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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2007-06-12 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Meeting Minutes Tuesday, June 12, 2007 9:00 AM SPECIAL City Hall Commission Chambers City Commission Manuel A. Diaz, Mayor Angel Gonzalez, Chairman Joe Sanchez, Vice Chairman Marc David Sarnoff, 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 June 12, 2007 Minutes are transcribed verbatim. Periodically, agenda items are revisited during a meeting. "[Later...]" refers to discussions that were interrupted and later continued. 9:00 A.M. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Chairman Gonzalez, Commissioner Sarnoff, Vice -Chairman Sanchez, Commissioner Regalado and Commissioner Spence -Jones On the 12th day of June 2007, the City Commission of the City ofMiami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, in special session. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Angel Gonzalez at 9: 29 a.m. and adjourned at 1: 20 p.m. Note for the Record: Commissioner Spence -Jones entered at 9: 30 a.m. ALSO PRESENT: Jorge L. Fernandez, City Attorney Pedro G. Hernandez, City Manager Pamela Burns, Assistant City Clerk Chairman Gonzalez: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the June 12, 2007 special Commission meeting of the City ofMiami City Commission in this historic chambers. The members of the City Commission are Joe Sanchez, Vice Chairman, Tomas Regalado, Michelle Spence -Jones, Marc David Sarnoff, and me, Angel Gonzalez, Chairman. Also on the dais are Pete Hernandez, the City Manager, Jorge L. Fernandez, City Attorney, and Pamela Burns, City Clerk [sic]. The meeting will be opened with a prayer by Chairman [sic] Sanchez and a pledge of allegiance by Commissioner Regalado. Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered. MAYORAL VETOES (Pursuant to Section 4(g)(5) of the charter of Miami, Florida, Item(s) vetoed by the Mayor shall be placed by the city clerk as the first substantive item(s) for the commission consideration.) NO MAYORAL VETOES ORDER OF THE DAY Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Let the record reflect that I have a memo from the Mayor's [sic] Office that reflects that there has been no vetoes from the Mayor's Office. Is that correct? Pamela E. Burns (Assistant City Clerk): That's correct. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: We will now begin this special meeting, and the City Attorney will state the procedure to be followed during this meeting. Mr. City Attorney. Jorge L. Fernandez (City Attorney): Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, members of the public. The special meeting of the City Commission has been called to consider only the items that have been advertised, specifically the items pertain to the Department of Community Development and the ratification of the collective bargaining agreements between the City of Miami and the International Association Firefighters AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor -Congress of Industrial Organizations) Local 587. Any person who's a lobbyist must register with the City Clerk before appearing in front of the City Commission. A copy of the City ofMiami Page 2 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Code section about lobbyists is available in the City Clerk's office. The materials in connection with each item appearing on the agenda is available for inspection during business hours at the City Clerk's office and online at wwwmiamigov. com [sic]. Formal action may be taken on any item discussed or added to this agenda. All decisions of the City Commission are final, except that the Mayor may veto certain items approved by the City Commission within ten calendar days of the Commission action. The Commission may override such veto by a four fifth vote. Any person or entity requesting approval, relief or other action from the City Commission concerning any issue shall disclose, in writing, at the commencement or continuance of the hearings on the issue the following information: Whether any consideration has been provided or committed, directly or on its behalf to any entity or person for an agreement to support or withhold objection to the requested approval, relief or action; to whom the consideration has been provided or committed; the nature of the consideration, and a description of what is being requested in exchange for the consideration. The disclosure form, which is available from the City Clerk, must be read into the record by the requesting person or entity prior to submission to the City Clerk. Anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Commission for any matter considered at this meeting needs a verbatim record of the item on which the appeal is based. Absolutely no cell phones, beepers, nor other audible sound or ringing devices are permitted in the Commission chambers. Please silence those now. Any person making impertinent or slanderous remarks or who becomes unruly while addressing the Commission shall be barred from further attending Commission meetings, unless permission to continue or again address the Commission is granted by a vote of the Commission. No clapping, applauding, heckling, or verbal outbursts in support or opposition to a speaker or a Commissioner are allowed. No signs or placards are allowed in the chambers. Persons exiting the Commission chamber shall do so quietly. Persons may address the City Commission on items appearing on the 'public hearings" portion of the agenda and on items where public input is solicited. Persons wishing to speak should inform the City Clerk, as soon as possible, of the desire to speak, giving the City Clerk their names. At the time the item is heard, persons who will speak should approach the microphone and wait to be recognized. Any person with a disability requiring auxiliary aids and services for this meeting may notify the City Clerk. The lunch recess will begin at the conclusion of deliberation of the agenda item being considered at noon, and the meeting will end either at the conclusion of deliberation of the agenda item being considered at 10 p.m. or at the conclusion of the regularly scheduled agenda, whichever occurs first. Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. Mr. Manager, is there any items -- or any of the Commissioners have any items that wish to have pull or defer or table? Pedro G. Hernandez (City Manager): Mr. Chairman, good morning. If you allow me, I would like to defer SP.18 and SP. 21 to the July regular meeting of the City Commission. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Mr. Hernandez: Also, I would like to ask your consideration of taking SP.22 first, which is the item dealing with the fire union contract. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman, I just want to add. Once we -- I know that we're deferring SP.21, but as we get closer to that item, I do want to just make a comment on the record, but I'd rather wait until aft -- closer towards the end of the meeting. Chairman Gonzalez: To listen to -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: No, not to listen. I just have a comment that I want to -- City ofMiami Page 3 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 SP.1 07-00664 Department of Community Development Chairman Gonzalez: Oh, a comment? OK. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- put -- something that want to put on the record. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. PUBLIC HEARINGS RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), CORRECTING RESOLUTION NO. 07-0170, ADOPTED MARCH 22, 2007, RELATED TO THE TRANSFER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, FROM BLACK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COALITION, INC., AND THE ALLOCATION OF SAID FUNDS TO NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION, INC. ("NANA"), BY CHANGING THE ALLOCATED AMOUNT FROM $58,738.57, TO THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF $52,250.61; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NO. 2, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, TO THE AGREEMENT WITH NANA, FOR SAID PURPOSE. 07-00664 Legislation .pdf 07-00664 Exhibit 1 .pdf 07-00664 Exhibit 2 .pdf 07-00664 Summary Form.pdf 07-00664 Text File Report.pdf 07-00664 Amendment .pdf 07-00664 Pre -Attachment .pdf Motion by Commissioner Spence -Jones, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-07-0299 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. I'm going to start calling the items on the agenda. For those that are going to be coming up to speak on the items, time allowed will be two minutes per speaker. That has been the procedure on these Commission meetings, so please, when you come to the mike, make sure that you stay within your two minutes. We don't want to take time from the next person that is going to be wanting to speak on the items, so having said that, SP.1 is claming resolution number 07-0170, NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association). Barbara Gomez: Barbara Gomez, director of the Department of Community Development. Item 1, we're requesting a clarification on resolution adopted -- 07-0170, adopted March 22, and it is correcting the funds. It said that it was 58, 738.57 from Black Economic Development Coalition, Inc. to Neighbors and Neighbors Association, and we need to make the following correction. Number one, we're correcting the amount from 58, 738.57 to 52, 250.61, and there is a correction on the name of the agency. It types "Neighbors for Neighbors, " and it's "Neighbors and Neighbors Association, Inc." Chairman Gonzalez: Leroy, good morning. Leroy Jones: Leroy Jones. Good morning, Commissioners, Mr. Chair. Leroy Jones, Neighbors and Neighbors Association, executive director, 180 Northwest 62nd Street. I'm asking the City ofMiami Page 4 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioners to please consider the staff recommendation for the change in the funding. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Anyone else from the public that wants to speak on this item, please come forward to be recognized. See -- Beba Mann: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Beba Mann, 1665 Southwest 23rd Street. I am not speaking on behalf or against this item. I'm just a little concerned about the original agreement, which was for Neighbors for Neighbors Association, Inc., which does not exist. I went further to see if NANA, which is the nickname which is given -- that one does not exist either. Now the correction that has just been made does not show in -- as any one of the named entities on the corporations in Tallahassee. Ms. Gomez: I have the information here, if you want to look at it. It's Neighbors and Neighbors Association, Inc. Ms. Mann: That clarifies it. Is the agreement going to be corrected? Ms. Gomez: Yes. Ms. Mann: The original agreement? Ms. Gomez: That's the amendment that I just made on the floor. Ms. Mann: OK. Thank you. Ms. Gomez: Thank you. You're welcome. Pamela E. Burns (Assistant City Clerk): Excuse me. Chairman Gonzalez: Any -- Ms. Burns: We need your name for the record, please. Ms. Mann: Oh, I did give it. Beba Mann, M-A-N-N. Chairman Gonzalez: Anyone else from the public? Seeing none, hearing none, the public hearing is closed. Is there a motion on the item? Commissioner Spence -Jones: So moved. I just do have a statement, though. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yeah. Before we vote on the issue, NANA serves citywide, correct? Mr. Jones: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: You do citywide -- Mr. Jones: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- services? Mr. Jones: Well, no. I'm a County -- NANA is a countywide agency for Miami -Dade County. We service all County areas, but for the City, I only provide services right now at this time for District 5 and District 2, but on the County side, I provide services to each of you [sic] districts. City ofMiami Page 5 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Vice Chairman Sanchez: On the County side? Mr. Jones: On the -- yes. Yes, so in each of you [sic] district, businesses get funding through the Mom and Pop Grant Program on the County, so yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Barbara, this question's pertaining to you. There -- on my notes, there was a discrepancy of 48,000 from what's shown on amendment number two and Exhibit C. Could you explain that on the funding? Ms. Gomez: Commissioner, the -- it was a (UNINTET,TIGIBT,F). The change is that it was 58, 738.57, and Black Economic Development Coalition sent us the last invoice, so it had to be reduced to 52,250, so it's just a typo, and that's why I wanted to correct it on the record. Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK, so it's been corrected on the record. Ms. Gomez: It's been corrected, and the name, we put "Neighbors for Neighbors, " and it's "Neighbors and Neighbors." Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Chairman Gonzalez: Commiss -- You're done? Vice Chairman Sanchez: I'm done. Chairman Gonzalez: Commissioner Spence -Jones? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yes. I just have one quick little comment. Just so that I'm clear, Barbara, regarding the additional funding or the funding that's now at Neighbors. This is being taken from one organization to be given to NANA, correct? Ms. Gomez: Correct. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And is it because the organization is no longer in existence, or what is the --? Ms. Gomez: The organization requested and they've both been working together -- Mr. Jones: Right. Ms. Gomez: -- and Leroy can -- Mr. Jones: NANA recently took over Tools for Change -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Jones: -- so NANA owns Tools for Change right now, so it's no new funding. It's just the funding that Tools had already been approved for, we getting it, so it's still being paid with the same staff and the same administration costs that Tools would have used it for, so it's the same -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you, Leroy. I just wanted you to put that on the record. Mr. Jones: Yes. Thank you. City ofMiami Page 6 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Sarnoff Question, Leroy. Mr. Jones: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff How -- when was Neighbors and Neighbors, Inc. formed? Mr. Jones: In -- it was incorporated, I think, in June of '96, if my memory serve me correct, and a 501(c)3 in '97. We always paid our incorporation fees on time, so -- and it's Neighbors and Neighbors Association. Neighbors for Neighbors is Channel 4. Matter of fact, when I first started Neighbors and Neighbors Association, I was getting a lot of Neighbors for Neighbors phone calls, and then Neighbors for Neighbors called me and said, hey, what the name of your organization? So they sent somebody out to see, and two days later, they sent a truckload of toys to my agency to donate to Scott -- people live in Scott housing because of the services I was doing. Commissioner Sarnoff And Leroy, what is exactly your -- are you an officer of Neighbors and Neighbors? Mr. Jones: I'm the director. Commissioner Sarnoff Director, OK. Mr. Jones: I'm the founding member. I created Neighbors and Neighbors Association because I couldn't get a job, so I created an organization. Now I get a salary from it, so -- Commissioner Sarnoff OK. Mr. Jones: Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And l just want to -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- also just commend on the record so we can move on that -- all of us know, not just in my district, but throughout the whole city and county, that Leroy has been pushing very hard to make sure that not only the residents, but the business owners from the community actually benefit from his services, so he is a shining example of what we need to see happening. I know, at least in my district, I'm very proud to have Leroy, and hopefully, he can become an example for a lot of young people or people in our communities to do the right thing, so I applaud Leroy for his efforts. Mr. Jones: Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you. Mr. Jones: Thank you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Here, here. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. All in -- we had -- did we had a second? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah, and -- Ms. Burns: No. We don't have a second. City ofMiami Page 7 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: We don't have a second. Commissioner Sarnoff I'll second. Vice Chairman Sanchez: I would second the motion, as amended. Chairman Gonzalez: No. You made the motion. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Oh, I made the motion? Commissioner Spence -Jones: I made the motion. Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah. Vice Chairman Sanchez: As amended. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a motion and we have second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Motion carries. SP.2 07-00693 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), Community AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT AN ASSIGNMENT OF AN Development AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, TO REFLECT THE LEGAL ENTITY NAME CHANGE FOR THE BUSINESS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS RICHARD E. PROCTOR D/B/A PROCTOR'S CAR CARE TO PROCTOR'S CAR CARE, INC., PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. 06-0325, ADOPTED MAY 25, 2006. 07-00693 Legislation .pdf 07-00693 Exhibit 1 .pdf 07-00693 Summary Form.pdf 07-00693 Pre -Legislation .pdf 07-00693 Pre -Attachment .pdf 07-00693 Agreement .pdf 07-00693 Text File Report .pdf 07-00693 Pre -Attachment 2 .pdf 07-00693 Pre -Attachment 3 .pdf Motion by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-07-0300 Chairman Gonzalez: SP.2 -- Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Item 2 -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- is a name change. City ofMiami Page 8 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. Gomez: -- is Resolution 06-0325, adopted May 25, where we awarded funds to Richard E. Proctor d/b/a (doing business as) Proctor [sic] Care -- Car Care for a Micro -Enterprise Program. The owner has incorporated the business and has changed the name to Proctor [sic] Care -- Car Care, and we need to change the legal entity name for this funding. The funding is the same, and it was through the Micro -Enterprise Program, District 5. Chairman Gonzalez: Good morning. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So move. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion. Is there a second? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second, just with a -- Chairman Gonzalez: Second. Good morning. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- comment. Richard Proctor: Good morning, Commissioners. Chairman Gonzalez: It's a public hearing. Anyone from the public on --? Mr. Proctor: Good morning, Commissioners, and everybody. I want to thank Commissioner Jones [sic] for being patient with me and everything like that. Chairman Gonzalez: We need your name and address for the record. Mr. Proctor: OK. My name is Richard Proctor, from Proctor's Car Care, 1050 Northwest 54th Street. I want to thank the Commissioners for -- in advance for -- I was approved for the grant, but I haven't received it yet. I was approved, but I changed it to my corporation, so I would appreciate if everything go well this morning, andl have finished my Fast Track class months ago, and I'm waiting on everything to be finalized so I can move forward Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Barbara. Commissioner Spence -Jones: The -- I think we're done. I just want to say, I apologize and we apologize for any delays that may have caused you any inconveniences regarding getting your funding. I think it's been about two, almost three years -- correct? -- with you waiting -- Mr. Proctor: Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- so hopefully we can have some sort of resolution as of today, and once again, I apologize for any delays that may have occurred, and Barbara, all of the necessary paperwork has been handled to check to make sure the businesses --? Because I don't want to have this for every single person coming up, so is there -- this has already been -- the due diligence has already been done, right -- Ms. Gomez: On his case, yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- on all of the items, correct? Ms. Gomez: There are some that Leroy is working with businesses, so you might have some that are going through that process. City ofMiami Page 9 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 SP.3 07-00699 Department of Community Development Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Congratulations. Mr. Proctor: All right. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a motion, and we have a second on the item. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Vote is unanimous. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT $100,000, FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT CLOSED OUT FUNDS; ALLOCATING SAID FUNDS TO SECTION 108 DEBT SERVICE, TO ADJUST ACTUAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE YEAR AS A RESULT OF INCREASED INTEREST PAYMENT ON VARIABLE INTEREST RATE LOANS. 07-00699 Legislation.pdf 07-00699 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00699 Summary Form.pdf Motion by Commissioner Spence -Jones, seconded by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez and Spence -Jones Absent: 1 - Commissioner Regalado R-07-0301 Chairman Gonzalez: SP.3. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Item 3, we're requesting the transfer of a hundred thousand dollars from Community Development Block Grant closeout funds, and allocating said fund to Section 108 debt service, and the adjustment is needed due to the result of an increased interest payment and variable interest rate in the loans. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. This is a public hearing. Anyone from the public wants to speak on this item, please come forward to be recognized. Nina West: Good morning, Commissioners. Nina West, 3690 Avocado Avenue, Coconut Grove. I just have questions. I'm not here to speak for or against, but one of the things I was wondering, a hundred thousand dollars in interest on variable rate loans, what made the City decide to choose variable rate loans when the interest rates were so low on the fixed loans to begin with? Ms. Gomez: These were Section 108 loans done -- one in 1990 and one in 1995, and we've been negotiating -- and especially, one which is the Wynwood Trade Zone -- to try to get out of that loan. We have not been able to do that, so we're in the process of trying to renegotiate those loans. Ms. West: OK, and how long have you been in that process? Ms. Gomez: On the Wynwood Trade Zone, we have been, I would say, in the last -- City ofMiami Page 10 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. West: Because I remember that. Ms. Gomez: Yeah. Ms. West: That's a very old -- Ms. Gomez: It's, I would say, more than nine years. Chairman Gonzalez: That goes back -- Ms. West: It doesn't look like you're going to be successful, not any time soon. Chairman Gonzalez: -- to the era of 1 L. Plummer -- Ms. West: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: -- right? Ms. West: Second question is -- Pedro G. Hernandez (City Manager): Commiss -- Ms. Gomez: I think that the Manager has -- Mr. Hernandez: Mr. Chairman. Ms. Gomez: -- an answer. Mr. Hernandez: Mr. Chairman, ifI may. I know that on the Wynwood case, there is quite a bit of legal activity going on right now, and -- in front of a judge, so hopefully, this one will be closed very soon. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Ms. West: OK. I just have a second question, and this applies to many of the items, so you can answer it once for everything, I think. Most of these items come with a budget impact analysis, but the budget impact analysis is not done, andl went through, I think, most of the backup material on almost everything in all of the packets for all of the items, the SP (special) items, and the impact analysis is signed off by you and the City Manager, but there's no -- I can't find an impact analysis anywhere on any of these items, and if you take them as a totality, I'm sure they have an impact. Ms. Gomez: Each item has the backup that says where the money comes from, where we're taking it away, and the impact, I'll be more than glad, after the meeting, provide you with that information. Ms. West: Right, but we'd like to see it before in the future. Ms. Gomez: This is not coming from the City -- Larry Spring (Chief Financial Officer): General fund Chairman Gonzalez: It's coming from federal funds. City ofMiami Page 11 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Mr. Spring: Larry Spring, chief financial officer. The source of the -- this funding is our federal allocation -- Chairman Gonzalez: Federal allocation. Mr. Spring: -- and not the City's general fund, i.e., tax revenues, you know, those other City -- normal City sources, so that's why you see a little nuance on how the item was presented Ms. West: Right, and that includes the interest payment on the Wynwood? Mr. Spring: Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: Anyone else from the public that wants to speak on the item? Seeing none, hearing none, public hearing is closed. We need a motion, and we need a second. Commissioner Spence -Jones: So moved. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Motion carries. SP.4 07-00672 RESOLUTION Department of Community Development A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION , WITH ATTACHMENT(S), CONFIRMING THE SALES PRICE LIMITS OF THE STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP ("SHIP") PROGRAM FOR THE 2007-2010 LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN ("LHAP") AS SUBMITTED TO THE FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, IN THE AMOUNT OF $236,800, FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND EXISTING CONSTRUCTION FOR THE FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER PROGRAM, AND IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000, FOR THE SINGLE FAMILY REHABILITATION, SINGLE FAMILY EMERGENCY AND SINGLE FAMILY REPLACEMENT HOMES PROGRAMS; FURTHER CONFIRMING THAT FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF THE SHIP ALLOCATION, PLUS FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF THE PROGRAM INCOME, IS INSUFFICIENT TO ADEQUATELY PAY THE NECESSARY COSTS OF ADMINISTERING THE LHAP; AUTHORIZING THE USE OF TEN PERCENT (10%) OF THE SHIP ALLOCATION, PLUS FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF THE PROGRAM INCOME, TO COVER THE NECESSARY COSTS OF ADMINISTERING THE LHAP/ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SHIP PROGRAM. 07-00672 Legislation.pdf 07-00672 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00672 Exhibit 2 .pdf 07-00672 Summary Form.pdf Motion by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones City ofMiami Page 12 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 R-07-0302 Chairman Gonzalez: SP.4. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Item 4, we are confirming the sales price limits on the State Housing Initiative Partnership Program. As you know, at the last Commission meeting in April, Commissioner Regalado requested that the sales price and assessed value for single-family rehab, single-family emergency, and the single-family replacement home be increased to $300, 000. This Commission approved it, and this is the notification that we are sending it to the State for their approval, and to be included as part of our Local Housing Assistance Plan. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Anyone from the public who wants to speak on this item, please come forward. Nina West: Nina West, 3690 Avocado Avenue, Coconut Grove. Another question. I noticed on this particular item that you are running 50 percent over budget to administer it. Is that -- there any particular reason for that? Ms. Gomez: No. I think you got the numbers wrong. What it says here is that five percent of the program income, it goes into administration for a total of allowable of ten percent -- Ms. West: Right, so there's no -- Ms. Gomez: -- so the maximum that we're charging is ten percent to -- Ms. West: Ten percent. Ms. Gomez: -- administration. Ms. West: You're not adding another five on top of that? Ms. Gomez: No, no. Ms. West: OK, thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Anyone else from the public that wants to speak on the item, please come forward to be recognized. Seeing none, hearing none, the public hearing is closed. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So move. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion. Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff Second. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. I just want to make a comment to -- Chairman Gonzalez: And there is a second. Discussion. Commissioner Spence -Jones? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just, Barbara, so that people are very clear on the importance of this going -from 236 to 300, just so that public understands why this was -- Ms. Gomez: Basically, we had an issue when it was discussed at the City Commission that there City ofMiami Page 13 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 SP.5 07-00691 Department of Community Development were a lot of houses that were being assessed, specially [sic] in District 4, 2, 3, that they just couldn't participate as part of our program. We had established the $300,000 in our Affordable Housing Trust Fund guideline, so the -- Regalado make a recommendation to increase to be able to help these homeowners that the house was assessed at that amount of money, but that we would not increase the income criteria, so it's just telling them we're going to be able to serve you, especially the retirees that we have throughout the City. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Motion carries. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $85,755, PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF OFF-STREET PARKING; ALLOCATING SAID FUNDS, TO THE ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS, INC., TO RENOVATE THEIR DAY CARE CENTER SO THAT IT CAN COME INTO CODE COMPLIANCE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, WITH SAID AGENCY, FOR SAID PURPOSE. 07-00691 Legislation.pdf 07-00691 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00691 Exhibit 2.pdf 07-00691 Summary Form.pdf 07-00691 Pre-Legislation.pdf 07-00691 Funds Alternative Programs.pdf 07-00691 Agreement.pdf Motion by Commissioner Spence -Jones, seconded by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-07-0303 Chairman Gonzalez: SP.5. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Item 5, this one is pursuant to Resolution 04-0685, adopted October 14, 2004. The City Commission allocated a total of $150, 000 of CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds to the Miami Parking Authority for the development of parking lot at the property located at 151 Northwest 60 Street. It was to benefit the Alternative Program, Incorporated into their facility. The Miami Parking Authority is requesting that the remaining fund, in the amount of 85,755, be transferred to the Alternative Program for renovations of their daycare. The parking authority was not able to perform the parking that they had envisioned at the time. The City ofMiami is recommending that those funds go to the Alternative Program; that the City ofMiami will make payments directly to the contractors. The Alternative Program provides legal services and program as an alternative to incarceration to low and mod (moderate) income youth in the City, and again, we are recommending that that take place. City ofMiami Page 14 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Anyone from the public that wants to speak on this item? Seeing none, hearing none, public hearing is closed. Is there a motion? Commissioner Spence -Jones: So moved. Chairman Gonzalez: Is there a second? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: There is a second. All in favor, say "aye." Commissioner Sarnoff But before you vote, can I have --? I have -- Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff -- a couple questions. Barbara, why does Off -Street Parking get involved with this? Ms. Gomez: Back in 2004, there was a meeting with the City Commission of District 5, which at that time was Commissioner Teele, and they were in the process -- they had been awarded some funds from the County and the federal, and they had purchased the church that is next to their school. That church -- the vision of the Alternative Program was to do a community center. The community center needed additional parking in order for them to open the facility. Then the City worked with Off -Street Parking and the Alternative Program in order to see if we can -- if they could do the parking that was needed. That was not accomplished. It was impossible. Then we tried to also work with parking authority for him -- for the parking authority to purchase some properties. That didn't work either, so throughout the year 2004, we've been working on trying to help the Alternative Program. Commissioner Sarnoff So you went from parking to just general help? Ms. Gomez: Right. Well, renovations to the building where the classes are being performed right now, yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: It says here to renovate the daycare center. Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: That's what it says -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and l just want to -- I don't know if you have another comment. I do want to add on to your comment, though. Commissioner Sarnoff No. I'm trying to understand it. I'm trying to understand how Off -Street Parking starts out by either procuring or creating parking, and then that becomes a payment for a daycare center. Ms. Gomez: No. They couldn't use it, so they basically said, look, you know, you can give it back to the Alternative. It was the begin --from the beginning, these allocations were made to the Alternative Program. They couldn't do the parking, and that's how the parking authority -- City ofMiami Page 15 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Sarnoff But -- so maybe it's a lack of my knowledge because you have the division of Off -Street Parking, DOSP (Department of Off -Street Parking) -- correct? -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff -- which is a quasi -governmental entity -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff -- and they allocate a certain quantum of dollars, in this case, I take it, $85, 000. They are unable to spend these $85, 000, theoretically, to create parking for this program -- Ms. Gomez: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff -- and then the City takes the 85, 000 from DOSP and then designates it for a daycare center? Ms. Gomez: DOSP told us that they couldn't use the dollars. We've been working, as you know -- in the last couple of months, we've been working with the Alternative in fixing the roof of the school, fixing the windows, and this will be something that we could finally accomplish so that the participants can continue participating in the school, yes. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, my question to you is, we take DOSP's money, and then we designate it, so this is not costing the City anything? Ms. Gomez: No. Commissioner Sarnoff If we view -- Pedro G. Hernandez (City Manager): No. Commissioner Sarnoff -- DOSP -- let me finish, and then you could say I'm wrong -- if we viewed -- well, maybe I'll let you talk. Go ahead, Mr. City Manager. Mr. Hernandez: I'm sorry, Commissioner. It's just that the CDBG monies were allocated initially to Off -Street Parking. Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff OK. Georgia Jones -Ayers: May I interrupt? My name is Georgia Jones -Ayers, founder/executive director of the Alternative Program; born October 21, 1928, in the City ofMiami. I'd like to get that on the record, sir. I would advise that the City Commissioners go to the locations that you fund and see actually what's going on. I don't want to stand up here and take your time because I'm capable of doing that, but would advise and ask that each of you come to 151 Northwest 60 Street. The building consist of 48, 000 square feet. My congresswoman came out on the -- in that area on Northwest 60 Street in 1999 and saw me working out there with the Haitian children because of the debris that's in that community. She told me, "Georgia, I'm going to get you some money, " and when the $2.2 million appeared in the newspaper, I called Carrie. I said "Hey, how much of that is mine?" She said, "All of it is yours." I purchased that 48,000 square foot building, which goes from 50 -- from 61 st Street to 60 Street -- as a matter of fact, I'm right behind Leroy, and from that point on, I cover all of Dade County, and while I'm at City ofMiami Page 16 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 it, I give you far more service than you give me in money, andl would advise you, rather than me stand up here and fuss -- sometimes, I do cuss -- and tell you how I feel about it, why don't you all go out to the areas that you're funding and find out for yourselves. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you so much. Just real fast. I mean, again, I want to acknowledge Georgia Ayers. She has been -- for those that know her within my district -- a very strong supporter of not only the African -American community, but anybody in trouble, for those that know that about Ms. Ayers. She has been a long, long fighter for justice and injustice within my community, so I want to at least be able to acknowledge this matriarch -- Applause. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- within our community. Chairman Gonzalez: No clapping. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Sorry about that, but do want to make sure that my colleague on the dais is very clear about whatever issues or concerns that he may have. Again, this is an item thatl actually inherited, correct, Barbara? Ms. Gomez: Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Andl have had the opportunity to visit the site on several occasions, and this is a historic building that's actually in the heart of the Edison community, right behind Edison, as a matter of fact, Edison Middle. My question, though, just so that -- or just to respond to his question -- I guess what Commissioner Sarnoff was trying to be clear is how did the -- and you could correct me if I'm wrong -- money start with -- the $85, 000 start with DOSP from the beginning? And I'm assuming that the money came from CD (Community Development) because parking is an allowable expense, correct? Ms. Gomez: I think explained it, and maybe I didn't get across to Commissioner Sarnoff. It was Community Development giving it to Off -Street, andl believe that the Manager -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: I -- Ms. Gomez: -- did -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Right, andl wanted you to -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- put that on the record because the way that it's being communicated today, it's almost as if Off -Street Parking might have -- Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- had a separate allocation, and the question becomes, well, how would they have an allocation for -- City ofMiami Page 17 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- something like this in general, so to start it off Commissioner Sarnoff Ms. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- the issue was, I guess, the money was -- did come from CD in the beginning to be given to Off -Street Parking to build parking in the area, and that happens throughout the whole City, so one of the big concerns that I know I've had with Ms. Ayers is that they have not had enough parking to accommodate all of the programs and the things that they have happening in their building, so I'm assuming that now they're making the adjustments from a parking standpoint to have parking, I guess, facilitated around the building, I guess, some other way. That's how we're addressing the lack of -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- not having the parking lot there, correct? Ms. Gomez: Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK, and then the question becomes, now the dollars that's being taken back from Off -Street Parking now will be able to be utilizedfrom -- which is CD money anyway -- Ms. Gomez: Yeah. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- to assist with the daycare that's already in existence now. Ms. Gomez: Correct. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK, so this is not a new program that we're creating. Ms. Gomez: No. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. How many kids are already operating in this program, just so that we're clear, so everybody here in the chambers and also watching understands how many kids are being serviced through the daycare now? Ms. Jones Ayers: Let me clear this. It's -- there are four floors in that building, and just for the art of clearing up what's happening, the first floor is to be a daycare. We cannot move to the fourth floor until the -- so the daycare can begin until all of the floors are completed. Hurricane Wilma did a lot of damage to the building. Additionally, the children have broken out 29 of the windows. On last week, one man broke another window and wound up in the hospital for surgery. The police had to carry him to Jackson before he could take him to jail. I have gone through hell in that area. They have cut the fence; they stole the razor wire, the barbed wire, and unrolled 100 feet of the fence to take that, so I'm always on the City ofMiami Police Department to give me some sort of protection. Almost every day I go through hell there, andl really want to thank Barbara. She came out to the area and spent some time out there with me, andl really want to thank her for pushing -- that's what she's really doing, and I'm behind you, Barbara. Thank you. Commissioner Spence -Jones: All right. I just wanted to make sure -- City ofMiami Page 18 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Sarnoff Wait, Ms. Ayers. Ms. Ayers, could you stay up there for a moment? Ms. Jones Ayers: Yes, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff Because you andl do know each other. Ms. Jones Ayers: Sir. Commissioner Sarnoff Are you still the director? Ms. Jones Ayers: Founder, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff Are you still the director? Ms. Jones Ayers: Yes, I am; will be until the day I die. Commissioner Sarnoff OK. What is your total compensation package from --? Ms. Jones Ayers: Pardon? Commissioner Sarnoff What is your total compensation package? How much do you earn totally -- Ms. Jones Ayers: Me? Commissioner Sarnoff -- from the Alternative Programs [sic], Inc.? Ms. Jones Ayers: I earn $96, 000 -- Commissioner Sarnoff That's your -- Ms. Jones Ayers: -- annually. Commissioner Sarnoff -- salary, right? Ms. Jones Ayers: That's mine, yes, sir. I'm the founder/director. I cover the entire Dade County. You don't pay me one dime. I only get $20,000 a year from the City ofMiami. You get a hundred thousand dollars worth of work out of me. I have never received a dime of yours and don't want it. Any other questions? Commissioner Sarnoff Where's your funding source? Ms. Jones Ayers: Dade County -- Commissioner Sarnoff And so when the City -- Ms. Jones Ayers: -- School Board. Commissioner Sarnoff OK. You've answered my question. Ms. Jones Ayers: Thank you. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you, Ms. Ayers. City ofMiami Page 19 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. Jones Ayers: Thank you. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I just -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- wanted to make sure we put it on the record. Chairman Gonzalez: Let's move on. You done? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- Barbara. Chairman Gonzalez: Let's move on. We had a motion, I believe, and we had a second on SP.5. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: All opposed have the same right. Motion carries. SP.6 07-00700 RESOLUTION Department of Community Development A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,000, PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED TO HENRY PRESCOTT TAYLOR D/B/A PRESCO H & TAYLOR LAWN SERVICE; ALLOCATING SAID FUNDS, TO MARDESS BELL D/B/A DESTINE 2 TRAVEL, TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES UNDER THE MICRO -ENTERPRISE PROGRAM; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, WITH SAID AGENCY FOR SAID PURPOSE. 07-00700 Legislation .pdf 07-00700 Exhibit 1 .pdf 07-00700 Exhibit 2 .pdf 07-00700 Summary Form.pdf 07-00700 Pre -Legislation .pdf 07-00700 Pre -Attachment .pdf 07-00700 Agreement .pdf 07-00700 Pre -Attachment 2 .pdf 07-00700 Pre -Attachment 3 .pdf Motion by Commissioner Spence -Jones, seconded by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff and Spence -Jones Absent: 2 - Commissioner Sanchez and Regalado R-07-0304 Chairman Gonzalez: SP.6. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Item 6, pursuant to Resolution 06-0325, City ofMiami Page 20 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 adopted May 25 by the City Commission, allocating the total amount of $5, 000 in Community Development Block Grant to Henry Presco [sic] Taylor d/b/a (doing business as) Presco H & Taylor Lawn Service to provide economic development activities under the Micro -Enterprise Program. Mr. Henry Presco [sic] Taylor has decided not to participate in the Micro -Enterprise Program. The Administration recommends the transfer of CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) in the amount $5, 000 previously allocated to Henry Presco [sic] Taylor d/b/a Presco H & Taylor Lawn Service, and the allocation of said fund to Mardress [sic] Bell d/b/a Destine 2 Travel, to provide the economic development activities under the Micro -Enterprise Program, and again, this was Micro -Enterprise in District 5. There was a committee set up that selected the businesses. As the business did not participate, we will come back and transfer to the people that are in a wait list for those funds. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And these -- I'm sorry. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Is there -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Public hearing. Chairman Gonzalez: -- a motion on the item? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. I -- so move. Chairman Gonzalez: There is a motion on the item. Is there a second? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: There is a second. Discussion. You're recognized, Commissioner Spence -Jones. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And again, this is just really a clean-up item, correct, Barbara, from the stand -- Ms. Gomez: This is basically taking from somebody that will not participate and giving it to the Commissioner Spence -Jones: Giving it to somebody -- Ms. Gomez: -- the next business. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- else that was on the line. I just wanted to make sure we're clear. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, ifI just may. The original recipient decided not to participate or accept the money? Chairman Gonzalez: Correct. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Why? Leroy Jones: I think his income was too high. His income -- his personal income was too high to participate in the Micro -Enterprise Program. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Just wanted to know why. City ofMiami Page 21 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 SP.7 07-00694 Department of Community Development Mr. Jones: Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Anyone else from the public that wants to speak on the item, please come forward to be recognized. Mr. Jones: Ms. -- the owner is out of town. She did wish to be here because she had participated in the program. She went to the college, the Fast Track, and graduated, so she did what she needed to do in order to be in compliance with the program, and she just wanted me to express that she couldn't make it here and hope that you all will consider CD (Community Development) recommendation. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Anyone else? Seeing none, all the pub -- the public hearing is closed. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING THE SALE OF CERTAIN CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") OWNED PROPERTIES, TO THE INDIVIDUALS , AS SPECIFIED IN "EXHIBIT A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT(S), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM(S), AND TO EXECUTE SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO CONSUMMATE SUCH TRANSACTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT(S), WHICH TERMS MAY BE AMENDED BY THE CITY MANAGER AS MAY BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MEET THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY. 07-00694 Legislation.pdf 07-00694 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00694 Exhibit 2.pdf 07-00694 Summary Form.pdf Motion by Commissioner Spence -Jones, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-07-0305 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. SP.7. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Item 7, we are requesting approval for the sale of certain City ofMiami-owned properties to the individuals as specified in Exhibit A. These were properties that were built by the Model City Homeownership Zone Trust. As you know, they were abolished, and these properties came back to the City, and we have gotten requests that these were the buyers originally that had been waiting for the house. We have Elaine Rahming, 1418 Northwest 60 Street, to purchase the property for $155, 000; Tillman Richardson, 1291 Northwest 55 Terrace, $155, 000; and Tymara Coldin, 1436 Northwest 61 Street, $140, 000, and we're doing this on behalf of the Liberty City Trust. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Is there a motion on the item? City ofMiami Page 22 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: So moved. Chairman Gonzalez: There's a motion. Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff I'll second -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Andl do have discussion. Commissioner Sarnoff -- for discussion. Chairman Gonzalez: There is a second for discussion. Let me open the public hearing first. Public hearing. Yes. Nina West: I have some questions on this, too. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Ms. West: In the County tax rolls -- Pamela E. Burns (Assistant City Clerk): Excuse me. Your name for the record. Ms. West: Nina West, 3690 Avocado Avenue, Coconut Grove. In the County tax records, the next -door property, which is not homesteaded and is 1440, shows in the tax rolls for $38, 000. The -- that's a building, a built building, and the underlying land. It is not homesteaded. I want to know why we are selling, for $150, 000, properties next door to un-homesteaded properties for that kind of money when these are supposed to be low-income purchasers, and I'm sure the money could better be spent building their house because these are empty lots, as far as the tax maps and rolls show, and the house next door, which is evidently a rental unit, the taxes are all paid. The taxes are $932 a year. It's not homesteaded, but the County carries it on its tax rolls for $38, 000, both building and underlying land, so as soon as you sell these properties, first of all, you're going to gentrify the guy next door out because they'll reassess him way up, and it's just a low-income rental property, so I wonder if you're thinking about the effects of all this and where you came up with the prices for -- to sell these lots because if the lots next door are so much less expensive, we should be selling them to these people for much less money, and in the same thing, we should not be gentrfing the guy out next door who's providing a low-income rental housing. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Who can answer the questions? Elaine, will you answer the questions? Elaine Black: Good morning. My name is Elaine Black, president/CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the Liberty City Trust, 4800 Northwest 12th Avenue, Miami, Florida. The property in question is being sold for $140, 000 because it is new construction in this community, and the property adjacent to it is in very poor condition, and our goal is to redevelop the entire community, and working with the current owners of the property to maintain the tax rates within our community; that's one of our ongoing opportunities. Thank you. Ms. West: But my question was, is there a house on these properties these people are buying or not a house, or are they just buying the raw land for this amount of money? Because if you look Vice Chairman Sanchez: Wait, wait. City ofMiami Page 23 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. Black: No. Ms. West: -- on the tax rolls, it doesn't -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Couldl --? Hold on. Ms. West: -- show a house. Vice Chairman Sanchez: I'm getting a little bit confused. These are homes that are already built; they're not lots. Ms. West: That's what I'm asking. That's what I'm asking -- Ms. Black: The -- Ms. West: -- because it doesn't show on the -- Chairman Gonzalez: Speak on the mike -- Ms. West: -- tax roll. Chairman Gonzalez: -- please -- Ms. Black: Let me -- this is -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- Nina. Ms. Black: -- a brand-new home -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Home. Ms. Black: -- that has been built on a lot -- Ms. West: That's what was asking. Ms. Black: -- a three -bedroom, two bath home. Ms. West: OK. That was my question. Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK, because I was a bit confused there. Ms. West: Well, when you look at the tax rolls, it says they're empty lots. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Chairman Gonzalez: Oh, my God. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Go ahead. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Commissioner Sarnoff, you had a comment, right? Commissioner Sarnoff No, no, no. Chairman Gonzalez: Commissioner Sarnoff City Page 24 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: Oh. Chairman Gonzalez: -- you have any questions, sir? Commissioner Sarnoff I don't, I don't. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. I just wanted to say -- first of all, I'm so glad that Liberty City Trust, we're finally building some houses and selling them, so that's really, really important to see that happening, andl definitely want to commend Barbara Rodriguez and her team, Pedro, and of course, Liberty City Trust for finally making sure we're actually moving some of these lots to actually have homeowners actually come back into the neighborhood. I just want to be very clear. All the dollars that are coming back in, Barbara, are just coming back in as program income, correct? Ms. Gomez: Yes, they are. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK, and they could be used -- the income that comes back -from that can be utilized for more housing being built in the area or -- Ms. Gomez: One of the things -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- in the City, right? Ms. Gomez: There's a couple of things that we'll put on the record. Number one, the Department of Community Development has received the household income of these clients that are buying these houses, and they're 80 percent of medium or below, and as part of the proceeds of the sale, it will go to the Department of Community Development to pay for past due taxes on City ofMiami property previously controlled by the Model City Community Revitalization Trust, and to create additional housing in the area. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And if you can put on record, in the last year, how many houses have actually been built since --? Ms. Gomez: The -- I know that the Trust -- we have finished five with them; two that have been already approved by the City Commission, and these three that are going to -- that they already have CO (Certificate of Occupancy) that we'll be closing on. Commissioner Spence -Jones: So we have about seven or eight houses. Ms. Gomez: That use -- that were built by the Liberty -- by the Model City Trust, now the Liberty City Trust. Commissioner Spence -Jones: All right. Thank you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Barbara, my -- Mr. Chairman, ifI may. Barbara, you answered my questions, and that was the proceeds will go to pay past due property taxes, right? Ms. Gomez: Right. Vice Chairman Sanchez: What -- anything else that it'll be used for? Ms. Gomez: Well, we want to continue building -- City ofMiami Page 25 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: Building houses. Ms. Gomez: -- in the area. As you know that the Liberty City Trust, one of the things that will be coming to the City Commission in the next month is that they had 18 scattered lots that we're in the process of identiing who they're going to be transferred to, so we're cleaning those titles, as well, so these proceeds from these sale will go to pay any past due bills that they had that has now been transferred to the City and to build the affordable housing. Vice Chairman Sanchez: But the priority will be the property taxes? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah -- Ms. Gomez: Yes, sir. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and just to comment on -- Nina, andl appreciate your commitment to really make sure that things are done right and proper, andl really appreciate that, Nina, so I don't want it to be seen as it not being appreciated, but I do want to assure you, though, one of the things that the Liberty City Trust is trying to do -- because we do realize that everybody can't afford to buy a house. That's the reality; that will never be the case, but we are trying to also make sure that we also restore some of the existing affordable rentals in the area. As you know, if you haven't visited, many of those buildings are really in bad conditions, and they need -- in bad condition, and they need to be upgraded, so we have started that effort to also rehab some of the old buildings in the area so that people can afford to, at least, rent in the area -- Ms. Gomez: Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- so I just want to be able to at least let you know that. Commissioner Sarnoff Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff Barbara, how did the back taxes -- why are there back taxes? Why were they not paid as they came due? Ms. Gomez: These were properties that were by -- they were managed by the Model City Trust. I don't know what happened back then. When the Model City Trust was abolished, these properties came to the City, and we noticed that they had back taxes, so that is our priority right now is to make sure we don't lose those properties. Commissioner Sarnoff What years are we speaking about taxes were not paid? Commissioner Spence -Jones: And this, again, predates Liberty City Trust. I want -- Ms. Black: This -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- to be clear. Ms. Black: -- predates the -- Commissioner Sarnoff I understand. Ms. Black: -- Liberty City Trust. There's not the taxes on these properties that are being sold, City ofMiami Page 26 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 but taxes on other properties that were transferred over, and it generally goes back to 2000, and even some as far as the 1990s. Commissioner Sarnoff I'm -- Elaine, I'm just trying to understand because I don't want to be up here making the same mistakes that other people have made, and want to understand how it is that we can convey, as a city, to -- whether it's a trust, a CBO (community -based organization), anyone you can think of allow that property to sit; not watch that the taxes are being paid, and then at the very end, be told once the sale occurs, oh, that's just going to pay the back property taxes. That's not good government, and -- Let me finish. Ms. Black: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff -- so my question to you is, I really want to understand for how long this went on; we are paying how much in property taxes, and how this will be rectified in the future because I don't want to get into the same situation again or leave this to a future Commissioner sitting on my shoulders, so to speak, so that he can take care of what I didn't take care of now. Ms. Black: I understand completely. We only have one property that we have property taxes due on. Commissioner Sarnoff Which one? Ms. Black: That -- it is not these properties here. The property taxes have been paid on these properties that we're transferring today; that we have sales on, and the way that the Liberty City Trust handles it was that when we have tax bills coming in, we will review those tax bills and make sure that it's shown that it is a City -owned property, but these properties, all taxes are paid. We only have one property, 1405 Northwest 60th Street, that was rehabbed that we had taxes due on. Commissioner Sarnoff All right, so -- Ms. Black: That was the only property. Commissioner Sarnoff -- let me see if I understand what you told me. In the future going forward, the property will be shown as being owned by the City ofMiami so that there will be no -- Let me finish, then you can nod your head yes or no. If I'm getting it wrong, you tell me, Commissioner, you're a dummy; you don't understand, but let me at least say it. City going forward will give, I guess, some sort of a agreement with the Liberty City Trust where they have control of the property, but the property will still remain in the City of Miami's name so that there's no property taxes due on it. Is that correct? Ms. Black: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff OK. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you, Elaine. Chairman Gonzalez: Anyone else -- anyone from the public that wants to speak on this item, please come forward to be recognized. Seeing none, hearing none, the public hearing is closed. We need a motion and a second on the item. Ms. Burns: Excuse me. We already have a motion and a second. City ofMiami Page 27 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 SP.8 07-00729 Department of Community Development SP.9 07-00688 Chairman Gonzalez: All right, so all in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. It shows a unanimous vote. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT $11,000, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 1 SOCIAL SERVICES ACTIVITIES; ALLOCATING SAID FUNDS TO ASSISTANCE FOR THE ELDERLY, INC., FOR REPAIRS TO THE RESIDENTIAL PLAZA BUILDING; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, WITH SAID AGENCY FOR SAID PURPOSE. 07-00729 Legislation.pdf 07-00729 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00729 Summary Form.pdf 07-00729 Pre-Legislation.pdf Motion by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-07-0306 Chairman Gonzalez: SP.8, transfer of funds to Assistance for the Elderly. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): We're authorizing -- we're requesting to transfer the funds of $11, 000 from the Department of Community Development -- this was District 1 rollover funds originally -- and allocating said funds to the Assistance for the Elderly for the repairs to the residential plaza building. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Anyone from the public that wants to speak on this item, please come forward to be recognized. Commissioner Regalado: I move it. Chairman Gonzalez: Seeing none, hearing none -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second. 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. RESOLUTION City ofMiami Page 28 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Department of Community Development A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF STATE HOUSING INITIATIVES PARTNERSHIP ("SHIP") FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,009,434, FOR HOUSING ACTIVITIES, NOT LIMITED TO SINGLE FAMILY REHABILITATION, SINGLE FAMILY REPLACEMENT HOMES, THE HOMEBUYERS FINANCING PROGRAM AND THE HOMEOWNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN AND THE AMOUNT OF $223,270 FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $2,232,704, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF SAID FUNDS. 07-00688 Legislation.pdf 07-00688 Summary Form.pdf 07-00688 Public Notice.pdf 07-00688 Pre -Legislation 1.pdf 07-00688 SHIP Plan .pdf 07-00688 Pre -Legislation 2.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-07-0307 Chairman Gonzalez: SP.9. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Item 9, we're requesting approval to accept the Housing Initiative Partnership Funds, in the amount of 2,009,434 for housing activities, not limited to single-family rehab, single-family replacement, that Homebuyer Financing Program, the Homeownership Development Program, and again, this is accepting the funds. These are the funds that we use for down payment assistance, citywide rehab, homeownership projects, and this was already adopted on Resolution 07-0226, adopted April 12, 2007. Chairman Gonzalez: That should be an easy one. Anyone from the public that wants to speak against accepting money from the State? All right. Well -- Commissioner Sarnoff Well, we got somebody. Deserie Hart: Hello. Chairman Gonzalez: -- you might be surprised. Good morning. Your name and address. Ms. Hart: Mr. and Mrs. Deserie Hart, 835 Northwest 83rd Terrace. I would just like to say thank you to Ms. Gomez and her staff for assisting us with purchasing one of the Miami Dream Homes located on 1535 Northwest 58 Terrace. Chairman Gonzalez: Congratulations. All right. Anyone else? Seeing none, hearing none, public hearing is closed. Is there a motion to accept money from the State? Commissioner Sarnoff So move. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So move. I guess -- City ofMiami Page 29 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 SP.10 07-00690 Department of Community Development Chairman Gonzalez: Wow. Commissioner Sarnoff Second. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- everybody at the same time. So move. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion, and we have a second. Vice Chairman Sanchez: They're not sending enough. Chairman Gonzalez: All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Apparently, at least we're doing something right, you know, accepting money from the State. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ENTITLEMENT GRANT FUNDS, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $25,163,482, IN THE AMOUNTS AS STATED HEREIN, FOR THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS, AMERICAN DREAM DOWNPAYMENT INITIATIVE, HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS, AND THE EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF SAID GRANT FUNDS. 07-00690 Legislation.pdf 07-00690 Summary Form.pdf 07-00690 Public Notice.pdf Motion by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-07-0308 Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Item 10, we're requesting approval to accept HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) entitlement grant funds -- Commissioner Sarnoff Here we go again. Ms. Gomez: -- for the following program: Community Development -- Chairman Gonzalez: That's a good one too. Ms. Gomez: -- Block Grant funds, 8, 438, 887; the Home Investment Partnership, 4, 602, 629; the American Dream Downpayment [sic] Initiative, 68,512; the Housing Opportunity [sic] for Persons With AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), 11, 689, 000; the Emergency Shelter Grant, 364, 454. City ofMiami Page 30 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. This is a public hearing. Anyone from the public that wants to come to the mike and speak against accepting money from US HUD (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development)? Seeing none, hearing none, public hearing is closed. Is there a motion from one Commissioner that wants to accept money? Vice Chairman Sanchez: So move. Commissioner Sarnoff Second. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: We have five Commissioners trying to -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: I don't mind begging. Chairman Gonzalez: -- accept money. 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. That was unanimous, too. SP.11 07-00667 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), Community AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK Development GRANT FUNDS BY PROGRAM CATEGORIES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,438,887, TO THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, AS SPECIFIED IN ATTACHMENT"A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR THE 33RD PROGRAM YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2007. 07-00667 Legislation.pdf 07-00667 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00667 Summary Form.pdf 07-00667 Public Notice.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Regalado, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones Absent: 1 - Commissioner Gonzalez R-07-0309 Chairman Gonzalez: SP. 11. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Authorizing the allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds by program categories, and the program categories are as following: Economic Development, 3,900,000; Administration, 1.688 [sic]; Public Service [sic], 1, 265, 833; Section 108 Debt, a million three; Housing under CDBG (Community Development Block Grant), 285, 054, for a total of 8, 438, 887. Chairman Gonzalez: Public service need to be amended to be funded at the same level as last year, right? Ms. Gomez: This one is just the maximum allowed -- City ofMiami Page 31 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Ms. Gomez: -- so there will be a resolution coming back in September, where the money's going to come from and the allocation. Chairman Gonzalez: OK, but we can tell the people that they're going to be funded at the same level that they were funded last year? Mr. Springs [sic]. Larry Spring (Chief Financial Officer): Commissioner, absolutely. Ms. Gomez: There's an item that deals with public services only. Mr. Spring: Right, but what we will say is that absolutely they will be funded at the same level, but like I said, the budget -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Mr. Spring: -- allocation will come as a separate item. Chairman Gonzalez: That's my only concern. Mr. Spring: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Regalado: What is --? Chairman Gonzalez: Anyone from the public that wants to speak on this item, please come forward to be recognized. Commissioner Regalado: -- Economic Development? Chairman Gonzalez: Economic Development is facade and technical assistance and -- am I correct? Ms. Gomez: Correct -- Commissioner Regalado: Do --? Ms. Gomez: -- and there's another item that deals exactly with the Economic Development portion. Chairman Gonzalez: I did a lot of that for $8, 000 a year. Commissioner Regalado: No, I understand. Chairman Gonzalez: I was exploited -- Ms. Gomez: That one -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- back then -- Ms. Gomez: -- deals with facade, technical assistance, micro -- City ofMiami Page 32 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: -- and nobody protested that. Ms. Gomez: -- business enterprise. Chairman Gonzalez: Exploitation in the United States, and nobody complain about that; no paper complain about that. You know, that poor Cuban is being, you now, paid penance to work 40 hours a week. Commissioner Regalado: And Economic Development is administer by Community Development? Ms. Gomez: Correct, through the nonprofits of each of your districts. Commissioner Regalado: OK. In terms of assist in micro loans and all that is done through Economic Development? Ms. Gomez: No, through Department of Community Development. Commissioner Regalado: Community Development, correct. I just want to understand -- and Larry knows what I'm saying. Because you know what? It is important that today -- today is an important day for the City ofMiami and all cities. It's a special session, and we need to understand that we have a department here in the City ofMiami that is call Economic Development with a budget of almost $3 million, and we are doing this from -- through the Community Development Department, so I'm just saying -- Larry, you don't have to attack me now -- that it is important that we understand -- and you know, it may seem silly now, but it's important that we understand that micro loans, facade, help to the little business in the City are coming from Community Development. Mr. Spring: Larry Spring, chief financial officer. You're absolutely correct, Commissioner. From this allocation, you have all of those activities. However, I know that we've had conversations, and in other municipalities -- and I'm not suggesting that's what we're doing here -- but in other municipalities around the country, the Economic Development Department is allocated these funds so they can do the programming citywide. That has not been the policy decision of this Commission. However, there is a natural marriage between CD and ED (Economic Development) that we have been trying to develop, working with the different business stakeholders around the City, DDA (Downtown Development Authority), CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), so we want to continue to proffer that planning and that programming until such time, again, other policy decisions may be made. Commissioner Regalado: I mean, there's a high divorce rate in the United States. Nina West: I have a question, and the question is one that's near and dear to my heart. It's about notice, andl notice that many of the items listed in today's agenda are noticed under one notice in a Spanish language only newspaper, and -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: No. That's -- Ms. West: -- it was my understanding -- but please correct me if I'm wrong -- it's supposed to be notice of this type for federal stuff -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Nina. Ms. West: -- was noticed originally for people to come to the individual meetings in the general City ofMiami Page 33 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 circulation paper, the Miami Herald. Vice Chairman Sanchez: I believe it's properly advertised in all -- Ms. West: No. I didn't say it wasn't properly advertised that way, but I'm saying the notice is going -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK. Ms. West: -- in English in a Spanish language only newspaper -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Could we -- Ms. West: -- and it's for item after item -- Ms. Gomez: No. Ms. West: -- after item -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- address that question, please? Ms. Gomez: It is -- Ms. West: -- so the question is, did you have it in any other newspaper -- Ms. Gomez: Yes. We -- Ms. West: -- other than what you show on your agenda? Ms. Gomez: -- advertise in three newspapers, and we'll get you the ad, including Miami Today, including the Miami Times, but we will give you the ads. Ms. West: Yeah, because -- like Miami Today is not a general circulation newspaper, and neither is the other one. Now I know that you advertised in the Miami Herald for people to come to these meetings originally, where HUD sits down and they record -- tape-record each meeting and what goes on at each meeting, and then the results -- these are the results, and it's published under kind of one notice, and not in what consider to be newspaper general circulation, and the notice that goes in the Spanish language only newspaper is in English with no Spanish translation, so I'm concerned about that. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Could you please provide her with a copy of the --? Ms. Gomez: Copy of the newspaper. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Please? Ms. Gomez: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Thank you, Nina. All right. That was SP (special) -- Ms. Gomez: P -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: --11. City ofMiami Page 34 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. Gomez: 11. Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK. Anyone else from the public wishing to address this item? If not, it comes back to the Commission. Is there a motion? Commissioner Sarnoff So move. Vice Chairman Sanchez: There's a motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, second by Commissioner Spence -Jones. Any discussion on the item? Hearing none, it's a resolution. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Anyone in opposition? Hearing none, it passes. SP.12 07-00662 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE Community ALLOCATION OF EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT ("ESG") FUNDS FOR Development FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008, IN THE AMOUNT OF $353,520, TO THE CITY OF MIAMI HOMELESS PROGRAM, NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT TEAM AND THE AMOUNT OF $10,934, TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT -RELATED ACTIVITIES, FOR A TOTAL ALLOCATION OF $364,454; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A MULTI -YEAR WAIVER REQUEST TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF ESG FUNDS THAT CAN BE USED FOR ESSENTIAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO IMPLEMENT ACCEPTANCE OF SAID FUNDS. 07-00662 Legislation.pdf 07-00662 Summary Form.pdf 07-00662 Public Notice.pdf Motion by Commissioner Spence -Jones, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones Absent: 1 - Commissioner Gonzalez R-07-0310 A motion was made by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, and was passed unanimously, with Chairman Gonzalez absent, to reopen the public hearing on item SP.12. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. SP.12. It's a resolution. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Item 12, we're requesting the approval of the Emergency Shelter Grant funds for the fiscal year 2007/2008, in the amount of 353,520 to the City ofMiami Homeless Program Neighborhood Enhancement Team, and the amount of 10,934 to the Department of Community Development for Administration. We're also requesting that you authorize the Manager to submit a multiyear waiver request to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to increase the percentage of ESG (Emergency Shelter Grant) funds that can be used for essential supportive service. City ofMiami Page 35 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Is there a motion? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Motion for discussion. Vice Chairman Sanchez: There -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: I'd like to move it, butl -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: There's a motion. Is there a second? Motion is made -- Commissioner Sarnoff Second. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- by Spence -Jones, second by Commissioner Sarnoff. Before we open it up for discussion, it is a public hearing. Anyone from the public wishing to address this Commission, please step forward and be recognized. Seeing none, hearing none, the public hearing is closed; coming back to the Commission for discussion. Commissioner Spence -Jones, you're recognized for the record. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Just real fast, Barbara. The emergency shel -- this is basically the green shirts. This is the homeless program that we have that operates through the NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team), correct -- Ms. Gomez: Correct. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- Mr. Manager? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK, and as far as the funding that we talked about for the additional funding that we were making reallocations toward some other shelters that are happening within the Overtown area in my district, is that going to be addressed in this item, or is it addressed in --? Ms. Gomez: No. This -- these dollars go straight to the homeless program at the City ofMiami. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK, so do you know where that other item is going to be addressed? Ms. Gomez: Some of those shelters that we were awarded funding in the past came from leftover dollars. Here there is none of those shelter unless in public service -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Ms. Gomez: -- item. Commissioner Spence -Jones: No problem, no problem. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Any further discussion on SP.12? Georgia Jones Ayers: Yes. As I first said -- I'm Georgia Ayers of the Alternative Program. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Georgia, the public hearing was opened and closed. Ms. Jones Ayers: I can't speak? City ofMiami Page 36 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Vice Chairman Sanchez: No. I think -- Ms. Jones Ayers: You -- I'll deal with you later then. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. You'll deal with me later. Ms. Jones Ayers: I sure will. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. The public hearing was closed. I apologize for that, but it's Ms. Jones Ayers: Yeah. I'll get you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- closed, unless I could get three votes to open it up again. Ms. Jones Ayers: It's on that issue. Commissioner Sarnoff Sure. I'll vote for her. Let her speak. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. There's a motion. Is there a second? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second. All in favor, say "aye. The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Anyone in opposition have the same right. You're recognized for the record. You still see me later? Ms. Jones Ayers: Well, if you all hadn't brought up issues that I have to deal with, particularly, the new Commissioner. I'm on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your police officers, when they do their drug sting and their arrests, all of that falls upon the Alternative Program shoulders. This I.D. (identification) you see here carries me to Dade County Jail 24/7. When the jail calls me and say, Ms. Ayers, we're overcrowded -- and I only have three staff persons working the entire situation. I work very, very, very, very closely with your police department, and Barbara, you may not want me to say this, but you're only giving me $20, 000 for the whole program, when I get 20 people out of jail from the City ofMiami a week, so I'm asking you all to come out there and go through the records. Barbara can only do what you give her to work with. It's your responsibility. I know you don't want to hear me when I come up here, but I can back up what I'm saying. I want you, particularly, since you're new -- Commissioner Sarnoff Ms. Ayers, we -- Ms. Jones Ayers: -- I want you to come and walk -- I want you to get the experience. I want you to come and work with me. I'm begging you to come and work with me. Commissioner Sarnoff We've met each other before. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Ms. Jones Ayers: And we've met each other, but you haven't walked the field with me. You've been to my office. You need to come and sit in Room 14 -- 418 in the Justice building. That's my City ofMiami Page 37 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 office in the Justice building. You need to come and sit with me when I'm in the bond hearing and see how many people when the -- your police department have these, what do you call, sweeps every weekend, or sometimes, during the holidays, and see how many people I have to get out of jail during the weekends that lives in the City ofMiami. I still have the tape that I taped back in the '80s when you all evicted -- when your police department evicted the persons on 14th Street, 2nd and 3rdAvenue; you put the barbed wire fences there. When you evicted them, where the heck do you think they went? Most of them called me. You all leave this podium sometimes and go to the field. Thank you, Commissioner Spence [sic]; you've been to my office twice. Go out there and see why we come up here and complain, then you'll understand. You can't know what the watermelon taste like until you get a bite of it. Thank you -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Amen. Ms. Jones Ayers: -- and I'm gone. Ms. Gomez: OK. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. I think we've heard from the public, andl think we've debated this. Any further discussion? Hearing none -- we're on SP.12 -- all in favor, say "aye. The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Anyone in opposition, having the same right, say "nay." Motion carries. SP.13 07-00669 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE Community ALLOCATION OF AMERICAN DREAM DOWNPAYMENT INITIATIVE FUNDS, IN Development THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $68,512 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008, FOR THE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER DOWN -PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE ALLOCATION OF SAID FUNDS. 07-00669 Legislation.pdf 07-00669 Summary Form.pdf 07-00669 Public Notice.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Sarnoff, Sanchez and Spence -Jones Absent: 2 - Commissioner Gonzalez and Regalado R-07-0311 Vice Chairman Sanchez: And we move on to SP.13. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): SP (special) -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: It's also a resolution. You're recognized, Madam Director. Ms. Gomez: SP.13, we're requesting the approval to accept the American Dream Down Payment Initiative funds in the amount of 68,512 for fiscal year 2007-2008, and to allocate those funds to our First Time Homebuyer Down -Payment Assistant [sic]. City ofMiami Page 38 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Is there a motion? Commissioner Sarnoff So move. Vice Chairman Sanchez: There's a motion by Commissioner Sarnoff. Is there a second? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second by Commissioner Spence -Jones. Before we go to discussion, let's open up the public hearing. Anyone from the public wishing to address this item, kindly step up. Seeing none, hearing none, the public hearing is closed, coming back to the Commission. Hearing no discussion on the item -- three Commissioners on the dais -- all in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Anyone in opposition, having the same right, say "nay." Madam Clerk, it passes, 3/0. SP.14 07-00687 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE Community ACCEPTANCE OF HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM FUNDS, Development IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $4,602,629, FOR THE 33RD PROGRAM YEAR, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING; ALLOCATING SAID FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,142,367, FOR HOUSING PROGRAMS, THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,000, FOR DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND THE AMOUNT OF $460,262, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF SAID FUNDS. 07-00687 Legislation.pdf 07-00687 Summary Form.pdf 07-00687 Pre-Legislation.pdf 07-00687 Public Notice.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez and Spence -Jones Absent: 1 - Commissioner Regalado R-07-0312 Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. SP.14. It's also a resolution. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): SP.14, we're requesting approval to accept 3,142, 367 for the housing program, and this is our Home Investment Partnership Act. We're saying that we're going to receive approximately, for 2007-2008, 4, 602, 629. We're going to allocate a million five of the funds will be used to create District 1 Homeownership Zone, and will be one of the five awards to District 1. The remaining of the funds will be allocated according to Resolution 07-0226, which was adopted by this City Commission April 12, 2007. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Is there a motion? Commissioner Sarnoff So move. City ofMiami Page 39 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Motion is made by Commissioner Sarnoff second by Commissioner Spence -Jones. Before we open it up for discussion, it is a public hearing. Anyone from the public wishing to address this item, please step forward and be recognized. Seeing none, hearing none, the public hearing is closed, coming back to the Commission for discussion. Mr. Chair, I believe that's your homeownership. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes. All right. What we need is a motion on the item. Vice Chairman Sanchez: We have a motion. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Anyone in opposition, having the same right, say "nay." Let the record reflect the Chair voted on the item and was present. SP.15 07-00670 RESOLUTION Department of Community Development A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008 HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS PROGRAM FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,689,000, AS SPECIFIED IN "ATTACHMENT A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, TO PROVIDE HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND HOUSING RELATED SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT(S), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM(S), WITH EACH AGENCY, AS SPECIFIED IN "ATTACHMENT A," FOR SAID PURPOSE. 07-00670 Legislation.pdf 07-00670 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00670 Exhibit 2.pdf 07-00670 Summary Form.pdf 07-00670 Public Notice.pdf 07-00670 Pre-Legislation.pdf 07-00670 Chart.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff and Spence -Jones Absent: 2 - Commissioner Sanchez and Regalado R-07-0313 Direction by Commissioner Sarnoff to the Administration to provide a list of the top three wage earners from every community -based organization to receive funding from the City ofMiami Department of Community Development. Direction by Commissioner Spence -Jones to the City Manager and the Administration to create an educational and training program for community development corporations, community -based organizations, and agencies receiving community development funding. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. SP.15, Mr. Chair. Chairman Gonzalez: SP.15. City ofMiami Page 40 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Approving the allocation of fiscal year 2007-2008 for our Housing Opportunity [sic] with People [sic] with AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). These were contracts that were awarded last year with a one-year renewal. This will be the one-year renewal. However, since the City ofMiami receive additional funding, we are requesting that the program gets increased by 50 additional clients, providing 10 client to each of our long-term tenant base rental subsidy program. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Anyone from the public that wants to speak on this item, please come forward to be recognized. Nina West: Just more questions, Commissioner. Chairman Gonzalez: More questions. Ms. West: Nina West, 3690 Avocado Avenue, Coconut Grove. Actually, these questions are pretty much for each and every one of the -- not each and every, but many of the items, or a majority of the items on here, and one of the things is there's an Exhibit A, administrative budget for each fiscal year covered in the plan, and we don't see any of this, and we don't know where the audits are of these plans as they're continuing; if they're reviewed, and how to find out this information. We don't know what the directors are paid or who they are, andl was noticing that some of the directors earn higher salaries than our Commissioners, and -- in nonprofit organizations, and I'm not saying that's good or bad; it depends upon what they do for their money, andl don't think that nonprofit people are less valuable than working in the for profit community. However, none of this information is available to the public, and even though Commissioner Gonzalez believes the money comes from the federal government, it comes out of our pocket first before it goes to the state, before it goes to the federal government. It comes out of every citizen's pocket before we get it back, and they usually take a cut on the return trip, so I just as soon the money stay here all the time, but -- and getting back to notice question. I think that notice is a very, very important issue. Its' a constitutional issue, andl would like the Commissioners to please address it so that all of this information gets in the general circulation newspapers, such as the Miami Herald because there's not that many people who subscribe to Miami Today, the other paper, and if they're going to put it in El Diarios, which is fine for a Spanish language newspaper, they should translate it into Spanish. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: All right -- Commissioner Sarnoff Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: -- so your concern is the salaries of the executive directors of these office -- of these companies? Ms. West: We have some very high administrative costs, andl want to see if the money -- Chairman Gonzalez: You want to know -- Ms. West: -- is getting to the clients or -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- but your question -- Ms. West: -- if they're getting to the directors. Chairman Gonzalez: -- but your concern is the salaries of the executive directors of the people that work at these agencies, right? City ofMiami Page 41 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. West: It's really that and the percentage -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Ms. West: -- of the program that is paid in the salaries -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Ms. West: -- as compared to what goes to the client of that community organization. Chairman Gonzalez: That is public record. If you request that from Community Development, all of the agency have to submit a budget to Community Development before they get funded. They also get audit by internal audit -- independent audit, and the records are in the City. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, Mr. Chairman, couldl -- can I speak? Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah, sure. Commissioner Sarnoff Barbara, what I'd like to see happen -- Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff -- is I'd like to see the top three wage earners from any CBO (Community Based Organization) to be listed so that we can look at it. Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff I -- there are a number of CBOs that I'm aware of that actually the directors make more money than the Mayor. Now, if that's what we choose to fund, and if that's how we choose to fund it, then -- being a private sector person like myself I'm taught that ifI give money to a charity, that I'm supposed to look at that charity and make sure that no more than ten, fifteen, some people will say eight percent of that charity's budget goes towards expenses, so to speak, salaries, et cetera. That's called just smart donations in a way. I guess smart donating. Yet, we're taking the citizens' money, whether -- and truthfully, whether it's state, whether it's county, it does all come out of our own pocket, and we need to make a heads -up decision, which is should a community development person -- I'm sorry -- should a person who's working for a not -for -profit from taxpayers' dollars -- whether it's state, federal, county; doesn't matter -- should they be earning high six figures? And when I say earning, I'm not just talking about their wages; I'm talking about their total compensation package, because some people -- I mean, Georgia Jones -Ayers gave us her salary. She didn't give us her total compensation package, which would be in the high 150s. If that's acceptable, and she works very hard, then that's acceptable. I just think we should know about it going into it, and as things will get tighter and tighter, post Tallahassee's tax reform, I think it's something that we are not doing a service to the citizenry by not at least letting this Commission know, hey, Mr. Commissioner, you know the top three salaries in this particular organization, the director makes 120; his assistant makes 90, and the next person makes 70. That's a top-heavy not -for -profit to me. Now, if the numbers were 60, 50, and 40, I'd feel more comfortable. Ms. Gomez: Commissioner, I do want to put on the record that we do not pay based on salaries; that we pay base on a performance. Example, we pay $6.50 for homebound meals, and that has to include the meal, the catering, the administration. In reference to the facade, we will pay 'em 20 percent of whatever the facade is worth. If the facade is $1, 000, they'll get $200, so we don't pay base on a particular budget; we pay base on the outcome, so all of these agencies that you see here, they do not get paid based on a biweekly payroll. You send the payroll; I pay you. In City ofMiami Page 42 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 reference to HOPWA (Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS), we pay, across-the-board, a fee per -- Chairman Gonzalez: And -- Ms. Gomez: -- house. Chairman Gonzalez: -- let me interrupt you. These agencies say is that do economic development, they get paid 20 percent of the facades that they do, but that -- out of that 20 percent, you have to pay rent, insurance, external audit, inside accountant officer; you have to pay your phone, you have to pay your bill, you have to pay your supplies, you have to pay all of your insurance, you have to pay all of your bondings, OK, so you know, you might think that these people make a lot of money, but I'm going to give you an example. When I started working at Allapattah Business Development, I started working for $8, 000. It took me 12 years, Barbara? -- to make $40, 000 doing facade, doing technical assistant [sic], and doing housing, OK. People at that agency -- we have some people at that agency that I believe are working for $22,000 a year. Commissioner Sarnoff Mr. Chairman, I'm -- maybe -- Chairman Gonzalez: I mean, if you want to put the -- you know, and -- Commissioner Sarnoff No. I understand. Chairman Gonzalez: -- let me tell you. There was a commissioner here that I respected a lot, and that was J. L. Plummer, and J. L. Plummer used to say every time that we have funding -- this funding coming through the Commission, I remember because I had to be on the audience -- that he used to say we're funding these people to fail. If that's what we're going to do, we want them to fail, let's cut off the funding and, you know, let them fail at one shot. Don't kill them little by little; just kill them one shot, you know, and then have the City provide all the services that these agencies provide. Because let me tell you, a lot of people that coming to this Commissioner [sic] now to criticize everybody, OK, and everything, but if it wasn't because of agencies in the area of Allapattah, the economic development that we have in Allapattah, OK, which Allapattah is the second -producing area to the City ofMiami funding, you know, if people in Allapattah decide one day to start thinking seriously about what they should do -- you know what they should do? They should become independent from the City. Create their own city, and then the amount of -- we have close to 4,000 businesses in Allapattah that contribute to the City ofMiami funds, OK. With the money that they produce, they could survive by themselves and have a hell of a city, OK, and not give a penny to this City; be their own city, so maybe that's something for the people that are here from Allapattah, for the people that are watching on TV (Television), maybe you should start thinking about your own city and become independent from the City ofMiami, and then the money that you send to the City ofMiami, they have to go out and get it somewhere else. Maybe the same people that come here to criticize so much what is being done in these areas, maybe they should decide to come out -- money out of their pockets and put it on the City ofMiami budget to maintain the areas and to provide the services and to do all the things that are being done in these community zones. Ms. West: Commissioner, it's not meant as a criticism to ask for information, budgets, administrative -- Chairman Gonzalez: And I'm -- Ms. West: -- costs. City ofMiami Page 43 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: -- giving you information, and I'm -- Ms. West: I know, but -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- giving you information. Ms. West: -- I would -- I'd like the budgets, the costs, the administrative costs, the information -- Chairman Gonzalez: Definitely. Ms. West: -- and then we can definitely do an analysis of that. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Any other questions? Vice Chairman Sanchez: No. Public hearing. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am. Sharie Blanton: Hi. Good afternoon. My name is Sharie Blanton. I'm the executive director at St. Alban's Child Enrichment Center. This year we're currently receiving some City ofMiami funding, which is supporting our summer school program. We are a day care agency and Head Start -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: That's -- Ms. Blanton: -- program. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Ma'am, that's -- this is not the item that you're speaking -- Ms. Gomez: It's the next one. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- on. It's the next one. Chairman Gonzalez: The next one. Ms. Blanton: Oh, I'm sorry. Vice Chairman Sanchez: It's OK. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Any further discussion on the item? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Vice Chairman Sanchez: On this item, and I'll be very brief every year this is an item that we focus on. Barbara, what oversight do we have to make sure that the agencies that are receiving these funds are providing the level of service, and this should be across-the-board to every -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- but mean, when you focus on HOPWA, which is basically assistance -- or providing service to low-income individuals living with AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), how do we know -- or what program do you have in place? City ofMiami Page 44 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. Gomez: OK. Number one, we do have a management information system, which means that before anyone receives any type of -- remember, we pay base on a performance. That individual that is going to register, we have a file in our MIS (Management Information System) system, which we track to make sure that that person is eligible, that that person is within the city of Miami or within the district that provide the funds. Once we receive the bills -- we receive the bills on a monthly basis for the agencies that basically said these were the services that rendered to these individual. Twice a year, minimum once a year, we go out; we monitor the agency. We do spot-checks on the clients to make sure that they do receive the services and they're happy about it or that they have problems with the agencies. We also request that anybody that receive money from HUD (Housing and Urban Development) does have an external audit performed by a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) that gets sent into the office and gets analyzed to see if they detect any problems that they might have, so there's a couple of layers of security that we have. Number one, that the person exist; that is covered at the MIS. Number two, that the services are rendered because that gets monitor and that gets checked. Right now we're even going to the people's house on the homebound to make sure that the people can just, you know -- so those are the type of things that we do throughout all our programs. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman, I know we're going to get off this item. I just -- I -- again -- AIDS, you know, is basically wrecking my community, African American community, so any services that can be provided to the constituents that I serve, which are at an alarming rate, African Americans are being affected by this, so it's a very sensitive matter for me in my district, so of course, I always support any programs that are going to provide services. My only thought and concern would be, Barbara, whatever the existing organizations that we are funding, if there are issues that -- I mean, we're going to approve it today, but if there are issues surrounding any of these organizations that need to be resolved, I really would want to make sure, from a City's perspective, Mr. Manager also, that we do our due diligence on making sure that they're in compliance and making sure that whatever is necessary -- because I -- I mean, I would really hate for us to spend money on -- in an area or with an organization that already has, you know, surrounding issues, and that's my only concern, so as we vote and we approve this item, you know -- I know that there's a few items on here that I've already questioned the Manager on that we need to work through, and l just want to make sure that before -- Ms. Gomez: We will. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- anything is dispersed, that that is being addressed. Pedro G. Hernandez (City Manager): Commissioner, ifI may. It's important to note that the period that we're dealing with for funding starts October 1, and we plan to be very diligent in checking out all these organizations that we're entering into a contract with to ensure they're in good standing with the City -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: And -- Mr. Hernandez: -- before we proceed. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- if they're not in good standing, then what happens with the monies? They're -- Ms. Gomez: The dollars will come back. City ofMiami Page 45 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- reallocated? Ms. Gomez: The dollars will come back, and the clients will be shift to another agency. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. I just -- OK, thank you. I just want to put this officially on the record, and I'd like my colleagues at the end of the dais to stick with me for two seconds, Regalado and Sarnoff, for just two seconds. I think -- just -- I'm sorry for interrupting y'all; I just want to -- I want to get your buy -in into this issue real fast. I think that it's really necessary -- and I've been talking about this since I've been in office -- just as we have for the micro businesses, we have these training or these fast -track trainings that take place with Miami -Dade College where the businesses have to go through these trainings. I think that it's absolutely necessary, guys, that we do the same thing for the CDCs (Community Development Corporations) and the CBOs; we create some sort of training -type program to assist these bill -- these CBOs, these non-profit organizations, these CDCs on just management, you know, and we take for granted -- you know, you can have a lot of passion around what you do, and you may love serving the community, but you may not have all the technical skills that are necessary, and you find yourself getting in trouble because you don't have the necessary things put in place, andl would like to, at least from my colleagues that are sitting on the dais, for us, you know, to at least have some sort of agreement that -- even the funding that we give these organizations -- and Leroy can tell you, my -- in my district, when it comes to these businesses receiving money, part of them receiving money is that they have to go through the training. I would really like to see the same type of thing, maybe not as long as what the businesses go through, but there needs to be some sort of course, or some sort of workshop, or some sort of program that these CDCs or these organizations must go through when they're drawing down these dollars, because I think that that is -- that is part of the problem. They're not doing it maliciously or trying to do anything wrong, but a lot of times they just don't know, so I'd like to at least ask for the Manager and for Barbara to really take this seriously, that we really need to look at putting some sort of training -type program together for these organizations. Commissioner Sarnoff Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff Commissioner Spence -Jones, first off let me just say this, that going forward, anything we do in District 2 on microenterprise, we're actually going to pattern your program, which is nobody's going to receive any money without some training. With that said, here's the statistic that we don't want to acknowledge. Ninety-five percent of Americans, regardless of ethnicity, regardless of your political background, regardless of your economics, will fail in business. Ninety five percent of the people do not have what it takes basically to say no and make hard choices that business owners make everyday. I'm one of the lucky because I happen to be in the five percent, andl own my own business, and when you started out, it was a very hard project to say no to people, but it's something that you learn to do if you want to survive in business, and yet, we are attempting and reattempting to fund programs on people that have no business models whatsoever, so I applaud you in at least subjecting various groups to the requirement of seeing what a business model is and saying that means saying no oftentimes and many times to people who come to you asking you for things, and -- but you have to acknowledge one thing: That is a death -defying number, 95 percent. That means that five in one hundred people are capable of owning a business in America, and yet, we're going to continue to work with people who are going to need subsidies, if for no other reason, that they cannot run a business, so I think we need to be careful about continuously and repetitively funding businesses that don't show any development in two or three years, but I just want to say we're actually taking your business model in District 2, and we are requiring anybody who receives any funding source to go through a community college and at least get exposed to what it takes to be in business. City ofMiami Page 46 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: Andl think more so than that -- and I'm glad that you're definitely doing that, and I think that that's something that all of us should be looking at from a business perspective, butt really want to harp on the CDCs, which is, to me, something totally separate, and it is absolutely necessary because we give out more monies to CDCs and CBOs than we do any other businesses. The businesses maybe get five, maybe get ten grand; that's all they get, but these other organizations, they're getting 300, they're getting 200, they're getting 50,000, and you know, the reality is, you know -- I mean, as much work as you can do on your end, Barbara, to make sure they stay in compliance, if the basic things are not put in place, these organizations are going to fail or they're going to create issues, so I would like to at least make sure -- as -- I'm going to say it for my district; can't say it for any -- any CBO, CDC that's in District 5 has to go through some sort of training -type program. I don't care if it's six weeks, eight weeks. I don't want one dime released in -- from my district until know that they're signed up and they're involved in that program because that is necessary, and I've been talking about it for almost a year and a half, andl think that I need to really put that on the record so that at least we get that done. Ms. Gomez: Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Any further discussion? Is there a motion on the item? Was there a motion on that item? Commissioner Spence -Jones: I think we -- Pamela E. Burns (Assistant City Clerk): No, there was not. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We need a motion, and we need a second. Commissioner Sarnoff I'll so move. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. We have a motion, SP (Special) -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: And I'll -- Chairman Gonzalez: --15 -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- second it with those conditions. Ms. Gomez: Right. Chairman Gonzalez: -- and second with the conditions. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Motion carries. SP.16 07-00673 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), Community AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF 33RD PROGRAM YEAR COMMUNITY Development DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,265,833, TO THE AGENCIES SPECIFIED IN "ATTACHMENT A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR PUBLIC SERVICES ACTIVITIES IN THE 33RD City ofMiami Page 47 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 PROGRAM YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2007; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT(S), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM(S), WITH SAID AGENCIES, FOR SAID PURPOSE. 07-00673 Legislation.pdf 07-00673 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00673 Exhibit 2.pdf 07-00673 Summary Form.pdf 07-00673 Public Notice.pdf Motion by Commissioner Spence -Jones, seconded by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez and Spence -Jones Absent: 1 - Commissioner Regalado R-07-0314 A motion was made by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Vice Chairman Sanchez, and was passed unanimously, with Commissioner Regalado absent, to direct the Administration to fund De Hostos for March, April, and May; pay the vendor directly for June, July, and August; provide a report to the City Commission regarding the issues surrounding the De Hostos audit investigation in 75 days, and to bring the item back to the City Commission in 90 days. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, and was passed unanimously, with Commissioner Regalado absent, to direct the City Manager to execute the necessary documents to fund three specific agencies in an amount totaling $23, 097, to be allocated from the District 3 rollover account. Chairman Gonzalez: SP.16. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): SP.16 is requesting approval for the 33rd Year Development Community Development Block Grant in the amount of 1,265,833 to the agencies, and this is public services activities. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Ms. Gomez: This funding is -- has a decrease of 19.2471 percent, and the following agencies are not being recommended at this time: Number one, Galata, Incorporated is not being recommended; De Hostos Senior Centers [sic], Inc. is not being recommended; Progressive Vision Community Development Corporation is not being recommended; and JESCA (James E. Scott Community Association) is not being recommended in this funding. Those allocations of those agencies have been put on a reserve account, per the district that they serve; example, public service reserve in District 2 has a 75,100, which represents De Hostos' funding, and District 5 have 70,296, which represents JESCA, Galata, and Progressive Vision Community Development Corporation. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. This is a public hearing. Anyone from the public that wants to speak on the item, please come forward to be recognized. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman, while they're coming -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- to the mike, I just -- De Hostras [sic], that's in Wynwood -- Chairman Gonzalez: Huh? City ofMiami Page 48 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- right? Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: That's -- we share that, right? Commissioner Sarnoff Sort of yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: De Hostos? All right. Each speaker will have two minutes. Ms. Gomez: It's been shared by both, but only District 2 have awarded - Commissioner Sarnoff Funded, right. Ms. Gomez: -- them funding in the past. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Yes, sir. Good morning. Your name and address. Daniel Jonas: Good morning. My name is Daniel Jonas. I'm general counselor for De Hostos Senior Center. De Hostos has been a provider of services to the public for 30 years, and in those 30 years, there has never been any major problem with their operation. The recommendation that they be defunded for this year is based on some recent matters that have come to light. We have thrown resources, time, and energy at solving those problems, andl believe that we are well on the road of solving them. I have here to speak to you today Esther Couvertier, who's the executive director, and Carmen Zayas, who is the accountant that has been brought on board, that has been working tirelessly to address some of the issues that Ms. Gomez has brought up in her investigation. I am confident, in fact I am sure, that once we are finished dealing with the financial records of the De Hostos Center, they will be satisfactory to Barbara Gomez and to this City and that you will know that every single dollar that the City has provided to De Hostos has been properly applied in providing the service for which they've contracted Having said that, I would like to introduce now Esther Couvertier. Esther Couvertier: Good morning. My name is Esther Couvertier. I'm 600 Northeast 36 Street, Apartment 1007, Miami, Florida. I had been running De Hostos for the past seven years as an executive director. De Hostos have been funded for the past 34 year that had been established, and the fund had been on hold, and the payment have been on hold, too, by Ms. Gomez office. I will appreciate if you do something for De Hostos; that we provide the service correct, and every single day we have the people, and for three or four months, we have been financially in distress because we have not been receiving the funds by the Office of Community Development. Thank you. I hope that you do something for De Hostos Senior Center. Commissioner Sarnoff Just tell me right now on the record what is your total compensation package for the community -based organization? Ms. Couvertier: The total compensation in the whole budget, 400 -- Commissioner Sarnoff No, just yourself. Ms. Couvertier: Me, myself -- Commissioner Sarnoff As director. Ms. Couvertier: -- 63. City ofMiami Page 49 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Sarnoff Sixty-three? Ms. Couvertier: The budget is 458. Commissioner Sarnoff Fifty-eight thousand? Ms. Couvertier: Um -hum. Commissioner Sarnoff OK. Ms. Couvertier: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff Thanks, Esther. Ms. Couvertier: Thank you very much. Jose Vega: Good morning. My name is Jose Vega. I am a small-time accountant here in downtown Miami, andl know what Commissioner Sarnoff speaks about small businesses. He's absolutely right. I am also the chairman of the board of the De Hostos Senior Center, andl can assure the Board that we're doing our best, our very best, to continue, as in the last 30 years to serve our community, and that I, personally, believe that we should not been harm, our product, not us, but the community should not be harm by withdrawing the funds from De Hostos Senior Center. Thank you very much for your attention. Chairman Gonzalez: Anyone else in the De Hostos Center? Carmen Zayas: Myself. Thank you. My name is Carmen Zayas, and I reside at 57 Glendale Drive, in Miami Springs, andl am the new record keeper, bookkeeper for De Hostos Senior Center. I have been on board with them since March of this year, upon the request of Esther Couvertier. Let me tell you that I feel very honored to be a part of an organization like De Hostos because of the fact that they service the community and they service the elderly, the elderly and the people that are poor that are in very much of need of not just the meals that are provided everyday, but also the interaction and the social activities that occur at the Center. Those are very vital points that sometimes do not get spoken about, but they're very critical because a lot of your seniors fall into depression and isolation when they stay home, and the Center provides for them, other than a hot meal, interaction, outings, events, and so forth. They also provide counseling, and they provide social services. Part of my role since I've been with De Hostos has been to address the financials and the audits and monitoring that had been conducted of the Center. I feel confident, like I've told Barbara and Pedro in the past, that once the audit is concluded, it will prove that the Center has allocated and spent the money accordingly, and this should not be an issue as far as finance is concerned. I also bring to De Hostos a lot of experience in the finance field and accounting, which I feel will strengthen the organization and the accountability to the board of directors in the funding sources. I respectfully request from the Commissioners that you fund De Hostos again for the year 2006/2007. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Ms. Zayas: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Barbara, may I ask -- andl -- it's not in my district. I'm not going to interfere; I'm just going to ask questions, because I do have a certain concern, and the reason that I have certain concerns is that I started going to De Hostos when I didn't even think of the City ofMiami Page 50 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 possibility of ever being a City Commissioner, but as an activist in Allapattah. De Hostos serve some of the people in Allapattah, andl know the program that they run over there. I know how many seniors used to go to their program, and the services that they receive, not only meals, but as they say, entertainment and counseling and all of those services. My question is when you decide to defund one of these agencies because they're going through whatever problems they're going through -- andl don't want to go into the problems -- what happen with the people that receive services? Ms. Gomez: Well, first of all, we have not said that we're not funding them. We're putting them in a reserve. I think we moved in a very fast -- Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah. Ms. Gomez: -- direction the last time -- Chairman Gonzalez: No, no, no. I -- Ms. Gomez: -- that we met with their staff -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- my -- I -- Ms. Gomez: -- and, hopefully, they can iron out the audit issues that they have. Chairman Gonzalez: -- realize that, but if you don't pay them, they -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Chairman Gonzalez: -- can't work, because every person that works in one of these agencies, they have a family, and they have to pay rent, they have to pay light, they have to pay food they have to pay insurance, they have to pay taxes, they have to pay medicine, they have to -- so they have to have a salary to pay their expenses. If you cut off funding or if you hold funding they don't receive a salary. If they don't receive a salary, eventually they will have to close down and leave, and then what happen with the people that receive services? Let me tell you. I'm not trying to interfere with you. I'm not trying -- Ms. Gomez: No. Chairman Gonzalez: -- to interfere with you. I'm just analyzing the situation. What I believe that Community Development should be doing -- this is what I believe that we should be doing, we as a city. IfI have an agency that is having a problem, what believe that we should do is that we should have someone from the City designated to that agency for a specific period of time until the issues are solve or not solve, and the corporation dissolve or the agency close, but we should be able to maintain the level of services to the people that go to these centers, you know, having the supervision of -- Ms. Gomez: (UNINTET,T IGIBT ,F) might be -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- somebody, you know. Let me tell you, the City ofMiami, back in 1996, was in a serious financial crisis, and what did the Governor did? He name -- Commissioner Sarnoff Oversight board. Ms. Gomez: Yeah. City ofMiami Page 51 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: -- a supervisory board, right? Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: And they were supervising the City. They didn't shut down the City, and they say, you know, hey, City, you know, sorry for you. No more money. No more services. No more city. No, no. They send a group of people to work on supervising the City functions and to making sure that the City recuperated itself and put into place mechanism, and you know, and things that will solve the problem that the City was going through, andl believe -- Ms. Gomez: That might be a good -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- that we need to do something like that, and whenever we have an agency -- andl'm not telling you that we should have someone there forever, you know, because that's what they're getting paid for. They're getting paid to administer the program that they run, and they're getting paid to run a program the way it should be run, but temporary -- we should have a temporary remedy where we send people from your department that is -- that are knowledgeable of Community Development and economic services and all that, have them go to the agency and have, you know, a very strict, direct supervision while the agency is in the transition of solving their problem, and if eventually they can't solve their problem, then it's up to us to decide what to do with the -- you know, as far as removing the funding. Another thing that we need to do is we're going to shut down an agency, we need to first of all look for alternative services for the people that go to that center. From now on, the services that you're getting at these agencies, you will be getting at this other agency, and you know, the meals will be served over here, the -- you know, but we have to think about the recipients first, not the -- you know, the final recipients, which are the seniors, you know, not the four or five people that work at the agency. I mean, that is simple to handle. I mean, just cut off the funding and that's it; they will go by their own, but the people that receive services is the people that we have to be concerned with, andl'm -- that's all -- Commissioner Sarnoff Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: -- it's only a comment. Commissioner Sarnoff I understand. Chairman Gonzalez: I'm not telling you what to do or anything like that. Commissioner Sarnoff Let's break it down issue by issue. Barbara, correct me if I'm wrong, the people who receive the meals will continue to receive meals -- Ms. Gomez: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff -- during this time, so you've taken care of the direct need of the feeding of the aged -- Ms. Gomez: That's not a correct statement, Commissioner. Commissioner Sarnoff -- but -- you've not. OK. Ms. Gomez: No, and let me tell you why. We pay per meal, per -- Commissioner Sarnoff Right. City ofMiami Page 52 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. Gomez: -- client, which include also their overhead, so when I don't pay that 6.50 per meal that they deliver to the house, I'm really not helping their overhead as well, so it's like tie. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, I'm trying to break it -- I thought -- Ms. Gomez: I can pay direct the vendor for the meals, but when we met, you remember that De Hostos' issue was what do we do with other things that they do provide to the elderlies? Commissioner Sarnoff No. I -- and I'm trying to break that down. Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff Let's just talk about food. Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff The food is still going to be taken care of to the people who need that service, correct? Chairman Gonzalez: Not really. The food is delivered to the site, and then the people in the agency are the ones that serve the -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Chairman Gonzalez: -- the food -- Commissioner Sarnoff OK -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- and -- Commissioner Sarnoff -- so then the servicing of the food would not take place -- Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff -- is that -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff -- correct? How -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff -- will you make that up during this time? Ms. Gomez: No. My issue more is that we can pay the catering direct, which is one of the things that we have offer -- Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Ms. Gomez: -- to De Hostos, but again, that doesn't help their overall funding their administration fund. Commissioner Sarnoff Let me put it to you in a way I understand it. City ofMiami Page 53 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff How will the people get the food in their mouths? It won't happen, right? Ms. Gomez: No. Commissioner Sarnoff Is that what you're telling me? OK. I mis -- Ms. Gomez: No. Commissioner Sarnoff -- understood you a while back when you said we will get the food to the people if, in fact, during this audit cycle -- Ms. Gomez: The homebound, not the people that does the food at the Center. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, this is -- my question to you is, andl think it's -- Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff -- very clear. How will Joe and Jane be fed? They won't, is what you're telling me. Ms. Gomez: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff OK. Now, that's a little different than what you had described to me before. Ms. Gomez: Yeah. Commissioner Spence -Jones: And -- Chairman Gonzalez: Commissioner -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- Mr. Sar -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- if you allow me. Commissioner Sarnoff Sure. Chairman Gonzalez: I don't know how familiar you are with this program. Commissioner Sarnoff I've been to De Hostos many times. Chairman Gonzalez: OK, but don't know how familiar you are as far as how they operate. Commissioner Sarnoff I -- Chairman Gonzalez: Out of the money that they get, you know, it's not only the food problem. It's -- the problem is that -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Chairman Gonzalez: -- if they don't have the money to pay for their bonding, if they don't have City ofMiami Page 54 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 the money to pay for their rent, for their light, for their, you know, overhead expenses, there is no program. I mean, no matter if you have the meals, unless you take them to a park, and you know, feed them in a park. Commissioner Sarnoff Well -- Chairman Gonzalez: Forget about the building. Commissioner Sarnoff -- they're at a County facility, so the lights are not going to be turned off correct? Ms. Gomez: It's a County facility. I don't know if they pay direct the light or if it's covered on the lease. Unidentified Speaker: Couldl be heard? Commissioner Sarnoff Sure. Go ahead. I just -- Ms. Gomez: Yeah. Commissioner Sarnoff -- I want to make sure that I understand that De Hostos, the physical place, will still be there. See, here's the issue. Let's just be clear. There is an issue presently of whether some money was appropriately used or inappropriately used, and we need to get to the resolution of that issue -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff -- and the question is -- my understanding was that thought actually before today we would have had a resolution as to whether that occurred, andl understand that there are some reasons it did and did not happen, some cooperation and noncooperation, which, as a lawyer, I always hate when I hear a little bit of noncooperation, because as a lawyer with subpoena power, I like cooperation, and we actually can command cooperation, but we as a city, can be just the same. We can command cooperation as well, and we should command cooperation, because if you're being investigated, and don't think they're just being investigated by us; I think they're being investigated by the County as well; is that correct? Vice Chairman Sanchez: No. Ms. Gomez: We were told that the Office of the Inspector General. Commissioner Sarnoff Which is for the County -- Ms. Gomez: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff -- was equally doing an investigation, so we know that there is something worth -- well, we believe something worth investigating is being investigated. Plus, I've seen some documents. Let me ask you this. How much longer do you think it will take for the investigation to culminate? Ms. Gomez: From our end, I believe Carmen can say she did requested [sic] an extension. We have told them we're willing to give them any type of document that we have that they might not have to complete their financials, so again -- Commissioner Sarnoff Could we be back here in 60 days with them being funded so that we City ofMiami Page 55 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 have 60 days to get to the --? I got to tell you, in 60 days, you could do anything. Ms. Gomez: Of course, you can. Yeah, we could -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Couldl --? Ms. Gomez: -- and that's why the -- Commissioner Sarnoff Go ahead. Ms. Gomez: -- dollars are in reserve because we always -- Commissioner Sarnoff Well -- and then -- Ms. Gomez: -- thought of coming back in September. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Barbara. Commissioner Sarnoff -- the Commissioner brings up another point, which I mistakenly thought -- and I'll -- I understand you want to pipe in, Commissioner Sanchez, butl thought there are two issues, which is, one, I thought we were going to be able to get the mouth -- the food into the mouths of the people that need it; two, I was less concern -- andl know he's more concerned -- but I'm less concerned with the people taking their salaries when they're under investigation. My main concern is feeding people. Ms. Gomez: Yeah. Commissioner Sarnoff How that happens -- andl think the Commissioner brings up -- the Chairman brings up an excellent point; maybe we need to have direct oversight for a 60-, 90-day period, andl think we have adequate people in the City ofMiami that we could do that, and maybe that's, inevitably, a resolution we can come to today. Less concerning to me, but though concerning, is the ability for people to derive their salaries while they're being investigated by two separate government entities, so maybe the simpler thing to do is listen to the Vice Chair, let him put his recommendations in or his input, and then maybe giving them an extension of time -- Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff -- totally to get this investigation to a conclusion where, at least, we can evaluate whether it's good evidence or bad evidence, butl -- you know, I will tell you this from District 2 standpoint, the tolerance -- and to use the Chair's comments a few moments ago about how his district could, more or less, take a zero balance from the City ofMiami -- my district funds 70 percent of the City ofMiami. We could easily break away, succeed, and become an extremely wealthy city. Chairman Gonzalez: Definitely. Ms. Gomez: Yeah. Commissioner Sarnoff I'm not suggesting that, but what I am suggesting, good government demands and good government requires that we take an extreme fiscal interest in how we fund anything regardless -- whether it's jobs, whether it's community -based organizations. You made a comment earlier ago that I think is very true, which is if people are going to fail, let's have them fail now. Let's not have them fail in three years. Let me just refine that for a moment. If we City ofMiami Page 56 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 learn there's a misuse of public funds, let's make a decision and make the hard choice now and not keep putting this off in perpetuity so that one of our names can appear where we don't want it to appear, on the front page of whatever it is we don't want it to appear upon. I'm more than willing and have been, I think, elected to make hard choices. On the other hand, discretion demands that if the investigation is not fulled and not completed, that we don't hurt people, and we don't fiscally -- and you're right, people make a living on doing these kind of things, so if possible, I'd like to see this come back to us in 60 days. I'd like to have a report on my desk in 45 days so that we can all sit at a table, Barbara, you, me, De Hostos, Esther, all the lawyers, the CPAs (Certified Public Accountants), and we could say, either an honest mistake was made or we did something wrong and we'll never let it happen again, and we'd like you to consider -- we've been doing this for 30 years. We'll do, what I like to hear is a great big mea culpa, in public; we'll apologize, and we'll go under an audit review for the next two years so that you can audit us very carefully and show that it'll never happen again. I might be willing to accept that, too. What I won't accept is this was somebody else's mistake. It's not my mistake. I wasn't there. I don't care. We're good. You know, part of getting on in life is taking responsibility for the actions that you've taken or not taken, and part of it is coming clean, and that's a real issue, I think, here in the City ofMiami is just coming out and saying, I made a mistake and I've -- base -- think about me for my 30 years of good service versus my three months of sloppy accounting, so with that said, I'd make a motion to bring this back in 60 days. Silvia Unzueta: I'm -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: May --? Ms. Unzueta: -- here to speak on the subject, andl haven't been heard. Commissioner Sarnoff I'm sorry. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, ma'am. Go ahead. Commissioner Sarnoff Andl -- Ms. Unzueta: Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff Commissioner Sanchez. Ms. Unzueta: I'm sorry. I came -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: I want to listen to the whole public, andl think -- Ms. Unzueta: My name is Silvia Unzueta. I reside permanently at 1137 Asturia, in Coral Gables. I was a former director ofMiami-Dade's Office of Community and Economic Development. I recently retired. This is the first time that I speak as a private resident, which is a joy. I am amazed of the severe questioning with De Hostos. During my tenure -- andl used to be one of the directors that visited places unannounced constantly -- everything that I saw there were happy elderly. They were not just being fed. It wasn't about food. It was about spiritual nurturing. Every time the director was there, and if you compare his salaries with other CDs [sic] that make somewhere in the neighborhood of 150, 170, allow me to just put that in context. Those are the poorest of the poor. It's not about the staff. These people can get a job anywhere, and if we were going to be this considerate and concern about people under investigation, a lot of municipalities, a lot of departments, a lot of people will be out cold, and you know, having come from the County, I know there is no justice. There is just us. In this case, that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is inclusive of your leadership. It is amazing to me that if you put money in a reserve, understanding the overall political process, there could be a feeding frenzy City ofMiami Page 57 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 on those funds. Why don't you put their name on it and simply hold -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Ms. Unzueta: -- the actual contracting until such time as the questions are finally resolved. Half of this town is being investigated; we know that. There's still some ethical people around. I have nothing to gain. I'm simply here because I believe there're elderly that will suffer. These people are lonely. These people receive multiple nurturing, and it behooves us to be part of the odds to try to remedy that. In this case, Barbara, I'm sorry. I am flat against the recommendation because I have a history dealing with this agency, andl have a great deal of respect for the people that toil out there with populations that most people totally disregard. That's why these agencies are so important, and as to the notion that maybe the County can pick up the slack, let me tell you, during my tenure, we were above the public service cap. That is ludicrous to even consider that that is a possibility, although I am speaking as a private citizen, so I ask you to make a decision and try to support the agency and simply withhold the actual contractual process, which is one of the alternatives you have. Thank you for listening to me. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Anyone else on De Hostos case? Nilsa Velazquez: Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: Talk. OK. Ms. Velazquez: My name is Nilsa Velazquez. I come -- my -- I'm the president of KIDCO Child Care. I'm in the Wynwood community, andl'm saddened with this investigation and this defunding for whatever it's called, for De Hostos, because first of all, I started 31 years ago when they started. We received the same CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding. That was the base of our programs, and now I feel for them, and I feel for the program and the elderly; that I've been with them through all these years, andl know that the service that they give to the elderly because I'm witness, so I support them, andl'm going to speak on behalf of KIDCO, ifI may? Now? Commissioner Sarnoff No, not -- Chairman Gonzalez: Let us -- Ms. Velazquez: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff Let's just stick with -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- finish De Hostos, and then -- Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Chairman Gonzalez: -- you speak on KIDCO. Luis Beltran: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: Luis, good morning. Mr. Beltran: Buenos dias. Mi nombre es Luis Beltran. Chairman Gonzalez: We need a translator. Do we have a translator? City ofMiami Page 58 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Unidentified Speaker: I'll do it for him. May I do it for him? Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Yes, sir. We have the official translator behind you. Please allow him to. Thank you. Mr. Beltran (as translated by Rene Ramos, official Spanish interpreter): Luis Beltran is my name, and I know all ofyou and you all know me. I know about you feelings, about your generosity, andl know that always come here to all this big progress, to all this institutions that are part of this City. If there is that (UNINTET,TIGIBLE) as it is with Ms. Gomez (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is possible that this institution with more than 30 years of service so those old people can eat and the personnel can also receive their money to take their money home, but I want to ask you with humanity, because I know all of you are humane to take into consideration to give back to -- the funds to the dining room. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Mr. Beltran (as translated by Rene Ramos, official Spanish interpreter): Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Anyone else on De Hostos? Mr. Jonas: IfI may, I just wanted to follow up on a couple of things. Number one, Commissioner Sarnoff, I agree a hundred percent with everything that you said about the importance of monitoring the use of public money. It's everybody's money, and it needs to be spent correctly. The way the process works with the City ofMiami is a bill is submitted monthly for meals only, period. The City pays the De Hostos Center the contracted amount per meal, and that's the only funding that's received, and most of that money does go to pay the vendors. It has been cut off since the March bill, so we have not received compensation for March, April, May, and we will not, as far as we know, receive it for June. Ms. Gomez has suggested that she would be willing to pay the caterer directly. We accept that offer. It certainly makes it easier, but I will tell you this. Notwithstanding the fact that we've lost the funding, we have not missed a meal. The machine goes on. We find it where we can find it, and we will feed the elderly and we feed our clients because that's the goal. If we could get the City to pay directly in the meantime, I know I'm confident we're going to settle these issues, the accounting issues; they are not significant, and they will be resolved, and all ofyou and Barbara Gomez will be satisfied that there is nothing here about missing money or misapplied money. These are internal accounting issues. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Sir, could you -- Mr. Jonas: Yes, sir. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- state your name for the record, please? Mr. Jonas: My name is Daniel Jonas. My address is 3 -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Jonas? Mr. Jonas: Jonas, J-O-N-A-S. My address is 300 71 st Street, Suite 405, in Miami Beach. Vice Chairman Sanchez: And you are? Mr. Jonas: I'm general counselor for the De Hostos Center. Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK. City ofMiami Page 59 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman, I just -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Well -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: I'm sorry. Do we have another comment from De Hostos? Chairman Gonzalez: Let me finish the public hearing, and then we'll -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: -- bring it back and -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: But why don't we do -- can I just suggest that we separate and just focus on this, and then -- Chairman Gonzalez: Well, I believe -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- we'll address --? Chairman Gonzalez: -- he was the last speaker on De Hostos. Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: Are you -- Mr. Jonas: I -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: I -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- here on De Hostos? You're not, and you're going to speak on KIDCO, so De Hostos is done. Let me finish the public hearing on the item, and then we'll bring back to the Commission, and then we take De Hostos among us and debate it. If we have any questions, we ask the questions from De Hostos people. Yes, ma'am. Good after -- good evening. I'm sorry. Good morning. Sharie Blanton: Good afternoon. My name is Sharie Blanton. I'm the executive director at St. Alban's Child Enrichment Center. The address is 3465 Brooker Street, in Coconut Grove. Today I would just like to thank the City and the Commission for the Community Development Block Grant money that we were granted this year and on previous years. It's crucial to continuing our operation to provide quality and affordable child care in the City ofMiami. Currently, the child development rolls are closed. We have parents that come weekly that we have to turn down because there's no funding for them to have child care. This funding goes a long way to support our efforts, and without it, it would be a travesty. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Ms. Velazquez: My name is Nilsa Velazquez. I'm the presidency [sic] of KIDCO Child Care. We've been in the community for 31 years, and we are located at -- we have three -- four sites, I'm sorry, and we serve 450 children, from infants to five years of age. One of the sites is in the District 3, Michelle Spence -Jones, and the other sites are within the District 2 with -- I'm sorry, 5 -- District 2. We -- the community of Wynwood, it's been changing, and we are facing some City ofMiami Page 60 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 difficulties with the budget, andl brought it up to Barbara, and we appreciate that you're looking after us and finding sources to meet the -- that gap that we had, so we really appreciate that, and we are also moving -- KIDCO is moving forward to looking for other sites in other areas of more need. As you know, Wynwood, as I mentioned, is changing, and we need to look for the needy people in other areas, so I applied for Community Development Block Grant funding through Economic Development for an additional site, which will be brought to you later. OK. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Ms. Velazquez: Thank you so much. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Remember, for those that are trying to expand, depending on government funding -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Good luck. Chairman Gonzalez: -- remember whatl told you at the beginning of the meeting. The cuts are going to continue, so you know, before you incur on new expenses, on acquiring a new space, electric bill, personnel, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, you better talk to Ms. Gomez and make sure, because funding are limited. I mean, we have to go into other pots of money this year and - - as we did last year, just to keep you at the same level -- Ms. Velazquez: Yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: -- so expanding and new programs, you're going to be in a real tough situation -- Ms. Velazquez: We understand that -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- on the -- Ms. Velazquez: -- but the reason we're doing it is because some families, they are moving to other areas -- Chairman Gonzalez: I understand. Ms. Velazquez: -- so we would be able to charge parents -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Ms. Velazquez: -- that are moving to that area, and then bring the needy other areas. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Very good. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Good morning. Sandra Valdes: Good morning. My name is Sandra Valdes, and I'm the administrator with Catholic Charities for the Elderly, located at 9900 Northeast 2ndAvenue, and we serve the elderly at Gesu, located at 118 Northeast 2nd Street, in District 2. I'd like to thank the City Commission for their continued commitment to helping the elderly in the community. I'd also like to stress that with these continued cuts, it also affects us because of the continued increases in the cost of serving meals. Currently, we've been cut to be serving 17 seniors, when we've been serving 30, and those dollars that we receive primarily are just paying for the meals and to make up for the meals that we're unable to be reimbursed by the City ofMiami. Last year we were also cut funding from the Claude Pepper, but we have continued to look for dollars to City ofMiami Page 61 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 continue serving those seniors who would have otherwise not received meals, and we want to continue to serve the seniors at Gesu that wouldn't otherwise receive meals if we had to reduce or meals. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Ms. Valdes: Thank you very much. Chairman Gonzalez: Good morning. Angela Vazquez: Good morning. My name is Angela Vazquez, with Southwest Social Services. I'm the assistant director. We are located at 25 Tamiami Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33144. First of all, I'd like to thank the Commissioners on a fine job you're doing on holding the line and not cutting any of our funding, and I would, before I forget, like to invite all of you, particularly Commissioner Sarnoff and Commissioner Spence -Jones, to come out and see the Armando Badia Senior Center at 25 Tamiami Boulevard, where, on a bad day, there will be 250 seniors participating in the community and receiving meals, and while I hope and pray that God blesses you everyday -- andl mean that -- for being good public servants who really care, as my colleague from Catholic Charities just said, holding us -- I just want to let you know -- andl am grateful for the money -- that we do have waiting lists for the congregate (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I have waiting lists for the homebound. I have waiting lists now for transportation, because even though you've guaranteed us the same funding, and thank God you did not cut us, there was $6, 000 increase in insurance. My meals, at our congregate site, went up 30 cents each per meal, per senior, per day; homebound, 47 cents each per meal, per senior, per day, and gasoline, I don't think need to tell anybody who's ever driven in a vehicle what that's doing to us, and not only does that hurt us, but we receive matching funds from the federal government through the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), so each meal I do not serve, not only didl not serve it to the senior, butl lost 56 cents towards another meal, andl would like to mention that Southwest Social Services always amends our contract down. We do not receive $5 from the City ofMiami. I receive $4.17 per meal, congregate, andl receive $4.50, not 6.50, for the homebound, and we do that because that'd be fewer people we can serve, and if we can hold the line on our end, we will hold the line in any way we can, and not to take up the whole two minutes, I do applaud and would like to know how the Save Our Seniors is going. The raising of the cap, I was very happy to hear Commissioner Regalado talk about that in lobbying the federal government, because we will stand with you, and whatever it takes and whatever we need to do to make the message heard, whether it be more on a state level or federal level, we will stand with you. We will do whatever needs. We ask that you continue to do that great job, and my only regret is that we do not have more leaders like you with the initiative and the vision to not only hold the line locally, but try to go elsewhere to get funding. Once again, thank you very much for all your assistance. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Good morning. Elisa Juara: Good morning. My name is Elisa Juara. I'm the nutrition director for the Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Center of Dade County, Inc. I am very grateful for all of you, for the Commissioners, Sanchez, Regalado, and you, Angel, and all the Commissioners, for all the public work you do, the volunteer work you do. I understand that we're going to get the same money, and as my predecessor said here, you know, all the fund -- all the things, all expenses are increasing, meals, gas, everything, but like we have six centers in the City of Miami. We receive funding from the City, from the federal government, the State, everywhere we can get funding, because the need of this community, of the City ofMiami, and Miami -Dade County is always increasing, and there's a lot of people in need, and like we repeated here, that's the poor City, and we are, and we need to address the need of the elderly. We have been in operation for over 35 years. We do transportation. We do adult day care. We have City ofMiami Page 62 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 intergenerational child care. We are into the homebound arena. You know, I have a waiting list of more than 600 people for home deliver meals, and that's, you know -- and everyday I get calls and transportation, and all the services at home for homemaker, and it's very cost-effective to keep people at home, you know. We are -- I'm very proud and we're very proud at our agency and all the people here that serve our elderly and the poorest people of this community am [sic] very -- they are very -- how can I tell you? They're at the end of their years, some of them, because others are very active; they volunteer at our centers, they participate, they help us to run the program, so I am an advocate for the elderlies and the senior center. Thank you very much for all your help -- Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Ms. Juara: -- for years and years that we have been receiving the City ofMiami funding, and it's very important funding because in order -- with this funding, we can get other monies, OK. Thank you so much. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Thank you. Next. Madelyn Rodriguez: Good afternoon. My name is Madelyn Rodriguez, and I'm the administrator for Centro Mater Child Care Center. I am just here to thank the Commission for the recommendation for next year, and to inform you that we're very grateful for all you're doing, for all the help that we've had from the City of Miami and the Community Development program -- Department. I also want to thank, on behalf of Sagrada Familia, for the allocation for next year, and to tell you that believe it or not, regardless of the economic changes the community has experienced, this is the year where we have the most children in our summer camp, and our waiting list is growing and growing and growing, and l just want to express the fact that services for children continues to be a priority for the district and for the City, as well, and just to having in consideration this for next year for the allocation. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Miriam Urra: Good afternoon. My name is Miriam Urra, and I'm here representingAllapattah Community Action, located at 2257 Northwest North River Drive, and I'm here to thank you -- thank the City ofMiami Commissioners, Commissioner Gonzalez, all Commissioners, for your help trying to assist us with the money that we are going to be short to provide services to the elderly in my community. I would like to say that to the federal government, to those senators, and to those House representatives, that they need to wake up and see the needs of all the communities, like ours, and the whole United States; it's not only us, but we are talking for our City, for our neighborhoods, for our people in need; that they need to wake up and do something for the poor, and not to continue cutting the CDBG program. This is something outrageous, it's a 30 percent cut. Incredible. I was in shock when I learn of these cuts, and there's something to be done. I commend you for the things that you're doing, for the help that you're giving us, all of us, andl tell you, we're here to support you and to do whatever we can to ask Washington to please help us and to take into account that there's a lot of poor in Miami, in Dade County, and the whole United States, but you know, if -- I think that we should do something. If we have to go to Washington, if you take -- you're taking the lead, and if we will follow you. We're here to help and do what we can to help our poor citizen. Thank you very much. Commissioner Sarnoff What was your name again? Ms. Urra: My name is Miriam, and the last name is Urra. Commissioner Sarnoff Miriam, here is something you could do. There's going to be a vote in City ofMiami Page 63 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 November. There's going to be a vote the following November -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Oh, trust me, they'll be on board. Commissioner Sarnoff -- and you need to make it very clear to whoever you're voting for and getting out all your people that you do have a voice, and your voice will be heard, and everybody who feels so powerless, remember, you get to give these guys a pink slip every November. Somebody gets a pink slip that you don't like. Ms. Urra: It's incredible, you know. We were so surprised when this get -- this cuts came because we make a big effort. The City ofMiami, the Mayor, the Commissioners, and all the agencies last year and the year before and the year before, we sent signatures out there for all the people that was receiving services. Chairman Gonzalez: Sixty thousand cards -- Ms. Urra: You know, it was -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- we sent to Washington. Ms. Urra: -- a big effort -- Commissioner Sarnoff But get your folks out to vote. Ms. Urra: -- and we even sent -- I think that our voices here were recorded and sent to Washington -- Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Ms. Urra: -- to the senators -- to the Senate and the chamber, the House of Representatives, and nothing happen. Why did they come -- they come back with a big cut of 30 percent -- Chairman Gonzalez: They will come back in November -- Ms. Urra: -- so -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- asking for your vote. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Chairman Gonzalez: They will go by the center -- Ms. Urra: -- but I would like to tell them right now that -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- they will bring you pastalitos. They will -- Ms. Urra: -- we want to hear them when they come here and they want to ask for our votes, and they come to Miami and they say, you know, viva -- Chairman Gonzalez: They will say -- Ms. Urra: -- Cuba -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- viva Cubra Libre -- City ofMiami Page 64 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. Urra: -- down with Castro -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- you know. Ms. Urra: -- you know, and all that's fine, but we want their help and their support so we can continue to serve the people that are in such a need here. Commissioner Sarnoff Remember what people don't -- just don't count on what people do for you in the past five minutes. Ask what they've done for you in the past 364 days. Ms. Urra: OK. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: They will promise you that they will overthrown [sic] Castro, the next -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK, the public hearing is closed; come on back. Chairman Gonzalez: -- government, and you know -- all right. This will close the public hearing. Now we'll bring it back for the Commission to discuss De Hostos. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yes. Mr. Chairman, if we could take the De Hostos issue, and then we'll address SP.16. On that issue, Commissioner Sarnoff, I think your comments hold merit, andl think your concern, based on the audit -- I heard an audit investigation. I want to inquire. Is it an audit or is it an audit that's leading to an investigation? I want to get that point clear. Ms. Gomez: We are doing -- we hired an outside CPA firm that is doing the audit on our contracts. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right, but is there, I hear, an investigation? I think it's important that -- Ms. Gomez: The Office of the Inspector General is doing an investigation; of what, I couldn't tell you. Vice Chairman Sanchez: OK. Ms. Gomez: The audit that we're doing is -- just deals with our contract. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Commissioner, let me just proffer a suggestion here, andl think the statement that was made by Ms. Zueta [sic], which is, if you take these funds and you put them in reserve and you don't identifi, them, I guarantee you, in the next 60 days, you're going to have just about every public service agency knocking at your doors trying to claim that money, and the 60 days also brings another issue. If you extend it 60 days, we get into August, and that's another 30 days, so it's really 90 days -- Commissioner Sarnoff Right. I agree. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- so let's just focus on the issue here. We don't want to throw out the baby with the bathwater, is what I'm trying to say, and what I want to proffer to you is, although you have every right, and I think that your intention is right, is that maybe you could put that money aside and reserve it with them till the outcome of this audit, and then, if the outcome is a bad audit or an investigation, then you're entitled to do it, but you've got to put a name on that fund because if not, not only do you create the frenzy, the feeding -frenzy that you're going to City ofMiami Page 65 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 create, you're going to put a burden on certain Commissioners here, and that is that you're going to have people that may want to leave that center and go to another center, and you'll be adding a burden to us on that issue, so I just want to proffer that, and maybe what you want to do is you want to maybe hold that under your District 2 reserve till this is taken care of and then, you know -- Commissioner Sarnoff Well, let me just thank you for the offer and thank you for the suggestion, Vice Chair. You know, put yourselves for a moment in Barbara's shoes. If she does nothing, she'll be criticized. If she does something, she'll be criticized, so she's doing the right thing. She's bringing it to our attention -- to my attention, and it is absolutely my intention to defund anybody, anybody in anyone's district who is caught taking money, period, end of report. I'm not suggesting that occurred here, and what I am suggesting is -- and this, I think you'll like -- I suggest, Barbara, that we actually fund De Hostos for March, April, andMay. Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff I suggest that you hold -- that you pay June, July, andAugust directly to the vendor, as requested before. That brings us -- and I'd like a report on my desk within 75 days so that we could bring it before the Commission within 90 days -- Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Sarnoff -- and we can get down to the bottom and find out -- andl think Commissioner Sanchez is dead right; is it an investigation? Is it an audit? Is this a miscommunication? Is this a problem? If it's a problem, is it an acknowledged problem? And if it's an acknowledged problem, will there be a resolution to that problem? But in your shoes, you had to do exactly what you're doing. I mean, you will be criticized one way or criticized the other way, so at least put the criticism now on me. I'll take acceptance to the fact thatl am funding them and requesting my fellow board members -- oops, I'm sorry -- my fellow Commissioners to fund them for the three months that we talked about, March, April, andMay of 2007; that you fund directly the vendors June, July, andAugust; that no later than September, you come back to me with a report, and no later than the next Commission meeting, we revisit this issue, andl -- and we'll do a full report, and by the way, ifI am wrong and they have done some bad things, I've made a misjudgment up here, andl apologize for bringing my fellow Commissioners on board the boat with me, and if we're right -- and let me just say this, Barbara, because we had a miscommunication, andl want -- I don't want anybody to think I'm as heartless as I may seem at times. I was told, and always understood, that the actual mouths would still be fed, andl thought understood that from you, so I never thought we were discussing anything that took food out of people's mouths. I acknowledge readily that social interaction, especially for the elderly, has got to be the most important thing next to food that they can keep their minds occupied and enjoy themselves and enjoy the golden years, so with that said, I think this amendment will achieve that. If they went three months without getting the funding, they're about to get the three months back right now, and I'm asking them to go then the three months during the next final audit investigation to let us fund directly the vendors, and if everything turns out well, fine, and if it doesn't, so be it as well. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Ms. Gomez: Will do. Commissioner Sarnoff Commissioner Jones [sic]. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Be -- there's going to be other amendments made, so you want to put them all together? City ofMiami Page 66 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Ms. Gomez: If you can do De Hostos, and then maybe we can do the other ones, because this deal not only with this funding, but deals -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Ms. Gomez: -- with -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: I would -- Ms. Gomez: -- the current contract. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- second the motion as proffered, as Commissioner Sarnoff has introduced it. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a motion, and we have a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Motion carries. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Mr. Chairman, I just -- again, that -- the Center itself actually services both of our districts, and -- but I know, over the last couple of years, it's been coming out of District 2, so I really kind of deferred a lot of that to Commissioner Sarnoff, but I really appreciate you taking that extra step to make sure that those seniors received what they needed. Like you, I did ask the same question, because I have two similar issues going on in my district with two individuals or two groups that we fund which we already know about, which is JESCA and MOVERS (Minority Overcoming the Virus through Education, Responsibility and Spirituality), OK, which they have -- you know that they have some issues that they have to also resolve, too, so my question is -- and again, as I stated earlier, is really more or less a statement. I really want to be very clear that before we expend any dollars, we have totally resolved whatever issues surrounding any of the organizations before that happens, and if the same thing can be afforded to JESCA and MOVERS -- I know JESCA provides meals also to many of the seniors in the African American community, andl ask the same question and -- that Commissioner Sarnoff ask as to whether or not the seniors will still be able to eat. Ms. Gomez: It's very different, Commissioner Spence-Jone [sic]. JESCA has not been impacted in this contract year -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Ms. Gomez: -- which De Hostos has -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Ms. Gomez: -- so they've been getting their award. In reference to MOVERS, MOVERS do not receive any funding for public service. MOVERS' issue with the City, it's a building that we've been dealing with them, so it's a different -- totally different scenario for MOVERS. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I just want to make sure that if it's a situation like for the JESCA situation, while they have not been impacted by this -- currently -- Ms. Gomez: Correct. City ofMiami Page 67 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- we do -- it's obvious that there are some issues that still need to be resolved -- Ms. Gomez: Right, right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- so for us not to communicate that is -- Ms. Gomez: Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and l just want to make sure that before I vote on something, I want to be very clear that if it's a situation where it comes down to seniors within District 5 being able to eat, I would rather have the same kind of thing be afforded to them for now so that at least, the seniors will continue to receive the meals, or whatever the case may be, until we can resolve whatever outstanding issues. Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I just wanted to at least make sure that -- Ms. Gomez: Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- put that on the record. Ms. Gomez: Yeah. Chairman Gonzalez: All right, so we need a motion now on SP.16, right? Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, no. We have to vote on the -- Ms. Gomez: On the one of De Hostos. Commissioner Sarnoff We -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- on De Hostos. Commissioner Sarnoff -- do we need to vote on it? Chairman Gonzalez: We already voted on De Hostos. Vice Chairman Sanchez: You made a motion andl second it. Commissioner Spence -Jones: We voted on that one. Commissioner Sarnoff We voted -- Chairman Gonzalez: We voted on De Hostos. Ms. Gomez: OK. Vice Chairman Sanchez: We voted on it? Chairman Gonzalez: Yes. City ofMiami Page 68 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Vice Chairman Sanchez: For the record. Commissioner Sarnoff We did not vote on it? Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, we didn't. Chairman Gonzalez: Can we vote on SP.16 now? Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. Ms. Gomez: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: Is there -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: SP.16 -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- a motion? Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- I just -- yes, there's a motion, but I -- just one little addition I want to at least bring to your attention, Barbara. Ms. Gomez: OK. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Wait a minute. You're making a motion on SP.16, right? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Well, I will second it, but I want to make some amendments to it. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Oh, OK. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a motion, and we have a second. Discussion and amendments. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman, I just want to be very clear because, you know, as I asked the City Attorney, I want to make sure I don't have any issues, no conflicts, because one of the particular agencies that's on here, which is the child care services, my kid attends that child care, andl want to make sure I don't have any conflicts so that that's not seen as I'm supporting this because of that. I want to make sure I put that on the record. Julie O. Bru (Deputy City Attorney): Yes. Commissioner, you've advised me, and looked at the state statute, and the state statute prohibits you from voting on a matter which would inure to your special private gain or loss or that of your -- a company that you are retained by or your relative or a business associate. In this case, there is no special private gain to you. Your child attends a program that would be funded by one of these allocations. He attends the program, on the same terms and conditions as any other children, so there is no special private gain -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: And l just want to be clear that he was attending before I got elected. Ms. Bru: Right. City ofMiami Page 69 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. I just want to be clear -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Better be careful he doesn't get an extra juice. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- andl want to put it on the record -- Ms. Bru: Right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- because I don't want to have no [sic] issues. Ms. Bru: There is no voting conflict. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Thankyou. Thankyou. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, on -- Chairman Gonzalez: Your amendments. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- my amendments on SP.16 -- and before I get to my amendments, I just want to base on my priority -- this year, when we had the meeting, the CDBG, my priorities were set out through the public hearing that we had was the elderly feeding programs and the child care, and I'll tell you why those are my priorities. On the elderly feeding program, I represent a lot of elderly individuals that did not have the opportunity today to have 401s or have big investments to be able to go out and possibly eat at nice restaurant or own a nice house or go on a vacation, a large vacation a year. These are people that today are struggling, and they're struggling for a variety of reasons, and these are the people that depend on these feeding programs, and they depend on them. I go to these feeding centers, and these people that have one meal will take that meal and split it in half to take it home to be able to eat the other day. That tells you what situation they're in when they are struggling, counting pennies, because their retirement's $480, maybe $520, and they're faced with situations where they can't make it at the end of the month, so I know the necessity. I know what they're faced with, and that's why it's very important for me, andl know it's very important for all the Commissioners here, to make sure that the last thing on their mind is where they get a plate of food, because they have other challenges to meet, whether it's health care, whether it's rent, whether it's just a everyday necessity that one needs when you get to a certain age. The other issue was child care, and let me tell you why child care is so important for me. I'm a strong believer that if both parents have a place where they could drop off their child and go to work with a peace of mind knowing that my child is safe, they would be able to go out and get a job, and they could be productive citizens, and they will be given an opportunity, and it's all about opportunity that we give people, because I've said it many times before, there're a lot of people out there that are one pay check away from being homeless, one pay check away from being homeless, so that's why child care is so important for me. Now I see that we're faced with a reduction of 19.24 percent of funding in our city, andl think we've stated very clearly that every year the federal government continues to cut, and we have to dig in deeper, and that's the local government, so thank God for the Mayor. Thank God for the poverty initiative that, once again, we have tapped into, and that's why every year that it's introduced in our budget, I don't see any Commissioner here criticizing that because they know that that's what we're going to dip into when we don't have the funds from the federal government to be able to make sure that all your agencies here today are going to leave these doors knowing that you didn't take a hit, and you continue to provide that service that's so needed in our community. On child care, there are three programs in my district that took a hit, a hit for twenty-three thousand dollars and ninety-seven -- I mean City ofMiami Page70 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 $23, 097. These three agencies provide a dire need service in my community, and that's child care. There're great organizations; they produce, OK, but there're faced with that shortfall. I'm going to name them because I think should name them, because I'm very proud of the service they provide: Las Sagrada Familia is one; Centro Mater, which I am a proud product of and Rafael Penalver. They are short of funds, and I know that we don't have the fund, so guess what I'm going to do? I'm going to dig into my office account andl'm going to find those funds. That's $23, 000, so when I'm short of pencils and pens and other issues in my office, I'm going to be knocking on other Commissioners' doors asking for that, because you know what? I'm going to put my mouth where my -- money where the mouth -- my mouth is, which is to provide services for three -- those three agencies that got left out, and the only way that could go out and get them money, besides my office, is ifI go out there andl rob a bank, andl'm not doing that, but I am going to dig into my office account and get that money, and therefore, I'm going to direct the administrator and ask -- Larry, are you here? You're the money man, come on. I'm going to direct Larry to prepare the necessary paperwork to take out of my district office, which is District 3 rollover account, the amount of $23, 097 to directly fund those three agencies of a shortfall 23 -- all right. Let me focus on this so we get this right. Each amount is going to be -- and I'm going to name it for the record -- $9, 624 -- Centro Matter Child Care Center, which is $9, 624; and Rafael Penalver Clinic, which is $3, 849; totaling $23, 097 to be allocated from my District 3 rollover account to assist those agencies with the service they provide, so that's the amendment that want to proffer on that, and once again, I do want to focus that we will do everything we can to continue to help the working people come out of poverty, and that's not only the elderly that are in poverty today, but the parents that are struggling everyday to get out of poverty. I think it's important that not only our government plays a vital part in assisting them overcome those challenges today, so having proffered that, that's the amendment that I would like to make to the CDBG public service allocation funds this year. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a motion, and we have a second, and we have an amendment to SP.16. Ms. Bru: Mr. Chairman, ifI may? Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, no. Ms. Bru: Mr. Chairman, I don't think it would be proper to amend this resolution. I think what the Commissioner is trying to achieve can be done just directing the City Manager to execute the proper paperwork or budget amendment to do that. This resolution speaks to CDBG funding. He's taking the money out of his own office -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Ms. Bru: -- budget. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Very good. All right. We have a -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Thanks for the point of clarification. Chairman Gonzalez: -- motion, and we have a second on SP.16. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. Vice Chairman Sanchez: And now I will proffer that motion that was made. City ofMiami Page 71 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a motion. Is there a second? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: There is a second. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. SP.17 07-00686 RESOLUTION Department of Community Development A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF 33RD PROGRAM YEAR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,900,000, IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY, TO THE AGENCIES SPECIFIED IN "ATTACHMENT A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE 33RD PROGRAM YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2007; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT(S), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM(S), WITH SAID AGENCIES, FOR SAID PURPOSE. 07-00686 Legislation.pdf 07-00686 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00686 Exhibit 2.pdf 07-00686 Exhibit 3.pdf 07-00686 Summary Form.pdf 07-00686 Public Notice.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez and Spence -Jones Absent: 1 - Commissioner Regalado R-07-0315 Direction by Vice Chairman Sanchez to the Administration to provide a list of all facades completed in District 3 during 2006-2007 and their funding. Direction by Commissioner Sarnoff to the Administration to provide a list of all facades completed with the facade program in the downtown area for the past three to four years. Chairman Gonzalez: SP.17. We have three more hours [sic] to do before we break -- Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): SP.17 -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Do you want to break? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Do you want to --? Chairman Gonzalez: -- and it is 12: 45. Ms. Gomez: -- we're requesting approval to fund the Economic Development programs and agencies. The only funding that we are not including in this allocation is District 2, which, right now, we are going through the request for proposal, and it will be back after the Commission's recess in September. City ofMiami Page 72 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Every agency is -- all the people on the list are funded, right? Ms. Gomez: I don't know. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Is there anyone that's not funded? Chairman Gonzalez: Is anyone here that is not funded that wants to speak against this resolution? Leroy Jones: Yes. It's Ms. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Chairman Gonzalez: We have people that -- Mr. Jones: Well, I -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- are not funded -- Mr. Jones: I don't think they speaking against the resolution. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Andl think, Mr. Chair -- Mr. Jones: They not speaking against it. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and Mr. Chairman, I've asked also Mr. Jones -- he's going to reduce, correct, Mr. Jones -- Mr. Jones: Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- the number of people actually presenting, so they're -- Mr. Jones: Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- presenting as a group. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Just in light of time. Mr. Jones: So -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: That's all. Mr. Jones: -- everybody here -- most of the -- the few people that going to speak is going to speak in approvance [sic] -- Chairman Gonzalez: In favor? OK. Mr. Jones: -- of it -- Chairman Gonzalez: Very good. Mr. Jones: -- and it's only two people that want to speak for reconsideration, so they're not speaking against it. City ofMiami Page 73 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. OK. Pamela E. Burns (Assistant City Clerk): And your name again for the record, please. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: We need a quorum. Mr. Jones: Leroy Jones, 180 Northwest 62nd Street. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Good morning, ma'am. Martine Theodore: Good morning. My name is Martine Theodore. I'm the chief operating officer for Haitian Women of Miami, FANM (Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami), and I am here today to thank the Commission for making a special allocation for us. We have been engaged for the past two years in the City's -- with the City ofMiami in helping economic development and microenterprise in the Little Haiti corridor, and we have been working diligently with the City ofMiami to help Haitian businesses grow and flourish in the corridor. We have been engaged in special other economic development programs, such as (UNINTELLIGIBLE), which is a special program to empower the women in the Little Haiti corridor to do business within the City ofMiami and Miami -Dade County, and these programs have been extremely successful. We want to acknowledge that the economic development award that we are doing is very important, and that the process that we -- that is -- has been engaged is very, very crucial to those small businesses in the Little Haiti corridor in order to help and grow and succeed, and we have seen success stories happen, and we are hoping to continue that process. We thank you very much. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Next. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I -- Chairman Gonzalez: Name and address for the record. Terry Jones: Good afternoon. My name Terry Jones. I'm the owner of Blade Cut Lawn Service Landscaping. My address is 4055 Northeast 17th Avenue. I'm up here today to say thank you to the Board, the Chair, Commissioner Spence [sic] for District 5 for having a program like this for small businesses. This my second year being considered for funding, andl appreciate that because it really helping me grow and helping me help people in my community, and as far as the fast -track program, at first, you know, I was -- to be honest, I was undecided about going, but as I went, and every class I went to, it really improve me more to run my business productive because I had like -- really, I was like lost -- I got a business, but I was lost, but since the class, you know, it really help, and hopefully, I could speak for everybody who went to the class. I graduated from the class, and we just want to just -- I just want to thank you again for considering this program, putting it in our community and help small businesses grow. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, sir. Mr. T. Jones. All right. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes. Nicole Marcella: Good afternoon, Commissioners and Chairman. My name is Nicole Marcella, 1126 Northwest 46th Street. I am a Wellness consultant, and my business is based in Miami. I'd City ofMiami Page 74 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 like to thank Leroy Jones, from NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association) for recommending my grant, and I'm hoping that you will approve it. I believe in prevention of -- excuse me, not prevention, but preventive health care, especially in the community that I reside in and have my business in. I believe that, through education, to help promote an active and productive lifestyle from children all the way up to the elderly, is what we need to do at this day and age, and through my business, I intend -- currently, I'm doing so and intend on continuing to do so. I ask today that you approve NANA's recommendation, and thank you for the consideration. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, ma'am. Next. Loraine Hibbert: Hi. My name is Loraine Hibbert. I'm with Shrimp, Wings & Things, 5843 Northwest 17th Avenue. We have been in business there for 23 years in the former name of Nelson's Take-out Restaurant. We've been there through Liberty City hard times and through Liberty City's good times. We're still there, even though the City have not funded us the way they said they was during the time that the people was moved out of Liberty City. We still stand, and we still plan to stand. We thank you for approving us for the grant, and we hope that you would please give it to us because it's needed right now. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Ms. Hibbert: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Next. Danica Duclos: Good afternoon. My name is Danica Duclos of House and [sic] Style and Envy Boutique. I am the owner and operator of that boutique. I've only been open for a short period of time, which is a matter of about six months. Been incorporated throughout Liberty City and in business throughout Liberty City in different locations, and really, the opportunity that District 5, as well as City ofMiami, has given us to improve on the businesses in the area is such of great importance, especially to me because I've been a resident all my life of Liberty City and the City ofMiami, and to own a business in Liberty City has been an absolute dream because I get a chance to give back to the community, and not only myself but the other businesses in the area, because it is not an area of high importance in the community. They feel a sense of failure and loss, and with the small businesses that are up and coming and that have been existing and have already been in operation, they give them a sense of hope, and with approving the grant, it'll give us more hope to keep striving and keep holding on, andl appreciate at least the consideration, and thank you to the Commissioner for being a part of the district and representing us and getting the information out, and also to NANA for the opportunity and assistance. Vice Chairman Sanchez: What is your business? Ms. Duclos: It's a -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: What do you do? Ms. Duclos: -- clothing boutique. Vice Chairman Sanchez: How many people do you employ? Ms. Duclos: Just myself right now. I'm currently working with Miami -Dade E. C., Entrepreneurial Center. I'm with their work study program, and they're looking currently for a Miami -Dade student, also a resident in the Liberty City community to partially give me City ofMiami Page 75 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 assistance as far as work experience. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Is it going well? Ms. Duclos: Yes. It's fair. Right now, the main trouble that I'm having with my immediate area is the other businesses. The -- it -- they need to do more as far as parking. Parking is a big issue for me, as well as the traffic on Northwest 7th Avenue is very, very busy, and the only parking space I have to my building is directly in the front of the building, and a lot of people, my customers, they're afraid to park there because traffic going north and southbound during rush hour is really bad. Also, with the painting and the upkeeping of the buildings in the area, a lot of times, just as myself if it wasn't for, you know, friends and family helping me out to, you know, get me established and make the business look presentable, a lot of times they don't have the funding because the customers don't feel comfortable in the area, and it only takes more businesses to come in and to make the area look beautiful, to make people feel comfortable about coming, and that's the biggest issue, is just, you know, making the area look a little bit more beautiful, because the service is there, the quality of the products or the foods or whatever service they're providing is there, but if we don't get people to come into the area, feel comfortable with even stopping, then who'll know? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Thank you. Ms. Duclos: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Kenricvanal Grin: Hello. Chairman Gonzalez: Hi. Mr. Griffin: My name is Kenricvanal Griffin -- 11 letters in the name. I'm the president of Ken Lawn Service. I just want to thank you, Commissioners. Y'all don't know what y'all doing, but I'm letting you know the effect of what y'all doing is bringing me here today. By me being with Leroy, I mean, it's more than I can just say in words. Working with Ms. Jones, and she don't even know what she doing for me, butt see her all the time, but l want to thank you, and this my second year being here, and the opportunity to develop up and make the community better with landscaping, ah man, I can congratulate you, hug y'all a hundred times, man. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Thank you. Mr. Griffin: Thank you -- Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Mr. Griffin: -- very much. Chairman Gonzalez: Next. Vanessa Robertson: Hello. My name is Vanessa Robertson, owner of Vanessa's Cafe, located at 5820 Northwest 17th. I'm also a graduate of the micro program, and unfortunately, I wasn't approved this year, but I do need it because my business was severely impacted by the hurricane, andl was -- my business was damaged by water, and because ofMs. Spence and Leroy and also Ms. Barbara Gomez over here, I was approved, and now I'm asking to be approved -- considered for the approval of this one because I'm still in need. My business is still in need. City ofMiami Page 76 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Next. Leslie Moore: Hi. My name is Leslie Moore. I'm the owner of Moore's Grocery at 122 Northwest 14th Street. I also was awarded the last -- not the last grant; the grant before then, but this time I wasn't awarded for anything, but I would like for y'all to consider me to have, you know, this grant because I really need it -- with one of the business Overtown that really need the funding, andl really appreciate Sister Jones and Bro. Leroy for helping me, you know, get as far as I am now, so I want to consider you all to resider [sic] my -- that I really needs more to Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Ms. Moore: -- go on. Chairman Gonzalez: Anyone else? Mr. Jones: You know, Commissioner, I just want to say that think you all should be very proud of everybody approving the first portion of the ex -offenders program and the microenterprise program. We had 33 businesses graduated. That mean they had to take a nine -week's course at Miami -Dade College, and a lot of times they had to either close their business down or change they schedule to participate in the three-hour class -- the classes was three hours each day, nine weeks straight, and that don't have anything to do with the three weeks they had to take orientation, so I think y'all should be very proud of that. Matter of fact, we putting together a binder for you all so that you could see the pictures, the graduation, the disc that the college took, and l just want to thank Community Development, Ms. Rodriguez and your staff, for actually helping us push this process through and taking care of everything with the college. You know, it went so great. You would be proud of how it went, you know, and how many people here graduated? How many people in here graduated today? Stand up. See, all them graduated from the class, you know. Applause. Mr. Jones: Andl do know -- I just want to say to Ms. Rodriguez and Commissioner Spence [sic] that know, through this process, it will be business fall out, you know. It will be businesses that don't want to participate any longer, and that if we can take the money -- and I'm not talking about new money. I'm talking about money that comes back into the cycle and consider funding the businesses that finish the training last year, to reconsider giving them, let them share the money that's rolling over, I think it'll be great. It's only my suggestion, you know, and I'm hoping the Commissioner and Ms. Rodriguez will look at it, but I just want to thank Community Development, because I think with NANA, the Commissioner's office, and Community Development, once we got this thing formulated, it smooth -- it went real smooth and real quick, and everybody was satisfied and happy with the process. I thank you -- I just want to -- Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, Leroy. Mr. Jones: -- thank you all again. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Mr. Jones: Thank you, Commissioner. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes. City ofMiami Page 77 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Bennito Augustin: Yeah. My name is Bennito Augustin. I own a business on 6650 Northwest 7th Avenue, a car wash, andl been there for three years. I open it when I was 24, and I'm still holding on to it, andl could use y'all help right now. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Mr. Augustin: That's it. Chairman Gonzalez: Next. ErroldRichards: Hello. My name is Errold Richards, andl own a bakery on 62nd Street, 6549 62nd Street, andl just want to thank Leroy and Ms. Black and all the Commissioners them for the help that you trying to give to me, andl would like you all to approve my loan so that could put good showcase in my place to bring the customer to me on 62nd Street. Just want to say thank you all and -- Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Mr. Richards: God bless. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Anyone else? Yes, sir. Talmadge Frazier: Good afternoon. My name is Talmadge Frazier. I live at 201 Northwest 7th Street. I am the owner of Brother Frazier's Ribs. I just want to say thank you for the opportunity to participate. I'm a newcomer on the block, but will not be here for a long time. I just want to say thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Yes. Trena Gosier: Good evening. How you doing? My name is Trena. My business is located at 827 Northwest 62nd Street. I been in business since 2004. I been struggling. I'm a job placement center. I don't find temporary jobs. I try to find permanent jobs for the Liberty City, any -- Model City area, try to find them peo -- you know, jobs for peo -- community, andl appreciate if y'all recommend me. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Ms. Gosier: Thank you. Susan Braun: Hello. My name is Susan Braun. I reside at 45 Northwest 44th Street, andl would just like to thank NANA, Leroy Jones, the Commissioner, and my Commissioner, Spence -Jones, for continuing the help that -- to my neighborhood, and thank you for the recommendation. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Yes. Vernon Clark: Good afternoon. My name is Vernon Clark. I -- my former address is 3719 Thomas Avenue, in Coconut Grove, butl live at 1360 Northwest 98th Terrace. I'm more of the followed behind the esteemed critics of the City ofMiami, butt really, really, really, really, really like to take my hat off for the work that you all have been doing. I came in here really to see whether or not they was going to have a lynching of this young lady here, this young Cuban. She's done very well. You can't surprise -- other words, what I'm trying to tell you that you can't please everybody. We are the Ellis Island of the South. Do you know me, City ofMiami Page 78 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Gonzalez? Chairman Gonzalez: Of course, I do. Mr. Clark: Do you know who I am, and you know the person who I've been with for the last 20 years -- Chairman Gonzalez: Of course, I do. Mr. Clark: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but here in the City ofMiami, you all have set the proper predicate, and my Commissioner, my goodfriend -- I call him the detective over y'all because he looks at everything, but this young lady has been fair. My -- this young lady here has been super, so whatever you're doing, don't pay attention to the news media; continue doing the right thing. I have my FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations) number right now. IfI think something is wrong, and believe me, you know I'll do it. Chairman Gonzalez: Yeah. Mr. Clark: I will expose you, but this young lady, whatever happen, is something political circumstances, and I'm going to pray for her -- Chairman Gonzalez: When you say this young lady, you're referring to Ms. Gomez? Mr. Clark: Yes, sir. I -- Chairman Gonzalez: I thought so. Mr. Clark: -- Gomez. OK. Well, I don't want to look like we real, real, real good friends -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Mr. Clark: -- with me -- Chairman Gonzalez: That's good great. Mr. Clark: -- but this is a very tough job, Angel -- Commissioner, and my good friend, I'm praying for you, and thank you for allowing me to come. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Mr. Clark: God bless you. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Next. Nina West: Nina West, 3690 Avocado Avenue, and I'm a big fan of your micro loan program, and even if only one -- five businesses in a hundred make it, I was one of those five businesses years ago. I opened a restaurant in the City of New York, andl kept it going for twenty -some years till I got tired of it -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: So you succeeded, 25 years. Ms. West: -- so -- andl started with very little money, and my family helped me, so what want to ask about is when I'm looking at this, there is $715, 000 worth of allocated -- unallocated funds at the end of the notice that was in the paper, andl want to know what's going to happen to this City ofMiami Page 79 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 $715, 000? Vice Chairman Sanchez: I asked that question before. Answer it. Ms. Gomez: Number one, 624,000 are of District 2 that we're currently reviewing proposals, and Commissioner Sarnoff will be bringing that one in the first week of September, and there's an additional $91, 000 that is from District 5 that it's -- we are reviewing one of the proposals that got -- not -- were awarded funds and will be coming back in the first Commission in September. Ms. West: OK. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. That concludes the public hearing; brings it back to the Commission. Is there a motion on this item? Commissioner Sarnoff So move. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Second. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Discuss -- Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion and -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: I just want to have a comment. Vice Chairman Sanchez: I just -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- have a request; it'll be quick. Barbara, could you provide me with a list of all the facades that have been done in District 3, 206 [sic]/207 [sic] and funding? Ms. Gomez: Yes. I did get that request, andl have two things from your district. Number one, the list of facade from 2005/2006, from 2006/2007, and we're also going to be doing a microenterprise in District 3. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We -- Commissioner Sarnoff Barbara -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- ifI hear correctly, we had a motion, and we had a second; is that correct? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yeah. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Right. Ms. Burns: That's correct. Chairman Gonzalez: Commissioner Sarnoff. Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. I apologize, Mr. Chairman. Barbara, couldl get from you any City ofMiami Page 80 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 facade program you have in the downtown area? Chairman Gonzalez: I'm glad that you brought up that point. Commissioner Sarnoff OK. I just want to know when it was funded, andl want to know -- if you can go back three or four years, that'd be great. Ms. Gomez: OK. We will. Chairman Gonzalez: I believe -- andl don't know if I'm right or wrong -- the facade program in downtown was dissolved? Ms. Gomez: It was dissolved two years ago. Chairman Gonzalez: Andl believe that was the biggest mistake -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Mistake. Chairman Gonzalez: -- that anyone could have done in this Commission. Let me tell you. I went by downtown last week because I haven't been in downtown for the last -- probably the last couple of years, and I felt ashame, ashame of what I saw in downtown, you know. One of the things that I believe that should be implemented in downtown is, you know, those roll -up door - - Barbara, those roll -up doors. Instead of having those metal roll -up doors, they should have the type that is a grill. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Chairman Gonzalez: At least you see the light of the showcases. You see -- I mean, something different I mean downtown is terrible. It looks -- I -- let me tell you, I told me wife when I got home, I told her, I said you know what? I'm ashame of that downtown. Graffiti everywhere, you know, papers on the sidewalks. I mean -- andMr. Manager, we need to take care of business, because you know, we're expecting people to buy in downtown the new condos with that type of environment. Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah, andMr. Chairman, whatl did actually with my wife and one -- someone from my office, on Sunday, we actually took the Metrorail down to MAM (Miami Art Museum), Miami Museum ofArt -- to visit Miami Museum ofArt, and then we walked directly from Miami Museum ofArt down Flagler to see the $10 million street improvement program on Flagler, and then from there, we walked to Bicentennial Park, so we walked all up and down Biscayne Boulevard, and it is unique to see Miami from the foot versus the car, and it reminded me of the Indian with his -- tear in his eye when I grew up. That used to indicate pollution, and there was plenty of that, and you know, I'm going to take ownership of the problem because I'm the District 2 Commissioner, and with the grace of God, I'll be back here after November, and if I sit here in front of you and it looks like that the following November, then you should criticize me, because regardless of what we're doing, we're not doing it right. I don't care what you call it; whether you call it microenterprise, whether you call it facade. Whatever it is we're doing, we're not getting it right, and we're not getting it's right from our end, and our end of the streets and the sidewalks, whether we decide that it right to go to the private owners, and whether you think it's appropriate to pay or provide a program to somebody who is an absentee landlord you know, in Washington D.C. (District of Columbia), and whether it's a trust -- because I started looking into all these buildings -- obviously, they don't care what their buildings look like. They take no pride in ownership. They take no pride in allowing it to look the way it looks, so I will take ownership of that problem. That is District 2's problem. We are not getting it right. We are getting it absolutely wrong. The Lerner building is a classic example of how City ofMiami Page 81 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 the City ofMiami has worked for the better part of 20 years. For 17 years that place has been closed. For four and a half years that roof has collapsed, and yet, we askMacy's to stay downtown next to a building whose roof is collapsed, whose water is invading their basement, and who now has a mold problem, and we say to them, please, stay; we're going to get this right. When? When are we going to get this right? How are we going to get this right? I again say to you, Mr. Manager, I know there's a carrot and a stick approach, but if you don't start carrying a stick, we will go nowhere in the City ofMiami. Until you start enforcing liens, until you allocate to the City Attorney and we find out if it's him that's not getting it done; until we start foreclosing on our liens and start acting like a city that cares and a city that acts, walks tall, and with some dignity and actually says, you will comply; we'll go nowhere, and that's best illustrated on Flagler Street and best illustrated on Miami Avenue, where we have three sidewalks closed for no apparent reason for construction. Don't know why they're closed, andl don't know if the new program of street closures applies to them, but I don't know how a person in a wheelchair gets through downtown. They just can't do it. Pedro G. Hernandez (City Manager): Mr. Chairman, ifI may, on the -- Commissioner Sarnoff, on the Lerner issue, I know we have taken the route of unsafe structures. We've taken it to the County board. It's a slow process. They have six months to develop a set of plans, apply for a permit; six months to construct. The foreclosure process on the Code enforcement lien, it's going to be slow. I've talked to the City Attorney. We're pursuing injunctive relief. In essence, I told them, I want to take Lerner to court because to me, it's an embarrassment, the damage that they're causing to the downtown area, to the environment, to the pedestrians; the stink, the smell, and also hurting another major tenant, so I think -- I want to take it before a judge and bypass -- I mean, if unsafe structures works down the road, fine, but I need something to happen today -- Commissioner Sarnoff I agree. Mr. Hernandez: -- and I'm fed up with that, so I'm going into court on that matter. Commissioner Sarnoff And if the judge -- and Mr. Manager, if the judge grants them that time, let's make the announcement of the judge's name. Let's let everybody know what judge that is that's decided -- let's get it out of our hands into somebody else's so we can say we've done everything we can possibly do. Mr. Hernandez: We have to push as much as we can and as hard as we can, andl do agree with the, you know, downtown appearance comments. I mean, I'll be next to you working and developing ideas to improve it. It's got to be better. Ms. Gomez: Commissioner -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- I just -- I do have -- Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- a comment. I just want to just add, first of all, I want to thank Barbara Rodriguez and her whole team, From a District 5 perspective, and most of the folks here that really know Barbara's operation knows that she goes above and beyond the call of duty to make sure not only the businesses, but the organizations in the area have support, andl just think it's important for us to acknowledge that, and I just want to say to you just keep your City ofMiami Page 82 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 head up, Barbara, and don't focus on anything else but what you need to do, which is delivering to the people. That's your position and that's what you need to focus your energies on. Applause. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I also want to say that just based upon -- you know, it's been a very challenging issue for me sitting in this seat trying to really provide support to businesses within my district and trying to find creative ways to not just give them money that goes to waste, but give them money to help them truly sustain themselves. I think that we've put together great initiatives, through NANA, through CD (Community Development), through the fast -track program, and those that are getting funded again this year will have to go through the second phase of that. I really pride myself in trying to create an environment or an atmosphere where that we can have a sustaining community that goes beyond me being a Commissioner. I do everything in my district, and most of the folks sitting out here -- that's why I want to be real clear about issues. I support every single business I can in my district. I wash my car in the district. I do my hair in my district. I dry my clothes in the district. I do everything thatl can to support these businesses, because it's very difficult already for them to be in a position, as Commissioner Sarnoff stated earlier, that you can start a business, but to sustain it and keep it going is a whole nother issue, and in an area like Overtown and Liberty City, some of these communities that we talked about, where we know that, in some of these neighborhoods, it is almost as if a bomb that has been dropped -- has been dropped in those particular communities; Liberty City being one, where people have actually been pushed out or been displaced much by government, so it is our responsibility, it is my responsibility, as an elected official, to do whatever it takes to make sure that we support these businesses, and to just make sure that we're there to help them grow, so I just want to make sure on my end, Barbara, we want to make sure that any of the funding that comes from District 5 -- again, anybody that receives funds for this upcoming cycle, that they participate in the second phase of fast -track because I think that it's important. Those businesses -- I think there was a miscommunication on how the message got out. Somehow, one of the things thatl really wanted to have happen this year is that those businesses that got funded last year got funded again this year only so that we could give them a two-year cycle to help them sustain themself [sic] and then move on to other businesses, and I'm not really sure what happened on that -- that way. I don't know if it was a notification issue or whatever the case may be, but we will try to work with people, like Vanessa [sic] Cafe, that is really finally getting her business up and back running again, and you've had opportunity to eat there yourself and know that it's a great place in Liberty City to eat, but whatever dollars thatl have -- may have, I would like to definitely see those be reprogrammed to assist those businesses that didn't get the second round because they need it. You know, you get a push, and then after you get that push, then you get dropped. It's almost as if you didn't get it at all, so you kind of need that second wind, so whatever we can do on that end, and then FANM, which is my Haitian -based organization. We all know Marlene Bastien has been fighting for many of the businesses in the Little Haiti area, and making sure that they survive, so I know that this -- I think, again, was a notification issue of people not really understanding the message in the paper. It was done differently this time. If there's any way that -- Ms. Gomez: We will. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- whatever dollars I have, I want to make sure that they have the money to provide the technical assistance, because we truly do need it by the Little Haiti Park, and that -- with that being said, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me to speak, andl thank every single last one of your businesses for taking out the time to come out and speak. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. City ofMiami Page 83 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Applause. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Call the question. Chairman Gonzalez: SP.19. Ms. Gomez: You haven't voted on the -- 17. Commissioner Spence -Jones: We -- I thought we did. Vice Chairman Sanchez: No. Chairman Gonzalez: On the 18? Yeah, we did. Vice Chairman Sanchez: No, not 17. Chairman Gonzalez: I'm sorry, 17. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Do you have a motion on that one? Chairman Gonzalez: We have a -- Ms. Burns: We have a motion and a second, but no vote. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Call the question. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chairman Gonzalez: Those opposed have the same right. SP.18 07-00668 RESOLUTION Department of Community Development A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM ("CDBG") FUNDS, FROM FISCAL YEAR 2007-2008 CDBG HOUSING ACTIVITIES, IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000, TO SUNSHINE FOR ALL, INC., AND IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000, TO THE ALLAPATTAH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $120,000, FOR THE PROVISION OF INSPECTION SERVICES. 07-00668 Legislation.pdf 07-00668 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00668 Summary Form.pdf 07-00668 Public Notice.pdf DEFERRED Note for the Record: The item was deferred to the City Commission meeting currently scheduled for July 10, 2007. SP.19 07-00666 RESOLUTION City ofMiami Page 84 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Department of Community Development A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY") ANNUAL PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY ("PHA") PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007, IN CONNECTION WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY'S SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER PROGRAM; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT THE ANNUAL PHA PLAN, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ("U.S. HUD"), FOR THE CITY'S CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN SAID PROGRAM; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THE SUBMISSION OF THE CITY'S PHA PLAN TO U.S. HUD. 07-00666 Legislation.pdf 07-00666 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00666 Exhibit 2.pdf 07-00666 Summary Form.pdf 07-00666 Public Notice.pdf Motion by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez and Spence -Jones Absent: 1 - Commissioner Regalado R-07-0316 Chairman Gonzalez: SP.19. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): SP.19 is approving the City ofMiami Annual Public Housing Agency Plan and submitting it to U.S. HUD (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) for their approval. Vice Chairman Sanchez: So move. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a motion. Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff Second. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a second. Anyone from the public that wants to speak on the item, please come forward Seeing none, hearing none, the public hearing is closed. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. [Later..] Commissioner Spence -Jones: Just -- Chairman Gonzalez: Any other business? Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- to SP.19. I just wanted to add -- this is -- we already voted on this -- Section 8 Housing situation, the Section program. We're still going to work on the Overtown ones to make sure that we get -- is that included in this? Ms. Gomez: SP.20. You do have 66 housing that those are the ones that we're working with the City ofMiami Page 85 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 landlord to make sure that he fix up the building -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Ms. Gomez: -- and we can help him. Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: So we're going to that SP.20 now? Ms. Gomez: That's SP. 20 -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Ms. Gomez: -- andl don't think you have voted on that one. That's the last one. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Is it? Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Any other business? Vice Chairman Sanchez: I thought -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: We haven't -- Ms. Gomez: Oh, you did? OK. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- voted yet. Chairman Gonzalez: On what? Ms. Gomez: OK. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. Chairman. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yeah. We voted on 20. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Number 20. No. We did 20 -- we did 19. We just did 19. Pamela E. Burns (Assistant City Clerk): We show a vote on 19 and 20. Ms. Gomez: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: We voted on 19 -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: Oh, we did both of them? Chairman Gonzalez: -- and 20. SP.20 07-00689 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE Community ACCEPTANCE OF SECTION 8 MODERATE REHABILITATION HOUSING Development PROGRAM FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,670,000, FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND IN THE AMOUNT OF $434,000, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $5,104,000, FROM FISCAL City ofMiami Page 86 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 YEAR 2007 ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. 07-00689 Legislation.pdf 07-00689 Summary Form.pdf 07-00689 Public Notice.pdf Motion by Vice -Chairman Sanchez, seconded by Commissioner Spence -Jones, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez and Spence -Jones Absent: 1 - Commissioner Regalado R-07-0317 Chairman Gonzalez: SP.20 -- Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): SP.20 -- Chairman Gonzalez: -- is accepting -- Ms. Gomez: -- is approval to accept Section 8 mod rehab housing program funds, in the amount of four million, six seventy for rental assistant [sic], and 434, 000 for administration, for a total of five million, one hundred and four. Chairman Gonzalez: Is there a motion? Vice Chairman Sanchez: So move. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a motion. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Second. Chairman Gonzalez: Is there a second? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Discussion. Chairman Gonzalez: We have a second. Anyone from the public that wants to speak on the item? Commissioner Spence -Jones: Except for me. Chairman Gonzalez: Seeing none, hearing none, the public hearing is closed. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Commissioner Spence -Jones: I do have -- Chairman Gonzalez: Barbara, I also want to take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything that you have done as a director of Community Development for the people in my district. I want to thank you on behalf of the many, many families that have been able to have a secure roof over their heads, thanks to Community Development, and thanks to your work and your leadership in that agency. I also want to thank you, on behalf of the hundreds and hundreds of businessmen and women in Allapattah, that thanks to the facade program of the City ofMiami and your continued support, have been able to improve their buildings, and by improving the appearance of the buildings, they've been able to improve their City ofMiami Page 87 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 businesses and to improve the corridor, so on behalf of all the people in my district, who have a lot of respect for you, and in my name, I want to thank you, and I want to commend you for the work that you have been doing and that you continue to do for this City. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Here, here. Chairman Gonzalez: OK. Ms. Gomez: Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff Barbara -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: I -- Commissioner Sarnoff -- could l just say something? Ms. Gomez: Yes, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff On behalf of District 2 and from a very uneducated CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) Commissioner, you have worked arduously and faithfully to me in educating me on CDBG and how it works and what it can do. I've only known you to be a truthful and honest person, and you have been sort of my educator, and I want to thank you, on behalf of District 2, for at least getting me halfway up -to -speed with my other Commissioners as to how these programs work, andl look forward to working with you for the long-term future. Ms. Gomez: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. SP.21 07-00695 RESOLUTION Department of A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), Community AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO CONVEY, WITH PARCEL Development REVERTER PROVISIONS, CERTAIN CITY OF MIAMI OWNED PARCELS OF LAND DIRECTLY TO THE DEVELOPERS, AS DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR SAID PURPOSE. 07-00695 Legislation.pdf 07-00695 Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00695 Summary Form.pdf DEFERRED Note for the Record: The item was deferred to the City Commission meeting currently scheduled for July 10, 2007. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Hey, any time you play for the major league -- Chairman Gonzalez: We need a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Spence -Jones: No, no, no, Mr. Chairman. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hit with a fastball. City ofMiami Page 88 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Commissioner Spence -Jones: Two seconds. I know we're going home. I just -- remember I said there was an item earlier that we pulled, but I do want to just at least bring it. I want to make sure I put it on the record so we don't have any confusion. I'm learning how to do this. This -- you know, this has been very interesting, but I -- I'm learning how to put stuff on the record. Madam City Attorney, on the item that we just pulled, it's going to come back to us, and these are -- this is in reference to parcels of land that we have in Liberty City that we put out to bid. I have two questions. The first question for you is because -- it was brought to my attention -- again, I wasn't involved in choosing where land went because that was done between staff and Liberty City Trust, but my question is, first, if -- in -- whatever the selected organizational group that gets the land or gets -- referred the land, does -- if that -- is there anybody in that particular organization is a member or a close relative of me, as a Commissioner, is that a conflict? That's number one. Number two is ifI am a member of that organization, meaning the neighborhood association that is a part of a land that's being transferred is that a conflict? Want to ask the question because I don't want it to come up, you know, as an issue later on, but I want to be very clear because I don't need no [sic] issues. Julie O. Bru (Deputy City Attorney): Commissioner, I'll contact your office to get the specific details and then issue a written opinion as to whether or not there would be a voting conflict. Commissioner Spence -Jones: OK. Can we have that before it comes back -- Ms. Gomez: Yes. Ms. Bru: Of course. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- so that we don't have any issues -- Ms. Bru: Of course. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- andl don't have --? All right. Thankyou so much, Mr. Chairman. Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): Thankyou. Chairman Gonzalez: You're done? Ms. Gomez: Yes. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Yes. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. City ofMiami Page 89 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 SP.22 07-00754 Department of Employee Relations RESOLUTION RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), RATIFYING THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS, BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI AND THE EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, AFL-CIO, LOCAL 587, FOR THE PERIODS OF OCTOBER 1, 2004 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 AND OCTOBER 1, 2007 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2010. 07-00754-Legisl ati on. pdf 07-00754-Exhibit 1.pdf 07-00754-Exhibit 2.pdf 07-00754-Summary Form.pdf 07-00754-Memo. pdf Motion by Commissioner Regalado, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner Gonzalez, Sarnoff, Sanchez, Regalado and Spence -Jones R-07-0298 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Let's take the SP.22, ratifying the Fire -Rescue Union contract. Mr. City Manager. Pedro G. Hernandez (City Manager): Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, after a lot of hard work by both the fire union, represented by their president, Robert Suarez, and also Tom Gabriel, and our staff led by Hector Mirable and Michelle Piha, we were able to reach an agreement on their fire contract union. It's one that I think is fair. It's similar to the police contract that was approved over a month ago, and it's one that is developing two contracts; one that runs from October 1, '04 through September 30, '07, and the second contract that goes from October 1, '07 through September 30, 2010. As you can see, this contract had been, I would say, expired for close to two years and nine months, and I'm very pleased that we're able to work with the union. I do appreciate their efforts, and we finally got to the point that we can bring it to you for ratification. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you. Good morning. Robert Suarez: Robert Suarez, president, Miami Firefighters, 2980 Northwest South River Drive. Mr. Chairman, Commission, City Manager, and Mr. City Attorney, like Mr. Hernandez said, this has been a long process. I want to thank you all for your patience and the Administration for working with us through this endeavor. I'd like to thank my membership for hanging in there for close to three years of negotiating. I think we came up with a package that was equitable for the employees and for the City, andl -- once again, I thank you all for your patience in hanging in there and let us -- letting us work through this all. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, thank you. All right. Is there any motion? Yes, Commissioner Regalado. Commissioner Regalado: I'll move to approve, but I'd like to make a comment. Chairman Gonzalez: Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff I'll second. City ofMiami Page 90 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: All right. We have a motion, and we have a second. Discussion. Commissioner Regalado, you're recognized. Commissioner Regalado: Well, number one, I want to thank the Administration and the union for coming together, but there is an issue that is underlying here this morning, which is, number one, the special session of the State Legislature, and number two, the proposal by State Representative Julio Robaina to consolidate all fire departments into one, and I'm a little concerned about the response time, and ifI understand it well, the proposal means that the City ofMiami Fire Department will have to go out of the City limits to respond to other areas and needs. Have that been explained to you, or do you know what is the proposal about? Mr. Suarez: You're speaking of the proposal for consolidation -- Commissioner Regalado: Yeah. Mr. Suarez: -- of the fire services? That's not a proposal or process that we've been involved in directly. I've had some discussions with other union presidents, other fire administrations, brief but we have definitely not been a process of -- involved in the process with Representative Robaina. It's a very complex issue that's not new at all, I'm sure. Most of the Commissioners here have been here long enough to have heard issues like this come up before with consolidation of services. It's very complex, but I'll tell you that, for the most part, we wouldn't be asked to consolidate to necessarily improve services in the City ofMiami. It would be to assist Dade County in providing services countywide -- Chairman Gonzalez: Right. Mr. Suarez: -- shifting resources around for the most part. We don't believe that right now that's necessary. It would definitely remove some service from the City. Chairman Gonzalez: From the City. Mr. Suarez: If at some point, that becomes something that the City decides needs to be done as a possibility in the future, we can never ignore that, but right now, that -- I believe that proposal's a little premature at the moment. Commissioner Regalado: OK. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Any other Commissioners? Vice Chairman Sanchez: Marc? Chairman Gonzalez: Commissioner Sarnoff? No. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, I agree that the service that the firemen and police officers that provide are top priorities in the City, and of course, the residents deserve the best possible service we can provide. I am glad to see that finally, after three years, we do have a contract in front of us for our approval. However, after reviewing the contract in itself -- andl think the contract is worthy of what they deserve. I am looking at the plan that's in front of us, which is called the -- which is subject to and it has to be approved by the Board -- Pension Board -- is the 20 percent write-up method. Could you explain that a little bit of how that's going to be handled and the process that it's going to take? Mr. Suarez: Yes. I think the 20 percent write-up method that you're speaking about is a part of City ofMiami Page 91 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 what I'll refer to as the pension stabilization portion of our contract. One of the ideas the union had come up with was to change the actuarial asset valuation of the plan, whereas at the moment, we do a five-year averaging. We had been -- at the moment, we do a five-year averaging. We had been doing a three-year averaging, at the City's request some years ago when the market took a slump. We had agreed, at the City's request, to change to a five-year smoothing. Well, that has kept us -- that has held some baggage in terms of the value -- the market value of our assets has held that baggage longer than it should, so as part of the entire proposal and settlement on the pension issue was a proposal for us to petition the Pension Board, which is an independent body aside from the City and even of the union, to make changes to include that 20 percent write-up, so that is something that it -- and actually, it's a process that has been ongoing independent of our negotiations with the City Administration, the Pension Board, their actuary. The City actually hired an actuary to be the City's spokeperson [sic] and expert, and that's a process been ongoing and will continue beyond -- into the future, but it does include the idea of a 20 percent write-up, which changes that averaging for the smoothing of the pension, which is just one of those pieces in the puzzle. Vice Chairman Sanchez: And although we do have a great responsibility to you and the people that work in the City, we also have a responsibility to the taxpayers of the City ofMiami to look at trying to find a solution to problems to our pension that continues to be alarming not only on local government but nationwide. Now what -- maybe you would be the person to answer this, or maybe Tom, who is the chair of the FIPO (Firefighters and Police Officers) Board, who's here -- what -- maybe, Tom, you could come up and answer this question? What would happen if that 20 percent write-up method is not approved? Mr. Suarez: Well, as the union -- what I can explain to you is that the 20 percent write-up is a part of the plan. It's not the basis for the stabilization plan -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: I -- Mr. Suarez: -- but it is part that we understand -- it makes sense, and as the union, we will be lobbying with the City to the Pension Board to make those changes. I think that the chairman, Tom Gabriel, can mention, at least, from his perspective, but it is -- the Pension Board in itself is an independent body, but we have -- in the meetings we've had with the Pension Board in discussions we've had with them and their actuary, I think they're on board with the idea and how this does make sense, but I'll let Tom -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: But before you -- Mr. Suarez: -- speak on it. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- do that, Tom, I think it's important -- Mr. Manager, I would yield to you as soon as I'm done here -- to show that we are working together to try to find a solution to this pension crisis that exists not only in our city, but throughout the nation. If -- it's important to address this 20 percent write-up as to what significant savings it'll bring to the City if your board approves it. If your board approves it, it's a savings of $14 million this year, and possibly, $14 million next year. That's a savings of $28 million, working towards a plan to cap the pension at a 30 to 30 [sic] percent. I think it's important, as we address this, the fiduciary responsibility that we have, to let people that are here know that we're working together, and let the people that are watching Television [sic] 77, our television, know that we are working to find a solution to this because -- I mean -- you know, I want you to elaborate a little bit on that because I think it's important for us to send that message out. Mr. Suarez: Right, andl think the -- as I mentioned, the 20 percent write-up is just a part of that, and actually, the savings don't necessarily come with the 20 percent write-up. They come City ofMiami Page 92 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 with what's referred to as a reinitialization, and it's a separate idea than the 20 percent write-up. That's where the savings come in. The Pension Board has -- the pension fund has an enormous amount of money that right now is not being recognized because of that smoothing, but the 20 percent write-up is the first step -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: But let's keep it -- Mr. Suarez: -- and then the reinitialization. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- simple. Let's keep it simple. If the board approves it, it's a savings to the City of $28 million -- approximately 28 million. Mr. Suarez: Over two years. That's correct. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Over two years. Is that correct? Mr. Suarez: Yes. Absolutely, and that's very important to us. We know that's part of the process, the first step in stabilizing the City's costs. Vice Chairman Sanchez: And the next step would be the pension stabilization fund. Mr. Suarez: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right, and that -- after reading all these documents -- and there were a lot of documents on this -- that would take you guys -- when is it, October 1, 208 [sic]? Mr. Suarez: October 1, 2008 is our first deadline. We have like a tiered approach to that process. We don't want to give up at a certain date. This is an endeavor that we want to -- this is as much forever as we can make it, so it's a process that continues, but our first commitment deadline is Oct -- is September 30, 2008 for putting this process together, and the City, and the Pension Board, and the unions coming to an agreement on -- Vice Chairman Sanchez: Well -- Mr. Suarez: -- the details of that. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- let me tell you why it's so important for us to all be in the same sheet of music here as always. I think the word that we look for is predictability. If you look at the past years -- and I'm not going to mention the numbers, but the numbers are alarming as to the contributions to -- from the pension that we pay. This year, if I'm not mistaken, our total cost would have been $61 million contribution, which would have been 54 million coming from the City; 7 from the employees, making a total of $61 million, so the word that we want to look here is predictability and as to the future, andl think that no one -- I've always said this -- andl think no one wants to kill the goose that lays the golden egg -- is to make sure that we work together to be able to pass that 20 percent write-up method, which is called a smoothie -- smoothing? Mr. Suarez: In general terms, it's a type of smoothing effect. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Smoothing -- Mr. Suarez: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: -- effect, and the other one would be the pension stabilization fund, City ofMiami Page 93 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 which will probably lead us to what we want to get, which will be where we would have a cap of 30 to 37 percent, and I think that's more within a fair market, where we could have a predictability as to when we prepare our budgets, which is one of the most important things that we do, and we're coming up on that process soon, is to make sure that we're able to project into the future so we're able to meet our obligations, and of course, the last thing we want to do is have employees that are unhappy. We want to make sure that our employees are happy and they receive fair compensation for what they do, but once again, I think the most important thing is that we do have an obligation to you, but we also have an obligation to the taxpayers of the City ofMiami, so having said that, I just wanted to make sure that you put on the record that we are working towards that June 20, 207 [sic] FIPO board meeting, and Tom, you're the chair, so I'd like to hear from you as to what you think would happen at that board. Tom Gabriel: Tom Gabriel, 2980 Northwest South River Drive. I apologize for the casualness of the clothes. I wasn't expecting to speak. Mr. Commissioner, you bring up a great point. The City and the firefighters and the police officers, the Commission, and the Pension Board all have an interrelated life. We do not want to cost out the costs that have been going on in the pension fund They're alarming and outrageous, and we've agreed with that statement all along, and what we've done is worked with your staff and administration and your experts with the FIPO plan and with the union experts, and we've come up with a very unique and innovative way -- andl think, quite honestly, you will -- we will be in the paper for good things, as compared to bad things moving forward. This will be the first of its kind that we know of of a stabilization fund, and the basis of this stabilization fund -- although it's probably taken a lot of money to develop -- is very simple. In good years, you save money, and in bad years, you go into that savings and pay for it, and we've come up with a way, on a City level and a FIPO plan, to do that, and we -- we're going to work diligently on making that happen, and in fact, we have suffered through many meetings of actuaries and actuarial terminology, and it's -- it can be quite difficult, but we have a meeting set up for the 20th, which was the first meeting that we could do after we found out from the State -- and we're still claming some of those issues, but nevertheless, they seem to be pretty clear that we're going to move forward on this on the 20th. We just have to deal with sitting through the actuary's suggestions. We're all on the same page, as you had mentioned. The staff has been great, as well as the FIPO staff. The issue with the FIPO in itself -- you had mentioned the $60 million. The comparison to, say, the FRS (Federal Revenue Sharing) would be 34 or 35 million, and yet, you can't ignore what's happened just a couple years back. The City ofMiami was paying one while the FRS was paying 25 and 26, so in fact, what FRS has done -- just going into it -- is they created their own stabilization fund by overcharging before. It's a much smarter system, to be honest with you, to keep your payments level, even if they're higher than what other people are paying originally, but so that when bad years, you don't have that swing from 1.6 to 60 million, and that is just outrageous, and that's why we've been working hard to fix that, so I'm pretty confident -- I'm extremely confident that on the 20th, we'll resolve the first part of this puzzle. The savings, as you had mentioned, should be $28 million over the next two years. Those savings certainly will bring us down into the closer to 40 percent, and from there, we've promised and committed, as part of this contract, to get us to the level that the City wants, and just knowing that, in the future, if it goes back down under that 34 percent, you'll be saving money. It won't be gone to anybody; you might be still putting it into the fund but you'll use it in future years, either yourselves, or ten years from now when we need it, so I hope that helps. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Yeah, it does. This question is towards the Administration, and that's the deadline for September 30, 208 [sic] for the FIPO COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) fix. Could you put in the record exactly as to what that pertains to and how we benefit from it, or could you just provide information pertaining to this? Hector Mirable: Yes, Commissioner. Hector Mirable, chief negotiator/deputy director, Employee Relations. The actual COLA fix in itself is a three-part plan; it's the 20 percent City ofMiami Page 94 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 smoothing method, the PSF, which is the Pension Stablization Fund, and also the funding mechanism for the COLA and also the FIPO general fund itself. All those three are intertwined. There is various elements, known as the Gate Settlement, that is intertwined, which are retirees, so what we've engaged is the two actuarials, the FIPO actuary and the City's actuaries, to develop a plan that is amenable to both parties, the FIPO -- well, to all parties; FIPO Board, retirees, the two unions, and the City so that not only do we stabilize the fund, but at the same time, we reduce the amount of unfunded liability, which is currently in the ballpark of approximately $131 million in the FIPO pension itself, so those are all major targets. I think we're all very receptive that it's going to be done because it needs to be done, and it's just the methodology of how do we do it without adversely impacting our retirees and future retirees. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. What would happen if there's no fix by September 30, 208 [sic]? Mr. Mirable: The first event that would take place would be that the -- for the firefighters, they automatically -- because -- if this contract gets approved by the Commission -- is that we increase the employee contribution by one percent. If it -- and what that equates to is an approximate -- now, these are my rough -- it's an accountant's view -- estimates. This is not an actuarially based item, but it's approximate savings of $1 million, so that the contribution would be an increase of $1 million for both the Fire and Police, because they're combined. If they don't meet the target date, by 30 September 2009, which is the next target date in the IFF [sic] contract, two things occur; an additional one percent to a total of nine percent employee contribution goes into effect, and the rule of 64, which is the points that the firefighters and/or police currently use, but for -- in this case, we're speaking to the firefighters, goes from 64 to 68. That gives us an approximate savings of two to four percent, so combined with the additional previous two percent, it's an additional six percent. We put that in ballpark dollar or round number, and it's a savings of approximately 4 to $8 million, and again, the wide spread is because it's actuary numbers and it's hard to pinpoint. The third one is if, by 30 September 2010, we don't fix the FIPO COLA event, then the employee contribution increases by another one percent, total of ten percent now, the 64 to 68 remains, and very critical here is the final average -- currently, the final is the final highest year's pay, pensionable pay for a firefighter. This would go to the highest two -- the average of the highest two years of a firefighter's pay, and that would generate, when you put all those combined, a approximate savings of somewhere in the ballpark between 7 and $11 million. Again, that's just with these items that we just mentioned. The actual -- as Tom alluded to and President Sanchez [sic] alluded to -- was that the FIPO COLA fix is very -- it's instrumental that that 20 percent smoothing and the write-up method is enacted on 20 -- on the 20th of this month because that immediately starts the generation of a reduction of 20 percent for future years, plus it gives us the 14 and 14 million, so that's important because we want to drop it to below -- to 37 percent or below, very critical, and as we alluded to and the union has alluded to, the PSF is also important because that's one of the few methods you can -- to stabilize the fund, aside from the 20 percent write-up or in the smoothing method. Vice Chairman Sanchez: All right. Thank you. Having said that -- and just in closing, once again, I do want to praise all those that have sat at the table, and I've had the experience to do both, between the Administration and the Fire Department, and all the other unions that have been able to work out a contract. This is a -- the first step of a very short journey that we could all work together to really focus on what is the best overall interest of all of us because this is not a City issue, or it's not a union issue. It's really about all of us, and clearly, who we represent. Whether you wear a uniform, or we wear a suit, or -- we all work for the City, and we all work for the taxpayers, and they're -- I don't have to tell you; they want a tax break, and they're looking for one in Tallahassee, and hopefully, they'll get one -- a relief from this pension, so having said that, Mr. Chair, I think would yield now to the City Manager, who wanted to say something. City ofMiami Page 95 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Mr. Hernandez: I think that it's been said, I think, very clearly so far. The issue of the change in valuation method is separate from the specific contract. However, it deals with the FIPO Board that oversees Fire and Police, and it was an idea that we initiated some months back -- I think it was originated by Fire -- and something that is supported by the Department, andl know that they and Police will help us before the FIPO Board in making that happen. I think that both Fire and Police are being very, I would say, involved in understanding the predicaments that the City is and will be in reference to budgetary concerns, and have been looking for ways to assist in setting up the City in a fiscally sound way towards the future. Chairman Gonzalez: Commissioner Sarnoff. Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. I -- not having completely understood the trigonometry lesson I was just provided by Hector Mirable. Mr. City Manager -- andl want to make sure everybody out there understands this -- you are the chief negotiator on behalf of the City, and you are recommending to us this fire contract, correct? Mr. Hernandez: Yes, I am, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff And you've obviously committed hours and hours of your resources with Hector Mirable and Michelle Pina in negotiating this contract, correct? Mr. Hernandez: Yes, I have. Commissioner Sarnoff And just so everybody understands out there, the City Commissioners are not involved in that process. We are not the negotiators. We are brought the packaged, based on your recommendation, and it is today your recommendation that this is in the best interest of the City, as well as the Fire Department, and speaking more specifically of their employee contracts, for us to approve this contract; correct? Mr. Hernandez: Yes. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Are you cross-examining the City Manager? Commissioner Sarnoff No. I want everybody to understand -- because I didn't quite understand the trigonometry lesson we were just given with the 14 million subject to the 58 million, which could be reduced by the 28 million. They're all nice numbers, and they all sound very palatable and very good. I don't want anybody getting the impression that we were the primary negotiators of this. Vice Chairman Sanchez: No. Commissioner Sarnoff I want the impression -- Well, I want it specifically said for the record that our City Manager, that has been chosen by this Commission, has determined that this is in our best financial interest; that he has spent hours and hours of negotiating on behalf of the City, and that the Fire Department has spent hours and hours of negotiating on behalf of its employees, and this is where we arrived, and we think this is the best deal for all sides available. I just want to make it very clear to everybody that I think there are people that believe that there are City Commissioners who are involved in this process. Our involvement starts and pretty much ends right here, based upon your recommendations, Mr. City Manager. Mr. Hernandez: Commissioner, I've been working on this item, on and off, for the last close to 11 months, since day one at the City. City ofMiami Page 96 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Chairman Gonzalez: Andl believe our involvement has been to make sure that the union members and the City Administration meet with an open mind, with a desire to come up with a good contract for both the union and the City, and that's what we've been doing from this dais, is encouraging for meeting to occur, for having an open mind, and for trying to work to find solutions. That has been our involvement. Commissioner Sarnoff And that's all wanted the record to reflect, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Mr. -- Chairman Gonzalez: Commissioner Spence -Jones. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- Chairman, my statement is really just a very basic one for the City Manager. Just based upon what's happening -- First of all, I want to commend, once again, your staff -- Mr. Hernandez: Thank you. Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- and all of you for working together to finally get it done. I see now we have Police and we have Fire completed, and hopefully, we should be well on our way with Solid Waste. Mr. Hernandez: That item should be before you in two days. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Wonderful, so we -- at that point, everyone should be covered and everybody should be happy. My only concern is, based upon what's happening in Tallahassee with the property taxes, what impact will this have on the overall contract? Andl think it's important to say it because there has been a lot of fear that has been circulating throughout, I'm sure, all of our districts with the property taxes issues happening, and the fear of a loss of services from Police and Fire because of this, but I'd like for you to, at least, put on the record what impact this would have, if any. Mr. Hernandez: Well, I think, first of all, I would like to say that I feel the employees are -- Fire Department is more than deserving in having a contract. They've been without one for two years and nine months, and was asked, you know, why do it at this point in time where you have something hanging over your head, you have a cloud as to what may happen as a result of tax reform, but I felt that this was something that we had to deal with first. They deserved it, and I think that we have to move forward with a good marriage of management and labor, in this case. In looking to tax reform in Tallahassee, it continues to change on a daily basis, and we continue to do a lot of -- maybe not trig. (trigonometry), but a lot of exercises trying to calculate the impact. Hopefully, we'll know more maybe by the end of this week or early next week as to what the impact will be, and at that time, we'll develop plans to accommodate to the new numbers, keeping in mind the essential services the City must continue to provide; services like fire, like police, like solid waste, et cetera, et cetera, and once we know the actual impact, we'll be bringing back to you more detailed information as to how we plan to address it. Commissioner Spence -Jones: Thank you, Mr. Manager. I just wanted to make sure you put that on the record for those that are not only here, but those that are watching. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. All have to add is that I'm very pleased to see that finally the Administration and the union has been able to come up with a good contract for the City and for the firefighters, andl want to thank both of you for doing exactly what I was saying recently; City ofMiami Page 97 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 to go into a meeting with an open mind with a desire of -- it's a process of give and take, and you have achieved that, and Mr. Manager, I know that was after you for three or four months urging you to finally meet with the firefighters and come up with a contract and with an agreement, and as I told you, you know, what you need to do is to go into a room and don't come out of that room until you achieve a solution to a problem, you know. Running away from the contract, running away from the problem wasn't going to solve anything because, eventually, you'll have to face the situation, so listen, I told you, you know, go in a room; take a week. Just go out to have lunch and do whatever you need to do; come back to that room, and you know, and conclude, and I'm happy to see today that finally the firefighters have a contract. They deserve it, as you said, andl hope that never again we keep our employees without a contract for almost three years. I mean, that's absurd. That's totally absurd. We need to be proactive, and we need to start working on future contracts with enough time that when the contract expire, we have a new contract in place, or we be very close to achieving a new contract, but that's totally absurd. Now we still have pending the Solid Waste contract. I believe that you already achieve some negotiations, and that eventually their contract is going to be coming up for approval by this Commission, so I'm also glad to see that they're finally getting their contract too, so you know, to all of you, I want to thank you for coming to the table with an open mind, with a desire to work with the City, and be willing to also give, you know; not only take, but also give, andl think that's what's important, andl think that was the basis of obtaining this contract, so congratulations to all of you. Madam City Clerk, would you do roll call, please? Pamela E. Burns (Assistant City Clerk): Roll call. A roll call was taken, the result of which is stated above. Ms. Burns: The resolution has been passed, 5/0. Mr. Suarez: Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: Congratulations, all of you. NON -AGENDA ITEMS NA.1 07-00805 DISCUSSION ITEM DISCUSSION REGARDING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDING CUTS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. DISCUSSED Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Now we're going to go into the community development items. Before we take the first item, let me tell the social service agencies that I have been having meetings with the Mayor and with the Manager, andl had serious concerns that the social service agencies be impacted -- as you all know, again this year, Washington has made serious cuts to community development funding. I don't know when they're going to stop; maybe when there is zero allocation, that would be the time that Washington will stop, US HUD (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development), and the Congress, and the Senate, you know, and the President, by the way, you know. I don't know when it's going to end, but I hope that pretty soon they stop making these cuts. I also met with Mr. Larry Springs [sic], andl was assure by the City Manager, by Mr. Springs [sic], that all the social agencies -- and listen to this -- all of the social agencies are going to be funded at the same level that they were funded last year, so there will be no new funding to no new agencies because there is no money. All we trying to do is to keep what we have and try to assist the people that we've been assisting up to this point, but there are no new monies coming from Washington. As a matter of fact, it's less money coming in, I believe, 30 percent; right, Mr. Spring? Barbara, a 30 percent cut? City ofMiami Page 98 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 Barbara Gomez (Director, Community Development): That's where -- yes. Chairman Gonzalez: Thirty percent cut, so you know, every year they're cutting and cutting and cutting, and we -- we're trying to help you to, you know, sustain yourselves at the same level that you have been working in the past, so having said that, Mr. Spring. Larry Spring: Larry Spring, chief financial officer, City ofMiami. Commissioners, we wanted to put on the record, before the meeting got underway, that in evaluating the shortfall for the public service category, we identified all of the dollars to supplement that shortfall. You have a contribution coming from the Mayor's Poverty Initiative that was going to deal with the senior feeding programs. Our esteemed Commissioner, Commissioner Regalado, graciously provided a $90, 000 contribution from his rollover account, and we were able to identify program income that will be able to supplement the remainder of those agencies, so the shortfall has been adequately dealt with, so we just wanted to put it in the record before the item came before the Commission. Thank you. Chairman Gonzalez: All right. Very good. Any comments from any of the Commissioners? Commissioner Spence -Jones: I just -- Chairman Gonzalez: No? Commissioner Spence -Jones: -- want to tell Commissioner Regalado "thank you." We appreciate it. Thank you, sir. Commissioner Regalado: Well -- no. I think it's important that -- because regardless what happens with Washington, it's our responsibility; it's our people. These are our residents, andl think, you know, we have to do what we have to do. I was lucky to have a rollover of not having spend the budget of my office in the last three years, the complete budget, so this could be the best use for that, but my issue is whether or not are we working in lobbying the Congress for the proposal on the table in the finance committee of the Senate and in the finance committee of the House in the House Ways & Means Committee, to increase the funding for social services and CDBG (Community Development Block Grant). This proposal, as you know, has been endorsed by 60 United States senators, and by almost 220 US representative, so my question is whether are we lobbying, as of now, the federal government in support of that proposal that would not only fill the gaps of the reduction proposed by the Administration, which for next year, are bigger than 30 percent, but would increase up to the levels of two years ago? That was my question. Mr. Spring: Commissioner, based on our briefing, you posed some of that stuff to myself and the City Manager. We are actually trying to put something together now so that we can be a year ahead of that cycle right now. One approach would be to look at the -- what you just put on the record. The other is the City has also been doing -- through an organization out of Washington, Social Compact -- we've been doing population drill -downs around the City, and we have identified preliminarily additional population all across the City. We want to actually go before the federal government and substantiate that our population has indeed gone over the half a million mark, which would also increase our entitlement via the formula, so we are trying to take a few approaches, yours included, and this one right now, and we will come back to the Commission maybe -- hopefully, maybe 30 days, 60 days with a full briefing on what that approach -- those approaches will be. Commissioner Regalado: But you know, if we are able to get the Census Bureau to issue a census tract, confirm it that we have gone over the half a million population, that will put the City ofMiami Page 99 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 City in a very good position, not only for CDBG, but for other -- Mr. Spring: Funding. Commissioner Regalado: -- issues that are only reserve for cities over half a million -- Mr. Spring: Right. Commissioner Regalado: -- residents in the United States. I think that if we can get the Census Bureau to help on this, it would automatically give us even the possibility of raising the cap from 15 to 25 percent in the next three years, which will solve our problem, even if we get cut. Even if we get cut, it will solve all the problems that we anguish, the Chairman, and the Vice Chairman, and Commissioner Spence -Jones, and Commissioner Sarnoff and myself. Every year Mr. Spring: Right. Commissioner Regalado: -- we anguish with the social service program. If we can get the line item in the budget next year, raising from 15 to 25 percent the cap, which the City had for six years, by the way -- andl have to say, Chairman, that this was the first thingl did in 1996 when I was elected, at that time, citywide, andl didn't know anything about this, but it was because of the recommendation of Frank Castaneda who, at that time, was the Community Development director. Because his advice, we were able to work with Congresswoman Meek and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, and they did it. It was -- and it served the City for three years, and then it was extended, so I think that now this year California has gotten the increase on the cap from 15 to 25 percent, so I think that we can -- if we can make it for next year, we will be solving all these problems. That's it. Chairman Gonzalez: Thank you, andl remember that. I remember when you were able to achieve that. Commissioner -- Commissioner Spence -Jones: I just want to just add -- it's not too much on it, but a very good point that Larry mentioned earlier regarding -- so that everyone knows on this dais. You know, we did complete a study in hitting the areas that have been impacted from a poverty perspective in our City, andl know Little Haiti, Liberty City, Overtown is just a prime example of certain areas where those numbers -- for instance, in -- I believe, in the Overtown area, it's always state -- been stated that there's only 7,000 people in Overtown. Well, when the study came back, we actually found there were actually 15,000 people living in Overtown, so that neighborhood is an area that is definitely a vibrant community that just needs to be enhanced, and then the same thing happens for Liberty City. The census show that we had 25,000 -- I believe, close to 25,000 people living in Liberty City, when actually, it was 49,000, close to 50,000 people, and your numbers are -- were also -- Allapattah's numbers were really also pretty amazing there. One of the things I do want to add, outside of what Commissioner Regalado has mentioned, is I would like to see the City Manager -- andl know that, you know, our lobbyists have been mandated to handle certain issues, and that's what their focus has been in D.C. (District of Columbia), but here's a prime example of something that has direct impact on our residents and our constituents here that we need to see that kind of push happen. I did get a chance to have the opportunity to go to D.C. for the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and our lobbyists there to push on items, but I want to say to the folks that are not just sitting up here that we have to begin to push our lobbyists to make sure that they do what they need to do so that we can have the kind of support coming from D.C. that's needed, but also to our local community -based organizations, like NANA (Neighbors and Neighbors Association), Leroy, and everybody else that's sitting out here, we need for you to push very hard with contacting your local congressman to tell him -- or at least let them know how important it is for us to have the City ofMiami Page 100 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 support to have the necessary funding so that we can continue to provide support to the businesses in the area and to the organizations in the area. It has to be all of us working together to push that message. I think with -- in D.C., at this particular time, since the Democrats seem to really have a little -- or at least a little pull at this point, we need to begin to push very hard to make sure that they understand that they have constituents here that they must serve, so I'd like to at least see us all working together to make sure that we push that message. Chairman Gonzalez: Vice Chairman Sanchez. Vice Chairman Sanchez: Mr. Chairman, as the vice chair of Save Our Seniors -- and you're the chair of the campaign that we put forth -- as a matter of fact, I believe at the last Commission meeting or the previous Commission meeting, we passed a resolution that was signed by all senators and representatives being sent to Tallahassee. Also, the National Conference of Mayors and the Mayor has introduced a resolution that has also been adopted by that organization and has been sent to Washington. I think the message is very clear, andl think that the burden, as always, every year, falls on local government to try to make up for the shortfalls that are faced by not only the federal government, also by the state government, andl think it's a responsibility we take very seriously here, knowing the needs that we have in our community, whether it's elderly feeding or it's childcare or disability. I mean, we have a lot of needs in our community. We are and continue to be one of the poorest cities in the nation, but I could tell you that our local government does whatever it takes to try to get those things done, and even when we are faced with that burden every year, we find money. I don't think there's ever been a year where we have not been able to feed our elderly or meet our services. Through the Mayor's Poverty Initiative money or Commissioners proffer money out of their accounts, but we take that responsibility very clear. I think it's time that the federal government gets a clear message, and that message is that we got to start taking care of our own, that we got to take care of our seniors, and we have to take care of those that cannot take care of themselves. It's that simple, folks. I mean, we could spend millions of dollars on a war, whether you're for the war or not, and there's a lot of spending in Washington. There's a lot of spending in every government, just not Washington, whether it's local or state, butl think that when it comes down -- and people not receiving the services that they deserve, it's something that we cannot be very proud of that, so therefore, having said that, I think that the effort from our government is there to try to get the funding that we need, whether it's from the federal government or Tallahassee or ourselves. We do everything we can, and once again, I always say that this is the toughest time for me, you know, this and budget because they both play a vital part together. If we don't have the money, we can't spread the money for the services, but think that -- and this is just -- I challenge my colleagues this year to focus on looking forth and trying to do everything we can within our powers to make sure that we're able to help those that are less fortunate than we are, so having said that, Mr. Chair, I would -- you and, I think, Commissioner Sarnoff wanted to speak on the item. Commissioner Sarnoff No. I -- there's only one branch of government that actually prints money; that doesn't have to live within its own means -- Chairman Gonzalez: That's right. Commissioner Sarnoff -- and that's the federal government, and whether you believe or disbelieve in this war, it's time for the federal government to wage a war of its own in our own country, and that war needs to be on poverty -- Chairman Gonzalez: On poverty. Commissioner Sarnoff -- and until we face the facts, there will be two populations in this City ofMiami Page 101 Printed on 6/26/2007 City Commission Meeting Minutes June 12, 2007 country; those that have and those that have not, and if we just put half the resources that we put to a war effort on our own war, on our own poverty initiatives, we could make a significant dent in poverty in the next five years. Chairman Gonzalez: Definitely. City ofMiami Page 102 Printed on 6/26/2007