HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1996-03-23 MinutesCITY
OF
Is s 10 N
m U T E S
I N
MARCH 2 3, 1996
OF MEETING HELD ON
• PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF TY THE CITY CLERK
CIHALL
WALTER FOEMAN
CITY CLERK
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ITEM
NO.
INDEX
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
March 23, 1996
SUBJECT LEGISLATION PAGE
NO.
(A) COMMISSION CONGRATULATES R 96-200 2-3
CARIDAD RIOS (PARKS & RECREATION R 96-200.1
DEPARTMENT) ON 52ND WEDDING 3/23/96
ANNIVERSARY.
(B) EXPRESS SYMPATHY AND
CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS
OF MANUEL SUAREZ CARRENO, FORMER
MAYOR XAVIER
(C) EXPRESS SYMPATHY AND
CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS
OF CARMEN MAINE.
1,
2. PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING CITY OF
MIAMI FY 1996-97 PROPOSED
CONSOLIDATED PLAN.
(A) REINSTATE SOCIAL SERVICE
AGENCIES WHICH PROVIDE FOOD /
MEDICAL / TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS
TO SAME FUNDING AS LAST YEAR.
(B) REINSTATE CAMACOL (LATIN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) TO $150,000
FUNDING.
(C) ESTABLISH POLICY: POLICE
CHIEF TO GIVE TOP PRIORITY TO
CONSOLIDATED PLAN ITEMS
(AGENCIES) TO BE FUNDED FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND (LETF).
(D) REINSTATE SOCIAL SERVICE
AGENCIES WHICH PROVIDE CHILD CARE
TO SAME FUNDING AS LAST YEAR.
(E) RESERVE $3 MILLION (OUT OF $8
MILLION) FOR PERMANENT HOUSING
FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS (HOPWA) --
INCLUDE REVERTER CLAUSE.
(F) ESTABLISH $60,000 MAXIMUM FOR
PERMANENT HOMES FUNDED OUT OF
HOPWA.
(G) ACCEPT CITY STAFF / CITYWIDE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY
BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING
ALL OTHER ITEMS IN PLAN.
(H) AUTHORIZE MANAGER TO SUBMIT
CITY OF MIAMI'S FISCAL YEAR 1996-
1997 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED PLAN
TO HUD, INCLUDING FUNDING
PROJECTIONS FOR CDBG, HOME
INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS (HOME),
EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT (ESG),
AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
PERSONS WITH AIDS (HOPWA)
PROGRAMS. (See label 7)
M 96-201
M 96-202
M 96-203
M 96-204
M 96-205
M 96-206
M 96-207
R 96-208
3/23/96
4-60
3.
FIRST READING ORDINANCE:
ORDINANCE 61
ESTABLISH FOUR NEW SPECIAL
FIRST
REVENUE FUNDS AND APPROPRIATE
READING
FUNDS FOR THEIR OPERATION: (A)
3/23/96
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
(22ND YEAR) - $13,709,000; (B)
HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM (HOME) - $4,038,000; (C)
EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT (ESG) -
$494,000; AND (D) HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH
AIDS (HOPWA) - $2,700,000 -- FROM
21ST YEAR CDBG PROGRAM INCOME, AS
APPROVED BY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) --
TOTAL CDBG APPROPRIATION:
$16,409,000.
4.
(A) FIRST READING ORDINANCE:
ORDINANCE 62-66
ESTABLISH RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
FIRST
FOR BOARD MEMBERS / KEY PERSONNEL
READING
OF COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
3/23/96
(CBO) AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATIONS (CDC) WHICH SOLICIT
FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
(B) DIRECT CITY CLERK TO
ADVERTISE SAID ORDINANCE FOR
SECOND READING ON APRIL 25, 1996.
5.
PERSONAL APPEARANCE: HUSSAM I.
DISCUSSION 66-68
LATEEF (COMMUNITY BUSINESS COOP)
3/23/96
REQUESTS ASSISTANCE CONCERNING
UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS IN
OVERTOWN.
6.
CALL SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION
DISCUSSION 68
MEETING FOR APRIL 2, 1996,
3/23/96
CONCERNING THE MARITIME PARK.
7.
(Continued) CLARIFYING COMMENTS
DISCUSSION 69-72
CONCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS (CITY
3/23/96
STAFF OR CITYWIDE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD) IN
CONNECTION WITH 1996-1997
PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED PLAN. (See
label 2I)
k,
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE
CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
On the 23rd day of March,1996, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its
regular meeting place in the City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida to consider a
matter of public import, namely, the adoption of the City's Consolidated Plan.
The meeting was called to order at 10:04 a.m. by Mayor Stephen P. Clark with the
following members of the Commission found to be present:
Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
ALSO PRESENT:
ABSENT:
A. Quinn Jones, III, City Attorney
Carlos Smith, Assistant City Manager
Walter J. Foeman, City Clerk
Maria J. Argudin, Assistant City Clerk
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Cesar H. Odio, City Manager
t
1 March 23, 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. (A) COMMISSION CONGRATULATES CARIDAD RIOS (PARKS &
RECREATION DEPARTMENT) ON 52ND WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY.
(B) EXPRESS SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY AND
FRIENDS OF MANUEL SUAREZ CARRENO, FORMER MAYOR
XAVIER
(C) EXPRESS SYMPATHY AND CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY AND
FRIENDS OF CARMEN MAINE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commissioner Plummer: First, I would like to put on the record of a thing of congratulations to
Caridad Rios. Caridad is the keeper of Curtis Park, and today she is celebrating her 52nd
wedding anniversary. So I think that ought to be on the record. Two others, Mr. Mayor. I think
that this Commission would like to express its condolences to the father of Xavier Suarez, who
passed away.
Mayor Clark: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: Unfortunately, as I expressed to Xavier last night, we will not be able
to attend the funeral because of the fact that we are here. And second of all, a very dear friend,
who I just found out, Carmen Maine passed away...
Mayor Clark: Last week.
Commissioner Plummer: ...from the Useful Aged, who was a very fine person in this
community, who at all times put this community first. So I think it is appropriate that we spread
across the minutes our condolences and express to the families of both the prayers of this
Commission.
Mayor Clark: That's in the form of a resolution. Seconded by Mr. Gort. Cast a unanimous
consent, Mr. Clerk.
2 March 23, 1996
The following resolutions were introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved their
adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 96-200
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST SYMPATHY AND SINCEREST
CONDOLENCES OF THE CITY COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI AND ITS CITIZENS TO FORMER CITY OF MIAMI MAYOR, XAVIER L.
SUAREZ, MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MANUEL SUAREZ-
CARRENO, UPON HIS UNTIMELY DEATH.
RESOLUTION NO.96-200.1
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 CARMEN
MAINE, UPON HIS UNTIMELY DEATH.
(Here follows body of resolutions, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Mayor Gort, the resolutions were passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Mayor Clark: The hour is 10:06.
Commissioner Plummer: I'm sorry, sir. You want to start, fine with me.
Mayor Clark: Would you all please rise for an invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance.
An invocation was delivered by Mayor Clark who then led those present in a pledge of
allegiance to the flag.
3 March 23, 1996
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--------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
2. PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING CITY OF MIAMI FY 1996-97
PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED PLAN.
(A) REINSTATE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES WHICH PROVIDE
FOOD / MEDICAL / TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS TO SAME
FUNDING AS LAST YEAR.
(B) REINSTATE CAMACOL (LATIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) TO
$150,000 FUNDING.
(C) ESTABLISH POLICY: POLICE CHIEF TO GIVE TOP PRIORITY TO
CONSOLIDATED PLAN ITEMS (AGENCIES) TO BE FUNDED
FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND (LETF).
(D) REINSTATE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES WHICH PROVIDE
CHILD CARE TO SAME FUNDING AS LAST YEAR.
(E) RESERVE $3 MILLION (OUT OF $8 MILLION) FOR PERMANENT
HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS (HOPWA) -- INCLUDE
REVERTER CLAUSE.
(F) ESTABLISH $60,000 MAXIMUM FOR PERMANENT HOMES
FUNDED OUT OF HOPWA.
(G) ACCEPT CITY STAFF / CITYWIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING ALL
OTHER ITEMS IN PLAN.
(H) AUTHORIZE MANAGER TO SUBMIT CITY OF MIAMI'S FISCAL
YEAR 1996-1997 PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED PLAN TO HUD,
INCLUDING FUNDING PROJECTIONS FOR CDBG, HOME
INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS (HOME), EMERGENCY SHELTER
GRANT (ESG), AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS
WITH AIDS (HOPWA) PROGRAMS. (See label 7)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, if I could, I think it is very important that we all
understand exactly where we are, and I would like to ask the Administration, since we had heard
previously about cuts up to 46 percent is the number that I heard, what is the latest information
that they have so that everybody knows the problems that are going to be incurred. I'm sure
there's going to be cuts of some kind that I think that we need to know the latest information as
to possibly the amount of cuts. I would like to hear that information.
Mr. Elbert Waters: Good.
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Mr. Waters: Good morning, Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, regarding the 46
percent, Congress has not reinstituted or passed another continuing resolution. That's in
committees, as I understand it right now. The Administration is moving under the premise that
we anticipate receiving 100 percent of the allocation, and until such time as the... a new
continuing resolution has been passed, we will go with that.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, does that mean that during the year, that cuts could occur after
we've already gone ahead and made awards?
4 March 23, 1996
Mr. Waters: There's a possibility that a continuing resolution could be passed by June 1, which
begins our fiscal year. So we have a little bit of a window before we are able to find out exactly
what that percentage would be.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. Now, ladies and gentlemen, these are the ground rules so that
you'll understand. One person, one person representing each organization on our list will be
allowed to speak for two minutes concerning their allocation and concerning their request. No
other person representative of that organization will be allowed to speak because we got zillion
of these things to go through, so give us the time of day and we will start off and... you all have a
list, I'm sure. We'll go right through the list, and let you go right down and make your pitch
before this Commission. We will consider that at the end of the meeting, not at this time. So
after you make your pitch if you want to leave, you can. And leave room for other people who
are waiting to be heard. The first organization, project name - number.
Mr. Waters: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. If I may?
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Mr. Waters: Would it be possible for the Administration to go ahead and conduct its
presentation to this Commission?
Mayor Clark: Absolutely, you may do that.
Mr. Waters: Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Go right ahead.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Commissioner Dawkins entered the
meeting at 10:07 a.m.
5 March 23, 1996
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Mr. Waters: Good morning again, Mr. Mayor and members of the City Commission, per your
directive to the Administration at our last City Commission meeting, staff was asked or directed
to conduct additional public hearings. We conducted those public hearings, and for the record,
there was a meeting held on Monday, March the 11th, at Miami Dade Community College. We
held a meeting on Tuesday, March the 12th, at Miami Dade Entrepreneur Center, which is
located in the Model City's area. On Monday, March 18th, we held another meeting at Manuel
Artime Community Center, and on Wednesday, March the 20th, a meeting was held with the
Citywide Advisory Board at the G. W. Carver Middle School of which the board was able to
make its final recommendations to this body. The Administration here today is recommending
that the Commission approve the attached resolution... the ordinance and resolution for fiscal
'96-'97, pertaining to the City of Miami's Consolidated Plan. This plan - an action plan -
includes recommendations for our Community Development Block Grant Program in the
amount of $13,709,000. Home Investment Partnership or our Home Program, $4,038,000, our
Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG), $494,000. And the Housing Opportunities for Persons with
Aids, which we refer to as HOPWA, $8,358,000 are... all of these are formula programs and the
City receives these dollars based on our population and certain other indexes. We are requesting
that this Commission authorizes the Manager to submit our grant, this grant of the full formula
part would need to be to HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) by April 15th,
that's the date that we are suggesting that we submit. We have concurred, although there is a
small window right now with the HUD requirement relating to the advertising of these meetings,
the conduct of citizen participation, the fact that there is a 30 day review requirement for
additional citizen participation, and this Administration has adhered to that. The total amount of
the former programs is approximately $26,600,000. The Neighborhood Enhancement Team
Division (NET) what we are looking at and what we are anticipating from fiscal '95-'96, we are
anticipating in terms of program income, would be approximately $2.7 million. This income is
generally received as it relates to revenues of various different ongoing housing and building,
demolition programs, and economic development activities whereby those funds are returned to
the actual programs for further disbursement. In the area of housing, what we've done is we -
the City of Miami - has been involved in that as you can see since 1978, there are a number of
programs that we are recommending. As an example, the staff recommends for Community
Development Block Grant fundin the following organizations. There are 12: Allapattah
Business Development Authority - 50,000; BAME Development Corporation of South Florida -
$50,000; CODEC - $50,000; the Coconut Grove Local Development Corporation - $50,000;
Edgewater Economic Development Corporation - $50,000; East Little Havana CDC
(Community Development Corporation) - $50,000; Greater Miami Neighborhoods - $100,000;
Little Haiti Housing Association - $50,000; the Florida Housing Cooperative Incorporated -
$50,000; Rafael Hernandez Housing and Economic Development Corporation - $50,000; Saint
John's Community Development Corporation - $50,000, and the Urban League of Greater
Miami Incorporated - $50,000. In addition to that, the staff also recommends for the City's new
Overtown Community Redevelopment Agency $150,000 to manage the Southeast Overtown
Park West Project. In addition to that, we have the various different housing programs, home
investment partnership, this is again the Federal program that allows us some flexibility to
provide a large range of low-income housing activities, primarily looking at and for the City to
work with nonprofit development corporations, to assist us in developing housing throughout our
eight CD (Community Development) targeted areas. The amount that the City's staff is
recommending is $4,038,000 for our home program. In addition to that, we have the Home
Multifamily Construction Program, here again, this program allows us to provide new
construction for a variety of projects working with the community development corporations,
and for -profit developers to assist us in the product of new housing, again along the areas of
providing housing for low and moderate income individuals throughout the City of Miami.
Again, we are asking approximately $100,000 in home funds be recommended for our new
multifamily units within the City of Miami. The other housing progarm that we have is called
the Home Multifamily Housing Rehabilitative Loan Program, here again this program allows us
6 March 23, 1996
to provide loans which would be designed for owners of substandard rental housing within the
City, within the eight CD Targeted areas, and it allows us to provide additional loan financing as
a vehicle to allow those individuals to bring those properties up into better shape, The staff is
recommending approximately $200,000 in our home funds for rehabilitation of these
substandard multifamily housing units throughout the City of Miami. We have also the Home
Assistance Community Housing Development Program, which we refer to as CHDO's, here we
are recommending a number of things. The program allows us the opportunity to assist and
provide affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income households throughout
the City's neighborhoods. We are looking at efforts and we work with organizations such as the
East Little Havana CDC, CODEC, Saint John's CDC, Florida Housing Cooperative, the Urban
League of Greater Miami, and other the community development corporations. The staff is
recommending approximately $2,834,200 in loan funds... Fin sorry, in home funds to be
recommended for one activity, which is the Urban League of Grater Miami in connection with
the development of what we refer to as the Knight Manor Housing Project of which this
Commission has recommended at a previous meeting. The other program, Housing Assistance
Home Buyers Financing Program basically allows us to give individuals an opportunity to assist
them in financing their respective homes. It's a homebuyers program, so it assists an individual
in accomplishing that, working with our CDCs and private developers, staff is recommending
approximately $500,000 in home funds for this particular activity. Home Progarm
Administration, in order for us to fulfill HUD rules, regulations and guidelines, staff is required
to set aside approximately 10 percent of its home funds for program administration. Based on
these regulations and guidelines, staff is recommending $403,800 to administer our home
program. The next housing project again, which is called HOPWA, Housing Opportunity for
Persons with Aids, this is a unique program. The City is the... basically the entity that
administers the program, while it is done on a Countywide basis, City of Miami... the City of
North... I'm sorry, the City of Miami, Metropolitan Dade County, the City of Miami Beach are
all participants in this program, and these funding opportunities for housing for these individuals
are done through the City of Miami. The staff is recommending $8.3 million for this activity,
and the various different funding categories are as follows: there is a short-term mortgage rental
assistance, and basically it provides rent and mortgage assistance to individuals, we are
recommending $810,823. We have a long term rental assistance program, this allows us to
provide some subsidies for those individuals that would give them approximately 52 weeks to
participate in that particular program. Staff is recommending $3.9 million, two hundred and
twenty-four thousand, eight hundred and thirty-four dollars. There is a moving expense
allowance, and sometimes individuals may have to move from place to place. Unfortunately,
and we... and the program allows us to provide expenditure or expenses of those individuals with
the virus and therefore staff is recommending $405,411, Utility assistance is a part of the
program, $810,823; and housing information and referral, here again there are a number of
individuals throughout our community who are not aware as to the program that is available.
What this does is assist various different clients in locating affordable housing throughout the
City of Miami, Metropolitan Dade County and the other municipalities that are participant within
this particular program. Staff is recommending $405,412 for that. There is an emergency
housing assistance program basically allowing persons to have up to 30 days for single family
parents and children, and single women. Again, with HIV, AIDS, staff is recommending
$1,621,646, again as a part of administering all of these particular programs the program
administration provides as it relates to this grant three percent, and so staff is recommending
$250,770 for program administration. The staff also recommends a number of other
organizations that's involved in the conduct of what the City is required to do, those programs
include the Citywide Code Enforcement Program, staff is recommending $450,000, and
primarily that's through enforcement of our various different zoning and solid waste codes, staff
is also recommending through our Citywide Lot Clearance Program approximately $200,000,
and this is for lot clearing, a tremendous burden and problem for the City of Miami, staff is
recommending those $200,000 to assist us in trying to maintain that particular one. Citywide
Residential Paint Program... and this is for demolition, we have a number of properties that for
7 March 23, 1996
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various different reasons, property owners have abandoned them or they've become a problem
for the City and in essence we are in a position to recommend demolition of those particular
buildings and removing them because they become unsafe for us, staff is recommending
$200,000 for building demolition. We have a Senior Crime Prevention and Victims Assistance
Program - $60,000 that is being recommended and that primarily is a home security installation
for our elderly and the handicapped. Again, we also have and we are recommending to Tri-City
Community Association $90,000. And basically what they... this organization does is provide
home improvements and renovations at low or no cost to single family homes within our eight
CD targeted areas.
Mr. Carlos Smith (Assistant City Manager): Mr. Mayor, if I may suggest because this is going
to take some time. I think maybe we could is if we go by areas, we will explain to the
Commission what our recommendation is. The board can do it, and also the people over here
rather than going through the entire thing first, and taking maybe half an hour or so.
