HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2025-09-13 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Meeting Minutes
Saturday, September 13, 2025
10:00 AM
First Budget Hearing
City Hall
City Commission
Francis X. Suarez, Mayor
Christine King, Chair, District Five
Joe Carollo, Vice Chair, District Three
Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner, District One
Damian Pardo, Commissioner, District Two
Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner, District Four
Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager
George K. Wysong III, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
City Commission
Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
10:00 AM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Present: Chairwoman King, Vice Chair Carollo, Commissioner Gabela, Commissioner
Pardo and Commissioner Rosado
On the 13th day of September 2025, the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida, met
at its regular meeting place in City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, for its
First Budget Hearing. The Commission Meeting was called to order by Chairwoman King
at 10:22 a.m., recessed at 10:25 a.m., reconvened at 10:29 a.m., and adjourned at 12:57p.m.
Note for the Record: Vice Chair Carollo entered the Commission chambers at 10:40 a.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager
George K. Wysong III, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
Chair King: -- Commission meeting for September 13th, 2025, our first budget hearing. Today
we have Pastor Cook to bless us with prayer before we start our meeting. Thank you, Pastor.
Mr. Cook: Thank you, Commissioner King. Let us all rise. All men please uncover. Before I
begin this prayer, just like it take a moment of silence for the senseless killing, regardless of
your political persuasion, for the senseless killing that occurred in our country and that God
bless us to stop this type of violence happening in our world today. So please bow our heads in
a moment of silence.
At this time, a moment of silence was observed.
Mr. Cook: Thank you.
Invocation delivered.
Mr. Cook: Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. At this time, we'll say the pledge of allegiance.
Pledge of Allegiance delivered.
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
ORDER OF THE DAY
BH - BUDGET HEARING
Chair King: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the first budget hearing for
the City of Miami this day, September 13th, 2025. Thank you all for showing up.
Thank you. for your advocacy. At this time, I'm going to ask the City Attorney to
read a statement for the record.
George Wysong (City Attorney): Thank you, Madam Chair. George Wysong, City
Attorney, City of Miami. This morning, the City of Miami is holding its first budget
meeting and the related first budget public hearing for the purposes of fixing the
proposed millage rate, adopting a tentative budget, and approving various agency
budgets for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30th,
2025. There will be a final budget meeting and final budget public hearing held on
September 25th, 2025, at 5:05 p.m. here at Miami City Hall, located at 3500 Pan
American Drive, Miami, Florida, 33133. These hearings were set pursuant to
Resolution No. R-25-0304, adopted on July 24th, 2025. and in compliance with
Chapter 200 and Section 166.241 Florida statutes and all other applicable codes,
rules and regulations. Detailed information about the processes, order of business,
rules of procedure, and scheduling or rescheduling of City Commission meetings can
be found in Chapter 2, Article 2 of the City Code, a copy of which is available online
at www.municode.com. Any person who is a lobbyist pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 6
of the City Code must register with the City Clerk and comply with related City
requirements for lobbyists before appearing before the City Commission. A person
may not lobby a City official, board member, or staff member until registering. A
copy of Chapter 2, Article 6 of the City Code, entitled "Lobbyists," is available in
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 disclosures required by the City Code in writing. A copy of
the City Code section is available at the Office of the City Clerk or online at
www.municode.com. The City of Miami requires that anyone requesting approval,
relief or other action from the City Commission must disclose before the public
hearing any consideration provided or committed directly or on its behalf to anyone
for an agreement to support or withhold objection to the requested approval, relief
or other action pursuant to City Code Section 2-8. Any documents offered to the City
Commission that have not been provided at least seven clays before the meeting as
part of the agenda materials will be entered into the record at the City Commission's
discretion. In accordance with Section 2-330) and (g) of the City Code, the agenda
and the material for each item on the agenda is available during business hours at
the City Clerk's Office and online 24 hours a day at www.miamigov.com. The
meeting of the Miami City Commission is a limited public forum. Any person may he
heard by the City Commission through the Chair for not more than two minutes on
any proposition before the City Commission unless modified by the chairperson.
Public comment will begin at approximately 10: 30 a.m. and remain open until public
comment is closed by the chairperson. Any person making offensive remarks or
becomes unruly in the Commission Chambers will be barred from further attending
City Commission meetings and may be subject to arrest. No clapping, applauding,
heckling, or verbal outbursts in support or opposition to a speaker or his or her
remarks shall be permitted. No signs or placards shall be allowed in the City
Commission Chambers. Persons exiting the Commission Chambers shall do so
quietly, please. Members of the public wishing to address the body may also do so by
submitting written comments via the online comment form. Please visit
www.miamigov.com/meetinginstructions for detailed instructions on how to provide
public comment using the online public comment form. The comments submitted
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
through the comment form have been and will he distributed to the elected officials
and city administration throughout the day so that the elected officials may 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 and city administration, up until the chairperson closes public comment.
Public comment may be also provided here live at City Hall at 3500 Pan American
Drive, Miami, Florida, 33131 -- 133, subject to any and all City rules as may be
amended from time to time. If the proposition is being continued or rescheduled, the
opportunity to be heard may be at such later date before the City Commission takes
action on such proposition. When addressing the City Commission, the members of
the public must first state their name, their address, and what item or items they are
speaking on. Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids, and
services for this meeting may notify the City Clerk. The City has provided different
public comment methods to indicate, among other things, the public's support,
opposition, or neutrality on the items and topics to be discussed at the City
Commission meeting in compliance with Section 286.0114(4)(c), Florida statutes.
The public has been given the opportunity to provide public comment during the
meeting and within reasonable proximity and time before the meeting. Please note,
commissioners have generally been briefed by City staff and the City Attorney on
items on the agenda today. Anyone wishing a verbatim record of an item considered
at this meeting may request it at the Office of Communications or view it online at
www.miamigov.com/MiamiTV. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to Florida
Statute Section 200.065(3) and Section 286.015 -- 105 of the Florida Administrative
Rule and Florida Administrative Rule 12D-17.005(2)(c)(22), no verbatim record is
required for the appeal of any decision made during public hearings required by
Chapter 200. This meeting can be viewed live on Miami TV, the City's Facebook
page, the City's X, formerly Twitter, page, the City's YouTube channel, Comcast
Channel 77, and AT&T Channel 99. The broadcast will have closed captioning.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chair King: Thank you. Mr. City Manager, are there any items on this agenda that
you would like to defer and/or withdraw?
Arthur Noriega (City Manager): Madam Chair, Commission, City Clerk, there are
no items.
Chair King: Thank you.
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ALL BUDGET ITEM(S)
18175 DISCUSSION ITEM
Office of the City
Clerk
PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED ONLINE BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
FOR THE SEPTEMBER 13, 2025, FIRST BUDGET HEARING.
RESULT: PRESENTED
Chair King: At this time, I will open the floor for public comment. If anyone wishes
to speak on any item that is before us today, please step forward to the lectern. Good
morning.
Stephanie Sanchez: Good morning, good morning, good morning to everyone. 1
know this is a bad timing, but I felt it could have been at another time. I've been very
quiet. Chairwoman King, I'm from Liberty City, from the heart, 1367 Northwest 67th
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
Street. I was in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) riots. Shanreka Perry was my friend. 1 have
the scars on my leg. My aunt had the store across the street. My daddy done owned
the fish market. My mom had the store on 15th Avenue, so I'm a product of Liberty
City. To stand here today again, my son was murdered at 830 Northwest 70th Street.
There have been so many young black men murdered on that apartment complex. I
came here, I met with your city manager for two hours, and I want to put it for the
record. With his staff Fernandez. The detectives -- and I agree, I love the police, we
need our polices, but your polices in the city of Miami -- and I'm addressing it here.
I've had no compliance. The young man that's in jail is not the murderer of my son,
for the record. He did have partaken. To listen to the statements, to listen to the
testimony of your detectives, the corruptions that's going on in the city of Miami,
I've been very quiet. Very, very quiet. Mykevis McIntosh (phonetic) left kids here. It
couldn't have been their children. The waste of the funding that the city of Miami is
handling, the Chief Morales tried to jump on me. They did nothing. Yes, at the
church on 62nd Street, because I spoke up about -- that's my child, not his, that's
mine. I was told to speak to y'all attorney. I came here before the civil's board. I've
heard nothing. I heard nothing back from your city manager. He promised he would
get back with Inc. This is the third year, August 13th has made three years. I've been
in your office when it first happened. I heard nothing else from your staff Your
sergeant at arms was totally disrespectful for the city of Miami. I don't remember
who he was. Your girls was very, appropriate. They was very nice. But it's not about
you. I know you're up for election. This is not about you. This is about what's going
on in our community. Wait, let me finish because it's heavy on my heart.
Chair King: Ma'am, I understand. One, this is the budget hearing.
Ms. Sanchez: I know. That's what I'm talking about. I'm going to the budget right
now.
Chair King: But ma'am --
Ms. Sanchez: So we are --
Chair King: Ma'am, ma'am, your two minutes has expired. And I --
Ms. Sanchez: Oh, I didn't know it was a two minute --
Chair King: Yes.
Ms. Sanchez: Oh, let me just say this last thing, please.
Chair King: Okay.
Ms. Sanchez: But to fund the city of Miami detectives, they're not doing their job.
Detective Gudemeyer -- and not all of them. And I'm not here to criticize no law
enforcement because we do need our detectives, but they need to be held accountable
with the funding that they're receiving. The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
need to do an audit and an indictment need to come to the city of Miami of your
detectives because this is just a waste offunding. We are hiring -- we won't go in the
community and hire the young men on the streets that's on the drugs and doing the
robberies and the killings and the murders because they are human lives as well. But
we will keep a law enforcement in position when he's out there committing the crime.
Our young men are not committing those crimes. These police officers are corrupt,
and I stand on that. And Chief;Jrothe city manager, what you're doing to our
community, you don't live in these communities.
Chair King: Ma'am, ma'am, thank you.
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Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And my apologies, Chair.
Ms. Sanchez: And your attorney, I'm here.
Mr. Hannon: I need the speaker's name.
Chair King: Ma'am, we need your name for the record.
Ms. Sanchez: My son's name is Mykevis McIntosh (phonetic), 8/13/2022, he was
murdered, and your department and your city manager and your attorney have not
responded. I'm here, Mr. Attorney. Stephanie Sanchez.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Albert Gomez: Good morning. Albert Gomez, 3566 Vista Court, District 2.
Chair King: Hold on one second. Mr. Manager, could you speak to her or send
someone?
Arthur Noriega (City Manager): (INAUDIBLE).
Chair King: Okay, please. Good morning again.
Mr. Gomez: Good morning, thank you. I came to speak on four issues. I have
comprehensive research and feedback that I can send to all of you via email. The
tree canopy cuts, given the city -- Four items, so tree canopy first. I'm worried about
the cuts. Given the City's goal of 30 percent canopy for 2030, how does cutting
$1.64 million from the Tree Trust Fund and 1.56 from the citywide planting align
with that commitment? A solution would be the commission consider restoring FY
(Fiscal Year) 2024-25 levels and redirecting capital funds to maintain progress
towards canopy goals. Why couldn't we do that? Storm drain cleaning. Storm drain
cleaning targets dropped from 1,012,945 feet, FY 2023-24, to 850,000, '25-'26.
Everybody gets flooded here, everybody knows that feeling. Despite the flooding
risks, how is it consistent with the resilience priorities to reduce it? Would Public
Works restore targets FY 2023-24 levels and reallocate contractual services to
stormwater maintenance? I'm not sure why not. Parks versus Freedom Park. Why is
$10 million allocated to Miami Freedom Park maintenance while citywide parks
repair increase is only $108k, raising equity concerns. Could the city dedicate a
share of large park funds to neighborhood parks investment, equitable resilience
benefits? Last thing is police liabilities. We have an $11 million liability fund set
aside that covers most of the settlements. I've tracked the settlements since we no
longer post the settlements, which I've asked many times every time 1 come in here
that we should post them. With the city, you know -- with the resilience budget cuts,
how does the tradeoff support resilience goals? And would the city tie liability
savings directly to resilience and maintenance, creating a reinvestment incentive
structure? Thank you. And please --
Chair King: Thank you.
Mr. Gomez: -- fund the park in our neighborhood so that we can stop the flooding.
The water went over the bulkhead in the king tide this week alone. Okay.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Sandy Moise: Good morning. Sandy Moise, 5910 Northeast 6th Court, Miami. I'm
here with recommendations for this year's budget that will strengthen our cty's
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safety, health, sustainability, and cultural identity. First, I ask that you fund a park
ranger position for the Spoil Islands. 1 personally, volunteer on one of the islands,
and I can tell you a dedicated ranger is urgently needed to protect these sensitive
areas and the public who enjoys them and the public who would like to enjoy them.
Second, please allocate additional funding for more Marine Patrol officers. Biscayne
Bay has seen several preventable tragedies, reckless boating and safety risks that
demand active enforcement on the water. Our residents and visitors deserve a bay
that is safe for everyone. Third, I urge you to fund a citywide transition to electric
leaf blowers. Gas powered blowers are noisy, polluting, and harmful to public
health, causing asthma. Electric alternatives reduce emissions, protect workers,
align with the City of Miami's climate goals, and are much quieter Jroresidents.
Fourth, we need an urban forester position to oversee and expand our tree canopy.
Trees lower temperatures, protect us from flooding, clean our air, and make our
neighborhoods healthier and more resilient. We want a 30 percent tree canopy in
every single zip code throughout the city of Miami and every single neighborhood.
The City cannot achieve the canopy goals without professional leadership. And
finally, I urge you to prioritize funding for the Olympia Theater. Please do not give it
away for $10. World -class cities have world -class cultural programming, and the
Olympia is our jewel. If SLAM! (Sports Leadership and Management) can afford to
give the Flagler BID (Business Improvement District) $1 million annually, then
surely the City can retain ownership of this historic theater and collect at least a
million a year in a lease agreement. This revenue can sustain the Olympia as
Miami's cultural hub, as intended by Maurice Gusman when he donated it to the
people of Miami. Thank you for your time and for considering these investments in
our city's safety, health, sustainability, and cultural legacy. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Paul Namphy: Good morning, members of the City ofMiami Commission and other
elected officials. My name is Paul Christian Namphy. I'm the political director and
lead organizer at the Family Action Network Movement, FANM. Address is 100
Northeast 84th Street, Miami, Florida 33138. FANM has proudly served the city of
Miami for 33 years, providing wraparound services that empower youth, strengthen
families, and uplift our community as a whole. Throughout our programs, we offer
case management and direct support to help community members navigate housing,
healthcare, education, employment opportunities. Today, we are asking for your
support of our key initiatives under the City of Miami Department of Housing and
Community Development, specifically, housing assistance and advocacy, youth
program expansion, and family intervention and empowerment. These services are
especially critical in the Little Haiti community, where the need for affordable
housing and youth programming continues to grow. By investing in these initiatives,
you are strengthening the fabric of our neighborhoods and helping to prevent far
greater costs in the future. On behalf of FANM, I sincerely thank you for your
support in advancing our mission. Thank you very much. (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Carl Bey: Good morning. Thank you. Carl Bey and I'm here to speak on the issue of
BH.11, which is the Bayfront Park Management Trust. There's an allotment of $30
million in this particular item. We're here to ask this commission to support the
creation of an academic program whose time has come, finally. The biggest
challenge for the industry of the marine, maritime, and boat building industry is how
to prepare the next generation of technicians. And so, we've heard comments
tonight. The challenge is to create the jobs, to create careers that are meaningful,
that are wellpaying, so people can afford to stay and remain in the city. So, I'm
pleased to report that the Heritage Yacht Academy curriculum and the entire
apprenticeship program has been approved by the Department of Education in
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Tallahassee. That was years of work to make that work happen. So, we're asking
again that this board support the presence in a contracted agreement with Bayfront
Park for the dockage so that our young people, all young people, this is a program
for everyone, all the youngsters in our region that are going to be attending the
classes at both the D. A. Dorsey School and the Lindsey Hopkins will be advanced
because now they have credentials from the Coast Guard and a curriculum to
support their future careers. So, again, we are looking for the inclusion of any
creation of an educational program which would provide on-the-job training at
Bayfront Park and one of the many sources. Now fortunately, we were on the agenda
the other night for the Bayfront Park Management Trust, and I'm pleased to report
that I think that the outcome was very positive and we're looking to move this
agenda forward. So, again, I'll ask for a official motion if someone should be so
inclined so that we can put this on the agenda and move the agenda forward, ideally
with some support directly from the City. And with that, I rest. I thank you very much
for the opportunity.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Norma Reboredo: Good morning. My name is Norma Reboredo, and I'm talking to -
- from an elder family member on the tax exemption. And for Maggie, I'm having an
issue on understanding on the exemptions, on the senior exemption for the city of
Miami. The Miami -Dade has the exemptions on the trim notice, but then it doesn't
occur the city, the trim notice doesn't have that in the trim notice. And so also the
senior exemption, long-term exemption, we're having an issue because the property
is less than $250,000 to approve a long-term exemption. And of course, that's
legislation. But how do we able to do this right away because the seniors are really
hurting on this aspect of taxes. So, if you -- any more understanding why on the trim
notice it's not showing up the $25,000 exemption? So --
Chair King: Yes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Hannon: I'm sorry. Could I have the speaker's name again?
