HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1980-09-26 Minutes•p . { h H� a3 ti',�H"�'� qzC" 4�tib�4Q 1'+,D Nhf{ .} , f , � �.,
ynyt5. bl ri Cr j� r � 9„?! .
+14 to 1
nm
*' 1 N(,"ORP ,I►It %TE D96
M
SPECIAL
C O*M MISS I O%N
M I N U DES
OF MEETING HELD ON September 26, 1980
PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
CITY HALL
RALPH G...ONGIE
CITY CLERK
n
� 3,)
4WISWONW1 Im
ITEM NO, (SPECIAL) SLB ECT September 26, 1980
1
2
3
4
5
C
7
0
ce
SOWTJON 1 0� PAGE NO,
OLUT
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND TENTATIVE
BUDGET M-80-722 1-39
MOTION IMPOSING FREEZE ON HIRING OF ALL PERSONNEL FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR EXCEPTING POLICE AND
FIRE DEPARTMENT I M-80-723
FIRST READING ORDINANCE: DEFINING AND DESIGNATING THE
TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR THE
PURPOSE OF TAXATION I FIRST READING
FIRST READING ORDINANCE: MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1981 FIRST READING
FIRST READING ORDINANCE: AMENDING SECTIONS 31-1 AND
31-48 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIA14I (OCCUPATIONAL
LICENSE). FIRST READING
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE MAKING CERTAIN APPROPRIATIONS TO
THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, DIVISIONS, BUREAUS, BOARDS,
AND OFFICES OF THE CITY OF MIAMI. ORD. 9177
RESOLUTION ALLOCATING $74,962 OF FY' 80-81 FEDERAL
REVENUE SHARING FUNDS APPROPRIATED BY PASSAGE OF
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 9171 TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED
SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. R-80-724
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED USE OF FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING
I FUNDS DISCUSSION
1 39-40
1 40-42
1 42-43
1 43-44
1 44-45
1 45-46
1 47-50
CUTESt SPECIAL MEETING TH
)F SpE NG OF
CITY COMMISSION OF Mlldl-', FLORTDA
* * * * * it * * * to * *
On the day of 26, September, 1980, the City Commission of Miami,
Florida, met at its regular meeting place in said City in Special Session
business of public import.
The meeting was called to order at 7:20 o'clock by Maurice A. Ferre
with the following members of the Commission present.
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissiorer Rev. Theodore R. Gibson
Commissioner J.1,. Pluuuner, Jr.
Commissioner Armando Lacasa
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
ALSO PRESENT:
R.L. Fosmoen, Acting City Manager
George V. Knox, City Attorney
Ralph G. Ongie, City Clerk
natty 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.
1. I)iSCUSSION Or PROPOSED mILLAGE RATE &ND TENTATIVE BUDGET.
Mayor Feiret Good evening, ladies and gentlemen this is the first public
hearing to be... to discuss the FY-80-81 tentative budget and at this
time the chair rerognizes the City Manager.
Xr. Richard Fosmoen: Mr. Mayor you have before you art agenda and a pro-
posed milage rate for the City of Miami. I think it is appropriate that
you hear comments from the audience and perhaps you would like to con-
sider hearing comments based on the agenda and based on the proposed
increases as a result of certain activities.
Mayor Ferre: Alright sir, at this time the first person to...that
wishes to address the Commission is Mr. Lee, it looks like Salachman.,
It looks like we have about twenty people hear.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Sixteen
Mayor. Ferre: Sixteen, ok and if we give you three minutes.. -Who's got a
multiplier around here? Six is eighteen, one that's about ... that's under
an hour istl't it?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Fourty eight minutes.
Mayor Ferre: Plus other discussion...alright, I'm going to then let you a...
Does anybody need to speak more than three minutes that has a problem
with three minutes raise your hand those of you that are spokesman.
Alright how much time do you need air? ,
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER-. About five.,
Mayor Ferre: Alright that's fine. Five alright, so with the exception
of the two of you and I'll try to be as reasonable as I can on people
extending themselves, but please I would like to ask just one thing or
two things, first of all I know there are a lot emotions and I think it
is i.mportant...no..,I think it's important that a ...I understand that
you have to express your emo,tions but, try not scream and try not to
raise your voice to point where it is offensive to pbople and lets...
I hope we can :stay away from personal accusations and that type of a
thing, aometimes pf:ople get carried away at budget hearings and their
picture, their voice rises and we get into real emotions battles here.
The second thing that I would like to ask is if somebody has covered your
point before you make your statement a repetition of it, if you have to
do it go ahead and repeat the plan but make It brief. If somebody comes
up and covers your point well and you think that your point has been made
then just I agree with Mr. Smith in what he said about so and so and then
go on to your next point please, because otherwise, what we end up getting
is twenty or thirty people saying the same thing over and over again.
Now, the first ... the first spokesman is Lee Salachman of 1430 South Bay
Shore Drive. Mr Salachman you have five minutes sir.
Mr. Lee Salachman: Salachman.
Mayor Ferre: Salachman, ok sir. Mr. Salachman.
Mr. Lee Salachman: Mayor Terre, Commissioners and ladies and gentleman,
I wish to thank you very much... I'll start all over. Mayor Ferre,
Commissioners, ladies and gentleman, I wish -co thank you very much for
allowing me to address this meeting tonight on the tentative budget and
the proposed -mi.11age for the Piscal. Year of 196U-61. My name is Lee
Salachman, I live at 1430 South Bayshore Drive. I have been a resident
of. the City of Miami for thirty two years and in all that time I've worked
for the Dade County Property Appraisals Office, one of my duties with this
office is to prepare an annual report of property tax values for each of
the cities and this I have been doing for the last fifteen years, since
nineteen sixty six. This year the annual increase in property value has
been greater then at any time in the last fifteen years. The City of
Miami's increase of approximately one billion seven hundred million would
permit the City to reduce it's milage to seven point one zero from ten
million this is ra t:,!e:nty nine percent reduction and the City would still
be able r,o collect the same amount of taxes from the tax payers based on
that: seven point cue zero, instead the proposes in this budget to raise
the mi.l;lage to nine point four zero eight. Tonight I will speak about the
millage e.fLer the vote on October seven because I think it's going to pass.
In the paragraph of Mr.. Grassie's budget message, he indicates that an
effort is being made to maintain a reasonable tax burden on our citizens.
Gentlemen a thirty two and a half increase in property taxes is not
reasonable it's exploitation. Under the trim bill which was passed this
year only three Commissioners nre needed to set the milage under eight
percent which the trim hill provided. If. three of you decide that you
don't like this particular increase whl.c.h incidently would increase our
taxes in the city from two twelve miliion seven hundred and eighty thousands,
three of you can control this to a point where you can only take three
million two hundred thousands of course that would necessitate a decrease
in the budget and the City of Miami tax payers on the basis on this
proposed budget would save nine and half million dollars. If this had
been a normal assessment year, your tax base would have gone up about
two hundred or three hundred million dollars and you would have had no
more than about three millions dollars to spend, no matter because you're
at the ten mill cap. Why then is it necessary to take advantage of this
wildfall. in the tax base and at the same time penalize the tax payers
of City of Miami? At this point I would,like to make few tax comparisons.
You are all familiar with Key Biscayne, it's a community on the other side
of the bay, it's not a city and those people over there, Key Biscayne pay
eleven dollars per thousand less than the people in the City of Miami.
Why, is that possible? Miami has a two tier government, Key Biscayne does
not. On Key Biscayne do they lack essential government services. I have
not never heard of any and I have friends In Key Biscayne living there for
many years. Now lets take the City of Coral Gables, they have a two
tier government. :They pay about six dollars and fifty cents per thousand
less than we pay here in Miami. Of course we are bigger, but bigger is
not necessarily better. This explosion in the taxable value in nineteen
eighty was caused by Governors Grahams insistence that all the tax assessors
in this state raise their assessments to a hundred percent, this has resulted
in a once in a decade bananza for those taxing authorities that wish to
exploit the increase. I would not be here tonight if the City of Miami
had proposed a property tax increase of eight percent or ten percent or
even fifteen percent, but thirty two and a half percent is to much, after
all property taxes are not the only source of income. I know well that
the City needs additional funding for police due to increase in crime.
A fifteen percent increase in property taxes would provide all of your
police needs and a lot of other money besides. A reasonable cut from
db
nine point four zero eight mill as proposed to eight point two mill would
still provide about six and half million dollars additional for this year
of 1980-81 and would adequately fund what I have just described.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Salachman.
Mr. Salachman: Yes.
Mayor Ferro: Excuse me, you've taken about six maybe seven minutes now,
how much longer do you think you'll need?
Mr. Salachman: One. We must remember that we are second tier government
in comparison our tax payers are paying much more than they should for
no additional services. Exploitation „ Exploitation is a sort of thing
that generates a proposition thirteen and we don't want that. Gentlemen
lets cut the mileage back to about eight point two and preserve the
integrity of local government, the tax payers will benefit and so will you.
Thank you, Food night.
Mayor Terre: The next speaker is Marilyn Gant Hudson.
Nls. Marilyn Hudson: ;Mayer rer.•re...Mayor Ferro and a...I'm glad to see
that there are a lot of people: hoi!e tonight, I was kind of worr.ied...1
was worriod upon until about fifteen minutes before it started that people
weren't going to show and 'i'm very glad that people are here. What I want
to say tonight is basically a corning from a point of view of person who
hasn't livu(i here for thirty two years but two years, a person who chose
to move tt. 11".ami in particular for the many benefits that the city can
h,vve and aL this point a person who feels very frustrated and overwhelmed
and indeed powerless with what is happening -Mr. Salachman spoke of a
thirty two percent tax increase, my and my own husband's own personal
case i;:: t'l-.at if the proposed tax increase goes through this year our pro-
perty taxes will. increase over one hundred percents of last years taxes.
I think this Is a situation that for no matter what reason it's unjusti-
flable. We have ... we have felt that at a same time that more taxes are
being added we're giving less services as shown by the example of the
garbage bill, which I won't go into but that if we can assume that the
garbage pick up was being, handled by taxes ... property taxed in the past
and now we get a separate bill for that, I guess we can assume that's a
reduction in services for our tax dollars. I've talked to a lot of
people over the week since we ,rot our bill and as...as I compare what
we're paying i;, our neighborhood anti other areas, it also appears to me
not to be equitable, it seems that the general Coconut Grove area is
tagged as expensive etc. etc. and you should pay the taxes that the
Grove puts out. Our particular house is a thirty year old house that
we bought about a year and half ago, it has no capital improvements over
the thirty years and even though someone tells us at this point that
we could sell that house for very much more than we paid for it, it's
not really relavent because we're not planning to move, we don't want to
pushed out of that house, we want to stay in that house. Until tonight's
agenda I and even with tonight's agenda I don't feel that I have received a
real clear cut idea of where the tax monies are going, it's an incredible
amount that's being proposed. I have a feeling that one of the things
that may happen is that as Miami has more tax money available the federal
government will be a more or less reinforced for not helping us out in
our recent ... our population increase and as Miami have money available
they will begin to pay it out. I have two more comments and one is that
about a year ago the Miami Herald had an article in the Tropic Magazine
about peoples first impressions of Miami when they moved here and encouraged
people writing about their first impressions and I did that and got a
little article in the paper about our feelings about moving here, which
was very positive. Unfortunately two weeks ago I wrote: another letter
to the Miami Herald expressing the kind of frustrations that I'm trying
to express right now. I don't want to leave this community, I want to
stay but the final line is that when we're at point our lives right now
where even anticipnting children'is difficult because our financial
status and looking at the schools in our area etc. etc. brings lots of
questions. We're feeling that since our house is worth X amount the
City of Miami would have rather have -someone come in who can pay that
amount out of c,.c41 that's is raised and who knows what way than to have
db S E P 261980
people like us living in our house contributing to the community and
really wanting to stay, I hope that something can be adjusted in terms of
the tax proposal that's before us now,
Mayor Ferre: Alright the next speaker is Grace Rockafellar and then
Mrs. Ricki Camoniti. Would you help Mrs. Rockafellar?
Ms. Grace Rockafellar: Mr. Mayor and members of. the Commission, I am
Grace Rockafellar, I live at 814 N.E. 71st Street. I am president of
the oldest and largest civic association in Dade County, the Northeast
Miami Improvement Association also president of the Northeast Tax
Payers Association. I am appearing here tonight as a private citizens.
In all. the years that I have been involved in the city I think it's the
first time to my knowledge that a Mr. Patterson or any other person
could come before this commission with an item that was not on the agenda
an item that so drastically affects every citizens in the City of Miami
was not advertised at no public hearing and that item was passed by a
motion of this Commission. I feel that's taxation without representation
from the hundreds of calls ... from the hundreds of calls that I have
received during the last two weeks, I think that most of the citizens
in the City o" Miami agree with me. We have a good garbage collection
now, we have people working in the Sanitation Department that are
efficient, courteous and good mere, they are also working men, they are
family men and they need their jobs. Now when Mr. Patterson proposes
I don't think this commission has any idea of the number of senior
citizens, their. .living on small fixed incomes that live in the City of
Miami., peor>le who can not afford to hire a yard man and it's common
practice if }'OLI would just drive up and down the street to see a elderly
woman pushing a .latwn mower, trying to drag a branch that has fallen out
to the front for pickup and elderly man that maybe has heart trouble or
arthritis works a little bit, sits down a little bit, now can you see
these people, rutting that stuff up, dragging it and loading it and trying
to lift it auto a eighty two gallon can in their back yard? I can't
see that and I think that is absolutely terrible. Now the citizens of
this community are nott the only ones that feels this way. I've been
clown here many many times on the budget hearing for three divisions
three: services that we think are the most essential services that this
city can... can grant their citizens that is a good strong well manned
Police Department a good strong well manned Fire Department and good
strong well manned Sanitation Department. I've gotten to know the
sanitation workers as I know our police officers and I know our fire...
the people that work for the Fire Department. They have been to my
home in numbers the last two or three weeks and they have told me that
Mr. Patterson has said that they will not be...none of them will lose
their jobs, and I think father Gibson was reported in the paper after
the meeting here that you said you would vote for this providing no-
body lost their job, they tell me the only safe job in the Sanitation
Department is Mr. Patterson. Nobody knows who's going to lose their
Job. If they're not going to make as many pick ups, they're not going
to need as many men, now if this City Commission is going to be responsible
for putting a .lot of: those men out of work, that have worked
for the City for a long time that deserves to stay there, that have
done an excellent job. Are they going to have to go out now and look
for welfare or look for another job, and another point I -want to make
that our garbage fee was always included in our property taxes, now
to put these big cans up charges seventy two dollars a year for a
garbage pick tip we think it's just absolutely horrendous. I got
my tax bill...
Cormmissioner Car.ollo: Grace excuse me seventy five fare what they run.
Ms. Rockafellar: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: So we're a hundred percent increase.
Ms. Rockafellar: A little bit worse.
db S E P 261980
We all got our tax bills mine went up over seventy percent and when I
appear at the County down at the court house next week, I intend to take
my deed with me and tell them give me a check and you can have my house,
this is a kind of offer I've been looking for for a long long time and
we haven't gotten it. I totally agree with the first two speakers that
were up here and I was listening to them and this what"s been going through
my mind, I've had calls on this to, if this city increases the tax, if
,you take advantage of this wind fall proper tax that is proposed in this
budget tonight then you're going to nee petitions circulated, let's
consolidate, let's consolidate now I've been a leader in fighting con
solidation, I don't want to consolidate we like a government that's
close to us, one that we know. Commissioners that we can call and return
our calls, people that will listen to us thin is what we want but we
don't want another consolidation move made. As he pointed out on Key
Biscayne, they're paying much mach less, those are afluent people that
live in these beautiful they're paying much much 'less and I also under -
stand they should cut down on the budget to. Is that now you do not...
we do not have to pay twice for fire and Police Department and Fire
Department with the City Commission says their putting through their'
own tax in districts, so I can't see any justification .for two reasons
the seventy five dollars and thank you Mr. Carollo for correcting me,
for this garbage fee, for making these poor souls hold this... haul. this
garbage out and try to climb up and yet it into this big can they'll
probably fall on themselves before they get it in there and this redicu-
lous increase in the milage and to get all this money in there and we
hope you people when you decide on this use your conscience, look out
here at the constituients that have supported you throughout the years
and said we want our own personal government here, one that we trust,
we call go to, we do not any
part of Metro and vote your conscience and
vote otir welfare -and I thank you very much.
-and
Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Mrs. Ricki Camoniti and after that
A. Tamezian, Tamezian I'm sorry, Tamezian ok.
Ms. Ricki Camoniti: Honorable Mayor and members of the Miami City Commis-
sion... Honorable Mayor Terre, Honorable City Commissioners and fellow
citizens my name is Ricki Camoniti, I live at 4245 S.W. 2nd Terrace and
I represent the Lejeune Southwest Homeowners Association. I'm also
speaking in behalf of all those new property owners and those ethnic
groups who do not yet full understand their rights as tax payers as new
home owners. First thank you for giving us the opportunity to be heard
regarding the new garbage collection fee. On September 15th at your .
first meeting following your summer recess I appeared before this City
Commission and made known the feeling of many our first time pew home-
owners among them Cuban Americans and Black Americans already over burdened
with taxes, some of whom have broken away from the cycle of welfare and
some assistance programs, and elderly tax payers who are just about keeping
body and soul together. An additional burden of taxes would mean restrict-
ing food and possibly going welfare in order to exist. As I explained
previously if this proposal was intended to knock off sanitation workers
It can only mean adding a whole new work force to cope with the logistics
of a new bureaucracy within...'with a'entirely new osculating department.
'this gentlemen is an attempt to take more tax dollars than this new system
is worth from an dwindling family pocket book and senior citizens on
fixed incomes who are the backbone of our city, all of us hit by inflation.
Of those who already have paid this fee all were question explained they did
so out of fear, not knowing what the alternatives were available to them,
and it was their opinion that having not pay they were fearful a tax
lien would be placed on their homes as a result the present City Commis-
sion has come into public ridicule regarding fear tactics used against
them. They are requesting that refunds be made. It is incumbent upon
You to serve your constituency and not intimidate them nor dominate them.
