HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1985-11-13 MinutesCITY OF MIAMI
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18 96
' OF MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 13, 1985
(SPECIAL)
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
CITY HALL
MATTY HIRAI
City Clerk
INDEX
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
NJVEMBER 13, 1985
ITEM
SUBJECT
LEGISLATION
PAGE
NO.
NO.
1
ACCEPT CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
f•1 85-1105
1--2
TO DROP LAWSUIT AGAINST MIAMI-DADE
11/1.3/i35
WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT PENDING
FINALIZATION OF AGREEMENT.
2A
GRANT REQUEST BY FRIENDS OF THE
R 85-1106-A
2-3
JAPANESE GARDEN TO SELL BEER AND
11/13/85
WINE AT JAPANESE FALL FESTIVAL
November 24, 1985, ON WATSON ISLAND.
2B
GRANT REQUEST OF COCONUT GROVE
R 85-1106-B
3-11
MARKETING TO SELL 13EER ON NJVEMBER
11/13/85
249 1985 IN CONNECTION WITH THE
GREAT COCONUT GROVE WAITER RACE, AT
PEACOCK PARK SUBJECT TO REQUIRED
PERMITS AND CLOSING CERTAIN STREETS
TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
3
CERTIFY RESULTS OF ELECTIONS HELD
R 85-1107
4-5
NJVEMBER 5, 1985 AND NJVEMBER 12,
11/13/85
1985.
4
STATEMENT BY MAYOR FERRE THANKING
DISCUSSION
5-7
STAFF & THE PEOPLE OF MIAMI; CON-
11/13/85
GRATULATIONS TO MAYOR SUAREZ AND
COMMISSIONERS KENNEDY AND DAWKINS;
STATEMENT BY CITY MANAGER SERGIO
PEREIRA & PRESENTATION OF FAREWELL
TO MAYOR FERRE.
5
SWEARING IN OF MAYOR XAVIER SUAREZ
DISCUSSION
7-9
AND STATEMENT BY MAYOR SUAREZ.
11/13/85
6
SWEARING IN OF COMMISSIONER MILLER
DISCUSSION
9-10
DAWKINS AND STATEMENT BY COMMISSION-
11/13/85
ER DAWKINS.
7
SWEARING IN OF COMMISSIONER KENNEDY
DISCUSSION
10-11
AND STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER
11/13/85
KENNEDY.
8
DEFER APPOINTMENT OF CITY CLERK AND
DISCUSSION
11
CITY ATTORNEY.
11/13/85
4
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE
i
CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
On the 13th day of November, 1985, the City Commission of Miami,
Florida, met at its regular meeting place in the City Hall, 3500 Pan American
Drive, Miami, Florida in regular session.
The meeting was called to order at 12:14 O'Clock P.M. by Mayor Maurice
A. Ferre with the following members of the Commission found to be present:
ALSO PRESENT:
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
Sergio Pereira, City Manager
Lucia Allen Dougherty, City Attorney
Matty Hirai, City Clerk
ABSENT: Commissioners Perez and Carollo
An invocation was delivered by Bishop O'mally who then led those present
in a pledge of allegiance to the flag.
1. ACCEPT CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION TO DROP LAWSUIT AGAINST MIAMI-DADE
WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT PENDING FINALIZATION OF AGREEMENT.
Mayor Ferre: We have two official things to do before the swearing in
ceremony. The first is the Miami Dade Water and Sewer lawsuit. Mr. Manager.
Mr. Pereira: Mr. Mayor, and members of the Commission at the last Commission
meeting you instructed Commissioner Plummer and myself to meet with the County
and work on the pending litigation between the City and the Dade County Water
and Sewer Authority. My recommendation at this point is that in principle the
Commission agrees to drop the lawsuit pending the final agreement which will
be forwarded to myself and to Mr. Plummer, and the signage of that agreement
to the satisfaction of Commissioner Plummer and to the administration. We are
so very close to a resolution that we feel that this is a sound recommendation
from the administration.
Mayor Ferre: Is there an action you wish this Commission to take Mr. Manager?
Mr. Pereira: The action will be to you in principle agree to drop the lawsuit
and instruct Commissioner Plummer and myself to meet with the County and
finalize the agreement.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a motion to that effect?
Mr. Plummer: I so move, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a second?
41 Mr. Dawkins: Second under discussion.
Mayor Ferre: Go ahead sir.
