HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2026-02-26 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 26, 2026
9:00 AM
City Commission Meeting
City Hall
City Commission
Eileen T. Higgins, Mayor
Christine King, Chair, District Five
Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner, District One
Damian Pardo, Commissioner, District Two
Rolando Escalona, Commissioner, District Three
Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner, District Four
James Reyes, City Manager
George K. Wysong III, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
City Commission
Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
9:00 AM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Present: Chairwoman King, Commissioner Gabela, Commissioner Pardo, Commissioner
Escalona, and Commissioner Rosado
On the 26th day of February 2026, the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida, met
at its regular meeting place in City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, in
regular session. The Commission Meeting was called to order by Chairwoman King at 9:09
a.m., recessed at 10:48 a.m., reconvened at 1:34 p.m., recessed at 1:37 p.m., reconvened at
3:12 p.m., and adjourned at 3:12 p.m.
Note for the Record: Commissioner Rosado entered the Commission chambers at 9:12 a.nz.
ALSO PRESENT:
James Reyes, City Manager
George K. Wysong III, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
Chair King: Welcome to the Commission meeting for February 26, 2026. I am joined by my,
colleagues, Commissioner Damian Pardo, Commissioner Miguel -- why am I drawing a
blank? Because I want to say your middle name, Angel, Gabela, because he is an angel. I'm
here with Commissioner Escalona. And is Commissioner Rosado here?
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Chair King: Momentarily. So, I have my entire commission plus our mayor. Good morning.
And we are going to get this meeting going. We have, as always, our pastor, Pastor Thompson
will be here to say the prayer.
Gregory Thompson: Let us pray.
Invocation delivered.
Chair King: And at this time, we will say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Pledge of Allegiance delivered.
Chair King: Please be seated.
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ORDER OF THE DAY
Chair King: Mr. City Attorney.
George Wysong (City Attorney): Yes, Madam Chair.
Chair King: Would you please read your statement for the record?
Mr. Wysong: Of course. George Wysong, City Attorney. May it please the
Commission. 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 attached on -- 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 the related City requirements for lobbyists -- for lobbyists before appearing
before the City Commission. A person may not lobby a City official, board member,
or staff until so registering. A copy of the code section about 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 City Clerk or
online at www.municode.com. The City of Miami requires that anyone requesting
action by the City Commission must disclose, before the hearing, any consideration
provided or committed to anyone for agreement to support or withhold objection to
the requested action pursuant to the City Code Section 2-8. Any documents offered
to the City Commission that have not been provided seven days before the meeting
as part of the agenda materials will be entered into the record at the City
Commission's discretion. In accordance with Section 2-33(f) 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
vvww.miamigov.com. The meeting of the Miami City Commission is a limited public
forum. Any person may be heard by the City Commission through the Chair for not
more than two minutes on any proposition before the City Commission unless
modified by the Chair. Public comment will begin at approximately 9:45 a.m. and
remain open until public comment is closed by the chairperson. Any -- I'm sorry,
9:15 a.m. Any person making offensive remarks or who becomes unruly in City
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 Commission Chambers.
Persons exiting the Commission Chambers shall do so quietly. Members of the
public wishing to address the body may 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 through the comment form have and will
be distributed to the elected officials, their staff, 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, their staff, and the City
administration up until the chairperson closes public comment. Public comment
may also be provided here live at City Hall at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami,
Florida, subject to any and all City rules as they may be amended. 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
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
their name, their address and what item will he spoken about. Any person with a
disability requiring assistance, auxiliary, aids, and services for this meeting may,
notify the City Clerk's Office. 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's Office 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. For Planning and Zoning items, PZ items shall proceed
according to Section 7.1.4 of the Miami 21 Zoning Ordinance. Parties for any PZ
items, including any applicant, appellant, appellee, City staff and any person
recognized by the decision -making body as a qualified intervener; as well as the
applicant's representatives and any experts testifying on behalf of the applicant.,
appellant, appellee, may be physically present at City Hall to be sworn in by oath
or affirmation by the City Clerk. The members of the City Commission shall
disclose any ex parte communications to remove the presumption of prejudice
pursuant to Florida Statute Section 286.0115 and Section 7.1.4.5 of the Miami 21
Zoning Ordinance. The order of presentation shall be as set forth in Miami 21 and
in the City Code. Staff will briefly present each item to be heard. The applicant will
present its application or request to the City Commission. If the applicant agrees
with the staff recommendation, the City Commission may proceed to its deliberation
and decision. The applicant may also waive the right to an evidentiary hearing on
the record. For appeals, the appellant will present its appeal to the City
Commission, followed by the appellee. Staff will be allowed to make any
recommendation they may have. Please silence all cell phones and other noise
making devices. This meeting can be viewed live on Miami TV, the City's Facebook
page, the City's Twitter page, the City's YouTube channel, and Comcast Channel
77. The broadcast will also have closed captioning. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chair King: Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. Madam City Clerk.
Nicole Ewan (Assistant City Clerk): Good morning, Chair. The procedures for
individuals who will be providing testimony to be sworn in for today's Planning and
Zoning items and any quasi-judicial items for today's City Commission meeting
agenda will be as follows: The members of City staff or any other individuals
required to be sworn in who are currently present at City Hall will be sworn in by
me, the Assistant City Clerk, immediately after I finish explaining these procedures.
Those individuals who are appearing remotely may be sworn in now or at any time
prior to the individual providing testimony, for Planning and Zoning items and/or
quasi-judicial items. Commissioners, are you comfortable with all the notice
provisions set forth in these universe -- uniform rules of procedures we have
established for this meeting?
Chair King: Yes, thank you.
Ms. Ewan: Chair, may I proceed with administering the oath?
Chair King: Please.
Ms. Ewan: Thank you. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. If you will be speaking
on today's Planning and Zoning items, that's any of the Planning and Zoning items,
may I please have you stand and raise your right hand?
The Assistant City Clerk administered oath required under City Code Section 62-1
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to those persons giving testimony on zoning items.
Ms. Ewan: Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chair King: Thank you. Mr. Manager, do you have any items on this agenda that
will be withdrawn and/or deferred?
James Reyes (City Manager): Morning, Madam Chair, Madam Mayor,
Commissioners. At this time, the Administration would like to defer or withdraw the
following items: PZ.2, to be indefinitely deferred; PZ.3, to be indefinitely deferred;
PZ.4, to be withdrawn; and PZ.6, to be deferred to 4/23.
Chair King: Thank you. Gentlemen, do you have any items that you would like to
withdraw or defer from the agenda? Commissioner Pardo?
Commissioner Pardo: No.
Chair King: Commissioner Gabela? Commissioner Rosado? Okay. At this time,
may I have a motion to set the agenda?
Commissioner Pardo: So move.
Commissioner Escalona: Move.
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Agenda has been set. At this --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And, Chair; my apologies, just briefly. I just need two
statements read into the record. Pursuant to Section 62-22 of the City Code, an
indefinitely deferred action initiated by the City will cost the City nail, noticing,
advertising, and posting of properties as applicable. And one additional statement
for a co -- sponsor and co-sponsor request. Mayor Higgins will be cosponsoring
RE.4. Chair King will be sponsoring FL.1. Commissioner Pardo will be
cosponsoring RE.4 and RE.5. Commissioner Rosado will be cosponsoring RE.4.
Thank you, Chair.
Chair King: Thank you. At this time, if anyone would like to speak on behalf of any
item before us, please step forward to the lectern, five at a time. Oh, I'm sorry.
There are two pocket items. Mr. City Attorney, would you please announce those
for the record?
Mr. Wysong: Yes, Madam Chair. Pocket Item 1.
The Resolution was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Mr. Wysong: The second pocket item is a resolution of the Miami City Commission.
The Resolution was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Mr. Wysong.• That concludes the two pocket items.
Chair King: Thank you, Mr. City Attorney. Mr. City Clerk.
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Mr. Hannon: Thank you, Chair. And for the record, the resolution pertaining to
preservation of the Miami -Dade Urban Development Boundary will be identified as
PL1, and the resolution pertaining to noise waivers for special events will be
identified as agenda item PL2. Thank you, Chair.
Chair King: Thank you.
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ALL ITEM(S)
18983 DISCUSSION ITEM
Office of the City
Clerk
PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED ONLINE BY MEMBERS OF THE
PUBLIC FOR THE FEBRUARY 26, 2026, CITY COMMISSION
MEETING.
RESULT: PRESENTED
Chair King: Good morning.
Unidentified Speaker: Good morning.
Chair King: Oh, I was going to go ladies first, but that's why.
Mariela Lopez De Alber: I'll let him go first.
Chair King: Go ahead, Elvis.
Elvis Cruz: Elvis Cruz on Item PZ.1. I participated extensively in the Miami 21
legislative process from 2005 to 2010. This assembly of 17 lots and closing 64th
Terrace would enable the type of big box building Miami 21 promised to prevent, a
building that's 496 feet long. That's why Miami 21 set a maximum lot size of 40,000
square feet, yet this project has a lot size over 141,000 square feet, more than three
and a half times the legal limit. As the PZAB (Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board)
said, this makes a mockery of Miami 21. I've seen this movie in this theater many
times. They've got it backwards. Instead of designing a project to fit the rules, they
want you to change the rules to fit their project. Their attorney made at least seven
false or misleading statements. I filed a bar complaint. The UDRB (Urban
Development Review Board) hated the big box and set a condition to break it into at
least two or three smaller buildings. Please place the same conditions the UDRB
did and do not close the streets. At the January 28th community meeting, at least 40
people voted to keep the street open. Only 'bur voted to close it, a 10 to 1 margin.
Why isn't the will of the people being respected? Please reject any covenant that
doesn't grant legal standing to the public. It would be so nice if the City of'Miami
placed a higher priority on protecting neighborhoods and the public instead of
enabling developer profits. On RE.2, please keep elections in November. August
makes no sense. On PZ.7, please vote no. We already have far too much allowable
density. And on PZ.8, a tile roof is well worth it for longevity and historic
compatibility. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Ms. Lopez De Alber: Good morning, Mariela Lopez, 661 Northeast 68th Street. Hi.
I'm here to talk about please vote no to close Northeast 64th Terrace. We've been
battling this for a very long time. I have packets here with Debbie Stander prepared
for all the commissioners. I gave one already to the mayor and Rosado explaining
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that the true benefits were not discussed thoroughly, and that we're actually giving
away the street. If we do close this street, it will set a precedence for further streets
in the city to be closed cis well to fit the developer's whim that he wants to fit
whatever he's building, however he's building. And this is not correct because this
is a taxpaying dollar street. This is a public street and it should remain a public
street because then we know that in the future other developers will ask the same
and you will have to give them that street because this will set a precedent. And I
also want to say that I'm kind of disappointed because our leader of our district
misguided us in believing that this street was not going to be closed, and now here
we are. The majority of the people in our residence in Bayside Historic, this box is
abutting a historic Legion Park. It's three times -- five -- 3.5 times the size ofMiami
21, like Elvis said. Really, I mean, you guys are leaders. It's really about time that
you lead and stop being politicians. That you listen to your constituents and what
they really need and what they really want and stop ignoring it and go with
developers' whim because we're the ones that live in the city. We're the ones that
pay, the taxpayers, and we're the ones that have to live with the chaos. So, please
vote no and please don't close Northeast 64th Terrace. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Elissa Margulies: Good morning. My name is Elissa Margulies. I live at 3333 Rice
Street in Center Grove. I'm here to talk about PZ.7 and RE.2. Not all legislation
has to be one size fits all. In the case of PZ.7, residents that live in the Grove
Conservation District didn 't ask for this and we don't want it. I came here today to
ask my District 2 commissioner to please have the entire NCD (Neighborhood
Conservation District) excluded from PZ.7. While I do believe the legislation was
sponsored with good intentions, the potential for exploitation in the NCD would be
too tempting for certain developers. It's nearly impossible for regular citizens to
compete with a system that gives lawyers and lobbyists full access to our
legislators, particularly since we don't have a seat at the same table to challenge or
refute their recommendations or their version of the facts. As a result, many Grove
residents live in a constant state of red alert. We see our sidewalks hijacked, our
family -friendly neighborhood dismantled piece by piece, tree by tree, only to be
replaced with large buildings completely out of character and scale. The traffic has
become unbearable. It is for these reasons we hope our commissioner recognizes
that PZ.7 is not a good fit for the Grove. RE.2. If the intent is to increase voter
participation, then a date of August 18th is really confusing. How does having a
separate election in August benefit the electorate? At a time of budget shortfalls this
seems like an unnecessary expense. It was my understanding that there is a similar
proposal for November when voter turnout would be higher. For me that makes
more sense. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Oren Rosenthal: Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the Commission, and
Madam Mayor. My name is Oren Rosenthal. I'm the General Counsel for the
Miami -Dade County Supervisor of Elections, whose address is 2700 Northwest 87th
Avenue. I'm here to talk about Item RE.2 on behalf of the Supervisor.