Chair King: Ma'am, may we have your name again?
Ms. Reboredo: Norma Reboredo.
Chair King: Thank you.
Marie Gouin (Director, Management & Budget): One of the reasons it's not on the
trim notice is it's not part of the state trim compliance, so it's a rebate that the City
will be giving so it will be a check that will be sent to you all. It's not part of the trim
notices. You will not see it because it's not part of the process.
Ms. Reboredo: Would this --? Sorry. Would this be after the taxes are paid?
Chair King: Yes.
Ms. Gouin: Yes.
Chair King: More than likely, yes.
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Commissioner Pardo: It's a rebate.
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Chair King: And we have to pass it here. We have to approve it in the budget first
and then it goes into effect October 1. So, it would be almost impossible to get a
check out by November.
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Chair King: Yes, yes, likely. Good morning.
Theophilus William: Good morning, Theophilus William, 1391 Northwest 95th
Street. First of all, 1 want to say this commission to need to work together. It's a
runaway train. You got to have a communication and do better for the people rather
than argue Jrowhat you want. The people is suffering right now. Every year we go
through this budget and you know who get hurt? The little people. $402 million in
the county in a debt situation. Who going to get hit? The little people. But when I
look at this budget, I don't see no top management salary (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
going to cut them. It's sad. And if you put these people out of a job, where they going
to live at? They got houses and kids to take care of. We put y'all in a position to do
right. I don't think prayer is helping us up in here. It's the devil running everything.
The demons are all running, but the people are suffering. Y'all don't have a
communication with us. We be paying y'all salary, but everybody come from all over
the world can build here and get what they want. But when it come to us, we locked
out. We put y'all in to do right by us. But you're doing right for yourself, not for the
people.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Wills Felin: Good morning. Good morning, Chairwoman King, Vice Chairman
Carollo, Commissioners Rosado, Gabela, and Pardo. I am Wills Felin. I'm the
chairman of the Miami Arts and Entertainment Council. First and foremost, I'd like
to thank the Mayor and the Honorable Commission for reviewing and considering
our proposed budget. I'm sorry, I am assisted -- I anz here with my esteemed La
Madrina, Council Member Maria Napoles. I'm sorry, (INAUDIBLE). First and
foremost, I want to thank the Mayor and the Honorable Commission for reviewing,
considering our proposed budget. We fully understand the fiscal challenges facing
the City and recognize the arts and entertainment funding has endured significant
reductions. That said, the mission of the Arts and Entertainment Council is clear. It's
to champion, support, and invest emerging artists and cultural voices across Miami.
Our city thrives when its creative community thrives. And we want to ensure the next
generation of talent has the resources, opportunities, and platforms they need to
flourish. We remain committed to continuing to serve the Miami community and look
fbrward to working alongside the City to make sure that the arts and entertainment
remain a vital part of Miami's growth, identity, and the future. Thank you for your
time and consideration.
Chair King: Thank you. I'm going to let her go since she's going to speak on the
same topic, and then I'll come to you, okay?
Maria Napoles: Thank you.
Chair King: Good morning.
Ms. Napoles: Good morning. Members of the Commission, I'm a member of this
council since 2005, appointed by Mayor Manny Diaz. It is in our goal in this council
to provide support, education, and venues where the local artists of arts and
entertainment can provide, we can provide them education, as I said, and places
where they can exhibit their artists. We're talking about emerging artists. This is our
goal, and we need the support of every single commissioner that they should appoint
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a person that represents their district for the needs of the local artists. Thank you
very much.
Mr. Hannon: And I'm sorry, Chair, if we could have the speakers name for the
record.
I didn't catch it.
Chair King: Ma'am, may I have your name again?
Ms. Napoles: Sorry, Maria Napoles. Do I need to say my address?
Chair King: No.
Ms. Napoles: Okay. Thank you very much.
Chair King: Good morning.
Stanley Young: Good morning, Chairwoman. Good morning, Commissioners. My
name is Chaplain Stanley Young. I'm a chaplain in Team Freedom, which is
Freedom from Prison and Jail Ministry. I live at 500 Northwest 2nd Avenue. It's our
address. I just want to come and make my proposal. For the last 35 years, I have
been reaching out to inmates that are corning in and out of prisons and jails, in two -
- now in three states, here in South Florida. We need your help to help these inmates
that are corning out of our prisons and jails. The city of Miami has more people
coming out of the prisons and jails than any other county, around. There are at least
2,000 inmates coming out of your county jail, your jail system, that is in your district.
I have reached out to each and every one of you commissioners for your support.
Only Gabela is the only one that ever had a heart to sit down with me and to talk
with me and to really help this organization that is a good organization that helps
men and women corning out of prisons and jails here in the city of Miami. I want to
thank you personally, sir, for what you have done to help us, and I hope it will prick
some of the hearts of some of the other commissioners. We serve the entire city of
Miami. A good bulk to 80 to 90 percent of our work is done in the city of Miami. We
walk the streets of the city of Miami. and talk to your residents, a lot of them that
have voted for you to help you to get into office. Now they need your help to help
establish them back into the community that they need to be a part of. I'm willing,
able, and ready, and are doing the work in the community. I just need your help to
help me to help them. That's all I'm asking for today. Call me, and we'll talk, we'll
pray, and we'll strategize to helping those who need your help. Thank you. God
bless.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Sharon Frazier-Stephans: Good morning, Honorable Chair, who's also my district
commissioner, District 5, the great District 5. Sorry about the other districts. City
commissioners and mayor, in his absence, my name is Sharon Frazier. I am a
community advocate, advocating on the behalf of Helping Hands located in Liberty
Square, and the Community Concerns Advisory Committee, aka (also known as)
Neighborhood Watch. We have been meeting at Liberty Square Community Center
every second Thursday at 5 p.m., three going on four years. We haven't even gotten
an in -kind -- Commissioner Carollo, we haven't even got a bottle of water, and we
are the neighborhood watch. Thank you for these two entities that have been serving
Liberty Square, keeping the crime down. We had a report, 20 percent of homicides
and 20 percent of the crime has decreased since we have been meeting in that center.
Not only us, but the other partnerships that we have in Liberty Square. Also, I would
like to thank Mayor -- oh, not Mayor, I would like to thank Chief Morales for
assigning Mayor Lorenzo -- I mean, Major Lorenzo, who's at the Model City Police
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Department, who sends Officer or Commander Alter Williams to our neighborhood
watch and educational meeting. He was there on Thursday night telling us about the
new gun laws, about the concealed. We are an educational meeting. We don't meet
just to meet. We meet so we can interact with our police officers. Thank you so much,
Commissioner, but we're looking to at least get some support or some funding for
Helping Hands and also the community crime watch. Thank you so much.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Brenda Betancourt: Good morning. Brenda Betancourt, 1436 Southwest 6th Street.
BH.2, 3, and 4, the DDA (Downtown Development Authority), are we having by any
chance the possibility of thinking about putting in a ballot for the residents of district
that they are involved in Downtown and Brickell? I've been speaking with a lot of
people in Brickell, and they are not happy to pay for the extra tax. So, do we need to
ask for petitions to put on the ballot, or the commissioners are willing to put it
themselves? BH.12 and 16, the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), question
for the commissioners and the mayor and the city manager. The CRA budget has
been in hold for this Miami -Dade County for several years, starting with Chairman
Gilbert, has not been approved. And if they don't get approved by the county, it
doesn't move forward to the federal government. How it's possible that we still have
it in our budget at the city of Miami, when Miami -Dade County has not approved the
budget for several years? So, I would like to know how we do that first. We spend the
money and then approve the budget, or we actually have to approve the budget first
and then spend the money? BH.5, for the parking authority, are we going to allow
the parking authority to put meters in a residential zone, single-family homes? And I
would like to know, because apparently through our constituents, for them think that
they are double taxing. They pay in taxes, and then they're going to pay for parking
meters in their single family home in front of the house? We're talking about trying
to save money for the residents. Are we just going to put meters everywhere?
Because according with this budget, we're getting -- we're paying for them. And then
we pay for the tickets in front of our homes. So, what else are we going to do? Are
we going to charge them to use the trash and rent them a little square space in front
of the houses too? Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Mayra Rodriguez: Good morning. Good morning to all the commissioners and the
chairwoman, chairman, Mr. Joe Carollo and Christine King. My name is Mayra
Rodriguez, and I live at 5781 Northwest 2nd Street. Well, that's the business address.
I actually live on Smathers Plaza. But this is my first time, so bear with me. I used to
be blonde, so probably you don't remember me. But this is a legacy that we've been
doing for years. I have never asked any of the help from the City. But I think it's time
because after CO VID, we have left our legacy with no funds, and everything was
coming out of my pocket. I can't anymore. So, this is Juan Manuel "Nanito" Vazquez
Jr., as you -- a lot of you will know him as "Nanito." He was born November 4th,
1980 --1938 and he died in 1999 on November ll th. Nanito worked for many
humanitarian efforts during this time in Miami, including Project Advisors
Corporation for many years with distinguished founder, Ms. Linda Murphy. He also
worked for Miami -Dade County in the Department of Housing and Urban
Development, or HUD, as a housing inspector for Plan 8 and various other
resources. Through his years in Miami, Nanito also helped all sorts of community -
oriented organizations, including League Against Cancer, the American Printing
House for the Blind, the Church of'San Juan Bosco, Allapattah Community Action,
Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Make -A -Wish Foundation, Boy Scouts of America,
Jose Marti Foundation, Saint Jude Foundation, Camillus House, Easter Seals, and
many more. He participated and supported political groups such as the Republican
National Hispanic Assembly of Florida, La Casa del Preso, that has a prison in
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
Miami, the Cuban Patriotic Board, the Democrat Movement of his friend, Ramon
Saul Sanchez, the Cuban American National Foundation of his friends, Jorge Mas
Canosa. Some of them has been deceased, but Partido Occidental, Occident Party of
his close friend, Luis Conte Aguero, Office 66 of his friend, Naciro Sargent, and
many others. As a few people --
Chair King: Ma'am, thank you.
Ms. Rodriguez: Oh.
Chair King: Thank you.
Ms. Rodriguez: And please, the only thing I'm asking for is I have emailed all of you
before. This is my first time showing my face to all of you, and we do need funding.
Whatever you can give. I'm not going to ask for millions, but if you can give $500,
$1,000, whatever, it's really needed for our elderly, that's what we serve, and the
disability people.
Chair King: Thank you.
Ms. Rodriguez: Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you.
Katrina Morris: Good morning.
Chair King: Good morning.
Ms. Morris: Katrina Morris, 4130 Lybyer Avenue, Coconut Grove, Florida, 33133. I
wasn't going to come down. And then I popped on the MiamiTV, and I saw, am I
right, $300 million for 300 police officers over five years? And, you know, I was
looking at the budget earlier. Public safety is 55 percent of our budget, $684 million.
And then you go down to community, and economic development, and you have $2.9
million. Why do we need the police? Because we are putting people in positions of
desperation. We are not supporting our communities. And then we turn around, and
we give $300 million over five years to 300 new policemen. Okay? Can we -- can we
hire 298 and throw --? Do you know what $5 million at the ground level would look
like? Do you know what that would do? Do you know what not giving away the
Olympia would look like for the community? Do you know what community
development does? It causes us not to have to spend $684 million a year on police.
Now, the police are important, obviously. I looked it up. The calls are back-to-back.
There's a high volume of calls. Do you know what a lot of the calls are? Domestic
violence. Domestic violence. Why do you think that is? Maybe because people are
living in desperate situations and they're up to here and they're crazy, crazy, this is
making people crazy. We're living in a police state. We're going nuts, okay? Please
be leaders. Take care of people. Where is care in this budget? I don't see it. I don't
see care, I see punishment. Okay, thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
James Torres: Good morning, Chairwoman. James Torres, president of the
Downtown Neighbors Alliance, and also a resident of the DDA hostage tax. I'm here
to strongly oppose the DDA's proposed budget. This budget is illegitimate because
it's built on a hostage tax. Downtowners have been forced to pay this tax for the last
58 years without ever getting a vote. No other Miamians live with this injustice
budget. But the troubling on this matter are the numbers. $3.5 million in salaries,
including 14 staffers, making over $100,000 a year. Along with that, more than
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$700,000 on luxury office spaces, looking down on every resident that's forced to
look like a peasant. Five in-house PR (Public Relations) marketing staff members
costing over $550,000 a year, plus an additional $185,000 more for a private PR
firm, nearly a quarter of a million dollars that the downtowners are paying on this
item. Now, the latest lie out of the DDA came out on July 24th. The DDA's own
Michael Green claimed publicly, and I quote, "34 percent of the budget is
addressing homelessness. " If that were true, that would mean $6.4 million would be
allocated to homelessness. That's not the case, because when you look at the line -
item budget, in June's draft, only 1.25 percent allocates homelessness, about
$270,000. If were to make that comment in the private sector, I'd probably be fired.
What we're asking Jrohere is that there should be additional rebranding of the
homelessness and more money to those. Let's be clear that residents in this district
contribute over $32.5 billion to the tax of the city of Miami. We're asking for the
removal of the downtowners and Brickell. We're tired of this tax, and the interesting
thing is that there are more voters in the downtown district that voted on this item
than they voted for the chairman.
Chair King: Thank you.
Mr. Torres:: Thank you.
Chair King: Good morning.
Raissa Fernandez: Good morning. Good morning, everyone. Raissa Fernandez, 992
Northwest 5th Street. I wasn't going to come up here and speak, but after Katrina
came up, it resonates. I'm a native, I'm a business owner of a third -generation
family business here. I have a son that goes to school in the same district in my
neighborhood. I pay taxes to a home and the neighborhood that I live in in our city is
in dire need. When you see an inequality of investments made to community and only
into investments into safety is a very question mark of what we represent as a city.
You guys are all leaders here. The fact that we're spending a little bit of money in
community development, the budget for the housing department is like $3 million.
Come on, this is something that is critical to our community, to the future of the city.
With the issues -- we don 't only need a rebate for seniors. For working professionals
like my age, they're probably going to move out of here. Because it's -- your wages
are not increasing, but your cost is. So, anybody that's making budget or investments
are looking at this. We're not getting our return on investments as young citizens of
this city. It's not only the senior citizens, it's all of us that own home, that are their
long-term investors in the city. We are the ones that are hurting. And you guys are
all leading here. Many of you are running to continue to be leaders in the city. Let's
act on it. There shouldn't be a huge increase of 300 officers. That's a lot of money.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Mercedes Rodriguez: Good morning. My name is Mercedes Rodriguez. I reside at
1510 Northwest 19th Avenue. I'm a District 1 resident. I'm here in support of public
safety for our police department and ,for our firefighters. It may seem like there's a
huge number of policemen that are being considered in the budget, but not if you live
in District 1. The time for an officer to arrive at a crime scene is really difficult. They
come in from other districts. The reason why I'm here, first of all, I'd like to give my
condolences to Chairwoman King for her father's passing away. I haven't been here
since then. I would like to say it in person. Congratulations, Commissioner Rosado,
for your appointment. Having said that, I am here because I'm disappointed
regarding the elected official from District 1. You have been elected for a four-year
term, and this is a midterm --
Chair King: Ma'am, please don't address --
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Ms. Mercedes Rodriguez: Correct.
Chair King: -- any of us personally or individually.
Commissioner Gabela: No, no, but I want to hear what she has to say --
Chair King: No, she's going to say --
Commissioner Gabela: -- because I have to take the good with the bad.
Chair King: Wait, hold on. She's going to -- she's going to, but I don't want her to
speak directly to you. You're speaking to all of us.
Ms. Mercedes Rodriguez: We are in a midterm of two years regarding a four-year
cycle and the attention of the problems in District 1 have not been addressed.
Attention has been addressed to issues regarding District 2 with canopies, District 3,
downtown business leaders involved in other things instead of the issues regarding
District 1. For the last three weeks, it has been raining. We're in the middle of
hurricane season. The neighbors in the area of Grapeland, the area of Quiet
Gardens, have a huge flooding issue. The infrastructure has not been addressed.
Unfortunately, funding that the area of the neighbors of Grapeland that had from
two previous commissioners put aside $1.8 million for the infrastructure was used
for Northwest 37th Avenue. When the governor and the state legislature provided
funding, that was premature. Capital improvement is needed in these areas and
attention needs to be given. I would like to say that District 1 staff,' your crew, has
been excellent. They are out there early in the morning working the district, but we
need more than that. We need your presence and you have been absent.
Chair King: Thank you.
Commissioner Gabela: I need to address that because she's talking about my district
and I think -- I want to respond very politely, very respectful. One, just in case you
haven 't noticed, ma'am --
Chair King: They're -- thank you, thank you.