Mr. Dawkins: Under discussion, Mr. Plummer, will we have veto power. Is that
correct?
Mr. Plummer: That's correct.
gl
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1 November 13, 1985
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20
Mr. Dawkins: No, further discussion.
Mayor Ferre: Further discussion. All right, call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who
moved its adoption:
MOTION 140. 85-1105
A MOTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE CITY
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION AND AGREEING, IN PRINCIPLE TO
DROP THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT LAWSUIT PREVIOUSLY
INSTITUTED BY THE CITY, PE14DI14G FINALIZATION OF SAID
AGREEMENT WHICH IS TO BE FORWARDED TO THE CITY MANAGER
AND TO COMMISSIONER PLUMMER AND SUBJECT TO THEIR TOTAL
AND FINAL SATISFACTION WITH SAID AGREEMENT.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote -
AYES: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner Demetrio J. Perez, Jr.
Vice -Mayor Joe Carollo
2A. GRANT REQUEST BY FRIENDS OF THE JAPA14ESE GARDEN TO SELL BEER AND WINE AT
JAPANESE FALL FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 24, 1985, ON WATSON ISLAND.
Mr. Pereira: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir.
r Mr. Pereira: We have two house cleaning item, sir, prior to the next
Commission meeting which is November 24th and the two permits granting beer a
sale and the closure of a street. If I might ask your indulgence and your
action I will appreciate it, because...
Mayor Ferre: That's up to the members of the Commission. I think that that
is not something that can wait until the 24th Mr. Manager.
Mr. Pereira: The next meeting is on the 26th. Both of these events occur
before the 26th.
Mr. Plummer: I move... just for the record state what they are.
Mr. Pereira: One is a resolution granting permission to sell beer at the
Japanese Folk Festival to be held on November 24th and the second one is a
resolution authorizing beer permit, street closure and concession privileges
for the greater Coconut Grove Waiters Race to be also held on November 24th.
Mr. Plummer: I so move, based on the fact that both of these events take
place prior to our next meeting. I so move.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a second?
Mr. Dawkins: Second.
Mayor Ferre: Further discussion, call the roll please.
gl
2 November 13, 1985
J
I
."N
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 85-1106-A
A RESOLUTION GRANTING, UPON THE ISSUANCE OF A TEMPORARY
PERMIT BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS REGULATION,
DIVISION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO, THE REQUEST
OF THE FRIENDS OF THE JAPANESE GARDE) TO SELL BEER AND
WINE FOR A ONE DAY PERIOD IN CONNECTION WITH THE JAPANESE
FALL FESTIVAL TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 24, 1985, ON WATSON
ISLAND ADJACENT TO THE JAPANESE GARDEN; SUBJECT TO THE
ISSUANCE OF ALL PERMITS REQUIRED BY LAW; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A ONE -DAY
NONEXCLUSIVE CONCESSION AGREEMENT WITH THE ORGANIZATION IN
A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here
and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the resolution was passed
and adopted by the following vote -
AYES: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner Demetrio J. Perez, Jr.
Vice -Mayor Joe Carollo
2B. GRANT REQUEST OF COCONUT GROVE MARKETING TO SELL BEER ON NOVEMBER 24,
1985 IN CONNECTION WITH THE GREAT COCONUT GROVE WAITER RACE AT PEACOCK
PARK SUBJECT TO REQUIRED PERMITS AND CLOSING CERTAIN STREETS TO VEHICULAR
TRAFFIC.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 85-1106-B
A RESOLUTION GRANTING, UPON THE ISSUANCE OF A TEMPORARY
PERMIT BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS
REGULATION, DIVISION OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO, THE
REQUEST OF COCONUT GROVE MARKETING TO SELL BEER FOR A ONE
DAY PERIOD IN CONNECTION WITH THE GREAT COCONUT GROVE
WAITER RACE TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 24, 1985, AT PEACOCK PARK,
SUBJECT TO ALL PERMITS REQUIRED BY LAW; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A ONE -DAY
NONEXCLUSIVE CONCESSION AGREEMENT WITH THE ORGANIZATION IN
A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND CLOSING
CERTAIN STREETS TO THROUGH VEHICULAR TRAFFIC DURING THE
SPECIFIED DATE AND TIMES SUBJECT TO THE ISSUANCE OF
PERMITS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
FIRE, RESCUE AND INSPECTION SERVICES.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here
and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the resolution was passed
and adopted by the following vote-
gl
3 November 13, 1985
9
AYES: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner Demetrio J. Perez, Jr.
