on top of that to make sure
that it's money well spent.
Mr. Jones: They're not going to administer funds or anything, are they?
Commissioner Plummer: It doesn't say that here.
Mr. Jones: No, OK.
Mayor Carollo: OK, there is a motion by Commissioner Plummer second by...
Vice Mayor Regalado: Me.
Mayor Carollo: .. Vice Mayor Regalado. Any questions?
Commissioner Plummer: I think, you know, let me read the last paragraph, Joe. What they're
trying to do is get other people involved. The cemetery's next door neighbor, Temple Israel
congregation has taken an interest in our task force as well as a Flowering Tree Society, the
Miami Beautification Committee, The African -American Heritage of Dade and other
environmental groups to help out in this endeavor.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. Mayor, the one...
Mayor Carollo: All in favor, signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-114
A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE "CITY OF MIAMI CEMETERY TASK
FORCE", A TASK FORCE OF THE DADE HERITAGE TRUST, AS AN OFFICIAL
CITY OF MIAMI ADVISORY BOARD.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
200 February 20, 1997 a
r
ts;
Upon being seconded by Vice Mayor Regalado, the resolution was passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
i
------------------ --------------------------------- --------- -------------------------------------------
51. ISSUE CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF NATHANIEL "TEDDY" DEAN ON
HIS PASSING AWAY.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, if I may? A man that I think that everyone of us knows,
and some are surprised to find out of his passing. But I wanted to make sure that it's on the
books of this City. And I guess it's Nathaniel Dean, we all knew him as "Teddy" Dean.
Mayor Carollo: When did he die?
Commissioner Plummer: Teddy died, I understand Sunday morning at Veterans Hospital. And I
have been waiting to hear, his wife promised to call me and tell me when the funeral would be.
But, even though he never worked, I don't think, officially for the City, he surely worked in
everybody's involvement of every campaign. And I just think that we should send the
appropriate as we do, spread it across the minutes and send a resolution to the family offering
our condolences. I so move.
Mayor Carollo: Moved by Commissioner Plummer.
Commissioner Gort: Second the motion.
Mayor Carollo: Second by Commissioner Gort. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
201 February 20, 1997
i
` The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-115
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND SINCEREST
CONDOLENCES OF THE CITY COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI AND ITS CITIZENS TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF NATHANIEL
DEAN UPON HIS UNTIMELY DEATH.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gort, the resolution was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Carollo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
52. BRIEF DISCUSSION REGARDING DINNER KEY WATERFRONT
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
Vice Mayor Regalado: Mr. Mayor, one, last, brief question. Several days ago you suggested
that we should have a meeting, a special meeting to discuss Dinner Key Waterfront property and
the possible lease. We're told now, that we have to wait until May. Can we do this special
session before May, because I think that we're waiting. I know that the Manager has the
recovery plan to present but, there is something that we have to do with that property. I was
saying that if we can have the special session that you said, on the Waterfront property here, the
Dinner Key?
Mayor Carollo: You're saying that on the special meeting that I said we need to hold?
Vice Mayor Regalado: Right. We were told that we had to wait until May OO.to discuss this
issue. And I wondering if we can go ahead and have this meeting, so we can hear all these
groups?
Mayor Carollo: The problem that we're having Vice Mayor, and this is why the Manager
recommended that, is that lie is so tied up...
Vice Mayor Regalado: I know that.
Mayor Carollo: .. with the April 15th deadline. As you know, I'm pretty tied up with that too,
trying to meet the deadlines that we have to. And, you know, this is so important for us that I
202
February 20, 1997
want to make sure that we're going to be giving it the attention that we need. It's up to the
Commission, in what the Commission wants to do. But, I was under the impression that we
were going along with the Manager's recommendation on that.
Vice Mayor Regalado: No, I. If I may, next meeting I would try?
Mayor Carollo: What you want...? Why don't you bring it up the next meeting, the 27th?
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK.
Mayor Carollo: And we'll discuss it then.
Vice Mayor Regalado: I'll do that.
Mayor Carollo: If we could do it.::
Commissioner Gort: Right away.
Mayor Carollo: .. right after the 15th, that might be tine.
Vice Mayor Regalado: OK.
Mayor Carollo: But, we've got a long haul between now and the 15th. A long haul. All right,
this meeting is adjourned. Thank you all.
----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
53. RE -SCHEDULE CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF MARCH 13, 1997 TO
MARCH 20, 1997.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commissioner Plummer: Woa! We need to establish, the meeting dates for March. I would
recommend..
Mayor Carollo: The 20th and the 27th?
Commissioner Plummer: The Twentieth and 27th, I so move.
Mayor Carollo: There is a motion by Plummer, second by Commissioner Hernandez for the
20th and 27th of March. All in favor signify by saying "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
203
February 20, 1997
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 97-116
A RESOLUTION RESCHEDULING THE FIRST REGULAR CITY COMMISSION
MEETING OF MARCH, 1997, TO TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 20, 1997.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Hernandez, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Humberto Hernandez
Vice Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Joe Caro Ilo
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITY
COMMISSION, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:16 P.M.
ATTEST:
Walter J. Foeman
CITY CLERK
Maria J. Argudin
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
JOE CAROLLO
MAYOR
coo.
204
February 20, 1997
t