Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2022-02-25 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com �YOp r 1 ' 'Parr +� v * INCORP ORATEO * 1896 Meeting Minutes Friday, February 25, 2022 12:00 PM Special Meeting City Hall City Commission Francis X. Suarez, Mayor Christine King, Chair, District Five Joe Carollo, Vice Chair, District Three Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner, District One Ken Russell, Commissioner, District Two Manolo Reyes, Commissioner, District Four Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager Victoria Mendez, City Attorney Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 12:00 PM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE Present: Chairwoman King, Vice Chair Carollo, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner Russell, and Commissioner Reyes On the 25th day of February 2022, the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place in City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, in special session. The Commission Meeting was called to order by Chairwoman King at 12:27 p.m., recessed at 2:50 p.m., reconvened at 3:43 p.m., and adjourned at 5:02 p.m. Note for the Record: Commissioner Carollo entered the Commission chambers at 12:36 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager Victoria Mendez, City Attorney Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk Chair King: -- Welcome to the special meeting on redistricting in the city of Miami, today is February 25, 2022. We are going to start this meeting with a prayer from Commissioner Manolo Reyes. Commissioner Reyes: Me? Chair King: Yes. Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE). Chair King: Here. Commissioner Reyes: Could you please stand up and bow your heads. Invocation delivered. Chair King: Commissioner; would you please honor us with the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Pledge of Allegiance delivered. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. City of Miami Page 1 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 ORDER OF THE DAY Chair King: At this time, we are going to allow the consultants to make the presentation and then we will have public comment afterward. Mr. DeGrandv. Miguel DeGrandy: Yes, ma'am. Chair King: 1 see the City Attorney flagging at me. We need to read something into the record. Please do so, City Attorney. Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you, Madam Chair. Any person who is a lobbyist pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 6 of the Code of the City of Miami must register with the City Clerk and comply with related City requirements. Any person making a presentation, formal request, or petition to the City Commission concerning real property must make the appropriate disclosures required by the City Code. The City of Miami requires that anyone requesting action by the City Commission must disclose before the hearing any consideration provided or committed to anyone for agreement to support or withhold objection to a requested action pursuant to City Code Section 2-8. In accordance with Section 2-33(f) and (g) of the City Code, the agenda and 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 www.miamigov.com. 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. Public comment will begin in approximately a few minutes. Members of the public wishing to address the body may, do so by submitting written comments via the online comment form. Please visitwwwmiamigov.com/meetinginstructions for detailed instructions on how to provide public comment using the online public comment form. The comments submitted through the comment form have been and will be distributed to elected officials and City Administration throughout the day so the elected officials can consider the comments prior to taking any action. Additionally, the online comment form will remain open during the meeting to accept comments and distribute to the elected officials up until the Chair closes the public comment. Public comment can also be provided here at City Hall at 3500 Pan American Drive, subject to any and all City rules that may be amended. Speakers and attendees who appear in person will be subject to screening for symptoms of COVID-19. In addition, all City employees and visitors should try to wear facial coverings while at City Hall. If the proposition is being rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard may be at such later date. When addressing the City Commission, the member of the public must first state his or her name, his or her address, and what item will be spoken about. Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary' aids and services for this meeting may notify the City Clerk. The City has provided different public comment methods to indicate, among other things, the public support, and opposition or neutrality on items on the agenda today. The public has been given the opportunity to provide public comment during the meeting and within reasonable proximity before the meeting. Anyone wishing -- and that's it. Thank you so much. Chair King: Thank you, Victoria. Mr City Clerk, do you need to make any announcements? Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): No, ma'am. Chair King: Okay, perfect. City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SPECIAL MEETING ITEM(S) Chair King: What I'd like to do now is open the meeting for public comment. And I'm asking, when you come up to speak, please, if you don't have to remain, give some people who are outside the opportunity to come in because the chambers are crowded today. So, once you speak if you can step outside to allow others to come in to speak as well, I would appreciate that. Vice Chair Carollo: Madam Chairman, ill may request something of the Chair: If we could ask of all speakers if they could at least let us know, if they don't want to let us know where they live at exactly, what district are theyfrom, om, that they live in. So that we can get an idea of where the people that are speaking, what district are they from. Chair King: Yes, please, that would be helpful to us. If you could just -- you have to give your name, you don't have to say where you live but if you would like we would love for you to say what district you reside in. And you can give your address if you choose to, but you're not required to. Correct, Mr City Clerk? Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): We can require it if it's requested. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): We actually do. And it's been allowed -- Chair King: You require it? Ms. Mendez: It's been allowed through case law Chair King: I see. Okay, there you go. Your name, your address, and if you can tell us what district you live in, would be helpful for us. Thank you. Carol Jackson: Thank you. Good morning, Commissioners, good morning, Chairwoman King. Good morning, through the Chair Commissioners, my name is Carol Jackson, I do not live in the City of Miami but I represent both branches of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), the South Dade Branch of the NAACP and the Miami -Dade branch of the NAACP. And through that, I represent our members and constituents who live in all five districts of the City of Miami. I am second vice president of the South Dade branch of the NAACP and I have a statement for you and a letter for you that I'd like to give to the -- to the Clerk. The NAACP holds the right of Black communities to vote in conditions that result in its voice being heard as the greatest right this democracy offers. As such, the South Dade and Miami -Dade branches of the NAACP are greatly concerned by efforts to redistrict the West Grove. Since prior to the incorporation of the City of Miami back in 1896, West Grove has always been a part of the Coconut Grove and we support keeping Coconut Grove together Therefore, we oppose any effort that would dilute the Black vote within District 2, and we furthermore oppose any dismantling of the Black vote in District 5. Commissioners, thank you for the opportunity to speak. Chair King: Thank you. City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: Chair, if I may? 1 think we need to clear something up right from the beginning. The West Grove in the new plan that's being given is being kept intact. Intact. If anything, it's going to gain a little more political say-so in District 2. District 5 is not being deleted, it's being increased on the Black vote, on the percentage. So, both of your concerns are not there. Ms. Jackson: I look forward to seeing the numbers. Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: Sure. Chair King: Thank you. Sir? Anthony Scornavacca: Good afternoon. Pm Tony Scornavacca, I live at 2630 Southwest 28th Street in Coconut Grove, District 2. Commissioner Reyes, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner King, Commissioner Russell, thank you for serving the City of Miami. In regard to redistricting, Coconut Grove is our city's oldest community. It is one community. Redistricting can be accomplished a thousand different ways. We have maybe 20,000 people in Coconut Grove. maybe 90,000 or more in District 2. Of the other 70,000 people in District 2, it's easy to accomplish the goals of the redistricting plan by moving other areas. US-1 is a logical boundary. It would be impractical to move around those pieces when they don't need to be moved. They could have drawn the line down 27th Avenue to the bay. We could have had the Coconut Grove Arts Festival in two different districts. By the way, the Commissioners, in my opinion, we did hear that these meetings were advertised, it was a surprise to this group. They may have been advertised, but we have pastors of churches, and we have homeowner associations that the Commissioners, you might want to try this, can reach out and talk to. You all would be very well received if you reached out to a homeowner's group and asked to share i'our ideas, asked to share your redistricting plans, because although they were advertised it was a surprise to the residents. So, please, let's take another look at the plan, let's keep Coconut Grove intact as one community. Thank you. Applause. Chair King: I don't know how many times I have to say this, but Sergeant At Arms, if anyone else in here claps, escort them out. I have said it in several meetings. It is not appropriate in here and we have too much work to do and too many people who want to speak to have you clapping every single time someone says something that you're in favor of. And secondly, I don't know about my colleagues, but had a community meeting with my district on Tuesday which was also videoed, and you can watch it on YouTube. Please do not clap in here again or you will be escorted out. Ma'am? Oh, and also, don't waste any time saying hello to us because you have two minutes and I'm very strict with the two minutes, so just get to the business of what you would like us to know. Thank you. Carolyn Donaldson: You can hear me now? Chair King: I had turned off the rnic. I'm sorry. Ms. Donaldson: Okay. Chair King: Welcome. Welcome. City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Ms. Donaldson: I thought it was maybe just me. Chair King: No, it wasn't you, it was me, it was me. Thank you. Ms. Donaldson: Okay, great. Thank you. My name is Carolyn Donaldson, I'm on the board of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. The oldest Black church in the community. I also represent Grace Grove Rights and Equity, Inc., as their vice chair. And I also grew up in Coconut Grove. And back during those days, we were just The Grove. It wasn't east or west or any of those; we were just The Grove. And as the oldest continuous community in Miami -Dade County 1 found it a travesty of the initial proposals to split up this community. And even though I'm hearing today that the resulting redistricting won't affect West Grove, and I'm actually glad to hear that, I hope that that ends up as part of the final plan. Because it would have been a tremendous setback given the strides that we have made most recently. So, I'm for One Grove and I think we should stay as one unity. And if'a result of that is that we see West Grove become the vibrant community that it was once when I was growing up, that would be amazing. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Ma'am? Marlene Ervan: Thank you. My name is Marlene Ervan, I've lived in Coconut Grove almost 40 years. I live at 3066 Washington Street. I am president of the Coconut Grove Park Homeowners Association and the former president of the Women's Club of Coconut Grove. Thanks for the opportunity to provide comments today. I think we are all aware that Miami was seeded right here in Coconut Grove beginning with the first wave of immigration in 1825. Coconut Grove remains today as has been mentioned, the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood in Miami and Miami -Dade County. We wish you to keep the village of Coconut Grove united. We are also one of the few remaining historic landmark villages in Florida. I would like to go on record as being opposed to this redistricting proposal as it stands now Upon initial review, it splits neighborhoods, it splits our commercial district, and it splits our historic West Grove. There has not been sufficient notice for residents to consider the unintended consequences that this plan could have. Alternative district boundaries are possible. I support the One Grove plan that keeps the Grove united in one cohesive unit. It unites neighborhoods previously divided, protects shared backgrounds and interests, simplifies leadership burdens, and anticipates growth. On behalf of Coconut Grove Homeowners Association, we wish to have the opportunity to analyze this proposal and its potential effects and ask that you carefully review this plan with stakeholders in a citywide forum, and it be open to improvement. And that you be open to improvements to the proposal. We urge you to keep One Grove at US-1, keep our historic unified neighborhoods and organizations of the Grove, keep Coconut Grove's racial diversity, keep the length between North and South Grove. And alternative and better district boundaries are available. We ask that you be open to discussion. Thank you. Chair King: Good afternoon. Andy Parrish: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Andy Parrish, I live at 3940 Main Highway which is on the Commodore Trail, in a house that once served as the Sunshine Fruits Company Inn, dating back to 1909. Today, One Grove and the citizens of the Village of Coconut Grove North, South, Central, and Village West will demonstrate democracy in action, true democracy,, for ordinary citizens ofvarious colors, ethnicities, income levels, and political inclinations come together in support of One Grove, supporting each other and speaking with City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 one voice. The citizens who will address you today will ask you to respect US-1 as the natural boundary for historic Coconut Grove, just as it has been ever since it was a dirt road with a railroad beside it. We will demonstrate for you openly and with facts obtained by census experts hired by ordinary citizens with their own money, one, that there are other alternatives, better alternatives for redistricting than the one and only plan that your hired consultant has proposed as your starting point, and that you are now preparing to tweak. And two, that the African -American citizens, residents, of Village West Coconut Grove, the protection of whose voting rights are at the very heart of the federal voting act, unanimously object to Mr DeGrandy's proposal. Three, that any redistricting proposal requires adequate time and clear documentation as required by our government in the Sunshine Laws for meaningful citizen participation in the process. And 'bur, finally, that dividing long established neighborhoods in the two districts, and now three districts, makes all citizen initiatives more difficult and is a bad idea not only for the Grove but for the whole city that you represent. We are One Grove seeking one voice to represent all of us with US-1 remaining as the boundary of historic Coconut Grove. Thank you very much, Commissioners. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Charles Munroe: May I ask the Clerk for the presentation, Madam Chairman? Chair King: I'm sorry? Unidentified Speaker: No, it's his presentation. Chair King: Is it going to be two minutes? Mr Munroe: Yes, I'm going to speak for two minutes. Chair King: Okay. Anybody can speak for two minutes. If it's going to take longer than two minutes someone can give you their time. Mr Munroe: No. Chair King: No? Two minutes. Well, two minutes, it's your right. Go ahead. Mr Munroe: Yes, hello Commissioners, my name is Charles Munroe and I live in Coconut Grove at 3530 Saint Gaudens Court. And, you know my great-grandfather came here in the 1870's and he built a house and settled in Coconut Grove. And it's now a state park called the Barnacle. And back then, you know, the Grove community was a community, and it was formed long before the City of Miami. And it was unique. And there was several things that made it unique, but above all, it was it's diversity and it's spirit, okay? And that's what formed its character. It was formed by northerners who had a transcendental background, combined with Black Bahamian settlers who helped build much of the community, along with a whole cast of international characters. And this formed the spirit of the community. And the community, if you look at the map here on -- this is an historic map on the screen, it goes from Biscayne Bay, okay, all the way to US -I. And that's the historic community of Coconut Grove and we need to preserve that as one community. And something else I'll ask you; you hear a lot of people here talk today about how when you split into three districts people are going to have a hard time having a voice, okay, but it's going to make your jobs harder, too. How can you devote the time needed to understand the little sliver of Coconut Grove? I would postulate that whoever's the City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner of District 2 is going to know those areas way better than the Commissioners in the other districts. And our citizens and our residents deserve to have Commissioners that represent their interest and know them well. And then to the extent that they do get involved, those Commissioners are going to send those enclaves in to different directions, okay? You have One Grove, you're going to have one voice, you're going to go in one direction. You have three Commissioners involved, you know, they're going to influence development, they're going to influence the services that are provided, and you're going to send the Grove in to three areas. Chair King: Thank you. Mr Munroe: So, the last thing is -- Chair King: No. Thank you. Me Munroe: -- please -- Chair King: Thank you. Unidentified Speaker: Can 1 give him my time? (INAUDIBLE). Mr Hannon: Chair? Mr Munroe: That's all right. Chair King: That's all, he's done. Okay. Good morning. Andres Althabe: Good afternoon. Chair King: Good morning. Good afternoon. Mr. Althabe: Andres Althabe, 1900 North Bayshore. I've been involved in advocating for different communities, including Coconut Grove, for a long time. I live in Edgewater but I understand the other neighborhoods because I've been involved with them for a long time. And I understand that redistricting is always difficult and it's controversial. That was expected. But in the proposal, technically, if you look at population, zoning, everything else, it could be technically appropriate. But historically. it doesn't look like it's appropriate because you have a lot of opposition. There is opposition in other neighborhoods, but especially in Coconut Grove because the biggest point is that Coconut Grove has a history of community that will be destroyed. And if there is something that should be preserved, it's that sense of community that Coconut Grove has and other districts don't. Edgewater is a fairly new neighborhood that doesn't have the history of Coconut Grove. Downtown, they have a lot of'people that don't live there permanently, so it's the same situation. You can probably -- we can probably accept that Brickell has a history of community, but nothing so deep as Coconut Grove has. So, what this has created is not so difficult -- not so -- sorry, not so easy to create and it's almost unanimous opposition to the division of Coconut Grove. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Linda Williams: Good afternoon, Madam Chair Commissioners. I'm Linda Williams of 3523 Charles Avenue, temporarily at 3517 Hibiscus Street. I've lived here, born and reared, for 68 years. To those who may be counting, I'm here today not as a single resident but representing my community by way of vice president, Coconut Grove Homeowners and Tenants, and vice chair Community Advisory. I'm bringing their voices before you, and there are many, not just me. The Village West community has long been left out. Positive planning, revitalization, affordable housing, jobs, et cetera, et cetera. Yet they still come before us asking for your vote, for our vote. And in return, we're met with unmet promises and diminished hope. Now with the thought of dividing a few of our neighbors, families and friends into another district prompts the concern of voter suppression. Because our small contribution to another district will certainly not change much for them. But then taking out of Village West, those citizens, will change, or have a negative impact on us. Many politicians have relied on this small community to be taken over the threshold to victory. Finally, the Village West community has much, much, much history and provides the City of Miami a gift of inspiration, motivated talent, and vibrant character as we welcome diversity of cultures. We may not all get along -- Chair King: Thank you. Ms. Williams: -- but we are united. Chair King: Thank- you. Ms. Williams: Thank you. Chair King: Good afternoon. Jihad Rashid: Good afternoon. My name is Jihad Rashid, I live in District 2 at 2983 Washington Street. A 35 year resident of Coconut Grove, 20 years in the Village West. I've contributed significantly to development of this community. I want to go on record to say any diminution of Coconut Grove would create other inefficiencies that this measure seeks to rectify. So, we don't change one problem from another Because of our culture, our history, and our topography, if we would change our representation, it would create great inefficiencies in government. And then I have to draw upon my civic lessons as a grade student -- grade school student. Government For the People, By the People. I've heard your consultant talk about the directions that was given to him by this Commission, and we respect you and we are differential. But make no mistake about it, we are giving the directions and we are directing our representatives to ,find the ways and means to address this problem without any diminution of our community by representation. This is no different than if it was gerrymandering based on race, because culturally, Coconut Grove is one. And to harken from the late Ann Richards from Texas, don't mess with Coconut Grove. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Javier Gonzalez: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Javier Gonzalez, 3622 Solana Road, Miami, Florida. And the map before you is something that is well done in a redistricting. It takes a portion of what was District 2 and gives it to the proper district, which is District 4. I personally own property in that district and kind of grew up there. My first job was at Douglas Park. And I think 1 used to make seventy -something cents an hour It was really great. But 1 know the area very well and that is something that is well done. Because when I ran for District 2, there was a lot of folks in there that didn't have the representation that they needed City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 or required. And I remember going in there, they had changed the precincts, so we had voters that were voting in the wrong precinct. They were trying to go over there. And if you ever saw disenfranchised, folks, Hispanics like myself, that were working hard and would get to the polling place and they were told this isn't your poll, you have to go over there. The frustration that we felt, and that I felt as a candidate, was painful. It was sad. So, by doing this, I commend you. This is the right thing to do. But now you're doing it to Coconut Grove and you're splitting Coconut Grove the same way you want to split something else. Just because all the other districts are split, that doesn't mean anything. Coconut Grove is a historic neighborhood. It is the oldest neighborhood in the city of Miami. It is one of the most passionate neighborhoods in the city of Miami, you're obviously going to see this today. So, to be able to split it, to be able to move in, it just doesn't make sense. You're doing the same thing that was done ten years ago to this district and 1 think that's something that we have to take into consideration. Respect our section, respect the Grove. Please. That's all we're asking. Thank you. Mel Meinhardt: Madam -- Madam Chairman, Commissioners, my name is Mel Meinhardt, I live on Virginia Street in Coconut Grove. I want to thank Mr DeGrandy for illustrating here as he did a few weeks ago, the criteria for redistricting. As you've heard already, there are many possible outcomes and many possible barriers that we can put between our districts that make sense and achieve these objectives. We ask the Commissioners to look at other alternatives, one of which is presented here. Earlier this week we hired a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) census expert and she spent ten hours using Mr DeGrandy's work, making adjustments, but then reaching back to figure out what were the ways in which we could, as the City of Miami, exploit a rare opportunity here. An opportunity to reunite communities that had been previously split by other actions. Mr. Gonzalez just explained one here. We have the opportunity to reunite neighborhoods, preserve communities of interest and the interest of those communities, simplify your burden of communicating and leadership, simplify the burdens of civic leaders as they try to communicate with multiple commissioners, and anticipate the growth. This is only one presented map that shows this, but it's interesting to note that by doing so using our understanding of Mr. DeGrandy's guidance, the variation associated with this is far less than the one he presented today. Many other alternatives are available. And I'll turn it over to my colleague here to present one. Chris Baraloto: Good afternoon, everyone. Chris Baraloto, 3752 Kumquat Avenue in Coconut Grove, District 2. I'm here as a citizen, as a member of the Coconut Grove Village Counsel, and above all, as a scientist. And as a scientist, I empathize with the challenges faced by Mr. DeGrandy and his colleagues in putting together these maps. And two points I really want to make for us all to understand, first of all, these are challenges, admitted as such. And so why are we rushing to confront these challenges? There's no need for us to rush through this process given all of the challenges in putting together this information. The second piece, as a scientist, involves peer review Peer review by the public. Peer review in terms of input. And we haven't had that opportunity. We were told in the last meeting that no decisions would be made and yet decisions were made to give instructions to Mr DeGrandy and others. We have before us alternatives that the citizenry came up with on their own that come before us as examples. And there exists dozens of these examples as alternatives that should be considered as alternatives before any decisions are made. So, let's not have puppet meetings next week and the week beyond in which we're informed of a plan, let's rather have meetings in which we give peer review and it's taken into consideration, such as this one. Thank you. Chair King: Good afternoon. City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Joseph Brown: Good afternoon. I am also a Coconut Grove Village Councilman, my name is Joseph Brown, I live in the West Grove. l just wanted to take a moment to reflect on Commissioner Reyes' prayer that we consider those less fortunate. And then we said the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pledge of Allegiance said justice for all. For almost 100 years, the West Grove has been neglected, redlined, abused. We all know it. All the Commissioners, Mr. Russell along Sarnoff and above, you know, before, know that this has been happening. There is a crisis that we're in the midst of right now with this redistricting and in the Chinese language the word crisis means danger; but it also means opportunity. So, I hope that this crisis will let the Commissioners reflect and reconsider breaking up the Grove at all. There is a great culture that exhibits and lives here in the Grove. We need to keep that culture together We're stronger together than we are apart. This crisis has also brought stakeholders out from many different communities, many different organizations, and now we stand with one voice. I'm hoping that we can stop the disenfranchisement. I'm hoping that right now -- there's always unintended consequences that exist with any decision that's made, we all know that, so today due process is super important. Due process can't be done. The residents of Coconut Grove feel like this cake has been baked and that we're being informed. We hope that the Commissioners do not bake the cake without due process of the residents and consider leaving the Grove's culture intact. We're one Grove, one people, and one great community. Thank you. Chair King: Thank- you. Svetha Janumpalli: Good afternoon. My name is Svetha Janumpalli of 3003 Matilda Street and I am a resident of District 2. 1'd like to enter into the public record this petition, and specifically a copy of this petition and the comments to each member of the Commission. Signatories of this petition stand against the redistricting in Coconut Grove -- of Coconut Grove and in strong unity for One Grove. We are against the separation, division, reduction of history, and diversity of the Grove. We stand against decision making in the dark and we will be staying strong 24/7, every day, until March 11 th and thereafter. One thousand, five hundred and ninety two people have signed this petition and that's only since yesterday. By the March 11 th vote there will be over 15,000 signatures. So, I'd like to enter this petition and the comments for each member of the Commission into the public record. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Sir? Steven Dloogoff.• Steven Dloogoff, member of living in Coconut Grove for 30 years, now at 3418 Franklin Avenue, a past member of the Coconut Grove Village Council and a homeowner's association president. This morning we had the opportunity to speak with Christina White who is the Supervisor of Elections ,for Miami -Dade. She said March 11 th redistricting is not a hard and fast deadline, March 11 th is only a goal. We could easily wait until next year and any penalty would be well worth it. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Thank you. Ma'am? Lynn Fecteau: Me? Chair King: Yes. Ms. Fecteau: Okay. Good afternoon, my name is Lynn Fecteau, I live at 2542 Swanson Avenue, 33133. I have lived in historic Coconut Grove Ibr 46 years and I have owned my home for 35 of those 46 years. I am an artist and I have been here long enough that I painted the poster, for City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 the Coconut Grove Art Festival in 1996, although that's hard to believe. 1 also am a member of the oldest woman's club in the State of Florida which is the Woman's Club of Coconut Grove. 1 care deeply about our diverse community and our historic village. Coconut Grove is the oldest permanent settlement in Miami -Dade. In 1919 it became its own city, but was annexed by the City of Miami in 1925. I oppose all changes to our boundaries. It divides our unified neighborhoods and civic organizations. In other words, changing the boundaries divides and makes us weaker In my mind it sounds like gerrymandering. The definition for gerrymandering is political manipulation of electoral district boundaries with the intent of creating undue advantage for a party, group, or socioeconomic class. Please do not break up historic Coconut Grove. The Grove is just fine the way it is, One Grove. 1 am going to vote for Commissioners that support One Grove. Thank you very much. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. David Collins: Good afternoon. I think I'm on. Yes. Respectfully, Commissioners, it's an honor to speak to you again, my name is David Collins, 3230 Gifford Lane, Miami, Florida. We're having a huge arts festival on March 6th. If you want to see what the Grove's about, please attend, 12:00 to 5:00. If you want more details, I'll provide them to you. In, I believe it was 1925, after Miami changed the law to allow Downtown to vote on the annexation of Coconut Grove, they sent a representative to a member of the Town of Coconut Grove, official Town of Coconut Grove, and said we want to inform you that the City of Miami is considering annexing Coconut Grove. And the member of the town council in Coconut Grove replied, that's really unusual, because in our last meeting we discussed the possibility of annexing the City of Miami. I think it's important to remember this is a really valuable point for you as Commissioners. And I know you do a lot of things, but please recognize the opportunity. The opportunity here is to work with the Grove. We've paid as citizens for different studies which have come up with alternative redistricting. We don't mind redistricting. What we ask you to observe is the primary mandate in the redistricting advice to cities, which is do not destroy or disrupt traditional communities. We are your friends. Please allow us as the oldest community in Miami to continue to exist. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Yanelis Valdes: Good afternoon. My name is Yanelis Valdes and I'm a District 2 resident living at 58 Northeast 14th Street. I sat in solidarity with my fellow District 2 residents from Coconut Grove, uplifting the harm that splitting the neighborhood will have in our community as a whole. In addition to being a concerned resident I work with Engage Miami, a non-profit dedicated to civic engagement and education. We believe that government transparency and community input is imperative for these types of decisions. It is critical to have a conversation and allow room for questions and dialogue with residents so we can fully understand the impact of changes on our communities. I appreciate the mention that some of these meetings are already taking place. However, we as an organization follow this process very carefully and we've actually not been aware of the community meetings that have happened which is really unfortunate because we try to get our members, many young people across the city, many who are in District 5, for example, and unfortunately could not have the space to share. I reached out to each of you via email to ask that you carefully plan these district specific meetings to speak with each of your constituents. I believe that the following is imperative, please publicize date, time, and location of meetings widely at least a week in advance. Connect with community organizations in the district to co -host the meeting and help spread the word. Make phone calls, knock on doors, and send notices in the mail to all residents. Post City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 fliers with meeting information in local businesses that people frequent like restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops. Post on social media and send emails through listers accessible to your office. I also want to mention that it's hard for people to come out here in the middle of the day, especially young people who are in school or who are working. So, I want to make sure that these events are made in a time that's helpfid for folks in the evenings and on the weekend. Like others have mentioned, we have time, so please take your time in planning and please, please don't rush this process. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Timothy McLemore: Good afternoon. First, I would like to say thank you for serving the City of Miami. My name is Timothy McLemore, I live at 2900 Southwest 28th Lane. A new member to Coconut Grove, but I've always admired this city. There's a saying that goes if it's not broke don't fix it, and Coconut Grove is surely not broken. We are very healthy and happy and thriving, and it would be a shame to see the city be split. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Cynthia Shelley: Hi there, my name is Cynthia Shelley and I've been a homeowner in Coconut Grove, Florida, for 40 years, 2975 Washington Street. On a patriotic note, my father was a squadron leader and flew 50 missions over occupied Europe in World War 11. He risked his life to serve the people of the world. And on a lesser note, but as important, 1 am a civic representative, 1 have been for 40 years. I've stood here before the Commission pregnant, holding baby in my arms, holding another baby in my arms. My children grew up here, they're very comfortable at City Hall. I am a past vice president of the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) of Coconut Grove Elementary. I am a founder and past vice president of the Coconut Grove Park Homeowners Association. And the founder of the Village Council. I'm a past vice president of the largest representational club for Coconut Grove called the Civic Club. Currently I'm on the executive board as a member of the Coconut Grove Park Homeowners Association, my own homeowner's association. Hy service to the Village of Coconut Grove has a long history. We, and I'm representing many of those entities that I just announced, do not want to see Coconut Grove chopped and divided. And people who have been represented -- misrepresented in one body left to a zone which does not understand the needs of their community. I'm speaking on behalf of the community of West Grove. We were founded as a village, and we want to keep it that way and not divided -- not divide it into mini zones who are represented by two, three, or more Commissioners. As a well-known representative -- Chair King: Thank you. Ms. Shelley: Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Paula De Carolis: Good afternoon. My name is Paula De Carolis, I live in Shenandoah. I am here as a resident. I am here to ask that when or if redistricting is necessary; that the premise and criteria for doing so protects neighborhoods from being divided or split into more than one Commissioner district. Shenandoah has characteristics that are special like many other neighborhoods that define it. And being harmonious, homogeneity, having one Commissioner helps in keeping that. It is better, for consistency and for process. I am not opposing City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 redistricting if this is what is necessary, but 1 do ask that neighborhoods are not split, that outreach is done, and that the process of design and decision making is granted the time and the study that it needs and merits. It should not be rushed. This decision will affect our lives and our livelihood. Thank you so much for your time. Chair King: Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: Shenandoah, are you in 3 or 4? Ms. De Carolis: I'm in 4. My mother is in 3, my father is in 3, I'm in 4. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you. Commissioner Reyes: Are you well represented? Ms. De Carolis: I'm sorry? Commissioner Reyes: Are you well represented? Ms. De Carolis: Very well represented. Thank you. Commissioner Reyes: Thank you very much. Ms. De Carolis: Thank you. Chair King: Good afternoon. Lisa Remeny: Good afternoon. I'm Lisa Remeny, Miami native and spent my first years as a young adult in Coconut Grove. I will simply say -- Chair King: Your address, please, ma'am? Ms. Remeny: Poinciana Avenue, 3950. I vehemently oppose this redistricting; I wish you would all please reconsider Keep our community as one. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Willie Allen Faiella: Good afternoon. I'm Willie Allen Faiella, Director of Saint Stevens Episcopal Church, 2750 McFarlane Road in Coconut Grove. I am also on the Pastor's Board of the Coconut Grove Ministerial Alliance and I'm also a member -- my church is also a member of GRACE, Grove Rights and Community Equity. I was here two weeks ago at the first hearing. This room was packed and it was packed with people who were speaking on behalf of keeping the Grove unified. I'm here again today. This room is packed once again with people speaking on behalf of keeping One Grove. With all due respect to the other areas, the other districts in our city, I don't see anybody here with the kind of dedication, passion, commitment, willing to give up worktime, schooltime, money, to make something happen which is to keep our Grove unified. I see Black people, I see White people, I see Hispanic people, who often are not corning together for a common cause, but this is so important that we have come together And I would say that members, people, residents of the West Grove who have historically over the years, as people have already said, been redlined, been -- been denied their equal rights, City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 which is what GRACE fights for are here today to support the unity of the Grove. Even though, yes, much of the West Grove will remain intact, my brothers and sister from Coconut -- from the Village West are here in support of keeping it One Grove. I love the whole city, I respect all your districts, but only. District 2 has this kind of turnout to show this kind of unity for a historic part of our city that we love and will fight for Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Abegail Ape: Hi, good afternoon, my name is Abegail Ape, 1 am a resident of District 2 for 13 years now. 1 reside at 1700 Bayshore Drive but 1 also work with the residents of Brickell through the Brickell Homeowners Association which is 35 towers here in our community. 1 do not envy your role. 1 know that you have a hard job ahead of you. You have a lot of different voices, a lot of different residents here to express themselves, and so I'm here to express myself on behalf of the residents of Brickell as well as Downtown. I think that the deadline for March 11 is too soon. And I think that we need to find a creative way to keep neighborhoods united, such as Downtown, Brickell, and the Grove. I do not have a solution for you, butt do have my voice. And so, I'm here to advocate on behalf of my neighborhood and here to be an advocate for those who cannot physically make it. And so, Ijust want to say thank you for your service and 1 hope that we're able to come to a unified front. And as I mentioned, I'm here to serve our community so please use me and our association as well as our community. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Elvis Cruz: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Elvis Cruz, 631 Northeast 57th Street. I live in the Morningside neighborhood which is about as far away from Coconut Grove as you can get in District 2. But today I'm here in support of my good friends and neighbors in Coconut Grove and their efforts to stay together in one district. I've looked at the alternative plan that was put forth by the neighbors and I found it very plausible and credible. I'm not going to go into the reasons why the Grove should stay together, you've heard that many times already, and so to avoid being redundant and saving a lot of time I thought we might try asking the question in reverse. Is there anybody here in favor of splitting Coconut Grove? So, for the record, I don't see a single hand raised. Thank you so much. And I'd like to reserve the rest of my time for the next City Commission meeting. Chair King: No. Betty Tannenbaum: Hello, my name is Betty Tannenbaum and I'm here representing myself and my daughter who I am the guardian for. I live at 1826 Fairhaven Place, Miami. So that is in District 2. My, daughter lives in Silver Bluffs and she has a disability. I walk from my house to her house every, day. I walk through the Ridge area, and I'm like kind of shocked that that would not be part of the Grove. I can see the differences of what our communities need. I think we need to continue to have our voice. I moved to the Grove because it was socially diverse. We're represented with continued use of -- we have to have cohesion in how we divide our neighborhood -- how we redistrict. Well cohesion to me and I think to a lot of people here in the Grove means keeping all this community spirit that you see here today. The economic diversity, the ethnic diversity, the racial diversity that's cohesion to me. Where the cohesion that would continue to be used seemed to be pointing at something else, other than our cohesion. I look at the Grove, we need -- big issues for us are sea level rise, keeping our tree canopy, having affordable housing for both low income and workforce housing. I would say in nay daughter's district, it's adding trees; it's like a desert there. So, the needs are really City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 different. And I appreciate that you made a bunch of changes, but I support what most people here do and -- Vice Chair Carollo: You have ten seconds left; ma'am. Ms. Tannenbaum: Okay. To keep the Grove together, keep us all cohesive, and let us continue to be activists in the City ofMiami. Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you. Sir? Joey Francilus: Hi, my name is Joey Fancilus, I'm here representing the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Florida. Earlier today -- Pee Chair Carollo: Are you a City resident? Me Francilus: I am representing the ACLU of Florida which is in the City of Miami. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, but that's not the question that 1 made. Mr Francilus: I am not a resident; I'm here representing the ACLU of Florida. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. Mr Francilus: Earlier today we emailed the Commission a letter raising several concerns about your redistricting process. We hope we can -- that we can clam the Citv's obligation of opportunities with respect to these issues. First, District must respect that the constitution's prohibition on racial gerrymandering. The Commission is barred from adopting arbitrary numerical demographic targets when fashioning districts. Commissioners have previously discussed a target of 50 percent Black population for District 5. Such as -- such a numerical target divorced from any actual analysis is necessary to afford Black voters an opportunity to elect preferred candidates raises equal protection concerns -- raises (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Furthermore, over -concentrating Black voters in District 5 may cost may constitute unlawful packing. Our letter highlights some key statistics that are relevant to District 5's legal compliance. We urge you to take the full breath of available data into account rather than looking into merely a -- at surface level census population totals. Secondly, we have noticed some discrepancies in the population figures presented to you at previous meetings. Numbers in Mr DeGrandy's presentation do not all add up to the reported census totals', giving an incorrect picture of the population equality of the five districts. Moreover proposed plans Mr. DeGrandy drafted have included precincts that are outside the City of Miami. You must take care that you use the accurate and official census figures and do not include populations outside the city. Finally, we stand in solidarity with the residents of the West Grove neighborhood who have expressed their concerns about being moved out of District 2. Fixing the first two issues, we are -- we -- fixing the first two issues we raised gives the City an opportunity to accommodate the West Grove residents' goals. Pee Chair Carollo: You've five seconds. Mr Francilus: If yort have any other questions, please contact the people noted on the letter Thank you. City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: Thankyou. Ma'am, two minutes. Jessica Saint -Fleur: Hello, my name is Jessica Saint -Fleur I live at 155 Northwest 64th Street, Miami, Florida, in District 5. It makes no sense to further segregate the historically Black community of the West Grove. Intentionally reducing the racial diversity that the community has fought so hard to dismantle and erase the very facets that make Miami the diversity that we are proud of. 497 to 114 Black people? Does that sound historical or very much Black to you? You want to increase the voting power of Black communities in one district that is significantly already Black, that has been voting for Black officials for many years to get that one Black chair in this Commission. So, what is the point of moving people around when they will only get more confused on who their Commissioners are? So as an educator of local civics in the area, it's a huge problem when it comes election day, and everyone is wondering why no one showed up. Their fight -- you're trying to increase the voter population, but what about actual voter engagement? Just because they are now considered another district doesn't mean that they're going to have the knowledge that they need to go vote. You will be changing their voting habits; you will be changing the years in which they vote. The community in which they have gathered for political actions have now changed. So, we want you to think about the implications more and consider the community input so that we can further make this a participatory process and not just when elected officials can make these decisions on their own. Thankyou. Vice Chair Carollo: Thankyou. Ma'am? Cecilia Kurland: Good afternoon, Commissioners, and thank you for your service and time, and to the staff. My name is Cecilia Kurland and I live at 3231 Day Avenue which is in Coconut Grove. I would like to read you the definition of Coconut Grove from Wikipedia. Coconut Grove, also known as The Grove, is the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood of Miami in Miami -Dade County. Please respect history. This is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Miami and this community was founded like in 1970 -- 1873. We have seen the -- the historical map already with the boundaries, so I would like to request to keep it simple. The boundaries are there and maybe incorporate what is now coming up that you mentioned in so many projects that are being finished and occupied pretty soon. Thank you for your time. Vice Chair Carollo: Thankyou. Ma'am? Rita Dever: Hi, my name is Rita Dever I live at 1155 Brickell Bay Drive, and I'm in District 2. And I want to applaud One Grove, one of the favorite places to go, but also for Brickell, I'm very much opposed to this redistricting plan as it sits. Obviously, no one wants to be split up, but Brickell going into three different slivers, I'm hoping that you'll consider the alternatives. Obviously, the density of Brickell isn't a surprise, so why not have more Commissioners? Why not take it to the ballot box? Why not have a different plan? And allow us to have a voice. I want to reiterate what has already been so eloquently said, please don't rush the process. Thank you. Pee Chair Carollo: Rita, do you have a twin that lives in Center Grove? Ms. Dever: Pardon rue? Vice Chair Carollo: Do you have a twin that lives in Center Grove? City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Ms. Dever: No. Vice Chair Carollo: There's a lady there that looks just like you. Boy. Ms. Dever: My, doppelganger? Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. Ms. Dever: Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you jbr coming. Chair King: Good afternoon. Chuck Walter: Hi, my name is Chuck Walter, I live at 1901 Brickell Avenue, and I want to echo some of the sentiments spoken earlier about civic engagement. I stand here and I am amazed and I'm jealous of the advocacy by Coconut Grove residents. And I wish that we had that level of engagement for all of Miami. And 1 think that the natural geographic region of the Grove has helped them be able to form that community. So, the notion that we should be looking at, how do we increase civic engagement throughout our city? And I think that comes by looking at defining natural boundaries not splitting streets and avenues. Maybe there are things like the Metrorail and the Florida East Coast Rail Line that we could be looking at. I think right now in the maps, Mr. DeGrandy, we have streets and avenues as most of the definition. But the Florida East Coast Rail Line could be a very clear way for residents to be able to see whether they're in 2 or 5. And then looking at what street we need to go up to and then up to that point becomes District 2, and then District 5 can be adjusted, District 1 can be adjusted, and you can -- we can look at some small adjustments to 3 and 4. Ideally with the eves of keeping neighborhoods together But our goal here should be to find the same civic engagement that we see from Grove residents. Because that will mean a richer, better experience for Miami going into our future. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Jonathan Goldberg: Hi, good afternoon. My name is Jonathan Goldberg, 495 Brickell Avenue. I'm a resident o f District 2, I support the preserving of all communities. I am a resident of Brickell and would implore you to focus the preservation of our community of Brickell and Downtown as well. The current proposed lines would diminish our voices and remove a part of our community. Thank you for your time and service. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon, how are you? Juan Marcos: Good afternoon. My name is Juan Marcos, I live at 117 Southwest 10th Street. I'm a District 3 resident but 1 live on the border right next to District 2, the Brickell area. I run Brickell's largest community platform; it's called Brickell Living. We have 134,000 followers on Instagram and 11,000 vetted Facebook group members. Because of our reach, we consider ourselves the digital voice of the Brickell community. At one of these redistricting meetings, it was suggested to potentially split Brickell down South Miami Avenue in order to keep other neighborhoods intact. When we presented this to our community, every single member voiced strong concerns. We deeply feel that Brickell is one community, the residents of this City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 neighborhood has similar needs and face similar struggles. We are one unified community and as such we should stay together in one district. We're asking the City Commissioners that if they can't find a solution to keep unified neighborhoods together, including but not limited to Brickell, Downtown Miami, and the Grove, then the March Il th vote on this issue should be postponed until we come up with a solution that actually benefits City ofMiami residents. Thank you. Marci Weber: Hi, my name is Marci Weber, 2525 Swanson Avenue in the Grove. And I've lived here for almost 20 years now 1 love it here. I've spoken at many meetings on many different issues, however, this one is very, very dear to me. And it's the reason that 1 stayed here from New York, was because I loved the Grove. And as 1 said before, and 1 know we have the support of our Commissioner of District 2, so 1 thank you for paying so much attention to this. 1 wish the other two Commissioners were here and I hope they hear what we all have to say in their absence. We beseech you to please work with us on finding a different solution. Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner King, and our two -- two other Commissioners, please, understand our passion. I know I'm not the only -- I listen to my neighbors here and we're so different. We are the jewel of -- one of the jewels ofMiami. We have many jewels in Miami. But Coconut Grove has enabled other neighborhoods to thrive. With all the beautiful development that's happened here and the growth of the Grove and the businesses that are coming and the tourists, it's bringing -- it's bringing home prices up in Shenandoah, in Silver Bluff in Little Havana. I drive through Little Havana now; I cannot believe it's the same place that I moved here. It's so gorgeous, Silver Bluff gorgeous. And everyone is profiting and benefitting and thriving from this -- from this little Grove. I beseech you to let us be the model of bringing people together. Commissioner Carollo, I know you have such strong opinions and you're so influential, I beseech you to please help us find another solution. And also, to you, Commissioner King, and to our missing honored Commissioners but I know they'll hear what we have to say, thank you so much. Chair King: Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you, ma'am, but I'm not as influential as you might think. Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): I just wanted to let everybody know that we have surround sound here, so all of the Commissioners can hear through the back and in the bathrooms. So just so that you know. Thank you. Ms. Weber: Thank you. Chair King: Good afternoon, how are you? Patrick Hourini: Hello. My name is Doctor Patrick Hourini, I'm the Chair of Internal Medicine at Mercy Hospital. I'm 40 years old, I've lived in Miami all my life. This is my first meeting, hearing that I've come out to because it seems so compelling as an existential crisis facing the Grove. I'm strongly opposed to splitting the Grove. I share her sentiments, or really her emotion, in terms of living in the Grove. And I think that I felt that way all my life. I worked until I was about 38 to be able to move to the Grove and now that I'm here it's just a dream. And I'm so reassured to see that people have been here much longer than I have feel the same way. And maybe I'll feel that way, too, when I get older. And I hope that therefore the community can be preserved for that long. And it's also really reassuring to see that people from different backgrounds, that in other parts of Miami, or the country, might feel that they City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 have competing interests, can come together for this community. So, it must be worth something. Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you. Hold on for a minute, sir. Chair, can I indulge you in letting me askjust a brief show of hands then a question that I want to ask? Chair King: Sure. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you. Chair King: Go ahead. Vice Chair Carollo: How many of the Grove residents that are here have lived in the Grove for 40 years or more? IfI could see a show of hands. Okay, so approximately 20 that are here. How many have lived in the Grove for; you know, 30 years to 40 years? So, we've got six, seven. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. How many have lived in the Grove between 20 to 30 years? Another 10 or so. Okay. Thank you. Chair King: Sir? Marcelo Fernandes: Good afternoon. Marcelo Fernandes, 3936 Main Highway is my business, 3637 Charles Avenue is my residence. I'm a former Coconut Grove Village Council member and chair. And we've got to cut to the chase, right, all this fluff We know redistricting is needed, we know redistricting is what needs to be done to comply with all the voting and democracy. But what we've done, what we've seen here has not been the real purpose for it. Commissioner Carollo, I know Commissioner Reyes and de la Portilla (sic), can do the right thing. There are many alternatives here to do the right thing and to do the democratic thing to do here. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and I'm sure the attorneys can sit down and show you other plans that will work perfectly well with all the compliance. You'll have all these people go away and you'll do what's right. So, please, we only need a few votes. And obviously Commissioner Russell also one of the ones to keep the Grove. You guys talk and this can go away in a matter of hours, and do the right thing, and the democratic thing that's right to do. You know what it is. Thank you very much. Chair King: Thank you. Clarice Cooper: Good afternoon. My name is Clarice Cooper, my address is 3735 Oak Avenue in Coconut Grove. I'm here on behalf of the Coconut Grove Village West Homeowners and Tenants Association on which I am the president. I'm here to restate our opposition to the redistricting plan that's been presented before, and the newly revised one, especially as it effects the truncation of Coconut Grove. We, as the oldest community, we need to stay intact. We've worked together; our different neighborhoods, through the years and we have done this even though we cross the racial, economic, and cultural differences that we have. We crossed those lines, and we manage to work together. We did get to resolve, have resolved, some of our issues right here in this chamber by working together and it's very important that we do stay together as One Grove, as one district, and I hope that's kept in mind when you decide that City of Miami Page 19 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 you're going to vote on this, for us to have to live with for another ten years. And we do hope that you take that into consideration. Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: No, it looks like eight. We're two years behind, more or less. Thank you. Ms. Cooper: Thank you. Chair King: Good afternoon. Joshua Abril: Hi. Joshua Abril, 3081 Oak Avenue. I've been living in the Grove 13 years. Grew up down south and out west. The family's lived in District 3 since they got here in 1960 and they still do. My dad's still living in the house that they moved into when they got here. I've seen changes all over the city, 1 mean we all have, especially over the last couple years. But 1 think one of the biggest reasons why we see such a big Grove turnout is because I think there's a bit of a sentiment that we're being punished for population explosions that are happening in other parts of the district. And so, I understand, I mean I still count on my fingers, I can only imagine what Me DeGrandv is going through. But with three Commissioners, with all the complications that have been mentioned, my biggest concern right now is the newly. formed CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) that has yet to really go in to effect with its main economic hub being it will be redistricted and how those complications will apply to that, and West Grove, you know, furthermore, in relation to that. So, with that in mind, with different organizations in mind, and the complications that three Commissioners will impose on the Grove, I want --1 want to reiterate the emphasis that we want, that we would love to see a little more time being taken to really take those sorts of things into consideration. Thank you very much. Chair King: Good afternoon. George Simpson: My name is George Simpson, I live at 3801 Thomas Avenue. My great- grandfather, E. W. R Stirrup, when he died in 1957, he had 199 properties in Coconut Grove. The one property he had outside of the Grove was a building he built at the corner of 8th Street and 3rd Avenue, Overtown, because when my mother was eight years old, she said she wanted to be a doctor and he said I'll build a building where you'll have your office. And that's where she practiced untill-95 decimated the Overtown neighborhood. Now I grew up and went to high school in Miami, I lived at the Stirrup House when I was a child, but then I went to school in Atlanta, Nashville, Boston. I worked in Chicago, New York, before going overseas. One thing that I found in common was whenever a particular ethnic neighborhood got too powerful you start hearing redistricting and we start hearing about consultants and whatnot. So, my experience has been when we hear this type of language it's generally to dilute an ethnic group in a particular neighborhood regardless of what the ethnic group is. So, one of the things my great-grandfather said as he was dying was beware when they start changing the zoning, which is in effect redistricting. So, leave the Grove as it has been since the 1880's. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Albert Gomez: Good afternoon. Albert Gomez, 3566 Vista Court, a proud resident of Miami, Coconut Grove, District 2. I would say that I've sat on the Sea Level Rise Committee at one time and we were bringing in some money, you know, a CRO (Chief Resilience Officer), the whole thing, really trying to make us get real with our threats and vulnerabilities down here. And there was a direct fear that we needed to do it right. Because we're going to move a lot of City of Miami Page 20 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 money and we're going to second the General Obligation Bond. So, we really engaged the community. We did workshops, announced it, used multi -media, a broad array of tools to really get the word out so that we can get maximum community engagement. Those are examples of proper community engagement. There is no deadline here. This is all an opportunity. A problem is nothing but an opportunity. The problem is District 2 is overpopulated. Let's work with the community to figure it out. I am a Grove resident. I also am on the UN (United Nations) Advisory Board, the Chaplains Council. I founded the Bahamas Interfaith Alliance. I work with the Bahamian churches that are in West Grove, and churches in the Bahamas. And I can tell you right now, they all talk about the Grove as truly being one. And I, my church is Christ Episcopal, in the West Grove right there on the border. And we help West Village residents. That is my experience. That can't be taken away. That's what I'm fighting for 1 want you to honor that. The fact that we have cohesion across economic barriers, you know, there are -- that certain people don't have opportunities. West Grove and certain areas of the Grove were blighted. And they were blighted from past negative things that were done to it, whether it be prospecting or what have you. We have an opportunity to take advantage of our citizens. Chair King: Thank you. Thank you. Jerry Schuman: Good afternoon. Jerry Schuman, 2926 Southwest 30th Court, Coconut Grove. I've been here almost 60 years, 50 years on the same street. The district is going to into District 4 which is my district where I'm living and we strongly oppose, and all the neighbors who live in the area strongly oppose. As you can see this is all about One Grove. We all oppose. So, we just ask you to please look at this again. It doesn't need to be rushed. US-1 is the obvious border. Take a look at it again. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Me Carollo. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you. Chair King: Good afternoon. Franck Dossa: Yes, hello, my name is Franck Dossa, I am from 950 Brickell Bay Drive, and I am bringing another dissenting voice to this thing coming from Brickell. I am very jealous of Coconut Grove which is a beautiful neighborhood. And we are having such mobilization here to save a neighborhood. And it needs to be saved. They need to stay one. The same thing is also in Brickell. Brickell is one community; we are facing the same issues. We are a highly workable community where we constantly do things work -- working. There is no sense in splitting Brickell between different districts. We are already quite neglected as a district, as an area, and we should be actually better treated and we should have only one Commissioner, we should be in one district. Now District 2 obviously is getting bigger and bigger, and it is just like too spread. I mean it's going from Coconut Grove all the way to Morningside. These people have different needs, these people have different communities, different way of life, and it should be treated differently. I'm going to finish with a suggestion to the Commission. If you are going to enforce the two minutes rule, then it will be nice to invest in a timer so when somebody's talking, he knows that we don't have too much time. These redistricting things is extremely important for Miami. Take your time. Instead ofplaying with numbers, ask these people, these consultants, to play with communities. They shall see the different communities in Miami and find a district that will respect the border of these communities and makes sense. The rest doesn't make sense to split people because you're going to move 100 people from this place to another place. In my building we have 2,500 building -- person, and I am the vice president of the condo. We cannot move people from one side to another side. It has to be done better. Thanks. City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Chair King: Thank you. Mr Dossa: One -fifty-seven. Chair King: Yes. I have a timer here. So, for those of you who aren't aware I have a timer here. The first bell you hear, you have 30 seconds left to speak. The second bell you hear your time is up. So, we are monitoring the time. Thank you. Good afternoon. Katrina Morris: Good afternoon. Katrina Morris, 4130 LybyerAvenue, District 2.1 am opposed to the current redistricting plan; it breaks up the traditional neighborhood of Coconut Grove unnecessarily. Furthermore, the public was not given the opportunity to see alternative plans. Nor were they given any workshops or a chance to engage in the dialogue with public, staff or officials before the single draft plan was presented February 7th. This is a blatant disenfranchisement of the continuants of the City of Miami. After reviewing the Commissioners' statements, it is clear that the intent of Commissioners Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, and Carollo, appears to be to break up the Coconut Grove voting bloc. They gave the directive to preserve existing neighborhoods -- ah, time -- but continue to say where feasible. When given examples of neighborhoods that should be kept together, they gave Allapattah, Flagami, Wynwood, and Overtown as examples. As examples of what to break up, hypothetically they returned over and over to the Grove. Why? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla said he wanted to see, "How far Mr DeGrandy could go and still defend it in a courtroom." On November 18th Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla suggested they have one meeting on December 5th and then have a beautiful Christmas and then come back maybe in February. He said he wasn't there yet. On December 5th, DeGrandy stated that the purpose of the meeting was to get -- on December 5th, to get additional directions from the Commissioners and had nothing to show them. Raleigh, North Carolina, with a population of 464,000 thousand dollars [sic] -- thousand dollars -- and five districts started the process with the same census on November 2nd, offered three options to residents, had at least two public study groups and four community meetings regarding the plan, all by February 23rd, 2022. On December 9th, no new criteria were added but the desire to break up Coconut Grove was reiterated. Why? Governments, the Declaration of Independence states, derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. Thank you. And I'm submitting -- Chair King: Thank you. Ms. Morris: Sure. And I'm submitting Raleigh -- Chair King: Good afternoon. How are you? John Snyder: Yes, John Snyder, 3980 Hardy Avenue. I'm representing the South Grove Neighborhood Association of which I'm the president. We are opposed to this redistricting plan. We think there are better alternatives. I think two of them have been presented today. One of them even reunites an additional neighborhood. It's very important to have neighborhoods. Ours is one which is diverse both in terms of racial makeup, ethnic makeup, they even let a German in there, like me. Vice Chair Carollo: Be careful. City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr Snyder: And also, economically. So demographically, ethnically, we operate as one neighborhood. We've seen that there are better alternatives. In addition, the constraints that Mr DeGrandy mentioned, some of these are artificial. Some of them shouldn't really impact the redistricting, which we understand needs to be done. So, I'd like to have it possible to reconsider some of these things. Like there's nothing sacrosanct about having five districts. Most cities of the size of Miami have more representatives than jive on the governing board. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. One thing, I believe I made it clear at our meetings that this process wouldn't be driven by time or money. Didn't 1 say that? (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: But -- but you did not include that 1 said -- (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: Okay. Mr Hannon: Chair, I'm sorry, I'm not getting these coninients on the record. Chair King: 1 know, it's okay. It's -- (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: It's -- thank you. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: Okay. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: Thank you. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: Okay, got you. He's going to remove you. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: He's going to remove you. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: So, I just want to reiterate, based on her comments, that I did say that this body would not rush this process. We would not be driven because of trying to save money. That we would do our best efforts to make sure that this process was as fair, and as baked, as it possibly could be. No one, none of us wants this to happen. This is driven because we are required to do so, and each Commissioner was given the opportunity, we received this presentation, just as it City of Miami Page 23 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 was said in the last meeting, Tuesday before close of business. And each -- each of your representatives -- (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: If you make another outburst, he will remove you. Each of your Commissioners has the opportunity to share this information with their constituency, as I did with mine. So, everybody is aware, we are not trying to hide any information from any of you. And we want your input, hence, this meeting and others, and there are more meetings to come, 1 am sure. Sir? Oh, ma'am, is it your turn? I'm sorry. Go ahead. Sue McConnell: Thank you. My name is Sue McConnell, I'm the president of Village of Center Grove and what I'm going to say is not to disparage anyone or upset anyone, but for ten years 1 came to every Commission meeting until the pandemic. I know how it's run. To sit here and listen to all these people say how heartfelt they are about this situation, and to have one Commissioner not sit at his chair is hurtful. This is why we vote for people. I know Commissioner Reyes left for five minutes, and I understand that, but to not sit there the whole time bothers me a lot. I mean this is important to us. Coconut Grove, we're a family, we're a village, we're a fishing village, a sailing village. It means a lot to us. And I just want to say that. We vote for you because you represent us and that's what we like. And you can be in your office, but you can be working, you can be on the phone, you can be driving to the beach, we don't know. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Adam Asbury: Hi. My name is Adam Asbury, I'm a Grove resident, District 2. I just want to -- I'm very happy with where -- where everything is going, where everything has been. My whole life I've lived here in Coconut Grove. My great-grandfather, my, grandfathers from the Grove and my mom's from the Grove. To come after and change these -- the voting and the districts, it's like taking our identity. It's like changing who we are and that's not just, you know, we are together, why would the Commission propose something like this? It would potentially put all these people in this room -- to just make us come here and literally cry, you know? Like this is a big deal, this is who we are. The Grove, Coconut Grove. The Grovites, when I see you walking in the Grove, I'm so proud to see you, what you've done. To see what you do for the water, see what you do for everything. And I wish you weren't like timed out as they say, but if redirecting or rezoning, I think of this as the same thing, if you're going to rezone the Grove, the Grove knew what they would do if anyone tried to rezone anything in Coconut Grove, they would vote unanimously to stop it. So, I wonder why we have to question this, why we have to break this up so that we are not conquered. I mean we don't want to be divided and conquered, we want to be One Grove. Because this is what we've always been since the beginning of the settlement here, and the first town in Miami. So, I'm very sorry I'm worked up, but thank you for this opportunity to speak and please do the right thing. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Sir? Leonard Scinto: Hi, nay name is Len Scinto, I'm at 3091 Bird Avenue. So, I'm still in that little wedge. It's going north. And I've been there for 19 years, so I'm just short of your 20 year designation there. So, I have been, I was on the Board of Directors of the Village of Center Grove Neighborhood Association that Sue had mentioned, .for several years. I'm also been actively involved. for many years in the King Mango Strut, as I hope many of you know is a City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 really fun and kind of spirited event that we do in Coconut Grove that some people actually come and yo-yo during. And then so whatl wanted to say about that, in fact one year pulled the permits for the parade, and I dealt with one Commissioner, one Commissioner's office, so I hope I wouldn't have to do two or three Commissioners' office to put the Strut on again after the pandemic. But when we do this, what I want to talk about is that we have a community of really obviously actively involved folks here. And that active involvement creates a spirit, a spirit of unity in Coconut Grove. And what do we do with that? We take a key role in the Coconut Grove Arts Festival and the King Mango Strut, right? These events that when you do a web search what to do in Miami, it says Coconut Grove Arts Fest, it says King Mango Strut, right? And so, the folks that are involved in this neighborhood, they do this not just for this neighborhood but the whole city of Miami benefits from the activity of these folks. And it's because of that spirit that we have. So, I would just ask you -- we also have smaller events, Coconut Grove -- Gifford Lane corning up a weekfrom Sunday, so a little small art jest, local art Jest. Lastly, I just want to say that, you know, we have an integrated -- we're integrated in the neighborhood, we're active in the neighborhood, we identify with the neighborhood, we do a lot of things that benefit the City of Miami, so I ask you not to degrade that spirit. Especially when there are viable and maybe less intrusive alternatives available. Chair King: Thank- you. Mr Scinto: Thank you. Chair King: Ma'am? Renee Schafer: Yes. Renee Schafer 2571 Lincoln, resident over 45 years. I wanted to say that you are here and actually we are here in front of us and in front of you because we voted for you, and we trusted that you would care about us and for us. We're asking you to evoke that trust we've given you. We know that there is a question, a problem to be solved, and we know that you've got the burden as designated, but we're here to work together If there is a problem for you, there's a problem for us. We have representatives ready to give other solutions that could preserve many communities, not just ours. But we beg you, do not divide Coconut Grove, do not invade us, do not make us divisional. We wish to remain one historically and as we are at present. Do the right thing for the people and for Coconut Grove. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Cherie Cole: Hello. Hi there, my name is Cherie Cole, I live at 2915 Jackson Avenue in the Parisian Pillage. We have the just joy of having a little park on our street with a gate so the little ones can't run out. I am so proud to live in Coconut Grove and I vehemently oppose this redistricting. I think of the Grove sometimes as being called the Groovy Grove and I can remember walking to Escalas Clogs to buy my clogs. We are proud of the uniqueness of our community. I would ask each of you to very thoughtfully and time fully consider the uniqueness of Coconut Grove. And the rich history we have of being one of the oldest communities in Miami. That is of value. I am begging you not to take away that rich history and split us up. And along with many other people that are here. I would also say to you that we are a diverse community that cares deeply for each other We do things, crossing over neighborhoods, building a community bridge, baking birthday cakes. All kinds of things go on quietly in the Grove. That is a neighborhood. These are people that care deeply about each other. It's not just about redistricting. I would ask you how are some of the people going to get to the polling places with the new plan? I for one will take them. They will have their vote. I would just end City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 by saying the Grove is not broken, you don't need to fix us. There are plenty of other things for you to fix in the city of Miami. So, 1 would ask you to leave us, One Grove. You've got so many other things to fix. We are not broken. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Mickey Mersel: Good afternoon. My name is Mickey Mersel, I live at 2542 Swanson Avenue. You might remember me from two weeks ago, 1 used to live in Miami Beach, moved off of Miami Beach to live in the Grove. But 1 was watching the presentation this morning. I saw a lot of numbers and it reminded me of my job for 40 years, and I played with numbers, strictly numbers. But behind those numbers were people. And then 1 look out in the audience, and I listen to the people talk and there's Black people, White people, old people, young people, Democrats, Republicans. And this is one of the few times in recent years that I've seen people unite no matter what they are or who they are for a common cause. And I know there's a job that has to be done and all I'm asking you to do is look at the people and look at the -- the zeal that is coming from these people, and me, and these people. And like the other person said, do the right thing for the people. Thank you. John Dolson: Hi. John Dolson, 1 reside at 4205 Lennox Drive, Coconut Grove. 1 want to address all the Commissioners and I'm sorry we don't have all five here. Because I've heard all of you over and over talk about the importance of a participatory government, the local interference. I even heard that on the prayer today from Manolo Reyes. But l also heard on February 7th some very disturbing things. A quote, "The people who oppose this split are only a vocal minority." I also heard a quote, "Every neighborhood thinks it's special, but they are not. "A decision to split Coconut Grove into three districts diminishes our voting power, burdens us with three Commissioners to address collective issues like neighborhood conservation districts, environmental and historic preservation, and even local celebrations like Goombay, which I know Mr Reyes would like to bring back. And I applaud that. On February, 7th, 40 people -- over 40 people spoke in opposition to splitting the Grove. Nobody supported the split. We haven't seen anybody supporting today. They were only the tip of the iceberg; they were not a vocal minority. We've been One Grove since 1885. When we got annexed in 1925, for the last 97 years, we've been protecting our borders vigorously through multiple generations. We are a special group. You see that when you drive into the Grove from any direction. You see that when you walk around and see all the quirkv restaurants and talk to many of the quirky people that are here, including old quirky people like me. We are in fact a vocal majority. You five Commissioners, in all due respects, you are the vocal minority. We want you to listen, to stand by your policy of leaving decisions to the people who live here. We vote and we remember. Support One Grove, one voice, one district. There are better alternatives available. And we appreciate the time for you guys to sit up there and to listen to all this; I know it takes a lot. Thank you very much. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Henry Nixon: Good afternoon. My name is Harry Nixon. Excuse me, I am prone to emotion like one of the previous speakers, and I'm not a public speaker I think 1 would consider this my first political act. But I've been living and working in the Grove since I came to graduate school here in Miami. My first job was in a big blue building on the corner of Main Highway and Charles Avenue. And I've lived on and Wand worked on and off in the Grove ever since then. I live on the -- my address is Coconut and Center which sounds like it would be pretty close to the middle of Coconut Grove. But I would be redistricted at this point from people two City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 blocks away from me. I work in downtown Coconut Grove, I go to church at Plymouth Congregational Church where I'm very involved, I also volunteer at the Crisis Food Pantry in the West Grove, and my son goes to a really excellent middle school in the West Grove. And those would be in three decent districts. This is my community, it's my neighborhood. I could walk to all those three places. And I just came here to ask you guys to do what you can do to keep us a community. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Debbie Dolson: My name is Debbie Dolson, 4205 Lennox Drive, Coconut Grove. My family has lived at this address for over 50 years. I support One Grove, one voice, one district to US- 1. 1 also represent Grove Watch. We have over 1,300 members on our Facebookpage, all dedicated to preserving our community of Coconut Grove. Over the years we have heard all of you speak very positively about Coconut Grove. Commissioner Reyes, you have always championed neighborhood rights, and culture, including as we just heard bringing back the Goombay Festival to Coconut Grove. Commissioner Carollo, you own property here and understand well what a cohesive community this us. Commissioner King, Coconut Grove shares many of the same issues that you have in your district. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla has spoken many times of his enjoyment of visiting Coconut Grove, enjoying our restaurants and the special ambience that we have. And of course, Commissioner Russell, you live here, and you have been our steadfast supporter Please understand that Coconut Grove is special, it is a special neighborhood. Please protect our heritage and diverse culture. We have been one Grove since the 1880s. And please help us support our One Grove efforts. There are better alternatives available in this redistricting plan. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Alejandro Rondon: Good afternoon. My name is Alejandro Rondon and I live at 3309 William Avenue in Coconut Grove. I am a council member on the Coconut Grove Village Council. There are nine of us. It is a very diverse Coconut Grove Village Council, with people of all ages, professions, and ethnicities. I have lived in Coconut Grove only two years and I'm sort of shocked that for being somewhere for two years, I'm willing to sit through, you know, two hours of public comments because of how much I care about this community, and how it reminds me of no other place that 1 have had the privilege to live at. I was in Doral this morning for a work meeting, and someone was telling me about, like ct legend in Miami, Holmes Braddock, who apparently would say, you know, for really tough decisions 50 percent of the people are going to hate you and 50 percent of the people are going to love you, so why don't you just to the right thing. And so, I really ask everybody here to please consider all options and do the right thing. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Reynold Martin: Good afternoon. Reynold Martin, Coconut Grove, 3325 Percival Avenue. My family has been here since the late 1800's. We're from Grand Bahama. And, Commissioner I want to thank you for trying to bring the Goombay back. I've been on the phone day and night talking to people from Bimini, Exuma, Nassau, Grand Bahama, trying to bring the Goombay back in an authentic manner I appreciate your effort to get that done. But I support One Grove, one district, one representative. And I am a member of the Coconut Grove Village West Homeowners and Tenants Association and all of us think that one Grove ought to be the order of the day. Thank you. City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. David Winker: Good afternoon. David Winker I live in Manolo Reyes' -- Commissioner Manolo Reyes' District 4. I am a happy constituent. Thank you. My address is 2222 Southwest 17th Street. Ms. Mendez: Say that again, please? (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Mr Winker: 1 want to read you a legal concept. And the legal concept is cracking. You're going to be hearing more about cracking. It's kind of a weird term we don't often hear so it doesn't sound like a serious legal term like habeas corpus or writ of mandamus. But what you're hearing today is a textbook case of cracking. Cracking is defined as in redistricting the practice of drawing electoral districts that divide the population of a community or constituency across several districts. In doing so, the influence of the community or constituency may be reduced. What we've heard today. I can't tell you how much I respect the attorneys that did this. Mr. DeGrandy is very good at this, probably the best in this state. Steve Cody is a friend of mine, has been involved in this for years. They do a good job. Commissioners, don't direct them to crack this community. Please listen to the community and hear their voice and respect the One Grove. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Nathan Kurland: Good afternoon. Nathan Kurland, 3132 Day Avenue, Coconut Grove. Chairman of Coconut Grove Art Festival, Theory Committee worker on the Gifford Lane Art Festival, announcer and board member of the King Mango Strut Parade. I don't mention these things to self -aggrandize, just that I love my community. A husband came home one day to his wife and said what would happen if I hit the lottery? The wife said I'll take half your money and I'll be out of here as quick as I can be. The husband said fantastic, I hit the lottery, twelve dollars, here's six, keep in touch. Commissioners, we've had a lot of very, very eloquent speakers today and what I'd like to remind you is that we are your constituents whether we're District 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, whatever And the idea of telling you that story about keeping in touch is that hopefully you will keep in touch with us. This is a community that wants to stay a single community Keep in touch. We are your constituents. We do not wish to be split up. One Grove. Thank you very much. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Luisa Pena: Good afternoon. My name is Luisa, I am a resident of the North Grove. I live in Bay Heights along with Natoma Manors. As a Grovite I'm here to express our opposition to the reassignment of the North Grove's neighborhoods into District 3. We are one community who has been -- I'm sorry -- we are one community who has been a part of the Grove through our historic right. Our neighborhood, which includes a previous home of the Miami Science Museum, has been historically a part of Vizcaya. By cutting us out of District 2 you're essentially cutting us off from our history and sense of community. This proposed redistricting is absurd at best and no different than drawing a line down the center of Vizcaya itself or any particular home. I beg that you'd please don't rush this decision and really take our time to investigate and understand the ramifications of these proposed changes. As a previous resident City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 of District 3, 1 can attest to the huge contrast our neighborhood has to communities in District 3, 4, and 5. And we, feel at home as one Grove in District 2. We kindly ask that you please respect the Grove's current boundaries. Take your time to explore other alternatives. And please respect the US-1 boundary. And keep the North Grove, West Grove, or any other part of the Grove as One Grove. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Lucian Ferster: Good afternoon. Vice Chair Carollo: By the way, ma'am, in the last plan that was presented here today, as Commissioner Russell had requested before, Bay Heights is still and is being kept in District 2. Ms. Pena: What about Natoma -- Vice Chair Carollo: So whatever information you were given now it's erroneous, because Bay Heights is still in District 2. Ms. Pena: What about Natoma Manors? Vice Chair Carollo: Natoma Manor is the area basically between 17th and the beginning -- Ms. Pena: Between Bay Heights and 17th. Vice Chair Carollo: -- of Bay Heights. That is in District 3. Ms. Pena: Yeah, we would like to try to keep that within District 2. Whether it's North Grove, West Grove, or any part of the Grove, we want to keep it as One Grove. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. Ms. Pena: When you ask my daughter where she lives -- honey, where do you live? Say it. Unidentified Speaker: Coconut Grove. Vice Chair Carollo: That's real cute Ms. Pena: Thank vou, and I'd like to keep it that way. Vice Chair Carollo: -- but -- but can you repeat again so I can remember it, the difference that you said you saw in -- there is between Bay Heights in District 2 and District 3, 4, and 5? Ms. Pena: So basically, what you're trying to do is cut -- sorry -- Pee Chair Carollo: No, no, you had said that there was a huge difference. Ms. Pena: Oh, living in District 3, I've lived all over Miami, I've lived in Brickell, I've lived everywhere, and the Grove, whether it's the North Grove or West Grove, we're one community. It's very familiar, it's a place to raise kids. We want to keep that -- all of those values, all as one. City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, but that's not what you said before. You used a phrase on saying the big difference,from Bay Heights to those other districts. Ms. Pena: There is a big difference. Those other districts have a higher density. We don't have that density. We want to try to keep our community one. Whether it's -- her best friend lives in Natoma Manors, it's one street over it's four houses down. I don't want it to be a different neighborhood, I don't want it to be a different district. We ask that you try to keep the Grove entirely one long sliver cis opposed to chopping it up into whatever may be necessary. Vice Chair Carollo: I see. Okay, thank you. Ms. Pena: Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Mr Ferster: Good afternoon. I want to thank you Commissioners respectfully and patiently listening to all of this. I don't want to be redundant. You've certainly gotten the message, Coconut Grove resists, adamantly, being split up. And 1 don't have to repeat that. 1 live on Crawford Avenue in the South Grove. I've lived there since 1983. What I want to do is say this, I certainly agree, and 1 think everyone that has spoken agrees there have to be transitions for districts. However, what we don't understand, and I personally don't understand, is a watertight reason why Coconut Grove has to be split up. If this Commission could say that Coconut Grove has to be split up for certain legal or social or City business reasons that are watertight and understandable, I think that would make some sense. But I'm not hearing it. I'm not hearing it. What is said is diffuse, confusing, and frankly, I think this has to rethought. I think there's a way around this. You folks can do it. We're asking you to do it. Thank you very much. Chair King: Thank you. Mr. Hannon: Chair? I'm sorry. If I can get the speaker's name? Chair King: Sir? Mr Ferster: Lucian Ferster. Chair King: I'm sorry. could you say your name in the mic for the Clerk. Mr Ferster: L-U-C-I-A-NF-E-R-S-T-E-R. Okay? Mr Hannon: Thank you. Mr Ferster: Sure. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. Julian Roca: Thank you. My name is Julian Roca, 2921 Southwest 30th Court. I am in between Bird and US-1, so strongly that area that would be redistricted. I have two daughters, eight and five, they go to the public school system, they go to Coconut Grove Elementary. Most of our City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 friends live on all of the streets that were mentioned here today, Day, Indiana, Ohio, Jackson, Center, Frow, Swanson. We walk to each other's houses every Friday; we go to people's garages, and we talk about the issues that our district has. We also talk about the solutions that we propose. Moving ahead and looking at this proposal, I, feel that some of our community is sort of breaking apart and we're only a couple blocks away from each other I want my two daughters to grow up in this place that I consider to be magic. If you haven't lived here, you wouldn't know. It is magic. Let my daughters live in One Grove. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. John Stovall: Good afternoon. My name is John Stovall, I live at 2230 Lincoln Avenue. I've been here for 40 years. I certainly believe in one Grove. Please keep it. I concede the rest of my time to Mel. Chair King: Didn't you already speak, sir? Mr Meinhardt: He's asked if he can concede -- Chair King: Oh, he's giving you -- okay, go ahead. Mr Meinhardt: Thank you. My name is Mel Meinhardt, Pin actually the organiser of One Grove. And the reason that many of the folks who came here came. We have learned a lot. The thing I love about Miami and Coconut Grove is there's so much to learn. So many things that can be done and so much creativity that can he done. The thing I learned today that was most surprising is that Commissioner Carollo was involved in the creation of the representation of Coconut Grove as a district in District 2 some many, many years, just before I got here. Sir, Pm told that. Is that correct? Vice Chair Carollo: Let me be very clear to you. I was the author of creating districts in the city so that we would have a balanced representation -- Meinhardt: And I would like to thank you publicly for being at the forefront of creating the representation system in the city of Miami. Vice Chair Carollo: That's correct. Mr Meinhardt: I appreciate very much, greatly. It's clear that the baby you hatched or the baby you gave birth to more than 20 years ago has reached a point in which the people are passionate and care about the representation. And for that, sir, I admire you, I thank you for your foresight. And I also, sir, ask you, with the wisdom that I hope you'll show, the wisdom not to cut your baby. Vice Chair Carollo: No, this -- Me Meinhardt: And let us go and let us keep going. Thank you very much, Commissioner Carollo. Vice Chair Carollo: I appreciate that but if you think you're going to get up here and try to somehow in your mind paint me into a corner by being polite, you're not going to accomplish that. And let me be -- City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr Meinhardt: No, sir. I'm learning every day. No. Vice Chair Carollo: -- let me be as clear as I can. When I did that, I was Mayor of the City. We had had an election that someone that looked like her was no longer here. You had four Hispanic Commissioners, and you had my dear friend, J.L. Plummer, that Coconut Grove, after serving so many years, decided (UNINTELLIGIBLE) when we went to districts. So, Plummer was the only non -Hispanic in the Commission. And if we would have had another election and Plummer would not have ran, you probably would have had five Hispanics in the Commission. Just like now, if would be a citywide vote you would have five Hispanics up here. So, I put my neck on the line and I said no, I'm not going to wait for a couple more elections and not have an African -American in this Commission, because that's what it would have required. Just because you don't have representation from a certain minority group, automatically you don't get to go to court, and you get that. You have to show that it's a pattern. Not necessarily that the guy that they voted out is someone that people didn't want. And you can't do that in one election. So, I went out knowing the pluses, and frankly, all the negatives that districts bring, and asked for the residents of Miami to vote for districts. And for the mayor to be an executive mayor like it is today. And I was the first executive mayor of the City of Miami. And that's how districts came. We, yes, gerrymandered District 2 so that someone that would be ofAnglo background, non -Hispanic, would be elected. And that's why District 2 crossed into across the highway and a big chunk of a Hispanic district was put into District 2 because we had to balance the population within the five districts. In order to accommodate that and to make sure that there were enough African Americans in District 5 to elect an African American from District 5, we gerrymandered and broke up numerous neighborhoods into the other three -- in the other three districts. In particularly District 3 and District 4. And that's how we came about today. Then we've had since then a couple or more revisions. I think Mr. DeGrandy has been the guy who's been doing it all those years. So, I mean we haven't gone and tried to pick anybody else to put something different, or hoodwink people, we've kept the same guy that we've had. So, throughout the different revisions, since then we've had to cut into other areas. Originally District 2 went all the way to the end of the City of Miami, past Biscayne Boulevard to 86th Street. That had to be changed in the prior revision because of the growth that came. Other areas had to be changed. And this is why we have the dilemma that we're discussing today. Mr Meinhardt: Thank you, sir. Vice Chair Carollo: But thank you for your words and your input. Mr Meinhardt: Thank you, Commissioner. Chair King: Thank you. Thank you. Ma'am, good afternoon. Joyce Nelson: Hi. I haven't got to see you in person yet. This is the first time. Joyce Nelson, 2535 Inagua Avenue. I moved to the Grove in 1974 so I have seen it all, everything. So, everybody that's been up on this dais. Vice Chair Carollo: Hi, Joyce, remember me? Ms. Nelson: Yes. And I have traveled the world. I have been everywhere. I'm very fortunate to have done that. I'm glad I did it before I was in this condition because now I can't. But I've City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 been everywhere except Australia and New Zealand. And there's nowhere else 1 want to live. 1 could have moved to California, you know, New York, Louisiana. The only place I would want to live now is in South Africa on safari, that's my favorite. But this is -- I don't feel -- I love coming home to the Grove. And I'm not troubled by anything. It's a great neighborhood. It always has been. And I met all these wonderful people as a community activist for 30 years trying to preserve the Grove. And we're still doing it. We're not going to give up. So, it's just ridiculous to think that you would divide it up. We've been together for almost 200 years, and we want to remain that way. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Good afternoon. James Torres: Good afternoon. James Torres, president of the DNA (Downtown Neighbors Alliance), District 2, Downtown Miami. I'm kind of swallowing my words here because there's a lot of emotion in the room and I understand that, but at the end of the day the redistricting is a draft that we're talking about. And that's kind of been lost in translation today. And when the DNA got the information, they called me and they go, James, don't jump out of your 25th floor window because District 5 is going to be right at your doorstep on 2 -- 2nd Street. I said that's great, because I remember the time that I met you and I said I look, forward to working with you. So that's going to kind of happen and that's the reality. So, we can't change everything because we understand that the population is what's demanding this drive. I know that the "Grovites" are passionate about their neighborhood. We understand that. Downtown is passionate about their neighborhood. So, what we're asking is, the keyword today should be this is a draft, that this is an exercise. So, we kindly ask all the Commissioners, because District 2 has relationships with the Bayfront Trust Commission, with the DDA (Downtown Development Authority), Manolo Reyes, and of course our Commissioner Ken Russell. Is it complicated at times? Yes. But we've worked through it. That's how come it's kind of funny that we're meeting again and we're moving forward. So please kindly look at all viable options that are available in this draft scenario that you have. Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: Let me ask you something, James. Chair King: Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: If I may ask, the Chair, this. Mr Torres: Yes, sir. Vice Chair Carollo: Have you found that by having to work with more Commissioners in a sense has given Downtown a plus versus a disadvantage? Mr Torres: I would tell you it's a plus because it creates diversity. It also allows us to know what other things are happening in certain districts. So, it's not a negative. But sometimes it can be complicated because we can't reach certain things. That's the good and the bad. But at the end of the day, it's something that we can't control but we can give you input. And that's how come I'm using the keyword today as a draft. That 1 hope you guys really look at every viable option that's available. Vice Chair Carollo: Do you like peacocks? Mr Torres: Not on my car, but I think they're great. City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: No, no, no, no. I'm just wondering because I'm going to talk about peacocks now. I want to preserve peacocks. Save the peacocks. Mr Torres: Save the peacock. Vice Chair Carollo: I'm getting concerned that the more I drive through Coconut Grove, they're disappearing everywhere. And that's not the Coconut Grove, the historical Coconut Grove, that I remember. Mr Torres: Well, Downtown has the roosters, so... Vice Chair Carollo: Well -- Mr Torres: You know, I'm just pointing that out. Vice Chair Carollo: -- yeah but you might get some peacocks there. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Mr Torres: Yeah, thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: You might get some peacocks there. Mr Torres: I know. So, I appreciate it, so please if we can use the word, this is a draft, that everyone knows that we all have to work together. Chair King: Thank you. Mr Torres: Thank you for your time. Thank you. Chair King: Thank you. Ma'am, good afternoon. Melissa Meyer: Good afternoon. Melissa Meyer Village West homeowner and 31 year Grove resident. AIA associate, Architectural Designer and Lead AP in building design and construction and adjunct professor of architecture at Miami -Dade College. Your dividing, reconfiguring, shuffling and manipulation of Miami's first and most historically and culturally significant neighborhood is an analogist to a group of narrow mindedly focused teenage boys attempting to divide a Cazzola's meat lovers pizza. Not since the annexation of Coconut Grove into the City of Miami in 1925 has our village been under such an egregious threat of the dilution of our cohesive village identity that would burden our residents and civic organizations with triple meetings, with multiple Commissioners, on critical village -wide initiatives that our residents are historically unified on. Effectively crippling our undivided voice. Isn't that the real intention behind this disrespectful gerrymandering? Chair King: Thank you. Ms. Meyer: That's a question for you. Chair King: Thank you. City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: Would you like for me to answer it? Ms. Meyer: Sure. Vice Chair Carollo: I'd be happy to. Chair King: No. No. No. Ms. Meyer: Yes, please. That's a question for you. Chair King: No. No. Is there anyone else here that would like to speak on public comments? Anyone else would like to speak on public comments? Seeing none, the public comment period is now closed and we are going to take a break. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you. Chair King: We will return at 3:30. Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you. SP - SPECIAL MEETING SP.1 DISCUSSION ITEM 11493 Commissioners and Mayor A DISCUSSION ITEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING AND TAKING ANY AND ALL ACTIONS RELATED TO THE REDISTRICTING OF CITY COMMISSION DISTRICTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE DRAFTING OF ANY RELATED MAPS AND BOUNDARIES. RESULT: DISCUSSED Chair King: Mr. DeGrandy, you may begin your presentation. City of Miami Page 35 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Miguel DeGrandy: Thank you, Madam Chair, and good morning, Commissioners. For the record, this is now the fourth advertised public hearing we have on redistricting. And per your directives on February 22nd, we provided each one of your offices with a detailed report on the revised plan that we will be presenting today. In our presentation today we will recap some of the information in that plan. And I'll try to move as quickly as possible since I assume you've already reviewed the 33 page report. Now of course after my presentation concludes I'm happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Now first permit me to recap some of the discussion that occurred in the prior hearing and the direction we were provided. As you know, on February 7th, we had our third public meeting in which we presented a preliminary redistricting plan to this Commission. The preliminary plan brought down your current overall deviation of 42 plus percent to 3.8 percent. It included four districts where minority residents had an equal opportunity to elect the candidate of their choice. And it was developed based on the traditional redistricting criteria you asked us to utilize in developing the plan. Now during that hearing there was significant public comment and the vast majority of speakers opposed having the Grove in more than one district. There was Commission discussion on that issue and a motion which in essence was to maintain US -I as a hard boundary to D2 (District 2) in order to maintain all of the Grove in one district. That motion died for lack of a second. Later on there was a motion which was adopted directing us to consider going south of US-1 into D2 to balance population. There was also direction on restoring the part of D5 where the MRC (Miami Riverside Center) is located. At your direction, I met with each one of you between the last meeting and this one to get additional input. Some we were able to consider, some we were not able to implement. And so here are some of the highlights of the plan. First, although we had clear direction to allow us to use areas south of US-1 to equalize population in other districts, we reduced the number of residents moved from the Grove to other districts by more than half, from 6,384 to 2,989. All of that reduction came from the area south of US-1 that was initially moved into D4. By moving the boundary up from Day Avenue to Bird Avenue we reduced the amount of residents moved into D4 from 5,071 to 1,597. As to that area there were concerns expressed that we were moving 497 Black residents from D2 to D4. The revised plan reduces that number to 114. There was also discussion about keeping Bay Heights in D2, so we reconfigured the area south of US-1 that we brought into D3 to keep Bay Heights in D2. We followed your direction to keep the MRC in D5, but that resulted in having to move approximately 2,500 residents that we had been able to move into DI back into D2. Now by reconfiguring areas around the boundaries of D5 we were also able to slightly increase the total Black population as well as the voting age population above 50 percent. However, because we moved less people out of D2 than in our preliminary plan, D2's deviation increased from a negative .02 to a positive 5.46. All other districts are slightly below the ideal population number, next slide, Steve, with deviations anywhere from negative .41 to negative .2 -- excuse me, negative 2.14. Now the changes that we made as a result of your additional direction resulted in an increase in overall deviation from 3.81 in our preliminary plan to 7.6 in the plan we present today. The overall deviation is still within the case law's acceptable range and there are rational bases for the deviations in the plan. And we will document that further when we provide our final report on March 11 th. Now let's review the data in the revised plan, then we can look at the district configurations. Okay, next slide. District 1 is at a negative .41 deviation which is 340 residents below the ideal. It has an 88 percent Hispanic population with 89.5 percent Hispanic voting age population. City of Miami Page 36 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 It clearly complies with the Voting Rights Act. District 2 -- next slide -- now has a positive 5.46 deviation which is 4,832 residents above the ideal. District 2 remains a swing district with 37 percent White non -Hispanic population, approximately 7.5 percent Black population, and roughly 48.7 percent Hispanic population. Voting age percentages are almost the same as the total population percentages. D3 is slightly underpopulated at a negative .92 or 810 people under the ideal population. District 3 has an 87.25 percent Hispanic population and approximately 88.3 Hispanic voting age population. And consistent with the Voting Rights Act the Hispanic has an equal opportunity to elect the candidate of its choice. District 4 is now slightly underpopulated with a negative 2 percent deviation or 1,774 residents below the ideal. 88.2 percent of the population is Hispanic with 89.5 percent Hispanic voting age population. As I said before, the drop in population compared to our preliminary plan was a direct result of reducing the number of Grove residents that we had moved from D2 to D4. The district also complies with the requirements of the Voting Rights Act. Now finally we underpopulated D5 by roughly 2.14 under the ideal. This allowed us to slightly increase the Black voting percentage. The proposed district is now approximately 52.2 percent Black with approximately 50.3 percent Black voting age population. Our analysis of voting patterns indicates consistent with the requirements of the VRA (Voting Rights Act). The Black community does have an equal opportunity to elect the candidate of its choice. So now let me show you some of the maps to further illustrate what we just discussed. The first slide shows the entire configuration of proposed District 1. As you can see it maintains the vast majority of the core of the existing district. In fact, DI still retains slightly over 92 percent of its current population. Now the next slide shows two of the changes we did on the northern border between DI and D5. And as I said before, we worked around the edges of the borders of D5 which allowed us to reconfigure and slightly increase D5's Black voting age population. The next slide shows the movement we made in the south part of DI taking population from D5. Now the preliminary plan had this movement going even further southeast, but however, in order to keep the MRC in D5 we had to reduce this movement with a new boundary at the 1-95 expressway. Again, we felt this movement was needed because Hispanics in this area constitute roughly 70 percent of the population, thus they have greater voter cohesion which is one of the factors you asked us to consider with D1 residents. Now the next slide is of the proposed District 5. The proposed District 5 also maintains over 91 percent of its current population. And it was the most challenging district to develop. Our only options were to move south and across the river to D3, west into DI or east into D2. We already showed the slight changes we did between DI and D5, and D3 is currently the most underpopulated district so it was not feasible to cross the river to take population from D3. And so, we used a significant amount of the population of D2 in the east in order to balance the population. Now, the next two slides show the population we moved from D2 to D5. This first slide shows the movements on the northeast part of D5 shifting the eastern boundary to Northeast 2nd Avenue. The next slide shows that same movement further down on the southern end, also shifting the boundary to 2nd Avenue. Now simply stated, we cannot move further east without diminishing the African -American communities' opportunity to elect a candidate of choice. The next slide is of the proposed District 3. As the most underpopulated district, D3 also needed to increase in population. It was not feasible to cross the river to the north, so our options were to move east, west, or south. We did not feel it was appropriate to move east because of dissimilar demographics. And the next slide now shows the movements we made taking population, from D4 into D3. It spans from Northwest 7th City of Miami Page 37 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Street to the north to Southwest 8th Street to the south and from 27th to 32nd Avenue. Again, this was done to balance population. And in that regard, we tried to find adjacent areas with similar demographics in order to maintain voter cohesion, one of your standards, while rebalancing population. Now the next slide finally shows the area we moved from D2 to D3. Now as I stated before at the February 7th meeting, there was discussion about keeping Bay Heights in D2 and so we reconfigured the area south of US-1 that initially moved to D3 in the preliminary plan. The new configuration now keeps now keeps all of Bay Heights, which is to the north of this movement, within D2. And this was done, again, to balance the population. Nevertheless, D3 is still roughly 1 percent underpopulated. The next slide is of the proposed District 4. It remains a highly Hispanic area and retains close to 93 percent of its existing population. The next two slides show the area we added to D4 from D2. This first slide shows the movements we made north of US-1 consisting of roughly 10,500 people. The second slide shows the reduced movement we made south of US-1. And we reduced the amount of people we moved in our preliminary plan from 5,071 to 1,597. Now in the preliminary plan we had overpopulated this district at 2.23, but because of the changes we made to keep more of the Grove population in D2, it resulted in reversing that number so that D4 now has a negative 2 percent deviation. Now the next slide shows all of D2. As you can see it remains a coastal district, spanning almost the entire north -south corridor of the city along the bay. But because it was over 32 percent overpopulated, we had to move a significant percentage of population into other districts, D2 only retains approximately 80 percent of its existing population. Now we've already covered all the areas we moved from D2 to other districts, but to recap, in the next slide, we moved 10,496 people into D5, 12,093 people into D4, 1,392 people into D3. In total we moved almost 24,000 people of the more than 28,000 excess population of D2 into other districts. As you may recall, in our preliminary plan we designed this district with almost zero deviation because we felt that based on historical trends it would be the district with the largest increase in population in the next decade. But to comply with the directives to restore the MRC back into D5 and to minimize the movement of Grove residents it resulted in a decrease -- excuse me -- increase in D2's population to 5.46 over the ideal. So now, next slide, taking D2 as your high point and the negative 2.14 deviation of D5 as your low point, the revised plan now has an overall deviation of 7.6. Again, this deviation is within acceptable parameters, and it's based on implementation of rational criteria directed by this Commission including minimizing the number of residents south of US-1 that were relocated. Thus, the case law would allow for these deviations to accomplish these directives. And finally, the last slide gives you an overview of the entire plan. So, in summary, we're confident that our revised plan complies with constitutional and Voting Rights Act criteria. We were also cognizant of the directives you gave us; every district maintains the core configuration and the vast majority of its existing population. We restored the MRC to D5. We increased D5's Black voting age population above 50 percent. Wherever possible we tried to move population based on similar demographics and voting patterns in order to maintain voter cohesion. We stayed well below the 10 percent threshold. Finally, there was a directive to maintain communities of interest and traditional neighborhoods when feasible. However, as you know, many of the city's traditional neighborhoods were already split in the current plan. Moreover, because the current configurations and the directives to maintain the core of existing districts as well as the need to balance population, the directive to maintain communities of interest in traditional neighborhoods could not City of Miami Page 38 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 he substantially achieved. And with that, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Chair King: I believe Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla would like to make a comment, clarification. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: A clarification, for Mr. DeGrandy. Your deviation ended up being 7.6 percent, correct? Mr DeGrandy: Overall deviation 7.6. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Seven -point -six percent. Did you overpopulate District 2? Mr DeGrandy: Yes, at 5.46. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And that shifted the deviation to 7.6, right? Mr DeGrandy: That increased it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That raised it, increased it. Mr DeGrandy: Yes, sir. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Did you plan out what's going to happen in the next six, eight years, ten years, into your -- into that deviation or do you think that deviation's too high because of what potentially could happen in the next four, six, eight years? Mr DeGrandy: I've expressed my opinion and that's why in the preliminary plan I had it at zero deviation. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Of course. Mr DeGrandy: I've expressed my opinion based on historical trends, that is probably the district that is going to grow the most in the next decade. And so, I put it in the preliminary plan at zero deviation, but the directives that you all gave me resulted in increasing that deviation. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, the follow-up, in your professional opinion do you believe that that kind of deviation is too high and is District 2 overpopulated? Mr DeGrandy: From? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Projecting over a ten year period, too high in the sense that it's okay for today is it okay for 2022, 2024, 2026, moving down the line? Mr DeGrandy: What I can tell you, Commissioner; is A, the deviation is within acceptable ranges so it's legal. City of Miami Page 39 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Today. Mr DeGrandy: Now from a policy or practical perspective, you may very well see the same thing you saw in the last decade with that district being significantly, within ten years, overpopulated. And that's, again, why I had initially put it at zero deviation. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: IfI may, Commissioner, and 1 think that's a very good question that you asked, it was one that I looked at it. My district, for instance, just in one development that's right by Jose Marti Park, there's some 2,000 units, apartments and condos that are coming. Two thousand. So even if you multiply just by two, that's 4,000 more people. And that's in one development with several towers. You take along the river in my district, you take along 8th Street, you take along Northwest 7th Street, and there's a lot of big buildings that are coming up. So, I -- I feel safe to say that in District 3 it will more than keep up with the new population levels in the next ten years. Now, going over in your district, I'm looking along the river the types of development that you're having, that are not fully full, and some are not fully built, and others that are coming into play in the next four to five years. You're going to have a significant amount of new people that are going to be living in these projects also in your district. Commissioner King, in the coastal areas that she has, will be getting increases. I'm not as familiar in that area, but she will be getting increases. Commissioner Reyes is the one that has basically the most homestead, single family homes, by far with the least amount of buildings and skyscrapers that could possibly be built. But still in his district, along 8th Street, Flagler, there's quite a bit of construction that's coming into play. Commissioner Reyes: Excuse me. But right now, we have -- and you know that, Commissioner Russell, there's on 27th Avenue -- 27th and US-1, there's a huge development there, and along 37th -- Vice Chair Carollo: And 37th. Commissioner Reyes: And 37th, there's a huge amount of -- I mean, housing units or apartments that are going to be built there. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, I didn't mention the one on my side, in District 3, because I'm, hoping that that could be changed somewhat, but you're right. Commissioner Reyes: You want more from District 4? Vice Chair Carollo: No, I'm saying that the development in District 3 that Pm having for Metrorail, I didn't mention it because I'm hoping that it's not going to be quite like the county ones. Chair King: Commissioner Russell? Commissioner Russell: Thank you, Madam Chair I think you're right, this is a very healthy discussion because none of us have a crystal ball, but I think that the paradigm on development in the City of Miami is going to shift from what we saw City of Miami Page 40 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 over the last, let's say after the last crash in '08, everything that was built from then you saw this massive District 2, Downtown and Edgewater surge after Mianii 21 changed. But the capacity is getting reached and you've seen just by the SAPs (Special Area Plan) that have been written, they're not happening in D2 as much, they're happening in Little Haiti, they're happening in Allapattah. And the RTZ (Rapid Transit Zone) will be the biggest change of density and intensity that the County will do with unfettered, you know, that's another issue that we're dealing with at Commission, but that is all along the transit quarters that will effect of course District 4 on US -I, and District 3 when it gets to Vizcaya, and District 5 when it gets to Downtown. That is all looking to be RTZ, massive growth outside of District 2. But 1 don't think any of us can actually predict what's going to happen. [Later...] Chair King: -- everyone. Good afternoon. We are going to begin the special meeting convened for discussion of the redistricting. Thank you. Mr DeGrandy, I think you want to make a few comments. Let me turn on the mic for you. Miguel DeGrandy: Madam Chair ifI may? I need to address and clarify a couple of issues that were made. First of all, the gentleman representing the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) talked about packing District 5. Chair King: (INAUDIBLE). Cracking, cracking. I wrote that down. Mr DeGrandy: No, no. The first one was packing. And I'll get to cracking in a minute. Chair King: Okay. Mr DeGrandy: It was hard for me to understand that, and especially from a representative of the ACLU for the following reason. What they're basically saying is I put too many Black folks into District 5. Now if they cited for example the registration data to say, well, look Black representation in the last election was 55 percent and you're just looking at total population, which I got to 52 percent and voting age, which I got to 50.3. Well, but the issue is I'm not looking at creating a plan that will perfbrm for the Black community just in the next election. I'm trying to create a plan that performs for the community. for a decade. And I know that this community is subject to some degree of gentrification. And so, to me, the most important thing is to put, you know, the district in a position that complies with the Voting Rights Act. Now let me give you an example of real packing so that you understand what the real concept means, which is not what was described today. And I'll give you an example - - a real world example when I was in the legislature and I was suing my own legislature for violation of Voting Rights Act. They took Hialeah, the most Hispanic city in the State of Florida, placed it in one district. Okay? Now that district was all formerly Hispanic and will elect a person of that community's choice, but if you took Hialeah, broke it into two, you could create two Hispanic majority districts with that population. And so, when you put all of it into one, that's packing. So, for packing to be even a consideration, you have to show that you have enough excess population that you could have created a different district. With 50.3 percent Black population, I can't draw anything else but one African American district. So, packing doesn't apply. City of Miami Page 41 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Now let me talk about cracking. Cracking is when you intentionally divide a cohesive and compact minority community so as to defeat the ability of that minority community to form a majority in a single member district. Now I'll use that same example of Hialeah. If I break Hialeah into four and put those populations into four separate districts, none of those districts has a majority Hispanic population, none of them have, in that community, an equal opportunity to elect a candidate of choice. That cracking. Cracking in this case, with all due respect, in District 2, is simply inapplicable because District 2 -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is not protected. Mr DeGrandy: -- is not the first district in terms of Black percentage. It's not even the second. The second is District 1. It is the third at 7.5 percent Black population. And so, there is no way, humanly possible, that you could put that population anywhere based on our geography to create an African American district. So, cracking also does not apply. In -- and in that, I wanted to just give you some data of the 1,597 residents we moved from D2 (District 2) only seven percent are African American. So, we actually, moved more Black citizens in the movement we did north of US-1 into D4 than in the movement we did south of US-1 into D4. And I'll finally say this, you know, I saw two alternate plans presented. The difference between those plans and our plans is that our plan is based on the directives that you gave us. And so, the alternate proposals for example they put up some criteria had different criteria from what you gave me. Now that does not mean that those plans aren't perfectly legally acceptable. And as a matter offact, I have told you in previous hearings, there are thousands of ways to draw a constitutionally compliant plan. The difference between those plans and the plan that we presented was what was the criteria employed. And with that, Madam Chair I'm happy to answer any questions. Chair King: Thank you. How I'm going to conduct the remainder of this meeting is that I'm going to go to my Vice Chair and then I'm going to go in order of the districts from one, two, three. And I'm going to ask that we keep our comments -- our first round of comments to no more than 15 minutes because it is a Friday. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: Great. Okay. Vice Chair Carollo: What I'm most amazed at is that when we created districts from the get go, and then the redistricting that has been done each decade, every ten years, we have purposely divided neighborhoods in the other districts to try, to keep District 2 into a district that a non -Hispanic would be elected. That's why Coconut Grove was kept together. In fact, from the beginning a big chunk across US-1 was given to Coconut Grove because there would not have been enough population to have balanced it out otherwise in District 2. Nobody objected to that at the time. Nobody objected to numerous neighborhoods in the City of Miami in having been divided. In fact, someone sent me recently on Silver Bluff some information on the history of it, which was interesting. This was from an old newspaper article I believe. It says short history, of Silver Bluff. Platted in 1941, incorporated in -- excuse me. Platted in 1911 and incorporated in 1921. The town of Silver Bluff was independent for a short period of time. It was one of several municipalities that was annexed by the City of Miami in City of Miami Page 42 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 1925. That's between Miami's original southern boundary and the town of Coconut Grove. Silver Bluff was named for the bluff located along the eastern edge of the quarter that appears silver when touched by morning light. Silver Bluff is one of those communities that was split in half to be able to create a District 2 that would elect someone like Mr. Russell. Commissioner Russell: Japanese American. Vice Chair Carollo: I didn't hear -- well you didn't quite mention the oriental part when you were running, only the yo-yo at the time. But I'll leave it at that. It was after you got elected that I guess it was more convenient. But Silver Bluff Shenandoah, Little Havana. I mean, Little Havana has really been cut major Little Havana goes to 37th Avenue. So, from 27th to 37th Avenue, a huge area of Little Havana was cut off. You 've got Flagami that not originally, but then when Grove came in, Flagami was then cut in the second round, I think, after districts were originally created down the middle. You got other neighborhoods within District 4, others within District 1, some in District 5. So, the arguments that I've heard here today just don't hold any water As this city grows in population, we have to make adjustments. And the adjustments have to be made in the best way to try to keep all five of these districts in proportion to our population for the reasons that we went into districts. You know, the Coconut Grove even has what no other community in Miami has, a village council. Do you have any councils in any of your neighborhoods, Commissioner Diaz? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (INAUDIBLE). Vice Chair Carollo: Commissioner King, do you have any councils there? Commissioner Reyes? Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE). Vice Chair Carollo: I have none in District 3. But Coconut Grove even has that that this Commission here, Commission past have given them. So, look, I only need from you for you to answer one question to me. In your honest best opinion, and you've been the guy that really has been the real godfather in creating districts because you've been putting them together for us very success fully each time that we've done it. Do you feel that this is a plan that would withstand any test in court? Mr DeGrandy: Yes, sir I am confident that it meets the requirements of the loth Amendment, and I am confident it meets the requirements of the Voting Rights Act. Vice Chair Carollo: Well, then to me that's all that I need to hear We have held unless my recollection faults me, three public hearings on this dais already. Mr. DeGrandy: This is the fourth. Vice Chair Carollo: We're each going to have a fourth one in each of our individual districts, and then we agreed that March 11 th, we would have the final one. I mean, five meetings. Is that sufficient for any Federal test? City of Miami Page 43 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr. DeGrandy: Commissioner, there is no Constitutional or statutory requirement to have public meetings in redistricting. It is optional. Vice Chair Carollo: Well, five, I think, in anyone's mind over a period of several months is a pretty sufficient amount of time. Now I understand what I'm hearing. I understand that people that came here today, they want to have more hearings and more hearings. What I've learned being up here a few years is that when you hear people trying to tell you that they want to have more hearings and more hearings it's because they don't feel that they don't have the votes to accomplish what they want and they want to accomplish by delaying it, because through delaying it they've accomplished, in fact what they want not to get a vote done. You know, out of the people that were here today, there were only ten people that spoke that were not from Coconut Grove. Six out of those ten were from other parts of District 2. One was from Edgewater, one was from Morningside, one from Downtown, three from Brickell. There was one from District 5 that was very confused because they thought that the West Grove was being divided somehow, and that we were diluting the Black population from District 5. There was one -- excuse me, two from Commissioner Reyes 'District, but I don't know ifI should count one of them because that was Mr Winker and he's the, you know, an attorney looking for business. So, 1 wouldn't be surprised if he's one of the ones that will be suing the City again. Then there was one from my district, and this gentleman lived, according to what he said, right in the area that is called West Brickell, it's a strip of two blocks that parts of Brickell Avenue were put into District 3, but these were parts that have not been developed. Throughout the years, some of those blocks now are starting to be developed. His complaint was that he wanted all of Brickell to be together and that that part should be with Brickell. You know what, he probably had a real good point, the best that I've heard. And that's exactly the reason why you did not expand more like Commissioner Russell wanted to into Brickell because it's got nothing to do -- if there's a section that's got nothing to do with the rest of District 3, is when you go into Brickell. Totally different in your demographics, any which way you want to look at it. So, we come back to the original plan you gave us. The original plan, I think you had 6,000 plus people from the Grove that were going to be moved into either District 4 or District 3. And you did, I think, a fabulous job in bringing that down to even less. Mr DeGrandy: Less than 3,000. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. Now it's less than half that. Mr DeGrandy: Correct. Vice Chair Carollo: It's right around 3,000, correct? Mr DeGrandy: 2,900 and change. Vice Chair Carollo: 2,900 and change. Mr DeGrandy: Yes. Vice Chair Carollo: Right under 3,000. And you kept, as we talked about up here in doing, the West Grove intact because that's really a very small community. You're not City of Miami Page 44 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 talking about a large community. So, I could understand a very small community like that, you divided it, it has more of an impact on it than larger communities that have been divided. And you listened to Commissioner Russell and took Bay Heights out of it. As far as I'm concerned you could put Bay Heights back on, in fact you could take it all the way down to Simpson Park if you like. I've got no problems with that. But that means you're going to put some additional people from the Grove into another district. I don't know if Bay Heights is really considered the Grove or not anymore, but I'm not going to get into that here. So, I think that you tried to accommodate, as much as you could, everything you heard from us here and what you heard from the public that we have to go deeper into District 2. Well, when -- before this, District 2 had 116, 742 people, and the other districts, one had almost 81,000, mine had just over 79,000, District 4 had almost 82,000, District 5 had slightly over 83,000. The thumb that really stuck out there was District 2 and you brought that down by 23,442 votes and you're leaving them at 93,300. If you want to even it out more, I'll take another chunk. I'll take Bay Heights and I'll go all the way to Simpson Park. I've got no problem, Commissioner And I'm sure that Commissioner Reyes wouldn't have any problem in bringing it down more, maybe even going across and taking the whole north Grove out and, you know, it would still be fairly balanced. But his plan was taking into account what he heard from the public as much as he could and what he heard from you. So, from over 6,000 is down to 3,000. We cant go anywhere else. Even if we would want to go in District 3 in your plan, go into West Brickell, which is really Brickell it just doesn't have Brickell Avenue the name and the road. Then what happens to Reyes? Well Reyes is going to have to come take more from me or more from Diaz de la Portilla and that's a domino effect that you have that will then affect everyone, including District 5. That's why we cant do that. But anyway I'm -- I'm ready to vote on this, but that's my opinion. Chair King: Thank you. Commissioner? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Madam Chair I'm also ready to vote. Number one, I want to commend you, Mr. DeGrandv, Mr: Cody for the work that you've done. Your first plan had a few holes in it. Your revised plan looks really good. It has one, for lack of a better tern, hole, I think that you're overpopulating District 2. And I believe that four years from now, maybe six years from now, we're going to have the same problem before we can get to redistricting again. So, we'll have a district that's represented by a Commissioner with many more people. For example, right now in District 2 we have 93,000 and in District 5 we have 83,000. That's a 10,000 vote difference. 10,000 vote population difference. That concerns me. Vice Chair Carollo: It's less than 7,000. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, it's 83 to 93 according to the -- Pee Chair Carollo: No, no, it's District 5. It would be now 86,578 -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 86, okay. Vice Chair Carollo: 86,578. City of Miami Page 45 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It still a concerning number right? I think you -- I think in an attempt, and I think in a noble attempt to make sure that you respected as much as you could of the integrity of the Grove as they call it, as the Grove calls it, you restored 40 percent of what you had taken out in the first plan. I think it -- Mr DeGrandy: Over 50 percent. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Over 50 percent, even worse, over 50 percent. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I agree with Commissioner Carollo that we probably should have gone more into the Grove because that's the only place to go, right? I mean, I'm in the middle, District 1 is in the middle, you have 3 and 4, you can only go south. But somehow Grove residents feel they're not part of Miami. That no one, no other Commissioner can represent them for whatever reason. You guys can explain that to us at some appropriate time why you feel that a Commissioner Carollo or Commissioner Reyes or Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla cannot adequately represent you. If were a Grove resident, I would love to have three Commissioners representing me. Have three people fighting for me. My God, can you imagine that? Three out offive would be fighting for you instead of one out offive. But that's just math and maybe you guys are not understanding how the math works with a five -- a five Commissioner body. To me, I think the work that you've done is commendable, it's fantastic. I think it hits it. I'm a little bit concerned about the overpopulation of 2, but I, like Commissioner Carollo, I'm ready to vote. And I'm also ready, Madam Chair, when. you -- when you are ready to make the motion to move this plan forward as a final plan for the City of Miami Commission redistricting and put this behind us and let's get on with our work. Whenever you're ready, Madam Chair. Chair King: Thank you. Commissioner Russell? Commissioner Russell: Thank you very much. I'm not quite ready to vote. I have some questions for Mr. DeGrandy. You know in the last -- in the last meeting, I made a motion that failed for a second where I asked for us not to break up the Grove. I really thought about that later and I realized that that was the right -- that was the right vote. And as people came to me and what you heard the passion today, my response to them as I've spoken to people individually is we are not entitled to stay together. There is no right of the Grove to stay cohesive. It is the wish. You can see the passion, you can see the interest, and you can see a cohesive voter bloc here. You can see a group that is definitely governed by a different set of rules for tree preservation, historic preservation, development, setbacks, all the -- the Grove does have a special set of rules that has come about because of their voter bloc cohesion. But there is no right to it. So, when I didn't get a second and then the next vote said ifvou have to go, into the Grove, I understand that. And so, what I've been telling people is if we have to, we must accept that the Grove would be split up. If there is no way to legally equalize the districts without going into the Grove, we should accept that gracefully as residents of the City of Miami. I would like to ask you some questions, Mr DeGrandy, because I've -- I've tried to cobble together some of the ideas and -- to see if there's a way to meet -- City of Miami Page 46 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr. DeGrandy: Yes, sir Commissioner Russell: -- the interests of the Grove and still he legally compliant without upsetting the other equilibriums and without diminishing anything from District 5. And so just a couple questions if you could all bear with me. What is the total number goal to shed from District 2 to get to full equilibrium where District 2 is not in -- in any overage? What would be zero percent? How many would you need to get rid of? Mr DeGrandy: You figure each percentage is 884 roughly. Five times 884, about 4,800. Commissioner Russell: Would you rather speak in percentage? Is that the way you -- Mr DeGrandy: Either way. You're looking at about 4,800 residents. I think it was 4,832, but, you know I'm 63 years old, so sometimes I forget some numbers, but I think that's the number. Commissioner Russell: No. You might be misunderstanding me. What's the total number that your goal was to reduce District 2 by? Mr DeGrandy: To get -- to get you from where you are -- Commissioner Russell: Yes. Mr DeGrandy: -- at 5.46 back to zero, it would be about 4,800 and change thatl would have to shed. Commissioner Russell: I'm not understanding. Because even just in the Golden Pines area we're taking 10,000 out, right? Mr. DeGrandy: Oh, you're talking about the existing District 2? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: To 27 -- it's 27,000. Mr DeGrandy: I'm sorry. The existing -- Commissioner Russell: Yes, that's the number I'm trying to get to. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's 27,000 plus, 27,000 plus. Mr DeGrandy: The existing District 2 is a little north of 28, 000. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, yeah. Commissioner Russell: 28,000. Mr DeGrandy: I thought you were talking -- I'm sorry. I thought you were talking about this plan. City of Miami Page 47 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Russell: The Grove -- no, no, no. You know, 1 was -- from where we are current status quo -- DeGrandy: Yes, sir Commissioner Russell: -- 28,000 would come down. So, I've got a draft map here and I don 't know if the camera can pick it up for our residents to see it at home. Is that possible? Because I can move it if not. Mr DeGrandy: Or you could move it here forward if you want. Commissioner Russell: Whatever works best. Thank you. Can the camera pick that up? Is that visible? Are the lines visible? 1 know you know it, Mr DeGrandy, because I've showed it to you. So basically, there's three sections being given to three different districts. There's a section here in Golden Pines north of US-1 given to District 4, there's a section here on South Miami Avenue being given to District 3, and then there's a section of Dovvntovvn, above the river, Downtown Morningside -- not Morningside, Downtown, Midtown, and Edgewater being given to District 5. Can you tell me how many, more or less, residents would be corning out of District 2 and going to District 4 in the section above US-1? Mr DeGrandy: If memory serves, 10,498. Commissioner Russell: Let me write it down. Ten thousand, just 10,500 for round numbers 'sake. Mr DeGrandy: Yeah, roughly. Commissioner Russell: Yeah. And then for District 3 if we were to say from the river down to the Rickenbacker Causeway or down to 32nd, what is about that number? Mr. DeGrandy: If it's down to 32nd, which was the -- the one that you asked me to calculate, you're looking at 7,068 individuals. Commissioner Russell: 7,068. I'll just put 7,000 for round numbers' sake to District 3. And then north of the river, I matched your draft exactly. Mr DeGrandy: Correct. Commissioner Russell: And so, what would the number be that would come out of District 2 into District 5? Mr. DeGrandy: That was roughly also 10,500. Commissioner Russell: 10,500. So that gives 28,000 on the nose. If I were to add 10,500, 7,000, plus 10,500, I believe my math gets me to 28,000 exactly. Is that -- Mr DeGrandy: I -- again, as I told you this morning, you know, because of when I got it I didn't have the -- City of Miami Page 48 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Russell: I know it's not exact. Mr DeGrandy: Yeah. I didn't have the luxury of being able to go into the map and give you an exact. However, quick, and dirty, your deviation would come down to less than one percent. Commissioner Russell: One percent above or below? Mr DeGrandy: Below Commissioner Russell: Below So, I would actually go -- Mr DeGrandy: No, excuse me. Excuse me. You would be -- let me see (INAUDIBLE). Hold on, .94 below Commissioner Russell: Right. So just about one percent below So, if that were the case if I -- instead of cutting off at 32nd, let's say I cut off at Rickenbacker instead, so that even that section of the Grove were to stay in, it would be right around zero percent where -- what is the current in your draft? You have an overage in District 2 still of -- Mr DeGrandy: 5.46. Commissioner Russell: 5.46. So, the -- the concerns of future growth in District 2 brought by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla perhaps could be allayed by going all the way to a zero to where I am -- District 2 is not the most populous in the city. So, if we were to do that, obviously it wouldn't -- it wouldn't damage any of the vulnerable voter population in District 5, what would it do to District 3 and District 4? Mr DeGrandy: To District 3, hold on one second. Well District 4 is at negative two percent. You would be taking out an additional 1.8, so it would be roughly 3.8 percent under. Commissioner Russell: District 4? Mr DeGrandy: District 4. Commissioner Russell: Right. And I anticipate a lot of growth based on RTZ (Rapid Transit Zone) at 37th and at 47th, but that's nothing we can consider concretely. So, it would be a little bit under And District 4? I'm sorry. District -- District 3? Mr DeGrandy: District 3 is currently at .92 under. You would be taking out an additional 1.57 and so that would put it at roughly negative 2.5. Ifyou were then to add that entire area that you wanted to add, that would bring that district up to a positive 5.4. Commissioner Russell: Got it. And there is already a section of West Brickell in District 3, everything east of I-95. I don't know if the neighborhood is named officially, but there's a section between District 2 and I-95 that already belongs in District 3. City of Miami Page 49 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Commissioner Russell: Correct. In your current draft, the latest draft that you've proffered, how many African Americans are removed from the Grove or from District 2 in that -- in that triangle? Do you have a number? Mr DeGrandy: From -- from the north of US-1, the Douglas Park area 1 believe -- Commissioner Russell: No, no, in -- Mr DeGrandy: Well, I'm trying to tell you all of them. Commissioner Russell: In your current draft. Mr DeGrandy: Right, right. Commissioner Russell: Your current draft already gives that away, but -- go ahead. I don't mean to interrupt. Go ahead. Mr DeGrandy: Right. In the current draft you have (INAUDIBLE). Okay. If you're looking at south of US-1 in the current draft, you have in the movement that goes into D4, you have 114, and in the movement that goes into D3, you have 38. Commissioner Russell: Got it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And what's the total? If may, I'm sorry. What's the total African Americans? Mr DeGrandy: Plus 38 is -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: In the city in that area? Mr DeGrandy: How good are you in math? 114 plus 38. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, no, no. How many additional people go into District 2? So, 114 go into District 4, 38 go into District 3. Mr DeGrandy: Right. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: How many remain in District 2, African Americans? Mr. DeGrandy: Oh, in District 2 it's still 7.5 percent African American. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, numbers, 338? Mr DeGrandy: It's five thousand -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, in that area, in the West Grove. City of Miami Page 50 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr. DeGrandy: Oh, that 1 don't have the data. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But you gave the number the other day, didn't you? Chair King: 492. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm sorry. 492. 1'm sorry, yes, that's the number: So, 114 -- Mn DeGrandy: (INAUDIBLE). Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair? Chair? Mr. DeGrandy, 1 do need your comments on the mic. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm sorry to interrupt, but I just want to -- this is important. Chair King.. Mr. DeGrandy? Commissioner Russell: No, 1 want to know as well. Thank you. Chair King: We can't hear you. Mn DeGrandy: The number of the Black population of the Grove in the City of Miami is 2,647. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. That's total. How many of those are African American, how many are Hispanic, how many are Anglo, of those 2,500 you said right now? Mr. DeGrandy: No, no, no, no. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Mr DeGrandy: Let me make sure I understand. You asked me how many African Americans in the Grove? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: In District 2 in the West Grove. Mr DeGrandy: I have the figure for the entire Grove. I don't have the figure for the West Grove -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: My understanding, Madam Chair, was that he gave us a breakdown of the West Grove that there were 2,500 plus Whites, 1,900 Hispanics, and 492 -- Chair King: 492 is what I remember -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- African -Americans. City of Miami Page 51 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Chair King: But let's let Commissioner Russell finish. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm sorry. Commissioner Russell: No, no. This is fair. These are the exact questions I have as well. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no. We're actually working together on the sane thing. Chair King: Oh. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But we're doing it publically, right? Mr DeGrandy: I think, Commissioner -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It happens every once in a while. Chair King: 1 see. Mr DeGrandy: 1 think, Commissioner, you may have been referring to the number -- the demographics of the original that we moved from D2 to D4 -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct. Mr DeGrandy: -- which was 5,071 people. Of those, I had given you ethnic breakdowns, butt do not recall giving you ethnic breakdowns just for the West Grove. It was for the total Grove, correct? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, you have no breakdown -- the West Grove -- I mean, Madam Chair if I may, Madam Chair? The West Grove today, as you define it - - what are the boundaries of the West Grove as you defined it in your analysis? Mr DeGrandy: We actually did not define it. We looked at the entire Grove. Perhaps Commissioner Russell can give you a definition of what West Grove is. Commissioner Russell: The definition of the West Grove really is -- well, the NCD (Neighborhood Conservation District) if you take McDonald -- I don't have the number, so I could give you the boundary. But really, from McDonald, US-1 down McDonald and Grand -- I'm sorry. And even below Grand to Franklin west. So, Franklin at the southern border, US-1 at the northern border, McDonald on the eastern border and Brooker -- Chair King: Commissioner Russell? Commissioner Russell: Brooker on the western border That's the traditional definition of the West Grove. My question is in the triangle from Bird Avenue to 27th and US-1, that triangle. US-1, 27th, Bird Avenue. How many African Americans are in that triangle? City of Miami Page 52 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr. DeGrandy: 114. Commissioner Russell: That's what 1 thought you 'd say. Okay. And potentially that's a quarter of the 492 that we all recall hearing from -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. Mr DeGrandy: In the first iteration, it was 497 when we went down to Day Avenue. Commissioner Russell: Right. So, it's -- it doesn't seem like a lot of people, but when you put it in percentage of the final remaining group of African Americans that are there and boy are they fighting to stay there. They want a cohesive voice. In my draft, how many African Americans would be removed from the Grove? Mr DeGrandy: From -- if you define the Grove as south of 32nd Road -- Commissioner Russell: US -I. Mr DeGrandy: -- where you made your cut, zero. Commissioner Russell: Zero. And so, I think that's the case I'm trying to make. 1--1 really would like to try to preserve the African American community together as a whole as much as possible south of US-1 and the entire Grove came out to advocate, not just for them, but for the Grove as a whole. So, my hope in your further analysis, because I'm not ready to vote and I do have community meetings coming up where they're saying is there a way, I would like to have made the case today that there is a way that not only is legally, -- you know, it's safe from challenge as you feel yours is now. It won't get challenged. Where yours currently will get challenged and it will drag us out. But not only that, I believe it achieves even better numbers because zero African -Americans would be removed from the Grove, you would actually bring District 2 down from a five percent above deviation to a flat zero, potentially, and a neighborhood conservation district, which is currently NCD3 is currently all within one representative Commissioner would not turn into three Commissioners within one -- and the definition of an NCD, it intends to conserve neighborhoods. With a sense of uniqueness of Coconut Grove that is manifest to its historic legacy, architectural variety, cultural diversity, natural aesthetic, walkable character access to the water with a concentration on the canopy and affordable housing. That's from the City of Miami website. NCD3 currently has one Commissioner representing it with one overlay for the Code, versus three. It's not about having more representation championing you. It's actually about perhaps having one voice that fights for one version of that Code, where three Commissioners may, or may not ever agree. But we get along and we do it. So, I'm not saying neighborhoods cant or shouldn't be broken up. If we can be cohesive, I feel we should make that effort. If we can normalize more to equilibrium, I think we should do that. And if we can keep more of an African American community together, I think we should do that as well. So, I would just hope you're able to take that into consideration as you move forward into the community meetings and the final, final draft that we vote on, on March 11 th. Thank you very much. Those are my comments. City of Miami Page 53 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Chair King: Thank you. Commissioner Reyes? Commissioner Reyes: Okay. I heard what every Commissioner had to say. I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to answer it, which is my main concern. My main concern I had made this perfectly clear since the time that the districts were created, and I remember very well because I was part of a group that was headed by Athalie Range, Bill Perry Sr, and Matt Aker from Coconut Grove -- I mean, from Overtown that we knew that it was -- it was necessary and imminent that districts were created, even I.L. Plummer's seat was in danger for the next election. And that's why they were created. It was created and I said it in my prayer this morning, that everyone would be represented. And that is my commitment. Commitment is that everyone be represented. According to your -- all the movement that you have done of population and the way that it will -- the Afro-American district and the so called Anglo district will stand time -- I mean, the next ten years -- for the next ten years, given the movement of population that we are going to experience, we dare stand the test of time and we will be able or the probability of electing an African -American and an Anglo are -- that you will -- are confident that it is very probable that we are -- because nothing is sure but death and taxes. But it is very probable -- that we will continue to have a mixed Commission, which is my main concern. Mr DeGrandy: To answer your question, Commissioner, we have done our level best to ensure that District 5 performs for the African American community and that they will continue throughout the decade to have the ability to elect a candidate of their choice. As to District 2, as I said in my report, District 2 is a competitive district. It actually has a greater percentage of Hispanics than of single race White individuals as was self -identified by in the census. It is my belief that that 48 plus percent will continue to grow. So, it's -- Commissioner Reyes: Well, here's my problem -- Mr DeGrandy: -- going to be very competitive. Commissioner Reyes: It's competitive, but is there still the probability is high? Mr DeGrandy: Yes. Commissioner Reyes: Okay. That's -- I mean, as I said before nothing is -- nothing is sure, you see. And that is my main concern. And I want to send this message to everybody that is saying well you are taking this piece of Coconut Grove and it's not Coconut Grove anymore. It is Coconut Grove. You see, I lived -- I've been living in Flagami since the end of '69, and when I moved to Flagami, Flagami was -- I mean, just a poor neighborhood with their own characteristics, their own neighbors, and all of that. When it was divided in two different districts, still it's Flagami, still Flagami. My neighbors are still my neighbors that live in Flagami. And Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, as well as myself, we all care for Flagami and we have projects and we work projects together that is going to benefit Flagami. Same thing with Shenandoah. My colleague, Commissioner Carollo, he represents part of Shenandoah, so do I, you see. When we were -- I mean, deciding to redo the park and the pool, which is now under construction and there is a major development there, every single community meeting we have Carollo's -- Carollo's constituents as well as my constituents come to City of Miami Page 54 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 the community meetings and deciding what we were going to do in that pool, in that park, and they were active participants on what we were going to do and how we were going to do. And their opinion and their input was taken into consideration, you see. By being -- I mean, that sliver that -- from Coconut Grove that -- I mean, it is going to assign to me, it's not because I'm asking for it and I want to get a part of Coconut Grove or anything, you see. But I would represent it just as I represent my district, and that sliver is not going to be geographically transported at the end of -- of Flagami as some people are saying we are not in Coconut Grove. You are in Coconut Grove. Nobody's moving from Coconut Grove. I heard a person -- a gentleman here said my daughter goes to Coconut Grove school. Nothing's going to change. You're going to still be going there. The only thing that if when you have constituent services that you want, if you have any problem, you can come to your Commissioner and that's it, you see. Maybe you could get even faster service than what you're doing now -- getting now. I don't know. Nothing -- no pun intended, Mr. Russell. But what I'm saying is geographically, you're going to be in the same place. Every one of us is very concerned about serving, about doing the best for the district that we represent. So, it's not a transplantation of -- geographical transplantation of where your house it's, it's going to be now in a different area. You 're still going to be in Coconut Grove. There's still going to be Goombay, which I proposed, and I think it's going to be, and you're going to be part of it. We're still going to have the -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (INAUDIBLE). Commissioner Reyes: Just happened we have the Art -- Mr DeGrandy: Festival. Commissioner Reyes: -- Festival, you see, and it's going to be Coconut Grove. You're going to still be -- and walking probably to Flanigan's if you live next to it, it's still Coconut Grove, you see. What I'm trying to say is that just as all the communities were divided because we all agree that we have to preserve a seat that will represent every single community of the City of Miami, see, every single neighborhood was divided, and we all accepted it. We all accepted it. And if you get -- you want -- I mean, you have to further divide, further divide Flagami, which is my neighborhood, in order for us -- I mean, give it to somebody else in order for us to have the composition of the district, I mean of the government of the City of Miami, what every single community is represented, I will accept it. So, this is the only way, according to you, that we can, with all the data and the statistics that you have done, that we can preserve those seats now? Mr DeGrandy: No, sir As I said there are thousands of ways to do a plan, but this plan is based on your criteria. Commissioner Reyes: And the criteria is to preserve those seats. Mr. DeGrandy: To preserve the core of existing districts and the configuration of population wherever possible. City of Miami Page 55 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Okay. And 1 heard some people gerrymandering. Yes, we are gerrymandering to preserve those seats and that's it. And if you want to take us to court for it -- Mr DeGrandy: That -- actually wouldn 't be called gerrymandering. That's a -- Commissioner Reyes: Well, that's what -- some of the -- Mr DeGrandy: That's a traditional -- Yeah, but that a traditional redistricting principle. Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Mr DeGrandy: That is accepted when drawing districts. Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Based on that principle I -- I'm ready to vote. Chair King: Thank you. Well, I've heard the comments from my colleagues, and I echo Commissioner Russell's sentiment. I'm not ready to vote on this. 1 would like for you, Mr DeGrandy, to take into consideration what Commissioner Russell has presented. I would also like to see a map of the existing districts, and then an overlay of what you are doing, and then maybe an overlay of what Commissioner Russell has proposed. We still have time. We have until March 11 th is what we all agreed upon to take a look -- take another look. Commissioner Russell is having a community meeting next week, you said. I had mine this week, but perhaps once you give us that additional information, I may have some more questions or some more comments. I want to make sure that our community has significant input in what is happening with the redistricting. So, I'm not ready to make a vote today. I will be ready on March 11 th because I think we have gotten very far in this process. Would you agree? Commissioner Russell: I appreciate it. Chair King: We have gotten pretty far in this process, but I think we need to -- at least I would like to look at it one more time, look at what's happening with my district and see if we can be a little more accommodating to Commissioner Russell's District. Mr DeGrandy: Well, ifI may, Madam Chair? Chair King: And I'm not sure because Commissioner Russell just presented this with his calculations, like would that upset the balance in my district? Would it take me from 52 to less, or more? Mr DeGrandy: It wouldn't impact your district. Chair King: It wouldn't impact my district, okay. Mr DeGrandy: Commissioner Russell's proposed wouldn't -- Chair King: He has -- So what your proposed for my district is what Commissioner Russell is proposing? City of Miami Page 56 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr. DeGrandy: That's right. Chair King: But my colleagues, they may have some comments about that, hut today, I'm not ready to move forward with the vote. I'd like to give Commissioner Russell the opportunity to meet with his constituency and to discuss this and to see where we are. And if there's no further comment, I see Commissioner -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, no -- Mr DeGrandy: (INAUDIBLE). Commissioner Reyes: Just hold on a second, hold on a second. Chair King: Wait. Commissioner Reyes: I want to inform you that I'm having a community meeting also. Chair King: Okay. Commissioner Reyes: And we're having a community meeting. 1-- I believe that if we vote and it doesn't mean it will be cast in stone, you see. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. Commissioner Reyes: That it -- wouldn't be cast in stone. There is a little tweak here, tweak there, we will be able to accept it. Chair King: Uh-huh. Commissioner Reyes: But we are -- basically what we're doing in accepting the plan if it is going to be quick, you see, in one way or the other we are open to it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And Madam Chair? There's an amendatory process that we can do on -- for our next meeting, that we can change here and there, tweak like Commissioner Reyes said. But I'm ready to move forward. I think the plan is a good plan. I hate to disagree with my Chair. Chair King: It's okay. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think that we should not -- we should not be changing to accommodate one Commissioner or a group of activists that showed up here -- Chair King: We're not -- changing -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, no, no, no. Chair King: Let me -- City of Miami Page 57 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's not an argument -- Chair King: We're not changing to accommodate one Commissioner I'm not ready either. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I know That's why we accept the plan, and we can tweak and come back and accept amendments moving forward. But we need to have a base plan to move forward. I think that -- we run into a dangerous area if we begin to look at streets and avenues and say, well one avenue here, one street there. It creates problems. It's very clear here what's happening. It's a group of activists from Coconut Grove that don't want to be part of Miami for some reason. Yes, you can film me. That don't want to be part of Miami for some reason. They say that Coconut Grove is a unique neighborhood. To me, that's disrespectful of other unique neighborhoods like Flagami, Allapattah, Little Havana, Overtown, Liberty City. That's disrespectful. Right? We have a right and other neighborhoods have a right to say they're unique also. But no one came here, as Commissioner Carollo went through a list of who spoke today, it was only from Commissioner Russell's District, from Coconut Grove actually, not even from your district, by the way, it was from Coconut Grove. Very active, but part of your district. You have all of Downtown Miami, you have Edgewater Morningside and everything else going north. So, to me if we continue to go back and forth about hey, lets change this avenue, let's include this neighborhood, there is no argument here, and correct me if I'm wrong, Mr DeGrandy, that we have to go -- we have to cross US-1. US-1 is not a sacred boundary that somebody created. Like I-95 isn't either, by the way, like others aren't either. Right? We have a -- we already at this juncture, your plan today, you're overpopulating District 2 to accommodate Mr. Russell, to accommodate the residents that have come before us. You have to take into account that there's a over 50 percent change from the first plan to the revised plan and keeping the Grove together as much as possible. But we've all had to accept over decades the division of traditional neighborhoods in the City of Miami. We've accepted it. No, you aren't (UNINTELLIGIBLE) here. We've accepted it. Right? All of a sudden -- we can accept the division of Flagami and Allapattah and Little Havana and Overtown and other parts. You accepted the division of Overtown, right? Chair King: I did not accept that. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, but I mean -- Chair King: I had to accept it. I did not accept it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You had to accept it. Because in politics and in governing we compromise, and we give, and we take. It cant be taking and taking all the time. Chair King: I understand. What I'm saying is -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What 1 want to do -- Chair King: But he's presenting this. He has presented it. Or maybe I'm misunderstanding, because a vote today would make this, your plan final, and that -- City of Miami Page 58 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no -- Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no, no. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. We can tweak it. Commissioner Reyes: No, no, we can tweak it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And we will respect -- Commissioner Reyes: Excuse me? Excuse me? What I'm saying is -- let me say -- if -- I mean, 1 don't have any -- any argument against if there is --1 mean, a formula that I could take that sliver of Coconut Grove out of my district and either, I mean, I would lose that population, or it is replaced with someplace else, which I wouldn't want to. So, I don 't have anything. If that is possible -- I mean, let's -- I welcome it. It doesn 't mean that this is cast in stone. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. 1 think and 1 think -- ifI may, I'm sorry I think that we pass this today -- Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- and we have a time to come back and have the conversations and say, hey, let's do a little tweak here, a little tweak there. That works for me. I have no problem with that. Commissioner Reyes: And let's take it -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And maybe Mr. DeGrandy can help us. Chair King: Let me -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Maybe Mr. DeGrandy can help us. Chair King: Okay. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is that possible? Mr DeGrandy: If I can, what I'd like to say is this, we're supposed to, based on your direction, to present a final plan on March 11 th. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Mr DeGrandy: I would -- I had thought that today's meeting was for you all to tell me that's fine, this is the final plan or give me an amendment. What 1 don't want to do is I don't want to make any changes as a result of any of your community meetings, because that is not the consensus of this Commission. If this Commission tells me I City of Miami Page 59 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 want you to change this, I can do it and 1 could tell you this is going to be the effect, do you want me to proceed. But if you don't give me direction today as to any amendments, I'm presenting this plan on March llth as the, final plan because I have no direction to do otherwise. Commissioner Russell: Madam Chair? Chair King: Vice Chair? Vice Chair Carollo: This is really the process that we set up to follow that should be followed. This meeting today was set up so that we could see what he's presented to us, if we wanted to make, as a body, some additional tweaks in it, make it, but to give him at least either the go ahead on the original plan or one with some tweaks so that could be the one that we have agreed upon to bring to our different districts for the people to see as the potential final map. Then, March ll th is when we vote upon it or make any last tweaks. But March 11 th we have a vote. What I'm not going to be in favor of is to play the game of the tactics of delay, delay, delay, delay. If we need to meet another meeting before March ll th, I'll be happy to. I'm meeting in my district meeting March the 2nd. 1 don't know when some of the others are having theirs. Commissioner Russell: Monday. Vice Chair Carollo: To get any feedback. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Tuesday. Commissioner Reyes: March 3rd. Vice Chair Carollo: Third? Second also? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Third. Vice Chair Carollo: Third. Madam Chair? Chair King: I had mine on Wednesday. Vice Chair Carollo: You had yours already. And Commissioner Russell, you're having yours when? Chair King: Because I thought we were supposed to do it before we came to this meeting. Commissioner Russell: Monday -- the -- Monday, the 28th for me. Vice Chair Carollo: The 28th, okay. Mr DeGrandy: If I may, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla? Vice Chair Carollo: Olazv. So, you could have another if ;vou like. City of Miami Page 60 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr. DeGrandy: 1 wasn't aware of your meeting. He's got one on March 3rd and 1 can't he at two places at once. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We could change the time. Chair King: Victoria? Mr DeGrandy: Or you could change the times. Chair King: Let me just get a clarification. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I could change it. Mr DeGrandy: Or you could advertise it and have a joint meeting. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, we could do that too. Yeah. Mr DeGrandy: Yeah. Chair King: Because I guess I'm thinking the same thing, but we're saving it differently. Because I thought the plan that you proposed and gave it to us Tuesday, close of business Tuesday, that is this plan and that is the plan that we were taking to our communities. So, is that what I'm voting on today that we take this plan to the community? Vice Chair Carollo: Exactly. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Chair King: Because that's what we did. Vice Chair Carollo: Exactly. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And the community will give us input into what they don't like about it. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. Chair King: But it is not a final plan? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. Vice Chair Carollo: No. Chair King: It is not -- Vice Chair Carollo: March 11 th is final. City of Miami Page 61 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: March 11 th is the final plan. So, we vote on this, we pass it, we take it to our community and then they'll give us input and we can amend it and do an amendatory process, right? Chair King: Okay. That is what I did -- Vice Chair Carollo: What is it is, Chair is a resolution approving the recommendations -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. Vice Chair Carollo: -- of our experts to bring this plan or any tweaks that we might finally want to make here to the community for additional input before we vote for the final plan on March llth. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct, yes. Chair King: Commissioner Russell? Commissioner Russell: Thank you. I just have a couple questions for Mr DeGrandy before we move. It sounds like we're going towards a vote. is there a part of the draft that I've proposed that violates the direction that's been given to you by this body? Mr DeGrandy: Is there -- violates -- Commissioner Russell: So you've been acting under very specifics criteria given to you by this body. Mr DeGrandy: Sure. Commissioner Russell: Does this offend that criteria? Mr DeGrandy: It does not. Commissioner Russell: Does this violate any legal standards that we have to go by? Mr DeGrandy: It gets you to very close to ten percent, but not over Commissioner Russell: Understood, deviation. Mr DeGrandy: It takes you just under ten percent. Commissioner Russell: And the other question had to do with logistics within -- when you redraw lines the logistics of precincts and when they vote and where they have to go and the convenience. I would assume there are some aspirations to snake it as least confusing as possible for voters and have them go the least distance to vote. With US- 1 as the boundary you've got a very clean area of residents who all know where their precincts are, they're all within walking distance. If we take two parts of the Grove below -- that are below US-1 and add them to separate districts, is there a chance where residents will have to be crossing US -I to find their precinct? City of Miami Page 62 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: Nape. Mr DeGrandy: Well -- Commissioner Russell: Or would you have to put a new precinct south of US-1? Mr DeGrandy: The supervisor of elections is actually going to go through a re- precincting process. Commissioner Russell: Yes. Mr DeGrandy: Once she gets the map from Congress, State, House, County, and us, they redesign the precincts. So, a gentleman or lady who may have been going to the same precinct for ten years may not be going regardless of whether our lines change or not. Commissioner Reyes: That's right. Mr DeGrandy: That's really somewhat out of our control. Commissioner Russell: Thank you. That's all I needed to know. So, the last thing 1 'll just say is your answers just now, we have a legal criteria to meet and then there a policy decision to make and that's the way you've taught me over these last few weeks. Mr DeGrandy: Yes, sir Commissioner Russell: This is driven. Both plans satisfy the legal and satisfy the policy direction you've been given from here for it's up to us as a body on what policy we want to take in terms of where those lines are drawn. Now every, other district is gaining, is growing. The District 2 is the one that's getting diminished. And that's why -- it's getting -- it has to, legally. Commissioner Reyes: It has to. Commissioner Russell: It's not necessarily a negative, but that's why I'm trying to be at the table on where it gets diminished. And Javi Gonzalez who had ran against me in the race, I remember it was a question at a debate once, redistricting coining, which part of your district would you give up. At the time it was a surprise question for me, its like asking which is your favorite child. You know? You take it a bit personally because you've served that district. But I want to take the personalities out of it. It isn't about us and who serves what area, it not about me or my district. It's simply about seeing a consistent representation and this is a draft I'd like to propose to all of you and hope it gets consideration. Thank you. Commissioner Reyes: Madam Chair? Let me ask you, the -- where you are going to go -- your precinct is not based only on what -- I mean, where you're going to vote, your precinct that you're going -- it's not based on what district you are, it's based on more City of Miami Page 63 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr. DeGrandy: It somewhat because -- Commissioner Reyes: Somewhat, but it is within -- within the area. Mr DeGrandy: Yeah. Yeah, the supervisor of elections -- Commissioner Reyes: By where you live. Mr DeGrandy: Yeah. The supervisor of elections is actually going to re precinct the county. Commissioner Reyes: That's right. Mr DeGrandy: So those precincts can change. Commissioner Reyes: And it's more based on where you -- your place of residence and all of that. Chair King.. So -- Commissioner Reyes: Because sometimes you have a precinct that have two and three different --1 mean, you have a locale, a place, that two or three different precincts vote in the same place. Mr DeGrandv: Correct. Chair King: Mr DeGrandy, I'd like to be clear. I would like to see a map of the existing districts and an overlay of what you have proposed. How soon can you get that to this body? Mr DeGrandy: (INAUDIBLE). (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: I think it should -- we should have been. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That simple. That simple. Mr DeGrandy: The answer is, I mean, we can give you that without a problem. Depends on how you want it. If you wanted for us to send it to you all electronically, we actually have in the database a map that shows all the movements. So, we could send you that. Ifyou want it in a big map like that, it's going to take a few days to get produced. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I want it in both, if we can get both. Chair King: I'm visual and your map is very confusing to me because I see what you're doing, butt cant see it in comparison to what we have. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. City of Miami Page 64 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Chair King: So, I'd like to see what we have, and then on top of that I'd like an overlay -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Madam Chair? Chair King: -- so that I can -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Madam Chair? What 1 would love to see because you're a lot younger than I am. Chair King: 1 am not actually. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Much younger. But I remember when we had a map like this one, right, and then you have little vinyl thing on top of it that has a new map. Chair King: Right. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right? And then you could see little lines how it changes. That's what like. Chair King: That's what 1 want to see as well. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Everybody likes this phone thing, but you know what, I'm too old for that. So, you know -- Chair King: Right. That's what I want to see as well. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And so are you, by the way, Mr. DeGrandy. Okay? So, let's go old school here and just give us something simple so we can understand it, okay? This is what you're changing and give us that in the next couple of days and I think everybody would be happy. Chair King: And I'd like -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Our Madam Chair here is very, young, but you're a little bit old school I think anyway, right? So, we'll do it that way. Commissioner Russell: Miguel's about to ask for a raise. Mr DeGrandy: Well -- Chair King: So, I would like -- I would like to see that as quickly as we can get it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I agree. Chair King: And I also want to confirm with the City Attorney that any action we take today is not a final action. Because I am clear that I may have a tweak or two for you from my district. City of Miami Page 65 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr. DeGrandy: Okay. Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): So that -- that depends on how you pass the motion. So -- Chair King: The motion, as I understand it, is just to accept what he is providing to us today so we can take it to our community so they can have an input in it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's fine. Vice Chair Carollo: Then I would suggest -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That works. Vice Chair Carollo: -- Chairwoman, and let's see what he might -- Miguel, you both need to hear this. The Chairwoman is saying that she might need a tweak or two, small, on her district. I want to make sure that we have our final vote March 11 th. So, if you're going to have that final tweak, either we should have another meeting before March 11 th, or we will provide to you all final tweaks by a certain date that we choose here, so you have them beforehand and you come with this plan and the one with the final tweaks on that day. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And Madam Chair? I have no final tweaks from my perspective. I don't know if the other Commissioners -- Vice Chair Carollo: (INAUDIBLE). Commissioner Russell: I have two. Mr DeGrandy: Yeah. Let me -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, that's a different debate. But we're talking about the Chairwoman. You have -- you can present your final tweaks to him, right, in a private meeting -- you cannot? Mr DeGrandy: Well, here's the why. If say, for example I have two or three Commissioners that give me tweaks. So, I'm -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's not what I said. Mr DeGrandy: No, no, no, no, no. I understand what you're saving. I'm responding to Commissioner Carollo. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Mr DeGrandy: I now have to do four separate maps. Vice Chair Carollo: I understand. City of Miami Page 66 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr. DeGrandy: Each one is in a vacuum. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Of course. Mr DeGrandy: So, if ultimately there's a -- well I like Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla and Carollo's change, but not Reyes', then -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, no. That's not what I'm saying. Mr DeGrandy: -- it can't be put together Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no. Madam Chair is going to give you some changes she wants. You'll present that to us. You'll-- you'll adjust other parts according to that, right? And most of that adjustment at the end of the day is going to come out of Commissioner -- District 2, right? Mr DeGrandy: Right. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: At the end of the day, Commissioner Russell, District 2 is the overpopulated district by 27,000 -- 28,000. That's where the votes have to come from. There's no way around that. You can't go around that. Everybody here is underpopulated. There's -- no, you can do whatever you want. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, no, no, the math doesn't work. You have to take it from yours. If you don't like it -- Commissioner Reyes: We can multiply it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- too bad, you know? The fact of the matter is that you cannot have one Commissioner representing more people than other Commissioners. Vice Chair Carollo: Well, I just want to get -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's the way it works. Vice Chair Carollo: -- this done so I could -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So -- I move -- Chair King: So, we can -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I move -- Vice Chair Carollo: -- I could at least bring to a part of Coconut Grove, a peacock sanctuary like we used to have, and nobody messes with the peacocks. Mr. DeGrandy: Here's -- City of Miami Page 67 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: Just like in India, they don't mess with the cows. Commissioner Russell: Joe, in the section you're getting, nobody wants peacocks. Chair King: So, do I have a motion? Mr DeGrandy: Here's my suggestion. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I have a notion -- I promise I'll make a motion -- Vice Chair Carollo: There's not a single person here from that section. Mr DeGrandy: Here's my suggestion -- Vice Chair Carollo: (INAUDIBLE). Mr DeGrandy: -- before you do a motion, you can accept it or not. Vice Chair Carollo: Save the peacocks. Mr DeGrandy: You have your public hearings. You get whatever input. You decide whether you want changes or not. We have a meeting on March llth. This is the base plan. At that time, you tell me based on, you know, my community input, I want this change. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. Mr DeGrandy: If the Commission votes for that change, we take a recess, we get on our computer -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You change it and -- Mr DeGrandy: Fifteen minutes later we come back and tell you -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And we pass it the same day and we're good to go. Yes. Mr DeGrandy: And tell you this is in the impact of the change. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. That would be -- I think -- our City Attorney made the motion, right, worded the motion? Ms. Mendez: (INAUDIBLE). Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, you can't make it, but you worded it. Ms. Mendez: The Chair worded it nicely. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, you -- City of Miami Page 68 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Ms. Mendez: The Chair worded it. Oh, you want me to say it again? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, right? Mr DeGrandy: Yeah. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I'll make it. Chair King: Say it -- Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE). Vice Chair Carollo: No, I gave that resolution for what we need to move forward today. What the Chair said that she might have a tweak or two -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. Vice Chair Carollo: -- and 1 think that's whyl brought this up to DeGrandy because he's the one who's got to do the work. He's suggesting that we could do it all in one day. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. Vice Chair Carollo: So, the only thing that I'm going to ask is that we have the meeting on the 11 th earlier, like 10:00, 10:30, so that if we've got to work until late that day -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That works. Vice Chair Carollo: -- we do it. Well -- Chair King: Yes, yes. Ms. Mendez: Remember that -- Vice Chair Carollo: The tweaks. Ms. Mendez: Ijust want to remind everybody about the 11 th date. The 11 th date is if you want to vote on these districts -- Vice Chair Carollo: Yes. Ms. Mendez: -- newly shaped districts. Vice Chair Carollo: Yes. Chair King: Yes. Vice Chair Carollo: That's what we voted upon already, Madam City Attorney. City of Miami Page 69 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Chair King: That's what we -- Ms. Mendez: But there's no election in 2020 -- Vice Chair Carollo: Madam City Attorney, we voted upon that already. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Already, yeah. Ms. Mendez: Okay. 1 just wanted to remind -- Vice Chair Carollo: And this is established on that day. Ms. Mendez: Right. I wanted to remind you. Chair King: Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: We understand. Chair King: Yes. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think we're over complicating it. Chair King: Yes. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think we vote this out as a base plan. Chair King: Yes. And -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: With tweaks. Chair King: -- and to what Victoria's trying to say to us, if on the 11 th we don't have a consensus, and I don't think that would be the case -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We come back. Chair King: -- we will make other -- Vice Chair Carollo: But this is why I've been very clear. Chair King: Right. Vice Chair Carollo: That as far as I'm concerned March 11 th is a redline because I know that game that some want to play and they're going to keep this going -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct. Vice Chair Carollo: -- and going, and going, and it's going to be -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct. And Mr. DeGrandy -- City of Miami Page 70 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Chair King: But we're not going to do that. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- Mr. DeGrandy has, if I may Madam Chair, Mr. DeGrandy has made an argument to the today in my office that beyond that, it could cost us money. You made the argument, Madam Chair that you don't care, and I agree Chair King: 1 do not. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: As long as we get it right, and I agree. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: As long as we get it right. But 1 think the goal is, and I agree with Commissioner Carollo, that the goal is March 11 th, because you know what, you're right, the games are being played. The activists are coming out. They're being -- Vice Chair Carollo: Well, no -- Chair King: Well, no. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What? Chair King: No, stop. That's inflammatory -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, it's not inflammatory. Its correct. Chair King: -- language. Yes, it is because they're not actors. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, activists. Chair King: That -- what? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Activists, not actors, activists. Chair King: Okay. But they are advocating on behalf of their community Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct. Chair King: And that is their right and this is -- we live in a democracy -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know, I know, and I agree, and I agree. But we need to -- we have to have finality here. Vice Chair Carollo: You know what, I agree with that. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I agree with that. City of Miami Page 71 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: And if it's kept to that -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Date. Vice Chair Carollo: -- I'm all in favor of spending all the time that we need to -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I agree. Vice Chair Carollo: -- between now and March Il th to hear as many times -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Even a special meeting if we have to. Vice Chair Carollo: -- as people want. My problem is, Chair, and 1 wasn't going to go there, is the following and this is starting to bother me because I'm seeing the false flag being thrown out so I won't call it something else that might be more politically incorrect. It started the last time with trying to incite the West Grove to come here. We took care of that from this dais the last meeting. Mr DeGrandy went ahead and did what we asked him. We said, and we all agree to cut it off fat Bird Avenue and ifhe needed to, to go across 27th into the North Grove. He did just that. He only included in District 4, the other side, the small triangle where McDonald's is on Bird Avenue that you go down, the Flanigan's down to US-1, and I'm hearing on this dais today now that, well, how many Blacks should we take out of there. We took 114, 117. We're diluting. 1 mean, this is absurd. I mean, you throw arguments at me that are sound, and I'll listen and I'll support you. But when you're throwing arguments that will go down in quicksand quicker than you can say quick, and are absurd, and they're being used as a false flag to try to instigate another type of discord, this is where I draw the line. I say enough with this BS that people want to keep the Grove together. They have a right to do that. I understand that. I understand that. But don't throw another argument into it that's got nothing to do with it whatsoever. That's the problem that I've been having. Look, I know most of the people that were here today, they truly, you know, mean what they're saying. You know, I understand that. But I've also explained all the other communities in the City, and we try to do that for several decades since we had districts. But it's come to the point now, the third time around that -- or is this the fourth? Mr DeGrandy: This is the fourth public hearing. Vice Chair Carollo: Fourth, yeah. Yeah, the fourth time around -- Mr DeGrandy: This is the fourth public hearing on redistricting. Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, I don't mean public hearings. Since we've done redistricting from the original one. Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE). Vice Chair Carollo: The original one was in ninety -- Mr DeGrandy: Oh, okay, yeah. This is the third. City of Miami Page 72 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Vice Chair Carollo: -- seven, on the election that we had. So, it's gotten to the point that we can 't keep all of the Grove as one any longer We started in past redistricting in cutting from the north. You know, we have no way to go because if we go the way that Commissioner Russell wants, we throw District 3 into Brickell, that's truly going to change the whole component of one district and it going to create a domino effect that is going to change the composition of the other districts. And this is why we haven tgone that way. You understood that, and you stated it here. It up to us to tell you which way we want to go, it's up to you to tell us what's legal and what's not. Mr DeGrandy: Yes, sir Vice Chair Carollo: And then draw it. Do we have a thousand, two thousand ways of maybe doing it? Yeah. We could, you know, be here for the next ten years and not accomplish a single vote looking at different plans. But this is a sound vote and that's what I wanted to hear that will pass the legal muster that we're going to be sued. Hey listen, I've seen some of these ambulance chasers come here more than for this hearing. They're going to keep coming back. If it's not lbr this, it will be for something else. Because these are the losers that cant make a living as a real attorney, and they've got to be out there seeing what they can grab as an ambulance chaser And that's, you know, that's the, you know, part of life that you can't change. So, I'm not concerned with, you know, the threats of lawsuits. Its how you end up at the end with the lawsuit and that's why 1 asked you that question because, Miguel, you're truly the expert in this. So -- END OF SPECIAL MEETING City of Miami Page 73 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 NA.1 11576 City Commission NA. NON -AGENDA ITEM(S) RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPROVING THE DRAFT OF THE REDISTRICTING PLAN PRESENTED AT THE FEBRUARY 25, 2022 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING SO THAT IT MAY BE SHARED AND DISCUSSED WITH THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND DIRECTING THE EXPERT CONSULTANT TO BRING BACK THE REDISTRICTING PLAN AT THE MARCH 11, 2022 SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR DISCUSSION AND TO PRESENT ANY CHANGES AT THAT TIME FOR A FINAL VOTE. MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner AYES: King, Carollo, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Reyes NAYS: Russell Chair King: Okay. I think we're ready. So, could you,, Victoria, read the resolution? The Resolution was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Chair King: Do I have a motion? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you. Vice Chair Carollo: For a final vote? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Moved. For a final vote. Ms. Mendez: For a final vote. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll move that. Chair King: Do I have a second? Commissioner Reyes: I second. Chair King: All in favor: Vice Chair Carollo: Aye. Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE). Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Aye. Chair King: Aye. City of Miami Page 74 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Russell: No. Commissioner Reyes: (INAUDIBLE). Chair King: Okay. Vice Chair Carollo: You don't want to save the peacocks either, right? Commissioner Russell: I do. Miguel DeGrandy: Okay. So, to be clear, Madam Chair, we will not be making any changes from now until the 11 th. And the 11 th, you direct us to make whatever changes -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: After our meetings and our public meetings and our conversations. Mr DeGrandy: Correct. Chair King: We arefreeto meet with you after our meetings to say these are some tweaks that we want. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. Correct. Mr DeGrandy: Sure. Chair King: Et cetera, et cetera. Mr DeGrandy: But I'm -- I'm not going to present any changes on March 11 th. You all are going to tell me on March llth here's what I want to change. Vice Chair Carollo: Correct. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And you'll take -- you'll do it aside -- Chair King: Then you can do it -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Madam Chair, if I may? Mr DeGrandy: Excuse me? Chair King: And you can do it on March 11 th? Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Exactly yeah. Mr. DeGrandy: Yes, we're just going to have to take breaks as we go through it in the computer: Vice Chair Carollo: What time have we -- City of Miami Page 75 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Mr. DeGrandy: But it's probably the most efficient way to do it. Vice Chair Carollo: What time had we agreed to have met on March 11 th? Was there a time that we -- Chair King: City Clerk? Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, sir, 10: 00 a.m. on March 11 th. Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. We're good then. Chair King: Okay. Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): And then if -- I just wanted to confirm based on a request that I think I heard, but I would love to see if possible, could you do those overlays? Like what is now and what your plan is, you know? Chair King: No, I want that -- Mr DeGrandy: 1 don't know that we could do it with a transparency, but -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Why not? Whoa, whoa, whoa -- Ms. Mendez: No, no. Mr DeGrandy: But what I can do. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Hold on a second, hold on a second, hold on a second. Why not? Why not? (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Mr DeGrandy: Because I'm not as technologically proficient as you, Commissioner? Ms. Mendez: The GIS (Geographic Information System) -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But Cody can do it, Cody can do it. Ms. Mendez: Yeah, the GIS, you could do it with GIS maps. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Chair King: Staples can do it. Mr. DeGrandy: Yeah, here's what I could do. We can have a plan that has a configuration of the districts and if we change a little -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We want -- Chair King: No, I want to see -- City of Miami Page 76 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We want a vinyl thing in front. Chair King: Because 1 want to he able to take it off and -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: A vinyl thing in front that has the changes. Mr DeGrandy: All right. Steve, that's your job. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Can you do it, Steve? You got a (UNINTELLIGIBLE). You could do it, right? Chair King: Sooner than later I'd like to have it. Stephen Cody: And I thought I had the easy part of this relationship. Commissioner Russell: (INAUDIBLE). Mr Cody: Yeah, 1 can do that. Do you want just one plan to look at or if you want five copies of that -- Chair King: Five. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Five. Mr Cody: That's going to take me -- that's not something I can do overnight. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, it's not overnight. You have like two weeks. Mr Cody: Because I've got to hand draw on the vinyl -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, yes. Chair King: Staples will do it for you. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, yeah. You could do -- you're with Holland and Knight, right? Mr Cody: Pardon? Mr DeGrandy: No. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. What company? Mr. DeGrandy: I'm with Holland and Knight. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm sorry. He's not. Mr DeGrandy: He's independent. City of Miami Page 77 Printed on 04/15/2024 City Commission Meeting Minutes February 25, 2022 Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, you're independent. 1 thought -- okay. So, Holland and Knight doesn't have interns that can do all that? Draw little lines with Sharpie. Ms. Mendez: Commissioner, you need -- do you literally need the vinyl? They could do it right here. They can put it on the -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1 want the vinyl. 1 want the vinyl. Chair King: Because it's easy to -- and then we can draw on it. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: For me it is, right? Chair King: Yeah, it's easy. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, I want the vinyl. I move that we get the vinyl. Chair King: Okay. Mr DeGrandy: Well figure out the vinyl. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is there a second to that? Mr DeGrandy: We'll figure out the vinyl. Chair King: Yeah, the vinyl. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you. I appreciate that. Chair King: Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Meeting adjourned. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5: 02 p.m. City of Miami Page 78 Printed on 04/15/2024