Vice -Mayor Joe Carollo
3. CERTIFY RESULTS OF ELECTIONS HELD NOVEMBER 5, 1985 AND NOVEMBER 12, 1985.
Mayor Ferre: We now have a resolution officially accepting the City Clerk
certification and declaration of results of the City Primary Election for the
election of Mayor and two Commissioners.
Mr. Plummer: So, move
Mr. Dawkins: Second.
Mayor Ferre: It's been moved and seconded, are there any questions?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, the tradition among the Commission is that we verify
at least three precincts.
Mayor Ferre: Go right ahead sir.
Mr. Plummer: Do we have copies of that?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, you have them right here.
Mr. Plummer: I would ask for Precinct 818.
Mayor Ferre: 818 Madam City Clerk if you would please. Precinct 818 is the
question.
Ms. Hirai: Precinct 818, total ballots processed eight hundred forty-two, for
Group 1 Raul Masvidal three forty-five for forty-one point four, Xavier Suarez
four hundred eighty-nine for fifty-eight point six. Group 5, Rosario Kennedy
six hundred eighty-three for eighty-four point two per cent of the votes.
Demetrio Perez one twenty-eight fifteen point eight per cent of the vote.
Miller J. Dawkins five o five total count, sixty-two point nine per cent.
Victor DeYurre two hundred ninety-eight for thirty-seven point one per cent.
Mayor Ferre: All right, any other questions? Any other questions? Any other
precincts? Is there further discussion on the acceptance of the certification
and declaration made Matty Hirai, City Clerk of the City of Miami which is
presently before us.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, for discussion purposes only in the near future I
will ask that this Commission consider appointing certain members of this
Commission to act as our own canvassing board. I think it is most important
and it was a flaw that we ran into in the last election, but that will be done
in a future meeting, but Mr. Mayor, I move this acceptance of this motion.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a second?
Mr. Dawkins: Second.
Mayor Ferre: Is there further discussion. Call the roll please.
gl
4 November 13, 1985
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 85-1107
A RESOLUTION OFFICIALLY ACCEPTING THE CITY CLERK'S
CERTIFICATION A14D DECLARATION OF RESULTS OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI PRIMARY ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 5, 1985 FOR THE
ELECTION OF MAYOR AND TWO COMMISSIONERS; FURTHER ACCEPTING
THE RESULTS AND CERTIFICATION OF THE CITY CLERK FOR THE
SPECIAL ELECTION HELD NOVEMBER 5, 1985 CONCERNING A BALLOT -
QUESTION 014 A PROPOSED CITY OF MIAMI AD VALOREM "TAX
MILLAGE INCREASE PROHIBITION; FURTHER ACCEPTING THE
CERTIFICATION AND DECLARATION BY THE CITY CLERK OF THE
RESULTS OF THE REGULAR CITY OF MIAMI ELECTION HELD OIJ
NOVEMBER 12, 1985 FOR THE ELECTION OF MAYOR, GROUP 1;
COMMISSIONER, GROUP IV; AND COMMISSIONER GROUP V OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO _
MAKE THE DETAILED PRECINCT -BY -PRECINCT PRINTOUT OF RESULTS
OF SAID ELECTIONS PART OF THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICIAL
RECORDS.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here
and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the resolution was passed
and adopted by the following vote -
AYES: Commissioner ;Miller J. Dawkins
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner Demetrio J. Perez, Jr.
Vice -Mayor Joe Carollo
4. STATEMENT BY MAYOR FERRE THANKING STAFF & THE PEOPLE OF MIAMI;
t CONGRATULATIONS TO MAYOR SUAREZ AND COMMISSIONERS KENNEDY AND DAWKINS;
STATEMENT BY CITY MANAGER SERGIO PEREIRA & PRESENTATION OF FAREWELL TO
MAYOR FERRE.
Mayor Ferre: And ladies and gentlemen, with that vote which is the last vote
that I will cast on the City of Miami Commission, I wish to take the
opportunity to thank the... first of all, my colleagues on the City
Commission. Secondly, I would like to thank the Manager and the
Administrationand the thousands of employees of the City of Miami that have
join this administration during the twelve years that I have been Mayor and
previously the four years that I was a member of the City of Miami Commission.
I thank them for all their kindness, for their consideration. I thank the
people of Miami for having afforded me this wonderful opportunity to observe.
