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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1980-10-03 MinutesIII C14' ISUNIFFIORIDA ORDINANCE OR ITEM NO, PUBLIC HEARING SLL ECT OCTOBER 3, 1980 FzsourrioN No, PAGE NO, 1. DIRECT SANITATION DEPARTMENT NOT TO IMPLEMENT PROPOSED MOT. 80-725 CONTAINER SYSTEM UNLESS CITY ADMINISTRATION EITHER: (a) OBTAINS NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS SIGNATURES OR (b) OFFERS THIS OPTION TO THE PEOPLE IN A REFERENDUM. 2. DEFINING AND DESIGNATING THE 'TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAXATION. ORD. 9178 3. MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1981. ORD. 9179 4. INTENT OF CITY COMMISSION MAKING IT MANDATORY THAT NoT YEAR THE BUDGET BE PREPARED AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION COVERING A T140-YEAR PERIOD; AND THAT IT BE PRESENTED FOR TWO-YEAR PERIODS SUBSEQUENTLY THEREAFTER. MOT. 80-726 ? t • MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the 3rd day of October, 1980, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in said City in Special Session to consider business of public import. The meeting was called to order at 7:25 P.M. by Mayor Maurice A. Ferre with the following members of the Commission present: ALSO PRESENT: Vice Mayor Armando Lacasa Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson Commissioner J.L. Plummer, jr. Commissioner Joe Carollo Mayor Maurice A. Ferre R. L. Fosmoen, City Manager George F. Knox, City Attorney Ralph G. Ongie, City Clerk Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Reverend Theodor R. Gibson, who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mayor Ferre: Good evening ladies and gentlemen. This a second public hearing of the City of Miami Commission, to discuss Fiscal Year 80-81 proposed budget. The first item on the agenda is a discussion of proposed millage rate, and the tenative budget. Now, since this is a public hearing, and I already have some speakers that wish to be heard. Is there anybody else that wishes to be heard that has not signed the Clerk's register? If you would, please give your name to the Clerk, he will ... or he or she will give me your name and I will recognize you in order. Mr. Fosmoen: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferre: Yes sir. Mr. Fosmoen: Mr. Mayor, you must for the record read the proposed percentage increase as indicated on your agenda. Mayor Ferre: Alright, the proposed millage over the roll back rate is a 27.3% increase. The specific purpose for which ad-volorum tax values are being increased is (1) to maintain police services at current levels which has a cost factor of 2,149,088 , a 19% increase, the adding of additional police personnel, a 150 members of the sworn officers and civilians, which is 3,361,704, 29%, to add public safety fund to $2,000,000 dollars, 18%, maintain fire services at current levels, $1,551,210, 14%, maintain Solid Waste services at reasonable levels, 2,201,163, 19% Building and Zoning at reasonable levels 140,465, 1% increase, a total of 11,403,000 and 630,000 which makes up a 100% of the figures that have been read, the increase. So there- fore to recap 50% of the increase is for police ... I beg your pardon, I am sorry, it's a fifty...it's about 65% is police, 14% is for fire and 19% is for Solid Waste of the total increase. The Commission will now listen to citizens comments regarding the proposed millage increase and, then we will close the public hearing and get involved in Commission discussion. The first speaker is Mr. Donal Dersz. Mr. Don : My name is Don . I'm not a very good speaker. My address is 1852 S.W. 24th Street. I would like to db 0 V talk about some waste Mayor Ferre: Mr. Dersz, excuse me, and this will be the only inter- ruption that I'll...Does anybody who has put his or her name down as a speaker wish to speak any more than three minutes? Mrs. Rockafeller, anybody else? Mrs. Walden, excuse me. We'll you have to tell me now, because I have to allocate the time. You need to speak five minutes? Mrs. Walden: Mayor Ferre: No, five minutes. Five minutes to Mrs. Rockafeller and you? Mr. Maybe four or five minutes Mayor Ferre: Okay and Mrs. Walden, I reserve five minutes so the first speaker will speak five minutes.. Mr. : Mr. Mayor, Commissioners and fellow citizens, I would like to talk about the waste in the way the City uses its revenues before we bring in a few things about the budget. First of all, con- cerning double taxation by the County, for fire rescue and perhaps the police services, this is something that appeared impairly back in May 16, 1979, and I have a copy of it here. So I went down to the County Assessors office, and they told me that there was no such animal as double taxation, which I believe is against state law. They told me that we utilized all the services by the City from the County. I did this in June. I called the City Attorney's Office in July, and talked to one of the assistants, and he informed me that this is a legal gray area, and I did not see a mention by the until the 15th of December, 1979, that's my first query. Another item...second item has to do with the sewer installations. They installed in front of my house on 24th Streets sewers which I also paid money to connect to, and since then there has been faulty drainage right in front of my house, and drive way. I also have pictures of the area, in which I can't drive out without ruining my car, people can't park in front of house, because this huge puddle, I have my own swimming pool now sort of speak. I've talked to the City over the phone, they were very nice about it, but what they did was they kept tearing up the streets, they made holes so that the water can drain in. I wrote the City a letter, and they replied very nicely. This possibly might take care of the My question here is when the sewers was being put in why wasp t it properly inspected? The third item is I wanted to mention that the apartment houses on 24th street that we received it intermittent police inforcement of illegal parking on the north side of the street, between a 2000 and 20/20 S.W. 24th Street, but I am not going to dis- cuss that because I think that you gentlemen will state that well what we need is more policemen in the area. However, let me state instead that when I first moved down to Miami, back in 1973, around 1975. I worked for Ryder Yacht. I had a Ryder Yacht uniform on, Ryder Yacht's... In a Ryder' Yacht's van, it says Ryder Yachts on it, and I've had a total of four police cars, two"bf those.policemen wore brass, apparently they had gold on their hats and they stopped us for some sort of suspicious purposes. Again, to repeat myself, I had Ryder Yacht's shirt on, Ryder Yacht's truck the whole bit, they searched the van and searched us on suspiciion so my brother and I and a third person filed a com- plaint with the Internal Review of the Miami City Police the next day. Three weeks later, we received a telephone call from the lieutenant in charged of that division, who stated that, that never happened. This took up eight policemens two of who are brass, forty five minutes of their time. I found that very increditable. Anothering thing that strikes me is that homeowners, both owners from outside the City utilize the dock space at the City Marina these people pay no City tax. I've been on the waiting list for three years now, waiting for a simple boat slip, I've talked to Mr. Jennings, he informed me that there would...there is a published waiver in which there was not. We dis- cussed that with the new head dockmaster at the time, and it hasn't been a public waiting list since. This is-a'since past ... since this past summer, early summer. So, I believe that a lot of people from db outside the City are taking advantage of our slips that our tax dollars that I'm sure are helping to support. This could be revenue. I also paying the salary of the City Attorney who provides -legal services outside his appointed job. I as a teacher if I were to tutor students outside of tho classroom for pay who are my students, I would be fired. Concerning the waste removal of services, we receive these bills re- cently for the waste removal of service through the mail, I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about, and I wonder why these aren't included as part of the Miami City taxes, part of the property taxes atleast we could deduct in from our income tax, which we can not do at the way it now stands. I would like to know how much of our present tax dollars is toward waste removal, could we se an itemized budget. I, also ques- tion with these taters...totters, excuse me, these totters, how long do they last before they need replacement and what the cost be? Thank you very much. Mayor Ferre: Alright, thank you Mr. Dersz. Mr. Manager, there were ... as I counted something like eleven questions that were brought up during Mr. Deresz statment would you please have after the Clerk gives you the statement, prepare some answers for him directly? Mr. Fosmoen: Yes sir. Mayor Ferre: And with copies for members of the Commission. I thank you. Mr. Dersz: Thank you very much gentlemen. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, not as a question or input, but I think for all of our information it might be interesting to note one of the questions raised was in the area of double taxation, and I think that you would notice in today's paper, Metropolitan Dade County... Mayor Ferre: Commissioner Plummer, could we save statements until after we've closed the public hearing? Commissioner Plummer: Alright. Mayor Ferre: Alright we're now with Mr. Leas. Yes air you may use that one. Commissioner,Plummer: The same one you used before. Mr. Lass: My name is Laas and live right an half of an mile from here. I would like to ask an question from Commissioner Plummer. He explained last time that we only had 1 and � policemen for each 1,000 resident in Miami. Now, since the police cost us what about 60% of you know, increase how did he get that count? Did he count all Of the refugees that came from Cuba, were included that count. Did we have last year's 1 and �%...1'.policemen for each tax payers? Because tax payers sure didn't ask the Cubans to come over here and I in hell sure don't want to pay for the police protection for them, and. ' _7 says, today's paper, I think that South Florida should not.... the tax payers should not pay any taxes for the Cuban refugees. What... I would like to also say that no one here would would ... would not say anything if the taxes will be increased 10% or even 15%, because if they increase 50 to 100%, because nothing can be increased...no one will give anybody 100% raise and if the President of the United States says no one should raise anything over 7%. isn't that maybe against the law to cities of the United States to raise their taxes more than 7%? Also, I would like to talk about that garbage disposal. I happen to have an apartment building that State road department took.some of the doors, they did not explain anything about the apartment garbage collec- tor. There's no way that I could put big...those big garbage bends, the commercial one, I have an eighty one year old man there, he bearly can walk. How could he lift this heavy ... and how bad they smell, those big ones, you could never even, you know keep them clean. This is Impossible, the system that you..* and there isn't one person here that would like to have that system. Why is it that we as the tax payers except something that you people are suppose to work for us, we are not working for you. We pay the taxes and you are suppose to db f 0 please us. You... it seems like it's ... just like with the taxes-... last week every body were against the raise the taxes so much. I happened to speak two languages, I could you and my language and I mean my original language and it would be the same thing, because you don't listen to us...1 don't think you listen to us a tall. Thank you. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Jorge Concepcion. Mr. Concepcion. Mr. Jorge Concepcion: My name is Jorge Concepcion. I live at 201 N.W. 47th Avenue. I came to talk about the adding of 150 new police person- nel. I'm concern about the safety of everyone and I am aware that it is...we are short of police officers at 1. for every thousand, but what the good it does even if you hire a thousand police officers when law is not working, when Judges are not the law, when state attorneys is not doing the proper work, and the state attorney is back load on cases and they are short on personnel, when justice is not working for blacks, and it's not working for whites either, that's my main concern. I use to say that crime doesn't pay, but now I think I've changed my mind, I would have to say law doesn't pay, that's one main thing. Number (2) I heard Mr. Carollo say last friday regarding our employees that work in the City of Miami, which are...cost you thirty through... thirty three employees who makes over thirty thousand dollars ($30,000). Commissioner Carollo: No, employees all together. I was talking about City employees, who we have thirty three that make over $400000 and... Mr. Concepcion. And would do four hours at lunch or something like that or use the City car for gas. I think ... I should request for either the City Manager or someone to do a report and evaluate these employeesiii because, we don't need these people. sure don't want to pay taxes for somebody who just take four hours a day for lunch, that's all. Mayor Ferre: Ricky Camenetti you have five minutes. Mrs. Ricki Camenetti: Honorable Mayor Ferre, and members of the Miami City Commission, and fellow citizens, to the benefit of the people who were not here at the last meeting, my name is Ricki Camenetti. I live at 4245 S.W. 2nd Terrace in Miami, and I represent the Lujeune Southwest Homeowner's Association and also speak as an advocate for all of those new property owners and those ethnic groups, black Americans, and Cuban Americans and young American who do not yet fully understand their rights as tax payers and new homeowners. In the previous pre- sentations to you gentlemen, we have announced that we are 100% , 100% in complete opposed to the garbage container rental and the esculating fees that goe along with such rental. I'watched the movie with great interest and I heard one gentlemen state that there was no additional cost for the mobile totter system. What happens to the garbage tax that we've already paid in our property tax? Is that eliminated? If you charge a $25.00 deposit or whatever, do we collect enterest on it? Is it ever returned to us? If it's left as occured will there be an guarantee that there will be non vandalism? What if the totter system that we have get stolen, will we have to pay again, again, and again? If you feel that it is a big money saving proposi- tion, it protects the health and welfare of the employees, why don't you provide this service through the regular garbage tax at no addi- tional Cost to the tax payers? Surely you're not deaf to the will of. the people who are your constituency the proposed budget is entirely to high for us to bear the burden. You must have each City department cut the excess fact in there respective bureaucracies. Every depart- ment should be put on a self sustaining basis. To give you a few instances (1) we can no longer offer waivers of to all those who ask for free use of City facilities, (2) We have expert consultants who are paid huge salaries in every field working for the City of Miami. There is absolutely no excuse for hiring out side consultants at absorbentant fees who do not even live in this area, to give their opinions on subject matters on which they do not even pay taxes here, db 0 nor do they fully understand the terrain here. We can no longer afford to hand out thousands of dollars to charaties, however worthy this tax business is suppose to carry on official business for the City of Miami. We resent, we really resent our hired paid salary career employees who have made their exodus and no longer live in the City of Miami, but rather spend our tax dollars in other communities. We need their input and their tax dollars to be spent in the City where it is earned. We would like to see a resolution to the effect -that career employees especially heads of departments return to the City of Miami, if they want to keep their jobs, perhaps they would be more sensitive to our needs if this was manitory and it was enforced. Not only do we pay their high salaries, but their medical and retirement benefits that go on indefinitely, this will some day bankrupt our fair City, as it has in other cities as well. These gentlemen are deteriorating disasters of which you are making the tax payers and the homeowners an unwilling part. No one is in favor of a tax increase, except when it would benefit the entire community, children and adults as well, and I might add unborn children. However, gentlemen it would be as our leaders to have a budget prepared well in advance of a crucial deadline when we must resort to emergency funds to continue operation. It is recommended that the month of August be set aside for public budget hearings instead of running into the following fiscal year for emergency funds. We resent being completely ignored when it is our tax payers money that you are spending. This maybe your last public meeting on these issues, but it's certainly not our last vote. The constituency feels that it has the elected a group of qualified officials which I think you all are. However, when the time comes to act and make decisions in fields in which you are supposively qualified there seems to be a great void. I am continued to question people who have paid the new garbage collection fee, they advised me that they did so out of fear as I told you last time, not knowing what their alternatives were, and they were concerned that a tax lien could be placed on their homes, as I previously related to you, the present City Commission has come into a great deal public ridicule. I resent that, because I admire my city and I admire my Commissioners, I admire my leaders. It is encumbant to serve your constituency and not intimidate, nor dominate them. The purposed garbage container rental is a superfulous we don't need it, nor do we want it this is an attempt to take more tax dollars then this proposed system is worth. It is an burden on our citizens. I see the red light flickering► it won't be to much longer. You have been mandated to pursue the wishes of the tax payers of the City of Miami, and we ask that you do not sholve the containers down our throats. I repeat, to do so would be taking away our inde- pendence and our individuality. At the September 15th meeting, Mayor Ferre you stated and I quote "what congress gives, Congress can take away" therefore since you are members of our little congress and just as you passed this resolution you are once again requested to recind the resolution calling for a new garbage collection fee. We have not had any advertised community wide public hearings on this important issue. Should you insist on retaining this fee to spite our tremendously strong opposition then we demand that a reperendum be held, so that those of us who must pay the tax for the fee may decide whether or not to approve it. We will not buckle down to taxation without representa- tion. side of your respectful tax paying homeowners. