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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1989-06-27 MinutesMlAi %Aft A We F - d *of r, r►1 Iwp bow I J ! 4-P , R %W Iw %W Iwd1-1 — — - — al PAMPARED BY THE OFFICE IMF HE CITY � 01 1 Y. IIN"RB OF REGULAR MENTIN" tit t000 Yy. At MMW MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA a;�sea: On the 27th day of June, 1989, 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. The meeting was called to order at 11:40 a.m. by Mayor Xavier Suarez with the following members of the Commission found to be present: ALSO PRESENT: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Miller Dawkins Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre Mayor Xavier L. Suarez Cesar Odio, City Manager Jorge L. Fernandez, City Attorney Matty Hirai, City Clerk Walter J. Foeman, Assistant City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Mayor Suarez. Vice Mayor De Yurre then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. 1. SPECIAL SESSION TO CONSIDER SELECTION OF NEW CITY COMMISSIONER (GROUP IV) TO FILL VACANCY CREATED BY THE RESIGNATION OF ROSARIO KENNEDY. (Note: This meeting was continued to a Special Session called for June 28, 1989.) Mayor Suarez: Today's session has been called as a special. session of the Miami City Commission for the purpose of considering a matter of urgent public import, namely the filling of the vacancy on the City Commission, Group IV, created by the resignation of Commissioner Rosario Kennedy. I believe the last time this took place in the City of Miami was 1979 with the vacancy of then City Commission Manolo Reboso. I don't intend to make any long introduction other than to tell you that we're here to try to do what we think is best in accordance with the charter, and the charter gives us a couple of options and each of the Commissioners, I am sure, has had as much time as you possibly can have in view of the constraint of ten days should we decide to appoint a Commissioner. Because the ten days, I think, run out, Mr. City Attorney, in a couple of days under the latest and most cogent interpretation of the charter. So, without any further ado, the traditional way of making a selection has been by using these little ballots and we vote on who we think is the appropriate person. If there should be no consensus, of course, after some period of time, we either recess or adjourn and then with the possibility of meeting again before the end of the ten days. At some point, if somebody reaches 10, rather three votes, that becomes a majority and we'll need a formal motion and a second to make sure that we have a formal resolution. I think, Mr. City Attorney, that's about i as simple way of doing it as... Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Yes, Commissioner Dawkins. r Mr. Dawkins: City Attorney... Mr. Jorge Fernandez: Yes, sir. Mr. Dawkins: ... the Mayor made the statement that legally ten 441ys'`00 40 when? When did the clock start running and when does it stop? Y.t' t Mr. Fernandez: It stops on the 30th at noon.: Mr. Dawkins: At noon on the 30th? j ? } rL h }5Yp'C i W Mr. Fernandez: Correct. Mr. Dawkins: Why? Mr. Fernandez: because that's what your charter provides for, ten days after the effective date of resignation or the date that Commissioner Kennedy qualifies... Mr. Dawkins: So, the answer to my question is, the reason it's the 30th is because that's ten days after the time that Commissioner Kennedy resigned. Mr. Fernandez: Qualified for office, correct. Mr. Dawkins: OK, thank you. Mr. Plummer: If you have it on Thursday, the 30th, you'd better come to Daytona because that's where I'll be. Mayor Suarez: When do you intend to leave town? - Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor., you have me on Thursday morning, I've got to go for that bond issue for the City of Miami in Daytona. Mayor Suarez: Conceivably then, you would be available tomorrow if need? Mr. Plummer: Let the record also reflect that I only wear neckties to funerals. Mayor Suarez: If any Commissioner wants to make any statement or otherwise deliberate, this is the time to do it. If not, I'll make a statement. I want to say that I have a preference, I think it's been reported in the newspapers accurately. My preference and the person I intend to vote for