I am proud of the years of serve that I have rendered and I want to next
congratulate the Mayor elect, Xavier Suarez. I would like to congratulate the
Commissioner elect Rosario Kennedy. I would like to congratulate Commissioner
Miller Dawkins and all of their respective families and supporter for the
wonderful job that they have done and now if you will indulge with me...
Mr. Plummer: Maurice, they have a presentation to make to you.
Mayor Ferre: Well, in a moment. If you will permit me, I just have a page...
this is the shortest speech I have ever made here so. ..But I want as the old
Miami saying goes, I want to go out like a menche. So, let me if I may make
my statement. "Today Xavier Suarez begins a new chapter in the City of Miami.
Next year the City of Miami will be ninety years old. I was a Commissioner
for almost four years, interim Mayor for four months and then Mayor of the
City of Miami for twelve years, which means I have served the City of Miami
and its people directly for sixteen of those ninety years. It would seem that
the period from 1967 thru 1985 was the time that Miami changed from a tourist
gl 5 November 13, 1985
oriented economic subregional. center to a hemispheric international city of
trade, commerce and banking. The dramatic growth of our skyline and the
continuing increase of hotel rooms in Miami when none were being built in
other local tourist areas is a testimony to the growth in the most dynamic
decade of Miami, the golden years. I for one do not totally believe that this
is totally true. The best is yet to come and in what remains of the 1980s
and the decades of the 90s Miami will surge ahead as a world class city.
Tiron once said that it is not the function of men in public life so much to
change the course of history as to accelerate it. To Mayor Suarez I commend
D.H. Lawrence's thoughts in his Paris letter and I quote. "What I believe in
is the old Homeric aristocracy when in grandeur was inside of the man, like
Ulysses. The leader was a leader in his own being. The natural aristocrat
has got to fortify himself inside his own will according to his own strength".
Teddy Rossevelt put it somewhat differently, but just as strongly when he said
and I quote. "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how
the strong man stumbled or when the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man who was actually in the arena. Who's face is
marred by dust and sweat and blood. Who strives valiantly. Who errs and
comes short again and again. Who knows the great enthusiasts, the great
devotions. Who spends himself in a worthy cause. Who at the best knows in
the end the triumph of his great achievement and who at worst if he fails, at
least fails while daring greatly". Jose Marti summed it alp as always very
succinctly when he said "Hacer es la mejor manera de decir". "To do is the
best way of saying ". And lastly, in the book "Individualism reconsidered".
David Riceman in the chapter entitled "Observations On Community Plans and
Utopia" said and I leave this as my legacy to all of you on this Commission
and to Xavier Suarez. "There is always a market for lesser thinking which
poses immediate alternatives. The need of thinking which confronts us with
great hopes and great plans is not so evident, yet without great plans it is
hard and often self defeating to make little plan. Such things require the
nerve of failure, that is the ability to face the possibility of defeat
without feeling morally crushed". And so, I wish you well and may each of you
on this Commission and especially, my successor Xavier Suarez, prosper and may
Miami prosper with him. Thank you. (IN SPANISfi).
Mr. Pereira: Mr. Mayor, if I may as City Manager and on the record Madam City
Clerk, as City Manager of the City of Miami I would like to take a minute and
do something on behalf of myself and on all of the employees of the great City
of Miami. We have all had the honor of serving as City employees during the
tenure of one of the finest Mayors in the history of the City of Miami. It
has been our distinct privilege to serve under a man that we universally
respect and admire and while we look forward to the future it is with deep and
genuine sadness that we mark the end of an era. Mr. Mayor on behalf of myself
and all of the employees of the City of Miami, I would like to present to you
with a momentum of our respect for you, we are proud to have served under your
leadership sir. Good luck to you.
