HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2017-06-08 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Meeting Minutes
June 8, 2017
9:00 AM
Regular
City Hall
City Commission
Keon Hardemon, Chair
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner, District One
Frank Carollo, Commissioner, District Three
Francis Suarez, Commissioner, District Four
Tomas Regalado, Mayor
Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
City Commission
Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
9:00 AM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Present: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Russell, Commissioner Carollo and
Commissioner Suarez
Absent: Commissioner Gort
On the 8th day of June, 2017, 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
regular session. The Commission Meeting was called to order by Chair Hardemon at
9:07 a.m., recessed at 12:04 p.m., reconvened at 2:29 p.m., recessed at 4:05 p.m.,
reconvened at 5:18 p.m., recessed at 5:20 p.m., reconvened at 5:40 p.m., recessed at
5:42 p.m., reconvened at 6:34 p.m., and adjourned at 6:36p.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
Chair Hardemon: Welcome to the June 8, 2017 meeting of the City of Miami City
Commission in these historic chambers. The members of the City Commission are
Wifredo Gort, Frank Carollo, Francis Suarez; Ken Russell, the Vice Chairman; and me,
Keon Hardemon, the Chairman. Also on the dais are Daniel J. Alfonso, our City
Manager; and Victoria Mendez, the City Attorney; including Todd Hannon, our City
Clerk. The meeting will be opened with a prayer by Commissioner Suarez, and the
pledge of allegiance led by Commissioner Carollo. All rise.
Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered.
PR - PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
PR.1 PROTOCOL ITEM
2403
-Ionoree
Presenter
Protocol Item
Mark Richt
Mayor & Comm Suarez
Key to the City
Stuart Sorg
Mayor Regalado
Memorial Tribute
Kelly Ann Cosentino
Mayor Regalado
Proclamation
Lucia Dougherty
Mayor Regalado
Proclamation
Miami Club Rum
Mayor Regalado
Proclamation
The Bookstore in the Grove
Comm. Russell
Salute
Norberto Spangaro
Mayor Regalado
Proclamation
RESULT:
PRESENTED
1) Mayor Regalado and Commissioner Suarez paused in their deliberations to grant
the Key to the City of Miami to Mr. Mark Richt, Head Football Coach of the
University of Miami. Mr. Richt graciously accepted the Key to the City.
2) Mayor Regalado and City Commissioners paused in their deliberations of
governance and paid homage to the memory of the late Stuart Sorg, who transitioned
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
from this life on May 18, 2017. Mr. Sorg served honorably in the U.S. Navy from
1950 to 1953, then went into banking in his native Virginia and was a founder of
Virginia 's first statewide stakeholder -owned Savings and Loan. Remarkably, at the
age of thirty-nine (39), after a successful banking and marketing career, he
reenlisted with the Navy SEALs and went on to receive the rank of Captain and
Commander of Naval Special Warfare Group SEAL Team Two. After retiring
honorably once again, he became involved in local government in the City of Miami,
founded and was six (6) times Chairman of the City Waterfront Advisory Board and
consultant to the City of Miami for harbors, rivers and marinas. Mr. Sorg's family
solemnly acknowledged the tribute.
3) Mayor Regalado presented a Proclamation to Ms. Kelly Ann Cosentino founder of
the Baby Heat Stroke Institute, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation that was founded to
bring awareness that seven hundred and five (705) infants in the United States have
died of heat stroke since 1998 after being left alone in a hot car and to emphasize the
fact that it is never acceptable to leave a child alone in a car given the risk of death
from heat exposure. Elected Officials paid highest tribute by honoring and
commending Ms. Cosentino for her many contributions to our community; and
proclaimed Thursday, June 8, 2017 as "Kelly Ann Cosentino Day" and "The Baby
Heat Stroke Institute Day.
4) Mayor Regalado and City Commissioners paused in their deliberations to pay
highest tribute to Ms. Lucia A. Dougherty in recognition of her stellar legal career
and public service which have left an imprint on the City's skyline that can be
appreciated by the citizens and visitors of the City of Miami. Ms. Dougherty was
appointed the first female City Attorney of the City of Miami and served until 1988,
after being City Attorney for Miami Beach and Assistant City Attorney in Oklahoma
City and Miami. Ms. Dougherty spearheaded the development of signature projects
in the City of Miami, such as the Performing Arts Center, Perez Art Museum Miami,
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and Miami -Dade County Children's
Courthouse, in addition to hundreds of private developments throughout the City.
Elected Officials proclaimed Thursday, June 8, 2017 as "Lucia A. Dougherty Day."
5) Mayor Regalado and City Commissioners celebrated Miami Club Rum for its
notable achievements. Miami Club Rum was born in Miami in the Wynwood Arts &
Design District in 2011 and is the first distilled spirit in the history of Miami. Miami
Club RumTM was unanimously awarded the 2017 Double Gold Medal and the 2017
Best White Rum in the World Prize at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits
Competition. Elected officials paused in their deliberations to pay tribute to this
Miami Company for its dedication to excellence in the City of Miami and proclaimed
Thursday, June 8, 2017 as `Miami Club Rum Day."
6) Vice Chair Russell recognized and presented a salute to "The Bookstore in the
Grove" and commended Ms. Felice Dubin and Sandy Francis, founders of the
bookstore, for their contributions to the community of the City of Miami. For over a
decade, the Bookstore in the Grove has served as a haven for bookworms of all ages
and backgrounds. It is truly an establishment embedded within the cultural
framework of Coconut Grove. The bookstore's community involvement has lead the
La Plume Young Writers' Contest, an opportunity for Miami -Dade students in
grades 3 through 12 to develop short stories eligible for publishing, amongst other
awards. The Bookstore in the Grove attracts both local and guest writers, musicians,
poets, actors, singers and dancers.
7) Mayor Regalado and City Commissioners presented a Proclamation to Norberto
Spangaro for singlehandedly developing and organizing Argentine Week in the City
of Miami. This event included the participation of government entities such as the
City of Miami and the City of Buenos Aires along with an array of forty-six (46)
gastronomic cultural and sports events and activities. In recognition of Mr.
Spangaro's successful initiative in establishing Argentine Week, an event that has
enriched the fabric of our community, Elected Officials proclaimed Thursday, June
8, 2017, as "Norberto Spangaro Day."
Chair Hardemon: We will now make our presentations and proclamations.
Presentations and proclamations made.
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
AM - APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS:
AM.1 City Commission - Regular Meeting - Apr 13, 2017 9:00 AM
MOTION TO: Approve
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
MV - MAYORAL VETOES
ORDER OF THE DAY
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve the meeting minutes of April 13?
Commissioner Suarez: So moved.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Any unreadiness?
Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: That motion passes.
NO MAYORAL VETOES
Chair Hardemon: Are there any mayoral vetoes?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, there are no mayoral vetoes.
END OF MAYORAL VETOES
Chair Hardemon: We will now begin the regular meeting. The City Attorney will state
the procedures to be followed during this time.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you, Chairman. Any person who is a lobbyist,
including all paid persons or firms retained by a principal to advocate for a particular
decision by the City Commission, must register with the City Clerk and comply with the
related requirements for lobbyists before appearing before the City Commission. A
person may not lobby a City official, board member, or staff member until registering. A
copy of the Code section about lobbyists is available in the City Clerk's Office or online
on wwwmunicode.com [sic]. Any person making a presentation, formal request, or
petition to the City Commission concerning real property must make the disclosures
required by the City Code in writing. A copy of this Code section is available in the City
Clerk's Office or online at wwwmunicode.com [sic]. The material for each item on the
agenda today is available during business hours at the Clerk's Office and online 24 hours
a day at wwwmiamigov.com [sic]. Any person may be heard by the City Commission
through the Chair for not more than two minutes on any proposition before the City
Commission, unless modified by the Chair. If the proposition is being continued or
rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard may be at such later date before the City
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
Commission takes action on such proposition. The Chairman will advise the public when
the public may have the opportunity to address the City Commission during the public
comment period. When addressing the City Commission, the member of the public may
state his or her name, his or her address, and what item will be spoken about. A copy of
the agenda item titles will be available at the City Clerk's Office and at the podium for
your ease of reference. Anyone wishing to make an appeal of a decision at the City
Commission today for any matter considered may need a verbatim record of the item. A
video meeting may be requested at the Office of Communications or viewed online at
wwwmiamigov.com [sic]. No cell phones or other noise -making devices are permitted in
Commission chambers; please silence those devices now. No clapping, applauding,
heckling, or verbal outbursts in support or opposition to a speaker or his or her remarks
shall be permitted. Any person making offensive remarks or who becomes unruly in
Commission chambers will be barred from further attending Commission meetings, and
may be subject to arrest. No signs or placards shall be allowed in Commission
chambers. Any person with a disability requiring auxiliary aids, assistance, and services
for this meeting may notify the City Clerk. The lunch recess will begin at the conclusion
of the deliberation of the agenda item being considered at noon. The meeting will end
either at the conclusion of the deliberation of the agenda item being considered at 10
p.m., or at the conclusion of the regularly scheduled agenda; whichever occurs first.
Please note, Commissioners have generally been briefed by City staff and the City
Attorney on items on the agenda today. At this time, the Administration will announce
which items will be withdrawn, deferred, or substituted. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Manager.
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning,
Commissioners.
Commissioner Suarez: Good morning.
Mr. Alfonso: We have to be deferred: PH.1 will be deferred to July 27; FR.1 will be
continued to July 13; FR2, deferred to June 22; RE. I, deferred to July 27; RE.3,
deferred to June 22; and RE.8, to be deferred to June 22.
Ms. Mendez: And --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo.
Ms. Mendez: -- even though we can't defer it at this time, the companion item to FR.2,
which is PZ.2, would also be continued.
Mr. Alfonso: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. --
Chair Hardemon: You know, I want you to, if you can, Madam City Attorney, to look
into that again. Like, research again whether or not we can have a simple procedural
motion addressed on a PZ (Planning & Zoning) item before the 2 o'clock agenda,
because the way that I would think that it would work is that if -- you can 't make any
substantive changes or substantive actions on an item, but certainly, if you want to
continue it to another day, you should be allowed to do that without waiting until the
afternoon to make the decision.
Ms. Mendez: We'll research again.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you.
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Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under RE.8, if we could defer it to
the July meeting, as opposed to the second meeting in June? I spoke to the Mayor.
Mr. Alfonso: We have no objection.
Chair Hardemon: Are there any other continuance, withdrawals, deferrals by the
Commission? Is there a motion in accordance?
Commissioner Suarez: Move, as amended.
Commissioner Carollo: Second, as amended.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Any further discussion about
it? Seeing none, all in favor, say, "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: That motion passes.
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PA - PERSONAL APPEARANCES
PA.1 PERSONAL APPEARANCE
2182 UPDATE ON SHOTSPOTTER.
Commissioners
and Mayor
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: And I believe we have a personal appearance from the -- it's the
ShotSpotter update. Good morning, Chief.
Chief Rodolfo Llanes: Good morning, Commissioners. Rodolfo Llanes, Chief of
Police; just like to update you on the status of ShotSpotter for 2017. Our ShotSpotter
project began in March of 2015. From March of '15 to 2000 -- to March of 2016,
there was 1,116 ShotSpotter events. And I'm happy to report that March 2016 to
March 2017, there's 737 ShotSpotter events. From those 737, 169 events actually
were scenes, for a 23 percent recovery of evidence and actionable items from the
ShotSpotter. In 2000 -- in our first year, we recorded 6,504 shots that were fired; in
the second year, there was 3,303 shots fired, recorded by the ShotSpotter technology.
That's for multiple gunshots. And single shot -- gunshots, we had 343 incidents; and
in the second year, we have 221. Again, with the ShotSpotter technology, we
continue to see about a 70 percent false/positive, where officers respond and can't
determine that there was an actual crime or a shooting that occurred, but on the 23
to 30 percent success rate, we have been able to recover evidence and be able to
actually process a scene. As far as coverage, ShotSpotter covers four square miles
of the City, which include Model City, Little Haiti, and one square mile that covers
Overtown and part of downtown. If you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer
for you. That's the update on our ShotSpotter technology and the state of how we
use it.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Suarez.
Commissioner Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to thank the Chief for the
update. I want to thank him for -- and the department, generally, for embracing a
new technology, a new device. Chief can you tell me, roughly, from March 2015 till
today, what has happened with our homicide rate in that same period of time?
Chief Llanes: Well, we've seen a marked decrease in our homicide rate from last
year. We are at a pace to equal or better that this year, so -- because of the good
work of the folks in the community and our police officers, so we've seen a marked
reduction in our homicide rate.
Commissioner Suarez: Would it be fair to say that when we started it -- in the year
that we started it, we had 86; in the next year, we had 74; and the year after that, we
had 60; and this year, today, we have 23?
Chief Llanes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Suarez: And, of course -- and I think it's fair to say, obviously, you
cannot attribute that precipitous decline to one specific technique or one specific
technology. I think, you know, obviously the fact that we, as a Commission, not only
embraced this, but also increased our police force -- and I know you have a police
staffing report later on in the Commission meeting -- but I think what that shows is
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that your department, under your leadership in particular, has maintained staffing at
the appropriate level. I think we only have like two vacancies, or something like
that, based on the report?
Chief Llanes: Actually, two overs, sir.
Commissioner Suarez: Two overs. "Imaginate!" So even better. And I think -- so
we 're at full employment, essentially.
Chief Llanes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Suarez: And, you know, obviously, I think the combination of having
more well -trained officers on our streets with technology has resulted in this
precipitous decline and -- you know, I know that in today's day and age in the press,
you're going to go home -- everyone here is going to go home today, and there's
probably a guarantee that one or two or three of the stories you're going to see on
the new cycle are about violence somewhere, but it would be nice if, at some point,
somebody would do a story on the fact that your department and the embracement of
technology by your department has led to a significant decrease in homicides, so
much so that it's possible for us to have less homicides in the year -- in this year than
Chicago had in the month of January alone.
Chief Llanes: Yes. And I think -- you know, there 's another part missing there. I
think we 've had excellent collaboration from our community also.
Commissioner Suarez: We have.
Chief Llanes: I think all the programs that we put in place have really brought us
closer, and we 've had a marked increase in community participation when these
crimes do occur, so I don't want to leave that out. It's not just us; I think the
community has embraced us in a way in order to help us solve these issues, so we
don't want to take the credit altogether in the Police Department. We 've done a lot
of things to impact our crime rate, but I think the community has come forward also
and participated at a higher level than before.
Commissioner Suarez: And I'd just like to add to that that -- you know, I want to
thank your department. I want to thank particularly your -- the training department,
the academy, for bringing officers out to the Magic City Fit Zone last year and this
year, and the Fire Department that sponsored it, as well, and have been there and
been very active. And I think it's changed the conversation, the community
interaction from one that sometimes is negative to one that's positive. And what we
saw in the month of November and December in the first Magic City Fit Zone that
we did, which was using the ShotSpotter data from one of the zones and creating a
community -based event, lighting up the park in Reese park was that we -- that the
November and December months went from, the prior year, the third highest
incident months of the year to the current -- you know, last year -- the current year,
them being the lowest incident years of the month [sic].
Chief Llanes: Right.
Commissioner Suarez: And so I think that just demonstrates that when you combine
the data with proactive community -based policing and you interact with the
community and you change the narrative, that it can have a dramatic effect; and, you
know, hopefully, one day somebody will tell that story, because I think you guys
deserve for someone -- and the City really deserves, as part of its reputation and its
brand, for that story to be told.
Chief Llanes: Yes, sir.
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Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Any further questions? Seeing none, Thank you very much, Mr.
Chief.
END OF PERSONAL APPEARANCES
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PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR REGULAR ITEM(S)
Chair Hardemon: At this time, I will open the floor for public hearing. This is your
opportunity if you're from the public and you'd like to speak on any item that's on
the morning agenda. You have two minutes to address this body. You may state
your name -- first, last -- and address, and which item it is that you're referring to.
So once again, this is the public hearing section of the agenda. If you are here from
the public and you'd like to speak on any of the items, you have two minutes to
address this body. Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Tomas Regalado: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners. I'm here in
support of PH4. It's an item that is sponsored by Commissioner Wifredo "Willy"
Gort and myself. Commissioner Gort cannot be here this morning, because today is
the closing session of the Hemispheric Congress that is being held in the City of
Miami. And so, on his behalf and my behalf, I'm asking you all to support this item.
This item is the sale of a City of Miami property to the United States Veterans
Hospital. Last Commission meeting, you heard Dr. Russo, that there is an urgent
need for parking. Veterans are being turned away, and they're missing their
appointments at the Veterans Hospital in the Civic Center of the City of Miami,
because there is no parking. Many volunteers will have to be asked not to go to the
hospital anymore, because of lack of parking. So the Administration has come up
with a deal, with the Veterans Hospital, to sell this land, with reverters, that is
located at 1455 Northwest 17 Street. So, on behalf of Commissioner Gort and myself
and the Veterans -- and I have here Tony Colmenares, too, the director of Veterans
Services of the Mayor's Office, and you had many veterans here several meetings
ago -- we ask for your support. Thank you.
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. First of all, Mayor, I want to thank you for
bringing this issue to our attention. I think you've done incredible work in your
administration, focusing on veterans -- homelessness and veterans' issues, and so I
thank you for that.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Now, once again, I'll open the floor for public comment. If you're
here from the public and you want to speak on an item, this is your opportunity to
speak. The first person I'd like to recognize, of course, is our dear Commissioner
from Coral Gables, Mr. Lago. If you're here --
Commissioner Vince Lago: I'm here.
Chair Hardemon: There you are. I saw you walk away.
Commissioner Lago: No, Mr. Chair. No, I was just allowing anyone else who'd like
to speak in regards to the issue that you just dealt with.
Chair Hardemon: No, that's complete, so.
Commissioner Lago: Okay, perfect. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
Chairman Hardemon, it's an honor to be here, along with my fellow Commissioners,
Mayor Regalado, other distinguished guests. As the Chairman mentioned, my name
is Vince Lago. I'm here speaking in regards to item RE. 7, the interlocal agreement
for a joint enforcement task force between the City of Miami and the City of Coral
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Gables. I have the honor to serve as Commissioner for the City of Coral Gables,
and I'm grateful to have the privilege to speak before you today about an issue which
is growing concern amongst both of our communities. I believe that, as a
government official, our number -one priority should be public safety, as all of you do
also. With this being said, I have had the opportunity to attend several undercover
ride alongs with your fellow police officers and the City Coral Gables, and have
gotten to witness firsthand what is occurring right here in our neighborhoods. I
witnessed drug -related crimes, prostitution, and sex trafficking, which is why I stand
here before you today, and this issue is not only in the City of Miami; it's in the City
of Coral Gables. It is well established that prostitution and human trafficking, as
well as other illegal activities, are on the rise in South Florida. The U.S. (United
States) Department of State estimates that as many as 600 to 800,000 individuals are
trafficked across our nation's borders every year, with Florida receiving a high
percentage of those victims. South Florida has experienced such an epidemic of sex
trafficking that the Miami -Dade State Attorney's Office established a Human
Trafficking Unit in 2012. Victims of sex trafficking and prostitution are often
exposed to serious health risks, which include sexually transmitted diseases, drug
and alcohol addiction, a series of health concerns, and psychological trauma. On
December 6, 2016, the City of Coral Gables enacted an ordinance, in which I
sponsored, that would prohibit hourly hotel/motel rentals in our area of the City of
Coral Gables. More specifically, the intent of this plan aims to eliminate illegal
activities surrounding our City's borders, while enhancing the overall safety of our
neighborhoods and the future of our children. This ordinance has not only been
effective; it has curbed significant issues that we were having with one motel on our
side of the tracks. Today, I urge you to consider to adopt the combined interlocal
and mutual aid agreement, which will lead to the creation of a Joint Enforcement
Zone, a multi -agency, anti prostitution and human trafficking task force, intended to
disrupt the criminal activity through joint proactive law enforcement operations in
order to investigate, apprehend, and successfully prosecute offenders engaging in
such nefarious activity within the City's Joint Enforcement Zone. It is the
responsibility of government to ensure that public safety of its citizens by providing
policies, enacting legislation for the betterment of our communities. As such, it is
mutually beneficial for the City of Coral Gables and the City of Miami to help
combat this issue jointly. We may come from different cities, but we are one
community, and we cannot -- we can work together to make our community a safer
and better place to live. I look forward to a partnership, and urge you to support
this legislation. And I'm confident this will yield desirable resolutions -- desirable
results within our communities. I want to thank our staff in the City of Coral Gables
and the City of Miami for doing an incredible job over the last six months, especially
the Police Departments, who have worked diligently together, and I'm grateful for
your efforts. I'd like to introduce you to our Deputy City Attorney, Miriam Ramos,
who has a few words. Thank you, Chairman.
Miriam Ramos: Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the Commission. Miriam
Ramos, Deputy City Attorney, City of Coral Gables, with offices in City Hall, 405
Biltmore Way. Before beginning, I'd like to express to you that our City Attorney,
Mr. Leen, was very unhappy that he couldn't be here this morning. Unfortunately,
there was a meeting that required his attendance, and he has sent me in his stead,
but he wants you to know how important this is to him personally. The item that I'm
speaking on is the same as Commissioner Lago, RE.7. It is the combined interlocal
and mutual aid agreement between the City of Miami and the City of Coral Gables,
providing for the creation of a joint enforcement task force, provision of law
enforcement services; and creating a multi -agency, anti prostitution, human
trafficking task force. The effects of prostitution and human trafficking are evident.
Miami is a hub for human trafficking. In fact, the task force that the Commissioner
mentioned, that the State Attorney's Office established in 2012, has handled over 400
cases of human trafficking. The effects are not only on the victims of prostitution
and human trafficking; the individual themselves, who are obviously exposed to
sexually transmitted diseases, psychological trauma, drug abuse, alcohol addiction,
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
physical and psychological trauma, suicidal thoughts, miscarriages, and forced
abortions, but it also affects our communities. It affects our communities because it -
- you know, there's a proliferation of disease in the community. It leads to theft, it
leads to drug trafficking and drug use, and it leads to the objectification of women.
As a woman, as a former Assistant State Attorney in this County, and as now the
deputy for the City of Coral Gables, I am very proud of this effort, and I am happy to
speak about the agreement very briefly. In case any of you have any questions, I'm
happy to answer them. Essentially, the zone is from 57th Avenue to 42nd Avenue,
along the center line of 8th Street, going 100 feet in each direction for each
municipality. For uniform patrol, there is no prior notice required; however, for
undercover or decoy work, there will be 72 hours written notice required. There's a
mutual indemnification in the agreement so that each of us essentially are
responsible for our own employees. There's a forfeiture provision where we can
assist each other with the forfeiture of properties or property, real property or
personal property that might occur as a result of one of these investigations, and it is
our office working together with your City Attorney's Office. The supervision, it has
been laid out where each officer essentially goes up his or her chain of command in
their respective departments, except when there is a pre planned operation where
the Miami commander will be present, and all of our officers will answer to that
Miami commander. There's also a nuisance abatement provision where each
jurisdiction is authorized to move forth with nuisance abatement procedures and
processes, if that would become necessary. We can do that now. The only difference
is that now we would consult with the City of Miami City Attorney's Office, so it
actually gives Miami more control. I'm happy to answer any other questions you
might have on the agreement itself. I am very hopeful that it will pass today. I think
it's going to make a big difference to the City of Miami, to the people who live in the
residential communities right outside of that area, to the residents in our City who
live right outside of that area, and hopefully to some of these victims of human
trafficking, and get them some help. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, ma'am.
Ms. Ramos: I'd also like to introduce Robert Fernandez, who is here on behalf of the
motels and hotels along 8th Street. He's a representative for them, and they are with
us in this effort.
Robert Fernandez: Good morning, Commissioners. Robert Fernandez, Zumpano
Castro, 500 South Dixie Highway, Suite 302, Coral Gables, Florida 33144. I'm here
on behalf of Brickell Hotel Investment, Inc., 6581 Southwest 8th Street, Miami,
Florida 33144, operating as the Grand Emporium Motel. We also own several other
motels in the City of Miami, both in the Joint Enforcement Zone under the MOU
(Memorandum of Understanding) and outside of the Joint Enforcement Zone. I'd
like to say that we have a long track record of operating motels in the City, operating
them cleanly, and cooperating with law enforcement. We've also reached out to
other motel owners and tried to get them proactively involved in this effort, and I'd
like to say that we have. We've met with Commissioner Lago. We've met with
Miriam, and we've had very productive meetings. And what we want to do is be
proactive, be part of the solution. We all want the same thing, which is safer
communities for our residents and safer communities for the businesses. So we are a
partner in this effort. We are, right now, forming a social purpose corporation with
all the motel owners so that we can be more efficient in what we're doing in
reference to best practices. What are we doing? Number one, we're making sure
that all the employees at our motels are properly trained to look out for suspicious
activities and to report them immediately. We're making sure that we have zero -
tolerance policies in all our motels in reference to employees following these rules.
We have reached out to law enforcement in both jurisdictions, asking for what are
the latest best practices, and we continue to do those things. We have hired former
law enforcement to come in and to look at what we're doing in reference to security
and to give us the best practices, and we're sharing it with the other motel owners.
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We have offered in the past our motels for sting operations, and we're going to offer
them again in the future for sting operations, because that is also going to send a
message at our properties, there will be no type of activities like this. So we're
looking forward to working with the City of Miami. We're looking forward to
working with the City of Coral Gables. We're looking forward to working with the
Police Departments. For example, we would like to have points of contact at each of
the law enforcement agencies so we can address these issues and have clear lines of
communications. We look forward to working with you. We look forward to
implementing this Joint Enforcement Zone, and we look forward to coming back here
at some point in the future and giving you all some progress on what we're doing.