is a state representative, specifically State Representative Luis Morse. - (Applause) Mayor Suarez: There's an interesting history that some people might not remember, I think Commissioner Dawkins, to my right, remembers it as well as anybody. I believe it was 1981 he was involved in a runoff against Commissioner Dawkins, a runoff which could have created great division in our _ community because the two runoff opponents, one was Hispanic, specifically, Cuban; the other one Black and at the mutual suggestion and agreement of the two parties, the two opponents, in an unprecedented, I think, first time in the annals of the history of the City of Miami event, met together and had a luncheon meeting. A lot of people who are in this room were involved in promoting that and I remember specifically Tony Zamora and this created, engendered, a great feeling of unity in this community. Commissioner Dawkins went on to win that race, but I think it enhanced and elevated the level of that runoff and I think I am fair in that appraisal and Commissioner Dawkins may want to say something, if he has any disagreement with that or otherwise. -_ I also want to say that Friday of last week I got calls from the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the State of Florida, Tom Gustafson, and the Chairman of the Dade County Delegation, .John Cosgrove. Each of whom had incredibly favorable things to say about the legislative record of Representative Luis Morse. For myself, I am aware of the things that he has - accomplished, I'm aware of his involvement in the City of Miami. I'm aware of the fact that he has been a long time resident of a City neighborhood, a classic City neighborhood, that being Little Havana. He was kind enough to head a task force to improve the conditions in Little Havana and I think instrumental in making viable the Latin Quarter Specialty Center, and he brought something which I think is now very close to becoming a reality and that many people have talked about over the years but no one have been able to actually do anything about, which is the concept of neighborhood clinics and did so by obtaining strong governatorial and legislative support for that r, concept and getting this Commission to cooperate and the County Commission to cooperate. Those are some of the reasons that I would be disposed to vote for Mr. Morse up to a reasonable time in these proceedings and, of course, my -P *U4.a r---4att{nn nnA not A^ what- .., Mr. Plummer: I read with interest in the morning Herald that he, Luis Morse, has the blessings Santo Suarez in the morning paper and I did not have the blessings from a higher authority. I only have one question in reference to Representative Morse and that is, the resignation. I know that that - is it in the legal terms, does he have to resign from the representative first or does he have to, in fact, resign after? Mr. Fernandez: This is not an elective process. This is an appointment. Upon being appointed, then he must resign. He cannot be sworn to office while he's still holds the seat in the House of Representatives. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, for the record, I have made it very well clear from day one, we're talking about selecting someone today that will be for only five meetings, that's what's left between now and November when the election occurs. I have stated, for the record, that I think the most important thing facing this City Commission between now and November is the budget. The budget is key. The budget sets the tone for next year, and what I have done is try to find in my vote someone that is very, very familiar with budget. I will be nominating in this morning Commissioner Rose Gordon. (Applause) Mr. Plummer: Rose served this City very, very well. She was elected by the people which has a lot of say for her, and she has continued after being in an elective office, to be actively involved in this community which shows where her heart lies. So, I'm not saying that to the detriment of others, because there are others that are involved and like yourself, I have stated for the record I would go to every extreme not to go to a special election costing the taxpayers of this community a $100,000 for someone to sit for five meetings. I will place in nomination on the first ballot, Commissioner Rose - former Commissioner Rose Gordon. Mr. De Yurre: I'd like to add, Mr. Mayor, that I will be nominating Rita Suarez who has great knowledge of the politics of the City of Miami... Mr. Plummer: Rose, I'm sorry... Mayor Suarez: She would be unhappy to hear me say that, well, I can't say it anymore, she used to not be very good at budgeting matters, but right now, she's handling our family budget so if I say that, I really contradict myself. Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute, if you nominate Rita and she get it, that means Xavier has to resign, right? — Mr. De Yurre: I don't know. Let me say that I'll be nominating Alicia Baro - _? who has served this community for many years and the City of Miami, in particular, as a member of our Zoning Board and many other civic and local activities. I feel that she has the know how, the experience, to sit here as she has expressed on an interim basis, until the November election. (Applause) Mr. Dawkins: I've said from day one that I feel that a caretaker- should be placed here, an individual who would be dedicated to serving the same problems that J.L. spoke about, but that's my personal belief and I only have one vote f here. What happens will be determined by three votes up here. Since I felt that we needed a caretaker, I approached people and people approached me who said they too felt that a caretaker was needed. One of those has been - two of those have been named, Rose Gordon and Alicia Baro. I also asked people - like Eduardo Padron who said he would be glad to serve because he didn't want to want the job. But I felt that we needed somebody to hit the ground running -� who understands the process, who would know how this should be done and how to do it. So I approached that individual who I will be nominating and I don't think it's any more fitting than at this time than it to give me great pleasure to nominate an individual who was the first Black to serve up here and who has since she's no longer been here, has constantly kept her finger on the pulse of the community and that's well aware of what's happening in the community. And I will be placing in nomination the name of M. Athalie Range. I will stick with M. Athalie Range until it's apparent that I cannot get three votes for M. Athalie Range, but I too - no, not I too, now because I'm the only one to say this - I guarantee you that I will not cause this City to go 3 June 27, 1989 C V into a special election. Now, if it becomes obvious at a certain time here that one individual has two votes, then I would have to, at a certain time, go with that individual whomever it may be. But, even though that may be against my wishes, I could not, in good faith, cause us to have a special election as J. L. said, for five weeks and five weeks from now go back into another election. Thank you. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I think it should not go without saying this morning, and I'm very pleased, and I think all of us are pleased, that a number of people who have made themselves available, not for the purposes of trying of self gratification or ego. But I'm very pleased that a lot of people have made an effort to call, I'm sure all of us, to offer themselves for public office and I think it should be mentioned that. I received calls from the Haitian community who felt that they would like to be considered. I think Annette Eisenberg who offered herself, Jim Angleton, Jr., Manny Alonso, Bob Allen, these are all people that I feel are very, very good people and actually asked to be considered with the good of this City at heart. I think it speaks well and high that these people would like to be considered, and I just had to say that on the record that we had a very, very good field to select from. — Mayor Suarez: Might add to that list Morris Proenza, Steve Zack, Bob Fitzsimmons and George Knox who also offered themselves in that capacity. Commissioners, unless you've got another statement to make, I suggest we go on to making the first... Mr. Plummer: Can we have a cutoff at 30 votes for today? Mayor Suarez: I would think that - yes, we wouldn't want to go beyond 1:00 o'clock. s Mr. Plummer: The other provision now, I hope it's a consensus of the i Commission, whoever is selected has to buy