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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1992-07-01 Minutesa vITY OF r MIAMI "► ' 18 96 SP ECIAL c 0 M MISS I ON .1A I N U TIE- S OF MM ING HELD ON XULLY_ 1' 1992 PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY HALL RATTY HIRAI City Clerk 11 r� INDEX MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING JULY 1, 1992 ITEM ------------------------- SUBJECT LEGISLATION PAGE NO. NO. 1. EXPRESS CITY COMMISSION'S CONCERNS R 92-426 1-40 REGARDING PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO METRO 7/1/92 DADE HOME RULE CHARTER (ADDITIONAL METHOD OF CHANGING MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES) AS BEING BROAD AND POTENTIALLY OF A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE CITY OF MIAMI AND OTHER DADE COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES -- URGE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION. 2. (A) COMMISSIONER DAWKINS QUESTIONS DISCUSSION 41-46 WORDING CONTAINED IN RECENTLY ISSUED 7/1/92 EMPLOYMENT ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS OF PROSPECTIVE PUBLIC SERVICE AIDES (PSAs) APPLICANTS. (B) COMMISSIONER PLUMMER EXPRESSES CONCERNS IN CONNECTION WITH POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. (C) COMMISSIONER PLUMMER REQUESTS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION FURNISH EXACT FIGURES CONCERNING FINANCES OF RECENTLY INSTITUTED NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT TEAM (NET) PROGRAM. (D) COMMISSIONER ALONSO REQUESTS UPDATE REPORT ON CAMILLUS HOUSE. (E) BRIEF COMMENTS CONCERNING ONGOING RUMORS THAT COCONUT GROVE RESIDENTS PLAN TO HIRE THE WACKENHUT FIRM FOR SECURITY PURPOSES -- MANAGER REQUESTED TO REPORT TO THE COMMISSION EXACT CITY COSTS INCURRED FOR SECURITY IN THE COCONUT GROVE AREA ON WEEKENDS -- CITY REPRESENTATIVES) TO APPEAR AT COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING ON TUESDAY, JULY 7TH. MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the 1st day of July, 1992, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in the City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida in special session to consider a matter of public import, namely, Coconut Grove's secession from the City of Miami. The meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. by Mayor Xavier Suarez with the following members of the Commission found to be present: ALSO PRESENT: Commissioner Victor De Yurre Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr. Vice Mayor Miriam Alonso Mayor Xavier L. Suarez Carlos Smith, Assistant City Manager A. Quinn Jones, III, City Attorney Matty Hirai, City Clerk Walter J. Foeman, Assistant City Clerk ABSENT Cesar Odio, City Manager An invocation was delivered by Mayor Suarez and Vice Mayor Alonso then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. 1. EXPRESS CITY COMMISSION'S CONCERNS REGARDING PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO METRO BADE HOME RULE CHARTER (ADDITIONAL METHOD OF CHANGING MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES) AS BEING BROAD AND POTENTIALLY OF A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE CITY OF MIAMI AND OTHER DADE COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES -- URGE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION. [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 RILL BE DENOTED BY CAPITAL LETTERS. TRANSLATIONS WERE MADE BY CARLOS SMITH.] Mayor Suarez: Ladies and gentlemen, this special session was called primarily at the request of Vice Mayor, and always knowing that all of us have a concern for the issue of deannexation, secession, contraction are three terms that I 1 July 1, 1992 have heard already. I am grateful to my colleagues for giving me an opportunity to get back from my travels to be present here. Without any further ado, that is the reason for the special session as reflected in the convening memorandum, and recognizing former City Commissioner, Rose Gordon, who we assume is here to speak against this, and we take your comments as such. Thank you, emphatically, but we also have a Trustee from Key Biscayne, Betty Sime, and we will be hearing from her. If any Commissioner would like to make any prefatory remarks, and then we will hear from the general public. We do please ask you to keep your remarks as short as possible, believe me, we have given a lot of thought to all of this. We are aware of the consequences and we have, in fact, documentation from the City Manager's office that gives all kinds of quantitative indications of what it would mean to the City, so we are all familiar with that, and know, I think, what we are going. So, any Commissioner that would like to... Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Dawkins. Commissioner Dawkins: I would like permission to discuss an issue on the residency once the special call is over, please. Mayor Suarez: Absolutely. Commissioner Dawkins: Thank you. City Attorney Jones: Mr. Mayor... Mayor Suarez: And again within the boundaries of what the City Attorney might tell us about anything we might act on it. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: I think he probably wants an update, as I would, and I think that is always appropriate. Commissioner Plummer: I am concerned why we are, in fact, meeting today. It is my understanding that the meeting today was to formulate what this City would do in going forward to address the issue that was going to be reconsidered at next Tuesday's County Commission Meeting, to be offered by Mary Collins. It is now my understanding, based on a radio program that I was listening to last night, that she is not going to offer a motion of reconsideration. So I am wondering, under those circumstances, I then assume that there is nothing on the County Commission's agenda of next Tuesday, unless we request it, and I don't know if we are within time of doing such, but I assume we are travelling now under a different set of circumstances where we don't have one of the nimble nine to, in fact, offer a motion of reconsideration, or at least I don't know of one... Mayor Suarez: The nimble nine... Vice Mayor Alonso: Well. 2 July 1, 1992 Mayor Suarez: ...being a very favorable reference to our colleagues on the County Commission. Commissioner Plummer: Well, that is, you know, that is what Bill Bayer refers to the nimble nine and I am not going to say how he refers to the five down here, but... Vice Mayor Alonso: Commissioner Plummer, Commissioner Collins was at the radio talk show with me, and she said, not only to me but to the thousand of listeners that she was going to bring up the item for reconsideration. I also know that Commissioner Alex Penelas has stated publicly that he is going to change his vote. That he is going to be supportive of the City of Miami. So if Commissioner Collins has changed her mind, and is not going to bring this motion for reconsideration, I think that as soon as we finish this meeting, and, perhaps, if we pass a resolution, we will be very welcome asking the County Commissioners to reconsider the vote, the same way that the City of Hialeah has done... But I believe that what I... As soon as I leave this meeting I will call Commissioner Alex Penelas and ask him to present the motion and hope that another member of the Commission will second it, and then it will be on the floor for open discussion. I find hard to believe that Commissioner Collins will change her mind from a promise that she made to the listeners, and to me, at my request, for reconsideration. I do hope that we will have at least a motion and a second, and then we will have the opportunity for enough votes as to have it on the table for reconsideration. Mayor Suarez: Yeah. The point is well taken, though, that 1f we were counting on that particular Commissioner to make the motion to reconsider, and if she is now saying, as Commissioner Plummer apparently heard, that she is not, then there is a good question as to what we are doing here. Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Yeah. Commissioner Plummer: To clarify the record, I did not personally hear her say that. I received a phone call from someone telling me that that is what was said. My I strongly suggest, so that we are not travelling in a vacuum, that the City Manager call her office and ask point blank, is she going to offer such a motion or she is not... Mayor Suarez: And we might as well ascertain... Commissioner Plummer: ...and also, at the same time... Mayor Suarez: ...what Commissioner Penelas... Commissioner Plummer: OK. Mayor Suarez: ...is inclined to do. Commissioner Plummer: ...at the same time, and if, in fact, the answer is negative that she is not going to, I am assuming they have rules pertaining to their agendas as we do, that what would be the necessary procedure, if possible, to get it on their agenda for a week from... 3 July 1, 1992 Mayor Suarez: A couple of other procedural questions. Mr. City Attorney you gave us a memo which I read about three pages of and then Mr. Meyer came in and wanted to just chat for a second in anticipation of his testimony. I didn't read the whole thing. I gathered that you were saying that your opinion was that they could or could not, in fact, by a County referendum decide the future means by which a section of the City can secede from the City. What was the outcome of your opinion? City Attorney Jones: The opinion that is stated in the memo to you dated June 30th concludes that the procedure and methodology by which they passed the resolution on, I think it was June 16th, was indeed proper, and it further goes on to advise you that as I indicated to the rest of the Commission, at the special meeting, that there may be some possible grounds for legal challenge, but that in effect, was the opinion that I reached. Mayor Suarez: OK. Commissioner... Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor,... Mayor Suarez: Yes. Commissioner Plummer: ...have you had the chance to, and I know you have been out of the country. Have you had the chance to read the resolution which the County put forth? Mayor Suarez: No. I have only... I did get sent to me... Commissioner Plummer: OK. The reason I think... Mayor Suarez: ...the Manager's evaluation of the implications of the whole thing, but not the County... Commissioner Plummer: All right. Let me try, if I may, that part of the scenario that was being addressed, or I asked the City Attorney to address, was, in fact, that the terminology that is used in this is so broad and so crazy that it defies understanding. For example, one of the things that is stated that it says that a group of voters... Well, how many is a group? Is that two? Two dozen, two hundred or two thousand? A group could, I guess, be defined as two. That is more than one. Any group of citizens can bring about such an election for specified conditions without specifying specified conditions. What is, in fact, the specified conditions? I can't find them in any of the material which was furnished to me. It doesn't tell me how many people are a group. Nor does it tell me who is going to pay for the election if called. These are some of the questions that I think that I asked of the City Attorney at the last meeting to try to clarify... Mayor Suarez: Were those incorporated into your opinion? Are those the kinds of legal grounds that might be able to be used to challenge it? City Attorney Jones: Well, Mr. Mayor, Commissioner, I hoped that we wouldn't get into a discussion of this because I didn't want to tip our hand in terms of strategy in case it is your decision to move forward a challenge of this. I would be happy to discuss this with you individually to tell you what I 4 July 1, 1992 really... What my opinion is, but I would really rather not get into a discussion on it on the record. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, is that... It is contained here... This is the resolution in this memo of the 30th. Mayor Suarez: OK. So it was right in the... Commissioner Plummer: But all I was trying to bring out was that there was some legalities or constitutionalities that were in question that could be definitely brought up and should be brought up. City Attorney Jones: What I... I can respond to that in a very generally... in a conclusory [sic] fashion what I have indicated is that there is possibly, if this were to go forward, and it would pass, there would be, as I see it, some constitutional impediments, particularly, the impairment of the obligation of contracts which may be valitive of not only the State Constitution but as well... the Federal Constitution as well and, of course, there 1s a possible equal protection argument that may be raised but, again, I would like to really have the opportunity to explore that further with you individually, rather than get into... Mayor Suarez: But I see what you are saying that the methodology is the only thing that you are ready to give a firm opinion on. City Attorney Jones: Yeah. Now the... Mayor Suarez: And you know the road to hell is paved with good methodology or something. City Attorney Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Plummer: Intentions. City Attorney Jones: In terms of the... Commissioner Plummer: The only good thing that came out of last week's meeting was my colleague Miller Dawkins' suggestion that we go to Tallahassee _ and de -home rule the Metro Commission. _ Mayor Suarez: Whose idea was that? Commissioner Plummer: That was Millers. I think that was the best idea I've heard yet. Mayor Suarez: He had a brilliant day. Commissioner Plummer: You wanted to de -home rule the Metro Commission. Commissioner Dawkins: I did. Mayor Suarez: It is certainly an interesting counterpunch. What is the... When the Vice Mayor is ready I want to ask if the thrust of what she would like the County to do... I read something about the County postponing the referendum to November. I am not sure what the implication is of having it in 5 July 1, 1992 i September versus November, and if not, if the thrust 1s to try to see if they will take it off the agenda for referendum altogether. Commissioner Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor, I think, you know, that you were not here so I will repeat what I said before. This thing to me has political overtones without question. The committee who was formulated to do this background and check came forth with five suggestions. Am I correct, five? Of the five, only one was adopted by the County Commission, that relating to this issue. Isn't it strange only one city, at the present time. has fifty thousand voters. Now tomorrow it might be different but I guess my paranoia is showing through... Mayor Suarez: Isn't that... Doesn't have that character, by the way, you just pointed out an interesting possible deficiency. Does it have the character of a sort of special bill or something? Commissioner Plummer: Of course it is. Mayor Suarez: That 1s unconstitutional? Commissioner Plummer: Of course it is. Mayor Suarez: Thank you. Oh, he is agreeing with us today. It is going to be a good day. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, as my other colleague has stated to you, before you leave, I would like to give all of you a copy of this thing about Bayside. I think it is very important not to discuss today but for the next agenda the City Manager, Mr. City Manager, I didn't think that Bayside could sell out their equity without this Commission's approval, and they have according to this, and I will give each one of you a copy. Mayor Suarez: OK. If any Commissioners want to add anything at this point, 1f not, to move on here so we can complete this at a reasonable hour, and a reasonable time, I would be inclined to hear from any member of the general public including, firstly and mostly,... We'll get to you, Manolo and doctor, former candidate for Mayor... Commissioner Plummer: Yeah. I think it is that important. Mayor Suarez: ...of the City of Miami, which we hope will not happen again if I am involved in that race. Madam Rose Gordon, former City Commissioner, if you would... If you are interested in addressing us... Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, do you think it... Mayor Suarez: ...and Betty Sime, and Doctor Dunn. Commissioner Plummer: You might think it might be for everyone's edification. We, of course, have received, even though at a very late date, all of the material from the Manager that was asked for at the last meeting. I think there is a lot of people here today who have not had the availability of knowing what is contained in this material, and I think without copies being made available, I think it would be well... 6 July 1, 1992 Ask+r • Mayor Suarez: Absolutely. Commissioner Plummer: ...time spent if we took about five minutes and ask the City Manager to a... Mayor Suarez: You want to summarize it, Carlos? Commissioner Plummer: Yeah. And for the record, I was extremely upset with Mr. Odio for not being here, but 1 found out that he had made a commitment to his family, and that the trip that he had scheduled was definitely no way he could cancel, and I just wanted to make, on the record, that I was convinced, and I was satisfied, that he could not be here. He tried every way possible. Commissioner Dawkins: That is all right, the next City Manager will be here. Commissioner Plummer: Yeah. That is true. That is me. I am going to be the next City Manager. Asst. Manager Smith: Let me summarize the contents of the report. Basically there are a few important items. One of them is the report states that the cost of the services that we provide to Coconut Grove more or less match the revenue that we get from the area of Coconut Grove. Mayor Suarez: So that tends to contradict this popular figure that you keep seeing that they contribute... That region contributes around sixteen percent (16%) of the tax revenues, and supposedly, allegedly, gets eight percent (8%) of the services or something, right. Asst. Manager Smith: They do contribute fifteen percent (15%). Mayor Suarez: Fifteen is your figure? Asst. Manager Smith: Fifteen percent (15%) and... But we have figured that the cost of our services equals fairly close to the revenue generated. Mayor Suarez: That is always a tough calculation to do, of course. How do you attribute to one neighborhood services. You know that is... We can all play with figures there. Asst. Manager Smith: Also, let me read Article 8 of Section 11 of the Metro Dade County Home Rule Charter, and it says, "provisions shall be made for the protection of the creditors of any governmental unit which is merged, consolidated or abolished, or whose boundaries are changed, or functions, or powers transferred." Based upon that, we have figured out the prorata of the debt service that would fall under the Coconut Grove City, 1f it becomes a City, and the number is seventy-two million five hundred and forty-six thousand three hundred and sixty dollars. The... Mayor Suarez: Which works out to be what percentage of our Operating Budget? Do you have that? Asst. Manager Smith: No. This is debt service. 7 July 1, 1992 Mayor Suarez: Oh, debt. I am sorry. OK. Asst. Manager Smith: The pension part of it is another thirty-seven million nine hundred and forty-two thousand dollars, for a total between debt service and pension obligations of over a hundred and ten million dollars. Commissioner Be Yurre: Let me ask you this procedurally, and then I'll ask from the City Attorney. If Coconut Grove were to secede and eventually incorporate, how would they have to deal with that hundred and ten million dollar debt? City Attorney Jones: Commissioner, to be quite honest with you, I think it is really unanswerable. I can only tell you that there is... Commissioner Be Yurre: It is unanswerable. City Attorney Jones: Well, let me put it to you this way. There seems to be a lot of confusion, or there has been a lot of misstatement that in the event that this were to occur, that the County would be required to pay or the new entity, Coconut Grove, would be required to pay from its coffers, and it is not clear because the Charter provision specifically says that the County shall provide. Now, whether provide means require Coconut Grove to pay a proportionate share, or whether it be done through some other vehicle, is really not clear at this point. This is somewhat a case of first impression. All the cases that I reviewed basically deal with annexation as opposed to contraction, but certainly there are a lot of variable that, obviously, would factor into this, and I can honestly tell you that I don't have all the answers, and I don't think that anyone does at this particular point and time, but I think... Commissioner Be Yurre: Are you telling me then that, conceivably, the County could be pretty much cutting its own throat by allowing to expose itself to pick up a hundred and ten million dollar debt? City Attorney Jones: Well, I don't think there is any doubt that the County has the obligation to insure that whatever indebtness is outstanding is taken care of, is what I am saying to you was that by the language specific reference to the term, I think in two specific sections, one says, the County shall make provision for, another one that says, the County shall provide. It is not clear other than the fact that it opens it up to varying interpretations as to what that means. Whether... What particular vehicle will be used. But in any event, the bottom line is, is that the County Is responsible for those obligations. Commissioner Be Yurre: OK. Let me ask you this. In the supposed case that it does happen and we have parks and different properties in the Coconut Grove area, would we be in a position then to either sell the parks or rezone it and do away with parks in Coconut Grove and you know just kind of pick up some capital for the City? City Attorney Jones: Again, Commissioner. Commissioner Be Yurre: It that all possible? 8 July 1, 1992 City Attorney Jones: Again, Commissioner, that may be one possible scenario. There may be a whole host of scenarios but, again, it is really not clear how that would be effectuated in terms of the City recouping money for its assets. Commissioner De Yurre: All I am saying is like we have the Miami Springs Golf Course, in the City of Miami Springs. Now that property belongs to the City. City Attorney Jones: Right. Commissioner De Yurre: We would own, obviously, the parks and the property that would be in this area. We would have the right to sell that property. We would have the right to rezone that property, prior to any contraction. City Attorney Jones: Conceivably and logically I would think that the example you have given and it being analogous to any of the assets that we would have, I would think that the City would have that right to sell off or recoup money for that particular property. Commissioner Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor, let me ask a question. I guess maybe I am being totally to the opposite side of the coin. Everything at this particular point has been extremely negative, if in fact, it were to happen. I think we all go along of a theory that the best government is the government that is nearest the people. And I don't think that this City should be about the fact of trying to tell people that they can't govern themselves. I think what this City has got to do is to come up with a rational plan that says, in fact, that if this does happen, here are the scenarios that could happen, and which will happen, and where are we as a City, and where would those people who want to secede be if they, in fact, were successful in seceding. I guess what I am trying to say in so many words... Mayor Suarez: I was hoping you would try to redo whatever it is you are saying because I can't figure it out. Commissioner Plummer: OK. Well, what I am saying in so many words. It might not be a bad thing if those people wanted to secede. OK. I think that we have not had the opportunity to look at, to give the people of that area the opportunity to govern themselves. Maybe it could be a good thing for both. For us and for them. And I think we need to know exactly... Vice Mayor Alonso: But do we do it... If we do it directly, ourselves, rather than a Charter amendment... Commissioner Plummer: Madam Commissioner, at the present time, if I am not mistaken, and City Attorney you correct me if I am wrong. If a given group of people today petition to secede it would go to a City vote. The entire City would be able to vote on the issue, and there is nothing to stop that from happening tomorrow if that is what those people wanted to do. What I am saying is, if we looked at this thing only negatively in somewhat parochial as to should we be looking at both sides of the coin. Mayor Suarez: OK. Commissioner Plummer: Maybe it is not all bad. 9 July 1, 1992 Mayor Suarez: We have some people... Commissioner Dawkins: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Mayor Suarez: ...that are going to want to speak... Vice Mayor Alonso: I have some comments I would like to make after this. Mayor Suarez: ...on both sides here. Commissioner Dawkins: Wait a minute now. We are changing horses in the middle of the stream, now. Commissioner Plummer: Not changing. I am saying should we look. That is all I am saying. Mayor Suarez: Commission Dawkins and then Vice Mayor Alonso. Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me. Let me qualify it then I'll shut up. Commissioner Dawkins: I'll yield. Mayor Suarez: Yield. Commissioner Plummer: At this point... Commissioner Dawkins: You sure you are going to shut up. Commissioner Plummer: More or less. Commissioner Dawkins: OK. Thank you. Commissioner Plummer: As a taxpayer of Coconut Grove, at this particular point, I am totally opposed to seceding. _ Commissioner Dawkins: Well wait a minute. You are a taxpayer in the City of Miami. You are not a taxpayer in Coconut Grove. Commissioner Plummer: As a taxpayer of what could... Commissioner Dawkins: In the City of Miami you are. e Commissioner Plummer: As a taxpayer in the City of Miami... Commissioner Dawkins: Thank you. — Commissioner Plummer: ...who could conceivably eventually be a taxpayer in the City of "Cocoanut Grove", as they like. _ Mayor Suarez: That is the old name, folks. Commissioner Plummer: I would be totally opposed to being in such an unincorporated area. Yet there are people who feel differently. That is what I am saying. Should we be looking at both sides of the coin, rather than at 10 July 1, 1992 this particular point, there has only been one side of the coin. That is all I am saying. Commissioner Dawkins: Well, Mr. Mayor, I yield to the Vice Mayor and then I would like to hear from the citizens of Coconut Grove so that I can get a feel for what we are doing here rather than just sit up here coming off the cuff. Mayor Suarez: All right. Anyone... Any and all the speakers... We lost the Vice Mayor, but Madam, former Commissioner Rose Gordon, would you like to give us your views. Betty Sime, Doctor Dunn and Manolo. I know of four of you, at least, that want to address us. I presume some people from the Grove and maybe from the Village Council. Just, if I may, try to keep your remarks to about two minutes, we would appreciate this. Ms. Rose Gordon: I am not even going to need two minutes, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners. I am here because I am as concerned as you are with what I read in the paper, and what was handed to me today. I think it is a gross mistake for this to take place. I don't think that everyone who is going to be affect by it, within the Grove area, actually realize the implication of this kind of secession. It will be a drastic hardship for the homeowners, for the business people, for the property owners for all the people who have an opportunity to live in this City, and to think that they would better themselves and better anything by seceding, I think, is the wrong move, and with that, I will tell you that I would do anything I can, within any context that I have, to try to convince the County to change their position, because I think they don't really realize just what they have done, and I would follow that path. Thank you. Mayor Suarez: Very good. Thank you. Vice Mayor Alonso. Vice Mayor Alonso: Yes, Mr. Mayor. I have a few things I would like to say. First, in reference to the motion for reconsideration on Tuesday. I just spoke to Commissioner Collins. I think she has some mixed feelings. She is thinking about it. She gave us a definite answer last week, precisely at Ms. Regalado's talk show, where she said she was going to bring the item. I insisted with her right now, but she has mixed feelings about this. I just spoke to Commissioner Alex Penelas. He is going to do it. So definitely we have a motion that will say he is moving for reconsideration. Commissioner Alex Penelas has told me he will bring the item. So the motion will be presented in the afternoon. A motion for reconsideration. So we have that on the table. In reference to our position, I am going to suggest something to my fellow Commissioners, and I think that it is way of, and I don't know if you will agree with me or not, but I think it is important that we send this kind of message, not only to Coconut Grove, but for all of the City of Miami. And I would like to see if you would consider, and I will make a motion to that effect, that we state that we accept that mistakes may have been taken place in the past. That maybe we had mistakes. That there is always space for reconsideration. That we can always look at the services and try to do better. To work with the citizens of Miami. Not only Coconut Grove but all areas of Miami, and that we recognize, as a government, that responsibility that we have. At least I do, and I am sure probably you will feel the same way I do, that we have good intentions to work with the citizens of Miami. That we love our City. That 11 July 1, 1992 AD-6 � we love the City of Miami for what it is today, one City united and that we would like it to be one City. The Miami that we know, and that we want that to be that way. And that we are sending a message, and that we are asking the County Commissioners to give us that opportunity to work our differences within the citizens of Miami and the government, and to reconsider their vote and postpone this decision that they took June 16, and not have it on the ballot in September or November. To give us the opportunity to work as Miamians. To have a better Miami and one in which we respond to our citizens and work with them to see the quality of life that they want and that we want. So, number one, that we accept responsibilities that exist and they we are trying to work with you to resolve the problems that might exist. And second, for the County to reconsider their position and to give us an opportunity to resolve our problems, as Miamians, and not only a neighborhood that would like to leave. My concern is not Coconut Grove. My concern is other areas might do the same thing not knowing the responsibility of providing services to the people. It is also my concern that some areas might say, well, I don't want to pay for the services of other areas. I don't want to accept my civic responsibility to provide for the ones who need more than I do, and that is a very dangerous message if we send it in society. So I believe that if we come up with a resolution, more or less in these terms, maybe our fellow Commissioners will have an opportunity to reconsider their vote and give us the opportunity that we deserve. I think that Miami, the Miami that we love, deserves that much, and our citizens as well. And I think that we can find solutions to our problems. I don't think that because you have a discrepancy in the family, you just go and break the family. You try to work it out, and I think that is what we are asking today. Let's us work together to resolve the problems. Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Very good. Commissioner Dawkins. Commissioner Dawkins: I don't know what they told the County Commission. I wasn't there. I would like for somebody from the Grove to tell me what the problem is, why they went to the... and what they plan to do, because I don't know. Mayor Suarez: OK. Would... At the request of Commissioner Dawkins, we will change a little bit the order here. Is anyone here who would like to make a presentation on that particular question and answer that? What is the basic thrust, purposes, et cetera. (INAUDIBLE COMMENTS) Yes, well. (INAUDIBLE COMMENTS) I am sorry. Oh, yes, obviously it is in the public record. If you don't want to put it in the public record here what you need to do is come up to the mike and tell me on the mike, sir, please. Commissioner Dawkins: No. That is OK. I have no problem. Mayor Suarez: No. That is the way he has got to do it. Commissioner Dawkins: OK. Thank you, sir. Mayor Suarez: All right. Anyone want to extend the public record by telling us here, and answering that question. If not, Madam Trustee, let me say... 12 July 1, 1992 Vice Mayor Alonso: None of the representatives of the Grove would like to come forward? Commissioner Dawkins: That is all right, Mr. Mayor. This is a plain example of, I can't have my way, I'll take my ball and go home. Everybody siting out there from the Grove has appeared before us City Commissioners at one time or another, and they have gotten what they wanted by a majority of the votes of this Commission. There is not a one of them out there that can say, that they came to this Commission and did not get that which was the best for the City of Miami. You know, it is amazing that all of a sudden, and I am sorry he isn't here. You tell Mr. Portellis he is one of the main ones who stayed in my office, wanting zoning, wanting everything, now that he has got it, he is no longer satisfied. What I would like to know from the City Attorney is, what does the language on the ballot say? Does it say five hundred registered voters who reside, if they desire to separate from a municipality, can separate? Is that what it says, sir? City Attorney Jones: The proposed ballot language... Is that what you are speaking to? Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, sir, Mr. City Attorney. City Attorney Jones: It says fifty thousand or more registered voters... Commissioner Dawkins: Um -hum. City Attorney Jones: ...who wish to separate from a municipality. Commissioner Dawkins: Um -hum. But part one under "C" says, "Describe a continuous area within which at least five thousand registered voters..." At least... City Attorney Jones: Um -hum. Yes. Commissioner Dawkins: "...reside and which, if separated from the municipality, would not result in a portion of the affected municipality becoming noncontiguous with the rest of the affected municipality." What does that mean? City Attorney Jones: Well, what it essentially means is that... I don't know how else to put it other than if there are five thousand of those registered voters who can demonstrate that the proposed area that they seek to contract from would not be separated, but would not cause further separation of the City, if they can demonstrate that, they would meet that test. Commissioner Dawkins: OK. I want you to prepare to go to court... Commissioner Plummer: Does it also mean isolation? City Attorney Jones: Yeah. In other words... Commissioner Dawkins: ...to get a delay... 13 July 1, 1992 M City Attorney Jones: ...as Commissioners just pointed out that... Commissioner Dawkins: First, I want to say. I don't care where the people in Coconut Grove go. They can go any place they want to go. That is the first thing I have to make clear. This is the United States of America, and I fought in two wars for them to be able to make that decision. They can go anywhere they want to go. But I want you to read the file... Commissioner Plummer: Was the first one the Civil War? Commissioner Dawkins: No. That was... No. Indian American War was the first one. I want you, as the City Attorney, to file whatever you have to file, an injunction or whatever, that this be put off until I can understand what they are doing. If you are saying to me... No. I am sorry. If the County is saying to me that anybody of five thousand dollars, I mean five thousand people, desirous of seceding from the City of Miami may do so, I am happy. Because the people in Overtown who are not receiving the services they need, need to secede and have the County provide the services. The people in Liberty City who are not receiving the services that they need because Coconut Grove don't want to pay taxes, they should be able to secede, and tell Dade County, I mean tell the City of Miami, no, no, no I am going to the County where the County can provide for my needs. In East Little Havana, where the needs are not being met, if it is five thousand people, Mr. City Attorney, I want to know if they have the right to secede, and tell the County here I am. You gave this right to Coconut Grove, you have as much right to give it to me as you do anybody else. Now,... Commissioner Plummer: That is true. Commissioner Dawkins: ...tell the same County that in 1981, September the 22nd, a group of blacks petitioned the County Commission and these are the minutes from the County Commission. Desirous of starting a new city. They wanted to secede from the County to form their own place of business, provide their own services. The County turned their request down, the motion was made by Commissioner Barbara Carrey, the motion was seconded by Jorge Valdez, and it was a unanimous vote that black folks not be allowed to secede. So, I want to know how to go to court and get... I don't care about them seceding, but I want to know what is fair for the total City of Miami. Do not pick a portion of the City of Miami who think that they can disregard their civic obligation to the rest of the City, and say I don't want to be a part of it, and I am going. Commissioner Plummer: Conceivably you could have 20 cities in the City of Miami. Commissioner Dawkins: So now, let them secede. Let them go any place they want to go, but once the County does this I want the County to understand it is the County's responsibility to allow anybody else in Dade County, who is desirous of seceding, and becoming a part of Dade County, to do so. City Attorney Jones: Commissioner. Commissioner Plummer: Can I ask a question, Mr. Mayor? _# 14 July 1, 1992 =3 - 0 Mayor Suarez: Yes. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. City Attorney,... City Attorney Jones: Yes. Commissioner Plummer: ...explain something to me. speak English or understand it. City Attorney Jones: Yeah. Maybe I forgot how to Commissioner Plummer: In Section B... I am sorry. In Section 5.04(B), explain to me what is meant by the Board of County Commissioners after obtaining the approval of the municipal governing body's concern. City Attorney Jones: Um -hum. What does that mean then? Commissioner Plummer: What does that mean? Does that mean if the governing... municipal governing bodies do not approve, they can't do it? City Attorney Jones: Yeah. That is the way it exists right here. Commissioner Plummer: Well, what are we arguing about? If they cannot have an election or secede without our approval... Commissioner Dawkins: They can. Commissioner Plummer: Well, excuse me. Attorney? What I see here... City Attorney Jones: The language you... Am I right or am I wrong, Mr. City Commissioner Plummer: ...after obtaining the approval of the municipal governing bodies concerned, that is us... City Attorney Jones: Yes. That is correct. Commissioner Plummer: ...if we do not give our approval, I would understand that to mean that they can't secede. City Attorney Jones: Well, that is begging the question, Commissioner because that is exactly why they are attempting to get this particular section of the Charter amended... Vice Mayor Alonso: Amended. Commissioner Plummer: No, sir. That is... City Attorney Jones: That -is the way it exists now. Vice Mayor Alonso: That is what it is. It has to be... City Attorney Jones: That is the language that exists now. Now what they are proposing would not require approval of the municipality. The one thing that 15 July 1, 1992 you have to keep in mind, and this is what you mentioned, Commissioner Dawkins. Before... It would be a bit premature, at this point, to seek any type of injunctive relief because first of all... It is a two step approach. The first question is whether, in fact, the entire Dade County electorate will, in fact, approve of the Charter being amended to provide for what is being sought in terms of those five thousand individuals who would be able to _= petition and to separate in a contiguous area, and then the twenty percent (20%) of those voting, of those registered voters who would approve it, then the secession or contraction would go through. But it is a two step process. So don't confuse that because they are two separate processes. Commissioner Plummer: Then if they vote to secede it first goes to the County? City Attorney Jones: No. The vote to secede, or the vote for contraction comes afterwards. What is the first and crucial point, is that it has to get by the County electorate that the Charter would be amended to allow for this type of contraction. Commissioner Plummer: Well, on the hand of the coin, does the poor people in the County who may or may not assimilate this new group of people have the right to say yes or no? City Attorney Jones: If they are registered voters, their vote would count just as well as any of the others. Commissioner Plummer: No, no, you are missing my point. Miller Dawkins is making a point, lets call it like it is. Overtown,... City Attorney Jones: Yes. Commissioner Plummer: ...that is a poverty stricken area, and what he basically is saying, "Hey, County if you are going to take the good, you are going to take an Overtown that is a poverty stricken area." Now, that means that the County will assimilate that area... City Attorney Jones: Um -hum. Commissioner Plummer: ...if, in fact, it goes that route. City Attorney Jones: Um -hum. Commissioner Plummer: Do the people of the County, who don't have an incorporated area, have the right to say yes or no, we want to accept them, or we don't want to accept them? City Attorney Jones: According to this proposed Charter amendment, if there are five thousand registered voters within Overtown or any other particular area who wish to separate, they would be allowed to do so under this proposed amendment. Commissioner Plumper: So the County people, who do have to pick up the tab, have no say in the matter? Is that... 16 July 1, 1992 s City Attorney Jones: No. They wouldn't have any say so, absolutely. Vice Mayor Alonso: No. Of course and the millage is going to go up for the unincorporated areas. No question about that because they will have to provide the services that are provided by the City of Miami today. So all of Dade County will have to pay, I would say, a much higher rate because they are not ready to provide police protection for these areas, neither fire and rescue, and garbage pick up. So it is going to be a very expensive course of action for the County in order to provide these services. Not even better services, but just equal services. No question about that. My concern, and I have to say for the record, yes, I am concerned that Coconut Grove leaves. I would like to see Miami united, and I care about Coconut Grove. I don't want Coconut Grove to leave, and I care about them. If I can do something to resolve the situation and to make them understand that we are willing to listen, and more than glad to work with them in that sense, and that is what I would like to do. But My concern is not only Overtown, ah, it is not only Coconut Grove. My concern is... Let's say that we, it is up to us, to say, "Coconut Grove, you want independence, you say you never wanted to be part of the City of Miami, that when you were incorporated it was not your intent, fine. They leave, but the door is closed. It is not that any group of five thousand people can make a decision and leave in what could turn to be an irresponsible way that could be a burden not only to the citizens of Miami, but the rest of the County as well, and it could be even damaging to themselves because not all communities understand the implication of providing the quality of services that municipalities need or areas need. This tremendous expense, and let's mention this because I think it has to be but in the record, also, we are talking about families, people losing their jobs. If Coconut Grove goes four hundred and fifty some of our employees are going to lose their jobs. And if the City of Miami goes under, four thousand families will lose their jobs and, therefore, it is going to be damaging to all of Dade County. Maybe it is important to some of the people. Maybe some people find this as a way of enjoying themselves. Maybe they don't care. I happen to care about Coconut Grove and I happen to care about the employees. I happen to care about those families, and I happen to care about the City of Miami that I love, and the City of Miami that I know, one and united. And that is why I ask for the understanding of this community, and for the understanding of the fellow Commissioners, and, also, to give an opportunity to Miami. I think it is irresponsible to give a vote without taking into account the debt service, the bond rating, the unemployment issue, and the City of Miami as a whole, and also the area of Coconut Grove. Who is going to provide the services because let's say it, not all of the people that live in Coconut Grove have the means to be able to pay the quality of services that they are going to demand. Where is the money going to come from? How is it going to happen? Are all the citizens of Coconut Grove able to provide for that quality of services that they are asking? Not all of the citizens of Coconut Grove have homes over three hundred thousand dollars or make a hundred thousand dollars. We have different people living in Coconut Grove. This could be a very dangerous move. And for some people, it might be a joke. I want you to know this is very serious because the lives of the people are going to be affected. I don't think it is a joke. I don't think it is something that four, or five, or ten, or twenty people decide among themselves, and they do it to the rest of the City. I think this needs much more consideration. This needs more time. This needs a study, and if it is final, they want to do it, let it be. But I think it, at least, deserves some 17 July 1, 1992 AWL serious study, and I hope that our fellow Commissioners at the County think this and go over this carefully, and reconsider the vote, and give Miami a chance. Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Dawkins. Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, I agree with Commissioner Alonso. This is serious business in that the City of Miami is broke right now. They are saying there is a seven million dollar deficit. The people in Coconut Grove have a right to be concerned. It is an eighteen million dollars deficit. Eleven from last year and seven from this year. Now,... But the people should not be seceding. The people in Coconut Grove should be charging the Manager and the City Commissioners for not managing their money. Now, that is where the problem is. And I want to say I love Coconut Grove too. But I love the total Grove. I do not love the part that is talking about seceding. Now, if you are talking about the total Coconut Grove, including that area that J. L. Plummer spoke of, that cannot support itself, you got me. But they are not talking about that. They are talking about taking that part that will produce ten million dollars in revenue, and I don't know what they are going to do. And as the Commissioner said, Commissioner Alonso said, we are meeting more needs in Coconut Grove than they are giving you... That they are telling you that we are meeting. Did they tell you that every Friday and Saturday night that there is thirty-two hundred dollars worth of overtime spent right there in that little enclave? Did they tell you that? Did they tell you that I don't have thirty-two hundred dollars worth of overtime in Liberty City on a Friday and Saturday night? But they have it. But they want to secede. Did they tell you that I don't have thirty-two hundred dollars worth of overtime for police in Overtown, Liberty City, Little Havana, or Little Haiti? But they have it every Friday and Saturday night. Thirty-two hundred dollars worth of overtime. Check your records. Last Saturday night they had thirty- two hundred dollars worth of overtime in Coconut Grove, and I had five people working in Liberty City. Five people for the whole total zone. But all they are telling you is the City of Miami is not meeting my needs. You are damn right we are not meeting their needs. We are trying to meet the needs of the total City. Douglas and Grand is just as important to me as Commodore and Main Highway. Sixty-second and Fifteenth Avenue is just as important to me as Main Highway, so, if they and... Don't I mean please don't let them think... They know good and well that they cannot do what they are telling you they are going to do. They cannot create their own Police Department. They cannot create their own Fire Department. They cannot pick up their own garbage. It is impossible. So like... Commissioner Alonso is correct. There are problems. How do we solve the problems? Let's sit down and solve the problems, but don't come tell me you are going to secede and solve the problems. If you are, go ahead. Mayor Suarez: All right. Let me put on the record a request Commissioner Collins, through her assistant Allison MacArthur. She says she told my colleague, the Vice Mayor, "if the City's elected officials work out their differences with the Coconut Grove Village Council, and I as the County Commissioner would make the motion to move the referendum item to the November ballot, or nip this item altogether." 18 July 1, 1992 s Commissioner Plummer: Who was that from? Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Collins. Now, that sort of... Vice Mayor Alonso: What benefit is to the City of Miami to move the election from September to November? It is going to be even worse. If it is going to be an election... Commissioner Plummer: Chaos. Vice Mayor Alonso: ...let it be in September, but what we are asking is for some time to give a fair chance to the City of Miami and to the citizens of Miami. I don't think that the County Commissioners represent only the people of Coconut Grove, they represent all of us, and what we are asking, as elected officials, and as citizens of Miami, is an opportunity to work out our problems. You don't resolve the problems of Coconut Grove by having a meeting in three days. You need longer if you are going to be serious about it. If, honestly, you have intentions to resolve the problems. So, in fact, what they should do is reconsider the vote and delay any action. That is what they should do to give us an opportunity to see if we can find reasonable solutions, and reasonable solutions is knowing who is going to provide the services in Coconut Grove. Because it might be that a group of people, by a majority, decide to leave, and then it could be a disastrous situation for Coconut Grove area. They have the right to know what is going to happen. Maybe they know themselves that they will not be leaving, but the problem 1s the door will be open, and maybe they will never leave. But what about other areas? What about other areas that know nothing about government and believe that they can do better for themselves, and they jump into the wagon and go into a situation that could turn to be a nightmare. I don't think this is right. Do we run from our civic responsibilities in society? Do we run from problems just like that? I don't think this is the United States that I know. This is not the Miami that I know. The Miami that I know is a Miami that receives people, and found solutions to the problems. This is the Miami that I know, and I would like to keep together that Miami if I can. If I can make a difference and maintain our City united, that is exactly what I would like to see. If at the end, we cannot resolve our differences, and they would like to have their own city because they don't like to be part of the City of Miami, well, fine. Maybe we will be the first to say, OK, Coconut Grove you can go. But let's be a little bit realistic and serious. This is government. This is providing services to the people. This is having people working. We live in the worst times. So we are saying we fire four hundred and fifty-two people because Coconut Grove decide tomorrow to leave, and they don't even know what is going to happen next. I don't think that is a responsible move, and I strongly believe that my fellow Commissioners, at the County level, have also an obligation to examine, and I honestly believe, that when they went and approved June 16th, that motion in a unanimous way, they did it only on the basis of giving more voice to the people, giving more freedom to the people, and they did not take into account the economic factor, and so many other implications that could be very damaging to the City of Miami, to the people of Coconut Grove, and all of us in Dade County. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I am concerned that... Mayor Suarez: Let me just say something before you do that. 19 July 1, 1992 Commissioner Plummer: Surely. Mayor Suarez: I just want to tie into something that you previously said, which I agree with, and the Vice Mayor just alluded to it. I don't think she meant to say it the way it came out, but... The one thing I don't agree with what you said, and I agree with what Commissioner Plummer said before, is when you talk about areas of the City that know nothing about government. - Vice Mayor Alonso: No. I... Mayor Suarez: No. Wait, wait, wait. Let me just finish my point. I don't think we have a basic disagreement here, but let me explain what I mean here. There are economic implications of any deannexation. There are economic implications of any new annexation, or a new incorporation like Key Biscayne, and we are going to presumably hear from Betty Sime. But the implication that I cannot accept, and I want to endorse what Commissioner Plummer said before, philosophically, is that there is a level at which people simply are just too few or it is too small for self government. Particularly the implication that they don't know how to govern themselves, I don't think that is what you meant in any event. Vice Mayor Alonso: No. What I meant, Mr. Mayor, is in the sense that governing is a very complicated matter. You don't know who is... You cannot rule yourself only by decisions of the local government. You have regulations that you have to abide, State... Mayor Suarez: At all levels, sure. Vice Mayor Alonso: ...Federal Government, and make it very complex. People sometimes believe that they can take action, and even some of us here, at a point that we want to present or go a certain way, and then we are reminded by the Legal Department that we are prevented of going that certain way because of regulations in existence in State Government or Federal Government, and the average citizen does not have that knowledge. Mayor Suarez: OK. Commissioner. Vice Mayor Alonso: It is very complicated. Mayor Suarez: Yeah. And I interrupted Commissioner Plummer before. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, my only concern is we have the statement of one Commissioner who will offer the reconsideration, without now a known second to the motion. Should we not instruct the City Manager to immediately fax to the County a request for a space on the agenda, so that we don't get locked out? Mayor Suarez: I think so. . Commissioner Plummer: I think that that would be very important. Mayor Suarez: I think absolutely would be in order. Vice Mayor Alonso: Yes. 20 July 1, 1992 Commissioner Plummer: To be done, Mr. City Manager, immediately so that if we don't get a second, at least we have a shot of being heard a week from Tuesday. Mayor Suarez: Absolutely. Vice Mayor Alonso: Exactly. Mayor Suarez: Now on the economic arguments which go beyond the philosophical one of areas that are small or may not know how to govern 'themselves, et cetera, which I think we all agree that there 1s probably no areas to small to govern itself. Although if you take that too far you end up with everybody having their own government, individually, and we know we don't mean that either. But the whole idea of Key Biscayne incorporating is different economically, folks, and by way of preamble to Betty Sime, whatever you might tell us. A lot of it has to do with economies of scale, and a lot of it has to do with how you do the economic comparisons. For example, if you deannex an area of Miami, and you take, you take all of the taxes that they contribute, and subtract that from the total amount of our income and say try to figure out how much additional services they engender by being part of the City, you are really doing one kind of calculation, and if you do... For example, if you have a City that wants to annex, and it doesn't require any great additional services to annex an area, that is a marginal cost analysis, the other one ends up being a proportional cost analysis, and the two things end up being asymmetrical, interestingly enough. So, economically the consequences have a lot to do with where you were before you incorporated, or you deannexed, or you reincorporated into the County because you assumed certain services, and certain levels of fixed cost debt, in the case of the City of Miami, etcetera. And all of those things are a factor, and I think the Vice Mayor is right that a lot of people probably are not aware of the economic implications. In fact, our own City Attorney is not able to give us a pretty good evaluation at this point of what the economic implications might be in terms of the debt. Mary, there is one thing, and Tucker and everybody who is here from the Grove and who we have come to work with and care for and respect, not mention the Reverend and some of the other people who are here from the Grove, but, presumably, those that are supportive of this de - annexation proposal. The one thing that Commissioner Dawkins has said, and that's been echoed here, and that Commissioner Collins is saying with this note to clarify her position is that perhaps - and, sir, for your input, too. You wanted to say something before. We didn't mean to cut you off, it's just that you are supposed to do it from the mike. If there is any opportunity, the one message that you have certainly gotten to us, I've told this to the media. I don't know if they've ever reflected it in their articles. The one message you have gotten to us with this, is that you want to talk to us, that you want to make further reforms, that you want to reevaluate the services you are receiving. In the old days, folks, Coconut Grove could very validly complain in the Frank Albritton days over there, and Rose you know about this because you fought it, and some of our sitting Commissioners fought it, too, because of re -zonings and unnecessary commercial intrusion. But folks, we are willing, for myself, and I know I speak for this entire Commission, to continue in the direction of tightening those laws and even maybe some down - zoning. No one has - as many times as I've mentioned it to Pan Courtelis, he never came back and said, you know, that's an idea worth considering. So 21 July 1, 1992 there is a lot of room to negotiate and if Commissioner Collins and some of the other County Commissioners, who we wish had not taken this first step to begin with, but if they are now saying, you know, I am trying to send a message back, as we are in this Commission, let it not be a negative message, it's a positive message. We want to work with you. If there is any