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Mrs. Grace Grace Rockafellar. Mrs. Grace Rockafellar: Mr. Mayor, members of the City Commission, my name is Grace Rockafellar. I live at 814 N.E. 71st Street, Miami. I am President of the Northeast Miami Improvement Association, which is the largest and oldest civic association in Dade County. I am also President of the Northeast Tax Payers Association, I am appearing here tonight as a private citizen. After the close of the last public hear- ing last week when all the citizens had been heard, Commissioner Plummer commented on how many people we had here tonight, and then he also asked where are the rest of them. I think that deserves an answer. The rest of them were home behind doubled locked doors with the gun by their side. I am afraid that this Commission it's not aware of the _d f f fact that most of the residents of the City of Miami live in a Jungle. Since the recent riots in Liberty City and the tremendous influxs of refugees we have more thugs on the street with guns and knives almost more than have citizens. Last week .... just a few days ago this week there were four murders in our community in one hour, a week ago an elderly man walked into McDonald's at 79th and Biscayne Boulevard to get something to eat, he came out and some thugs with a knife grabbed him and twisted his arm around his back, he was able to get his other hand a loose and he got his gun out of his pocket and shot them. In a recent article in the Miami Herald, it stated that more, more criminals are being shot by citizens then by police, and I'm afraid you're going to see more and more of that as time goes on. Our police...in the meantime our Police Department is going down, down, down. We are loosing good police officers every day we can not afford to do that. I think that it's high time that the Commission realizes where our tax dollars goe and where they should go. I don't think the people would recent so much a tax increase if they felt that their tax dollars were being spent for the services that they wanted. If I were sitting here as the elected Mayor or Commissioner of this City Commission, and wished to be re-elected every year and not worry about whoever was going to run against me, or worried about collecting a lot of money, I would do four things. The first thing I would do is tell the City Manager I want you to go over every department, every employee and every ex- penditure and we want you to cut the waste out of this. We don't want you to go by the status_ we want you to really do a Job. If that Manager came back to me and said Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission I could find a bitter waste, I would fire him. I would think he was incomputent, because there's waste in every government, and I think that there is a man sitting here right... to my right is as capable of doing Just that Job, if he is given the will to do so by the City Commission. Another thing I would do, I would have a police force seconded to none, I would hire qualified police officers, I wouldn't stop at seven hun dred. Right now we need a thousand, two thousand police officers. The police officers are the most over worked, over criticized, under appreciated people working in the government of any community, especially here in the City of Miami. I would also go back to my original concent decree that I signed with the City ... with the Federal government on minority hiring, I think that figure was fifty six and now it's eighty, that's Just another stumbling block in the Police Chief's ability to hire more police officers. You have a very computent Police Chief, I would tell this Police Chief you have charge of the police officers, you hire them and you tell them where ... what to do. I would put that word restraint back in the closet where it belongs, because the criminals do not use restraint. I would tell them to go out in the field and act like a police officer should to stamp out crime wherever they find it, and that's the only way you re going to get this thing done. A gentlemen remarked about the Judicial a while ago, and he is so right. Police officers arrest people today, they arrest criminals on the street, tomorrow they have to arrest the same criminals over, and over, and over. We have two...we have many fine judges sitting on the bench, but we have to many of them, that are interested in making deals, and you've read about them in the newspapers. Deals with the defense attorneys. I have one such Judge when I tried to tell him that our area is not based on a moral issue, it's an economic issue and during the courses of the conversation, he said I've even been acused of taking a bribe. I said I'm not surprised about that at all Judge Deel. I'm asked that question about you and a number of other Judges every day. You'll not handling out Justice, so what are the people are suppose to think? There is so much cor- ruption in all parts of the government that what other but money. You've read Just a couple of articles here in the paper recently about two different judges and how they've handled these criminal cases, but that is no sign, we don't need the police officers, In our association we have monitors in the court and we are now, both the City Commission and the Dade County Commission and the news media scream long and clear, loud for a citizen review board as a police. We are now circulating petitions demanding a citizens review board of the judges that has supoening powers that make the judges come before the citizens with the news media there and explain why they e - V have turned these criminals loose time, after time, after time. Some of the police officers have showed us computer print outs that you have to stand on a ladder to hold out, people that have been before the courts, and immediately turned a loose, but never serving a days time or a fine. Now, in addition to this big budget that you have here today, you also have two bond issues totalling $15,0000000 dollars that's an additional... that's in addition to our taxes, this huge tax increase that you are proposing for us. Now, we do hope that you give that some more consideration, try to reduce this if you can. / When you add that to the County taxes and to the bond issue and to the big increase that you have you're going to have people deciding should I pay my taxes, or should I eat. Now, I would like to get down to Mr. Patterson and his garbage. When he was here last week, one of you asked him have this been tried in other places and how does it work. Mr. Patterson said yes, it's been tried in North Miami Beach. There is an article in the neighbor section of lastisunday's papers. We don't want these ugly trash bends and it's signed by Alfred in Miami Beach. It goes on to say that in neighbors, September 18th, you've got a little article and North Miami Beach resident were going to be fined for not putting away these ugly bends. If you like to do a piece of investigative reporting, why not go up to the residential areas of North Miami Beach and pole each house and ask them, Do you like your new trash bends? Does the City of Miami Beach ask you do YOU these trash bends? If you had your way would you want to keep this or would you want to go back to your small can? Last week I met with a large group neighbors in our area, we got into a decussion of these bends, everyone were unanimous. We don't like the garbage bend, we never asked for them. If we had our wish, we'll tell Ralph Goldy and the City of Miami Beach what they could do with their bends. Well this interested me, I called congressmen... Commissioner in North Miami Beach, I happen to know him. I wanted to compare that ordinance with ours. Now their ordinances is that they have the bends, the have... the citizens have to roll them to the curve and roll them back, but they have their regular front yard trash pick ups all the time. They made the same statement that I made here last week. To many senior citizens are living on small fixed incomes and can not hire yard men and I can't see them chopping down limbs and carting them out to these big bends out here. You know how the citizens in the City of Miami feels, they don't want them, they didn't ask for them and we hope you take them away, so we hope in your budget this time around, that you have remembered three services. These are the services we want, these are the services that we want our tax dollars to go for. Our police force seconded to none, our fire department seconded to none and the sanitation seconded to none. Those are the services we want. If you have money for parks, what's the use of having them when the people are afraid to go in there, and we ask this Commission to do everything in your power to give us the strongest Police force we've ever had before, and I thank you. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Hines Breeden. Mr. Hines Breeden: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission. 1024 N.W. 51st Street. I am here to speak on... I'm also the President of Santation of Association. I'm more concerned about... this program about people loosing jobs. They said it wouldn't be any Jobs lost, but with the system, if you notice the film that Mr. Patterson, showed that all that pick-up was in Fort Lauderdale, it wasn't in the black area. Garbage are different in the City Miami then in Fort Lauderdale, where you've got houses on a block in Fort Lauderdale, You've got fifteen in the City of Miami. It's do way that you're going to go to this system and don't loose people. He said it wouldn't be anybody laid off, but through . It might not be this year, but next year you will loose them and I know that. I've been around sanitation to long and working with garbage to ... and I under- stand that he said he's trying to better the job and better the department, but I do know and I hope this Commission look at it from more than one way of just saving the tax payers as they say, and look at the bodies that are going to be lost in sanitation. I disapprove of it, but I am not the Director there. My people down there disap- prove of it, it's no way that they are going to go to this system and db 0 realize that the men don't like it. The morale of the guys in the Department is going to fall. We are going to have all of these things to worry about. Your garbage is much heavier in the City of Miami as any other city. You're spending money to build a rack on the -back of the truck to dump these containers, you've got to buy the containers. If you're going to raise the taxes why change the system? I don't understand why they are going to change the system if you're going to raise the taxes. The people in sanitation, they like to dssist in what they are doing. It's back house pick up and they enjoy it. They don't mind getting out there six o'clock in the morning and give a good days work, but when you go to these containers, it's going to make a difference in each man that works on the truck, and I hope this Commission look at it and realize that in a long run that the way they are doing it now will be better in sanitation, I thank you. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Janet Waldman. Ms. Janet Waldman: My name is Janet Walden. I live at 1901 Brickell Avenue. First of all I'd like to call to the attention of this Commission that by 7irtue of the fact that both of these public hearing on the budget have been held on Friday evenings, you've disinfranchished a large number of people in the community from being able to come and address you on this issue. I'm speaking of people for religious reasons who are not able to come to meetings on Friday nights, Jewish people, Seven Day Advantages, very possibly others. I would like to at this time register complaints with the Commission for having both of the hearings on Friday. Mayor Ferre: Janet we're complying with the law. We'll get into that in a second. Ms. Waldman: I didn't say it was illegal, I'm just saying that I wish to complain of that. Mayor Ferre: That's the law. Ms. Waldman: Second of all, I would like to make the comment regarding one of the other ... one of the other speakers said that the South Amercian... the South Floridians did not ask the Cubans to come here. I didn't ask. the Cubans to come here, but I want members of this Commission and members of this community to know that I for one welcome people who have a problem in their home land and who come here to seek freedom and I think that that's very important that this Commission and that the com- munity understand the majority of Americans would not turn away people who's lives are in danger, Nxt thing I would like to say is that I feel the information that was provided to me on this budget was totally inadequate. We're talking about a budget increase, but we're talking about how the monies are allocated over the entire budget and to pro- vide me with a few lines of how the money ... of how the increase is going to be allocated as insufficient to allow me to make educated comments on the entire budget, and I think that this is a gross is a gross in that should be corrected, that the people should know where all the money is going to go. I would like -to point out in regards . to police protection, of course.we need more.police.protectiont of course we've got to decrease crime, but putting more police out there is not the only way to do it. The City of Miami, Dade County, State of Florida must enact more ordinances that will put criminals behind bars. One of the things that could be done would be a gun control law re- garding hand guns that would have mandatory prison sentences. This is extremely important. We can put the policemen out there to catch the criminals after they've done something, but we want to stop our people from being killed, and one of the ways to do that is to let the criminals know if they have a gun their going to be in jail. Boston has done this with great success and I would recommend that the Commission do this. I would like to tell the Commission that although I do live on Brickell Avenue, which is a high cost area, I have a very small apart- ment, a one bedroom apartment which is the seconded smallest unit in 22 0 my development and I would like to give you an idea of what my taxes are before the library increase and the School Board increase. In 1977 my total taxes went $1,141.70 of that a total of $479.95 went to the City of Miami, $363.60 of that going to the operation. Last year I paid $1,296.97 in taxes, with $425.60 going to the operation of the City of Miami. On the assessments that I received for 1980, I will be paying $2,300.82 that's a 1,000 increase total with $827.36 going to the opera tion of the City of Miami, that was $827 from $425 with an increase in the payment towards the debt. My income has not increased and as I understood this new assessment it was suppose to be an equivalent roll back in the millage, so that we would not paying more. I will be paying yearly 100% more in taxes if this goes through for a small one bedroom apartment no matter where it's located in the City of Miami, I don't think that that's equitable. And, as I say I have not been able to analyze the budget to tell you where the waste lies, I'm just telling you this is to much for me to spend for taxes and I would hope that you would decrease the taxes, thank you. Mayor Ferret The next speaker is Elizabeth Grothe. MS. Elizabeth Grothe: My name is Elizabeth Grothe, I live at 4230 N.W. Road. I have lived there for the last thirty years. I really do object to the latest assessment on my house. It was a hardship on me last year, but this year it went up so much. It went up over a 100%, and I hope... I live on a fixed income and I hope I can afford to live there in the future, I wish you would reconsider, thank you. Mayor Ferret Alright, the next speaker is Giballi. Ms. Giballi: Honorable Mayor, Commissioners, citizens, and press my name is Giballi, I live at 6031 N.E. 6th Avenue. I am also the mother of four children, and the reason my family chose to move into the northeast community known as Lemon City was because it was quiet or it appeared so, it was multi -cultural, a section of the economic community of Miami, it has a good neighborhood school, a park across the street, a library, a day care center and it's conveniently located, and even has a convenient store nearby. After about six months, I have found some fault in the community, which my- self neighbors and other parents in the area felt can be approved by the City of Miami. The biggest problem is lottering of drug dealers when we have reported a number of times to the City of Miami Police Department. The Police Department comes a few times and tell us to call again, if the lotters or the young men who are doing the drug dealing return. Children are now afraid to walk home from school, the nearby school is Morning - side Elementary School to go to the convenient store and even to walk pass the group of young men. Even though they have not been bothered 3 yet, we're just wondering when it will be. I; myself have even talked with some of the young men, asking them very nicely would they take their business other places, of course they just give me a friendly hello and their going to continue to do their business right there. We're asking for better police controlling in the area and special attention should be brought to clean up Biscayne Boulevard nearby, which is an ugly on the image of Miami. Parents also at the Eden Day Care Center Children Center across the street in my neighborhood also have been told that the City is considering a,proposed budget cut back on day care centers in the area. I don't have to tell you that a number of the parents must and require the services of the day care center to con- tinue their employment or educational opportunities and we like to con- tinue to do so, okay I'm glad to hear that because this is what we were told, so if there is not a budget cut for the Children's Day Care Center we thank you kindly, and hope that you will keep the cost down, but I do advise you to take care of the situation along Biscayne Boulevard between about 60th Street and about 85th Street, the situation is atrocious, and we would like to see a change, thank you. Mayor Ferret The next speaker is Toni D. Fairley. Ms. Fairley. db 0 0 Ms. Toni D. Fairley: My name is Toni Fairley and my address is 3516 N.W. loth Avenue and Wednesday, I went to pick my son up from day care center we were instructed that they were thinking about cutting back on budget, and that they were going to close the day care center. So, I would like to ask you, is that so? Mayor Ferre: No. Ms. Fairley: It's not, okay thank you. Mayor Ferre: Alright is there anybody else who wishes to address this Commission at this public hearing? Yes sir. Mr. Castillo: My name is Castillo and I live in the southwest area and I would like to ask you a few questions. Why since City has moved out it's crime has gone down in that neighborhood, statistic wise? Where City was. Has the crime has gone down? I know that this is not an issue but it's an issue where we're short of police officers, and there's only 650 police officers. I know you have to meet your revenue sharing program in order to meet the level of 1970 which is about 750 or 800 between there give a few police officers. Now, in that raise or millage will include a raise of police officers currently now since in some of their cities. It makes you want Hollywood. Is there going to be any raises in addition to the 150 new ones? Mayor Ferre: if you would make your statement and we will ... I am writing down as many of these questions as I can. We're going to ask the Manager to respond to some of these, those that you're not satisfied with we will have answered in writing. Anything else? Mr. Castillo: Yes sir. I feel that a why should the City of Miami, spend where I live a tree that that tree could have helped provide a police officers training. The City of Miami spend a bundle for putting up that tree in a residential area. I think it was a beautification. Commissioner Plummer: A tree. Mr. Castillo: Yea, that could have trained a police officer. Why do I need a tree at my house? That could have ...that could have trained a police officer right there, instead of spending that money on a tree. That could have helped train a police officer. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferre: Alright. Are there any other statements or questions that need to be asked? Ms*. Joanne Halzhauser: I am Joanne Halzhauser. I live at 4230 Highway, and I would like to ask one more time, would you please reconsider on the garbage. I spent several hours, several days this week talking to all the garbage and trash.men I saw universally their opposed to you. I counted the number of palm that fell in my yard in the past week, five of them fell. I don't know what I am going to do if we have to have the containerize trash. I have arthritis, I can't not lift that ledge with my hands to chop it up with anything, I don't want to buy a power saw and cut my hands off, I don't know how I am going to get palm waste into these containers and I think there are many of us in the Grove and certainly other places who just aren't going to be able to take care of it. And, the one more thing other than the rude Goldberg type garbage truck that we're going to trying out is this I have not received a trash pick- up on Ingraham Highway and I am not alone, there are a number of us in that section that have not received it for 7� weeks now, and I want to know if we fall behind what's going to happen then? Every time there is a holiday it's seems to fall on my garbage pick up days so my garbage isn't picked up. If the trash isn't picked up for weeks and the garbage falls behind I think there are going to be a lot of us who just simply aren't going to have any choice. We aren't physically db able to lift up the garbage and the trash and take it some place else, and I really do you, I do think it would cost us jobs in the long run. I know maybe I'm unusual, I'm willing to pay the taxes as long as I can. These men and women who's working are now making a living wage and I think now, it's our chance in the City of Miami, to be human and to say that we will not go for a plan that's risk anybody's job. If there is any way to get compromise, I realize Mr. Patterson has had pro- blems and I know you all have worked on it, maybe now is the time for people to compromise and have curve side pick up. I've been willing all along and perhaps if you all could just hold on and now that people see what the ultimate might be ask them again, if they would go to curve side up, please and let's keep our garbage the way it is, thank you very much. Mayor Ferret Alright, are there any other speakers at the public hearing? Alright, if not is there a motion to close the public hearing. Commissioner Lacasat Moved. Mayor Ferret Is there a second. Commissioner Gibson: Second. Mayor Ferret Is there further discussion? Alright we will now take a roll call. Thereupon, on motion duly made and seconded, the City Commission closed the public aspect of the public hearing. Mayor Ferret Let me...I will recognize all of you for your questions on the Commission and for your statements. I think we have a series of questions that have been asked and obviously at these type of hearings it is not always possible to annwer all of them as accurately and as fully, but yet I think we should attempt to answer some of these ques- tions as best we can. First of all I just to answer one thing that Janet Waldman brought up and I want to make sure we all understand it. The law requires at fifteen days after the mailing out of the and the publishing of the proposed millage that we hold a public hearing. As it turned out since our Commission meeting is on a thursday, fifteen days from the thursday that we passed the motion fell on a friday, and under the law that is when the public hearing was held. In retro spect if we had figured it out obviously we would not have hold it because obviously it does disinfranchise many people, the Jewish faith who do not and are not... and can not be here on friday evening, and for that of course we apologize, and I think that's taken in the spirit that it was meant and you are totally correct. Now, we have...lot's see if we can perhaps start backwards in some of these questions. Why are trees being planted Mr. Manager? Mr. Dick Fosmoent Mr. Mayor, the Commission last year included an amount, approximately $100,000 for an tree planting program in addition to that the Community Development Program provides for true planting funds throughout the City. Mayor Ferret What do those monies come from, Mr. Manager for the tree planting? Mr. Fosmoent From Florida Power and bight funds and Community