HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2021-01-14 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, January 14, 2021
9:00 AM
City Commission Meeting
City Hall
City Commission
Francis X. Suarez, Mayor
Ken Russell, Vice Chair, District Two
Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner, District One
Joe Carollo, Commissioner, District Three
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner, District Four
Jeffrey Watson, Commissioner, District Five
Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
City Commission
Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
9:00 AM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Present: Vice Chair Russell, Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner Carollo,
Commissioner Reyes and Commissioner Watson.
On the 14th day of January 2021, the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida, met at
its regular meeting place in City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, in regular
session. The Commission Meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Russell at 9:26 a.m.,
recessed at 12:27p.m., reconvened at 3:24 p.m., and adjourned at 7:53 p.m.
Note for the Record: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla entered the Commission chambers at
9:27 a.m., and Commissioner Carollo entered the Commission chambers at 9:57 a.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Nzeribe Ihekwaba, Chief of Operations/Assistant City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
Vice Chair Russell: Good morning. Happy New Year. Welcome to the January 14, 2021
meeting of the City of Miami City Commission in these historic chambers. Procedures.for the
public comment will be explained by the City Attorney shortly. The members of the City
Commission appearing for this meeting are Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Joe Carollo, Manolo
Reyes, Jeffrey Watson, and me, Ken Russell, vice chair. Also appearing are City Manager
Arthur Noriega, City Attorney, Victoria Mendez, and City Clerk, Todd Hannon. The meeting
will be open with a prayer by Commissioner Reyes and the pledge allegiance will be led by
Commissioner Watson. Please stand.
Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered.
PART A - NON -PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S)
ORDER OF THE DAY
Vice Chair Russell: Now, the City Attorney, will state the procedures for this meeting.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you. Any person who is a lobbyist pursuant to Chapter
2, Article 6 of the Code of the City of Miami must register with the City Clerk and comply with
the 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
code section about lobbies is available on the City Clerk's office or online at
www.municode.com. Any person making a presentation, formal request, or petition to the City
Commission concerning real property must make the appropriate disclosures required by the
City Code in writing. A copy of this code section is available at the office of the City Clerk or
online at www.municode.com. In accordance with Section 2-33(f) and (g) of the City Code, the
agenda and material for each item on the agenda is available during business hours at the City
Clerk's office and online 24 hours a day, www.miamigov.com. Any person may be heard by the
City Commission through the chair upon registering pursuant to published notice for not more
than two minutes on any proposition before the City Commission, unless modified by the chair.
Members of the public wishing to address a body may, do so by visiting miamigov.com, virtual
meeting to subnxit their written comments via the online comment forin. The comments
submitted through the comment form have been distributed to the elected officials and the city
administration throughout the day so they 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 until the chairperson closes the public
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
meeting. Members of the public may pre -register to provide live public comment by phone
during the meeting. You may pre -register by calling (305) 250-5345 or online at
www.miamigov, government live public comment. All comments submitted will be included as
part of the public record for this meeting and will be considered by the City Commission prior
to any action taken. Public comment may also be provided live at City Hall located at 3500
American Drive, subject to any COVID-19 rules, regulations, and procedures. 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 state, county, and local emergency orders and are urged to
remain at home and practice social distancing. If the proposition is being continued or
rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard, niay be at such a later date before the City
Commission takes action on such proposition. When addressing the Commission, the member
of the public must first state his or her name, his or her address, and what item will be spoken
about. Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids, and services for this
meeting may notify the City Clerk. Section 286.0114(4)(c) Florida Statutes, specifically
authorizes the city to prescribe procedures or forms for an individual to use in order to inform
the Board or Commission of the desire to be heard to indicate his or support, opposition, or
neutrality. The city, through its multiple comment options, has allowed the public to speak on
these items. The public may be given the opportunity to provide public comment during the
meeting and within reasonable proximity of the meeting. The city also created the simple set of
instructions explaining how the public may submit their comments. Those instructions were
provided in the notice and via the city's social media channels and published online at
miamigov.com, virtual meeting. Please note, Commissioners generally have been briefed by
city staff and the City Attorney on items on the agenda today. When the City Commission takes
action or votes on any proposition before it, it shall do so, and it shall be recorded by the clerk
and included in the record. 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
www.miamigov.com. The City of Miami requires that anyone requesting action by the City
Commission must disclose before the hearing, anything provided to anyone for agreement to
support or withhold objections to requested action pursuant to Section 2-8. Any documents
offered to the city commissioners that have not been. provided -- before the meeting as part of
the agenda materials will be entered into the record at the City Commission's discretion. When
the City Commission takes action or votes on any preposition -- I'm sorry, the city may -- that's
it. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much, our City Attorney. Good morning.
[Later...]
Vice Chair Russell: Now, I'd like to ask if the administration has any items they'd like to see
withdrawn, continued or deferred.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Chairman, I'm sorry. Really quick. I think that
Commissioner Carollo also had a Pocket Item. I don 't know if he wanted us to read it.
Vice Chair Russell: If you've got it handy, please read it and I'll add it to the list right now.
Ms. Mendez: I believe he'll be corning shortly, but I just wanted to put you on notice that he has
one.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. Right. Yes. That will be PI5 from Commissioner Carollo.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you so much.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. Mr. Ihekwaba, you are recognized?
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Nzeribe Ihekwaba (Deputy City Manager): Yes. 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,
CA.11. To be deferred to February 25th, PH 4. To be deferred to February 11, PH 7. To be
deferred to January 28, RE.1.
Vice Chair Russell: Sorry, would you mind starting with the item number and then telling the
action?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: That helps. Thank you.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Starting all over?
Vice Chair Russell: No -- no -- no we've got the first three so this will be RE.1, deferred to
January 28.
Mr. Ihekwaba: RE.2 to be deferred to January 28. RE.3, to be withdrawn. RE.4 to be deferred
to January 28. SR.1 to be withdrawn.
Commissioner Watson: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Vice Chair Russell: SR.1 to be withdrawn.
Commissioner Reyes: SR.1?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Ihekwaba: FR.4 to be indefinitely deferred.
Commissioner Reyes: FR.4?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes, sir. FR.6 to be deferred to January 28.
Vice Chair Russell: I guess that would be it right?
Mr. Ihekwaba: That would be it. Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: Are there any items that the commissioners would like to see continued,
deferred or withdrawn? Are there any co-sponsorship?
Commissioner Watson: Yes. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) I'm sorry, Mr. Chair, just still trying to find
a number.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair?
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Watson, Are you --
Commissioner Watson: Yeah. I'm sorry. Am Ion? Mic should be on.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Watson: I just want to make sure we pause CA.14. Members of the public can
have a short video for that before --
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Vice Chair Russell: I'll pull it for sure. CA.14.
Commissioner Watson: To make sure that both that one and also, I'm sorry FR.5, the
gentleman is coming and so I want to make sure he's here when it gets out and it read, please.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it. Just let me know when he's arrived.
Commissioner Watson: All right. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: 1 'm sure we all know when he's arrived. And then we'll take that item up.
Are there any co-sponsorship, Mr. Clerk?
Mr. Hannon: Chair, if I may? The co-sponsor request that I'm aware of PH.8, Commissioner
Carollo, would like to co-sponsor.
Vice Chair Russell: Which one?
Mr. Hannon: PH.8. RE.6, Commissioner Reyes would like to co-sponsor. RE.7,
Commissioners Russell and Carollo would like to co-sponsor. FR.I, Commissioner Russell
would like to co-sponsor. FR.5, Commissioners Carollo and Reyes would like to co-sponsor.
And RE.5, Commissioner Reyes would like to co-sponsor.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it. Could you --
Ms. Mendez: Chair? If I may, Commissioner Carollo wishes to sponsor the COVID related
pocket items that had been brought up.
Vice Chair Russell: The vaccination?
Ms. Mendez: The pockets, the vaccination ones that had been brought up by the mayor --
Vice Chair Russell: I guess he is watching somewhere.
Ms. Mendez: D.1 and D.4.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm sorry, D.1 -- PI -- You're talking the PI?
Ms. Mendez.: Right, the pocket items he wishes to co-sponsor.
Vice Chair Russell.: PI1, PI.3 and PI4?
Ms. Mendez: Yes. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: I received one here, discussions from Mr. Watson. Oh, it's on the
discussion item.
Vice Chair Russell: That's been added as PI2.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. That's right.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. And Mr. Clerk, I'd like to be recognized as a co-sponsor, please, for
RE.5, the Park Wi-Fi. It's an excellent idea. Thank you, Commissioner Diaz Portilla. Re. 6, the
Made in USA resolution and RE.9, as well as FR.5. So, RE.9 is the urging of the Omni, and the
FR.5 is naming of the, field. It's an excellent agenda? Is there a motion to move it?
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Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1 want to co-sponsor allow me --
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, of course.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: PH.8.
Vice Chair Russell: The tennis.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The tennis. I want to -- RE.9 is correct. That's co-sponsor
RE.9. So skipped that one for now. The Luther Campbell, when was that. I'm sorry?
Vice Chair Russell: That is FR.5.
Commissioner Reyes: FR.5. I want to co-sponsor that one to, please.
Vice Chair Russell: Excellent. There's a motion on the order of the day, Commissioner Reyes,
seconded by the chair. Is there any further discussion? All in favor say aye.
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes on the order of the day. Thank you.
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PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ALL ITEM(S)
8487 DISCUSSION ITEM
Office of the City PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED ONLINE BY MEMBERS OF THE
Clerk PUBLIC FOR THE JANUARY 14, 2021 CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
RESULT: PRESENTED
Vice Chair Russell: Do we have public comment for this morning's agenda? We do
Are there people live on the phone, or are they in person? They're calling in.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Mr. Chair, we do have a few people here as well in the
chambers.
Vice Chair Russell: Excellent. And then gentlemen, as soon as we get through the
public comment, I recommend we take up the vaccination items. The chief -- I assume
that 's why you 're here Chief to present on that. So yes, as soon as we get through
public comment in case there's any comments on this item. We can take up that as the
first item of the day. Public comment., please. Hello, you're on.
Antonio Andrade: Hi. Hello. Good morning.
Vice Chair Russell: Good morning. You have two minutes, please.
Mr. Andrade: Thank you. Yes. Sony Can I speak.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. If you could just State your name and the item you're
speaking on, and you have two minutes to say whatever you'd like.
Mr. Andrade: Thank you so much. My name is Antonio Andrade and I'm calling
because of the item DI.3-8299. My address is 2258 Southwest 16th Avenue. First, I
would like to thank you, the Commissioner and everybody present. I apologize for not
being physically present there. The reason for nay call is to express my strong support
for the closing or partial closing of our area related to this item. Very briefly, we
need these years since 2008, we live in a very small community of houses. And
indeed, we've seen for many years the increase of excessive traffic of cars and trucks
cutting through my streets to reach either US -I or reach Coral Way. And the problem
also we've had it when cars and trucks cut through our street, they do that in
increasing speeds because of course they want to the purpose of cutting is kind of
have an advantage of sorts. And I've been witnessing that for -- for many years. I
really appreciate your concern and the attention that you can give to this natter. I
remember I participated in a -- in a hearing a couple of years ago, related to our
neighborhoods and I was really heartbroken to see that theirs somebody had lost that
relative life because of excessive speed. And I have not seen -- I haven't heard
anything like that in our -- in our streets and I hope this would never be the case. So,
I really appreciate it all the attention that you can have related to safety and the
quality of life for neighborhoods. And I appreciate your support.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. Thanks for your comments.
Mr. Andrade: Thank you. Have a good day.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
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Mr. Andrade: Thank you. Bye.
Vice Chair Russell: Are there others? Any more public comment? There it is?
Hello. You 're on with the City Commission.
Samuel Latimore: Good morning and happy 2021 to you -all. My name is Professor
Samuel Latimore, president of the Charles Harley Neighborhood Association
established in 1978. And also CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the Urban
Neighborhood Environmental Justice Program. I'm in the -- the item I am supporting
is FR.5 8394, supporting the naming of the football field at Hadley Park as to Luther
Campbell football field. Mr. Campbell had been involved in youth activities that I've
known about for the last 35, 40 years. And I think it 's befitting recognition of all that
he has done for the children at not only Liberty City, but throughout Dade County.
So, 1 am supporting that item.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much for your comments. Next call please.
Good morning. You're on with the City Commission.
Steven (INAUDIBLE): Well, Commissioners good morning. Thank you for taking my
call. My name is Steven (INAUDIBLE). I live at 1822 southwest 23rd Street, Miami
33145. I'm calling on item D1.3-8299 and the Silver Bluff traffic issue. I've been a
resident here for going on six years. And the -- the issue that we have is the
bottleneck and funneling from Coral Way US 1 in the morning, people heading to
work downtown. They'd like to turn on 17 many of the map, the navigation directs
people to do that. If anybody looking at a map you can see from 22nd through 22nd
Terrace all the way down to 24th there's 7th street. But once you get to 17, there's
only one street, that's ours and that's where people cut through. The traffic has been
so bad in the mornings, I have to bring my kids out one at a time because the cars are
speeding down the street. People getting aggressive, giving me the finger, rolling their
windows down, yelling at me in front of my kids while I tried to back out and take
them to school in the mornings. The same thing in the evening, people leaving the
downtown area and it's just a fight every day. We've had people running over the
curb hitting trash cans, hitting cars as they tried to go down the street, which is quite
narrow. And often when you go to leave, that traffic is back down the whole street
from the stop sign all the way through the roundabout where you can't even back out,
people won't let you out. Often it's a complete nightmare. There's -- it's just not
feasible to have seven lanes including US 1 pour on to one street which is Southwest
23rd. I'm really hopeful that they can do something to at least block the end of that
street, Have one-way direction or one way out. This will greatly alleviate the traffic
and the congestion and just the pure anger issues that everybody's having on --
Mr. Hannon: The two minutes have expired.
Unidentified Speaker: -- traffic trash days where it's just virtually impossible to leave
to get out.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much for your comment in your call the two
minutes as expired, but we get exactly what you're saying. I appreciate your call.
Thank you.
Unidentified Speaker: Thank you for your consideration. Stay safe.
Vice Chair Russell: Next call, please. Good morning, you 're on with the City
Commission.
John Snyder: Yes. Am I speaking now?
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Vice Chair Russell: Yes. You have two minutes. Okay.
Mr. Snyder: Okay. I would like to speak against deferring PH.4 to the February
meeting, this is something that should be approved now, my name is John Snyder. I
live at 3980 Hardie Avenue. The long-term lease for Dade Heritage Trust provides
the vital service to our community. For purely financial reasons. Continuing Dade
Heritage Trust role at the current location creates a significant savings for the city.
The site has little value for development because of its size and irregular
configuration. The site is appropriate for an educational and information outlet and
outreach to the important tourism industry, which is often a gateway for people
considering relocation to our city. At present, this is exactly the services being
provided at no cost to the city to construct and staffed such as site at the present
location, where it will get to a lot of people would involve considerable cost. The site
Dade Heritage Trust seeks to continue occupying, provides a glimpse to the history of
Miami, as well as vital information to residents and visitors. Voters of the city spoke
in favor of such an arrangement. And in 2016, they voted in favor of the long-term
lease. Time to fulfill the will of the people. Thank you for your attention.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you for your call. Next call, please. Good morning,
you're on with the City Commission.
Marcel Carbello: Good morning. My name is Marcel Carbello. My address is 1671
23rd Street, Miami, Florida, right in the Silver Bluff area, right in the keystone there.
And I'm calling obviously about the Silver Bluff traffic issue D1.3 8299. I'm just
going to make three quick points. The first one, thank you for letting me be heard and
specific thank you to Joe Carollo, to Beba Mann and to anyone else who cares about
the citizen of -- of Silver Bluff and our severe traffic issue. Thank you for staying
focused on it. My second pointed that specific no, thank you, a specific non thank you
to the government no machine, the government -- the people there who are concerned
only with saying no. Beba came with an excellent idea to protect this neighborhood.
And it's been years now and I know that we're getting some resistance. I don't know
why we can't just have what called Coral Gate they've improve their life
tremendously. And that's what the residents Silver Bluff want and the third and final
point that I want to make is my understanding that around the same time that the
Commission voted for -- for the Silver Bluff traffic measure, just some modest
measures, putting up some barriers in some key areas, they voted for lifetime
pensions for themselves. I will tell you this it's been years and not a single thing has
been done about the Silver Bluff traffic issue. There should be the same amount of
delay on the lifetime pension for the city council that there should be for that Silver
Bluff traffic. If this was the lifetime pensions, I bet you they would get it right on time.
Thank you very much.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you for your comment. Next call please. Good morning.
You're on with the Commission.
Walter Robinson: Good morning.
Vice Chair Russell: You have two minutes.
Mr. Robinson: Good morning. My name is Walter Robinson. I live at 2344
Southwest 24th Terrace, in Silver Bluff, City of Miami. I'm calling regarding item D,
1.38299 [sic], Silver Bluff traffic. I am a resident in a family. My family are residents
in Silver Bluff I am in full support of any proposal for traffic mitigation, East-West
traffic mitigation to reduce commuter traffic cut -through in our street. I'm in full
support of it because the document fromthe data reveal that it should be done. A
Trident engineering report revealed that if it's not done, there'll be unsustainable
delay. A resolution written by Commissioner Reyes sponsored by Mayor Diaz passed
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unanimously stating that it's life safety conditions in Silver Bluff and it must he
addressed. Silver Bluff Homeowners Association support instead, resolution, with
their resolution dated February 14th, 2020. It also used as an exhibit, the plan that
Commissioner Reyes presented to our Homeowners Association for 22nd Avenue, to
minimize and mitigate commuter traffic, east and west. That community traffic is also
documented by City of Miami police citations, which clearly can demonstrate
(UNTELLIGIBLE). Statistical data that the majority of upwards of 80 percent of the
traffic on south-west 24th Terrace and other streets in Silver Bluff are nonresidents.
That is unacceptable. Thank you, City of Miami Commission. Thank you,
Commissioners and Mayor, Jrounderstanding this condition. Our County
Commissioner Eileen Higgins has a different agenda for some other reason. Her
agenda and plan is completely contrary to any scientific data, statistical reports, or
majority resident input. Thank you very much for your time.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you for your call. Next call, please. Good morning.
You're on with the City Commission. You have two minutes.
Aaron Gordon: Thank you. My name is Aaron Gordon, and I'm a resident 2264
Southwest 16th Avenue. I'm calling about traffic coming in Silver Bluff Been a
resident in this neighborhood for 12 years and the traffic gets worse every day. We
have two children and we're afraid to let them play outside, because of speeding,
reckless driving, commercial trucks and cut through traffic. More than a year -and -a -
half ago the City Commission unanimously passed a resolution to support traffic
modifications and road closures at intersections in our neighborhood. All this time
has passed and nothing has gotten done. But we're asking the city to take action
that'll keep our children, families and seniors safe. For a year -and -a -half we've been
watching other projects in the city get completed. But our streets are just sitting there
falling victim to unsafe driving. Please, Commissioners help us by instructing the City
Manager and the administration to take every possible step to carry out the will of the
Commissioner. You wouldn't tolerate this in your neighborhood so please don't
tolerate it in ours. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you for your call. Good morning. You're on with the City
Commission. You have two minutes.
Terrell Fritz: Good morning, Mr. Chair, Vice Chair, and Commissioners and happy
new year. My name is Terrell Fritz, resident at 111 East Flagler Street, and
Executive Director at the Flagler Business Improvement District. On behalf of the
BID board, I would like to speak on three items. PH.5, I'd ask you to please defer the
Olympia pay grade discussion. There's an exciting potential for up to $750,000 that
recently approved federal COVID relief funding for the Olympia, which could cover
the city expenses and future created programming through June 2022. And we need
time to explore the possibilities. Please pass RE.7, extending the restaurant recovery
program to September 30, 2021, to assist our struggling downtown restaurants with
no additional fee. In addition, please amend FR.3. The scooter companies have
publicly, admitted they don't have technology to govern 15 miles per hour in the street
and seven miles per hour on sidewalks. So if the scooter initiative is going to move
forward just set the speed limit to ten miles per hour everywhere. Finally, I want to
thank you all again for the hard work you're all doing to keep us safe in these
challenging times. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you for your call. Any others? That's it. Is there anyone
here who would like to speak in person on any of the items on today's agenda? Is
anyone here to speak on any of the items? We're open for public comment at this
point for the morning's agenda. Mr. Clerk?
Mr. Hannon: Mr. Santangelo, were you going to provide your public comment during
this period?
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Pat Santangelo: The communications has the video we're going to play?
Vice Chair Russell: That's for FR.5?
Mr. Santangelo: CA.14.
Vice Chair Russell: CA.14. Yes. Thank you very much. We'll do that at the item.
Mr. Hannon: Okay. At the item? Understood.
Vice Chair Russell: 1 think that's fine.
Mr. Hannon: Understood.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. Then we'll be closing public comment if there's no one
here with any further comments.
MV - MAYORAL VETO(ES)
NO MAYORAL VETOES
There were no mayoral vetoes associated with legislation that is subject to veto by the Mayor.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Clerk, are there any mayoral veto?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair. There are no mayoral veto.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it.
END OF MAYORAL VETO(ES)
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
CA.1
8263
Department of Fire -
Rescue
CA - CONSENT AGENDA
The following item(s) was Adopted on the Consent Agenda
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE
PROJECT TITLED "STATE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT
PROGRAM SUB -RECIPIENT AGREEMENT FOR EXPENDITURE
OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT FUNDING FOR FLORIDA URBAN
SEARCH AND RESCUE (`USAR') TASK FORCES FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2020"; APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE
HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000.00) CONSISTING OF
A GRANT FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA'S DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCIAL SERVICES TO BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
FIRE -RESCUE FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRAINING AND
EXERCISE RELATED EXPENDITURES TO SUPPORT THE
SUSTAINMENT OF TEAM CAPABILITIES; AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT THE FUNDS AND EXECUTE THE
AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, IN
ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE, ADMINISTRATION,
AND COMPLIANCE WITH SAID GRANT AWARD.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0001
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
CA.2 RESOLUTION
8316
Department of
General Services
Administration
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
THE BIDS RECEIVED ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 PURSUANT TO
INVITATION FOR BID NO. 1222387 FROM THE LOWEST
RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS, M & J SUNSHINE,
CORP., A FLORIDA PROFIT CORPORATION, AND PALMDALE
OIL COMPANY, INC., A FLORIDA PROFIT CORPORATION, FOR
THE PURCHASE OF AUTOMOTIVE OILS, LUBRICANTS, AND
GREASES, ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS, AS THE LEAD MEMBER
AGENCY OF THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA GOVERNMENTAL
PURCHASING CO-OPERATIVE GROUP FOR THIS
PROCUREMENT, FOR AN INITIAL TERM OF THREE (3) YEARS
WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO (2) ADDITIONAL ONE
(1) YEAR PERIODS; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE CITY OF
MIAMI'S GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION GENERAL
ACCOUNT NOS. 05001.246000.546000 AND
05001.247000.546000, FIRE -RESCUE DEPARTMENT GENERAL
ACCOUNT NO. 00001.184010.546000.0000.00000, AND SUCH
OTHER LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES, SUBJECT
TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL
AT THE TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER
DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS,
AND EXTENSIONS, SUBJECT TO ALL ALLOCATIONS,
APPROPRIATIONS, AND PRIOR BUDGETARY APPROVALS, IN
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY
CODE"), INCLUDING THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE,
ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT, AND FINANCIAL INTEGRITY
PRINCIPLES, AS SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 18 OF THE CITY
CODE, IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND
IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, AND
REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0002
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
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CA.3 RESOLUTION - Item Pulled from Consent
8245
Department of
Human Services
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL REVENUE PROJECT TITLED "2020-
21 MIAMI HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM-CE
CONSOLIDATION PROGRAM" AND ACCEPTING AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED SIX
HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED SIXTY
NINE DOLLARS ($672,769.00) CONSISTING OF A GRANT FROM
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT ("HUD") THROUGH THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
HOMELESS TRUST ("TRUST") FOR A TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD
TO PROVIDE OUTREACH, INFORMATION, REFERRAL,
ASSESSMENT, AND PLACEMENT SERVICES TO HOMELESS
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY;
ALLOCATING THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") REQUIRED PASS -
THROUGH MATCHING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE
HUNDRED TWENTY THREE TWO HUNDRED NINETY SEVEN
DOLLARS ($323,297.00) FROM THE "2020-2021 MEMORANDUM
OF AGREEMENT GRANT" FROM VARIOUS ACCOUNT
NUMBERS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND ANY AND ALL
OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS, EXTENSIONS, AND
RENEWALS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF
SAID GRANT AWARD FORA TWELVE (12) MONTH PERIOD
WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO (2) ADDITIONAL
TWELVE (12) MONTH PERIODS, SUBJECT TO THE CITY'S
RECEIPT OF THE PASS -THROUGH FUNDS, THE TRUST'S
FUTURE ALLOCATIONS, AND THE CITY'S APPROPRIATION OF
FUNDS.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Jeffrey Watson, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: Item CA.3 was continued to the February 11, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Vice Chair Russell: CA.3, Commissioner Watson?
Commissioner Watson: Yeah. I'm not so sure where Mr. Book is, but I wish he was here.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla and myself probably share more homeless people,
because I'm not sure whether they are residents or not, than most other districts in the
City of Miami, and probably more districts than even in Dade County. And so, I see
various things being undertaken. But we really have to come up with some sort of unified
approach in resources, both at a police level, at our level. And everyone else involved in
trying to maybe wrap -around services of a broader nature. Because if you drive down 7th
avenue, if you drive down I0th street, it will piss you off to know that people are not being
dealt with. One in a dignified manner, but two the people who are trying to deal with them,
who think they are helping them, are not dealing with them in a dignified manner. And so,
the whole kind of broad spectrum of feeding permits, and what to be done, has to be
looked at, you know, I almost want to call a summit, if you will. Because we really have to
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do something different then -- different in what's happening, you know, we're spending a
lot of money in the core of the city. And it prevents on those access points, it prevents
people from wanting to come and patronize the places that we're trying to -- the places
that we're trying to invest in to make them better. And I know I see this, that Ms. -- the
Ms. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) has put on the agenda and your program, I'm just not so sure
it's broad enough to do what we need to get done and I know we're now out of the
Pottinger case from all practical purposes, but something needs to be done. Feeding
permits, I saw the legislation that Commissioner Carollo, I think Commissioner Reyes, you
know, move forward on. Look, you know, if you drive up in a white van feeding people on
the street, you don 't do any service to anyone, and you need to be fined more than you
been fined. So, we need to figure out how to do something better than we're doing
because it does not help what we're trying to do --
Vice Chair Russell: Okay.
Commissioner Watson: -- and so I'll -- I left a directive to the Manager, try to -- maybe
we can have a homeless meeting, call it whatever you will. But we need to be able to sit
and talk freely with everybody who has an interest in this, in order to make it -- to do it
differently. Mr. Book has told me that we don 't understand. I know I'm a part of that we.
Who don 't understand the homeless people. But what I do understand, is it is causing safe
and unsanitary conditions, and it costs us money. So we need to try to figure out how we
do more than we're doing, relative to the problem, and find some better solution than we
have on the table at this point. So 1 wanted to bring it out doing this item. Clearly, that 's
bigger than what you want to speak to. But we really need to figure out how to make this
better. Because it's, you know, on one of the biggest arteries in our district. And it's a
problem that should be addressed, and we have to collectively figure out how, you know, I
don't want to take up police time. May we need a couple of guys on some sort of forces,
something we should do in order to help us with this situation. So that 's my diatribe. And
we can figure out a go from there. All right.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. You're recognized.
Commissioner Reyes: I just want to ask, I mean, adding to what Mr. Watson 's saying,
how is, you know, we have an ordinance that prohibits feeding in the street, and that --
that applies to everybody in this -- in the -- it's not only in downtown Miami, right?
Milton Vickers: That's correct, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: And as I understand he's complaining about it. And remember that
we were trying to get some of that places that you can concentrate them and feed there.
That is going to also be established in that area which is around Overtown.
Mr. Vickers: Commissioner; I think in terms of the feeding ordinance.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Mr. Vickers: We've requested the signage regarding the feeding ordinance go up. The
signs are already produced. We'll -- we've requested that Public Works assist with the
installation of those signs, and they would be various areas around the city. It provides --
it indicates that there is an ordinance regarding it. It indicates a number -- a phone
number to call, to seek permits, as well as a website. We've identified areas for
distribution. So, I think -- and we've also tried setting up meetings in terms of public
information that would go to info -- organizations, individuals, or organizations who wish
to feed. That is a huge problem in the city because of the debris and trash that 's left
behind?
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Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Mr. Vickers: Toward Commission -- Commissioner Watson's issue. I think we do need to
have some type of a workshop where we can talk about, what our homeless situation is.
Although we are in the lower -- out of the top cities around the country, we are in the
lower ten, in terms of our homeless population. But it 's just like the individual who says,
the unemployment rate is 7 percent. But for the unemployed person, it's 100 percent.
Commissioner Reyes: It's 100 percent.
Mr. Vickers: So I think we need to talk about, what that population is, and what are some
of the issues that need to be addressed -- .
Commissioner Reyes: That's true.
Mr. Vickers: -- to deal with the 800 or so that we have inside the City of Miami.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm coming up with an idea. I'm coming up with an I -- and idea
in my head, that I might present soon, that I think would go a long way in helping us
resolve this. When I first came here, I made a motion early on, then some looked at me,
like, what are you doing? You're out of your mind. The motion was to go back to Court,
get rid of Pottinger. Well, we've done that. And I looked at my district and looked at the
rest of our city. Nothing has changed. Nothing, absolutely nothing. We're spending
millions of dollars every year on homelessness. And nothing changes. So, I'm kicking
around the idea that if maybe we won't give another penny to the Homeless Trust,
Camillus House, whoever it is, and freeze all the salaries for the green shirts, the red
shirts, the blue shirts. So, we have -- hit them with the homeless, where nobody gets a
paycheck until something happens. I guarantee you we're going to see some action
happening out there because Fin sick and tired, that situation's the same. I've only been
here one day in the three years since I've been back. That I actually saw something
happening. This was when the City Manager went out there himself and he let the charge,
to clean one part of my district. And after he did that nobody else did anything more. So,
people started coming back to that same district. And I can 't believe this. It was only,
what 2,3 months ago, that I really went into this and toward, into this whole situation.
And I really thought, wait, did I really drink the Kool-Aid? I really, thought, that the next
day, I was going to see Mr. Vickers, his green shirts, Mr. Book, cleaning up. I'm still
waiting. Nothing. And I -- I've reached the point that the frustration is to the level is
ridiculous. And well, you're getting a paycheck and you think that any of us that might be
gone in the future, you still going to get a paycheck. I got news for you, Mr. Vickers, and
everybody else, it's not going to work that way anymore. We're paying enough money to
forget about renting rooms to the hotel. We paying enough money every year to build
hotels. And nobody gets them off the street. So, if we're throwing money away, and
nothings happening. Then what do we need you for? What do we need the green shirts
for? What do we need the Homeless Trust for? If it's the same thing? I mean, we're
supposed to be asking them. Do you need a place to stay? We have a place to stay for
you. Bring then to a place to stay. And if they don 't want to, we get a place for them to
stay. We're able to get them off the streets and we're not doing that. So, I don't know,
you know, what more to do? I will tell you that the strategies we used when I was mayor
worked, we didn't have the situation back then, it's only now. So, you guys can decide, I'm
going to hold off probably getting into this topic that we not -- they're
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) item yet, for the manager to get back. Besides, I think 1 owe him that
courtesy, He's going through a rough time right now, and I don 't want him to worry about
what goes on here. But I'm just fed up with it. I niean, if we got a -- open up a tent city in
Virginia Key, where it's nice and comfortable, you know, soft sand, you got, you know,
that little noise of -- that'll make you fall asleep real quick. You know, maybe we'll open
up a tent city there. And they, you know, whoever wants to go feed them, go feed them
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over there. I will tell you that and I'll say it again. The vast majority of the people that we
have in the streets are not from here, somebody put them into a bus, someone had sent
them over here. When we were handing out food bags during the holidays. There was a
heck of a commotion. Police had to come. It was three so-called homeless. You know
where they were from? California.
Commissioner Reyes: Not even then. What --
Commissioner Carollo: Does that make sense.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Carollo: So, Mr. Vickers, I know that what 1 say doesn't matter, you know,
Mr. Books would come, and he'll cry 100 alligator tears here, like, get all kind of excuses.
But I reached my limitations. If you guys can't do the job, then, you know, the manager
needs to find people that could do the job and clean our streets and some of the guys it's
getting blamed in my district. Each of us is the ones who are getting blamed in our own
districts. And you're still collecting a paycheck, the green shirts are, and everybody else 's
is and, Mr. Book is just having a dandy time, you know, flying here, there, all over the
place. And Camillus House, like, you know, 5 million dollars for what?
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Chair. Commissioner, 1 thought you were
holding off because the manager is not here, and he wants to discuss it. But -- but I also
fundamentally agree with you, that Pottinger was reversed and nothing's changed, right?
Everything remains the same on our streets. And I also know that today, we have a 5
million. plus item, PH.1, a different item, that we allocating to Camillus House. And then
when I had my briefing yesterday, I was told that there's only two entities in all of the City
of Miami that we can give that amount of money, there so much money. And it was
Citrus Network, Health Network and Camillus House. There's nobody else who can
handle that amount of money. But when I was here, when I first got here, I was told that
that the Homeless Trust has a surplus of 50 million, 60 million, and this -- the financial
entities must all work together. So, to me is why do we continue to give them money and
throw money at an issue, that there's no real game plan, right? There's no -- how do we
move forward post Pottinger, and why are we continuing to allocate dollars to these
entities? When we don 't have a game plan, at least we don't know -- I don't know of a
game plan, maybe that you guys have a game plan, Mr. Vickers, maybe you have a game
plan.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm going to give you a game plan here today.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I --
Commissioner Carollo: You know, the Good Shepherd Lollipop Kids. They'll handle tent
city for us, Virginia Key.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: You know, they can't do a worst job than I've seen so far.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But -- but that's a game plan, right? It's vague unless
we doing this, but what we doing is throwing money at it. And you know, and I -- and I
apologize Mr. Chair for mixing two items but they all related, right. This is a discussion
item, the homeless issue, this item. There's a PH 1 and there's an allocation of dollars or
a designation, not allocation, designation of dollars. And the manager, we're going to
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vote on that today, right. So how does that -- is there light at the end of the tunnel, Mr.
Vickers, anywhere here?
Vice Chair Russell: Would you like to address?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Would you like to address it, sir? Is there a plan?
Sergio Torres: Is there what? I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you. This is Sergio Torres of the
City of Miami, Department of Human Services Homeless Program administrator. I
couldn't hear you quite clearly.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry. Who are you again, sir?
Mr. Torres: Green shirts.
Mr. Vickers: Green shirts, but is your name?
Mr. Torres: Uh-huh.
Commissioner Carollo: What is your name?
Mr. Torres: Sergio Torres.
Commissioner Carollo: Sergio Torres, okay. How many green shirts do we have, Sergio?
Mr. Torres: Actually, we are 33, actually, there --
Commissioner Carollo: How many?
Mr. Torres: We are 47. We have some empty positions. So, actually, there's 33.
Commissioner Carollo: How many?
Mr. Torres: 33.
Commissioner Carollo: 33?
Mr. Torres: Uh-huh. Half of that group serves a call center that receive all the calls of
people requesting services, the half of the other group is actually reaching out to the
homeless on street. We provide services county -wide. Not only City of Miami, who
provide services kind of way. I know that you won't like that, but we receive funding to
provide that kind of service. And I would like to share something with you that would give
you a prospective what the problem seems to be. December 24, Christmas Eve. We have
plenty of beds available at two hotels. I'm not talking about shelter beds, I'm talking
about regular hotel room, Red Roof --
Commissioner Carollo: How many do you have available?
Mr. Torres: I would say 70 something, 77 beds.
Commissioner Carollo: 77?
Mr. Torres: 77 between the Hampton Inn and the Red Roof 77 hotel rooms. So, with the
frustration of not moving people fast enough to the rooms, I got myself and my car with a
bullhorn. And I went to every spot that we know homeless congregated, I'm talking about
homeless encampment in Overtown, I'm talking about the encampment in front of Mother
Teresa. I'm talking about the encampment that you have on Southwest 6th and 3rd that we
are very aware of it, downtown. I went with a bullhorn telling the people, explaining them
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that we have Red Roof hotel rooms, is not living shelter but is hotel room, TV, air
conditioning, three meals a day, private bedroom, private bathroom, I'm sorry.
Commissioner Carollo: Do you provide massage there or not?
Mr. Torres: Yes. All included, all included.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Torres: Okay. I was able to move three people only. The rest of the people refused.
So, 1 shared the same frustration you share, Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, okay. So here we go. You 're the guys that are supposed to
handle this, if they refused, what did you do then? Because we got beds, they refused, we
could get them out. What did you do then?
Mr. Torres: There's not much we can do if they refuse services, at least from that what --
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no, no. You have the police department, you have a
police force, they're supposed to take action. Did you call the police with -- come in and -
Mr. Torres: We -- we do work, very close with the police department and with all the
commanders --
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not asking how close you work with them or not. I'm asking
that day if December 24, that you told me. Did to call the police department, when you
had all these people there, and you had 77 available but --
Mr. Torres: Well, we were all was —
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not Mother Teresa. I'm here to look for my residence
first, and if I have people, and the most -- vast majority of the people that I see out there,
they're not out there because they fell on hard tires, they lost their job. Any of them out
there. They're out there because they want to be homeless, they want to be doing drugs out
there, they want to having -- be having sex out in tents, doing drugs. Many of them are
mentally off, I mean, after so many years of drugs, anybody will be mentally -- that's the
reason most of them are out there. So my question to you is, on December 24, when you
had 77 beds available, at least that many. Did you call the police when they, you know,
refused to go so that the police could then come in and help cleaned up?
Mr. Torres: No, I did not.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that's part of the problem that we're having now. You guys
don't call and then the police not taking action, and we have, you know, assist them this
broken, and is not broken from us because we keep telling you the same thing meeting
after meeting. I mean this is not that you go out there and you say pretty please, you
know, we got beautiful bed for you, you know, king size, three meals a day, you know,
we'll -- we'll get you, you know, home box, movies, popcorn, and there 's still going to be
in the streets? Look, our residents have a right to be able to walk through sidewalks
which in my district there parts and all around through if they're parts, so they can't walk
through sidewalks because people have all kinds of stuff that they thrown out there. They
made it into their private domain. Our residents have a right to peace and tranquility.
And not the kind of stuff that we all know is going out there. And -- say you guys don't do
enough because none of you live here in the city, I don 't believe. None of you live in my
district. Commissioner Watson's district. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla's District.
Where the bulk of this is happening. And if you did, maybe you'd be more encouraged not
to -- well, I'm sticking and tired of the blame falling on me in my district just like the
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blame is falling in each of us, in each of our district. There were the laws and not doing
anything. And you know what? I got news for you guys. Ifyou think that any of us, time
will go by, we're not going to be here so we can talk about it even more and you're going
to be around for the next guy to come, and the next, it ain't going to happen that way. One
of us is going to be out of here before the other and it ain't going to be me. And I have no
right to hire you or fire any of you to give any directions. I certainly would not do that.
But the manager, that's the one that we have a right to hire and fire.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: And I don 't need to go any further.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair, I just have one question. And 1 share your frustration
and that sure, because that seems have -- day one that I came here, I've been pounding on
the same thing about homeless. But you said something which 1 -- 1 want to clarify.
Madame City Attorney, what the police -- what can the police do if the person is
defecating on the street -- then I had a question -- I ask this question to the police chief
before, the person is, having sex in the middle of the street, the person is interrupting
traffic or whatever. Can the police -- I mean, if I do it, I'd be arrested, but can the police
arrest them or remove them from the area?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): If they're committing life sustaining misdemeanors, and
they -- and we do have shelter space, they can -- and they refused to go, they can be
arrested. But that's if we have shelter space. That's why shelter spaces is super important
to everything we do.
Commissioner Carollo: If what?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Shelter space.
Ms. Mendez: Shelter space.
Commissioner Carollo: Of course; it's what I said. And he said here at least the hotels,
let's not even going on into other facilities that we have 77 beds.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Can we ask for the police department or any
representative from the police department --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I mean, I want to know -- I want to --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Morales or --
Commissioner Reyes: What actions can you take?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Or let's see what the police is doing, right?
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. What actions can you take? And if you can take some
action, why don't you take it?
Unidentified Speaker: Correct:
Vice Chair Russell: Good afternoon, Manny. You're recognized.
Manny Morales: Good afternoon, gentlemen, Manny Morales. I'm the Assistant Chief in
charge of operations for our police department. And that's a good question. And you
don't need the attorney to tell you, if we win this, that type of behavior Commissioner,
we're going effect an arrest. And listen, I understand that there 's incredible pressure from
our community. Nobody likes to see the homeless. We definitely do our best to strive a
balance, to ensure that we're not criminalizing homelessness, but that we're addressing,
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the criminal activity made by individuals that happen to he homeless, and I'll give you an
example, even though our arrest for 2020 were significantly lowered for the reasons that
Deputy Chief Papier stated, we're fighting the COVID, were encouraging our officers to
have minimum contact with the public. So, arrest were down to around 9,400 for the year,
when usually there about 20,000. Out of those 9,000, a thousand plus, 1,073, were
homeless individuals, that made up 11 percent of all the arrests the City of Miami police
department does. Vast majority of them were for narcotics, followed by alcohol violations
and theft. So, we do take violations committed by homeless individuals or any individual
seriously enough to effect an arrest. But 1 have to be very, very clear. We have to witness
those incidents. So, we have to witness the incident. When it happens to be a
misdemeanor like the defecating, the misdemeanor exposure, that does not happen to be in
front of an underage person.
Commissioner Carollo: It's got to be a misdemeanor committed in your presence before
you take action. If it's a felony, that's different.
Mr. Morales: Correct. So --
Commissioner Carollo: We're not even talking about that Chief, we're talking about the
fact that it beds are available, they don 't have a right to throw a mattress, put a chest, take
over 10, 15 feet of a sidewalk or just decide to go anywhere they want to and they 're going
to make that their home. We have that. They can do that, and that's the point that I'm
making. We're spending so much nioney so that --
Mr. Morales: 1 agree with you, Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: -- we can provide decent living for people that are out in the
streets no matter where they come from. And it seems that were throwing it into a sinkhole
that never gets filled. So, I'm tired putting money if we're going to have the same
situation, whether we spend the money or not. Then I rather not spend it.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, a lot of -- on the question that I have I want to throw another
question. Is obstructing the sidewalk -- and can anybody -- can obstruct the sidewalk. If I
park and obstruct the sidewalk, I get a ticket.
Mr. Morales: Commissioner it is a violation of the law to obstruct --
Commissioner Reyes: It's a violation of the law. How -- why we allow some of I will say
tents to be built on a sidewalk?
Mr. Morales: Commissioner that -- they shouldn't be allowed.
Commissioner Reyes: You see and you see. I don't know the other Commission have seen
it. You seen bunch of long tents and people cannot walk in the sidewalks. You see that
kind of -- I placed a mattress in a side walk and I start sleeping there and I make that my
bedroom, and I won't allow anybody to love it, I mean, I'm impeding anybody from
walking on the sidewalk. So that is -- that is not all right. That's a crime.
Mr. Morales: Absolutely, yeah. That is a violation of the law.
Commissioner Reyes: See what I'm trying to say that, they're implementable laws that
they should be -- I mean enforced.
Commissioner Carollo: Look I'm -- I'm going to give you a prime example besides that
one. So we can understand how across the board nobody wants to take action. Sometime
ago, you presented a resolution that I backed.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
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Commissioner Carollo: And this body hacked as a whole so that we could take grocery
carts out the streets.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: And find the supermarkets, it didn't take them themselves. How
much would you say Chief that those grocery carts cost? They're over a 100 bucks.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah, 150.
Mr. Morales: Closer to 3001 would say Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: That's a felony?
Mr. Morales: Absolutely.
Commissioner Carollo: If you have one that you stolen. Now, in my district anyway, at
the homeless that I have, they got a grocery cart, if not from Presidente, from Sedano 's.
Commissioner Reyes: Everybody.
Commissioner Carollo: From --
Commissioner Reyes: Walgreens.
Commissioner Carollo: Walgreens, wherever. Our officers see that. That's very simple.
How many of these people do you think are going to stay in the same place if they
understand that you have a stolen piece of property, that you have no right to, you have all
kinds of stuff on it, and you have two choices. I think I know, and you know, which they 're
going to take. And look, I -- if we have place to put them in, I'd be the first and say well,
we got to find a main way to deal with it. This has been going on for years. The only
people that don 't treat humane here are the residents of the city that pay taxes. Those, you
know, don't have a chance. Either you got to be homeless, or you going to be part of the
rich and famous that don't live in the city that only come here to see how they could make
money. And those are the only people that have a shot in the city. The hardworking, you
know, slug. Nobody listen, and nobody cares. So why can we have a policy that if an
officer sees someone out there, that they see him day in day out with a cart full of stuff,
they don't stop and then we'll do something about it. And I'm going to say what nobody
wants to say because people get upset. We don't have the supervision, the guidance to tell
our officers this is what must be done. And there's nobody to push it. Nobody to say,
we're going to clean this up, and I understand, especially during this year, but it was
before this year. Nobody wants to bring someone in the back of a patrol car. That 's not
smelling too good. could urinate, could vomit, or even more, and -- but this is the job. You
know, if you don't want that, you know, maybe you should go out to drive a Uber or Lyft
than being in a patrol car that you 're going to have to bring in all kinds of people in the
back.
Mr. Morales: So comet -- and Commissioner, I'm not going to sit here and disagree and -
- and tell you that it's a complex situation when the officer has to make sure that the
shopping cart is clearly marked in order to take it. We're not going to get into the
intricacies. I understand we need to do a better job focusing and all it takes is for us to
have the will and determination and the focus to go out there and do those things. But I
can assure you that even though it does not show perhaps when you 're looking at it in
your individual districts, as a department whole, we put focus on making sure that our
guys are doing this. Are we successful every time when we're addressing it? No. And I'm
not going to sit here and give you excuses that we've lost almost 200,000 man-hours doing
details aside from what traditional policing is, during the pandemic, handling the
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demonstrations, we definitely need to do a better job. We need to be able to listen to the
residents, the business owners and the visitors are coming into our city and find out what 's
important to them and address it and put the focus on that.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I'm going to give you another example from the pandemic
that you talked about and everything else going on in downtown. One of our police car
that was burned. The individual that burned it was a homeless person. Now how in the
world right after did he get enough drugs that somehow he was able to buy or maybe
someone just gave it to him so he could immediately overdose. And when we found him he
was comatose in a hospital where he died? I don 't know. But he was homeless. Going
through the list of people that were arrested, we probably had anywhere from 78 percent
maybe more I don't know that were homeless. They were arrested for doing stuff. We
shouldn't be making arrest only when you have disturbance demonstration or that sort
where someone is crossing the line.