Mayor Ferre: I want to thank you and Lucia for the privilege of having served
with you. I know that as Metropolitan Dade County Manager you are going to be
one hell of a County Manager. I noticed that Judge Orr is here. Judge if you
would step forward so you could swear in our new Mayor. I would like to
before turning the microphone over to the Judge for the swearing ceremony, I
have three things that I want to leave with my successor. The most important
of which I forgot to bring in the rush out of my house. I did not bring it,
but it is on loan to him. I will lend it to him until he finishes his service
as Mayor. It was given to me by probably the greatest public servant that
Miami has ever had, Jack Orr. And Jack, when he knew he was ill and it was
terminal called me and said he wanted to talk to me in his office and he gave
me a framed photograph of Franklin D. Rossevelt on a bread line and a small
man whispering something into his ear and down at the bottom it read. "He
knew how to listen". I cannot not think of anything more important for Xavier
than that. I'm also going to give him something that I was given when I
started public service and it says "Behold the turtle who makes progress only
when he sticks his neck out". And lastly, the Greeks used to say that the
problem of all people who govern and that's a long complicated thing, but we
all need to be brought down to earth a little bit every so often and when you
are up at the top it sometimes becomes difficult. So, I would like to leave
the Mayor a quote from the old Mayor and it says "I really don't understand
why a guy wants to be Mayor of Miami". Ferre. Added, "He has to be out of
his mind" from the Miami Herald.
gl 6 November 13, 1985
5. SWEARING IN OF MAYOR XAVIER SUAREZ AND STATEMENT BY MAYOR SUAREZ.
Judge George Orr: It's a particularly great honor for me to join the City
Clerk in swearing in our incoming Mayor. It's an honor, one, as a native born
Miamian who is a resident of Miami. I say Miami.
Mr. Plummer: So, be it.
Judge Orr: Also, as a friend I have watched our incoming candidate or
incoming Mayor progress as a family man, a father and as a husband, and as a
Judge I have watched him progress as a lawyer from shy, almost hesitant lawyer
to the fine polished practitioner that he is today. I know that when he
assumes office and if he brings those talents that fie has displayed in the
courtroom into this Chamber, that tie will join the ranks of the great men who
have served as Mayor, including Mayor Ferre. So, if you would please sir
raise your right hand and repeat after me. (AT THIS POINT JUDGE ORR SWEARS I14
MAYOR XAVIER SUAREZ).
Mayor Xavier Suarez: Bishop O'Mally, Honorable members of the Miami City
Commission and I specifically want to congratulate my good friend Commissioner
Rosario Kennedy and my old friend and Brother, Commissioner Miller Dawkins.
Every once and a while the people break through the traditional power
structures and express themselves in a special way. It is not an expression
of dissatisfaction with governmental structures, nor is it a rejection of the
role played by powerful business interest in moving the levers of government
to fulfill their priorities. The people simply and emphatically pull back
their own levers and remind the special interest and all those who would seek
to replace the Democratic process of collective decision making that they are
the primary object as well as the prime mover in the democratic process.
Failing such expressions the tree of democracy can wither and die replaced by
a machine. Miamians have just overcome both a long standing political machine
and the preference of the business establishment. It will be up to other
politicians, other candidates who build their organizations based on grass
root support to plant addition trees of democracy in our state and federal
structure, but our task is Miami and it's citizens. We find ourselves picking
up the piece of an citizenry. Some neighborhoods actually want to succeed
from the City because of the lack of attention paid to them. Others are
desperate for a dividing wall which will separate them physically from their
neighbors. Almost all are desperate about changes of zoning that are ruining
their historic charm. I am committed to change neighborhood alienation into
neighborhood identification. Miami as long as I'm Mayor, will be one
neighborhood. The Miami Civic League, dream child of community activist from
Belle Meade Island and Edison to Coconut Grove and Little Havana from Brickell
to Flagami and perhaps best typified by the ethnic microcosm of Miami which we
call Buena Vista will be the building block for neighborhood revitalization
and unification. In the winning days of the election thanks to the insight
and unyielding and integrity of Dr. Marvin Dunn among others it became clear
that there was a difference between myself and my run-off opponent Raul
Masvidal. I have the greatest respect for Raul for his intellectual ability
and his good intentions reflected in the nearly perfect control he exercised
over his troops during the entire campaign. I sincerely hope he helps me in
areas of trade promotion and tourist that he so intimately understands. I
have his pledge to that effect this morning. He finally, got through to me.
He had a difficult time last night, but he was trying to reach me last night.
But as Marvin said Masvidal tends to look South and up, while I would look
North and West. In over ten years of living in Miami I have been primarily
concerned with my own family first and then those members of the human family
who are most disenfranchised, most desperate, most in need. A great great man
once said "Con los pobres de la tierra quiero yo mi suerte hechar". "With the
poor people of this earth I want to share my fate". That man was not a
communist Commissioner Carollo wherever you may be, but the eternal symbol of
Cuba's democratic aspirations, Jose Marti. Jose Marti. Two people in the
news media picked up my popular leanings during this campaign. One, a
television reporter and commentator also, picked up the affection that old
folks were among the least protected members of our community have for my
person and my message. Much longer ago, so long ago that I had to be reminded
of it by a friend, I had shown my concern for our young folks in the Northwest
by starting an explorer post and building a basketball court on the grounds of
gl 7 November 13, 1985
a..
the new Covenant Presbyterian Church in Liberty. Its Minister Reverend Erwin
Eligan former Chairman of the Community Relations Board once said about me
that I really didn't seem to notice the difference between Blacks and Whites.
