HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2020-10-22 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
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1896
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 22, 2020
9:00 AM
City Commission Meeting
City Hall
City Commission
Francis X. Suarez, Mayor
Keon Hardemon, Chair, District Five
Ken Russell, Vice Chair, District Two
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner, District One
Joe Carollo, Commissioner, District Three
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner, District Four
Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
City Commission
Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
9:00 AM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Present: Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Russell, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla,
Commissioner Carollo and Commissioner Reyes.
On the 22nd day of October 2020, the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida,
conducted and broadcasted a virtual meeting from 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 9:14 a.m., recessed at 12:50 p.m., reconvened at
3: 05 p.m., and adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
Note for the Record: Commissioner Carollo joined the virtual meeting at 11:19 a.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
PART A - NON -PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S)
ORDER OF THE DAY
Chair Hardemon: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the October 22nd, 2020 meeting of
the Miami City Commission. Pursuant to Executive Number -- sorry, pursuant to Executive
Order Number 20-246, issued by the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis on September 30, 2020,
municipalities may conduct meetings of their governing boards without having a quorum of its
members present physically or at any specific location, and utilizing communications media
technology, such as telephonic or videoconferencing, as provided by Section 120.545(b)(2)
Florida Statutes. Procedures for the public comment will be explained by the City Attorney
shortly. Procedures for the swearing in of parties for the Planning and Zoning and/or quasi-
judicial items will be explained by the City Clerk. The members of the City Commission
appearing remotely for this meeting are Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Joe Carollo, Manolo Reyes,
Ken Russell, and me, Keon Hardemon. Also appearing remotely are City Manager Art
Noriega; City Attorney Victoria Mendez; and City Clerk Todd Hannon. Madam City Attorney,
please state the procedures to be followed during this meeting.
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Mr. Chairman, any person who is a lobbyist, pursuant to
Chapter 2, Article 6 of the City Code, must register with the City Clerk and comply with
related City 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 at municode.com.
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 the City Code section is available at the Office of the City Clerk or online at
municode.com. Pursuant to Section 2-33(f) and (g) of the City Code, the agenda and the
material for each item on the agenda for this virtual meeting was published and made
available to the Mayor, members of the City Commission, and to the public at least five full
business days in advance of the meeting. The material for each item on the agenda is available
during business hours at the City Clerk's Office, and online 24 hours a day at miamigov.com.
Any person may be heard by the City Commission through the Chair and upon registering,
pursuant to the published notice for not more than two minutes on any proposition before the
City Commission, unless modified by the Chair. Because this is a virtual meeting, as
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authorized by the Governor of the State of Florida, members of the public wishing to address
the body may do so by visiting miamigov.comlvirtualmeeting to upload their two -minute video
comments to he played during the virtual Commission meeting, or to submit their written
comments via the online comment form. The comments submitted through the comment form
have been distributed to the elected officials and the City Administration throughout the day so
that the elected officials can consider the comments prior to taking any action. Additionally,
the online comment form will remain open during the meeting to accept comments and
distribute to the elected officials up until the time the Chairperson closes the public comment.
Members of the public may also call 305-250-5353 to provide comments via the dedicated City
of Miami public comment voicemail, where the individuals will be able to leave a two -minute
message that will be played during the virtual Commission meeting. Members of the public
niay also pre -register to provide live public comment by phone during the meeting. You may
pre -register by phone by calling 305-250-5350, or online at miamigov.comlgovernmentllive-
public-comment. All comments submitted will be included as part of the public record for this
virtual meeting and will be considered by the City Commission prior to any action taken. The
City will accommodate any speakers desiring to appear in person, subject to all applicable
emergency measures in place to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The City has set up a
terminal in the event members of the public travel to City Hall to provide public comment.
Speakers who appear in person will be subject to screening for symptoms of COVID-19. Any
persons exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 will not be permitted to enter City Hall. All
interested parties are required to abide by all State, County, and local emergency orders, and
urged to remain at home and practice social distancing. If the proposition is being continued
or rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard may be at such later date before the City
Commission takes action on such proposition. When addressing the City Commission, the
member of the public must first state his or her name, his or her address, and what item will be
spoken about. Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids and services for
this meeting may notes the City Clerk. Section 286.014(4)(c) of Florida Statutes authorizes the
City to prescribe procedures or forums for an individual to use in order to inform the board or
Commission of the desire to be heard, to indicate his or her support, opposition, or neutrality
on a proposition. The City, through its multiple comment options has provided five different
methods to indicate, among other things, the public's support, opposition, or neutrality on the
items and topics to be discussed at today's virtual Commission meeting. The public has been
given the opportunity to provide public comment during the meeting and within reasonable
proximity in time before the meeting. These public comment options established and provided
for this regular City Commission meeting comply with Section 286.014 and Section 120.54 of
Florida Statutes. The City has also created a simple set of instructions explaining how the
public may submit their comments with either option. Those instructions were provided in the
notice to the public via the City's social media channels and published online at
miamigov.comlvirtualmeeting. Please note, Commissioners have generally been briefed by
City staff and the City Attorney on items on the agenda today. Planning and Zoning items shall
proceed according to Section 7.1.4 of the Miami 21 Zoning Ordinance as temporarily modified
by Emergency Ordinance Numbers 13902, 13903, and 13914. Pursuant to Emergency
Ordinance Number 13903 and 13914, parties for any Planning and Zoning items, including
any applicant, appellant, appellee, City staff and any person recognized by the decision -
making body as a qualified intervenor, as well as the applicant's representatives and any
experts testifying on behalf of the applicant, appellant, or appellee may either be physically
present at City Hall to be sworn in by oath or affirmation by the City Clerk, or may appear
virtually and make arrangements to be sworn in by oath or affirmation in person at their
location by an individual qualified to perform such duty. Pursuant to Emergency Ordinance
Number 13903, members of the general public who are not parties to an action before the City
Commission are not required to be sworn in by oath or affirmation. The members of the City
Commission shall disclose any ex parte communications to remove the presumption of
prejudice pursuant to Florida Statute Section 286.015 and Section 7.1.4.5 of the Miami 21
Zoning Ordinance. Staff will briefly present each item to be heard. For applications requiring
City Commission approval, the applicant will then present its application or request to the City
Commission. If the applicant agrees with staffs recommendation, the City Commission may
proceed to its deliberation and decision. The applicant may also waive the right to an
evidentiary hearing on the record. The order of presentation shall be as set forth in Miami 21
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
and the City Code providing that the appellant shall present first. For appeals, the appellant
will present its appeal to the City Commission, followed by the appellee. Staff will he allowed
to make any recommendations they may have. The City of Miami requires that anyone
requesting actions 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
Section 2-8. Any documents offered to the City Commissioners that have not been provided
seven days before the meeting as part of the agenda materials will be entered into the record at
the City Commission's discretion. If any Commissioner thinks the documents supplied to the
Commission less than seven days before merit a continuance, the item may be continued by the
City Commission. Anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Commission for
any matter considered at this meeting may need a verbatim record of the item. A video of this
meeting may be requested at the Office of Communications or viewed online at miamigov.com.
The City is using Zoom to hold its October 22, 2020 City Commission meeting. Zoom is a
cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, collaboration, chat, and webinars across
mobile devices, desktops, telephones and room systems. In order to ensure the public has the
ability to view the meeting, the City's Communications Department will broadcast the meeting
through all usual avenues that are provided when a City Commission meeting is held fully in
Commission chambers at City Hall. The meeting can be viewed online at miamigov.comlty,
through the City's Facebook page, on the City's Periscope channel, on the City's YouTube
channel, and on Comcast Channel 77. The broadcast will also have closed captioning.
Additionally, the City has not selected a virtual platform that requires the public to purchase
or download any additional software or equipment to watch this meeting. Aside from the Zoom
platform and that the participants will be appearing remotely, the public will have no
discernable difference in their ability to watch the meeting. Commissioners, please confirm you
are comfortable with the notice provisions as set forth in these uniform rules of procedure.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Confirmed.
Mr. Min: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. City Clerk, can you please state the swearing in procedures to be
followed?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Thank you, Chair. The procedures for individuals who will be
providing testimony to be sworn in for Planning and Zoning items and any quasi-judicial items
on today's City Commission agenda will be as follows: The members of the City staff or any
other individuals required to be sworn in who are currently present at City Hall will be sworn
in by me, the City Clerk, immediately after I finish explaining these procedures. Those
individuals who are appearing remotely may be sworn in now or at any time prior to the
individual providing testimony for Planning and Zoning items and/or quasi-judicial items.
Pursuant to Emergency Ordinance Number 13903, those individuals appearing remotely may
be sworn in at their location by an individual qualified to administer the oath. After you are
sworn in, please be sure to complete, sign, and notarize the affidavit provided to you by the
City Attorney's Office. Each individual who will provide testimony must be sworn in and
execute an affidavit. Please email a scanned version of the signed affidavit to the City Clerk at
thannon@miamigov.com prior to providing testimony on the Planning and Zoning item and/or
quasi-judicial item. The affidavit shall be included in the record for the relevant item for which
you will be providing testimony. Chair, there is no one in the Chambers to be sworn in, so we
may proceed.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
[Later...]
Chair Hardemon: And are there any withdrawals, continuances, or deferrals that the
Administration would like us to consider?
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Arthur Noriega (City Manager): Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice Chair,
Commissioners, Madam City Attorney, and Mr. City Clerk. At this time, the Administration
would like to defer and/or withdraw the following items: To be withdrawn, PH.3; to be
withdrawn, RE.4; to be deferred to the November 19th meeting, DI.3; to deferred to the
November 19th meeting, PZ.4; and to be deferred to the November 19th meeting, PZ.5. That
concludes the items.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioners, are there any items that you would like to continue,
withdraw, or defer?
Commissioner Reyes: Could you hold on a second, Mr. Chairman? Let me check because -- DI
(Discussion) --
Chair Hardemon: Absolutely.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Reyes: DI3 is being deferred, right? D13, yes.
Chair Hardemon: DI.3 is being deferred, yes. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) being deferred.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Russell, go ahead.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is this your last meeting with us today?
Chair Hardemon: I don't think so. I think we have all kinds of meetings. You know, we're still
scheduled, not as bad as the County.
Vice Chair Russell: I keep wanting to, you know, not celebrate that you're leaving, but to
celebrate with you that you're here with us.
Chair Hardemon: I appreciate it.
Vice Chair Russell: We'll celebrate each one of them. All right. I'd like to be noted as a
cosponsor on PZs (Planning and Zoning) 10 and 11 please. And if appropriate now, I'd like to
enter a pocket item. But no, I do not have any deferrals, withdrawals, or continuances.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. We're going to handle the withdrawals, deferrals, and continuances,
and then we'll go --
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, you're recognized, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: I would like to be a cosponsor of RE. 6.
Chair Hardemon: Wonderful. Any other continuance, withdrawals, or referrals? Mr. Hannon,
you're recognized.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Thank you, Chair. If I may, there are number of cosponsor
requests. For CA.4, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner Carollo, and
Commissioner Reyes would like to be cosponsors of CA.4. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla
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would like to he a cosponsor for SR.1, SR.2, and SR.3. And Commissioner Carollo would like
to be a cosponsor for PZ.10 and PZ.11. Thank you, Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Is there a motion to -- in accordance with the request for
continuances, withdrawals, and deferrals?
Vice Chair Russell: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by the Chair. Seeing no further discussion regarding the issue, all
in favor, say "aye.
le
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries
[Later...]
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And then also, Mr. Chair, if I may, before you go to public
comment, I want to be listed as a cosponsor on FR.4 please.
Chair Hardemon: Noted for the record.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ALL ITEM(S)
8086 DISCUSSION ITEM
Office of the City
Clerk
PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED ONLINE BY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC FOR THE OCTOBER 22, 2020 VIRTUAL CITY COMMISSION
MEETING.
RESULT: PRESENTED
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Let's open up the floor for public comment, live -- those who
are live at City Hall. Is there anyone live at City Hall?
Israel Vasquez (Web Developer II, Information and Technology Department): Yes, we
have two. They'll be on shortly.
Adriana Oliva: Hi, everyone. My name is Adriana Oliva. 3545 Southwest 3rd Avenue.
And I'm the community liaison for the Wynwood Norte -- the Wynwood Community
Enhancement Association. It's a pleasure to be here to speak to the Commission in
support of the Wynwood Norte Neighborhood Revitalization District NRD-2, Items
PZ.6, 7, and 8 on today's agenda. The Wynwood CEA (Community Enhancement
Association) mission is to provide a unified voice for neighborhood improvement and
enhancing the quality of life of current and future residents. The association is
comprised of residents, property owners, business owners, and community -based
organizations reflective of the diversity in Wynwood Norte. And we have continued to
expand the ways in which we reach out to people in both English and Spanish. We
have worked closely with community -based organizations active in Wynwood,
including the De Hostos Senior Center, the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, the
Bake House Art Complex, and Mission San Juan Bautista, just to name a few. We're
so appreciative to be at City Hall last November when the City Commission passed a
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resolution recognizing the Wynwood Norte community vision plan and directing the
City Administration to study the implementation of the vision plan. After many
productive workshops, focus groups, a town hall event in June, and hosting several
additional presentations from the Planning Department over the past year, the
Wynwood CEA board in September passed a resolution in support of the Wynwood
NRD-2 legislation, which is consistent in fiirthering the goals in the community vision
plan to support community reinvestment, facilitate much needed new housing, and
creating economic opportunities for small businesses and local residents. The
community input and support has been incredible. There are approximately 75 letters
of support submitted to the City and included in your backup materials today. And
countless other residents and community, stakeholders have spoken in support at the
Planning and Zoning Appeals Board, which recommended approval earlier this
month. You may hear from a number of community stakeholders today as well. I want
to express our gratitude to Chairman Hardemon, our district Commissioner, also to
Mr. McQueen, Natalie, and the entire District 5 staff who have been so supportive
and helpful in working with us on community initiatives over the past two years. We
would not be here today without your support. Thank you, City Commissioners, Jro
your support of the Wynwood Norte Neighborhood Revitalization District. We look
forward to continuing working together. Have a great clay.
Keon Williams: Hi. Good morning. My name is Keon Williams, 1235 Northwest 52nd
Street, Miami, Florida. I'm here this morning as a business owner in the Overtown
community speaking out against the agenda item FR.4. This is something that I've
spoken with my Commissioner -- Chairman Hardemon's chief of staff with yesterday
in regards to it. We recognize that as a business that operates in the historic
Overtown neighborhood, around us is a lot of residential properties and residents.
But as far as our business goes, this will severely put us at a disadvantage in terms of
us being able to operate. In the historic Overtown neighborhood, you know, on an
average, we employ eight employees at a minimum of $15 an hour. This is something
that we have embraced at the leadership of the City of Miami, particularly our
Chairman, asking for folks to improve the quality of life, and this is something that
we've done. And so this item here, which is restricting all types of noises that are
being made coming from, you know, some of the low speakers that we have out there
is going to be very problematic for us. To give you an example of some things, you
know, you can have a hundred people gathered at our venue with no music playing
and it will exceed this noise ordinance that is being talked about here today, just with
people talking, with no music. And so, I'm here on behalf of many, of the businesses
that are also in the neighborhood. I expect that if this should go forth to a seconding
read, many more of us will be here. I'm just here today because I was able to get over
here quickly enough, but I thought it was important that you Commissioners see my
face and hear from the members of the Overtown community because this is
something that we believe is going to be very disruptive to the business models that we
have there. We are one of the few businesses that actually care about our neighbors.
We have a close working relationship with them. And so I just want to make sure that
this item recognizes that it does have people speaking out against it because of what
it's actually going to do to us who are trying to revive the neighborhood. I want to
thank my Chairman, Keon Hardemon, who is our district Commissioner, for your
leadership. I ask that this item is not moved forward because of what it does to the
businesses in our neighborhood. Thank you for your time, Commissioners. Have a
good day.
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, sir.
Mr. Vasquez: We'll go to Call Taker 1. Call Taker 1, go ahead.
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Unidentified Speaker: Go ahead, caller. You are live with the City Commission. You
may speak now.
Christian Noffra: Good morning. My name is Christian Noffra, and I'm a homeowner
at 105 Northwest 31st Street in Wynwood. I'm calling to ask the City Commission to
support the Wynwood Norte Neighborhood Revitalization District on today's agenda,
Items PZ.6, PZ.7, and PZ.8. I love this neighborhood, and you can walk from my
house to Midtown or the Wynwood Art District. And Downtown and the airport's just
a quick Uber ride away. I know a lot of residents that live here don 't even need a car.
But I'll tell you that this neighborhood faces a lot of challenges. A lot of old
residential buildings have been torn down. Many families and small businesses have
left the neighborhood, and more vacant lots keep popping up, but no new buildings to
replace the old ones or new houses. This has been going on for a while, and it's partly
because of the current zoning in place. It doesn't just make sense for this
neighborhood. This NRD-2 could change that. It's going to allow for sensible
development at three or four stories, new housing that people in the neighborhood
can afford. And at the same time it keeps the neighborhood's feel. I think that it would
be really nice to see this happen in the neighborhood. And this won't happen
overnight obviously, but it's an important step in the right direction. I want to thank
Commissioner Hardemon and his staff for working with the community. And thank
you to all the Commissioners for supporting the Wynwood Norte Neighborhood
Revitalization District. Thank you.
Mr. Vasquez: Call Taker 2, go ahead.
Unidentified Speaker: Sir, go ahead. You're live with the Commission.
Bill Fuller: Hello?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, sir, go ahead. You're live with the Commission.
Mr. Fuller: Yes, hi. Good morning. This is Bill Fuller, Little Havana, 1637 Southwest
8th Street, Suite 200. I'm speaking about two legislations proposed this morning. Joe,
consistent with history, you continue to disregard your ethical obligation as a
commissioner. At this point I can only imagine the torment you must be facing.
Instead of listening to the federal magistrate when he asked you to refrain from
activities of attacking and targeting our businesses, you continue down the track as a
runaway train dragging with you City employees and other public officials in your
web of deceit, corruption, and childish retribution. Just two weeks ago, you made a
well -documented false complaint with Code Enforcement against our business. And
nobody forgets the past when you and the Code Enforcement Board chair were caught
on video at 9:00 pm on a weekday asking neighbors behind Ball & Chain to file
complaints against us. You owe it to your peers, your subordinates, and the City
employees to explain clearly in federal -- what has happened in federal court, that you
have lost -- I say lost your diplomatic immunity. Your attorneys fought hard to protect
you and even appealed to the higher court, and you still lost. You lost your right to be
protected because your actions are deeply personal and have nothing to do with your
office. Since you selfishly, haven't explained it to everyone, I will. Your commissioner
thought that his office protected him from redirecting millions of dollars of taxpayer
money to target the businesses of one individual. He believes it is right as a
commissioner to mobilize Police, Code, Legal, and Building officials to inflict harm
on an individual and his businesses. Meanwhile, he exposes any and all employees to
similar personal exposure if they assist him in his actions. And lastly, he believes his
office, with the help of other commissioners, can change the legislation to exact
revenge. The other commissioners of this board should realize how Joe is
manipulating you and the system to get what he wants. Today you will consider
changing law without any citizens or businesses asking you to do so. It is just Joe and
only Joe you will be doing this, for. (INAUDIBLE)
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Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Mr. Fuller. Mr. Fuller, your two minutes have expired.
Mr. Fuller: (INAUDIBLE) you will be changing the law to fairther bully
(INAUDIBLE) --
Mr. Vasquez: Call Taker 3, go ahead.
Unidentified Speaker: Hello, sir. You are live with the Commission. Please speak.
Jamil Lacourt: Am 1 ready to go?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, sir. You are live with the Commission. Go ahead and
speak.
Mr. Lacourt: Great, thank you. Good morning, Chair, Vice Chair, and
Commissioners. My name is Jamil Lacourt, and I am an employee of L&L Holdings
with an address at 142 West 57th Street, New York, New York, 10019. We're speaking
today in support of Items PZ.6, 7, and 8. L&L has recently invested in the Wynwood
Norte neighborhood, and we are planning a development project which includes over
an acre of landscape outdoor space open to the public at all times. We are extremely
excited about the community driven process in developing this new legislation and in
particular its incentives for affordable housing, community gardens, and especially
the pedestrian oriented development. Thank you for your support today and have a
wonderful day. Thank you very much.
Mr. Vasquez: Call Taker 1, go ahead.
Unidentified Speaker: Go ahead, ma'am. You are live with City Commission. Hello?
Camelia Rojas: I'm sorry. Hi there. I'm Camelia Rojas. I'm on 3411 Northwest 1st
Avenue. And I'd like to say that the package that's been presented to everyone is a
pretty picture, but it honestly isn't going to work out for the residents out here,
especially with the long-time owners. We have drainage problems that the streets are
obviously flooding still, and they haven't been addressed. The jobs -- honestly, I
haven't seen any residents working in Midtown, and we've been waiting for that for
years. I've been denied as well. And I just want to -- you know? -- talk about -- think
about this and how everyone -- the residents will be displaced from the neighborhood.
That's all.
Mr. Vasquez: Call Taker 2, go ahead. Call Taker 2, you may go ahead. Call Taker 3,
you may go.
Unidentified Speaker: Hello, sir. You are live with the Commission. Please speak.
David Polinsky: Yes, I'm here.
Unidentified Speaker: Hello?
Mr. Polinsky: Yes, I'm here.
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, sir. You are live with the Commission. Please speak.
Mr. Polinsky: Okay. My name is Dr. David Polinsky -- go ahead? Yes. My name is
Dr. David Polinsky; address 1040 Biscayne Boulevard. Okay, thank you. My name is
Dr. David Polinsky; address 1040 Biscayne Boulevard, Apartment 3202, Miami,
Florida, 33132. I'm a co-founder of the Wynwood BID (Business Improvement
District), a small-scale developer, and community organizer. I'm speaking in support
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
of FR.2, PZ.17 and 18, which comprise the Wynwood Streetscape Master Plan and
NRD amendments. These legislative items are the result of a community inspired
process that adds streets and other pedestrian -oriented improvements.
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Mr. Polinsky: Can you hear me?
Unidentified Speaker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Polinsky: You're cutting in and out.
Unidentified Speaker: Hello, sir. Please continue.
Mr. Polinsky: Okay, thank you. Thank you, okay. These legislative items are the result
of a community inspired process to add street trees and other pedestrian oriented
improvements to what is today a sundrenched neighborhood with broken streets.
These improvements will be paid for by the developers and the Wynwood BID who
will benefit most from them. The program also includes innovative ideas for
incentivizing development of affordable housing as well as studios and one bedrooms,
which are more attainable for young people. Lastly, I wanted to express our
appreciation and support for the work done by Chairman Hardemon over the past
four years in support of community develop for all the residents, employees, and
visitors to Wynwood. If newly elected to County Commission, we look forward to your
continuing support for the city of Miami. Thanks so much.
Mr. Vasquez: Call Taker 1, go ahead.
Unidentified Speaker: Caller, you're on live with Miami City Commission. You may
speak now.
Ralph Polinsky: Okay. Well, hello everyone today. My name is Ralph Polinsky, and
my address is at 127 Northwest 33rd Street. And I'm speaking today because I want to
give my full and absolute support of the Wynwood Norte neighborhood and the entire
revitalization district, particularly Items PZ.6, PZ.7, and PZ.8. As a property owner
for many years in this neighborhood, I participated in multiple, multiple community
meetings that affects the zoning changes that we're here for today. And there's been
many of these community meetings and workshops that I've been to and that the BID
conducted over the past two years that have engaged many residents, property
owners, and business owners in the neighborhood. I found that everyone in the
neighborhood has been invited and welcomed to attend in both Spanish and English.
And there's always been new people at each one of these meetings in attendance. It's
been very inspiring thus far to see the community work together around this common
vision to shape Wynwood Norte's' future. But I think it's going to benefit all
stakeholders here. And "just want to thank all the commissioners for your support for
Wynwood Norte NRD-2. And thank you very much for the opportunity to speak in
front of you today.
Mr. Vasquez: Call Taker 2, go ahead.
Unidentified Speaker: Sir, go ahead. You're live with Commission.
Eric Rudder: Hi. Good morning, everybody, and happy belated birthday to
Commissioner Hardemon. My name is Eric Rudder, and I'm the co-founder of Carpe
Real Estate Partners with David Weitz. My address is 240 Northwest 25th Street,
Miami, Florida, 33137, right there in the heart of Wynwood. I'm calling today to
speak on -- in .favor of PZ.6 and 7 and 8, and also, PZ.17 and 18. I believe that the
Wynwood NRD-1 amendments are really a phenomenal thing to address. As you guys
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may know, our project in Wynwood, the Oasis, has a heavy, focus on landscaping. And
one of the beautiful things that the NRD-1 legislation is that it's really focused on
landscaping and streetscaping and making Wynwood have a more pleasant
experience for the pedestrian. Wynwood Norte NRD-2 similarly is really focused on
the character of the neighborhood and ultimately focused on community. What I love
about both of these NRD legislation movements is that they're focused first and
foremost on making people live -- allowing people to live better lives in Wynwood and
Wynwood Norte today. I have full support for both of these. Thank you very much.
Mr. Vasquez: Call Taker 3, go ahead.
Unidentified Speaker: Hello, sir. You are live with the Commission. Please speak.
Albert Garcia: Good morning, Mr. Chairman, Vice Chair, and honorable
Commissioners. Thank you Jbr the opportunity to speak today. My name is Albert
Garcia, 50 Northwest 24th Street, Miami, Florida. I'm the chairman and cofounder
of the Wynwood Business Improvement District. Our 50 city block arts district is
united in respectfully asking that you vote yes on agenda items FR.2, PZ.17, and
PZ.18 during today's meeting. By approving these ordinances, you will allow our
community to implement a new Wynwood Streetscape Master Plan that would be the
first of its kind in the United States. The implementation of this new plan will further
enhance the pedestrian experience and quality of life of our residents, area
employees, and millions of annual visitors. This will be new pedestrian friendly
streets, public green spaces, widened sidewalks, protected bicycle lanes, and district -
wide signage to help guide pedestrians and motorists throughout the area. This will
all be at zero cost to city of Miami taxpayers as the Wynwood BID and our
commercial property owners will be funding the construction and maintenance of
these new improvements. Our community appreciates the hard work and effort of the
Miami Planning Department and design firm ArquitectonicaGEO for collaborating
over the last 24 months with us to create this remarkable plan. Lastly, I'd like to take
this opportunity to convey Wvnwood's gratitude to outgoing Chairman Keon
Hardemon, our District 5 Commissioner, and Miami Planning Director, Francisco
Garcia, for their many years of public service and leadership at the City. You have
both played an integral role in helping transform Wynwood into the diverse, inclusive,
and creative global destination that it is today. We're proud of what we have
accomplished together and sincerely wish you both the very best in your next
endeavors. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and to each of our five commissioners for your
continued support and leadership during these unprecedented times. Please stay safe
and healthy.
Mr. Vasquez: That is all for live public comments.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Let's move to recorded public comments.
Aaron Stauber: Hello. My name is Aaron Stauber, and my address is 10155 Collins
Avenue, Bal Harbour, Florida. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I am
speaking in favor of Item Number SR.3, which is an ordinance that will greatly
strengthen the City's ability to protect our canals, rivers, and the Biscayne Bay from
significant pollution that is being caused by runoff from development sites. Biscayne
Bay is literally standing on an environmental cliff: Massive seagrass die -offs, .fish
kills, and algae blooms are vivid demonstration that the bay simply cannot withstand
additional pollution inputs. That includes those coming from construction runoff.
These pollutants are entering our waterways through the stormwater system. They are
directly responsible for the decrease in available oxygen levels in the bay and result
in water quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly and
effectively to address construction site pollution and hold violators truly accountable
for the harm that they are causing. The existing ordinances as written simply do not
work. I'rn in favor of this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water
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quality. And I encourage this Commission to pass this measure on second reading
today. Thank you very, much.
Kendall Young: My name is Kendall Young, and my address is 2101 Brickell Ave.
Thank you for the opportunity today to comment. I'd like to speak in favor of Item
Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point. It simply cannot
withstand additional pollutant inputs, including those from construction sediment,
debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our waterways through stormwater
systems and can harm our seagrasses, can decrease available oxygen levels in the
bay, and can result in water quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to
act quickly to address construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm
in favor of this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality. And I
encourage the Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Leah Hough: Hi, there. My name is Leah Hough. I live at 200 Galen Drive,
Apartment 114, Key Biscayne. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I am calling
to speak in behalf of -- to be in favor of Item Number SR.3. Key -- or excuse me,
Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional
pollution input, including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt.
They can enter our waterways through the stormwater systems and can harm our
seagrasses. They can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay for marine life. They
can also result in water quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act
quickly to address construction site pollution and hold those folks that are violators
accountable. 1 am in favor of this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and
water quality. And 1 encourage this Commission to pass the measure on second
reading today. Thank you.
Dolores Gutierrez: My name is Dolores (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Gutierrez. My address
is 150 Southeast 25th Road, Apartment 15G, Miami, Florida, 33129. Thank you for
the opportunity to comment today. I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3.
Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional
pollution inputs, including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt.
These pollutants can enter our waterways through the stormwater system and can
harm our seagrass, can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in
water quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this
ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality. And I encourage the
Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you. Dolores
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) Gutierrez.
Damaris Martinez: My name is Damaris Martinez. My address is 150 Southeast 25th
Road, Apartment 9C, Miami, Florida, 33129. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment today. I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is
at an ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs,
including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants
can enter our waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our
seagrasses, can decrease available oxygen levels in the bav, and can result in water
quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. I am in favor of this
ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality and encourage this
Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Cathy Leff: My name is Cathy Leff, and I am acting director of the Bakehouse Art
Complex, 561 Northwest 32nd Street. Thank you for the opportunity to appear today
to enthusiastically support the creation of the Wynwood Norte Neighborhood
Revitalization District, PZ items 6, 7, and 8. Bakehouse is a not -for -profit, IRS
(Internal Revenue Service) recognized charitable entity that was created in part with
City funding in the mid-1980s to provide permanent and affordable working spaces
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for artists and to engage positively with the community. Today, we're Miami's oldest
and largest artist organization with more than 100 working artists deriving from
diverse backgrounds. They receive studio residencies and infrastructure with the aim
of developing their practices and achieving self-sufficiency. We provide a broad
range of free cultural and educational programs for the immediate and extended
communities. We were so grateful when in November 2019, you unanimously directed
the Planning Department to work with us to develop the tools for the implementation
of our community vision plan for Wynwood Norte. We were so honored to have been
part of a participatory and inclusive community driven process and how the
community and City staff came together to develop what is before you today. We
believe the proposed NRD-2 provides a balanced approach to zoning and also
recognizes the existing and long-standing community assets and character of the
neighborhood. It provides opportunities to not only protect our residents from
displacement, but also to add affordable -- a significant number of affordable and
workforce housing to the neighborhood. Between the not -for -profit and publicly -
owned properties, we can help address the City's affordable housing needs while
building an economically viable neighborhood anchored by an array of existing
cultural, educational, social, and recreational assets. As Miami artists struggle to
afford to remain and survive in the City, our board is committed to working with the
City and other neighborhood stakeholders to use the underutilized portion of our 2.3
acre campus to add affordable and workforce housing to our site, renovate Bakehouse
for better artmaking practices today, and investing in expanded opportunities to serve
the neighborhood. 1 want to thank Commissioner Hardemon for his leadership in
sponsoring the proposed legislation and encourage you to support him today. Thank
you.
Silvia Agostini: Good afternoon. My name is Silvia Agostini. My address is 1812
Northwest 15th Street, Miami, Florida, 33125. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment today. I'd like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. I think Biscayne Bay
is at an ecological tipping point. It can't withstand the additional pollution inputs,
that includes from construction sediment, debris, trash, silt, et cetera. These
pollutants can enter our waterways through stormwater systems and can harm our
seagrasses, decrease oxygen levels in the bay, and result in overall water decline.
This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction site
pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this ordinance as a measure
to protect our bay and water quality, and I encourage this Commission to pass this
measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Andrea Iglesias: Good afternoon. My name is Andrea Iglesias, resident at 8630
Southwest 42nd Terrace, Miami, Florida, 33155. And I am the CEO (Chief Executive
Officer) and executive director for Urban Health Partnership, here to speak on
Agenda Item RE.7, 8023, regarding the Little Havana pedestrian priority zone. First,
I want to thank Commissioner Carollo for sponsoring this important resolution in
support of the Little Havana community. Urban Health Partnership is a nonprofit
focused on improving health, wellbeing, and equity in our underserved communities
in Miami and in the region. We worked in Little Havana for over six years, partnering
directly with thousands of residents and local stakeholders to improve Little Havana's
streets and public spaces to make them safer, healthier, and more accessible. And
throughout this time, we've worked with residents and Healthy Little Havana
community liaisons to conduct walking assessments, surveys, and other engagements
to identify areas of need and also identify high -impact solutions, including as a
partner in the Little Havana priority zones project. The need for having safe
pedestrian facilities, especially around schools and parks, have come up over and
over again as a resident concern. The Little Havana priority zone specifically
addresses these concerns while also promoting meaningful benefits, such as increased
safety, improved walkability, helping to address health disparities, and improve
access to opportunity for Little Havana residents. Urban Health Partnership is in full
support of the Little Havana priority zone. Thank you.
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Benjamin Blanco: My name is Captain Benjamin Blanco, and my address is 17131
Southwest 85 Avenue, in Palmetto Bay. And while 1 am not a direct resident of the city
of Miami, my livelihood absolutely depends on the health of Biscayne Bay. What's
more, I'm calling on behalf of the multibillion -dollar fishing and tourism industry in
the state of Florida whose foundation is inextricably connected to the health of the
bay and our waterways. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Today, I would
like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3, Second Reading 3. Biscayne Bay is at an
ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollutant inputs,
including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants
can enter our waterways through stormwater systems and will absolutely harm our
seagrasses, will decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and will result in --
further result in water quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act
quickly to address construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. I am in
favor of. this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality. And I
encourage this Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. What's
more, look at this as an investment in our economic future and a small step towards
the legacy we're going to leave behind. The decisions we make, including this one
today, will absolutely determine what is left here for our grandchildren to enjoy.
Thank you for the opportunity to read today and I appreciate your time.
Blanche Back: My name is Blanche Back. My address is 150 Southeast 25th Road,
Brickell Biscayne Condominium. And 1 would like to speak in favor of Item Number
SR.3. Biscayne Bay must be preserved. Thank you.
Pedro Da Silva: Hello. My name is Pedro Da Silva. I live on 570 Northeast 53rd
Street, in Miami, Florida, 33137. And I support for the NRD-2 proposal for Wynwood
Norte. I've been in Wynwood Norte for the past five years, and I've seen the
neighborhood declining, less people, more drugs, and many rundown and abandoned
houses. So, I think we need to do something with this neighborhood. And this NRD
and zoning change proposal I think is a great idea. It's well designed. It increases the
density so we can bring more people. It also expands the commercial area, which will
be a future need for the neighborhood, and it will allow it to grow. And I think it's
done in a responsible way. It's very well designed, and I think it will really help the
neighborhood. So, I hope it gets approved and thank you very much.
Yoni Bornstein: Yoni Bornstein, president of the Wynwood Community Enhancement
Association. I'm standing in front of one of our properties at 3200 Northwest 2nd
Avenue. I'rn in full strong support of the NRD-2, PZ Item Number 6, 7, and 8. I
wanted to come right here to the 50-yard line to show you guys some context of main
street. This is the main artery of Wynwood Norte and it's completely dead. You have
vacant properties over here. You have chain -link fences over here. You have
unwalkable sidewalks, empty streets. We got to bring main street back to life. NRD-2
is going to help us do that. It's going to help us bring foot traffic back into the
community. It's going to help give small businessowners an opportunity. And there's
so much positivity that's going to come out of NRD-2. For all those reasons, we're in
such strong support of it. Thank you to the Planning Department. Thank you to
Commissioner Hardenion for being such a strong advocate of this neighborhood.
NRD-2, guys, Wynwood Norte, let's get it done. Thank you.
Alana Morarski: Hi. My name is Alana Morarski. My address is 1300 Brickell Bay
Drive, Unit 3401, Miami, Florida, 33131. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Today, I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an
ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs,
including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt, and for that
matter, fecal runoff These pollutants can enter our waterways through stormwater
systems and harm our seagrasses, can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay,
resulting in water quality decline, fish kills, and algae blooms. This ordinance would
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permit the City to act quickly and swiftly to address construction site pollution and
hold violators accountable. I am quite obviously in favor of this ordinance, as you
should be, as a measure to protect our hay and water quality. And I encourage your
Commission to pass this measure on its second reading today. Thank you and do the
right thing.
Camila: My name is Camila (INAUDIBLE), and my address is 9901 East Bay Harbor
Drive, Bay Harbor Islands, Florida 33154. Today, I would like to speak in favor of
Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point. It simply cannot
withstand additional pollution inputs, including those from construction sediment,
debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our waterways through the
stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, can decrease available oxygen
levels in the bay, and can result in water quality decline. This ordinance would permit
the City to act quickly to address construction site pollution and hold violators
accountable. 1 am in favor of this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and
water quality, and I encourage this Commission to pass this measure on second
reading today. Thank you.
Alexandria Blake: Hello. My name is Alexandria Blake, and I am a Miami resident in
the Brickell area. I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. This ordinance
would allow quick response from the City for construction site pollution and hold
violators accountable. I am completely in favor of this ordinance and ask for the
Commission to be as well. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point. It wouldn't
be able to sustain additional pollutants, especially those from construction sediment,
debris, trash, and silt. From the introduction of these pollutants from stormwater
systems, they negatively impact our seagrasses. This impacts the oxygen
concentration and will decrease water quality. Again, 1 ask the Commission to vote in
favor of the ordinance during the second reading. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment.
Beverly Steinbook: My name is Beverly Steinbook, and my address is 150 Southeast
25th Road, Apartment 3F, Miami, Florida, 33129. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment. Today, I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is
at an ecological tipping point. It can -- simply cannot withstand additional pollution
inputs, including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These
pollutants can enter our waterways through our stormwater system and can harm our
seagrasses, can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water
quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. I am in favor of this
ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality, and I encourage this
Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Michelle Baptist: Hello. My name is Michelle Baptist, and my address is 2140
Southwest 3rd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33129. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment. Today, I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is
at an ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs,
including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants
can enter our waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our
seagrasses, can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water
quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. I am in favor of this
ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality. And I encourage this
Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you again for your
time.
Crystal Wade: Hi. My name is Crystal Wade, and I am at 3212 Northwest 2nd
Avenue. I am in strong support of NRD-2. I've worked in and around Wynwood for
the last two to three years, and I am currently looking to shorten my commute and
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move closer to where I work. I have been looking for a safe neighborhood, a
neighborhood that is affordable, and also a place where 1 can find some beautiful
parks to enjoy just time with my family. Hopefully, if NRD-2 passes, that would be a
reality because it absolutely has been one of the things that I've been focusing on, so
thank you so very much.
Unidentified Speaker: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
Mr. Da Silva: Hello. My name is Pedro Da Silva. I live on 570 Northeast 53rd Street,
in Miami, Florida 33137. I am sending this video to express my support for the NRD-
2.
Bianca Ryles: Hello. My name is Bianca Ryles, and I live at 815 Northeast 70th
Street, Miami, Florida, 33138. Thank you so much for listening to my comment.
Today, I would like to speak on agenda Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an
ecological tipping point. It really cannot withstand any additional pollution inputs,
including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants
can enter our waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our
seagrasses, can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water
quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm absolutely in favor of
this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality. And I encourage
this Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Rose McDonald: Good afternoon. My name is Rose McDonald, and my address is
415 Southwest 19th Road, Miami, Florida 33129. Today, 1 would like to speak in
favor of Item Number SR.3, in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an
ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs,
including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants
enter our waterways through the stormwater systems and harm our seagrasses. They
also decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, resulting in the quality decline and
all the fish kills that we have been seeing. This ordinance would permit the City to act
quickly to address construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. I am in
favor of this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality overall. And
I encourage this Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank
you so much for your time.
Rebecca Kravitz: Hi. My name is Rebecca Kravitz (phonetic), and my address is 2700
Southwest 27th Avenue. at 42 Northwest 35 Street Miami, Florida. Thank you for the
opportunity to comment. I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne
Bay is at an ecological tipping point. It cannot withstand additional pollution inputs,
including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants
can enter our waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our seagrass,
can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water quality
decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction
site pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this ordinance as a
measure to protect our bay, our water quality, and I encourage this Commission to
pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Ruby Mendez: My name is Ruby Mendez. I live at 42 Northwest 35 Street, Miami,
Florida. I live in this community for 35 years, and we support the NRD-2 because it's
going to be affordable for us, like housing, stores, prevent crime and a lot of things
that we need to be done in this neighborhood.
Alexis Mendez: Hello. My name is Alexis Mendez, and my address is 3051 Center
Street, Miami, Florida. Thanks for the opportunity to comment. I would like to speak
in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point. It can't
withstand additional pollution inputs from construction sediment, debris, trash, and
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silt. These pollutants can enter our waterways through the stormwater system and can
harm our seagrasses, decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and result in water
quality decline. The ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this
ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality, and I encourage this
Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Anna Beck: Yes. My name is Anna Beck. I live at 150 Southeast 25 Road, Miami,
Florida, 33129. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Today, I would like to
speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point. It
simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs, including those from
construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our
waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, can
decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water quality decline.
This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction site
pollution and hold violators accountable. I am in favor of this ordinance as a measure
to protect our bay and water quality, and I encourage this Commission to pass this
measure on its second reading today. Thank you.
Adrian Di Fazio: Hello. My name is Adrian Di Fazio, and my address is 8535
Southwest 160th Street, Palmetto Bay, Florida, 33157. Thank you for the opportunity
to comment today. I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay
is at an ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution
inputs, including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These
pollutants can enter our waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our
seagrass and decrease the available oxygen levels in the bay and can result in water
quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold visitors accountable. I am in favor of this
ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality, and I encourage this
Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you. Also, I would
like to say that Biscayne Bay is everything to Miami. And without clean water,
tourism drops and everything. Guides will lose business, and I'm hoping to one day
be a guide. So, please, please continue to help the bay and restore what we once had.
Thank you.
Sydney: My name is Sydney (INAUDIBLE), and my address is 2263 Southwest 37th
Avenue. Thank you for the opportunity to comment today. I would like to speak in
favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point. It simply
cannot withstand additional pollution inputs, and that includes sediment from
construction, debris, trash, and silt. All of these pollutants can enter our waterways
through the stormwater system and can eventually harm our seagrasses and decrease
available oxygen levels in the bay, which overall would result in water quality
decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction
site pollution as well as hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this ordinance
being passed as a measure to protect our bay as well as the water quality. And I
highly encourage this Commission to pass the measure on second reading today.
Thank you.
Morgan: Hi. My name is Morgan (INAUDIBLE), and my address is 1200 Brickell Bay
Drive, 2024, Miami, Florida, 33131. Thank you fbr the opportunity to comment.
Today, I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an
ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs,
including those from construction, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter
our waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, can
decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water quality decline.
This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction site
pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this ordinance as a measure
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to protect our hay and our water quality. And I encourage this Commission to pass
this measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Tonias Delgado: My name is Tomas Delgado (phonetic). I'm one of the members of
the board of 23 Biscayne Bav Condominium Association. Also, I work at Northeast
22nd Street, right next to the area discussed in this agenda. I am doing this video to
show my 100 percent support to Island Bay street closure. I reviewed the proposed
floor plans and the rendering, and I think this project will improve this area a lot.
Also, this area has a lot of new construction. There are still some place with existing
building that have no sidewalk and lack of light. And this creates some insecure and
dangerous area for people who live in this area. I think that Island Bay proposed plan
with all -new sidewalks along the entire project that will end at the bay will create an
amazing area for people like me that like to enjoy the bay during lunchtime or after
work. Island Bay will change the lifestyle appeal and experience in the neighborhood.