Thank you for the time.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. Thank you. You're recognized, Mr.
Mayer.
Doug Mayer: Good morning. My name is Doug Mayer. I reside 2130 Northwest
13th Street, Miami, Florida. I'm here to speak on SR.2, which is the Charter and
order -- excuse me -- Charter and ordinance amendments to the CIP, the Civilian
Investigative Panel. I've -- it's been my pleasure to serve on this panel for the last
three years. I was appointed by Commissioner Gort. There are many issues related
to the recommendations before you. I want to focus on one in particular. First of
all, I wanted to point out that the Independent Review Committee met 15 times --
these were public meetings -- considering all aspects of the Charter and ordinance.
The CIP has worked long and hard to try to get these before you today. One of the
most important items on the list has to do with the funding of the CIP. In order for a
Civilian Investigative Panel to remain independent, their funding must be secured,
and one of things that this ordinance and Charter change does is it secures the
funding of the CIP long term. We just worked out a compromise. On the first
reading of the ordinance, the budget was going to be one half of 1 percent of the
total Police Department budget. And it was pointed out that many times the Police
Department gets new equipment or other things that's not related to personnel, so we
went back and met; and we came back with a compromise that we would accept 1
percent of the personnel budget for the Police Department, which we think is
probably a good change. One of the reasons it's important to have this funding
secured -- We have an example here in Dade County where almost 10 years ago,
Carlos Alvarez, who was the director of the Miami -Dade Police Department, he
zeroed out the budget for their Civilian Investigative Panel, effectively crippling it,
and it has not been in operation for almost 10 years. So this kind of securing the
funding makes sure that civilian oversight is going to continue to be something that
the City supports long term, and cannot be jerked at a whim or a political -- over a
political issue.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, Mr. Mayer.
Mr. Mayer: Thank you. I appreciate it.
Chair Hardemon: You're welcome. Sir.
Keith Fletcher: Good morning, sir. Mr. Chair, Mr. Vice Chair, Commissioners, Mr.
Mayor. Keith Fletcher, executive director and vice president for City Year Miami,
housed at 44 West Flagler Street, downtown; here to speak on behalf of PH.2. I had
a robust presentation prepared with a video, but I'm going to try to be respectful of
the two minutes -- two -minute time frame. City Year is a national -- international
nonprofit, really focused on ending the high school dropout crisis in this country.
City Year's motto, briefly, called "Whole School, Whole Child," because we
understand that we must remove obstacles that stand in the way of students reaching
their potential. We get there by deploying people, ages 18 to 25. We leverage the
power of young people across this country. We send them in teams into our most
under-resourced and lowest performing schools, and we focus on improving
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student's ABCs: their "attendance," their "behavior," their "course" performance
in math and English. The investment in City Year Miami is leveraged with matched
dollars coming from both the Federal Government and Miami -Dade County Public
Schools. The beauty of what we do really rests in the partnership that we have with
Miami -Dade County Public Schools. And I'll tell you that what City Year has been
doing in your district within the City has been working, with nearly every school that
City Year is in, seeing double-digit increases in high school graduation since we
began to partner with those high schools. So again, here to speak in support of
PH.2. I don't think you'll find a better -- an investment with more leverage and a
better ROI (return of investment). I want to very quickly thank the City Manager,
Danny Alfonso; Assistant City Manager Zerry Ihekwaba; Special Advisor, Mr.
Vickers; certainly Mr. Chair, Chairman Hardemon; and the City Attorney, Victoria
Mendez, for their tremendous thought, leadership, and all the incredible partnership
opportunities that we've already had with the City. So again, urging your support
for PH.2. Thank you, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Kelly Mallette: Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice Chairman, members of the
Commission. My name is Kelly Mallette. I work with Ronald L. Book, PA, at 18851
Northeast 29th Avenue, Suite 1010, in Aventura, Florida. I'd like to start off by
saying that Mr. Book would be here today, except, as many of you know, our practice
is in Tallahassee this time of year, and we were called back for a special session. So
I'm here in his absence today, representing the Southeast Florida Apartment
Association and the Florida Apartment Association, regarding Ordinance SR. 1,
which -- I'm sorry -- Ordinance 1942, which is item SR.1. I'd like to put on the
record, Mr. Chairman, that my registration with the City is not effective at this time.
While I was in Tallahassee in April, my ethics requirement lapsed. I am signed up to
take that again. Mr. Book is duly registered in the City on this matter. I hope you'll
allow me to speak.
Vice Chair Russell: Do we need to weigh on it?
Ms. Mallette: I represent, as I said, the Southeast Florida Apartment Association
and the Florida Apartment Association. We represent a diverse array of properties,
affordable, market rate, corporate; from the single owner, new and old. We have
approximately 75 properties in the City of Miami, representing about 18,000 units. I
want to thank, first, Vice Chairman Russell for being accessible and listening to our
concerns over the past couple of weeks on this ordinance. Unfortunately, without
some changes to the ordinance, our organization does have to oppose it today.
While our industry supports high standards and efforts to address unscrupulous
actors, we believe this proposal has some unintended consequence that will hurt
good landlords and hurt good tenants, and we'd like to talk to you about correcting
those today. The way the ordinance is currently written, there are some technical
issues, and 30 -- extending the rental period -- the termination period from 15 days
to 30 days, the way the ordinance is written, isn't really 30 days. It actually could be
up to almost 60 days, and that's because of the way State law says the rental period
is on a month -to -month rent. If your rent is due on the first of the month and you pay
monthly, your rental period ends on the 30th of the month. So if you pay your rent
on the first of the month and you give your notice on the 5th of the month, the 30
days goes into the next month. Therefore, you would actually get more like 45 days
before you would have to leave the property, and we believe that does a couple of
things that do harm. Number one, as you all know, this wouldn't apply in affordable
communities where you'd have cause to terminate. However, what it would do is
impact those market properties that are actually very sought after. By keeping
someone in longer than they want to be there, or longer than they may need to be
there, you're holding up a unit for the next person who may need it. Also, it makes it
harder for any landlord to remove a tenant who may not be following the rules, who
may not be making it -- making things work for their neighbors. You know, there's --
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since it 's -- issues where there might be domestic violence, where there might be
other kinds of disturbances, where, you know, that 15-day termination is helpful, and
so we think that's another unintended consequence. Also, if we're trying to address
unscrupulous landlords, they generally don't enter into written agreements. So we've
proposed to set, number one, one way to resolve this would be to, one, make this 30
consecutive days; and allow for some prorating of rent, if it's beyond the rental
period. That's number one. Number two is, we don't believe this provision should
apply to anyone who entered a written agreement that is for longer than a period of
six months. And, you know, as I said, we'd be willing to work with you on some of
these changes, but we do believe that they would have an impact on some of your
residents; and certainly on some of our communities who are good actors in the
community, trying to do their best to run good properties and provide a good
environment for people to live. I'm happy to answer any questions and will certainly
be here, and there's a few of us here today as well.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. If there's no objection to -- what is it -- it's
not waiving the -- what is it called?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): You're basically just allowing her to speak, and then
she's going to follow up with us to, in turn, sure that she registers properly.
Chair Hardemon: So there's no objection to that?
Mr. Hannon: Exactly. Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, ma'am.
Ms. Mallette: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Sir.
Anthony Teague: Good morning, Commission. Anthony Teague, proudly serving as
the impact director with City Year Miami, entering -- or actually, concluding my
seventh year with the organization. As Fletcher mentioned just a moment ago, our
focus in high schools over the last several years, I've been able to watch now three
graduating classes of ninth grade students who we worked with because they were
off track. We worked with them because they had indicators showing that they were
headed towards dropping out of high school. So I can most definitely, personally
vouch for the impact that we're having. I would also like to say that -- or to share a
story of a student that graduated actually just two days ago, a student who, first day
of -- second day of school, actually got in a fight, got in a fight in a hallway; shortly
thereafter, got suspended for 10 days, and therefore, started his ninth grade year off
with a 10-day suspension from school. As you could imagine, the rest of that year
was a series of trying to catch up, and never quite getting there. This student was
eventually marked to be expelled from the school for constant disruption, skipping
school, different things like that. Happy to say that -- like I said, this student
graduated two days ago from Miami Edison Senior High School; to this day, has the
highest score on the science EOC (End of Course) exam; a complete turnaround
story; actually spoke and inspired a lot of people at City Year's gala this year. And
stories like this are happening for hundreds and thousands of students throughout
Miami -Dade County, because of the work that our AmeriCorps volunteers are
putting in every day. So I thank you so much for your support of PH.2. We look
forward to continuing to partner with you all and many other partners throughout
the Miami -Dade County. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Sir, you're recognized.
Franklin McCune: Good morning, Mr. Chair, Commissioners. My name is Franklin
McCune, and I'm here with PH.2, City Year Miami. I proudly serve as the senior
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Civic Engagement manager with City Year Miami, and I get the unique opportunity
to create impactful volunteer service days all over our County, including in --
amazing opportunities here in the City of Miami. I'm here to talk about the impact of
the work we're doing in the City ofMiami. I'm looking for you guys' support. As my
colleagues, Mr. Teague and Mr. Fletcher have mentioned, the increase in graduation
rates, the increase of opportunities for our students and our AmeriCorps members,
who are completing their term of service actually tomorrow at our graduation, is
amazing. Of the five schools in the City of Miami are continuing to progress and
increase those graduation rates, because of the red jackets there each and every day;
the first people there at the school; the last people to leave; supporting those
students in attendance, behavior, and course performance, and we look for that
continued opportunity. It has been a pleasure to serve continually now for three
years, the City Year Miami, and we look for your support. Appreciate your time.
Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. You're recognized, ma'am.
Esther Knicely: Hello. Esther Knicely, 3331 Florida Avenue. I am here to speak as
a proponent of SR.1. And I just want to say that about -- I think there's about 70
percent of Mi -- people in Miami who are renters. And I believe that we should work
to change the eviction from 15 to 30 days; especially because, for those who are low-
income families, a shelter wait list is often over three weeks long. So if you have
only 15 days to be evicted out of your place, where are you supposed to go? There
are just very minimal resources, and we want to keep those who are on the margins
of our communities at the forefront. And I would also like to say that, with all due
respect to the lady who spoke earlier, just a reminder that we are your constituents;
and I think that, you know, it is important to listen to people who are property
owners, but we are the people who live here, and it impacts us on a daily basis.
Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Kristian Hart: Hi. Kristian Hart, 3334 Charles Avenue. I'm here in support also of
SR.1, the ordinance that extends the notice from 15 to 30 days as is, without an
amendment. If the amendment is adopted, I would be in opposition of it, because the
ordinance offers great protection for renters, who have time to prepare for
alternative housing; whereas, right now, tenants don't have very many rights in the
State of Florida. So as she said, 70 percent are renters, so this affects people not
just in the Grove, but in the entire City of Miami. And it is an easy and sensible step
toward increasing the rights of our renters in this City. With the housing crisis, it's -
- specifically in the Grove, this is a very important ordinance, and there's much to be
done, but by passing it as is, you're protecting renters who have paid their rent. And
even like she said, the example of if you gave it on the 5th of the month, then having
45 to 60 days, that's really not an issue, because the people are still paying their
rent. And also, housing is extremely difficult to find in Miami, especially in the
Grove, so 60 days might not even be enough. I have friends who live here that have
been looking for housing for months; not within 15 to 45 to 60 days. So allowing
that additional time does not actually harm the landlords at all, because they're still
receiving their rent. So I would request that you pass this ordinance as is, without
any amendments. And also, just to remind and reemphasize, to request a
moratorium on any development within the NCD (Neighborhood Conservation
District)-2 until those guidelines have been clarified to stop further development that
is inconsistent with protecting the historical community of the Grove. Thank you.
Alana Greer: Thank you. Alana (phonetic) Greer, 3000 Biscayne Boulevard,
Number 106. I'm here to speak in support of the proposal to extend the notice to
tenant -- to terminate a tenancy to 30 days, and thank all of you for considering this;
and in particular, Vice Chairman Russell for championing this issue. I just wanted
to clar a few things we've heard today. Again, the landlords are receiving
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payment for every day that the tenants are in this -- their unit. If they break a rule, if
there's domestic violence or something like that going on, they're evicted under a
completely different part of the statute. This extension does not affect those cases.
Miami Beach has had the exact same language that's being proposed for over 20
years. It's -- really, it's worked. It's clear. It gives our -- the residents here in the
City of Miami, almost 70 percent of whom are renters, that same shot that our
friends across the bay have. We heard about these highly sought-after units. Those
units are in places like West Coconut Grove, Little Haiti, East Little Havana; places
that are rapidly being displaced. And if we can't give two weeks for these families,
whose communities are under threat of being wiped off the map, to actually find a
roof to put over their family's home, then how are we going to tackle the rest of this
giant housing crisis that we have in front of us? So I really, really appreciate all
y'all's effort in this. I would also just like you to remember that an eviction follows a
family for the rest of their life. That's public record. It's harder to find a place to
live, let alone an affordable, dignified place to put your family. Just one other
clarification that I heard today. We heard about unscrupulous landlords not signing
leases. I represent a number of tenants. I can tell you, time and time again, I see
year -long leases in some of the worst properties in this City. Unfortunately, they're
use -- they're not holding up their end of the bargain. And so, this is just about a
zero cost to landlords, zero cost to the City way to give tenants a little bit of dignity
in the crisis we find ourselves in. Thank you.
Kristi Novak: Hi. Thank you for taking the time to listen to us. My name is Kristi
Novak. I am the area vice president for the Altman Company, and also a member of
the Southeast Florida Apartment Association. As a employee for the Altman
Company, I represent two properties in Miami. And as a member of the Southeast
Florida Apartment Association, we represent approximately 18,000 units in the City
of Miami, and as -- we are constituents, as well. Not only does this -- I'm also -- I
oppose the Ordinance 1942, and not only does it prolong the eviction period for the
landlord, but it does cause a financial burden for a renter. As Kelly Mallette had
stated before, if a renter -- somebody goes month to month because of convenience,
they -- there's also a higher fee for going month to month. And a lot of times, renters
will go month to month, because they are -- for work purposes, and they want to give
notice in a short amount of -- period of time. And if this changes, and they have to
give a 30-day notice, and they miss their notice period by a couple of days, they --
that notice then goes to a 45- to a 60-day notice. That's more rent that they would
have to pay, and more time that they would have to be there that they are not
wanting to do. So again, I oppose this ordinance of 1942.
Sabrina Velarde: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Sabrina Velarde. I'm
here on behalf of Miami Homes for All, formerly the Coalition for the Homeless.
Our address is 140 West Flagler. I'm short. I'm sorry. Our address is 140 West
Flagler, Suite 105, Miami, Florida 33130. I'm here to express Miami Homes for
All's support for agenda item SR.1, as is. Miami Homes for All is an advocacy
organization, dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness. A key step in
preventing homelessness is ensuring that the most vulnerable in our community,
those that are severely cost -burden, have sufficient time to seek affordable
accommodations when their current home is no longer affordable or available.
Every day in our offices we get calls from low-income families, seeking help with a
place to go, because they're about to or have recently had their lease terminated.
We get calls from already cost -burden families looking for rental assistance, looking
for security deposit assistance; and many times these checks from agencies that help
out, it takes longer than two weeks to get those checks. It takes longer for a shelter
waiting period to go through. Those shelter waiting periods are generally three
weeks or longer. As you all know, the affordable housing crisis in our City is very
dire, so we urge this Commission to extend the notice period to 30 days. We think
that this extension is fair and allows families to have a little bit more time to find a
place to go in light of our housing crisis. We ask you to help us prevent
homelessness by approving SR.1 as is. Thank you.
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Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, ma'am.
Ashley Kolbasuk: Thank you. Good -- almost good afternoon, and thank you for
having me. My name is Ashley Kolbasuk. I represent Altman Company, as well. I'm
the director of Associate Development, from 1515 South Federal Highway. I am
here to oppose SR.1, 1942; to discuss, you know, with regards to term of giving
notice, because that's what it is when you go on a month -to -month tenancy. I can
understand the people in support of this, but there's still another big chunk of renters
who, you know, are in a situation where they just roll month to month, because it is a
convenience, and they don't want to really, you know, be held to a lease; or, you
know, they want to have the ability to kind of come and go as they please. With this
30-day notice, it definitely can cause an issue for renters as in -- just if they miss
their notice -- again, we've already kind of talked about it before -- it goes to a 60 --
almost a 45-, 60-day notice, where they're paying that month -to -month fees, they're
paying, you know, that higher market rent, and it's really cost -- or it cost a good
amount of money. And then, not to mention, you know, as a management company
or -- you know, there are the good landlords that are trying to mitigate and manage
their businesses, and if they miss their date -- because we've got to give a certain,
you know, notice to them -- we're then another 30 days out and causing, you know,
potential issues with other people coming onboard. So I definitely think it could be a
hardship to both renters and to management companies, and good landlords and
tenants. So again, I would like to go on record in opposition of SR.1. So thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Sir.
Jeffrey Hearne: Jeffrey Hearne, 4343 West Flagler. I'm the director of Litigation at
Legal Services of Greater Miami, and the director of the Tenants' Rights Clinic at
the University of Miami School of Law. I'm here to provide information, comment,
and an analysis on the proposed ordinance. Under State law, a tenant must be given
15 days' notice if they're a month -to -month tenant, if the landlord wants them to
leave. And if the tenant can't leave within those 15 days, an eviction is filed against
that tenant. So they have to make a choice: Move out or face an eviction. And while
15 days may work in a rural area or in parts of the State where there is a different
rental market, it doesn't work here in Miami. Every week we're meeting with tenants
in our office, who've received 15-day notices, and they face that dilemma: "Do I
move out, become temporarily homeless, or do I stay and have an eviction filed
against me?" You know, the filing of an eviction causes harm to tenants. As some of
our previous speakers said, you know, an eviction stays on your record. The filing,
in and of itself, is public record, which can make it difficult to find housing. And
there are many landlords who refuse to rent to someone just because they have an
eviction filed against them, regardless of whether they were at fault or whether the
eviction was ultimately dismissed by the court. So this ordinance is less about the
eviction, but it's really about preventing homelessness, because it will give tenants
more time to find alternative housing; and this will help us, you know, avoid putting
a drain on our homeless resources. If the tenants are violating some other lease
provision, there are faster provisions to get tenants out. If they're not paying the
rent, they have to do it within three days -- of a three day notice; and if there's not
some other type of violation, the notice is for seven days. So this ordinance would
really just say that rather than giving the notice on the 15th day of the month, the
landlord has to give it on the first day of the month; very small period of time. And
as other speakers said, the tenants will be paying rent during this time. This same
ordinance, identical ordinance has been on the books in Miami Beach with no
problem. The rental market there is strong. We don't have to worry about this
adversely impacting landlords. So my analysis is that this ordinance will provide
significant protections for tenants; it will benefit tenants, give them more time, and
help prevent homelessness. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. You're recognized, sir.
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Jeremy Scholl: Hello. My name is Jeremy Scholl. I'm a regional manager from
Monogram Apartment Trust. I also am the treasury [sic] and secretary for the
Southeast Apartment Association. I oversee buildings in Miami and all over
Southeast Florida. We are opposed to SR.1 and 1942. Truthfully, a very small
percentage of our residents are on month -to -month leases. And we are opposed to
the ordinance in its current form. My colleagues have already expressed reasons for
our opposition, and I yield my time.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Darren Ayoub: Good morning. My name is Darren Ayoub, with Barfield MacCain,
PA (Professional Association), which is located at 4241 North Lake Boulevard, in
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Barfield MacCain is a landlord/tenant law firm that
was founded here in the City of Miami, and for the last three decades has been
representing landlords throughout the State of Florida, including roughly 15,000
units currently in the City of Miami. And I'm here on behalf of the Southeast Florida
Apartment Association to speak in opposition to SR.1. And I feel that there are some
unintended consequences that would be felt if this ordinance was passed in its
current form. For one, if a landlord is going to be held to a 30-day notice, that
makes it almost impossible to terminate anyone in the month of February if you want
to give notice on February 1; because no matter what year you look at, you never
have 30 days in the month of February. For another, if a tenant wants to have the
ability to leave with just two weeks' notice of a month -to -month tenancy -- for
example, transient renters who might be here temporarily for work, they like having
that option of leaving with just 15 days' notice. This would force them to give 30
days' notice or face eviction, and force increased costs on a renter who might
otherwise be able to leave with as little as 15 days' notice. Another thing it could do
is, instead of a landlord abiding by the 30-day month -to -month rental period, they
could go and create a weekly rental period, which only requires seven days' notice.
So if your goal is to preserve housing for these people, there could be the unintended
consequence of instead of getting 30 days' notice to vacate the premises, they are
left with only seven days' notice, if a landlord should choose to operate under a
week -to -week rental, and I think that would have an adverse consequence on what
the Commission is trying to do in approving this in its current form. So I am
opposed. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. Ma'am.
Donna Ameller: Hi. Good morning. My name is Donna Ameller. I am a regional
manager with JMG Realty. I'm also the president for the Southeast Florida
Apartment Association. I oversee -- directly oversee five properties here in the City
of Miami, and my -- and as my colleagues have said before me, we do represent
18,000 units in the City of Miami. For many of the reasons as stated before by Kelly,
by Darren, and many of my other colleagues, we do opposed SR.1. I would like for it
to go on record that we do oppose SR.1 outside of some of the many reasons that
were discussed earlier. It's important that you do know that it can negatively affect
and prolong evictions for the landlord. It can also negatively affect the transient
residents, like Darren said, that do come for work -related purposes, forcing them to
give 30 days when they would have the luxury of giving the 15 days. Again, I
opposed SR. 1. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Thaddeus Scott: Good morning. My name is Thaddeus Scott, 3794 Florida Avenue.
I'm in support of SR.1, and the reason being -- I hear all the stuff. You know, I'm
also a property manager for my church's property, and so I've seen both sides of the
spectrum, so to speak. And I hear you; and yeah, you're right, you're right, you're
right, but I'd like to err on the side of caution in protecting some lady who can't find
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housing or who can't accommodate these things. I'd like to be that compassionate
person that a vet, who has gone and served this country well and is struggling with
whatever the case may be -- What's an extra 15 days for this guy? If he's gone and
put his life on the line for this country, what's 15 more days for this person? I get
both sides. I see both sides. I know the deadbeats. I know the people who are
struggling. But it's a terrible thing when a lady has three and four kids, and she's
trying to find housing, and you're trying to rush her out of and there is no housing
for her to go to. What's an extra 15 days to help -- or for her to get more resources
to help her get to where she needs to be? So with seeing that, and being a part of
that, I'm in support of SR.1. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Jamison Gavin: Good morning, Commissioners. Thank you for having us. My
name is Jamison Gavin, and I'm here representing the Young Professionals Council,
as the chair for the Southeast Florida Apartment Association. I'm also an owner of
an apartment community here in Miami, and I'm opposed to SR.1, mainly for the
reasons of -- as being a property owner, a multi family owner, if we prolong it out to
60 days, we would -- we perhaps would require tenants to actually place more
money down to actually rent that unit that they're renting. So right now, when -- if
you have, you know, first month's or last month's rent, if you're pushing it out to 60
days, we could potentially have a lot longer and more money down that that tenant
would need. So what we're asking is that you guys -- is that the Commission -- that
you work with SFAA (Southeast Florida Apartment Association), that you -- that we
can actually adjust and amend SR.1, and that we come to like terms. Thank you.
Jean Newland: My name is Jean Newland. I live at 7286 Jacaranda Lane, Miami
Lakes, Florida, and I have been a resident of Miami for over 70 years, so I care
deeply about this community. And I am -- I'm in favor of bill SR.2, which is the
funding of the CIP. I want you to -- I ask you today to accept the proposed changes
in budget submitted to you in regards to this Civilian Investigative Panel. I attend
their meetings regularly, and have witnessed firsthand the professionalism and
honesty of the panel members of the CIP, who are all dedicated volunteers. This
panel is a successful result of the City of Miami Commissioners, who selected these
dedicated citizens from your districts to ensure that all constituents are represented
and have access to a transparent process to address their concerns. The panel
depends on the partnership of the investigative team that is compromised [sic] of ex -
police officers who provide critical, professional expertise. The CIP budget is
modest, but represents a significantly important investment in this community.
Changes asked for during -- of the committee during the first reading have been
addressed and changed. You can be proud of the City of Miami as one of the very
few cities to have created such a panel. At a time like this, when the relationships
between the police and the communities are so quickly judged, it is critical for the
City of Miami to continue this process that provides the accountability and
opportunity for our community and police to be heard by an impartial panel. Thank
you.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, ma'am.
Marlene Bastien: Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the Commission. Marlene
Bastien, executive director of the Fanm Ayisyen nan Miyami, Haitian Women of
Miami. We are located at 100 Northeast 84th Street. And we are here to join our
voices with those who came before us to advocate in support of SR.1, as is. We serve
5,000 members -- We don't call them "clients" anymore; we call them "members" --
a year at our one -stop center, located in Little Haiti. The number -one problem that
brought -- that brings these members to our office is housing. We are facing a grave
housing crisis in our community. The fact is, our members are unable to find
housing. There is a 7-, 10-year waiting list. We just ended a campaign a few months
ago for the little -- the mobile homeowners at Little Fanm. Fanm
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) this campaign with several other organizations. We find -- we
reached a settlement, and then we had to help the members secure housing.