It appears that you need help in getting to know the real needs of the
homeowners and tax payers. You need to know the problems that are
developing and the relevancy to such issues with which they are confronted
to provide meaningful solutions and be more effective in local government.
The proposed garbage coiitainer rental Is a superfluous service we
don't need it, nor do we want it, it is a burden on our citizens. You are
mandated to pursue the wishes of the citizens of the City of Miami and...
AIL-
db jo SE P 261980
we ask that you do not shove the containers down our throats. To do so
would mean taking away our independence and our individuality. At the
September 15th meeting, Mayor Ferre, you stated and I quote "what congress
gives congress can take away". Therefore just as you passed this
resolution once again you are hereby requested to rescend the resolution
calling for a new garbage collection fee. A little clowning
around is great during breaks to relieve the constant tensions City
government Ls serious as we all well know. It is suggested that these
meetings be broadcast on public service radio station WLRN so that the
public at large can be acquainted with the issues that come before each
session. The public has the right to know the agenda which can easily
broadcast in advance to those who have access to a radio and can not
attend meetings. But, getting back to the issue at hand, we have not had
any advertised community -wide pubic hearings on this important issue of
the garbage collection fee. Should you insist on retaining this fee
despiteour strong opposition then we will demand that a referendum be
held so those of us who must pay the tax or fee may decide whether to
approve it or not. We will not buckle to taxation without representation.
Let us all be willing to invest time and effort to make our democracy
work, thank you.
Mayor. Ferre: Alright the next speaker is Mrs. Demision and I hope I
pronounced that right, and after that Joan Cole. Yes mam.
Mrs. Demision: Mr. Major, and gentlemen... excuse me. I'm here on behalf
cf...Women 'like me, old, widowed and living on social security. We have
little houEle ma have very little house, very old house and I spend
three thousand dollars every year. I can not pay that much taxes. I'm
ctltting all food, every expense, I can not live so instead of going
to the poor house and be burden on our government, I wish you would do
something about tares 'like people like me and my friends, thank you.
Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Joan Cole. Mrs. Cole and after that
Ira Bauane, okay.
Mrs. Joan Cole:
Now L'm not going to get into this business about paying more money for...
my littlr house isn't even worth that touch the hell with it. Well 1'in ...
I'm getting down to business of police protection. Now, if this tax
increased police protection, but what good is it, if the police are going
to be hand strong as they are now. Please Commissioners use your influence
to make judges stick to the law and deal out the proper punishmnet. Stop
parole authorities from allowing mtiltiple offenders early freedom. The
liency of the judges and the stupidity of parole officers obviously dis-
courages the police in the performance of their duty and gentlemen, I would
like possibly one of you to escort me home so that my aged frined won't
be mugged for the third time.
Commissioner Plummer: She hit it right on the head. I'm glad somebody
recognizes it.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, the next speaker... speaker after you is Marvin Rein.
Yes taam.
Ms.Ira Baunne: Honorable Mayor and Commissioners and ladies and gentlemen
my name is Ira Bauane,I live at 3970 Park Avenue, in the Grove. Thirty
years ago in 1950, I Looked for a lot, designed a house and built it at
that time my taxes were two hundred dollars a year, that included both
Miami and Dade County. They use to have different evaluation so forth
but we'll talk about the totals. Through the years, it has constantly
increased to where twenty nine years later last year my taxes went from
two hundred in 1950 to sixteen hundred and ninety two last year. That is
an increase of eight hutldred and fifty percent. Now, in that same number
of years... I'm a registered nurse and a registered nurse salary increase
less than four hundred percent in that time, talking about inflation.
The minimum salary went from seventy five cents to three dollars and
fifteen cents a little better than four hundred percent. Yet my taxes
db V6 S E P 2261980
It
16
went up eight hundred and fifty percent last year. Now, this year
even if you do not increase your budget my taxes go from sixteen ninety
two to twenty one ninety two an increase of five thousand dollars with-
out you increasing a budget. And, if you increase the budget then it
will go to two thousand seven hundred and fifty nine. A house three bed-
rooms two baths .... I reared my chil.dred and I'm now retired and I am going
to be forced out of my home and I resent it. I say that when the taxes
go from two hundred to two thousand seven hundred and ninety two then
something wrong with your administration. You need to pull your belt in just
like I have to.
Mayor Fevre: Excuse me, I just want that last lady just for clarification...
Ks.Bauane Is that: two thousand seven hundrea city taxes?
M5, Bauane- If you go up it will be two thousand seven hundred and fifty
nine dollars total Dade County, and Miami
ConL-nissioner Plummer: Total.
Mayoi Fevre: Thi: is Dade County School Board and City? How much of that
is the City just out of curiosity?
Ms. Borna: (INAUDIBLE)
Mayor Ferree: Vhank you mam. Mr. Martin Rein
Mr. Martin Rein: Most of the items were covered by the speakers,
Mayor Fevre: Alright thank you Mr. Rein. Mr. Ronald Baker of 4181 Park...
Mr. Ronald Baker: Gentlemen, I have much the same problem, I have a...
I will have to pay nearly eighteen hundred dollars for a two bedroom
one bath house with twelve hundred :square feet. Ten years ago I only
paid about two hundred and sixty dollars for this sauce house. Right now
it looks like taxation is becoming rental to the City of Miami and I
would like to stay in this area, I love it very much, but I don't know
how I can afford to keep my home when I become of retirement age, it's
a serious consideration for all of us. And, I don't get a retirement
like many City employees do and unless something is done with it, I'm
going to support proposition thirteen, thank you.
Mayor Fevre: Alright the next speaker is Jessie Didawick and after that
Charmaine Culbertson.
Mrs. Jessie Didawick: Honorable Mayor, Commissioners and fellow citizens
my name is Jessie Didawick and I live on Bayhoff's Drive. I bought the
house four years ... five years ago and the assessed evaluation at that tine
was fifty thousand seven hundred dollars, today it is one hundred and
thirty three thousand dollars three hundred and thirty one cents. That's
an increase of eighty five thousand five hundred and ninety seven dollars
in five years. That is sixteen thousand five hundred and nineteen dollars
increase every year since I owned the house, the house was built in
eighteen ninety eight on two and a half lots and the house is along is
spread out lot. There is no way that I can sell any of land to pay
the taxes 11ke the other people on my street are doing. They are selling
their yard to other people to build a shanty beside them so that they
can keep their homes to live in. That street was built by one man and
he has sold his property because he couldn't afford to live in it, he was
one of the developers our community, he help build Coconut Grove, his
daughter can't afford to keep the property that he willed to her because
she's a retired school teacher, she can't pay her tax, My next door
neighbor is a retired school teacher, she can not pay her taxes, she is
going to have to go in with a cousin and it's on and on on, the whole
City, the whole street have elderly people because it was one of the
first developed , streets in the town. Now, I cannot see why
people who guilt this town have to sell their homes and go with cousins,
nephews or someone else in order to support some of these programs that
don't amount to anything. They are just programs that are for the benefit
107 SEP 2 6198p
of a few, not for the people who have built this City. Now, I am going
to pay my taxes because I have learned that death and taxes are two separate
things but I am not going to pay these high taxes, unreasonable taxes be-
cause just somebody who is in authority thinks that they can put something
onto people and they have to pay it. Now, there has to be something done
and it has to be now not later because of the trim program doesn't say
that the Commissioners have to vote for a ten or fifteen or twenty percent
millage. It means that they should vote less than eight percent. That
was the whole point of the trim program. Now we're expecting you to do
just that, to trim things not to add to, I thank you.
Mayor Ferret Alright the next speaker is Mrs. Culbertson and then after
that the next speaker will be Mrs. Ozolius.
Mrs. Charmain Culbertson: I am Charmagne Culbertson and I live at 3731
Battersea Road. And actually I don't think there's very much 1 can add,
I rhi.nk Mr. Belechman covered it all very well and quite a number of
other people here tonight, except to say that I du think you should con-
sider this budget very carefully this increase, in the City of Miami
because the County our taxes are almost twice in the City as in the County.
Miami is our home we've lived Here almost all of our lives and 1 just
don't see how just because they raised the evaluation a hundred percent
that you should go sky high on this tiling. We can't afford the thirty
percent increase in the fir:,t place and in the second place a long time
ago we ,nave the hospital to the county, the County pays for that, they
pay for welfare, they pay for the courts and many other things and I...
of course I think the Miami Police Department is terrific, but I don't
think we neod a lot of these other programs we just simply can't afford
it and I hype you'll consider that on this budget, thank you.
Mayor Maurice Ferre: The next speaker is Mrs. Ozolius. Is that right?
Mrs. Ozolius: Exactly.
Mayor Forre: And then after that we have Donald Perry.
Mrs. O.�olius: I have a far.her on crutches and a mother half blind.
Would you please tell me gentlemen, how they can push out the
garbage on the street?
Mayor Farre: Well the answer is legally they don't have to, is that right?
Cormnissioner Plummer: No, as long as the container ma'm is in within one
hundred feet of the street you do not have tp do anything. If there is
invalid in the home the special provision clause comes into play in
regardless of where on your property it will be taken care of, but this
is not a curve side pickup it is a remaining because we figured that
most ninety ninety percent of the homes in the City of Miami the container
presently is within one hundred feet of the street and if your container
is within that distance you have to do nothing differently than you do
today.
Mrs. Ozolius: Okay, sir, thank you, if not I'll be back.
Commissioner Plummer: You rest assured.
Mayor Perre: Mr. Donald Perry and after that Mr. Pete Vega. Donald Perry
Mr. Perry.
Mr. Donald ferry: Thank you, you're honor, Commissioners ladies and
gentlemen I'm not going to belabor the points that have already been
taken up here, I think we all are aware that we're on here on the tax
situation and so forth. Now, I will say this simply I've lived in Dade
County sine►: 1925, can you hearme okay now? and this is the first time
I've every come down to a meeting like this but I thought it was mandatory
number one to oppcse this increase ,in taxes and number two I believe you
have on your agenda fora hundred an new... fifty new policemen because
you don't pay them enough they're all going out to Houston to work for
three dollars more of the beginning salary. Those policemen- an increase
db '�8 S E P 261980
4
in salary so do your firemen and I'm willing to pay taxes for anything
like that which is a protection to my house, I am not willing to pay
taxes for the criminals that Castro sent in here, no way. I have... I
am a school, teacher at the Aviation School on Lejeune Road and I have
some beautiful Cuban neighbors, I have some beautiful students in my
school -The finest: you can find anywhere in the world, but the criminal
element that Castro is sending bare, like you say "no where am I going
to pay the taxer for it and I atn not going to pay an increase tax on my
house which is to the ,;ervices that I've received. Now, my
garbage is pickup like religion, Tuesday and Friday and I have called
yottr office 14r, Mayor, many times concerning the trash, and if you will
check your records you'll find it. The next time I find garbage or trash
I should say instead of garbage in my drive orgy for three weeks it's
going to be dump right in the middle of Biscayne Boulevard and seventy
ninth street and I mean it.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager let me...if you would take clown this gentleman's
name and address Donald Perry, 126O N.E. 85th Street, Miami and if you
would have Mr. Patterson have somebody go out and talk to him and make
sure that services...
Mr. Perry: May I interrupt just a minute, Mr. Mayor?
INAUDIBLE
Mayor Ferre: ';es s i:.-. Fine well you pass on whoever goes to visit you
you pass among your neighbors who have the same problem and lets see if
we can get that cleared up.
Mr. Per v: Yes sir, the whole street.
Mayor Feire: Okay, there must be something going wrong lets check on that.
Alright Mr... Peter Vega, Mr. Vega you're recognized.
Mr, Pete Vega: Okay I live on 12:31 N.E. 81st Terrace and I had a speech
prepared here, but I guess everybody it: covering a lot of things and so
my ideas came to . me as I was sitting here, I'm wondering if the
budget isn't adjusted this year is in raised that, if the City could
some how find a way of working with the money that: it's getting right
now, then why is it...mnybe the figure that is being proposed to us is
proposed as high as it is so it cotild be adjusted down and everybody
would be happy and we will still have our raise and the city will pet'
exactly what they want out of it. And then everybody would go home real
happy, I sure as heck won't I tell you I don't want one penny raised on
it. As I look around ...I've been sitting here ... I'm twenty six years
old and I am a homeowner and I guarantee you that there's nobody that's
younger than me hers: and not to many are close to what I am. I've seen
two people come up and the two that I've mentioned that they're going to
have to leave the City, they probably have a family, I'm single so I've
got no expenses and I can wear the same pants a couple day and cut it
here and there and do it, but you've heard the young people come up here
and they say they are leaving the city, you know,when I bought the house
friends of mine told me wait until your tax hill gets there, well the tax
bill got here and I don't like it. It's extremely high, it was high
when I bought the house and it's even higher now and I think it should be
kept to the same it was before, it was higher then, You're going to find
that the only people that can afford to live in the City are people who...
she... this young lady over here tried to avoid the subject but the only
people that could afford to live in Miami that are people who Marijuana
and drugs on a big scale or sons of rich venezuelans living off
oil money that we're sending them down there. �I'm neither and I tell
you, I am not going to move out, I'm going to have find a way of staying
there and that's about it. Thank you,
Mayor Terre: Alright the next speaker is John Cherrin, and Mr, Cherrin
we need your addrass for the record,
Mr. John Cherrin; Yes, my,address is 36,�9 Clever Drive in the Grove and
I've just moved down here from Massachusetts, which incidently we eventually
labeling taxachusetts and I hope we don't have to do the same thing with
Florida or Dade Count ,
db y' SEP 261:;60
Mayor Ferre'i You did what in 'Massachusetts?
Mr. Cherrin: We called it taxachusetts instead of Massachusetts. Anyway
on September 12, 1980, I received the proposed 1980 assessment on my
personal residence at Coconut Grove, it's now 89% higher than the preceding
year. Now, I recognize the property value in South Florida have increased
significantly due primarily to inflation and foreign buyers, and do not
find it objectionable to having the property value at or close to fair market
value for equity purposes. However, I would like to point out that
this does not represent the true real wealth to me or additional purchasing
power because if you move out you end -ap spending the same money. I am in
the same position that I was in before, except that I find myself with a re-
duced real income due to the larger bite of taxes which is in the form of
true cash. I have difficulty comprehending how a taxing authority call
justify a tax increase which is shown on my notice could range from a low
of 32% assuming there is no budget change from last year to a high of 75%
if a proposed level. of spending is approved, The result in tax levy is
highly inflationary, 'I can assure you that my real income from 1980 or even
the preceding five years has not risen as much as even at the lowing of
the scale and that is 32% not to mention the 75% increase I find such an
increase inflationary, confiscatory and highly objectionable. Our
Federal government has suggested cr.ac pricing wage increase has to be
maintained at rates under 10%. Why not taxes and government spending. In
the last few years every Amuvivan as experienced a severe declined in
purchasing power, while the American income has gone up the taxes, the
graduated intone taxes United States keep taking away more, and more, and
more and leaving lese, and less for the spending. I cannot believe
chat: windfall surplus will not resolve when nine out of ten property owners
in Dade County will be affective at a proposed increase and be affected on
the h-tch .,ide. My opinion that millage rates should be adjusted doward
significantly to avoid large surpluses. The County can not assume that it's
citizens are U money machine .Even if the tax increases could be justified
I must question the: value of the services that are being rendered to Dade
County residents, considering the affectiveness of the school system, the
Police Department, the Justice system, the general administration of the
City. The mi.11age should be significantly reduced in my opinion and also
would suggest that ,you limit any tax increase that...any tax increase to
the property owners no more than 10%, thank you very much.
Mayor Ferro: The next speaker is Marilyn Reed, and the final speaker
is Rose Gal.ton.
Mrs. ?Marilyn Reed: Mayor Ferre, and Conunisssion you know me well, I saw
You last night, I'm here for a different purpose tonight, I'm not speaking
in the public interest. I am talking for me and my neighbors.. Can you
hear me now? Marilyn Reed, Coconut Grove and first I want to talk about
this garbage tax, I need nn answer, I want to know if it's been removed
from my property taxes where it went before, because if it has not been
removed, I've got a double tax, if it has been removed it becomes a
service fee as I understand it and I lose that exemption on my rental
property with the IRS so in either way I find that I've got a problem with
this garbage tax and just for the record because I've not had time over the
Years to come down to tell. you some of my neighborhood problems and I'm
taking the opportunity tonight. For the last four years I have had to
clean up the garbage after the garbage men, I don't envy them their jobs,
I think they're the worst Jobs in the world and I certainly think that
they deserve all they can get, but they're not all doing their job well.
The garbage is strewn all the way from the back of my place to the
front, twice a week I have to clean this filth up. Every week my garbage
cans are left on McDonald Street. If I buy a new garbage can in one week
it's bent and the lid won't fit, After four years I'm a little tired of
this. We got rats and mites as a result. Your trash pick up are way
behind time, I should have come down here a long time ago and complained
about it. It was sixteen weeks before they picked up a eight foot high
pile of leaves and stuff in front of my house on McDonald and when they
finally came, after much complaint and we even had the press on that one, it
seems that that always works, the rats and the mice scurried all over the
place so what you're caus$ng•is a health problem, Now, I'm not happy with
garbage tax at all. the way you've rigged it up, and I would an answer as
to how it's going to be on that bill. When I get my tax analysis from
good old Metro, I found that I had been increased 100%, I found that
my City taxes if the homestead exeia Lion goes through on the VV9"t1q-8O
T
that my City taxes will increase they will not decrease. I called down
there at the department and I talked to them about the millage juggling
nevertheless, the figure speak themselves, they increase, and I'm not
sure that those of us who are small property owners can afford any longer
to bear the burden that has been put on us and let me put this into
prospective what we. got socked with, in addition to what you have put on us
in increase taxes the school board went up 68% the Water Management
District 13%, I didn't even get a breakdown, if I went to Burdines I would
get a breakdown on my account on this tax.analysis I didn't get a breakdown
on my City taxes, I have to get that yet, so Ican't break it all down for
you as to percentages. Metro went screaming high on everybody's taxes and
now I find 1�% stuck on my water bill, which is Metro and that money is j
going to DERM they've already got 2.1 million on Metro's budget for that '
stinking little agency, and parden my expressa.on, but I'm not happy with
them, they don't do their job, they've got a 2.1 billion ... I mean million
budget and they're adding 111% to our water tax, which is going directly f
to DZR,l for encorcement, which they don't...do have the time. So when I
start telling you all these things we're the one's that are carrying this
load. I am faced this year with losing 'my property as a resultnf: this
tax bill, this 100%. I am going; to have to pass it on to my tenants.