1 love the idea of the plaza between (INAUDIBLE) and Island Bay. 1 think Edgewater
is a great neighborhood that will be improved a lot with all of these new public
spaces. I think it's a wonderfiil idea.
Alessa Zarias Rush: Hi. My name is Alessa Zarias Rush (phonetic). My address is 660
South Shore Drive, Miami Beach, Florida, 33141. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment. Today, I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is
at an ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs,
including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants
can enter our waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our
seagrasses, can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water
quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. 1 am in favor of this
ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality, and I encourage this
Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you very much.
Alex: Hello. My name is Alex (INAUDIBLE), and my address is 3339 Virginia Street,
Miami, Florida, 33133. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Today, I would
like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bav is absolutely at an
ecological tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs,
including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants
can enter our waterways through stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses,
decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and result in overall water quality
decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction
site pollution and hold violators accountable. I am fully in favor of this ordinance as a
measure to protect our bay. I'm one of very few guys who was lucky enough to grow
up on the water in Miami. And watching it just in my lifetime -- I'm only 25 --
watching the bay water quality go down just in my lifetime has been truly saddening,
and I hope that we can do something to at least get back on the right track. Thanks.
Casey Dresbach: Hello. My name is Casey Dresbach, and my address is 2103 Coral
Way, Miami Florida. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Today, I would like
to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Our bay is at an ecological tipping point and
simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs, including those from
construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our
waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, can
decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water quality decline.
This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction site
pollution and hold violators accountable. I am in favor of this ordinance as a measure
to protect our bay and water quality, and I encourage this Commission to pass this
measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Annie Hoffinan: Hi. My name is Annie Hoffman. My address is 2650 Southwest 33rd
Avenue, and my zip code is 33133. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I'd like
City of Miami
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point
and cannot withstand additional pollution inputs, including those from construction
sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our waterways through
the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, and decrease available oxygen
levels in the hay, resulting in water quality decline. This ordinance would permit the
City to act quickly to address construction site pollution and hold violators
accountable. I am in favor of this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and
water quality, and I encourage this Commission to pass this measure on second
reading today. Thank you so much.
Daniel: Hi, good afternoon. My name is Daniel (INAUDIBLE), and my address is 145
Southwest 13th Street, in Miami. So thank you so much for the opportunity to
comment today. I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is
at the point where it cannot withstand any more pollutional [sic] inputs, especially
including inputs from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants
can enter our waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our
seagrasses, which can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in
water quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and would also hold violators accountable. I'm strongly in
favor of this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality, and I really
encourage this Commission to pass the measure on the second reading today. Thank
you very much. Have a great day.
Mauricio Espina: Hello. My name is Mauricio Espina (phonetic), and I'm here to
support the street closure and the vacation application for the Island Bay project.
After reviewing the applicant's proposal, I can see that the street reorganization will
benefit the neighborhood. It will be an improvement for this neighborhood. On
Northeast 23rd Street, there will be a new access point for the bay, and on Northeast
23rd Terrace, there will be a sidewalk and currently' there is no sidewalk. The area is
currently kind of an eyesore, so it will benefit from the project. And the area -- the
project alone and the reorganization of the streets will create a more welcoming
environment and a safer area. For this and for many other reasons, I ask you to
support this application. Thank you.
Morgan Eason: Hi. My name is Morgan Eason (phonetic), and my address is 145
Southwest 13th Street in Miami. Thank you for the opportunity to comment today, and
I'd like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Since Biscayne Bay is at an ecological
tipping point, it can 't withstand additional pollution inputs, especially now during fish
kill and the -- it's including those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt.
The pollutants can enter the waterways through stormwater systems and harm our
seagrasses, and can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, which results in
water quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. So I'm in favor of this
ordinance as a measure to protect the bay and the water quality, and I encourage this
Commission to pass the measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Emily Yaeger: Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Emily
Yaeger, and my address is 285 Sunrise Drive, Key Biscayne. Today, I would like to
speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Currently, Biscayne Bay is at an ecological
tipping point. It cannot continue to withstand additional pollution inputs, including
those from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants enter our
waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses and coral
reefs, can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, leading to more fish kills, and
can result in water quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act
quickly to address construction site pollution affecting the bay and hold violators
accountable. I am in favor of this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and
water quality, and I encourage the Commission to pass this measure on second
reading today. Thank you so much for your time.
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Sophia: My name is Sophia (INAUDIBLE), and my, address is 145 Southwest l3th
Street, Miami, Florida 33130. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Today, I
would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological
tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs, including those
from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our
waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, can
decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water quality decline.
This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction site
pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this ordinance as a measure
to protect our bay and water quality, and 1 encourage this Commission to pass this
measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Marissa Murand: Hello. My name is Marissa Murand, and my address is 1200
Brickell Bay Drive. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Today, I would like to
speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point,
and it simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs, including those from
construction sediments, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our
waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, can
decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water quality decline.
This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address the construction site
pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this ordinance as a measure
to protect our bay and water quality, and 1 encourage this Commission to pass this
measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Jordan Beckson: My name is Jordan Beckson, and my address is 2115 Southwest 3rd
Avenue, Miami, Florida. Thank you for the opportunity to comment today. I would
like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping
point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs, including those from
construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our
waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, can
decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water quality decline.
This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction site
pollution and hold violators accountable. I am in favor of this ordinance as a measure
to protect our bay and water quality, and I encourage this Commission to pass this
measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Will Vasquez: Hello, everyone. My name is Will Vasquez, 3225 Northwest 3rd
Avenue, Miami, in Wynwood. I am speaking to the City Commission in support of the
Wynwood Norte Neighborhood Revitalization District. I grew up in Wynwood, been in
the neighborhood for over five decades. My father is in his 90s and still lives here
today. I'm a property owner and proud board member of the Wynwood Community
Enhancement Association. There's a Miami Herald article from 1985 referencing a
study from a City consultant that identified problems with parking and zoning
requirements in Wynwood and the decline that already started with local businesses
leaving, crime and drugs invading our neighborhood. Thirty-five years later, we have
did exactly what was predicted. The population has dwindled from 10,000 to 4,000
people. Few businesses have left, residential structures continue to be demolished,
more and more vacant lots and illegal dumping. This is happening today under
current zoning. In fact, while so much attention has been in the Wynwood warehouse
district, not one building has been constructed on 2nd Avenue since Miami 21 was
adopted. Finally, there is real progress. The Wynwood CEA has brought together
diverse stakeholders in the community, the homesteaders, the renters, and business
owners, all working together rolling up our sleeves with an action plan to improve
our neighborhood. The Wynwood Norte NRD-2 is about solutions for our
neighborhood. To be clear, no one is being kicked out. To the contrary, NRD-2 zoning
puts real protection in place, protection against overdevelopment and restrictions in
demolishing residential buildings. I want to thank Commissioner Keon Hardemon for
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
your commitment and support and thank you to all our great commissioners for
supporting the Wynwood Norte Neighborhood Revitalization District. Thank you.
Kelly Cox: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Kelly Cox. I ani the general
counsel at Miami Waterkeeper, a local nonprofit that's dedicated to defending and
protecting South Florida's water resources. Today, I'd like to speak in favor of Item
Number SR.3. This is an itein on second reading that would address construction
sediment and construction runoff inadvertantly getting into Biscayne Bay. You know,
Biscayne Bay is facing a number of pollution threats from septic and stormwater and
sewage leaks and many other things. But this is one that we can really control.
Construction sites are bound by national pollution discharge elimination system
permits under the Clean Water Act. And I think it's the City of Miami's responsibility
to do as much as we can to ensure that these sites are in compliance with those
permits. Excess sedimentation through stormwater runoff can result in smothering
seagrasses, decreasing available dissolved oxygen levels in the bay, and ultimately
resulting in water quality decline. And our bay is at a tipping point, as we know. In
August, we experienced a dramatic fish kill event due to too many land -based sources
of pollution getting into the bay. And so, today I'd like to support this ordinance on
behalf of Miami Waterkeeper. I think it would allow the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. And I urge this
Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you for the
opportunity to comment.
Leah Louindesky: Hi. My name is Leah Louindesky, and my address is 1865 79th
Street Causeway, North Bay Village, Florida 33141. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment today. I would like to speak about Item Number SR.3 to be in favor of that
number, SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point. It simply cannot
withstand additional pollution inputs, including those from construction sediment,
debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our waterways through the
stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, can decrease available oxygen
levels in the bay, and can result in water quality decline. This ordinance would permit
the City to act quickly to address construction site pollution and hold violators
accountable. I'm in favor of this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water
quality, and I encourage the Commission to pass this measure on second reading
today. Thank you.
Ashley Campbell: Hi. I'm Ashley Campbell, and my address is 6630 Southwest 57th
Avenue, in South Miami, 33143. Today, I am speaking in favor of Item SR.3. Biscayne
Bay is at its ecological tipping point and can't withstand any more input of pollution
from sources like debris, trash, and construction sediment. These pollutants can enter
waterways through the stormwater system which can harm seagrass, decrease levels
of available oxygen in the bay, and decline our water quality. This ordinance would
permit City to address construction site pollution rapidly and hold violators
accountable. I'm speaking in favor of this ordinance to protect our bay and water
quality. I encourage the Commission to pass this measure on today's second reading.
Thank you for your time and for listening.
Rachel Silverstein: Hello. My name is Rachel Silverstein, and I'm the executive
director in Waterkeepers, a local nonprofit. Miami Waterkeeper, we're at 2103 Coral
Way. I want to speak in support of Item SR.3, Commissioner Russell's ordinance
about construction runoff and sedimentation getting into Biscayne Bay. Biscayne Bay
is an ecological and aesthetic jewel that we've built our community around and it
generates billions of dollars for economy' each year, including supporting our very
important tourism and real estate industries. However, we're seeing that Biscayne
Bay has reached a tipping point and is experiencing death by a thousand cuts from
pollution sources all across the bay, particularly, in northern Biscayne Bay. And we
have been getting an increasing number of reports of sediment plumes and
construction sediment that can smother and shade seagrass, and that's making the
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
seagrass die-offproblems worse for Biscayne Bay, and it's reducing our water quality
and making our water look cloudy instead of clear and beautiful. And I think that this
ordinance would go a long way to addressing pollution coming from the land and
getting into the water and creating these plunges. So, I filly support this item, and 1
encourage the Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you
so much.
Hannah Sciarappa: My name is Hannah Sciarappa, and I live in the Coconut Grove
neighborhood. Today, I would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. I'm a
graduate student at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and
Atmospheric Sciences, and we are learning that Biscayne Bay is at an ecological
tipping point. After the fish kills a few months ago, it cannot withstand additional
pollution inputs, including those from the construction sediment, debris, trash, and
silt. These pollutants can enter the waterways through the stormwater drains and can
harm our seagrasses, decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and it results in a
water quality decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address
construction site pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this
ordinance as a measure to protect Biscayne Bay and water quality. I encourage the
Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you for letting me
comment.
Robin Vasquez: Hi, I'm Robin Vasquez, 3225 Northwest 3rd Avenue, Miami, 33127.
I'm a native Miamian who was born and raised in Miami. My story with Wynwood
Norte starts with my husband, Will Vasquez. Over 40 years ago, I was introduced to
his family who lived in Wynwood Norte. Over the years, my husband and 1 have
become stakeholders. 1 have come to know and love this neighborhood, its people,
and appreciate its unique character. We have watched as Wynwood Norte has
weathered many social and economic challenges. In fact, little has changed since the
1980s. There has been no plan and no guiding force, and that is how our association,
the Wynwood CEA came to be. We had grown tired of watching as our neighborhood
continued to decline and to be ignored so we came together to form a unified voice.
We have not received any compensation for our efforts. Our benefit will be to see a
flourishing neighborhood guided by a plan for responsible development. I believe in
the Neighborhood Revitalization District. Please do not allow us to once again be
forgotten only to have more years of neglect, inaction, and inadequate zoning. That's
why, I firmly support the Neighborhood Revitalization District. It will protect current
residents and provide for the future growth of the neighborhood. It's an opportunity
for our community to come together to help shape the destiny of our neighborhood.
Wynwood Norte has been patiently waiting. I urge you to support the Wynwood
Revitalization District. Thank you.
Christi Tasker: Hello, my name is Christi Tasker, and I live at 150 Southeast 25th
Road. And I am calling for the opportunity to comment today. I would like to speak in
favor of Item Number SR.3, regarding the Brickell Biscayne Bay and the manatees
that are being affected by the silt and the construction debris that is constantly
occurring at the Una project by OKO Group. We need someone to monitor this
because this is absolutely grotesque in terms of the way it is doing humanity and how
the silt is actually just pouring into our bay causing irrefutable damage. Please take
action on this immediately and hold the people who are making this mess
accountable. Pm going to be calling in each day. I'm going to be calling 3-1-1, and
our NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) officer. Additionally, please do not even
think of defending NET officers. Matter of fact, they need to be available more hours
considering these workers are appearing much earlier than 8 o'clock in the morning.
They are arriving as early as 6:15. We'd very much appreciate your attention to this
natter immediately. Thank you.
Natalie Bryce: My name is Natalie Bryce. My address is 6566 Southwest 52nd
Terrace. Thank you for the opportunity to comment today. I would like to speak in
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point and simply
cannot withstand additional pollution inputs, including those from construction
sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our bay and waterways
through the stormwater system and in turn harm our seagrasses, decrease available
oxygen levels in the bay, and result in water quality decline. This ordinance would
permit the City to act quickly to address construction site pollution and hold violators
accountable. I'm in favor of this ordinance as a measure to protect the bay and water
quality and encourage the Commission to pass the measure on the second reading
today. Thank you.
Dorian Santos: Hello, my name is Dorian Santos, and 1 live in 4321 Southwest 136th
Place, Miami, Florida, 33175. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Today, I
would like to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological
tipping point. It simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs, including those
from construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These popu -- sorry, pollutants can
enter our waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses,
can decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can result in water quality
decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction
site pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this ordinance as a
measure to protect our bay and water quality, and I encourage the Commission to
pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you.
Collin Shatweiler: Hello, my name is Collin Shatweiler, and my address is 2103 Coral
Way. Thank you for the opportunity to comment today. I would like to speak in favor
of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is at an ecological tipping point. 1t simply cannot
withstand additional pollution inputs, and this is specifically true for construction
sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our waterways through
the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, can decrease available oxygen
levels in the bay, and can result in water quality decline. This sedimentation
oftentimes carries other toxins that come from construction sites and nearby land -
based sources of pollution. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to
address construction site pollution and hold the violators accountable. I am in favor
of this ordinance as a measure to protect our bay and water quality, and I encourage
this Commission to pass this measure on second reading today. Thank you very much.
Pamela Reeves: Hello, my name is Pamela Reeves, and my address is 150 Southeast
25th Road, in Brickell. Thank you for the opportunity to comment today. I would like
to speak in favor of Item Number SR.3. Biscayne Bay is an ecological tipping point. It
simply cannot withstand additional pollution inputs, including those from
construction sediment, debris, trash, and silt. These pollutants can enter our
waterways through the stormwater system and can harm our seagrasses, can
decrease available oxygen levels in the bay, and can also result in the water quality
decline. This ordinance would permit the City to act quickly to address construction
site pollution and hold violators accountable. I'm in favor of this ordinance as a
measure to protect our bay and our water quality, and I encourage the Commission to
pass this measure on the second hearing today. Thank you very much.
Maria Cuesta: My name is Maria Cuesta, and I live in 250 Northeast 25th Street. I
have reviewed the project for Island Bay, and I really am excited for this initiative. As
right now, the very short walk from 25th Street to the bay is unenjoyable for many
reasons. There is no light. There really isn't any attractive view. And more
importantly, it's not secure. I believe that this project would greatly improve the --
improve the environment, and it will improve the community, and it plans to build on
a piece of land which right now is bare, bleak, and desolate. So, it would create a
more enjoyable aspect for all that live around it. I'm absolutely looking forward to
inclusion of the boardwalk near the water. Fin looking forward to the connection to
the nearby park, as well as the beautiful scenes that we will have and the safety that
will come with it. I support closing Northeast 5th, 6th, and 7th Avenues, as well as the
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
dead-end portions of 23rd Terrace and 24th Street, especially if it means that this can
he built. Once again, 1 wholeheartedly support this project, and 1 ask the City of
Miami to please approve the application. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Are there any other public comments that we should know about?
Mr. I. Vasquez: No, that is all.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, let's move on with the agenda then. The public comment
period is closed at this time.
[Later...]
Chair Hardemon: Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the October 22nd, 2020 meeting
of the Miami City Commission. What we're going to do is we're going to open up
public comment for one last video that was inadvertently left out, so we're going to
play that public comment at this time.
Zach Bush: Good afternoon, City of Miami. My name is Zach Bush. I'm here as a co-
owner of Ball & Chain and Taquerias El Mexicano, here to speak on proposed
Ordinance 8049, scheduled for first reading, and proposed Ordinance 8025,
scheduledfor second reading. Let's start with 8049. This is carefully crafted language
that is purported to be citywide, but no surprise to anyone here, it affects very few
businesses, very few if any hospitality businesses other than Ball & Chain and
Taquerias El Mexicano. Again, carefully crafted by Joe Carollo, whose intent has
been known to all, everyone in this room, all commissioners, that he wants to see Bill
Fuller pay, he wants to see Bill Fuller's businesses closed, he wants to see Ball &
Chain and Taquerias El Mexicano closed. So, by saying that no music can be played
after 8 o'clock, this is spot zoning -- reverse spot zoning. The current code allows for
it to be played till 11 o'clock with only ambient music coming after that. And there is
no need and this will totally hurt our business and litigation will follow if this is
enacted because it is illegal. Proposed Ordinance 8025 on second reading, given the
shakeups of the City with recent asking for resignations of directors and what's --
what's -- and what forth, this basically changes the language from the City saying
they can remove a CU (Certificate of Use) to the City saying they will remove a CU if
you're out of compliance for any reason, zoning, planning, code, whatever. I just want
to say a perfect example of this is we've been working with the City for the better part
of a year to come into fall compliance. After spending umpteen hundreds of thousands
of dollars and doing everything the City asked, we got sign off from Code, Zoning,
Planning, Building, Fire, everyone only, to, less than a week later, the City's saying,
oh my god, we made a mistake. You're still out of compliance for something. So, if
you pass this ordinance, this gives the power to Joe Carollo -- which is what he wants
-- to say, oh, you're out of compliance. No CU. you're out of business. Sony and
that's exactly what he wants. We all know why. Everyone here knows why and this
cannot continue to go on. It is a violation and it will also be litigated and it 's got to
stop. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Alright, so we're going to close public comment at this time. Thank
you very much.
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
MV - MAYORAL VETO(ES)
NO MAYORAL VETOES
There were no mayoral vetoes associated with legislation that is subject to veto by the Mayor.
Chair Hardemon: Are there any mayoral vetoes?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Mr. Chair, there are no mayoral vetoes.
END OF MAYORAL VETO(ES)
CA - CONSENT AGENDA
The following item(s) was Adopted on the Consent Agenda
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
CA.1 RESOLUTION
7847
Department of
Human Services
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT
("AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, WITH CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC., A FLORIDA NOT
FOR PROFIT CORPORATION ("CAMILLUS HOUSE"), TO
CONTINUE THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY") SHELTER PROGRAM
INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF SEVENTY-FIVE (75) BEDS IN
CAMILLUS HOUSE WITHIN THE CAMILLUS HOUSE NORWEGIAN
CRUISE LINE CAMPUS EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR THE
NIGHTLY USE OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WITH TEN (10)
BEDS BEING SET ASIDE AS OVERNIGHT BEDS ALONG WITH
OTHER ASSOCIATED AND ACCOMPANYING HOMELESS
SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE
(1) YEAR, SUBJECT TO SAID BEDS BEING EXCLUSIVELY
DESIGNATED FOR THE CITY'S HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE POTTINGER CANDIDATES (COLLECTIVELY, "SHELTER
PROGRAM") AND AT A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF
FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($460,000.00)
WITH CONDITIONS AS STATED HEREIN AND IN THE
AGREEMENT, PAYABLE IN TWELVE (12) MONTHLY
INSTALLMENTS FOR THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES' BUDGET.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0338
This matter was ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S) on the Consent
Agenda.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number CA.1, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
CA.2 RESOLUTION
7848
Department of
Human Services
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY ("AGREEMENT'), BETWEEN CAMILLUS
HOUSE, INC., A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION
("CAMILLUS HOUSE") AND THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") TO
PROVIDE GRANT FUNDING FOR THE CAMILLUS HOUSE DAY
SERVICES PROGRAM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE
MEANINGFUL AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES FOR QUALIFYING
PARTICIPANTS AND TO PROVIDE SAID PARTICIPANTS WITH, A
HOT MEAL, A SHOWER, MAILBOXES, AND IDENTIFICATION
SERVICES TO ASSIST WITH RE-ESTABLISHING THEIR
CORRESPONDENCE AND IDENTIFICATION, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, AS A UNIQUE SERVICE PROVIDED SOLELY BY
CAMILLUS HOUSE IN THE CITY (COLLECTIVELY, "PROGRAM")
AT A TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000.00) FOR THE CITY'S FISCAL
YEAR 2020-2019, WITH CONDITIONS AS STATED IN THE
AGREEMENT, PAYABLE BY THE CITY TO CAMILLUS HOUSE IN
TWELVE (12) MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS COMMENCING
DURING THE CITY'S 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR FOR AN INITIAL
PERIOD OF ONE (1) YEAR WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR
UP TO FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL ONE (1) YEAR PERIODS OF CITY
SPONSORSHIP GRANT FUNDING UNDER THE SAME TERMS
AND CONDITIONS IN THE AGREEMENT AND SUBJECT TO THE
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT
TIME OF NEED; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, MODIFICATIONS, RENEWALS, AND
AMENDMENTS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, TO COMPLETE AND FURTHER THE GRANT
ALLOCATION AND APPROPRIATION FOR THE PROGRAM.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0339
This matter was ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S) on the Consent
Agenda.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number CA.2, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
CA.3 RESOLUTION
7896
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO ACCEPT EIGHTEEN (18) RIGHT-OF-WAY DEEDS
AND ONE (1) QUIT CLAIM RIGHT-OF-WAY DEED OF
DEDICATION, ALL AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN
EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED (COLLECTIVELY,
"DEEDS"), FOR HIGHWAY PURPOSES; APPROVING AND
AUTHORIZING THE RECORDATION OF THE DEEDS IN THE
PUBLIC RECORDS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA;
FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO RETAIN COPIES OF
THE DEEDS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0340
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number CA.3, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
CA.4 RESOLUTION
7996
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENTS, AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF
MONUMENT SIGNS IDENTIFYING THE SHENANDOAH
NEIGHBORHOOD, AS SUBSTANTIALLY DEPICTED IN EXHIBIT
"A", ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, LOCATED WITHIN
TRAFFIC CIRCLES AND MEDIANS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF
WAY AT CERTAIN ENUMERATED APPROXIMATE LOCATIONS
MORE SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "B", ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED; AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF
THE DONATION OF THE DESIGN, PERMITTING,
CONSTRUCTION, AND REPLACEMENT OF SAID SIGNS BY THE
MIAMI-SHENANDOAH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, INC., A
FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0341
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number CA.4, please see
"Order of the Day" and "End of Consent Agenda."
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
CA.5
7844
Office of the City
Attorney
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT AN OFFER TO
SETTLE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL SETTLEMENT
DOCUMENTS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, IN
SETTLEMENT OF THE CLAIMS AND DEMANDS, INCLUDING ALL
CLAIMS FOR ATTORNEYS' FEES, AS MORE SPECIFICALLY
DETAILED IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, WITH MORRIS &
MCDANIEL, INC., EXECUTIVE RISK INDEMNITY, INC., THEIR
OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES IN THE CASE STYLED
THE CITY OF MIAMI V. MORRIS & MCDANIEL, INC. AND
EXECUTIVE RISK INDEMNITY, INC., PENDING IN THE CIRCUIT
COURT FOR THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, CASE NO. 1998-7760-CA-27.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0342
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number CA.5, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Manager, can we have someone introduce CA.1 and CA.2? Is
there anyone from administration who could introduce CA.1 and CA.2? What
department would this come under? Is this Milton Vickers?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): You're muted, Mr. Vickers. You're muted.
Milton Vickers (Director, Human Services): Is that better?
Chair Hardemon: It is perfect, yes.
Mr. Vickers: Good, thank you. Mr. Chairman, members of the Commission,
Department of Human Services present for your approval today, CA.1, which is our
homeless shelter program. It's roughly $460, 000. It's for 75 beds at Camillus House.
Ten of those beds are secured on a daily basis for our police department. And CA.2 is
our day program, and the day program provides services to individuals who are on
the street to come in for a meal, shower, clean clothes, and most importantly, a mail
drop.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Is anyone from Camillus House on the call as well? Can we
elevate them to speak?
Mr. Vickers: Yes, they have been noticed.
Chair Hardemon: And regarding CA.1, can you explain exactly how the program
works. And as soon as we get someone from Camillus House on maybe give us
another response to kind of better explain exactly what it is that they do.
Mr. Vickers: Okay. Under CA.1, the 75 beds -- now, during the COVID crisis, we
converted those 10 daily beds to long-term stay beds. But going back -- coming out of
COVID, 10 beds would be set aside for police officers to escort individuals who are
homeless who may want to seek shelter. They have an option of addressing either a
human body function that could lead to an arrest, so they give them the option of
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going to Camillus House for shelter. The remainder in 65 beds are there to provide
wraparound services in terms of the continuum of care, which simply means if an
individual is addicted, they are evaluated and placed into -- or set to receive services
as it applies to their addiction. If there's mental issues, they receive assistance in that
area as well.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Ms. Fernandez, are you here from Camillus House?
Hilda Fernandez: Yes, sir. Hilda Fernandez, Camillus House, 1603 Northwest 7th
Avenue, Miami.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you for being here. The first question I have for you is in
regard to CA.1 -- that's feedback. In regards to CA.1, the 75 beds in Camillus House,
can you tell us how exactly you utilize those beds? And in particular, 1 want to know if
on a daily basis if all of those beds are typically filled with individuals and what does
this sponsorship really mean to you in regards to those beds.
Ms. Fernandez: Certainly. So, the contract with the City of Miami means that those 75
beds are only and exclusively available to the City of Miami. We keep those beds for
referrals. As Mr. Vickers explained, initially we were setting aside 10 beds, and we
have been historically setting aside 10 beds -- 10 overnight beds for the placement of
individuals by the City. of Miami Police Department as an alternative to -- under the
Pottinger, to being arrested if they were engaged in one of the life -sustaining
misdemeanors. During the COV1D epidemic, we didn't want to leave those beds
empty, especially because there's such a great need in the City of Miami with so many
homeless that those 10 beds became part of the full package of beds. But what it
means, Commissioner, is that the -- Mr. Chair, is that the City controls all the
placements into the beds. It means you have a dedicated source of beds for single
adults, which is the predominant -- what you see predominantly on the street in the
City of Miami, to engage them into the system of care. Once they come into our beds,
they -- we are responsible for providing case management services, referrals to job
development assistance, job placement assistance. We connect them with benefits
through the Social Security Administration. We provide them identification in addition
to assisting them in obtaining formal identification. They are there -- those 65
extended -stay beds -- during this period, the additional 10 -- means that they're
entitled to stay there for the full level of case management services. In the course of
the last fiscal year under the contract, we had a 67 percent success rate in
transitioning clients from this program into a successful outcome, which in our case is
permanent housing. Actually, our percentage in successful outplacement here is better
than in some of the other programs we have. We've done very well with this program.
And that is higher than what you normally see in emergency housing because you're
taking individuals directly from the street that have untreated mental illness and have
-- or have untreated addiction issues, and we're having to stabilize them, connect
them with services, and then get them ready to be outplaced to be ready to be able to
sustain themselves in permanent housing. But 100 percent of the clients that come in
are assigned a case manager, and they're provided a service plan that delineates
what they're expected to do to achieve a successful outcome.
Chair Hardemon: So, what is the occupancy of the 75 beds the City of Miami
(INAUDIBLE) 10, 65 beds on a daily basis?
Ms. Fernandez: On the extended stay beds -- and I'm looking at the annual average --
we had a 9 percent vacancy but that's only because of turnover. We have turnover on
the beds on the 65 extended stay beds. The -- when -- during the period before
COVID, the 10 overnight beds had a higher vacancy rate because that is -- those beds
are kept available for whenever it's necessary and needed by the City of Miami
Police. And just to also explain, the way that the -- I'm sorry.
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Chair Hardemon: And what would that --? And I want you to continue to explain, but
1 want you to tell me also what is the vacancy of those 10 beds. 1 understand it may be
high, butt want to know what it is.
Ms. Fernandez: No, no, I'm trying to look for the occupancy rate, which is -- was -- I
don't have it in front of me, but it was very -- the occupancy rate was very low
because of the nature of the 24-hour beds. And we've been working with the police
department to improve --
Chair Hardemon: And to be clear, those are the beds that if an officer approaches a
group of people who purport to be homeless and engages with them, he -- if he
chooses to, for instance, if they're -- in doing life -sustaining activities, so they're
urinating, defecating, or anything like that in the street, he can offer that person a
place to stay.
Ms. Fernandez: That's --
Chair Hardemon: And once they -- if they accept that offer; then they would move into
this bed that's available. And so, what you're telling us is that on a daily basis, that
the number of beds that are available to do that tends to be the same, 9 or 10 each
day, which means that, on a high percentage every day, either officers are not
engaging or individuals are not accepting these beds.
Ms. Fernandez: So, 1 -- you know, 1 don't know which is the answer for that.
Certainly, that's a question you can ask maybe the police department since we're the
receiving source. But 1 can tell you that there have been -- there's really -- there have
been periods where there's been high utilization of the 10 beds and then periods
where there's been diminished use of the 10 beds. I would tell you, though, in looking
at the numbers for the last fiscal year, there were very few occasions that all 10 beds
were being used, and I'm talking about the overnight beds. In terms of the extended
stay beds, we've often even had overfill, where we've had more than 65 people, where
we've had 67 people. We've gone ahead and just included them as part of the 65. So,
the extended stay beds, you know, for the most part remain full. And the access to the
extended stay beds before CORD was directly from the overnight beds. So, if one --
somebody was placed in one of the ten beds, they were offered -- if there was a bed
available the next morning, offered an opportunity to move into that vacant 65-bed
program. The idea is that some of these folks want to engage in longer term services
more than justfor one night. Where you don't -- where you saw a lot of turnover in
those 10 beds is because it's a 24-hour bed are those that got placed for 24 hours and
were not interested in staying or, you know, just left the next morning to do their own
business. But we did have -- you know, that's how we had filled the program
historically was moving people from the 10 beds into the 65 beds as they became
available.
Chair Hardemon: And can you explain to me if the City of Miami were not giving you
this grant, right, of $460,000 for the 65 beds, how will those beds be made available
to other individuals who are homeless?
Ms. Fernandez: Well, we contract with other agencies, obviously, fir beds. We have
contracts with other -- with, for example, some of the local hospitals. We contract
with -- so they won't discharge homeless individuals to the street. We contract with
healthcare providers so they don't discharge their clients to the street because of the
demand on available shelter beds. So, the number of shelter beds that become
available in the general homeless continuum of care on a daily basis are so few that
those beds are filled rather quickly in the morning and that means that individuals
either leaving -- whether it's, you know, a hospital or jail, what have you, have no
option but to go back onto the street. So, we have contracts with other organizations,
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with the Department of Health, for example, to he able to provide dedicated beds so
when they need to make an outplacement, they have a place to send the individuals.
Chair Hardemon: How many total beds is it that you actually have at your --?
Ms. Fernandez: Of emergency beds at -- around 270.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. And what is your typical occupancy rate jor all of your beds,
your 270?
Ms. Fernandez: On the beds that are the -- the ones that are managed by the
continuum of care, about 1 to 2 percent vacancy. Our emergency beds that are
managed by where the green shirts make placements, the outreach team makes
placements that are available to anyone, we have a 1 to 2 percent vacancy rate. And
generally, that's because we're turning the bed. That means the bed becomes
available in the afternoon, so we have to report it as available but we know -- report -
- it's too late in the day, so -- but it's a 1 to 2 percent vacancy rate.
Chair Hardemon: So, when the City of Miami -- the City of Miami's particular beds,
how typically are those beds being filled? I mean, how are you -- are you getting a
certain person from the City of Miami for the departments saying that these are the
people that we need to be sheltered from the City of Miami? Or how are -- how is it
that you do it?
Ms. Fernandez: So, they are exclusively the City of Miami beds, so we do not accept
referrals from anyone other than the authorized persons to make a placement into
those beds, which is primarily the police department. Clients that are moved in -- who
are going to the 10 beds are referred into vacant beds as they happen of the 65.
However, due to COVID and because we're not -- you know, the placements into a
shelter are very complicated now because we want people who are not infected
coming into our facility, the City of Miami's outreach team has assisted -- has also
made placements into the 65-bed program. So, you know, I can tell you through
September, there were 312 people placed in our extended stay beds. Between October
1 of 2019 and September 30th of 2020, we had 312 people placed into our extended
stay beds. The average length of stay varies, but it's -- on average, it's been 98 days.
So, you know, that bed, you know, again, isn't used just for one night. The 65 beds are
-- they're services beds where we're helping the clients be able to get, you know, out
of homelessness, which we've been able to accomplish I think at a really great
percentage. We've had 341 individuals that were placed into our overnight beds
during that fiscal year period.
Chair Hardemon: So, the 60 -- I want to be clear because I'm not sure if I heard the
clear answer. The 65 beds, who deserves the credit for placement in the 65 beds?
Ms. Fernandez: Well, I think because of COVID in particular, the majority of the
placements into the extended stay, the 65 beds, have been done by the City of Miami
outreach program.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. And those are -- okay. And but before COVID, what would
you --
Ms. Fernandez: Before COVID, it still was a significant number of the City of Miami
outreach team and police. So, police had, you know, maybe two dozen placements
before COVID, and the balance have been the City, of Miami outreach team. All of the
referrals have come through the City of Miami.
Chair Hardemon: And Mr. Vickers, can you tell us a little bit about the City of Miami
outreach team, so everyone understands exactly who they are?
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Mr. Vickers: Yes. The outreach program, or our Green Shirts, as they're known on
the street, provides services and assistance to individuals who are on the street. In
many instances, they are the ones who provide the initial contact. I could usually look
at our homeless population in one of three ways. Either a portion of that population is
addicted, a portion of that population is -- have some type of mental issue, and then
we have our homeless -- our shelter -resistant population. Almost 100 percent of those
individuals have had a contact with a Green Shirt on numerous occasions in the run
of a year. In many instances, it becomes a matter of wearing those individuals down
to eventually convince them to go into shelter. Placements, in the last year or so, a lot
of it has been geared and coordinated with our neighborhood cleanup programs as it
relates to our homeless population. Example, Commissioner, in the Overtown area,
we've had several cleanups. We look to revise our strategy, hopefully, in the coming
month or so, but we've had several cleanups where we've had several placements of
individuals prior to those cleanups taking place. We try to provide seven to a
fourteen -day notice, and the Green Shirts are there on a daily basis prior to sanitation
and NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) and the Overtown staff being present to
begin to remove debris. We look to place individuals and provide them with services.
That has been pretty significant over the last two or three months. We've also had
similar programs or projects going on in the Little Havana area around Jose Marti,
an area pretty much like Overtown that has provided us with a number of issues and
problems over the years. We hope to rectify some of those issues. In years past, based
upon information and communications with me from our Green Shirts, we've had to
reroute school bus stops. We've had to -- we've contacted our police department to
put up cameras. A number of individuals have been retained on drug charges. So, it's
a collaborative collaboration with a number of agencies to be able to address this
issue. But our Green Shirts, our outreach staff are there on a daily basis, primarily all
over the City of Miami.
Chair Hardemon: And Ms. Fernandez, can you tell us what's the total budget that
Camillus House works with each year?
Ms. Fernandez: Our budget is a little over $18 million, Mr. Chairman. Fifty-five
percent is government funded; the other forty-five percent is funded through
fundraising, private and corporate donations.
Chair Hardemon: And is the Homeless Trust considered government funding?
Ms. Fernande_ • Yes, it is, sir. The government would be local, state, and federal, and
it would include the Homeless Trust as the administrators of the food and beverage
tax. And they also are the pass -through agency for a majority of the federal funds we
receive from USHUD (United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development) as that is the structure USHUD uses to administer their continuum of
care homeless programs. It goes through a central agency, and that's the Homeless
Trust of Miami -Dade County.
Chair Hardemon: How much of your budget comes from the Homeless Trust?
Ms. Fernandez: So, of -- so, we have about $11 million that comes from governmental
junding, of which we have -- on Homeless Trust food and beverage funding, we have
an emergency housing program. We have the homeless prevention program we
operate for the entire county, and our Lazarus Project. So, we have three food and
beverage funded programs. The balance of the programs we receive from the
Homeless Trust are federally funded programs that flow through the Homeless Trust,
but they're funded by USHUD.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, so you're -- so that means that -- do you know how much of
the funding that's actually generated by the Homeless Trust or --
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Ms. Fernandez: They -- well, the food and beverage tax is one of the several sources
of funds they administer. They administer a food and beverage tax, which is the
dedicated source of funding, as you know, collected in restaurants and all
municipalities, except Miami Beach, Suffside, and Bal Harbour. I know this year's
collections have seen reductions of between 50 and 60 percent each month since
COVID started, basically, since April. And so, they've had a humongous impact on
their food and beverage funded projects which support most of the emergency housing
programs in Miami -Dade County so that you understand the federal government does
not And emergency housing.
Chair Hardemon: For our homeless population, to service them, we need our
restaurants open.
Ms. Fernandez: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. This is --
Ms. Fernandez: That's another issue. So, they administer the food and beverage tax.
The balance of the funding they administer, again, is as a flow -through agency and
they get a little over $30 million, maybe $32 million from federal HUD that flows
through the Homeless Trust to agencies in the community to provide permanent
support and housing, and that funds, for example, the City of Miami outreach
program. USHUD does not fund emergency housing through their HUD programs,
zero, period. And they do not fund transitional housing, with the exception of maybe
domestic violence transitional housing and homeless youth. Then they do get some
state funding that they're also a pass -through. The Homeless Trust is not a direct
service provider, so when they get those sources of funding, they -- you know, it
funnels through them to agencies that they contract with.
Chair Hardemon: I want to ask you a couple more questions that are a bit more
pointed, but I think you can handle them because I think this is something that we
have to be able to tackle together, and with your assistance, I think we can get this
taken care of. And then I'll let any of the Commissioners ask any questions if they
have any. But -- so, you know, I've said on many occasions that Camillus House
hasn't been a good neighbor and your facility, of course, is located in District 5, but it
is very near to District 1. And we share 7th Avenue and a number of different places.
And so, just south of your facility, a little north side of it as well, northeast and then
south -- on the west side of 7th Avenue, I'll describe the first part, which is the south,
on the west side of 7th Avenue. There tend to be a number of individuals who have
encamped on 7th Avenue. At one point, they were on County property, just across the
way from the women's jail, but then they moved onto the sidewalk. We know that they
completely block the sidewalk, which is, of course, a policing issue as well because
the City of Miami, of course, has jurisdiction to move people along if they're blocking
complete sidewalks, Pottinger or not. So, there on that -- and then on the east side of
the 7th Avenue, which is on the side where Camillus House is, we know that there
always a gang of people there as well. And so, the question becomes, for me, when I
look at that location and then I look at the second location that is just northeast of
Camillus House, how is it -- or, no, the. first question is, do you all send anyone out to
engage with them, to try to invite them into your facility instead of remaining there on
the street where --? It's really a -- 7th Avenue is 441, which is a major highway.
People cannot move freely north and south in that area. So, if I want -- if I'm a kid
just there at Booker T. Washington Senior High School and I need to travel north on
7th Avenue, I'm restricted. I'm put in a very tough position of walking amongst people
who have a number of different possessions that tend not to be sanitary, that they're
engaged in activities that are not always lawful, and where they're intimidating, right.
And so, I have to walk through that in order to get home. How often is it that you all
engage with those, folk to try to invite them into your space?
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Ms. Fernandez: So, as you know, we operate the County's specialized outreach
program for the service resistant severely mentally ill homeless, the Lazarus Project.
So, our Lazarus Project is engaging clients there. And I do just want to back up a
second. The situation that's under the bridge, you know, as a service provider serving
homeless people, it is incredibly frustrating for us to see homeless people half a block
away from us, a block and a half away from us when we know the wealth of services
that we could provide and do provide to clients who come into our doors, willingly
come to our doors and participate in our programs. So, we are incredibly frustrated
with that. We're incredibly frustrated because, Commissioner, we try to be good
neighbors, and the area immediately adjacent to our property is clean. We send our
clients out there -- we have volunteer clients, our clients that go out there and clean.
You know, our sidewalk is clean. We make sure no one's loitering. We allow smoking
inside our facility because we don't even want -- even though we shouldn't, just so we
don't have people loitering outside smoking in our facility. So, we are incredibly
conscious of that. This is -- what has happened under the overpass on 14th and 7th
Avenue has really been a phenomenon that's happened the last 11 -- 10, 11 months.
And we've, you know -- we've engaged resources to send out there. We're working
with the City's outreach teams to go out there and also engage clients. And we have
success, but the numbers ebb and flow who's out there. they're not always the same
people. You know, we don't have enforcement powers. We're limited there. I will send
my teams often under the bridge. I will have our DBA -- you know, our teams that --
our volunteers go under the bridge and clean the public property under the bridge
because we appreciate the fact that this is our neighborhood and we don't need our
neighborhood to look that way, and we don't want our neighborhood to look that way.
And so, we have taken the initiative and done that on our dime including, by the way,
Commissioner Reyes, the result of street cleaning of those people out on the --
underneath that bridge when you see containers that clearly' are from street feeders.
So, you know, we -- you know, Commissioner, we're equally as frustrated. We're in
the business of helping people, and we believe we do our best to keep our -- certainly
our facility as neat and clean as possible and outside to be good neighbors, to be, you
know, good residents. We, you know, in the past, approached the City about
assistance with, you know, neighbors across the street where we've had loitering and
how do we -- and can we get folks -- and we have a convenience store across the
street. And in this great state of Florida, you can buy one can of beer. You don't have
to buy a six-pack. That's the state of Florida. And so, you know, we have those
challenges, you know, as well, and we -- you know, we love to work with the City.
We've gone out there and done, you know -- together, have gone out there and done --
I'm not going to call them cleanups. You know, when we go out there and offer
services and have taken clients into the programs. But you know, we're equally
frustrated, Commissioner, but we do send our Lazarus team out there and we do work
with the Green Shirts to try to engage those clients into our system. There's -- you
know, it's part of who we are and what we do, you know. It doesn't make sense to
have them sleeping, you know, 400 feet away from us or 300 feet away from us under
an overpass.
Chair Hardemon: Senator, I saw your hand up, so I want to recognize you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ms. Fernandez, you blamed
-- in that diatribe you went through now, you blamed everybody from the state of
Florida's beer selling policy on down, but you didn't mention about what your
responsibility is. It is very, very frustrating to me to see what's happening -- because I
represent District 1.
Ms. Fernandez: Certainly.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Under that bridge, walking all the way down 14th
to Jackson Hospital, very frustrating. It's getting worse. Since I've been elected it's
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
getting worse. And a post-Pottinger world that we're in right now -- I asked this
question in my briefing yesterday to our City Attorney -- what can we do and what
policies are being developed by your organization to deal and work with the City of
Mianii to solve this problem? Have you begun the process of doing an analysis of how
you're going to deal with this issue in a post-Pottinger world?
Ms. Fernandez: Well, Commissioner, again, you know, we're not a walk-in shelter.
No -- there's no walk-in shelter in Miami -Dade County, which means the only way
you get placed in Camillus House is if you're placed there by a referring agency. Like
the --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's not what -- that's not what I'm asking you.