Commissioner Gabela: -- with all due respect, in case you haven't noticed, I've
established the Allapattah CRA, which is something very important to come for
Allapattah. Two, when I came in, there was four trucks advertising the name of the
commissioner. You know, yes, my name is on the truck, but I put eight people on the
weed eater team to address the problems that were not happening there for the prior
four years with the prior commission. That guy was really absent, not me. I've been
there all the time. My weed eater team goes out there, and when the solid waste
comes and people throw trash again, they come again and collect it. The swales, the
areas that belong to us, the city, but the property owner is supposed to fix it. And in
some instances, they don't know that they're supposed to manicure that or cut the
grass or whatever have you. We do that when they don't know they have to do it,
when they don't want to do it, or whatever. Also, just so you know, as a resident, I
bought -- I invested, because of the rains that I saw what was going on, I invested in
four pumps, okay, four pumps for the district. Just so you also know, as soon as I
came back, the same day I came back from my vacation, I was out there in my car at
7:30 in the afternoon, which is why I couldn't show up to the Bayfront Trust meeting
because I was out there running around identing the problem areas. And just so
you know, Mr. Noriega gets calls from me on a regular basis, and I am out there. I
am a hands-on guy. Maybe you haven't seen me out there. Okay, I've even showed
up with my weed eater team, myself, with my truck, and my, equipment cutting on
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
17th Avenue to give an example of what should be done in the area. So, I beg to
differ, but if you want to see proof of these things, 1'd be happy to show you what
apparently you're not aware that's happening in the area, and 1 could probably
mention 10 other things, but I'm not going to take up anybody else's time. But very, I
mean this sincerely, if you don't know about this, please come by the office, and I
will be happy to share a list of everything we have done, and we'll take your input.
Of course, there's always a need for more. I understand that, and that will be done,
but please come by my office, and we'll give you a list of everything that we're
doing, but I am not an absent guy by any stretch of the imagination. I've missed one
special meeting, and it's the meeting that you called because I was on vacation. 1
gave ample warning that I was going on vacation. I hadn't had a long vacation for
two years since I've been here. I haven't missed one commission meeting. Right now,
I'm supposed to go to Orlando because my grandson, the oldest one, is going to be
four. I didn't know it until, you know, three days ago, and I'm here because it's my
duty to be here and I should be here. I'm not complaining, but I'm saying I am a
person that I am here, and I will be here for you guys. Thank you very much. And I
will take the stuff that we're not working on seriously and try to implement the best I
can. Thank you.
Chair King: Good morning.
Silvio Pupo Casco: Good morning, Chairwoman, Commissioners. Thanks for
hosting this on a Saturday so we can give some public input. My, name's Silvio Pupo.
I'm speaking in my personal capacity today, but I also want to let you know you've
received a memorandum from the Climate Resilience Committee from our chairman,
highlighting a number of different budget requests that range -- but because of these
two minutes, I'm going to mainly speak on my, things, and maybe he'll be able to
speak on what the CRC (Climate Resilience Committee) is recommending. As you've
heard, there's a lot of people upset because we're spending a lot on police and
police force. We have a lot of problems to solve, but what I'm thinking we could do
to maximize our dollars is think about how we can empower the community to do
some of the work that the city either is not set up to do or simply cannot do because
we don't have enough staff One of these examples, for example, citizen science and
community gardens. Thank you, Commissioner Pardo,. for supporting the community
gardens here with the ministerial alliance. That's an example of things that we could
do to empower communities like coming here. We have urban foresters. Citizens
urban foresters are one of those things that can really help especially around the
tree initiatives and maybe even match Tree Trust Fund dollars. So that's something
that I think we can look at. I would suggest $350k for parks and resilience. And for
that, second, another force multiplier and efficiency would be drones to clean and
protect. I'm proposing a two -unit marine drone pilot as well as aerial drone first
responder. You put about $750k -- I'm sorry. I'm going a little bit over on time.
About $750k between Police Department., Solid Waste, and Parks will be able to, 1
think, stretch those dollars and do things that even with more police, we can't really
do today. And then lastly, I want to support the digital twin ofMiami and collaborate
on giving you the tools as commissioners to be able to have a unified data set that
your staff could apply AI (Artificial Intelligence) to. I know there's a lot of difficulty
in getting data from the community or from even staff internally. So maybe about 100
to $500kfor that pilot. Thank you so much.
Chair King: Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak on behalf of
this agenda for our budget? Seeing none, the public comment period is now closed.
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
BH.1 DISCUSSION ITEM
18058
Office of
Management and
Budget
A DISCUSSION TO ALLOW DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE
PROPOSED FY 2025-26 MILLAGE RATE, TENTATIVE BUDGET, AND ALL
OTHER BUDGET ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item BH.1, please see
"Public Comments for All Item(s)."
Chair King: At this time, we will have our Budget Director read a statement for the
record.
Marie Gouin (Director, Management & Budget): Madam Chair, Commissioners.
Chair King: Maggie, pull the -- Maggie, pull the mic down.
Ms. Gouin: Good morning. M' name is Marie Gouin, known as Maggie. I'm the
Budget Director for the City of Miami. The proposed general operating millage,
which is the cap that the Commission approved in the July meeting, is 7.1364, which
is 8.1 percent higher than the state defined rollback of 6.06 -- 6.0615. And the
rollback rate is really the millage that will generate the same amount of tax --
property tax revenues collected from the previous fiscal year. And with these
calculations, there are some allowances that are made. One of them is for new
construction, additions to existing structures, deletions, and properties that was add
due to change for geographic boundaries. And this millage will require a super
majority, which is four out of the full commissioners' votes. And right now, I'll go
into going through -- ifyoulook at the slide that's before you, what this does is it
compares to what the current fiscal year compared to what the proposed is. At this
point, the 7.1364 operating and the debt of 0.2536, the cap was left at level. We have
the same level millage going into the fiscal year '25- `26. If you look at -- if we
looked at the property appraiser's site, the average property in the city of Miami is
$423,000, which is $3,126 in tax dollars based on 7.39 millage for the city. If you
have a $500,000 home, it would be $3,695; a million -dollar home, which is $7,390.
The other thing I'd like to also do is -- so you can -- if you were looking at your
property, so you can really kind of estimate what it would cost you. Per $100,000
home in an annual basis would be $713.64 per $100,000. The budget before you,
which was also -- you all should have received a set of budget books in your office,
which was delivered. The link was also sent to your chief of staffs fsicJ for the
budget. The budget's online for the public. And we also have these, which is a
summary of the budget, which are -- we have a couple of copies, handouts for
anyone who's interested in seeing the numbers. The budget before you, for
consideration, includes two property saving measures. The first one is that the
propose is to reduce. We set aside $2.5 million to reduce the millage by 0.0284 mil,
which will reduce the millage from the 7.1364 to 7.1080. Also, the proposed budget
also includes a senior citizens rebate. The rebate will be offered to seniors who are
receiving the existing senior exemption through their taxes. The rebate anticipate
approximately $2.5 million, including a way to process -- process the rebate back to
the citizens. Because with the rebate, the City has to be the one who actually process
the checks and send them back because it's not part of the legislation based on the
trim process through the property appraiser or the tax collector's office. And the
homestead exemption, you have to have homestead exemption to be qualified for this,
65 years and older. Your household adjusted gross income must be $37, 684. And you
have to live at your house for 25 years, and your value has to be less than $250,000.
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Based on the tax reduction, this is what happens to your home if you look at it. Per
$100,000, it will be $710.80; $423,000, $3,114; $500,000, $3,681; a million will be
$7,362. These numbers are based on the '24- `25, because all the other taxing
authorities are, like we're doing right now, adopting our millage. So, the information
we have is based on this current budget fiscal year and the other taxing authorities.
Based on the information that we have, every tax bill, every dollar in the taxes you
pay for the city of Miami, 37 cents goes to the City. Part of the 37 cents include 34
for the operating millage. And also $0.03 for voted debt. These are the debt the
residents voted for to do capital improvement projects. The Miami Public Schools,
$0.33; Miami -Dade County, $0.29; and other taxing authorities, like FIND (Florida
Inland Navigation District), it's about $0.01. A budget overview of our total budget,
the proposed budget in front of the commission. The City proposed operating budget
is $1.8 billion. The City proposed capital budget is about $2 billion, which is the, if
you look at it, 52.1 percent is for your capital, and another 49 -- I mean, 47.9 is for
your operating. City operating budget, as I stated, the operating budget, this is what
it made up of four fund categories. The general fund, $1.2 billion, which is
everything that most of the items that is processed in this city to the budget is to the
general fund because it's for general operating expenditures and functions and
operations. Special revenue funds is $384 million, which is 20.9 percent of the total
operating budget. And your special revenue fund is anything that is needed for --
restricted for a specific purpose. Internal service fund, $127.8. which is about 7
percent, which is internal functions going between different city cost centers and
funds within the city. And then you have debt service. Your debt service is proceeds
from debt that we are paying for. It's really payments returning for loans that we
paid principal and interest. That's what that is for. And that makes the total $1.8
billion budget for the city. Where the money comes from. If you look at this pie chart,
I will go over the big items and the main point to this too as well. This is for the
general fund, which is the $1.2 billion. The operating millage goes into the general
fund. The property taxes for the general fund makes up 52.7 percent of the total
budget. That's property tax revenues. Charges for service, just like charges for park
services, $154.1 million is about 12.5 percent. You have franchise fees, $145.9
million, 11.8. And then you have inter -government revenues, $110.8 million, which is
any revenues coming from sources from the state, the county, or any other state or
federal agencies. You have license and permits, 104. We have interest income, which
is about 1.8 percent, and so on. And then if you -- what this does is, where the money
goes in categories. These are expenditures that offset our revenues. And in local
government, in government in the state of Florida, your budget has to be balanced,
which means your revenues has to equal your expenses. Now we're going to go to
the expenditure category, where the money goes. If you look at the expenditures,
$47.8 is for salaries. Employee benefits is $28.9, which is a total of about 77 percent
of the total expenditures in the general fund goes towards salaries and benefits.
Operating expenses, which is anything like outside contracting, office supplies, 16.2
percent. Non -operating, could be outside agencies, 1.9 percent, capital outlay, and
then we also have transfers that goes to capital, special revenue, debt service. Some
of the debt service are being paid from general fund dollars', about $20.8 million,
$20.6 million, excuse me. And transfers for cost allocation, which is your internal
service expenditures, including benefits. Where the money goes by function. If you
look at the function, public safety, which is your Police and Fire, takes about 55.5
percent of the total general fund budget. Then you have Public Works, which is
about 11.7 percent, which includes Public Works, Resilience, General Service
Administration. And then you have your general government, which covers the City
Attorney's budget, the City Commission, Budget, Finance. And then you also have,
which is about 10 percent, you also have non -departmental, anything that doesn't
fall into a specific department, 9.5 percent. And you also have 7.7 percent for other
departments, which is Parks, DREAM (Department of Real Estate and Asset
Management). And also Planning and Development, which is 5.3 percent, which is
Building, Zoning, and Planning. And you also have HCD (Housing and Community
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
Development), which is Community and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Development, which is
about $2.9 million, which is 0.2 percent. And this chart really shows you the biggest
-- just show you in category, the biggest piece of the pie. The little schedule on the
side is really any budget that's below 5 million. If you look at Police is our biggest
piece of the pie, 33.7 percent, which is about $415 million. And then Fire is 21.8
percent, which is about $268.9. And after that is non -departmental, 9.5, which picks
up everything else. Then after that is Parks and Rec, 5.4 percent, and so on. And then
if anybody's interested in looking at the budgets, if you go online, you pick up the
budget book, you can see what makes up those operating budgets for the
departments. Highlights that needed to be mentioned. The proposed general budget
of $1.2 billion includes an increase of $66.5 million over the current budget fiscal
year of $1.17 billion. I think I said $1.23 billion, I might have said million, excuse
me. And details in the increases, for required salaries, positions, overtime
adjustments, $32.1 million. Internal service costs, which is your insurance, pension,
information technology support, $30.8 million. And then you have your operating
expenditures, which is $12.3 million., which, you know, mix up like rental leases,
repairs and maintenance. And as I stated before, also includes your, you know, office
supplies. And then you have non -operating expenditures. And then these increases
were offset by $13.5 million because we had earned interest from unspent bond
dollars, which some of the bond dollars were being paid for the general fund. Those
dollars are being transferred from the general fund interest that was earned from
those debt proceeds to pay for the debt. Capital budget, if you look at the capital
budget for the six -- we had gone through a process of really making sure that we
look at a real true six year plan for the capital budget. We had set up a committee
with an internal staff Based on that, if you look at the Resilience budget, which is the
biggest part of the thing, it's like Public Works, it's $649 million, real estate,
DREAM assets because we have some major capital projects under there. $408
million, Parks and Recreation. A lot of it has to do with the bonds that was issued a
few years back by -- the voters voted on. And then after that, you can see all the
different pieces. And then everything to the right on that chart is anything that's 10
million or less. Now let's look -- I know it's a hard chart to see. If you have the hook,
you might be able to see it a little hit better. But really, the gist of it is that our total
six -year plan for the capital is $2.8 billion, which we've talked about before,
mentioned before. And then, your total -- your -- if you look at your six year, which
you have your total funding, is about $2 billion. So, you have $837 million shortfall
in the coming -- the next two to six years of shortfall, which we need to -- we'll be
addressing as the years progresses. And this is doing the same thing, it's showing
you where the funding source are coming front, some of our debt service, special
revenue fund, and how the capital plan is being funded. Highlights. We were
directed to look at hiring 300 police officers in the next three fiscal years. As we
looked at it -- because the onboarding is a little bit more complicated than just hiring
100 officers. We work with the police staff because they have to do training, they
have to -- the onboard takes a little bit. So, because of that, you have people who
doesn't make it through, who falls out. So, on that, when we look at it, the first -year
impact is minimal. It's $3.5 million, and with that, what we also did was, we also
applied to the feds for -- to the state for police officer grant, it's called the COPS
(Community Oriented Policing Services) grant. And each officer, we will get
$125, 000 for the position. So, out of the 24 positions, out of 125, 000, we will -- it will
take about approximately five fiscal year, I think a minimum of it might be more, to
onboard 300 officers. Really the -- and then the cumulative cost over the five years
will cost approximately $161.3 million to onboard 300 officers in the next five years
or so, take or give a couple of years. And that is all. Do we have any questions? Any
comments from the Commission?
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
BH.2
17943
Downtown
Development
Authority
DISCUSSION ITEM
A DISCUSSION OF TENTATIVE MILLAGE RATE AND PROPOSED BUDGET
FOR THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI ("MIAMI DDA").
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item BH.2, please see
"Public Comments for All Item(s)."
Chair King: At this time, I'd really like to hold our comments. We have another
presentation from the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) executive director.
She needs to read her statement, and then following that, we'll have public comment.
And subsequent to public comment, we can address any issues or concerns we have
about the budget, if you will allow.
Vice Chair Carollo: If I could indulge the Chair to ask why is the DDA making a
presentation now?
Xavier Alban: Good morning, everybody. Deputy City Attorney, Xavier Alban.
Under state statute, because they're adopting a millage, they must make a statement
before public comment and before this body votes on the millage and the budget.
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. I don't remember that from the past --
Commissioner Pardo: I do.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- but if that's what you're saying, that's fine. I'm just trying to
move ahead. I know that there's an item here for discussion on the DDA. I don't
believe this item should have been here for this meeting. We have discussed this
nonstop, in different occasions, and everybody's opinion is well known. But outside
of that, I don't know what else we would need. But nevertheless.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Christina Crespi: Good morning, Commissioners. I'll be brief. My name is Christina
Crespi, and I am the executive director and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the
Miami Downtown Development Authority. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to
you today on behalf of the DDA, which is proud to serve our community. The Miami
DDA is committed to operating efficiently and responsibly. We are proposing a
budget that is $1 million less than last year's. In addition, the proposed 0.3900
millage rate is 10 percent less than the previous millage rate from last year and 3.77
percent less than the rollback rate. For the average residential property valued at
$580,000, that's less than $20 per month in taxes. And for the average commercial
property valued at $3.3 million, that's less than $110 a month in taxes. Despite these
reductions, we are not cutting services. Inn fact, we are investing more in areas that
the community has told us matter most. Helping those experience homelessness,
enhancing cleanliness and security in downtown, and most importantly, supporting
our businesses and small businesses. To make this possible, we are streamlining
operations and marketing to better reflect our staff roles. We negotiated nearly $1.5
million in savings for our office lease over the next 10 years, and we will continue to
look at ways to strategically continue to reduce expenses, to reallocate more to
services over the coming year. In short, this budget is a budget that does more with
less. It reflects efficiency, responsiveness, and a deep commitment to the well-being
City ofMiami
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
BH.3
17944
Downtown
Development
Authority
of our community and its future. Thank you for your time and your continued support
and partnership in making downtown a safe, vibrant, and welcoming place for all.
Chair King: Thank you. And at this time, we will open the floor for public comment.