Mayor, I saw ,you this afternoon on T.V. when the complaint was being made
that we don't have enough rental units. I have the land to build on and
I have..,I have an active real estate license, I can't build on it because
the banks don't lend for th,s, we don't get a tax break for it, I would
love to build some apartments back there, Somebody has got to start
helping the emaller people,we cannot continue to do nothing but look at
just the poorer structure and what's needed downtown, because I think we're
the backbone of the community when you look at the tax list, and I hope
you consider this. I would like to see this garbage tax taken off or
at least.ctraighten out and I would like for you to try in every way to take
as much fat out ' of budget, and believe me I'll be at Metro yelling about
their budget too,oecause I don't see how we can continue under these condi-
tions, thank you.
Mayor Terre: Alright the next speaker is Rose Galton.
Ms. Rose Galton: I live on 3635 S.W. 16 Street and we have a particular
problem on sixteen street and that is we just have been ... going to be
assessed for the building of the sewers which. is about twelve hundred dollars
per duplex on that street. Plus another twelve hundred dollars to have it...
the water ... the sewers connected. Now along with that and a small piece of
property that was priced in thirty five thousand last year was increased
seventeen thousand this year. Now, I don't get enough rent out, of the
duplex to warrant such big increases, I couldn't possibly charge the
tenant that, they have been there for twenty years and they are beautiful
Cuban people., I 'like them, I don't want to raise their rent to double
or triple, but I'm being forced to when already I'm having now a water
tax which will be doubled, our garbage tax Vill be doubled which already
there's :seventy two dollars and next year I understand it will be hi her.
I think this is confiscatory and then going back to my ocm history,
taught for fourty years in Dade County and during that forty years
twenty of those years were for twelve hundred to three thousand dollars
a year. Naturally my pension now is not to great even though I've retired.
My income comes rrom the pension plus the'small rent that I get for the
duplex, the upstair's is part of my building, now, do you think that's
enough to live on? After I've given all those years of service and good
service to the County, I think I deserve a break and I think my neighbors
deserve a break and I think it's time that ... besides I want to point out
that my neighbors as well as myself have dedicated six hundred square feet
of land in order to have the sewers put in and that at six hundred square
feet at five dollars a square foot is three thousand dollars all in one
year and then on top of that to be...have a big property tax, I think it
is ridiculous and unfair and confiscatory.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, yes sir.
db 11 SEP 261980
c
f
INAUDIBLE:
Mayor Ferre: What? if you
would step to
the microphone this is a
public
hearing anybody who wishes
to speak will
be recognized, your name
and
address for the record.
Mr. Heino Laas: My name is
Laas and I came in late so I couldn't
give
my name...
Mayor Ferre: It's alright
go ahead.
Mr. Laas: I am a property
owner and by the way I sold one just a
little
while ago because what I try
to point out
our biggest problem here
is a
our refugees. They're not...
Mayor Ferre: Our what?
Mr. Laas: Our refugees have brought us the problem of crime and why that's
not the tax payers problem. Why is the tax;,payers pay for their problems
that United States Government brought it icon to „s, Why not ask the
tax increase from Carter let them pay for the police protection for our
citizens, we can not even ... I own a rental property also, I came here
thirty... thirty two years ago spoke no engli.sh absolutely...and my taxes
last year were eight thousand dollars on my rental property and my home
and, they are twelve thousand this year, My ... I have retired people that
live with me I can't go back and tell. them ... where will I get four thousand
dollars just to pay the taxes and why in the world should we pay for the
police protection, for the extra school tax, Where as the refugees
come here and get�ing two thousand dollars to send back to north and then
they ,ire going rob somebody and get the gun and come back or either go
to Cuba or come back to Miami. This is all coming from the
tax payers, of ... you know, even if we don't pay it directly that ... nobody
gave me two thousand I borrowed fifty dollars from New York to come to
Miami and I've been very happy here, but if the taxes goes ... my property
tax ... when 1 build my property it was fifty dollars the first year that
was over thirty... around thirty years ago and now it's twenty one hundred
dollars. Can you explain that why is it's gone up that much? Thank you,
if you want my name and address I'd be glad to,..
Mayor Ferre: Alright, did you get it into the record? Would you give it
to the Clerk? Alright sir, is there anybody else who wishes to address
the Commission?
Mr. Jorge Concepcion: My name is Jorge Concepcion. I live in 201 N.W.
47 Avenue. I was reading this part of the tax and the purposes, it says add
a hundred and fifteen new police personnel. Gentlemen the problem is
lies in the Justice system the example of the case of meuffie's
case which is now in rely ... in that case not only on fhe
and problems, it relies on the justice system. We don't have... I
the judges or the state attorney are not doing a well job hear from
police officers that once they arrest a gentlemen they before...without
the report that man is alreadv otjt n the �tr
the question is not adding more police profetcR fe's having a review
of what's going on in the justice system that's one point. The other
one I think looks like it may not have nothing to do with, but we have
terrible
system
tnxelroschool hl
I'mgiving you aeamPewhenI wen�fo'hYgliscfso4oI,Sy4?.itotht�s'tance
my -went together. I graduated as a... I need not mention
the school bu—t a.., and most of my friends didn't even know how to read
or didn't even know how to ... or the school didn't give them the proper
tools to not just to prepare for college or just to face "face the world's
problem) right as of today, Out of the six. ; ien,a f r- ine I t
only one who has a reasonable nice work ... workring w tti Dade Coun`��,►�q
other five, thrL:e are arrested and two of them are in mental institutions for
over dose. Why Is that? It is because in the sch ql Gvcta we oio '* have
the tools to prepare these -kids to face these problems andm or pre are
them for college, so I'am against these tax proposals, thank you.
5 E P ? 61980
16
10
Mayor Ferret Sir you've already spoken and you want to speak again, I'll
let you speak :in a little while, but let,.,there's some other people
that want to be heard that have not been heard. Those of you... It looks
like additional people want to speak now, and of course I have no problems
with that, that's your right, but I think we have to put a certain amount
of order to it. Now, how many additional people would like to speak?
Would you come up, anybody else who wants to epeak please step forward
and give your name to the Clerk, otherwise you and there was a gentleman
back here who raised his hand,..therc. you are, okay I think..,then you'll
be the last two speakers. Is there anybody else who wishes to be heard?
You do mam, alright would you step forward and give your name, okay go
ahead.
Ms. Joanne Holshauser; I am Joanne Holshaueer, I live at 4230 Ingraham
Highway. Joanne Holshauser I live at 4230 Ingraham Highway in Coconut
Grove. I would like first to thank the Commission for the decision last
night to help preserve the Bayfront, that was really great and hope
you'll keep that up. I'd like to say some things about some of the things
that arc right, I was up in what they're now calling little Haiti yesterday
and I saw some things srawled on the wall of the park of there. This is
the fun park it said in big chalk which was a relief from the usual
grafitti that we see tt.io ugly word. I think it's great that we got
these Little neighborhood p;-irks that say things like that. Let's use
budget money for things like this, this is what make people happy and
keeps them going. I would l..ko to say as far as the trash and garbage
collection goes. wn'Itevvr we. have to do we have to do, but lets make sure
that not one single employed in that doparrtnent is cut off. Whatever
the changes are u;ade let's keep the job: for those people, everyone make
that sacred and the other thing is really the long range thing about
evaluation of property. My property on Ingraham Highway went up ninety
thousand dollars according the tax assessor. I have fought it every
way I could they say it's a desirable place to live, I invite them if
they want a bus stop in front of the house and twenty thousand commuter
cars many times stalled and throwing junk in my yard I don't think that's
a fair value, but what I'm caught with is what a lot of people are
caught with and that's what I want to say to you all. Every time a
fight gets to you that you Nava decide about zoning whether it's business
or residential, if you decide for the developers for the people who want to
make the bucks you're costing all of us eventually because when I argue
about what my property is worth in Coconut Grove what I get is the
smirks front people who say, but at what it's worth. I don't want to sell,
I want to .live there forever and I would hope that the City of Miami
would realize this and maybe,..I know you don't have a lot of free time,
but in some of it try to develop a way that would help us who wants to
live in our property, because everytime you let the fast buck'boys come
in and make a duplex where one family was, four house where two were,
a condo developement which they're going to sell and get out of and the
people who live there are going to find their condos arc going up, I've
already heard it from some people who are stuck with this now. Please
remember us .This is what ups our taxes when you all keep giving people
the advantage over the to develop property you're handing them
a profit and you're taking it out of our hides, please don't, please
lets say to residents.., thank you very much I appreciate your concern.
Mayor Ferre: Yes mam.
Ms. Meg Brown; My name is Meg Brown, I live at 1621 South Bayshore Drive.
This is property that has been built for some time it was ... the home was
built in 1924 by a man who helped develop Miami, a Mr. Emory Carter and
thu home is on the ... is listed as a Dade County historic .landmark. I
am most eager to preserve this home and not just for myself, but for the
people of Dade County. Now, I have been duly paying my taxes, but it's
been a struggle every year, it has wiped out my savings every time and
in fact the year of my mother's of death I was able to pay the taxes only
because of her life insurance and she paid the taxes the previous year
before because of the death of another relative and this happened three
years in succession, As we family members get wiped out, but one
comes to the end of this kind of thing. Now my taxes went up a hundred
percent ...over a 100% some seventy nine thousand dollars. Now there
is simply no way that anybody on a moderate income can pay the kind of
tax that is involved. What is going to happen is that people all along
Bayshore Drive and all in the��storic Silver Bluff area are e�inA 6orc§6
SE G f- C:►
out of their homes and you can see as you drive along Brickell Avenue
and Bayshore Drive the dismal site that is occuring, as one high
rise after another goes up. We are ... the net affect of these high taxes
is going to change this whole Coconut Grove area. We will inevitably have
to yield to the developers. Surely it's time to hold the line now not
to let us get pushed any further. Now I want to ask another question to
see if this will affect us. Yesterday the Senate passed a bill with
the approval of the administration to provide a emergency relief for
Cuban students for refugee students, whether their Haitians or Cubans
or of any other nationality. Now, I understand that's some seventeen
hundred dollars or more per child, since we are being budgeted for a
high increase in school taxes mine are going up some six hundred dollars
for the school taxes alone, isn't it possible that ehis emergency reiiet
will give us some relief in this budget and will help to keep our taxes
down?
Mayor Ferre: Let me try to answer that very briefly, First of all that's
not within our jurisdiction, but I'll try to just give you a very brief
answer for that. Over the past eighteen years the Federal government has
spent an average of ninety million dollars a year. Now, in...well for
about fourteen years it was about ninety million dollars the last rhree
or four years it's been going down for the Cuban refugee aide most of
which is used for the educational purposes. Metropolitan Dade County does
not receive any of that money directly, but the school board does and
as I recall. last year the figures were twelve million dollars. Now that
money is used specifically to defray the expenses of the refugee children,
Now, with regrinds to the current hundred million dollars that was approved
that is ... that can be used to defray any and all expenses on a hundred
percent basis that is expended by any governmental agency including
local government, There is in addition another bill called the Stack
Amendment, Congressman Stack from Fort Lauderdale, which is an aide...
as you ... I think it's twelve hundred not seventeen hundred, but you might
be right per child to the school system that is involved, as I understand
that would be used in addition to, but not in relief of because there
is no proviso in the school budget of this year for that purpose. In
other words as of right now there is no money to do anything with these
refugee children and their really on a string budget on a day to day
basis, that's my understanding of it.
Ms. Brown: Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Alright we have here Mr, Davis German.
Mr. Gus Gelus; My name is Gus Gelus I live at 549 N.E. 72nd Street.,
Honorable Commissioners and ladies and gentlemen , We are gathering here
to discuss the tax situation so we can hire more police officers to
protect all the citizens, but when the police officers arrest the people
violate our laws and take the violators into court and our honorable
judges do not perform their duty as judges of our courts then
let the violators go practically free without punishment. We don't think
we can solve these problems even if we hire ten thousand police officers
in our city, if we want to solve our problems our honorable judges have
to enforce the law. To our distinguished and honorable intellectuals
who protect us in our cities, states, and country the last
three years we do not know what is happening to our country and we are...
we are crying or confused with our behavior the way our leaders and we
as a citizen conduct ourselves. We want our precious freedom to con-
tinue with our... democratic system and as a free and open society and
if we want to remain as free people we must learn and share our respon-
sibilities with respect and dignity. We should settle our problems
harmonously like ediicated and intelligent people as we claim we are.
We all know ... we all know this is a free country but freedom has limits
in our democratic system, we should know how far we can go with our
freedom. The laws of our democracy are also restricted and also have
limitations. We do not .have any laws or privileges by certain per-
sons only all of our citizens in this great country of ours we should
try to help and build our communities, our cities, our country and not
to destroy or de;molish''this precious.freedom that we all enjoy.
Democracy does not give us the right or the license to go and do immoral
things practically publically, One philasopher stated 2� thounsands
years ago where there is to much freedom there is no freedom
at all. The ci'tizens...the citizens should not be abused by the police
SEP Him
and the police should not be abused by then citizens. We should have law
and order in our courts, of our democracy. Our leaders and we as the
citizens we should not play politics with our laws and our justice because
our democratic system cannot survive. Ladies and gentlemen, if we want
respect from our protectors the police officers we also as a good citizen
and we claim we are we should show respect to our protectors police officers
also and I am ashamed to state what names we call our police officers and then
as a citizen we expect to respect and protect...we expect protection from
our police officers .That shows how all of us abuse our freedom and our
democracy the way we conduct ourselves. Now, I'm not against ... we can..
I'm not against we can ...if we need the ... more police protection I'm
not against for that I'm willing to pay the tax but first we want the
results, thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you. Sandy Milkie.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Doris German
Mayor Ferre: Oh, I'm sorry you're. next go right ahead.
Ms, Doris German: Honorable Mayor and Commissioners my name is Doris
German, I live on Belmeade Island near 76 and Biscayne Boulevard. At one
time this was a very fire neighborhood. We have the approach of the
Boulevard now, which has made quite a difference, but that's not what I
mean to dwell on, for twenty :,even ... I canto mere in 1950 and my husband
and I built our 1'iome there twenty seven years ago. It was built with
the idea of ret-irement .During our working years the taxes grows each
year sorae!t:lhing like fifty dollars, sometimes a hundred dollars a year
this was reasonable and we could manage ic, but if the proposed budget
is accepted' this year, by this commission our taxes have doubled in the
last year. I concur with the woman who said ear.il.ier that for whatever
reason one 100% is entirely to much. I ask this Commission to consider
rolling back the milage or consider cutting this budget. Also, I wish
to say I concur with some of these people that have said that good people
arty leaving Dade County, I am sure that this Commission doesn't want the
good citizens to leave. I'm not particul.arily interested in the dollar
value of my home, my home was there...built there to retire in, my husband
and I now have retired and here we have our taxes increased by 100%. I
ask you to consider these facts very carefully when you vote on the budget.
Mayor Ferre: Thank you. Alright the next speaker is Sandy Milkie.
Mr. Sandy Milkie.: My name is Sandy Milkie, I live at 2434 Swanson Avenue.
I am going to be very brief and to the point. If any of you have ever
seen a stage magician perform he'll pull out a deck of cards and he'll
say pick a card any card at all, someone would come up and they'll take
a card and the magician knows what the card is that's called forcing a
card, okay. I believe here that the budget decisions that we have tonight
are arbitrarily Xorced cards. We have to chose between having to pay more
money to get increased police protection or not paying this money and
not having the police protection. I believe that it is incumbent upon
your price very capable, administrative talent to go back and find a new
creative solution to this dilema. I feel that,with the increase in
assessment that we all. have felt that it's time for this city to back and
give us the priority items we want, Police, Fire and Sanitation and like
the rest of us tighten your belt every where else, thank you.
Mayor Ferre: Alright the next speaker is Carlos Aguilar.
Mr. Carlos Aguilar: As Mr. Vega said a few minutes ago he was twenty
six years uld there was one younger one than him, me I'm twenty five
I just purchased a home it took me eight years to save up enough cash
to Rive down for a home, it's bad enough to qualify and I did. I was
lucky and I don't even know how I did it and now an additional property
increase of fifty dollars a month is going to put me in the red. Now,
I can't party out, so a,.. 1
Mayor Ferre; Say what?
15 SEP 6
2 1980
Mr. Aguilar: it's hard...I can't party hea, there's no money. Now,
all I say is eight years of hard work plus paying my college education
which I did out of my own pocket, it's kind of hard and all I ask the
Commission to please consider and lets help the young people and the old
people, all of us together to get our act together and lets just ... we'll
pay, but we'll pay an reasonbable amount ,we won't pay what you want.
We can't fight City Hill, but we'll try.
Mayor Ferre: Okay, the next speaker is Luis Morse.
Mr. Bruce Morse: Hello, my name is Luis Morse and I came ewer here as a
private citizen even though I don't live in the City of Miami, I am very
concerned with the rise in taxes. I'm very concerned because I see waste
in our government, I see for example a County Commissioner that right a
couple of days ago voted against putting a6verrisement in buses which
Is loosing revenues for Dade County of close to half a million dollars .
Now, if we don't receive that revenue from advertising and buses we are
all going to paying for it in higher taxes, I see that same Commissioner
voting against getting about ninety thousand dollars...
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Morse, excuse me, I would be grateful if you would not
address yourself to any particular Commissioner or if you would address
yourself to the issue at hand.
