Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1979-11-14 MinutesSPECIAL COM MISS I ON CI I itmi ZGENVETI5RD (SPECIAL) NOVEMBER 14, 1979 iTE 1 NO, &EJECT QRDINANCE OB SOLUTION NO PAGE NO, 4 5 CERTIFY RESULTS OF CITY OF MIAMI REGULAR ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 13, 1979 SWEAR IN CEREMONY MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ELECTING & REAPPOINTING RALPH G. ONGIE AS CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF MIAMI & ESTABLISHING SALARY FOR CITY CLERK AND ASSISTANT CITY CLERK. ELECT AND REAPPOINT GEORGE F. KNOX JR. AS CITY ATTORNEY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI. RESCHEDULE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING FROM NOVEMBER 20, 1979 TO NOVEMBER 26, 1979' RESCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING DEVELOPMENT ORDER OF REGIONAL IMPACT PORT OF MIAMI R-79-775 R-79-776-A R-79-776-B R-79-777 R-79-778 R-79-779 1-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE, CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA * * * * * * * * On the 14th day of November, 1979, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in said City in. Special Session to consider business of public import. The meeting was called to order at 12:35 P.M. by Mayor Maurice A. Ferre with the following members of the Commission present: Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson Commissioner Armando Lacasa Mayor Maurice A. Ferre ABSENT: Commissioner. Elect Joe Carollo-Sworn in Later This Same Meeting Entered Meeting at 12:42 P.M. ALSO PRESENT: Joseph R. Grassie, City Manager (ABSENT) R. L. Fosmoen, Assistant City Manager George F. Knox, City Attorney. Ralph G. Ongie, City Clerk Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Reverend Theodore R.. Gibson, who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. 1. CERTIFY RESULTS OF CITY OF MIAMI REGULAR ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 13, 1979. Mayor Ferre: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We are gathered here for the purposes of the verification of the...and the acceptance of the results of the election yesterday. The swearing in of the new Commission and then I will take this opportunity to make a state- ment about the future of this City as I -see it, in these next 2 years. At this time, is there a motion. Mr. Plummer: So moved. Mayor Ferre: It's been moved and seconded that we go over the...a resolution certif' ing, declaring the results of the regular elections, Commissioner in Group II. Before we get into the motion, I would like to go over the figures somewhat so that members of the public will have the information. There were, as I understand it, Mr. Ongie, is it in the last page that we have the totals? Mr. Ongie: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: O.k. There were 13.4 % of the ballots cast, for a total of 16,632 votes. Joe Corollo, Commissioner Elect, received 10,119 which is 61.7%. Demetrio Perez, Jr., 6,270 which is 38.3%. Are there any .1 ist NOV 141979 other statements or questions? Mr. Ongie: The figures, Mr. Mayor, including the absentee ballots for Mr. Carollo, 10,173 which is 61.6%, Mr. Perez, 6,330, 38.4% of the total vote. There were 16,753 ballots cast which is 13.5%. Mayor Ferre: 13.5%. I might...I would like to perhaps take this opportunity before we vote to pass out to members of the Commission, and to members of the press, the results of previous elections. And the reason I would like to do that is because there has been a tremendous amount of statements in the 2 daily newspapers on 2 themes. One was the latin takeover of the City. And the second was the poor return. The poor voter turnout. With regards to the first, I would like to on the record say, that I have not seen in this country, or in this community, by these same people who criticize, an outcry about the all Jewish City Commission in Miami Beach. Nor have I seen an outcry about the black mayor of Cleveland, of Atlanta, or of Los Angeles. Nor do I see that Tampa, who has a latin mayor by the name of Bob Martinez,,has gone down the drain. Nor have I seen that the Slavic population of Cleveland who had 2 candidates, 1 a Republican, 1 a Democratic running against each other, have I seen any major problems there. And I asked the question why would these so called critics have any problems with the same thing happening in Miami that has happened all over America. 