Ms. Crespi: Sorry, one more thing. Since we did have a presentation, we're going to
just put it into the record for you all to peruse at your leisure.
Chair King: Thank you.
Ms. Crespi: Thank you.
Vice Chair Carollo: Can I get your name again, please?
Ms. Crespi: Sure. I'm Christina Crespi, and I'm the CEO and executive director.
Vice Chair Carollo: Are you sure? Because I remember a Christina Crespi that was
a blonde. I hadn't seen her.
Ms. Crespi: That's right. I'm back to the normal color.
Vice Chair Carollo: Oh, okay.
Ms. Crespi: Thank you, Commissioner.
Vice Chair Carollo: Thank you.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), PROPOSING AN ADDITIONAL TENTATIVE MILLAGE
RATE FOR AD VALOREM TAXATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 200.065,
FLORIDA STATUTES; DEFINING AND DESIGNATING THE TERRITORIAL
LIMITS OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ("DISTRICT") OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ("CITY"); LEVYING AN ADDITIONAL AD
VALOREM TAX ON ALL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE
DISTRICT AT THE RATE OF 0.3900 MILLS ON THE DOLLAR OF TAXABLE
VALUE OF SUCH PROPERTY IN SAID DISTRICT FOR THE PURPOSE OF
FINANCING THE OPERATION OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ("MIAMI DDA") FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER
30, 2026; PROVIDING THAT SAID MIAMI DDA TENTATIVE MILLAGE SHALL
BE IN ADDITION TO THE MILLAGE ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE VII, SECTION 9 OF THE FLORIDA
CONSTITUTION AND SECTION 166.211, FLORIDA STATUTES, AS WELL
AS ANY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IMPOSED BY THE SAME; PROVIDING
THAT THIS RESOLUTION SHALL NOT BE DEEMED AS REPEALING OR
AMENDING ANY OTHER RESOLUTION OR ANY ORDINANCE FIXING
MILLAGE OR LEVYING TAXES, BUT SHALL BE DEEMED SUPPLEMENTAL
AND IN ADDITION THERETO; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0374
City ofMiami
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
NAYS: Carollo
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item BH.3, please see
"Public Comments for All Item(s). "
Chair King: Commissioner Gabela, 1 believe you pulled --
Commissioner Gabela: Yes, ma'am.
Chair King: -- BH (Budget Hearing) -- Well, Commissioner Rosado, you pulled
BH.3 --
Commissioner Rosado: And 4.
Chair King: Right.
Commissioner Rosado: Right, which 1 think we can probably discuss.
Chair King: For discussion, we're going --
Commissioner Rosado: Yes.
Chair King: -- to hold on a second.
Commissioner Rosado: Sure.
Chair King: City Clerk is coming to see me. 3 is strictly the millage, so let's -- let's
not --
Commissioner Rosado: Sure. And I actually don't -- I know that the City Attorney
suggested that we pull it also, but I'm not suggesting a change to the millage. So
even that one can be voted on. What we've done is -- and I believe the City Clerk has
copies to distribute.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): That's for BH.4, the budget.
Chair King: Right.
Commissioner Rosado: For the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) budget.
Mr. Hannon: Yes.
Xavier Albkn (Deputy City Attorney): Commissioner, if 1 may, under the -- under
Chapter 200 for adoption of the millage, you have to do the millage first and then the
budget. So, that's why we pulled BH.3, because you have to vote on that individually
first to set it, and then you will consider the budget. So that's why we were
mentioning that. So, if you would like to vote on the millage and you have no change,
then you can vote on that, and then you can take up BH.4 so you can do the
distribution and everything else you wish to do.
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BH.4
17945
Downtown
Development
Authority
Commissioner Rosado: Correct, yes. I don't have any changes to the DDA millage.
If Christina could join me up here at the podium. So, I'm going to go over some
proposed changes. So, the original draft that was circulated to the commission -- 1'm
Sony.
Mr. Alban: So, if I may, no. What I was saying was, if you want to discuss the
budget, then vote on the millage now, and then bring up the budget.
Commissioner Rosado: Understood. I'd like to make a motion to adopt the DDA
millage rate as stated already.
Chair King: Do I have a second?
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Commissioner Pardo: Second.
Chair King: So, I have a motion and a second to approve BH.3. All in favor?
Commissioner Pardo: Aye.
Commissioner Rosado: Aye.
Vice Chair Carollo: Nay for the reasons previously stated.
Chair King: Motion carries 4-1.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE PROPOSED
ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ("MIAMI DDA"), ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $18,865,990.00, AND
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT AD VALOREM TAX LEVY AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS
INCOME FOR THE MIAMI DDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING
OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; AUTHORIZING
THE MIAMI DDA TO MAKE TRANSFERS BETWEEN ACCOUNTS FOR
NECESSARY AND PROPER PURPOSES; AUTHORIZING THE MIAMI DDA
TO INVITE AND ADVERTISE REQUIRED BIDS; PROVIDING THAT THIS
RESOLUTION BE DEEMED SUPPLEMENTAL AND IN ADDITION TO THE
RESOLUTION MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026, FOR
THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0375
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
NAYS: Carollo
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item BH.5, please see
"Public Comments for All Item(s). "
Commissioner Rosado: Okay. Now that being said, the budget that had been
circulated previously was distributed to the commission before 1 was appointed
chairman. So, it's not a budget that I had any input into. And what I've done in the
month or so that I've been chair is actually gone through everything, each line item,
asked a number of questions, met with staff a number of times, met with different
individuals, gotten feedback and done my own assessment of what kinds of things I'd
like to see changed. So, the City Clerk is distributing the revised budget. And then I'd
like to read some comments that I've written that buttress that. And I'd like to
encourage Christina, if she has any additional comments, to go ahead and chime in
as well.
Christina Crespi: Thank you.
Commissioner Rosado: So, as chairman, my vision for the DDA (Downtown
Development Authority) is simple. It's about prioritizing the people who live, work,
and contribute to downtown and steering funding away from corporate giveaways or
excessive marketing. As such, the budget that you have before you shows a
redirection of focus to -- more so towards enhanced services, additional homeless
assistance, expansion of small business growth assistance, and more direct
community support. So, I'm just going to highlight a few things where you've seen
some changes. We're shifting the focus of the agency towards the core mission,
which is improving quality of life Jrofolks within the DDA area, greater help Jro
small businesses, and more direct service provision. To that end, we are increasing
direct homeless assistance by -- or proposing to increase it by $225,000. And we are
shifting an additional $210,000 toward the growth and development assistance line
item for small business grants and startup support, encouraging local entrepreneurs
to thrive. We want to make sure that Downtown, Brickell, and the Arts and
Entertainment District are clean, safe, and livable. Towards that end, we are
redirecting $100,000 more towards enhanced services, and that includes more
cameras to help with crime prevention, additional focus on graffiti removal, and
increasing everyday support for things like dog waste cleanup, basic things that
affect people's everyday lives. We are also proposing a $100, 000 boost to the facade
grant program and we're redesigning it so that we're actually going to target a
specific block, or blocks, rather than having a more scattershot approach and that
way you'll see a greater impact of renovated facades Downtown and Brickell, et
cetera. We are setting aside or proposing to set aside an additional $5,000 to public
education assistance line item to be used for a new Best Buddies partnership to
encourage Best Buddies participants, folks that have special needs to be
participating in our downtown programming, which is very, very strong
programming. We're also supporting an increase of $13,000 towards the very
successful downtown permit clinic program that we have to be able to expand hours
of operation for that. And overall, we are looking to reprioritize the agency's values
and focus on the core mission, as I mentioned. Christina, if you have anything to
add, by all means.
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
Ms. Crespi: No, thank you, Commissioner, for doing that deep dive, and we're happy
to accommodate those requests.
Commissioner Gabela: I've got some questions.
Commissioner Rosado: Yes.
Ms. Crespi: Sure.
Commissioner Gabela: What's your total reserve now?
Ms. Crespi: The reserve is going to be implemented into the entire budget, so we're
spreading out the reserve into the general expenses.
Commissioner Gabela: No, no, no, but what's that number?
Ms. Crespi: The number is 2.6 is the -- in the proposed budget.
Commissioner Gabela: Well, that's what you're making up because your -- so you've
got total revenues of $16,189,490, so $16 million, and your budget is going to be
$18,865, correct?
Ms. Crespi: Say that again; sorry, I didn't hear the beginning part.
Commissioner Gabela: So, you're making up --
Commissioner Rosado: Yes.
Commissioner Gabela: -- the difference with your reserves. Okay.
Ms. Crespi: Yes.
Commissioner Gabela: What I'm getting it, so after you spent the $2,676 -- the
$2, 676, 500, what are you left with in reserves?
Ms. Crespi: There won 't be a reserve.
Commissioner Gabela: There won't be any reserves. You'll be at zero?
Ms. Crespi: Yeah, we're spreading it out over the entire general fitind. Is that correct,
Berrios? Yeah. Yes.
Commissioner Gabela: So, you'll be at zero. You will not have any reserves, no
liquid.
Ms. Crespi: He's asking if -- he's asking --
Commissioner Pardo: I think he means cash reserves like cash on hand.
Ms. Crespi: Oh, the cash on hand.
Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, the cash on hand.
Commissioner Pardo: Cash on hand.
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
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Ms. Crespi: Yeah, sorry.
Commissioner Pardo: No worries.
Ms. Crespi: She'll come around to make it clear, but my understanding is we're
spreading it out over the proposed budget to cover the reduction. Yeah, the reduction
in the overall budget year over year. We're using the reserves to cover that
reduction.
Ivonne Berrios: So, the question is?
Ms. Crespi: He's asking whether or not -- what's happening with the reserves from
this year --
Ms. Berrios: Okay.
Ms. Crespi: -- to next year, and I said that we're rolling it into the entire budget.
Ms. Berrios: Understood. Yeah, correct. So, everything that in current year 2024-25
hasn't been spent, it will be carrying over for this budget, and it's part of how we
were able to -- the reserves are going to be touched, but it's like $200, 000 only. The
rest is carryover of 2.6 if I'm not mistaken.
Commissioner Gabela: Got you, so $200k is going to be your reserves after you meet
the $2, 676, 000 --
Ms. Berrios: Correct.
Commissioner Gabela: -- to make up for the difference. All right. And what was your
total budget last year?
M. Berrios: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Gabela: What was your total budget last year? The number of your
total budget?
Ms. Berrios: The last year?
Commissioner Gabela: Yeah.
Ms. Berrios: The total budget, it was $19.8 if I'm not mistaken.
Commissioner Gabela: So, you reduced it --
Ms. Berrios: So, we have a reduction of almost a million dollars in budget.
Commissioner Rosado: There's a reduction, yes.
Ms. Berrios: Yes, $985,000 to be exact.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay, those are my -- those are my questions. Appreciate it.
Ms. Crespi: Thank you. That's why I was saying we're going to use the reserve and
move it over to this year's budget. Thank you.
Chair King: Any other questions or comments? Okay. May I have a motion to
approve BH.4?
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
Commissioner Pardo: So moved.
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Commissioner Rosado: Second.
Chair King: All in favor?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And that's as amended.
Chair King: As amended. All in favor?
Commissioner Pardo: Aye.
Commissioner Rosado: Ave.
Vice Chair Carollo: Nay.
Chair King: Aye.
Vice Chair Carollo: Nay for the reasons previously stated.
Mr. Hannon: Motion passes 4-1, with Commissioner Carollo voting no.
Chair King: Okay.
BH.5 RESOLUTION
17843
Off -Street Parking
Board/Miami
Parking Authority
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF OFF STREET PARKING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING
OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026, IN THE
OPERATING AMOUNT OF THIRTY MILLION, TWO HUNDRED NINETY-
SEVEN THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE AND 00/100
DOLLARS ($30,297,785.00), EXCLUDING DEPRECIATION, AND OTHER
NON -OPERATING EXPENSES OF FOUR MILLION, SIX HUNDRED
SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY AND 00/100 DOLLARS
($4,675,560.00).
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0376
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item BH.5, please see
"Public Comments for All Item(s)."
Chair King: Commissioner Gabela, you pulled BH.5.
Cristina Crespi: Thank you, Commissioners.
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
Chair King: Thank you. BH.5.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay, so 1 want to bring -- to you ladies and gentlemen, I
want to bring to your attention that I've had two instances here, a problem with the
MPA (Miami Parking Authority), and I'm going to put it on the record because one
time I said the complaint, and then I never passed by there again because I wasn't
boating, and then I passed by there again, and then the same situation going on, and
I'd like to be reassured that this practice is stopped. Regarding the 22nd Avenue
ramp, which is a public ramp, and I understand it's run by us, and here's the
problem. The problem is, if you're a boater, there's a parking lot next door for you
to park your pickup and your boat, whatever, and it's $15 and change, okay? And
here's the problem. I bought a boat in March. It was a speedboat, by the way,
Carollo, and I bought it in March, and I -- the guy that was delivering to me, 1 met
him at the ramp, and all of a sudden, at about 1 o'clock in the afternoon on a
weekday, the ramp's gates are closed, okay, and you see a security guy there, okay,
and I said, what's going on, the ramp is closed? He goes no, no, you've got to pay to
launch a boat. I go, no, no, wait a minute, you've got to pay if you park, but we're
not parking, we're just launching the boat, you know? And he says, no, you've got to
pay. You see that sign over there and, you know, the sign for -- that you guys, you
know, take a picture of and then you pay by phone, you've got to take -- you know,
do that. You got to, you know, pay the -- you know, it was $15.79, and then you got to
show me you got to pay -- that you paid and then after -- oh, I'm glad you're here.
And then after that, when you show me the picture, then he opens the gate, okay?
And then I put my boat in. And then there was another guy coming in. The same
thing happened to him. He was frustrated, you know. Now, I reported that. Now, I
understand that you guys got to collect for the parking, okay? But I never knew that
you guys were collecting also to launch boats and to take them out. Now -- and
here's the point, I asked somebody, if this is standard operating procedure for all the
marinas, then let me know, okay? And, you know, I've been enlightened, and I don't
know what's going on, but I found out it wasn't. I found out it was only happening in
my district, okay? And that's not fair, that's not correct. Now, I also know, you know,
we had the intellectual conversation also, that there are other people that come to
use, but they don't live in the city of Miami, they don 't pay taxes in the city of Miami
and that was part of the reason that it was being done. But at the end of the day, I'm
sure that also happens in the -- next to the Outboard Club in Watson Island. We've
got other, you know, ramps, you know, throughout the city that I haven't seen that
done before. I don't visit all the ramps because I live on the river. But, you know, I'm
sure we have, you know, multiple -- I know we have multiple ramps that the city
owns and we operate. And so, the problem was this, I addressed it and said 1 don't
want to see this again unless you guys tell me that this is policy, you're not going to
do it in my district, you know? And it happened again with me when I launched the
boat, you know. And it's a security guy, he's hired by Kent, so he's subcontracted, it
ain't [sic] directly you guys, okay, but this funny business has got to stop. Either -- if
you guys want to implement that, you know, you come to us, and if we do it as a
body, we do it, but then you implement it everywhere else. You're not going to target
my area, my district for that. Now, if the fear is that people from the outside are
coming, they're not taxpayers, they're coming from other municipalities, and we're
going to foot the bill, for the use, the wear and tear of the marina, then you know
what? Maybe we can implement a system where people, if they show up with the ID,
because remember, it's two separate things. If you park, you've got to pay. We all
know that. If you park and use the parking lot, you've got to pay. But if you're
coming only to launch the boat, you shouldn't have to pay. So, I suggest to -- Madam
-- you're chairman of the MPA, right?
Alejandra Argudin: Yeah.
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Commissioner Gabela: Okay. I would suggest that if you know -- if you're going to
keep this thing going, okay, either it's implemented citywide because I'm not going
to be targeted, okay, and what I mean is, you know, my people should be allowed,
you know, if it's free for everybody else in the city, they should get it free also. So,
what 1 suggest is if the problem is wear and tear, then let's do a system with IDs that
if you come here and you're just going to launch the boat and take it out but you're
not going to park, then you show your ID and if you're within city limits, okay. If
you're not, then maybe you have to pay the $15.79 like I did, you know, and pay for
the wear and tear. I'll yield and let you.
Angel Diaz: Hello, everybody. Angel Diaz, CEO -- COO (Chief ' Operating Officer)
for the Miami Parking Authority. So, the area that you're talking about, I believe it's
-- so that boat ramp, we met with Parks because that boat ramp is managed by
Parks. We only enforce it when the boat ramp is open and closed. So, we met with
staff there and we spoke to them about it. The security guard company goes to
whoever manages that park, so we talked to them a few times about it. It happened
once with you, I believe, and the second time it happened with a gentleman that has
a boat mechanic shop that he has in your district as well. So, we spoke about it with
him as well and it was addressed -- to our knowledge it was addressed. We spoke to
the City Parks Department that manages that park and the security guard to
understand that they can't -- they can't charge or they're not in charge of charging
or anything like that. It's when the lots open, it's Pay -by -Phone and we enforce when
the lot's open, when the lot -- we do not control the opening and closing of the lot.
