Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1984-09-06 Minutesr i oe Fr ,,steep ORATE 1• $i .J COMMISSION MINUTES SEPTEMflER 6r 1984 OF MEETING HELD ON (SPECIAL) PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITTY Y CLERK RALPH G., ONGIE CITY CLERK INDEX MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 6, 1984 ITEM SUBJECT LEGISLATION PAGE 90. NO. 1 =45,000,000 HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT BONDS FOR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AND/OR REVITALIZATION PROJECTS. M--84-96 9 1-19 2 BRIEF DISCUSSION - JACKSON VICTORY TOUR CONCERT. DISCUSSION 20 3 GRANT FEE WAIVER FOR ORANGE BOWL STADIUM & BA?FRONT PARR AUDITORIUM - IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION SERVICES FOR SWEARING -IN CEREMONY. M-84--964 20-21 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the 6TH day of September, 1984, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its Regular meeting place in the City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida in Spe- cial session. The meeting was called to order at 10:29 O'Clock A.M. by Mayor Maurice A. Ferre with the following members of the Commission found to be present: Commissioner Miler J. Dawkins Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Mayor Maurice A. Ferre ALSO PRESENT: Howard V. Gary, City Manager Lucia Allen Dougherty, City Attorney Ralph G. Ongie. City Clerk Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk ABSENT: Commissioner Joe carollo Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez, Jr. An invocation was delivered by Mayor Ferre who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. I. $45,000,000 HOUSING b REDEVELOPMENT BONDS FOR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AND/OR REVITALIZATION PROJECTS. Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager, would you like to tell us about the bond issue? Mr. Plummer: Which one are you talking about first? Mr. Gary: Item 2, the housing. I would like to begin, Mr. Mayor, by first reviewing with you, starting with Assistant City Manager Herb Bailey explaining what we will be doing in Park West/Overtown and then Mr. Rodriguez explaining what is being proposed for East Little Havana and then Ms. Spillman with regard to what we plan with Liberty City. Mr. Herb Bailey: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, as indicated in our previous meetings, we have designated on the Overtown Park West map those areas in which we hays decided that the $20,000,000 bond issue should be used which will compliment the existing $11,000,000 worth of bonds that have been authorized to do development in the Park Meat/Overtown area. On the map that you have in front of you, you can see that those areas shaded in purple are running fro■ 8th Street up to 11th Street will be used on the Overtown aide which, as was passed at the last Comis- sion Meeting which represents roughly about T5f of the total bond issue with an additional from that T51, $5,000400 of that to be used for second last resort housing which will run between 11th Street and 14th Street. It is o 1a rm•• tion to use the other 25% to acquire two parcels, two three-quarter parcels in the Park West side. The oaquta- IT 1 Lion of land for the total area comes to roughly $8,000,000. Demolition is $500,000; $1,000,000 for relocation and $750,000 for infrastructure improvements as required under the plan and in the REP. Another $2,000,000 is for finan- cial assistance for the construction of low and moderate income housing including some financing. The historical village will be allocated 2.7 million dollars for the pres- ervation of Overtown as a historical area to indicate that the viability of a previous black community and $5,000000, as we indicated, will be used to construct a start develop- ment of last resort housing between. 11th and 14th Street. NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Commissioner Perez entered the Meeting at 10:33 P.M. Mr. Bailey: That is the intent and purpose at the moment to use the $20,000,000 bond issue when approved in November. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Bailey, is the proposed allocation. still 20, 15 and 10? Mr. Bailey: 20, 15 and 10, yes, $45,000,000. Mr. Plummer: Okay, who is speaking to the little Havana aspect of it? Ms. Dena Spillman.: I'm going to take a minute and describe what we're proposing for Little Havana and liberty City. $15,000,000 has been ear marked for Little Havana and $10,000.000 for Libertv Citv. Now, what we have done is try to augment the activities that have alreadv taken place in the neighborhoods and basically deal with housing and infrastructure improvement as well as commercial redevelop- ment in Little havana to meet the needs of the neighborhood which are quite diverse. In Little Havana we are going to provide for new rental and home ownership housing and also we're going to enhance the long term stability of the area's commercial sector. I'll just run through the projects very briefly. We are proposing 1Z million dollars for multi- family housing rehab, there are several multi -family struc- tures in Little Havana that could benefit from this particu- lar effort. That would result in approximately 175 reno- vated units. We would propose to use 1.5 million dollars to acquire land for new rental housing which is direly needed in Little Havana and we feel that we could provide up to 150 new units of housing with this investment. We also propose to use a million dollars for land acquisition for sales housing. This would be second mortgage housing affordable to the people who live in the neighborhood and, again, there is a need for that. In the Latin Quarter, we're proposing that 3.2 million dollars be used to spur the development of a mixed use anchor project for the Latin Quarter area. This would be a real incentive for the private sector to get involved in an effort that the City has already begun. We would propose to emalgamate a development site and then put an RFP for developers to construct it and also offer financ- ing in the form of a UDAG or bond financing as it is availa- ble. We are proposing $5,000,000 for a Riverfront Redevel- opment, this would be again a redevelopment project along the river which is completely under-utilized. We would like to build on the efforts that have already taken place there near Joss Marti Park and again offer it for use by the private sector. MOTE FOR THE RECORD: P.M. Mr. Plummer: How such Park which started out ♦pproximately? 5 to there? Commissioner Caroilo arrived at 10:48 has already been spent on Jos* Marti 10 years ago as a $495,000 projsetT $6,000,000 has already been spent IT Mayor Ferre: Yes, but I'll tell you, and J. L., just so we don't on the record misunderstand things, the design four or five years ago or ten years ago was a totally different thing that what we've done. We haven't built what we Were talking about ten years ago, it is greatly increased, im- proved and expanded. Mr. Plummer: Well, my concern is the idea that $5,000,000 has been spent there now and proposing another $5,000,000. Isn't that what you just said? Ms. Spillman: No, I'm sorry, Commissioner, we would try to locate the redevelopment as close to the park as possible to benefit from what we have already done but this would not be part of the park, it would be a private re -use. Mr. Plummer: Well, I'm not going to get into it now, I'll get into it later. But you see, this is the problem I have with the proposal as it stands as the so-called Latin Quar- ter. Nowhere in the proposed Latin Quarter do you have any nucleus whatsoever. There is no area that I know of in that area where you could get a square block for a focal point of the Latin Center. If you were to take and move it from 8th Avenue, let's say to the river, you have Josh Marti Park which has already got $5,000,000 into it, you have the Ada Merrit School which is another city block of park and that is why I'm questioning putting another $5,000,000 in Josh Marti. Now you know, I don't know when JosLL Marti Park is... Mr, Kerr., through the Manager, when is that to open? Mr. Carl Kern: In October of this year. The pool has already been open., we hope to have... Mayor Ferre: Are ,you going to tell the commission when ,you are going to out the