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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNotice to the Public (Minutes - DI-18 - July 14, 2016)City of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Meeting Minutes Thursday, July 14, 2016 9:00 AM Regular Meeting City Hall Commission Chambers City Commission Tomas Regalado, Mayor Keon Hardemon, Chair Ken Russell, Vice Chair Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner District One Frank Carollo, Commissioner District Three Francis Suarez, Commissioner District Four Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager Victoria Mendez, City Attorney Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk City Commission Meeting Minutes July 14, 2016 DI.18 16-00974 DISCUSSION ITEM District3- FOLLOW UP REGARDING DISCUSSION ON ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN THE Commissioner Frank CITY OF MIAMI LOSING THEIR MEALS DUE TO CUTS IN STATE FUNDING Carollo AND PROVIDING FORA POSSIBLE RESOLUTION TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. DEFERRED Note for the Record: The City Commission, via unanimous consent of the members present on the dais (present: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Suarez), deferred Item DI.18 to the July 29, 2016 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting. Chair Hardemon: DI.18. Commissioner Carollo: DI.18. DI.18 is a discussion regarding the elderly residents in the City of Miami potentially losing their meals due to cuts in State funding. Now, there was a lot of talk about this, and I actually wanted to reach out to Commissioner Gort and I didn't, because -- and the reason I say that is because there was two senior centers in the City of Miami that it concern, and we had brief discussion in one of the Commission meetings; one was in Commissioner Russell's district, which was UTD (Urban Transit Development), and the other one was in Commissioner Gort's district. As most of you know, Little Havana Activity Center, their flagship office is actually in District 3, in the district that I represent. And I actually contacted them to see exactly what was the issue, what was the cutting and funding and so forth. I received a letter from them regarding UTD, saying that there will not be any cuts in funding; it will maintain as it is right now, as it currently is. And with the Palermo, I heard a lot of discussion regarding different elected officials. I know Commissioner Suarez, Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, Rebecca Sosa. There was a lot of discussion with regards to, "Hey, we'll pony up, and we will allocate 'X' amount of dollars." However, I could tell you, on July 1, I con -- and the reason why July 1 is because that was the date that it was going to be the last date that these meals were going to be provided. On July 1, I contacted Mr. Dorbecker (phonetic) in Little Havana Activity Center, and I said, "Are we good? Is everything squared away? Do you have the funding?" He says, "No. As of right now, I'm discontinuing the meals, and the employees to go to Palermo. " And I said, "Whoa, wait a second. No, no, no, no, no. Tell me what you need" So what I don't want is that these meals are discontinued. So I want to make sure that there's a -- because I know what will happen. If they're discontinued, within a couple of weeks, we're all going to -- we're not going to let this happen in the City of Miami. We're all going to come forward and make sure the funding is there. However, you're still going to have a break in services for X'humber of days; not to mention, in all fairness, these elderly individuals are going to be extremely nervous; may not have meals for a few days, and the employees. So I asked him what needed to be done in order to make sure that the meals would not be discontinued for any amount -- for any period of time. And he said, "If you provide me a letter saying that you will either fund it or find funding for it or so forth, I would then call up and make sure that we continue serving the meals and the employees will continue going." So I sent him a letter say, !Iey, listen, if' -- 'from what you have told me" -- and I could provide the letter, and I'll put it for the record -- `from what you have told me, you are going to discontinue the meal services, starting July 5." And the reason why it was July 1, once again, that was the end of the day. We were going into the long holiday, July 4 holiday; and July 5, he was already saying, "That's it; there's not going to be anymore meals. I'm discontinuing it. I'm, you know, cutting it off" So I didn't want there to be a break in service, so I sent him a letter saying that, f will try to see if we could come up with different funding sources. Last"- well, Worst -case scenario, I will dip into the ant -poverty funds from District 3 in order to make it happen. "He said, "Okay." And he gave the direction for the meals to continue. So I'm bringing it to this Commission to see -- first of all, speaking to Ms. Artega [sic], I reached out to Senator Diaz de la Portilla, and I spoke to him in length. He told me that City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 8/4/2017 City Commission Meeting Minutes July 14, 2016 he spoke to different State agencies regarding, you know, providing some type of service or the meals or