Unidentified Speaker: Your microphone.
Mr. Rosenthal: Can you hear me now? I'm here to talk on behalf of the Supervisor
of Elections, who unfortunately is at a supervisor's meeting in Jacksonville and
couldn't be here today. She asked me to convey a few of her thoughts on Item RE.2
regarding the election. The Supervisor is fully in support of moving City of Miami
elections to the August Primary and to the November General Election concurrent
with countywide elections. This would not only save the City of Miami a lot of
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money for not having to have a separately paid for election at a separate time,
either in an off year or in December, but it would also allow the City of Miami to
leverage the enormous amount of statewide and county resources that go into
conducting a countywide election, whether it he early voting, advertising, or even
the polling places. So, she is in full support of that. What the supervisor is not in
support of is changing the election cycle so that the mayor and the city commission
elections are in different election cycles. That would have the perverse effect of
decreasing the turnout in elections for only city commissioners if they're not on the
same elections as the city mayor. In fact, in your last few elections for city
commission, when the mayor was not on the ballot, you had between a 10 to 12
percent turnout. When you had the mayor on the ballot, you had about a 20 percent
turnout. And so you should make sure that you keep your elections for
commissioner and mayor at the same time, and we would recommend it being on
August to November. If any of the members have any questions when the item comes
up, I'll try and stay in the audience and be available for questions on behalf of the
supervisor. Thank you all.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Henrietta Schwarz: Good morning. I'm here to speak about PZ.7, RE.2 and PZ.1.
My name is Henrietta Schwarz. I live at 2627 South Bayshore Drive. On PZ.7, I
want to thank my. D2 (District 2) commissioner for promising to carve out Coconut
Grove NCDs from this agenda item. And a big thanks to Javier, who said, I quote,
"Either way, as I mentioned above, all Coconut Grove will be excluded." A huge
sigh of relief. And curiosity at the sponsor of this measure, who two weeks ago was
talking about devious developers taking control of churches in her district. PZ.7 is
just another developer boondoggle. Coconut Grove is a true neighborhood where
people actually say good morning to each other. We talk to each other, and lately,
more and more of us are rallying together to help offset the more egregious desires
of the City/developers. Customer service is a high priority for the mayor. This
customer is saddened by the constant maneuvering that benefits developers over
residents. Miami 21 was conceived as a blueprint to grow our city, a way to save
neighborhoods, manage growth, and expand the tree canopy. This proposal will
definitely give our city more shade, but not from trees. It will be from outsized
buildings blocking the sun. I urge commissioners to rethink this agenda item. As for
RE.2, it's a great idea. I hope this will be a precursor to expanding the districts.
Brava, Mayor Higgins. Lastly, will the mayor please get back to Hank Klein and
Lisa Sloat? They are the couple who got mowed over by the EV (Electric Vehicle)
bike a few months ago. 1 know he's written to you. They could use some
encouraging words of commitment to guard the safety of pedestrians. And wouldn't
it be nice if the commission agenda had an item about pedestrian safety? I've been
waiting for three years.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Deborah Stander: Good morning. Deborah Stander, 830 Northeast 74th Street.
Commissioners, I'm here today to ask you to be responsible stewards of the public
interest. You 're voting today on PZ.1, which would vacate Northeast 64th Terrace,
a public street that provides access to the Upper East Side's well -loved and well -
used historic Legion Park and Community Center. Street vacations create
substantial value. This street is 13,791 square feet. At roughly $100 per square foot,
which is the average price of the adjacent lots, if handed over to the developer,
that's about $1.4 million in land value alone. If folded into a six -story project, it
could yield more than 80,000 square feet of additional development capacity. What
is that worth? No one has publicly calculated it. The same is true of the upzoning
from T5-R to T6-8 approved by the City Commission in late 2024. What is the
economic benefit to the developer? No one knows because there's never been any
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public analysis. In return, the developer has offered a cash contribution, which
mysteriously' fluctuates from $200,000 for park improvements one month when
presented to PZAB in 2024 to, a month later, before the City Commission, $500,000
payable to the district office, a last-minute substitution bundled and voted on
without discussion. And now, following objections voiced by residents, $1 million is
being offered again to the district office. What criteria were involved in establishing
these payments? Who will oversee an account for how the money is spent? No one
knows because none of this has ever been publicly vetted or even discussed.
Chair King: Thank you.
Ms. Stander: Commissioners -- I'll just finish my one last thing. Commissioners,
before vacating public land and granting significant development value, you must
conduct transparent due diligence on what is being given and what is being
received. Please ensure that analysis is completed before this project is allowed to
move forward.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Rebecca de la Zerda: Good morning. Becca de la Zerda. I'm the attorney
representing the owner at 5830 Northwest 12th Avenue regarding PZ.4. We
understand that this is being withdrawn and we're here to support that in an
abundance of caution. And that's all my comments for today. Thank you so much.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Gregory Thompson: Good morning. I'm Pastor Thompson, the president of the
African -American Council of Christian Clergy, here to speak on FR.3, the Interfaith
Council. I come to share that I believe that council will be very important for the
City of Miami. As you know, relationships are important. So, when we have a
relationship with the interfaith community, the interfaith community has a
relationship with the community at large, and it will work on both sides. It will work
for the commission, it will work for the mayor, it will work for the manager. So, I
believe it will be a great asset to the City of Miami to create a interfaith council. In
doing so, it can kind of, in my opinion, help the mayor make certain decisions as it
relates to her staff. The mayor has every right to move who she wants to move. The
mayor has every right to replace who she wants to replace. But sometimes it's not
what we do, it's how we do what we do. I think the move of Barbara Sweet and Gail
Seay was a move that was tone deaf. I think it was insensitive. I think it was -- I
think the timing was bad. We're dealing with Black History Month. We're dealing
with losing one of our icons, Jesse Jackson, and she did not take that into
consideration. I'm a man who does not take things personal. I'm about being
purposeful. The City Manager can attest to that. There was a young man that was
being treated very wrong in the fire department. I contacted the City Manager, he
had a relationship with pastors in our community, and that young man, just to
speed it up, he went back into the academy, he graduated, and now he's a
firefighter.
Chair King: Thank you, thank you.
Mr. Thompson: That's it? Can I say one last thing?
Chair King: One last thing.
Mr. Thompson: Okay. In my community, very quick, we have a bulk pickup on
Tuesdays and every Monday we put our stuff out for the bulk pickup to pick it up.
But every Monday, without fail, a man comes by in a pickup truck and pick up what
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we deem not valuable anymore. So, I'm asking the Commission, what the mayor has
put out, you all pick up and let these two women get back to work to serve our
community.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Andy Parrish: Good morning, Commissioners. I'm late here today, and you guys
are starting on time, and I want to thank you all. It's been a long time since this
commission started on time for the people. I want to speak about -- I've been
corning here for over four decades. Commissioner Pardo, J. L. Plummer was a
young man sitting in your seat when I first spoke down here. Anyway, the City's
always been growing, and growing means development. We all know that. Now,
back 40 years ago, when we were short of schools, the magic words were, it's for
the children. And this commissioner, all the boards, oh, if it's for the children, it
wouldn 't get the scrutiny sometimes these development needed. Now, the magic
words are affordable housing. Affordable housing from the state all the way down
through the county. It greases the skids, but that magic word, it's not for the kids
anymore. A lot of it's for the developers, and it doesn't get the scrutiny that it
requires. I'm speaking on PZ.7 and RE.2. There's other ways to accommodate the
housing crisis that we know we have. I would like to -- Mayor Higgins, I would like
to accommodate -- facilitate a meeting with the architects of Miami 21, Liz Plater-
Zyberk and Andres Duaney, who I'rn sure you know and have met. I think they'd
love to sit down with you and tell you about all the different ways we could
accommodate the housing crisis without just doing high-rises in every
neighborhood, everywhere. We know they're the cheapest, easiest to build, but
there's better ways to do it, to preserve our neighborhoods and our city. Thank you
very much.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Rob Piper: Good morning, everyone. Rob Piper, 1401 Southwest 17 Terrace in
Shenandoah. I'm here to speak on RE.2 and to thank Madam Mayor for taking the
leadership and doing the right thing and moving these elections to even years to
ensure turnout. And I just wanted to ask the commissioners if they could like do the
right thing as well and have their elections move to even years as well. That's all I
had. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Billy Corben: Good morning. Billy Corben here on AC.1. The ghost of Joe Carollo
haunts this house. And from beyond the political grave, he continues to steal from
the taxpayers and wants all of you to be his co-conspirators after the fact. You're
going to have a shade meeting today on the fourth Ball and Chain lawsuit that you
are going to lose, and it is going to cost the City over $100 million. How do I know
you 're going to lose it? Because you're 3-0 with Ball and Chain lawsuits. You lost
the first one for $63.5 million, the second one for $12.5 million, the third one where
you illegally tried to seize their private property and demolish it, you lost that one
too. And they told you, the City Attorney and your outside counsel, told you you
were going to win. They told you because they wanted to keep the outside counsel
grift alive so you would spend good money after bad. And it has to stop, okay? The
City Attorney's Office is lying to you. Okay, the only case that they want you to
settle is a million and a half dollars to Joe Carollo. By the way, you guys were here
with Joe Carollo, the three of you. Did you know the entire time he was up here
belittling plaintiffs when the Assistant City Attorney Kevin Jones was talking about
how, you know, insulting plaintiffs saying anyone with $400 can sue the City,
they're just trying to extort us. Did you know that he had a conflict of interest, that
he was a plaintiff this entire time trying to take a million and a half dollars away
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from the City? That's crazy. And they want you to settle that case? Come on, you
got to put a stop to this. You have to, okay? When Joe Carollo owes the City and the
taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in outside attorney's fees, and if the City
Attorney's Office had done their job and sued Joe Carollo and started collections,
you guys might have leverage in that settlement. Say, sure, we'll give you a million
and a half dollars, but we'll count that towards the debt that you owe the taxpayers.
So, please, stop the waste, fraud, and abuse. Stop the grift, okay. And please
terminate the City Attorney and his deputy city attorneys and put the pieces of this
broken city back together again. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Kristy Garcia: Good morning, Commissioners and Madam Mayor. Thank you for
giving me the opportunity to share my story. My name is Kristy Garcia, and I'm
here to speak on DI.1. I'm a long -- lifelong resident of the City of Miami and
Miami -Dade County. I'm the mother of Evelyn Valdez. On June 14th, 2025, my
daughter, Evelyn, was gunned down on the streets of Miami and Wynwood while
celebrating her 28th birthday. We were initially told that Evelyn was caught in a
crossfire of a police -involved shooting. To my surprise, three weeks later, we were
called in to meet with Police Chief Morales. During this meeting, we were told that
it was an officer's round that struck my beautiful daughter and took her life. Manny
Morales seemed almost unaffected that his officers gunned down my daughter,
Evelyn, an innocent 28 year -old social worker on the streets of Miami. She was
simply a passerby inside a vehicle when the City, of' Miami police officers decided to
open fire on a crowded street as a nightclub let out. The nature of my daughters
homicide seemed like nothing more than Chief Morales' day-to-day routine. Over
the last eight months, nay family and I have grieved deeply and prayed for justice,
only to find out that all three police officers involved in the shooting that evening
have been returned to work prior to any conclusion on the FDLE (Florida
Department of Law Enforcement) investigation. Over the last eight months, we have
been left with more questions than answers. Every single day that the facts around
my daughter's death are shrouded in secrecy by Chief Morales and his department
is another day that justice is being withheld. We will get justice for my daughter;
Evelyn Valdez. Thank you for your time.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Jose Valdez: Good morning. Good morning, Commissioners and Madam Mayor.
My name is Jose Valdez. I am here to speak on item DI.1. Thank you for the
opportunity to speak today. I am the brother of Evelyn Valdez. My sister and I were
raised in and around the sane community where she lost her life on June 14, 2025.
Evelyn was out celebrating her 28th birthday in Wynwood when she was struck and
killed by an officer's round during a police -involved shooting. She was an innocent
passerby inside a vehicle on a crowded street as a nightclub let out. Evelyn was a
dedicated social worker and a former therapist of Kristi House. Serving our
community every day over the last eight months, our, family has sought answers and
justice. We learned that the officers involved were returned to duty just 13 days
after the incident, before the FDLE investigation was concluded, and we have been
left with more questions than answers. As key facts remain shrouded in secrecy by
the department every day without full transparency is another day justice is delayed
for Evelyn and our family. As this body begins a search for Chief Morales's
successor, I ask that you remember my sister Evelyn Valdez and how proper
leadership and oversight in the police department could have prevented this
tragedy. The next chief' of police should be an individual of the highest moral
character, someone who sets the precedent for the highest standards of integrity,
professionalism, and awareness of public safety while policing. This means
prioritizing qualifications such as proven experience in fostering accountability,
City ofMiami
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
promoting transparent investigations, building community trust through
engagement, and ensuring ethical use offorce policies that protect both officers and
residents. We will continue to seek justice for Evelyn. Thank you for your time.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Mel Meinhardt: Good morning, Madam Chair, Commissioners. RE.2 continues of
movement. Forty-seven months ago, Commissioner, you'll remember that the
question of how to govern the City of Miami and represent its people began here in
this chamber. At that time, only four people now in this room were present. You,
Mr. Hannon, myself, and Ms. McConnell. Since that time, every other political and
administrative leader has left this room. That fact tells an important story. In that
moment, many ordinary citizens, you'll remember, had quietly given up on Miami.