ribbon., or are you ... Mr. Kern: Yes, sir, it is on the next agenda as a discus- sion item to set the date. Mr. Plummer: Well, you see, you'd better discuss with this Commission because the way it is going at the present time there is going to be nothing left there to actually dedi- cate. Have you been to Jost► Marti Park? When was the last time you were there? Yes. I want to tell you that alread- y - it is not completed - that what has taken place there is unbelievable, Mr. Gary, unbelievable. They put up a security fence around that place that everybody has taken home. Okay? I want to tell you that you ought to see the swimming pool over there. It is filled with boulders. I want you to go over and look at the graffiti, but take a translator as I did, because I can't understand it. I think what you had better understand, somebody had better put some damned quick attention or there isn't going to be anything left to dedicate. It isn't there, it is gone and that is what upsets me when I sit here and listen talking about putting more money. Ms. Spillman: The last two items that are being proposed for Little Havana are $2,000,000 for the provision of off- street parking. The merchants in the area have oomplained that one of their severest problems is the lack of parking. We would propose, if possible, to work with Off -Street Parking in this effort to provide what is needed. And finally, $800,000 for the modernization of the Manuel Artiste Community Center, everyone knows that that building needs some attention and this would get us off to a goad start. In Liberty City, again we're proposing to build off what we've already started in the neighborhood. We Would ooncen, Irate in the areas of Geri City and Edison Center. In tierce RT City we're talking about $2,000,000 for multi -family housing rehabilitation, that would do about 200 rental units, that is severely needed in the area. We would acquire land for rental housing in the amount of $2,000,000. This could provide up to 250 units of new rental housing in both Germ City and closer to Edison Center to help the businesses there. We would propose to acquire land for sales housing in the amount of $2,000,000. This would provide up to 150 units of new housing in the area, again, this would be ownership housing. And finally, we are proposing $4,000,000 for commercial revitalization in the Edison Center area. this would be public infrastructure investments. We would do what is necessary in that neighborhood to help the busi- nesses and we would work with them closely in terms of what items they would like to see done. That is basically our recommendation. Mayor Ferre: Questions? Statements? Mr. Dawkins: I have a statement to make, Mr. Mayor. First, I'd like to go on the record again to say that I am anti this bond issue and the other bond issue. But I do feel that the citizens of Miami have a right to vote whether they want to tax themselves or not. Mr. Gary, the $45,000,000 bonds will be for how many years before they mature? Mr. Gary: Probably 20 years, Commissioner. Mr. Dawkins: What would the debt service per year be on $45,000,000? Mr. Plummer: About $214,000,000. Mr. Dawkins: Thank you. Now, will the Gary of color give me an answer. Mr. Gary: That is my other brother here. 25 year bonds... What was your question again? Mr. Dawkins: My question is what would the debt service be on the $45,000,000 over the life of the bond issue? Mr. Gary; Total payback would be approximately $121,000,000 and the annual debt would be 4.8 million dollars. Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, that's plus principle. Mr. Gary: That's total, the debt service includes principle and interest. Mr. Plummer: Okay. Mr. Dawkins: So that's $121,000,000, right? Mr. Gary: Yes. Mr. Dawkins: And we have another bond issue coming up called the Park & Recreation which is another 445,000,000 so we're talking about $242,000,000 worth of debt service if they pass, is that correct, sir? Mr. Gary: Correct. Mr. Dawkins: And you are telling me now that I have to raise taxes to pay the present system and I've got to tax as and the rest of the residents $160 to pick up the garbage, How do you plan to pay off this debt service without raising taxes? Mr. Plummer: With garbage. RT 4 9/6/$4 Mr. Dawkins: Oh, we're going to have garbage recycling to make money? Mr. Plummer: It will be bonds at the curbside. Mr. Gary: Well, first of all there are two separate issues you're talking about, one is the General Fund, one is the Debt Service, G.O. Debt Service Fund. The General Fund has a 10 mill cap. The Debt Service has a cap based on State law which is 15% of total assessed value. We are not any- where close to that. The total taxes though that the tax- payers nu:d have to pay would increase in order to pay back the deot service rey'rirements for these bond issues. Mr. Dawkins: So, what we're saying is that on top of infla- tion and other things ;.hat might come up, we are going to have to add some millage ,n-splace whet;ier it be for general bonds cap or with the ad valorem taxes but we would have to tax ourselves to come up with this money. Is that correct, sir? Mr. Gary: No doubt. Mr. Plummer: Same as DDA now. Mr. Dawkins: Okay, I just wanted to let the people know why I'm against the bond issue, that's all. Thank you, sir. Mr. Plummer: Anybody here to speak to the Liberty City $10,000.000 of this issue? Mr. Gary: We already talked about everything. We talked about Germ City, Edison Center. Mr. Plummer: It was awful brief, wasn't it. Mayor Ferre: Well, you were on the phone and sc was I and that's why you didn't hear it. Mr. Plummer: I think my phone conversation was about 30 seconds. Mayor Ferre: Well, let me put it to you this way: Your idea of how long you talk and other's ideas of how long you talk is a little bit different. All right, any further questions? Any other statements? What is the will of this Commission? Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, I think we should hold off until we get a full Commission because I don't think... So whether we vote it up or vote it down it is going to die. Mayor Ferre: Well, I'll tell you, we all know that Carollo and Perez are against it. They voted consistently against this bond issue. So unless there are three votes here, in MY opinion, it is going to die anyway so there is no need to wait for anybody unless you're telling me that Carollo and Perez have changed their position. So, is there anything that you want to change or delete of the bond issue that would change your position? Are you going to let the people vote on this or not? Mr. Plummer: Well, I just want to put on the reoord, Mr. Mayor, as I have before, if this issue does not go an I'm going to move immediately to scrap Southeast overto wn. it is dead. I said that before, I'll say it again that if this doesn't go on and it doesn't pass, then as far as I'm oon- omrned this is a faros, it is holding out false hope to people that it will never become a reality and I don't maot IT 5 F s to be a party to that. I said that six months ago and I'm going to say it again. Mr. Dawkins: well, I'll vote for it to put it on the ballot because I think the people have a right to know, but Mr. Gary, I am going to vote with the motion but have you sent out any literature to promote the bond issue yet? Mr. Plummer: No, it hasn't been approved, how can he do that? Mr. Dawkins: When you draw up your brochure to send out to promote this bond issue, I want somebody to work with me to also inform the voters of what this will cost them over the next 30 years and what have you. Okay? Okay, I'm ready to vote. Mayor Ferre: All right, is there a motion on the ordinance? Mr. Carollo: Mr. Mayor, is this on the bonds? Mayor Ferre: Yes, the $45,000,000 Housing and Redevelopment Bonds. Mr. Dawkins: I'm going to move it but I'm going to still be out there trying to convince people that they don't need to tax themselves this amount of money, but I'll move it. Mayor Ferre: And I will second the motion.. Thereupon the preceding motion failed to pass by the following vote - AYES: Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins* Mayor Maurice A.Ferre NOES: Commissioner J.L. Plummer Commissioneer Joe Carollo ABSENT: Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez Jr. (*) Later changed to NO vote At this point, the City Attorney read the Ordinance. ON ROLL CALL: Mr. Carollo: In voting in favor of the over taxed and under serviced taxpayers of Miami, I vote no. Mr. Ongie: Motion fails. Mayor Ferre: So we have no bond issue election. All right, make your motion for Overtowr.. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I make a motion at this particular time that all matters relating to Southeast Overtown be put on an immediate halt and no further monies be expended until approved by this Commission. Mayor Ferre: Is there a second to that motion? Mr. Carollo: Second. Mr. Gary: Under discussion, Mr. Mayor, the City Commission, the City of Miami has entered an agreement with the Federal Government for receipt of a 6.8 million dollar federal grant... Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I have said I's in favor of the bond issue, I have wanted that bond issue but I thought that NT 6 ► the allocation was not equitable, I voted before and Would vote again for a 10 in Liberty City, 20 in Overtown and 10 in Little Havana. That I'll vote for. Okay? Mayor Ferre: That's killing it. Mr. Plummer: I don't agree. Mayor Ferre: Do you think the Spanish community, do you think Alejandre who is going to have a press conference tomorrow, resign the whole committee including Mr. Sabines? Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I respect Mr. Alejandre's right to his opinion. I also respect my right to do as I feel right. Mayor Ferre: Well, I mean obviously, J. L., you are the swing vote on this thing because we a 3-2 vote and with your negative vote obviously you can call whatever shots you want. Mr. Plummer: No, Mr. Mayor, that shot was called two weeks ago when this Commission 3 - 2 voted for that formula and that is the formula we're working or.. Okay? Mayor Ferre: Well, let's see, I don't know if Commissioner Perez is here or not, he may have gone, he said he was leaving. Let me get him in here and see if he wants to do it again. Mr. Dawkins: I wish to change my vote on the bond issue. I do not feel that. 1 should tell people to vote for something that I'm going to get out and work against. So, therefore, why should I attempt to convince people to vote against it when I can kill it now and I don't have to convince them so, therefore, I change my vote. Mr. Plummer: It saves you a lot of work. Mayor Ferre: So I guess the end result of it is there is no bond issue. Mr. Dawkins: There is no bond issue. Mr. Plummer: On this ballot. Mr. Carollo: Now, in the meantime, can we instruct for the fourth, fifth or sixth time since I've been here, the admin- istration to sit down and bring to this Commission that I presented together with Mr. Ed London that would have pri- vate enterprise open the doors for affordable housing in this community? Mr. Mayor, would it be appropriate to make a motion in instructing the administration to do that? Mr. Plummer: To enter into discussion is always in order, I second that motion. Mr. Carollo: The motion is to instruct the administration to meet with Mr. Ed London on the plan that had been pre- sented to them and this Commission on many occasions and to bring that plan back for Commission action. It is a program of affordable housing. gT ? The following motion, was introduced by Commissioner Carollo, who moved its adoption: MOTION NO. 84-96 3 A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO CONTACT MR. ED LONDON IN CONNECTION WITH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN WHICH HE HAD PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION; FURTHER REQUESTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ASK THAT MR. LONDON BRING BACK SAID AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN FOR COMMISSION ACTION. Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote - AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Mayor Maurice A. Ferre NOES: None. ABSENT: Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez, Jr. Mr. Gary: Mr. Mayor, a response. Dena Spillman of my staff has met with Mr. London on numerous occasions to talk about his plan and ever, asked Mr. London to come back to even get it financed through UDAG process and Mr. London has not complied with that. I would like for Ms. Spillman to re- spond to that because this is the third or fourth time this has come up. Ms. Spillman: Commissioner, particularly after the last time this came up we met with Mr. London a lot and we sat down and we left it that we would like to work with him on a UDAG or any other kind of financing that would help the project and he apparently is not interested in it. I would be happy to get back with him.... Mr. Carollo: Well, Dena, I would be mighty surprised if he is not interested. Apparently something must have happened for him not to be back before this Commission. Now, I'm personally going to contact Mr. London but I would appreci- ate it if you would follow the Commission's instructions and contact Mr. London and bring it back before the Commission. Ms. Spillman: No problem. Mr. Carollo: What I'm seeing is that we're falling into the same mold, big government theory - forget about private enterprise, government is going to cure everything. All you've get to do is just tax the people to death, throw the money out and this is the cure for everything. It's not. The only thing that is going to do is create more problems. Mr. Walter Pierce: Mr. Carollo, in addition to what Ms. Spillman said about Mr. London's proposal, there was also a problem that Mr. London's units did not meet the minimum size requirement of the South Florida Building Code and the Minimum Housing Code as well. Mr. Carollo: Well, I think that the plan that was remodeled did meet completely the standards of the South Florida Building Code. I see Dena shaking her head yea. Mayor Ferre: Well, we'll take a break now for five minutoa. RT $ 9/6/94 Thereupon the City Commission recessed at 11:00 A.M. and reconvened at 11:26 A.M. Mayor Ferre: All right, I think we will adjourn. It does- n't look to me like we're going to be able to get a consen- sus on any of these issues and it is unfortunate and I'm sorry and I apologize to all of you and to the public, the Committee and the people that have worked so hard on these bonds but unfortunately the five members of this Commission simply cannot form a consensus. That is unfortunate and I feel badly about it but I don't think that at this stage anything can be done to change it. And so an awful lot of hard work by a lot of good people will not come to fruition and I am literally distressed about it but there is nothing that can be done and I think that is the way life is, you know, you don't always win. So I think the community is the loser for it but that is my personal opinion but there is nothing we can do about it - if you can't get three votes you can't get three votes. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, let me put my opinion on the record which I think we all should make our point clear. I have said from day one I think without equitable distribution of the dollars I would not vote for it and I don't think the voters would pay for it. I am willing to go for $15,000,000 for Liberty City, $20,000,000 for Overtown and $15,000,000 for Little Havana. I think that is an equal distribution. I think it is equal to the reed and as a.... Mayor Ferre: Plummer, I would accept that, as I told vou. Right now it is a question of trying to build three votes and I frankly would have preferred to go back to the origi- nal $35,000,000 and redistribute it but if that is not acceptable, and if we had your vote with the 50 then that is acceptable to me. But unfortunately, I don't know whether Commissioner Dawkins... Mr. Plummer: I respect Commissioner Dawkins' opinion, he has made it very clear from day one. I'm sure he has more than expressed his opinion. I'm only stating where J. L. is. Mayor Ferre: Mr. Dawkins, I would like to, I understand how you feel and I don't frankly blame you because I think you are more right than you are wrong on this issue and we've been jumping all over the place on it and I understand you are opposed to it. On the other hand, you know, it is not going to cost the people of Miami anything since we have an election anyway, but the printing of the ballot and I think it is a healthy exercise to let the people of Miami have the opportunity to express themselves. It is an important need, we all know that it is an important need and I would ask you to reconsider and let the people of Miami have that opportu- nity to express themselves and I think you may be right, I think you and Carollo and Perez may be right and that the people of Miami will not vote for any more ad valorem taxes on bonds but let's have one last try at it at least for the short time. Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, as everyone said, they know my Position and I felt as an elected official I should offer the citizens the right to vote on it but after reading an editorial in the paper yesterday which said that this edito- rial writer went out and sought people at the Metrorail Station, on the Metrorail, at the voting booths, and these individuals said the reasons they were not voting is that they were not informed and I truly believe that if we had publicised this issue and if we had let the voters know what this issue will cost them over the life of the bond I feel that this chamber would have been filled with people who IT 4 9/I64 would have voiced their opinion, then. Now, as you say often here, you have to fish or out bait so I have decided to fish. I will get some flack from individuals who say that I have deserted Liberty City which as a politician you have to accept that. There may be some friends of mine in Little Havana who say I have deserted them. But when I think that this bond issue alone will cost a minimum of 125,000,000 additional dollars I cannot in good faith even offer to put this before the voters, I could just explain to them that this is just too great a burden on top of the present econo- my to add to the voters so, therefore, I couldn't go for it. Mayor Ferre: All right, then I think there is nothing else to talk about on that issue. Is there any legal action we need to take? There is no legal action. Mr. Carollo: Mr. Mayor, if I may, I'd like to put it in the record so there won't be any misconceptions at a later time why from the start I have taken the position that I have. The reason; is that I feel that the people of Miami are fed up with high taxes. We are the most highly taxed City in this County, the exception again of the small little island by Miami Beach that has about 27 millionaires that live there, they don't care anyway if their taxes go up or down. The people of Miami, the middle class of Miami which has been the backbone of this community is moving by leaps and bounds. All segments, not just the white Anglo that is leaving, you have all the middle class is moving out. The main reason that I'm seeing is the high taxes. The homes right here in Coconut Grove that people have paid for years, just in tax alone they're having to pay $400 and $500 a month now. People can't afford that. And what I have done, I have presented a solution that the administration has not seen fit to follow on. I said fine, I'm not in favor of voting for more millions of dollars that we're going to have to pay in taxes but I presented a solution that private enterprise can come in and build affordable housing for this community and we have the people out there that can do it but again the philosophy that I'm seeing in this administra- tion is a welfare type of philosophy that says the cure to everything is just tax the people to death, throw the bucks out there and that's going to solve everything. Well, it's not. That might put a bandaid on it for the beginning but it is going to cause greater problems later on. And the only way that we are going to truly curtail the housing problem in this community is going to be by going to the private enterprise sector and get them in to work with us because the monies are not there for government to do it, the people not only of this City but across these United States are fed up with high taxes. Mayor Ferre: All right. We have one other issue before us which is the Charter Amendment on the.... Do we have the Parks today? Mr. Otis Pitts, Jr.: Mr. Mayor, is it possible at all, I'd like to make a comment on the bond issue very much? Mayor Ferro: Please, Mr. Pitts. Mr. Pitts: I think the real question is not so much cost... Mr. Ongie: Your name, please. Mr. Pitts: My name is Otis Pitts, Jr. and I a® the Presi- dent of the Tacolcy Development Corporation located at 6140 N.W. Tth Avenue. I think the real issue before the Comis. lion and possibly before this community is not what does it cost but what is it worth. The communities that will be affected by this bond issue are communities that have borne RT 10/ the cost of increased taxation to rebuild this community in all of its sectors. We are talking about an investment here in the community that will result in employment in these areas. I think these people are very willing, as I have talked with theta in the community at the community level. I don't know who is reacting about the taxes and what have you, but in these communities that will be affected by these bond issues the consensus is that this has been official to these communities and they are willing, as I understand it, to take the responsibility for doing this and recognizing that it always costs to invest in something. I think we're talking about providing some employment, we're talking about increased taxes that will come back to this City for other investments and those communities alone. We're not talking about somebody going into a hole, we're not talking about social programs for soft cause, we're talking about invest- ing in communities that will create jobs, short term, long term employment and development in these communities so they can begin to make real contributions back. So I think the community is going to benefit enormously from this kind of investment. These areas now have now been moved to the front burner for the first time, we're being told in the communities now that it is not important enough to increase the taxes of other citizens in this community to benefit their communities but what they're done all along for other communities. I think it is unfair to them, I think they are going to react negatively to it. My community is quite enthusiastic and have begun to feel rather hopeful about what was happening from the Commission Chambers of their concerns as the result of this thing having been passed. Lard now to go back and tell them today that they have now been moved back again but other projects have now beer moved to the front burner and other communities are being invested in I think is not a good statement for this Commission to be making to this community at this time. Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, I'd like to ask Mr. Pitts a ques- tion and then make a statement. Mr. Pitts, where do you reside? Mr. Pitts: I reside at 2021 N.W. 194th Terrace. Mr. Dawkins: Is that in the City or out of the City? Mr. Pitts: No, but I have family living in the City. Mr. Dawkins: No, answer my question, sir. Is that in the City? Mr. Pitts: That is in Dade County. Mr. Dawkins: All right, so, therefore, if we pass the bond issue it would not affect your taxes one way or the other in the City of Miami, would it, sir? Mr. Pitts: It affects my mother who lives at 1051 N.W. 66th Street, I carry her on my taxes, I support a portion of her living, over 50% of her income comes from me and she is a tax deduction on my taxes. It will affect the taxes that I pay to help her pay her taxes and to pay her mortgage each month. Mr. Dawkins: Thank you for answering that, now I'm make a statement, sir. You and I have been in the in this area that you call our community since I Miami. If you will remember, you and I have gone EOPI and this neighborhood has not benfitted. through the Model Cities Program and promises and happened in this community, sir. going to trenches come to through We went nothing NT 11 9/ W84 0 0 Mr. Pitts: I absolutely agree. Mr. Dawkins: We went to bonds for people where bonds were sold to benefit these people and nothing happened, sir. We also went to the rapid transit bonds and the people whom you are talking about, sir, have often been the swing vote that caused these bonds to pass. Each time these same individu- als whom you and I