Members of the Commission, Mr. Chair, it took weeks, weeks to be able to help them
secure housing. With help, it took weeks. We nowadays have a new breed of
homelessness in our communities, in our City. These are no longer people who
aren't able to pay rent. These are no longer people who do not have employment.
We do have people with employment, with salaries, unable to find places to live
because of this crisis. And until we find a solution, a solution in the City to allow
people who built their communities to live in their communities; to allow
professionals, who work in our City to be able to live in our City, we need to find
provisions to give renters, who constitute over 75 percent of the people who are
securing housing in our City to find a place to live when they are being evicted. I'm
hearing people coming with all kind of bogus reasons why not to approve this, SR.1.
I mean, the question is, who do you believe? Do you believe organizations that
spend hours and hours trying to help people find housing, preventing them from
getting on the streets with their entire families? Or do you believe the same people
who are contributing to this housing crisis in the first place? That's the question.
Who do you believe? I'll say, you need to side with those organizations, those
agencies that spend days and hours and hours of their time trying to help families,
trying -- who are trying to find a place to live. It is our responsibility as a city. It is
our respondent as a country to make sure that families, especially families with
children, have a place to live. And 30 days is -- I don't understand why people are
standing against this. 30 days. And even just 30 days is not enough. This is the
least we can do to help families. This is the least we can do. We are facing a crisis.
I'm going to be working with some of you on the dais. I was talking to Commissioner
Russell recently about this severe housing crisis, guys. We got to find a solution, and
then I'm going to end on that note. There's a Creole proverb that says that,
"(UNINTELLIGIBLE)." The rich doesn't have the mean -- doesn't know about the
misery of the poor. I mean, when you 're looking for a home and you work, you come
to Fanm, you come to different agencies, you can't find it. You come go to your
Commissioners, you still can't find it. You call the Homeless Partnership, you still
can't find help. What does that mean? That means that there is a crisis. We got to
find a solution, and we need more time for the renters. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Ma'am.
Fabienne Boughton: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Fabienne
Boughton, at 50 Northeast 50th Terrace, and I'm speaking in support of SR.1. What
is another 15 days? Because I'm not really sure if anybody who's speaking in
opposition of SR.1 has ever try tried to find housing in under 30 days in Miami, but it
would appear not, because it's virtually impossible. So even if the landlords would
theoretically be out of another month's rent, which is actually not the case, seeing as
nonpayment is governed by something entirely separate, what's worse; a homeless
family or a landlord out of a little bit of money? I'd say probably the homeless
family is a little bit worse off and in a position of less power to bargain here. So I
am in support of SR.1, because I think that even 30 days to find housing when you
are on an extremely tight budget already is next to impossible. Extending this
ordinance -- extending the notice period by 15 days is almost not even enough time
to find a place to live. This will be put a strain on our homeless resources here in
Miami, if we have people who are being kicked out of their homes; they have
nowhere to go. The shelter wait list, as has already been spoken about, is often three
weeks. There is nowhere else for these families, for these people to go. So extending
the notice period by another 15 days I don't think is a big deal, and I'm wondering
why there's so much pushback on 15 more days to find another affordable place to
live in Miami. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. You're recognized, sir.
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William Scarola: Hi. My name is William Scarola, 710 Southwest 12th Avenue. I'm
here to speak on SR.2, the ordinance -- the proposal -- changes to the CIP
ordinance. I'm a 36-year veteran of the Miami Police Department. I retired last
year. And upon my retirement, Chief Llanes gave me a call, and wanted to appoint
me to the Chiefs position on the CIP, in which I took. I'm here to speak against
these changes, as they've come up. Unfortunately, none of you, nor none of the CIP,
except for myself was around when the CIP originally came about. The only person
here now would be the Mayor; Mayor Regalado was here. We went through a lot of
work, a lot of details. We hammered out a lot of these details early on, and we came
up with what the current CIP is today. Let's be honest. There is no love lost between
the CIP, its staff, the board, the members, the investigators, the FOP (Fraternal
Order of Police), or the members of the Miami Police Department. I was called a
liar my first -- my second meeting on the dais of the CIP Board. You know, these
fine officers, they come to work every day. They run into places where normal
people wouldn't. They run into the buildings. They run towards the danger when
everybody else is running from the danger. The departmental orders, as we have
them written, are guidelines. Anybody that's been a policemen or worked in a
business know you have guidelines to go by. Those guidelines are not perfect.
There's always going to be things that come about that are not covered that we can
talk about later on. The CIP wants to become the lead investigative agency or body
to conduct oversight with the Miami Police Department. They have empowered
themselves by cherry picking other cases, some which are closed by LA (Internal
Affairs), without a complainant coming forward; linking similar complaints together
to come up with findings. The current CIP investigations being done along with
example for the criteria they use to find their cases, their closing, their memos, all
that stuff I believe it's hindering the Police Department and the City in its litigation
with civil cases. When it comes up in court, there may be a difference of opinion
between what the Police Department has come up with and what the CIP comes up
with. And anybody that's an attorney knows that's where -- when there's a
difference, that's where we start being attacked on the civil lawsuits. My first
comment on the CIP, on the appointments to the board was they should be done by
you. If you want the CIP to do the interviews, they should interview everybody and
give you the list. They should not be cherry picking, saying who they think is better
picked. That's for you to decide; not for the board to decide. The removal of the
executive director and the legal counsel should not start with the CIP members.
They are not responsible. They are responsible to you. What happens if we have a
case where the board members want to keep that person or those people and you
don't want to keep them; or you want to get rid of them and the board doesn't want to
get rid of them? Who's going to have the final say?
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. Your time has expired.
Mr. Scarola: All right.
Meena Jagannath: Good morning, Commissioners. Meena Jagannath, 3000
Biscayne. I'm here to support agenda item SR.1. It is a common sense item that
would alleviate much of the impacts on Miami residents of the current housing crisis.
A number of other speakers have raised a number of unlikely hypotheticals about
how this would impact landlords and -- however, the vast majority of Miami
residents, almost 70 percent of Miami residents are renters, and so this item would
actually protect the vast majority of Miami residents, many of whom are struggling
to find housing and who -- you know, if given an additional 15 days, would have the
time that they need to provide the stability and to find a place that is affordable to
them in our current market, so I urge you to support the item, SR.1. I think that it is
a common sense item, and something that we should have had on our books long
ago. It is directly modeled after the Miami Beach ordinance, which has been on the
books for over 20 years, and they've been doing fine with it. And so I think it's about
time that the City of Miami implements it here. Thank you.
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Ms. Holmes: Point of clarity, if I -- Commissioner, thank you. I spoke on the
(UNINTELLIGIBLE). Thank you. You know, experience is a good teacher, and we
all have that human experience of you got to pay the rent. But you all, even a year
and a half ago, saw women come in here, working women they were, and I'd like to
thank you, because you opened up your chambers for these women and these ladies.
And we would make an assumption that women that are in Chapman Partnership are
not victims of domestic violence. You can't tell, because they were strong, and we
spoke on our own behalf. And then you recognized that their children were in
transition. And you could see that these women were mobile. They were packed up
and ready to go. And some of them, since now, Commissioner, because you
intervened, because laws were a little bit more applied and interpreted based on
experience versus authority, they're doing very well. And I know that they would like
to come back and say "hello," or you come into the neighborhood again, you can
see. As a service provider, as the executive director for over 37 years, as a formerly
homeless person who stayed under the bridge on 2nd Avenue, every experience I
speak -- I speak from experience; not projection. Someone can advise you about
what it's like to be a black mother or a Hispanic mother or a working mother or a
victim and trying to make it to these meetings, and not have anybody tell you, how
'bout trying to go to court? We've seen advocacy on behalf of those lobbyists and
those administrators, and even those legal defense organizations, such as Legal
Services, who currently, under Miami -Dade County, are seeking to be developers
them self [sic] and property owners them self [sic], but yet, we're the ones facing the
crisis. I'd like to commend you on having the humanity, having the insight; and
using your authority, with great integrity, to impact justice. So when I speak to you
now, I speak on you about experience in being the greatest teacher when it comes to
CIP, as well. These are those persons who hardly have a right to legal defense. And
so what you're doing is great. And although I concur with this young lady -- and I'm
not going to be speaking at that time. I hope you speak again, because there are
small property owners who don't benefit, and that's because the levels of care that
we provide that Wave of Women in Public Housing, the level of care that you see me
-- I'm here always on it, as our homes once for profit -- I'm helping business and
property owners know their right, as well, to create better, safe and healthy havens
for working mothers. So what you've done is balanced out justice. What you've done
is help bring justice to a crisis that was created when we took Community
Development out and made it Economic Development in the City of Miami. And now
you're saying that we're going to be able to have some stability for some of the
taxpayers that are there, so that you can have a consistent community of people that
you represent. That's fair. And in any law and any rule, the first measurement of
integrity and fairness is that you give each person an equal opportunity. This new
resolution gives them an equal opportunity to be the best taxpayers, reap the
benefits, and continue to say that you're great leaders for us. As far as CIP, you held
some accountability standards and guidelines on that. I've told you some things that
have occurred that have not been dealt with. That's 100 to 200 to 300,000 more
dollars of litigation behind them not doing what they're supposed to do. And while I
appreciate someone saying I had an equal opportunity, quite frankly, and out funded
sunshine, Commissioner, I don't want to be interviewed when I'm holding a
Commissioner accountable in his office. So anybody says that that's a fair
opportunity does not have the community's perception. It may be from one authority
and interpretation of what legal policy can do, but it's not a matter of fact, and it
ain't real. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, Madam Holmes. You're recognized.
Julia Dawson: Good morning. Julia Dawson, 1701 Southwest 4th Avenue, Miami
33129. I'm here to speak in favor of SR.2, the ordinance for the Civilian
Investigative Panel. You've heard me speak to you many times in support of the
Civilian Investigative Panel. And I have been involved in the changes that the CIP
has undergone since the beginning of 2011, so I've seen up close and personal the
transition that has taken place, and you have every right to be proud of the CIP that
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
we currently have; the voice of the community on policing issues. I hope you never
doubt that there is a voice on the CIP that is representative of the Miami Police
Department perspective. You have met Mr. Scolara [sic], who sits on the panel, and
is clearly a representative of the Miami Police Department. So the CIP does not
speak or vote with one voice; they are individuals, and they each represent their
constituency. I was here when the CIP was created. I was born and raised in
Miami, so like Mr. Scolara [sic], I know what has happened from the very beginning,
and I can speak with as much authority as Mr. Scolara [sic] on anything pertaining
to the Civilian Investigative Panel. He has represented that there is no love lost
between the Miami Police Department and the CIP. I think that's a pretty broad
brush to paint a whole agency and a whole department with. There are people on
the CIP who lean towards the police. You have heard from one today. There are
people in the Police Department who value the CIP and the work that they do. So
let's not characterize this as an either/or, or everybody in each of those
circumstances is on the same page; people are individuals. The CIP does not
cherry pick cases. The CIP gets all the cases that go to Internal Affairs, after
Internal Affairs has concluded its investigation of that complaint. By ordinance, they
then go to the CIP. They look at all of them, they review them, they do whatever
investigation they feel is appropriate in those circumstances; they present it to the
full panel, which discusses it and looks at the evidence, and then decides whether
they are going to sustain that complaint, not sustain that complaint, or take some
other action. All cases receive the exact same treatment. There is no cherry picking.
Perhaps, what he's referring to is that at times, the CIP differs in its conclusion to
what the IA had as its conclusion. That is their job; to review, from a community
perspective, that particular case. They then send their findings to the Chief who
then responds after reading their findings. That is the process. It is a fair process.
Everybody has input. Everybody has a chance to say what they have found. The
independence of the CIP is crucial to its existence, and the ordinance that you are
considering provides additional independence so that it can truly be the eyes and the
ears and the voice of the community on policing matters. Thank you. I urge you --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Ms. Dawson: -- to support SR.2.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Sir, after you, public comment will be
closed.
Tony Colmenares: Good morning, Mr. Chair, Commissioners. I'm Lieutenant Tony
Colmenares, U.S. Marine Corps, retired. I reside at 4345 Southwest loth Street,
Miami, Florida. I'm here to speak on behalf of PH.4, in support of the resolution
given by the Mayor and Commissioner Gort, with the sale of the land to the VA
(Veterans Affairs). I'm here representing not my other duties that I normally do with
the City, but representing the more than 80,000 veterans that utilize our VA, Miami
VA Health Care System. Truly, you know, these are individuals that have sacrificed
and given so much for this country, and most of them reside within our community.
It's the least we could do to support our veterans, and ensure that they have
adequate parking in order to make their appointments, and make sure that we're
supporting them in any way we can. So I'm here to support that resolution. I'm also
here to have the Commission consider the proceeds of this sale given within the
guidelines of the different ordinances that we have; that it be used to support our
veterans in the City of Miami. We currently have -- 13 percent of our workforce are
veterans, people that have served in the Armed Forces. We need to provide
supportive services for these individuals in transitioning and reintegration back in
the community. Some of them are still in reserve status, so they go away and they
come back. Some of these dollars could be used to subsidize and supplement some of
the money they lose when they go on active duty. Believe it or not, they probably
don't get paid as much as they probably make here in the City of Miami. We could
help their families during this period of time. So I would ask that this sale, if
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
approved by the Commission, the dollars be used to support our veterans in the City
of Miami, earmarked to support our Veterans Service Office under the Office of the
Mayor, and I ask you to consider this seriously. This is something that we don't
have. You know, we have taken the lead in many ways, Mr. Chair, in this nation by
having the first and only Veterans Service Office in a major municipality, like the
City of Miami. Many other cities have modeled themselves after us. City of New
York, San Antonio, San Diego, and other cities are coming onboard because of what
we're doing here in Miami. So I would ask you to consider this, because that would
be unprecedented, and we'd have a very dedicated budget to be able to help our 13
percent that make up our workforce here in the City of Miami that are veterans that
have served this country. So --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir.
Mr. Colmenares: -- I'm here to support PH.4. Thank you so much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. You're recognized, ma'am.
Brenda Betancourt: Good morning. Brenda Betancourt, 1436 Southwest 6th Street.
I'm in support of SR. 1. And I think it's important for both sides to understand that
the owners of the land of the apartment, what they interested in is getting more
money, but unfortunately, sometimes it's not just about the money; it's about them
supporting those families before they go to be homeless. I am part of those who help
the homeless community, and it's really hard -- some of them don't want to be in the
shelter, but they've been forced to be in the shelter by this ordinance that we have.
So I really appreciate it if you guys think about the human side of the SR. 1. Those
who represent 18,000 tenants, that mean they are the ones pushing the 18,000
tenants maybe to the homeless. So they are thinking about their owner of those
apartment, but they actually not thinking about the residents of the City of Miami.
I'm in support of the FR.2, and I would like to add that those who are holding beer
and wine licenses. Sometimes they abuse all those licenses. And I was able to speak
with Planning & Zoning director, and he guide me how to report those issues that we
having very seriously in the City of Miami; especially in the Little Havana area with
those owners of businesses who hold these licenses, abusing and
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) hours that they're supposed to be doing. And I'm support of
the Police Department in reference of the new baseball -- I guess that we going to
have a new stadium. But in the same time, to please don't forget the residents that
going to be living around this area, and that happen -- the same thing that happen
with the Marlins; that the residents around the Marlins cannot park, they get
ticketed, they get towed away, and they have to pay all the money. So please do not
make the same mistakes that we did in the Marlins Stadium with the Beckham
Stadium. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: All right, the public comment section has ended.
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
CA.1
2259
Department of
Police
CA - CONSENT AGENDA
The following item(s) was Adopted on the Consent Agenda
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE TO THE AUTHORIZED
EXPENDITURE LIMITS FOR THE PURCHASE OF LEAD FREE
ZINC AMMUNITION FROM NPEE L.0 D/B/A NATIONAL POLICE
AMMUNITION, A COMPETITIVELY SOLICITED BRADFORD
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONTRACT; ALLOCATING FUNDS
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE, SUBJECT TO THE
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE
TIME OF NEED.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0264
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item CA.1, please see "End of
Consent Agenda."
CA.2 RESOLUTION
2238
Department of
Public Works
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE A CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, WITH
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FOR
IMPROVEMENTS ALONG STATE ROAD 9/NORTHWEST 27TH
AVENUE AT THE INTERSECTION WITH NORTHWEST 17TH
STREET, A ROAD NOT ON THE STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0265
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item CA.2, please see "End of
Consent Agenda."
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
CA.3
2396
Office of the City
Attorney
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE RETENTION OF WEISS SEROTA HELFMAN
COLE & BIERMAN AS SPECIAL REAL ESTATE COUNSEL TO
WORK IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AS SET
FORTH IN CITY RESOLUTION NO. 16-0611 FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW CITY OF MIAMI ADMINISTRATION
BUILDING; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF
ATTORNEY'S FEES AND THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM
THE NON -DEPARTMENTAL LEGAL SERVICES ACCOUNT NO.
00001.980000.531010.0000.00000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0266
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item CA.3, please see "End of
Consent Agenda."
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
Chair Hardemon: Commissioners, is there a motion to approve the CA (Consent
Agenda) agenda?
Commissioner Suarez: So moved.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, I'd like to pull CA.3.
Chair Hardemon: To talk about or --?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: We can -- I mean, we can still have the general motion to approve
it all, and then have -- discuss CA. 3, if you like.
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
Commissioner Suarez: Unless you want to -- okay.
Chair Hardemon: Right. So --
Commissioner Carollo: So sure.
Chair Hardemon: -- the motion and second is to approve --
Commissioner Suarez: Sorry about that.
Chair Hardemon: -- item CA.1 -- the CA agenda. Commissioner Carollo, you're
recognized for CA.3.
Commissioner Carollo: So in other words, I will second it with discussion.
Chair Hardemon: Correct. Understood.
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: And with regards to CA.3, I just -- so 16 firms applied, and I
just want to see if there was some type of ranking, or how was this firm chosen? Was
there like a ranking? Is there a second or third behind the firm that the City
Attorney chose?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Commissioner, we went -- basically, I did a
committee within my office. We spoke about all the persons that sent in their
proposals, and it was just based on conflicts, experience, fees, and all that was taken
into account. And the top two we came up with based on the -- all the new people
that submitted, it was first Weiss Serota; and second, we had Fowler White.
Everyone else had either a conflict, the fees were high, they did not have the
requisite amount of experience, and such.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion,
say "aye"?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
PH.1
2290
Department of
Public Works
PH - PUBLIC HEARINGS
RESOLUTION
TO BE DEFERRED
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE PLAT ENTITLED
"RESIDENCES AT VIZCAYA," A REPLAT IN THE CITY OF
MIAMI OF THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN "ATTACHMENT
1," SUBJECT TO SATISFACTION OF ALL CONDITIONS
REQUIRED BY THE PLAT AND STREET COMMITTEE AS
SET FORTH IN "EXHIBIT A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED, AND THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN
SECTION 55-8 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; ACCEPTING THE DEDICATIONS
SHOWN ON THE PLAT; AND AUTHORIZING AND
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO
EXECUTE THE PLAT AND CAUSE THE RECORDATION OF
THE PLAT IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY, FLORIDA.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: Item PH.1 was deferred to the July 27, 2017 Planning and
Zoning Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item PH.1, please see "Order of the
Day."
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
PH.2
2335
City Manager's
Office
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/STHS) AFFIRMATIVE
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT "A," THAT
COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES
ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI ("CITY"), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE
ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,000.00
FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017 CITY MANAGER'S
RESERVE, WITH $100,000.00 PROPOSED IN THE NEXT YEAR'S
BUDGET, IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $300,000.00
FOR THREE (3) CONSECUTIVE YEARS' FUNDING OF $100,000.00
PER YEAR FOR THE PROGRAM YEARS FROM JUNE 2017
THROUGH 2020, TO CITY YEAR, INC., A U.S. INTERNAL
REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(C)(3) NOT -FOR -PROFIT
ORGANIZATION ("CITY YEAR"), FOR ITS CITY YEAR MIAMI
PROGRAM WITHIN THE CITY ("PROGRAM"); AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, A GRANT AWARD
AGREEMENT WITH CITY YEAR, AND ANY AND ALL OTHER
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, EXTENSIONS, MODIFICATIONS,
RENEWALS, AND AMENDMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, TO COMPLETE THE GRANT ALLOCATION
AND TO IMPLEMENT THE CITY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE
PROGRAM.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0273
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: For further minutes referencing item PH.2, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s)."
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve the Public Hearings agenda?
Commissioner Suarez: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved; seconded by the Chair to approve the
Public Hearings agenda. Is there any discussion about the Public Hearings agenda?
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: The only issue I have, PH.2 -- City Year, I think they're a
great organization, and I really am glad that we are teaming up with them. The only
issue that I have is instead of doing it for three years, I would like each year to come
back to the City Commission for approval. So to do it for one initial year; and then
for the following two years, to actually come for the City Commission for approval.
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
Chair Hardemon: So it'll be a modification to the resolution.
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): That's fine, Commissioner. We're putting it --
obviously, it would require it to put into the budget each year. We could certainly
bring it back separately each year to this Commission. That's not a problem.
Commissioner Carollo: Right. And that's my issue; that I don't want to -- There's
been discussion on where we're going to be in the next budget year --
Mr. Alfonso: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and the following one, so I don't want to start already
crippling --
Mr. Alfonso: I understand.
Commissioner Carollo: -- other budgets. So that's where I want to do it on a year -
by -year basis.
Mr. Alfonso: So we're approving through this first year.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Mr. Alfonso: And then for 2018 -- '17/18 --
Commissioner Carollo: Let it come back.
Mr. Alfonso: -- we'll bring it back.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Mr. Alfonso: You got it.
Chair Hardemon: So the mover and the seconder will accept that modification.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And, Chair, it's my understanding that PH.3 needs to
be amended, as well.
Commissioner Suarez: That's Commissioner Gort, I think, item.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): PH.3 --
Chair Hardemon: Oh, it is.
Ms. Mendez: -- is amended; just taking the sponsor information from District 4 to
District 1.
Chair Hardemon: The mover and seconder will accept that, as well. Any further
discussion? Seeing none, all in favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Mr. Hannon: As amended.
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PH.3 RESOLUTION
2221
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/STHS) AFFIRMATIVE
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT "A," THAT
COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES
ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS, PURSUANT TO
SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY"), FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE
ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT 1
COMMISSIONER'S SHARE OF THE CITY'S ANTI -POVERTY
INITIATIVE, IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,000.00,
TO MIAMI BRIDGE YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, INC., FOR
GENERAL PROGRAM FUNDING; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY, TO COMPLETE THE ALLOCATION.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0274
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item PH.3, please see item PH.2.
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
PH.4 RESOLUTION
2389
Department of Real
Estate and Asset
Management
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/STHS) AFFIRMATIVE
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S
DETERMINATIONS, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT "A,"
PURSUANT TO SECTION 29-B(C) OF THE CHARTER OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER") AND
SECTION 18-182 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE") WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS (A) FOR SAID PROCEDURES, AND (B) FOR A
RETURN TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") OF FAIR MARKET
VALUE; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT
("AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS ("VA"), TO TRANSFER TO
AND SELL TO THE VA, WITH RESTRICTIONS AND REVERTERS,
THE PROPERTIES FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CIVIC CENTER
AND AS WAGNER SQUARE, LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 1455
NORTHWEST 17 STREET WITH THE FOLIOS 01-3135-087-0010
AND 01-3135-087-0012, MIAMI, FLORIDA, CONTAINING AN
APPROXIMATE TOTAL LOT AREA OF 42,309 SQUARE FEET, AS
LEGALLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED (COLLECTIVELY, "PROPERTY") , FORA TOTAL
PURCHASE PRICE OF THREE MILLION SIX HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($3,600,000.00) ("PURCHASE PRICE");
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE
AND EXECUTE ALL OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS,
EXTENSIONS, MODIFICATIONS, RENEWALS, AND
AMENDMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, TO ACCOMPLISH AND TO EVIDENCE THE
FOREGOING AS MAY BE REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF
THIS RESOLUTION AND AT NO COSTS TO THE CITY.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0275
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: For further minutes referencing item PH.4, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s)" and item PH.2.
END OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
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SR - SECOND READING ORDINANCES
SR.1 ORDINANCE Second Reading
1942
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ("CITY CODE"),
ESTABLISHING CHAPTER 47/ARTICLE 1 OF THE CITY CODE,
ENTITLED "RENTAL HOUSING/TERMINATION OF A TENANCY
WITHOUT A LEASE", PROVIDING THAT RESIDENTIAL
TENANCIES WITHOUT A SPECIFIC DURATION, WITH RENT
PAYABLE ON A MONTHLY BASIS, MAY BE TERMINATED BY
EITHER PARTY WITH NO LESS THAN THIRTY (30) DAYS
WRITTEN NOTICE PRIOR TO THE END OF ANY MONTHLY
PERIOD AND, EXCEPT FOR THE NOTICE PROVISIONS SET
FORTH HEREIN, PROVIDING FOR THE APPLICABILITY OF PART
II, CHAPTER 83, FLORIDA STATUTES GOVERNING
"RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES" TO THE RENTAL OF RESIDENTIAL
DWELLING UNITS IN THE CITY; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13686
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: For further minutes referencing item SR.1, please see
"Public Comment Period f or Regular Item(s)."
Chair Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) June 8, 2017 meeting back in order. Our
first order of business is SR.1. Madam City Attorney, can you read it into the
record?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you, Chairman. We will now begin the
Planning & Zoning portion --
Chair Hardemon: No, no, no. SR.1.
Ms. Mendez: Oh.
