HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-City Manager Noriega-Letter to County regarding First Responder Pay SupplementSubmitted into the public
record for item(s) SP.1,
on 08-03-2020, City Clerk
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ARTHUR NORIEGA, V
CITY MANAGER
August 3, 2020
Mr. Edward Marquez
Deputy Mayor
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW 1st Street, 29th Floor
Miami, FL 33128
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SENT VIA EMAIL: Edward.Marquez(a�miamidade.gov
Dear Mr. Marquez:
Our office is in receipt of Mayor Carlos Gimenez' July 29th Letter Regarding First
Responder Pay Supplement.
We agree that "first responders are always at the front lines, ready to serve in any
emergency." The unprecedented impact and subsequent response by the City of Miami
to the ongoing effects of COVID-19 is nothing short of extraordinary.
Of the many things we have learned during our response to COVID-19 is that the
definition of "first responders" has proven to be broad. In addition to the excellent work
from our police and fire rescue departments, public servants from departments such as
solid waste, parks, code compliance, human services and homeless outreach, our
Neighborhood Enhancement Teams (NET), and others, have all been on the front lines
every day to meet the needs of those whom we serve in the City. These men and women
have worked at our testing sites, cleaned our streets, delivered thousands of meals to
hungry seniors and families, handed out face masks, inspected businesses and
restaurants to ensure compliance with our various emergency orders, provided services
to our homeless population, and so much more. They have all "put themselves in
dangerous situations" during this pandemic.
7715 Submittal -City Manager Noriega-Letter to County regarding First Responder Pay Supplement
Submitted into the public
record for item(s) SP.1,
on 08-03-2020, City Clerk
Mr. Edward Marquez
Page 2
August 3, 2020
The work of these public servants is indeed "without compare and deserves recognition
and remuneration." This is why the City of Miami respectfully requests that the first
responder pay supplement remunerate not only police and fire rescue, but all the frontline
employees who deserve recognition for their tireless work in addressing this pandemic'
in an amount totaling $1.653 million.
We appreciate your consideration of this matter and await your reply.
Sincerel
Arthur Noriega, V.
City Manager
' We have asked our city employees to forgo scheduled step increases amounting to $12.714 million in
the next fiscal year. The City administration would like to cover this cost with CARES Act funds from
Miami -Dade County if proposed language in the HEALS Act passes allowing "governments to use up to
25% of their funds to cover revenue shortfalls between March 1, 2020, and 90 days after their fiscal year
2021 ends, if they have certified they sent 25% of their funds to their smaller governments" (see:
https://www.rpc.senate.gov/policy-papers/update-on-the-coronavirus-response-heals-act).