Development funds. Mayor Ferret C.D. funds and Federal funds. Mr. Fosmoent Yes. Mayor Ferret( Tent City Crime, have ... do we have a decrease in crime in the Tent City area, since the closing of Tent City? Mr. Fosmoent It's a little early to tell since Tent City closed the day before yesterday. Mayor Ferret Well the man asked the question, and I'm trying to get an answer. Mr. Fosmeon: There's no way we can tell at this point. Mayor Ferre: You don't have any preliminary thoughts? Mr. Fosmoen: I have not gotten any preliminary figures. Mayor Ferre: When you do would you take Mr. Castillo address from the Clerk and write him what the information is. Mr. Fosmoen: Yes. He also asked about police raises of course, and that's I coming up for negotiation this year. The contract expires October 1st, 1980. Mayor Ferre: The City of Miami Police Department have traditionally been the best paid policemen in the community. I have,been... I served four years as a member of the City of Miami Commission as a Commissioner and I have served seven years as a Mayor. It has always been my position at every budget hearing and and at every opportunity to insist that the City of Miami police force be the best paid police force in the community. I think that we get the extra money that we may be paying over other city policemen, we get that back many fold and I think it's a wise policy and I certainly will continue to vote that way. With regard... the next question that I heard was in regard to gun laws, and I've asked the City Attorney, Mr. Knox was here to review the different gun laws that are in affect in the country in particular the...I have been interested in the so call Massachusetts or New York law which in affect mandates to the court a jail sentence for anybody caught committing a crime. In New York it goes even further, anybody caught with a gun without a permit or a license. Now, evidently the preliminary conclusion of that research is that and Mr. Knox, you correct me if I'm wrong is that that is against State law and it is not possible for us to do it at a local level it must be done in Tallehassee and lastly there is a law which mandates certain prison terms, which evidently is not being adhered to very well. Mr. Knox. Mr. George Knox: That's correct your honor the matter of gun regulation is a matter that is pre-empted by state law, and any regulation would have to come from the state legislature. Mayor Ferre: With regards to ... go ahead. Commissioner Plummer; Mr. Mayor, just for your information there is already on the books and one of the things I brought out at the hearing last friday, there is presently a mandatory three year sentence for any- one using a gun in the commission of a fellow. Now, the...you know, the real gut issue see how many of them that have ever gone to sail for the three years, it's non-existent. Mayor Ferre: And that brings up to Grace Rockafellar's question, the citizens review board for judges, and as Mrs. Rockafellar knows this Commission has gone on a record on a motion that the City Attorney in- vestigate the possibilities and to put into his budget the monies so that we can properly monitor judges and publish on a quarterly or a semi-annual basis the result of their rulings on a percentage basis in those cases affecting laws of the City of Miami, I don't think that we could appropriately do that for other jurisdiction, but we certainly can do it for ours and if everybody else did that then perhaps we would have a way of knowing what the judges are doing, and that is something that is in the making. Okay, I recognize you, go ahead. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, if I can just for a minute ramble here and I ... because I've written questions as you did, and I'll try to answer them. A gentlemen asked the question where did Mr. Plummer get db r his statistics as to the percentage per 1,000 of policemen, and to ' answer the question sir, they come from the U.C.G. which is, I'm sorry U.C.R. which is the Uniform Crime Report and let me clarify because Commissioner Carollo rightful corrected me at the last meeting. The City of Miami, presently under staffed as it is has about 1.5 policemen per thousand, and my statement was nationwide it was 2.5. Well, I looked further and read further infact there was another category and that was for cities above 250,000 populations it is required at 3.5 and Mr. Carollo rightful corrected me on that issue. One of the other people spoke to double taxation, and I would say to that individual that's all well and good to call the County and ask them are they double taxing us and they're going to of course answer no, because it's against the law. I think it is very interesting, very interesting to note one of advertisment currently which is required by law in just the unincorporated area. That is the area not in a city limit for the provision of municipal services this year, because we in Dade league have been fighting double taxation for God knows how long. Their increase in the unincorporated area is the largest increase in all of south Floirda, it is 78%, 78% increase, so I think that speaks very clearly to the fact of the inequity that has existed for years in which we, the people of the City of Miami have been helping to pick up their tab. Another question that was raised are the monies that are dedicated, and by the way when the Mayor spoke this evening to 60% of the monies for police that is of the increase, it is not of the total budget. Of the increase it is 60%, of course that re- flects back to increase in the overall budget the department. Was that going to be just for the 750 or 800 increase policemen from the present 6517 The monies that we have provided in the budget and have told under instruction to the Police Department is that by the end of this fiscal year that that department shall be at it's highest level of staffing of 814. We established last week a $2,000,000 fund exclusively for the purposes of public safety and one of the instruction to the administration and to the department if it was humanly possible to go beyond the 814 that we the Commission want them to know that you don't have to find the monies, we don't have cut budget, or completely rip apart the budget, that monies are there if you can get above that figure. I think it was Ricky who said, why don't you pull back the service fee. I think we would all like to pull back the service fee, keeping in mind that each one of these elected representatives here do live in the -City, and each one of us in fact do pay taxes and I am not happy with it, but you see it wasn't us Ricky who put us out of the burning business, the in- cenerator, and I agree with that court decision that we should have been out of the incenerator, but when we did it ourselves, because we generated steam for Jackson Memorial Hospital to run their hospital it didn't cost us many dollars. And last year when we went to the new system of using the County and these are the things that are not said because they are not popular, we were paying the County $24.00 a ton for the use of their land fill which we never had to pay before, and this Commission saw fit last year to pick up that and without additional fees to you. This year the County has seen fit to charge $56.00 a ton more than double. The only way we can pull back is for the County to pull back, and I want to tell you, it's not going to happen. Janet ask...not... Janet asked the question that this small paper was not justi- fication for the budget that there should be more available. Well, Janet, I'm a little surprised as much as you do research about the City of Miami, the Charter fully provides. Needless to say this book we could not make available to everybody that wanted a copy. It charter very clear, there is a copy of this that every Dade County Public Library available for the public, there's a copy at City Hall available for the public and if you would have wanted to yourself of it, it was there, so that you could have more. This that we have this evening is just a synopsis for the purposes of voting. The Mayor has touched on the three year mandatory sentence. The one statement that I concur with that everyone has made here this evening is more policemen is not going to make it better. Yes, I fully concure that we have problems beyond the Police Department, and the problems extend into the States Attorney's office, into the courts, and into the jail, and building of more jails db is not the only answer, but I think that one of things that the judges are consistently confronted with is the over crowding of jails, and every once in a while we see where that problem crops up and they have to reduce the population. Isn't it strange that 2500 hundred families a week are moving into the State of Floria, for the past years, but not one new jail facility has been built. Now, you can give all of the reasons and excuses why they haven't been built, but the answers still remains they haven't been built. The only jail that has been built in this area of South Florida was a Federal Correctional Institution, which cost more per cell then my home. Sixty six thousand ($66,000) dollars per cell for two people, my home did not cost $66,000. So, yes the problem is many fold, but you see we the Commission are charged with the responsibility. I can't say when people call my Police Department and say there is a man breaking in my house say no we are not going to )(J send a policemen, because we don't have prosecutors to prosecute him or Jails to put him into. You've got to send in the policemen want them and want them now. Janet, you're not going to like.this next statement, but I've got to make it. Mayor Ferre: J.R. would you limit yourself to the questions that have been... Commissioner Plummer: Well these were questions that they raised and I'm trying to answer if I'm personalize them I really want to apologize. Mayor Ferre: I'm trying to get over to the question. Okay, I just want to get to the question portion and then the statements. Commissioner Plummer: The unit that she spoke up has doubled in price. Excuse me has doubled in it's taxes, and righful so, that particular unit has ... happens to be on Brickell Avenue, and give or take a little bit that unit in four years has doubled in value, so if you went to sell today, you would be selling it for just about double what you paid four years ago, give or take. Okay, I understand that. They asked... Mayor Ferre: You won't buy one for less. I said you won't buy one for less, and certainly not on Brickell. Commissioner Plummer: Unfortunately to the people that are here because the scare tactic was used as it has been in the past about the closing down of child day care centers. Unfortunately whatever this Commission tries to do people try to go into a scare tactic and the first thing they can raise and the emotional issue they can raise is there children, and here you are, and it's unfortunate that you couldn't be home tonight realizing the truth and that is that there is no proposal. I think you should know, that each and everyone of you that have children in day care centers cost the tax payers $3200 per child, but no there is no proposed cut. It will remain the same. Mayor Ferre: I think you might point out that those monies come from Federal sources. Commissioner Plummer: No sir, some of the monies come from Federal sources, the food program comes from Federal sources, it's $3200 per child of City money. Some of it is —excuse me let me stand corrected. some of it does come from the fees paid by the parents, but the fees in comparison to what the actual cost doesn't even make a assemblancQ I mean there paying $6.00 or $8.00 a week when it's costing us... I said some of them . I'm not... well it's all revenue sharing, but it's money that could be used in the general fund if it was not in revenue sharing. Mayor Ferre: No, no, no, no, no, let make sure that we understand . These are all Federal monies that come in from Revenue Sharing. They could be used for other things. They are...this does not come from advelorem taxes, it comes from Federal Revenue which obviously comes from income taxes that we all pay . Commissioner Plummer: And does not preclude the opportunity of this City so saw fit not to provide day care centers that those monies db r r could go into general fund to reduce advolorem taxes, so let's call it like it is. I am not arguing, I am jesting saying the facts as they stand. I have two questions on garbage, Tent City the Mayor answered that. Now, to Grace, I think I understood your four points, and let me see if I can address your four points, because I am shaky on the fourth one. The first question, make the City trim the fat from the budget. Grace, one of the things you will recall that was done at last weeks hearing, was number one we reduced every budget with the exclusion of police, fire and ... police and fire 3% in their budget. Now, you say 3% is not a lot of money, but if you study the budget as I have, and know that of the present budget that you have 90.2% of your budget is people, 90.2%, and there's not*proposed for any lay offs that means that that 3% that we forced last week has to come from ser- vice. So yes that was one phase. The second phase that we put in Grace was more importantly and I think spoke just to what you said, that on the adoption of this budget there is an absolute freeze on hiring at the the time of the implementation of this budget. That freeze is to remain in affect until the administration comes back to this Commission showing a way to reduce the cost of operation, and only at such time as a program that is acceptable to this Commission will the freeze be lifted except in the cases of emergency nature which must be brought here. Grace spoke to more policemen, we all agree about more policemen, but I think that Grace needs to be reminded that we would like to have the figures that she quoted, but you must remember that every 50 policemen that this City has represents $50,000,000, and if we did and could do the 2,000 policemen that she spoke of that single factor would be $1,000,000 million dollars just for Police Department and we're only operating on a total of a 141...' Mr. Fosmoen: 121 Commissioner Plummer: ...$121,000,000 budget. Grace spoke the third item to minorities. That it is a stumbling block for hiring, and there is no question that it has been a stumbling block. But, there Grace I think we have to speak to equality and more so to the consent decree which this City has nothing to do with. It is a consent decree of the Federal courts, I think that you should be aware that at the present time we have petition the courts to remove, to allow us so we can get more policemen to remove the City hiring limit to the State of Floirda. Now, let me finish . I waited until you please. The fourth ... well it was asked to me and the Mayor, okay. I'm sure we will get back to it Grace, you know the way we operate. The fourth thing was the trash program. There was a lot of difference between the film that we have showned this evening and what is proposed for the City of Miami. Number one the trash program in Fort Lauderdale is a program of which the containers must be brought to the curve by the resident and returned from the curve, that is not proposed here. The question was asked about the elderly person cutting the limbs from the trees and what was going to happen. Well, you know, I think it's easily forgotten that that same elderly person today who doesn't have the money for a gardner has to carry that out to the curb side to be put at the trash pile. Where would the ... this container it could be the container be drugged to where the limbs are, placed in there and then drugged back, where there would be no lifting, it would be a matter of putting it into the container. I want to tell you, and I have spoke to the administration this after and I will hope that ... I hope they will speak to the pro- blem this evening. Joanne brought out the fact about the palm frons well, not to many of us have coconut trees left, but I have one royal palm and I want to see Mr. Patterson try to get that palm fron from my royal palm in his 82 gallon container, because it ain't going to fit, I don't care what he does. So, I want him to speak to that and the other thing that I see as inequity is the container as proposed, if in fact were stolen who would pay for it? I think that there is an inequity there because of the fact that through no fault of mine as a homeowner, somebody might come pick it up and take it for their use, and then I would be rattled with it, that's not fair, but yet again we know that many of those containers people own homes in North Carolina or somewhere the containers taken there and it's reported stolen and that's not right either. I have urged the administration this afternoon to develop a plan where each individual reporting would stand on it's on merit. with their suggestion that it would be reported to police, a person would sign a piece of paper that it was stolen through no fault of their own and if proven later would be pur- jury and that of course would follow it's own route. I think Grace that the thing that we somehow have forgotten or whoever brought up the question, this commission long weeks ago did infact wiped out the $25.00 deposit. There will be no rental fee of $25.00 or the deposit of $25.00, that was eliminated some two or three weeks or months ago I don't recall. Mr. Mayor, I believe that is all of the questions that I was able to jot down and we'll get into further discussion later. Mayor Ferree The only ones that you didn't cover Commissioner Plummer, f' were the $75,000,000 in bonds, there was a question about that. The millage based on bonds is placed by the Commission upon the sale of the bonds, not upon a passage by the elected of the approval of the bonds. In other words this Commission and our predicessors over the past sixty or seventy years whenever bonds have been sold have taken into account what the millage is. At the present time the millage on bonds is about 2...it's less than A mills. The highest that I know of that it has been is 5 mills, but those were the days when the assessments were much slower, about twenty years ago. It certainly has not been any where near that in the past 10 or 15 years. Now. I don't have the exact millage In... for the past 15 years, but I remember seeing the figures and you only pay millage for debt service in relationship to the sale of the bonds. Now, the reason why we are going to sewer bonds is because once these $75,000,o00 worth of bonds are sold and once those monies are expended for the completion of the sewage system the City of Miami, will then become the first city in all of Florida that will be 10.0% sewer, and I think that is a major step forward. I don't know of any sewage bond issue that has ever been defeated in the City of Miami. This maybe the first one, but I don't think we've ever had a defeat. Have we? Mr. Fosmoen: No sir, not to my knowledge. Mayor Ferre: So, this is just a continuation of the program that we've had and obviously we will not spend the $75,00.0,000 in one year. I think we are talking about a program that will take how long? Mr. Fosmoen: It would take about another 5 years Mr. Mayor, to finish. Mayor Ferre: This will be over a period of five years. We need the approval, the authority so that we don't stop the construction of sewers we do a little bit every year, We do $5,000#000 or $10,000,000 a year until we complete the sewers program. I've answered the question on city review of...I mean the citizens review of judges. The police budget increase, I think was covered somewhat by Plummer in the lien budget. With regards to taxation without representation the City of Miami has elections every two years, and the Mayor and two members of the Commission are elected at that time, when the Mayor and two members of the Commission are elected they are duly sworned in for their respected periods and they must stand on their record if they run for re-election, and that is obviously the way any democracy works. Okay, I think that covers the question that I have written down and the others I'm sure will be covered by the Manager in some kind of ... did you get any other questions that have not been answered at this time? Mr. Fosmoen: I believe that you have covered them. We will review... Mayor Ferre: Are there any other questions? Are there questions that have been asked that have not been answered? You want an answer. Plummer, where did Plummer go? Alright Biscayne... I'm sorry, you're right, Biscayne Boulevard. Grace Rockafeller who is here and is the president of the Northeast Association has had an compaign on, it's really been almost a crusade, as long as I can remember being in the City, it certainly goes back atleast 10 years, and I think that .i. `' f the City of Miami has a ... and certainly the City Commission has a long standing record of and money to try to erraticate the problem, the problem, really deals with criminal justice system, because what happens Mr. Geballi is that we end up with criminals and prostitutes that are picked up that almost goe through a revolving door. The judges let them out, they go right back on the street and they start doing it all over again, and it gets to a point frankly in our Police Department, where some of these men and women that are trying to enforce the law get pretty depressed, because they see that their work doesn't amount to anything and we really have to continually go to the courts and go to Janet Reno's office and see if we can get some stricter enforcement and stricter prosecution of those that are violating the law. I really don't know what the answer is, we have not come out with the answer, we've gone to court. Grace and her people have brought down experts from all parts of the country, we passed laws that are taken to court, we've been knocked down what Grace, three or four times? Ms. Rockafellar: Mayor Ferre: We have impacted somewhat in the legal process, but where we really get into trouble is in the enforcement of the laws, not by the Police Department, but by the judicial system. Alright, were there other questions that were not answered that we want? Yes sir. Mr. I asked the question from Mr. Plummer were the Cuban refugees included in that survey. He did not answer that. Commissioner Plummer: Sir, I thought I ... I'm sorry, I did answer it maybe you didn't understand the answer. You asked where my statistics came from, and that's the Uniform Crime Reporting Act, which takes in sir, from population which I think we are based on without the refugees at 360, am I correct? Mr. Fosmoen: That's correct. Commissioner Plummer: At 360 sir. 360,000, without the refugees sir. That could... I'm sure will change when the new census comes out. Mayor Ferre: Without... I'm sorry without the most recent refugees, because it includes the old refugees as you know almost 16% of ... 