Chair Hardemon: Read into the record SR.1.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to --
Chair Hardemon: Discussion?
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah, sure. I'd like to start by moving the item.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
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Chair Hardemon: Properly moved and seconded. You're recognized, Vice
Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Gentlemen, in Miami, we know
there are two Miamis. There is the market rate Miami, which is a great help to our
tax base, and we appreciate that, but they are doing just fine. The other half of
Miami that really needs our help and attention has a reality where, as we know, the
rent is too damn high, and it's hard to find a place to live in Miami; and when you
have to move and find a new place, it can be even harder. And this is a big thing
that contributes to the breakup of families, of neighborhoods; people get scattered to
the corners of the County. And this is where our responsibility comes in to speak
and be a voice for that part of the community and make sure they are protected and
find whatever is reasonable and legal, and within our power to avoid those
situations from happening; and certainly, from avoiding more homelessness in our
community. I think everyone would recognize that housing is a crisis and
homelessness are a crisis, and they are intertwined. For us to not help where we can
is to contribute to the problem. And seeing that Miami Beach, 23 years ago, already
did make this exact change that we are making, to the word, and the Attorney
General at that time gave an opinion upholding that decision by the Beach to say
that, as this is a supplemental change that we're not statutorily preempted from
doing this, so this should not cause any legal challenge, and to my knowledge, it has
not caused any legal challenge out on the Beach. Basically, this does officially take -
- add two more weeks to that 15 days; and if it does take a -- add a few more days
beyond that, I'm -- you know, it's still rent to the landlord, and it's -- I know it's not a
necessarily perfect situation, but it's the side of the situation I'm on, and I think we
need to be on. Certainly, I have this situation very acutely right now in some parts of
my district and I know that you do, as well, and I believe this could be a solution that
survives legal challenge; that makes sense; that does not cause suffering to the
landlords, but could be a big sense of relief for those who are at risk of homelessness
or moving to someone un -- someplace where they don't want to go, simply because
they have to move fast, and so, I look forward to your support in this.
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. I'm a real estate attorney, and, you know, so I didn't
realize that it was even possible until this was advanced that we could change the
State Statute, and I voted for it on first reading. I know that there were some
members of the -- I guess it was the Commercial Real Estate Association or
something that came up and expressed some concerns, and had proffered some
amendments. And I do think there's a little bit of a difference when someone, for
example, doesn't pay versus when someone does pay; in other words, when
somebody's actually paying, because what happens is there are situations where you
have a lease, and that's one situation; and then, there are situations where either
someone is not -- is a tenant without a lease or they're what they call "a holdover
tenant"; in other words, they'll -- the lease ends, and that person has continued to
stay beyond the lease, and then what happens there is it creates what's called a
"tenancy," and that tenancy is based on the number of payments or the schedule of
payments. So if the payment was being made on a monthly basis, then the tenancy is
a month -to -month tenancy. If the payments are made on a smaller basis, like, let's
say, a weekly basis, then it creates a week -to -week tenancy. And so, I -- you know, I
think you were talking earlier about -- sort of the law of unintended consequences,
and sometimes you try to do something in good faith, and I think you are absolutely
acting in good faith, and you maybe set off a couple of consequences that maybe
were unintended. One of them is -- you know, I think there's a difference between
giving someone more notice when they're paying and they're doing everything right,
and they just -- and you just -- the landlord has the right, just like everybody who has
private property has the right to say, "Okay, I'm ending this tenancy. I want to move
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
back into my house," or whatever the case is, whatever the reasons are versus
someone maybe that's not paying, and that person also has the right -- just like the
tenant has a right -- certain rights -- the landlord also has certain rights, I mean. So
I know that they had sent me -- they had proffered some amendments, one of which
was con -- they have this whole notion of consecutive days. I think somebody
brought up an interesting issue about February doesn't have 30 days, so it stands to
reason that you may not be able to cancel it in February, because it has, at most, 29
days.
Chair Hardemon: But you could, in fact, cancel it, starting in January and still meet
30 days, and it can end in February, so this is like the minimum thing. When you
look at the statute, the statute says that you need not less than seven days' notice for
week to week; not less than 15 days' notice from month to month; not less than 30
days' notice from quarter to quarter. So it doesn't say that you have to give 30, but
you have to give at least 30 -- right? -- not less than.
Commissioner Suarez: So you're saying they could cancel it for February 28 on
January 27?
Chair Hardemon: Yeah.
Commissioner Suarez: Or on January 28?
Chair Hardemon: Or something in January. One (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in January.
Commissioner Suarez: Right. All right. I mean, I guess that's a good counter.
Commissioner Carollo: You lawyers.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. I mean, I've always worked with the statute, and it's
always worked fine. But, look, I did not --
Chair Hardemon: No, we took it duly --
Commissioner Suarez: -- know till today -- and I don't think this came out on first
reading -- that Miami Beach had this law on the books and that it had engendered
any litigation. I didn't know that. I mean, I had not known that, so.
Vice Chair Russell: So, Mr. Chairman -- and thank you, Commissioner. The State's
Attorney gave their opinion -- this was Robert Butterworth -- in 1994.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: The Attorney General, I'm sorry; the AG (Attorney General) of
Florida. And it was the exact same situation, based on the exact same wording that
we're offering here. And the question was -- A residential tenancy without a specific
duration, which the rent is payable on a monthly basis, may be terminated by either
landlord or tenant by giving not less than 30 days' written notice prior to the end of
the monthly period. So the question was, Is this -- you know, "Is this preempted?
Can we do this?" And their opinion was, "I'm of the opinion that the City of Miami
Beach may enact local legislation extending the notice requirements for the
termination of a tenancy without a specific duration." So we believe that we do have
the backing here to say that this is legally strong. Are there unintended
consequences that we consider? I've been open to that and I have seen those
amendments, and I've really tried to work with Ron Book, who's -- and his staff --
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who also spoke here today have been proffering some of these amendments, trying to
see if there's a middle ground that preserves rights of some landlords, as well. This
does not have to do with nonpayment situations, nor evictions. This is completely
separate from that, so any argument that has to do with that should not be
considered, in my opinion. This is for month -to -month paying, just giving notice of
when you want to stop and when you want them to move out, and 15 days is not a lot
of time to find a new place.
Chair Hardemon: So what's interesting in this is that for termination of tenancy
without specific term, there are four different types of terms that is described in the
statute. You have a tenancy from year to year, a tenancy from quarter to quarter, a
tenancy from month to month, and a tenancy from week to week. The legislation that
we have is specific to the third one, which is the month -to -month tenancy. So if
you're a tenant from week to week, it's still not less than seven days' notice, right? If
you're --
Vice Chair Russell: I don't believe so.
Chair Hardemon: That's what it -- that's what I'm reading.
Vice Chair Russell: The wording says any -- with any -- providing that residential
tenancies without any specific duration --
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: -- so it could apply to any of them.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Vice Chair Russell: So the minimum would be 30 for -- across the board, right?
Chair Hardemon: Not -- that's not what I read. So basically -- The title of that
section is, "Termination of Tenancy without Specific Term."
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: And it reads: The tenancy -- this is the Florida Statute -- 'A
tenancy without a specific duration," as defined in Section 83.462 or 3, "may be
terminated by either party giving written notice in the following manner, described
in 83.564, as follows." So it -- then it goes to 1, 2, 3, and 4. Number 1 is: When
tenancy is from year to year or not -- by giving not less than 60 days. Number 2:
When tenancy is from quarter to quarter by giving not less than 30 days. Number 3:
When tenancy is from month to month. And Number 4: When tenancy is from week
to week. And so, the -- what you're proffering says: Tenancy -- let me see --
required. "A residential tenancy without specific duration in which the rent is
payable on a monthly basis may be terminated by either the landlord or tenant by
giving not less than 30 days."
Vice Chair Russell: You're correct.
Chair Hardemon: So it's very specific to month to month.
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Chair Hardemon: So if the intent was to capture, you know, the tenancy from week
to week, this is different from that; and then from quarter to quarter, it's certainly
different from that, because what -- essentially, if you were doing that, you would
say, quarter to quarter, it'd go from 30 days to 60 days; from month to month, it
would go from 15 days to, say, 30 days; from week to week, it would go from seven
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days to 14 days. Like it -- that would be like the doubling up effect to give them
much more time. So what you have here, I think is much more palatable than what it
could be. I mean, it could be -- if you have a week -to -week tenancy, two weeks'
notice; if you have a quarter -to -quarter tenancy, 60 days' notice.
Vice Chair Russell: But the intent was to capture, really, the month -to -month folks,
because I think that that's the standard the -- If you were to assume someone did not
have a long-term lease, they'd be paying on a month -to -month basis, and those are
the people that are at significant risk; and so, that's -- that was the intent of the
legislation.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion about it? Seeing none, all in favor of the
item, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And for the record, that's as is; no amendments.
Commissioner Suarez: Correct.
Commissioner Gort: Correct.
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SR.2 ORDINANCE Second Reading
1832
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 11.5/ARTICLE II OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "CIVILIAN
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION AND REVIEW/THE CITY OF MIAMI
CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIVE PANEL", MORE PARTICULARLY BY
AMENDING SECTION 11.5-27, ENTITLED "PURPOSES, POWERS
AND DUTIES", TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY;
AMENDING SECTION 11.5-28, ENTITLED "MEMBERSHIP;
NOMINATION OF MEMBERS; TERMS OF OFFICE AND
VACANCIES; APPOINTMENT OF THE CITY OF MIAMI CIVILIAN
INVESTIGATIVE PANEL ("CIP") NOMINATING COMMITTEE", TO
PROVIDE FOR REVISED QUALIFICATIONS, APPOINTMENT, AND
NOMINATIONS OF MEMBERS; AMENDING SECTION 11.5-31,
ENTITLED "PROCEDURES", TO PROVIDE FOR PROCEDURES
FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF DIRECT FILED CASES,
INVESTIGATION, OR REVIEW OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS CLOSED
CASES, TIMEFRAMES FOR AND COMPLETION OF
INVESTIGATIONS AND REVIEWS, REVIEW OF POLICE
POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND PRACTICES, AND ISSUANCE OF
REPORTS; AMENDING SECTION 11.5-32, ENTITLED
"SUBPOENA POWERS", TO PROVIDE FOR THE REVISED
PROCESS IN ISSUING SUBPOENAS; AMENDING SECTION 11.5-
34, ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE; INDEPENDENT
COUNSEL", TO PROVIDE FOR THE SELECTION AND DUTIES OF
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, AND
ASSISTANCE FROM CITY OFFICIALS; AMENDING SECTION
11.5-35, ENTITLED "REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF ANNUAL
BUDGET", TO PROVIDE FOR AN ANNUAL BUDGET NO LESS
THAN ONE PERCENT (1%) OF THE APPROVED PERSONNEL
BUDGET OF THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH
EXCEPTIONS AND BUDGET REQUEST REQUIREMENTS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13688
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Suarez
NAYS: Carollo
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: For further minutes referencing item SR.2, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s)."
Chair Hardemon: SR. 2.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to move it and offer an amendment.
Commissioner Suarez: What's the amendment?
Chair Hardemon: What's the amendment?
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Vice Chair Russell: The amendment is regarding the budget; rather than 1 percent
of the Police Department's total personnel budget, to actually clan fy that it's of
wages; the wages expenditure of the personnel budget.
Commissioner Suarez: What does that equate to?
Vice Chair Russell: According -- My understanding from the City Manager is that
would equate to the 1.1 per year; at least the 1 --
Commissioner Suarez: Point 1?
Vice Chair Russell: -- right at our current --
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: -- budget.
Commissioner Suarez: 1.1?
Chair Hardemon: There's some --
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: -- friendly, some of -- Are there any other friendly amendments
that anyone would like to make? I know I have a --
Commissioner Suarez: Go ahead.
Chair Hardemon: -- I have one; maybe a couple. Well, the first is that, you know,
I'm a stickler for quorum requirements, and so this, as presented, if you look at
Section 11-5-30, what it does is it reduces the quorum. So basically, it changes it
from "shall con" -- "A quorum shall consist of -- it changes it from seven to a
majority of the seated members of the CIP (Civilian Investigative Panel); and so,
then, by that token, you would have a fluctuating quorum and a reduced number that
would equate to a passing vote. So the 13 members of the -- if there are 13 members
of the board and seven is quorum, then you need four. If you only have seven
members on the -- of -- If you only have seven members that are seated, then quorum
is reduced to -- well, quorum is at four. I'm sorry. If you have six, then quorum is
reduced to -- quorum is at four. If you have five, quorum is reduced to three, and et
cetera, et cetera; it keeps going down. So I think that's something that we should
avoid, so what I want -- I would like to do is have it go back to what it originally
was, which was that quorum shall be seven members of the CIP; so basically, strike
the changes that they want to make in that section.
Vice Chair Russell: And so, then the remedy would be make sure all the seats are
filled.
Chair Hardemon: Right, that would definitely have to -- We have to make sure that
they have at least seven members there. So that's the first thing that I want to
consider. And then the other thing, I think is something that I'd especially like to
pick the brain of Commissioner Carollo about. The last time we talked about this
issue -- this is the budget, the budget section of it. Right now, it states that the
budget shall be no less than 1 percent of approved wages -- I'm sorry -- well,
approved -- whatever it was that we just spoke of.
Commissioner Carollo: Salary; only salary.
Chair Hardemon: Right. So shall be --
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Vice Chair Russell: I'm sorry, say that one again, the amendment.
Chair Hardemon: Before, it states that -- well, it does state today that the budget
shall be no less than 1 percent of what you just described.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: And so, part of what the discussion was at the last we spoke about
this was how was it that -- you know -- Should the budget just go up exponentially
with the increase in budget of the Police Department, or is it -- that's something that
we need to look at and say, "Do they actually need this increase in funds?" because
the question is, just because the Police budget grows, should the CIP budget also
grow incrementally that -- in that same fashion? And so, what I thought about was,
one, an annual budget that shall -- how did we --? I have it right here -- an annual
budget that may be up to 1 percent, so we can give them 1 percent, you can give
them up to 1 percent of the Police budget; and then, two, some sort of language that
allows the Commission to determine whether or not a budget increase to a specific
level, like up to that 1 percent is absolutely necessary. So, like some of the language
that the City Attorney provided was where the -- specifying how the spending would
be commensurate with the central functions of the CEP -- CIP so that the City
Commission would use any available benchmarks, financial information, fiscal
indicators, et cetera, to review the CIP's previous annual budget, and to have the
opportunity to adjust the CIP budget accordingly. So what that means, basically, is
that, yes, we can give up to 1 percent of the personnel budget or salary budget,
however you call it, but the question -- What would have to be shown is that there's a
need for that budgetary increase, and if they're able to demonstrate that need for the
budgetary increase, then we grant them the money. And especially where -- And I
think the only way that you could probably do that -- because if you give me a
million dollars to budget, I will budget a million dollars. If you give me 1.5, I will
budget 1.5. So the question it really comes to -- it's kind of like a lookback. So when
you were budgeted at the million dollars, we look back to your million -dollar budget
and say, "Did you spend that money from what you budgeted for?" And if you did
not, then maybe that increase to 1.5 isn't necessary.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Suarez: So I have an idea, but that's a second part to something that
Commissioner Carollo brought up in the next -- in the last meeting, which is -- and I
talked to them when I had meetings with them privately -- or not privately, but in the
office. There's a difference between, obviously, budgeting and spending, right? And
so, you can budget whatever you want. If they don't spend it, you know, what
happens there? I think what we're trying -- what we were wrestling with was the
minimum level of funding; in other words, what is the minimum that we can give
them for them to do their Charter -mandated functions?
Chair Hardemon: But the question is, what's necessary to be the minimum?
Commissioner Suarez: Wait.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Suarez: So that's question number one to -- in my opinion. The
second question is, how does that number potentially change over time, or should it
change over time? So that's my second question. So if you put it to, for example -- I
forget what exact -- how exactly you -- the salaries, I guess, is what you said.
Vice Chair Russell: Wages, yeah.
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Commissioner Suarez: Wages. Then if wages go up, that minimum number goes up.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Suarez: And that not -- that doesn't necessarily correlate with,
potentially, the work that they have to do.
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Suarez: So that's the question that I had. So there is another way --
In my opinion, there's another way to solve it, which is to say, for example, that the
minimum level today, we think, is 1 percent of today's wages, which is 1.1, which
would automatically give them an additional $300, 000 or more from what their
budget is. It actually is more than $300, 000, I think. What's the current budget?
Vice Chair Russell: A little over, yes; from 700, 000-something to 1.1.
Commissioner Suarez: Right. So before 100, 000, right? So -- but that says we --
you can hire the number of investigators that you need, and you can hire the public
policymakers that you need to promulgate the public policies to have a functioning
CIP. So today, that number is good. Whether that number increases or decreases,
instead of it being pegged to salaries, which is not really a great correlation, for
purposes of future growth or future shrinkage, maybe it should be pegged to volume
of complaints -- okay? -- because -- and I'll explain to you what I mean. If volume of
complaints go down -- okay? -- that doesn't mean you can go below the floor. You
still have that floor of 1.1, which is the peg floor. If volume of complaints go up
significantly -- let's say, for example, our department doubles in size, and you have a
lot more work, a lot more volume of complaints, then at that point, it could increase,
based on the volume of complaints. What we've seen is actually an interesting
narrative that they brought to my attention, which was, "Look, we have more officers
than we've ever had, but complaints have actually gone down." And so, I think
there's two components against this. The first thing is we're right -sizing their
budget. We're saying, "Hey, we think you need more money to do your mission, so
we're going to give you this minimum level." We could budget more. This is the
minimum level.
Chair Hardemon: But even at 1 percent -- but -- I don't want to confuse us by saying
that -- When you say, "a minimum level at 1 percent," that's minimum. That 1
percent doesn't change, but the amount of money that it represents will change.
Commissioner Suarez: Right, but that's what I'm -- We don't have to do that part is
what I'm trying to get at.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Suarez: You could do 1 percent of the salaries today, which is 1.1;
that's the minimum level set; that's the floor; cannot go less than 1.1. Now, go -- that
floor increasing -- you can always -- you can do 1 point -- I mean, you can do
whatever you want, but that's the floor, okay? Now, the floor can only go up. It
won't be pegged to salaries, because salaries can go up and have no correlation with
the vitality or the vibrancy, or the leadership of the Miami Police Department;
instead, maybe the pegging thing should be number of complaints. I'll give you an
example. Let's say -- I'm going to use a fictitious number. Let's say we got a
thousand complaints last year, right? If we set this floor at 1.1 -- right? -- assuming
they spent it, which is a whole 'nother issue, which I'll let you -- if you want to get
into it, I'll let you get into it -- but assuming they spend it. Let's say the volume of
complaints next year goes down to 800, okay? The floor still remains at 1.1, because
that is the minimum that we feel we should spend so that they can fulfill their
Charter -mandated mission. But let's say the number goes from a thousand to 1,400
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or 1,500. Their complaints have gone up; their volume of complaints that they have
to investigate has gone up by 40, 50 percent. That's a lot more work that they have
to do, and so, maybe the floor should go up in comparison with the number of
complaints. What we're seeing is the opposite actually happen. We have more
officers than we've ever had -- 1,400 officers -- and our complaints have actually
dropped, which, to me, I think is a testament to the work that our Chief is doing, and
the culture that he's created; that's just my personal feeling on it. So I think we're --
I think we need to do two things. One is, set the floor, which I think you've
articulated a good way of setting the floor; and then, the second thing is setting what
we peg the increase of the floor to. Do we peg it to salaries? Well, I'm not so sure
that that's the right thing to peg it to. Or do we peg it to something that's more
related to their mission, which is complaints?
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman. I'm sorry. Do you want to --?
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So if you want to look at it and
maybe have a -- some type of correlation with complaints, complaints have actually
gone down.
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: But they're going to receive an additional three, four
hundred thousand dollars. So right off the back, I want to say, "Okay, what's the
justification for those additional three or four hundred thousand dollars?" The
biggest issue I have with this is, once again, the accountability. Let's say our police
officers are doing a very good job, complaints are down, we want to give them a
raise. Automatically, the Civilian Investigative Panel receives some additional
funding. There's no justification whether they need it, how they're going to use it, or
any of that, and I think there needs to be some accountability; that is wrong.
Commissioner Suarez was right. In the years that I've been here, there hasn't been a
year that the Civilian Investigative Panel, during budget time, hasn't come and
requested additional funding; yet, year after year, I've been able to show that they
had carryover monies that they actually did not use, and that's how sometimes we
gave them additional monies, because we used some of the monies that they didn't
use from previous years, added it to the current year's budget, leaving it the same,
and that's how they received more monies. So again, the key issue I have with this is
the accountability. If they need -- if they genuinely need the money, then come
before us or just that, but because we want to give our police officers a raise, I
don't think should be a direct correlation with Capital Improvement [sic] receiving
additional fundings, with no justification or accountability on why that extra funding
needs to go there; it's as simple as that.
Commissioner Suarez: You know, there -- and let me just say that another way we
can look at it is, you know, we're trying to solve this whole problem in one piece of
legislation, and maybe the way to do it is to sit -- because, remember, this is an
ordinance, so ordinances can change. And so, maybe the thing is to say, "Look, we
feel that they've made a compelling case to increase their minimum funding, okay?"
So we're willing to peg their minimum funding to 1.1 -- right? -- which is 1 percent
of today's, you know, salaries, and just leave it at that; that is the minimum funding.
And now, we can come back next year and we can analyze their budget to actual,
and if their actual is 900 -- which, by the way, I've told them, you know, "One of your
issues is you're going" -- "You're make" -- "taking a big jump in one year." I had
mentioned maybe phasing it in over a couple of years, because now, all of a sudden -
- Like you said, you can budget whatever you want, but the question is, what are you
going to spend? And so, if their budget to actual is less next year, then whoever is
on the Commission could say, "You know what? Maybe we should reduce their
minimum funding level from 1.1 to whatever it is that they spent last year."
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Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, I just don't want to get into a situation -- and
I know it happens in government, in various departments -- where it's towards the
end of the year, "Hurry up and spend, hurry up and spend, we have to spend it; if
not, we're going to lose it." And I don't want -- I want to make sure that culture
doesn't happen. And you're correct. Listen, if you recall, the Independent Review
Committee, you know, was something that I brought to this Commission, and we
made, you know, a decision as a whole. And I've brought some of those
recommendations back, and were approved unanimously. We didn't approve all of
them, and I guess that's why we're taking up this and some of the other ones. So it
doesn't have to all be at once.
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: I do -- I have a problem with the accountability and the
justification. I -- there needs to be some sort of mechanism where we approve
monies that they actually need and will use, as opposed to automatically getting
additional funding.
Chair Hardemon: Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, and I appreciate those
points, and I'm writing them down as we speak, because some absolutely do make
sense. I don't want to revisit this every year, because it's a very difficult decision for
us to make. What we basically are saying by even having a CIP, in general, is that
we're not perfect, and the people who are meant to be respected and defend our City
on the frontline are not perfect. And that's a very hard thing to say, but we are
human, and transparency is of the utmost importance in protecting not only those
officers and the residents and the relationship between them, and the more we
strengthen a department that's meant to create that accountability and transparency,
the better we are in the long run as a city, as a community that gives respect to the
police and still has the accountability of a citizen -led group, but it's a difficult thing
to look at every year and justify. Now, at 1 percent, if it comes out to 1.1, that's the
minimum we're talking about, because they are underfunded at 700, 000. I've been
over there, and it's not "CSI Miami"; it's more like 'Mayberry Sheriff Department,"
and they are underfunded, and they need the resources. I do believe that it can be
correlated to basically the number of officers that we have, and that was the intent of
pegging it to salaries. Now, if a salary increase without an increase in officers
increases their budget unnecessarily, I do understand that. And so, what I would be
open to as an amendment, perhaps, which achieves that goal is the 1.1 base, and an
increase based on an increase in manpower, the active service manpower that would
be affected by the accountability that they're meant to represent, and that way -- You
know, it's a little different than what you're saying, Commissioner Carollo, because I
know you're looking for, "What did they spend each dollar on?" And I think we
should see that at the end of each year, to see if they're spending it correctly, so we
can go back after that year and say, "There's been abuse. There need" -- "We need a
CIP for the CIP." But to look forward and say, "What will you spend it on?" it's very
hard to say, and it's going to be based on complaints and it's -- and the assumption
here will be that the more manpower we have, the more need there may be; and so,
that's why I'm recommending it this way, and just -- I would agree to the amendment
on the quorum request from the Chairman, but on the budgeting method, I haven't
yet heard the one that fits --
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: -- other than the one that's proffered in the amend -- in the
ordinance.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah.
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Chair Hardemon: Suarez, then Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Suarez: So I think we're heading in the right direction. I'm definitely
okay with the minimum level going up, because I think they've made a compelling
case that they need more resources to fully fulfill their mission. And I think part of
this whole process was creating independent funding for them, which is not an easy
thing to do. We struggled with it in the Charter Review Committee. It was, I think, a
4-4 vote there. I mean, it was very contentious there. And I warned them -- I said,
"You know, this is going to be contentious at the Commission." I sort of could tell
based on discussions that we've had that this would be the one thing, so I'm good
with the 1.1. I think number of officers is better, certainly, than salaries, okay? I
would say this to a couple things on that: One is, we could have -- I think this year,
we're going to have 220 retirements or something like that, or the next year. Are --
we're done with the mass retirements?
Unidentified Speaker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 90 (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Suarez: 90?
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): We got about 90 at the end of this year.