Structural reform was resisted. Accountability was opposed at every measure.
People felt locked out of their government. But responsible voters incrementally
changed the system, as they must. Each of you sits here because you ran campaigns
and you fought the system that was then in place. You incrementally fought and
won. You gained moral authority, and the moral authority you gained is incredibly
important. Over the last four years, you've each advanced for reforms in your own
way. The mayor has had the bold leadership of advancing RE.2 to increase voter
participation. But structural reform cannot be accomplished piecemeal. Today, I
stand with 20,000 other petitioners, 20,000 to advance the cause of stronger Miami.
Participation is progress. Stronger Miami advances it. Miami is growing up. Its
governance system must grow up. You have the ability to do that together. Don't
wait four to six years. Advance it now. Thank you, Commissioner.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Ana Pelaez: Good morning. Thank you. My name is Ana Sofia Pelaez. I am the
executive director of Miami Freedom Project and a resident of the City of Miami
District 3. I'm speaking on Item RE.2, and while I applaud Mayor Higgins for the
item to move the mayoral election from 2029 to 2028 and lead by example,
involuntarily shortening her own term, this is only one part of the reforms that
would ensure that the City of Miami is genuinely responsive to its constituents and
able to ensure representative and equitable governance for all of its residents. As
part of the Stronger Miami Coalition, I join over 20,000 individuals in demanding
comprehensive reform that includes, yes, even -year elections, but also expands the
commission to better represent its almost 500,000 residents and establishes real
redistricting standards so that neighborhoods stay together and residents get the
representation they deserve. I urge commissioners to adopt the full slate of charter
reforms proposed by the Stronger Miami petition to the 2026 ballot. The moment
calls for transformational change, and we urge commissioners to meet residents
where they are. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Gina Romero: Hi, good morning. My name is Gina Romero. I work with Florida
Rising. We need to put a Stronger Miami package on the ballot 2026. I am one of
the 20,000 voices in support of this. I think that 20,000 make the difference in
elections, and please support Stronger Miami in the ballots. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Good morning.
Antonia Catalan: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
Chair King: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE). Do we have a translator for her?
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
Ms. Catalan: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): We're still waiting on then to get here, so we're
going to need some assistance. Just a moment, please.
Chair King: Okay, (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
Ms. Catalan (as translated by Maricarmen Lopez, Legislative Services Supervisor):
Good morning, Commission. My name is Antonia Catalan, and the corruption in
this commission is a sickness that affects a democracy when one has a system of --
when there is a system of money and when the resources are limited. This is a
remedy -- this is a remedy that will be included in the packets to the reform of the
Stronger Miami in the next electoral ballot. The City is ready for a change and us,
the residents and voters, we are here in the first line of defense to ask for change
now.
Chair King: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE). Can you have her state her name again for
the record?
Ms. Catalan (as translated by Maricarmen Lopez, Legislative Services Supervisor):
Antonia Catalan for the record. And I come here from Homestead.
Chair King: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
Ms. Catalan: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE).
Chair King: Good morning.
Gabriela Ibbarra: Good morning. My name is Gabriela. I do live in Miami. We
need the Stronger Miami to put in the ballot. The corruption needs to stop. There's
more than 20k voices and there's more than 20k people signing this petition. Please
help us. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you.
Mr. Hannon: I'm sorry, Chair, if I could have the speaker's name for the record.
Ms. Ibbarra: Gabriela Ibbarra.
Mr. Hannon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Hannon: Thank you.
Ana Pantoja: Good morning. My name is Ana Pantoja.
Ms. Pantoja (as translated by Maricarmen. Lopez, Legislative Services Supervisor):
So I ask the commission to please continue listening to us, us the residents of the
City of Miami. I am one of the 20,000 voices that are in support of the Stronger
Miami. Stronger Miami is fighting for a new reform, which is very simple, to
increase the participation of voters and 20,000 people that are already doing this.
We are on the same accord with this commission. We want it to be more
transparent, dynamic and democratic. There have been 20,000 petitions already
signed and there is more participation in this election. The corruption is a sickness
that is affecting our democracy when there is a system that only takes care of
dollars. This is the remedy that the Strong Miami petition will have already
included. The City is ready for change, and us, the residents and voters, we are here
fighting and we ask the commission for the change.
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Maricarmen Lopez (Legislative Services Supervisor): She just wants to thank the
commission.
Chair King: (FOREIGN LANGUAGE). Good morning. Good morning.
Maria Gonzalez: My, name is Maria Gonzalez, 436 Northeast 77th Street Road, and
I'm here for PZ.1. I'm asking to please vote no to grant this developer Northeast
64th Terrace. By doing so, you are enabling a two -square block building with 337
units, which means more cars in an already compromised Biscayne Boulevard.
There are few cut-throughs on Biscayne Boulevard unlike other communities where
traffic can move through an area. It will be a gridlock on Biscayne Boulevard if this
goes through. Please listen to your constituents. They spoke loud and clear on
January 28th town hall meeting -- thank you for having that, Commissioner King --
which had a substantial turnout of about 50 plus residents who opposed to this
large development. Only four to five expressed a preference for the vacation of 64th
Terrace. The constituents were promised that 64th Terrace would not be vacated.
Here we are, siding with the wishes of a developer without any proper
communication to the community of why this change happened. Only comments was
that our commissioner was misinformed. What deal happened behind closed doors?
We have a right to know. Thank you.
Chair King: Thank you. Anyone else here for public comment? Seeing none, public
comment period is now closed.
MV - MAYORAL VETO(ES)
There were no mayoral vetoes associated with legislation that is subject to veto by the Mayor.
END OF MAYORAL VETO(ES)
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CA.1
18853
Department of
Police
CA - CONSENT AGENDA
The following item(s) was Adopted on the Consent Agenda
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF A FORD CARGO VAN IN THE
AMOUNT OF SIXTY-FOUR THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED
SEVENTY DOLLARS ($64,870.00), FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
("CITY") POLICE DEPARTMENT ("DEPARTMENT") TO BE
UTILIZED FOR INVESTIGATIONS RELATED TO INTERNET
CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN THAT REQUIRE THE
TRANSPORTATION OF SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S LAW
ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND, PROJECT NUMBER 19-690001,
AWARD 1169, TASK 04, EXPENDITURE EQUIPMENT,
ORGANIZATION 191602 AND ACCOUNT CODE
12500.191602.664000.0.0, SUCH EXPENDITURES HAVING BEEN
APPROVED BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE DIRECTIVES PROVIDED IN SECTION 932.7055,
FLORIDA STATUTES, AS AMENDED.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0087
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
CA.2
18736
Department of
Police
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE THE AUDIT
OF CERTAIN CIVILIAN POSITIONS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
("CITY") POLICE DEPARTMENT ("DEPARTMENT") WITH A
FISCAL IMPACT ESTIMATED AT $150,000.00 FOR FISCAL YEAR
2025-2026, WHICH SHALL BE FULLY FUNDED THROUGH THE
REALLOCATION OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT
CODE 00001.191501.552010.0.0 MOTOR FUEL BUDGETED LINE
ITEM, RESULTING IN NO NET FISCAL IMPACT; SAID ACTIONS
INCLUDE: THE RECLASSIFICATION OF ONE (1) VACANT
ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE I POSITION AND (1) VACANT CLERK I
POSITION TO CREATE ONE (1) LATENT PRINT EXAMINER
POSITION TO HELP TO REDUCE THE BACKLOG OF LATENT
PRINT CASES, IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY, AND HELP TO
DISSEMINATE IDENTIFICATION REPORTS TO DETECTIVES IN A
TIMELY MANNER; ONE (1) ADMINISTRATIVE AIDE II POSITION
TO CREATE ONE (1) POLICE COMMUNICATIONS RECORDS
CUSTODIAN POSITION FOR COORDINATING AND
RESPONDING TO OVER 2500 PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS
YEARLY TO COMPLY WITH CHAPTER 119, FLORIDA
STATUTES, INCLUDING APPEARING IN COURT AND GIVING
SWORN DEPOSITIONS FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS UNIT;
FURTHER CREATING ONE (1) CITY -FUNDED VICTIM ADVOCATE
POSITION CRITICAL TO MAINTAIN SERVICE CONTINUITY AND
HONORING CITY'S COMMITMENT TO VICTIMS OF CRIME; ALL
PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-21-0402 ADOPTED
SEPTEMBER 23, 2021, AND RESOLUTION NO. R-21-0408
ADOPTED OCTOBER 1, 2021; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES TO ADJUST,
AMEND, AND APPROPRIATE THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026
OPERATING BUDGET, FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN,
STRATEGIC PLAN, AND MULTI -YEAR CAPITAL PLAN
REGARDING CITY SERVICES AND RESOURCES AS
NECESSARY, LEGALLY ALLOWED, AND APPLICABLE IN ORDER
TO AUDIT AND CREATE SAID POSITIONS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT; RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING
CERTAIN NECESSARY ACTIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER AND
DESIGNATED CITY DEPARTMENTS TO UPDATE THE
RELEVANT FINANCIAL CONTROLS, PROJECT CLOSE-OUTS,
ACCOUNTING ENTRIES, AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS;
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0088
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
CA.3 RESOLUTION
18784
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
CA.4
18862
Office of the City
Attorney
CA.5
18905
Office of the City
Attorney
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING NINE (9) RIGHT-OF-WAY DEEDS
AND ONE (1) QUIT CLAIM RIGHT-OF-WAY DEED OF
DEDICATION ("DEEDS"), AS DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A,"
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR RIGHT-OF-WAY
PURPOSES; APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE
RECORDATION OF THE DEEDS IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA; FURTHER DIRECTING THE
CITY CLERK TO RETAIN A COPY OF THE DEEDS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0089
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY ANTHONY
DAVE CRUZ, WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY, THE TOTAL
SUM OF THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($37,000.00) IN
FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ANY AND ALL CLAIMS
AND DEMANDS, INCLUDING ALL CLAIMS FOR ATTORNEYS'
FEES, AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI AND ITS OFFICERS,
AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES (COLLECTIVELY, "CITY") IN THE
CASE STYLED ANTHONY DAVE CRUZ VS. CITY OF MIAMI,
PENDING IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE ELEVENTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY,
FLORIDA, CASE NO.: 2024-22092-CA 01, UPON THE EXECUTION
OF A GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS
BROUGHT FOR NEGLIGENCE PENDING IN STATE COURT AND
A DISMISSAL OF THE CITY WITH PREJUDICE; ALLOCATING
FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO. 50001.301001.545011.0000.00000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0090
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROCEED WITH LEGAL
ACTION, IF NECESSARY, AGAINST MINISHA MARSHALL
LOCATED AT 1371 NORTHWEST 61 STREET, #2, MIAMI,
FLORIDA 33142 ("PROPERTY") TO OBTAIN POSSESSION OF
THE PROPERTY AND SEEK ANY OTHER LEGAL REMEDIES
AVAILABLE AT LAW.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0091
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
City ofMiami
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
Chair King: Gentlemen, are there any items in the CA (Consent Agenda) agenda that
you would like to pull for discussion? May I have a motion?
Commissioner Escalona: Move.
Commissioner Gabela: Motion.
Chair King: Second?
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Chair King: All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Motion carries unanimously. Let me say it for the record. CA.1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5 passes unanimously.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
PH - PUBLIC HEARINGS
PH.1 RESOLUTION
18874
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AFTER A DULY NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING,
AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE
ANY AND ALL ACTION(S) NECESSARY TO EXPEDITIOUSLY
REQUEST THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS ("DTPW") CONSIDER
THE PROPOSED TRAFFIC FLOW MODIFICATIONS, WAIVE THE
REQUIRED RESIDENT CONCURRENCE, AND EXEMPT THE
BALLOTING PROCESS, IN ORDER TO EXPEDITIOUSLY
PROCEED WITH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF TRAFFIC
CALMING DEVICES AT TWENTY (20) LOCATIONS IN THE ROADS
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, AS MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED;
DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO SEND A CERTIFIED COPY OF
THIS RESOLUTION TO DTPW DIRECTOR
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0058
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Chair King: Gentlemen, are there any the two, PH.1 or 2, that you would like to pull
for discussion? May I have a motion for PH.1 and PH.2?
Commissioner Pardo: So move.
Commissioner Escalona: Move.
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Motion carries unanimously.