0r is it that they have less confidence in the ability for us who are black, and latins in this community, to deal justly with all of the people. My answer to that, as your Mayor, and I 'm sure.I speak for this Commission, is that this will be a just Commission. A Commission that will treat everybody fairly, equally, and with a sense of justice, and with a••,sense of purpose that has perhaps been overdue in this community. There is nothing to fear. We are a country of laws and not of men. And the American democratic tradition will always prevail. Secondly, with regards to, the statistical election returns, if you will look at these figures going back to 1957, the City of Miami in 57 had 21,902 registered voters. We are now up to 124,359. We have remained basically, the same City as far as total voters registered. The turnouts have varied between 21%, which is the lowest, to 31...32.6 which is the highest. This last election was 31.2. So where do the doomsdayers get their information. that all of a sudden this community has no interest in its local government? I didn't hear them say that 5 years ago, or 10 years ago, or 20 years ago when the return..when Robert King High was first elected and zhe turnout was 24%. I' didn't hearthem say, when Metro, had an c.L..L.UL1 in the year 1976 for the Mayor of Metorpolitan Dade County, when the return was 25% in the first race and 17% in the runoff for Mayor of Dade County, that it was the end of Dade County. So where is the consistency. Now if on the other hand they were... they would have said, which is what they should have said, aren't we ashamed, in local in America that we have such low turnouts? Then I, think it would have been a much more accurate statement. And that's true for Miami. and Metro, and for the City of New York and cities throughout the country. But to single out the City of Miami shows you the proclivity of these negative forces to unfairly and unduly castigate those who they consider enemies. It is now time, ladies and gentlemen, for us to stop at this foolishness of dividing this community, of having negative forces, of having criticisms. And I hope that this community is in transition. That we have overcome our tendency to be negative and to stair becoming positive. That we have overcome the ability to be strictly critics, to become constructive people with firm, positive. goals. I hope that we will become optimists rather than pessimists. I hope that we realize that a pessimist is a community...a pessamistic community is one that sees problems wherever there are opportunities. And that we become optimists which are people who see opportunities out ist 1 of every problem. And so therefore, I think that as we arrive at this new age, hopefully a positive, creative direction, that the City takes stock in itself and realizes that this is another step in the democratic process, and that it will, as all steps of this sort, be for the best interest of the community, as a whole. And lastly, may I say,is as a reminder to all of us, psalm in the bible which is both common to christians and jews, and that is"unless the Lord guardeth the city, the watchman watcheth but in vain." We, on this Commission, are the guardians to a certain degree, of the City. And we rely on the will of the people, and especially on the will of God in the 2 years to come. Is there.. are there further statements? Call the roll. The following' resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer,` who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 79-775 A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE REGULAR ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 13, 1979 FOR THE ELECTION OF A CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF, COMMISSIONER, GROUP II, OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA (Here follows body of resolution omitted here an on file in the Office of the City Clerk). Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gibson, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: NOES: None Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Armando Lacasa Commissioner_ (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson Mayor Maurice A. Ferre 2. SWEARING IN CEREMONY MIAMI CITY COMMISSION' ELECTING & REAPPOINTING RALPH G. ONGIE AS CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF MIAMI & ESTABLISHING SALARY FOR CITY CLERK AND ASSISTANT CITY CLERK. Mayor Ferre: At this time, would you ask the new Commissioner of the City of Miami, Mr. Joe Corollo to enter and take his rightful place on. this Commission. Mr. Ongie, would you please swear in the new Commissioner. (AT THIS :POINT, ,'MR. -RALPH ONGIE, CITY CLERK, SWORE IN COMMISSIONER JOE CAROLLO, MAYOR MAURICE FERRE, COMMISSIONER A.RMANDO`LACASA, VICE -MAYOR J. L. PLUMMER, JR.). Mayor Ferre: All right, we have a few other things that we have to do. At this time, we have a resolution electing and reappointing Ralph G. Ongie as City;Clerk. Is there a motion? Mr. Plummer: I move, Mr. Mayor, with the same 7% applied to the increase in his salary, and also the 7% applied to Matty's salary as of the rest of the employees received. I so move. Mr. Lacasa: Second. 1 ist NOV 14191� Mayor Ferre: Further discussion on the motion? It's been moved and: seconded. Call the roll, please on item 2. The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plunnner, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 79-776A A RESOLUTION ELECTING AND REAPPOINTING RALPH G. ONGIE AS CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, TO HOLD OFFICE UNTIL THE FIRST MEETING FOLLOWING THE NEXT REGULAR CITY ELECTION AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CITY CHARTER AND FIXING THE SALARY OF SAID REAPPOINTEE (Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk). Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Armando Lacasa Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson Commissioner Joe Carolloi, Mayor Maurice A. Ferre NOES: None COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE: Mayor Ferre: With my vote, I congratulate our new Commissioner C'arollo. for casting his first vote. - non -controversial. May his future votes be as easy and as The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption:` RESOLUTION NO. 79-776B A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT CITY CLERK AT $30,517.47, AS OF NOVEMBER.14, 1979 (Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk). Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: NOES: None Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Armando Lacasa Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore_R. Gibson Commissioner Joe Carollo Mayor Maurice A. Ferre 140 14191i . ELECT AND REAPPOINT GEORGE F. KNOX JR. AS CITY ATTORNEY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI. Mayor Ferre: We're now on item number 3, which is' the electing and reappointing of George Knox as City Attoreny. Father Gibson moves. Father Gibson: Move. Mr. Plummer: Second. Mayor Ferre: Seconded by... Mr. Plummer: He received...I seconded the motion. Mayor Ferre: Plummer. Mr Plummer: He did receive his salary increase in the regular budget. Mayor Ferre: Further discussion on item 3. Call the roll. The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner` Gibson, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 79-777 A RESOLUTION ELECTING AND REAPPOINTING GEORGE F. KNOX, JR. AS CITY ATTORNEY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI , FLORIDA, TO HOLD 'OFFICE UNTIL THE FIRST MEETING FOLLOWING THE NEXT REGULAR CITY ELECTION AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE CITY CHARTER (Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk). Upon being seconded by Commissioner Plummer,` the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote: Commissioner Armando Lacasa Commissioner '(Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson Commissioner Joe Carollo Vice -Mayor J. L.Plummer, Jr. Mayor Maurice A. Ferre NOES: None . RESCHEDULE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING FROM NOVEMBER 20 1979 TO NOVEMBER 26, 1979. Mayor Ferre: Item number 4, rescheduling of the regular City of Miami Commission meeting, Planning, and Zoning, on November. 20th, 79 to take place on November 26 of 79. Is there a"motion? NOV 14191� Mr. Plummer: So move. Mr. Lacasa: Second. Mayor Ferre: Moved by Plummer, second by Lacasa. Further discussion? Call the roll. The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 79-778 A RESOLUTION RESCHEDULING THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 20, 1979, TO TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 26, 1979, AT 9:00`A.M., AND CONTINUING ALL PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD AT THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 26, 1979, AT 7:00 P.M. (Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk). Upon being seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: NOES: None Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson Commissioner Joe Carollo Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer,`Jr. Commissioner Armando Lacasa Mayor Maurice A. Ferre 5. RESrTmnULE PUBLIC HEARING DEVELOPMENT ORDER OF REGIONAL I*TPACT PORT OF MIAMI. Mayor Ferre: On item number 5, this is a public hearing for the issuance of a development order to expand the Port of Miami and Development of Regional Impact from November 20th to the 26th. Is there a motion. Mr. Plummer: Move. Mr. Lacasa: Second. Mayor Ferre: It's been moved by Plummer, seconded by Lacasa. discussion on the item? Call the roll? NOV 14 The following resolution was introduced by 'Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 79-779 A RESOLUTION RE -SCHEDULING THE DATE FORA PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING ISSUANCE OF A DEVELOPMENT ORDER FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE PORT OF MIAMI, AND DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL IMPACT, FROM NOVEMBER 26, 1979 (Here follows body of resolution,.omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk). Upon being, seconded by Commissioner Lacasa, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: NOE: None Commissioner Joe Carollo Vice -Mayor J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Armando Lacasa. Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson Mayor Maurice A. Ferre ist t:j NOV 14 191i Mayor Ferre: Ladies and gentlemen, if you will indulge me for a few minutes, I have an address that I would like to put on the record for the purposes of what I believe should be the future of the City of Miami and this is one man's opinion, but as your Mayor, I feel that it is important as Father Gibson is always telling me, that we set a pace in the proper direction of the City. I would like to address about eight or nine basic things and I will do them in a very quick fashion. I will not linger. I would like to have the attention... and those of you that have to leave, if you can do it quietly, I would be most grateful. First or all with regards to affirmative action, the City of Miami is presently a city that has eighty percent minority. That includes a community of, fifty-eight percent Hispanics, twenty-two percent Blacks. -I think we need new impetus and a new direction on affirmative action. The City of Miami has a substantial and proud record of accomplishment in affirmative action. We presently have fifty-two point three percent miniority and women. However, there are areas where I -think we need to increase these percentages. For example, out of the total three thousand four hundred ninety-nine employees that we have, one thousand eight hundred twenty-nine are male and female. I would like to target in three specific areas. Number one, in the policy making area and decision makers in the City of Miami. I` am very proud of our City Manager's record in the Past three years where sixty percent of his appointments in salary ranges over twenty-five thousand dollars in executive positions have been men of minority and women. However, there are departments and I don't mean to single any one department out, for example, one where there are six decision makers at the top, there is only one Black in that particular department and I think we need to address ourselves to decision makers': and policy makers to conform to affirmative action. Number two, in the Fire Department when we have six hundred twenty-one sworn•officers`of which seventy-six are minorities, there are no females. That constitutes twelve point two percent minority which means that over eighty-seven percent of the Fire Department is White male. The specific figures are women=0, Black male=20,-Hispanic male'56, that is a total of seventy-six out of six hundred twenty-one. It is simply not, acceptable for the City of Miami Fire Department to only have three point two percent Blacks and nine point zero percent Hispanics, therefore, I will be recommending to this Commission that until we reach a total of twenty-five percent of Hispanics, Blacks and females and other minorities, that the new classes for the Fire Department be a minimum of eighty percent minority and women. In the Police Department, the Police Department has a total of six hundred eighty-seven sworn officers of which two, hundred forty-five are female and minorities. That constitutes thirty-five point six percent of the total. I'm sorry, it constitutes thirty-five point six percent of the total. The specific numbers are 74 Black males,which means Father that we have gone down. When Chief Hadley was here we had close to a hundred Black Policemen. We are down to seventy-four. Black females are seventeen, Hispanic males are a hundred eighteen, Hispanic.females are four, there is one Asian and there are thirty-two White Anglo Saxon females. The White male is four hundred forty-one out of six hundred eighty-seven. Therefore, T '.-Jr.! recommending to this Commission, that until we reach a fifty percent of minorities and females in the Police Department, that all new classes be constituted of eighty percent of females and minorities until we reach within the next two years hopefully, a fifty percent of the sworn officers of the Police Department to be constituted by females and minorities. Number four, the Downtown Development Authority has one Latin because he happens to be the Mayor, no Blacks and no women and it is,my opinion that it is time to overcome and .is long overdue that we have proper minority and female representation in the Downtown Development Authority and I will be coming' back with specific recommendations. Mr. Plumper: Mr. Mayor, I am sorry, I don't mean to interrupt you, but as I informed you prior to this meeting, I have a commitment which I -cannot break my kind of commitments and I must leave and'I didn't want it be inferred that I was`leavins...' so I will see you all later. Mayor Ferre: I understand J. L. The second area that I_ would like to address the Commission is in Pension reform. There has been a tremendous amount of discussion with regards to the City of Miami Pensions. Number one, I would like to recommend to the Commission that we instruct the Law Department to prepare the appropriate legal action to immediately dissolve the City of Miami's Pension Board for both the System and the Plan and that, that responsibility immediately return to where it should have always been, on the City of Miami Commission. Number two,, that the City Commission provided what we d' is actuarially sound adopt as a policy a cap of a hundred five percent of previous property tax levies 81 8 November 14, 1979 1 1 • not to exceed four mills for the Pension System and Plan. Three, that we increase the assumption and investment return from seven percent to eight percent. Let me tell you that in good Pension Plans around the nation there is a surpassing of eight percent, for us to go from seven to eight percent