Commissioner Suarez: So the -- so what I'm saying is it -- the number of officers
might go down -- might -- even though we budgeted for a certain level. And I think
they've done a great job, and I want to commend Major Aguilar, who is in the back
there, for keeping us at full employment and a little bit more, so that's just something
to put in your mind. The other thing is I do think that there is a correlation between
good police practices and reduced complaints, and bad police practices and
increased complaints. I mean, we've seen that in the chart of complaints over a 10-
year period. When we were doing things that created the Justice Department
investigation into the City, we saw the complaints skyrocket. When -- ever since
then, you know, based on the leadership of our current Chief and maybe the
preceding Chief our complaints -- even though the officers have gone up; even
though they've gotten younger, the complaints have gone down, which I think is not
something that you normally see. There's usually a correlation between younger
officers and more complaints, for obvious reasons; they're less experienced. And
they've done a great job, and the academy has done a great job of training officers in
such a way that even though our department has gotten younger and we have more
of them, our complaints have gone down, so just food for thought. I'm good with the
minimum -- you know, the increase on the minimum; it's supposed to be a floor, for
sure. We could just leave it at that and just say, "Look, that's the floor for the
foreseeable future," and that is, I think, a significant win for them, because that's a
$400, 000 boost to their funding, and just leave it at that. And if they want to come
back later at some other point and say, "Look, we think the floor should go up for X '
'Y,' or 'Z' reason," then -- you know, because remember, that is a floor. That doesn't
mean that you can't budget above that; it just means you can't budget below that.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Suarez: So a bunch of food for thought there.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, thank you. But I still haven't seen the
justification for the additional 400,000. And mind you, you could say, "Hey, we're
going to hire additional investigators," okay? We have less complaints and you're
going to hire additional investigators. Yeah, I guess you have the money, but I still
haven't seen the justification for the additional $400, 000, and that's part of -- I
guess the crux of my arguments from the beginning.
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Chair Hardemon: And, Commissioner Carollo, I mean, yeah, because it's
interesting. In the conversation, we talk about the floor and tying it to 1 percent.
I've heard comments that, you know, other cities have done it; Chicago is one of the
cities. Chicago found itself in a $665 million deficit. They have like -- they have a
budget that's equitable to the County's budget, so it's a very large city, as we all
know. But, certainly, if it's tied to certain percentages, then they can't manipulate
that number, and it becomes burdensome for them to meet their --
Commissioner Carollo: That's my problem.
Chair Hardemon: -- you know, their demands. And so, you know, this isn't a
decision that -- You know, I think part of the reason we're having this conversation,
as I heard, was because in the County, they defunded the CIP.
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: And so, certainly, I don't think that anyone here is looking
forward to defunding the CIP, but I guess the members of the CIP would say that
they didn't expect it at the County, but they did it, right? And so, you're trying to find
this money. But, sure, I mean, if you want to budget more dollars towards your
organization, what are we getting for those dollars?
Commissioner Suarez: True.
Chair Hardemon: Are we getting additional staff so now the minimum staffing level
is going from "X" to "Y"?
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: And this "Y" includes "M, " "IV," "0," investigators, the way you
described it, and that would, indeed, you know, call for an increase in the funds.
And so, maybe there is a plan. And so, if you have that plan, we should probably
hear it.
Horacio Stuart Aguirre: We do, Mr. Chairman. Horacio Stuart Aguirre, as
chairman of the Civilian Investigative Panel. With me here is Ms. Cristina Beamud,
our executive director, and I'd like to invite Ms. Beamud to answer that question as
to how we would wisely and justifiably use that additional funding that we've been
lacking for some time. Ms. Beamud.
Cristina Beamud: Thank you. Cristina Beamud, executive director of the CIP. It is
true that the bulk of our activities in the past have been focused on investigations.
However, the authority granted by ordinance to the CIP includes policy development
and reviews of Police Department activities. To that end, it would be helpful to
expand, first of all, our community outreach, because there are things that we do
fairly well and things that, I think, because of budget constraints, we haven't done
very well. That includes our community outreach, and that will cost money, either
with a community outreach specialist, and community outreach activities. I probably
don't have to explain to you, the Commissioners, how labor intensive and how many
hours you spend and your staff spends with building communities within your
constituent groups, so that would be number one. Number two, data analyst. It is
often -- and I say this with a great deal of caution, but complaints are designed to
discover or establish whether or not a single employee has done something wrong;
that's why we conduct investigations. However, in the broader picture, it is not the
best way to address deficiencies in any organization. And all of our organizations
have deficiencies, so I'm not pointing fingers at the Police Department at the expense
of anyone else. We all have systemic issues that we could do better; even our
families do. So with data, with good data and a good data analyst, which does not
come cheap, we could be more effective in making good recommendations to the City
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Manager, the City Commission, and the Police Chief so that's another priority that
I'd like to establish. I'd also like to expand upon the training that we provide for
both the CIP members and the staff. If we were to do that in particular, the cost of a
data analyst and a policy analyst that is to do more work on making
recommendations and doing more community outreach, because we really should be
making policy recommendations, not only based on professional opinions, but we
should be doing it with the input from the community, so I would like to do those
things. They would involve two substantial salaries, and that would be my plan if we
were to get that money. So I hope that you will not consider the recommendation
that this be tied to complaints. I just think it's a bad incentive for anyone to be
driven by complaint numbers, either high or low; but particularly high, because it
would create a situation where you would incentivize the filing of complaints. It
makes no sense. Someone mentioned tying this to the --
Vice Chair Russell: Meaning that the more complaints there were, the more budget
they would get, so they would welcome more complaints. That's the --
Ms. Beamud: Well, I wouldn't want to do that. I don't think that's a fair thing to do.
Commissioner Suarez: Definitely not a fair thing to do.
Ms. Beamud: Yeah. Okay, did I answer the question?
Chair Hardemon: So you said you stated --
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: I'd like to have a closing word, if I may --
Chair Hardemon: -- a data analyst --
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: -- regarding the number of --
Chair Hardemon: -- or policy analyst, more community outreach training, and staff.
Now, I'm assuming this staff is to be --
Ms. Beamud: And a policy analyst.
Chair Hardemon: You said data analyst, policy analyst, more community outreach;
more training, and I'm assuming that's for the board, the appointed board.
Ms. Beamud: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: And then additional staff. You didn't say -- I guess -- Or are you
saying the staff is -- are -- is the data analyst and the policy analyst?
Ms. Beamud: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Are they one and the same?
Ms. Beamud: And community outreach, perhaps; although we could -- or the staff
can share those duties, but my priorities would be data analyst and policy analyst.
Chair Hardemon: And have you created a budget that had the amount that it would
cost you for those two positions?
Ms. Beamud: Yes. I looked at some job descriptions and job postings; one out of
Denver, one out of Chicago. The data analyst in -- between Denver and Chicago is
eighty to a hundred thousand a year; that's what they're offering in their -- you know
-- their website. And the policy analyst is between eighty and ninety-five thousand.
And that represents salary costs; clearly, that would be a larger figure. I am told by
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the Budget and Management Department here that we would need to add up to 50 or
60 percent of the salary for other benefits.
Chair Hardemon: And you have -- do you have -- In other CIPs that you know of do
they have data and policy analysts?
Ms. Beamud: Yes. Those figures were taken from job postings in Denver and
Chicago.
Chair Hardemon: For CIP --?
Ms. Beamud: For civilian oversight; they're not called "CIP" --
Chair Hardemon: Right; they're civilian oversight.
Ms. Beamud: -- but civilian oversight.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, and that's more than a police officer makes, so that
means we could have two more police officers on the road.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm comfortable that this is not a number pulled out of the air. I
can hear that you've thought through this; that it is budgeted. If there is consensus
that we've established that base at 1.1 would be a place to start from here forward --
Commissioner Suarez: As a minimum level.
Vice Chair Russell: -- as a minimum level --
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: -- where does that go from there? And like I said, I don't want
to come back every year to -- you know, there's going to be cost of living issues;
there's going to be changes in manpower.
Commissioner Suarez: That's a minimum level.
Vice Chair Russell: Understood.
Commissioner Suarez: So we're not talking about the maximum level or the --
Vice Chair Russell: So would they do a requested budget every year, based on --?
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, exactly. And that's -- What we're saying is we're
avoiding -- I think what the Chairman said, which is the County zeroed out the CIP,
which, in effect, eliminated it.
Vice Chair Russell: Mm-hmm.
Commissioner Suarez: Right? So what they're saying is, "Look, we need a minimum
level to fulfill our mission. We've agreed that that minimum level is a significant
increase; 30, 40 percent increase from what they're -- we're currently budgeting
them at. And they've made the case that it's going to -- that they need, in addition to
additional investigators, they need public policy analysts to help them promote
policies, which is part of their mission. And I would remind all of us, I think it's
important for us to remember that this board was voted on by the people, and it was
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recently ratified by the people by -- to the tune of almost 70 percent. And we
specifically did not put this in the Charter, because we did not want to hamstring
ourselves to that level. And it wasn't -- again, there was a discussion there, but this
is part of the process of them becoming independent; in other words, to be
independent, they need to have the comfort that there is a minimum level of funding.
And we -- I think we can safely say we've analyzed that. We've determined that the
minimum level is adequately met with this. They can ask for more money in the
future, and we can also increase the minimum level in the future if we decide. A
future, you know, Commission -- Commissioners, maybe they decide, "Look, you
know, the 1 percent rule works," after looking at it for two or three, or four more
years. But, I mean, I think to create consensus here so that we can move forward,
maybe the thing to do is to set the minimum level -- you know, we don't have a full
Commission, as well -- and, you know, we take a vote and we move on.
Vice Chair Russell: So I would -- then the amendment specifically would be --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: -- to set a level of 1.1 million as the number, or to set it to --
Commissioner Suarez: I would say that -- well, you could do that or you could say
that it's 1 percent of the salaries --
Vice Chair Russell: Today's.
Commissioner Suarez: -- but of this year --
Vice Chair Russell: Of this year's salaries.
Commissioner Suarez: -- and that is the floor. And so, the floor does not change
year to year; it just remains 1.1 for the time being.
Vice Chair Russell: I would accept that amendment.
Commissioner Suarez: Okay. And I'll accept that as the seconder. I think that's a
compromise, guys.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): So it would be the wages portion?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: It's still the wages portion, so --
Commissioner Suarez: That's how you set the floor.
Ms. Mendez: -- shall be no less than 1 percent of the wages --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Ms. Mendez: -- expenditure of the personnel budget --
Commissioner Suarez: Of this year.
Ms. Mendez: -- for -- at the time of this ordinance --
Commissioner Suarez: Right. Fine.
Ms. Mendez: -- we could say. Thank you. Thank you.
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Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, I see the Chief standing up --
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Manager has some --
Commissioner Carollo: -- if you --
Mr. Alfonso: Not personnel. Wages.
Chair Hardemon: Wages.
Commissioner Suarez: Correct.
Chair Hardemon: Chief.
Mr. Alfonso: The salary.
Ms. Mendez: Approved wages expenditure of the personnel budget.
Mr. Alfonso: No; forget about 'personnel budget."
Ms. Mendez: Okay, so how would you like it to state?
Mr. Alfonso: Just say "wages in the Police Department."
Ms. Mendez: Approved wages of the City Police Department?
Mr. Alfonso: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Chief?
Rodolfo Llanes (Chief of Police): Mr. Chair, may I?
Chair Hardemon: You may, after a quick question. When you say, "wages of the
Police Department, "I don't know whether --
Mr. Alfonso: For police -- for sworn.
Chair Hardemon: There we go, because I was about to say, is that included --?
Mr. Alfonso: Yeah. No? No, no, we're using the number off the Police Department.
Chair Hardemon: So you use --
Mr. Alfonso: Yes, we are.
Chair Hardemon: -- so anybody who sits behind a desk that --
Mr. Alfonso: Yeah. That's how we set up the number in the first place.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: Words have meaning.
Mr. Alfonso: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: And then I cannot interpret it later, so I really need to know exactly. Is
it the police officers on the street?
Mr. Alfonso: No.
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Ms. Mendez: Is it the people you have behind the desk? Is it --? That's why --
Mr. Alfonso: Madam City Attorney --
Ms. Mendez: -- so I need words. Wages of who?
Mr. Alfonso: The wages of the Police Department.
Ms. Mendez: Wages of the Police Department --
Mr. Alfonso: That's it.
Ms. Mendez: -- includes everybody.
Mr. Alfonso: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: Desk people?
Mr. Alfonso: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: I don't have any of those like "dings," like --
Commissioner Carollo: You need to call a foul.
Chair Hardemon: -- if it's a fight.
Commissioner Carollo: You need a bell.
Chair Hardemon: Chief.
Chief Llanes: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Rodolfo Llanes, Chief of Police. I want to
weigh in and say that I'm in support of the CIP, but I'm not in support of this
ordinance. And so, the voters voted for more independence at our last chatter
review -- Charter Review, but there's a lot of ambiguous language in this ordinance
that concerns me. And I'm not going to weigh in on the budget, because that's your
purview, and whatever you decide is their money, it should be their money. But, you
know, there is an expansion in the language about subpoena power to include
documents and other things, and I have voiced this before that we have a real issue
with witness fatigue. Right? So when we have an investigation, the State Attorney
subpoenas witnesses, we subpoena witnesses, FDLE (Florida Department of Law
Enforcement) subpoenas witnesses. We're handing the same person four and five
different witnesses to take four and five different statements, which turns out to be a
problem for all of us. And in the end, this board is a recommendative [sic] board, so
they're going to make a recommendation where FDLE can make an arrest; we can
make an arrest, and we can take a personnel action. This is based on a
recommendation. So I have a huge problem with the expansion of subpoenas.
Another huge issue that I have is 90 days for policy review. Now, the changing of
policy internally is a massive undertaking, and if you're going to hire as part of your
budgetary process a policy professional, then expanding the time threefold, which
you review a policy before the Chief can implement it is cumbersome, and
"cumbersome" is light. So we already have a 30-day review by the CIP. We've now
started to post our -- at the -- simultaneously, during that time, we post for public
comments on our website. And so, I think 30 days is adequate. Beyond that really
ties the hands of the chief executive of the organization to, in effect, change and
change policy, and I don't think that that's what any of us want; and I don't think the
CIP wants that, either. Included in the changes in the ordinance gives them the
authority to review policies that are not being changed and make recommendations
on those policies. And so, they have that ability. If they're going to hire a policy
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professional, they could look at all policy and make recommendations on policies
that are not being undertaken to change. Then I don't see the necessity for a 90-day
hold on effectuation of policy when it's already been vetted through the Police
Department. Now, I'm going to strike that one, because I'm not going to talk about
budget. And so, in the end, we have a board that is set to review the Police
Department. That board has not been without controversy or issues themselves.
Leadership is everything, and Ms. Beamud and her staff have really taken it to a
different level, but Ms. Beamud is not going to be here forever, and this board could
fall back into that time at any time. And so, you need to be able to -- not you,
personally -- but somebody has to be able to say, "You guys have a problem," and
you need to have a mechanism to fix it.
Chair Hardemon: And when you say, "the board" are you describing the actual
members that are a part of --? Because there's two bodies here we speak of.
Chief Llanes: Right.
Chair Hardemon: There's the board that's the citizen, if you will, or someone who's
associated with the City; and then, there's the staff, who includes --
Chief Llanes: Correct.
Chair Hardemon: -- Ms. Beamud, et cetera. But there have been issues with --
Chief Llanes: Both.
Chair Hardemon: -- both.
Chief Llanes: Right, exactly. And I'm talking about both; even both bodies have
been -- have had issues. And so, there has to be a mechanism for somebody to be
able to say, "You all have issues, and we need to fix them." Budget and money is
your way to say, "We're going to fix it." And so, you know, when we effect issues of
personnel action, we go through a number of review policies, through Civil Service
or arbitration, or any of those things. When the board recommends something,
they're not held to that same standard. And so, it's very difficult for the Police Chief
to take a recommendation and say, "Okay, let's do that," because that's not -- that
investigation is not subject to review and arbitration, or in Civil Service. And so,
you get into -- and I explained before we started this process that there are other
factors that affect Police and employee discipline, overall, in the entire City that you
must take into effect [sic]. You can recommend that, "Hey, that we think that there
was a violation here, and we think you should do something about it; that's what the
recommendation is." However, it's very difficult if that isn't -- if there isn't a review
process for that to be able to defend those kinds of investigations in front of a due
process board. So that's what I wanted to weigh in. I have -- you know, those are
the big sticking points that I have with this ordinance. The time frames -- there's
other time frames there that are concerning, because you're extending past the 180-
day statutory time that you have to discipline an employee, and should a
recommendation come that you can actually effect discipline, you won't be able to,
anyway. And so, if you extend that further, your recommendation is basically just
that; a recommendation. And so, you have any questions for me, I'll be glad to
answer.
Chair Hardemon: What obligation are you under if the body gives you a
recommendation?
Chief Llanes: My obligation is to respond to that recommendation as to why it's
valid -- or why I can take action or why I cannot --
Chair Hardemon: Do you --?
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Chief Llanes: -- or why I disagree or I agree with it.
Chair Hardemon: Right. So if you disagree or agree --
Chief Llanes: Correct.
Chair Hardemon: -- are you bound to take an action or are you just bound to
respond, saying you agree or disagree, and if you do --?
Chief Llanes: I'm bound to respond.
Chair Hardemon: Just bound to respond.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: Mr. Chairman, beg the privilege of rebuttal.
Chair Hardemon: Mm-hmm.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: Thank you, sir. I start out by saying that I have a lot of respect
for our current Chief of Police. As a matter of fact, when I had the opportunity of
recommending a Police Chief to City Manager, I recommended Rodolfo Llanes. I
stand by that decision. I'm very proud of it. I think I know a bit -- a thing or two
about management. He is a good manager. I also understand that he leads an
organization, a company like no other. He has 1,400 men and women who carry
guns, have a lot of egos; have a lot of very separate types of education, backgrounds
and orientations; and have been subject to a dossier, feet thick, of investigations. So,
yes, the Civilian Investigative Panel does have issues, has had issues. It's a growing
body; no different than the one in Tallahassee or the one in Washington, D.C.
(District of Columbia) today. But we have never been under a Federal investigation.
We have never had our members arrested, charged with murder, charged with
felonies or crimes in the conduct of their business. Members of the Miami Police
Department has. So I take offense at the suggestion that we are a troubled agency;
that we are a problematic agency; that we're an agency with issues. Since I've been
the chairman of this agency, we've had nothing but harmony, growth, steady stream
focus on our mission, and applause from our community. Now, it is true that some
complaint numbers are going down. I recommend to you that a lot of that is the
leadership of Chief Rodolfo Llanes. I also suggest to you that a lot of that is the
influence of the oversight of the Civilian Investigative Panel that is doing a job today
that had never been done before. Thank you, sir.
Chair Hardemon: That was beautiful.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: That was --
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: -- an awesome response. That was pretty good. Is there anyone
else --?
Unidentified Speaker: Sorry.
Chair Hardemon: I don't think -- this is not a easy decision, by any means. So just
to clarify, the motion that's on the floor is to pass the ordinance, with some
amendments. One of the amendments is that the quorum requirement stays as the
typical quorum requirement; that -- and the other would be that it's a floor --
Ms. Mendez: Chairman, I have actual wording now --
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Chair Hardemon: Oh, that's pretty good; let's do that.
Ms. Mendez: -- drafted to get your blessing, which is: "The CIP shall be operated
on an annual budget that shall be no less than 1 percent of the approved regular
salaries and wages line item of the City Police Department general fund budget at
the time of this ordinance."
Commissioner Suarez: Right. And also, the quorum requirements, as specified by
the Chair.
Ms. Mendez: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: Agreed; agree with that amendment.
Vice Chair Russell: Agreed.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Please.
Commissioner Carollo: Can we sped the amount? Because I could see two or
three years down the line --
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Suarez: That's not a bad idea.
Commissioner Carollo: -- where someone's going to have to look up to see at this
point in time --
Commissioner Suarez: That's not a bad idea.
Commissioner Carollo: -- what was the amount specified and --?
Vice Chair Russell: We're working on the assumption that it's 1.1. If it ends up
being different than that, we need to come back and talk.
Mr. Alfonso: The -- Commissioners, the number that we had looked at more
specifically was 1.173, the last time we looked --
Vice Chair Russell: I remember that number.
Mr. Alfonso: -- but the budget is, you know, still in flux. But if you want to use that
number right now, we can; 1.173, and we're done; we move on.
Ms. Mendez: So right after "ordinance"; "at the time of this ordinance," in
parentheses, we'll put, "1.173 million, " okay?
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: So -- and a data analyst, so I'm assuming they're going to look at
the data that comes to you through -- that you're gathering through, like your
complaint system; is that what they're getting paid this money for?
Ms. Beamud: It could include that. Complaints can be one source of information,
but we could also be looking at data that's, for example, produced by body camera
footage; we could be looking at number of arrests, in separate categories. For
example, some oversight agencies have done some analysis of which officers do the
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most disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, or loitering types of offenses. These are
discretionary, minor public nuisance offenses. That type of data is helpful, I think, to
understand what's going on in the Police Department.
Chair Hardemon: I always thought it was amazing, because, you know, as a Public
Defender, much like State Attorneys, the salaries that we took on when we first
started was just so minimal, and the Public Defender's Office, particularly, they
hadn't had a raise in -- I don't know -- it was like 10 years or something when I came
on. Well, now, it's about -- probably like 10 years. And so, I know the State
Attorney's Office -- and I got upset most recently, because there was a raise that was
included for the Public Defenders, which I believe were supposedly underpaid --
more underpaid per lawyer than the staff at Katherine Fernandez-Rundle's office.
But -- so the work and the education level of those individuals who are lawyers, of
course, is high, both in volume and in education. And I just never thought that -- you
know, if you were really looking for money, which we weren't -- we're looking to help
-- but if you're looking for money in the public sector, I mean, jobs like these, when
you're paid $90, 000 to review data, that's pretty good on a bachelor's degree, yeah.
But --
Commissioner Carollo: More than a police officer.
Ms. Beamud: It's -- I don't think it's a bachelor's degree job; I'll check, but I don't
think so.
Commissioner Carollo: You don't need a bachelor's degree.
Chair Hardemon: You probably don't.
Commissioner Carollo: And they're making more than a police officer.
Ms. Beamud: No, no, no. I was refer -- you would need a higher degree to do this
kind of data analysis. But I'll -- I have it here; I'll check.
Commissioner Carollo: I think you have all these police officers saying, "Hey, how
can I get that job?"
Vice Chair Russell: That job.
Commissioner Carollo: And you have all these Public Defenders and State
Attorneys saying, "Hey, how can I apply to that job?"
Mr. Alfonso: The IT (Information Technology) world pays well, gentlemen.
Commissioner Carollo: She didn't say anything about IT. Data analyst doesn't
necessarily --
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, it doesn't necessarily denote IT; very correct. But here we
are. I think --
Commissioner Carollo: I've known a lot of data analysts in my career.
Chair Hardemon: She's now looking at you more so. Is there any further discussion
about this item?
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
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Commissioner Carollo: Just in closing, listen, I have been a supporter of the
Civilian Investigative Panel for quite some time. Like I said, when there was -- and
I'll leave it at that -- issues within the Civilian Investigative Panel, I brought it here
as a discussion item. We made a recommendation to do an investi -- Independent
Review Committee, which was chaired by Judge Reyes, which did -- I think did a
great job, and all the members did a great job. I brought some of those
recommendations back to this board. We voted on them, and as a unanimous
decision, but that doesn't mean that I agreed with all the recommendations; and
there's some right now that I still don't agree with, so I will not be voting in favor.
Chair Hardemon: You know, and this -- like I said, this is a hard one for me, and all
it takes is two votes for this thing to fail, and that's why, you know, this is important
that we have this conversation. But, I mean, I'll give you an example. I
recommended a -- I know we talk about the number of people that we have on the
board. I remember recommending a young lady for the CIP, who is a member --
she's a lawyer at the Public Defender's Office, and has been for longer than I was a
Public Defender, certainly, and still is today. And I don't know the particular reason
why she was not recommended, but she wasn't given as an option for us to select
when we made our appointments, because, you know, we recommend -- we could
recommend and they pick -- or some funny system. And, you know, so it boggles my
mind sometimes when we say, "Okay, well, we don't have enough quorum, we don't
have this, we don't have that," and I know, particularly, hey, I got some good people
that are willing to do this work, and you don't get a chance to kind of see them in
there.
Ms. Beamud: If I could address that.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Ms. Beamud: The reason she wasn't selected -- and she was a extraordinary
candidate; I would have loved it -- is because our ordinance requires that the person
-- that each be assigned to different districts. And that candidate lived in Miami
Beach and worked in District 1, and the opening applied to only people who owned
property or worked, or lived in District 5.
Chair Hardemon: The ordinance --
Ms. Beamud: So we couldn't make it fit.
Chair Hardemon: When I look at the ordinance, the qualifications for the members
of the CIP is that, "All members of the CIP shall either be permanent residents of the
City, own real property in the City, or work or maintain a business in the City,
except for the appointment of the Police Chief and shall have a good reputation for
integrity and community services; shall have no record of a felony conviction." So I
didn't see anything that made it --
Ms. Beamud: It's further down. I'll have to go back to my ordinance. It's the
nomination and appointment section, where each -- the --
Chair Hardemon: I know that it says that the appointment of the CIP Nominating
Committee -- "The Nominating Committee shall be composed of five members of the
CIP, with one member representing each of the five City Commission districts";
doesn't necessarily mean that the district Commissioner has to make the appointment
for his district. I mean, it typically happens that way, but that -- it certainly doesn't
change if Commissioner Russell wanted to appoint someone from D5 and I wanted to
appoint someone from D2; it could happen. So, yeah, I mean, I didn't see any other
reason why, and I continue -- when I look at it now, I don't see a reason why.