Commissioner Gabela: Time out. Hang on, hang on.
Mr. Diaz: Go ahead
Commissioner Gabela: You just said when the lot's open it's Pay -by -Phone. It's
Pay -by -Phone if you park the car but nowhere have I heard that to launch -- if you
don't park, to launch the boat, it's Pay -by -Phone, because you don't do that in other
marinas.
Mr. Diaz: Okay, let me clarify that. So, we only charge for parking at the -- at every
marina that we manage, it's --
Commissioner Gabela: Not there. You guys -- somebody -- it was your sign. I dare
say that that sign -- when people -- when 1 walked in there and I paid my $15.79, 1
dare say that that money -- you know, 1 own a business. At the end of the day, you
have batches of, you know, people that paid with a credit card and then Visa,
MasterCard, you know, the merchant, you know, deposits into your corporate
account, okay? Or LLC (Limited Liability Company), whatever have you. I'm sure
that when you take that sign, it's going to be positive for you guys, so you guys have
to come and do that. What I'm saying is, park, yes, if you're going to park, you
collect it, you know, whatever you're collecting, that's fine. What you can't be doing
and singling my area out is that you're collecting for launching the boat, even
though I'm not going to park. We're taking out the boat, and that's been happening.
Ms. Argudin: Right. So, I think that that's -- let me clarify. I don't know who's
charging to launch the boat, but it's not us. We only -- we only charge when you
actually park and pay for parking.
Commissioner Gabela: That is not -- no.
Ms. Argudin: So, and I -- oh, there's Barbie.
Commissioner Gabela: Yeah.
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Ms. Argudin: So, something is happening and it's probably with Parks --
Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, something -- that's what I've been trying --
Ms. Argudin: -- but it's not -- it's not our security and it's not the Miami Parking
Authority, so I don't know where the disconnect is with Parks.
Commissioner Gabela: Barbie, didn'tI -- didn't we have this conversation?
Barbara Hernandez (Assistant City Manager): Yes.
Commissioner Gabela: I believe we had this conversation.
Ms. Hernandez: Let me clam. Good afternoon, Barbara Hernandez, ACM
(Assistant City Manager) over operations, including Parks. So, yeah, we had this
situation happen at the boat ramps. The park rangers and Kent Securities are the
ones that handle the boat ramps. So, Miami Parking Authority has -- they are the
parking lot and people have to pay to park there. What the Kent security guard was
asking for was to show proof that they had paid for parking so that they can move
their boat ramp up.
Commissioner Gabela: No, no, no.
Ms. Hernandez: That's one of the situations.
Commissioner Gabela: No, no, no --
Ms. Hernandez: The second --
Commissioner Gabela: -- no, no, no, no. No, no. I was there, it happened to me, I
know how to read, 1 know how to write, you know, I can read, 1 can speak English. 1
spoke to the guy. No, that's not what was happening here. What was happening here
is the gates were closed in midweek. When the sun is out there at 1 o'clock in the
morning, you know, 12 o'clock, it was happening, the guy was there, he parked his
truck, I'll show you a picture, in the middle of the ramp, and nobody can get through
there, okay, unless you pay that fee to launch the boat and take it out again. We're
talking about people like me that I'm just launching my boat. 1 don't care about me.
Forget about me. I don't want my money back. 1 can pay it, that's fine. Here's the
problem. I care about the residents, that Parks or whoever is doing it is targeting my
area, but they're not doing it to anybody else. They're not doing it. Unless you tell
me that's the policy, then 1 will close my mouth, and I will retract everything I'm
saying. But 1 found out that's not the policy because other marinas don't have it. So,
if you're doing it to me, there's a problem in my district that you 're doing it to my
people in my district. And what I said was is this, we're going to launch a boat,
we're not going to park, we're just going to launch a boat. You launch it, and you
get out of there, and you're done. That's free. In other marinas, it's free.
Ms. Hernandez: Right.
Commissioner Gabela: What you pay for is the parking. That's not what that guy's
doing there. That guy is in the middle of the road, and if you don't go over there and
take a picture, and you don't pay, and you don't show them that you paid $15.79,
that guy won't let you through, and vice versa if you're corning out.
Ms. Hernandez: So, we addressed that --
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
Commissioner Gabela: Okay.
Ms. Hernandez: -- situation when you brought it up to us recently.
Commissioner Gabela: Right.
Ms. Hernandez: We spoke to Kent Security about that and we explained to them that
they shouldn 't be doing that. The challenge with that boat -- particular boat ramp is
it's off -- it's off the Miami River --
Commissioner Gabela: Right.
Ms. Hernandez: -- right? And so, there's a backup. So, if there's no parking
available they do close the ramp because there's no parking available because the
residents in that area were complaining about the traffic that's being -- that's being
caused by the -- by the boats being launched.
Commissioner Gabela: This is on -- this is on a weekday. Two times that happened
on a weekday at the traffic -- the parking lot is empty. There might be one or two
guys. This was never on the weekend. I always caught them in the weekday in the
middle. There's no excuse for that. There's no -- you know, what they are going to
complain is that if you're a boater and you live in the area and you pay taxes and
every other ramp in the city, okay, is available if you're a resident of' the city of
Miami and then you do this only in my area, whoever is doing it, and by the way,
Kent Security, does not regulate itself,' at the end of the day, we're in charge. Either
Parks -- if they're telling you that Parks are -- I don't know, you know, they're
collecting the money, and you're telling me that Parks is the one that's responsible --
actually, somebody's responsible. And that guy, I'm sure, didn't go over there and
didn't decide, oh, you know what? I'm going to put my car here and I'm going to
start -- because that guy, he's not making the money. All he's doing is he sent -- he
was sent there to do a job. That's all he's doing. And somebody sent him to do a job,
I'm sure. And Kent is not the guy collecting, you know, the security company that we
have here in the city. Those aren't the guys. The guys that are collecting are the Pay -
by -Phone. You pay, and the money's being deposited to that entity. So, it's either
Parks or it's you guys that's telling -- that's telling that guy, somebody's telling that
guv, do this.
Ms. Hernandez: When you brought that situation to us, we did address it. We did
explain to the gentleman, the Kent Security --
Commissioner Gabela: He was there again. I caught him there again after I spoke to
you, 1 caught him there again.
Ms. Hernandez: Recentiv?
Commissioner Gabela: Same story. Yeah, about as far as about a month and a half
ago. I caught him there again, the same --
Ms. Hernandez: Okay, I didn't know.
Commissioner Gabela: -- so I can't believe this.
Ms. Hernandez: Then we need to address that because we did speak to him.
Commissioner Gabela: All right, could you please address that, please?
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Ms. Hernandez: Yes, we will address that. 1 did not know that that happened a month
ago.
Arthur Noriega (City Manager): So, Commissioner, can I for just clarity, so we can
follow up properly. When this incident occurred roughly a month ago, a month and a
half ago, that you know what happened, the --
Commissioner Gabela: No, when the incident occurred with me, it was way back in
March.
Mr. Noriega: No, no -- no, I know.
Commissioner Gabela: Yeah.
Mr. Noriega: That I'm crystal clear that that was the first time we addressed this.
When it occurred a second time, it was -- it was under the same guidance that the
security guard was giving that, hey, if you want to launch your boat, you have to pay
for parking. Is that what they were saying?
Commissioner Gabela: I didn't stop by. I saw it. I stopped. I believe I took a picture
of the guy. He was in the middle of the ramp again, the gates closed in the afternoon.
The same situation is going on.
Mr. Noriega: Okay. Because it -- you know, we are actually prohibited in charging
for the use of a boat ramp and access to the river. That's actually illegal. We can
charge for parking if people store their trailer there.
Commissioner Gabela: Of course.
Mr. Noriega: But access -- access to a boat ramp for someone to launch is always
free when it's available.
Commissioner Gabela: And that's my point.
Mr. Noriega: The only time, obviously, it does get impeded, because we've had this
issue here in this boat ramp next to us, by the way, is that sometimes the volume is so
great, and that 's a perfect example of this ramp here, that it has a limited capacity.
Commissioner Gabela: I understand that.
Mr. Noriega: You know, especially during peak season, you get a lot of people. So,
we've had to actually monitor it. I mean, Angel and Alice can certainly speak to that,
where we've had to have police there beyond a security guard, because people tend
to get a little aggressive when they want to launch their boats. And so, we've dealt
with that there, but, agreed, if that happened again, we'll absolutely address it. And
if it means we've got to change the guard out or, you know, readdress how we're
handling security there, but the security is really there just really primarily just to
make sure there's not controlled chaos there, because that's really in essence what
happens. But in the end -- in the end --
Commissioner Gabela: He's very rude to my people. He's very rude, okay?
Mr. Noriega: Okay, great.
Commissioner Gabela: I'm going to tell you that much.
Mr. Noriega: That's good feedback.
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Commissioner Gabela: Okay, I don't like that. Those are my residents. You know,
and if you live there and you've got a boat, you should be able to launch that boat
like --
Mr. Noriega: Right.
Commissioner Gabela: -- you do in Dinner Key, like you do in the Outboard Club,
like anywhere else, and nobody should be harassed. Now, if you're going to park,
you park, you pay, I'm all for that, but to charge for that boat to go out and when
you're not going to use the ramp [sic], no, that -- either -- and if you're going to do
that, you do it at all of them, but you're not going to do it --
Mr. Noriega: Yeah, we can't --
Commissioner Gabela: -- to my district only --
Mr. Noriega: -- charge --
Commissioner Gabela: -- and then the other ones, everybody -- everybody else gets
off
Mr. Noriega: So, we'll address it again.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay, that -- that --
Mr. Noriega: And then we'll report back to you on --
Commissioner Gabela: Thank you for your -- the explanation.
Chair King: Thank you. May I have a motion for BH.5?
Commissioner Gabela: I'm sorry?
Chair King: May I have a motion, for BH 5?
Commissioner Pardo: So moved.
Commissioner Gabela: One more thing I'd like to ask, out of the money that they
make a year, what percentage do we -- does that come to the city and --
Mr. Noriega: It's not based off percentage, it -- with the budget you approve, there's
a net number at the end of every year and that's what's provided.
Commissioner Gabela: All right, thank you.
Chair King: I have a motion. Do I have a second?
Vice Chair Carollo: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second, I'm missing Commissioner Rosado.
Vice Chair Carollo: We have enough to vote.
Chair King: I know, but just -- he's coming. Commissioner Rosado, I have a motion
and a second on BH.5. All in favor?
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The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Motion carries.
BH.6 RESOLUTION
17818
Coconut Grove
Business
Improvement
District Board
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
OF THE COCONUT GROVE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ("BID")
IN THE AMOUNT OF TWO MILLION, SIX HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE
THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($2,653,000.00), ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS COMPOSITE EXHIBIT "A," TO PROVIDE FOR THE
MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS OF THE BID FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING
OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0377
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Chair King: Gentlemen, with the statement .from our budget director and the
statement from the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) executive director,
BH.1 and BH.2 on our agenda has been satisfied. Just -- I'm just advising that it --
Commissioner Gabela: You know, I don't have that.
Chair King: Where's your agenda plasma?
Commissioner Gabela: I don't know, but I never got the agenda.
Chair King: Mr. City Clerk, could you get Commissioner Gabela an agenda plasma?
Commissioner Gabela: Sony, Todd.
Chair King: And at this time, if you guys would like to advise, if you'd like to pull
any item for discussion, any particular item for discussion.
Vice Chair Carollo: Yes, the -- well, not for discussion. I would assume that we're
going to vote with all the items.
Chair King: No. So there are some items that require an individual vote.
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay.
Chair King: I cannot block vote it. But if there is an -- if there are items on here that
you want to pull --
Vice Chair Carollo: Not --
Chair King: -- specifically, to discuss --
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
Vice Chair Carollo: Not today, Madam Chair. There are items that we have here
that the administration hasn't had the opportunity to go over them with me. I'm not
going to be holding anything up or voting against those. I will vote for them,
knowing that I might have a change of heart if the numbers that I'rn given later on
are not what I think they should be. However, I will vote across the board with all
the items that are before us. The exception, and this is the only one that I need to
take out away from that package, is DDA, not because I'm trying to say anything on
how that's being run there, that's for others to talk about with the DDA, but it's
because I have made my voice clear here and outside of here that I think the
residents of Downtown and Brickell, a big chunk of the DDA is in my district, in
District 3, not just in downtown, deserve a right to have a vote for the extra tax that
they're paying that the rest of the city is not paying. Downtown Miami and the area
of Brickell belongs to all of the city of Miami. It's just not, you know, an area that
because people happen to own property there, they should be the only one that have
to contribute to it. I've stated before that I think this is something that should be done
and handled as far as the funding from the general fund. So that's the only one that I
would respectfully request that's n.ot put in bulk and we vote upon it separately
because that I would not be voting for, for the reasons stated.
Chair King: Thank you. Commissioner Rosado, are there any items that you would
like to pull for discussion?
Commissioner Rosado: Good morning, everyone. Madam Chair, I would like to
discuss BH.1. And yes, I'm happy to speak about the DDA items as well.
Chair King: You said BH.1?
Commissioner Rosado: BH.1. I have for general --
Chair King: There's no PHs (Public Hearing).
Commissioner Rosado: I'm sorry.
Commissioner Gabela: He means BH.1, I think you mean. BH.1.
Chair King: B as in boy?
Commissioner Rosado: Yes.
Chair King: B?
Commissioner Rosado: Yeah, the overall budget.
Chair King: Okay, so you want to talk about --
Commissioner Rosado: I do. I have a number of comments on the overall budget.
Chair King: Okay, so -- right. BH.1 and 2, we've completed that. Go down a little
further.
Vice Chair Carollo: This is only first reading, Chairwoman.
Chair King: This is first reading. BH.19 and BH20 is, I believe, what you would like
to pull for discussion.
Commissioner Rosado: Yes.
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
Chair King: There's some items here that I could block vote if you guys don't have
an issue with it. So, if you would look at your agenda plasma, I'm going to pull
BH.19 and 20 for discussion.
Commissioner Rosado: And actually, there is one more. BH.11, the Bayfront Park
Management Trust.
Chair King: Okay, pull that for discussion. Okay. Commissioner Gabela, do you
have any items you want to pull?
Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, I have a question in general. It starts with the 300
policemen. We need to clarify. By the way, I forgot. We increased the salary, just so
you guys know, of the police department. You were here and I think you were here.
We increased that salary from 55 to $61k so we can get more talent. And I want the
300 officers. However, we have a problem here that I'm seeing, and I'm going to
address that when it's my turn to address it. But yes, I have a problem in general
with the budget.
Chair King: Commissioner Pardo?
Commissioner Pardo: I'm okay.
Chair King: Okay.
Commissioner Rosado: Madam Chair?
Chair King: Yes.
Commissioner Rosado: I think I referenced the DDA, but I did not ask you to pull
BH.4. I'd like to discuss it. I have made a number of changes to the budget for that.
George Wysong (City Attorney): Since that goes with 3, I think you might want to --
Chair King: Right.
Mr. Wysong: -- pull BH.3 and BH.4.
Chair King: BH.3 and 4 go together.
Commissioner Rosado: Sure. Yeah.
Chair King: Okay. So, therefore, I would be asking for a motion to approve BH.5, 6,
7, 8, 9, 10, 11 -- I'm sorry, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18.
Commissioner Gabela: I'm sorry.
Vice Chair Carollo: (INAUDIBLE).
Chair King: Yes, BH.11 has been pulled for --
Commissioner Gabela: He called BH.11. He -- yeah.
Chair King: Wait, Todd's hand is up.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And BH.12 will be as amended?
Chair King: And BH.12 would be as amended.
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Vice Chair Carollo: I'll make a motion.
Commissioner Pardo: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion, and I have a second. Commissioner Gabela?
Vice Chair Carollo: First reading motion.
Chair King: Yes, this is first reading. Commissioner Gabela?
Commissioner Gabela: Okay, say the numbers again. BH.5.
Chair King: Okay, hold on.
Commissioner Gabela: Sorry.
Chair King: Here we go. BH.5.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay.
Chair King: BH.6.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay.
Chair King: BH.7.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay.
Chair King: BH.8.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay.
Chair King: BH.9.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay.
Chair King: BH.10.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay.
Chair King: BH.12 as amended.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay.
Chair King: BH.13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18.
Xavier Alban (Deputy City Attorney): And just if I may for clarification; those items
you have identified will only be voted on today. So, after you vote on today, they will
not come back on September -- in the second meeting.
Commissioner Gabela: Hang on, hang on. I got a couple of problems here. I've got a
problem with BH.5.
Chair King: Okay, let's pull that. We'll pull BH.5 for discussion.
Commissioner Gabela: BH.5. Give me a minute, please.
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Vice Chair Carollo: Madam Chair, if] could ask a question of the City Attorney.
Chair King: Hold on, let me get his --
Vice Chair Carollo: This will be brief.