Mayor Clark: All right. That's what we'll do.
Commissioner Dawkins: I agree with Mr. Smith. I was going to say the same thing, but before I
do that, I have a memo here from the Manager dated March 6th. And in it it says that he had
authorized his staff to advertise a public review and comments on the draft action plan and the
update of the City's five year consolidated plan. Is that correct, Mr. Waters?
Mr. Waters: Yes, sir, it is correct.
Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Waters, what is this?
Mr. Waters: Commissioner Dawkins, that is based on HUD requirements the 1995...
Commissioner Dawkins: What is it?
Mr. Waters: It is called the City of Miami Consolidated Plan.
Commissioner Dawkins: In here you said that you were going to update this with... at this
meeting. Did you take this to the meetings, any of the meetings?
Mr. Waters: That document?
Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, this document, yes.
Mr. Waters: I did not take that document.
Commissioner Dawkins: Did anybody in staff take this document?
Mr. Waters: Commissioner, if I may?
Commissioner Dawkins: Did anybody take this document?
Mr. Waters: We had... the document...
Commissioner Dawkins: Did you take this document to the meeting that you had in the
community for this?
Mr. Waters: We had the document available, sir.
S March 23, 1996
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Commissioner Dawkins: Did you have this document?
Mr. Waters: I did not have that document.
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. So therefore, how could you discuss this document as part of this
memorandum if you did not take it out here with these people over here who are the advisory
board, they are suppose to respond to this as you said in this memo, how?
Mr. Waters: Because, Commissioner, the... that document is a document...
Commissioner Plummer: Miller, it's upside down.
Mr. Waters: ...which looks at the...
Commissioner Dawkins: Beg your pardon?
Commissioner Plummer: It's upside down.
Mr. Waters: That's last year's plan, the plan that requires the citizen's participation is the action
plan for this year, which we did have available, which the body did review and made their
recommendations.
Commissioner Dawkins: What date?
Mr. Waters: So...
Commissioner Dawkins: What date? What date?
Mr. Waters: 1996-97 Program. What date? The four...
Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, you said... here is a memo, sir, and the memo says, and I'll read it
to you in plain English, "I have authorized my staff to advertise for public review and comment
the draft annual action plan fiscal year '96, the annual update of the City's five year
Consolidated Plan, per U.S. HUD requirements, for the estimated $26.6 million in Federal funds,
which Miami anticipates will receive on June 1, 1996." This is it. You did not have this.
Mr. Waters: No.
Commissioner Dawkins: I went to the first meeting...
Mr. Waters: That, Commissioner...
Commissioner Dawkins: ...and when you did not have this at the first meeting, sir, I did not go
to any of the others because these residents who are elected to review this did not see this.
Mr. Waters: Commissioner, if I may, sir?
Commissioner Dawkins: And I will tell HUD when you send this up here that you did not have
citizen participation. Now, Mr. Mayor, if I may? Agreeing with what Mr. Smith says, I think,
like Mr. Smith says, that we should go through this line item by line item, we should make a
comparison of what the staff recommended. We should make a comparison of what the staff
recommended, what the board recommended, and what we are going to do about it. But before
we do that, it's unfair to this board for them not to have the same amount of time to explain what
they did and Mr. Waters explaining what he did. So I'd like to hear from this CD board or from
any representative that they choose to be their spokesman, and how long did Mr. Waters speak?
9 March 23, 1996
k.,
Mayor Clark: Today?
Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, sir. Mr. Waters, how long was he up here explaining?
Mr. Waters: Approximately five minutes, but I...
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. I'm... I wish I was paying your salary by the time you keep. He
had a good 20 minutes. Give them 20 minutes.
Mayor Clark: Who do you want to represent?
Commissioner Dawkins: I don't know. Whoever they want, that's the board over there.
Mr. Waters: Commissioner, if I may just for...
Commissioner Dawkins: No, sir, I don't want to hear anything else from you until I hear from
them, please.
Mr. Waters: OK. Thank you.
Commissioner Dawkins: Thank you.
Mayor Clark: All right, Irby.
Mr. Irby McKnight: Good morning, Commissioners, Mr. Mayor, will the other board members
who are present please come forward? First, we would like to thank you for allowing the
process to continue. And the idea of holding the board public hearing in the neighborhoods
makes a lot of sense. At least it makes it convenient for the service providers and the citizens to
come out and make their input and to hear what was actually going on. The first... before we get
started, the first thing we would like to say is that under public service and social programs,
Allapattah Community Action Agency didn't get the recommendation from this board by an
oversight. It is a program that feeds senior citizens, a hot meals program, and our intention was
to fund all of those programs that deal with children and senior citizens. So it has been brought
to our attention by the esteemed director that we missed their program to the Allapattah
Community and to the Allapattah Community Action Center we offer our utmost apology. We
had no intention of leaving you out. The next thing we would like to say is that there is a young
man here today who is interested in programs at Gibson... I'm sorry at Dorsey Park, in the
Overtown Community. While he has no proposal before this board he has been instrumental in
speaking to us over the years with park renovations from these funds. And it did occur that
Dorsey Park was renovated, but it's still closed down. The next thing is that we were entertained
by members of the Haitian Community in reference to a problem that existed with HACAD
(Haitian American Community Association of Dade, Inc.) There is someone here today to
address that problem, and to say to you that the problem has been cleared up. The board
supports this person's efforts today. The next thing we'd like to say is that this 15 percent cap on
social programs - and I found the minutes from last year, and I said, and I'm going to say the
same speech again, and I will keep saying it until it is corrected, because I am not just saying
something. I am actually identifying something that can make a difference. So until somebody
listens to me, I will just keep saying it - the 15 percent cap on social programs hurts Dade
County, hurts the City of Miami. We need to have that cap removed...
10 March 23, 1996
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Commissioner Carollo entered the
meeting at 10:29 a,m.
Commissioner Plummer: You can't.
Mr. McKnight: ...do whatever means necessary. I understand that HUD sets these guidelines at
the directions from the Congress. But again, the guidelines can -be changed and I think they
would be changed if we were - the City of Miami - seriously to address this issue with HUD,
when we are only allowed to use 15 percent of the total budget in social programs and the
request for funds and social program was $3,558,156...
Commissioner Plummer: It's more.
Mr. McKnight: ...and it is constantly been that in the eight years...
Commissioner Plummer: No, no, no. It's more, it's over $8 million.
Mr. McKnight: Well, it's 5,140,364, but when you look at all of the things that were not funded
because of that 15 percent cap, I'm sure you must wonder if these things are needed. You have
to wonder that. You cannot just think that people are coming in and putting in proposals hoping
they get funds and plan to run off and do nothing with the moneys. Not that won't happen, but
that is not the intent, and that is not the intent of the service providers, I'm sure. But someone
needs to take seriously that 15 percent cap. When this board sits, we want to fund programs that
deal with the misery index of our community. But when we are limited to just using 15 cents out
of each dollar to do it, then there is something wrong with that for Dade County. Maybe it's fine
in other areas of this country, but as the City of Miami goes where we have an ever changing
population and a population that is getting poorer by the year, then it is necessary that something
be done about that cap. Again, I will ask this Commission to allow us, the members of this
board, to meet with someone to discuss what we go through with this. And I hope that you pay a
little more attention this year than it has been paid in the past years. The next item here that we
wish to discuss is the board members feel too much of Community Development Block Grant
dollars go to City departments that taxpayers are paying taxes to run. Each year we have people
on the board that want the moneys to be divided totally different from what happens here. Well,
we respect the fact that it is this group of people whose authority counts here. We respect that,
but we'll ask that you take into consideration some of the wishes of the communities,
particularly as it relates to youth programs, and as it relates to other type programs that are not
specialty programs. When I say programs that are not specialty programs, while we want
HOPWA to have its dollars, that's a special program. While we want the Emergency Shelter
Grant to go through because we know the need for shelter, particularly as it relates to
homelessness, but it too is a special program. And it looks as though if we can put some of the
social ills into a special category, we might... can get it around the 15 percent cap. I don't know
how to do that, and I don't think it is even my responsibility, but something has to happen here
to put more funds into social programs because that's where the majority of the needs are
identified from the service providers. We do... when you look at the dollar figure requested for
social programs versus the dollar figures requested for economic development, housing, public
facility then you have to wonder why are we spending so much moneys in those areas when the
weigh is in social programs. We also need to open up the process so that new programs can be
funded. I said this last year, again, it's the same speech. We are funding the same programs
year after year after year, 22 years, and the needs are not changing. Obviously, those people
don't have the answer. Twenty-two years is long enough to be convinced that they don't have
the answers. So let's try some new games and allow some new organization who have identified
11 March 23, 1996
4__
needs to get some of these funds and see if they can make a dent in the misery index of this City.
If we have other board members that have not yet come up front, would you please do so
because there are board members that I'd like at this time to say what it is they went through
with this process. And I'll close by saying to you that we would ask that you adopt the board's
recommendation as we do every year. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you. I'd like to have Mr. Gene Suarez, where is he? Let him come
forward, he is the Chairman of the HOPWA Advisory Board.
Mr. Gene Suarez: Yes, sir, thank you very much. My name is Gene Suarez. I am a person
living with AIDS, I'm also the Chair of the HOPWA Advisory Board. I thank you for the
opportunity to address you. The HOPWA Advisory Board has made a recommendation, which
is a little bit different from the recommendation that the City's staff is making. And if you
would go to the page 8 of the Neighborhood Enhancement Team Project proposal, our HOPWA
recommendation... HOPWA Board recommendation is listed there compared to the City's
recommendation. The difference is not that great, and... but I wanted to let you know that the
HOPWA Advisory Board has met on a continuous basis. Every month we have had CD... we
have had meetings every month, discussed the plan at length. And we really would like for you
to approve their recommendations of the HOPWA Board today. This money, this program is a
little different than the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) money in that this money
is supposed to be for the whole County. And our board represents the whole County, plus our
Board also has people with AIDS on the board representing the infected community. So I would
be glad to answer any questions that you may have on behalf of the board, and again I would ask
you to accept the recommendation of the HOPWA Board. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, Mr. Suarez. All right, Irby. Irby, who else do you have?
Mr. Mariano Cruz: OK. Let's go by alphabetical order. Mariano Cruz, I represent the
Allapattah target area. I live at 1227 N.W. 26th Street, in Allapattah, there for the last 28 years,
and have been in Allapattah for thirty -some years. First, let me say in Spanish something that
Mr. McKnight said. VOY A DECIR EN ESPANOL PARTE DE LO QUE EL DIJO, QUE EL
DIJO QUE CUANDO EL BOARD SE REUNIO NO LE HABIAN CONCEDIDO FONDOS A
ALLAPATTAH DEBIDO A UN DESCUIDO DE ELLOS, PERO QUE ELLOS NO ESTAN
EN LA FORMA DE ELLOS QUITARLE FONDOS A LOS PROGRAMAS SOCIALES. QUE
ELLOS ESTAN RECOMENDANDOS QUE ALLAPATTAH COMMUNITY ACTION
SEAN... RECIBAN LOS FONDOS DE SIEMPRE. I attend several of the meetings, and since
this meeting was called very fast, it's very difficult for me to ask for time off. I got put from my
day off annual when I need today. Today, I rather be working, it cost me some overtime to be
here. But, no I have to do it. And the other... some of the meetings I couldn't attend. The
meeting, Monday, I was picking up the mother of the carrier that was shot Glen Landfills at the
Trauma Center Ryder because he got to have another operation. I went there to pick her up and
take her home. And then from there I went to a CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)
meeting, you were there at the CRA meeting. That was Monday, so I decided to go there
because it would affect more my neighborhood. The CRA, the Camillus House Program, all
that, that other things. Then on the one on Coconut Grove, I couldn't go at all because the traffic
on 95, I work in North Miami Beach, I have to go 30 miles to get there, and the traffic, I couldn't
go. Also, I didn't know that it was going to be a meeting... the final recommendation of the
board in that meeting. But the thing that I am asking, we got the meetings in the community
because our community participate a lot, and they recommend as main priority, the one social
program there that we got, the Allapattah Community Center, which you could hear say elderly
meals program, it's not that. It's a social program because anybody that goes into that program
gets served. Regardless os who, an Entrant Haitian going there, or somebody from Central or
South America, people receive help there, information, referral, food, anything. Not just you
have to be 65 and older to get service there. And another thing I'd like to say about the program,
12 March 23, 1996
t,
ninety -some percent of the people that work there live in the area, starting by the Executive
Director that lives right across the program. So she is on duty 24 hours a day, and works there.
They don't finish there and close and go to the suburbs someplace. They take the money from
Miami out of the City. That's what I would like to say when they are talking about the people
that live in the City and all of that. And the only thing, for the recommendations I would like,
we.., the Allapattah get the same, be treated the same way they have been treated here. JESCA
didn't get any cuts, De Hostos didn't get any cuts, that's the way. I mean parity, same way that
other neighborhoods are treated, we want to be treated. And remember in here in this list, that's
the only social program that we got there that serves the Allapattah Community. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you very much. All right, Irby. Irby, who else do you have? Is that it?
Mr. McKnight: Anyone else?
Mayor Clark: Give us your name and address for the record, please.
Mr. Angel Urquiola: My name is Angel Urquiola, my address is 25 S.W. 38th Avenue. I am in
the board. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Commissioners, you called me and named me in this board because
for the first time you want the people to talk about this project. And I comply like a good citizen
to help and to put into this budget my best knowledge I do have for the community. This is why
I accept this position, and I ask the Mayor and the Commissioners, please take care our
recommendation, hear us. Because we, the people, want to do what you want. When you named
this board is because you want to change the procedure it was done for a lot of years. You
wanted to make a better job, it's better for you, better for the community. I think your obligation
is to hear this board, this recommendation because we worked with these people 10, 15, 20 hours
a day to find out the need of the City. Thank you, gentlemen.
Mayor Clark: Thank you.
Mr. Fernando Gonzalez: Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, my name is Fernando Gonzalez.
Mayor Clark: Get close to the microphone, right up to the microphone.
Mr. Gonzalez: My name is Fernando Gonzalez I am representing Little Havana. We are here
now because we are very worried about the programs that have to be funds in order to keep the
children out the time on our street (sic). The problem that we have in East Little Havana right
now is very concerned. It is very risky for our youth. Please, we went to the programs, the
Children at Risk be funded this year. Please take good care about this. I have with me here
Manuel Castillo, he is a trainer - a boxing trainer - a boxing trainer for our program, that we are
working every seven days of the week. Right now we are receiving some help from some
business people in our area, but we need a place, a youth community center, where the young
people that can come and have supervision from the police. The police has promised us to give
us some help, and we need that place because every day... every week we have one or two young
of those kids hurt, or killed... in the last seven months, we had three dead, three young people
dead in our area. Manuel wants to speak, and wants to say something about the program.
Mayor Clark: All right. Give us your name, please.
Mr. Gonzalez: He wants to speak in Spanish.
Mr. Manuel Castillo: MANUEL CASTILLO. SENOR ALCALDE, SENOR COMISIONADO,
SENORES... LOS QUE DIRIJEN LA CIUDAD...
Mr. Smith: Excuse me, excuse me. PERDON DEJEME TRADUCIR.
13 March 23, 1996
[NOTE: INTERSPERSED THROUGHOUT THE HEREIN TRANSCRIPT,
ARE STATEMENTS IN SPANISH. FOLLOWING EACH AND
EVERY STATEMENT, PLEASE FIND THE CORRESPONDING
TRANSLATION INTO ENGLISH OR SPANISH, AS THE CASE
MAY BE, SPANISH STATEMENTS WILL BE DENOTED BY
CAPITAL LETTERS, TRANSLATION WERE MADE BY
CARLOS SMITH.]
Mr. Smith: [Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, and those who live in the City.]
Mayor Clark: Go ahead.
Mr. Castillo: MI PRESENCIA AQUI ES PARA PEDIRLES PORFAVOR QUE ME AYUDEN
PORQUE YO... YO ESTUBE DIRIGIENDO UN PROGRAM EN LA PEQUENA HABANA,
EN EL PARQUE JOSE MARTI. EL PROGRAMA NO SE PORQUE SE DESTRUYO.
TENIA ALREDEDOR DE 40 MUCHACHOS. EN EL DIA... EN ESTOS DIAS YA SE HAN
MATADO CUATRO QUE PERTENECIAN AL EQUIPO QUE YOU TENIA. NECESITO
PORFAVOR LA COOPERACION Y LA AYUDA DE TODOS USTEDED, YA QUE YO SOY
UN HOMBRE QUE TENGO 20 ANOS EN ESE DEPORTE Y HE TRATADO DE SACAR
MUCHOS MUCHACHOS QUE ESTAN EN LA CALLE QUES SE ESTAN MATANDO. Y
YO QUISIERA SABER SI USTEDED PUDIERAN ESTAR AL ALCANCE DE AYUDARME.
PORQUE EL PROGRAMA SE CAYO PORQUE NO HABIAN FONDOS. YO SOY UN
ENTRENADOR QUE HE TRABAJADO CON JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ, SUGAR RAY
LEONARD, MI NOBRE ES MANUEL CASTILLO PENA, TENGO 20 ANOS. HE
TRABAJADO EN MUCHAS PARTES Y HE COMPETIDO AFUERA. TENGO LICENCIA
COMO ENTRENADOR PROFESIONAL Y AMATEUR A NIVEL OLIMPICO. POR FAVOR
YO QUSIERA LA CAMACOL, LA LATIN QUARTER... LATIN QUARTER EN ESTE
MOMENTO ME DIO UNA CAMICETA PORQUE TENGO CUATRO MUCHACHOS QUE
ME QUEDAN, Y DE LOS CUATRO, UNO LO ESTABAN CHEQUEANDO PARA IR A LAS
OLIMPIADAS. QUIERE DECIR QUE MI TRABAJO VALE LA PENA. ENTONCES YO
QUISIERA QUE POR PAR.TE DE USTERED ME AYUDARAN. ENTONCES EN VECINOS
EN ACCION ME A AYUDADO MUCHO PORQUE SIEMPRE HE TRABAJADO CON EL,
ENTONCES YO QUISIERA SABER SI EN REALIDAD USTEDES ME PODRIAN AYUDAR
YA QUE LO NECESITO PARA SACAR LOS MUCHACHOS PARA VER SI NO SE MATAN
EN LAS ESQUINAS. Y YO SE QUE TENIENDO EL PROGRAMA ELLOS VAN OTRA
VES DONDE ESTOY YO. LATIN QUARTER ME DIO.