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Ms. Beamud: This ordinance was modified at some point in the past, long before I
was here, because the complaint was that they had too many members who were
representatives or lived, or owned property in District 2, and they were the
overwhelming majority. And so, the Commission moved to change it to require the
diversity of two members from each district, so that's why we have stuck with that.
Chair Hardemon: And it still doesn't say that, though.
Ms. Beamud: Well, I agree, it doesn't, but that's the way the Nominating Committee
has conducted its business in order to propose fairness in terms of the distribution in
the geographic diversity of the members of the CIP.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: And that's the Nominating Committee's interpretation of
messages from several of you on one-to-one conversations; that you want to be able
to see people from your district represented on the panel.
Commissioner Suarez: I'm okay with that.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: But that's a good point, Mr. Chairman, and we can certainly be
more flexible and communicative.
Commissioner Suarez: I'm okay with her being on the panel even though she doesn't
come from District 5.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm sorry, I can't hear you. You look like you're about to sing a
song.
Commissioner Suarez: I'm okay with her being on the panel even though she doesn't
come from the district.
Chair Hardemon: All right. You fine gentlemen seem to believe that this is what you
need -- and women; gentlemen and gentle women believe this is what you need. And
so, I guess, you know, we'll have an opportunity to move forward. It's four of us
here. I'll go with the Vice Chairman on my vote. So if we can, seeing as you want to
-- you want less comment, time out?
Chief Llanes: I really need -- Rodolfo Llanes, Chief of Police. I really need you to
look at that 90 day.
Vice Chair Russell: Let's talk about that then.
Chief Llanes: That's a really big stickler for -- I need it moved back to 30 days.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: 30 days doesn't give us enough time, Chief you know that.
How about 60?
Chief Llanes: I'm not going to debate with you.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: No. 60, 60 days.
Vice Chair Russell: Compromise. I'll amend it to 60.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: 60 days.
Vice Chair Russell: Do we need a civility oath filed between the Police Department
and the CIP?
Commissioner Suarez: Why don't you cut the baby in half,• 45?
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Chair Hardemon: What?
Vice Chair Russell: But between 30 and 90 is 60.
Chief Llanes: If I may, the CIP is going to hire a policy expert, and so, I don't see,
with public comment and with 30 days, and a policy expert, which you've been -- the
CIP's been accomplishing all this time, why extra time is needed. And so --
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: Give us credit for the heroics, okay?
Commissioner Suarez: Let's do 45. Split it in half.
Chief Llanes: I give you credit for heroics. You don't give us enough credit for
heroics. So that's a big stickler for me, because that hampers the efficiency of the
Police Department.
Commissioner Suarez: Split it in half. 45.
Chair Hardemon: Half of what? What is it? Half of --?
Commissioner Suarez: Half of 90.
Vice Chair Russell: Half of 90.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: How about 50? 50 days --
Commissioner Suarez: 45.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: -- 45 days.
Commissioner Suarez: 45.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: I'll --
Ms. Beamud: I have to say this. The reason for the extension --
Commissioner Suarez: 45. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: The mover accepts 45 days amendment.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: We take 45.
Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. My goodness, don't you see what's going on up
here? Are you guys not observing what's happening?
Commissioner Carollo: Remember, you were the --
Commissioner Suarez: I know.
Commissioner Carollo: -- sponsor of the civility --
Commissioner Suarez: I know. It's like -- Goodness gracious, Lord have mercy.
Commissioner Carollo: And I do want to point out something. Even though -- and I
appreciate, you know, the CIP Board, the chairman coming before us. I don't think
there's ever been any question with regards to this Commission trying to weigh in, in
their independence. So, you know, a lot of this, yes, I get it; we're trying to be more
independent. But I don't think there's ever been an issue with this Commission trying
to take that independence. And, yes, I know that Chicago was mentioned, but there's
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a lot of other very big and good departments that don't have this type of mechanism -
- New York, Philadelphia -- so in all fairness, I just don't feel that there's a real need
for it. If you actually do need more money, at budget time, you could always come.
And like I said, all the past times that you have come, you have always requested
additional monies. Every single time I've been able to show that you -- in your
actual budgets, you had money left over, and we were able to use that money to add
to your current year's in order for you to have the increase that you want.
Chair Hardemon: The City retains the money that's -- that -- okay.
Commissioner Suarez: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Got it. All right. All in favor of the item, say "aye."
Commissioner Suarez: Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Ayes.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Commissioner Suarez: Thank you.
Mr. Hannon: As amended.
Ms. Mendez: And just to note, three amendments. We discussed the first two very
well, and the third one was the 90 to 45 days.
Vice Chair Russell: Correct.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you.
SR.3 ORDINANCE Second Reading
2155 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Office of the City CHAPTER 16, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
Clerk AS AMENDED, ENTITLED: "ELECTIONS," MORE PARTICULARLY
BY CREATING A NEW ARTICLE II ENTITLED "ELECTRONIC
REPORTING" AND ADDING SECTIONS 16-20 THROUGH 16-22
TO REQUIRE ALL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS TO BE FILED
ELECTRONICALLY AS AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER
106, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES, TO
PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTRONIC POSTING OF REPORTS, AND
TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE SUBJECT TO
THE ELECTRONIC FILING REQUIREMENT; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13687
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MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo
ABSENT: Gort, Suarez
Chair Hardemon: Read into the record SR.3. That almost didn't work.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Good afternoon, Commissioners. Madam City
Attorney, I'll take it.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Clerk.
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to move it.
Commissioner Carollo: Second. And the Chairman --
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Any discussion? Seeing
no discussion, all in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Commissioner Carollo: It's an ordinance, but --
Chair Hardemon: Say it again.
Commissioner Carollo: I thought it was an ordinance.
Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir. I read the title into the record, and you can vote it up or
down.
Chair Hardemon: No, he read it into -- yeah, he read it into the record.
END OF SECOND READING ORDINANCES
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FR - FIRST READING ORDINANCES
FR.1 ORDINANCE First Reading
1092
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING CHAPTER 62/ARTICLE
XIII/DIVISION 5 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "PLANNING AND ZONING/PLANNING
AND ZONING APPROVAL FOR TEMPORARY USES AND
OCCUPANCIES; PERMIT REQUIRED/MURALS", BY AMENDING
THE CITY OF MIAMI MURAL GEOGRAPHICAL AREA TO
EXCLUDE A PORTION OF THE DESIGN DISTRICT, AS
DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "B," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: Item FR.1 was continued to the July 13, 2017 Regular
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item FR.1, please see "Order of the
Day."
FR.2 ORDINANCE First Reading
1374 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Department of CHAPTER 4/ARTICLES I AND II OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
Planning and MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "ALCOHOLIC
Zoning BEVERAGES/IN GENERAL/NIGHTCLUBS"; MORE
PARTICULARLY BY REPEALING SAID SECTIONS IN THEIR
ENTIRETY AND REPLACING THEM WITH NEW SECTIONS 4-1
THROUGH 4-11; ADDING DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING FOR
HOURS OF SALES; PROVIDING FOR AN APPROVAL PROCESS;
PROHIBITING MINGLING; PROHIBITING ALCOHOL SALES
DURING EMERGENCIES; PROVIDING REGULATIONS AND
EXCEPTIONS TO DISTANCE SEPARATION; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: Item FR.2 was deferred to the June 22, 2017 Planning and
Zoning Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item FR.2, please see "Order of the
Day" and "Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s)."
END OF FIRST READING ORDINANCES
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RE - RESOLUTIONS
RE.1 RESOLUTION
2022
Department of Real
Estate and Asset
Management
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT
("EASEMENT"), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM,
ACCEPTING A GRANT OF EASEMENT LOCATED ON BRICKELL
KEY FROM SWIRE PROPERTIES US INC, SWIRE PROPERTIES
INC, AND SWIRE JADECO LLC (COLLECTIVELY, "SWIRE
COMPANIES") TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"), AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A" OF THE
EASEMENT, TO BE UTILIZED AS A PUBLIC LINEAR PARK AND
AS A PUBLIC WATER TAXI PICK UP AND DROP OFF LOCATION,
WITH PURPOSES INCIDENTAL THERETO; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO EFFECTUATE SAID PURPOSE;
APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE RECORDATION OF THE
EASEMENT IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY, FLORIDA; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO KEEP
COPIES OF THE EASEMENT ON FILE FOR CITY RECORDS.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: Item RE.1 was deferred to the July 27, 2017 Planning and
Zoning Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item RE.1, please see "Order of the
Day."
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
RE.2 RESOLUTION
2233
Department of
Parks and
Recreation
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
THE BIDS RECEIVED MARCH 7, 2017, PURSUANT TO
INVITATION FOR BID NO. 681384, FROM MCCOURT
CONSTRUCTION, INC. (PRIMARY) AND SHASA ENGINEERING,
CORP. (SECONDARY), THE TWO RESPONSIVE AND
RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS, FOR COURT RESURFACING AT
VARIOUS CITY OF MIAMI PARKS, ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS,
FOR AN INITIAL CONTRACT PERIOD OF THREE (3) YEARS,
WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO (2) ADDITIONAL ONE
(1) YEAR PERIODS; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM VARIOUS
SOURCES OF FUNDS OF THE USER DEPARTMENT, SUBJECT
TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL
AT THE TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS,
INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO SAID
CONTRACTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0267
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Chair Hardemon: If I may --
Commissioner Suarez: Move SR. 3.
Chair Hardemon: -- if you can turn to the page 2 of 3, if we can have a motion to
approve maybe items RE. 2, 4, 6, with a comment from our Ethics --
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- Department, and 7.
Commissioner Suarez: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: So it'll be 2, 4, 6, and 7.
Commissioner Suarez: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by the Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: Discussion.
Chair Hardemon: During this discussion time, if I can have Mr. Centorino. I'm sure
that's -- Madam City Attorney, you brought him here. I know he's not here just to
watch. His time is much too valuable for that. He has people he pays just to watch.
Welcome, sir. Madam City Attorney, I guess you can address --
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): This item was sponsored by Commissioner Suarez,
and it has to do with civility and an oath of office and amending that. We just
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wanted to ask Mr. Centorino if this is something that he'll be enforcing, or what the
nature would be.
Joseph Centorino: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the
Commission. It's an honor to be here. Thank you for having me. This matter was
something that was suggested really by the Commission on Ethics several months
ago as a means of promoting civility in government. I think we all know that, you
know, from time to time, things have deteriorated in government, generally, in terms
of the way people behave and so forth. This is not directed at anybody or any
particular board. You know, just in general, this has been an issue, you know. And
it's been shown that where an organization has a civility problem or a lack of
civility, it's more prone to ethical difficulties and ethical problems. It is only a
suggestion. It was not mandated to anybody. It was something suggested to all
municipalities and to the County. A number of municipalities have already adopted
it, including City of Miami Beach, City of Coral Gables, and we expect others to be
considering it and adopting it. It has no enforcement mechanism. That's the
question I think that the City Attorney has gauged. It's not something that will be
enforced by the Commission on Ethics. It's -- but it's still a serious issue. I mean, I
think, when you take an oath, it's a serious matter, and, you know, it's not something
to be taken lightly. And certainly, when people behave in a way that might be
inconsistent with that, all it's -- it's incumbent upon a board like this to be self -
enforcing, and to make it known that certain behavior is not acceptable, and that's
what we would expect to happen. I don't expect the Commission on Ethics will be
involved in any way in enforcing a -- you know, an ordinance like -- excuse me -- a
resolution like this, which really depends on boards, like yourselves, maintaining a
certain level of decorum.
Chair Hardemon: And Mr. Centorino, I appreciate your comments. Part of the
reason that I had a concern about it is because, of course, as a bar attorney in the
State of Florida, we have added the civility clause to our oath. And the difference,
though, is that in the State of Florida, this -- the Florida Bar, they will punish you if
you're not being civil. I mean, this is something that they take very seriously. And
so, when we added now a civility clause to the City Commission, or any other elected
official here, for that matter, and then also this pledge of fairness, if you will, which I
think is a term that escapes us many times -- because what's fair to you may not be
fair to the next person. So, you know, when we think of those types of things, part of
my fear was, how is it that someone would use that? When you read the oath, the
oath doesn't give us -- and this is to the members of the board -- There is nothing in
the oath besides the fact that you're pledging to respect the bound -- the authority of
the State and the Federal and local laws. So when you add this mechanism to it, to
me, in such a litigious society that we're in today, especially in the City of Miami, my
fear was that we'll open ourselves up to these types of assaults; and one of which
that I can reasonably foresee was one that is to the Ethics Commission, saying,
"Hey, they made an oath to be civil, to be fair, to" -- "and to do these things, and I
don't believe that they're meeting that oath," and then fry to enforce it in that
fashion; much similar to how we have the Citizen's Bill of Rights that, you know,
they use to enforce. And so, you know, these are part of my concerns. And certainly,
I'll always want to be fair, and I'll allow -- I try to do that here on this dais. And I
always strive to be civil. However, when you think about, you know, signing up for
something where you're going to be dinged just because someone has an opinion
about you, I think it's problematic.
Commissioner Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you, Mr. Centorino, for
coming and for -- you know, for your proactivity on this issue. I think civility in
government, particularly in a partisan world, has led to a degradation of the way
public officials are viewed by the public, and I think -- you know, I can say that in
the eight years -- almost eight years that I've been here, I'm very proud of this body,
very proud, because we've had slightly different members throughout that time, but
we've been very consistently civil with each other. We've acted professionally. We
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
barely even fight or argue or disagree, and we certainly don't disagree
discourteously, that's for sure. And so, I can say that it's something that I think we
set the -- we 've set the standard. As president of the League of Cities, you know, we
began this conversation when I was president of the League of Cities; and I wanted
us, as a city, to lead on this issue, because I think we can set the example. But I did,
if you recall in our meeting in my office, did say that, you know, I'm sure that they'll
be some worry about the potential opening of Pandora's Box about just a bevy of --
or flurry of complaints that -- you know, every time there is a complaint levied -- and
thankfully, there haven't been many, I don't think, levied against us -- it's -- it does,
you know, create anxiety. You know, it does create concern, and it does, you know,
in some cases, cost us money, because you have to hire lawyers and -- you know, you
take it seriously. We take it very seriously, because it's our reputation, and our
reputation is something that we're very serious about, because we're not going to be
elected officials forever. And we do have to go into the private community, and we
do have to make, you know, a living for our families, and provide for our families.
And so, I think -- you know, I think I felt comfortable with your representations in my
office that this was not going to be something that would be an opportunity for just
some sort of flood of complaints against elected officials, who someone in the public
may not like us for whatever reason, and will use something like this as a hook to
make our life more difficult and certainly give you more work. And so that's part of
the reason why I decided to bring this, in spite of those concerns.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I echo your concerns. And
although I hear Mr. Centorino, and I respect what he says, I want to make sure, at
the very least, for the record that this is not what the Commission on Ethics will
enforce, because Mr. Centorino could be there for a very long time, but then, sooner
or later, there'll be someone after him. So I echo those concerns, because I don't
want this to be as a ploy for I gotcha," although I technically agree with what
you're saying. And not only is it just words; I think we've demonstrated it up here,
like Commissioner Suarez said. We have actually demonstrated it --
Commissioner Suarez: For many years.
Commissioner Carollo: -- for many years. But my concern is that it's used as a
"gotcha." And even though you come here very well-intentioned -- and I believe you
-- what happens after you -- or what happens three, four, five years down the line
where it's interpreted differently, and then, you know, it's used more as a "gotcha"
or as a mechanism to bring either -- some type of unintended consequences to an
elected official?
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Please.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Centorino. I'm in favor of it, and I'm in favor of
its enforcement, honestly. There is very little check and balance on an elected
official, other than at the ballot box four years later, and your body is meant to do
that. If we step out of line, it should be enforced. If we don't want to see a lot of
enforcement, we probably should be civil with each other; I'm very confident that
this body is. We've had our disagreements, and I've never felt disrespect from
anyone on this dais toward me or each other. And as vigorous as our debates can
be, there's a fine line when that can cross into uncivility, as it were; and if it does, I'd
welcome us being kept in check.
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Mr. Centorino: If I could respond just briefly. You know, and I understand, you
know, the concerns. As public officials, you're often targets for people who have
other agendas, and maybe -- you know, you're -- I understand the concern of -- that
has been expressed. In terms of the Ethics Commission, we have very limited
jurisdiction. We only have jurisdiction over the things that we are empowered to
enforce, such as the Ethics Code, Citizen's Bill of Rights, Fair Campaign Practices
Ordinance, and so forth. We have no jurisdiction over -- to enforce this matter. And
this is not, in any sense, being imposed on this board. What we're doing here is
asking this body to impose it on itself. You can set whatever conditions you want. If
you want to have an enforcement mechanism, you can provide an enforcement
mechanism. But, you know, this is something that was merely suggested to all the
municipalities that they consider doing it, and it's within your power to decide how
and whether it will be enforced.
Chair Hardemon: So you're specifically saying then, this is not an opinion of yours.
You're saying that there is no jurisdiction for the Ethics Commission to enforce a
change, like we have here, to the --?
Mr. Centorino: Yes, unless you gave it to us.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Centorino: Yes, that's correct.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. All right, any further comment? Hearing none, all in
favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Commissioner Suarez: Thank you.
Mr. Centorino: Thank you, Commissioners.
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RE.3
1392
Commissioners
and Mayor
RESOLUTION
TO BE DEFERRED
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO UPDATE THE CASH
CONTRIBUTION AMOUNT FOR PAYMENT INTO THE MIAMI
21 PUBLIC BENEFITS TRUST FUND IN EXCHANGE FOR
BONUS HEIGHT/FLOOR LOT RATIO AND PERIODICALLY
UPDATE SAID AMOUNT THEREAFTER CONSISTENT WITH
THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 3.14.4(A)(3) OF
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: Item RE.3 was deferred to the June 22, 2017 Planning and
Zoning Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item RE.3, please see "Order of the
Day.
RE.4 RESOLUTION
2222
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE
DISTRICT 1 COMMISSIONER'S SHARE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
("CITY") ANTI -POVERTY INITIATIVE, IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED $10,000.00, TO THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT
FOR THE JUVENILE ASSISTANCE MENTORING PROGRAM.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0268
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item RE.4, please see item RE.2.
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RE.5 RESOLUTION
2342
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/STHS) AFFIRMATIVE
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S
DETERMINATIONS, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT "A,"
PURSUANT TO SECTION 29-B(C) OF THE CHARTER OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER") AND
SECTION 18-182 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE") WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS (A) FOR SAID PROCEDURES, AND (B) FOR A
RETURN TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") OF FAIR MARKET
VALUE; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE
AND EXECUTE A QUIT CLAIM CITY DEED ("DEED"), IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, BETWEEN THE CITY
AND THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("OMNI CRA"), TO TRANSFER TO
AND SELL TO THE OMNI CRA, IN "AS IS" AND "WHERE IS"
CONDITION, WITH RESTRICTIONS AND REVERTERS, THE CITY -
OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 150 NORTHEAST 19 STREET,
MIAMI, FLORIDA, CONTAINING AN APPROXIMATE TOTAL LOT
AREA OF 318,859 SQUARE FEET, AS MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED
("PROPERTY"); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL OTHER NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE SAID
CONVEYANCE.
MOTION TO: Withdraw
RESULT: WITHDRAWN
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Chair Hardemon: So now we move on to -- I believe it's -- only thing we have left is
RE.5, but I'm not looking at my sheet. It's RE.5?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, RE.5.
Commissioner Carollo: So, if I may real quick? I was told RE.5 was going to be
withdrawn. I was told RE.5 was going to be a discussion item. I've been told like all
kinds of things on RE.5, so I don't know what to make of RE.5.
Vice Chair Russell: I don't think we're going to vote on it today, but I wanted us to
at least talk about it. And RE.5 has to do with the land that -- what we'll call
"Biscayne Park," which is not technically zoned as a park, but it's currently used as
one; just north of the cemetery in the Omni District. The intention here and hope is
that this can be used as a piece within the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)
to work together with the School Board, to work together for more affordable
housing. It's a seven -- over seven -acre property between the fire station and the
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street on the other side of the block, just south of Temple Israel. And we, as the
CRA, as you all know, have been working together with the School Board on this.
The surprise that came to me as I brought this item to Commission is that the City
Manager has been working with the Police Chief to find a new headquarters for the
Police Department, and that this is their favorite site. This brings me back to about
a year ago, when we were having issues of openness and communication between
our City management and our dais, and I begged and pleaded, as the City starts
considering deals to be open with this Commission about where they're going, what
they're thinking, so we can be moving together -- you know -- together, because right
now, what we've got is they've been working on a plan and we've been working on a
plan, and these two plans are now clashing, and someone's going to lose. And it
doesn't have to be that way, and that's just a lack of communication, and it's
something we've tried to right; it's something we've been asking for, so here we are.
And we were thinking, is there a way to split this? Apparently, the Police is looking
for a full seven acres somewhere in the area. I've been talking with the Police Chief.
I know one of the Manager's ideal goals was to stay put in the area and create a
campus amongst three blocks; that was where the headquarters of the Police
currently is. There's a Federal property right next to that, and then a CRA property
right next to that. I don't know that that's an impossibility, and I have reached out to
see if there's some partnerships we can have with the Federal Government on that
post office. I'm looking for a potential development partner who can come in. This
is all very fluid at the moment. I just wanted us to put it out there in a discussion so
that it's very public and transparent where the different options are. And obviously,
we -- it is a priority that we do replace our Police headquarters; they're in much
need. We've been through there, we know what it's like, and the sooner, the better.
What and where that is, I'm learning from the Police Chief and his team what's
needed for them to find a successful new spot. Of course, housing is a major crisis
for us; education, opportunities and seats is a major crisis for us, so we need to
come together and think about all this. That's where I am on it.
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. I passed a resolution that said that, you know, the
department or replacement of the department is a critical need for the City, and I
mean, our officers, unfortunately, have to work in that building right now, and it's
not up to par. I think there's a lot of places where the department -- you know,
where the Police Department can be. Obviously, I want to hear from the Chief as to
what his perspective is. I would like to know where our current station is at in terms
of what he's thought about, what the Manager's thought about. Are we going to RFP
(Request for Proposals) that? What's the story with that? Because I know we had
talked about that, as well.
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Commissioners, you know, maybe two and a half,
three months ago is when --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: -- we had this conversation.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah.
Mr. Alfonso: And you said, "This is a priority."
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, yeah.
Mr. Alfonso: You know, Commissioner Russell, I think we went in your office some -
- couple of months ago, at least -- when we talked about this particular property, and
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we said that there was private interest. We said that we were looking at bundling the
fire station with the property and redoing the fire station, Police headquarters, and
you said, "Well, that doesn't mean that it's exclusive of affordable housing" and et
cetera. I mean, that's a large parcel, so I'm surprised that you think that we haven't
been talking to you about that, but this is after it was made a priority to have the
Police headquarters there. So there's a lot of interest in this property from a lot of
different people. There are people who will come out here and want to turn it
completely into a park. I think Aspira now opened a school basically across the
street, and they're partially using this land as a park facility for their -- whatever. So
what we're trying to package with the Police Department is -- they need a sizable
piece of land, and we eventually want to do a Request for Proposals, the same way
we have done with the MRC (Miami Riverside Center). But to keep the cost that is in
a place that is reasonable, there has to be land that the City owns; otherwise,
purchasing land in downtown would be somewhat difficult to finance a transaction.
Wherever we go, if we do the same thing that we're trying to do with the MRC is you
build us a facility that they can move into, and then we figure out how you acquire
the site that they have, which is also a nice size piece of property, once you include
the parking garage and the building itself. So it is something that we're working on,
to put something out there to get proposals from people, but we've talked about the
possibility of in the seven acres, also having affordable housing. The School Board
component becomes a little trickier, because I think that there are some issues that I
think you've been working through with the School Board and the current other
schools in the area, and those type of things, so that's one that we have kind of not
looked at a whole lot. But, Commissioner, to answer your question, we have not yet
put out the RFP, but we're trying to figure out what is exactly the space that they
need. You know, the Chief mentioned, "If we're going to have a new facility, I want a
new CSI unit" -- right? -- "space"; Crime Scene Investigations. You know, he wants
a state-of-the-art facility. If we're going to go, we go all the way. So that's going to
require some looking into in terms of "How do we determine the possible cost of the
facility?" So, Chief why don't you talk about the request that you've been making.