Are you working? That's what I said. Are you working? Are you talking and having
conversations --? All heard you say is blame everybody but yourselves, so what's the
solution?
Ms. Fernandez: No, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think we all know the problem, right? We all
know the problem.
Ms. Fernandez: Understood.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What proactive steps are you taking to solve the
problem?
Ms. Fernandez: We actually --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, okay.
Ms. Fernandez: So, we're doing our own engagement --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You know the question, so I don't have to ask it.
Go ahead.
Ms. Fernandez: So, we are doing our own engagement of clients there. We're
augmenting the engagement that's being done by the City of Miami Homeless
Program of the homeless clients that are there. We are cleaning the area as often as
we can. It's a public area down the street from us, but we're cleaning it. We've
worked with the business owner next to us to make sure that they're also enforcing
loitering, and you know, moving people off so they're not sleeping on the sidewalk on
their property. It's the white building that's just south of us so that --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, why is it getting worse? Why is the problem
getting worse? Because you were creative to solve the problem, right?
Ms. Fernandez: Absolutely.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, why is it getting worse in the last 10 months?
Ms. Fernandez: You know --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Obviously, you're not doing something --
something is not being done right. I'm not blaming you in specific. I think it's a
combination of lack of coordination and conversations. You know, there were legal
impediments that we had because of the Pottinger case before that we may not have
anymore. Have you -- since the Pottinger decision was thrown out, have you had any
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meetings at all with anyone in the City of Miami to talk about what could be done
proactively moving forward?
Ms. Fernandez: So, there are homeless like committee meetings --
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) committee meetings. There's meetings to discuss homelessness
that are scheduled through --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Be specific. Be specific, please. Don't tell me
committee meetings --
Ms. Fernandez: Not since the Pottinger just happened, 1 guess, like three weeks ago.
There hasn't --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, three weeks, three weeks, okay, so for the
last --
Ms. Fernandez: But that -- as you know --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- so be specific, not committee meetings.
Remember, I've sat through hundreds of committee meetings, and nothing ever came
of them.
Ms. Fernandez: Understood.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, I mean, don't -- be specific. What
conversations have you had? With whom have you had those conversations? With
whom -- and what are you thinking moving forward? What's your plan of action?
Ms. Fernandez: So, Commissioner, in the last -- since the Pottinger -- the final
decision on Pottinger has happened, there has been no -- I have not had any
conversations with the City. I welcome a conversation with the City of how we can
enhance what is happening in terms of placements, especially from the individuals
that are located so closely to our facility and trying to accelerate their placement into
our program. The -- you know, we do not have enforcement capacity, obviously, so
you know, the tents that are on the site out there, you know, that's an enforcement
issue. We can't -- you know, people have now -- something that we didn't have --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, now you're blaming the City but you're not
blaming yourselves. So, you're --
Ms. Fernandez: I'm not blaming the City.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- now you're blaming the City. You blamed the
state for selling one beer. Now, you're blaming the City. Tell me what you have done,
what you have done for the last three weeks to solve the problem, because that's what
you're supposed to be doing, right? So, tell me what you have done and what your
organization has done to talk to the City and say, "Hey, let's get together. Let's talk
about it. Let's figure it out. Let's work together. We don't have enforcement powers,
but you do. So, what can we do? How can we get there?" Because I understand
Commissioner -- Chairman Hardemon's frustration because we share the district; we
share the area. And it's -- and we've both seen in the last ten months get worse. And
Tye don't get answers -- and we don't get solutions. We only get, you know, a
parroting of the problem over and over and over and over again. We know what the
problem is. What do you -- how do you think you're going to solve it?
Ms. Fernandez: So, Commissioner, again, we're a homeless service agency. We don't
have the ability to enforce individuals into our system, into our agency, nor does any
other service provider.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Ms. Fernandez: So, we can work with the City to -- as we have in the past when they
have made -- when they've gone up and done cleanups in areas. We make available
the beds so that they can bring them in en masse. We take them in en masse so that
there's a quick response to what -- you know, the engagement process that's done.
We're part of that team because the City -- if the City wants to go -- or anybody wants
to go in and clean out an area, they're going to need a place for those individuals to
be placed and we have done that.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's why we have the dedicated beds. That's why
we have the --
Ms. Fernandez: Correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- dedicated beds. That's what the item -- this item
is about. That's why we have the program in place. But if it's not -- if we have -- if
they're vacant or they're not fulfilled, that's an issue. And perhaps, Chairman, since
I'm not getting an answer there, maybe Mr. Vickers can give -- can enlighten me a
little bit as to what the City is doing and what Ms. Mendez maybe can tell me what
you're thinking after the conversation we had yesterday, Ms. Mendez. Will you allow
me, Chair, to hear from Mr. Vickers?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Mr. Vickers: Commissioner., the City Attorney has set up a Zoom meeting to discuss
post-Pottinger activity, but I can tell you in the area in which is being discussed now,
Northwest 7th Avenue, just in front of the Women's Detention Center, that area, we
had a meeting with the Florida Department of Transportation this week. That location
will be completely closed off. Our homeless outreach has been there --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: When, when?
Mr. Vickers: -- to place --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: When?
Mr. Vickers: Actually, it should have started on Monday, but it will take place on
Tuesday of the coming week. That area will be a construction site. I'm happy to say
it's a construction site.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, okay, okay. So, it's being closed off because
it's a construction site. It's not being closed off to solve the problem.
Mr. Vickers: Commissioner; I'll take every grace wherever I can get it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I got it. So will I, so will I I agree.
Mr. Vickers: That area will be closed off,' an area at 1st Court and 1st Place under I-
395. The City conveyed that -- those streets to the State as staging areas, I believe, a
couple of months ago in a Commission meeting. They're being fenced off And I can
tell you, along 17th Street, between 7th Avenue and Jackson Hospital, which has been
an area and an issue for me for the last couple of years, we have employees trying to
maneuver that area corning from one of our major employers in the city, Jackson
Hospital. Both sides of the sidewalk has been blocked. The only way you can
maneuver is in the middle of the street. That is not a Camillus House issue. A service
provider in the neighborhood -- another service provider who does not receive
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funding from any source, it's been difficult for us to even address issues with them.
So, that has been an issue there, but we have continued to do cleanups in that area,
and hopefully, we'll be able to address one, structures, makeshift structures that have
been placed on streets, sidewalks. To block a sidewalk is an issue as it relates to the
Rehab Act. There should be the availability -- the ability of a wheelchair to come
down a sidewalk. And I can tell you there are a couple of places that that's virtually
impossible. And we can clear them out today. Ten days later, we have an issue in the
same location. And we've continued to do that. Discussions post-Pottinger we are
having between NET, Homeless Outreach, all through the Department of Human
Services.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: NET? You're still around? NET's still around?
Mr. Vickers: Sir?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is NET still around?
Mr. Vickers: Well, sir, you'll be picking up --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I thought we got rid of them already.
Mr. Vickers: You'll be picking up a part of that, but we will be working with the
commissioners' offices in those responsibilities to address -- you know, those areas to
address those issues.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: For me, it's really important, Mr. Vickers, that
Commissioner Hardemon's taken such an interest in this issue because it does impact
his district and mine. That's really where the focus is of the problem, right? We hear
the brunt of the issue. But the majority of the problems, the immediate problems we're
facing, the most recent one is really it starts at the border of his district and it goes all
the way to Jackson Hospital, which is all in my district. So, to me, having been
recently elected, to me that's a concern because we now have the tools available to us
post-Pottinger to address this issue. Safety of our -- and Commissioner Hardemon's
talking about Booker T. and the children walking, and the young adults walking in
that area and having to walk past that population that could be dangerous, that could
be, you know, problematic for them. That's a concern to me too, even though --
because that school is right across from my district. And a lot of the people that go --
the children that go to that school live in my district. So, to me, the coordination
between Camillus House and the other service providers, the City Attorney's Office,
and the explanation of whenever that Zoom meeting is going to take place, hopefully it
will be within the next six or seven months. Mr. Vickers, your knowledge in this
particular -- I meant six or seven days, I didn't mean months, I'm sorry, that was a
Freudian slip. And your knowledge of the issue -- Commissioner Hardemon 's leaving
us. He's been very, very attentive and today he's dedicated a significant amount of
time to this issue and I'm very, appreciative of that because your new district is going
to include this area in the County Commission. And I think -- I saw a poll yesterday, I
think you're going to win your election. So, you're going to be a new County
commissioner, you're going to have overlapping areas, so we're going to be working
very closely together on this issue. So, to me, this coordination has to happen sooner
rather than later. These conversations have to happen via Zoom or Teams or in
person or whatever, any way you do it, but they have to happen so we can address the
issue and stop talking about it, at least for this increase that we've seen in this
population in this particular area. Of course, the homeless issue is a broader, bigger
issue, mental illness issues and all the other issues that deal with the homeless crisis
that we have in the country and the city. I get that. But at least our immediate solution
to this problem is something that I think we can find some common ground and all
work together. So, Mr. Vickers, I'msorry to interrupt you, but I think Ms. Mendez, so
we can move on, at least if you allow me, Chair, just give me an idea of what you're
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planning on -- when you're planning on meeting, what you're planning on doing.
Because we talked about it yesterday, so you have more than 24 hours to think about
it.
Chair Hardemon: And before you go, Ms. Vickers -- I mean, Ms. Mendez, after you
finish, I'm going to recognize Commissioner Reyes to speak. So, Mr. Reyes, just allow
her to respond, and then --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: And 1 see Commissioner Carollo 's hand went up. 1 also want to
recognize we have someone from the Homeless Trust as well. So, Ms. Mendez, you're
recognized.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you, Chairman. We actually have a meeting set up for October
28th at 4: 00 p.m. Part of it was -- the catalyst was the Chairman asking for us to talk
to him about these post-Pottinger issues and enforcement. So, we do have it for next
week, so it will be much sooner than your anticipated time frame, Senator. And also,
Mr. Wysong can give you a few points, not super elaborate, on how just easier things
that we can do post-Pottinger. He's on as well. And he could give you those answers,
direct answers to your questions from last night.
George Wysong ( City Attorney, Supervisor): Right. Thank you, Honorable Chairman
and members of the Commission. As the City Attorney has said in the past, we can
deal with like homeless cleanups. There is no prohibition. First, I wanted to make it
clear that just because a person is homeless, they do not have any immunity from
being arrested for violating a law. For example, selling drugs, battery, any of those
types of things. They are not immune from prosecution for any of those things.
However, the challenge we have is that there was a recent case that went up to the
United States Supreme Court. They denied cert, essentially meaning that the
provisions of this law stay in effect. And I'll just read a brief little snippet from it. It
says, "We hold that so long as there is a greater number of homeless individuals in a
jurisdiction than the number of available beds and shelters, the jurisdiction cannot
prosecute homeless individuals for involuntarily sitting, lying, and sleeping in
public." So, if there's no room in the shelter, then the police cannot arrest somebody
for sitting, lying, or sleeping in public. Like, essentially, those would be characterized
as trespassing on public property or sleeping in public, that sort of thing.
Chair Hardemon: And before you move on, I want to make it very clear that none of
us have described arresting homeless people for sitting, lying, or sleeping in public.
Mr. Wysong: Right, right.
Chair Hardemon: One of the things that we want to make very, clear -- and I think this
is where I heard Ms. Fernandez speak about it, and I think she was right in a number
of ways about enforcement. What I found -- and I'm going to let you finish this. This is
a statement I'll make. What I found is that our officers are not engaging with people
in the ways that they can pre -- I mean during Pottinger, nor post-Pottinger. And so,
what that means is officers have the right to move people along when there's -- when
certain activities are going on. Not necessarily to arrest them, but to ask them to move
on. And what we've seen in our areas especially is that there is an encampment of
people always there. Now, I think the term "homeless" is a matter that you have to
come to. It is a defined term and it's not something that we should use lightly. So,
every individual that is out in the public blocking sidewalks, making it very difficult
for people to transgress, they're not necessarily homeless. And so, I just want to, you
know -- I don't want to use that term lightly, but I'll let you finish what you're saying.
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Mr. Wysong: Very, very well taken, sir, in that, like you've said in previous meetings,
that if there's a person selling dope on the street, the fact that they're a homeless
person, they might not even be a homeless person, they might be taking advantage of
the homeless people that are stuck there. And so, you're right, we should address the
violations as they exist and not necessarily the status of the person. But, so on the one
end of the spectrum, there is sort of a prohibition against arresting people for sitting,
lying, and sleeping in public, so long as there's no shelter space available. But you
can work on the aspects of that. So, like if somebody is sleeping on the sidewalk and
they are taking up the entire sidewalk, you can tell them to allow, you know,
pedestrian passage to go through. You can address issues like that, and I also believe
it's important and we have worked with the Human Services Division to help out with
authorizing street cleanings, eliminating the dangerous conditions that come about
from people congregating on the street, washing down the sidewalks. The Court
specifically in absolving or rescinding the Pottinger settlement agreement indicated
that we were doing that correctly, that we were providing notice to these individuals
we were cleaning these streets, and the cleaning of the streets benefits everybody. So,
in this upcoming meeting, we intend on sharing the pitfalls, but also the opportunities
Jrothe departments to take action. And I know the Senator is very sensitive to the
attorneys talking about policy matters, but I do think that we should also perhaps
include the criminal justice system in this conversation because a lot of times the
police will make an arrest, and the person will be back on the street sooner than the
officer has finished writing their paperwork. And so, we need to stress to the criminal
justice system the importance of when we do take action, when the police do make an
arrest for something, that those cases be treated seriously. And so --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Commissioner Reyes?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, I'm glad that we're having this conversation. And it is
extremely important because it affects that area and affects most of the city, and
particularly, also the downtown area. But in the area that Mr. Chairman, that you
were addressing, and Senator, you were addressing, and one thing that I had always,
I mean, puzzled me is that we have an area that most of the times, and sometimes have
been clean, and it has been stated 10 days after that, or 5 days after that, it will be the
same. And the question, my question always been what conditions are prevailing in
that area that makes it so popular for homeless to come and camp again, again in the
same area? You see, I mean, that is something that I don't know if anybody has
analyzed it, that why it is so popular for that population to come back to the same
area, will be the proximity to Camillus House and a meal? Or it will be a proximity, to
anything. I mean, I am not an expert, but I would like to have an analysis of why, why
that particular area that, as Mr. Chair you know, and it has been there forever. I
mean, I know that, I used to drive by it every time that I was going to work and one
day it was clean, and I said, "Oh, look at this." And five days later, it came back
again. What makes it so popular? What conditions are there that will bring them
back? And that is something that I wanted to also include in the analysis that you are
requesting and the actions that you 're requesting, that maybe we can do away with
what is favorable for them to come in and make it not so popular. Maybe we can
clean those areas because it is not fair for the residents and the people that have to go
through that. It's not fair.
Chair Hardemon: And the reason I brought this up in this time is because of its
proximity to Camillus -- this particular -- I want to be very clear. I mean, there are
people who are watching from the Overtown community and there are areas that are
much worse than this. And we have businesses, and we have historic locations that
attract tourists for showings of their property, which is predominantly the Black
police precinct, that site for instance, from 3rd Avenue -- I'm going westward, or you
know, east or west -- but 3rd Avenue to approximately 6th or so, 6th Avenue, that area
is inundated with (INAUDIBLE).
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Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Chair Hardemon: And what's particularly troubling about it is that you have -- you
know that there are drug sales going there. That's why they're there. There's an
individual that has no less than 50 bikes, so he's operating a business out of the
space. We've seen -- it seems as if they've built major construction. So, you have
apartment units that are there with beds and a number of different things that are not
allowable in any public space. But they are not -- it seems to be -- I know there are
things that happen there that need to be more frequent, but there seems to be such
lawlessness there and lack of enforcement. And this is something that people -- this is
the introduction to a historic neighborhood that's getting millions of dollars in
reinvestment. We have to be able to do better, not just for the individuals that are
visiting that area, but especially for the people that live in the area and the homes that
are being reinvested there. So, it's counterproductive to what we've been doing. And I
think that this body, especially with the individuals that we have here now, post-
Pottinger, I think this is the body that can really put a dent in it, especially when we
know we're going to be getting a new police chief. And I think that this is one of those
things that's a condition of employment. You know, how do we do this? Because what
I've seen in that area is that there's enforcement of delivery, mopeds on 10 foot
sidewalks, right, where people can get by clearly. There's enforcement of individuals
who stop at a light too long in areas where there's lack of traffic, but there's no
enforcement whatsoever of the tens and twenties of individuals that I'm watching that
are using drugs, buying drugs, selling drugs, engaging in pornographic activities.
There's no enforcement of things there that I've seen. 1 know that one of the
commanders has recently asked about cameras for that area. 1 spoke to the chief
about it because 1 know that we have access to temporary cameras, but her request
was really merely about dollars from the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) to
provide relief And that's not what, you know, that's not what this should be about. It
should be about solving the problem and we should have a resource within the City to
take care of it. Commissioner Carollo? Commissioner Carollo, I know you had your
hand up. I wanted to recognize you.
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, take your hand off Don't choke on whatever you're eating.
We need you here.
Commissioner Carollo: What was that? I'm sorry, Chairman. I didn't hear you.
Chair Hardemon: Don't choke on whatever you're eating.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Having lunch already?
Commissioner Carollo: I spent my whole life with certain people always, you know,
wanting me to choke on something, and it always ends up they're the ones that choke.
But I was told there was some love spread on me today. I'm glad that I'm helping the
economy again, that they're paying newspapers to talk about me and bloggers, you
know. I'm helping people. They're being paid to talk about me. That's wonderful.
Now the economy moves in strange ways. But before I get to the topic that we're on, it
was mentioned before that NETs -- I thought that we took a motion that beginning this
new fiscal year, NETs were over. We were going to do our own NETs. So, I'm a little
confused, maybe some other time today that could be explained to me. Because there
was an official motion made from the Commission. And I don't know what's
happened. But I've been busy, so maybe I need to sit down with my staff and find out
what happened with that all. Now, going into the topic of the homeless. It just boggles
my mind that the only time that I have gotten any response from the residents of my
district on the homeless has been when top management has gone out there itself to
direct traffic with all the other departments. And then I'll tell you what's happened.
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Since like the rest of the City, everything's schizophrenic, nobody really cares. You
know, we talk so much about the residents and that's the most important thing, but in
the end, very few people care about the residents, truly. So nobody goes out there,
whether it's the police, whether it's all these groups that we have, I don't know how
many groups do we have to deal with the homeless, nobody goes out there and does
anything about it. So, the area that was cleared up about a month and a half ago or so
or a month ago, now some of the ones that were left behind, have brought in more,
and I got the area over the overpass on 6th Street that you can't walk through that
sidewalk anymore. So, where are the rights of the average resident of Miami that they
can't even walk through a street and they got to see the sights that they're seeing
because the City's not doing its job. 1'd like to know what the commander of my
district is doing in that area to make sure the police officers are coming by
professionally and asking them if they would like to go to a shelter, try to help them
go to a shelter. Why are the people that are cleaning up letting these people put huge
tents in some cases, more in others, be bringing furniture, mattresses, you name it,
even stoves in some times -- in some cases. Why are we letting them do that and
nothing is happening. And then I see that we're paying millions of dollars -- the
Homeless Trust got $18 million. And if you're going to get my vote to keep giving you
money, then I want to see that you, along with somebody in the City, does something
about that. And not one time, because top management shouldn't be the ones that's
out there to handle this. We got a lot of employees in the City that should follow up,
but nobody wants to follow up. And you go one time and then that's it. You let it go.
And at least 1 should be grateful that, you know, one time in several years it was truly
cleaned up. But 1 cannot understand why we're paying you millions of dollars and 1
keep getting complaints from residents in my area and 1 keep getting the blame for
what we have. And I'm sure the other Commissioners are being blamed with their
districts too. And it's not just the area over Jose Marti Park that Mr. Vickers spoke
about. I got smaller pockets spread out all over my district. Whether it's Flagler,
whether it's in 8th Street, 1st Street, 17th Avenue. What are you guys doing and going
out in the field and cleaning up? I mean, who in the City is truly putting a task force
together to clean up our areas and help these people? Look, the vast majority, if not
in the 80 plus, 90 percentile of the people out there are not from the City of Miami.
They come from other areas, most out of Miami -Dade County, and the vast majority
of them have either mental problems, drug problems, alcohol problems, or all
combined. So, let's not kid ourselves. These are not going to be people that you're
going to be able to straighten out so they can change their lives. It's not going to
happen. You might do 1 percent, 2 percent, maybe God will come down and do 5
percent, but the rest of the people, they're part of the drug war. The drug war that it
was to destroy America, and they are destroying America like this. Because you know,
other cities are in even worse shape, but this is Miami, this is our city. And I want to
know what employees, what departments are responsible for helping these people be
sent to whatever beds, whatever shelter so that if they don't want to go and they refuse
to go, we could deal with them humanely in another way, but we deal with them, but
they're not in the street blocking sidewalks, doing all kinds of other things that I
wouldn't even mention here and nobody gives a crap about it. So, can somebody tell
me which of the departments that are supposed to handle this? Because I will gladly
approve the funds so you could have them, but if you're not going to do anything
about it, no one's going to do anything about it, why give you more money?
Chair Hardemon: So, particularly the question that we would like the Administration
to be answered --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, the question, Chairman, is who -- which departments
are responsible for getting these people into beds, into shelters, getting them off our
streets?
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Mr. Vickers: Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, if I can, the Department of Human
Services Homeless Outreach is responsible on a daily basis. They are our boots on the
ground to address that.
Commissioner Carollo: They're hardly doing -- why aren't they doing their jobs in my
district, not to mention others, but the others can fight for their own districts. Why
aren 't they doing the job in my district?
Mr. Vickers: Commissioner, I could probably tell you that each individual who's on
the street who is homeless has had contact on multiple occasions, sometimes 15, 20,
sometimes 40 times with a green shirt. That staff is probably one of our most
dedicated staffs in the City. They attempt to address it. They place them in shelter. In
some instances they stay. Some instances they will say it's too structured. I can't stay.
There's any number of issues, but I can tell you that staff is on the street and on a
daily basis trying to move individuals into shelter. Now what we have done with other
-- I'm sorry, Commissioner; go ahead.
Commissioner Carollo: I have seen the same faces that have not gone into shelters
are still out there. So, maybe your people are really dedicated. I don't know what
they're dedicated to, but I, you know, will give it to you. They're dedicated to
something, but they're not dedicated in getting these people off the streets. And this is
the problem that I have.
Mr. Vickers: Commissioner -- okay.
Commissioner Carollo: And on top of that, I'm going to give money to a shelter, and I
got green shirts, brown shirts, blue shirts, whatever kind of shirts that aren't doing
anything to get them off, then why do we need to have all you guys? We got a budget
crunch right now. The -- by the way, gentlemen, the budget that we approved that we
thought was balanced is not because you guys weren't taking care of with the one
union that we were told that they were. So, we got a few more millions of dollars that
we got to take care of. So, I suggest that if you can't take care of that problem that we
begin with your group and defund your whole group because I'm sick and tired of
seeing what I'm seeing in my district. I don't even want to go over the bridge into the
MRC (Miami Riverside Center) side in downtown because it's like a war zone. I can
honestly say I've been all over our hemisphere. There's not a country in our
hemisphere I haven't been to. I've seen the best and the worst. I haven't seen a single
place anywhere in our hemisphere that you have people thrown all over the place like
we have here in our own downtown area and some of our other areas and we're
supposed to be the first world. I don't know. So, what I'm pleading with all of you is
to do something about this. I'm tired of getting the blame for you guys not doing your
job.
Chair Hardemon: So, let me -- I have a question for Ms. Fernandez and then I'll
recognize Ms. Mallette.
Ms. Fernandez: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: M. Fernandez, one of our dear former Commissioners,
Commissioner Sarnoff, instituted a mat program. And at the time it was highly
contested, especially by Camillus -- I'm sorry, the Homeless Trust because what was -
- well, I won't say the reasons, but it was highly contested. And so we know that there
is a resistance of individuals who are considered to be homeless of having structure.
And the mat program, as I understood, allowed them to come into the vicinity to lay
on comfortable mats, much the same way they would lay in the street. But they would
have the security of the shelter and access to different facilities at the shelter. And
they will be in environments where they will be free from attack, from illegal drug,
you know, use or sale, or anything of that nature. And it was a place for them, if you
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were truly looking for somewhere to sleep, you could be there. Have you heard about
that program? And if so, do you believe that that program is beneficial? And if it is
beneficial, and the City, for instance, stopped funding it, why haven't you all started a
similar program if you have not?
Ms. Fernandez: So, Mr. Chair, if I can, I want to -- i f I can, just for a second, I wanted
to go back and appropriately answer a question for Senator Diaz de la Portilla. He
had asked a question about what we had done proactively, but he was very specific to
the Pottinger case. Senator, I just wanted to let you know that we have a meeting
scheduled for next week with the new commander for the Downtown/Overtown area.
When we found out there was a new commander, we called the City to ask to meet
with that new commander so we could talk about how we can work together. And that
meeting --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I believe that, I believe that.
Ms. Fernandez: -- is (UNINTELLIGIBLE). So, we do, we try to work with our
partners to try to address the issue. But that meeting is scheduled, I think, it's
Commander Fernandez for next Monday. But we reached out the minute we found out
there was a new commander, as we have relationships with the two commanders, the
ones that deal with Allapattah and Downtown. Those are the ones we deal with most
frequently. The answer to your question, Commissioner, so the mat program, as it was
originally called, allowed for the equivalent of overnight stay only. So, the people
would be able to come in, sleep inside, but they would leave in the morning. If some of
them wanted to avail themselves of the day center services, they could. But it -- the -- I
think what ended up happening, the result of that mat discussion was eventually the
Homeless Trust funded another 75 beds, emergency beds, and that's when the City
started funding the 75 Pottinger beds that are dedicated by the City. So, we don't run
-- you know, with these few exceptions, we don't do overnight sheltering. That model
in the past in Miami -Dade was perceived as not being the most effective because
people were, you know, sheltered only overnight. From the Camillus House
perspective, it was a funding issue. The funding, I think there was a dispute as to how
it would be funded, and that's where it kind of got stuck. And then the solution
eventually was a commitment from the Homeless Trust to actually fund 75 beds
permanently for emergency housing, which they did. And do still exist after -- and I
think that happened in 2012 or 2013. And so six, seven years later, those 75 beds are
still available, presumably to expand the capacity to presumably reduce the need for
the mat program.
Chair Hardemon: Can you define what emergency housing is for everyone that's
watching?
Ms. Fernandez: Certainly, emergency housing is generally what is provided to
individuals who are coming directly off the street. In the system in Miami -Dade
County, it's called no barrier, which means the individuals do not have to be clean
and sober. They just cannot use inside the facilities. The -- but everything else -- you
know, we provide even a pet kennel. So, if they have a dog, they can 't use that as an
excuse for not coming into the shelter. We actually provide them a kennel with food
for the dogs and everything so we can take as many people in. So we will accept
clients who are not clean and sober, who are still not mentally stable, and it 's our job
once they come in to assign them to a case manager in emergency housing. We assign
them to a case manager so they are assisted in identifying how to get them out of there
into permanent housing. Whereas the more traditional shelter model is people, like in
New York, you see that most frequently like in New York, people come in, they line up,
they spend the night and the morning, maybe they have breakfast and then they leave,
but not necessarily engaging in services. So, they -- the needle is not moving for those
folks versus an emergency housing, by the fact that we 're able to engage them and
guarantee that they're going to have a place to sleep the next night and the next night,
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as long as they're working with us, we are able to engage them and hopefully have a
productive and meaningful outcome to their stay there. Does that mean it happens all
the time? Of course not. The only barrier that happens in Miami -Dade County for
emergency shelter, emergency housing, is that because of the law, the distancing
requirements, there is no facility to, we cannot accept registered sex offenders. But
other than that, we accept anyone else that comes in, even if -- you know, and then it's
our responsibility to get them mentally stable. It becomes our responsibility to get
them into treatment, to convince them to go into treatment, which we also offer at our
facility.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. So, then the question becomes -- the mat program, clearly,
the mat program did -- it would allow people if, for instance, those who were sleeping
on the street, it would allow them access to the facility. So, at least for those
individuals, they will be removed from the street at nighttime to be in a secure place.
Did you find that at all beneficial to what our mission is in the City of Miami along
with your mission with the Camillus House?
Ms. Fernandez: So, Commissioner, I was not at Camillus House when the mat
program was implemented. I would have to go back and pull numbers to see how
many of those individuals eventually engaged in the system through that interaction
with us to see how many eventually got into the system, engaged into a permanent
bed, and were able to then move out of homelessness into permanent housing. I
would, you know, be happy to look at -- I just --1 wasn't here, so I'm not too familiar
with (INAUDIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: And 1 can understand if you're looking at it from that perspective.
But also, I think from the City's perspective, where we have a number of individuals
who are -- so say f they are homeless and they are eligible to enter into a mat
program, which of course, it's like their introduction. Like you don't marry the
woman, you don't marry the man until you say, "Hello, my name is Hilda," right? So
you have to meet. And the program is the way that I saw it was a way that individuals
who were looking for shelter, who were looking for a safe place to be, had -- they had
that option. They could just walk up to Camillus House and decide that they wanted to
sleep on the mat, rather than sleeping on the concrete in the City of Miami. And so,
you know, I'm asking that because maybe that's a way that we can reduce the number
of people that are sleeping on the street. They -- of course, they don't have to get
services. They can if they like, right? And it gives them that option, right? So you can
make appointments with them. At least now we can know who they are, if these are the
people who are truly homeless, and are chronically homeless, and not individuals
who are staying on the street in order to engage in activities that are illegal, or
because they just, you know, they have no regard for any sort of structure. So, you
know, that's not on the agenda today, but of course, I mean, I just want the rest of the
Commissioners to understand -- those who were not here, those who were -- that there
are some options that we have that, you know, could possibly help alleviate some of
our issues. And I'll leave it at that. And then I'll recognize Ms. Mallette. I hope I'm
pronouncing your name correctly as well.
Vicky Mallette: Thank you so much, Commissioner. So, let me start out by saying this
is not an excuse, but the pandemic has exacerbated everything on the street. I'm not
100 percent certain, we'll know better in January when we do our point in time count,
but what were people on the street has turned into full-fledged encampments,
something we rarely had on the streets of Miami -Dade. We have had well-meaning
organizations passing out tents and other supplies. Once those tents get into the hands
of these individuals, it's very hard to get them to go away. So, even if an individual
accepts a shelter bed, they will not relinquish their items. Instead, they will tell the
person next to them who has refused a shelter bed to, "Here, take my things," which
prohibits us from you know, removing or keeping at bay the debris. The CDC
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has had guidance out since the
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heginning of the pandemic that says, don't mess with encampments. So, we've been up
against that challenge that if you tell large groups of people to move on, are you
promoting community spread? So, the way we've been dealing with this is we set up
five quarantine and isolation sites and the teams that are out on the street have been
moving people, COVID or not, to these sites. They have become the de facto entry
place for the individuals on the street who are willing to go to shelter, and in these
cases, in some cases, they're not going to a shelter. They're going to a hotel site that
we've procured, and they can go into their own room in a hotel site. We test them for
COVID. If they come negative, we pipeline them into shelter with rare exceptions so
that the shelters know that they're not accepting a positive. We have ample capacity
today. If you were to walk up 14th Street and offer shelter to everyone there, we have
a shelter bed for them right this moment. They have to be willing to go. For those who
aren't willing to go, we continue to work them. We work them through the
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) teams that are funded through Thriving Mind, that are funded
by -- to Camillus House that are mental health counselors out on the street daily.
They can coordinate to move people into these isolation and quarantine sites. We
have the Lazarus Project, who's dealing with the severely mentally ill individuals, and
they have a caseload they're engaging every day. We have Camillus Health Concern,
who 's providing medical care and treatment to people on the street. They too have put
people into shelter and moved people into the isolation and quarantine sites. We just a
few weeks ago approved state legislation that was put forth by Judge Leifinan. It's
designed to update the Florida Mental Health Act. This is going to provide additional
modernization to the Baker and Marchman Acts so that we can provide more tools to
the judiciary to help people who cannot help themselves. Additionally, we're
amending the workflow for the outreach teams, so they don't have to think just in
terms of this person needs to go to a shelter bed. We want them to enter an encounter,
enter and open a case, even for those refusers, as long as they can get basic
information. And we have automated our referral process to permanent housing so we
can pipeline those individuals directly into a housing intervention if they're
prioritized. And unsheltered people are part of that prioritization strategy. Obviously,
we're juggling many populations. We've partnered with your police department who
got a grant to do an opioid pilot that involves Marchman Acts or not quite Marchman.
Acts but pre-Marchman Acts and we've committed if those officers need a bed to
place someone in somewhere indoors prior to receiving a treatment bed, we're going
to be there for the City of Miami police to be able to receive those opioid users before
they have a transitional or temporary treatment bed available.
Commissioner Carollo: How many -- if I could interrupt for a minute, how many
requests have you received from our police department for such beds?
Ms. Mallette: So, I need to look and ask the teams how many. I don't have that at the
tip of my tongue. We never thought that the predominance of people in that grant
would be opioid users who are homeless. Some are, some aren't. They anticipated it
would be a fraction. So, we can circle back with the police department, but the beds
are there.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, I know the beds are there; we're paying for them. But
Ms. Mallette, the direct question is, how many people has our police department
referred to you or brought to you from the streets?
Ms. Mallette: I'd have to check that information. Let me say it this way.
Commissioner Carollo: It's that few, right? It's that few that you got to check the
information.
Ms. Mallette: So, I -- Mr. Chair, if I may. For the beds that the City of Miami funds,
there were 341 placements by police into the 10 overnight beds during the fiscal year
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that ended September 30th. 341 into the overnight Pottinger beds, what we call
Pottinger beds, the overnight beds.
Chair Hardemon: So if -- and that's 341, 1 mean, so ifyou average one a day, that is
a terrible rate at which --
Commissioner Carollo: Yep.
Chair Hardemon: -- those beds that are available were actually filled. Also, I want to
make note, Mr. -- can we have Mr. Ron Book elevated as well so that he can
participate in the discussion if necessary? Madam City Attorney -- oh, I'm sorry,
Commissioner Carollo, you had any further questions?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, while you're waiting, Mr. Chairman, if 1 could make a
statement.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Because what I'm hearing from Ms. Mallette is they have the
beds, they have the beds, and a lot of excuses. If it's not COVID, you know, it's
something else. Maybe it's HIV, maybe it's Ebola that finally came and hit us. It's
always something that we can't get rid of the people. Now, she did touch upon
something, all these tents that are being given and more. Now let me bring this up to
the Commission's attention. In the arrest that we made and that our police
department made on the recent demonstrations, in some cases more than that, I
stopped counting percentages, but early on it was something like 70 percent. I don't
know if it came close to hitting 10 of the people that were being arrested that were
homeless. The not so young man that burned one of our police cars, within a couple of
days after he did that, here's a homeless person -- I don't know how he came into
enough money to buy so much drugs. He overdosed so badly he ended up in a
hospital,, never came out of the coma and he died there where we found him. Now, I
don't know if these people have good intentions or not, but whether they're not good
intentions or whether they are and they're not understanding what thev 're doing,
they're helping to destabilize many of our neighborhoods. And the homeless
population that we have here, that's not a local homeless population. It's one that for
the most part has been sent to us from numerous places that are not City of Miami.
It's being used almost like a fifth column to destabilize our city where our residents
that own homes, that rent apartments, are afraid to even walk into their
neighborhoods. And no one does anything about it. People get tired of calling the
police. On 8th Street and 12th Avenue, we got a guy that's been there since I got here.
I'm convinced the only way he's going to be gone is in one of his, you know, drug
fringes when he's thrown out in the middle of the street, like I've seen him, someone's
going to run him over. But it's not because any of the green shirts or blue shirts or
any other shirts are going to get him out of there or do anything with him. So, this is a
problem that we have. It's a problem that's destabilizing our communities, is hurting
our City, is hurting our economy, and ifyou all can't handle it, I'll tell you, I know the
solution. I will gladly offer them a ticket wherever they came from. We'll pay for it,
one-way ticket, and we'll give them a reward. I'd rather give them 5,000 bucks a head
and buy them a ticket, you know. They could go to wonderful Portland, wonderful
Seattle, you know, that beautiful Times Square in New York or my old city, Chicago,
anywhere they want to go.
Commissioner Reyes: San Francisco.
Commissioner Carollo: We'll send them, we'll sign a contract, we'll get them 5,000
bucks and get them a one-way ticket. And you know what, we're going to save a heck
of a lot more money than having to give the Trust and who knows who else so many,
millions every year. You know, I don't know what else to do. I'm pleading for help,
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and I can't get any concrete answers. I haven't heard anyone here in all these key
positions and no green shirts, blue shirts, red shirts, or any kind of shirts, speak up
and say, what areas are you concerned with in your district? We're going to go there
right tonight and try to make an impact and do something about it.
Chair Hardemon: So, I see --
Commissioner Carollo: Because nobody wants to solve any problems in the City. All
the people want to do is line up and get their paycheck and not do anything unless
they're forced to do it.
Chair Hardemon: So, 1 see Mr. Book's hand is raised. I don't know if IT (Information
Technology) has elevated him so he can participate in this discussion, so I want to
recognize him. Mr. Book, you're recognized.
Ron Book: Mr. Chair, thank you. So, let me just chime in, and I -- to you, Mr. Chair,
and to members of the Commission, and to the City Attorney, and to Mr. Wysong. As
your staff knows, and the Manager's office, Mr. Vickers will tell you, we'll stop at
nothing to try to help more than we've got now. There's nothing we won't do, and we
will take 100 percent, Mr. Chair, through you to Commissioner Carollo. Your police
department wants to bring us 10, wants to bring us 50, wants to bring us 100 people
right now, we will put them in a bed right now. It's 12:10, Commissioner Carollo. At
1 o'clock, 2 o'clock, 4 o'clock, 8 o'clock tonight, we will put them into a bed right
now. We have vacancy, we have opening, we will do it, number one. Number two, the
issue for a minute of the tents, when Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla raised that
issue, and then you came on, Commissioner Carollo, and added to it, three months
ago, two months ago, when 1 was last in front of you, 1 said then what Ms. Mallette
said more politely than I did. We begged the green defenders not to distribute tents.
As the Chair would tell you, because he has seen my back and forth communication
with several of the individuals that live in Overtown that are desperate for us to
remove the tents. We knew what was going to happen. We don't believe -- and this is
more to some questions that Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla has posed to us along
the way. It's not that there's 500 or 1,000 more people living on the streets,
Commissioners. It's basically the same number. But it looks significantly greater
because you have tents that are not socially distanced. You have people living on top
of one another. We have put ourselves back in appearance 20 years, 20 years. I don't
know how long it should take us to get our handle back on that part, but the City
shouldn't suffer it. And I don't -- Commissioner Carollo, to you, I don't blame the
police department for the tents. The tents were created by an interest group out there.
Now that the Pottinger decision has been affirmed, if you will, by the declaration to
take it up at the Ilth Circuit, Mr. Wysong and Vicky can help us understand what
added latitude that's going to give the police department. But Commissioner Carollo,
I know where you were going on the Pottinger bed issue. We've talked about it
repeatedly over the last two years. The trust originally started with four bed set aside.
It didn 't cost the City any money. We have a four bed set aside every night, 365 days a
year. We couldn't get people in those beds. They're available for the -- were available
to the police department. We've suspended the beds, but I can put them back into
inventory tomorrow morning to you. Hilda, at Camillus, of the 75 beds,
Commissioners, that you're paying for, she's got the 10 set -aside Pottinger beds. You
can do the math on it. Just take seven days a week, ten beds at 70 room nights a night
-- a week rather, you multiply it by 52, you're talking about 300 -- 3,650 bed nights. If
we're not putting heads in those beds, Hilda's holding those out of inventory for
Pottinger placements. We don't have Pottinger anymore. They're police placements
now. Again, if you have other suggestions, any of you, we're happy to help. I just
don't know what else to offer up. I'm still optimistic, Commissioner Reyes, that when
COVID goes away, we'll be deep into that feeding practice. But we've got to have our
outreach folks there, as we've talked about, our case management, our services folks
there, so that we can get those, folks hopefully over time to let us put them into shelter
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or housing. We remain as committed today as we were when we started that dialogue.
Again, 1 repeat, you all have suggestions, Commissioner Russell, Commissioner
Carollo, Commissioner Hardemon, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
Reyes, we're ready. We're ready, just give us the suggestion. We talk to your
management staff, whether it's Art or it's Fernando or it's Milt. We may not talk
every day, but one of us touches base with each other every few days. We're in
constant communication. Tell us what we can do to help more. And Commissioner
Hardemon, you're going to the County. You're going to the County, and you'll find
you're going to have the ability to help even more by pushing us back over here to do
more.
Commissioner Carollo: Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Book, we've known each other I think -- well more years
than we both want to remember.
Mr. Book: 49.
Commissioner Carollo: I think -- oh, I think it's more than 45.
Mr. Book: Somewhere between 49 and 51. I was trying to --
Commissioner Carollo: I thinkl was about maybe 19 or so, or 18. You were chairman
of a certain democratic club in Florida --
Mr. Book: Yeah, so were you.
Commissioner Carollo: -- International University.
Mr. Book: So were you.
Commissioner Carollo: Somebody ran against you and you lost.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I remember -- I don't remember that. I was too
young. I read about it in the paper --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- in some historical archive.
Mr. Book: You weren't born -- you weren't born yet, Commissioner.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but I read in the historical
archives about it. But the interesting part is that Commissioner Carollo's now
admitting that he was once a democrat.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, I was. I certainly was when I was a young man.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, he was.
Mr. Book: Before he was helping John Grady of the American Party run for the US
Senate.
Commissioner Carollo: The -- when I was 18 --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You saw the light.
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Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) you could get all the republicans --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You saw the light.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you could get all the republicans in Miami and get them in
a phone booth. There was enough room for it. And certainly, the Young Democrats at
FIU (Florida International University) gave the best parties. And I follow that
tradition, you know, you date democratic girls and whatever the other one is, well, I
did. And anyway, moving along, if --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Good idea.
Commissioner Carollo: -- 1 had not been back to this Commission, we won't be
having this discussion. Because it was 1 that, when 1 came back, it was hearing all
these excuses with Pottinger, the same Pottinger that I had when I was mayor -- we
didn't have these problems back then with it -- I brought up a resolution that was
approved by this Commission to challenge Pottinger, to bring it back to court, and I
was right by doing that, and we don't have anymore. But now that we don't have it
anymore, I see that I'm having the same problems. And no one can speak up and tell
me what you're going to do to help solve it. Mr. Vickers talks to me about the
dedication of the green shirts, but he's not talking to me about they're going to go out
in the streets and do something about it in the areas that are killing my residents in
District 3. 1 don't hear anything from the police. I don't hear anything from any other
shirts that we have in the City what they're going to do. And you know what, it
shouldn't take the City Manager to go out there himself to handle it. So, what I'm
asking for is from someone in this City that makes more than 1 do, not necessarily
works more than me, but makes more than I do, to give me a solution now that we
don't have Pottinger in what we're going to do to clean up our neighborhoods. And
I'd like to begin right in District 3. Is there anybody in the City that cares to speak
up? Not everybody at one time, please.
Chair Hardemon: While we're gathering them, because certainly there's some ideas I
want to -- we need to --
Commissioner Carollo: See, Mr. Chairman, this is the problem that we're facing, not
just with homeless, but just about every other problem the City has. You know, it's a --
everything's on automatic cruise control, and you know, no matter how much of a
screw -up you are, nobody gets fared. You just get placed somewhere else and nothing
gets done, or if it does, it takes forever.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Vice Chairman?
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This truly is an important issue, but
I'd like to suggest that -- I'd like to make a motion that we approve the CA (Consent
Agenda), the PH (Public Hearing), and the RE (Resolution) agenda so we can move
along and maybe schedule a special meeting to discuss this. But I'm not trying to
distract from it, but I would like to make a motion on the CA, PH, and RE agenda.
