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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2014-09-09 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Meeting Minutes Tuesday, September 9, 2014 5:05 PM FIRST BUDGET HEARING City Hall Commission Chambers City Commission Tomas Regalado, Mayor Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Chair Keon Hardemon, Vice Chair Marc David Sarnoff, Commissioner District Two Frank Carollo, Commissioner District Three Francis Suarez, Commissioner District Four Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager Victoria Mendez, City Attorney Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 5:05 P.M. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ORDER OF THE DAY Present: Chair Gort, Commissioner Sarnoff, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Suarez and Vice Chair Hardemon On the 9th day of September 2014, the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, for its first budget hearing session. The meeting was called to order by Chair Gort at 5:05 p. m., recessed at 8:15 p.m., reconvened at 8: 33 p.m., recessed at 11: 58 p.m., reconvened at 12: 01 a. m and adjourned on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, at 2:26 a.m. Note for the Record: Commissioner Carollo entered the Commission chambers at 5: 06 p.m., Vice Chair Hardemon entered the Commission chambers at 5:09 p. m., and Commissioner Suarez entered the Commission chambers at 5:35 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Victoria Mendez, City Attorney Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk Chair Gort: September 9, 1940 [sic] for the first budget meeting and related hearing in the City of Miami Commission, the historic chambers. The members of the City of Miami Commission is Marc David Sarnoff, Frank Carollo, Francis Suarez, Vice Chairman Keon Hardemon, and myself, Wifredo Gort, as Chairman. Also on the dais is Daniel Alfonso. Hopefully, he'll come down soon; from the City Attorney, Victoria Mendez, City Attorney; and Todd Hannon, City Clerk. At this time, we'll have the prayer by myself, and the pledge of allegiance. You will please stand. Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered. Chair Gort: Madam Attorney, you want to go over the procedure? Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Any person who is a lobbyist must register with the City Clerk before appearing before the City Commission. A copy of the Code section about lobbyists is available in the City Clerk's Office. The material for each item on the agenda is available during business hours at the City Clerk's Office and online 24 hours a day at wwwmiamigov.com [sic]. Any person may be heard by the City Commission through the Chair for not more than two minutes on any proposition before the City Commission unless modified by the Chair. If the proposition is being continued or rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard may be at such later date before the City Commission takes action on such proposition. Pursuant to Florida Administrative Code Rule 12D17.005, anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Commission for any matter considered at this meeting does not need a verbatim transcript of the record of the item; however, a video of this meeting may be requested at the Office of Communications, or viewed online at wwwmiamigov.com [sic]. No cell phones or other noise -making devices are permitted in the Commission chambers; please silence those devices now. Any person making offensive remarks or who becomes unruly in the Commission chambers will be barred from further attending Commission meetings, and may be subject to arrest. Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids and services for this meeting may not the City Clerk. The meeting will end either at the conclusion of the regularly scheduled budget meeting agenda or at a time set by the Chairman. Please note that Commissioners have generally been briefed by City staff and the City Attorney on items on the agenda today. At this time, the Administration will announce any items that are being either withdrawn, deferred, substituted or modified. Thank you very much. City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Mr. Chairman -- Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Mr. Alfonso: -- good afternoon. BH. 11, which is approving the fiscal year budget for Liberty City Trust, it has been requested that we defer that item to the second budget hearing on the 23rd. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Okay, Commissioner Carollo, you're welcome. We have a quorum right now. Go over the item 11 again. Mr. Alfonso: Mr. Chairman, BH. 11, which is the Liberty City Trust budget, it has been requested that we move that item to the second budget hearing on September 23. Chair Gort: Okay. Do you need a motion on that, Mr. Clerk? Do I have a motion? Commissioner Sarnoff So move. Chair Gort: It's been moved by Commissioner Sarnoff. Commissioner Carollo: Second. Chair Gort: Second by Commissioner Carollo. Any discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Gort: Thank you. At this time, I'd like to recognize that the Mayor is here. Let's wait about five minutes. City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.1 14-00818 Office of Management and Budget FIRST BUDGET HEARING DISCUSSION ITEM FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED MILLAGE AND TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014-15. THE PROPOSED GENERAL OPERATING MILLAGE RATE OF 7.6465 FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 IS 12.26 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE STATE -DEFINED ROLLED -BACK RATE OF 6.8115. CITY COMMISSION LISTENS AND RESPONDS TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET. ACTION RELATED TO THIS DISCUSSION ITEM OCCURS BY ENACTMENT OF BH.21 AND BH.22. 14-00818 Proposed Millage.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Gort: He's coming, he's coming. I understand Commissioner Suarez is on his way, so he should be here soon. Mr. Mayor, you're recognized. Welcome. Mayor Tomas Regalado: Good afternoon. It's 5:05 or 5: 07. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice Chairman, Commissioners. Today, I stand before you to present to the City Commission our Administration budget as proposed on July 9 of this year, and also to endorse changes recommended by the Manager after listening to the City Commission. I am very proud and pleased to present a balanced budget that lowers the overall property tax rate for the fourth year in a row. This proposed budget does not lay off any public servant. It provides funding for reoccurring increases of employees' compensations and benefits pending the labor negotiations. This budget that we are introducing tonight adds services with new police officers, new public service aides, new firefighters, new workers for Public Works, and also reinvests in infrastructure for City buildings and new equipment for City employees. This budget also increases the City reserves, and we will be able to meet the financial integrity principles at the end of this year; something that was asked by this City Commission, and something that the rating agencies in New York will love to see. But while the City continues to recover, we still have more recovering to do. Property tax collections are still below fiscal year 2007/2008 and fiscal year 2008/2009. Our Administration heard our residents. We heard you, the City Commissioners. We listened to the City Commission. And after looking at the present and at the future, I'm here to stand and tell you that I fully endorse the Manager's recommendations of additional 35 police officers from the general fund, 35 more than the proposed number in the budget presented on July 9; an addition of six police officers from the Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) -- thank you, Commissioner Sarnoff -- and CRA Board Members. And this represent as of now a net new 61 police officers above the current year. I also endorse $750, 000 for a new poverty initiative. And you have to understand that these modifications of the proposed budget July 9 require some minor cuts to the recurring capital plan and new revenues. As a former City Commissioner sitting where you sit now, I understand the difficult decisions that you are about to make. First, to protect our residents: There are still many homes in foreclosure and many, many residents still find it difficult to pay taxes on their property since the countywide bond issues of recent years have increased their bills. You also want to protect our labor force, and have decided in a prudent way to give back some of the cuts were necessary when the City was in a financial crisis. We heard many times your directions to increase the reserves, and it was and it is the right call, City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 for this is already saving taxpayers' money. I believe that after adding the Manager's recommendation, following your direction, this is a very, very good budget. We have all committed to maintaining a fiscally sound budget for the current year and those years to come. Let's make good on that commitment. Thank you. And now, I would like to introduce our City Manager, Daniel Alfonso. Chair Gort: You're recognized, sir. Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank all the members of the Commission, Mayor. All of the folks that are here to express their opinion today, we welcome the opinions that will be shared, and I want to say that we have a presentation that we would like to make later on when it's time for the City's budget to be discussed. But in order to answer some questions that perhaps are being asked, I'm just going to mention something about labor negotiations briefly right now. Labor negotiations are a part of the overall discussion of the City's finances. The City has made proposals to all labor groups that include salary increases. The initial proposals included salary increases over the next three years, and we are perhaps in difference of opinion as to how we should take those increases into account, but we are continuing to negotiate in good faith, and I'm sure that we will reach some agreement in the future. So I don't want to get into details as to those negotiations, but they are open negotiations; anybody is welcome to attend And for now, I just want to introduce the Budget director. There are some things that are housekeeping that we have to introduce into the record as the first substantive item of discussion, and then from there, we'll go on with today's meeting. Thank you. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Christopher Rose (Director): Good afternoon, Commissioners. Chris Rose, Office of Management & Budget. The proposed general operating millage rate is 7.6465 for the City of Miami for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2014 and ending September 30, 2015. That operating millage rate is 12.26 percent higher than the State -defined rollback rate of 6.8115. Thank you, Commissioners. Chair Gort: Thank you. At this time, we will begin the public hearings. My understanding, I asked -- we have 63 people that signed up so far -- I've asked the City Clerk to please ident the -- to call the individual that will like to speak. At the same time, anyone that wants to donate their time to another speaker, they can do so. It'll be -- if they're on the list, they will be removed. Yes, sir, you call the names. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Okay. The first name is Javier Ortiz. Is he outside? Chair Gort: Second. Mr. Hannon: While we're waiting on Javier, Sean Moy. Commissioner Carollo: He's right there. Mr. Hannon: Next, Joe Simmons. Commissioner Carollo: Sean Moy is right there. Chair Gort: Sean is over there. Commissioner Carollo: Sean, you're up. Chair Gort: Well, Javier is here. Let Javier first. City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Javier Ortiz: No, let Sean go first. Sean Moy: Good evening, Commissioners, Madam City Attorney, City Manager. I'm here on behalf of the general employees for the City of Miami. Once again, we're being asked by this Administration to continue to give more concessions. Our future has been on hold for four years. We haven't had any meaningful raises. We need some relief. We need your support. The current Administration is very inflexible with our contract negotiations. All unions must now share five and a half million dollars amongst all unions. We think that this is totally unacceptable and unfair. The proposal that we had received from this Administration, some of my members are receiving 20 percent raise, 30 percent raise. We can't live off those standards. We want to have a partnership with the City of Miami. We believe that the finances have improved. We want you to please instruct this Manager to allow us to have more flexibility with the funds. We definitely cannot make something happen out of five and a half million dollars with all unions involved here. As you could see, all these employees here are very displeased with the process, the way things have been handled. We need relief. We need your support. This cannot continue anymore. Every year, we're being asked for something different, and now, we're asking for more concessions, and more concessions, and we're just not going to come under an agreement with that. We're flexible people, we're reasonable. We want something that's -- that we could both reach halfway point with the City. But the proposal that's on the table for us is just totally unacceptable. It's a lot of negative language, there's a lot of removal from a lot of our benefits, and we just feel that we're going in circles. And there's a reason why we're standing here today and no membership has an agreement with this Administration, and it's very frustrating. Had progress been made, things would have been handled differently. But as you have seen, Fire Department does not have an agreement; neither does my membership; neither does Solid Waste; neither do the police officers, and there's a reason for that. We need more flexibility. Please instruct this Manager to allocate more funds for all unions to come under a bargain -- collective bargaining agreement, but we can't work under those conditions. I will raise some of the things that are being proposed to my membership. Employees are now -- once they get promoted, they're asked to take an eight percent in promotion versus a 10 percent, so they're losing essentially two percent there. Also, there's a reduction in the accrual of vacations. These are some of the concessions we're talking about. There's also a reduction in steps, reduction in percentage, restructuring of our pay scale. So these are significant changes to us, to Local 1907, to all these members that are here. Our costs are reoccurring. We need relief we need flexibility. We need you to instruct this Manager to work with us, to be more flexible, to give us something that we could truly take back to the membership to get approved, because the language that's being proposed just -- I could not bring one of those articles back to my members; they would just literally turn it down. And we're just very dissatisfied; that is the reason why we're here. It's nothing against you guys, nothing against anybody here; we just having casual conversation. They're here to support all of us. And you will hear from the other union presidents their frustration. So thanks for your support, and I'm always accessible. If you guys ever need to talk to me, we could always be reached and be able to talk. Thank you so much for your time. Chair Gort: Thank you. Mr. Hannon: Javier Ortiz. Javier Ortiz: Will anybody here yield their time ifI need it? Unidentified Speaker: Yes. Chair Gort: Wait a minute; the names of the people yielding time. Mr. Ortiz: Hopefully, I don't go over; I'm not planning to. City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Chair Gort: No, no, but the name of the people -- Mr. Ortiz: Tommy Reyes, Tom Vokaty. Chair Gort: He's in charge. Mr. Ortiz: Sorry. You got him? Okay. Hi. My name is Javier Ortiz, president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police, 710 Southwest 12th Avenue. I don't know where to start. I thought we had a deal. The City of Miami has been crying for the last four years that they did not have the money in order to get things done. Well, you have the money now, and our current proposal is such a win/win not only for the City -- more for the City than for the employees -- that yesterday, things were just completely halted. As a union president, part of my job function is to bring a contract to our membership that's going to pass. So far, what has been provided or proposed by the City is something that's not going to pass. You all are going to sit here and say how you want to hire a hundred cops. You all are going to sit here and say how you're in support of employees. Well, what's being said here in the dais and what is being said in the back room in those shade meetings are two different things. And right now, I need to know ifI have your commitment to public safety. You have the money now, in upwards of a hundred million dollars in reserves. I understand, Mr. Manager, that is not reoccurring. You got another 30 or 40 in impact fees. That can buy police cars; that can buy fire apparatuses; that can buy a lot of the much needed equipment that we need. It should not be coming from the backs of our employees. Anyway, yesterday, I thought we had a deal, and right when I thought we had a deal, I was told that you wanted more concessions. And when I asked the City Manager what other concession -- why you want these concessions, I couldn't get an answer except that `I want them, I want them." No salary savings; no explanation of why we need them; just that "We want them, " and that's unacceptable. I read all of the Manager's emails (electronic), all of them. And so today's brown bag email ended with a quote, and the quote was, "You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re -reading the last one." How about you stop trying to get concessions from your cops when the City isn't hurting anymore and begin restoring our benefits. And if you really want to move to the next chapter, Mr. Manager, we're available to meet on Friday any time you want, if you want a deal; if not, we're not going to continue to give concessions, because the City's not hurting anymore. The City is finally financially healthy, it's in the right direction, and you're going to lie to these people and tell them, "Oh, you know, let's pledge some money. We got the money to hire a hundred cops." You're not going to be able to hire them, and I just want to reiterate, in last -- in one of our last meetings, I said it -- our Homicide Department is pretty much half the size of our recruitment and selection. You know why? 'Cause we can't get qualified applicants; we can't get them. Now is the time to start restoring benefits. The package that we have put together is extremely -- it's a lot more attractive than we've ever had. So again, I ask for your support, and I really want your commitment. I want your commitment today; not tomorrow, or in an email, or in a shade meeting. If you're committed to public safety, say so, give the direction, give the resources to the Manager in order to get this deal done. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Joe Simmons, Jr. Joe Simmons, Jr.: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Joe Simmons, Jr., president of Sanitation Workers of the City of Miami, AFSCME (American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees) Local 871. We ask that this Commission dig deep. 2009, 2010, '11, '12, '13, you asked us to dig deep. When the City suffered financial losses which were -- a lot of are out of control due to the market -- we were the first ones that came to the table, 2009. A year early, we came to open our contracts. This pay freeze that we're under -- cost of goods and services are increasing every day -- there is an enormous strain that is placed upon the backs of our employees. We need relief, we need relief we need relief. When the City was not doing so City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 well, we shared in some of that pain. The City is now -- is reaping a harvest, and we want to share in some of that harvest. There are times when you had to make decisions that were uncomfortable from the seats you guys sit in, from the seat I sit in, very uncomfortable. And we're asking you guys to do the right things. There's two most important things in a city -- in this city -- and that's people and equipment, and you have to invest in both. You can't continue and neglect your equipment, because it's going to suffer, it's not going to be as productive. Anybody want to proffer their time? Lamont Kelly. We can't continue to keep on this path. We need to continue on the right path. I understand the City Manager has done a good job in keeping the finances in line, but we need him to kind of loosen up a little bit, give us a little relief,- that's all we're asking. We're not asking for the whole pie; we're just asking for a slice, just a slice of the pie. Thank you. And I hope that you guys take into consideration the things that we've said today. Employees are here today. Solid Waste, a lot of the folks from Solid Waste we asked to come. We asked other employees to come to express what we believe. There's a lot of talk about hiring more cops, and that's a good thing. There's a lot of talk about hiring more employees. But if you hire them, you got to also take care of the ones that are here. When we looked at the salary schedule that the City proposed, I had people getting as much as a penny. A penny per hour times 40 times 52 is about $300 plus [sic]. It's peanuts, it's an insult. We ask you to reconsider, reconsider, reconsider. The City is doing better financially. We look on Biscayne Boulevard, there are cranes going up everywhere. There's a lot of development going on. There's a lot of excitement. We want to share in some of that excitement in the form of restoration of the things that we lost. We're not asking to clean the house. We're just asking for a slice of the pie. Thank you very much. Chair Gort: Thank you. Applause Chair Gort: Next. Mr. Hannon: Robert Luopo. Tom Mozloom. Tom Mozloom: Good evening. My name is Tom Mozloom. I live at 725 Northeast 75th Street. My business is located at 7390 Northeast 4th Court, both of which are in District 5. Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for the 60 new cops. I'm not convinced that's enough. When you talk about crime in my neighborhood, there's a direct correlation between the number of businesses that are open, the number of people that are on the street, and the way the neighborhood is thriving; the more of that, the less crime. Two days ago, the guy who owns the office next to me, his place got broken into. The surveillance video showed them beating on the Plexiglas windows for an hour until they got through; an hour. They spent 15 minutes in the building, stealing computers, and then they sprayed the place down with fire extinguishers so it couldn't be fingerprinted. Would a hundred cops have solved that? No. One would, one person going by. It's becoming increasingly difficult in District 5 for us to keep our businesses there when the crime is so high along 4th Court. Our businesses need the protection of police officers. Mr. Mayor, you ripped off 60 cops as if it was adding pepperoni to the pizza. We could use another 40 more. Thank you very much. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Applause Chair Gort: Excuse me, we got a long night. If you want to wave, it's just as good. Yes, sir. Mr. Hannon: FernandAmandi. Fernand Amandi: Fernand Amandi, 3250 Mary Street. I am a homeowner and a business City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 owner here in the City of Miami, andl appreciate the opportunity to address the Administration and the Commission again. A year ago tonight, I came, along with dozens if not hundreds of other residents in response to yet another crime spike that we were feeling here in the City of Miami, specifically in Coconut Grove. A year ago, we had the same problem that we continue to have today in that we do not have a sufficient amount of officers when compared to other cities of comparable size throughout the United States. We are still woefully below the target rate of four officers per 1,000 residents in the City of Miami, which is the standard, the minimum standard of where we should be when you look at best practices around the country. Now, interestingly enough, thanks, in part to your efforts, last year, the Manager, and the Mayor and the Commission were able to add additional officers throughout the City, but specifically in Coconut Grove. And combined with the tremendous police work of Commander Morales, the additional officers we saw in the Grove, guess what happened when we had more officers in Coconut Grove over the last 12 months? What do you think happened? A ten-year low in crimes committed in Coconut Grove. You heard other residents talk about it. I'm sure you'll hear it again. The correlation is clear, when we have more police officers, we have more safety. When we have more safety, we have a functioning city where people can raise their families, open their businesses; outside investors could come in and see the benefits of the City, feel safe. That's going to add to economic development and jobs. Members of the Commission, we are woefully short. Mr. Mayor, we appreciate the efforts to increase, already up to 60 officers; that's 40 more than we started in this process. We need to get to a hundred, and ideally, we got to get to a hundred more. And what are we talking about when we're talking about officers? It's net new officers. Now, a net new officer means you take into consideration the attrition rate that happens when -- will someone yield their time? Teresita -- okay, she'll yield her time, Teresita Rodriguez will yield her time. When we have net new officers, it means you're taking into consideration officers that are leaving the City for a variety of different reasons. We need 100 net new officers to begin to fill the broach. What is the other situation that's taking place? It can't just be a phenomenon for Coconut Grove. Last year, you saw Coconut Grove residents turn out in force. This year, all of the residents here that you see represent the City at large; folks from District 5, Commissioner Hardemon; folks from your district, Mr. Chairman; Commissioner Suarez, folks from your district; Commissioner Carollo, folks from yours; and, of course, the returning constituents from your district, Commissioner Sarnoff And what they're saying is this can't just be a Coconut Grove issue; it's a City of Miami issue, because we are all in this together. We need to lower our crime rate. We need to increase the sense of public safety, and we need to do it because this is fundamentally the number one priority of this City and this Commission, protect its residents. We made some great strides last year. This year, the City of Miami needs to double down on public safety and crime prevention, and it starts with a hundred net new officers and it'll get us where we need to be. Thank you for your time this evening. I trust you all will make the right decision as you made last year, as I'm sure you'll make this year. Thank you all very much. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Schiller Jerome. Chair Gort: He's here, he's here. Schiller Jerome: Schiller Jerome, president of Buena Vista East. My property address is 24 Northeast 42nd Street. First and foremost, thank you very much for allowing us to speak on this matter. For the past seven years, I've been a board member of my association. I've served in different positions. For the past seven years, the one constant thing that every member has always been concerned about has been crime and blight. Now, crime and blight is something that is directly affected by policing, because security brings about enforcement, and enforcement brings about people not wandering and not creating chaos in our neighborhoods . This policing issue is a very important issue. Last month, I came here and I said that my neighborhood, which is the Little Haiti net -- the Little Haiti community has only five officers per shift. We don't have a beat officer, nor do we have a resource officer. That is a shame. I don't know other words to City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 say it. That you have a community over 25,000 residents, and we have five officers per shift, no neighborhood officer, no beat officers. The restaurants on Northeast 2nd Avenue do not have a resource officer where they can work with to go about their -- to basic -- grow, grow the area. There is no officer for us to deal with on daily basis when we're talking about issues that affects our neighborhoods. I am sent here on a constant basis by my residents, by my neighbors, saying, "Schiller, what are we going to do about this ? " And at the end of the day, I don't have an answer for them, because all I can say is, "I'm asking, I'm requesting, I'm begging." And I'm coming here and I'm begging again, and I'm begging on behalf of the 300 households that I represent. I'm begging on behalf of the fact that I, myself, received 10 trim notices this week; 10 of them that basically I'm responsible for. So I'm begging that we can address this issue. And while we address this issue, we need to address the blight in our communities; very important, and I want to mention something: When we talk about anti poverty initiative, we're talking about addressing crime, addressing redevelopment, and growing businesses. You can't do those things if policing is not in place. It doesn't happen anywhere else. Thank you very much. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: J.S. Rashid. Jihad S. Rashid: Good evening. My name is Jihad S. Rashid, at 3628 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove; Miami, Florida. I'm here on behalf of the Coconut Grove Village West Homeowners & Tenants Association. I'm also serving as president of the Coconut Grove Collaborative, and I serve on many panels in the Village West neighborhood of Coconut Grove, Miami, and I'm here to lend my voice to encourage this Commission to support the increased police protection. I don't have a long speech, but we've made a lot of progress, particularly in the Grove, and I'm sure there's success in other areas of Miami, and when you have something, investment, a great investment, we want to protect that investment. But I'm also mindful of the remarks made by Commissioner Hardemon last time as part of the equation that should be considered in this, but moreover, it's important that we have this presence. It is not a silver bullet into itself, but it does support the great efforts and the great progress that's underway, and it's important. It's just like risk management; we want to engender a sense of security, and we want to have actual security. And I understand that we have better wherewithal, and the equation and the proposition is very simple. So on behalf of the community, myself and my family, I urge this Commission to take favorable action on the measure before you. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Ralph Rosado. Ralph Rosado: Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Commissioners. I'm here as well to support -- I'm Ralph Rosado, 3472 Southwest 22nd Terrace. I'm a native of the City of Miami, and I'm also a father of three children being raised in the City, and I'm here as well to support the hiring of additional police officers for all the reasons that have been mentioned tonight, including public safety, increases in quality of life, as well as economic development, especially in our -- some of our most challenged neighborhoods. I'm going to agree with something that Commissioner Hardemon said in the past few days. It's not just about hiring police officers; it's about being a strategic as possible, because, certainly, our public dollars are not infinite. To the extent that's possible, I would recommend that you hire community -oriented police officers, and especially try to locate them in our most challenged neighborhoods. There's a program in East Palo Alto, California that uses police officers and trains them to be working in parks, and so essentially, what you have is role models in the parks. You have police officers that become very close to the neighborhoods that they serve. In that sense, they get to know the residents. They get to figure out who belongs there and maybe who is not in the right place at the right time. And over time, what happens is that community relations with the neighborhoods increase tremendously. East Palo Alto has seen a drastic drop in crime. I think it's kind of program that we should be City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 emulating here. It's not just exclusively about hiring more police officers. It's about being as tactical as possible in all the hiring that we do. I hope that you will support this idea, andl want to thank you for your consideration. Thanks. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Sonia Augustin. Cecelia Stewart. Cecelia Stewart: Good evening, Mr. Chair and members on the dais. Cecelia Stewart, 1899 Northwest 1st Court. I am a homeowner. I am here to inform you that the House Nightclub, located at 1915 Northwest Miami Court has deteriorated the quality of life for me and my neighbors. We pay real estate taxes based on the value of our homes. This nightclub is generating such a massive amount of noise, particularly the base noise frequency, that it is lowering the value of my home and the value of my neighbors' homes. We will be applying for a reduction in our taxes, because this club is having a negative impact on the value of our home. House's customers are boisterous; they are urinating on lawns, fences and privacy walls; they are dropping bottles; they are leaving trash on our streets, and alcohol bottles throughout our neighborhood. The staff is displaying lewd behavior in public. It is disrespectful. This club is having a negative impact on the value of our homes. On October 24, 2013, you gave a conditional approval of this club. At that time, you demanded and they agreed to a last call for drinks no later than 4 a.m., and the building would close to all patrons and the public no later than 5 a.m.; nevertheless, we are extremely disappointed to observe customers routinely leaving this establishment after 5:25 a.m. In conclusion, I would like to request that you send inspectors out to investigate noncompliance with this ordinance. Thank you for your time. Chair Gort: Ma'am, will you give us the address again, please? Ms. Stewart: 1915 Northwest Miami Court. Chair Gort: Thank you. Mr. Hannon: Bettye Stillman. Mariano Cruz. Chair Gort: Well, Bettye's first; Ms. Stillman's first. Bettye Stillman: Good afternoon. My name is Bettye Stillman, and I live at 1710 Northwest 1st Avenue. I am a homeowner in Ms. Stewart's neighborhood. I live close to the House Nightclub. I support Ms. Stewart and the efforts that are being made on behalf of all the neighbors. Please help us. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Yes, sir, you're recognized. Mariano Cruz: Sure. Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 26th Street, resident of the City of Miami since 1963, and I don't pay City taxes, or debt service, or anything, but I pay the solid waste and I pay some federal taxes. But I don't like when I hear to lies and the Mayor start with a lie and say that nobody has been fire. Just today, one of her -- of his employees receive a letter signed by Daniel Alfonso, telling, "Your service are no longer needed by the City." Lourdes Loyal receive a letter, that letter. So people are being -- not terminated. Oh, they use a euphemism, "Your service are no longer needed, " okay? And that's true, and I don't like that. I have the money and the time to come here, and you will see me, and you are not a grateful person, Mayor Regalado. You are not grateful, okay? Because you -- I don't know what happen, what happen to you, what was influence you; Mikki Canton or who is influencing you, but remember me. I am not scared of you or anybody. I got the money, my worthy -- and my -- one of my daughters are in France nowadays. I have the money and the wherewithal to send them out of the country, since you can send some of your family to France. Me, everything paid; airplane paid, Mercedes City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Benz rented in France, everything, because I have the money. I have receive checks on the VA (Veterans Administration), Department of Workmen's Compensation Service; four federal checks a month and I don't pay taxes, ity taxes. Thank you very much, Mayor. Remember me, because I am a very bad enemy, and you make an enemy from bullying Lourdes Loyal. Chair Gort: Thank you, sir. Next. Mr. Hannon: B. J. Chiszar. B. J. Chiszar: Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, Mayor, Mr. Manager, honorable members of the Commission. B. J. Chiszar, former chairman of the Democratic Party from the Unincorporated Village of Ojus. I rise tonight because the last time I came five years ago, I stood with Mayor Regalado to oppose the stadium, and I felt like we were the only ones standing up against the tidal wave. So I hope tonight my words maybe will have a little bit more weight than they did five years ago. I've only just returned from four years of military service in your nation's elite Army Intelligence Corps. When I first returned, one of the first things I found upon my greeting here at coming home was a problem in the City proper as it relates to violence in District 5. And I wear this shirt tonight because I knew no one else would wear it, and it breaks my heart that I have to stand with the people of Liberty City and march through the streets, because we've lost sight of the value of public safety. When times are hard, sometimes sacrifices are made. But when the wonderful employees of this community made sacrifices when times were tough, when belts needed tightening, they did so; they answered the call. Now, as things are looking roses and butterflies, as you say, Mayor, all I will ask is that you please remember the sacrifice borne by so many. Please reward the hard work shown by some of the best employees in the world right here in the City of Miami. I'm very concerned about priorities. I'm very concerned that there's no correlation between the importance of public safety and community -based policing. It's not just more numbers, it's not more badges. It's a different strategy for different neighborhoods. What works -- what Fernand says -- works in the Grove, heck, it may work in Liberty City, but let's remember that Miami is paradise because of its people; not because of its leaders, not because of its weather; because of its people. If Liberty City cries, does the Grove not hear it? If Little Haiti bleeds, does Coral Way not feel it? At the end of the day, it's about vision. And I have no concern with the millage rate. I have more concern of the perception the people have of the value they get for that millage rate. I am concerned that we don't do enough for veterans in this community. As a disabled veteran, I am shocked; I am shocked that we don't seem to care about those who helped build this country, giving the opportunity for the City of Miami to flourish the way it has. I'm concerned about homelessness. I am concerned about those that are forgotten on the margins of our society, for God will judge us not by the glitz and glamour of our nicest neighborhoods. We will be judged by how we stand up for those who cannot fight for themselves. I'm concerned about our priorities. I'm concerned about the people of this community who cannot be here tonight to stand up for themselves. I'm concerned about getting people out of their cars, getting on the foot paths, getting on the bicycles. I'm concerned that there's no vision. I'm concerned that the priorities have gotten lost in the mesh and the sausage -making of governance. This is a world class city. You should have a world class budget. There used to be something called `Miami Proud, " and I first heard the words from the union members of this great City when I was just a boy. There used to be something called "Miami Proud" Let us get back to it. Thank you so much. May God bless the City of Miami and all who call her home. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Applause Mr. Hannon: Joe Longueiro [sic]. Joseph Longueira: Good evening. My name is Joe Longueira, 2300 Northwest 14th Street. I'm City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 a member of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police Number 20, and I'm president of Police and Fire Retirees. I attended most of the Police negotiations. Part of what I see, I don't understand. Yesterday's session, they came up with some request for time back, and we asked, "Well, what's the value of that request?" Manager said, "Well, that request was in there from the beginning." When we asked him the value, he couldn't tell us. He said we have to go figure it out. Is the City -- if they don't know the value of what they're asking the employees to give up, then how much of a money problem do they have? They really don't. They're not using it the way they should. Good police -- more police officers might be good, but if you're not using the police officers you have today to the maximum ability by motivating them, and if you look at the triangle of what motivates people -- security, income, taking care of their families -- you're not getting that out of your people today. You have to fix the salary issues on Police, Fire; all the employees. You'll get a lot more out of them than you will be by hiring more people and paying them the same low rates. They're not going to work as hard. Remember, last time we had a financial crisis, we helped save the Grove from leaving the City. We worked very hard to do that. We were motivated people. Pay them what they deserve. They'll give you more than what a hundred extra cops will give you. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Dan Kerr. While we're waiting on Mr. Kerr, Teresa Borkowsky. Willie J. Beals. Moses Martinez. James Okoh. Darling Samarriba. Anneriz Walker. Yader Somarriba. Jason Smith. Joseph Jules. Nathan Kurland. Nathan Kurland: Good evening, Commissioners. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I realize that I have come to too many Commission meetings. Mariano, I now understand every word you say. That really scares me. I would also like to lend my voice to FernandAmandi. And, sir, I don't know your name but you -- and the gentleman who spoke so eloquently prior to me. The problem I see is that this becomes a very adversarial moment when what most of us want is a city that does the best for the majority of its citizens. I want public safety. I would like to see as many officers on the street as possible. But let me tell you, when you need a police officer, you better believe that you want someone who's well trained, motivated, well compensated, and taken care of because they do a job that I don't want to do. So for the public record, I'd like to thank every police officer in this room and outside listening on the street. Thank you very much for doing the job you do, and I hope this Commission finds the money to compensate you for what you do. But to add my voice to others who've spoken today, I think it's very important that we do add as many police as possible to the street. And I thank the Mayor and I thank our City Manager, Danny Alfonso for doing as good a job as they can possibly do. And I try and remember always, this is not about being adversaries. This is about all of us trying to do the job for all of us sitting in this room. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Dan Kerr: Good afternoon. Lieutenant Dan Kerr. I'm vice president of the Miami Police FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) 20. Today was an enlightening day for me, because it's rare that I get to stand with all of the employees of the City. Usually, I talk every day to the Police employees, and the Police civilians, but this was a rare opportunity for me, because I got to speak with plumbers, I got to speak with carpenters, I got to speak with firemen, and the stories I heard reflected the same stories that I hear every day in the gym, on calls, in my office, the impact it's made to their families, not four years ago; today, ongoing. So I went and real fast did some numbers, and I got the average pay cut that's being suffered by the police officers. It's around 15, 16 percent; 15, 16 percent was their impact. About a third of that is being asked for in this current contract, about a third of that. So it's not a quest to recover all of those benefits from 2010. It's a request to make some inroads. But I ask you today to listen to some of the stories that they're going to tell you, and I would hope they get personal. I would hope they would tell you how it's directly impacted their lives, because some of them moved me enough to City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 really appreciate that it's not just the effect of the police officers, and it's not just the effect of the officers that I represent. It's the entire department, and if the entire department, the entire City is being held down, you've got to help them out. You've got to help them out. The means are there, the financing is there, we know it can be done, and we know the people that can do it. And I'm not looking to my right. I'm looking right here in the middle. We know where the power lies. The power lies in the citizens who elect their representative and the representatives that give direction to the Administration. And the Administration may feel that they have that power, but everyone up here knows who really does. So I ask that you take it to heart, listen to their stories, and understand the impact it's made on them and their families. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Jose L. Fernandez. Tom Vokaty. Tom Vokaty: Good afternoon. Officer Tom Vokaty, Miami Police Department and also a part of FOP 20. Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you today with all my fellow co-workers. I've been on now since 1984; 30 years as a police officer. When you all made this decision in 2010, you affected so many lives that you have no idea what you're going to incur in 2017 when that year, well now have a mass exodus. What are you going to do then? You need to start taking care of us now, and take this seriously, and understand where we are coming from. We're not asking for the whole pie. We're asking to start restoring our benefits. We have no problem helping out the City. We understand what we are going through; all of us went through it. When I go to work at night, my little daughters come up to me and ask me, "Daddy, you going to go to work tonight?" "Yes, I am." `Daddy, are you going to come home?" "Yes, I am." "Do you promise you're going to come home?" I have to make this promise to my two little daughters every night. I've been here since 1984, and I've given you my blood, my sweat and my tears. I've given you my all. Some of you haven't even been here that long. I'm asking you to help restore our benefits so I don't have to work the off -duty jobs, so I can be home with my family and enjoy my family, so all of us can enjoy our family. You know, when I took these pay cuts, I was not living above my means, ladies and gentlemen. I was living well within my means. And I am forced now to work off -duty jobs on a Friday and a Sunday, away from my family. I'm asking you, please, not just for me, but for all of us. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Robert Luopo: Good evening, Commissioners and Mayor. My name is Robert Luopo, and I reside at 3229 Gifford Lane in the Center Grove. I've been a homeowner there for the past 25 years, and I've lived in Coconut Grove for the past 34 years. I'm a teacher and a counselor for many years for Miami -Dade County Public Schools. I'm here to urge you to find the funding to support our police. One of the things that I do as a citizen is volunteer my time, like many others here, in our All Grove Crime Watch. I'm the chair of that organization, and we have met on the second Wednesday of every month for almost 14 years. We have seen what works, what reduces crime in our community. Through our perspective and through our experience, we know increased police presence reduces crime. I urge you to find the funding to support the needed increase of police presence in our community, and find the funding, too, to pay them the salaries that they justly deserve. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Jose Palomino. Javier Colon. Juan Sanchez. Travis Tabbita. Kandice Miller. Robert Rionda. Marvin Alvarez. Brown -Williams, Viona Browne -Williams. Primerose Danier. Glenda Perez. Richard Murz [sic]. Richard Muir: Good afternoon. Richard Muir, 2200 West Flagler Street, Miami, Florida. I'm a 26-year member of the Miami Police Department, and I just want to let you know one of the City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 stories and put a face on the past four years, five years, and I want to just tell you what it's been like for some of us. The past four years, I suffered a heart attack, had bypass surgery, triple bypass. I came back to work in record -breaking time. Why? Because this is home, this is the Police Department, this is where I work. I care about the community. I care about my co-workers. A year later, I had to get both knees replaced, so I was out for a short time; came back again in record -breaking time. Why? Loyal employee; came back here, and here I am still working. A year later, I lose my hearing as a result of going to the range for 26 years and qualifying for the safety of the citizens of the City of Miami. Yes, I've sacrificed, but I'm only one story. There're a lot of people that have suffered, okay? I'm asking you to restore the benefits. This is my family. You apparently are the leaders of the family. If this was a true family, I would say that this is domestic abuse, the abuse that we're taking -- the City. Remember when you were a kid and you asked your parents for something, and they said, "Well, maybe next time. Let's see what it is like next year"? Well, that next year kept coming, and coming, and coming, and it still hasn't come yet; empty promises. How much longer do the employees really have to wait? We're not asking for anything exorbitant. We want some of the benefits restored; it's not unreasonable. There're a lot of people like me in the City that are excellent employees, whether they work for the other unions or the Police Department. They care about the City. I'm just asking for a fair shake here, that's all. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you, sir. Next. Mr. Hannon: Jorge Rodriguez. Robert Pankowski. James Eraser [sic]. James Frasier: Good afternoon, folks. Thank you for seeing me. My address is 1000 Northwest 62nd Street. I'm a City of Miami police officer for 15 years, but most of all, I am a marine, a veteran, 15 years, Gulf War vet. One thing that we do are -- we have a thing called "esprit de corps." Amongst you here, you have a tight knit group, so that's my brothers and sisters in the Police Department. So do we, as employees for the City of Miami -- you made promises. You gave us your word. I can't say it's a breach of contract, because we voted for this, but you gave us your word that we would get our funding back; that we would get what is deserved of us. Like somebody said, we bled we cried, and we sweated for the City of Miami. One thing, as leaders, we lead from the front; we don't lead from behind. We have plenty of people telling you what you need to do, what you should do. Are you listening? Are you hearing? Are you caring? If this is not the case, let us know. Don't play with us. Don't tell us one thing and then turn around and say, "Well, maybe, it could be." We're asking, we're telling you, we're begging you, this is what we need for our family, for you on the street and for the community. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: John Blackberry -- Blackberry. Clifford Holzendorft. Esdras Vibrum [sic]. Esdras Vilbrual: Good evening to all you in front of me; finally got a chance to say my piece. I don't represent just me. I represent everybody in this room. You see on the shirt, you punch here with your badge, the City of Miami. Now, for me, I started in 2002. I work for the Solid Waste. My shade now is not my shade, because for the simple fact that I started here knowing that I'm secure. I started a family. I have three beautiful daughters. This year is coming up Christmas. Guess what? Daddy's on a budget. Daddy been on a budget for four years. Bills. Kids grow up. We don't have nothing in our pockets. But guess what? Daddy's doing overtime. Daddy had to do a job on the side. But guess what? Again, we're here trying to figure out what you guys going to give us. Same thing. Next year come around. Kids grow up. Same thing. You guys may not have kids. Your kids may be grown, gone to college. You did what you had to do. I'm a laborer now, trying to move up. I'm moving up from a laborer to a crane operator. I appreciate you opening up the doors for that. But when does the money falls in place? When does my 17.23 turn up to 21, or 19, or whatever it falls in? I can only speak for myself, but if you look at -- in the room, if you look for the people before you, everybody has a situation, as much City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 as yourselves. Your family calls you needing to borrow money. What do you do? Have no problem, go to account, give it to them. What do I do? I have to actually bend over backwards to take money out of the account that's not supposed to be touched and do them a favor. Am I going to see it back? No. You know why? God bless me. So I'm asking you, when is it going to stop? When are you guys going to actually listen to us, Solid Waste, Firefighters and Police to say that, "You know what? You did your job. Your kids can get this." They're looking on TV. "Daddy, I want a new toy." Daddy ain't got it right now. Daddy have to go work to get that. It hurts, it hurts. My kids go to a private school. This year, I'm doing my best to keep it the best schools; not public school; private school. 'Cause you know why? I want them to have the best, just as much as me. But again, daddy have to bend over backwards. You know why? Four years looking at the same check, same check. Overtime or holiday, that's the only thing I see. 17.23, it doesn't move. It does not move at all, and it hurts. You guys are looking at it the wrong way; the wrong way. I don't know what else to say. Four years at 17.23. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Dayron Toric [sic]. Yanier Modiedo. Ronald Jiron. Matthew Hall. Charles Rosado. Arnie Foster. Reverend Lincoln. Albio Castillo. Albio Castillo: Good evening, gentlemen. My name is Albio Castillo. I lives at 2235 Southwest 16th Terrace. I am going to go down the line. I'm going to start with the Fire Department. Are you aware that the City of Miami needs a fire station in downtown? At the rate we're going, we need one if we continue with these buildings that are growing. We need another station in downtown for the Fire Department. I also like to know is what is the City going to do with that case? You've been forewarned by the citizens that have comes here for many years. I also like to know is, going to the Police Department, the Police Department needs to continue for the police cars to be continue. There's going to be the retirement of the Crown Victorias. How is the City going to answer when the new recruits and the police that are currently? Andl also like to know how is the City going to pick the new Police Chief? Is it going to be house -- I am going to missed him, because he has done a good job. And I'd also like to remind you on this issue in solid waste, are you going to continue with the solid waste equipment? Here's another thing: The Police, and Fire and Solid Waste have given concession to the City of Miami since 1996 until the present, so what is the City going to do? Let me remind you also the impact fee. How are you going to use the impact fee when -- are you going to go the old ways on a spending freeze [sic], or are you going to continue like the way you have done, conservatively? Any question from the Administration? Any question from the Commissioners? Chair Gort: Thank you, Albio. Mr. Castillo: You're welcome. Chair Gort: Appreciate it. Next. Mr. Hannon: David McBurnett. A. Daudier. Peter Ehrlich. Peter Ehrlich: Good evening, Mr. Chair, Commissioners, Mr. Mayor. My name is Peter Ehrlich. My address is 720 Northeast 69th Street in Bayside, and I work in Northeast 59th Street in Lemon City. My respect to the previous speakers; many of them were extremely eloquent, had very, very powerful stories. As Mayor Regalado stated earlier this afternoon, many residents are still behind in their mortgages. Many residents are still behind on their rents, and many are still trying to recover from the recession that we've been having over the last three to five years. I'm asking that the Commissioners act physically [sic] responsibly. Previous Commissioners before this Administration and a previous Mayor spent tax money as if they were lottery winners. So I would just ask, request that you feel free to increase reserves and please act physically [sic] responsibly. Thank you very much for your time. City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Chair Gort: Thank you, sir. Next. Mr. Hannon: Wilfrid Daleus. Wilfrid Daleus: Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Joseph Wilfrid Daleus and I'm open my business, is on the 5910 Northeast 2ndAvenue. Before I was stay for 13 years in 123rd Street, North Miami, Florida. Now I move to Little Haiti, but, please, I need your support, but I want to stay in business. Help me, please, to stay in business. I need your support. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you, sir. Next. Mr. Hannon: Marleine Bastien. Marleine Bastien: Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Chair, Commissioners. Marleine Bastien from 181 Northeast 82nd Street. I've been in this community for the past 32 years, and being there days in and days out at our center, FANMAyisien de Miami. I can tell you that the picture that I see is not very encouraging; that's my reason for being here today. I do support some of these issues that were brought forth this afternoon, but I also would like to speak for all of those who could not be here this afternoon. I'm talking about the over 50 percent in my community, in Little Haiti, in District 5 who are unemployed. I'm talking about business people, business owners, like Wilfred Daleus, who may not be able to keep his business open. I'm talking about families who, if it weren't for the Children's Trust, whose children would go to bed hungry at night. At FANM, we have to provide them with a hot meal, because the parents do not have it. I'm talking about clients who do not have $2 to catch the bus to come to my center to talk about their homes that are being taken away from them. I'm talking about people, the new homelessness in our community; people who used to have two jobs, and now find themselves living in their cars. This is the picture that I want -- I'm here to talk about this afternoon. Yes, we need more police officers, but it is extremely important for us to go to the roots of the problems here. We need to go to the roots of the problems. We need to create programs for our kids. We need to pay teachers better salaries. We need to bring music back to the schools. Go to the roots of the problems and invest in families. Lastly, do not say that this area is not yours, you're not coming to Little Haiti, you're not going to Little Havana, you're not going anywhere. This City is one City. Every citizen in this City deserves consideration. We in Little Haiti, we are suffering, and we need every leader on this dais to stand up and say "Things have to change." We need to stop this division. We need to stop, because this is one City after all. We need to -- it is time for us to invest in every part of the City of Miami so that when people travel all around the world and they come, and they really believe that this is the Sunshine City; not a city where some people are doing well and others cannot even eat, do not have a job, so whatever decision you're making today, think about that. Lastly -- I said "lastly" -- there is one more point that I'd like to raise here with Commissioner Hardemon, but with each and every one of you. When I arrived in this country in 1981 as a young adult, Little Haiti used to start on 36th Street. Now, every day, Little Haiti is shrinking. This is not an issue for you only, Commissioner Hardemon. This is an issue for all of us, because we Haitians, we fought and we died in Little Haiti. Little Haiti will not die. We invite you to come there on Sunday for the second annual book fair. We invite you to see how, when people are together, when there is diversity, what can happen in the City of Miami. Thank you so much for your time. Chair Gort: Thank you, ma'am. I'm trying to keep up with the timing. Applause Chair Gort: Excuse me. What we're doing is the person goes beyond two minutes, we're using some of the persons that signed up and they're not here and utilizing those two minutes. Okay, next. City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Hannon: Corey Taylor. Corey Taylor: Good evening. Corey Taylor, 365 Northwest 8th Street, Miami, Florida. Commissioners, look around the room. This is the City of Miami. When we rush into a fire, we do it for them. When we out here putting our life on the line, going into situations that we have no control over, we do it for them. When we climb inside a dirty garbage truck to clean it out, we do it for them. "Them, " meaning us. The shirt that I wear right now that says "Miami Employees United" is a City of one, which means that we care for our City. What we do, we do not do just for us. A promise was made six years ago to us by the City of Miami, and all we ask is that that promise is kept. That's it. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you, sir. Next. Mr. Hannon: Paul Brown. Luis Arcia. Francisco Gonzalez. Felix Del Rosario. Charles Lacotera. Chair Gort: I think Felix is coming up. I guess not. Mr. Hannon: Sergio Garrido. Richard Hickoy. Gary Johnson. Gary Johnson: Good evening, Commissioners. My name is Reverend Gary Johnson. I'm the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference where the founding president is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. First of all, I want to thank the Mayor for the work you been doing. You're going in the right direction, and all the Commissioners. This is an interesting day today. I was just in Birmingham, Alabama, where there's so much racism going on across our nation still today. I look at here, where I'm from, in Miami -Dade County, where there's a bond for the baseball stadium, a bond for Jackson Memorial Hospital, bond for this, a bond they asking to do the courthouse, a bond for the school board. The average police officer start out in City of Miami about $40, 000. And the employee -- some of these employees in the black are not offlcers, and they making well below that. How are they going to survive? Maybe we should have a bond referendum so employees could get paid. Let's take care of the people. And the Mayor, I believe that this Commission -- Commissioner Sarnoff, I've seen the work every last one of you have been doing here, Commissioner -- Chairman Gort, you are a class act, I'm telling you. What I've seen across this nation, we have five -- some of the most -- five of the most brilliant Commissioners in the United States from what I've seen out here. But I believe we got to reach to our conscience now. Our conscience should be about taking care of people, poor people, people that's the fabric of the community, that build this community, the workers, the unions. I believe if it is used properly and we work together by knitting our hearts together, doing what's right, then Mayor, I believe we can make a difference in our community. Commissioner Gort, I thank you for the hour for me to be able to speak, but I ain't going to need that much time. But having said that, with all these bonds and everything that we dealing with, it's time now that we don't take sides. It's time, Mr. Mayor, that we, along with all these employees, that we take over; we take over our community. We have a responsibility as a community to police our community, as well. I met some of the most beautiful officers walking the beat, which made our community more safer. I mean, they said -- I think one -- I think it was Mr. Corbitz who said that officers should walk around now with the cameras on their shoulder. I was remembering a few years ago, we did a press conference with one of the gentlemen by the name of De Carlos Moore that was shot down. We did a press conference, myself and Reverend Jessie Jackson; unarmed man, shot down and murdered. And I stood strong against officers who are corrupt, who do the wrong thing. But I stand today for those officers who do the right thing. And for that reason, I'm asking you all to look at the budget, continue to work together and come up with a comprehensive solution that makes sure you take care of the people. I thank you so much, and may God continue to bless you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Hannon: Florence Nicholls. Jan [sic] Muir. Chair Gort: Ms. Nicholls is coming. Florence Nicholls: Good evening. Vice Chair Hardemon: Good evening. Ms. Nicholls: My name is Florence Nicholls. I live at 330 Northwest 19th Street, Apartment 408, Miami, Florida. I am here representing Curley's House. I want to know why is it that we don't have enough money to give out food to the poor and the seniors. We have been trying very hard and accepting what Curley House give us. I believe that if we get enough money to help with Curley House, it would be much help for us seniors. Some of us can't do nothing for ourselves. Like me, I worked, and I still want to work, but I can't. Going to work, falling down; going to school, falling down. So now, I have pains that I can't do what I would really like to do. But I'm stilling willing; willing to get me a job, because the little finances that we get from the government, it don't take us that far. We have -- try to buy food; we try to pay our rent and other little things. But by the time we get our checks and pay out money, we don't have nothing no more; we don't. But God be the glory. We have a little help with Curley House. Andl thank y'all for listening. Chair Gort: Thank you, ma'am. Applause. Chair Gort: Let's hold the applause. This looks a lot better; calls more attention. Yes, ma'am. Jane Muir: Hello. My name is Jane Muir. I live at 2715 Tigertail Avenue, and I'm an active member of the All Grove Crime Watch. I'm conscious of the fact that all of you have a lot of issues to weigh and a lot of different interests that are competing against each other when you're considering this budget. That being said, I'd like to lend my support to Fernand Amandi, and Robert Luopo, and all of the members of the All Grove Crime Watch who have put in years to make Coconut Grove a safer place. And they have been successful at doing that in large part thanks to cooperation with the police and the Office of the State Attorney, and, of course, all of the staff of the City of Miami. So if you would please consider supporting the proposal to add police to the Coconut Grove area and to the rest of the City of Miami, we would very much appreciate it. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Ronald Rosenblum. Renita Holmes. Renita Holmes: Good afternoon, Chairperson; no fussing tonight. I've seen you at work in regards to addressing the issue, and so I say simply it's time to dialogue more to get down to the real nitty-gritty of your intellect. Balancing a budget cannot be about simply every term, at every new election and every new leadership about more police officers. We all have to sacrifice, because there's nothing in this cash revenue, nothing on this land that can give us back the number of children that we have lost in some neighborhoods, opposed to others, where we have consistently put more and more police. Poverty is not a crime; however, I find where we have more police officers, maybe we need to start talking about split -- taking care of that gap in the social services, and we have to own up to it. Social service funds for the poor, we lost. Now, we're looking more towards HUD (Housing and Urban Development). These HUD funds in the budget weren't negotiable, not just to buy Fire and Rescue engines for Shenandoah, or spend a million dollars on six police officers who already have uniforms when we can't even cross the City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 track after 10 o'clock. This is where we spend our time proposing how we balance the life and safety of some as opposed to others, but poverty is not a crime. What is really a crime is not to take a solution and use it. I applaud you, and you know I don't bite my tongue, and I -- I know it. You have been doing what -- I saw you, and Commissioner Carollo, and Suarez, and Sarnoff get there, and you talked about dealing with the specific root and the cause; although most of the community was not there, but it was about policing ourselves. I know some great cops. My great -godfather, Calhoun, one of the first black police officers, still to this day, till he retired, he didn't have enough to take care of his family, but he loved his job. I don't think no -- but if you're going to balance out the inflation and the needs of officers, then balance out the inflations of the new re-entry persons that will get arrested for minor crimes. And Mr. Manager, please balance out the budget and class of the litigation cost, 'cause we pay so many attorneys for freedom against racism, and civil infractions, and I don't see justice yet; however, I know you can if you take more community -oriented policing through the Chair, Mr. Mayor, but sometimes, the staff we get is not the staff or the employees to perform the duties, so sometimes, we have to let go of some folks. But nobody wants to be poor. I leave you with this question, my Commissioner: What do you need from another poor person; five percent, one percent? Because I serve and Curley House serves people in each one of these districts; they cross those lines when they're hungry. How do we balance that out? But Mr. Mayor, sometimes, we just have to affirm ourselves. You're the Mayor of illegal guns in the United States. You sit on that committee with 52 other mayors, and you have a budget. If staff can't get the job done, get some folks out there that are working for free, and give them stipends and use that Community Relation Board, because this loss of feelings, this pain, this distrust, this racism and hate keeps costing us children, and it keeps costing us officers. And in closing, sometimes, we have to police ourselves. To balance it out, we need that; a poverty program to deal with the re-entry, the homelessness that's going to increase as a result of some things we paid too much attention to. And if we have all this reserve money coming from the revenues of the sale of this land as well -- I'm jumping to this one -- then give some back. If you want poverty people's land and monies from all that, we deserve at least 30 percent back in the revenues; not some minimum deal making. Thank you so kindly. I ask you again, how do we pay for the lives of those black children and those children that we've lost, and for the litigation of beating the hell out of them and still say, "We need more police"? Pay the police you have well, take care of the poor folks, and start looking at policing ourselves. Thank you so kindly. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Suzann Nicholson. Suzann Nicholson: Good afternoon. My name is Suzann Nicholson. I am or was previously a City of Miami resident. My mother still lives in City of Miami. I am also the trustee for Local 1907. I just want to give you a little history. I thank City of Miami for hiring me, because my background is nothing nice. But there's nothing worse than thinking that you was given a blessing and that blessing turns into a curse. Why? Because staffing was cut. Customer Service, I worked for the Customer Service Department for nine years. We went from having nine employees to three; I was one of the three. I did the work of ten. I got so stressed out that mentally, physically, besides -- between gaining weight, health conditions and budget cuts, I was forced to apply for a position to further cut my pay ten percent. So I went from Customer Service to Procurement, a ten percent cut, just to gain a peace of mind. Now, let me give you a little history about City of Miami. My brother got shot in City of Miami, and because of the shortness of staff by the time they got to him, he was practically dead; his brains on my mother's shoes. When the paramedics got there, like I said, he got to the hospital, pronounced dead. It just seems that everything around us is dying. Our faith is dying; our morale is dying. Our workload however, no; it's thriving, it's growing, it's growing, and we're watching everyone on the top get an increase while the people on the bottom suffer. How long will this go on; how long? I am also the secretary, the State grand secretary for the Order of the Eastern Stars. And the buildings, I sit and I look at the buildings, the structure. Look at the Carver Center. It's just City of Miami Page 20 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 sitting there. Slum lords, what are we going to do? You're going to cut our pay, you're going to raise the taxes, you're going to increase our workload, and then you're going to tell us, no, we can't get an increase? Or are you going to make us another promise? Oh, yes, you're working out of class. You won it. Yes, you'll get your increase. And then as soon as it goes to the City Manager, it's turned down. How much longer must we go through this? When will you see our values? City of Miami police officers, firefighters, solid waste, it's not like Miami -Dade County where the garbage truck manually picks up our trash, no. There's no electronics. And if there is, where's the money going to come from to fix it? Will it be our pay? How much longer will we suffer? When will you hear our cry? When will you look around and step outside of your fancy cars, your nice homes, and see how we're living? Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Laverne Holliday and Laverne Scott. Laverne Holliday: Good afternoon. My name's Laverne Holliday, the assistant director of Curley's House. Our address is 6025 Northwest 6th Court. And to Mayor Regalado, Commissioner Sarnoff, Vice Chairman Hardemon, Chairman Gort, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Suarez, we want to thank you for your support in the past years, all of you working together and helping us. And I just want to let you know I understand that we're -- social services are going to be cut, and we're getting like -- something like one percent. But at any rate, I want to thank you for what we do get. Please consider that what we are getting, that it is only serving 36 seniors. Out of 36 seniors, every month, we serve 5,000 people for -- that come to our place for food And if you have to lay off City -- other City workers and firemen, there're a lot more people that are going to be coming to our doors looking for the same service. How are we going to do that? I know you guys got a real hard decision to make, but please think about all of the people in the County -- I mean in the City -- so we can still work together and be as one. Chair Gort: Thank you, ma'am. Laverne Scott: Laverne Scott, Curley's House. Tonight, I heard a lot of people talking about taking care of the poor, and I believe that when you're talking about taking care of the poor, nobody really does a better job than Curley House does. First of all, we working on a shoestring budget. Like she said we feeding over 5, 000 families a month. Many of the people that come to us are homeless, indigent, HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), veterans, seniors. We have about 30 seniors over there with us that we brought out tonight from Meat Manna [sic], and New Horizons. These people are in desperate need. Like Ms. Nichols [sic] spoke and said, who would think that in the United States, someone would have to choose between whether you going to eat, or buy your medication, or how you going to eat, or pay your rent, or your lights? No one should have to make that choice. And a lot of these people receive less than a thousand dollars a month income to live off of, and they get five to $17 in food stamps. Those five to $17 are being cut. Some of our seniors are receiving zero dollars in food stamps. So we ask you all to continue supporting us, because if you support us, we could do even more. And we are a citywide agency. Our organization is no longer 95 percent black. We have just as many Hispanics, whites and every nationality at our doors, Monday through Friday, 9 to 3, because we are open. That's our passion; we are there to help them. And we ask you all to help us continue doing what our passion is with helping these people. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Joe Furst. Joe Furst: Good evening, Commissioners. Joe Furst, 570 Northeast 57th Street, Miami, City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Florida. You've seen me here before, and you've seen me here advocating on behalf of Wynwood, and I'm really here advocating for more police. We were able to take matters into our own hands in Wynwood and form a Business Improvement District, and start self -funding the needs that we had for our neighborhood and our community. But today, I'm here for my residential community, Morningside, on behalf of the Morningside Civic Association. We need more police on the streets. For our residential communities, it's an absolute struggle to get service. I had an issue not too long ago. It took me about 40 minutes to get a police officer to my door. That's an issue. So, please, do whatever you can within your budget, try to get more police on the streets. I thank you for your help and continue to be grateful for all of your service. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Jacqui Colyer. Jacqui Colyer: Good evening. I'm Jacqui Colyer with the Oakland Grove Neighborhood Association, and I am here on behalf of the residents of Oakland Grove, because over the last year and a half, we have seen a decidedly high increase in crimes and in different kinds of offenses in our neighborhood, and I'm here just advocating for 100 or more police officers every year over the next three years until we reach parity with communities that are our size that have police departments that are a lot larger than ours are. I know that police aren't the only answer, and I've always felt that way, but I also know that policing comes as a part of the solution. I think that we need to look at effective new approaches for how we police certain communities, and that all communities cannot be policed in the same way. When I look at District 5, the district that I live in, I know that community -oriented policing has worked in the past, because we have had it, and it has worked. I also know that the research shows that as communities, we always spend the most that we can on how to resolve and how we deal with crime in our communities. There are other ways to do that, and we've seen this be more effective in communities like New York; Cleveland, in the Euclid Area District; in South Beach, and it's an initiative that holds policing and an innovative solution called "Safe Design. " And Safe Design really looks at what communities need, and Safe Design looks at what the community says that they need. They don't let you guys decide, because you don't know. You live in your different neighborhoods. But in Oakland Grove, we need different kind of things than you might need in Coconut Grove; although we do need the same thing in terms of policing. So I'm asking us -- I'm asking my Commissioner, Commissioner Hardemon, to not just look at policing, but also to look at a comprehensive measure and comprehensive design for how we can turn around and build urbanization within our communities, because there is a way to do this differently, there is a way to do this smart, and there is a way to do this so that it's effective. But I think it starts with at least getting 100 new police every year for the next three years on the streets of the City of Miami. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Shannon Roque. Shannon Roque: My name is Shannon and I live on 3265 Matilda Street in Coconut Grove, and my husband and I just moved to the Grove, and we love the Grove, and we've met very nice people, and we've also become part of the Coconut Grove Crime Watch. Now, since moving into our street, we've had a lot of crime happening. It may be considered petty crime. For example, we have people that break into cars. We've had incidents where someone has broken into every single person's car on Matilda Street from the middle of Coconut Grove all the way up to Bird Avenue, and it has happened twice; well, since I've been there, which is in the last couple of months. But we've also had -- my neighbor just moved into a house, and her house was also broken in. Her husband travels. She was upstairs with her children. They came in and they left, and I was saying, "Thank goodness, she didn't come down with her kids in the middle of the night," because we don't know what would have happened. Now, I understand that a lot of this City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 crime is probably drug related, and it's sad to see this. I mean, I understand if you're hungry, you need food, and, you know, you need income, but if you -- it's drug related, it's like, okay, when is this going to be something more than just a petty crime like breaking into a car? So I'm here representing Coconut Grove, and I would like to support the idea of having a hundred more police officers in the Grove, but also in the City of Miami, andl would appreciate your consideration for this. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Mr. Hannon: Brenda Graham. Brenda Graham: Good afternoon. My name is Brenda Graham, and I live at 768 Northwest 49th Street, and I'm here representing Curley's House. I was 52 years old, no job, no home, nowhere to go, and I met Laverne Holliday and Laverne Scott that gave me a chance to pull myself up; they gave me a job; they gave me my life back. And I want to tell you Curley's House is needed. We need you to help us out, 'specially with food. A family, a mother came in with three children and a elderly lady came in, and it was one small bag. Who do we tell -- who do we give that bag to? Here, I runs back to look to see what we had on the shelf; one small jar of peanut butter, that's all we had. Bread, one slice of bread. I fixed that, broke it in half. I gave it to the kids. Broke the bag in half; a half a bag of this and a half of little thing in that; that's what we gave. I'm asking you for more money so we can get the jelly to put with that peanut butter. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Rudy Brown: Good afternoon. My name is Rudy Brown, 12 -- Chair Gort: Excuse me. Mr. Brown: Oh. Chair Gort: We have a list that we call on the name of. Did you sign up? Did you sign up? Mr. Brown: No. Chair Gort: There's a lady behind you with the documents where you can sign, ma'am. Next. Mr. Hannon: The next speaker is Alma Brown. Alma Brown: Good evening. Chair Gort: Good evening. Ms. Brown: My name is Alma Brown, and I reside at 301 Northwest 51 st Street, and I am here advocating for the additional 100 police officers. And I speak on that advocation [sic] for them with reservation, because I feel that we need to hold those police officers accountable. I live in a neighborhood, and I'm going to have to choose my words very carefully, because I think that at first, I was afraid to speak out in public, but I said, `I can't let fear make a prisoner in my home. I will never get any help." On my street, there's all kinds of illegal activities going on, including drug trafficking. I have called the police on numerous occasion [sic]. It is documented, thoroughly documented -- addresses, descriptions and everything; that is in the hands of the police officer. The reason I'm here is because I want that my neighborhood cleaned up. I don't want to be a prisoner in my home; come home, go right in the house, and afraid to come outside. I want to be able to walk my streets without fear. Also, my neighbors also live in fear. They're afraid to call the police, because I've been told on many occasions, "When I call the police, they City of Miami Page 23 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 don't come." We have documented situations where we have called the police. We had had life -threatening situations where we have called 9-1-1, and we have been hung up on; that's documented. We have met with our Mayor a couple of years back on that; nothing, to no avail. My new Commissioner, he's aware of the situation. We have made him aware of it, and we're looking forward to working with him to try to get the situation cleared up. Thank you for listening. I respect the police officers, but we want to hold them accountable. They cannot clean up one neighborhood and forget the other, and I think if we're going to grow economically, we do have to get the crime out of our neighborhoods. Thank you very much. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: J. A. Alex. J. A. Alex: Thank you very much. Much respect to all the Commissioners, to the Mayor and to the staff. A lot of work goes on here, and my presence here today is because I want to make that work that is done be more effective and get more cluck for our buck. I do not advocate for 100 new police officers. I would like for Ms. Brown or anybody else who's here or who hears this to contact me and I will explain why since I don't have time to do it here. We have created the Grogan Community Crime Watch. And there was a girl who was told she could not come back to her apartment by the drug dealers, because she did not cooperate with them, and she lived in an apartment that they controlled. They told her if she come back, they were going to -- well, they threatened to kill her and they threatened to burn her house down. She was sleeping on the bus stop, and she saw me pass by, and she stopped me and explained to me she had nowhere to go. I asked her why did she stop me after we had discussed her situation. She said because she had heard that the Grogan was the only one that she can go to. She said that she had called the police two or three times, and the police came out and talked to her and left, and told her it was nothing they could do, because no crime had been committed They left her to die. And the drug dealers were there. She saw some of them right there in the block while the police was there, so they knew she had called the police. This little girl and her eight year daughter wandered around the streets of Liberty City trying to find -- andl saw them again, andl advised them to go to the 12th Street -- 62ndAvenue, loth Street police station and just stay there. I have a lot to say and I would like to say it to friendly ears. I do not feel that I'm in a friendly environment right now, and I don't understand why should that be. I believe that people like me who do not advocate for like policing and more, this and that, like that, are going to be targeted, okay? I also feel that the core of the problem is not being heard, and the core of the problem is not policing, but the core of the problem is economic development in the inner city communities where young men come to me every day, "Do you have a job? Can you find me a job? " And they sit and they wait, and I direct them to certain places. Most of the jobs are out in the upscale Broward County, North Miami areas, and they have to travel and get transportation some kind of way to get there off of nothing, 'cause they don't have any money, and then the start-up time, two weeks' pay and a lot of other problems. But the problem is jobs and economic development. Can I get a loan? I want to open up a restaurant where I can hire 28 people. There is no restaurant in our area that -- except a little old hole in the wall restaurant. I would like to open a restaurant. Can I get a loan so I can hire some people like they do in the -- Chair Gort: Sir. Mr. Alex: -- other communities? Chair Gort: Sir. Mr. Alex: Yes, sir. Chair Gort: I have given you additional time. I need for you to conclude, please. City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Alex: Sir? Chair Gort: I have given you additional time. Mr. Alex: But could you answer your question? Chair Gort: I cannot answer at this time. Mr. Alex: Could you give us a loan to open up a restaurant on 7th Avenue so that we can start hiring people and give other loans between fifty and a hundred thousand dollars so that at least Chair Gort: Vice Chairman, you're recognized. Mr. Alex: -- 500 new businesses can open up in the inner city and hire at least 5,000 people? Vice Chair Hardemon: The great news -- Mr. Alex: And you won't have to hire no more police. Vice Chair Hardemon: Sir, the great news about that -- Mr. Alex: Sir. Vice Chair Hardemon: -- we just have private funding that's coming to the Liberty City area in an amount -- right now, we have $350, 000, and in the future, $200, 000 a year that is coming just for those types of things, so we will have that, we have that, and it's going to continue to grow, so thank you so very much. Chair Gort: Thank you. Mr. Alex: I would like to work with you, sir. I'm not negative toward you. I'd like to work with you to see if we can get a lot of people working. Chair Gort: Thank you, sir. Mr. Alex: And we won't need no more police. Chair Gort: Thank you. Mr. Alex: Thank you. God bless you. Chair Gort: Thank you, sir. Next. Mr. Hannon: Rudy Brown. Mr. Brown: Good evening. My name is Rudy Brown, and I reside at 1239 Northwest 70th Street. I'm also here as an advocate for increased funds for Curley's House. Curley's House has provided for the years that I've known a lot of services as far as food and for -- also for employment for people who otherwise wouldn't be able to be employed. And I'm thankful for that, and I just wanted to say please find it in your heart to some way to find some more funding for Curley's House so we can still provide services for not only our community at large, but we extend as far as from Homestead to Broward, so we need more support. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you, sir. Next. City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Hannon: Melissa Stapleton. Melissa Stapleton: Good afternoon. My name is Melissa Stapleton. I live at 1 -- yeah -- 4120 Northwest 185th Street in Miami Gardens. I'm here today on behalf of Curley's House, who has helped me immensely over the last year with employment and with food. I've gone down to Curley's House several different times, and there's been a lot of people trying to get fund -- you know, trying to get food so they can eat and survive, for their children, for themselves, and they haven't had the amount of food that they need to support and take care of these families. They're doing a wonderful job with what they are trying to do, which is to keep people healthy and alive, and I think that's very important; that people tend to overlook things like that, little things that might not mean something to someone but mean a great deal to someone else, and I'm one of those people, and I just wanted to say on behalf of Curley's House and you folks for supporting them that I thank them for the fact that I have a job today, and I am able to get food so that I can stay alive and grow in my nourishment and my daily life. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you, ma'am. Next. Mr. Hannon: I can't read the first name, but the last name is Kitchens. Last name, Kitchens. My apologies. Ella Kitchens: Good afternoon, Mayor. To all the Commissions [sic]. My name is Ella Kitchens. I also am representing Curley House. As Curley has said, she have fed the whole neighborhood, and not only the neighborhood, everyone come always leave with a bag that if we got the food, because I have helped over there, and we give what we can, but we need more food in the community. I stay at 690 Northwest 60th Street, right 'cross from Curley, and you should be there in the morning to see the grove there. It's not only young people with children, it's elder people, and we elder people don't get much money. And what I'm fixing to say, if you go to Winn -Dixie or Publix with $50, you come out of there with two bags, because the food is so expensive. So we need some food. And then, too, I'd like to say I also is a Miami Police volunteer. I work with the Miami Police, and I volunteer. I been with them for 12 years, and I'm still a volunteer with them. So you do need more polices [sic] on the beat, and we need more food at Curley House. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Geneva Finlayson. Geneva Finlayson: Good afternoon, sir. My name is Geneva Finlayson. My address is 330 Northwest 19th Street, Apartment 301. I'm here standing in front of you all this afternoon, sir, for Curley House, because Curley House is a help to me and everybody Overtown or beyond Overtown, and we need to keep that program going, because me, myself, they cut my check and I don't get no food stamp, and they never was giving me no food stamp, because only $10 they was giving me, and I never went for the $10. Please, we need help; not tomorrow, we need help now. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Jarvis Gatlin. Jarvis Gatlin: Good afternoon, Mayor, Commissioners. My name is Jarvis Gatlin. My address is 9889 East Bay Harbor Drive. I'm here to speak on behalf of Curley's House. Curley House has been helping the senior citizens in Overtown since I was a child. The seniors -- I'm a volunteer myself I help the seniors in Overtown area. I take time every day, seven days a week, and I help them just like Curley House do. You got a lot of seniors that don't get food stamps. You got a lot of seniors, by the time they spend they check, they don't have nothing. They don't City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 have no food. They barely have money to -- for their medications. And Curley House is one of the organizations that come out there to the Overtown area and help the community, and help the seniors and single home families in Overtown area. So I'll say to you this: I urge y'all to consider to continue to fund Curley's House so they can continue to bless the community that they have been doing for so many years, and helping the families and senior citizens for so many years. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you, ma'am [sic]. Next. Mr. Hannon: For the record, the last speaker sheet that I have for the City of Miami's budget, which are items BH.1, BH.21 and BH.22, the public hearing for items BH.1, BH.21 and BH.22, the last speaker I have is Monica Soderman [sic]. Monica Saderman: Good evening, everyone. Thank you for having me. My name is Monica Saderman. I live at 574 Northwest 51 st Street in Buena Vista West. Good evening, Commissioner Hardemon. I'm here because I would like to offer my support in the asking for more police. I agree with many of the people who have spoken regarding changing the way policing happens. I think community policing would offer a great deal of help, particularly to my neighborhood. I know that the police that we do have in our neighborhood do come to our houses, and visit with us, and ask us particularly what is it that we're concerned with, but we don't have enough. As well, since I'm up here -- and I should be better at this being in theater, but I'm not so -- Chair Gort: We all -- Ms. Saderman: -- too bad -- little levity, please. We have several projects that we've been working on for many years. I've lived in the neighborhood since 2006, and the residents of Buena Vista West work very hard with the City folks to get our concerns to the City, and oftentimes, we have many unfinished projects, which I'm sure is everybody's problem in the City, because there's just not enough to go around sometimes. Anyway, what do I have? Am I supposed to look at -- Chair Gort: Go ahead, go ahead. Ms. Saderman: Thank you. Sorry. So we have a great deal of people in our neighborhood, as you know, Commissioner Hardemon, who are scared to call the police. I can't tell you how many of my neighbors call me instead of the police. And then I had a neighbor call me two weeks ago. His house had been broken into. The police had already been called by the alarm company. I went down there ten minutes after the alarm had gone off, and the police still took another 25 minutes. I don't know how to fix that. I think that if we have more police officers, we might be able to alleviate some of that problem, and I do believe that they need to get more involved in the community. The people in my community want to be active, but as I said, they are scared of repercussions from the not great element that can sometimes be in our neighborhoods. And they were active, and some of them are disheartened, because they put out their concerns, and they send their requests, and it seems to sometimes not get answered. So we'd appreciate some help in getting answers to cleaning up our neighborhoods, because we try. I mean, we've been working on a beautification project in our neighborhood for at least four years, trying to get the ball rolling with the City, and they started it, and it's incomplete. We have plans that are dying that the City paid for in our median, because the project was never finished. Anyway, I'm going to keep coming to these meetings, and so are a lot of my neighbors, and we appreciate your help, and we look forward to having more of it. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you, ma'am. That's the last speaker, members; last speaker for the budget hearing, 21, 22. BH.2 DISCUSSION ITEM City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 14-00819 Downtown Development Authority BH.3 14-00820 DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND TENTATIVE BUDGET FOR THE MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN MILLAGE OVER ROLLED -BACK RATE. RESPONSE: 13.4% (0.478 IS THE PROPOSED RATE, 0.4215 IS THE ROLLED -BACK RATE) CITY COMMISSION LISTENS AND RESPONDS TO CITIZENS COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MILLAGE AND EXPLAINS THE REASONS FOR THE INCREASE OVER THE ROLLED -BACK RATE. 14-00819 Proposed Millage - DDA.pdf DISCUSSED Chair Gort: Now we go into the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) budget. Alyce Robertson: Hi. I'm Alyce Robertson, executive director of the Miami Downtown Development Authority. The items that you have in front of you are the proposed millage and the tentative budget for the Miami Downtown Development Authority. The percentage increase in -- over the rollback rate is 13.4 percent. The proposed rate of .478 is keeping the millage rate flat; .4215 is the rollback rate. At this hearing, you can amend for the final budget; recompute the proposed millage that was set in July; adopt the final millage rate or/and amend the final budget. We're proposing in the tentative budget a budget of 8.7, 8.657. And one of the things -- this will be the last year you'll see the -- we hope -- signage and way finding project in the budget as we just got the permits and it's going out to bid, and so that's 1.5 million that's reflected in our budget; that hopefully, by the time I'm standing here next year, the signage will be in the streets of Miami. So. Commissioner Sarnoff. Mr. Chair, I make a motion. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Excuse me, Chair. Before a motion is made would you like to -- Chair Gort: Yeah, I want a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) public hearing from -- Commissioner Sarnoff. I'm sorry. Mr. Hannon: And Chair, just for the record, the public hearing will be open for items BH.2, 3 and 4; items BH.2, 3 and 4. Chair Gort: Okay, we now open the public -- the DDA millage and budget. Mariano Cruz: Mariano Cruz, 1227 Northwest 26th Street. I agree with Ms. Robertson, 'cause I read the article that they wrote to the Miami Herald, and was very, very nice and truly to the point, because we building a new destination point, that people don't have to go to South Beach, or to Coral Gables or any place; downtown Miami, that's the place to go. Thank you. Chair Gort: Anyone else? Anyone else? We close the public hearings. ORDINANCE First Reading City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Downtown AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Development ATTACHMENT(S), RELATED TO TAXATION, DEFINING AND DESIGNATING Authority THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ("DISTRICT") OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ("CITY"); FIXING THE MILLAGE AND LEVYING TAXES IN SAID CITY DISTRICT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, AT .478 MILLS ON THE DOLLAR OF NONEXEMPT ASSESSED VALUE OF ALL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN SAID DISTRICT; PROVIDING THAT SAID MILLAGE AND THE LEVYING OF TAXES WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE CITY AS REFLECTED IN THE CITY'S MILLAGE LEVY ORDINANCE FOR THE AFORESAID FISCAL YEAR WHICH IS REQUIRED BY CITY CHARTER SECTION 27, SECTION 14-60 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AND FLORIDA STATUTES SECTIONS 200.065 AND 200.081; PROVIDING THAT THE FIXING OF THE MILLAGE AND THE LEVYING OF TAXES HEREIN SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL NOT BE DEEMED AS REPEALING OR AMENDING ANY OTHER ORDINANCE FIXING MILLAGE OR LEVYING TAXES, BUT SHALL BE DEEMED SUPPLEMENTAL AND IN ADDITION THERETO; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 14-00820 Memo - DDA SR.pdf 14-00820 DDA Resolution FR/SR.pdf 14-00820 Pre -Legislation FR/SR.pdf 14-00820 Back -Up from Law Dept FR/SR.pdf 14-00820 Legislation SR.pdf 14-00820 Exhibit A SR.pdf ACTIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION: 1. RECOMPUTE THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE, IF NECESSARY 2. ADOPT THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Suarez, that this matter be PASSED ON FIRST READING PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon Chair Gort: Commissioner Sarnoff you're recognized Commissioner Sarnoff. I make a motion, Mr. Chair. Commissioner Suarez: Second Chair Gort: There's a motion. Is there a second? Commissioner Suarez: Second Commissioner Carollo: Second. Chair Gort: Second. Any discussion? Commissioner Carollo: Yes. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, I want to verify from our City Clerk -- BH.2, BH.3 and BH.4, I want to verify if we're voting on the budget, and we're voting on the millage as one discussion item, or which is which? Can we verify for the record before we vote and --? Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): The motion currently on the floor is going to be for item BH.3, which is the first reading ordinance fixing millage and levying taxes, and then there'll be a separate vote for item BH.4, which is a resolution adopting the tentative budget for fiscal year '15 for the Downtown Development Authority. Commissioner Carollo: Understood. And then BH.2 was the discussion item? Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: For public -- okay. Commissioner Carollo: So we are in BH.3 currently? Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Chair Gort: Any further discussion? The ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Mr. Hannon: Roll call on item BH.3. A roll call was taken, the result of which is stated above. Mr. Hannon: The ordinance passes on first reading, 5-0. BH.4 RESOLUTION 14-00821 Downtown A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ADOPTING A BUDGET Development IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,972,156.00 AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FROM Authority THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AD VALOREM TAX LEVY AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INCOME FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ("DDA") OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ("CITY") FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015; AUTHORIZING THE DDA TO INVITE AND ADVERTISE REQUIRED BIDS; PROVIDING FOR BUDGETARY FLEXIBILITY; PROVIDING THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE DEEMED SUPPLEMENTAL AND IN ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY. 14-00821 Memo - DDA.pdf 14-00821 DDA Resolution.pdf 14-00821 Back -Up -DDA Trim Forms.pdf 14-00821 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf 14-00821 Legislation.pdf City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 ACTIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION: 1. AMEND THE BUDGET, IF NECESSARY 2. ADOPT THE TENTATIVE BUDGET Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon R-14-0308 Chair Gort: BH.4. Commissioner Sarnoff. So move, Mr. Chair. Commissioner Carollo: Second, discussion. Chair Gort: It's been moved by Commissioner Sarnoff second by Commissioner Carollo. Discussion; you're recognized, Commissioner Carollo. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome, Ms. Robertson. Alyce Robertson: Thank you. Commissioner Carollo: I actually read your editorial and it was very nice. The only part that was missing there, that some of those new developments are actually in the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), and monies will not be going to the general fund for Police and Fire, Solid Waste, et cetera. Anyways, with regards to your budget, I know it's first reading, so I'm going to be voting "yes"; however, I bumped into Mr. Rolando Montoya -- Ms. Robertson: Mm-hmm. Commissioner Carollo: -- and let him know, hey, listen, I haven't gotten all the backup materials for these numbers, so I'm hoping that within the next two weeks, we could get together and get all the backup materials that will need for the budget, okay? I will be voting `yes" on first reading. Thank you. Chair Gort: Okay, any further discussion? Any further discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Gort: Thank you. Mr. Robertson: Thank you very much. BH.5 RESOLUTION 14-00768 BayfrontPark A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Management Trust ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,345,000.00, TO PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE MILDREDAND CLAUDE PEPPER BAYFRONT PARK AND MUSEUM City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 PARK, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. 14-00768 Memo - Bayfront.pdf 14-00768 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf 14-00768 Legislation.pdf 14-00768 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Commissioner Suarez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon R-1 4-0309 Chair Gort: Bayfront Park, BH. 5. Timothy Schmand: Good evening, Commissioners and City Manager, City Attorney and the assembled public. I'm here today to ask the Commission to approve the 2014/2015 Bayfront Park Management Trust operating budget. The operating budget is five hundred -- $5, 845, 000, with a capital budget of 2.5 million, for a total of $8,345, 000. Chair Gort: Thank you. Open up the public hearings. Anyone in the public would like to address BH.5? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearings. Commissioner Carollo: Move it. Commissioner Suarez: Second. Chair Gort: It's been moved by Commissioner Carollo; second by Commissioner Suarez. Discussion. Being none, all in favor, state it by saying "aye.' The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Commissioner Carollo: Commissioners, if could, real quick. Chair Gort: Sure. Commissioner Carollo: I just want to mention a few things with Bayfront, and obviously, you all know that I'm very proud of Bayfront Park Management Trust. I just want to make sure for everybody to know that since 2009, especially during the time that the City was in dire financial needs, Bayfront Park has not received any subsidies, whatsoever, from the City of Miami. And when I mean subsidies, I mean monies, maintenance service or anything that normally a municipality would actually give to the cost or expense of a park. And Commissioner Hardemon, that's important, because, as you mentioned yesterday in the sunshine meeting, if it's not an expense on the City, then there's monies for other areas to be able to expense, so I'm very proud of that. We have become not only self-sustaining, but a revenue -generating organization, and I think that's very important, and that's including that, if you notice in our budget, we have a million dollar more or less budgeted for expenses in Museum Park for landscape, maintenance, lighting, security, and I think that needs to be stated. Also, if you notice in the budget, we once again are going to budget for the great free fireworks shows on the 4th of July that always, for some reason or another, gets superb media coverage highlighting downtown Miami. Also, I would like to mention that we are the only park in the City of Miami that is paying for contamination testing with issues regarding contaminations in the parks and so forth. And last, I'd like to mention that although we do get some media coverage, I want to make sure that everybody knows that, once again, it's in the budget, that we have budgeted a hundred thousand dollars approximately for the New Year's Eve fireworks show. And at the same time, for some City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 time now, Tim and I have been working to bring in a major talent to Bayfront Park in combination with a network, a televised network to see if we can make a great New Year's Eve event, and I'm happy to say that it appears like now we have two major talents separately with -- I want to say working relationships with a major network that are to a certain degree competing to see if they will make a New Year's Eve event in Bayfront Park that will be nationally televised by one of the major networks. So we're working on that, so exciting things are happening. Hopefully, this is a great opportunity; let's see if it pans out. And at the same time, we need to analyze the proposals very carefully. So nothing is a done deal, but I think it's an exciting time that two major talents that are working very closely with major networks, major television networks, are looking at Bayfront Park, the City of Miami, to bring their great New Year's Eve event, and it will be nationally televised. Thank you. Mr. Schmand: Thank you, Commissioner. Chair Gort: Thank you. BH.6 RESOLUTION 14-00816 Civilian Investigative A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Panel ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIVE PANEL IN THE AMOUNT OF $744,100.00, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. 14-00816 Memo - CIP.pdf 14-00816 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf 14-00816 Legislation.pdf 14-00816 Exhibit.pdf 14-00816-Submittal-Bradford Brown -Statement on CIP Budget.pdf Motion by Vice Chair Hardemon, seconded by Commissioner Suarez, that this matter be DEFERRED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon Note for the Record: Item BH.6 was deferred to the City of Miami's Second Budget Hearing scheduled for September 23, 2014, at 5: 05 p.m. Chair Gort: BH.6, Civilian Investigative Panel. Horacio Aguirre: Good evening, Mr. Chairman. Horacio Stuart Aguirre, as newly -elected chairman of the Civilian Investigative Panel of the City of Miami. With me is also the executive director of the panel, Ms. Cristina Beamud, somewhere to my left or behind me. We're asking for a relatively modest increase of just 15.7 percent over the prior year's budget. And in addition, we're asking for a one-time allocation, mostly or entirely to come from funds we did not spend this year in the amount of $85, 000, and that is to close the gap so that we can settle a contractual buyout with the independent counsel of the Civilian Investigative Panel. So our total request for today is $860,400. Chair Gort: Okay, thank you, sir; appreciate it. We open the public hearings, and I understand we have some speakers. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Thank you, Chair. Bradford Brown. Bradford Brown: Good evening. My name's Brad Brown. I'm the first vice president of the Miami -Dade NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), and I speak City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 here tonight on behalf of our president, Adora Obi Nweze, and the entire branch in support of the budget as submitted for the Civilian Investigative Panel. We were part of the coalition that worked when I was president of the branch to establish the CIP (Civilian Investigative Panel). Approximately three years ago, we took a look at the CIP and saw that it was not achieving the level of efficiency and level of impact on the community that we had hoped. So for the past several years, we have worked very diligently to look at the CIP and see what needed to be done to make it effective. All of us have Ferguson in our minds. In my over 50 years of civil rights work, I've seen disturbances after disturbances beginning in the 1960s, and in all of these cases, one of -- they have been triggered by police shootings that killed unarmed black men. In all of these cases, there's questions been raised, as there is in Ferguson, about police investigating the police. The Civilian Investigative Panel offers the opportunity for establishing a credible, independent investigation of such events. They can work to maintain peace and justice in our communities. We believe that we now -- one of the problems was that we did not have a permanent, well qualified, experienced executive director, no matter how hard they were working and trying to fill in. They've gone out and they have found a person with that kind of a resume. But we also found that the independent counsel regularly made very conservative rulings, and did not choose to use the subpoena power and the investigative powers given to the CIP, particularly in the shooting cases, and had the investigations limited to his review and reading of the IA (Internal Affairs) report. That does not give credibility. Credibility comes if your independent investigation gave credibility to that report, or, in fact, found things that needed to be changed and action was taken. So I urge you to vote the budget as accepted -- as submitted -- which includes the funds to move forward in this direction. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Leroy Jones. Leroy Jones: Good afternoon. Leroy Jones, 180 Northwest 62nd Street. I want to respectfully request this Commission to please adopt this resolution as relates to the budget for the CIP. I do want to say as one of the coalition members that worked hard to help create the CIP, I want to say first I want to take some of the responsibility. And what I mean by that, I mean by not being as active, and participating and being here to watch what the CIP is really doing. Change is good. I think with a new director now, with an executive director of the CIP, we're going to see some changes. I do want to say, though, this last year, I been sort of what -- involved and seeing what's taking place, and not happy, not pleased, not happy with the way the CIP have been operating lately. If you been watching the CIP meeting, you'll see it's been a lot of in-house fighting, and to have our people watch that on TV, and knowing that they supposed to be protecting and having the best interest of our citizens to make sure that both the citizens are represented and law enforcement is represented. So not just here speaking on behalf of the citizens getting a fair shot, but law enforcement getting a fair shot, too. But the law enforcement officers that's violating our community need to be held accountable for it, and that's why the CIP was created; to exonerate the officers that's -- false claims and witnesses is being brought against them, but to also single out those ones that wreaking havoc in our community. So I'm respectfully requesting that you please adopt this budget so that we can make the necessary changes that need to be made so the CIP can really do what the citizens of the City of Miami voted for, and that's to do its job. Thank you very much. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Jeanne Baker. Jeanne Baker: Good evening. Jeanne Baker, also on behalf of the same coalition that Brad Brown and Leroy Jones have spoken to you from. I'm -- my own organization is the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). With Leroy, I was one of the people who worked 12 years ago now to bring the CIP into existence, and I've been in front of you before in the Commission City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 chambers, and you know how ardently our whole coalition wants the CIP to work. We think it can avoid another Ferguson, but it has to be functional. The reason I am at this podium urging you to accept the budget is that the budget contains a settlement which will close this dysfunctional period definitively. If the budget is accepted there will be money for the buyout. The buyout has been agreed to by the independent counsel. If the budget is accepted and the settlement goes through, the independent counsel will leave definitely and very soon, and we will have a great opportunity to have the new executive director build the CIP in the image of the mission that we created it to accomplish. So if the budget is not approved, if the settlement is not approved, we are left at our wits' end. We don't know what will happen. We do recognize that you have established an Independent Review Committee. That Independent Review Committee is going to be asking for an extension on its report. We don't know what its report will say. They may be, as many citizens groups do, a committee that just makes recommendations for how to improve things, but they may not wield that hammer that would actually solve the problem of the personnel change that is needed that the African -American community in this City -- the leaders from that community -- have been asking for, so in order to have a definite resolution and to have it quickly, and to not have the contentiousness dragged on and on for more months during which the CIP cannot be doing its work, we really urge you to please accept the budget as proposed. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Julia Dawson. Julia Dawson: Thank you. Good evening. Julia Dawson, 1701 Southwest 4th Avenue, Miami, Florida, a Miami native, by the way. As you have heard before, the coalition has been looking at the CIP for now more than three and a half years. Basically, we have been providing civilian oversight of the civilian oversight of the police, and that is a very necessary thing we have found, because when we started, we discovered that it was basically not performing the way it was intended to perform, and was not living up to its mission. We have learned an awful lot in the last three and a half years, and the conclusion at the end of the road is that we have a turning point, a tipping point, and a one-time opportunity right here, right now to put the CIP back on track; this is what we have going forward. There have been problems in the past with not having a full panel. Now, as of your next Commission meeting, you should be appointing the 13th member of this 13-member board, and there will be a full panel. There has not been an executive director there since 2009. You now have not only an executive director; you have an incredible, outstanding executive director. You have met her, and she is the promise of what the CIP can become. All you have to do is okay the budget. The budget is reasonable. It includes the solution. We need to get this settled so the CIP can go on and do its job under the leadership it has, and this budget and this buyout will enable it to do that, so I urge you to support and vote for this budget. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Next. Mr. Hannon: Javier Ortiz. Javier Ortiz: Javier Ortiz, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, 710 Southwest 12th Avenue. I'm here on behalf of the voice of law enforcement to say that we are against any increases to the CIP. They have not met their mission. It's year after year of the same thing. I fully accept or I have no problem with any type of you know, oversight. We have the Department of Justice looking over our shoulder, FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement), the State Attorney's Office. We have absolutely nothing to hide. These -- this type of oversight that we're talking about, when it comes to law enforcement should be left to the experts. It should be left to the professionals. Again, we've had absolutely no issue with the U.S. (United States) Department of Justice looking into us. I personally met with their civil rights division last year up in Washington, and when I hear, year, after year, after year that there's been great strides that -- City of Miami Page 35 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 with oversight, I haven't seen any great strides, and throwing more money at something that's broken isn't going to fix anything; especially when they're supposed to be looking out for the residents in our community when there's so many allegations of racism and issues within their own unit, I think they're the ones that need the oversight. Thank you. Chair Gort: Okay. Mr. Hannon: Nathan Kurland. Nathan Kurland: Nathan Kurland, 3132 Day Avenue. A little while ago, I spoke in favor of compensating police officers fairly. At this point, I would like to speak absolutely in support of a very active and very viable CIP. I think it's absolutely essential to the wellbeing of every city. And it's interesting, Mr. Ortiz, for the exact reasons that you mentioned; that is why I believe a CIP is so important to the health of any city. If the events happening around the country has not convinced everyone that a CIP could help avoid some of those very reasons that cause riots and deaths in the street, then CIP is absolutely one way to avoid that problem. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Anyone else? Mr. Hannon: The last speaker I have for item BH.6 is Gary Johnson. Gary Johnson: Good evening, Commissioner. I wanted to put this on the record. It was brought to my attention -- there's a reason why I'm down here. It was brought to my attention that during the time when one of these meetings that the CIP Board -- CIP meeting -- that there were some papers passed around in the meeting, and I won't refer to what it was called, but it was very derogatory towards African -Americans, very derogatory. And if you're going to be a board, or independent board, or organization, you stand for justice, and justice across the board. And I have that document, and if could meet with you individually after this Commission meeting or when we could schedule it, we cannot allow this to happen in this Commission meeting, especially when people are saying -- they're making recommendations for our community. I don't take sides with that, and I won't take sides with that, I don't care who's on the board. If you calling us racial names, epithets, racial names, and that's okay? And we brush it up under the table? No, we can't accept that, and I know this Commission wouldn't accept that, 'cause I know most of you on this board. You wouldn't accept that. But we need to get to the bottom of it, and that's what we intend to do here. So we are going to have a CIP Board, an independent, and those who are on the coalition work together for what's best. It's got to be across the board, it's got to be across the board. And having said that, I wanted to share this with you and put it on record. I want to meet with you. I have that document, and it won't be pushed up under the table. It's got to be addressed. I thank you for your time. Chair Gort: Thank you. Anyone else? We now close the public hearings; comments from our Board Members, motions. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Suarez: I have something I want to say, too. Chair Gort: You're recognized, Commissioner Carollo. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First thing I want to say is that I believe in the Civilian Investigative Panel, because the overwhelming residents of the City of Miami in 2001 voted for this panel. Unfortunately, I don't think their wishes are being met, and I think we keep seeing this months after month, and to a certain degree, I'm extremely disappointed, because last year, when -- it was Mr. Aguirre came forward for a budget increase, I asked -- which I'm going to ask again, and it's going -- I feel it's going to be like Groundhog Day -- I City of Miami Page 36 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 asked, "Mr. CFO (Chief Financial Officer), is that in our budget? " And the answer was "no" back then, and I have a feeling that the answer is going to be "no" again, correct? Is that in the City of Miami budget? Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): No. Commissioner, the budget proposal for the Civilian Investigative Panel goes directly to the Commission. We do not have the additional 85,000 at this time into the budget, but if it's the will of this Commission to put it in, we will put it in. Commissioner Carollo: Okay, so right now, we will have to find an additional $85, 000 for the City of Miami budget; is that correct? That's correct. That's exactly what happened last year, except it wasn't 85; it was a little more than that. I think it was about 100, 000, and I took the task of finding that 100, 000, because the -- Mr. Aguirre: I might be able to help here, ifI may, Commissioner. Commissioner Carollo: -- because -- and we could go back in history, because, again, I think you're learning, because I think two or three years ago, that was that famous, "Commissioner, there's 48, 000 " or "There's 84,000 in that budget or in that" -- Mr. Aguirre: You are correct. Commissioner Carollo: -- "Show it to me." Mr. Aguirre: You are correct. Commissioner Carollo: So I got to think you learn from that and now you're going to go to the same area, which is from last year's -- Mr. Aguirre: Monies -- we have monies in our budget right now that have not been spent that would more than cover the 85,000. Commissioner Carollo: So once again, why are we allocating more monies when year, after year, after year, you're not able to spend the money that we're budgeting to you? Mind you, mind you, and I understand this is for a buyout of a contract. You know, you -- although I said that I believe in the Civilian Investigative Panel, because the citizens, the residents of Miami were the ones that overwhelmingly said, "Yes, we want this." But there needs to be accountability. The contract that now you want to buy out was done January of this year. January of this year was the contract. I have it. There's nothing here about a buyout. There's nothing here about we having to pay -- and as a matter of fact, I thought -- and again I -- you know, these -- those meetings went very, very long into the, you know, into the day or so forth. -- there was many, many hours. But it was my understanding that Mr. May came up here and he said you know, "I would resign" or was -- how did this occur? Because I don't see why we will have to pay an additional $85, 000, because he's leaving; not to mention that this Commission is still waiting for that committee, a very impressive committee, by the way, you know, and I commend all my colleagues for, you know, their nominations -- we're still waiting for their report. And at the same time, I think that one additional guidance from us -- I'm not sure, but I'm telling you right now, I'm very uncomfortable with this budget as it stands. Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, I mean, I kind of want to echo, and I suspect maybe some of the other colleagues, just based on shaking of the heads, may echo some of the sentiments. I think from my perspective, you know, the coalition has been very clear on City of Miami Page 37 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 what the coalition feels is needed to fix the CIP. And I think we, as a body, have kind of answered that call in terms of recomposing the entire board of members that would be more reflective and responsive -- they have a good chairman -- and will make it a better board. And I think the secondary piece which was, you know, obvious, was the independent counsel, and my reading of the agreement is that it does not require any sort of cause -- Commissioner Carollo: Exactly. Commissioner Suarez: -- for there to be a termination of the independent counsel. It's simply a decision that could be made by the City Attorney in, quote/unquote, consultation with the CIP Board, which it doesn't define what that means. I take that to be essentially telling them, you know, `Pm consulting with you that I'm going to do this." So it's hard for me to imagine why a settlement proposal would even have been floated -- Commissioner Carollo: Exactly. Commissioner Suarez: -- without, as far as I know -- no one met with me. I don't know if anyone met with any other members of the Commission. Commissioner Carollo: In all fairness, they reached out to me. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. So -- they reached out to me after the settlement proposal was made and supposedly agreed to. Commissioner Carollo: Well, they reached out to me after the fact. Commissioner Suarez: Right. But I'm saying no one reached out to me before -- Commissioner Carollo: No, no. Commissioner Suarez: -- and said, "Hey, we're thinking of doing this. Is this a good idea?" Commissioner Carollo: No. Commissioner Suarez: And I think right then and there, they would have heard -- Commissioner Carollo: No. Commissioner Suarez: -- you know, we would have analyzed the situation and said, "This is not a good idea. This is not a way to go." So, you know, I think -- let me just say that I think we are on the same page in terms of what the final results have to be to finally fix the CIP or hopefully fix the CIP; God willing, we don't have any of these issues going forward. I'm actually a little surprised to learn that that contract was signed in January of this year. That's a little bit shocking to me to be completely honest, given the -- Commissioner Carollo: January 15, 2014. Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. I actually missed that, so I'm glad you brought that to my attention. That's pretty shocking given the back and forth on this issue. But anyhow, I don't think that that necessarily -- that just happens to shock me. It's a fact that happens to shock me that I didn't -- that I wasn't aware of but I don't think that changes the analysis one iota. I think the analysis is that, you know, if the City Attorney feels that we need to go in a different direction with the independent counsel for the viability of the Civilian Investigative Panel; if the coalition feels that way; if everyone feels that way, then that's the way it has to go. I would just finish by saying when we went in a different direction with our Auditor General, we didn't really -- it City of Miami Page 38 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 wasn't cost, you know. We just simply said, "Hey, our Auditor General's been here for 'X' number of years, you know, and it's time, " and I think generally accepted accounting principles or auditing principles state that an auditor should be on for no longer than a certain period of time, and then you kind of hit the "refresh" button, and you give another -- there's many, many good lawyers in this community; trust me, there's an abundance. If there's anything that there's an abundance of in this community, it's good lawyers. So I just -- you know, I have no issue with parting ways. I think it should be done amicably. I don't think there's any reason why that should be done in a way that's hostile, but I don't think that there has to be any sort of buyout or spending taxpayer money on this issue. It's just a matter of making a decision and moving on. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Vice Chairman, you're recognized. Vice Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. The January 15, 2014 contract signing is significant to me, and I'm sure -- well, the executive director has come up with some response to why that contract could have been signed at that time. But it's significant to me, because a lot of the problems that the CIP was facing existed before January 15, 2014, and some of the issues that were purported to be with the independent counsel existed before that time period. So it begs of me to question why the contract would have been signed moving forward with that person, or the issues would not have been brought before the Commission, because at least on that one, I was here. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Vice Chair Hardemon: That the issue would not have been brought before the Commission before that contract signing date, because not too soon thereafter, we find ourselves in the situation where the community is bringing this issue to us for us to address. Now, being that my focus is on the due process, when the community for -- I don't want to misname the advocates, but when the advocates for removing our independent counsel came before this Commission, we found ourselves in a situation where there was a lot of mudslinging, and the one thing I don't like about politics and some things is the mudslinging, because people are damaged and reputations are hurt. And so what we did in response to that was to give the independent counsel essentially his time in court; to give him an opportunity to respond to the allegations; to give him a fair, unbiased shot at showing that he was, in fact, not in violation, or he did not cause any nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance of his job duties. That was the fabric in which this independent counsel -- well, not independent counsel -- the board that we created to look into this matter. That's why they were started; so that he would have an opportunity, instead it being dumped on the feet or at the feet of our City Attorney. Considering the fact that she could have made that decision to move forward with him or without him, we thought it would be fair, not only to herself, but to him and to the people who live in this community to figure out, well, what's really going on here? So now, we find ourselves with a committee that has been putting forth a lot of work, and now, we find this plane is coming near to an end, it's coming to a landing, and we've seen someone press the button and try to eject themselves from the vessel. Now, I don't know if that vessel has a co-pilot and it'll be landed safely. I don't know if it will crash and burn, right? However, the pause that I have in this is that we find ourselves with a buyout where there is not necessarily a need for a buyout. I don't know if there's a need for a buyout. I don't know if the committee is coming back in a fashion that is against the independent counsel. I don't know if the committee is coming back with a finding that is for the CIP Panel or against the CIP Panel; I just don't know. And so to me, putting the money at this issue is premature. It seems to me that it is somewhat disrespectful of the process and the time that the people who have been investigating, indeed the independent counsel, have put forward, because now -- and maybe I'm wrong, because I'm not into the mix of what's going on, because I depend on them to come back before me. Maybe they are discussing a buyout with him. I couldn't understand how that would be possible, considering that they were only put together to look into the misfeasance, nonfeasance and malfeasance of his job duties. But at the same time, it makes me wonder why, City of Miami Page 39 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 all of a sudden are we doing this? I know people want him gone. I know there was a time that he wanted to be there. I don't know his feelings about the issue today. Maybe -- Mr. Aguirre: He is in agreement to the buyout, yes. Vice Chair Hardemon: So maybe $175, 000 makes him feel better about walking away. Chair Gort: Hold it, hold it. Let's keep decorum. Wait a minute, wait a minute, let the Vice Chairman finish. Vice Chair Hardemon: It certainly would make me feel better about walking away -- Commissioner Carollo: Exactly. Vice Chair Hardemon: -- where I don't have a need or I don't have a legal right to those funds. Commissioner Suarez: Right, totally right. Vice Chair Hardemon: It brings me back to January 15, 2014. It brings me back to the contract that my brethren has read that shows that there is no right to those funds, and it then brings me back to the work that that committee has been putting forward. There have been some very, very serious allegations that have been placed forward against the independent counsel, and the CIP, for that matter, and members of the CIP and its staff. There are some unsettling things that have been said. And rather than fighting those issues on camera, before the City of Miami constituents, and the rest of the world, for that matter, we decided to put this panel together to see if -- just not combing through the politics, but to the business of the CIP, what has gone wrong, because at the end of the day, today, I still don't understand why -- and I don't know if it falls on the chairman, or the executive director, or the independent counsel why we can have a police force that ignores subpoena powers. I still don't know why we can have a police force that isn't properly subpoenaed to appear before the CIP. I mean, those powers to subpoena someone are some of the most powerful things that an organization can have, because we all know that from there, the court can levy a penalty on an officer for disrespect or not following the command of the court. And being a criminal defense attorney, and to watch officers find themselves sidestepping the court's power, I know how utterly disrespectful it is to a body, to an attorney, to the victims, to the community, and to those of us who gave the power to those organizations. So when I think about what's happening within the CIP, yes, I want to solve those problems that we have. I want to see the CIP do something that it was chartered to do. I want to see them exercise power, and I don't -- I almost let a curse word out -- but I just don't care what it costs when it talks -- I mean, when we're talking about enforcing the subpoena powers of -- let us deal with that problem later. Let us deal with the Police Chief that walks in here and says, "My officers have not appeared nine times on this subpoena, and it's cost the CIP this amount of dollars." Let us say to that Police Chief "Give us our money back, or there better be a darn good excuse." Let us deal with those types of problems. But don't dare come to us without enforcing the subpoenas. Don't dare come to us without giving us what we need to move forward in a productive manner in this community, and then ask us to reward someone with $175, 000 before we find out what the fruit of our investigation is. So in my eyes -- and there is no motion on the floor, but what I consider -- what I would consider to be a more favorable motion to be made is something that ignores the request for the $175, 000 today, because as I understand, we can always give that money later. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Hardemon: Right? Sometimes I'm right. Chair Gort: Yes, you're right. City of Miami Page 40 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Vice Chair Hardemon: Sometimes I'm wrong. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chair. Chair Gort: You're right on target. Vice Chair Hardemon: But at the end of -- and to conclude -- because I just want to know what's going to be said I want to know what I'm paying for. I want to know how our independent counsel did, because if it turns out, in fact, that there was no misfeasance, no nonfeasance, no malfeasance of his job duties, I think that man deserves his job. And I'm sure that a City Attorney who has been under the fire of the law in other aspects of her career probably agrees with me. So the way that I look at it is let the chips fall where they may, but let's at least get the fruit of our labor. Chair Gort: Okay, Commissioner Carollo. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And -- spoke very eloquently. You stated exactly what needed to be said, and in all fairness, I saw the meeting when it was announced, and it was a meeting of the five members that we picked to do the actual analysis, if you will. And I saw when it was stated that Mr. May [sic] was going to step down, and there was no mention that I remember -- and again, it was a lot of hours -- of any buyout; it actually seemed pretty amicably. But then again, if there's no need and money is offered, I mean, obviously, I guess everyone would be happy. With that said, I don't have a problem voting on the same budget as last year, or we could table this to the next Commission meeting, next budget Commission meeting, because then, we should hear from -- some type of report from our committee that we appointed to actually do the investigation or the analysis on the CIP. Chair Gort: Mr. Clerk. Mr. Hannon: Commissioners, for the record, a final report will not be issued until the September 29 Commission meeting. At the September 11 meeting, three of the five Independent Review Committee members will be here to provide you with a status update on their progress; however, they will be requesting that a final report be issued at the September 29 Commission meeting. We still have one more public meeting to go, which will be on September 15. Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): But there is a possibility to be a draft of that report before you have to vote on your second budget hearing, so that is also a possibility. So as Commissioner Hardemon suggested -- Chair Gort: My understanding is we can make a motion today with the same budget we had last year. Mr. Aguirre: Well -- Chair Gort: If anything makes a change, then we can do that afterwards. Mr. Aguirre: Mr. Chair. Chair Gort: Yes, sir, you're recognized. Mr. Aguirre: Thank you, sir. The -- when you're saying "the same budget," you're saying the same budget with the sanctioned increase of 16 percent that was proposed? Ms. Mendez: No. City of Miami Page 41 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: No. I am saying the same budget as last year. Chair Gort: Last year. Commissioner Carollo: And realistically, realistically. Mr. Aguirre: And without the 16 percent increase for the -- without in -- Chair Gort: That's what I mean. Mr. Aguirre: That 16 percent does not include the allocation for Mr. Mays' contract. Commissioner Carollo: Understood Chair Gort: That's correct. Commissioner Carollo: Understood I think it should be the same budget as last year. Mr. Aguirre: No, I -- Commissioner Carollo: And I know where you're going. I still think it should be the same budget as last year. And, by the way, in addition, I think the money that was left over should go to the City of Miami. We should take that money back. Mr. Aguirre: All right. Commissioner Carollo: Because if we're looking for money every which way to pay for our police officers, to pay for our Fire Department and you see that our employees have come up here -- the citizens have come up here -- Mr. Aguirre: Yeah. Commissioner Carollo: -- and are requesting for us to find funding. I think that's funding right there. Mr. Aguirre: Yeah. Commissioner Carollo: That does not mean that we're reducing your budget from last year. All we're doing is obtaining the money that was not used last year into the City coffers -- Mr. Aguirre: Yeah. Commissioner Carollo: -- and we're giving you the same budget as last year. Mr. Aguirre: If may, Mr. Chairman. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Mr. Aguirre: We have a substantial number of new members on the panel, and by statute, we have to provide a certain amount of training for those members through the National Association of Civilian Law Enforcement. So we actually do need the seven -seventy-five -- Chair Gort: Okay. City of Miami Page 42 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Vice Chair Hardemon: Mr. Chairman. Mr. Aguirre: -- for -- to meet those training requirements for the new -- we've -- more than 50 percent of the panel today is brand new. I mean, by "brand new," I'm talking about 60 days old, a -- Chair Gort: Thank you. Mr. Aguirre: -- freshman, if you will. Chair Gort: You're recognized. Vice Chair Hardemon: I have a -- just from -- I'm sorry. It just came to mind, if there is a budget surplus from an actual budget year, I thought -- and I want to confirm through our Madam City Attorney -- that if there is a budget surplus in an organization such as this, that that budget surplus is supposed to be swept back into the City of Miami; is that correct? Ms. Mendez: Yes. Vice Chair Hardemon: So what you're asking for is for us to reallocate that budget surplus back to you, because you had some cost savings in that year; is that what you're asking? Mr. Aguirre: I suggest that that, Commissioner, as a source for the $85, 000 that we need to close the gap for the contract for Mr. Mays, okay? Vice Chair Hardemon: Mm-mm, that's not -- Mr. Aguirre: But if you're not willing to do that, then I will request the originally proposed budget of seven -seventy-five thousand four hundred, which City staff has agreed to, and which was originally proposed, and we do need that if we're going to provide for the training for all the new members. Commissioner Carollo: I don't see the expenditure here for training, and I don't see the increase from last year. Where is the expenditure for training? Mr. Aguirre: Okay. The National Association of Civilian Law Enforcement is under the "travel" line. Give me a second, I'll show you where that is. Commissioner Carollo: No, I see it. It's an increase from $6, 000 to $14, 000 under "travel and per diem." Mr. Aguirre: Correct. Commissioner Carollo: But I mean, training and travel are very different. Mr. Aguirre: I don't write this budget. This is -- Mr. Alfonso: They are, Commissioner, but our codes that we have don't separate those. It's travel and training; that's the code. Commissioner Suarez: Travel to train. Mr. Aguirre: We -- Commissioner Carollo: It should be -- I think it should be separated, and, you know what I'm City of Miami Page 43 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 saying, Mr. Alfonso. Is that the only increase in the budget, Mr. Alfonso? Mr. Alfonso: There's a couple of more increases, Commissioner, because we're reallocating expense. They're not a real increase in expense; there's simply a redistribution of it. For example, we took some of the IT (Information Technology) expenditures, reduced them out of IT, and transferred them out. Commissioner Carollo: Right. Mr. Alfonso: So those type of things. Commissioner Carollo: No, I mean overall, overall, we're talking from -- what? -- six -thirty-five -- this was the actual -- we're talking from seven -forty-two to eight- sixty, but that -- I have to deduct the eighty-five, three -eight -sixty -- So in essence, rough numbers, you want to go from seven -forty-two to seven -seventy-five in your budget? Mr. Aguirre: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: Total budget? Mr. Aguirre: Yes, yes, sir. Chair Gort: Talking about an additional 33,000. Commissioner Carollo: An additional 33,000. Mr. Aguirre: That's correct. Chair Gort: That's correct. Commissioner Carollo: So where is the difference? Because if travel or training went up roughly 6,000, 7,000, where's the rest? Mr. Aguirre: About 20,000 in wages and salaries. If you look from three -twenty -five -eight hundred to three -forty -two -five hundred, that's -- Commissioner Carollo: You're saying that the training is -- it's mandated by some type of statute or -- Mr. Aguirre: That is correct. Commissioner Carollo: I'd be willing to do last year's budget with the addition for training, and that's it. Mr. Aguirre: Okay. Commissioner Suarez: Second that. Commissioner Carollo: And that's my motion. Chair Gort: There's a motion, there's a second. Any further discussion? Commissioner Carollo: Do I need -- Mr. City Clerk, do I need more description with regards to the budget or --? I want to make sure that our intent or the intent of this Commission is done properly, so -- City of Miami Page 44 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Hannon: Understood, sir. Mr. Manager, are you good to go with the motion that was made by Commissioner Carollo? Mr. Alfonso: Yes, Commissioner -- yes, Mr. Clerk. I'm sorry. Vice Chair Hardemon: Discussion. Chair Gort: Discussion. Vice Chair Hardemon: The increase in the salaries from three -twenty -five -eight hundred to three -forty -two -five hundred, I want to give you a fair shot at, you know, describing what that increase would entail, 'cause I want to make sure that ifI vote -- I want to make sure that I'm doing the right thing. So the three -- the increase from three -twenty -five -eight hundred to a proposed three -forty -two -five hundred -- Mr. Aguirre: Good point. Right now, we are understaffed, so we are still shy two key positions. We're shy one investigator. We're shy one analyst that are key to the operation. The people that we -- right now, we're running this department with three staffers, who are putting in something in the order of about 13 and a half hours a day; they're going to burn out by the end of the year if they're still with us. So we've got to hire one more investigator. Right now, we have just one investigator for the entire City of Miami. We've got one executive director, one administrative assistant, and we're supposed to be telling the Department of Justice that we've got an active, vibrant, viable Civilian Investigative Agency for a community that swells to over a million people every day between 8 in the morning and 9 at night. Vice Chair Hardemon: Mr. Chairman, may I? Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Hardemon: So the 16 -- the additional 16,700, how many positions does it fund? Mr. Aguirre: Could -- allow me or Ms. Beamud, you want to --? We will have an executive director, the person standing next to me, which is an attorney, imminently qualified. And I might mention this is the first time that we have hada qualified, certified administrator for our civilian oversight agency. Everybody else that we've had before has been very good, but nonetheless, an adaptation; sort of like using a wrench to be a hammer, or a pair of pliers to put a nail in the wall. This one is the first time that we have the right person. We -- right now, we also have one administrative assistant. We have one investigator; that's a woman with a master's and about 40 years in law enforcement -- well, maybe 30 years law enforcement experience. We will then be adding an analyst and an investigator. Vice Chair Hardemon: So that it will -- Mr. Aguirre: So we will be adding two more people. Vice Chair Hardemon: Because I want you to help me help you. Mr. Aguirre: Yeah. Vice Chair Hardemon: The 16,700, will that -- does that mean that the addition -- Mr. Aguirre: That will allow us -- Vice Chair Hardemon: Let me finish. City of Miami Page 45 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Aguirre: -- to hire the people that we're -- Vice Chair Hardemon: Let me finish it. So that 16,700 will be split to add two different people, so we have about an $8, 000 salary for them, or does it add padding or some additional dollars to positions that you have budgeted for that will require additional funding, so that they can be comfortable at their position? Mr. Aguirre: The seven -seventy-five -- the $775,000 that we've asked for -- $775,400 -- will allow us to have the five staff members that are in the original budget, which is a bear, bear minimum operation for a community of this size, especially with a community that has the number and nature of complaints that we get in this community, in this City. Chair Gort: The question is, the addition of $16, 000 -- Mr. Aguirre: Yeah. Chair Gort: -- is not to hire two people. Mr. Aguirre: No. Chair Gort: It's going to add to an existing budget that you have existing -- Mr. Aguirre: It will make sure -- Chair Gort: -- that was the question. Mr. Aguirre: -- that we have enough to hire the people that are in the proposed -- original proposed budget. Chair Gort: Thank you. Mr. Aguirre: Without the 16,000, we will not be able to hire the people that we intended to hire. Chair Gort: Thank you. Vice Chairman, do you have any question? Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner -- Commissioner Suarez: I have a question, just -- more procedural than substantive. You know, all -- a lot of agencies are coming here tonight, and the agencies come, and when they're going to increase their personnel, or salary and wages, they give us a breakdown by position, by category, so that we don't have to ask these questions here, so that we're not surprised, and I just don't understand why we didn't get that. I mean, that's pretty basic, and I mean, I can understand that you want to fill in the gap in the sense of you know, explaining maybe that you haven't been able to fill those positions, so that's why you need more money to fill those positions; that's what I'm kind of sensing. Is that -- Mr. Aguirre: No. We actually had two people in that position, but they resigned earlier this year, and basically, they resigned because they were unhappy with the strifes and -- Commissioner Suarez: Okay but -- Mr. Aguirre: -- with the internal war inside the CIP. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. So they didn't resign because they weren't getting paid City of Miami Page 46 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 sufficiently. They resigned because of the internal wars within the CIP? Mr. Aguirre: That is correct, yes. Commissioner Suarez: So why would we have to budget more money if they didn't resign because they weren't getting paid sufficiently? Mr. Aguirre: Because one person, we are going to have -- we're going to go back to something that we used to have years ago, which is a category called an analyst, which will actually save us money from what -- the operation we had maybe six or seven years ago, because the analyst will be doing not only investigator work, but also data compilation and reporting, which takes a fair amount of time. Ms. Mendez: Commissioners, if you like, you have the opportunity to table this budget until the 23rd, and the City Attorney's Office could find out if we can do also the training, which would save a lot of the cost of travel and things of that nature, and then you can find out if that is something that will give you a little more wiggle room on your budget, which we can; we can do the training. Chair Gort: Yes, you're recognized. Vice Chair Hardemon: I want to be sure that we -- that when it comes to this budget that we give the money that you believe, as professionals, is necessary to run an effective CIP. I want to make that very, very clear. It doesn't make sense to have a CIP but then not give it the funds that it needs to properly execute its duties. I think that would be a tragedy [sic] of justice on our part. So -- and that's why I wanted to be very clear about, you know, help us help you, because if it takes the additional funding, then I would ask my colleagues to amend their motion so that we can meet that threshold, right? But it certainly has to be articulated in a way that we understand it clearly and that the members of our community understand it clearly. So I think that we're on the right path; however, as it stands right now, the motion on the floor doesn't include that additional -- those additional dollars, and the fact of the matter is when we consider the amount of the budget that we're dealing with, maybe that amount is miniscule, but then again, that amount could be passed on to another organization that may need it, right? Because, I mean, there are a number of things that we want to do within the City of Miami that we're fighting for dollars for. There are competing interests as it was stated earlier, so if my colleagues think that it is a best practice to, let's -- to table this or to defer this to the -- Mr. Hannon: September 23, sir. Vice Chair Hardemon: -- September 23. If I'm looking at my colleagues and they think that that's fair -- Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman -- Vice Chair Hardemon: -- then I'll make the motion to defer it to the September 23rd meeting. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman -- Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: -- ifI may. My only issue is this, andl said it in the beginning: There needs to be accountability. And to a certain degree, listen, like I said, the last budget hearing last year where you were in front, you came and you said, "Listen, we have the executive director, we need this position, we need an additional 'X' amount of money, hundred thousand" We found it, and it was from another agency, and we brought it over to you to the CIP, and we City of Miami Page 47 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 thought it was going to work. Obviously, it hasn't been working for whatever reasons. We still haven't had the report from the panel that we set up, and in all fairness, you need to gain my trust; it's as simple as that. You need to gain my trust. You need to gain my confidence that, yes, this will make a difference, 'cause right now, I could tell you, this additional $16, 000 for salaries, it's not really gaining my confidence, it's not. Even when you said that those positions were there, I mean, if you really want to go into it, we could look at attrition, because, realistically, we are funding two positions that are vacant, ifI understand correctly, right? So in other words, we are actually budgeting more than we really should, because there's two vacant positions, and that's called "attrition." So I'm not comfortable going forward with an additional $16,000 until possibly maybe next year. You know, you should -- Mr. Aguirre: How can we operate -- Chair Gort: Excuse me, excuse me -- Mr. Aguirre: -- the CIP with just three folks? Chair Gort: Excuse me. Mr. Aguirre: Okay. Chair Gort: You got a Commissioner speaking at this time, please. Mr. Aguirre: I recognize -- Chair Gort: I'll recognize you when the time comes. Mr. Aguirre: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chair Gort: Thank you. Commissioner Carollo: But it seems to me that you have the funding for additional personnel; you just haven't hired them. You have the funding for additional personnel; you just haven't hired them. And that's why, with $16, 000, you're not going to hire one or two people. There's funding in your budget already to hire that person, so I just think that this panel needs to get it together, start functioning the way the residents of the City of Miami expects for this panel to operate, and then come back to this Commission and show us that it is working properly. But right now, throwing more money or allocating more monies is not smart, I don't believe so. I don't think it's a prudent thing. Chair Gort: My understanding is it is the wish of this Commission to table this, get some more research, and at the same time, our recommendation to you and your budget -- and your executive directors, once you got all your numbers together, come and visit every one of us and show it to us. The maker of the motion -- there's a motion to -- Commissioner Suarez: 171 withdraw my second so that -- Chair Gort: Okay. Commissioner Suarez: -- we can just simply -- Chair Gort: The maker of the motion -- Vice Chair Hardemon: I restate my motion to defer it to the September 23 meeting. City of Miami Page 48 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Chair Gort: Okay, is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff. Second. Commissioner Suarez: Second. Chair Gort: Okay, any further discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying "aye. " The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Gort: Thank you. Commissioner Carollo: By the way, Mr. Chairman, before they leave, could you give us a breakdown of the salaries -- Mr. Aguirre: Absolutely. Commissioner Carollo: -- and the vacancies? Mr. Aguirre: Absolutely. Commissioner Carollo: Chris, can you help him? Mr. Aguirre: Absolutely. Commissioner Carollo: Thankyou. Mr. Aguirre: Will do. Chair Gort: Gentlemen, let me ask a question. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Chair Gort: Could we take five? Commissioner Carollo: Absolutely. Chair Gort: I been sitting here since 5 o'clock. Commissioner Carollo: Absolutely. Chair Gort: And you all have been able to get up and all that. I haven't. Commissioner Carollo: Yes, sir. Chair Gort: Thankyou. BH.7 RESOLUTION 14-00811 Coconut Grove A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Business ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF Improvement District THE COCONUT GROVE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ("BID") IN (BID) Board THE AMOUNT OF $1,411,248.00, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BID, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND City of Miami Page 49 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. 14-00811 Memo - BID.pdf 14-00811 Back -Up - Budget Detail.pdf 14-00811 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf 14-00811 Legislation.pdf 14-00811 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo and Suarez Absent: 1 - Commissioner(s) Hardemon R-14-0310 Chair Gort: BH.7, Coconut Grove BID (Business Improvement District). Manny Gonzalez: Yes. Good evenings, members of the City of Miami Commission. My name is Manny Gonzalez. I am executive director of the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District located at 3390 Mary Street. Today, I am before you seeking approval of our proposed FY'15 (fiscal year) budget, which currently consists of the following: $1,411,248 in revenue with $1,407,260 in expenses. That gives us a positive NOI (net operating income) of 3,988. Some of the initiatives included within this budget are the expansion of the Coconut Grove HD (high definition) security network that we installed this year. We're also going to release the free Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) initiative for the district. We got 2,000 hours of off -duty police services for five days a week; 15,000 hours of both additional cleaning and security services for the district. We've just added funding for curb and gutter painting throughout the district and the continuation of the Coconut Grove Special Event Recruitment Program. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. This is a public hearing. Is anyone -- do we have someone in the public? Commissioner Carollo: I thought he was going to mention yoga in Peacock Park. Mariano Cruz: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to talk against the Grove. Mariano Cruz, 1227 26th Street. I'm speaking in favor of anything, 'cause I used to work in Coconut Grove, what is now the Billy Rolle Post Office there, what used to be the Rocky Horror Show. I deliver Commodore Plaza, Grove (UNINTELLIGIBLE), everything, the playhouse. I even deliver 3744 store, Marjory Stoneman Douglas there, right there on Main Highway where they call it, so anything I am in favor, whatever is the Grove. The Grove do a good job, but at least they competing with Coral Gables and downtown, every place. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Is anyone else; anyone else? Showing none, being none, close the public hearing. Commissioner Sarnoff Mr. Chair, so move. Chair Gort: It's been moved by Commissioner Sarnoff. Is there a second? Commissioner Carollo: Second, discussion. Chair Gort: Second for discussion. You're recognized, Commissioner Carollo. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. First of all, I'd like to mention that I thought you were going to say that also includes free yoga at Peacock Park. Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir. City of Miami Page 50 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: You know, Bayfront Park has been in the forefront offree yoga at the park, and I'm glad to see that, you know, it's a model that is being duplicated, so I thought that was very nice that you all are doing that at Peacock Park. Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Chair Gort: You failed to mention it, though. But anyways, by the way, I appreciate all the details in the budget; it was very detailed. There's one item that I see here, and it was in a -- separate from your budget, but still, it says, "All other expenditures, 45,450." Could you tell me what that is? Mr. Gonzalez: What had happened is this was like a new template that we had used this year, so the numbers that we had got for expenses were from our annual audit. Commissioner Carollo: Mm-hmm. Mr. Gonzalez: So basically, they had told me, "Anything that you could find that does not fall within these categories that's minimal, just put it into that line item." Commissioner Carollo: Still ends up being 45,000, though. Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: I'm not going to press anymore, because, in all fairness, your budget was very, very detailed. I'm not even going to give my colleague a friendly hard time with the parking surcharge, because he's going to tell me, "That's restricted funds, Commissioner, and I have" -- I guess an opinion from the City Attorney saying that they cannot be touched. And then I'll say, "Well, it's restricted by an ordinance, so we could change the ordinance, and actually, it can't be used for City." So I'm not even going to give you a hard time about that. Commissioner Sarnoff Thank you. Commissioner Carollo: And I'm ready to vote. Chair Gort: Okay, being no further discussion, all in favor, state it by saying "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mr. Gonzalez: Thank you so much. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff Thanks, Manny. BH.8 RESOLUTION 14-00753 Fire Fighters and A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Police Officers ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF Retirement Trust THE CITY OF MIAMI FIRE FIGHTERS' AND POLICE OFFICERS' RETIREMENT TRUST FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,222,561.00, WITH THE AMOUNT AMORTIZED IN ACTUARIAL NORMAL COST AS STATED IN ACTUARIAL City of Miami Page 51 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 REPORT DATED JUNE 12, 2014. 14-00753 Memos - FIPO.pdf 14-00753 FIPO Meeting Minutes.pdf 14-00753 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf 14-00753 Legislation.pdf 14-00753 Exhibit.pdf 14-00753-Submittal-FIPO-Gabriel Thomas -Administrative Budget Fiscal Year 2014-2015.pdf Motion by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Commissioner Suarez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon R-14-0311 Chair Gort: Fire. Tom Gabriel: Commissioners, Tom Gabriel, representing as the chairman the City of Miami Firefighters, Police -- Firefighters and Police Officers Retirement Trust, located at 1895 Southwest 3rdAvenue in Miami, Florida. The resolution is for the City Commission, with attachments, approving and adopting the annual budget of the City of Miami Firefighters and Police Officers Retirement Trust for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2014 and ending September 30, 2015; attached and incorporated in the amount of $2,222, 561, with the amount amortized in the actuarial normal cost, as stated in the actuarial report dated June 12, 2014. This money, to be clear for the Commissioners and for the public, this is the administrative cost of the FIPO (Firefighters & Police Officers) Plan, what is commonly called as the FIPO Plan, which is the $1.5 billion trust, pension trust for the police and firefighters. It currently has 3,600 members; 1,300 active; 2,300 retired. We have five employees, which is the same amount of employees we've had for over the last, I would say, seven or eight years. And we run this fund, a $1.5 billion fund; we've run the money. We handle administration of the benefits, and we handle the disability and legal issues for a total of 55 basis points. And we are asking for the support this year. It is an increase of $35, 000. Chair Gort: Okay, being a public hearing, is anyone in the public would like to address this issue? Is anyone in the public? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearings. Commissioners. Commissioner Carollo: Move it, discussion. Commissioner Suarez: Second. Chair Gort: It's been moved by Commissioner Sarnoff -- I'm sorry -- Commissioner Carollo; seconded by Commissioner Suarez. Discussion. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Gabriel, we've come a long way since our first budget hearing, huh? Mr. Gabriel: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: Listen, as you know, it is a minor increase. I think it's 1.5 percent or something. The increase is minor, and I still think you could do for a lot cheaper, but -- or a lot -- let me not use the word "cheaper." I think you could have a lot less expenses. I still think some of these expenses are high, but it's hard to -- it really is hard to argue when next is GESE (General Employees & Sanitation Employees), and they're asking for a million dollars more than you. And again, in the billions, what's the amount of asset management? City of Miami Page 52 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Gabriel: We have $1.5 billion; 1.2 in the regular fund; three hundred some million in the COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) fund. Commissioner Carollo: And so -- Chair Gort: One point eight. Commissioner Carollo: -- it's hard to really grill you with some of these numbers when, again, we're going to have now another trust coming up that's going to be requesting roughly a million dollars more than you, and I think those numbers are much lower with regards -- I don't think they reach the million -- I mean the billions, I'm sorry. So I don't know what my colleagues feel. I'm okay with approving this budget. Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair, if may briefly? Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Suarez: After -- I yield. Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah, thanks. I'll let you finish your -- Commissioner Suarez: No, you've been great, so I can give you credit. Commissioner Sarnoff No I -- right. So we've talked about, and thought about, discussed whether -- our retirement problems, and the fact that most of the City of Miami's problem is really as a result of pensions. Mr. Gabriel: Mm-hmm. Commissioner Sarnoff And I'm -- I know there's not much we can do right now, 'cause I think most of your employees are actually at the age that they're about to retired. But you're about to get, I think, a host of new employees. Mr. Gabriel: I would say in the next couple of years, we'll probably see quite a bit of turnover. Commissioner Sarnoff And it was interesting to learn from you, Tom, that -- or I should say "Mr. Gabriel "; I apologize -- there used to be a 401(k) 15 years ago -- yeah, about 15 years ago -- and then they went to a defined benefit plan. Mr. Gabriel: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff For their employee -- for the people who are working -- Commissioner Carollo: Right; in the trust, itself, right? Commissioner Sarnoff I'm not saying the police officers or Fire. Commissioner Carollo: Right; you're saying the administration part of the trust. Commissioner Sarnoff Correct, correct, and as you know, that lands pretty much squarely on the City of Miami's general fund. Hey, so I just question -- and I know you -- I think you indicated to me, Mr. Gabriel, that the new employees will not get the three -time multiplier; they'll get a 2.5 multiplier. Mr. Gabriel: Correct. City of Miami Page 53 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Sarnoff So maybe what we should be suggesting or designating is maybe it's time that the non -Fire people and the non -Police people actually get a 401(k). Mr. Gabriel: I can certainly discuss with the board, et cetera, 'cause I don't make those decisions, but I will point out that the retirement contributions in total is about 10 percent of payroll. We feel it's a great, great -- our particular employees, we have three that have 25 years; one with 19, and one with 18, as I mentioned moving up in the years of service, and we've kept those employees. And they've allowed us to not have to train new people. They've allowed us to keep the employee count down; in fact, we've shrunk it since I've been chair; we had more. We do that with technology and also with a decent pension and benefit package; we have not lost people to that. Whether or not -- you know, there's that balancing point of whether we would have lost them or not. I don't know, but in this case, you know, with a 10 percent total cost, at least it's not a plan that's costing you more, you know, with -- if you did Social Security with -- which they do have to pay and we have to pay -- and some sort of 401(k) plan, I'm not sure what the norm is out there right now, but you would have to do some matching. Commissioner Sarnoff My only point being in a down year, in a down time, without smoothing - - and I don't know how you smooth this; if this is a five-year smooth, a three-year smooth -- I don't know what your smoothing is or is not, but in a down time, it is the City that makes up the difference -- the delta, if you will -- on whatever your plan brings in, in terms of rate return, and I think Commissioner Suarez is the one that's kind of led the charge and kind of the amazement of - - you could have eight and seven percent years, but if you had a three percent year and that smoothes over five years, you're still coming to the general fund to pay for the defined benefit plan. Look, there's nothing I think that could be done in this year. I just think an indication from this Commission; how they feel about, again, the non -Fire; again, the non -Police personnel that maybe it's time to consider going with a 401(k). And you're absolutely right, the philosophical divide here is you're probably going to hold onto an employee longer with a pension plan, because he becomes vested with that job; however, you pay, and based on what I've seen in the private sector, about 30 percent more over the life of that employee. Thirty percent over 20 years is a huge number. Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. You know, I don't like to talk too much about things that are in ongoing negotiations, but I know that there's been offers on the table that would require some action by the FIPO Board, so we just -- first of all, I want to get your commitment that you're going to cooperate with the City and with its -- with your members, which are our employees -- in terms of if we end up coming to some sort of an agreement, you know, doing your part, helping to do your part, you know, to effectuate whatever sort of agreements are entered into between the City and its employees. Mr. Gabriel: Yes. We do, year after year, as negotiations and crisises [sic] have come about and the pension plan becomes involved we don't take part in the active negotiations. But as you say, we serve the part of giving some numbers that are the most accurate, because they come from the plan actuary. We have set money aside for that, knowing that it was a negotiation year, knowing that we are often asked to run numbers for different scenarios between the parties. So, yes, we will be there to run the numbers; our actuary is always ready to do them, and we should not be any type of stop for any type of problem. And the Manager, before his current position, he would go to the Pension Board meetings; each time they were there, he would go, and I think you made a great choice for the Manager. He knows the Pension Board, and he knows the members at the Pension Board, and he knows that he's welcome to come there and ask for numbers any time. City of Miami Page 54 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Suarez: Okay. And I think sometimes it's not just asking for numbers, but it's asking for action; that you take a certain decision to implement a certain action that the City has agreed to and the employees have agreed to, and I think that's, I guess, my -- one of my thoughts. I think you're a great -- I've gotten to know you over four years. I think you're a tremendous credit not only to the department, but to the board; I mean, extremely professional. And I have to tell you that when I first got here, I don't know if -- and I think it's what the Commissioner alluded to -- you know, in '09 year, there was a negative rate of return, right? Mr. Gabriel: Yes. Commissioner Suarez: So for me, I like the way that you put the -- your cost in terms of the -- administering the fund in basis points, 'cause I think that's the right way to look at it, and your basis point cost has gone down to .376. Mr. Gabriel: I just want to make sure that we're looking at the same thing, Commissioner, because I think one of the charts that we gave you might have been a little bit misleading -- Commissioner Suarez: Okay. Mr. Gabriel: -- because that is the last bar. It was fiscal year to date. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. Mr. Gabriel: So it is going to end up somewhere around that -- Commissioner Suarez: Let me attempt -- Mr. Gabriel: -- fifty-five. Commissioner Suarez: I got you. Mr. Gabriel: But that is at the same time our fund is growing rapidly. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Gabriel: An 11 percent increase. Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. I guess what -- Mr. Gabriel: So we're still keeping the basis cost down with the growth of the fund. Commissioner Suarez: Well, and I guess that was kind of going to be my point. You sort of beat me to the punch a little bit, andl appreciate you correcting me, because, you know, yeah, it does look like it's almost half you know -- Mr. Gabriel: Yeah. And I'm sure that -- Commissioner Suarez: -- under the graph. But what I think is impressive is that you went from years where you were negative .3 to 9.8, 3.6, 17.4, 11 point -- that was the kind of concern that I had, which is if your fund managers are not performing, I will -- we will, as a Commission, really, we will force you -- not force you but we will -- this is the leverage that we have; this is the moment that we have leverage -- to hold your fund managers accountable, and if they're not performing as against their peers -- not generally -- City of Miami Page 55 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Gabriel: Right. Commissioner Suarez: -- then they need to be -- you need to go in another direction. And so I guess my -- so I'm very encouraged is my point, you know, that the fund returns are better. I think the issue that Commissioner Sarnoff was alluding to was excess returns on the upside versus on the downside where -- the back stop. And obviously, that has to do with COLA, and that's also a negotiation issue, which I don't think is up for negotiation this year, but it's certainly something that we've looked at in terms of the things that we've discussed over the years for pension reform. Mr. Gabriel: IfI can just for a second, because it's an important part, and I didn't have enough -- necessarily enough time to talk about is it gets into the minutia of the plan, but right now and for the next several years, you will not see excess earnings. Even if we have a great year, you will not see money from the fund transfer over to the COLA fund. That's the good news up front. Commissioner Suarez: Can you explain why? Mr. Gabriel: The State law says that in order to use excess earnings, to use it for some other benefit such as the COLA that you have to have a net cumulative gain. And for years, we did, and on positive years, we would move that money over -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Gabriel: -- into the COLA fund, and it would increase the COLA for retirees. Recently, because of -- Commissioner Suarez: Do you mean an aggregate gain in the entire fund or do you mean --? Mr. Gabriel: Over the time from when we started until -- and it's an actuarial -- Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Mr. Gabriel: -- number, so it's not really two plus two. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Gabriel: But currently, we're in a negative position of -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Gabriel: -- almost $200 million. Commissioner Suarez: Right. We're -- Mr. Gabriel: So what that means is even though this year, we'll have 11 percent return -- Commissioner Suarez: We're technically underfunded. Chair Gort: Yeah. Commissioner Suarez: We're technically underfunded. Mr. Gabriel: Yes. Commissioner Suarez: So we would have to be in an actuarially positive position before we City of Miami Page 56 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 could look at something like that. Mr. Gabriel: So what was true a couple years back where you were losing money from the main fund into the COLA to fund retirement -- COLA benefits -- it has not been the case for the last couple years and won't be. The downside of that is the City does come up with a minimum contribution. Commissioner Suarez: Five million. Mr. Gabriel: Five million, right. Commissioner Suarez: So I guess my last question is the -- on your graph here, on your investment returns, how would you explain the difference between actual market value and actual assumed -- I guess it's AAV (actuarial asset value). I don't even know what the actuarial asset value -- mean actuarial asset value -- actual market value versus -- there's two columns. One of them has for '13, 11.2 percent; that other one has 6.95 percent. Can you describe the difference between those two columns? Mr. Gabriel: Is this the one we're looking at, sir? Commissioner Suarez: No. It's the first page. It actually says, "Page 2, Exhibit 10." I don't know why it's my first page. I guess it's really my second page. I don't know, I -- this is not really in order, in any sort of logical order. Mr. Gabriel: That was a handout that I might have gave to you, special. I -- Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. Mr. Gabriel: -- don't have that, but on this chart, it does the same thing, it shows the same thing, so if you would want to turn to that. You have three columns. It's the one that looks like -- Commissioner Suarez: What page are you looking at there in your chart? Mr. Gabriel: It is the third from the last on my handout. Commissioner Suarez: Okay, let me see ifI have it. Mr. Gabriel: It's the only one that has this type of -- Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, I see it right here, this one. Yeah, okay. Mr. Gabriel: So you have three numbers. The black is steady across the board. That is our assumed rate of return. Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Mr. Gabriel: That's what our actuary says over the next 60 years, this is what you should make. The red is the actual market return. That is -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Gabriel: -- what we make. That's real money in the bank, and sometimes real money out of the bank. And you can see the fluctuations of the red are pretty drastic in some years, and the gray is the actuarial rate of return, so that includes the smoothing. Sometimes in this chart, it was five years, and now we do it as to 20 percent markup; very similar, very abstract, but very City of Miami Page 57 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 similar. It's trying to smooth out the ups and downs so that the City doesn't see the retirement contributions go flying up and flying down at a great rate of return. And if you look at that chart over time, and especially starting in 2000, you can see that the market was still on the climb for that year, and the actuarial rate of return was even higher; the gray was even higher. That meant that we had all this buildup profit that was -- kept going through, and then the next year, we had the crash, we had the bubble. Commissioner Suarez: Can I ask you another question? Mr. Gabriel: Sure. Commissioner Suarez: The smoothing is over five years, correct? Mr. Gabriel: It is similar to a five-year smoothing, and probably when you first heard about it -- Commissioner Suarez: Is it two years smoothing? Mr. Gabriel: -- it is what they call a 20 percent markup. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Gabriel: It basically says whatever you should have -- whatever you assumed you were going to make -- Commissioner Suarez: Eighty-one point -- Mr. Gabriel: You can only recognize 20 percent higher than that or 20 percent lower than that; similar to a five-year, but not quite. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. Mr. Gabriel: Five-year is just that; you take five years and average them out. Commissioner Suarez: Okay, so is it fair to say that if next year we have -- we exceed the expected rate of return that our pension contribution would go down? Mr. Gabriel: If you look at the last page, which is this chart, you see that the actuarial value, which means -- not the rate of return, but the actual value and the actual market value are coming together. They go up and down and on years -- Commissioner Suarez: Wait, wait, which -- let's -- okay, I got it. Vice Chair Hardemon: May I interrupt for one moment? Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Hardemon: I don't have one of those sheets. I'm trying to go through my email (electronic) right now to see ifI -- it was emailed to me. Mr. Gabriel: I may have another one here. I know my staff does, and I'm sure they're on their way up here to give it to you. So -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Gabriel: -- this is on the last page there. The red line is what we actually have in the bank City of Miami Page 58 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 at any given time; that is -- or the red chart, that's where we are as of 2013. And the actuarial assets, the value is the blue thing. This year, currently -- and knock on wood that September holds at least steady -- we're above 10 percent return. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Gabriel: So you've had three years now above 10 percent or high rates of return. The expectation would be that those bars and lines will cross and the cost should go down; barring, of course, anything that happens at negotiations; barring a market crash. Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Mr. Gabriel: We are on the way to sending those south. Now, there are other things that -- Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. Mr. Gabriel: -- other investment return that affect the pension. Commissioner Suarez: Well, let me let the Manager chime in on that issue, and then I -- Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Just a quick question. Commissioner Suarez said next year. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: Not '14/15, '15/16. Mr. Gabriel: Fiscal year '15/16. Commissioner Suarez: Well -- Mr. Gabriel: This year -- Commissioner Suarez: -- let me be clear. What you have represented here, your last year represented is 2013; that's what you have here in your graph. Mr. Gabriel: Mm-hmm. Commissioner Suarez: So I'm assuming the reason why is because you close out September, which is what it seemed like, September 30, so it takes you some time to produce that information, no? Mr. Alfonso: No, Commissioner. The budget is predicated on the actuarial computation as of September 30 of 2013 -- Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Mr. Alfonso: -- for the '14/15 -- Commissioner Suarez: Of course. Mr. Alfonso: -- Yeah. Commissioner Suarez: Right. That makes sense. Mr. Alfonso: Okay. City of Miami Page 59 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Suarez: So what I'm trying to get at is he's telling me that right now, we're running at about 10 percent -- Mr. Alfonso: Right. Commissioner Suarez: -- and that barring something unforeseen -- Mr. Alfonso: And that would impact the '15/16 budget. Mr. Gabriel: This year's budget -- Commissioner Suarez: That's fine. Mr. Gabriel: -- coming up is $44 million. Commissioner Suarez: That's fine. Mr. Gabriel: That one -- Commissioner Suarez: Right, but -- Mr. Gabriel: -- as the Manager's alluding to is up from 42 million in this fiscal year. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. What I'm trying to get at is, you know, you're right; it's not going to affect -- 'cause we're budgeting based on the information of last year, but what I'm getting at is if we have another year where we exceed the expected rate of return, is it fair to say that the cost from the pension fund of Fire and Police should go down? Mr. Gabriel: It is as long as it's still in that 10 percent range -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Gabriel: -- and September doesn't drop, which it could be; you know, any world event could make the market drop. But, yes, it should be a reduction, 'cause once those lines cross, the actual money in the bank, the chart -- Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Mr. Gabriel: -- part goes above the line, part -- that's when the costs start dropping. Commissioner Suarez: I think that -- Mr. Gabriel: -- and we're right there and -- Commissioner Suarez: -- that's significant and important for many reasons, many reasons, one of which is budgeting, obviously, but I think the other reason is, you know, we've been here when things have been rough, so now that we start to see things get better, it's interesting to see how that interplays with the funds that we have to allocate and dole out on an annual basis. And so it will be -- since it's a fund, and since it's supposed to be managed and well managed for the purposes of meeting its obligations, you know, it would be interesting if our contribution to that fund actually goes down, which hasn't happened in the four years that I've been here, so that's an -- that would be an interesting new phenomenon for me. I'm sure we would all welcome that as Commissioners to see that happen. City of Miami Page 60 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.9 14-00775 General Employees and Sanitation Employees Retirement Trust Chair Gort: I think that only happened in the '90s. Mr. Gabriel: It's happened a couple of times. Chair Gort: Yes. Mr. Gabriel: And during the, you know, moves by the Commission, obviously turned the drastic -- the financial urgency, that caused the price to go down, but it wasn't a natural cause, let's just put it that way. Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Mr. Gabriel: It isn't the normal way of -- Commissioner Suarez: That was an actuarial. Mr. Gabriel: That was an actuarial. Commissioner Suarez: I got it. Mr. Gabriel: That's the sharp sword. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Gabriel: So the -- one other point I might add about our budget and any other questions, obviously, but we are in the middle of a lawsuit that both -- we're both party to, and this is a lawsuit that's generated from that financial urgency, and without the legal costs that are associated with that, this budget would have been a negative probably .5 percent. We've had to put a lot of money in defending it. I'm not an attorney, but I certainly can see their bills, and they are expensive, and you have to have good ones, and I know the City is probably involved just as much in it. So we've allocated probably close to $70,000 out of this budget to keep that ongoing. So. Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. Mr. Gabriel: All right. Chair Gort: Okay, any further discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Gort: Thank you. Mr. Gabriel: Thank you. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GENERAL EMPLOYEES' AND SANITATION EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT TRUST FUND ("GESE RETIREMENT TRUST FUND"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,255,936.00, EXCLUDING NORMAL City of Miami Page 61 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 COSTS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GESE RETIREMENT TRUST FUND. 14-00775 Memos - GESE.pdf 14-00775 Back -Up Legislation.pdf 14-00775 Legislation.pdf 14-00775 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon R-14-0312 Chair Gort: PH.9. Ronald Silver: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm Ronald Silver. I'm the attorney for the City of Miami General Employees & Sanitation Employees Retirement Trust. We're seeking to adopt this resolution of the Commission for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2014 and ending September 30, 2015, in an amount not to exceed $3,255,936. Chair Gort: Okay. Is anyone in the public would like to address this issue? Anyone in the public who would like to address BH.9? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearings. Commissioners. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Chair Gort: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. I'll start asking some questions. How are you, Senator? Mr. Silver: I'm fine, thank you, sir. How are you? Commissioner Carollo: Good. Senator -- and I don't want it to be Groundhog Day, but we -- I mentioned this the last time that we were here during the budgets. Please explain to me, how do you spend $60, 000 on office supplies? Mr. Silver: Okay. I will not do that, but I'll have somebody from staff do that. Commissioner Carollo: I mean, how much office supplies can you buy for $60,000? Edgar Hernandez: Edgar Hernandez, for the record. As we explained before, we said that last year, we had about 240 retirees. We had binding to do, mailing to do, and these people come to our office, and we have to provide them duplicates. And we do -- paper and tone, although it may sound a little bit funny, but it's expensive. And these are people that require, actually ask -- they ask us for us to print the forms, fill out the forms for them, and they require the attention. I wish they could go and sort of do it themselves, but we like to also aid them as they move on to retirement. Commissioner Carollo: So what you're saying is the majority of this office supplies expense of $60, 000 is paper? Mr. Hernandez: Paper, toner, binding, mailing, postage requirement to -- Commissioner Carollo: Well, hold on, hold on, hold on, 'cause I think you have separate line items for postage, and you have separate line items for all the other things. We're talking about City of Miami Page 62 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 office supplies specific. For all those other things, you have separate line items. Mr. Hernandez: No, postage is different; yes, you're correct. Commissioner Carollo: So in other words, ifI -- Mr. Hernandez: One of the main -- just to explain to you, one of the major reasons why also office supplies, we have to test and improve our Pension system, and there's a lot of testing to do which require printing, and double printing, and sometimes triple printing, just to make sure the data is correct, just to make sure that we update the Pension system correctly to reflect the ordinance changes that were passed in the past. Commissioner Carollo: So in other words, if was going to audit you and actually see what that office supplies really is, that's what I'm going to be finding, right; I'm going to be finding all the invoices for those papers and all -- Mr. Hernandez: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: -- and for the toners and stuff like that? Mr. Hernandez: And we do hold audits, and we've been audited before on that, yes. Commissioner Carollo: Okay, 'cause it just seems like $60, 000 -- and again, it is not the first that I -- the first time that I bring this up. I brought it up in the last budget hearing. And it just seems that $60,000, it's a lot of money for office supplies. Mr. Hernandez: Right. And I think you're correct that it seems like it, but knowing our demographics, we are -- we have to do certain things for our members in order to help them move on to retirement. Just this year, I mean, we have just in the last two weeks about 80 of them come through our office. We send them the package at home. They come here to the office. We have to sometimes duplicate those packages. They change their options, their taxes, their life insurance, and those are the things that we need to supply to them. Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well, I'll find a way to actually see what your actual expenses were and so forth, but that'll come later. Talk to me about repair and maintenance. You have 600,000 or you're requesting 600, 000 for repair and maintenance. What are you repairing? Mr. Hernandez: That's the same Pension software. We have to -- we have an update, basically, on the central -- Commissioner Carollo: Six hundred thousand? Mr. Hernandez: It's a reoccurring -- we're not asking for 600,000 -- Commissioner Carollo: I'm seeing -- Mr. Hernandez: -- increase. Commissioner Carollo: -- here and I guess need to -- office supplies in my office -- get a -- Mr. Hernandez: Repair and maintenance is five -- right, 600, 000, but as you can see, in the past few years, since 2010, and I believe you used the worksheet that they provided to us for us to fill out, right? Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, I see it. City of Miami Page 63 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Hernandez: Okay. So -- Commissioner Carollo: And you're requesting for this budget year $599,000. Mr. Hernandez: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: No? Mr. Hernandez: Well -- Commissioner Carollo: So why --? Mr. Hernandez: The difference from 2010 to now, as you can see, which is 300 -- it's 250, 000, the net increase in addition -- or the net increase -- and all of that has to do with the Pension software update. We have to maintain the system. Mr. Silver: I think you ought to explain to the Commissioner why you have to update the software. Every time there's a change in the ordinance or every time there's a change, we have to change things, the software. Commissioner Carollo: To the tune of $600,000 -- Mr. Silver: I'm not sure. I'm just trying to -- Commissioner Carollo: -- in a year? I mean what -- I mean what -- is there a robot? Does it run by itself? Does it clean -- well, no, 'cause you have -- $600, 000. Commissioner Suarez: That's 10 percent of our -- well, not ten. That's like six percent of our entire IT (Information Technology) budget. Commissioner Carollo: And let me be clear. Look, let me be clear. We're looking for revenues, and you just saw, you know, Police, Fire, all of our employees came up here, you know, saying, "Hey, give some back." You saw residents come in here and say, "Find the fundings. " Well, these fundings that the City pays for this administration of trust is taking away from the City 's general fund where we could go to pay Police, Fire, Solid Waste, and all the other -- Mr. Hernandez: And I understand that. Commissioner Carollo: -- general functions. Mr. Hernandez: Right. Commissioner Carollo: So that's why -- and then it's troubling when you're asking for $3.2 million of total cost. Mr. Hernandez: Well, some of the increase, it has been due to GASB (Government Accounting Standards Board); GASB, the statements from -- Commissioner Carollo: I understand, I understand. So, yes, there's going to be GASB. So therefore, you have to have repair and maintenance go up by two hundred and some thousand dollars to $600, 000. You have to have office supplies of 60, 000. You have to increase professional services for 76 -- for an additional 76,000? I think those increases are just outrageous. City of Miami Page 64 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Hernandez: Well, if -- may I explain the professional services if 25, 000 for the investment consultant; it's -- the three-year experience study as required by the ordinances is an additional 25,000. There's an increase to the actuary and the auditing, 5,000 on the auditing. So there is -- there are some obligations that we have to do and impose by those changes. There's also the Senate Bill 534, which is -- will hopefully enhance the transparency on pension funding. Commissioner Carollo: Well, you actually increased auditing by $10, 000, but I'm just looking at your numbers. And professional services, there's an increase of 76,000. I mean, we're talking 511,000 on professional services. I just think these numbers are out of whack. How does FIPO do it with a million dollars less? Sandra Elenberg: If I may, Sandra Elenberg, Pension administrator for the GESE Trust. Okay, for the professional services, it increased 76,000. Twenty-five thousand was for the three-year experience study that's required every three years by the City of Miami ordinance. For the actuary, it's increasing 51,000; that's for GASB 67, 68 and Senate Bill 534. The auditing fees is only going up 5, 000 for GASB 67, from 67,100 to 72,100. Vice Chair Hardemon: Do you have a copy of that; not what you're reading, but the actual auditing? And I apologize for jumping in. Ms. Elenberg: I'm sorry, the copy of the ordinance? What did you say? Vice Chair Hardemon: Auditing. Chair Gort: The audit. Vice Chair Hardemon: Auditing; did I pronounce -- am I not --? Ms. Elenberg: The auditing? Vice Chair Hardemon: Auditing, auditing. Chair Gort: Yeah, the auditing. Ms. Elenberg: Well -- Vice Chair Hardemon: Do you have a copy of it right now? Commissioner Carollo: He wants documentation on your fees. Ms. Elenberg: Okay. Commissioner Carollo: Is -- Ms. Elenberg: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: -- that correct? Ms. Elenberg: I could send it to you, their invoice, tomorrow if you want. Vice Chair Hardemon: Oh, no, I don't want the invoice, because I know the Commissioners and -- well, the Commissioner to my right -- is concerned about the cost, the outlay of the expenses, and I am, also, because, I mean, in this number is -- are numbers that can actually fund some other organizations that are looking for funding. I mean just a savings of a mere $199, 000 could fund an organization here or there. So I'm just trying to make sure that what you're telling us is City of Miami Page 65 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 what it's purported to be. Ms. Elenberg: Okay. Vice Chair Hardemon: So if you have some type of audit on you -- 'cause I'm sure you've had dollars that you've used for audits, and you've had audits in the past -- Ms. Elenberg: Right. Vice Chair Hardemon: -- that you can show us something in the meantime, something that I can look at while I'm here. Ms. Elenberg: I didn't bring -- okay, your staff -- okay. We are different than all your regular departments. We get reimbursed quarterly. We do not get the money ahead. So if we have to supply the invoices to you for everything that we spend -- all auditors, all professionals -- and then we get reimbursed. And every year, it's been like $62, 000 plus a few extra for other parts of the audit. Vice Chair Hardemon: So my question to you is: Have you been audited in the past? Ms. Elenberg: By the auditors? Every year. Mr. Hernandez: Every year. Vice Chair Hardemon: Okay. Do you have a report from that audit? Ms. Elenberg: Yes, but not with me. But the City of Miami has it. Vice Chair Hardemon: Okay. Ms. Elenberg: The Manager has it. Vice Chair Hardemon: But it -- Mr. Silver: We'll supply -- Vice Chair Hardemon: We know that it's -- they've been printed. Ms. Elenberg: Yeah, but he wants to see it now. Vice Chair Hardemon: You spent a lot of money -- you have -- that's one? Is that one? Ms. Elenberg: Well, that's the CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report). Mr. Silver: This is the CAFR from (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Vice Chair Hardemon: All right, let me see that. I'll take that, and I'll let you finish what you were saying. Ms. Elenberg: Okay. Where was I? Okay. Now, for repairs and maintenance, they did increase $209,000, to be exact. Two hundred thousand only is for the ordinance changes that the Commissioners made back on September 27, 2012, effective October 1, 2012 and January 1, 2013. Also, under repairs and maintenance for those, we have 42, 000 for a new roof that our building needs and 25,000 to paint the building. We've been there for over 10 years, and the building has not been painted, and many individuals, including a Commissioner, have City of Miami Page 66 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 commented how unappealing our building looks. And then there's a $9,819 increase for insurance for -- Commissioner Sarnoff Is that the Rose Building? Ms. Elenberg: Yes, it is. Commissioner Sarnoff Oh, you're right; it doesn't look clean at all. Ms. Elenberg: It was you who made the comment last year. Commissioner Sarnoff. But I didn't think it would cost $321,000 to fix it. Ms. Elenberg: Twenty-five thousand only to paint the building. Commissioner Sarnoff Oh, okay. Ms. Elenberg: Remember, basically, it's 76, 000 for professional services. That's the only increase there; for the auditing, 5,000; for repair and maintenance, 200, 000, which is for the software; if we paint the building, 42,000 new -- yeah, 42, 000 for a new roof and 25,000 to paint the building; the insurance increase, 9,819. And then we added, in case there's a fire or a hurricane, the insurance deductible of $41, 000. And again, we only get that if we spend it. Everything in our budget is only if we spend it if something happens. Chair Gort: Now the question is -- let me ask a question while we're waiting. My understanding is they get reimbursed when they present the bills to the office, to the Finance Department? Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, Commissioner Gort, but -- and I just had that conversation with the Manager. Yeah, but they have "X" amount -- let's say we budgeted "X" amount, and then anything that seems reasonable or at least that is allowable, they just reimburse. Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Right. Commissioner Carollo: But they don't look at the different accounts -- like, for instance, office supplies, to see exactly what's -- Mr. Alfonso: Correct, Commissioner. We -- they have a budget authorization, and to the extent that they are requesting to reimburse operating expenses that seem reasonable, we reimburse it as long as they're within their budget. Commissioner Carollo: Right. Mr. Alfonso: We do not look at it and question, "Oh, this is too much paper, " or "This is too much ink," or those type of things. Vice Chair Hardemon: So that puts me into a position -- thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. That puts me into a position where we aren't -- I mean, it's -- it is a budget, right? And essentially, what the Manager is telling us is that with this budget, they're given parameters. It's three point something million dollars. Commissioner Carollo: That is the parameter; that's it. Vice Chair Hardemon: Those are the parameters. Commissioner Carollo: That's it. City of Miami Page 67 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Vice Chair Hardemon: But essentially, they still have to provide us with a budget, so let's not pretend as if -- what they provided to us isn't necessarily as accurate as we would like it to be, but we're just trying to drill down to some increases. And, of course, part of the increases are repair and maintenance services, and what you've pointed out as the paper. So -- because in these numbers, I mean, there's -- there are significantly dollars that can be used elsewhere if, in fact, those expenses are not what they're purported to be. Commissioner Carollo: By the way, Commissioner, just -- since you weren't here last year, that's where I found a hundred -some thousand dollars for the Civilian Investigative Panel. Ms. Elenberg: And they didn't use it. Commissioner Carollo: Remember that, the Civilian Investigative Panel just -- similar to this year asked for a certain amount that wasn't in the City budget. So for -- in order for us to give it to them, we will have had to have either cut something in the City general fund, or find it somewhere else, so it actually came from the GESE budget last year over to the CIP. And I'm sure the Senator keeps reminding me of that, but, you know, so, yeah, in other words. So I think this budget is rich, absolutely, andl guess -- I think I've done more than hint at that. Commissioner Sarnoff Did any of you have the opportunity to meet with these folks? 'Cause I did not. Chair Gort: I didn't. Commissioner Carollo: No, I did not. Commissioner Sarnoff I'm going to say something to everybody right now. I did not take a vacation this summer, so if you didn't come to see me, you will not be getting my vote for your budget. Mr. Silver: Mr. Chairman, ifI (UNINTELLIGIBLE) remember -- Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Mr. Silver: I have, with Mr. Tompkins, every year previous -- you're right; this year, we didn't -- but every year previous, we visited every single City Commissioner to go over the budget. We did not do it this year, but we'd be more than happy to between now and the next budget hearing to do that. But every year, every year, we've done that; we've sat down with you. We've made it a point to come to your offices and sit down with you. I've sent emails to you regarding our investment performance -- okay? -- what has happened I don't know if anybody reads their emails, but I've tried to do that. I've tried to always keep you informed. I am willing in the next two weeks to come and meet with you whenever you want, and bring Mr. Tompkins, who's the chairman of our board, and we'll meet with you, just like we have every other year in the past; I'll be happy to do that. We're not trying to hide anything, and I'll be happy to go over with you every single one of the items that you're all talking about. I mean, we've tried to do that every year. Chair Gort: Let me ask a simple question. Mr. Silver: Yeah. Chair Gort: You have the -- for professional repairs and maintenance, you have an additional $209,000. Now, budgets, we all know they're projections. You have a contract for the $209,000? 'Cause that's your projection. City of Miami Page 68 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Silver: Why are we projecting that? Chair Gort: You're talking about software. Mr. Silver: Right. Chair Gort: This is software contract. Do you have a contract stating that you have to make that payment next year? Ms. Elenberg: Yes, we have a quote from them, yes, at 200, 000. Chair Gort: You have a quote? Ms. Elenberg: Mm-hmm. Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: The other thing 1 want to caution is, listen, if you give me any amount of money, I'll find a way to spend it. Now, how -- you know, how much is it really necessary? And can those dollars be better spent in public service, public safety; you know what I mean? In all fairness, I mean, I'm sure you give them -- they asking -- what? -- $3.2 million -- you give them $3.5 million, I'm sure they'll find a way to spend it, you know. But it just seems like it's a lot of an expense for administering this trust. And then when you compare it to FIPO, you know, it doesn't look very good. Mr. Silver: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Carollo: Understood understood, but still, you're talk -- we're talking -- you're asking for an additional million dollars; it's a lot of money. Vice Chair Hardemon: May I ask a question? Chair Gort: Yes, sir, go ahead Vice Chair Hardemon: Thank you. The money that you've been spending on office supplies, is there a contract that you have with a office supply store, or is this a Pico card charging, invoicing for every time someone requests something type operation? Oscar Alvarez: Hi. Oscar Alvarez, Building manager for City of Miami. Those are not reoccurring; they're on a need basis, like the toner, the paper, but that line item, I think it has four different things inside; it's just not paper, as stated. Vice Chair Hardemon: And the reason I'm asking this is because -- and I don't want us to get necessarily boggled down with this $70, 000, but what it is a signal of is maybe another issue. So, for instance -- and people may laugh, but it's late at night, children shouldn't be watching this -- erectile dysfunction could be a signal or a sign of heart disease; not many people knew that. So if anyone is suffering, make sure you go see your doctor, because you may have a heart disease problem, right? So what we're trying to find is if there is any heart disease. So in looking for it -- and I -- and this may have been answered when I was talking, but say, for instance, the increase in repair and maintenance services went from -- to 2013/2014 -- from 390,000 to 599,105. And then when I looked in what was spent, was actually included in this financial report, it does say that for -- I found it and I lost it -- repair and maintenance, it was City of Miami Page 69 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 373, 000. So what would account for necessarily that increase in funds? Ms. Elenberg: The 209, 000 for repairs and maintenance? Vice Chair Hardemon: Yes. Mr. Silver: The 300 -- Mr. Hernandez: That was last year? Vice Chair Hardemon: No. So what you're asking for under 2014/2015 budget for repairs and maintenance -- Mr. Silver: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Hardemon: -- goes to -- from 390,043 to 599,105. Ms. Elenberg: Right. The bulk of that is for us, for the software, for the Pension software due to the ordinance changes that the Commissioners made a few years ago. The cost for that is $200,000. Vice Chair Hardemon: A few years ago? Ms. Elenberg: Yes. But now is when we're going to implement it. Vice Chair Hardemon: So from the City Manager perspective, how many years were they given for implementation of this software? Mr. Alfonso: We don't control that, Commissioner. I mean, they purchase the software. It's up to them on implementation. They are an independent body. They don't -- they do not report to the City Administration. Ms. Elenberg: Yeah. And the thing is, it's effective -- even though you made it a few years ago, one of the things is effective -- was effective January 1 of 2013. Vice Chair Hardemon: Okay. Can I see a copy of whatever it is you're saying that this Commission -- oh„ I know. I will say this -- Ms. Elenberg: It's in the ordinance. Vice Chair Hardemon: Well, let me say -- Ms. Elenberg: It's an ordinance change. Vice Chair Hardemon: Okay, let me say this to you: We are here also, and we're trying to solve an issue with your budget to make approvals for you, so all of us here would really not appreciate a deep sigh at the mike. If we request something, just try to do your best to get it to us. It could be an ordinance. Do you want -- I can take my time to go and find the ordinance and then come back here to read the ordinance, or we can find a way that you can provide it to me, because you have other hands with you, so that I can read it, because what I'm tempted to do is to take $200,000 off of the depreciation or the maintenance and repairs, and I think that the Management knows where I would like for that to go. And I'm sure that my other Commissioners have other funds that they need for other initiatives that they would want to put, and I don't even think you have Commissioner Sarnoffs vote, because that's what he said. So -- City of Miami Page 70 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.10 14-00776 General Employees and Sanitation Employees Retirement Trust Commissioner Carollo: 171 go a step further. I don't think would have a problem making a motion to pass the exact same amount as last year's budget. And by the way, last year's budget, we increased it by $45, 000, but as I made a statement, it was just to keep this moving. We have a long night, and -- Commissioner Sarnoff. Second. Commissioner Carollo: -- in all fairness -- Commissioner Sarnoff. Second. Commissioner Carollo: -- I make a motion to pass the exact amount as last year. Chair Gort: Okay, there's a motion and there's a second. Any further discussion? Mr. Silver: Let me just -- Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Mr. Silver: In all fairness, since you took 100,000 away from us last year, arbitrarily, would you add the hundred thousand back in? Commissioner Carollo: No. We actually didn't take it away from you. We actually gave you an increase of 45, 000. Mr. Silver: Yeah but -- Commissioner Carollo: You were just asking for way more, like you're doing this year, and we reduced that amount. Mr. Silver: Right. Commissioner Carollo: So in all fairness, it's not that we took it away. Chair Gort: You got some homework; you got some homework to do. You got some homework to do. Mr. Silver: Okay, okay. Chair Gort: Okay, is there any further discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mr. Silver: Okay, thank you. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S) APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GENERAL EMPLOYEES' AND SANITATION EMPLOYEES' EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN ("GESE EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, IN THE AMOUNT City of Miami Page 71 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 NOT TO EXCEED $109,307.00, EXCLUDING THE ACTUARIALLY DETERMINED ANNUAL BENEFIT PAYMENT, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GESE EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN. 14-00776 Memos - GESE.pdf 14-00776 Back -Up from Law.pdf 14-00776 Legislation.pdf 14-00776 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo and Suarez Absent: 1 - Commissioner(s) Hardemon R-14-0313 Commissioner Carollo: GESE (General Employees and Sanitation Employees) is next. Ron Silver: I think we got one more item, right? Mr. Chairman and members of the Commission, this is the excess plan of the City, and there's no change in that. We're asking for an amount not to exceed $109,307, same as last year. Commissioner Carollo: I don't know if you want a motion already, Commissioner Gort, or if you want to open up a public hearing, but if not -- Chair Gort: Okay, is there a motion, is there a second? Commissioner Carollo: I make a motion to pass -- Commissioner Sarnoff. Second. Commissioner Carollo: -- exactly as last year, 109,000 --109, 307. Chair Gort: Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff. Second. Chair Gort: Second by Commissioner Sarnoff. Open -- it's a public hearing. Is anyone in the public like to address this issue? Seeing none, hearing none, we'll close the public hearing. Discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mr. Silver: Thank you. BH.11 RESOLUTION 14-00732 Liberty City A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Community ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING THE LIBERTY CITY COMMUNITY Revitalization Trust REVITALIZATION TRUSTS FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015 BUDGET, IN THE AMOUNT OF $241,993.00, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. City of Miami Page 72 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 14-00732 Summary Form.pdf 14-00732 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf 14-00732 Legislation.pdf 14-00732 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, that this matter be DEFERRED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff and Carollo Absent: 2 - Commissioner(s) Suarez and Hardemon Note for the Record: Item BH 11 was deferred to the City of Miami's Second Budget Hearing scheduled for September 23, 2014, at 5: 05 p.m. BH.12 RESOLUTION 14-00774 Miami Parking A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Authority ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OFF-STREET PARKING, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,845,768.00, EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION, AND OTHER NON OPERATING EXPENSES OF $14,471,467.00. 14-00774 Memos - MPA.pdf 14-00774 Back -Up - Board Report.pdf 14-00774 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf 14-00774 Legislation.pdf 14-00774 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 3 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff and Suarez Noes: 1 - Commissioner(s) Carollo Absent: 1 - Commissioner(s) Hardemon R-14-0314 Chair Gort: Miami Parking Authority, BH.12. Scott Simpson: Good evening. Scott Simpson, Miami Parking Authority. We're looking for approval of a resolution of the City of Miami Commission, with attachments, approving and adopting the annual budget of the Department of Off -Street Parking, attached and incorporated for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2014 and ending September 30, 2015, in the amount of $15, 845, 768, excluding depreciation and non -operating expenses of $14, 471, 467. Commissioner Suarez: Move it. Commissioner Sarnoff Second. Chair Gort: There's a motion. Is there a second? Been moved by Commissioner Suarez; second by Commissioner Sarnoff. It's a public hearing. Is anyone in the public -- Mariano Cruz: Yeah. Chair Gort: -- like to address this issue? Yes, sir, you're recognized, Mr. Cruz. City of Miami Page 73 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.13 14-00784 Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority Mr. Cruz: Yeah, sure. Mariano Cruz, chairman ofABDA, Allapattah Business Development Authority, 801 Northwest 37th Avenue, Miami, Florida. I am here supporting the Miami Parking Authority. Why? Because when I call them, if I call -- Art Noriega, he is an important person. He always return the phone call, always, always. I don't have to wait 10 days for him. And the saying, "ASP [sic]," that is what it means. There are public officials that think they're too important to return your phone call. In here, I learned long time there is no important people, no important position. You're important when you are in that position. If you are not in that position, forget about. And, you know, when I call them, they got problem with a businessman on 17th Avenue, complaining that they got the parking meters there. We have a meeting. They came to Allapattah there to have the meeting, and they agreed with us, because it was done improperly; 17th Avenue is a major arterial, it's a County run, County run. And so they removed 19 parking meters; never was done that in any place in Miami that the Parking Authority had removed 19 parking meters, and people are pleased, and we are pleased. And we working together with them, no problem at all. Thank you. Chair Gort: Okay, sir, thank you. Anyone else? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearings. Discussions, comments? Okay, all in favor, state it by saying "aye." Commissioner Sarnoff. Aye. Commissioner Suarez: Aye. Vice Chair Hardemon: Aye. Chair Gort: Aye. Thank you. Commissioner Carollo: No. Mr. Simpson: Thank you. Chair Gort: Great presentation. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE MIAMI SPORTS AND EXHIBITION AUTHORITY ("MSEA"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $89,000.00, TO PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OF MSEA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. 14-00784 Memo - MSEA.pdf 14-00784 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf 14-00784 Legislation.pdf 14-00784 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Vice Chair Hardemon, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Suarez and Hardemon Noes: 1 - Commissioner(s) Carollo R-14-0315 City of Miami Page 74 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Sarnoff MSEA (Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority), right? Kirk Menendez (Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison): Yeah. Chair Gort: You mean 14 or --? Mr. Menendez: Good evening. Kirk Menendez, executive director of the Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority. Before you, you have MSEA's operating budget for 2014/2015 fiscal year, approved by the MSEA Board in June. If you have any questions, be happy to answer them. Chair Gort: Thank you. This is a public hearing. Is anyone in the public would like to address this issue? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearings. Board Members, Commissioners, discussion. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Chair Gort: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. I sort of -- like I said in the past, I feel like it's Groundhog Day, and we're going to have some of the same discussions as last year, and I'm going to begin with saying that all the revenues that it's showing in this budget is from the MSEA reserve funds, correct? Mr. Menendez: That's correct. Commissioner Carollo: What happened to -- and I said those same words last time -- the measly -- and I shouldn't say that word -- but the measly $20, 000 or so from the helipad, and seaplanes, and all of that, for that 5.6 acres of waterfront property that the City of Miami is going to receive zero in the general funds for? Mr. Menendez: Sure. Commissioner Carollo: I would at least expect that you will be showing revenues from that. Mr. Menendez: Commissioner, we entered in a contract with the helipad -- heliport and Chalks settlement agreement was reached recently. As a result of the Chalk settlement agreement, MSEA will be receiving approximately $225, 000 from the court registry in the next two weeks. The rent for the Chalks until certain thresholds are met, those funds from the rent will go directly to the City of Miami. In two years, when construction is complete, MSEA will receive $200,000 a year for 30 years, and the City of Miami will receive above $1 million a year as a result of the agreement that MSEA was able to reach on that matter. Commissioner Carollo: So what happened to the last time that we had this discussion and you said, "We're two weeks away from signing the contract, " or "We're two weeks away," and all this is starting; what happened from then to now? 'Cause at least -- and I know I'm not a member of the MSEA Board, but I would think that someone from the Administration would let me know exactly where we are, because, like I said, in the last budget hearing, I was expecting, you know, the $20, 000 or whatever that the Commission approved and the MSEA Board approved to be in the budget. So what happened? Mr. Menendez: Well, both agreements were signed and executed fully, and as I stated the terms and the way the language and the restrictions on MSEA are, in regards to rent, anything above fair market value goes to MSEA. Until we reach the fair market value trigger, anything from fair market value below goes straight to the City; that's why, in two years, MSEA would get $200,000 City of Miami Page 75 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 annually, which we can reflect. Commissioner Carollo: Question: Madam City Clerk, do we have -- do you have all that documentation and all that paperwork so I could review? Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): The information that we have is the information that was provided with the agenda. Chair Gort: I think the question is, last year, you were here -- Mr. Menendez: Yeah. Chair Gort: You had said that "We're going to sign within two weeks." We have not signed in two weeks; it has taken almost a year. Why? Commissioner Carollo: And see the same thing as last time, nothing in the revenues. Mr. Menendez: The heliport was ex -- agreement was signed in October 2013, so it was more or less -- not two weeks, but within a month, it was signed. Commissioner Carollo: Who has copies of those agreements? Does the City Clerk's Office have copies of those agreements? Ms. Ewan: If those agreements were sent to the City Clerk's Office for recording, yes, we would have the information. We can research it and get back to you to see if we have copies. Mr. Menendez: And I'd be more than happy to provide them to you and anyone else who would want a copy. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, 'cause I'm curious if the City Clerk has copies of those. Ms. Ewan: If you can give us a few minutes, and -- Commissioner Carollo: Please. Ms. Ewan: -- Mr. Menendez can provide us with some information; we can research it and get back to you. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. And we still got more of those, so there will be time. Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Commissioner, if I may; I'm sorry for -- Commissioner Carollo: Sure, absolutely. Mr. Alfonso: Kirk, recently, you entered into an agreement that is generating revenue. That revenue is being recognized in the changes memorandum that was provided to the Commission. Mr. Menendez: With regards to the City, yes. Mr. Alfonso: So it is amending -- yeah, but that's -- Mr. Menendez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: No, it's -- City of Miami Page 76 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: No. Mr. Alfonso: Your budget is being amended, sir. Commissioner Carollo: Yes. Mr. Menendez: Okay. Commissioner Carollo: Not from what we've been given. I'm still -- I'm -- Mr. Alfonso: My apology. Go ahead. Mr. Menendez: The revenues generated currently from the heliport and from Chalks go to the City of Miami general fund. Commissioner Carollo: So in other words -- and that's something new, 'cause the last agreement I heard about was in May 2012, and that wasn't a very good agreement; that's why I voted against it. Now, I don't know what other agreement there is, so I'm asking for documentation. How come no revenues is reflected in the MSEA; you're not going to receive any revenues, whatsoever? Mr. Menendez: No. The heliport -- Commissioner Carollo: All the revenues go towards the City; is that correct? Is that correct, Mr. Manager? Mr. Alfonso: Our understanding was that you had some extra revenue which was -- you're going to fund the position. Mr. Menendez: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: The -- extra revenue from where? Mr. Menendez: The Chalks agreement, the funds do not come to MSEA until construction's completed in two years when we hit the threshold; $200, 000 in approximately two years once construction's completed. All rents that's collected currently between now and the two-year mark will go to the City of Miami. Between now and the next two years, other than the $225, 000 that's coming to MSEA from the court registry as part of the settlement, we'll be using MSEA reserves to cover our operating expenses. But in two years, we will have $200, 000 a year, which we negotiated intentionally to allow MSEA to receive funds for 30 years on an annual basis. That was agreed to in the agreement; that we'll wait -- have to wait two years, based on the agreement, for those funds to flow in. Commissioner Carollo: And that's for the 5.6 acres, whatever it is, for the -- Mr. Menendez: That's correct. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Manager -- and I'm sorry -- you're reflecting that in the City's budget, the -- Mr. Alfonso: The one -seventy is in the changes memo, yes. Commissioner Carollo: Okay, but it's not going -- it's not flowing through -- 'cause it's going directly to the City; it's not going -- City of Miami Page 77 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Alfonso: Correct. Commissioner Carollo: Got you. Chair Gort: Now, I think it's important you make this statement that this is also a settlement that's been in court, I think, over 20 years. Mr. Menendez: Yeah. Chair Gort: Which is very important. I mean, we been in court with this property for 20 years; there's nothing we could have done. So this settlement that we agreed to do so is bringing the benefit of closing that case and bringing additional funds to the City of Miami. Mr. Mayor, you're recognized. Mayor Tomas Regalado: Mr. Chairman, just briefly, because four members of the Board are members ofMSEA, and Commissioner, what happened was that the Board told the City Attorney to continue the litigation and not -- it wasn't until there was a settlement that the contract was able to be signed and execute. The people were ready to sign and execute the contract, but there was a delay because of the board direction to Kevin Jones, the City Attorney, saying, "Continue the litigation." So that took several months, and that's why the delay on signing. On the October meeting ofMSEA, we will be dealing with the heliport, because it's not clear if the person that won the bid many years ago has already decided on moving on. And by the way, it's interesting, because the heliport wasn't an issue that went to the voters, but I don't know if the new Charter amendment will allow the voters to even decide on any part of the Watson Island or -- while it's under MSEA. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, ifI may? Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: With that note, Mr. Mayor, I don't have to tell you what my position would be. Mayor Regalado: No, I understand, but I'm saying -- Commissioner Carollo: I -- Mayor Regalado: -- I'm saying -- Commissioner Carollo: -- clearly would want it to go to the voters, because, again, that's prime waterfront property that has been there as an eyesore for God knows how many years, and, you know, I haven't seen any revenues from it, you know. All I heard is promises and promises. Mayor Regalado: No -- Commissioner Carollo: I received promises last budget hearing, so -- Mayor Regalado: -- but what I'm saying is that the delay on executing the agreement with the new owners of Chalks was because direction from the Board to the City Attorney handling the case of going back, going back, and we were at it for several months. And I think personally that the principals on that company were ready to sign and execute long time ago. But finally, they did, and they, as a matter of fact, they have brought the -- an architect from Europe to do the renderings, and I think that they have big plans for the Chalks -- well, the former Chalks. The heliport thing, we going to deal at the board. City of Miami Page 78 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Chair Gort: That's a separate issue. Mayor Regalado: It's a separate -- Chair Gort: They paying for it. Mayor Regalado: -- totally separate issue. Commissioner Carollo: Doesn't mean that we don't have architects here that could do the job. Mayor Regalado: No, but I mean, it's his preference. I mean, he's from Spain, and he's bringing his team to do the rendering. It's nothing we can do about local preference. Commissioner Carollo: Got you. Chair Gort: By the way, is it being used right now? Because I believe I seen planes going into the bay. Mayor Regalado: Yeah, they're flying now. Chair Gort: They're flying? Mayor Regalado: Because, remember, they kept flying a charter, but now, they are like regular. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Menendez, you're increasing your budget by about 23,000. What's the -- why the increase in expenses? Mr. Menendez: Primarily due to administrative services which would be an administrative assistant. Now that construction on the Chalks project will be kicking off it was our thought, and the Board agreed that -- to have additional funds available to bring somebody onboard to monitor and track a lot of the projects. Commissioner Carollo: So administrative assistant; you're going to pay her $10,000 a year? Mr. Menendez: The budget -- Commissioner Carollo: I see administrative services here. It was $20, 000 last year. I know you didn't provide that information, but I had to go back and look at last year's budget. Mr. Menendez: Sure. Commissioner Carollo: But administrative services last year was 20,000 and this year, it's 30,000, so the increase is $10, 000. So what you're telling me is that you're going to pay someone $10,000 a year? Mr. Menendez: No. Based on this budget, it's 30,000. The administrative assistant, I can pay up to 30,000; that's comparing what the City of Miami pays administrative assistants. Commissioner Carollo: So what did you do last year for $20,000 as an -- Mr. Menendez: I didn't -- Commissioner Carollo: -- administrative services? Mr. Menendez: -- use the $20, 000, because there was a delay in approving the Chalks project, City of Miami Page 79 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 but now that it's approved, we plan on using those funds currently -- Commissioner Carollo: So how much -- Mr. Menendez: -- the current 30,000. Commissioner Carollo: -- money did you have left over from last budget? Mr. Menendez: Well, the fiscal year is not over, but those $20, 000 for administrative assistance from last year were not used; they go back into the reserves of MSEA. Commissioner Carollo: Currently, you have about what in reserves; close to half a million dollars, four -something? Mr. Menendez: Close to half a million dollars, that's correct. Commissioner Carollo: Okay, so that's the additional $10, 000, 'cause you want to hire someone. What else? Why -- that's only $10, 000 -- why the increase of approximately 23,000? Where -- what are you increasing? Mr. Menendez: Also, for myself, as executive director, for insurance coverage and we have our standard big -ticket items, which is audit, accounting, et cetera; that's primarily it. Commissioner Carollo: I don't see any audit, accounting services going up. And by the way, you're a City employee, also. You're under the Manager's budget. Don't you have insurance through the Managers? Mr. Menendez: Yes. I pay out of pocket. Commissioner Carollo: So you don't want to pay any insurance since you're going to have this cover the out of pocket, or how does that work? You're going to have two -- Mr. Menendez: Well, I -- Commissioner Carollo: -- separate -- you could probably say "entity" -- paying your insurance, because you're getting insurance under the City's plan, and now you're going to get insurance under this plan? Mr. Menendez: This will -- like I said, I pay -- Commissioner Carollo: It just seems a little rich to me. Mr. Menendez: I understand. Commissioner Carollo: Knowing all the employees that have come up here and mentioned about their salaries and their benefits, it just seems a little rich to me that you would have two insurance plans. Mr. Menendez: Well, I'll be more than happy to reflect my insurance expense line item with those of other agencies of the City. Like I said, I pay out of pocket for the insurance that I pay for. I know the City obviously pays for part, but I pay for the rest; also includes disability and life insurance. I think it's reasonable considering I'm not receiving a salary as executive director of MSEA that I should receive car, phone, insurance. Commissioner Carollo: Do you -- and I'm sorry, I haven't seen it. I requested salary, but I City of Miami Page 80 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 didn't see the actual -- any additional benefits. Does he receive a phone allowance and car allowance under the City Manager's budget? Mr. Menendez: I receive a hundred dollars for phone; nothing for car. Commissioner Carollo: And now, you want an additional $400 a month for a phone and I guess a I -Pad? Mr. Menendez: Correct. Commissioner Carollo: So that means it'll be $500 a month for a phone allowance. Mr. Menendez: And a tablet. Commissioner Carollo: I'll just cut to the chase. Talk to me about travel; what travel are you going to be doing? Mr. Menendez: Well, if you look at the notes to the budget -- Commissioner Carollo: Uh-huh. Mr. Menendez: It basically covers parking fees; if I do have to travel for any reason, gasoline, lodging. I don't have anything planned to travel, but considering the projects are coming online, it's possible. I figured it's smarter to have it budgeted now than have to come back later to request an amendment. Commissioner Carollo: So you want MSEA to pay for your gasoline and to pay for your parking meter and stuff like that? Mr. Menendez: Well, when it's applicable, travel reimbursement. Commissioner Carollo: Okay, I've heard enough. How much travel and reimbursement did you have last year; zero, correct? Mr. Menendez: Zero. Now, the projects are coming online. Commissioner Carollo: Okay, that's all I have, Mr. Chair. Chair Gort: Okay, any further discussion? Vice Chair Hardemon: I have a question. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Hardemon: Just from our City Manager, even with the additional dollars that have been allocated for this budget, is there a zero dollar net effect from last year's budget to this year's budget? Mr. Alfonso: No, his -- that budget is growing slightly, but none of it -- just in case -- I want to make clear none of this is general fund budget. This is not general fund dollars at all; this is all within MSEA. Your budget is going up. Mr. Menendez: Yes. Mr. Alfonso: But it's all within MSEA's funding. City of Miami Page 81 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Vice Chair Hardemon: Right. And so I just wanted to -- Mr. Alfonso: Yes, but it is going up. It's going up $23,000, as Commissioner Carollo stated. Commissioner Carollo: Approximately. Vice Chair Hardemon: I understand that, but we're not taking any dollars away from our general funds dollars to make this happen? Mr. Alfonso: That is correct. Vice Chair Hardemon: That's what I want to be -- Commissioner Carollo: No. Mr. Alfonso: That is correct. Commissioner Carollo: However, however, I would have to say -- and we have to go back in history. I don't want to, you know, get misquoted -- but where do these monies originate from? And I would -- and it would probably be general fund. Mayor Regalado: If I may. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. Mayor Regalado: Because I -- Commissioner Carollo: This -- and this goes back, but -- Mayor Regalado. Yeah. I began as a member of MSEA in 1996, and they all came from tourist development dollar. Remember, MSEA used to own Miami Arena and Watson Island, and MSEA had several million dollars restricted -- never from the general fund -- restricted, and Willy Gort was also a member. And the money, after the Miami Arena was sold by the Diaz Administration, MSEA had reserves, and had -- the only income at the time was Chalks, but it was in litigation, so it went to the court registry. But MSEA never had any general fund money. Commissioner Carollo: Well, if they sold the Miami Arena -- Mayor Regalado: And the money -- Commissioner Carollo: -- that money would have been -- that money could have gone to the general fund Mayor Regalado: No, no. The money was used in the global agreement to pay for the Marlins Stadium. All of the $6 million to defeat the bonds of the Miami Arena that we were getting every year from tourist development money on the global agreement went directly to the Marlins Stadium deal, and, of course, the Arscht Center. Vice Chair Hardemon: I have a question, Mr. Clerk. Chair Gort: Yes. Vice Chair Hardemon: Mr. Clerk. City of Miami Page 82 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.14 14-00750 Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: Do we have those -- Vice Chair Hardemon: I had an appointment for the board ofMSEA. It was Davie Madison, and I thought it had passed. It does reflect that, right? Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Hardemon: Okay. I just didn't -- I didn't see it here, so I didn't know whether or not the name had been added. So -- Mr. Menendez: I'll make sure it's added. Vice Chair Hardemon: Okay, please. Thank you. I don't have any further questions. Chair Gort: Any further discussion? Being none, all in favor -- Vice Chair Hardemon: So move. Chair Gort: It's been moved by Vice Chairman Hardemon. Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff Second. Chair Gort: Second by Commissioner Sarnoff. Any further discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying "aye." Commissioner Sarnoff Aye. Commissioner Suarez: Aye. Vice Chair Hardemon: Aye. Chair Gort: Aye. Commissioner Carollo: No. Chair Gort: One "no. Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Menendez, the City Clerk just handed me some documents. I don't know what it is, but he's saying that there's certain documents that he does not have. I just want to make sure that whatever documents you have regarding what we just discussed, it is provided to our City Clerk so we have documentation, and I could read it and Mr. Menendez: They'll be delivered tomorrow morning. I'll make sure your office receives a copy of each. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. I would appreciate that. Have a good night. RESOLUTION Midtown Community A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Redevelopment ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE BUDGET OF THE MIDTOWN Agency COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, ATTACHED AND City of Miami Page 83 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.15 14-00749 INCORPORATED, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, AS APPROVED BY THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. 14-00750 Summary Form.pdf 14-00750 Legislation.pdf 14-00750 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon R-14-0316 Chair Gort: The Midtown. Pieter Bockweg: Good evening, Commissioners. Pieter Bockweg, executive director of the Midtown CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). Before you is accepting the budget that was approved by the Midtown Board in July. As you know, the board had heard it and approved, and we are before you for acceptance. Chair Gort: Okay, it's a public hearing. Is anyone in the public would like to address this issue? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearing. Commissioners. Commissioner Carollo: Move it. Chair Gort: It's been moved -- Commissioner Sarnoff. Second, second. Chair Gort: -- by Commissioner Carollo; second by Commissioner Sarnoff. Discussion. Being none, all in favor, state it by saying "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. RESOLUTION OMNI Community A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Redevelopment ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE BUDGET OF THE OMNI Agency REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENTAGENCY, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, AS APPROVED BY THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. 14-00749 Summary Form.pdf 14-00749 Legislation.pdf 14-00749 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Suarez and Hardemon Noes: 1 - Commissioner(s) Carollo R-14-0317 City of Miami Page 84 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 budget for the Omni CRA (community redevelopment agency). Again, that was approved at the same meeting in July by the board of Commissioners, and we are in front of you for acceptance. Chair Gort: Okay. This is a public hearing. Is anyone in the public would like to address this issue? Seeing none, hearing none, the public hearing's closed. Commissioner Sarnoff So move, Mr. Chair. Chair Gort: Been moved by Commissioner Sarnoff. Commissioner Carollo: Second. Discussion. Chair Gort: Second by Commissioner Carollo for discussion. Commissioner Carollo, you're recognized. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Question: It seems like there's a million dollars, roughly, left over from the environmental remediation of Bicentennial Park, correct? Mr. Bockweg: That is correct. Commissioner Carollo: Can that money be used for Museum Park, since it was originally intended for the remediation of Bicentennial Park, and we didn't need to use all that money? Can that go to Museum Park? Because if you look at the general fund, we're asking for a lot of money in Museum Park, and -- so I'll leave it at that before I continue, because there's other things that I wanted to discuss. Mr. Bockweg: To date, Commissioner, the CRA has spent an approximate $14 million in the construction of Museum Park. The remediation for a million dollars, that line item has not been completely reconciled yet, which we'll be doing in October, of course, as you know. I have reviewed the agreement for that remediation. And as you know, that was solely for the construction for the remediation of PAIVIM (Perez Art Museum Miami) Museum and the Frost Museum. Commissioner Carollo: That -- yeah, but that remediation happened three years ago. IfI remember correctly, this remediation happened about three years ago. So I think by now -- and I don't want to call you our CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) Department, but I think by now, you should have already closed it out and moved forward, because that remediation was done prior to any commencement of any construction, whatsoever, or any groundbreaking. So I think by now, it should have been closed out, and if you have 1.1 million, I honestly believe that this should go to Museum Park, so it would let a million dollars from the general fund go to -- Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Commissioner -- Commissioner Carollo: -- another needy area. Mr. Alfonso: -- I want to make a correction. There is no general fund money going to Museum Park. Commissioner Carollo: Capital. Mr. Alfonso: The impact fee. Commissioner Carollo: Impact fee. Mr. Alfonso: Capital. Not general fund. City of Miami Page 85 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: Understood, understood. And ifI misspoke, it's my error. But we have impact fee monies going to Museum Park. That would free up a million dollars in impact fees that could go to other areas, you know. It could go to additional parks. It could go to purchasing additional parks. So I believe that this $1 million, which originally -- and I remember very, very clearly, because I -- well, let's just say I remember very clearly, it was $2 million, and there's a million dollars left that was intended for Museum Park at the remediation, Bicentennial Park Museum Park. So I think this should go to free up a million dollars in impact fees for Museum Park. And mind you -- and I don't know ifI was going to have this discussion now or not, but I'll have this discussion. How do we know if it was Mr. Menendez? When he first did his priority plan, Museum Park was not a priority. I asked this Commission to pass a resolution, which it did, and unanimously made Museum Park one of the priorities. Museum Park passed the Legislature with a million dollars in funding. When Mr. Menendez sent a e-mail (electronic), or memorandum, or whatever it is, encouraging that we would contact our Governor or our Lieutenant Governor to make sure that they don't cut the funding for Marine Stadium and -- I forgot what was the other -- no mention of Museum Park, so I don't know if the City was behind it or not. And I mean Behind it,'iike behind the effort that this is a priority for this body. The Governor vetoed the million dollars for Museum Park. And yes, I worked pretty hard for it. Also, I have a feeling that there was another Commissioner that also worked for that million dollars, and I know the County was part of it, too. And the -- I still haven't received a final report from our legislation session. I have the e-mail somewhere in all these papers or memorandum encouraging this Commission, the Mayor to reach out to the Governor so they won't veto the Marine Stadium, which, by the way, let me be perfectly clear. When Mr. Menendez came here with -- and if he's still here, you know, I welcome that he speaks, because I definitely don't want to, you know, speak behind anyone's back or anything. But when the original legislative priorities came about, if you remember correctly, we requested $250, 000 for Marine Stadium, and Pm the one -- this Commissioner was the one who said, Why $250,000? Why are we not asking for more? "And we actually ended up with a million dollars, which, you know what? It was great. But we lost a chance to also receive a million dollars for Museum Park, and that was one of the few vetoes for down here in South Florida, so I guess Museum Park wasn't that important. But now I see quite a bit of impact fee monies going for Museum Park. So I guess I needed to vet -- vent a little bit, but I'm seeing a million dollars here on the Omni CRA special revenue fund that's carryover from the past, and I think this million dollars should go for whatever the impact fee monies that we're putting for Museum Park should be for. I know when -- the million dollars from the Legislature, that was going to be for infrastructure, but again, I see a million dollars here that could free up a million dollars in our impact fees to go to purchase additional parkland or needs that we have within our parks. Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff And -- Chair Gort: Commissioner Sarnoff, you're recognized. Commissioner Sarnoff You know, Commissioner Carollo, whether something makes our priority legislative agenda -- I know you worked it. I know I worked it to go to the Legislature. I know it really came down to one or the other, and it was -- you know, he decided that he was going to do Marine Stadium, for whatever reason. I really don't have a problem if, in fact, that million is there. Now, I could tell you this: I probably asked Pieter three or four times -- not a month, but pretty frequently -- what's the status of that particular line item, and it's CIP that has not closed it out. And I'm okay. If it's there, it's there. If it's not there, you know, it's not there. I just don't know whether it's really there. I don't know at what level it's really there. Commissioner Carollo: I got you. But then you -- Igo back to saying, you understand why then I'm uncomfortable if it's been three years -- City of Miami Page 86 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Sarnoff Oh, I -- Commissioner Carollo: -- and we don't know if they've closed it out or not, which goes back to what I've been saying about CIP. And, yes, I'm glad that now Finance is taking over budgeting, but you understand that now I'm -- Commissioner Sarnoff And I'm -- Commissioner Carollo: -- even more uncomfortable. Commissioner Sarnoff -- okay with what you're saying, and I'm okay with putting the million dollars there, if it really is there. Chair Gort: Mr. Manager. Mr. Alfonso: Commissioners, the project has not been closed out. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Mr. Alfonso: There's still work going on in the science museum, in particular. Now, will it be a million dollars? Probably not, because we are close to the end, and we don't know what the number's going to be yet, but -- Mr. Bockweg: If I may, Mr. Manager, and -- Chair Gort: Excuse me. Mr. Bockweg: Commissioner, the Manager is correct; the Science Museum obviously is still going. And as part of that remediation, just so we understand, it's not just cleaning out the soil and then start building and we're finished. There are tie-ins that are part of that remediation that needs to happen that goes underneath and through to the seawall. I can tell you, Commissioner, that it was -- it has been a line item for three years, and I have worked very closely with Marc and CIP, and most likely, after reconciliation is done in October, it'll be in the neighborhood of $800, 000. Irrespective, Commissioner, that, yes, can that money be reallocated to something else? Absolutely. But I can't do that from a budgetary standpoint until that project is closed out. Commissioner Sarnoff But it could sit there and it can be mid -year or whatever you need to do, as soon as it can be cleared up. Chair Gort: I think what we're trying to do, all of us in here, any funds that we can utilize, that could bring some surplus, additional funds to the general fund so it be welcomed by all of us -- Commissioner Sarnoff It's not -- I -- Chair Gort: -- because we want to make a lot of changes, so. Commissioner Sarnoff -- don't think it's general fund -- Commissioner Carollo: And, Commissioner Sarnoff, I think you've already realized, you know, I do care about that area, and I really -- I'm -- I am looking for all funding possible to go there. As a matter of fact, even though, yes, you funded Museum Park X'hmount, you know, originally, it was supposed to be a lot more, and I feel that CRA should fund more and so forth. But the bottom line is, I think you and I both care about that area and that park, and you know that we -- listen -- and it's just not talking. I mean, you saw that today in Bayfront Park Management Trust budget, we -- we are allocating a million dollars for additional security, for lighting, for many City of Miami Page 87 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 things. So, you know -- Commissioner Sarnoff And, again, I feel pretty good that we put six police officers, two of which will patrol that park, which will alleviate you from having to have some of your security -- and I'd rather have a cop in that park, candidly, than, you know -- Commissioner Carollo: Understood, understood. Commissioner Sarnoff Do you get to use the expression Bsall cop'br something like that? Commissioner Carollo: But that area has a CRA, and that's why, if some of that money could come from the CRA, then it alleviates, you know, citywide impact fees that could be used. And I know you may have an argument how much citywide it could be or not, but the bottom line is, it can be an additional million dollars to do -- buy additional parkland or to supplement -- Commissioner Sarnoff And I'm not objecting to what you're saying. Commissioner Carollo: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff I -- as soon as this closes, if it can close before we go to the next -- at the second budget cycle, I'm okay with that. I really am. Commissioner Carollo: And by the way, it was always my understanding back -- and we're talking -- I'm saying three years, but we're talking more than that -- when it originally happened, that it was just soil remediation. It was actually an environmental cleanup; therefore, I figure that all the environmental cleanup is already done and that's why they're commencing the building and stuff like that. Commissioner Sarnoff You know, Commissioner -- Commissioner Carollo: And that was my understanding way from before. Commissioner Sarnoff And when -- you and I don't get to talk about the park privately, you know, and I bet the other Commissioners don't know this. This park is built upon a series of concrete bunkers that still exist; that, in some places, there's only two or three feet of soil above the bunker. And I'm using the word Bunker. "Heavy concrete billets still exist in parts of that park. We didn't go there and, you know, try to remove everything. So there's still a lot more that could still be found. Chair Gort: Okay. Any further discussion? Is there a motion? Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): We're good to go, sir. Chair Gort: Huh? We're good to go? Mr. Hannon: We have a mover and second. Chair Gort: Okay. All in favor, state it by saying aye." Commissioner Suarez: Aye. Commissioner Sarnoff Aye. Chair Gort: Aye. City of Miami Page 88 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.16 14-00824 SEOPW Community Redevelopment Agency Commissioner Carollo: No, but I welcome an adjustment somewhere in the mid -year. Commissioner Sarnoff. And you might even be able to get it before -- well, I guess we haven't approved it yet. Commissioner Carollo: No. Mr. Bockweg: Let me clarify that, Commissioner. Commissioner Carollo: It'll be an adjustment somewhere. Mr. Bockweg: We will be corning back with our amended budget in February once we have the actual numbers from the County from the TIF (Tax Increment Funds) fund provision. Commissioner Sarnoff. I'll make a commitment to you. Mr. Bockweg: So -- Commissioner Sarnoff. The resulting balance will be spent in that park, and I'm hoping that resulting balance is just short of a million -- or I hope it is a million. I'm sorry. I didn't mean -- but I'm hoping it's -- Commissioner Carollo: Understood. I get the gist of what you're saying. Commissioner Sarnoff. Yeah. Commissioner Carollo: I get the gist of what you're saying. And that will alleviate a million dollars in impact fees from the general fund. Mr. Alfonso: Or whatever this Commission wishes to do. I mean -- Commissioner Carollo: Understood. Mr. Alfonso: There'll be time. I want to say, I'm confident that there will be plenty of time, because that -- some of that money hasn't even come in yet. Commissioner Carollo: Just remember who keeps looking and finding and stuff like that, because there's a big need in District 3 with park space and parkland. Anyways -- Mr. Bockweg: Thank you. Chair Gort: Okeydoke. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING AND ADOPTING THE AMENDED BUDGET OF THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("SEOPW CRA"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A", FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2013 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2014, AS APPROVED BY THE SEOPW CRA'S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS; FURTHER ACCEPTING AND ADOPTING THE PROPOSED BUDGET OF THE SEOPW CRA, City of Miami Page 89 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 ATTACHED AND INCOPORATED AS EXHIBIT "B", FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, AS APPROVED BY THE SEOPW CRA'S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. 14-00824 Memo - SEOPW CRA.pdf 14-00824 Legislation.pdf 14-00824 Exhibit A.pdf 14-00824 Exhibit B.pdf Motion by Vice Chair Hardemon, seconded by Commissioner Suarez, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Suarez and Hardemon Noes: 1 - Commissioner(s) Carollo R-14-0318 Chair Gort: Overtown. Clarence Woods: Good evening, Commissioners. I'm Clarence Woods, the executive director of the Southwest Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Development Redevelopment Agency), and before you is a resolution of the Miami City Commission, with attachments, accepting and adopting the amended budget of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, attached and incorporated as Exhibit A, " for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2013 and ending September 30, 2014, as approved by the SEOPW CRA's (Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency) Board of Commissioners; further accepting and adopting the proposed budget of the SEOPW/CRA, attached and incorporated as "Exhibit B,' oor the fiscal year commencing October 1, 2014 and ending September 30, 2015, as approved by the SEOPW Board of Commissioners. Chair Gort: Thank you. Public hearing. Is anyone in the public would like to address this issue? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearings. Board members. Vice Chair Hardemon: If no discussion -- Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Chair Gort: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. My -- one of my main issues with -- and I -- I'm sure you've heard it before, and if not, year after year I've said we spend a lot on professional services in Legal. And when was the last time that we went to an RFP (Request for Proposals) for legal services? It's been Holland & Knight for how many years? Mr. Woods: Holland & Knight has been our special counsel since 1998, and for good reason, with a lot of the transactions that we've had has had a lot of institutional -- well, a need for institutional knowledge, which Mr. Bloom has been around for quite some time, but fortunately, we've closed out some of those issues and -- Commissioner Carollo: And by the way, I took notice. I saw in the last hearing of the CRA that I was there, that, you know, there wasn't an attorney there billing by the hour just to sit down and hear our meeting, so I have see -- And by the way, this is nothing against Holland & Knight or any accounting firm. I think they're a great accounting firm. I'm sorry; I got accounting on my mind. Chair Gort: Attorneys. Commissioner Carollo: Attorneys. I think that Holland & Knight is a great law firm, so it's City of Miami Page 90 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 nothing against them, but at the same time, you know, we are spending a lot of money there, and I want to make sure that they're still as hungry to help us as they were when they first obtained the job back, what, 10, 15 years ago? Mr. Woods: Yeah. A little -- around longer than that. But -- Commissioner Carollo: Ten years. Mr. Woods: Yeah. Commissioner Carollo: So -- Vice Chair Hardemon: And I will say that this Commission and the board has gotten my commitment on trying to reduce the expenses that we have that are unnecessary, so we are continuing in that same spirit. We're all continually moving forward aggressively, and that's how we were able to bond the money that we bond. And I will say -- and I'm not sure if everyone is aware, but my initial thought was to bond the 44, $45 million and fight for the rest of it, and after that bond issuance, we ended bonding -- Mr. Woods: A complete 60 million. Vice Chair Hardemon: -- $60 million. So -- I mean, that, in and of itself is a victory, because we know what happens when you try to go back and forth with another entity that has a lot more money than you do to try to come to a compromise; that it really isn't a compromise, but more of a taking. And so we were not took in Overtown. We were not taken at the CRA, and that's something that all of us should be proud of because we stood together to make it happen, so that, in and of itself, saved us money. But we're going to continue moving forward in that same spirit, trying to make something happen in that community, but really trying to make something happen in that community. So I just look forward to all of your partnerships in doing that. Commissioner Carollo: And Commissioner, like I said, I've already noticed some of the changes, so, you know, it hasn't gone unnoticed. Arica as you very well know, whatever money we save here in the Administration side in paying a big prominent, powerful law firm, it goes actually back to the Overtown community. So that's all that I've, you know, I've tried to do, you know, ever since I became a board member. And that's why -- and I'm sure Mr. Woods can attest to it -- I have always been very harsh on the administrative expenses. Mr. Woods: Absolutely. Vice Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Commissioner Carollo: And I look forward to continuing to work on these administrative expenses, and I don't -- I'm still not there yet, but I'm hoping that I'm -- I will be sooner than later, and, hopefully, by the time -- next time comes around, I will be okay with the administrative side of it, but again, I see some of these expenses and I just hate that -- I know for a fact that area needs help, and I'm seeing some of these costs and I'm saying, "whoa," it's -- personally, I feel it's not right; simple as that. Vice Chair Hardemon: Understood. Move it. Chair Gort: Motion. Commissioner Suarez: Second. Chair Gort: It's been moved by Vice Chairman Hardemon; second by -- who second? City of Miami Page 91 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Vice Chair Hardemon: Commissioner -- Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner Suarez. Chair Gort: Commissioner Suarez. Any further discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying Eye." Commissioner Suarez: Aye. Chair Gort: Aye. Vice Chair Hardemon: Aye. Commissioner Carollo: No. Mr. Woods: Commissioners, just -- Commissioner Hardemon mentioned it, but I'd just like to say thank you for all of your support in our efforts to bond these $60 million. We did close on the loan, and it's because of your diligence and your faithfulness that we were able to do it. Now the real work begins and you'll begin to see -- Commissioner Carollo: Go to work. Mr. Woods: -- a lot of the projects that we have planned come to fruition. Commissioner Sarnoff. Mr. Wood [sic]. Chair Gort: Good luck. Commissioner Sarnoff I had asked you something -- sorry. Can I address him, Mr. Chair? Chair Gort: Go ahead, yes, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff I'd asked you something back a while ago and I've never received a response, and that was regarding Block 45. Mr. Woods: We'll have that update for -- you asked that we have -- we bring back an update. Commissioner Sarnoff At the next -- Mr. Woods: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Mr. Woods: Yes. And we'll have that for you. Commissioner Sarnoff Thanks. Vice Chair Hardemon: And show us. Show us the development. Chair Gort: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. I'd rather see the groundbreaking. City of Miami Page 92 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.17 14-00778 Virginia Key Beach Park Trust Chair Gort: Yeah, that's where we -- Mr. Woods: You will all be invited to at least two before -- well, actually, we have several, several, but two of the bond projects will be breaking ground before this year. Commissioner Carollo: Don't tell us. Chair Gort: Good. Commissioner Carollo: Show us. Chair Gort: Looking forward to it. Putting people to work. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK TRUST, IN THE AMOUNT OF $641,199.00, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. 14-00778 Summary Form.pdf 14-00778 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf 14-00778 Legislation.pdf 14-00778 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo and Suarez Absent: 1 - Commissioner(s) Hardemon R-14-0319 Chair Gort: Okay, what's next? Virginia Beach. Virginia Key Beach. Guy Forchion: Good evening, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, Mr. Manager. Guy Forchion, executive director for Virginia Key Beach Park Trust. I come before you with our budget requests for fiscal year 2014/2015. It is made up of 526,850 in projected revenue; 89,240 in a City contribution, and carryover funds from the Trust reserve of $25,109; for a total of 641,199. Thank you. If yort do have any questions regarding the budget, we are here to answer your questions. Commissioner Sarnoff Mr. Chair. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff. All right. So Mr. Forchion, I'm a little disappointed in how some things were represented to me in the meeting we had, and I want to go through them with you. First off, I asked you what your reserves would be at the very end, and it wasn't till the very end of the meeting you said to me, Well, Commissioner, I anticipate $100, 000. " And so, when I get this wrong, you say, "No, Commissioner, that's not what I said" But -- so this -- we're on the same page, right? City of Miami Page 93 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Forchion: We are on the same page. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Mr. Forchion: At the end of this -- Commissioner Sarnoff Fiscal year. Mr. Forchion: -- fiscal year when we are audited. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. And you said you wanted to have that $100, 000, because you wanted to start recreating your reserve, correct? Mr. Forchion: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff And that we even talked about maybe Commissioner Moss and you should get together with regard to -- You said you had $15.5 million in the GOB (General Obligation Bond) set aside. Mr. Forchion: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. And I asked you how much money had you spent on soft costs with regard to the museum, whether that was architecturals, design, conceptuals. You told me that $500, 000 was spent from your Trust and it was paid to Lord Cultural Resources. Mr. Forchion: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff You said that was a grant from the National Park Services. Mr. Forchion: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. I asked you if any other money was spent from the Virginia Key Trust for any architectural, design, conceptuals for -- at all. You said, "No, Commissioner. That's it." Mr. Forchion: Correct. Towards the -- Commissioner Sarnoff All right. Mr. Forchion: -- museum project, correct. Commissioner Sarnoff All right. So now I have re -- And by the way, my recollection was, as you were telling me that, that about $1.5 million had been spent in design fees as -- collected -- $1.5 million in conceptual renditions -- really, I would call it predesign work. That's just my recollection, and you don't need to confirm or disaffirm that. Then I asked the City -- CIP (Capital Improvements Program) Department whether, in fact, my recollection was right. And they said, "No, Commissioner, you're wrong; 1.735 million was spent on various design fees," if you will, 'for the Virginia Key Trust," and then they gave me a spread sheet. And the spread sheet shows a number of different expenditures, one of which was they tell me $898, 000; one was $433, 000; another one was for $245, 000; another one was for 108, 000. Now, do you have any recollection or knowledge of these expenditures? Mr. Forchion: I would only ask you, what are those items for? City of Miami Page 94 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Sarnoff Well, I -- Mr. Forchion: More than $20 million has been spent on the restoration of this project since its inception. Commissioner Sarnoff So if the City told me that some of this was spent on conceptual items, their rendition would be wrong? Mr. Forchion: No. I would imagine if those dollars were spent, their rendition would be correct. As we were discussing, my understanding of your question was -- Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Mr. Forchion: -- for the museum project. Commissioner Sarnoff Right, and it is. In other words, I wanted to know how much had been spent already on this project, but I call them soft costs. You know, lawyers -- I think there's something -- I've learned in museum talk, conceptual of what your museum should have; curatorships, stuff I've never heard of before until I became Commissioner; and, you know, I, of course, think you just get an architecture and, boom, you're out there and you start designing your museum, but these are all predesign documents. So do you have any recollection or -- I know you have Mr. Tinnie behind you -- any recollection of spending large sums of money from the City's -- I think it's the 2001 Homeland Security bond project for any of these kind of curatorships, or design fees, or conceptuals? Gene Tinnie: We did engage Haley Sharpe Design, and that's some of that. Now, was that as early as 2001? I don't -- Mr. Forchion: That is a signage, an interpretive outdoor exhibit concept from, I would imagine, 2005 to '6; 2001 I cannot speak to. Mr. Tinnie: That -- yeah, that early, it does sound like that would have been the restoration and -- obviously, we would need to meet and go over this, because it's kind of catching me off guard, too. I mean, I'm sure -- I mean, we've been at this long enough, you know -- Commissioner Sarnoff No, no. I -- Mr. Tinnie: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) everything is -- has been a void. So I'm sure that there's a question of interpretation or something like that. I would just need -- for me to kind of add, you know, light to this, I really need to just -- Commissioner Sarnoff Would you have any problem sitting down with me -- Mr. Tinnie: Oh, not at all Mr. Forchion: Not at all. Commissioner Sarnoff -- and going through -- Mr. Tinnie: Absolutely not. Commissioner Sarnoff -- this, maybe with Alice Bravo, too, so that we can go through the CIP Mr. Tinnie: Absolutely not. More -- in fact -- City of Miami Page 95 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Mr. Tinnie: You know, more than -- Mr. Forchion: We would welcome that. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Chair Gort: When are these expenditures taking place? Commissioner Sarnoff Sorry? Chair Gort: When have those expenditures taken place? Commissioner Sarnoff These expenditures, looks like '08, '07. They look like they -- some of them completed '010 [sic]; one completed '14. You know, they look like '07, Commissioner, '08, primarily, expenditures . But I wanted to know how much was spent on total on what I call soft costs. I don't know if she'd call them. Soft costs. Chair Gort: Sure. Mr. Forchion: Yeah. Commissioner Sarnoff And if there's a good explanation for this -- Mr. Forchion: Yeah. Chair Gort: And where are we now? Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Chair Gort: Okay. Mr. Tinnie: Yeah. We would be absolutely more than happy to, you know -- because I'm sure it's -- some way, it's in the semantics of what are being (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Sarnoff And it may be what they're telling me is not a hundred percent correct. I just don't know. But if we could just pass on this and -- Commissioner Carollo: You're somewhere there, because I -- Commissioner Sarnoff You have it too? Commissioner Carollo: I have similar -- Commissioner Sarnoff I'll let you work on it. Commissioner Carollo: No, no. That's fine. Go ahead. But -- Commissioner Sarnoff Well, I mean, I have a spread sheet, Mr. Tinnie and Guy. I will -- you know, a couple of issues I could take with your budgeting. I mean, you have $52, 000 that you really should be booking that you're not booking that you're not asking this Commission to recognize. I think we went through that a little bit, Mr. Forchion. City of Miami Page 96 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Forchion: You mean in the revenue projection? Commissioner Sarnoff Yes; that you're not recognizing about $52,000 -- 58,000. I apologize. Mr. Forchion: I do. And I think that is in the way I design my revenue present -- projection list, as you said. I should make that look differently. Commissioner Sarnoff No, no, 52 -- Mr. Forchion: If you -- Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah, I agree. Mr. Forchion: Fifty-two, twenty-five thousand and a hundred forty thousand for that total of two seventeen, but those lists are offset. That large and fundraising events of 217,000 is the sum of the returning large events, new large events, which is the 52, and 25 on fundraising events. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, I'm at -- Mr. Forchion: And that is the 217. Commissioner Sarnoff -- your line item, 110, 000, where you say you will recognize 52,000 because you have confirmed deposits. Mr. Forchion: That is correct. Commissioner Sarnoff And that's not a bad way of doing things. But you have $58,000 of what you called "unconfirmed revenue" that you're not booking; that you're saying to this Commission, "Well, I'm not going to recognize this revenue until I" -- "until it actually hits." So you're asking for money, but you're also going to have $52,000. And then in candor, not only that, you say you think you're going to have a $25, 000 reserve, but you really have what you anticipate to be a $100,000 reserve. Mr. Forchion: And let me explain that to you again, as we did in the meeting. Commissioner Sarnoff Sure. Mr. Forchion: What is shown in the budget of the 25,109, that is the figure that we received from the City following our audit. That's the number that we received around January or so that we have to incorporate into our budget when we put it forward. What I'm talking about is revenue we expect to make now is we are sitting right now with final numbers from the end of July from the City of Miami, which only leaves August and September as the final two months. But we can project forward our basic payroll, our basic expenses and costs with a standard of what our revenue collection is for these next two months. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, you know, maybe I'm not using the word right. Maybe Commissioner Carollo can correct me. So I always used to say to people is, "Have you spent all of your 2013/14 revenue?" And the answer I would hope to get, "Yes, Commissioner, we did. We zeroed out." Or "No; I have $100, 000 of anticipated savings. " Correct? Mr. Forchion: I have probably roughly 60 to $70,000 of anticipated savings. Commissioner Sarnoff You have a hundred. You have a hundred of what you expect. That's what you've responded to me when you were walking out of the door, and that's when you said to me, "But I want to hold on to that 100, Commissioner, because I want to start building my City of Miami Page 97 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 reserves. Mr. Forchion: And again, all of these are projections and estimates. Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. In the words of Commissioner Carollo, you can be pretty good with your projections when you're 14 days away from a close-out of the year. And I'm sure you know your budget better than any of us here. You'll know whether you have revenues coming in or expenses going out. I just think a couple things have to go on. You needed to be a little more upfront with your budget. It's a simple budget. It is revenue versus expenses. You should have been very upfront that "I want to retain my earnings from this year, " because they really are retained earnings, "and I anticipate my return" -- "my retained earnings to be $100,000, and Commissioner, for very good reasons, and here they are. I want to retain these earnings, because I'm about to start conversation with Commissioner Moss, and we know we're going to have to" -- you have a good idea, by the way. You gave us a book this thick that is a book that I guess that's the one you're saying that you paid for -- Lord Cultural Resources -- Mr. Forchion: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. -- I guess prepared that book for $500, 000. Mr. Forchion: Roughly. Commissioner Sarnoff That's an expensive book. Commissioner Carollo: Wow. Commissioner Sarnoff And that book -- I'm joking. I wouldn't know -- by the way, I wouldn't know -- by the way, just so you all know, you know how many times people come up to me on any given week and say, "Commissioner, I have a great idea for your museum." And I am -- I'm -- want to say this categorically -- so museumed [sic] out, and I always say, "Any good idea for the museums, please see the Mayor." I'm -- you know, I don't mean to be that -- I shouldn't be that informal with you. I apologize. But you have this book. This book is going to tell you what you think you need to have with -- I think you said it was a 32,000 square foot -- Mr. Forchion: Thirty-eight thousand. Commissioner Sarnoff Thirty -- sorry; 38,000 square foot facility. You told me that you think it's not going to be that big now. Mr. Forchion: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff Obviously, when you bring down the size of your facility, your air conditioner bill goes down, your number of personnel go down, so you are -- your net -- well, I call it a net loss, 'cause whatever you're going to pay for that ticket price, you're going to expect revenues from something or someone else. So I'm just bringing up to this Commissioner -- this Commission some issues thatl think are worth going through, and a little more candor would have helped a lot more. And I felt like I just did a Carollo on you. Mr. Tinnie: If I may, I'm convinced that I don't think it was any lack of candor. I really think this is just a matter of interpretation or semantics of just how we understand things, 'cause certainly, you know, as a board and as a committee, we've met and gone over these and pretty much thought that this was what we could present to you -- Commissioner Sarnoff I know. I -- City of Miami Page 98 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Tinnie: -- Commissioners. Commissioner Sarnoff You know, Mr. Tinnie -- andl'm -- and I've talked enough. Commissioner Suarez is actually excited I haven't talked much today, at all. Commissioner Carollo: But it's coming. Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah, and maybe -- yeah, maybe it is. Maybe it is. Commissioner Suarez: Keep it -- Commissioner Sarnoff Hopefully, it's not. Hopefully, it's not, Commissioner Carollo. Hopefully, it's not. But, yeah, I'm keeping my voice cool. I think every Commissioner here thinks in terms of corporate structures, and I think they think of retrained [sic] earnings, and they want to see where those retained earnings are, and they don't want to be surprised later on that you have this retained earnings when you've asked the City for additional funds, and some Commissioners think you should live off your retained earnings, if you're going to have a shortfall based on your budget projections. Mr. Forchion: And ifI may, Commissioner. We've been instructed now by the Budget Office to -- at the mid -year, to add whatever retained earnings we have to our budget. Commissioner Sarnoff But it -- Mr. Forchion: So where in the past -- Commissioner Sarnoff Definitely not -- they're definitely not in this budget. Mr. Forchion: Well, no, they are not, because, again, they are not retained yet. We don't know what that number is yet. Commissioner Sarnoff Everybody else -- andl'm going to ask Commissioner Carollo to say this is correct -- has shown us what their expected retained earnings are. Commissioner Carollo: Well, I'll go a step further. I'll go a step further. And I haven't asked the Administration point blank, but I have a feeling that they gave a template to all the different organizations, because I've seen that organizations that reported their budgets or proposed budgets have done it differently this time around. And it seems like there has been a budget template that has been used that's actually very good. It shows actual amounts from previous years, and it definite, at the very least, shows prior -- other than MSEA (Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority) -- shows prior year's budget as compared to the proposed current year's budget. I don't even have from you prior year's budget. I will have to look it up. Now, I already did that for some of the others, but it gets to -- this is -- what? -- our, 10th, 11 th organization or budget, so it's a little complicated to, you know, keep going to last year's and start comparing apples to apples. Additionally, additionally, a big problem is that monies that you are requesting is not in the City's budget. Therefore, we start off with the City budget, once again, which we are looking for dollars, and it brings us back roughly $90, 000. So those are two main issues that -- or, I would say, obstacles that we need to deal with. Mr. Forchion: If I can speak to one. The budget template, I have not received. Commissioner Carollo: With that said -- Mr. Forchion: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). City of Miami Page 99 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: Let me ask the Administration. Mr. Forchion: That's fine. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Alfonso or Mr. Rose, was there like a budget template? Which, again, I'm assuming there was because I'm -- just from previous years -- and I've dealt, you know, with this quite a bit. I'm seeing a big change. So was there a budget template that was handed out or at least sent or --? Mr. Alfonso: Commissioners, what we've tried to do -- and then Chris actually tried to initiate this this year, because there's a lot of questions that come with the budget of the external agencies that report directly to the Commission, we attempted to create a template that we asked outside agencies to fill in, and it would provide some standardized format of looking at all budgets. Commissioner Carollo: Right. Mr. Alfonso: It was not a requirement. They have provided their budgets to this Commission in different ways each year. Again, the outside agencies do not report to the Administration, so it was only a suggestion. If you didn't get the e-mail, my -- our apologies. I -- we thought we sent out an e-mail to all the outside agencies. You never know. The technology world is what it is. But it is something that we are encouraging, the standardization of budget presentations for outside agencies. Commissioner Carollo: And by the way, that doesn't mean that you have to use it, as the Manager said, but it was not a bad template. It was actually a pretty nice template. I mean, to make it better, you could have showed [sic] two months projection, but that may have been going too far. Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, I also -- Commissioner Carollo: But it's a pretty good template. Mr. Alfonso: With your permission. I also want to point out that it is true for all outside agencies that -- because they come directly to this Commission -- we do not put their requests for budget necessarily automatically into our budgets. We don't want to presume what this Commission is going to do. So therefore, we leave any additional requests that they have outside. If this Commission then directs us to put that into the budget, we will. Commissioner Carollo: Understood. But then we would need to find -- okay. We put it into the budget and where? And what revenue source? Mr. Alfonso: Well, the request is for general fund, so it would have to come out of -- our unallocated reserve would have to be reduced. Or, if this Commission finds other -- Commissioner Carollo: Or -- Mr. Alfonso: -- reductions, like were done here today. Commissioner Carollo: Right. What was last -- your total budget for last year? Mr. Forchion: Five thirty -- five hundred thirty-one thousand Commissioner Carollo: Five hundred thirty-one thousand City of Miami Page 100 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Tinnie: Does it help to clarify that we were talking not about a contribution but a spending authority; that, in fact, you know, the Trust generated the -- you know, the revenue from events and so forth. I mean, I don't know if that's something that needs to be clarified through the record. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. No, absolutely. It's just not generating enough revenues for your expenses. And -- Mr. Tinnie: Well -- Commissioner Carollo: -- you also have, you know, that we don't -- we don't make a big deal about it, but you also have, which is not reflected in your budget, the expense from the City side, because they provide services to you; they provide maintenance to the park -- Mr. Tinnie: Of course. Right. Commissioner Carollo: -- you know, and that's not reflected in your budget, but it is reflected in the City's budget and the Park's Department budget, but we don't make a big deal about it. But what's happening is you're not generating enough revenues for your expenses. So, usually, you either generate more revenues, or you cut your expenses, or you manage your expenses, and I'm seeing -- again, I'm not comparing it -- Mr. Tinnie: Commissioner. Commissioner Carollo: -- it to last year's, because I don't have it in front of me, and it wasn't presented that way. But you're asking, from what you're telling me, an additional $110, 000 from last year's budget. Mr. Forchion: And I wanted to say I misspoke; it was 521. Commissioner Carollo: Okay, so an additional 120,000. So, usually, like I said, if you're not making the revenues, then you manage your expenses. So I don't know where the additional $120,000 is going to, again, because I don't have last year's budget in front of me, but -- Mr. Forchion: Our revenue projections are slightly higher than last year. We're carrying over 25,000 and we're asking you, as a Commission, to provide $89, 000 to us. Commissioner Sarnoff But you're not booking 58,000, and your anticipated carry forward is 100, not 25. Mr. Forchion: The 58,000 in that new events projection -- Commissioner Sarnoff Yes. Mr. Forchion: -- in the last four years, as we've been moving through this process without financial contributions from the City, has proven that as many events as we get some commitments on drop out; and that's why, as I build this budget, I only show what I call "confirmed, " and that's where we've gotten some deposits for those events that are going to take place in the next fiscal year. That 58,000 is something I just can't bank on. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Commissioner Carollo: So what are you additional expenses? Why do you need the additional 120,000? City of Miami Page 101 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Tinnie: Well -- yeah, what we're -- I think it's actually itemized on there. Don't we have that? We need to create a couple of staff positions. We want to do programming. Mr. Forchion: Primarily, it's a -- Mr. Tinnie: Essentially grow the project. Mr. Forchion: Yeah. Primarily, it's a programming and volunteer coordination position. At this stage of where we are, it's -- we've got 80 to 90,000 visitors to the park each year. And next year is the 70th anniversary of this historic facility. And something that has been lacking and is desperately needed is telling that story of the park, having those tours, having those programs that take place at the facility operating in this next year. That is -- between that and two park attendants, that is roughly 60 to $70,000 of that sum. It's 58,000 for those three part-time positions; the FICA (Federal Insurance Contribution Act tax) that goes along with adding on those positions; some additional security when we come into our summer months next year, which is our busiest season, and then some other incidentals in terms of signage and other items that are needed. Commissioner Carollo: I mean, I have difficulties approving any -- you know, the additional 120. As a matter of fact, not to mention the 89,000, that it's not in the City's budget, that we will now have to start looking for additional funds to cover that 89,000. I mean, that coupled with the presentation where I can't -- you know, it's not often that I'm asking without knowing ahead of time where's the increases at, you know. Usually, when I ask that question, I know very well the answer, 'cause I've already looked it up. But 171 be honest with you, no, I didn't go to last year's -- your last year's budget to pull it out so that I could compare it to this, but -- so I'm going on your word. And I feel uncomfortable with the 89,000 City of Miami contribution, and furthermore, I feel uncomfortable with the increase in your budget for 120, 000. I mean, I really do. I don't know how my colleagues feel about it, but I'd be okay passing the same exact budget you had last year, and that's where I'm at right now. I don't know if my colleagues want to chime in or if they want say something. You're going to have a surplus, and I don't -- and "surplus" is not the right word. You're going to carryover from the current year's budget, right? Mr. Forchion: Yes, we will. Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So I think -- if we approve the exact same amount from last year, I think it'll be fine. That's my -- that's my opinion, and -- Mr. Forchion: If I may suggest an alternative to that. The budget, without the City contribution of eighty-nine thousand two forty is 551,000 and some dollars. I can give you that exact -- 551,959. We would appreciate that at this point. Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Mr. Manager, so -- okay, so the contribution is not there. If that is still higher than last year's budget, how do you --? That amount is in the City's budget? The -- okay. I'm sorry. I guess -- Mr. Alfonso: Remember, the Trust, it's a separate fund -- Commissioner Carollo: Understood. Mr. Alfonso: -- so the 89,000, if it's not allocated, they can still appropriate all of their revenue, and rollover expectation and all of that -- Commissioner Carollo: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- without an impact to the general fund. City of Miami Page 102 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: Right. The question would be how reasonable their estimates -- their -- how reasonable are their estimated revenues and expenses? When you book revenues, you're saying that you need some type of agreement or some type of documentation or --? Mr. Forchion: You mean, when we book events? Is that --? Commissioner Carollo: No, not events; your projected revenues. How you're coming up with your projected revenues. Mr. Tinnie: Mostly events. Chair Gort: Events. Commissioner Carollo: Right. Mr. Forchion: Mostly events. Commissioner Carollo: I under -- Mr. Forchion: Entry into the park and -- Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but that's not my question. My question is, is it -- the events that already has -- have a contract with you, or is it just a mere promise that they're going to do an event? How do you come up with this amount? Mr. Forchion: Some we have -- some of the events we sign multiyear agreements with. Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Mr. Forchion: And so those ones in the returning large events -- Commissioner Carollo: Understood. Mr. Forchion: -- are primarily those. Many of these are on their fourth, fifth, sixth year. The ones that are in question are the new large events, and that's where I only book what is confirmed, where we have an agreement with them. Commissioner Carollo: Got you. Got you. Mr. Alfonso: Yeah. And we were doing some quick numbers, Commissioner. They, on average, about $45, 000 a month in revenue, and I know it's cyclical, because in the summer, they probably do a lot more. Commissioner Carollo: Right. Mr. Alfonso: But if you take that out, 12 months, it's about 540-some thousand dollars, so they're not exactly -- Commissioner Carollo: Off. Mr. Alfonso: -- off on the number. Commissioner Carollo: I got you. So give me the exact -- well, I could do it here. Six forty-one minus the eighty-nine, two forty, so it's $551,959. So I make a motion to approve your budget City of Miami Page 103 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 with -- for the total amount of $551, 959. Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner. Chair Gort: Okay, there's a motion. There's a second by Commissioner Sarnoff. Commissioner Carollo: Hold on, hold on. I want -- Mr. Alfonso: Just a real friendly amendment. Can we round those numbers to the nearest hundred so that our budget looks nice and uniform? Commissioner Carollo: What do you --? Round up or round down? Mr. Alfonso: Round down, sir. We're talking $40 here. Commissioner Carollo: So what do you suggest? Chair Gort: Five hundred and fifty-two. Commissioner Carollo: Five hundred and fifty-two thousand? Chair Gort: Right. Commissioner Carollo: You got it. Okay, so I make a motion for the total budget to be $552, 000. Chair Gort: There's a motion. Is there a second? Commissioner Sarnoff Second. Chair Gort: Been moved and second. Any further discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): As amended. Mr. Forchion: Thank you, Commissioners. Mr. Tinnie: Thank you, and we'll be glad to meet. And please do visit the park and you know, come see your real estate, you know. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. And on a side note, andl think Commissioner Sarnoff was mentioning too, you know, I'm interested to see what happens with Commissioner Moss, and I know part of that is part of the Virginia Key Master Plan, huh? Mr. Tinnie: Yeah. Commissioner Carollo: Right? It's something that has been wanting to happen for a while, right? So I just -- Mr. Tinnie: Yeah. It all means -- and you know -- and I just, you know, make this point. You know, we really are keeping the long-term vision in line so that as we generate what could be called a surplus, you know, the idea is not to feast on the seeds of next year's crop, so that's -- City of Miami Page 104 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.18 14-00799 Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID) Board Commissioner Carollo: Got you. Mr. Tinnie: -- a lot of the rationale. Okay. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Mr. Tinnie: Thank you very much. Mr. Forchion: Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE WYNWOOD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ("BID") IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,045,800.00, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, TO PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BID, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. 14-00799 Memo - BID.pdf 14-00799 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf 14-00799 Legislation.pdf 14-00799 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Sarnoff, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo and Suarez Absent: 1 - Commissioner(s) Hardemon R-14-0320 Chair Gort: Wynwood win -- BID (Business Improvement District). David Polinsky: Thank you. David Polinsky, Wynwood BID board director, from 1040 Biscayne Boulevard, also treasurer and head of the Finance Committee. I'm here tonight with Tom Curitore, our talented executive director, to present the resolution request, duly approved unanimously by the BID board on August 5 of this year, in the amount of 1, 045, 800, with attached documentation for the budget request. Commissioner Suarez: Move it. Commissioner Sarnoff. Second Chair Gort: It's been moved by Commissioner Suarez; second by Commissioner Sarnoff. This is a public hearing. Is anyone would like to address this issue? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearings. Comments? There's a motion and a second. Any discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying ilye. " The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mr. Polinsky: Thank you. City of Miami Page 105 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Sarnoff. Thank you. BH.19 RESOLUTION 14-00740 Department of Solid A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Waste ATTACHMENT(S), RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF SOLID WASTE SERVICES, FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA; IMPOSING SOLID WASTE ASSESSMENTS AGAINST ASSESSED PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF MIAMI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2014; APPROVING THE RATE OF ASSESSMENT; APPROVING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 14-00740 Summary Form.pdf 14-00740 Legislation.pdf 14-00740 Exhibit.pdf Motion by Vice Chair Hardemon, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, that this matter be ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo and Hardemon Noes: 1 - Commissioner(s) Suarez R-14-0321 Chair Gort: Okay, Solid Waste. Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): I'm sorry. Commissioners, Solid Waste is part of the City's budget. So at this point, can we --? Commissioner Carollo: Why don't we take two or three while he's -- Mr. Alfonso: Okay. Commissioner Carollo: -- hooking up and --? Mr. Alfonso: I mean, that's up to you, Commissioners. Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. Chair Gort: What do you -- Commissioner Carollo: Now -- Chair Gort: What are we doing; taking a break? We have a quorum. Okay. Capital Improvement Program. Mr. Alfonso: We want to go ahead and take the solid waste item? I mean, we have -- Chair Gort: Go ahead. Mr. Alfonso: Okay. To take up the solid waste fee, Commissioner, this is the same fee that was in our budget for the last few years. It's been unchanged. It's $380 per household. Does the City come -- the Commissioners have any questions on that fee? Commissioner Sarnoff. No, but I have asked your office for the past month for the true number City of Miami Page 106 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 for the solid waste collection. In other words, you charge $380 for, let's just say, RI or R2 housing, and I wanted to know what it really cost. Mr. Alfonso: Okay. Commissioner Sarnoff And I understand it's now with Mr. Rose. It's now left Mariano's -- that's all right. I don't think he has the answer yet, but I would like to have that answer. Mr. Alfonso: Okay. To -- Commissioner Sarnoff Do you understand what I'm asking? Mr. Alfonso: Yes, I understand What does it cost truly to collect household waste from City? Commissioner Sarnoff In other words, how much does the Solid Waste budget subsidize the 300 and something dollars? Mr. Alfonso: Okay. Commissioner Sarnoff I should say the true collection. Mr. Alfonso: Yes. The Budget Office is looking at that computation, with the understanding that the total cost of solid waste is not borne in the Solid Waste Department. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Mr. Alfonso: So that we have to do some estimates of cost allocation for GSA (General Services Administration) vehicle maintenance, fuel, et cetera, and their overhead and allocate it to what would be the per -household cost. Commissioner Sarnoff There has always been this -- Mr. Alfonso: And I know that the study's been done in the past, and we understand that $380 does not fully cover the cost of the household collection. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. And I think Commissioner -- I'm sorry -- the Mayor was a Commissioner. We were always led to believe -- I don't know if this is right or not -- that it's about one half of the true collection efforts. I don't know. And when I brought that to your new director of Solid Waste, he said, "How would I know that?" And I said, I don't know. It's a number that's been bandied about here. Mayor Tomas Regalado: Four twenty, four thirty. Chair Gort: Yeah. Mayor Regalado: They said it was -- Commissioner Sarnoff Is this the real number? Mayor Regalado: They said -- remember, four or five years ago, they said 450, 460 is the real number. Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mr. Alfonso: Right. But I believe the number in the mid-400s has been stated. City of Miami Page 107 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Mr. Alfonso: So -- Commissioner Sarnoff I just want to know how real that is or what the real number is. Mr. Alfonso: Right. And we're doing an analysis to come up with that, Commissioner. So I guess the question that I have is we need to pass a fee that we're going to collect from our households. We have put that number of $380 into the trim, as authorized by the City Commission back in July. Are we considering changing that fee at this time, or are we going to keep that fee as is? We will get you the information for sure. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Mr. Alfonso: And we'll definitely -- we'll shoot to have it for sure by the next Commission meeting. Commissioner Sarnoff I usually pass my symbolic vote of "no" on this, simply because there are a number of people that live in high-rises that are not reaping the benefits of what they're paying in their general -- in their taxes, which goes to the general fund, which -- Mr. Alfonso: Right. Commissioner Sarnoff -- inevitably goes to Solid Waste. Mr. Alfonso: The folks in the high-rises, in a way, paid for the benefit of clean streets and, et cetera, through the franchise fee -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- which also goes to the general fund Commissioner Sarnoff Right. And I could give you the double whammy they get, but I'm only giving you the single whammy they get. So I'm just asking from this -- and I usually make a symbolic vote. I think Commissioner -- I'm sorry -- the Mayor and then -Commissioner Regalado was always there when I make the symbolic vote. I rarely ever vote for this. Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair, ifI may? Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Suarez: Let me ask a question, which I think is -- I'm not sure if it's a smart question or not. But why don't we just pick up their garbage, as well, if they're paying for it in their taxes? Mr. Alfonso: No, they're not paying for it in their taxes. They don't get -- the high-rise -- Commissioner Suarez: They don't pay the solid waste fee? Mr. Alfonso: No, they do not, sir. Commissioner Sarnoff Right, they don't pay that, but the solid waste fee -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. City of Miami Page 108 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Sarnoff -- is not the true fee. Commissioner Suarez: Well, I mean, that's a whole 'nother debate I think I could have with both of you, and I could tell you that we shouldn't be charging the solid waste fee to begin with; that it should be part of the general fund budget, 'cause that's one of our core functions, which is picking up solid waste. It's one of the three main things the City of Miami does. So the notion would be if we collected the garbage for the buildings, then when they pay taxes, like every other citizen, the cost of that collection would be rolled into that tax payment. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, you'd be a star. Mr. Alfonso: I'm not sure about that. Commissioner Suarez: That's really the way it should work. It really is the way it should work. It's a $40 million cost. Mr. Alfonso: I think that would be -- if you ask somebody who owns a $3 million property and you're charging their solid waste fee in the garbage -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: So it's -- ifI owned a $2 million condominium -- Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Mr. Alfonso: -- on Brickell and you apply the seven mills to me, I'm paying $1,400 a year for garbage versus somebody in a residential property that pays $380 right now. So you would be basically charging a different garbage collection fee to every household in the City of Miami based on the value of their property. I think that's why that fee, per se, is not charged in tax but as a flat fee. Commissioner Suarez: But they would argue that they're already paying that, because they're paying for that millage. Mr. Alfonso: No, Commissioner. But what would have to happen -- think about this. If you take out -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- the $380 fee, now you'd have to make up a $26 million hole in the budget, which means you have to raise the millage -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- in order to cover that cost. So now, again, back to the -- if live in a six, three, four, $5 million condominium, you apply that additional millage to me and I'm paying a lot more for my garbage collection than my property value, who's assessed at 70,000 or 80,000 or 100, 000. Commissioner Suarez: So what you're saying is that it's a regressive tax? Mr. Alfonso: No, no. It would be -- Commissioner Suarez: Meaning that -- City of Miami Page 109 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Alfonso: It would be -- Commissioner Suarez: -- the person who has -- Mr. Alfonso: -- the same rate for everybody, but the people who have higher value properties would be paying a lot more for the same service. Commissioner Suarez: So -- but what you're saying is what we currently have is a regressive tax? Mr. Alfonso: No. What we currently have is a -- Commissioner Suarez: It's regressive because -- Mr. Alfonso: -- fee -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- that applies equally to all, because the service that they're all getting is equal. To the extent that you have a multimillion dollar home, let's say -- because we don't do the high-rises -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- right now, you're paying the same fee because you're getting the same service. It's not a regressive tax. It's a fee for service. We're going out to your house three times, four times, whatever, a week and you're paying for that fee. If you convert it to a millage, then the people with higher -value property would pay for than those with a lower -value property. Commissioner Suarez: Right. But if you were to apply that logic throughout the entire City of Miami, then you would have three fees: You'd have a fire fee, you'd have a garbage fee, and you'd have a police fee. And everyone would pay the same amount of taxes. So whether you lived in a $3 million house or a $30, 000 house, you would pay the same, 'cause you're getting the same services, right? Mr. Alfonso: No. I disagree, because -- Commissioner Suarez: How do you figure -- Mr. Alfonso: -- police officers are -- or law enforcement, for example -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- or even public safety, firefighters, whatever, we do not provide the exact same level of service to all areas of the community. Commissioner Suarez: How do you figure? Mr. Alfonso: Well, this is how I figure it: If you look at how many calls we respond to in certain areas, I would argue that those areas are getting a lot more service -- Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Mr. Alfonso: -- than others, but they are paying equal tax rates. City of Miami Page 110 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: So they're not getting the same service. They're getting the same intent to respond, but if I do in the Coconut Grove area of West Grove, I'm responding to twice as many calls as the East Grove, just to say something, there are more officers -- the Police Department will allocate more resources to those areas that have greater level of calls, so -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- they are not getting the same level of service. Commissioner Suarez: So what you're saying is that some areas are subsidizing other areas? Mr. Alfonso: Well, in the case of property taxes -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- which are considered for the public good -- Commissioner Suarez: Same as like -- Mr. Alfonso: -- I would pay a school board tax, even ifI have no kids -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- okay, that is perfectly legal and legitimate -- Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Mr. Alfonso: -- to collect a tax from everybody and provide the service where it is needed most. The solid waste fee is a different fee, because it is a service that we're delivering to every household that pays it, regardless of the size of the home or how many -- you know, we don't get a double the amount of calls for solid waste than of some area than other. They all get equal service, so they all get equal fee. Chair Gort: Okay. Commissioner Suarez: It's an interesting logic. Chair Gort: The public hearing. Anybody in the public would like to address this issue? Yes, sir, go ahead. Commissioner Carollo: Solid waste fee. Commissioner Suarez: By the way, that's the best anyone's ever -- Mariano Cruz: Mariano Cruz. Commissioner Suarez: -- explained it in four years. I could tell you that much right now. Mr. Cruz: Mariano Cruz, 1227 -- Chair Gort: Excuse me. Yes, sir. City of Miami Page 111 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Cruz: -- 26 Street, Miami, Florida. That's a fee I don't mind paying, because they come like clockwork: Thursday and Monday, they get the garbage; on Tuesday, the trash on the street, and the recycle every other Friday. And you know, I get my children, they live in the County part, Kendall, around there, and they pay a lot more for solid waste that I pay, and they don't get the service that we get in the City of Miami. So I don't mind paying more for solid waste, because that's about the only thing I pay, because I don't pay taxes. So I don't mind, I tell you. Raise it, raise it $50, $100 more; I don't care. I got the money to pay for it. All right, thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Yes, sir. Joe Simmons: Good evening, gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen, we ask that -- we need your support in passing this fee. There are certain areas in this City, let's say Coconut Grove -- We have areas where we pick up two dump loads -- two dump trucks full of trash every week. We don't complain about it. Someone -- misses their garbage pickup because they overslept. They call Solid Waste. Same day or next day, we pick it up. No complaint; with a smile. So like the Manager said, we provide a equal level of service to everyone, and we want to make it as fair and we want to continue. Currently, other cities don't provide the same level of service. Miami is at the forefront. You know, we need to remain at the forefront as far as our image, as far as our public perception, because we need to be at the front of line, not at the back of the line. Dade County, we can brag that we provide much better service -- level of service to our residents, and we urge you to pass this fee. It's been flat for the last five or six years at 380. There was an attempt -- I think when Regalado was a Commissioner -- several years ago to raise it, I think, to $15, and it was met with some opposition. And so, internally, over the course of time, we're constantly looking at innovative ways in order to want to reduce our costs. As you recently approved an extension of a long-term agreement -- disposal agreement, so we're internally constantly looking at that. We're looking at certain areas where there's more greenery, where we divert to -- Chair Gort: No. Go ahead. You got -- Mr. Simmons: -- waste management which -- you know, which cost us less money. Of course, the County don't necessarily like that, but, you know, we have to look out for the best interest of our residents. As you know, we provide litter container service to all of your districts citywide, and those are constantly being looked at. We do a lot of different things. We pick up dead animals. It's a whole lot of different things. We make it happen. So if you call today -- someone picks up my gar -- Mr. Cruz, if his garbage gets mixed up, doesn't call 311; he calls me, and we make it happen. You know, basically, I find out what area it's in, I contact the operator directly. "Hey, I need you to go take care of that," and they take care of it right away, with a smile. We want to continue providing that service to our residents, front -door service. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Anyone else? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearings. Comments. Motions. Vice Chair Hardemon: Discussion. Chair Gort: Discussion. Go ahead. Commissioner Carollo: Grab the gavel. Chair Gort: Go ahead. Discussion. Vice Chair Hardemon: Well, I don't have anything to lead with. I don't want to hear myself talk. I'm -- 'cause no one has a motion, so I'm assuming someone has discussion. Commissioner Suarez: This is fatigue right here. City of Miami Page 112 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Vice Chair Hardemon: I move it. Commissioner Carollo: Second. Vice Chair Gort: It's a motion and a second. Discussion. Vice Chair Hardemon: What was the rate last year? Commissioner Carollo: Same as -- Mr. Alfonso: Three hundred eighty dollars, Commissioners. It was the same for a number of years. Vice Chair Hardemon: And what was it the year before that? Mr. Alfonso: Three hundred eighty dollars? Vice Chair Hardemon: The year before that? Mr. Alfonso: Three hundred and eighty dollars. Vice Chair Hardemon: Okay. I heard the discussion a little bit earlier about property taxes. You know, I would probably pay more in property taxes ifI lived in a safer community. Sounds like a fair trade off. Isn't that something? Your house cost more. The property value of your home is probably more expensive, because not only because of the type of house, but the safety of the community, so as you move in a lot of places -- in my community, as you move further east, the -- and the communities are much safer. They have crime, but the crime is a little different as you move further west and north or northwest. So some of those people pay -- their property values have increased because of the safety of their communities. Because I know right now, you can buy a home in Liberty City that may be worth $70, 000, but you take that same home and you place it in the Upper Eastside and that home is worth $370, 000, and I think that's pretty significant. Now, I'm assuming that if you want a safer community, then you don't -- you -- if -- you're willing to pay more in taxes, because you want to be in a safer community; just to put it out there. So I can imagine paying more in garbage fees because I want -- Commissioner Suarez: Let me ask this question. Vice Chair Hardemon: -- better garbage service. Commissioner Suarez: And I don't want to belabor the philosophical discussion, but I'm going to ask a question and then I'm going to vote. My question is this: How long has the City of Miami been in existence? Mr. Alfonso: Since 1896. Commissioner Suarez: Exactly. How many years in those -- all those years have they charged a solid waste fee? Mr. Alfonso: I don't know the answer to that, Commissioner. Commissioner Suarez: When did they start charging solid waste fee? Mr. Alfonso: I do not know the answer to that. City of Miami Page 113 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Suarez: Take a guess. Chair Gort: In the '90s. Commissioner Suarez: He's been here since then? When? The '90s. Which means that for a hundred years, they picked up garbage without charging a solid waste fee. Somehow they figured it out. That was part of your tax bill, so I'm voting "no, " like I've done before. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Manager. Mr. Alfonso: Yes, Commissioner. Commissioner Carollo: Quick question. If there is three "no" votes -- Mr. Alfonso: We have a $26 million hole in the budget. Commissioner Carollo: That's what my question was. That was my question. Chair Gort: Okay. Any further dis --? Vice Chair Hardemon: So -- Commissioner Carollo: How does that -- how does --? Mr. Alfonso: Commissioners, I'm sorry. I was told that 1980 was the year we started charging the solid waste fee. Commissioner Suarez: So for a hundred years. Mr. Alfonso: 'Eighty-four, but we're not quibbering [sic]. Commissioner Suarez: Okay, '84. My apologies. Commissioner Carollo: So Mr. Manager, it would be a $26 million deficit. So how would that help us with a hundred new officers? Commissioner Sarnoff Don't worry, Frank; I'm not going to pull it -- I'll be voting (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Vice Chair Hardemon: What is -- that amounts to a little more than a dollar a day. Mr. Alfonso: Actually, forget about a hundred officers. Commissioner Carollo: How will that help us with our negotiations with our unions? I'm just -- again, I'm just -- listen -- and I understand the debate. I just want to make sure that we also do the prudent thing and not throw the whole budget process into complete chaos. Mr. Alfonso: Yeah. It's been -- Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry. Let me go -- well, I guess -- Mr. Alfonso: We can consider putting blue lights on the garbage trucks. Vice Chair Hardemon: I've never had a concern for my community about the fee. City of Miami Page 114 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.20 14-00884 Office of Management and Budget Chair Gort: Any further discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying aye." Commissioner Carollo: Aye. Chair Gort: Aye. Vice Chair Hardemon: Aye. Commissioner Suarez: No. Chair Gort: One "no," okay. Thank you. Commissioner Suarez: Oh, my God,. we survived again. Mr. Alfonso: Commissioners -- Commissioner Suarez: Don't panic. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY'S") FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015 MULTI -YEAR CAPITAL PLAN ("PLAN"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, AS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION ACT, SECTION 163.3177, FLORIDA STATUTES (2014), AND PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 18/ARTICLE IX/DIVISIONS 1 AND 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "FINANCE/FINANCIAL POLICIES/ANTI-DEFICIENCY ACT/FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES," TO SET FORTH THE CITY'S FISCAL NEEDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL PLAN REVIEW, TO DETERMINE PROJECT PRIORITIES AND TO MODIFY FUNDING ALLOCATIONS AS NECESSARY. 14-00884 Summary Form.pdf 14-00884 Back -Up from Law Dept..pdf 14-00884 Legislation.pdf 14-00884-Submittal-City Manager -Memo -Impact Fees.pdf Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Commissioner Suarez, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon R-14-0322 Chair Gort: Okay, BH.22. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, I'm not sure if the Manager would like to address BH.20 before BH.22. Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Yes, Commissioners. Chair Gort: Capital Improvement. Mr. Alfonso: Yes. So the capital plan right now, it is as was proposed. It does include the City of Miami Page 115 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 allocation of impact fees. It includes the projects that will be in next year's budget. I don't know if there's any questions or discussions that we want to have about that. Chair Gort: Okay, it's a public hearing. Is anyone in the public would like to address this issue? Yes, sir, you're recognized, Mr. Cruz. Mariano Cruz: Mariano Cruz, 1227 26th Street. You know, in July I couldn't come here, on July 23, because I was in Philadelphia in convention. I stay a hotel close to the airport, the Wyndham there. I was surprised to see so many Chinese people there. When I asked one of them, he say, "Oh, we here for the EB-5 (Employment Based 5th Category)." I was wonder what they had done with the money, with the $100, 000 that they allocate here for the EB-5 last year, because it was allocated money. But one time it was being in the papers, and it is a big Chinatown in Philadelphia, and they told me, "We here for the EB-5." And there were Chinese people there all over the hotel. So I don't know what they have done here with the hundred thousand dollars. They didn't allocate for that money unless that was for a gift to France. Thank you. Chair Gort: Okay, thank you. Anyone else? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearings. Mr. Hannon: Excuse me, Chair. I'm sorry. Mr. Manager, I believe there was an amendment to be read into the record for BH.20? Mr. Alfonso: Yes. Christopher Rose (Director): Good evening, Commissioners. Chris Rose, Office of Management & Budget. In the title, we need to remove the words "attached and incorporated." In Section 2, we also need to remove the words "attached and incorporated." And we need to add a new Section 3. The plan, as submitted to the City Commission on July 9 is incorporated herein by reference as an amended to include all of the applicable changes contained in the memorandum entitled "Information for First Budget Hearing, Fiscal Year 2014/15 Proposed Budget." Since we had not put the entire capital budget out since July 9, we didn't put the whole thing out attached to this as we have done in past years, so this just incorporates the book that you received back in July into the budget as is. Chair Gort: Okay, discussions. Commissioner Suarez: Where do we begin? Let the good times roll. Mr. Chairman, I guess I'll get the party started. Chair Gort: You're right on it. Commissioner Suarez: So let me just start by thanking Commissioner Sarnoff. True to his word, he said that he would get me a memo on his legal position regarding impact fees, and he got that memo to me; got it to me well in advance of today's meeting, you know, so that we had an opportunity to vet the memo and, you know -- and see for ourselves whether, from a legal perspective, we agreed or disagreed. And I have to say that -- I haven't always agreed with him legally on all legal arguments, and there have been times where we've had some spirited disagreements. I think -- you know, I think 1 can make some strong arguments that the funds should be distributed on more of a district -by -district basis, not sure that the -- it's debatable whether it would hold up in a court of law, to be completely honest with you, based on your memo and your recitation of the law. I think -- my issue, I think, goes a little bit more towards basic fairness, and I know that there is a large allocation for multiple districts. I know that we're talking about, you know, whether, ultimately, a million dollars gets allocated to Museum Park after the close out of that project, et cetera. And I would say that, you know, my district has -- and I know that Commissioner Carollo has mentioned earlier in the day about, you know, City of Miami Page 116 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 acquiring parkland in his district. I think we all want to acquire parkland in the City and in our districts. I know, for example -- and the Mayor may remember this -- Judy Sandoval called me today to remind me that we lost a park in the Silver Bluff area, and it was given to a developer to build a parking lot, you know, a long time ago. She was giving me some historical perspective, and she was thankful that I was fighting for the district. You know, when you look at -- I don't know if you remember a while back, about a month ago, we were divvying up CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) citywide funds, and they had been divvied up through a variety of different ways, and I brought the allocation with me, because I thought it was interesting to point out that in that specific allocate, District 4, of all the districts -- District 1 had received 1.8 million; District 2 had received 133; District 3 had received 500; District 5 had received 680 of citywide CDBG economic development funds, and District 4 had received zero. So, you know, I think the point I'm trying to make is that, you know, I have a great working relationship with all of you. I think that, you know, there are certain parks, for example, where it's clear that the area's being impacted, like Regatta Park, where there's going to be five brand-new buildings, where we -- and I say "we," because I was there with you when we held true to our word with reference to Burn Notice that came back every year with a very compelling story about how they wanted another year of rental of the Coconut Grove Convention Center, and we stood our ground and, ultimately, now you have the prospects of what will, in my opinion, be a beautiful park, not for only for those five buildings, but for the entire citizens of the City of Miami. I often see leaving Kennedy Park, which is not too far down the street, people who want to get a slightly different park experience from my district who are going there. We also have the backdrop of the contamination of the parks, and I'm sure you get the calls. And we've been to community meetings together that were -- you know, that have been advertised in the sunshine and all that where people are continually asking us -- and I'm sure, Mayor, you get the calls too; and Mr. Manager, I'm sure you get the calls too -- about when are these parks going to open. So, you know, we are strained in terms of the park resources that we have for the population that we have. We are, I think, fairly prodded, sometimes criticized. I don't think we should be criticized, 'cause I think this Commission has been very proactive in trying to acquire parkland. And actually, in your district, it's getting harder and harder. They just sold -- you know, we talked about it the other day. They just sold a parcel right next to the Epic Hotel that was, I think, an acre or an acre and a quarter for $125 million, so -- I mean, it becomes very difficult to spend sometimes those funds in the impacted area, because of the value of the land of that impacted area. So we were very fortunate in the case of Regatta Park; that we own that land already, and that we had taken the -- we had demoed the building and we had gone through that process and that painful process, in a way, to give us the opportunity, at the right moment, perfect moment for us to able to reinvest those funds into that area. So on that issue, you know, you have my full commitment and full support. I just urge this Commission -- I know there's going to be -- and we allocated -- another good example was we allocated, you know -- it was right when we were switching the boundary between your district and mine in redistricting -- a million dollars to Swiss Chateau property, which, unfortunately, because of a technicality, we were not able to acquire, because the appraisal came in $300, 000 lower than the market -- than what the bank wanted. And so, we were prohibited by our ordinance from purchasing that property. So, you know, that's something I want to look at too in the future. I know we have to be good stewards of the people's money, but I'm of the opinion that just because you can pay a million dollars for a piece of property you can build something on, you know, if our appraisal sets at 700, 000 for that same piece of property, a million dollars for a park -- there's a value added; there's an unquantifiable, incalculable, like a rare painting, you know, that -- it just doesn't have -- its value is limitless. So we need to be in an environment where property values are skyrocketing, where, you know, it's becoming harder and harder to acquire property. We tried doing it in the context of a fire station, and we ended up, kind of through luck in a way and through good fortune, I guess, and through seizing the moment and the opportunity, hopefully bringing before this Commission, or finalizing, with your help, that you got us to that point in the ordinance to -- public benefit ordinance for properties that are distressed, a fire station that will be built, you know, on a joint venture deal, but those are very rare. So I guess, rather than -- and it's late, and I'm conscious of the fact that it's late and that everyone -- I think we have other big City of Miami Page 117 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 issues that we want to discuss. You know, I guess my issue more is to say, you know, that I have a lot of faith in the people that I serve here with, and there will be opportunities, going forward, in this budget year for us to allocate these funds -- some of these funds and to maybe look at some of these smaller projects that are in our district and to re -analyze them or analyze what the priority is for those specifically. Like, for example, I'm on board also. Douglas is a park that we kind of shared, too. That one needs a community center. There's no doubt about it. There's -- you know, that -- your community is my community, too. And I think that you see that -- one of the things that I'm very proud of -- and when you talk about, you know -- and I'm glad Fernand is still here. I can't believe you're hanging in there. That some of the problems that Coral Gables is going through with crime in their city, and I start to see our parks, and when -- you know, when I look at the parks in District 4, the facilities, you know, they're -- they are nicer than the ones in the Gables. So when people tell us that we can't compete with the Gables, I don't agree with that. I think we can, and I think we should expect to on all levels; on policing, on parks, on everything. So I just -- I'm -- again, I'm kind of -- I put the CDBG thing out there. At some point, there's going to be an opportunity that I'm going to come to this Commission and ask for our district's fair share, the same thing with parks. You know, I don't want to belabor a discussion, or a debate, or an argument or -- you know, on this issue. I'm willing to kind of see the point for the moment and just leave it at that. Thank you, Chair. Chair Gort: Okeydoke. Chair Gort: Do I have a motion or further discussion? Commissioner Sarnoff So move. Commissioner Suarez: I'll second. Chair Gort: Been moved by Commissioner Sarnoff second by Commissioner Suarez. Any further discussion? Being none, all in -- Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: Yes, I have discussion. Since I first came to this Commission, I made a strong emphasis on the lack of park that District 3 and Little Havana, in general, had. I think, over the years, you heard me time and time again. And now there's an opportunity, but I have to admit that I was quite disappointed with the capital plan of the Administration, and let me just start by saying that in the City of Miami's Park Master Plan, it clearly states that in Little Havana, there is a severe, severe deficit of parks west of 12th Avenue. If you actually see park space and you get a pie chart or any type of tables to see how much park space there is in each district, I mean, clearly, clearly, District 3 is in dire need of park space. And you know, we use our parks a lot, especially for our youth, to give them something to do, to have various programs, and that opportunity is not there for District 3. When we even talk about computers, yesterday, I remember during our discussion in the sunshine meeting, computers in the parks for learning. Well, what do you do if the answer is always "But there's no parks in your district, Commissioner, " Or "There's one park, two parks." I have to admit, I was very surprised, andl guess, at the time also, I had that gut feeling, which they don't teach you in school, and it came when -- I know the Manager was doing his rounds before the actual budget book came out, and I kept requesting it and requesting it, and he kept -- the answer was, "It's not ready yet. We've got to meet first, and we have to meet first," Or, "Let's meet first so you can get the gist of it," or whatever it was, but the bottom line is -- and I haven't pulled out the e-mails (electronic) and stuff to get the exact language, but the gist was that I didn't get the information ahead of time, and that he would provide it when he sees me personally. And when I actually received it, I was stunned that it was -- out of all the impact fees, it was $650, 000 for Southside Park, which is on City of Miami Page 118 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 the border of District 2 and L Most people think that it's a District 2 park. Southside, by the Metrorail Station on 1st Avenue, most people actually think that it's in Commissioner Sarnoffs district. It was $650, 000 for that park and $30, 000 for shade canopy or something of that sort for Domino Park. Other than that, I was promised that there was going to be X'humber of dollars for park acquisition, and I think at the time there was five point something million or so. I don't know recall, Mr. Manager. And that was the gist of the capital budget. To my surprise, when I actually came here during Commission meeting, that that amount was raised to $150, 000 for Southside Park, and the rest stayed the same. It didn't go from 650 to 150? Mr. Alfonso: No, Commissioner. It went to a million five for Southside Park, not 150. But I wanted -- Commissioner Carollo: My error, my error, my error. Mr. Alfonso: Yes. And I want to remind the Commissioner, we had the conversation; you asked for the numbers; I told you they're not final. That's why I didn't want to give them to you. Ultimately, under a lot of pressure from you, I gave you some numbers that weren't final, and the numbers you quoted Commissioner, you're right, are different from the final numbers. The final number is Southside Park was a million five. We allocated $3.3 million for vacant purchase of parkland, so wherever in District 3 we can find $3 million worth of property to buy to create more green space -- because you're absolutely right. When you look at the map of the City, District 3 and I think District 4 are the ones that have the least in terms of parkland. And then we also allocated $30, 000 of impact fee for Domino Park, because it is now allowed for a park of less than three acres. So the total allocation from the impact feet monies for District 3 was $4.567 million, which is 13 percent of the overall allocation, which is precisely the amount of revenue -generated impact fees in District 3, as well. Commissioner Carollo: Where in the capital budget does it show 4 point -- whatever amount you said for District 3? Because I see citywide land acquisition, 5.8. Mr. Alfonso: Right. The numbers -- Commissioner Carollo: I don't see where you -- Mr. Alfonso: Correct, correct. So the number for the land acquisition, which says "citywide," has within it three million thirty -some thousand dollars that we've spoken about for vacant land purchases inside of District 3. And in the memorandum, Commissioner, that we put out -- in the last day or so revised -- it's specifically in the pie chart notes that District 3 is getting that allocation. Commissioner Carollo: And that is part of -- 'cause when I look at your capital book -- and, yes, I understand that it was in the memorandum. I forgot what was the amount, three point something. Yeah, and I don't have that in front of me, but I -- just by the colors -- oh, I know it by heart. I know it by heart. Just by the colors of it, I know exactly what you're showing and -- Mr. Alfonso: So, Commissioner, if -- I want to offer this. If it's not clear -- because, you're right; if you look at the budget book, that $3 million for vacant land is within the citywide allocation in the budget book, per se. If it's not clear, we can certainly incorporate the memorandum that was put out today to list that amendment to that capital plan. This is something that the City Commission can do right now and it'll be done. Commissioner Carollo: Well, it's not that it's something that the City Commission can do right now. This is a discussion item. Let's have a good discussion on this, because you're talking the district that is in dire need of park, and our master plan says it. Listen, what type of study has been done? What can we even buy with those $3 million? City of Miami Page 119 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner -- Commissioner Carollo: I mean, how did you come up with those $3 million? In other words, was it just "we're going to give X'hmount to this park, `X'hmount to this park, X'hmount to this parks" -- Mr. Alfonso: No, Commissioner. Commissioner Carollo: -- "Well, after that's over, we're going to do land acquisition"? How are you coming up with that amount, and how --? You know, realistically, how much parkland can we acquire with that in the Little Havana area? Mr. Alfonso: The question as to how much parkland can be acquired, Commissioner, would largely depend on what is available, what's for sale, does the City want to eminent domain any property, et cetera. And depending on where you go, the property values would be higher or lower. In terms of how we arrived at the number, we looked at a number of things, okay? One, we did not want to divide the entire number by five, because there is language and statute that says you have to have some reasoning for allocating the money in an area somewhat related to where it is generated, or, at least, you have to be able to show that the person that is paying the impact fee is going to benefit in some way from the improvement that is being done. So it would be difficult to say, well, in District 3, for example, if $4 million were generated and we're looking -- we sent you maps with circles of one -mile radiuses of the different impact fees that were paid. So we didn't want to say, "Well, regardless of where the money is generated, we want to put $10 million out" -- 'far out in west end of the City, because it's going to be somewhat difficult to tie that to the user." Now, we can make the argument -- for example, if we look at a large park like Grapeland, and we wanted to improve that park in some way, and we wanted to pour money into it, you could argue that as a water park and anybody in the City of Miami wants to use a water park, they would go to a water park, so I could tie that in relationship to it, regardless of where that impact fee within the City is paid. But if you're looking at smaller parks, like Domino Park or smaller additions and enhancements, it would be more difficult to tie that in. So how did we come up with the money? We wanted to some have kind of rationale. To be able to stand here in front of the Commission and say, well, two things: One, we looked at how much was generated in district, and then we try to make sure that we got somehow close to that. Two, we try to look at the size and scope of the parks that are being funded and allocate monies to them and be able to defend that and say, "Well, you know, Regatta Park is a very large park. Museum Park is a very large park. You can live somewhere else in the City, pay an impact fee; and even if you're not within the mile, if you want to go to an ocean front park, you're going to have to come to one of those parks because, you know, you can't go to an ocean on the west end of the City." So that is the rationale that we used. It wasn't really without purpose, is what I want to say. There was some rationale to it. Commissioner Carollo: Well -- Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Now, if I may add just briefly. Even though the Administration used that rationale to try and apportion things properly and try and, you know, get within everybody's needs and wants, it does -- you know, our ordinance is not district -wide; it is citywide. So however it is -- whatever small park is placed wherever it's placed, it is fine within the parameters of our ordinance. I just wanted to put that on the record. Commissioner Carollo: Understood. And in all fairness, I think it's irrelevant, because District 3 is not in the west end of the City, so, in all fairness, it's irrelevant. You know, District 3 is not in the west end. And I think the majority of the impact, if you want to use that argument, is very close to District 3. And when you have in our own City of Miami Master Plan saying that Little Havana is in dire need of park is where it's the most deficit, I mean, I would figure that, you City of Miami Page 120 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 know, there would be more rationale in allocating that money there. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know the rationale you used, and you definitely didn't share it with me, of the hundred and -- the $1.5 million for Southside Park, which is closed and contaminated, and I still don't know when it's going to be opened Mr. Alfonso: Right. Commissioner Carollo: I mean, at the time that we spoke -- and by the way, communication is good. Going from that meeting to sometime -- a Commission and then finding out that you increased it from 650,000 to $1.5 million, communication is good. Because at the time that we had that meeting, you said it was for artificial turf. Mr. Alfonso: That is correct, Commissioner. And still, you answer "How did we come up with the $1.5 million?" That park has a contamination problem. There is two ways we can go about this. We can spend I don't know how much money to remove all of the underlying issue, or, as DERM (Department of Environmental Resource Management) allows us to do, we can come with some type of barrier. Well, an artificial turf is an improvement to the park, because artificial turf lasts longer, less maintenance, no watering, et cetera. It is an improvement and it is an allowed expense, so then you resolve two issues. You provide a barrier that is an allowed use because it's an enhancement for impact fees to be used in that way, the total cost of which was going to be roughly the $1.5 million or not -- not exactly. There's another piece to that, right? Yeah. So that's how we came up with the number. But, you know, for now, that's an allocation. It is up to this Commission if you want to try to do something different. The impact fee money is not eligible use simply to remove the contamination. We have to do some kind of improvement. So that was the rationale that was used for that, Commissioner. Commissioner Carollo: So ifI would say, "Commissioner Sarnoff, we want to make Regatta Park beautiful, and we're going to put artificial turf in the whole park," what would you say to that? Commissioner Sarnoff Probably not. Sorry. Probably not that park. However -- Commissioner Carollo: Southside Park and close to Little Havana, yeah, we can do it there, without even discussing it with the district Commissioner. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, for instance, a park that Suarez and I -- I think we share in that community, candidly, you know, which is Golden Pines and Douglas Park. I know. I think he's learning. Maybe he knows even, 'cause we don't talk about the park together -- Commissioner Carollo: Understood understood. Commissioner Sarnoff -- that that's -- that might be the -- that is the biggest contaminated park in the City of Miami, and it's going to probably require the most amount of money. One of the best strategies -- and I can almost be as good as Alice Bravo on this now. Chair Gort: Excuse me. I apologize, but unfortunately, because at 12 o'clock he's got to cut off the recording, so I need a break. Mr. Hannon: I just need to flip the tape -- Chair Gort: He needs two minutes. That's all. Mr. Hannon: -- at midnight, so I just need, you know, just a brief recess. Chair Gort: Sorry; I didn't mean to interrupt you. My apologies. City of Miami Page 121 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Hannon: Thank you, Commissioners. Chair Gort: I'm sorry. Commissioner Sarnoff. Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. And, Commissioner, when you have a park that is contaminated, one of the -- DERM is going to require two things: about a two foot distance between the contamination and the top surface, plus a barrier, if it's only going to be two feet. So one of the best strategies the City can have is to put artificial turf and probably at Douglas Park, for instance, certainly the baseball field can be artificially turfed, as well as some other areas along the way, and that's a great strategy. It gets two things for us: It gets us a brand-new ball field, state-of-the-art; it also puts the barrier that we need. So, you know, would I do it in a park that doesn't have contamination? I did do it in Armbrister, because there are some fields that get so much wear and tear, you're better off with having an artificial surface. In the park right here, I probably would not do it. Commissioner Carollo: And that's my point, especial -- I'll go a step further. When -- if you only had three parks, three significant parks, in your district -- and by the way, all of them are pretty much in the -- pretty much at the edge of another district, you know. But in the center -- realistically, in the center of the City of Miami, District 3 is pretty much the center of the City of Miami. That's why, when I hear the west end, there's no way we're in the west end. I think we're the only district that touches every other district. We are in the center. We touch District 2. We touch District 5, District 1, and District 4. We are in the smack center. And our own Master Plan says that there's a dire need of parks there. And I mean, I'm amazed when I see $30, 000 for -- let me just give the -- Domino Park shade structure. I mean, CIP (Capital Improvement Programs) and I looked at each other like, like "Where did they get that number?" There wasn't even a discussion with District 3 about this. There wasn't a discussion about CIP that had been working on Domino Park about this. You can't do anything with $30,000. I mean, you saw how I had to -- and thanks to this Commission -- pretty much, I guess the best word is 'fight" for dollars for Domino Park, which, by the way, every week, I don't know how much tourists go to that park. Listen, I don't think Little Havana is getting its fair share, especially when I start seeing the monies that is going to other parks, and I'm saying, "Wait a second. To Museum Park?" Listen, wasn't there other fundings that could have gone there that would have alleviated impact fees to go into an area of a city where it's needed? Yeah, like the million dollars from the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), the million dollars that the Governor vetoed and no one from the City, even though we voted unanimously to make it a priority, you know. So I really feel that if we're not going to divvy this up into five districts, then we really need to also put the resources where they belong, and it's not me saying it, even though I've been saying it since I first got here. I mean, it's what our own Parks Master Plan is. That's what it says. And I think we need to even -- listen, even ifI agree with Commissioner Suarez and Commissioner Sarnoff with regards to Regatta Park, the amount is $4.3 million. I don't even know -- $4.3 million. I mean, is there some type of itemization of what's going to go in there for $4.3 million? I have to tell you, I hate the dock master, where it was placed. Commissioner Sarnoff And so do I, and that happened to be Carlos Migoya. Commissioner Carollo: I don't know who it is. Listen, all Pm telling you is I hate the dock master where it is. It's just -- anyways, enough said. So I guess what I'm saying is when I see these big dollars amount, okay, now, after seeing that dock master there, I want to see, okay, what are -- what exactly is the plan for $4.3 million? You know, even Museum Park, the $2.5 million, okay. What's the $2.5 million for? Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, those budgets were developed based on site plans that were done with community meetings and input. So, again, it is an allocation -- anything -- eventually, to get constructed, to get done, to get moved, has to come to these Commission. This is the way to City of Miami Page 122 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 get the money allocated in a budget. Anything that we do, whether we build -- put a bench in there or whatever, when we issue a contract to issue -- put a sidewalk, issue a contract, award somebody to somebody, whether it's JOC (Job Order Contract) or otherwise, we'll come to this Commission for approval. Commissioner Carollo: Understand. But that estimate, where are you getting -- coming up with that estimate? And you know what? I wish the estimate for acquiring park space, where our own City Master Plan says it's needed, would have been a little larger, you know, so the estimates in one location obviously is increased, where, in the others, it's not; and sure, it's going to come back, even if we -- even before -- even if we approve this budget right now. In order to acquire parkland, yeah, it comes back to this Commission, but we have, more or less, boundaries of more or less, how much money we're going to have for that area. And just -- other -- and by the way, it's not clearly stated in our capital book. So the only thing that's clearly stated was the 1.5 million and the 30,000. That's much less than what the impact fees of District 3 -- Mr. Alfonso: That is why, Commissioner, we said in the memo that we put out today, we specifically noted that of the -- Commissioner Carollo: Today. Mr. Alfonso: -- citywide impact fee money that is allocated for land acquisition in the budget, $3, 037, 000 of that money was intended to be put into District 3 for land acquisition. Commissioner Carollo: And again, how did you come up with that estimate? What is that --? I mean -- and by the way, you're talking to a Commissioner that every year has been working with Public Facilities to see how much land costs and how much we could acquire, if we could acquire, and so forth. That's why when we spoke with regards to a fire station in District 4, I know all of those areas, more or less, what they used to cost; and now, really, I'm questioning how much -- and to your estimate of $3 million or three point whatever it is, how was that done? Was it really arbitrarily done or was it --? Mr. Alfonso: Again, Commissioner, we told you earlier that the way we did the allocation was based on a combination of trying to keep the allocations close to where they were generated or somehow close to the districts in which they were generated; even though, as the City Attorney has said, the City, by ordinance, is one city. Now, I want to point out that there is still more money for land acquisition undesignated in citywide, and in the future, as the City looks to allocate those funds to purchase any additional land, if it is the will of this Commission to use more money -- if we find a lot that says $4 million or $5 million for five or six acres in District 3, and the $3 million that is allocated is not enough, it is perfectly the will of this Commission to allocate a million from the citywide and put it to it, we could do that. So -- Commissioner Carollo: Let me ask you something. Because here it says, "Citywide land acquisition, $5.8 million." So what you're saying is that in your "Change" memo, you have three point something for District 3 and the other is available? Mr. Alfonso: It's undesignated. We don't know where in the City we would buy land at this time so -- Commissioner Carollo: So -- Mr. Alfonso: Whenever we find or identifir a piece of land and this Commission would like us to acquire it, or if we identdy something, we can allocate that money. Commissioner Carollo: Understood. So, again, out of the 5.8, why did you decide three point something? Why not four million? How did you come up with that amount? Have you done City of Miami Page 123 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 some type of analysis, some type of -- what the land in Little Havana cost? I mean, how did you come up --? Why three point something instead of four million? Mr. Alfonso: As we said earlier, Commissioner, we were trying to keep an equitable distribution, as much as possible, between what is generated and what we were allocating. Commissioner Carollo: Well, what is -- I mean, if you want to be equitable, you know, we split it by five. That's the best way to be equitable. Now, as far as along the area -- listen, I'm the district that abuts District 2, where the majority of those impacts have occurred. Not to mention, West Brickell, we've had quite a bit of construction there, so I will venture to say that District 3, which, again, again, according to our Master Plan, Parks Master Plan, City of Miami Parks Master Plan, that's where the need is. That's where the need is. And I don't know why this Administration, realistically, does not like Little Havana too much. It really doesn't. It continues. Look, as far as applicable, look at our budget. Look at our Parks budget. How much -- in our citywide Park budget, how much do you think really goes to District 3? Very little. Because guess what? We don't have any parks. So I cannot vote for this. I cannot vote in favor of this capital plan. At the very least, at the very least, I think that, at least for right now, unless, unless there's some other plan and unless in some of these estimates for other parks we could clearly see a plan -- I mean, Regatta Park, you were estimating 4.3 million. What's the plan? What do we get for that 4.3 million? Mr. Alfonso: As I stated earlier, Commissioner, that was based on a site plan that was prepared with very community -- various community input. Commissioner Carollo: And the various community input, you priced it out already? You -- Mr. Alfonso: Yes, we did. Commissioner, as estimates. Obviously, we haven't bid it out. When we bid it out, we will get a final price. But, yes, those were estimates. Commissioner Carollo: Fair enough. Museum Park, that's 2.5 million. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, maybe I could help with that, because Museum Park has -- Mr. Alfonso: Yes. I'm sorry, Commissioner. Museum Park, I think originally was like a $50 million project. It was -- Commissioner Carollo: Sixty-four. Mr. Alfonso: Whatever. Some very large number. It was significantly scaled back, and so, therefore, with this impact fee, there was an allocation made to try to do some improvements in that park from what would have originally being put there. Some of those elements could perhaps be put in. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, I think I may even know more than you in this. So the Cooper Robertson Plan, the one that you -- Commissioner Carollo: Understood. Commissioner Sarnoff -- that you thought was $64 million. So, approximately, 15 million has been put into the park, and it's about the same amount right now. Cooper has rebid the number. It's about $50 million to go forward. So what you're creating is an amassing of money to start, you know, taking it piece by piece. So what has happened right now is the foundation to the Cooper Robertson Plan has been placed in the park and now what you do is you build on it; sort of like a Lego set. City of Miami Page 124 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So for those 2.5, what do we get? I mean, what's the plan to spend those 2.5? Or are they just going to be sitting there? 'Cause if they're just going to be sitting there and there's an opportunity to acquire parkland, I think we should. And mind you, I'm a proponent of Museum Park, you know. I wish the City would have been more of a proponent and would have fought like I did for the -- forgot the name of it -- the Miami Marine Stadium, which, by the way, I was the one who mentioned, like I said before, why 250? It should be more money allocated to that. But anyways, I wish that the City would have been more a proponent in fighting for Museum Park, you know. That would have alleviated more money. But still, I don't know what -- what does those 2.5 get us? What -- is it going to be sitting there or --? Commissioner Sarnoff Well, there's a campaign ongoing to try to get private -sector money into it. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but what does that have to do with these $2.5 million? Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, we did have a plan for how to -- go ahead. Chair Gort: Go ahead. Mark Spanioli: Good evening. Mark Spanioli, director of Capital Improvements Transportation. Commissioner, the funds that we have allocated, the $2.5 million, is proposed to be spent on completing the bay walk that runs up adjacent to the American Airlines Arena and takes you to parcel "B." Right now that's an incomplete section. It's basically just gravel. In addition to that, we have the children's play area and gardens and everywhere constructed as part of the Cooper Robertson Plan and other -- Commissioner Carollo: When you say "gardens" -- and the reason why I also say that is because there's a maintenance cost to that, as Commissioner Sarnoff understands very well. There's some maintenance costs to that. And the reason why I'm asking is because all of that requires maintenance, and the one who's providing that maintenance is Bayfront Park Management Trust, and I'm hoping you're discussing this with Bayfront, because we're the one who allocated with this Commission $1 million for the maintenance. So it's good to have a heads up to see exactly how much maintenance we need to do for the things that you're saying. Mr. Spanioli: Commissioner, we work very closely -- Commissioner Carollo: Makes sense, right? Mr. Spanioli: -- with Tim Schmand all the time on the activities, and as we move forward with the park, we will continue to work with Tim. Commissioner Carollo: Understood. And once again, I haven't heard about those $2.5 million where -- Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, I also want to point out that of the money that is being allocated here, there is still, I believe, around -- 14 million, Chris? -- about 14 million that hasn't come in yet. This is money that we're anticipating is going to come in. So that as we make allocations now and we start planning, some of the money we can't start spending. So, perhaps that $2.5 million will be set in there. And sometime in the process when it comes in, we can say, okay, yes, we can start that walk or that project, or some things will change and something else will come up, and it'll come to Commission. Commissioner Carollo: For instance, Mr. Alfonso, I understand very clearly, because those $3 million for a park acquisition that you came up with, we're not going to be spending it, because it seems to me you haven't done an analysis or your Administration hasn't done an analysis of what City of Miami Page 125 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 land is available in that area or how much does it cost. Those $3 million, I guess -- and it's hard for me to say, if I'm a financial guy, just came up from out of the air, and that's what it appears to me. So I understand that some of those monies will not be spent expeditiously. With that said, I still don't feel that we're getting our fair share. And I will ask my colleagues, if we're not going to distribute this by district, then, at the very least, the area that our Miami Master Plan stipulates is in dire need of parks should be getting this amount. Now, that -- and by the way, Commissioner Sarnoff, listen, when I and Commissioner Suarez first came here and you really wanted to push for 1814 Brickell, listen, even though, even though, you know I made a big case that District 3 lacked parks, that didn't -- that doesn't mean that I'm going to try to put obstacles in your way or anything to prevent you from getting a park. No. You know I was there. But what I'm saying is, listen, if we're really going to be fair, the area that needs parks now is District 3, so let's -- and that doesn't mean that -- you know what? If something comes up in a year, six months from now, in a year, and some of that money needs to be taken out for somewhere else and there's a good argument for it, listen, I've shown that I'm reasonable, but now I do believe that if there is monies to acquire parkland, and citywide, and it's not spoken for, at the very least, I think it should be allocated to District 3. Commissioner Sarnoff So your request is the five million? Commissioner Carollo: Yes, the full amount. Commissioner Sarnoff All right. I'll -- if -- has there -- a motion been made? Commissioner Suarez: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Mr. Hannon: Yes. Commissioner Suarez: Whoa. Chair Gort: Hold it. Commissioner Suarez: Wait a second. You're talking about the five million that's citywide? Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. Chair Gort: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: Which three point something has been already moved to District 3. Commissioner Suarez: I get that part. Commissioner Carollo: Or it was -- Commissioner Suarez: So let me get this straight. Commissioner Carollo: -- proposed. Commissioner Suarez: I just made this impassioned plea about how I trust my colleagues to look at those $4.5 million and for me to be able to come back, 'cause I'm not getting any CDBG citywide; I helped out on 1814; and now we're going to allocate all that to District 3? Come on, give me a break. Commissioner Carollo: So what do you suggest? Commissioner Suarez: I suggest that we not allocate it all to District 3. City of Miami Page 126 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: Because even -- Commissioner Suarez: What I suggest is this --. Commissioner Carollo: Even -- Commissioner Suarez: This is what I really suggest, okay. We're starting the fiscal year October 1. We haven't identified any lands that we want to buy. You already have $3 million allocated in your district, and we have four and a half million citywide. Let's start finding property that we can acquire and we'll take it one step at a time. I'm not going to stand in the way of a property being acquired in District 3 if I don't have a property in District 4. I'm not going to do -- I've never done that. I'm never going to do that. You know that. Commissioner Sarnoff And bear in mind, they're going to have to appraise at a crazy time for appraisal. Commissioner Suarez: It's the worst time. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Commissioner Suarez: But -- and that's another challenge that I was just talking to the City Attorney -- Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Commissioner Suarez: -- about dealing with. Because it may come to a point where we decide, since it's an impact fee that we might want to pay a little bit more than the appraised value to get a piece of parkland, okay? Because I guarantee you, 1814, if you were to sell that parcel right now, is a lot more valuable than what we acquired it for, I promise you, 'cause you can put a very tall building there. Chair Gort: That's for sure. Commissioner Suarez: Okay? That's a hundred percent sure. So my preference is to leave it as is. I didn't fight for it. I said I trusted this Commission to do the right thing, and I trust you to do the right thing. If -- as the year goes on, ifI find something, then we'll identifir it and go from there, but otherwise, let's just leave it as is, and we'll take it one step at a time, please. Commissioner Sarnoff And let me make the commitment that I will try to work with CIP to close out the -- Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. Commissioner Sarnoff -- $1 million and maybe the commitment -- and we'll come back to the Commission with it. Hopefully, you guys could inequitably [sic] distribute it. Commissioner Suarez: Perfect. Chair Gort: Okay. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Chair Gort: Yes. City of Miami Page 127 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: I understand what my colleague to the right is saying, andl don't think we've every stood in the way of each other when there's a need. However, consistently, consistently, whenever there's a citywide pot, unless, unless it is distributed by districts, it seems like District 3 always gets the short end -- Commissioner Suarez: I -- Commissioner Carollo: -- even with our Park budget. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, look, I would disagree on -- and I just gave you one example, which is the CDBG citywide where District 4 is getting zero and you're getting 500, and I believe the 500,000 is for a park improvement, so you know -- Commissioner Carollo: Right. Commissioner Suarez: So that's one pot, okay, where you're getting money for your district that's for a park improvement that I'm not getting, but it's fine. It's not -- So -- Commissioner Carollo: But I want to go a step further. The park that you're not -- the part that doesn't state there is that District 3 gave up the most reserves, because unlike other districts that were put -- or allocate the money and they just roll over and carry over year after year, we actually put it in a reserve, so we actually lost the most amount of district funding. Commissioner Suarez: In what pot? What reserve it was? Commissioner Carollo: CDBG. And I'm sure if George Mensah will come here -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Commissioner Carollo: -- we could discuss that. Chair Gort: Oh, yeah. Commissioner Carollo: So we -- Chair Gort: Definitely, because we had to spend it within a certain time. Commissioner Carollo: Yes. Chair Gort: Yes. Okay. Commissioner Carollo: Because we had to spend the CDBG money at a certain time. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Commissioner Carollo: So District 3 actually lost the most amount of money. Commissioner Suarez: But those are district specific. Commissioner Carollo: And that's what happened. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. Commissioner Carollo: And if Mr. Mensah will come forward -- if he's here -- City of Miami Page 128 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, I just want to point out that -- Commissioner Carollo: -- we could discuss that. Mr. Alfonso: -- again, the reason why that money was spent was because there was a timeliness issue; we could have not spent it and just given it back to the Federal Government or spend it, as we did. Commissioner Suarez: And what I was going to say, too, is that a lot of our park improvements were funded by Homeland Defense bond money; correct or incorrect? And that was divided, essentially, by district. So if you had less parks, you had more money per park. You're saying it wasn't divided by districts? Commissioner Carollo: No. Commissioner Sarnoff No. The big loser was me. Commissioner Suarez: Oh, you were? Commissioner Sarnoff Oh, yeah. Commissioner Suarez: Well, then -- Commissioner Carollo: I don't -- Commissioner Sarnoff Because I'll bring -- no. I was the big loser. I'm just saying. It wasn't divided by five. Commissioner Suarez: Really? Commissioner Sarnoff No. Commissioner Suarez: I was under the impression it was divided by five. Commissioner Sarnoff No. There was a section -- Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Sarnoff -- in the Homeland Security called "Quality of Life." Quality of life was divided by five. That's it. But -- Commissioner Suarez: In terms of park improvements? Commissioner Sarnoff They were designated parks in those various Homeland Security bond issues. And trust me, it doesn't even resemble divided by five. Commissioner Suarez: I'd like to see that, just for my own education on that issue. I really would like to see it. Not -- I mean, obviously not today, but you know, I would like to see that at some point, that breakdown. Commissioner Sarnoff We have it. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. Commissioner Carollo: So, again, there's -- so there is a reason for what I'm saying. Listen, you City of Miami Page 129 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 have my commitment. If there is something that you find ahead of time, then we'll reallocate the money. Commissioner Suarez: No. Commissioner Carollo: But I could tell you, from doing my due diligence year after year, I don't know what three point something million is going to get you, honestly. Commissioner Suarez: I agree, andl hear what you're saying. I mean -- Commissioner Carollo: So -- Commissioner Suarez: -- we were going to buy up -- we were going to acquire a piece for a million dollars. This Commission had allocated a million dollars; the appraisal came in at 700; and we were not able to buy it, even though we had actually allocated the million dollars, and it sold for a million dollars, by the way, so you know -- and that would have been a nice piece of property, would have been a nice park for a neighborhood; it would have been -- not a pocket park; would have been a nice park. So I think $3 million is a lot of money. I think four and a half million to keep in a citywide is a lot of money, and I think -- you know, if another opportunity comes, I'll tell you, for the Silver Bluff area; if another opportunity comes for the Golden Pines area, you know, it's something that I'm going to be aggressive in, but I'm not going to withhold it. But I don't think it's fair, either, to move it to another district and then we have to clod -- I don't think that's fair. Because right now, I think the fair thing to say is that it's citywide. I mean, I could -- again, I kind of backed off on this argument for a number of reasons, and I think that, you know -- I would like to see the Homeland Defense bond expenditures for parks just to get a perspective, but I know that your district got one, because they got the Jose Marty gym, didn't they, which was like a 10, $15 million --? Mr. Alfonso: Yeah. I think it was around $11 million. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Commissioner Carollo: Eleven point five, but don't remind me. Commissioner Suarez: There you go. So I mean, that's a, you know, huge indoor basketball court over a boulevard, which is really cool. Mr. Alfonso: It's actually very nice. Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. So, I mean, I know that -- I'm sure a lot of money went in that sense. I think we got Coral Gate, which was about two, one and a half. We got -- Bryan Park was a few hundred thousand. I know Shenandoah was a couple million. So you know, I can't speak to District 2. And actually, if you tell me that, I'm actually understanding that in the context of your facilities, 'cause they don't look particularly nice, and I was always wondering was it that you just were using the money somewhere else or what ended up happing there? But look, I mean, you would -- listen, you've been efficient in those kinds of things. And if you had the money to have done Douglas Park, it would have been done, so that's -- that was always for me kind of like I didn't -- I never could really understand that. I thought it had all predated me, and that you had maybe made decisions to not spend the money in the facilities, per se, and maybe spending them on other things. I have no idea what. But I would like to see that. But I don't feel comfortable -- look, I do feel comfortable trusting in this Commission; I don't feel comfortable moving it out of the citywide. In fact, if you're going to move it, I would say move three million into my district and then a million and a half, if you want, we'll split it 50/50, and then we -- you have four and a half million, and I have four and a half million and we'll call it a day. But I think the right thing to do is to leave it in the citywide, and we'll come back whenever City of Miami Page 130 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 the money is available, and we'll go from there. Commissioner Carollo: And I wish you had that same passion with the whole impact fee, because what's the total amount? Because we're discussing here an additional one point something million, but what's the total amount of impact fees that went to all the other districts that was not District 3 and not District 4? Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, the total -- Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mr. Alfonso: I'm sorry. Go ahead. Commissioner Carollo: No. Because we need to -- Listen, what I'm doing is, let's be accountable for the whole amount, and what's the whole amount? Because we're discussing -- realistically, what we're discussing is one point five million. Mr. Alfonso: Right. Commissioner Carollo: That's --- Commissioner Suarez: The difference. Commissioner Carollo: -- a snippet of the total amount, so we should really see, okay, where did all the other monies go? And why did it go there? Commissioner Suarez: And -- Commissioner Carollo: And we should be that -- Commissioner Suarez: -- I'll tell you why I didn't do it, aside from the time of the night, you know. The reason why I didn't do it is because the way I looked at it was rather than get into that minutia, you know, I wanted to leave it as is. If I had a project, I was going to bring it, and I would expect this Commission to do the right thing. But, you know, if we're going to make a play on the money right now, then, you know, that's -- we could be here for another few hours. Chair Gort: Sure. Commissioner Suarez: Before even starting the budget. Commissioner Carollo: Well, obviously, I don't mind being here for another few hours, because this is important. This is something that -- Commissioner Suarez: It is important. Commissioner Carollo: -- you know, we -- I've been fighting for since I first got here to the Commission. I mean, you all know. You all know the famous line with the map and, for once, they painted my district green or District 3 green, because there is no parkland. So, I mean, what is the total amount of impact fees, Mr. Manager? Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, we (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Carollo: Because we discussed -- Mr. Alfonso: -- it's $4.9 million. City of Miami Page 131 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: Well, fine, let's see what the whole is and let's be accountable. Let's see where is all the different locations -- Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, we -- Commissioner Carollo: -- that you've allocated.(UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mr. Alfonso: -- have given you a detailed report of where the allocation is for the $34 million -- Commissioner Carollo: So -- Mr. Alfonso: -- which includes the past collections in the forecasted numbers. Commissioner Carollo: So the total amount is $34 million. See, and all we're doing is discussing one point five million, more or less, of that. But in all fairness, it's $34 million, and we're not questioning all the other? You know, I think that's not the proper way of going about this. I think we should go line item by line item and go -- and see where all the monies is being allocated, and how much of a need is there, and I think that's what we should do. Commissioner Suarez: Well, I could tell you that just by looking at the total allocations, that my district is getting the least amount offunding and yours is getting the second most. Commissioner Carollo: The second most? Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. Yeah, yours is getting the second most. I'm getting the least. I mean, you're getting 4.5; District 5 is getting 3.5; District 1 is getting 2.8, and I'm getting 2.6. Commissioner Carollo: Say that again. Three point five -- Commissioner Suarez: You're getting 4.5; District 5 is getting 3.5; District 1 is getting 2.8; and I'm getting 2.6, and District 2 is getting 16.5. So you're getting the second most amount; I'm getting the least amount. I got you. You're right there next to me. Chair Gort: One is getting the less, so. Commissioner Suarez: No. We're at 2.6; 35. You're at 2.8, so we're getting the least, right? I mean, is that accurate? Mr. Alfonso: Yes. Commissioner Suarez: That's what I'm saying. So rather than me beat that horse, I'm trust -- putting my faith in my colleagues that I've had a tremendous amount of faith in, if I get to the point where I have a need, that you guys will meet that need, but I don't think it's right to de -allocate -- to move those -- that -- those $4.8 million worth of district -- of multiple district funds -- Commissioner Carollo: It's an additional 1.5. Commissioner Suarez: No, it's 4.8 in multiple district funds. I mean, unless I'm missing something. Commissioner Carollo: I don't have that. And I don't have that chart. Commissioner Suarez: Right. So -- City of Miami Page 132 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: Andl apologize. I didn't -- this was e-mailed earlier today, andl don't know what time, but -- Mr. Alfonso: And hand -delivered Commissioner. Commissioner Carollo: You know, this throws the five-day rules out the window. Chair Gort: Okay, guys, I think we discussed it quite a bit. Commissioner Carollo: No, no, Mr. Chairman. In all fairness -- Chair Gort: Okay. Commissioner Carollo: -- this has been four and a half years in the working. Chair Gort: All right, and we're going to do it all tonight. All right, sure. Okay. Commissioner Suarez: By the way, there's no other district, from what I can tell, that's getting any park expansion funds. Commissioner Carollo: Because they have -- well, the Administration has chosen to put it into existing parks. When you don't have any existing parks -- Commissioner Suarez: I understand. Commissioner Carollo: -- you can't put that in there. Commissioner Suarez: But what I'm saying is that there is no other district getting money for acquisition of parks, other than your district. Commissioner Carollo: Understood. And there is really no monies for any improvement in District 3 parks, because there really isn't -- Commissioner Suarez: Well -- Commissioner Carollo: -- any District 3 parks. Commissioner Suarez: -- what I'm saying is that let's say, for example, that you were to -- and I'm not saying that you agree, 'cause obviously, you can drill down, and you probably don't agree with all the allocations that were made. Of all the -- of all of the funds that are available for acquisition, you're getting almost 50 percent. Yeah, you're getting three and a half and there -- of a total of 8.3. It's almost 50 percent; it's like 42 percent. Commissioner Carollo: Can we table this? Chair Gort: Table it for what? Commissioner Carollo: Table -- well, here's the thing, Mr. Chairman. Like I said, this has been four and a half years in the making. I just received this, which I was told was e-mailed today, and I really would like to do the numbers, because I disagree. Impact fee collections compared to what is proposed to be allocated, I think there's a big disparity, and I would like to do the numbers. So can we table this and go into the regular budget? And in the meantime -- Chair Gort: We should have tabled it a long time -- City of Miami Page 133 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: -- I'll be doing this? Chair Gort: I mean, we discussing it for quite a while. We should have tabled it a long time ago, if that was going to be the decision. Commissioner Carollo: Well, I just -- Chair Gort: We still got the budget, which we're going to spend a couple hours on that and -- Commissioner Carollo: So let's go -- Chair Gort: -- it's 12:37 already so. Commissioner Carollo: So let's move to the budget, and we'll come back to the capital budget. Chair Gort: Oh, you're going to be able to do the number in the budget. Okay, fine. Let's do the Commissioner Carollo: I'm going to try. Chair Gort: Okay. Do we have a motion for the Capital Improvement? Commissioner Sarnoff So move. Chair Gort: It's been moved by Commissioner Sarnoff. Do we have a second? Commissioner Suarez: Second. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Chair Gort: Second by Commissioner Suarez. Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for your indulgement [sic] in this, Commissioners. I want to first state that what you were looking at, Commissioner Suarez, and what I was looking at was different. I was looking at the actual budget book and putting the numbers back and forth together, and you were actually looking at a nice, little spread sheet that had everything nicely put together. I did receive that in my office, except I received it at 4:30 this afternoon. It was probably -- Commissioner Suarez: I don't know when we got it. Commissioner Carollo: Well, I received it at 4:30 this afternoon. And things like this is why years back, four and a half years ago, I proposed a five-day rule so things like this wouldn't happen. And I appreciate that my colleagues indulge me, because I, on the dais, had the first look at it, and I started punching numbers real quick. However, I want to make -- I want to be perfectly clear. When the Manager was saying about the west end and as far as where the impact fees are -- actually happen and where the money should go, well, I just finally was able to look at these numbers, and District 3, although the City Master Plan, City Parks Master Plan stipulates that we are in dire need of parks in that area, District 3 is receiving less allocation than the impact fees it generated. So when you talk about fairness, District 3 actually generated more impact fees than what's been allocated And if you look at the last page, it clearly stipulates that. So realistically, we generated an additional 1.2 -- 1,288,360 in impact fees than what we're actually receiving, and that's not correct. And I ask my colleagues to correct that, because if it's actually being generated in District 3, not what was told before that if it's generated somewhere else and then it has to be within a certain area. These were impact fees City of Miami Page 134 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 generated in District 3, and I'm -- all I'm requesting is fairness. If they were generated in District 3, then it should go to District 3, and I ask for that adjustment. Commissioner Suarez: But that -- maybe I'm looking at a different page than you are. What I'm seeing here is collection offunds, 4,567,363. Commissioner Carollo: Add these two together and add these two together. Ifyou add those two together and you had those two together, you will see totally -- total of what we have generated -- Commissioner Suarez: I see. Commissioner Carollo: -- and what we are receiving. Commissioner Suarez: That's for the last five years. Commissioner Carollo: It's actually for the last three years. And iyou see, we have generated more impact fees than what we're receiving, and we're talking the district that needs the acquisition of parks the most. Commissioner Suarez: But this year in the budget, you guys are getting the exact same amount of what you generated. Commissioner Carollo: No. Actually -- Commissioner Suarez: It's about $63 different. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but -- Commissioner Suarez: You're actually getting $63 less. Commissioner Carollo: I guess that's what's called "in the penalty box." They want to still make sure that they could say, "We gave him less than what he generated." So that's what calls -- that's what it means when you're in the penalty box and, you know -- and then they say, "Well, that's rounding." Well, rounding, usually you round up, right? Because if you generate 363, you round up to 400, but no, they rounded down. So the bottom line is, I guess they want to make sure they say, "Well, we still gave him less than what he generated" So what I'm asking is Chair Gort: If it's -- Commissioner Carollo: -- just make District 3 whole. I mean, give District 3 what it generated, you know. Chair Gort: Or if the numbers are there and that's what District 3 generated, they should be there, but if the numbers are not there, let us know. Mr. Alfonso: No. Commissioner -- Chair Gort: We're going to be arguing here until four in the morning and I'm going to be leaving (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, again, we're not tying to the district exactly what they generated; it's not exactly what is being allocated. This is a history of three plus years. In the coming year, we're proposing a number that's very close. You know, if this Commission again wants to City of Miami Page 135 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 allocate from the citywide and make that decision, that's not the Management's recommendation. We're not dividing it specifically in that way. Commissioner Carollo: And by the way, Manager Alfonso, I mean, you clearly have here that in the last three years, we generate -- District 3 generated $2.8 million; yet, we only allocated 1.5, okay. And now for the forecasted, for the future, that's where we're estimating that District 3 would generate 4.5 million and you're proposing 4.5 million of allocation, but the 2.8 that we generated and then it was only allocated 1.5, that's not correct. And you're talking the district that our City Master Plan clearly stipulates needs the extra parks. Commissioner Suarez: I'll make you a deal. Rather -- okay. Let's see if we make this deal; otherwise, we'll just vote it as is. You could vote "no" and then we can deal with it in the next one. The deal that I'll make you is as follows: If you match me the 1.3, okay -- so you get 1.3, because of what your past collections are and I get 1.3 for new parkland, which, by the way, I was going to get anyways, because I was going to get million dollars for that park that we never were able to purchase, I'll do it with you. I mean, if you're -- if you want to do that, that's fine. Then we'll just reduce the multiple district's fund from 4.8 -- that's 2.6 reduced from it, so it'll be 2.2, and 1.3 will go into your district; 1.3 will go into mine for a new parkland acquisition. Commissioner Carollo: Listen, I'm not here to nickel and dime anybody, so I don't have an issue. However, what I do want is the million dollars or so -- 800, 000, whatever it is -- that ident fy that was for Museum Park in the CRA. Chair Gort: My understanding, the Chairman of the CRA already committed that whatever money is left over, it's going to this year. That was the commitment that was made on the record about four hours ago. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Commissioner Carollo: And I just want to make sure -- Commissioner Sarnoff I'll put it again. As soon as CIP (Capital Improvements Program) closes that, I will -- it can go to a citywide park acquisition fund. Commissioner Suarez: Perfect. Commissioner Carollo: For District 3. Commissioner Suarez: No; citywide, or we could split it 50/50. Commissioner Carollo: But that's exactly what I'm saying. Commissioner Sarnoff Of which District 2 will not even participate, I promise. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but see, I don't understand, 'cause I see it so clearly. District 3 generated these impact fees. And Commissioner Sarnoff, you know this better than anybody. District 3 actually generated these impact fees and we're not getting the same allocation. That's -- it's -- Commissioner Sarnoff Well, I mean, you -- Commissioner Suarez: I -- Commissioner Sarnoff -- you're looking at a guy that gave up how many -- City of Miami Page 136 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Alfonso: But if I understand it correctly -- Vice Chair Hardemon: And that's my point. If -- Mr. Alfonso: Commissioners, ifI understand it correctly -- Chair Gort: Excuse me. Mr. Alfonso: -- I think Commissioner Suarez has said put the 1.3 in so that you're -- Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- made whole. And you asked now an additional 800,000 of the Commissioner, so that would put you beyond whole. Commissioner Carollo: That I allocated. I mean, didn't allocate. That I -- Chair Gort: He wants to make sure that they allocate it to District 3 and that's it. Okay? Commissioner Suarez: Listen, I think -- Chair Gort: Instead of citywide. Commissioner Suarez: Look, the 1.3 makes him whole from past years, 'cause we're not even talking about past; we're talking about budgeting this year, and this year is even -- with the exception of $63, which they obviously did to spite you, okay. So the 1.3 makes you whole from the last three years. We don't know if you go back 10 years; you could be the beneficiary of impact fees from what you collected. Commissioner Carollo: I doubt that. Commissioner Suarez: Who knows? I'm not saying that. I'm just saying we've only gone back three years, so this is just one snapshot of three years. I'm willing to match you dollar for dollar in the 1.3, because I have zero dollars for acquisition, and I'm the one that has the least amount of dollars. Chair Gort: Gentlemen, let me try to keep some order. Vice Chairman, you're recognized. Vice Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. And I think if we walk down that slippery slope of saying, dollar for dollar, who generated enough impact fees and where are those impact fees, then my dear Commissioner to the left of me in the distinguish district of District 2 would have given up the most and also, I mean, District 5. I mean, we've generated a certain amount and have not received up to the amount that we've generated. But what I hear amongst this Commission is in an attempt to bring District 3 to a place where you're comfortable, so -- I mean, I'm comfortable moving -- Commissioner Carollo: Not only that, Commissioner -- and I should have had the diagram. It's my fault. -- look how many parks District 5 has as compared to District 3. Look how many parks District 2 has as compared to District 3. I mean -- Vice Chair Hardemon: But we're talking about -- Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). City of Miami Page 137 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Vice Chair Hardemon: -- impact fee generation, not -- I'm not -- Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Vice Chair Hardemon: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Carollo: But look at how many parks -- Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to understand -- Commissioner Carollo: -- you guys have as compared to Little Havana. I mean, we don't have anything, anything. Like Hadley -- I'm sorry, Gibson Park. I mean, we don't have anything compared to that. I mean, you want to talk about poverty, just look -- it's not my statistics. Look at HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development). You know, whenever they do the economic development for HUD, there's a percentage, and that percentage is by poverty per district. Look who's the second, and you come in first; I come in second; then a close third is Commissioner Gort. There's a lot of poverty in Little Havana, and they don't have the programs and the parks that your community has, and all I'm doing is I'm fighting for it, and that's exactly what I'm doing. And I've been fighting for it for four and a half years. Chair Gort: Commissioner, I think we're trying to make a motion to comply with your request. Commissioner Carollo: Understood I just want to make sure that with that, I just -- again -- and it's -- obviously, I'm passionate about this, because I've been fighting for this for four and a half years. Chair Gort: I understand. Commissioner Carollo: So I just want to make sure the 800, 000, or whatever it is, the one million that I identified. It's not like I'm not doing my homework. Chair Gort: Commissioner. Commissioner Carollo: It's not like I'm not there. Chair Gort: Commissioner Sarnoff, will you repeat the --? Commissioner Sarnoff Yes. Chair Gort: You made the motion. Commissioner Sarnoff Commissioner Gort, I will put the residual, hopefully, one million but something maybe just below that, from Omni towards the impact fees on a citywide basis and District 2 will not participate in that. Commissioner Suarez: Perfect, perfect. Commissioner Carollo: Right. But the -- Commissioner Suarez: That's perfect. And we're going to make his district whole from the last three years, and we're going to put 1.3 into my district for a new park acquisition. Capisce? Commissioner Carollo: No, no "capisce, " because -- no, no "capisce, " 'cause I think those 800 or $1 million -- City of Miami Page 138 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Chair Gort: You need a decision today on this? Mr. Alfonso: Yes. We would like (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Chair Gort: We do. Commissioner Carollo: No. This doesn't have two readings. This could actually be tabled. And Mr. Alfonso: Commissioners, this is the capital budget. You're right; we don't have to make the decision today, but I -- will additional discussion really get us to a different point? Commissioner Suarez: That's a good point. Commissioner Sarnoff Well, let's make the decision. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, absolutely. Commissioner Sarnoff Let's make the call. Let's call the -- Commissioner Carollo: Just absolutely. Chair Gort: There's a motion. Commissioner Carollo: I mean -- Chair Gort: Is there a second? Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner Suarez, why -- hold on. I'm not done. I'm sorry. And this is important for me. This is important for the residents of the City of Miami and the residents of District 3. Commissioner Suarez, ifI identified those funds that no one spoke for, that they've been sitting there for three years, you know, why do you have a hesitation for it to go to District 3? I mean, there's still leftover three point something million. And you were -- actually, you're getting an additional 1.3. Commissioner Suarez: The reason why is for two reasons. The first is, I was going to get a million dollars to begin with for the acquisition of the park at Swiss Chateau, which never ended up happening. That money was de -allocated and allocated to other projects, so I lost a million dollars there, okay? Okay. Now -- Commissioner Carollo: What funding is that coming from? Commissioner Suarez: -- when you -- when -- Commissioner Carollo: But what funding was that coming from? Commissioner Suarez: Now, wait, wait, wait. Let me finish answering the question. Commissioner Carollo: It wasn't the same funding source. Commissioner Suarez: It wasn't the same funding, of course not. Chair Gort: Excuse me. Let's -- City of Miami Page 139 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Suarez: Now -- but it was money that our district lost. Now, when you talk about what you've cited in the Park Master Plan, if you reread what you said, you said that Little Havana is -- you want to reread it? Commissioner Carollo: Let me find it. Commissioner Suarez: I know. We have a lot of papers today. But you -- to paraphrase what you read, you said that Little Havana is deficient in parks, and then you said west of 12th Avenue, correct? Guess what's west of 12th Avenue. Little Havana; District 4 as well. Because District 4 begins at 17th Avenue, which is five blocks west of 12th Avenue, and I doubt that the makers of the Master Plan were thinking that there's a distinction in Little Havana between District 3 and District 4. What they're saying is that there's a deficiency of parkland; that's why I'm the least recipient of impact fees. So what I'm saying is that it should be a fair distribution of the available funds. That's not even touching about 2.6 million of citywide impact fees that we're still leaving in the multiple district funds. That's fair. That's why. That's what I'm saying. It's fair. It's fair for your residents. It's fair for mine. He's donating. He's donating. Everybody -- you know, everybody's making concessions so that we can get out of here. It's 2:22 in the morning. Commissioner Carollo: Understood, but this is aside from that. These were monies that were identified aside from that. And I don't see, you know -- I really don't. This was money outside from that. Just like there's going to be money that's going to be found for additional police officers, if need be. I mean, remember about squeezing that orange? I mean, there's -- you know, so all I'm saying is, listen, besides that, you wanted to split the 1.3. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. Commissioner Carollo: I said, sure. Commissioner Suarez: Commissioner. Commissioner Carollo: But there's 800,000 or a million that were identified, you know, that -- Commissioner Suarez: It would be the same as if I said "Look, take the 800,000 and instead of allocating 1.3 from the multiple districts, allocate two million from the multiple districts to my district for the acquisition of new parkland. " Same thing. Chair Gort: Question: Do we have any parcels right now that we can buy? Commissioner Suarez: No. Chair Gort: That was purchased? Commissioner Suarez: No. Vice Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) any property that -- Commissioner Suarez: No. Commissioner Carollo: No, but -- Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) going to do the research for the property. Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner Gort, no, we don't. And as a matter of fact, that's how I started. I said, "How do you come up with this amount?" You know, and I don't want to get City of Miami Page 140 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 into the excuse, but, you know -- so that's how we started, you know, and that's how I started. How -- you know, have you done the analysis? Have you been out there? I'm telling you, I have every year, you know, with the help of -- Chair Gort: Okay. My understanding is there's been funds allocated for parks to be done in the Little Havana area out of the citywide, and that's a commitment from this Commission and that's a commitment from the CRA -- Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner. Chair Gort: -- director and -- Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Chair Gort: Yes. Commissioner Carollo: The reason why I would like to be able to somehow have the money allocated to District 3, because whenever there's citywide money, it seems like District 3 doesn't get its fair share, even -- Commissioner Suarez: I -- Commissioner Carollo: -- hold on. Commissioner Suarez: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) CDBG that District 4 -- you got $500,000 -- Commissioner Carollo: No. Commissioner Suarez: -- of CDBG citywide -- Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no, because you didn't -- Commissioner Suarez: -- and we had zero. Commissioner Carollo: You didn't -- Commissioner Suarez: -- for park. Commissioner Carollo: You did not see -- for a playground, but you did not see the amount of reserves. Commissioner Suarez: Which I agreed with. I thought it was a wonderful idea. The reason why your reserves were rated was because your district didn't spend the money on time. Commissioner Carollo: It wasn't because we did not spend the money on time. Commissioner Suarez: Yes, it was. Commissioner Carollo: It's because -- Chair Gort: Yes. Commissioner Suarez: Yes, it was. You have Commissioners saying yes, it was. You have three Commissioners saying "Yes, it was. Yes, it was." That's what happens. So it's okay. It's over. Water under the bridge. Let's move on. City of Miami Page 141 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: I wholeheartedly disagree with you, because that is not what occurred. But what I'm telling you is those monies were in the proper category; it was reserved. What it did not do was carry over year after year after year after year. Commissioner Sarnoff All right, call the question. Commissioner Carollo: It was (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Sarnoff Come on. I'm not sitting up here any longer. Chair Gort: Okay. Commissioner Sarnoff You have a commitment from us. You can -- you see us up here every two weeks. We predominantly cooperate with each other. We predominantly give Commissioners what they need and what they want. You were there for 1814. I will be there when you find a park. I commit this million -- I'll make sure it is a round million. It will go to -- as you guys describe it. District 2 will have no participation. Call the question. Vice Chair Hardemon: Can we clarify the question? Chair Gort: All in -- Vice Chair Hardemon: Can we clarify the question from the Clerk? Mr. Alfonso: I want to make sure that I understand the amendment. The amendment is to take $1.3 million from the citywide allocation and add it to the District 3 allocation; take another $1.3 million from the allocation, add it to the District 4 allocation; and to the extent that in the future there's CRA monies that come in, they will be allocated to the citywide allocation. Commissioner Sarnoff District 2 -- Commissioner Suarez: Correct. Chair Gort: From -- no -- Commissioner Sarnoff -- will not participate. Commissioner Carollo: Hold on. No. Commissioner Sarnoff District 2 will not participate. Mr. Alfonso: And District 2 will not participate, but I don't think we -- Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- legislate that in the budget. We just -- that'll be when it comes to the Commission, the gentlemen's agreement. Commissioner Suarez: That sounds -- Commissioner Sarnoff There you go. Chair Gort: Okay. City of Miami Page 142 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.21 14-00822 Office of Management and Budget Commissioner Suarez: -- good. Chair Gort: Okay. All in favor, state it by saying aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Chair Gort: Thank you. Mr. Hannon: As amended. Chair Gort: Goodnight. Mr. Alfonso: Thank you, Commissioners. Have a good evening. ORDINANCE First Reading AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DEFINING AND DESIGNATING THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAXATION; ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE AND LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 14-00822 Summary Form SR.pdf 14-00822 Legislation SR.pdf ACTIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION: 1. RECOMPUTE THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE, IF NECESSARY 2. ADOPT THE TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Vice Chair Hardemon, that this matter be PASSED ON FIRST READING PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Carollo and Hardemon Noes: 1 - Commissioner(s) Suarez Chair Gort: Okay, the millage. Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Okay, BH 1. Okay, BH1, Commissioners, is the proposed general operating millage rate of 7.6465 for the City of Miami for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2014 and ending on September 30, 2015. It is 12.26 percent higher than the state -defined rollback rate of 6.8115. We would need a motion or -- Chair Gort: BH.21, do I have a motion? Well, it's a public hearing. Is anyone in the public would like to address this one issue? Seeing none, hearing none -- yes, sir. Joe Simmons: I would just say, I couldn't help but see -- overlook those basically in your scenario that you had a proposed wage increase. Solid Waste was at 2.2; Fire was at 30 percent. Years ago, when Art Teele was sitting in that Commission chamber in early '90 -- mid-'90s, they did a 10-year spread sheet. That's when Sue Ellen was here. Shorty Bryson was the Acting City Manager at the time. And the Commission at that time asked the City to go back and do a 10-year comparison, and he said, "Why is that? " And it seems like we're going down this same road again. I hope we're not. But we want fairness, whatever it is, in negotiation. We want fairness. We want a fair shake at it. Like I said, we're not asking for the whole pie; we're asking for a piece of the pie. And what was proposed was 2.2 percent overall. What they proposed, the City of Miami Page 143 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 salary schedule that we're under existence now, and what they proposed is two cents per hour higher on the top end. On the beginning salary, it's roughly a quarter of a point lower. So it's a starting lower salary, and it's really not going to -- it doesn't really put folks where they really need to be. That's what we're looking for. And we also want that to be reconsidered, that cost allocation, because this what takes us out of whack. And I'm not trying to compare us to policemen or firemen, 'cause their earning power is so much greater. You know, they have other opportunities. We -- our opportunities of earning power are very limited, besides overtime and holiday pay. Thank you. Javier Ortiz: Javier Ortiz, president of Miami FOP (Fraternal Order of Police), 710 Southwest 12 Avenue. I understand that labor costs are going up, but that's the whole reason why people pay taxes, is in order to give services. And I just want to, I guess, clear the record Danny. When I made the comment as far as deception when it came to the hundred police officers , that was directed towards some of our elected officials, not to you. I haven't had any issues with you when it comes to -- we've had disagreements, and that's just part of the job, but that was not towards you. So I apologize if you took it that way. Thank you. Mr. Alfonso: Thank you. Mariano Cruz: Mariano Cruz, 1227 26th Street. I have no problem with the millage. But the reason I came here today was for my daughter; is a robbery detective. She told me, `Poppy, they took a lot of money away from us and now they talking about hire." So she gave me these T-shirts. Don't hire more police officers unless you give back to the officers that are there with the money you took away from them. Because if you want to hire more police officers, raise the taxes; have the guts. Come on, raise the taxes, see, "Vamos, " come on, do it, do it. I don't pay taxes so it doesn't bother me. Chair Gort: Yeah, I know. Mr. Cruz: Now, remember one thing -- Chair Gort: Raise taxes; I don't pay it. Mr. Cruz: Right. I am exempt. Long live USA (United States of America). Thank you. Chair Gort: Okay. Anyone else from the public would like to address this, millage? Seeing none, hearing none, close the public hearings. Is there a motion or --? Commissioner Sarnoff So move, Mr. Chair. Chair Gort: It's been move by Commissioner Sarnoff. Is there a second? Vice Chair Hardemon: Second. Chair Gort: Second by Vice Chairman Hardemon. Any further discussion? Being none, all in favor, state it by saying aye." Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, it is an ordinance. Chair Gort: Yes. An ordinance. Sorry. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Mr. Hannon: Roll call on item BH.21. Commissioner Suarez? City of Miami Page 144 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 BH.22 14-00823 Office of Management and Budget Commissioner Suarez: No. Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Carollo? Commissioner Carollo: Yes. Mr. Hannon: Vice Chair Hardemon? Vice Chair Hardemon: For. Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Sarnoff? Commissioner Sarnoff. Yes. I want to say for the record, I would have put a higher mill rate with the City, as I said earlier, if it was special revenue for police. Mr. Hannon: Chair Gort? Chair Gort: Yes. Mr. Hannon: The ordinance passes on first read reading, 4-1. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ADOPTING A TENTATIVE BUDGET AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS RELATING TO OPERATIONALAND BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015. 14-00823 Summary Form.pdf 14-00823 Legislation.pdf 14-00823 Exhibit-SUB.pdf 14-00823-Submittal-City Manager -First Budget Hearing Presentation.pdf ACTIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION: 1. AMEND THE BUDGET, IF NECESSARY 2. ADOPT THE TENTATIVE BUDGET Motion by Commissioner Sarnoff, seconded by Vice Chair Hardemon, that this matter be ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote. Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Sarnoff, Suarez and Hardemon Noes: 1 - Commissioner(s) Carollo R-14-0323 Daniel.1 Alfonso (City Manager): Before we get into the millage discussion and then the rest of the budget, I'd kind of like to take a few moments to respond or comment on some of the things that were said during the public discussion, because -- perhaps, we want to change some of the characterizations of the comments. First, I want to thank all the employees who participated and the members of the public in the today's comment. It was very professionally done, for the most part, so I want to commend our City employees and the members of the public that came up. In terms of the comments of "The City has $5.5 million for labor negotiation, "I don't want to characterize the fact that we have estimated that as the cost of our proposal as the end-all be-all, because we are having open discussions, and we are open to whatever we come to an agreement in the end. So whatever that number ends up being, whether it's $5.5 million or more, it is subject of negotiations that are still ongoing. In the case of 1907, the president of the union City of Miami Page 145 Printed on 10/6,2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 spoke about the 8 percent for promotions. Yes, that is something that is in the proposal. If you get a promotion, you get an 8 percent. I agree with that. The City's impact fees that are being collected in terms of being used for buying police cars, Mr. Ortiz, that is precisely what we're doing with the Police impact fees, but you mentioned 30 or $40 million. Police impact fees are nowhere near that kind of money. The $30 million are for Parks impact fees. The Police impact fees are under a million dollars. So I just want to make sure that we correct that on the record. The question as to why the City's asking for certain givebacks, if you'd like to call it, that you didn't get an answer for, it's because as we look to the future -- this is our way of thinking -- we will be absorbing costs that are currently being offered in the labor contracts, but that the City will be absorbing them into the future on a recurring basis. So to the extent that any savings can be had, we're more than welcomed to work with that, but it's still subject of negotiation. Made a characterization that I would be lying to these people. I'm not going to be lying to these people. I'm going to tell them what I believe to be the truth. The -- you mentioned, "You will be lying to these people," when you were giving your speech. Perhaps, we can read it back to you. I'm not going to be lying to these people. These Commissioners, I will tell the truth to. Eight seventy-one, Mr. President, Joe Simmons, stood up here and said that they would like the City to dig deep. The 871 union requested in excess of a 200 percent increase in pay in their con -- you know, offer for wages. That is digging very, very, very deep. And, you know, in a sense, you would take a Solid Waste employee who perhaps is making $40,000 a year now and raise them to about $200, 000 a year by the end of the second contract, if you do a 25 percent increase per quarter, as you proposed. And when I asked you, "Come on, Joe. Is that real?" You said, "Hey, that's negotiations." You know, I don't call that "digging deep." I call that "unreasonable." So we asked you to come back with another proposal, and we're still waiting for that, and we're going to meet on the 24th, I believe, and I hope to see a realistic proposal. In the case of Solid Waste employees, you talked about the sacrifices that were made. The fact is the Solid Waste employees, I think 95 percent of them, probably did not take a cut, because the City Commission, when it imposed cuts in 2010, left, for the most part, all Solid Waste employees out of those cuts. I think there was a total of maybe 20 employees who are above $40, 000 who may have been impacted. Now, I will grant you that the Solid Waste union is the least compensated of all the unions, and we can work certainly on improving pay, but again, that would be the subject of negotiation. Equipments -- equipment: you're absolutely right. We have requested to put money into this budget to improve the equipment and the working facilities of the City employees, okay? So you supported that and I appreciate that. And those are the issues that I wanted to talk about in terms of the union. You know, Mr. Amandi, you made some comments about the officers that were added that went to Coconut Grove and made the improvement. The officers that we've added, some of them have gone to Coconut Grove, but not all the officers that were added have gone to Coconut Grove. The City of Miami, over the last year, has hired, net, about 80 officers. The net growth that was in their budget, if you recall, was about 35 officers. Then we talked about hiring the 40 vacancies that existed and we talked about moving out from behind desks about 20 people. So, some of those were already within the budget, per se; it's just a matter of getting them hired. We're currently close to our 1,144 number or 1,130 number, somewhere in that range. Commissioner Sarnoff Nine. Mr. Alfonso: Right. Yes, that's the authorized budget, Commissioner, but the actual bodies on the ground, I think, is about 1,140. Commissioner Sarnoff You're 18 away. Mr. Alfonso: Right. So in a sense, we are at a higher number of police officers today than we've been in I don't know how long, so the question is: How do we deploy them? But we don't deploy them only to one area. We deploy them to where they're mostly needed. And you're right, the officers in the Coconut Grove, which they did get some additional officers, has done an awesome job and we appreciate that. But I don't want people to think that we only put resources into the City of Miami Page 146 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 area of Coconut Grove. I think that we've moved resources around as needed, as much as we can. I do believe that, you know, some of the folks that spoke in terms of the poverty needs spoke from the heart, and to the extent that we have made a proposal in our budget to put the $750,000 towards Poverty Initiatives and then this Commission will decide how did we do that, you know, it's certainly a worthy cost. In any case, we're going to go through a PowerPoint presentation to talk about some of the things that are under "Changes" memorandum so that we understand the City's position on where we're going. So if you don't mind, we'll kind of get started with that. Chair Gort: Go ahead. Mr. Alfonso: Okay, Chris. Chair Gort: This is capital or budget? (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Mr. Alfonso: This presentation, Commissioner, is an overall general presentation, and then we'll get into the millage. We need to adopt the millage before we really get into the entire budget discussion. But I see IT (Information Technology) over there is -- there we go. All right, so in general, I want to give a little recap. And I think most of you Commissioners have seen these charts before, but for the benefit of the public, who perhaps have not seen them, I want to point out that over the last few years, you can see where the taxable assessed values in the City of Miami were at a peak in 2008 of nearly $38 billion; and in 2014, the latest tax roll that we have approved by the property appraiser is actually still below 36 billion, so we are at about $2.3 billion in property value below where we were at the peak in 2008, which set those budgets back in those days; whereas, the millage went from a high in 2010 of 8.6 total down now to about 8.3850. If you look at the overall history in terms of revenue and expenditures in the City, and what happened to the general fund balances that existed as far back as 2004, when we were nearly $137 million, and we went through a period of time where we spent more than we took in, and by 2010, the City was at $13.4 million in fund balance, and we were facing some difficult times. And this Commission right -- you know, this Commission took very, very tough decisions in 2010 and made it so that we are today projecting almost $103 million fund balance, about $2 million more than is going to be required at the end of this year; and I urge you that, when we come back in September 29, we can talk about allocating those funds, if it's the wish of this Commission, because it will be above and beyond what is needed for the financial integrity principals, and we can be in compliance and still allocate those funds. But, you know, I really -- in a sense, I want to congratulate the Commission and the folks that were here in 2010, because they took the hard steps, and then those steps were reiterated in '11 and in '12, and we kept a sound footing to be where we are today. So I urge, as we look to these budgets, to not let this opportunity get away. Our proposed budget from July, when we put out the proposed budget, to now has gone up about $6.8 million, so that -- what is in that $6.8 million? Well, the State of Florida revised its communication service tax and local option gas tax revenues upward $4.3 million; the Omni CRA voted to give the City of Miami roughly $1.3 million to cover the cost of six police officers, along with their equipment. We have a revised estimate from the MPA (Miami Parking Authority). They upped their contribution to the City by $500,000, for a total of 7.2 million. The fact that the SkyRise Marketplace deal went through will now cause the rent immediately to go up from Bayside roughly a half a million dollars, and in the future, but when the buildings that need to go up go up, then that rent will go up higher, but in this coming year, certainly a half a million dollars right away. Reimbursements from MSEA (Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority) that we talked about earlier is about 200, 000. Now, how did we use that money? In this "Changes" memorandum that was presented to the Commission that we hope, in some way, will be amended into the proposed budget at the end of the evening today, where we propose to add an additional 35 police officers, plus the six officers that the Omni CRA is paying for, and that's $4.2 million, I want to point out that that is not the full cost of all those officers; that we are applying approximately 35 percent attrition to those officers, meaning that we do not intend those officers will be here October 1. We know that's not going to happen. So, it will take several months to get through the process. There is some cost that will be incurred. We will start City of Miami Page 147 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 buying cars. We will start buying some capital needs in preparing for the hiring of those officers. There's an increased contribution that we have to make to the Health Trust. That's $2 million, and that is the FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) Health Trust. In the current year, the budget that was in the Health Trust -- and I'm talking current year, '13/14 -- was 11.3 million? -- 11.5 million. Excuse me. The latest projection for the FOP health plan cost are nearing $20 million and next year, I think a little over $20 million, which means that the City's contribution of 65 percent will need to be increased to roughly thirteen and a half million dollars. So we had to use of this additional revenue $2 million to put into the budget to make sure that we could cover the cost increase in the FOP health cost. The general employees received a 1.75 percent recurring increase, which we had to allocate for the coming year; that is a million dollars, and we covered that with some of these revenue as well. There was an increased allocation to Poverty Initiatives of $750, 000, as recommended, and Solid Waste Initiatives of 200, 000. And in the memorandum we explained that in talking to our Solid Waste director, he has some ideas for some things that he would like to try out, and we are recommending that we do these things, and I'll give you an example. One of the issues that has plagued the City for some time in our bulky trash collection is the holes that get created from the equipment that we use. We use these cranes that drop down and create a hole on the ground. So the Solid Waste director has been in other areas where they use a front -loader -type piece of equipment that does not cause that hole. So we are asking the Commission to allow us to purchase a couple of front loaders to test out this method of collection, and if it yields good results -- and perhaps, maybe we can even lease some of this equipment instead of buying it right away, but the point is that we need some money in order to pilot this type of collection, and if it turns out that it is very -- it works as proposed, then perhaps, we'll be saving money in the future in patching holes. The other thing that the director proposed is we currently spend about $1, 000 or $1,100, if I'm not mistaken -- 1,100? -- on the street containers that we have that have the metal exterior with the sleeve inside. And to service those, it is a labor-intensive process, because somebody has to physically, manually get out from the back of the truck, open the locked gate, remove the inside, take out the bag, dump it, put a new bag, put the sleeve back in, collect -- And the folks that collect metal in the street enjoy taking out receptacles and selling them. So the director proposed a different type of container; that is a plastic container that has a special weight -- weighs about 135 pounds. I guess it's poured concrete inside of the base -- that has a locking mechanism that is gravity -operated, so if you were to steal one of these containers, first of all, it would be tough to take; it's 135 pounds of concrete. You're not going to recycle it, sell it anywhere 'cause it's plastic. You're not going to get the value for it. And you're -- unless you are strong enough to flip it over and empty it, you're only going to fill it up once, 'cause in order to empty it, you have to literally flip it on its head so that the lid releases. We intend to buy a number of these and try them out in a couple of corridors. They are serviced by our one -arm bandit, so that reduces the need for that physical labor. Now, if you add all those things up, you will note that that adds more than the $6.8 million. So in order to fund those things, we then reduced some of the capital expenditures that were proposed in the original proposed budget by about $1.4 million. If you recall, we had about $5.9 million in capital expenditures. In the memorandum that we gave to the Commission last week, we spelled out which are some of the projects that we would cut out. We also in that memorandum -- and I'm not going to go over here, but I'm sure we'll discuss it. We talked about how we would manage if we had to add 80 more officers and do the full two million for Poverty Initiatives, which would basically be -- eliminate the rest of the capital and do some other cuts that were added in the original proposed budget. Some of our elected officials have asked that we look at how we are allocating to the -- how we're allocating the growth in the budget from one year to the next, in terms of how much we're using for labor. And so we included a worksheet on page 6 that includes the proposed wage increases and some of the other labor costs that are included from one year to the next in growth, and it shows basically that we have taken about $16 million of the $33 million in growth in the budget to cover costs of labor that normally increase, plus what has been proposed in the contracts prior to the latest negotiations that are going on, and exclusive of new employees. So, really, the 16.2 of the 33, ifI were to add the 4.2 or $3 million for the police officers, will be able about 19 of the $33 million in growth in the budget are all going to labor. And then the others, you know, some of it's going to capital and City of Miami Page 148 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 other expenses that went up. In the -- the management's recommendation, again, I'm going to reiterate, it is for 35 additional officers at a cost of about $2.9 million. If you saw in the previous page 4.2, but that included the Omni CRA, 1.3, so that's why it's at 4.2; an allocation for Poverty Initiatives of $750, 000, for a total budget impact next year of 3.7. Now, mind you, this is the impact in '14/15. The cost in '15/16 becomes different, because although you don't have the capital expense, you do pick up the full cost of pension and health and those type of things. The funding to use that is -- I mean, how were you funded? That was basically with available general fund revenues. This proposed budget meets the financial integrity principles for fiscal year '15 and '16, and grows the reserves. Now, keep in mind that as the reserves -- as the budget grows year over year, the number for the reserve is going to go up slightly, as well, 'cause, remember, we're required to maintain 20 percent of the average years. So as the budgets grow, that 20 percent is going to grow, as well. If you went to the scenario "B, " which is also, as the Commission asked, the 100 new officers in the first year would cost about $6.7 million; then we would allocate, as the Commission asked, $2 million to Poverty Initiatives, which means that a total increase to the budget for next year of $8.7 million. And the way that would be funded.: available revenues, as in the previous case; the general fund, 2.3; savings from reduced capital, which basically would eliminate just about all the capital of $4.2 million. We would say, if this Commission would hear this, we could delay the implementation of the living wage, we should save about $1.8 million; not convert the current full-time temps to permanent employees would be about $200, 000; and saving from not funding those projects that we -- those $200, 000 that we just talked about in Solid Waste pilot, and that would sort of balance that budget, but that is a proposal. Now this does meet the financial integrity principle requirement for fiscal year '15, but fails to meet the principle in '16, unless we reduce reserve for uncollectables. None of this numbers here take into account any additional costs that may be incurred from labor negotiations yet to happen. So I just wanted to make sure that that is clear. Okay, I think we should take up the millage, unless there's any comments or questions. Chair Gort: Questions? Later... Mr. Alfonso: Okay, Commissioners, the operating budget. BH.22 is a resolution of the Miami City Commission adopting tentative budget and making appropriations relating to the operational and budgetary requirements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015. And this will incorporate the Changes'tnemorandum that was prepared and submitted to the Commission, along with the originally proposed budget. And Chris Rose will read a scrivener's error correction into the record. Christopher Rose (Director): Chris Rose, Office of Management and Budget. The title just needs to say With attachments. "So A resolution of the Miami City Commission, with attachments, adopting a tentative budget and making appropriations relating to operational and budgetary requirements for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015." Chair Gort: Thank you, sir. I guess we're looking at the numbers and -- Commissioner Sarnoff So this is the time to discuss the police? Chair Gort: This is the time to do it. Commissioner Sarnoff So, Mr. Manager, you had indicated that we would get to -- I know how we get to 61 police officers. You had said there were going to be six from Southeast Overtown/Park West. And is that like a commitment that's going to happen? Vice Chair Hardemon: Mr. Chairman. City of Miami Page 149 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Chair Gort: Yes. Vice Chair Hardemon: The way that I saw it is that I would have probably -- I didn't know that you all were considering that before, 'cause I had thought about making that allocation, and I just hadn't gotten my executive director to come to the part or the point, rather, where I could have those funds, so that is a commitment that I'm willing to make, because I want the people in that community to be safe, especially the new development and the development that's going on there. So you have that commitment from me, so I can help in bringing more police officers, and I guess that would maybe about another $1.5 million towards -- Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, yes. If it is the will of this Commission to allocate what would be projected revenue -- I think 1.3 million is what the Omni is doing for six officers. So if you -- if this Commission said, We're going to go out and try to secure from the Southeast Overtown/Park West a commitment of $1.3 million for an additional six officers, '{ve would put that into the budget understanding that, you know, it won't happen October 1, so there's time to get the Omni -- I'm sorry; the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to go ahead and pass a resolution, and then it will be already in the budget. Vice Chair Hardemon: And that, of course, would be in the spirit of -- or doing that today would be in the spirit of helping us reach our goal towards having the police officers that we need to start to combat crime, of course, with all the other initiatives that we're looking to use to fight crime in this community. Commissioner Sarnoff All right. So then we would be at 66 police officers. So we would then be -- Mr. Alfonso: Sixty-seven. Commissioner Sarnoff. Did I miss that one? Sixty-seven? Mr. Alfonso: Yep. Six, six, and fifty-five is sixty-seven. Commissioner Sarnoff I got you. Sorry about that. That's why I didn't do the accounting stuff. I stuck with the law stuff. So -- Vice Chair Hardemon: Then I might say this: I'm not sure of the exact number. I'm assuming it will be six, 'cause I know there are some -- Mr. Alfonso: We'll take more. Vice Chair Hardemon: -- there is some slight details that make that number realizable. Commissioner Sarnoff The Mayor, I think, wants to go an additional 5 to get to 72. Is that a feasibility with this budget without blowing it up? Mr. Alfonso: You know, Commissioners, if we're directed to add another five officers, I think that we can come back in the second budget hearing and tell you how that would change the budget. It's -- Commissioner Sarnoff All right. Then let me -- Mr. Alfonso: -- just five more, so -- Commissioner Sarnoff -- stretch you as far as I can, and stretch you, Mr. Mayor. The magic number to the City of Miami to go from -- City of Miami Page 150 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Suarez: I know what you're going to say. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. -- two police officers per thousand to three police officers per thousand is actually 78; 6 more police officers. Commissioner Suarez: I had a feeling you were going to say 80, for some reason. Commissioner Sarnoff It is a weird thing. And 78 gives us exactly 3.0. Commissioner Suarez: Well, I guess -- you know, and I do want to hear from the community, because they've been here, and they've braved through the elements of impact fees, et cetera, you know. The reason why I came up with 80 -- which you were 78 -- is we added -- the Manager said we added a net new 80 officers, right, in the -- last year? Commissioner Sarnoff (UNINTELLIGIBLE) last -- Mr. Alfonso: No, last year we did not add net new 80. It was net new 35, I believe, ifI remember correctly. There were 40 vacancies or 45 vacancies. I don't remember exactly, which we -- when we said, Look, there's going to be a hundred additional officers in the street. We'll fill the vacancies. We'll add the 35. "We took 20 from behind desks and put them out to the road, and I believe that's how we got to the number. Commissioner Suarez: I guess my question is how many was the net new hires? Mr. Alfonso: Last year? Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. Mr. Alfonso: Oh, I see what you're saying now. Okay. Commissioner Suarez: Yes. Mr. Alfonso: Okay. So when I said het new hires,'this is what I meant: Not that they were added to the budget. The net added to the budget was 35. But if you look at where our position count of actual sworn officers was sometime early last year, you'll recall, we've been giving the Commissioners report -- I mean, the -- a Police Department report on a regular basis, and the number of sworn police officers in the City was hovering around 1,050. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: And we're now about 1,140 -- 1,130 something, so we have added -- Commissioner Suarez: Correct. Mr. Alfonso: Eighty plus officers are actually here in the City of Miami patrolling our streets -- Commissioner Suarez: Okay. Mr. Alfonso: -- from where we were last year at this point. Commissioner Suarez: I see the police chief getting up. Mr. Alfonso: Taking into account the losses. City of Miami Page 151 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Suarez: You know, I want to make sure that he's -- are you good with those numbers? Manuel Orosa (Chief of Police): Yes, sir. As of this morning, we are only 13 vacancies. Commissioner Sarnoff Thirteen. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. So you're good with that? Commissioner Sarnoff From 11 (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Suarez: So what you're saying is because -- you've been pretty adamant about saying that we've kind of had record -hiring ability in one year, correct? Chief Orosa: Yes, sir. Commissioner Suarez: I know we've -- and I think Javier -- Mr. Ortiz one time pointed out, I think very, very aptly, that we have more background investigators than we have homicide detectives, which is a little bit shocking, okay. That was a little shocking when I heard it. But nevertheless, let's not digress. The point being that we obviously, as a Commission, I guess are partly responsible for that, because we had put so much pressure on the Administration to hire new officers that we can -- we should share in some of that blame, okay. So if stretched to the limit, you're -- you guys were able to accomplish 85 this year, correct? Chief Orosa: Yes, 85, 86; last year, 110. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. So you hired 110? Chief Orosa: Last year. Last year we did 110. Commissioner Suarez: I guess because -- 'cause we have attrition. We have -- Chief Orosa: And now -- Commissioner Suarez: -- people retiring and -- Chief Orosa: -- 85. I expect that by the end of this list that we're currently working, we'll be at around 120, 130. Commissioner Suarez: Right. But we're going to lose some, so -- right? Chief Orosa: We're going to lose eight more by the end of the year. Commissioner Suarez: Coming up, coming up. Okay. Chief Orosa: Correct. Commissioner Suarez: So -- 'cause -- Chief Orosa: So all we have to do is lose the 8, hire 13; leaves us at 21, and we still have over three -- close to 400 applicants that we're still working on. Commissioner Suarez: I guess what I'm afraid of is -- not afraid of, but now when we start getting down to the nitty-gritty -- and we're getting down to the nitty-gritty here, okay -- the question is we don't want to budget beyond our ability to hire, clearly. City of Miami Page 152 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Chief Orosa: Correct. Commissioner Suarez: At the same time, I think we are all convinced that we need a substantial -- substantially more police officers, and that as our budget grows -- and it grew quite a bit this year, by the way, and that's part of I think, what the overall discussion will be -- our number -one priority, aside from taking care of our employees, is hiring new police officers, period. I mean, that's -- I think what we're all -- we've all been saying for -- you saying -- been saying for about two years. About six months after you started saying it, I started jumping on the band wagon, and we've been saying it together for a year and a half, okay. So, I'd like to hear what the community has to say, because they've been here patiently waiting and listening to a lot of things that -- I feel sorry for them, but -- you know -- I mean, if they -- if you have a perspective on that. If not, I mean, that's fine too. Fernand Amandi: Thank you, Commissioner Suarez. You know, one of the things that motivated you andl to be here on opposite sides is a crime incident. Your home was broken into. Commissioner Suarez: Absolutely. Mr. Amandi: My home was broken into. We had over 100 residents, ironically enough, to show up tonight. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Amandi: Almost 20 of which spoke to all of you, really speaking with one voice, saying one clear message: The most important thing that we care about in this City is being safe. We're asking you for a hundred extra officers because we have a significant deficit. Just like you're asking me -- Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Mr. Amandi: -- in November to pay my full property tax bill. Now, do I have the option, if you don't give us the hundred, to say, Well, let me cut back on my proportional"-? Commissioner Sarnoff You want to pay 78 percent of the bill? Mr. Amandi: I will -- I would happily. You know, you want to make that deal, we'll cut it right now, and pay 78 percent of the bill. But you know, Commissioner Suarez, the reason I'm here tonight at 12:46 in the morning is because I worry about my two young children. And I know you're a new father now. And those of you who have families or have raised families in the City, it's extraordinarily bizarre that we're even debating this. You've seen what's taking place in Coral Gables. I anticipate an event -- because their Mayor -- their City Manager didn't take the action, and there's going to be consequences tomorrow. I don't want that to happen in our city. And I think, if we double down and just recognize -- This is not a panacea, but it is the step in the direction we want to go to to build on all the hard work and all the good work you all have done last year. A hundred new officers is a step in the right direction. I think at the very least, as Commissioner Sarnoff says, if we can pass a threshold, a symbolic threshold that says three officers for every thousand residents gets us back in the conversation of where we can continue to aspire to as a city, and frankly, I can't see why you all wouldn't exercise the political will. Is it a question of reserves? Is it a question of pulling from here from there? Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Amandi: It's your problem. Commissioner Suarez: Right. City of Miami Page 153 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Amandi: We're here as residents in good faith. We trust you'll do the right thing. Commissioner Suarez: I love when you say that, by the way. Mr. Amandi: Thank you. Commissioner Suarez: Go ahead, Mr. Manager. You were going to say something. Mr. Alfonso: Mr. Chairman, ifI may, I want to, you know, say something as well. The private sector in our community funds about another 200 officers in our community every year. Our officers work off duty to the tune of over 420,000 hours a year throughout the City of Miami in establishments, so that, I would say, is -- these are officers that are working out there and they're responding to emergencies when they need to, and so that is something that we're not even -- the City's not directly, per se, paying for, but that is an added service that we get from folks that employ our officers to off duty. These are hours extra that they work. Chair Gort: Let me tell you. The -- since Commissioner Sarnoff came up with a hundred officers, and people are talking about the hundred officers, I've been doing a little research myself, 'cause this is something that -- Now, studies shows that there is a correlation, police presence and lower crime rate, but the studies does not indicate hiring my police officers will decrease crime. Police presence is effective in reducing crime of opportunity but have little effort on the murder rate. We cannot just throw money to the problem and expect the problem to go away. We need to plan how these officers need to be deployed. We need how the -- use our contact with the community throughout the NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) office. We have the NET office that we've talked about it for so much in the '90s; it was so affected [sic] in the quality of life and fighting crime, 'cause they worked as a team. The people within the neighborhood, they knew -- they could be the best intelligence that the police can have, but we have to work as a group. And one of the biggest problems that we have is the -- and that was the reason why the NET was created. Now, poverty, unemployment, illegal drug sales, and despair are the fuel of crime in our city. We have to have a comprehensive plan, not only for certain neighborhoods, but I know we having problem in the neighborhood. I can tell you, I have a hell of a lot more problems in my neighborhood. And I know District 5 -- a lot of times you guys don't get the news, but every day we get information; how many people are shot and so on. Somehow, we got to bring all our resources together and come up with a plan that deals with all of the problems that create crimes. I think this is something that we need to do, and I'm glad you're involved, and you guys made some improvement in Coconut Grove, but whatever you did in Coconut Grove, we can do in our neighborhood also. We can work real closely, and we need to start doing that. Mr. Amandi: Commissioner Gort, I couldn't agree with you more. And, you know, selfishly, I don't know need to be here tonight, because the Chief kept his word to us. He increased the number of officers. And as I said earlier, we saw a drop -- 10-year-low drop here in Coconut Grove, but because I think your district, and Commissioner Hardemon's district, and Commissioner Suarez and Carollo's district needs to benefit from an increased amount of officers is why we're all here in the community -wide coalition. One last stat for you, because I've also been researching the issue; actually provided to me by my colleague in this effort, Ralph Rosado, who is, I believe, in Commissioner Suarez' district. For every 10 percent increase in officers, you can expect a 5 percent reduction in crime. And again, Commissioner Gort, we look at the facts and the facts are very clear. Last year, we saw an increase in patrol officers in one area of the City, and the correlation and the result, a 10-year low in crime. I think we can export that same effect throughout the rest of the City for all of you to bene -- for all of us to benefit as a city and the consequence that come with that, but it starts by making the political will and the political commitment to hire these more officers. City of Miami Page 154 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Chair Gort: But at the same time, as we hire those hundred officers, the existing officers need to improve their salary, they need to improve the benefits, and you've being -- you heard the testimony. Not only are the people that were here asking for social services; you heard the testimony of the other unions asking for additional funds, and this is where it's a very tough decision. But got the -- from the same information that he gave me. I can tell you in Baltimore, they have 47 officers for every 10,000. They had 34 murders; Miami had 25.4 officers, and we only had 16.7 murders, so -- Commissioner Suarez: What? Chair Gort: I think it's a little more than that. I think we need additional officer; I agree with you, but we got to do a lot of work on this, believe me. Mr. Amandi: I don't envy your decision. It's a hard one. But, fundamentally, governing is about making choices and prioritizing. As I said earlier, I think we have a clear case study what takes place when we increase the number of officers in our city. We're seeing what's happening in other municipalities around our community, where there will be consequences. You all have the opportunity to prevent that and preempt that, I think, by acting responsibly; and I think, if you prioritize and agree that the number -one responsibility of a city is to be protect its residents -- Chair Gort: I agree with you. Mr. Amandi: -- and the police force is obviously the frontline folks to do that, and obviously, with the leadership of the Police Department enforcing the proper ways in which to police, I think we can do the right thing, but it's not going to happen by trying to punt and pretend that, you know, this is maybe not as important or not as engaged as some of the others issues are, and that's fundamentally for you all to determine. Thank you, gentlemen. Chair Gort: Thank you. Yes, sir. Javier Ortiz: Thank you, Commissioner Gort. We don't have a problem with you all wanting to hire more police officers, because more police officers means more backup for us when we're working on the street. But we all know the difference between quality and quantity, and when our police officers feel that they are being neglected day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, you cannot expect the same level of service from those officers, because they're human beings; they're not robots. And something that I deal with on a daily basis, for a couple of years now, is City officers telling me, Oh, you know, I've lost this amount of money or I've lost 15 percent of my pay. So you know what? I'm going to do 15 percent less. "And for those that know me on a personal basis, you know, first and foremost, I'm a police officer, whether I'm on duty or off duty. If there's an issue, I'm going to be there. But many of our police officers have lost their homes, just like a lot of people in the public have too, and the private sector. But it's gotten to a point that you need to start taking care of our own. As far as this whole crusade that the Administration has gone on regarding the off -duty employment, let me touch on that. The report that the Manager has is incorrect. It's so incorrect that it says I work, I think, 1,400 hours a year in off duty, which I don't. Commissioner Suarez: That's impossible. Mr. Ortiz: It's impossible. Mr. Alfonso: I think it listed you as 700, sir, not 1,400. Mr. Ortiz: Well, the report I saw was about 1,400. But anyway, we don't want to be working off -duty. We want to be with our families. And when you break down the amount of money, which I think was about $10 million in cuts a year, and I think what we were working off -duty is City of Miami Page 155 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 14 million, we're just trying to make up for our cuts. So the Administration's been putting all these -- trying to put all these restrictions and guidelines. I don't know what the Administration wants our officers to do anymore. Oh, they work too much. "We don't want to work too much. But they're making their money honestly, and by putting these restrictions -- until you guys decide to start putting -- restoring our benefits, what's going to happen is we're not going to be checking in for service for calls, okay. We're going to start going under other people's badge numbers in order to work, because people are struggling. I had someone call me yesterday, as God is my witness, hysterical over this 36-hour restriction, because they try to get as much work as they can. And as long as these officers have to work so many hours, moonlighting or working extra jobs, that same officer, when it comes to the quality of work when they're actually being paid by the City of Miami, is going to go down the tubes. So you can hire 50 officers. You can hire 70 officers. But if you don't start taking care of the ones that you have now, the level of service is not going to be as good. It's just -- it's obvious. So anyway, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak. I am in full support of the residents in hiring more police officers , but you got to take care of the ones you got here, because if the quality keeps on going down, you can hire as many as you want; you're just not going to have the same level of service. Thank you. Chair Gort: Thank you. Okay. Commissioner Suarez: So where does that leave us? Chair Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Vice Chairman has the floor. Vice Chair Hardemon: This budgeting process is a tough process because, to me, there are about four major issues that we're dealing with in this budget. One, funding for more police officers; two, help the reserves; three, restoration of pay; and four, Anti -Poverty Initiative dollars. I mean, those are the things that we keep hearing. Today we heard of -- a number of people speak about increasing the number of police officers. Because in -- I don't know want to say everyone, but many people believe that the more police officers that you have, the less crime that you will have. But then, additionally, you heard people speak about not being able to put food on their table, and these were our seniors, and they were advocating for a particular organization. However, it spoke to the need of more dollars for the things that deal with poverty. One of the Anti -Poverty Initiatives -- one of the proposals is more -- additional funding for senior feeding services. So, I mean, it's clearly there. But then you also hear employees. When the employees get up and they talk about not having enough pay to feed their growing families and having to deal with those cuts, and then also, depending on what they are getting paid, how many people in their family, can touch on poverty. Because what happens next? I mean all of us -- a lot of us are two, three paychecks away from being the new homeless. Many of us, if we lose our jobs, we are the people that will be suffering from the poverty that we're discussing today, and many of us are closer than others. But this is the community that we must serve. One of the things that I think in Miami -Dade County we did right was get money for our homeless, right. We have all this money for our homeless. We have all this additional funding for people that sometimes travel from other places to come to the beautiful City of Miami and get more services than the people who actually live here and pay taxes. I mean, my God. When someone who travels from New York and lays on my street is homeless, get more services than the woman who lives on 46th Street and 9th Avenue, I have a problem. When that woman who's living in that house is suffering from poverty and the children are dying in the streets, but the homeless person has safety, shelter, and all the things that they're beckoning for, we have a problem. And so there's so many different ways that we have to look at what we need to do here. So, I mean, I support having additional officers. I think the next discussion is going to be how do we allocate those officers, right? That's going to be the next discussion. Because no one -- and that's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we're going to have here today, but I mean, it's -- that's part of it, healthy reserves. And we need healthy reserves, because just in case something happens within the City of Miami, some storm or something that we need to tackle, we need to be able to have the City of Miami Page 156 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 reserves necessary or the fund balance necessary to tackle those issues. But we also have to remember how we ended up to be in a position where we have some fund balance, and it was because of the decisions that were made in 2010-ish, around there, and that goes into the restoration of pay, because at the end of the day, from what I understand, it was discovered that, hey, it wasn't quite as dire restraints as it was. And then, you know, the poverty, and I've talked about that. So I look forward to our next budget hearing where we really start to hash out the -- what we're going to do to meet our objectives, because I think those are the four objectives. All of them are equally important. And all of them, actually, if you think about it, touch on public safety and increase in officers, healthy reserves to -- so that we can address issues that hit this community; restoration of pay. Those are ones closest to -- that's your next -- those are the people that are next. At one point we had people who were in this room that were afraid that the police officers, who were paid to protect us, were going to harm us, and it was a real fear. It was a real fear, so much so that our Chief responded and said, Okay, let's cool this down by not allowing weapons to be brought into this building,'because people were afraid. You know, I have confidence that we'll be able to tackle the issue that we're dealing with today and the issues that well be dealing with in a couple weeks, but I would like to say that -- to the community that we are listening, and now we just have to make sure that our budget actually matches what our growing concerns of our community are, and it goes more than just allocating for something; allocating for the officers. We have to do our best job at not only allocating for the additional officers, but actually being able to hire them. So if I'm only able to hire 43 officers in this new year, then budgeting for 70-some-odd didn't do us any good, and that's the truth of the matter, all right. But at the same time, I do believe that what we are committing to in trying to get the additional officers is a multi -year plan to ensure that we have the type of officers -- not -- the number and the type of officers that we need to make sure that our community is safe, because, you know, I -- to be honest with you, I'm afraid to put some new officers in my community. I am afraid. And I know that that'll probably be a discussion that I will have with the -- whoever the new Chief would be, to make sure that we have officers that are reflective of the officer that stopped the killers of Pastor Tate on 62nd Street at the corner store when they robbed the man of his gold chain and the officer approached and the gun was still hot from them shooting him in the head. I mean, he saw them. He had the gun in his hand. And another officer may have shot and killed -- a officer who wasn't used to the area, a officer who hadn't been in that community in for a while, who wasn't assigned there, who maybe had been doing some overtime in that area, but he didn't. He had the wherewithal not to actually pull the trigger. The person ran. They end up making the arrest. And now we don't have two or three dead bodies on the scene; we just have one. So it all comes down to decision -making. It all comes down to experience. It all comes down to just being used to and not afraid of that community. I think part of the reason -- I don't even know if I can say that, but -- maybe I should, and I'll end on this. Part of the reason across America we see so many dead black men at the hands of others is because there may be a fear -- there's a fear of what's not like us. So some people tend to be intimidated by people who look like the people who live in my community. And all I'm saying is that in my community, I want people who are not afraid, who are not intimidated, but people who can respond to that community; that type of community policing where we can have more lives that are saved because -- and I'm sure all the other Commissioners know this. In other parts of the world, people don't die at the hands of police officers like this. In other parts of the world, there aren't so many murders in the community. I don't know what's going on. I don't have all the answers, but I know that if we find a formula that includes everything that we've been discussing, we can start to make some progress within our communities. Thank you. Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. And let me just say that, you know, I think, to Commissioner Gort's point -- you know, I think we lost an opportunity to be completely frank with you. IfI had my way, we would have a deal with our FOP union before this discussion today, to be completely frank, because I think we owed it to our own employees to take care of them before, you know, we have this discussion about adding more officers , but the time for that -- hopefully it'll get done soon. I think we have -- we're very close; without over -commenting on the matter, I think we're very, very close. And I'm hopeful that, you know, it's the one that I think is -- we're the City of Miami Page 157 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 closest with. I think I can say that without overstating it. But we did lose an opportunity, I think, to do that and have this discussion be focused solely on the two things that we have traditionally focused it on, which is -- I think you introduced a new element of the Poverty Initiative, which is why I had the discussion item with you yesterday, and obviously, it made sense to do it yesterday, because we would not have been able to have that kind of robust discussion today, and then I think, you know, adding police officers, which is what we've been focused on. So to get back on that -- on the number, I think I can support 80. I think I can support 80, which is two more than what -- 78, I guess. I think I could support 80. I think I could -- I could -- and the reason why is because I think because of our hiring practices. That's going to be a number -- a target that we can hit, and I think -- I don't think that necessarily solves -- obviously, it doesn't solve the problem. We have to hire another, you know, 200. Well, after that, we only have to -- we have to hire another 120 to get to the number where we want to be. You know, I think what's frustrating for our citizens is that, you know, our -- and now we're getting into a little bit more of a macro discussion, you know. Our city grew tremendously this year, you know. We have 33, $34 million in additional revenue from last year, without increasing taxes. So the question becomes -- and I think it's a question that everyone asked -- where did all that money go? Because if we know that hiring a hundred officers cost roughly $10 million and we have 33 million in new income, new -- which is something we talked about the first time that we had our meeting in my office. You know, and I think -- and I asked -- and I want to thank the Budget director, who was kind enough to kind of do that breakdown for me on the fly today. I appreciate that. I know it was kind of rough estimate, but sometimes I like to try to look at things very simplistically or simply, and I think -- you know, I think we're learning together. And one of the things that I talked to the Manager about is, you know, in the future, having a program that's like a budget program where you can take -- you know, kind of like what you do within the NBA (National Basketball Association), where you trade players and have to match salaries to salaries. Well, on a budget, you have to do the same thing. If you take from one area, you got to add somewhere else or vice versa. So I think, if we're making decisions, it's nice to be able to have it illustrated and say, Well, this is the pie. And if you, you know, take from here, if you allocate $2 million to poverty, then you got to take a little bit from this category,'br whatever the case may be. So, you know, in terms of police hiring, you know, I think we've been adamant about getting to a hundred. You know, the initial proposal of the Administration was 20, so we have increased that by 400 percent. I think that's significant. I mean, as Fernand even recognized, you know, I think when are budgeting, it's -- you're making some compromises, you know. I don't think that it's the only thing that I'm concerned about in this budget. There are other things that I'm concerned about, and I think I would like to have a discussion on the totality of where that 33, $34 million has gone, because I think that's something that needs to be understood, 'cause a lot of that is cost increases, and it's a huge amount of that 33. I mean, it's like -- my rough estimate is about 16, 17 million of that 33 million just alone is in cost increases, just alone. Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, the budget does grow $33 million, but I'll read out to you some of the areas where the $33 million have gone. Commissioner Suarez: No. I'm saying that -- 17 -- at least 17 that I can think of are -- alone are cost increases. Mr. Alfonso: Well, we're -- or projected cost increases for personnel anyway. Commissioner Suarez: Right, that's what I'm saying. Mr. Alfonso: Yes. Commissioner Suarez: So I'm saying, without touching a dollar, without paying a police officer more money, without adding an extra police officer, half of that money is cost increases, okay. So that's a little bit hard to digest and understand, because, you know, when you're talking about -- and I'll tell you what the breakdowns are. I mean, it's almost nine million in pension cost City of Miami Page 158 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 increases; 1.5 million in workers' comp increase; 4.1 million in life and health insurance increases. Obviously, we know the FOP -- we heard the FOP health trust was going to be increased by two million, so that's another two million. Those are just cost increases. Those are not paying a person a dollar more. Those are not putting extra person on the street. So that's kind of -- it's hard when you have a year of such great growth, which, by the way, we're not always going to have years where we have seven and a half percent growth. We have growth -- the Budget director was reminding me, !ley, we're doing well in our Planning and Zoning Department. You know, we're growing a lot there. We're collecting a lot of fees in permits. "So growth is not only on the property revenue side, which is only 60 percent of our budget; it's also on other revenues that we generate. So it's a little bit of a scary proposition where, you know, we are growing to the rate that we're growing at and we can't meet -- doesn't seem -- seems like we're still struggling to meet all our needs. The good news is that, from my perspective, once we get to that number -- maybe it'll take us a year and a half rather than a year from now, because if we're going to do 80 verses 100, then those costs don't continue to increase. We obviously have to maintain a steady real estate market. You know, we have to maintain a steady income level, but they don't have to keep growing at that rate. Right now we're growing at seven and a half percent. That's a very accelerated rate. We had projected 8.1, I think the Manager was saying, for next year. Mr. Alfonso: Yes. The property tax roll growth that we are projecting in our five-year forecast is 8.2 percent -- Commissioner Suarez: All right. Mr. Alfonso: -- for next year, and that's not exactly an easy number to get to. We think we'll make it, because we have a significant amount of new construction. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: But understanding that the homestead properties are capped at 3 percent or CIP -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- or CPI (Consumer Pricing Index), I'm sorry, and the non -homestead properties are capped at 10 percent. You know, the 8.2 is not a low number. Commissioner Suarez: But I think what's hard for me to understand in this budget and I think it's hard for a resident who's been patient enough to sit here in the audience for 14 hours or whatever -- however long -- I don't even know how long we've been here since 5. I felt like we were here earlier, but -- Chair Gort: It's only been seven hours. Commissioner Suarez: It's only been seven. It feels like 14. Maybe I'm -- Chair Gort: I know. It feels like (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Suarez: I'm adding a factor of two to one. Anyhow -- Chair Gort: You know, Commissioner, I'm glad they're sitting there because they can understand what we -- Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. Chair Gort: -- go through and that our decision's not an easy one. City of Miami Page 159 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Suarez: I think it's hard when you look at it and you see that a lot of this is cost increase. Mr. Amandi: It's nine hours (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, exactly. A lot of it is cost increase, and you know, it's frustrating, 'cause we're not going to have this kind of growth and -- you know, we have to find ways to keep our costs under control, and I think that's -- go ahead, Mr. Manager. Jump in there. Mr. Alfonso: Yeah. I also wanted to advocate again the City of Miami, for the last four, five years, has not put money to capital needs. We have some of our employees working in not very nice conditions. We have some properties out there that we really need to do some repairs to. That's why I caution, yes, let's do something that is balanced, you know. You're right; a torn up carpet in the headquarters in the Police Department is not going to come and ask you to be replaced. And you're not going to hear a citizen complaining about that until the day that we have a handcuffed person walking through there, trip over or fall on the floor and then they'll sue us. But you know, we have a number of capital needs out there that we need to handle, and that's why I caution that while we do have room to grow, let's also be cognizant of the fact that there are capital needs that the City has that don't normally speak out, unless the Administration proposes them. Commissioner Suarez: But just to be clear -- because I think, you know, this is something that, you know -- I know we do have capital needs, and I commend you, in a sense, for putting them into our operating budget, because I think what happens is, historically, at least since I've been here, we've borrowed money. Go ahead. Mr. Alfonso: Yeah, if it's a large project, we borrow. For example, we are sometime in the future looking at the possibility of replacing our radio system, and that could be a 15 to $20 million project. We may want to borrow for that, rather than lay out 15 to $20 million in cash at one time. You know, we have the facility where our Public Works, Solid Waste, GSA (General Services Administration), Parks operations, you know, over on 20th Street and 12th Avenue, that large piece of property that we have there currently has a number of trailers where our employees work. In the future, maybe we will want to look at that and say, We should build a permanent structure,'and that permanent structure may cost, 10, $15 million, whatever. We can possibly borrow for that as well. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: You know, you don't want to do those cash payments in one time. Or maybe we need to fix permanently some of our police stations, or we want to build a new police station somewhere, or fire stations or whatever. Infrastructure needs: Maybe we want to issue a bond for park improvements citywide and maybe designate more specifically because of the lack in certain areas. To the extent that we want to do that into the future, those are possible bond issuances that we can come and ask for, but this type of maintenance that I'm talking about, Commissioner, is not the large three, four, $5 million project. I'm talking about 700,000, $800, 000 projects: broken roofs, air conditioners, leaky walls, mold issues; things that are going to cost 100, 000, 200, 000, 300, 000, but there's a lot of them. Vehicles. Commissioner Suarez: I get it. Mr. Alfonso: We have a number of vehicles throughout the City that we haven't replaced in some time. I think we still have some Neons from 1999 in our fleet. Commissioner Suarez: But let me just say this: If this -- this year we experienced seven and a City of Miami Page 160 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 half percent growth going into our new budget, and next we anticipate eight and a -- 8.1 percent growth, then that means we'll have another 33, approximately, million dollars greater of a budget, correct? Mr. Alfonso: Maybe, maybe not. Remember, the 33 is not all property tax. Commissioner Suarez: I understand. You're right, you're right. Mr. Alfonso: So the other revenues may start -- Commissioner Suarez: You're right. You're right. Mr. Alfonso: -- to flatten out. Commissioner Suarez: You're right. Mr. Alfonso: Property tax. Commissioner Suarez: You're right, you're right. Mr. Alfonso: Sixty percent -- 8 percent will be 16 to $17 million -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- just in property tax. Commissioner Suarez: Right. And the reason why I asked that is because one of the line items of cost -- and that's why when Mr. Gabriel from the FIPO (Firefighters and Police Officers) fund was here, I asked him specifically the question about increasing pension costs, because I was concerned about that one line item. If next year, pension costs are expected to go down, potentially, if we close out the year at a 10 percent rate of return, which is where we're at right now, then that's $9 million in costs that we don't have to budget for. Mr. Alfonso: No, Commissioner. The cost of pension may go down, but not by the equal increase. In other words, let's say it went up $9 million this year. Next year it may go down one or two million. That doesn't mean that the entire nine million is going to go down. Remember, the pension contribution for FIPO is a recurring expense. Commissioner Suarez: I agree. Mr. Alfonso: So right now it's at $45 million. Commissioner Suarez: Right. So if it went up this year by an additional nine million, next -- Mr. Alfonso: But the nine million was not all FIPO. It was FIPO, GESE, and the Section -- Commissioner Suarez: Agreed. Mr. Alfonso: -- 175 contribution. Commissioner Suarez: Agreed. Mr. Alfonso: And so -- Commissioner Suarez: But FIPO is a large part of it. City of Miami Page 161 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Alfonso: It's about $45 million of it, roughly. Commissioner Suarez: Right. But percentagewise, it's what, like two-thirds? Mr. Alfonso: Of the entire pension contribution? Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. Mr. Alfonso: That's about half. More than half, actually. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. Mr. Alfonso: Yes, you're right. Commissioner Suarez: Okay. Mr. Alfonso: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Commissioner Suarez: So what I'm getting at is that could be a substantial savings right there if we're going to grow at 8 percent next year -- Mr. Alfonso: The -- Commissioner Suarez: Remember, this -- Mr. Alfonso: The Pension Board has to grow by about seven and a half percent just to keep actuarially balanced. Commissioner Suarez: I understand. And they're at 10 percent now. Mr. Alfonso: Yes, they're at 10 percent now. But we will not achieve the entire difference. Remember what he said. This gets moved out. So he can only shoulder 20 percent of that growth. Commissioner Suarez: No, no, no. Wait, wait. But I specifically asked the question because if we look at the last five years -- and I know it's in a five-year smoothing, but we've had -- we're dropping one of the worst years. Mr. Alfonso: Correct. We will be dropping a bad year and picking up a good year. Commissioner Suarez: Exactly. Mr. Alfonso: Yes. Commissioner Suarez: So what I'm saying is that for the first time, it seems like our pension costs will not necessarily grow. Mr. Alfonso: You're right. It's possible that -- Commissioner Suarez: At least in FIPO. Mr. Alfonso: Yes, you're correct. Commissioner Suarez: Right. So what I'm saying is we got rid of that. City of Miami Page 162 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Alfonso: But you won't see nine million. My point is that that number will still be there. It just won't go up or it may go down half a million, a million. We don't know yet. Commissioner Suarez: No. This is -- the nine million in your budget in here is for the increase. Mr. Alfonso: That is correct, Commissioner. But that increase will still be there recurring. That's a baseline number now. Commissioner Suarez: I get it. But we're going to be increasing by another 8 percent from our baseline. Mr. Alfonso: Right. So what you're saying is that property taxes will grow $16 million -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- roughly in the next year. And we won't have to fund another $8 million -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: -- increase. Okay. Commissioner Suarez: Right. Mr. Alfonso: Then we're on the same page. Commissioner Suarez: That's what I'm saying. So what I'm saying is that could fund potentially another 80 or a hundred police officers. That's the same amount of money. Mr. Alfonso: Yes, you could -- we could do that. We still have to see, you know, a lot of things, but -- Commissioner Suarez: Of course, of course. But what I'm getting at is I think -- it's got to be frustrating for them to sit there and see that we have 30 -- and it's got to be frustrating for Mr. Ortiz too, to be honest with you, and for all our labor partners -- to see that we have $33 million in new revenue and where is it going? So that's the part that I'm trying to shed a little bit of light on. I'm also trying to forecast a little bit, because I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I just think that, you know, we have to be judicious with the decisions that we make with the funds that we have. Mr. Alfonso: The Mayor just mentioned -- I want to point out that we do have a lot of victories here. You know, we funded -- at least, if we don't do the hundred officers, we funded living wage, which is something that the City hadn't done for a long time. Commissioner Suarez: Agree a hundred percent. Mr. Alfonso: Right. So there are employees out there that are currently making $8 an hour. Commissioner Suarez: To me that's a poverty Initiative. Mr. Alfonso: I agree with you a hundred percent. We have funded the cost of Affordable Care Act for a lot of our employees that currently are on 40 hours a week and aren't -- Commissioner Suarez: But that's another significant savings, 'cause we're not going to have the Affordable Care Act at the end of next year. City of Miami Page 163 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Alfonso: Well -- no, but the base line is there. Commissioner Suarez: Correct. Mr. Alfonso: You're right. Yes. Commissioner Suarez: We're talking about increasing over the baseline 8 percent. Mr. Alfonso: Correct. Commissioner Suarez: So you're not going to have another $4 million in cost. Mr. Alfonso: You're right, you're right. Yes. Commissioner Suarez: You know what I'm saying? So I mean, these -- a lot of these are almost one-time -- they're recurring costs, but the -- but they're not going to recur above the baseline next year. Mr. Alfonso: You're correct, Commissioner. Commissioner Sarnoff So 80 cops? I will tell you this: The Chief who was here, said that he could hire 7 -- Mayor Tomas Regalado: But -- ifI may? Commissioner Sarnoff. Go ahead. Mayor Regalado: I thought that 72 was the threshold that it was expected. I don't think that the Administration, the Manager can respond to the number 80 right now. I think that 72 was what, thanks to you and the Omni CRA; thanks to Commissioner Hardemon and the Board in the Park West/Overtown, and the effort that the Administration did by tweaking some 72 is the most -- if we -- they have run the number. If we do more than 72, then the living wage is in trouble or the capital improvement, or we just take from the reserve, but these are not reoccurring numbers. So I'm -- I think that, you know, from 20, which was the very good number -- because we heard you, because we heard the resident, but mainly, we got the direction from the Commission. I think that the Manager and his team, I mean, they work -- that Commission meeting, they worked throughout Saturday and Sunday, and they were able to come up with 55, and then the CRA, and then the possibility of the Overtown/Park West CRA, and then the possibility of reaching the threshold of 72, which would put the City on a very competitive basis. And I still think -- I agree with Commissioner Suarez. I think -- I still think that we can probably reach an agreement with the Police union and, hopefully, with the other union. And this is not the fault of the Administration. I have participated, as per Manager appointment, on the team in every meeting of every union, and I can tell you that the only union that has come up with numbers and proposal is FOP. The other unions have not talk about wages in the meeting. Solid Waste did, but the Manager explained, and they are coming back. Fire, I don't think the Fire is going to meet with us, not until October, they say, so -- but I'm just appealing to the Commission to see if we can get to the point of comprise of 72. I just don't think that the Manager can say that this is a sustainable budget if we go beyond that. Chair Gort: Let me ask you a question, and let's be realistic. The process that we have to hire police officers, do you really think we can hire -- how long is it going to take it? I mean, we had a thousand applicants and we had to break it down into -- I think people need to understand the process that the police officers from the time that he's accepted that he passes the exam, how long it takes him to get him on board. That's important, because even if we put the budget for it, we might not be able to hire, because the process takes a long time. City of Miami Page 164 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Mr. Alfonso: You're right, Commissioner. Chair Gort: I think they want to see a plan -- a three-year plan, a four-year plan. This is what we're going to be doing. This is how we can accomplish it. Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, you're right, in that it takes time to hire police officers. That is why we do not, in the first year, put them into the budget a hundred percent; in other words, we attrition a significant portion of the salary and other costs in the budget in the first year. You're right, it takes time. Now in the past year, we have hired over 100 officers. We lost some, so the net was around 80, but we were able to hire over 100. We are expecting to advertise again for recruitment probably October, early November, so we will get another 1,500 applicants and we will keep running through the applications and trying to bring as many as we can, and our Human Resources Department is working as hard as they can to make sure that we make ourselves available in helping the Police Department. You know, at the same time, we're doing the same thing with firefighters. We've been cranking out classes of firefighters 25 at a time. I've gone to a couple of graduations in the last month and a half. Commissioner Sarnoff All right. Well, Chief you and I had a conversation this afternoon. You told me you were extremely confident that you could hire 75 police officers by the end of the year. Chief Orosa: By the end of this year? Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. I didn't say put them -- I said you would have -- Chief Orosa: We already hired over 80. And by the end of the year, we're probably going to be in the -- like last year, 110, 120. Commissioner Sarnoff Correct. So you have the ability to add those numbers. Chief Orosa: Yes. Mr. Alfonso: I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. I'm going to interrupt. I want to make sure we're clear, 'cause I don't want to run into same issues we ran last year. When you say "the end of year," the end of the fiscal year, the end of the calendar year? Commissioner Sarnoff Calendar. Chief Orosa: November -- December. Mr. Alfonso: So you think that between now and December we can hire a hundred plus officers? Chief Orosa: We're already at 80 and change. Mr. Alfonso: No. Commissioner, you're saying to get from 80-something to a hundred or you're saying a hundred new ones? Commissioner Sarnoff No, you're right. I -- Mayor Regalado: No. Mr. Alfonso: I want to make sure we're clear. Chief Orosa: I'm under the impression that he's just talking about 20-something more. City of Miami Page 165 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Sarnoff No. Mr. Alfonso: No, no. Chief Orosa: Okay. Mr. Alfonso: That's why I want to make sure we are clear. Commissioner Sarnoff No. Andl was -- Chief Orosa: You got to be careful when you talk to lawyers. Commissioner Sarnoff You know -- okay, Chief. So what is it -- wait, wait, wait. I'll do this the right way. You're at 1,100 -- let's hypothetically say you're at 1,179. Chief Orosa: Correct. Commissioner Sarnoff. Okay, let's just -- hypothetically, you've just added -- I don't know -- 13 more cops somehow. Chief Orosa: Okay. Commissioner Sarnoff How long will it take you to hire another 75 cops? Chief Orosa: On top of that? Commissioner Sarnoff Yeah. They're hired. They're there. You're enjoying them today. Chief Orosa: Okay. If we are fully staffed at 1,179 -- Commissioner Sarnoff Right. Chief Orosa: -- to hire another 70 cops, it'll take us seven to eight months. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Chief Orosa: We've gone from hiring 16 in a year to hiring 110. I'm hoping this year we're going to hire around 120. Next year is a great year, hopefully. We only have like 19 people scheduled to retire, so we can make a lot of ground if we keep hiring. Commissioner Sarnoff I'm sorry. What year is --? I've heard different numbers now. Chief Orosa: 2015, we're supposed to have 19 people -- Mr. Alfonso: Right. Chief Orosa: -- scheduled to retire. Mr. Alfonso: Right. Yes. In '14/15, there's only about 19 people in the DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Plans) that are scheduled, that have to -- Chief Orosa: 'Sixteen is the one that we have -- '16 and '17. Commissioner Sarnoff 'Sixteen and '17, you have 150 or 200? City of Miami Page 166 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Chief Orosa: I want to say like one -- Mr. Alfonso: Sixty-five in '16. Chief Orosa: Right. Mr. Alfonso: And 134 in '17. Chief Orosa: Yeah. Mr. Alfonso: 'Seventeen is the big year. Chief Orosa: Yeah, like 200 in the next two years or so, but none next year. Commissioner Sarnoff You know, I don't know how this Commission feels, and I understand the Mayor's concern. I understand Mr. Alfonso concern. I want to get to three cops per thousand. You know, all due respect, I want to get to three cops per thousand. Chair Gort: I'm sorry; what was that again? Commissioner Sarnoff Three police officers per thousand is 78 more -- it's 78 -- net new 78 police officers. That's the number I want to get to. Chair Gort: By when? Commissioner Sarnoff Well, that's the beauty of it, Commissioner. He's going only to budget probably 35 percent of that cost, if it's seven months into a fiscal year. So just 'cause I want to do it, doesn't mean he's budgeting $10 million. He's budgeting probably -- I'm going to ballpark -- I'll finish. I'll even say it for you. He's going to budget maybe 6 million, and then he's going to tell you the big concern he has for the following year when he budgets one hundred percent for those folks and he says, "Commissioner, we're going to have to go into reserves that year for those cops," or however we pay for them. Mr. Alfonso: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff And all I'm suggesting is you were ready to go to 72 somehow. I'm just stretching you, you know, half a six pack. Mr. Alfonso: If the Commission gives us the direction, we will come back in the next meeting and tell you what the impact is or what we would recommend. Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Mr. Alfonso: Or how to get there, Commissioner, and then it is a policy decision. Commissioner Sarnoff I got you. And I'm only one policymaker. Chair Gort: Okay. Commissioner Sarnoff I'm suggesting -- Chair Gort: The number thrown out is 78. Commissioner Sarnoff Right. City of Miami Page 167 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Chair Gort: Okay. I mean, going once. Vice Chair Hardemon: One of the things that I wanted to make a point of is that, you know, the two main concerns that we heard tonight were additional police officers, and when you listen to people, it can all be categorized as this whole poverty problem that we're having within our community. And I've been pretty silent, but when you consider the fact that the request was for the Administration to come back with the $2 million for the Anti -Poverty Initiative, which I'm -- which, in our next budget hearing, we're going to -- I'm sure we're going to talk at length about, that $750, 000 is about 37 percent, 38 if you round it up, of that initial request. Seventy-eight officers over the two-year period is about 78 to -- say 80 percent -- just consider the number, considering the absolute number is about 80 percent of the request. And what I don't want to see happen -- and I'm not necessarily saying that it needs to be equal, an equal increase, but what I don't want to see is us lose sight of the fact that we have this problem that is coupled with trying to solve crime, because the reason that we're adding these additional officers is not because we want to see more people dressed in nice, shiny blue, polyester uniforms, or see more guns on the street, but because we have the perception that the increase in officers will have a positive effect on reducing crime. And so the holistic part of all that that we'll be discussing at arm's length is that that's what putting food on people's table, giving them other opportunities also does. It reduces crime in different communities. If certain parts of our community -- and the -- the interesting part about it, I think, is that poverty is definitely not within -- just within District 5. Commissioner Willy Gort, his district suffers from poverty. Commissioner Frank Carollo, your district is also suffering from poverty. These are things that just even considering who it's touching, that we have to remember to keep in perspective. So even an increase of, say -- and I'm always considered to be -- I think I'm a reasonable guy. If I'm not, you can tell me. But I consider myself to be reasonable and to make reasonable requests upon all of my different Commissioners. But even if you add an additional $500,000, that will at least bring us to about 62 percent of that request, which I think is reasonable. And the interesting part about it is that -- and we'll cross that bridge when we get there at the next budget meeting, because I don't -- I'm not here to belabor us with the discussion about all this. But I think that the Commissioners will start to see that there is a benefit to increasing this amount so that they can tackle poverty in their communities in a way that they believe is best so that, as a whole, the City of Miami is moving forward; just how we're moving with adding more police officers; it's moving forward trying to tackle poverty in the City of Miami. I want to make sure that we keep in mind that we need to take care of our residents, just like we take care of our employees, just like we take care of our visitors, just like we take care of our transient homeless. Thank you. Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair, ifI may? Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Suarez: Just a couple observations. One is, I came into this budget process really with two objectives, to be honest with you, and I -- and they were kind of take it or leave it. I'm going to vote "no" against the budget ifI don't get this, whatever you want to call it. One of them was a hundred officers, to be candid. The other one was beautification. I really wanted to see a robust budget for beau -- and we're not going to get that. We're not going to get it. Tell you that right now, we're not going to get it. What we have in the budget right now, I think it's $400, 000 or something to that effect. We're not going to get what I think the City of Miami deserves in terms of beautification. It's not going to happen this year, and I'm hopeful that it happens next year. But ifI'm willing to delay that gratification in a sense -- because I think, by the way, that beautification also has an impact on crime. I think it also has an impact of quality of life. I think it also has an impact on civic pride. Has an impact on all these things. If we're going to delay that gratification, it's going to be done in favor of things that are -- again, the tough choices that are more core principles. I think poverty is one of them, and I think having those officers is the other one. I think you can delay having a more beautiful city a year for City of Miami Page 168 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 having the officers and having a program that deals with one of the most acute problems that creates crime in the first place. So, you know, that was -- you know, that's my -- been my comprise, you know. And I think no one here is going to walk away getting everything that they want. It's not going to happen, no matter how long we talk, for how many hours. You know, we can't squeeze the orange any further, but I think -- I really think we should be at 80, I really do. I really think we should be at 80, even if we have to drop our reserves a little bit. I really do. I think it's the right thing to do. I really think we should be at a hundred, but we should be at 80, at a very minimum, because I think, you know, the reality that you get hit with just to start is you got $60 million in new costs. That's what -- you're starting your budget with $60 in new costs. Boom. And now you got to do everything else from that point forward. You got to pay your employees what they deserve, after brutalizing them for four years, you know. You got to hire more officers. That's our number -one priority. We got to fight poverty, which is, by the way, like I said, a drop in the bucket in terms of our budget, you know, less than half of a percent of our budget, you know, and then you really do start -- things do really start getting tight. So whether we defer a little bit of capital for one year, you know, I leave that to your decision. I know that that might give the Manager a little bit of heartburn, but I commend him. I do commend him for this. We always did capital pretty much exclusively out of borrowed funds, and he's really starting to think differently in that sense, and I think it's the right thing to do, you know. I think he characterizes himself by trying to do the right thing. I just think that we all want to do the right thing. He wants to put some money in capital; I want to put some money in beautification. You want to put some money in poverty, want to put some money in policing. And I do think that Fernand did make a good point, which, at the end of the day, budgeting is about priorities. It's about making tough choices. We never got a -- we've never had fun -- we've never had an easy budget. We've never had an easy labor negotiations. We never had an easy, you know -- this is our fifth year -- my fifth year up here, you know. It's never been easy, you know. So -- and I don't anticipate it's going to get any easier, even when we -- even if we're flushed with cash. I mean, we're at 105 million in reserves, you know. We have $33 million in revenue; it's still not easy, so -- and it's not going to be easy next year. And he's -- and the Manager's right that -- about one thing. We are budgeting with an attrition factor, which means that next year we have to budget without that attrition factor, so that is something that has to get built back into the budget. Whatever that attrition is, it's going to -- So just -- even though we don't get the pension cost or even though we don't get the -- there is another cost that, boom. Just to stay at status quo, by the way. That's not to go beyond the status quo and get to the other 80 or hundred officers --120 that we need. So, you know, we are all making compromises here. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: And you have to admit, I've been pretty quiet on the actual budget. We'll get to the capital in a little bit. But let me tell you my position on this. My first question is why a hundred? Why 80? We're just throwing up in the air. Just like I mentioned to the Manager about why $3 million for parks acquisition, why -- how did he come up with that number? So again, why a hundred? Why 80? Commissioner Suarez: Can I answer that? Yeah, I wouldn't mind answering that. You want to answer it? You've been quiet. Commissioner Carollo: Before you answer that -- Commissioner Sarnoff Okay. Commissioner Carollo: -- I also wanted to know all the different cities that were mentioned that had the per capita, what was their crime statistics, and I still haven't received that. Remember that -- City of Miami Page 169 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Sarnoff Well -- Commissioner Carollo: I still would like to know their crime statistics, because I don't know if they're actually better than ours or not, so hear me out. I've been quiet for quite a while. So, in all fairness, I don't know what the number is. I actually would like to have some type of logistical map, analysis of how many officers we should have, additional officers, and where should they be deployed to, and to what types of units; patrol, detectives? I mean, a hundred -- the number a hundred sounds great, you know, and I get it. Sometimes it's PR (public relations). We get a nice round number, a hundred. Can't hurt to have -- ask for cops. But I don't legislate because it sounds good. I legislate because it's good public policy. So I really would want to know some type of analysis done by the Police Department, where it tells me, "Listen, this is why we need an extra hundred officers; this is where they're going to be at. They're going to be X' amount to the Grove, X' amount to the Little Havana, 'X' amount to Flagami; in this area of Flagami; in this area of Little Havana." And you know what? It may not be a hundred officers. It may be 120, but I need to justify the amount. And I'll be honest with you. Public safety is a major priority, and it is for me, and I'm sure it is for everybody here. If it's 120 officers, we could squeeze the orange a lot more. I could tell you, we could squeeze the orange a lot more right now and we'll find the dollars, but I need to justify the number. Not just that sounds good to go another two and let's get to 80 or it has to be a hundred. No. Why? Where are those officers going to go? I do believe the City Manager, whatever number of officers -- additional officer we do budget, let's do it in the correct way with the attrition, because we're not going to have to net all those officers in October 1, so I think he's doing it the correct way. But I really need to know from our experts, the Police Department, why we need 'X'humber of officers, where are they going to be? In other words, "In this area, Commissioner, we're patrolling with only two officers. We're only patrolling with three officers this 'X' number of square miles. If one gets sick or if they take a day off we're down to two officers for this patrol area. Sure, we have the PST (Problem Solving Team) , but the PST is over there," you know. I want a plan, because if that plan shows that it's not a hundred, it's not 80, it's 150, well, that's my target, and I don't see us doing that. I don't see the justification for the amount. Listen, I admit it; if not the last Commission meeting, in previous Commission meeting, that we had an issue within the Roads in a spike in crime. And yes, we added police officers, and it wasn't just adding police officers; there was a plan behind it. And listen, it does work if there's a whole plan. In Little Havana, unfortunately, there was a sexual battery that occurred just a few days ago. And the suspect, the arrestee, to put it mildly, gave chase, and he entered the area of the Roads. Not a good thing around that time, because there's extra police officers around at that time; and, yes, he was caught and arrested, so it does work, but there needs to be a plan. I just don't want a number. I just don't want to budget for ' X' amount of officers because it's a nice round number. And I'll be honest with you. If it is more than a hundred, then that's my target. I just don't know what that number is from experts, from my experts, you know. In the last budget year, when we were looking, once again, at a target number, you know, one of the things that the Police Chief and I did was sit down, as you all know, and look how many officers were behind desks that could actually patrol and get those officers in patrol, and that was sort of a plan to get more officers on the streets, but we need to go beyond that now. We need to see realistically how many officers and deficits are we, and why, and where, if we are -- if we actually do budget for additional officers, where are they going to be assigned? I need that before I can say 72, 78, 80, a hundred. I don't know that. And again, I don't legislate because it sounds good. I legislate because it's good public policy. So that's where I stand with this. And by the way, just an added factor to that, and that's the morale factor, you know -- and I understand the morale factor very well, you know. We don't want to add officers to a force that may have the morale down. So I think that's important with regards to, you know, what we negotiate with the FOP. So I think we still have a lot of work to do in order for, at least, me to be comfortable in approving this year's budget. Commissioner Sarnoff Can I respond to that? City of Miami Page 170 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioner Carollo: Sure. Chair Gort: Yes. Commissioner Sarnoff So, you know, I've been watching -- kind of binge watching "Breaking Bad" -- Commissioner Suarez: Oh, I have too. Commissioner Sarnoff -- you know, and got to say it's a show I wish I watched, and it's kind of fun binge watching. And Bryan Cranston said, you know, "I don't know what series of words to put together to make his wife understand exactly where we are today," so let me take my shot at being Bryan Cranston for one moment. If this is not the most researched, if this is not the most planned issue put before this Commission, I have no idea what is. I don't know what satisfies anyone in this room. I know it satisfies me. I know there's a December 2012 memorandum where the Chief of Police clearly pointed out the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations) statistics on national cities across this nation. We are at two police officers per thousand. That is a real number. That is a real criteria. That is a real statistic. What are comparable cities' police at? New York City, 4.5; Philadelphia, 4.7; Atlanta, a southern city that used to employ a southern strategy, just like Miami employs to this day, a southern strategy in policing, has 4.1 police officers per thousand, but they used to have 2.0, like Miami. So you say to yourself, "Is there a correlation between crime and number of police officers?" And by the way, you can look at statistics that will show, you know, you really can't make that correlation. You can find yourself on the Internet, you know, two or three of those. You can also find about 30 that show there is a correlation between the number of police officers and crime going down. But I guess if you choose to look for the two and cite those two, you can always say, "Well, it's not really clear." You know, the bottom line is, budget is about the competition of competing interests, and discretion is choosing from those competing interests. You can choose to say "I don't have the facts." You can choose to say "I don't have the plan." None of us are cops. You hired -- you're about to make the biggest decision of your life, and that's going to be who you're going to put in charge of this Police Department, and that person is not going to come to this Commission and say, "Commissioner Hardemon, in Overtown, I plan on putting 16.5 police officers." What he's going to have is CompStat. CompStat is going to decide, based on a statistical analysis of last month's crime, where he's going to deploy his or her police officers. Maybe we'll even have a female Police Chief. Who knows? But to sit here and say `I don't have the information" is really not genuine. It just isn't really genuine, because Chief Timoney put out a memo that Chief Orosa looked at and said, "The City of Miami needs to be at 1,500 police officers. " You're not even close to being there. And you ask yourself "Why did Timoney do this ? " And by the way, how many years has he been gone? Six years, seven years? I mean, let's be real with each other. Let's be truthful. If you don't want to put the cops out there, that is a perfectly valid thing to say. Perfectly okay. I prefer to have carpeting, and I prefer to do other things in the City of Miami. That's okay. That's a decision that you get elected for and that you can either get reelected for or unelected for, but that's a decision you make. But to turn around and say there's no plan. Nobody's going to present us a plan that's going to say, "Commissioner Sarnoff, you know, CompStat shows that last year in the Grove you had so many crimes per thousand, so I'm going to give you six officers, two PSTs (Problem Solving Teams), and we're going to have a beats cop." I don't make that call; "Chief of Police makes that call. Or, "Commissioner Hardemon, you know, statistically, you have 2.89 police officers in Liberty City, and I want to get that to 3.2." He's going to do it based on CompStat. He's going to do it based on how they decide police officers are deployed. So there's never going to be a plan put in front of this Commission that's going to say this is how much police officers are going to go in these various places. We're not even going to be told of the hundred officers you hire, or the 30 officers you hire or the 150 officers you hire. A hundred and fifty are going on patrol. We know that's not going to happen, because the one thing Mr. Ortiz has taught us is we seem to have a lot of unsupervised cops, so apparently, we need to have a lot of sergeants out there. Look, we, as City of Miami Page 171 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 Commissioners, are doing the most important thing that we're supposed to do, which is to budget and appropriate; and then the Administration takes our budget and appropriation and administers based on some policy choices we made based on budgeting practices. To turn around and micromanage him or micromanage the Chief is fool's gold, and I have no intentions of mining fool's gold because that is not a function we're even allowed to perform at the Charter basis. That's why we don't get to tell the Chief of Police to what to do. That's why we don't get to tell any of the City employees what to do. That's why we get to tell the City Manager what to do. I get to tell the Clerk what to do. And I get to yell at the City Attorney and not violate the Charter. That's it, because it's a separation of powers. And to turn around and suggest that there's not enough information here is not to have read the December 2012 memo from our Chief of Police, where he candidly says, `I would like to get to 3.5 police officers per thousand. Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair. Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, I would just like to add. I think you've stated it well. I think this has been a robust public policy debate, one that we've had for over a year, and we've cited a variety of statistics for that debate. My emphasis was in buying in, a while ago, was that we needed to have -- we need to double the size of our patrol force. Aside from the objective evidence -- because I'm going to present a little bit of different perspective. Aside from the objective evidence -- and this is an argument I always have with the County and the Manager and Alice Bravo who's there, always hear me talk about discrepancy. Aside from the public policy discussion, aside from the objective evidence that you've brought forth, and you've convinced me that we need to get to that doubling in size of the patrol force, which requires 300 police officers, of which we're going to budget the maximum amount that we can afford, period, in my opinion. That's what I'm going to shoot for. There's the anecdotal evidence, okay. I've been a Commissioner now for five years, and Mr. Rosado lives in my district, and he's been active in my district for many years as well. I've gone to hundreds of crime watch meetings, hundreds of community meeting. Hundreds. There isn't one community meeting or one crime watch meeting, of the hundreds that I've gone to, where the community, the residents, our bosses, don't tell us, We want to see more officers on the streets. We want to see an increased police presence." There isn't one meeting. I can't think of one. So if we double the size of our patrol force, we double the presence by mathematical definition, okay. That's just anecdotal and pure logic. Aside from the -- when you brought the evidence to bear, I think you brought a different aspect to the discussion, which, at that point, from my perspective, was purely anecdotal. I knew what we had to do, because I kept hearing it, but I had never quantified it. And I think you quantified it, and I think once you did that, you changed the discussion for everyone. Now it wasn't just about this overwhelming anecdotal evidence; it was about an objective criteria, an objective measurement, an objective goal, andl think we're all going to keep pushing to get that goal. For me, whether it's 70 or 80, it's significant, 'cause you're closer to the goal. That's the way I look at it. I am two officers closer to the goal. So that's why I'm pushing for 80 versus 78. You know, it's not a magic number. I don't -- it's not about writing a nice article, you know. We've gotten a 400-percent increase from what the Administration initially proposed. That's a significant achievement. What's 398 percent? Well, for me, it's two officers closer to the goal. And then next year we're going to keep looking at our budget and look at what -- and we're going to keep trying to push the envelope, you know. And once we get there, then hopefully, we'll be able to start doing some beautification, because I think that's a big component in having a city that we can all be proud of. Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman. Vice Chair Gort: Yes, sir. Commissioner Carollo: In the last time we discussed this, it was mentioned all the different City of Miami Page 172 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 cities, municipalities, and what their per capita, their police per thousand per capita was, and the one thing that I mentioned is, in those municipalities, what is their crime statistics versus ours? 'Cause you know what? Our Police Department may be doing an awesome job and still may not be good enough. And I remember that everyone shook their head, like, yeah, I guess you're right; we should have that. Now, that aside, I guess we all bring different experiences here on the dais. And, yes -- I mean, just like in the last budget year, we were able to identify an additional 10 -- I think it was 10 -- approximately 10 officers to patrol the streets that were already in our budget, because they were sitting behind desks. We all bring different experiences to this dais. And, yes, for approximately 10 years, I was a law enforcement officer, and I do bring that experience. So with regards to crimes in the Roads and the way they diminished significantly, it was a plan. It wasn't just more police officers, more money, and the Chief and the Administration figure out. Your Administration is saying, "We can do it with 'X' number of officers. "Your Administration started with 20. Your Administration started with 20. That's what they suggested. And it's our decision -- okay, we need more -- and the "why." Maybe you're already there. Maybe you've been there. But I need to know the "why," and how many, and where are they going to go, and between first and second reading, maybe I'll have it, maybe not. And again, don't be surprised if the actual number of officers is more than 100, and I start saying that public safety is important and we should cut here and we should cut there. So that's where I stand with it. Chair Gort: Okay, next. What's the motion? Vice Chair Hardemon: Before we make the motion, I want to -- because I -- I think I've -- by even pledging the six additional officers -- and I -- I mean, I flat out said that I'm in support of having additional officers; however, I just think that we need to have an Anti -Poverty Initiative. So whoever makes the motion -- and Commissioner Sarnoff, I applaud you for your initiative, but I ask that when you make your motion, in the same spirit that I have attempted to help us get to that closer number -- Commissioner Suarez, I mean, I -- I don't mind pushing us to go further. I just ask that you have some reasonableness with the Anti -Poverty Initiative and try to add an additional 500,000 to bring it just above 60 percent. Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner I want to point out that right now we have $361, 000 that we need to allocate in order to have a balanced budget, so -- and that should be part of the consideration that is taking place. Vice Chair Hardemon: I mean, I recognize the fact that we have that 361; how we go about doing it, I mean, I think can be decided at the next budget hearing. All I'm saying is -- here is just to have the will from this body to move forward with that additional allocation, to not leave poverty -- that Poverty Initiative behind. And with that, I mean, the Commissioner will have my vote. Commissioner Sarnoff So I'll make a motion. I'll make a motion for the City to come back with 80 police officers, with the 700 -- you had 700,000 in Poverty before? Mr. Alfonso: It was 750 before. Commissioner Sarnoff. With an additional $360, 000 for Poverty Initiative. Vice Chair Hardemon: I ask for a friendly amendment to make it 500, 000. I think the 360 -- first of all, I think we made our commitments. We said, look, if -- Commissioner Suarez said it best. If we have to touch a fund balance or reserves, then we will do that. And -- I mean, that's a discussion -- that's a real policy discussion that we're going to have to make. And 500 -- $2 million was a drop in the bucket and $500, 000 is nowhere near that. So I'm asking that we make it $500,000, and I'm sure our Administration is going to scrub the budget to see where we can get these additional funds for it. So I'm asking for a friend amendment to make it 500, 000. And City of Miami Page 173 Printed on 10/6/2014 City Commission Meeting Minutes September 9, 2014 ADJOURNMENT I'll second it. Chair Gort: Okay, there's a motion and a second. Commissioner Sarnoff I'll make the motion to 500, 000. Vice Chair Hardemon: Second. Chair Gort: Okay. Any further discussion? At the same time, you're going to look at the -- sitting back with the unions and see what we can come up with. Am I correct? Commissioner Suarez: I would like to have an agreement with FOP by the time we have our next budget hearing. That's what I'd like to see. So I'm ready to vote. I honestly did not think that I was going to vote in favor of this budget, but I think we've -- we have compromised so much and we have really struggled to understand each other that I think you guys got my vote, to be honest with you. I think you got my vote for the preliminary budget. Chair Gort: Okeydoke. It's a resolution. Resolution. All in favor, state it by saying Bye." Commissioner Suarez: Aye. Chair Gort: Aye. Commissioner Sarnoff Aye. Vice Chair Hardemon: Aye. Commissioner Carollo: No. Chair Gort: Okay, one "no. Mr. Hannon: As amended. Chair Gort: Capital improvement. As amended. Commissioner Carollo: Now, before we go to capital improvements, I want to let my colleagues know, it's not that I'm against the additional fundings for the Poverty Initiative, nor for the 80 officers. I just think that there is still a lot of places here that we could squeeze the orange and there is funding for it, and we just haven't had the chance to get into those details, and it's 2 clock in the morning; I don't think you want to get into those details right now. But between first and second reading, we definitely will or the next budget meeting, we definitely will. Thank you. END OF FIRST BUDGET HEARING The meeting adjourned on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, at 2:26 a.m. City of Miami Page 174 Printed on 10/6/2014