Rodolfo Llanes: So in the -- Rodolfo Llanes, Chief of Police. So in the last two or
three months, last 90 days, really, we've -- I've sent folks across the country to look
at other police stations. I sent them to a course on design, and we really looked at
our needs assessment before we start talking about what the building is going to look
like. So we know that we want -- we have to accommodate for future growth. If
we're going to build a new building, then we need to have our own crime lab; that's
going to get the cost -- that's going to drive the cost up. And so, in all of these
things, how we balance -- and we provided the Commissioner -- and I'll provide the
rest of the Commission with a score card of the properties, the inventory that the
City owns right now, because we really want to keep the cost as low as possible so
that we can build a state-of-the-art facility. And so, those are the things that we've
been doing in the last 90 days, is trying to get a needs assessment, and try to get a
square footage per employee of what that layout would look like; adding a real time
crime center; adding a space for emergency operations and those kinds of things that
a police facility needs, in addition to work space for our employees. So that's what
we've been doing, and we're still looking at the inventory. I mean, that's a prime
piece of land only because it matches our footprint and it looks -- You know, we also
need to be central to main arteries. We need to be able to move in and out of critical
infrastructure quickly. And so, those are the -- a properly positioned piece of land,
there's not a whole lot. And so, we've been looking at all the available inventory in
order to see where we can keep costs down so that we can really build something
that's functional for the next 50 years.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
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Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Chief. And certainly, I want to help with finding and
funding that state-of-the-art facility and make it the best it can be and the soonest it
can be, because I do recognize the need. That particular property is -- I mean, we
haven't done anything with it for the hundred years that it's been sitting there as a --
since it's been a cemetery, and suddenly, it's a pretty hot piece of land for us. The
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) has a lot of intentions on moving forward
and is excited about the direction we're going, and I know from the Administration's
point of view, from a real estate piece of land, this would be quite a deal with the
CRA to do a transfer. And so, you know, these other objectives of what it could be
for the City and to the City and for the Police Department are all on the table and I
understand that and I respect that, and I want to have that conversation. So we'll
keep talking and see where we can go. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: So this item is withdrawn?
Vice Chair Russell: Withdrawn, please.
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): Chair, I'll take it that's a motion by Vice
Chair Russell to withdraw the item?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no -- without any objection, the motion shall pass.
Vice Chair Russell: We just withdrew that item.
Commissioner Suarez: Okay.
RE.6 RESOLUTION
2367
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
FORMALIZING THE OATH OF OFFICE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
ADMINISTERED TO ALL INCUMBENT AND NEWLY ELECTED
AND APPOINTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS, BY ADDING AN OATH OF
CIVILITY; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY
OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE MIAMI-DADE COMMISSION ON
ETHICS AND PUBLIC TRUST.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0269
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item RE.6, please see item RE.2.
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
RE.7 RESOLUTION
1701
Commissioners
and Mayor
RE.8
1995
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE A COMBINED INTERLOCAL AND MUTUAL AID
AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM,
BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI AND THE CITY OF CORAL
GABLES PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF A JOINT
ENFORCEMENT ZONE, PROVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
SERVICES AND CREATING A MULTI -AGENCY ANTI -
PROSTITUTION & HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE
PURSUANT TO THE MUTUAL AID ACT, CHAPTER 23, PART 1,
OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0270
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item RE.7, please see "Public
Comment Period for Regular Item(s)" and item RE.2.
RESOLUTION
TO BE DEFERRED
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ESTABLISHING A CITY OF MIAMI
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT HOUSING POLICY FOR SMALLER
RENTAL DEVELOPMENTS ("GUIDELINES"), ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A", AND AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT SAID GUIDELINES.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: Item RE.8 was deferred to the July 27, 2017 Planning and
Zoning Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item RE.8, please see "Order of the
Day."
END OF RESOLUTIONS
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AC.1
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AC - ATTORNEY CLIENT SESSION
ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
CONDUCTED AT THE JUNE 8, 2017 MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE CITY OF MIAMI
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION CASE OF AIRBNB, INC., ET AL. V.
CITY OF MIAMI, CASE NO. 2017-008999 CA 01, PENDING IN THE
CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND
FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, TO WHICH THE CITY IS
PRESENTLY A PARTY. THE SUBJECT OF THE MEETING WILL
BE CONFINED TO SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS OR STRATEGY
SESSIONS RELATED TO LITIGATION EXPENDITURES. THIS
PRIVATE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M.
(OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS'
SCHEDULES PERMIT) AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE
HOUR LATER. THE SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION: CHAIRMAN KEON
HARDEMON, VICE-CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL, AND
COMMISSIONERS WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT, FRANK CAROLLO,
AND FRANCIS X. SUAREZ; CITY MANAGER DANIEL J.
ALFONSO; CITY ATTORNEY VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY
ATTORNEY JOHN A. GRECO; AND DIVISION CHIEF FOR
GENERAL LITIGATION CHRISTOPHER A. GREEN. A CERTIFIED
COURT REPORTER WILL BE PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT THE
SESSION IS FULLY TRANSCRIBED AND THE TRANSCRIPT WILL
BE MADE PUBLIC UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE ABOVE -
CITED, ONGOING LITIGATION. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE
ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION, THE REGULAR COMMISSION
MEETING WILL BE REOPENED AND THE PERSON CHAIRING
THE COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
TERMINATION OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Vice Chair Russell: And we're adjourned.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Madam --
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): No, no.
Vice Chair Russell: We're not adjourned.
Ms. Mendez: We're not; we're not adjourned.
Vice Chair Russell: I tried, I tried.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you, Commissioner. We're going to start off with the shade
meeting on Airbnb. On May 25, 2017, under the provisions of Section 286.011(8)
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Florida Statutes, I requested the City Commission meet in private to discuss pending
litigation in the case ofAirbnb, Inc., et al. versus City of Miami, Case Number 2017-
008999 CA 01, pending in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, in and
for Miami -Dade County, to which the City is presently a party. The City
Commission approved my request, and now, at approximately 4:04 p.m., we'll
commence an attorney/client session, under the parameters of Section 286.011(8)
Florida Statutes. This private meeting will conclude approximately one hour later.
The session will be attended by members of the City Commission, which include
Chairman Hardemon, Vice Chairman Russell, Commissioners Carollo and Suarez;
City Manager Alfonso; myself Victoria Mendez, the City Attorney; Deputy City
Attorney John Greco; Division Chief for General Litigation Christopher Green. A
certified court reporter will be present to ensure that the session is fully transcribed,
and the transcript will be made public upon the conclusion of the above -cited
ongoing litigation. At the conclusion of the attorney/client session, the regular
Commission meeting will be reopened, and the person chairing the meeting will
announce the termination of that attorney/client session. Thank you.
Mr. Hannon: For the record, the meeting stands in recess.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Calling the meeting back from recess. Madam City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: Chairman, you're announcing the termination of our previous client
session?
Chair Hardemon: That is true.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you.
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ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
CONDUCTED AT THE JUNE 8, 2017 MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE CITY OF MIAMI
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION CASE OF EDDIE SIERRA V. CITY OF
MIAMI, CASE NO.: 17-20823 PENDING IN THE UNITED STATES
DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA,
TO WHICH THE CITY IS PRESENTLY A PARTY. THIS PRIVATE
MEETING WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. (OR AS
SOON THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS' SCHEDULES
PERMIT) AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER.
THE SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE
CITY COMMISSION: CHAIRMAN KEON HARDEMON, VICE-
CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL, AND COMMISSIONERS WIFREDO
"WILLY" GORT, FRANK CAROLLO, AND FRANCIS X. SUAREZ;
CITY MANAGER DANIEL J. ALFONSO; CITY ATTORNEY
VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY JOHN A. GRECO;
AND SENIOR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY HENRY J.
HUNNEFELD. A CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER WILL BE
PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT THE SESSION IS FULLY
TRANSCRIBED AND THE TRANSCRIPT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC
UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE ABOVE -CITED, ONGOING
LITIGATION. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT
SESSION, THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE
REOPENED AND THE PERSON CHAIRING THE COMMISSION
MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE TERMINATION OF THE
ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION.
I RESULT: DISCUSSED
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Now we're moving on to our next attorney/client
session. On May 25, 2017, under the provisions of Section 286.011(8) Florida
Statutes, I requested that the City Commission meet in private to discuss pending
litigation in the case of Eddie Sierra versus City of Miami, Case Number 17-20823,
pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, to
which the City is presently a party. The City Commission approved my request, and
now, at approximately -- what time is it? -- 5 --
Chair Hardemon: 5:19.
Ms. Mendez: -- 5:20 --
Unidentified Speaker: 5:20, right.
Ms. Mendez: -- commence a private attorney session under the parameters of
Section 286.011(8) Florida Statutes. This private meeting will conclude
approximately an hour later. The session will be attended by members of the City
Commission, including Chairman Keon Hardemon, Vice Chairman Ken Russell,
Commissioners Frank Carollo and Francis Suarez; the City Manager, Daniel
Alfonso; myself, the City Attorney, Victoria Mendez; Deputy City Attorney John
Greco; Senior Assistant City Attorney Henry Hunnefeld. A certified court reporter
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will be present to ensure that the session is fully transcribed, and the transcript will
be made public upon the conclusion of the above -cited ongoing litigation. At the
conclusion of the attorney/client session, the Commission meeting will be reopened
and the Chairman will announce the termination of the attorney/client session.
Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. This meeting is in recess until that time.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Calling this meeting back into order. Madam City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: Chairman, are you announcing the termination of our previous
attorney/client session?
Chair Hardemon: That is correct.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you.
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Attorney
ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
CONDUCTED AT THE JUNE 8, 2017 MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE CITY OF MIAMI
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION CASES OF IN THE MATTER OF
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY TURKEY POINT, UNITS 6
& 7, DOCKET NOS. 52-040 AND 52-041, PENDING BEFORE THE
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION; AND
IN RE: NUCLEAR COST RECOVERY CLAUSE, DOCKET NO.
170009-El, PENDING BEFORE THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION, TO WHICH THE CITY IS PRESENTLY A PARTY.
THIS PRIVATE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00
P.M. (OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS'
SCHEDULES PERMIT) AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE
HOUR LATER. THE SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION: CHAIRMAN KEON
HARDEMON, VICE-CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL, AND
COMMISSIONERS WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT, FRANK CAROLLO,
AND FRANCIS X. SUAREZ; CITY MANAGER DANIEL J.
ALFONSO; CITY ATTORNEY VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY
ATTORNEY JOHN A. GRECO; DIVISION CHIEF FOR GENERAL
LITIGATION CHRISTOPHER A. GREEN; AND ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEYS KERRI L. MCNULTY AND XAVIER E. ALBAN. A
CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER WILL BE PRESENT TO ENSURE
THAT THE SESSION IS FULLY TRANSCRIBED AND THE
TRANSCRIPT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC UPON THE CONCLUSION
OF THE ABOVE -CITED, ONGOING LITIGATION. AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION, THE
REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE REOPENED AND
THE PERSON CHAIRING THE COMMISSION MEETING WILL
ANNOUNCE THE TERMINATION OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT
SESSION.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): And now for our last session. On May 25, 2017,
under the provisions of Section 286.011(8) Florida Statutes, I requested that this
Commission meet in private to discuss the pending litigation in the cases of Florida
Power & Light Turkey Point, Units 6 and 7, Docket Numbers 52-040 and 52-041,
before the U.S. (United States) Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and in re: Nuclear
Cost Recovery Clause, Docket Number 170009-El, pending before the Public
Service Commission, to which the City is presently a party. The City Commission
approved my request, and now, at approximately 5:41 p.m., commence a private
attorney/client session, under the parameters of Section 286.011(8) Florida Statutes.
The private attorney/client session will conclude approximately one hour later. The
session will be attended by members of the City Commission, which include
Chairman Keon Hardemon, Vice Chairman Ken Russell, Commissioners Frank
Carollo and Francis Suarez; the City Manager, Daniel Alfonso; myself, the City
Attorney, Victoria Mendez; Deputy City Attorney John Greco; and Division Chief for
General Litigation Christopher Greene; Assistant City Attorneys Kerri McNulty and
Xavier Alban. A certified court reporter will be present to ensure that the session is
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fully transcribed, and the transcript will be made a public record upon the
conclusion of the litigation. At the conclusion of the attorney/client session, the
regular Commission meeting will be reopened, and the Chairman will announce the
termination of the attorney/client session. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: We will now be in recess.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Calling the June -- is it June? -- 8, 2017 meeting back into order.
Madam City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: Yes. Commissioner, we're announcing then the termination. You're
announcing the termination of the attorney/client session for FPL (Florida Power &
Light)?
Chair Hardemon: That is correct.
END OF ATTORNEY CLIENT SESSION
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BC - BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES BOARD FOR A TERM
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
William Reaney
(Alternate Member — Miami Dade
County Public Schools
Representative)
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0276
NOMINATED BY:
Commission -At -Large
MOTION TO:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSENT:
Adopt
ADOPTED
Frank Carollo, Commissioner
Francis Suarez, Commissioner
Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
Gort
Chair Hardemon: Are there any boards and committees that you want to go over
now?
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): Yes, Chair. BC.1, Arts in Public Places
Board: There's one at -large vacancy. Vice Chair Russell will be appointing William
Reaney to the alternate at -large vacancy.
Chair Hardemon: I don't know that name.
Commissioner Carollo: Move it.
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
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BC.3
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COUNCIL FOR A
TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
David McBurnett Vice Chair Ken Russell
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0277
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): BC. 2, Arts & Entertainment Council: Vice
Chair Russell will be appointed [sic] David McBurnett.
Vice Chair Russell: Move it.
Commissioner Carollo: Move it.
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: The motion passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR TERMS
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Chair Keon Hardemon
Vice Chair Ken Russell
Commissioner Frank Carollo
City of Miatiii
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BC.5
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RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST FOR
A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Jeanie Hernandez Commission -At -Large
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0278
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): BC.4, Bayfront Park Management Trust:
Commissioner Carollo will be reappointing Jeanie Hernandez.
Commissioner Carollo: Move it.
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE
FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
Shane Graber
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0279
NOMINATED BY:
Chair Keon Hardemon
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MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): BC.S, City of Miami Beautification
Committee: Chair Hardemon will be reappointing Shane Graber.
Commissioner Carollo: Move it.
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION CONFIRMING THE
APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE CIVILIAN
INVESTIGATIVE PANEL FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Civilian Investigative Panel
Civilian Investigative Panel
Civilian Investigative Panel
Civilian Investigative Panel
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
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BC.8
2122
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN AS A
MEMBER OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED
HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
(Alternate Member)
NOMINATED BY:
Commission -At -Large
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
J
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD FOR TERMS
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES: NOMINATED BY:
Patrick Owens Mayor Tomas Regalado
Kamalah Fletcher Vice Chair Ken Russell
Virginia Akar Vice Chair Ken Russell
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0280
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): BC.8, Community Relations Board: Mayor
Regalado will be appointing Patrick Owens. Vice Chair Russell will be appointing
Kamalah Fletcher and Virginia Akar.
Commissioner Carollo: Move it.
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
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Chair Hardemon: The motion passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES: NOMINATED BY:
Kimberly Sands Chair Keon Hardemon
Olga Granda-Scott Vice Chair Ken Russell
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0281
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): BC.9, Commission on the Status of Women:
Chair Hardemon will be reappointing Kimberly Sands and Vice Chair Russell will
be appointing Olga Granda-Scott.
Commissioner Carollo: Move it.
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
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BC.11
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD FOR TERMS
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
(Ex-Officio Non -Voting Member)
(Ex-Officio Non -Voting Member)
(Ex-Officio Non -Voting Youth
Member)
NOMINATED BY:
Vice Chair Ken Russell
Commissioner Frank Carollo
City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
RESULT:
NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Chair Keon Hardemon
Chair Keon Hardemon
Vice Chair Ken Russell
Vice Chair Ken Russell
Commissioner Frank Carollo
Commissioner Frank Carollo
IAFF
FOP
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
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BC.13
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BC.14
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR TERMS AS
DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Tomas Regalado
Vice Chair Ken Russell
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH FACILITIES AUTHORITY BOARD FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Vice Chair Ken Russell
Commissioner Frank Carollo
Commissioner Francis Suarez
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PRESERVATION BOARD FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES/CATEGORIES: NOMINATED BY:
Mika Mattingly Vice Chair Ken Russell
(Real Estate Broker — Category 5)
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0282
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MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): BC.4 [sic], Historic & Environmental
Preservation Board: Vice Chair Russell will be appointing Mika Mattingly to the
Category 5, real estate broker category.
Commissioner Carollo: Move it.
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Is she a preservationist?
Vice Chair Russell: She is a -- in the real estate world. I believe that was the
criteria.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Ms. Ewan: That is correct.
Chair Hardemon: Not a preservationist?
Vice Chair Russell: But she did a lot of real estate deals on historic structures.
Chair Hardemon: I don't know what that means, but all in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE MIAMI SPORTS AND EXHIBITION AUTHORITY
FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
Kathryn Moore
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0283
NOMINATED BY:
Vice Chair Ken Russell
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MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): BC.5 [sic], Miami Sports & Exhibition
Authority: Vice Chair Russell will be appointing Kathryn Moore.
Commissioner Carollo: Move it.
Vice Chair Russell: Second.
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Motion pass -- All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Vice Chair Ken Russell
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS' ADVISORY BOARD FOR A
TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Vice Chair Ken Russell
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE STARS OF CALLE OCHO WALK OF FAME
COMMITTEE FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Tomas Regalado
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
(UDRB) FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Chair Keon Hardemon
Chair Keon Hardemon
Vice Chair Ken Russell
Vice Chair Ken Russell
Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort
Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort
Commissioner Frank Carollo
Commissioner Frank Carollo
Commissioner Francis Suarez
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
BC.20
1603
Office of the City
Clerk
BC.21
2376
Office of the City
Clerk
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK TRUST FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Chair Keon Hardemon
Vice Chair Ken Russell
Commissioner Frank Carollo
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
1
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Tomas Regalado
Mayor Tomas Regalado
Chair Keon Hardemon
Chair Keon Hardemon
Vice Chair Ken Russell
Vice Chair Ken Russell
Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort
Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort
Commissioner Frank Carollo
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
END OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
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DI - DISCUSSION ITEMS
DI.1 DISCUSSION ITEM
2210
Department of
Finance
PRESENTATION BY RSM US, LLP ON THE CITY'S ANNUAL
FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Alfonso: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: I know there is a discussion item from the City's Financial Audit
Report. Can we have that now?
Mr. Alfonso: Thank you, Chairman.
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair, in the meantime, can I move SR.3? Because I
don't think that's controversial, SR.3. It's the online campaign reporting; should be
quick.
Chair Hardemon: See, he has to go, so.
Commissioner Suarez: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: And it has to be read into the record, so.
Donnovan Maginley: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Commissioners, Donnovan Maginley,
along with my colleague here, Anelle (phonetic) Harris, from RSM, 801 Brickell
Avenue. As you mentioned, we have performed our audit and issued our financial
statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016 on the City's financial
statements, which is in your package. Just go over a couple -- few highlights. First
and foremost, the report is dated March 30, 2017, which meets the imposed timeline
that the City has on itself to complete its financial statements; an issue which we are
really proud of and they should be proud of. In the financial statements, just a
couple highlights to go over. As we -- I mentioned last year, the City adopted a
pronouncement, which reflects its pension liability now in the books. This is our --
this is still -- obviously, still continuing to be there so that the pension liability
reflective of the City's Police, Fire and general employees and your plans are
incorporated here. As it relates to the general fund, which is the main operating
fund of the City, the City ended a fund balance year end of 132 million; of that, there
were approximately 56 that we call "unassigned," which is available for
appropriation as of September 30, and about 21 million that was deemed to be --
that's deemed -- that's called "assigned," which is at the discretion of the
Commission or management of the City. In one of our reports, in our management
letter, we had a comment as it relates to the Financial Integrity Ordinance.
Unfortunately, the City did not meet its Financial Integrity Ordinance, as defined by
the ordinance, and that's reported in our management letter. In addition to our audit
of the financial statements, we have also opined -- rendered a report on the single
audit, which is the City's compliance with Federal and State funding expenditures.
In that report, there are some findings that we denoted; however, it's to be noted that
none of those findings come with a question cost, so there's no question cost as it
relates to the compliance nature and allowable nature of the program. Again, we
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had full cooperation of management. We had no disagreements with management.
We believe that all the estimates and all -- the inclusion of what they assessed in
terms of what's reasonable, we concur with their conclusion, and that's all
incorporated in our report. With that, I know there's brevity here. I'll turn it over
for any questions or commentary that you may have.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Although we have 132 million
fund balance, tell us about why we did not meet our Financial Integrity Ordinance
and --
Mr. Maginley: So for the most part, yeah, the City, you know, obviously had finished
the year on a positive note. However, based on the standard that the City has
established for itself the mathematical calculation did not meet that ordinance,
mainly because I think at the end of the year, the City transferred monies from the
general fund to its capital programs in the tune of approximately $57 million. And
in a lot of cases, that transfer is discretionary. I know it's budgeted for, but in most
cases, because it's coming from the general fund, it's discretionary. Had they choose
[sic] not to transfer the funds, it is more likely that they would have met the
Financial Integrity Ordinance. In discussing this with management, management
decided that they took a conservative approach. They believe that if the money is
budgeted and appropriated for, the transfer should occur, and that's the action they
took.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Manager.
Mr. Alfonso: Yeah. Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, he's correct in what he said.
What I want to add, though, is that the main reason, in our opinion, as to why we're
no longer in compliance is because GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards
Board) changed the rules on what "assigned" is and "restricted" is. So we used to
report the building of revenues that get rolled over as "assigned" before; and now,
the Code specifically separates "restricted" and "assigned" If you look at it, we
have $50 million that are restricted. In the past, that would have been classified as
"assigned." So if you add the "assigned" and "restricted together," that would fall
under our current Code in the -- and in the past, that would have been under our
current Code as "assigned," and we would have been in compliance. The issue here
is that the law changed, and our Code hasn't, so we're going to be proposing to
bring to Commission to update our Codes to reflect the unassigned 10 percent and
the assigned or restricted 10 percent; and if you do that, then you are in compliance.
Mr. Maginley: That is correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Do you agree with him?
Mr. Maginley: Yes. That is correct. And we also had a commentary as it relates to
modifying the Code, also, as it relates to the ordinance, in conjunct -- not specifically
to that, but in addition that the measurement period for -- that should be done during
the budget -- the time of budget; not at year end, so you'd know at the end of the
budget period if you're going to meet that Integrity Ordinance, and not wait till the
end of the year. So we welcome the Manager's position on what -- just what he just
pointed out, and I think that will help, yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Any further comments?
Mr. Maginley: All right. Thank you very much.
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DI.2
2223
Department of
Finance
DI.3
2284
Department of
Police
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Recess?
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, we'll recess until 2 o'clock; and 2 o'clock, we'll finish the
rest of the agenda. Madam City Attorney, remember the opinion, if you can give me
relatively quickly -- maybe when we come back from lunch -- about whether or not
we can continue an item; a procedural motion on an item on the PZ (Planning &
Zoning) calendar can be heard in the morning and not necessarily after 2 o'clock,
okay? All right. See everyone at 2 o'clock.
DISCUSSION ITEM
DISCUSSION PERTAINING TO THE QUARTERLY NON -
REIMBURSABLE GRANT EXPENDITURES FOR QUARTER
ENDING MARCH 31, 2017.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: We did the DI -- DI. 1 item. DI.2; I think that one's very simple,
right? Now, your pearls are larger than they were last time, right? You have big
pearls now.
Erica Paschal (Director): Per our financial -- sorry. Erica Paschal, for the Finance
Department. Per City's Financial Integrity Principles, DL2 is the quarterly report
for the period ending March 31, 2017, and we're pleased to report that there are no
reimbursement -- no expenses to report at this time.
Chair Hardemon: Best report I heard today. Thank you very much.
DISCUSSION ITEM
DISCUSSION ON THE STATUS OF HIRING POLICE OFFICERS.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: DI.3.
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Chief.
Chair Hardemon: Status of hiring police officers. Our Chief is a little upset right
now.
Mr. Alfonso: He's basically going to come in and say that we're currently
overstaffed from our Table of Organization by two police officers. Our goal is to
continue to hire. Towards the end of the year, we want to be above the Table of
Organization, as we had talked about, because we do have about 90 police officers
that are leaving at the end of September, so we want to be about 40 over between
now and then.
Chair Hardemon: All right.
Commissioner Suarez: Thank you. Good job.
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Mr. Alfonso: Thank you.
END OF DISCUSSION ITEMS
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PART B: PZ - PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S)
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney --
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): I got it done.
Chair Hardemon: -- can you read the PZ (Planning & Zoning) agenda?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): We will now begin the Planning & Zoning items.
PZ items shall proceed according to Section 7.1.4 of the Miami 21 Zoning Code.
Before any PZ item is heard, all those wishing to speak must be sworn in by the City
Clerk. Please note, Commissioners have been briefed by City staff and the City
Attorney on items on the agenda today. The members of the City Commission shall
disclose any ex parte communications to remove the presumption of prejudice,
pursuant to Florida Statute Section 286.011(5) and Section 7.1.4 of the Miami 21
Zoning Code. Any person may be heard by the City Commission through the Chair
for not more than two minutes on any proposition before the City Commission,
unless modified by the Chair. If the proposition is being continued or rescheduled,
the opportunity to be heard may be at such later date before the City Commission
takes action on the proposition. The Chairman will advise the public when the
public may have the opportunity to address the City Commission during the public
comment period. When addressing the City Commission, the member of the public
may first state his or her name, his or her address, and what item will be spoken
about. A copy of the agenda item titles will be available at the City Clerk's Office
and at the podium for your ease of reference. Staff will briefly present each item to
be heard. For applications requiring City Commission approval, the applicant will
present the application or request to the City Commission. The order of presentation
shall be as set forth in Miami 21 and the City Code, providing the appellant shall
present first. All persons test Eying must be sworn in. The City of Miami requires
that anyone requesting action by the City Commission must disclose before the
hearing anything provided to anyone for agreement to support or withhold objection
to the requested action pursuant to City Code Section 2-8. Any documents offered to
the City Commissioners that have not been provided seven days before the meeting
as a part of the agenda materials will be entered into the record at the City
Commission's discretion. Thank you.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Good afternoon, gentlemen. Anybody speaking on
today's Planning & Zoning items, may I please have you stand and raise your right
hand?