City ofMiami
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
PH.2 RESOLUTION
18898
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE PLAT TITLED "OAK ROW
2900," A REPLAT IN THE CITY OF MIAMI OF THE PROPERTY
DESCRIBED IN ATTACHMENT "1," SUBJECT TO SATISFACTION
OF ALL CONDITIONS REQUIRED BY THE PLAT AND STREET
COMMITTEE AS SET FORTH IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED, AND THE PROVISIONS CONTAINED IN
SECTION 55-8 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED; ACCEPTING THE DEDICATIONS SHOWN ON THE
PLAT; AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER AND
CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE PLAT AND CAUSE THE
RECORDATION OF THE PLAT IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0092
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.2, please see Item PH.1.
END OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
City ofMiami
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
RE - RESOLUTIONS
RE.1 RESOLUTION
18642
Department of
Resilience and
Public Works
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), PERMITTING ENCROACHMENTS, PURSUANT
TO SECTION 55-14(B) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, IN CERTAIN CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") RIGHTS -OF -WAY
IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION'S ("FDOT") IMPROVEMENTS TO STATE
ROAD 836 ("SR 836") AND INTERSTATE 395 ("I-395") FROM
NORTHWEST 17 AVENUE TO BISCAYNE BAY; AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE THE CONVEYANCE OF
FIFTEEN (15) EASEMENTS TO THE GREATER MIAMI
EXPRESSWAY AGENCY ("GMX") FOR SAID ENCROACHMENTS
AND ACCEPT TWO (2) EASEMENTS FROM GMX, IN THE AREAS
SUBSTANTIALLY DEPICTED HEREIN; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO
EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESOLUTION.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0093
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Chair King: Gentlemen are there any items in the RE (Resolution) items that you
would like to pull for discussion?
Commissioner Rosado: RE.6.
Chair King: RE.6.
Commissioner Pardo: RE.2.
Chair King: RE.2. Any others? Okay. May I have a motion to pass RE. 1, 3, 4, 5, and
7?
Commissioner Rosado: So moved.
Commissioner Escalona: So move.
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Items passes unanimously.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
RE.2 RESOLUTION
18763
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED
("CHARTER"), FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE SPECIAL
ELECTION TO BE HELD CONCURRENTLY WITH THE PRIMARY
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION ON AUGUST 18, 2026,
PROPOSING, UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE,
AMENDING SECTION 4(B) OF THE CHARTER, TITLED "FORM OF
GOVERNMENT; NOMINATION AND ELECTION/ELECTION OF
MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION; TERMS OF OFFICE; RECALL,"
SECTION 7 OF THE CHARTER, TITLED "ELECTION OF CITY
COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR," AND SECTION 12 OF THE
CHARTER, TITLED "FILLING VACANCIES FOR MAYOR AND
COMMISSION," TO CHANGE THE NOVEMBER 2029 GENERAL
ELECTION FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR TO AUGUST 2028,
THEREBY SHORTENING THE CURRENT 2025-2029 TERM FOR
THE OFFICE OF MAYOR TO THREE (3) YEARS, AND PROVIDING
THAT ALL SUBSEQUENT YEARS FOR THE GENERAL
ELECTIONS AND RUN-OFF ELECTIONS OF THE CITY FOR THE
OFFICE OF MAYOR TO BE HELD EVERY FOUR (4) YEARS
THEREAFTER SO THE DATES OF THE GENERAL ELECTION
FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR ARE CONCURRENT WITH ANY
STATEWIDE OR COUNTYWIDE ELECTION; FURTHER
MODIFYING THE RUN-OFF ELECTION SCHEDULE TO
NOVEMBER 2028, AMENDING THE PERIOD FOR
QUALIFICATION, AND PROVIDING FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF
EXISTING TERMS OF OFFICE DUE TO SAID CHANGE; FURTHER
PROVIDING THAT UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE,
THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: Item RE.2 was deferred to the April 9, 2026, City Commission
Meeting.
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.2, please see
"Public Comments for All Item(s). "
Chair King: Commissioner Pardo?
Commissioner Pardo: Yeah, on RE.2, 1 just wanted to address the August election
cycle versus the November election cycle. For the last two years, we've been working
on the November election cycle because that's the one where you can get 69 to 70
percent voter participation. The reason it's important for that to be the first go round
so that all candidates are exposed to that 70 percent participation so there's kind of
maximum openness to listening from candidates. That's why it was always structured
November with the runoff in December. There's nobody really here in August.
August is not -- even our city government in August is kind of on vacation. I mean,
that's when people typically take it. There are 20 municipalities in November that
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
also joined that cycle. There's only two in August. The turnout in August is about 18,
20 percent, which is our current turnout in the City of Miami. So, it kind of goes in a
very different direction than what we've been working on for two years. And I -- the
rest of it is great. So, if there's a way to change that to November; I'd certainly be --
I'd certainly support it.
Chair King: Any others?
Commissioner Escalona: Madam Chair?
Chair King: Commissioner.
Commissioner Escalona: I believe that only addressed the first part of what the
gentleman explained here. But you also explained -- do you mind? You made a
couple of points. One of those was the mayor having her election by herself, right?
Oren Rosenthal: That's correct. The Supervisor would oppose separating the mayor
from the county -- from the city commission elections because that would depress
turnout in the city commission elections were they to be held at a standalone
election.
Commissioner Escalona: So that needs to be fixed. I believe we should keep the
elections as we did before, us, the mayor. I don't mind losing a year. I really don't
care. I do oppose to have the elections in August. I believe November/December
makes more sense. That's the body. I don't know i f any of you have any opinions.
Chair King: Commissioner Gabela?
Commissioner Gabela: I kind of agree. I'm not for the year. I never have been for
the year, one way or the other, up or down. I've never -- I've stated on the record
from the beginning when this is started, you know. But I also agree that it should he,
you know, everybody at the same time.
Commissioner Rosado: Yes, Madam Chair. Through the Chair. Since it's the
Mayor's item, I'd love to hear the Mayor's thoughts on this.
Mayor Higgins: Through the Chair. Yes, colleagues, this item does something very
important, which is, you all agree, I think, or most of us agree, we need to move
elections to even number years. The Supervisor of Elections is required by state law
at no cost to our city to run two elections a year, the August election, which is a
major countywide election, every single precinct is stood up, which means our
commission races would already be stood up with precincts, the mayoral race would
be stood up with precincts. All of the notice, all those things are carried out by the
Supervisor of Elections at no cost to the City. That is the typical election cycle. The
August in a presidential year has very, very high turnout. Obviously, Commissioner,
you are correct that the November turnout is larger. The problem is if you put the
first round in the November big turnout election, right? And you know when there's
three candidates in a race, there's going to be a runoff You are talking after a
presidential or a gubernatorial, running a runoff election for, could be mayor, but
certainly for commissioners, with an electorate that's exhausted from a presidential
and from listening to all of that. You're also talking about doing it, I had a
conversation -- the Supervisor of Elections called me yesterday, with a team at the
Supervisor of Elections who will have just finished dozens and dozens of elections,
continuing to count provisional ballots, continuing to possibly have to deal with
recounts and then be standing up early voting. And she mentioned that early voting
might even be a problem in December in even number years. So, for me, I think we
should be on the election cycle of the entire rest of the county, the entire rest of the
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
state, the entire rest of the federal government. It saves us money. It saves us work.
Those elections are running and that's why 1 proposed the August/November time
horizon.
Chair King: Commissioner Pardo.
Commissioner Pardo: On going from the general to the runoff this last cycle here in
the City of Miami was a very good example. We had 21 percent and then we also had
21 percent in the runoff. So, with a month, I think that gives the campaigns plenty of
time to track down their votes and get them out there. I know it's additional work for
the Supervisor of Elections. I know that there's a slightly larger cost element if we go
this way, maybe $500,000. But, I mean, we spend, you know, $500,000 on Fourth of
July. I mean, this is something that we should seriously consider always shooting for
the highest turnout, which is that 69, 70 percent. That's three times the turnout that
we would have. So, anyway, that's my thinking.
Chair King: Anyone else?
Commissioner Gabela: By the way, I just want to say one thing because, you know, I
heard somebody say that we should go from, you know, to do more commissioners
here. I'd like to ask a question. The county has 13 commissioners, right? I believe, if
I'm not wrong, and I'd like to count, how many people they represent. And I think
it's about the same thing. As a matter of fact, in the City of Miami, we represent
actually less people. I think it's 90 to 100,000 people per commissioner compared to
the county. So, if we're going to increase here, you know, in the City of Miami, are
we also going to increase it in the county? Because I'd like to know. You know, we
are, in actual fact, we are representing less people, which is the whole idea is that if
you represent a lot of people, there should be more commissioners, right? But the
county, in actual fact represents a lot more people than we do. And I don't see
anybody going over there and saying, you guys should increase from 13
commissioners to now, you know, 14 or 15 commissioners. Just want to state that on
the record. And by the way, and let me also state on the record that they mentioned
they had 20,000 signatures. They have 7,203 certified signatures as of today, okay.
Thank you.
Commissioner Pardo: Call the question.
Chair King: One, it seems as if one of the things -- and the Supervisor of Election
called me. One of the big hangups is that you don't only want to move the mayor,
you want to move the commission as well, and it seems as if this body is not in favor
of that. So, I'm wondering if perhaps we can defer this item, Madam Mayor, to --
Mayor Higgins: If I may ask the attorney, when does the ballot language need to be
ready for submission?
George Wysong (City Attorney: According to the Supervisor of Elections, May 22nd
is our deadline to be fully ready. So that gives us a couple commission meetings.
Mayor Higgins: Yeah, I'm comfortable with that as long as we resolve it in time to
get it on the ballot and not make it even harder for the Supervisor of Elections to run
the August election.
Mr. Rosenthal: Thank you, Madam Mayor.
Commissioner Pardo: I'm okay with that.
Chair King: So, may I have a motion to defer?
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
Commissioner Pardo: So moved.
Chair King: I have a motion. Do I have a second?
Commissioner Escalona: Second.
Commissioner Rosado: Second.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): To what date? There's only one meeting in March.
Chair King: First meeting in April.
Mr. Hannon: First meeting in April? April 9th.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Motion carries.
RE.3 RESOLUTION
18926
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE AMENDED
GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("OMNI CRA"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS
EXHIBIT "A," IN THE AMOUNT OF SEVENTY-THREE MILLION,
SIXTY FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY NINE
DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS ($73,064,289.00) FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2025 AND ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 ("AMENDED BUDGET"), AS APPROVED
BY THE OMNI CRA'S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS; PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0094
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.3, please see Item RE.1.
City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 03/24/2026
City Commission
Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
RE.4 RESOLUTION
18925
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE BUILDING
DEPARTMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT CITY OF MIAMI
DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A VIRTUAL BUILDING INSPECTION
SYSTEM FOR SIMPLE, LOW -RISK PERMITS AND TO REPORT
TO THE CITY COMMISSION IN SIXTY (60) DAYS ON THE
PROGRESS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND WHETHER SUCH
SYSTEM CAN BE IMPLEMENTED EITHER BY AN
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE OR AN AMENDMENT TO THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0095
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.4, please see
"Order of the Day" and Item RE.1.
Mayor Higgins: Madam Chair?
Chair King: Madam.
Mayor Higgins: Yeah, if I could, on one of the items that we passed, I just wanted to
put a few ideas on the record on RE.4 about the virtual inspections. The County has
moved to virtual inspections for many things several years ago. The process is
working very well. They do specific types first, train people using Teams and
WhatsApp. It's pretty quick. You get an -- you call for an appointment the day
before. Your inspection is generally completed the next day and sometimes the same
day. So, Mr. Manager, there may be an opportunity to actually send folks over the
County to do some cross -training on how they're using Teams and WhatsApp to do
things like raising existing roofs, solar panels, air conditioning units, pool permits.
But it saves weeks and weeks of inconvenience Jrothe residents. So, thank you for
bringing this item, Commissioner Escalona.
Chair King: Mr. Manager.