It is true that I try to love all races equally as my religion teaches me to
do. But there is a great difference between the majority of Blacks in our
City and the majority of Whites. The high unemployment is among the Blacks.
The depressed neighborhoods have most Black residents. The areas of Miami
that have been truncated by expressways and ignored by private sector
developers are mostly Black. I believe that local government has a proper
role to play in reducing that economic gap. Certainly, government as a whole
has to guarantee not just the right to private property, but also to a decent
standard of living, including proper housing. Including proper housing. I
have found that to be the single most unifying issue between our two largest
so-called minorities. Blacks and Hispanics in Miami are eager for the City to
involve itself in low cost housing. That's why I made it an e3sential plank
in my platform. At a time when the federal government has reduced its funding
in this area it is proper for local government to pick up the slack. I will
fully assume and expect the new City Manager to instruct the Coirnnunity
Development and Planning Departments to get busy with a program very possibly
patterned after New York's successful plan by which the City can build
affordable housing which can then be purchased by low income 'Miamians in area
of the City where the land is cheap and the need is great. We must also find
funding for a small scale jobs program for young adults. In order to do this
I will do my darnedest to have the Commission appoint a City Manager who is
committed to wholesale reform and streamlining of our top heavy bureaucracy.
We cannot and will not continue to have high paid staff tripping over one
another at the taxpayers expense. We cannot have million dollar department
with stated objectives of "Informing the media and the public of Commission
actions". The media is already doing quite a good job of informing the public
at no cost to the taxpayers of Commission action, often times to the
embarrassment of all concerned. We must be careful also in joint venturing
with the private sector which historically and rightfully has a knack for
making the profits while we the taxpayers end up with the loses. Our City
must foster development, not try to compete with those who do it best and at
their own risk. The James L. Knight Center is a monument to that principle.
Projects already started like Bayside, the People Mover and the Sport Arena
will hopefully work to bring night life to our Downtown. City staff however,
must be more honest in their economic feasibility analysis of such projects
and should scrutinize more carefully the guarantees given by the private
sector entities that we contract with. In order to prosper Miami needs more
than anything else to erase the image and the partial reality of being crime
ridden. In reality our horrible homicide rate reflects more the internecine
wars between drug dealers than a resident community with excessively violent
tendencies. Special praise and fact should be given to the Haitian and
Hispanic communities for the low incidents of violent crimes among their
members, but our war on crime as Raul Masvidal stated must by on all fronts.
If citizen patrols are working on Coral Gables, they should be tried in Miami.
If our fine Police Chief's street narcotics units work as well as I'm told
they should be intensified. If our citizens want substations and mini
stations and I believe they do, we must quickly establish them in our
neighborhoods. By all means I intend to bring as many as possible of our one
thousand fifty uniformed patrolmen of all ranks out into the streets of Miami
and they will have my utmost support. As Chief Dickson has said, the
judiciary must heed the anguish cry of a citizenry that lives in fear of
criminal who seems to walk in and out of our penal institutions. I will
personally be out in the streets giving visible moral support to our fine
officers in the tradition of Mayor Fiorello William Donald Shafer and my
fellow Commissioner J. L. Plummer. I am happy to have increased in the run-
off the percentage of Black support by a substantial margin. I owe it in
great part to a group of young Black professionals, including Vince Mcghee,
Daryl Sharton, Jeffery Watson, Tony Cooper and Tony Bronson. These young men
and the organization they lead, the Network Group, represent the brightest
hope for a Black entrepreneurial class that ask no favors, but instead is
eager and able to compete in a free enterprise system. They shall have all
the support I can give them in their private sector endeavors. To the
outgoing Mayor, my congratulations for the class he has shown in losing and
the dreams he has had and pursued of a great Miami. We didn't agree on a host
of other items, but there is no one who doesn't recognize the effective role
he has placed as a promoter of Miami in the national and international seen.