Mr. Morales: Absolutely.
Commissioner Carollo: And I'm only telling you the frustration that is being given to me
by our residents. They think that a lot of us are the ones who don't care.
Commissioner Reyes: We're doing nothing.
Commissioner Carollo: And if that's so 1 mean, just about every month, I'm talking about
this. And I reached the point that I'm tired of getting excuses.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Commissioners --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Let me --
Vice Chair Russell: -- Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, then Commissioner Watson.
And I have a comment as well.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you Chair. I'm curious just in -- document
about pre-Pottinger world and the post-Pottinger world. Do the Green Shirts call you
whenever they witnessed a problem -- right? -- with the homeless individual doing
something that is illegal act. Do the Green Shirts communicate with the police
department?
Mr. Morales: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The Green Shirts do they call the police department
and say, "Hey somebody's committing a illegal act, can you intervene." Does that
happen?
Mr. Morales: After the fact without witnessing the actual crime?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: They will listen to -- just the Green Shirts 33 of them
are out there doing something, right?
Mr. Morales: All right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. And I'm guessing they converse with you and
communicate with you, correct?
Mr. Morales: Yes, sir.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Fonda- Okay. So, has there -- do they, 1 mean, do they call
you when they witness something going on or when they think the police should be there?
Mr. Morales: Even though we have contact our Commissioner, it wouldn 't work for the
purpose of developing the probable because for us to be able to arrest them Pr those
violations, but they do give us the communication says, "Hey we 're experiencing in this
area like Commissioner Carollo was mentioning earlier when we 're having some issues
like by Jose Marti Park they will let us know and they'll focus our attention and they'll
relay what incidents are happening. There's like hey we had a couple of individual --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Because he (UNINTELLIGIBLE) they -- they have to
witness -- you have to witness the actual crime --
Mr. Morales: Based on misdemeanor.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That 's a misdemeanor?
Mr. Morales: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But what's the communication like? I'm just curious
to know has there been any -- any communication pre-Pottinger is it different than what's
post-Pottinger. Has there been any -- any meetings, any conversations between all these
different organizations and the police department. How you are now going to deal
differently with the homeless population because the circumstances have changed this --
has that happened?
Mr. Morales: Commissioner in all transparency we haven't had a seamless
communication on how to best deal when the incidents are happening and the police is not
there to be the enforcement. We haven't had it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So there's no direction from the administration to the
police department as to how things are different now. Things are being how there were
before Pottinger?
Mr. Morales: So, we maintain them for the sake of the lawsuit Commissioner, we kind of
maintained our policies to be synonymous pre and post-Pottinger.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, you haven't made a change in policy?
Mr. Morales: Correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Even though the whole case determine the change in
policy was very -- was appropriate?
Mr. Morales: Correct. And the thought behind that Commissioner was the reason we
were successful in overturning Pottinger was because we demonstrated that we have
policies in place to prevent what led us to following the early Pottinger agreement.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, what would be a member of Mr. Vickers can help
or whoever is sitting in for the City Manager today.
Commissioner Watson: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So what's the policy? What's the administration's
policy moving forward? So that if -- if the policy has something this Commission agrees
with, then we can maybe direct the administration do something differently. Because the
circumstances have changed, the legal status of these individuals has changed. Then
policy needs to change, right?
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Mr. Morales: All right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And how long do we wait before we change that
policy? In other words, how do we -- now we have more tools I think in our toolbox to
address this issue.
Mr. Morales: Okay. But Commissioner I think that the policy change that we 're hind of
talking about was like two -and -a -half years ago when we had the homeless outreach was
resting solely on the police department, we did a little bit of separation so we wouldn 't
have the referral and enforcement coming out of the same shop. That's when the Green
Shirts kind of took the lead and the Human Services Department took the lead when it
comes to referral and placement. And that kind of -- that responsibility shifted away from
the police so we can solely concentrate on enforcement.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So post-Pottinger which -- what did -- what was the
Court decision when did that come down?
Commissioner Watson: A few years ago.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: When did that come down?
Ms. Mendez: A couple of months ago. 1 want to clarify a couple of things that the Chief
has been saying. We have had meetings, we the law department, have had meetings with
the administration on certain things that they can do in order to alleviate the concerns that
you have consistently brought up. I think it's been a resource issue and we can -- you can
address that. But the minor things that we can change after Pottinger, we have been able
to address that there's been certain paperwork, so we had to do the fact that the -- they
can't just haul us into court. That was the main change that we did with this Pottinger
agreement because they had us on a hook every time that they could just bring us into
court for an enforcement action and get attorney's fees. So with respect to those we're not
under that mandate. But because of the things that the city has done to address
homelessness and to be caring of the homeless population in a sympathetic way that is
what Chief Morales was saying got us out of Pottinger to begin with. There are certain
things that we can change that will address the things that you 're bringing up. I just think
it's been a resource issue as to why it hasn't been --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Explain to me how it's a resource issue when we have
pumped so many dollars through different entities into that -- this problem. Is it a
resource, is it a money issue?
Commissioner Watson: It's a disconnected issue.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Correct this -- there is a disconnect here, right?
Is it a resource issue? And this is not for you Ms. Mendez because you 're doing legal.
I'm going to say knowing what's happening on the ground where the administration's
policy is. And you made an argument and maybe it's not your argument to make because
you're not the administration, that it's a resources issue. I would argue that we have a lot
to resources through all the different entities from the Homeless Trust and down. Today,
we are allocating five and half, a little over 5 million additional dollars. So how can
we've lacked the resources. I think it's a question of having a plan in place. And it's been
a couple of months to the decision what has changed and what conversation have taken
place. Has The Homeless Trust or has — have the Green Shirts or has the Police
Department have any other gotten together and say, Hey let's come over the plan and this
is what had caused and this what resources we had available to us. Why hasn't that
happened? That's my question.
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Mr. Morales: And Conznzissioner I'm not going to speak for the other departments, but 1
can tell you that the Jose Marti Park situation it's a good indication when we all work
together and put our will and determination into getting a goal accomplished. And I think
that even Commissioner Carollo can kind of testify to the pre and post conditions of Jose
Marti Park before we put our minds and our will together to work towards that end.
Commissioner Carollo: Chief let me be frank no, no, I need to address it let me go back
before we go further. What happened to Jose Marti Park was that the City Manager that
shouldn't have to go out there like if he was a Green Shirt, went out there with some of his
tough staff and had to guide and lead to do the cleaning to clean that up. Under the
bridge there between one part and the other where the basketball Court is upstairs. The
only reason they didn't come back there was because the manager ordered the fence to be
extended all the way to the end of the sidewalks, so they won 't come back. And then the
only place that people could've make campings [sic] would have been in the road, in the
street. Over at 6th Street they'd come back. And for months and they keep coming back.
And I keep seeing people with, you know, just about every one of them has a shopping
cart, and this is something that I should brought up the shopping cart. He thought it was a
150, you said maybe 300 we all know that over a $100 they are felony. Now, I'll be happy
to make a resolution right now for this Commission to instruct the administration to arrest
anyone that is not using a shopping cart to go from the grocery store to their home with
groceries in it. Cause we have elderly, you have some other women with kids that would
use it. Anyone other than that that is using a shopping cart for something else other than
grocery inside of the street to make arrest. And you know what, we're going to see the
same thing. So, these are felonies that people we don't have to make the arrest obviously.
But if you give someone the option listen, you have stolen property here. You either are
going to go to a shelter that you'll be fine outside of the street warm meals, massages,
whatever you want. Well, if you don 't want that and if you are from California, New York,
Chicago, here's a nice one-way ticket out of town. And we'll even give you some extra
money so that you can live for two weeks there somewhere else. Or we 're going to have to
arrest you for a felony. We all know the decision they're going to make.
Commissioner Watson: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: And my God.
Mr. Morales: Commissioner --
Ms. Mendez: Commissioner, I would ask that we don't go that route right now, just
because we would have to arrest everybody, (Comments made in Spanish not translated)
or the --
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, because every place that has carts, I'm sure we will get
from them releases that they authorize people, if need be, to use the carts if they buy from
them only to the place of where they live to bring their groceries so that 's not an issue.
But you know Madam City Attorney we're the only city in the country that has to go to this
crap. I mean, you tell me one other American city big, small or in-between that has had a
Pottinger. No other. We were the only one in the whole country. I'm tired of hearing
excuses from this group, from that group. When I was mayor, we had the same Pottinger
and we didn 't have any of this. And we took care of it we knew how to take care of them.
Ms. Mendez: The problem is because of Pottinger there has been a lot of case law --
national federal case law that has created out of Pottinger, so we have certain --
Commissioner Carollo: If you're telling me we've lost America, we've lost the city and
the people that have the rights are people that want to be out on the street using drugs,
that they're burnt out, then you know, I guess there's nothing else we can do except
maybe, you know, find a civilized place somewhere in the mountains.
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Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Watson.
Commissioner Watson: So, let me jump right back in here because I started just to asked
the question not nearly as frustrated as Commissioner Carollo at this point, but still 1 want
to if but not for the fact that we tried to do the job, my son has been having issues and he
might be out there too. So let me say this when you look at it, you know is disconnected.
Clearly, I can see that, my colleague asked that question and you see that it's
disconnected. But I want us to do today though -- the reason I ask is we need to spend
three hours maybe, I'm asking my colleague before we pass anything give me three hours
everybody needs to sit in a room, holler, scream, shout, do whatever we want to do. But
come up with a solution that's going to include more than just making a criminal to have a
cart because that's now -- only the exacerbates for us in contingency costly me for us. It's
cost us money. I'd liked to ask my colleagues to join me. Mr. Milton will make a date --
we're not going to talk more about the issue. At least at this point 1've got my questions
answered, right? Because we got to keep the flow of business. It's important to me, it's
important to all of us up here. But we 're not truing to deal with dumping it on you guys.
We're truing to figure out a real solution. And the fact that it 's not now been addressed
going forward is because we may not have now looked at it from that perspective.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay.
Commissioner Watson: I'm asking my colleagues give me three hours however, we need
get everybody bring them in, drag them in whatever. Because when we come to a decision
okay. That's what it's going to be. So, the permit to feed somebody somewhere, you
know, somebody house and whoever they're going to have to live with a decision. But it
has also be dealing with the prevention and reducing our cost, reducing the arrest by more
than 50 percent. Unless we reduced the cost we have to spend. We all have to be talking
about the same thing. And everybody bringing their perspective if I'm going to beg them
to get that time. We would get everybody in the room to do this. We talked three hours this
morning on an issue that was important. That we was not given information before the
meeting. And so now this can go on forever because everybody is frustrated. But what we
want to do is get to some solution that's going to satisfy those citizens that are residents,
that it now impinges upon their quality of life. We also have an issue we need to deal with
it when dealing with people. So I'm going to ask for that before we do anything else. I'll
make the time if everybody make the time let's do it that way and get to a point where is
satisfactory than it doesn't now, we want a different direction than what we were like.
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner, I would be more than happy to give three hours,
six hours, whatever amount of hours they would like. We could hold hands and think --
think, Kumbaya do everything but I've been going through this for so many meetings.
Commissioner Watson: I believe it.
Commissioner Carollo: And --
Commissioner Watson: I hear you.
Commissioner Carollo: And I have not gotten a single solution from anybody, anybody in
staff' except you can't do anything. And you know what, I don't expect solutions from
them. What I want to do is give them the solutions so they could get the job done but
somehow they don 't want to do now.
Commissioner Watson: But it's also -- it's also though Commissioner, it's not just now,
there's people now that caused the problem to exacerbated and so I'm just saying it is
them as part of our part of the solution, but there's others. There's Jackson Hospital to
the Trust.
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Commissioner Carollo: But it's going to keep getting worse and it's going to keep getting
worse because if we don't do anything the war gets them out of the country and that keeps
sending them over here.
Commissioner Watson: Yeah. Well, we '11 sit down and draw out what makes sense. And
if those folks want to be a part of the plan, they can. If they don't want be a part of the
plan, it would be our plan to do and implement. Okay. I want to do that. Tell me, Mr.
Vickers, come back up, please. Tell me what kind of time we need, when we 're going to do
it and bring all these stakeholders in. Because as you see, it is getting ready to get
different. And 1 want to make sure that we now deal with the prevention of this issue. So
that we don 't now have exacerbated cause just arresting people. Because now we 're on
spotlight, which is what the City Attorney was saying in a legal sense, we have a spotlight
on us. So, we don't want to set the tone. There's different than what we're trying to do,
there's frustration but we need to come with a solution. So, whoever needs to be a part of
this, you make sure they're a part of it. Do it very quickly. Call it whatever you want to
call it. No government into whatever so we can all talk about what can be done. We have
some very definite decisions about what should be done. But let's make sure that
everybody know it because when it's done, it's done. Okay.
Mr. Vickers: Commissioner, I agree with you. There 's so many nuances when it comes to
addressing the homeless.
Commissioner Watson: We understand it. That's why they have so much on the table.
Mr. Vickers: 1 do think it's important that we go through what those nuances are, what
legal tells us, what we can and cannot do and come up. A lot of the things that we 've
talked about. We've had plans upon plans upon plans, but we could never move it. So, I'd
be more than happy to present to you where we are and some recommendations and listen
to your concerns. The Commissioner's district, the manager wasn't the only one there. I
was there twice a week for five weeks. Green Shirts were there twice a week for five
weeks. And we had an impact there. That's something that I'd like to see. In all of the
years, we have identified every area in the city where we have encampments, our areas
that can be addressed. We have a cleanup scheduled for your area next week. We have to
cancel it because police is being reassigned due to the inauguration. However, we 're
going to reschedule it.
Commissioner Watson: Our police are going to Washington?
Mr. Vickers: Apparently they're utilizing local resources here. So, our police, you know,
we can we can only do what we can do when we've got the police.
Commissioner Watson: All right.
Mr. Vickers: But three hours should be enough. Special meeting, whatever you'd like to
have.
Commissioner Watson: Whatever you want to call to get back to us and let us know so we
can get this done, right?
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Is there a motion on CA.3?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Mr. Chair, Mr. Chair?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Nzeribe Ihekwaba: This is Zerry from the Administration we would like this item to be
continued to the next meeting. So that would come began to concede us so many
recommendations that we'll receive today. Also, which is more important, there is no
urgency to accepting these grants. And that some of the concerns that we 've received so
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far, this grant is meant for use for the entire Miami -Dade County, not just the City of
Miami and for the Homeless Trust to require that the city should fund 50 percent of the
entire program that is meant for the entire county is also another consideration that may
necessitate for us to go back to the Homeless Trust and begin to ask fbr additional funding
from them, not just from the City. I don 't think it's fair jor the City to pick up the tab of 50
percent for the program that is applicable for county -wide.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, let me ask you. Why did you put it on the consent
agenda?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Because this is what the Homeless Trust has requested to the --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no. The administration, basically, agenda to us
call the consent agenda for a reason. If you had an issue with it why did you put it in a
consent agenda before and bring it before us?
Mr. Ihekwaba: This is not something that's just a long-term. This is something that is --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's not my question. If there's a doubt about the
viability or the -- that it's bad government to do this, why would you -- why would the
administration bring it before us as a consent agenda item?
Mr. Ihekwaba: 1 believe it is --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Leave it up to us to figure out that it doesn't make
sense for the City?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Not necessary really. Placing items in the agenda is for us to get
additional input from the elected body that sets policy for city administration to
implement. We feel very strongly that we need to have our own comprehensive review of
the city of Miami's homeless program. You're not going to solve the problem of City of
Miami by just passing this item. Everything that has to do with homelessness needs to be
taken back and the proper scrutiny done. You cannot begin to task one out of the 35
municipalities in Miami -Dade County with responsibility where you 're making only 50
percent financial contribution. So, in my agreement with your recommendation to go back
and have a proper workshop and have a deep dive into the city's homeless program.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Is there a motion to continue CA.3?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So moved.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, seconded --
Commissioner Watson: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: -- by Commissioner Watson. So, my only comment in this is that the -
- the clearly the problem is procedural and have a really good look at what standard
operating procedure is post Pottinger, and it seems like that has not been fully resolved
and that's what this Commission would like to see. The Green Shirts are not the problem.
The Green Shirts are a bit of our savior here, and we need more of them not less and
they're doing an amazing job. And as do the police but this is an issue of leadership and
policy. And I look forward to weighing in Commissioner Watson, I don't know if you were
seeking as sunshine meeting or to individually workshop one-on-one between
Commissioners and administration.
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Commissioner Watson: Well, if procedurally sunshine is what we need, that's what we
need so we can talk freely about what needs to happen with other stakeholders that need to
be a part of that discussion. Because this is really not us. This is all of us.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. Well, if you want to organize it with the clerk and then.
Commissioner Watson: Yes, that's fine. I'll do that. I'll take it upon myself to do that.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, Mr. Chairman, it is a problem with leadership, not lack of it
from up here. Because we keep giving instructions, making requests. Just about every
Commission meeting or every other one and nothing changes. And 1 don't know what
more to do than some of the things that 1 stated here, if what it means so we got to move
people out that have gotten too comfortable and to use in their positions. Maybe this the
only way that things will change. But our residents deserve better. And what I want from
this administration for next meeting, I want a total itemized line item amount of dollars
that we're spending in anything having to do with the homeless. Beginning the last five
years and what's schedule for this new budget. I want to see the last five years how much
we've given Camillus House, how much we've given the Homeless Trust and everybody
else. I want to see the salary of everyone of the Green Shirts, Mr. Vickers, everybody
there, what they make, all their benefits. I want to see real cost. So, that our residents can
see why we feel this way. How many millions of dollars of their money is going to the
homeless situation. And we're in the same hole, if not worse every year. 1 mean 1 see the
same characters in many of my streets in -- in my district in several years. That had been
there for three plus years, and nobody bothers them. They'll get in the middle of the
street, I see one particular guy that he passes out in the parking lane. 1 don 't know how
many times and I see city employees zoom by. Nobody does anything. So, I want the full
amount that we 're paying as the city so that we could comprehend fully. Our residents
can see how much money is going into this. And if at the end everybody 's telling me we
can't do anything about it. Then you know what? I want to stop making payments because
we can't do anything about it then why are we throwing so much money away? I rather
put it into housing. I rather put it into food for our community, into helping people pay
their rent. Into something that at least you see that you 're accomplishing something that's
good.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo, the items you 've requested, would you like
that to come up under your discussion item on homelessness at the next meeting?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. If you would because I'm -- certainly, I mean, it was not my
intention to have gone into this for the reasons that I stated we did. We don 't need to go
back into that item now that 1 have there. So, if you bring it back as mine, that 's fine.
Vice Chair Russell: So, as soon as we finalize CA.3 we'll -- we will allow defer DI.8 at
least. So, CA.3 is on the floor. We have a motion in a second. All in favor? I'm sorry,
Todd.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): My apologies chair Mr. Manager, is that to are we
bringing this back at the January 28th, meeting or February, 11 th?
Mr. Ihekwaba: February 11 th, please?
Mr. Hannon: February 11 th.
Vice Chair Russell: Oh, then a deferral instead.
Mr. Hannon: So, then we can also continue DI8 to February 11 th, Commissioner Carollo
or no?
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CA.4
8322
Department of
Police
CA.5
8220
Department of
Police
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, you could.
Mr. Hannon: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: So, we can -- thank you. So, there's a -- will the mover and seconder
also add Dl8 to that deferral?
Commissioner Watson: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? That was -- thank you. CA.3 and D1.8.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE
PROJECT TITLED "BJA FY 20 BODY -WORN CAMERA POLICY
AND IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM TO SUPPORT LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES"; ACCEPTING AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $392,281.00
CONSISTING OF A GRANT AWARD FROM THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE JUSTICE PROGRAMS,
BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE FOR A THREE YEAR
PERIOD; ALLOCATING IN -KIND MATCHING FUNDS ANNUALLY
IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $63,432.00 FOR THE FIRST
YEAR AND $167,356.00 FOR THE FOLLOWING TWO (2) YEARS,
FOR A TOTAL OF $398,144.00, TO PROVIDE FOR THE
EXPANSION OF THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BODY -
WORN CAMERA PROGRAM AND ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR
A CUMULATIVE PROJECT TOTAL OF $790,425.00;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GRANT
AWARD, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DESIGNATE THE CHIEF
OF POLICE TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN FORMS
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO
IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE, ADMINISTRATION, AND
COMPLIANCE OF SAID GRANT AWARD.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0003
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ALLOCATING
FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $157,909.83 FOR A
ONE-YEAR PERIOD TO THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE, COUNTY COURT
STANDBY PROGRAM FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE
GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET, ACCOUNT NO.
00001.191501.534000.0000.00000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0004
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
CA.6
8230
Department of
Police
CA.7
8298
Department of
Police
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE
PROJECT TITLED "FY 2021 MOTORCYCLE SAFETY INITIATIVE
OVERTIME PATROL PROJECT"; APPROPRIATING FUNDS
CONSISTING OF A GRANT AWARD FROM THE FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ("FDOT") FOR THE MIAMI
POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $80,000.00, WITH
NO MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED, TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR
HIGHWAY SAFETY ("GRANT"); AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE GRANT AGREEMENT, IN
SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, WITH FDOT; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DESIGNATE THE CHIEF
OF POLICE OR ANY OTHER DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE THE
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF
REIMBURSEMENT FUNDS AND COMPLIANCE WITH
ADMINISTRATION OF THE GRANT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0005
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE
PROJECT TITLED "FY 2021 SPEED/AGGRESSIVE DRIVING
ENFORCEMENT SATURATION PATROL PROJECT";
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT AND EXECUTE
A GRANT AWARD AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM, BETWEEN THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY")
APPROPRIATING GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$232,500.00 TO THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH NO
CITY MATCH REQUIRED, TO PROVIDE FOR RESOURCES TO
DETER SPEED AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING IN THE CITY
("GRANT"); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
DESIGNATE THE CHIEF OF POLICE, OR HIS DESIGNEE, TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE,
ADMINISTRATION, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE GRANT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0006
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
CA.8
8301
Department of
Police
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE
PROJECT TITLED "BJA FY 20 CRIME GUN INTELLIGENCE
CENTERS"; ACCEPTING AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THE
AMOUNT OF $653,762.00 CONSISTING OF A GRANT AWARD
FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, BUREAU OF JUSTICE
ASSISTANCE WITH NO MATCH REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FOR
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE DIGITAL
EVIDENCE PLATFORM FOR INVESTIGATIONS OF CRIMES
INVOLVING GUNS AND OTHER ASSOCIATED COSTS BY THE
CITY OF MIAMI'S POLICE DEPARTMENT; AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE GRANT AGREEMENT, IN
SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DESIGNATE THE CHIEF
OF POLICE TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT
THE ACCEPTANCE, ADMINISTRATION, AND COMPLIANCE OF
SAID GRANT AWARD, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0007
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
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CA.9 RESOLUTION
8247
Department of
Procurement
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
THE BIDS RECEIVED ON OCTOBER 5, 2020 PURSUANT TO
INVITATION FOR BID NO. 1244389 FROM THE THREE (3)
LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS, SFM
SERVICES, INC., A FLORIDA PROFIT CORPORATION, COCO
TREE SERVICE CORP., A FLORIDA PROFIT CORPORATION,
AND CNC MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC., A FLORIDA PROFIT
CORPORATION, FOR THE PROVISION OF CITYWIDE GROUNDS
MAINTENANCE SERVICES ON AN AS -NEEDED BASIS FOR AN
INITIAL TERM OF THREE (3) YEARS WITH THE OPTION TO
RENEW FOR TWO (2) ADDITIONAL ONE (1) YEAR PERIODS;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND SUCH
OTHER LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES, SUBJECT
TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL
AT THE TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS
NECESSARY, INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS,
AND EXTENSIONS, SUBJECT TO ALL ALLOCATIONS,
APPROPRIATIONS, PRIOR BUDGETARY APPROVALS,
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY
CODE"), INCLUDING THE CITY OF MIAMI PROCUREMENT
ORDINANCE, ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT, AND FINANCIAL
INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES, ALL AS SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 18
OF THE CITY CODE, IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE
LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE DEEMED
NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0008
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
CA.10 RESOLUTION
8309
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO ACCEPT FOUR (4) RIGHT-OF-WAY DEEDS OF
DEDICATION AS DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A", ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED, FOR HIGHWAY PURPOSES; APPROVING AND
AUTHORIZING THE RECORDATION OF SAID DEEDS IN THE
PUBLIC RECORDS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA;
FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO RETAIN COPIES OF
SAID DEEDS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0009
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
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CA.11 RESOLUTION - Item Pulled from Consent
8378
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL STEPS
NECESSARY TO TEMPORARILY EXTEND UNTIL SEPTEMBER
30, 2021 THE COVID-19 RESTAURANT RECOVERY PROGRAM
APPROVED BY RESOLUTION NO. R-20-0156 AND INCLUDE THE
COLLECTION OF FEES FOR USE OF SIDEWALKS AND PARKING
LANES SIMILAR TO THOSE FEES REQUIRED BY SECTION 54-
224 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED, AS WELL AS THOSE FEES REQUIRED BY THE
MIAMI PARKING AUTHORITY FOR USE OF PARKING LANES;
URGING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, THROUGH ITS DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, AND THE
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ASSIST THE
CITY OF MIAMI IN ACCOMPLISHING SUCH A GOAL TO THE
EXTENT NECESSARY; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE
OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN.
MOTION TO: Withdraw
RESULT: WITHDRAWN
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, Watson
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item CA.11, please see "Order of the
Day."
CA.12 RESOLUTION
8320
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION GRANT AGREEMENT,
IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, BETWEEN THE
CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ("FDOT"); ACCEPTING THE STATE OF
FLORIDA'S CONTRIBUTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $354,000.00
FOR CAPITAL FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL TRANSIT VEHICLES;
AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF THE CITY'S REQUIRED
MATCHING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $354,000.00 FROM THE
CITY'S SHARE OF THE CHARTER COUNTY AND REGIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SURTAX.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0010
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
CA.13
8385
Office of the City
Attorney
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND TO PAY BRIANA COOK AND
SABRINA BRAXTON, WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, THE
AGGREGATE TOTAL SUM OF $50,000.00 IN FULL AND
COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND
DEMANDS, INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES, AGAINST, THE CITY
OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND ITS OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND
EMPLOYEES IN THE CASE STYLED BRIANA COOK, ET AL. VS.
CITY OF MIAMI, PENDING IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, CASE NO.: 16-31552, UPON THE
EXECUTION OF A GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS AND
DEMANDS AND A DISMISSAL OF THE CITY AND ITS OFFICERS
AND EMPLOYEES WITH PREJUDICE; ALLOCATING FUNDS
FROM ACCOUNT NO. 00001.980000.531010.0000.00000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0011
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
CA.14 RESOLUTION - Item Pulled from Consent
8411
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS WITH LITTLE
HAITI FC INC, A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION,
FOR THE USE OF SOCCER FIELDS AT LITTLE HAITI SOCCER
PARK LOCATED AT 6301 NORTHEAST 2ND AVENUE, MIAMI,
FLORIDA; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO
PRESENT THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT FOR CITY
COMMISSION CONSIDERATION AT THE FEBRUARY 11, 2021
CITY COMMISSION MEETING.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0012
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Watson, would you like to take your CA14 and
then will complete the CA agenda?
Commissioner Watson: Yes, please, and I promise would only be two minutes and 54
seconds on this item.
Vice Chair Russell: Do you have a video to show?
Commissioner Watson: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: Who is directing the video for the Little Haiti Soccer Club? Oh,
here it is.
At this time, an audiovisual presentation was made .
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
Vice Chair Russell: Can we get more volume, please?
At this time, the audiovisual presentation continued.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Would you like to make a motion on CA.14?
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1 want to --
Vice Chair Russell: Second by Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I want to be added as a co-sponsor to this item
too.
Vice Chair Russell: Noted.
Commissioner Carollo: All of us.
Vice Chair Russell: Agreed, agreed. Unanimous co-sponsorship of CA.14, please. Is
there any further discussion?
Commissioner Watson: I just wanted to say, thank you, guys. This is still not
complete, but it will get completed. We are dealing with issues on our public facilities
in risk management and what COVID has done. I sponsored the club for the month of
January, and they're being directed now to get a schedule. They won 't push anybody
else off. It's paving. But they'll be able to have a permanent home in our facility.
And I think it's a good thing to do anytime we can invest in our kids. We can be -- we
may not see the outcome, but it's important to invest in our kids. And anytime we can
give some -- a little bit more hope, and we've done a great job. So, thank you.
[Later...]
Vice Chair Russell: And thank you, Commissioner, for doing this. Is there any
further discussion? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you.
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
Vice Chair Russell: So, we're going to take up the Consent Agenda. I believe there
was a video to be played for CA.14?
Commissioner Watson: Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: So, we pull that one. Is there anything else someone would like
to pull from the agen --
Commissioner Watson: Yes, sir.
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Vice Chair Russell: --,from the Consent Agenda?
Commissioner Reyes: No. Thank you.
Commissioner Watson: Can you pull CA.3 for discussion?
Vice Chair Russell: CA? I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you, Commissioner.
Commissioner Watson: CA.3, sorry.
Vice Chair Russell: 3? The homeless situation. 1 will pull -- so well pull CA.3.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is CA.3 the -- the 5 million plus grant to Camillus
-- to Camillus House?
Vice Chair Russell: I believe it is.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: So, well pull of -- pull CA.3. We'll pull --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Hold on.
Vice Chair Russell: -- CA.14.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on. You're taking the Camillus House money I think?
Commissioner Watson: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: For discussion, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Is Ron Book here?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I thinks he's in Tallahassee. He -- you know, he
wasn't really in Tallahassee if he has lost $5-and-a-half million, right?
Commissioner Reyes: He might show up via Zoom, you know .
Vice Chair Russell: We have several items -- we have one, two, three, four, five -- we
have six police items on the Consent Agenda. I believe Chief Papier and maybe
Manny Morales are here to comment on this.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on. Is --
Vice Chair Russell .• We 're just deciding which ones you want to pull for discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: CA.2, let's see, it's the lowest responsive and responsible
bidders, M & J Sunshine, (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Vice Chair Russell: I don't know.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Is it Max Alvarez? I don 't know. It's M & J.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, Milton?
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Milton Vickers: Mr. Chair, Milton Vickers, Director of Human Services. CA.3 is the
consolidation grant from the homeless trust. It's not the Camillus House.
Vice Chair Russell: Oh, it's not the -- which one is the Camillus House item?
Unidentified Speaker: PH.1.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. You 're correct. Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So --
Vice Chair Russell: That's PH.1.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- for that I want to pull PH.1 for discussion too.
Vice Chair Russell: That'll be later after the CA Agenda, but for sure, we'll --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: -- we'll definitely take that one separately. Any other items from
the CA Agenda you'd like to discuss separately?
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair, 1 had a couple of questions, just simple questions
about CA.6 from police department I wanted to ask them.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. Chief Papier will be here in a minute to --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Oh, he is here. I didn't see you there. Sorry about that.
Commissioner Carollo: CA.11 withdrawn?
Vice Chair Russell: 11 is withdrawn. Yes, sir.
Mr. Hannon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. I think we're --
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. You're welcome.
Commissioner Carollo: -- we're good. I'll make the motion to --
Vice Chair Russell: There was one -- okay. So, we'll take a motion for this. It will be
for everything except CA.3 and CA.14.
Commissioner Reyes: It's CA --
Commissioner Carollo: 3 and 14.
Commissioner Reyes: -- 3 and 14, but would --
Vice Chair Russell: Those are -- those are separate. So, we're voting on 1, 2, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13.
Commissioner Reyes: Before we vote, I would like to ask Papier about 6.
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Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: CA.6.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. So can I get a motion for --
Commissioner Reyes: Moved. You can get a motion, moved.
Vice Chair Russell: Motion from Commissioner Reyes, second by the chair. So
you've a couple of questions about CA.6 you said, correct?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Yes. In my --
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah, they're for Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Chief you see I said established special revenue
motorcycles save -- safety initiative overtime project. Could you be -- please explain
this is to get all those speeders that are riding motorcycles off the road?
Ron Papier: Yes. So, Ron Papier, Deputy Chief of Police. So it is a motorcycle,
bicycle, and pedestrian safety grant.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Papier: We get this every year. It's -- it's a re -occurring grant. We do an
analysis of the intersections and locations in the city where we have the highest
volume of either accidents or pedestrian incidents, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) incidents,
motorcycles, and we have enforcement specifically in those areas. And it's a grant
with no matching funds.
Commissioner Reyes: But it is only to analyze the data or it is to --
Mr. Papier: No. It's just --
Commissioner Reyes: -- act on the data?
Mr. Papier: It's enforcement. I'm sorry if you can 't hear me with the mask. We do
an analysis throughout the city to determine what locations we have the highest
incidents and then we conduct enforcement at those locations.
Commissioner Reyes: So you analyze how many people all like -- are run over? A
normal day let's say on 57 and Flagler for example or -- or the incidents that
happened on 8th Street that we'd requested from DOT (Department of
Transportation). Remember that we passed --
Mr. Papier: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: -- the resolution?
Mr. Papier: Exactly.
Commissioner Reyes: Now we've got some -- some -- some feedback that they are --
that -- that they are -- that's --
Commissioner Carollo: I promised the Chief that I will be easy with them because I
don't want --
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Commissioner Reyes: Okay. I'm going to he easy.
Commissioner Carollo: 1 don't want to get him upset and then he drops the name
from the list, you know? But those --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. No. But the thing is, I -- I want to know if -- if -- what
type of action is going to be taken -- undertaken by you guys, you know --
Mr. Papier: Sir, so, it -- it depends on the analysis. So if it's a jaywalking where
pedestrians are crossing the street not at crosswalks, we'll enforce the pedestrian --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Papier: -- jaywalking.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Papier: If it's speeding, we'll do speeding enforcement. If it's running the red
lights --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Papier: -- we'll do enforcement specifically in the locations where the violations
are reoccurring based on the analysis.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. And I'm glad, Chief because I encourage that we
enforce our traffic laws. Because I have seen -- and I'm just telling you no -- more
than once I have been stopped at a red light and I have seen next to a patrol car and I
have seen that a person run the red light and the patrol car doesn 't do a thing. You
see? I think that we should enforce our traffic laws in order to protect the population.
Mr. Papier: Of course.
Commissioner Reyes: And see, and just like that what they do and -- in the cut -
through traffic, they run -- I mean, they go by the neighborhoods and by the streets. I
mean, like if there was Daytona, you see, they were in a speedway. And I really hope
that --
Mr. Papier: And this grant will enhance our normal --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Okay.
Mr. Papier: -- enforcement.
Commissioner Reyes: And that's okay.
Mr. Papier: So it's in addition above and beyond what we normally do.
Commissioner Reyes: I just wanted to clarify if it was only for analysis or for
implementation. Okay. Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Which one of you guys want to handle the --
Commissioner Reyes: Motorcycles.
Commissioner Carollo: -- the motorcycle helmets?
Mr. Papier: We could figure that out --
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Commissioner Carollo: Okay. All right. Just want to know. You want to -- we'll --
we'll take it when it comes in.
Mr. Papier: All right.
Commissioner Reyes: When it comes to --
Vice Chair Russell: So Chief, haven't seen you since Law Enforcement Officer
Appreciation Day, so we appreciate you.
Mr. Papier: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: It's been a hell of a year for law enforcement and a hell of a start
to the new year. Would you be open to giving us any update on policing this past year
and how the -- how the department's going?
Mr. Papier: Sure. So obviously, 2020 was an unprecedented time, not only for
everybody in the world, but especially for law enforcement and the changes that --
that we faced. Having said that, with everything we faced this year overall our crime
is down about 24 -- about 25 percent, 24.6 percent. So, we've had -- actually had a
reduction of over 5,335 crimes this year compared to last year. So that's 5,000 less
victims. And that includes all of our crimes, violent crimes such as robberies, car
jackings, shootings, as well as property crimes. Our number one crime is vehicle
break-ins, has been down this year. And that is on top of everything else that we 've
been tasked to do as far as with the demonstrations, the CO VID enforcements, the
task force. So, we have been successful in reducing crime. The one negative is
unfortunately our homicides. Our homicides are up in 2020 compared to the last two
previous years where we actually had historic lows. So that 's one thing we certainly
will be focusing on this year. We've already started to redeploy our resources and
really concentrate on preventing these reoccurring shootings and incidences where
hom -- leading to homicides. That being said, we really -- we are really proud of the
work the officers did do this year in reducing crime on top of -- we've had over 330
police officers positive for COVID.
Vice Chair Russell: How many?
Mr. Papier: 330 that were actually --
Vice Chair Russell: 3 -- 330 police officers have tested positive --
Mr. Papier: Tested positive --
Vice Chair Russell: -- for COVID.
Mr. Papier: -- for COVID. Most of them are back to work. We have about maybe 30
or so out today. We are getting a little bit of a spike. But having said that, 2020, with
everything the officers have been facing is -- we also saw our least amount of sick call
outs. So on top of the demonstrations and top of the pandemic, we actually had the
least amount of officers call in sick. So we're really proud of the work the -- the
officers did this year. And again, we're looking forward to 2021 and continuing to
reduce crime and hopefully bringing down the homicide rate as well.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Are there any questions for Chief? Appreciate the
update.
Mr. Papier: Thank you.
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Commissioner Reyes: Thank you, Chief.
Vice Chair Russell: Any fitrther discussion on the CA Agenda except for 3 and 14?
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Vice Chair Russell: Hearing none. All in favor say, "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
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PH - PUBLIC HEARINGS
PH.1 RESOLUTION
8310
Department of
Housing and
Community
Development
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), TRANSFERRING EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS
GRANT ("ESG-CV2") FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,028,813.18
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT TO CAMILLUS HOUSE, INC., AS SPECIFIED IN
THE EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN
FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID
PURPOSE, SUBJECT TO ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
LAWS THAT REGULATE THE USE OF SUCH FUNDS.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Jeffrey Watson, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: Item PH.1 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Vice Chair Russell: Moving on. PH.1, Camillus House transfer, is that an item that
we were seeking to take up today or defer?
Commissioner Carollo: I'd like to defer this item until the manager gets in. And I
also have asked to be given every possible way that these monies could be used for
other than this. For instance, can they be used for additional rental assistance?
Given additional cards out to our residents for food, et cetera.
Vice Chair Russell: Is there any time sensitivity? Good afternoon, Mr. Mensah.
George Mensah: George -- my name is George Mensah. I'm the Director for
Housing and Community Development. Commissioner this -- this fund is ESG,
Emergency Solution Grantfunds and we receive it as part of the CARES (Coronavirus
Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act in March. And these funds we're supposed to
use it in connection with what we called continuum of care, which is handled by
Homeless Trust. So the whole county comes together and decide on how these funds is
going to be used. The City of Miami by itself cannot decide how to use these funds
without the entire homeless program deciding on it. So, in our meetings, we decided
that these funds has to go to homeless prevention. This is not homeless. To prevent
people from being homeless. And rapid re -housing, which means if people are in the
process get -- become homeless, they will have the ability to get them a new home
quickly. So, this are what these funds are mainly for and then when somebody
becomes homeless, we are able to get a hotel also for them. So, these are what we --
Commissioner Carollo: More hotels sir? More hotels?
Mr. Mensah: Yeah. Well, we -- we provided up to 400 and at least 70 thousand.
Commissioner Carollo: Can I -- can I call it a whole town that you guys could buy
for $5 million? With five million, I think 1 can find something.
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Mr. Mensah: So, the reason why I thought it should go today and it's within the will
of the Commission, if they want to postpone it. We have six months to allocate these
funds. We 're already three months into it. And the reason why it's on the agenda
today is because at the end of this month the eviction moratorium ends. So we are
going to have some of our residents being evicted. And this money, is supposed to be
the backstop, to help them if they are being evicted so that they can be able to get a
place to go. If it's the will of the Commission to defer the item. That's fine with me.
Vice Chair Russell: What is the repercussion? Are you saying that if we do defer it,
there will be a lack of funds for people who are being evicted?
Mr. Mensah: From the City of Miami, yes, that is no other funds this is the only funds
for people who are being evicted now in the City of Miami. The County has $9
million which is also being managed by Camillus House. So, if somebody calls the
hot line that they have a problem, Camillus House, we just say that well, we don 't
have any money for City of Miami. So that's the reason why I wanted to get this item
on the agenda.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, George. Commissioner Carollo was joking, but his
point is -- is very well -taken. Hotels are the least efficient method of housing the
homeless. And if the -- the concept, the philosophy of the -- a Homeless Trust is
housing first, which works when you have housing.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Vice Chair Russell: And when you don't, you end up filling holes in this way -- in a
less efficient way. I mean, imagine if that money was put into building a new shelter
or actually going towards extremely low-income housing for first key getting out of
homelessness.
Commissioner Reyes: Also give them -- give them a shelter -- permanent shelter until
that person becomes the concept of housing first is you've housed them and then you
train them, and -- and you prepare them to go back into society
Vice Chair Russell: It's all for permanent housing, but we don't want -- I do not want
to put our residents at risk or -- or in eviction. So, I just want to be very clear what --
what this vote in this moment creates and preserves or puts at risk
Mr. Mensah: Thus, I want to make a correction. The $5 million is all going to
permanent housing. None of them is going to hotel/motels. What I said was that the
actual -- the actual amount is $6 million. How about if the $400 thousand goes to the
city's homeless program so that they can have hotels, motels for people who are on
the streets. That's $400 thousand. The $5 million is to prevent people from being
homeless. So that actually goes to permanent housing.
Vice Chair Russell: Right. So again, my question is with regard to timeliness and
urgency, there is a request to defer this item. Does that put people at risk who would
not otherwise have an option?
Mr. Mensah: Yes. If we don't have it in place by January and if somebody gets
evicted at the end of the month, there's no funds to be able to help them at this time.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: First question that I have is, why can 't we administer this
money ourselves? It's like we look for every easy way out where people don 't have to
work and just throw the money at Camillus House. We 're looking at over $5 million,
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serious money. Now, if we're looking to prevent people from becoming real homeless
Mr. Mensah: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- not because they're taking drugs or other --
Mr. Mensah: No.
Commissioner Carollo: -- mental issues or what have you --
Mr. Mensah: No.
Commissioner Carollo: -- but because people have lost jobs, and it's what,
traditionally, we have considered homelessness in America. We should be able to
administer that money in-house. And there's a problem. And what I'm seeing more
and more in our city is that there's total dysfunctional -- in administering funds, in
getting anything accomplished. Why do we have to give this to Camillus House
instead of having programs ourselves that -- here, we could have more money. If
people are behind in rent, we could pay their rent.
Mr. Mensah: Yup.
Commissioner Carollo: This money could certainly be used for that, correct?
Mr. Mensah: Commissioner, as you know, the $25 billion was provided as part of the
-- the new CARES Relief Act.
Commissioner Carollo: How much?
Mr. Mensah: 25 billion in the city.
Commissioner Reyes: How much are we getting?
Mr. Mensah: The city will be getting -- they estimated between $20 and $30 million
for the city.
Commissioner Carollo: So they'll send me, because you're anticipating more money,
we just give this to Camillus House instead of --
Mr. Mensah: No. Because the --
Commissioner Carollo: -- having more money for our people?
Mr. Mensah: Because this money have strings. They have strings attached to it that
the Department of Community Development doesn't have the infrastructure to add
those strings.
Commissioner Carollo: What are the strings that are attached to it?
Mr. Mensah: The strings attached to it is the fact that there is what is called a
coordinated entry.
Commissioner Carollo: A what now?
Mr. Mensah: Coordinated entry, which means that anybody who is in the process of
becoming homeless, they go through one single point, which is -- and that single point
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is managed by Camillus House throughout the ivhole county. So, the person goes
there, then Camillus House review the person and decide on what type of services that
individual needs. If the person needs a service, there is the system called HMIS
(Homeless Management Information System), which we -- as the department doesn't
have -- doesn't handle that. So, for the last ten years, Citrus Health has been the
agency that has been doing this on behalf of the City of Miami. Unfortunately, Citrus
Health have -- already has about $2 million that we already provided this year that
they are using to help homelessness -- to prevent homelessness. So, when these funds
came, we decided to look around and see which each other agency can help us
implement this program. We realized that the only other agency that 's available that
is also helping the County and Hialeah and Miami Beach to provide the program is
Camillus House. So, we all decided to come together and provide it to Camillus
House so that when somebody calls, instead of them passing people from one point to
another point, there's one place where they can be able to help them. That's the
reason why we did this. But like I always said, it 's the will of the Commission. If the
Commission feels that there is another way to skin the cat, we are willing to abide by
it and do whatever is needed.
Commissioner Reyes: Chair? Through the Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not ready to go vote on this. I want to get more people to
speak to me. I even want to hear what Mr. Book has to say in this.
Mr. Mensah: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Besides other agencies, because I don 't know from -- you got
me confused. Maybe we got to hire Camillus House to run all this, and we save
money with the lot of you guys.
Commissioner Watson: Mr. Chair -- oh, I'm sorry.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes and then Commissioner Watson.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I want to make something -- I mean, perfectly clear. This
funds, when you said they had strings attached --
Mr. Mensah: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: That means that they are earmarked for certain activities only?
Mr. Mensah: That's correct.
Commissioner Reyes: Could you please, I mean, enumerate those activities?
Mr. Mensah: The funds are for marketing -- outreach and marketing rapid re-
housing --
Commissioner Reyes: What kind of housing?
Mr. Mensah: Rapid re -housing.
Commissioner Reyes: Rap -- rapid?
Mr. Mensah: Rapid re -housing, which means if somebody all of a sudden becomes
homeless, they already -- they are -- they currently have a place to live. All of a
sudden, something happens. They become homeless.
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Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Mensah: We don't want them to stay on the street, so you're able to get them up -
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Mensah: -- and give them a new apartment.
Commissioner Reyes: Can this portion -- I mean, this -- a portion of this money be
used to avoid homelessness?
Mr. Mensah: That's prevention, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: That's prevention, right?
Mr. Mensah: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: But don 't you think that with the amount of evictions that -- you
know, they're expected due to people that have been -- they have not been able to pay
the rent or the mortgages. Some of them because they didn't want to pay it, and some
of them because they didn't have the money. But then we're going to have a wave of
evictions.
Mr. Mensah: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, you 're saying -- do you agree with it?
Mr. Mensah: I agree with it. And that's the reason why this -- this money is a -- I call
it a down payment to that problem, which will happen from --
Commissioner Reyes: But --
Mr. Mensah: -- generally going.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Mensah, well, let me keep on my line of thought. This
money --
Mr. Mensah: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: This money could be used for homeless prevention?
Mr. Mensah: That's correct.
Commissioner Reyes: If you are evicted, you become a homeless.
Mr. Mensah: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Most of all if'you don't have a - I mean, a relative to -- that
will -- house you in. Now, can we use this, a portion of it, to assist those persons that
are facing eviction to avoid eviction? Wouldn't this be part of the uses that are
allowed?
Mr. Mensah: Exactly. That is allowed.