James Reyes (City Manager): And the Mayor beat me to it. I just wanted to thank
Commissioner Escalona. And also, Madam Mayor, we had that discussion with the
commissioner in terms of shadowing county staff So, it's already been discussed and
it's being planned.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
RE.5 RESOLUTION
18938
Commissioners
and Mayor
RE.6
18939
Office of the City
Attorney
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE A LANDSCAPE AND STORMWATER MAINTENANCE
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT ("MMOA") BETWEEN THE CITY
OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION ("FDOT") ON STATE ROADS AND AN
INTER -AGENCY AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
("MDC") ON COUNTY STREETS AS NEEDED.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0096
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.5, please see "Order of the
Day" and Item RE.1.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO PAY WESLYN
LEWIS FRANCOIS FOUR -HUNDRED -THOUSAND -DOLLARS
($400,000.00), INCLUSIVE OF ALL FEES AND COSTS,
PERMISSION TO RETIRE AT THE RANK OF MAJOR AT TIME OF
SEPARATION FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") WITH
VACATION, SICK, AND COMPENSATORY PAYOUTS AT THE
MAJOR RATE PURSUANT TO THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATIVE
POLICY, AND THE NON -MONETARY CONDITIONS OF
RESCINDING SELECT DISCIPLINES AND A 90-DAY ACTION
PLAN, REIMBURSEMENT OF SICK AND VACATION TIME
BALANCES AT COMMANDER CLASSIFICATION FOR A PERIOD
OF THREE (3) YEARS, AND MUTUAL NON -DISPARAGEMENT
AGREEMENT IN FULL AND COMPLETE SETTLEMENT OF ANY
AND ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS BY HER, INCLUDING ALL
CLAIMS FOR ATTORNEYS' FEES, AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI,
ITS OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES IN THE CASE OF
WESLYN LEWIS FRANCOIS VS. CITY OF MIAMI, CASE NO. 24-
CV-23943-CMA, PENDING IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, UPON
THE EXECUTION OF A GENERAL RELEASE OF HER CLAIMS
AND DEMANDS, AND A DISMISSAL OF HER CLAIMS AGAINST
THE CITY OF MIAMI WITH PREJUDICE; ALLOCATING FUNDS
FROM GENERAL LIABILITY ACCOUNT NO.
50001.301001.545013.0000.00000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0097
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona
NAYS: Rosado
Chair King: And, Commissioner Rosado, you pulled RE. 6.
Commissioner Rosado: I did, Madam Chair, because I'm a little surprised to see this
item again. I thought this matter was -- the racial discrimination settlement item was
addressed at the last meeting. Fin sorry, the alleged racial discrimination settlement
item was addressed at the last meeting. I'm wondering why this item has been
brought up again.
Chair King: Mr. City Attorney?
George Wysong (City Attorney): Yes, as you may recall at the last City Commission
meeting, the item of the settlement came up. There was a motion to approve. That
received a vote of two in favor, three opposed. So, there was essentially no action on
the item. After the meeting, we received a call from one of your colleagues who
requested that it be placed back on the agenda and we asked the Agenda Office to
place it back on the agenda.
Commissioner Rosado: Okay. Has -- have any of the facts changed? I mean, I think
we heard clearly from Chief Morales that he believes himself to be innocent and
wanted to have his day in court. Which part of that has changed?
Mr. Wysong: So, the case is the exact same. The settlement terms are exactly the
same. The only thing that is slightly different is, or just so that you know, and I can
have my Chief Assistant City Attorney indicate the dates. This case is set -- is going
to be set for trial very, very soon. So, after the meeting, the court was notified that
the City Commission did not accept the settlement, and then instructed the attorneys
to get together to provide.fbr a date when the trial could occur. So, the court has not
officially designated a date, but we anticipate it will be very near future. So, in our
view, whether you vote up or down, we just need a vote one way or the other so that
we can appropriately notify the court whether we're settling or not, and then
proceed to trial if we have to.
Commissioner Rosado: Now, I've made it a point to read each of the depositions
involved in this case. This is Morales' deposition, and I hope my colleagues have
had the same opportunity to review them as well. And I'll tell you what I've seen in
that document is it makes me really uncomfortable. It's pretty disconcerting. Now,
the chief is not offering to spend $400,000 from his pocket. These are taxpayer
dollars that we're actually, talking about. And so, I have to tell you, I have a fiscal
duty and an ethical obligation to root out discriminatory behavior in any forms that
takes place in the city. I think we all do. And I certainly think the Manager does. And
so, you know, Mr. Manager, if there's even a hint of discrimination in any of our
departments and certainly against the hardworking men and women in blue, what is
being done? Because as far as I'm concerned, I think a vote to settle this item, I think
it can only be interpreted as basically sweeping this matter under the rug.
Commissioner Gabela: Hang on a minute. Let me just be very clear, crystal clear,
because I got to answer.
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Chair King: Commissioner, hold on one second. Let him finish and then I'll
acknowledge you. Are you done?
Commissioner Rosado: That was my question. I've not done done, but that's my
question to the Manager.
Chair King: Mr. Manager.
James Reyes (City Manager): Through the Chair. Commissioner, ultimately, whether
this case is heard or whether we settle is up to the board. It does not fall in my office.
In fact, what it shows is a level of transparency from the City Manager's Office for
this case to, in fact, land before you today. So, this person who had an allegation
was heard. The process has worked, and now it's before you today.
Chair King: Commissioner Gabela?
Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, in actual fact, let me state it on the record that I was
the one, I believe, that the last commission meeting, I brought it forward and I voted
to settle. And the reason I did that is not to sweep it under the rug by any means of
the imagination. The reason I do that, because every time I go to a shade meeting or
any meeting and those that have been here long enough know that I always make my
decisions on a business decision for the taxpayer, okay? Not a personal, you know,
vendetta or anything else. So, while the chief may have committed or not committed
an act of discrimination, which I don't know because I wasn't there, mine is a
business decision on behalf the taxpayer. I have a fiduciary duty, just like all of us
here, to protect the taxpayer. And when I asked George Wysong in the last meeting,
what do you think -- first, my number one question is, how much is it going to take us
to get us there at the trial? How much money are we going to spend on behalf of the
taxpayer? Number two question, okay, what are the odds that we're going to win or
we're going to lose? And if George Wysong, the City attorney, whoever that happens
to be at the time, tells me that the odds are high that we're going to lose, and then it
turns out that we have to pay attorney's fees, and that settlement could be in excess
of $1.2 million, then that's when I say, okay, you know what, let's settle it for
$400,000. It seems cheap to me for $400,000. Now, I'm not settling on principle. I'm
settling on behalf of the taxpayer again and our fiduciary duty. So, while I
understand what you're saying, Commissioner Rosado, and I respect that, and I
don't want any discrimination either in any of the departments. Anybody knows me
that, you know, I'm against that completely. Okay. Also, we wear two caps here, you
know, and, you know, one of the caps that wears, like I said, the fiduciary duties that
we have to the taxpayer, and that's the reason why I voted, which it didn't go
through, and somebody else voted with me to, to accept the -- this. And it was you,
Commissioner Escalona, and that's the reason 1 think we both did it, because we
want to save the taxpayer money, not because we're trying to sweep anything for the
Chief of Police under the rug. I don't know if he's, again, culpable of what he's
accused of or not, you know, but I'm not going by that. I'm going by what the money
that is going to cost the taxpayer, which could be well in excess of you know, a
million dollars. And I leave it there. Thank you.
Chair King: Anybody else?
Commissioner Rosado: Yes.
Chair King: Commissioner Rosado.
Commissioner Rosado: Yes. Commissioner, why is it that we're likely to lose? And
maybe we shouldn't put that on the record. I see our attorney getting uncomfortable.
But let's think about --
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Commissioner Gabela: Well, let's ask the question right now.
Commissioner Rosado: -- the fact that we --
Commissioner Gabela: If you want to ask him --
Commissioner Rosado: -- are likely to --
Commissioner Gabela: -- the question right here. He's right here in front of us.
Chair King: Hold, hold, hold, hold.
Mr. Wysong: Let me just say.
Chair King: Hold on.
Mr. Wysong: You should not get into the facts of this case.
Commissioner Rosado: Under --
Mr. Wysong: It is not settled.
Chair King: Exactly.
Commissioner Rosado: Understood.
Chair King: Listen --
Mr. Wysong: Anything you say can and will be used against us in court.
Chair King: Thank you, George.
Commissioner Rosado: Understood. I just posed -- it's --
Chair King: And this is ongoing litigation. It is ongoing litigation. It is not
uncommon for the City to settle, and we should not base our decisions on other --
other considerations, is what 1'rn trying to say, other things. So, at this time, may 1
have a motion for RE.6 to -- for the settlement?
Commissioner Rosado: Madam Chair, before you take the vote, respectfidly --
Chair King: Go ahead, I'm sorry. I didn't know you -- I thought you --
Commissioner Rosado: That's okay, that's okay, thank you. To me, injustice
anywhere, it's been said many times, is a threat to justice everywhere. I think a vote
to settle this case is a vote for sweeping this under the rug and not standing for
justice. And I, for one, stand for justice. And that is how I'm going to be voting. And I
will be voting against settling this case.
Chair King: Thank you.
Commissioner Gabela: All right. Then let --
Chair King: May I have a motion?
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
Commissioner Gabela: Then you know what, I'm going to vote with him, hut I'm
going to state it on the record, if we lose, if we lose, 1 don't want to be -- I don't want
to be anybody to blame, okay? If we lose, and it turns out that we pay in the millions,
okay, I want to be clear with the taxpayer. I stood up, you know, not -- you know, I'm
not covering anybody up here. I've had my problems here with, you know, with some
people, okay? And I'm the one that, you know, questioned the chief the last time
about what was going on, you know, between you and him and other stuff in my
district. So, I don't sweep anybody under the rug, but I'm just trying to be correct
with the taxpayer, okay? But, you know, if you want to take it that route, I'll go with
you, but 1 want to state it on the record I wanted to settle to save the taxpayer money.
If then we lose, I do not -- I don't want to be blamed. Okay, but I'm going to go with
you on the basis of principle. And then Uwe happen to lose, you know, big time and
we're into the millions of dollars, okay, I want to make -- you know, make it clear
that -- you know, what it is.
Chair King: Do I have a motion for the settlement? Motion fails for -- so there's just
no vote?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): We'll just show it as discussed.
Chair King: As discussed, okay. Mr. City Attorney.
[Later...]
Manuel Morales: Madam Chair, before we close the item, please, if I could just
address one small thing. Manny Morales, Chief of Police. Since it does affect the
chief and this is the discussion item that we're on, again, I can absolutely understand
where Commissioner Rosado is coming from, what he's doing and why he's doing it,
and the concerns that Commissioner Gabela has when it comes to RE.6. If I could
just offer an option that does both things, limits liability on the City and ensures full
transparency to the public. I would offer that we have our Office of Equal
Opportunity and Diversity Programs, Ms. Hyppolite, which is an entity separate
from the Miami Police Department, to go ahead and conduct a full investigation with
the findings being made public, to make sure that everyone is assured that the
actions that we 're taking were or were not in compliance. This accomplishes both
things that I mentioned, transparency for our community and limits the liability and
makes -- puts the best interest of the City of Miami in the forefront. So, since it is my
understanding that the item did not receive a vote, it could be called for
reconsideration if you so wish to do so.
George Wysong (City Attorney): That is true, and I don't even know if it needs to be
reconsidered. I'd check our parliamentarian. It could be brought back up. And 1, you
know, I 'in reticent to say this, but l just wanted to say, as Commissioner Gabela said,
our advice was that this is a business decision, you know. We don't know what will
happen in court. We may prevail. I have an excellent attorney who's ready to go and
has prevailed in similar cases. But you never know when you go to trial what could
happen. There are 32 counts in this case. All the jury has to do is pick one count. It
could be the least responsible count. And the jury may decide, you know, we voted no
on 31 counts, let's give them a 32nd count. That would -- since this case is in federal
court, that would trigger the full boat of attorneys' fees And so, we would end up
paying probably as much or more in attorneys' fees than we would in the settlement.
And that's the unfortunate thing. We're not putting anything under the rug. These
are very serious allegations. We fought it. We believe we've honorably fought it. But
at the end of the day, it's purely a business decision for the City to make in our
estimation.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
Chair King: 1 don't know if this commission has an appetite to rehear. It doesn't
look like it.
Commissioner Gabela: Look, I would state it on the record again. My decision, okay,
to settle this case is purely based on what George Wysong has just said and what he
said to me when this was first brought up to me, period, end the story. I am -- and I
say it again, nobody -- I don't think anybody's attempting to sweep anything under
the rug. Okay, let me make that very clear. You know, it's just a business decision
from my standpoint. You know, I don't want the taxpayer to lose, you know, one
point something, $2 million, you know --
Chair King: We --
Commissioner Gabela: -- we've been saying, we've been saying since -- I'm sorry.
Chair King: I agree with you.
Commissioner Gabela: Madam Chair, I just want to say one more thing. Since I
came, you know, onto the -- onto -- to become a commissioner, and I've been here
for two years and now two months, you know, two months -- two years and three
months, you know, I've always advocated, without going into the details of the Fuller
case, for example, okay, and Carollo, I'm not going to go into the details to
jeopardize us, but I've always been advocating in those cases to settle. From day
one, George, you know, when we had the shade meetings, me, you know what I
mean? There have been differences of opinion. You know, I mean, when we had the
redistricting, that now that's settled, I can talk about that, right? I was always fir
settling because, you know, the worst case was going all the way to the end and
dragging this out. And then your residents, my, residents, nobody knew who, what
commissioner was what and in what area. And there was just a complete mess going
on, you know, and this is the same thing that we're doing here. We are, you know,
for me, I'm just trying to save the taxpayer money, and not get us into a situation,
you know, a quagmire situation where we drag this out and at the end we lose. And
again, it's not going to be $400,000, folks. It's going to be, you know, in the million
or two. And I leave it at that. But I will go along with whatever my colleagues
decide.