have been trying to help are always told, "You are next". Any time something is to be doe in that neighborhood that you and I are talking about it is always with a bond. Other areas you get tax increments, you get something and then they come and tell me the reason why you have no tax base to operate from, sir, is there is nothing to tax. But if you develop Brickell Avenue and you don't develop this area you don't have anything to tax. So, now, you and anybody else who do not understand that it is time that something be done in this area without a bond issue, then you'll never understand. So that's all. Mr. Pitts: Well, I would say this, I think the bond issues, bonds have been used traditionally throughout this Country by local governments to stimulate investments in communi- ties. I think it is a rather common practice and I think in this instance it is necessary. I would say this, I think the one difference in this is the kind of caveat that you placed on the bond issue for Overtown that will make the difference. We didn't have people who would condition their support in the past as you have done in. Overtown to assure the kind of involvement that heretofore we have not had. So I think now we're talking about a different Commission with some different kinds of concerns. The kinds of things you've done with respect to your support, why not condition all the bonds in that manner? I think what you've done to town represents a departure, it would assure the kind of benefits that we've been denied in the past. So I think in this instance .you made sure, at least to my knowledge, as I understand the questions you raised with the Manager and others, that these things would begin to benefit people in a different way. So I think we can now look at it, it is a vehicle that should be utilized to develop communities that cannot have enough tax base to support itself in terms of development, but I think this kind of development will give it a tax base in the future, and if we condition these bonds in such way that people will, in fact, benefit, I think that's what's been missing in the past. We have passed these bonds without the conditions that you have now at- tached to Overtown and should be attached to Liberty City and all bonds, for that matter, in the City. So I think we have some safeguards in place now we didn't previously have. I think that is the difference in the two. Mayor Ferre: All right, thank you very much, Mr. Pitts. I would just for my statement in closing this for myself say that I think this is a sad moment for the City, I think it is tragic because I think Otis Pitts puts his finger on it when he talks about hope. You know, we passed what $75,000,000 worth of bond issues in March for sewers and police. Well, we passed the storm sewers bond issue in Flagami and I think even if this thing were to go down in defeat in November it seems to me that it is awfully impor- tant to give people the opportunity to express themselves in the democratic fashion. We have a tradition in Miami of bonds. This City is extremely conservative in its bond standings in the State of Florida. We are not over -bonded, we are under -bonded. We are way under the national average. We're under the average of cities our size. For us to pass storm sever bonds and bonds for other improvements and not to give people the opportunity to pass these bonds I think is a terrible signal. But, that is the will of the majori. ty. We liv�t in a democratic society and that is the way we are governed. So on with the next issue. RT 12 9/46/0 0 0 Mr. Carollo: The democratic process was followed. Less than a year ago the people of Miami were given the opportu- nity to vote for a $20,000,000 bond package. They voted it down. Now, we're coming back with one that is over twice as much. So the people were given the opportunity to vote on it. Mayor Ferre: But it didn't include Little Havana or Liberty City and I think that is the major issue difference. And also I think you've got to remember, you see, in the blast from the Herald editorial it said that we didn't go out and work sufficiently hard for it, the fact is that we passed $75,000,000 worth of bonds. That is the second largest passage of bonds in the history of the City of Miami} only surpassed by what we passed last year. Look at the things that we passed. We passed storm sewers, drainage sewers, police, fire, those are the things that we passed. But when we get down to the issues that affect the black community and those that are disadvantaged and poor. Yes, we failed in March. Does that mean that we don't get up and dust ourselves off and go at it again? Don't we have a responsi- bility in this community to try to even things out so that we have a society and a community where everybody has oppor- tunities and everybody has the... But I'm not going to convince anybody so at this stage of the game... Mr. Dawkins: But I think we also need to clear up one thing and that is, another thing as Commissioner Carollo says and I've been saying constantly too - this bond issue was voted down by the people and then we, the Commission, those of us who voted for it, in order to recruit support, then after it was voted down. as $20,000,000 for Overtown, then we came back and tried to coat people by adding $15,000,000 for Liberty City to get Liberty City to vote for it and change their minds and then we added $15,000,000 or $10,000,000 for Little Havana. See, all we did up here was try to create an atmosphere to get it passed. Mayor Ferre: That's correct, there's nothing wrong with that. Mr. Dawkins: There may not be nothing wrong with it, but, you know, why didn't we do this at first? Mayor Ferre: Well, we made a mistake, didn't we? And you know, you make mistakes? I make mistakes, the thing is that when you make a mistake you have to admit it and move along. Mr. Dawkins: Show me a person who doesn't make any mis- takes, Mr. Mayor, I'll show you a person not doing anything. Mayor Ferre: All right, and I think, you know, what we're trying to do, Miller, just to try to get this thing back. Let me ask one last question and then we move along. We do have to vote on the Parks Bond Issue, that is coming up. Now, Commissioner Perez and Carollo, if I recall right, did not vote for those either for the same logic and philosophy as has been expressed here today. Now, the three of us, as I recall, did vote for it. I think we had might as well got that one behind us too one way or the other. Are you going to use the same logic on that? Mr. Dawkins: I'm not voting for any bonds. Mayor Ferre: So in other words we're not going to have any bond issues this November. So it isn't only ovortown, Little Havana and Liberty City but also the Parks Bond issue. Madame City Attorney, one last question to you. Is today the last day we have to do this? NT 13 #� Ms. Lucia Allen Dougherty: No. #45 400,000? Mayor Ferre: Yes, ma'am. You're talking about the Ms. Dougherty: No, we have the Parks set for the 18th. We had to set that one at that time because of the 6 month rule. But you have up until 45 days prior to the election. Mayor Ferret. So we still have some extra time. All right, well, maybe there will be another day on this. Now, on the question of the second reading for the Charter Amendments for the Strong Mayor and the district form of government. I think we've had an opportunity to read the changes. I just want to formalize on the record, just for the record, that I am for this. Evidently, I don't think we're going to be able to get a consensus on the Commission on that. We only have a four member Commission here which speaks to Commis- sioner Perez' position at this point. He knows what we're voting on and just for the record, I would like to move on second reading the ordinance that is before us. Mr. Plummer: Motion made that the ordinance that was pre- sented on first reading yesterday be approved on second reading today. Is there a second? Mr. Carollo: There is a second for the purpose of discus- sion. Mr. Mayor, I am in favor of the Strong Mayor, admin- istrative mayor, if you will. form of government for th City of Miami, I have stated that since I first got elected to the City Commission, in 1979. What I am not in favor of is presenting a plan that. is only going to be presented to the