Mr. Morse; Okay, the i.ssue is for example that in the Commission there
was a vote for not raring Southern Hell like approximately ninety thousand
dollars in licenses that is money that is going to come out of all our
pockets, what we need is for the Commission, we need people that will
respond the interest of all. the community, thank you very much,
Mayor Terre: Now, I see that we have a name that I saw before, Pete
Vega. Now, that meant; you want to speak again, is that?
Mr. Pete Vega: Yes
Mayor Ferre: Alright there was another gentlemen who wanted to speak and
I'm going to lot you speak orie... alright now ... and this is it okay? I am
going to let you have one more at bat and that's it. Alright Mr. Vega
you have two minutes this time.
Mr. Pete Vega: I've forgotten a few points before that I should continued
and had it written down, but...I didn't say anything anyway. Again this
gentlemen told me he's twenty five years old and I would like to know if
any of the Commissioners or the Mayor things that he could buy a house
right now starting five years ago earning an hundred and twenty five
dollars a week and getting taxed at a 50% bracket today, not 50% bracket
income tax, but all the taxes put together adds up to 50% of what I make
goes to taxes just gets thrown away. Five hours of what I work a day
is for nothing all it ... I just take the money and rip it in half what I
earn and throw it away. I don't get any benefits, social security, you
think I'll ever collect a penny of social security with all 'I've been
given. Twenty six, sixty five forty years from now, you've got to be
kidding, that's it.
Mayor Ferre: Alright thank you. The a..,Mr. Laas.
Mr. Heino Laas; Lass, yes. I think everybody is familiar about side
walks that are redone, they were doing it in front of my apartment
buildings and they tore the sidewalks up just before Edstor and I said
why would you come Easter Friday and tear them up and one man, .-one man
was working and five were doing nothing and he said what Faster, he
didn't even know what Easter was and those sidewalks took them two and
a half weeks to put the sidewalks back. One was working and five were
doing nothing. I have three children that I have raised and they can
not build... they can't buy a house in Miami, they can not possibly
buy it because you have to have the prices are just out of this...
this world, thank you.
16 F P 1�80
Mayor F'erre: Alright, Mrs. Rockafellar and I guess that would be the last
speaker.
Mrs. Grace Rockafellar: Mr. Mayor, I 'm back up here for a clarification.
Mr...Commissioner Plummer made a state a while ago and I think he's wrong
and I think it should be clarified you can correct me, if I'm wrong. You
told the people that it was going to be no difference in our garbage then
what we're doing now.
Commissioner Plummer: No.
Mrs. Rockafellar: Well this what I understood because you are requesting
that the people no matter how old they are pick up all the limbs and cut
them up and carry them back and put them in this big dumpster back there,
is that right?
Commissioner Plummer: Well Grace and I..J don't ... I find myself in a
difficult position trying to defends Mr. Patterson proposal, but as I
understood it and what I voted on, This canister will be on wheels, this
canister can be wheeled anywhere on your property anytime that you want.
Mrs. Rockafellar: Can you see a seventy five or eighty five year old
woman doing it?
Commissioner Plummer.: Okay, I'm saying no, I can not see that okay,
because I can't see a woman :seventy five or eighty years old out cutting
trees.
Mro. Rockafellar: Bur branches do fall and they have to be cut up and
disposed of.
Conttnissioner Plummer: Okay, okay I understand, there are some problems
this is not a perfect system okay, by any stretch of the imagination.
One of the. facets 'Mr. Mayor, if I may one of the facets of this program
Grace, is not for some reason been known to the public and let me tell...
Ms. Rockafellar: No it wasn't it was a complete surprise.
Commissioner Plummer: Alright well it wasn't a complete surprise because
I am sure that if you asked the Manager will Show you that it was on two
different agendas not one, because it was deferred the first time, but
let me tell you a fascet to this that really appealed and what really
won my vote. One of the problems was very well brought out by a gentlemen
here who unfortunately had a problem, no it was a Marilyn Reed, Marilyn
Reed brought out where there was a trash on her property, I think she
said for a great number of period when it was picked up there was rats
and everything ran out, and that will happen there's no question. What
this will afford you the opportunity, you have your trash excuse me,
presently your garbage is picked up twice a week. To me one of the ugliest
things that we have in a very beautiful city is piles of trash out on the
curb, I think that's you know, it's just horrible, but tb a reason for it
is that we have no other system. This eighty two gallon container will
afford you the opportunity of putting your trash into this containter to
he picked tip twice a week without having to put a pile out the sidewalk
you will also be afforded through this program three times a year where
you can call in at no charge for large items: ice boxes, refrigerators,
great amount of ishrubbery three times a year you can call in for an
appointment and have it picked up at no cost, no additional cost, okay.
No .T. did not say the only thing I referred to, to the person questioned
was the fact that this is not a curb side pick up, as long as your con-
tainer is within a hundred feet of the street.
Mayor Ferre: Alright thank you very much.
Ms. Rockafellar: Mr. Plummer... Commissioner Plummer, I think you're
absolutely wrong in forcing the people to carry that back and put it
in these big containers because there is many, many people in the City
that are absolutely unable to do that, and I think that's putting a
tremendous burden on them, they can not afford yard men, they're living
on a fixed incOME: that inflation is eating away at all the time, they are
17
db
SEP 61980
t
trying to maintain their homes and I think that this is an unecessary
burden to put on them.
Mayor Ferre: Alright thank ,you Mrs. Rockafellar. Okay, we have three
more speakers that are lining up now, so lets...
(INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND STATEMENT MADE OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Commissioner Plummer: Would you get Mr. Patterson in here? I can answer
the question, but it's not appropriate that I should,...
Mr. Dick Fosmoen: Pat's coming in.
Commissioner Plummer: Please, please.
Mayor Ferre: We'll answer that when Mr. Patterson gets here, alright, sir.
5t r b 1980
C. C
Mr. Gil Woodnick: Mr. Mayor, thank you very much. My name is
Gil Woodnick. I live in Little River. I'm City Chairman for Citizens
Cri.mewatch, Incorporated, past chairman for the Northeast Area Sub -council
of the Comprehensive Crime Prevention Program in the City of Miami.
I attended a meeting last Wenesday with you at the Greater Miami C of C
call at the OMNI. You had statements to make, and you heard a lot of
clear voices that came through that told what the business community
wanted in this town in police protection. You did have to leave early,
there was a vote. Number one, that came out on that vote which I'm sure
you are aware of...
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Woodnick, I'll tell you, I'm going to read into the
rcicord when the public segment is through, the letter from the
President of the Chamber of Commerce and Dr.Stokes, the Chairman
of the Crime Prevention Action Committee which speaks for the Chamber
of Commerce on this subject.
Mr. Woodnick: I was only going to take thirty seconds and I was going
to throw it hack at you. I was sure you were aware of it.
Mayor Ferre: I was going to read
as the public suction is finis' -tad.
All right is there a motion...
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Patterson...
it into the record, and I will as soon
All right, there... anybody else?
Mayor Ferre: Wait a moment, please. This is what we're going to do in
a moment. We're going to have this lady... Plummer? We're going to have
th),,, lady',,; question answered. And then if there are no more speakers,
we're going to close the public section... segment of the meeting which is
the proceeau-o which is followed in these type of things. Then, we're
going to get into Commission discussion. All right, sir, do youaant
to ask?
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT)
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir. You certainly may.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Commissioner Plummer, does that mean, what you
just mentioned about the trash, does that mean that you plan to do away
with the trash pickup also? In other words, there are two things. We
have two separate things. We have a garbage pickup, which I'm happy
so far, we have a trash pickup. That trash pickup can be very large with
lots of wood and so on and so forth. Are you suggesting that by putting
this huge garbage can on wheels you are going to replace both•the
garbage and the trash pickup with it?
Mayor Ferre: All right, Mr. Patterson, would you answer both of these
questions.
Mr. Clarence Patterson: The eighty-two gallon container which was
proposed would in effect, integrate the garbage and trash collection.
The trash which you see out on the street in most places throughout
the City of Miami, eighty percent of that material can be containerized
in this container. The remainder of the trash, of course, would be
considered that. of bulky waste. Bulky waste, of course, was that type
of waste which Commissioner Plummer talked about that you would call
up for a special collection which would be no additional charge to you.
That eighty percent of the material which can be containerized, such
as your grass cutting, the small shrubbery which you now place out on
the curbside can be placed in the container and can be picked up twice
a week and you would not have that ugly site out front of the property.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Patterson, is this being done anywhere else in the
country or in Florida?
Mr. Patterson: Yes, it's done right here in Miami Springs, it's done
in North Miami Beach, -it's done in Fort Lauderdale, and it is done
in many many cities throughout the,United States today. But I just
named you a few right here.
I9 SE P 2 6198p
Mayor Ferre: All right, we have a question from this lady here and
perhaps she might repeat the question.
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE)
Mr. Patterson: Well, I can say that you pay taxes for the service, or
the availability of a service. So the services are available to you
whether or not you avail yourself of the services.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: May I may something to this? I envision this
to happen in the following manner: Now, we're going to have one
pickup and that's going to be that big container, that huge thing on
wheels. If most neighborhoods are a little bit like mine, I can
imagine that the whole county is going to be full of trash piles because
You can only collect three times a year, quite differently than
Commisisoner Plummer envisions this, this whole thing is going to be...
the streets are going to be full of litter because if you can't put it
all into the garbage can, then it's just going to lay there. And if
You can only call three times a year, if you've used your three times
UP, well what's going to happen?
Mayor Ferre: All right. Go ahead.
Mr. Patterson: Just to the contrary, sir. That is not the case and I
can only speak from experience where the program is working very
successfully right here in our community. That's not the case. I
would suggest that you talk to people in Miami springs, or North Miami,
cr Fort Lauderdale where this system is in effect and they don't have
these ugly trash piles out on the street.
Mayor Ferre: All right, we have two new hands. We have one gentleman
there and another one over there. Into the record, please. You have
to speak into the mike so we can have your name, address and your
statement.
Mr. Ron Baker: Mr. Patterson, my name is Ron Baker and I live in the
South Grove. I was just wondering, are we going to have one of these
garbage containters for each and every propety owner or is it going to
be just designated trash piles?
Mr. Patterson: One for each property owner.
Mayor Ferre: We have a gentleman in the back who raised his hand. I:11
recognize you one more time.
Mr. Avf.o Castillo: My name is Avio Castillo and I live in the southwest
area. And I'd like to ask you the following...
Mayor Ferre: Southwest where? In the City of Miami?
Mr. Castillo: Yes, sir. I live in the City of Miami. I'd like to know,
what we have gotten from the Downtown redevelopment area. Since the
first one hundred and sixty-six thousand dollars from stolen from the
first concessionaire that did the project?
Mr. Fosmoen: Mr. Mayor, I Ehink Mr. Knox can best answer it. Correct
me if I'm wrong, but the suit with C. A. Davis has been settled and we've
collected.
Mr. Castillo: Not the sidewalk. The Downtown Redevelopment project.
The first consultant.
Mr. Fosmoen: I don't know what he's...
Mayor Ferre: I don't know of any such law suit. Could you specify
that?
Mr. Castillo: It was one of the'City Commissions. Maybe I am wrong.
Maybe it was the sidewalk thing.
1�
ist
S E P 2 619A0
Mayor Ferre: Well the sidewalk law suit with C.A. Davis was settled
about three years ago, successfully for us. We won.
Mr. Castillo: Good. What about the money for the tent city?
Mayor Ferre: Money for tent city has been mostly reimbursed and we
have the assurance of the Federal government for the reimbursement of
the ... what? Two hundred and some odd thousand dollars that remain?
Mr. Castillo: Are we going to get the full refund?
Mayor Ferre: Full. One hundred percent.
Mr. Castillo: How long will it take us because we paid for it out of
our backs.
Mayor Ferre: We got the majority of it now. The twenty or thirty
percent that's left should be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
Mr. Castillo: What about the two buildings that are next to the Dupont
that are too close to the water? Isn't that a violation of the
City zoning 'wloard? The ones that are being built near the Dupont. One
on one side and the other one on the other side?
Mr. Plummer: Are you talking about the city buildings or Mr. Gould's
property.
Mr. Castillo: No the ones that are...
( INAUDIBLE CO�INZIENT)
Mr- Castillo: Right in the downtown area.
Mayor Ferre; He's talking about ... you know what he's talking about.
He's talking, about the Holiday Inn.
Mr. Castillo: Isn't that too close to the water?
Mr. Plummer. ........come for a variance. There was no variance.
(INAUDIBLE CO?LMENT)
Mayor Ferre: They set back, there was no variance. Next question.
Have you spoken before?
tlr. Marty Rein: No, I declined because other people raised some questions.
Mayor Ferre: Your name and address for the record
Mr. Rein: Marty Rein, 3251 McDonald Street. If the person owns a duplex,
does one receive one container or two containers.
Mr. Fosmoen: Two.
Mr. Rein: Okay. The factor is, has anyone projected the long range cost
of these containers and compared it with the cost of employing people.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Patterson.'
Mr. Patterson: Would you repeat the question?
Mr. Rein: What are the projected long range costs of having containers
and possibly the attrition of containers compared to the employment of
individuals. It's a so called savings...
Mr.. Patterson: This system is a rather automated system if you are not
aware. This system compared to what we are now doing, we are now
operating two methods'of collection,,as has been stated before. You
have a trash collection, and -you have a garbage collection. And we're
not integrating that at the present time. The system, in effect, will
.21
SEP 261980
Mr. Patterson (continute): reduce our work force currently from some
four hundred employees to three hundred odd employees. A reduction of
about one hundred and thirty-seven employees. And we plan to do that,
of course, by attrition rather than laying off people as a result of
the new program . The life expectancy of the container is approximately
ten years.
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE)
Mayor Ferre: Next question.
Mr. Rein: One more question on that. Who will replace the container
in %ase it is vandalized. .
Mayor Terre: Mr. Patterson.
Mr. Patterson: The current proposal, of course, the resident is responsible
for the container if there is any damage that is caused by municipal
workers, of course, then the City would replace that container. But
through normal wear and tear, normal wear and tear, the City of course
would replace that.
Mr. Rein: That isn't the answer to the question.
Mayor Ferre: He answered the question. He said...
Mr. Rein. No, vandalism. vandalism.
Mayor Ferre: Obviously, if the City will replace it, if it is normal
wear and tear, and if a City employee destroys it, if it is stolen, it
is yo�%r responsibility.
blr. Rein: Okay. So it's my responsibility if it's stolen.
(INAUDIBLE COMMENTS FROt4 THE AUDIENCE.)
Mr. Rein: A, stolen, "B", 6amayed by :someone else other than a city
employee.
mayor Ferre: That's what the man said.
Mr. Rein: Thank you.
Mayor Ferre: All right, we had a hand back here. You've already spoken
and I will recognize you again after those that haven't spoken have. that
opportunity. I'll stay here all night. I have no problems, to listen
to all of you. All. one hundred and fifty-two that are here tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED SpT,AKF.R: Mayor Ferre, I do have a problem. I understand,
I appreciate Mr. Patterson, coming and discussing this garbage problem,
but I understand this was passed by this Commission at 12:30 at night
because of this kind of thing going on. We're discussing other things.
I thought we were here to discuss these property taxes. Isn't that
what ,you said. We don't want to talk about that tonight. We should
call a complete issue on that for one night.
Mr. Carollo: Excuse me. Correction, ma'am. Passed minus one. Right
here. I didn't vote for it.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Could we please hear from the Commission and the
Mayor, and everybody here that has something to say about these property
taxes. I'm very concerned about them. My mother, who is eighty years old,
is living with me right now and her property didn't go up one hundred
percent, it went up three hundred percent. Yes, I have it right here.
And it's a two bedtoom one bath house, by the way, in Coconut Grove.
Mr. Lacasa: Mr. Mayor...
SEP 261980
ist
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Lacasa, I'm not going to recognize you at this time
because this is the public segment of this meeting.
Mr. Lacasa: I'm public too.
Mayor Ferre: No, you're not. You're a member of this Commission, and
you will have all your opportunities after we've closed the public
segment. Are there any other members of the public that wish to be
heard at this time. All right, you first and then ... all right, Ms. Reed,
after this gentleman you can ask the question and then we'll hopefully
wind up with Mr. Aquilara. Go ahead, sir.
Mr. Joe DiPietro. My name is Joe DiPietro. I live at 576 N.E. 74th Street.
I want to say that I'm dead against this trash container pickup. It
just isn't right and Mr. Patterson here with 11is containers, we don't
need them. We have a good pickup now as it is and I wish to have it
like that and I want a referendiun against it. (APPLAUSE)
Furthermore, I don't like the idea of losing these extra men. What's
going to happen to them? Go on welfare? (APPLAUSE) They're going to
cut the force. What's going to happen to these men that are going out
of work? We try to build up this city, we try to get people to work
more, not cut jobs. That's all I. have to say. (APPLAUSE)
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Aguil.iara: Mr. Patterson, this cuettion is directed
to you, sir. I feel that large corl;.)orations when they get a smart man
with good ideas on how to accumulate money get paid good money. How
much money are you going to get out of our tax payers for your great
idea? (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Patterson: I think it's the other way around. It's what we will
be saving the tax payers as a result of changing the system.
(INAUDIBLE CONNE;ITS FROM THE AUDIENCE)
Mayor Ferre: Are there any other statements from members of the public
at this time? All right, seeing none, then you, you have to say somehthing.
Go right ahead. I don't want anybody angry beyond this point. I'm going
to let you..whoever wants to speak twice you can come up, but beyond that,
I'm not going to let you speak three, four and rive times. Say everything
you've got on your mind right now, please.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEF1Y;1.R: Well that would be hard to cb
Mayor Ferre: I'll tell you what. I'll waive the three minute time and
you just go ahead and say it.
Ms. Maryilyn Hudson: I'm Marilyn Hudson again from 2350 Trapp
Avenue in the Grove. And as I listen to all the people that talk, I keep
coming back to one summary point, and I think it was something that Mr.