Commissioner Escalona: Madam Chair.
Commissioner Gabela: Thank you.
Chair King: Let me. We settle cases almost every commission meeting based on the
advice of council being our city attorneys. It's never been an issue until allegations
started swirling around about this one running against that one and all of that kind
of stuff. I try not to make my decisions based on personalities. Every commission
meeting almost, we settle. There's a lawsuit and no one -- there's no liability, there's
no admission of this or that on either part, we settle. I'm in favor of settling the case.
This is what we were advised. I'm in favor of settling the case, but it's what my
colleagues want. I say this -- and I'm not going to change that because I'm going to
let somebody get us and then I'll be able to, like Commissioner Gabela said, don't
blame me. No, I'm standing on it now that this was the recommendation from staff
that we should settle this case. We do it all the time. And this one has extenuating
facts and personalities that otherwise would settle if that weren't the case. And that's
unfortunate because we shouldn't govern ourselves like that.
Commissioner Gabela: So, I would reconsider and motion to settle the case if any of
my colleagues would go along.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
Chair King: I have a sec --
Commissioner Escalona: Move.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): I'm sorry, Chair. Who's the seconder?
Chair King: Commissioner Escalona.
Commissioner Rosado: Madam Chair, I'm sorry. I didn't get the opportunity to
speak. I'd actually like to request a deferral, and I would strongly encourage you all
to read this and then let me know what you think.
Chair King: I read everything because I enjoy reading depos.
Commissioner Gabela: But wait a minute. Let's make something clear here, okay?
Let's make something clear here based on what you just said. There's a settlement,
meaning that the other side is willing to settle. The other side is willing to settle. If
not, we wouldn't have the settlement, you know what I mean? So, we can read that,
but hey, why is the other side willing to settle? Because if, you know, if I'm in the
right, you know, I go to the end, you know what I mean? I go to the end, right? So,
why are they willing to settle? That part, you know what I mean, I don 't get. So, you
know, again, I motion to settle the case.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
Commissioner Pardo: Aye.
Commissioner Gabela: Aye.
Chair King: Aye.
Commissioner Rosado: No.
Chair King: 4-1. Now, we have a shade meeting that we can 't take up until 1 o'clock.
I have a Black History Luncheon on my patio, but that's not until 12. So, the meeting
is in recess until 1:30. Thank you.
RE.7 RESOLUTION
18942
Commissioners
and Mayor
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO PREPARE AND PRESENT TO THE CITY
COMMISSION, WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF ADOPTION OF
THIS RESOLUTION, THE DRAFT FINAL REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS ("RFP") FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI-OWNED GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION ("GSA")
SITE LOCATED AT 1970 NW 13 AVENUE AND 1950 NW 12
AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOLIO NOS. 01-3135-000-0163 AND
01-3135-0010-010 (THE "GSA SITE"), FOR REVIEW AND
APPROVAL CONSISTENT WITH THE POLICIES STATED HEREIN;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0098
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE. 7, please see Item RE.1.
END OF RESOLUTIONS
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
SR - SECOND READING ORDINANCE
SR.1 ORDINANCE Second Reading
18706
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RENAMING
CERTAIN CITY OF MIAMI OWNED REAL PROPERTY
CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 8,219 SQUARE FEET,
LOCATED AT 1 SOUTHWEST SOUTH RIVER DRIVE, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, CURRENTLY KNOWN AS "SIMON BOLIVAR PARK," AS
"FISHERMAN'S PARK"; AMENDING CHAPTER 38/ARTICLE I OF
THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED
("CITY CODE"), TITLED "PARKS AND RECREATION/IN
GENERAL," BY AMENDING SECTION 38-30 OF THE CITY CODE,
CURRENTLY TITLED "NAMING OF SIMON BOLIVAR PARK" TO
RENAME THE PROPERTY DESIGNATED THEREIN AS
"FISHERMAN'S PARK"; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO
EFFECTUATE THE RENAMING OF THE PARK; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 14445
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Chair King: Mr. City Attorney, would you please read the title of the second reading
item for the record?
George Wysong (City Attorney): Yes, Madam Chair. There's one second reading
item. SR.1.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair King: May I have a motion?
Commissioner Gabela: Motion.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Item passes.
END OF SECOND READING ORDINANCE
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
FR - FIRST READING ORDINANCES
FR.1 ORDINANCE First Reading
18208 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Civil Service Board CHAPTER 40/ARTICLE III/SECTION 128 OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED
"PERSONNEL/CIVIL SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS /
GRIEVANCES AND ABUSES GENERALLY," TO ESTABLISH
SECTION 40-128(C), TITLED "WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT,"
TO PROVIDE DIRECTIONS TO PERSONS DESIROUS OF A
HEARING BEFORE THE BOARD, PURSUANT TO THE FLORIDA
`WHISTLE -BLOWER ACT'; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Indefinitely Defer
RESULT: INDEFINITELY DEFERRED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Chair King: Mr. City Attorney, would you please read the first reading items?
George Wysong (City Attorney): First reading, there are three first reading items.
First Reading Item 1, FR.1.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Mr. Wysong: FR.2.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Mr. Wysong: There is a substitution JroFR.2 which will essentially change the
language in the code to say the city manager shall notes the district commissioner
representing the commission district in which the qualifying project is located as
identified in the unsolicited proposal and brief the commissioner on the content of
the unsolicited proposal within 15 days of receipt of said proposal. If the qualifying
project includes real properly located in more than one commission district, the city
manager shall notify and brief each such district commissioner within 30 days of
receipt of said proposal. Any such district commissioner desires to further consider
the unsolicited proposal, the city manager must notify the commission and then it
continues on to the existing language. That is the substitution for FR.2. FR.3.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Mr. Wysong: That concludes the first reading items.
Chair King: Gentlemen, are there any of the first reading items that you would like
to pull for discussion?
Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, I'd like to pull FR.1 because I'rn going to vote no on
FR.1 and yes on 2 and 3.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
Chair King: Okay. Any others? Anybody else? May I have a motion for FR.2 and
FR.3?
Commissioner Pardo: So move.
Commissioner Rosado: So moved.
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Items passes.
[Later...]
Chair King: May I have a motion for FR.1 ?
Commissioner Rosado: Could we defer it? As I understand it --
Commissioner Gabela: This is a repeat of --
Commissioner Rosado: Yeah,
Commissioner Gabela: -- what we already have on the books.
Commissioner Escalona: Yeah.
Commissioner Rosado: Yeah, that's --
Commissioner Gabela: We 're --
Commissioner Rosado: So, I wonder --
Commissioner Pardo: But this kind of came through a committee. I'm sorry, I'm
speaking out of turn.
Commissioner Rosado: But my understanding, it is sort of redundant with some of
the things that we already have in place. It's a good idea, but it seems like we have
language. And 1 just wonder if somebody could present to the Civil Service Board
and walk them through it. Maybe they may even withdraw it. 1 don't know that we
want to like vote against it necessarily and send that message without an
explanation. So, I wonder if somebody could speak to them about it.
George Wysong (City Attorney): That would be our suggestion as well, is to have
someone from the Civil Service Board, either their general counsel, the executive
director, or a member come and let the City Commission know why they think it's
necessary.
Commissioner Rosado: So, maybe a deferral?
Mr. Wysong: If you want to indefinitely defer it, that'll --
Commissioner Rosado: Yeah.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
Mr. Wysong: -- give them time to come at their leisure.
Commissioner Rosado: Yeah, an indefinite deferral to give time to speak with the
board.
Commissioner Gabela: You know, I'm for voting it down right now. I've had enough
briefings where, you know, it's a redundancy. It's, you know, it's what we already
have in the books. I mean, what more? We're going to beat this horse to death.
There's no more. There's nothing else, I mean, in my view, in my opinion.
Mr. Wysong: I just wanted to be clear. If you go down that route, the City does
provide whistleblower protection. Actually, the state provides whistleblower
protection per statute and our City Code through article -- through Rule 16 of the
Civil Service Board also provides whistleblower protection. In our opinion, this is
not necessary. We don't want the perception that if you vote no for this, that you're
voting against whistleblower protection.
Commissioner Rosado: Right.
Mr. Wysong: That would not be the result. The employees would still be protected
with whistleblower protection, just to clarify.
Chair King: Commissioner Pardo, I believe you wanted to --
Commissioner Pardo: Yeah, just my thinking is, you know, we have a lot of these
boards, and these are volunteers who take time out of their day. They come and they
make decisions and they work hard to try to help our city. So, if they've come to this
conclusion -- and we have not had the benefit to listen to their discussions. But if
they've come to this conclusion and our City Attorney's Office says, well, but it's not
really here or there, I would support them and I would rather support their item. And
I'm also open to the idea that they can come here and explain why, you know, they
would like to see it done in this format.
Commissioner Rosado: So, the Civil Service Board chair -- through the Chair -- is
somebody that lives in my neighborhood that I'm frequently in touch with, so I'm
happy to meet with him because we just haven't had the chance to discuss this, and
I'd like to hear sort of his thoughts on this, and I wonder if there's maybe something
else that can be put forth that is -- gets at the spirit of what they're hoping to achieve
that doesn't, you know, create duplication. So, I'm happy to take that on and speak
with him.
Chair King: So, do you want to defer this item?
Commissioner Rosado: An indefinite deferral to give us some time to do that.
Commissioner Pardo: So, motion to defer indefinitely.
Chair King: Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second?
Commissioner Rosado: Second.
Chair King: All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
FR.2 ORDINANCE First Reading
18888
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 18/ARTICLE III OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "FINANCE/CITY
OF MIAMI PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE", BY AMENDING
SECTION 18-119, TITLED "UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS," TO
CLARIFY THE PROCESS FOR EVALUATING UNSOLICITED
PROPOSALS RECEIVED BY THE CITY AND PROVIDING FOR
UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY
COMMISSION; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading with Modification(s)
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item FR.2, please see Item FR.1.
FR.3 ORDINANCE First Reading
18937
Commissioners
and Mayor
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION 9 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED
"ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS, COMMITTEES,
COMMISSIONS/RESERVED," MORE SPECIFICALLY BY
AMENDING SECTION 2-1121 THROUGH 2-1139 OF THE CITY
CODE TO ESTABLISH THE "INTERFAITH ADVISORY COUNCIL"
("COUNCIL"), STATING THE COUNCIL'S PURPOSE, POWERS,
DUTIES, COMPOSITION, APPOINTMENT QUALIFICATIONS, AND
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP; PROVIDING FOR
OFFICERS, RULES OF PROCEDURE, MEETINGS, QUORUM,
LEGAL AND STAFF SUPPORT, ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL,
WAIVERS, OTHER NECESSARY PROVISIONS, AND PUBLIC
NOTICE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item FR.3, please see Item FR.1.
END OF FIRST READING ORDINANCES
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
AC.1
18927
Office of the City
Attorney
AC - ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
CONDUCTED AT THE FEBRUARY 26, 2026, MIAMI CITY
COMMISSION MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE CITY
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION IN THE MATTER OF WILLIAM O.
FULLER, MARTIN PINILLA, II, THE BARLINGTON GROUP, LLC,
CALLE OCHO MARKETPLACE, LLC, YO AMO CALLE SIETE, LLC,
LITTLE HAVANA ARTS BUILDING, LLC, LITTLE HAVANA ARTS
BUILDING TOO, LLC, TOWER HOTEL, LLC, BRICKELL STATION,
LLC, PIEDRA VILLAS, LLC, FUTURAMA, LLC, EL SHOPPING, LLC,
BEATSTIK, LLC, VIERNES CULTURALES/CULTURAL FRIDAYS,
INC., LITTLE HAVANA BUNGALOWS, LLC, AND LHAB TREST,
LLC V. CITY OF MIAMI, ET AL., CASE NO. 23-CV-24251-FAM,
PENDING IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT,
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, TO WHICH THE CITY IS
PRESENTLY A PARTY. THE SUBJECT OF THE MEETING WILL
BE CONFINED TO SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS OR STRATEGY
SESSIONS RELATED TO LITIGATION EXPENDITURES. THIS
PRIVATE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 A.M.
(OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS'
SCHEDULES PERMIT) AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE
HOUR LATER. THE SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDE
CHAIRWOMAN CHRISTINE KING, COMMISSIONERS MIGUEL
ANGEL GABELA, DAMIAN PARDO, ROLANDO ESCALONA, AND
RALPH "RAFAEL" ROSADO; CITY MANAGER JAMES REYES;
CITY ATTORNEY GEORGE K. WYSONG III; DEPUTY CITY
ATTORNEY KEVIN R. JONES; ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY
SUPERVISOR ERIC J. EVES; AND OUTSIDE COUNSEL RAQUEL
A. RODRIGUEZ ESQ., ANGEL CORTINAS, ESQ., AND JONATHAN
KASKEL, ESQ. A CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER WILL BE
PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT THE SESSION IS FULLY
TRANSCRIBED AND THE TRANSCRIPT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC
UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE ABOVE -CITED, ONGOING
LITIGATION. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT
SESSION, THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE
REOPENED AND THE PERSON PRESIDING OVER THE CITY
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE TERMINATION
OF THE ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item AC.1, please see "Public
Comments for All Item(s)."