Commissioner Reyes: Then -- and I think that's what you were saying,
Commissioner, right, Carollo?
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Mr. Mensah: Okay. And that's -- that's the reason why I said that in the next month
or so, the city will be -- will be receiving an allocation of about $30 million for
exactly that. And that source of funds allows us to give up to 12 months of assistance
to somebody who is about --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, okay.
Mr. Mensah: -- to become homeless.
Commissioner Reyes: My next question: If we don 't allocate those -- these funds to
the Camillus House, what are the consequences?
Mr. Mensah: If we don 't allocate it to Camillus House and we decide to do it in-
house, I'll have to have people to do case management, which 1 don't have staff now
to do.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. No. No.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, okay.
Mr. Mensah: I have to bring case management and all those things.
Commissioner Reyes: Hold on a second. I haven 't finished.
Mr. Mensah: I don't have staff to do.
Commissioner Reyes: I haven't finished. So, it is allowed for us to use these funds
and use it directly to the landlords and pay the -- the people's rent, use it for rental
assistance, right?
Mr. Mensah: Which is kind of the -- what has been used, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, okay. And the -- the consequence of not giving it to
Camillus House is that we will have to have additional expenses on personnel.
Mr. Mensah: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Can those additional expenses be paid out of a portion of this?
Of the -- yes?
Mr. Mensah: Yes, yes, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Mensah: The reason why I hesitated is because we are only allowed to have
seven percent for administration.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, right. And we have --
Mr. Mensah: And so --
Commissioner Reyes: -- seven -- seven percent administrative fee.
Mr. Mensah: Yes. So, the question was: How do I use the seven percent to be able to
get case managers and inspectors who will go and inspect the property?
Commissioner Reyes: But would -- would --
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Mr. Mensah: And that's what I'm doing.
Commissioner Reyes: You just said we can take seven percent of $4 million. It is,
what, 350, right?
Mr. Mensah: No, we can do it if --
Commissioner Reyes: You said we can pay --
Mr. Mensah: -- if it's like I said, we can pay the person and then do it.
Commissioner Reyes: -- we can pay the person that -- I mean, I'm more inclined at
this moment that -- that most -- most of the help is --1'm not too sure. You see. 1--1
mean, I -- in Spanish, they said (Comments made in Spanish not translated). You
don't -- you have to count the eggs that are in the basket, okay? You don't have to be
thinking, you know, oh, the chickens are going to come and -- and they -- they -- no,
no, no, no. You only have -- what we have is this.
Commissioner Dial de la Portilla: Don 't count your chickens until they hatch.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. That's right. But we don't have an assurance
that we are going to get 10, 15 million. We hope and we pray. You see, if we get 10,
15 million and we use those funds and we see a need, 1 mean, after you have the
meeting that we should have for the homeless, you see, then maybe we can use some
of those funds or bring out of those funds that are -- they are going to be used and
also use it in other things. Maybe we can use more effectively these funds, all the
funds that we're going to receive. I don't know, but you know what? I think we
should think about that.
Mr. Mensah: Commissioner, no problem. I'm the type that would do -- that can do
anything. So, if that's the will of the Commission --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, I agree with Commissioner Carollo. That 's what -- that's
the fairest, and I'll analyze it in a little bit.
Commissioner Watson: Well, hold -- hold on a second. Hold -- can I say something?
Vice Chair Russell. Yes, Commissioner Watson, and then Commissioner Diaz de la
Portilla.
Commissioner Watson: Let me -- George, is this our money that we're giving them?
Is this our money?
Mr. Mensah: This is HUD's (United States Department of Housing and Urban
Development) money. From HUD.
Commissioner Watson: Okay. This is HUD's money. So --
Commissioner Carollo: No, but it's being given to us.
Commissioner Watson: So, let me -- no, no, no. Listen, let's go back to this because
you have some obligations out of this I understand, right? You have something that
has to be paid that's time -sensitive, right?
Mr. Mensah: Yes. Yes.
Commissioner Watson: Let me say to you, and I don 't know if Commissioner Russell
has the same issue. I don't know if many of his residents have the --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Reyes --
Commissioner Watson: -- the lion 's half right? But I can tell you this: When I was
giving out food cards, I ran into about 50 people who had legal you 're getting evicted
notices.
Mr. Mensah: Uh-huh.
Commissioner Reyes: Yup.
Commissioner Watson: Now, I don't know how much case management you have to
do to do that, but if somebody show up -- if I go out there and say, we have money to
stop you from being evicted, and if somebody show -- and they came with a -- with a
legal notice, when somebody say --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Watson: -- you have been evicted?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Watson: Why aren't we using that money for our people? Because
homelessness is not what one may perceive. If you're going to get kicked out, you're
going to be homeless. And the unfortunate part about it, for those people, unless
you're on drugs, a prostitute, or have an issue in -- in the middle of this, you can't get
in the shelter.
Commissioner Reyes: Yup. Absolutely right.
Commissioner Watson: So, the question is, how can we just give you some of that
money -- we're just going to give you some of that money for that obligation, 400,
500, whatever it is. And then we say to our residents, we got three months. Three
months, I'm telling you we'll get it. We don't know when we're getting that 20, 30
million. I know it sounds big, but we don't know when that's coming because we
don't know. And say to people, if you're being evicted, same thing, due to COVID,
bring your eviction notice, and we got you. Can we not do that?
Mr. Mensah: Okay. Commissioner, it sounds great. That's what we do. We've done
that before. We run an eviction program.
Commissioner Watson: Uh-huh.
Mr. Mensah: So, it's nothing that we don't do. Now, the only -- the only issue is that
this program is just not somebody coming to you being evicted, you give them money,
and they go away. That 's not just that.
Commissioner Watson: Okay.
Mr. Mensah: It also includes case management, where you have to follow up the
person. If he's not -- if he doesn't have a job, how to make sure that he gets a job,
then every three months, he reports to you, you do a -- so there's a lot hand -holding
involved in this than just giving it. But like I said, it's just that we don't have the
infrastructure to do it, but if we need to do it, we will man up. We will find -- you
know, the City Manager is here, so we can go to him and get people so that I can be
able to do it. This money has to be used in the next year -and -a -half so we just get
some temps, and then get it done, if that is the will of the Commission.
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Commissioner Reyes: So, we have time?
Mr. Mensah: We have to use it in a year. We have three more months to allocate it.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. But there -- there is -- there is not an -- there's no
urgency on passing this money into Camillus House. We can wait and see what's
going to happen with -- as Commissioner Watson was saying, that -- I know a lot of
people, that they have eviction notices. I know. You see, I know them. So, let 's see
what happen and see we -- how can we help them.
Mr. Mensah: That'll be fine.
Commissioner Reyes: Because when the order to avoid eviction, 1 mean, sunsets,
landlords are going to come after them, rightfully so, because it is the money too.
Mr. Mensah: Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: You see? So, we have to use this money in order to avoid
homelessness.
Mr. Mensah: Yes. Uh-huh. Got it.
Commissioner Reyes: That's my point.
Mr. Mensah: No problem.
Commissioner Watson: But you should put on there -- you should put on the record
you have apparently some committed obligations that has to come out of this money,
that is on a timely basis has to be paid. Is that correct from what understand?
Mr. Mensah: Okay. No, I didn't hear your question. Sorry.
Commissioner Watson: Apparently, you have some -- the timing of this is such that
you have about, what, 4 or $500,000 that needs to be paid immediately? Is that what
I was told?
Mr. Mensah: No, no, no, no.
Commissioner Watson: Okay. All right.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. There's a motion to defer until January 28th; is that
correct?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: I'd second.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But before we vote, can I ask a question?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, of course.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Because it's -- it was on the -- in the briefing that
we had yesterday.
Mr. Mensah: Yes.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You told me that there were only two
organization. 1 know 1 mentioned it earlier, but I just want to make sure it's -- I was -
- that 1 understood it.
Mr. Mensah: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That there were only two — it's a HUD grant,
right?
Mr. Mensah: It's the H. U.D. grant, yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. And you said there were only two
organizations the City of Miami deals with that can handle that kind of an influx of
dollars, right?
Mr. Mensah: Exactly.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And you said it was the Citrus Health Network --
Mr. Mensah: Citrus Health, yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- and Camillus House?
Mr. Mensah: And Camillus House, yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, the City of Miami does not deal with any other
organization or -- or a group of organizations that can take this money and do the
same -- or probably a better job than Camillus House is doing?
Mr. Mensah: Not at all.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Lotus House and other -- these other entities?
Mr. Mensah: Lotus House doesn't handle this type of prevention, no.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. So, the only two entities are these in the
entire city?
Mr. Mensah: That -- that I'm aware of.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Or that the city deals with, right?
Mr. Mensah: Yes. That does the prevention part. yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The prevention part?
Mr. Mensah: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Only two?
Mr. Mensah: That's the one I know, yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Interesting. Okay. I just wanted to clarify that --
that that's the only place that we can send that money to.
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Mr. Mensah: The quantity of money, yes. Because, Commissioner, one of the things
that you also -- you also have to understand that these agencies always use their own
money, and then they come to us for reimbursement.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Mr. Mensah: Because it goes to a landlord. The last money we gave to Citrus, they
were having problem even getting paying landlords before they come to us. So, we
have to make arrangements so that we can be able to kind of pay the landlords
directly and things like that. So, $5 million is a lot of money. Not a lot of small non-
profits have the ability to handle this kind of money. So, it --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, do you think that -- that maybe there should be
an effort on the City of Miami's part to deal with other organizations in the County
that deal with prevention so that we --
Mr. Mensah: Yes. That's why --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- so that we have more options available to us on
a moving forward basis?
Mr. Mensah: In our briefing, remember, 1 brought that up? This is the first time
we've got such a big amount of money. We've always been getting $600,000.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Mr. Mensah: And now this. This is the first time we 've had $1.3 million and then $6
million. So, this is the first time. So, we realized that the capacity of our non profits
is not there to be able to help us. So, one of the things we need to do is to increase the
capacity of our current non profits.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And do you think that there'll be a similar amount
of dollars coming our way next year or that we need to be begin that process already
so that we're able to absorb that kind of a grant, that kind of an influx?
Mr. Mensah: If this issue continues, the pandemic continues, I'm sure there'll be a
different type of money that will come our way. So, we need to really ramp up in
terms of capacity in my department, also outside, with non profits who can help us so
that we can be able to spend. That $30 million thatl was -- I was telling you, it is real
because it's already passed Congress. I saw the number. The State is getting 1.5
billion. The county is getting 65 million, and we will -- might be getting 30 million.
So, if we get a 30 million, there is no capacity that this department has to be able to
spend 30 million in 12 months. We don't. So, we will have to ramp up or find
somebody to help us to be able to spend that kind of money.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Mr. Mensah: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Hilda Fernandez from Camillus is actually asking to call in and
talk about these funds. I don't know if we want to issue the deferral right now
completely or table this for a little later in the meeting and give her a chance to speak.
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Vice Chair Russell: Sounds good. All right. So, there's a motion and a second to
defer until January 28th. Any firrther discussion? Being none, all in favor, say "aye."
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PH.2
8096
Department of
Police
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
VOTE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-92 OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), AFTER
AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING,
AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING OF A SOLE
SOURCE, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A",
WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED
BIDDING PROCEDURES FOR THE PURCHASE OF TWENTY FIVE
(25) MOTOR ONE WIRELESS MOTORCYCLE HELMET
COMMUNICATION KITS ("KITS") FROM PVP COMMUNICATIONS,
INC. ("PVP") FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY") DEPARTMENT
OF POLICE ("POLICE") IN THE AMOUNT OF FORTY NINE
THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE DOLLARS
($49,975.00); ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE VARIOUS
SOURCES OF FUNDS FROM POLICE, SUBJECT TO THE
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE
TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS,
INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, AND EXTENSIONS,
SUBJECT TO ALL ALLOCATIONS, APPROPRIATIONS, PRIOR
BUDGETARY APPROVALS, COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE
PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE, INCLUDING THE CITY'S
PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE, ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT, AND
FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES, ALL AS SET FORTH IN
CHAPTER 18 OF THE CITY CODE, IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL
APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE
DEEMED NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0014
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to pass the remainder of the PH agenda if we could,
please. That would be PH -- and a reminder, these are all four fifths. PH.2, 3, 5, 6,
8, 9, and 10. Is there a motion for those PH items?
Commissioner Watson: What was the numbers again, please?
Vice Chair Russell: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
Commissioner Reyes: So moved.
Vice Chair Russell: Motion by Commissioner Reyes.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll second it, but --
Commissioner Reyes: But 1 wanted --
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner DLP (Diaz de la Portilla).
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. And --
Vice Chair Russell: Sorry, Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Reyes: I want to comment on PH.8. And 1 -- and spoke with the
mayor that I would like to, if possible, expand this program to all the areas and all
the parks that -- that they have tennis courts. You see. You have some on your
district. You have some tennis courts and 1 have and so the Commissioner does.
You see, and you do too, okay? If possible. This is -- is geared is to -- I mean low-
income children, okay? And I tried to get them and get the program and make it as
expanded that as much as we can -- all right? -- to other parks. That's it. That's the
only thing that I want to add to this.
Vice Chair Russell: So, do you need that as an amendment?
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, it will be an amendment to a look into the possibility of
expanding to other parks, okay?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think it's an excellent idea, Commissioner. I
don't know if we can do it through — we have to pull out PH.8 and do it
independently. But I do have one question on the Olympia Theater just for
clarification purposes on PH5 from the administration. Zerry, can you tell me what
we're doing here? There's a company has been sort of mismanaging, right? That
those apartments on top of the Olympia Theater. So, what are we doing here with a
bid waiver? We're giving it to a different company to take over that lease or that
management contract? And how long is that management contract that this new
company takes over. Is it a long-term management contract? Is it short-term?
Could be terminated month -to -month and the company that had it before. What's up
with them?
Mark Burns: Sure. Good afternoon, Commissioners. Mark Burns, lease manager
with the Department of Real Estate and Asset Management. Yes. Well, the company
that was currently there, the structure of the deal is not really something that we 're
in favor for and they're having troubles because of COVID coming up with the
money and the funds for all --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: There were some troubles before COVID.
Mr. Burns: Right. So, the plan is to have another management company come in.
More of a background on residential and actual management and more of a
structural full -service brokerage. It would be a month -to -month agreement. It
would actually have a 90-day termination, but it's -- it's a month -to -month
agreement. It's a short-term stopgap until an RFP (Request for Proposal) is done
for the -- for the full buildings, including both the theater and the apartment
buildings and the retail.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, the idea would be to hand it over temporarily
to this management -- new management company because the other one wasn't
doing the kind of job we expected them to do? And then there will be an RFP issue
in six months in five months to redo the whole Olympia theater and the whole
apartment complex on top of -- condo complex on top?
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
Mr. Burns: Correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. And this RFP is in the works right now?
Mr. Burns: The RFP -- the draft has been completed by DREAM (Department of
Real Estate and Asset Management) and right now it's with legal for review. Once it
gets reviewed, we'll put it out to the Commissioners, and we'11 put it out to the -- to
the bid and to other stakeholders as well.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And that will be to -- for the entire theater and
the -- the -- the apartments on top?
Mr. Burns: Correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, thank you. Just wanted clarification on
that.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
[Later...]
Vice Chair Russell: All right. There's been a motion and a second. Any further
discussion on the remainder of the PH agenda? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): And then, Mr. Clerk, you were able to capture that
separate directive of --
Commissioner Reyes: Directive.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you so much.
Commissioner Reyes: Make sure that the part that does not -- there's not a conflict.
That doesn't conflict with existing programs in the tennis court existing so they don't
ask for the same hours.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
PH.3 RESOLUTION
8370
Office of Capital
Improvements
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
CONFIRMING, AND APPROVING THE CITY MANAGER'S
RECOMMENDATION AND WRITTEN FINDINGS, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-
85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED ("CITY CODE"); WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING METHODS AS NOT BEING
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY") FOR THE INSTALLATION OF NEW SIGNAGE FOR THE
RENAMING OF THE CITY'S POLICE TRAINING FACILITY
LOCATED AT 400 NORTHWEST 2ND AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA
TO THE "CHIEF CLARENCE DICKSON POLICE COLLEGE," AND
ENGAGING MATER SIGNA, LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY
COMPANY, FOR THE NEW SIGNAGE AT A COST OF FORTY NINE
THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED TWENTY DOLLARS AND THIRTY
ONE CENTS ($49,920.31); AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS
NECESSARY, SUBJECT TO ALL ALLOCATIONS,
APPROPRIATIONS, PRIOR BUDGETARY APPROVALS,
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CITY
CODE, INCLUDING THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE,
ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT, AND FINANCIAL INTEGRITY
PRINCIPLES, ALL AS SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 18 OF THE CITY
CODE, IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND
IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, AND
REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0015
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.3, please see Item PH.2.
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PH.4
7611
RESOLUTION
MAY BE DEFERRED
Department of Real A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Estate and Asset ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
Management VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
CONFIRMING, AND APPROVING THE CITY MANAGER'S
RECOMMENDATION AND WRITTEN FINDING, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," PURSUANT TO SECTION 29-
B(C) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED ("CITY CHARTER"); WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING PURSUANT TO SECTION
18-85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED, BASED UPON RESOLUTION NOS. R-16-0347 AND R-
16-0348 ADOPTED JULY 29, 2016 AND SUBSEQUENT SPECIAL
ELECTION RESULTS OF TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2016 WHICH
AUTHORIZED THE RELATED AMENDMENT OF THE CITY
CHARTER AS CERTIFIED BY RESOLUTION NO. R-16-0618
ADOPTED DECEMBER 8, 2016 (COLLECTIVELY, "APPROVALS"),
AS NOT BEING PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE
CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"); AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, BETWEEN THE CITY
AND DADE HERITAGE TRUST, INC., A NOT -FOR -PROFIT
CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER STATE OF FLORIDA LAWS,
FOR THE CITY -OWNED BUILDING LOCATED AT 190 SOUTHEAST
12TH TERRACE, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33131 FOR A TERM OF THIRTY
(30) YEARS WITH TWO (2) THIRTY (30) YEAR RENEWALS, FOR
MINIMUM ANNUAL RENT OF SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS ($600.00)
IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS OF FIFTY DOLLARS ($50.00), WITH
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ADJUSTMENTS, AND WITH
RESTRICTIONS, REVERSIONS, AND RETENTION BY THE CITY
OF ALL OTHER RIGHTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AIR
RIGHTS, MINERAL RIGHTS, AND RIPARIAN RIGHTS, TO THE
PROPERTY, WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS MORE
SPECIFICALLY TO BE SET FORTH IN SAID AGREEMENT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVALS, AND ALL IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, Watson
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: Item PH.4 was deferred to the February 25, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.4, please see "Order of the
Day."
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PH.5 RESOLUTION
8360
Department of Real
Estate and Asset
Management
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
CONFIRMING, AND APPROVING THE CITY MANAGER'S
RECOMMENDATION AND WRITTEN FINDINGS, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-
85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), AND WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING METHODS AS NOT BEING
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY") FOR THE PROVISION OF MANAGEMENT AND LEASING
SERVICES BY NAI MIAMI PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC ("NAI"),
FOR THE CITY -OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 174 EAST
FLAGLER STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND KNOWN AS THE
OLYMPIA BUILDING; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A TEMPORARY MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENT ("MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, BETWEEN THE CITY
AND NAI, WHEREBY NAI SHALL MANAGE AND LEASE THE
RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS AND RETAIL COMPONENTS AND
PROVIDE CARETAKING SERVICES OF THE OLYMPIA THEATER,
AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE NAI PROPOSAL,
FOR A MANAGEMENT FEE TO BE NEGOTIATED, BUT IN NO
EVENT GREATER THAN THE AMOUNT PROVIDED IN THE NAI
PROPOSAL, AND TERMINABLE AT -WILL BY THE CITY, IN ITS
SOLE DISCRETION, WITH NINETY (90) DAYS' NOTICE; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS,
INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, AND EXTENSIONS
TO THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, ALL IN FORMS
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND SUBJECT TO ALL
ALLOCATIONS, APPROPRIATIONS, PRIOR BUDGETARY
APPROVALS, COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS
OF THE CITY CODE, THE ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT, FINANCIAL
INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES, AND ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES,
AND REGULATIONS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0016
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.5, please see Item PH.2.
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
PH.6
8317
Department of
Police
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR -
FIFTHS (4/STHS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, PURSUANT TO SECTION
18-92 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC
HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE
CITY MANAGER'S SOLE SOURCE FINDINGS; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING
PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF ONE (1)
FOSTER AND FREEMAN WORKSTATION CONSISTING OF ONE
(1) DCS®5 FINGERPRINT IMAGING SYSTEM AND ONE (1)
SUPERFUME® FINGERPRINT DETECTION SYSTEM FROM
FOSTER AND FREEMAN USA, INC., A FOREIGN PROFIT
CORPORATION, FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY") POLICE
DEPARTMENT FOR A PURCHASE AMOUNT OF NINETY THREE
THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY ONE DOLLARS AND
THIRTY FIVE CENTS ($93,881.35); ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM
THE SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT NO.
12000.191006.664000.0.0, AWARD NO. 2599, FISCAL YEAR 2019
EDWARD BRYNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT
PROGRAM, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND
BUDGETARY APPROVALS AT THE TIME OF NEED; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY
AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, AND EXTENSIONS, SUBJECT TO
ALL ALLOCATIONS, APPROPRIATIONS, PRIOR BUDGETARY
APPROVALS, COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS
OF THE CITY CODE, INCLUDING THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT
ORDINANCE, ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT, AND FINANCIAL
INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES, AS SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 18 OF THE
CITY CODE, IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES,
AND REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY FOR
SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0017
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.6, please see Item PH.2.
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
PH.7 RESOLUTION
8308
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE PLAT TITLED "GROVE
UNDERLINE", 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; AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE PLAT AND
CAUSE THE RECORDATION OF THE PLAT IN THE PUBLIC
RECORDS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, Watson
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: Item PH.7 was continued to the February 11, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.7, please see "Order of the
Day."
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
PH.8 RESOLUTION
8319
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S
RECOMMENDATIONS AND FINDING, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A", THAT COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI
PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-86(A)(3)(C) OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; APPROVING THE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND FINDING, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A", OF THE CITY MANAGER THAT
THE BOLLETTIERI TENNIS AND LEARNING, INC., A FLORIDA
NOT -FOR -PROFIT CORPORATION ("BOLLETTIERI"), IS THE
MOST QUALIFIED FIRM TO PROVIDE AFTER -SCHOOL TENNIS
LEARNING SERVICES FOR AT -RISK YOUTH AT CHARLES
HADLEY PARK SHENANDOAH PARK; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND BOND COUNSEL,
FOR THE CONTRACT PERIOD COMMENCING FEBRUARY 1, 2021
AND ENDING JANUARY 31, 2022 ("AGREEMENT"); FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE SERVICE AUTHORIZATION LETTERS AND ANY AND
ALL OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, AMENDMENTS,
EXTENSIONS, RENEWALS, AND MODIFICATIONS, ALL IN FORMS
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND BOND COUNSEL,
FOR SAID PURPOSES.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0018
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For directive referencing Item PH.8, please see Item NA.5.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.8, please see "Order of the
Day" and Item PH.2.
City of Miami
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
PH.9 RESOLUTION
8397
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S
RECOMMENDATION AND FINDING, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A", THAT COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI
PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-86(A)(3)(C) OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; APPROVING THE
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION AND FINDING,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," THAT
COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS ARE NOT
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY FOR MULTI-
ETHNIC YOUTH GROUP ASSOCIATION, INC., A FLORIDA NOT
FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, TO PROVIDE MENTORING,
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS,
AND A YOUTH SUMMER CAMP AT AFRICAN SQUARE PARK;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE A PROGRAMMING AGREEMENT, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND BOND COUNSEL,
FOR THE CONTRACT PERIOD COMMENCING FEBRUARY 1, 2021
AND ENDING JANUARY 31, 2024 WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW
FOR UP TO TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE THREE (3) YEAR PERIODS
FOR A TOTAL OF NINE (9) YEARS UNDER THE SAME TERMS
AND CONDITIONS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE SERVICE
AUTHORIZATION LETTERS AND ANY AND ALL OTHER
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS,
RENEWALS, AND MODIFICATIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND BOND COUNSEL, FOR SAID
PURPOSE
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0019
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.9, please see Item PH.2.
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PH.10 RESOLUTION
8339
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENTS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY A
FOUR FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN
ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND
CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDINGS, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," THAT COMPETITIVE
NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY"); WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID
PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM
THE DISTRICT 3 SHARE OF THE CITY'S ANTI -POVERTY
INITIATIVE ("API") PROGRAM IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED THREE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND FOUR
HUNDRED SEVEN DOLLARS AND FORTY-SEVEN CENTS
($320,407.47) FOR THE DISTRICT 3 FOOD DISTRIBUTION
PROGRAM TO THE DISTRICT 3 DISCRETIONARY ACCOUNT FOR
EXPENDITURES CONSISTENT WITH THE API PROGRAM.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0020
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PKIO, please see Item PH.2.
END OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
RE - RESOLUTIONS
RE.1 RESOLUTION
8369
Office of
Management and
Budget
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING APPROPRIATIONS AND MAKING
DE -APPROPRIATIONS AND RE -APPROPRIATIONS RELATING
TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR
OPERATING BUDGET AS ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED
PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE NO. 13926 ADOPTED SEPTEMBER
24, 2020 ("ADOPTED OPERATING BUDGET") AND AS
PREVIOUSLY AMENDED PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-20-
0409 ADOPTED DECEMBER 10, 2020 ("AMENDMENT #1 TO
ADOPTED OPERATING BUDGET"), ALL AS SET FORTH IN THE
CITY MANAGER'S MEMORANDUM DATED JANUARY 4, 2021
("CITY MANAGER'S MEMORANDUM") AND ATTACHMENT "A"
THERETO, ALL AS ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED
(COLLECTIVELY, "COMPOSITE ATTACHMENT A");
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY
CHANGES TO ADJUST, AMEND, AND APPROPRIATE THE
ADOPTED OPERATING BUDGET, FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN,
STRATEGIC PLAN, AND MULTI -YEAR CAPITAL PLAN
REGARDING CITY OF MIAMI SERVICES AND RESOURCES AS
NECESSARY AND LEGALLY ALLOWED TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC
DURING THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS ("COVID-19") PANDEMIC
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES; RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN NECESSARY ACTIONS OF THE CITY
MANAGER AND DESIGNATED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENTS
TO UPDATE THE RELEVANT FINANCIAL CONTROLS, PROJECT
CLOSE-OUTS, ACCOUNTING ENTRIES, AND COMPUTER
SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AND FOR GRANTS
AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES IN PROGRESS AND FOR
NECESSARY RELATED DOCUMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND
EXECUTIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY; PROVIDING FOR APPLICABLE EFFECTIVE DATES.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, Watson
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: Item RE.1 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.1, please see "Order of the
Day."
City of Miami
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
RE.2 RESOLUTION
8052
Office of
Management and
Budget
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ("CITY
COMMISSION"), WITH ATTACHMENT(S), (A) ADDING CAPITAL
PROJECTS TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") FISCAL YEAR 2020-
2021 MULTI -YEAR CAPITAL PLAN ADOPTED WITH
MODIFICATIONS ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 PURSUANT TO
RESOLUTION NO. R-20-0307 ("ADOPTED CAPITAL PLAN") AND
AMENDED ON DECEMBER 10, 2020 PURSUANT TO
RESOLUTION NO. 20-0409 ("AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE
ADOPTED CAPITAL PLAN"), (B) UPDATING FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR 2019-2020 CLOSE-OUT AMENDMENTS TO THE MULTI-
YEAR CAPITAL PLAN AS SET FORTH BELOW AND IN EXHIBIT
"A" ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED (COLLECTIVELY, "FISCAL
YEAR 2019-20 CAPITAL PLAN CLOSE-OUTS"), (C) REVISING
CURRENT APPROPRIATIONS AMONG APPROVED PROJECTS,
AND (D) FURTHER DE -APPROPRIATING, RE -APPROPRIATING,
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDING FOR THE EXISTING AND
ADDED PROJECTS, ALL AS SET FORTH IN THE JANUARY 4,
2021 MEMORANDUM OF EXPLANATION OF CAPITAL
APPROPRIATIONS AND RE -APPROPRIATIONS WITH EXHIBITS
"A" AND "B" THERETO (COLLECTIVELY, "AMENDMENT #2
CHANGES MEMORANDUM"); RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN NECESSARY ACTIONS BY THE CITY
MANAGER AND DESIGNATED CITY OFFICIALS AND
DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO UPDATE THE RELEVANT
FINANCIAL CONTROLS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH AND FOR GRANTS AND OTHER
FUNDING SOURCES IN PROGRESS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, Watson
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: Item RE.2 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.2, please see "Order of the
Day."
City of Miami
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
RE.3
8068
RESOLUTION
MAY BE DEFERRED
Office of Capital A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Improvements ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE A STIPULATION OF PARTIES AGREEMENT ("SOP"), IN
SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, WITH FLORIDA EAST
COAST RAILWAY ("FEC") AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RAILROAD
CROSSING ALONG NORTHEAST 42ND STREET BETWEEN
NORTHEAST 4TH AVENUE AND FEDERAL HIGHWAY WITHIN
THE FEC RIGHT OF WAY, OFFICE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
("OCI") PROJECT NO. 40-B173901, AS WELL AS FOR THE
CLOSURE OF THE RAILROAD CROSSING AT NORTHEAST
MIAMI COURT BETWEEN NORTHEAST 71 ST STREET AND
NORTHEAST 74TH STREET, OCI PROJECT NO. 40-B183616;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE
AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING
ANY AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE SOP, ALL IN
A FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE
NECESSARY FOR THE PROJECT; FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED
AND APPROPRIATED BY SEPARATE RESOLUTION.
MOTION TO: Withdraw
RESULT: WITHDRAWN
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, Watson
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.3, please see "Order of the
Day."
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RE.4
8276
City Manager's
Office
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE PROPOSALS RECEIVED ON
OCTOBER 19, 2020 PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR
QUALIFICATIONS NO. 1243393 FROM VARIOUS PRE -QUALIFIED
FIRMS LISTED IN ATTACHMENT "A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED, FOR THE PROVISION OF STATE LOBBYING
SERVICES, ON AN AS -NEEDED BASIS, FOR THE OFFICE OF
THE CITY MANAGER FOR AN INITIAL PERIOD OF FIVE (5)
YEARS WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO (2)
ADDITIONAL TWO (2) YEAR PERIODS; ALLOCATING FUNDS
FROM THE VARIOUS SOURCES OF FUNDS OF THE USER
DEPARTMENT, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND
BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT(S), IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY
AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, AND EXTENSIONS, SUBJECT TO
ALL ALLOCATIONS, APPROPRIATIONS, PRIOR BUDGETARY
APPROVALS, COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE
PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), INCLUDING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE, ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT, AND
FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES, ALL AS SET FORTH IN
CHAPTER 18 OF THE CITY CODE, IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL
APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE
DEEMED NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, Watson
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: Item RE.4 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.4, please see "Order of the
Day."
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RE.5 RESOLUTION
8441
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL STEPS
NECESSARY TO PROVIDE WIRELESS FIDELITY INTERNET
SERVICE FREE TO THE PUBLIC IN ALL CITY OF MIAMI PARKS
BY JUNE 1, 2021.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Jeffrey Watson, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: Item RE.5 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.5, please see
"Order of the Day."
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: RE.5, the Manager's not here and there's information that I
would need from him before voting in this and the time that's been placed here. So,
1'd like for this to be brought back to the next meeting when the Manager is here. We
could go over it.
Vice Chair Russell: Is that a motion to defer?
Commissioner Watson: So move.
Commissioner Carollo: It's a motion to defer.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll make a motion to defer..
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Watson: Second it.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Watson. January, 28th as well.
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Mr. Chairman, if I can just confirm with the
Commissioner with the sponsor, we will make the changes that we inadvertently made
that printed so well correct it when --
Commissioner Carollo: We can't hear.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You'll correct it for the next meeting?
Mr. Min: Correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You'll correct it and you bring it as an amended --
a new form. It's a new agenda.
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Mr. Min: On January 28, well have it --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, January 28th.
Mr. Min: -- requested.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Motion passes.
RE.6 RESOLUTION
8348
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
ESTABLISHING A POLICY THAT THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY")
WILL ONLY PROCURE MATERIALS, GOODS, AND SERVICES
THAT ARE MADE AND/OR ASSEMBLED IN THE UNITED STATES,
CONSISTENT WITH MAXIMIZING THE PURCHASING VALUE OF
CITY FUNDS AND SUBJECT TO THE CITY'S SOLE DISCRETION,
IN AN EFFORT TO ASSIST WITH THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
RESULTING FROM THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: Item RE.6 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.6, please see
"Order of the Day."
Vice Chair Russell: Let's move to the RE.3 agenda. We have RE.6, 7, 8, and 9.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 5.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. I'm sorry. 5 is on there as well. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. Would you -- shall we --
Commissioner Carollo: If you could defer that also.
Vice Chair Russell: You'd like to defer RE.6?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. The City Attorney didn't have the opportunity to go
over certain areas with me that we need to go over. So --
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- we'll defer that with the next meeting.
Commissioner Watson: Next meeting.
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to co-sponsor that one as well. So, RE.6, motion to defer
to the next meeting, January 28. Moved by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by the
Chair.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm not sure. I'll also want to co-sponsor that. I
not sure if we did it already.
Commissioner Watson: I would like to as well. That's the 28th meeting?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I want to talk RE.7 when you a chance.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: And Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla --
Vice Chair Russell: Let's just move on your deferral. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Motion passes on RE.6 for January 28th.
RE.7 RESOLUTION
8384
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION EXTENDING
THE TEMPORARY OUTDOOR DINING PROGRAM ESTABLISHED
PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-20-0156 ADOPTED ON MAY
14, 2020 AND EXTENDED BY RESOLUTION NO. R-20-0231
ADOPTED ON JULY 23, 2020 FROM JANUARY 31, 2021 TO
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO ASSIST
STRUGGLING BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY THE NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC WITH ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF
SUCH PRIOR RESOLUTIONS TO REMAIN THE SAME;
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO COLLABORATE WITH THE
ENTITIES STATED HEREIN TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS SET
FORTH IN THIS RESOLUTION; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE
OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0021
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MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT: Watson
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.7, please see
"Order of the Day."
Commissioner Carollo: 7, I had asked to be finished with sponsor, but I don't know
if that was -- anyone took any notes of that.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. Carollo wants to co-sponsor RE.7.
Commissioner Carollo: RE.7?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, sir. That was mentioned earlier in the meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Is there a notion on RE.7?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, I move it.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I have a question about it because it's --
Vice Chair Russell: Second? Is there a second? Second by the Chair -- second by
Commissioner Carollo?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. RE.8, I got to --
Vice Chair Russell: Just a moment. We're going to just do RE.7 for the moment.
You have something to mention on RE.7, Commissioner?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I have a question of the administration. So, this
extends -- so a shorter circumventing our Code -- right? -- with these extensions.
Can we in perpetuity continued to extend this outdoor dining program because there
was some -- some revenue impact, the Miami Parking Authority, there is some
county roads that are impacted by -- by this issue.
Nzeribe Ihekwaba (Deputy City Manager): So --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, my question is, if we continue to extend. We
can make the -- program permanent. Right?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Commissioner, we've gone through this process a number of times.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Mr. Ihekwaba: At the original inception of the program. This Commission directed
the city administration to take any and all necessary steps to effectuate the
implementation of this program. This program has a fiscal impact, both to the City
of Miami and to MPA, the Miami Parking Authority. And we thought that possibly
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we could come back at some point and see how we can resolve the discrepancy
between this program and the traditional sidewalk cafe program. And this program
is just being extended for TOD (Transit Oriented Development), end of the fiscal
year.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But my question is because I know we talked
about it a little bit yesterday. I just want to clarify for my colleagues, that the impact
on the Miami Parking Authority is about $100,000 a month, right?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Approximately.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. So, it's $1.2 million a year.
Mr. lhekwaba: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And we know the Miami Parking Authority gives
us some dollars, right?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Back to the City.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Or they are going to come back to us and say,
"Hey, by the way, you cost us $1.2 million."Do we now, no longer liable to the $1.2
million loyalty?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Not necessarily. During the pandemic, patronage of Miami Parking
facilities had dipped. So really, they're actually -- I don't think they're expecting the
same level of revenue generation that they've had a prior years because of the
pandemic. But they're still working on their numbers. They've not conveyed to us
their final numbers yet, to know what the impact is.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. And this is only extended until 9/30?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Given time until -- so the vaccination on all of that and see if
we can be normal again and then we revisit.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, it goes to September.
Commissioner Reyes: Until September.
Mr. Ihekwaba: That is September.
Commissioner Carollo: The whole fiscal year?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. But we're still in a pandemic. Restaurants are
working 50 percent.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. Zerry, you mentioned there's a fiscal impact to both the
City and the MPA. The MPA is already experiencing losses because of lack of -- not
lack of capacity, lack of parking demand. So, are we really cutting into their current
revenues, by utilizing parking -- do they need those parking spaces right now?
Commissioner Carollo: We are.
Vice Chair Russell: Is my question. So --
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Mr. Ihekwaba: We don't know what those parking spaces are needed today because
you need businesses to be open for people to he able to drive there, to park their
vehicles.
Vice Chair Russell: Yep.
Mr. Ihekwaba: So, this is a way to incentivize the businesses to remain operational
and drive revenue generation citywide. So, this is a great program. The
administration is fully supportive that we extend this program for at least the next
few months to the end of the fiscal year to support the economic revitalization of the
city.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. I was just addressing the fiscal impact part though.
What is the fiscal impact on the city for having this program?
Mr. Ihekwaba: There is -- more or less, this fiscal impact is to grant the permit. The
time that employees are using it to process the applications. Which traditionally,
we'll to have to still do. Right now, the employees are still working hard. The fiscal
impact is very minimal compared to the traditional sidewalk cafe permit process.
Vice Chair Russell: So --
Mr. Ihekwaba: So, this is very -- very minimal.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. And that's the point I wanted to make. Commissioner, I
fully support this. I want to co-sponsor this with you. But this brings up a point and
you mentioning this regular sidewalk cafe permit process. It's my understanding we
have not created any relief for the traditional brick and mortar restaurants who have
been using the sidewalk cafe permit process, yet we 've created another avenue for
others to survive the pandemic without having to pay for these -- the permitting fees
that the others are going through. Is there a way we can create separate from this
item, maybe bring it back in another -- could you analyze the sidewalk cafe permit
process to see if we are -- I don't want to create another hole for the city, but I want
to make sure these businesses are able to stay open, survive, and thrive, and that we
are giving them the space they need in a fair level playing field.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes, we have done an analysis and we are willing to share the
information with the City Commission. And I believed the administration is looking
into coming back with a second supplementary item to see if we can create a relief
program for these other traditional sidewalk cafe vendors.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. I'd like to sponsor that in a future
meeting.
Commissioner Reyes: I agree with you. We should help those that are existing one
that they are saying they should be assisted.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it.
Commissioner Reyes: I agree with you.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. All right. Any further discussion on RE.7? We
have a motion and a second, right?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: All in favor, say "aye."
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The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you very much.
RE.8 RESOLUTION
8424
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), WAIVING THE TWO (2) TEMPORARY EVENT
LIMITATION PER YEAR FOR A PRIVATE PROPERTY PURSUANT
TO SECTION 62-521(B)(4) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED "PLANNING AND
ZONING/PLANNING AND ZONING APPROVAL FOR TEMPORARY
USES AND OCCUPANCIES; PERMIT REQUIRED," TO ALLOW
DRIVE-IN MOVIE SHOWINGS, WHICH SHALL NOT EXTEND
BEYOND 2:00 A.M., UNLESS THERE IS A RELEVANT FEDERAL,
STATE, COUNTY OR CITY CURFEW IN EFFECT WHICH SHALL
THEN ACT AS THE REQUIRED CLOSING TIME, AT 1400
NORTHEAST 1ST AVENUE 1441 NORTHEAST MIAMI PLACE,
1442 NORTHEAST 1ST AVENUE, 1422 NORTHEAST 1ST
AVENUE, 1433 NORTHEAST MIAMI PLACE, AND 73 NORTHEAST
14TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, RESPECTIVELY, FOLIO NOS.
0131360051420, 0131360051360, 0131360051370,
0131360051380, 0131360051390, 0131360051400, 0131360051410
FOR GREENSLIME LABORATORIES, INC. AT VARIOUS TIMES
DURING THE YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 14, 2021 AND
ENDING JANUARY 13, 2022.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0022
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Vice Chair Russell: RE.8.
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): I believe there was a substitution that was
sent out last night.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Barnaby. There's a substitution on this item with
regards to some of the addresses were incorrect and --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, they were.
Vice Chair Russell: -- and also, it had to do with the 12 a.m. was due to curfew. So,
I wanted to be able to make sure that the movie theater could stay open for a second
showing after the curfew lifts. So, it's simply, it's changed to read to allow drive-in
movie showings which shall not extend the 2 a.m. unless there is relevant federal,
state, county, or city curfew in effect, which shall then act as a required closing.
Commissioner Reyes: Is that an amendment?
Commissioner Carollo: Up to what time would it stay open then?
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Vice Chair Russell: So 2 a.m. would allow them to have a second showing at a 11
p.m. movie and allowing everyone to leave.
Commissioner Carollo: My only -- I got two concerns.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: And I'm only looking into this favorable because the
pandemic, these people something else to do. Frankly, even the pandemic, I don 't
see how they'll really make any real money here. I went last night, look at it because
I wanted to see what 1 was voting on in. They've done a very good job. They have
all the permits. It's a very positive sign. 1 have two concerns. We approve it twelve
months right off the bat -- there are two issues that we could have here. One, this
surrounded by buildings. 1 have no idea what kind of you know, impact is going to
have from noise. How loud it would be, you know, the later guess, maybe the more
you hear noise. So that 's one. Secondly, I am worrying a little bit about dust. Again,
you're surrounded by buildings. People can get sick. Dust starts flying. So what I'd
like to suggest, Commissioner, is that we approve it for 60 days, once it comes back -
- once 60 day passes, if we don't have any issues like that, then we could approve it
for the remaining ten months, but at least have 60 days, that if there are issues in
either one of those two areas, we know ahead of time and it 's just not approved
already where it's just out of our hands.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Commissioner. Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I had similar concerns as you know, this is a
property owned by the Estefans in the Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency) area. And they want to do, you know, a drive-in movie theater basically 60
to 80 cars a night, just to put it in context, right? And there are parking issues and
traffic issues that impact that area. It is surrounded by a number of buildings,
workforce housing buildings around the area. So, I had some concerns about
creating a special exemption for a particular group -- right? -- vis-a-vis everybody
else in the city. I agree with Commissioner Carollo that we have now a noise issue -
- about potential noise issue, but traffic issue, dust as an issue.
Commissioner Carollo: Dust is a real issue. A real issue.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And that moment -- we already have a whole
bunch of movement of cars there. Now we're adding 80 -- introducing 80 cars into
one very small place, really. So, I agree with Commissioner Carollo, maybe we
should just do it for 60 days. We starting getting complaints of the residents of the
people who lived there, day in, day out. Then we reconsider, do something else there.
And also, in (UNITELLIGIBLE) do that and they won't do anything else there, a part
of the Omni CRA concept or any CRA concept is some sort of re -developed areas.
Right, so the lot has been empty for 20 something years or more maybe, and
nothing's happened there.
Commissioner Carollo: All right. I want to be clear. I'm only voting for it because
of the pandemic. I -- I understand that -- now some people want to get out, do
something, they don't want to go in the movie theater. So, this is that door.
Coniniissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's a door but it's in a car with like four people
in the car, right?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but, you know, they 're usually family members,
husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend that are spreading joy between them already. So
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's a drive-in.
Commissioner Reyes: Remember, your younger years.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Commissioner Reyes remembers that from the
1950s. They were very famous back then.
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely, and listen --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: In your Cadillac, right?
Commissioner Reyes: 1 used to love --1 mean, you know where the Marriott is now?
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not going there. I'in not going there.
Vice Chair Russell: You did. You started it.
Commissioner Reyes: You know where the Marriott is now? There was a beautiful
drive-in movie theater there but from the business standpoint -- from the business
standpoint, and in order to get enough data and I think 60 days.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, 1 agree.
Commissioner Reyes: 60 days, please. And 1 -- look defer to the -- Russell.
Commissioner Russell clearly, he's the presenter.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. So, I have obviously very active residents in that
area. So, if there is a problem our office will be the first one to hear about it.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: When they did come in for permitting, we went out and looked
as well to see what the impact would be because that was my concern. Noise,
fortunately, is only internal to the cars. There is no external sound to the movie
being projected whatsoever. And they positioned the screen and the projectors so
that it would not be shining into --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, I saw it.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm optimistic but I think this is a fair ask. And if all goes well
for the next two months, hopefully, this is a good solution for the pandemic and
they're showing the Wizard of Oz tonight at 7.:00 p.m. in 45 minutes.
Commissioner Reyes: I personally --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You think we can make it?
Vice Chair Russell: That depends on you.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah. I personally would like to extend it at least three
months.
Vice Chair Russell: Well, I will take as long as you -all are willing to give at this
point.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, at least three months.
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Vice Chair Russell: Because 1 do have faith in it. And if it does go wrong trust us,
we will stop it.
Commissioner Carollo: 60 days it's a good time to --
Commissioner Reyes: 90 --
Commissioner Carollo: -- really know what's going to happen.
Commissioner Reyes: Between 60 and 90 you don 't have much there.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: How about 75 and we're all happy?
Commissioner Reyes: 75 days.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, 75 days it is.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. You know, I appreciate the indulgence for us. This is
a way to activate a blighted lot.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm going to bring up the dust situation for them. So, that to see
if there's a way to tamp down the dust. Cars are not able to run during the movie, so
you have to have your windows open, fresh air, no exhaust. So, fortunately the
weather's nice and cool right now but --
Commissioner Reyes: Will they have the windows, there's no chance that they will
get foggy, right?
Commissioner Carollo: Again, I want to make it clear. I'm only voting for it
because of the pandemic. I will not be voting for any extension here nor am I going
to vote for any other ones besides what else does it concern me in this? Well, I think
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla was heading, there are other lots there.
Vice Chair Russell: There are what?
Commissioner Carollo: There are other lots around that area.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: And I don't want to have a movie theater everywhere.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And then it kind of says here --
Commissioner Carollo: Where we got the --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Why can't we do it that kind of argument
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. I don't want to see it in you know, maybe a couple of
lots in my district. And then the same idea conies up and before you know it, we got
this whole thing all over the place. So I -- you know, with those caveats, I will vote
for it. And remember what Dorothy told Toto.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You're not in Kansas anymore.