is a reasonable assumption which is actuarially sound and that immediately would give the Pension System and Plan three to four million dollars. Number four, it is my opinion that we 'need a better return on investment of a hundred twenty-seven million dollars. of assets that the Pension Plan and System have. I think we need to rethink the professional advice that we are getting. There cannot be and should not be any form of nepotism or people profiteering from Pension asset investment to any member of the City, whether elected, appointed or salaried. Number five, I think we need professional advice on the terms of the Pension Plan and System. For example, we are almost unique in this nation when a person retires if he is in the Episcopal Church or the Catholic Church or any governmental agency, his last or her last five years are averaged for purposes of Pension Retirement. The City of Miami does that on the basis of two years. That is one of the reasons why we have gotten into so much trouble and I think we need some professional advice on the specifics of retirement. Lastly, I will recommend to the Commission that the City of Miami create a new Pension for all new employees that will be similar in nature, above the National average, above the State average, but similar to what State employees including Metropolitan Dade County employees recieve. I think we should be above the County and above the State, but not to an extent that it almost bends the City to ineffectiveness on a fiscal basis. Thirdly, I would like to talk about the Downtown Physical Plant, we need to finish the... what we have started with.the Downtown People Mover which is basically something that the City of; Miami'started and we should see it through to it's completion- ' cannot think of anything more important to rejuvenate and renovate the core area of the City, the Downtown, that is more important than the Downtown People Mover. The Watson` Island Project which is a theme park, which is, long overdue we should carry forth vigorously. We have as you have perhaps heard me say, eighteen major Metropolitan areas in these United' States of America of which South Florida is considered one from Palm Beach to Miami with three million people and yet of the eighteen Metropolitan areas in this nation only one does not have a theme park to attract tourists and we are supposed to be the tourist capital of America and for the welfare of our own people. And I think that 'the Watson Island Oasis, which I think should be the appropriate name chosen, should be pursued vigorously. The World Trade Center which we are about to finalize on should break ground before the end of the year. The Convention Center should be well finished by the end of the year 1981 or 1982. We need to make a permanent trade fair in the City of Miami' and to that end I -will be recommending to this Commission that we establish as a goal a permanent exposition of all that will be called the Interama... International Exposition Hall for the purposes along with our Convention Center of attracting major conventions and then to establish a merchandise mart similar to the ones that already exist in Atlanta and Dallas. It is,my, I am told that the community in Atlanta who already has a major merchandise mart is about to build a second rnerc'r ndise mart and the people who are interested in building that merchandise mart would like to consider Miami as an alternate location. I think we should pursue that vigorously. Now, it is unreasonable for a regional center such as Miami not to have a major merchandise mart and what we have is good, but certainly not acceptable for, the size community that we are. `long with Governor Graham, I think the City of.Miami'and Metropolitan Dade County, should pursue a Sports Center and Coliseum: so that we can have major league basketball and hockey and so that we can at last have a location for international boxing matches which do not come to Miami because there is no location for a major international boxing arena. Parkwest which is the new residential section of Downtown should be vigorously pursued. Traffic improvements; from 1-95 from;Brickell Avenue and crossing the River are of importance. And lastly, I"think that the commitment that I made during the. campaign that we should have at least one thousand additional parking spaces in the Downtown area within the next two years built should be also pursued. With regardc-,ic development, it is`time 'for .Miami to fully assume it's role as an international city, to that end I will be asking my colleague. Theodore Gibson to Chair along with other prominent leaders of the Black community an African Trade Fair for the City of Miami in the next two years. I have already had preliminary discussions with the State Department, with the Department` of Commerce, with our Ambassadors to several of the West African nations. I have tentatively planned in the early part of next year a trip along with Father Gibson, what his time permits to West Africa for the purposes of having in Miami the first International West