60% of the City of Miami is latin or Cuban, 60. Now, obviously they're included. Mr. I'm Mayor Ferre: That's righ. Alright there was another question that evidently was not answered, Ricki. Commissioner Plummer: Do it from your seat Ricki. Ms. Camenetti: On numerous ocassions I called the and many, many times about the for the Mayor Ferre: Alright, licensing that should be revoked for movies that are Commissioner Plummer: Speak to Grace Rockafellar, she's the expert. Mayor Ferre: Alright, Mrs. Rockafellar perhaps you can address your self briefly to that and then George Knox and then I think you had a question that was not answered. Ms. Rockafellar: Ricki, I cAn't answer this. Ms. Camenetti: Mayor Ferre: I agree. db r Ms. Rockafellar: Two years ago Ricki, we brought based on convictions, arrest and convictions of these pono places, we brought them here before the City Commission. We had thirty nine hard corp phonography places, we had 32'escort services, it's only commodity with prostitution, we brought them all before the City Commission, the City Commission had hearing with the people here, they revoked every license. We have attorneys in this town that make a... that make a bundle on defending hard corp phonographer, prostitutes and drug pushers and they are getting wealthy on it. We have one that have fought the cameras in the court room, they don't want them there, they are not a bit bashful about taking the high fees these people pay them, but they become camera shy at the thought of their court room antics being televised in every home. There's 9 hard corp phonography places left, they're all operating without licenses. We cam before the City Commission and we asked for a special prosecutor to be assigned to this to get them out, we asked for a special man that is... that is Mike who is absolutely terrific in investigating these places. Now, they're together and these places will be closed down if the judges do their job, the Mayor has said and Commissioner Plummer have said and we have said we've got a lot and I hate to use this word corrupt judges sitting on the benches. They pay more attention to the defense attorneys, they take them into their little room, the owner will say well the State Attorney standing there, the Police Department standing there we want to go to trial with this, we want a hearing and the client will say well, my client can't pay that kind of money. The judge says well we don't want to put a financial burden on your client come into my chambers. How much can you pay? There maybe charges against them. We'll pay you a $100.00 okay case is settled. Now, that's the kind of judges you have sitting on the bench, until we get rid of them I don't know what's going to hap- pen, but the police and the City Commission are working with them. Commissioner Plummer: Ricki let me... Ricki we have a log that was prepared by the Police Department. It was very unpopular because it told the truth, and the truth was you know, people say well why do you pick on prostitution it's a victimless crime, but to me there is no victimless crime, alright. Now, I think what is very interesting, it was Grace Rockafellar in the northeast who is suffering from the problem as it exist. It was successful before this Commission, in cooperation with this Commission of passing mandatory sentences for the conviction of prostitution. Fifteen days and an $100.00 on the first conviction, $250.00 and 60 days on the second conviction and $500.00 and 90 days on all convictions thereafter. Our department in the month of January if I'm not mistaken and I could be off a little bit made 154 arrest. I think the record showed that only 3 or 4 actually served time and most of them were time served that didn't make bond, and I think more interest" ing to note that some of those 158 arrest in some cases 5 and 6 and 7 times were the same individual. Ms. : Commissioner Plummer: I'm just using that as the example Ms. Commissioner Plummer: That's all part of it. Commissioner Lacasa: Mr, Mayor, Mr. Mayor are we ready for discussion? Well first.... Mayor Ferre: No wait a minute, are there any more questions? Alright go ahead. Commissioner Lacasa: Alright, since we are discussing here the question of budget before touching one subject that has been discussed specifically today and when we are suppose to make a decision, T will like to call Mr. Bob Jennings, because I think it's very appropriate that now when we are talking about monies the citizens understand that also what the City is doing. Mr. Jennings. Mr. Jennings is the Director of Stadiums and Marinas, and he has under his responsibility the Orange Bowl.. Last night at his initiative and that of the Director of the Orange Bowl, Mr. Walter , Mr. Jenning's engineered the showing of the Muhammad Ali and Holmes fight at the Orange Bowl, out of which the City of Miami made a substantial amount of money which goes to alleviate our budget and I want to congratulate Mr. Jennings and Mr.�� on this, but at the same time I would like for him to share the figures that more or less that we got from the Orange Bowl yesterday. Mr. Bob Jennings: Yes sir, Mr. Vice Mayor. According to our preliminary calculations the City probably neted from this one event last evening approximately $45,000 Commissioner Plummer: Does that include concession? Mr. Jennings: Yes sir, that's the net. Commissioner Lacasa: So this goes to prove that we are trying to make the best use and thank you very much Mr. Jennings to you and Mr. for this effort. Ms. Camenetti: Mr. , how often to we give away the Miami facilities that are or a waiver of fees. Commissioner Lacasa: We are not doing that any longer. We passed a resolution here in the City Commission very recently where we are not doing that any longer, that has been stopped. Now on one of the basic questions that we haven't discussed at this stage, we have listened to representatives of very substantial neighborhoods in this community, namely you, Mrs. Grace Rockafellar who are very concerned about the question of the new system on the garbage collection. And you have expressed not only your concerns, but basically you are at this particular time of the system. So consistent with what I said at the previous hearing I will like to move that the garbage collection system that have been approved by the City Commission previously be... not be implemented at this particular time and that we only try it in those neighborhoods that have expressed their interest in trying namely Bay Point as I understand and Bay __, if they do agree to that if not I suggest that we do not implement the system at this particular time. I would like to make that in a form of a motion and I so move Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferre: Alright is there a second? Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor, since I was the only vote in this Commission that voted against the system when it was first brought up I'm glad to see that some of the other members of the Commission are not coming around to see my point of view, but the citizens point of view, because this is what we're here for after all. I would second the motion but I can not second a half of a motion. If the motion would state for the full City of Miami, I would gladly second it. Commissioner Lacasas Mr. Mayor, Mr. Patterson has indicated to me that two neighborhoods... Commissioner Plummer: Excuse men Mr. Mayor, both speakers are out of order there is a motion without an second. Mayor Ferre: That's correct. There is a... Commissioner Plummer: I second it. Commissioner Lacasas Thank you Mr. Plummer. Commissioner Lacasa: So the reason why I.... Mayor Ferre: He does this he likes to do this. C r Commissioner Plummer: Of course for the purposes of discussion Commissioner Lacasa: There reason...the reason why I made an exception about Bay Heights, and Bay Point is because it has been indicated to me by the Manager and I understand and by Mr. Patterson that these two neigh- borhoods have an interest in this particular system and what we are trying to do here is to just cooperate with the neighbors. So those who don't want it, who seems to be the majority won't have it if my resolution passes,and those who has expressed their interest in trying it, I think that they should have the opportunity by the same token that the democracy If those who don't want it don't want I am willing to support that posi- tion by the same token those who want it should have it atleast on a trial basis, if they want to have and that's their ... they have as much right to express their interest as anybody else. Ms. Is anybody here from those communities that... Mayor Ferre: Yes, let me answer that if I may. I was just telling Father Gibson, I've counted 67 people here tonight. I have sat through in my life time eleven budget hearing in the City of Miami, and I have never seen a smaller group of citizens turn out...now I'm sure there are many, many reason for that. I have as I've gone around in the community I have spoken to a lot people about this and I must say that the majority of the people that i've talked to are against the garbage system, but :I,would say that there is a very substantial number of people that are for it, and especially in the black community I migh add, and I think that if the community in Coconut Grove or in Overtown or in Bay Point, or in Bay Heights wishes to institute that system then I certainly have no objections to letting them do it. Commissioner Plummer: Well Mr. Mayor, I do. Let me tell you where you know... is the administration prepared to answer for me two questions (1) this whole budget went around certain factors what does this do to the cost factor and to the millage rate that we've already established? Mr. Dick Fosmoen: Commissioner the budget that you have before you antici- pated that the new system that we've discussed would not go into affect until August or September of this coming fiscal year, and of course you know then we will only starting it, it would not be fully in place. So the budget that you have before anticipates that for nearly for an entire year the existing system will be in place. We would not be achieving major cost savings until the 81-82 fiscal year. Commissioner Plummer: Alright, second point. There's got to be a cost factor as we saw in the movie the trucks have to be adapted and there is going to be a cost factor for those pilot areas. What does it cost for that,and are we going to realize from the cost factor a balance, in other words how much is is going to cost to equip a truck just to do one or two areas if we're not doing the entire area? Mr. Fosmoen: Mr. Patter:on can you ... can you respond on the question specifically of the ... Commissioner Plummer: I don't want to have the world's most expensive experiment. Mr. Patterson: Yes sir. Commissioner the containers and the lifter attachment that goes on the truck is part and parcel together, it comes as a system. 'The cost of the each container is approximately $50.00, so depending upon the size of the community that would want to go into this as a demonstration project would then dictate as to how much that particular project would cost. Commissioner Plummers Alright, my final question. You know...excuse me I didn't hear you Ms. Joanne Halzhauser: The truck. C; ot Commissioner Plummer: The truck, it's part of the system, part and parcel. Mr. Fosmoen: It's a retro fit on the existing truck. Mayor Ferre: You know, it's a system that fits onto an existing truck right? So that you can flip the thing over. Mr. Patterson: That is correct. Commissioner Plummer: It's an adaption? It's an adaptor. Mr. Patterson: Yes. It's just a dumped lift attachment that is attached to the exist equipment that we already have. We don't have to buy additional trucks for it. Commissioner Plummer: Alright. Modification then, are we going to be at what is proposed here this evening, alright? Are you then going to have every truck with one of these on it? Mr. Patterson: No sir. Commissioner Plummer: Alright let me tell you why okay, and where I am coming from. You know I accused you last meeting of not selling the public of this system as you sold this Commission. I am convinced it is a much better system because it does one thing, eliminates trash piles okay, that's what really sold me on the system and I would love to eliminate the trash pile in front of my house. Now, is there a pro- vision that if I as an individual wanted to have it at my house that I can have it. You see, some of the people here as the Mayor said, not every one is opposed to it. Can I have it at my house if I want it? I would prefer it. Now the question is, is the truck adapted for it? Mr. Fosmoen: The only way that we can test the system is on a neighborhood basis. It would not in my opinion make a great deal of sense to put the retro-fit of the little lifter on the back of every truck and provide one house with the opportunity, the next house on the block with a back yard the existing system, the next house with a front yard collection so you would have to do it by neighborhood Commissioner, and we would go and discuss the program, by neighborhood. If your neighborhood and with our feeling that your neighborhood wanted to try the system then we would implement it in that neighborhood. Commissioner Plummer: You don't know my neighborhood. They can't agree on anything like most neighborhoods. Well , Mr. Fosmoen is there a pro- vision? Now one of the neighborhoods that was explained here this evening possibly was Bay Heights, is it possible that that truck which is going to be used as a pilot in Bay Heights if that comes about, it could be known to the rest of the people on that truck's route that if they wish the new system they can have it, because Bay Heights is right next door to me, one block away. Mr. Patterson: Yes sir. I realize that Commissioner. They...Bay Heights represents about 2/3 of a route, truck route. They... if we were to implement this on a test basis we would try to do it in an area that would comprise of a route, so we would not have to go around and put this apparatus on � of a dozen or 2 dozen trucks were there are only 5 or 10 containers that we will be accomodating. We would like to do it to where we could get some comparison data so that we could compare that with the existing system. Commissioner Plummer: Alright sir. One other question that was raised this evening that was not answered, I think you did answer at the last hearing. Didn't you state at the last hearing that the lif spand of those containers was ten years? Mr. Patterson: That is correct. Commissioner Plummers Because I think this gentlemen asked that ques- tion and... Mayor Ferre: Let me aske a question of the public here, because somebody and it was Joanne who said it, that perhaps it was time for garbage pick- up at the ... at the front of the property on your property line, how many of you...I mean we're up against the wall we need to start making savings, and I tell you, I think if you... if the people ... and as I said you're sixty seven here and I don't think you necessarily represent a 1150000 people that are registered in the City of Miami, but I think you have a strong opinion and represent a major sector even though they may not be here tonight. Let me see if maybe we can find a different opinion here. If we don't institute this new garbage system would you be in favor of trash pick and garbage pick up at your property line? How many of you would favor that? Raise your hands, instead of this. INAUDIBLE COMMENT MADE OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC RECORD Mayor Ferret Yeah. Today your garbage is picked up by the Sanitation Department in the back of the yard, and now what I'm saying is that we would go like the County has done, which is to the front of the yard. Now that means that it's not going to be as pretty, because you know the way we have it now it's nice in the back of yard, but the sanitation man has to go into your property with a big pail as you know that big orange pail dumps your garbage into that big pail and then hauls that out and what I'm saying is if we could do that in the front of the property it would substantially decrease the cost. We would probably save a couple of million dollars, million dollars a year by doing it that way. Now, let me ask you again, do you understand the question? How many of you would be in favor of that instead of the garbage with the wheels? One... raise your hands that are in favor, I want to see. One, two, three... let me put my glasses on I can't see that. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen sixteen, seventeen. No you're not ... that's eighteen, eighteen ... no you're none favor, seventeen. INAUDIBLE STATEMENT MADE OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC RECORD. Mayor Ferret Yes mam. I mean like you do in the County and pay an $125.00 for the priviledge. Ms. Mayor Ferre Mr. Fosmoen: 119. Mayor Ferre: 119. Ms. Halzhausert Sir in Coconut Grove a lot of people are and many of them are around them near the front of the property and I Mayor Ferre: Joanne we closed off the public section of this and I understand. I was just trying to get a feeling, if you need to explain it then I recognize you, but I'm afraid we may get into another 2 hour discussion here. Ms. Rockafellar: Mayor Ferre, I'm speaking for 12,652 members that wanted to remain as is. Ms. Halzhauser: Is this a contest? She speaks for 12f000 ho . she can speak, but I cant. Mayor Ferre: No mam. You can ... you made a statement, she made a statement the.... Ms. Halzhausert Well I didn't finish my statement, you wouldn't let me. Mayor Ferre: Well finish your statment, finish your statement Joanne and sit down please. db C-1` it Ms. Halzhauser: Thank you. I was just going to say that the Coconut Grove Civic Club, and Tigertail, and Bayshore homeowners, and the C.A.A.C.D. District in Coconut Grove, I think would all be glad to cooperate, if you... if what you're suggesting is this if you would like us to do some sort of mail out or some sort of leading we would be glad to help, and you could get a figure on the neighborhood. Mayor Ferret Alright► we are not going to settle this problem today. We have a motion and a second which is going to be voted upon in a moment. If... Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferret Yes air. Commissioner Carollo: Can I make a substitute motion? Mayor Ferret You may make the substitute motion. Commissioner Carollo: Since this is suppose to be government of the People, for the people, and by the people, I would like to make a substitute motion. I think it would be just as unfair if we would only say that such and such neighborhood in the City of Miami, is going to be the one that we're going to experiment with on this 82 gallon container as we were saying before, that we are going to bring it to all the neighborhoods. The substitute motion that I would like to make is that we do not implement this new 82 gallon container system in any neighbor- hood in the City of Miami, unless and I'm going to throw the monkey in the administration back, and make it easy on you. Unless the administra- tion either collects 1/3 of the signatures of the residents in those neighborhoods, of the homeowners to state they want that implemented,or have an referendum, either one. Mayor Ferret Alright, there's a substitute motion which I think is very clear, is there a second? Commissioner Plummer: I second the motion Mayor Ferret Now, that means you withdraw your motion from the previous one. Commissioner Plummer: No air, no sir, not all. Mayor Ferret I see, that's right technically you can second this one to, okay. Commissioner Plummer: This is a substitute. Vote on the substitute first. Mayor Ferre: This is a substitute motion, and that means if you need to get either 1/3 of the signatures in the respective neighborhood or YOU need to hold an referendum. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I think that is very similar to what this Commission did as you will recall on the Bay Heights area with reference to stop signs, what it was done also in the Bay Heights area for the yellow vapor lights... Mayor Ferret I think it's abundantly clear. Commissioner Plummer: ...And we could use that because it is inclosed as a real true test and I think the people of Bay Heights has realize that, substitute first. Mayor Ferret Alright there's a motion on the floor and a second, further discussion... Commissioner Carollo: I think Mr. Mayor... i .0. C V Mayor Ferre: I beg your pardon. Commissioner Carollo: I think Mr. Mayor, if we're really going to be sincere about this, and just not be hypocritical about it this is the way to go. Mayor Ferre: Alright there is a motion... a substitute motion, further discussion, call the roll on the substitute motion. The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Carrollo, who moved its adoption. MOTION NO. 80-725 A MOTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT NOT TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED CONTAINER SYSTEM IN ANY CITY NEIGHBOR- HOOD UNLESS THE CITY ADMINISTRATION EITHER (a) FIRST OBTAINS THE SIGNATURES OF AT LEASE ONE THIRD OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS WHO WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF IMPLEMENTING THE SYSTEM, OR (b) OFFERS THIS OPTION TO THE PEOPLE IN A REFERENDUM. Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the motion was passed and adopted by the following votes AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner Theodore Gibson Commissioner J.L. Plummer Vice Mayor Armando Lacasa Mayor Maurice A. Ferre NOES: None ABSENT: None Mayor Ferre: Alright, ladies and gentlemen then the main motion doesn't need to be passed because the substitute motion is instead Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor, at this point and time I would like to bring another motion to the floor. Mayor Ferre: You may. Commissioner Carollo: And that motion is that the City Administration is now proposed in a $75.00 of garbage collections fees starting as of January 1st, the following year. Mayor Ferre: Alright there's a motion on the floor... Commissioner Carollo: The motion will be that the garbage fee that the City would charge would only and only could amount to to whatever the County charges the City for getting rid of our garbage. Which as I understood from the City Administration the previous statements made by the City Administration would only amount to � of that $75.00. Mayor Ferre: Alright is there a motion... is there a second to that motion? Is there a second to the motion? Commissioner Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor reserving the right to vote against a motion, I second for the purposes of discussion I will second the motion. I was asking the administration...I'm trying to get a answer how does the fee equate to the charges? It might be a.... Commissioner Carollo: It's approximately a �. Atleast been that have been told to us, by the administration previously to this. db C 1U Mr. Fosmoen: The fee currently generates the $6000,000 dollars. The scale fee in the... that the County charges the City is 3.8 million dollars. Commissioner Plummer: Alright, and what is the additional monies being used for? Mr. Fosmoen: It is to off set increases in vehicle charges, gasoline, brakes, etc. Commissioner Plummer: That is the difference of what the monies are being used for? Mr. Fosmoen: Yes. Mayor Ferre: I would just like to make a brief statement about this. The County at the present time charges a 100 and... will be charging a $119.00 we're proposing to charge $75.00 for that service. There are other, there are other governmental entities that pick up garbage, and about 90% of them have a garbage fee, that garbage fee averages if you will tell us perhaps Mr. Patterson, you could tell us what the going fees are. Maybe you might have some of the municipalities. Would you? You have those? Mr. Patterson: Yes Mr. Mayor. this was published in the Miami Herald a few days ago, as you perhaps all saw that comparison along with the tax structure, and if you would like, I'll run down it. Mayor Ferre: Those figures were wrong by the way, and ... Mr. Patterson: The garbage fee is correct. I don't know about the tax portion, but the garbage fee I have verified. Biscayne Park pays a $100.00, Coral Gables pays $90.00, E1 Portel pays $100.00, Florida City pays $93.00, Hialeah pays $96.00, Hialeah Gardens pays $60.00, Homestead pays $96.00, Miami is proposed $75,00, Miami Beach is $67.00, Miami Shores is $105.00, Miami Springs is $66.00, the North Bay Village is $60.00, North Miami is $70.00, North Miami Beach is $72.00, Opa Locka is a $120.00, South Miami is $99.00, Surfside is $49.00, Dade County is $119.00, Sweetwater is $119.00. Mayor Ferre: Okay that's... Commissioner Plummer: What about Clewiston and Pahokey? Mayor Ferre: With the exception of ... with the exception of one of the villages that you read we would be lower than all of those various cities. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor Mayor Ferre: I,,,I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen you do not have my vote on this. Commissioner Carollo: Can I...can I make an additional statement? Mayor Ferre: Sure. Commissioner Carollo: You know, I think that what really interest the City of Miami citizens and residents it's not what is happening somewhere else, but what is going to happen in our city. I'm sure if the Mayor of one of these other cities wanted to jump in the _ bridge doesn't mean that you had to do it Mr. Mayor. I would certainly hope that anyway, but if we're going to throw figures then lets throws some other figures. Bob Herber, they charge zero for the garbage collection, Biscayne Park zero, Golden Beach sera, Halstead zero, zero, Medley zero, zero, Weet Miami zero and I might add all the cities that I've mentioned have a much, much lower tax then the City of Miami does, and since we're in that area now, I would like to bring out another fact. The average home in Dade County in success at approximately $55,000. The City of Coral Gables on a $55,000 home the residents in Coral paid $312 City taxes, db s'' Am- in Hialeah on a $55,000 home they paid $367.00 in City taxes, in Miami Beach on that same $55#000 home they paid $582.00 City taxes, the City of Miami pays $707.00 in that same $55,000 home, that's more than double then what Coral Gables pays, double of what Hialeah pays, and something like 35% or 40% more then what the residents or Miami Beach make. I think they must be doing something right that we're not. Mayor Ferre: Further discussion that's presented? Call the roll please MOTION DEFEATED. On motion by Commissioner Carollo and seconded by Commissioner Plummer, the foregoing motion was defeated by the following votes AYES: Commissioner Carollo NOES: Commissioner Gibson Commissioner Plummer Vice Mayor Lacasa Mayor Ferre ABSENT: None Mayor Ferre: Alright we now Mr. City Manager, as I understand it are on item number D. Is that where we are? Is that correct? Mr. Fosmoen: That's correct sir. Mayor Ferre: So we have publically read the entire millage ordinance. Would you read that? Is there a motion on the Millage ordinance? Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor, I would like to make some additional statements to our budget, if I may, I would appreciate it. Mayor Ferre: Sure. Go right ahead. Commissioner Carollo: You know I think some of the areas that ... some of the areas that... Commissioner Plummer: Excuse me Mr. Carollo $128,000p000 and for three years I've asked for a good P.A. system where we and the public can be heard, you think maybe this year we can maybe get a decent P.A. system in this chamber? Commissioner Carollo: Well I'll tell you some of the reasons why may we're not getting it Commissioner Plummer, let me get to that. This is just some of the little bits of information that I've been able to get a hold of since we met here last friday, and this is just a tip of ice berg, but I think it would give the citizens of Miami a real good idea as to where their money are going to. We have 121 people in our City government that are allowed to take City vehicles home, with all the gas paid for, and over 90% of these people live outside of the City of Miami. A lot of them live really far from the City of Miami, like way down in South Dade, that's a 121 people, individuals that take City vehicles home with them, in other words use them 24 hours a day, and besides that get all their gas paid for, by the City of Miami. Just in the last A we've had an additional 28 people that instead of receiving a vehicle, receive $250.00 a month an allowance, because they are not as lucky as their counter -part to get the car under free gas. These 28 people alone and $250.00 a month amounts to $84,000 of your tax payers money. We go into other areas the City Manager ... by the way I don't know if our present City Manager is using this vehicle or formal City Managers is still using it. The City Manager is suppose to have a brand new 1980 Chevrolet Caprice top of the line, AM/FM sterio, clock, the whole works at a cost of $3,245.04 of tax payers money. This is a lease vehicle that the City Manager gets, the Mayor or the Mayor's Office which ever the case has the same type of vehicle, a 1980 Chevrolet Caprice at the same cost $3,245.04 a year. We have other vehicles that are being leased at much higher prices then this in the City of Miami. I think that the members of this Commission have just as much if not more responsibility to be really fair about it upon their shoulders then any bureaucrat in the City government. I don't need a 24 hour car for me to take home, and people to pay my gas or full time car for me to have leased by City at tax payers money. The City of Miami presently has 29.3% of it's employees paid by the Federal Govern- ment. Can you imagine what our administration will be telling you right now if a 1/3 of our City employees were not paid by the Federal Government. They probably want to tax you double this year instead of what it is bring out now. Now ladies and gentlemen this is just a very small example that I'm bringing out to the public, so I think that in the past, you the public, the people that have worked and sacraficed for this City and pays bills have been informed very little, and if any- thing what I would like to accomplish this year is to at least start being able to inform the public a little better so that when the time comes for you to make a stand and go vote, you can make an more intelli- gent decision and frankly it hasn't been your fault, because you really haven't been informed of the truth in the past, but these are few of the things that are going on in our city and this is why they want to raise your taxes. You know, I have been saying at this City Commission since I arrived here November, of last year that we need more police officers, we need more police officers. The majority of the members of this Commission and people of this administration have ignored that. All of sudden now that the new budget is upon us, and they again want to raise your taxes on an out ragous level, all of a sudden well it's because we need more police officer and that's the reason. This is where your tax money is going to, a new police officer, this is why we have to raise that. Ladies and gentlemen this is so hypocritical it makes me sick. In fact if they were telling us now for an additional 100 police officers in the streets they're going to have raise our taxes some 27% what are they going to tell us next year what we really need is another 300 additional police officers besides the 100 we're getting? So that that could bring us to the national level in major cities like Miami is. I really feel that the next 1 year and � is going to be the most important 1 year and � that the City of Miami is going to be facing, and if the citizens of Miami that care about Miami, that live in Miami are really the ones that are going to suffer the consequences. They'll come and take all their city back, we're not going to have a city left to be talking about and be proud of, because I'm afraid that we are not to far away from the County coming in and taking us over. That's the last in any of us who wants to see it, but the way this City is being administered this is what we're headed to. When you see cities like Coral Gables that everyone has talked about their high taxes and we're paying double the taxes, the city tax that Coral Gable is paying, we are paying double of what Hialeah is paying, we're paying some 40% over of what Miami Beach is paying then something is terribly wrong and I don't think it's in Coral Gables, Miami Beach or Hialeah, I think it's in the City of Miami. Mayor Ferre: Are there further statements by members of the Commission? Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, just mechnical statements knowing that you're going to need a 4/5 on the appropriations in the ordinance before us, I have problems with section 7. I think it speaks in defiant... well not in defiance, but it speaks against the motion that mine to the freeze, also there is my understanding or recollection Section 7 Page 5, and that's the emergency appropriation. Mayor Ferre: What section? Commissioner Plummer: Seven Mr. Manager. Mayor Ferre: I know I see it, but what? The whole thing? Commissioner Plummer: The City Manager is authorized to administer the executive pay plan. Well that's not the case. Mr. : Yes he is. db Commissioner -Plummer: No he's not there's a motion on this Commission level that the assistance to the City Manager that that... that those salaries are set by this Commission. Mr. Gary. s Mr. Commissioner Section 7 primarily deals with the City Managers authority of a charter, which is to grant salaries increases pursuant to union negotiated settlements. It has nothing to do with freezes. Commissioner Plummers I think that's ... Mr. Gary, I think that's section B. Mr. Garys I'm looking at Section 7. The City Manager is authorized ... Commissioner Plummer: Section 8 speaks to the cost of living. It is not in my understanding or my recollection the wording that says the City Manager is further authorized to establish the salaries of those employees in the executive and staff position. This Commission changed that 2 years or 3 years ago, and -those assistant city managers, their salaries are set by this Commission. Mr. Fosmoen: Salary ranges. Commissioner Plummer: Salary ranges, that's correct. Mr. Fosmoens And you have said that sir. Mr. Garys And he has to administer it. Mr. Fosmoen: And I have to administer it. Commissioner Plummer: When did we set it last? Mr. Fosmoen: The last executive day plan? Two years ago sir. Commissioner Plummers Well, I hope that you wi11...I'il lift my objection, but I hope that you will keep that in mind in this freeze. Mayor Ferret Okay, further comments. Commissioner Plummer: Only one thing for consideration, I am not going to recommend Mr. Manager, the Clerk's Office for a period of years as requested the use of a vehicle for their department. Not on a 24 hour basis, but they are required by direction of this commission on a number of ocassions to forward to other agencies in this community communicate on an emergency basis. They are presently using their own vehicles which I think are wrong and provision should be made for that department to have the excessability of an automobile when needed and justified. Mayor Ferret' Further statements? Okay is there a motion now on the -millage ordinance? Mr. Fosmoen: Mr. Mayor can I pardon you sir? Mayor Ferret Yes sir. Mr. Fosmoen: You must first read the entire ordinance... Mayor Ferret Before asking for a motion? Mr. Fosmoen: I'm sorry. Mayor Ferret I beg your pardon sir? Mayor Ferrel My question is this do we have read the entire millage at this point? Mr. Fosmoen: Read the entire millage ordinance. i rib Mayor Ferre: Read the entire millage. Alright having read the ordinance in it's entirety. Commissioner Plummer: I have a question. I guess Mr. Gary or Mr. Fosmoen whoever, my question has to be to the revenue sharing budget. Now when will that be discussed and finalized by this Commission? Because if I'm not mistaken that has a contribution to the general fund, and if altered would have an affect on this budget. Mr. Gary: The general fund budget goes in affect at the passage of this ordinance with one exception the allocation of direct dollars for social service programs has to be decided by the City Commission at a later meeting, but the general fund money that goes....I mean the .federal revenue sharing money that is included in this budget is included in this ordinance and will be adopted at that time. Commissioner Plummer: Well it seems to me backwards. Mr. Gary: Why? Commissioner Plummer: Well simply, what happens if the Commission does not agree with the proposed allocations of dollars of federal revenue sharing? Mr. Gary: Now, if you are talking about the proposed allocation for the social service programs that has not been...that has not taken place. If the City Commission at a later date decides they want to allocate or re- allocate those federal revenue sharing dollars then obviously you would have to make some adjustments to your general fund budget. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Gary, has anyone on this Commission seen the federal revenue sharing proposed budget for this coming year? Mr. Gary: Yes you have. We gave it to you at the last meeting. Mayor Ferre: Yeah, wait, wait one minute. In general when you have the total allocation, and you have as I remember 23 line budgets that are recommended.... Mr. Fosmoen: No you have about a � of a dozen categories, and at your October 9th, meeting on that portion that is set aside for social service agencies you'll make allocations to those agencies. Mayor Ferre: If this Commission changes the total figures then it would impact on the annual budget that we're about to adapt. Commissioner Plummer: That's why I'm saying it's backwards. Mayor Ferre: We've always done it at this way as I recall. Commissioner Plummer: No we haven't either. Mr. Knox: Yes we have. Commissioner Plummer: No we haven't. Mr. Knox: You're right. Mayor Ferre: Okay, alright we haven't Commissioner Plummer: You're smart. Mr. Mayor, all I'm saying and not for this year, because I think we're pretty much in accord, but I would hope in the future where a very sizeable direct payment to general fund is to be included in the general budget that we would have something before this Commission prior to the adoption of the general budget. As you know, Mr. Mayor over the past years of federal revenue sharing this Commission has altered many times, just and in those areas of the social service programs. We went from one year from 10 to 20%, and it had to come from somewhere. Mayor Ferre: Plummer correct my memory. My memory saus $960#000 Commissioner Plummer: For social services? Mr. Fosmoen: That's correct. Commissioner Plummer; You're in the general area, because of the fact Mr. Mayor that we excluded and took from the social service program day care center that's no longer in there it is looked into the other budget. Mayor Ferre: Yeah. Alright by the will of this Commission, previous Commission? Commissioner Plummer: Yes sir. Mayor Ferre: Okay. Alright is there a motion now to the millage ordinance read? Commissioner Lacas: Moved. Mayor Ferre: Moved is there a second? Is there a second to the millage? Commissioner Plummer: Second. Mayor Ferre: Seconded. Further discussion? Do we have to read the millage again? By title only. Mr. Knox: I can read it by title only. Mayor Ferre: Okay, read it by title. Alright further discussion? Call the roll please. AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED - AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE DEFINING AND DESIGNATING THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAXATIONs FIXING THE MILLAGE AND LEVYING TAXES IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1980, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1981; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. Was introduced by ommissioner Lacasa, for adoption as an emergency measure and dispensing with the requirement of reading same on two separate days, which was agreed to by the following vote. AYES: Commissioner Theodore Gibson Commissioner J.L. Plummer Vice Mayor Lacasa Mayor Ferre NOES: *Commissioner Carollo ABSENT: None Whereupon the Commission on motion of Commissioner Lacasa and seconded by Commissioner Plummer, adopted said Ordinance by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner Theodore Gibson Commissioner J.L. Plummer Vice Mayor Lacasa Mayor Ferre NOES: Commissioner Carollo ABSENT: None SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED EMERGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 9178 ON ROLL CALL Commissioner Carollos I would like to explain my reason for the way that I will be voting. The City of Miami homeowners on that $55#000 home that I was talking to you before are paying $509.00 more then that same homeowner unincorporated Dade County, that's rediculous. It's no reason in the world that we should be paying so much more then someone in the County. We are paying something like 35% more then that same homeowner in Dade County. I think that the citizens of Miami have have expressed their desire for additional police protection, at the same time tney nave made it very clear to tnis commission that they don't mind... you don't mind paying the extras for that police protection if we really had to, but you don't want to have to pay taxes for non -essential services, and I think this is the bottom line. We have a lot of non- essential services, a lot of non essential dollars that are being spent in areas that none of us need or want, and like I said previously if the members of this Commission do ont adhere to you, then they are not serving the will of the will of the people that put all of us in office. The government is suppose to be the servant not the Master of the people, and while I have been the one Commissioner that from the start has been demanding more police protection, I still am demanding that, but what I am saying is that we could acquire that extra police protection, just 100 extra police officers without having to raise your taxes. If maybe we were talking about acquiring the 400 police officers that we need right now, not tomorrow then maybe we could become before you justified and saying well we might have to raise you taxes, but at the present time there's no justification what so ever► or anything less we are just being plain hypocritical, therefore I have to vote no. Mayor Ferret Ladies and gentlemen, I am not an hypocrite. I want to tell you that there are no easy solutions to difficult problems. I want to tell you that your Police Department cost $36#000,000 a year to run, and whether we're a part of Metropolitan Dade County or any other governmental entity it would cost $36,000,000 to tun. Your Fire Department cost $24,000,000 t to run and if it were merged into any other fire department to have the quality services that you have, the number one fire department it would cost $24,000,000. Half of the money that this Fire Department spends is for fire prevention . There is no other fire department in the United States that spends half of its budget to prevent fires, that is why we have the highest rating by the insurance industry within the City of Miami. I know it's not very much, but if you were to live in the County, rather than in the City, you would probably pay about $70.00 or $80.00 more for your fire insurance. That $80.00 is really not important. What is important is that you know that you have the very best fire department. There are no free lunches, there are no free lunches. We're spending between the Fire and Police and Sanitation Departments close to $80#000,000. The pension system which nobody can do anything about, because that is a pension that has been in existance for a long time will close ... will cost us close to $20#000,000. 