To the employees of our City, I hope to get to know you all by name. I
guarantee no reprisals against anyone who backed my opponents. I equally
guarantee that I will be at your back pushing to get our municipal services
gl 8 November 13, 1985
P
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done better and less expensively. To the people of our City, I promise to try
with all my might to serve you and listen to you. As Thomas Moore said, I
stand here as your humble servant. And to all my supporters, helpers and
advisors, thank you from the bottom of my heart, you are the victors. With
God's help the programs we have promised will be implemented and our City will
owe you a great debt. Thank you all. Before I say something in Spanish I
just want to frankly, tell the press that I must leave and reacquaint myself
with my four children and my wife. I have appointed two spokes persons to
speak on my behalf to the English and Spanish media, Ester Favole and Juan
Garcia respectively. I beg your indulgence to say a couple of words in
Spanish to my friends who are not fluent in the English language. (IN
SPANISH). There is a movie about a candidate who gets to this point and says
what do we do next. Mayor Ferre, what do we do next here. Ok. Let us begin
by swearing in I guess the ---I don't want to say the oldest Commissioner, but
the incumbent Commissioner Miller Dawkins.
6. SWEARING IN OF COMMISSIONER MILLER DAWKINS AND STATEMENT BY COWISSIONER
DAWKINS.
Ms. Hirai: (AT THIS POINT COMMISSIONER MILLER DAWKINS IS BEING SWORN IN).
Mr. Dawkins: Former Mayor Ferre, present Mayor Xavier Suarez, my good working
partner J. L. Plummer and to all of my friends, to my wife, my son, my
daughter in-law and my two grandsons wishes to thank you for giving us this
opportunity to serve you. As you know, we started out four years ago saying
that we were the unity candidate and that we would work with all ethnic groups
to bring us closer together and for four years we attempted to do that, so
much so that I was condemned in my own neighborhood for saying I spent too
much time in Little Havana and then my opponent said I was not known in Little
Havana, but I must say to you that you have a good Commission here. We are
going to work... I want everyone to know that I really appreciate all the
support I have gotten from all segments of the community.
Mr. (IN SPANISH).
Mr. Dawkins: And now we are going to work together, the five of us for the
betterment of this community.
Mr. (IN SPANISH).
Mr. Dawkins: In Group 5 it was the only race where all of the candidates
shook hands when it was over and said we will work for the betterment of
Miami.
Mr. : (IN SPANISH).
Mr. Dawkins: The biggest problems I heard was trash and we will do all we can
to correct the trash area.
Mr. (IN SPANISH).
Mr. Dawkins: As to mini -stations, there is no need why we need mini -stations
when you can put a policeman in each community school and have the police
protection that you need.
Mr. : (IN SPANISH).
Mr. Dawkins: This Commission pledges itself to make Miami safe for you
whatever way it takes to do it.
Mr. (IN SPANISH).
Mr. Dawkins: And I would like to thank the Cuban community and Demetrio Perez
for Manny Alvarez, because without him I could not have made it.
Mr. (IN SPANISH).
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9 November 13, 1985
Mayor Suarez: To swear in the new Commissioner Rosario Kennedy. Where is
Rosario?
7. SWEARING IN OF COMMISSIONER KENNEDY AND STATE'ME14T BY CUMMISSIONER KENNEDY
Ms. Hirai: (AT THIS POINT COMMISSIONER ROSARI,) KEN14EDY IS BEING SWORN IN).