voters of the City in a joint resolution. In other words, we're not giving them the opportunity to vote on the sepa- rate issue of whether they want a strong mayor and to vote on the separate issue of whether they want to enlarge the Commission to 10 members, 9 members - well, it is a 9 member Commission and the Mayor makes it 10. Still, it will be a 10 member Commission. And to have districts. I think that two issues are two very separate and distinct issues, very important issues and they shouldn't be lumped together at the same time. They should be two separate questions that should be asked and that the people should have the opportu- nity to vote upon. Some might want to vote for one part, some for the other. See, what concerns me is, and I've been seeing this in the last couple of days in the Miami Herald, all of a sudden you're seeing huge headlines of Latins voting blocks. The Cubans elected Steve Clark; the Cubans voted in block for this other candidate and that. Well, it is funny, when other groups vote in a majority for a candi- date of their choice they call that ethnic pride but when Cubans vote in a majority for the candidate of their choice they call that voting in block. This again is part of the double standard that we have in this community. The reason Cubans voted 80% or more for Mayor Steve Clark is that Mayor Steve Clark has spent a tremendous portion of his time working within the Cuban community, being there, lives there, voting in favor of most of the issues that affect the Cuban community while his opponent was only seen, and at that not all that such, only at election tile. I can't, Mr. Mayor, and My colleagues, vote to put both these issues together on the ballot and the reason I can't is that, and I'm not accusing you of this, Mr. Mayor, but I do think that some of the people that sight have advised you on this, other people have different motives than what night appear on the surface and that is that by having six sea►bera run from districts that means that without a doubt at least 3 e1* those members, if not possibly 4, depending on which oral► you out the districts, are going to be assured that their are IT 14 going to be non -Cuban, non -Latins and then, out of the other 3 members of the Commission and the Mayor at large, only half, will be Hispanic because no matter what is said about the Cuban voters, yes, Cuban voters vote in block when they feel a candidate has served them well or will serve them well. But they also vote in blocks not only for Hispanic and Cuban candidates but many other candidates that are non - Cuban or non other Hispanic groups. What I'm seeing is that this is a subterfuge to at least hold back for even more years the possibility that a majority of the elected offi- cials in this City will be Hispanic, will be Cubans. You know, Miami Beach, the vast majority of the Commission in Miami Beach has been Jewish and no one has complained about that. Opa Locka, you have the same case, you have a black mayor. Well, the reason is the majority of the voters in Miami Beach are Jewish. The majority of the voters of Ope Locka are black. There is nothing wrong with that. But it seems that to some people it is a terrible sin, it can't be that you can have a Cuban mayor or a majority of the members of the Commission of the City of Miami to be Cubans, that is wrong. what I can't understand is that same type of philos- ophy doesn't apply to anywhere else. These are the same people that are always screaming of majority rule in Afri- ca - and I agree with that - and majority rule in other place, and I agree with that - but they want minority rule in the City of Miami. And I am sick and tired of seeing these type of individuals try to rack their heads to figure out a way, if at least they can't do away with the City of Miami, to work out a solution where the majority of this community won't be able to have a majority representation. This community, whether people like it or not is 62% or more Hispanic, a majority of those being rubans and that's not going to go away and we're not different than anybody here and we breath the same air, we live in the same places, the only difference is we speak at times a different language, we might look a little different than some of the other people here, but we care about this community. We have the same patriotism, if not more, than a lot of the same native Americans do. I think it is going to be a great injustice if I sit back and let this go by without speaking up. Dade County government hasn't even begun to take the first step in drawing districts and they're not whether we do or not. Forty-four per cent, maybe even forty-five per cent of Dade County today is Hispanic. Again, the vast majority of that being Cubans. We only have one member on the Dade County Commission and that has always been the token seat when at least we should have had three members if we're going to be fair about it. The School Board, it is the same thing. You look at the judgeships in this County, out of scores of judgeships we don't even have a handful. And you could go down the line but then you hear certain individuals that want to run and dictate the fate of this City and this County trying to use the scare tactics of Cuban take-over, Cuban power, Cuban voting blocks. Well, there is no real Cuban power in this community and particularly not for the numbers that we have. When you have a city that is 62% Hispanic, when you have a County that is close to 45% His- panic, where is that huge Cuban political clout in elected Positions? On the contrary, for the numbers that we have we have very few elected positions. So Mr. Mayor, there is no way that I am going to be in favor of something that is going to go against the best interest of the majority of the people of this community. And I got elected, yes, the past election some 45% of the white American voters of this community voted for me - and I think I represented thee; well - and in running against two black candidates I still picked some 15% of the black American vote of this cowuni- ty. But I also can't forget that I received some 90% of the Cuban -American votes of this City. And if it weree't for the Cuban -American votes of this City, I would not be sit. RT 15 V#/ ting on this Commission today. So I have to represent not only the whole City of Miami which I have always done, but I also have to represent the majority of the people that voted for me. And what I'm seeing by this idea of a ten member Commission where six will come from districts is that in the very short run and the long run that is a plan that is going to hold back a majority of this community. Yes, I want to see representations from all ethnic groups, all racial groups in this City Commission but I want to see it at all levels. I want to see it at Dade County government, I want to see it in the School board, I want to see it across the board. Mr. Plummer: Further discussion? Mayor Ferre; Yes, if I may, and I don't want to get into, I don't think this is the time to get into a debate or a big discussion but I think for the record and so that we under- stand our positions and all this. I think that a strong mayor form of government and a district form of government is by far the best that humankind has devised. It has worked well in this republic for 208 years. It is the way our presidency and our congress works. It works well for 50 states of the union. It works well in over 90% of the major cities of America. It is an established traditional demo- cratic form of American government. That stands on its own. What this document does is it is no more and no less than to duplicate that system which has served the United States of America and the State of Florida in cities from Boston to San Francisco to Denver to Houston, Atlanta, Tampa and Orlando and Hialeah well. There is nothing in here that is any different in essence. Now, as to the issue of separa- tions of the issues before the ballot, yes, there are three issues here, in a general sense it is a total reform of the structure of government. There are three issues. One is the form of the chief executive and how that is done. Secondly is the size of the Commissior and thirdly is the question of districts. The size of the Commission, there is no other city