The City Clerk administered oath required under City Code Section 62-1 to those
persons giving testimony on zoning items.
Mr. Hannon: Thank you, Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're very welcome. As I hear, there are some continuances,
maybe?
Francisco Garcia: Yes, sir. For the record, Francisco Garcia, director of Planning
& Zoning. As stated this morning, item PZ.2, which is a companion to item SR.2 is
to be -- I apologize -- FR.2 -- is recommended to be continued for the same date as
FR.2, which I believe is the next like meeting.
Commissioner Suarez: Move it.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
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Chair Hardemon: So moved and seconded. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Ms. Mendez: Chairman, the preliminary research we did with regard to why the
time certain for 2 p.m. is, we don't have all the research exactly, because I just want
to confirm that we have been doing it correct or that there may be a reason why we
should do it differently. But the reasons why we do set it at 2 p.m. is Florida Statutes
requires that all land use items be heard after 5 o'clock through 166.041. Then the
Commission can change that to a different time, which would be -- and what we have
in the past -- change it to 2 p.m. I believe that the main reason why we can't
unilaterally change or take off an applicant's item is if the applicant is not here, it's
due process to the applicant. I think where you may be pointing out is certain things
if they're our items; our items, you're correct. Maybe we've been ultra conservative.
We can remove our items, because we would not -- we would still be complying with
Florida Statute on the fact that someone can be heard before they are heard -- before
the item is actually voted on at a subsequent meeting. So, arguably, if it's our items,
as in City items, arguably, that could be taken out earlier than 2 p.m., and it doesn't
require the public hearing portion.
Chair Hardemon: But what about an applicant's item? What if you have an
applicant that wants to remove -- that wants to continue their item --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- and they give -- and they -- I mean, ultimately, it's up to the --
to this body to decide whether or not a continuance will be granted, and that's what
we'll be deciding, but if an applicant says, "Hey, I don't want to be heard today. I
want to be heard on the next meeting," it's not our item --
Ms. Mendez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- so can we make that decision in the morning? Because the way
you've stated the rules to be, it seems to be that you're talking about a substantive
action on an item, and I don't think that a motion to continue is a substantive action
on an item.
Ms. Mendez: If -- You raise a valid distinction with regard to if the applicant
themselves on an item to be heard at 2 p.m. asks in writing to reset something,
arguably, we can hear that in the morning, like you're describing. However, if an
applicant is not present and we are unilaterally removing something off an agenda,
it can have a negative effect on an applicant --
Chair Hardemon: Right. They may want to put something on the record as to why --
Ms. Mendez: Right.
Commissioner Suarez: Due process.
Chair Hardemon: -- a continuance --
Commissioner Suarez: A due process, right.
Ms. Mendez: Or -- it's more along the lines of what if they had certain closings,
certain --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
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Ms. Mendez: -- timelines, certain financing issues that we're not aware of. So that's
why, definitely, we cannot do it without the permission of the applicant. But if -- I
request if you just give me a little more time to --
Chair Hardemon: A little more --
Ms. Mendez: -- look into that, but I think that we can find a happy middle with
certain truly procedural things that don't affect others, and we can hear some of
those in the morning.
Chair Hardemon: And one thing that we have not run afoul of is people being
allowed to speak on public comment. We -- I mean, we give an abundance of time.
We give them an opportunity to speak in committee when it's on the Planning and
Zoning Appeals Board; we give them the opportunity to speak when you have the 60-
day notice; we give them opportunity to speak when they come here, not only on first
reading, but on second reading. So I think we go above and beyond what --
Ms. Mendez: You're correct, because technically, they only have to speak once.
Chair Hardemon: Speak once, no matter if there's 10 readings.
Ms. Mendez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: Once.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you.
Mr. Hannon: And Chair, if I may, I just want to make sure that the record is clear.
Item PZ.2 will be deferred to the June 22 meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
PZ.1 ORDINANCE First Reading
2289
Department of
Planning and
Zoning
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, AS AMENDED, SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING ARTICLE
4, TABLE 4, ENTITLED "DENSITY, INTENSITY, AND PARKING" AND
ARTICLE 5, SECTION 5.7, ENTITLED "CIVIC SPACE ZONES AND
CIVIC INSTITUTION ZONES," TO CLARIFY REGULATIONS RELATED
TO CIVIC SPACE ZONES; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
ABSENT:
Pass on First Reading
PASSED ON FIRST READING
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
Francis Suarez, Commissioner
Hardemon, Russell, Suarez
Gort, Carollo
Chair Hardemon: So the only item that we have on the PZ (Planning & Zoning)
agenda will be PZ.1?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning & Zoning): Yes, sir; happy to proceed.
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Chair Hardemon: Sure.
Mr. Garcia: Thank you. Item PZ.1 is before you on first reading. It is a proposed
amendment to Miami 21, the Zoning Ordinance, to clarify that parcels zoned CS
(civic space) have development capacity, subject to the constraints that that
development capacity shall be either equal to that -- or similar to that of the most
abut -- most restricted abutting zoning designation; or as specified in master plans
adopted by the City Commission. I am happy to report that the Planning, Zoning &
Appeals Board heard the item yesterday, and recommended for approval. It is
before you on first reading. Happy to answer any questions.
Chair Hardemon: What was the result of the vote?
Mr. Garcia: It was recommendation for approval, 7-1.
Commissioner Suarez: What? Subject to what?
Chair Hardemon: 7-1.
Commissioner Suarez: Oh, 7-1.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You want to say something on this? Because this will be our
public comment section. It doesn't appear that there's much people from the public,
except you; a well -dressed representative of the public.
Steven Wernick: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Steve Wernick; address at 2501 Swanson
Avenue. I'm here today in my role as the chairperson of the Waterfront Advisory
Board, and simply to say that most City -owned waterfront properties, which are the
types of parcels and projects that come before our board, are within the CS transect
zone. The first presentation to our board will be next Tuesday, June 13, so we have
not had a chance to hear the item or make any kind of recommendations to the City
Commission. I expect we will be able to do that next Tuesday and then -- so when
this ordinance comes back to you on second reading, we can have had some input on
that. I would just say that I think it looks like it's a good amendment that's
happening, but perhaps there may need to be some additional amendments that
specifically apply to City -owned waterfront properties, and I would imagine that's
what our board will take up next Tuesday. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Any further comment?
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to move it on first reading, and I'd like to see if we can
get a potential map --
Commissioner Suarez: Second that. Discussion.
Vice Chair Russell: -- of affected properties before second reading.
Mr. Garcia: Certainly.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Suarez: Second; discussion.
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Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Our dear Commissioner
from the 4th District, is there a comment that you want to add?
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, just real quick. Just going to say that, you know, I
think I promoted this or I sponsored this legislation because of you know, trying to
fix -- make sure everything was fixed for purposes of the Rickenbacker RFP (Request
for Proposals). And I just want to make sure that, you know, we're referring to the
master plan, and I want to make sure that that reference is something that will be a
standard that can be used by the development community without having further
need for rezoning that property and build what has been previously conceptualized
there.
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir. Thank you for the question. The answer is in the affirmative,
and there are two specific references made in the Zoning Ordinance as a result of
this amendment; one is to the City of Miami's Parks and Open Space Master Plan;
and the other is to other master plans, as adopted by the City Commission, as
pertains to the potential development at the Rickenbacker Marina. There is, as you
know, a Virginia Key Master Plan that has been adopted by the City Commission,
and that is the master plan in place that would guide for the development of that site.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other discussion? Any further unreadiness?
Commissioner Suarez: Actually, I think it's fine.
Chair Hardemon: Hearing no unreadiness --
Commissioner Suarez: Smart.
Chair Hardemon: -- has the title been -- The title has been read into the record?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Title.
Chair Hardemon: Can you read the title, Mr. Clerk?
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Clerk.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor or the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion shall pass.
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PZ.2 ORDINANCE First Reading
1972
Department of
Planning and
Zoning
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, BY AMENDING ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1.2,
ENTITLED "DEFINITIONS OF TERMS," ARTICLE 4, TABLE 3,
ENTITLED "BUILDING FUNCTION: USES," AND ARTICLE 6, TABLE
13, ENTITLED "SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS"; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: Item PZ.2 was deferred to the June 22, 2017 Planning and
Zoning Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing item PZ.2, please see "Order of the
Day" and "Part B: PZ - Planning and Zoning Item(s)."
END OF PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S)
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M - MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS' ITEMS
CITYWIDE
HONORABLE MAYOR TOMAS REGALADO
END OF CITYWIDE ITEMS
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
D1 - DISTRICT 1
COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT ONE WIFREDO (WILLY) GORT
END OF DISTRICT 1 ITEMS
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
D2 - DISTRICT 2
VICE CHAIR KEN RUSSELL
END OF DISTRICT 2 ITEMS
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Meeting Minutes June 8, 2017
D3 - DISTRICT 3
COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT THREE FRANK CAROLLO
END OF DISTRICT 3 ITEMS
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D4 - DISTRICT 4
COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT FOUR FRANCIS SUAREZ
END OF DISTRICT 4 ITEMS
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D5 - DISTRICT 5
CHAIR KEON HARDEMON
END OF DISTRICT 5 ITEMS
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FL - FUTURE LEGISLATION
END OF FUTURE LEGISLATION
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NA.1
2469
Commissioners and
Mayor
NA - NON -AGENDA ITEM(S)
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION OPPOSING
THE PROVISION OF THE LAND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ("COUNTY") AND MIAMI PROPERTIES,
LLC., REQUIRING THAT THE FUTURE SITE OF THE BECKHAM
GROUP SOCCER STADIUM, A PRIVATELY OWNED VENUE
LOCATED IN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"), SHALL EXCLUSIVELY
HIRE COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES
INSIDE THE STADIUM; DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO
PROVIDE A LEGAL OPINION REGARDING SAID PROVISION;
FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ALL
MEASURES TO ASSURE THAT THE CITY'S FIRST
RESPONDERS HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION TO PROVIDE
SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY LAW; FURTHER DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ALL MEASURES TO ASSURE THAT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITY'S FIRST RESPONDERS ARE
PROTECTED AND REQUIRED FOR ANY TRANSACTION OR
AGREEMENTS INVOLVING SALE OF PROPERTY BY THE
COUNTY TO ANY PRIVATE ENTITY; DIRECTING THE CITY
CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS
RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0272
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
SECONDER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Note for the Record: For further minutes referencing item NA.1, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s)."
Commissioner Suarez: I wanted to, if it's okay -- since you're up there -- discuss
another issue that came up, I think, this morning in the press, which is -- and I don't
want to steal the thunder of our firefighters and police officers, but the concern that I
think we all have over what is going on with the Beckham Stadium regarding our
First Responders and their ability to provide off -duty services there, and I'd like for
you to chime in on that, and then I'd like to offer a resolution on that issue.
Mayor Tomas Regalado: Thank you, Commissioners -- Commissioner. And
yesterday, I requested a legal opinion from the City of Attorney of the City of Miami
on the decision of the County Commission. This was an amendment of a resolution
that was prepared by the Administration and the County Attorney's Office, and it
was a last-minute amendment. This was very unusual, because this is the first time
ever that the County Commission imposes their public safety personnel on a private
venue. The Beckham Stadium is not a public venue. The County is selling the land,
so the land is no longer County land. They bought for $19 million a private
property, next to the County WASA (Water and Sewer Authority) depot, and I think
that they are trying to buy some land from the City of Miami, which is adjacent to
that. You know, the media, I think, that has not focused on the fact that this is a
private venue, because it was said in the media that we had the same arrangement in
the Marlins Park and in the Arsht Center. This is not the case. The Marlins Park
agreement was part of the Global Agreement, and it was inserted by the County
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Commission at the time. I remember that, as a City Commissioner, I sat there where
you sit, Commissioner Suarez, and protest with then -City Manager Pete Hernandez,
and the County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, and the County Manager at the time, and the
City Mayor Manny Diaz, and I lost. I was on the losing side. I tried to move a
resolution. And the only compromise that I could get from the County and the rest of
my colleagues was that the Police and Fire, will be able to use the restrooms inside
the Marlins Park, and then there was a rotation, and then there was a rotation of
Fire and County and City, which has been in place. You know, I was outvoted at the
time, and I respect the majority, but this is not a Marlins deal. This is not a Arsht
Center deal. These are County -owned facilities. Even in the American Airlines
Arena, Miami Police and Miami Fire work because of the agreement that was done
30 years ago. But I don't think that, number one, our public safety agencies, the
Fire and Police, which we know are the best in Florida and in the nation, need to be
shut out of working inside a venue which is in the City of Miami. You know, I just
don't understand the rationale of what the media said -- was the County Attorneys
had said that this is legal. If they -- if we allowed them to impose public safety
personnel on a private venue in the City of Miami, next they can do that in another
venue in the City of Miami or another -- in any other city, for that matter. I think
that our Police and Fire have the capacity and the knowledge and the
professionalism to serve well. I would like -- I take offense of what Commissioner
Diaz said, that, you know, there's going to be a lot of people trying to park
somewhere, because there is no parking at the stadium, so they need more police.
That's not the point. The point is that this is a private venue in the City of Miami,
and hopefully, this will be fixed. I know that the Manager had concern.
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Mayor Regalado: And I hope to get the opinion from the City Attorney. You know, I
don't want to rain in anybody's parade. You know, I know that we are going to be --
people are going to say, "Okay, they are trying to block the deal." This is not the
case. This was not in the original deal. This was just a last-minute amendment.
This is not right for our City of Miami Police, our City of Miami Fire, and our
residents. Our residents know, understand, and connect with the City of Miami
Police and with the Fire Department of the City of Miami. So, hopefully, this will be
Commissioner Suarez: Chair.
Mayor Regalado: -- fixed. If not, when it comes before you for the zoning change,
maybe we can say --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Suarez.
Commissioner Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to offer a resolution -- a
motion supporting the Mayor's request that the City Attorney provide a legal
opinion, objecting to that amendment; and third, asking our Manager -- directing
our Manager to make sure that our First Responders are protected in any
negotiation, deal, land sale and/or zoning matter, and that that be incorporated into
our negotiations.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Any further discussion?
You 're here on this item -- on that --
Pete Sanchez: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: -- resolution just spoke of?
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Mr. Sanchez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Mr. Sanchez: Good morning. Pete Sanchez, Miami Firefighters, Local 587. Thank
you, Mr. Mayor and Mr. Manager, Commission. I'm here to speak in opposition as
to what the County Commission made a deal with the Beckham Group on Tuesday,
like the Mayor mentioned, to completely impose County Police and Fire to render
services for the Beckham Stadium, which is in the City of Miami, in our City. It is
not County -owned anymore; it is a private property. They have no say, and we
should be able to render the services in there. We got a bad deal with the Marlins
Stadium, where they wanted to take that away from us as well, and we were able to
at least hang onto half of it. Hang on in the City of Miami, in our City? That's
unacceptable. In order to gain a vote to be able to sell the land, that's unacceptable
and it's preposterous. We service the City of Miami proudly, and we can do it, and
functionally, without any issues. I'm asking that you support us, as you did, and I
appreciate it, and not allow this to happen. The County needs to stop cherry picking
as to what they have their hands in the City or not. We respond to County jails, to
County hospitals, and to the County Courthouses within our city limits; they don't
respond there, but if it's an extra dollar, then they want to respond in the stadium.
Again, we thank you for your support, and we completely stand against this. Thank
you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. The -- go ahead.
Renita Holmes: Thank you. Madam Holmes, executive director, Wave of Women in
Public Housing, Education, Finance, and Development, and resident of Overtown,
but -- and adjacent to the proposed deal with the Marlins Stadium, and quite often,
signified as the only resident of Overtown that speaks in regards to the issue of this
deal, but hardly, I'd like to support the Mayor in what he's saying. And just to give
you a little insight, that's the situation. We're attending a meeting, particularly to
my Commissioner, and this is a County meeting. And when we attend this County
meeting, we have City officers that are telling us as citizens in there that we can 't go
in, and you know, I -- this is not a quasi judicial hearing, but you know, why lie?
And so, my perception as a resident of how we use -- or how our officers are
interacting just on their ability to propose has led to another CIP (Civilian
Investigative Panel) complaint. And so, I think that there's a lot of concern when
people are planning and zoning things, it's like, "Okay, we've got them sealed in as
citizens in the City, next to this thing as" -- City of Miami, though, will do the
planning and zoning. And as we always know, as poor folks, we don't get much
defense. You are our line of defense. But my perception as someone who's sitting
there that may -- that's going already through traffic impacts, I want my City
employees to know, who's witnessed gas coming up from underneath these streets --
I want my citizens and everyone else to know, and two minutes doesn't give me that
time, but it doesn't make me a liar, but if I'm paying taxes in one place and paying
taxes in another, I'd like to have my traffic impact study and not
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) over there. I'd like to have my local police officers not run up
in my face and tell me I can't -- particularly as a person with disability; unless, of
course, I'm John De Leon; I can get through. But don't want to get into the details.
I'm just saying, all of this is linked up, but if I'm going to pay taxes in both
scenarios, then I want twice as much respect, twice as much participation, and twice
as much oversight. And so, I agree, and I concur with you. I do believe that these
employees need to be more educated. I do believe that they need to be more limited,
and that any litigation issues we have because they're protecting somebody else's
deal, well, let's get it.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, Ms. Holmes.
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Ms. Holmes: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Before we continue, because this is -- I'm -- it 's not our fault;; it's
Commissioner Suarez' fault that the public is kind of confused now where we are --
Commissioner Suarez: Sorry.
Chair Hardemon: -- because you interjected a motion and a resolution, if you will,
into the public hearing section, so what I want to do is I want to tackle this one
motion that's on the agenda right now, and so just a few comments that I have just to
put on the record with it. Let's not presuppose that there will be a stadium there on
that site. Right now, the County sold land, and that's what it has, land. And it's
interesting, I mean, the way that it was put earlier about cherry picking. I don't see
them cherry picking, one, to police the Liberty Square community. They haven't
cherry picked that. They haven 't cherry picked any other public housing. They
haven 't cherry picked that, you know. So to come into our community and they want
to cherry pick on the things that they believe will give their off -duty officers more
access and better pay and to put them in a better financial footing, I think is wrong.
And I think this is good for the City of Miami to stand up against this, because it's
the right thing to do on the behalf of its employees, and those are Police and Fire.
Because I guarantee you, they call 911, County won't respond to that, either, to the
stadium. So it's no reason that they should be able to sit in the air condition and
enjoy a soccer game, if you will, and our employees are out there doing work. I
won't say "real work"; I'll just say, "Work," but let's not suppose that they're not
doing work on the inside, but --
Horacio Stuart Aguirre: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: -- you get what I'm saying.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: May I speak on the resolution?
Chair Hardemon: Yes, you may.
Mr. Stuart Aguirre: Thank you. Horacio Stuart Aguirre, as chairman of the City of
Miami Civilian Investigative Panel. Mr. Chairman and Vice Chairman, it's always
been the position of the Civilian Investigative Panel that all municipal policing
within the boundaries of the City of Miami be done by MPD, Miami Police
Department, and not foreign agencies. We do not need Miami -Dade County policing
within the City of Miami, and that has always been the position of the Civilian
Investigative Panel. So we support the Chairman -- Mayor Regalado and
Commissioner Suarez' resolution. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Any other comment from the dais?
Doug Mayer: Good morning. My name is Doug Mayer. I live at 2130 Northwest
13th Street, Miami. I'm here today as a member of the Civilian Investigative Panel.
Chair Hardemon: Before you move forward, are you trying to speak on the
resolution that's on the floor right now? I know we kind of got a little snagged in
communication. So, if you want to speak on the resolution that's before us right
now, there's a motion and a second on the --
Mr. Mayer: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- that --
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Mr. Mayer: Basically, I just want to reiterate what our chairman, Horacio Aguirre,
was just saying, that policing in Miami should be done by Miami Police Department.
We on the CIP are supporters of the Miami Police Department, and we think that it's
only right and fair that they provide those services at the stadium. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Seeing no other person that wants to
speak on that particular motion that's on the floor, any further comment from the
dais? Seeing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE SEA LEVEL RISE
COMMITTEE FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Patrick Rynne Vice Chair Ken Russell
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0284
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Frank Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Carollo, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort
Nicole N. Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): And I do have one non -agenda item. On the
Sea Level Rise Committee, there is one vacancy. Vice Chair Russell will be
appointing Patrick Rynne.
Commissioner Carollo: Move it.
Vice Chair Russell: Second.
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Ms. Ewan: Thank you, Chair and Commissioners.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Commissioner Suarez: Good job.
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Commissioners and
Mayor
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION OPPOSING
THE UNITED STATES' WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PARIS
AGREEMENT OF 2015 ON CLIMATE CHANGE; REITERATING
COMMITMENT TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION
GOALS; RECOMMITTING TO THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
REGIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE COMPACT; SUPPORTING
ACCELERATION OF CLEAN ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
AND TRANSITION TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY; AND
DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO EVALUATE AND
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COMMISSION AS TO
AVAILABLE PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE ALLIANCES.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0271
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Francis Suarez, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Suarez
ABSENT: Gort, Carollo
Chair Hardemon: That concludes the Part "B" portion of the meeting. However,
there is one item before we go up for our shade meetings that I'd like to bring to our
attention. Our intelligent --
Vice Chair Russell: Don't go so far. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: -- Commissioner from the 2nd District has a pocket item.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. I have a pocket resolution for the Commission to
consider, and it's with regard to the country's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
You know, I don't believe this to be a partisan issue; I believe this to be a global
issue. And it's very rare that so many countries come together in consensus on such
an important item. I do regret that our country as a whole is not going, at this point,
to be a part of that, but it's actually inspired me, and I know a lot of other
municipalities, to take action at the local level. And so, I'm offering this resolution
that opposes our withdrawal, but lends our support to the tenets of the agreement,
and says that we'll basically step forward as the City of Miami to do what we can to
limit emissions and come in line with the Paris Agreement. I started a very small,
innocuous crowd -sourcing effort for legislation on this issue; just asked, "Who's got
some ideas about environmental legislation for Miami?" and I got almost 2,000
"likes" and "shares," in just a few days, and about 150 viable potential ideas for us
to bring, as environmental legislation, to the City of Miami. So we'll be keeping the
office busy here pretty soon on this stuff. So I look forward to your support, and I'd
like to move this resolution. The Chairman's given a thumbs up. All in favor, say
"aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: All opposed? Motion passes. Thank you.
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Office of the City
Attorney
ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
CONDUCTED AT THE JUNE 22, 2017 MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE CITY OF MIAMI
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION CASES OF IN THE MATTER OF
FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY TURKEY POINT, UNITS 6
& 7, DOCKET NOS. 52-040 AND 52-041, PENDING BEFORE THE
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION; AND
IN RE: NUCLEAR COST RECOVERY CLAUSE, DOCKET NO.
170009-El, PENDING BEFORE THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION, AND CITY OF MIAMI. ET. AL V. FPL AND FL
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ("DEP"),
DOAH CASE NO. 09-3107 (3RD DCA CASE NO. 3D14-1467),
PENDING BEFORE THE DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE
HEARINGS, TO WHICH THE CITY IS PRESENTLY A PARTY. THIS
PRIVATE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M.
(OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS'
SCHEDULES PERMIT) AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE
HOUR LATER. THE SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION: CHAIRMAN KEON
HARDEMON, VICE-CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL, AND
COMMISSIONERS WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT, FRANK CAROLLO,
AND FRANCIS X. SUAREZ; CITY MANAGER DANIEL J.
ALFONSO; CITY ATTORNEY VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY
ATTORNEY JOHN A. GRECO; DIVISION CHIEF FOR GENERAL
LITIGATION CHRISTOPHER A. GREEN; AND ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEYS KERRI L. MCNULTY AND XAVIER E. ALBAN. A
CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER WILL BE PRESENT TO ENSURE
THAT THE SESSION IS FULLY TRANSCRIBED AND THE
TRANSCRIPT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC UPON THE CONCLUSION
OF THE ABOVE -CITED, ONGOING LITIGATION. AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION, THE
REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE REOPENED AND
THE PERSON CHAIRING THE COMMISSION MEETING WILL
ANNOUNCE THE TERMINATION OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT
SESSION.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): And if I may, I'd like to request an attorney/client
session for June 22 in -- Pursuant to the provisions of Section 286.011(8) Florida
Statutes, I'm requesting that the City Commission meet in private to discuss pending
litigation in the case of in re: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Docket Numbers 52-
040 and 52-041; in re: Nuclear Cost Recovery Public Service Commission, Docket
Number 17009-EI [sic]; and City of Miami versus Florida Power & Light, Florida
Department of Environmental Protection, Case Number 093107 and Case Number
3D14-1467, to which the City is a party, and I'm requesting an attorney/client
session on that date. The private meeting will take place approximately 3 p.m. The
session will be attended by members of the City Commission: Chairman Keon
Hardemon, Vice Chairman Ken Russell, Commissioners Wifredo Gort, Frank
Carollo, and Francis Suarez; City Manager Daniel Alfonso; myself Victoria
Mendez, the City Attorney; Deputy City Attorneys John Greco and Barnaby Min;
Chief of Litigation Christopher Green; and Assistant City Attorneys Kerri McNulty
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ADJOURNMENT
and Xavier Alban. A certified court reporter will be present to ensure that the
session is fully transcribed, and the transcript will be made public upon the
conclusion of the above -cited ongoing litigation. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Now this meeting has come to a
conclusion and I'd like to close the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6: 36 p.m.
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