400 out of every dollar that you pay in taxes will go to that pension system we can't get away from that, by law we are locked into it. We can reform the new people the new people that come, but we can't reform the past, because that's a binding commitment under law, under contract that we have that previous Commissions tied us into. And the fact is that I remember when I first became the Comissioner, I went to the first budget year, and during that budget year I listened very carefully and I spent a lot of time studying the budget, and the seconded year what I did was I came with an ultimate budget, because that is the process. You see it's very easy for me to tell you how bad the City of Miami is, but the only valid way that a person can criticize something in government is if that person, I'm talking about Myself now, as I did in 1970...67...68 it was an 68 budget. I came with alternatives, and they were discussed, I've lost most of them, but I won some of them, and that is the way the budget process can procede. The fact is that 90% of this budget that we're adopting at a distance moment goes to the salaries of people. You say, well you've got all these people that make over $30,000,000, you can not have a corporation with 4,000 employees in a budget of an $120,000,000 and and run it with people that make a salry of 9,000 or $10,000 or 15 or 20, why? Because if you want to go get a budget director, you've got to compete in the market place, and this is a free country, and people will not come to work unless you compensate them properly for exactly what they can get Y in competitive governments, or out in the corporate world. It's not easy to vote for a tax increase. Listen, I understand I've got to go...I go to election every two (2) years and I understand with the political process, I've got to get re-elected, and it is not easy, believe me, but I want... I want you to know that this tax increase that we have passed, or we will pass in a moment is less then what you would pay, tax increase if you live in Jacksonville. Jacksonvill has a higher tax increase. Saint Peterburg has a similar tax increase. The fact is that the State of Florida is in the bottom half of what it cost to live in local taxes. Now Yes# I've... some people came to me and said well we're going to move, and I said where are going to move to. If you move to the country you can live, and pay less taxes, but if you move to another city the size of Miami with the service that you get from your Fire Department, you would end up paying similar type of taxes. We have and I brought these be- cause these were in the afternoon papers. Here's a notice from Dade County. Miami Lakes Park wants 12% increase, your public library 40% increase, you have here Dade County is going to 15, and I read in the paper this morning that it was over 20%. Did you se that? It was...20 or whatever it was percent. Now here's one where the unincorporated munici- pal service areas are going up 78%. You may have seen on television or read in the paper or heard on the radio a few days ago, your school board taxes your millage went up 68%, 68%, Now, I'm not saying that because Jacksonville went up higher than the City of Miami, or because the school board went up to 68%, or Metro went up 20 some odd percent that we're entitled automatically to 28%, but I want you to understand that if you want a quality city rendering a quality service, I'm afraid that we're going to have to pay the taxes. Now, your alternatives are really very simple, you have several alternatives, one which I think is a terrible and drastic move is to move out of the City of Miami, to another area which ... and I think you'll find that if you move to another city the size of Miami, you'll end up paying similar taxes. The second alternative that you have is to abolish the City of Miami, and merge it with Metropolitan Dade County. The third alternative that you have is to vote against the people who you feel are not confident and should not be the Mayor or the Commissioners of the City of Miami, if you happen to disagree, and if you feel that strongly about it. You have that option. All 67 of you and those that are not here have that option, and I'm Putting it right on ... right on ... I'm not administering words on this I'm telling you right out front, okay? And you can vote against Steve Clark, and you can vote against all the members of the school board for voting for a 60%... 68% increase, that's fine. You can do that that's your choice, that's your option, and you can do that, and I'm aware of that, and I have been aware of it for 11 years as I voted for budgets of every single... every, every single year. There are no easy solutions for difficult problems, and I vote with a motion. Alright now, we have item DC which is the adoption of the final budget which is attachment B, before YOU. Is there a motion? Commissioner Lacasa: Moved Mayor Ferre: It is moved and seconded. Is there further discussion on the emergency ordinance? Read the ordinance please. Mayor Ferre: It is the appropriation ordinance for the City of Miami, for the fiscal year 1981, which adopts this annyal budget as presented and amended. Further discussion? Call the roll. AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED - AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 19811 CONTAINGING A REPEALER PRO- VISION; A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, DISPENSING WITH THE REQUIRE- MENTS OF READING THE SAME ON TWO SEPARATE DAYS BY A VOTE OF NOT LESS THAN FOUR FIFTHS (4/5's) OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION. Was introduced by Commissioner Gibson and seconded Commissioner Lacasa, for adoption as an emergency measure and dispensing with the requirement of reading same on two separate days, which was agreed to by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner Theodore Gibson Commissioner J.L. Plummer Vice Mayor Lacasa Mayor Ferre NOES: Commissioner Carollo ABSENT: None Whereupon the Commission on motion of Commissioner Gibson and seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, adopted said ordinance by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner Theodore Gibson Commissioner Plummer Vice Mayor Lacasa Mayor Ferre NOES: *Commissioner Carollo ABSENT: None SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED EMERGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 9179 The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and announced that copies were available to members of the City Commission and to the public. ON ROLL CALL *Commissioner Carollo: Again before I vote, I would like to add a few things that I hadn't stated previously. it's ... you know, I am glad that the Mayor made one of the statements that if people in this city don't like the taxes they are paying to move out and maybe it might be cheaper somewhere else. Well maybe that's why he made a statement, I know that it's a lot cheaper taxes that are paid in Key Biscayne then in the City of Miami. You know it's nice to talk about oh it's not really all that bad, you erase a couple of $100.00 in taxes or $500.00 a year. You know I realize how bad it is especially in today's trying times, with inflation the way it is, with everything going up, except our salaries, because I am part of the average Miamian, but when I see people it's just $200.00, $300.00, $400.00 it's nothing to them and raising tax a year on an average homeowner, you know I just have to shake my head, but then I see some of the people that are proposing this and are backing this and I can understand when you live in Key Biscayne or places like Grove Isles, little islands away from the reality of life, and you live the kind of life with other luxuries attached, you're away from the reality of life and from the average Miamian. I could realize why these people are so out of touch with reality. Ladies and gentlemen, lastly before I vote I just like to say that I have brought areas where we could very quickly cut back on our budget, I've brought out the fact in the City Attorney's Office where we could probably cut vass amount, I've brought the fact today in all these vehicles which is all together costing the City somewhere in the neighborhood of $4,000 or $5,000. I've brought other facts but no matter if I would bring a complete plan which I would be more than happy to sit down and do it, I'll just be laughed at and the magic kingdom would still be runned like it is. So the only thing I could add before I vote on this is that one thing the Mayor forgot to tell you is the next city election is November of 1981, and that might be the last chance that the citizens of Miami might have to make this into the City of Miami the Magic City, not the magic kingdom, I vote no. Commissioner Plummer: Let me just make for parlimenary procedure. Mr City Attorney, was my motion of last week imposing of the freeze in its self done at the last meeting or is that to be included once again for final of this meeting? Mr. Knox: Are you asking whether it would be necessary to make a motion again? Commissioner Plummer: Yes sir. At, Mr. Knox: It would not. Commissioner Plummer: I vote yes. Commissioner Carollos For reasons previously stated, I vote no. *Mayor Ferre: Before I vote on this particular thing, I just have two responses to my college. The first response is a story of the cow that was to save a little was reduced from ... to reduce the bill less hay was fed to the cow and that's fine. The problem is is that you can save so much hay that one day there will be no cow. There are no simple answers to difficult questions, and the second comment that I have to my collegue is about his comment about the election next year is that, I have been through this process now, for many, many years and perhaps he might be right. Next year might be the last opportunity. He's entitled to that statement and to his feelings. I noticed however, that he was not to upset when I campaigned for him and worked rather diligently in the raising Of money, in the writing of letters in the whole process of getting... helping him to get elected next ... last year. Then of course'it.was not to difficult to accept the help of the Mayor of the magic kingdom. Now, evidently it seems a little bit different, I vote yes with the motion. Commissioner Plummer: Is that statement Mr. Mayor, the first one relating to the cow milk bull? Mayor Ferre: Listen I think we didn't ... you didn't call the roll on the... Mr. Ongie: Yes sir, we should call the roll on the presenting ordinance. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I have one other motion to make before this Commission. Mayor Ferre: Well I'm sorry, we have... I'm sorry, as a matter of procedure... I beg your pardon. We must vote on the second roll call which we did not vote on in the previously read ordinance, and I think so that we don't run into legal problems will Mr. Lacasa make the motion again on the millage? Commissioner Plummer: It's not necessary Mayor Ferre: We didn't... Commissioner Plummer: It's just a second roll call Mr. Ongie: Yes sir, just a second roll call. Yes. Second roll call on the millage ordinance.. Commissioner Carollo: Before I vote, I would like to answer my collegue in an statement that he made that he made way out of proportion. When I ran for office, this last election there were seven candidates in my group, all together seven. I only raised $15#000 compared to some that raised $80,000, some more. Without the help of anyone I was able to achieve more votes then anyone of the seven people and went into an run off. I think that for anyone to say now, or try to insinuate that they alone elected me, ladies and gentlemen is frankly a lot of BS, and excuse me. If the Mayor or anyone else decided to have help me, which ever way they must have done it because they want a good government, and this is what I'm here to give them, good government. If there was any Other intention at the time then I'm sorry, you were wrong, and the last statement that I would like to say is that you know, when statements like this are made here that are completely out of proportion the only thing that I could say is that you know, those are the same type of statements that I to compare to a popcorn, all full of air with no substances in side, I vote no. Mayor Ferre: I vote yes with an motion, and I think we ... dontt you have a motion Plummer? .Sr.. Commissioner Plummert Mr. Mayor, I would like to offer a motion at this time which later would be reduced to a resolution,.that it be mandatory that next year at budget that a two year budget be presented to the Commission at that time and for subsequent years thereafter. If this Commission is going to ever be able to do long range planning, we W. have got to stop doing it on a year by year basis, and start doing some long range planning. So I would make that in a form of a motion that it be mandatory for a two year budget to be presented. I would hope that it would be possible to present a three year plan. Commissioner Carollo: Second. Mayor Ferre: Further discussion on the motion, call the roll. The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its afoption. MOTION NO. 80-726 A MOTION OF INTENT OF THE CITY COMMISSION MAKING IT MANDATORY THAT NEXT YEAR THE BUDGET BE PREPARED AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION COVERING A TWO-YEAR PERIODI AND THAT IT BE PRESENTED FOR TWO-YEAR PERIODS SUBSEQUENTLY THEREAFTER. Upon being seconded by Commissioner Carollo, the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner Theodore Gibson Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner J.L. Plummer Vice Mayor Lacasa Mayor Maurice A. Ferre NOES: None ABSENT: None. Commissioner Plummer: Now, Mr. Mayor is this hearing closed? I would like to bring up another item. Mayor Ferre: Go ahead. Commissioner Plummer: Is this meeting closed? Mayor Ferre: Not yet. Commissioner Plummer: Well this is a budget meeting and the matter that I want to bring up is an emergency measure. Mayor Ferre: Okay. Is there a motion that this hearing be closed? Commissioner Lacasa: Move. Mayor Ferre: Is there a second? Commissioner Plummer& Second. Mayor Ferre: Further discussion on the closing of this budget process? Call the roll. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Commission on motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 P.M. MAURICE A. FERRE Mayor ATTEST: RALPH G. ONGIE City Clerk MATTY HIRAI Assistant City Clerk db -- MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the day of 3rd day of October, 1980, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in said City in Special Session to consider business of public import, namely. The meeting was called to order at , by Mayor Maurice Ferre with the following members of the Commission present: ALSO PRESENT: Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson Commissioner J.L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Joe Carollo vice Mayor Armando Lacasa Mayor Maurice A. Ferre R.L. Fosmoen, Assistant City Manager George F. Knox, City Attorney Ralph G. Ongie, City Clerk Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Reverend Theodore R. Gibson, who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. Commissioner Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I don't think you have to call a meeting, a special meeting for this. Grace Rockafellar brought up some- thing that I had wanted to bring up, and I forgot. Under the emergency powers of this Commission, it holds the right of withdrawing or revoking the license of a liquor establishment. We have one establishment in this City in which four (4) murders were committed in eleven (11) days. To me if that is not reason to revoke that license I don't know what is. Mr. Manager, I would hope that you would immediately procede to bring about the revocation or atleast the closing down of that establishment, because as far as I am concern another eleven (11) days we can't take. Now do you need a motion on that? Mr. Dick Fosmoen: I would have to ask the attorney whether I havo *hat authority without your motion. Commissioner Plummer: Well I hope that this Commission expresses it- self and you do whatever is within you power to take immediate action. Commissioner Gibson: Mr. Mayor, and Manager, I want to ... I feel that we have been fooling around here a long time with that marina situation. You're going to send it before the Waterfront Hoard on Wednesday. We are meeting on thursday, we have a short agenda, it wouldn't be an impo- sition. I think we ought to...I want to make sure that's on the agenda. Mr. Fosmoen: We have already passed the five day rule Commissioner. I can... I'll have it on the agenda. Commissioner Gibsons Okay lets see, lets see, what ... this is friday, saturday, Saturday, Sunday, monday, tuesday, wednesday. Mayor Ferre: You have time put it on db have asked the City Attorney, Mr. Knox, who is here to review the different gun laws that are in effect in the country in particular I have been inter- ested in the so-called Massachusettes or New York Law which in effect mandates to the court a jail sentence for anybody caught committing a crime. In New York it goes even further, anybody caught with a gun without a permit or a license. Now evidently the preliminary conclusion of that research is, and Mr. Knox, you correct me if I'm wrong, is that that is against State Law and it is not possible for us to do it at a local level, it must be done in Tall- ahassee and lastly, there is a law which mandates certain prison terms which evidently is not being adhered to very well. Mr. Knox? Mr. Knox: That's correct. The matter of gun regulation is a matter that is pre-empted by State Law and any regulation would have to come from the State Legislature. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, just for your information there is already on the books, and one of the things I brought out at the hearing last Friday, there is presently a mandatory three year sentence for anyone using a gun in the commission of a felony. Now you know the real gut issue is see how many of them have ever gone to jail for the three years - it's non-existent. Mayor Ferre: And that brings us up to Grace Rockafellar's question of Citizen Review Board for Judges and as Mrs. Rockafellar knows, this Commission has gone on record in a motion that the City Attorney investigate the possibil- ities and to put into his budget the moneys so that we can properly monitor judges and publish on a quarterly or a semi-annual basis the result of their rulings on a percentage basis in those cases affecting laws of the City of Miami. I don't think that we could appropriately do that for other juris- dictions but we certainly can do it for our's and if everybody else did that then perhaps we would have a way of knowing what the judges are doing and that is something that is in the making. Okay, I'll recognize you. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, if I can just for a minute ramble here because I hve written questions as you did and I'll try to answer them. The gentleman asked the question where did Mr. Plummer get his statistics as to the per- centage per thousand of policemen. And to answer the question, sir, they come from the U.C.R, which is the Uniformed Crime Report. And let me clari- fy because Commissioner Carollo rightfully corrected me at the last meeting. The City of Miami presently understaffed as it is has about 1.5 policemen per thousand and my statement was nationwide it was 2.5. When I looked fur- ther and read further, in fact, there was another category and that was for cities above 250,000 population, it is required at 3.5 and Mr. Carollo right- fully corrected me on that issue. One of the other people spoke to double taxation and I would say to that individual that is all well and good to call the County and ask them are they double taxing us and they are going to, of course, answer no because it is against the law. I think it is very inter- esting, very interesting to note one of the advertisements currently which is required by law in just the unincorporated area that is the area not in a city limit for the provision of municipal services this year because we in the Dade League have been fighting double taxation for God knows how long, their increase in the unincorporated area is the largest increase in all of South Florida, it is 78% - 78% increase. So I think that speaks very clear- ly to the fact of the inequity that has existed for years in which we, the people of the City of Miami have been helping to pick up their tab. Another question that was raised are the moneys that are dedicated. By the way, when the Mayor spoke this evening to 60% of the moneys for police that is of the increase, it is not of the total budget - of the increase it is 60%, of course, that reflects back to the increase in the overall budget of the department. Was that going to be just for the 750 or 800 increase police- men from the 651 the moneys that we have provided in the budget and have told under instructions to the Police Department, is that by the end of this fiscal year that that department shall be at its highest level of staffing of 814. We established last week a $200,000,000 fund exclusively for the purposes of public safety and one of the instructions to the adminis- tration and to the department, if it was humanly possible to go beyond the 814 that we, the Commission, want them to know that you don't have to find the moneys, we don't have to cut budget or completely rip apart the budget, the moneys are there if you can get above that figure. I think it was Ricki who said, why don't you pull back the service fee. I think we would all like to pull back the service fee, keeping in mind that each one of these elected representatives here do live in the City and each one of us, in fact, do pay taxes and I am not happy with it. But you see, it wasn't us, Ricki, who put us out of the burning business, the incinerator, and I agree with that court decision that we should have been out of the incin- erator but when we did it ourselves because we generated steam for Jackson Memorial Hospital to run their hospital it didn't cost us any dollars. Last Mr. Fosmoens Father, now go on with your supplemental. Commissioner Gibsons Okay, lets bring it up thursday. T want you to Put it on the agenda. Okay. MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the 3rd day of October, 1980, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met in its regular meeting place at City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida in Special Session to consider business of public import. The meeting was called to order at 7:25 O'Clock P,M, by Mayor Maurice A. Ferre with the following members of the Com- mission found to be present: ALSO PRESENT: Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson Vice -Mayor Armando Lacasa Mayor Maurice A. Ferre R. L. Fosmoen, City Manager George F. Knox, City Attorney Ralph G. Ongie, City Clerk Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Reverend Theodore R. Gibson who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mayor Ferre: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is the second public hearing of the City of Miami Commission to discuss the Fiscal Year 80-81 proposed budget. The first item on the agenda is the discussion of the pro- posed millage rate and the tentative budget. Now since this is a public hearing and I already have some speakers that wish to be heard, is there any- body else that wishes to be heard that has not signed the Clerk's register? Would you please give your name to the Clerk, he or she will give me your name and I will recognize you in order. Mr. Fosmoen: Mr. Mayor, you must for the record read the proposed percent- age increase as indicated on your agenda. Mayor Ferre; Okay. The proposed millage over the roll back rate is a 27.3 per cent increase. The specific purposes for which ad valorem tax values are being increased is (1) to maintain police services at current levels which has a cost factor of $2,149,088, a 19% increase, the adding of additional police personnel, 150 members of the sworn officers and civilians which is $3,361,704, 29%, add public safety fund of $2,000,000, 18%j maintain Fire services at current levels, $1,551,210, 14%; maintain Solid Waste services at reasonable levels, $2,201,163, 19%; Building and Zoning at reasonable levels $140,465 1% increase, a total of $11,403,630 which makes up 100% of the figures that have been read of the increase. so, therefore, to recap, 65% of the increase is for police, 14% is for Fire and 19% is for Solid Waste of the total increase. The Commission will now listen to citizens' comments regarding the proposed millage increase and then we will close the public hearing and get involved in Commission discussion. The first speaker is Mr. Donald Deresz. Mr. Donald Deresz: (INAUDIBLE) Mayor Ferre: Mr. Deresz, excuse me, and this will be the only interruption that I'll make. Does anybody who has put his or her name down as a speaker wish to speak any more than 3 minutes? Mrs. Rockafellar. Anybody else? Mrs. Walter? Excuse me? Well, you'll have to tell me now because I have to allocate the time. You need to speak 5 minutes? No, 5 minutes, 5 minutes to Mrs. Rockafellar and Mrs. Walter. So the first speaker will speak 5 min- utes. Mr. Deresz: I'd like to talk about the waste, the way the City uses its revenues before we bring a few things about the budget. First of all, con- cerning double taxation by the County for Fire Rescue and even perhaps pol- ice services, this is something that appeared in the Herald back on May 16, 1979. So I went down to the County Assessor's Office and they told me there was no such animal as double taxation which I believe is against State law. They told me that we utilize all the services by the City from the County. I did this in June. I called the City Attorney's office in July and talked to one of the assistants and he informed me that this is a legal grey area and I did not see a mention by the City until the 15th of Dcember, 1979. That's my first query. The second item has to do with the sewer installat- ions. They installed in front of my house on 24th sewers which I also paid money to connect to and since then there has been faulty drainage right in front of my house and driveway, I also have pictures of the area and which I cannot drive out without ruining my car, people can't park in front of my house because of this huge puddle, I have my own swimming pool now so -to - speak. I have talked with the City over the phone, they were very nice about it but what they did was they kept tearing up the street to make holes so that they water could drain in, I wrote the City a letter and they replied very nicely that this possibly might be taken care of in 1981. My question here is when the sewer was being put in why wasn't it properly inspected. The third I have, I wanted to mention that there are these apartment houses on 24th Street that we receive intermittent police enforcement of illegal parking on the north side of the street which is between 2000 and 2020 S.W. 24th Street. But I'm not going to discuss that because I think that you gentlemen will state that, "Well, what we need is more policement in the area." However, let me state instead that when I first moved down to Miami in 1973 around 1975 I worked for Ryder Yachts, had a Ryder Yachts uniform on, in a Ryder Yachts van, it said Ryder Yachts on it and I had a total of 4 police cars, two of those policemen were brass and apparently they had gold on their hats and they stopped us for some sort of suspicious purposes. Again, to repeat myself, I had Ryder Yacht shirts on and a Ryder Yacht truck and the whole bit. They searched the van and searched us on suspicion so my brother and I and the third person filed a complaint with the Internal Review of the Miami City Police the next day and three weeks later we received a telephone call from a lieutenant in charge of that division who stated that that never happened. This took up eight policemen's time, two of who were brass, 45 minutes of their time. I found that very incredible. Another thing that gripes me is that boat owners from outside of the City utilize the dock space at City marinas, these people pay no City taxes. I've been on a waiting list for three years now waiting for a simple boat slip and I've talked to Mr. Jennings and he informed me that there is a published wait- ing list which there was not, I discussed that with the new head dock master at the time and there hasn't been a published waiting list since. This is since this past summer, early summer. So I believe that a lot of people from outside the City are taking advantage of our slips that our tax dollars I'm sure are helping to support. This could be revenue. I have a question also paying the salary of the City Attorney who provides legal services outside his appointed job. I as a teacher, if I were to tutor students outside of the classroom for pay who are my students, I would be fired. Concerning the waste removal services, we received these bills recently for the waste removal service through the mail, I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about, and I wonder why these aren't included as part of the Miami City taxes or the prop- erty taxes, at least we could deduct it from our income tax which we can not do it the way it now stands. I would like to know how much of our present City tax dollar is towards waste removal. Could we see an itemized budget? I also question what these toters, how long do they last before they need replacement and what would the cost me. Thank you very much. Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager, there were► as I counted them, something like eleven questions that were brought up during Mr. Deresz's statement. Would you please have, after the Clerk gives you the statement, prepare some answers for him directly and with copies to members of the Commission. Mr. Fosmoen: Yes, sir. Mr. Deresz; Thank you very much, gentlemen. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, not as a question or input but I think for all of our information it might be interesting to note one of the questions raised was in the area of double taxation and I think you would notice in today's paper that Metropolitan..... Mayor Ferre: Commissioner Plummer, can we save the statements until after we hve closed the public hearing? Mr. Plummer: All right. Mayor Ferre: All right, we're now with Mr. Haino Laas. 6 Mr. Laas: My name is Laas and I live about a half a mile from here. I would like to ask a question for Commissioner Plummer. He explained last time that we only had one and a half policemen for one each one thousand residents of Miami. Now since the police cost us about 60% of it, you know increase, how did he get that count? Did you count all the refugees that came from Cuba were included in that count? Did we have last year 1� policemen for each taxpayer? Because the taxpayers sure didn't ask the Cubans to come over here and I hell sure don't want to pay for the police protection for them and as Dante Fascell says in today's paper I think, that South Florida, the tax- payers should not pay any taxes for the Cuban refugees. I'd also like to say that no one here would not say anything if the taxes will be increased 10% or even 15% because if they increase 50 to 100% because nothing can be in-o creased, no one will keep anybody 100% raise, and if the President of the United States says no one should raise anything over 7% isn't that maybe against the law for the cities of the United States to raise their taxes more than 7%? Also, I would like to talk about that garbage disposal, I happen to have an apartment building the State Road Department took some of the part off, they did not explain anything about the apartment garbage collector. There's no way that I could put those big commercial garbage bins, I have an 81 year old man there, he barely can walk, how could he live this heavy, and how bad they smell, those big ones, you could never even, you know, keep them clean. This is impossible, the system that you, and there isn't a one person here that would like to have that system. Why should we as taxpayers accept something that you people are supposed to work for us, we're not working for you. We pay the taxes and you're supposed to please us. It seems like just like with the taxes, last week everybody was against raising the taxes so much. I happen to speak two languages, I could speak to you in my language, my original language and it would be the same thing because you don't listen, I don't think you listen to us at all. Thank you. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Jorge Concepcion. Mr. Concepcion. Mr. Jorge Concepcion. My name is Jorge Concepcion and I live at 201 N.W. 47 th Avenue. I came to talk about the adding 150 new police personnel. I'm concerned about the safety of everyone and I'm aware that we are short of police officers at 1.8 for every thousand. But what good does it do even if you hire a thousand police officers when the law is not working? When judges are not enforcing the law? When the State Attorney is not doing the proper work and the State Attorney is back logged on cases and they're short of per- sonnel, when justice is not working for blacks and it is not working for whites either? That's my main concern. I used to say that crime doesn't pay but now I think I've changed my mind, I have to say the law doesn't pay. That's my one main thing. (2) I heard Mr. Carollo say last Friday regarding employees that work for the City of Miami, 33 employees who make over $30,000. Mr. Carollo: I was talking about City employees, we have 33 that make over $40,000. _ Mr. Concepcion: And who did 4 hours of lunch or something like that? I mean use a City car for gas, I think I should request either the City Manager or someone to record and evaluate these employees because if we don't need these people I sure don't want to pay taxes for somebody who just takes 4 hours a day for lunch. That's all. Mayor Ferre: Ricki Caminetti. Ms. Ricki Caminetti: Honorable Mayor Ferre and members of the Miami City Com- mission and fellow citizens, for the benefit of the people who were not here at the last meeting, my name is Ricki Caminetti. I live at 4245 S. W. 2nd Terrace in Miami and I represent the Le Jeune Southwest Homeowner's Assoc- iation and also speak as an advocate for all those new property owners and those ethnic groups, black Americans, Cuban Americans and young Americans who do not yet fully understand their rights as taxpayers and now homeowners. In the previous presentations to you gentlemen, we have announced that we are 100% in complete uninimity opposed to the garbage container rental and the escalating fees that go along with such rental. I watched the movie with great interest and I heard one gentleman state that there was no additional cost for the mobile toter system. What happens to the garbage tax that we already pay in our property tax, is that eliminated? If you charge a $25 deposit or whatever, do we collect interest on it? Is it ever returned to us? If it is left at the curb will there be a guarantee that there will be no vandalism? What if the toter system that we have is stolen? Will we have to pay again and again and again? If you feel that it is a big money saving proposition, it protects the health and welfare of the employees, why don't you provide the service through the regular garbage tax at no additional cost to the taxpayers? Surely you're not deaf to the will of the people who are your constituents, the proposed budget is entirely too high for us to bear the burden. You must have each City department cut the excess fat in their respective bureaucracies. Every department should be put on a self- sustaining basis. To give you a few instances, (1) we can no longer offer waivers of rental to all those who ask for free use of City facilities; (2) We have expert consultants who are paid huge salaries in every field work- ing for the City of Miami, there is absolutely no excuse for hiring outside consultants at exorbitant fees who do not even live in this area to give their opinions on subject matters on which they do not even pay taxes here nor do they fully understand the terrain here. We can no longer afford to hand out thousands of dollars to charities however worthy, this tax business is supposed to carry on official business for the City of Miami. We resent, we really resent our higher paid salaried career employees who have made their exodus and no longer live in the City of Miami but rather spend our tax dollars in other communities. We need their input and their tax dollars to be spent in the City where it is earned. We would like to see a resolu- tion to the affect that career employees, especially heads of departments, return to the City of Miami if they want to keep their jobs. Perhaps they could be more sensitive to our needs if this was mandatory and it was en- forced. Not only do we pay their high salaries but their medical and retire- ment benefits that go on indefinitely. This will someday bankrupt our fair City as it has in other cities as well. These, gentlemen, are deteriorating disasters for which you are making the taxpayers and the homeowners and un- willing partner. Noe one is in favor of a tax increase except when it will benefit the entire community - children and adults as well, and I might add unborn children. However, gentlemen, it would behoove you as our leaders to have a budget prepared well in advance of a crucial deadline. When we must resort to emergency funds to continue operations it is recommended that the month of August be set aside for public budget hearings instead of running into the following fiscal year for emergency funds. We resent being complete- ly ignored when it is our taxpayer's money that you are spending. This may be your last public meeting on these issues but it certainly is not our last vote. The constituency feels that it has elected a group of qualified citi- zens which I think you all are. However, when the time comes to act and make decisions in fields which you are supposedly qualified there seems to be a great void. I have continued to question people who have paid the new gar- bage collection fee, they advised me that they did so out of fear, as I told you last time, not knowing what their alternatives were and they were con- cerned that a tax lien could be placed on their homes. As I previously re- lated to you, the present City Commission has come into a great deal of pub- lic ridicule. I resent that because I admire my city and I admire my commis- sioners, I admire my leaders. It is encumbent upon you to serve your con- stituency and not intimidate nor dominate them. The proposed garbage container rental is a superfulous service - we don't need it nor do we want it. This is an attempt to take more tax dollars than this proposed system is worth. It is a burden on our citizens. You have been mandated to pursue the wishes of the taxpayers of the City of Miami and we ask that you do not shove the containers down our throats. I repeat, to do so would be taking away our independence and our individuality. At the September 15th Meeting, Mayor Ferret you stated, and I quote, what"Congress gives Congress can take away" therefore, since you are members of our little congress and just as you passed this resolution you are once again requested to rescind the resolu- tion calling for a now garbage collection fee. We have not had any adver- tised community -wide public hearings on this important issue. Should you insist on retaining this fee despite our tremendously strong opposition, then we command that a referendum be held so that those of us who must pay the tax or the fee may decide whether or not to approve it. We will not buckle down to taxation without representation. of course, I am your respectful taxpaying homeowner. Mayor Ferro: The next speaker is Grace Rockafellar. Mrs. Grace Rockafellar: Mr. Mayor and members of the City Commission, my name is Grace Rockafellar, I live at 814 N.E. 71st Street, Miami. I'm Presi- dent of the Northeast Miami Improvement Association which is the largest and oldest civic association in Dade County. I'm also President of the Northeast Taxpayer's Association, I'm appearing here tonight as a private citizen. After the close of the last public hearing last week when all the citizens had been heard, Commissioner Plummer commented on how many people we had here tonight and then also asked "Where are the rest of them?" I think that deserves an answer. The rest of them were home behind double locked doors with a gun by their side. I'm afraid that this Commission is not aware of the fact that most of the residents in the City of Miami live in a jungle. since the recent riots in Liberty City and the tremendous influx of refugees we have more thugs on the streets with guns and knives, almost more than we have citizens. Last week - no, just a few days ago this week - there were four murders in our community in our hour. A week ago an elderly man walked into Mc Donald's at 79th and Biscayne Boulevard to get something to eat, he came out and some thug with a knife grabbed him, twisted his arm around in back. He was able to get his other hand loose and he got his gun out of his pocket and shot him. In a recent article in the Miami Herald it stated that more criminals are being shot by citizens than by police and I'm afraid you're going to see more and more of that as time goes on. In the meantime our Police Department is going down, down, down. We are losing good police officers every day, we cannot afford to do that. I think that it is high time that the Commission realizes where our tax dollars go and where they should go. I don't think the people would resent so much a tax increase if they felt their tax dollars were being spent for the services that they wanted. If I were sitting here as the elected Mayor or Commissioner of this City Commission and wish to be re-elected every year and not worry about whoever was going to run against me or wor- ried about collecting a lot of money I would do four things. The first thing I would do is tell the City Manager, I want you to go over every depart- ment, every employee and every expenditure and we want you to out the waste out of this, we don't want you to go by the status quo, we want you to really do a job. If that Manager came back to me and said, Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, I couldn't find a bit of waste, I'd fire him, I would think he was incompetent because there is waste in every government and I think there is a man sitting here right to my right that is capable of doing just that job if he is given the will to do so by this City Commission. Another thing I would do, I would have a police force second to none. I would hire qualified police officers, I wouldn't stop at 700, right now we need 1,000, 2,000 police officers. The police officers are the most over worked over criticized under appreciated people working in the government of any com- munity especially here in the City of Miami. i would also go back to my original Consent Decree that I signed with the City with the federal Govern- ment on minority hiring, I think that figure was 56 and now it is 80. That is just another stumbling block in the Police chief's ability to hire more police officers. You