Chair King: No, no, wait. I don't want to -- I don't want -- I want him to finish giving
the items he wants to pull.
Commissioner Gabela: BH.5 I want to pull.
Chair King: Uh-huh.
Commissioner Gabela: BH.12, BH.17 and BH.18.
Chair King: Okay. Anyone else want to pull any --?
Commissioner Gabela: And one more thing, BH.20, this is what, the general budget
basically?
Chair King: That's been pulled. 20 and --
Commissioner Gabela: Okay, that's been pulled.
Chair King: 19 and 20 are pulled, yes.
Commissioner Gabela: Those -- 19 and 20 have been pulled.
Chair King: Um-hmm.
Commissioner Gabela: All right, that's it for me.
Vice Chair Carollo: Could you go through it again, please? 5, 12, 17 and 18.
Commissioner Gabela: 5, 12, 17, 18 and somebody pulled -- I got a problem with 19
and 20 also.
Chair King: But that's been pulled.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay. And then what's -- lost income to the City with vote for
solution. What is this BH.21?
Chair King: That's just a discussion item.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay. All right. Okay-, I'm ready.
Chair King: Just checking. Does anybody else have anything else they'd like to pull?
Okay. So, may I have a motion for BH.6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16?
Commissioner Pardo: So moved.
Commissioner Rosado: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
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BH.7
18085
Wynwood
Business
Improvement
District Board
Chair King: Item passes.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
OF THE WYNWOOD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ("BID"),
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," IN THE AMOUNT OF
THIRTEEN MILLION, THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY-EIGHT THOUSAND, TWO
HUNDRED AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($13,388,200.00) TO PROVIDE FOR THE
MANAGEMENT, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BID FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0378
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item BH.7, please see Item BH.6.
BH.8 RESOLUTION
17933
General
Employees' and
Sanitation
Employees'
Retirement Trust
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GENERAL EMPLOYEES' & SANITATION
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT TRUST ("GESE RETIREMENT TRUST FUND"),
ATTACHED AND AS EXHIBIT "A," IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE MILLION,
THREE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND, EIGHTEEN AND 00/100
DOLLARS ($3,345,018.00), EXCLUDING NORMAL COSTS, AS
ACTUARIALLY DETERMINED, TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION
OF THE GESE RETIREMENT TRUST FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0379
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item BH.8, please see Item BH.6.
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BH.9 RESOLUTION
17934
General
Employees' and
Sanitation
Employees'
Retirement Trust
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GENERAL EMPLOYEES' & SANITATION
EMPLOYEES' EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN ("GESE EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN"),
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED
TWENTY THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR AND 00/100
($120,154.00), TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GESE
EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING
OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0380
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item BH.9, please see Item BH.6.
BH.10 RESOLUTION
17871
Firefighters' and
Police Officers'
Retirement Trust
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI FIRE FIGHTERS' AND POLICE OFFICERS'
RETIREMENT TRUST FUND ("FIPO RETIREMENT TRUST FUND"),
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," IN THE AMOUNT OF
TWO MILLION, SIXTY-SIX THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED THIRTEEN AND
00/100 DOLLARS ($2,066,413.00), TO PROVIDE FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE FIPO RETIREMENT TRUST FUND FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0381
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item BH.10, please see Item BH.6.
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
BH.11
17968
Bayfront Park
Management
Trust
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
AND MASTERPLAN OF THE BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST, IN
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THIRTY MILLION, SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-
THREE THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO AND 00/100 DOLLARS
($30,623,752.00), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," TO
PROVIDE FOR THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE MILDRED AND CLAUDE PEPPER
BAYFRONT PARK AND MAURICE A. FERRE PARK FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
2026.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: Item BH.11 was deferred to the September 25, 2025, Second
Budget Hearing.
Chair King: BH.11 was pulled.
Commissioner Gabela: I think he pulled it, and I was going to pull it anyway.
Chair King: Commissioner Rosado?
Commissioner Gabela: I think Rosado pulled it.
Commissioner Rosado: I do. How much do we have in reserves for the Bayfront
Trust?
Commissioner Gabela: I believe it's 24 to 25 mil.
Commissioner Rosado: The reason I bring it up is I know we were talking about
reserves for the DDA (Downtown Development Authority), and I know that there is
very strong support for additional homeless assistance, but the DDA and the
Bayfront Trust are in very different financial positions. I'd actually like to
respectfully request that for next year's fiscal year budget, that we allocate an
additional million dollars for homeless assistance from the Bayfront Park Trust.
Commissioner Gabela: So, you're asking $1 million from the Bayfront over to what,
to go to the DDA?
Commissioner Rosado: No. No, no, no. Not to be transferred to anyone, but actually
to be dedicated to homeless assistance programs for folks within that area.
Commissioner Gabela: That's fine with me.
Commissioner Gabela: Bayfront is looking absolutely beautiful, but one of the things
that I've noticed is anytime I'm down there, l am approached by folks that need some
assistance.
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Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, it's a problem. No, no, 1 wouldn't have a problem with
that, but here's what I -- why I wanted to pull it. In the -- you know, when I had the
briefing, they presented me with $9 million that they want to take from Bayfront
Trust to make up for the budget, okay? And what I said was, you know, Bayfront is
not dissolved yet, okay? We should -- we're putting the cart before the horse, I think.
Why? Here's the reason why. Bayfront needs repairs, okay? The bunker needs
repairs, you know, the off ce, some of the dockage needs repair, okay? And if -- if the
situation is that you're looking at the $25 mil, you know what I mean, and you're
using that to balance, you know, your books with the budget, I don't think it's a good
idea at this point. I think we should determine first what we're going to do with the
park, okay, and then take that leap, okay. And while I'm on the subject, okay, there's
another problem here, okay, to fix this budget, okay. I'm going to be -- I'm going to
be somehow affected to the tune of $22.8 million, which I'm going to be affected one
way or the other in my district. Why? Because you want $9 mil for Bayfront. Right
now, as of today, I'm the chairman of Bayfront. Tomorrow, I don't know whether I
will be. I'll do whatever this body wants, you know, and that's the end of that story,
okay? But for now, I am the chairman, so I have to be responsible. You know, the
commissioner before me did do a good job -- I'll give him that -- in, you know, being
very frugal. However, the park needs repairs here and there, okay? So, that $25
million, you know, that you guys are looking at, you know, if you deplete that, you
might have trouble later on to doing things that have -- that were going on and that
have been going on. For example, the rock garden was installed by my -- the future -
- the past chairman, Chairman Carollo, and that -- we're trying to get that done, I
believe, and we didn't kill that. You know, that's going to require $300,000, and like
that, you know, you've got the bunker. The bunker, we asked for an estimate. To do
that thing over again, to do it right, you know, is $14 mil, probably inflated, okay,
but nevertheless, it is going to cost some money. Same thing with the dockage. Same
thing with the dockage, you know, and I'm going to let the executive director, you
know, address that in detail if any of you have, you know, any questions, which
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) point, but -- and I'm just going to end with this. So, you got $9
mil from Bayfront, which affects me because right now I'm the chairman. I'm trying
to do a good job there. Then you want to take $6 mil away from my budget from --
you know, to District 1 because you want a fire station. That's good. I want a fire
station, too. I want to do the fire station, but let's take it evenly front everybody else.
You know what I mean? You know, everybody put their grain of sand. Then the $2
million from the Omni CRA (Community, Redevelopment Agency), you know, that is
supposed to be earmarked for the Allapattah CRA. And somehow you guys included
it, I believe, in the budget, correct me if I'm wrong. And then we got another $5.8 mil
in Midtown. Correct me if I'm wrong again, if you didn't use that number to balance
the books that I'm going to be affected to because if you guys say to me that you're
going to take the $5.8 mil and now from Midtown for whoever wasn't here, you
know, we took a vote on creating the Allapattah CRA, okay? It was $5.8 mil, or
whatever that yearly revenue stream is, whatever that total number is. That was
volunteered, and we all agreed that that was going to go to the Allapattah CRA and
that was the thing, just like the Omni CRA pledged $2 mil. So, right there, you're
talking about affecting my area, my district, my residents, for almost $8 mil, okay?
I'm not going for that, just so you guys know. So, we better find another way where
to take that stuff off and by the way, the police officers, okay? Let me -- let me
correct before I forget, because I got a bunch of things on my mind. Somebody said
we pay a police officer $125,000. No, a police officer does not make $125,000 to
start, okay? He makes 61, 62, 63, but not more than 70 grand on his salary. What the
lady might have been talking about is that when he first gets started, it costs us that
much because we got to buy a patrol car, and we got a, you know, the uniform, and
the gun, and the this and the that. So, that's not fair to criticize our police
department like if they want to, you know what I mean, somehow, you know, that is
not the case here. However, however, ladies, gentlemen, I am willing to put, you
know, my grain of sand from my pot, okay, into hiring, you know, those officers. But,
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you know, you guys can't say to me, oh, Gabela, we're going to solve all the
problems in the city, and you're going to be the fall guy to the tune of $23 mil. That's
my piece for now, 1 end it there.
Chair King: Commissioner Pardo?
Commissioner Pardo: Yeah, I'll go ahead and let the executive director go into great
detail, but there's a good long list of projects that those reserve funds at Bayfront
had been earmarked for, and I just want to make the point that the downtown
residents have sacrificed in many ways, at least they've been told that the digital
signs that are there at the park, those revenue sources are for them and to go back in
the park. So, I would strongly argue that any kind of reserve And stays with the park
and with Bayfront Park Trust.
Vice Chair Carollo: Chairwoman?
Chair King: Commissioner -- Vice Chair?
Vice Chair Carollo: This is precisely the reason that I brought up the fact that
Bayfront Park Trust should be within the City of Miami, because you do have
millions of dollars here that could be going into the City of Miami's general fund
every year. In addition, you have a tremendous opportunity to be able to generate
additional millions a year. Mr. Interim Executive Director, and I just got a hold of
this, so I apologize that there's a lot more areas that I could go into that I won't
because I've just got it, but I've noticed one in particular. In the general revenues
that you're saying that is what's going to be part of'your budget for this next fiscal
year, in 201, event rental income proposed $2,402,500, I believe it says.
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Vice Chair Carollo: Let me try to get this closer. And thank you, Chairwoman. It
says this event rental income is based on revenue generated by the Ultra Music
Festival, but let me jump to the one on top, 105 concessions. Proposed funding that
you're going to be making is $1,198,600, fee -based on agreements with park
concessionaries, you put food trucks, billboards, and antenna towers. So, is there
any more than these three that you get in that concession for?
Raul Miro, Jr.: Raul Miro, Jr., interim executive director of Bayfront Park Trust. Not
that I'm aware of --
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Miro Jr.: -- Mr. Vice Chair.
Vice Chair Carollo: Do you know the amount that you're getting for the food trucks
on a yearly basis?
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Food -- food trucks approximately, currently right now is
approximately close to $200,000 --
Vice Chair Carollo: No, it's --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: -- between the -- a little bit less than $200,000 for both food trucks.
Vice Chair Carollo: No, it's a lot less.
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Yeah.
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Vice Chair Carollo: They -- it's about $160,000. They pay the highest, the highest,
by far, rate of food truck in the state of Florida, pretty close to $7,000 a month,
which is more than some people pay --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Yeah, it's around $7,400 a month with tax.
Vice Chair Carollo: It's -- it's less than that. But anyway, on the billboards, what
are you estimating that the billboards are bringing?
Mr. Miro, Jr.: I'm still trying to compile those numbers. I've met with -- with one of
the billboard companies. They're still trying to give me the -- I don't know what the -
- what the number is exactly.
Vice Chair Carollo: But we're -- we're really dealing with one billboard company is,
not --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Well, we've got IKE (Interactive Kiosk Experience) and then whatever
Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, but the -- the IKE is not part of I don't believe, what
you've put down here. IKE is separate; it's additional money.
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Well, I -- I don't -- like I said, I've been trying to get a meeting with
the billboard companies. I have not gotten a meeting --
Vice Chair Carollo: Yeah, but you're -- nevertheless, if you haven't gotten the
meeting, you're only putting down $1,199,600, I'll round it up to a million two, in
revenue that you're bringing. Do -- do you know for instance the three long, slim,
LED (Light Emitting Diode) signs, the monuments that we have two in Bayfront
Park, one in Maurice Ferre? We're almost at the end of the fiscal year. We're almost
mid -way through September. Do you know what that has generated so far --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: No, I don't.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- for this fiscal year?
Mr. Miro, Jr.: I can't tell you that off the top of my head right now.
Vice Chair Carollo: Do you know what it -- we'll anticipate that it will have by the --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: 1 mean, 1 --
Vice Chair Carollo: -- end of this fiscal year in October?
Mr. Miro, Jr.: -- I believe --
Vice Chair Carollo: Or September rather?
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Like I said, I do not know what those numbers are.
Vice Chair Carollo: Okay. Do you know what the minimum guarantee is that we're
supposed to get for these billboards?
Mr. Miro, Jr.: I've been diving into those contracts. I have not -- do not know that,
sir.
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Vice Chair Carollo: Well, this concerns me because these are real significant dollars
that we're supposed to be getting. You're giving us a budget and it's not being
realistical [sic] or factual in the amount of monies that you're getting there. For
instance, at the very least, you would know that the main billboard company, the one
with the three monuments, guarantees $400,000 a year for each of them. That's $1.2
million. But at the rate that they've been paying you, what they will finish by the end
of this September, this fiscal year, it's going to be right around $2 million. The food
trucks are generating less than what you proposed. The amount that we received
from the IKE, small signage on Biscayne Boulevard, you don't know that amount
either, but it's a significant amount. And then the antenna towers, do you have any
idea how much that is? Well, that's also a very significant number. You have
underestimated your revenue just in this one line item by, at the very minimum, half.
You're putting down 1.2 and you have over 2.4. So, you got another million two, that
he's asking for a million for something that certainly downtown deserves in
homeless. And you have money there.
Mr. Miro, Jr.: I have no problems giving the $1 million for that.
Vice Chair Carollo: Well, but the point that I'm making is, and this is only one item,
how are we supposed to believe the full budget you've given us, when just in one
small area, you have no idea, every, question that I've asked, you don't know, you
don't know, you don't know. And these are things that you should have known
already, since you were there. And you're presenting to the Commission a budget, an
income that you're supposed to be getting, that is totally inaccurate in income and so
on. Now, on the expense side, and you had -- well, let me ask you another simple
question.
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Go for it.
Vice Chair Carollo: How much do you have in the Maurice Ferre side that's sitting
there in an account today from the $2 million a year that we've been getting --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: I can explain that one.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- from the Omni CRA that's supposed to be used in Ferre Park
only --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Okay.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- and not for maintenance, just for new projects?
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Okay. So, the $2 million that we get from the Omni has been going
into the -- let's call it general Bayfront Park Trust account. So, 1 cannot tell what
monies are spent, because it only goes into that account. So, what I've done is, with
the Wells Fargo, I've created a separate account to handle the Maurice Ferre $2
million that come into the park from the Omni CRA, because right now, I cannot say
how much I have from the Omni and how much I have in general --
Vice Chair Carollo: Well --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: -- because it's not broken down.
Vice Chair Carollo: It always was broken down --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Unfortunately, it's not broken down.
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Vice Chair Carollo: -- by the accountants that we had because we had to be
extremely careful in how that money was spent.
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Correct.
Vice Chair Carollo: And it was always broken down. So, I'm amazed that you don't
know the amount that --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: At this moment, I cannot tell --
Vice Chair Carollo: -- you have in the bank account.
Mr. Miro, Jr.: -- you what the amount is.
Vice Chair Carollo: Well, that's another one you don't know that it's right there. All
you have to do is call the accountants that you have and they'll tell you the exact
amount.
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Sir, I've pulled the accounts --
Vice Chair Carollo: It's millions --
Chair King: Hold on, hold on.
Vice Chair Carollo: It's millions of dollars that you have there.
Chair King: Vice Chair? Vice Chair, because there's so many questions, would this
commission consider deferring this item to our second budget hearing whereby --
Vice Chair Carollo: I would like to do that.
Chair King: -- the Bayfront --
Commissioner Gabela: Yeah.
Commissioner Pardo: Yeah.
Chair King: -- we can have the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) come and answer
some of these.
Commissioner Gabela: That's what I was going to ask you, where's your CFO?
Mr. Miro, Jr.: He's not here today.
Commissioner Gabela: Bro.
Chair King: Okay. So, may I have a motion to defer?
Commissioner Gabela: But hang on a minute. I'd just like to put it to the record. I
agree this should be deferred, but -- but let's back up again. Let's back up the car
again. Folks, let's remind ourselves that he's been on the job for how long have you
been on the job? Five months?
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Five months.