taking the meals to the elderlies, but I could tell you, speaking to Mr. Dorbecker -- and we continue to follow up -- he has gotten nothing saying, "Yes, you could continue the meals, because here's the funding." Therefore, we're at the stage where my biggest concern is, I don't want any break in service. I don't want the seniors to be -- continue to be concerned about, you know, the services being discontinued So I wanted to bring it to this Commission so we could discuss, see if -- I could tell you already, the amount, instead of $70, 000, it's more 60 -- it's more in the amount of $60, 000, so I don't know if the State is going to pay for it or if the State's going to handle it. I need something in writing or something, you know, that we are -- there's a consensus where the Little Havana Activity Center says, "Yes, we'll continue the meals because of State" -- "this State department or that State department is allocating it or is funding it",- or if not, for us to, you know, participate. Like I said, I just did not feel right when I contacted Mr. Dorbecker and clearly told me, "No. You know, I've heard a lot of talk about the money being there, but we have nothing in writing, and therefore, we're discontinuing the services." Chair Hardemon: Okay. Ms. Arteaga, before you comment, Commissioner Suarez. Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, and maybe to the point that she's going to make and to the point that the Commissioner made. I -- as he said, you know, I was one of the persons contacted by a lot of these elderly residents that were very concerned early on that there would be a discontinuation of services, starting July 1. I also reached out to State officials and was assured that the funding would not, in fact, be discontinued on July 1. And as Commissioner Carollo did, I also had pledged antipoverty funds to meet or make up as much of the gap as possible or as needed or as I could afford. And so, you know, my understanding is that those services have not been discontinued, but have, in fact, been continued by the State. Commissioner Carollo: IfI may? Commissioner Suarez: Sure. Commissioner Carollo: They have not been discontinued, but it's my understanding that they have not been discontinued because I made the pledge in writing to Mr. Dorbecker that to continue, and I would either find the fundings [sicJ, or I will use antipoverty fundings [sic], and bring it to this Commission in order to make sure that the funding to continue those meals will be there. If not, if not, it's my understanding from our conversation, July 1, that the meals would have been discontinued. Commissioner Suarez: So I don't mean to contradict you, but I was told by State legislators that the meals -- Commissioner Carollo: Right. Commissioner Suarez: -- were going to be continued and would not be discontinued. There may be not perfect communication between what's going on with the State and Little Havana, and I don't want to -- I don't -- I personally don't want to delve too much into that issue, but I was assured by State Representative Jose Felix Diaz, by State Representative Bryan Avila, by a variety of State Representatives that the meals would not be discontinued at all, and that it would not be -- it would not require any funding from us. So I just -- certainly want to make sure that that's true and that that's verifiable, and I think that's a good -- Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) month. Commissioner Suarez: -- perspective and good point, because you're -- you know, you make a good point. The point is, look, anyone can tell you -- and we all rely on each other, and we have good relationships with our colleagues at the State -- City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 8/4/2017 City Commission Meeting Minutes July 14, 2016 Commissioner Carollo: Exactly. Commissioner Suarez: -- but there's -- one thing is to have someone tell you something; it's another thing to have a letter that says it in writing and it's a written commitment. Commissioner Carollo: Exactly. Commissioner Suarez: And so I agree with that a hundred percent. So that's -- yeah. Commissioner Carollo: And that's why I'm bringing it to here, and the -- and I put it there with a possible resolution to address the issue. And when I spoke about Pesolution,7 didn't mean a resolution as solving the issue. I mean a resolution as a resolution that we put before the Commission when we pass a resolution. However, I didn't want to go as far as putting the dollar amounts, because there's a discrepancy on whether there's money there or there's not. I could tell you this: The person who was in charge, who says, "Yes, the meals continue or the meals don't continue" and who's managing that operation, clearly told me, "Listen, I'm discontinuing the meals because I don't have anything in writing saying, yes, here's the funding to continue those services.'" Commissioner Suarez: And -- Commissioner Carollo: And that's where I'm bringing it to your attention, where I think the prudent thing will be to inquire and make sure from -- Commissioner Suarez: Agreed. Commissioner Carollo: -- all the stakeholders to see if the money is there, and if not, where's the money coming from. If not, I am ready to act, as I'm sure -- Commissioner Suarez: And is the State taking over that function? I