Translantion: [My presence here is to ask you please to help me. I was working in a program at
Jose Marti that had 40 children. Of those, four have recently been killed. I need your help so
that I can continue working with these kids. I have been working for over 20 years. And the
program has ended because there are no funds. My name is Manuel Castillo Pena, I have
worked with Julio Cesar Chavez, I have 20 years of experience, I have licenses for training
professionally, and amateur. I want you to help me, I have four kids remaining in the program.
One of them is being looked at to possibly go into the Olympics. CAMACOL has helped him
with some uniforms.]
Mayor Clark: Por favor. Carlos, you have to explain to this gentleman, that this is not the place
to make an application for help here concerning sports.
Mr. Gonzalez: Mr. Mayor, please. We tried many places, many times. We went to the police
league, we went to many organizations...
Mayor Clark: Sir, you come to the Commission. If you have a project that you... not here today.
We are not sponsoring new projects here today.
14 March 23, 1996
k,
Mr. Smith: SI USTED APLICO A ESTE PROGRAMA ANTES, ELLOS LO
CONSIDERARAN, PERSO SI NO LO APLICO ESTE PROGRAMA, TIENE QUE VENIR A
LA COMISION EN OTRA OPORTUNIDAD PARA PEDIR APOYO A SU PROGRAMA.
Mr. Castillo: SI, SI.
Mr. Gonzalez: We applied the last year, and we don't... we didn't get anything.
Mr. Smith: Did you apply this year?
Mr. Gonzalez: This year, yes.
Mr. Smith: OK.
Mr. Gonzalez: And also, I want to say something another organization in the area who is
helping... especially the Spanish people who doesn't speak English and can't come many places
because they don't have any club to another places is Mariel Group. Mariel Group is an
organization that is doing a terrific job in our area helping the people that really need attention to
find a job and...
Mayor Clark: All right.
Mr. Gonzalez: ...and they really working very hard in our area.
Mayor Clark: Mr. Manager, would you try to take this into your wing, and give us some
information on this, not here at this meeting, all right.
Mr. Smith: We will.
Mr. Castillo: Gracias.
Mayor Clark: Emilio.
Mr. Emilio Lopez: Good morning, my name is Emilio Lopez, even though I don't live in the
Wynwood area I'm at -large member of this board. And I, Commissioners, I can tell you, you
know, this group has worked real hard. You don't know how many hours they have given as
volunteers in this process to listen to the community to be able to present to you this program.
Now, in the last meeting that we had we came to a conclusion of what we felt it was that you
mandated us to do, and if you look at the social services probably that is the only area in which
we went over because the request for services is more than the moneys allowed to us. And if I
recall at that day... that day we were told of all the social services that we had about 156,000
over the amount of money that was allotted to us. But if you look, we working with the staff,
we... the other programs that we were supposed to recommend, we were $750,000 less in
expenses that the amount that was requested. So we allow to you to have $750,000 to be able to
deal with them in any way you see fit. So what we would like you to do in this... at this... in this
meeting is to accept our recommendation from the board. We... you know... like I said, we have
worked real hard with this group, I think the only area you might have some problems is the area
of social services. We had problems because of the 15 percent cut, and this is our
recommendation. One thing that we would like, one of the board members asked me to request
from you is that when you assign moneys to the CDC projects, to be sure that those CDC
projects talk to the people who are elected in the community so they know what they are
recommending to you or to the staff on the things that they are doing. And with that I conclude,
and 1 wish you luck in the deliberation.
15 March 23, 1996
Mayor Clark: Thank you, Emilio.
Mr. Balam Welcome: Good morning, my name is Balam Welcome, I represent Overtown.
Mayor Clark: Speak a little closer to the microphone.
Mr. Welcome: Yes, I represent Overtown. I'd like to say this is my first year representing
Overtown. I'm very pleased that the citizens elected me to represent them. As I reviewed from
what has been allocated to Overtown in the past, there has been very little, and this year again
our recommendation by the staff it also has been cut. I would hope that this board would take
special consideration when it come to the area of Overtown, and economic development, public
services, and housing. I mean that you would look favorably upon us. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: All right. Thank you.
Ms. Miriam Urra: Mayor.
Mayor Clark: Pull the mike up, Miriam. Just relax, would you please. Sit down, relax.
Ms. Urra: Mayor, Commissioners, my name is Miriam Urra and I represent Atlapattah
Community Action Inc. I'd like to say that these people that you see here today represent the
elderly, the fastest growing segment of our community. They are here today because they do not
wish to be forgotten. As much as you know, we have been in a system for over 20 years. For 20
years, we have provided congregate and home -bounds meals to the elderly, we offer them a
place to be active and keep in touch with other human beings, and with the happenings of the
community. Most of them do not have families to take care of, or to go to them. Nor do they
have adequate income to become members of a country club or to go out and eat at restaurants.
Our center is the home away from home when they wake up in the morning. We are here today
to please ask you to support our agency, to... we are asking to support our agency with the same
amount of funding as last year. We are not asking for a penny more. We please ask you to
consider that these people, most of them, are of very low income. They do not have enough
money to have a decent meal like other people do everyday. So please I ask you for your
support so we can continue to provide this much needed services to our elderly citizens. Thank
you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, Miriam. Thank you very much. You do a great job. Of all... of all
the organizations that are involved, I think that yours is one of the finest out there, and I've
always said that, many, many times. I congratulate you. Irby, this is on the board. Let's stay
on...
Ms. Urra: Thank you.
Mr. McKnight: Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor, we would like to thank our board members for
participating in the process two separate occasions, and for coming here today. And then we
would like to also ask the Commission in future appointments to the board, make certain these
are people who want to serve.
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Mr. McKnight: We had an extremely difficult time getting a quorum. I mean we had people
using this stuff as well I was there. But they never showed up, we'd meet them in the street and
didn't know that they were a part of the board, because we never saw them.
16 March 23, 1996
k..-
Mayor Clark: Yes.
Mr. McKnight: So we really need people who want to serve.
Mayor Clark: Good, good recommendation.
Mr. McKnight: They need... they need to be told that the Commission has the last word, not the
board. That the board serves only as advisory not policy makers, that there is no pay or stipend
for participating, it's just that you want to do it. And then if we get people that really want to do
this, this will be a much better process. And we ask that you... one of the board members said in
reference to organizations, CDC, CBOs are coming from target areas. They need to really check
with the representative on this board from that target area even if they come back in May, if they
come in August, and get additional funds, we are not opposed to them getting it, it's just that the
person sitting there needs to be made aware that this has happened so that when we are arguing
this, they are not cut off guard or blind sided. And the next thing, we respect the fact that it is
you five gentlemen who have the final say with these funds. And we ask that if you can not
adopt a board recommendation, if you need to change board recommendation, please feel free to
do so. But we ask that this board exert their powers over these funds. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, Mr. McKnight. All right, let's move back into the process. We've
gone through this process. And thank you, Miller, for bringing it up in that matter. All right,
now we are going to have the representation here now for two minutes. Action Community
Center, who represents them? One person, Action Community Center, one person.
Commissioner Plummer: Pilar. Here she comes.
Mr. Waters: I think she already spoke, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Clark: No, no, that was the Allapattah Community.
Commissioner Plummer: Pilar.
Mayor Clark: All right. You have two minutes, ma'am. Please give us your name and address
for the record.
Ms. Maria Pilar Albo: My name is Pilar Albo, I represent Action Community Center. I'm here
today... I thank the Commission for "reunion" today. Action Community Center like everybody
knows are working for the past 20 years to the elderly and handicapped. Almost all of the
people are my clients for the past 20 year. And all the people are residents in the City of Miami.
They are received free of charge, door-to-door transportation service to the more need necessity,
as medical appointment, as cancer treatment, and take to the home meal program to eat
everyday. Action is saying your support to continue its effort to this indispensable transporation
service to the elderly and handicapped in our community. I wish to express my most sincere
gratitude for your attention to help our agency to keep the same funding this year. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am. African American Students Foundation, are they present?
African American Student Foundation, move forward. Now, Ms. Urra, you've made your
presentation. If you want two minutes to do it again, go right ahead. Anything further? This is
on the Allapattah Community Action Center.
Ms. Urra: Thank you, Mayor, Commissioners. Bascially, what I just said is that we are here
today because unfortunately the board, as I understand, was... got together like four days ago in
one of the meetings in Coconut Grove, and I think there were six members out of 14, and they
decided to recommend cuts to our program for $70,000. As you all know, our program is a
17 March 23, 1996
k.,
meals program, and as we are know, we are forced every single day to return participants that are
coming to our center because we don't have enough...
Mayor Clark: Ability.
Mr. Urra: ...meals to give to them. And we don't have enough funding. We are being...
receiveing the same funding for so many years and with not a penny increase. And I really like
to thank you for your last support, for all your support that you've been giving to us for the last
years. And I have a lot of respect for this board, they do a great job, they are working all year
without getting a penny, so we have to thank them and recognize that they are doing a great job,
and they have a big potato in their hands because there are a lot of requests and there is not
enough money. But all these people here are very concerned because of these cuts. We really
can not have cuts. If we receive $77,000 in cuts, I think we have to reduce our program for
probably half. And that would be devastating to us.
Mayor Clark: We'll do our best to assist you.
Ms. Urra: So I urge you to please support us and give us the same funding that we requested last
year. Thank you very much.
Commissioner Plummer: I'd like to know how they make a decision to cut food programs.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, Ms. Urra. Ladies and gentlemen, many of you are here with Ms.
Urra, if you'd like to leave now, she's made her presentation, it's all that is going to be said. So
you make room for other people who have been standing outside. If you'd like to leave now,
you may. Thank you all for being here.
Commissioner Plummer: Did Irby stay here?
Mayor Clark: Try to leave as quietly as possible. The next step, person to appear... a
representative Alternative Programs. Do we have a representative present?
Commissioner Plummer: Georgia Jones Ayers.
Mayor Clark: Alternative Programs.
Ms. Georgia Jones Ayers: Here I am.
Mayor Clark: All right. Hey. Why don't you just say thank you and leave?
Ms. Ayers: No, I have something else to say. I am saying thank you, but I need to speak not in
the position of the Director of the Alternative Programs, but as Commissioner Georgia Ayers
appointed by the Governor to deal with the ills of the state. But right now in Dade County, we
have an emergency and I have the opportunity right now if you would grant me to just to say
what I need to say because it is going to affect you. You need to hear it now rather than hear it
later.
Mayor Clark: Do it right quick.
Ms. Ayers: All right. As you know, from 1992 through the last... the killing of the last tourist,
which equals seven tourists been killed in Dade County from 1992 until the poor lady was killed
last week. However... However, during that same period we have had 381 young people, 21
years of age and under, up at 381 people killed, 138... 168 were American Black youth of the
age, male, under the age of 21, that was killed. I didn't go above the age. From February 13th
18 March 23, 1996
through March 21st, 15 Black youths were killed, and I am uphold - and I am speaking as
Commissioner Ayers appointed by the Governor to deal with the ills that are happening to young
black folks. What I am about to say you may not like, and I respect everyone of you, I love you
all very very much, but I want to give you what I've given the tourist people and what I have
undertaken to do. And when I say I'm going to do something to all of you that know me very
well, you know damn well I mean what I'm going to do. If this Commission and the County
Commission and all of these 28 municipalities don't get together, go to our State government, on
to Washington because I was really upset when I... when our President said that he is allocating
$100,000,000 to the State of Israel because of their killings. They have not had over 700
killings. I got my information from the medical examiners office and from Dade County's
Police Department that over 700 Black on Black murders have taken place here in Dade County.
Now, what I'm about to say to my Hispanic friends is no indictment against you, but I got to say
it. Three weeks ago with the killing - or a month ago, however long it was - with the killing of
the tourist lady, the unfortunate drowning of the four people at sea, this nation almost came to a
standstill. Our President had folk in Washington to deal with that crisis, as we called it. I know
you don't have anything to do with the media, but the fact is when the tourist come to Dade
County, I know the City of Miami, you set up your... what do you call it, your Tourist Bureau,
whatever it is right there in the corner of 27 Avenue. Mayor, please allow me just because what
I'm about to say... what I'm about to say you are going to either have to deal with me now.
Because I plan... I already have my billboards and whatever ready to go to the airport. I've
already told Lana Larson (phoenetic) and the rest of them, when I come out there, don't mess
with me. If you all don't deem this City in the state of emergency and get some money here to
deal with the problems that we have here in education, social services, economic development,
and criminal justice, I'm going to get my crew and I'm going to the airport, and I'm going to go
where the people come in for immigration or for whatever you call it...
Commissioner Plummer: Customs.
Ms. Ayers: Customs, and I'm going to tell them, "Tourists, keep your asses home." I pay taxes,
my family has been paying taxes in Dade County for 80 years. My mother was born in Lemon
City, her older sister in Lemon City in 1907. Now, I just left Dorothy Fields and her group
talking about what is happening to Afro-Americans here. I am angry, I am hurt that our
Commissioners can sit by, those of you who are in the position to do something about killing and
crime, that you have sat by and let these kind of killings continue to go on and on and on, don't
do anything about the gun laws that we have here. There's a lot that you can do. You are doing
plenty. I see right now you got two or three streets blocked off in Liberty City. I just left
Overtown, you got two or three streets blocked off there. That's not enough. I wrote through
Wynwood on yesterday, and I was just thoroughly disgusted that the garbage and the trash that I
see there. When I go to Little Havana on the main streets, I don't see that. I'm concerned with
these people who say that they can't eat when our President can say that he is going to put
$100,000,000 in Israel. I pay taxes here, I don't pay taxes in Israel. I'm telling you all, if you
don't want Georgia Jones Ayers to come out of a bag that you have never seen her out of, do
something about the crime that we have here in Dade County. Get with your State Governor,
who appointed me to this position, get with our President, he signed that Crime Bill. Make darn
sure that some of that money gets here to help with all of the social ills that we have here in
Dade County. Thank you for granting me my money...
Mayor Clark: Thank you.
Ms. Ayers: ...for my program. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, thank you. ASPIRA of Florida. One representative. Give us your
name and address for the record.
19 March 23, 1996
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Mr. William Ramos: Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Commission and City staff, my name is
William Ramos, 43 N.W. 39th Street. A resident of the Wynwood community where ASPIRA is
located. Mr. Mayor on March 2nd ASPIRA celebrated its 15 anniversary here in Florida
providing services for the youth of Wynwood and other parts of the City of Miami. And you are
very well aware of the services that we provide our students. On March 2nd also, we mourned
the death of one of our students who was shot in the drive -by shooting in Little Havana. The
services that ASPIRA has been providing for the past 15 years has avoided a lot of youths from
being shot, from being killed, and from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We come
back to the CD Board and we come back to the Commission so you can keep supporting our
program. Commissioner Gort has served as a lead person in our Increase the Peace Week for the
past three years...
Mayor Clark: Your program has been recommended, hasn't it?
Mr. Ramos: Yes.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Ramos: No, Mr. Mayor, but it has been recommended under the Law Enforcement Trust
Fund...
(INAUDIBLE STATEMENT NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.)
Mr. Ramos: Was it changed? Well, then I ask for your support, and thank you very much for
having this opportunity for all the members of the community.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir, for your appearance. Association for the Development of the
Exceptional.
Ms. Elena del Monte: My name is Elena del Monte, I'm the Assistant Director for the
Association, and I'm just here to thank Mayor, all of the Commissioners, the City staff, the CD
Board, and all of you involved on behalf of the developmentally delayed adults we serve. We
thank you for your recommendations.
Mayor Clark: Thank you very much. Association for the Useful Aged. Please give us your
name and address for the record.
Ms. Carmen C. Naylor: Carmen Naylor, the new Director of the Association for the Useful
Aged. My address is 320 S.W. 27th Road, in Miami, Florida. I have been appointed the new
Director. Our Director passed away on March the 8th. Mayor, we ask for the $80,000, we were
recommended a lot less. We have been in establishment for 25 years. We help the elderly and
the disabled - excuse me, I have asthma - in the Little Havana Target area. We have been
founded in 1971, we help over 500 elderly every month with food, vocational, recreational,
educational, and other services. We are non -denominational, we do not look at race, color, or
creed. I'd like to ask your help in at least approving what we asked for to continue our labor of
love in the community. We are the only agency of its kind in that area.
Mayor Clark: All right, thank you very much for your presence.
Ms. Naylor: You're welcome.
Mayor Clark: Belafonte Tacolcy Center, SP.
Mr. Clyde Judson: Mr. Mayor and Commission, my name is Clyde Judson. My address is 2730
S.W. 3rd Avenue. I am the Secretary on the Board of Directors of Belafonte Tacolcy Center.
20 March 23, 1996
k__
This morning I have with me Ms. Sheiva Martin, Vice Chairperson, and Sabrina Buoy
(phoenetic), our new Executive Director, and some of the young men from our basketball teams.
We have three requests before you that we'd like to ask you to very carefully consider. Staff has
recommended zero funding for a couple of those programs. Ms. Jones talked about some of the
problems that Tacolcy is been dealing with over the years. All of you are aware of Tacolcy, I
don't need to stand here this morning and give you a history of Tacolcy, you are very familiar
with what we have been doing, and the fact that we've been on the front line fighting for 30
years now. Some of you were even around 30 years ago when Tacolcy helped me get my staff.
Mayor Clark: I was one of the originators of it.
Mr. Judson: That's right, I remember. So we'd like to ask you all to help us retool and do a
better job than what we're doing in Liberty City. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. Thank you all for coming down. Now, the next one is Belafonte
Tacolcy Child Care. Are they present? Same operation.
Mr. Waters: Same.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. Biscayne Institute. Folks, you can leave now if you care to.
Thank you for being here in Tacolcy. Biscayne Institute. Well, we'll pass it up. Centro Mater,
CACA. Centro Mater. Centro Mater, Teen Group. Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Ana Cristina Rodriguez: Yes, good morning. My name is Ana Cristina Rodriguez, I am the
new Administrator at Centro Mater. We are... we've been in the community serving children
from six weeks old till 14 years of age since 1968. We opened thanks to the funding of City of
Miami, the Outreach Program two years ago.
Mayor Clark: Your funding has been recommended, you know that?
Ms. Rodriguez: Yes. But since you...
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am.
Ms. Rodriguez: ...mentioned. I just wanted to thank you very much.
Mayor Clark: Thank you. Centro Mater Teen, is that the same group? It has been
recommended. The CCS Little Havana Child Care.