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
Chair King: Good afternoon. Welcome to the City of Miami Commission meeting for
February, 26, 2024 [sic]. We are now back in session. Mr. City Attorney.
George Wysong (City Attorney): Thank you, Madam Chair; and thank you for that
wonderful Black History Luncheon. Great.
The Attorney -Client Session was read by title into the public record by the City
Attorney.
Mr. Wysong: Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chair King: Thank you. And at this time, the City of Miami Commission meeting will
now be in recess. Thankyou.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Thankyou, Chair.
[Later...]
Chair King: Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome back to the City of Miami
Commission meeting for February 26, 2026. George, do you have a statement?
Mr. Wysong: Yes, Madam Chair. The shade meeting or the settlement conference,
the attorney -client session in William O. Fuller, et al. versus City of Miami, et al.,
Case No. 23-CV-24251-FAMhas concluded. We're now back to the regular meeting.
Chair King: Thank you. This shall conclude the City of Miami Commission meeting
for February 26, 2026. Thank you, guys.
Commissioner Pardo: Thankyou.
END OF ATTORNEY -CLIENT SESSION
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
PZ. 1
18709
Department of
Planning
PART B: PZ - PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S)
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 55, SECTION 55-15 OF
THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED,
CLOSING, VACATING, ABANDONING, AND DISCONTINUING FOR
PUBLIC USE THE THOROUGHFARE OF NORTHEAST 64 TERRACE
("NE 64 TERRACE RIGHT OF WAY") GENERALLY BOUNDED BY
NORTHEAST 67 STREET TO THE NORTH, NORTHEAST 7 AVENUE
TO THE EAST, NORTHEAST 64 STREET TO THE SOUTH, AND
BISCAYNE BOULEVARD TO THE WEST, AS MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0099
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item PZ.1, please see
"Public Comments for All Item(s)."
Chair King: Gentlemen, are there any items remaining in the PZ (Planning and
Zoning) items that you would like to pull for discussion?
Commissioner Rosado: No.
Commissioner Pardo: I will be voting no on PZ.1.
Chair King: Okay. I want to pull PZ.1 Jrodiscussion. That's my district. My
neighbors are here to talk about the vacation of 64th Terrace. I'd like staff to come
forward. Their statements were in fact true that I was advised that 64th Terrace
would not be closed. I did a lot of research and had staff do a lot of research. I had a
meeting January 28th where folks showed up. I had the Police Department, the Fire
Department, Planning Department, Zoning Department, Public Works, to address
this issue. 64th Terrace is a one-way street. It's this big.
Commissioner Pardo: Right, almost on our border.
Chair King: Right. 64th Terrace is a one-way street. It cannot be changed to do two
lanes, this way and that way. What I Ibund out in my research is that 64th Terrace is
held in trust by the City for the developer. It's not a city -owned street. Can staff
confirm that?
Juvenal Santana: Good morning, Madam Chair, Madam Mayor, Commissioners.
Juvenal Santana, director for the Department of Resilience and Public Works. So,
when that land was originally subdivided and that road was created, it was
dedicated for the perpetual use of the public and has a reversionary right. Should it
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
no longer be serving its public need, then it can revert to the abutting property
owners. We do not hold that land as fee simple. It always has the right to the original
subdividers or their successors to take that land back through the process that's
stipulated in our code.
Chair King: So, this process started before I got elected. They were in committee, but
the significant point of that is that the street is held in trust for the developers since
18 --
Mr. Santana: The original plat was from the 1919s --
Chair King: 19s.
Mr. Santana: -- or 1920s.
Chair King: Something like that.
Mr. Santana: Yes.
Chair King: And then in 1941 and now this. I sat on that road because it was a big
thing. It's an irregular one-way that that it kind of goes like that. It's very tiny. The
only use for that street, and it is the truth because I've sat on that street, is parking
for the farmer's market. I've gone on that street Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
Sunday, during rush hour, not rush hour, after rush hour. That street, it has the most
traffic during the farmer's market, and people are parking on both sides of the street.
My neighbors brought up the fact that I did community benefits. I did. And it's being
held by District 5. It is for mitigating circumstances that result from this
development, whatever that may be. It's traffic mitigation. There are several
neighbors that are very adamant. I get emails all the time about what will happen
with that money. It is not something that the district, Commissioner King, is going to
determine what happens with that. It's going to he collective for the neighbors that
are directly affected by traffic with this development, Palm Grove, MiMo (Miami
Modern), Bayside, who aren't here today because they're all in favor of this. That
meeting that I had was to address the miscommunication that I received because I
was told that the street wasn't going to be closed. The street, in fact, is going to be
improved. They're going to widen it and make it a two-lane, but it still can't be -- it's
a one-way street. It still can't go this way and that way. Curiously, no one in that
meeting asked any question of the fire chief with regards to safety and emergency,
nor the police. The development is going to give much needed parking. You'll be
able to park for free at the farmer's market, and during the rest of the week, people
can park for free for three hours. Rideshare is going to go along the street, so
they're not closing the street. But again, it's not a well -used street. I appreciate my
neighbors' advocacy. I know no one wants to give anything to the City. You don't
want to give anything to the City. You don't want to give up a street, but you're not
giving up the street. We're not giving the street to the developers. The street belongs
to the developers, and the street is not used. It's not used regularly. Traffic is not
heavy on that street. The street is used for parking for the farmer's market. And we
are addressing the shortage of parking, not just for the park, but for the businesses in
the area. And it is much needed in addition to the benefits that, for example, the
million dollars that we're now going to get. It was $500, 000, but for the aggravation
of this misinformation that we received and to mitigate unintended consequences of
this development, I got it up to a million dollars for the community, not for me, for
the community to address traffic mitigations. It is a good project and this street
vacation, I'm sorry that I was misinformed, my, neighbors were misinformed. I've
had several community meetings about the last one because I wanted them to have
the information that it is not the City closing the street. The street belongs to the
developer. And that's all I have to say about that. May I have a motion for PZ.1 ?
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
Commissioner Pardo: So moved.
Commissioner Rosado: So moved.
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Commissioner Pardo, did you vote for it?
Commissioner Pardo: Yeah, I didn't know. I didn't have that background. So, thank
you, yeah.
Chair King: Okay, the motion carries unanimously.
PZ.2 ORDINANCE First Reading
16820 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS
Planning AMENDED, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE MIAMI
COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, PURSUANT TO SMALL
SCALE AMENDMENT PROCEDURES SUBJECT TO §163.3187,
FLORIDA STATUTES, BY CHANGING THE FUTURE LAND USE
DESIGNATION FROM "MEDIUM DENSITY MULTIFAMILY
RESIDENTIAL" TO "RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" OF THE ACREAGE
DESCRIBED HEREIN OF REAL PROPERTY AT THE
SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF 490 NORTHEAST 78 STREET ROAD,
AT 496 NORTHEAST 78 STREET ROAD, AND AT 498 NORTHEAST
78 STREET ROAD, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Indefinitely Defer
RESULT: INDEFINITELY DEFERRED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.2, please see "Order of the
Day."
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
PZ.3 ORDINANCE First Reading
16821 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
Planning NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"), BY CHANGING THE
ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM: "T6-8-O," URBAN CORE
TRANSECT ZONE - OPEN, AND "T4-R," GENERAL URBAN
TRANSECT ZONE — RESTRICTED, TO "T6-8-O," URBAN CORE
TRANSECT ZONE — OPEN, AND "T5-O," URBAN CENTER
TRANSECT ZONE — OPEN, FOR THE PROPERTY GENERALLY
LOCATED AT 490 NORTHEAST 78 STREET ROAD AND FROM "T4-
R," GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT ZONE — RESTRICTED, TO "T5-O,"
URBAN CENTER TRANSECT ZONE - OPEN, FOR THE PROPERTIES
GENERALLY LOCATED AT 496 NORTHEAST 78 STREET ROAD AND
498 NORTHEAST 78 STREET ROAD, MIAMI, FLORIDA, MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Indefinitely Defer
RESULT: INDEFINITELY DEFERRED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.3, please see "Order of the
Day" and "Public Comments for AllItem(s)."
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
PZ.4
15466
Office of Zoning
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION GRANTING /
DENYING THE APPEAL FILED BY THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ZONING
DEPARTMENT REVERSING /AFFIRMING THE PLANNING ZONING
AND APPEALS BOARD'S DECISION AS SET FORTH IN
RESOLUTION NO. PZAB-R-23-117 REVERSING THE ZONING
ADMINISTRATOR'S REVOCATION OF A CERTIFICATE OF USE
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-211 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE") AND SECTION
7.1.2.1 OF ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"),
FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 5830
NORTHWEST 12 AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA ("PROPERTY"), AND
REVERSING / UPHOLDING THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR'S
REVOCATION OF THE CERTIFICATE OF USE NO. 1402000285 FOR
THE PROPERTY; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Withdraw
RESULT: WITHDRAWN
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.4, please see "Order of the
Day" and "Public Comments for All Item(s)."
PZ.5 ORDINANCE Second Reading
18014 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Department of ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
Planning OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"), AMENDING
ARTICLE 6, TITLED "SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS," TO CLARIFY
AUTO -RELATED COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS, UPDATE
ASSOCIATED DESIGN STANDARDS, AND STREAMLINE THE
PROCESS FOR THE REESTABLISHMENT OF THOSE RECENTLY
OPERATING; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 14446
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Chair King: Okay. Mr. City Attorney, would you please read the Planning and
Zoning item titles for the record?
George Wvsong (City Attorney): Yes, Madam Chair. The first Planning and Zoning
item to be -- ordinance is PZ.5, second reading ordinance.
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The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Mr. Wysong: PZ.6, second reading ordinance. An ordinance of the Miami City
Commission, with attachments, amending Ordinance No. 13114, the Zoning
Ordinance of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, Miami 21 Code, by amending
Article 1, titled "Definitions," to introduce and clarify definitions related to vessels -
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Mr. Wysong: PZ. 6 was deferred?
Commissioner Pardo: Yeah.
Mr. Wysong: I'm sorry. Disregard, PZ.6 is deferred. PZ.7, first reading ordinance,
an ordinance of the Miami City Commission amending Ordinance No. 13114 --
pardon me?
(COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD)
Mr. Wysong: PZ.5, second reading ordinance.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Mr. Wysong: I believe I read that already, but there is a substitution on PZ.5, which
will have the effect of clarifying that the requirements for additional off-street
parking and access standards shall only apply to facilities with more than 25
vehicles, rather than facilities with 25 vehicles or more, as written. So that would be
the modification to PZ.5. We were in the middle of reading PZ.7, first reading
ordinance, an ordinance of the Miami City Commission --
Chair King: Mr. Manager.
James Reyes (City Manager): Madam Chair, we're going to request the deferral on
PZ.7 to April 9th.
Chair King: Mr. City Clerk, do 1 need a vote for that? May I have a motion to --?
Commissioner Gabela: Move.
Commissioner Pardo: Second.
Chair King: All in favor?
Mayor Higgins: Madam Chair?
Chair King: Yes.
Mayor Higgins: Can I just had one comment? Sounds like we're going to make some
adjustments for the Grove, but I actually, in reading this item, there is -- one of the
things that's been traditionally in there is once this is done, the manager has to
negotiate some kind of fee between 15 and 20 percent -- I'm sorry, between 15 and
25 percent. And anytime you start a negotiation fee, it adds months and months to
process. My suggestion is when this item comes back, that it picks a number, like 20
percent, because then it just becomes administrative, you know. The team here is
really working hard to make things more efficient for you and the residents. So, I
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would suggest we do that. I'm happy to bring the item myself and let this just go as
you wish, or if you would consider giving a concrete number rather than a big
negotiation for it.
Chair King: So, we'll consider that --
Mayor Higgins: Okay.
Chair King: -- as it's working its way.
Commissioner Pardo: As well, excluding NCD (Neighborhood Conservation
District)-2 and 3.
Chair King: Right, okay. So, I have a motion and a second to defer. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Item is deferred.
Mr. Wysong: And that concludes the ordinances in the PZ (Planning and Zoning)
agenda.
Chair King: Thank you, George.
[Later...]
Chair King: And may I have a motion for PZ.8?
Commissioner Rosado: So moved.
Mr. Wysong: PZ.8 is a quasi-judicial hearing. It's an appeal, and we should see
the parties are here to present their appeal.
if
Chair King: Oh, PZ (Planning and Zoning) -- hold on one second. May I have a
motion for PZ.5?
Commissioner Escalona: Move.
Commissioner Gabela: Second.
Chair King: I have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And, Chair, PZ.5 will be amended pursuant to a
substitute memo dated February 26, 2026. Thank you.