African Trade Fair. I have also been discussing with the Counsel General of Korea the possibility of having an Asian Trade Fair which will include Korea, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines. In the next two months we will finalize on these objectives and the pattern is to follow the same pattern that we followed for the Trade Fair of the Americas and have a major Trade Fair for both Africa... for West Africa and a certain section of Asia right here in Miami. The Trade Fair of the Americas, the next cycle will begin this coming March.' I am very encouraged by the developments. Mr. Fosmoen has just returned along with Mr. Ley from Peru and Peru has now accepted to become a member of the Exposition Countries. We now only have Mexico and at that point we will have all of the major nations of the hemisphere at the Trade Fair of the Americas. I' would like to propose and we will be, coming back with plans for a major international insurance exchange in Miami. It would be similar in nature to the insurance exchange that functions in London and is a major economic impetus to that area. We should' continue our endeavors in designing the Garment and Fashion Center of Miami. We should continue in the Little Havana Specialty Center and make that a reality. Next I would like to address the general area of neighborhood revitalization and information. The six major neighborhood renewal and development targets that we are presently pursuing, are the Overtown Culmer, North Biscayne Boulevard, Little Havana, Parkwest which is Downtown, Wynwood which is the Garment District and the Northeast Little River area. I would like to reaffirm my commitment that Overtown is #1 , we have a long overdue pledge that must be fulfilled. Next I would like to recommend that this Commission reinstitute townhall meetings, so that we can go back to the proper participation of neighborhoods and the affairs and all of the business affairs, governmental affairs of the City. In the Public Safety Department, in the Police Department I have already mentioned affirmative action. Let me also state that I fully intend to continue the plans to have a review process, not a Civilian Review Board, but a review process so that all actions that maybe questioned in our Police Department are properly reviewed in a format similar to what is done in the City of Chicago. We should vigorously pursue further LEAA Grants, Law Enforcement Agency Administration Grants especially in the areas of neighborhood participation in Police work and I would expect that our new Commissioner Joe Carollo will be getting deeply involved into that process. The Computers and Communication area is one that needs further review and implementation. The Police per thousand citizens in the deployment of people including a Police Ranger Corns is something that we must pursue. The deployment of personnel and how Police Officers are used on the street and on patrol are another area that needs to' reviewed. And lastly in the Police Department, I will be proposing to this Commission that we establish a format that all matters concerning City of Miami Laws and Ordinances be Properly recorded as to their_ eventual solution in Court. think it is time for us to hold the judicial process accountable to our laws. For example, we have laws in prostitution that are continually disregarded by the judicial system of this community. The City of Miami gave up it's court systems with the full understanding that our Laws and Ordinances would be respected by the judicial system. I am saddened to say that it is my, personal opinion that such is not the case and I think we must become better informed and to that end I will be proposing that we create within the City of Miami Administration a system where we can on a periodic basis review the court proceedings on all things affecting the City of Miami. In the Fire Department we will now have three new Fire Stations in the next two years. We will computerize for the first time perhaps in America all alarm systems in the City of Miami, all pertinent information to inspections and other important data which will probably give a major break through in fire protection. Our fire equipment will be second to none in this Country. We will now have seven new and two rebuilt areal units. We will have nine out of the seventeen new fire engine companies with new... brand new equipment. We will be creating a marine fire protection system which will give the boating and marine community for the first time a sense of protection along the Bay and in the River. The deployment of personnel in the Fire Department needs serious study because we would need to find innovative uses of manpower. That is not to say that we would have... I have the highest regard for the Fire Department, but as you know many times the Fire Department and the personnel sit in their various stations waiting for a fire to occur. And I think that we can find ways to properly utilize the tremendous resources of manpower available to us in the City of Miami and I will be asking our colleague