room for some kind of a compromise here, believe me, we have a special session called for next Thursday on the issue of police deployment. Plummer's been leading that effort. Commissioner Plummer. Among other things, because of what we see and was alluded to by Commissioner Dawkins of having all kinds of officers on Main Highway and MacFarlane and in Commodore Plaza and we don't see that many on Grand and Douglas. In a comparison to the rest of the City, you wouldn't see that many in the rest of the City either, that was also mentioned by Commissioner Dawkins. We are going to delve into that, I think, in the most aggressive way, the most specific way in the history of the City of Miami. And let me tell you, I've got a lot of questions about that, as much as I respect our Police Chief. I want to know why this cannot be somehow, deployment cannot be just more logical and more common sensical in the City of Miami. I have some interesting curves about the number of crimes that take place at different times of the day and the shifts, you know our shifts are pretty even as far as the manpower assigned. You wonder why the shifts would be that even as far as manpower assigned when there's some times of the night that, thank God, the criminal element goes to sleep. So, you know, you wonder about that. And the Assistant Chief is here. In fact, I think he spent a lot of time in the Coconut Grove area because your substation, in fact, includes Coconut Grove. And so you've had that, too, recently. There's a lot of progress, folks, and if we have to make a lot more, and if it means some sort of an agreement so we don't put this to a vote and have all the kinds of implications that this could engender in the County, I certainly would support that. Having said that, and in a sense Dr. Dunn really should speak first because you are a citizen of Miami with our perspective, but if you don't mind yielding, Dr., to the trustee since we always have a special courtesy to sitting elected officials, even if what they say may not be exactly what we want to hear. Ms. Betty Sime: Is that a threat? Hi, I'm Betty Sime, Trustee of Village of Key Biscayne. The last time I was here, it was pleading for an area -wide development of regional impact study, hoping to get an overall master plan for all of the Key Biscayne area. The City turned us down, the County turned us down. Soon we had development orders for two 800-room hotels on Key Biscayne within our municipality, which is one and a half square miles. We had an OK for a very large for a Wometco Seaquarium expansion. We had an approval of the Lipton Tennis Stadium, and you can see what all this was leading to. We went before the County Commission... Mayor Suarez: But the City supported the basic thrust of your opposition to the over -development. We just, technically, didn't like the idea of another DRI (Development of Regional Impact). But, another global DRI. Regional DRI. Ms. Sime: Nice try. At any rate, they did not support us, and we just had the feeling that the government was too big, too large and our specific needs were not being addressed. I can see a similar situation here. I can see... First of all, I hate to say it, but I wonder why the Commissioners weren't at the original County Commission hearing where this proposal was brought up, and you are dealing with a large government. You are seeing it throughout the 22 July 1, 1992 whole country. You are seeing government that's really just too big and doesn't address individual local needs. When you speak about donor communities, Key Biscayne, even as a village, is still a donor community. We contribute to the general fund, the Jackson Memorial, to transportation for all of Dade County, as we certainly should. We should remain a donor community, but what you are dealing with here is the second tier, the municipal services, the zoning decisions. I have cousins who live in Coconut Grove. 1 have seen the effects of some of the - I have to say it - very awful zoning decisions, and I can understand how these residents feel, that they are just not being heard. We have investigated very thoroughly the costs of the services and we have found that we will be able to have our own Police force for probably $1,000,000.00 less than we are being charged by the County, and with much better service. Twenty-two to 24 officers, two patrol cars within our municipality area at all times. So, we also heard many, many - well, I guess you'd call it - I don't want to say fear tactics - but many, many fears of what would happen, that our start-up costs were going to be horrendous, that we couldn't possibly make it. Well, we are nearly at the end of our first year and we hope to end up with a surplus. We have some nice village offices, we have a very fine village manager, we have our own lawyer who can help us on any legal questions that we have, and we feel that we are on the way to a very successful, small, but very successful local government that is able to respond to the needs of its citizens. So, I can't, of course, answer all the questions about Coconut Grove. I can only look at it and see that it has some things in common, and that 1t is a unique little village with a very special feeling among its residents, which is also what we had on Key Biscayne, and still have, and there's something like a real community spirit that, I think, would enable these people, who will have to work very hard, if they continue to go through with this, because there's a lot of study to be done, and this initial process that's being proposed is really just a vote to change the charter for Dade County. It's not a decision on secession. If that should be successful, they then will have to go through several months of studying and assessing and finding out how much income they'll have coming in, but it certainly isn't impossible, and we have done it, and we are very pleased with the results, and I'm afraid I didn't say what you wanted me to, but I felt that I had to be honest and say that it isn't an impossibility at all and a lot of the things that you are hearing are really being exaggerated and are things that can be worked out. And really if, as an elected body, I think that giving the vote to the people and letting them decide, is really the most fair and democratic way. Mayor Suarez: Very good. Ms. Sime: Thank you. Mayor Suarez: Thank you. Mr. Russ Marchner: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Let me... Mr. Marchner: Excuse me. Mayor Suarez: Wait, Russ. Since you contradicted my quick interruption. Let me just tell you that your presentation on the issue of what you asked us to 23 July 1, 1992 a do a couple of years ago was wrong. What you tried to do is, you went to the County, which is the government that was in fact your government, a municipal government at the time as an unincorporated area. You asked them to do something that you felt, and I agreed with that you ought to have, and the County said no. And then so you decided to come in a roundabout way, which our technical people said was not the correct way to do it, even though we agreed totally with the thrust of what you wanted to accomplish in Key Biscayne as a sister municipality, or a sister jurisdiction. We wanted to help you. We indeed did help you with resolutions, etcetera, and then, today, now that you are incorporated, you come and tell us that somehow we didn't represent you, when we weren't even your jurisdiction, and when you, in fact, technically, were wrong about that. But that's just my view of it, and I respect yours. Russ, I had promised Dr.... Mr. Marchner: Yeah. Well, I just wanted to comment on what the trustee said. Just real fast. Mayor Suarez: Weil, why don't we just take that up in a second. The Commissioner... Did you want to say something? And then Dr. Dunn. We've been pushing him back. Commissioner Plummer: I have... No, not me. Mayor Suarez: OK. Marvin. Ms. Sime: No more questions? Mayor Suarez: I don't have any questions whatsoever. Ms. Sime: OK. Dr. Marvin Dunn: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission. I'm joined by Frankie Rolle from the Grove. My name 1s Marvin Dunn, I live at 3530 Crystal View Court in Coconut Grove. If I were to sit down and come up with a list of reasons to secede from the City of Miami, I would probably finish the list about midnight tonight. But if I were to come up reasons not to secede, I know already the reason that I would be opposed to it. It would destroy the City of Miami. I think that... My understanding is that the proposal does include Commissioner Dawkins taking the black Grove with it, if the secession movement succeeds. And I think that, that would ultimately be wonderful for the black Grove. All of that rich, white money helping black Grove survive and do well. I think that could be in the offing for the black Grove. But if one were to rise above one's own provincial neighborhood concerns, even when they could come out to our benefit, and look at the survival of our City itself, this is a bad move. And I think that, particularly, if one pays attention of what's going on around the country today, this is no time for rich communities to abandon poor neighborhoods. I would also add that I think that there might be a little bit of anti -Hispanic fervor involved in this. The City of Miami is obviously becoming more and more Latinized and controlled by Hispanics and I think that possibly part of the motivation for this is to get away from "Cuban control." And I think that we need to challenge these people who would destroy the City in this way to answer some very, very tough questions, many of which have been raised today by Commissioners. There is a group of us, Miss Rolle and Mr. Scott and others here today, who have agreed 24 July 1, 1992 to organize in the black Grove to fight this movement. And we stand before you today to say that we know the City has not been perfect, we know that you never should have taken Coconut Grove the way you did, mistakes have been made, but united the City might survive. If it starts to come apart, then I think our days are going to be numbered. And I'll yield to Miss Rolle who I think also wanted to make some statements. Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Dr. Ms. Frankie Rolle: My name is Frankie Rolle, I live 3430 Williams Avenue. I would just like to say that some of the community -based organizations in Coconut Grove are not familiar with the intent of the Village Council. The City did away the City of Miami Advisory Board from Coconut Grove, and we sit as a County community development advisory board. However, we still meet and we address concerns of the City. To Miss Sime, I was a guidance counselor at Carver Junior High School and Key Biscayne is totally different as you know from Coconut Grove. When schools were integrated and the kids from Key Biscayne had to come to Coconut Grove, they did not trust a bus to come down Grand Avenue into Carver School. The bus came down Main Highway, went to Franklin, then came down, then came over to Charles Avenue and then came into the school. Or it kept straight around the Main, Dixie Highway, I call it, US-1 and came in through one block of the west Grove into Carver School. Now you cannot equate Key Biscayne with Coconut Grove. What will happen, if the City funds go, we have St. Albans there, we have Miami Mental Health Clinic, we have - what's the other place? - In other words, we have social services in the Coconut Grove area that are funded by the City of Miami through the Community Block Grant. What's going to happen? What's going to happen to this? Don't use us - and I say us, people like me - as pawns for the... Miller, what it is that you want to do. That's not being fair. We've been 1n our homes for a long time in Coconut Grove. In 1925, when they did not want to become a part of the City of Miami, I know that many of the people who are in the Village Council now was not in Coconut Grove. Half of them were not born back then, and we just need to think this thing through. Through your emotions, you can jump up and do many things, but you need to stop, listen, write and go through and diagram and do all the things that are necessary before we jump out there in the water. Now, when we voted for Village Council, I'm sure that this was not foremost, and if it was foremost, many people did not pay any attention to it, and those some who were against, well, you know how you tell us some times, shut up, you don't count, you are too old, you are this, that and the other. But if old people don't look out for young people, especially young black people, they will be right back where they were in about 1810. Mr. Dunn: Just in closing, Mr. Mayor, we do stand with you and fight for these changes, I would appreciate it when we call the City Police Department to report someone breaking into our cars on my street, that an officer would show up within two or three hours. We'd appreciate if they'd put the tops back on the garbage cans when they finish emptying the sanitation containers, and we don't like the fact that those of us that live in the Grove cannot get to our homes on Friday evenings, and Saturday evenings and on festive days in the Grove. So there are legitimate complaints, and these folks are correct in that, and we do need to have those things improved. Mayor Suarez: Absolutely. Dr. Dunn, since you have been so active in the whole matter having to do with Haitian immigrants into this country, and I see 25 July 1, 1992 F- Ringo back there and many others, that issue sometimes is stated by people as being also a sort of not in my backyard situation where they'd like to exclude some people, and I wanted to read to you just a portion of a letter I received and I read just today, and it says this following... It just has a beautiful quote that I submit to your consideration and anyone else that is here. It says, as the great Tolstoy said in his "What then must we do?" chapter 18 translated by Maud, "I sit on a man's back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am very sorry him and wish to ease his lot by all possible means, except by getting off his back." And the gentleman who writes this letter 1s very supportive of the position you have taken and many people in this community, which I think is a correct position in terms of fair justice, but also, certainly in terms of charity, and it's a gentleman from S.W. 78th Street in Miami, Sid Hughes. So I thought... If you want to take a copy of it, I'll have it available for you. Manolo Gonzalez- Goenaga. Yes, sir. Vice Mayor Alonso: Uh, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Oh, I'm sorry. And Russ. Either way. I appreciate it. Mr. Manuel Gonzalez-Goenaga: Well, I'm going to be very short. I am addressing today first, the citizens of Miami, then the distinguished Commissioners of Miami, and also I am including the bums of the Metro Commissioners. I am a great admirer of Kahlil Gibran, the Lebanese philosopher, and I have read both of his two treaties, "The Prophet" and "The Madman." I know that you people consider me a madman, and you have never paid attention to what I have expressed here. I don't pretend to be the prophet either, but in this issue, I am going to be more of a prophet than a madman. My... Everybody deserves the government that it has. I do not blame the people of Coconut Grove for trying to divorce from these Commissioners. Some of them are thieves. Some of them are too busy traveling to the Las Malvinas. Others are busy, also, with the Cuban anti -defamation group of General Charles QeGaulle, Mr. Canosa. And that's why they do not dedicate to serve the people. When you have Commission meeting, naming of the streets for Mr. Sabines, the honorable Arboleya, the banker, and I am supposed to be the destructive person here. I have to disagree a little bit with Mrs. Alonso today, on just a small issue, the lack of knowledge of government. I have said here many times that this Administration, starting from Cesar, are the merchants of deceit. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, sir. I am not going to sit here - and you and I have been friends, but we are about ready to split company - you have made an accusation that I demand that you back upl Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: Which one? Commissioner Plummer: You have said that some of these Commissioners are thieves. Now, if you've got facts, lay them on the table! Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: They will come... Commissioner Plummer: Sir, if you don't have facts, you have bought yourself a damn good lawsuit! 26 July 1, 1992 Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: OK. For Mr. De Yurre... Commissioner Plummer: Now, if you got facts, you name them,... Mayor Suarez: Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga. Commissioner Plummer: ... let's hear them! Mayor Suarez: Let me make... Commissioner Plummer: But I'll be God damned if I'm going to let you hit me with a scatter gun! Mayor Suarez: Let me make ruling, sir. Have a seat. You are clearly out of order today. Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: I'm sorry. Mayor Suarez: If I remember the law... Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: But I... _ Mayor Suarez: Have a seat, sirl Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: There is deceit in this Commission. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, excuse me. The statement has been made. Mayor Suarez: Let me... Let me... Commissioner Plummer: If he's got facts, then let's lay them on the table. Mayor Suarez: Yeah, and really... Commissioner Plummer: Because when somebody calls me a thief,... Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: No, I didn't call you a thief. Commissioner Plummer: Sir, you said "Some of the Commissioners..." There's five of us. Mayor Suarez: You got close enough. Commissioner Plummer: Now, I'm one of them. Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: He is a thief. Commissioner Plummer: Oh. Mayor Suarez: Have a seat. You got close enough when you said "Some..." Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: He is a thief. Mayor Suarez: Sirl You are out of order. 27 July 1, 1992 Mr. Gonzalez-Goenaga: I am leaving now. Mayor Suarez: You got close enough when you made reference. The Commissioner = is right. The number of Commissioners is small enough that, that constitutes libel. So unless you have proof, in which case you could take it to the State _— Attorney. Sir, you are invited out with or without a hat. Commissioner Plummer: Jesus Christ. Mayor Suarez: ...either way. Yes, sir. Mr. Marchner: This is a hard act to follow, isn't it? - Mayor Suarez: No, just about anything you do, would be better. Mr. Marchner: I'm Russ Marchner, Executive Director of the Dade League of Cities. I have several things I want to say, and unlike my predecessor. I'm not going to say I'm going to be short, if I'm not going to be short. First of all, I'd like to address trustee Sime. We have worked with her and the other people who have formed Key Biscayne. You know, she makes a lot of good points today, but there is one thing that Key Biscayne can't be compared with any way, shape or form in Coconut Grove. Metropolitan Dade County, because of the incorporation of Key Biscayne, did not lose any property tax base, whereas in Miami, the City stands to lose - I forget what the figures are, but Frank May can point them out because he's the one that brought them to me - a major portion, if not 15% of its property tax base. It will lose... Metro does lose service tax revenue because of Key Biscayne's incorporation. But no property tax base. Mayor Suarez: Well, for us it's very simple. We derive about $100,000,000.00 in real estate taxes, so it's 15%, it's $15,000,000.00. Mr. Marchner: Secondly, I'd like to point out that the... Vice Mayor Alonso: It's about $18,000,000.00 what we get. Mr. Marchner: ... Dade League of Cities will... Mayor Suarez: And it's probably higher than that. Go ahead. Mr. Marchner: Right. Thank you. ... will be considering this item tomorrow night at its board meeting and we can assure that we will be Tuesday, as we have done recently in the past, and back you on this issue and we stand ready, willing and able, and our attorney, Jack Rice, is here. But I do want to say that whatever affects the City of Miami, not only affects the rest of the cities in Dade County, but throughout the State and possibly even further. So thank you for allowing me a few words. Mayor Suarez: We appreciate that because the way the statute, or the ordinance is drafted, the referendum, it really only applies to one city. Mr. Marchner: That's right. Commissioner Plummer: At the time. 28 July 1, 1992 Mr. Marchner: At this time. Mayor Suarez: But the fact that other cities could easily... You know, at this particular time. But the fact that other cities, by implication, by growth, by whatever means could ultimately be suffering. Because if you can do it at this level, why not a section of Key Biscayne being able to secede from Key Biscayne, and maybe the section that has the highest tax base. 1 don't know. Mr. Marchner: Well, in the year... Mayor Suarez: And then... Mr. Marchner: Excuse me for interrupting. But in the year 2000, the city of Hialeah will be over 50,000 residents. Mayor Suarez: You've got Hialeah coming up. I mean it's something that really, really has to be thought very carefully, and many of the reasons have been stated. But you have taken a position that we appreciate because you represent a lot of cities of which one is affected by this, but I think the other ones understand that could easily... Commissioner Plummer: Well, Hialeah's not that far off. Mayor Suarez: Yeah. Commissioner Plummer: I'm told by the Administration they are 42,000. So they are right around the corner. Mr. Marchner: Right. Right. Vice Mayor Alonso: And in a few years, Miami Beach. Mayor Suarez: And the principle, too, is a problem. If you can secede from the City of Miami as a municipal government, why can't you secede from Dade County? - and form your own municipality. So... Mr. Marchner: Right. Mayor Suarez: And that's somewhat akin to what you said before. Commissioner Plummer: Well, the ludicrous part, Mr. Mayor, is that you can conceivably have 20 cities from the City of Miami. Can you... Mayor Suarez: What city is that? Commissioner Plummer: Well, we've got 100,000 registered voters. Mayor Suarez: Just kidding with you. All right. Can we just go through this very quickly? Gentlemen. Mr. Torres, Mr. Cayard. We are saturated with the argument and we are going to try to resolve quickly, so please make your statements and then we are going to possibly pass a resolution and... A lot of what's being said today, really has to be said not here - but you are sort of preaching to the choir here - we have to say it at the County Commission. 29 July 1, 1992 Mr. Ringo Cayard: Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen of the Commission, my name is Ringo Cayard. I'd like to state the fact that I am Haitian coming here and I kind of enjoy being in Miami and to be honest with you, the Miami that I've seen when I first got here is way different than the Miami that we see today. This is basically the first time we could say that minority has a place where they could call their own, which is the City of Miami. Where you have Hispanics together with Afros who are basically in charge of the City and try to make good of it. And I think that's going to reflect on our children, the fact that we are trying to cohabit in order to make a better Miami for all. And this is also a time to, in a way, thank the people of Coconut Grove for bringing together, I think, today for the first time in a long time, the whole Commission who now realize that it's together that the whole Commission is going to solve that crisis. We don't have today a three -two vote, or a four - one vote. It's basically a clear voice that we got from the Commission that this is something serious and everybody is going to work on it. I think this is a new leadership that we, the people of Miami, should start realizing that maybe we start having some real leaders here at the Commission level. People who is going to make a better Miami for all of us. So as far as being an immigrant and seeing that there is a place in the world which is basically non-immigrant place where you have the majority of the people are either Hispanic or Afro, I think it's kind of, somehow I would say a segregation type of situation that we are seeing now. And this is precisely that many people are dying for and fought for to desegregate Miami. If we let that happen, we are going to have a lot other places who is going to want to do ,just that, and we just cannot afford it because we are going to be just the laughingstock of the whole United States. So don't let it happen. In fact, we are here, and for me, I am here to say that whatever I could do to help out in order not to make it happen, just say it and we'll be there trying to prevent it. Mayor Suarez: Very good. Thank you, Mr. Cayard. Mr. Torres. Mr. Esteban Torres: MI NOMBRE ES ESTEBAN TORRES. YO SOY EL DUENO DE LA CASA DE LOS TRUCOS EN LA CALLE OCHO, EN LA PEQUENA HABANA. QUIERO DECIR QUE LOS COMISIONADOS Y EL SENOR ALCALDE TENGAN EN CUENTA QUE NOS AYUDEN UN POCO MAS A NOSOTROS EN LA PEQUENA HABANA, YA QUE OTRAS AREAS SE HAN PUESTO MAS COMPETITIVAS QUE NOSOTROS EN LA PEQUENA HABANA. HAY MUCHAS PROYECTOS QUE TODOS CONOCEMOS, COMO EL Latin Quarter Specialty Center, UN TEATRO QUE ESTA EN LA ESQUINA DE LA QUINCE Y LA OCHO, Y ESO ESTA COMPLETAMENTE PARADO. NUESTROS PROBLEMAS NO SON DE SERVICIO. LA POLICIA ESTA HACIENDO MUY BUEN TRABAJO EN LA PEQUENA HABANA. LA BASURA SE RECOJE PERFECTAMENTE. NUESTRO PROBLEMA ES UN PROBLEMA ECONOMICO, NO ESTAMOS COMPETITIVOS CON OTRAS AREAS. POR FAVOR NECESITAMOS QUE LOS PROYECTOS QUE SE HA GASTADO TANTO ESFUERZO A TRAVES DE LA MISMA CIUDAD DE MIAMI EN ESTUDIOS QUE. HA HECHO, QUE SE VUELVA DE NUEVO A PROMOVER COMO EL Latin Quarter Specialty Center EN LA CATORCE CALLE... 0 SEA EN LA OCHO CALLE ENTRE CATORCE Y QUINCE. SI NOSOTROS LOGRAMOS ESOS PROYECTOS, PUES OTROS INVERSIONISTAS GRANDES COMO PERSONAS QUE ESTEN INTERESADAS EN HOTELES, VENDRIAN A NUESTRA AREA, IQUAL QUE LO HACEN EN Coconut Grove, downtown, et cetera. POR FAVOR, TOMEN ESO EN CUENTA. MUCHAS GRACIAS. TRANSLATION: My name is Esteban Torres, I'm the owner of Casa de los Trucos on 8th Street in Little Havana. I want to say that the Mayor and Commissioners have in mind to help us a little more in Little Havana since other areas are more competitive than we are in tittle Havana. There are a lot of projects that we all know, Latin Quarter Specialty Center and the Tower 30 July 1, 1992 �r • Theater on 15th and 8th, and that's completely stopped. Our problem is not of services, the police is doing a very good job in Little Havana. Garbage and trash is picked up perfectly. Our problem is one of economic development. We are not competitive with other areas. Please we need those projects where we have spent so much effort through studies that the City of Miami has done. We want to have them back on the table again, like Latin Quarter Specialty Center on 8th Street between 14th and 15th. If we can get those projects going, other entrepreneurs that are interested in hotels would come to our area just like they do in Coconut Grove and downtown. Please take this under advisement. Mayor Suarez: Very good. OK. We are going to close the public hearing. Let me just say, since Bobbie Mumford last person before the public hearing, let me just say that you mentioned the Solid Waste Department of the City of Miami and the job they do in Little Havana, folks if there's one objective submission we can make to you that I don't think any city in Miami, Dade County, perhaps in South Florida, maybe God knows in the rest of the country, but certainly in South Florida, there's one service that we give more of for less money, that would be solid waste. Keep in mind we do twice a week for those of you that are not from Miami. Commissioner Plummer: One of the things that's killing us. Mayor Suarez: Maybe we'll attract a few of you to move into Miami. Twice a week we pick up your yard trash. Commissioner Plummer: No. Mayor Suarez: Once a week rather. Twice a week the regular garbage, up to now without any restriction as to volume, although probably there's some restriction supposed to be in there, but they pick up pretty much whatever you put out there, curbside pickup four appointments a year for large items, discard items which very few people take advantage of. Maybe I shouldn't be mentioning it. All for $160.00 every six months. Commissioner Plummer: No. Vice Mayor Alonso: No, a year. Commissioner Plummer: No, a year. Mayor Suarez: Eighty dollars every six months. Vice Mayor Alonso: Yes. Mayor Suarez: And a few penalties here or there when you are a little late, but... Yes. Ma'am. Commissioner Plummer: You know, you should make note that in the County where people are thinking about moving to, they are presently paying four hundred and some dollars and have been so notified that within two years they will be paying $600.00 a year. Mayor Suarez: And we... 31 July 1, 1992 Commissioner Plummer: They've already been notified. Have you been notified of that in Key Biscayne? (INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD) c Mayor Suarez: And we have to absorb the tipping fees and the disposal fees for the County which they raise at their discretion, and which we somehow �z— manage to pay without increasing your garbage collection fee by general revenue, so that's another thing. Commissioner Plummer: Some places in the State of Florida, I found out this morning, Mr. Mayor, we are paying $64.00 a ton. In seven years, we've gone from $6.00 a ton to $64.00. There are places in the State of Florida that are paying as much $124.00 a ton to dispose of. Mayor Suarez: For the tipping disposal fee. Yes. Vice Mayor Alonso: That's right. Very, very expensive. Commissioner Plummer: Broward County, I think, 1s $68.00 right now. =_ Mayor Suarez: Bobbie. And then we are going to close the public hearing and try to make a decision up here or decide not to decide, or do whatever, but try to get some other things done. Ms. Bobbie Mumford: Good afternoon. I'm Bobbie Mumford and I'm here as a private citizen, business owner. My business, which is a public relations firm, is located in the City of Miami at 1001 N.W. 54th Street. I am also a property owner in the City of Miami, in the area of Biscayne Boulevard and about N.E. 63rd Street. We feel that it is extremely important that the City of Miami maintains its fiber and fabric by having truly a melting pot in a multi -ethnic community represented of diverse populations, diverse incomes, diverse interests, diverse religions, beliefs and everything else that makes up a community. Miami is an international city and when we think about this as a destination, when the world thinks about this as a destination, they do not think of Dade County, per se, or any specific cities. They just know this region as Miami, and we need to keep the name Miami alive and well. We ask you to support the City of Miami and present a resolution, considerations to the County so that this can be further studied and we can maintain our city. Thank you. Mayor Suarez: Thank you very much. OK. We understand that and deem that to be applause from all the cities in Dade County that you represent, Russ. Vice Mayor Alonso: Yes indeed. Mayor Suarez: I'll entertain a motion at this point. Commissioner Dawkins: Before the motion,... Vice Mayor Alonso: Well,... Mayor Suarez: Yes. Commissioner Dawkins. 