Commissioner Carollo: Toto, I don 't think we're in Kansas any longer.
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Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Clerk.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, my apologies. I just -- was that 60 days or
we 're moving it to 75?
Commissioner Carollo: 75.
Vice Chair Russell: So, I don't -- we haven't made a motion yet on this item, yet,
right? I'll move the item.
Commissioner Reyes: Move it. I'll second.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll second it for you.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla with an
amendment as published and an additional amendment, moving the end date to 75
days and which point it should come back to Commission before then so that if we do
choose to extend, they don't have to interrupt service, fire people, bring them back.
So, if it's a 75 day which Commission meeting would it need to come back to?
Commissioner Carollo: All right. It should come, you know...
Vice Chair Russell: The March --
Mr. Hannon: March 20 -- March 11 th is roughly 60 days out.
Commissioner Carollo: Not quite, less than 60 days.
Vice Chair Russell: Right. But if it --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, March 27.
Vice Chair Russell: Actually, that works perfectly because that -- if that's 60 days
we can analyze it then and choose not to renew. And if we choose not to renew,
they'll finish out their 15 more days and then be done. If we choose to renew, there
won't be any interruption in their service. So, we'd like to bring it back a further
extension at the March 11 th meeting.
Mr. Hannon: Mr. Manager?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Say yes.
Nzeribe Ihekwaba (Deputy City Manager): Yes.
Mr. Hannon: The Commission is just requesting that this item come back at the
March 11 th City Commission meeting?
Mr. Ihekwaba: I got that.
Mr. Hannon: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. All in favor, say "aye."
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The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes as amended. That was RE.8.
Thank you very much.
RE.9 RESOLUTION
8445
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), URGING THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
("BOARD") OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("OMNI CRA") TO
COMPLY WITH ITS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO PAY FOR
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT MAURICE FERRE
PARK, AS AGREED TO BY THE OMNI CRA IN THE INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO ON DECEMBER 31, 2007.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0023
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.9, please see
"Order of the Day."
Vice Chair Russell: RE.9.
Commissioner Carollo: This is a resolution to -- as a reminder to the Omni CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency) on what was approved by this body before
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla was here on the commitment to pay the amounts
that were owed to pay Bayfront Park Trust for the Ferre Park dollars. We would
like to get caught up to date at least and then we could discuss the remaining part,
whatever happens, how we go about it. I understand that the County made a request
that we include the -- a board member from the County. So, all that can be discussed
later but this has to basically do just for the remaining dollars that were due that we
would like for that to be paid so we could accomplish something to be beauty Ferre
Park, and the same time leave something there -- that could bring enough recurring
revenue fbr the future each year that Bayfront Park Trust does not have to take its
money. That that's how all the upkeep is being done now, and the two million per
year doesn't pay for the upkeep at all. Bayfront Park -- we have no other revenue
that's coming to do Ferre Park.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner, you and I butted heads on this years ago and we
came to a consensus finally, and when you --
Commissioner Carollo: We did.
Vice Chair Russell: -- voted for the extension. I agreed to honor this agreement.
And so, I will co-sponsor this item and second your motion on the item, and I believe
it should be paid and it should have been paid by now.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And Chair, ifI may?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. You're recognized, of course.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Absolutely. I mean, I made this commitment
from the beginning. 1 see a certain amount of synergy that needs to exist between the
future Under Deck, the 33 acres that we're doing under the Signature Bridge, and
then Maurice Ferre Park and Bayfront Park and -- and the museums. There's a
connectivity there that we need to enhance, and we need to do the capital
improvements that Bayfront Park needs and there 's no dollars available jbr Bayfront
Park. So, I agree that that -- those dollars should be allocated just to create some
more green space and make sure green space more viable. So, when I got elected a
year ago, and I became chairman of the Omni CRA, the first thing I did was to send
them $2 million for that year. The previous chairman and the one before that one
had not lived up to that commitment of doing the two million dollars a year for a six -
year period. I believe Commissioner Russell was the chairman. 1 think he only -- in
three years he didn't pay the two million. And 1 think Commissioner Sarnoff was
there before. He never paid a dime.
Commissioner Carollo: Sarnoff?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, Sarnoff. Remember Sarnoff?
Commissioner Carollo: That guy?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think he 's somewhere -- he's roaming out there
somewhere still.
Commissioner Carollo: And he is the original guy that --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: He is the original guy that reneged on the
payment.
Commissioner Carollo: He defaulted on that money.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But the idea that all these agencies whether it 's
the Omni CRA to Bayfront or the Park/West Overtown. They all should worked
together because it's on the -- it's on the Commissioner Russell's district, right? But
it's on the general area, it's an urban core.
Commissioner Carollo: And the DDA (Downtown Development Authority).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And the Downtown Development. Okay? They
also worked together. It's all our urban core. So, one agency giving to another
entity, it's a good idea. And the idea of enhancing green space and making a
Bayfront Park should be a model in the country but it has not. It has been neglected
for far too long. You know, those dollars are pennies in comparison to the return we
are going to get from that. So I'll also want to co-sponsor the item and I think its a
great thing and I think we continue to work together to make sure that that continues
to happen in Bayfront Park and in the Omni CRA.
Commissioner Reyes: I think that we all should --
Commissioner Carollo: Have you found out from your Executive Director when he
can write the check?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll call him as soon as we the end this meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. I'd appreciate it. That would make me --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's part of the ---
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Commissioner Carollo: -- feel happier and joyous.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I want you happy and joyous.
Commissioner Watson: So -- okay. Let me ask a quick question on that note. And --
and what is that number? What is the number?
Commissioner Reyes: Two million.
Commissioner Watson: That they're paying -- compliant with?
Commissioner Carollo: It's two million a year.
Commissioner Watson: Two million a year.
Commissioner Carollo: But the problem is that there are monies in arrears.
Commissioner Watson: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: And --
Commissioner Watson: So --
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not sure if it's 8 or 6 million.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think it's six.
Commissioner Carollo: I --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And whatever it is --
Commissioner Carollo: I think you possibly might be correct because you paid up
two -- that -- well, actually Russell paid up two.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No. Russell paid one and I paid one.
Commissioner Carollo: I think 2 million.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. Well, 3 million. No. 2 million. Yes.
Commissioner Watson: So, you --
Commissioner Carollo: And it might be 8 because there were some other stuff they
weren't.
Commissioner Watson: So could --
Commissioner Carollo: So, we're going to get to the bottom of it. If you're six
million behind or eight million behind, but, you know, it's chump money for --
Commissioner Reyes: Million more. Million more.
Commissioner Watson: So, Commissioner --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What we were working on is there 's a couple of
things. Number one, we want to -- we're looking -- seeking an extension. We have
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bonding capacity and everything else beyond that. So that's part of our -- our math.
But I think --1 know because I discussed yesterday. Our math allows us to come up
to date and continue the payments on a regular basis.
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The math is there for us.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, it is.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But I would like for the Commissioners to help
me get that extension and work with our County Commission.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that's no problem. But what we're talking about are
two different things.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: And you acknowledged writing, and I think Commissioner
Russell did too that you had the capacity to pay the two million dollars per year?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Absolutely. Oh, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: This year. What we're talking about now is the monies that
are due and, you know, you will get a hold of Mr. Walker. There are monies that are
there that could be given right away. And this what we're trying to do.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Absolutely.
Commissioner Watson: And that's what I'm trying to understand. When -- when
you say write that check for co -- for Commissioner, what is that number? Is it 2
million?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No.
Commissioner Carollo: No. No.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The numbers is the arrears.
Commissioner Carollo: In arrears.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think it's 6 million or it's -- it doesn't really
matter. Whether it's six or eight, we can pay -- I think I'm pretty comfortable and we
can pay it.
Commissioner Watson: And so how will --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But there is a hut, and that but is that there 's a
master plan for capital improvements that are stipulated in the interlocal agreement.
So we would like to know what -- whatever the plan is, whether we can invest those
dollars immediately because the whole idea here is to spend those dollars. So, we
will pull that money from another project. For example, we have two, three projects
that are pending that total 9 million.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, you know, it's one of the -- 1 can pull that
money and say you know what? We're not going to do that one. That's okay
because you know its a --
Commissioner Carollo: And you can put it on hold until.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah. Of course. Because --
Commissioner Carollo: We resolve the additional dollars that we could bond out
after --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And we get out the additional dollars because
what the -- what the CRAs are doing now is they're investing in getting TIF (Tax
Increment Financing) dollars and all these things to buildings, right? And other
things that we're doing.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But the green space is much more important for
me because I have a vision and as you do too that we're going to redevelop that
whole urban core from Bayfront Park all the way to the Underdeck.
Commissioner Carollo: 1t has to and --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, it's two million here. Whether it goes to this
entity or that entity, it doesn't really matter because they're all working together so
let's keep a common goal. So, to me it doesn't matter whether it's shifted that way
or stays over here as long as the goal is the same goal. And I think it is.
Commissioner Watson: So, the question -- there's a question I'm posing now
because I went through the documents as well. Is it safe to say we accept the
recommendation of the County? And then you go back to everything is done in one
fell swoop. Then you go back and now do both?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no. The commitment to Bayfront Park -- to
Bayfront Trust, the management trust fund, is there, is we owe them a certain amount
of money. The County debate is a different debate. If they put some -- they tied our
hands on certain things that we don't want our hands tied -- but that's why I said it.
There's a debate, it's going to be had with the County as to what we're going to do
with the additional board member that they've added to the CRA, what we pay the
Port Tunnel, what we pay --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. Really the --
Commissioner Watson: Okay,
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The previous mayor, your friend and my friend,
before he left, he did -- he attached a whole bunch of things --
Commissioner Carollo: What was your friend's name?
Coniniissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think his name is -- he's a congressman now --
Mayor Gimenez. That's it.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, he tied our hands for the CRA to pay a whole
bunch to the County. The Adrienne Arsht -- the Adrienne Arsht Center, the Port
Tunnel, some commitments.
Commissioner Carollo: Does he have another family member that is running?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think -- yeah. I think she's running for council
in Coral Gables.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And so --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I figured you'd know.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah. So what happened there -- of course, I
know most of the things that happen in politics here in Miami -Dade. So, what
happened was that he tied our hands. And I 'm going to try and that's why I asked
this Commission to maybe help me along the way to untie some of those
commitments you know so that we can have more independence. It is --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It is our Community Redevelopment Agency. It's
not the County's. And I don't want their hand -- I don't want them meddling too
much in what we're doing here. But you know that's the debate that we have. It
allows us to extend, it allows us to bond. It's going to give us a whole bunch of
money and -- much more than two million a year. I think that's across the board and
I think that inter -agency inter -entity cooperation is very important moving ,forward
with the Downtown Development Authority, with Bayfront, whether it 's Park/West,
Overtown. We need to figure out a way that -- for example, I had a call yesterday
Commissioner Watson from someone who said hey, if you include the Overtown -- if
you work with and you make sure you include Overtown Park/West, Overtown
Redevelopment Agency, we can expand their footprint and do what we want to do but
we have option to do in two different areas on south of 395 or north of 395. And that
gives them the flexibility to invest those dollars. So, we gave them I think it was $300
thousand. It's an initial amount of money, maybe another million down the line.
Commissioner Carollo: You gave them how much?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 300 thousand. --
Commissioner Carollo: When did you do that?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But a million down the line --
Commissioner Carollo: When did you do that?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Because it 's important to develop.
Commissioner Carollo: When? When?
Coniniissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I haven 't done it yet. I asked him -- I said
if we gave them 300 thousand.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, okay. Well, just make sure you give it after, you know
pay the money, sir.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Oh, there's plenty of money. We have plenty of
money. We have plenty of money. We're good to go, but the idea is that we expect
that we're going have a lot more money. And that's the idea, right? So --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But to the -- the point is that the inter -agency
cooperation works because we can shiftfrom one (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to another.
Commissioner Carollo: So that the Commissioner Watson has no doubt, the monies
that we're talking about were monies that contractual were owed to Bayfront Park
Trust for the Maurice Park improvements, et cetera. And somehow those monies
were not paid before there were due and that's what we're talking about. These are
monies that they were due. The rest is two million dollars a year that once those are
paid, you 're up-to-date until October 1st of the end of the year.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Fiscal year, yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: The other stuff that we 're talking about is to extend the life
for additional years of the Omni CRA.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Of both CRAs.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It applies to both of them. The CRAs. Both, so --
Commissioner Watson: All right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That increases our bonding capacity for -- all the
way to 2048.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, so that's --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, I'm supportive.
Commissioner Watson: So move.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm going to second this.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes -- Todd.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, we've already had a mover and seconder at
6:18 p.m. Moved by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Chair Russell.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Is there any further discussion? All in favor say,
aye.
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you.
END OF RESOLUTIONS
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SR.1
SR - SECOND READING ORDINANCE
ORDINANCE Second Reading
5939 MAY BE WITHDRAWN
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 40/ARTICLE IV/DIVISION 4 OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED
"PERSONNEL/PENSION AND RETIREMENT PLAN/CITY OF
MIAMI ELECTED OFFICERS RETIREMENT TRUST;" MORE
PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING SECTION 40-291, TITLED
"DEFINITIONS", AND SECTION 40-296, TITLED "APPLICABLE
BENEFITS"; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Withdraw
RESULT: WITHDRAWN
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, Watson
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item SR.1, please see "Order of the
Day."
END OF SECOND READING ORDINANCE
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FR - FIRST READING ORDINANCES
FR.1 ORDINANCE First Reading
8431
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED
"ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS, COMMITTEES,
COMMISSIONS/STANDARDS FOR CREATION AND REVIEW OF
BOARDS GENERALLY"; MORES SPECIFICALLY, BY AMENDING
SECTION 2-887 OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED "QUORUM
REQUIREMENTS; EXCEPTIONS", AND SECTION 2-892 OF THE
CITY CODE, TITLED "SUNSET REVIEW OF BOARDS"; FURTHER,
ADDING A NEW DIVISION 26, TITLED "MIAMI TECHNOLOGY
COUNCIL"; STATING THE COUNCIL'S PURPOSE, POWERS,
DUTIES, COMPOSITION, APPOINTMENT QUALIFICATIONS, AND
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP; PROVIDING FOR
OFFICERS, RULES OF PROCEDURE, MEETINGS, COMMITTEES,
QUORUM, BUDGET, LEGAL AND STAFF SUPPORT,
ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL, WAIVERS, OTHER NECESSARY
PROVISIONS, AND PUBLIC NOTICE; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading with Modification(s)
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Jeffrey Watson, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item FR.1, please see
"Order of the Day.
Vice Chair Russell: Moving to the FR agenda, we have two items. If they can be
read into the record, please. FR.1 and FR.2.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on. Are we jumping SR.1?
Vice Chair Russell: SR.1 was withdrawn.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, withdrawn. All right. Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Which one was withdrawn?
Vice Chair Russell: SR.1, second reading.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Chairman, I read --
Vice Chair Russell: Just a moment, Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Is it just withdrawn or --?
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Vice Chair Russell: Yes. At the order of the day, the Administration requested to the
withdrawal ofSR.1.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. All right. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. Madam City Attorney, if you could read FR.1 and FR.2
into the record, please.
Ms. Mendez: FR.1.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: And FR.2.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
[Later...]
Commissioner Watson: So move.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. There's a motion. Is that for FR.1 and
FR.2?
Commissioner Watson: FR.1
Vice Chair Russell: FR.1 has been moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Carollo. Commissioner Reyes,
you're recognized.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: Turn on your microphone on, please.
Commissioner Reyes: I have a little problem. I think that is innate that I don 't want
to see anybody with so much power. You see my only concern about my own consent
on my own criticism about this is -- it is -- that there are 11 members that are
appointed, 5, one Commission -- each Commissioner, they have one, and the Mayor
has six. Nothing against Francis or anybody else but you see when you have 50
percent of the stocks, you own the company. You own the company. And I would
like for at least -- at least make a good, making good, good.
Commissioner Carollo: You don't want to be a silent partner, right?
Commissioner Reyes: No, I don't want to be a silent partner, you see out of six,
appointing six members. I think it's a little bit too many. I mean, at least give one to
the City Manager or to Commission -- any one of Commissioners here or whatever.
Commissioner Carollo: The manager's got enough power already without us giving
him any additional powers.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, I don't know this -- that's my only criticism of this.
You see and it is innate in me. You'll see, I mean, I have this natural aversion for a
person with too much power. You see it doesn't matter. I don't know who is going
to be the Mayor next time. I mean, but whoever's the Mayor, control this board.
This is more.
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Vice Chair Russell: So, Commissioner Reyes, my concern I was if 1 had to choose
one board member here, 1 have a concern about --1 have an optimism for tech and 1
have a concerning about tech.
Commissioner Reyes: Me too.
Vice Chair Russell: The downside could be the exacerbation of our housing crisis if
we don 't manage the influx of tech correctly. So, if we incentivize --
Commissioner Reyes: Gentrification is what we have to be very careful with.
Vice Chair Russell: But if we but I don't want to be scared of tech for that. I want to
welcome them, incentivize them, but have that -- so if I were to choose a board
member, I have to choose whether I'm going to be some -- finding someone who is
very pro -tech and finding all the incentives necessary or if I'm going to find someone
who is on the equity side of that conversation, which is also very important to me,
but I've only got one board member. So now I'm stuck. And so, you know, it's here
nor there butt hear your point.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. I don't know if it's proposed. I don't know if the
Mayor will accept. But maybe we can have a couple of at -large, you see, a couple
at -large.
Vice Chair Russell: That one way to solve it for sure
Commissioner Reyes: We can, I mean --
Commissioner Carollo: You're starting to get into a real big bore now because this
is 13.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. From the 11, it'll having --
Commissioner Carollo: You leave the Mayor with three or two.
Commissioner Reyes: No, four.
Commissioner Carollo: What do you mean four?
Commissioner Reyes: All right. You take two.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh yeah, yeah. His one is six.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: Listen as I said before, that's all the 51 percent, if you own 51
percent of a company, I mean, the other ones are silent partners.
Vice Chair Russell: Do you have an amendment, Commissioner?
Commissioner Reyes: I will have an amendment that with Mayor would get four --
appoints four and two be pick at -large by --
Vice Chair Russell: Each Commissioner gets one.
Commissioner Reyes: One, four at -large that we vote for it, and that's it.
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Vice Chair Russell: And then the Mayor gets --.
Commissioner Carollo: If you can do two at -large, we might as well do three at -
large?
Commissioner Reyes: Well, it doesn't matter.
Commissioner Carollo: That way Russell can get his two and two others can get off
you guys.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm deferring to the Mayor in this. He wants to talk to me
to suggest someone to me, I'll be happy to listen. I -- you know, I have experience
with this. I am glad that he's taken the lead role in this.
Commissioner Reyes: I support him wholeheartedly.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. I wanted to keep my, eye in the ball and that 's
housing right now and secondary, parks.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: So, to clam the amendment then, are you --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Let's do it, four for the Mayor, two at -large or three
for the Mayor, two at -large.
Commissioner Carollo: Three at -large.
Commissioner Reyes: Three at -large and each one of us have one. Okay.
Ms. Mendez: Commissioner, could you talk into a microphone, pretty please?
Commissioner Reyes: Are you talking to me?
Commissioner Watson: Yes. For your amendments?
Commissioner Carollo: Let me do this if can.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. Let the Commissioner Carollo amend it.
Commissioner Carollo: Let's do it this way. Instead of three at -large. One for each
of us, two for the chair, and two at -large, and three for the Mayor.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. That 's -- I like that.
Vice Chair Russell: I --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What is it again?
Vice Chair Russell: I don't need a specific appointment.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, quit while you're ahead, man. Forget about it.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. I think it was fine --
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Commissioner Reyes: 1 mean if we can get a seat at the City of Miami
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Carollo: If you don't want it, we put three at -large.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. Three at -large, one for each Commissioner, and three for
the Mayor or is that a four for the Mayor?
Commissioner Carollo: Three.
Commissioner Reyes: Three for the Mayor.
Vice Chair Russell: That's an amendment by Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: And the Mayor can also I mean, is free to recommend. Pick
his three, but also, he can recommend, and we will vote on whoever we want.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But hold on. So, it 's three for the Mayor, 5 for --
for each Commissioner, one per Commissioner, for five Commissioners, and then.
Commissioner Reyes: Three at -large.
Vice Chair Russell: Three at -large amongst the --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And three at -large.
Commissioner Reyes: Three at large that are -- the nomination will be by us or and
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, it's 11 people total, right?
Commissioner Watson: So, you want to do 12?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 11.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no 11.
Vice Chair Russell:: 11. That's enough.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Five, three and eight.
Commissioner Watson: You dropped him down.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right, 11. That was my only objection. And I have the
same feeling as you have. I'm concerned with what's going to happen with housing
and gentrification. You see we have to manage this very well.
Vice Chair Russell: The greatest tool to accomplish this incentive is the CRA
(Conimunity Redevelopment Agency), where the land, TIF (Tax Increment
Financing) deals, grants, but also with clawbacks and rules and requirements of
those investors -- all of that. There is no other tool in the city, county, or state that I
can incentivize an invite tech in the right manner that --
Commissioner Watson: Listen -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) .
Commissioner Reyes: I agree with you --
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
Commissioner Carollo: And the housing to be.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'm sorry, Commissioner.
Commissioner Reyes: And I see how the importance.
Commissioner Watson: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Housing to be a requirement for the company to
conie down to deal with the CRA and build the housing depending on so --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Watson: I just wanted to just put this in. I don 't know about the
power to counsel. I think it 's kind of nebulous really. I think what and I went to the
Mayor on something, not knowing that he had something he was doing. Let me say
this right quick. I think that until we now begin to plant a seed, to invest, train, and
raise the incomes of our residents. No techs coming here, guys. So that's more of
what this is about, as opposed to just kind of wholesale inviting tech companies.
They're looking for things that were all working on. They're, looking for whether or
not there is affordable housing, whether or not secondary people can afford to buy,
whether or not our parks and our culture whether our (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
infrastructure's here because they worked differently. And 1 think that's what the
motivation is here, as opposed to just some tech company. We lost the one, the big
one because we didn't score that well in those other areas. When you look at our
AMI (Area Median Income) and it vacillates between who you talked to, right? We
lose a lot of tech companies now to Broward. Their AMI is almost 67,000 per year,
ours is 33. And so, this was more designed to deal with that and how we looked at it.
Because if we don't, then we're going to continue to lose out. And we're going to
not be able to do the things that we're trying to do. So, I just wanted to put that on
the record.
Commissioner Reyes: I -- being Ian old teacher I stressed a lot education. And we
have to really work with universities and colleges and high school in training the
future workers for any company that is kind of coming. Because one of the -- I mean
one of the characteristic of an area that before any company moves to it is what 's the
quality of the labor force. And I think that we should start working I mean, the
universities and our colleges and our colleges and our high school
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Watson: So, in saying that, what did would say ifyou 're going to do
11, keep him with the four and do one number from the school system, one member
from Miami -Dade. That way we have an interconnectedness of --
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely. That excellent --
Commissioner Watson: That becomes more important --
Commissioner Reyes: That's an excellent idea.
Commissioner Watson: -- because we would be on an island by themselves, we need
to make sure that they are now teaching this.
Commissioner Reyes: And I will get a -- I would say a member from the, I mean, the
biggest public university here is Florida International or one of the colleges.
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Commissioner Watson: Look Mitch (phonetic) was good and what he did because he
was a technology guy, that's why we brought him up. The point is that we have to
now make sure what these governments, we collaborate so that we 're not fighting on
ourselves. When you go to Commerce Department for technology grant, they want
to know who all was the partners and if it's a legitimate partnership, you fair better
in the process. So the number's fine, we should include those two people or if you 're
going to go three rounded three then let us have FIU (Florida International
University), Miami -Dade school system. And now we have the other voices in what
we need to make sure our residents are getting trained and educated along the lines -
- this people know that when they come, we do and we are serious about making sure
we have a workforce.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Watson: That 's befitting of what they're looking for.
Vice Chair Russell: So, to clarfv the amendment is that asking for a education
requirement for some of the board members? Or did I misunderstand. I'm sorry.
Commissioner Watson: It is different in an educate requirement and having a
member that --
Vice Chair Russell: I mean, representing the field of education.
Commissioner Watson: Right, right. Yes, yes, yes. 1 think that's important.
Vice Chair Russell: How many and just that some board member does --
Commissioner Watson: We'11 go with -- we can go with Commissioner Carollo said
three and three and those three come from those three institutions.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We got to pick from that pool.
Vice Chair Russell: The three at -large.
Commissioner Reyes: Three at -large should come from one -- from --
Commissioner Watson: From a pool.
Commissioner Reyes: From pool of Miami -Dade. University of Miami or FIU.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay.
Commissioner Watson: FIU, Miami -Dade, and school system, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Vice Chair Russell: And UM (University of Miami).
Commissioner Watson: No, the school system.
Vice Chair Russell: The school board.
Commissioner Reyes: The school board. School board. Miami -Dade school board
and FIU.
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Commissioner Watson: Yeah. They'd be getting the process and --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Watson: So as -- yeah. Makes sense.
Commissioner Reyes: That right and okay and I love it because it's --
Vice Chair Russell: Who is the seconder again, 1 apologize. It 's been a long day.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): It was moved by Commissioner Watson, seconded by
Commissioner Carollo.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. So, does the mover and secondary accept all
amendments thus far?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Watson: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: Are there any further amendments into the discussion? All in
favor of the item, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes as amended. Thank you.
FR.2 ORDINANCE First Reading
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"), TITLED
"STREETS AND SIDEWALKS/IN GENERAL/USING STREET OR
SIDEWALK FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES, EXCEPTIONS, PERMIT
AND FEES"; CREATING STANDARDS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF
PERMITS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR VERTICAL AND
HORIZONTAL BANNERS ON POLES; PROVIDING FOR BOTH
REGULATORY FEES RELATED TO PROCESSING SAID PERMITS
AND PROPRIETARY FEES RELATED TO THE USE OF THE
RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR THE SAME; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Jeffrey Watson, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item FR.2, please see
Item FR.1.
Vice Chair Russell: FR.2, please. Is there a motion for FR.2?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So moved.
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Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Watson: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Watson. Is there any further
discussion? All in favor say, "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
FR.3 ORDINANCE First Reading
7221
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 8 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "BICYCLES,
SKATEBOARDS, SCOOTERS, AND OTHER SIMILAR DEVICES,"
TO CONVERT THE EXISTING MOTORIZED SCOOTER PILOT
PROGRAM TO A PERMANENT PROGRAM; PROVIDING FOR
INCREASED FEES FOR SCOOTER OPERATORS; PROVIDING
FOR ENHANCED PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE
SCOOTER PROGRAM, INCLUDING FINING ADULT ACCOUNT-
HOLDERS OF A SCOOTER OPERATOR FOR PERMITTING A
PERSON UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE TO OPERATE A SCOOTER;
PROVIDING FOR SCOOTER FLEET SIZE LIMITATIONS BY THE
APPLICABLE PROCUREMENT METHOD THAT SELECTS
OPERATORS; PROVIDING THAT ALL PROVISIONS OF THE
MOTORIZED SCOOTER PILOT PROGRAM IN EFFECT PRIOR TO
THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE CONTINUE FOR THE
REMAINING DURATION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM WITH
CERTAIN LIMITED EXCEPTIONS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Indefinitely Defer
RESULT: INDEFINITELY DEFERRED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Vice Chair Russell: I was seeking an indefinite deferral of FR.3. I do intend to
bring it back sooner. That's the permanent version of the scooter program, but it is
not yet ready for prime time. This last --
Commissioner Carollo: What program?
Vice Chair Russell: -- week has showed us that it's not ready to go.
Commissioner Carollo: Whatprogram's that?
Vice Chair Russell: Scooters. Los Scooters.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The --
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Vice Chair Russell: So, they are currently off the streets as we are fine tuning the
program to he safer and cleaner in the streets. But it's not ready to go to a
permanent version. I'm ready to admit that, so --
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on. Hold on.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Let me listen. See that, hear the fireworks.
Vice Chair Russell: Oh, I'll be ready. Because 1 do believe in the program. I simply
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Mr. Chair, I'd like to object your deferral. I'm
kidding. I'm kidding. Go ahead and defer it.
Vice Chair Russell: So yeah. And I don't intend to wait six months for the
administration. Zerry, I -- I do want us to get the program correct and safe. And --
and then I think it'll get -- have a fair chance at least on this dais to get a vote for a
permanent version. So, if there's anyone who would like to make a motion for
indefinite deferral ofFR.3, please --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So moved.
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Commissioner Carollo: Move it.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Reyes. Second by Commissioner Diaz
de la Portilla. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
Commissioner Reyes: Aye does --
Commissioner Carollo: Aye. Aye.
Commissioner Reyes: You know, that "aye" sounds like the exclamation of
everybody that falls in those schools that say aye, aye, aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Aye, aye, aye.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, by any chance did you get to see how it looked in front
of Bayfront Park and all along there?
Vice Chair Russell: That is why we discontinued or --
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: -- paused the program because it is getting -- it got out of hand.
It certainly got out of hand. And I feel that the companies were taking a bit
advantage. And we need to make sure that the City is calling the shots on how many
are out there, where they are, no kids riding, everything. But we'll get there.
Commissioner Reyes: Let me --
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Vice Chair Russell: I --
Commissioner Reyes: Let me say this, I really admire you for taking that position
because you admitted that it wasn't right.
Vice Chair Russell: You're right.
Commissioner Reyes: Congratulations, man.
Vice Chair Russell: I agree. Is there any other cleanup for the afternoon? We 're
going to move right into the agenda rather quickly then.
FR.4 ORDINANCE First Reading
6588
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 38 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "PARKS AND RECREATION" MORE
PARTICULARLY BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE VII ENTITLED,
"MAURICE A. FERRE PARK CONSERVANCY", PROVIDING FOR
POWERS, DUTIES, AND SCOPE OF A CONSERVANCY FOR THE
MAURICE A. FERRE PARK FOR THE PRESERVATION,
MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MAURICE A.
FERRE PARK; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Indefinitely Defer
RESULT: INDEFINITELY DEFERRED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, Watson
ABSENT: Carollo
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FR.4 ORDINANCE First Reading
6588
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 38 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "PARKS AND RECREATION" MORE
PARTICULARLY BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE VII ENTITLED,
"MAURICE A. FERRE PARK CONSERVANCY", PROVIDING FOR
POWERS, DUTIES, AND SCOPE OF A CONSERVANCY FOR THE
MAURICE A. FERRE PARK FOR THE PRESERVATION,
MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MAURICE A.
FERRE PARK; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Reconsider
RESULT: RECONSIDERED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Jeffrey Watson, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
FR.4 ORDINANCE First Reading
6588
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 38 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "PARKS AND RECREATION" MORE
PARTICULARLY BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE VII ENTITLED,
"MAURICE A. FERRE PARK CONSERVANCY", PROVIDING FOR
POWERS, DUTIES, AND SCOPE OF A CONSERVANCY FOR THE
MAURICE A. FERRE PARK FOR THE PRESERVATION,
MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE MAURICE A.
FERRE PARK; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Withdraw
RESULT: WITHDRAWN
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item FR.4, please see
"Order of the Day."
Vice Chair Russell: Calling back to order. Thank you, everyone, for your patience.
Hope you had a good lunch. We're starting the afternoon session. We have gotten
exactly one of our items done so far, but we are going to motor this afternoon and
this agenda. There's something I had forgotten that I had wanted to defer during the
order of the day, and that is the scooter item, FR.3. I did not -- did not get deferred,
didn't this morning. So, if there's a -- if -- is there any -- is there anything else to
clean up the agenda, anything else to be differed that anyone else forgot? Because
that's due and I --
Mr. Ihekwaba: Mr. Vice Chair?
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Vice Chair Russell: Yes, sir.
Mr. Ihekwaba: The Administration would like to reconsider the indefinite deferral of
FR.4.
Vice Chair Russell: That's the conservancy?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: Chair, that was already done this morning during the order of the day.
Vice Chair Russell: He's asking for a reconsideration.
Mr. Ihekwaba: For reconsideration.
Mr. Hannon: Oh, reconsider?
Mr. Ihekwaba: We would like to withdraw instead of indefinite deferral.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. So you'd need a reconsideration vote first --
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: -- then a withdrawal, correct?
Mr. Hannon: So --
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: -- Chair, if -- if -- if we can just focus then on FR.4 right now with the
reconsideration and we'll just address that and then well go to your item. I don't
want to do both at the same time.
Vice Chair Russell: Understood, Mr. Clerk. No problem. Is there a motion to
reconsider FR.4, the Maurice Ferre Park Conservancy? Moved?
Commissioner Watson: So moved.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Watson. All in favor, say "aye."
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, hold on a second. Hold on a second.
Vice Chair Russell: So, this is FR.4, Commissioner, the conservancy.
Administration's just asking to withdraw instead of defer.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, that works.
Vice Chair Russell: So, in order to do that, we 've now moved to reconsider it and
that's the vote at the moment.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: You guys thought we were moving fast for a second --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But we 're -- we're not
allowed to, Mr. Chair.
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Vice Chair Russell: When they're moving that fast --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'd (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Vice Chair Russell: -- it's kind of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) each other.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- from our phone.
Vice Chair Russell: So, the Administration has asked if we would withdraw the
Ferre Conservancy rather than indefinite defer, so the motion and second currently
is to reconsider. All in favor say, "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. The item is available for a new
motion, FR.4, Ferre Park. Is there a motion to withdraw?
Commissioner Carollo: Motion to withdraw.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I move. So moved.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: Any further discussion on this item? Hearing none. All in
favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Motion passes. That's FR.4.
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FR.5 ORDINANCE First Reading
8394
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 38/ARTICLE I OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED "PARKS AND RECREATION/IN
GENERAL", BY AMENDING SECTION 38-18, TITLED "NAMING OF
FACILITIES AT HADLEY PARK"; MORE SPECIFICALLY, NAMING
THE FOOTBALL FIELD IN HADLEY PARK TO THE "LUTHER
CAMPBELL FOOTBALL FIELD"; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Jeffrey Watson, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item FR.5, please see
"Order of the Day."
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Watson, would you like to take up FR.5 before
we break?
Commissioner Watson: Yes, please, Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: There is a motion, seconded by the Chair. Is there any further
discussion on FR.5, naming a football field after Mr. Luther Campbell?
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: Second -- I've already seconded it.
Commissioner Carollo: I'd liked to have a further discussion. How big is the sign
that we're going to put up?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And can we play some music? Can we play some
music?
Commissioner Reyes: It's a neon sign. It's going to be neon, flashing.
Commissioner Watson: Yeah, man. Flashing lights, man. Flashing lights. It's
going to be flashing lights.
Commissioner Reyes: A neon sign.
Commissioner Watson: Flashing lights. Thank you for coming back inside. We 're
going to do this just jot- you.
Commissioner Carollo: Let me tell you, Luther has done a tremendous job with so
many, young men --
Commissioner Reyes: Service to the community.
Commissioner Carollo: So many young men --
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Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that he's kept out of harm's way by getting involved in
football. The all-American sport still is football -- American football. And on top of
that, many of those young men that started with Luther 's program, they've gone to
outstanding colleges. They were able to get a college education because of that, and
some have even made it all the way to the top, to the NFL (National Football
League). So, you know, we -- if I were our college teams here, UM (University of
Miami) and FIU (Florida International University), could only get every young man
Commissioner Watson: Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Commissioner Carollo: -- in South Florida --
Commissioner Reyes: How about the Gators, man? Hey.
Commissioner Carollo: We would have the number one team every year.
(MULTIPLE PARTIES SPEAKING IN UNISON).
Commissioner Reyes: You have to call my Gators to come and recruit here.
Commissioner Watson: Talking about that UM stuff Some of those guys got to go
to Florida State, sorry.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, man. It's all about the U.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. There's been a motion. There's been a second. Mr.
Campbell, did you want to say anything? I just want to say that I appreciate you as
a champion of the first amendment. And despite all your persecution of censorship
you still have your Twitter account. Congratulations.
Commissioner Watson: And I'd just like to say right quick, that's actually the time
that I met Mr. Campbell. I was overseas and somebody called me and said, you
know, you got to help out because this court case in freedom of speech and I think in
Alabama, they took you all to jail, or something happened in Alabama, won 't let you
perform. That was my first introduction to Mr. Campbell. Look, there 's a lot of
people that do a lot of things in this city. It's always great to honor those when they
-- when they can really be around to smell the roses, for the -- for all intents and
purposes. There's a lot of work to be done with our kids. And when people take
their time, they don 't have to, it's important to recognize that. We have probably
become -- and probably are outside of -- inside of both California and Texas, as I
talk to coaches -- have some of the best athletes in the country just because of
programs like Mr. Campbell and what we do here in the State of Florida. And so
with that, and in knowing that, I thought it was appropriate to do this. And I thank
everybody for supporting this effort. Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Here. Here.
Commissioner Reyes: Here.
Luther Campbell: Thank you. Yeah. I want to thank you guys because, you know,
just like I said to some friends when this came up, and like I said, I want to thank
you, Jeff, for just thinking about it, and thank, you know, Pastor Johnson (phonetic)
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for just bringing it to your attention. But this Commission, I mean, it's what is all
about. You know, it's all about -- you know, we have never came from this part,
which was a crime -ridden park with John Doe, every other gang, prostitution. And
31 years ago, we came to the park, me, and Sam Johnson (phonetic), with the idea of
building something here, you know, where, you know, we could change the
community, which we have. We don't have crime there. We have kids that are going
to college, whether it's football, basketball, or baseball, or just academics, you
know, with this program, you know. And so, I'm just -- you know, I'm just humbled
and honored to be able to have a stadium named after me. And you guys, you know,
with your continuous support of the program and the park because it 's a beacon of
the community. It's a shining light. And everything you do that you put back into
that park, in that program, whether it's Liberty City or Overtown or any of these
programs, this is what these kids go at on a daily basis and they don't have
problems, you know. And it's -- and you can look at it. You can look at the numbers.
They don 't have problems. And we work good with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and the
staff at the parks departments. And, you know, and they just -- you know, it's just
well supportive, and I just want to thank you all --
Commissioner Reyes: No. We have to thank you.
Mr. Campbell: -- from the bottom of my heart.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, we have to thank you for the service and for the
wonderful program and how much you have put into that community. And you are
proud of our community, and we're real proud of your friendship.
Mr. Campbell: Thank you, Commissioner.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Any further discussion?
Mr. Campbell: Thanks. And we'll try to keep some of them players home.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Mr. Campbell: We just got to --
Commissioner Carollo: Absolutely.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And make sure -- Mr. Campbell, make sure
Florida State is not included. Right, Commissioner Watson? That Florida State is
not included?
Commissioner Watson: Oh, no. No. We've got to send some players to Florida
State. You -all vouch Florida State. They need all the help they can get.
Vice Chair Russell: Madam City Attorney, please read the ordinance.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: All in favor of the item, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you very much. We are
breaking until 3.
Nzeribe Ihekwaba (Deputy City Manager): Mr. Chair.
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Vice Chair Russell: Zerry, what --
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if1 may.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, of course, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you. I just want to two things, one is we -- we do have a press
conference outside, and the press is waiting for all of you, as Commissioners, to talk
about your piece of the vaccination process that you guys have discussed it diligently
this morning. The second part is I just want to recognize my, good friend, Tio -- 1
call him Tio Luke. And I really want to thank you, and Jeff, I really want to thank
you, Commissioner Watson, and all of you for doing something that is one of the
biggest no-brainers in our community, which is honoring a man who has done so
much for the City of Miami, who has been such a positive influence in so many
children's lives, and who continues to be a symbol of what it is to be an entertainer
and a celebrity, and come back and be a true, real, substantive member of our
community. He holds our feet to the fire, and we love him for it, and frankly, has
shaped so many young lives in our community, and I'm very blessed to call him a
friend. Thank you so much.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Commissioner Carollo: Hey, Luke? Luke? Luke? Luke, while we got him hot, the
mayor, let's get a commitment for him from his budget for that sign that we got to
put up with your name.
Mayor Suarez: How much is the sign? How much is the sign?
Vice Chair Russell: All right. We'll come back at 3 o'clock.
Mayor Suarez: I'll pay for the sign. I'll pay for the sign.
Commissioner Watson: There you go.
Commissioner Carollo: We've got him on the record now. He'll pay for it.
Mr. Suarez: We've got us --
Vice Chair Russell: Have a good lunch, everyone.
Commissioner Carollo: It's going to be big.
Mayor Suarez: You got me on that one, Commissioner.
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FR.6 ORDINANCE First Reading
8443
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 10/ARTICLE I/SECTION 4 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED "BUILDINGS/IN
GENERAL/BUILDING PERMIT FEE SCHEDULE," TO AMEND THE
FEE FOR WORK STARTED WITHOUT PERMITS FOR NON-
HOMESTEAD/COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Reyes, Watson
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record: Item FR.6 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item FR.6, please see "Order of the
Day."
END OF FIRST READING ORDINANCES
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BC - BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING MEMBERS OF THE
MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AS CHAIRPERSONS, VICE -CHAIRPERSONS AND/OR
MEMBERS ON VARIOUS TRUSTS, AUTHORITIES, BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND
AGENCIES.
APPOINTED AS CHAIRPERSON:
Commissioner Joe Carollo of the Bayfront Park Management Trust
Commissioner Manolo Reyes of the Downtown Development Authority
Commissioner Ken Russell of the Midtown Community Redevelopment Agency
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla of the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency
APPOINTED AS VICE CHAIRPERSON:
Commissioner Joe Carollo of the Midtown Community Redevelopment Agency
Commissioner Joe Carollo of the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency
APPOINTED AS MEMBER:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors
Bureau
Commissioner Ken Russell of the Florida League of Cities
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla of the Miami -Dade County League of Cities
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla of the Miami -Dade County Tourist Development
Council
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla of the Miami River Commission
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0024
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MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Vice Chair Russell: Boards and committees, please.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Good evening, Commissioners. BC.1. Commissioners
as members of boards.
Commissioner Watson: So move.
Vice Chair Russell: We need to create a slate of board members or Commissioners as
members of boards.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So I move -- I have a motion.
Vice Chair Russell: What's your motion, please?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That we continued the chairmanship from the last
year and vice chairmanships intact. And that we add Commissioner Watson as
chairman of the ParklWest Overtown Redevelopment Agency and including for all
boards and committees for the City of Miami.
Mr. Hannon: And Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla, if I may. So, essentially, we
would just have Commissioner Watson substitute for Commissioner Hardemon
because he also had the Florida League of Cities?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct. So, replace Commissioner Hardemon or
whatever he had and then everybody else stays wherever they were. And that 's the
motion.
Mr. Hannon: Understood.
Vice Chair Russell: There's been a motion. Is there a second?
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. I second the motion.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes, second. Open for discussion. So
obviously, guys, this is always something that we have to be respectful of each other
and work together. And we try to create a slate that we all agree on. For me, the -- I
wear this Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) pin. I've worn it more
than my city pin and I'm so proud of what that -- of what it has done, and I'm very
thankful that Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla has continued the initiatives that were
going on there, from the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) deals and the affordable
housing and the development that was planned. And I do, however, believe that there
is so much left to do. And with just my last three years here, I would enjoy chairing
that. It's -- there's things that have not been done that could have been done.
Infrastructure projects, life safety issues, roundabouts that were approved, that aren 't
done yet. The extension could have happened by now, I believe. And the full $28
million could've been paid by now, I believe. But you know, it's the will of this board
in trying to find peace and congeniality here is our goal to work together. We all
have the same goals, it's not about ego. But I just want to see how others feel about
this. Because I remember we had a moment of tension a year ago when we all came
onto this board -- this class came together, Commissioner Watson's new this year.
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But that -- for me, that's a -- it's -- there's not one person who voted for anyone in
this board from that CRA except for me. And so I have an obligation to the residents
of this -- that district of which a CRA is meant to serve. And it's not to say that anyone
else would give a disservice to them, but I do represent them and I was -- and CRAs
are special. It's not managing a park trust, city asset, some of these things, but when
you're dealing with residents' lives and quality, of life, there's an emotional obligation
there. And that's just why I had always taken such an interest in it. And when I lost it
last year, it was a thing. It was a thing. And I respect how you've handled it. I really
do. I've enjoyed working with you and I've come to every meeting and voted with, you
Commissioner Reyes: That's enough.
Vice Chair Russell: On the initiatives that you're working on.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: So, I'm not looking for disruption of peace, but it's not the status
quo. It's just what we've done this year. Because for three years, or four years
befbre that, I was very proud to chair that board. But we can continue to talk about
this if we're not sure where we are.
Commissioner Reyes: I -- we should talk about it, and if you feel like we should have
heard this because you don't feel like -- I will --1 mean take that maybe, 1 know how
you feel about --
Vice Chair Russell: I'm not trying to be aggressive about it because we have a
motion. for -- for a slate. And so, I'm not truing to create a debate or argument and
force another vote and make us all choose sides. I mean, if --
Commissioner Reyes: But we should -- and I think, let me tell you, we should all be
able to be free to speak about every single vote, even the downtown DDA (Downtown
Development Authority), the CRA, or the Bayfront Park, at any time during the year.
And with -- I mean, if the board decides or this body besides that a change is
warranted, I'm the first one is that if you think that I should be removed, just go for it.
You see?
Commissioner Carollo: I make a motion to remove Commissioner Reyes from the
DDA.
Commissioner Reyes: That's fine. That's fine, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm teasing, I'm teasing.
Commissioner Reyes: No. Yeah. But I mean, he has a very compelling argument.
And I know how much he loves it and what it means to you because very rightful it's
yours. And I mean, it is your district, and you gave a lot of time and effort. And I
mean, I will --
Commissioner Carollo: Look, I think --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Chair, if I may.
Commissioner Carollo: -- from someone that has probably been threatened jokingly
at times, not so jokingly in others to be taken out of Bayfront Park and I kept offering,
that I walk away more times than anyone else, I could understand that. But look, even
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if we appoint for whatever amount of time, we could change it in -- at any given time
that we want --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- by a majority of this board. So, this is all -- there's
motions in places. I understand what Commissioner Russell feels, you know, you
have another new member of the board. I haven't heard from him. I'd like to and see
how Commissioner Watson feels about it all. But I guess I could go along maybe,
maybe not, extending it just a little longer and keeping status quo as it is until we vote
on it again.
Commissioner Reyes: And we can vote at any time.
Commissioner Carollo: But Commissioner Watson, I'm looking forward to you.