J. L. Plummer to get further involved in that process. With regards to the Sanitation Department and cleanliness, I would like to see and I think it is a possible dream to have the City of Miami one hundred percent sewered in the next two years. That means that Miami will be the first City in the State Florida that will be a hundred gi 10 November 14, 1979 percent sanitary sewered. We are very close to that and I see no reason why it cannot be accomplished and we cannot be on the way within the next two years. I think we need to address ourselves to themechanizationof the trash and garbage collection process in the City of Miami, taking, into account first of all the people who work their lives and their livelihood and our responsibility to them as loyal employees. With regards to the Law Department, I would like to recommend that we establish a ombudsman system within the Law Department. That would specifically be a public advocacy... a public interest advocacy center that would become involved in lawsuits in behalf of citizens, including rate setting process. I would recommend that the Law Department also assist us in a complete review of the Charter and that we should have a reinstituted Charter Review Board appointed by this Commission so that we could over the next two years modernize the Charter of the City of Miami. Mayor Ferre(cont'd): With regards to double taxation) which is a lawsuit already instituted by the City of Coral Gables, it is my opinion that unless we get immediate relief by Metropolitan Dade County the City of Miami should vigorously pursue that lawsuit. With regards to Metropolitan Dade County, may I say, that it is now time for us to face the issue of double taxation and a two-tier form of government. This City has gone to a great deal of expense, effort and time in studying along with Touche-Rossi the metropolitan government system. We have come up with specific recommendations that have been totally ignored by the daily press and totally ignored by Metropolitan Dade County. I want to make a pledge, Personally, because I cannot speak for anybody else but myself on this Com- mission, that in the next two years, in this community, and if metropolitan government continues to ignore the crying need for reform in our metro- politan system, that I` personally and those who would want to join me,will vigorously become involved in the re -structuring of the Charter of Metropolitan Dade County so that we can go to a full, two-tier form' of government in this com- munity. In the Accounting Department, let me say that we should establish an Audit Committee' that is long overdue. It is the effective and modern way that both corporations and government are looking over the economic affairs in the ac- counting process within the government. I think we should have an audit com- mittee responsible strictly to the City of Miami Commission. With regards to bond rating, we are now rated A-1;by Moody's and A by Standard and Poor, It would be my objective and I hope the City of Miami's, to have as a goal within the next two years to move that rating up to AA. That can be done, I` think we have the fiscal strength to go to AA and it would be my intention to accomplish that in the next two years., With regards to waterfront development, I would hope that we can begin the process of building 1,000 new boat -slips within the next two years in the City of Miami. This matter is well under way, we have a Waterfront Advisory Board; we have new guidelines that have been placed into the Charter and I see no reason why we cannot become a boating capital, if not of America, at least of the Atlantic Coast of this country. With regards to stadiums and sports facilities, besides the sports facility that I've mentioned in the Downtown area, I think it is now time to come to a conclusion with Mr. Joe Robbie regarding the football stadium. And either`, we build a new stadium or we simply go ahead and refurbish the Miami Orange Bowl without fear, because if the Dolphins -unfortunately- leave Miami, and I hope that they do not, we cannot live in the fear that we are not going to have a professional football team here, and it is my opinion that we ought to cross that bridge with Mr. Robbie in a very peaceful and amicable way and if it is indeed his intention to move to Los Angeles, that we immediately start pursuing other teams to see what other teams this City can get and hopefully move for- ward in the renovation of the Orange Bowl if we cannot build a new stadium. I would also hope that this City in conjunction with Metropolitan Dade County can move forward in the building of a baseball stadium and to bring to Miami a community of three million people in the urban area, from Palm Beach to Miami, of a major league baseball stadium. I think with the fact that we have 600,000 Latins here whose main sport is baseball, there is absolutely no excuse for this community not to have a major league baseball team and a major league baseball stadium here. We've got the land, we've got the plans, and we've got the ability to move forward