Commissioner Gabela: You were there for eight years, okay. In 2019, they told you
and your people that the accounting there was terrible and certain guardrails
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needed to be put back in place -- or put in place and you never did anything about it,
and that's part of the confusion also there that some documents are asked for,
including by the forensic audit that's going on now, and those documents are
nowhere to be found. That's on you guys. That's not on us, Commissioner, with all
due respect. And then the other question I got for you, Commissioner, you know, you
were there for eight years, and now, when I'm there, is when you want to bring the
park over to the city. Why? Because now, you want to dip into that fund, and you
want to take that money, okay? Because you didn't do it for eight years, and you
were there for eight years. Now all of a sudden, all of a sudden, out of the blue, a
Martian came down and told you all, you know what, it's a good idea to bring this
over. But you didn't do it for eight years, you had a chance to do it for eight years,
and you didn't do it and now you're criticizing this guy, which by the way, your
CFO, the CFO --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Yes.
Commissioner Gabela: -- that's BS --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Okay.
Commissioner Gabela: -- in my book, I hold my people accountable. You know me.
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Yes, I understand.
Commissioner Gabela: That's BS. Your CFO should have been here.
Mr. Miro, Jr.: Yes.
Commissioner Gabela: Let me tell you. But at the -- but at the end of the day, it's
this, look, there was a problem there and there still is, and that's why you're having
a forensic audit, okay? Because you guys left a mess going on. You guys left a mess
going on, and I will end it here and will defer and do that.
Chair King: May I have a motion to defer?
Commissioner Gabela: Motion to defer.
Chair King: Do I have a second?
Vice Chair Carollo: Chairwoman? I -- I have to answer this, please.
Chair King: Oh, my --
Commissioner Pardo: Second.
Vice Chair Carollo: You know, I'm tired of this individual getting up here and giving
information that's false, inaccurate --
Commissioner Gabela: It's the truth.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- and simply not true.
Commissioner Gabela: It's the truth.
Vice Chair Carollo: To begin with, his interim executive director has been there
some seven -and -a -half months. If he doesn't know a budget in that time, he could be
there eight years he still won't know it.
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Commissioner Gabela: He's been there four months, Carollo.
Vice Chair Carollo: And that's a problem.
Chair King: Let's not talk back --
Commissioner Gabela: Carollo, you --
Vice Chair Carollo: He came in in February.
Chair King: Let's not talk back and --
Commissioner Gabela: -- do your math.
Chair King: Let's not talk back and forth.
Commissioner Gabela: He's been there four months.
Vice Chair Carollo: Second of all --
Chair King: Let not -- let's not talk back and forth --
Commissioner Gabela: Not seven months. No, he's lying. He's lying.
Chair King: Let's not talk back and jrth.
Vice Chair Carollo: Out of-- out of --
Chair King: Let's not talk back and forth.
Vice Chair Carollo: -- out of everything that he stated, the one thing that he forgot to
mention is that the reason this Bayfront Park Trust has millions of dollars to waste,
to bring to the city, to burn if they want to, is because this individual here had the
brains, the knowledge, to do what he can 't do today, tomorrow, or ever; bring
millions of dollars to that park and to have done things that for years were left
undone. So, we could vote on it and --
Chair King: So, there's a motion and a second --
Commissioner Gabela: And let me tell you, the reason --
Chair King: There's a motion and a second to defer --
Commissioner Gabela: -- you got all that money in revenue is because you didn't
repair --
Chair King: Somebody --
Commissioner Gabela: You just generated revenues, but you did not repair --
Chair King: Okay.
Commissioner Gabela: You did not repair --
Chair King: Motion and a second --
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Commissioner Gabela: -- for eight years you never repaired anything.
Chair King: Motion and a second to defer --
Commissioner Gabela: And that's why it's in dire straits.
Vice Chair Carollo: Call the question.
Chair King: -- all in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Item has been deferred to the September 25th meeting.
BH.12 RESOLUTION
17972
Midtown
Community
Redevelopment
Agency
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR
2025-2026 PROPOSED BUDGET OF THE MIDTOWN COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("MIDTOWN CRA"), ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," IN THE AMOUNT OF FIFTEEN MILLION,
SEVEN HUNDRED SEVENTY-SIX THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-
NINE AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($15,776,289.00) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026,
AS APPROVED BY THE MIDTOWN CRA'S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0382
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item BH.12, please see
"Public Comments for All Item(s)."
Chair King: BH. 12, Commissioner Gabela, 1 believe you --
Commissioner Gabela: BH.12. Okay, Midtown CRA (Community Redevelopment
Agency). The same thing again. Real quick, I'm not going to waste more time. I've
already said it. That money was committed to the Allapattah CRA, okay. And now it
looks like you guys want to mess with it. You want to bring into the general fund and
then that money is going to somehow get lost. I'm not going to tolerate it. I'm just
here. We made a deal. You guys all voted for it. Please honor that deal, you know,
and that's all I'm saying on that one. And I'm -- that one, I'm not voting on that one
until things are clarified where that -- where that money, you know, it's -- I mean,
it's clarified. We said it. It's, you know, it's on the books. It's in black and white, you
know. And -- but if this is, again, a part of the of the balancing of the budget, okay,
this is a problem for me, and I'm not going to be voting on this until this is cleared
up.
Chair King: Do I have a motion to pass BH 12?
Vice Chair Carollo: Move.
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Chair King: I have a motion.
Commissioner Pardo: Second.
Chair King: Second.
Commissioner Rosado: Second. But I'd like some clarification on that item as well. I
don't have all the background.
Chair King: And it's as amended. What we are doing here with BH.12 is merely
approving the Midtown CRA budget. That's it. We're not allocating any money
anywhere.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay. All right.
Chair King: That's all we're doing.
Commissioner Gabela: All right., glad you clarified it. Thank you.
Chair King: We're approving the budget as presented.
Commissioner Gabela: All right.
Chair King: That's it. I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Motion carries unanimously.
BH.13 RESOLUTION
17948
Department of
Human Services
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
OF THE MIAMI ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COUNCIL ("MAEC"),
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," IN THE AMOUNT OF
THIRTY-SEVEN THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE AND 96/100
DOLLARS ($37,151.96) TO PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATIONS AND
ACTIVITIES OF THE MAEC FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING
OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0383
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item BH.13, please see Item BH.6
and "Public Comments forAllltem(s)."
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BH.14
18017
Little Haiti
Revitalization
Trust
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
OF THE LITTLE HAITI REVITALIZATION TRUST ("TRUST"), ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SIX
MILLION, EIGHT HUNDRED SIXTY ONE THOUSAND, FOUR HUNDRED
NINETY THREE AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($6,861,493.00) FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
2026; FURTHER APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE TRUST'S ANNUAL
MASTER PLAN, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "B"; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0384
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item BH.I4, please see Item BH.6.
BH.15 RESOLUTION
17877
Virginia Key
Beach Park Trust
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
OF THE VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK TRUST ("TRUST"), ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," IN THE AMOUNT OF TWO MILLION,
NINE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS
($2,995,000.00) TO PROVIDE FOR THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATION,
MAINTENANCE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1,
2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0385
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item BH.I5, please see Item BH.6.
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BH.16 RESOLUTION
17974
OMNI Community
Redevelopment
Agency
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE ANNUAL GENERAL
OPERATING AND TAX INCREMENT FUND BUDGET OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("OMNI CRA"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," IN THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF SEVENTY-THREE MILLION, SIXTY-FOUR
THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE AND 00/100
DOLLARS($73,064,289.00) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING
OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0386
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item BH.16, please see Item BH.6
and "Public Comments for All ltem(s). "
BH.17 RESOLUTION
18003
Office of
Management and
Budget
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AFTER A DULY NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING, RELATING
TO THE PROVISION OF SOLID WASTE SERVICES, FACILITIES, AND
PROGRAMS IN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"); IMPOSING SOLID WASTE
ASSESSMENTS AGAINST ASSESSED PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN
THE CITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; APPROVING THE RATE OF
ASSESSMENT; APPROVING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0387
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Chair King: Okay. Commissioner Gabela, I think you pulled BH.17, the solid waste
assessment.
Commissioner Gabela: BH.17, okay. Here we go with BH.17, solid waste, okay. We
have a little problem here, okay, and I want to address this, and 1 know 1 took the,
you know, the temperature, right, of the room, and 1 understand, but here's the
problem that we've got going on in solid waste. So, we have not -- $360 fee or $380,
which is it, Art, 360 or 380?
Arthur Noriega (City Manager): $380.
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Commissioner Gabela: $380, okay. That $380 fee that we have been charging the
residents, we have not moved that fee up for 12, 14 years, right? Is it 14 years that
we have not moved that fee up? Okay, so the problem was apparently by the
previous, you know, commissions, somebody did not want to move that, you know,
that fee in fear of something, retribution from the voter, I don 't know. But here's the
problem, we waited 14 years and now to make up for those 14 years, let's say you
would have done a 5 or 10 percent increase. It's a lot of money to do it now, and this
is the problem why we're hesitant to do it now, because we don't want to pass this on
to the -- to the taxpayer, right, you know? The taxpayer's paying enough to do
another one on them. What 1 proposed earlier in the year, okay, last year, and I
thought we had consensus on this, the recycling, okay? The recycling, it was told to
me, okay, that 95 percent of the components of the recycling are not being really
recycled, okay? It's just waste, okay? It's not being recycled, okay? We are
borrowing money from the general pot to run the solid waste operation because it
does not pay for itself. Am I correct in saying that? Pretty much correct in saying
that. Okay. I suggested, let's not fool ourselves. Let's, you know, let's deal with this
issue. Okay, and let's not kick it down the road. There's a problem here that to do
the solid waste that has to be done. Never mind about the, you know, the recycling.
The solid waste, you know, all that stuff that has to be done to keep a clean city,
right? All right. So, we've got to keep that going. But the recycling business, okay,
that's a fallacy so we feel good about ourselves. And my argument is, let's stop that.
That's at the tune of about 2.5 -- $2 mil a year. Let's take that money. Let's help pay
Pr the -- for the trash service, all right? So, we don't have to keep going to the
general fund, okay? And let's revamp the -- the recycling and really make it what it
should be. And then when we get to that point that then, you know, it's not 95 percent
waste, then maybe we put it back on because I would submit to you, and I know that
people here, I got it, you know, there's concern with the residents that, oh, the city's
not going to do recycling. You know, these guys, you know, they want to cut trees
down. You know, I've been accused of many things up here. Okay, but here's the
thing. Its not working. You know, we're fooling you guys. You know, it's costing us
$2.5 mil a year. You know what I mean? I'm prepared to take that step, okay, and
say the truth out there and lead on this thing and say, hey, listen, we're going to stop
it and to reassess the situation, okay? And then when we reassess the situation and
we get the mechanism, the system, the mechanicals in place to make this really
happen, you know -- and Silvio's looking at me like, you know, going like that,
because I know you're into recycling, a lot of people are, but let's do it for real,
people. Let's not play this hoax that we're playing on ourselves and on the residents
that we're pretending to, you know what I mean, that we're doing and we're not
really doing anything. We're just wasting money and it's not being done. That's my
five cents worth. I might be in it alone, but that's what I think should be done to
handle that problem. I leave it to the rest of the board.
Chair King: Public comment is over. Do 1 have a motion to pass BH --
Commissioner Pardo: Madam Chair, I would like to say one quick thing.
Chair King: Where am I? Well, I looked at you. You looked like you didn't want to
say anything.
Commissioner Pardo: Yeah. Well, I was waiting for you -- I thought you --
Chair King: No, I -- you know, sometimes you give me the look like, no, I'm ready to
go vote.
Commissioner Pardo: No.
Chair King: Okay.
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Commissioner Pardo: Listen, what my concern with the recycling program is when
you get rid of something, you just get rid of it. And no, we should fix our recycling
program.
Commissioner Gabela: No, I agree.
Commissioner Pardo: We should make it work, and I don't want to just eliminate it. I
think the real problem here is that we've had true cost increases for the last 14
years, and we have kept the fee the way that it is. We just have not raised it at all. It's
hard for any of us, especially in this environment, to raise anything by a penny. I get
that. I'd be interested in knowing an analysis from you guys. How much would it take
in small adjustments over time to get to a place where we're covering our cost of
both programs with a fixed -- and what would it take to fix the recycling?
Katie Grate: Okay, good afternoon. Katie Grate, Interim Director, Solid Waste. We
will prepare that for you. In the meantime, we have been working with the county
and some NGOs (Non -governmental Organization) to obtain a grant, and we're in
the final stages to fund some education, some technology, to work towards reducing
the contamination.
Commissioner Pardo: How much is contaminated currently?
Ms. Grate: I can 't give you an accurate number right now. We can do a
characterization study --
Commissioner Pardo: Okay.
Ms. Grate: -- which is part of that grant, to have a baseline.
Commissioner Pardo: And how much is the grant for?
Ms. Grate: Roughly $250,000.
Commissioner Pardo: So, $250, 000 --
Chair King: Not a lot.
Commissioner Pardo: -- maybe that's something we can --
Chair King: But that's -- it's not a lot. And let me just say, she's not going to say it,
staff isn't going to say it, so I'm going to say it for them. They gave us a
comprehensive plan with respect to recycling. I shopped that recycling plan to my
district. I talked about the bulk waste pickup. The community came and they
skewered us because I said the same thing Commissioner Gabela said, didn't I? That
recycling, it's just not true because if you don't rinse out your containers, if you
don't separate them, it's not recycled. It goes into the garbage, the regular garbage,
because we don't have the infrastructure nor the personnel to go and sort the
garbage. So, what was proposed? A less -- a schedule less for recycling, an
opportunity to take your recycling that you've washed and put out to the recycling
centers. All of this was discussed. Was I the only one that heard that? And this body,
in totality, voted against it because the community came out in droves to say, no, we
want our recycling. Irrespective of'that it's not really recycling, people don't say --
and I'm the first to tell you, I'm not going to wash my garbage. I'm not going to do
that. I'll separate the glass and the -- I don't eat food out of cans, so that's a
different story. But, you know, I will do the separations, I break down my boxes and
put them separate, but I'm not going to wash my garbage. So, I would have taken the
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-- and I understand, the sanitation fee has not increased, and we, the City of Miami,
provide more services for less than Miami -Dade County. And Miami -Dade County
continues to increase their fees and everyone just takes it. But we can't. We can't
increase our fees. And I understand because everything -- the cost of living here is so
high. But staff has tried to get us on board with doing adjustments to how we provide
services, even proposed a slight increase, and you guys said no, voted it down.
Commissioner Gabela: But let me ask you a question, back to the recycling thing.
Okay, so what you're saying is, what you guys are telling me is that really, if the
trash isn't cleaned, right? It's never going to be, you know, the percentage high
enough that we're comfortable to say, okay, you know what, right? So, then we're --
I mean, we're going to keep doing that? I mean, I don't understand. I mean -- then if
it's left to the public, if they got to wash their thing, you know, I agree, they're never
going to -- nobody's going to do that, you know what I mean? So then, what, forever
we're going to, you know, then we should tell them the truth. Hey, look, we're
recycling to make you feel good, but 95 percent of it isn't, you know -- and maybe
that'll get them -- you know what, maybe if we do that and we tell them the truth,
maybe that'll get them to get some people to wash it. I don't know.
Chair King: But we all -- we all have to educate our community. We, as a
commission, we have to go to our districts and we have to educate our community, to
get our community, on board, because when they proposed it before, I had Solid
Waste come with me -- at the time, Wade was the director -- and we went out, we
shopped it with our district, I explained it to them. And for the most part, my district
did not come because I was doing an education campaign to share with them, this is
what's happening, this is what we have to do. But across the board, people showed
up and said, no, we want -- we do not want to reduce our recycling schedule, you
don't recycle enough, you don't -- you know, and on and on and on. And we just
dropped it. We just -- we threw our hands up and we just dropped it. Instead of still
trying to address this issue, we threw our hands up and said, okay, fine, and staff has
to figure out how to balance this budget and it's sorely inadequate with sanitation.
By the way, I wanted to bring this up. The street sweeper almost ran me over the
other day, speeding in Morningside. I forgot to -- and now that I'm thinking about it.
Speeding, barreling through Morningside. I was running, and I had to almost jump
on the sidewalk to get out of the way, because this guy was going to run me over and
I would have been killed or seriously maimed and hurt. Just life. Life. Just FYI (For
your information). Okay, so may have a motion forBH.12 [sic'?
Commissioner Pardo: And --
Chair King: No, wait, wait, where are we?
Commissioner Gabela: 17, right?
Chair King: 17.
Commissioner Pardo: Madam Chair, I just want to thank Katie and the whole
department --
Chair King: Thank you. Yes. Yes.
Commissioner Pardo: -- because you guys do --
Ms. Grate: Thank you.
Commissioner Pardo: -- amazing work.
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Ms. Grate: Thank you.
Chair King: Yes.
Commissioner Pardo: Thank you.
Commissioner Rosado: I second that.
Chair King: So --
Ms. Grate: Thank you.
Chair King: -- do 1 have a motion for BH.17?
Vice Chair Carollo: Move.
Commissioner Pardo: Second.