Ms. Lucia Vicencio: Good morning, my name is Lucia Vicencio, I'm the Director of Little
Havana Catholic Child Care Center, I want to thank you for the support that you have given us
throughout the years. Thank you very much.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am. The Notre Dame Day Care. Notre Dame Day Care. San
Juan Day Care. San Juan Day Care. Centro Community Haiti. COC Great Family Health
Center. COC Great Family Health Youth Center. De Hostos Senior Center.
Ms. Betzaida Ferrer: Good morning, my name is Betzaida Ferrer, I'm the Executive Director of
De Hostos Senior Center. I want to thank our Honorable Mayor, and the Commission for your
continuous support of De Hostos Senior Center. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you very much.
Mr. Waters: Mr. Mayor.
21 March 23, 1996
k�—
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Mr. Waters: Excuse me, sir, there is the Reverend Gregory who did not understand the call. He
represents Item number 16, Centro Community Haiti Education Center, and he is here.
Mayor Clark: Where is he?
St. Louis Fleurizard: My name is St. Louis Fleurizard, I am the Project Director for this
community center, the Haitian Community Center for Education and Development. And we
have been in the organization for 16 years. We have almost 50,000 Haitians on the matter of
finding job and finding skill to find a job. And we are requesting $51,000 for a project to help
the Haitian people to learn how to sew, how to behave in a job, and how to get a job. And we've
been doing that for 16 years with the private funding. And we ask you, Commissioner, to help
us reaching our goal for this year, in order to approve the $51,000 that we are asking for, we
have... the City - the board recommended $25,000. We will barely survive with the $25,000 for
the other... for the amount of people we are helping.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Commissioner Carollo left the
meeting temporarily at 11:17 a.m.
Mayor Clark: But at least you are surviving.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, a lot of them aren't.
Mr. Fleurizard: Yes, well, so we ask your support.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. Dominican American National
Foundation.
Mr. Waters: Again, I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor. On number 17, Coconut Grove, we skipped that
name, it's Coconut Grove Family Health Center, it's number...
Mayor Clark: Coconut Grove... Coconut Grove COC Family Health Center.
Mr. Waters: Number 18.
Mayor Clark: A representative. Your name and address.
Ms. Ivonne McDonald: I'm Ivonne McDonald, Director of the Coconut Grove Family and
Youth Intervention Center. We are an agency that has been operating for two years, and we
were not recommended for any funding. We are a subsidiary of the Coconut Grove Local
Development Corporation, who's been in existence for 15 years. We are providing services for
youths and families in the community of Coconut Grove. We are working with... to coordinate
services with over 20 different service providers for the community of Coconut Grove. We are
requesting $146,000 to help us with this program. What we are doing is with that funding we
hope to provide a counselor to work with families, we would like to provide funding for youths
with alternative services, assistance, especially for first time offenders. We are requesting funds
to work with our after -school programs. We are providing after -school programs through the
schools in Coconut Grove. We are working with agencies such as the Miami Museum of
Science, the Shake -a -Leg Program, Planned Parenthood, Coconut Grove Family Health Center.
We are working with basically all the agencies who are directly working with families in
22 March 23, 1996
Coconut Grove. Over the last two years, we have been able to coordinate these services to work
specifically in the target area. We meet monthly with the various agencies, and they come
together to get to know what other programs... what other agencies are doing in Coconut Grove,
and we are asking the Commissioners to please grant us some funding in order for us to continue
to keep this strong collaborative network functioning and working in Coconut Grove. We would
appreciate any support that you can give us. We applied for funding last year, we recognize
right now that we are new, but we are hoping that we will be able to receive some funding in
order for us to... especially be able to hire a counselor in our community. There are many
families, and youth in particular, that are in dire need of services especially with counseling.
And so we would really appreciate your support. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am. Thank you very much. Dominican American National
Foundation.
Mr. Rhadames Peguero: Good morning, Commissioners. I'm here in behalf of the Dominican
American National Foundation, and I would like to thank you for the CD Board's
recommendation, the Commissioner's recommendation. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. First United Methodist Church.
Ms. Anatolia Patrino: Good morning, Mayor, Commissioners. I am Anatolia Patrino from the
First Methodist Church, 400 Biscayne Boulevard. I want to take this opportunity to thank you
for your support. God bless you all.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am. Very nice, thank you so much. All right, the Haitian
American Civic Foundation. Haitian American Civic Foundation.
Commissioner Plummer: HACAD (Haitian American Community Association of Dade, Inc.).
Mayor Clark: No, this HACAD comes later.
Commissioner Plummer: No, it's a different one.
Unidentified Speaker: It's a different one. The Haitian American Civic Association.
Mayor Clark: Is there someone here from the Haitian American Civic Association?
Mr. Ricot Fertil: Yes.
Mayor Clark: Well, come forward and speak. Give us your name and address.
Mr. Fertil: OK. Good morning, Mayor Clark. Good morning, City of Miami Commissioners.
My name is Ricot Fertil, I'm the Executive Director of the Haitian American Civic Association.
We are here to thank you for the continued support to the Haitian American Civic Association to
provide individual counseling, group counseling, parenting skills, educational workshop, home
visit, and crime prevention. The Haitian Community is grateful to you for your support. Thank
you very much.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. HACAD. Now, we have two HACADs.
Mr. Louis Lacroix: Yes.
Mayor Clark: Are you the same one?
23 March 23, 1996
k.
Mr. Lacroix: Yes, sir. Yes, Commissioners.
Mayor Clark: Give us your name and address.
Mr. Lacroix: My name is Luis Lacroix, I'm the Executive Director of HACAD, we are located
in Little Haiti at 80th Street and 2nd Avenue, N.E. Commissioner, I want to thank you first of
all for your recommendation for emergency food program. However, there is one of our
program that has not been funded. I'm here this morning to ask for your support for that second
program. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you. Thank you, sir. Are you on the second HACAD?
Mr. Lacroix: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: That was the one that wasn't funded.
Mayor Clark: Thank you. Hispanic Coalition.
Ms. Marlene Arribas: Good morning, my name is Marlene Arribas. I'm the Executive Director
of the Spanish Coalition. Excuse me. I want to thank you for the support you've given us
throughout the years. And I hope that you will reconsider what the board recommended...
recommended for us, nothing.
Mayor Clark: All right.
Ms. Arribas: Our program services over 50 percent of the people in the City of Miami with job
services, immigration services, and we've been within the City of Miami for the last three years.
Last year, our agency serviced over 33,000 cases, 50 percent where from the City of Miami.
What I can't understand is if we don't have the money to keep the agencies that have been doing
an excellent job in providing services in our community, then how can we fund new ones to do
the same job. I sincerely hope that you will reconsider and at least recommend us for last year's
funding. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am. JESCA. Someone from JESCA? Are you making a fake
move or not?
Unidentified Speaker: No...
Mayor Clark: JESCA passes up. KIDCO.
Mr. Elvis Salvador: Good morning, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners. Elvis Salvador, 123 N.E.
36 Street. And in the name of the children and families in the area of Wynwood, we wanted to
thank for your continuous support to our program. Thank you so much.
Mayor Clark: Very good, thank you, sir. Liberty City Optimist Club. Liberty City Optimist
Club. Lions Home for the Blind.
Mr. Orestes Noriega: Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners. My name is Orestes Noriega,
I'm the Executive Director of the Lions Home for the Blind. I want to thank you for the support
you are giving to the Lions Home for the Blind for so many years. And also during this year.
Also I would like to tell you that I would like that you take in consideration the recommendation
of the board for this year. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. Little Havana Housing Association. Little Havana Housing
Association. Little Havana Activity and - I guess - Nutrition Center.
24 March 23, 1996
Ms. Josefina Carbonell: Mr. Mayor, it was Little Haiti Housing Advisory.
Mayor Clark: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: That was 29, Mr. Mayor. Thirty, thirty. It was Haiti, not Havana.
Ms. Carbonell: OK, I'll speak.
Mayor Clark: I said Little Haiti Housing Association, but no one showed up. All right, yes,
ma'am.
Ms. Carbonell: OK. Good morning...
Commissioner Plummer: Whoa, whoa, there he is.
Mr. Jacques St. Louis: You haven't called my name.
Commissioner Plummer: No.
Mayor Clark: We don't call names. We call organizations.
Mr. St. Louis: I know but...
Mayor Clark: Come up here. Who do you represent?
Mr. St. Louis: Little Haiti Housing Association.
Mayor Clark: OK. Come on. Excuse us just a minute.
Mr. St. Louis: Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, thank you for calling my name here. I am
Assistant Director of Little Haiti Housing, and our address is 181 N.E. 82nd Street. Jacques St.
Louis. And we provide little housing for very low income people in Little Haiti. From 1992 to
now, Little Haiti Housing has been providing 35 housing for very low income family, most of
whom are single mothers who can not buy houses through a real estate. And people are making
$10,000, $12,000 a year. And also, none of these homes of loans have defaulted because no...
we have a following of services that we help the family, if they have any problem in their home
to fix it, we provide assistance for them...
Mayor Clark: Sir, you have been recommended for funding at $23,000.
Mr. St. Louis: It's is for social services. And now we are asking $80,000...
Mayor Clark: Eighty?
Mr. St. Louis: Yeah, $80,000, you know, to support the program because with all this work...
Commissioner Plummer: His request was only 35.
Mr. St. Louis: ...in education and support...
Mayor Clark: Yeah.
Mr. St. Louis: ...and we do also neighborhoods, to... if people don't pick garbage, we
phone homeowner clerk, and teach them how to take care of the neighborhood, and to call us if
25 March 23, 1996
k_-
they have any problem. And I think if the Commissioner and Mayor consider to fund the 80,000
that are to the Little Haiti Housing, I think I will be very, very, very important to keep this
program ongoing.
Mayor Clark: All right, we thank you for your request.
Mr. St. Louis: Thank you very much.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. All right, Little Havana.
Ms. Carbonell: Good morning, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, Mr. Manager. Thank you for your
continuous support and commitment on behalf of the low-income, at -risk elderly, and disabled
people in our community. We have reviewed the recommendations, both the City's staff and
Community Development Board, and want to bring a couple of critical areas to your attention.
One, there's been a reduction in funds for meals and preventive health care for the elderly and
disabled. Second, there's been the total elimination of City funding for the Geriatric Child
Health Care Clinic. That is no matching operational funds for the recently remodeled expanded
clinic that the City of Miami CDBG has recently funded, and is slated to be opened during the
CDBG National Celebration Week. Third, since both these programs funds provide matching
funds for Federal funding, the little funding that remains at the Congressional... after
Congressional action for our agency, those Federal funds are at risk. Overall, the City's CDBG
funding toward our agency will have been cut by over 49 percent in the last three years where
demand and need has increased over 68 percent during the same period. In light of that, and in
light of what's coming down in both at the Federal and the State level, I must tell you having just
come back from Tallahassee yesterday and to just bring a point... bring out a few points that I
think the entire City Commission and the City Administration must consider as you move
forwarding in allocating the very little social services, and public dollars that are available.
Number one, the City... in the City of Miami, 44 percent of the 60 plus and over, 60 years of age
and over, low income level minorities in the entire State reside. That means that 44 percent of
the poorest elderly and minority individuals in the entire State reside in the City limits of Miami.
Second, Dade County alone holds 35 percent of the State's medicaid eligible population when
we know that those medicaid dollars are winding down. And third, we have a high concentration
of malnutrition in our older and disabled population which must be considered.
Mayor Clark: Josefina, your time is up.
Ms. Carbonell: We stand here to help you and support you in your efforts to look very closely at
how you distribute those public dollars. And thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, Ms. Carbonell. All right. On the other... Allapattah Nutrition Center,
you are both of them? Thank you, Ma'am. Mariel Group, The Mariel Group. No, it's not you.
No, it's not you, Manolo.
Mr. Manuel Gonzalez-Goenaga: But I'm Citizens United Against Police Brutality.
Mayor Clark: Please, now. Please, have a seat. Have a seat.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: When can I be recognized?
Mayor Clark: I am going to call you just before lunch time. Metro Dade Community Action.
Commissioner Plummer: What are they coming here for?
Mayor Clark: Miami Jewish Home Hospital Legion.
26
March 23, 1996
k,
Mayor Clark: Miami Jewish Home Hospital Legion.
Ms. Ruth Wells: My name is Ruth Wells, and I am the Nurse Manager and Project Director of
the Miami Jewish Home Adult Day Health Care Center at Legion Park. I would like to thank the
Mayor, the Commissioners, and the CD Board for continued support of this program to the frail
elderly in the Northeast section. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am. Now we have the Miami Midnight Basketball. Midnight
Basketball. Miami Mental Health.
Ms. Sara Walker: Good morning, my name is Sara Walker, I'm the Supervisor of the Miami
Mental Health Center in the Coconut Grove area. Our program provides outpatient mental
health case management, substance abuse treatment, services to adults residing in the area. And
I'd like that you continue to maintain our grant moneys for this vocation. Thank you very much.
Mayor Clark: Thank you. Model City Crime Prevention Subcommittee. Mr. Johnakin.
Mr. Thelbert Johnakin: Good morning, Commission, Mr. Mayor. We had requested certain
amount of funds reference to the program that we have... you know, we have several programs in
our area. You know the problem that we are having especially with the crime and stuff that we
are having now. And we had requested, and we are asking if you would please grant us this fund
that we requested.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Johnakin. Overtown Community Optimist Club.
Overtown Community Optimist Club. St. Agnes Rainbow Village... Rainbow Village
Development Corporation.
Reverend Shedrick Gilbert: Good morning, Mayor and Commissioners. I'd like to thank you
for continuous support of my recreation program. But I have a number 41 on the agenda, a tots
and toddlers program, a family development program. I'm asking... requested $80,040.
Mayor Clark: They recommended 25.
Rev. Gilbert: That's for the recreation program, right?
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Rev. Gilbert: What about the second?
Mayor Clark: They recommended first of all 23,275 for the development corporation, 25,000 for
the family development center.
Rev. Gilbert: I wish you reconsider that. Thank you very much.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, Father.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, we are going to have to reconsider down. They are St. Agnes
Rainbow.
Mayor Clark: St. Alban's Day Nursery.
Ms. Lillian Slater: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. The Overtown Optimist Club. I'm sorry.
Mayor Clark: On what?
27 March 23, 1996
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Ms. Slater: I am a member of the Overtown Optimist Club, and I do thank Commissioner
Dawkins and all of you for helping the Overtown Optimist Club to keep the kids and the
program because we need them to stay busy because to keep them from crime. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, Miller.
Mr. Oswald Nembhard: My name is Oswald Nembhard from St. Alban's Day Nursery in
Coconut Grove. My address is 14411 N.W. 13th Road, I'm here to thank you for your usual
support and to ask that it be continued. Thank you very much.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. Southwest Social Services.
Ms. Cristina Penedo: My name is Cristina Penedo, and I represent Southwest Social Services.
And I want to take this opportunity to thank the Mayor and the members of the Commission for
their support. We have been recommended at the same level as this current year, which will
probably mean that some services will have to be cut. We are anticipating an increase in the cost
of meals because this year our agency has to go out and renew the meal contract. So I know
funding is tight, but if there's any additional funds, I would appreciate it very much on behalf of
the elderly if you can think of us. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am. All right, Vecinos en Accion. Youth of America
Incorporation.
Mr. Samoel Mason: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Commissioners. Youth of America had
requested funding $154,700 for the youth, at risk youth, and other youths in the Model City area.
Our program has assisted 100 mothers that they can leave the kids and be able to seek
employment, schooling or whatever. We've done the job out there, several of the
Commissioners have been out to see what we are doing. We are asking to support us in our
funding. Thank you very kindly.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. Public Service Contingency, Mr. Manager, what is that?
Mr. Waters: Mr. Mayor, that... the Public Service Contingency Fund, which is a $144,255, that
fund has been set aside because we... as staff attempted to identify some additional funding, we
identified those youth programs, and I am going to read them for the record...
Commissioner Plummer: Page 2.
Mr. Waters: Alternative Programs as per their recommendations to go to the Law Enforcement
Trust Fund if in fact we were unsuccessful in obtaining the additional dollars from the Law
Enforcement Trust Fund, then those groups that we identify to receive those, their contingency
fund would go back to fund them at their current level.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Lopez: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Mr. Lopez: As a board member, in the last meeting that we had we recommended that those
funds instead of keeping them as a contingency fund that we fund those programs that they were
taken from.
28 March 23, 1996
Mayor Clark: Do we have a recommendation of that nature?
Mr. Lopez: Yeah, we recommended at that meeting that those 144,255 that those funds be given
to the programs that were taken from instead of recommending them to the LETF program.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, Emilio.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I've got a question, if I may?
Mayor Clark: Please.
Commissioner Plummer: Emilio, I don't see Irby here or whoever the Chairman is. I'm at a loss
to understand the CD Board's recommendations when they are $161,000 more than we can
spend. How can you do that? I mean you know we are limited. So I'm asking the question,
how can you recommend more than you know we can spend?
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. Mr. Mayor.
Commissioner Plummer: Can I get an answer?
Mayor Clark: Let him... let him get an answer.
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. I'm going to give an answer.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Commissioner Dawkins: If you go to page... see this is why I said this is needed. Bear with me
I one minute, J.L. If you go through here, you will see that the CD Board member and the staff
recommendation...
Commissioner Plummer: What page are you on?
Vice Mayor Gort: There is a difference of $486.
Commissioner Dawkins: That's right. And the difference goes through here in different
programs, and it shows up... we got a plus here with the CD Board, and a minus over there with
the CD Board, and a plus for... with the staff. And when you look at it, it all averages out.
Commissioner Plummer: No.
Commissioner Dawkins: Go ahead. Go ahead.
Commissioner Plummer: No. What I... I'm speaking only right now, Miller, in the social
programs.
Mr. Lopez: In the social programs... Mr. Plummer, may I answer your question?
Commissioner Plummer: Please.
Mr. Lopez: In the social service programs when we went through, I mean, you can see we have
five million requested on funds...
Commissioner Plummer: I see that.
29 March 23, 1996
k.1-.
Mr. Lopez: And then we... you know, we tried to cut it to the bare minimum that we thought it
was... plus giving some new programs like everybody had said... you know we...
Commissioner Plummer: But you know that our maximum...
Mr. Lopez: Yes, sir, we...
Commissioner Plummer: ...that we can do...
Mr. Lopez: We left it for you to have fun.
Commissioner Plummer: No, that's... you know, let tell you something, that's not fair.
Mr. Lopez: No, I know.
Commissioner Plummer: That is not fair when you have let these people to believe that your
recommendation, and they say thank you for your recommendation, and now I've got to sit here
and cut each one of those to makeup the difference of the 161,000. That is unfair to this
Commission.