in America that is the size of the City of Miami that is run by a five member commission, none. It does not exist. This is much too small a commission for this dynamic and this size city. There is no other city in America that has this small a commission. Seven is a good number, nine is better in my opinion, and that is the tradi- tional form around the country. With regards to district- ing, it works for Congress. There is a reason why there is a lower house and the Senate. I think that the balance of 6 districts unquestionably guarantees a black and a so-called white Anglo seat on the Commission. I find nothing wrong with that. I don't think there is any way you could take a community which is now over 45% Latin registration, when you take into account that people that were born in Miami 18 years ago by the name of Lopez are counted as Anglos and with what is happening in the registration process, we're going to swear in 10,000 more citizens in a couple of weeks, the Elections Department and people who are in the know on procedures conclude, as I do, that by next November in the next City election 50% of the electorate is going to be Hispanic. There is just no and, if's or buts about it. On a one man one vote basis, there is no way that any way you slice the City into six portions, if you stick to the Coo- stitution of the United States, and that means you cannot gerrymander, and even if you could gerrymander, there is no way you can take a political community that is 50% of one particular group and to out out that group from exercising its franchise. There is just no way that you could legally do it or practically do it. Therefore, there is no quostioo that if we went to 6 districts and 3 at large thot t probability, not only the possibility, the probability to that there would no less than 3 Cuban or Latin dlstri�#t RT 16 commissioners and probably 4 and that the three at large seats obviously, if there is such a thing as block voting or preferential voting with candidates that represent issues or constituencies, that there is no way that anybody could show gee or any student of government that there would be any less than 5 of the 9 that would be Hispanic and in all probabili- ty it would probably be 6 of the 9. But be that as it may, the issue is why not separate it. Well, there I have to go to history. If you look at the history of all of this, when you see the last vote, there was not one black precinct that did not vote for districting, not one. Every single black precinct in Miami voted for districting despite the fact that there was some organized and strong opposition to districting even in the black community and yet every single black precinct voted for districting. The converse is that every single Cuban or Latin precinct voted against district- ing. Now, there are those who say, well, if you give people a chance they might change their mind and they would vote for districting and for a strong mayor. In all good con- science, I think, and we have to be very frank and outspoken about this, I think that in 1987 it is probable that the elected mayor would probably be a Hispanic, probably Cuban. That person would be a strong mayor, if this were to pass, and he would have a tremendous amount of authority - and I'm not worried. It doesn't scare me. You know Boston didn't sink when the Irish took over and Atlanta didn't sink when the blacks took over even though everybody thought that it would, but it didn't. And Miami is rot going to sink be- cause there is a rubar, mayor no more than Hialeah has sunk because there is a Cuban mayor. Hialeah has done very well under this mayor, he happens to be Cuban. He is probably the best manor that Hialeah has had - he is in my opinion. Now, the question is one of balance. You see, what is happening is this, and I'll say this last thing and let it go at that. It is what is called alienation. About 15 years ago the University of Fordham did a study on the Puerto Rican community in New York City and it happened because the Dean of the School of Sociology at Fordham, Father Fitzpatrick, took an interest in something that occurred. There was a young kid 3 days off of an airplane from Puerto Rico who stabbed a man in 5th Avenue and it was reported in the paper that this 18 year old boy had never been in jail, was a graduate of highschool, came from the mountains of Puerto Rico, never had any problems with his family, didn't come from a broken home, typical farm family. And so Fordham after an exhaustive study paid by the Ford Foundation and others, came to the conclusion that it was called cultural shock and alienation. And what they said was the reason why people who vote 83% in Puerto Rico and vote 20% in Harlem or in the Bronx is because they feel that their vote doesn't me,n anything and they are disenfran- chised through self -alienation. Now Charles Whitehead wrote a column this morning in the Herald. It is a different column from the one he has written about this in the past. Before he used to complain about it, now he says it is part of the American tradition not to vote. Well, that's called alienation. It used to be at the height which was the Eisenhower election that we used to vote 70 - 75%. Now we're down to 52 - 53% in 1980. The President of the United States was, in fact, elected by less than 20% of the people in the United States that could elect a president. Now, the point in all of this is why don't people vote? Well, it+s not because it's raining and it's not because they're not informed, if they want to be informed they can be informed. They don't vote because they are alienated and they alienat- ed because they don't feel that their vote mean anything. In my opinion there is another name for that, by the way, it is called white flight. It is occurring in this comunity. People are leaving it, people are leaving it from Deds County and they are going up to Broward County and thoa* RT 17 9I, that can't leave and get jobs in other places are leaving and then driving to work and then going back to their commu- nities. It's not new to America, it has happened in New York and in Chicago and in Boston and San Diego. It happens everywhere. But one of the ways that I think that, if there is anything that could be done, and I'm not sure that there is anything that could be done, to soothe people on these is to give them an assurance that somehow they will have a voice. Now, I don't, see, the example of Miami Beach, let me tell you what happens with the Miami Beaches of the world. What happens with the Miami Beaches of the world is that sooner or later they break down because you cannot have ghetto type cities, they don't function. They don't function when everybody is black or everybody is Chinese or everybody is Italian and we need to have a commu- nity that is Latin - which is what it is - but that is also representative of the mainstream of American cities. And the only way you can do that•, in my opinion, is to give people the assurance that they will have a voice, that they will have representation, that they will have participation. And I think that what we are about to do here is to assure both blacks and white nor. -Latins that they would have some sort of representation. Now, I know there are those of you, and Tal, you and I talked about it this morning, that the status quo is best. I don't think the way the vote occurred on Tuesday and the way it occurred last year, that that is the case. I think we're not going towards the status quo situation and I think that I happen to be a person that believes it is better to foresee what is going to happen and deal with it before it happens rather than to have to go back and go through a corrective process of assuring people. Yes, in 10 years I think people will realize that there is nothing wrong with having and all Cuban Commission or an all Jewish Commission or an all black Commission. But I would say that Atlanta is a lot healthier when people have that type of opportunity and diversity. And if you look at cities where there are healthy governments there are dis- tricts. There are districts because there is a recognition that in districting you give people the assurance of partic- ipation on both the neighborhood and on an ethnic basis and those cities where there are districts