HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-14164City of Miami
Ordinance 14164
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Legislation
File Number: 13362
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date: 4/27/2023
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER
38/ARTICLE I OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED, TITLED "PARKS AND RECREATION/IN GENERAL," BY
AMENDING SECTION 38-26, TITLED "NAMING OF OFFICER MANUEL
GOMEZ MOUNTED PATROL FACILITY AT LUMMUS PARK"; MORE
SPECIFICALLY BY RENAMING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S POLICE MOUNTED
PATROL FACILITY LOCATED AT 360 NW 3RD STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA,
THE "OFFICER MANUEL GOMEZ MOUNTED FACILITY;" DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ALL ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO
EFFECTUATE THE RENAMING OF SAID FACILITY.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner Joe Carollo,
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") desires to recognize and honor the legacy and
invaluable service of former City of Miami Police Department ("MPD") police Officer Manuel
"Manny" Gomez ("Manny") as a public servant to and for the City; and
WHEREAS, Officer Gomez was born in La Havana, Cuba on August 12, 1950 and in
1953 the Gomez family immigrated to the United States bringing along their three year old,
Manny; and
WHEREAS, on January 1, 1981, Manny joined the City of Miami Police Department
where he spent the first ten years of his career as a patrol officer and went on to become a
Mounted Patrol Officer and faithfully served for 17 years; and
WHEREAS, Officer Gomez retired on March 8, 2008, following a devastating and life
changing accident that occurred on January 15, 2006, while working the famous Three Kings
Parade in Little Havana; and
WHEREAS, on that fateful day, Officer Gomez had been assigned to ride Cutter and as
he was mounting Cutter, the horse spooked, which caused Officer Gomez to fall and hit his
head on the ground cracking his helmet; and
WHEREAS, as Officer Gomez recounts the order of events, he mentioned that he never
lost consciousness but as he was trying to get up, he felt a cold sensation traveling from his feet
all the way up to his neck and was not able to move; and
WHEREAS, Officer Gomez was rushed to Jackson Memorial Ryder Trauma; and
WHEREAS, thanks to the revolutionary new procedure by the University of Miami
doctors, Officer Gomez was the first patient in South Florida to receive a new innovative spinal
cord procedure and after several months of grueling physical therapy, he was able to regain his
ability to walk and use his hands again; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 13362 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/9/2023
File ID: 13362 Enactment Number: 14164
WHEREAS, although the accident cut Officer Gomez' career short, it has never stopped
him from serving his community; and
WHEREAS, Officer Gomez continues to use his many contacts with local businesses to
help the community and serves as the voice of wisdom to more than one of the many officers
rising through the ranks of the Miami Police Department; and
WHEREAS, it needs to be said that without the help and relentless battles fought by
Officer Gomez, the City of Miami Mounted Stables might not have become a reality or "The
Dream," as Manny would call it;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Ordinance are
hereby adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. Chapter 38/Article I of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, is
further amended in the following particulars:'
"CHAPTER 38
PARKS AND RECREATION
ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL
Section 38-26. Naming of Officer Manuel Gomez Mounted Patrol Facility at Lummus Park.
(a) The facility located at 360 Northwest 3rd Street, Miami, Florida shall be named the
"Officer Manuel Gomez Mounted Facility."
Section 3. The City Manager is directed to take any and all administrative actions
necessary to effectuate the renaming of the said facility.
Section 4. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, clause, phrase or word of this
Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be affected.
Section 5. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately after final reading and
adoption thereof. 2
' Words and/or figures stricken through shall be deleted. Underscored words and/or figures shall be
added. The remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged. Asterisks indicate omitted and
unchanged material.
2 This Ordinance shall become effective as specified herein unless vetoed by the Mayor within ten (10)
calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Ordinance, it shall
become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission or upon the effective
date stated herein, whichever is later.
City of Miami Page 2 of 3 File ID: 13362 (Revision:) Printed on: 5/9/2023
File ID: 13362
Enactment Number: 14164
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
1
Vft6ria-Vrdel, City Attor iey 5/9/2023
City of Miami Page 3 of 3 File ID: 13362 (Revision:) Printed on: 5/9/2023