in this sports stadium. With regards With regards to Parks, the City of Miami has at the present time 101 pro- perties that constitute 2,500 acres and out of the 13 miles of City waterfront the City of Miami owns 25%. We are now undertaking the establishment of 10 new parks and I think that we should make special emphasis on Parks that people can use,and that means Mini -Parks throughout the Black community, and•throughout the Hispanic community where people like to participate in social interchange in activities like domino parks, chess parks, and other recreation centers. We should establish goals of parks that people use. 11 November 14, 1979 And finally, with regards to Intergovernmental Affairs, it is my.opinion that we should, with Metropolitan Dade County, work in as amicable a way as we can in such important things as the development of ~Virginia Key, in the develop ment of the expansion of the Seaport, in the development of aports'facilities and tourist facilities in a joint way. With regards to the State, we should try to make the State understand better the international role of the City of Miami. Get the State to further sponsor the Conference on the Caribbean and the Trade Fair cycles, including' the West African Trade Fair and the Asian Trade Fair; and lastly, in the Federal area, I would like Miami to be referred to, in the next twoyears, in the same way that people admiringly talk about Long Beach and that is that we go to the integrated development approach to Federal grants, that we approach the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Transporta- tion, the Department of Commerce, in a -what we call- an integrated develop- ment project. First in Overtown; secondly, in the Trade Fair and Inter- national Exposition Center; thirdly inhousing, where we still have twenty four million ($24,000,000) dollars of unused housing bond money, and there, might I add, that I think, Father Gibson, we should approach the Metro- politan Dade County Little HUD on the theme of expanding their services which, in my opinion, do not properly cover the needs because there seems to'be a tendency to only get involved in public housing, whereas I think that Metropolitan Dade County, along with the City of Miami, as a matter of philosophical purpose,; should become involved in encouraging the private:. sector, specifically in Section 8 funds where I think we can make great advancements and not be purely dependant on public housing. The main thrust of this Intergovernmental Affairs would be the packaging, that is, the integrated development approach to the Federal Government. Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you'll forgive me the long time that I have taken in expressing this, I thought it was important that as Mayor of the City of Miami I put all of this down on the public record. It is ob- viously a very ambitious plan, I- think this City has the wherewithall, both intellectually, morally, fiscally, and certainly the responsibility to pur- sue these positive types of programs in some of these reforms that are long overdue in the City of Miami with vigor and with a sense of justice. Thank you very much and have a nice day. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Commission, on motion duly made and seconded the meeting wad adjourned at 1:30 P.M. ATTEST: RALPH G. ONGIE City Clerk MATTY HIRAI Assistant City Clerk MAURICE= At FERRE Mayor .41 • November 14 1979. CITV OF MMI DOCUMENT INDEX MUTING DATE: November 14, 1979 ITEM NO. DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION COMMISSION ACTION RETRIEVAL CODE N0. COMMISSION AGENDA AND CITY CLERK REPORT CERTIFYING AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE REGULAR ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 13, 1979 FOR THE ELECTION OF A CANDIDATE FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI ELECTING AND REAPPOINTING RALPH G. ONGIE AS CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF MIAMI ESTABLISHING THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THE POSITION OF ASSISTANT CITY CLERK AT $30,517.47 AS OF NOVEMBER 14, 1979 ELECTING AND REAPPOINTING GEORGE F.KNOX, JR. AS CITY ATTORNEY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, TO HOLD OFFICE UNTIL THE FIRST MEETING FOLLOWING THE NEXT REGULAR CITY ELECTION RESCHEDULING THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OPNOVEMBER20, 1979, TO TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 26, 1979, AND CONTINUING ALL PLANNING AND ZONING MATTERS SCHEDULED. TO BE HEARD AT THE REGULAR, COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 20, 1979, TO TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 26, 1979 RE -SCHEDULING THE DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING ISSUANCE OF A DEVELOPMENT ORDER FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE PORT OF MIAMI AND DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL IMPACT, FROM NOVEMBER 20, 1979 TO NOVEMBER 26, 1979 R-79 -7 7 5 R-79-776A R-79-776B R-79-777 R-79-778 R-79-779 0006 79-775 79-776A 79-776B 79-777 79-788 79-779 RS