Vega brought up also, that one, the proposed tax.increases certainly
being opposed here tonight. I think that's a clear message that I've
heard everyone say. I think the other issue that hasn't been as directly
dealt with is that last column on our tax bill that says if no budget
changes made, look at the percentage that goes up also. As I said, mine
is one hundred percent if it goes ... one hundred plus percent if it goes
up. It is at least over fifty percent if there is no change made. And I
think that is also an issue that needs to be kept in the forefront, that
even with no budget changes, it still represents a big tax increase for
people. (APPLAUSE)
Mayor. Ferre: Marilyn.
Me. Reed. I need some information from Mr. Patterson. I called the
Resource Recovery people when I found that the trash and the garbage were
going to be combined. And 1-understand that you have to deliver all
the City of Miami's, trash to the N.W. 20th Avenue transfer station where
there it has to be separated and then taken to the Resource Recovery
Plant. And I can see where in the future that Metro is going to get
their nose out of joint and'say it's costing us too much money to separate
S E P 2 6 1ggp
Ms. Reed (continued): and we're going to get it for that. Mr. Patterson,
can you say anything to that?
Mr. Patterson: I don't know where you got your information from but it
is not separated at 20th Street transfer station. It's integrated there
and it's hauled out to the County landfill, at the present time. There
is no plan for any separation of it at 20th Street that I know anything
about.
Mayor Ferre: All right, is there any other statements or questions? You've
already had your chance, you've had your chance but I'll let you have one
more shot, and you have one last shot. Anybody else?
Ms. Meg Brown: Just one question Mayor Ferre, and Commissioners. I
mentioned the point that the Senate has just passed this bill giving one
hundred million dollars in aid. Isn't in possible for this approval of
this budget to be delayed until that money is passed, or at least the
consideration of this budget, to delay this or to turn it back for further
examination. To pass it now and then to get the hundred million dollars
is in effect taxing us twice for the same...
Mayor Ferre: Let me explain that to make it very clear. The Fascell-Stone
amendment that passed and goes up to Congress on Tuesday, once it is signed
and the money is available, will only be used for direct reimbursements
of direct out of pocket expenses. That does not 90 to anything else. This
budget is for next year, not for this last year. Those expenses we have
had out of pocket, that were not in last years budget because obviously
they were not in the budget, will be reimbursed, so this does not impact
on this budget in any way.
Ms. Brown: But you mentioned, you said over twelve hundred dollars per
child.
Mayor Ferre: No, that's what the School System.
Ms. Brown: Well yes, what I had in mind is the school system, the bill
that was just passed.
Mayor Ferre: Well that's something you're going to have to talk to the
School Board about.
Ms. Brown: That's part of the budget here.
Mayor Ferre: No, no. We don't deal with the school budget here. See...
Ms. Brown: But it's part of our overall...
Mayor Ferre: Yeah, but you see, let me...
Ms. Brown: levey. The increase in millage is being...
Mayor Ferre: Ma'm, let me explain. The City of Miami only, and this
Commission only votes on the City budget. The School Board votes on
the school budget. And Metropolitan Dade County votes on Metro budget.
Now we don't vote on the school budget here. So your point about the
school children must be addressed to the proper governmental entity which
is the Dade County School System. We don't vote that budget here. We
have nothing to do with that.
Me. Brown: All right, but we are affected by other changes...
Mayor Ferre: Yes, we are affected by it.
Ms. Brown: And this is what we're all concerned with. It all goes
as one package to us.
Mayor Ferro: Yes, ma'am, I understand. Okay. We have this gentleman
and then Ricky...
0
SEP 261980
ON" N
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: I want to direct this. question to Mr. Patterson,
Please. What is the weight of this container that we're supposed to put...
Mayor Ferre: Ma'am, I'll tell. you. I'm not going to cut anybody off. I
reall.y...you know, I know it's hard. It's harder on me and those of us...
I've been sitting here for twelve years and I've never cut anybody off
and I'm not going to start doing that now. A lot of people get upset
because sometimes these things begin to ramble and take too long. I'm
going to give everybody their fair chance. Go ahead, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Mr. Patteson, what is the weight of this container
that we're supposed to push out?
Mr. Patterson: The container weighs ten pounds.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Ten pounds?
Mr. Patterson: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: And it's going to be picked up twice a week. Is
that true?
Mr. Patterson: That is correct.
U141DENTIf'IED SPEAKER: Can you realize twice a week the amount of weight...
what would the weight of that be filled up?'
Mr. Pat.torson-1 It would be depending upon what's in it, it would vary,
you know, depending what you put in it.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Approximately.
Mr. Patterson: It would range anywhere from forty to maybe fifty pounds.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: And maybe more.
Mr. Patterson: it could depending upon what you have in it.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKF.R: And this is going to be on wheels also'?
Mr. Patterson: That is correct.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Can you visualize pushing that through grass
one hundred foet back in your yard, push that out?
dr. Patterson: The proposal that has been presented to the Commission
has allowed to be one hundred feet from the curbside, and that is the
average depth of the average property in the City of Miami so you don't
have to move it off of your property. The employees will take if off
of your property.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: They will push it'out you say?
Mr. Patterson: That is correct.
Mr. Plummer: And return.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER; And return.
Mr. Patterson: That is correct.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: I still can't see where any elderly person is
guing to push a fifty sixty pound container around in their yard.
Mr. Patterson: In the present state of the program as the Commission
has authorized us, they don't have to. It can remain fixed on your
premises and you can take your trash'and your garbage to it just as
you do to your container now and our employees will move it from that
location.
S E P 26 IMP%
Mayor Ferre: All right, thank you ,sir. Ricky.
Ms. Ricky Camineti: Since the garbage collection is to benefit the
City tax coffers and we state that we don't want this service, then I
will recommend that at the next meeting which I understand is Tuesday
evening, I would recommend that you...
Mr. Plummer: Friday.
Ms. Camineti: Well you told me last week, or the 15th, that it was
going to be on a Tuesday night.
Mr. Plummer: And it had to be changed to comply with State law and it
is scheduled for October the 4th, a week from tonight.
Ms. Camineti: All right then. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you will
return next Friday night and bring your friends and families. There
are now manny many townhouses...
Mr. Plummer: Ricky, I'm sorry. Let me correct. It's October the
3rd, but it's a week from tonight.
Ms. Camineti: Next week, .ladies and gentlemen. There are: now many
townhouses in the Grove that d:: not have the space for these huge
containers. We all have our ovm garbage containers and we are adamantly,
adamantly against this proposal. You said, Mr. Patterson, that
approximately one hundred and thirty-seven employees would be let go
or given their notice.
Mr. Plun ner: No.
Ms. Camineti: or sent somewhere. How many people will this new
bureaucracy c.aune to have enrolled and employed in this new department,
which will cost the tax payers additional taxes when the salaries
escalate continuously?
Mr. Patterson: 1 spoke to attirition before, and I :night explain that.
No employee will lose their job as a result of this new program. As
employees retire, resign and quit and leave the department, we will not
fill those additional positions. So the reduction will come by
attiri.tion. Nobody will lose their job and nobody will wind up on the
welfare rolls as a result of this change.
Ms. Camineti: Will you tell me approximately how many people will be
caused to be hired as a result of this new tax proposal?
Mr. Patterson: Zero.
Ms. Camineti: How about the townhouses which have no .room for these
garbage containers.
Mr. Patterson: This container will fit anyplace that you have two
regular garbage cans right now, this container will fit there.
Ms. Camineti: Mr. Patterson, if I told you the majority of the City of
Miami tax payers are opposed to this tax or container proposal, what
would you say to that? Do we, are we, must we have these containers?
We just don't want these containers and we don't want the tax that
goes with it. (APPLAUSE)
Mr. Patterson: Really and truely, I know you're not going to believe
me, but the container certainly is going to do a lot to improve the
aesthetic value of this city.
(INAUDIBLE RESPONSE FRAM THE AUDIENCE)
Ms. Camineti. You s,!e, we don't believe it and we hope that you would
have this called to a vote.
no
ist
0
Mr. Patterson:- And I would hope to have the opportunity to meet with
many of your homeowners association and show you this film of this
container in operation, right here in our own community.
(INAUDIBLE RESPONSE FROM THE AUDIENCE)
Ms. Caminati: it may work else where, sir, but not in the City of
Mi. ami. .
Mayor Ferre: Lets have a little order here. Sir, you've spoken twice
now. Go ahead, give us one more...
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: I've seen this in North Miami, North Miami Beach
and what you see...
Mayor Ferre: You said a few moments ago that i:hat wasn't so, that
there weren't any in North Miami or North Miami reach.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAK.E,R: I Said nothing of the sort, I didn't even speak about it.
I've seen it and there is rows anti rows of houses with these huge
ugly thing standing right in, front. (APPLAUSE) If anybody can say
anything about aesthetic value, that's out of this world.
Mr. Plummer: Jur System. differs from the fact that you don't have to
put it at curbside.
M,a.vor Ferre: 7A11 rjglat, af.tur this gentleman, I think we really have
gene, ir& these two hours we;ve given everybody a chance to say and
we're just repeating things over and over again.
Yx. Charles Clark: My name is Charles Clark and I'm at 1335 S.W. 21st Avenue.
On this new trash container, those are ranted to us?
Mayor Ferre: No, sir. Mr. Patterson. Mr. Patterson.
(INAUDIBLE RESPONSE FROM THE AUDIENCE:)
Mayor Ferre: The question is are these new containers rented to the
members of the public.
Mr. Patterson: No, they are not rented, They are purchased and they
will be provided to the citizens.
Mayor Ferre: Who pays for the containers, Mr. Patterson.
Mr. Patterson: The City pays for them.
Mayor Ferre: The City nays for the original cost of the container?
Mr. Patterson: That is correct.
Mayor Ferre; All right. Out of tax money?
Mr. Patterson: We hope to —we are hoping to purchase them from
Pollution Control Revenue Bonds.
Mayor Ferre: I soo. All right.
Mr. Carollo: From where?
Mayor Ferre; Pollution Control Revenue Honda.
Mr. Clark: I notice that...
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE.)
Mayor Ferre: The cax payers monies, everything in the City is tax payers
monies. That's right.
2'7
S E P 261980
ist
(INAUDIBLE RESPONSE FROM TME AUDIENCE)
Mayor Ferre: That's right. All right now your nest question.
Mr. Clark: These large containers down in the South end of Dade County,
they had them down there a while back, a couple of years ago, and they
were strewn all over the streets, broken up, and finally I think they
discontinued it because it just didn't work.
Mayor Ferre: All right, any other statements or questions at this time?
If not, is there a motion that this...
Mr. Carollo: Mr. Mayor, I need to ask a question before these people
leave here.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Carollo, the chair will recognize you as soon as the
public segment is...
Mr. Carollo: Well, if you do not want to recognize me as a member of
this Commission, sir...
Mayor Ferre: ...I will. recognize you, Sir. I will recognize you
Mr. Carollo...
Mr. Carollo: ...can you recognize me then as a citizen of this City?
Mayor Ferre: I will recognize you, Mr. Carollo, the moment we close
this public hearincj. Now is there a motion for the closing of this
public hearing.
Mr. Lacasa: Move.
Father. Gibson: Second.
Mayor Ferre: Is there: a second. Is there further discussion from
members of this Commission?
Mr. Plummer: Under discussion, Mr. Mayor, it was my impression that the
public hearing was closed because everyone had their opportunity to
speak, and some two times to speak. Now as you said before, this...
we sat fifteen and one half hours yesterday to allow everyone to speak.
And I don't want to arbitrarily cut anybody off in any way shape or form.
But where am I losing something. Is there something that someone feels
that has not been said that is a burning issue that has to be said? '
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE)
Mayor. Ferre: He, ma'am...
Mr.. Plummer; Ma'am, he's not part of the public. Okay?
Mayor Ferre: lie's a member of this Commission. He'll have his right.
Mr. Plummer: The Commission will take over the minute the public
hearing is closed.
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE)
Mayor Ferre: He will have his right, ma'm. Now Mr. Lacasa wanted
to do the same thing and I ruled him out of order. And I'm not going
to let anybody else do what Mr. Lacasa, whether it's Plummer, Carollo,
Gibson or anybody else on this Commission.
Mr. Carollo: Mr. Mayor, I realize you're afraid to speak while these
people are here.
Mayor Ferre: I'in sorrl, you -pre out of order, sir. You are out of
order. Now, you...
mo
•
SEP 261980
Mr. Carollo: Sir, if want to run this meeting like a dictator, you
go ahead.
Mayor Ferre: you are out of order► sir. Now, we have a motion and a
second. Is there further discussion? Call the roll.
THEREUPON, the City Commission on motion duly made
and seconded unanimously voted to close the public
,portion of the meeting.
ON ROLL CALL:
My. Plummer: Well with full assurance th&t I feel that everybody has had
their opportunity to speak this evening, they will be afforded another
opportunity on October the 3rd at 7 o'clock, I vote yes.
Mayor Ferre: The chair recognizes Commissioner Carollo.
Mr. Carollo: Thank you, 4a, Mayor. I'm glad you're not playing
dictator again. I just warit to ask a question of the public for the
benefit of some of my colleagues that I realize are not listening to
the will of the people and have not been listening too close tonight
here. Flow many people here are for either the increase of our property
taxes, are for the increase in the price of the garbage collection
fee, or are for tilis ridiculous eighty-two gallon container. Can I
:see some hands for anyone that is here that is for that. Not one
single hand. The government, ladies and gentlemen, is supposed to be
the servants of the people not the master. (APPLAUSE) And I just
hop, that in the next few days, the next few weeks, some of the other
members of. this Commission finally listen to the public and realize
that this is America and we have to follow the American way. our forefathers
came for this country just for the same reasons that all of you are
here tonight. Government, I repeat again, is the servant, not the masters
of the people. Arid at least this one member of this Commission here
tonight commits to the citizens of Miami that if a majority of this
Commission passes this ridiculous needless tax increase, passes this
ridiculous increase in the garbage collection fee, and this ridiculous
eighty-two gallon container, I'm going to be hand in hand with you
leading any fight in a referendtun to take this away. (APPLAUSE)
You know, there were some people here tonight that mentioned their age
and said how barely they could afford to live and pay for their homes
on what they were making, and they were single. Well, I happen to be
in that age bracket, and I have a wife and two young kids to support. And
I realize what it cost to make a living today. Now what bothers me the
most is that some of these same bureaucrats that we have pushing
these increases to our citiznes within the administration of this City,
and somF of the Commission happen to, and I would say the vast majority
of them, happen not to live in the City of Miami. It's nice to make
your living and earn your pay in the City of Miami and then go away to
some nice areas and not have to live with the daily problems that we
the citizens of Miami have to live with.. (APPLAUSE) We have been called
the magic city for many years. But the way that this administration,
this Commission has laws of disrespect for the value of money and
ladies and gentlemen, I see this daily, the disrespect for the value of
money in this City, I think that we might have to start calling this
the Magic Kingdom because when you see the vast majority of people in
this administration that make salaries that probzwly•very few of you
do not even come close to making•► we havecver thirty-three people in
our administration that make forty thousand dollars a year or more. Some
and the majority of these thirty-three are in the fifty thousand or more
a year. These thirty-three people alone in salaries make approximately
one point six million dollars a year. That's not including the hundreds
of thousands of dollars they make in benefits. This is what's killing
the average Miamian. Paying for these people that don't even live in
the City of Miami. But then.Miami is good enough to take money from our
citizens for their salaries and their pleasure. (APPLAUSE) The City
of Miami, last year, had an approximate budget of one hundred and twenty-
29 SEP 26 wo
ist
Mr. Carollo (continued): two million dollars, Dade County had a
budget of over one billion dollars. Just one area that I'd like to
compare to you to show the disrespect that tlti.s City has for money. our
City Attorney's staff has fourteen attorney's working for us. Dade
County has twenty-eight. Dade County had a budget of over one billion
dollars last year. We had one hundred and twenty-two. If Dade County
would have had the same amount of attorney's that we had for the
budget that the City had last year, Dade County would have had one hundred
and thirteen attorney's. I could go on and on ladies and gentlemen, but
this is going to be a fight that not one member or two members of this
Commission can carry on. It's going to have to be a fight that you,
the citizens of Miami are going to have to carry on and finish it. You're
going to have to come here and take your City back before you lose it.
(APPLAUSE). Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Terre: You're quite welcome, Mr. Carollo. Is there any member
of this Commission that wishes now to address the members of the public,
or ask questions of the administration...
Mr. Lacasa: Mr. Mayor...
Mayor Ferre: To proceed in a logical basis.
Mr. Lacasa: I want to go back t:, the question of the containers and the
question of the garbage fee because I feel th.i.s way. I feel that the
City of Miami, anyways, belongs to the citizens, and if you don't want
the containers• after you have listened to all of the facts, I certainly
e.m not going to vote for. putting the containers because I'm here to
represent yc;u people. (APPLAUSE) But lets have some facts before.
Mr. Patterson, at yoLir request, it was your suggestion here to the
City commission, we increased the garbage fee, and this of course, has
generated a tremendous reaction from the public. And I understand that
because, as I said before, I am public too. When I got my tax bill
I reacted the game way that you did because I have to pay it too. To
what extent, and this hasn't been touched tonight here, and it has to
be said, to what extent does the increase in the solid waste disposal
fee that we, the City of Miami., pay to the Dade County government has
affected the, or resulted in an increase in our garbage fee. I understand,
sir, that basically we were paying one million dollars more or less, to the
Dade County government on this account last year.. And now, the
County government has increased that fee to us, the City of Miami, by
two more million dollars. In other words, we're going to pay now three
million dollars. That's triple what we were paying before. Is that:
correct, sir;
Mr. Patterson: Yes, it's slightly higher now, Commissoner.. It's more
like four million dollars that we're going to have to pay now.
Mr. Lacasa: More than four million dollars.
Mr. Patterson: That is correct..
Mr. Lacasa: And to what extent does that have an impact in our own
increase to the citizens to the garbage fee?
Mr. Patterson: About fifty percent of the figures.