Mr. Lopez: There's... Mr. Plummer, if you look, there is a couple of programs over here...
Commissioner Plummer: Over where?
Mr. Lopez: ...that were recommended... to the left... programs that are being recommended by
the board that you can work with that in that area. I think that's the only... I agree with you, Mr.
Plummer...
i
' Commissioner Plummer: I have only...
Mr. Lopez: ...that it might have been unfair, but we... I mean, we... you know, we tried to get it
to the bare minimum.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, but we got to do it.
Mr. Lopez: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: We have no choice.
Mr. Lopez: I know. I know.
Commissioner Plummer: Now, I have one other....
Mr. Lopez: Now, the only thing I can tell you is that in the other side, like Mr. Dawkins says,
we left $750,000 to work with.
Commissioner Plummer: I understand that, but we can't use it here.
Mr. Lopez: I know.
Commissioner Plummer: Now, I have one other question.
Mr. Lopez: Yes, sir.
30 March 23, 1996
Commissioner Plummer: What rationale did you use in your committee meetings, not you
individually...
Mr. Lopez: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: ...as you know, every year it has been my foremost thought to feed the
poor, take care of the sick, and put roofs over their head, and anything left over we'll talk about.
Mr. Lopez: Mr. Plummer.
Commissioner Plummer: You have recommended here the cutting of food programs. Now, not
you personally, Emilio.
Mr. Lopez: Yeah, I know.
Commissioner Plummer. I'm asking what rationale did the board use to cut food programs?
Mr. Lopez: I cannot answer that to you. You know there was... there were at that night there
was only six people there, we tried to do... again, we had to go over like you might have to do
now and try to do what you have to do.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah.
Commissioner Dawkins: What food programs did you guys recommend cutting?
Mr. Lopez: There was one in here, I think it was two, and then...
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah.
Mr. Lopez: ...if you heard Mr. McKnight, he said that he was an oversight and... because I've
always been aware of Mr. J. L. Plummer's needs. He said feed the poor, and I knew that. But
some other board members...
Commissioner Dawkins: In this...
Mr. Lopez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Lopez.
Mr. Lopez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Dawkins: In this document, what food programs did the board recommend
cutting?
Commissioner Plummer: There was one, the Little Havana Activity Nutrition Center is one.
Mr. Lopez: They're cut by $9,000 in one area, and 63 in another.
Commissioner Dawkins: What's the number?
Commissioner Plummer: Number 31 is for example.
Commissioner Dawkins: 31?
31 March 23, 1996
Mr. Lopez: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: They were cut 24... no.
Mr. Lopez: $9,675.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah. I'm just asking because...
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. What's another one?
Mr. Lopez: There was another one, I think it was... and then that day they said it was the
oversight...
Commissioner Plummer: Thirty-two.
Mr. Lopez: The Allapattah Community Action Program.
Commissioner Plummer: No, 32 is not a feeding program. That is a medical screening, which
they get dollar for dollar match.
Mr. Lopez: Right, that... right.
Mr. Waters: Number 3.
Mr. Lopez: Yeah, number...
Commissioner Plummer: Allapattah... Allapattah they cut... Allapattah Community Action
Center...
Mr. Lopez: Right.
Commissioner Plummer: ...is a food program, and they were cut...
Mr. Lopez: And they were cut $77,000.
Commissioner Plummer: ...$77,000.
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. Go ahead, another one.
Mr. Lopez: That's it.
Commissioner Plummer: Those are the ones that I've looked at.
Mr. Lopez: That's the only two that I think that they were cut.
Mayor Clark: Wait, please.
Mr. Lopez: I think they... the... Mr.
Commissioner Dawkins: J. L. said three, now. Let's get together now.
Commissioner Plummer: No, I didn't say three...
Mr. Lopez: No, only two.
32
March 23, 1996
L
Commissioner Plummer: ...I said... I just asked how they did that, that's all.
Mr. Lopez: There were two, there were two.
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. So we only got two. I want the people in the audience to
understand we are only talking about cutting food for two programs.
Commissioner Plummer: Right.
Commissioner Dawkins: So therefore, if we do, we have to bring the food programs back up...
Commissioner Plummer: Right. Right.
Commissioner Dawkins: ...and there is only two.
Commissioner Plummer: Right.
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. Go ahead.
Commissioner Plummer: They were cut.
Mr. Lopez: You are dealing with about $85,000 plus a hundred and fifty something...
Commissioner Plummer: All right, I have one other...
Mr. Lopez: Mr. Plummer, you know the rationale that most of the people work with... you
know, we knew we had that amount of money.
Commissioner Plummer: Emilio, we all have differences of opinions.
Mr. Lopez: OK. Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: I have one other question I'm concerned.
Mayor Clark: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: Action Community Center is the organization that takes the people to
and from, if the people can't get to the food programs, or the people can't get to the doctor, what
rationale did you use to cut the only transportation program out of all of them? And you cut that
by more or less 50 percent.
Mr. Lopez: Mr. Plummer, again, you know, we...
Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me, Emilio. Not you personally.
Mr. Lopez: Yeah, I know.
Commissioner Plummer: If you can tell me what the board. Why? What rationale did they use
to cut this program?
Mr. Lopez: The rationale that I think everybody was looking for is that there was some new
programs that... we've been always bashed in the head by everybody that we need to get some
new programs into the system. And I hear from other people the same thing. And I even heard
33 March 23, 1996
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it from some of the Commissioners. So we try to be fair and... you know, try to get some new
programs in. Now, we made recommendations and the board... and the staff made some
recommendations. If you were... if you would have followed my... what I felt we should have
done, I would have left all the programs and social services the same. Their recommendation...
because there are some programs over here that have been working for so many years. And then
find out moneys from another place for the new programs. But... you know, the board felt that it
was fair for... you know, to... for new programs to get into the system, and that's what we tried to
do.
Mayor Clark: All right, very good.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, my last question is of staff, if I may?
Mayor Clark: Go ahead.
Commissioner Plummer: To the Administration. Of all of these ones that you've shown as
recommendations to the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, that would free up tremendous amounts
of money on this other side. Now, we the Commission make the final decision on the Law
Enforcement Trust Fund, which has always been controversial. What are we going to be doing?
Are we going to definitely put in applications for that? I mean, who is going to put in the
application to the Law Enforcement Trust Fund, to try to give these people this funding?
Mr. Smith: Commissioner, the organization will have to make the application. As Mr. Waters
explained before those that were funded this year that we suggested LETF (Law Enforcement
Trust Fund) that amount of money that they were funded this year is what makes up the
contingency amount. If they were not to be funded by LETF, the idea was to take the money
from the contingency and give it to them.
Commissioner Plummer: But if they are funded, then that freezed up that amount of money?
Mr. Smith: That is... that is correct.
Mr. Lopez: That is not what we recommended.
Mayor Clark: OK. Very good. Let's move forward.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: Excuse me, may I? This is... I am the last one.
Mayor Clark: All right, sir, let me ask you a question. Are you going to speak on this program
that we have, not on...
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: Yes, I am very much interested and I have made presentation before
regarding social services, it's in my heart.
Mayor Clark: All right. Now, don't start a tirade, you'll be out of order.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: My name is Manuel Gonzalez-Goenaga, I reside in the City of Miami,
2469 S.W. 14 Street. I have made a sort of review and I have the papers with me. And the issue
just like when I read an annual report from a public corporation, I read... start from the back.
And on the action plan, I think that this procedure is totally flawed for the following reasons.
And these are the directives of HUD. Citizens participation, it is full compliance and following a
detail citizens participation plan that satisfies the requirement of the Code of Federal
Regulations, Chapter 91.105. Besides the point, in addition to, I strongly urge in order to protect
the less fortunate people within the City of Miami, this procedure is helping the most fortunate
34 March 23, 1996
people of the City of Miami when Federal funds are being assigned to staff when the staff should
be covered by the marvelous salaries that we pay them through our taxes. So I strongly urge, it's
only one suggestion, this Commission should do if they are honest with themselves, is to take off
every single penny assigned to the best people paid in the... in the nation being the fourth poorest
City in the nation. And to finish...
Mayor Clark: Thank you.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: ...government, remember, like trees start to decay from the top down.
And beware of little expenses, a small leak can sink a great ship. And Miami is no great ship.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, Manolo. We are moving now...
Mr. Herbert Coleman: Mr. Mayor, if I may? My name is Herbert Coleman, we were on the
agenda for the last hearing from the Haitian American Foundation, and we were referred to by
the Chairman of the Committee this morning. I just like to have a moment if I could to speak to
this?
Mayor Clark: What's your song? Give us your name and address.
Mr. Coleman: OK. My name is Herbert Coleman, I'm Director of Operations for the Haitian
American Foundation. I live at 3802 N.E. 36th Street.
Mr. Smith: Mr. Mayor, if I may interrupt. My understanding is that this organization did not
make an application, did not submit an application for funds.
Mr. Coleman: Mr. Mayor, I'm... that is true we did not. But I'm just requesting an opportunity
to speak for two seconds regarding this.
Mayor Clark: All right. Proceed.
Mr. Coleman: Thank you. We did not submit an application this year, if you recall the last time
that I was here we submitted an application the year before last, which was recommended by the
body, by the advisory board, which was aluded to this morning by Mr. Irby, and who said that
the board at this time recommended that you consider it. That's one thing I would like to call to
your attention again. The other thing is, obviously, because of the limited amount of funds this
year and probably more limited next year, we are always going to have a greater number of
people in programs requesting funds than are going to be available. Next year will probably be
worse. So I would like to make a recommendation to be considered by the Commissioners next
funding cycle. Obviously, the move now all across the Country is for organizations and
communities to coalesce in order to get maximum use of the limited amount of funds. We are
not opposed to that. I might suggest to you though that the board consider allocating funds to the
various communities rather than putting it all in one pot and let everybody fight over it. Let's
allocate the funds by communities, and then let those of us in each community come together
and coalesce. We'll know how much moneys is been allocated to that community. Then we can
come and coalesce so that when we come to you you'll have just communities coming to you
with a certain amount of money already preallocated, so there won't be any fight over that, and
we will have predetermined within our communities the best use for those dollars. And I think
that will help the manager of the program, and the Commissioners, and the City Manager, and
certainly all of us.
Mayor Clark: Sir, that's the reason we have the CD Board, the City's staff, and these hearings.
Mr. Coleman: I understand. My recommendation is that the City Advisory Board considers a
blanket amount of money.
35 March 23, 1996
k,
Mayor Clark: That's all. All right, thank you for your suggestions, sir.
Mr. Coleman: Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you very much. Item number...
Mr. Johnakin: Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry. May I just one... just one minute. Herbert Johnakin, 1345
N.W. 51 Street. Mr. Mayor, I'm a little bit confused here. Last month I was in front of the
board, Commission Board here, and it's my understanding that the Law Entrustment Fund it was
broke. So I'm hearing a lot about Entrustment Fund now. Now, it was my understanding that
every time I come up here the program that I work... that I'm on here now, I want you to know
that this is a City of Miami Police Department Program. And I'm out there all the time, it's a lot
of hours being put in, but every time I come here, it says something about Law Entrustment
Fund, their program. But I'm hearing a lot of talk about Entrustment Fund, and that bothers me
deeply.
Mayor Clark: Mr. Johnakin, they are not broke, so don't worry about it. We are going to protect
you.
Mr. Johnakin: Thank you, sir.
Mayor Clark: Page 4, Emergency Shelter Grant. Better Way of Miami. Christian Community
Service Agency.
Ms. Maritza Aragon: Good morning, my name is Maritza Aragon, I'm Director of Operations
for Christian Community Service Agency, address 3899 N.W. 7th Street.
Mayor Clark: You've been recommended, you know that.
Ms. Aragon: Yes, and I want to thank this Commission for its continuous support. There are
some other requests however that we submitted that are not been recommended by staff, I don't
know if I should speak to those at this time, or wait till you come up with them.
Mayor Clark: Well.
Ms. Aragon: It's on the improvement in the last... the second to the last page of your
recommendations.
Mayor Clark: Well, if the City... if the CD Board recommended 100,000, your allocation this
year is 100. You requested 120. Is that right?
Ms. Aragon: This is under the Emergency Shelter Grant. I'm speaking on the back of the pages
regarding public facilities and improvements.
Mayor Clark: Wait till we get to that.
Ms. Aragon: You'll wait to that. OK. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Metro Dade Community Action. Miami Coalition for the Homeless. Now, what
do they need money for? Yes, sir.
Mr. Andrew Lans: Good afternoon, my name is Andrew Lans, and I reside at 124 N.E. 14th
Street.
36 March 23, 1996
k,
Mayor Clark: Speak up a little bit, sir.
Mr. Lans: I'm not in the agenda but why I'm here... Irby McKnight mentioned a gentleman
from Dorsey Park, and this is the gentleman from Dorsey Park. And I'm here and... to speak and
I would like to get with your staff to discuss the things that I want and that need to be done in
Dorsey Park to keep the youths off the streets.
Mayor Clark: Right there, you got a chance. You have the staff right there, so do all the talking
you want to. Prayer and Praise International. We've gone... City of Miami Homeless Program.
Ms. Livia Garcia: Good morning, sir, Livia Garcia, City of Miami Office of Homeless
Programs. We want to thank you for the recommendation.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am.
Mr. Mariano Cruz: Mariano Cruz, 1227 N.W. 26th Street in Allapattah. The reason I come in
because the other day in the meeting Livia Garcia, she mentioned that the facility... the homeless
facility office or something new was coming to Allapattah. And she left and I couldn't talk to
her, but I want to know where that facility is going to be located, who is going to be and what?
Because according, I think when you vote...
Mayor Clark: Mariano, Mariano. We are not going to get into an argument here. She'll just
step out right there and give you all the information she's got. Housing Opportunity.
Commissioner Dawkins: Mariano, in the event that they want to put it in Allapattah, you come
back. Go outside and listen to her, and if she tells you they are going to put it there, when they
say they are going to put it there, you come back.
Mr. Cruz: I make a motion to recommend whatever was left...
Commissioner Dawkins: No, no, no. Just... the Mayor says go out and get the information.
Mayor Clark: All right. Cure AIDS Now.
Mr. Gene Suarez: Mr. Mayor, I'm not... I'm not from Cure AIDS Now. But I am from the
Housing Advisory Board, HOPWA to the City Administration. Both of these recommendations
that have been made here by the City staff and the CD people, the HOPWA Advisory Board is
opposed to both of these recommendations. They are outside of the... we are doing the whole
process through an RFP (Request for Proposal) process, and both of these... we are asking you to
please look at the HOPWA Advisory Board recommendation, which did not include these two
requests. We have a board that has been meeting for over two years and that has advertised and
has worked on an RFP process, and both of these contracts instead of coming to the CD Board,
we feel that it should be coming to the HOPWA Advisory Board instead.
Mayor Clark: Mr. Manager, can you have them go to the HOPWA Board?
Mr. Cesar Odio (City Manager): Yes, we can do that.
Mayor Clark: All right.
Mr. Suarez: The HOPWA Board has made a recommendation and it does not include these two
programs.
37 March 23, 1996
Commissioner Dawkins: But... but...
Mayor Clark: Mr. Dawkins.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Commissioner Carollo returned to
the meeting at 11:59 a.m.
Commissioner Dawkins: What provisions are you making for the Cure AIDS people now to eat?
Mr. Suarez: OK. Sir, we are making provisions in working together with the Ryan White, Title
I and Title lI. And Cure AIDS Now is financed for the...
Commissioner Dawkins: How are you identifying addresses of which to take the food to a
person who needs it? That's what I want to know.
Mr. Suarez: OK. The program... this program here was to fund for the driver. And I am also on
the HIV Health Services Council Title I where we are financing Cure AIDS Now for the hot...
for the home delivery meals and for the food bank and all of that. What I'm saying is that the
money is so limited for housing, that the Housing Advisory Board is requesting that that money
be used for housing and housing... direct housing services only. Cure AIDS Now, I'm not
talking against them getting funded, but I'm talking for them to go through the HIV Health
Services Planning Council of... I am a member of that board also... to get financing.
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. Hold it. Didn't you hear Commissioner Plummer said that we
feed first...
Mr. Suarez: Yes.
Commissioner Dawkins: ...and we do things after that. We talked... this programs feeds...
Mr. Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Dawkins: ...so this program will get consideration.
Mr. Suarez: This one... and it should.
Commissioner Dawkins: ...number two, how are you going to provide for this... this is a shelter
for women with substance abuse and AIDS, how are you, the HOPWA people going to
incorporate these people into your programs.
Mr. Suarez: Again, if you look at the sources that the South Florida Jail Ministires AGAPE has,
they are getting money from other sources and what we are saying is that the program is worth
getting funded but not from the housing allocation. The housing allocation we are providing...
we are not saying for them not to get funded, but what we are saying is that the CD Board has
not had all the input that the HOPWA Board has received...
Commissioner Dawkins: And that's your opinion.
Mr. Suarez: Yes,... but...
Commissioner Dawkins: ... you want to stand here and force your opinion on this board.
38 March 23, 1996
k,
Mr. Suarez: No, sir, what I'm...
Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, you are, sir.
Mayor Clark: Is not going to happen. Sir, sir, your time is up now.
Mr. Suarez: OK. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: This South Florida Jail Ministries. Anyone representing them here?
Mr. M. Cruz: That place is run by the County.
Mayor Clark: No, well...
Commissioner Plummer: What did he say? Willy, what did he say.
Commissioner Dawkins: He said that program was run by the County, so he's not considering.
Commissioner Plummer: That's the housing...
Mayor Clark: Yes, ma'am, your name please.
Ms. Edith Zewadski: My name is Edith Zewadski, can you hear me?
Mayor Clark: Yes.
Ms. Zewadski: South Florida Jail Ministries main offices 690 Brickell. I'm here to speak to you
today about the merit of our program, and how we provide for women in need, and 20 percent of
the women we provide for are women with AIDS, HIV positive or with AIDS. Three women
came with me today, women from the City, women with AIDS. And they receive support and
love and services throughout our organization that we bring to the table... that we have asked for
a funding, which would provide for housing, and in addition we can bring to that a wholistic
program that addresses vocational, spiritual, emotional...
Mayor Clark: I've been down there, it's good.
Ms. Zewadski: Thank you.
Mayor Clark: In fact, our State Attorney Katherine Fernandez -Rundle is very active in that
group, isn't she?
Ms. Zewadski: Yes, she is, a Godsend.
Mayor Clark: All right. Thank you, ma'am.
Ms. Zewadski: Thank you.
Mayor Clark: All right, ladies and gentlemen, this Commission is in recess until 2 o'clock.