are healthier. Now, to the last point which is the strong mayor. I don't think this has anything to do with Maurice Ferre or Howard Gary. I'm not going to be around, I don't know what Howard's position is, he has stated in the past that as do all city managers, that there are limitations as to how long anybody is going to be City Manager. I don't think we can go around making decisions on government based on individuals. We've got to do it because it is good or it is bad or it makes sense. It isn't that I want to strengthen the hand of the Mayor, I want to strengthen the hand of the Manager. I would like the Manager to have veto power, that is the only way, it is the ultimate weapon in a democracy for a strong administrator, is to give him a veto power. We can't give the Manager a veto power unless we elect him, and this was just an attempt to try to follow the American established tradition both nationally and in state houses and in cities throughout this country of giving the administrator suffi- cient muscle with which to really administer a city. Howard Gary, and I don't want to limit it to Howard, Merritt Stierheim has done, in my opinion, as good a job as managers can do but they are frustrated individuals as were their predecessors. And the reason why they are always frustrated is because they ean go only so far and then they really cannot. They cannot because they don't have the Muscle to do it. And what I aye saying is that in those cities that I have seen, Denver and Houston and Seattle, Washington and Tampa, those cities, Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston, when there are dynamics the dynamics show - you any have a bad mayor here and there, but for the most part those RT 18 are happier communities where things get done because you're giving the administrator the kind of tools with which to do a job. Now, it is unfortunate and I think we won't be voting on this and that's the end of it and it will have to wait for another day and another time and another commis- sion, perhaps we'll deal with that issue then. In the meantime this is a dead issue for now and I thank all of you that have been working on this and we'll let it go at that. Mr. Plummer: Further discussion? Call the roll. Thereupon the City Clerk read the proposed ordinance into the public record (Charter Amendment 02). The preceding motion introduced by Mayor Ferre and seconded by Commissioner Carollo failed to pass by the following vote The City Attorney read the proposed ordinance into the Public Record. - AYES: Mayor Maurice A. Ferre NOES: Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. ABSENT: Vice -Mayor Dem etrio Perez, Jr. ON ROLL CALL: Mr. Carollo: In voting no, I'd like to state again that I am very much in favor of a strong mayor and an administra- tive mayor form government but I am not in favor of pushing down people's throat other portions that they might not agree with in return for a strong mayor form of government. It isn't the way the democratic system works. There are too many issues that have been placed on this one item. Yea, I think all ethnic racial groups should have representation on this Commission, I'm not against districts for the City of Miami. What I am against is the plan that I feel has been thought out in this particular plan where you are expanding the Commission from 5 to 10. I think that Dade County and the School Board should go to districts but it is funny, 10 years ago, 8 years ago when the Cubans in Miami were not any kind of a political force in the City. Nobody wanted dis- tricts then. Nobody mentioned districts. But now that in the City of Miami things have changed and Cuban -Americans are having the same thing that for others is called ethnic pride now those some people want districts. Well, I's sorry that to some I don't please and I'm never going to please, but see, apparently I please the majority of the people of Miami to have gotten re-elected particularly after so many said that I wouldn't have a chance in the world, that my eleei:ion was a fluke. Oh, and I understand that since they weren't able to defeat me on the ballot they will try other ways in the double standards that we have to try to come at me. I realize that and I am prepared to take those chal- lenges on whichever way they come. But I can't forget who elected no and while I'm very proud to be an Amerioan in my patriotism to this Country and my loyalty to this Country is as great as any native born American, if not greater, and my own family I think is as good an example of any of the melting pot of this Country. Like others, I can't forgot where my roots come from. That's why I vote no. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ * ------------------------- * 2. BRIEF DISCUSSION - JACKSON VICTORY TOUR CONCWRT. ___ __________________________________________________________ Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I'd like to bring or broach two subjects very quickly. As you know, you appointed me as a chairman to try and secure the Jackson Concert for Miami, I think the predicates have been laid out completely. The demands of the promoters are still that of approximately $4,950,000 in guarantees, one deviation from that was that they didn't necessarily expect it from the City but it could be from the private sectors. I approached the Chamber of Commerce and asked if they would poll their people to see if anyone would be interested, it came back that no one was. I'm merely asking, as your representative if any members of the Commission have had any change of heart other than the poll that was done by Mr. Jack Eads because if not, if there is no change of heart then I have to say that it is done and over. but I would like a consensus of any one of the Com- mission who has any different opinion. Mr. Carollo: I don't think we can afford the $5,000,000 man. Mr. Plummer: Okay. the only thing I would ask is a second item, Mr. Mayor, that during Budget Hearings of Monday and Tuesday of next week I would like the DDA Budget to be brought up during that period of time and to be revisited. Does that reed a motion, Mr. Manager? Is there any further business to come before this Commission? Mr. Carollo, the Manager has an item. 3. GRANT FEE WAIVER FOR ORANGE BOWL STADIUM A BAYFRONT PARK AUDITORIUM - IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION SERVICES FOR SWEARING -IN CEREMONY. Mr. Gary: The Immigration. & Naturalization Service request- ed the use of the Orange Bowl to swear in a number of people who have just received their citizenship. We granted the Orange Bowl, now they want the Bayfront Park Auditorium for the people who processed their documents and they want those for the dates of Se;�tember 19, 20 and 21. They want it rent free. Mr. Carollo: We shouldn't stop the democratic process, move it. Mr. Gary: Well, what happened was the request came in initially, it had both the things in the letter but when you all brought it up you only dealt with the Orange Bowl issue. Mr. Plummer: Let me just ask a question. Are they going to pay for clean-up? Are they going to pay for security? Mr. Gary: They only wart rent free, every thing else they have to pay for. Mr. Plummer: In other words they're going to pay for clean- up and all of that. Mr. Gary: Clean-up, security. Mr. Dawkins: Second. Mr. Plummer: Motion made and duly seconded that the request of the I.N.S. for the use of the Orange Bowl and the Bayfront Park Auditorium be granted. Any further discus- sion? Call the roll. RT 20 9/b1��1 The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Carollo, who moved its adoption: MOTION NO. 84-964 A MOTION GRANTING A REQUEST MADE BY THE IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICES FOR WAIVER OF RENTAL FEE AND USE OF THE ORANGE BOWL STADIUM AND BAYFRONT PARK AUDITORIUM IN CONNECTION WITH PROCESSING OF DOCUMENTS AND FINAL SWEARING -IN CEREMONY FOR NATURALIZATION OF APPROXI- MATELY 10,000 PEOPLE. Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote - AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. NOES: None. ABSENT: Vice -Mayor Demetrio Perez, Jr. Mayor Maurice A. Ferre THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 12:30 P.N. Maurice A. Ferre M A T 0 R ATTEST: Ralph G. Ongie CITY CLERK Natty Hirai ASSISTANT CITY CLERK