Commissioner Watson: Yeah. I mean -- yeah. Look, I think the important part of this
process now is, as it being discussed on a global or a national basis, is making sure
that you transition, one and two, beginning the work going forward. Some of the
things will be kept because we're not partisan. We're dealing with the same sort of
sentiment in what we have to do. So, I'm not so sure what Commissioner wants in
terms of slate. What that means, if we're all going to now go forward in -- on the
motion of status quo, then 1 will support that. If you 're trying to run to have a vote, it
does nothing but beef you know, draw sides and line. So, I'm not so sure what you're
asking from that perspective, but 1 would be inclined to move forward the way we --
you're looking at it. At this juncture, if it's to hold it off again, to discuss rather than,
you know, I'm not so sure, you know, where we still often wind up. Particularly, with
the business of the agencies. Earlier when I said, hey, you know, let's go forward
dealing with the extension because those recommendations had been made. Those
recommendations I think are what they are. I'm not so sure what's going to be the
level of success in renegotiating those. But I think they are what they are. And
Commissioner said that, you know, it's two separate issues. At some point, we got to
continue to work with those agencies in order to do what we need to do. And so, from
that perspective, then I would be inclined to go with the motion that 's on the floor of
status quo.
Commissioner Reyes: Perfect.
Commissioner Carollo: So be it.
Commissioner Reyes: So be it.
Vice Chair Russell: Florida League of Cities, is that something that you're very
inclined to take on?
Commissioner Watson: No. Are you inclined to take that on? I'm not necessarily
inclined to take it on. I will if that's the will of body. I mean, I'm the new guy, so if
that's something that --
Vice Chair Russell: I would be interested in that one.
Commissioner Watson: Then so be it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, are you okay with that?
Commissioner Watson: Yes.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, well amend that and 1 guess, Chairman
Russell will take the Florida League of Cities instead of Chairman -- Commissioner
Watson.
Commissioner Watson: Yeah. Commissioner Russell has done some work in the area
as well. And so, from that perspective, I'm not -- I wouldn't.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. And then just to clar -- the Clerk just moved. I had a
question for the clerk or law. So, the annual board appointments, is it for a set one-
year appointment or is it truly at any time can be changed?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): So, we were --
Commissioner Carollo: You can always put at any time.
Ms. Mendez: -- we were -- right. So, we were talking --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: At any time.
Ms. Mendez: -- about that in the resos (resolutions) in the past based on custom and
practice of masons. So, two things. One, we always do it in December because
there's an election in November.
Vice Chair Russell: For two years we haven 't though.
Ms. Mendez: I'm sorry?
Vice Chair Russell: For two years, we have not done it in December.
Commissioner Carollo: That correct.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We did it in January, yeah.
Ms. Mendez: Right. We did it like right -- but that's why custom and practice's why
we've done it. We have Section 2-35 that talks about elected officials on boards and
that's why we've always done it every December as well. The thing is that we've
always put a term in the resolutions. So arguably you cannot put a term on the
resolution. That's how we've done it before and it gets to December, but just give me
one second because I just want to clarify something.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, the motion though, unless they're going to change it,
was for status quo, which means the term, but should be as clear. So, I can't for the
third time, we could change it, and any one of us anytime we want for whatever
reason.
Commissioner Watson: And this amendment also would include -- and is cemented
also to include Commissioner Russell Florida League of Cities, right?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah. The Florida League of Cities, as
amendment.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. So, Madam City Attorney, the amendment to the resolution
would be that a term is not determined as a one-year term.
Ms. Mendez: Right. Say that a little louder but closer to the mic.
Vice Chair Russell: That a one-year term is not expressly placed in the resolution.
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Ms. Mendez: Right. That's how you would do it -- we have that, we review on an
annual basis in December pursuant to 235, which I did not remember this section but
just one second. I just want to clarify one thing. Okay. So, we review every
December. That's what we do pursuant to the section, but it doesn't say how long the
term has to be, except for Bayfront, which is a little different, but for all the rest of the
boards --
Commissioner Carollo: How different?
Ms. Mendez: -- they're subject to the City Code.
Commissioner Carollo: How different is Bayfront?
Ms. Mendez: Bayfront is technically in June, but again, for custom and practice,
we've always done it in December based on the annual review in the section 235. It
doesn 't say for how long.
Commissioner Carollo: All right.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. So, no term needs to be expressed.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: For this body to have the flexibility as Commissioner Carollo
said now three times.
Ms. Mendez: Except for Bayfront that says that we do it in June and that it's one
year. We just review pursuant to 2-35 every December.
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Ms. Mendez: So, that's why we have traditionally done a one-year because we review
every December, but it doesn't clearly state that it's per year.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. All right. There's been a motion. There has been a
second --
Ms. Mendez.: I'm sorry.
Vice Chair Russell: -- amendment have been accepted.
Ms. Mendez: And for the regular boards, the CRAs are different. They're pretty
much silent on that. So, I just wanted to clarify that.
Vice Chair Russell: So, we have flexibility. I think that's clear. There's been a
motion, there's been a second, amendments are accepted by mover and seconder.
Any further discussion? All in favor say, "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP LOAN
PROGRAM TASK FORCE FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COUNCIL FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
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BC.4
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BC.5
7596
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR TERMS
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST FOR
A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Alex Cardenas Commission -At -Large
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0025
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Fortilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: A motion was made by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla,
seconded by Commissioner Reyes, and was passed unanimously, to appoint Alex
Cardenas as a member of the Bayfront Park Management Trust; 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 Alex Cardenas as a member of the Bayfront Park
Management Trust.
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Vice Chair Russell: Further boards?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Commissioner -- Commissioner Reyes, can 1-- I need
a five, five.
Commissioner Reyes: You need a what?
Mr. Hannon: AJive, five term waiver. Sorry, I need five Commissioners on the dais
for a five- five term waiver.
Commissioner Carollo: For what now?
Vice Chair Russell: For the boards in Commissions, at least one of them needs a five -
fifths?
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Hannon: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Four fifths.
Vice Chair Russell: Five -fifths.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Five -fifths, really?
Mr. Hannon: BC.5, Bayfront Park Management Trust. Commissioner Carollo will
be reappointing Alex Cardenas with a five -five term waiver to the Commission at -
large seat.
Vice Chair Russell: Is there a motion?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Motion.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Reyes. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Motion passes.
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BC.7
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION CONFIRMING THE
APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE CIVILIAN
INVESTIGATIVE PANEL FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES: NOMINATED BY:
Joey McCall Civilian Investigative Panel
George Ray, III Civilian Investigative Panel
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0026
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): BC.6, Civilian Investigative Panel. Chair Russell will
be confirming the appointment of Joey McCall and George Ray, III
Commissioner Carollo: Move.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Commissioner
Reyes. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE CLIMATE RESILIENCE COMMITTEE FOR A
TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE:
Rodrigo Bilbao
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0027
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
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MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): BC. 7, Climate Resilience Committee. Mayor Suarez
will be appointing Rodrigo Bilboa.
Commissioner Carollo: Move.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Commissioner
Reyes. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Motion passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE CODE COMPLIANCE TASK FORCE FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
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BC.10
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD FOR TERMS
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
Commission -At -Large
Commission -At -Large
(Alternate Member)
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
AND QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
Commission -At -Large
Commission -At -Large
City Manager Arthur Noriega, V
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RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOARD FOR A TERM
AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Lovette McGill Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0028
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): BC.11. Community Relations Board. Commissioner
Watson will be reappointing Lovette McGill.
Commissioner Carollo: Move.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by Commissioner
Reyes. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mr. Hannon: That concludes the boards and committees, Commissioners.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
IAFF
FOP
AFSCME 1907
AFSCME 871
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BC.14
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR TERMS AS
DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH FACILITIES AUTHORITY BOARD FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
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BC.16
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER,
QUEER ("LGBTQ") ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE MAYOR'S COUNCIL ON GLOBAL
COMPETITIVENESS FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
Commission -At -Large
Commission -At -Large
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BC.18
8155
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE MIAMI 21 REPORT AD HOC TASK FORCE FOR
A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
City of Miami
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
BC.19
8156
Office of the City
Clerk
BC.20
7261
Office of the City
Clerk
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI FOREVER BOND PROGRAM CITIZENS'
OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING A CERTAIN
INDIVIDUAL AS A MEMBER OF THE MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION FOR A TERM AS
DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEE: NOMINATED BY:
Commission -At -Large
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
City of Miami
Page 125 Printed on 05/21/2024
City Commission
Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
BC.21
3693
Office of the City
Clerk
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE STARS OF CALLE OCHO WALK OF FAME
COMMITTEE FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commission -At -Large
Commission -At -Large
Commission -At -Large
City of Miami
Page 126 Printed on 05/21/2024
City Commission
Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
BC.22
5453
Office of the City
Clerk
BC.23
5844
Office of the City
Clerk
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
(UDRB) FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA KEY ADVISORY BOARD
FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
Lynn Lewis
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Ken Russell
Commission -At -Large
National Trust for Historic Preservation
City of Miami
Page 127 Printed on 05/21/2024
City Commission
Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
BC.24
7246
Office of the City
Clerk
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS AS MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK TRUST FOR
TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTEES:
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
NOMINATED BY:
Mayor Francis Suarez
Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
Commissioner Joe Carollo
Commissioner Manolo Reyes
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
City of Miami
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
DI - DISCUSSION ITEMS
DI.1 DISCUSSION ITEM
8094 A DISCUSSION REGARDING UNREIMBURSED GRANT
Department of EXPENDITURES FOR QUARTER ENDING 03/31/2020
Finance
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Vice Chair Russell: DI.1 and 2.
Commissioner Carollo: If we could take up DI.3 before those two if it's possible.
Vice Chair Russell: Sure.
Commissioner Carollo: Because we've got a lot of people waiting and hopefully, we
won 't take that long.
Vice Chair Russell:: And the Wizard of Oz just started.
Commissioner Carollo: It did.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: DI.3. You're recognized.
Erica Paschal: Okay. Good evening, Commissioners. Erica Paschal for the
Finance Department. DI.1 and 2 are required by our financial integrity principles.
For the quarter ending March 31, 2020. The City -- the payroll expenditures for --
in the amount of $1,736 were disallowed due to a contract start date, and those costs
were absorbed by the operating budget for the quarter ending June 30, 2020, in the
amount of $2,366. The expenditures in reference were non -reimbursable due to the
completion of the period of performance. And these costs were transferred to
another funding source, not the general operating budget, but it was the matching
funds for this project. Are there any questions?
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo?
Commissioner Carollo: No. I'm good.
Ms. Paschal: Okay. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
DI.2 DISCUSSION ITEM
8095 A DISCUSSION REGARDING UNREIMBURSED GRANT
Department of EXPENDITURES FOR QUARTER ENDING 06/30/2020
Finance
rRESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item DL2, please see Item DLI.
City of Miami
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
DI.3 DISCUSSION ITEM
8299 A DISCUSSION REGARDING SILVER BLUFF TRAFFIC ISSUES.
Commissioners
and Mayor
RESULT:
DISCUSSED
Vice Chair Russell: Is there any action or further discussion on DI.3?
Commissioner Carollo: (INAUDIBLE).
Vice Chair Russell: Your microphone, please.
Commissioner Carollo: We have representatives from the Silver Bluff organization
here, and there's a brief presentation that they would like to make. How would you
like to go about it, Madam President of the Association?
Beba Mann: Good evening, Commissioners. Happy new year to everybody. Hope
it's a healthy one and with not too much dilemma. I'm not going to speak tonight as
the president of the Silver Bluff Homeowners Association, only because we 've had --
there's two sides to Silver Bluff. There's a D3 (District 3) and a D4 (District 4),
and tonight we're discussing the District 3, which is a little sliver of Silver Bluff that
falls in District 3 that looks like a pizza, and that 's why we're so fond of Casola's
because, you know, it's right there.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's the best.
Commissioner Reyes: Beba, if I may interject, the same concerns you have -- have in
this -- in D3, we have in D4, and you know that.
Ms. Mann: Absolutely.
Commissioner Reyes: And we --
Ms. Mann: Absolutely. The only thing is I did not speak to the board.
Commissioner Reyes: And I want you to include in your presentation D4 also --
Ms. Mann: I'd be more than happy to because --
Commissioner Reyes: -- because they are experiencing the same horrible situation
that you have.
Ms. Mann: I totally agree with you. You know what I've gone through.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Ms. Mann: So, you've got -- I'm there, but just to give you an idea of what's been
going on, I am a resident of this neighborhood since 1964. My mother decided to
not buy into Key Biscayne and bought here because she believed in this
neighborhood. It's a beautiful little pocket. It's very -- it was very much like
Coconut Grove. We were actually part of Coconut Grove. Now, what happened is
that, through time, and I've seen the history of this area, is that 16th Avenue, which
went into Bay Heights and Natoma Manor, that got closed off. When that got closed
off, then the State and the County decided to put a light there. So, there 's a light
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within less than a block to a main light. So what has happened is that has been
created into the preferred light from the east -west traffic. What we have become for
the County is an escape valve because -- the only thing that county likes to do is
move cars, and they don't care where they move it, and they like to move it in our
area because it's small, and we are pretty much ignored by everybody. There's --
just to give you an idea, and just so you know, I mean, this area has been neglected
for years, and thanks to Commissioner Carollo, we're here today. There was only
one study done in my area that was included in any study, whether it was the study
for the Roads, the study for anything. It was done in 2004, thanks to then
Commissioner Tomas Regalado, and just to give you a perspective of things, of how
bad it is, just to give you an idea, back in 2004, for instance, my street, which is 23rd
Street between 17th Avenue and 16th Avenue, had a total of 1,451 cars per day in
front of my house, and we only have 13 homes on those two blocks, okay? So, you
have, you know, 16th Avenue, you have one section that has 1,186 cars with ten
homes, and then the other side of 16th Avenue is 1,097 cars with eight homes. Now,
I did some math, and I added up all the streets from this traffic study, and the total
amount of cars that were driving around our neighborhood, which is a very tiny little
pocket, was 8,707 cars with only 220 lots. It doesn 't take a scientist to figure out that
we are a -- becoming a collector for the County, and that needs to stop. The only
thing that's stopping us from having any kind of relief is the County. Now,
according to their Traffic Flow Modification and Street Closure Procedure Manual,
volume criteria 2.4.8.1 reads "Future traffic volumes due to traffic diversion on any
of the residential local streets may not exceed 1,500 vehicles per day. " Hello. I
mean, back in 2004, we already had 1,451. So, we have to be close to 3,000 cars.
The County wants us to do another traffic study. I'm starting to think that, you know,
these engineers are on a payroll, on a year -by -year payroll because I have never
seen so many traffic studies done. We did traffic studies on the D4 side, and every
single study said we have a problem, okay? Now, when you look at my street, my
street is one street looking at five openings, and those five openings in the mornings
are coming my way, all right? Now, closing off 23rd Street would help,
tremendously, the west side of 17th Avenue on my neighbors of -- of Silver Bluff on
the other side. Why? Because they can't go jump over to 22nd Terrace, they can't
jump over to 23rd Street, they can't jump over to 23rd Terrace, okay? On the other
side, the Roads between Third Avenue -- between First and Third Avenue, that's how
they cut through, and then they come in my neighborhood, and then they go into the
west until they keep going and avoid US-1 or avoid Coral Way. Now, one of the
things that the County told us was that on their reasoning for not allowing closures
is because we would be pushing traffic to Coral Way. So, it's okay to push the traffic
inside a little neighborhood, but not okay to put it where it's supposed to be, Coral
Way or US-1. At this point, I think that the County is -- is acting in bad faith with
this situation. We need relief We have parents that have lived in the neighborhood,
when they moved in and I thought, how great, you know, young couples with babies.
After a while, they stopped taking babies in a stroller because people are afraid of
the speed of the cars. I have videos which I couldn't -- you know, with the
presentation, a car driving on the sidewalk, avoiding the garbage truck. I have a --
one time, a person went around me because I was corning out of my driveway, it
drove on the sidewalk of my neighbor across the street. I mean, it's like -- what is
this? You have cars honking you because you 're backing out of your driveway. This
is every day. So right now, we have had because of the pandemic, the silver lining of
the pandemic is that we have, again, felt what the neighborhood was like. We're not
going back to what we had prior to COVID-19, and I hope we have the support of
this Commission to stop this from continuing to happen because I don't know how
many of you have seen the mammoth buildings that they're doing on Douglas and
US -I, and if anybody here thinks for one minute that all those people are going to be
taking the Metrorail, I don't know what to tell you because they're going to be using
Silver Bluff they're going to be doing Golden Pines, and the_y're going to be doing
the Roads to get to downtown and Brickell. So, I'd like to show you some of the
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pictures so that you can understand what I'm talking about. The first picture that
you see here that -- where the cars are, like, stuck there, that is literally a gridlock in
front of my street -- in front of my house because they decided to deviate traffic from
US-1 into the neighborhood. Once they did that, cars were not allowing other cars
to pass the stop sign or go anywhere. So, it was total gridlock for hours. I couldn 't
get to my house. There's a -- the second video that you see there -- the second
picture -- I'm sorry -- that is how it gets on 3rd Avenue because all the cars are now
flowing through 3rd Avenue to get to US-1 and are closing off the entrances to 16th
Avenue. So that becomes a gridlock. The third picture are the cars in the morning
coming out that have cut through the neighborhood to get to 3rd Avenue. This is
conning back in the afternoon. That's 16th Avenue. I mean, it just -- it's -- these are
the trucks. It says, "No Thru Trucks", everywhere -- corning to the neighborhood.
This person, when I went out and took the picture because I couldn't believe it, he
had to get towed because he got stuck on the circle. He thought he could do it. He
really thought he could just cut through this -- the circle. Here are all the trucks that
-- going through the neighborhood to go to Coral Way on 16th Avenue and to go to
17th Avenue on 20 -- this is 23rd Street. That's 23rd Street, double trucks. That's
16th Avenue, and there's clearly, "No Thru Trucks.
Commissioner Reyes: Those are delivery trucks, right?
Ms. Mann: Those are delivery trucks. Those are trucks just cutting through with
Waze or whatever it is that they're using.
Commissioner Reyes: So, even delivery trucks are cutting through your
neighborhood?
Ms. Mann: They're doing deliveries, wherever they go, but they -- they're cutting --
Commissioner Reyes: They cut through,
Ms. Mann: -- through the neighborhood.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Ms. Mann: So, it's enforcement, but how can we get enforcement? We can 't have a
policeman there every clay, and, as it is, back in 2004 when we had the study done
that they said we needed a circle, we got the circle, which was -- there were
supposed to be four circles. We got one circle that was completed, and the County
said that that circle needed to have a four-way stop sign because of the amount of
traffic that we have. So, when the County tells you you have to have the only circle
in the City of Miami with four-way stop sign, you know there's a problem there, and
yet, we continue to be dissed. So, I ask you, please, the City of Miami, we pay taxes.
We pay taxes for the County. I'm not sure why I pay taxes for the County because
they don 't do -- they -- I have no services from the County, other than if I were to use
the Metrorail, use the transit or something which stinks. You know, I mean, I can
hear the trains from my house because they haven't fixed the barriers and that they
should have done since last year, the sound barriers. So, we need a solution. We
needed to get it fixed. I know that my neighbors called this morning and left
recordings. I also know that others wrote e-mails. I have one of my neighbors that
says she sent an e-mail, but it bounced back, but it wasn't taking her e-mail address,
but it's a correct e-mail address, and two of my neighbors here that they can speak
have sat here all day since 10:00 this morning because they want to be heard. We
are really, really just fearing the worst once this pandemic and the flu shots are out
there, and there it's all over, and we all go back to normal, and in the meantime, we
have continued to grow, and Coral Gables keeps growing, and that 's another thing,
Coral Gables. Coral Gables has street closures, and they never get the blessing
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from the County. There were some pictures there, 1 think, from the street closures
that the County -- I mean, Coral Gables just completed recently, and they didn't get
a permit, and what they did for us, they put some shrubs, and that stayed there. They
waited, you know, a year or two, and then they started to build the thing, but there 's
street closures all over Coral Gables without the blessing of the County. So, please
do consider, you know, saving Silver Bluff and putting a stop to this. This is a good
start. It's a small area. It's a small pocket. I think that the whole concept of
stopping -- of the knowing that they can 't go to the 16th Avenue light because they
won 't remove the light, that's going to help us. That's just going to help us stop the
traffic, and if it -- if it's not full closure or it's semi closure, whatever it is, what we
want to do is reduce the amount of cut -through traffic. Two hundred and twenty lots
with over 8,000 cars per day, that's a lot. My street, I'm guaranteeing you, it's up
there in the numbers because, if, in 2004, it was 1,451, those numbers have not gone
down. So, I thank you all for listening to me, and 1 hope you consider our pleas
here, and I'll let my neighbors speak, and I just want to thank Commissioner Carollo
because he has really, truly kept his word. He is a Commissioner for the little
underdog because that's what we are. We're a little pocket with maybe 150, you
know, voters. So, what happens is that we're not important. Lives are important.
We are important. Please fax this problem.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments and thank you for your patience
being here all day today listening to us, and now we get to listen to you and respect
you. Mr. -- Mayor Suarez, you wanted to address?
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll be very brief. I just want to support the
petition of the neighbors. Their quality of life has been decimated over the years as
obviously our downtown has grown more and more and non-residents, particularly,
have used their neighborhood to get to work and to get back home. I think doing
something about this particular neighborhood would have a benefit, you know, a
quality of life benefit not just for the neighborhood, but also for some of the
neighborhoods that are to the west of the neighborhood because it would create a
barrier that would prevent the cars from saving time, and I want to commend
Commissioner Carollo, who has really been on this issue from day one. I think all of
us at different points of our career have -- our Commission career and our Mayoral
career feel frustration of sometimes having a county that doesn't quite work fast
enough or doesn't listen or doesn't make the improvements that really benefit our
residents and their quality of life. So I just wanted to chime in, and I know all of you
have worked really hard to improve the quality of life of our residents, and that's one
of the things that we sell, and that's one of the reasons why I didn't get a chance to
chime in on the other item, but I think that's one of the reason why we're winning
this sort of global competition of people wanting to move here because we offer a
premium quality of life, and so I just wanted to support the petition of the neighbors.
Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Joan Ferrante: Hello, I'm Joan Ferrante, and I live on 16th Avenue and 23rd Street
since 1989, and we really have a problem there. I cannot get out of any driveway a
lot because I live right on the corner, and there's also a stop sign there that has been
instructed there, and also the traffic light also has a stop sign at east side. So, I
really support Beba and all of your Commissioners to help us do something with our
traffic stops there in Silver Bluff Thank you very much.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Gloria Fox: I'm Gloria Fox and I live at 1674 Southwest 23rd Street, which is one
house away from the corner on 23rd Street. So let me tell you that 23rd Street is -- I
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get people coming in off 17th Avenue onto my street and 1 mean, it's nonstop. It's
like all morning and all evening, and it's nonstop. It really is. And in fairness to
Joan, the woman who just spoke before me -- forgive my French, but her house is
like where the people who have nowhere else to go, come. They go past her house
like the hammers of hell. And when they go past her house they don 't slow down.
They don't stop. And Beba was showing you the traffic circle. The one traffic circle
we got has got cars that stop in the middle of it that are, you know, broken down
there. And we have such a terrible situation, though I can 't describe it to you I can -
- I tried to explain it, but I'm not as good as explaining it as Beba is and she really --
I've lived here longer than Joan. Because when June and her husband bought the
house that was on 16th and 23rd Street I was just -- I had already lived there for a
few years. So, I've been there longer, not as long as Beba, but longer than Joan has
been there. And let me just tell you that what we saw at 23rd Street is horrible.
What's goning on since 2004 has been horrendous and -- so please do something to
help resolve this. Whatever you can do, we appreciate. So, thank you very much.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you for your comments.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. You're recognized.
Commissioner Reyes: 1 -- since I've -- first day that 1 got elected that 1 been
working. And on the point --1 mean, on the cut through traffic on Silver Bluff. And
unfortunately, we even developed a plan to avoid people crossing 22nd Avenue into -
- going east -- 1 mean or coming west. And that plan was first accepted by the
County and later on it was rejected. And it's -- also every time that we have
proposed the closure of any street, any street -- as a matter of fact, Joe, I think that
we had a vote. You proposed a vote on closing one of the streets and we voted for it.
We voted closing all the streets in the western part of Silver Bluff and the County has
been adamant, have been totally opposed to it. I hope that now that we have -- we're
going to have a different person in charge of transit in the County maybe we can go
back and plead our case and see if we can try to place as many impediments for
people to cross those -- I mean, go -- cut through traffic -- the traffic or in front of
your homes and be, as we propose, one-way street. Changing direction to the street.
Closure of certain streets and placing in like in -- on 22nd Avenue, making it
impossible for them to -- I mean, cross -- coming across they will have to maneuver.
Turn and turn again on all of that. Making it for -- more difficult, instead of make --
gain ten minutes they will lose 20, you see, but I -- on my part -- on my side, I going
to keep on trying and I will give my whole -hearted support to any measure that
Commissioner Carollo undertakes or whatever it takes to help you guys. And I'm
very concerned about the western part -- the whole Silver Bluff neighborhood. It's a
shame that we couldn't enact the program that we had there. It's a shame. And you
saw it Beba, you see.
Ms. Mann: Mr. Chairman, may I just say something. Commissioner Reyes
absolutely correct. You had some great proposals for 22nd Avenue that I believe
were rejected out of spite --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Ms. Mann: -- not out of logic.
Commissioner Reyes: I think so too.
Ms. Mann: Okay. I think that by closing 23rd Street on my side and doing the
closures that you already voted in favor of doing --
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Commissioner Reyes: Uh-huh.
Ms. Mann: -- last year, that is a great start because then you can get a better
reading of how that has helped 22nd, 23rd, and 23rd Terrace. 24th Street and 24th
Terrace are a separate, separate, problem.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Ms. Mann: 24th Terrace is a nightmare.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah. It is.
Ms. Mann: Okay. And it's -- especially between 17th Avenue and 22nd Avenue.
Commissioner Reyes: That's true. Absolutely right.
Ms. Mann: Okay. So, there has to be a way where we can have -- and our approach
originally was to be more holistic, was to have it stop from 22nd Avenue, but
everybody stayed open. But you know what happened. The rest is history. So, at
this point, we need to take it where logically we can stop the bleeding and then work
from there to fix the rest of the problem because it's a big problem. But I guarantee
you that the moment you take away their 16th Avenue light half of the problem is
going to be gone, because they're going to have to stay in line for 22nd Avenue and
they're going to have to stay in line for 20 -- 17th and for 20. They're not going to do
it. They wanted that fast move and get to 3rd Avenue to get to Brickell to, you know,
just use our neighborhood. So, I think it's wonderful to hear that we may have some
luck. And as you know -- I mean, I don't know. I sent it to some of the
Commissioners. You know, the County has not been very fair with us.
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Ms. Mann: And they've done things in an underminded [sic] way that -- that has
hurt us. Because all it did was set us back from years of work that we have put in as
a community with input with -- you know, not everybody agrees and not everybody,
you know -- but we cannot use the excuse of oh, I'm inconvenienced because so am I
And they can't use the excuse, well, you know, we're all taxpayers. All the streets
are everybody. Well, then guess what, my taxes should be lowered because they're
using my street a lot more than they're using 23rd Terrace, to use an example. So,
you know, they're -- people will do anything and say anything to work against you,
but we do have a problem and --
Commissioner Reyes: I do understand.
Ms. Mann: -- and we need to fix it.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Ms. Mann: Thank you so much and thank you for letting me speak again.
Commissioner Reyes: Thankyou.
Vice Chair Russell: Thankyou.
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
DI.4 DISCUSSION ITEM
8434
Commissioners
and Mayor
A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING AN UPDATE ON HIRING OF
THE BUDGET DIRECTOR.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: Item DL4 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Vice Chair Russell: Discussion items. Commissioner Carollo, which items would you
like to take up or defer based on the manager's presence?
Commissioner Carollo: The Manager's not here, so I would like to out of courtesy to
the manager in -- on the fact that he might be able to provide additional information
that we might not get otherwise, and directions. I'd like to go ahead and defer my
discussion items, DI.4 through DI.10 for the next meeting.
Vice Chair Russell: Motion to defer DI.4 through 10.
Commissioner Watson: Move.
Vice Chair Russell: Just a moment.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, just for the record, Commissioner Carollo, we
did continue iteni DI8, homelessness, to coincide with another item for February
l l th.
Vice Chair Russell: So, not including that.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, you're correct. We did that already. So, it will be all
those DI.4 through 10, less 8 that we had done already.
Vice Chair Russell: Moved by Commissioner Dias de la Portilla, seconded by the
Chair. All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
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Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
DI.5 DISCUSSION ITEM
8435
Commissioners
and Mayor
DI.6
8436
Commissioners
and Mayor
A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING AN UPDATE ON HIRING OF
THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: Item DL5 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item DL5, please see Item DL4.
DISCUSSION ITEM
A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING AN UPDATE ON HIRING OF
POLICE CHIEF.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: Item DI.6 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item DL 6, please see Item DL4.
DI.7 DISCUSSION ITEM
8437 A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING PARKS.
Commissioners
and Mayor
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: Item DI. 7 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, Cu-)
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item DI. 7, please see Item DL4.
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DI.8 DISCUSSION ITEM
8438 A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING HOMELESSNESS.
Commissioners
and Mayor
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Jeffrey Watson, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: Item DL8 was continued to the February 11, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item DL 8, please see Item CA.3.
DI.9 DISCUSSION ITEM
8439 A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING ILLEGAL DUMPING.
Commissioners
and Mayor
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: Item DL9 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item DL 9, please see Item DL4.
DI.10 DISCUSSION ITEM
8440 A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING THE GIFT CARD PROGRAM.
Commissioners
and Mayor
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ken Russell, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Watson
ABSENT: Reyes
Note for the Record: Item DL10 was deferred to the January 28, 2021, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item DI.10, please see Item DL4.
END OF DISCUSSION ITEMS
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NA.1
8489
City Commission
NA - NON -AGENDA ITEM(S)
DISCUSSION ITEM
COMMISSIONER REYES REQUESTED A MOMENT OF SILENCE
FOR THE LATE OSVALDO SOTO.
RESULT: PRESENTED
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair, if you give me a moment. I know that -- I noticed
the break in the voice of our City Attorney just because she is very sad, as we are all
-- all of us are, that a great attorney, a great man, that -- that he was a mentor of
many of the key men attorneys in Miami, and he'd passed a couple of days. And I
would like to ask a moment of silence to honor the memory of Osvaldo Soto. Thank
you very much.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Commissioner Reyes.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you, Commissioner.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Madam City Attorney.
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NA.2
8488
City Commission
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL MEASURES TO
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A VACCINATION PROCESS FOR
ALL FIRST PHASE ELIGIBLE HOMEBOUND CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY") RESIDENTS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXECUTIVE
ORDER NO. 20-315; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER
TO ENSURE THAT, IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH STATE OF
FLORIDA ("STATE") AND FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS,
THE ADMINISTRATION OF VACCINES BY THE CITY
PRIORITIZES, FIRST AND FOREMOST SENIOR CITIZENS LIVING
WITHIN THE CITY; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER
TO ENTER INTO DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STATE RELATING TO
THE NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF VACCINATIONS THAT MAY
BE PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO CITY RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE
OF SIXTY FIVE (65) IN THE AREAS OF THEIR GREATEST
CONCENTRATION; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO
PRIORITIZE, IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH STATE AND
FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, THE ADMINISTRATION OF
VACCINES BY THE CITY TO ELIGIBLE CITY RESIDENTS AND
ELIGIBLE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY
LIMITS; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO COORDINATE
WITH THE MAYOR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF LARGE DRIVE -THROUGH VACCINATION
ADMINISTRATION SITES WITHIN THE CITY, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AUDITORIUM,
CHARLES HADLEY PARK, AND MIAMI MARINE STADIUM;
FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP A
PLAN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 20-315
AND OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL RULES AND GUIDELINES,
DETAILING THE CITY'S PROCEDURES FOR ADMINISTERING
VACCINES PROVIDED TO THE CITY BY THE STATE, WITH SAID
PLAN INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: PLANS FOR A
DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM OF WALK UP SITES, THE
DEPLOYMENT OF MOBILE UNITS TO LOW INCOME ELDERLY
HOUSING PROJECTS, PLANS TO BRING THE VACCINES
DIRECTLY TO AREAS AND FACILITIES WITH THE GREATEST
CONCENTRATION OF SENIOR CITIZENS, SAID PLAN SHALL BE
COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020;
AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL
STEPS TO SEEK THE RECOVERY FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY,
THE STATE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF ALL COSTS
RELATED TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF VACCINES; FURTHER
DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT ADDITIONAL
VACCINATION PROCESSES TO PROVIDE VACCINATIONS FOR
ALL HOMEBOUND CITY RESIDENTS MADE ELIGIBLE BY
SUBSEQUENT EMERGENCY ORDERS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0013
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MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Alex Diaz de Ia Portilla, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de Ia Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item NA.2, please see
"Order of the Day."
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to add any Pocket Items that any commissioners have
this morning, to be added to the agenda at this point, and I'll make a list to it by the
end of the day.
Commissioner Reyes: I'll have one that you have in your -- in your -- in your
property, which is directing the City Manager and administration to find all the
resources required to provide vaccination to those residents of the City of Miami that
are homebound, and that have any physical or mental impediments and they cannot
go to the vaccination facility to visit them and prepare a mobile unit as they did with
the testing. That program that they had. It was in -home testing, and it would -- what
I want to do is to have that in -home vaccination, you see.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. I have a copy of that. We'll call it P1.1,
Commissioner Reyes' resolution on homebound vaccination, 1'd be happy to co-
sponsor that with you.
Commissioner Reyes: Thank you, sir.
[Later...]
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I also have a Pocket Item sort of related to what
Commissioner Reyes has done. This is more specific, I know we're going to have a
presentation today. I got sort of a preview of it last night from Robert Ilia [sic] of
how we're going to vaccinate our -- the City of Miami residents. So, there's more
specific that deals with low-income elderly housing unit, deploying mobile unit to
that area, and also decentralizing the effort so that we don't do it in one place that
we did with a COVID testing initially, that we were only doing it at Marlins Park.
And we think that a decentralization works because it allows people a geographic
proximity to where the sites would be. It also allows for walk-ups, instead of drive -
ups. Because a lot of these people that are the most vulnerable citizens don 't have
the -- don't have cars, don't drive. And of course, the homebound citizens, as
Commissioner Reyes mentioned, are the ones that are the ones that we need to be
paying attention to first and foremost. So, this sort of deals with in a more specific
way with what we need to direct the -- our Fire Department to do. And also, it sets a
date. We can no longer, I think, wait for next week or the following week, so we
discussed that we need to start this program on Monday, this next Monday, January
18th. And because, the -- as we all know, there's been a lot of a -- the back -and -
forth. You know, people from Argentina, from Canada, tourists, you know, medical
tourists coming over, and get back -- taking our vaccines from our seniors, and
having, you know, that -- that -- that very limited supply depleted by outsiders that
are coining to our city. So, I think the City of Miami, our responsibility is to City of
Miami residents. We govern the City of Miami, we don 't govern any other country
or any other entity. And I think we should prioritize our citizens, our seniors in
particular, our most vulnerable citizens. And I think the best and fastest way to get to
them is to get -- go directly into the Senior Housing Projects and just address it. For
example, I know in Smathers Center in Commissioner Reyes' district, a Residential
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Plaza in mine, and we have a long list of centers that we could easily vaccinate their
citizens.
Commissioner Reyes: And --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And our vulnerable citizens quicker and
efficiently. I know we have about 500 available vaccines, and let me finish a minute,
Commissioner.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no, no, no.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1 just want to get a little background. I had a
conversation last Thursday with Jared Moskowitz, who was a -- the head of the
Division of Emergency Management Services in Florida. And he had committed or
told me that they had committed to doing 1,000 vaccines a day, specifically to the
City of Miami, starting yesterday. Now it didn 't happen. And I spoke to the Mayor
yesterday and this morning and he said that he 's expecting it -- for it to happen next
week at some point. But those thousand, that's 1,000 a day to the City of Miami
should be reserved, I think, and specifically targeted to our residents in the City of
Miami. Obviously, according to the Governor's mandate or order, that it's 65 and
older and that we -- that we go to people that cannot come to us first and foremost.
What this Pocket Item does, it's sort of a we can probably do it together. Maybe I'll
amend it to yours, Commissioner Reyes. But I want to be very, very specific when
they give us our -- their presentation, and they'll say, well later on today, 1 believe.
We want to make sure that we don't talk about this option and that option, and
Department of Health is doing that, and Jackson Hospital is doing that, and Baptist
Hospital is doing this, and Miami -Dade County is doing that. I don't care about any
of that. I care about what the City of Miami is going to do proactively, and how our
citizens, not anybody from any other nation, or any other entity, or any other place
comes here to get our vaccines, and that's how we are going to target our people
first and foremost.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. Mr. Reyes?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I don't think that they should be competing Pocket Items.
I think that both of them could pass it. The only thing that I'm going to suggest is
that to amend yours and leave that mobile part out that will be taken care of by the --
by, my Pocket Item, and that we can pass both of them. And in reference to what you
are stating, I agreed with you 100 percent, and then to that effect, I've been working
with county commissioners, Regalado and Soso, in order for them to expedite the
vaccination in site of senior citizens. That senior residents of those HUD (United
States Department of Housing and Urban Development) places. And Raquel --
(UNINTELLIGLIBLE), she told me that she was presenting a plan and requesting
from the -- from the County. The older the -- I mean, the establishment of that
program, we have to take into consideration. And I also spoke with the City Manager
about -- when -- before he got -- I mean, last week, I don't know what they were
doing in order to start such a program. And I was informed and I think the Fire
Chief would attest to that, that they were working in such a program. And that since
we don't control any of the vaccine, we have to go through the State, that they were
working directly with the State in Jackson and the County, tfying to get the vaccines
to start that program of that you were -- and that I think it is necessary. But going
back, I suggest that instead of having two competing Pocket Items --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We 're not -- we are not competing, we 're
complimentary.
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Commissioner Reyes: A complimentary. Goodness. We might -- both of them would
come forward just with a minor -- with a minor amendment.
Vice Chair Russell: So separate items, not enjoined but amended?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Amended -- just amended.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. What well, but I think it's important
because of the -- just if you would allow me?
Commissioner Reyes: Of course.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know we're going to have a discussion about it.
I know what your preferences, Chair, to hear that -- that presentation from the Fire
Department. But I think it's important that this be -- that a distinction be made
between once again -- do we have to once again go to the County Commission or to
the County Government to get our vaccines? My conversation, that was two entities
at the State -level that are distributing these vaccines, right? The Department of
Health and the Division of Emergency Management, correct? This little, you know,
income group, you know, it's a little bit of a lack of coordination on the State side,
right? But how many vaccines the City of Miami gets, it comes straight to us,
independent of what Jackson gets.
Vice Chair Russell: I agree.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Independent of what Baptist, Mount Sinai,
everybody else in Miami -Dade County. What comes to us? What program to do we,
City of Miami, do we have in place, specifically to how many we're getting from
DOH, Department of Health, how many we're getting from Moskowitz, and how
many we're getting from the county? But that program, where we control at least,
where we know we're going to get, we don't want to promise our citizens. I'm sure
you're getting it, Commissioner Reyes, I'm sure you're getting it, Chair, and
Commissioner Watson, you 're getting calls every day. These reports are coming out,
and they're saying, hey, this person from Argentina got vaccinated, this person from
Canada got vaccinated, Brazil, all kinds of different stories, different, and that 's just
- - it's bad press and it's -- it's not -- it's unwarranted, it's unfair. Because, you
know, because other people control the supply. This commission, and this body, and
this governmental entities should not be blamed for the lack of vaccinations that are
- - that -- that we -- the problem we have right now with lack of vaccinations, right,
and the ability to vaccinate.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. So for --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: My idea would be to have a concrete with a
specific time frame from our Fire Department. I know that Mr. Hevia is working on
it late last night, you have a plan to present to us, but enough talk, right? How about
a plan, when are we going to start? And that's one of my Pocket Item, that's why I
did the Pocket Item. I want a start date, I want a moment that we 're going to start
doing it, I want to know how many vaccines are going to be available so we can start
calling our physicians and say, hey, Smothers Center, we have 40 vaccine corning
your way. Hey, Residential Plaza, we have 100. Hey, Robert King High, we have
50, right? We need to know.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Right.
Vice Chair Russell: I -- gentlemen, just -- just -- Commissioners.
Commissioner Reyes: That 's why it's important to me.
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Vice Chair Russell: Just a moment. It is very important, but I'm just trying to set the
order of the day with all the Pocket Items
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. hut --
Vice Chair Russell: We can actually take this one first because it is our --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Actually you're right. Let's -- let's -- let's
have the order of the day and then take up the --
Commissioner Reyes: 1 want to make a little comment.
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: I do agree with you, Commissioner, with that one. We have to
have our own program. I mean, and what I've been referring to is not to have a -- I
mean, definitely get somebody else a program. We need our own program and -- but
definitely we have to get the vaccine from the Governor -- from the State. And that's
what I was trying to say. Get the vaccine to -- from the State and start vaccinating
those people that are in those buildings, and then they are at homebound.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct.
Commissioner Reyes: 1 know people that are -- that aren't residents, they are
homebound. That's why I -- the only thing that I'm asking is yours, to make the
friendly amendment, getting mobile wishes, what I am proposing, and the State could
compliment themselves.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Agree. Yes. We're on the same page.
Commissioner Reyes: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. Are there any other Pocket Items to be entered into the
order of the day? Are you aware of any, Mr. Clerk?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Chairman?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, City Attorney?
Ms. Mendez: The Mayor has one. If -- he's asked for me to read it.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: Mayor Suarez would like to put forward a Pocket Item directing the
City Manager and the City Attorney to take all the legal actions to prevent non-
residents of the City of Miami from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine before the
elderly and vulnerable populations, and the general population of the City of Miami.
Commissioner Reyes: I would like to co-sponsor that one.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I agree with that one. I think we have found the
one. That's okay. We -- we're good to go.
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Vice Chair Russell: That's right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right. So that's we're good to go.
Commissioner Reyes: I co-sponsor that one. I want to co-sponsor.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll think that I'll co-sponsor it too. I think the
amendment, I mean, Mr. Chair, the -- it's immoral, unethical, and, you know,
downright wrong jbr people from -- people that have means available to them and
resources available to cut the line, skip the line and come the first. And what we've
seen in the press and where we -- and on the phone calls we've been getting, whether
it's Mount Sinai to give them to their members or to their foundation, to contributor
for Jackson Hospital giving to their board members, that's immoral in my opinion.
And so we need to make a very clear statement today. The Mayor 's Pocket Item,
Commissioner Reyes Pocket Item, my Pocket Item. I think we 're all on agreement
here that no one here is going to skip the line. First, our number I priority are to
our most vulnerable, our immediate citizens, and we're going to go to them, we're
going to vaccinate them. And all of these reports that other entities are doing things
that perhaps, you know, somebody in the Baptist Hospital accepted that they have --
were doing it, that some of the foundation members were getting it first, some people
that are under 65 are getting it first too. I've -- you know, I'm not -- I haven't gotten
vaccinated, I don't want to set an example. I think I will get vaccinate once the
people that really need to be vaccinated are might as well -- are vaccinated. But
you're different, Commissioner Reyes. You're clearly in that vulnerable group --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no, no. That's not it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Not just because you're older, not much older
but you're a little bit older than me.
Commissioner Reyes: I know what you mean.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So I'll get it. Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: Understood, Commissioners, I'm going to add PL4 from the
Mayor, non-residents vaccine schedule to the vaccine act that we are putting
together.
Commissioner Watson: Vaccine act, is it like completed now?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. Are there anymore Pocket Items with --
Commissioner Watson: You know, Mr. Chairman, let me -- let me just say this right
quick because I did not weigh in per se as relates to the vaccine. But I think, you
know, we should make a statement as well to all of our seniors and to everyone. I
think not many people realize the history that African Americans have had with
vaccines testing, right? Let me just put this on the record for people who are
vulnerable. This has not been rushed. These companies were paid to put everything
down in all the time necessary, coming up with something that would work. So it's
not something to take lightly. It's not something they did side, you know, side door.
Most doctors are saying that it's safe because they were paid to do nothing but this
from the time that this happened. And I think is important for the residents to
understand it because there's a lot of people who are planning not to take it because
it's a vaccine. But I think it's important for then to also understand the companies
were paid to do nothing but this. So rather than the normal time they would take to
corning to market with a drug, they were paid to do nothing but this, to come to
market with this drug.
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Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
[Later...]
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo, good morning. You have a pocket item
you'd like to add?
Commissioner Carollo: I do. And I appreciate that the Commission waited for the
pocket items for my arrival. I have a pocket item that is different than the one that 's
being presented. It has to do with COVID shots. I have been in conversations with
Mayor Cava, and Chief Rollason, who is the emergency management chief for
Mayor Cava. The County is looking -- well, let me go back. First of all, I think we
have to understand the realities that we're living. We're getting very few vaccines to
our county. So how much the County, therefore, us to do with the County is going to
be very limited for the meantime until more vaccines come into play. So, what
they've asked me to do is to confirm two sites that the city would like so that they
could begin. The only thing that they 're going to be able to do the quickest, which is
the drive -through shots. There are two locations that we have discussed. One is
City -owned property, one is County. So, my resolution will be to request of the
County, and endorse the amphitheater location that they have on Flagler as one site
that's in your district Commissioner Reyes, and that the other would be that we
asked them to do one in the north end, a city -owned facility, Hadley Park, which has
plenty of room to do what we need to. Now, part of the problem that we have for
giving the shots, is that this is not like the drive thru testing that we 've had before.
You take your test, you move on. You 're coming through with a car. There has to be
enough room for people to stay there, for at least 15 minutes. Because this is quite
different. They have to make sure that there are no side effects before someone
drives out. So that's the first part of the resolution. The second, once they get more
vaccines into the works, would be, and of course on the first, that we would offer our
paramedics to work along with the County, State, and Federal personnel. The
second stage that I would offer in -- in this resolution, would be that they bring
mobile units beginning to elderly facilities, where they will use the facilities there to
be able to give the elderly first shots. They could sit in different lunchrooms that are
not being used now, or locations. And we will be looking for areas that have a high
concentration of elderlies, either living in the place or resident that can come to that
place. Residents of the city of Miami. For my district, and you know, we shouldn 't
put too many. I would suggest that we do a couple for each district. I don 't think
Commissioner Russell has as many elderly residents in his district. So, he might do
one and Commissioner Watson can then do three because he has a very large
district. But I would suggest that each of us proffer a couple of sites. I'm sure that
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla will want Three Towers as one. He might want
one for the Flagami area. Commissioner Reyes, I'm sure wants Smothers and then
he would want one maybe towards the other part of his district. Commissioner
Watson has a very large spread out district, so he's going to need about three. And I
think your area of concentration is, you know, right in the West Grove. You have
one elderly senior citizens site, right off US-1 in -- in -- yeah in 37th.
Vice Chair Russell: We have one in Brickell as well.
Commissioner Carollo: So, if we, you know, once I bring up this resolution, if each
of you could proffer at least two, no more than the three sites. I think all of us could
handle two, Commissioner Watson's got a much wider district, so I think he would
need three. So, we could include these as the priority ones to start with once they
have ample supplies above and beyond the drive thru facilities that we 're proffering.