39 March 23, 1996
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THEREUPON THE CITY COMMISSION WENT INTO
RECESS AT 12:02 P.M. AND RECONVENED AT 2:00 P.M.,
WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION FOUND
TO BE PRESENT EXCEPT VICE MAYOR GORT AND
COMMISSIONER DAWKINS.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: City Manager Cesar Odio entered
the meeting at 2:06 p.m.
Vice Mayor Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I'd like for your edification that Mr. T. Willard Fair thinks
that he is running. Mr. T. Willard Fair is in fact running for the Metro Commission, District 3.
He is parked in my parking space, and that is the City Commission, Group 3. I wish you would
inform him that this is not Metro Dade County. And T. Willard, I've told you about going on
topless, put your hair on. Here's Joe, let's go.
Mayor Clark: All right, Mr. Clerk. We are back in session. Mr. Carollo, myself and Mr.
Plummer.
Vice Mayor Plummer: Mr. Mayor, where are we? I think we've heard from the public at this
particular point, and now we go to arguing.
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: Joe, do you know of anything else we haven't covered?
Commissioner Carollo: I'm OK, if you are OK. Remember that book?
Commissioner Plummer: Well, you know, we'll keep Steve in line between the two of us. Mr.
Mayor, I'm going to give you mine very briefly.
Mayor Clark: All right.
Commissioner Plummer: I've never deviated in the 22 years of the Community Development
money, I'm not going to deviate this year. I'm going to make a motion at this time that all food
programs, medical programs and transportation be reinstated to at least last year's level.
Mayor Clark: Second the motion by Mr. Carollo. Right, Joe.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, second.
Mayor Clark: Cast a unanimous ballot, Mr. Clerk.
Commissioner Carollo: That has always been the policy of this Commission.
40 March 23, 1996
k- -
THEREUPON THE CITY COMMISSION WENT INTO
RECESS AT 12:02 P.M. AND RECONVENED AT 2:00 P.M.,
WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION FOUND
TO BE PRESENT EXCEPT VICE MAYOR GORT AND
COMMISSIONER DAWKINS.
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: City Manager Cesar Odio entered
the meeting at :06 p.m.
Vice Mayor Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I'd like for your edification that Mr. T. Willard Fair thinks
that he is running. Mr. T. Willard Fair is in fact running for the Metro Commission, District 3.
He is parked in my parking space, and that is the City Commission, Group 3. I wish you would
inform him that this is not Metro Dade County. And T. Willard, I've told you about going on
topless, put your hair on. Here's Joe, let's go.
Mayor Clark: All right, Mr. Clerk. We are back in session. Mr. Carollo, myself and Mr.
Plummer.
Vice Mayor Plummer: Mr. Mayor, where are we? I think we've heard from the public at this
particular point, and now we go to arguing.
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: Joe, do you know of anything else we haven't covered?
Commissioner Carollo: I'm OK, if you are OK. Remember that book?
Commissioner Plummer: Well, you know, we'll keep Steve in line between the two of us. Mr.
Mayor, I'm going to give you mine very briefly.
Mayor Clark: All right.
Commissioner Plummer: I've never deviated in the 22 years of the Community Development
money, I'm not going to deviate this year. I'm going to make a motion at this time that all food
programs, medical programs and transportation be reinstated to at least last year's level.
Mayor Clark: Second the motion by Mr. Carollo. Right, Joe.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, second.
Mayor Clark: Cast a unanimous ballot, Mr. Clerk.
Commissioner Carollo: That has always been the policy of this Commission.
40 March 23, 1996
•vw
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 96-201
A MOTION DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO REINSTATE THOSE
SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES WHICH PROVIDE FOOD, MEDICAL, AND
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS (PROJECT PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE
PUBLIC SERVICES AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS CATEGORY [FY 1996-97
CONSOLIDATED PLAN]) TO AT LEAST THE SAME FUNDING LEVEL AS THEY
RECEIVED LAST FISCAL YEAR.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Carollo, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote.
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I would also like to... OK. Let me tell you how I would
do it. Let me tell you how I would do it.
Mr. Cesar Odio (City Manager): Start adding numbers.
Commissioner Plummer: No, it's going to be simple. You take the amount of money necessary
to refund those programs. You take a percentage, and all the rest of the programs would be
deducted by that small amount. You are not... a big amount of money. OK. The next motion
that I would have for you, Mr. Mayor, is a motion to reinstate the Latin Chamber of Commerce
to the 150,000 as it was previously.
Mayor Clark: Second.
Commissioner Carollo: Which Chamber is that?
Commissioner Plummer: Latin, CAMACOL.
Commissioner Carollo: OK, CAMACOL. All right...
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: ...that I understand, I second the motion.
Mayor Clark: Cast a unanimous ballot, Mr. Clerk.
41 March 23, 1996
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The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 96-202
A MOTION DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO REINSTATE CAMACOL
[NO. 17*] (LATIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) (PROJECT PROPOSAL
CONTAINED IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL
REHABILITATION CATEGORY [FY 1996-97 CONSOLIDATED PLAN]) TO
$150,000, ITS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ALLOCATION LEVEL.
(Note: The number within the above bracket at the end of the agency's name [followed
by the asterisk] designates the number which was assigned to the project in the booklet
entitled: "City of Miami/Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET), Project Proposals
(1996-97) Consolidated Plan," which is part of Resolution No. 96-208 amending the
1996-1997 HUD Consolidated Plan.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Carollo, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Mayor Clark: All right. Those two items, now what else we got to do, Joe?
Commissioner Plummer: I move we adjourn.
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir, give us your name.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I'm also... I'm still concerned, not for a motion purposes,
I'm concerned when I hear that there's programs here recommended to be funded by Law
Enforcement Trust Funds.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, I have a problem with that, too, J.L.
Commissioner Plummer: And I am very, very concerned to the extent when I hear someone
telling me that that fund is broke. Now, you know, you can wish in one hand, and something in
the other and you know which one is going to fill up the faster. And I'm just saying to you that
in my estimation, I am very concerned that there - the funding in that - not that they are going to
make the application. If we are going to be honest with ourselves, we are going to instruct the
Manager to instruct the Police Chief that these items, we feel, are priority. And I just had to put
that on the record because if not, you know what is going to happen. I love my Police
Department, they have great Police Chiefs Association meeting here, I attended it and
represented it, but that was $500,000 of Law Enforcement Trust Funds.
Mayor Clark: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: OK. Now, what comes first? I think priorities have got to be set. So
if it's in order, I don't even know if I am in order doing this, Quinn, I would make a motion at
42 March 23, 1996
this time that the policy of this City Commission is that we ask the Manager to ask the Police
Chief of those programs so indicated in this document be given priority, and that we, the
Commission, are forwarding the applications. Am I in order to do that, sir?
NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Commissioner Dawkins and Vice
ayor Gort enterea the meeting at 2:09 p.m.
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: I so move.
Commissioner Dawkins: I'll second with the amendment that the Police Department let this
Commission know what the total amount of dollars they have? OK.
Commissioner Plummer: That's a friendly amendment.
Commissioner Dawkins: Thank you.
Mayor Clark: With no exceptions, call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 96-203
A MOTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO REQUEST OF THE POLICE
CHIEF TO GIVE TOP PRIORITY TO THOSE FUNDING PROJECT PROPOSALS IN
THE PUBLIC SERVICES AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS CATEGORY [NOS. 4*, 5*, 8*,
12*, 36*, 38*, 39*, 44*, AND 45*] THAT CITY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TO BE
FUNDED FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND (LETF), AS AN
ESTABLISHED CITY COMMISSION POLICY; FURTHER, DIRECTING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO FORWARD DESIGNATED PROGRAMS FOR POSSIBLE
LETF FUNDING TO THE POLICE CHIEF, AND FURTHER REQUESTING THAT
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INFORM THE CITY COMMISSION AS TO THE
REMAINING BALANCE PRESENTLY EXISTING IN THE LETF.
(Note: The number within the above bracket at the end of the agency's name [followed
by the asterisk] designates the number which was assigned to the project in the booklet
entitled: "City of Miami/Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET), Project Proposals
(1996-1997) Consolidated Plan," which is part of Resolution No. 96-208 amending the
1996-1997 HUD Consolidated Plan.)
43 March 23, 1996
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Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Commissioner Carollo: The only other motion I'd like to make at this time is that we also bring
up to the request level all programs that have to do with the child care, such as Centro Mater and
several others that we have there.
Mayor Clark: I think that they were before us this morning, Joe.
Commissioner Carollo: If we have any left here.
Commissioner Plummer: No, I don't have a problem with that.
Mayor Clark: I don't think there's any more of those, Joe. That's all personal appearances.
And we all approved everyone of them.
Commissioner Carollo: All right, that's fine.
Mayor Clark: All right, anybody on the... yes, give us your name.
Mr. Joseph Wynn: Yes, my name is Joseph Wynn. I am not affiliated with an organization, but
I wanted to provide some input about the HOPWA Advisory Board's recommendations.
Mayor Clark: Sir, we have gone through that three or four times.
Mr. Odio: Excuse me, sir. I need to ask the Commissioner a question, Mr. Mayor. When you
said the child care programs, when you passed the motion... Uh, because you left... because child
care in for instance, Centro Mater...
Commissioner Carollo: Right...
Mr. Odio: ...there were...
Commissioner Carollo: There is a difference there.
Mr. Odio: ... $63,590 last year, you want the same amount.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, the current allocations is 63,590...
Mr. Odio- Right. Right.
Commissioner Carollo: ... the present request is 75,142.
44 March 23, 1996
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Mr. Odio: So you are holding the level of last year to all the others, you want the same thing
with child care?
Commissioner Carollo: That's correct.
Mr. Odio: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: That will be my vote.
Vice Mayor Gort: Excuse me.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor...
Vice Mayor Gort: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Clark: Wait a minute, let's get a motion.
Commissioner Plummer: OK, I second Joe's motion on Centro Mater.
Mayor Clark: Any exceptions? You want to speak on, Willy?
Vice Mayor Gort: Mr. Mayor, I apologize for walking in late. Can you repeat the motion for
me, please.
Commissioner Plummer: OK. My motion originally... Willy.
Vice Mayor Gort: Yes.
Commissioner Plummer: My motion at the beginning was that all food programs, medical
programs and transportation be reinstated to last year's level of funding. That was number one.
Vice Mayor Gort: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: My second motion was that CAMACOL be reinstated to its level of
150. And that passed. The third motion was by Mr. Carollo, and I'll say it, it's that the Centro
Mater be reinstated to their level of funding.
Commissioner Carollo: That's correct.
Vice Mayor Gort: Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Cast a unanimous ballot, Mr...
Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me. You heard the one, didn't you, about instructing the
Police Chief?
Mr. A. Quinn Jones, III (City Attorney): I thought you said all child care.
Vice Mayor Gort: Right, that I'm 100 percent with J.L.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, we are not instructing the Police Chief, we are politely requesting
of him.
Commissioner Plummer: We are setting a policy.
45 March 23, 1996
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Commissioner Carollo: We can't force him and those funds to do anything with it.
Mr. Odio: And I will politely...
Commissioner Plummer: No, but we can remind him that his budget is coming up in September.
Commissioner Dawkins: We can also refuse to pass...
Commissioner Carollo: That we can.
Commissioner Dawkins: ...we can also refuse to pass anything he sends up here.
Mayor Clark: Easy.
Mr. Odio: You have just convinced him, it's OK.
Mayor Clark: Easy, Miller.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Carollo, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 96-204
A MOTION DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO REINSTATE THOSE
SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES WHICH PROVIDE CHILD CARE SERVICES
(PROJECT PROPOSALS, IN THE PUBLIC SERVICES AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS
CATEGORY [FY 1996-1997 CONSOLIDATED PLAN]) TO THE SAME LEVEL OF
FUNDING AS RECEIVED BY THEM LAST FISCAL YEAR.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Mayor Clark: What about HOPWA Funds?
Mr. Wynn: Am I allowed to speak at this time then?
Mayor Clark: Five minutes... no, you got two minutes if you want to use that.
Mr. Wynn: Two minutes, OK. My point that I'm asking... that I'm objecting to the plan that the
HOPWA Advisory Board has presented to you and is for three specific reasons. The first being
that there is no permanent housing recommended in this proposal. There is no allocations for
bricks or mortar, or for acquisitions. I'm a person living with AIDS and I go around the
community and I talk to people, and I go to meetings across the Country, they look at our area
and they question why we are not doing some kind of permanent housing. And if you look at the
allocations that they are proposing, there are none available in that recommendation.
46 March 23, 1996
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",
Mayor Clark: Have you spoken to the Board?
Mr. Wynn: Yes, I have. The second point that 1 would like to address is that during the
allocation process, they did not use any kind of information from their needs assessment
activities, the amounts that were put up were totally arbitrary, they weren't based on the facts
and information they had available. And the third point that I'd like to put out is that this
funding is uncertain as far as year to year, whether or not is going to be there. There has been no
long range, long term planning with this particular proposal. And I just wanted to be able to
state that as a person living with AIDS, I highly object to the way that the plan has been stated
and some of the statements that have been made about it. And I just want it to go on record that
I feel that this plan does not have any long term vision or strategic planing built into it.
Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Sir, are you aware that this Commission has
made $8 million...
Mr. Odio: $8,359,000.
Commissioner Plummer: ...housing for AIDS victims.
Mr. Wynn: I'm aware. I'm speaking specifically to permanent housing. The money that you
are referencing is called "rental assistance."
Mr. Odio: OK. You want this on the record, or how do you want this?
Commissioner Plummer: Give it to him on the record.
Mr. Odio: Long-term rental assistance, is that what you are talking about?
Mr. Wynn: I'm talking about permanent...
Commissioner Carollo: No, no. He is talking about permanent housing.
Mr. Odio: Permanent Housing.
Mr. Wynn: So when the money is no longer available, something is there after the money is
gone.
Mr. Odio: Thirty-six... let me do it. You are getting a million... no, no, we are not giving any
moneys for permanent housing.
Commissioner Dawkins: Why?
Mr. Odio: It's a recommendation of this Board, the HOPWA Board.
Mr. Waters: Yes, yes, sir.
Commissioner Dawkins: Wait a minute, OK. But if we are sincere, there is a move in the
United States of America to find either an... a cure for AIDS or a medication that prolongs the
life of an AIDS victim, or whatever it is. And, I'll use you example if you don't mind. OK.
This gentleman takes the AIDS treatment, this treatment prolongs his life for the next 30 years.
What is he suppose to do, run around looking for rental housing for 30 years? The gentleman
says he'd like to buy a house in which he could move into and have a stable - for the lack a better
word - housing. You are saying that with the money that the Federal Government is putting out
47 March 23, 1996
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for AIDS housing, that this Commission can not provide some permanent housing for AIDS, is
that what we are saying? I mean, I'm sorry, for persons with AIDS.
Mr. Odio: This is a... you are correct, what the HOPWA Board recommended against...
jCommissioner Dawkins: We are... the HOPWA Board gives recommendations to us; the
decision is with us.
Mr. Odio: Right... yes, it's up to you, sir, yes.
Commissioner Dawkins: That's right. Do not pass the buck to the HOPWA Board. The
decision, and I keep saying this, and I'm going to say from day one...
Mayor Clark: Make a motion.
Commissioner Dawkins: OK.
Commissioner Plummer: No. Let's discuss it, please. Let me tell you my...
Commissioner Dawkins: No, no, no. You didn't discuss your motion with me, now. You made
it and then I will make mine, and then you all discuss this.
Mr. Odio: Mr... Commissioner.
Commissioner Dawkins: I make a motion... how much money you got for housing in the
HOPWA?
Mr. Odio: In HOPWA, 8 million...
Commissioner Dawkins: I make a motion that $3 million be made available for permanent
housing for people with AIDS. No, I didn't get a second, don't get carried away.
Commissioner Carollo: You got a second, Commissioner.
Vice Mayor Gort: I'll second.
Commissioner Dawkins: All right, there's a second. Now under discussion.
Commissioner Plummer: Under discussion. My problem...
Mr. Wynn: Sir, my problem...
Mr. Odio: Commissioner, may I...
Mr. Gene Suarez: Sir, I'm from the housing, from the HOPWA.
Commissioner Carollo: Open for discussion now,
Mayor Clark: Wait a minute, please.
Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me. Commissioner Dawkins, my problem is...
Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, sir.
48 March 23, 1996
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Commissioner Plummer: ...very simply that if you use for purchasing, you are not going to be
able to accommodate as many people as if you use rental housing.
Mr. Suarez: Right, sir.
Commissioner Plummer: And that is the problem with me. I think we are trying to establish that
we are going to provide for as many as possible.
Mr. Suarez: Exactly.
Commissioner Plummer: The difference between a rental and of course a purchase, it's probably
$100,000. And I think that the difference should be that we should be about the business of
trying to accommodate as many as possible.
Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Commissioner.
Commissioner Plummer: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Dawkins: How many vacant pieces of property does the City of Miami have
from having pushed down houses called "crack houses," having foreclosed on houses that we
had to clear them, and other code violations? How many pieces of property do we have,
Commissioner?
Commissioner Plummer: Well, that's kind of a ludicrous question to ask me on the spot.
Commissioner Dawkins: All right, it could be funny. Yeah, it could be funny to you.
Commissioner Plummer: Nineteen thousand seven hundred and sixty-three.
Commissioner Dawkins: It could be funny and ludicrous to you, but it's real sincere to me.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, the answer is, "I don't know, sir."
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. So but I know that there are enough, OK. How many houses you
think we can build with $3 million and equip them? How many, approximately?
Commissioner Plummer: Well, probably if it's a $50,000 house, you are talking about two per
100,000, would be 20, you are talking 60.
Commissioner Dawkins: All right. And I guarantee you I can find you 60 parcels that we can
do that on.
Mr. Suarez: Sir, but if we put that into rental assistance, with those $3 million...
Commissioner Dawkins: No, sir, I'm not... Mr. Manager... Mr. Mayor, I don't want to hear from
him, I'm talking to my fellow Commissioners, and the Manager. If the Manager... I will listen to
the Manager. But I don't need to hear anything. We've had the public hearing, he spoke, and
let's hear from the Manager.
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Vice Mayor Gort: Miller, let me ask you a question.
Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, sir, go right ahead, Mr. Commissioner.
49 March 23, 1996
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Vice Mayor Gort: Home ownership, who will be doing the buying and the constructions, and
what are... we will have to come up with guidelines, I imagine...
Commissioner Dawkins: OK. Let me see. I do not intend to sit here and say that we need a
nonprofit organization to do some nonprofit building...
