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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2006-09-12 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 12, 2006 5:05 PM FIRST BUDGET HEARING City Hall Commission Chambers City Commission Manuel A. Diaz, Mayor Angel Gonzalez, Chairman Joe Sanchez, Vice Chairman Linda M. Haskins, Commissioner District Two Tomas Regalado, Commissioner District Four Michelle Spence -Jones, Commissioner District Five Pedro G. Hernandez, City Manager Jorge L. Fernandez, City Attorney Priscilla A. Thompson, City Clerk City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 CONTENTS Present Chairman Gonzalez, Commissioner Haskins, Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Commissioner Spence -Jones BH - FIRST BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007 TENTATIVE BUDGET BEGINNING AT 5:05 P.M. BH.1 THROUGH BH.18 FIRST BUDGET HEARING 5:05 P.M. BH.1 06-01551 Office of Strategic Planning, Budgeting, and Performance On the 12th day of September 2006, the City Commission of the City ofMiami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida. The budget hearing meeting was called to order by Chairman Angel Gonzalez at 5:29 p.m. and adjourned at 9: 52 p.m. Note for the Record: Commissioner Spence -Jones entered at 5: 31 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Jorge L. Fernandez, City Attorney Pedro G. Hernandez, City Manager Priscilla A. Thompson, City Clerk Pamela Burns, Assistant City Clerk DISCUSSION ITEM FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007 THE PROPOSED GENERAL OPERATING MILLAGE RATE OF 8.3745 FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2006 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 IS 19.69% HIGHER THAN ROLLED -BACK RATE OF 6.99675. SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR WHICH AD VALOREM TAX REVENUES ARE BEING INCREASED. RESPONSE: TO ELIMINATE THE ANNUAL STRUCTURAL DEFICIT MATCHING RECURRING ANNUAL EXPENSES WITH RECURRING ANNUAL REVENUES. PURPOSE: TO FUND ANNUAL MUNICIPAL SERVICES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO POLICE, FIRE, AND SOLID WASTE. COST $ 46,967,558 100% CITY COMMISSION LISTENS AND RESPONDS TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE. City ofMiami Page 2 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 ACTIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION: 1.AMEND THE TENTATIVE BUDGET, IF NECESSARY 2.RECOMPUTE THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE, IF NECESSARY 3.ADOPT THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE 4.ADOPT THE TENTATIVE BUDGET OR THE AMENDED TENTATIVE BUDGET AS NECESSARY 06-01551 Discussion Sheet 9/28/06.pdf 06-01551 Millage Discussion 9/12/06.pdf DISCUSSED Chairman Gonzalez: Welcome to the City ofMiami City Commission chambers. We're going to start with the budget hearing process, and it's my privilege to introduce to you Mayor Manny Diaz. He's going to be doing a presentation. As a rule for this meeting, I know that we have a lot of people that wants to speak on the budget, and I understand why, and the concerns, we all understand your concerns and, to a certain extent, your frustrations, but we need to be conscientious of time, so we're going to limit the time to three minutes per each speaker, and the time -- we're going to set the clock, Madam Clerk, on the public hearing, and it will be three minutes by speaker, all right. With that, Mr. Mayor, good afternoon, sir. You're recognized. Mayor Manuel Diaz: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, City Manager, City employees, residents of the City ofMiami. Once again, I stand before you today to deliver my annual budget address, outlining our budgetary priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. We started with a goal, five years ago, to create a climate where economic growth will lift our city out of financial ruins. We will then target the fruits of that growth to provide relief for the taxpayers ofMiami, who had borne the brunt of our City's fiscal crisis, and in addition to giving our taxpayers more of their money back, we would further use our earnings by reinvesting in our long -neglected neighborhoods. This proposed budget furthers that ambitious goal. Once again, reducing the tax burden on our citizens and continuing our neighborhood investment. Our City's economic climate continues to expand, allowing our tax base to grow by over $7 billion to an all-time high of $34 billion, a 26 and a half percent increase from last year. This proposed budget ensures that those who live here are surrounded by all the places and things that make a City worth living in. Today we enjoy the lowest crime level in the past three decades, and to continue to make sure it continues this way, this budget adds 35 new police officers to complement the 30 new police officers we added last year, totaling nearly 65 new officers on our streets to bolster our crime reduction efforts. Yesterday morning I was able to commemorate the five-year anniversary of September 11, addressing the largest fire fighting graduating class in our City's history. Today's proposed budget continues our commitment to our brave first responders, adding 30 new firefighters to our ranks to complement the 26 new firefighters that we added last year. Our parks have become centers of neighborhood and family, where parents and children can enjoy plays and concerts together with their neighborhoods in open green areas. For the fifth straight year, this proposed budget continues to increase funds available for our parks, a 78 percent increase since fiscal year '03, and we never forget those most vulnerable among us, adding $1.2 million for poverty reduction initiatives, bringing the total, since inception, to nearly $4 million. Finally, we continue to enhance and improve the quality and delivery of government services. Our government runs more efficiently in responding to our citizens' needs, and we keep making it better. Our investment in technology allows us to streamline our operations, make us more responsive to those whom we serve, thus, truly, maximizing every single tax dollar, spending them more efficiently, with greater results. Despite our dramatic growth in recurring revenues, due to the fiscal discipline shown by this Commission, we have controlled the size of government, maintaining our recurring operating expenditures basically flat over the last five years. City department directors deserve a tremendous amount of credit for doing more with less, creating over $16 million in operational savings this year alone. Our economic expansion also allows us to once again reduce the tax City ofMiami Page 3 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 burden on our citizens. We are in the midst of budget season for most local governments in our state, and while reading the morning's headlines, a common theme emerges. From Tallahassee to Fort Lauderdale, citizens are clamoring for tax relief. Well, in the City ofMiami, relief is yet here again, and I can proudly say that this is the fifth straight year that we will reduce our taxes. In my first term, we delivered more than we promised, a full one -mill reduction in the millage rate, saving the people ofMiami over $55 million. I have, once again, pledged to continue reducing the millage rate over the next four years. This proposed budget is the first step toward that goal, reducing the operating millage to 8.3745, placing the debt service millage at.621, and establishing a total millage rate at 8.996. This quarter of a mill reduction increases the cumulative savings to the taxpayers ofMiami to a total of $91 million. Fees have been kept flat or reduced, causing additional savings. We continue our commitment to eliminate the fire fee, reducing it in this budget by an additional 25 percent, saving the taxpayers $3.8 million from last year. Let me state, quite simply, if you own a homestead property in the City ofMiami, you will see a reduction in your taxes this coming fiscal year, and if you are a renter, we have gone to great lengths to stop the tax assessor's practice of gentrification through taxation, where soaring valuations are driving people out of the rental properties. Following the directive of this Commission and the leadership of its Chairman, we took our case to the state capitol, where we passed our proposal unanimously through the statehouse, but were ultimately rejected in the Florida Senate and its president, Tom Lee. We can proudly say that, through your stewardship, we have done everything possible to set our City on a path of fiscal stability, reinvesting in our neighborhoods, while giving money back to our residents, and yet, no matter how hard we work toward fixing the years of financial neglect that afflicted our city, no matter how much we have advanced our financial health, there is an ongoing problem that must be solved in a long-term, structurally sound manner, or we run the real risk of erasing all of the progress that we have made to date. We continue to pay massive amounts to cover our pension fund obligations. Let's talk about our growth, and I thank God for the growth that we have experienced over the last five years, and you'll see why. People often ask, what is happening to the growth the City is experiencing? Where is the money going? Over the past five fiscal years, the City, based on its growth, would have collected an additional $234 million in recurring revenues. Allow me to break down for you the use of these proceeds. By lowering the tax burden on our citizens, we chose to forego the collection of nearly $128 million through reduced millage rate and reduced fees. In addition, our recurring operating expenditures for that period totaled $45 million, which is an increase of a mere two percent per year, a very impressive figure, I believe, for any entity, public or private. However, our recurring pension obligation has grown by $61 million; from 19 million in fiscal '02 to 80 million this year, a growth of 400 percent, with no real end in sight. From the time I took office, we have contributed close to $300 million toward pension payments. Chairman Gonzalez talks about a lower millage rate. Vice Chairman Sanchez asked for more parks. Commissioner Regalado talks about flood mitigation. Commissioner Spence -Jones and Haskins would like to see more capital improvements in their districts. All of these are worthy needs, needs that our citizens deserve from our government. How much of that 300 million could we have used to further reduce our millage rate and our fees? How many parks could we have improved with additional capital and programs with a portion of that 300 million? How many more sidewalks, streets, medians and storm sewers could we have built, replaced, or beautified? Money that I know we would love to dedicate to these needs instead of their being diverted to cover pension obligations, and although today we continue to have healthy budget reserves, this is the fourth straight year we will have to dip into our reserves, in effect, chipping away at the City's savings account to cover pension obligations. Commissioners, we simply cannot allow this to continue. We need to be fair to our employees, yes, but we also have to be fair to our taxpayers, and let me state this clearly. I will no longer recommend a proposed budget where we have to dip into our reserves, the people's collective savings, to fund future pension obligations. We need to be different from our predecessors, who looked to short-term fixes and day-to-day solutions, leaving their mistakes for all of us to fix. I am confident that none of us here are here for a quick fix, and we cannot let the hard work of this Commission, bringing our City back to financial health, go to waste. We need a long-term, structurally sound solution, one that will not leave future Miamians on the hook for a lack of City ofMiami Page 4 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 BH.2 06-01552 Office of Strategic Planning, Budgeting, and Performance action today. The people of our City deserve a better quality of living and further tax relief that comes from sound, long-term fiscal policies, and they deserve that we act now to make sure it happens this way. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Mr. Larry Spring, sir, you're ready for BH.1. Larry Spring: Good evening, Commissioners. Larry Spring, Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting, and Performance. I'm pleased to be before you again presenting this year's budget proposal. The Mayor has just discussed some of the highlights of this budget, and in my presentation, I intend to further elaborate on some of the more critical points. Before I get started, I do need to read, officially, into the record BH.1. The proposed general operating millage rate of 8.3745 for the City ofMiami for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2006 and ending September 30, 2007 is 19.69 percent higher than the rollback rate of 6.99675. The specific purpose for which ad valorem tax revenues are being increased is to eliminate the annual structural deficit in matching recurring annual reve -- expenses with recurring annual revenues. The purpose is to fund annual municipal services, including, but not limited to, Police, Fire, and Solid Waste. The additional costs, $46,967,558. ORDINANCE First Reading AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DEFINING AND DESIGNATING THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS FOR 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, 2006 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A REPEALER PROVISION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 06-01552 Legislation SR.pdf 06-01552 Legislation FR.pdf 06-01552 Summary Form FR/SR.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter be PASSED ON FIRST READING PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Haskins, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Mr. Spring, let's move on to BH.2. Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance): Commissioner, BH.2 is actually the first reading of the ordinance accepting the proposed millage rate of 8.3745, and the debt service millage rate of .621 for a total millage of 8.9955 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Mr. City Attorney. Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): Yes. Ready to have the ordinance read? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes. Mr. Fernandez: Including all the specifics that Larry has put in. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So move. City ofMiami Page 5 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: Second for discussion. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion and we have a second. Discussion. Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Regalado: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Larry, this is just the mill, right? Mr. Spring: This is just the mill. Commissioner Regalado: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) second -- but BH.3 -- Mr. Spring: We're passing BH.2. Commissioner Regalado: I'm sorry? Mr. Spring: We're discussing BH.2. Vice Chairman Sanchez: BH.2. Commissioner Regalado: I understand -- Mr. Spring: OK. Commissioner Regalado: -- but BH.3 would be the whole budget itself. Mr. Spring: Correct, and BH.3 for today's hearing is just a discussion item. The Commission will not take any action on it until the September 28 meeting because it is a resolution. Today I was just soliciting feedback -- presenting the proposal and soliciting the feedback from the public and from the Commission. Commissioner Regalado: All right, because, you know, I am -- as every year prepared to present a motion to eliminate the fire fee -- Mr. Spring: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: -- completely, absolutely -- Mr. Spring: I realize -- Commissioner Regalado: -- but I just want to make sure that the first is just to set the mill. Mr. Spring: Just to set the millage rate. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And thanks for clearing that up because I wasn't all the way clear either. I think that's -- Commissioner Regalado: Huh? Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- why you had a delay. No. I was just adding -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We had a motion and we had a second, and we had the ordinance read. Roll call, please. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Ms. Thompson: The ordinance has been passed on first reading, 5/0. BH.3 06-01553 RESOLUTION Office of Strategic A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Planning, ATTACHMENT(S), MAKING APPROPRIATIONS RELATING TO Budgeting, and OPERATIONAL AND BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR Performance COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2006 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007. 06-01553 Legislation 9-28-06.pdf 06-01553 Legislation 9-12-06 .pdf 06-01553 Exhibit .pdf 06-01553 Exhibit 2 .pdf 06-01553 Exhibit 3 .pdf 06-01553 Exhibit 4 .pdf 06-01553 Exhibit 5 9-28-06.pdf 06-01553 Exhibit 5 9-12-06.pdf 06-01553 Exhibit 6 .pdf 06-01553 Exhibit 7 .pdf 06-01553 Summary Form 9-28-06.pdf 06-01553 Summary Form 9-12-06.pdf 06-01553 Submittal Memo 09-28-06.pdf 06-01553 Submittal.pdf DISCUSSED Direction by Commissioner Spence Jones to the Administration to ensure monies are included in the budget to provide for the maintenance of such projects as roadways and parks; youth programs in the parks for kids between the ages of 14 and 17; and hurricane relief programs for the elderly. Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance): I'll move on to -- Chairman Gonzalez: BH.3. Mr. Spring: -- BH.3. Today we want to present the current assumptions and estimates being used developing the proposed 2007 operating budget. We want to address some of the challenges, and very critical fiscal challenges we face as we move into the next fiscal year and future fiscal years. Finally, we want to solicit feedback from both the public and the Commission on its priorities, goals, and expectations for the upcoming fiscal year. The most important aspect of today's meeting is that we continue to demonstrate to our customers, the citizens of this great City ofMiami, that our honorable Mayor, our Commissioners, and thisAdministration, is committed to appropriately addressing the needs and demands of the citizens while being fiscally accountable with the public funds with which we've been entrusted. ThisAdministration continues to implement a thoughtful and detailed strategy while we got our direction into our new bright future. Very quickly, I want to display this chart that shows our strategic planning process. It's very clear how our strategic plan drives both our multiyear budget in CIP (Capital Improvements Program) and then our annual budget. My office, over the next few months, will be implementing the next phase of the balanced scorecard strategy by doing data collection and monthly reporting so that we'll be able to show the Commission our progress as we move forward. Total recommended appropriations for this fiscal year 2007 is $501.2 million. This is approximately $8.7 million over, or 1.77 percent increase over the amended 2006 budget. The increase is largely attributable to the significant growth in tax base that we've experienced as a City ofMiami Page 7 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 result of the development occurring in the City. However, it is -- it can also clearly be seen that the additional tax revenue has been significantly impacted by reductions in other revenue sources. Conversely, the expenses in the upcoming year continue to be adversely impacted by increasing the -- increasing pension obligation, which our Mayor alluded to earlier, some of which demands a great deal of attention by this Commission. Growth in the FTE (Full Time Equivalent) headcount, including this proposal, are also -- account for a portion of the increase, and will be discussed later in this presentation. For the purpose of the proposed budget, we are recommending the use of $6 million of the City's reserves. However, as we work toward the final proposed budget that will be presented -- right now, scheduled for September 28 -- we expect that number might increase slightly. Altogether, we expect that our recurring revenues will be approximately $495 million next fiscal year. More than 80 percent of the City's revenues is generated from 11 sources: The contribution utility service taxes, Solid Waste fee, FP&L (Florida Power & Light) franchise fee, half -cent sales tax, parking surcharge, and the fire fee. The remaining 20 percent of the revenues is composed of seven different sources; various charges for services, building inspections, and things of that nature. In looking at this chart, you'll notice that the contribution from utility service, taxes is down about $17 million from the amended FY '06 budget; $12 million of that is attributable to fund balance that was appropriated during this fiscal year. The remaining $5 million is showing further proof of a trend which we've noticed, which requires some vigilance on the part of the City. This reduction is associated with the communications portion of the utility service tax. What we're noticing is with the increase use of cell phones and bundled packages offered by telecom companies, we're noticing a reduction -- or it is resulting in a reduction in the number of hard phone lines that people have in their households, as well as reduction in the per minute long distance charge. Also, we're being negatively impacted by IP (Internet Protocol) and cable -provided Internet services and Voice Over IP. The half -cent sales tax and the FPL franchise fees are both expected to be up by 2 million and $1.5 million, respectively, from this year. These trends are associated with increases in consumer purchasing, and in the case of the franchise fee, price increases. We'll discuss Solid Waste fee and fire assessment fee shown in this graph as special inspections a little further in the presentation, butl do want to note -- and it's highlighted in the slide in yellow -- that our recurring revenues have increased by 7.85 percent. When you compare that to the 25.72 percent in real -- tax -- ad valorem taxes on real property, there's a huge difference there, and that's because of the large number of increase that we're experiencing these -- over these next -- over the next fiscal year. Ad valorem taxes. As expected, growth in ad valorem taxes continues to be very positive. Our preliminary certified numbers from the County property appraiser's office shows the City's tax base will be increasing by 7.1 billion from last year to an all-time high of $34 billion. This is a 26.5 percent increase over last year. New construction made up about $1.3 billion of the increase, while the remaining 81 percent was attributable to increased assessed value on existing property. We realize that a portion of this increase is very much driven by market sales of property. However, we have a concern, and I know this Commission has a concern, about the methodologies that are being employed by the County appraiser, particularly as it relates to duplexes and multifamily residential buildings that provide for low-income and workforce housing. We anticipate the additional revenue to -- we anticipate the additional revenue of $42 million, based on the new proposed millage of 8.375 -- 3745. Through the leadership of the Mayor and this Commission, and being committed to providing sustainable tax relief the City is projected to, again, reduce our millage rate. It should be noted that since 2002, the millage rates has been reduced from 10.21 mills to an all-time low, in 2006, of 9.2545 mills; ultimately saving our taxpayers $55 million through 2006. The proposed millage rate today that we're proposing in this -- part of the budget is 8.996, which will produce a cumulative savings to the taxpayers of $91 million over five years, and if you were to spread that over each number -- the number of citizens in the City, we're talking about $230 per person in savings. This graph demonstrates how the City has consistently reduced its total millage as the tax base has increased. It should also be noted that since 2002, our homestead exempt taxpayers have paid less taxes with -- in regards to the millage reduction that this board has approved. The City remains committed to reducing fees, as demonstrated by the passing of the legislation two years ago by this board, keeping the residential Solid Waste fee at 5 -- $325 City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 per household. It will generate approximately $22 million in revenue in 2007, but more importantly, based on the previous fee schedule, taxpayers will realize a savings of $5.5 million this year as the fee was supposed to be set for $405. That's approximately $80 per residential household savings this year. Fire assessment fee. We continue to act on this Commission's commitment to reducing the fire assessment fee. We expect -- we have proposed an additional 25 percent reduction from the base year to $31 per residential household. This will generate a total revenue of 7.8 percent, which is a savings to the taxpayers this year of $3.8 million. Recurring revenue -- excuse me, recurring expenses. Recurring expenses have grown by 2.12 percent from the amended 2006 budget. If you recall from my earlier slide, the recurring revenues grew by 7.85 percent. This would indicate that the City's operating with a positive margin, and more specifically stated, recurring revenues are growing at a faster rate than recurring expenditures. This is a very good indicator, and something that would state that, we are -- our operating expenses are well under control. However, it also indicates that when you look at the total budget, nonrecurring expenditures, particularly, when we look at the pensions and the -- or the nonrecurring portions of the pension, that those expenses are very significant, and behooves some very significant action in the very near future. The salary -- the proposed expenses of this budget, we -- as you know, all four labor contracts have expired and are being negotiated as we speak. Given the fact that this -- personnel costs make up about 70 to 75 percent of our overall budget, this is a very big unknown. Myself and the City Manager, along with our negotiating team, are working very closely, and we will be prepared to propose any additional changes, if necessary, as those labor negotiations come to completion. The proposal does include the schedule anniversary and longevity increases already established in the last approved contract for all union employees; it includes the increases associated with the pay for performance pay plan that was implemented last year for all of the unclassifieds, managerial/confidential, and executive employees. Living wage -related increases will be developed as -- during this current fiscal year. I've been in some discussions with our HR (Human Resource) Department, and we actually plan on bringing something back by the second quarter of the 2007 fiscal year. It'll give us enough time to vet out what the financial impact will be and what the go forward plan will be so this Commission can make a good decision. As part of this proposal, we're recommending the addition, as the Mayor stated earlier, of 35 police officers, keeping in sync with this Commission's directive of providing for public safety. That 35 new police officers will cost approximately $1.3 million for the next fiscal year. We're also recommending the addition of 30 firefighters. We are fortunate that the Fire Department has applied for the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Act grant, which will help support us hiring these additional firefighters. The general fund impact with -- when you include the grant, will be approximately 610,000. In addition, we've also added five other positions; three in GSA (General Services Administration), one in the Office of Communication, and one in the Department of Economic Development. The total general fund impact of those additional heads is $185, 000. Pension contribution. Earlier the Mayor alluded to this growing number for the 2007 fiscal year. The pension contribution to our two pension trusts is estimated to be $79.5 million, which is approximately $6.5 million greater than last year. That contribution makes up about 16 percent of our anticipated recurring revenue. Assuming the plan components remain the same and market (UNINTELLIGIBLE) remain static, we expect that the contribution to remain the same for the next several fiscal years. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of addressing this particular component of the City's overall pension, and I want to be clear. I'm not saying that our employees do not deserve pension. They absolutely do. What I'm saying is the way we finance that pension plan needs to be changed, and it needs to be changed now. When you look at it, we have, over the last -- since 2003, we've contributed nearly $300 million to the pension plan, and when you take a closer look, the City -- the Mayor talked about our total gross revenues that we've -- we could have collected. Well, when you look at the amount we did collect, which was $105 million of additional recurring revenues since 2003, our pension recurring has increased $60 million over that same period. Almost more than 50 percent of that additional revenue has gone to contributions to pension. The remaining 45 has been utilized to absorb increases in salaries, other operating expenses, contributions to capital, and things of those natures, so when you look at that from a business operating standpoint, it's very telling, it's City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 very telling. Vice Chairman Sanchez: But could you elaborate -- go back. Could you elaborate, year-to-year, what we spent? Just go year-to-year, what we spent. Mr. Spring: Year-to-year, 2003 actuals, 19.7 -- andl should note, these are the contributions for the pension. This does not include the advances which are the operating budgets of the two pension trusts. We've separated that out -- 2004 actual, 47.8 million; 2005, 65 million; the amended 2006, 73.1 million, and our proposed, which we've already actually gotten our actuarial documentation, 79.5 -- 79.6 million, so it has been escalating every year, and I know this Commission is very aware of why that is, but if this is what we are to face, and knowing the fact that we are very close to -- you know, we're trying, diligently, to stay -- remain within our reserve requirements for the City, we need to address this now, and I cannot emphasize that enough to this Commission. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So that is definitely the number one reported condition you have for this legislative body. Mr. Spring: IfI had to name one, I would say this is it. Other areas of funding that will require some attention by the Commission is the funding of our remaining outside agencies. Each of these agencies will be presenting their budget requests to the Commission tonight for discussion for either a final adoption tonight or a second budget hearing, dependent upon the mechanism that requires their confribution. I'm going to quickly walk through them. Virginia Key Beach Trust proposed budget request, $1.6 million for the '07 year: Bayfront Trust, which is a contribution, a million, eighty-five; Off-Sfreet Parking/Gusman Olympia, it's 416,000 between two of our obligations; Model Cities Trust, 5 79,000; Civilian Investigative Panel, 1.1 million, and GESE (General Employees and Sanitation Employees) and FIPO (Firefighters and Police Officers), these amounts -- 2.7 for GESE and 1.89 for FIPO. This would be the confribution that we need to make for their operating, which we've vetted in the past, and we know it is a very small percentage of their -- of the pension assets that they manage. There is also tremendous pressure on the general fund this upcoming year for several of the supporting initiatives, citywide initiatives. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), which one of -- which is one of our, I guess, most innovative financial system conversions that the City has done in probably over 20 years. October 2, we'll be doing the cut -over for phase I, and we would need additional funding to take us through phase II in completion of the implementation. Our land management project, which works very closely with our ERP system, and as you -- when you vet Planning and Zoning issues, you kind of get an understanding of why this land management system is needed; also our computed -aided dispatch, and then just normal PC (Personal Computer) replacement and hardware infrastructure maintenance that the City needs. As we move to more Web -based applications, we're going to need faster computers, faster servers to help serve that demand. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) GSA, Police, and general fleet replacement. On the Police side, I know we're expected to replace, I think it's 198 police vehicles, per our required replacement cycle. We're talking about approximately $3.5 million, and then citywide building maintenance; you know, repairing roofs, air conditioning, deferred maintenance. I think, when I gave each of your independent budget briefings, I showed you some slides of some of the impacts of deferred maintenance on the City, and it's something that we really need to address as we look to the future in coming up with a citywide deferred maintenance plan, which I know our Manager is diligently pushing us towards. Commissioner, that would be the end of my overall presentation. I think the Manager had a few comments that he wanted to add to the record before we open up to questions. Pedro G. Hernandez (City Manager): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners. I think the Mayor has been quite thorough in his budget message, and Mr. Spring has provided all the details. I'll just have a couple of comments. Overall, when you look at our situation, you feel that the City ofMiami must be in an abundance of money when you look around and you see all City ofMiami Page 10 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 the construction that is going on in the City. However, the reality is that we have less of revenues; for example, less in the contribution of utility taxes. That's a $15 -- $15 million figure, and we have more on the expenditures, and that is forcing us to, in essence, dip into the reserves for $6 million in order to have a balanced budget, and that doesn't include capital items, like the ERP, which is backroom technology to improve our services, and it doesn't include land management, which is something that we need to tie all our land development functions from planning, zoning, and building. If it wasn't for that additional $42 million of revenue that came in mostly from the ad valorem, we would be in difficult straits; that is keeping us decent shape at this point in time. At this point, we have four contract -- union contracts that are expired. I'm actively, I would say in a very fast -track method, working with the unions at this point in meeting with them to try to reach agreements. We are -- we have been meeting over the last few weeks with Fire, Police, and Solid Waste quite a few times. On the issue of the pensions: My goal is to be able to have a long-term, predictable type of formula that will allow us to work in future budgets with a known quantity rather than fearing, when this time of the year comes around, as to what that contribution is going to be, so my goal, in working on those negotiations, is predictability on the pension contribution. A couple of other concerns are, of course, the capital expenditures that are needed that I mentioned before, and also deferred maintenance. As we keep using our dollars for other needs, we keep pushing back the maintenance and the upkeep of our facilities, and that is something that we have to keep in mind because, sooner or later, we're going to have to make investments to maintain them up-to-date, and to maintain them in a way that they can provide a service to our residents. Mr. Chairman, those, in essence, are my comments, following Mr. Spring's and the Mayor's, and you can proceed. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, Mr. Manager. Thank you, Mr. Springs [sic]. At this time, I'm going to open the public hearing. This is going to be the public hearing of this budget section, where all ofyou will have the opportunity to express your concerns and ask your questions, so please come up to the podium, give your name and address for the record, and go ahead. You have -- each one ofyou will have three minutes. I'm sorry. You need to swear them in, right? Vice Chairman Sanchez: No. Chairman Gonzalez: No? OK, very good. Linda Cahill: My name is Linda Cahill, and I live -- do you want the complete address? Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am. Ms. Cahill: -- 8251 Northeast 8th Place, Miami, 33138. That's the Shorecrest neighborhood, and this is my first time doing anything like this, so I'm not quite sure of the dynamic, and I heard Mr. Sanchez make a comment earlier. He said, right before the first PowerPoint presentation, that he wanted to get it over with so he could get his boxing gloves on. I'm wondering what the adversarial relationship is here. That's one question I have. Second question is, I was listening to the Mayor's comments, and he said that there were decreases in expenses, and I don't know what period that's for, so I'm confused. There are decreases in taxes, and I'm just wondering -- it would be a point of qualitative interest. Of course, it's informal, but how many of us here have experienced a decrease in taxes? I don't understand where this comment is coming from. The third, he said there was increased services. I'm hav -- I have terrible services in my Shorecrest neighborhood. I call the police and the police don't come. I was attacked by a dog, and the pet control people don't answer the phone, so I'm very confused. I'm hearing one thing from the Mayor, and I'm hearing comments here, and none of this makes sense. In addition, the person who just spoke over here -- I don't know who this is -- but he was putting up charts and graphs and numbers here, and I don't see them here. Where are they? I don't know whether you're in touch with this sentiment, but I'm a very busy professional woman. I'm a well-educated woman, and where I work and in my circle of colleagues and friends and neighbors and et cetera, we're planning to leave Miami. We can't afford it. We don't like how it's run. We don't like the taxes. City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 We don't like the ambiguity of the information that's presented to us and the attitude, frankly, so that's all have to say. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, ma'am. Applause. Chairman Gonzalez: Let me -- Mr. City Attorney. Julie O. Bru (Deputy City Attorney): Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: Madam City Attorney, will you explain to the citizens sitting in the chamber that we don't allow clapping -- Ms. Bru: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: -- outbursts? Ms. Bru: At the beginning of the meeting, we did make an announcement, but since we have a whole new crowd here, please refrain from any clapping or shouting or speaking, unless you are at the microphone and properly addressing the Commission. Chairman Gonzalez: You're more than welcome to express your opinions and say whatever you have to say, and we're here to listen to you, and pay attention to what you have to say. Yes, ma'am. Welcome. Caroline Gaynor: Good evening. Chairman Gonzalez: Good afternoon. Good evening. Ms. Gaynor: Good afternoon. Chairman Gonzalez: Please -- Commissioner Haskins: Hi. How are you? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Can you pull your mike down? Chairman Gonzalez: Speak on the mike, please. Thank you, ma'am. Ms. Gaynor: Thank you. Good evening, Chairman. Good evening, Commissioners. My name is Caroline Gaynor. I live at my property on Northeast 96 -- on -- at 960 Northeast 78th Street, in Shorecrest, where I've lived for the past 20 years. I've lived in Miami for 30 years, and the last 20 at 960. I live within my property on a floating home. I, over the course of time, went to many hearings and followed all City procedures to maintain the right to live on my floating home at my property. I did also apply for a homestead exemption, in that the floating home was not movable, it moves up and down with the tide, but is connected to the City electric, water, sewer, telephone, whole nine yards. It's not something you pick up and move quickly. Speaking of taxes not being raised, I'm concerned about the sudden enormous increase in my property taxes. In 2003, my taxes were -- and I've rounded figures out a bit up, a bit down, so I won't go into dollars and cents. My taxes were $8, 000, and had been at that rate for quite a long time. In 2004, my tax bill went up to 16,000. I -- no notice, other than through the "This is Not a Bill," but -- as a matter of fact, I didn't receive it because I was traveling, but when I got home, I found it. I did not appeal it, even though I thought it was high, but I figured, well, essentially, I can get by with that, and probably, the City needs the money. In 2005, the tax bill jumped to 37,300 -- City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: Wow. Ms. Gaynor: -- and if this year's proposal -- if our budget gets approved with the changes in taxes, my taxes will increase another $7, 000, which brings us up to $43, 000. Now, I -- talk about being forced out of the City, I have, fortunately, a beautiful piece of property because I made it so. I bought the first lot, cleaned it up, planted it, and then another lot and a half did the same thing, and then a lot to the east of me, again, the same thing. It's a place that I have the neighborhood for Fourth of July parties, Easter egg hunts, Christmas get-togethers, and it's enjoyed by many people. I don't want to be driven out, and I wonder why my taxes should escalate so radically. Chairman Gonzalez: Larry, will you please check it? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Ma'am, do you have a copy ofyour trim notice? Ms. Gaynor: Pardon? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Do you have a copy of your trim notice? It looks something like this. Commissioner Haskins: The increase in -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: See if he's got it. Let me look at it. Ms. Gaynor: I have my folio numbers right here. Vice Chairman Sanchez: No. Ms. Gaynor: I have the 2003/2004 -- would you like this? Commissioner Haskins: Ma'am, the increase on this -- in this property is due to -- we met at a community meeting, and the increase in this property is due to the fact that she doesn't have a homestead exemption. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Commissioner Haskins: Because her home floats, she cannot get a homestead exemption under the state statutes -- Chairman Gonzalez: OK. That explains the -- because -- Commissioner Haskins: -- so the property values have increased dramatically -- Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Commissioner Haskins: -- for the three lots that she owns -- Ms. Gaynor: And also -- Commissioner Haskins: -- and notwithstanding lower millage rates, her property taxes have gone up more than five times -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Haskins: -- since 2003. City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah, but you gave me the answer that was looking for, and then he said that the lady doesn't have homestead exemption on the property, because any property with homestead exemption can only be increased three percent a year, so -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: I'll explain that at the end. Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah. Ms. Gaynor: (INAUDIBLE). Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, you're right. Ms. Gaynor: (INAUDIBLE). Vice Chairman Sanchez: Ma'am, have you -- Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you very much. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- appealed it? Have you taken it up with the County, appealing it? You do have that due process to appeal. Ms. Gaynor: I did appeal the 2005, andl did receive a reduction of $1,500. I -- appealing this - - this latest one, after all, it cost money to hire attorneys, and it seems like a rather, well, shall I say, throwing good money after bad? I don't think -- I mean, since I've been where I am, for as long as I am, it's been my home, and the technicality -- indeed, I am applying for a homestead exemption, because I have a survey here of my property, stamped by Gary Castel, who some of you may know. He's been a surveyor in the City for years and years, and he had stamped it and notated, "This home, known as Liberty Bell, is not a" -- Commissioner Haskins: Movable. Ms. Gaynor: -- "movable home." (UNINTELLIGIBLE) his exact words. They're right here, and `floating home is permanently moored and tied down with City utilities attached to it, " so again, I'm applying for a homestead exemption. Commissioner Regalado: And -- Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you very much. Commissioner Regalado: -- you should, because you're being discriminated. Actually, you know that you have only to September 20 to appeal the tax assessment on the tax assessor property appraisal in Miami -Dade County, and one of the reasons is that you could argue that you've being discriminated, and in fact, you are, because if a official document says that that's not a movable house -- Ms. Gaynor: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: -- and all the utilities are connected -- Ms. Gaynor: Um -hum. Commissioner Regalado: -- it is a homestead exemption, and you not only can apply and should get the homestead exemption. I think that your case should be one that governments should take to sound off in persons like you, in terms of -- because you have the economic means and -- well, City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 until some day that you don't have anymore, because of the high rises in taxes, but imagine those people in trailers. You know, they are the poorest of the poor -- Ms. Gaynor: Yes. Commissioner Regalado: -- and it is the same situation, and I think that if your case is argued in the way it should -- I'm telling you, it could -- you should request the help of an attorney in your case, but it's only -- it only cost $15 to appeal to the tax property appraiser's office, and you know, we have the promise of two or three attorneys that are willing to work pro bono -- Ms. Gaynor: Really? Commissioner Regalado: Yes -- to help people like you, that you have a unique situation. This coming Monday, in my office, we will be filing some appeals, free, for really poor people that even had their homestead exemption homes increased by more than three percent, which is -- Ms. Gaynor: Really? Commissioner Regalado: -- illegal. There is some things that are being done, just because they think that people do not appeal. You're coming to the City for help -- and what I heard from the lady and you, it really strike a cord because, you know, we are the only county in the State of Florida that do not have an elected property appraiser. Of all the 67 county, only Miami -Dade County does not have one, and the good reason is that the county assessor -- the tax property assessor is a piggy bank, you know. It increases the value and governments get all the money, and then we have somebody to blame. Go complain to the property appraiser. Your case should be a case that, I'm telling you, government should use to help people -- a lot of people like you, because I'm sure that with all the canals and all the trailer parks that are still are here and not been developed -- Ms. Gaynor: Um -hum. Commissioner Regalado: -- a lot of people would be help with your case if it succeed, so -- I'll get the City Clerk's -- and we'll contact you to offer one of those three attorneys that have offered to work -- Ms. Gaynor: I would -- Commissioner Regalado: -- pro bono. Ms. Gaynor: -- appreciate that very much, and Commissioner Regalado, you've been very kind and given me some good information, and will be doing so with an attorney. Could I ask you, since I applied for homestead exemption -- I did not have this stamped survey at that point. I just had the verdict that the City had given me, that I was to be permitted to live aboard my floating home, and I said, in my application, it is fixed. It is not movable, but they didn't take my word for it, and denied the homestead exemption, and that was quite some time ago, and ifI -- Commissioner Regalado: That's part of the -- your appeal, before the 20th -- Ms. Gaynor: I see, I see. Commissioner Regalado: -- and we can provide you with the information. Ms. Gaynor: Thank you very much. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Thank you very much. City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: And I think -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am. Commissioner Haskins: -- we should try to see if we can go back on that, as well, to get some of the increases rolled back. Commissioner Regalado: Because if we help her, we'll be helping a lot of people. Commissioner Haskins: No. I mean, this is -- you know, this is her home, and -- I mean, you see the pictures. It's unbelievable, it's beautiful, and it should have been protected under the homestead exemption. Ms. Gaynor: Thank you, and I'd much rather, ifI could, give it to the City ofMiami to use as a park and a nature refuge than sell it lot by lot and have it -- have three big mansions built on it, which would be a pity. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you very much. Ms. Gaynor: Yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am. Good afternoon. Linda Koenigsberg: My name is Linda Koenigsberg. I live at 144 Southwest 19th Road, in Miami, and I have a lot of questions. I would like all of you to take notes, please, so that you can discuss these later. Question, what are you guys doing with our money? This budget really doesn't tell me a thing. I would have to hire a financial analyst, and accountant, and a tax attorney for me to figure this out, but it really doesn't go beyond the mere essentials. It doesn't say what's behind it. I don't know what you know, but we certainly -- at leastl don't know anything after reading this budget. Where is our fire fee reimbursement? Does that come up in this budget? Why are we continuing to attribute a fire fee? I love the firemen. The paramedics are great. We don't pay a police fee. These should pay for themselves through insurance and other fees that should be charged. Why are you contemplating raising our taxes? Our taxes should be going down more than 19 percent as opposed to going up 19 percent. Mayor, you talked about "We don't want to neglect our neighborhoods." Please neglect my neighborhood. I live in the Roads. We have had so much attention in building and building and building, and if that doesn't mean that we're not getting increased taxes to help pay for all of these proposed expenses, what in the world are we building for? Are we building and making -- having problems with our infrastructure, not being able to keep up with that for the simple reason of building and making developers happy? Well, I'm not happy. I've been living here my whole life. I've been -- I've owned my house in the Roads since about 1977, and I used to love Miami, but I'll tell you, like this lady here, I'm a professional. I'm an attorney. I have contributed so much, I believe, to this community, and I'm ready to leave, and for the first time in about -- well, it wasn't all my life. In the last couple years, I was saying, what in the world am I doing living here? The City Commission could care less. The County Commission could care less. They don't care about us, the people. All they care about is developers. Why are we spending 200 to 300 million in a streetcar, Mayor, a streetcar proposition for a very small area with rails and overhead electric, and where is that in here? Applause. Ms. Koenigsberg: Does anybody -- did the public even know that that's being proposed? What boondoggle that is. What are you making -- what are you doing to make sure there are no cost overruns? I read in the paper constantly about proposals and contracts the City ofMiami gives City ofMiami Page 16 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 out, and all of a sudden, they're cost overruns, and corruption, and people running away with our money. Well, what about taking it back? What are you guys doing to get back our money that we so strenuously worked for and pay into our government just to see thieves run off with it, who are sanctioned by the government? Renters. I own rental property. We practice our own form of rent control. Maybe we're suckers. Maybe we are just damn stupid, but I'll tell you what. We charged $450 for one -bedroom duplexes that are beautiful, next to Vizcaya Meforail. Why? Because we don't book our renters, and our renters love us, and they've been there for ten, fifteen years, and we keep the property up, and all of a sudden, our tax rate has gone up, and our -- the increases are astronomical, like 200 percent, and guess what? I can't afford it, so I've had to raise their rent. Thank goodness, they like us, they like the place, and they'll stay there. Why? 'Cause they can't get anything else for this price, but I am, and my partners are penalized and prejudiced by our being good guys. Have we improved the property? We've tried to keep it beautiful, but we haven't added on an exfra addition, we haven't put pools in. We try to keep it nice, clean, efficient, and keep the costs down. You don't let me do that. I'm probably going to have to sell it and let some developer come in there and develop it to the point where they'll put in people who can charge $3, 000 a month for rent. We charge our renters very little, and you guys are destroying our ability to do that. Where's an oversight committee for the City of Miami? Where are some people, some actual normal, intelligent people -- they could even volunteer -- who would sit and oversee what the government does and say, "I just don't understand this. This has really the appearance of impropriety, or why are you spending all this money?" We need people like that in the City ofMiami. We don't just need you out there spending, spending, and spending. IfI overspend my checkbook, guess what's going to happen? I'm going to be sued. I might be arrested. What happens to all you? Deficit spending. We'll worry about it next time. I don't like -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Ms. Koenigsberg: -- that kind of attitude on behalf of my government. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, ma'am. Next speaker. Yes, ma'am. Good afternoon. Francina Reynolds: Hi. Good afternoon. My name is Francina Reynolds, and I'm here on behalf of my mother, Bessie Reynolds. She's 81. She's been living in the same home for 44 years. She received this letter saying that if she didn't pay this money to the fire assessment, they would be putting a lien on her house, and this made her just go wacko, so she wanted us to come here -- Chairman Gonzalez: Speak on the mike, please. Ms. Reynolds: -- and say, could someone or some agency absorb this cost, because she's been living there, and she's 81. She's in the audience. She's been living at the resident [sic] for 44 years, and we was wondering could this cost be absorbed through some kind of agency? And her taxes is going -- escalating. For the last five years, I've had to move in with her so she wouldn't lose the property. Chairman Gonzalez: She has homestead exemption? Ms. Reynolds: Pardon me? Chairman Gonzalez: She has homestead exemption -- Ms. Reynolds: Yes, sir. Chairman Gonzalez: -- in the property? City ofMiami Page 17 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Ms. Reynolds: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Does she get Save Our Seniors? Ms. Reynolds: I don't know. She's on a fixed income. We would like to be afforded some of the programs. Vice Chairman Sanchez: I -- well, once again, ifI could see her trim notice. Who's got it? Linda. Because she qualifies for Save Our Seniors. Not only that, if she's a widow -- Ms. Reynolds: Yes, sir. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- she also gets that other benefit, and that's -- Ms. Reynolds: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- 25 and 25, that's $50, 000 -- Chairman Gonzalez: $50, 000. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- plus $500 more. Ms. Reynolds: Well, how could we get that type of information? Commissioner Haskins: Ma'am, this is just a notice of the hearing. Nothing is going to be liened on her property. Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Commissioner Haskins: This is just the notice of the public hearing for the fire fee -- Chairman Gonzalez: That's the notice of this hearing. Commissioner Haskins: -- so she doesn't have to worry. Nobody's going to take her house or lien her house or -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: But, ma'am, if you could get with Commissioner -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yes, by all means. Actually, I'm going to have a staffer at least meet you out in the hallway -- Ms. Reynolds: Thank you. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and then we'll make arrangements. What street do you -- what area do you live in my district? Ms. Reynolds: Vista. Buena Vista -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Buena Vista? Ms. Reynolds: -- Gardens. Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Oh, OK. No problem. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Because she qualifies for all those assistance. City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Commissioner Spence -Jones: I'll get -- actually, you can actually just -- if you can just come around. My office is right here, and then we'll get all your information and assist you, OK. Ms. Reynolds: Thank you. Commissioner Spence -Jones: All right. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Thank you so much -- Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- for coming, ma'am. Chairman Gonzalez: Mariano Cruz. Mariano Cruz: Yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: Welcome. Mr. Cruz: Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 26th Sfreet. I'm not going to complain about the millage; it's all right. My -- actually, my City property in tax, since I have homestead exemption, I didn't -- I bought my house in 1968, not to speculate, but to live in the house, so I am still living there, so I pay very little. I had to work less than a day to pay my City tax. I have to pay -- to work more to pay my solid waste fee and the fire fee and all that, but City property tax, less than a day. Some of the people had to work two years to pay the City tax, but I am going to be about my municipal service. That's the main thing that's important here, the service that I receive from the City. Employee Relations, thank you very much, because they keep me up-to-date, job openings that I can relay to people in the community, but otherwise, I will know about that. Public Works, I commend Stephanie Grindell, who take care of the sidewalks in my neighborhood and the drains there that were clean before the flooding, and in Solid Waste, I commend the people, Joe Simmons and Mario Soldevilla, that took care of my -- the garbage and trash the whole year. Only one miss. Only one miss. One pick-up. Next day, Carmenate was there cleaning it, and that was it, next day, and Police Department. I don't complain because I go around 17th Avenue, and people there talk to me about the PST (Problem Solving Team), about before Sergeant Alvarez and Sergeant Sigler, no complaints, and I go the whole 17th Avenue, from 36th Sfreet to the River. I have something bad to say. See, it can't be all accolades. Chairman Gonzalez: All can't be good. Mr. Cruz: All -- right. Now, a friend of mine, Orlando Perez, that he live at 2144 Southwest 11 Sfreet, he had some work done on his house, and put some of the debris, that what they call it, debris from the sink outside there. An inspector came, Roberto Martinez, and the inspector, instead of telling him, look, that's construction debris. You can take it to the mini dump, and here is one -- you know, a pamphlet to know what the mini dump is. No. Wrote a ticket. You know why he wrote a ticket? Because maybe they have a quota system. They have to write so many tickets a day to be evaluated, and that's wrong because it's -- it was a ticket for $500. That's probably more than his property tax. I mean, that's abusing, and this guy is there everyday because he suffer from leukemia. The only time he leave his house, when he goes to Jackson Hospital to get chemotherapy. I mean, why is that? Why the people -- why they don't go on information and let the people know what we have there? What's the sense? We weren't there that Saturday morning for the mini dump. City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: You are -- you're totally -- Mr. Cruz: Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: -- correct, and we -- Mr. Cruz: Right. Chairman Gonzalez: -- address -- Mr. Cruz: No. I ain't going to leave that there. It's like sitting there. Chairman Gonzalez: -- that issue early here today, and we mentioned that we need to do more proactive -- Mr. Cruz: No. Chairman Gonzalez: -- propaganda of -- Mr. Cruz: You can have a mailing, bulk rate, do -- I get one from Building about the flooding. That doesn't cost much -- Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Mr. Cruz: -- but use bulk rates to the property owners and mail it to the whole city. Maybe the - Chairman Gonzalez: Good. Mr. Cruz: -- people will get it because, you know, it's insane. Now, about -- I can just go outside there and see those things are violations, that they don't do anything here. Trees being half rocky. I mean, cars park on the grass all over there. Man, don't tell me, or is that -- being that violations are being taken selective of the people. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Mr. Cruz: Let's abuse the old people, or it's MBI, management by intimidation. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, Mariano. Mr. Cruz: That's what they do. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you very much. Yes, sir. Good afternoon. Peter Ehrlich: Good afternoon. Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, Peter Ehrlich, 770 Northeast 69th Street, City ofMiami. I'm the president of the Lemon City Taxpayers' Association. I represent business owners, property owners, and residents in the Lemon City, Little River/Little Haiti areas. I'd like to bring your attention to a crisis facing business owners, property owners, and tenants in Miami. We recently received our notice of proposed property tax bills. Many of my neighbors received notices showing tax increases of over 100 percent. I brought along some samples showing some increases. Here's 42 percent, 66 percent, 90 percent. This is up 260 percent, and I know some other people that have tax bills up 300 percent. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Are those -- City ofMiami Page 20 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: We -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- is that the City? Mr. Ehrlich: This is the County notice. Chairman Gonzalez: That's the County, exactly. Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, no, but we'll -- Chairman Gonzalez: You just said it. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- address it -- Chairman Gonzalez: That's the County. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- at the end. Mr. Ehrlich: I know. I'm going -- Chairman Gonzalez: You know. Mr. Ehrlich: -- to be asking for your help. I know it's -- Chairman Gonzalez: We have -- Mr. Ehrlich: -- from the County. Chairman Gonzalez: -- called the County, and let me tell you how bad the situation is. My office called the county appraiser on a property; that the property value was increased by a $125, 000 this year, a single-family, and we ask for the process to appeal, and what will have to be done to appeal that decision. You know what the answer was? If that property owner hasn't done any improvements in the property since 1947, then we can reduce -- we can do a little reduction on -- so you know, it's a joke. To them, it's a joke. It's that serious. They're not taking the people seriously. They -- you know, they're increasing whatever they want to increase. They are in desperate need of money, and they just raise the property values, whatever they want to raise it. I mean, they don't have no logic. They don't have -- they don't care if you're renting your property to low-income families, to working people that can't afford a rent increase. They don't care about any of that. They're desperate for money and they're going, you know, bizarre, and that's the answer that they give you. If you haven't done any improvements to your house since 1947, then you should come in and we will help you. Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman, ifI may. Mr. Ehrlich: You're not deducting this (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- Commissioner Regalado: The -- Chairman Gonzalez: That's how sad it is. Commissioner Regalado: -- reason that they all come here with the same problem is because we are the closest government to all of these residents -- Chairman Gonzalez: I realize that. City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: -- and they have the right, and not only they have the right, we should welcome them because it means that, at least, they know how to look for help. The City ofMiami was the first municipality in Miami -Dade County two, three years ago -- I guess, two years ago, three years ago to place in the ballot a question, whether the property appraiser should be an elected official. Unfortunately, someone sue, and this City Commission and thisAdminisfation or the past Administration didn't have the will to follow through in the appeal process. Now, in November 7, the City of Hialeah is having in the ballot a -- the same question, and what this means is that when and ifMiami-Dade County gets a property appraiser, we will have someone - - who can we go to and demand the same way that these people are demanding from their elected officials their rights. Lori Parrish, the property appraiser ofBroward County, a former County Commissioner -- well, she has implemented because the parameters and the protocol of the state assessment is so large that anyone can implement whatever they want, and she has implemented what was mentioned here several month ago, that property should be assessed of -- by the income and not by the future value of the land, but you know what? One of the things that the property appraiser -- one of the mistakes that the property appraiser here is making is that they allow an appeal if commercials buildings have vacancies, and I'll tell you what's going to happen. When you guys start raising the rent to your renters, commercial renters, they going to leave, and you are going to have a lot of empty office and spaces in -- throughout Little Haiti and throughout Little Havana and throughout Flagami, and then you will be able to appeal, although, it will be too late. I think that, unless and until, there is a mass outcry to the County government -- we are going to have a special election in the County next February. We need to place this in the ballot. We need to have an elected property appraiser. We need to have someone with a face, someone who's responsible to what they do. Not until that, because you know, we keep reducing a penny of taxes, and you know, we're so happy to come and tell you we're reducing a penny of taxes, and then the property appraiser comes and increases ten cents of your taxes. Those $42 million that the City's getting in excess is thanks to the property appraiser, because 90 percent is not new construction. It's all construction; your house, my house, everybody house, because you know, I haven't even painted my house in four years, and every year, I get three percent, so where -- what is going on? Twenty-one percent in this year, Miami -Dade County -- 21.3 percent, property has been raised this year, the biggest raise in the state of Florida, and until you guys, with us guys, go to the County and raise hell and start getting signatures to put in the ballot to force a referendum -- Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Commissioner Regalado: -- to roll back taxes, you know, nothing is going to happen until the public doesn't stand up -- I mean, you know, it's difficult, but I'm -- what you're saying is happening in my district. A lot of commercial people are raising so much the rent for those mom and pop business that they're going to leave. They're going to close and they're going to leave, and you know, I just thank you for coming. I mean, we all are getting a reality check here. I knew that because I take phone calls in my radio and TV (television) programs, and what you're saying here today, I get it everyday. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman, I know we're going to move past this. I just want to direct this really to the City Manager -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Public hearing. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- which I think is -- which is very valuable, being that you were a part of the County system for such a long time. Are you making -- have you made any headway or have you started any discussions with them about this very issue -- Mr. Hernandez: Commissioner -- City ofMiami Page 22 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- the County? OK Mr. Hernandez: -- that's an issue that has been discussed -- Chairman Gonzalez: They don't care. Mr. Hernandez: -- in the past, that has been, I would say, well, within the last year, discussed by the County Commission, and the vote came close in actually placing it on the ballot itself. The same complaints that you hear -- hearing today, you hear there, last week, and I think that, at some point, a decision will have to be made to force a different interpretation of the Florida statutes. I think Commissioner Regalado was right on target, you know. There is a -- there's certain leeway in the statutes as to how you assess property, and the idea is that in all of these rental properties, they should be using the income approach rather than comparable sales. The present interpretation by the property appraiser at the County is that he's not using the income approach. It's -- he interprets it as he may -- it's not mandated, so there is a lot of -- Commissioner Haskins: Well -- Mr. Hernandez: -- discretion there -- Commissioner Haskins: -- I think -- Mr. Hernandez: -- and it's not. Commissioner Haskins: -- a lot of it is the County is looking for as much revenues as possible, and unfortunately, I think that the County has heard from every single one of the Commissioners in the City ofMiami; they've certainly heard from the Mayor in the City ofMiami, that we cannot support this continued increase, especially when we get into situations like Ms. Koenigs [sic], her, where she's providing $450 a month rental properties. We have elderly people with duplexes. One side is homesteaded [sic]; the other side isn't homesteaded [sic]. This, to me, by not looking at an income approach for assessing these properties, it's the second house of lies from the County, because not only do they not use surtax dollars to help deliver affordable housing and workforce housing in the City, but then what do the taxes do? What the taxes do means that we don't have affordable rental, we're losing our affordable rental, people have to move out of the City because they can't afford the rent, then we have -- we finally get affordable housing built in the City, and what happens, because it takes three years, and they may have contracted for the property three years ago at 100,000 and it's worth 200,000 today, they tax it at $200, 000 rather than at the closing price. I mean, to me, this is the second house of lies. This is not only not delivering -- Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Commissioner Haskins: -- affordable housing through the dollars that they get, over $40 million a year of surtax that's just given away to people who don't build anything, but then what's there is being taken away through taxation. Mr. Hernandez: Commissioner, you're totally right, and -- Chairman Gonzalez: I'm sorry. Mr. Hernandez: -- in essence, it forces a lot of condo conversions, and you start losing rental property. Mr. Ehrlich: Um -hum, that's right. City ofMiami Page 23 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: I'm sorry. You may continue because I interrupted you. Mr. Ehrlich: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I see I have a minute and 55 seconds left. I'm -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yes. Mr. Ehrlich: -- only going to use a minute, and I appreciate all of your comments, and you know, you make a lot of common sense. It is true that a lot of this -- these bills are generated from the County, but you know, we look to you because you're our leaders, and we hope that you have a lot more influence with the County, and your -- our City Manager will all -- would jointly have more influence with the County than we do, as individuals. Going further, I would just like to point out that insurance premiums are up a hundred to, in some cases, six hundred percent for property owners. The bottom line is that with these new expenses, especially the new property tax increases, cause severe hardships. There will no longer be any affordable rent. The increases generally get passed on to tenants, and in cases like the lady that spoke earlier, where she is providing affordable rent, or the commercial landlords that are trying to provide affordable commercial rent, you just have to pass on the taxes and insurance and do your best. Only the most established, very successful companies will end up surviving, and so in conclusion, we just would like you to please engage the County, where you have influence and we do not, and maybe you could find -- also find additional budget cuts, encourage the County to find budget cuts, and maybe you could find some budget areas of the City where you can find additional cuts, and maybe you could have some influence with the County property tax appraiser along the lines of the recommendations that we've been discussing. Thank you very, very much for your time. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am. Good afternoon. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Could we listen to the public, and then we'll -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- address their concerns? Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Yes, ma'am. Good afternoon. Vice Chairman Sanchez: It is a public hearing, after all. Eileen Bottari: OK? Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Go ahead. Ms. Bottari: My name is Eileen Bottari. I reside at 505 Northeast 76th Street. I'm a homeowner, and I've lived in the Upper Eastside for 23 years. I'm here today specifically to talk about parks and recreation, specifically recreation programs. On your pass -out, on the second page, I have listed the 16 parks that have free summer programs, and they're in all the districts, and these summer programs only engage children that are the ages between 7 and 13 years old, and I believe that it's time for this City to step up to the plate and start including all children. We should have a summer program that includes children from ages 7 to 17 years old. Children that are ages 14, 15, 16, and 17 years old are totally left out of our summer programs, and it's unacceptable. There's other parts of the program that need to be improved also. I believe that we need to increase the number of field trips that we offer the children in the summer program. City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 We have eight weeks of a summer camp, and we only offer two field trips. I would like to see that raised to four field trips. We have a Learn to Swim program and we have a recreational swim program. The recreational swim program lasts for four weeks during the summer camp, and the bus only comes to the parks that don't have a pool one time a week. I would like to see the bus coming twice a week for the free summer camp. The only way we're going to be able to do this is if we increase the budget for parks, because to have a successful program, you have to have staffing, you have to have the money to contract out for the extra busses, et cetera, so I'm asking that the budget for parks and recreation be increased, not next year, but this year, for the 2007 budget so that by next summer, Mr. Burkeen and his staff can put into motion a program that's going to include all children for the summer camp, from 7 to 17 years old. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Good afternoon. Denise Perry: Good afternoon. Good evening. This is addressing the Commissioners, the Mayor, and the City Manager. First, I'd like to address the woman who spoke earlier, and it's nice to know that there are communities -- Chairman Gonzalez: We need your name -- Ms. Perry: Oh, I'm sorry. Chairman Gonzalez: -- on the record. Ms. Perry: Denise Perry, with Power U Center, 1633 Northwest 3rdAvenue. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Ms. Perry: -- that there are communities that want less attention from the City government, and I think Overtown would be happy to take that attention. We're in need of attention. It's also nice to know that rent can be low and your place can be nice. Cheap rent does not mean that you have to live in a dump. I work with Power U Center for Social Change, an organization bringing residents together to fight for low-income housing. It's no secret to everyone here that we're in a housing crisis, and that we're looking at a limited amount of money here with the budget from the City, but we feel that it's imperative that, at this moment, we ask of the City Commissioners to find a way to create a fund of at least $25 million, through general bond issues, CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) money, general funds, to develop a new low-income housing on City lots owned 45, 46, 55, and 56. We ask that the City use these 12 acres, which are currently under discussion for the Crosswinds high -income condo project to build low-income housing for people of Overtown and Miami. We have already requested from the Miami -Dade County that they set aside funds from its own budget to help process and subsidize this development of this property into low-income housing in partnership with the City. We're in a new space with a new City Manager, and we feel like this is an opportunity for us to think outside of the box and create the much -needed low-income housing for Overtown and the surrounding areas of that -- Miami. Given the fact that we're in desperate need of funding, of housing, now is the time that we're examining this budget to make this real. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Good evening. Joann Love: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Joann Love, and I'm a member of Power U, and I'm listening at everything that's going on, and I know everything is very important. Housing is, too. Now, what we need is at least 25 million, 30. That would put a dent City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 in it. We need places to go. We need contractors to build us something decent, not something you can do like this and punch a hole in the wall. We need something built good. I like nice things. We all like nice things. We want our area beautified also. This is all we asking for. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, ma'am. Elsie Hubbard: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Elsie Hubbard, and I live at 1610 Northwest 4th Avenue, and that's in Miami. I been living there for 36 years, but our property is getting out of hand. It used to run by a board of directors. We don't even have a board of directors over there. We have about nine vacant units where people need to live; nobody can come in, OK. We paid fire fee. We got a fire -- a Police Department on our property. No respect for our childrens. They just fly through there, and they don't want you to say a thing to them. Our property was -- when it was built, it's supposed to been for peoples to live in. You know, we tenants talk about no place to stay. All that land need is doing some repair and fixing up on it. You know, our units been there 36 years. The underground pipes are bad, and that ain't too much -- we have a -- more senior citizens out there than we do young people. Now they frying to take the property. What would like for you all to do, investigate that property and -- you know, we owe six years on that Town Park Village, number one, and we just need somebody investigate it, get us a new management out there and fix our place up. We don't have that many more years to live. Let us live in peace, not somebody making undercover deals behind our back, because time is just too precious and short for it, you know, and so that's what really hope you all will do for us. We don't need a place. We just only need that repair, painted, and I feel like if the police gone be out there, they should be painting it. Thank you very much. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Do we have any speakers on this side? Yes, ma'am. Good after -- good evening. Yes, sir. Good evening. Luis Falcon: Yes. Good evening. My name is Luis Falcon. I live at 310 Southwest 34th Avenue, Miami, City ofMiami, andl own property here in the City ofMiami, andl have low- to medium -income housing. One of the things that just happen to me -- I just got a bill -- is that don't understand how we are increasing taxes and reducing services. I justgot a bill -- a ticket, not a bill, a ticket from -- I have a eight -unit apartment building near 8th Street, and because the people dumped frash in the corner -- because when I first bought this building, it used to be that you could -- buildings in the City had this service, but now we're alienated from that. Chairman Gonzalez: If you have a commercial property, apartment building -- Mr. Falcon: Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: -- you need -- Mr. Falcon: We cannot dump any -- Chairman Gonzalez: No. You need to have a private hauler pick up your Solid Waste -- Mr. Falcon: I understand that. I -- Chairman Gonzalez: In addition to that, if you were not the person that did the dumping -- Mr. Falcon: Um -hum. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and you can prove that in the courts, or whenever you go to the hearing, they won't -- they will remove your fine, and you -- City ofMiami Page 26 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Falcon: I understand that, butl always thought -- because I live in the City, too and I -- it's customary for me to throw whatever trash, because supposedly, I have a right to do that. Chairman Gonzalez: To throw frash? Mr. Falcon: Huh? Chairman Gonzalez: You have the right to throw trash? Mr. Falcon: Yes, because I live -- this is -- I live personally in the City and I have property in the City, so -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Bulk trash. Mr. Falcon: Huh? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Bulk trash -- Chairman Gonzalez: Bulk frash. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- that they pick once a week. Mr. Falcon: Right, right, so I didn't know that until I found out from the ticket that could not do that, and they explain to me that they had sent flyers and the -- my whole question is not the ticket, like this gentleman here. My question is how can you increment taxes and reduce services? That, I don't understand. Vice Chairman Sanchez: But we're not reducing services. Chairman Gonzalez: We haven't reduced -- Mr. Falcon: Well, it was a service that I previously had. Chairman Gonzalez: Sir, we have not reduced services. You have a pick up of your solid waste, of your garbage twice a week, and you have one trash pickup a week, and that has been the service that we have provided -- Mr. Falcon: Not for the apartments. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes -- no. I told you, if you -- Mr. Falcon: Yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: -- have a rental building -- Mr. Falcon: Right. Chairman Gonzalez: -- where you have rental apartments -- Mr. Falcon: Right, right. Chairman Gonzalez: -- then you have to have -- Mr. Falcon: Individually. City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: -- service from a private -- Mr. Falcon: Yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: -- hauler. Mr. Falcon: All right. That -- Chairman Gonzalez: We pick up residential solid waste and residential frash twice a week and once a week. We have the best service in the entire county -- Mr. Falcon: Right. I understand. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and the cheapest one. Vice Chairman Sanchez: In the state ofFlorida -- Chairman Gonzalez: In the state ofFlorida. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- for 325. Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Mr. Falcon: I understand that. I just came because, to me, that is part of the services that you were supposed to provide. I did not know that. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, sir. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Unidentified speaker: I'd like to yield to her. Chairman Gonzalez: The lady wants to -- yes, ma'am. Good evening. Ronilda Goodrich: Good evening. First of all, I'd like to thank all of your Commissioners and our Mayor, and I have observed a lot of things. I've lived in Miami for 32 years. I moved here from Key West, Florida. Ms. Thompson: I'm sorry. Before we continue, we do need your name for the record. Ms. Goodrich: Ronilda Goodrich, 3421 Northwest 14th Avenue. I do know many people here, and I know a lot of our citizens, and whatever, because I make it a point to be involved in community happenings, and volunteer here and volunteer there, and whatever -- it's very important. Not only that we come here to complain, but that we get involved and find out what services are available to us, which I have found out many of them, when I became temporarily disabled nine years ago-- and I'll tell you what. I was amazed to see that we do have many, many things that I didn't know about. Like in parks and recreation, for instance. I've lost 130 pounds in the past two years. Igo to the pool. I do my exercises. I found out in one park, I had to pay, and the other park, I didn't have to pay. I don't know why, butt went to the one now that they're -- I don't have to pay because it's better for me because I'm on a fixed income. My taxes had gone up extremely for my short budget, after this disability, and I made it a point to go down to City Hall. I said, hey, what the hell's happening here? You know, I can't afford this. Well, come to find out, they were billing me for a back room -- a back apartment that had been knocked down four years ago due to the hurricane, so by me trying to find out what happened, I did find out and it was reduced, so I must say this, many of the things that happen to us sometimes are our own fault. We have to go and inquire. We have to knock on doors. I mean, City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 I'll pester anybody. Look, I need a job when I get better. I need this. I need that. I'm always trying to help myself and others, and many people at the pool that I go to at the Hadley pool, which I'm very satisfied with, I try to inquire what are their names? What can I help them with? What can Igo tell my City Commissioner, which is Mr. Angel Gonzalez? I live in Allapattah, and you know what? I commend you, because in the 32 years that I've lived at 3421 Northwest 14th Avenue, it has come a long way, OK. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Ms. Goodrich: We had major crime in that area. I mean, the -- I'm seeing everybody's just like, hey, watch out, they're looking at you. Hey, dude, look, you know. Everything -- all the derelicts and things that happen there, people are frying to walk a straight line, so everything isn't bad. Now, another thing is, as far as the buildings are concerned and whatever, yes, it's wonderful that we do have all these buildings going up. We have to show another image ofMiami, too, that I'm really happy is happening because my property's going up, too. You know, I've stuck it out. My sons used to tell me, why do you want to stay there? Don't you see you could get killed? This could happen, whatever, and you know what? I've proved them wrong, because I've stayed there. The area finally has gotten better. The image is going up, and you know what? We have to work together, and I do think that when we get a budget here, it should be itemized. We, as citizens and taxpayers, should be able to see what is that money going to be spent on, and we should have an oversight board, you know, with the community leaders here, and people that are leaders that just want to be involved. I mean, you -- everyone doesn't need to go to an academy to come here to a meeting, please. Thank you very much. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Thank you very much. Yes, ma'am. Good after -- evening. Marlene Bastien: Good evening, Mr. Chair, Commissioners. My name is Marlene Bastien. I'm the executive director of Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami, the Haitian Women ofMiami. Thank you so much for this opportunity tonight. I read in different places thatMiami is a capital of Latin America. I've read in other places thatMiami is a capital of the Caribbean. For all I care, Miami can be the capital of the world. However, it will not be the capital of the world if we're living in a city of the extreme. Fifteen minutes from here, you have the richest of the world enjoying their luxury lives, and then, a few minutes west, you have the poorest of the poor with no place to live. As you know, I'm a clinical social worker. I've worked as a social worker for years, and never have I seen such poverty. I'm here tonight to support the request to invest more in affordable housing. Unless we have a plan to move all the less -to-do, the poor to the sea, we have to build affordable housing for all, so that all of us can live in respect and dignity in this new hub, this capital of the world. That's one. The second thing I'm here to say tonight -- and I only have three points; bear with me -- is that one thing that I've observed as a director of a center that caters to the less -to-do, the poor, is that we -- I hear the similar things that we're hearing tonight. Tax increase. People cannot pay the high tax rate. People cannot pay it, the fact that the insurance premiums are increasing. People's expenses are increasing. However, their wages remain the same. You see, Miami is like -- becoming like New York, except that in New York, people make three times what we make in Miami. While the rent is increasing, everything is increasing, but the wages remain the same, so now we have a new breed of people working two, three jobs, and yet, they can't make it, so this is a concern for me because I see the clients coming days in and days out, and I know it is a concern for you, too, because you are the Leaders of this city, and I urge you to heed the calls of these ladies who presented tonight, my call, our calls to invest more in affordable housing. My last point is about a project -- two projects that I'm working on and I'd like your support, you know, for them. Commissioner Sanchez, Commissioner Spence -Jones, have already committed to help, and I'd like to call your support, each and every one of you, because this is something that will contribute, you know, to helping Miami be this capital of the world that I think we all want. It's about a Caribbean -- the second Caribbean food festival that FANM is planning in the City ofMiami, and in -- this is a way really to share the taste of all the different cultures that we have here, which is our strength. City ofMiami Page 29 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 I'm not going to elaborate on it because each of you here has a proposal to support the Caribbean food festival, and I'd like you to do so. The second project is the community market. Lately, you probably saw us demonstrating in front of the Country Day School in Miami, where 16 people got fired after working there 16 years, 8 years, and making minimum wage, not a livable wage, minimum wage, and they are fired amass. These people have to find a way to work. They have to support their families, so the community market will be a way to put people to work, to empower them financially so that they can become, you know, managers of their own destiny. Like I said, I don't need to give you all the details because you do have a proposal that I've sent you months ago, and I resent again today, so I'd like to urge you to look at it, and then give us your support for the Caribbean food festival, for the community market, and also take a serious look at the City ofMiami, which can be and will be, with all of your help and leadership, the capital of the world. I thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you very much. Thank you. Next. Yes, sir. Cary Johnson: My name is Cary Johnson. I live at 830 Northeast 86th Street, and I'm having a lot of problems. I have property in Little Haiti area, and just like she said a few seconds ago, was that a lot of people work for McDonald's, Burger King, and a lot of other places inside of the City. I've had tenants that's living in my property for over ten years. I've increased the rent, as I could, but you can't go in and double the rent on these people, because just like you said, they'll start moving out. I had one building where three, four people moved out at one time, and that's not helping me at all, OK. I have one building that, last year, property value was 266,000; this year it's 413, 500. They increase my taxes over 3,500 from last year, and this -- Chairman Gonzalez: It's totally outrageous. Mr. Johnson: Well, yeah, and this is a building with efficiency apartments, so I can't raise the rent on efficiency apartments because these people have low-income jobs, you know, and right now, what's happening is that, yeah, a lot of buildings are -- rental buildings of low-income is being sold to people that's knocking them down, making condominiums and all of that. They're trying to sell the condominiums for 400 -- I mean, for 180,000 starting and all of this. Maybe the County figures, well, you know, if we get 3 or 4,000 on each condominium, it's a lot better than charging the person that owns the building, but what about all the low-income people and all the other people that's working at these places inside of the City? What about them? Because I've had a lot of people work in Homestead, you know, on the plantation doing, you know, work and stuff that needs to be done still, and you know, they want to live in the city because, right now, the City is still a little -- maybe a little lower than Pembroke Pines and other places. Where I live at in my home, last year the price of my home was 155, 000. They raised that to 230, 000. By the time I get through paying taxes this year, it'll be almost 12 -- $45,000, and you know, this is a one-time thing, to pay the taxes at a certain time. You tell me how you come up with that much money when you renting out property for 350 a unit or whatever, and you can't go -- you know, it's taking half a year for me just to collect the tax amount, and then you have -- they tell me you got to put in a fire alarm system. That's $10, 000. Then you got the hurricane insurance that had done went up double, from 1,500, I used to pay, to 3,500 now, OK, and then you have all of the kinds of increases with the permits with the City, the State, Dade County. You have, you know, the hurricane damages that came along, and then the hurricane -- when I called up FEIVIA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), they said, well, we're not covering hurricane damage unless the State has said that that's going to be a hurricane area. You know, things still start happening that you got to pay maintenance for and fix and do things. All this is not, you know, accounted for or registered or anything, and I been owning property for about 18 years in this City, and yeah, it used to be a thing where you could own it, work it, do things, make a little profit out of it. Now, you it's -- you don't -- not making a profit. You losing money, and I've been told, hey, sell it. Let somebody come in, knock it out, make a condo. I'm just wondering, is that what everybody's trying to do in this City, run everybody out of here? Run all the smaller people, low-income people out of this City? Because right now, like I said, these prices that they City ofMiami Page 30 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 increasing my property on, it's no way -- I've not done work. I've not fixed them up. I've not built any property on. It's been the same for the last 15, 16, 20, 25, 30, 40 years, since it's been built. Maybe I just paint the outside, butl don't think that should be increased to 150; 2, 300,000 increase, and yeah, it hurts everybody who owns property. You not in a big -- you know, only it with the big investment group, or this and that and the other. You're a small guy that's trying to maintain property from years ago that you owned it. It's starting to be a big problem. It's not only with the City, but the fire assessment fee, when it first started about eight years ago. They said, well, we going to do this for four years, and then after that, everything will be OK, but it's still the same. They're still charging that same fee. It's still the same. Yeah, it went down $10. I'm still paying $50 on each unit that have, and same thing at home, $46 at my house and I'm living there, and yeah, the $25, 000 homestead exemption amount, how is that going to make a difference when they raising you $120,000? Chairman Gonzalez: It doesn't really make any difference. Mr. Johnson: Exactly. Well, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) my taxes is still going up quite a bit, and you know, fire assessment fee, I thought that it was just for certain things that the Fire Department needed or whatever. When I got into a situation here, they charge me $578, the ambulance, to take me to the hospital. Chairman Gonzalez: Well, you -- I have given you more than the three minutes, so we thank you. Mr. Johnson: OK. Well, I'm just saying -- Chairman Gonzalez: We got your point. Mr. Johnson: -- is that it is a big problem within -- Chairman Gonzalez: We got your point. Mr. Johnson: - - the Little Haiti area and other areas where you don't have people that can afford -- Chairman Gonzalez: It's not only -- Mr. Johnson: -- like a Brickell piece of property or -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- it's not only -- Mr. Johnson: -- somewhere where some of the areas are growing and (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Chairman Gonzalez: Your problem is not only Little Haiti. It's -- the problem -- that problem exists in Little Havana -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Allapattah. Chairman Gonzalez: -- exist in Allapattah, exist in Overtown, exist in -- Mr. Johnson: Right. Chairman Gonzalez: -- Grapeland Height, exist in Flagami -- Mr. Johnson: Right. City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: -- you know, the property where I rent -- Mr. Johnson: Um -hum. Chairman Gonzalez: -- the property where I rent -- Mr. Johnson: Right. Chairman Gonzalez: -- the value was increased $125, 000 this year. Vice Chairman Winton: OK, and in some places -- Chairman Gonzalez: The taxes -- Mr. Johnson: -- it's -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- sir -- Mr. Johnson: -- maybe worth it. Chairman Gonzalez: -- let me finish. The taxes to my landlord were increased by $3, 000. You know what that means? That by the first of the month, I'm going to get hit real, real bad, and I'm going to have two options: Either I pay the increase or I got to move out and start looking for another place where to live. Mr. Johnson: And if you've been living here for quite a long time -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- and that is going to happen -- Mr. Johnson: -- it's not fair. Chairman Gonzalez: -- all over the City ofMiami, and that's why -- I don't know what these people from the County have in their minds, because what are we going to do? Are we going to build tent cities under the expressways so people can live there? Is that what they envision? Maybe. I don't know. I would like to ask the tax assessor, what -- you know, what do you envision? Mr. Johnson: Well, that's the whole thing -- Chairman Gonzalez: I mean, it's totally -- Mr. Johnson: -- everything is going very crazy now, and it's been happening over the last three or four years. Chairman Gonzalez: I know that. Mr. Johnson: Before that, it wasn't a problem, and it wasn't a big thing, but when you go in there and fry to raise rent on some of these people -- Chairman Gonzalez: Um -hum. Mr. Johnson: -- and they not making that kind of money or whatever, they have nowhere else to live. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. I'm -- I really thank you. City ofMiami Page 32 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Johnson: All right. Thank you, too. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Good afternoon. Welcome. Derrick Ferrao: Good afternoon. My name is Derrick Ferrao. I live at 3530 Rockerman Road. I, first of all, want to thank each one of you for being here and listening to us, as citizens. Chairman Gonzalez: It's our duty to be here. Mr. Ferrao: Well, when you work in government or when you work for the people, you're servants of the public, and I appreciate it very much that you sit here in front of all of us and take what we have to give to you. I've lived in the City ofMiami or, basically, in South Florida about 37 years, most of that in the City ofMiami. I think the positive things of this -- of the City ofMiami are -- that since the Mayor has come in, since Manny Diaz has come in, I -- this is my first time coming up on a podium and talking to anyone, butt really appreciate what they've done, and just being on an outside looking at the City, I think they have achieved a lot. I'm very proud of my city. When I go -- I travel outside the country a lot, and when I travel around the country and outside, I'm very proud of saying I'm from Miami, and appreciate everything you guys and the Mayor has done. There's a lot that could still be done, and one of the positive things I noticed that the Mayor had done was to run this like a business, and for that reason, I am very appreciative of that. A few points I wanted to make. One was the values have gone up a lot, and for a lot of us, we're -- I think that's wonderful. The property appraiser's office, by law, is required to put a value on the property, a fair market value. It's not up to the property appraiser's office on the tax side of it. It's the Commission and the millage rate that the Commission sets that will either raise the taxes or lower the taxes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Lower the taxes. Mr. Ferrao: If you look at Coral Gables, the millage rate for the City of Coral Gables is in the -- I'm guessing it off the top of my head -- but about 23 mills. The City ofMiami is about 26 mills. Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, no, no. Mr. Ferrao: Key Biscayne is about 20 mills, just over -- as an overall total -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Overall. Mr. Ferrao: -- I'm talking about. You know, taking out -- I know the School Board, the County, and all this, but I'm just talking about overall. It's important, taxes need to run the City. We need to -- all I'm here to say is that I think you guys are doing a great job. I think you need to just be a little more business -minded in how you do things, and just run it a little tighter so it can help the average citizen out here that really needs the assistance and the help, and all of us that are looking to you to watch over us. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. Yes, ma'am. Elaine Jepeway: I'm nervous, but my name is Elaine Jepeway, 3721 Southwest 1st Avenue. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Ma'am, don't -- no need to be nervous. Ms. Jepeway: OK. I just want to say I'm the owner of a small duplex, which I live on one side, and I rent the other side. I have the same problem as other people, where the market value has gone up on the duplex. I get homestead on one side. Since 1977 until about three years or four years ago, I never had this problem. All of a sudden, there's an Amendment 10, where they allow City ofMiami Page 33 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 you to pass it on, you know, the market value, and so I just had to raise the rent. I couldn't even raise it enough. I'm still paying out of my pocket, too, 'cause I don't want to lose the tenant. Now I'm forced to go to the deferment. I'm on a low-income, and I never thought I'd have to do this. I was born here. I'm 65 years old, and now I have to do this, and it's a disgrace, really. Everybody -- I left -- so many people are leaving. In this beautiful city, what's happened? Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: It's a shame, and that's -- I'm glad that you brought up the issue of the duplexes, because that's a conversation that had early this morning with the Mayor before we started the Commission, around 8 o'clock this morning, and was telling him that have had some calls in my office of many property owners, that they own duplexes, and even though they have homestead exemption in one unit, then they're getting hit on the second unit, and I remember -- I've been here 47 years. I remember years ago, the working class, when they look to make an investment to buy a home, they wanted to buy a duplex because the accounting was, ifI buy a duplex, I live in one side, and then the next side help to pay the taxes and the -- well, not anymore. Not anymore. Now, if you have a duplex and you have an additional unit, you have a burden. The tax assessor has made it a burden, so -- and a lot of senior citizens in our City, they live in duplexes, and they were -- the reason they bought duplexes was at the time of retirement, when they could no longer work, at least they had a little income from that unit. That is gone now. That's why I keep saying, what are they trying to do? What are they frying to do to these people? Are we going to put them under the expressways, on tents? Because eventually, now it's becoming a fact that a lot of people are going to lose their homes, a lot of people are going to lose their homes, and you said people should mobilize, you know. In fact, they should. You know what the people should do in this county? You know what the people should do in this county? Say we're going to call a sfrike, a general sfrike in the county, and we're going to go to the County building and sit there on the stairs until they decide to change the system and make a fair system. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman, I want to -- I definitely want to add on. I just -- actually, just asked the City Manager the same thing that you're just bringing up now, and I know that -- you know, I'm probably the freshman -- Chairman Gonzalez: Sure. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- in this whole arena, but I just asked him, you know -- I know that the County's now going through their same budget process, just like we are, and they're addressing many of these same issues, and I know that there's been ongoing conversations with the various Commissioners over there about this, butt would like to propose -- and mentioned this to the City Manager -- about us doing it -- going there as a united front of City Commissioners -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah, sure. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- putting this on the record, that this is an issue that needs to be addressed -- Chairman Gonzalez: I'll be -- Applause. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- you know -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- more than happy to do that. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and I think that if we go, I think that they'll hear it all at one City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 time and they'll know that it's a very important issue, because what happens is, you know, the citizens come out, they state, you know, their points, and you know, I don't know if it's going to have the same type of impact like it would have if we all went, and I'm here -- I'm standing today -- tonight saying that I'm more than willing, and I hope we can go from a united standpoint to say to them -- they're already addressing this issue, and Commissioner Haskins brought this up about house of lies, and you know, all of this stuff that's going on over there, and that's probably the reason why they're not trying to tap into that, but that is exactly the reason that they should be frying to do that because they do have an affordable housing issue, and guess what? They're creating an even bigger one with this issue of you know, creating these taxes, so I think that we need to go from a City's perspective, and I think that our City Manager should attend it with us, and even the Mayor. We need to go -- not just stand on the steps. We need to go inside of the Commission chambers, and each and every one of us need to step up to the podium and communicate this issue. You'll already have the residents there, you know, saying what they're going to say anyway, but I think that if we're there and we're representing Little Haiti, Overtown, the Grove, Flagami, and Allapattah, and Little Havana, I think that that sends a very powerful message, so I would like to at least say, you know, without putting more time on this, is that we all commit to do that. I think that the next meeting is on what day? Mr. Hernandez: September 20. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I mean, I'm -- Mr. Hernandez: 5 o'clock. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- willing to do it. Commissioner Haskins: Commissioner, there's a real difference, too, between their ability to do something and ours, and that is this property appraiser works for them. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Unidentified Speaker: What about a petition with signatures attached to that? Commissioner Haskins: That would be great. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: We'll use real examples -- Unidentified Speaker: That's where the law is bound. Commissioner Haskins: -- and then we need to use real examples of what's happening -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: -- how people are losing their homes -- Unidentified Speaker: It's our governmental process. Commissioner Haskins: -- how people are being forced to sell, how -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: -- rental -- you know, when we have rental properties because people can't make money on them anymore, they're forced to sell, they're forced to sell, and every time City of Miami Page 35 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 that happens, we lose more and more housing in the City, and we cannot move toward a city of the rich and the very poor and nothing in between, and the very poor living in housing that no dog should live in. Chairman Gonzalez: That's correct. Commissioner Spence -Jones: So Mr. Chairman -- Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- can we get a commitment that we will -- Chairman Gonzalez: Sure, we -- you know -- Commissioner Regalado: If -- I mean, I'll all for going there and sitting there and hoping that they listen to us. The response that we will get is the following: We -- six of us, they will say, in the County dais, sponsor a resolution to place on the ballot a -- the official question to have the tax assessor/property appraiser elected. It went, as the charter says, to the governmental fiscal responsibility committee. The Code of the County Commission says that it has to has -- have to have all -- a unanimous vote of all the members of that committee to go to the full Commission for a vote, and on that committee, which happen in April 19, there was one vote that was a dissenter, and that died in that fiscal responsibility committee, the vote of Commissioner Kathy Sorenson. Because of that, they will tell you -- they will tell us that they are not allowed to bring the item or the issue for one year, according to their Code, butl will tell you this. If they allow me to speak, I will just say that then, what we're going to do is that we're going to try to get the signatures to force a referendum, only ten percent of the voters ofMiami-Dade County -- I mean, Carlos Alvarez did it -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- so why cannot we do it? Ms. Goodrich: I think unity's very powerful. Commissioner Regalado: And by the way, there are three at this -- as we speak, there are three public opinion movement throughout the state of Florida to roll back taxes, and to reduce taxes, to have a referendum, a state referendum to amend the state Constitution and to roll back taxes, like Proposition 13 in California. They plan to get the signatures to place it on the ballot, on the Presidential Election on 2008. For us, it would be too late. For you -- all of you, it will be too late, so I say, you know, Michelle and -- you know, I'm all for going with you, all of us sitting there, but you know, like they say, speak softly, carry a big stick. A big stick is signatures. We have the possibil -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: I definitely think, Mr. Reg -- Commissioner Regalado, we should do -- definitely do both. I'm not saying -- Commissioner Regalado: Absolutely. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- let's do one over the other, butl think that the County's in a very unusual situation right now, with all the housing issues that are going on, and this is just one additional thing that is creating an even bigger problem, so I think that we need to sing it loud and clear, representing the areas and the constituents that we serve, and push the idea of having the petition. I don't want to not have the petition because -- what we're talking about now is only a short-term solution. I'm talk -- I agree with you. What you're talking about is a long-term solution, because once this article thing dies down and they kind of address whatever City of Miami Page 36 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 the issues are, then you're still going to be faced with the same issue of people owning property, just like this person was telling you, and still having to outprice the renters that are living there, so I think that we need to do both. One is just a short-term solution, and the other one is what you suggested, which is a long-term solution. Vice Chairman Sanchez: If you would allow me. Let's go ahead and get the public hearing completed -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- and then we'll come back to the Commission; that way -- you know, people are standing. Ma'am, please step up, state your name and address. Deborah Brown: Hi. My name's Deborah Brown, 3741 Irvington Avenue. I'm new to Miami, compared to everybody else. I bought a house in 2 -- March of 2005. My neighbors were thrilled because I wasn't knocking it down. I got my first assessment and it is over $230, 000 more than I paid for the house, which was a handyman special. I have my home inspection report. I need a new roof. I need new appliances. I need everything in the house, so I don't know who's telling me that my house is worth $250, 000 more with me not doing anything to it, so therefore, that puts $1,000 a month extra into my mortgage that I don't know if I'll able to handle, which I doubt I will be, but also takes $1, 000 a month out of what I would put into the community. I no longer can go to your restaurants. I can't go to your stores. It's just hold back, hold back, so my question to you is should I take a day off from work on Thursday and go down to Southwest 1st Avenue myself or should I hire a lawyer? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Well, ma'am, that decision has to be made by you. I could tell you that an attorney will charge you a percentage. Ms. Brown: Yeah, I know. Vice Chairman Sanchez: I suggest that you do it yourself just like a lot of people, including myself will be doing. Ms. Brown: OK, thank you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK. Commissioner Regalado: We have -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Commissioner Regalado: Miss, we have the applications in my office, if you want to go get -- we have application for the appeal -- Ms. Brown: Thank you. Commissioner Regalado: -- in my office. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Next speaker, state your name and address for the record. Carlos Diaz: Good evening. My name is Carlos Diaz. I'm with -- I live at 2665 Southwest 37th Avenue, in the condominium. I'm president of the board of our association. I justgot to say from hearing these stories, I don't think my problem is as bad, but I think it still is bad. I think a perfect storm is brewing in Miami. We have gasoline prices going up. We have insurance, the wind storm. Our insurance association doubled with a three-day notice. We had to special City of Miami Page 37 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 assess $1, 000 every owner. A thousand dollars is a one -bedroom, and mind you, a condo -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: And that was approved by your association? Mr. Diaz: We had to approve it. There was no choice, and that was the cheapest insurance we could get. The best, we -- we're a private company because our building is four years old, valued at $24 million. We had no choice. That's -- if we don't pass special assessment, we run out of money in our bank account; we can't pay our bills. I -- the analogy of a perfect storm is -- I think it helps you summarize what's going on. We got electricity going up, medical bills; you got 70,000 condo units under construction now. Sooner or later, if we don't do something about costs, people are just going to flee, and it's going to happen overnight. I think -- I'm glad to hear that you guys are -- unfortunately, you guys don't have a superman cape here and can't solve everybody problem, but I'm here -- Commissioner Haskins: Or superwoman. Mr. Diaz: Super person, sorry. You're right. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Super hero. Mr. Diaz: Super hero. I'm going to get more involved in my community, and I think we need to do something -- I think, particularly, some of the points I want to bring up is a condo is a cheaper way to live. I mean, I'm living in a condo because I can't buy a real home with a yard and everything, so it's a poor man's home, but yet, we pay the same rate as, say, a business or a property. We pay the trash collection. It's four percent of our maintenance fees -- we pay trash col -- we don't use the City. We have -- we don't use Off -Street Parking. We have our own parking garage, so built into our maintenance fees is a lot of stuff that perhaps the City doesn't do, and I think somehow, we have to account for that. You know, have fairer taxes. This is becoming like the medieval days, where the nobility had - they didn't pay any taxes and the poor paid all of it. You know, the rich are getting capital gains tax and the poor is -- and then the taxes are trickling down into property taxes, so I think just look out for that. Commissioner Regalado: Well -- Hr. Diaz: We need fairness in taxation -- Commissioner Regalado: -- I would tell you that in the general election of November 7, in terms of the gubernatorial campaign and in terms of the chief financial officer, the biggest, single issue for the campaign throughout the State of Florida will be insurance, and if you start, you know, writing to both candidates -- I mean, the four candidates, either the two gubernatorials and the two that are running for chief financial officer, Tom Lee and Alex Sink, these people, you know, better get some answers, because you know, they going to be looking for your vote -- for everybody's vote, and this is the time to do now our due diligence before the election, and when someone contact you by a pollster or something, and someone maybe will, you know, just pick random the people, you know, they're going to ask you, what is the biggest issue, and certainly, you are going to say, you know, insurance, and they will know, and if they know -- Hr. Diaz: And right behind it, property taxes. Commissioner Regalado: Absolutely, absolutely, but condos have the problem that County or City cannot, you know, do anything. It just association, which is a very weird system of government, but that's another issue, but by the way, there is state funds in the state attorney's office to investigate anything that you consider illegal within your condo association in terms of assessments, in terms of checks not being presented to the members by the board's director, so there are some ways to remedy this situation, but insurance is the biggest single issue in this City of Miami Page 38 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 election, and I urge you and everyone to write to all these candidates and tell them, you know, you better, you know, come up swinging on this issue. Mr. Diaz: I know I have like maybe two seconds. What are we doing about the exception, increasing from 25,000 to -- the homestead? I mean, that would help a lot. I mean -- Commissioner Regalado: Well, there is also a bill in the state legislature that has to go to the voters as an amendment to the Constitution to increase the $50, 000 because, after all, the $25, 000 is gone already and the $50, 000 is gone already, too. We will need like $75, 000. Mr. Diaz: As property values goes up, so should the exemption, the same rate. Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, but you know who will be lobbying in Tallahassee against this increase, the lobbying team of the governments of the state of Florida. The County and the City government will be lobbying against increasing the debt because it's less money for the coffers. Mr. Diaz: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Good after -- good evening, I'm sorry. Abbie Cuellar: Good evening. My name is Abbie Cuellar, andl live at 645 Northeast 82nd Terrace. I'm here to actually speak in support of more money for parks and recreation, but I'd also like a minute to speak on the housing crisis, but first let me start -- I'm here to support Hs. Bottaro's [sic] proposal for more programs for teens. As a former prosecutor and also a guardian ad litem attorney, I know how desperately we need programs for children in the 13- to 17 year -old bracket. Those children have absolutely nothing out there, except for two programs during the summer. I've worked with many foster children in that age bracket who have absolutely nothing to do during the summer. Our most desperate in need of-- children have nothing, no resources provided to them. I would like to ask this Commission to approve more money for programs for children in that age bracket, and for programs in general for the parks. If we don't spend the money on these programs, we'll be spending the money on arresting these children who have nothing to do and getting into trouble. I also like to speak just very briefly on the housing crisis that's occurring here. I think that we have it wrong when we say that this is a going to be a city of the poor and the rich. I think this is going to be a city of the rich because the middle class are being completely squeezed out, and I consider myself middle-class, and I can tell you that can no longer afford to buy a home in Miami. I can no longer afford -- I rent the home that I'm currently living in, and I can no longer buy a home in this community, because the cheapest home I could possibly get in that area would be 3 to $400, 000, and even ifI put a big chunk of money, I'd still be looking at a 2 to $3, 000 mortgage payment. I don't -- I -- we are going to become a city of simply the rich. The middle class and the poor will be forced out of this city, unless we all seriously think about solutions to the rising property taxes and the rising insurance. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, ma'am. Yes, sir. Good evening. Ken Whiting: Good evening. Ken Whiting from 742 Northeast 68th Street. I've lived in Miami for 30 years. I've been in the house I'm in now since 1982; worked for the County for 29 and a half years, and I'm not really complaining about the homesteaded [sic] house that live in. It'll - - taxes will stay about the same, but the -- I have two fixer -uppers thatl bought several years ago right next to the house that live in, and for most of the time, you know, things have been pretty stable, but in the last three years, the County assessor sticks another 100,000 on each house in the assessment, and so my taxes go up like 5,000 a year for both houses each year, and that takes all your fix -up money. City of Miami Page 39 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: How much can you increase your rents? Mr. Whiting: That's the thing. Chairman Gonzalez: It's limited. Mr. Whiting: One house, at present -- because the tenants that were in the other one left such a mess, that right -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) moment not rented. The other one, I've had steady, good tenants in it, butt haven't charged them market rate because it's -- it's a fixed -- it's a work in progress, so they realize that. They don't complain. I don't complain, and it's a, you know, handshake deal, but suddenly, you know, I -- when I pay my taxes this year, I'm going to have zero in my own personal bank account, and now I'm stuck with -- you know, I'm stuck with nothing -- Chairman Gonzalez: That's right. Mr. Whiting: -- which is probably going to force me to -- Chairman Gonzalez: To sell -- Mr. Whiting: -- sell, and -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- the property. Mr. Whiting: -- I'm in an historic district, so what's going to happen is somebody'll come in because it's -- they're two 90-year-old houses; they'll knock them down, and put up who knows what, so we lose two more historic buildings. Chairman Gonzalez: That's correct. Mr. Whiting: Anyways, I'm sure what I'm saying is nothing new to you. Chairman Gonzalez: You know, that's what I -- that's what we've been saying, you know, and the rent problem is a serious problem -- Mr. Whiting: Yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: -- because there is a limit on how much you can increase your rent, because there is a time when your -- the people that rent ftom you can no longer pay the increases -- Mr. Whiting: Yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and then they're going to move out. Once they move out, then you have to assume the entire burden of the mortgage or whatever expense you have on the property, so you have no option but to sell the house. You have to sell, or otherwise, you start losing money every year, and you don't invest money to lose money, so you know, that's why, to me, it's inconceivable. I mean, to me, I don't know where we're going. I don't know where we're going. You know, I keep talking about it and talking about it, all right. We have all been talking about it at this Commission for the last two or three months, and something has to happen. This can't continue the way it is because -- I don't know. I don't know where we're going to go. Mr. Whiting: I went to the County Commission meeting last week and spoke about the same thing, and they're kind of -- City of Miami Page 40 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Vice Chairman Sanchez: That was on -- Mr. Whiting: -- making their own -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- on the 9th -- on the 7th you were there? Mr. Whiting: Yeah. Vice Chairman Sanchez: 9/7, at 501 ? Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Mr. Whiting: Downtown. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yeah. Mr. Whiting: Yeah, and said about the same thing, and it surprised me that only about five other people -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yeah. Mr. Whiting: -- actually stood up and spoke about taxes -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: I'll get to that. Chairman Gonzalez: And that is -- Mr. Whiting: -- and the same here. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and let me tell you. Mr. Whiting: I would -- I thought we have a -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: I'll get to that. Mr. Whiting: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: And let me tell you, we -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Stick around. Enjoy the show. Mr. Whiting: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: We are here to serve you. We are here to listen to your complaints and your concerns, and it is our duty and it's no sacrifice to us to be here and listen to your concerns, but our hands are tied. Mr. Whiting: Yeah, I know. Chairman Gonzalez: I mean, you know, the place to go is there, but you know, you need a lot of people to go there and a lot of people to complain to them and to express to them the problem that this County's facing, because maybe they're blindsided. Maybe they don't see what's going to happen in this county -- Mr. Whiting: They're creating their -- City of Miami Page 41 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Commissioner Regalado: Told you. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and there has to be a time where they realize -- Commissioner Regalado: Told you. Chairman Gonzalez: -- what they're doing is not -- Commissioner Regalado: Told you. Chairman Gonzalez: -- it's not right what they're doing. They're -- Commissioner Regalado: Told you. Chairman Gonzalez: -- destroying the life of thousands of people. Mr. Whiting: They're creating their own problem of affordable housing and putting people on housing programs and vouchers and -- Chairman Gonzalez: Exactly. Mr. Whiting: -- all that, and then that money comes from the taxpayers, so -- the vicious circle. Commissioner Regalado: Excuse me. How old you said the -- your houses were, 90 years? Mr. Whiting: Roughly. The one I live in was built 1909, and the other two where in that same era. Commissioner Regalado: And why don't you communicate with the Miami -Dade Heritage Trust and just tell them that, you know, if this thing of property values and taxes keep going like that, you know, that you're going to have to sell this historic, beautiful house, and of course, it will be demolished and the area will be rezoned. Why don't you just put the fear of God in these people. They're militants, I mean, and they -- we need all the help that we can get, and you know, I think -- I -- you know, I think that our hands may be tied in this immediate decision, but you know, I think that if we mobilize -- in fact, I think that during the budget process, I would ask the Manager and the Commission to set aside $50, 000 of the people's money to -- if there is a special election, and if there is the possibility that we place in the ballot the property appraiser's being elected, the City will pay for a campaign to advertise with the resident, with mailings, to say go out and vote -- Chairman Gonzalez: And vote. Commissioner Regalado: -- because this is the only way that we can manage, because you know, the same thing that you're doing here, coming at us and giving us a real hard time, because you know -- I mean, no one can be so cold to listen to all these problems and not be shook up. You know, the same thing that you're doing to us and we are here to listen to that, we can do it to the property appraiser -- Mr. Whiting: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- and you know, I'm telling you, this is happening in Broward. This is happening throughout the coun -- why does the properties are the most expensive in Miami -Dade County? Explain to me, because we have a property appraiser that is a bureaucrat, that -- I'll give you $5 if you tell me his name. You don't know. City of Miami Page 42 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Whiting: No. Commissioner Regalado: So that's what I'm saying, you know. I would urge you to ask Miami -Dade Heritage Trust and say, you know, these houses -- these historic houses are in danger, because I can't pay the taxes and the assessment. Mr. Whiting: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: I'll tell you, I -- Mr. Whiting: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Commissioner Haskins: -- would like to -- you know, this is such a significant issue in the City. The taxation of our housing stock is such a significant issue in the City -- and I know Mr. Ehrlich's properties very well. Peter, are you over there? I know your properties very well, and I know that Peter -- Peter, and his warehouses, the small businesses that rent from him provide a lot of jobs, as well, but our issues on -- in the housing area are so significant, I think that this is something that we collect -- we have set aside affordable housing trustfund dollars that are not part of our general fund budget, and I would like us to consider, as part of this budget process, setting aside some dollars to provide some technical assistance for people in going to the property appraiser and getting -- and going to the value adjustment board. I think that it's very expensive for our residents and for our people -- for our -- for the people in the City ofMiami, who provide rental at or below fair market rates, to go through the process of hiring somebody to represent them at value adjustment board and go through this whole process, and I think that it would be money well spent from the City ofMiami to take some of our affordable housing trust fund dollars to provide technical assistance to help our residents go to value adjustment board and get some relief on housing. We're spending -- you know, there is something to be said for preserving our existing stock -- housing stock, and I think that that's one place that we could step up to the plate and get some real results. Mr. Whiting: Thank you. If the Commission is -- are going to go down and approach the County, maybe some of the citizens could come down and stand behind them. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Sir, don't leave because there's going to be -- some ideas have come up and we'll present them when we get an opportunity -- Mr. Whiting: Yeah. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- after the public hearing. This is a public hearing. This is your chance to address -- Mr. Whiting: Yeah. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- the Commission -- Mr. Whiting: I was just saying -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- and you did a good job. Mr. Whiting: -- if your Commissioners are going to go down and approach the County -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Well -- City ofMiami Page 43 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Whiting: -- us -- some of us citizens could -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Absolutely. This is -- Mr. Whiting: -- stand behind you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- going to be a united force -- Chairman Gonzalez: Absolutely. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- and let me tell you, I'm a middle class; I pay taxes like you do, and I have rental property that affects me, and you know what? I brought a trim sheet that I'm going to breakdown in numbers, and you're going to be very, very disappointed. Because you know what? It's not only the County who has raised their taxes. Mr. Whiting: The School Board. Vice Chairman Sanchez: The School Board and everybody else; even the water, but we'll get to that: Mr. Whiting: OK. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, sir. Good evening. Rachelle Lang: Good evening. My name is Rachelle Lang. I live at 600 Northeast 23rd Street, and I've lived here in Miami for less than five years. A speaker earlier claimed that he's here for the customers or the citizens of the City ofMiami. However, from the demeanor of those who make some of the decisions, displeases me. What is to happen to the young, middle-class working professionals of our Miami community, such as myself with the rising cost of property taxes, the deterioration of our school systems, and the cost of housings by itself? There is less land and more condos that are not even owned by residents ofMiami-Dade. By the time I, as a veteran, have enough saved up to get a home, I won't be able to afford it. Now, I hear that those who do own homes may have them seized in order to put up shopping centers and condos that are, more than likely, going to be used as investment properties for the rich or for other people who live in other countries, so you're going to also be putting out this so-called citizens that you claim to be the citizens or the customers of the City ofMiami. I was told and asked to ask for help for those who may be losing their properties that are in this area. That's it. That's all have to say. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you so much. Ms. Lang: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes. Yes, ma'am. Good evening. Thelma Craig: My name is -- Chairman Gonzalez: Lower the mike, please, so we can understand you. Ms. Craig: -- Thelma Craig. I live at 13080 Coronado Lane in Keystone Point, in North Miami, but we -- my husband and I own property in Little Havana that my husband bought when he was intending to retire so he could have an extra income, you know, at the time he retired. Well, the City ofMiami Page 44 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 taxes are eating us up, so needless to say, that it - between the insurance and the -- and I have tenants that I have had there for a while, and I don't want to lose them, butt know that they cannot afford anymore. I appealed it two years ago, and it was denied because even -- this is a house that was bought -- built in 1921. It's a frame house. It's not concrete, but they were giving me the value of a house of a -- of a mark -- the market value of a house that was just built, which is ridiculous, because there's no way -- I could see if they could have given me the value of the land itself and not anything, because the house, whoever buys it, is going to tear it down. It's just nothing -- it's, you know, a house that needs a lot of maintenance -- Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Ms. Craig: -- because of the -- Mr. Regalado was saying about -- that they are willing to not raise the taxes if you don't do anything. We have never done anything to the house, except maintain it, because that's all it need is maintenance, and it's three apartments. They have children. They like to be able to have a little backyard where the kids play and not a building, you know -- and they have a porch outside where they can sit outside. They don't want to be living in a building apartment, and one of my -- I even went and I took the stub of what they make. Like the two in the back apartment, little house I call it, they are retire -- in disability, both of them, and they have a teenager son. They can hardly -- are able to meet what I -- they're paying me now. Sometimes I have to hold until they can get the money. The other one, they -- and another one has a 7-year-old little girl, and I don't want to raise her at all because I know her husband only works in maintenance in a bank. Would you know, the income is very -- I had even the stub of what each one of them made, and there thing was the property value, so they denied it because of the property value. Instead, they raised it another $1, 000, and now I got the proposed -- they're raising it to another thousand. Between the insurance and that, there's no way I can not raise the rent, because I'm paying in maintenance and insurance and property taxes, over $14, 000, and what is left is not enough for retirement. There's no way that you can do it, and -- so that's why, when I got the fire fee notice, I was very irritated. I was very upset about that, because I just feel that we pay enough without that having come up; that it should be in our taxes with that type of taxes. There shouldn't be any extra fire fee on that. $14, 000 -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am. Ms. Craig: -- so anyway, that's my -- and I wanted to know if the issue on the fire fee is going to be brought up yet or that's -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, it is. Ms. Craig: It is? Chairman Gonzalez: Yes. Ms. Craig: OK, because then I'll stay until that -- Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, ma'am. Ms. Craig: -- comes up. OK. Thank you very much. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Good evening. Ken Knight: Good evening, Commissioners. My name is Ken Knight. I'm with the Miami -Dade Housing Agency Overall Tenant Advisory Councils. That's 42 councils throughout Dade County, and this is -- and I represent all of the residents of public housing, and I just wanted to really thank our Commissioner, Michelle Spence -Jones, in what she has proposed to this Commission, along with you, Mr. Gonzalez. The overall tenant residents council, we stand with City of Miami Page 45 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 you, Commissioners. We're ready to join you to go to the County Commission, and I'm talking about way over 50,000 strong. We stand ready with you because we're affected, too. We had people in public housing with negative rents, and sometimes their rents are only $50. Why? They have no jobs. There's no economic development. They want to buy housing. We have a strong home ownership program, there again, thanks to our Commissioner, and we have people in public housing that don't want to stay in public housing. It was never the design of public housing to be permanent housing. Well, people are literally between a rock and a hard place, and with taxes, no jobs, no economic development;; they will remain there, so we think that it's time to think out of the box. I was talking to the gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Jim Davis, earlier today, and we made it absolutely clear to him that he has to have a cabinet -level position for affordable housing and to address this whole thing with taxes and insurance. That is -- that has to be an absolute mandate for the people. I was in the supermarket. I overheard a woman saying that she had to move out because her rent went from four hundred dollars or eight hundred and some dollars, and she said she's moving in with her mother, and then she's going to Georgia. A woman called me last night that lived in the City ofMiami Gardens, and lo and behold -- I mean, she's one of the leading women up there fighting for crime watch, and she -- and lo and behold, she says, well, Ken, I'm moving, and I'm moving to Georgia, and I don't think that that's the solution that we have to really run and run away from this problem. We have to straighten this out, and if we have to come together as a body, as a group, as a city, and that's what I think is required. We have to come together as a city, and all the public housing stands with you Commissioners. We stand together. We stand united, and we're ready. I see Mr. David Schuler is here, and he will tell you, you want the people, we will get them there. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, sir. Mr. Knight: Make no doubt about it, but we need to move, just like our Commissioner Michelle Spence -Jones is saying. We need to take 50,000, and we stand ready, as residents of public housing, to join you in that effort. Thank you very much. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you so much. Thank you. Anyone else? Yes, sir. Good evening. Michael Buckley: Hello. Hello to everybody. My name is Mr. Buckley, Michael, Michael Buckley, and I reside in the City ofMiami Gardens; been there for 18 years. My rental property is in Little River, in the City ofMiami. I have a small apartment building there; maintain it; a clean, safe, quiet environment for my tenants. In 2004, I got one of these notices here, and the City ofMiami raised up my property taxes by 35 percent. I didn't complain. I went ahead and paid the exfra bills, and I did, when I went to pay my taxes -- sometimes I end up going on the last day of the month, and paid by cash or money order down at the clerk's office at 111 West Flagler Street, and I made a complaint. I said, why are the taxes gone up 35 percent, and -- well, she didn't have much of an answer, but she did say, well, you know, that's in your favor because it increases your property value as well, and just raise your rents, so I did, and that was in 2004, and you know, that's only two years ago, and I sort of just got everything leveled out, and did some landscaping there; did some painting. It looks nice. Got some new tenants. I had some bad ones, and I just kind of got everything leveled out, and now I get this notice a few weeks ago; going to raise up my taxes another 35 percent. I said, wow, you know, it's time to go. It's time to just go up there to Georgia, where my brother is, and live cheaper. You know, as I drive from the southwest to the northwest, I was born here in Doctor's Hospital in 1958. That makes me 48 years old. I've seen the development from Florida City all the way up to the eastside, the west side. We didn't have the Hammocks in the west areas out in Kendall. We used to go pick beans and tomatoes in the field, but now it's all developed, and every time I see a new home or condo going up, I think, hey, there's another building planted there for the next hundred, two hundred years, whatever it may be, that gives the City ofMiami a paycheck every year, and every three months, or whatever it may be, so I see the development and so many buildings going in, so many condos, and I think to myself that's enough. They have enough. They're maintaining, because every time there's a new building planted, they increase the taxes, City ofMiami Page 46 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 and they get more money, so I'm thinking, well, they're fine. Why -- they could just leave me alone, but no. Now I get this, and just -- this is the first time I've ever come to a public meeting and voiced my opinions, but according to this, it says, your taxes this year, if proposed budget change is made, is in column two. Your taxes this year, if no change is made, is in column three. Obviously, my taxes are going up, at least by 15 percent, according to column three, but I thought me as just one individual, just not a rich man, not a poor man, but just a guy frying to make out in this world. I thought maybe -- should I go down there and say no, I do not support column two. I do not support the higher increase. Could you just stick with column three? Give me the 15 percent. Please don't go up 30 percent at this time, because I don't want to go to my tenants and tell them, well, you know, I got to go up on your rent again. I don't want to do that, and guess what? My job is not going to go up 30 percent,; give me an increase in my pay, 30 percent annual increase. That's not going to happen, so where is the money going to come from? The money's going to come partially from my tenant, partially out of my pocket, and I'm just discouraged, and I'm tired, and I'm not happy, and I'm here to say no, I do not propose these increases in column two. Chairman Gonzalez: But let me interrupt you. Mr. Buckley: Yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: You're here to say no to that column, column number 3. Mr. Buckley: Absolutely, and that's the only reason I'm here. Chairman Gonzalez: You know what you need to do? But you need -- you know, you're -- to say no to that column, you're in the wrong place. Mr. Buckley: Oh. Unidentified Speaker: The County. Mr. Buckley: Well, ifI've got it backwards -- Chairman Gonzalez: You need to go to County Hall and tell the County government, I don't want this column. Mr. Buckley: Oh, I'm in the City ofMiami. Chairman Gonzalez: Right, but we are not the ones that impose those taxes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: And you got homestead exemption. Chairman Gonzalez: It's the taxes. Mr. Buckley: Oh, is that the wrong --? Yeah, I got homestead where I live. It's that -- Ms. Thompson: I can't record -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Oh, no, no. Go ahead. Go ahead. Let me just borrow this for a minute. Let me just study it a little bit. I'll give it back to you. Mr. Buckley: And that was the other thing -- and homestead exemption, by the way -- and I heard you address it. Thank you. I hope that goes, because the 25, 000's got to change. You know, give us a break. We keep paying more, more, more, but our deductions stay the same, so we got to change that. Did I give you the wrong --? City ofMiami Page 47 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, no. Mr. Buckley: So I do have homestead exemption at this address, not at that address. This is my private home in Miami Gardens. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Is that -- that concludes your presentation, right? Mr. Buckley: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you so much. Yes, sir. Yes. Welcome. Can we have your -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: I think he just -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- name and address, please? Manuel Castineiras: I think he's next. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Chairman -- Leroy Jones: Michelle. Mr. Castineiras: Go ahead. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- he was there first. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Go ahead. Mr. Jones: Hello. My name is Leroy Jones, Neighbors & Neighbors Association, 180 Northwest 62nd Street. I'm having the Clerk pass out some binders that I want the Commissioner to consider in this year's general funds budget. Of course, we listen to all the arguments in reference to property taxes going up on residential property, but it's also going up on commercial property as well, because of the construction and the demand in property. A lot of small commercial property owners is being faced with the same thing, with the property taxes increasing, but not only that, the insurance, the cost of insurance is inflating for commercial properties, if, in some cases, in some areas, they can get insurance for commercial properties. I want them -- take the time to make this pitch to have the Commission consider sitting aside some money in the budget to help with small businesses in y'all disfrict. I put together a package so that you all can look at I know general funds is totally different from CDBG dollars. Also know that a lot of the small property owners that's not fortunate enough to own their commercial property rent from landowners who have to now pass the cost on, just like the residential properties that the residential property owners own, they now have to pass that cost on to their tenants, as well, and you know, they're suffering. They're going through the same things the property owners is going through, the residential property owners, and more so, because not only they have a responsibility for a residential property, but they also have a responsibility for a commercial property, so luckily, in some cases, a lot of the property owners -- commercial property owners own and occupy the space, but for those who don't own and occupy the space, they have to take on the additional costs that we're being hit with because of the rise of the economy. I'm hoping that the Commission will take the time and consider the proposal of the package that we put together. We asking the City to consider, in each disfrict, adopting a mom and pop grant program. Little background about it. They started in '99 in one disfrict with $50, 000, in Dade County. Now it has a hundred -- $1.95 million, but it's a countywide program, so it's only $150, 000 per district. Well -- Chairman Gonzalez: No wonder. City of Miami Page 48 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Jones: --1.95 sounds like a lot, but it's really not. Chairman Gonzalez: No wonder the County keeps raising taxes, because they're throwing money out of the window like there is not -- not their money -- Mr. Jones: Well -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- you know -- Mr. Jones: -- Commissioner, I -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- with trains, with programs, with -- you know, they're throwing money out of the window right and left; that's why they have to increase the taxes of the people that pay taxes in the County and in the City. Mr. Jones: Well, I don't think that have anything with increasing -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah, it does. Mr. Jones: -- the taxes, because that money comes from occupational license, so I don't think that has anything to do with increasing the property taxes, and property -- commercial owners -- business owners have the right to request assistance from the City and the County as well, because they paying taxes as well, too. They paying for license. Chairman Gonzalez: We all -- Mr. Jones: They deserve to request -- Chairman Gonzalez: We all -- Mr. Jones: -- some assistance, too. Chairman Gonzalez: -- pay taxes. We all -- Leroy, we all pay taxes -- Mr. Jones: Yes, sir. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and when you open a business, you either win or lose. I have owned businesses myself. Mr. Jones: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: In some of them, I made money. In some of them, I lost it, but I couldn't have neither the City, the County, or the federal government come and give me a check because I lost money on my business, you know. It was a risk that I took. Mr. Jones: Well, Commissioner, I don't think I said anything, and I'm asking for money because a business owner lost money in they business. I don't think that's what I said. Chairman Gonzalez: Well, you're telling me that -- Mr. Jones: I said that they enduring the high cost of the cost of this economy just like everybody else -- Chairman Gonzalez: Like everybody else. City of Miami Page 49 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Jones: -- and to say that small businesses is the backbone of this country -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah. Mr. Jones: -- so if -- you know, to say that the City is not responsible for helping small businesses, you know, I don't think that's fair, because they pay taxes and they put money into this economy just like everybody else, so -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We -- Mr. Jones: -- if they can take the time -- if they can live their dreams -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah. Mr. Jones: -- to open up a business, to employ people and put money into this economy, then they should be able to take money out of this economy --- Chairman Gonzalez: That's right. Mr. Jones: -- too, just like everybody else. Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah. We sub -- Mr. Jones: You know. Chairman Gonzalez: We should subsidize businesses in the economy in the City ofMiami. Mr. Jones: You know, they should. They should be able to benefit just like everybody else, Commissioner, because they employing the people. I mean -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right, all right. Mr. Jones: -- everybody agree social service is a big issue in the County, but you know what? It all boils down to a dollar bill, because a lot of times, if you got money, it can deal with your public and social issues, you know, so if you ain't got no money, then, you know -- that's what makes the social -- in social -- in public issues so big. It all boils down to a dollar bill. If you ain't able to -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Mr. Jones: -- work -- Commissioner Sanchez: All right. Mr. Jones: -- if you ain't able to live the American Dream, I think -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Jones, let -- Chairman Gonzalez: OK. We got your message. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Right. I just want to -- I do want to add, because you are a consistent within my district and you've been in the struggle for a long time supporting small businesses, so I wouldn't expect for you to do anything less than what you're doing, and I do know, just from where I sit now, frying to support many of these small businesses and keeping City ofMiami Page 50 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 their doors open -- and we have introduced this year alone, through the CDBG process, different innovative things that we could do to support those businesses. One of the things that I am encountering because of the resfrictions that are attached to the HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) dollars to support these type of programs, such as where we're pulling a lot of this money out, a lot of the times either -- whether or not it be for facade treatment, support programs, or whatever it is that the businesses may need, because there's resfrictions, there's certain dollars -- we can't use the dollars a certain way, and many of these businesses that have to have certain requirements, like insurance requirements, you know -- and Marlene can tell you the same thing, because y'all both run programs supporting small businesses, that the whole purpose, I thought, of this discussion was centered around having some cushion money made available to do small -- mom and pop programs to help offset for those kind of costs that because of HUD and because of you know, the CDBG process, you know, there's many resfrictions. I'm going to be honest. It's been -- I can't wait to go out tomorrow to visit Allapattah, because I've been in office for eight months, Commissioner Gonzalez, and I can tell you, I -- before I even got in office, I'm still trying to get one project completed -- Chairman Gonzalez: You said October. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- from something we started on for Facade Program, and that's because many of the businesses are struggling and they don't have the necessary things it takes because of the requirements from HUD, so I respect what you're saying and I understand that you've been saying, from day one, that you need monies that don't have the same type of strings attached to it in order to really help the businesses -- Mr. Jones: Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- so it's respected and it's heard. Mr. Jones: You know -- Commissioner Haskins: And I -- Mr. Jones: -- and I'm going to close with this, Commissioner. Commissioner Haskins: Wait. Hold on -- Mr. Jones: Yes, yes. Commissioner Haskins: -- just a second, Leroy, because when I took this seat, I went to Leroy to help me out with the pilot program in Village West, and I have to say that he's just done a great job with this -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Haskins: -- and we do have some struggling businesses that need some technical assistance, need a little bit of a leg up, and in an area that is very difficult to germinate new businesses, so I have to say that I'm very happy with the work that you've done for us, and I want to see it go forward. Mr. Jones: Thank you, Commissioner. You know, Commissioner -- and I'm going to close with this -- you know, it's -- for a long time, there has not been someone who comes around and fight and dedicate themselves so hard to the often forgotten people, which is the small businesses, and in the last four years, I would say, the City have -- had adopted a lot of new license requirements. Now you have to pay for a license if you got a hot -- if you selling hot dogs. If you selling coffee, you got to have a license. If you selling ice, you got to have a license. When all City of Miami Page 51 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 those license used to fall under one license, a merchants license, now it depends on what you selling in the store, so one business owner might end up having to pay the City for seven different types of license. You know, when at one time, that was unheard of or it was only two license that require, so these businesses is taking on a lot of extra expense due to the changes in the City, you know, and for us to not to feel that we shouldn't help small businesses, if the opportunity was available, I think it's sad, man, because everybody comes from some kind of-- somebody in they household that have a business background, you know, and Commissioner Gonzalez, I respect you, you know, and hope the mu --I hope the feeling is likewise, because you come from the same type of background I come from, a nonprofit. You used to run a nonprofit just like me, so if anybody up here know how dedicated you have to be and how hard you have to work to get your point across and to get things done, it should be you, so when I come up here fighting for small businesses, I support -- I expect you to support me when I'm right. Chairman Gonzalez: And I have supported you. Mr. Jones: And I expect that, you know, because you understand, and Commissioner Regalado, you said to me one time, you said, "Leroy, I like you because -- Chairman Gonzalez: I -- Mr. Jones: -- you persistent -- Chairman Gonzalez: I have -- Mr. Jones: -- and you don't give up," you know, and that's the type of person that the City needs. That's the type of person -- everybody should be a type of person that fight for things that they believe in, and I do believe that the City need to sit back and take the time and do more to help the small businesses that is dying in the City ofMiami because of the increase of -- and inflation of the economy. I really think so, you know, and ain't nobody gone change my mind about how I feel about that because I deal with it everyday -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We got you. Mr. Jones: -- you know. Chairman Gonzalez: We got your point. Thank you so much. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Well understood. Mr. Jones: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Good evening. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Well understood. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Good evening. Manuel Castineiras: Hi. My name is Manuel Castineiras, and live at 8101 Abbott Avenue, Apartment 1, in Miami Beach, and I'm here for the taxes and the insurance, as well. Mainly -- Chairman Gonzalez: In Miami Beach? Mr. Castineiras: Miami Beach. Chairman Gonzalez: But you own -- City ofMiami Page 52 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Castineiras: Yeah, but I'm a resident of -- I was a resident ofMiami, until like a year ago, and I own properties in Miami. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. All right. Mr. Castineiras: One of them being a duplex, which you know, have to do with -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Mr. Castineiras: -- the taxes going up in one part of the duplex compared to the -- or even though I have homestead exemption on the other because my father lives there. Like I say, I move like a year ago. Why? Because of the increase of everything going in Miami, including taxes and insurance, and normally, you are to -- you know, in your life, you are making -- normally, you fry to make more money and you fry to get a better car, a better house, a -- you know, a better everything, but that is not happening in -- that was not happening with me in my case because I have to move from the house that I was living for 17 years, and now I have to move -- or I had to move into an apartment, which I'm not very happy with, and that was due because of all that that's going on. That's one example. My brother also had to do the same. He just recently sold the house, a wonderful house, in Miami, because of the taxes and, of course, because of insurance, and now he's looking for another place to live. He went for apartments, and for townhouses, but after living in a house, it's very difficult to adjust, and now he's, you know, like -- just yesterday, I went with him to see -- look at a house, and this is a house that's in 3521 Northwest 3rd Street. It's not Coral Gables, it's not Coconut Grove, or it's not -- it is a two -bedroom, one bath, 1,036 square footage of house, and I'm so surprised when -- or I was very surprised when I got this information from the realtor, and when I also went to the City to get more information in reference to the house, and this house, which is a two -bedroom, one, so only a couple and another child can live in, and this house is being charged for -- with $4,951 -- Chairman Gonzalez: In taxes. Mr. Castineiras: -- in taxes, so how much a month would that be? Almost $500. That's only the insurance -- the taxes. What about the insurance, which I'm sure is going to be another $4, 000? So my brother, how can he buy a house -- how can someone buy the house, someone that has a regular job and pay 4,900 in taxes and pay another 4,700 in insurance, not considering the mortgage? Chairman Gonzalez: And pay the mortgage. Mr. Castineiras: Right. Chairman Gonzalez: I under -- we all understand it. Mr. Castineiras: I -- going back to values going up and whatever. What if one day this could happen and this is happening in Lehigh. I own a lot in Lehigh, and I pay very little for it. It was value at thousand -- like maybe one, two thousand. As the value went up, there went up as well, and at one point, they were asked -- you know, people were buying my lot for like 60,000, 70, 000, which I didn't sell at that time, stupid me. I just happen to get a tax bill from them as well with the same thing. It went from last year 20,000 to 50,000, but the problem wouldn't -- in this case, in Lehigh, is that there are so many lots now being on the market that no one will give me $20, 000 for my lot, so do you think that could happen here as well, houses being valued at 500,000 and being in the market for 200 because no one can afford to buy a house? Chairman Gonzalez: I think it eventually -- City ofMiami Page 53 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Castineiras: And that is happening there, so that could happen here as well. Chairman Gonzalez: That could happen here. That very well could happen here. Mr. Castineiras: Because like the lady was talking about leaving, of course, there would be a lot of people leaving, and I'm thinking about myself so -- and you know, it's very concerning. The Mayor was talking about crime, you know, being -- you know, he -- you know, he's very happy that crime is -- what is those people not having money and then the crime and insurance going to be go up because of the -- no. People are paying 70 percent of their salary in rents and, you know, stuff like that, and not being able to, you know, afford buying food or clothing or whatever, so they have to stole cars and they have to, you know, break into other -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah. Mr. Castineiras: -- people's house, which is happening already, because my uncle just had a van stolen from the front of the house, a 1993 van. I mean, who wants a 1993 van? And this happen right there on 37Avenue and 13th Street, so I mean, I think -- I'm not very optimistic about what's going to happen in the City ofMiami, and that's all my concerns. Chairman Gonzalez: We're all very concerned. Thank you very much. Mr. Castineiras: You're welcome. Chairman Gonzalez: Anyone else from the public that wants to speak on the item? Yes, sir. Luis Herrera: My name is Luis Herrera. I represent the Vizcaya Homeowners' Association. I live in 1181 Southwest 22nd Terrace. Mine is short, real short, because all the comments over here is the same one, but I bring some ideas by hearing the people here. I think the raising the value of the property, that's come from the problems that we have right now. In the value of the property that come out with the -- all kind of construction we have right now, and the soon they building high rising, the value come up, up. I ask you, the City, only -- the Commissioners, if you thinking about it, because us, we are middle-class people. The City be -- all -- the Dade County, whatever, they thinking about the construction and resolve the problems of the money that they need to pay whatever, buy cars and all of that. Now I asking the Commissioners over here, they thinking about it. Find out -- companies, they build cars. They that can come down here to Miami build here and put some people to work; investment in Miami so that way, we resolve the problem; we don't have to be build more houses so the value of our property then come up, up. I think we coming all together, like Tomas Regalado said. I think all you, the Commissioners, step up and let me know, because I'm helping everybody to complain about it, whatever we got to go, get the signatures, and we doing what have to be done, and I think everybody together, we protesting, and we can win all these situation, and the salaries over here is still the same, and everything go raise up, so I think everybody, they know already so we don't have to be talk anymore about raising taxes as a way out. We have to be complain about these taxes, and that's what we going to do. Whatever you ready to protest, he have my phone number -- Tomas have my phone number. I can collect signatures and either with the other association, too. Thank you very much. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, sir. Thank you. Anyone else? All right. Seeing none and hearing none, we close the public hearing, and we bring it back to the Commission. Vice Chairman Sanchez. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, I have sat here for three and a half hours, and I have listened to the residents of the City ofMiami, the people that we work for, although this is a budget hearing and the official budget proceedings have started, once the Mayor have given his budget address, and once the Budget director hands over to the City Clerk the budget, we start City ofMiami Page 54 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 that process. Let me just say that I -- I'm very sympathetic to all the complaints that we've heard here today, but I think the number one issue today that we've spoken on has been on ad valorem taxes and increase of taxes in our city. I don't think anyone has addressed the budget in itself in Miami, and I will do that when this is done, but while everyone was talking, I took the opportunity to take a trim note -- that is what everybody receives based on your taxes -- and I just decided to do a little bit of math on this frim note, and the property value that I picked up was a middle -- high -end property value to really show the increases, because the more the property, the more the increase, in many cases, and let's just go through it, and I'll be very brief. OK. You have -- in the trim, you get taxed by the County, you get taxed by the School Board, state law and local board, then you get Miami, then you get water management, which has a district and the Everglades CP, then you get independent special districts. Of course, these are the ones that people voted and approved. That's the Children's Trust, and the FIND (Florida Inland navigation District), and then the voters approved the debt payments for the County, the School Board, and Miami. Let me just compare them. Let's go to the County. The property value here is $742, 000. I picked a high -end home so we could really see the increases, because the more the property value, the more the increase. This property is homestead exemption, homestead exemption, OK. A lot of the complaints that you hear today are people that aren't homestead exemption, OK, so the County wentfrom last year, where the property paid $3,928.14 to $4,604.85, that's an increase of $1, 324 on the County side. Public schools on state law went from $3, 248.77 to $3, 714.45, an increase of $468. The local board went from $1,696 to $1,992. That's an increase of 296. The City, OK, and that's the City. When you say the City, that is the property appraiser for the County that appraises the property within the City, and it went from $5, 562.59 to $6, 677.63. That's $1,115 increase. The rest are just minor increases, but the total increase of one year for this property was $3, 435. Now, let's talk what we're responsible for; what I'm responsible for, as your Commissioner; what we're all responsible for in the City, because we got no control over insurance. We ain't got no confrol over gas prices. We don't have any confrol over the County assessing the property. We don't have any confrol over the School Board. Here's where we have the control. We could lower your millage, and we've done this this year. As a matter of fact, since 2002, we have lowered your millage from 10.2, which is the highest by state law, to 925, OK. That's a reduction, but you know. You go, yeah, you reduced my millage. It isn't worth anything to me when the County increases my taxes. Now, the other issue that we have control over is the fire fee, and we have reduced the fire fee from $61 to $31, and yes, somebody brought up that we're still in the settlement, and once we settle that, people will be reimbursed and the rebate will probably be established where you will get your money back. I have not supported it because I cannot fathom to pay attorneys who did nothing - - just to say that they're representing you and they're asking for $3 million. I'd rather take that money and give it back to the people, OK, but that's opinion my opinion on that. The garbage fee. The -- Dade County pays $449 a year. We have committed to the taxpayers not to increase it for five years, and leave it at 325. You're getting the best service in the state of Florida by the finest employees of the state of Flo -- City ofMiami picking up your garbage twice a week; once a week on heavy bulk, and recycling, so those are the issues that we have control over, and I could honestly tell you that we have done everything we can to reduce your taxes in the City of Miami. Now I have -- and I have heard all the concerns that people have, and I tell you, we all agree on the issue. Taxes go up, people that own property either have to take it out of their pockets or pass it down to the person who's making six bucks an hour, who can't pay it, and those are the people that are being either one, left out and becoming homeless, and we don't need that problem in the City, and it's -- they're given the burden. I have, in listening to my colleagues and listening to you, prepared a resolution, and I've heard a lot of ideas. Here's a resolution I want to present to you, and hopefully, my colleagues will support me. It is a resolution of the City ofMiami Commission opposing the methodology used by the Miami -Dade County Commissioner, which impose profound and increase on the ad valorem assessment to residents' properties in the City ofMiami, strongly urging the property appraiser ofMiami-Dade County to base valuation on rental properties on the income from said properties as contemplated in Section 1930117 of the Florida Statute; requesting that the City Manager determine the feasibility of redress for the citizens ofMiami with the intent of obtaining relief in City ofMiami Page 55 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 order to protect the residents -- residential properties, owners in the City ofMiami from inflated and unfair valuated properties, and this is what's happening now. They're using a methodology - - how do you say it? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Methodology. Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): Methodology. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- methodology. It's a hard word to pronounce, but it's a state methodology that they use, and the state dictates that, and in a way, it is very unfair because they evaluate, within a mile radius, properties, and even if you have not done anything to your property -- and you've heard people say, you know, I haven't even painted my house. I haven't even done a penny of repair, but still, based on the taxes that are -- the tax base new around my property -- my tax properties are increasing. Well, we challenged that. You know, one shoe does not fit all. The other thing that we need to focus on -- and we have done everything we can within our power, even passing a straw vote to get the property appraiser from the County to be elected. We need to unify and come together and go to County Hall, as my colleague stated, and really oppose the injustice that we're doing to the hard-working people ofMiami. It is an incredible injustice, but the only power that we have is to come together and go to County Hall and make the County Manager, make the County Mayor, and make the Commissioners realize that, you know, taxation has to be done by representation, not by obligations to meet expenses, and at the end of the day, when the County does their budget, if they're over that budget, they increase property values, and they make it up, and still, there isn't a face, there isn't an individual that we could hold accountable. We're held accountable. We have elections every four years. You don't like what we're doing, you could vote us out. It's as simple as that, but this individual, as Commissioner Regalado stated, most of you don't even know his name, so that's a situation that we're in, and this resolution that I presented, I would like to have my colleagues support it, so we could start the process of letting County Hall know that we will not accept this anymore. That's the only way we're going to resolve this issue, by coming together and addressing this in a unified manner, so having said that, Mr. City Attorney, I would like my --I would make the motion to approve this resolution. Is there a second? Commissioner Haskins: Second. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Can I --? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Discussion on it, and then we'll go straight into the budget itself. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I'll defer to you first. Commissioner Regalado: They would respond to you the same thing that they respond when the Mayor came out with a plan to tax or assess the property by income, and you know, the County Manager at that time said in the paper, no, we don't consider that, and the tax assessor said, well, that's not the way that we do things here. What the Mayor didn't respond at that time -- andl did a little research, and maybe the City Attorney can help us on this -- is that the state Supreme Court, in a case of a county versus a resident and a resident versus a county, mandated that property assessment should be done using first the income of the buildings, commercial and rental. That's a mandate, but since the ruling of the state Supreme Court was vague, in terms of "shall," they still use -- Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): "May." Commissioner Regalado: -- here in Miami -Dade County the Code of the State of Florida, which is -- would give you dozens of dozens of options. You know, they use the options that really screw us, and this is the way that it is been done. I think that -- you know, I think that we should City ofMiami Page 56 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 support that resolution. I think that we should go to the County. I think that we should -- like I said before, you know, this city was the one -- and you know, some times I say the things that are not politically correct, but they are the things that need to be said. When I presented, I think three years ago, the issue of the straw ballot in the City ofMiami election -- I think it was 2004, it was? 2004? Ms. Thompson: Yes, it was. It was on the County's election (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- Commissioner Regalado: Right, 2004, 2004. It was supported by all the members of the Commission. However, it was sabotaged by the Administration, because it never got any advertising on Miami TV (television) or the information that we sent out to the residents, and then when somebody sue, and we had to go to appeal, it was Commissioner Winton who said that he will never ever like to spend any money in fighting this case, and you know what? We never knew how many people in the City ofMiami voted for the election of the property appraiser. That's history, but that's the Truth, and you know, the thing about moving on and all that, we have -- you know, for two days, United States have been watching a documentary about the path to 9/11. Somebody has to be held accountable for what happened on that day, and history will judge. What we can do as residents, go to County Hall, support that resi -- get signature. If the County Commission does not want to place that on the ballot for technicality, we can get the signatures. I swear to you that we're going to have help from the media to get people mobilized, and you know what? You know what we should do? Next year, vote down the Children's Trust, because the Children's Trust lied to us. The Children's Trust said that they will use the money to buy insurance for children that didn't have insurance, and they're using the money for other things. In fact, they have $67 million in the bank as of now, and the Children Trust, it's $0.50 for every $1, 000 of your property, so I say, you know, it's about time that we stand up. It's about time that, you know, we get upset. It's about time that we say, like this guy in the old network movie, you know, I'm fed up. I cannot take it anymore, and if we don't do this, then we're going to -- they're going to walk all over us again next year, and again next year we're -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Regalado: -- going to see the parade of people, so I second the resolution -- the motion of -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: But it doesn't mean that we have to give up. The issue here -- I'm just putting a -- Commissioner Regalado: I'm not giving up. I'm saying we have to fight -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- but -- Commissioner Regalado: -- but you know, Mr. Vice Chairman, asking nicely is nice, but the only thing that people understand is the power of the vote and the power of the signatures. You know, look -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: And the power -- Commissioner Regalado: -- again -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- of a resolution signed by five Commissioners that clearly state that enough is enough. We have to start somewhere, and all that I'm doing is -- because we could spend hours here on rhetoric. All that I'm saying is we have a problem. Let's -- Commissioner Regalado: Well -- City ofMiami Page 57 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- find a solution. The solution -- Commissioner Regalado: -- I don't believe -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- on the table is -- Commissioner Regalado: -- that use rhetoric -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, no, and I'm not -- Commissioner Regalado: -- here. I don't believe -- because I was the one that place it in the ballot three years ago, when nobody wanted to help me, the property appraiser. This is not rhetorical. This is history. This is reality. It wasn't rhetoric at that time, and you know, I can say to all of you, I told you so, because I saw this coming, and now we have a crisis -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: We all supported you on the issue. Commissioner Regalado: -- and -- I know you did. I know you did, but I'm saying -- and I said that was sabotaged by the Administration, not by the Commission. Thank you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Gentlemen, gentlemen. Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, no, no, no. Wait. hold on, hold on, hold on. The issue here is on the residential property. That's the biggest complaint that we get from people that, you know, they're not covered under homestead exception[sic], and the property taxes are being increased, and they're basically forced to pass it on to the tenants. This is -- this resolution, I believe it's well-defined where it will have the four -- the five, and even the Mayor, if he wants to sign it, in full support, focusing on the residential properties. Under Section 193 of the state of Florida, there are mandate of-- as to what they can impose. They need to follow it, those guidelines, and that's all that we're asking here, and then, you know, we'll also include in that we can have the property appraiser be put back on a vote. We should continue that. As a matter of fact, I'm glad that other cities are joining. I'm glad to see thatMi -- that Hialeah is joining, and I'm glad to see that other cities are supporting this, so -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: I just want to make two comments. First of all, I want to acknowledge Commissioner Regalado's foresight to see something that was going to be an issue, so I think it's important to acknowledge that you did see something that was going to eventually become a problem and we're addressing. I also wanted to at least acknowledge my colleague for -- because we've been talking about this for the last couple of hours, but you know, to having the leadership to at least put it in writing today, tonight, so it becomes a formal action for us to follow. I just want to be mindful, as we move ahead and we decide to, actually, go there and, you know, make our presentations to our fellows colleagues -- because I still consider them to be our colleagues -- and we all have our own relationships with various County Commissioners, and thank God, we have a City Manager that is just coming from County Hall, which I think that also will help us in making our plea. I just think that we need to work it both ways. I think that we need to definitely be there for the budget hearing meeting. I think that's the right thing to do, to send the message to them and to our residents that we're serious about it, butl also think that we need to also utilize our time to kind of reach out to those County Commissioners prior to that -- to us even going there, to try to figure out a way so that they don't feel bum -rushed [sic] by this situation, and -- as if we're only pointing the fingers at them, even though, you know, the fingers need to be pointed there, but I just -- we just -- we're just -- we have just patched up our relationship with County government over there, and I think a lot has had -- this has happened because of our relationship with our new City Manager that came from the County, so I just City of Miami Page 58 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 think that we need to -- we just -- we need to figure out a way to do it, and, yes, have the same level of intensity, like Commissioner Regalado and Commissioner Sanchez says, to hold their feet to the fire regarding it, but let's also fry to find a way to reach out beyond that point. I'm going to get on the phone tomorrow and start calling every County Commissioner that have over there that have a relationship with to kind of make some sort of impact with them, and I just want to send that same message, and I see wisdom sitting on the dais saying, little one, you just don't know, at the end of the dais over here, but I'm just making that suggestion, thatl think that we should also try both routes, and that's it. Commissioner Regalado: If they -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Regalado: -- were watching in the County all this afternoon, Pete Hernandez will not be able to go past the front door of a County building. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Call the question. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a resolution on the floor, and we had a motion and a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Larry -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Mr. Attorney, Madam Attorney, could you have that prepared to be signed by all five Commissioners and the Mayor? Mr. Fernandez: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Now this is the budget. BH.3 is the budget -- Mr. Spring: Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: BH.3. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- which we will not be taking any action, just to get -- Mr. Spring: Won't take any action, but if there's additional information or feedback you want to present, I'm ready to take notes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: And, of course, public input, which they already had. Mr. Spring: We've already done, yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Who wants -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Let's move to BH.4, right? Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, no, no, no. Let's -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: BH.3. Vice Chairman Sanchez: I have -- City of Miami Page 59 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: You have a discussion on BH.3? Commissioner Spence -Jones: I have questions, too. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- plenty of concerns with the budget as we speak, and let me just start by saying that the biggest responsibility that we have is to approve a balanced budget, and that is truly -- we are the guardians of the people's money. I mean, it's -- we have to make sure that the money is spent wisely and prudently, and it's all based on priority and service. I think, at the end of the day, what people want is their sidewalks fixed, their garbage picked up, they want to have safe streets, they want to make sure that if their family member needs rescue, rescue's there, and that's the number one responsibility that we have. We are a business -- we are business providers. We provide -- we fry to provide the best possible service based on the amount of money that the taxpayers see in the budget. Now one of the concerns that have -- and I think that the Mayor said it best, when he said that this budget must be set -- clear priorities based on what we need. We -- Budget director -- Larry, could you come up? We -- through your presentation and based on service, I think that the number one issue is that we want to make sure that we provide the best possible service to our residents, OK I'm glad to see that 35 new police officers are being added. I'm glad to see that 30 firefighters are being added to this. I'm glad to see that five other positions are being added to GSA (General Services Administration), but think one of the biggest concerns that was brought forth was the parks, and although, you know, our parks are getting better everyday with the projects that we have, I -- I'm still very concerned, and I want to have an assurance that we do have a proper maintenance plan in place to assure that those parks, once they're built, they're kept up, because if they're not kept up, then we're going to end up, you know, having to spend more money to keep these parks well maintained, so that's one of the concerns that have. The other concern that have is we have certain responsibilities that we need to meet here, and I know that based on contractual -- we have to make sure that all our facilities throughout the City are in good conditions. I know that Solid Waste had some problems with their facility. I know that the Fire Department also has some problems with their facility, and we need to make sure that we address that. We must provide the best possible resources to our employees to be able to provide a good service. People don't want service anymore; they want results, and that's something that want to emphasize in this budget hearing. I also want to talk to you about what the Mayor stated as to the long-term challenges that lie ahead for this City. One of the biggest issues -- and I think there are two storms brewing, and at least, you know, we've had the opportunity to prepare ourselves with plenty of warning, and one of the issues is going to be CIP (Capital Improvements Program). CIP -- and today several items were pulled from the agenda, and Mr. City Manager, I praise you for that, to try to find ways to, you know, make those projects work, but having the confidence and the trust of the people who voted for those bond issuance projects to get done expeditiously and in a proper way without going over costs and making sure the projects are done properly. One of the biggest concerns that have, folks -- and there's no way to avoid it. The cliff is getting closer, the storm is getting closer, and that is pensions. You heard the Mayor. It speaks for itself. You know, this year alone, the first check we have to cut out is $79 million. That is a hemorrhage that we cannot stop, and you know what? We've all stated up here our employees are good employees. We want to make sure they're compensated well, but there's an old saying that says you can't kill the goose that lays the golden egg, and we have to work together to find a solution to this. Let me just give you wild numbers for you to just -- and I can't even fathom these numbers in the last couple of years. 2003, we had to cut a check for $19 million; 2004, $47 million; '05, $65 million; '06, $73 million. I can only anticipate the numbers are going to be going higher, and we need to sit down with the unions. We need to work out our differences. We need to assure the public, the taxpayers that we will do everything we can -- and know thatl will -- to make sure that we never end up in a situation we were in several years ago, when we had an oversight board placed by the Governor, when we had a $68 million deficit, all right. City of Miami Page 60 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Those were hard times. I don't ever want to go through those hard times, and I certainly don't want the next individual who will sit in this chair to have to go through that hard time, so I'm hoping that through these contract negotiations, we're able to find a solution to these problems to assure the taxpayers that we could make a difference, we care about the City. We could use a lot of that money to do a lot of good in this city and fix sidewalks, and improve our parks, and improve the quality of life, and make sure that we provide the proper and best security and services to our residents, so pension, to me, is a big problem. The budget in itself, if you look at the operating cost of the budget, it's only one percent increase, and let me tell you, I have to praise the Administration. I have to praise them for only going up one percent. I mean, if you went up ten percent, fifteen percent, then I would -- we would be worried, but one percent is not bad at all. I think all the departments stayed within their scope and within their range, but tell you this much, I honestly feel that there's still some more cutting to do. I still think that we could reduce this budget and maintain a good level of service to our residents, and it's going to take leadership. It's going to take a commitment, but if we're able to do that, I think that we could win back the frust of a lot of people who have given up that confidence in this government, who continue to question this government expenditure, and today there were several resolutions that were put forth to assure accountability and assure transparency that we need to take into consideration, so I am glad that we're not taking any action in this budget. I am glad that we're just providing input, and I certainly look to the advice and recommendations of my colleagues. I praise the Mayor for his budget address today that really focused on what the City needs to be doing to gearing up for the future, and in closing, I know that there was a lady who I -- I don't know if she's here. Eileen Bottari, she's here? She's gone? Eileen, you spoke about parks. Would you come up for a minute, since we're addressing the budget? I know you, yourself and someone else spoke about parks. I could honestly say that I'm very proud of what we've been able to do in our parks in the last couple of years with the limited resources. We've gone way and beyond looking for impact fees to create better parks in our community, but agree with you. We could have the best parks in the world, but if we don't have the proper programs for our children, we're defeating our purpose, and I could guarantee you, and I give you my word, thatl will do whatever it takes to make sure that will be able to contribute something to the Parks Department that will focus on creating more programs for our children; that, I give you. Ms. Bottari: In this coming budget? Vice Chairman Sanchez: In this budget. I -- and I also ask of my colleagues to continue to put pressure on the Administration, because I believe that we could still cut some money, and I'll tell you one thing that was said here, and I want to emphasize very strongly. Two Commissioners have said it, and I want to emphasize on that. Do not even come to see me if we're going to tap into our reserves to meet CIP demands. Don't even waste your time. Don't come see me. I don't want to talk to you about that. I'll talk to you about other issues that will make this budget healthier and will make this budget more acceptable to the voters of the City ofMiami, and if you look at the organizational chart, I'm not the boss here, he is not the boss here; each and every one of you out there that live in the City, you're the boss. We work for you, so be proud of this budget. Be proud of this budget. It's a good budget. Embrace it. It won't let you down. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Any further comments? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Does anybody have any comments? Chairman Gonzalez: Pardon me? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Do you have comments, Linda? Chairman Gonzalez: No. City ofMiami Page 61 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Commissioner Spence -Jones: Not at all? None? No, no. You go. I'll go after you. Commissioner Haskins: You know, I think that, you know, there were some issues raised in the earlier presentations about getting the information behind the budget, and I'm not sure what the citizens' book looks like, but -- Hr. Spring: It's the same book that's in the -- Commissioner Haskins: It's the same book? Hr. Spring: -- backup of BH.3. The Commissioner Haskins: OK. It's the same book, so it's got to goals and objectives of the departments and their mission for the next year. Hr. Spring: No. That piece we normally -- and I've actually addressed some of the individuals who asked -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Hr. Spring: -- that question. We normally put that as part of the final budget book. I do have it available. The only reason why it hasn't been put as part of this presentation is depending on where we settle -- Commissioner Haskins: Right. Hr. Spring: -- with the dollars, then it'll determine some of the initiative. Commissioner Haskins: It would be -- you know, for purposes of the discussion, it would be nice to see -- for our citizens to be able to see what the history of the funding is of the departments and what their goals and objectives are based on what's being presented. It certainly helps us in our internal discussions -- Hr. Spring: Correct. Commissioner Haskins: -- because we had it in some of our internal discussions -- Hr. Spring: Absolutely. Commissioner Haskins: -- early on, so I think it would be really helpful so that they could see that the -- for example, the Parks Department budget is increasing by 15 percent or more; from 17 and a half million to 20 million, I think it is. Hr. Spring: Actually -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, those numbers are not solid yet. Hr. Spring: No, those -- Commissioner Haskins: Right. Hr. Spring: -- numbers aren't solid, and they've actually -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. City of Miami Page 62 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Hr. Spring: -- if you look to the budget book that's here -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Hr. Spring: -- it's been cut back already. Commissioner Haskins: It's been cut back a -- Hr. Spring: Yes. Commissioner Haskins: -- little bit? OK, so I would like to see then -- that's what thought had. Hr. Spring: Actually, ifyou -- the item -- Commissioner Haskins: That's what thought had. Hr. Spring: -- that was -- that was delivered to you -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Hr. Spring: -- had the updated numbers in it. Commissioner Haskins: OK. I'm sorry. Well, then, I'm dealing with the wrong one. I didn't realize that. Hr. Spring: Actually, if you have the BH.3 backup, it has the final proposed numbers, and I will distribute to the Commissioners the actual cuts that were performed for each of the departments Commissioner Haskins: OK. Hr. Spring: -- in order to come to this proposal. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yeah, but -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- just for the record, Larry -- Commissioner Haskins: See -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- these numbers are not -- Commissioner Haskins: -- this is a problem. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- the numbers. I mean, there's -- Hr. Spring: These aren't the final -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- still more cutting to do. Hr. Spring: -- this is not the final budget. This is the proposed budget, and it -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. City of Miami Page 63 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Spring: -- won't -- you know -- it's for a feedback right now at this moment in time. Commissioner Haskins: And I do think that it's really important that we look at the maintenance of our City facilities. You know, we've wasted a lot of assets over the years. You look at the Coconut Grove Convention Center. It's -- the ceilings are falling in, and you know, that sort of thing. The air conditioning doesn't work, and then you look at some of our newer facilities. Virrick Park gym, the roof is leaking; it's not getting fixed, and as a result, the basketball floor is starting to -- Mr. Spring: Break, yeah. Commissioner Haskins: -- buckle, so we really need to make sure that we are providing the funds to maintain our City facilities. These are important facilities for the quality of life of our citizens, for the recreation of our kids, and that sort of thing, so we need to see money in the budget for those sorts of things. I'd also like to see a plan of how we're going to maintain our facilities, and I'd also like to see a plan from the Public Works Department on how it's going to be able to maintain greenways in the City, and storm sewers in the City, and how they're going to manage to make sure that our greenways are cut twice a month in the summer, once a month in the winter; frees, once a year; storm sewers cleaned out on a regular basis, but we still haven't seen those sorts of plans, and I think it's very important that we have those. From the Commissioners' office, I'd like to be able to tell citizens that, yeah, you know, the grass on your -- in the medians on your street are going to be cut, you know, the second week of the month. We really need to have that sort of discipline, and I think with that discipline, we will be able to save money in the long run because once you have that discipline, now we're managing people better. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you. Okay. Chairman Gonzalez: Go ahead. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I just -- my first part of it is more administrative stuff and I think Commissioner Haskins touched on some of those things, but just so that I'm clear -- and I do know that there was an initial briefing, and then, I guess, this first hearing, and then this -- I mean, this particular budget hearing. I just have a question. Is there a policy already in place that requires -- what is the date, Larry, that re -- is there a date that you have in place? I don't know if it's you or the Manager has in place when the budget actually has to be presented in draftform. Is it like in July, or August, or when? Is there like a date you have no matter what? Like I know in the County, for instance, you have it, right? Mr. Hernandez: Yes. The County has certain timelines as to when the Manager has to provide a -- the first draft of the budget. The Mayor then has his own budget message, and that happens around July 1, when it -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Around July 1. Mr. Hernandez: -- first comes out. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK, and does normally -- and I'm just looking to use -- only utilizing the County as an example, and I know that ours is a -- probably a little different only this time because we had a new Manager coming onboard -- Mr. Spring: We had a new Manager. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and he had to -- and a whole bunch of transition -- City of Miami Page 64 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Spring: Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- happening, and I know you had to play Manager/CFO (Chief Financial Officer) -- ten different hats, but for me, as a newcomer coming on the dais and really just frying to really understand what's happening, because whatever we vote on, it affects the residents that we serve. I'm just -- I just want to chalk this last experience up as -- you know, because of the transition is the reason why we had -- we didn't have an official budget message. Like I didn't get the budget message until really today, and --from the Mayor, and then he -- Mr. Spring: Well, I need to put on the record that the -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Sure. Mr. Spring: -- Mayor's budget message comes as the prelim to this meeting. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Spring: The reason why, if you recall, we fry to do budget -- the budget briefings that we do with the Commissioners -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Spring: -- and I think they all lasted somewhere in the area of four or five hours apiece -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Right, right. Mr. Spring: -- and we go through a lot of detail -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Spring: -- it's so that you'll have that background information. Each ofyou were given like the historicals from '03 to -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Spring: -- through '07 -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Spring: -- and a lot of background information so that you could -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: No, no. I got -- and I definitely got that, and I have to acknowledge that we did have about a three-, four-hour meeting, and that was great. I'm not taking anything away from that. I'm just asking a question, not just for us individually, but for our public to also know, like is there like -- I'm assuming from now -- here on now, there will be a process put in place where this particular date or within around this particular date, the first budget -- draft budget will go out, correct? Similar to what we do at the County. Mr. Hernandez: Commissioner, what I can do is work with Mr. Spring and also the City Attorney in developing a plan that I can bring back to you, as the Commissioners as to how to handle the next budget as to when you would like to have the initial draft, let's say. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Right. I mean, Larry, you've been doing the budget for the last three or four years. I'm new to this, so you have to tell me. City of Miami Page 65 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Spring: Typically -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Was it different because of this --? Mr. Spring: No, no. One major change was a transition in manager -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Spring: -- which had me kind of -- I had to hold back on what was doing in the process. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Spring: We issue a budget calendar -- it was actually in the tool kit that was issued to the entire -- you know, to the directorship, and I believe the Commissioners' offices, your Chief of Staffs [sic], probably received that budget tool kit. We typically would have a draft date around -- sometime around mid -July so that we could have the budget workshop, and if you recall, we had a budget workshop before the August break, so we presented some preliminary numbers at that time -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Spring: -- and we had briefings with all the Commissioners and actually gave you some preliminary information at that time. I heard some of the feedback from the citizens regarding the budget book, and a lot of that detail, again, I already have it. I can print it out and present it. The only problem that in presenting it is, in the case that the Commission decides to change funding allocation or priorities at a meet, what I'm presenting as the initiative will change from what will be finalized -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Spring: -- and I don't want to be unfair to my directors when they say, all right, if you give me "X" amount of dollars, I can do this XYZ/ABC thing until we have a final approved budget, and part of all of the briefings is to get your feedback so -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Spring: -- some of that changes -- some of the information that each of you gave me in briefings was communicated back to the departments so they can change priorities -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Spring: -- and some of those goals for the '07 will change as well. Commissioner Haskins: Larry, can I understand something? What you presented to was a budget of 501 million. Mr. Spring: Correct. Commissioner Haskins: What have here -- what was talking about before is a budget of 501 million. Mr. Spring: Yes. Commissioner Haskins: Is that the same number? City of Miami Page 66 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Commissioner Spence -Jones: No. Mr. Spring: Yes. Commissioner Haskins: OK, but then when I said that the Parks Department budget was increasing from 17 and a half million to 19.9 million, that's not correct? Mr. Spring: That is correct. You said 22. Vice Chairman Sanchez: You did. Commissioner Haskins: No. I said almost 22 percent. Mr. Spring: Oh. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Oh. I thought it was -- Commissioner Haskins: I -- you didn't finish it. Mr. Spring: No. I thoughtyou said 22 million. Vice Chairman Sanchez: I thought it was 22. Commissioner Haskins: No. Mr. Spring: I thoughtyou said 22 million. Commissioner Haskins: No. It was -- no, it wasn't -- then -- Mr. Spring: OK. Commissioner Haskins: -- it was a misspeak, OK. Mr. Spring: OK. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK, so I just -- Commissioner Haskins: Because these are the numbers that I analyzed -- Mr. Spring: No, no, no. No, no, no. OK. Commissioner Haskins: -- so I was going to be really like not happy if -- Mr. Spring: No. Commissioner Haskins: -- they weren't the numbers that I had seen. Mr. Spring: No. That's the budget, from 17 to 19. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. All I wanted to just make sure, from an Administration side of it, with Pete onboard, just -- I would personally like to have an official budget message that kind of outlines, you know, the goals and the objectives of what we're trying to do over the next year through the budget, and I think a lot of that is not done through the Manager, by way of working with the other departments as to what our goals and objectives are throughout the whole City. I think it's important to have that message. I mean, we received the packages, and it City of Miami Page 67 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 was just really all numbers, and it would be nice to know, kind of what -- you know, what is the goals and objectives of what we're frying to accomplish from a City's perspective, not just the changes that we're making, but what are the -- what are our objectives and what are our goals to us making these changes for the budget? I just think it's important to have your official budget message as a part of this when we receive the packages. I don't want to go -- belabor it. Only thing I want to add on here, and I'm going to say this about the pension issue, and I'm sure people probably want to hit me across the head on it. Personally, when I start looking at these numbers -- and I got my first briefing on this whole issue with Larry, you know, I almost wanted to fall out because I really -- I guess I really didn't get it until I actually -- you started briefing me, that this is a real issue. You're talking about 20 -- from 2002, your $4 million to now 2006 -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: A total of 300 million. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- you know, and I'm looking at all of the people in the town that don't have a place to live in my disfrict, all of the people that are looking for jobs or either -- the ones that do have jobs, wanting better salaries, you know. The issue of not having enough police on the streets. I can take you to Model City and Overtown and everywhere else and they would love to have more police walking the beat. I mean, it's hard for me to understand, you know -- and then today -- we had people coming tonight saying find $25 million to, you know, do some funding for low-income housing, and you know, to me -- and I found the funding, if that's the case, you know, so -- and I do understand -- Commissioner Haskins: And Commissioners, hold onto your seat because in another couple years, we're going to have to fund another 40 to $50 million per year for post -employment insurance for when people retire, subsidizing their insurance, so -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- so -- Commissioner Haskins: -- that's not included in any of those numbers, and that's coming down. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Let me just deal with my 80 million first, and I just -- it's just very difficult for me to understand if we're in a housing crisis and we have all these issues that are going on, period, with businesses frying to survive and people -- I mean, how could you -- anybody stand up in a room and listen to all of this and not be affected by this? It seems as though we all have to make the necessary steps in order for everybody to be -- to do well in the City, and it -- it's -- I -- and hopefully, I guess, eventually, when y'all start doing your negotiating or completing all of that, hopefully, we can come to one happy compromise, but it's very difficult for me to say 2002, you're at 4 million, and 2006, you're at almost 80 million, and I'm servicing maybe 300 -- I'm just using this -- I don't know if this is the number -- 300 people when I have -- no, 30,000 in my disfrict that have issues, you know. I mean, somewhere along the line, you know, we have to start saying, OK, do we worry about the three -- you know, the 30,000 that are having issue or do we worry about the 200 that have issues? And I think -- I'm hoping that through our City Manager and, you know, the different unions that have to work through this that they understand and we all understand that we have to make some sort of adjustments on this because, you know, I Just can't see anybody not being sensitive to that issue. I mean, you can't look at this and not look at the numbers and say this is a problem, so I have -- I mean, after I went through the budget and Larry briefed me on this whole issue, you know, it's very difficult for me to swallow that pill. I'm just going to put that on the record. I do want to make sure -- and I said this to Larry and I'm going to make sure I say it to the Manager -- regarding the issue of departments. I'm glad that you slashed some of the budgets that -- I'm glad the department heads went in and did that. You know I'm a big supporter of our parks, a big supporter of greenways and all those other good things, but I also want to make sure that when we start talking about doing roadway improvements and all of these different park improvements that there -- I didn't see in there, and maybe -- hopefully, by the time we come back together, we will - - real dollars set aside to maintain these projects, because what happens is we do put all this City of Miami Page 68 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 money into making them look very nice, and the roads look great, and then they don't have any money to maintain them, and I just didn't see that in any of the plan, or not enough, I should say. The young lady spoke about parks and not having enough park programs, so we -- and Commissioner Sanchez is correct, we have improved a lot of our parks programs, but think that what she's speaking of is that age where kids are really getting in a lot of trouble. The issue is the kids that are between 14 and 17, if they don't have programs and they're not allowed to participate in those particular programs because the funding are not made available to them to do these programs, then they're on the streets either getting in trouble, shooting people, robbing, stealing, or whatever the case may be, and I'm blown away to know that that particular age bracket is not being addressed by Parks already. I mean, that would only make sense, if that's the age that's the most troubled age that we need to consider, you know, definitely supporting programs that do that, and then last but not least, because I know that we'll address many of this -- much of this later on, Larry, hurricane relief programs. I think one of my colleagues talked about hurricane relief and I've been talking about that since the day I sat on this dais, and how we don't have enough programs -- I'm not -- I understand we have certain things in place, Mr. Manager, for hurricanes, but my big issue is always seniors, and I asked to make sure that that was included, along with a couple other items, and I'm not going to beat Larry up on them because I know that he's going to make the adjustments on them, but we got -- I want to -- I -- everything that we talked about in the meeting, I don't see it in -- I didn't see it, so I would like to make sure that those things are considered, sir, as we move ahead, before we -- Mr. Spring: Finalize. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yes. Mr. Spring: Duly noted, and I should say some of those things that you -- each of you all put on the record with me in our briefings have been included from a programming standpoint, which is what we're frying to do. We want to program that as part of our normal operations. I think that, you know, when you talk about maintenance, maintaining the infrastructure that we're putting in place, when you're talking about doing -- catching up with deferred maintenance, we have to deal with some of those funding issues that I've put on the record here so that know every year we're going to carve out 5 or $10 million to do "X" and 5 or $10 million to do "Y" so it's clearly there. It is a yeoman's job, I would say, to deal with having to balance the budget, and also this Commission is driving us to give back to the citizens, so I play within the sandbox of policy that I'm given, and you know, we will -- between now and the final budget hearing, we will address those issues as best we can. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Larry, I left out two issues that just came to my mind. One is, of course, IT (Information Technology). Are we going to be able to fulfill IT as -- we realize that when we don't put money into IT, in the long run, it ends up costing us more money, so are we going to be able to meet what we need to do for IT? Mr. Spring: That's my plan. Vice Chairman Sanchez: That's your plan. Mr. Spring: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right, and the other question that have is on the vehicle replacement plan. Mr. Spring: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK. We have to address -- City of Miami Page 69 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Spring: Those are legal obligations that we have to fulfill -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK. Mr. Spring: -- so there's no really if, and, or but about it. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And -- Mr. Spring: Those we have to do. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- Larry, what was the Solid Waste trust thing? I kept going through that. Is that --? Mr. Spring: That's in there also as well. When you talk about maintenance -- and if you recall back to the briefing -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Spring: -- we talked about the showers -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Spring: -- and replacement of the Solid Waste one -arm bandit vehicles -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Spring: -- that had been destroyed by fire. That's all -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Those are all included. Mr. Spring: -- part of the things -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: It's in there. Mr. Spring: -- that we're working towards. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Vice Chairman Sanchez: And rule number one, Larry, no dipping into the reserves. Mr. Spring: I'm doing my best, Commissioner. Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Go ahead. Commissioner Regalado: Just a brief comment, Larry. I don't -- and for the Manager -- I think that what all my colleagues have said about, you know, the need for different services is something that I support one hundred percent. However, I think that the first major issue that this Manager should address as soon as possible, with your help, even with Commissioner Haskins help, with the help of everyone, the Law Department, is the issue of the confracts and the pension, because if we don't have confracts, the issue of pensions will be more difficult to resolve. You know, we keep telling the people and the Mayor and us very proudly that we are approving 50 new police officers, and by saying that, we're telling the people, you know what? Because of the need and because of this is really quality of life, there're going to be 50 police City of Miami Page 70 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 officers, while, in fact, it's a smoke and mirrors because if we approve 35 last year and 50, but if 60 police officers retire because they don't like the environment, the working conditions, the salary, or if they go to work for Coral Gables or Key Biscayne, we won't have 50 new police officers. We will have 40 old police officers, and this is the thing that we need to explain to the people. I mean, the Manager, thank God, comes with a decades of experience in dealing with the unions and all that. Unfortunately, we have lost two or three years because the other Manager had an adversarial relationship with the unions, and it's either, you know, we make peace with them or we fight with them, but what we cannot afford is to keep delaying the -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Commissioner Regalado: -- inevitable -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: We can't delay it any longer. Commissioner Regalado: -- and hopefully, there is going to be some resolution to the contracts. The other problem is the embarrassing one, the fire fee. You know, I urge my colleagues to, in the next meeting or in your meetings with the Manager and the Budget director, before the 27th, to discuss the possibility of when this budget is done, we won't have a fire fee, because by eliminating the fire fee, we're doing several things. First of all, we have a better or the best position to go to court, if need to, and show that the City's acting in good faith, you know. Because you know what? We have eliminated something that became an issue on the court, and second, when we go to the County and other entities, you know, we can say, you know what? We have taken a lot of sacrifices. We have cut our income as a city, and we're coming here to ask you -- and you know what? And the third good thing is that we come clean with the people of Miami. I mean, that's all that there is to it. It's very complicated to explain to the people the process of court and calendars, and we get on the calendars in -- by January, and you know, we didn't like this settlement, and we'll take another one. The fact of the matter is is that, you know, you heard it, the people here. This is black and white. It's simple, you know. Where is my money? Where is the money? We do not want, month and month from now, the same scenario than in the County when people show up with one dollar bills, where is the money because of the housing scandal? Although, it would show up here, where is the money with the fire fee? So I urge you -- you know, it's nothing to pass, nothing to propose today, but I think that we just should do away with the fire fee, as simple as that. I mean, we have been -- you know, we have been chipping away, chipping away, chipping away, and at the end of the day, people don't recognize that as a gesture, just as part of we being pressured by the people. The gesture will be do away with the fire fee, so you know -- Mr. Spring: One correct -- Commissioner Regalado: -- think about that. Mr. Spring: -- one correction. You will be voting on the fire fee level today. Commissioner Regalado: Huh? Mr. Fernandez: Yes. Mr. Spring: that -- you will be voting on the fire fee level today. It's another agenda item today. Mr. Fernandez: BH.10. Commissioner Regalado: Yeah, I understand that -- Mr. Spring: That -- City of Miami Page 71 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yeah. Mr. Spring: -- just that rate. Commissioner Regalado: -- but since we are not approving the budget -- Mr. Spring: You're not approving the budget, no. Commissioner Regalado: -- no, I understand, and correction, I will not be voting on the fire fee Vice Chairman Sanchez: You'll be voting "no. "Larry, it's -- Commissioner Regalado: -- but the thing is, you know, Mr. Manager -- Chairman Gonzalez: People, I don't know -- Commissioner Regalado: -- there's got to be something that you can do and we can help to help you on this thing of the unions and -- because it seems that it's a big -- after the Police budget, the pension is the biggest one, and hopefully, I know -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Commissioner Regalado: -- that you're capable of doing it, and hopefully, we will have some resolution. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: I'm going to ask a question. It's 9:22. I'm planning on getting out of here at 10 o'clock. I've been sick all day long. I've been trying to hold the fort, but -- do you want to continue this meeting tomorrow or you want to finish tomorrow? Commissioner Regalado: No, we're done. I'm done. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Commissioner Regalado: I mean, if we can vote on the -- Chairman Gonzalez: I'm ready to come back tomorrow -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, no, no, no. Commissioner Spence -Jones: No. We can't -- Chairman Gonzalez: --10 o'clock in the morning and continue the meeting. Vice Chairman Sanchez: You might be here alone. Chairman Gonzalez: Huh? Commissioner Regalado: No, no. Commissioner Sanchez: All right. Commissioner Regalado: Mr. Chairman -- City of Miami Page 72 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Vice Chairman Sanchez: BH.4. Commissioner Regalado: -- we only have several things to vote on it. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. 06-01553a RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION OPPOSING THE METHODOLOGY USED BY THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION, WHICH IMPOSES PROFOUND AND UNCONSCIONABLE INCREASES ON THE AD VALOREM ASSESSMENTS TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"); STRONGLY URGING THE PROPERTY APPRAISER OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO BASE VALUATION OF RENTAL PROPERTY ON THE INCOME FROM SAID PROPERTY, AS CONTEMPLATED IN SECTION 193.011 (7) OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES; REQUESTING THAT THE CITY MANAGER DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF REDRESS FOR THE CITIZENS OF MIAMI WITH THE INTENT OF OBTAINING RELIEF IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE CITY FROM INFLATED AND UNFAIR VALUATION OF THEIR PROPERTIES. Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Haskins, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Haskins, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-06-0540 BH.4 06-01558 DISCUSSION ITEM Department of DISCUSSION CONCERNING A FINANCIAL UPDATE AND BUDGET Finance OUTLOOK. 06-01558 Summary Form .pdf DEFERRED A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, and was passed unanimously, to defer item BH.4. Vice Chairman Sanchez: BH.4. Chairman Gonzalez: Let's go. Vice Chairman Sanchez: We don't have to -- Chairman Gonzalez: BH.4. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- action on the budget. Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance, City Manager's Office): BH.4, we're asking that it be deferred. It is the monthly budget update, given the fact that -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Mr. Spring: -- we're talking about budget. City of Miami Page 73 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 BH.5 06-01559 Office of Strategic Planning, Budgeting, and Performance Chairman Gonzalez: To defer? Mr. Spring: Yeah. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Motion to defer the item. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Motion to defer. We have a second? Commissioner Regalado: Second. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: And we have a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING APPROPRIATIONS RELATING TO OPERATIONAL AND BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2006. 06-01559 Legislation .pdf 06-01559 Summary Form .pdf Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Haskins, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-06-0541 Chairman Gonzalez: BH. 5. Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance): BH. 5, Commissioner, this is an amendment to the operating and budgetary requirements for fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, the current fiscal year. This is the first of my closeout amendments was included in this budget appropriation is the appropriation of the past three pension payments from the State to the two pension trusts, the 175, 185 payments. Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Mr. Spring: This also has the appropriation of the Parrot Jungle payment that the board approved at its last meeting, as well, so those are the -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: So moved, Mr. Chair. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion -- Commissioner Regalado: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and we have a second. It's a resolution. All in favor, say "aye." City of Miami Page 74 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 The Commission (Collectively): Aye. BH.6 06-01560 DISCUSSION ITEM Downtown DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND TENTATIVE BUDGET Development FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Authority PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN MILLAGE OVER ROLLED BACK RATE. RESPONSE NINETEEN AND 88th PERCENT (19.88%) SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR WHICH AD VALOREM TAX REVENUES ARE BEING INCREASED. RESPONSE: PURPOSE: DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS COST $ 730,859.01 100 CITY COMMISSION LISTENS AND RESPONDS TO CITIZENS COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MILLAGE INCREASE AND EXPLAINS THE REASONS FOR THE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLED BACK RATE. ACTIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION: 1. AMEND THE ADOPTED TENTATIVE BUDGET, IF NECESSARY 2.RECOMPUTE THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE, IF NECESSARY 3.PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE THE PERCENT BY WHICH THE RECOMPUTED PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE EXCEEDS THE ROLLED BACK RATE 4.ADOPT THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE 5.ADOPT THE AMENDED TENTATIVE BUDGET 06-01560 Millage Discussion 9/28/06.pdf 06-01560 Millage Discussion 9/12/06.pdf DISCUSSED Chairman Gonzalez: BH.6. Vice Chairman Sanchez: That's the DDA (Downtown Development Authority). Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance): DDA. Chairman Gonzalez: Proposed millage, yeah. Good evening. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Just state the budget. Davon Barbour: Good evening, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners. My name is Davon Barbour, manager of economic development for the Downtown Development Authority. I'm here representing Dana Nottingham, executive director, this evening. The item before you, item BH.6, the discussion item is discussion of proposed millage rate and tentative budget for the Downtown Development Authority, percentage increase in millage over roll back rate, which is 19 and 18 percent -- excuse me, 19 and 88th percent, the specific purpose for which the ad valorem tax revenues are being -- were increased, and the purpose is for downtown economic development programs. The budget reflects -- the programs, included in the budget, reflect the budget that City of Miami Page 75 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 was approved by the Downtown Development Authority board of directors in June 2006. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, I would respectfully request approval of the DDA budget. Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): Well -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Is that -- Mr. Fernandez: -- BH.6 is only discussion. You may now open and take input, ifyou wish, because the action comes in BH.7, which is what adopts the millage levy -- and levies the taxes for the DD -- for the Downtown -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Well -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Mr. Fernandez: -- Development Authority. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- of course, after the public hearing. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. This is a public hearing. Mr. Fernandez: After the public hearing. Chairman Gonzalez: Anyone from the public wants to speak on the DDA budget? Seeing none, hearing none, the public hearing is closed. It comes back to the Commission. Commissioner Sanchez, you -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: So moved. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a motion. Commissioner Haskins: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a second. All in favor, say "aye." Mr. Fernandez: No, no. You're now in BH.7. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Did I vote? BH.7 06-01561 ORDINANCE Downtown AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Development ATTACHMENT(S), RELATED TO TAXATION, DEFINING AND DESIGNATING Authority THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"), FLORIDA; FIXING THE MILLAGE AND LEVYING TAXES IN SAID DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2006 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007, AT FIVE -TENTHS (.5) MILLS ON THE DOLLAR OF NONEXEMPT ASSESSED VALUE OF ALL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN SAID DISTRICT; PROVIDING THAT SAID MILLAGE AND THE LEVYING OF TAXES WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE CITY AS REFLECTED IN THE CITY'S MILLAGE LEVY ORDINANCE FOR THE AFORESAID FISCAL YEAR REQUIRED BY CITY First Reading City of Miami Page 76 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 CHARTER SECTION 27; PROVIDING THAT THE FIXING OF THE MILLAGE AND THE LEVYING OF TAXES HEREIN SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL NOT BE DEEMED AS REPEALING OR AMENDING ANY OTHER ORDINANCE FIXING MILLAGE OR LEVYING TAXES, BUT SHALL BE DEEMED SUPPLEMENTAL AND IN ADDITION THERETO; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION, SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 06-01561 Legislation FR/SR.pdf 06-01561 Exhibit FR/SR.pdf 06-01561 Cover Memo FR/SR.pdf 06-01561 Memo FR/SR.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Haskins, that this matter be PASSED ON FIRST READING PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Haskins, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): BH.7 is what's being moved now. It's an ordinance. I need to read it for you. Chairman Gonzalez: Oh, OK Go ahead. Mr. Fernandez: Yes. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Chairman Gonzalez: Roll call, please. Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call. A roll call was taken, the result of which is stated above. Ms. Thompson: The ordinance has been passed on first reading, 5/0. BH.8 06-01562 RESOLUTION Downtown A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPROPRIATING Development FROM THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AD VALOREM TAX Authority LEVY AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INCOME FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA (CITY"), FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2006 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007; AUTHORIZING THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO INVITE AND ADVERTISE REQUIRED BIDS; PROVIDING FOR BUDGETARY FLEXIBILITY; PROVIDING THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE DEEMED SUPPLEMENTAL AND IN ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2006 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 FOR THE OPERATIONS FOR THE CITY. 06-01562 Legislation 9/28/06.pdf 06-01562 Legislation 9/12/06.pdf 06-01562 Cover Memo.pdf 06-01562 Memo.pdf DISCUSSED City of Miami Page 77 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 taken at this meeting (September 12, 2006). Chairman Gonzalez: BH.8. Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): It's a resolution. Davon Barbour: I'm sorry. Discussion of Downtown Development Authority, DDA, resolution of the Miami City Commission making appropriations from the downtown development district ad valorem tax levy and other miscellaneous income for the Downtown Development Authority, DDA, of the City ofMiami, Florida City, for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2006 and ending September 30, 2007; authorizing the Downtown Development Authority to invite and advertise required bids, providing for budgetary flexibility, providing that this resolution be deemed supplemental and in addition to the resolution, making appropriations for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2006 and ending September 30, 2007 for the operations for the City. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So moved. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Commissioner Haskins: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion and we have a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Vice Chairman Sanchez: It's a resolution. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. BH.9 06-01565 RESOLUTION BayfrontPark A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Management Trust ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,200,000, TO PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF MILDRED AND CLAUDE PEPPER BAYFRONT PARK, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2006, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007. 06-01565 Legislation.pdf 06-01565 Exhibit.pdf 06-01565 Exhibit 2 .pdf 06-01565 Exhibit 3 .pdf 06-01565 Exhibit 4 .pdf 06-01565 Exhibit 5 .pdf 06-01565 Exhibit 6 .pdf 06-01565 Exhibit 7 .pdf 06-01565 Exhibit 8 .pdf 06-01565 Exhibit 9 .pdf 06-01565 Exhibit 10 .pdf 06-01565 Exhibit 11 .pdf 06-01565 Cover Memo.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. City ofMiami Page 78 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Haskins, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-06-0542 Vice Chairman Sanchez: BH.9. Chairman Gonzalez: BH.9 is also a resolution. Tim Schmand: Good evening, Commissioners. Tim Schmand, Bayfront Park Management Trust, 301 North Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida. You have before you a resolution approving the operating and capital budget for the Bayfront Park Management Trust in the amount of $7.2 million. Our request from the City remains the same, of a million eighty-five, and the board of directors approved this back in July, and I thank you in advance, and would answer any questions ifyou have any. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So moved. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion and we have a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Motion carries. BH.10 06-01564 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Fire -Rescue ATTACHMENT(S), RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF FIRE SERVICES, FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA; IMPOSING FIRE ASSESSMENTS AGAINST ASSESSED PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2006; APPROVING THE RATE OF ASSESSMENT; APPROVING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 06-01564 Legislation .pdf 06-01564 Exhibit .pdf 06-01564 Exhibit 2 .pdf 06-01564 Exhibit 3 .pdf 06-01564 Summary Form.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Haskins, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Haskins, Sanchez and Spence -Jones Noes: 1 - Commissioner Regalado R-06-0543 Chairman Gonzalez: BH.10. Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): Yes, Mr. Chairman, BH.10 is the --from the fire -- Chairman Gonzalez: Is the fire fee. Mr. Fernandez: Is the fire fee, exactly, and it is being reduced by 25 percent, as directed by this Commission last year -- City of Miami Page 79 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: That's correct. Mr. Fernandez: -- and you gave us instruction that on a yearly basis, you want to see this decreased, and it begs the question, but what's in front of you is what you've instructed the Administration to do, which is to bring it to you 25 percent less. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So moved. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion. Is there a second? Commissioner Haskins: Second for purposes of discussion. Larry, how much is in the general fund budget from the fire fee for 2007? Mr. Spring: It's $4.5 million. Commissioner Haskins: And is it all going into general fund or -- Mr. Spring: No, no, no, no. Commissioner Haskins: -- where is it going? Mr. Spring: The total revenue that's being generated from the $31 assessment and the relative is a total of $7.8 million -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Mr. Spring: -- 4.5 would basically go to the general fund, and 3.3 would go to the capital account for capital -related expenditures. Commissioner Haskins: And the 3.3 for the capital -related is being spent on fire apparatus and Mr. Spring: It would be on fire -- Commissioner Haskins: -- that sort of thing? Mr. Spring: -- apparatus and fire equipment, non -- any non -- Commissioner Haskins: OK. Mr. Spring: -- EA/IS (Emergency Management Systems) capital expenditures. Commissioner Haskins: OK. Are there any fire stations being -- is any of it being used for a fire station? Maurice Kemp: Maurice Kemp, Deputy Fire Chief. Yes. The categories are fire -rescue equipment, fire apparatus, communications equipment, and the answer is yes, part of it is to build fire stations and to repair major systems at fire stations. Commissioner Haskins: OK, but is it any to build fire stations? Deputy Chief Kemp: The answer is yes. Commissioner Haskins: Yes, OK, and what is our shortfall in building our two additional fire stations? How much money are we still looking for, or is this allocation into the general -- into City of Miami Page 80 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 the capital improvements fund from the fire fee next year sufficient to cover that cost? Deputy Chief Kemp: We have fire -- five stations that are up for either major renovations or total rebuilds, and all of those projects are underfunded primarily because of the time involved and the life of these projects. The cost of the projects have -- has increased significantly over that time period. Commissioner Haskins: Do you have a ballpark estimate of what the total shortfall is? Deputy Chief Kemp: I don't have it with me right now, butl can tell you that the funding sources are multiple. The homeland bond is to build two, three fire stations. The fire fee is to the -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Two fire stations. Deputy Chief Kemp: -- others. Three; to build two and to refurbish -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Oh, renovate it. OK. Deputy Chief Kemp: -- a third, and -- Commissioner Haskins: But those are -- Deputy Chief Kemp: -- that refurbishment is major. Commissioner Haskins: -- the two new ones were not -- there wasn't -- there's not adequate funding from the Homeland Defense Bonds, correct? Deputy Chief Kemp: There's not adequate funding for it, that's correct. Commissioner Haskins: Mary, do you have -- where is Mary Conway from CIP (Capital Improvements Program)? Mary, do you have an idea of how much we're -- the shortfall is? Mary Conway (Chief of Operations): Yes. The estimate that was presented on May 25, when the capital plan was presented, was cumulative shortfall for fire stations 1, 10, 11, 13, and 14 of a little over $15 million. That's the total amount. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Need money. Commissioner Haskins: So now we're at the crossroads, right? So we know that part of this fire fee is going into the capital improvements fund to help fund it -- fund this, and we need fire stations, and we need the enhanced equipment to be able to service what's gone on in this City, so we have a significant source of revenues here, $7 million for next year, a -- you know, 40 percent in capital and 60 percent in the general fund, and -- so to eliminate the fire fee, what we're going to do is take out in that three and a half million or so out of capital improvements -- out of capital spending for the Fire Department. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And we're not really sure -- Mr. Spring: Actually -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- where the other four is going. Mr. Spring: -- I would not state that. The total reduction in the revenue from year-to-year is close to $5 million -- City of Miami Page 81 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Vice Chairman Sanchez: Five million. Hr. Spring: -- so I guess the lion share of the reduction is being share absorbed or reduced from the general fund normal allocation -- Commissioner Haskins: No. I'm saying -- Hr. Spring: -- but I -- Commissioner Haskins: -- for next year, the revenue's around $7 million -- Hr. Spring: Total revenue seven million. Commissioner Haskins: -- and three point what is going in -- Hr. Spring: Three point three and -- Commissioner Haskins: Three point three is -- Hr. Spring: -- four point five. Commissioner Haskins: -- going into capital. Hr. Fernandez: Capital, correct. Hr. Spring: And four point five. Commissioner Haskins: If we vote to eliminate the fire fee -- Hr. Spring: Oh. Commissioner Haskins: -- we're losing 3.3 -- Hr. Fernandez: Exactly. Commissioner Haskins: -- million from capital. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Exactly. Hr. Fernandez: Exactly. Hr. Spring: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So we would all love to do away with the fire fee. We would love to do -- I mean, I -- if somebody makes a motion, I'll second, but show me how you're going to do it because we have to be fiscal responsible, and if you're able to come up with the money, then put the solution on the table and we'll vote it, but I don't know where you're going to get the money from, because you impact the future constructions of these fire stations, so if somebody has any idea, put an idea on the table; I'm willing to entertain it. Commissioner Regalado: Can I say something? Yeah, you see, the problem here is that this issue is not one hundred percent in control by the City Commission. This issue is navigating through the court system. I remember, when I was elected, it was citywide, and we sat here and, you know, there was an opening and a Commissioner was appointed, and an election was held, and the Commission said, well, the system that we have, it's good, it's OK, so we might as well -- City of Miami Page 82 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 until the court said, well, you know what? You have to do disfricts, and we did the district, and that have work out well. The same thing happen in the County. A judge says, you know what? You have to do the disfricts, and we're talking here of $50 million for next year or next year and next year on the fire fee, and we still don't know if we ever going to continue to have a fire fee, because we never know if we have a settlement or if we have to go to court, and frankly, I will find some of the money in the money that we're spending with the outside counsel to fight the residents of the City ofMiami. I think we spend a million already and -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: On the attorneys? Commissioner Regalado: Huh? Vice Chairman Sanchez: On the attorneys? Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. Vice Chairman Sanchez: It's three. Commissioner Regalado: How much? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Three million. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Three million? Commissioner Regalado: No, no. No, no. Mr. Fernandez: No. Commissioner Regalado: The million that we pay. Mr. Fernandez: Your own attorneys. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Oh. Commissioner Regalado: My own -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, we -- Mr. Fernandez: Well -- Commissioner Regalado: No, no. You're our attorney, not mine. Mr. Fernandez: Your attorneys. Commissioner Regalado: Well, anyway, it's almost a million. If we go to court, if we go to appeal process -- because mind you, according to them or the media, they're planning to continue suing for the legality of the whole fire fee, so we'll be in litigation for a whole while of time, so we don't know if we're going to have the fire fee. We may reach a settlement and says, next year is no fire fee and that's that, so I think, you know, that it's better to blush now than to worry forever. I -- you know, I respect my colleagues. They don't -- they think through things. I know that this is important, and I think -- I know that the fire fee is now legal, although it's very difficult to explain. To me, it may be legal, but it's immoral, but that's OK because it's immoral, because we promised the people ofMiami that it's going to -- was going to be only for five years, and was here when we made that promise. You were here, too, chief I remember. City ofMiami Page 83 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Deputy Chief Kemp: I've been here for 12 years in this capacity; 21 altogether, so yes, I was here. Commissioner Regalado: Yes, and I remember and you remember, and so, you know, I would love to have a resolution of this case before the last budget hearing, but whatever. I'm voting no because I always vote no, but I think that it is important that we send a message to the courts, to the other attorneys, to the people that we're willing to do away with this sad page in the history of the City because of the scandal. Thank you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Call the question. Chairman Gonzalez: Mr. City Attorney. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Roll call. Mr. Fernandez: Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Mr. City Attorney. Mr. Fernandez: Yeah. Mr. Chairman, my understanding is that presently, there is a motion, but that there is no second to that motion, ma'am? Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, there is. Mr. Fernandez: There is a second to the motion, fine. Well, the -- I just want to make sure the Commission knows that you are empowered to make whatever decision you choose today; either go with what's being recommended to you, or eliminate it completely, or reduce it to some amount in between. That is clearly within your prerogative, but if you do it, I just want to make sure that you understand that it will have no impact on the present pending litigation. We're litigating past assessments, and the present assessment, while claims are being made that still our ordinance is unconstitutional, I can assure you that what we're, in fact, imposing today by this resolution is very legal and very, very defensible. Now, after having said that, whatever decision you make, you need to understand that it would have no impact, in essence, in the pending lawsuit, and I agree with Commissioner Regalado, and it may sound strange for an attorney to be saying this, but I agree. Just because an item is legal, doesn't mean that it is correct or that it is good, and so I am not here frying to influence the policy moral decisions that you need to make. I just tried to give you the full countenance of legal considerations for you to take into account. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Haskins: Can I ask a -- Chairman Gonzalez: We had a motion. Commissioner Haskins: -- another question just -- what was the reduction from last year to this year and the total revenue? Mr. Spring: It went from -- Mr. Fernandez: Nine -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Forty-six to thirty-one. Mr. Spring: No. City of Miami Page 84 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Commissioner Haskins: Ten million. Mr. Spring: No. It went from -- Commissioner Haskins: Ten million to seven and a half? Mr. Spring: -- 12 -- like -- I want to say 12.8 million down to the 7.8. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We had a motion and we had a second. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Call the question. Roll call. Chairman Gonzalez: All in favor, say "aye." Commissioner Regalado: No. One no. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Four to one. Chairman Gonzalez: Do roll call, please. Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Roll call. Commissioner Regalado? Chairman Gonzalez: Speak up. Don't be afraid to speak up. Yes or no. Commissioner Regalado: No. Chairman Gonzalez: Whatever. Ms. Thompson: Commissioner Spence -Jones? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yes. Ms. Thompson: Commissioner Haskins? Commissioner Haskins: Very reluctantly, yes. Ms. Thompson: Vice Chairman Sanchez? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yes. Ms. Thompson: Chairman Gonzalez. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes. Ms. Thompson: The resolution has been passed, 4/1. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. BH.11 06-01567 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Off -Street Parking ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OFF-STREET PARKING TO PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATION OF GUSMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND THE OLYMPIA BUILDING, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING City of Miami Page 85 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 OCTOBER 1, 2006 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,662,454, EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION. 06-01567 Exhibit.pdf 06-01567 Cover Memo.pdf 06-01567 Memo.pdf Motion by Commissioner Haskins, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Haskins, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-06-0544 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. BH.11, Gusman and Olympia Enterprise Fund. Art Noriega: Art Noriega, executive director, Miami Parking Authority. This item you have before you is the '06/'07 Gusman budget, expense budget. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Haskins: So moved. Chairman Gonzalez: It's a resolution of the -- who's going to read the resolution, Mr. City Attorney, Mr. Manager? Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): No. These are resolutions, and -- Chairman Gonzalez: Pardon me? Mr. Fernandez: -- they don't need to be read. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second, but I just don't want to -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a motion and we have a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: You have -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman, two seconds. Mr. Noriega, one of the things that I wanted to at least mention, with us losing the space now of Coconut Grove, and really the only space that we really have available now is really your space, outside of the smaller venues we have in the neighborhoods, I really would like to see somehow that we could identify some type of program that could be made available for a lot of these smaller agencies and organizations that would need a space to do their events and activities, so I just would want to see if there's any way that we can create something to provide them with that opportunity, especially since Miami's becoming a world -class performing arts area, then our Gusman Center can be that also for a lot of the neighborhoods, so I just want you to make sure that you keep that in mind. Mr. Noriega: Well -- I mean, Gusman clearly is a City venue, so it's not ours, and we actually try to make it available as much as possible. We have, you know, special nonprofit rates. We make concessions all the time, you know, obviously, within the financial limitations. You know, we have a budget to work with -- City of Miami Page 86 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Noriega: -- but we'll be more than happy to make accommodations where we can. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. BH.12. Priscilla A. Thompson (City Clerk): Sir, I need a vote. I didn't get a vote. Chairman Gonzalez: Everybody -- we voted. Ms. Thompson: I -- Unidentified Speaker: No, no they didn't. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Madam Clerk, you didn't get a vote? Ms. Thompson: I didn't record one. I didn't hear one. Vice Chairman Sanchez: It's a resolution, right? Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We had a -- Ms. Thompson: That's correct. Chairman Gonzalez: -- it was a resolution. We had a motion and a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Got it now? All right. BH.12 06-01568 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Off -Street Parking ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OFF-STREET PARKING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2006 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,991,579, EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION, AND OTHER NON -OPERATING EXPENSES OF $3,414,097. 06-01568 Legislation.pdf 06-01568 Exhibit.pdf 06-01568 Cover Memo.pdf 06-01568 Memo.pdf 06-01568 Letter.pdf Motion by Commissioner Spence -Jones, seconded by Commissioner Sanchez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Haskins, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-06-0545 City of Miami Page 87 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 BH.13 06-01569 Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority Chairman Gonzalez: BH.12. Art Noriega: This item is -- again, Art Noriega, executive director, Miami Parking Authority -- the actual expense budget for '06/'07 for the Department of Off -Street Parking. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: So moved. Chairman Gonzalez: It's also a resolution. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Moved -- so moved. Chairman Gonzalez: We have -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: -- a motion and we have a second. It was moved by Commissioner Spence -Jones. It was second by Vice Chairman Sanchez. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE MIAMI SPORTS AND EXHIBITION AUTHORITY, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $240,800, TO PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE AUTHORITY, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2006 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007. 06-01569 Legislation.pdf 06-01569 Exhibit.pdf 06-01569 Cover Memo.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Haskins, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-06-0546 Chairman Gonzalez: BH.13. Tim Schmand: Good evening, Commissioners. Tim Schmand, Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority. You have before you the '06/'07 Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority operating budget, $240, 800. It was approved by the board of directors in May of this year, and I'm asking for your approval at this moment. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So moved. Commissioner Haskins: So moved. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion and we have a second. It's a resolution. All in favor, City of Miami Page 88 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Motion carries. Mr. Schmand: Thank you. BH.14 06-01563 RESOLUTION Department of Solid A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Waste ATTACHMENT(S), RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF SOLID WASTE SERVICES, FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS IN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"), FLORIDA; IMPOSING SOLID WASTE ASSESSMENTS AGAINST ASSESSED PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2006; APPROVING THE RATE OF ASSESSMENT; APPROVING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 06-01563 Legislation .pdf 06-01563 Exhibit .pdf 06-01563 Exhibit 2 .pdf 06-01563 Summary Form.pdf 06-01563 Pre -Legislation .pdf Motion by Commissioner Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Haskins, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Haskins, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-06-0547 Chairman Gonzalez: BH. 14. Thank you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So moved Commissioner Haskins: Second. Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): But for the record, it needs to be announced that -- Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance, City Manager's Office): OK, that it is the -- this is the -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: It's the Solid Waste. Mr. Spring: -- assessment of the Solid Waste fee -- Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Mr. Spring: -- by a policy you already dictated to be remained at -- Chairman Gonzalez: That is -- Mr. Spring: -- 325. Chairman Gonzalez: -- frozen for another two years -- City of Miami Page 89 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 BH.15 06-01566 Fire Fighters/Police Retirement Trust Mr. Spring: Three years. Chairman Gonzalez: --I believe, right? Three more years. Mr. Spring: Three more years at 325. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We had a motion and we had a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Motion carries. RESOLUTION DISCUSSION OF CITY OF MIAMI FIRE FIGHTERS' AND POLICE OFFICERS' RETIREMENT TRUST FUND RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE FOR FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2006, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,907,082.00, EXCLUDING NORMAL COST, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE RETIREMENT TRUST FUND. 06-01566 Legislation 9/28/06 .pdf 06-01566 Legislation 9/12/06 .pdf 06-01566 Exhibit .pdf 06-01566 Cover Memo .pdf 06-01566 Memo .pdf DISCUSSED Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance): Commissioner, regarding the next four items, these are discussion items. The reason why they're listed as discussion items is because they are substantially funded from the City's general fund, and all cases, a hundred percent. Since we're not approving our budget today, I wanted to give you the opportunity, as a group, to review these and then approve it as part of our overall approval that we'll do on the 28th. Chairman Gonzalez: So what would you like us to do, defer it today? Mr. Spring: No, no, no, no, no. Vice Chairman Sanchez: You have any questions -- Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): You have any questions, discuss them. Mr. Spring: It's to discuss them, which, you know, you go through them, but I just want to make it clear that you're not taking action on them. Commissioner Haskins: Larry, are these the same numbers -- Chairman Gonzalez: It is what it is. Commissioner Haskins: -- that are in the budget for --? Mr. Spring: Yes, yes. Commissioner Haskins: So you -- if-- for the Fire and Police retirement trust, they were City of Miami Page 90 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 budgeted a million, seven forty-six for 2006, and they're asking for a $200, 000 increase to a million, nine zero seven? Hr. Spring: Correct. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. I have no discussion. Chairman Gonzalez: The way I see it is it is like it is. Vice Chairman Sanchez: It is like it is. Chairman Gonzalez: I mean, they're not going to cut it -- they're not going to cut their expenses, are they? Vice Chairman Sanchez: It is what it is. Chairman Gonzalez: Are they going to cut their expenses? Vice Chairman Sanchez: You never know. Hr. Spring: They should be here to represent themselves, so I -- Chairman Gonzalez: Huh? Commissioner Spence -Jones: We're talking about the firefighters, is that the one? Chairman Gonzalez: You can imagine how important it is and they're not here. Hr. Spring: The Fire and Police pension trust, FIPO. Commissioner Spence -Jones: They're not here? Chairman Gonzalez: All right, so that applies to the four items, right? Hr. Spring: Yes. Commissioner Haskins: I would respectfully ask that they do the same bolt -tightening that the rest of the City is -- Hr. Spring: OK. Commissioner Haskins: -- having to go through in this budget. Thank you. Hr. Spring: OK. BH.16 06-01570 RESOLUTION Virginia Key Beach DISCUSSION OF VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK TRUST'S RESOLUTION OF Park Trust THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION REQUESTING $1,680,955 IN OPERATING FUNDS FOR FY 2006-2007 BUDGET. City of Miami Page 91 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 06-01570 Legislation 9-28-06.pdf 06-01570 Legislation 9-12-06 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 2 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 3 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 4 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 5 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 6 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 7 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 8 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 9 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 10 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 11 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 12 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 13 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 14 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 15 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 16 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 17 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 18 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 19 .pdf 06-01570 Exhibit 20 .pdf 06-01570 Cover Memo.pdf DISCUSSED Direction by Commissioner Spence Jones to the City Manager to identify a planner to work with the Virginia Key Beach Trust on creating a plan that would generate revenue beyond that of the museum for operation of same. Chairman Gonzalez: All right, so that concludes the budget hearing. Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance, City Manager's Office): No, no, no, no, no, no. Chairman Gonzalez: No? Mr. Spring: No. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Well, no -- Mr. Fernandez: No. Commissioner Spence -Jones: No. We have -- Mr. Spring: You have three more items. Mr. Fernandez: Virginia Key. Mr. Spring: Virginia Key Beach Trust is also -- Chairman Gonzalez: Where is that? Mr. Spring: They're here. City of Miami Page 92 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Mr. Fernandez: They're here. Mr. Spring: It's BH.16. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Is that a discussion or we vote on it? Chairman Gonzalez: I thought you told me -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Discussion. Chairman Gonzalez: -- it was the four -- the last -- Mr. Spring: No, no, no. Chairman Gonzalez: -- four items. Mr. Spring: The four -- four more items. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah, but you know what? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yeah, but we're not voting on these items. Mr. Spring: You're not voting on them. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah, but they sat here all day. We should at least allow for them to say something. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Oh, absolutely. Mr. Spring: You're not voting on them. Mr. Fernandez: There's no vote required, but you must engage in a discussion, if you have any questions or if they have any presentations to be made. It's the appropriate -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Mr. Fernandez: -- thing -- Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Mr. Fernandez: -- to do. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Good evening. Gene Tinney: OK. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the appropriateness, I'm Gene Tinnie, vice chair of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust. With me is Mr. David Shorter, executive director, and I think Mr. Leacroft -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Gene, that's a wonderful presentation. Mr. Tinnie: Great. I wanted to keep it short and sweet, and I will add that, ordinarily, our distinguished chairman, Mrs. M. Athalie Range, would have been here. As some of you now, she did undergo surgery, and she's bravely recovering, so I ask that your thoughts and prayers be with her as hers are with us tonight. As you did see, the amount of our request, which is without my glasses, unreadable, but it is -- for the next fiscal year, 1,680,955 in operating funds, and this City of Miami Page 93 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 BH.17 06-01571 Civilian Investigative Panel is essentially moving the park forward to the point where we can reopen to the public with our targeted date of next year, and I think many of you are aware of the progress that's been made thus far, and of course, if you have any questions or comments, we'll be glad to answer those. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I just -- I really don't have any discussion really on it. I just want to just make a point, and I've been saying this to Mr. Shorter. Of course, you know we support Virginia Key Beach Trust. I just really want to make sure and I want to direct the City Manager -- we have a master plan that's going on on Virginia Key Beach at -- on Virginia Key at this point. I've asked the last City Manager to please identify a planner or somebody of that sort that could work along with Virginia Key Beach Trust to work with them on creating some sort of plan to generate revenue beyond the museum, and I've been saying that -- and Larry knows I've been saying this over and over again, because we're going to build a building, and it's going to be a great, beautiful building, and if they don't have monies to operate the building, it's going to be a problem, so I think that we need to identify, before the planner leaves or -- I mean, before the planner closes out, or whatever they're working on, that we identify someone to work along with them to generate some sort of plan to get revenues to keep the venue going, because they can't rely on City and County funding forever. Pedro G. Hernandez (City Manager): Commissioner, we'll provide the planner, because we need to have a realistic plan -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Mr. Hernandez: -- that will work. Commissioner Spence -Jones: But I support it one hundred percent, so that's not even -- but I want to make sure I put that on the record. Mr. Tinnie: Yeah. I'll just say two things to that. As you know, we've been quite successful in generating other funding sources other than the City, and we are, as board members, as we speak, all diligent reviewing -- diligently reviewing the business plan that was prepared for us by our museum planning consultant, Lord Cultural Services, so we're all reviewing that for our next board meeting, and it speaks to precisely what you say, so I really appreciate your awareness of that and concern with it, the long-term sustainability. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you, Mr. Tinnie. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. RESOLUTION DISCUSSION OF THE CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIVE PANEL RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT (S), APPROVING THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007. 06-01571 Legislation 9/28/06.pdf 06-01571 Legislation 9/12/06.pdf 06-01571 Exhibit.pdf 06-01571 Cover Memo.pdf 06-01571 Memo.pdf 06-01571 Meeting Minutes.pdf DISCUSSED Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): Next. Chairman Gonzalez: CIP (Civilian Investigative Panel), BH.17. City of Miami Page 94 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 BH.18 06-01575 Model City Community Revitalization District Trust Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance): Civilian Investigative Panel. Mr. Fernandez: 17, CIP. Rodolfo De la Guardia: Good evening, Mr. Chair, Commissioners. My name is Rudy De la Guardia, with the CIP. Brenda Shapiro: Brenda Shapiro with the Civilian Investigative Panel. It's good to see you all. Mr. De la Guardia: Do you have any questions for us? We've gone over the budget with the -- with Mr. Springs [sic]. We've pretty much done what Commissioner Haskins asked; we've really worked it -- tweaked it as much as we could, and from our initial request, we've lowered about 25 -- $21, 000 savings, about a four percent. Ms. Shapiro: It's a three percent saving. It's -- what you have before you is more than we're now requesting. We've already used the sharp pencil that the Commissioners asked us to use, and we've cut it again by three percent. Chairman Gonzalez: Great. Commissioner Haskins: Appreciate it. Commissioner Regalado: Brenda -- Commissioner Haskins: Thank you very much. Commissioner Regalado: -- can you give us that pencil? Ms. Shapiro: I know, but I'll be happy to pass it out (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- Commissioner Regalado: Three percent. Go department by department, three percent. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Thank you very much. Mr. De la Guardia: Thank you. Ms. Shapiro: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: That concludes the -- Unidentified Speaker: One more. RESOLUTION DISCUSSION OF THE MODEL CITY TRUST RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPROVING THE PROPOSED BUDGET OF THE MODEL CITY COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION DISTRICT TRUST FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2007. 06-01575 Legislation 9/28/06.pdf 06-01575 Legislation 9/12/06.pdf 06-01575 Exhibit.pdf 06-01575 Cover Page.pdf 06-01575 Pre -Legislation .pdf City of Miami Page 95 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 DISCUSSED Larry Spring (Chief of Strategic Planning, Budgeting & Performance): The final one is -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: One more. Commissioner Haskins: No. We got -- Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): No. You have Model City -- Commissioner Haskins: -- BH.18. Mr. Spring: -- Model Cities -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- agenda or no? Mr. Spring: -- Community -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Model City -- Mr. Spring: -- Revitalization District Trust. Commissioner Haskins: 19, Model City. This is the last one. Commissioner Spence -Jones: This is the last one. Chairman Gonzalez: Which one is that? Commissioner Haskins: Model City. Chairman Gonzalez: BH.17? Commissioner Haskins: 18. Mr. Fernandez: 18. Chairman Gonzalez: 18. I don't have 18. Frank, what's the matter with you? Vice Chairman Sanchez: You don't have 18? Chairman Gonzalez: No. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Please have 18. Chairman Gonzalez: Where is it? Good evening. David Chiverton: Good evening. David Chiverton, chairman of the board of directors, Model City Revitalization Trust; just asking for your support on this. As you can see, we cut the budget somewhat and -- from last year, and I came before you a couple meetings back and explained to you the progress that's being made. We built homes and we're looking to add to that, and put some new families in it. We're just asking for your support of continuing. Along with that, we've certainly put together a new plan that would reflect the Trust's intentions to move forward in the future. Commissioner Spence -Jones: All right. City of Miami Page 96 Printed on 10/10/2006 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 12, 2006 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Any questions? I just want to say just -- Chairman Gonzalez: No questions. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Quickly, first of all, I want to commend everything that you guys are doing at the Model City Trust to make the necessary changes. It has been a tough road. Already, you have a new president, a new CEO (Chief Executive Officer), new board members, a new chairman, an ad hoc committee, a new audit. I mean, we've done a lot in the last seven or eight months to really fry to turn the organization around. We have four new homeowners in the places since then, demoed a building that we've been trying to get knocked down for God knows how long. It's finally got demoed, and the list goes on, and you're reducing salaries. I think that this is what we should be doing with everybody that we fund. Every year they should be taking a reduction. We should not be going higher, you know, funding these additional programs. They need to -- we have to get them to the point that they can identify funds from other resources so that they can sustain themselves, because if I'm not here or the support is on this dais are not -- is not here to support your projects, then it goes away, so I just want to commend you on making the necessary changes and really taking the bull by its horn to make changes -- Chiverton: Thank you -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and that's it. Mr. Chiverton: -- Commissioner. Commissioner Haskins: Here, here. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And we won our first tax cut -- tax credit project. Commissioner Haskins: Right. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Vice Chairman Sanchez: And wake up. Mr. Spring: Commissioner -- Chairman Gonzalez: Is that it? Mr. Spring: -- that is all I have for tonight. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you very much. City of Miami Page 97 Printed on 10/10/2006