Chair Hardemon: Can you include your PI (Pocket Item) in there as well?
Vice Chair Carollo: Yes, that's fine.
Chair Hardemon: I'll second that. So, motion to approve --
Commissioner Carollo: I will go along with the Camillus House appropriations. If we
break it down that every month, we're going to see what's been done, we only
approve one -twelfth of the amount, and every month, I want a report what's being
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done. I want a report from Mr. Vickers to see what all your dedicated green shirts are
doing, Mr. Vickers, including yourself. And --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I'll gladly approve the honey every month if I'm seeing
that we're placing people from the streets in those shelters and those beds are being
filled. If not, then I'd like to see if the City might consider, you know, one of my
suggestions. If people were sent to Miami from other parts of our state, our country,
that are not from here because they knew that we had handcuff's and we wouldn't do
anything, what prevents us legally, Madam City Attorney, from offering these people a
ticket anywhere they want to go and some dollars that we've signed a contract with
them, they can 't come back for an X amount of time? And we'll give them some cash
to go.
Unidentified Speaker: We do that, do that. We can also (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Ms. Mendez: Obviously, anything that's voluntary is voluntary, but I would need to
just research that particular program. It is innovative.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Vice Chairman, do you accept the amendment?
Commissioner Carollo: And they're going to take their tents with them.
Chair Hardemon: Do you accept that?
Commissioner Carollo: And any Marxist ideology that was put inside the tents that
was given to them in the Middle East or Venezuela.
Unidentified Speaker: You need to tell them what we do.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, Mr. Chairman, I accept the amendment.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, so the amendment, I'll be clear --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Chair, Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: To include the Omni -- to include the Omni in PL 1 ?
Chair Hardemon: That, but I was talking about Commissioner Carollo's amendment,
which is basically that he wants each month for the allocation for that month's beds to
come back before the Commission for approval.
Vice Chair Russell: So, it's a monthly allocation that -- and so it'll come back to the
Commission to qualify whether or not they receive the allocation or--?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, we get a report how many of the beds have been filled --
Vice Chair Russell: That I definitely want.
Commissioner Carollo: -- what have the green shirts done, what has Camillus House
done to help get those beds filled, any other department that should report -- I would
imagine Police should be there, the City Manager's Office should report. And if the
beds are being filled, people are being taken out the streets or being sent somewhere
else, then we approve the dollars. But if they're not being filled and they're empty,
what are we doing?
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Vice Chair Russell: Reporting I'ni definitely in favor of.. I think we should monitor and
try to solve and help solve. But 1 don't want to hamstring their funding where -- when
the homeless crisis is where it is right now. I definitely want to keep the funding
flowing and keep a good eye on it. And if we need to make adjustments, 1 agree, but 1
worry that if every month they have to come back to us and the money needs to be
released through that process, it'll hamstring their abilities. So, I'm a little
concerned. Can we temper that a little, Commissioner Carollo, to --
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I have no problem but --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I agree.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardernon: I'm going to recognize first Commissioner -- 1 mean, the Senator,
and then Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Why the Senator first? I could understand because he's older
than me and --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm older, I'm older. I'm more seasoned. I have a
better (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: No, you're -- you're -- okay, go right ahead. I'll wait.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You know what, sir, age before beauty. Let
Commissioner Reyes go first.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no, I'm just kidding, man. I'm just kidding. No, the only
thing that I was going to say, why don 't we reach a compromise? You see, we are --
we will get a report every month, and if action is needed, then we take it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right, the reverse. You read my mind,
Commissioner. The reverse. We authorize the amount, and we come back, and if they
don't do what we ask them to do, we take action to take the money away.
Commissioner Reyes: We are very close in (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, but also I would like to add -- and I know we
have a motion on the floor and a second and all that -- the idea that there's a plan
and shift all the responsibility to the Trust or to Camillus House, that's -- they have
their own internal mechanisms to govern themselves and they -- even though they get
money from us. My responsibility, as I see it, is what the City does. And so the
coordination between the City and the Homeless Trust and the service providers like
Camillus House, that coordination is the report that I want to see. What are you doing
post-Pottinger? What plan are you going to present to us instead of us allocating
whatever, $460K here and then another $100K over there, and at the end of the day,
we just keep throwing money at the problem and that's a very -- something you would
agree with, Commissioner Carollo, when you were a democrat when you were 18.
That's a very democrat way of doing things, you know, throw money at the problem,
right? But now that you're a republican --
Commissioner Carollo: I was only concerned -- I was only concerned --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- now that you're a republican --
Commissioner Reyes: You will never hear the end of it.
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Commissioner Carollo: I didn't get involved in those deep thoughts.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You will never hear the end of that comment for
the course of the day, the fact that you saw the light, Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: I'd always seen the light, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And Mr. Book has not yet seen the light, and to me
that's shocking.
Commissioner Carollo: Got to work on it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But I like the idea of us having a real conversation
about, you know, what's a post-Pottinger, you know, consensus, right? We can find
one. And that reporting, instead of continuing to throw money at problems, so
Commissioner Carollo, in all seriousness, to your point, I agree with you. We keep on
passing these items, more and more money, more and more money. It's not a
statement of any organization, or it's not a bad thing, or a reflection on you guys, but
we need to work together. If the problem is getting worse and not better, especially in
the area that the Commissioner Hardemon -- Chairman Hardemon and I represent,
because that's the impact that we see also in the Downtown Development Authority
area --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- that Commissioner Reyes chairs. So, we're
concerned about that. We want to know something that makes -- give us a plan of
action that makes sense of how we can address it. Not just give us money, but hey,
we'll give you a plan of action, then give us money. So, that's the only thing, how you
incorporate that into the motion, if you don't, maybe it's a directive to the manager.
But I agree with moving on, I think we 've talked enough about it, and you just need to
come back and just try to find consensus.
Commissioner Reyes: No, I agree with you, Commissioner. And I agree with you, and
I think --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: -- and Senator --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, Senator I agree with you. And I think that we have to
move along, but I would like also to include in that conversation, you know, what are
we going to do for the homeless in every single area, particularly downtown also. We
have a big problem, and this is a City problem, and a plan of action, as you stated,
Senator, it is required.
Commissioner Carollo: The problem is, if you allocate all this money now and they
get it, how do we take it back if there's a problem?
Commissioner Reyes: Well, if --
Arthur Noriega (City Manager): Commissioner, it's paid out over 12 monthly
installments.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
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Mr. Noriega: So, we can certainly allocate it and then defend it if we need to.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, there was --
Commissioner Carollo: That's what I'm suggesting that we do.
Mr. Noriega: It's allocated that way anyway.
Commissioner Carollo: And they -- we get a report from them and all these people
either on a monthly basis or a bimonthly basis.
Chair Hardemon: So, I want to recognize --
Commissioner Carollo: There has to be some accountability and this is what I'm
seeing in the City. There's no accountability in anything.
Chair Hardemon: So, I want to recognize Mr. Book.
Mr. Book: I'll be quick, Mr. Chair. I just want to add a couple quick things based on
some comments that were made. First of all, we don't have a clue, Commissioners,
what the eviction and foreclosure moratorium going away is going to mean. We have
a plan. Vicky, Manny, myself our Finance Director have been working to get ready,
rapid rehousing dollars and the like. We're ready, but we don't know how bad it's
going to be. And we know this much from what little information we've been able to
get from the Clerk of the Courts. You've got more eviction actions, more foreclosures
in totality in your geographic boundaries than any other geographic boundary within
the County to the best of what we've been able to learn. 1 am deeply concerned about
it. You just need to know we're going to need every shelter bed and every unit of
housing to be made available to us. And we're going to have to squeeze every nickel,
dime, and penny. Our reserves are gone. Gone. I'm going to go back to Miami Beach
in a couple of weeks and beg again for them to pass a reso on food and beverage tax
expansion. We cannot -- the City of Miami, the Trust, the County, the other
municipalities cannot do this without them. We just can't. On the issue, Commissioner
Carollo, through the Chair, of bus tickets, airline tickets, $5,000, we don't give
stipends to folks that leave. We are oftentimes sending people on a bus, on a plane,
somewhere else, least expensive way. But we will not, Commissioner, send somebody
where our team cannot assure there's somebody to catch them on the other end. We
won't -- but we do the same thing, Commissioner, you're suggesting. We do it
ongoing, but there's got to be a receiver to ship a homeless person to another
community only to come back to us. We worked -- Commissioner, there was a --
Vicky, how old was the short woman behind -- old lady behind Macy's that had been
there for years? How old was she? Remind me. 80, 78?
Ms. Mallette: 78, I believe.
Mr. Book: Commissioner; we worked her, it took us years. We finally reunited her
with her family in California about a year and a half ago. We will do that. I just need
help. And the last thing Fin going to say to each of you, if it's Friday night, if it's
Saturday afternoon, it's Sunday and any one of you have a homeless person that
wants to come in, you don't have to call anybody but me. You call me, my staff,' our
outreach teams collectively will go get that person and get them into shelter or
housing right then. We have elected officials all over this county that call me at 10
o'clock at night, call me at 4 o'clock in the afternoon on a Saturday or Sunday.
There's somebody sleeping in a car in a church parking lot. Every one of you, there
isn't one of you I don't believe that doesn't have nay cell number. I don't mind even
putting it out there for everybody that's listening. It's 305-510-2000. You call me, you
text me, we will get somebody picked up after hours. And I repeat, we have a
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placement right now for every single body that is sitting on your streets right now.
Chair, thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Senator.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: To understand, Mr. Chair, for clarity, to
understand the Commissioner Russell's -- Vice Chair Russell's motion. So, he wants
to include CA.1 and CA.2 and P1.1, correct? Is that it? No RE (Resolution), no PHs
(Public Hearings), right?
Vice Chair Russell: No, sir. It's the entire CA (Consent Agenda), PH, and RE agenda,
plus PI.1.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, no, no. That's not going to happen. So, 1 want
to take out RE.6.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, is there something you want to take out of it?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, sir. I want to take out RE.6.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If you don't mind, Chair and Vice Chair, and
everything else I'm okay with.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, so we're --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, hold on. Let's go over this again. What are we voting
on? We're voting the CA, the PH, what?
Chair Hardemon: CA, PH, and the RE agenda, except RE.6. That one's coming out.
Commissioner Carollo: RE agenda --
Chair Hardemon: Except RE.6.
Commissioner Carollo: -- except RE.6. Let me see what RE.6 is.
Chair Hardemon: That's the construction of a connected baywalk.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: And while you're looking at that -- so the last thing I'll say about
this issue, in Overtown, we have a proliferation of encampments that were going on
on personal property. And what we did was we enacted an emergency ordinance that
required people who had property that was undeveloped, where they were building
these encampments deep into the property and engaging in sexual activity and drugs
and things like that, we required them -- we required those property owners to have
trespassing signs and also to have it enclosed. That was extremely successful in
mediating -- or mitigating what was going on there. Now, I'm looking at we have this
issue with these tents. And part of the issue that I have with the tents is that it
diminishes the officer's ability to see what's going on in the tent.
Commissioner Carollo: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: And so my fear is always that something is going on inside these
tents that is more nefarious than what's going on outside the tents. And outside the
tents, I mean, you're talking about sexual activity in plain view. And so my question
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will he for the City Attorney, and then I'm sure that my colleagues will follow up on
this in later sessions when I'm not here, but is that right now you can have -- I know
that it's against -- well, let me be clear. Tents are either allowed or not allowed in
public rights -of -way, parks, et cetera, things like that. And they must be allowed in
some kind of way if these tents are being used the way they're being used by people
who are pitching -- putting them up in our rights -of -way. So, my question becomes,
for the way that they're being used, can we require, through City ordinance, for tents
to be transparent and not to be blocked by separate -- if they are transparent, they're
not to be covered so they render themselves not transparent? So that if there are tents
available that people are using in the public rights -of -way, that at least officers have
an opportunity to see where they are, what's happening inside of those tents.
Ms. Mendez: We did a little bit of research on this when you first brought it to our
attention about expectation of privacy inside of a tent and all that. So, we will do
some more research with regard to this particular issue. We are also doing research
to see if the tents can be, you know, put away in the daytime and just used for sleeping
and for, you know, changing and those type of scenarios. So, those are things that
we're looking into to address the tent situation. We're also looking at sizing of the
tents because you know that there's the personal tents that are really small for one
person and then there's some of the tents that you've been seeing in your area which
are bigger, much bigger. And so those types of things are items that we're
researching with regard to all this.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, Senator?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, just a very quick question going back to
RE.6, because if Commissioner or Vice Chair Russell can just very quickly walk me
through the reasoning behind it, I don 't mind including it in the agenda. I just want to
make sure the river walk is also included in that. That's my concern. And so just give
me like sort of an overall quick, succinct way of what we're trying to do here.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Senator. Through the Chair, it was an oversight on my
part to not include the river walk. It was meant to be, and I apologize. It's definitely,
meant to include all the baywalk and river walk, and really just to enable and direct
the Manager to start finding every option, incentives, zoning, partnerships. A lot of
it's on private land, some is on public land.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: But to really draft a plan on how we get there. It's been in the
code for 40 years. There's nine missing points on the baywalk so we're really close.
But without taking a proactive step from the administration, I don 't think we're going
to get finished. Now, there's private properties that we can incentivize in a way that
they will move now. And it's not, you know, it's not stated within this legislation, but
the Manager can work on that with legal and the industry. So, it's to bring back a
plan in 90 days on how we're going to complete this baywalk, create a project
timeline for it, and hopefully, assign someone within the administration that'll really
be the point person on the issue.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, I'll withdraw my objection to RE.6, Chair. I
will include it in the motion. I have no problem with that.
Commissioner Reyes: Through the Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm still not finished with the CA agenda.
Commissioner Reyes: Through the Chair, I want to make a comment on RE.6.
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Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Commissioner Russell, I'm requesting that I'm also -- I'm
going to vote for this and you know I co-sponsor it, but 1 want to request that we work
together with downtown, the DDA (Downtown Development Authority), because in
order to be consistent on, for example, on the sign -in, signage, be consistent and be
uniform, you see, instead of having some type of signage or some type of construction
on one side and not on the other. Let's be uniform in --
Vice Chair Russell: Absolutely. You're absolutely correct. So, if there's an
amendment similar to PLI, where we're including the Omni with PI.1, I'd like to
include the DDA -- in cooperation with the DDA, who has really led the effort on this
and has the most information and research to date that we do a cooperative effort.
Commissioner Reyes: And 1 know that you are very, very knowledgeable of that, what
I'm talking about.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. And thanks for (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Chair?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir. I want to (INAUDIBLE), Mr. City Clerk
(INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Two points. One, on CA.1 and CA.2 with the Trust, the
Manager said that he could pay monthly. So, I'd like to make an amendment that the
payments would be paid on a monthly basis and that every two months we get a full
reporting not just from them but from all the parties in the City of Miami government
that have something to do with the homeless so that we could see if our money is
being put to good use or not. Last but not least, Mr. Book made two statements that
I'd like to address. One, thank you, Mr. Book, for confirming what I said when you
spoke about that lady that you got her connected with her family in California. She's
from California. That's where she should be, in California, not in Miami. The other
point you talked about, foreclosures and people that are going to be left homeless,
those people are not going to be a problem for us because they're not going to be in
the streets. Those people are going to look for shelters. They're going to look for that
kind of help. The problems that we have in the streets are quite different. They're from
people, as I stated before, that are, for the most part, have been sent to us. They're
people that want to stay in the streets. They have major drug addictions, alcohol
addictions, both sometimes, mental problems that, yes, drugs will bring to you many
times. So, you've got people with all those combinations that want to stay in the
streets. The homeless, as we used to know it, people that are left without jobs, their
homes are foreclosed or what have you, that's not what we have in the streets. So, I'd
like to make sure that we have those amendments that, you know, would guarantee
that the Trust gets their money, but that we're not giving it all at one tinge. So, if we
have a problem and we want to deal with it in a different way, we have the option of
undoing it. Lastly, you know, I keep hearing you guys calling Diaz de la Portilla
"Senator. " Is there a reason why you 're calling him "Senator? " I want to hear it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's a proper title (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Not from Diaz de la Portilla. No, no, no, no, no, no, from
(INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The proper title is (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: No, no.
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Chair Hardemon: Let me say this. Let me say this.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Or Senator. 1 mean, you could (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Chairman, Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: I'm always --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: I'm always one question ahead, right?
Commissioner Carollo: No, no.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Commissioner Carollo: And then Russell started with the "Senator" too, so I'll ask
Russell.
Chair Hardemon: I'm always --
Commissioner Carollo: Is there a reason?
Chair Hardemon: -- I'm always one question ahead, right? So, I'll say this. The only
reason 1 don't refer to you as `Mayor" is because it would confuse the people.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, you can use "Manager." You can use "Vice Mayor."
There's -- I've had quite a few titles before. I'm just wondering.
Mr. Book: (INAUDIBLE) consider, Mr. Chair --
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner --
Commissioner Carollo: Am I being targeted?
Mr. Book: (INAUDIBLE) be called (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Am I being targeted?
Mr. Book: He prefers to be called Leader Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Reyes: Leader?
Mr. Book: (INAUDIBLE) the majority leader.
Commissioner Reyes: Majority leader.
Mr. Book: (INAUDIBLE) higher title.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Book knows it's always Leader Diaz de la
Portilla. But Mayor Carollo --
Mr. Book: You only have a tunnel -- you only have a tunnel out of the Port of Miami
because of him. Because of what he did together with David Rivera when Rivera was
chair of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Why are we lumping me with him now?
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Commissioner Carollo: Please, Mr. Book --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Book: Leader, Leader.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Book: Leader, do you remember bringing the Senate President down on Easter
weekend to the Port of Miami?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Do you remember that?
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Book, please, I'm going to give you a suggestion. From
here on, please refrain from bringing up such unpleasant individuals when you come
up here and speak to us.
Mr. Book: Occasionally, you just recite history. Not endorsing, history.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not asking you to endorse it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Now, I think it's a good time to call the question, I
think.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: I will take it one more step, you know.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, no (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Please do not bring up such repugnant individuals.
Commissioner Reyes: Let's call the question.
Chair Hardemon: I want to get clarification that --
Mr. Book: I retract the name.
Chair Hardemon: I want to get a --
Vice Chair Russell.• You want to clarify the amendment?
Commissioner Carollo: The amendment would be that --
Vice Chair Russell: No, I heard it. I just want to restate it if I'm catching it the same
way.
Commissioner Carollo: The City Manager will be paying the monies allocated on a
monthly basis. So, he knows that he's got to pay it on a monthly basis. This way, when
we get our bi-monthly report every two months, if there's any problems that we want
to take action, the money hasn't all been given out in one lump sum.
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Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Can that report he written rather than coming to the
dais in person so that we don't take a full day -- half day of each Commission
meeting?
Commissioner Carollo: I think we need people to come in. Maybe after we see real
action happening, maybe, you know, then we could get reports. But at least in the
beginning, we need people to come up and give us a report. Because if you don't hold
anybody accountable, and few people are, then nothing happens.
Commissioner Reyes: But they're not -- through the Chair, they're not mutual
exclusive. I would like to have a written report so 1 can read so if anybody coming
before the Commission --
Commissioner Carollo: Oh yeah, that too, of course. Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: And then we have -- I mean, I don 't want to be surprised.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, and just to clam, any stoppage of the payment would
require a new action. It's not a new action.
Commissioner Carollo: That's correct. That's correct.
Vice Chair Russell: The money will flow unless (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: That is correct.
Commissioner Reyes: Unless we take action.
Vice Chair Russell: I really appreciate that. Yes, absolutely on the amendment and all
the other amendments that have been submitted so far.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: Call the question.
Chair Hardemon: Accepted by the seconder as well. Mr. Hannon, do you have any
further clarification you need?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, Chair. Madam City Attorney, I just want to make
sure, is this amendment fOr CA.1 and CA.2 or for CA.1 only?
Commissioner Carollo: For both. They're both money. You have money involved on
both of them.
Vice Chair Russell: Right. And for the record, I was calling him "Senator" because
he was about to vote for my item.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, you have other items coming up, so be
careful.
Vice Chair Russell: Then I'll call you something else.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, if he doesn't vote for your item, then what would you
call him?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, I want to know. Now I wonder.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That'll be offline, okay? I'll take it offline.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Hannon?
Mr. Hannon: Chair, thank you, sir. Commissioner Russell, I know that we're
amending RE.6 to include the DDA. Are we also amending RE.6 to include the river
walk? Was that an amendment to RE.6?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: Understood. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, seeing no further discussion on the items, all in favor of the
items, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Against? That motion carries. Good job, gentlemen.
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PH - PUBLIC HEARINGS
PH.1 RESOLUTION
7856
Department of
Housing and
Community
Development
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ALLOCATING PROGRAM INCOME FROM
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS
GENERATED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2020 TO JULY 31, 2020 IN THE
AMOUNT OF $83,376.86 FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSING AND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY SPECIFIED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS, AND
MODIFICATIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, SUBJECT TO ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
LAWS THAT REGULATE THE USE OF SUCH FUNDS, FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0343
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PH.1, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
PH.2 RESOLUTION
7857
Department of
Housing and
Community
Development
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ALLOCATING PROGRAM INCOME FROM
HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP ("HOME") PROGRAM FUNDS
GENERATED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2020 TO JULY 31, 2020 IN THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF $193,998.06 TO THE CATEGORIES
SPECIFIED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING
ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS, AND
MODIFICATIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, SUBJECT TO ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
LAWS THAT REGULATE THE USE OF SUCH FUNDS, FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0344
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PH.2, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
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PH.3 RESOLUTION
7816
Department of
Housing and
Community
Development
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING
RESOLUTION NO. R-19-0111 ADOPTED BY THE CITY
COMMISSION ON MARCH 14, 2019, WHICH AUTHORIZED THE
CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND BOND COUNSEL TO
TAKE ANY AND ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO VALIDATE THE
APPROVED AND EXPECTED FUTURE EXPENDITURES NOT TO
EXCEED ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($100,000,000.00)
OF THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PORTION OF THE MIAMI FOREVER BONDS IN ORDER TO
REFLECT THE CHANGES TO FOUR (4) OF THE PROGRAM TYPE
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THE AFFORDABLE
HOMEOWNERSHIP STRATEGY, AFFORDABLE NEW
CONSTRUCTION RENTAL STRATEGY, AFFORDABLE
WORKFORCE NEW RENTAL STRATEGY, AND
HOMEOWNERSHIP PRESERVATION STRATEGY, ALL AS SET
FORTH IN COMPOSITE EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AN
INCORPORATED.
MOTION TO: Withdraw
RESULT: WITHDRAWN
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PH.3, please see
"Order of the Day."
PH.4 RESOLUTION
7919
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE PLAT TITLED "MIAMI DADE
COLLEGE MED PARKING", 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.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0345
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PH.4, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
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END OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
City, of Miami
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RE.1
7734
Department of Fire -
Rescue
RE - RESOLUTIONS
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE PROJECT TITLED
"FISCAL YEAR 2020 — DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ('FEMA'),
URBAN SEARCH & RESCUE ('USAR') COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENT"; APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED $1,222,631.00 CONSISTING OF A GRANT FROM
FEMA TO BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -RESCUE TO
PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT,
TRAINING, SUPPORT, EQUIPMENT CACHE PROCUREMENT,
MAINTENANCE, AND STORAGE FOR THE SOUTH FLORIDA
USAR PROGRAM; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
ACCEPT SAID GRANT AWARD; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE
ACCEPTANCE OF AND COMPLIANCE WITH SAID GRANT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0346
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number RE.1, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
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RE.2
7987
Department of Fire -
Rescue
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,104,350.00, WITH NO
MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY"), CONSISTING OF A GRANT AWARDED BY THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, TO THE CITY'S
DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -RESCUE TO BE USED FOR THE
TRAINING OF PERSONNEL IN SPECIALIZED RAPID
INTERVENTION SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE PERIOD
BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER
28, 2021; FURTHER ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE
PROJECT TITLED "FY-2019 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS
GRANT PROGRAM" AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE
OPERATION OF THE SAME; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR THE ACCEPTANCE,
IMPLEMENTATION OF, AND COMPLIANCE WITH SAID GRANT
AWARD.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0347
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number RE.2, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
RE.3
7879
Department of
Police
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), RETROACTIVELY AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM,
TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD OF MIAMI-
DADE COUNTY, BY AND ON BEHALF OF THE MIAMI-DADE
SCHOOLS POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR THE PROVISION OF
SCHOOL -BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AT UP TO
SIXTEEN (16) PUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF
MIAMI'S ("CITY") JURISDICTION, IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,337.00
PER SCHOOL, FOR THE DURATION OF THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL
YEAR, FOR A TOTAL OF UP TO $1,125,392.00, WITH NO
MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED FROM THE CITY; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO THE POLICE
GENERAL FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER 00001.190101.514001.0.0;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DESIGNATE
THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE
ACCEPTANCE OF SAID FUNDS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0348
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number RE.3, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
RE.4 RESOLUTION
5757 MAY BE WITHDRAWN
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, AND INDEPENDENT
AUDITOR TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY
REGARDING ANY IMPROPER OCCUPANCY OR USE OF ANY
CITY OF MIAMI OWNED PREMISES BY UNAUTHORIZED
BUSINESS ENTITIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE
MELREESE GOLF COURSE LOCATED AT 1802 NORTHWEST 37
AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA.
MOTION TO: Withdraw
RESULT: WITHDRAWN
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number RE.4, please see
"Order of the Day."
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
RE.5 RESOLUTION
8005
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
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 OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND IVAN
TOLEDO AND ISIS FUENTE ("SELLER") FOR THE ACQUISITION
OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 725 SOUTHWEST 63 COURT,
MIAMI, FLORIDA ("PROPERTY") FOR A PURCHASE PRICE OF
THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($380,000.00);
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE
AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS,
INCLUDING AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO SAID
AGREEMENT, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE SAID
ACQUISITION; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM A SOURCE TO BE
DETERMINED IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FOUR
HUNDRED FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($415,000.00) TO
COVER THE COST OF SAID ACQUISITION, INCLUSIVE OF THE
COST OF SURVEY, ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS, TITLE
INSURANCE, DEMOLITION, SECURING THE PROPERTY,
PROJECT SIGNAGE, AND RELATED CLOSING COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ACQUISITION, ALL IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0349
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number RE.5, please see "End
of Consent Agenda."
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RE.6 RESOLUTION
8038
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS
NECESSARY TO PLAN AND DEVELOP ANY NECESSARY
IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS, POLICIES, FRAMEWORKS, AND
REGULATIONS TO EXPEDITE AND FACILITATE THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A CONNECTED BAYWALK FOR
PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION WITHIN NINETY
(90) CALENDAR DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
RESOLUTION FOR CONSIDERATION AND FURTHER ACTION BY
THE CITY COMMISSION.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0350
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number RE.6, please see
"Order of the Day" and "End of Consent Agenda."
RE.7 RESOLUTION
8023
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DRAFT
AND PRESENT FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CITY
COMMISSION AT THE NOVEMBER 19, 2020 CITY COMMISSION
MEETING AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE LITTLE HAVANA
PEDESTRIAN PRIORITY ZONE ("LHPPZ"), SETTING ITS
BOUNDARIES, AND ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR
PEDESTRIAN COMFORT AND SAFETY THEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0351
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number RE.7, please see
"Public Comments for all Item(s)" and "End of Consent Agenda."
END OF RESOLUTIONS
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SR - SECOND READING ORDINANCES
SR.1 ORDINANCE Second Reading
7582 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Department of CHAPTER 10, ARTICLE V OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
Building FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED "BUILDINGS/CODE RELIEF
PROGRAM"; MORE PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING SECTION 10-
70 TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR THE CODE RELIEF
PROGRAM; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13933
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item Number SR.1, please
see "Order of the Day."
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Chair, is it okay for me to move the second
reading items or is any debate needed?
Chair Hardemon: We have to read it into the record.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, okay.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll make that motion before lunch time I guess. We
can take a lunch break now. Can we just get rid of that too so we can --?
Commissioner Carollo: Which item is that?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Just the second reading items.
Commissioner Reyes: The second reading items. There are only --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: There's only four of them.
Commissioner Reyes: -- two, three, four of them.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: SR.1, SR.2, 3, and 4.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: SR. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: SR.2, SR.3 and 4.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
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Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Do I read them into the record, Chairman?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: I mean, that's not how the rules work, but if that's what you want to
do.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. It's your last commission meeting. You can fix
the rules.
Chair Hardemon: No, I've got (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: You have a lot of latitude --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You have latitude with the rules today, Chair.
Commissioner Reyes: -- with the rules today.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Can we read them and then vote on it or we have
to --?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. Okay, SR.1 through 4.
Chair Hardemon: Right, so we can -- yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Second reading.
Chair Hardemon: We can read them all for the record. It's just that we're supposed
to take a lunch break after the item that we were discussing. However, you know, if --
it's up to the body. If you want to read the titles into the record, we can do that now.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. Just the title, and that's it.
Chair Hardemon: Go ahead.
Ms. Mendez: An ordinance of the Miami -- SR.1.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Commissioner Reyes: SR.2.
Ms. Mendez: SR.2.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: SR.3.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: And SR.4.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Hardemon: The Chair would entertain a motion to approve.
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Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): We already have a motion. It was moved by
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, seconded by Commissioner Russell.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, noted for the record. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in
favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? That motion carries. Alright, so let's go -- we'll he
back for lunch break by 3 o 'clock.
Commissioner Carollo: Fine.
Commissioner Reyes: Fine.
Chair Hardemon: All right, I'll see you soon.
Commissioner Reyes: Fine with me.
Commissioner Carollo: Thankyou. Thankyou.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: See you later, guys.
Commissioner Reyes: Take care, man -- Senator. My friend, the senator.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
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SR.2 ORDINANCE Second Reading
7568
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 18/ARTICLE III OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "FINANCE/CITY
OF MIAMI PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE"; MORE PARTICULARLY
BY AMENDING SECTION 18-72 OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED
"APPLICATION AND EXCLUSIONS", SECTION 18-73 OF THE
CITY CODE, TITLED "DEFINITIONS", SECTION 18-85 OF THE
CITY CODE, TITLED "COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING",
SECTION 18-86 OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED "COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATIONS/COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS", SECTION
18-118 OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED "PUBLIC -PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS", AND SECTION 18-119 OF THE CITY CODE,
TITLED "UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS", ALL TO MODIFY AND/OR
ADD ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION AND RECEIPT OF BIDS AND
PROPOSALS FOR FORMAL SOLICITATIONS, REMOVAL OF THE
CURRENT NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT REQUIREMENT OF
PUBLICATION OF EACH FORMAL SOLICITATION VIA MULTIPLE
DIFFERENT NEWSPAPERS, AND UPDATING CURRENT
LANGUAGE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13934
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number SR.2, please see "Order
of the Day" and Item Number SR.1.
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
SR.3 ORDINANCE Second Reading
8024
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 10/ARTICLE I OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "BUILDINGS/IN
GENERAL," TO ESTABLISH A NEW SECTION 10-9 OF THE CITY
CODE, TITLED "FAILURE TO ACQUIRE REQUIRED PERMIT(S);
SECURING OF CONSTRUCTION SITES WHEN UNDER
EMERGENCY WEATHER WARNING(S) OR WATCH(ES);
ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS; STOP WORK ORDER;
PENALTIES," PROVIDING THAT COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY
CODE, IN GENERAL, IS A REQUIREMENT OF ANY CITY OF
MIAMI ("CITY") ISSUED BUILDING PERMIT; PROVIDING FOR THE
REQUIREMENT OF ALL CONSTRUCTION SITES TO COMPLY
WITH PRE -NATURAL DISASTER SITE SECURE MANDATES,
STORMWATER POLLUTION DISCHARGE ELIMINATION, AND
EROSION CONTROL; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT
PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE X AND OTHER EXISTING
SECTIONS OF THE CITY CODE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13935
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number SR.3, please see "Order
of the Day", "Public Comments for all Item(s) " and Item Number SR.1.
SR.4 ORDINANCE Second Reading
8025
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE IV/DIVISION 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED
"ADMINISTRATION/DEPARTMENTS/PLANNING, BUILDING AND
ZONING DEPARTMENT," TO PROVIDE FOR INCLUSION OF
BUILDING VIOLATIONS AS A REASON FOR REVOCATION OF
CERTIFICATES OF USE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13936
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number SR.4, please see
"Public Comments for allltem(s)" and Item Number SR.1.
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END OF SECOND READING ORDINANCES
City, of Miami
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FR - FIRST READING ORDINANCES
FR.1 ORDINANCE First Reading
7838
Office of the City
Attorney
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 42/ARTICLE IV OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED "POLICE/TOWING AND
IMMOBILIZATION/BOOTING OF MOTOR VEHICLES", TO UPDATE
REGULATIONS AND FEES CHARGED FOR TOWING AND
IMMOBILIZATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES, ADDING ADDITIONAL
REGULATIONS FOR THE DOCUMENTATION OF TOWS, AND
UPDATING PENALTIES; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Reyes
ABSENT: Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, can you read into the record the first
reading ordinances?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you, Chairman.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: FR.2.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: FR.3.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: FR.4.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: I believe that's all the first reading ordinances.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Is there a motion to approve FR.1 through FR.3?
Vice Chair Russell: So moved.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by the Chair. Any discussion on the motion to approve
FR.1 through FR.3? Seeing none, all in favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
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FR.2 ORDINANCE First Reading
7655
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 54 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED, TITLED "STREETS AND SIDEWALKS"; MORE
PARTICULARLY, BY CREATING NEW SECTIONS 54-59
THROUGH 54-62 TO CREATE AN ENHANCED RIGHT-OF-WAY
IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND ("TRUST FUND"); FURTHER
REQUIRING THOSE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS
REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT OR RECONSTRUCT STREET
IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH CERTAIN BUILDING
PERMITS IN AREAS WITH ADOPTED STREET MASTER PLANS
PAY INTO THE TRUST FUND IN ORDER TO CAPTURE COSTS
FOR SUCH IMPROVEMENTS WHICH MAY INCLUDE
NONSTANDARD STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS; CONTAINING
A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Reyes
ABSENT: Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number FR.2, please see
"Public Comments for all Item(s) " and Item Number FR.1.
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FR.3 ORDINANCE First Reading
7988
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 55 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED, TITLED "SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS," BY
AMENDING SECTION 55-10, TITLED "BUILDING PERMITS;
ISSUANCE; RESTRICTIONS; EXCEPTIONS," TO CREATE A NEW
EXCEPTION TO PLATTING TO RECOGNIZE FORMER LOTS OF
RECORD AND PROPERTIES WITH CERTAIN METES AND
BOUNDS LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS FOR PROPERTIES WITHIN THE
FORMER BECKER'S SUBDIVISION RECORDED IN BOOK 16,
PAGE 43 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY,
FLORIDA, THE PLAT OF WHICH WAS REVOKED BY THE CITY
OF MIAMI SUBSEQUENT TO RECORDATION OF THE SAME;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR
CERTAIN CONDITIONS RELATED TO IMPROVEMENT OF
ADJACENT RIGHTS -OF -WAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE
ISSUANCE OF BUILDING PERMITS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
EXCEPTION TO PLATTING; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Reyes
ABSENT: Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number FR.3, please see Item
Number FR.1.
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FR.4 ORDINANCE First Reading
8049
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 36 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED, TITLED "NOISE;" MORE PARTICULARLY, BY
AMENDING SECTION 36-4, TITLED "OPERATION OF RADIOS,
PHONOGRAPHS OR OTHER SOUND -MAKING DEVICES; BANDS,
ORCHESTRAS AND MUSICIANS —GENERALLY; EXEMPTION",
TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROHIBITION OF OUTDOOR MUSIC
BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 P.M. AND 8:00 A.M. THE
FOLLOWING DAY IN AREAS THAT SHARE A PROPERTY LINE
WITH ANY PROPERTY THAT HAS A RESIDENTIAL USE;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR
AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
NAYS: Hardemon, Russell
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item Number FR.4, please
see "Public Comments for allltem(s)" and Item Number FR.1.
Chair Hardemon: I'm recognizing you, Commissioner Carollo, on Item FR.4.
Vice Chair Carollo: FR.4. This is an item that I've been looking at for quite some time
and then we had COVID that came so it didn't take priority. But this is a problem that
we have citywide. We all know the problems that we've had in the northeast part of
the county, with complaints that we've had from residents on restaurants that serve
liquor too and have music. We've had numerous problems in Midtown, even
Downtown. And you know, we're here to represent the residents of Miami. We try to
find a balance when we can, but our main responsibility is for the protection of life
and property and the peace of our residents. And it's not compatible to have
properties that at night when people are trying to be home, be relaxed, they're getting
music blasted into their homes. At the same time, let me add that this does not effect,
because it can't, any establishment that has been grandfathered in by, or should I say
this will grandfather in any establishment that has been given permits prior to this. I
wish it could be different, but that's the way it has to be. So all establishments that
have had permits will not be affected. It's going from here forward with new
establishments. And this will go a tremendously long way in siding with the residents
of Miami for their tranquility in their own homes because when you have properties
that the front of those commercial establishments might be facing a thoroughfare, but
the back of them face residential properties. It's not compatible to have that type of
noise in the back. And the problem that I have is that I've seen not just with our noise
ordinance but across the board with all enforcement in the City of Miami, it doesn't
matter what we have in the books if there's no enforcement. No enforcement and I've
seen it. People are out there, everybody that's in the enforcement field wants to work
bankers hours, so particularly on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and at nights, we have
practically nobody out there enforcing. Police officers that are assigned to a lot of
these establishments, once they're hired, they're working for the establishment.
They're no longer working for the residents of Miami and the City of Miami. And we
already know the stories on the cash payments that I hope have stopped, I hope have
stopped. So by doing this, we're going to guarantee a tremendous peace and quiet to
a lot of residents of our city, and improve the quality of life for our residents, which is
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our main responsibility in all of our neighborhoods. And this is citywide, not in my,
district, not in a portion of my district or any other district. This is citywide. And it's
because of all the complaints that you all receive, 1 receive, we read in the media,
citywide. So this is what it's about. And these are the kind of quality of life ordinances
that I've been bringing and will bring in the future.
Chair Hardemon: Is there anyone else --?
Vice Chair Carollo: I make a motion for its approval.
Commissioner Reyes: 1 second it for discussion.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Discussion.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Commissioner, 1 know what you're saying because I had
that same problem on Coral Way with (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and that it was really
affecting that quiet neighborhood there. But I want to know how this is going to affect,
I would like between first and second reading, that would analyze it, analyze how,
what would be the effect on new buildings -- I mean, on new businesses that are going
to be established. If this is going to be detrimental to this type of business to come into
the City of Miami. Maybe we could limit the hours of decibels, I don't know, but I
think that we should be looking very deeply in this, I mean, jumping into this and see
what's going to be the effect of it. Because obviously, it's going to
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) effect.
Vice Chair Carollo: The problem is, Commissioner, that, as 1 stated, we have no
enforcement, nor have we had in the City.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Carollo: You've seen it. And we're kidding ourselves that we're going to
enforce anything. We -- you know, listen, we're not Miami Beach. We established
back when I was mayor the area for major club and entertainment districts. Then
Wvnwood, parts of it, have expanded. The areas that will be affected are residential
areas. We're not saying that people can't have music inside establishments. And
that's where they, you know, they need to bring it in. We're saying it's outside, you
know, after a normal time where most families are going to be home 8 o'clock until 8
in the morning that no music outside for those who want to be. People can have
gatherings in commercial areas, they could have dining, but no music. The musics
have to be inside where the noise is kept inside. Look, in my district there have been
new businesses, several of them, that have had to wait several years through all the
permitting. They've gone through all the permitting, unlike others, and I don't
particularly care for some of them but they're keeping the music inside. So, in that
aspect, that's fine. You keep the music inside. The problem is once they bring it in the
back of the establishments that it's going right into the residential areas right behind
them and beyond sometimes. Look, our main responsibility is for our residents.
Businesses are still going to come to Miami. We're not going to stop anybody from
corning here, they're going to come here. But if they want to be good neighbors and
be good businesses for the City, keep the music during the late hours inside the
establishment. If you want to bring it outside, frankly, I don't want those businesses
near residential areas. Let them go somewhere else that will accept that, and I don't
think too many places really will.
Commissioner Reyes: Commissioner, I have a concern with Downtown Miami also,
you see, that it's a residential area. And there's a lot of businesses in Downtown
Miami.
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Vice Chair Carollo: That's -- Downtown is quite different in what we have. You got a
lot of tall buildings. It's quite different. And the intention, you know, when we say
residential in downtown, there's really nothing residential in downtown, you know, as
we know it, as your district is, as mine, as Diaz de la Portilla, as most of the district
that Hardemon has, as Coconut Grove here, in Commissioner Russell's district. You
don 't have that in downtown. So if you want to try to come up with something that 's a
little different to fit downtown, I'm certainly openn for that.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Vice Chair Carollo: And you're not going to have what 1 think you understand that
I'm describing --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- in downtown.
Commissioner Reyes: I tell you, this has a lot of merit, because I have seen a lot of
neighborhoods that have been affected by loud music coming from people that have a
terrace and all of that, and open doors and all that. But 1 would like to have, between
this reading and second reading, have a thorough analysis on how will this affect
different neighborhoods, how this will affect downtown, how will it affect, for
example, Commissioner --1 mean, Coconut Grove. Coconut Grove has -- it has a lot
of establishments that they are entertainment and the Entertainment District in
Wynwood, and in downtown, and also, I mean, try to, maybe we can be a little bit
flexible with the hours, you see. And I would like to, I mean, the principle of the
ordinance, I do agree with it 100 percent, you see. But I would like to have some sort
of in-depth analysis how it is going to affect. I know in Commissioner Diaz de la
Portilla district, there are a lot of establishments also that could be affected. And I
would like to have that analysis. I mean, it doesn't take anything away from it, but it
is, we can make it better.
Vice Chair Carollo: Commissioner, you certainly have the right to analyze it all
between first and second reading.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right, and I would like to have every, one of the
commissioners, you know, be able to analyze this and have some experts analyze on
what would be the effect.
Vice Chair Carollo: What I'm saying is that if people want to come into the City from
now on. Again, this doesn't apply to anyone that has had permits in the past, if people
want to come into our city from now on.
Commissioner Reyes: Those people are grandfathered in.
Vice Chair Carollo: We got to put our residents first (UNINTELLIGIBLE), not people
that are going to make a few bucks, they're not even going to live here. And that our
city is going to be used just so someone can fill their pocketbooks. And we're going to
make the lives of our residents pure hell. And you know what? They don't have a
voice. They don 't have a voice like I've seen since I got here. And you know why they
don't have a voice? Because I've seen that if you've got enough money in this town,
you can buy your way into practically anything. You could buy Code, you could buy
Building, you could buy Planning. What happened in Commissioner Russell's district
didn't happen by chance in those two buildings in Day. That happened because
people were bought off in the city government. Corruption, yes, corruption is exactly
what I'm saying. And some of the same people that did that have been doing the same
thing in my district, in yours, and other areas. And it's been.far sale. And this is why
the noise ordinance that we have is a joke. They don't get enforced. When there's a
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complaint, the dispatcher doesn't give it to an on -duty officer, they give it to whatever
officer is working off -duty for the establishment. They shut it up so nothing ever
happens and God forbid if they do anything is to tell like I've been told residents, hey
they got a right to do whatever they want.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no.
Vice Chair Carollo: And then to try to get Code there, depending who do you have
that's in charge, they might not let the Code people. They might tell certain Code
individuals not to go there, like what's happening before in different parts of our city.
So when you have a system that's been compromised, and we might not want to talk
about it, but you know what? I'm going to talk about it because it hasn't come out in
the open. When you have people that have been paid off to protect others, not our
residents, then you have to make laws that they can 't get around. And that's the
bottom line, Commissioner, and why this is coming. I'm trying to protect those people
that came to me, that came to all of you in the northeast complaining about the noises,
so many from Wvnwood, others in my district. This is citywide, Commissioner,
citywide.