have a very competent Police Chief, I would toll this Police Chief, you have charge of the police officers, you hire them and you tell them what to do. I would put that word restraint back in the closet where it belongs because the criminals do not use restraint. I would tell them to go out in the field and act like a police officer should to stamp out crime wherever they find it and that is the only way you are going to get this thing done. A gentleman remarked about the judicial branch a while ago and he is so right. If a police officer arrests people today, they arrest criminals on the street, tomorrow they have to arrest the same crimin- als over and over and over. We have many fine judges sitting on the bench but we have too many of them that are interested in making deals, and you've read about them in the newspapers, deals with the defense attorneys. I had one such judge when I tried to tell him that our area is not based upon a moral issue, it is an economic issue and during the course of the conversa- tion he said, I've even been accused of taking a bribe. I said, I'm not surprised about that at all Judge Deahl, I'm asked that question about you and a number of other judges every day. You're not handing out justice so what are the people supposed to think? There is so much corruption in all parts of the government that what other incentive is there but money? You read just a couple of articles here in the paper recently about two differ- ent judges and how they've handled these criminal cases but that is no sign we don't need the police officers. In our association we have monirors in the court and we are now, both this City Commission and the Dade County Commission and news media scream long and clear, loud, for a Citizens Review Board of the Police. We are now circulating petitions demanding a Citizens Review Board of the Judges that have subpoena powers, that make the judges come before the citizens with the news media there and explain why they have turned these criminals loose time after time after time. Soma of the police officers have showed us computer printouts that you would have to stand on a ladder to hold down, people that have before the courts and immediately turned loose with never serving a day's time or a fine. Now in addition to this bug budget that you have here today you also have two bond issues total- ing $75,000,000 that is in addition to our taxes, this huge tax increase that you are proposing for us. Now we do hope that you give that some more con- sideration, try to reduce it if you can. When you add that to the County taxes and to the bond issue and to the big increase that you have you're going to have people deciding should I pay my taxes or should I eat. Now I'd like to get down to Mr. Patterson and his garbage. When he was here last week one of you asked him has this been tried in other places and how it has worked. Mr. Patterson said yes, it has been tried in North Miami Beach. There is an article in the Neighbor's Section of last Sunday's paper, we don't want these ugly trash bins and it signed by an Alfred Caplan in Miami Beach. He goes on to say that in Neighbor's, September lath, you've got a little article that in North Miami Beach residents were going to be fined for not putting away these ugly bins. If you'd like to do a piece of investi- gative reporting, why not walk through the residential areas of North Miami Beach and poll each house and ask them, "Do you like your new trash bins?" Did the City of North Miami Beach ask you if you want these trash bins?" "If you had your way would you want to keep this or would you want to go back to Your small cans?" Last week I met with a large group of neighbors in our area, we got into a discussion of these bins, every one of them were unanimous, "We don't like the garbage bins, we never asked for them, if we had our wish we'd tell Ralph Golpe and the City of North Miami Beach what they could do with their bins". Well this interested me, I called Commissioner Rirtsman in North Miami Beach, I happen to know him. I wanted to compare that ordin- ance with ours. Now their ordinance is they have the bins, the citizens have to roll them to the curb and roll them back but they have their regular front yard trash pick ups all the time. They made the same statements that I made here last week, too many senior citizens are living on small fixed incomes and cannot hire yard men, and I can't see them chopping down limbs and carting them out to these big bins out here. You know how the citizens in the City of Miami feel, they don't want them, they didn't ask for them and we hope you take them away. So we hope in your budget this time around that you remember three services, these are the services we want, these are the services that we want our tax dollars to go for: a Police force second to none, a Fire Department second to none and the Sanitation second to none. Those are the services we want. If you have money for parks what is the use of having them when the people are afraid to go in there? And we ask this Commission to do everything in your power to give us the strongest Police force we've ever had before and I thank you. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Heines Breeden. Mr. Breeden: Mr. Mayor, I'm also the President of the Sanitation Employees Association. I'm more concerned about this program about people losing jobs. They said there wouldn't be any jobs lost but with the system if you notice the films that Mr. Patterson showed that all that pick up was in Fort Lauder- dale, it wasn't in the black area. Garbage is different in the City of Miami than it is in Fort Lauderdale. Where you've got six houses on a block in Ft. Lauderdale you've got 15 in the City of Miami. There is no way that you're going to go to this system and not loose papers. He said there wouldn't be anybody laid off but through attrition, there might not be this year but next year you will lose them and I know that. I've been around Sanitation too long in working with garbage, and I understand that he said he's trying to better the job and better the department but I do know, and I hope this Commission will look at it from more than one way of just saving the taxpayers as they say, and look at the bodies that are going to be lost in Sanitation. I disapprove of it but I'm not the director there. My people down there disapprove of it, there is no way that they're going to go to the system and realize that the men don't like it. The morale in the department is going to fall, we're going to have all these things to worry about. Your garbage is much heavier in the City of Miami than it is any other City. You're going to spend money to build the racks on the back of the truck to dump these containers. You've got to buy the containers. If you don't raise the taxes why change the system? I don't understand why they're going to change a system that's going to raise the tax. The people in Sanitation, they like the system that we have going, it's back of the house pick up and they enjoy it, they don't mind getting out there at 6 O'clock in the morning and giving a good day's work but when you go to these containers it is going to make a difference in each man that works on the truck and I hope this com- mission will look at it and realize that in the long run that the way they're doing it now will be better in Sanitation. I thank you. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Janet Waldman. Ms. Janet Waldman: My name is Janet Waldman, I live at 1901 Brickell Avenue. First of all I would like to call to the attention of this Commission that by virtue of this act of both of these public hearings on the budget have been held on Friday evenings, you have disenfranchised a large number of people in the community from being able to come and address you on this is- sue. I'm speaking of people who for religious reasons are not able to come to meetings on Friday nights - Jewish people, Seventh Day Adventists and very possibly others. I would like to at this time register a complaint with the Commission for having both of the hearings on Fridays. Mayor Ferre: Janet, we're complying with the law and we'll get into that in a second. Ms. Waldman: I didn't say it was illegal, I'm just saying that I wish to complian about it. Second of all I would like to make a comment regarding one of the comments one of the other speakers said that the South Floridians did not ask the Cubans to come here. I didn't ask the Cubans to come here but I want members of this Commission and the members of this Community to know that I for one welcome people who have a problem in their homeland to come here to seek freedom and I think that that is very important that this Commission and the community understands that the majority of Americans would not turn away people whose lives are in danger. The next thing I would like to say is that I feel that the information that was provided to me on this budget was totally inaccurate. We're talking about a budget increase but we're talking about how the moneys are allocated over the entire budget and to provide me with a few lines of how the money of the increase is going to be allocated is insufficient to allow me to make educated comments on the entire budget and I think that this is a gross inadequacy that should be corrected. People should know where all the money is going to go. I would like to point out in regards to police protection, of course, we need more police protection. Of course, we've got to reduce crime but putting more police out there is not the only way to do it. The City of Miami, Dade County and the State of Florida must enact more ordinances that will put criminals behind bars. One of the things that could be done would be a gun control law regarding hand guns that would have mandatory prison sentences. This is extremely important. We can put the policemen out there and catch the criminals after they have done something but we want to stop our people from being killed and one of the ways to do that is to let the criminals know that if they have a gun they're going to be in jail. Boston has done this with great success and I would recommend that the Commission do this. I would like to tell the Commission that although I do live on Brickell Avenue which is a high cost area I have a very small apartment, a one bed- room apartment which is the second smallest unit in my development and I would like to give you an idea of my taxes are before the Library increase and the School Board increase. In 1977 my total taxes were $1,141.70, of that a total of $479.95 went to the City of Miami, $363.60 going to the oper- ation. Last year I paid $1,296.97 in taxes with $425.60 going to the opera- tion of the City of Miami. On the assessment that I received for 1980, I will be paying $2,300.82, that's a $1,000 increase total with $827.36 going to the operation of the City of Miami. That was 827 from 425 with an in- crease in the payment towards the debt. My income has not increased and as I understood this new assessment it was supposed to be an equivalent roll back in the millage so that we would not be paying more. I will be paying yearly 100% more in taxes if this goes through. For a small one bedroom apartment no matter where you're located in the City of Miami I don't think that that is equitable and as I say I've not been able to analyze the budget to tell you where the waste lies. I'm just telling you this is too much for me to spend for taxes and I would hope you would decrease the taxes. Thank you. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Elizabeth Grothe. Ms. Elizabeth Grothe: My name is Elizabeth Grothe, I live at 4230 Douglas Road. I have lived there for the last 30 years. I really do object to the latest assessment on my house. It was a hardship on me last year but this year it went up so much it went up over 100% and I live on a fixed income and I can't afford to live there in the future, I wish you would reconsider it. Thank you. Mayor Ferre: All right, the next speaker is Heiva Jabaldi. Ms. Heiva Jabali: I live at 6031 N.E. 5th Avenue. I'm also the mother of four children and the reason my family chose to move into the northeast com- munity known as Lemon City was because it was quiet, or appeared so, it was multi -cultural, a good cross section of the economic community of Miami, has a good neighborhood school, a park across the street, a library, a day care center and it is conveniently located and even had a convenience store near- by. After about 6 months I have founds faults in the community which myself, neighbors and other parents in the area felt could be improved by the City of Miami. The biggest problem is the loitering of drug dealers, and we have reported a number of times to the City of Miami Police Department. The Police Department comes a few times and tells us to call again if the loiters or the young men who are doing the drug dealing return. The children are now afraid to walk home from school, the nearby school is Morningside Elementary School, to go to the convenience store and even to walk past a group of young men. Even though they have not been bothered yet we're just wondering when it will be. I myself have even talked with some of the young men asking them very nice would they take their business other places. of course, they just give me a friendly hello and they're going to continue to do their business right there. We are asking for better police patrolling in the area and special attention should be brought to clean up Biscayne Boulevard near by which is an ugly blight on the image of Miami. Parents also at the Eaton Day Care Children's Center across the street in my neighborhood also have been told that the City is considering a proposed budget cutback on day care centers in the area. I don't have to tell you that a number of the parents require the services of a day care center to continue their employment or educational opportunities and we would like to continue to do so. Okay, I'm glad you knew that because this is what we were told. So that if there is not a budget cut for the children's day care center we thank you kindly and hope that you will keep the cost down. But I do advise you to take care of the situation along Biscayne Boulevard between about 60th Street and about 85th Street, the situation is atrocious and we'd like to see it changed. Thank you. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Tony D. Fairley. Ms. Toni Fairley: M name is Toni Fairley and my address is 3516 N.W. loth Avenue and Wednesday when I went to pick my son up from the Day Care Center we were instructed that they were thinking about cutting back on the budget and that they were going to close the day care centers so I would like to ask you is that so? Mayor Ferre: No. Is there anybody else who wishes to address this Commis- sion at this public hearing? Yes, sir. Mr. Avio L. Castillo: My name is Avio L. Castillo and I live in the south- west area. I would like to ask you a few questions. (1) Since Tent City has moved out has crime gone down in that neighborhood statistically where Tent City was? The crime has gone down? I know this is not an issue but it is an issue where we're short of police officers and there are only 650 police officers. I know you have to meet your Revenue Sharing Progarm in order to meet the level of 1970 which was about 750 or 800, between there... Now, in that raise, our millage will include a raise the police officer currently now since..... It makes you want Hollywood. Is there going to be any raises in addition to the 150 new ones? Mayor Ferre: If you would make your statement, and we will, I'm writing down as many of these questions as I can, we're going to ask the Manager to respond and some of these, those that you're not satisfied with we will have answered in writing. Anything else? Mr. Castillo: Yes, sir. I feel that why should the City of Miami spend where I live, a tree, that that tree could have helped provide a police officer's training. The City of Miami spent a bundle to put up that tree in the residential area. I think it was a beautification. Yes, that could have trained a police officer. Why do I need a tree near my house? That could have trained a police officer right there instead of spending that money on a tree. That could have helped train a police officer. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferre: All right. Are there any other statements or questions that need to be asked? Mrs. Joanne Holzhauser: I'm Joanne Holzhauser, I live at 4230 Ingraham High- way and I would like to ask one more time to please reconsider on the garbage. I spent several hours several days this week talking to all the garbage and trash men I saw, universally they're opposed to it, I counted the number of palm fronds that fell in my yard in the past week, 5 of them fell. I don't know what I'm going to do if we have to have containerized trash. I have arthritis, I cannot lift that much with my hands to chop up anything. I don't want to buy a power saw and cut my hands off, I don't know how I'm going to get palm fronds wedged into these containers and I think there are many of us in the Grove and certainly other places that just aren't going to be able to take care of it. And one more thing other than the Rube Goldberg type of garbage truck that we're going to be trying out is this, I have not received a trash pick up on Ingraham Highway, and I'm not alone, there are a number of us in that section that have not received it for 7� weeks now. Now I want to know if we fall behind what is going to happen then? Every time there is a holiday it seems to fall on my garbage pick up day so my garbage isn't picked up. If the trash isn't picked up for weeks and the garbage falls behind I think there are going to be a lot of us who just simply aren't going to have any choice, we aren't physically able to lift up the garbage and the trash and take it someplace else and I really do beseech you, I do think it will cost us jobs in the long run. I know maybe I'm unusual, I'm willing to pay the tax as long as I can. These men and women who are work- ing are now making a living wage and I think now it is our chance in the City of Miami to be human and to say we will not go for a plan that risks any- body's job. If there is any way to get a compromise, I realize that Mr. Patterson has had problems and I know you all have worked on it, maybe now is the time for people to compromise and have curbside pick up, I have been willing all along and perhaps if you all would just hold on and now that peo- ple see what the ultimate might be ask them again and if they will go to curb- side pick up, please, and let's keep our garbage the way it is. Thank you. Mayor Ferre: All right. Are there any other speakers at the public hearing? If not, is there a motion to close the public hearing? Thereupon the City Commission upon motion of Commissioner Lacasa, seconded by Commissioner Gibson moved to end the public portion of the meeting by a unanimous vote. Mayor Ferre: I will recognize all of you for your questions on the Commis- sion and for your statements. I think we have a series of questions that have been asked and obviously at these type of hearings it is not always possible to answer all of them as accurately and as fully but yet I think we should attempt to answer some of these questions as best we can. First of all, I just want to answer one thing that Janet Waldman brought up and I want to make sure that we all understand it. The law requires that 15 days after the mailing out and the publishing of the proposed millage that we hold a Public hearing. As it turned out since our Commission Meeting is on a Thurs- day, 15 days from the Thursday that we passed the motion fell on a Friday and under the law that is when the public hearing was held. In retrospect, if we had figured it out, obviously we would not have held it because obviously it does disenfranchise many people of the Jewish faith who do not and are not and cannot be here on Friday evening and for that, of course, we apologize and I think that is taken in the spirit that it was meant and you're totally correct. Now, let's see if we can perhaps start backwards with some of these questions. Why are trees being planted, Mr. Manager? Mr. Fosmoen: Mr. Mayor, the Commission last year included an amount, approx- imately $100,000 for a tree planting program. In addition to that the Com- munity Development Program provides for tree planting funds throughout the City. Mayor Ferre: Where did those moneys come from? Mr. Fosmoen: Florida Power and Light funds and Community Development Funds. Mayor Ferre: C. D. Funds are federal funds? Mr. Fosmoen: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: Tent City crime, do we have a decrease in crime in the Tent City area since the closing of Tent City? Mr. Fosmoen: It is a little early to tell since Tent City closed the day before yesterday. Mayor Ferre: Well, the man asked the question, I'm trying to get an answer. Mr. Fosmoen: There's no way we can tell at this point. Mayor. Ferre: You don't have any preliminary figures? Mr. Fosmoen: I have not gotten any preliminary figures. Mayor Ferre: When you do, would you take Mr. Castillo's address from the Clerk and write him what the information is? Mr. Fosmoen: Yes. He also asked about Police raises, of course, and that is coming up for negotation this year, the contract expires October 1, 1981. Mayor Ferre: The City of Miami Police Department have traditionally been the best paid policemen in the community. I have served 4 years as a member of the City of Miami Commission as a Commissioner and I have served 7 years as Mayor, it has always been my position at every budget hearing and at every opportunity to insist that the City of Miami Police force be the best paid Police force in the community. I think we get the extra money that we. -may be paying over other city policemen, we get that back many fold and I think it is a wise policy and I certainly will continue to vote that way. With regards, the next question that I heard was with regards to gun laws and I