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
BH.18 RESOLUTION
18069
Office of
Management and
Budget
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY") FISCAL
YEAR 2025-26 MULTI -YEAR CAPITAL PLAN, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED ("PLAN"), AS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE
COMMUNITY PLANNING ACT, SPECIFICALLY SECTIONS 163.3161 AND
163.3177, FLORIDA STATUTES, AND CHAPTER 18/ ARTICLE IX/
DIVISIONS 1 AND 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED, TITLED "FINANCIAL/ FINANCIAL POLICIES/ ANTI -DEFICIENCY
ACT/ FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES," TO SET FORTH THE CITY'S
FISCAL NEEDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, SUBJECT TO AN
ANNUAL PLAN REVIEW, TO DETERMINE PROJECT PRIORITIES, TO ADD
NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND TO MODIFY FUNDING ALLOCATIONS AS
NECESSARY; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF SUBSEQUENT
AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Note for the Record: Item BH.18 was deferred to the September 25, 2025, Second
Budget Hearing.
Chair King: BH.18, I'm not sure who pulled that.
Commissioner Gabela: I think that was --
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Chair King: You?
Commissioner Gabela: That was me, 1 think, right?
Chair King: Yes, I think so.
Commissioner Gabela: Was it me? Okay, so what I wanted was the capital plan and
-- I'm lost now in my -- okay, so here we go. So, the capital budget newly -- we got
$65 mil before this year, apparently that we didn't have last year and you, you know,
without going into detail on every single item, how did we get to the 65 more than
last year? Besides the, you know, increase for, you know, the living costs and
inflation, whatever.
Marie Gouin (Director, Management & Budget): It's quite a bit of items, but one of
them is allocating the impactfees is one that's listed on here and there's quite a few
projects on here.
Commissioner Gabela: But what are the big ones?
Ms. Gouin: Just fbr your district?
Commissioner Gabela: No, but in general. I just want --
Ms. Gouin: Oh, in general?
Commissioner Gabela: -- I just want to know --
Ms. Gouin: Okay.
Commissioner Gabela: -- in general why we're --
Ms. Gouin: We have West Grapeland traffic calming is one. Let me see, a big one is
Allapattah flood improvements.
Commissioner Gabela: How much is that?
Ms. Gouin: That's 20 -- wait hold on, current year, 31. Oh, Reverend Grand Trail --
no, the Allapattah one is $31 million.
Commissioner Gabela: And that's for what again? For the improvement?
Ms. Gouin: It says Allapattah flood improvement, 7th Avenue and 14th Avenue.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay, and the rest of the big ones?
Ms. Gouin: And then another one is Auburndale flood mitigation, $20.6 million.
Commissioner Gabela: Where again?
Ms. Gouin: And then we have -- I don't have the price for -- the amounts for this, but
there's Reverend Graham Heritage Trail, Fire Rescue apparatus, which we talked
about -- through the briefing, about $11 million, and we have the Morningside Park
bay walk, citywide storm and sewer repair, citywide pavement resurfacing,
Armbrister Park Community Center, Little Haiti Soccer Stadium, the police drone,
and Realtime Crime Center expansion.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay, thank you.
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Chair King: Does anyone else have any --?
Commissioner Pardo: I did actually, I know that -- I know that we're often
challenged doing any kind of historic preservation, but I was hoping we could find
between now and the next meeting a million and a half dollars for the Flagler
Worker's Cottage restoration.
Chair King: Commissioner Rosado?
Commissioner Rosado: Yes, thank you, Chairwoman. District 4 happens to be, for
historic reasons, the most -- what we call park poor district in the sense that it's got
the least number of parks of any of the districts and the lowest amount of park
acreage. There's a project that Commissioner Reyes, may he rest in peace, had
really hoped to move forward on and that I'm tremendously supportive of and that is
creating a community center for the Douglas Park community. And for reasons that 1
learned from OCI (Office of Capital Improvement), it's a complex project based on
the soil conditions in that park, et cetera. And so, one of the things that was offered
by Director Perez, who's in the back of the room there, that I think is a very smart
recommendation, is that we try to purchase an adjacent property and -- there's a
commercial property immediately adjacent to the park that could share the same
parking spaces, that we could demolish and build a community center on. And so, I'd
like to respectfidly request an allocation of $5 million for phase one of that project,
which should get us to -- it should get us to acquisition of the property and design
and permitting of a building for that adjacent site. Were that to not work out for any
reason, we would still be, again, the district with the least amount of parks and the
lowest amount of park acreage. So, if that were to not work out, I would like to be
able to use that funding to be able to purchase additional parks throughout the
district. It's something we are very, very, eagerly looking to do now. I have been --
I've driven every street. We are putting out letters of interest, et cetera, but we still
have entire large segments north of 8th Street and north of Flagler that have no
parks anywhere near them.
Commissioner Gabela: Now that you all are asking, hell, I might as well ask too.
Can I have a helicopter for my district?
Chair King: I was -- I was going to propose that perhaps we might want to defer this
item, because it seems like we want to flesh it out a little bit more.
Vice Chair Carollo: Well, the problem is that how most of us have done the park
acquisition, and I'm not so sure District 4 is the district with the least amount of
parkland. It was District 3, however, there was a readjustment in boundaries, so it
might be close with 4. But the way that we've acquired dollars for parkland has been
within our own budget. You 're asking out of the blue to get just $5 million there and
what I would suggest is that you do a realignment of sizeable office budget that you
have with monies from many different areas, like I've done, like other districts have
done, and then see what is the general dollars available and what part of that should
go to District 4 versus other areas, because there has to be fairness and balance to
all district commissions. District 5, District 1, District 3 have also extreme needs, not
just in parks, but overall. So, that's the only thing that I would say. It's a noble
request that you're making, but it has to be balanced with the needs of the other
districts.
Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, I agree with that.
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Chair King: I -- and that's why I'm asking if we can perhaps defer BH.18 until the
September 25th meeting, because it seems as if each commissioner would like to
discuss the capital -- the capital plan a little bit more. So, may I have a motion?
Vice Chair Carollo: Move.
Commissioner Pardo: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second to defer BH.18 to 9/25. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Motion carries.
Vice Chair Carollo: If I may suggest to each member of this body that we then look
in our budget, whether it's additional parkland that we need, park improvements. It
might be the case in some instance, for areas of need within our own district. The
only area that's kind of on its own for the most part, is District 2, that is a very
wealthy district.
Commissioner Pardo: No, it depends where you I mean, please.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- there's plenty of urbanization --
Vice Chair Carollo: Let me bring the violin sound.
Commissioner Pardo: -- and vertical community, that needs parks. So, you know.
Chair King: Concrete jungles needs park space as well.
Coniniissioner Pardo: Reserve your comments to your district.
Chair King: Okay.
BH.19 ORDINANCE
18059
Office of
Management and
Budget
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), RELATED TO TAXATION, DEFINING AND
DESIGNATING THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI
("CITY"); LEVYING AN AD VALOREM TAX ON ALL REAL AND PERSONAL
PROPERTY IN THE CITY AT A TOTAL FINAL RATE OF 7.3616 MILLS ON
THE DOLLAR OF THE TAXABLE VALUE OF SUCH PROPERTY, FOR THE
PURPOSES OF FUNDING THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET AND
PAYMENT OF DEBT SERVICE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING
OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading with Modification(s)
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Chair King: So, now let me -- let me just say a few things for BH.19. Please note that
we are only approving the millage. That's it. We 're not talking about the budget.
This is only the millage. And we have to do a roll call vote. 1 don't need a --
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Vice Chair Carollo: Yes.
George Wysong (City Attorney): And there -- and read the title.
Chair King: And George has to read the title, so Fin going to let him read the title
for the record in its first reading. First reading.
Vice Chair Carollo: Chairwoman --
Arthur Noriega (City Manager): And there needs to --
Vice Chair Carollo: -- if I could put on the record the following, that while we're
only approving the millage, once we approve this millage, we could only lower it for
the next meeting. We cannot raise it again.
Chair King: That is correct. That is correct.
Vice Chair Carollo: So, let's put it on the record.
Chair King: Okay, so, George?
Mr. Noriega: Well -- and for purposes of creating a clarification, he needs to read in
the record the actual millage because -- the number in this -- on --
Marie Gouin (Director, Management & Budget): Is the cap.
Mr. Noriega: -- the agenda is the cap number that we reviewed earlier. We had
proposed reducing that even a little more.
Commissioner Pardo: Yeah.
Mr. Noriega: So, that needs to be read in the record as well.
Chair King: Okay, first let George read the title.
Mr. Wysong: Yeah, I'll read the title first. Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. BH.19.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair King: Maggie, could you --? I'm sorry.
Ms. Gouin: 1 need to read the reduction, the scenario for the 7.1080. The proposed
general operating millage rate is 7.1080 mills for the City of Miami for the fiscal
year beginning October 1st, 2025 and ending September 30th, 2026. That operating
millage rate is 7.67 percent higher than the state -defined rollback rate of 6.6015
mills.
Chair King.• And again, if we approve this tentative millage for the City of Miami
here, it is first reading. So, we have another crack at it second reading, but we
cannot go higher, we can only go lower. Do I have a motion?
Commissioner Gabela: Motion.
Vice Chair Carollo: Move.
Commissioner Rosado: Moved.
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Chair King: I have a motion and a second. Does anyone have any discussion?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, my apologies, the seconder was Commissioner
Pardo, correct?
Chair King: Okay.
Mr. Hannon: I'm sorry, I didn't catch the second.
Chair King: Yes.
Commissioner Pardo: Yeah.
Chair King: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: I know that Commissioner Carollo moved it.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second --
Mr. Hannon: And Chair, my apologies, I believe this will be -- this motion is as
amended.
Chair King: As amended --
Vice Chair Carollo: Yes.
Chair King: -- and I need a roll call vote. So, well start with DI (District 1).
Mr. Hannon: I can read the roll call.
Chair King: Oh, go ahead.
Commissioner Gabela: What -- what did actually amend? I'm sorry. What did we
actually amend?
Chair King: Just because Maggie gave us a different number.
Commissioner Gabela: Oh, okay.
Chair King: Okay, so go ahead, Todd. Do the roll call.
Mr. Hannon: Roll call vote on agenda item BH.19. Commissioner Rosado?
Commissioner Rosado: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Gabela?
Commissioner Gabela: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Pardo?
Commissioner Pardo: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Carollo?
Vice Chair Carollo: Yes.
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Mr. Hannon: Chair King?
Chair King: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: The motion passes 5-0.
Chair King: Now --
Mr. Hannon: As amended.
Chair King: As amended.
BH.20 RESOLUTION
18060
Office of
Management and
Budget
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENTS
ADOPTING A TENTATIVE BUDGET AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS
RELATING TO OPERATIONAL AND BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN NECESSARY ACTIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER AND
DESIGNATED CITY OFFICIALS IN ORDER TO UPDATE THE RELEVANT
FINANCIAL CONTROLS, PROJECT CLOSE-OUTS, ACCOUNTING
ENTRIES, AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AND
FOR GRANTS IN PROGRESS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0388
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Commissioner Rosado: Chairwoman?
Chair King: Yes?
Commissioner Rosado: This is something I meant to say at the beginning of the
meeting and it got away from me, but I have spent, and I imagine each of you has
also, I've spent a lot of time in the last few months being approached by folks who
are asking why we have a $400 million shortfall and a variety of things that pertain
to the county and the school board, because there is a little bit of confusion between
what's the city and what's these other entities, and so I just want to thank each of
you for your leadership and the administration and the finance and budget staff for
their work because we are in actually a very, very strong financial position as a city.
So, I want to thank each of you for that.
Chair King: Thank you. And as evidenced from this meeting, by allocating a million
dollars for homelessness, I know in my district I'm not cutting social services. That's
the first thing government reaches for when things get a little shaky and it's the last,
last, last area of service that we should be cutting because that makes everything go
awry in the community when you cut services for people. Now, with BH.20, this is to
approve the budget, and I feel like there may be some hesitancy based on some other
actions that we've taken. Gentlemen, do you want to defer? No, we can't? We
cannot?
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Arthur Noriega (City Manager): No.
Xavier Alban (Deputy City Attorney): No, we cannot defer it. Under the statute, you
have to have --
Mr. Noriega: You can -- you can amend it for second reading.
Mr. Alban. Yes. Yes, you can amend it.
Chair King: Okay. So, okay --
Mr. Noriega: So, you're approving a tentative budget is what it says here.
Chair King: Okay, so --
Mr. Noriega: Tentative is the key word.
Chair King: -- we're approving the tentative budget. We have to pass it now, but it's
tentative. We still have a crack at it to go -- and I just didn't want us to try to get
everything out here on the dais versus speaking with administration for some
concerns that we may still have with respect to this budget. So, may I have a motion?
Vice Chair Carollo: Move.
Commissioner Gabela: Motion.
Commissioner Rosado: Move.
Chair King: Second.
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Chair King: All in favor?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair King? So, BH20 will be amended to add dates
in the second whereas clause as well as Section 3 of the resolution. In addition, the
resolution needs to be amended to remove, "with attachments" from the title.
Chair King: Thank you. So, I have a motion and a second to approve BH.20, as
amended. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mr. Hannon: And the seconder was?
Chair King: Who seconded it?
Mr. Hannon: It was moved by Commissioner Carollo, but I was having a hard time
catching the seconder.
Commissioner Pardo: It was Commissioner Gabela.
Mr. Hannon: Gabela. Thank you.
Chair King: So, motion carries. Now --
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Mr. Hannon: 5-0, as amended.
Chair King: As amended.
BH.21 DISCUSSION ITEM
16942 A DISCUSSION ITEM REGARDING LOST INCOME TO THE CITY WITH
Commissioners VOTE FOR SOLUTION.
and Mayor
MOTION TO: Withdraw
RESULT: WITHDRAWN
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Chair King: There's a discussion item, lost income with city for -- with -- to city with
vote. for solution.
Vice Chair Carollo: There is no discussion item.
Chair King: Okay, so we're not -- so may 1 have a motion to withdraw BH.21?
Vice Chair Carollo: Move.
Commissioner Pardo: Second.
Chair King: All in favor.
The Commission (Collectively): Ave.
Chair King: Motion carries unanimously. And at this time, we have concluded our
first budget hearing for the City of Miami for September 23rd [sic] -- September
13th, 2025. Thank you all for your advocacy. Thank you all for showing up, and
we'll see you on the 25th.
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NA.1
18174
Office of the City
Clerk
NA - NON -AGENDA ITEM(S)
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BAYFRONT PARK
MANAGEMENT TRUST ("TRUST") TO UPDATE THE TRUST'S
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25-26 TO INCLUDE ONE
MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($1,000,000.00) FOR HOMELESS
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN AND AROUND THE MILDRED AND
CLAUDE PEPPER BAYFRONT PARK AND MAURICE A. FERRE
PARK; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF
THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS IDENTIFIED HEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-25-0389
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Carollo, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado
Commissioner Pardo: Madam Chair, I have a quick question. Can we do a
directive since there seemed to be consensus here about the $1 million going to
homeless services?
Vice Chair Carollo: Make a motion.
Commissioner Pardo: Second.
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Vice Chair Carollo: I just found the money, so that's within the budget.
Chair King: So, there's a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Motion carries to give $1 million from the Bayfront Park Trust
management budget to address homelessness in downtown, not to a particular
agency.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay, but I asked the question, okay, are you
transferring funds? Are we talking about a transfer of fimds outside the park to
an entity? Is that what we're talking about?
Commissioner Rosado: No. No.
Chair King: No, not to an entity.
Commissioner Gabela: Let's be clear about that.
Commissioner Rosado: No, just --
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Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
Commissioner Pardo: It's an allocation.
Commissioner Rosado: -- it's creating.
Chair King: Right, it's an allocation to --
Mr. Miro, Jr.: So, you -- so everybody's aware here, $500,000 were given to
Bayfront by the City for the New Year's event. That $500, 000 is also coming
back in my budget to the City. So, you're talking about you need --
Chair King: Okay, well we're going to -- sir, we're going to discuss your budget
at the next --
Commissioner Rosado: Yeah, this is --
Chair King: -- at the next budget hearing.
Commissioner Gabela: Thank you, Raul.
Commissioner Pardo: Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Thank you.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair? So again, to clarify, that motion was a
direction for the executive director to allocate the $1 million for the fiscal year
25-26 budget?
Chair King: Correct.
Mr. Hannon: So, that's what you expect --
Chair King: For homeless -- to address homelessness issues.
Mr. Hannon: -- to see on the 25th?
Chair King: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: Understood.
Chair King: Okay. Commissioner Carollo -- I mean, Commissioner Gabela --
Commissioner Rosado: Chair? Chair?
Chair King: -- I believe you pulled --
Commissioner Gabela: Well --
Commissioner Rosado: Chairwoman, before we move on, I just want to
acknowledge both the current chairman and the previous chairman for making
sure that those parks look really beautiful.
Chair King: Thank you.
Commissioner Gabela: Thank you.
END OF FIRST BUDGET HEARING
City ofMiami
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes September 13, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 12:57 p.m.
City, of Miami
Page 65 Printed on 11 /4/2025