Commissioner Plummer: I buy that.
Commissioner Dawkins: But I guarantee you... stand up, Mr. Fabregas. Do you think that if we
were to provide $3 million and a lot, that you could come up with a house and we could go into
Fannie Mae and other places in the housing to produce housing for these people?
Mr. Fabregas: Absolutely, sir.
Commissioner Dawkins: That's why, Mr. Plummer.
Vice Mayor Gort: ON, this will be used for leverage, or what you are saying is the funds... the
funds will be available for people to come up with plans.
Commissioner Dawkins:
That's right.
Commissioner Plummer:
Let me ask a question.
Mayor Clark: Go ahead.
Commissioner Plummer:
Does... no, I'm asking of my blue brother.
Commissioner Dawkins:
Yes, sir.
Commissioner Plummer:
Is it a reverter clause back to the City? I mean, they are not paying for
it.
Commissioner Dawkins:
Well, all right...
Commissioner Plummer:
They are not paying for it.
Commissioner Dawkins:
All right, let me say this, I will say that since the people have an
incurable disease, and that they are going to die eventually...
Commissioner Plummer:
We all are.
Commissioner Dawkins:
...that when we... that when they die, just like us, that it becomes the
City of Miami's property
to turn over to another person of that... of whatever it is.
Commissioner Plummer:
So designated by this Commission.
Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, sir.
Mayor Clark: Call the roll.
50 March 23, 1996
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k-1
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Dawkins, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 96-205
A MOTION DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO RESERVE $3,000,000 FOR
PERMANENT HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS (OUT OF THE $8,359,000
ALLOCATION FOR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS
[HOPWA]) (PROJECT PROPOSAL, IN THE ADMINISTRATION CATEGORY [FY
1996-1997 CONSOLIDATED PLAN]); FURTHER, DIRECTING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO INCLUDE A REVERTER CLAUSE IN CONNECTION
WITH THOSE RECIPIENTS OF HOPWA PROGRAM FUNDS WHICH
STIPULATES THAT ONCE SAID RECIPIENT IS DECEASED, THE PROPERTY
SHALL REVERT BACK TO THE CITY OF MIAMI.
(Note for the Record: The remaining $5,359,000 for HOPWA shall be used for other
housing needs for persons with AIDS.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Carollo, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner. Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
COMMENTS DURING THE ROLL CALL:
Commissioner Plummer: I'm going to vote yes. I still have reservations, but I'm going to vote
yes, as long as it reverts back to the City, with that full understanding. That will give us five
million for rental. Is that correct?
Commissioner Carollo: That's right, five and three.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, OK. That's fine. I vote, yes.
Mr. Odio: May I... it doesn't have to be a non -for -profit, it could be for profit.
Commissioner Dawkins: No, sir, it could be...
Mr. Odio: That's...
Commissioner Dawkins:
and I get into... that's wh
Mr. Odio: OK, but...
y
Commissioner Dawkins: No, no, I'm going to deal with you and HUD. OK.
51
March 23, 1996
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v�
Mr. Odio: OK.
Commissioner Dawkins: The HUD regulations says, Mr. Manager, that an organization - Mr.
Fabregas, stand up again - an organization can put 15 percent of the cost, and we can give them
the land.
i
Commissioner Plummer: May I offer another friendly amendment?
Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, sir.
Mayor Clark: We are in the middle of a roll call.
Commissioner Plummer: Commissioner Dawkins. Well, I'd like to, if I could, Mr. Mayor? I'd
like to have a maximum on the cost of the house.
Commissioner Carollo: You're out of order, Commissioner.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, 1'd like to...
Commissioner Carollo: The Mayor is correct, you can't do it in the middle of roll call.
Commissioner Plummer: Well, OK. Then I'll offer it afterwards.
COMMENTS MADE AFTER ROLL CALL:
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I think that it's only reasonable that we should put if we
are going to be giving the piece of property, I think the maximum of $50,000 or $60,000, I just
want a cap.
Mayor Clark: That's fair enough.
Commissioner Dawkins: In be Ween 50 and 60.
Commissioner Plummer: Between 50 and 60, but not to exceed 60.
Commissioner Dawkins: That's right.
Commissioner Plummer: OK? That's fine.
Mayor Clark: Second the motion, cast a unanimous ballot.
I
Commissioner Carollo: That's fair.
52 March 23, 1996
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 96-206
A MOTION DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH AN AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED $60,000 AS A MAXIMUM COST PER HOUSE FOR THE
PURPOSE OF PROVIDING PERMANENT HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS,
SAID AMOUNT TO BE TAKEN FROM THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED HOPWA
PROGRAM ALLOCATION OF $3,000,000, SET ASIDE FOR SAID PURPOSE.
Upon being seconded by Mayor Clark, the motion was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Mayor Clark: What are you here on, sir?
Commissioner Plummer: You are not selling.
Mr. Rufu Witherspoon: No, I'm a member of the Housing Advisory Board, and I was with the
motion this young man... I want to speak against it because one reason why we put all the
money... a lot of the money into... for rental assistance is because most of the people in the
community, especially women and children, we are trying to keep in the community. Without a
rental assistance, a lot of these people have families will go homeless.
Commissioner Plummer: You still got five million.
Mr. Witherspoon: That's why the money was kept in the housing opportunity for people with
AIDS. And also this has been tried before with one agency in '92. We had '92 HOPWA dollars,
and when we figured out the amount of rental units does not... the to have any kind of lines
since '92, is somewhere like 20... 20 units at a cost of what, $2 million or more. And then since
'92 to '96, all these people could have been put into a house that gave rental assistance. And
what we are trying to put mainly is keep families in the community because this disease now is
attacking more women with children than single, people. That's why the money was put into...
Commissioner Plummer: Not more than.
Commissioner Dawkins: Could you come to the mike, please. Yes, ma'am, you. Come to the
mike. Do you know of...
Mayor Clark: Who is she?
Commissioner Dawkins: Your name and address, please.
Ms. Robin Merkerson: Robin Merkerson.
53 March 23, 1996
k--
Commissioner Dawkins: OK, now, do you know of mothers out there with AIDS who got their
children with them, who would be against getting into a home of their own...
Ms. Merkerson: No, sir.
Commissioner Dawkins: ...where their children could come home and say this is mine? Do you
know any?
Ms. Merkerson: No, sir, I don't.
Commissioner Dawkins: Thank you, ma'am. Have a seat.
Mayor Clark: All right. Thank you, sir, for your position.
Mr. Odio: Mr. Mayor, let me clarify for his sake. We did not take.. the Commission did not take
money away from long-term rental assistance. We had a bottom... we had some moneys that
were not allocated.
Mayor Clark: All right. No problem. On page number 4, let's move forward.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Clark: Is there any person present on items 1 through 28 who wants to speak?
Commissioner Plummer: One through what, Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Clark: If you are on the agenda, now, Manolo. Don't come back with this recruitment. I
have a letter here. I'll let Mr. Dawkins read it. Please, for your attention, Mr. Manager and Mr.
Perkins... what is your name?
Commissioner Dawkins: Item 6, Coconut Grove, LCD (sic- Local Development Corporation).
Come on down. OK, Holton. I'm going to read the letter, come down. Come on down, come to
the mike. "As property owners of 3658 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, we would like to go on
record as opposing the inclusion of my property for any further development by the Coconut
Grove LDC, or any other entity. We object to the method of nonprofit groups at taxpayers'
expense, or requiring black -owned properties. We are interested in improving our own property.
We were of the belief that the CDC were put in the community to help improve property owners
improve their properties, not to acquire them. Dudley, Pinder and Melfoard Pinder."
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir, that's for the record.
Commissioner Dawkins: Uh-huh.
Ms. Dorothy Wallace: For the record, could I? May I add to the record.
Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, ma'am.
Mayor Clark: Yes, ma'am.
Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, ma'am, please. Go right ahead, Ms... pull the mike.
Ms. Wallace: This is item 6. To the Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners, as a property
owner at 3664 Grand Avenue, and 3680 Grand Avenue, I am opposing Model Block Grant
acquisition of private property by the Coconut Grove LDC, or any other entity without private
54 March 23, 1996
k._
owners' consent. I object to the method of nonprofit groups, at the taxpayers expenses,
acquiring black -owned properties in the name of improvement. Furthermore, I was on the
opinion that CDs were put in the community to assist property owners in improving their
property, not acquiring property for their use. Dorothy M. Wallace, 12605 S.W. 93 Avenue,
Miami, Florida, 33176, 305-235-3351. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Yes, sir. On this item?
Mr. Mustafa Amin: Yes, on this item, on the whole question about LDC.
Mayor Clark: Your name?
Mr. Amin: My name is Mustafa Amin. I wrote this City Commission, the Mayor of Miami
about the whole problem with LDC. We have gone to HUD in Washington about the same
problem, and the management style. There is serious problems, and I say that the City... this
City Commission should no longer continue to fund these people and they need to really check
them out. And you'll find some serious improprieties. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. Yes, go ahead, Manolo.
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: Good afternoon, Commissioners, this is regarding in general way
something that I have spoken here over and over and over again. In addition to what I said this
morning, I want to make it extensive to this area also. And in the last Commission meeting, I
made a presentation and to be specific, but applies to all theseorganizations of nonprofit
regarding housing. I know that the procedure by HUD now is through nonprofit organizations.
But the way it was done that hasn't changed in Puerto Rico, and we are part of the United States,
is that the government itself established the nonprofit organizations because this fly-by-nights
nonprofit housing organizations that are given and organized by individuals who are not expert -
I'm talking generally speaking. Then the money go to their pockets in salaries, good traveling,
and in order to avoid that, the government of Puerto Rico - and I think that's bigger than Miami -
established a nonprofit organization directly owned by the government in order to prevent the
nonprofit to be profitable. And Mr. Gort, you make... you should make a full disclosure that you
are one of the "corporators" on an issue because this is what appears from the State government.
And I hope that is not given to your friends.
Vice Mayor Gort: To me it's a pleasure to tell you that I have two CDCs, which I am very proud
of. The East Little Havana CDC, which constructs a lot of affordable housing in the area...
Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: I am aware of these and much more. Thank you.
Vice Mayor Gort: ...and a Downtown CDC... yes, sir. But you should check the record, and see
how much I get paid.
Commissioner Plummer: Yes, and the housing which I sell in my private business is no conflict
of interest.
Mr. Emilio Lopez: I just want to take an opportunity before you...
Commissioner Carollo: I'll buy you a flat any time you'd like, Commissioner.
Commissioner Plummer: I got a condo for you.
Mayor Clark: Please, please, please.
55 March 23, 1996
k�
Mr. Lopez: Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, I just want to take a minute to recognize something
that probably the Board members forgot this morning, to give credit to the staff of the City of
Miami who were in all the meetings with us. They did...
Commissioner Plummer: Don't do that, they'll want more money.
Mr. Lopez: ...they did a fantastic job, and, you know, to stay with us, and all through the
process. And, you know, I commend them.
Mayor Clark: Yeah, and Xavier Suarez wants to cut their pay.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, if anybody is ready, I'm ready to make a motion that all
other items...
Mayor Clark: Let this gentleman speak, then we'll bring it...
Commissioner Plummer: Well, he already did.
Mr. Lopez: No...
Mayor Clark: What is it?
Commissioner Plummer: Wasn't that your letter we read?
Mr. Richard Holton: No, no.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh, I'm sorry.
Mr. Holton: OK, thank you, again, good evening. I'm Richard Holton. I reside at 3350
Hibiscus Street. I am currently the president of the Coconut Grove Local Development
Corporation, and again thank you for having an opportunity to address you. I'm here to request
that funding be reconsidered for the LDC. If you note, on the proposals we received zero
funding for the year. If I can take about 30 seconds, I'll quickly go over the usage, which is item
number 4 - lot acquisition - we intend to purchase a land on Douglas and Washington, which is a
burned out area for the use of parking. Item number 5, which is Economic Development, it
assists us in our administrative cost. Item number 6,1 want to go on record, and agree with Mr.
Pinder and Mrs. Wallace and the letters that was read to you, right now, and this will show that
we are trying to do the best for... not just for LDC, but for the entire community. I don't think
we are at this point comfortable in asking for that to do purchasing of someone's property. I
think that's something that we can talk about, perhaps workout a little differently. So for the
records, I am in total agreement with the letter in support.
Mayor Clark: Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.
Commissioner Plummer: plus you don't have eminent domain.
Mayor Clark: What does this gentlemen need here? What are you here for, sir?
Unidentified Speaker: We are together.
Mayor Clark: All right, fine, thank you. Anything further?
Commissioner Plummer: You got Esther standing over there.
56 March 23, 1996
k_-
Mayor Clark: Mrs. Armbrister.
Mr. Holton: OK. And then item number 7, which is for small business incubator, we are about
80 percent complete with that. And the commercial facade, which is self explanatory, and the
Goombay Economic Development Project, we are asking for funds and reconsideration for that.
Mayor Clark: Thank you.
Mr. Holton: Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Yes, ma'am.
Ms. Esther Armbrister: Good afternoon, my name is Esther Armbrister, I live at 3350 Charles
Avenue. And I want to say for them or anybody else to want to build a... use the corner of Grand
Avenue and Douglas Road for a parking lot, you can forget it. I don't know whether some of
you were up here when we - when I say we, I mean the community - went through the NDP.
When you bought that property from that man who owned that liquor store, you the City, paid
him for part of his property, for the sidewalk that he took out. The City of Miami when they
enlarged the street then... and used part of his property, all these things were taken into
consideration, and the man received part of his money. Now, if you were to sell at... either to
use Grand Avenue and Douglas Road for parking, you can forget it because we have three
schools. We have St. Alban's Day Nursery, we have Tucker School, and Carver Elementary
School coming down that little narrow Grand Avenue to cross the street at the red light at Grand
and Douglas. It is a hazard, and you are not going to go in on Washington Avenue to get to the
parking lot because that's a residential area. And Washington Avenue is about 20 feet wide,
which means you cannot - two cars can barely pass there. Now, as far as I am concerned, the
LCD has been in Coconut Grove all these umpteen years, I'm still waiting to see what they have
accomplished. Because they were hired, they were hired to get the businessmen in Coconut
Grove to improve their business...
Mayor Clark: All right.
Ms. Armbrister: ...not to go into business like this... but for you to sit there and let them use that
for a parking lot... and by the way...
Mayor Clark: We are not sitting here letting them use anything.
Ms. Armbrister: All right... and by the way, I...
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me, did you say parking lot, Ms. Armbrister?
Ms. Armbrister: Yes, we have discussed this in all the street parking, which I am a member of.
Mayor Clark: Commissioner Carollo is our expert on parking lots.
Commissioner Plummer: Is there any valet?
Ms. Armbrister: I beg your pardon?
Commissioner Carollo: I had an old friend that made me an expert in parking lots recently. But
they are using that for a parking lot?
Ms. Armbrister: They might be using it for a parking lot, but if you were to sell it to them, then
what you are going to do is cut part of it in half because the other part is for residential area, and
you cannot come into a residential area on Grand and Douglas Road for parking.
57 March 23, 1996
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Mayor Clark: OK.
Ms. Armbrister: That is a no -no.
Commissioner Carollo: It is not paved either, I would imagine.
Ms. Armbrister: I know all about that, I've been there for the past 60 years.
Commissioner Carollo: Well...
Ms. Armbrister: Uh-huh.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Manager, did you make notes on that?
Mayor Clark: Thank you, Ms. Armbrister.
Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, at this time, I would make you a motion, sir, that all other
items recommended by staff and by Community Development Board be accepted. I so move.
Mayor Clark: Is there a second?
Vice Mayor Gort: Second.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Ms. Armbrister: Oh, Lord have mercy. Some of you all need to get out and come into Coconut
Grove and see what's happening. Thank you.
Mayor Clark: Please, please, please.
Mr. Lopez: Mr.. Plummer.
Commissioner Plummer: Sir.
Mr. Lopez: A matter of clarification. And I don't know if item 13 and page 510.
Commissioner Plummer: What is it?
Mr. Lopez: The East Little Havana Community Development Corporation. We recommended
$100,000, and it only appears over there $50,000.
Mr. Waters: It's a scrivener's error.
Mr. Lopez: Uh?
Commissioner Plummer: Scrivener's error.
Mr. Waters: Commissioner, that is correct.
Commissioner Plummer: It's so corrected. I so move.
Mayor Clark: Thank you. Is there a second? Mr. Carollo seconded the motion.
58 March 23, 1996
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Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Mayor Clark: Call the roll, Mr. Clerk.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
MOTION NO. 96-207
A MOTION ACCEPTING RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CITY STAFF AND THE
CITYWIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD IN
CONNECTION WITH ALL OTHER REQUESTS FOR FUNDING PROJECT
PROPOSALS NOT MENTIONED IN MOTIONS 96-201 THROUGH 96-206.
(Note for the Record: The Administration also indicated that there should be a
correction of scrivener's error on item 13 of page 510 of the Consolidated Plan. The
funding recommendation of the Citywide Community Development Advisory Board for
the East Little Havana Community Development Corporation should reflect $100,000
instead of $50,000.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Carollo, the motion was passed and adopted by
the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
Mayor Clark: Now, Joe. Joe, we got a resolution and an ordinance.
Commissioner Dawkins: Before you go, I'd like something, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor. I'm
telling my fellow Commissioners that I am... that I can't get an answer that I agree with, so I am
going to write HUD myself to ask HUD if the commercial code compliance NET (Neighborhood
Enhancement Team), how much of it is being spent in the target area, and how much is not. The
commercial facade NET, with us having 13 NETs, and eight in the target area, how much is
being spent with that, and how much is coming from the City... the Citywide Code Enforcement
NET, I need to know how much is going to be spent at each target area, and I need to know how
the other five will be funded. The Citywide lot clearing, how much will be spent in the target
area, and how are they going to paid for that if not in the target area. And these things I will be
writing to the Manager, but I'll also send a letter to HUD asking HUD if it's legal to take the
CDBG funding and fund NET offices that are not located in the target areas.
Mayor Clark: All right, thank you. There is a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit
the Miami Fiscal Year proposed Consolidated Plan, is there a motion on it?
Commissioner Plummer: So moved.
Mayor Clark: Is there a second?
Vice Mayor Gort: Second.
59 March 23, 1996
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Mayor Clark: All in favor signify by saying "Aye."
Commissioner Plummer: Aye.