lunch, that's a tradition. Hello, your name please. t ( Mayor Suarez: It's interesting that no present sitting member of the staff of the City of Miami has applied for the position. I guess it would require that —j they be... Mr. Plummer: I understand Cesar was thinking about it for quite a while. i Mayor Suarez: ... that they resign. In fact, the City Charter says pretty specifically that a City staff, an employee cannot - right, cannot serve and... Mr. Plummer: No, that's not true, Mr. Mayor, excuse me. Chelsey Cenertia - Chelsey Cenertia was a sitting Commissioner and became City Manager. Well, that's in reverse, I guess. i Mr. Odio: He had to resign. Mr. Plummer: Sure, he had to resign. For $100,000 a year that you make, I'll resign. Mayor Suarez: Presumably prior to the vote. Mr. Plummer: One time they tried to get me to run for City Manager and I told the three of them that asked me, I said no because the job was too damn ( political. I Mr. Dawkins: We going to be here longer than 30 ballots if you don't stop running your mouth. Mr. Plummer: Ohhhhhhl Ms. Hirai: Mr. Mayor. The vote. Mayor Suarez: Madam City Clerk. Ms. Hirai: Mr. Luis Morse got a vote from Mayor Suarez. Alicia Baro got a vote from Commissioner De Yurre, Vice Mayor De Yurre. Rose Gordon got one vote from Commissioner Plummer and Athalie Range got one vote from Commissioner Dawkins. 4 June 27, 1989 Mgt. klunfimer: That eras a surprise. NOtt FOR THE RECORD: Mayoral candidate Jack Campbell, fortaer Miami City Commissioner Moss Gordon and Mr. Emilio lopes .sere present in the Chambers and recognized by the City Commission. Mayor Suarez: The chair recognizes Mayoral candidate Jack Campbell and former Miami Commissioner Rose Gordon. (Applause) Mayor Suarez: Hopefully, the fact that you're sitting together doesn't mean anything, Rose. Mr. Dawkins: And the Puerto Rican godfather, Emilio Lopez. Mr. Plummer: Padrino. Mayor Suarez: I didn't realize these things had our names on them, that's interesting. Mr. Dawkins: Um hum. Mr. Plummer: I just ran out of ink. i Mr. Dawkins: You think we run out of ballots, J. L.? i ! i Mr. Plummer: Huh? - Mr. Dawkins: Do you think we're going to run out of ballots? - Mr. Plummer: No, I just ran out of ink, I can't fill out no more. Mayor Suarez: I have one pen that doesn't work already. Is that what happened? - r Mr. Plummer: My next ballot will be in invisible ink. What happens if a - Commissioner doesn't vote? _ Mayor Suarez: Mr. Manager, just a procedural question so that we be careful with the media. Do we have any live broadcasts? Are we on live with any other stations? j INAUDIBLE COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD. _ Mayor Suarez: Well, in case we want to say something and"take it back .right _ -x i away. It's been known to happen on this Commission, Ms. Lewis. Mr. Plummer: No, the reason she's asking is, she goes off the air in two minutes. - Ms. Hirai: Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Yes, Madam City Clerk. Ms. Hirai: Representative Luis Morse' a vote from Mayor Suarez, Rove Gordon got a vote from Commissioner Plummer and Athalie Range got two votes' from Commissioners De Yurre and Dawkins. Mr. Plummer: That's interesting. You know, I kind of like this space-ijia here, Mr. Mayor, we don't have - it's not crowded. r Mayor Suarez: We had a very nice, very elegant parting speech by Commissioner" # Kennedy, at the Commission meeting of last Thursday, I guess it was, where she expressed her thanks to the staff of the City and to the citizens of Miami for °;sz ,,- three and a half year of service, and I should convey that to all of yo4 who are here. The Commissioners were equally touched by her statements, and11 # r' think it's worth saying that she was an extremely effective Commissioner, 11 Ms. Hirai: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Yes? lJ Ms. Hirai: Luis Morse got a vote from Mayor Suarez, Rose Gordon got one vote from Commissioner Plummer and Miss Athalie Range got two votes from Commissioners De Yurre and Dawkins. Mayor Suarez: Two votes for Range, one for Morse and Gordon. This is the fourth ballot that we're about to... does anybody know what the all time record is for number of ballots? Mr. Plummer: Thirty-three. Mayor Suarez: It was the one that I described before in 1979? Mr. Plummer: I was here. Ms. Hirai: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Madam City Clerk. Ms. Hirai: Luis Morse got one vote from Mayor Suarez, Miss Rose Gordon got one vote from Commissioner Plummer, Athalie Range got two votes, Commissioners De Yurre and Dawkins. Mayor Suarez: It's two votes for Range, one for Gordon and Morse each. Mr. Plummer: This is five or six? Ms. Hirai: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Yes, Madam City Clerk. Ms. Hirai: This is the fifth ballot. Luis Morse gets two votes from Mayor Suarez and Commissioner Plummer. Athalie Range gets two votes from Commissioners De Yurre and Dawkins. Mayor Suarez: It's two votes for Range. Two votes for Morse on the sixth - on the fifth ballot, rather. - Ms. Hirai: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Yes, Madam City Clerk. - Ms. Hirai: This is the sixth ballot. Luis Morse gets two votes from Mayor Suarez and Commissioner Plummer, Athalie Range gets two votes, Vice Mayor De Yurre and Commissioner Dawkins. Ms. Hirai: Mr. Mayor, this is the seventh ballot. Luis Morse gets two votes, Mayor Suarez and Commissioner Plummer. Athalie Range gets two votes, Vice Mayor De Yurre and Commissioner Dawkins. Mayor Suarez: Seventh ballot, two votes for Range, two votes for Morse. Mr. Plummer: Take which ever one you want. Mr. Mayor, for the record, I would just like to - I would like to say mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa voting for a Republican. That's the way it is. Ms. Hirai: Mr. Mayor. a, Mayor Suarez: Madam City Clerk. Ms. Hirai: This is the eighth ballot. Luis Morse gets two votes, Mayor Suarez, Commissioner Plummer. Athalie Range gets two votes, Vice Mayor Da' Yurre, Commissioner Dawkins. Mayor Suarez: Eighth ballot, two votes for Morse and two votes for Range. .: r, Plummer: What is this, ninth? What did I do with it? z�sv b June 27, 'nwn - Ms. Hirai: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Madam City Clerk. Ms. Hirai: This is the ninth ballot. Luis Morse gets two votes, Mayor Suarez. Commissioner Plummer. Athalie Range gets two votes, Vice Mayor be Yurre, Commissioner Dawkins. Mayor Suarez: Ninth ballot, two votes for Range, two votes for Morse. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, after the tenth vote, if there's not a consensus, I would ask that we take a short break. Mayor Suarez: So be it. After the tenth ballot, take a five minute recess. Is that what you're suggesting, about five minutes? Mr. Plummer: A Latino five minutes. Mao o meno. Ms. Hirai: Mr. Mayor, this is the tenth ballot. Luis Morse gets two votes, Mayor Suarez, Commissioner Plummer. Athalie Range gets two votes, Vice Mayor De Yurre, Commissioner Dawkins. Mayor Suarez: In the tenth ballot, we have two votes each for Representative Morse and Athalie Range. You were suggesting you'd like a five minute recess? Mr. De Yurre: If you got somebody... Mayor Suarez: Mr. Vice Mayor. Mr. De Yurre: If you got an alternative, just spit it out. Mr. Plummer: That's what I want to think about. Mr. De Yurre: Well, think about it. Mayor Suarez: Five minute recess, we'll be back approximately 12:14. - Actually, I'm not going anywhere so... Mr. De Yurre: Staying right here. - THEREUPON THE CITY COMMISSION WENT INTO RECESS AT 12:09 P.M. AND RECONVENED AT 12:21 P.M., WITH ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION FOUND TO BE PRESENT. Mayor Suarez: We are reconvened for purposes of consulting the Commission on the possible replacement of a vacancy on this Commission and we resume at _- ballot number eleven. Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Dawkins. Mr. Dawkins: I'd like to make a commitment. I said from the beginning that I - would go with anybody who had two votes. Now, my nominee has two votes and someone else has two votes. Nobody up here wants a special election, so if we do not have a consensus after five more votes, I'm going to move to recess until 9:00 o'clock in the morning and see overnight what we come up with. I don't know if that will fly or not but that's what I'll do. Mayor Suarez: Fine. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor... Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Plummer. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, just maybe just to a saving of time, my ballot is made out to the 15th, and I somewhat concur, and all of these ballots are made out for Luis Morse, so I'm saying that maybe in the interest of time, rather than goingthrough an B arduous process that maybe P Y the best thin might be B B to do ,� 3 is just go ahead and defer to my colleague to go to tomorrow morning. I'm only one, but I speak for what I believe. 7 June 27 1.909 �. Mr. Dawkins: Well, I'll be voting for Mrs. Range on the five ballots to that still means we'll have a stalemate. Mayor Suarez: OK, and for myself, I will be voting for Morse, so we would have a stalemate automatically even without the Vice Mayor announcing his vote. Mr. Vice Mayor, it's up to you to announce or not to announce and we can go through the exercise... Mr. De Yurre: Let me think about this. Now I think we're going to have a deadlock today. Mayor Suarez: OK, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn until tomorrow morning at 9:00. Commissioner Dawkins is your... Mr. Jorge Fernandez: You mean recess, Mr. Mayor, recess. Mayor Suarez: To recess. Well, yes, OK, recess. Mr. Plummer: Nine? Mr. Mayor, may I suggest, if it's humanly possible, once in a while I have to make a living. Could we make it again at 11:30, please? Mayor Suarez: That's fine with me. Mr. Plummer: If no one has any objection. Mayor Suarez: Fine with me. Tomorrow at 11:30. I'll entertain a motion to recess until then. Mr. De Yurre: Moved. Mr. Plummer: That'll be fine, sir, so move. Mr. Dawkins: Call the roll. INAUDIBLE COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD. Mayor Suarez: Yes, ma'am, go ahead. On the issue of our recessing, remember please, on the issue of who you would like as a Commissioner or if you wouldn't like anybody, would like a special election, you're going to have, it looks like, if this motion passes, which it looks like it will pass, I'm going to vote for it and that'll be three votes right there. You'll have a full 24 hours almost to discuss with the individual Commissioners. Ms. Ruby OK, I understand. I just want to say that we all... Ms. Hirai: Excuse me, we need your.... Mayor Suarez: Give us your, name and address, please. Mr. Plummer: For the record, your name and address. Ms. Ruby: Excuse me. My name is Ruby , 4.70 West Park Drive, Miami, Florida, 33172. It's obvious that we came here for a purpose and I'm going to say what we came here to do. We came to express our sympathy for a candidate, which is Manolo Reyes.... (Applause and Cheers) Ms. Ruby: I also want to say that let us remember that Manolo Reyes was the only person that came forward when Rosario Kennedy was still what the Commissioner to go against, a very strong Commissioner, and he decided he would run for office, for her seat. He went and took the fight on there was nobody there to follow that. There was no candidate. Today his name has been overlooked here. I think we should all say that we don't think it's fair that that has happened. With all due respect to the process, I think that Manolo Reyes is the only candidate and his name should have been said. (Applause and Cheers) r` Me, Ruby: And regardless of what happens here today, he is a candidate, he'll go on, we'll go fight for him and he remember, he has a lot of votes,, ' 8 1909 ,t: Maya buare£t thank you for your Atitt"tt. Fla. #ubyt Thank you. i(Applauae and Cheers) Mayor Suarez: OX, Madads City Clerkt call the roii on the lo6t18ii to t#tee*: s The following motion was introduced by Commissioner fie Turret who ftmved Its adoption: MOTION NO. 89-593 A MOTION TO CONTINUE TODAY'S SPECIAL SESSION IN CONNECTION WITH THE SELECTION OF A NEW CITY OF MIAMI COMMISSIONER FOR GROUP IV TO FILL VACANCY CREATED BY THE RESIGNATION OF ROSARIO XENNEDY TO A SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING CALLED FOR JUNE 28, 1989 AT 11:30 A.M. Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYESs Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Miller Dawkins Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre Mayor Xavier L. Suarez NOESt None. ABSENT: None. x THERE BEING NO BQRTHER BUSINESS TO COKE BEFORE THE CITY `.. COMMISSION, THE MEETING VAS RBCBSSBD UNTIL 11:30 A. M., JUNK 28, 1989. r Xavier L. SuareziX HATOR ATTEST: V`�. • �,�F 47 Natty ]liras CI'1'T CLERK Valter J. loeman •�;, ASSISTANT CITT CLERIC C96 "s d