Mr. Lacasa: Fifty percent of that garbage fee goes to pay the increase
in the solid waste disposal fee that Dade County government charges to
us. If we went further to discuss the question, you are going to see
that you are going to pay very close to thirty mills in your tax bills,
out of which less than one third goes to the City of Miami which raises
a question of the possibility, and I say possibility because I ... I'm
yet researching this and I don!t want to commit myself to a statement
that might not be absolutely valid. But there is a strong possibility
that in some areas we are being double taxed by the county. A good
example of this rapeating''it.sel'f, we pay, the City of Miami pays
through their hotel;; fifty percent (50%) of the sales tax resort. You
know that we have a tax which'is two percent (2%) the so called bed
tax on the hotels. Fifty percent (50%) of the tax that the County gets
30
ist
4
Mr. Lacasa (continued): comes from the hotels in the City of Miami, yet
the City of Miami only gets twenty-three percent (23%) of those tax
monies back to Miami. And out of that twenty-three percent (23%),
twenty percent (20%)... no, eighty percent (80%) of the twenty-three
percent (23`k) goes for the orange Bowl which although a facility of the
City of Miami is serving the whole Dade County area. And we could go
on and on with situations such as this. 5o first, we should look very
deeply into what extent are we in the City of Miami being doubled taxed
by the County government. But then, let's go back to the question of
the garbage collection. Mr. Gary, if we were going to discontinue the
plan for the containers, what impact would that have on our budget.
Mr. Gary: First of all, the General Fund budget would be short about
two point six million dollars in terms of anticipated revenues. In
order to bring back the personnel it would ba three hundred thousand. The
total figure would be about two point nine million dollars ($2,900,000)
You'd be short in your budget. Now in terms of millage, that's almost
a half (1/2) a mill. In terms of what affect that would be on the
Present or proposed eight point nine five six (8.956) mills will be that
the millage will have to be increased by nine point four (9.4) mills.
So obviously, there is a savings to the tax payers and to the City
Commission 4.n terms of policy and administration to go with the collection
by the new system.
Mr. Lacasa: In other words, what yuu are telling me, and I am listening
to this the same way that you are listening to it because I am riot a
professional in this particular area. What we get is the information
from the staff, the professionals that we pay to give us that information.
So what you're tc'ling me is that if we don't use the containers, we are
going to be over two raiilion dollars (y2,000,000) short.
Mr. Gary: It's closer to three million ($3,000,000), Commissioner.
Mr. Lacasa: Closer to three million ($3,000,000). Okay. So here you
have facts. They are not the only facts. We can, of course, argue against
those facts. So what I would suggest is since this, I believe, year
is the burning issue, and I want to tell you that I'm going to keep my
commitment, if this ... with you people, if thin ;s not worked out to the
satisfaction of the citizens, I have no alternative but to vote: against
the containers because actually I am here to represent the will of tine
citizens, not the will of the staff.
(INAUDIBLE COM1,1ENT FROM IIHE AUDIENCE SPOKEN AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mr. Lacasa: Pardon me? No, no. 'That is not done yet. You haven't
seen the containers yet which means that the containers are not here yet.
Okay? So what I would suggest is that on the next meeting, on October
3rd... and you for instance,that raised very valid questions get in touch
with our staff throughout the early part of the week so maybe a couple
of more people can get together with you and get together with the
staff and get these figures and discuss the figures. And if you are
not satisfied with those figures, then on October 3rd, let's discuss it
here, and you might give us a better view. Quite frankly I say that.
Because the only the thing that we have so far to make a decision here
is on what the staff is telling us. If somebody comes with cold facts,
cold facts. By that I mean realities. They claim that the containers
are going to save us close to three million ($3,000,000) dollars. Mr.
Patterson says that fifty percent (50 %) of the increase in the garbage
fee is the result of the: increase in the solid waste disposal fee. Those
are the facts that we are given. If you can discuss this with them and
come with different figures, I submit to you that I am willing to entertain
them. And if you convince me, as God is my witness, I'll go with you.
That's it Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: All right, further questions of the staff? Or other
comments the members of the City of Miami Commission at this time?
All right, if not...Plummer?
ist
31
SEP 4216 1980
61 0
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, we're still under Commission discussion?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: I'm going to take advantage and maybe ramble a little bit,
and I'll try to be brief. Mr. Mayor, the one thing that amazes me
here this evening, I'm very pleased to see...next week I start my
eleventh (llth) year as a Commissioner in the City of Miami, and every
time we turn around and hold publid hearings on budget, we have three,
five, maybe ten people show up. And it's gratifying to me to know,
because sometimes I wonder where are those citizens of our community.
We always wonder that at election time when only twenty-one percent
(21%) take the opportunity to go out and express themselves. But at
budget time I wonder where are all those people who called me all during
the year. Because I had... the Mayor tells me his count tonight is
one hundred and fifty-two (152) people here this evening out of one
hundred and fifteen thousand (1,015,000) and Mr. Mayor if I stole some
of your thunder, I'm sorry. I get one hundred and fifty-two (152)
phone calls a week. But let me tell you the thing that really .amazes
me about this evening. I wonder where the twenty-six thousand eight
hundred and ninety-eight (26,898) people in the past eight months who
have had their property taken in Either an armed robbery, a house
break-in, a purse snatch, where they are? Because mist of them take...
(INAUDIBLE COMMENT FROM THE AUDIENCE)
Mr. Plummer: Please, May I ask the same courtesies that I afforded you.
I was quiet, very attentive and ask the same courtesy. I wonder where
they are. You know, we're not in a normal year, unfortunately. We're
not normal this year at all.. And I say that unfortunately, that this
year when you read the papers, like I read the papers, projected figures
show that we are going to project a sixty-five percent increase in homicides.
And yet, out of all of the speakers here this evening, I think about six
or maybe eight people addressed the problem which I feel is the burning
issue of this community. Now you know, it would be very simple for me
and very easy, and very popular, and very political to say, fine no
increase. That's it. Administration, you have a budget, you live with
it. But you can't do that. I'll tell you why you can't do that. Because
the people of this community expect a certain level of service, and they
demand that level of service, and they continuously, all year long,
remind us that they want that service. Let's look at what the truth...
TRIM. The State said we're going to roll back your millage. This
Commission didn't do that. This Commission did not set your asessments.
Had nothing to do with them. Eighty-eight hundred (8,800) people last
year disagreed with Metropolitan Dade County Assessment Program, and I
would assume this year it wouldn't surprise me if they have twenty-five
thousand people down there complaining about their assessments. I'd
like to go dorm put I'm a politician and I can't do it because it would
be said I'm asking for special favors. You can. I don't like my tax
bill a damn bit more than you do. My assessment went up seventy-four
(74%) percent, and I don't like it. But unfortunately, I'm a Commissioner
in this City, elected by the people to level of services that they
want, they expect and they should receive. I do not agree, and have not
from the inception with the budget which was presented by the Administration.
They are charged with the responsibility in the Charter to present to this
Commission, and to the public a balanced budget an which they feel is
necessary to provide the services to the citizens of this community.
I'm not, by the way, addressing) nor will I address the area of garbage
this evening. We will do that at the next meeting. I'm addressing
those areas of ad valorem taxes which you are concerned about. You know,
whatever we do here tonight will not affect in any way the elderly
gentlemen this afternoon who wbs going to the grocery store, who won't
be here tomorrow to complain about it. That gentleman is gone. And
he's only one out of one hundred and forty seven (147) this year that
have gone through homicide. What problem has got to be addressed.
And it's not cheap. When you look at the Truth Bill, the legislature
in Tallahassee said, fine. Yeah, we realize you have problems, we
realize that you've got to have more money, and we'ro going to give you
32
Mr. Plummer (continued): and allow you to put an eight percent increase
over what you did last year. Isn't that fine? There's onlv one problem.
We've had inflation, alone, of fourteen and one half (14 1/2) to sixteen
percent (16%). And they are going to allow us half to increase our tax
rolls. Half. I don't see the fairness. When you look at the passage
of the bill today in Washington, that's not one hundred million dollars
($100,000,000) by the way. That's a two year bill, it's two hundred
million dollars ($200,000,000). The City will be, in fact, and I will
be addressing later in amendments which I propose ... will be proposing
this evening, it will be reimbursed to this City, as we understand on
a one hundred percent (100%) basis. Ladies and gentlemen, I have always
stood as long as I have been on this Commission for very strong public
safety. I am going to stand again tonight for very strong public
safety and I will not settle for anything less than what I consider is
the needs of this community. I have said many, many times before, and
I will repeat this evening, basically we provide three services to this
community; police, fire and stanitation. And once we have addressed,
and adequately addressed those three areas, whatever is left we'll
talk about. But those areas are first. For your edification, I want
to share with you, and sometimes statistics can be boring and I realize
that, and I13.1 make them very brief.The national average across the
United States is two and a half (2 1/2) policemen for every thousand
population. That's the national average. Unfortunately, in the City
of Miami we are at one point eight (1.8). As addressed in the budget,
which I intend to go beyond, one hundred (100) additional police officers.
It would only bring us up to a two point one (2.1) still below the
national average of most major metropolitan cities across this United
States. I can't do anything but grieve with you in two areas. The
fifty-six percent (66%) increase that is being proposed by the School
Board, I can't do anything but grieve. And the people that I really
feel sorry for here tonight, and my heart goes out to, are the people
who are in fact can fixed incomes. I understand that, and I understand
those people are leaving this community because they can't afford
the taxes and the problems. But you know, one person says, well, I eat
out. I don't need to pay any garbage tax. Well, I hear the same
argument from people who say I don't have any kids in school, why am I
paying a school tax? I don't own an automobile, why am I paying road
tax? Taxes, when originated in this country, were supposed to be fair
and equitable across the board. It'u not nice, nobody likes it, I don't
like it, but I have to sit here as a Commissioner and try and hope to
strike a balance of whatl feel is best for this community. Mr. Mayor,
I'm finished with my comments. I thank the people of the audience who,
have afforded me the courtesy of allowing me to make my statement. As I
indicated in my statement, Mr. Mayor, I do want to make some amendments
to the present budget which was not as the gentleman for the Tax Assessors
Office said, at nine point four zero eight (9.408). It is eight point
nine five six (86956). That is what we are proposing. Anyone else might
be proposing more and you will have to deal with them accordingly. But
I'm going to deal with that which was proposed under the Charter by the
administration at eight point nine five six (8.956). And Mr. Mayor, I
will afford my colleagues the right to make any statement they wish, and
then at the appropriate time, I will make the amendments to the,proposal
as I feel are necessary.
Mayor Ferre: All right. Are there any questions from members of the
Commission, the administration?
Mr. Carollo: Yes, Mr. blayor. I would like to address one question to
Mr. Patterson.
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Patterson, will you step forward, please?
Mr. Carollo: Even though it's not a pleasant question, I think it's a
very appropriate question and I,would like to get it out of the way as
soon as possible. Is there any objections if I have Mr. Patterson
sworn in by the City Clerk? Just one question.
S E P 261980
.iSt._
61
G
Mayor Ferre: Mr. Patterson, do you have any objections to being sworn
in?
Mr. Patterson: None whatsoever.
Mayor Ferret Go ahead. You can do it from there.
(AT THIS POINT, THE CITY CLERK PROCEEDED TO SWEAR IN MR. PATTERSON)
Mr. Carollo: Mr. Patterson, you stated to me one time previously, that
you were one of the fathers of this eighty-two (82) gallon container.
You were one of the inventors of it. Is that correct, sir?
Mr. Patterson: That is correct.
Mr.. Carollo: Do you now, or to your knowledge, any other member of the
City Administration or any member of the City of Miami Commission have
any direct interest, econothical. interest in this container?
Mr. Patterson: No, I do not have any interest in it. And the container
is non-pattenable.
Mr. Carollo: All right, sir. Thank ,you v,Rry much.
Mayor Ferret Are there any other questions. All right.
Mr, Plummet: Mr. Ma,lor, I would like to make one other comment before you
call for. anything A.:so. I accept the responsibility for allowing
Mr. ratter on off the hook. I accept that responsibility. And I feel
that if the public, I said I wasn't going to deal with the garbage but
I have to put this statement in because some of you might not be back.
Mr. Patterson, if the public was explained, shown, and as thoroughly
reviewed your. Project with the general public, as you did with this
Commission, I honestly feel that there would be a different feeling
this evening. Divorcing that. away from the service fee that is being
charged. And Mr.. Patterson, if I have one fault, it's that I did not
force you, even though I know you have told me you've gone to homeowners
and to groups, and to civic groups, and tried to put your program across,
is that I didnt' force you a little bit more to make this program
known, Because as I sit here this evening and I listen to the questions
that are being asked, it becomes very obvious to me that the people
don't know and don't understand the program. .
SEP 261980
Ll
Mr. Plummer: ... :..L...... If they did even whether they agreed or disagreed, the
questions would not be generated. Ok? To my good friend Grace Rockafellar, this
was on two agendas. The first agenda that it appeared upon, this Commission made
many changes to the original proposal. The original proposal did in fact have
it at curb side. In the original proposal there was no waiver for invalid people
or to people who could not handle the container. This Commission made many
changes in the original proposal. Mr. Patterson didn't necessarily like them,
but we felt that, that was very necessary. One of the things that's not been
said here this evening that I want to put on the record. I don't know how many
years there has been a garabage service fee charged in the County. Mr. Patterson,
you formally with the County sir. How many years have they had a service fee?
Mr. Patterson: Commissioner, that's been since the inception of garbage collection
in Metropolitan Dade County.
Mr. Plummer: Many years. And Mr. Patterson, you have not made it even known
this evening and you have this opportunity to let these people know who are
obviously all residents of the City of Miami, that are going to be asked this
coming year to pay a fee in the neighborhood of seventy-six dollars. What does
the County residents pay?
Mr. Patterson: The County residents pay a hundred nineteen dollars a year,
Commissioner.
Mr. Plummer: And they take their containers to the sidewalk and bring them
back.
Rev. Gibson: J. L,, pardon me.
Mr. Plummet: Yes, Father?
Rev. Gibson: You don't have to ask Mr. Patterson, you ought to ask me because
I have a mouse in Richmond Heights.
Mr. Plummer: Well, Father I don't have to do that because...
Rev. Gibson: And the thing about it is I have been paying...
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mr. Plummer: Ma'am are you aware, are you aware and I don't want to argue, please,
ok?
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mr. Plummer: Are you aware that of the tax you pay to Metropolitan Dade County
thirty-three percent of that comes from City taxpayers? You should know that
because it's important. Thirty-three percent of every Metro dollar comes from
City of Miami taxpayers. That's very important. It's also important to know,
I think, it is to me, that of all the advalorem taxes in the City of Miami,
ad valorem taxes only raise, Mr. Gary, about forty percent, forty percent of
our total budget just about enough to run the largest department of our City and
that's the Police Department. These are important things to remember, because
when I have to sit here as a Commissioner and rare my own taxes as well as
I'm raising yours, I don't like it. But I just wanted to put those things on
the record. Mr. Patterson, it is my hope air that at the next Budget Meeting
that your film that you have and to have some kind of a small demonstration
to the people, not that they are going to agree, ok? But I think they should
know. I think they should know as Mr. Lacass brought out that last year we
paid twenty-four dollars a ton to the County, to this year we are paying fifty-
four dollars a ton to the County. ,Those are some of the things that you must
realize that I have to realize, amen.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, further statements or questions from members of the
Commission. Alright, if not, then now we are at... Mr. Plummer, you were
going to come up with some proposals and I recognize you for that.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, my amendments this evening primarily it will show a
very slight reduction in that which has been proposed by the Administration.
I think it will show a great deal of difference in the setting of priorities.
Mr. Mayor, I propose the following;... S E P 261980
ill 35
�:ir !� ,�•x�j' �,.�t «�i4�'J �1 ,,f',,,�?i t,� �aii 1 v.a�l
Mayor Terre: Are you doing this in the farm of a mo:.io 7
Mr. Plummer: However you want it Mr. Mayor, I will. do it. I'm distributing
to you...
Mayor Ferre: Let's do it like we have always done it: Mr. Plummer. This is a
budget procedure and we have to do it in a formal way.
Mr. Plummer: Alright, sir, you set out the guidelines, sir.
Mayor Ferre: You go ahead and make whatever motions. If you get a second,
we will discuss them and then we will proceed ill voting on them.
Mr. Plummer: Alright, Mr. Mayor, 1 am proposing as I said from the beginning
as that: r,2connnended by the Administration, that memo that you have in front
of you alternative #3. I will explain for the people here or try to explain.
Primarily what I am doing or hope to accomplish in this budget Mr. Mayor, is
to shift the major emphasis to public safety, to -)i.tiblic safety, I propose Mr.
Mayor., that we create cuts in the following areas. Number One, we do what the
State allowed us this year to do increasing occupational fees as proposed by
State. Legislation in the amount derived from that fee of one million seven
hundred thousand dollars. Number two, that we use the interest from the
Interama money that was paid to this City last year in the amount of five hundred
thousand dollars. Thanks to the Fascell/Stone Bill which passed tod,ny we reduced
that contingency that we had to reserve of one million two hundred seventeen
thousand one hundred seventy-eight: dollars and .finally, and here is where I'm
going to be very unpopular with a lot of friends -:ic City Hall that all departments
in the City of Miami with the excsptlon of the department of Police and Fire
bQ reduced across the board three percent for a total of seven hundred fourteen
thousand one huridr(id fi_ft- doll.zrs. Mr. Mayor, these are monies which total
four million one hundred v.hirty-one thousand three hundred twenty-eight dollars
to be, cut from the ad valorem tax taking it off or the none owner. Mr. mayor,
I could stop there and if I did that would reduce the millage from nine point...