Mayor Clark: Opposed, like sign; so ordered.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 96-208
A RESOLUTION, WITH ATTACHMENT, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO SUBMIT THE CITY OF MIAMI'S FISCAL YEAR 1996-1997 PROPOSED
CONSOLIDATED PLAN, INCLUDING A FY 1996 ACTION PLAN WITH
RECOMMENDED FUNDING PROJECTIONS FOR THE CITY'S COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG), HOME INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIPS (HOME), EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT (ESG) AND
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS (HOPWA) PROGRAMS,
AND A GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE SPECIFIED FOUR PROGRAMS, TO THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
(USHUD); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, UPON APPROVAL
OF SAID CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND GRANTS BY USHUD, TO ACCEPT THE
SAME AND EXECUTE THE NECESSARY IMPLEMENTING AGREEMENTS, IN A
FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City
Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Vice Mayor Gort, the resolution was passed and adopted by the
following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
60 March 23, 1996
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3. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH FOUR NEW SPECIAL
REVENUE FUNDS AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THEIR OPERATION:
(A) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (22ND YEAR) -
$13,709,000; (B) HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
(HOME) - $4,038,000; (C) EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT (ESG) -
$494,000; AND (D) HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH
AIDS (HOPWA) - $2,700,000 -- FROM 21ST YEAR CDBG PROGRAM
INCOME, AS APPROVED BY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT (HUD) -- TOTAL CDBG APPROPRIATION: $16,409,000.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Clark: Mr. Attorney, item number 2, is establishing four new special revenue funds.
First reading on the ordinance... do it by emergency. There has been a motion and a second by
Mr. Gort... by Mr. Plummer and Mr. Gort. Call the roll, Mr. Clerk.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN ORDINANCE (Pending the Law Department.)
was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, seconded by Commissioner Gort, and was
passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J.L. Plummer
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
Mayor Stephen P. Clark
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.
61 March 23, 1996
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4. (A) FIRST READING ORDINANCE: ESTABLISH RESIDENCY
REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARD MEMBERS / KEY PERSONNEL OF
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBO) AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS (CDC) WHICH
SOLICIT FUNDING FROM THE CITY.
(B) DIRECT CITY CLERK TO ADVERTISE SAID ORDINANCE FOR
SECOND READING ON APRIL 25, 1996.
1. Mayor Clark: Show us completing this meeting at 2:38.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor. I need to introduce...
2. Mr. Hussain Iddin Lateef: Mr. Mayor, I was at the mike there for you...
Mayor Clark: Please, sir, Mr. Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I need to introduce this emergency ordinance
that we all had agreed upon before, but we couldn't bring it up at the last meeting since we
finished earlier. We had sent you all copies. It's an emergency ordinance related to those
community based organizations and community development corporations, which solicit funding
from the City, establish residency requirements for members of the boards of directors and key
personnel of said organizations. Containing a repealer provision, etc., a severability clause and
providing for an effective date, thereof.
Mayor Clark: You offer it?
Commissioner Carollo: yes, sir.
Mayor Clark: He's read it, he's read it into the record, Mr. Attorney.
A. Quinn Jones III, Esq. (City Attorney): I don't have a copy of it, Commissioner, but I can
borrow it and read it.
Commissioner Carollo: Surely, let me get it for you.
Mr. Lateef: Mr. Mayor, can I get some clarification, please?
Mayor Clark: Just a moment.
[AT THIS POINT, THE CITY ATTORNEY READ THE ORDINANCE INTO THE PUBLIC
RECORD BY TITLE ONLY.]
Commissioner Plummer: Joe...
Mayor Clark: Let it roll.
Commissioner Plummer: Wait a... did you have a second?
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Ii
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Commissioner Dawkins: Yeah, that's...
Commissioner Carollo: Uh, yes.
Commissioner Plummer: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: We had discussed this before, and everybody was in agreement.
Commissioner Plummer: All right, under discussion. I would appreciate not an emergency, but
first reading. Let me tell you why. I have been made aware, and I'm sure all of us have received
calls of people who are very concerned. And I am concerned. The areas that I have, Joe, that are
of concern as expressed to me by one of the better boards, is that board members volunteer their
time, for example, the... it was given to me, that a member of this board was a CPA (Certified
Public Accountant) and he volunteered and gave his services free to that board because he was a
member of the board.
Commissioner Carollo: We have no problems with that. As you recall we...
Commissioner Plummer: OK.
Commissioner Carollo: ...made provisions so that a percentage of the board could live outside of
the City of Miami.
Commissioner Plummer: I understand.
Commissioner Carollo: And a bigger percentage could live outside of the area in question.
Commissioner Plummer: Let me go further with my concern, Joe, I think that we have to give
consideration, too, and that's why I was asked for first reading, was number one, does this
become effective in a year? Does it become effective immediately? Does it affect only those
who come on board from this day forward? I think all those have to be understood as to exactly
where it is.
Commissioner Carollo: It becomes effective the moment that this is passed. There is no
grandfather...
Commissioner Plummer: So in other words, they would have to immediately comply?
Commissioner Carollo: That's correct.
Commissioner Plummer: I got a problem with that.
Commissioner Carollo: You know... it's not a grandfather clause in there.
Commissioner Plummer: Second of all, where I have a concern is that I don't find anywhere...
Commissioner Carollo: And let me clarify it further...
Commissioner Plummer: Sure...
Commissioner Carollo: They would have to comply immediately before they enter into
contracts, which would be approximately in June or so.
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Commissioner Plummer: OK. My final concern that I don't find in there that there is no
provisions for a waiver by this Commission. I think we are where the buck stops, and if we feel
there is an exception to the rule, then I think we should have that right to make it. As we do...
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I have no problem if we put the normal 4/5th waiver.
Commissioner Plummer: OK. The only other area, Joe, that I have to have at this particular
point is number one, first reading. And as you say it can be effective before the June when
they...
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: ...sign their contracts. But I have a problem with those people
presently on board, I can accept from this date forward as soon as this passes and becomes law,
that is understood. That from that point forward they got to be new members, new staff, they got
to comply with the rules and regulations. Now, I can tell you that I was sent Federal Statutes
relating to this very subject, and in the present time there is certain rules and regulations which
do come into play, already. And in most of the cases, these Federal Statutes in fact cover exactly
what we are saying. Joe, I will vote favorably on first reading. I cannot vote for an emergency
without having further consideration. That's my point.
Mayor Clark: Offer it, Joe.
Commissioner Carollo: It is understood, Commissioner. If there are two other votes that feel the
same way, then, you know, there is no sense to bringing it for second reading, we can only bring
it for first reading.
Mayor Clark: Joe, I've had some complaints from the Mental Health Society, and also the
Greater Biscayne Chamber of Commerce.
Commissioner Carollo: OK. Let's do that, let's bring it for first reading. We'll meet in April
sometime again...
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: What I would suggest is that we bring it at the earliest meeting that we
can in April.
Mayor Clark: Notify these people.
Commissioner Plummer: There is only one, Joe. The 25th of April, there is only one meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, regular meeting.
Commissioner Plummer: Oh.
Commissioner Carollo: We might have more meetings.
Commissioner Plummer: OK. Fine.
Commissioner Carollo: Let's bring it in first reading then.
Mayor Clark: All right. Yes, sir, now you are recognized.
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Commissioner Carollo: But we have to vote.
Commissioner Plummer: Call the roll.
Mr. Jones: You are going to consider this first reading?
Mr. Lateef: Can I go ahead?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Plummer: With at least that one friendly amendment...
Commissioner Carollo: He's got to advertise it.
Commissioner Plummer: ...which was that there be a provision for waiving by the City
Commission of any individual.
Mayor Clark: Roll call.
An Ordinance entitled -
AN ORDINANCE (Pending the Law Department.)
was introduced by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, and was
I passed on first reading, by title only, by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Wifredo Gort
i Mayor Stephen P. Clark
I
NAYS: None.
i 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.
COMMENTS MADE AFTER ROLL CALL:
Commissioner Carollo: Could you advertise it, Mr. Clerk, the next available regular meeting,
then?
65 March 23, 1996
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Commissioner Plummer: As a public hearing.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Foeman: OK.
---------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. PERSONAL APPEARANCE: HUSSAM I. LATEEF (COMMUNITY
BUSINESS COOP) REQUESTS ASSISTANCE CONCERNING
UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS IN OVERTOWN.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir, give us your name and address for the record.
Mr. Hussam Iddin Lateef: Yes, sir, my name is Hussam Iddin Lateef, I live at 211 N.W. 12th
Street, in Overtown.
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir.
Mr. Lateef: I'm the Chairperson of Community Business Coop. What it is we are about 200
businesses that we have contacted because we have a very serious unemployment problem in
Overtown due to the fact that many people are coming into the community creating jobs for
themselves. And we as a community are not getting part of those jobs. Now, let me point out a
few things to you, Mr. Commissioner. I hope that you are listening.
Mayor Clark: I'm listening.
Commissioner Plummer: I am, sir.
Mr. Lateef: We had a shopping center on 3rd Avenue that was totally rehabilitated and not a
single person from our community got a job in that rehabilitation of that center. There are
business people from outside of our community getting loans and coming into our community
doing work that we could be doing for ourselves. We can't get the money from nowhere, we
can't even get jobs. But everybody can come into our community and make a good living for
themselves. We got a $6 million homeless shelter sitting on top of us, and we can't even get in.
We have other shelters that are going up that we can't get in, unless we admit and most of us, a
lot of us, don't have drug problems, a lot of us don't have alcoholic problems, we are just
unemployed, simple as that. Now, what we have done, we have contacted these businesses and
i we are going through the process of contacting our neighbors, screening them, and getting
people prepared for work. Because the outside help that is coming into our community,
supposedly helping us, are walking away with millions of dollars and giving us burnt chicken
and potato salad, and we don't want no more. We want you to understand that. Now, what we
need you to understand is that we have a very serious unemployment problem that has to be dealt
with. Simply because we are facing another problem. This thing is about to spill over. People
are sick and tired of it, they can't take it no more. They can't stand to see people come in their
neighborhoods making millions of dollars and walk out and they can't pay their rent. Now, this
is caused by members of this Commission and members of the Commission... Dade County
Commission because of destruction that has been put up there, because of the things that this
Commission has done and the Metro Commission has done, and have granted to other people to
do. And we are not a part of that, we had a bank... let me just point this out to you. There was a
bank that was opened on 3rd Avenue in the shopping center, the very morning that bank...
66 March 23, 1996
opened that bank they arrested everybody across the street, the citizens was arrested across the
street while the bank was being opened. Now, these things are appalling, it should be appalling
to you. There should be something... the only thing that we are asking, our original proposal
asked for... our item is number 13, our original proposal asked for $750,000 and that ain't
nothing compared to what we are trying to do. We are trying to attack a monster. And believe
me when I tell you, if it's not dealt with by the summer, it's going to be more than that because
it's nothing... we've got a chance to save this town. We can save this City. You see what is
happening in L.A., you see the things that's happening in Houston, in Chicago, we can save this
town, we got a chance to save these young people. All we got to do is show them some hope.
Show them a little hope that there is a chance for them in the future. That's all we are asking...
this is nothing, what we are asking for here. If we get it fine, if we don't get it, we'll continue to
do what we are trying to do.
Mayor Clark: All right, sir. Thank you. Thank you very much.
Mr. Lateef: But I hope you find in your heart to give it to us because we need it.
Mayor Clark: All right. We are setting a meeting for April the 2nd.
Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, 11 a.m.
Mr. Lateef. Excuse me, let me ask a question.
Mayor Clark: Please, sir.
Mr. Lateef: Are you voting on this stuff today, are you...
Mayor Clark: It's been voted on.
Commissioner Plummer: Already have.
Mr. Lateef: Sir? You have already voted on it?
Mayor Clark: Yes, sir, we have.
Mr. Lateef: And that... and what staff recommended?
Mayor Clark: Yeah, whatever staff recommended I think it all went through.
Mr. Odio: Which one are we talking about?
Commissioner Plummer: Item 13.
Mr. Odio: Thirteen on where?
Mr. Lateef: Thirteen on page 3.
Mayor Clark: Between 18th and 19th on Chestnut.
Commissioner Plummer: There is no 13 on page 3.
Mr. Lateef: Listen, this is 3 - 9...
Vice Mayor Gort: Four, 10, page 4.
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Commissioner Dawkins: While you are looking, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to say to the City Attorney,
to the City Attorney and the Manager.
Mayor Clark: Mr. Manager and Mr. Attorney.
Commissioner Dawkins: When the land is made available, and I want J.L. to hear this, too...
Commissioner Plummer: I'm listening.
Commissioner Dawkins: ...to the Coconut Grove LCD, or anybody else there must be a reverter
clause where you do not do with it what you said to the City of Miami that you were going to do,
it comes back to us.
Commissioner Plummer: Absolutely.
Commissioner Dawkins: We aren't going to have any more...
Mayor Clark: All right, what is it, Emilio, we got to go?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. CALL SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR APRIL 2, 1996,
CONCERNING THE MARITIME PARK.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor, we need to have a special Commission meeting on the
morning of April the 2nd, having to do with Maritime Park.
Commissioner Plummer: Eleven a.m.
Commissioner Carollo: Eleven a.m. Is that OK with everybody?
Mayor Clark: April the 2nd, that's fine. Mr. Clerk, if you could advertise that, be a special
Commission meeting having to do with the Maritime Park.
Mr. Walter J. Foeman (City Clerk): OK. I don't think we have to advertise it as a special
meeting. The City Attorney can address it.
68 March 23, 1996
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7. (Continued) CLARIFYING COMMENTS CONCERNING
RECOMMENDATIONS (CITY STAFF OR CITYWIDE COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD) IN CONNECTION WITH 1996-1997
PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED PLAN. (See label 2I)
Mr. Emilio Lopez: Clarification, Plummer.
Commissioner Plummer: The meeting is adjourned.
i NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Commissioner Plummer, Vice Mayor
Carollo and Commissioner Dawkins left the meeting at 2:54 p.m.
Mr. Lopez: No, I want a clarification. I would like to ask a question.
Commissioner Carollo: Surely, let me get it for you.
Mayor Clark: What is it, Emilio? What is it?
Mr. Lopez: Mr. Mayor, I've been listening, and I know that you voted, what I would like to
understand is, did you vote in what the board recommended in the second part, or just that the
staff recommended? You know, we would like to know...
Mr. Cesar Odio (City Manager): The staff.
Mr. Lopez: Uh?
Mr. Odio: What staff recommended.
Mr. Lopez: So anything that the board did is not recommended at all?
Mayor Clark: Oh, no, that's not the case.
Mr. Odio: Not on social services, on the other one...
Mr. Lopez: No, I'm not talking about social services. I understand social services. I'm talking
about the second part where they talk about housing and all the other things.
Mr. Odio: That was what the board recommended.
Mr. Lopez: I want there to be a clarification because that...
Mr. Odio: My understanding was... well, Commissioner... it was Commissioner Plummer's...
Mr. Hassam Iddin Lateef: Not on the black board on...
Mr. Odio: Excuse me. It was Commissioner Plummer's...
69 March 23, 1996
Mr. Lopez: My problem is... my problem is, I would like to understand so when my people ask
me - the people in the board and everybody ask me - what did you voted in here, and is not clear.
Mr. Odio: What was the resolution?
Mr. Lopez: What did you vote in the second part? I'm not talking about the social services. I'm
talking about...
Mr. Odio: The economic development.
Mr. Lopez: ...the economic development, the LDCs and all the other stuff...
Mr. Odio: Right.
Mr. Lopez: ...because ...because if it's what the staff recommended, then you know, what is the
sense - I mean, completely - what is the sense to have the boards to do these things? You know,
we would like to find out what did you voted on, exactly, you know, so I can tell my people.
Commissioner Dawkins: Write me a letter, and let me send it to HUD (Department of Housing
and Urban Development) and tell them that we didn't participate. That's what you do.
Vice Mayor Gort: My understanding...
Mr. Lateef: No, we have a class action suit for you, buddy. That's what we...
Mr. Lopez: No.., I'm not involved... you know. I just want to be clarified, what can I tell my
people, you know, in Wynwood and you know. OK.
Mr. Odio: What does the resolution say?
Vice Mayor Gort: Can you give a chance to answer? Can I answer...
3
Mr. Lopez: Yes, sir.
Vice Mayor Gort: ...to my understanding what I voted on it?
Mr. Mariano Cruz: One thing I want to add to that like, Emilio said, I want to know because I
have to answer the people of Allapattah.
i Mayor Clark: You are not going to get any where if you don't listen to Willy.
i
Mr. Cruz: The people have paid City and Federal taxes.
+' Mayor Clark: Mariano, be quiet.
Vice Mayor Gort: My understanding, the motion that was passed here is for the approval of
I the... to complement the two recommendations. Your board and our staffing, you guys have to
sit down and come together.
Unidentified Speaker: There was no recommendation for our...
Mr. Cruz: But how...
i
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Unidentified Speaker: We can't go in?
Mr. Lopez: But, wait, wait. How can we recon... us, us reconcile with the staff in some other
recommendations that we did. If they recommend something different than us, which one is the
one that is going to be the one?
Mayor Clark: You come to us...
Vice Mayor Gort: My understanding is that that was the motion that was passed, here. Am I
correct?
Walter J. Foeman (City Clerk): The motion was to approve all items recommended by the staff
and the CD Board.
Mr. Lateef: Who asked you to recommend anything, man. This is Federal money. This ain't
your money. This is not your money.
Mayor Clark: Please, sir. Please, sir. Would you please be quiet.
Vice Mayor Gort: Sir, your program wasn't recommended by either one. Neither staff nor CD.
Mr. Lateef: So... it's Federal money.
Mr. Lopez: So it is for me to understand that it's only just what the board... what the staff
recommended? Well, how can you...
Mayor Clark: Don't you answer the question, please.
Mr. Cruz: They better check everything.
Mr. Lopez: According to what the Clerk said, there is only one way and somebody don't let me
know.
Mayor Clark: What the Clerk said is true.
Mr. Lateef: You guys ... in Cuba. I was in a fox hole in Viet Nam.
Mr. Cruz: Me too.
Mr. Lopez: So it's just what they recommended, the staff.
Mayor Clark: Get together. Talk to Carlos.
Vice Mayor Gort: Emilio, today, my understanding is we can go one way or the other. What we
said is, "you guys get together and work it out." That is where it's at. The difference is very
little.
Mayor Clark: Show us adjourned at 3 o'clock.
71 March 23, 1996
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THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITY'
COMMISSION, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:00 P.M.
ATTEST:
Walter J. Foeman
CITY CLERK
Maria Josephine Argudin
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
Stephen P. Clark
MAYOR
72 March 23, 1996
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