Commissioner Reyes: I know that it's rampant. But as I said before, you see there are
certain establishments, like for example, Magic City in my district, I mean, how this is
going to be affected.
Vice Chair Carollo: Magic City is not touching any residential area. This has got to
touch.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, the parking lot is touching.
Vice Chair Carollo: Where are they touching?
Commissioner Reyes: On the -- I said 3rd Street, or 2nd Street or 3rd Street.
Vice Chair Carollo: Well, no, you're talking about --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Carollo: -- the outside parking lot, but they're certainly not planning on
making concert halls over there in those parking lots. I mean, they're parking lots.
That's why they have --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, that's right. They have concerts on the racetrack.
Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, yeah and that's not touching any residential area.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, that's what I'd like to define, you see, define real well.
Vice Chair Carollo: And that's fair. That's fair to define that.
Commissioner Reyes: That I want to define that, and I want to do that if it passes
between first and second reading. I am going to vote in favor, but between first -- Pin
letting you know that between first and second reading, we have to really, I mean, fine
tune this.
Vice Chair Carollo: Well, sit down with the administration.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Carollo: And, you know, go over the areas that you have concerns about.
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Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Russell.
Commissioner Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioner Carollo, I get where
you're going. I think that if you could boil our entire job down to one thing, it 's trying
to balance resident quality of life and protecting and growing business. And this is the
perfect, you know, moment of conflict in those decision -making. You know, I don 't
want us to send a mixed message, especially around COVID when we 're trying to
encourage outdoor dining and trying to help, you know, we 're trying to get rid of,
what do you call it, curfews. You know, but I get it. Even the last -- the -- Ben
Fernandez, who was here, when he was here two weeks ago, he was -- he had a
client's application on Biscayne Boulevard in the MiMo (Miami Modern) District,
and they had a rooftop entertainment planned and that abuts T3 and Morningside, all
of Biscayne does, all of MiMo does. This would affect all of those businesses,
restaurants, entertainment venues, bars along there. And they've tried to balance this
similar war. Maybe it's similar to what's experienced on Calle Ocho, I don't know.
But they have --
Vice Chair Carollo: It's very different.
Commissioner Russell: It could be very different. They have a thoughtful approach in
his proffer and they put all of the entertainment on the Biscayne Boulevard side of the
property and he had buffers and walls and everything. So the only thing facing the
residential side would be the air conditioning, you know, units and no people and
things like that. But even this might affect them in the Grove.
Vice Chair Carollo: It won't because what we're talking about here is only
entertainment in backside of lots. They could have all the dining that our code would
allow for the square footage but what we're talking about only in the backside the
music stops at a reasonable time when people are usually home and want some
relaxation in their home.
Commissioner Russell: Is that what (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Vice Chair Carollo: That's what we're talking about. But we're not talking about the
front that would, you know, be buffered by a building. We 're talking about the back
where the buffer is going to be the neighbor next door.
Commissioner Russell: Is that what it says in the legislation though? Because I'm --
that I, you know, I don't necessarily disagree with if that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Vice Chair Carollo: Well, if that's not clear we'll make it clear. What this is trying to
do is keep the entertainment, the music either inside the buildings where they should
be or in the front side facing the commercial side if they have room there, most do not.
Its rare when you're going to find it. Where if there's anything there, you have the
whole building then, there's a buffer, so it won't go back into the neighbors. This talks
about where you're getting locations that never had that, and all of a sudden, you're
creating space that is right adjoining the back, it 's all residential across the city like
we've seen, and you're putting places that are, you know, hitting music extremely
loud.
Commissioner Russell: I may be interpreting the legislation incorrectly then because I
asked -- after my briefing I asked the Administration for a map. I said I want to see
what this truly affects. And I have to assume --
Vice Chair Carollo: This is what they gave me.
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Commissioner Russell: So let me take a look for that because if I -- the way I read the
legislation, it affects at least four or five restaurants in the Center Grove, a lot of
parts of Wynwood, parts of MiMo District. And so 1 think it's worded maybe broadly
and --
Vice Chair Carollo: Whatever it affects right now, if they have permits for the in -
back, outdoor entertainment, that they'll be grandfathered in. We can't take away the
permit we gave them before by changing the law now. This goes forward. If didn 't
have permits you cannot then come and try to get them.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Vice Chair Carollo: So if those restaurants you're mentioning have permits for
whatever they're doing in the back it's not going to affect them.
Commissioner Russell: Can I get a clarification maybe from -- from admin because I -
- I -- I hear what you're saying and that sounds that sounds safe, but the businesses
I've spoken with are very concerned and the way they're interpreting it, they're very
concerned and I just want to make sure that that's what it says. Because if -- even if
we're going to work on it, if we pass it on first reading and we're sending a message
to all restaurants and bars throughout the city if it's -- iffit's the way I'm interpreting,
and I could be incorrect, I think it sends a bad message if-- you know, we're trying to
encourage the recovery of business. 1 don't want that headline.
Vice Chair Carollo: Well --
Commissioner Russell: 1'd like to work on it.
Vice Chair Carollo: I don't think it sends a bad message at all because we're not
stopping anyone from serving food. On the contrary, you know, food, we'll help to
expand it in any legal way that we can within our code. The problem is, we've got to
decide as a body who 's going to come first, the big bar, big restaurant owners with
the money, or residents, simple as that. I'm throwing my line with the residents, no
matter what happens. I respect whatever opinions someone else may have.
Chair Hardemon: Well, we had one of my -- one of the business owners within our
community in Overtown area speak out about this particular ordinance. And, you
know --
Vice Chair Carollo: I can't hear you, Chairman. You're breaking up.
Chair Hardemon: Sorry. I said, one of my residents, and also a business owner of the
Overtown area, came to speak out against it because, particularly the lot that he has,
that was basically a vacant lot, that they're using the TUP (Temporary Use Permit)
right now, to, you know, revitalize Overtown, to get people in that space. And they've
been pretty successful at attracting people there in the evening times. And the entirety
of their venue is outside. They -- as I understand, they rarely get any complaints about
sound. And I know that, for instance, also in the, I'm just thinking about a particular
building right now, the Paramount building that's just now in the World Center area,
that area has a promenade that they spend millions of dollars with. And they want to
continue on that promenade even further. It's a beautiful outdoor space, very mature,
beautiful palm trees there with outdoor speakers and lighting. It's just a very beautiful
scene. And when I look at this, this tells me that they would not be able to use it at
nighttime. And I think one of the beautiful things that I'm seeing in Miami right now is
the use of outdoor space in the evening with the string lights and things of that nature.
I think about places like Paris and places I've been where in the evening they have
beautiful music that's playing, Brazilian (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
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Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, but in civilized cities, Chairman, in civilized cities like
Paris, they have people that enforce their laws. We're not civilized. We don't enforce
our laws. We got a bunch of corrupt son -of -a -guns that pay off our employees so that
the laws are not enforced.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Vice Chair Carollo: And this has been happening. Every one of you know it that it's
been happening. And Commissioner Russell, anytime there 's a stomach for it, I'll be
happy, since nobody else is going to do anything about it, on those Day Avenue homes
on top of each other, to use the chapter in our City Charter that the commission can
investigate as a body with subpoena power. And I'll be happy to get that along and I
guarantee you we're going to get to the bottom of it and overturn it once we get to the
bottom of that. And then from there we could go on to some other places until we have
employees that are honest, that are not going to take money for protection or to make
decisions for the rich and powerful to get their way. Now you 're talking about the
Paramount. Are they adjoining --? I mean, do they touch --
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- residential property next door? I think you 're maybe getting it
all wrong.
Chair Hardemon: Well, first the building is mixed use so it's residents in the building
and it's commercial at the bottom. And then that property has a almost what could be
assumed to be maybe a paseo, but it opens up and then there'll be another residential
building that shares that same sort of promenade space. But it 's all included in their
property line. And so, and then I think about a number of different, of our main
avenues, that that's where the concentration of our commercial spaces are. And for
instance, in places we're trying to attract, the reestablishment of commercial
buildings and --
Vice Chair Carollo: In places like this that have been approved already --
Unidentified Speaker: There's no problem.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- I would think that they would be grandfathered in. But
gentlemen, truly, is the only way that we're going to revitalize the City of Miami is
going to be through bringing in more bars, taverns, titty bars --
Chair Hardemon: Hey, hey.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- and big restaurants with all kinds of alcohol? Is this how we're
going to make Miami great again? If it is, we're lost already, I'm telling you.
Chair Hardemon: But one thing I will say is this, is that part of the reason I feel like
part of my neighborhoods are not in the condition that they should be, is the lack of
business, the lack of commercial spaces and people willing to have jobs, and for
people to drive by and see that there 's commercial spaces. I think if we have more
business and offer more jobs, then that allows those residents who live near --
Vice Chair Carollo: Then, where we should put money into is bringing those
businesses that are going to not harm the quality of life of our residents. Bring those
businesses to the City of Miami. All that I'm hearing is protect the alcohol barons.
Chair Hardemon: But no, to me it's not all about alcohol. I'm just saying, because
this is about noise. Noise and music outdoors is a -- this is a big issue. So all I'm
saying to you, Commissioner, is that the way that it is written right now, I know I
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can't support it today. I'm not imploring anyone else to do anything different. I'm just
saying that --
Vice Chair Carollo: 1 didn't think you would, Commissioner, so -- from your
expressions in the past and I respect that.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Vice Chair Carollo: But I have to do what I feel I was elected to do, put my residents
first. And when I say my residents, beginning with my district, but citywide.
Chair Hardemon: Right, 1 understand.
Vice Chair Carollo: Because I've gotten more complaints from people in your district
and Wynwood and that whole area than even from mine. I've gotten complaints from
that other part of your district in the northeast and we all remember that that whole
restaurant, that whole brouhaha on the noise, not on the sign. Two different problems
that we have there and the only way that it could be resolved is by a law that's clear,
that's not dependent on someone coming in and trying to decide if the decibels are
there or not or what or if you send a Code officer at night that, you know, they're
almost impossible to find because they don 't work. And then when they get there, they,
get intimidated because they've been yelled at or, you know, the people that come at
them, you know, scare them. You know, I have my motion on first reading. You all
could decide.
Chair Hardemon: Correct. It's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any
further discussion? If there's no further discussion, all in favor of the motion, say
"aye.
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Note me as against for the record, please.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): For the record, I have that as 4-1. Is that correct,
Chair? 3-2.
Chair Hardemon: 3-2, okay. So the motion passes.
Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Russell and Commissioner Hardemon voting no.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: What we have left on our --
Vice Chair Carollo: I apologize. I was on mute. I was a no vote as well.
Chair Hardemon: We had recorded it for the record. What we have for the -- left on
the agenda is the discussion item. We have a curfew update, that's DI 1. And then we
have a DL2, permit services during COVID-19.
Commissioner Reyes: And for the record, Commissioner Carollo, I do understand
what you're saying and I know we have that problem. And I would like -- it still stand,
my first comment, that I would like to go over it and try to, I mean, refine it as much
as we can and be as just as it could be.
[Later...]
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Mr. Chairman?
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Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: 1 just wanted to clarify, for second reading, Commissioner Carollo, is
this coming back on November 19th?
Vice Chair Carollo: That's the earliest you get it back, correct?
Ms. Mendez: Yes.
Vice Chair Carollo: November 19.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you.
END OF FIRST READING ORDINANCES
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BU.1
6745
Office of
Management and
Budget
BU - BUDGET
DISCUSSION ITEM
MONTHLY REPORT
I SECTION 2-497 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES
(RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT AND
BUDGET)
II SECTION 18-502 (CITY'S ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT)
III SECTION 18-542 (FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES)
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: BU.1.
Commissioner Reyes: BU.1.
Christopher Rose (Director): Good afternoon, Commissioners. Chris Rose, Office of
Management and Budget. 1 will say, every October 1 get up and explain that October
is kind of the hardest time of the year to project both the new year, as we're only 21
days in, and the past year. We've had a soft close, but we don't have a final hard
close yet. So, this year is no different. In fact, it might be just a little harder to come to
some numbers at the end of the year here. So, next month in November, we will have a
number for you. We will bring it at that time, and we will bring the end of year budget
amendment for your consideration. One future amendment that I want to bring before
you and alert you to is that the feeding programs that we put in place in last year,
we'll be carrying over into the new year and we're going to bring a budget
amendment for that in the mid year in a couple of months. But just to let you all know,
the new fiscal year has begun, the budgets have been loaded, departments are
complying with the new budget and I think that 's everything I need to tell you all.
Chair Hardemon: Any questions for our Budget director? Alright, seeing none --
Mr. Rose: Thank you.
END OF BUDGET
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DI - DISCUSSION ITEMS
DI.1 DISCUSSION ITEM
8037
Commissioners
and Mayor
DI.2
8047
City Manager's
Office
A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING AN UPDATE ON THE
PROGRESSION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER R-20-0326 FROM THE
OCTOBER 8, 2020 CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: Now, DLL
Commissioner Reyes: DI.1.
Chair Hardemon: If there weren't any objections to those requests
(UNINTELLIGIBLE). DI.1, the curfew update. Are we having a discussion about
curfew in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)? You're recognised, Senator.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is sort of, you know,
we're going back and forth with the courts and our businesses are getting -- and
business owners are getting very confused as to when they can remain open and when
they should be closing. And it's really, really hurting our businesses. And we have to
really begin to really concentrate on the economic health of our community and our
business owners. And we have to send a very unified message, I think, not only our
mayor, but our city commission, our leaders, of what's allowed and what's not
allowed.
DISCUSSION ITEM
A DISCUSSION TO PRESENT TO THE CITY COMMISSION AN
UPDATE ON THE CITY'S REALIZED EFFICIENCIES AS A RESULT
OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ELECTRONIC PLANS
REVIEW (EPLAN) PROGRAM.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: The only thing that we have left is DL2, the permit services during
COVID-I9. Is that something that someone in particular --?
Vice Chair Carollo: No, we have DL3 also, don't we?
Chair Hardemon: DI 3 was deferred.
Vice Chair Carollo: D113 was deferred?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Vice Chair Carollo: Who deferred DI.3?
Chair Hardemon: I believe the management.
Vice Chair Carollo: Excuse me?
Chair Hardemon: The manager's office, I believe.
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Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. Well, 1 have no concern if the manager wants to defer it. 1
thought it was one of my items, but that's fine. We can defer it. I've got no problems.
Arthur Noriega (City Manager): Yeah, I wanted -- I want to better socialize it,
Commissioner, with a couple of the other commissioners who had questions.
Vice Chair Carollo: Sure, that's fine. There's no problem with that. I got no problem
with that, Mr. Manager. Take whatever time you need.
Chair Hardemon: No one has any comment on D1.2?
Mr. Noriega: We have a presentation.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, how long is the presentation?
Mr. Noriega: Not very long.
Chair Hardemon: Is it Zerry Ihekwaba?
Nzeribe Ihekwaba (Assistant City Manager/Chief of Infrastructure): No, actually, my
colleagues will be coining up shortly. I just want to start by acknowledging the long-
standing interest and guidance of the mayor, Mayor Suarez, in the development and
deployment of electronic plans review. The process started way before when he was a
commissioner. And we've already received several --
Chair Hardemon: You may have to speak up just a bit, because I'm having trouble
hearing you.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Can you hear me? Hello?
Chair Hardemon: Go ahead, you can speak. We can hear you, but you're not
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) well so (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bring the mike closer to you.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Okay, let me hand over to my colleague, the building director, to
kickstart the presentation. It's quite a short presentation, listing about the City's
accomplishments, as well as the process that we've identified to facilitate the
electronic plans review. Ace.
Mr. Noriega: Ace, you're on now, you're muted.
Asael Marrero (Director, Building): Good evening, Chair, Commissioners. We have a
presentation. Can we project that presentation on the screen, please?
Vice Chair Carollo: Presentation.
Mr. Marrero: It's a quick presentation, Commissioners, probably no more than
maybe 15-20 minutes. And I will get some assistance as well from Kemarr Brown,
who is our Enterprise Technology and Assistant Director for Planning who was
paramount in implementing ePlan for the City of Miami. Kemarr, are you on as well?
Kemarr Brown: I am. Thank you, Ace. Good afternoon, Commissioners. So first and
foremost, thank you very much for the 20 minutes to provide a brief overview of how
we have moved the city forward by implementing ePlan over the last two years. So
specifically, just to kind of put a mile marker, ePlan was implemented citywide
December 5th, 2018, throughout the city. And we wanted to baseline our conversation
this afternoon by reminding everyone several of the issues that we have heard well
before 2018. And later on throughout the presentation, we will showcase how ePlan
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has helped to improve the permitting process citywide. So first and foremost, one of
the common issues that we've heard is that the process itself is oftentimes
cumbersome and unpredictable. We've also heard the need -- that for single-family
new construction permits, we needed to reduce the time to issue those permits. We
also heard that we needed to reduce the number of cycles for permits to be issued. So
oftentimes, I think we all can agree that we've heard in one instance or the other that
a person submits a permit and then in second or third cycles, they keep getting new
comments. Fourth is the need to reduce the number of visits that an individual needs
to come to the City to conduct business related to their permits. And we 've also heard
over time that there were complaints of misplaced plans or projects. So we -- I will
say that this project has started well before COVID. It was what 1 would consider
really an intentional, introspective look at how our permit process was being
performed. And ePlan was the catalyst to help us really improve our permitting
processes citywide. I'm going to pass it over to Ace to really hone in on what the
current state of permitting was with the building departments. And then we 're going
to talk a little bit about how that has been transformed by ePlan. And of course, at any
point, we welcome any questions that you may have.
Mr. Marrero: Yes, next slide please. All right, so this slide really represents our state
prior to electronic plans review. And it really speaks of a very linear plans review
process. We used to have a plans room where plans will be routed from the plans
rooms to the Building reviewer, and then from the Building reviewer back to the plans
room, and from the plans room blacks -- back to Zoning and back to the plans room
and back to Public Works and so on and so forth. And before you know it, on this very
linear process, you had a permitting process that just to complete one review cycle
would take over 100 days. This was very inefficient, but it definitely speaks to the days
of processing plans in a paper format. One of the challenges that we wanted to do was
to eliminate that and go into what is considered a concurrent plans review, meaning
all disciplines, whether you have 3 or 20, could all review the plans simultaneously at
the same time. Next slide, please. And this is where we took the city. We took the city
from a plans processing stage to an electronic one. One that would, once we received
the documents from the applicant, would automatically be routed to all disciplines for
review, inclusive of Miami -Dade County, DERM (Department of Environmental
Resources Management), Water and Sewer impact fees. This was a huge benefit to
our applicants because we're amongst only eight cities in the county that take
advantage of this particular program. It cuts back on the applicant's need to go to --
you know, to have to travel to Miami -Dade County to get this business done. We
essentially decided that we needed to be a one -stop permitting center for our residents
and house all the components that it needed for them to be able to obtain a building
permit. I also want to say that we implemented over the past year what we label or we
ident as an AC permit. And we have issued over 2,500 of those over the past 12
months. And these are permits that are issued within 10 minutes, literally, and are
reserved for your trades type of work, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, easy work,
less than $10, 000 worth of value. You know, we decided that these are work that we
don't need to review plans, only receive an application, and then ultimately do an
inspection on the field to be able to satisfy that particular permit. It has been a
success for the City of Miami, and it's a program that we are continuously evaluating
to see how we can perhaps increase the scope of work. Next slide.
Ms. Brown: So, Commissioners, oftentimes we 've talked about ePlan and we wanted
to take this opportunity to talk about what the ePlan ecosystem looks like. Today, we
have three permitting systems that our customers from time to time will interface with.
If you're looking to receive a building permit, you will submit an application in
iBuild. If you're looking to do work on the right-of-way, you will submit an
application through the iPW system. And then I'm really proud of the Department of
Planning and Office of Zoning because as a result of ePlan, this is the first time both
departments has the ability to intake projects in a digital manner. So the Planning and
Office of Zoning departments also has a platform by which our applicants can submit
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applications. All of these portals connects to our digital plans review system, and
there is a seamless integration that was aided directly by our Department of
Innovation and Technology. We wanted to provide a brief summary before we get into
the details on how exactly we are doing in the realm of timelines, as well as cycles of
review. So ePlan, first and foremost, it's important to know that we are no longer
conducting reviews sequentially. We have shift the business model to concurrent plans
review. So that means if there are 20 required disciplines that must see a project, all
20 disciplines are able to participate in that review at the very same time. As a result
of that concurrency, we have seen visible reduction in time for the issuance of
permits. And that issue -- that reduction of time speaks to the building permit planning
and zoning, as well as our right-of-way permit population. We have over -- during
CO VID, we have managed to digitize our entire permitting population and process.
So when we went live in December 5th of 2018, we had a population of projects that
were considered legacy. As a result of COVID, we were able to digitize all paper
plans, and we essentially are now a completely digital city as it pertains to digital
plans review. With the ePlan platform, we are able to allow real-time transparency
and status updates. So our applicants are able to log in at any time, so that 's 365
days, 24 hours a day to check their status, to see reviews, to see comments by any
given department. As I mentioned previously, all our departments are now conducting
business electronically, and as Ace alluded to, we are one of eight cities that
participates in Miami -Dade County's Concurrent Plans Processing Program. Over
the last year, so that's 2019 to today, the Building Department has issued over 40
permits. So that is master --
Mr. Marrero: 40,000.
Ms. Brown: That is master --
Mr. Marrero: 40,000, not 40.
Ms. Brown: 40,000 -- thank you, Ace -- 40,000 building permits, so that is inclusive of
both master and sub permits. They've also conducted more than 120,000 inspections.
When we did the initial rollout of ePlan, we had a team of I think about maybe five
persons who were also, you know, staffed to the City of Miami, who hosted and
facilitated more than 95 external trainings and public outreach meetings to ensure
that our user base were oriented to what ePlan would introduce. We eliminated the
need for walkthrough permits, and today we have the capacity to manage over 17,000
active users in our ePlan system. We also wanted to talk a little bit about, and we'll
get into a little bit more detail about how we've enhanced our permitting systems to
automatically flag City projects and affordable housing projects for expeditious
processing. So we'll talk about that a little bit later.
Mr. Marrero: All right, so this particular slide really talks about the success of ePlan.
Because at the end of the day, we really want to have metrics that speak to how we
were prior to ePlan versus how we are today. And this particular slide tells you the
picture of a couple of years prior to ePlan, `17 to `18, two full calendar years versus
after ePlan, 2018 to 2020. We were issuing building permits at a rate of about 52
percent prior to ePlan. And that increased by a 20 percent efficiency by having the
ability to review plans concurrently and thus improving all of our processes. That was
a huge -- the numbers clearly speak to a huge improvement in how fast we are able to
turn around permits for applicants in our community. Next slide. This slide also talks
about a very specific project that were concerns prior to ePlan about the average time
that it would take to issue a building permit for a single family home. In fact, there
was an article back in March 21st of 2017 making reference to 310 days to do so.
After ePlan was implemented, this was one of those priorities that we took upon
ourselves to really dive down into the detail and improve on those particular
processes. We have gone down, I want to say, to about 59 days to issue such a permit,
and progressively our goal has gone down. It started with 99 days, we 're down at 65,
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and we want to continue pushing the goals so that we can, you know, keep driving
that number down as far as we possibly can. Next slide.
Ms. Brown: As it pertains to the planning and zoning reviews, we are currently --
initially when we went live with ePlan, we were processing permits from pre-screen to
issuance in about 91 days. We established a goal of 90 days, and this past year, we
have -- we are currently at 84 days. If we round up, it's 85 days that we are
processing from pre-screen to permit issuance. And as Ace indicated, we're
continuously re-evaluating how we are conducting business to allow us to push the
goal even further to allow -- to in turn have permits, in our case, entitlements issued
in a much faster manner. For the Office of Zoning, we have the Office of Zoning
similarly to the Planning Department, they had a goal initially of 90 days. In 2018
through December 2019, they were on the cusp of that 90-day mark. And as of this
year, they have reduced their milestone even further to about 83 days to process, on
average, to process their entitlements. And again, we are continually re-evaluating
how we can cut time or cut steps rather that will in turn allow for time savings to our
applicants. So anecdotally, one of those things that we are doing are implementing
joint reviews between planning and zoning reviewers, right? So in turn, we expect that
our numbers will continue to reduce overtime. As it pertains to our right-of-way
permits, so that resides principally in the Resilience and Public Works Department,
we also saw a reduction in time. They started with a goal of 90 days to issue the
majority of their permits, and October of last year, they saw a time frame of about 71
days. This past year, they continue to reduce that timeline to about 67 days. So in
large part, you'll see that the equation of being able to review concurrently and being
able to interact with our customers a lot more frequently has directly contributed to
our ability to reduce our time frame.
Mr. Marrero: This particular slide speaks to the old wav of processing plans, you
know, how long it took for a particular commercial project versus a residential to do
a full cycle of review. I tell you, not only was that very inefficient, we were able to, as
a result of COVID, take all of that --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Can we go back? I'm sorry, Mr. Chair, can we go
back to the previous slide?
Mr. ildarrero: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. So it takes -- it took 70 days to get a permit
issued before, 70.88, whatever, now it takes 67?
Mr. Marrero: This is for --
Ms. Brown: That is for our right-of-way permits section.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know. So it took --
Ms. Brown: Last year it took 70 days on average.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct and now 67.
Ms. Brown: That is correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And you tout that as a major improvement? You
tout that as a major improvement?
Ms. Brown: I don't, it's not major for the specific item or permit. I think for us the
improvement that we are referring to is in large part the ePlan programming, sir.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, if I may, Mr. Chair, through you. What do you
see as the biggest improvement to the new e permitprocess?
Mr. Marrero: 1 -- Commissioner, I see the biggest improvement -- from a building's
perspective, the biggest improvement is concurrent plan review. In any particular
commercial project you could have as little as three disciplines but as many as 20. So
if you had to walk those set of plans through 20 disciplines, you know, adding the
physical element of going to a plans room and picking those plans and going to a
third floor or an eighth floor. So there was a lot of inefficiencies in doing that, right?
So for Building, it has been a completely, a huge transformation in terms of efficiency.
We are, and there's a slide, a couple of slides down that will tell you --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Mr. Marrero: -- the building review cycle concurrently, if those 20 disciplines, if one
is doing it in two days and another one is doing it in five days, if the worst discipline
is doing it in 10 days, well, that is your entire cycle, 10 days, because your worst
offender is your worst timeline, and that's the one we need to always try to bring
down --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right
Mr. Marrero: -- so that at the overall scheme of things, your entire review cycle goes
down, right? But so, for us, that has been a huge improvement. We have seen -- I
know at the very beginning of this project, we worked with some large projects that
would typically take, you know, six to nine months to get a building permit issued.
And we were able to cut that down tremendously. So from the Building's perspective,
that has been the biggest efficiency, to be able to review plans concurrently. Now, the
second thing that I want to point out in terms of huge improvements from ePlan is the
ability to go back and issue the review to the same reviewer that did the original
comments.
Commissioner Reyes: That is it. That is huge.
Mr. Marrero: This was a huge problem in plan. In plan --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That is huge, correct.
Commissioner Reyes: That is huge. And that was -- excuse me, Mr. Marrero, through
the Chair. That was one of the biggest complaint that, and you know also Senator,
that's one of the biggest complaint that we have that they have comments from a
reviewer and then when they return the comments corrected, then a different reviewer
will look at the plans and add additional comments or would disregard the first
comments and then incorporate their own comments. And that was, I mean, this is
short cycle. It was going on and on and on. And that really, I mean, it took a long time
to be resolved.
Mr. Marrero: That was a nightmare.
Commissioner Reyes: It was a nightmare. I'm glad to hear that now you're doing
that.
Mr. Marrero: We have essentially closed that loop. We are now able to always go
back to the same reviewer. You have continuity of --
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
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Mr. Marrero: -- because you have continuity of knowledge. You know, you don't have
to review the plans all over again from scratch. The minute those plans come hack to
you, you remember. I reviewed it a couple of weeks ago, 1 knew exactly what the
issues are, 1 know exactly what to look for, I'm done.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Or you have a file that tells you this is what I did,
this is what I did, so you go through it, right? You go through the list of what you
asked for initially and what they gave you at the end, right?
Mr. Marrero: Yeah, so from Building's perspective, those are two -- I mean, if we take
away two items as huge improvements JroBuilding, those would be the two major
ones. Concurrent plans review and going back to the very same --
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Mr. Marrero: -- reviewer. Now, we also gain real estate because we don't have to
store plans anymore, you know. So we gained a lot of room which we're able to
repurpose internally here on the fourth floor. So next slide. And this, Commissioner,
speak directly to what we were talking about, concurrent pian review. So we have
disciplines that are reviewing in two days. We have disciplines that are reviewing in
six days. You know, we have other ones that are reviewing, perhaps because of
staffing, in 12 days. But that is your worst cycle. Everybody else has already
reviewed. And the minute those reviews are done, they're available to the applicant.
So we also have the ability to automate (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the process, they get an
email, right. Your plumbing has completed your review. So they go and they can see
what kind of feedback they're getting from those different disciplines. They can start
amending their -- and making those revisions ready so when the last review comes in,
hopefully all of the changes are already done and they can resubmit back to the City.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And how do you set the goals? I mean, how do you
come up with those numbers, your goal numbers?
Mr. Marrero: These numbers are specifically driven --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Through the Chair, I apologize, through the Chair.
Mr. Marrero: This particular goals are driven by the data of how much work we have,
and a combination of the data and how much work we have. And I got to tell you, also
we want to push our staff really hard. We want to have -- sometimes we want to give
ourselves goals that, you know, we may not be able to reach, but we really want to
give ourselves some really tough goals so that, you know, if we don't get there, at
least we tried to improve our efficiencies. Now in Building --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: On Fire -- now Fire and Zoning --
Mr. Marrero: I don't like the five anymore. I want to go down to three.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right, so Fire and Zoning, ten days, right?
Mr. Marrero: Yes.
Unidentified Speaker: Why?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Mr. Marrero: I would love for fire and zoning to answer those particular questions,
but i --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Of course. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Commissioner
Reyes, I'm sure all of us would like to (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Because as they
negotiate their contracts, you know, 1'd like to know why (UNINTELLIGIBLE) fire 10
days, right?
Mr. Marrero: Historically speaking, Commissioner, those were the days that they had
when we went into ePlan. Those were the goals that were identified based on the
staffing levels that they had and the volume of work that was corning in. And those
were the goals that were established back in 2018. We are -- one of the things that we
want to do, now that we have two years of solid data and metrics, we want to start
changing some of those and make them even more realistic and in line with the data
that we're going back. So we gave -- for example, Building, we gave ourselves a goal
of five days. We have been exceeding that, so we want to give ourselves even less time
going forward, right?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, but with Fire, with Fire, you're moving in
the wrong direction.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right?
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Ms. Brown: So, so, Commissioner, ifl can add, I know that.
Commissioner Reyes: Ql, Q2, seven days. (UNINTELLIGIBLE), okay.
Mr. Marrero: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: You were right, Commissioner. I mean, Senator.
Mr. Marrero: But I think it important to know that still is a concurrent review. So
yes, while there might be slightly above, that is still a concurrent review.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Mr. Marrero: Next slide.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think Ms. Brown was going to make a comment.
Ms. Brown: Yes, I was. So as Ace alluded to, Fire, the goal of 10 days was expressed
at the point of ePlan. Fire actually just brought on. I believe, three additional staff
members. So we do anticipate that that timeframe will go down, because now, based
on the volume and staffing, we are now able -- they will be hopefully now able to
reduce their time to review. So that is a line that we will continue to track and
hopefully he able to report in the coming months on.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So we're hiring new people? I heard it was the
opposite.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no. I think that they are taking people off the trucks and
they're going to use there for something.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So they added three new staffers now. I don't --
okay. Okay.
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Ms. Brown: Okay. Regarding -- Ace, do you want to go through this or I can actually.
For our entitlement population, this is planning and zoning. The goals, so well, let me
step hack. Entitlements are our warrants, waivers, exceptions, variances, rezones,
comp plan amendments. The established goal, initially when we started in 2018 was
30 days. We chopped that by 50 percent to push the team even further and now we are
in QI. We 're at 13 days Pr a land development team and the -- I believe you'll notice
that the longest period over the past three quarters has been 15 days. So again, that is
an indication that the teams, whether it 's the building permits or the entitlements, are
managing or maintaining their goals. And for us, it's now time to reassess those
goals, reduce them further, and then keep trying to see how we can get our numbers
to be even better.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But this is a significant improvement, 1 think.
Ms. Brown: It is.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Eloy Garcia (Deputy Fire Chief): Excuse me, Kemarr. I'm in if the commissioners
have a question.
Ms. Brown: Ah, perfect. Thank you, Eloy.
Mr. Garcia: Commissioners, good evening. Deputy Fire Chief Eloy Garcia, Chief of
Administration. I apologize, I was not able to get in quicker.
Ms. Brown: Okay.
Mr. Garcia: Yes, Commissioner, you have a question for Fire?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Mr. Garcia: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: And from what I heard, you are include -- I mean, you are
adding three new positions for the -- for fire inspections, right?
Mr. Garcia: No, sir, actually we were approved for one position.
Commissioner Reyes: One position only?
Mr. Garcia: One position, yes, sir. Fire Protection Engineer, which will basically be
more allocated to high-rise -- high-rise inspections. We wanted to upgrade our
credentials and our personnel in that area very specific to the infrastructures of these
massive ultra high-rises that we're receiving.
Commissioner Reyes: Question, all your inspectors have to be uniformed personnel?
Mr. Garcia: Actually, sir, we have inspectors that are uniform personnel, and we have
inspectors -- we actually have one that is non, just like this fire protection engineer
will be a civilian also.
Commissioner Reyes: So -- and I mean, clarify. In order to be able to, I mean,
perform a fire inspection, be in a -- one of the skyscrapers or into the -- these -- you
know, in a single-family home or a business, it doesn't necessarily have to be a
uniform and a regular firefighter. It could be performed by a person that it is an
expert or it is a regular inspector. Could it be?
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Mr. Garcia: Well, first of all, we don't inspect single-family hones nor do --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, 1 mean, I'm talking about businesses, businesses. 1
mean, there is a -- and also, 1 mean, I have a lot of complaints that officers, that they
have even (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and they haven 't been able to move all the people
there because the fire inspection have taken so long, you see. And I want to know if it
is jrolack of personnel, because you don't have enough personnel and you have too
much work, or it is because those inspectors, they'd have to be fire personnel. I mean,
they have to be uniformed personnel. And I'm just thinking about possible solutions.
And it also could be no uniformed personnel that could be hired in order to perform
those fire inspections.
Mr. Garcia: Well, I think when we were talking about the plans review, it's important
to note that Fire -- that not only has to inspect the fire component, but they also have
to inspect a building component. And I'll give you an example. For example, a fire
alarm has an electrical component to it. So we have to review the fire alarm, and then
we have to review the electrical component.
Commissioner Reyes: That doesn't answer my question, sir. That doesn 't --
Mr. Garcia: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Reyes: -- answer my question. That doesn 't answer my question. A
person that knows about fire alarm, a person that knows about buildings, a person
that knows about many of the things that are the other components, that is going to
inspect it, and doesn't have to be, or is going to review a plan, doesn't necessarily
have to be a firefighter. That's my question.
Mr. Garcia: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: People other than firefighter will be able to perform all those
inspections. That is my question. Yes or no?
Mr. Garcia: Yes, that's -- you're absolutely right. And that's why --
Commissioner Reyes: That's it. That was my question only.
Mr. Garcia: We have two civilians. We have a civilian fire plans reviewer and we
have a fire protection engineer that is in the process of being --
Commissioner Reyes: And how many uniform reviewers you have and how many
uniform inspectors you have?
Mr. Garcia: We have three plans reviewers that are uniform and one supervisor.
Commissioner Reyes: And one supervisor.
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, and those are also the ones that inspect all of the --
Mr. Garcia: No, sir. Then there's a -- we have a fire engineering section, which is
divided into a water supply, plans review, and new construction. The plans review is
somewhere in the vicinity of 7,000 plans a year, and new construction, over 22,000.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, fantastic. That's a good load. But all of those reviewers, or
the majority of those plans reviewed are performed by these four plan reviewers,
including the supervisor?
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Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. And in total, you only have three plans reviewers that are
all uniformed?
Mr. Garcia: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: And one supervisor that is uniformed?
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. But you don't have to be a uniform, 1 mean, you don't
have to be a firefighter to be able to perform all those plans review.
Mr. Garcia: No, but we -- but it's a --
Commissioner Reyes: But you prefer it. I understand, Eloy. I understand, Mr. Garcia.
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: You prefer that --
Mr. Garcia: No, no, but I was going to --
Commissioner Reyes: -- but I know why I'm asking this. And I just wanted to know.
okay?
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Thank you, sir.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you.
Mr. Garcia: It's important to note that these are doing exercises such as when we
have hurricanes, they also have a different role in which they become part of our
strike teams, teams that go out and monitor situations when that happens.
Commissioner Reyes: Can the non -firefighters, don't they -- cannot they do that? Or
cannot they go out and review and analyze and be able to assess any, I mean, we have
a hurricane or something like that.
Mr. Garcia: No, I'm saying in alarms', they'll go and relieve trucks when a wire is
down, when a power line is down and our fire engine goes out and they secure the
scene. Until FP&L (Florida Power & Light) arrives, you cannot leave that scene to
maintain the integrity and security of that scene. So what we then dispatch are strike
team, life safety teams that go out and --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. We 're talking about
here (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the difference. Please educate me. We have plans
reviewers, and then you're talking to me about firefighters going when a power line is
down. Any trained firefighter could go and do that.
Mr. Garcia: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: And then, I'rn specifically, specifically talking about plan
reviews, okay? And you gave me the answer, sir. Okay, thank you, Eloy.
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Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir, thank you.
Ms. Grown: Regarding the average number of review cycles for a plan to he
approved. So again, this is a -- the goal today is three cycles is for the Building,
Planning, Zoning, our Resilience and Public Works and Fire -Rescue Division. And
you will see that in 2018 and 2019, the numbers are relatively consistent. We actually
have been discussing internally how to get to a place that a project, in and out, first
round of reviews, a person is able to get their permits issued. Primarily' those smaller
permits that, you know, may not be easy permits, but they may not be a large-scale
development, how can we continue to analyze the process to make it easier and
minimize the questions for applicants to in turn reduce the number of cycles? One of
the things that we are also doing, why we have been able to keep the numbers in large
part to below three, an average of three cycles is on the first or second round of
comments, if we find that there is a barrier, a communication barrier, all departments
are currently meeting with design professionals as well as applicants to review those
comments and ensure that there's a -- there's clarity in what is being requested, that
hopefully in the subsequent cycle, all the items are addressed, that we can move the
project forward. So that is -- it is not systematic, but it is a procedural step that has
really been a point of improvement on how we communicate with our customers. And
then to talk a little bit about what we are doing in the way of affbrdability. In earlier
this year, so July 16th, all of our permitting systems that I -- we talked about earlier
have been enhanced that at the onset of the project, an applicant has the ability to tell
us that the projects are affordable. And in (INAUDIBLE) --
Mr. Marrero: 1 think we're losing Kemarr. So what she was alluding to is that our
system has been enhanced so that the applicants are able to check in the intake
process and identify if a project is a affordable housing project or a City project. And
as a result of them able to do so, the project can be expedited and set as a high
priority in our review processing, which would essentially put them on top of the line
so that they get priority in the review process. And I believe she's also controlling the
slides. So if she froze, I'm not so sure how we're going to be able to go to the next
slide. But --
Commissioner Reyes: How many more slides do we have?
Mr. Marrero: No, we don't have that many more. And you know, Commissioner, one
of the things that I want to point out as an additional huge improvement to ePlan, we
men -- I alluded first to a couple of them in terms of the concurrent plans review. I
mentioned the ability to always go back to the same reviewer. And I want to add one
more, transparency. This is key because you no longer have that web ofplans and that
dark room where plans were stored and you really had no idea where your documents
were heading. With ePlan, you know to the second, who is handling your plans, what
is the state of your application, and what do you need to get approved from the
Building Department. So that level of transparency has been key in making sure that
our customers know precisely where their projects are at. And with that, I would like
to also point out that the Building Department is working closely with all of the
permitting, all of the other permitting departments to always and continuously
enhance ePlan. And as a matter of fact, it continues to be an active project. We have
well over 200 system enhancements in place to always and continuously improve our
permitting system. And ultimately, we really want to have a permitting environment
that is the envy of everyone here in not only Miami -Dade County, but the state of
Florida. We want to be the best.
Commissioner Reyes: I really hope so. And I mean, that was the intent of the
investment that City of Miami did in all the computers and all of that. I think there's
still room for improvement. I can give you some horror stories, but this is not the time
and place. But there are a lot of horror stories that comes to me, people that have
been over a year. And even when this plan was implemented, particularly in
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downtown Miami, and they haven't been able to open restaurants and all of that, and
those people, you know, because one thing that 1 want you guys to understand, you
see, there is two components of taking so long for the, 1 mean, a business to receive
any restaurant, or even a construction, even a development, to -- 1 mean, it takes so
much time to be able to start working, to start the construction or to start the
business. You see, I bet you that ?five cost out and if we make a projection of all the
money that the City of Miami had not received due to the fact that we had a permitting
process that was so inefficient it would be in the billions of dollars. And I'm going to
tell you why, because the more that -- the longer that it takes for a building to be
completed and get a CO (Certificate of Occupancy), I mean, that is money, that it
doesn't come, tax money that doesn 't come into the city coffers, tax money that will
pay your salary and the salary of everybody that is there. And then tax money that
could be used to provide better services. And 1 want you to understand that behooves
everybody that is in Building and in Planning and all of that, that we should expedite
this building, I mean, permitting process because the faster that we get all those
development and all those business in our tax rolls, the more revenues that we 're
going to get in order to have better roads and provide better services and maybe we'll
be able to lower taxes.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you so very much for the presentation, Mr. Marrero, Ms.
Brown. We appreciate all the information that you gave us.
Ms. Brown: Thank you for (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
DI.3 DISCUSSION ITEM
8048
Department of
Planning
A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING THE SOUTHWEST STREET
TREE MASTER PLAN UPDATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: Item DL3 was continued to the November 19, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number DL3, please see "Order
of the Day."
END OF DISCUSSION ITEMS
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BC.1
7361
Office of the City
Clerk
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: NOMINATED BY:
Christina Cuervo Commissioner Manolo Reyes
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0353
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Reyes
ABSENT: Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, are there any --? Well, let's see. Let's move
on to the Boards and Committees.
Commissioner Reyes: Boards and Committees.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Good afternoon, Chair. BC.1, Art in Public Places.
Commissioner Reyes will be reappointing Christina Cuervo.
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by the Chair. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
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BC.2
7966
Office of the City
Clerk
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING, ZONING AND APPEALS BOARD
FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Jane Gilbert Commissioner Ken Russell
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0354
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Reyes
ABSENT: Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): BC.2, Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board
Commissioner Russell will be appointing Jane Gilbert. And Commissioner Reyes, I'm
sorry, I'm going to have to hold off on Charles Garavaglia until we have all five
Commissioners on the dais, but we can move forward with Jane Gilbert,
Commissioner Russell's appointment to the Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board.
Commissioner Reyes: I move it.
Vice Chair Russell: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Moved and seconded. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Against? Motion carries.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
[Later...]
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Hannon, you're recognized.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, and if you don't -- if I could ask for your
indulgence. If we could go back to BC.2 now that we have five commissioners. I
would like to proffer on behalf of Commissioner Reyes, Charles Garavaglia, a
reappointment with a 5-5 term waiver.
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Vice Chair Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Properly moved and seconded. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively):
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Chair Hardemon: All against? That motion carries. Thank you very much for
reminding us.
Commissioner Reyes: Thank you.
END OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
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PZ.1
6798
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
PART B: PZ - PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S)
ORDINANCE Second Reading
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"); MORE
SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1.2, TITLED
"DEFINITIONS OF TERMS"; ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.14, TITLED
"PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAM"; AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.14,
TITLED "WORKFORCE HOUSING SPECIAL BENEFIT PROGRAM
SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS," TO MODIFY THE AREA MEDIAN
INCOME FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE MIAMI 21 CODE;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13937
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, are there any ordinances on the Planning
and Zoning -- on the Planning and Zoning list?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Yes, yes, Chairman. Do you want me to start
reading those?
Chair Hardemon: The ordinances into the record, please, yes.
Ms. Mendez: PZ. 1 -- first of all, were any of the PZs (Planning and Zoning) reset? I
didn't write that down.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, PZ.4 and PZ.5.
Ms. Mendez: Okay, thank you. PZ.1.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: We were just reading it into the record, but we can take the most
right now if you like.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, I thought that we going to --
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, we're going to read them into the record so that we don 't
have to, you know --
Commissioner Reyes: We don't have to go back. But what would happen when the
rest of the Commissioners come in and they would like to read it or what? We have to
do it again or --?
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Chair Hardemon: No, we would think they we would (INAUDIBLE). But, like I said,
you can move an individual item if you'd like. I mean, that's fine as well.
Commissioner Reyes: Well., I would like to move this one right now.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, is there a second? Is there a second on PZ.1 ? I'll second for
discussion.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: Yes, you're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, this is where Commissioner Reyes and I have differed in
opinion before. I completely understand and empathize with what he's trying to
accomplish by lowering the AMI (Area Median Income) and really trying to serve
those who need affordability the most. I'm a little concerned if we start changing the
formulation, it'll affect how we scale not only the programs we're offering, but how
those programs are matched with other funding sources, and I do believe that the
higher end of workforce is part of the spectrum that helps self subsidize the rest of the
spectrum on the developer's dime rather than ours, so I don't want to lose that higher
end of workforce categorized in the AMI. I'm with you about trying to focus more on
the lower end of AMI and targeting more projects toward the lower end of the AMI
and incentivizing that, but 1 don't think we should eliminate 120 and 140 from our
AMI definitions. So, that's why I'm (INAUDIBLE) --
Commissioner Reyes: This is only, Commissioner, to those where we are offering
benefits. And if we are offering benefits in the form of additional density or additional
floors and all of that, the 140 AMI -- and you have to understand that -- that that is
not what we need and we are not serving the -- what the definition of affordability is.
Affordability in the City of Miami, I mean, it doesn't fit the definition of 140, which is
for people that are making -- person, one individual, making over 40k -- $80,000, and
that increases as the number of individuals that are living in the house, not the ones
that are working, the people that are living in the house. If I have -- I mean, I am a
single mother, okay, or a single parent, and I have a son or a daughter, or both, I
have two of them, then the owner of that apartment could ask me for a rent based on a
hundred and some thousand dollars. That could be very detrimental to me, you see.
And if we want to do is serve the people we are offering incentives in order to serve
the people that we represent, you see, instead of being what we are doing now, which
is subsidizing people that does not live in Flagami, people that does not live in
Allapattah, people that does not live in Liberty City, people that don't live in Little
Havana. What we are subsidizing is the rent for those people that live probably in
Broward that they want to move into the City of Miami. And we are subsidizing those
people with incentives that we are an additional burden that we are creating to the
neighbors in the area. Because if we increase density, let's say by 40 percent, and
there are 200 more apartments in that area, those people that are paying for our
bonds and those people that are living within the area, they are going to be more
crowded, we're going to need more services, and we are not complying with the
definition of affordabie housing. Because the definition of affordable housing is up to
80 percent, you see. Workforce housing a term that has been created in order to
eliminate what it is, low income and affordable housing. And most of the cities around
the United States, they are using the maximum, it is from 60 to 120. None of them are
using 140. That is something that I don't know why you are so much in love with it,
because if you believe -- if you believe that a person, that it is, I mean, that it is made
to pay $2,000 a month, that is affordable for people that you represent, I mean,
probably in your district, yes, but not in my district and not in the other districts,
$2,000 a month, it is rent burden I would say to over 80 percent or 85 percent of the
people in the City of Miami. Salaries in the City of Miami -- you know what is the
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average salary in the City of Miami, sir? Do you know? Answer me, answer me. You
know how many people are --1 mean, how many salaries -- if you go to ZipRecruiter
and you look at all the distribution of salaries in the City of Miami, and you're going
to see that over 90 percent are below -- and I have it right here -- over 90 percent, 90
percent are below $75,000, you see, $75,000. And those are the people -- you see, we
are offering -- we are offering incentives in all bond -- I mean, with our bond money
to people to subsidize, and we are subsidizing people from a bond that was placed on
the ballot that read affordable housing. And we are subsidizing apartments that they
are not affordable to the people that we sold that idea to. You see, that is of my only
concern. 120 is too high and 140 is too high, sir. I mean, it is. And if you 're not, I will
make this --1 mean, 1 will get it to you, so you can see that -- that any person -- it is
not that they cannot pay it. You see, a single parent that is making 55,000, a single
parent that is a teacher and has a kid cannot live in one of those apartments, and
that's workforce. Because that person, it's going to be rent burden. You see, by
making, if you're making $55,000, you shouldn't be charged more than $16,000 a
month, over $1,000, over $1,000 some dollars a month. You see, and that is my
concern, that if we are going to represent -- I mean, we are representing a population
that it is hurting and needs affordable housing. And we are promoting those
developments by giving them incentives, which is, I mean, I give a, let's say, for
example, somebody comes to Flagami and they want to, in a piece of land, they want
to go from six story to ten story. And in exchange, I'm going to get what is called
workforce housing at 140. That is not right, sir. That is not what this program is all
about. The program is to get affordable housing. And if you go to a --1 mean, if you
have your plan and you want to develop your land, you can charge whatever you
want. You don't want to, but in my opinion, I don't know, 1 don't think, my opinion, I
don't think that our population, based in the range of salaries that I have here, range
of salaries that 1 have here, the percentage of people that are below, below $80, 000,
you see, below $80,000 of salaries, the percentage that are below a thousand dollars,
that it is not what I think that is affordable, sir. You see, even I would say that
(Comments in Spanish not translated) 72,000 -- I mean, 72 percent of the salaries in
the City of Miami is below $70,000. If you get a couple, a couple, that I say 10
percent, it makes between 39 and 49. You know how much a graduate from FIU
(Florida International University) is the entrance, let's say a person with a degree in
business, and go to ZipRecruiter. And a person in F -- that works, I mean that got a
bachelor from FIU, and then goes into the job market, most of the time, in business
administration, most of the times it's around $33,000. Let's say that that person
marries another girl, a girl that is making, it conies out, goes to teach, you see? And
that person marries a teacher, and that teacher, now our governor is raising the
salary, but that's making $42,000, still $75,000. You see what I mean? I mean, it is
not fair that we spend the money that we give incentives for developers, or whoever it
is, to charge rents that they are not in agreement and they are not in line with the
rent, the average rent that our people in Miami, the people that are paying for those
bonds, the people that voted, for those bonds on their title and believing that they were
doing it for affordable housing, that they cannot afford, sir, you see. I mean, that is
not what we voted for, you see. That's -- I mean, that's what people -- that's not what
people voted. I'm not saying not do it. I'm saying let's be honest with ourselves and
with the people that elected us and the people that we represent. How can I -- how
can I go to a area in Auburndale, which is next to your area, Commissioner Diaz de
la Portilla, areas in Flagami, and the northern part of Flagami, and ask them, you
say, hey, listen, I'm building some housing I have here, and it's going to be
workforce, you see? You can tell your child or that he doesn't have to move to Tampa,
they can live there, you see, because it's going to be workforce, and we're going to
charge you. He's going to have to pay $2,000 a month, you see, because they can. I
mean, I don't blame the developers. The more that you give them, the more that
they're going to do, they're going to take it, you see. And we can have this discussion,
and we can keep on discussing it, and I would like to have a full commission before
that, because I think every one of you have your ideas about it, but I want you before,
until we get a full commission, and we'll keep on talking, to do some soul searching
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and think about it. Think about it. I know that some people, I mean, you want to
develop, you need money and all that. They're not going to stop developing, because
you, instead of paying $2,000, charging $2,000, they charge $1,700, $1,800 a month.
You see? They're going to take -- they're going to take the benefits that we give them.
They're going to take because that's what they do. And if you give them a benefit that
they can charge $4,000, they go charge it. And now, the market might not bear that,
you see. The market cannot, wouldn 't bear that. But what I want to do is at least have
a stop at a place, I mean at a rent that is affordable to most of, I mean to certain part
of the population, you see, which is not going to be affordable. It's going to be
affordable for, I mean, 70, 89 percent, 89,000 people that make 80, I mean from 79 to
$80,000, and up is going to be around 6, 7 percent of the population that will not be
rent burdened, you see? And that is my concern. I mean, it is not -- 1 don't have
anything against, I want to develop as much as you want. I want to have development
as much as you want. 1 want to place those empty lots into the tax roll. But if we are
providing assistance, and we are providing benefits, which should be, which should
get something back that really, that serve the people that we represent? I don 't know,
in your district, many people could be able to pay three, $4,000, but not in my district.
Not in Little Havana, not in Liberty City, not in Overtown, not in Allapattah. You see
what I mean? The majority of the people in the City of Miami won't be able to pay
that.
Chair Hardemon: So may I engage a little bit, Commissioner Reyes? I -- you make a
compelling argument. Certainly providing more standard housing for the people that
already live in the City of Miami is an important thing to do. That's a large part of
for instance, the mission that we've been engaging in the CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency), right?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: I remember, I always go back to when I came back to Miami, and
as a single male, I could not live. When I looked around at all these different new
apartment buildings that were built in the community I was raised in, I quickly
learned that I could not live in these spaces because of the restrictions of affordable
housing. And so, what they forced me to do was to live -- I moved to Aventura. And of
course, I paid a greater percentage of my income to live in Aventura, which is a
completely different neighborhood. It was well worth the experience, but it was a
completely different neighborhood that I wanted to live in initially. And so in many
ways, a lot of young people are facing that same dilemma. So, you know, your
children, your children's children, they go to school, get an education, and they want
-- and if they choose to come back to Miami, because many of them don't, they have to
find somewhere to live. And many people feel comfortable coming back to the space,
at least in close vicinity to where they grew up. And if they've come back with a
college education, where they've earned a decent wage, as a single person, they're
primarily priced out. Now, if they have a family -- and you -- I mean, you hit the nail
on the head. If they have a family, they could do increasingly better. But still, even
$100, 000 for a family, a family of two, a family of three, it 's not a lot of money and we
know that to be true. Because if you earn $100,000, you know, you're only going to
probably bring home maybe $75,000 of it. And out of the $75,000 that you 're bringing
home, when you start to add in the cost of education, the cost of transportation, cost
of the housing, cost of jbod, and health care, and things of that nature, you don't
really have a lot left to live on. So I mean, the window, and we know that people are
making $25, 000 in our community, $35, 000 in our community. But at least those
individuals that are in that range get lots of other assistance, right? They get --
sometimes they get food assistance programs. They get Medicare programs. They get
programs that kind of -- that bring them on par with what those who are in the low
middle class are making, but don 't get any assistance with. And so I know, like for
instance, in my neighborhoods I want to raise the standard of living, for those who are
extremely low income, low income, but at the same time I also want to attract people
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to our communities and back to our communities who are at area median income and
above it. Now that becomes part of this major discussion 1 'm having with you is that if
I were able to attract a family back to (INAUDIBLE) --
Commissioner Reyes: Could I interrupt for a minute? Because before that, you see,
we are not talking about the rent that all the people could pay. We are talking about
that section that's part of the apartments that they are proffered by us providing
assistance or additional density of money. You see, you can have 20 units, I'm talking
about the 20 units that have been -- that are proffered. I'm not talking about the rest
of the building. If somebody comes and they build in Liberty City or they live in any
place, and we provide them with assistance, you see, which exceeds the 100 AMl,
what we are -- I mean, they can charge for, and we allow them to charge as much as
they want for 140, okay, you see, that section, that part of the apartments that they are
proffering to us in exchange for the assistance, 1'rn saying that's the ones that 1 want
to limit. Not the rest of the apartments, the rest of the apartments, it is theirs. But what
the only thing that I'm saving is, if we are going to assist, I mean, that we are going to
give incentives in the form of money or in the form of additional apartments, that
those apartments, that they are promised to us, they be limited to people that really
need it. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Chair Hardemon: So what you're saying is --
Commissioner Reyes: The rest is fine.
Chair Hardemon: What you're telling me is that the apartment building will still
allow up to 140 percent?
Commissioner Reyes: Or more.
Chair Hardemon: But, but, you're saying that if they want proposed bonus height in
FLR (Floor Lot Ratio), that additional bonus space --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Chair Hardemon: Then that part of it should be limited to 100 percent of --?
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no, no, no.
Chair Hardemon: No?
Commissioner Reyes: You see, the way that we work here, and I have seen, is that I
said, okay, I am going to get a bonus of 200 more apartments. Of those 200
apartments, I'm going to keep 40 apartments that they are going to be low income.
And then what traditionally what they have done is that they are -- it's what is called
the public benefit they offer us, the public benefit. The public benefit, let's say there
are 20 apartments, traditionally what they do is say, okay, those 20 apartments, we
are going to give 10 apartments that is going to be at 60 AMI, and five apartments
that is going to be at 80. And the rest is going to be workforce, and the other five, that
is going to be 140. What I'm saying is that those five that they are going to offer as
public benefits shouldn't go to 140, because that's not -- that's more than, I mean, in
many cases, that is more than market rate. I'm not saying, now, the other 160
apartment that we gave them, and it is not the public benefit, part of the public benefit
apartments, they can charge whatever they want.
Chair Hardemon: So, let me interrupt for one second. Madam City Attorney, so the
way that I'm seeing it, when he's describing the public benefits program, so basically
you're reducing the public benefits program, the additional proposed bonus height
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and FLR that we're allowed to give, you're reducing that to limit it or cap it at 100
percent ofAM1 instead of 140.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no.
Chair Hardemon: Ijust want to get clarification from you.
Commissioner Reyes: No, I'm saying, I'm saying, the apartments, not the apartments
that we are, the benefit that we are offering the person in the, I mean, as additional
units or additional density, which translates into units. Every time that we do that, the
developer comes and said, out of those 100 apartments that you allow us to build, we
are going to provide and we're offering, we are proffering, you see, X amount, let's
say 20. 1 used 20, 20 apartments that they are going to be affordable. And then they
do a division. I mean, they divide them in different percentage of AMI. You see, fit is,
but I mean, let's say that we give them 100 more apartments, right? 1 mean, because
we want their incentive to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Chair Hardemon: Right, but that's what I'm saying. That's the additional bonus part.
Commissioner Reyes: That's the additional but -- but the part of the bonus that they
proffer as affordable, it is the one. That part of the bonus, I mean, the one that they
proffer.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, the benefit that they're giving.
Commissioner Reyes: The benefit that they're giving us, not what they're getting, you
see?
Chair Hardemon: You're saying the cash equivalent benefit is what you're saying?
Commissioner Reyes: Well, I'm saying that it could be a cash equivalent or what they
always say, we are going --
Chair Hardemon: Or what they --
Commissioner Reyes: We are -- we are proffering 20 apartments --
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: -- as affordable in exchange for this ben -- I mean, this
additional --
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: -- bonus that you're getting.
Chair Hardemon: Right, right.
Commissioner Reyes: We are proffering 20 apartments. Those 20 apartments are the
ones that I want to really --
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
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Chair Hardemon: Right, so I think --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), not the rest. The rest is not.
Chair Hardemon: Right, understood. That's your (UNINTELLIGIBLE). We're saying
the same thing just in different ways.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right, that's right. The other 80 apartments, I mean, they
could charge as much as they (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Charge what they like, right.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. But the ones that they have named or they have
classified as affordable, that is the ones that they are proffering us, you see, that those
should be really affordable.
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, we 're saying the same thing, right?
Ms. Mendez: I think the one that can explain it the best is Francisco Garcia, because
he deals with it most. So I will defer to him.
Chair Hardemon: Did you have an opportunity to hear our discussion, Mr. Garcia?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): I did, of course. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair
and Commissioners. 1 believe that in essence both Commissioners Reyes and
Chairman Hardemon are saying essentially the same thing. If you want to ask any
more detailed questions, I'm certainly happy to answer.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, now the only thing that I'm worried about is something that
the Vice Chairman brought up from what you 've described. The definition section,
where you define now affordable housing and workforce housing shall mean, and then
it basically, says that it does not -- it cannot exceed 100 percent of AMI. That part to
me goes beyond the scope of what we described in the bonus conversation. Because I
can understand what Commissioner Reyes is saying. He's saying, look, okay, we're
going to give bonus FLR, if we're going to give additional height, which in essence
gives them more units, then of those new units, I want to limit the amount that they -- I
want to limit the area median income that they'll be able to use or limit the
percentage of dollars the AME -- AMI, right? (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to 100.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair, it's not of those units, you see. Francisco, the way
that it works is like this, correct me if I'm wrong. If a developer comes in and he
wants additional units, I mean, as an incentive that we provide them with 100 units,
okay? We are providing them with 100 additional units. What they do is out of that
100 additional units, they will proffer an amount of units that it will be for affordable
housing, right?
Mr. Garcia: I'll wait for you to finish your statement.
Commissioner Reyes: I can't hear you, Francisco.
Mr. Garcia: I said I would let you finish your statement to complete your statement.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Garcia: And there are a couple of nuances that I want to clam.
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Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Of those, and every time they proffer, is it true, yes or no,
that they; every time that we do that, that they proffer an amount of units for
affordable house, right? That is going to he affordable.
Mr. Garcia: The difficulty, Commissioner Reyes, is that there are various programs,
and you're addressing one correctly, but there are others that function differently.
Commissioner Reyes: But what I'm saying, what I'm saying, of the ones that we are
offering, I mean, you can make that distinction that the ones that they offered as
public benefit. They titled it public benefit. And either I was hearing wrong every time
that they come before us, you see. It is that they have a group of apartment, a number
of apartments that in exchange for us permitting them to have additional units and
build higher or build more density, they will give us a public benefit. And a public
benefit will be a set number of apartments that they declare them for affordable
housing, that they are affordable. And the only thing that I'm saying is that
affordability is being measured based on the percentage ofAMI. And affordability, is
based on the percentage rent that everybody can be paid -- can pay, that shouldn't be
more than 30 percent of their salary. Now, if we are, and what I'm saying is, if the
person that it is offering as public benefit, 20 apartments, you see, out of the 200 that
we allow them to build, those 20 apartments will be limited to affordable, real
affordable housing, including the definition of workforce that have been forced into
this public benefit. And instead, and they claim that they can charge 140 percent of
AMI for this apartments that they are, for some of these apartments that are public
benefit. What I'm saving is that we are not, those apartments that they are, 1 mean,
they have been labeled as public benefits, those 20 apartments cannot be offered, I
mean, the rent of those apartments cannot go higher than 100 percent of AMI. And
that is only those apartments. The rest of the apartments, it is market rate, whatever
they can, what the market will bear. And that's the only thing that I'm saying. We are
given benefits. They are proffering a number of -- a set number of apartments to us.
From that set number of apartments to us, they have to be affordable. I'm not saying
that the whole building have to go affordable, that every single appointment that we, I
mean, allow them to build will go into affordable. Just those that they are giving us, I
mean, in exchange, I will say, and they're offering or proffering, what you want to
say, as public benefits. You see? I mean, that's the only thing that I'm saying. I mean,
they would either do that, or they can do, Francisco, correct me if I'm wrong. I mean,
if we decide we get a contribution, a cash contribution or whatever, but if we are
getting apartments that they are labeled as affordable, they have to be below 140. And
Francisco, also, you did a beautiful analysis of all the apartments that they 've been
proffered to us, okay, proffered to us as affordable housing, as affordable apartments.
In exchange for the increase of density of number of apartments, the majority were
rented at 140 of AMI. Am I wrong or right, sir?
Mr. Garcia: No, you are correct. And when you say that, you are addressing
specifically the Attainable Housing Ordinance, which is again, one of the three
programs that there are. With your permission, what I'd like to do if it serves your
purposes, is to describe very quickly what the three programs are, and maybe we can
sort of be a little more surgical in terms of how we approach this.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, sir.
Ms. Gouin: Thank you. So there are essentially three programs in the City of Miami,
and I'll describe them at high level, and I'm happy to answer additional questions.
There is the Attainable Housing Program. There are the Workforce and Attainable
Housing Public Benefit Bonuses that you were, I think, alluding to as well. And there
is the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance as well. I'll describe them in that order. In the
Attainable Housing Ordinance, there is basically a density incentive, not a
development capacityincentive, same square footage, same massing, but a density
incentive. And the density incentive is provided such that, as you correctly stated
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Commissioner Reyes, if all of the units that are going to he built, both the by right and
the additional units are kept presently at 140 percent AMI, which we call presently
workforce. if that is the case and 20 percent of those units of the entire building,
including the density units, the additional density units are kept 10 percent at
extremely low income and 10 percent at affordable, affordable being measured at 60
percent and extremely low-income being measured at 30 percent, then that project
will be certified for attainable housing and will be able to double its density. So again,
by reducing -- this amendment proposes that reducing the AMI cap from 140, in this
case, to 100 percent AMI, all of the units would have to be at most, at 100 percent
AMI, and then 20 percent would be at the lower levels, 10 at 60 percent and 10 at 30
percent. So that's as pertains to the Attainable Housing Program. This ordinance, and
1'11 be very quick about the other two because they 're frankly, well, just very quickly.
In terms of the Public Benefits Program, that one is really not affected very much
because the cap there is already at 80 percent AMI. The only difference there is that if
the units are provided on site, then the bonus is three times the FLR that would be
dedicated to the affordable units. And if it is off site, then it's the same amount of FLR
that is dedicated to the off -site units. And lastly, this would also have an effect, this
proposed amendment is to the inclusionary zoning ordinance, which presently has the
limit at 140 percent AMI, and that would reduce it now to 100 percent AMI for those
units that are required, which is 10 percent of the units to be dedicated as part of the
inclusionary zone. I'm happy to answer any questions.
Commissioner Reyes: Do you -- I mean, do you agree that most of those units that are
140 percent AMI, that they are beyond the reach of people that live in the City of
Miami?
Mr. Garcia: They are certainly above market rate in approximately 85 percent of the
City of Miami, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, that's my only -- thank you, Francisco. And that's what
I'm saving. Now, in the attainable units, that it is kept at 100 percent AMI, that it's the
one that will be more, I mean, I don 't know, you see, AMI has gone up to 59 percent, I
mean, $59,000. Now, $59,000. If you get 100 percent of $50, 000, 59, 60, it is going to
be (Comments made in Spanish not translated). It's going to be close to $90,000,
$92, 000.
Chair Hardemon: You count in Spanish.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir, I do because, you know, that was, I mean, you go back
to how you learn, you see. And if you learn to count with your fingers, it 's going to be
very difficult to do it. But back in Cuba, you have to know your tables back and forth,
and you have to stand in front of the teacher and recite them back and forth, recite
them. And so it is ingrained in you, so that's why I'm able to multiply and add,
because I know my tables, you see.
Chair Hardemon: Now, is that before or after communism?
Commissioner Reyes: That was before communism and after communism.
Chair Hardemon: Better education.
Commissioner Reyes: That's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) better education, yes, but more
complete because you cannot have good education when you are limiting, you see,
what students are learning. If there is no free academic -- if there is no academic
freedom, education goes down the drain.
Chair Hardemon: Got it.
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Commissioner Reyes: You see? Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other Commissioner that wants to kind of weigh in on
this a bit more? 1 mean, Commissioner Reyes, you make a very compelling argument.
And you know, part of my desire as well is to, I mean, I want to see people 's incomes
raised in our district. You know what I mean?
Commissioner Reyes: That doesn't hurt the raising of the --
Chair Hardemon: I know, I'm just talking through it. And my first mind says that if
you give people an opportunity, once they achieve 100 percent of the AMI to go above
and continue in the same place, that would be good.
Commissioner Reyes: In the same place, they can. As long as they don't move to those
apartments that they are set to be in a different AMI. I mean, that is up to the owner.
As long as they comply with the number of apartments that they are going to be in
certain AMI, I mean in certain range, that is -- that's all it is, you see.
Chair Hardemon: It's also very telling, you know, the statement that that AMI is, you
know, it's more than, I mean 85 percent of our population doesn 't qualify: for the AMI.
Commissioner Reyes: It doesn 't -- it doesn't qualify. Doesn't qualify, I mean, and that
is, and 1 am, those are numbers, those numbers I didn't --1 did not create.
Chair Hardemon: But what type of effect do you think this is going to have on the
development?
Commissioner Reyes: Well, the thing is, it will have in development, it won't have any
effect because developers develop. And it is such a small percentage, you see,
particularly the ones that they have bonuses, you see. It 's such a small percentage of
the apartments that they're going to fall within that limitation. They're going to still
develop. And the thing is, another thing that they, even the ones that they are at 60
percent, as AMI keep on increasing, because it will keep -- it was 55 two years ago,
and this is 49 now, they can increase their rent according to that. Because they have
to, they work, it is not that this is set and cast in stone that they cannot change the rent
that they are charging as long as they go within the AMI. And the problem here, sir, is
that by charging more than 30 percent of the gross income, I mean, for rent, and that
will have a negative effect in our economy. Because as people pay a greater
percentage of their income for rent, there is less money for consumption. There is less
money for going to a restaurant and have a dinner. There is less money to go out and
purchase things that they need, even clothes, you see? You went through it. That
when, just remember when you came from school and you have to pay more than 30
percent of your salary for rent, you didn't have much money to go out and party. You
always managed, but you didn 't have that much money to take a girl to a nice
restaurant and all that, because most of your rent was going towards paying rent.
Now, there are people that they like that, I mean, it is not that, I mean, if a teacher, I
mean, marries a lady that is working at $15 an hour, you see, still, they will not, I
mean, they will not be able to, I mean, fall into, I mean, rent a place in the apartments
that we are helping them build, you see, and without being rent burdened. And that is
my only argument. Listen, I don't know any, I mean, developers. I don't know have no
dealing with developers. I have nothing against developers. I love developers and I
wish they develop every day. But I am representing a population and we all are
represented a population that is poor. You see, listen, the other day that I was, I saw -
- I gave you this, it said Miami is the second most unequal large metro country and its
middle class is shrinking, you see. It has the highest, the highest, the Gini coefficient
which measures income inequality in the United States. It is equal to that of Colombia
and Panama. Income inequality in Miami, I mean, it is unbelievable. And it is, I mean,
we can sit down and you and I and have a cup of coffee or something and we can go
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over the reasons, you see. But reality is that we are representing a poor population.
And if we are going to -- if we are going to help the developers increase the amount of
apartments that they're going to have by providing some incentives, but out of that
data, what they say, the public benefits that they are offering in exchange for us
allowing them to do that, please, please, let's charge rents that they are affordable to
all people. That's all. That's all I'm asking. You see, it is not that I want to argue, I
don 't want to argue this. It's not for the sake of argument. You see, it is because I
think that is the right thing to do.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, Commissioner. Mr. Duran, you had something that you
wanted to add? Okay, I thought you would see it. You 're muted, sir.
Alfredo Duran (Assistant Director, Housing and Community Development): Can you
hear me?
Chair Hardemon: We can hear you now.
Mr. Duran: Yes. Can you hear me?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Mr. Duran: Yes, thank you. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners.
Alfredo Duran, Assistant Director, Department of Housing and Community
Development. I just have an observation. I've been listening to this conversation
about the 140 and the attainable housing. And I agree with you, Commissioner Reyes.
140 is well, well beyond the affordability of Miamians. However, 1 think to get a
better sense or a better public benefit, I think we need to consider something. Right
now, the Affordable Attainable Housing Double Density Program provides double
density to a developer with the promise that they're going to provide us from the total
of that project with 20 percent affordable and the rest of workforce up to 140. The 20
percent affordable is defined at 10 percent at 50 and 10 percent at 30. The rest of the
units can go up to 140. Now you give a developer the ability to go up to 140 and they
will go up to 140.
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Mr. Duran: Right, so 140 obviously you're going to have 80 percent of that project,
which is the benefit we're trying to get at 140. Now in Miami we have folks that are at
60 percent AMI, 70 percent, 80 percent, 100 percent. When you have this structure,
they will not rent the affordable units to anybody making less than 50 or 30, but they
will rent the remainder of the units regardless of your income up to 140. So we're
forgetting the people in the middle, okay? And even if we cap it at 100, the developer
is going to take it up to 100. We're forgetting the people in the middle. I think we need
to look at our Attainable Housing Ordinance and spread the affordability a little bit
better so that we get not only fifties and thirties but we get some eighties and we get
some hundreds and we get some, you know what I'm saying, so that they're obligated
for those benefits, that benefit that they're getting, to provide affordability to those
also. So it's a better spread of affordability. Correct me ifI'm wrong, Francisco, if I
misinterpreted the ordinance.
Mr. Garcia: We certainly, we've discussed this before, Alfredo, and that is exactly the
optimal calibration of the Attainable Housing Ordinance, which incidentally we've
been working on for some time and we are eager to present to you sometime soon.
The other thing I will add very briefly and parenthetically is this. Because the City of
Miami has such a disparate landscape of income levels throughout, depending on
each neighborhood generally, it has occurred to us, working closely with the Housing
and Community Development Department, that a better, a better, a better reference
point as opposed to AMI, which is fixed by the County and varies between
neighborhoods, is to possibly peg it to the neighborhood median rental prices. Now,
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(UNINTELLIGIBLE) does vary over time, so there would have to be periodic
calibrations. But if one were to do that, then I think the goals, as we have heard the
Commission state now time and again, the goals of keeping people in place,
preventing displacement and gentrification would then be achieved. And the other
aspect that Alfredo mentioned, which is incredibly important as well, is to achieve
that ultimate goal of mixed income development to prevent (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: And I may add this, I have a great concern. And a great
concern that I have is that we have a tremendous brain drain. Because it is too
expensive for a person to live in Miami. You see, it is too expensive. The apartments, I
mean, that what we have built around Brickell Avenue, 1 mean, Biscayne Boulevard
and all, and Omni and all those areas, they are beyond, beyond the greater
percentage of salaries that we get here. So it is, 1 mean, even recent graduates they'd
rather go someplace else instead of stay here. You see, 1 would not want my grandson
to go away when he graduates because he cannot live here. We have to provide, as
well as we have to provide decent housing for those people that they have high
income, that's fantastic. You see, we are also, it is our duty to provide housing for
those people that they are in the lower spectrum of the income distribution. You see,
and Alfredo, I agree with you 100 percent. Let's work in a formula that we can
incorporate not only the people that are 100 and the people that are 140, you see, but
the people in the middle, you see. And believe me, I think, and according to the
average, when average is different than median. Median is 50 percent have one side,
50 percent on the other side. But the average when you incorporate all the salaries
and all of that is $63,000, you see? And we can use that, and 1 would rather, instead
of going through the, you see the rent in the area, 1'd rather go through the income of
the area. What is the income? What's the average income? I mean, because unless we
increase the personal income in a City of Miami, we are just going to have this
division that we are going to have pockets of rich people, pockets of real poor people,
and nothing in between. That's what we need, you know, where you have rich people
living next to people that are making a lot of money. And I think that is our duty. I
mean, listen, I don't have no benefits in this or anything. It is -- I am very convinced
that we have to do it. and I mean --
Chair Hardemon: I have to ask a question. Mr. Duran, so then you would think that
this ordinance would be a step in the right direction?
Mr. Duran: I'm sorry, I didn't get that.
Chair Hardemon: You're thinking that this ordinance would be a step in the right
direction?
Mr. Duran: Well, I think that the intent is a good intent. I think that reducing the
workforce to a lower amount obviously brings it back to a greater reality to our
citizens, but I think we're still doing a disservice to those in the middle. Anyone who
makes 60 percent AMI would not be able to rent those lower ones and they would still
be charged 100 percent AMI which would still be cost burdening them. So we need to
find a better formula, a better formula that when we give someone, for instance, a 10
unit project that gets 10 additional units. Right now, eight of those units are
affordable, and the rest of the units, the 12 units, are going to be at 140. Reducing it
to 100.
Chair Hardemon: I'm glad you brought that up. And we're going to task you with
finding that language.
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely, and I accept that. Is that, I mean, you're proposing
that we defer this and task them in order to find a good formula. That 's what you're
proposing?
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Chair Hardemon: I think that make -- I didn't say defer, but if you want to defer, then
that's not an issue. 1 see Ken --
Commissioner Reyes: Well, you know, we can vote this and with the provisor that we
are going to, we're going to pass it. And I accept any good formula that really
represents our population.
Chair Hardemon: All right.
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Russell: All right, all right, all right, all right, all right, wait, Reyes,
Reyes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's Commissioner Reyes, Commissioner.
Commissioner Russell: Commissioner.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, okay.
Commissioner Russell: Mr. Chair.
Commissioner Reyes: It is Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Commissioner Senator Diaz de la Portilla,
Chairman Hardemon, Commissioner Reyes, Mayor Carollo.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Get it right.
Commissioner Reyes: And but --
Commissioner Russell: (Comments made in Spanish not translated).
Commissioner Reyes: You can call nze Manolo or Flaco, whatever.
Commissioner Russell: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Diaz de la Portilla,
(Comment made in Spanish not translated) Hardemon, (Comment made in Spanish
not translated) Carollo, (Comment made in Spanish not translated) Reyes, either
language.
Commissioner Russell: Ambassador. Commissioner Reyes, okay, you've convinced
me. I will vote for this on first reading. You're absolutely right. We need to go deeper.
You make a very compelling case. It's not perfect though, and I want to work on it.
Commissioner Reyes: Exactly.
Commissioner Russell: Very worried about upsetting the scales with regard to the
definitions and our application to federal programs, and that 's where Mr. Duran can
help as well. But I'm with you, all right? So I'm going to vote yes on first reading, and
we will work on it.
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Commissioner Reyes: Thank you, sir, and I'm real glad that, because it is not my
intention to be controversial on this, you see.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Of course not.
Commissioner Reyes: My intention is, it is, given my, I mean, I've been look, seeing it,
and in my discipline, I've been trained to look at all angles, you see. And what I want
is for all of us to be on the same boat. You see? So, let's pass it on first reading, then
I'll work on it, everybody's two cents gets into it. And, but this one is second reading.
Commissioner Russell: Oh, my mistake, I'm not with you then.
Ms. Mendez: I wanted to clarify something. Remember that this is just limited to
Miami 21. This does not affect your HCD (Housing and Community Development),
CDBG (Community Development Block Grant).
Unidentified Speaker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Ms. Mendez: So I wanted to --
Commissioner Russell: So, no, I think we're getting there, but there's so many
different facets to the problem. I think we just need some adjusting, make sure we hit
everybody in the middle. If we -- for example, if we were to lower the AMI for
workforce housing, then in the Attainable Housing Ordinance, maybe we would let
the developer do a little bit of market rate on their own to help offset the cost, but we
call it what it is, we call it market rate.
Commissioner Reyes: Market rate, absolutely.
Commissioner Russell: And that way we're not compartmentalizing all the facility in
one building.
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Commissioner Russell: Can we defer it then and get it together and get all on one
page, because if it's second reading, we're going to be done here. And I think it's --
Vice Chair Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Russell: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a way, and I think you're making a very
compelling case, and I want to support it.
Vice Chair Carollo: Francisco, can you leave us a parting gift before you go? And
it's something you and I have been talking about from the past, that we do a sliding
scale on what developers should pay us for each additional unit that they get and
square footage, et cetera, based upon what models the other cities have. We're not
going to reinvent the wheel here. And then I don't care what they do on anything we
approve because they're going to have to pay us per unit, and it'll be across the board
and we can use that money to build in what we need. I want to compliment
Commissioner Reyes because up to now, this is the first time that we 're getting closer
in reaching more people that we need to reach that need this. As Mr. Duran said, it's
not going to reach everybody. And this is why what I think we need to do is
concentrate on creating housing to own where we're going to create our own housing
entity, call it whatever you like, and through that housing entity, we'll raise the funds,
and well qualify 95 percent of our residents through it. And --
Commissioner Reyes: You see, we need both. We need housing, we need ownership,
and we need rental also. You see, and this is a step towards rental, and we can work, I
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mean, I'm willing to work with you into ownership, which I'm very much interested.
But I want to pass this and 1 want to work on this. And I want everybody to work on
this. And I promise you, 1 am willing to reform it as much as we can and bring it back
and reform it until we find, I mean, a formula that we can serve as many people as we
can, you see, and that is within the income spectrum that it is the reality of our city,
you see? And I agree with you, I'll work with you, and as a matter of fact, I'm willing
and eager to work in a program for homeownership, you see, and as I'm eager to
work with all my fellow commissioners in finding, I mean, trying to adjust this. I
mean, I don 't mind if it is two months from now, a month from now, and we adjust it,
you see? I mean, we pass this, and we will -- let's adjust it, you see? And let's keep on
working. You got my, you see, my word is my bond. You have my word that we're
going to sit down and we're going to bring it, 1 mean, find a solution. But one thing
that I am satisfied and I'm real happy and real proud of all my, colleagues is that we
all are concerned about providing our residents with affordable housing, housing that
they can afford according to their income. And as they increase their income, they can
go and move some other place, you see. And as, I mean, the expert has said, Duran
and Garcia, this is a good first step, okay.
Vice Chair Carollo: Vickers, what are you doing here? I thought you were out with
the green shirts or whatever shirts, getting those homeless out into the shelters.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Okay, Mr. Hardemon, you want to call the roll? I mean --
Chair Hardemon: Well no (INAUDIBLE). I do -- so I like the idea of making a more
complete document where, you know, we can get the language that we task Mr. Duran
with kind of giving us, because I think you're right. 1 mean, that middle group is
what's missing.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Because you know, people are going to force their way with the
lower income, and they're going to force their way with the higher income. But it's
those people who are in the middle who they're least incentivized to really assist. So
is there a way that we can -- I mean, I won't be here when you all, you know, get to it,
but is there a way that we could continue to have that more perfect language so that
we're making a decision that we understand is doing exactly what we need it to do?
Commissioner Reyes: Well, Vicky, if we pass this, can we reform it? And we can --
Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, of course we can. We can bring it back and reform it.
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely. I mean, let's -- I would like to vote on it.
Vice Chair Carollo: Did you make a motion for it? I'll second it.
Commissioner Reyes: I make a motion to pass.
Vice Chair Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: We already have a motion, you can't second because we have a
second already.
Vice Chair Carollo: Who's the second?
Commissioner Reyes: The second is --
Chair Hardemon: (INAUDIBLE) two seconds.
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Vice Chair Carollo: Who's the second?
Chair Hardemon: I'm the second.
Vice Chair Carollo: You're the -- even better.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You're flexing your muscle. You're flexing your
muscle in your last year. Is that what you're doing?
Vice Chair Carollo: I'll be the third.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: All right so (INAUDIBLE).
Vice Chair Carollo: Commissioner, let me say -- Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Vice Chair Carollo: If once you get over there, you don't like it, you know, we could
keep this warm for you for next November. So --
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Vice Chair Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) over there. You know, you can always come
back. We'll leave the door open.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And the light -- and the light on.
Commissioner Reyes: And the light on so you know where you're going and you can
find your way. Okay.
Chair Hardemon: All right. All in favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? The motion passes. Congratulations.
Commissioner Reyes: And thank you very much to all of you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Congratulations, Commissioner.
Commissioner Reyes: And I mean, you know, it is not my victory. It is our victory. It is
our victory. We are a body that really is concerned with our people, and it shows.
This is a message that is being sent to our residents, we care about you, and we are
going to try to find ways that we provide decent housing to all of you. Okay, thank you
very much.
Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you for your vote on this, Commissioner Russell.
Commissioner Reyes: Thank you, Russell.
Vice Chair Carollo: You have made it unanimous.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
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Vice Chair Carollo: We could always bring it back as was stated and make it better if
we can.
Commissioner Reyes: Hey listen, everything is up for improvement, you see, even
ourselves.
PZ.2 RESOLUTION
8001
Department of
Planning
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING, WITH CONDITIONS, TWO (2)
EXCEPTIONS AND A WARRANT AS FOLLOWS: 1. AN EXCEPTION
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 6, TABLE 13 AND ARTICLE 7, SECTION
7.1.2.6 OF ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"),
AND CHAPTER 4, SECTION 4-5 AND SECTION 4-7(C) OF THE CODE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TO PERMIT AN
ALCOHOL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT (MICROBREWERY AND
BREWPUB) IN EXCESS OF 5,000 SQUARE FEET IN THE FLAGLER
SPECIALTY DISTRICT; 2. AN EXCEPTION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE
7, SECTION 7.2.3.B.1 AND ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.1.2.6 OF THE
MIAMI 21 CODE TO PERMIT ALTERATIONS WHICH ENLARGE THE
NONCONFORMITY OF A NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE TO AN
EXTENT OF LESS THAN FIFTY PERCENT (50%) OF THE TOTAL
SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE; AND
3. A WARRANT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 6, SECTION 6.3.2.1 AND
ARTICLE 7, SECTIONS 7.1.2.4 AND 7.1.3.2 OF THE MIAMI 21 CODE
TO ALLOW AN OUTDOOR DINING AREA COMPRISED OF THIRTY-
FOUR (34) SEATS WITHIN 1,492 SQUARE FEET ON THE REAL
PROPERTY DESIGNATED AS "T6-80-0", URBAN CORE TRANSECT
ZONE — OPEN, LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 60 NORTHEAST 2
AVENUE (169 EAST FLAGLER STREET), MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0355
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion for PZ.2?
Commissioner Reyes: Let me see, PZ.2.
Vice Chair Carollo: Move.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Hardemon: And seconded. Any discussion on it? Seeing none, all in favor, say
aye.
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
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Chair Hardemon: Motion carries.
PZ.3 RESOLUTION
8002
Department of
Planning
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING/DENYING A PARTIAL
RELEASE/MODIFICATION OF A DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
FOR THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 460, 500,
AND 520 NORTHEAST 82 TERRACE AND 505, 439, 437, 433, AND
421 NORTHEAST 82 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0356
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: Item PZ.3 was continued to the November 19, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
PZ.3 RESOLUTION
8002
Department of
Planning
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING/DENYING A PARTIAL
RELEASE/MODIFICATION OF A DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
FOR THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 460, 500,
AND 520 NORTHEAST 82 TERRACE AND 505, 439, 437, 433, AND
421 NORTHEAST 82 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0356
MOTION TO: Reconsider
RESULT: RECONSIDERED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
PZ.3 RESOLUTION
8002
Department of
Planning
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING/DENYING A PARTIAL
RELEASE/MODIFICATION OF A DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIVE
COVENANTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
FOR THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 460, 500,
AND 520 NORTHEAST 82 TERRACE AND 505, 439, 437, 433, AND
421 NORTHEAST 82 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0356
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: The Chair would like to request a motion for continuance for PZ.3 -
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: -- to the November 19 meeting.
Vice Chair Carollo: A motion on what?
Chair Hardemon: For continuance.
Commissioner Reyes: Continuance.
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. All right, there's a motion for continuance, there's a
second.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion carries.
[Later...]
Chair Hardemon: Since we're doing some procedural stuff, I'd like to move to
reconsider PZ.3, that was the one that I asked for the continuance for.
Vice Chair Carollo: PZ.3?
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, that's the one I asked for the continuance for. It's within the
district, within my district. Very north of my district.
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll second that.
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Vice Chair Carollo: Your district, okay, yeah, okay, go ahead.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll second it.
Chair Hardemon: I'm taking it to reconsider. All in, favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Against?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair --
Chair Hardemon: That motion carries.
Mr. Hannon: My apologies. The mover will be Commissioner Carollo, seconded by
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla. (INAUDIBLE) make a motion.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
[Later...]