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And of course, I'm glad our poli -- our fire chief is here. You would look at all these
sites Chief and report to the County, to Chief Rollason, whom has told me has had a
very good relationship working with you. So, I'm very happy to hear that. And let
him know, you know, what we have found in each of these sites. So, when they're
ready, we don't waste any time and we could immediately, you know, start going.
And what -- I think we're all in agreement with that, our senior population needs
priority in this. Unfortunately, unlike COVID testing, it is going to be a real
challenge. Certainly, in the early stages, but it's going to be a challenge early,
middle, late stages to go to which residents for those inbound seniors. But I think we
nevertheless have to hope that we could come up with something that will -- will
work. So that's going to be my resolution.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it.
Commissioner Carollo: The only thing is that each of you are going to proffer two
locations for each of your districts. Commissioner Watson, I think would need three
because of the size of the district. And we will be requesting from the County.
Hadley Park in the north end and the Dade County auditorium site in the south end,
as to, to drive thru facilities for shots that were requested in the city of Miami.
Apparently, we don't have too many other locations. The only thing that I would
suggest that we discuss, but 1 don't want to make this controversial. The Marlins are
-- I think they're starting up some games in February. So, the parking lots that are
being used that I guess we agreed to because the only time they have access to them
is during game time. And they've been used for many activities not during game
time. I think in February, they're trying to see how they could have the use of those
lots again for parking. So, if that 's the case, we're going to lose one site for people
will be testing for COVID. So, I don't necessarily want to include this in this motion
unless you all would want me to, but one possible site that's a little out of the way
but is close enough to all the 95 to get in and out highways that 's big enough to do
something of that sort would be our marine stadium. I don 't know, and I suggested
that if that's done, that we're going to have to waive tolls for that time, but if you
want to include this site as a third potential site that they could use for either or
both, you'll let me know. If not, I'll just leave it in the two other sites.
Vice Chair Russell: I think it's a good idea. I think we'll have more sites than
vaccine at this point, but --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm going to add that as P15, Commissioner Carollo 's addition
to the --
Commissioner Reyes: I want to co-sponsor the --
Vice Chair Russell: -- vaccine act of the City of Miami.
Commissioner Reyes: I want to co-sponsor Commissioner Carollo.
Vice Chair Russell: So, I have a recommendation, Commissioners, so that we 're
sending a unified message to the County and others that need to hear this: That we
open up discussion on the side, and we hear from the Chief with his
recommendations and plan and his comments on the recommendations that have
been made before us --
Commissioner Reyes: And then --
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Vice Chair Russell: -- that the City Attorney capture all the items relevant so it's in
a very organized fashion of what we're asking of the different agencies --
Commissioner Carollo: True.
Vice Chair Russell: -- and that we pass one resolution that we all co-sponsor
together. That would simplify things since we're all really on the same page here,
but --
Commissioner Carollo: Absolutely.
Vice Chair Russell: -- everyone's brought unique ideas that --
Commissioner Carollo: That --
Commissioner Reyes: -- are very positive.
Commissioner Carollo: I have no problem with that, and I think you will find that
what I brought up is part of what our fire chief has been in conversations with the
County already. So, they just wanted for us to do precisely that: To speak in one
voice as to what we want so that we can move forward in a new era of cooperation
between the City and the County in the most important issue that's before any of our
governmental bodies today.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. So, we're taking up P1.1, P1.3, P1.4, and PI5.
Chief Zahralban, you have the floor.
Joseph Zahralban: Thank you, sir. Chairman, Commissioners, Joseph Zahralban,
Fire Chief, Department of Fire -Rescue. As you can imagine, over the past days and
weeks, we have been attempting to coordinate with our partners, our -- at the federal
level, the state level, the local level, and it has been challenging, to say the least.
Due in large part to those challenges that we've been experiencing, we felt it
necessary to develop a plan, which is essentially a road map. And the road map is
designed to address the needs of the City of Miami and to help others that are going
to assist us understand the needs of the City of Miami and to provide, as well, to the
County, to our state and federal partners, our -- our needs, while identifying our
overall goals, which are in large part reflective of what you -all have mentioned here
today. So, in essence, it's not just a plan, but it's a needs assessment. And this plan
or assessment is incredibly important because, to put it very simply, and I have to
emphasize this, we cannot do this alone. This initiative is of a size and scope akin to
a military operation, and we would be doing a disservice to our citizens if we did
anything less than request resources, such as the National Guard, to assist us in this
endeavor. Now, that's not beyond the realm of possibility. As a matter of fact, at
Marlins Park right now, we have approximately 50 national guardsmen and women
who assist us with testing, and they have worked valiantly under our command
structure for approximately the last nine months. At this point, with your permission,
I'd like to briefly discuss the plan that you have in front of you in broad strokes.
Initially, you have an introduction and a problem statement. And one of the most
important elements of this section is that it identifies the fact that the program will
not be successful without the collaboration and the partnership of the County and
state emergency management, as well as the Florida Department of Health and
private organizations. Then we briefly go on to discuss City of Miami demographics.
And we speak about what makes Miami unique, such as our elderly population. And
we've already spoken about how vulnerable our elderly population is, and also our
challenges related to income, both of which make it more difficult for our residents
to access points of distribution. Additionally, recognizing that we represent
approximately 17 percent of the County population but represent about 25 percent of
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the overall positive cases. Next, we get into major points of distribution, otherwise
known as PODs. These are intended to target individuals, or target participation by
vehicle. We have identified three main sites. The first site is the largest site, which
is Marine Stadium on Virginia Key, which the Commissioner had mentioned. Why?
Because of the size of that site and the capability with regard to volume, we estimate
we could put through -- again, assuming we have the given resources or the needed
resources, approximately 47,000 people a week. Next, we have Miami -Dade County
Auditorium at 23,000 a week. And finally, Marlins Park as a drive -through site at
about 10,000 a week. And the reason Marlins Park's number is a little lower is
because we also have the balance of testing. Where we would work on a transition
process, we begin to phase out testing as we phased in vaccinations. Then we
identify walk-up vaccination sites. We identify seven within this plan. The Manuel
Artime Theater, Hadley Park, Regatta Park, Duarte Park, Jose Marti, West End
Park, Curtis Park. Each of them have a walk-up site, after looking at the site plan of
these specific locations, are estimated to have a capability of about 4,000 per week,
which would yield a total of about 28,000 per week. Nursing homes and group
homes. Both Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of
Emergency Management have committed strike teams, consisting of CVS,
Walgreens, and private ambulance providers to reach out into our community and --
and render assistance to those who need it. Assisted living facilities, or ALFs. Both
of -- the Florida Department of Emergency Management has partnered with CDR
Maguire, which is a private company, to provide services to ALFs within the County.
Now, we intend to assist in coordinating those efforts through the private providers,
specifically as it relates to the prioritization of services, using a data -driven
approach and recognizing our local knowledge and the role that it plays. And as we
speak about local knowledge, 1'd be remiss if 1 didn't recognize the value and
expertise contained within each of your offices, and any recommendations, such as
the ones I've heard here this morning, any recommendations would be greatly
appreciated and can be incorporated into this plan anytime throughout this process,
as this plan is intended to be a living document that can be modified at any point in
time. Next, the plan addresses what 1 know is dear to all of you, which is the mobile
vaccination program. That targets our population of age 65 and older homebound
residents. We divided the plan into two distinct areas of operation. First, mobile
points of distribution, or mobile PODs, and then mobile vaccination units. A mobile
POD would have a capability of approximately 60 to 80 vaccinations per day
throughout an operational period. They're designed to operate in one specific
location, with an ad -- the advantage of being able to be moved from day to day to
sites where the need is the greatest, such as, let's say, our public housing or our
senior -only resident facilities. Our mobile vaccination unit, in contrast, is reserved
for the most severely disabled of our elderly population, those that are unable to
leave their residence, and these units, although admittedly, they are inefficient from
a numbers and a volume perspective, they provide a critical service to our elderly
population who struggle to travel. The capability of these units, much smaller in
comparison, only about 10 to 15 people a day, because, as has been mentioned by
Commissioner Carollo, you're registering patients, you're administering a vaccine,
then you're observing the individual, the patient, for 15 minutes to ensure that
they're not having side effects, and then you're traveling to the next site. So, the
average time is 30 to 45 minutes per patient. Again, not very efficient from a
numbers and volume perspective, but a critical need throughout the community. The
inefficiency of that particular service, of both services actually, as you compare them
to the drive -through sites, they demand an effective transportation plan just to
address the sheer volume that accompanies an endeavor of this magnitude. And it's
with an overall goal of leveraging both public and private partnerships, with a goal
of transporting as many people to our walk-up sites as possible, and then what
remains are the truly vulnerable population that require the catered service. And the
plan goes on to identify the utilization of schools for children, when we get to that
point, but to be honest, we didn 't include much detail in that because we fully expect
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the school board to engage on this issue. So, in summary, you can see that we 've
developed a robust plan, but it requires a whole -of -community approach. It's of a
size and scope that no one entity alone could do, and it would just be simply
overwhelming, cost prohibitive, and incredibly resource -intense. But the beauty of
the plan is that it can function as a menu, where you can select services based upon
need and based upon the resources that have been provided by both the federal,
state, county, and our private partners. For example, we were informed by the State
that they would like us to be prepared to retool Marlins Park, and initially they
asked us to open by Monday, this Monday. And then they call -- recognizing that
this changes from hour -to -hour, just about 30 minutes ago, they called back and said
that they wanted to push it back to Wednesday, where we would start delivering
about 1,000 vaccines per day, and our goal is to show them that we 're capable of
processing many more than that and increase that number. And what we 've done is
we've already created an Incident Action Plan for that site and for the dissemination
of vaccine, and it allows us to check Marlins Park off of our needs assessment and
move onto the next priority. Focusing on the next priority, again, within the
limitations of resource allocation, which, in large part, is primarily personnel, and,
of course, limited by vaccine availability. Finally, I'd be remiss if I did not thank a
couple of people. He -- his name was mentioned earlier, Assistant Fire Chief Robert
Hevia from our Emergency Management Division, Assistant Fire Chief Scott Dean,
in charge of our Special Operations Command, and Assistant Fire Chief Robert
Jorge, who was in charge of our Health and EMS (Emergency Medical Support)
Division. And, of course, their staffs, who worked very hard putting this plan
together, some of which we just allowed to go to sleep at 6.•00 this morning. As well
as the City Manager, all of you, our elected officials, for your unwavering support.
Obviously, you can understand that this is going to be a -- an incredible undertaking,
and we couldn't do it without the entire team being on board. So again, we thank
you, and I'd be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
Commissioner Reyes: Through the Chair --
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Through the chair --
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes, you're recognized.
Commissioner Reyes: Chief I congratulate you. I think you have captured the
concern that every one of us had here, and then you had concentrated on -- in the --
in this plan. My question is: How physical is it to implement this plan, and how fast
can we do it? Because I know there is a shortage of vaccines. And I think that that 's
going to be the immediate constraint implementing this plan, and the -- I mean, the --
that could -- the magnitude of the plan and it requires a large number of vaccines.
And also, I -- a question: What type of vaccine? Because -- since I had it, had
information that at certain areas, or -- or certain sites cannot be -- they are not able
to provide the Pfizer vaccine because they don't have the ability to keep them at the
temperature that they should be. And are we are going to get different type of
vaccines according to where they're going to be -- the program is going to be
implemented?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, Commi --
Commissioner Reyes: Moderna doesn't need the type of refrigeration that the Pfizer
needs.
Mr. Zahralban: You 're absolutely correct, Commissioner. Thank you for the
question. First, to your first point, a timeline for implementation. We expect to
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submit this plan to the County today. But again, have no concern, because the plan
can be modified as we --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, yes.
Mr. Zahralban: -- as we go throughout the process. So, any changes that you had
suggested incorporating can be incorporated into the plan, but it important that we
get it into the Countv's hands so that they can push it up to the state so that they
begin to clearly understand our expectations. Now, the way this normally works is
the state would develop the plan, they would push it down to us, and we would
understand what their expectations are, and we would write a plan that fit into those
expectations, but it's kind of working a little backwards, so --
Commissioner Reyes: We have to --
Mr. Zahralban: It'll take them a little time to digest our plan and determine what
elements of our plan they can leave.
Commissioner Reyes: That's why --
Mr. Zahralban: But the timeline is dependent upon our county and state
government.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: So --
Commissioner Reyes: My congratulation has to do with the fact that, instead of us
sitting down and waiting for the state to draft a plan and give it to us, we took the
initiative. Or you took the initiative, the city took the initiative, and we develop a
plan and we send it, that this is what are we going to do, you see? Now, we need the
resources.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, and that in large part, thanks goes to our Division of
Emergency Management --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, they have done a
Mr. Zahralban: -- for their constant state of preparedness.
Commissioner Reyes: -- and you -- you've done a great job, and I'm going to take
this opportunity to congratulate all of you for the excellent job you did in your
testing program. I mean, it was fantastic. And you went right to people that they
were homebound, and you tested them there, and they went to buildings -- I mean,
elderly buildings, and you test -- and then you test as many people as possible.
Congratulations.
Mr. Zahralban: Thank you, sir. And let me answer the second part of your question.
Commissioner Reyes: Sure.
Mr. Zahralban: You are actually exactly correct with regard to the different types of
-- or different manufacturers of the vaccine. Pfizer does present a little more of a
challenge for us in that it requires a much colder temperature to keep that vaccine in
storage, and it's on the order of -- 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, we do have -- just
due in large part to the foresight and preparation of our Health and EMS Division,
we do have a freezer capable of reaching those temperatures, but we only have one.
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Commissioner Reyes: That 's what --
Mr. Zahralban: And it makes it a logistical challenge because understanding how
the vaccines are delivered when you -- once you take them out of cold storage,
they're good within the atmosph -- the environment, atmosphere, environment.
They're good for approximately six hours, and you have to use or dispose of them.
So, it's a fine balance keeping them in a either frozen or refrigerated environment
and taking them out at a point that you know you 're going to distribute them.
Otherwise, if you take them out and you don't have the audience that you thought
you were going to have, you are expelling some valuable product, which is
something that we want to avoid at all cost. So, yes, Pfizer does present a challenge
for us, and although we would, if offered -- because usually, you don't have a choice.
If offered Pfizer, we would most likely, at this point in time, when -- now that we
have a plan in place, accept it, but we might have to regulate how we choose to use
it. But also keep in mind that the tracking is -- is potentially a nightmare because if
you give someone Moderna, you have to go back and give them Moderna. If give
them Pfizer, you have to go back and give them Pfizer. So, it 's really a juggling act.
Commissioner Reyes: That was my question. And -- both of them require two shots?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: And then -- and we have to be --1 mean, there's a quite a task
to have so many people vaccinated and keep track when they are -- and have that
amount of vaccine. Make sure that we have enough vaccine for a second shot.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Because what I've been hearing -- it is that the philosophy -- I
mean, I'm coming from Washington is, I mean, let's -- I mean, get all the vaccines
out and give everybody the first shot. And I want you to clarify it for me, if you get
the first shot and you don't get the second shot then it is like nothing. I mean, you
are not -- you're not doing -- properly doing it and you might not be immune, right?
Mr. Zahralban: Well, that's an excellent question and let me -- let me clarify some
points on that. As far as the efficacy the -- Pfizer has not done -- has not performed
any studies, but Moderna has and the as -- the assumption is Pfizer would be
equivalent. The studies have shown that after your first vaccination you achieve
approximately 75 percent immunity or -- or protection. The second, which is looked
at as a booster shot, provides you up to 95 percent --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: -- immunity. So, that second shot is important, but the philosophy
that you're discussing, the discussion that is occurring in the federal government as
we speak is the merit of holding all of the second doses for everybody who 's received
a first dose versus just pushing out first doses across the board, getting everyone
possible to 75 percent immunity, and then worrying about getting the second dose
out.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Okay. Thank you very much.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Let me ask you a question to follow up on
Commissioner Reyes' question on that issue.
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Vice Chair Russell: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It doesn 't matter when they get the booster shot,
right? It could be the -- they have to wait at least three weeks, right? And then jrom
that point on, you can wait a month -and -a -half, you can wait two months?
Mr. Zahralban: That is an issue that is still openly being debated because from the
manufacturer we receive recommendations when the second shot is supposed to be
administered. For one it's 21 days, for the other it's 28 days.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But --
Mr. Zahralban: We are supposed to come as close to that as possible.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But what the CDC (Center for Disease Control)
has said -- I read -- maybe -- maybe you 're wrong or -- that -- it doesn't matter. You
just have to wait a certain amount of time. It doesn 't matter if it happens in the 35th
day or the 40th day. It's important because -- we are also -- we're debating I think
is a question of supply, right? The availability of vaccines.
Mr. Zahralban: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: As you outlined, you know, everything -- you
want 45,000 a week, 4,000 a week, so it adds up to a lot of vaccines.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes. And -- and these two discussions that were speaking about,
they're actually interrelated because --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Mr. Zahralban: -- if they're going to push out vaccines for first dose for everybody,
and not reserve, they're essentially saying, well, now we're going to question
whether or not we have to hold you to that 21- and 28-day requirement. If we don't
then we're more comfortable pushing out more vaccines and telling you, get the first
dose out, don't worry as much about the second dose we'll get to you, but that's still
an issue being debated.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. And I have a number of questions for later
on, but I'll reserve it for now. I just wanted to make sure I didn't want to lose my
train of thought on what you were talking about, Commissioner Reyes. Just to make
sure that if we're going to have a limited number of vaccines that we get them out to
as many people as possible as fast as possible, and then we can wait a little bit
longer, if that's the case, a little bit longer to be able to do the second dose.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Watson, did you have --
Commissioner Watson: Chief let me just ask you a question. Sounds like you have
a well -thought-out plan. Are we -- are we going to always have to have this chain
where it comes from the State to the County to us. There's no stipulations, no
loopholes that allow us to get this stuff directly? Which makes your life more
complicated.
Mr. Zahralban: Well, there -- there's two answers to that question. The first -- the
first answer is the normal course of -- of chain of custody for the vaccines go
through one of two places. The Florida Division of Emergency Management or the
Florida Department of Health. Now, we have executed agreements with the Florida
Department of Health that allows them to give us vaccines. That is -- those are the
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legitimate, acceptable, ways of receiving vaccine. Now when you ask if there are any
loopholes, right now, I'll be honest to say it's kind of the Wild Wild West out there
and they're giving -- they're -- when they receive vaccines they're trying to push
them out. So, there have been circumstances where someone might make a request
for vaccines and be successful in receiving them outside of the chain that I just
described.
Commissioner Watson: So why do you need a plan accepted by the County?
Mr. Zahralban: I'm sorry, sir.
Commissioner Watson: Why does your plan to have to be accepted by the County?
Mr. Zahralban: Why --
Commissioner Watson: Why does your plan have to be accepted by the County?
Mr. Zahralban: Well, the acceptance by the County is more so -- more so relies on
the fact that we need assistance from the County. Because under the emergency
management process a municipality emergency management department reports to
the County that is over them, the County reports to the State, the State reports to the
federal government. That is the chain of command as it relates to emergency
management.
Commissioner Carollo: Plus the other area that is very important. They 're the ones
that are getting all the shots to distribute. 1 think the ones we've gotten the County
has given to us. The State has given a few, but the bulk of the shots that --
Commissioner Watson: It's coming from them.
Commissioner Carollo: -- have been -- have had -- that have come to Miami -Dade
have gone through the County. So, besides the reasoning that we need to be assisted
by them in different cases, we can't really put on any major site without having their
assistance for that.
Commissioner Watson: Okay. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, sir. So, I'm sure a few of us have some more -- you
have more to say?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. Yeah. It's --
Vice Chair Russell: Please continue.
Commissioner Carollo: Let me begin by -- by saying that I'm very grateful Chief to
you, Chief Hevia and -- and others. Not only for the effort that you put in this, but
the effort that has been done and the work that has been done from day one in the
testing. Having said that, I -- I think it's fair to say, in particular, in the new era of
cooperation with the City and the County where we have a new mayor in the County
that seems to be wanting to work with us in the right way. We have a new
Coniniissioner at the County, for the most part quite a few new elected
Commissioners. I think we should also be fair in that spirit of cooperation in saying
that what the Chief has been presenting has been a joint effort in talks with the
County through their personnel, and Chief Rollason, and others. Then of course
what's in City of Miami, they're the ones that have been looking to see how we
implement a plan. Now, I got two problems with the overall plan that you 've given
us here because it -- it differs in different areas from what I last discussed with Chief
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Rollason a couple of days ago. One, you have the Marine Stadium as the first site.
That was a site that we discussed, but not the first site. Then you have Miami -Dade
County Auditorium as your next site, which is the one that we were speaking with --
with the County and the County was telling me about first and foremost. And lastly
you have Marlins Park. Dade County auditorium, Marlins Park are very close to
each other to begin with, but we cannot have, in a city like ours, three sites that are
in the south and we're having no sites in the north end for drive thru where we have
the greater majority of our African -American population and therefore also the
greater or at least half of our non -Hispanic population that would go to Hadley
Park. Like 1 saw people from that whole Biscayne Corridor and the other side
coming for the testing when we opened up that site. So, the Hadley Park has to be
one of the two, as the County agreed with me when I spoke to them, that we start
with. If we only have enough to begin with -- with one site, fine, Dade County
Auditorium is the one that they were talking to me about. If we have enough for two
to open up then we should open both of them up or as close to them as we can.
Because we have to also have a balanced approach to this. We also have many,
many seniors in the north end of the County. The elderly are not only south, they 're
also north. Lastly, the Marlins location, as I stated before, there were problems that
the County was telling me that the Marlins was stating to them. In fact, the Marlins
wanted to do the shots implementation in the garages, which was impossible to do,
and I think- you 're aware of that one. But here's the biggest problem that I have with
the Marlins location, besides being so close to the Dade County Auditorium site.
We're going to create a mess in such a small area with narrow and congested streets
having both COVID testing and giving COVID shots. You're going to be having
people getting in the wrong lane, it is -- in my opinion, it will create a possible
nightmare of so many vehicles corning and then people getting in the wrong lanes,
not knowing where they're going to, et cetera. So, I think in a site like this we either
have to do one or the other. Either we do testing or we do shots, and then we move
to Dade County Auditorium whatever we're not doing in Marlins Stadium. Which is
basically what I had discussed with the County, and this way we propose what our
discussions were. But certainly, with the limitations that we have, and it 's really
limited because the amounts -- and I compliment you for putting so much, that we're
having here we're not going to meet anywhere near of those vaccines that we're
going to have. Like, the goal of getting those vaccines for quite some time.
Unidentified Speaker: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: It's not going to happen. Lastly, the walkthroughs -- the
first site that I had discussed with the County was Artime along with Robert King
High and you certainly have covered some additional walk-ups, but the walk-ups
should be done with the ideas I stated. Where we 're going right at locations where
you have a mass of senior citizens that -- either it's a building where they're in. The
Robert King High complex with Sopge Towers, Martin Fine. You got at least a
couple of thousand senior citizens there, if not more, that live right there. The
Artime location, while that's our auditorium right around the Artime location, in
fact, right next to it. Across from it, 500 feet from it you got several hundred seniors
that are living right there. In the surrounding area that they could walk you got a
couple of thousand more at least, but to put at this point walk-up locations that are
really more for the general public I don't think makes sense. In fact, out of the walk-
up locations they have you got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, only one, again,
was in the north end, and that was Hadley Park. That -- I guess Hadley Park you
could use for both walk-up and drive-thru because it's big enough of a location to do
that, and we don't have too many locations like that in the City. So, you know, it 's a
great plan, the problem is we have to be realistical [sic] in how we implemented it
based upon two areas. One, be realistical [sic] on the potential availability that
we're going to have for vaccines. Two, where we're zeroing in outside of the drive-
thru locations strictly in senior citizens. These are the people that --
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Commissioner Reyes: Most vulnerable.
Commissioner Carollo: -- are more in harm's way than anybody else. And, of
course, along with senior citizens, those that have other areas that could potentially
cause them serious problems if they get COVID. So that -- that's the only thing that
I wanted to say in this, you know, outside of that it's a good plan to going to house to
house. If we ever get to that point, it's sometime in the future. It's obvious that
you're going to have to use Moderna because Pfizer would not be in play, you know,
going house to house. One of the concerns that I have, but you're not going to be
able to answer that for me. I don't think nobody can at this point in time, who 's
going to keep track of who got a shot and when do they need to come back to get the
other? And how are they keeping additional ones for the second go around? And 1
just see that that's going to be a mess nationwide. A real mess. But it's beyond your
pay grade, my pay grade. You know, we could do what we can do.
Vice Chair Russell: Chief would you like to respond?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes. Thank you, sir. Commissioner, excellent, excellent points. I '11
-- I'll just hit on a couple of them. I'll begin with your last statement with regard to
tracking. I agree tracking is going to be a nightmare. Now there is a plan in place,
but even still, I am skeptical that it's going to be completely. -- that it's going to be
able to completely resolve all of the issues. One of the things when we did our --
when we entered into agreements with the Florida Department of Health, was we
joined into a -- an online community called Florida SHOTS. So, every shot that we
provide to an individual, we have to enter that shot as a registration for that patient
so that the Florida Department of Health can track everyone. That is part of what
takes this process -- what makes this process so much longer than the testing process
is we are actually registering individuals. Now, our initial plan ,for the
dissemination of the second shot is when you receive a shot, you get a card that tells
you when to come back. So, if we were talking about a drive-thru site, our
expectation was that we would place that responsibility on the individual who comes
to the drive-thru site to make an appointment, you know, based upon the card that
was provided to them. Now, when we're talking about our senior, our elderly, where
we're actually going out to them, we were going to take on the burden of that
tracking for them to make sure that we came back within the specified period of time
in order to give them their second shot. Again, a lot of specific details that go hand -
in -hand with this, and I agree it will be a nightmare to track, but we intend to do our
best.
Commissioner Carollo: On paper, Chief, it looks great. You know, my -- my mother
used to have a saying that paper would hold as much ink as you put into it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: (Comments made in Spanish not translated).
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, something like that. But let's say that I get a shot
tomorrow. I don't want anybody to get excited, you know, but I might, and --
Commissioner Reyes: Want me to hold your hand?
Commissioner Carollo: You might have to. I get my card that says, okay, you call
back at such a time. Who knows if I call or Igo on the Internet or have someone go
on the Internet for me to get me my second appointment, what I'm going to be told.
If I'm going to be able to get through. If they're going to have the vaccine. If
someone's not going to screw up, and I got Pfizer, and then the one they want to give
me is Moderna, and then I don 't know what the heck is going to happen, you know.
So, these are the kind of stuff that I'mconcerned about, and the only thing that I
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would suggest is that whatever we do in the city for the sake of our residents. We -- if
we got to hire people, Chief, if we've got to pay overtime, whatever we got to do, we
do it. We keep track ourselves, and we try to have sufficient vaccines put aside for
the second go -round so we could be calling our own people back and having a line
for them to be able to get a hold of us directly too so we could assist them because I,
you know, frankly, I've seen enough of the State throughout the years that everything
the State does, and I don't care what party's been in power or not, it's always the
same. It's a mess, and there's not -- never enough personnel. I don't know what the
heck the dollars' go to, but, you know, whatever department you look at, they never
have enough personnel. They get paid the worst. So, 1 don 't have much confidence
in the State. In the past, in the present, or in the future, and 1 don 't care who's in
command, who's in power. That's the State.
Mr. Zahralban: Understood. And a final note, Commissioner, on the sites that you
had mentioned and the order of the sites. It's important to point out that those sites
were not in any order of priority.
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
Mr. Zahralban: They were only in order of volume of capability --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Zahralban: And we were absolutely open to any other sites that you would like
to be added or replace existing sites, and it would only take us about a day to do a
site plan on --
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
Mr. Zahralban: -- any recommended --
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
Mr. Zahralban: -- site you may, have.
Commissioner Carollo: Again, Chief what I'm suggesting in my resolution, each of
us knows the area where we have the biggest concentration of seniors in our district.
So for each Commission to -- Commissioner to -- to give you two key locations in
their district that are senior -oriented sites, and that's the difference between the
majority you put here.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: It's a general -- I'm talking the senior -oriented. As I stated,
district three they're so much wider, you know, three could be able to do it. And, you
know, you'll have time to do those tests because we're not getting to that any time
soon, at least then in the next week or two.
Mr. Zahralban: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: And then they -- we choose two sites, one in the north end
and I'm suggesting that Hadley be opened up as a drive-thru. That doesn't mean
that we can't, down the road, open it up for a walk-up also, but that's, you know, a
suggestion that we're going to need from the district Commissioner, and then we
choose one side. I was told, but it doesn't matter to me, by speaking to Rollason that
Miami -Dade County Auditorium was what their preferred site was for all the
problems that we discussed here with the Marlins. Now, I myself would not want
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vaccines and testing going on, not just in Marlins Stadium, but any smaller inner-city
site.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Because it's going to create a total mess.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: A total mess. In fact, I'm going to tell you another site that
was a great site, but again, this is how the State is, Magic City Casino. They were
willing to put that site up. When they backed off was when they asked the State, not
for money, for the only thing that any private entity would askfor and should askfor,
immunity from any suit, if something happens with anybody getting the shot, that the
State immunizes them from any lawsuit. The State said no.
Mr. Zahralban: Yeah. Incredible.
Commissioner Carollo: I mean, this is crazy. They were asking for the site, and if
for any reason something goes wrong with a shot, I mean, the State should hold them
Mr. Zahralban: Harmless.
Commissioner Carollo: -- harmless. They refused to. And that's the reason that
we're discussing the Dade County Auditorium. Where now, government is going to
have to be responsible, but government didn 't want to be responsible at a private site
that probably would have been even better.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Reyes.
Mr. Zahralban: Yeah. I agree wholeheartedly and appreciate any recommendations
that come from this Commission. And incidentally, the reason that Miami -Dade
Auditorium was in the plan is because it was, I believe, a recommendation that came
from someone in this body through the City Manager and he's the one who brought
it to our attention.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, right here. This guy. Let me -- I have a couple of
questions. Let me know. Let me -- comments only. I'd like -- wholeheartedly agree
with Commissioner Carollo. We need sites in all of the, I mean, different places, you
see. And in the northern part of our city there's a huge population of elders, you see,
and the African -American community and also the community and that lives there.
And also I'm just throwing this as I don't know if it is feasible or not. But we have
parts also Charles Hardley definitely should be a place. But we have parts, for
example, in Shenandoah that could be a walk-thru. I mean, you see people will walk
from the neighborhood. And I want you to also understand that the easiest access
that we provide our residents, the faster that we're going to get rid of this, and the
more that people that are going to come and receive, if it is feasible. But I have a
question that's a little concern of mine. Are we going to keep on testing at the same
rate while we are vaccinating?
Mr. Zahralban: The intent, Commissioner, is that -- and this is coming from the
State being pushed down. The intent is that vaccinations begin to replace testing.
So, as vaccinations begin to increase, testing will begin to decrease. And as the
Commissioner expressed concern with Marlins Park, our goal with Marlins Park
was not necessarily a fast, quick stop, but it was a transitional process where if
we're running eight lanes of testing right now, we would run two lanes vaccination,
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six lanes testing, then five and three, then four and four, and ultimately phase testing
out altogether.
Vice Chair Russell: Question on that -- on that point because in the -- in the paper I
believe Jared Moskowitz said that it would not replace the testing. That the -- as we
bring vaccinations into the current testing sites, it would bifurcate it, but we still
need testing, don 't we? Even as vaccines become more prevalent. I mean, people
have a symptom or a concern they need to be able to get tested, right?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes. But it's a co-dependent relationship. The more robust your
vaccination program, the less people will need to be tested.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it. Understood. Do you have more questions?
Commissioner Carollo: That 's very true. The problem also that we 're going to have
is that there's -- whether we want to acknowledge it or not, there 's going to be a
sizable amount of our population that, you know, is reluctant to take the shot now.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: You know, some are just waiting to see what happens with
the first bunch that takes the shot. And that 's the reality. So that's why the testing 1
suspect is going to go on for at least a few more months than this.
Vice Chair Russell: So, 1 do have some questions. Chief, just to clarify the bottom
line on the capacity numbers. So, you have major pods which are drive-thru, walk-
up pods which are the other sites, the nursing homes, and senior centers which you
would do en masse not one resident at a time as needed, right? You 'd go and treat
the entire facility, and then you have the homebound.
Mr. Zahralban: Well, the -- when you speak about the portion of the plan that is
relative to ALFs and nursing homes and group homes, that is a collaborative effort
with Florida Department of Health and Florida Division of Emergency
Management, along with private providers, CVS, Walgreens, private ambulance, and
CDR. Maguire.
Vice Chair Russell: But my question is: Would you go treat the facility at one time,
everyone who's interested, or as needed, as people call one at a time, you would go
out?
Mr. Zahralban: We are still trying to work through that plan with them. Part of this
-- part of the purpose of this plan is to help the State and the County to identify
where we need information. And what we're trying to explain to them is you can't
just come into the city, start handing out vaccines when we don 't understand what
you're doing and how you're going about it. Because then we either have a
duplication of effort or even worse, we have people slipping through the cracks.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it. But I assume your intent would be to be efficient as
possible?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: Come to one nursing home or ALF and inoculate as many as
possible in that one visit, right?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir.
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Vice Chair Russell: And then the final one would be the homebound where someone
needs a direct visit as we've done for testing for those who need it.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: So, my question is: What is -- what do you believe the maximum
capacity per week would be on each of those and what's the total? If you were to
add all those up and running and we could say to the State, we have a maximum
weekly capacity between walk-up, ALF, and major pod of X number. What would
that be?
Mr. Zahralban: Now, keep in mind that this is a rough plan, so it's a rough estimate.
But we are estimating that if the plan were implemented in its totality, and I have to
give the caveat that we are not, as a city, capable of implementing this plan in its
totality. But if the plan were to be implemented in totality, we would be in excess of
100, 000 vaccinations delivered per week.
Vice Chair Russell: Meaning simply by the capacity, geographically, the flow, but
you 're saying we don't have the manpower, the resources --
Mr. Zahralban: We do not have the manpower, the resources, or the vaccines.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. Okay. So, it's a hypothetical --
Mr. Zahralban: So, the plan assumes a perfect scenario. Obviously, we won't see a
perfect scenario.
Vice Chair Russell: What I'm trying to do is build the case to the State that we have
a capacity for X amount and that's what we push to receive. Isn't that -- is that --
that's where you 're going on this because --
Mr. Zahralban: Push to receive with regard to vaccinations?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. For supply. Because none of this means anything if we
don't have a supply of vaccines.
Commissioner Carollo: What's the point.
Mr. Zahralban: When the State reads the plan, the State will understand that
pushing vaccinations is this much of the plan. That they need to push the resources
associated with disseminating the vaccinations under the vaccine.
Vice Chair Russell: Understood. You had a comment?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: A quick question to follow up on your thought.
100,000 a week. So, in my conversation with Moskowitz last Thursday, he said that
this week -- and now it's next week, that the entire State of Florida will receive
250,000 vaccines. And then they would distribute throughout the State. County will
get so many, Baptist will get so many, City of Miami will get 1,000 a day, with 7,000
a week. Directly that pipeline forget what you're doing with the County and forget
what Johnson is doing and Baptist, Mount Sinai, everybody else. So, if the City of
Miami is getting 1,000 a day, number one, how does your 100,000 a week work into
that math? Hold on.
Mr. Zahralban: Go ahead.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And number two, do you have a more realistic
plan with a specific silo that says we get directly -- forget the County for a second,
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forget Johnson, forget everybody else. Just the division of emergency management
with Moskowitz. That they're guaranteeing and forget the Florida Department of
Health for a second. They're guaranteeing or they are saying that they can give us
1,000 a day to the City of Miami. Do you have a siloed plan, for lack of a better
word. The word doesn't exist, I made it up. But a silo that's specific for 1,000
vaccines that come to Miami, and you're going to senior buildings and you distri --
and you vaccinate people in senior buildings, independent of CVS, Maguire,
Walgreens, Mt. Sinai and all the other entities, all the other -- the master plan. The
more specific, more practical plan for the purposes of our conversation, not to get
too much into the weeds and not to be redundant and I think Commissioner Carollo
and Commissioner Reyes have made great points as to what the overall plan should
look like. And I think that you've done great work by the way. And Robert Aley
[sic], 1 spoke to hire yesterday and he was working out of his kitchen for, like, 'bur
hours last night trying to prepare for this presentation today. And you've done an
excellent job and it's an -- it's a very difficult task and I don't wish it or anybody.
But in realistic terms, if we get 1,000 vaccines on Monday, do you have a plan to say
we 're going to distribute those 1,000 vaccines this way?
Mr. Zahralban: The --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Forget about county proving, forget anything
else. With --
Mr. Zahralban: But --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- that -- that's the purpose of my pocket item,
right. So, we all have pocket items. I was kind of specific because I was -- I want to
keep it simple because I know there's a complexity of the issue. Let's say, I want, if -
- we got 1,000 vaccines a day, do you have a methodology in place to distribute, to
vaccinate 1,000 people a day. How we pick and choose, I agree. Beyond the parts
and everything else, how we pick and choose is different. It's to be a geographic
distribution. Commissioner Carollo's correct. You can't have the three places at all
next to each other. It's absurd, right? You got the northern part of the city, you got
the western part of the city, right? But if you have those vaccines coming in on
Monday, where are you going to send them? Who are you going to vaccinate? Are
there available units to build this? But Commissioner Watson, and Commissioner
Carollo, and Commissioner Russell can tell you, by the way, I have UTD Towers in
my district, I have Robert King High in mine, right? And you have an -- Smothers in
Commissioner Reyes' district. I know there's 70 people who will be vaccinated here
or maybe there, and I can call the building manager right now, and say, hey, talk to
all your residents that are 65 and over, and if they don 't get back to me by Friday, by
tomorrow, and tell me, I've got 55 people that ought to be vaccinated. And I got to --
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- tell you, Chief you know what? There are
three buildings, that's 150. And Commissioner Carollo tell you, hey -- hey Chief we
have three buildings. That's another 150. That's a more, get it done, get it off the
plate, off the table, move on, right?
Mr. Zahralban: Absolutely.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Do you have that plan in place?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes. And the beauty of this plan is that it functions as a macro plan
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: -- as well cis a micro plan.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: So, any of the scenarios that you just presented for me, I can take
that scenario and I can go through this plan, and I can apply it wherever we
determine appropriate. For instance, we break down each of these site plans,
whether it's a mobile testing unit, what have you, we break them down so that we
clearly understand the capacity. For example, Manuel Artime Theater, we know that
we can do 70 vaccinations per hour, times how many lanes are capable at that
particular location, giving us a certain amount of capability per week, giving us a
certain amount of capability per month. Each of these services we're provided --
providing are broken down in that manner. So, if you -- the math works both ways. I
can hand this to the State of Florida, and they can read through it and say, we will
fund this, this, and this. Or you can take a sheer number or sheer volume of
vaccinations, say, I'm going to give you a 1,000. And I can say, okay let 's do this,
this, and this. Obviously, in consult with the City Manager and elected officials.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Of course.
Mr. Zahralban: But we can piecemeal this plan, and again, that's the beauty of it., is
it functions as a menu at a restaurant. You tell me how much you have; 1 71 tell you
what we can buy.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If -- and I'm not --
Mr. Zahralban: Continue.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- and this will be my last one. It's a follow up to
that thought, right. So, if Commissioner Carollo, hypothetically, will call you
tomorrow morning or Monday, morning and say, my office has Robert King High and
Robert King High has -- has got -- heard from Robert King High and they want 75
vaccinations, can you vaccinate 75 people at Robert King High? And I call you and
I say, hey, I have 50 vaccinations at Residential Plaza. Can you vaccinate 50 people
and what date can you do it? Do you have that capability to kind of start -- get
things off the table, right? Take 75 there, 50 here, start vaccinating these very
vulnerable populations that are not going to go to any -- to Marlins Park. They're
not going to go to Miami -Dade County Auditorium. They're not going to go
anywhere. They're homebound. They're 80 years old and that -- they don't have a
car. They're not going to drive to Marlins Park and wait for two hours. They're
there. They're waiting to be vaccinated and they're trying to figure out how to do it.
Maybe their son will take them. Maybe they'll figure it out. Maybe a neighbor takes
them. But, in essence, it's even more inefficient if we have 1,000 vaccines, or
whatever that number is -- it's 500, or whatever the number ends up being -- coming
to us, that we say, instead of having those 500 vaccines that you have sitting right
now, in your department, right? You have 500 vaccines in your department that are
not being used.
Mr. Zahralban: No. That I'll -- I'll explain --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: -- the details of it.
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, -- well, if -- because they were given for
first resp -- there were 850, my understanding --
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- tell me where I'm wrong -- there are 850 that
were given to you guys, right? From Florida.
Mr. Zahralban: Florida Department of Health. Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Florida Department of Health. And you only
used 350 because they were for first responders.
Mr. Zahralban: Yeah. We're still going through the vaccination process, but 1 --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I understand.
Mr. Zahralban: -- think was about 300.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I understand, but they were meant first -- for first
responders, --
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- right? And then the 65 and over came after,
right?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, I understand. But they're still sitting there.
So, my question is, why not get rid of those and move on? Why not go to Residential
Plaza? Why not go to Robert King High and get that building and that area off the -
- off your plate, right?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And when the supply starts coming in -- is I
agree that your plan is a good plan and I agree that you've done an excellent job of
putting together a plan for bigger picture. But I'm kind of looking at the small
immediate picture. That's why in my pocket item talks about Monday.
Mr. Zahralban: Uh-huh.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: If we get vaccines on Monday before we go
through the County approval process and before we go through all these
machinations, is it possible that those 1,000 vaccines that come in that we
immediately take a hold of them and we go and we deliver them?
Mr. Zahralban: Okay. So, I'll try to answer your question in as much -- with as
much brevity as possible. In short, the answer is, yes, it's possible. I'm not sure in
the timeline you're requesting, but absolutely, it's possible. And again, I'm going to
take you back to the plan. You gave me an example of 1,000 vaccines. Now, you
gave me an additional example of 75 from this building and 65 from that building.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The total 1,000, right?
Mr. Zahralban: Right. Right. So, I would look at the plan and tell you, okay, if I
have 65 people in one location that are requesting to be vaccinated and they're 65
and older, relatively homebound, what have you, then I would look to see what
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resource is best applicable to that. So, in this case, it would be a mobile pod that has
the capability of between 60 and 80 vaccines in one given day and we would send
them to that location to vaccinate that number of people. Now, if you came to me
and said, one in particu -- one resident in particular --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes, sir.
Mr. Zahralban: -- had an issue, they were immobile, they couldn't get to a
vaccination site. They couldn't even come down the stairs, for the most part, we
would look at it and say, okay, that is someone who qualifies for an MVU., mobile
vaccination unit. That is the in -home catered service. So, we would schedule them
for that. Now, the challenge is all of the preregistration because it takes about --
there's a lot of details behind the scenes that are very difficult to manage. For
instance, once you take a vaccine out of cold storage, you need to wait a minimum of
30 minutes in order to pro -- give that vaccine to an individual. That vaccine vial
holds ten doses. You cannot thaw the vial until you have ten people to give those
doses to because as soon as you thaw it, the clock starts, and in six hours it 's no
good. So, it's not like we (unjust grab a -- a bunch of vaccines and go and say, who
wants it. It's got -- it's a more thoughtful process than that, which is why it 's so
important for you to give me a problem and hope that -- and look into the -- look at
the plan and hope the plan answers every question. If it doesn't, we need to revise
the plan. And that's why 1 say, the plan is a living document that we will constantly
look to improve so that you can't present a problem that I can't present a solution
for.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, my plan, from my district offices that we have
now, is to begin to call senior buildings, low-income senior buildings tomorrow and
ask the building managers, can you go and canvass your people -- your residents,
and see who wants a shot, and how marry do you have, and come back to us. I've
been reluctant to do that because I don't know the supply issue, right? I'm not
aware -- I don't want to promise that we're going to be able to do something and
then not deliver. That's the worst thing a politician can do, right? Is promise and
not deliver, right?
Mr. Zahralban: Absolutely.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, at the end of the day -- and I know for a
fact that I would go to St. Augustine, for example, Buena Vista, and I talk to the
manager, the manager can then tell me, hey, I'm going to canvass my building. I'm
going to talk to my residents. Now, we have 45, and I'll call you, hey, Chief or
Robert, or whoever you want me to call, and I'll say, hey, we got 45, can you go on
Monday? The manager says, well, from 12:00 to 4: 00 you come vaccinate people
here. I have 45 names for you. I provide you with 40 -- my office will provide you
with 45 names, and now, you have a challenge before you. I give you that. That 's a
challenge from the Commissioner of District 1. You'll get it from Commissioners --
the Commissioner of District 5, and 3, and 2. And you start getting all of these calls
and you try to balance that all out. But if we -- if they decide this is a good idea and
they want to do it too, are you going to have the capability? Once the -- once we
know the vaccines are their way, they aren't, you know, the check's in the mail kind
of thing, you know, but a reality. If they're really on the way, then we can begin to
schedule people and say, hey, how about next Thursday? We 're going to go to these
three buildings in District 1, these two buildings in District 3, and we got to be able
to do that. Is that possible? Is that a realistic plan, or is it something that doesn 't fit
into this grand plan that you've come up with?
Mr. Zahralban: It is possible. It is realistic --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: -- within certain limits of expectation, which is recognizing,
initially, the initial service will be provided with in-house resources, which is not
going to take us very far. So --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So you have three people -- according to Robert
Hevia you have three people that can go to a building, right? Three paramedics,
right, that can go to a building, and they can spend four hours for -- I guess, six
hours is the period the vaccine is taken off and brought here.
Mr. Zahralban: Not exactly.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Sure?
Mr. Zahralban: The three -person unit --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: -- the three person unit is actually something being exercised right
now by Miami -Dade County.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Mr. Zahralban: And that is designed for the individual in -home service that is the
truly homebound resident, and they're only producing about ten a day with a three -
person unit.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So --
Mr. Zahralban: So the one I'm talking about, 60 to 80 people processed in an
operational period in a day, they're on the order of eight or nine people working at
that building.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, tell me -- okay. So, tell me in pract -- just so
Iknow --
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- in practical terms. If I have Residential Plaza
that wants 80 people vaccinated -- 60 to 80 --
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- and I call you, you 'll provide -- it will take you
nine people to go and vaccinate those people in that five -hour period or six -hour
period?
Mr. Zahralban: Yeah. You're -- you would call us -- you would call us, refer them.
We would make contact with the building management, the -- a coordinating entity,
we would schedule them, and we would send, not a mobile vaccination unit, but a
mobile testing unit --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Uh-huh.
Mr. Zahralban: -- a mobile POD out to them to do as many people as they have
required in that building. We would require some sort of -- how can I say -- some
sort of commitment. Because the worst thing that would happen to us is that they tell
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us 100 people want to be vaccinated, we show up and there's 20 people there. And
now, 1 have to figure out what to do with 80 vaccines that I thawed out.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And once you thaw them out you cannot put them
back in?