98.956 to 8.1236. sir. Mayor, I spoke earlier to my concern of public saftty
I am now going to create a contingency fund that cannot be touched for an,
reason other than public si fecy, required of a four fifths vote of this 'onmtissi.ort
not n simple major of two million dollars. If this money is not needed for
public safety to be at the end of this fiscal year passed over in the next year
for the reduction of tax. Mr. Mayor., rho Police department have explained to
uti in budget- hearings that there are many areas of interest that they would
like to get into if they can, An advertising program of recruicment. I think
all of you have read of the big problems we are having in recruitment. We would
like to increase the public; aervive aides which proposed to be fifty. I would
hope that it could be one hundred so that whkan you the home owner call for
police :it will not be a response time of thirty, sixty or two hours.,. thirty,
sixty minutes or two hours, but that we can reduce that time back down under '
a half hour. These programs all cost money. The Chief as demonstrated his
program of instituting in the department of Police more civilians releasing
policemen for the street. He has also inst.itut:ed a program which is very
expensive of utilizing policemen beyond the forty hours of their normal tour
at ti.mo and a half. . And we tire. now letting thirty men more ott the street than
we had last month. That program once again is expensive. Mr. Mayor, I do have
one other proposal. These are the amendments which I, sir make to this budget
and what I feel gives the greatest emphasis of this budget to public safety
which I feel is the main concern of the citizens of this community. Mr. Mayor,
I would appreciate, if I may, to have a second and explain what my next motion
is because I think it is very vital, to the understanding of where I'm coming
from at this point.
Mr. Lacasa: I second the motion.
Mayor Ferre: Go ahead. No, wait a minute, he wants anot:her...
Mr. Plummer: No, 1 wanted it seconded, then I want to explain what my next
motion will be whether this one passes or fails.
Mayor Ferre: 'Look, Just so that we understand becEkuse you made a rather long
statement. Now, would you synthesize what your•motion was. You know, just in
very simple terms.
Mr. Plunaner: Well, for the Commission it's itetn or alternate #3 Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Terre: Alright, well, Just into the record now... you know, you have
81 ;� S E P 261980
explained it without the explanation...
Mr. Plummer: Alternate #3 creates a contingency for public safety of two million
dollars. (A) It makes the same of four million one hundred thirty-one thousand
three hundred adjustments as in alternate #1 or reduction of advalorem tax. (B)
Use two hundred of the four hundred one three one to establish the public safety...
Mayor Ferre: No, two million. Two million.
Mr. Plummer: Two million. Well, alright. Yes, sir. Use the remainder of the
money to reduce the advalorem tax by one third of a mill to a new millage of
8.610, That in fact is my proposal.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, is there a second now?
Mr. Lacasa: I second it.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, now under discussion, go ahead Plummer.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, my motion next will be that assuming this passes and
here again, I'm not going to be popular with my fellow employees, but that
has to be understood. Mr. Mayor, I would then make a motion that an absolute
freeze on hiring be instigated imiiediately except in the areas of the Department
of Police and lire. That freeze to remain in effect until the Administration
returns to this Commission showing and acceptable program to reduce the cost of
the operation of this government in the remaining, months of the fiscal year. At
such time as this Commission accepts that proposal the freeze would be lifted.
I feel that this will put the Administration, the Manager, the Budget Department
under the gun. It will put: them under pressure to come back to this Commission
to show cuts, to show economy, to show anyway possible a program to this
Commission that would force the cost of operation of government. Mr. Mayor, that
would be the motion after this, but I do feel that it is tied.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, further discussion on the motion? Alright, call the roll.
ON ROLL CALL:
Mr. Carollo: It's been decided already, but the State limit... the State put
in there new guidelines is 7.302. What has been originally proposed has been
8.956 mills and what Commissioner Plummer is proposing while a reduce from
what the Administration has previously presented is no where near enough the
type of reduction that this City could make. And I cannot in all good faith
vote for a small reduction when I see people that have just been hired to our
City several months ago and here we are in such bad shape people are just hired
making thirty-eight thousand dollars, thirty-two thousand dollars, plus who
knows how many thousand dollars in expenses. When I see employees that we have
making good salaries and I go into a restaurant and I see them sitting there
for three and four hours at the City's expense. When I see this Administration
giving City property away that in some instances is worth thousand of dollars
for a dollar a year and sometimes that we don't even collect that dollar. I
can't in good faith vote for this when I see that there is a lot of jobs that
are created for political reasons and only given to certain people and not the
best qualified people. Ladies and gentlemen, the City of Miami needs to have
lay-offs. It need to have lay-offs not in the vast majority of our employees
that have been the back bone of this City. But in certain jobs that have been
created where people are earning thirty, forty thousand dollars that are not
needed by our City. And in certain jobs that are a lower level of eight,
twelve, fifteen thousand dollars that are just jobs to have workers
for the final election. I can't in good faith vote for this when I know that
the City of Miami could tighten it's belt a heck of a'lot more just like we
all have with inflation. We have all had to cut back drastically in our
ways of life our expenditures. The City of Miami has not no where near
enough. And I just can't help but to think... Commissioner Plummer made a
very good point that we are drastically short in Police personnel.- In fact,
we are even shorter than he stated to you. While the national average around
the country is 2.5 police officers.per one thousand citizens. In major cities
like Miami of a quarter million persons or more, the national average is some
where in the neighborhood of 3,3 police officers. 3.3 per one thousand citizens.
Miami based on a population of'three hundred fifty thousand and we are well
over that, has 1.8 police officers per one thousands. Which means in'actuality
we are probably down to 1.5. Less than half than we should have. Now, if we
gl
SEP 261980
are going to raise the property taxes this year like cur Administration suggested
some 22 percent or may be now like it's been suggested some 19 to 20 percent.
What are we going to do next year when we need .anc, when we are going to have to
hire an additional hundred fifty police officers besides what we are hiring this
year? Raise your property another 20 to 25 percent besides that? The City of
Miami is becoming a City where the middle class and the middle class is what
made America what it is today. A great country. The best in the world, where the
middle class is being lost. And it's becoming a City of rich and poor. We can't
have that. The middle class is what made the City of Miami and we have to
strive to keep the middle class in Miami and not make it a City of slums and
luxurious condominiums. We can't have that and this is why... (APPLAUSE).. this
is why in all good faith I can't vote for this. There is many areas that we
can go into and cut more in the City Administration without going into the
real reason that yoi► have a Commission here to protect the life and property of
the citizens of Miami, which is the main concern of this Commission, without
affecting that and in fact increasing it to the level where it should be. We
could cut in many other areas in the City of Miami rind start cutting some of
these outrageous salary jobs that we have that we non't need. I don't think
we need to pay forty thousand dollars a year for sorieone to be fanning themselves
and have perfume over themselves and may be work one hour out of the day. And
outside of that have a City car with City gas so they can drive themselves to
Key Biscayne or South Darle, Therefore, I vote "no".
Mr. Ongie: Continuing roll call, Mayor. Ferre?
Mayor Ferre: Alr.ighr_, before I vote I would like to make a statement into the
record. I'm going to be voting wicli the other three members that have already
voted on this issue. I would like to say besides the Dade County School Board
going up 56.2 percent. The City of Saint Petersburg is going up 25.2 percent.
The City of Weot Palm Beach is going up. Broward County is going up 27.8 percent.
Jacksonville is going up 2`5,7 percent. And the simple fact ladies and gentlemen,
is that inflation effects the: City of Miami Like it affects
,you and the fact is that there is no way that the City of Miami is riot going to
be affected in c.ho same way the City of Pampa, Saint Petersburg, the School
Board, Coral. Gables, Jacksonville and the other cities that I have read out.
Let me tell you furthermore, and for the record let me say that what we are
talking about is a 27.3 percent increase, that the impact on the... on a taxpayer
with a forty thousand dollar home at 8.61 would be three hundred forty-five
dollars and for that same forty thousand dollar home last year if you had that
type of an assessment you would have paid four hundred nineteen dollars to the
City of Miami, but: as being proposed here. is about a four hundred sixty dollar
total payment, which is an increase of forty-one dollars, which -for your information
the average assessment last year was forty thousand dollars in th:is City of...
cifty thousand.
Mr. Gary: No, last year the average assessment was thirty thousand dollars:
Mayor Ferre: I'm sorry, thirty thousand. And this year it's how such?
Mr. Gary: Forty.
Mr. Fosmoen: Forty-five six, with a five thousand dollar homestead exemption.
Mayor: Ferre: No,... that's what I'm talking about. It's forty-five thousand
less a five thousand dollar homestead exemption. The average house on the...
assessed in Dade County and the City of Miami was forty thousand dollars and
that average house last year paid four hundred nineteen dollars in taxes and
that average house this year will pay four hundred sixty dollars in taxes and
the difference is forty-one dollars which is...
(BACKGROUND COMMENTS OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mayor Ferre: ... which is somewhat over ten percent in total tax increase. I
think that these are hard times. I'm sorry. I vote with the majority.
gl
SEP 261980
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its
adoption:
MOTION NO. 80-722
A MOTION AMENDING THE PROPOSED FY-80-81 BUDGET BY INCORPORATING
ALTERNATIVE III, AS OUTLINED IN A MEMORANDUM FROM HOWARD GARY,
ADDRESSED TO RICHARD FOSMOEN DATED SEPTEMBER 26, 1980, THEREBY
REDUCING THE MILLAGE TO 8.610 MILLS.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Plummer, Rev. Gibson, Vice -Mayor Lacasa and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: Mr. Carollo.
ABSENT: None.
2. MOTION IMPOSING FREEZF ON HIRING OF ALL PERSONNEL FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THIS F'LSCAL YEAR EXCEPTING POLICE AND FIRE
DEPARTPIENT .
Mayor Ferre: Alright, now, Mr. Plummer? Is Mr. Plummer still around? Is
Mr. Plurxner still here? Alright, Mr. Plummer, the Chair recognizes you for your
second motion.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry. May I ask if my first motion passed?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, four to one.
Mr. Plummer: Alright. Mr. Mayor, I now make a motion that there be an
immediate freeze on hiring at the inception or the adoption of this budget in
all departments with the exception of. the Department of Police and Fire and
that's both sworn and civilian of those departments and that freeze
remain in effect until such time as the Administration presents to this Commission
a proposal which we will accept showing how they can and will reduce the cost
of City operation for the remaining fiscal year. i.e. exception: That exception
shall not apply to any position which the City Manager brings to this Commission
for approval demonstrating an emergency situation. ,
Mayor Ferre: Alright, is there a second to that motion?
Mr. Carollo: Plummer, again, Lhe only departments that are not being affected
by this motion are the Police and Fire? ,
Mr. Plummer: Correct, sir.
Mr. Carollo: For the two departments that are responsible for the protection of
life and property.
Mr. Plummer: Public safety, sir.
Mr. Carollo: And of course, I hope Mr. Fosmoen realizes this and the rest
of the Commission does, this does not mean that we have a freeze in the
City Manager's spot and we can proceed with the original plan, correct?
Mayor Ferre: That's correct.
Mr. Plummer: Say it again. I'm sorry Joe, I had to...
Mr. Carollo: This does not mean that the -City Manager's position is going to
be frozen and Mr. Fosmoen is going to stay there until the freeze is lifted,
correct?
gl SEP 261980
Mr. Plummer: I'm sure Mr, Focrooen would like that, bct r,o it doesn't. No,
it does not... please don't react in, I tried to he very specific. It does not
in anyway address any particular job in the general what we refer to as the
general services.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a second to that motion?
Mr. Carollo: There is a second.
Mayor 'Ferre: Alright, there is a second, further discussion ou that motion?
Call the roll.
The following motion was .introduced by Corunissioner 'Plummer, who moved its
adoption.
MOTION NO. 80-723
A MOTION IMPOSING A FREEZE ON TIME H%RING OF ALL PERSONNEL
FOR THE REMAINDER. OF THIS F13CAL YEAP SPECIFICALLY EXCEPTING
THE POLICE DEPAR'1T ENT AND THE FIRE DE1,ARTMENT, BOTH THEIR
SWORN AND CIVILIAN POSITIONS, AND FURTHER STIPULATING THAT
AN EXCEPTION TO THIS FREEZE CAN BE i F'FECTFD IF A REQUEST
IS BROUGHT BY T`11E CIT". MANAGER FOR APPROVAL BY THE CITY
COMMISSION.
Upon being SUCoilded by Commi.ssi.oner Carollo, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Gommi s:: i or.i--r Joe Carollo
Co mit;sioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Cnnanissi.onur (Rev,) Thendore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor Armando Lacasa
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
3. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: DEFINING AND DESIGNATING '111E TERRITORIAL
LIMITS OF THE CITY OF NIA21I1 FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAXATION.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, if not, is there now a motion to pass the Appropriations
Ordinance?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I make such a motion but it would be my hope that you
would clarify or have Mr. Gary clarify the procedure from this point, assuming
that it will be adopted.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, there is a motion, is there a second? There is a second...
wal.t a moment. There is a second to the motion as amended. The Appropriations
Ordinance will be adopted as amended by the two previous motions. Alright, now,
Howard explain.
Mr. Gary: Well, first of all Mr. Mayor and Commissioners, you have to amend
your budget., but you don't amend it by ordinance. You have done it by a motion.
The second step is that you have to recompute your milLage rate and announce it
publicly in terms of what the millage rate is. The third step is to pass the
ordinance which Commission Plummer has just recommended.
Mayor Ferre: Ok, well, then'withdrgw your; motion and let's start step number
one.
Mr. Plummer: Alright, you know...
gl. 40
SEP 261980
r
Mr. Gary: This is State law.
Mayor Ferre: What's step number one?
Mr. Plummer: Alright, what's number one?
Mr. Gary: Ok, the first step is, you have already done. You have amended the
budget according to what Commissioner Plummer has recommended.
Mr. Plummer: Ok, step number two.
Mr. Gary: The second step is that I have to announce publicly what the new
millage rate is.
Mr. Plummer: What are you waiting for?
Mr. Gary: For you to -tell me.
Mayor Ferre: Announce the new millage rate.
Mr. Gary: The new millage rate as proposed by Commissioner Plummer and approved
by a majority, four members of the City Commission is 8.610 mills.
Mr. Plummer: Third point?
Mr. Gary: As opposed to what was proposed of 8.956 for a reduction of .346 mills.
Mr. Plummer: Is there a fourth point?
Mr. Gary: The percentage Increase is 27 percent as opposed to the 324 percent
recommended by the City Administration.
Mayor Ferre: I'm sorry, 27.3 percent.
Mr. Gary: 27.3 percent as opposed to the 32'j percent recommended by the City
Commission.
Mr. Plummer: Is there anything else we do to comply with the law?
Mr.. Gary: Now, you have to adopt the tentative millage rate. The 8.610.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a motion?
Mr. Plummer: I make the motion Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Ferre: Plummer moves, Lacasa seconds, that the millage rate tentatively
be set at 8.610, further discussion, call the roll.
Mr. Knox: This is an ordinance.
Mayor Ferre: I'm sorry, read the ordinance. Alright, now, any further discussion?
Let the record reflect that all members of the Commission and the public have a
copy of this before them. If they wish...
Mr, Plummer: Under discussion Mr. Mayor. It would be my desire that none of these
people who have had the interest to sit here through this entire procedure leave
until Mr. Gary explains the procedure from here to final adoption.
Mayor Ferre: Ok, well, we have to vote first.
Mr. Plummer: Ok, I didn't want anyone to...
Mayor Ferre: Alright, call the roll on first reading.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE DEFINING AND DESIGNATING
THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR
THE PURPOSE OF TAXATION; FIXING THE MILLAGE AND
LEVYING TAXES IN'THE CITY -OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1980, AND
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1980; CONTAINING A
SEVERAKILITY CLAUSE.
gl
U]
SE,P 26 1980
Was introduced by C* ss,oner Plummer and seconded to,ommissioner Lacasa
and passed on its first reading by title by the collowing vote:
AYES: Mr. Plummer, Rev. Gibson, Vice --Mayor Laci.sn and 1Jayor Ferre.
NOES: Mr. Carallo.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINING: None.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission
and to the public.
4. FIRST READING ORDINA,N CE: MAKING i.PPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR. ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, i981.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Mr. Gary, the next step?
Mr. Gary: The next step in this process according to the State Trim Bill, is
that we would have to advertise in a newspaper on Monday morning; the tentative
millage rate as proposed by the City Com-xission. .and we also have to inform
the public in that newspaper article when the next or the. second public hearing
is to be held, which Is October 3rd. At that rime if the City Commission decides
on October 3rd to change the millag.e rate upward we would have to have all of
the taxpayers in the City of Miami notified by first class mail, which cost
approx.triately twenty-three thousand dollars and have a third public hearing.
Mayor Ferre: Alii�,ht, now, Mr. Gary, I see in Item 4E, •it says adopt the
amended tentative budget which we have not done.
Mr. Gary: That's the next step, which Mr. Knox has the ordinance.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, is there a motion to that effect?
Mr. Plummer: Well, I want to read the motion first.
Mr.. Gary: The motion is primarily reflects the modifications that Commissioner
Plummer has suggested in item "A" above, 111 above, D-1 and this ordinance just
reflects those changes that you made.
Mr. Plummer: Is it an ordinance?
Mr. Gary: It's art ordinance.
Mr. Plummer: To comply with the law that says that there is a copy before all
Commissioners and copies available to the general public, air I would beg you
to comply with the law. I dan't have a copy.
Mayor Ferre: We will take a five minute recess until copies are made and Plummer
is immanently correct.
(AT THIS TIME THE COMMISSION TOOK A FIVE
MINUTE RECESS)
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Mr. Plummer has moved and Mr.. Lacasa has seconded it...
(COMMENT NOT APPLICABLE). Alright, now this ordinance is before the -members of the City of
Miami Commission and copies are available. Read the ordinance, please. Alright,
further discussion on the ordinance? Alright, call the roll.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE: MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1981;
CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION; A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND
A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
Was introduced by Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commissioner Lacasa
91 SEP 4G
6 co
and passed on its first reading by title by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Plummer, Rev. Gibson, Vice -Mayor Lacasa and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: Mr. Carollo.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAINING: None.
The City Attorney Mead the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission
and to the public.
5. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: AMENDING SECTIONS 31-1 AND 31-48 of
THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI (OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE).
Mayor Terre: Alright, r1ow, Mr, Gary what's the next item?
Mr. Gary: The next item that has to be approved by the City Commission is
point citumber one, recommended by Commissioner Plummer which is to increase
occupat•lailal licenrie fuc- .