32 July 1, 1992 Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, I'd like to say that Commissioner Alonso in your absence took it upon herself to go out and lead this charge and I think through her efforts, and I may be wrong, we are at the point where we are with the County because, as you will notice when Commissioner first started to talk, the Commissioner talked in terms of finding a middle ground where everybody could be happy and when you read the note from Commissioner Collins, that was the basics of her note that we find a common ground to meet on. So I think that all of us up here are on the same accord and I'd like to say that we are glad that she took the initiative, which I'm sure you would have taken had you been here to try find a middle ground. Mayor Suarez: Absolutely, and one last strategic thing to the Grove, and those that want this to go forward, keep in mind there's a danger in actually putting this to a test with the voters. Suppose you lose? Up to now, every time you talk about secession you know how high we jump. Every time you, any of you, even those that we don't like as much as we like Tucker, Mary, etcetera, without mentioning names, called us, we are responsive because we, frankly, are concerned about this kind of a move and this kind of a scenario. If you do it, insist on it, and put it on the ballot, we get our act together and we defeat 1t by a nice little hefty margin, which I think it might happen, you don't have that particular political clout in that sense. You still have the merits of your request, which we think we handle reasonably well, and if we don't, please let us know. But that's just one bit of unasked for advice. Commissioners, anyone want to move a resolution at this point? Vice Mayor Alonso: Well, I had suggested before that we pass a resolution asking the County Commissioners to reconsider the vote, to give Miami an opportunity. We love our City, we like it to be the magic City and to remain as such. One City, united and that's exactly what we should ask from them. Mayor Suarez: So moved. Commissioner Plummer: Well, I have no... Mayor Suarez: Seconded by Commissioner Plummer. Commissioner Plummer: ... problem of seconding the motion. I think it's motherhood, I think we need to incorporate some other things in that, and I'm not here to make an amendment, but I think we need to tell the County in so many words that we don't feel, or at least I don't think, that they have given the full thought process necessary to the implications of what could happen to both sides, if in fact this matter were to go through. Mayor Suarez: Yeah, certainly the resolution has to be filled... Commissioner Plummer: That at this particular time there are... Mayor Suarez: ... with the meat of what we've been discussing here today,... Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor,... Mayor Suarez: ... including the whole issue of debt, the whole issue of economic consequences, which maybe weren't thought of all that well. 33 July 1, 1992 Commissioner Plummer: ... there are, at this particular time, too many unanswered questions that need to be addressed through public hearings and to make definite decisions upon, and after that process has had the opportunity to evolve, then we can talk about maybe putting it to a referendum or not. But I just, you know, I'm not in favor of threatening them with a lawsuit or threatening them, period. I think that... Mayor Suarez: No, no. I think the motion doesn't contain that. Commissioner Plummer: I think that goes wrong. OK? Vice Mayor Alonso: But my motion is completely different. Commissioner Plummer: But I think the bottom line is simply, and I'll offer it in the form of an amendment to the motion, that we, the City, feel that there is much more thought process that must be put into this scenario as it is presented today for September and that we urgently request that the Metro Commission reconsider, giving the time for public input and to be able to decide from both sides the full impact of what might happen if in fact this were to be put on the ballot and were to pass. Mayor Suarez: I think that's... Commissioner Plummer: I'll offer that in the form of... Mayor Suarez: ... within the tenor of the motion. I don't think you need an amendment on that. Vice Mayor Alonso: Yes. Yes. Commissioner Plummer: OK. That's fine. Mayor Suarez: But in any event, it would be accepted I think by the movant and second. Commissioner Plummer: That's fine. Mayor Suarez: Commissioner De Yurre raised one thing that I forgot to allude to that also I think should be perhaps documented. Did you imply that this particular building, somehow, would end up - and some other properties of the City of Miami as now constituted, would somehow have to be paid up to the existing jurisdiction? Commissioner De Yurre: Well, what I'm saying is that it's quite possible that all the property that we do own in Coconut Grove, for example, all the parks, if this Coconut Grove were not to be part of the City of Miami, we could just sell it, do away with parks in the Coconut Grove area and use that money to subsidize other programs that we need throughout the City of Miami and, you know, if it comes that kind of situation, you know, if one is willing to walk away from us, then we are not beholden, then we can start doing what we need to do to protect the remaining City of Miami. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor. 34 July 1, 1992 fi Mayor Suarez: I'm not sure that anybody here is ready to have a fire sale on parks... _-- Commissioner De Yurre: That's right. Mayor Suarez: ... but we do want you to know that there are all kinds of economic implications, both on the debt side that Commissioner Plummer alluded to, and on the asset side, folks. So keep all of that in mind. Commissioner Plummer: Yeah, but, Mr. Mayor, I think that... I don't find fault with my colleagues, but I don't think that we should be about the --- business of implied threats. Vice Mayor Alonso: No. — Commissioner Plummer: OK? You know, you said to them - and I'm not finding f fault with you, but if I were sitting over on the other side, I think I would - is, you know, just think what might happen if you lose. OK? What happens, is we are going to sell all of the property... F Mayor Suarez: No, that last part you added. I said it was... Commissioner Plummer: OK. I'm saying to you, I think we should be about the business of trying to say to the people of Coconut Grove - and we are going to be doing 1t - hey, let's sit down and talk and see if there's a middle ground. We are going to be talking about some damn serious things in the next 30 days. Those serious things, of one of the main concerns that they have is the police deployment, the police area, and I think it's going to be very, very much addressed by this Commission, hopefully on July the 9th and prior to budget, we are going to be making some major, major changes. So I think that basically, I think the spirit of compromise, my father always used to say it was a mean man who wouldn't compromise, that we need to say to the people of Coconut Grove, hey, let's see if there's a middle ground. Let's see if we can talk about it. Let's say to the Metro Commission the same thing. Is there a middle ground? Is there something we can talk about? So I think that, that's the spirit that I would like to enter into, not because I'm a resident of Coconut Grove, but because I think it's good, as Miriam has said, for the unity of this complete City. Mayor Suarez: All right. Very good. further discussion? If not, please... Commissioner De Yurre: Yes, Mr. Mayor. We have a motion and a second. Any Mayor Suarez: Yes. Commissioner De Yurre. Commissioner Plummer: I think there's one other area that's got to be addressed, Mr. Mayor. Who is going to make this presentation? I think you as Mayor of this City should be making that presentation. Mayor Suarez: I'll be happy to do so notwithstanding, or not preempting any other Commissioners who also would like to make their presentation. =► 35 July 1, 1992 tj ,,j Commissioner Plummer: Well, of course. And, you know, that as many of us that can, would be there in attendance, as well as staff, to answer any questions that we could have. Commissioner De Yurre: Mr. Mayor, I think that it's important to point something out. That I believe, in the almost five years that I've been here, that we have been quite sensitive to the needs and concerns of the Grove, just like we have of any other segment of our community. Three of us that sit here live in Coconut Grove, so certainly nobody can say that we don't care about the Grove, because we have to care about what is ours. We have five Commissioners here that throughout the five years that I've been here, or part thereof, have been attentive to the needs of the Grove, and we have seen it with issues that have come before us and maybe sometimes variances granted, but, you know, you can't win them all. But I've seen, in the majority of the cases, that we have been very sensitive to those needs and those concerns of those that come before us that live in the Grove. So, you know, I'm kind of hurt in a way to see this kind of action, because we have seen the numbers, we have seen the efforts that have gone through... The business district of Coconut Grove was a business district many years before we came on board, even before Plummer came on board. Commissioner Plummer: Watch your language! Commissioner De Yurre: That's right. Mayor Suarez: That was the 19th century. Commissioner De Yurre: OK? So, that... Mayor Suarez: Long, long time ago. Commissioner De Yurre: ... is the normal progression of certain things. We have seen what, you know, if we have difficulty driving home late at night on weekends, you know, that's... I go through it, we all go through it, that pass through. But, you know, it's great to see the night life that exists in Cocowalk, in the business area. You know, I'm proud to see that, and it's something that is known nationally and internationally. So that's something to take pride in. I feel that we have to continue doing the work that we've done. I don't think that we should feel that there's a threat, a looming threat time and time again, every time somebody wants something, that they are going to threaten us with seceding or contraction, like it's called nowadays. We need to continue to do the things that we've done so far, and that is to give a hundred percent (100%) of our effort to taking care of the needs and concerns of the whole City of Miami. I don't want there to be a message, at least not from me, going out there saying that, well, listen guys don't do this, please and we'll give you "X" more of this and that. That is not the way it works, at least not with me. We will continue, I will continue to do all that's within my power, all that's within our administration to continue to care for the Grove and do what needs to be done and I feel that it's important that, at least that clarification be made for my end, because I don't want them to think at any point in time that I'm succumbing to any threat or anything of that nature, because it can't work that way. Mayor Suarez: Very good. 36 July 1, 1992 Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Yes, Commissioner Dawkins. Commissioner Dawkins: I'd like to close by saying, saying that I'm for a Grove is nothing new for me. When the Groveites were fighting to prevent Mr. Treister from maximizing the use of his property by putting too much mass on the property, that so much so that the zoning laws would not permit it. I am the one who went to the black Grove and told the black Grove, I did not see you there speaking up with the people who were there to fight this issue, and I, Miller Dawkins, see one Grove. When the black people came complaining because the Coconut Grove Playhouse wanted to block off their streets, what have you, I said to the white people, I did not see you down here, because that seemed to have been a black issue. I see one Grove. When all of the people around the post office were fighting Mr. Fine and his post office - plaza, I said to all of the Grove, I don't see all of you. So it's nothing new for me to say I see one Grove. And I'm going to continue to see one -- Grove. And what's good for any part of the Grove, as long as I sit here until 193, I probably won't be here after 193, but as long as I sit here until 193, I'll still see one Grove. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Very good, and Commissioner De Yurre alluded to my residence inside this district. I haven't even looked at it carefully enough to see if I would be, my residence would be inside it, but let me say this, I don't care because I tell people I'm from Coconut Grove. I'm very proud of it, and I think that's perhaps the message from this Commission despite some of the other things that we may have said, including myself, that it is a showcase of a City, when people ask me from out of town, is this part of your jurisdiction? I have to say I really swell with pride as I tell them that it = is, it's where City Hall is and we've had some people who have suggested that we ought to move City Hall, make it, you know, put it in another neighborhood, and we've resisted that, for a lot of reasons. In any event, we're proud of Coconut Grove and we hope we can work this out. The resolution is understood. If there's no further discussion, please call the roll. 37 July 1, 1992 IL The following resolution was introduced by Vice Mayor Alonso, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 92-426 A RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE DADE COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER ENTITLED "ADDITIONAL METHOD OF CHANGING MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES" BEING PLACED ON THE SEPTEMBER 1, 1992 BALLOT BY METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-742-92, ADOPTED JUNE 16, 1992; EXPRESSING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S CONCERNS REGARDING SAID AMENDMENT'S BROAD AND POTENTIALLY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE CITY OF MIAMI AND ON OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN DADE COUNTY; URGING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING SAID PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ELECTORATE, TO CONDUCT ADDITIONAL STUDIES ON THE IMPACT OF SAID PROPOSED AMENDMENT, AND TO SEEK ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT - LARGE REGARDING SAID MATTER PRIOR TO BEING PLACED BEFORE THE ELECTORATE; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE HEREIN NAMED OFFICIALS. (Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.) Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner Victor De Yurre Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Vice Mayor Miriam Alonso Mayor Xavier L. Suarez NOES: None. ABSENT: None. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, has all of the documents that we've been afforded been forwarded in packages to each one of the Metro Commissioners? Assistant Manager Smith: Yes. Vice Mayor Alonso: We11, as a matter of fact, I sent a letter with the package, and I have here a copy if you want to see it,... Commissioner Plummer: No, no, no. What I'm saying is,... Vice Mayor Alonso: ... including all of the packages that we have seen. Commissioner Plummer: All three documents? 38 July 1, 1992 - r Vice Mayor Alonso: I personally have sent a package... Commissioner Plummer: OK. Vice Mayor Alonso: ... to each member... Commissioner Plummer: I just wanted to make sure they had them in advance. Vice Mayor Alonso: ... of the County Commission. Yes. So they have opportunity to analyze. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, it's my understanding that Commissioner Dawkins wanted to speak to an issue and I want to speak to an issue. Commissioner Dawkins: OK. Mr. Mayor and fellow Commissioners, I have an announce... Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me. Commissioner Dawkins: Yes, sir. Go ahead, J.L. Commissioner Plummer: You have to adjourn because we are under a special call. City Attorney Jones: That's correct. Commissioner Dawkins: So moved. Commissioner Plummer: Second. Mayor Suarez: We are adjourned as to the session on the issue of the de - annexation or... Commissioner Plummer: The special call. Mayor Suarez: ... contraction of Coconut Grove. 39 July 1, 1992 E THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO CONE BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:54 P.M. Xavier L. Suarez N A Y 0 R ATTEST: Natty Hirai CITY CLERK Walter J. Foeman ASSISTANT CITY CLERK [Note: Immediately following adjournment of the special session called for this day, Mayor Suarez proceeded to expand the scope of the special session call in order to discuss the hereinbelow issues.] MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the 1st day of July, 1992, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place 1n the City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida in Special Session to consider a matter of public import. The meeting was called to order at 3:54 p.m. by Mayor Xavier Suarez with the following members of the Commission found to be present: ALSO PRESENT: Commissioner Victor De Yurre Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr. Vice Mayor Miriam Alonso Mayor Xavier L. Suarez Carlos Smith, Assistant City Manager A. Quinn Jones, III, City Attorney Matty Hirai, City Clerk Walter J. Foeman, Assistant City Clerk 40 July 1, 1992 0 '# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. (A) COMMISSIONER DAWKINS QUESTIONS WORDING CONTAINED IN RECENTLY ISSUED EMPLOYMENT ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS OF PROSPECTIVE PUBLIC SERVICE AIDES (PSAs) APPLICANTS. (B) COMMISSIONER PLUMMER EXPRESSES CONCERNS IN CONNECTION WITH POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. (C) COMMISSIONER PLUMMER REQUESTS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION FURNISH EXACT FIGURES CONCERNING FINANCES OF RECENTLY INSTITUTED NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT TEAM (NET) PROGRAM. (D) COMMISSIONER ALONSO REQUESTS UPDATE REPORT ON CAMILLUS HOUSE. (E) BRIEF COMMENTS CONCERNING ONGOING RUMORS THAT COCONUT GROVE RESIDENTS PLAN TO HIRE THE WACKENHUT FIRM FOR SECURITY PURPOSES -- MANAGER REQUESTED TO REPORT TO THE COMMISSION EXACT CITY COSTS INCURRED FOR SECURITY IN THE COCONUT GROVE AREA ON WEEKENDS -- CITY REPRESENTATIVES) TO APPEAR AT COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING ON TUESDAY, JULY 7TH. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mayor Suarez: We now are reconvened at the request of the Commissioners here for two or three topics. Yes, Commissioner Dawkins. Commissioner De Yurre: Do we have to do the pledge of allegiance again? Mayor Suarez: No, no. Commissioner De Yurre: Oh. OK. Mayor Suarez: The same pledge as before. Yes, Commissioner Dawkins. Commissioner Plummer: Did you have any idea of changing yours, Victor? Commissioner Dawkins: I have a City of Miami registration announce... Commissioner De Yurre: The same flag. Commissioner Dawkins: ... a registered announcement for Public Service Aides (PSAs). I want the Manager to explain to me at the next Commission meeting _ why it says, "Public Service Aide restricted to any Dade County resident who —t meet the requirements listed below." Now I was under the impression that we were supposed to hire City of Miami residents. And here is where the Manager put out an announcement which says restricted to any Dade County _ resident" and not to the... But, yet on the other one where it says "Identification Technician" "... restricted to City of Miami" and it doesn't -� say... Commissioner Plummer: Does that surprise you that when it takes $8,200.00, according to the Administration, to get one PSA in school? That's why it's costing $8,200.00 to process to get one PSA, and they are talking about to get 100 PSAs it's 100 times $8,200.00 and is it any wonder why that we've got the problems that we are having? 41 July 1, 1992 Mayor Suarez: OK. We are going to be getting into a lot of that on next Thursday, obviously. Commissioner Dawkins: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Very good. Thank you. Commissioner Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor, the one thing I wanted to get into if I could, because I have announced by memo to the Administration and I have at this Commission meeting that unless I see major changes in the Police Department, I will not vote for the budget. The point I wanted to make, Mr. Mayor, you made mention here, and I've spent a lot of time at this point, and I want to make sure that we are still on the same track, you have said, sir, that we are going to be making some major recommendations in reference to salaries. Is that still the case? Because we are going through some numbers that are unbelievable. Mayor Suarez: I sure hope so, and I have asked the City Manager to give us the information necessary for each one of the Commissioners on the Commission Awareness to do the analysis and then get back to this Commission at least 30 days before the end of the fiscal year, which basically... Commissioner Plummer: Police and Fire alone, Mr. Mayor, we are up to a stack this high. The other thing that I would ask of the Administration for analysis that since we know that we are into serious problems with finances, and we've got to make cuts, I think that we need to have an analysis of the so-called NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) Program. Because at this particular time, I have not seen anything favorably, and that probably may be one of the areas that needs really some serious looking at if not possibly... Mayor Suarez: Will we get some figures on next Thursday as to the impact of NET on the issue of the number of reported crimes and etcetera? Commissioner Plummer: 1 would like to see... Assistant Manager Smith: We are scheduled to give a status report on the 9th. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, the point I'm asking is,... Mayor Suarez: I don't know what that means. Assistant Manager Smith: A status report of NET... Commissioner Plummer: ... is what have they accomplished? I don't know. Assistant Manager Smith: ... on the 9th as requested by the Commission. Mayor Suarez: OK. So we will get a report, but remember... Look at the question we are looking at, that we are thinking about. Has it had a quantifiable impact,... Commissioner Plummer: That's the name. 42 July 1, 1992 Mayor Suarez: ... and has the quantifiable impact gone beyond that phase that is really not integral to NET - maybe it is, maybe it isn't - the shock treatment phase where we had huge numbers of police officers out there with overtime pay? In other words has it... Commissioner Plummer: I have not seen... Mayor Suarez: ... had the impact that we hope on a permanent basis after those initial 30 or 45 days, whatever they were. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I have not seen one document telling me - or I don't think any of us... Mayor Suarez: Yes, it has to be looked at in two chronological stages. Absolutely. Yes. Commissioner Plummer: OK? What has been accomplished by NET? I have seen nothing in writing. I know of nothing that has been accomplished, except Channel 9... Mayor Suarez: Well, you may want to schedule for hearing all the rest of the NET evaluation, but... Commissioner Plummer: Sir, this is... I'm relating to budget. Mayor Suarez: OK. All right. Commissioner Dawkins: All right. Let me... Mayor Suarez: Because on the 9th we have the deployment and I think it would be... Commissioner Plummer: Well, excuse me. Mayor Suarez: ... a very important moment to try to see how crime has been affected by NET. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I have made my statement and I will continue, that the NET Program as it relates to the Police is a total disaster. Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Mayor. Commissioner Plummer: That is without question. Mayor Suarez: OK. Commissioner Dawkins. Commissioner Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, I would like to know how we are going to evaluate the NET Program. When I asked what it was, show me a plan, let me know what the goals and the objectives are, and it was never produced. So how are you going to evaluate it. Commissioner Plummer: Well, sir,... 43 July 1, 1992 Commissioner Dawkins: That's number one. Commissioner Plummer: ... that's why I'm asking them to do that. Commissioner Dawkins: Number two, I'd like to say to J.L. Plummer, I'm with you a hundred percent (100%), but I want to know if we are going to cut people and the Manager gave his word to the unions that he would not cut, and I assume that means 1n salaries also, how are you going to get around that? Now that's what I would like to know. Commissioner Plummer: No, sir. Well, let me answer, so that we are not going on different tracks. Mayor Suarez: We have a bunch of budget hearings coming up, folks. Commissioner Plummer: No, this is not budget hearings. I just want some facts. Sir, you cannot, with any of the unions, they have contracts and as long as those contracts are valid, you cannot in any way disrupt those contracts. Commissioner Dawkins: OK. Commissioner Plummer: But, we can with other employees not part of the union contract. OK? You've got a lot of employees... Let me give you an example. In the Police Department. You've got in the Police Department, I think, in excess of 200 supervisors that are not necessarily part... Commissioner Dawkins: Of the bargaining unit? Commissioner Plummer: No, I'm sorry. No. I stand corrected on that because Sergeants are supervisors, but they are part of the contract. Mayor Suarez: All right. Commissioner Plummer: OK? Commissioner Dawkins: So you can't cut those. So now where are we? What are we talking about? Mayor Suarez: Having failed to clarify all of that... Commissioner Plummer: You'll see... Mayor Suarez: ... we... Vice Mayor Alonso: Mr. Mayor, I have... Mayor Suarez: ... stand adjourned... Vice Mayor Alonso: No, no, no. Mayor Suarez: Oh, I'm sorry. Vice Mayor Alonso: I have one more item. 44 Juty 1 1992 a Mayor Suarez: Vice Mayor Alonso. Yes. Vice Mayor Alonso: Yes. I'd like to have a report about the Camillus House and what's happening. I think it's very important for downtown Miami and I'd like to know what's happening, what's the stage of negotiations. I believe that it's very important for the City of Miami for downtown and remember, the basis of our tax base comes from that area and we have to keep an eye on that. So 1 want information about Camillus House and what's happening so that we can make a decision as soon as possible. Commissioner Dawkins: Also, bring back what Commissioner asked for. You know, we have the people downtown saying they want to hire Wackenhut. Let me know how many weekends they had some excess officers at $3,200.00 a weekend for the downtown... Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me. For the record, we don't pay for those so be careful. They are paid by the merchants of downtown. Commissioner Dawkins: No, no, no. Commissioner Plummer: The rangers? Commissioner Dawkins: No, no, no. I'm talking about in Coconut Grove. Commissioner Plummer: Oh, I'm sorry. Commissioner Dawkins: Thank you. I know what I'm saying. Now, don't you confuse me. Assistant Manager Smith: Mr. Mayor, just a point of information. Tomorrow at ten o'clock there is a special meeting of the Internal Management Committee of the County. Vice Mayor Alonso: I'll be there. Assistant Manager Smith: You'll be there? Vice Mayor Alonso: Yes. Assistant Manager Smith: OK. Great. Vice Mayor Alonso: Yes. Assistant Manager Smith: We'll be there. Vice Mayor Alonso: Yes. Yes. I was going to... Assistant Manager Smith: As to the Save Our Parks amendment. Vice Mayor Alonso: ... ask all of you to be there. It's very important. This might come up and also in reference to the parks. Yes, very important. Yes. 45 July 1. 1992 Mayor Suarez: We are adjourned. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO CONE BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 4:02 P.M. Xavier L. Suarez MAYOR ATTEST: — Matty Hirai �- CITY CLERK - Walter J. Foeman ASSISTANT CITY CLERK Alt K. * 1nl oul ISM 96 46 July 1, 1992