Mr. Zahralban: You can -- no. You cannot. You cannot refreeze.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: All right. So, you overbook, basically, right?
Like you do at a hotel and an airplane, you will overbook. You have a formula for
that? Do you --
Mr. Zahralban: Those are the details that still have to be worked out.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Wow. That 's --
Mr. Zahralban: Which is why I say, it 's difficult to just get it off the ground, you
know, as quickly as Monday. Because remember, we 're -- now, we're talking about
making appointments now. So now, we're talking about either an online capability
or a call -in capability.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: These aren't online. These are all --
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- seniors that don't go online.
Mr. Zahralban: So then these -- then we're talking about a call center. That call
center would have to be staffed. There would have to be --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, my question is this: If -- and I will provide
you with a building and I will tell you -- again, using one example to keep it simple.
Residential Plaza. I spoke to Barbara Galindo and she says, we have 75 people that
want to be vaccinated. And I call you and say, Chief we have 75 people at
Residential Plaza that want to be vaccinated on Wednesday, or whatever day you tell
me. And I will call her and say, look, it's going to be -- on Wednesday they're going
to be there. You will then deploy nine people. You don't need a call center. You
don't need anything. You would then call and confirm with Barbara Galindo that,
hey, these are the 75 people, these are the names, and go through all of that, and
then you will deploy a nine -member team to that building --
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- to vaccinate people?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And then in -- and jbr just -- hypothetically, and
between 60 and 80, how long will it take for you to vaccinate 60 or 80 people?
Mr. Zahralban: In -- 60 to 80 --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: With nine people down?
Mr. Zahralban: -- people would take us a full day. Probably, eight to ten hours to
vaccinate six --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: With nine people?
Mr. Zahralban: -- 60 to 80 people if we were doing it in that environment. Because,
you know -- remember, we're going to register them, we 're going to --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, Commissioner Carollo said that he has,
you know, they go to the community centers that is closed right now, people will
come down, right? That will be coordinated. So, you '11 have a centralized location
within that building?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes. Yes. Well, either within the building, but we 're not being
depen -- we're not depending -- part of the plan calls Jrous not depending on the
infrastructure of the building if they don't have the capability or capacity, which is
why we're sending number one, more people, number two, a different vehicle. We're
sending our large command vehicle that can --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Do you have one or two of those?
Mr. Zahralban: One right now. This is our spare command vehicle. We just took it
out of service. We just have (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- an additional vehicle for them --
Commissioner Watson: Yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- down the line, Commissioner. What do you
think?
Mr. Zahralban: So --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: At some point.
Mr. Zahralban: So --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I said that -- I said, I (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Zahralban: -- so we would use that vehicle and set up the infrastructure outside
if we needed to bring somebody outside, get -- provide the shot, watch them for 15
minutes, and then release them.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Now, on a side note very quickly, when is the
one-shot vaccine coming in? Do you have any information on that? The Johnson &
Johnson vaccine?
Mr. Zahralban: Nothing as of yet.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Nothing as of yet. So, you still -- it'll be a two
shot all the way through?
Mr. Zahralban: It's -- expectation and hope, is what we have.
Commissioner Carollo: That's see a pudnik (phonetic) -- a Sputnik vaccine --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The Russian one.
Commissioner Watson: Yeah. The thing (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
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Vice Chair Russell: Go ahead, Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: March them right to the cemetery.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Commissioner Watson: Yeah. Just to make a quick -- we have -- we -- we have to
stay out of the weeds in this.
Coniniissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Uh-huh.
Commissioner Watson: Okay. Because it sounds like this elaborate plan the Chief
has, you don't even control the vaccinations. You don't control the vaccines. This
plan is for 100,000? I've heard him -- 1,000 and 500. There's a 100,000 planned
now, that's put out there, makes people think we're going to have vaccines to do a
100,000 a day and we're not going to.
Mr. Zahralban: It is an unfunded plan.
Commissioner Watson: Yeah. Well, it -- it should be a plan --
Commissioner Carollo: Beginning with vaccines.
Commissioner Watson: Huh?
Commissioner Carollo: It's unfunded, beginning with vaccines because --
Commissioner Watson: Exactly.
Commissioner Carollo: -- we don't have them.
Commissioner Watson: But then it's just like we dealt with a colleague from the
County who came and said she had $75 million. She didn't. So, we got to he careful
the information because now, people be saying that we have 100,000 vaccines, why
don't you -all go any faster? We don 't have 100, 000.
Vice Chair Russell: That's a good clarification.
Commissioner Watson: So this --
Mr. Zahralban: Absolutely.
Mr. Watson: -- you got to be careful about what we say to people, one. And two, we
have to be real clear about -- from my side -- you can't call any tenant of the
building and he go out. These things taken out, then they get destroyed. So clearly,
they need to know first, do that work? To know exactly who's going to do what and
then get back so that it can be done. So, we have to be careful in how we now tell
our people it's going to happen. Nine -- it's nine people or three people. It -- this --
it sounds kind of lofty, but we have to he careful as well. So --
Vice Chair Russell: Got it.
Mr. Zahralban: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: So I'd like to finalize a couple of the questions that I had. These
are some legal questions, if you can help Barnaby. What is the legality of excluding
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non-residents? Can we choose to only vaccinate City of Miami residents through
our program?
Commissioner Watson: Yeah.
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): I'm not aware of a prohibition. You know,
obviously, if it was a City vaccination program, the City can prioritize city residents.
I don't know of there's regulations that come from the state or the federal
government that say, it's supposed to he open to others. So, unfortunately, I can't
commit to that answer, it's something that 1 would have to look into.
Vice Chair Russell: That leads to my second question. Can we set any policy on
who gets priority that is different than what the state is offering?
Mr. Min: Unfortunately, it's the same answer. Again, if it's the City's vaccinations
and the City's program, we can, you know, create the policy and the procedure that
we want to follow. But if we are implementing something that the federal
government and/or the state government has authorized or told us to implement, they
may have regulations that we have to follow.
Vice Chair Russell: Well, then maybe that's a question, for the Chief Is the state
offering us vaccines on the condition that we only vaccinate on the same schedule of
preference that they're vaccinating?
Mr. Zahralban: On the same schedule as far as who gets vaccinated?
Vice Chair Russell: By priority, correct.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes. We are very strictly limited to what the governor has declared
as the priorities because the CDC makes recommendations, but the governor
actually issued an executive order, and that's what determines who can receive
them.
Vice Chair Russell: That -- okay. That was my main question from a legal
perspective and just a logistic perspective. What about city employees? Are there
any other city employees, other than those who are currently on the schedule that
you would consider high at risk because of their job description that should fall in
line of priority?
Mr. Zahralban: I'm going to answer that question in two ways. My assessment as a
fire chief is yes, there are other cities of -- city employees that I believe are at
greater risk and would like to vaccinate. We have as such, asked the Florida
Department of Health if we could go outside of our guidelines of the paramedic,
EMT (Emergency Medical Technicians) healthcare workers and begin to vaccinate
those at highest risk with a goal towards vaccinating employees as a whole. And it's
-- we've been declined so far denied.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it. Because I would like to amend any one of these
resolutions to include an urging that we for your recommendation or Hevia's
recommendation on who those prioritized employees should be. And then that mixes
with my other question. Many of our employees don't live in the City of Miami.
They're not City of Miami residents. So, I wanted to make that mutual exclusive. So,
in our distribution. We're limiting the city residents. But if we are doing an
employee program where there are at risk employees that are in the line of fare, we
would not limit it to only city residents. And I --
Mr. Zahralban: And what -- when we accept vaccinations for what the health
department terms as an open pod, wide distribution or a closed pod limited
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distribution. We would make that distinction to them and let them know what our
intent was prior to receiving the vaccinations.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. Got it. And with the --
Mr. Zahralban: With Vaccines --
Vice Chair Russell: -- With the final point -- just it's been proffered another private
property, Mona Wynwood at 318 Northwest 23rd Street, is offering if -- if it's of use
to you when it works from a logistic perspective. There's site for a vaccination pod.
Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: 1 thought you were going to offer up 1401 Northeast 14th
Street.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The Heritage. Put it to good use, right,
Commissioner?
Commissioner Carollo: You got me going there. It 's in your district.
Vice Chair Russell:: They had not called.
Commissioner Carollo: Chief 1 need to cover several areas and especially one that
the Chair touched upon. And prior to that district one was talking about. So far,
how many vaccines, I don't care where they came from. How many vaccines have
you gotten in hand that the fire department has been given?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir. The fire department has received 850 vaccines.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: Okay. Those vaccines --
Commissioner Carollo: And slow down, slow down.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not as smart as I used to be. I'm working out one
cylinder. But as you hear me say, my one cylinders usually much better than most
people's eight. So, you got 850 that you got and though so many have you used?
Mr. Zahralban: Approximately 250 had been distributed so far.
Commissioner Carollo: 250. When did you get the 850? Did you get them in one
bunch or at several --
Mr. Zahralban: We -- we received 850 altogether in one shipment.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. When was that?
Mr. Zahralban: When was it?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Zahralban: I would say approximately two weeks ago -- two -and -a -half weeks
ago.
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Commissioner Carollo: Two to two -and -a -half weeks ago. Okay. And you've only
gotten out 250, and we're talking about a 100 thousand in a week? 1 mean it's --
Mr. Zahralban: Well, there -- there's some limitations that I would have to explain
as it relates to this.
Commissioner Carollo: But here's where I'm going. It's frustrating to me and I
think from what I heard from Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla. And I think all of us
that if you've had for about two -and -a -half weeks or so 850 vaccines that you've
only used 250 and you got 600 left. I agree there quite a few categories that are
front-line workers, individuals. And some of those front-line are people that have
other issues that need to be protected even more so than the regular front-line
Forensics in our administration. Maybe if these would have been given out, we
would have saved a couple of our people in the Administration that got COVID not
that long ago. You got two guys up here that are not young whippersnappers
anymore. And two more on the other end that are not that far behind. Just in case,
you know, you haven't noticed.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It 's only Commissioner Watson.
Commissioner Carollo: And we have more contact with the public then just about
anybody in this city. Thank God that, you know, God has protected me, and 1
haven 't gotten it. That says a lot for mask because I'll tell you the first thing I did 1
made sure that we were getting masks N95s or my whole staff and, knock on wood,
even with all the tens of thousands of meals that we gave out during the summer, the
hot meals, the thousands of bags that we've given out for the holidays. And like the
rest of our staff the thousands of CARE [sic] cards, none of my staff
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) and that I had the contributing part for the safety protocol that
we placed in in mask and frankly, God's hands that are protecting us. But any one
of us could have gotten it in the last two, two -and -a -half weeks. And you're sitting in
600 there, that I don 't know why we didn't put them out. I mean, we got scores of
fire personnel. I mean, we got more than 250 front-line fire personnel, police
officers. I mean, we can go on and on and on. And if not just, you know, a regular
residents, is there a reason why we've sat in these for let's say two -and -a -half
weeks?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir. Absolutely. There's a reason and it's an excellent question
because I share your frustration. Initially, when we received the 850 Vaccinations, it
was intended or designed to be what they called a closed pod, which meant that it
was for the Department of Fire Rescue, and we could not go outside of that pod.
That was number one.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. What --
Mr. Zahralban: So, then if --
Commissioner Carollo: But even there, you have more than 650 firefighters,
paramedics alone, that this could have gotten to. You could have had 85 percent of
your department vaccinated.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Or, perhaps, Commissioner, they didn 't want to
be vaccinated. Is that what happened?
Mr. Zahralban: There is an element to this, whereby people --
Commissioner Carollo: How many?
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Mr. Zahralban: -- people are somewhat -- are skeptical and what we're seeing is a
phenomenon that we're going to see throughout the community where people might
be willing to take the vaccine, but they don't necessarily want to be first. So --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I mentioned that before when --
Mr. Zahralban: -- so that -- that is -- there is an element to that. Now what we did
was we went back to the health department, and we said we have a concept for our
mobile vaccination program. We would like to get it up and running. We submitted
an Incident Action Plan to them and asked for 1200 vaccines to get started. They
declined. They said that for two reasons. They said, number one, they didn 't have
the vaccines available right now. Number two, as you pointed out, we have about
600 in reserve. Our response to them was yes, but you said that we couldn 't use that
for anything but the closed pod. Based upon that conversation that occurred two to
three days ago, they said, okay, we will allow you to open it up and use those
vaccines, get down to about 200 and then request more and if we have them, we'11
send them. So, that's where we are now, where we are able to use those in support
of the plan that you're speaking about, Commissioner, where you're asking can we
get something off the ground? But the answer now is yes, we can. We need a few
more days to plan, but we could get something off the ground with the existing cache.
Commissioner Carollo: Let me see if 1 understand this correctly and I want to get
this on the record. We have 700 plus firefighters, paramedics. And with personnel
and everything else, maybe we have 900 to a 1000 people in the fire department.
Mr. Zahralban: About 850. Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: 850. From what you 're telling me, we've only gotten about
27 percent of our people that have been given shots. You 're telling me that the rest
don't want it?
Mr. Zahralban: Well, it's the percentage is a little higher than that Commissioner
because of the 850, the limitation that was placed on us by the health department
was only those that were firefighter paramedic, EMTs. So, we couldn't offer to
everybody in the department like dispatchers and individuals like that. So, of about
789 people, we've hit in the area of 250 to 300.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Now, when did you go back to them, to request that,
we could go to others?
Mr. Zahralban: I'm sorry, say that again.
Commissioner Carollo: When did you go to the health department to request
permission to go beyond the fire department?
Mr. Zahralban: Why did we?
Commissioner Carollo: No, when -- when?
Mr. Zahralban: Oh, when? I would well, we did it a few times for different reasons.
We initially asked to be able to go from the fire department to the police officers, and
that was denied. And then we spoke about general employees. And obviously, if
police officers were denied, general employees were denied as well. And then once
we got -- we -- once we were denied the additional vaccinations, that's when the
discussion occurred surrounding using our existing cache that was supposed to be
intended for a closed pod and begin to allow those to dwindle down to until you
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receipt, until you reach about 200, and then they would contemplate giving us more
vaccines.
Commissioner Carollo: Are the ones you have Moderna or Pfizer?
Mr. Zahralban: Moderna.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: Which obviously makes it a little easier logistically for us.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. Let me go back to the original area that I proposed
and we discussed. In my conversations with the County and from what I understood,
since we cannot limit sites in the city where the County is going to be providing
assistance to State, et cetera. Just to city residents that in the two sites that we would
choose and recommend to the County that for drive- thru, I'm talking about, that the
County was going to be the one providing the Shots. We weren't going to be getting
anything of our own to be used in there. The reason then that I suggested that each
of us provide locations for seniors where we know, we have the concentration was
precisely for what we 've all been talking about. So that you have direct instructions
from this body. Since we're the ones that know better than anyone else where in our
districts, we have the highest concentration of seniors. We can begin this process for
whatever you get extra, whether it's 500 a week, a 1,000, 2,000, whatever you get,
and then we could go that way. That doesn't mean there we're going to be limited to
the sites, obviously not. As more vaccines come in line, and as we -- are able to get
done with those sites. We go to new ones. But we didn 't want to give you 50 sites
where you know, you 're going to be going crazy and analyzing where to go. At least,
if you have ten, 11 sites, you know, it's sufficiently a small group enough for you to
check them out already to see how you 're going to work it out so that you could send
the mobile vehicles there. And all these sites for the most part, are going to have
places inside that you could take them to.
Commissioner Reyes: They do, they do.
Commissioner Carollo: So, you're going to be doing it inside. That's a lot more
comfortable and -- and better. So that was the intention. Now, do we have -- Chief -
- any idea of what the State truly, or the County, or anybody else will be providing to
us on a weekly basis?
Mr. Zahralban: No, sir. Unfortunately, if the answer was yes, it would make my
answers to you much easier. But the only thing that we've been provided definitively
so far is that we would be receiving approximately a thousand doses a day for
Marlins Park.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but who will be receiving those thousand doses a day
there -- it's going through the County, correct?
Mr. Zahralban: Not necessarily the initial plan as I understood it. And that 's again,
the difficulty in answering some of these questions is it could come from different
avenues. The -- my understanding of the plan is that the State intends to deliver
1,000 vaccines to Marlins Park every morning for us.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Now, let me go to the next part because we have to
get this cleared. You brought up a new element into it now that the State is going to
be providing to us directly. The County in their discussions with me told me that the
Marlins want to stop doing testing and anything else at the site that they're using
now on 14th avenue and then on 17th, that whole area. Because I guess in February
they start their spring games so I don't know what so they don 't want it. That's why
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they were trying to push the parking garages, which as you know, cannot be done. Is
the State requiring us to use the Marlins site, or can we use another site for those
thousand or I mean, what do we use then?
Mr. Zahralban: Well, the Marlins site -- what's unique about the Marlins site, is
that it is a State supported site. The nurses are provided by the State of Florida, paid
for by the State of Florida --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, I understand all that, Chief As I'm saying look here -
- here's the problem that right now there are no games going out there. So right
now at the Marlins, so one is there frankly, very politely, I will tell them, you know,
they could go eat dirt somewhere because they don't impress me. But come
February if they got games going, they're paying as for those parking spaces. By
contract, they have a right to use that during game days. Which means that it's
going to make it extremely difficult for us then to use that site, unless we 're going to
be using it some days, some days not on a weekly basis. So, I guess what I 'm trying
to say is can the State shift that to another location and do we start at another
location with the vaccines, versus that site because we're going to have problems
comes February, you know. I don 't know what part of February, but it could be as
early as a couple of weeks and the fact of what I'm saying, no matter how many
lanes you put, one for the other, that's going to create a real mess in that area. A
real mess.
Mr. Zahralban: So, what we have right now is a plan to provide testing inside the
parking garage and vaccinations on -the -surface parking lot. If a point in time, we
can make that work --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, so the testing is not going to be going inside the
parking garage?
Mr. Zahralban: The surface parking, the west parking lot, surface parking will be
allocated for vaccinations.
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Mr. Zahralban: Completely separate than the parking garage with will be
designated for testing. That's what the plan calls for.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: Now, if we get to the point where our elected leaders are, our City
Manager, advise us that Marlins is no longer a viable option, then I would engage
the State, provide them with a site plan and in an effort not to lose all of the
resources, about 60 people that they provide us a day. I would present them with a
plan that allow for a smooth transition from Marlins Park to another site located
within the City of Miami.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Here's another problem. Besides that, the same
problem that I keep repeating, that to do both in a site, this is small as that, and the
traffic problem that is going to cause to the city and the residents alike that live in
that area. We have contracts with the Marlins for the parking garage sites too. Now
they could be willing to say okay, we'll allow you to do it or not. I haven't seen
anything in writing from them. But even if they were, they would do it with a caveat
that they're not going to have to pay us. So, how much revenue, we'd be losing them
by using that site versus another site?
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Mr. Zahralban: 1 completely understand the concerns associated with it and again, I
leave that to the -- to our elected officials to determine along with the City Manager
and if you tell me that the Marlins is no longer viable, we will come up with another
plan and get the State to buy into it.
Commissioner Carollo: You have another plan here which is the Dade County
Auditorium?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Will they provide us the same thousand doses a day on that
location for us to administer that?
Mr. Zahralban: I have not asked that question, but upon direction of the City
Commission, again, through the City Manager, I can take that direction and ask
them if they would be willing to allow us to modify our existing plan.
Commissioner Carollo: Or would they allow us to bring it to Marlins Park --
Mr. Zahralban: Essentially move the operation.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well, what is the main reason that they would want
to have both at the same location doesn't make it easier for the personnel because
I'm assuming that they're going to be using different personnel for testing rather
than those that are going to administer the shots?
Mr. Zahralban: All right. This is part of their statewide strategy where they are
taking all of the existing State supported testing sites and converting them to
vaccination sites. So, this is part of their statewide strategy. It 's not just stuff that's
happening to the Hard Rock and everywhere else in the State that they have been
providing support.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, have you had any conversations with the Marlins?
First of all, on the surface lots that are the ones we're going to be looking then to
give shots at. If they're going be requesting requirement of the city that they want
those back for February?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir. I did have a conversation as recent as yesterday with Alfie
and I had that conversation on behalf of the City Manager because he wasn't
disposed at the time. What we had discussed was the fact that they weren't
necessarily opposed to the vaccination program going on moving forward on the
West lot of Marlins Park, but they did express a desire to remove testing from the site
as soon as was practical. But there are overarching requests related to being
included in the planning process. And I assured him that I would convey those
sentiments to the City Manager and would work with the City Manager, you know,
and him as we moved forward. And to be perfectly, honest, I did not want to get too
deep into the conversation because I felt that was a conversation that was reserved
at the level of the City Manager.
Commissioner Carollo: In as far as the usage of Marlins site, Dade County
Auditorium site, Hadley site, Marine Stadium site, any site, are we going to be
allowed to number 1, make it for city residents only? And two, are we going to be
allowed to begin limiting it to senior citizens 65 and above or those that can
establish whatever criteria we need to do so that not everybody would claim that
they have an underlying problem and they need it. So that we can then choose our
residents and their senior residents and instead not have a site that, yeah, we 're
going to have 1,000 vaccines given to us, but 800 of them are going to be going to
people from outside of the City of Miami?
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Mr. Zahralban: As far as the criteria, the criteria is set forth by executive order
through the governor with regard to City residents versus Miami -Dade County
residents as a whole, I apologize, I do not have the answer to that and I would
probably need to consult with Legal as well as the State of Florida to see what their
position was on State supported sites versus something that were providing with only
City of Miami resources.
Commissioner Carollo: We're running basically with the State, the testing site at
Marlins?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: What is the policy there?
Mr. Zahralban: It's county -wide.
Commissioner Carollo: That's exactly correct. So I'm assuming that the same thing
is going to happen here. What is the matter then if that's what they're doing?
Whether we have it at Marlins, whether we have it a Dade County Auditorium or
where do we have it at? Because we're going to be the same thing and what I don't
want to see happen is that our residents are not going to get priority, then on top of
that, by doing the work for the State for county -wide, that we end up with a big loss
of revenue more than we're having already for corning year because of COVID?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir. I absolutely appreciate your concerns, although I don't
have the answers.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioners, I'm going to recognize Commissioner Diaz de
la Portilla, but I'd like to wrap up these and vote on this item before noon, if we can,
so let's finalize our comments and (INAUDIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Number one, I don't think that's going to
happen, Chair -- that we're going to vote before noon -- because I think there's a
number of concerns as Commissioner Carollo has raised significant concerns and I
want to try to clarify. Maybe you can walk me through it. I believe the Marlins site
is not a State driven decision.
Mr. Zahralban: I'm sorry, sir. Repeat --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's not a State driven decision. I think the
Marlins site is a City of Miami government administration driven decision, correct?
Because my conversation and maybe tell me if I'm wrong, with Jared Moskowitz last
Thursday, was that they had allocated, department of the division on emergency
management, had allocate 1,000 vaccines to the City of Miami to do as they please.
If you determined or the City Manager determined that the facilities were better at
Marlins Park and the support personnel was better at Marlins Park and it was all set
up and it was easier to do. That's a different conversation?
Mr. Zahralban: That is incorrect.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. Well, tell me how I'm incorrect.
Mr. Zahralban: The -- we get on actually, my assistant Fire Chief Scott Dean gets
on a weekly conference call with the State of Florida, the Deputy Director of
Emergency Management, Mr. Guthrey who --
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Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know Guthrey, but 1 spoke to the director.
Mr. Zahralban: No, 1 understand, but I'm just speaking to the decision -making
process whether we decided where the 1,000 vaccines a day go or they decided. The
State informed us through my assistant chief that they would be starting to support
Marlins Park after they did a beta test at Hard Rock at the stadium, that once that
beta test was complete, they would be looking to supply Marlins Park and do -- and
perform the same exercise. So, we did not request the vaccines.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: We did not tell them we want to use them at Marlins Park. This is a
State supported site and they told us what their plan was for Marlins Park.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you for that clarification it 's important.
But do we have the ability to go to them tomorrow morning or today and say, hey, we
wanted the 1,000 vaccines that you 've allocated to the City of Miami to do as we
please. And we've -- we have the personnel within our own departments -- within
your own department to administer that vaccine, do we have the ability to go to
Moskowitz, or whoever you're dealing with up there, Department of Health on the
other end, these come from the Department of Health or come from emergency
management?
Mr. Zahralban: Moskowitz is, comes from the -- he is the emergency manager --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know he is. Thousand vaccines are coming
from the Department of Emergency Management?
Mr. Zahralban: Department of Emergency Management, yes.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. So then, do we have the ability to say to
Moskowitz, "Hey we want a thousand vaccines." We would distribute 250 in -- 200
in Commissioner Reyes' district and 200 in Commissioner Carollo's district and 200
Commissioner Russell's 200 in mine and 200 in Watson's and we're good to go. We
want to do it because we want -- we know our community, we know where the needy
populations are. Send us a thousand a day and let us determine how that happens
through our City Manager, of course, so we determined where they go rather than --
of if we want to do sites, we could do sites too. It could be -- you know, it could be
West End Park. It could be Curtis Park. It could be Jose Marti Park, wherever,
wherever the Commissioners think that it's the proper place to have it or to
distribute those vaccines. Is that a possibility that exists in an -- on an immediate
basis that we can say to Moskowitz, "Hey, we want these here. We don't care about
Marlin's Park." Because Commissioner Carollo is correct. The confusion that will
exist -- first of all, the accessibility for our most vulnerable citizens at Marlins Park
doesn't exist. But let's say that some of it exists. The confusion that once people got
there it is the testing and the vaccination, is that going to work? Maybe we don't
think maybe this Commission as a legislative body doesn't agree that Marlins Park
is a place to do it. So we as part of our pocket items combined as we are going to do
today, we decide that we want the thousand vaccines a day to come to the City of
Miami and we can direct to you and direct City Manager direct to you and your --
your department to allocate it in this particular way. Is that a possibility? And will -
- will you -- do you think Moskowitz and Tallahassee will be susceptible, accept that
- - that proposition?
Mr. Zahralban: There is the potential. Obviously, we can ask, I cannot tell you
what the answer is going to be, but I will bring you back to the plan and present a
problem that is associated with that. That is that we do not have the infrastructure to
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disseminate one thousand vaccines a day in the format that you're speaking about.
The -- we -- we just don't have the manpower to do that because it would he
extremely manpower intensive and I'll remind everyone that we are currently
engaged in continuing to test at Marlins Park, continuing to perform -- have our
mobile testing units out there. We have paramedics in all of the City's schools.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But Commissioner Carollo suggest -- and I agree
with you, Commissioner -- that you hire whoever you need to hire. But if it's a City
of Miami program, let's make it a City of Miami program for City of Miami
residents, not for people from other parts of the County, not for people from other
parts of the world. It's City of Miami. We are not the government of the world.
We're the government of the City of Miami. It should be for our residents within the
governor's guidelines of 65 and over. We have any City of Miami program. Why
not, wasn 't your plan includes make any City of Miami client instead of make it let's
go to the County and see what the County does, did they approve or did not approve
or let's go to the State and do Marlin's Park. Why can't we have a plan, again, in a
silo that it's only for that forgetting but all the 100,000 vaccines you spoke about a
week, never going to happen because countries has a shortage of vaccines. I
understand that's a goal and I understand that when you do plan you have to have
the goal or the need is but the supply is a reality here. There 's no supply, but the
supply that's guaranteed for sure. Well, we know what we have in the bank right now
is a thousand vaccines a day, 7,000 a week, 28,000 a month. That 's what we have
and then this play. Let's talk about that and how we're going to administer those
vaccines in a realistic plan that works for our citizens. Only in the City ofMiami, 65
and older, honestly, the most vulnerable citizens first that are home bound.
Commissioner Carollo: I want to give you an idea. If we could get 1,000 vaccines a
day. That's 30,000 a month. We -- and if we have the ability like we're discussing,
to give those vaccines strictly to Miami City residents, we could have basically the
whole city vaccine in a year's time. Just not everyone's going to want it. So, we
could have everybody vaccine basically in a years' time or less. Those who want it.
Mr. Zahralban: The challenge that we are overlooking remains the fact that if we
dedicate a vaccine -- a vaccination program to strictly the City of Miami, we would
be performing it with no partnership. We would be using strictly City of Miami
resources.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but -- the difference is that what -- what 1 am hearing
there is that they -- you know, the State is going to give us 1,000 vaccines, Marlins
Park. And the problem is that in Marlins Park is going to be opened to the whole
county and maybe beyond.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: So, our residents are going to end up with, you know, very
few of those vaccines. And then on top of that, we're going to be losing --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thousands.
Commissioner Carollo: -- hundreds of thousands of dollars from the parking that
the Marlins want to pay us, and I know they want to get away from that and in their
terms not our terms. So, that's very convenient for them and then they are the
heroes, they did it. It wasn't the City of Miami like everything else has been going
there with farm sharing and you name it. So, what I wanted to do is if you've
presented to us a plan that is going to cost the city serious money and our residents
are only going to get a little bit of those vaccines, I rather spend additional dollars
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that we would have lost there and make sure that those thousand vaccines are going
to go strictly to our residents.
Commissioner Reyes: Excuse me.
Commissioner Carollo: And we 've got a plan that we 've been talking here, you
know, maybe having listening a while at it of how we can go about it. And it 's the
plan that the governor himself has requested that we bring vaccines to seniors first.
And this is what we're talking about.
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Commissioner Carollo: We are going to get it right to the senior's first and if we
need more money. We're willing to put it up as long as it's going strictly to our
seniors --
Commissioner Reyes: That was --
Commissioner Carollo: -- but not the rest of the County.
Commissioner Reyes: That was going to be my question. That was going to be
precisely my question. What does it take if it is possible that we get vaccines because
the priority of the State is 65 over, right? For those vaccines. We get those
vaccines, and we use the vaccines on our 65 and over residents and we make, 1 mean
priority. The places that they live, you know, 1 mean, senior centers that was I will
said before and we can use those vaccines in order to get all the seniors that we have
in the city as soon as possible. It is possible that we obtain a number of vaccines
that they are going to be managed, managed by the City of Miami to provide
vaccination to the 65 and over population of residents of the City of Miami, is it
possible?
Mr. Zahralban: Yes. And what I would propose is that you allow us to go back to
the drawing board.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Zahralban: Take your -- take your input into consideration and present a plan
or modify this plan, adopt this plan to have options for City of Miami only supported
sites whereby you would cater them towards City of Miami residents, and we would
assign a proposed budget to that.
Commissioner Carollo: But --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Let me --
Vice Chair Russell: Just a moment, just a moment.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Let me interject quickly, Commissioner, just give
me two minutes. I'll really be quick. Look, it's a good plan. We are talking about a
different plan.
Mr. Zahralban: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We're talking -- I think every Commissioner is
clear here what the consensus is here. I haven't heard from Commissioner Watson,
but I think it's clear what the consensus is. This is a great plan for the big picture
for the next year. Commissioner Carollo made a very valid point. We can vaccinate
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our entire population in one year if you have that supply coming to the City of
Miami? We are not vaccinating the entire population, yet. We are vaccinating 65
and over but probably we can do it in four or five months, and all our people are
protected. So the plan that I want to see as one Commissioner is a plan, an
immediate plan, overnight plan ifyoucan, once you talk to Moskowitz, or whoever
you're talking to up there. And you say, give us a thousand vaccines. We have a
plan. And then you come back that Commissioner Reyes said to us or to the
administration, to Noriega, to say, hey, it 's going to cost x number of dollars to hire
additional personnel. As Commissioner Carollo recommended, that's not a problem.
But it's got to be a City of Miami plan, one thousand vaccines a day to our residents
65 and older for starters, and we take it from there. Forget the City, forget the
County, forget the State, forget the feds. Our -- the only thing we need from the State
are the vaccines. We implement in-house our own plan, and we can hire additional
people, your City personnel to help us implement the plan for the other -- for
logistics and not for the vaccination itself but logistics and the police department,
all the City of Miami resource that we have, we 're not a separate city here. We
should be able to put together a plan where we can vaccinate a thousand people a
day. That is not complicated for a city of our size, right? And not have to go
through a convoluted process of talking to the County, talking to the State,
Department of Health, Department of Emergency Management, forget all that. All
we need from them are the vaccines. And then we do everything else. And you are
in charge of it, you organize it, and you give us a plan that we can go to our
residents and say, hey, we are elected, we are accountable. We vaccinated our
population. Nobody from outside our cities are going to corning in here and get
vaccinated here. They go somewhere else Hard Rock Stadium, Tropical Park,
Miami Zoo, wherever you want to go. Nobody from Argentina is going to come here
and get vaccinated and post it on Instagram, it's our people. And that's what we
should be doing here, our people we're the government for the City of Miami.
Mr. Zahralban: Commissioners, the message is loud and clear, we will develop a
plan using City of Miami resources catering to City of Miami residents. We will
have that discussion with the State as far as supporting that with vaccines. And we
will bring that to the manager for your review and approval.
Commissioner Reyes: That's what I wanted to hear.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: How quickly.
Vice Chair Russell: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: For instance, you have mentioned that we're running
basically with our personnel Marlins testing for COVID testing. How much have we
been reimbursed for our personnel being there?
Mr. Zahralban: I'll have to get those numbers to you. I know that we have citywide
expended on the order of $26 million and I think that we have submitted for
reimbursement approximately 16 million and actually received about 6 million.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, here's the problem that I have. I mean, as much as we
want to be helpful to our other governments and residents. Why should the City of
Miami be spending funds and we don't have to service the rest of the County? And
then the County doesn't give us or hasn't given us practically anything in return. So
basically, what you're telling me that with the money that we're spending on our
personnel on testing, if we will shift our personnel let the State, let the County bring
in their paramedics, bring in whoever they want for the testing and we shift that
personnel in providing the shots to our residents. The vaccines to our residents, then
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we won't need as much money. We would have more personnel then to accomplish
this. Very simple.
Mr. Zahralban: That's -- I appreciate that, but it's not completely accurate for one
specific prospective, Commissioner. And that is that when you take an operation,
let's say on the scale of Marlins Park, there are about 70 people working Marlins
Park each day. Only 12 of those are the City of Miami and the rest are provided by
the State of Florida, paid for by the State of Florida.
Commissioner Carollo: All right. So then --
Mr. Zahralban: You are also correct --
Commissioner Carollo: -- I think you stand corrected. Then we don 't have fill
control of that which is only supplying a few of our people. We have a small
minority of the people that are there. We are not running to shield them
Mr. Zahralban: I respectfully disagree, Commissioner, only because it's not the
amount ofpeople you have there. It's how you utilize the people we are in control of
two things, three things actually, command, logistics and planning. The National
Guard, fill a supporting role to help direct traffic inside the perimeter. The police
department control traffic outside the perimeter. The nurses deliver the
vaccinations. And then we have registration people that -- that perform the
registration process for individuals but make no mistake, the City of Miami is in
command of Marlins Park.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm glad that you corrected that, it's not the Marlins
anyway.
Vice Chair Russell: So is there --
Commissioner Reyes: I guess --
Vice Chair Russell: We'd like to talk more.
Commissioner Reyes: I guess that it is clear that we want to do, you have the
message. We want to start our own vaccination program that is going to be
targeting our 65 and over population at the places where they live. And also, we
would have to have a mobile unit that will go to those that they at this, I mean has
some.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, we will combine -- I'm sorry, Chair, through
you. So, we will you combine all the pocket items into one.
Vice Chair Russell.: I'm about to get there.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on, hold on. I was going to finish my thought if you
allow me.
Vice Chair Russell: Right, but that's what I'm going to bring up in a moment once
he's done.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay. I'm sorry. Commissioner, are you done?
Commissioner Reyes: Well, you know, I am very -- I go straight to the point. What
do we want to see, I think that is clear, the message is clear that what we want is
consensus and what we want, I mean, come back with a plan, and also try to get as
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many vaccines that you can from the State, and make them comply with the priority
which is 65, and over. We are going to bring the vaccine to that population faster
than Monday are going to do it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But how quickly you will come back with a plan,
right? So, your plan has to come back to us at particular -- that has to be part of
plan -- we combine everything -- and everything else --
Commissioner Carollo: Here's what 1 think we should go today. First of all, we've
been talking about what we could get, but we kind of set aside all the vaccines the
County gets. And we're also part of the County. And they're getting vaccines that
supposedly is going to be for the City of Miami also. So, 1 don 't want to let those
drive-thru sites that the County should handle -- even if we got to help a little bit --
go, you know, to not -- so 1 think we need to address those. That's with county
vaccines, the drive-thru, the two that we had talked about. I think that a resolution is
in place. Making it crystal clear that the absolute well intent directions of this
Commission is to have vaccines available first and foremost to senior citizens of our
city and that's our priority, senior citizens, having said that I think that the
resolution should also state that we are instructing the administration to discuss with
the State how many vaccines, the thousand you said were offered per day could be
used. So that we can administer those vaccines directly to senior citizens. In the
areas of the highest concentration where we would go directly to places like
Smathers, Three Towers --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: UTD.
Commissioner Carollo: -- Haley Sofge.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: UTD.
Commissioner Carollo: UTD.
Commissioner Reyes: UTD, everybody.
Commissioner Carollo: Over Hadley Park area, Robert King High, where you have
high concentration of senior citizen apartments. Lastly, we will establish directions
to the County as was requested, that we would be happy for them to open up the
Dade County Auditorium site for drive-thru testing and the Hadley site for drive-
thru testing and as an option, if there needs to be an additional site, the Marine
Stadium site and those would be strictly for vaccines that the County gets for county-
wide. Not having to do with the vaccines that City of Miami gets, that we want to use
those to go directly' to senior citizens that in particularly don't have the ability to
have a vehicle, get in a car and go to a testing site that's for vehicles only. So that
would be my resolution. I think it covers everything we've discussed here.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I want to add two quick things -- or one quick
thing, really. I want a time frame for this, and I want to make it that you come back
to the City Manager with a plan by Monday morning, January 18th, for that district
that -- whatever that plan is, you come back to us. And we'll call it whatever we
want to call it; the Miami First Vaccination Plan. But it's only specific -- I think,
Commissioner Carollo's point has to be re-emphasized. It's only for the 1,000
vaccines a day that we're talking about, that particular site.
Commissioner Reyes: Exactly. Exactly.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's not everything else. It's not what Jackson
gets, what Mount Sinai gets, what Dade County gets, whatever the state is doing.
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You know, they have different sites in Tropical Park, in Miami Zoo, and everything
else. Besides all that, there's a specific plan from you to us only for Miami and for
Miamians for 1,000 vaccines a day, of course, pending the conversation and pending
the commitment that they're going to send them to us directly as -- my understanding
was that that was the commitment, but it was going to go through Marlin's Park.
Well, we'll tell them if we need any auxiliary support. We have our own system in
place. And that plan comes back to our City Manager by Monday morning, and that
way we know that we get the vaccines on Tuesday or Wednesday, we start
vaccinating our people next week.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. Is there anyone opposed --
Nzeribe Ihekwaba (Deputy City Manager): Commissioner --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's the only thing I'm adding to that.
Commissioner Carollo: That's fine. The -- he's added a timetable.
Vice Chair Russell: Understood.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and the time to do that.
Vice Chair Russell: I don 't think we need to that.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Mr. Chair? Mr. Chair?
Commissioner Carollo: So that's the motion.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Don't need to do what?
Mr. Ihekwaba: Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Ihekwaba.
Mr. Ihekwaba: The date of Monday, the 18th, is a holiday.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The 9th -- well, is doesn't matter if it's a holiday.
Commissioner Carollo: Tuesday.
Mr. Ihekwaba: I'm just giving you --
Commissioner Carollo: Tuesday morning.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Okay, Tuesday morning is fine.
Vice Chair Russell: Tuesday. So, is anyone oppose to combining the resolutions --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no.
Vice Chair Russell: -- and then capturing -- okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. But it's the resolution as we stated, which is a
combination of all the resolutions.
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Vice Chair Russell: Right. But it's got to -- but it will encompass everything else
mentioned in -- on the other resolutions.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. Combine them as long as you include that we
are going to -- I mean, the program includes vaccination in -- at people's home.
Vice Chair Russell: That's clear.
Commissioner Reyes: That they're not capable of going any other place.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. That's clear. That's all captured in here.
Commissioner Carollo: But keep in mind, Commissioner, when we first get them, we
need to go to, like, Smothers directly.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, I understand. But this is -- this should be a mobile unit --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: -- that they did just -- and they're very capable of doing it.
Because there was no conflict between having all the vaccine -- I mean, testing sites,
and also, sites in -- at home also. I mean, testing at home.
Vice Chair Russell: So --1 apologize. The only reason I'm rushing --
Commissioner Reyes: I think --
Vice Chair Russell: I'm sorry. The reason I'm rushing us is that, when we vote on
this, the most important thing is that it's communicated to the public. The Mayor --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: The Mayor is holding a press conference right now --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know. I know. I know.
Vice Chair Russell: -- and this is not getting captured in the press conference.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know. I know, Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: I just want to make sure, as long as it does --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: With all due respect --
Vice Chair Russell: If there's --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- this is an important policy decision.
Vice Chair Russell: 100 percent.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The press conference can wait.
Vice Chair Russell: No. It's not waiting. It's happening.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's fine. But I don't care about the press
conference. Let me rephrase it. I don't care about the press conference. What I
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think is important is that we get it right so that our fire chief understands that -- what
we want and what we want implemented. 1 think that's important. 1 think we --
Vice Chair Russell: I believe we have. I believe we 're very clear but we're being a
little repetitive.
Commissioner Reyes: You see --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, no. We 're not being repetitive. Just -- for
example, Commissioner Carollo right now clarified a good point. It's not only
people that are homebound; it's people that are in a particular building. Some of
them have may have an ability to go to a site, but if we go to a building, let 's
vaccinate all of them and not one building for the sake of efficiency. So, if go to a
Residential Plaza, UTD, it's not only people that can go in a car, it's everyone at
UTD that needs to be vaccinated.
Commissioner Reyes: Right. But Commissioner, let me make clear. When you say
that you're going to go or they're going to be vaccinated at the place of living, when
you go to -- when you go to Residential Plaza, or you go to Smathers, you 're going
to the residence.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: You're going to places that they -- I mean, that encompass
everything.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: And also, it -- what I'm saying is that we add to that a mobile
unit for those people that they don't live within those --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That 's right. Correct. The houses of the people
that are homebound that no one will ever get to, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. I think we're clear in the resolution and -- make the
motion.
Vice Chair Russell: So, is there -- is there a motion?
Commissioner Carollo: I made the motion.
Vice Chair Russell: Is there a second?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll second it.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. All amendments captured. Does the mover accept
the amendment regarding exception for employees that live outside the city?
Commissioner Carollo: Of course.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Seconder?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yes. I'll second that.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Any further discussion?
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NA.3
8491
City Commission
Commissioner Carollo: That's the only exception that we should have, employees
that live outside the city.
Vice Chair Russell: This is -- Yes, Todd? Public comment? I believe we 've already
closed public comment regarding vaccines that was brought up at the beginning of
the day --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Understood.
Vice Chair Russell: -- and anyone who's able to call it. Any further discussion? All
in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
DISCUSSION ITEM
DISCUSSION BY COMMISSIONER WATSON REGARDING THE
APPOINTMENT OF BILL GALVANO AS CONSULTANT TO THE
CITY OF MIAMI TO REDRAW DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item NA.3, please see
"Order of the Day."
Vice Chair Russell: Other Pocket Items that would like to be entered?
Commissioner Watson: Yeah, I have one.
Vice Chair Russell: Is your mic on, Commissioner?
Commissioner Watson: Yeah. It's not on but I had one on in, Mr. Chair --
Vice Chair Russell: Good morning.
Commissioner Watson: -- in are redistricting representative.
Vice Chair Russell: PL2, Commissioner Watson, discussing redistricting.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Hi, Mr. Chair?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, sir.
[Later...]
Vice Chair Russell: I had wanted to clean out the pocket items. We did all and I'd
forgotten one, PL2. Commissioner Watson, that's yours as well. And then we'll
finalize the PH and RE agendas as well as the ordinances. Commissioner Watson,
would you like to take that one up at this point?
Commissioner Watson: Yes. I brought this up to me. I've heard from -- usually we -
- we're more -- we as in African -Americans, tend to be more aggrieved in these
processes than most. And so, I brought this up, not really to deal with the
personality of the item, but to ensure that everybody has a very good handle and
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belief that our process, procedure, and outcome is beyond reproach. And so, this is
that basis that I think that we should now maybe move to someone who 's done our
redistricting work in the past. Everybody seems to be comfortable with and make
that now the benchmark upon which we move in this process so that no one can ever
say that what we did or ruled over or watched over was a process that someone can
take offense to. So that is the reason that I brought this up. I read the article in the
paper, has nothing to do with, you know, trying to deal with what someone has done
or not done. But I think that we 've had good history with Mr. DeGrandy if you will.
And everybody felt good. I think we have a lot of issues as going to come forward
now, particularly in this time as I've heard with the issues of lobbying and so I think
we should move now to at least make sure that no one has any sort of item to hit us
with in not overseeing the process and procedure. This could be most beneficial to
all of us involved.
Commissioner Carollo: What is the resolution you're presenting, Commissioner?
Commissioner Watson: Well, I think the resolution at this point would be define or
at least go back to Mr. DeGrandy and see if he 's inclined to represent us in this
redistricting process and even hope -- follow up to ensure that it's done in a -- in a
time certain so that everyone's comfortable. Particularly the African -American
community who's been sitting on calls on somebody even know, because I don 't get
Herald anymore. But at least the resolution is now fine and see if he's now inclined
to be a part of this process or lead this process so that we have an -- an outcome, or
if not an outcome, a process and procedure that will now not -- not be attacked by
anyone.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): But do you want them both? You want to add
him?
Commissioner Watson: No. We want to let him run the process.
Ms. Mendez: Replacing?
Commissioner Watson: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. DeGrandy, this is a motion I gather has been made.
Mr. DeGrandy ran the last two, I believe. I don't know. The City Attorney was here.
Is it two that he ran before?
Ms. Mendez: Definitely the last one. I don't remember the one before that. I could
double-check.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. But there was never any finger pointing and
questioning of him. So, if anybody would do it now, it would certainly be for other
reasons because there was never anything that could have been said about the
process that he followed. I think Mr. Galvano is a professional. I think he could do a
wonderful job. My concern is and I had that for some time when I started seeing the
attacks coming in, that no matter what a great job he would do, he 's going to be
questioned by some and they're going to try to muddy the process because he was
the one that did it. So, we have others that are qualified, that have done it already
for us before. This is too important for us to go through the attacks, the
(UNINTELLIGIBLE), the finger pointing, and that this is a partisan deal that was
made, et cetera. So, I would go along with your request, Commissioner, for those
reasons. Mr. DeGrandy is a qualified individual. I feel very comfortable with him,
and he was never questioned before. Therefore, he shouldn't be questioned now.
And I'm perfectly fine with him.
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Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: I -- if one thing is important is that this process doesn't bring
any controversy among our communities. It is important I have -- was important
before. That was important. And 1 also have the best opinion of Mr. Galvano. But if
one of our Commissioners, one of the members of this body doesn 't feel comfortable.