don't know. You know what I mean. Commissioner Carollo: It could be, but -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Commissioner Carollo: -- what my priority is -- Commissioner Suarez: Is the residents, of course. Commissioner Carollo: -- that -- the residents -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Commissioner Carollo: -- so their meals do not stop, and that's why I sent the letter. So, you know, I don't mind deferring this and bringing it back in the next Commission meeting so it gives us, you know, a couple of weeks to see exactly -- Chair Hardemon: Can we give Ms. Arteaga an opportunity to respond -- Commissioner Carollo: Sure. Chair Hardemon: -- since she's the liaison? City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 8/4/2017 City Commission Meeting Minutes July 14, 2016 Diana Arteaga (Senior Advisor to the City Manager): Diana Arteaga, Government Relations for the City of Miami. Thank you for, you know, making this, you know, a prominent issue a couple weeks ago when it was brought up in the City Commission. At that moment, I started contacting, obviously, our legislators on a State level to see exactly what was going on, and I think a lot of the confusion might have gone on because people were talking to each other between meetings and things hadn't been a hundred percent resolved at that point. I can assure you, we've spoken to the Department of Elder Affairs. I've spoken to Senator Diaz de la Portilla, Representatives Bryan Avila, who have also confirmed that they've reached out to several of you and assured you that the meals are not being lost, and the intermediary that's going to be providing those meals is the Alliance for Aging, and the Alliance for Aging is going to be receiving the funds needed to provide those meals directly from the State, from the Department of Elderly Affairs. So I hope that provides a little bit of clarification. Again, you know, if you have any additional questions, I'd be happy to reach out to them again. Commissioner Carollo: Yes. I want to make sure -- and if we could get some of this in writing, and we could make sure that Little Havana Activity Center also -- provide some type of letter saying, "Okay, we have the funding. We're not going to" -- Ms. Arteaga: The Alliance for Aging is providing it. Chair Hardemon: The Alliance for Aging. Commissioner Carollo: Right, right. Chair Hardemon: And I believe that's what he said -- Vice Chair Russell: For what period of time? Chair Hardemon: -- the last time he came here. Commissioner Carollo: Understood but has anyone told Little Havana Activity Center that? Ms. Arteaga: Yes, yes. They actually have met this week with the Department of Elderly Affairs. They've been visiting their sites, so they know. They're very aware. Commissioner Carollo: But visiting their sites to fund them or visiting them -- their sites for --? Because I've been in -- Ms. Arteaga: To meet with the personnel -- Commissioner Carollo: -- conversation with -- Ms. Arteaga: -- but they're very aware. They've been involved in these conversations with the Senators and with the Representatives. So, perhaps, at the moment that you spoke with them, that was still up in the air and influx, but they're aware. Commissioner Carollo: This morning? This afternoon? So I mean, it's not like this was a week ago. We've been in constant contact with them. Ms. Arteaga: If you'd like something in writing, we could get something in writing from the Department of Elderly Affairs. I can certainly do that for you. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, and that's what I'm hoping for; and make sure that Mr. Dorbecker and Little Havana Activity Center also is aware of that -- City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 8/4/2017 City Commission Meeting Minutes July 14, 2016 Ms. Arteaga: Sure. Commissioner Carollo: -- and says, "Fine." And I know we spoke about this briefly during our briefing, and you -- I thought you were going to provide me their numbers. You provided me Senator Diaz de la Portilla's number, which I called, but -- Ms. Arteaga: It's my understanding that Representative Avila may have tried to reach out to you last night before he shipped out to active duty, so -- Commissioner Carollo: Either way. My -- you know, my thing is -- I don't know if it's Diaz de la Portilla; I don't know if it's, you know, Representative Avila. You know, I appreciate all the work that they've done. My thing is, okay, how do we get it in writing that the issue is solved and it doesn't take City funding? If not -- if it does take City funding, we need to know about it also so that then we could either partner up or see what needs to be done. But at least I'm at ease that I know for a fact that the meals have not been discontinued and the elderlies -- you know, the residents feel that they're at ease. Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair. Chair Hardemon: Vice Chairman and then -- Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. Vice Chair Russell: For what period of time will this interim be funded? Is this until the next year; at which point, the State will take it up again as a line item or --? Ms. Arteaga: It's my understanding that this is for the next fiscal year, so the fiscal year for the State started July 1. Vice Chair Russell: Good. And ifI could follow up with a comment. As the Commissioner in this district and having visited with these residents over and over again -- and I spent Fourth of July with them on a very nice day, where they are overjoyed and very thankful with all of the attention that they got on this. This is the definition of "Commissioners without borders," in the sense that here we got various Commissioners from different districts taking care of the elderly of our City and not caring which district they live in, and everybody activated; everybody got on the phones, on planes, and made things happen and followed up and made sure, and the residents felt that, and they were so thankful, and they do have an assurance that it was paid for. They may not know where it's coming from, whether the assurance came through you to their office that it was going to be funded somehow by us before the actual funding from the State came through. I read in the Herald, Commissioner Suarez, your pledge as well, and I just say Thank you." Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Commissioner Carollo: And my thing is, okay, so the will was there. I know the will was there, but let's now -- and -- Vice Chair Russell: Cross the T's," dot the 1"s,"get it in writing. Commissioner Carollo: Right, exactly. Vice Chair Russell: And you're absolutely right. City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 8/4/2017 City Commission Meeting Minutes July 14, 2016 Commissioner Carollo: And make sure we know exactly -- Vice Chair Russell: You're absolutely right. Commissioner Carollo: -- what we have. Commissioner Suarez: I think what we need -- Mr. Chair, if I may? I think what we need is a letter from -- I guess it's Alliance for Aging, that specifies that they have taken over this responsibility and clarifies what Little Havana's role is in the process. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. And maybe something from Little Havana Activity Center saying, "Yes, we are aware of the Alliance for Aging taking over this, and we" -- Commissioner Suarez: Acknowledge that -- Commissioner Carollo: -- acknowledge that" -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Commissioner Carollo: -- "we are not cutting the services." Commissioner Suarez: Providing -- right, providing the services. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. So that is what we're looking for, so -- Vice Chair Russell: As a final "thank you," I just wanted to mention when there was a risk of loss -- or a gap there, one of the local providers stepped up, called Rancho Luna, and they were ready to provide meals at least for the first few weeks, and then they were on hold and ready to provide more, and they were on call and available. So there was never a risk that they were going to go on that day and not have food. Commissioner Carollo: Right, that break of service. Vice Chair Russell: And that's the community coming together as well. So I thank them, and I thank everyone for coming together on this. Commissioner Carollo: And if possible, I am going to -- I don't know. Mr. City Clerk, defer this or bring it back in the next meeting just as a follow-up to make sure that those letters have received, and we all know exactly that all the T's'hre crossed and the Ps'dotted. Chair Hardemon: I mean, if there isn't any objection to your motion for deferral, it passes. Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Commissioner Suarez: Fine. Chair Hardemon: All right, so we'll defer -- Commissioner Carollo: So I will defer this to the next Commission meeting as a follow-up. Chair Hardemon: All right. We're going to move now into our Planning & Zoning meetings. City Attorney. Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Thank you, Mr. Chair. City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 8/4/2017 City Commission Meeting Minutes July 14, 2016 Chair Hardemon: You have something? Commissioner Gort: As of two minutes ago, Little Havana has not received any notice. I just talked to them. Vice Chair Russell: They have not received? Commissioner Gort: No. Vice Chair Russell: So they're not sure that there's funding. Commissioner Suarez: Something's not happening in terms of communication, and I think that's a problem. Commissioner Gort: The only assurance they got is the letter from Commissioner Carollo, so that's -- Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, and that's exactly my point, Commissioner Gort. Commissioner Gort: I want to help. If it comes to that, we'll all help you. Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, and I know we will. I know we will. But in the meantime, I don't want that break in service. And not only that, the break in service and that uncertainty that the residents don't know what's going to happen. Commissioner Suarez: And the parties need to communicate with each other. Commissioner Carollo: Exactly. Commissioner Suarez: You know what I mean? I mean, there has to be communication. Commissioner Carollo: So that's why -- Commissioner Suarez: How else do you do this? Commissioner Carollo: -- I was bringing it here where -- Commissioner Suarez: Right. Commissioner Carollo: -- all is not okay yet. We need to make sure we solve this issue. Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. 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