Ms. Rosario Kennedy: Mayor Ferre, Mayor Suarez, fellow Commissioners, friends
and supporters. First a word of warning to my male colleague in this
Commission. My feelings are best expressed by the words of the great American
Novelist and physician Oliver Wendell Holmes when he said "Man has a way, but
Mari has a will, but Woman has her way". I think a former colleague of yours
found that out in the last six weeks. The _ of my victory last night has
become the realization that the time has come for campaign pledges to become
City policies. I say this as a political new comer cognizant of the
responsibility that Miami's voters placed on me last night. I am proud of the
fact that I am the first Cuban American woman to occupy this position. I am
tremendously humbled because the chair that I now occupy has been occupied in
the past by three tremendous women, Alice Wainwright, Athalie Range and Rose
Gordon. The record of service in this Commission will be a beacon that will
guide my actions as a Commissioner. I must admit that any time a review is
made of the quality of service of prior Commissioners, these three women are
consistently at the top. They earned that ranking with their effort on behalf
of all of the community and I believe Rose Gordon is here today ---there you
are ---the others couldn't make it, and I pledge to you Rose, that your record
is an imposing challenge and that I will try to honor the tradition that you
represent. I am also extremely proud to have been elected with the support of
all three communities. I will not talk about the divisive campaign that my
opponent waged except to pledge that I am and that I will be a Commissioner
for all Miamians, no matter their race, creed, sex, or ethnic origin. I
repeat today what I have been saying consistently through out my campaign. I
am very proud of my ethnic origin and of the Country where I was born, but I
am equally proud of my American citizenship and of this great Country in which
we live. Now, that the election is over I am fortunate to be serving on a
Commission with a new Mayor dedicated to restoring dignity and decorum to our
city. I share Mayor Xavier Suarez, your reviews of the need for reform at
Dinner Key and I pledge to you and to my fellow colleague on this Commission
that you will always be able to count on me to restore of Miamians on their
City. Last night I thanked all of you who helped. Today it gives me great
honor to say that Representative Steve Pajcic who will be the next governor of
the State of Florida has flown all the way to Miami to be with me today.
Steve, will you please stand ... He is probably standing in the audience. Well,
Steve, your moral and political support is greatly appreciated. There are a
few names, however, that I cannot omit. First and foremost, the only non -
family member that I will mention, my campaign manager Pedro Roig my mother
and my father who are standing behind me, my brothers, my children who so
patiently and lovingly put up with all the horrors of this campaign and last,
but not least, my husband David. He was... who also is here in the audience.
David was a source of strength and support and is responsible for putting
together the financial resources and the whole organization of the campaign.
I am grateful to him for all that he has done and I promise to make him proud,
because make no mistakes about it, the only Commissioner who will be taking
the decisions will be me and I know David, wherever you are that that's the
only way I can make you proud. Thank you so much. (IN SPANISH).
Ms. Thelma Gibson: Commissioner on behalf of our Commissioner Dawkins and his
lovely wife Nancy, we are here to present to you this bouquet of flowers and
on behalf of all women, we are proud of you and congratulations.
Ms. . (IN SPANISH).
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10 November 13, 1985
f
8. DEFER APPOINTMENT OF CITY CLERK AND CITY ATTORNEY.
Mayor Suarez: I forgot to introduce when I had my opportunity to speak the
most important person in my life and as Raul Masvidal said throughout the
campaign, I will borrow his phrase, my running mate Rita Suarez, my wife. Mr.
City Manager, any further business for today?
Mr. Pereira: No, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Plummer.
Mr. Plummer: You have the reappointment of the City Clerk and the City
Attorney.
Mr. Dawkins: I move we postpone that.
Mr. Plummer: to postpone it?
Mayor Suarez: Won't you rather go ahead and make that... We have a motion to
postpone.
Mr. Plummer: No motion necessary, just defer.
Mayor Suarez: It seems to be the consensus of the Commission that we defer
that item. Rosario. Ok, we will defer that item. I will entertain a motion
to adjourn at this point.
Mr. Plummer: So move.
Mayor Suarez: Seconded.
Mr. Dawkins: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Do we need to call the roll on this one? Call the roll please.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, THE
MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 1:09 O'CLOCK P. M.
ATTEST:
Matty Hirai
CITY CLERK
gl
Xavier L. Suarez
M A Y 0 R
*I I NCOI P10H.M ) , *
11
November 13, 1985
e
rtt.
CI'4•Y OF N`IAMI
DOCUMENT
lNnF.x
DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION
GRANT REQUEST BY FRIENDS OF THE; JAPANESE:
GARDEN TO SELL BEER AND WINE AT JAPANESE
FALL FESTIVAL (NOVEMBER 24, 1.985, ON WATSON
ISLAND.
GRANT REQUEST OF COCONUT GROVE MARKETING
TO SELL BEER ON NOVEMBER 24, 1985 IN CONNEC-
TION WITH THE GREAT COCONUT GROVE WAITER
RACE AT PEACOCK PARK SUBJECT TO REQUIRED
PERMITS AND CLOSING CERTAIN STREETS TO
VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
CERTIFIED RESULTS OF ELECTIONS HELD ON
NOVEMBER 5, 1985 AND NOVEMBER 12, 1985.
MEETING DATE
NOVEMBER 13, 1985
ISSION
TTAN A"M
R-85-1106-A
R-85-1106-B
R-85-1107