And his comet -- or her's community, her community, the community doesn't feel
comfortable and it could create some sort of doubt that it wasn 't a fair process. I
think that a change should be made. And Mr. DeGrandy also, I mean, 1 know him
for a while and 1 have nothing against being Mr. DeGrandy. If it's going to bring
harmony, and if it's going to dissipate any doubt from the community that is at this
time -- this moment questioning that election or is doubting that the result -- the end
result was going to be a fair analysis and a redistribution of our district. I would go
along with yours.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Was there a motion?
Commissioner Carollo: There is a motion.
Vice Chair Russell: Motion by Commissioner Watson, seconded by Commissioner
Carollo; is that correct? 1 just want to make sure I capture it correctly.
Commissioner Reyes: I second it.
Commissioner Reyes: I second it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Let me --
Vice Chair Russell: You're recognized, Commissioner.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Let me address some of the points that have been
made. There is no controversy other than a newspaper article or two that have come
out. And if anybody on this dais is so concerned about a newspaper article, then
none of us will probably be in elected office because they write newspaper articles
negative about -- negative newspaper articles all the time. The fact of the matter is
that Mr. Galvano has an impeccable history, resume, former senate president,
lawyer, fully qualified, and we're not going go into the personalities as
Commissioner Watson said. So, I'm not going to get into some of the questionable
negative articles that came out on Mr. DeGrandy during a whole bunch of
redistricting process in the past. But we can go back and forth because somebody or
people here are not happy with the manager's decision to name Mr. Galvano to do
redistricting for this Commission. I'm okay with that. The problem is that we have a
contractual relationship with Mr. Galvano, been signed, the contract, and he's
responsible for our redistricting. And this board voted for him unanimously. The
second problem with this is that the pocket item has a fiscal impact. The pocket item
has a fiscal impact, financial impact.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, do you remember --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, I'm not finished.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: You had your time now it's my time. And that
fiscal impact, normally we don't deal with pocket items that have a direct fiscal
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impact without having the kind of debate that needs to be had before this
Commission. On top that, if you want to remove someone and you 're questioning
somebody's integrity because a columnist has written an article about everybody
here, by the way, at one point or another columns. Ms. Fabiola Santiago, I think is
the article you're referring to, she has probably done something about each one of
us up here and has not been in a good light. Then you allow Mr. Galvano to come
before this Commission which he's scheduled to come before us on the 28th, I think.
He is scheduled to meet with everybody this week -- this month and address whatever
concerns you have with him. But to do it with a pocket item last minute, I think this
is not the way to do things and that's not the proper way to do things. 1 think that he
didn't have a problem and you're questioning his ability to do his work or his
impartiality, which I don't know why other than newspaper articles that have come
out, then you let him face his jury, right? You let him come before us, and you let
him address us, and then this body wants to make a decision at that point that he's
not the person to go with and to do the redistricting, then we can make that decision.
The -- from the beginning when I met with him, I think all of you have met with him
at some point or another, but when I met with him, he was very clear he was going to
be very, very impartial and very fair, that he was going to do due process and best
practices. He was going to guarantee, or you can 't guarantee it, but he was going to
fight to make sure that the -- the ethnic and racial representation that should be --
should make up this City Commission will remain intact. So there really isn 't any
concern. And so, any of those matters, I think you should address those issues. And
to -- from one day to the other, one minute to the other try to remove somebody who
has a contract with our city, signed by the manager and signed by him, not only is it
a liability for our city, but 1 think it's a wrong thing to do without at least giving him
the opportunity to address whatever concerns you may have, because a column came
out in the Miami Herald. And Miami Herald was -- has always, you know, looked out
for us in -- here in the City of Miami. And it just -- it seems like it's really, really
unfair. To me, that's just not the way we're supposed to be doing things here. If
there's a concern about it, well, defer the matter, bring it up with a regular item, let
him come before us. Let him address the issues. Instead of a pocket item, let the
manager be here so he can give us the reasoning that he and I and others have
discussed about why Galvano -- President Galvano is picked to do -- to go through
this process. He's put a lot of hours already into this, he's already done a lot of the
legwork. Let him come before us on the 28th and let him address the issues with the
manager here. Let's debate it. Let's have a conversation about that. But to
terminate a contract that's already been signed without going through the due
process is not the right thing to do.
Vice Chair Russell: Madam City Attorney.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So I will ask you Mr. -- Commissioner Watson
that you pull it, and you wait until the 28th and let Mr. Galvano come before us and
address, as a matter of collegiality, let him address us and you could address the
concerns and let him respond to whatever concerns you may, have.
Vice Chair Russell: Just a moment, please. Madam City Attorney, could you clam
if the contract we have with Mr. Galvano has an exit clause without cause, would we
be at any sort of exposure?
Ms. Mendez: We have a termination for convenience, so either party can terminate
at either time -- at any time.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: That's how we do our PSAs (Professional Services Agreements).
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Vice Chair Russell: And can the -- can the motion for this pocket item be worded in
a way that does not have an immediate fiscal impact through direction to the
manager --
Ms. Mendez: Right. Well, I just wanted to clarify that what it is. Remember that he
was hired through the manager as a PSA. So it's directing the manager to -- to
terminate.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it. And then the part about Mr. DeGrandy, how would that
be worded so that it does not -- it would be directing the manager once again --
Ms. Mendez: Well, directing the manager to --
Vice Chair Russell: -- to negotiate with.
Ms. Mendez: -- to negotiate with Mr. DeGrandy.
Vice Chair Russell: Do we know that Mr. DeGrandy wants to do this?
Ms. Mendez: So they -- they're both directions to the manager because they're
PSAs. They're his consultants, expert consultants, because if not, you would do a
four -fifths waiver if -- if the Commission is hiring services depending on if there's an
exception in the procurement code. But again, the PSA can be terminated. 1 just
wanted to -- there's little --1 just wanted to tell you the steps. That's all.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Carollo, you're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: I think the City Attorney just answered one of the --
Ms. Mendez: Commissioner. I'm sorry.
Commissioner Carollo: I apologize. I said I believe you answer one of the questions
that have been brought by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla in the contract. It could
be canceled like all our contracts by either side without reason. The other one that I
think it's important to address is that I didn't hear Commissioner Watson. I
certainly have not. I didn't hear anyone else here. The Chair, Commissioner Reyes
saying anything negative about Senator Galvano. No one has questioned his
integrity at all. And as far as bad newspaper articles or what have you, yeah you 're
right. If we're going to judge, assess on this paper articles, you can't. But I don't
think this was being judged in negative newspaper articles, it's being judged and the
perception that's being put out there, rightly, wrongly. Anything in-between that
he's going to be a partisan individual in doing districts. Now, I don't believe that.
But that's the perception that is being put out there where its wrongly, this body is a
non partisan body. And while each of us might have very strong feelings, maybe
some more than others are involved with one party or another. We have always
tried to be respectful, not bring partition [sic] -- partisanship to the forefront, deal
with every item that we can in the most non -partisan way that we can respect in each
other. And I'm afraid that Commissioner Watson, has a valid concern that -- and
this is not Mr. Galvano's fault, that he was the Senate President and the Senate when
redistricts were done in the State of Florida. He was galvanizing the point at the
center of the whole then, they were lawsuits, everything else. It wasn 't his fault, but
nevertheless he was there in that point in history. And that is being used to place a
major doubt on whether this process is going to be partisan versus non -partisan.
And I have no doubt that he could do an excellent job. The problem is, that no
matter how good of a job he 's done, there's the perception that some, not many are
going to put out there. And that 's going to reflect the whole process and it's going to
harm us. That's why I would go along with going with someone that was never
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challenged in that area. Has done a good, job in the past for us. In those are my
reasoning for going that route. Last hut not least, the Chair asked that question, hut
Mr. City Clerk, when the item of Mr. Galvano came up, was that done as a pocket
item at the time?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Commissioner, I would have to go back and look at
the record. I'm sorry, I do not know at the top of my head.
Commissioner Carollo: You know I'm getting a little older and I don't remember
things as well as before. Sometimes what happens in the morning I forget by the
afternoon. But that came up if I remember, as a pocket item. So, Commissioner, you
might have a better memory than I do. Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1 think it was a manager's item that he had
negotiated within his discretionary fluids.
Commissioner Carollo: Whether -- that's a pocket item. It was not on the agenda,
whether, you know, if I remember, you brought it up, the manager discussed it or
whatever, but that was not in the agenda when he came up. That was not in the
agenda. So whichever way I'm not going get into semantics whether the manager or
from the Commission, it was not on the agenda. Therefore, it's what we consider a
pocket item. So, we're not doing anything different here than how this item came
about and since there were money that were allocated already. We're basically not
making much changes on this. So, you know, 1 don 't see why you can 't go forward.
Surely not because of any of the reasons that were stated.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. There is a motion. There's a second. Is there any
further discussion? Has the motion been captured clearly by the clerk?
Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Can you read it back to us and make sure that its
understood.
Mr. Hannon: I'm going to defer to madam City Attorney. But she did State it a little
earlier from the standpoint or maybe I'm incorrect.
Ms. Mendez: Right. So, I'm sorry. I -- is there -- is it going to come back or is --
are you making the --? Okay. So, then it is a motion directing the manager to
terminate the PSA. with Mr. Galvano and to start negotiations on a PSA. with Mr.
DeGrandy.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Watson --
Commissioner Carollo: To hire.
Ms. Mendez: I'm sorry.
Commissioner Carollo: Through negotiations.
Ms. Mendez: Right. To hire.
Commissioner Watson: This is in fact was a manager's decision.
Ms. Mendez: Right. It's a PSA, expert consultant agreement.
Commissioner Carollo: I think that it was worded maybe that way so that the
manager would pay for it, but it was a decision that was voted upon by this
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Commission. Therefore, it was a Commission decision just like this would be. So,
let's, you know, put things in prospective.
Mr. Hannon: Chair?
Vice Chair Russell: You're recognized, Clerk.
Mr. Hannon: My apologies, Chair. I believe there was a direction issued back on
September 10, 2020, at least from our preliminary research, where it simply directs
by Commission Diaz de la Portilla to the manager to initiate the redistricting
process. Now, 1 don't think there was anything specific within the direction to hire a
particular person or a firm. So, I don 't know about that part of the process. 1 was
just looking at how we captured it.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well, it was not on the agenda that day?
Mr. Hannon: Correct. It was just a direction.
Commissioner Carollo: That's the point 1 was trying to make.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: What the board did was there was a direction on
my part and the Commission board to approve the direction. Where the manager --
Commissioner Carollo: Butt remember you're right. We voted on it, 1 think.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I proposed it and 1 was very public about that
because I think that he's probably the best person that could lead us through this
process. It hasn't been done in I don't know how many years here in the City of
Miami. But the idea was to have a one man one vote result. And I brought up the
idea and directed the manager to negotiate. It wasn 't about Mr. Galvano at the time
I had already. -- but I made it public that I favored President Galvano to lead that
effort. The manager, using his discretionary powers to award consulting contracts
under a $125,000 went ahead and did that and signed the contract with Mr.
President Galvano. I do believe that there's a certain -- there's a clear unfairness
here towards Mr. Galvano because whether you say Commissioner Carollo we 're
going to question his integrity. I know you're not. But the fact that you bring up
articles that come out that are negative towards Mr. Galvano it is questioning the
way the veracity or the lack of veracity of those articles. So, to me to do something
like this without at least having the person that is being questioned in front of us for
sheer decency to address the issue and say. Hey I'm impartial. I'll be impartial.
This is my record, this is what happened, and then we can make a decision with that
kind of defense on his part. I think it leaves it up in the air as to whether Mr.
Galvano is somebody that is not equipped to do this kind of job and whether those
articles are true or not, that came out in the paper, this is a certain amount of
unfairness. To me at the end of the day, it really doesn 't matter like I do almost with
every issue here. Who does it? I used to think it's important that we do something
that's good for our city, across the board or any issues that I deal with, I thought
President Galvano will be a good impartial outsider that will come in. I'm not going
to have a debate over Mr. DeGrandy, like Miguel, I've known him for 30 years. He
served in the Florida House of Representatives as I did, and he did a good job. A
very controversial job by the way, back then. When he redistrict in 1990 and 2000. I
thought picking out the political aspect -- the local political aspect of it will be good
for this Commission and for this body. And I thought that anybody from Miami -
Dade would perhaps politicize the issue. That's why I wanted somebody. So, it's the
opposite of what you 're saving Commissioner Carollo. My idea, my thinking was,
hey bring somebody from outside who 's not going to politicize it. Someone who has
no interest, no relationships here other. I mean, Jroexample, my district is fine. I'm
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in the middle of the whole City of Miami. 1 can go either direction, nothing is going
to happen in nay election. Other districts had to he seriously revamped because of
the lack of population on one and too much population and another. Those are
peripheral that basically touch on Commissioner Russell's district, that's
Commissioner Watson's district then, and Commissioner Carollo's district. That
revamping was something that the law requires, it wasn't meant to deny any
particular member here, any particular representative where the ratio or ethnic
proper representation, it was simply ineant to do what's fair and what's right,
keeping the balance that we have in this Commission. But the lower body is to not
harm Mr. -- President Galvano, who I think is a professional, who's extremely
ethical. Who is an expert in this matter, address, deal with an issue that impacts our
city that's up to this body. This body has done that -- the city has done that for
decades. Where they deal with -- they deal with issues and then bring people from
all over the place and the politicization, I get that. But it's a shame that he's not
given the opportunity to come before this body because he does deserve that kind of
respect, does deserve that kind of deference because he was -- he is -- was a senate
president, and a very distinguished career. And before you sack, for lack of a better
word, sack someone, you should at least allow him to come up before us and address
this Commission and say, hey, you know this is what -- this is what happened. And if
he doesn't want to workfor us or he decided he want to workfor us, that 's fine too.
But to sack him and to get rid of him and with a pocket item without due process or
conversations about it, 1 just don't think it's a fair the right thing to do. If the rest of
thinks it's a fair or right thing to do. I understand that 1 get that. I don 't think in my
sense of fairness and nay sense of justice, I think it's a wrong thing to do. No matter
who it is.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. I would like to open for public comment. If there's
anyone here who would like to speak on this item. And is there anyone that 's called
in? I'll close public comment. Commissioner Reyes, you're recognized.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. I want to once again stress that I -- my decision to
support this -- had nothing to do with Galvano. Nothing have to do with the way that
it was brought in. It is that 1-- all we had strived through my live with unity with this
city that you see, there was a time that we weren't very well -- very much divided.
See and the fact that we have now -- that we have a district was an attempt and I was
part of it because of the first conversations, I remember Carollo was the mayor at
the time and the first conversations about this, we had with T. Willard Fair, with Bill
Berry, Sr. I know all of that about being fair and tried to bring harmony in our city
and unity. And is part of this community, whether it'd be, doesn't feel comfortable.
First of all, because might be it's the wrong perception. Perception is mostly
everything, you see. And there's the wrong perception, that a certain individual or
whatever action that's going to take. It is not a -- I mean it's not going to be based
on a fair principle, and they're going to feel bad and this is dead, this will linger, let
on in the future. And I will say, yes, but this district -- shortchanged us, and you did
this. In order to avoid that, you see if we can get rid of that perception. That 's why
and I defer to the presenter of this motion going to decide what he wants to do.
Commissioner Carollo: Going back to how this came about, it was not a scheduled
item. I think that's been confirmed. And there were discussion directives they were
given to the manager. Therefore, we could certainly give the manager directives that
it is the wish of the majority of this Commission to terminate that contract as for the
provisions that we have in the contract, and to hire Mr. DeGrandy to finish the
process of redistricting for this year. No time again, has anyone here said anything
negative about Mr. Galvano, but no one can deny it. That Mr. Galvano was a
lightning rod in the process of redistricting for the Republican Party. There's
nothing to be a shame of whether someone was the Democrat for their party or
Republican for the other party. And that's the only thing that's been brought
forward. I think even Mr. Galvano could deny that, that he was a proud Republican
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at the time, and even so my concern I mean what I read there's a general concern
here is that we can't afford for this process to he looked upon, or be seen by a
portion of our community, that it has been a partisan process instead of a non-
partisan process. And that's all that we're saying here, nothing more. You know, I
stated already, we all agree that Mr. Galvano could do an excellent job. The
problem is, no matter how good of a job he does, or he doesn't do, he's going to be
stuck with this process, and this perception. And the ones it can be stuck with that
perception, is us as the Commission. So outside of that, unless there's any further
discussion, I'm ready to vote.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Watson, you're recognized.
Commissioner Watson: Let me just say this. Let me pivot from this perspective.
Because just like my community calls in reference to this process on normal
occasions, particularly all these relation, manager or not being here or delaying
something for a couple of weeks. I think the will of the body has been verbally
expressed. I understand we all want to be treated like professionals. I'm not so sure
how much two weeks of a difference is going to make. But clearly, from — at least
from my perspective, those opinions have been put on the record. If it's for
professionalism, which is what we seek, in deference to my colleague, is we got to
work on a whole lot of issues. You understand what the will of this body is. If in
fact, you think it's necessary for Mr. Galvano to be here, then he would know what
the will of the bo'y is. Then I will withdraw my motion. 1 don't think it's going to
change much at all. But 1 don 't have a problem with that because 1 've been on the
other side of the table, right. My opinion/commitment is clear. Okay, but if you
think that we now act professional by allowing him to be a part to hear this, I don 't
have an issue with that. It's two weeks. I think that's the spirit of cooperation. I
hope that you see that.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I do.
Commissioner Watson: No one has said anything personal about Mr. Galvano,
okay? But I want to go with what the people have said to me. Right. Okay. So I
will — we can discuss it with our colleagues, draw it —
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you for your collegiality, Commissioner.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner, is he going to bill us to fly out here?
Commissioner Carollo: There's two problems here that I see. One, we need to
change forces if we're going to do it already for two reasons. One, is the time
factor. Two, that by being so pleasant about it, the time is still ticking, and this is
going to cost us additional dollars for Mr. Galvano during the time that he's not
going to be working with this, to come and try to convince us of what I don't think
its going to be convincible to this body. And --
Commissioner Reyes: It would be embarrassing.
Commissioner Carollo: -- yeah. So --
Commissioner Reyes: It would be embarrassing.
Commissioner Carollo: -- well, that's the other thing. Then why, you know, getting
to anything like that. When -- what we're trying to do is resolve this in the most
pleasant way and move forward. This is what I understood. So, I'm sorry that I
stopped the voting when we were going forward with it. But one thing that I've
learned here since I've been back in particular, but for many years before. Is if you
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know that you're going to vote in some one way and the votes are clearly aligned
that way, the more you wait for something, the more unpleasant it gets.
Vice Chair Russell: So, I was saying as a joke, but seriously, is he going to fly here
and bill us to travel to --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: There 's a pleasantness that going to be pleasant.
I think that -- thank you Commissioner for having the spirit of collegiality. And for
respecting a senate president who you have dealing with and, you know to come here
and in essence face his accusers, right? Or face the people that are talking about
him or saying that a newspaper article came out. It's just a question of'jairness. It's
not a question of-- and two weeks doesn't make a difference because the data points
on how many are coming down are not coming down until April 1st for the --
Commissioner Carollo: Why don't we do this --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- for the April 1st is when all the census data
comes down. Actually, they announced it's probably going to be delayed. So, the --
if the maker of the motion and in his posture of the pocket item has shown
collegiality for a fellow member, then I think we should respect that process. I don 't
think there's anything -- he withdrew it until for two weeks or deferred it for two
weeks.
Commissioner Carollo: He hasn't said he's withdrawing it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: He said he will defer for two weeks.
Commissioner Carollo: He was talking about it. He hasn 't said he has. And I --
look if Mr. Galvano, wants to come and address us on his own dime --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll make sure that he does on his own dime. I'll
tell him to come on his own dime; it's $250 so it's not --
Commissioner Carollo: -- and discuss it. Fine. I think we should take this vote and
then let him come in and explain it to us. Anything he wants to discuss. You know,
we all open this up, but I think we should -- if we're going to make a change which
we made the change already. And if Mr. Galvano wants to come and address us, he
could come and address us, but we need to move forward.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I think we --
Commissioner Watson: Madam City Attorney -- I mean, Mr. Acting Manager. I
don't know which one to address. Clerk, can you put this on the agenda for next
agenda?
Ms. Mendez: The 28th. It'11 be on the 28th.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Commissioner. Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: So is that a motion to defer the item to the 28th --
Commissioner Watson: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: February 28th? I'm sorry. January 28?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you, Commissioner.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
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Commissioner Carollo: Well, there's nothing that needs to be made because he's
just withdrawn the motion, the seconder can withdraw it. And then we 're instructing
the administration to put this item on the agenda for the 28th. Now, Commissioner
Diaz de la Portilla, are you committing that we 're not going to get billed? I don't
know if you can speak to Mr. Galvano or not for the additional time. We 're not
going to get billed for the airfare in addition.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I will call Mr. Galvano. I don 't think he needs
any airfare.
Commissioner Carollo: We need to clear it up.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah. I will talk to him I'm not on the phone
right now, but 1 will probably call him and make sure that's the case. Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Commissioner Carollo: Commission Watson you know he 's speaking for himself,'
but he can 't speak to Galvano.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: No, but 1 will.
Commissioner Carollo: How do we deal with that issue of. Mr. Galvano, coming
here, whether he drives, whether he flies, hotel bills, phone bills. And then we doing
all this time between now -- when is the next Commission meeting?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: The 28th, I'll make sure -- I'll make sure that he
comes down on his own dime. I'm going to call him and --
Commissioner Watson: At no cost to us.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. You say you could make sure, but the question is, you
know, the person we have the contract with is Mr. Galvano. Madam City Attorney,
how can we resolve that?
Ms. Mendez: Zoom.
Commissioner Carollo: I don't want to end up the meeting until we know for sure.
If you're satisfied, Commissioner Watson, that even though as you stated, you know,
which way you're going just to appease that we're going to be paying extra dollars.
Can we find out from Mr. Galvano. I mean, what do we need to legally do so we
didn't get bill anymore.
Ms. Mendez: He can appear by Zoom.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me.
Ms. Mendez: He can appear by Zoom. Zoom.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, now you're saying.
Ms. Mendez: No, no. On the 28th.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. So, okay, so that resolves the --
Ms. Mendez: That resolves your travel.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- travel per diem, hut how about still billing us for the
additional time for the next two weeks.
Ms. Mendez: He gets -- it's a monthly -- that's how we structured it to maintain the -
- the cost low. It's a monthly and he bills us on the 15th.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me.
Ms. Mendez: He gets paid on the 15th of every month.
Commissioner Carollo: That's my concern. Today it's the 14th tomorrow it's the
15th. So, he would get paid tomorrow for what? For the next month?
Ms. Mendez: I have to double-check if it's forward or back. 1 have to double-check
that, but the point is it's on the 15th. I just don 't know if it's a forward pay or a back
pay.
Commissioner Carollo: And how much is it each time he gets paid every month?
Ms. Mendez: I believe it's 10 thousand.
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner Watson, there's a decision that you have to
make for us. Does Galvano understand?
Commissioner Watson: He's slated -- he was slated to come here on the 28th, am I
correct?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: No, he didn't say anything.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: He told me he was --
Commissioner Watson: We asked him to conie back here on the 28th.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. On the 28th --
Commissioner Watson: Yeah, we asked him to come back he was supposed to bring
some information --
Commissioner Carollo: That's not the issue right now the issue is that if we 're going
to cancel this from what I understand tomorrow, fix in another 10 thousand that we
paid.
Ms. Mendez: We clarified for you, Commissioner Carollo, it's for all services
rendered. So, it's -- he's entitled December 15th to January 15th. So, you're not --
you're not front paying him. It's --
Commissioner Carollo: Until January 15th?
Ms. Mendez: Right. So it's what he just did for December to January 15th.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. But then what happens from January 16th through
the 28th? That's my question. Two weeks.
Ms. Mendez: Right. So, he would get paid for next month
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Commissioner Carollo: He would get paid another $10 thousand. So, that 's the --
Ms. Mendez: Because there would be the next bill he would pay --
Commissioner Carollo: That's the point that I'm trying to make.
Commissioner Watson: So, he should be notified --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Right.
Commissioner Watson: -- that he is supposed to be here on the 28th. He should be
notified and a minimum, you know split the baby. He should be notified to appear on
the 28th. It will be for half that time, okay, so that 's five grand. And then he would
come here and he'd be -- he can be a part of this.
Ms. Mendez: The agreement isn't worded that way. The Commissioner --
Commissioner Carollo is right. He would have paid --
Vice Chair Russell: For his whole month.
Commissioner Carollo: The whole month, $10,000.
Ms. Mendez: For the next -- right. If for some reason you terminate on the 28th, he
would be paid for the whole month, you know, another $10,000. That's what the
Commissioner's asking and he's right.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, but he can voluntarily say he doesn 't want
to get the other five. He'll be fine.
Commissioner Watson: I think it is a decision we have to make we are going to
make that decision. It won't be the first decision we make that's it's not exorbitant to
do that. I think that you know, that we have a lot of business to do. We just talked
about a lot of waste that has happened with respect to this issue. I'm inclined to
show that he'd be held accountable for now, doing what we have to do, I want to be
a of the process, and having our business take care of it and move forward. Right?
So, he doesn't show up. We have to spend $10,000 to do that. Then I'm -- I'll go
with that. My other colleagues may not, but I will be held accountable. Okay. So
that's the deal.
Vice Chair Russell: So, the motion has been withdrawn, direction has been given to
place it on the next agenda. No further actions required. I don't -- I guess you
didn't expect to get so much support so quickly. It 's what happened here. But it was
a fair pocket item and it did spur discussion. And I think the position -- I agree with
you as well, I would like to say for this part. but I do respect and understand why
you're -- the deference you're seeking to achieve with Commissioner Diaz De la
Portilla. So, no further action necessary at this time.
DIRECTIVE
DIRECTION BY VICE CHAIR RUSSELL TO THE CITY MANAGER
TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A SOCCER TRAINING PROGRAM
WITH REGULAR SCHEDULING TO ALLOW FOR LONGER TERM
CONTRACTS WITH CLUBS AND BUSINESSES.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner, you are less patient than I. And I'm learning
from you because I've been waiting for the last two parks directors and we don 't
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have a parks director now to create or implement a regular program for soccer
clubs to utilize our fields in a very systemic -- systematic, organized, fair way. Right
now, it's first -come, first -serve. The bigger clubs they all fight. It's disorganized to
say the least. For you to take this proactive step, help the club, make sure they have
a space that's predictable for parents and those clubs. It 's exactly what we needed
in this moment. And I'm very happy to support you, but I'd like to take this moment
to direct the management, even though we don 't have a parks director right now to
create and implement a program for regular scheduling so that clubs can count on
longer -term contracts with the city. And many of those clubs are businesses. They
are not for profits. And so, it should be different than reserving the park for a
birthday party. It's providing a service to our residents and providing a business
space for these businesses. And we should treat it that way. 1 know we have a PPA,
program which I've only just learned about, which is -- what is Parks Program
Agreement. And 1 don't believe any of our soccer clubs that operate in the city know
about this type of agreement. So, I'd like to learn more about it and make sure the
soccer clubs know how to sign up for it. But beyond that, please, please bring in a
program that helps more kids have predictable soccer training in our parks.
DIRECTIVE
DIRECTION BY COMMISSIONER REYES TO THE CITY
MANAGER TO RESEARCH THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING
THE AFTER -SCHOOL TENNIS LEARNING PROGRAM TO OTHER
PARKS, PROVIDED THAT IT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH ANY
EXISTING PROGRAMS.
rRESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item NA.5, please see
"Order of the Day."
Vice Chair Russell: Your amendment?
Commissioner Reyes: I was just informed by the City Attorney that it's better to give
a directive instead of a amendment. And I will want -- I want to give the directive to
look into the probability of expanding and making -- and make sure that it will not
conflict with existing programs at the park.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay?
Vice Chair Russell: Got it.
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RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO IMMEDIATELY PLACE
TEMPORARY BARRIERS TO RESTRICT CUT -THROUGH
VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AT THE FOLLOWING APPROXIMATE
LOCATIONS: SOUTHWEST 23RD STREET AT ITS
INTERSECTIONS WITH SOUTHWEST 14TH AVENUE,
SOUTHWEST 16TH AVENUE, SOUTHWEST 16TH COURT, AND
SOUTHWEST 17TH AVENUE TO ADDRESS THE DELETERIOUS
EFFECT OF CUT -THROUGH TRAFFIC ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE
OF AREA RESIDENTS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-21-0029
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Diaz de la Portilla, Carollo, Reyes, Watson
Commissioner Carollo: Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, you're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Let me begin by thanking Beba and the ladies
that are here tonight. And many others that I am sure are listening to us tonight
from their homes, from the Silver Bluff area. I'd like to thank the mayor for his
support and words, just like Commissioner Reyes, that has the other side of the
Silver Bluff. I personally, before COVID, went one morning early, just when rush-
hour was getting started and I met with Beba, and some of the neighbors. I couldn 't
believe what I was seeing. I mean, I have never seen any neighborhood be attacked,
invaded, like they were with vehicles after vehicles. Even my life was in danger being
out there just observing. I came back another day in the afternoon, it was just as
bad. You can't possibly have little kids there in that area because the minute you
turn your eye away for one second they can get run over. And you have all kinds of
people that are going through there. They're in their phone. There's just rushing.
There's just impolite with no courtesy whatsoever for anyone. And this is happening
because of the light in the entrance and exit to US-1 and 16th Avenue. The time I
met with Mayor Gimenez, at his office, he not only gave me his word that he would
help, but he even told me, he says, look at the Gables. They've closed out -- off
dozens of their streets, you should do the same. He connected me -- that he called
her in with Alice Bravo, the transportation director at the time, and we spoke. I
believe she came by the neighborhood to look at it. And then she told me that she had
met with State and that she had resolved everything, where we won 't have to close
the streets because they had assured her that they were going to take the light out at
16th Avenue. Obviously, none of that ever happened. In fact, Mayor Gimenez didn 't
keep his word. And Ms. Bravo, I don't believe was truthful to me. To say that I feel
let down by them and the County is an understatement. I just don't want to use the
not political words of saying that I feel betrayed. We don 't even have to go outside
of the City of Miami to our neighboring city, Coral Gables. There are other cities
also that have done this, and no one's ever got permits from the County nor has the
County objected. We could go right in their own city, in Coral Gate. When Coral
Gate -- and this is an area that while certainly it had problems in people going
through them, it was nowhere near -- nowhere near the problems that this little
Silver Bluff has. But we closed off the vast majority of the streets in Coral Gate
without getting the permits from the County. Here we 're not talking about closing as
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many streets as in Coral Gates, as many streets as in the Gables. We're basically,
talking about four streets. One on 17th Avenue and 23rd Street, and the other three
are in Coral Way, 16th Court, 16th Street and 15th Street.
Beba Mann: 16th Avenue.
Commissioner Carollo: And there are plenty others streets that are open right now.
Did I forget one, Beba?
Ms. Mann: No. It's 16th Avenue and 14th Avenue.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me?
Ms. Mann: It's 16th Avenue --
Commissioner Carollo: Can you come up? Yeah.
Ms. Mann: It 16th Court.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Ms. Mann: 16th Avenue and 14th Avenue.
Commissioner Carollo: That's right. I'm sorry. That's what I meant to say. I was
looking at something.
Ms. Mann: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: 16th Avenue and 15th Avenue. Absolutely correct. Because
then it would be 13th Avenue that comes up, we don 't have a 14th Avenue there.
Now, we're not even talking about doing anything permanent. We will put something
very temporarily that will block people from going into those streets. It's not going
to affect because we will put it behind it, that small strip of businesses that are facing
Coral Way or 17th Avenue on those streets. I'd be willing, from my office, to provide
the dollars, if need be, for the barriers that we could put down. There would be
temporary barriers until we decide on putting permanent ones, but we need to move
forward with this. The life of a group of our residents has been made intolerable. If
any one of us lived there we would not have been as patient or as quiet as they have
been. And if nobody else has gone through any of these processes to close up their
own streets with the County and the County has never objected, and in our own city
we've done it in other areas and the County has never objected. My God, the least
that we could do is move on this now. And with temporary barriers put them in those
streets so traffic can't go, and we could monitor it for whatever the appropriate time
might be until we decide then how to move forward on other than temporary basis in
blocking those streets. So, is the Mayor still around or did he -- I think he left. Okay.
I would like to present a resolution for this Commission instructing the manager to
go ahead and on 17th Avenue, 23rd Street off of 17th Avenue and 16th Court, 16th
Avenue, 15th Avenue, out of Coral Way, to place temporary --
Commissioner Reyes: Barriers.
Commissioner Carollo: -- barriers to block the entrance into this part of Silver Bluff
so that hopefully we could alleviate, in a big way, the living hell that they have been
going through for way, way, too long. And this, I believe, will help the other side of -
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, absolutely.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- 17th -- the other side of Silver Bluff between 17th and
22nd also.
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely, absolutely.
Commissioner Carollo: I mean, how dare the County is going to say that we have to
send traffic into a neighborhood. Traffic is supposed to go there through Coral Way,
through 17th Avenue, through 22nd Avenue, not through our neighborhoods. Not
through those residential areas. And that light should've never been placed in 16th
Avenue on Coral Way, never should've been placed there. So, that is my motion,
that we instruct the manager to do that.
Nzeribe Ihekwaba (Deputy City Manager): Commissioner, Commissioner?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Excuse me, I'm told, Beba, that it's loth Avenue and not
15th like I stated. I'm sorry because I didn't see it in the map and that one.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Commissioner.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So --
Mr. Ihekwaba: Could you please read out the intersections again?
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, the --
Commissioner Watson: Intersections.
Commissioner Carollo: We're working at --
Mr. Ihekwaba: 16th.
Commissioner Carollo: -- 21 st Street of of 17th Avenue.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: 16th Court, 16th Avenue, and 14th Avenue off of Coral
Way.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Okav,
Commissioner Carollo: And they're going to be set back right behind the business
sector that's there so that we don't interfere at all with any other business than we
need to.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Chairman, I have question.
Vice Chair Russell: Of course.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, if you're going down the US -I going north
and you're going to 16th Avenue to cut that entrance into 16th Avenue, right
Commissioner?
Commissioner Carollo: Yep. You could go in there with a light, or you could leave
there with the light.
Commissioner Reyes: Yep.
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Commissioner Carollo: Now what we're doing is, we're only going to leave 3rd
Avenue, so if they do, they're only going to have 3rd Avenue in at least you cut it
from under some of that traffic or they 're going to be able to leave or come in. Now
you made it a lot harder for them to get in there, but at least 3rd Avenue, which I
think you know, it's a wide boulevard and it's not real small streets in the inside, but
you've got to kept that traffic tremendously.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, the entrance from US-1 to making a left
going north will be closed off?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, the entrance from --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: USll.
Commissioner Carollo: -- from US11 going to 16th Avenue is open.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: It's open. Okay.
Mr. Ihekwaba: So, Commiss --
Commissioner Carollo: So, they're not going to be able to flow though straight to
16th Avenue to get out or in making a turn on 21st Street to get out at 17th. They are
either going to have to go straight up to leave through 3rd Avenue --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: All the way to 12th Avenue.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, all the way up or they're going to have to go back to
1st Avenue to get back in 17th, which is not going to make sense because otherwise
they would not have gotten up there.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, I will tell you a little story, a very short
story because I know it's late. So back in 1986, I was coming -- a long time ago it
was. I'm a little bit old but not as old as Commissioner Reyes, but I'm old. So back
in 1986, I was coming from the University of Miami driving down US11 and I always
skipped 17th Avenue. There's a shortcut in 16th Avenue.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And you make a left to the 16th Avenue. And my
parents lived on 16th Avenue and 19th Street. So, you made a left right there 16th
avenue, you went straight across Coral Way, and back to 19th Street. So, when I
was making that left, a guy took a red light and crashed my car. I have a scar here
as a result.
Commissioner Carollo: So that's what happened to you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's what happened. And that explains --
Commissioner Reyes: Now I know.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And that explains --
Commissioner Reyes: Now I know.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) a lot of place.
Commissioner Carollo: Now we know.
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Commissioner Reyes: Now 1 know.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, right behind me was JL Plummer by
coincidence. JL Plummer -- a true story. And JL Plummer calls -- because he was
always -- you know, he thought he was a police officer. So, he would call -- he
called the emergency services to take me to Jackson Hospital because the only
trauma center in Miami back then was Jackson Hospital. So, I know the danger
personally. I know the danger of that cut -through and how that cut -through traffic.
I can't imagine because any parents lived at the northside of Coral Way -- but I can't
imagine living in that area between US-1 and Coral Way how it impacts the people's
quality of life. So, 1 know that area. I grew up in that area. Unrepresented, but I
grew up in that area. And 1 think these closures make a lot of sense.
Commissioner Reyes: Yep.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: They'll be controversial because the County is
going to oppose it and you know how it is. Well, but you know what? The same way
it makes sense in some parts of 22nd Avenue, not every formula works with 22nd
Avenue is the debate about how that works on 22nd Avenue between Coral Way and
US-1, but here, it seems to me that it makes more sense. And so I think Commissioner
Carollo and Reyes -- 1 know it's Commissioner Carollo's district, but 1 know it
impacts the people that live in your District Commissioner Reyes because the
boundary down at 17th Avenue it's in both of your districts. That makes a lot of
sense. It is a dangerous cut through area that people, you know, make a left, they go
down 16th, or they go down 3rd and they're in a hurry to get -- to figure out a way to
get to Coral Way and avoid the traffic that's in Coral Way or US-1 going to 95.
Commissioner Carollo: But think it about this for a second. How many years ago
that you have that accident?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: 1986.
Commissioner Carollo: '86.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: But I've recovered ever since.
Commissioner Carollo: It's 34 years.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Back in 1986, we had less than half the population --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that we have today. So imagine all the extra traffic now
that we have there (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And people were coming off I-95 speeding, and,
you know, they were leaving 1-95 that had ended, and just kept on going. They
thought they were at 1-95, even though 1-95 had ended at US-1, until they get to 17th
and realize, hey, it's not1-95 anymore.
Commissioner Carollo: Now, if Coral Way and 17th, 22nd, 27th, 3rd avenues are
way above the percentage of traffic that they should have by huge amounts. Imagine
what these little streets are, you know, holding in truffle and what they 're like. I
mean, they're taking the traffic of major avenues when they're small streets. So, this
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is why I'm presenting this and look, the County has let the Gables do this. They
haven't said a word. They never even set anything in Coral Gate and many other
places. So, are they are going to discriminate against us because it 's a small area
and Silver Bluff here.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And you know --
Commissioner Carollo: I certainly hope that and I certainly think that --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And you know --
Commissioner Carollo: With the new Mayor that is not going to have the, you know,
prejudice that the old Mayor left with. 1 think we should find some help there and
move forward with this.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I agree. And it's a life safety issue and it's
incredible.
Commissioner Carollo: Absolutely. That's what it is.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I think Ms. Mann said that we are all in 150
votes. It doesn't matter if you're one vote or a million votes. It's a life safety issue.
It impacts a lot of people that are lifelong residents there. So, I commend you
Commissioner Carollo for that work.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I know it's controversial because nobody wants
to close this visit. Everybody wants to get the downtown or figure out a way to get
around the traffic. But they forget all the people, the children and everybody else.
It's a lot of gentrification taking place in that area especially our younger families
moving there with children and all that.
Commissioner Carollo: From --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And I know they have signs that say, you know,
drive like your children lived here. That kind of stuff along the way. And that 's
another issue.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Sure.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That makes sense. It's a life safety issue for
children and it's a quality of life issue for older peop -- older residents that have
been there forever at least they want peace and quiet. They don 't want these traffic -
- the -- these cars, you know, speeding through the neighborhood. So, I think that
the Commissioner takes -- pays attention to those -- what they appear in a global --
from a global perspective to be a minor issue. It's really a major issue for the
quality of life for the people that live there.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. It really is. It really. is. And thank you for your
support.
Gloria Fox: And let me just also tell you that on the second house and of 17th
Avenue, and even though I'd be the most impacted, I would -- the street closure with
it that Commissioner Carollo has just mentioned is not going to benefit me in any
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way. In fact, it'll stop me from being able to come in off 17th Avenue. But that's
okay with me. It's okay. I don't mind. Because what it's going to fix is so much
worse than what I'm living with.
Commissioner Reyes: Commissioner, let me make myself first of all clear. I will
support it in -- in disclosure here --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: -- because this is a smaller area that is impacted and I think
that it's going to have a positive effect on the west side. But I am going to go back
now that we have a different transport -- we're going to have a different
transportation department and then different philosophy. I am going to go back to
the County and present once again, the plan and the -- that was developed with -- it
was developed with neighbors' input. It was developed with engineers' input. And it
was -- in my opinion, it's a wonderful plan that really, really will curtail the -- I
mean, people crossing 22nd Avenue and using 20 -- I mean, 24th Terrace and all of
those streets that's cut through because what it does, it's it would impede anybody to
go and cross the 22nd Avenue Street. And I really -- when we presented the plan, I
thought it was a great plan. And most of the neighbors liked it. And I 'm going to go
back. I'm going to come back -- go back and ask Ibr the implementation of that plan.
1 know that many people would love for us to start closing streets in 24th and in 24th
Terrace and all of that. Yeah. I know for a fact, it 's not going to be allowed and —
but our plan as you saw it, Beba, our plan will work and 1 'm willing and as a matter
offact, 1 was thinking the other day that we should go back, present it again because
what really pisses me off is that 1 also met with the transportation department and
even with the Mayor. And we presented the plan, and it was accepted. It was
accepted. And when we left it for review then, later on, it came back. Remember? It
came back and it was at denied.
Commissioner Carollo: I can't even blame you for that. You know, they stuck it to
us before you got here.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I will ask -- but I do want to ask Commissioner
Carollo a question if I may Mr. Chair. Am I recognized?
Vice Chair Russell: Of course.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, Commissioner Carollo, will this limit -- it's
your district, correct? Will this limit our access to Peking ribs? Peking Chinese
restaurant?
Commissioner Carollo: Not at all.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Because I normally come around 23rd Street and
come from behind.
Commissioner Carollo: Not at all. The other -- than you can go through 16th
Avenue and risk getting hit again by someone.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: So, I guess it's 21 st Street.
Commissioner Carollo: You have to go Coral Way and I7th like you should, like
you should.
Commissioner Watson: So, Mr. Chairman --
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Mr. Ihekwaba: So, Commissioner, if 1 may come in here. We just received the
information, 1 believe a few days ago from Miami -Dade County proposing to close
or rather restrict vehicle access going through US-1. Going to close the intersection
of US-1 and 16th Avenue, so --
Commissioner Carollo: Look, I've heard that before. I -- my motion stands, my
resolution stands.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: The only thing that I'd like to add to it to make it even clear
that we want the Administration to immediately move on these temporary closures.
They're going to be really fairly inexpensive, but they will close these four areas up.
And then, you know, once you see that the County has done all this, then we could
revisit everything.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: But this is the same story that they gave me the last time.
And here we are, two years later.
Vice Chair Russell: So, there's been a motion. Has there been a second?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: I'll second it.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Well, no. I'll let Commissioner Reyes second it.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Watson: Point of information, Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, Commissioner Watson.
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Commissioner Watson: Oh.
Vice Chair Russell: Your mic is off, sir. Your microphone.
Commissioner Reyes: We are going to present our project because we know that
22nd Avenue and all those streets that the authority is the County, but 22nd Avenue
belongs to the County. You see? And we are going to try to implement our project
there and that -- I mean, get them to implement the project and that project I think
it's going to help a lot. It's going to help a lot. Combined with us.
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
Commissioner Reyes: Combined with us is going to help a lot.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Watson.
Commissioner Watson: Yeah. Let me ask you a question right quick. Where's 20 --
what's the area of 22nd Avenue to 27th Avenue? What's that called?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Silver Bluff.
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
Commissioner Carollo: Well, what he's talking about is from 17th Avenue, the other
side that we see in the map, all the way to 22nd Avenue --
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: That's Shenandoah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- Coral Wav and US-1.
Commissioner Watson: But 22nd to 27th, what is that?
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Shenandoah.
Commissioner Carollo: That's the third area, 22nd to 27th.
Commissioner Watson: Well, I mean, I just -- I'm asking because I'm not so sure.
You're going to close off 16, 15th, 14th, and 16th Court or something like that,
right?
Commissioner Carollo: No, no. We're talking -- now we're way away from 27th.
This is 27th --
Commissioner Watson: Right. No. The only reason 1 ask is that just -- I'm just
going through this --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Watson: -- and I'm trying to understand what we're going to do.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. And it's going to be --
Commissioner Watson: I just drove through that area I'm asking you about, 22nd
and --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Watson: -- 27th, if I have to walk to OCI because I would say -- I --
you know, I turned off of Dixie and went up 25th, I believe. And I said I want my
neighborhood like this because now we are having the same problem.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Watson: Because of Design District.
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Commissioner Watson: And what I was told is that now there's a new policy. And
the County, you know, don't want to close main roads and so I am trying to
understand what we're going to do now so I can duplicate it.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, what we're going to do now is close up the streets
temporarily -- not like the Gables that did it permanently, not like we did it at Coral
Gate permanently with a whole bunch of streets, not like Pinecrest has done and all
kinds of other places around the County. And the County has never objected. So, if
they're going to have to come after these four streets, they're going to have to come
against everybody in the County.
Commissioner Watson: Okay.
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
Vice Chair Russell: All right. We have a motion. We have a second. Any further
discussion? All in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: And Mr. Assistant City Manager, if you could emphasize to
the Manager when he comes back that the motion stated immediately.
Mr. lhekwaba: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Not months from now.
Mr. Ihekwaba: Yes, got that.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: The last two discussion items are DI.1 and DI.2. Thank you.
Thank you for spending your day with us.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: Sorry about that.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah. You didn't even offer coffee.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: And we didn't provide dinner. We apologize.
Vice Chair Russell: (INAUDIBLE) hospitality of City Hall.
Commissioner Reyes: Could have given them some coffee or Coke, something.
Vice Chair Russell: DI 1 and DI.2. Is there anything to discuss?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, those were discussed earlier?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, they were.
Vice Chair Russell: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). In that case, we are done.
Commissioner Carollo: That's it.
Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla: We're done.
Commissioner Carollo: We're done.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much everyone. The first meeting --
Commissioner Carollo: Is there anything left?
Vice Chair Russell: -- of the year is now concluded.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on.
Vice Chair Russell: Just a moment. Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on. What's left?
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes January 14, 2021
ADJOURNMENT
Vice Chair Russell: No.
Commissioner Reyes: Nothing.
Mr. Hannon: You're good to go. Sony, I just needed this gentleman right here.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Nothing but an adjournment, everybody.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much --
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Thank you, sir. You've done a great job.
Vice Chair Russell: -- participation and patience. Take care everyone. Have a
good weekend.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: You've done a great job once again.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Certainly.
The meeting adjourned at 7.•53 p.m.
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