Chair Hardemon: What I'll do is -- let's read -- let's finish on. So, PZ.17, can you
read it into the record, please. PZ.17 and PZ.18 and PZ (Planning and Zoning) --
well, PZ.17 and PZ.18. Those are our last ordinances.
Vice Chair Carollo: And you got PZ.19 too, right?
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, PZ.19 is a resolution --
Commissioner Reyes: 18, 18.
Chair Hardemon: -- but we can handle it.
Commissioner Reyes: And 19.
Vice Chair Carollo: For the record, I have a Jennings disclosure for PZ.19.
Chair Hardemon: I do as well.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (INAUDIBLE).
Vice Chair Carollo: My staff met me on Zoom with the applicant. I did not, my staff.
Commissioner Reyes: I also have a Jennings disclosure for PZ.18 and 19. I met with
Iris Escarra and 24 Plaza Court Developers, so I want to disclose.
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Can we read now PZ.17 and 18 into the record, please?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I also have a Jennings disclosure.
Chair Hardemon: The Chair disclosed his. I'm not sure if Commissioner Russell does,
but he may not. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) be read into the record.
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Yes, PZ.17.
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The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Mr. Min: PZ.18.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Chair Hardemon: The Chair would like to entertain a motion to approve PZ.17, 18,
19.
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Second.
Vice Chair Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: So, properly moved and seconded.
Mr. Min: Mr. Chair, I did not read 19. Oh, I'm sorry, that's the resolution.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, 19 is a resolution. All in favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Against? That motion carries.
Vice Chair Carollo: We're done with the PZs with the exception of the one we
reconsidered, PZ.3?
Chair Hardemon: No, we already -- PZ.3 was also included in the motion. It was 17,
18, 19, and 3. 17, 18, 19, and 3 was the motion.
Commissioner Reyes: They were moved.
Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, they were moved.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, we voted on that.
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PZ.4 ORDINANCE First Reading
7782
Department of
Planning
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS
AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, PURSUANT TO SMALL
SCALE AMENDMENT PROCEDURES SUBJECT TO SECTION
163.3187, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND
USE DESIGNATION FROM "SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL" TO
"RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" OF THE ACREAGE DESCRIBED
HEREIN OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 4214
SOUTHWEST 3 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; MAKING FINDINGS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: Item PZ.4 was continued to the November 19, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.4, please see "Order
of the Day."
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PZ.5 ORDINANCE First Reading
7783
Department of
Planning
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION , WITH
ATTACHMENTS, AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
NO. 13114, AS AMENDED, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION FROM "T3-R", SUB -URBAN TRANSECT ZONE -
RESTRICTED, TO "T4-L", GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT ZONE -
LIMITED, FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY
4214 SOUTHWEST 3 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; FURTHER ACCEPTING THE VOLUNTARY
COVENANT ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "B";
MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: Item PZ.5 was continued to the November 19, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.5, please see "Order
ofthe Day."
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
PZ.6 ORDINANCE First Reading
7887
Department of
Planning
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, PURSUANT TO AN EXPEDITED STATE
REVIEW PROCESS ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 163.3184(3),
FLORIDA STATUTES, BY CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND USE
DESIGNATION OF APPROXIMATELY 87.646 ACRES OF REAL
PROPERTIES LOCATED BETWEEN 1-195 ON THE NORTH, 1-95 ON
THE WEST, NORTHWEST 29TH STREET ON THE SOUTH, AND
NORTH MIAMI AVENUE ON THE EAST, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FROM
"DUPLEX RESIDENTIAL" TO "HIGH DENSITY MULTIFAMILY
RESIDENTIAL" AND "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL"; FROM "LOW
DENSITY RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" TO "RESTRICTED
COMMERCIAL"; FROM "MEDIUM DENSITY MULTIFAMILY
RESIDENTIAL" TO "HIGH DENSITY MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL,"
"RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL," AND "GENERAL COMMERCIAL";
FROM "MEDIUM DENSITY RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" TO
"RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" AND "GENERAL COMMERCIAL";
FROM "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" TO "GENERAL COMMERCIAL";
AND FROM "MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL, PUBLIC FACILITIES,
TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES" TO "GENERAL COMMERCIAL";
MAKING FINDINGS; DIRECTING TRANSMITTALS TO AFFECTED
AGENCIES; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item Number PZ.6, please
see "Public Comments for all Item(s)."
Chair Hardemon: PZ.6, 7, and 8, Madam City Attorney, can you read the -- read
them into the record, please?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Yes, Chairman. PZ.6.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: That's PZ.6. PZ.7.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: And PZ.8.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Hardemon: Before we tackle anything, I just want to make a Jennings
disclosure. I know that I've met with these individuals throughout time regarding
what they wanted to do here. So I just want to make sure I put that on the record that I
have met with them regarding these issues.
Commissioner Russell: I'll make the motion, Commissioner -- Mr. Chairman.
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Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. It's been properly moved and seconded to
approve --
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Hardemon: -- 6, 7, and 8. Any further discussion on the item?
Commissioner Reyes: Nope.
Commissioner Russell: I believe probably a Jennings disclosure is in order for myself
as well. 1 did have one Zoom meeting with groups that were advocating for this issue.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Francisco, you're recognized.
Francisco Garcia: (Director, Planning): Just briefly to say that I thought it might
please you to hear that in this particular area in Wynwood Norte, we've actually
calibrated the affordability bonuses at 80 percent AMI (Area Median Income).
Vice Chair Carollo: That's good.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no further discussion, all in favor?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I -- before --
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- before we vote on it, we can't let the moment
pass, Chair, without acknowledging what you've done here. This is a visionary, bold,
and gutsy plan that you have spearheaded from the beginning. You 're going to leave a
legacy for this community, this part of your district you represent, that will last a
long, long time. So I want to commend you for the work that you've done. I have a
similar idea for what I want to do in the district that I represent, to really revitalize
the community that desperately needs it. So I didn't want the moment to pass without
at least saying that. Not a long speech, just an acknowledgement of your leadership,
your guts, your tenacity, and so congratulations.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.
Commissioner Reyes: Can I add to that, that I've been very proud to work with you.
We're all proud to work with you. Under your leadership, we have gotten a lot of
work done. Thank you, sir. And we're going to miss you. And you're going to still
keep on representing this district.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I was going to wait till the end of the meeting to do
all that. I'm talking about this particular thing.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, I know that. But you know --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: There's going to be a lot of kissing up that we're
going to be doing later on today because it's important because we're going to need
him.
Commissioner Reyes: No but --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We're going to need him to take care -- to undo all
the wrongs the County has done to us when he gets over there.
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Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So we have to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Carollo: Russell.
Commissioner Reyes: I want to make sure he doesn't forget about us.
Vice Chair Carollo: Russell, you need to learn. See what calling him senator time and
time again gets him. You got to learn.
Commissioner Russell: We don't have to fight all the time. We all -- actually, Joe, 1
found a picture of us from a long time ago. Look at this.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, yes.
Vice Chair Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, yes. Who's the winner?
Vice Chair Carollo: You're the --
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Vice Chair Carollo: I'm the big guy?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), you know what happens.
Commissioner Reyes: You know I almost forgot you there. I forgot you
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Chairman, this is -- this is truly something that is a
legacy project for you.
Commissioner Reyes: It is.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So it's something that you should be very proud of
and what you've done for your community, you know, not a lot of people can walk
away and say, hey, I made a difference. You didn't come here just to vote and to be
here and to, you know, take some space up. You came here to make some differences.
And this is a big difference you made in this district. Congratulations again.
Commissioner Reyes: Congratulations, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chair Carollo: What street do you want to be named after you, Chairman? Let
me know. I don't talk. What do you want?
Commissioner Reyes: It won't be an alley. It won't be an alley.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 29th Street.
Commissioner Reyes: 29th Street. Oh, yeah, that's good.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no further discussion, all in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Ave.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
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[Later...]
Chair Hardemon: What we have now is FR.4, which is your noise, Chapter 36.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Before we do that, Mr. Chair, I failed to make a
Jennings disclosure on PZ.6, 7, and 8, so I want to make that for the record.
Chair Hardemon: All right. It's included on the record.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, sir.
Chair Hardemon: It's noted on the record.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, just for the record, the motion by Commissioner
Reyes, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, passed unanimously was for PZ.17, 18,
19, and PZ.3.
Chair Hardemon: Correct. Thank you, sir.
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PZ.7 ORDINANCE First Reading
7888
Department of
Planning
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING THE
ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY
CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF APPROXIMATELY
91.57 ACRES OF REAL PROPERTIES LOCATED BETWEEN
INTERSTATE 195 ON THE NORTH, INTERSTATE 95 ON THE WEST,
NORTHWEST 29 STREET ON THE SOUTH, AND NORTH MIAMI
AVENUE ON THE EAST, MIAMI, FLORIDA FROM "T3-O", SUBURBAN
TRANSECT ZONE - OPEN, TO "T4-R", URBAN CORE TRANSECT
ZONE — RESTRICTED, AND "T4-L", GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT
ZONE - LIMITED; FROM "T4-R", GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT ZONE
- RESTRICTED, TO "T5-L", URBAN CENTER TRANSECT ZONE —
LIMITED, AND "T5-O", URBAN CENTER TRANSECT ZONE - OPEN;
FROM "T4-L", GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT ZONE - LIMITED, TO
"T4-R", GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT ZONE - RESTRICTED, "T5-L",
URBAN CENTER TRANSECT ZONE — LIMITED, AND "T5-O", URBAN
CENTER TRANSECT ZONE - OPEN; FROM "T4-O", GENERAL
URBAN TRANSECT ZONE - OPEN, TO "T5-L", URBAN CENTER
TRANSECT ZONE — LIMITED; FROM "T5-O", URBAN CENTER
TRANSECT ZONE - OPEN, TO "T6-8-O", URBAN CORE TRANSECT
ZONE - OPEN; AND FROM "Cl", CIVIC INSTITUTIONAL TRANSECT
ZONE, TO "T5-O", URBAN CENTER TRANSECT ZONE — OPEN, AND
"T6-8-O", URBAN CORE TRANSECT ZONE - OPEN, ALL AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.7, please see
"Public Comments for all Item(s)" and Item Number PZ.6.
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PZ.8 ORDINANCE First Reading
7889
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENTS, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED
("MIAMI 21 CODE"), PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.12.3 OF
THE MIAMI 21 CODE, BY REZONING CERTAIN PARCELS OF
APPROXIMATELY 141.58 ACRES FOR THE CREATION OF THE
"WYNWOOD NORTE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION DISTRICT
(NRD-2)" BY CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF THE
ACREAGE DESCRIBED HEREIN OF REAL PROPERTIES LOCATED
BETWEEN INTERSTATE 195 ON THE NORTH, INTERSTATE 95 ON
THE WEST, NORTHWEST 29TH STREET ON THE SOUTH, AND
NORTH MIAMI AVENUE ON THE EAST, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; MODIFYING THE TRANSECT ZONE
REGULATIONS THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO THE SUBJECT
PARCELS AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "B",
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED; MAKING FINDINGS OF FACT;
STATING CONCLUSIONS OF LAW; PROVIDING FOR BINDING
EFFECT; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.8, please see
"Public Comments for all ltem(s) " and Item Number PZ.6.
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Meeting Minutes October 22, 2020
PZ.9 ORDINANCE First Reading
7999
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMISSION AMENDING ORDINANCE
NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY AMENDING ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1.2,
TITLED "DEFINITIONS OF TERMS", AND AMENDING DIAGRAM 1 IN
ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.11, TITLED "WATERWAYS & WATERBODIES
WITH WATERFRONT PROPERTIES", TO REMOVE PROPERTIES
ZONED AS "CS", CIVIC SPACE ZONE, LOCATED ON A WATERBODY
FROM THE DEFINITION OF WATERFRONT AND TO UPDATE
DIAGRAM 1 IN ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.11 ACCORDINGLY;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, can you read into the record, PZ.9, 10, 11
and 12, 13, and 14?
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Yes, Commissioner. PZ.9.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Mr. Min: PZ.10.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Mr. Min: PZ.11.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Mr. Min: PZ.12.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Mr. Min: PZ.13.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Mr. Min: PZ.14.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Commissioner Reyes: May I, Mr. Chair?
Chair Hardemon: Yes, sir.
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Commissioner Reyes: This -- nay -- I was informed by the Administration that this was
going to be deferred (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Russell: Which one?
Commissioner Reyes: PZ.4.
Unidentified Speaker: 14.
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, 14, PZ.14. It is parking in mini parks, you see, that's
what it is. That we are, it's going to be deferred. That's what 1 heard from -- isn't that
true, Francisco?
Francisco Garcia: (Director, Planning): We had discussed that, yes, sir. I'm not sure
if it was read into the record earlier today, but we had.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right, so I'll move it to -- I mean, I want to leave this out,
vote, and then move to defer this if it is possible. So, okay. Can I move PZ --?
Chair Hardemon: Wait, he's ready to record everything else though, right?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, yes, yes.
Chair Hardemon: That's what 1 figured.
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. I'll move all those ordinance. For the record, I had asked
to include me in PZ.10 and 11 as a sponsor.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Vice Chair Carollo: I want to be green. I want my green shirt.
Chair Hardemon: You were added.
Commissioner Reyes: It's going to be up to 13.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, and the motion is to approve --
Commissioner Reyes: I made a motion to --
Chair Hardemon: No not include 13?
Commissioner Reyes: 13, yes.
Chair Hardemon: All right. Is there a second? Seconded by the Vice Chairman. Any
discussion?
Commissioner Russell: Yeah, one question.
Mr. Garcia: I believe that 14 --
Chair Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ask a question.
Mr. Garcia: My apologies. I believe that was PZ.13 that Commissioner Reyes had
asked to be --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no, it's 14.
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Vice Chair Carollo: 14.
Commissioner Reyes: PZ.14, the one on the 400 feet that we have talked so much
about.
Mt. Garcia: Yes, sir. Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, yes.
Commissioner Russell: Just a quick question. PZ.9, the zoning text on waterfront
standards, what is this? What is this? What is the concern on the --?
Commissioner Reyes: And I'm glad. That's a good question. I'm glad, and I'm going
to tell you the whole story about it. This is on Robert -- I mean, this will affect only a
portion of Robert King High Park that has one of those blue lagoon lakes in front of
it. Since it is in front of that blue lagoon lake, and it will have to go, otherwise we
have to go to referendum. And what we are proposing to do there is going to be a
training facility for girls volleyball. You see, volleyball, there 's not a place that,
there 's not a training facility in Dade County for girls volleyball or a place that they
can come and compete, but I have a proposal from a group of people that they want to
build it there, and there 's plenty of space, and as a matter of fact, there is a volleyball,
that those girls that play good volleyball, they get scholarship left and right, you see.
And this is just to use, be able to use that space to build a training facility and a
competition facility for girls. Girls love volleyball, you see, but we don 't have any and
that's all. And it will affect this only, sir. It won't affect anything else.
Commissioner Russell: Just so I can clarify, maybe the City Attorney can help me. So
because this is a waterfront property, and it happens to also be CS (Civic Space),
which is subject to that, you're saying without this resolution, it would have to go to
referendum under the Charter. Is that correct?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Russell: But by changing the definition of waterfront property and
taking CS out of that, does that mean no CS properties would have to go to
referendum if we chose to do a lease on CS property?
Mr. Min: No, sir, as drafted, this is very specific to those properties that -- and I don't
have the language -- but those properties that are west of a certain body, I think it's --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Min: I don't know if you remember the language.
Commissioner Russell: I'm looking at the ordinance right now.
Commissioner Reyes: It's just specific --
Mr. Min: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) actual definition section.
Commissioner Reyes: Definitions, yes. Fronting a water body, I don't see anything
about the west versus east or --
Mr. Garcia: But elsewhere in the code, water bodies affect properties that are west of
the salinity dams throughout the river or the canals.
Commissioner Russell: Where is that?
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Mr. Garcia: Not in this part of this amendment, but elsewhere in the zoning
ordinance.
Commissioner Reyes: And it's the known, 1 mean, it is not navigable, the body of land
-- of water, not navigable body of water. That's what it is.
Commissioner Russell: It seems to me though, if the definition is amended, in Article
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Mr. Min: It's in the definition of water body, which is actually not included in this text
amendment. The water body is not being amended.
Commissioner Russell: But the definition of waterfront is being amended.
Mr. Min: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Russell: And it says, so it says, currently says the area of a property
that fronts a waterway or water body, we 're adding except for those properties zoned
as CS civic space zone fronting a water body. So, doesn't that have an effect on more
than just this property? Doesn 't it affect all CS that face a water body?
Mr. Min: No, sir. As Mr. Garcia stated, it's those properties that -- and I'm sorry. I'm
looking for the definition of water body.
Commissioner Russell: 1 see one that differentiates properties of waterways
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Mr. Min: Separated by a salinity exam from Biscayne Bay, which again, without
looking at the map, I'll defer to Mr. Garcia, but that is a limited number ofproperties
west -- on the western side of the City of Miami.
Mr. Garcia: Right. And if1 may add, perhaps to give you greater comfort, the effect it
has is really to provide the City more design flexibility in the improvement of the
waterfront end of those parks in the City. So, as Commissioner Reyes was mentioning,
if in one specific park the City wants to make certain improvements that depart from
the standards and guidelines, ultimately of course it's up to the City Commission to
decide what the improvements will be. But we believe that flexibility is welcome so
that other types of recreational facilities can be developed instead of the sort of hard
and fast prominence that are otherwise required.
Commissioner Russell: Got it, and this one's on first reading today, correct?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Russell: All right, thank you. I'll be supportive of course, thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Thank you, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Further discussion on those items?
Commissioner Reyes: No, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing none, all in favor --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, Chair. I do not believe I have a motion, and so
it's going to be for --
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Commissioner Reyes: Yes, I move it.
Vice Chair Carollo: Second.
Mr. Hannon: And that's for 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, correct?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Correct.
Commissioner Russell: One last question on PZ.12, please. Through the Chair, this is
the parking -- I'm sorry, no, on PZ.10. This is the electric vehicle. Is this 20 percent
applied to private off-street parking or only the public off-street parking within the
MPA (Miami Parking Authority)?
Mr. Garcia: All parking structures.
Commissioner Russell: All parking structures, okay, thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, I move to defer PZ.14.
Vice Chair Carollo: Second.
Mr. Hannon: I'm sorry, Commissioner, we still need to take a vote on the motion on
the floor.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor of the motion, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Ave.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
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PZ.10 ORDINANCE First Reading
7675
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
PZ.11
7676
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"), BY
AMENDING ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1.2 OF THE MIAMI 21 CODE,
TITLED "DEFINITIONS", AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.6.1 OF THE
MIAMI 21 CODE, TITLED "OFF-STREET PARKING STANDARDS", TO
PROVIDE FORA DEFINITION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAPABLE
("EV CAPABLE") PARKING SPACES; REQUIRING THAT TWENTY
PERCENT (20%) OF NEW PARKING SPACES CONSTRUCTED MEET
THE EV CAPABLE STANDARDS BY ACCOMMODATING ELECTRIC
VEHICLE CHARGING AND ITS ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE;
MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.10, please see
"Order of the Day" and Item Number PZ.9.
ORDINANCE First Reading
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"), BY
AMENDING ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1.2, TITLED "DEFINITIONS";
ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.5.3, TITLED "GENERAL TO ZONES"; AND
ARTICLE 5, TITLED "SPECIFIC TO ZONES", PARTICULARLY, BY
AMENDING SECTION 5.4.2, TITLED "BUILDING CONFIGURATION
(T4)", SECTION 5.5.2, TITLED "BUILDING CONFIGURATION (T5)",
SECTION 5.6.2, TITLED "BUILDING CONFIGURATION (T6)",
SECTION 5.8.2, TITLED "BUILDING CONFIGURATION (CI -HD)",
SECTION 5.9.2, TITLED "BUILDING CONFIGURATION (D)", AND
SECTION 5.10.2, TITLED "BUILDING CONFIGURATION (D3)" TO
PROVIDE FOR A DEFINITION OF SOLAR EQUIPMENT; CREATING
STANDARDS FOR SITING AND SCREENING SOLAR EQUIPMENT IN
THE T4, T5, T6, CI -HD, D1, D2, AND D3 TRANSECT ZONES;
PROVIDING FOR AN EXEMPTION FROM HEIGHT LIMITATIONS FOR
SOLAR EQUIPMENT; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.11, please see
"Order of the Day" and Item Number PZ.9.
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PZ.12 ORDINANCE First Reading
7885
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY AMENDING ARTICLE 5,
SECTION 5.3.4, TITLED "PARKING STANDARDS (T3)", TO PROVIDE
PROPORTIONAL DRIVEWAY WIDTH REGULATIONS FOR LOW
DENSITY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES; PROVIDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item Number PZ.12,
please see Item Number PZ.9.
Chair Hardemon: And also for the record to item -- can we have Item PZ.12 come
back on the 19th as well?
Vice Chair Carollo: I have no problem with that coming back on the --
Chair Hardemon: Okay, so --
Vice Chair Carollo: -- that meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
PZ.13 ORDINANCE First Reading
7920
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY AMENDING ARTICLE 7,
SECTION 7.2, TITLED "NONCONFORMITIES: STRUCTURES; USES;
LOTS; SITE IMPROVEMENTS; AND SIGNS", TO PROVIDE FOR THE
REFURBISHMENT OF SPECIFIC -PURPOSE DESIGNED
STRUCTURES AND THE USES FOR WHICH THEY WERE
DESIGNED; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.13, please see Item
Number PZ.9.
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PZ.14 ORDINANCE First Reading
5694 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Department of ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
Planning OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; MORE SPECIFICALLY BY
AMENDING ARTICLE 7, SECTION 7.1.2.8, TITLED "AMENDMENT TO
MIAMI 21 CODE," TO EXEMPT REZONINGS OF PROPERTIES BY
THE CITY OF MIAMI TO "CS," CIVIC SPACE TRANSECT ZONES, OR
"T-1," NATURAL TRANSECT ZONES, FROM MINIMUM SIZE AND
FRONTAGE REQUIREMENTS; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: Item PZ.14 was continued to the November 19, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item Number PZ.14,
please see Item Number PZ.9.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, move to defer PZ.14 and get some clarifications.
Vice Chair Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Properly moved to continue PZ.14. All in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Against? Motion carries.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Just for the record, that'll be to November 19th.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, okay.
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PZ.15 ORDINANCE First Reading
7677 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS
Planning AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, PURSUANT TO SMALL
SCALE AMENDMENT PROCEDURES SUBJECT TO SECTION
163.3187, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND
USE DESIGNATION FROM "LOW DENSITY RESTRICTED
COMMERCIAL" TO "MEDIUM DENSITY RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL"
OF THE 0.38 ± ACRES OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT
APPROXIMATELY 2824 AND 2828 SOUTHWEST 37 AVENUE, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A",
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED; MAKING FINDINGS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: Item PZ.15 was continued to the November 19, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, can you read into the record PZ.15 and 16?
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): PZ.15.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Commissioner Russell: I'll move it for discussion, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: We have -- he has more to read or did you read both of those?
Commissioner Russell: Sorry, I'll wait then and then I'll move them both.
Mr. Min: PZ.16.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Commissioner Russell: Now I'll move.
Commissioner Reyes: Move and I second it.
Commissioner Russell: You're on mute, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved and seconded. Any discussion? Vice
Chairman, you're recognized.
Commissioner Russell: Thank you. I'd like to work on this one with you,
Commissioner Reyes, because 37th Avenue, right between our districts --
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Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Commissioner Russell: -- and it's such an important corridor with the revitalization
of Douglas Park, the incoming community center there. 1 think there's so much
potential for healthy development here that can include affordability. It 's right next to
the train station. There's so much going on. This applicant has gotten a change of
zoning from us before on abutting properties of about double the size. And they
proffered at that time a covenant with regard to affordability on site or a cash
contribution that Commissioner Carollo negotiated to the tune of $100,000 for the
Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which was obviously a big win for us, but it didn 't
solve our situation on that road. And so at that time, 1 had asked, can we do, you
know, sort of an intensive look, and maybe it needs a resolution or a direction, as has
been done in some of these other neighborhoods, to really do a zoning analysis Jro
this area to incentivize the type of development we want. 1 do not want to hold up this
applicant from doing what they want, and I'm happy that they are coming with a
proffer, but I do have to say, and Commissioner Carollo is off camera now, but the
proffer is not even half of what you were able to negotiate for us in the last round. So
I'm wondering if you have analyzed this, because if I'm not mistaken, in my
understanding from the Planning Department's analysis, a commensurate
contribution would be about half of what they gave last time, but they 're only offering
$10,000 this time versus the $100, 000 they offered last time. And the units seem to be
commensurate. They are at an appropriate AMI (Area Median Income), but if the
cash contribution is so low, it incentivizes them to just go with the cash contribution
and they never give us the affordability. So they get the best of both worlds there. So
I'm looking for some support here either to work with this developer and their
representative on their proffer or hold this item to really, you know, deep dive a little
further on the entire area because I don't think we're doing this comprehensively.
We're doing it piecemeal, lot by lot, where this place is worthy of T5. I mean, we
could really give some intensity to this area if it's appropriate with that neighborhood
and the buffering is there, but we need to get the affordability. And just waiting for
voluntary proffers that don't really, meet the need might be a little tough. So I'm open
to discussion on this one.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair, and I do agree 100 percent with you that that
corridor, 37th Avenue corridor, is, it is, we have to really try to do whatever is, I
would say try to maximize the development there, and I'm willing to sit down with you
and with anybody else and be -- try to work as much as we can and try to get as much
as we can from the developers and also look into the future how can we improve and
foster development in that area and it is part yours, part mine and I think that we
should be working together in it. And I'll go along -- I mean, what do you want to do?
You want to move this and defer this so we can have a charade?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Can I ask a question? I have a question though
because I need a little education on this one.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If I may, Mr. Chair, through you.
Chair Hardemon: Please.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The -- so this is in Commissioner Reyes' district or
Commissioner Russell 's?
Commissioner Reyes: Both.
Commissioner Russell: No, this is --
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Commissioner Reyes: No, no, that's his, but I have the Douglas Park.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think you go -- you currently, that's probably
going to be changed out here. There's a rumor out there it's going to be changed. 1
think you currently go to 25th --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- Terrace, right? Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: This is Commissioner Russell's district?
Commissioner Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is that correct?
Commissioner Russell: Douglas Park and that area south of US -I, the Douglas Park
Station -- the Douglas Road Station.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, no -- right, correct, this area. But this area
is -- there's another big development taking place there, right?
Commissioner Russell: At the station, yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: At the station.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: This is adjacent, that's why I need to educate
because this -- because I don't have a map in front of me. For some reason, I wasn't
left a map. This is adjacent to that development?
Commissioner Russell: Not adjacent, no, it's a little north. It's a few blocks north.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's a few blocks north or whatever. And how many
units are we talking about?
Commissioner Russell: Not many.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is there a number? I mean, not many could be a
hundred or twenty or ten or five.
Commissioner Russell: I'm not the applicant. Either Mr. Garcia or the applicant's
representative can speak to the specifics on the number.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, is Mr. Garcia --? Mr. Garcia, tell me a little
bit about this because this is an important point actually because I agree that 37th
Avenue -- and I kind of got -- I've been tfying to get away from the parochial nature
of when we look at our city. There are places that we can all talk a little bit about, and
I know this area very well. So I think the 37th Avenue corridor may be important for
us to look at higher density, right?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: To look at a broader vision of what can happen.
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Commissioner Reyes: At a broader vision, yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: A broader vision between --
Commissioner Reyes: That's what was referring to.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- (INAUDIBLE) 27th Street or something like
that.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: In that area around the park. So how many units is
it? Is it a big, is it a big deal development or is it a --?
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I don't think it is, but that's why I want to know.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, I don't think it is. And as I remember, this came before
us at the beginning, I think that -- of my, tenure. And I do agree with you,
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla. We should take a good look at it and see if it'd be
possible to have a greater density there and have substantial development in that
area, which would be a great contribution too.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And so my question to Mr. Garcia is, if we approve
this today, are we actually limiting ourselves in what we can do down the line for this
corridor?
Mr. Garcia: No, not in the least, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: How not?
Mr. Garcia: Well, they are asking for a zoning change. And so the conversation we're
having right now pertains to that zoning change. I recognize that Mr. Fernandez on
behalf of the applicants is here as well. In that zoning change, they have the ability to
apply for. Our recommendation has been for approval given that the nature of the
corridor, as you know, is T4-L, is really a mismatch, right? This is certainly a major
transportation corridor. It is within a transportation -oriented development area --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct.
Mr. Garcia: -- and the proper zoning on the entire corridor, in our opinion, would be
T5-O. T5 because it allows up to five stories with a density of 55 units per acre, and
T5-O in particular because it allows for a full mixed -use type of development, which
is appropriate along the 37th Avenue corridor. That said, and our report captions this
as well, there is admittedly a need for some affordability to be infused into the area as
it is those in the lesser ranks of affordability that would be able to take advantage of
the already existing transportation (INAUDIBLE) corridor and some proffers of
affordability have been received in the past.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You sort of came in and out there, but I think I got
the gist of what you were saying. My question is, if we're looking for land to build as
many units as we can, are we wasting an opportunity and we're not doing enough
here? That's really the question, right? So is there, not the way things have been done
in the past, but the way we want to do it in the future. Are we wasting an opportunity
to upzone this area? That's my question.
Mr. Garcia: Right. So, approximately --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (INAUDIBLE), Mr. Fernandez.
Ms. Gouin: -- a year and change ago (INAUDIBLE) -- oh, my apologies. 1 yield.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You 're breaking up.
Ben Fernandez: Can you hear me now?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes.
Mr. Fernandez: Okay, thank you, Commissioners. Ben Fernandez, 200 South
Biscayne Boulevard on behalf of the applicant. You know, 1 can show you on the map
how it makes sense to certainly increase development intensity on this site.
Essentially, the properties on the north side of Douglas Park are T6-8. So what you
have is essentially a change from T6-8 and anybody that's familiar with Douglas
Road knows that what has happened closer to Coral Gables near Coral Gables
Hospital are 20-story apartment buildings that do very well and provide, you know,
some of them provide workforce housing at the higher levels, I think. And certainly
this is the gap between those areas and the Metrorail station. This Commission found
it appropriate to rezone this parcel from T4, the adjacent parcel rather, from T4 to
T5, and this is just a smaller additional piece, approximately 16,000 square feet. The
density increase would be 11 units, is what we're talking about here. So this is, to
further what Mr. Garcia was saying, this is a necessary step in order to bring the
development intensity to a level that is on par with what is on the north side of
Douglas Park, should you choose to do that, which would be closer to a T6-8. Doesn't
have to be the same height, it could be a more dense development at a lower scale, if
that's more appropriate for the neighborhood, but I think that there 's certainly an
opportunity to bring smaller units closer to the train within the pedestrian shed of the
Metrorail station. And this is clearly within the pedestrian shed of the station. So what
you have are competing goals in your master plan. Of course you want to increase
affordability, but you also need to recognize that the areas around all of our train
stations have remained undeveloped for years, despite the fact that we 've had a train.
27th Avenue, Commissioner, your district, Commissioner Russell, has remained
entirely undeveloped. Now you've got the Terra project, and that's great, but you
know, nothing has happened on the north side of that station for various reasons. It 's
not your fault, but going back, there have been appeals, challenges to development.
37th Avenue is finally happening, but this area, which is just north of Bird Road
around the Florida Power and Light substation, I might add, has been ignored. Has
been ignored. Nobody knows if it's Coral Gables. You know, Coral Gables has
blocked off streets to it. Residents can't go in there, so they're not welcome in Coral
Gables. 37th Avenue looks like a (INAUDIBLE) --
Commissioner Reyes: You live in Coral Gables'?
Mr. Fernandez: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Who's not welcome -- who's not welcome in Coral
Gables?
Commissioner Reyes: Who's not welcome there? Do you live in Coral Gables?
Mr. Fernandez: No, I don't live in Coral Gables. I live in the City of Miami. But
they've blocked off --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, I know, I know, I'm just kidding you.
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Mr. Fernandez: -- they've blocked off those streets, you know, Commissioner? Those
streets are blocked off.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, you're absolutely right.
Mr. Fernandez: Yeah. So this is a strange -- this is a strange pocket of --
Chair Hardemon: At least we know that they're --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We know the City. We know the City, Mr.
Fernandez. We know the City.
Chair Hardemon: At least we know when they (INAUDIBLE) it --
Vice Chair Carollo: Commissioner.
Chair Hardemon: -- that wasn't allowed there.
Vice Chair Carollo: Commissioner Russell, this is your district. Would you like for
this to be deferred?
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Russell, you're recognized.
Commissioner Russell: Thank you, and I really appreciate that, Commissioner
Carollo. 1 do want to --1 do not want to assume that this part of my district will no
longer be part of my district beyond redistricting. If it goes that way through the
analysis and the community meetings and everything --
Vice Chair Carollo: But it's your district now.
Commissioner Russell: It is, it is, and I love (INAUDIBLE) Golden Pines.
Vice Chair Carollo: Well, you know, the future, I don't know what it'll be. It's your
district now, do you want to defer? I'll second if you do.
Commissioner Russell: Yeah, let's -- I'd be --
Mr. Fernandez: We're happy to work with you between first and second reading, if
it's a question of the extent of the contribution.
Vice Chair Carollo: Well, you know, Commissioner Russell made a good point.
Mr. Fernandez: This has already been deferred once.
Vice Chair Carollo: You're getting 11 more units. $10,000 for 11 more units that
under the present zoning you're not supposed to get is not --
Mr. Fernandez: But we already -- Commissioner, we already proffered $100,000 in
response to your requestfor 18 units previously so --
Commissioner Russell: Mr. Fernandez, just a moment. It goes beyond that.
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Vice Chair Carollo: And that wasn't a lot, frankly.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We shouldn't be having a debate -- either it's
debate between commissioners or, you know, it's not a debate with, you know --
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Commissioner Russell: Correct, Ijust want to be --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- debating between Commissioners, right?
Commissioner Russell: But before --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I agree with Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Russell: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1 agree with Commissioner Carollo. He's a
commission -- he's the district commissioner. If you want to defer, I'll support you
also on that.
Commissioner Reyes: I'll support you also.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And we'll move forward and we don't have to
waste time with this anymore.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Russell: Right, but I just wanted one last comment on the record. Not
only is the proffer different from a financial perspective, the proffer of units,
Commissioner Reyes negotiated that it would be in the previous zoning for the
abutting property that was also represented, it would be at the City AMI. And this
proffer is at the County AMI, which is much higher. So they're not offering as much
money and they're not offering as much debt of affordability. So I would appreciate a
deferral. And Mr. Fernandez, I'm happy to work with you. My door is open and we
will get this done.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think it's important, Commissioner. I think it's
important, Commissioner Russell, that you made a great point. You need to give more,
Mr. Fernandez, to our City. You really do. And because that's what we're looking for
here. We're looking for more for all citizens and all people that are investing in our
city to contribute more to our city. And that's sort of the angle that I'm coming from.
Not more than you can give, but more than you're giving. So I think the
commissioner, I agree with the commissioner from the district that we defer it and you
got further conversations going forward.
Commissioner Reyes: You move it and I'll second it, Commissioner.
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded.
Vice Chair Carollo: The other 18 units for the $100,000 they proffered came to
$5,555 and change per units. So if we go with that $5,555 and change, we should be
getting about $61,100 plus for the 11 additional units. And that's a heck of a deal, let
me tell you.
Chair Hardemon: The --
Vice Chair Carollo: We gave you a fire sale before.
Chair Hardemon: PZ.15 and 16 have been moved to defer. Do we have a date
definite?
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Commissioner Russell: November meeting, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, November meeting. Seeing no further discussion, all in favor
of that motion, say "aye.
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion carries.
PZ.16 ORDINANCE First Reading
7679 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of ATTACHMENTS, AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
Planning NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION FROM T4-L, "GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT ZONE
— LIMITED", TO T5-O, "URBAN CENTER TRANSECT ZONE - OPEN",
OF THE PROPERTIES LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 2824 AND
2828 SOUTHWEST 37 AVENUE MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; FURTHER ACCEPTING THE VOLUNTARILY
PROFFERED COVENANT IN THE SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORM
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "B"; MAKING
FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: Item PZ.16 was continued to the November 19, 2020, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.16, please see Item
Number PZ.15.
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PZ.17 ORDINANCE First Reading
7890
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; MORE SPECIFICALLY, BY
AMENDING ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1.2, TITLED "DEFINITIONS OF
TERMS", ARTICLE I, SECTION 1.4, TITLED "DEFINITIONS OF
LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS", ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.12, TITLED
"DESIGN GUIDELINES, NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION
DISTRICTS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION DISTRICTS",
ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.6.10, TITLED OFF-STREET BICYCLE
PARKING REQUIREMENTS", ARTICLE 4, TABLE 4, TITLED
"DENSITY, INTENSITY AND PARKING", AND ARTICLE 4, TABLE 7,
TITLED "CIVIC SPACE TYPES", TO PROVIDE FOR FUTURE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF MIAMI; MAKING FINDINGS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.17, please see
"Public Comments for all Item(s) " and Item Number PZ.3.
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PZ.18
8032
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
ORDINANCE First Reading
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENTS, AMENDING APPENDIX J: WYNWOOD NRD-1 -
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION DISTRICT - OF ORDINANCE
NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"); MORE SPECIFICALLY,
BY AMENDING SECTION 2.1, TITLED "PURPOSE AND INTENT",
ARTICLE 3, TITLED "GENERAL TO ZONES", SECTION 4, TABLE 2,
TITLED "TABLE 2. T5 - URBAN CENTER ZONE" AND "TABLE 2. T6 -
URBAN CORE ZONE", ARTICLE 5, TITLED "SPECIFIC TO ZONES",
ARTICLE 9, TITLED "LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS", ARTICLE 10,
TITLED "SIGN REGULATIONS", AND SECTION 8, TITLED "STREET
MASTER PLAN", TO MODIFY STANDARDS FOR PARKING FOR
DEVELOPMENTS LESS THAN 10,000 SQUARE FEET, ALLOW
PARKING WITHIN MEZZANINE LEVELS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE WYNWOOD STREETSCAPE MASTER PLAN WITHIN THE
NRD-1 BOUNDARIES; FURTHER AMENDING SECTION 3.3, TITLED
"LOTS AND FRONTAGES", TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO ALLOW
LOT ASSEMBLAGES EXCEEDING MAXIMUM LOT AREA WITH
PUBLIC BENEFIT CONTRIBUTIONS; FURTHER AMENDING
SECTION 3.5, TITLED "WYNWOOD TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT
RIGHTS PROGRAM", TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO ALLOW
UNUSED DENSITY THROUGHOUT THE NRD-1 BOUNDARY TO BE
TRANSFERRED FOR THE BENEFIT OF AFFORDABLE/WORKFORCE
HOUSING, CIVIC OPEN SPACE AND LEGACY USES, THE ABILITY
TO PAY INTO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND TO
OBTAIN ADDITIONAL DENSITY, ALIGNMENT OF THE
AFFORDABLE/WORKFORCE HOUSING BENEFIT TO THE MIAMI 21
CODE'S STANDARDS, AND A CALIBRATED ATTAINABLE MIXED
INCOME PROGRAM; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.18, please see
"Public Comments for all Item(s)" and Item Number PZ.3.
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PZ.19
7997
Department of
Planning
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPROVING
THE CLOSURE, VACATION, ABANDONMENT, AND
DISCONTINUANCE FOR PUBLIC USE OF FIVE (5) STREETS
GENERALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE ROADWAY BOUNDARIES OF
NORTHEAST 23RD STREET TO THE SOUTH, NORTHEAST 24TH
STREET TO THE NORTH, NORTHEAST 4TH AVENUE TO THE
WEST, AND BISCAYNE BAY TO THE EAST, NAMELY NORTHEAST
5TH AVENUE, NORTHEAST 6TH AVENUE, NORTHEAST 7TH
AVENUE, PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST 23RD TERRACE, AND
PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST 24TH STREET, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED, PURSUANT TO SECTION 55-15 OF THE CODE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; MAKING FINDINGS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0357
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item Number PZ.19, please see
"Public Comments for all ltem(s) " and Item Number PZ.3.
END OF PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S)
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FL - FUTURE LEGISLATION
FL.1 ORDINANCE
7849
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 54/ARTICLE I/SECTION 54-8 OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"),
ENTITLED "STREETS AND SIDEWALKS/IN GENERAL/ USING
STREET OR SIDEWALK FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES,
EXCEPTIONS; PERMIT AND FEE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
FL.2 ORDINANCE
8040
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION TO AMEND
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, AS AMENDED, SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1.1, ENTITLED "DEFINITIONS OF
BUILDING FUNCTION: USES (ARTICLE 4, TABLE 3)" RELATED
TO INDUSTRIAL USES; AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.11
ENTITLED "WATERFRONT STANDARDS," ADDING LODGING AS
A USE CONSIDERED FOR THE DESIGN STANDARDS; AND
ARTICLE 4, TABLE 3, ENTITLED "BUILDING FUNCTION: USES,"
MODIFYING REGULATIONS FOR DENSITY AND USES FOR THE
DISTRICT ZONE; AND ARTICLE 4, TABLE 4, ENTITLED
"DENSITY, INTENSITY AND PARKING," RELATED TO THE
DISTRICT ZONE, PROVIDING REGULATIONS FOR DENSITY,
INTENSITY, AND PARKING TO ADDRESS LODGING USES
WITHIN THE D2 AND D3 TRANSECTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT
ZONE; AND ARTICLE 6, SECTION 6.1, ENTITLED "INTENT AND
EXCLUSIONS," MODIFYING TABLE 13 PROVIDING
SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS FOR THE D2 AND D3
TRANSECT ZONES; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE,
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: I have a question. It's for the City Attorney before we close out
FL.2, right, the zoning test code, lodging in certain districts, that was something that I
indicated to the Administration that I wanted to sponsor. But for some reason it ended
up on the future legislation, which of course is a much longer track of time. Now, the
question I have for you is that, of course, I want to pull this from future legislation.
It's on the agenda. Everyone sees it. Would this be properly noticed if it's on the
agenda, or is this a process that's not here on this agenda that I need to be aware of
that would make this fall out of proper notice?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Right, so it's on -- listed as future legislation, but I
believe it's already been placed on an agenda. I think the Administration would have
to confirm that for this item.
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Arthur Noriega (City Manager): Yeah, it's actually scheduled for December.
Chair Hardemon: Right, I mean, that's very far away. 1 fully -- I mean, December is
what it would normally do. That's like the 90-day process. But I specifically indicated
that I want to co-sponsor -- that I wanted to sponsor this item so it can be heard much
quicker. I expected it to be on this agenda. I was told it was going to be on this
agenda. I didn 't think it was going to be on this agenda as future legislation. And so --
Ms. Mendez: You could place it on the November 19th if you're going to sponsor it.
Chair Hardemon: Right. No, I understand that. But my question to you is, with the
way that it is on the agenda today, is it properly noticed? Like for instance, if I want
to hear this item today, what will stop me from hearing this item today?
Ms. Mendez: The problem is that right now you have it technically noticed as fixture
legislation for today, and then you have it noticed to be on the December agenda. So
there are probably people waiting to comment on -- at that time. I mean, it's a little
different than when you bring in maybe a pocket item that we 've done in the past, but
that's when, you know, there's some sort of emergency, some sort of reason why you
would like to hear it. So, in a perfect world, we would bring it on the 19th because
we're talking about it today and we're saying, okay, we're not going to bring it on
December, we're going to bring it on the 19th.
Chair Hardemon: I just want it to be noted for the record that this is an item that I
asked to sponsor, and so it should have been on this agenda. So what I'll ask of my
colleagues is to have this item placed on the 19th agenda, of course I won 't be here
(INAUDIBLE) to be heard.
Commissioner Reyes: Through the Chair, through the Chair, and I was going to
propose that. I know that this has been an item that you have been talking about and
you have been promoting. And when is our next meeting? The meeting in November is
the 19th, right?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: And I believe this is an item that needs a Planning and Zoning Appeals
Board as well.