Mayor Ferre: Is that an ordinance?
Mr. Gary: That's an ordinance.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, where is the ordinance?
Mr. Gary: You have it before you.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, is there a motion?
Mr. Plummer: Yes.
Mayor Ferre: Plununer moves. Is there a second?
Mr. Lacasa,. Second.
Mayor Ferre: Seconded by Lacasa, further discussion, read the ordinance.
Mr. Knox: Before I read the ordinance, Mr. Mayor, would you please call a
special meeting for the purpose of adopting this?
Mayor Ferre: Alright, to be on the legal side of this as Mayor under the
authority given to me under the Charter, I now call a special meeting for the
purposes of discussion and passing an ordinance for the increase of the
occupational and other licenses. Go ahead. Alright, further discussion, call
the roll.
AN ORDINANCE; ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE; AMENDING SECTIONS 31-1 AND 31-48
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, EFFECTIVE
SEPTEMBER 1, 3.980, AS AMENDED, BY REPEALING CODE SEC-
TION 31-1 IN ITS ENTIRETY AND SUBSTITUTING A NEW SECTION
31-1 ESTABLISHING THEREIN A NEW'OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE
CLASSIFICATION AND TAX FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN
THE BUSINESS OF ASTROLOGY, CARD READING, CHARACTER
READING, CLAIRVOYANCY, CRYSTAL GAZING, FORTUNE TELLING,
GRAPHOLOGY, HYPNOTISM, PALMISTRY,,PHRENOLOCY AND SPIRITUALISM AND
IMPOSING CERTAIN CONDITIONS UPON THOSE INDIVIDUALS
ENGAGING IN CERTP IN OF THOSE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES COVERED
91 43 S E P 26 1980
W 4,
BY THE HEREIN NEWLY hSTABLISHED LICENSE TAX; FU'RT11Lt'R
PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE Its OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAXES,
SUCH INCREASE LIMITED TO 100% INCREASE FOR OCCUPATIONAL
LICENSES WHICH ARE $100 OR LESS, 50X FOR OCCUPATIONAL
LICENSES WHICH ARE BETWEEN $101 AND $300, AND 25% FOR
OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES WHICH ARE MORE THAN $300; FURTHER
DELETING FROM SAID CODE SECTION 31-48 THOSE OCCUPATIONAL
ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE NO LONGER REGULATED BY THE CITY;
CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
Was introduced by Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commissioner
Lacasa and passed on its first reading by title by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner (Rev.) Tbeodore R. Gibson
Vice -Mayor Armando Lacasa
Mayor. Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
The City Attorney read the ordinance; into the public rer,ird and
announced that copies were available to the members of t',, City Commission
and to the public.
Mr. Carollo: Mr, Mayor, do we have any estimate of how much more revenue this
is going to bring the City,
Mayor Ferre: One million.
Mr. Gary: Yes, one m.111 ion seven hundred thousand dollars.
tor. Plummer; And please, I want for the record chat for many years occupational
license were frozen any increases by the State. And this increase is that which
has passed on the last legislature allowing the cities to increase that fee and
this is In accordance with that recent lesgislature.
6. I314ERGENCY ORDINANCE MAKING CERTAIN APPROPRIATIONS TO THE VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS, DIVISIONS, BUREAUS, BOARDS, AND OFFICES OF CITY OF
�tIAMI .
Mayor Ferre: Alright, what's next Mr. Gary?
Mr. Gary: Since the City Commission will not be adopting the budget by October
Ist which is according to the Charter has to be adopted, they City Commission
would be required to establish a temporary emergency appropriation for the
operation of municipal government on a temporary basis.
Mr. Carollo: Is that at the same rate that we have had now?
Mr. Gary: This is at the same rate that we have now.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, is there a motion?
Mr. Lacasa: Move.
Mayor Ferre: Moved by Lacasa. Is there a second?
Mr. Plummer: Second.
Mayor Ferre: Seconded by Plumnter, furthRr discussion? Read the ordinance,
Alright, let the record reflect that a copy of this ordinance Is before the
members of the Commission and the public at this time. Call the roll on
first reading.
SCP Z 61980
gl
6
AN ORDINANCE, ENTITLED-
4
AN EMERGENCY GRDINi;_ICE MAKING CERTAIN APi'ROPRIA'fIONS TQ
THE VARIOUS DEPARTnIENTS, DIVISIONS, BUREAUS, BOARDS, AND
OFFICES OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND MAKING SUCH
APPROPRIATIONS CHARGEABLE TO THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE:
FISCAL YEAR 1980-81; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND
A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.
Was introduced by Commissioner Lacasa and seconded by Commissioner Plummer
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 Joe Carollo
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor Armando Lacasa
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
Whereupon the Commission on motion of Commissioner Lacasa and seconded by
Commissioner Plummer, adopted said Ordinance by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson
Vice -Mayor Armando Lacasa
Mayor Maurice A. Ferre
NOES: None.
SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED EMERGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 9177
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and announced
that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and to the
public.
7. RESOLUTION ALLOCATING $74,962 OF FY' 80-81 FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING
FUNDS APPROPRIATED BY PASSAGE OF EMERGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 9171
TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, next?
Mr. Gary: Mr. Mayor, just as you have to provide temporary funding for
municipal operations, you have to do likewise with regard to the social programs
so that they can expend funds from October lst to the 3rd.
Mr. Plummer: I'm sorry, I didn't understand you.
Mr. Gary: Just as you have to provide appropriations on a temporary basis to
operate municipal government from October lst until you adopt the budget, you
have to do likewise with regard to the social service program areas. FRS,
Federal Revenue Sharing Programs.
Mayor Ferre: "This is a resolution allocating seventy-four thousand nine sixty-
two of the 1980-81 federal revenue sharing funds appropriated by passage of
an emergency ordinance to previously approved social service agencies listed
herein in the amount not to exceed one twelfth of the total allocation of each
agency for fiscal year 1979-80 for the period from October lst 1980 thru October
31st 1980. Authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the
aforementioned agencies". Is there a motion?
Mr. Lacasa: Move.
Mayor Ferre: Moved by I.achsa, is there a second? Seconded by Gibson, further
discussion?
Mr. Plummer: Under discussion Mr. Mayor, I want that fully understood and I
want each one of these agencies that are affected here in this ordinance that
45 5cP 26�sW
6
we have before us which is illegal. It's got blanks in it. 'L'm not voting
for an ordinance that has blanks in it. You can correct that. I want each one
of these agencies Mr. Mayor, notified that the continued funding for an additional
four days in no way indicates an intent of this Commission except to give them
the right to come before us prior to adoption. I don't want anybody to think
they are locked in.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Mr. Fosmoen, the instructions on voting on this before
we vote, is that you tell. each one of these agencies that are here, Accion
Association of Useful Aged, Belafonte Tacolcy, etc., etc., that this in no
way implies as Plummer said any approval, etc. Alright, further. discussion?
Mr. Carollo: Yes, Mr. Mayor. I would like to make a request from the City
Manager that :I be provided from all these agencies the name of all the personnel
that is employed by them along with their address, social security number and
their last employment. Where were they employed before coming here. And where
all the money that the City has provided to them has gone for the last year.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Mr. Fosmoen, that is your second request. Any problems?
Mr. Fosmoen: No.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, further discussion, call the roll.
The following resolution was Introduced by Commissioner Lacasa, who moved
its adoption:
RESOLUTION 140. 80-724
A RESOLUTION ALLOCATING $74,962 OF FY180-E1 FEDERAL REVENUE
SHARING FUNDS APPROPRIATED BY PASSAGE OF EMERGENCY ORDINANCE
NO. 9171 TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES LISTED
HEREIN IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1/12TH OF THE TOTAL
ALLOCATION TO EACH AGENCY FOR FY-79-80, FOR THE PERIOD FROM
OCTOBER 1, 1980 THROUGH OCTOBER 31, 1980; AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED
AGENCIES.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on
mile in the Office of the City Clerk).
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gibson, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mr. Plummer, Rev. Gibson, Vice -Mayor Lacasa and Mayor Ferre.
NOES: Mr.. Carollo.
ABSENT: None,
ON ROLL, CALL:
Mr. Carollo: Even tholigh I'm very much for helping the people that need to
be helped and for some of these social service agencies and some of them here
are very good in providing some very needed help to our community I cannot
vote for this because I know there are some here that are not providing any
real help to this community and in fact, are just employing people that are
not deserving of the pay that they are receiving.
FURTHER DISCUSSION:
Rev. Gibson: Let me ask this Mr. Mayor. How would you get... speaking about
these social agencies, how would you get these people social security number
and all of that. It would appear to me for instance,...
Mayor Ferre: It's on payroli.
Rev. Gibson: ... Miami Jewish'Home for the... Home and Hospital for the aged.
I'm not talking... I'm... We... Mr. Carollo is saying he wants all of this.
Now, if you give the Miami Jewish Home for the Aged money, that money will
not be attached to anybody's salary.
91 46 SE P 26 1980
Mr. Carollo: I just want to know where the money is going to.
Mayor Ferre: lather, Father, I think that Commissioner Carollo's request is
a valid request. Now, if the Miami Jewish Home for the Aged does not one to
supply that information, then let them put it down in writing and Mr. Carollo
can deal with it at the appropriate time.
Mr. Carollo: See, for instance, what I don't want to happen again, if I may
go back to history a little bit, I don't want one of the T.V. stations filming
people from one of these social service agenices here during a political
campaign going to anyone's headquarters working there and they are suppose
to be earning pay in City funds. And I can go into many areas. So if these
people want our. money I think that they should tell us where our money is going
to. Very simple. My God, what is so wrong with that.
8. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED USE OF FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING FUNDS.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, the vote has already been taken, so at this time this
concludes the first part of our hearing tonight. We are now on the 8 o'clock
agenda and... yes, this is right. This is the 8 o'clock agenda and at this
time we are now under the discussion of the proposed use of federal revenue
sharing funds. Now, is there anybody here--- this is a public hearing--- who
wish to iiscucs the federal revenue sharing funds. Anybody here who wishes
to address the Commission on these funds. Alright, the Chair recognizes Mr.
Fosmoen. Mr. Fosmoen, you are recognized sir.
Mr. Gary: yr. Mayor and City Commissioners, according to federal regulations
the City Administration has to hold a public hearing to discuss it's proposed
allocation of federal revenue sharing.
Mayor Ferre: That's what we are doing right now.
Mr. Gary: No, I said the City Administration.
Mayor Ferre: Oh, I'm sorry.
Mr. Gary: The City Administration conducted that hearing and we had handouts.
for people who attended to reflect those allocations.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Mr. Gary: The second hearing which is the one that you are having here is
considered your first public hearing, which is to show you how we plan to
allocate federal. revenue sharing and to allow citizens to comment on that
allocation. It should be noted that this allucation reflects major allocation
or major categories of allocation of federal revenue sharing. Major categories
mean that we will not be dealing at this time with the allocation of specific
federal revenue sharing dollars to agencies. Only by major category. Before
you, you have a comparison of the 1980 appropriation of federal revenue sharing
by major category. The 1981 proposed. The percentages for each one of those
years and a difference in terms of dollars and percentage. In summary our
federal revenue sharing for 1.981 will be 8.5 million dollars and it's appprox imately
six hundred eighty thousand dollars more than the current year. We have proposed
in the budget to allocate the 8.5 million dollars in accordance with what I
have given you in the memo. At this time it would be appropriate for the
City Commission to entertain discussions from the audience with regard to that
allocation.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, the allocations that have been given to us basically
for federal revenue sharing are 1981 proposed to the Police Department is
two million)six sixty-six$eight twenty-one. To Fire one million seven eighty-
seven1four fifty-nine. To Solid Waste one million two ninety-three, one seventy-
eight. To Day Care three hundred eighty-eight, nine sixty-four. A total of
six million, one thirty-six, four,'twenty-two which is seventy-two point one
percent of the total. To Street Lighting a million, zero forty-nine, eight
thirty-five. To Recreation extension one sixty-four, zero ten. To Parks
gl 47 SEP 22u1980
thirty-three, seven thirty-two. Social Services eight ninety-n!ne, five forty-three.
African Square Park one seventy, one four fifty-eight and to the handicapped forty-
five thousand dollars for a total of eight million; five hundred thousand dollars.
Is there anybody here who wishes to discuss any of these items on the federal
revenue sharing for fiscal year 1981?
Mr. Carollo: These, of course, are items that we really can't move any figures
from one place to the other. Correct?
Mr. Gary: If I may respond. The... By the City Commission approving appropriation
in the general fund budget you have approved all the allocations with the
exception of the social service programs in those specific, allocations.
Mayor Ferre: Which is the nine hundred thousand dollars which...
Mr. Carollo: Eight hundred...
Mayor Ferre: Eight ninety-nine.
Mr. Carollo: ... nine hundred thousand, almost a few dollars short. But my
question is this. That for instance, we can't change some of this money from
Street bighting or Social Service and move it to Police or Fire?
Mr. Gary: Well, let me respond to that. In the past we used to take Commissioner
Carollo, all the general fund money less, let's say in a rough estimate, a million
dollars and put it in general fund. That wouldn't support all general. fund
operations. The federal regulations now say that you have to allocate that
by function. So what we did is we took each department's budget, since this
money went in one big general fund pot, we took each department's budget as a
percentage of the total budget and allocated that to the federal revenue sharing.
For example, the Police represented twenty-five percent of the City of Miami's
budget. We hook twenty-five percent of the federal revenue sharing dollars and
said that was going for Police. This is only for reporting purposes.
Mr. Carollo: So in other words, if this is only for reporting purposes, after
we fret the money we can still move that money around, correct?
Mr. Gary: No, sir..
Mr. Carollo: In other words, we would have had to before hand have stated,
instead of twenty-five percent like is requested now, we want forty percent
let's say for Police.
Mr. Gary: Well, the only thing you would have been doing would be just shifting
dollars. Instead of saying Police will be paid from the general fund. It would
be paid from FRS. So it really wouldn't have had any affect in terms of dollar
savings. Did I answer your question?
Mr. Carollo: Yes and no, Howard. You say shifting dollars which is true if
we would stick to the budget that we have now. But if we would reduce some of
the other areas that might -need and do need reducing, then we really wouldn't
be shifting dollars because we could have put that money for Police from the
start. Am I correct in that?
Mr. Gary: Well, it still would have had some affect on the general fund.
Mr. Carollo: So Ferre, do you want... you have thirty-one point three seven
for Police and twenty-one point zero three for Fire and fifteen point two one
for Solid Waste and for Day Care four point five eight which is a total of
seventy-two point nineteen?
Mr. Gary: Yes, percent of the total.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, Anne?
Me. Anne Wilson: My name is Anne Wilson, I live at Battersea Road in Coconut
Grove. I would like to askia question, I thought last year you voted to put
Day Care in the general budget and it was passed?
Mr. Gary: It is in the general fund budget.
Ms. Wilson: Ok, that's what I was curious about because it comes up under
gl .48 SEP 2 61980
federal revenue sharing and that's confusing to me.
Mayor Ferre: That's where the money comes from.
Ms. Wilson: I understand that. Do you still have to go through this process
with it?
Mr. Gary: Yes, we do.
Ms. Wilson: I see. Ok, that's what I wanted to know.
Mayor Ferre: Ok, any other questions or statements on federal revenue?
Alright, Rick I would like to... Ricky Cameniti has asked that we add to
the advertisement on Monday the information on the garbage container fees that
the public hearing on October 3rd, that we add that to the public hearing.
Mr. Gary: Mr. Mayor, the State Law is very specific with regard to this
advertisement. We cannot modify that advertisement under any circumstances.
Mayor Ferre: There is your answer.
Mr. Gary: And I can see you the law that says that.
Mayor Ferre: Ricky you want to make a... put it on the record.
Ms. Wilson: I would like to sce that law sir and also, I would like, if you
cannot do that, then perhaps you can have a press conference with the press
and advise them that we will have a public hearing which will include the
garbaf;e collection fee as an issue.
(BACKGROUND COMMENT OFF THE PUBLIC RECORD)
Ms. Wilson: Also, I have a question. When you say federal sharing money,
do we have to come up with the same amount of money when you say federal
sharing money?
Mr. Fosmoen: Federal revenue sharing is an allocation that we received from
the federal government on an annual basis based on our population and our
tax effort and you know, a very complicatad formula that applies to every
municipality across the Counry and we get a portion based on population tax
effort.
Ms. Wilson: It has nothing to do with matching funds ?
Mr. Fosmoen: No, it does not. There are no matching funds for revenue sharing.
Mr. Gary: Mr. Mayor? Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir?
Mr. Gary: For the record.
Mayor Ferre: Yes, sir?
Mr. Gary: I am reading from the law, which I will be happy to show to our
citizen. "The advertisements required herein shall not be accompanied, proceeded
or followed by other advertising or notices which conflict or modify the
substantive content prescribed herein. Any tax authority in violation of this
section shall be subjected to forfeiture of State funds otherwise available to
it.
Mayor Ferre: Alright, further statements into the record? If not, is there
a motion that we conclude this public hearing?
Mr. Lacasa: I move.
Mr. Plummer: There is no motion needed is my understanding.
Mayor Ferre: There is always•a'motion made to close the hearing.
Mr. Plummer: Oh, close the hearing. I'm sorry. Yea, I move. I gladly move.
Mayor Ferre: Is there a second? f�
SEi' �980
gl �+
Mr. Carollo: Second.
Mayor Ferre: Further discussion, call the roll.
THEREUPON THE FOREGOING MOTION TO close
the public hearing was introduced by Commissioner
Plummer and seconded by Commissioner Carollo, and
was passed and adopted by unanimous vote.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, on
motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 O'Clock P.M.
MAURICE A. FERRE
M A Y 0 R
ATTEST: RALPH G. ONGIE
CITY CLERK
MATTY HIRAI
ASSISTANT CITY CLERIC
gl
SEA' 2 o 1980
Cl V OF IV!lAMI
ft
DOCUMENT
INDEX
ME -STING DATE:
SEPTEMBER 26, 1980
1 1[