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PZ.6 ORDINANCE Second Reading
18479 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE
Planning ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"), BY AMENDING ARTICLE 1, TITLED
"DEFINITIONS," TO INTRODUCE AND CLARIFY DEFINITIONS
RELATED TO VESSELS; FURTHER AMENDING ARTICLE 3,
SECTION 3.6, TITLED "GENERAL TO ZONES/OFF-STREET
PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS," AND ARTICLE 6, SECTION
6.1, TABLE 13, TITLED "SUPPLEMENTAL REGULATIONS/INTENT
AND EXCLUSIONS," TO CREATE CONSISTENCY WITH THE
DEFINITIONS AND ESTABLISH AND UPDATE REGULATIONS,
PROCESSES, AND BY RIGHT CRITERIA PERTAINING TO VESSELS,
BOAT SLIPS, BOAT HOUSES, AND DOCKS / PIERS; FURTHER
AMENDING ARTICLE 6, SECTION 6.3, TITLED "SUPPLEMENTAL
REGULATIONS/COMMERCIAL USES," TO ESTABLISH A NEW
SUBSECTION REGULATING MARINE -RELATED COMMERCIAL
ESTABLISHMENTS; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: Item PZ.6 was deferred to the April 23, 2026, City
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.6, please see "Order of the
Day."
PZ.7 ORDINANCE First Reading
18838
Commissioners
and Mayor - PZ
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY AMENDING ARTICLE 3,
TITLED "GENERAL TO ZONES," TO MODIFY THE AFFORDABLE
AND ATTAINABLE MIXED -INCOME TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT
DENSITY PROGRAM; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: Item PZ.7 was deferred to the April 9, 2026, City Commission
Meeting.
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PZ.8
18818
Department of
Planning
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.7, please see "Public
Comments for All Item(s)" and Item PZ.5.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
GRANTING/DENYING THE APPEAL FILED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ON BEHALF OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI ("APPELLANT") AND
REVERSING/AFFIRMING/MODIFYING THE DECISION OF THE MIAMI
HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION BOARD'S
APPROVAL, PURSUANT TO SECTION 23-6.2(B)(4) OF THE CODE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, OF THE
APPELLANT'S APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL CERTIFICATE OF
APPROPRIATENESS TO PERMIT NEW CONSTRUCTION AND SITE
IMPROVEMENTS, ON A PROPERTY LOCATED APPROXIMATELY AT
411 NORTHEAST 69 STREET MIAMI, FLORIDA, 33138, WITHIN THE
PALM GROVE HISTORIC DISTRICT; WITH FOLIO NUMBER 01-3218-
004-0920.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0100
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner
SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Chair King: Okay. So, PZ.8, just for some context with PZ.8, PZ.8 is an infill lot that
I'm building affordable housing on. It's my first-time homeowners' program, right.
So, I take these vacant lots that are within District 5 all over to provide true
affordable housing in the sense that it is now first-time homeownership
opportunities. This particular lot happens to fall in the historic --
Victor Turner (Director, Community Development): Palm Grove.
Chair King: -- Palm Grove neighborhood. And I have been very vocal about the
Historic Preservation Board and its requirements. 1 sell these homes at cost,
$300,000 for the single-family homes, 250-ish thousand dollars for the townhouses.
This was being held up by HEP (Historic and Environmental Preservation) with
respect to a roof. Can they have a shingle roof or do they have to have what other
kind?
Mr. Turner: Tile.
Chair King: The tile roof which would cause a significant increase in the cost to the
home. There are homes in the historic Palm Grove that have tile roofs, correct?
Mr. Turner: Shingle roof
Chair King: Shingle roofs, correct. So, I just want to give you some context. And I
am doing this across District 5. One of the families, along with the second mortgage
that the City will hold, interest free, forgivable, and other subsidies, I made it
stackable so that you can get down payment assistance from Miami -Dade County,
the MD program, as well as if a bank is offering some subsidy, and the City also
offers an additional subsidy to keep it so that low to moderate income families can
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
afford to chase the American Dream and be a part of that. It creates generational
wealth. They become stakeholders in their communities and a sense of pride for
families. It changes the trajectory of families and 1 don't want policies that are
arbitrary to stop the forward movement of someone finding their forever home.
Commissioner Gabela: Motion to grant the appeal.
Chair King: But we got to hear -- we got to hear that side.
Mr. Turner: Good morning, Mayor, Madam Chair, Commissioners. Victor Turner,
director of Housing and Community Development. I have some images I want to
enter into the record. Madam Chair, you captured all that I was going to say
probably. But just to give a little more background, Housing Community
Development is acting as the owner/developer of a property at 411 Northeast 69th
Street. As the Chair mentioned in the Palm Grove Historic District, this project unit
is being funded with general obligation bonds. The proposed structure is three
bedrooms, two baths, about 1,400 square feet. Construction costs about $306,000.
We -- it is the department's opinion and position that it will not take away from the
historic nature of the neighborhood. The other structures around the neighborhood
you'll see have shingle roofs. So, it is our appeal to the Commission to remove the
condition number eight from the HEP Board, which was to install a clay tile roof,
and we'd be able to do a shingle roof. The construction cost difference is about 20 to
$25, 000 increase. Any questions?
Commissioner Rosado: So moved.
Chair King: So, George, which way do we have to vote to remove?
George Wysong (City Attorney): So, could I just ask one thing for the record, which
is, does the -- do the historic requirements require barrel tiles in this particular
neighborhood?
Mr. Turner: No.
Mr. Wysong: Thank you. So, the -- in order -- so, since the City is appealing the
decision, a grant -- a motion to grant the appeal would mean that the alternative
roofing system could be used. A motion to deny the appeal would mean that they
would be required, as the HEP Board decided, to use barrel tiles.
Chair King: George, I'm --
Commissioner Gabela: Motion to grant the appeal.
Chair King: So, we want to grant the appeal?
Mr. Wysong: You want to grant the appeal if you want to --
Commissioner Gabela: Motion to grant the appeal.
Mr. Wysong: -- provide the alternative.
Chair King: Okay, I have a motion.
Commissioner Pardo: Second.
Chair King: Second. All in favor?
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City Commission
Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Item carries unanimously.
Mr. Turner: Thank you.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): As amended?
Chair King: As amended.
END OF PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S)
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
DI - DISCUSSION ITEMS
DI.1 DISCUSSION ITEM
18922 A DISCUSSION IN REFERENCE TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
Commissioners
and Mayor
rRESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item DI.1, please see
"Public Comments for All Item(s)."
Chair King: And now we have DI -- DI.1, discussion item.
Commissioner Gabela: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair King: Do you still want --?
Commissioner Gabela: So, the last commission meeting that we had, we were talking
about the -- a succession plan to substitute the police -- the police chief, which I
always understood that was stepping down in October. And just wanted to put on the
record, but actually, because we kind of left it vague what we were actually doing
and how it was going to be done. And my understanding is that, and we spoke about
this yesterday, that three months prior to October, you were going to start the
transition. Is that correct?
Mr. Reyes: That is correct, Commissioner.
Commissioner Gabela: Now, what I just wanted to ask you, you know, before the
three months, is there going to be a search, you know, or are we going to wait for the
last three months for the search and then question?
Mr. Reyes: Commissioner, we will have an appointed police chief before that
transition begins three months prior to Chief Morales's retirement. And I will have
made the selection beforehand.
Commissioner Gabela: So, are you saying that, you know, you will start the process
three months before October and then sometime between, what is it, June or July,
August, September, and then October. By October, you'll have a, you know, a new --
Mr. Reyes: We will name a new police chief prior to the transition beginning three
months prior to ChiefMorales's departure and retirement. So, three months prior to,
you will know who the --
Commissioner Gabela: Got it.
Mr. Reyes: -- successor is, and then we will start the transition in order to ensure
continuity of service to the community.
Commissioner Gabela: Okay, thank you.
Chair King: And that shall conclude the discussion.
END OF DISCUSSION ITEMS
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
FL.1
18708
Department of
Building
FL.2
18904
Department of
Planning
FL - FUTURE LEGISLATION
ORDINANCE
AN ORDINANCE BY THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 20 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "FLOOD DAMAGE
PREVENTION," PROVIDING GUIDELINES AND TIMELINESS FOR
RE -CERTIFICATION OF EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEMS.
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item FL.1, please see "Order of the
Day."
ORDINANCE
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 13114, THE
ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED ("MIAMI 21 CODE"), BY AMENDING ARTICLE 1
SECTION 1.2, TITLED "DEFINITION OF TERMS," TO DEFINE
ELECTRIC VEHICLE READY AND ARTICLE 3, SECTION 3.6,
TITLED "OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS,"
TO REMOVE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAPABLE PARKING
REQUIREMENTS ARTICLE 4, TABLE 4, TITLED "DENSITY,
INTENSITY AND PARKING (T4)," "DENSITY, INTENSITY AND
PARKING (T5)", "DENSITY, INTENSITY AND PARKING (T6)",
"DENSITY, INTENSITY AND PARKING (CS)', "DENSITY
INTENSITY AND PARKING (CI)", "DENSITY, INTENSITY AND
PARKING (CI -HD)", "DENSITY, INTENSITY AN PARKING (D1)",
"DENSITY, INTENSITY AND PARKING (D2)", AND "DENSITY,
INTENSITY AND PARKING (D3)", APPENDIX J "WYNWOOD NRD-
1", AND APPENDIX P "WYNWOOD NORTE NRD-2" TO REDUCE
PARKING REQUIREMENTS WHEN ELECTRIC VEHICLE READY
PARKING IS PROVIDED; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE.
RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN
END OF FUTURE LEGISLATION
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
NA.1
18979
City Commission
NA - NON -AGENDA ITEM(S)
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
EXPRESSING ITS SUPPORT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE
MIAMI-DADE URBAN DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY ("UDB") AS IT
CURRENTLY EXISTS TO PROTECT DOWNSTREAM WATER
RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE BISCAYNE AQUIFER, REGIONAL
GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES, AND CONNECTED COASTAL
WATERS, AS WELL AS THE EVERGLADES, WETLANDS, AND
AGRICULTURAL LANDS; ENCOURAGING ADVANCEMENT OF
ATTAINABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING WITHIN THE UDB TO
ADDRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY WITHOUT EXPANDING
DEVELOPMENT INTO ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS;
URGING THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS TO UPHOLD COUNTY MAYOR DANIELLA
LEVINE CAVA'S VETO OF THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT
TO THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT MASTER
PLAN; FURTHER URGING THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE
TO OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD WEAKEN THE
UDB IN THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CHARTER; DIRECTING THE
CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE
OFFICIALS DESIGNATED HEREIN; AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0101
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item NA.1, please see
"Order of the Day."
Chair King: Gentlemen, may 1 have a motion for PZ (Planning and Zoning) --
Pocket Item 1 and Pocket Item 2?
Commissioner Escalona: Move.
Commissioner Rosado: So moved.
Chair King: 1 have a motion and a second. All in favor?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair King: Motion carries unanimously.
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Meeting Minutes February 26, 2026
NA.2
18980
City Commission
ADJOURNMENT
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ISSUING A
NOISE WAIVER PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 36/SECTION 36-4 OF
THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED
("CITY CODE"), TITLED "NOISE/OPERATION OF RADIOS,
PHONOGRAPHS, OR OTHER SOUND MAKING DEVICES;
BANDS, ORCHESTRAS, AND MUSICIANS — GENERALLY;
EXEMPTION" AND CHAPTER 36/SECTION 36-5 OF THE CITY
CODE, TITLED, "SAME — HOURS OF OPERATION OF
JUKEBOXES, RADIOS, ETC.; EXEMPTION FOR EVENTS ON
CITY -OWNED PROPERTY; RELAXATION," AND AN EXTENSION
OF ALCOHOL SALES THROUGH 5:00 A.M. PURSUANT TO
SECTION 4-3( B) OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED "HOURS DURING
WHICH SALES ALLOWED; PERMITS AND PUBLIC HEARING
REQUIRED," FOR THE NRD-1 LOCATED IN THE WYNWOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD AND WITHIN THE MAGIC CITY INNOVATION
DISTRICT SPECIAL AREA PLAN FOR THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL
EVENTS: WINTER MUSIC CONFERENCE FROM MARCH 25
THROUGH MARCH 29, 2026; FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX EVENTS
FROM APRIL 30 THROUGH MAY 3, 2026; FIFA WORLD CUP
EVENTS JUNE 11 THROUGH JUNE 14, 2026 AND JULY 16
THROUGH JULY 19, 2026; ART BASEL EVENTS FROM
DECEMBER 3 THROUGH DECEMBER 6, 2026; AND NEW YEARS
EVE HOLIDAY EVENTS FROM DECEMBER 31, 2026, THROUGH
THE MORNING OF JANUARY 1, 2027.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0102
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner
SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner
AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item NA.2, please see "Order of the
Day" and Item NA.I.
The meeting adjourned at 3:12 p.m.
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