Commissioner Reyes: Madam City Attorney, I'm going to ask you, I'm going to ask
you, and I'm going to ask all Planning and Zoning and all of that to do everything
that is possible to expedite it and bring it and do all the necessary advertising and
notice to everybody that for public comment to bring it on the 19th to the last date that
Chairman Hardemon be with us. No, I mean, as the Chair, because you're going to go
someplace else. But 1 mean, he --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, he'll be gone by the 19th.
Chair Hardemon: I'll be gone the 19th.
Commissioner Reyes: What -- what --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, he'll be gone, yeah, yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: What -- what -- what --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (INAUDIBLE) on the 18th, right, Chair?
Commissioner Reyes: On the 18th?
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Chair Hardemon: The last (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I'll he there is the 17th.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 17th, the 17th.
Commissioner Reyes: But -- but -- but is there a meeting on the 17th? I mean, do we
have any meetings before he leaves?
Vice Chair Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, yeah, we have three meetings, including --
before he leaves, two. But one is to name his replacement.
Commissioner Reyes: When is the last meeting that he's going to be here?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The l6th.
Commissioner Reyes: The 16th I want to -- instead of the 19th, I want -- I'm asking
you, Madam Chair.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So we can make like a -- that meeting is to deal
with the marina issue and we can maybe deal with this issue too.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: So what -- you would have to call for a special meeting to deal with this
issue.
Commissioner Reyes: Can we include this in the special meeting that we're going to
have for the marina?
Ms. Mendez: You would need to call -- you already called a special meeting.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We'll call another one.
Commissioner Reyes: We'll call another the day before.
Ms. Mendez: No, call another one to be concurrent.
Commissioner Reyes: The day before. The day before and that's it.
Ms. Mendez.: To be concurrent with that one.
Commissioner Reyes: The day before.
Chair Hardemon: Well, no, you know, you can actually, what you can actually do,
you can call a special meeting on the same day.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: On the same day.
Commissioner Reyes: At a different hour.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: At 2 o'clock, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Commissioner Reyes: At a different hour. Okay, special meeting at different hour.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes.
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Ms. Mendez: Now this item also has to go to Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board.
Commissioner Reyes: Send it to --
Ms. Mendez: (INAUDIBLE) before.
Commissioner Reyes: When is the next Planning and Zoning Board meeting? When is
the PZAB (Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board) meeting? When is the next meeting?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, Mr. Garcia.
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): Thank you, sir. That is already in place. The
item has been to the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board. Briefly to clam, the
reason why it could not be placed on this agenda is because this item needed the
approval by the Department of Economic Opportunity of the comprehensive plan
amendments and those that have been received at the time of the publication of the
last agenda. It has already been placed on the November l9th agenda. If the
Commission wishes to place it earlier, we're ready to do so now.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, let's move it to the special meeting agenda.
Vice Chair Carollo: What item is this again?
Chair Hardemon: That's the FL.2.
Commissioner Reyes: Future Legislation 2.
Vice Chair Carollo: Future?
Commissioner Reyes: FL.2.
Chair Hardemon: FL.2.
Commissioner Reyes: FL.2.
Mr. Garcia: Yes, sir, because also, if I may, through the Chair, there is also a
requirement then that along with this particular amendment, we hear the second
reading of the comprehensive plan amendments. That's already also ready to go
forward. We can schedule both of those for the special meeting if you'd like.
END OF FUTURE LEGISLATION
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NA.1
8087
City Commission
NA - NON -AGENDA ITEM(S)
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO COMMENCE NEGOTIATIONS WITH
THE DAVID AND LEILA CENTNER FAMILY FOUNDATION INC.
FOR A POTENTIAL DONATION OF TEN MILLION DOLLARS
($10,000,000) TO INVEST IN PARK SPACE IN THE CITY OF
MIAMI, SAID NEGOTIATIONS SHALL INCLUDE PUBLIC
MEETINGS, SHALL INCLUDE THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE
OMNI CRA, SHALL DISCUSS PUBLIC ACCESS IN A SIGNIFICANT
WAY TO THE DONATED PARK SPACE; FURTHER DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO BRING THE RESULTS OF THE
NEGOTIATIONS TO THE CITY COMMISSION AT A FUTURE
MEETING.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0352
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item Number NA.1, please
see "End of Consent Agenda."
Chair Hardemon: At this time, Fm going to open up public comment. Each member of
the public has two minutes to address this body. Please state your first name and your
last name, and you may state your address, what it is that you're here to speak about.
And what we'll do is we'll open up the public comments for the people who are live at
City Hall at the lectern. So we'll open up public comment for them first, then we'll
move to the live callers, and then from there we'll have the recorded comment. So
public comment is now open. Madam City Attorney.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Chairman, I think the Vice Chairman said he had a
pocket?
Chair Hardemon: Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. Let's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) do that. Mr. Vice
Chairman, can you read the title of your pocket item?
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's just rather simply a direction to
the Manager to begin negotiation on a donation that we received word of a potential
donation of $10 million from the Centner Foundation to invest in park space in the
City, of Miami. I just want to make sure the direction includes that that negotiation
will include public meetings, public access in a significant way to this park space,
include the School Board -- this is for 150 Northeast 19th Street. The School Board is
-- has also been in talks with the City as well as the CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency) regarding expansion of iPrep. I want to make sure they're at the table. And of
course -- yeah, so it's really a direction just to begin negotiation on the receipt of this
donation and how this will work with the City so you can bring something back to us
in an official manner in a future meeting.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. I have it listed as PI]. And now --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If I may, Mr. Chair, a couple of things.
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NA.2
8091
Office of the City
Clerk
NA.3
8088
City Commission
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We also want to include the Omni CRA in those
conversations, and obviously, the School Board has to be included too, so just a
caveat to that -- Commissioner Russell's comments.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING, ZONING AND APPEALS BOARD
FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Charles Garavaglia Commissioner Manolo Reyes
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0360
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: A motion was made by Commissioner Reyes, seconded by
Commissioner Carollo, and was passed unanimously, to appoint Charles
Garavaglia as a member of the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board; further
waiving the term limits of Section 2-885(b) by a unanimous (5/5) vote of the
members of the City Commission, as it relates to Charles Garavaglia as a member
of the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO CEASE AND DESIST ENFORCEMENT
OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CURFEW AS PROMULGATED BY
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR GIMENEZ IN MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY LOCAL EMERGENCY ORDER 27-20, AS AMENDED,
AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY LOCAL EMERGENCY ORDER 30-20,
AS AMENDED.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0358
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MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So this is a resolution for a no enforcement policy
even though it's been stated by our city manager, it's been stated by our mayor, we've
talked about it here, but I think it's clear that the governmental leaders make that
statement. But this is simply a resolution, and I'm going to read it to make sure that
we're on the record with it and everybody's clear about it and the leaders in this
community are clear about it. It's a resolution of the Miami City Commission
directing the City Manager to cease and desist enforcement of the Miami -Dade
County curfew as promulgated by Miami -Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez in
Miami -Dade County Local Emergency Order 2720, as amended, and the Miami -Dade
County Local Emergency Order 30-20, as amended. So, in essence, this resolution
calls for no enforcement whatsoever of any curfew at any time, you know, and every
business can operate as licensed, duly and properly licensed, of course, as they did
pre-COVID-19. That's what this does.
Vice Chair Carollo: Let me -- if I may say the following First and foremost, this is
under appeal. So I don't know what the Third DCA (District Court of Appeal) or
Judge Butchko ruled on the stay. Is there a stay on that order or not, Madam City
Attorney?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: There is.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Right, so right now the Miami -Dade curfew is
active. It's a curfew.
Chair Hardemon: It's in place.
Ms. Mendez: It's in place.
Vice Chair Carollo: This should go fairly quick before the Third DCA, correct?
Ms. Mendez: Yes, there's -- a briefing should be done, I want to say by Monday, and
there should be a determination by next week.
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay, I will go along with this until the Third DCA decides, only
until then, because I do believe there should be some sort of curfew. And I'm going to
tell you why. Look at the numbers. These are the numbers today. We have surpassed
180,000 confirmed cases today, confirmed. It doesn't mean a whole bunch, maybe
even some that are here today in the meeting that might have gotten it, didn't know it,
or didn't report it. You know, you probably have two, three times the number, but
confirmed, 180,497. Death, 3,581. We had 853 new COVID cases today, 853. Now, in
my mind, opening up business up to midnight, it includes the vast majority of our
business. We're keeping the economy strong, moving, but I'm going to say it again to
all of you. If to help a few, this keeps going up, then we're going to hurt those few and
everybody else along with it. Because we might have to come back and start
shuttering places again, the last thing that we want to do. And you know, I hope these
numbers don 't go up anymore, but I'm seeing in the streets, unfortunately, a lot of
people, you know, think they can't get it. And if this jumps really high again,
(UNINTELLIGIBLE), where our hospitals are going to be, I mean, just totally full and
beyond. I don't know. Look at Europe right now, how they're getting hit. So I want to
be realistical [sic_, and for all of us to understand what we're dealing with here. This
is serious. I really don't give a hoot and there's no money in the world for them to
convince me that we got to open up 24 hours. for certain businesses that stay open up
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24 hours and they could make the big bucks whether it's screwing up the whole rest of
the town. And all the people who we talked about here that, oh, we got to help these
business people, you know we're doing? We're throwing them under the bus. But I
also understand that this will be heard quickly and nothing prevents the County, that
has three times the manpower that we do and more, to come into the city and enforce
it.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Carollo: Nothing whatsoever, And I hope they do. So, I will vote for this,
not that we really need to, but 1 will vote for it until there is a determination by the
Third DCA. If that is different than what Judge Butchko ruled on, then 1 would hope
that we can have a special meeting to discuss it, in particularly, in particularly, if
these --
Commissioner Reyes: Numbers.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- statistics keep going up. If we keep getting seven, eight
hundred, a thousand or more per day, then we need to be very careful in what we 're
doing.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other person who wants to speak?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, Mr. Chair. I think that which -- the only thing that this
resolution is going to bring is that the, you see, at this time, there's the businesses,
they don't know what they're going to do, particularly in the City of Miami. And what
this is going to do is we're going to reassure our businesses that they are complying
with the law and until -- and I agree with Commissioner Joe Carollo -- that the Third
DCA rules that the County is the one that has the right, then we will -- I will vote in
favor of this, but then, I mean, subject to the ruling of the Third DCA, because I will
never go against the court ruling. If a court ruling is that the County has the
authority, then I agree we should meet again and take proper action to, I mean, to do
away with this resolution. But a question that I have, and I think you, Commissioner
Carollo, answered it, you see, even if we pass this resolution, and I do understand
what the Senator is trying to do, it is trying to give assurance to our businesses that
they can operate without looking over their shoulder. And even if we pass this, as I
expect we're going to pass it, what precludes the County to come in and out of their
own will and come into our neighborhoods and start fining, giving fines to our
businesses, you see? And that is the dichotomy that we have now, vou see. I mean,
because it is the uncertainty in which we have been living for the past six, eight
months, you see. I know that they, as Commissioner Carollo said, they have a huge
manpower, and they can come in and say, okay, now you are defiant, now I'm going
to show you, and come and start penalizing those businesses that are -- the same
businesses that we want to help. I mean, this is a fine line that we're walking. But I do
agree that we have to bring some certainty, and the Third DCA is the one that is
going to have the last word.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And if I may, Mr. Chair, I will tell you that -- first
of all, thank you, Commissioner Carollo, and thank vou, Commissioner Reyes. There
is -- the reason why I bring this be,kwe us is exactly for what Commissioner Reyes
said. There is no -- we need to reassure our businesses that they're complying with
the law. The reason why I proposed it to begin with is because I have not found any
scientific evidence that says that you're more likely to get COVID-19 at 11:59 than
12:01. So the time that you're out and about doesn't impact the possibility of you
getting the disease, right? So to me, it was arbitrary whether it was 11 o 'clock or 12
o'clock. Commissioner Carollo, you remember back then that we had a great debate
on the dais about the need for a curfew and stay at home order when the crisis
started. And I was in complete agreement with you that we needed to have a curfew
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and we needed to have that stay at home order in place. And the whole commission
agreed on that. But our businesses need to know that they can open because other
people are opening in Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale and Naples. So people are not --
Commissioner Reyes: Hollywood.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: In Hollywood. People are going out there.
Commissioner Reyes: Dania.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: People are going out. And we live in a free society.
If people don't want to go out and don't want to take what they consider to be a risk,
then they don't go out. They stay home. People are going out. People are not stopping
from going out. They're just not going out in our city. They're going out in
Hollywood, in Fort Lauderdale, and other parts of the state. So our dollars that could
be spent here are being spent somewhere else and someone from Miami and
downtown Miami will go to Hollywood or Las Olas Boulevard, they get the disease,
they come back home. So to me I didn't find any scientific evidence, I don 't see any
scientific evidence of what a curfew does to stop that rise in cases.
Vice Chair Carollo: Let me explain it to you. Let me --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I mean --
Vice Chair Carollo: -- give you --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I understand that --
Vice Chair Carollo: Whenever you like, I will explain to you the difference.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Vice Chair Carollo: The difference is that the longer the night gets, the only people
that stay out late at night are those that are going to be in locations that are serving
alcohol. The more alcohol that you take in, the least your brain functions better. And
then instead of trying to stay a safe distance from someone or speaking in a lower
voice, you're going to be speaking in a higher voice, you're going to be throwing your
saliva, your COVID-19 germs if you have it, flying higher, so it could get people
closer to you and those not that close to you. And that's the difference. Alcohol,
especially in places that don't have food or very little food that they give, because
where they make the money is in the alcohol, in the 15 to 20 dollar drinks, impairs
individuals. So scientifically, I will tell you that for those reasons, there is a higher
percentage of people that would get infected. Now I would agree with you that if you
take that out of the way, and you don't have that factor then you're right. It don't
matter whether it's 3 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon, you're not going to get any
sicker or have more of an opening for COVID-19 to attack you. But if you're out late -
- and look, I saw it this past weekend. It was a free for all in many parts of our city.
Practically every establishment that we have in the City of Miami that either served a
substantial amount of alcohol or depended fully on alcohol, it was a free for all,
across the board, across the board. There was not even social distancing being
practiced in restaurants that you would look at them, it was every table, people on top
of people. But then you would go to Versailles, La Carreta, and all those other
restaurants, and boy, they were keeping their social distance at the table and doing
what they're supposed to. And those are the places that to save a few and make a few
get richer quick and bring more money quicker, that we're going to kill. We're going
to kill them and the vast majority of our businesses that we have in the city that are
not alcohol dependent. And you know, those are facts. Look, I've spoken to experts.
You all know that from day one before even our mayor got infected, I brought in one
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of the hest experts we have in Florida, and I dare say in the country, Dr. Marty. And
1 've been speaking to her regularly. And this is how I'm basing my opinion. Now, I'm
going to he blunt with you, Commissioner. I don't like voting for this. I'm doing it in
part out of respect to you and at the same time understanding this is for a short time
and it might he confusing. But I am really surprised of the numbers that I was seeing
already coming up that we were day after day in the 500s. All of a sudden, we're at
853 today. We're over 180,000 confirmed cases. This is starting to, you know, get
ugly and we 're beyond the five percent again of people that are getting tested and
they're coming positive. And you know what I don't want to see is that for everybody
again we 're going to be in a position that we have to put -- that we're going to have to
put real serious curfews. I don't want to see that again because our society can't live
with that either. And 1 think we all know that. You know, if the COVID-19 doesn't get
you, going broke and our economy as a whole going south kills you. So what I've
been trying to say is that we have to find a balance here. I don't believe that balance
is a free-for-all that's 24-7. And that's all that I'm saying. So you know, I will vote for
it --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Commissioner.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- with the request that I made that, you know, it could be
brought up if the Third DCA has a ruling that's different than Judge Butchko, which I
will say this publicly, I have a lot of respect for her. I think she's a good judge and she
made a decision I believe based on the law. She probably didn 't want to make this
decision but I'm sure she read the law and saw that she had no other way to go but
rule with the law.
Chair Hardemon: Are there any other comments? Now, I'll say that from the very,
very beginning in my role as president of the League of Cities, we were saying that to
our constituents, you 're safer at home. And that message was always about the fact
that COVID-19 was reality and that people are getting sick. I know personally many
people who fell victim to COVID-19. And the people that I know, many of them, of
course, lived. There are people that I know that know other people that did not
survive. A lot of strange things have happened during this season. But I will say, as
always, you're safer at home. Right now, people go to work every single day. We're
going to grocery stores and convenience stores and shopping malls and all these
places. And COVID-19 is not going to take a hiatus during the daytime. And
unfortunately, a lot of our businesses have suffered because of the closings that we 've
had. And when the businesses suffer, the people suffer. And that's particularly why
we've had to initiate initiatives that provide for mortgage relief rent relief and things
of that nature because of the nature of what we caused through the closing, the
mandatory closing of these establishments. If not for government involved in closing
these businesses, we know that people would have kept their businesses open and then
they would have had clientele that would have come if they chose to leave their homes
and patronage their establishments. And had they made their own decision, and a lot
of these businesses didn't prosper because people were staving home, it would not
have been government's fault. It would have been the individual who chooses to spend
his dollar wherever he chooses to go. And so, I mean, I reiterate that message that
you 're safer at home. Even if there are lots of places that are open during the evening,
and many of our citizenry don't choose to go there. Not everyone visits nightclubs.
Not everyone visits adult entertainment. Not everyone visits fast food restaurants. I
mean, there are many people, you know, no matter how many times you flash the
McDonald's golden arches in front of them, they are not going to eat a hamburger
from McDonald's. It just will not happen. There are many people who will not eat a
Filet-O-Fish sandwich. That is not real fish. They want fish that is freshly caught from
the ocean. And so no matter how long you put it before them, they will not partake in
that. And so I look at it the same with cigarettes and other enticements that are there
At. everyone to enjoy that the government has deemed to be legal and some have
limited their ability to purchase. No matter what, it comes down to the individual
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decision. And I've always believed that the curfew was something that we had to do,
and I've said it on the record before, when we believe that there is a life safety issue
for our citizenry. And in many of those ways that we talked about in ternis of for the
police to be able to know who are the good guys and who are the bad guys on the
street. And that's to me, that's when I start to wonder, when I believe that curfews are
most necessary. If there's havoc out there in the streets and police officers need to be
able to stop whomever there is about an issue. And I was never necessarily sold that
COVID-19 was a reason to do that, because most people are home at nighttime. Most
people who are not working, who live within our communities are home. Nightlife,
people who are out at night, it's a different world. And there are many people who
don't regularly interact with people who work or who spend most of their time out at
night, because it's just -- it's a different time. And any of us who actually get in a car
and drive around at 2 o'clock, 3 o'clock in the morning, you will see that most of our
community is asleep. And there are very few -- and there are places that are open,
and they have activity. And that's where the -- those who go out at nighttime are. And
they are not a reflection of the entire population. If Miami -Dade County -- for
instance, if Miami -Dade County has 2.4 million residents, you know, I don't know
what the capacity of LIV is, but it's probably not over 2,000 people, right? And so
that's a stark difference in a place that is a major entertainment hub where they drink
and they have loud music and things of that nature. And I think that's something that,
you know, many times we -- because that's what we focus on, we focus on that red
car, we focus on the red car, we're going to always see the red car. I'm not saying
that COVID-19 is not a reality. 1'ni not saying that -- in fact, 1 am saying that it is still
prevalent. What 1 am saying is that you can contract it in the daytime over music and
lunch, the same way you can contract it at nighttime.
Vice Chair Carollo: Absolutely, absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: So that's my (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: I look at it that way and I'll say in closing that I believe that we're
safer at home. If you believe -- there are many people that I know that are my age and
younger that are terrified about COVID-19. And they have taken every precaution for
the past seven months that is humanly possible. And I wish that they will continue to
do so. Because it is what they believe they need to do to protect themselves. I believe
that in America, we inherit these, we take our own risks when we do certain things.
Some people choose not to drive because it is dangerous to drive a vehicle. A lot of
people die in car accidents. Some people are afraid to fly. Even though the numbers
don't support the nature that you're more likely to -- well, the numbers support the
fact that you're more likely to die in a car accident than you are in a plane crash. But
there are people who are just absolutely terrified of plane crashes. And so I'm not
here to discredit them or to say that their fear is not noteworthy or not real. It is a
real fear. But they choose to live their lives in accordance with their fear. And I
believe that if people are afraid of COVID-19, then they should exercise caution in
accordance with that fear, which means stay at home as much as possible until the
danger has cleared. What I'm afraid of is not necessarily -- it's not about just
business. It's about people. It's people who are not necessarily tripping over
themselves to go out. It's people being able to provide fbr their families. You know,
that person that's making $4.50 an hour for tips and working for tips has been in dire
restraints for seven months. And they've tried to find other things to do and some have
made decisions that they're not proud of they're things that they'll never share with
us. And some of them are trying to find relief through our cities. And I'm surprised,
and I think we've done a magnificent job. But I will tell you that the County has
frustrated our efforts to help our citizenry. They've made it very difficult .fbr them to
reach out to that level of government and actually obtain a benefit. It's been very
dicult for all of us to get service. And I'll tell you how -- this is how important that
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this matter is. On our body, I think we've done a magnificent job as a nonpartisan
board to provide relief to the people who live in our communities. It's been more
particularly difficult on state and national levels for people to come to an agreeance.
But this thing has been so much of a big deal that there as a relief bill that came that
the Republicans and the Democrats found common interests to give relief to people.
Now there's an argument about whether or not it was enough and whether or not
there needs to be more. And I believe everyone agrees that there probably needs to be
more, but how you go about doing it is where they've been disagreeing. But in all this
time of dis-agreeance, people are still suffering. So what are we going to do? How
can we assist? And for me, if lifting the curfew gives thousands of more people the
ability to make a living, it gives people -- it doesn't take away their -- anyone else's
ability to choose whether or not they want to partake in these restaurants or things of
that nature, then I'm fine with that. And I don't think that any of my decision -making,
as far as being -- and here, we're not even -- I mean, we're just saying we're not
going to enforce. The County has every right to enforce, but what I'm saying is that
just from a policy perspective, I just believe that we all deserve the right to choose our
own destiny. And that's one of the beautiful things about America. And the emergency
ordinance in nature, federal level, state level, county level, this is the power that it
gives you, and this is the danger when you have so much power. And then the question
becomes, how far are people willing to go in order to assert their rights in the United
States of America? And I think that if we 're not careful, that's going to be the next
step, that people want to begin to really -- to test that. We're coming now up on
Thanksgiving and Christmas. Christmas is typically a time where the haves and the
have nots are very clear. It's very, very clear. People do lots of things just to give
their children the opportunity to have gifts at the end of the year, because they don 't
want their children to be left out, right? This is potentially one of the worst seasons
that we're going to have during Christmas. And it 's because particularly people don't
have an opportunity to make an honest (UNINTELLIGIBLE). And so that's why, you
know, I'm in support necessarily of the item that the Commissioner has brought forth.
I don't think as well as you say, Commissioner Carollo, that we have to vote on this. I
think that the Manager could really -- he can take notice of what we're saying,
because if we choose to vote, we can, we need to open it up a public comment, you
know, give our people an opportunity to call in if there's a (UNINTELLIGIBLE), then
we close and we have to vote.
Vice Chair Carollo: Well --
Chair Hardemon: But all I'm saying --
Vice Chair Carollo: Madam City Attorney. Hello? Is this in any way something that
some other people with other intentions could use to turn around and say that we 're
giving orders to the manager?
Unidentified Speaker: Correct it.
Ms. Mendez: This is a policy decision. It's your policy decision.
[Later...]
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner, before you continue on, let me just do this.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Can we vote on this? Can we vote on --
Chair Hardemon: Open up the floor for public comment so that while
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) talking, you know, we have time for public comment to come in.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's good, that's good. And so then I'll
filibuster, as Commissioner Reyes did earlier today, very effectively, though I may
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add. I was going to compliment you on that before the meeting ended, Commissioner
Reyes, until we had a full (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: Let me tell you this. Remember that 1 watched you a lot of
times. Every trip that I took to Tallahassee, and when you were president, I saw you,
man, and you were a master at it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I said, I said, I said (Comments in Spanish not
translated). I said, so he's just going on and on. I said, I love this. So, you know
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Reyes: Well, 1 learned it from you guys. Senator, you were a master.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's already open for public comment, so that's
good, so that people can comment on this resolution.
[Later...]
Vice Chair Carollo: But anyway, we have your motion, right? Or did we vote on it?
Chair Hardemon: Right, so --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1 think the Chair was opening public comment and
closing it,1 believe.
Chair Hardemon: Has there been any (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that's called in? Have we
had anyone respond for public comment?
Vice Chair Carollo: Anybody?
Unidentified Speaker: No, only (INAUDIBLE) --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Hannon.
Unidentified Speaker: -- open right now.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Hannon, did you fall asleep?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): No, sir. I need to defer to the producer. I don 't have
access to that information.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing that nobody has called in, I'll close the public comment at
this time. All in favor of the motion on the floor --
Mr. Hannon: Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Yes?
Mr. Hannon: Moved by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla. Who is the seconder?
Vice Chair Carollo: I second it.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no further discussion, all in favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? The motion carries.
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NA.4
8089
City Commission
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Commissioners.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you all very much.
DISCUSSION ITEM
DISCUSSION BY CITY COMMISSION REGARDING A STATUS
UPDATE FROM THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE SELECTION
PROCESS OF THE NEW CITY OF MIAMI POLICE CHIEF.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay, so how about the policy decision that 1 haven't heard from
the manager on that each of us was going to name a professional police chief or
special agent in charge to work with the manager and give him opinions on the
applicants for police chief That's not a policy decision?
Ms. Mendez: No, that's completely different because it has to do with labor issues in
the charter, that you're not supposed to partake in the decisions of the manager's
staff
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay, well I'll --
Ms. Mendez: It's a little different.
Vice Chair Carollo: You've given me a legal opinion on this, so that's fine, you know.
But I just wanted to see what you would tell me in the other. Because I don't know
about any of you, but I haven't heard as to what's going on. I thought I understood
that the manager was going to come and speak to each of us. That 's what he said the
last time this came up in trying to give someone that could help him in his decision, in
his decision only. But since he doesn't have a wide experience in law enforcement, I
want to make sure we get him the best people that we can. I know there are some in
small police departments that, you know, will try to be helpful but our police
department is not a small one. It has many different aspects of a smaller police
department. Mr. Manager, where are we at? Were you coming back to us so that we
could give you names and you could decide from there or I mean I thought I heard
some things from you in the last meeting and then I haven 't heard anything else in
that.
Arthur Noriega (City Manager): Yeah, so the process currently is obviously open. It
closes in terms of receiving applications at the end of this month. If you'd like, I will
come meet with each of you individually, kind of give you a status update. Had
obviously a great deal of interest from entities and organizations from all over the
community. In terms of input, I've listened, taken all of that in. Haven't formalized the
process yet internally. I was kind of waiting till the close out just to get a sense of how
many applications I receive. But what I'll do is I'll schedule some time with each of
you and kind of give you an update and solicit some feedback from you.
Vice Chair Carollo: That's fine. Did you have a change of heart in the way you told
us the last time you were going to --?
Mr. Noriega: No, no, no. I'm still planning on putting together a group of law
enforcement professionals to vet the initial batch of applications. So I'll give you --
Vice Chair Carollo: What I want to make sure is that you do it the way you told us
you were going to do it. I don't want to, you know, get a Barney Fife type that's going
to be the one advising you.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's a throwback.
Mr. Noriega: Yeah, there will -- pretty much a certainty that we won't have anybody
from Mayberry USA as our next (INAUDIBLE).
Vice Chair Carollo: Look, Art, this is an extremely important decision that we've got
to do right by the City. And we have to bring in a real professional. I don't care what
their name is, how they look, what their race is, what their religion, where they come
from. I want a real professional that's going to have a hell of a task in putting this
police department together. And I don't want a political decision corning out. I'm
trusting you in this. Now you mentioned when we spoke about this last that you were
going to do a process and go back to the minutes and see what you said at the time
and what I'm trying to -- you obviously have a right to change your mind, but what
I'm trying to get you back in line and making sure that we're going to give you the
best tools in choosing from.
Mr. Noriega: I have not deviated at all from my prior commitment and we 're going to
have a robust process that will include, as I mentioned before, both internal and
external candidates. And the applications that have been submitted to date reflect
that.
Vice Chair Carollo: How many applicants have we had so far?
Mr. Noriega: Oh, 1'd have to get Angela to give me a kind of --
Vice Chair Carollo: Approximately. You have any idea?
Mr. Noriega: Probably, I'd say that meet -- met the qualifications, probably in the 40
range.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Vice Chair Carollo: Any police chief from Portland, Seattle, Chicago, New York?
Mr. Noriega: Commissioner, I have no idea. Specifically, I don't believe there's
anybody from Portland or Seattle. No, I've skimmed through the first two weeks of
applications and I don't believe there's anybody from either of those cities.
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Chair, so I would like a vote of the item that
we're discussing, the resolution that's on the table. But I do have a comment to make
about what Commissioner Carollo said. But I reserve those comments until after we
vote on this.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Vice Chair Carollo: You're not playing a Russell on me now, are you?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, I have --
Vice Chair Carollo: Senator.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I don't want to discuss --
Commissioner Reyes: Commissioner Russell.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- I didn't want to discuss this issue you brought up
Carollo, but as always, because you're -- Commissioner Carollo, you are a man with
a lot of wisdom and a lot of experience in this government and a lot of institutional
knowledge, and the selection of a police chief is a critical issue.
Vice Chair Carollo: I appreciate that, but I'm not going anywhere just now. I got
another year or so.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, you got more than that. But solely with
your --
Vice Chair Carollo: You're doing to me now a Hardemon, you know.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no, no, no, no. You got more -- no, you
more than that. You got more than that. That's a different conversation.
Commissioner Reyes: You're going nowhere, Commissioner.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's a different conversation but --
Vice Chair Carollo: We can share that street, Hardemon.
got
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The -- I would like to know who those 40
applicants are, I think. I don't like -- and 1 hate to use the word because it may not be
a fair word, but I'll use it anyway -- the secrecy. 1 don't like the lack of information
being sent to the commissioners, not -- perhaps because you want to go through a
thorough process and you want to vet people, I get that too. But I would like to know
if people have applied. I think that you would know, Mr. Manager, what those
numbers -- it's 42 or 44, not about 40. I mean, that if someone's a prominent figure in
law enforcement that you would know who they are. I don 't like, and again, I want to
use this word, the evasiveness of that answer, you don't know how many. So I think
the commissioners and the mayor, we're all entitled to have an idea of what you've
done so far because we did have this conversation before at the last commission
meeting. And I'm sure you're not sitting by and not doing anything since the last
commission meeting. You 're working on many things, including this. I don 't like
resignations that take three months to come into effect.
[Later... ]
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But the idea that we -- that this commission, even
though we fully understand and fully respect that the manager and the City Charter,
only the manager can pick our next police chief. We would like to at least hear what
the thought process -- we like to be deliberative about it and talk about it publicly,
transparently, so that we know what that process is, how many applicants. It 's just a
simple public records request that we don't have to make it ourselves, right? You tell
us, look, these are the 42 applications. These are the people, here they are, and I'm
reviewing them. And then we say, thank you. We just want to take a look at it. The
idea that you have any police chief remain in office or with power; any, not Mr. -- not
Chief Colina, or any, just any individual, for three months, a resignation that takes
three months, it's a little bit concerning to me, because a lot of decisions are made in
that interim. When nobody has a vested interest in what happens after he or she
leaves, bad decisions could be made. There's a lesser accountability that exists. So
that concerns me a little bit, that length of the resignation period. And so the process
for me, the quicker the better, that we have someone in mind, you have someone in
niind, at least we can look at who you're thinking about. And like Commissioner
Carollo, I don't care, you know, what race, what -- you know, what gender. I care
about the most professional police chief we can possibly find that fits the nature and
composition of our city, right? And that knows who we are, that's not from Mayberry,
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like he said. You know, that's from here, that knows what a city of 500,000 people
needs. That has that kind of experience, that kind of professionalism that we need for
many, reasons. Because we know what's happening in our -- thank God it hasn't
happened in our city to the extent it's happened in other parts of our country, but we
know what's happening. So there's sensitivities and understanding that you need to
have. And all those, you know, parameters that you said, that criteria that you said on
how we select a police chief we need to know what that is. We need to know what that
selection committee is, who comprises that selection committee, and we have to know
who's applied. Just for transparency, to us and to the public. Who's applied, who are
the members of the selection committee, what are the -- what's the criteria you set for
who you're going to select, so that we have an idea, just for a comfort level, to create
a sense of trust and a sense of comfort for all our elected officials here in Miami. And
that's it. So 1 agree with Commissioner Carollo. We had this conversation at the last
commission meeting. I haven't had an update other than, you know, conversations
about this, about that, and well, we have seven applicants, we have seven applicants
or ten applicants, whatever, but very -- basically generalities. But I think that you
committed to us, and I take you at your word, that you were going to talk to each one
of us, and I would have expected you would have done that in detail in the course of
from last meeting to this meeting. And I know you've been busy, we've all been busy,
there's a lot of things happening. But it's an important decision. This is not naming
the head of planning or a particular department in the City of Miami. This is a major
monumental decision for the future of our city,, for the stability of our city. Because
the most important function that we do as a government is to provide security and
safety for our residents. That's number one. And so who is in charge of that effort is of
critical importance to every elected official of this city and to everyone that is part of
running this government. And that's why I think -- 1 request of you that you please
keep us abreast of what you're thinking, what you're doing, who you're talking to,
what's going to lead you, and how you're undergoing that decision -making process,
how it's going for you. So that we know, and we can also be part of that collective
effort.
Vice Chair Carollo: But more so, I think that there has to be transparency. The public
should see -- I mean, the manager could do it anyway he wants -- but the public
should see and hear, and we should have the courtesy of being able to talk to publicly,
in a transparent way so everybody could see the finalists that the manager is thinking
about. I will tell you I -- I've been looking now for some years at what's been
happening in the selection of police chiefs that I'm almost to the point that I'm going
to ask the City Attorney to draft a charter change to be placed in November of next
year and how police chiefs will be chosen from here on that is going to have to be in a
very transparent public way and that this Commission is going to have to make the
final decision.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I would support that.
Vice Chair Carollo: I don't want to say anything more right now because I don't want
to make any decision that the manager makes a little tougher in the sense that maybe
some people would get concerned and you know withdraw their application. But this
has to be a transparent way in how we do this. You know, we got a police department
that 60 percent of it is three years or less. You go to the streets and you see, you know,
that we don 't have a seasoned senior police department. You see it in the streets. The
manager has talked it over with me, he's seen it himself. It's a concern to him that
he's expressed to me. But you know, I don't want to do it the way that it's been done,
you know, the last four or more times that, you know, it's got to change. It's got to
change. And I'm telling you, one of the things that's got to change is our cops cannot
be taking cash from any establishment, whether they serve alcohol or they serve
arepas. They have to go by the book in the way that everybody else does.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, we have a motion.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1 want to make sure, Chair, if 1 may just very
quickly to add to what Commissioner Carollo said. First of all, 1 don't want you,
Manager, to think for any moment that we don't trust you or your judgment, that's not
the case here. We do think, at least I do, and I think what Commissioner Carollo said
now, that the need for transparency in this particular selection, not about other things
that happen in other departments, you know, that's a different conversation that could
be had, but the seriousness of this selection means that the people of our city need to
know, not us, only us, but they need to know that it was a thoughtful, deliberative,
open process so that the cynics and the press in particular, you know, the Miami
Herald and all those guys, all those bloggers that we have out there, that they turn
around and say, oh, it was done in the darkness and not in the sunshine, oh, it was a
cooked deal, it was negotiated behind closed doors. We don 't want that because it's
not true. So we want the truth, and the best way to do that is to be very open and very
transparent in how we're doing it. And just open your doors and let the sun in and let
people know, hey, you know, this is what -- how we did it. This is my process. These
are the applications. This is what the vetting process looks like. This is the selection
committee. And everybody's like, wow, they did it the right way. They did it as a
professional city, government should be doing it, not in any other way. So there 's no
cloud over it as we move forward, especially in these times. And that's -- I just want to
add that to it, that it's not a reflection of any opinion we have of you, just that I think
that we want to alert you --
Vice Chair Carollo: That's true.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- and I want to alert you, to the magnitude of this
decision and the importance of this decision in city government for a city like Miami.
And that's it.
Vice Chair Carollo: Well, and that's very true what you said, Commissioner. It's not
reflective of the manager. This manager, like 90 plus percent of the managers have
little or no experience in law enforcement. So it's difficult for them to make that
decision. In fact, the only manager that I can think of in our history that had
experience in law enforcement ended up being arrested by law enforcement. So, you
know, there you go. You know, that necessarily wasn 't --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: A good experience.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- a positive, but you know, we need to -- everything you said is --
I agree with, Commissioner. I do believe that Chief Colina's going to do right and you
know I'm not having any doubts on his actions either and I appreciate that he's
staying this time so that we could make this kind of decision like this that it didn't
have to be rushed in how we did it, even though I understand what you stated and
that's always a concern. But you know, let's move forward. Maybe we could get from
HR (Human Resources) some of the people that have applied. I have no idea, frankly.
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NA.5
8090
City Commission
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
SCHEDULING A SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING ON
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2020 AT 9:59 A.M. FOR THE
PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING AND TAKING ANY AND ALL
ACTIONS RELATED TO ALLOWING LODGING USES ON LANDS
WITHIN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") DESIGNATED INDUSTRIAL
AND/OR WITHIN THE DISTRICT ZONE AND ANY ASSOCIATED
REGULATIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AN
ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED,
THE MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN,
PURSUANT TO EXPEDITED STATE REVIEW PROCEDURES
ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 163.3184, FLORIDA STATUTES, BY
ADDING TWO (2) POLICIES TO THE FUTURE LAND USE
ELEMENT AND AMENDING THE INTERPRETATION OF THE 2020
FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR INDUSTRIAL LAND USE TO
ALLOW LODGING USES ON LANDS WITHIN THE CITY
DESIGNATED AS INDUSTRIAL; AND AN ORDINANCE AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, SPECIFICALLY BY
AMENDING ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1.1, TITLED "DEFINITIONS OF
BUILDING FUNCTION: USES (ARTICLE 4, TABLE 3)" TO MODIFY
THE DEFINITION OF INDUSTRIAL; BY AMENDING ARTICLE 3,
SECTION 3.11, TITLED "WATERFRONT STANDARDS," TO ADD
LODGING AS A USE CONSIDERED FOR THE DESIGN
STANDARDS; BY AMENDING ARTICLE 4, TABLE 3, TITLED
"BUILDING FUNCTION: USES," TO MODIFY REGULATIONS FOR
DENSITY AND USES FOR THE DISTRICT ZONE REGARDING
LODGING USES; BY AMENDING ARTICLE 4, TABLE 4, TITLED
"DENSITY, INTENSITY AND PARKING," TO PROVIDE
REGULATIONS FOR DENSITY, INTENSITY, AND PARKING TO
ADDRESS LODGING USES WITHIN THE D2, "INDUSTRIAL", AND
D3, "WATERFRONT INDUSTRIAL", TRANSECT ZONES WITHIN
THE DISTRICT ZONE; AND BY AMENDING ARTICLE 6, SECTION
6.1, TITLED "INTENT AND EXCLUSIONS," TO PROVIDE
SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS FOR THE D2, "INDUSTRIAL",
AND D3, "WATERFRONT INDUSTRIAL", TRANSECT ZONES IN
TABLE 13.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-20-0359
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
Commissioner Reyes: I don't have anything against it. I don't know if my fellow
commissioners, they have.
Chair Hardemon: All right, so because we're already having a special meeting I
believe on the 17th, right?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Because we're having a special meeting, what we can do is we can
schedule just a minute before or so, well, or an hour, it doesn't really matter. It
doesn't make a difference really. The special meeting for this item and whatever
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accompanies item that Mr. Garcia (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to he there. And so, Madam
City Attorney, do we need a motion for that?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): So then you'll be calling a special meeting to
address this issue, correct? And the items that Mr. Francisco Garcia brought up that
are going to --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, I move it.
Ms. Mendez: -- the two items that he wants.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Ms. Mendez: That he said they should ride together.
Commissioner Reyes: Is that a resolution or what?
Ms. Mendez: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, I move that resolution that it would be at a different time
if it requires to be at a different time, that special meeting that we have, but it would
be on the same day.
Chair Hardemon: Schedule it one minute before.
Commissioner Reyes: One minute before. Okay, 1 move it.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Oh, sorry, sorry, Chair. So there's a motion on the
floor for a special City Commission meeting on November 19, 2020 to be at --
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Ms. Mendez: No, no. For when the commissioner -- when the chairman is still here.
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Commissioner Reyes: It's going to be the 16th, right?
Ms. Mendez: The 16th.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The l6th.
Mr. Hannon: November 16th.
Commissioner Reyes: The 16th, that it will take place a minute before the special
meeting that we have.
Ms. Mendez: Todd, you said November 19th, that's why.
Mr. Hannon: Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You can turn the nine upside down.
Mr. Hannon: That's a good point. My apologies, commissioners. I'm sorry. So --
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Chair Hardemon: We're putting things on the 16th. I just want to be clear.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 16th.
Chair Hardemon: Is the 16th special meeting?
Commissioner Reyes: The 16th, sir.
Chair Hardemon: It's not on my schedule right now. That's why I was asking.
Ms. Mendez: Todd, can you confirm? Todd, can you confirm that it's the 16th, the
special meeting for Virginia Key?
Commissioner Russell: It's the 16th.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The l6th, 17th, so it's a replacement meeting.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The 16th is the Rickenbacker issue.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you, Senator.
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I got my memory.
Commissioner Reyes: What do you drink for your memory? (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for the motion.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: These days, these days, Commissioner, Red Bull.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm reformed, I'm reformed in my old age.
Chair Hardemon: So the motion --
Commissioner Reyes: I was asking what kind of medicine, you know, maybe vitamins.
I was asking about vitamins.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Omega-3, all kinds of natural stuff
Chair Hardemon: Hearing none, all in favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion carries. Thank you very much Ibr that.
Mr. Hannon: That will be at 9 a.m. on November 16, 2020, the special meeting, one
minute before the other special meeting, which will be addressing Virginia Key at 10
a.m.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
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Ms. Mendez: Yes, the only thing that -- if Francisco can clarify or did you get, Mr.
Hannon, the two items that have to he on, were you able to get that, which is the
future legislation item and there was one more that Mr. Garcia mentioned.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is it 9:00 a.m. because the special meeting is at
10?
Commissioner Reyes: But this is before.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So it's an hour before, it's not a minute before.
Unidentified Speaker: 9:59.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 9:59.
Ms. Mendez: And if Mr. Garcia could just clan fv the two items, I'm sorry.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But it's -- but it's 9:59, to be clear.
Ms. Mendez: 9:59 a.m.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct., not 9:00.
Ms. Mendez: Okay, for which two items, the future legislation item and which other
one, Mr. Garcia?
Francisco Garcia (Director, Planning): It will be a second reading of the
comprehensive plan amendment to allow for lodging in industrial. We have the file
number (UNINTELLIGIBLE) office.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Okay.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you so much.
Commissioner Reyes: That should be in the agenda.
Chair Hardemon: All right. That's it, everyone. All hearts and all minds are clear?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: Wonderful.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, by the way, happy birthday.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, man, happy birthday.
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON)
Vice Chair Carollo: When is the birthday?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: A couple days ago, right?
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. It's a belated.
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ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chair Carollo: Oh, okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Belated birthday.
Vice Chair Carollo: Belated -- Happy birthday.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. Okay, guys. Hey, nice seeing you guys. Take good
care of yourself okay? Be safe.
Vice Chair Carollo: Stay safe.
Commissioner Reyes: Bye-bye. Be safe.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Goodnight. Goodnight, everyone.
Commissioner Reyes: Goodnight.
The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
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