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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1974-10-07 MinutesCITY OF MIAMI COMMISSION MINUTES .Special Pabtie Heaking on OF MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 7, 1974 pnopoaed suDGET�" - HeanLng M 5 PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY HALL H. D. SOUTHERN CITY CLERK RALPH G. ONGIE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the 7 th day ob Oetobeh, 1974, the City Commi4Aion of Miami, f.Zoxida met at .it6 negatah meeting ptaee at City Hatt .in 4a.id City in SPECIAL SESSION to con6.iden the pnopo6ed apptophiation ond,inanee for the City of Miami ion 6iseat yeah 1974-1975. The meeting wa4 caned to order at 5:05 O'Ctoek P.M. with the Ottow.ing memben4 ob the Comm,i44Lon pne4ent: Commi.44ioneh J. L. flamme& Commi44.ionen Ro4e Gordon CommJ44.ioner (Rev.) Theodore G.ibaon Vice Mayon Manoto Rebo4o Mayon MaLmice A. Pern.e ALSO PRESENT: P. W. Andrew4, City Manager A. R. Crouch, A44.i4tant City Manager. John S. Ltoyd, City Attohney H. V. Southern, City Clerk Ratph G. OngJe, A44i4tant City C.eerk An invocation wa4 detivened by Reverend Gib4on who then .Zed tho4 a pre4 ent in a pledge o i allegiance to the gag. Mayor Ferre: Let me point out at the outset since I see some signs about Silver Bluff Day Care Centers that we are not going to take up discussion of the social programs tonight. That we will do at another occasion and we will set a date for that today. What we are doing here is we are complying with the law in that we had to publish for public hearing to explain to the public at large, what the budget is all about and answer any questions that may come up and then we have 3 days from now, to do it all over again when we will vote on the final budget, but we are not going to take up the distribution of the social funds we have allocated this day. While we are at it Mr. Manager, why don't you tell us what day might be appropriate? Mr. Andrews: Yes Sir, anytime within several days after the meeting of the loth - 17th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, somewhere in there. Mayor Ferre: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a special budget public hearing for the City of Miami held under Section 200 065 2A of the Florida Statutes. Mr. Andrews: When you set the 2nd budget hearing for the public, I think it would be better if you set it a little later like 7:30 because we received so many requests from the public saying that 5:00 was a little too early and I would think that if you want some of these people to participate it would be better. Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, we are dealing with an issue now #here children are involved and I think the people that are here today I heard you mention that prior to my sitting down, that you were concerned that families were here and 6:00 is the family hour to be home with the children. I wonder if we could hear from them now, while they are here instead of making them come back. I don't know how many are here or who are here. If they would just raise their hands wed would know the number of people and I thinkit would be respectful for us to do that. • Mayor Ferre: You are very nice to be here and I am sorry that somebody misled you or that you were not appropriately told about this because you see it is unfair to hear you and' not others. You would really be at a disadvantage but I'll tell you what I am willing to do. Let's go through the regular procedure and if it's not too late, then we do have to go by the law, I am sorry. Mrs. Gordon: I received no written agenda Mr. Mayor explaining that there was or there was not going to be any discussion on the subject and if this was the rule, then it should have been written to us in advance and I did not receive that.- unless you did. Mayor Ferre: Yes or course I did. Mrs. Gordon: Well I did not. Mayor Ferre: Let me show it to you as published in the newspaper. NOTICE OF TAX NC E THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA PROPOSES TO INCREASE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES PUBLIC HEARING ON THE INCREASE WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 7, 1974 AT 5:00-P.M. AT THE CITY HALL COMMISSION CHAMBERS LOCATED AT 3500 PAN .AMER ICA'N DRIVE MIAMI,FLORIDA A copy of the budget as submitted to the City Commission is on file in the City Clerk's Office and is available for.review- by all.interested parties. Mrs. Gordon: It doesn't say that people cannot speak or that they cannot speak to issues they are concerned with and whether or not they are budgeted from regular budget or otherwise, I think they have a right to be heard. Mayor Ferre: Of course they have a right to be heard. The question is when. Now, I will try, if we have time and as we go through this process, if there is time, to recognize you and let you speak at that time on a program which is not up before us at this time. We are not gathered here to speak about social programs. We will have s special meeting for that. Everybody on this Commission and I am sorry, I don't care what Commissioner Rose Gordon says, she knows full and well the purpose of this Commission Meeting tonight is to approve the budget and to have a public hearing on the budget as previously passed. Mrs. Gordon: I don't choose to argue with you but this appears to be a part of any budget that you would be considering. Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Gordon, as we have gone over a dozen times at least. You know that this is not the evening to discuss social programs. Now I am sorry that you were misled. (Unintelligible comments from person in audience) Mayor Ferre: ----and you can speak for yourself and I will give you all the time you want but you know we are a country of laws and we do have to follow the law don't we? And that is what you want to teach these kids, right? Good, thank you. All right, now Mr. Manager. Mr. Andrews: Mr. Mayor and members of the Commission, in order to assist you and the public, I have prepared two charts which I would like to present to you as a basis of presenting the budget and the reason for this particular meeting and notice of tax increase and how that comes about. I would first like to indicate to you and to the public that there is a budget comparison between last year and the new budget. Since the City Commission is acquainted with this matter and we can pass out a chart to you and that is similar to the one that is before us here and I would like to have your permission to turn that around so the people can see that. The first chart that we are looking at is a comparison between last years budget and the proposed new budget. I will run through the figures so that questions might be asked of these figures later. The General Fund for last year was approximately 50 million dollars and for this coming year, its approximately 58 million dollars. The figures are on the chart and the top line. Pension and Social Security, Insurance is $7,628,000 for this coming year, it is $10,484,000 and the reason for that significant increase is the additional requirement in pension. Publicity and Tourism-$1,436,000 last year $1,418,000 this year Street Lighting $1,348,000 last year $1,269,000 this year and both of those street lighting budgets for last year and this year are complemented with additional funding from federal revenue sharing funds of $1,200,000 for each year. That provides a total basic operating budget last year of 60 million dollars and I am rounding these figures out and in 1974-75 year, it will be 71 million dollars. Debt Service is approximately the same for both years amounting $10,491,000 versus $10,842,000 for the new year. This provides $70,000,000 in operating and debt service costs and $81,991,000 for bhe new year. Public Facilities which are those functions such as the Orange Bowl, Baseball Stadium, Marine Stadium and other facilities had a bucket of $2,307,000 last year and this year a budget of $2,863,000. The total budget for the City last year was $73,039,000 and for the coming year, it will be $84,855,000. I have another chart and it shows a comparison of the tax millages. Rather than go through all of these different millages Mr. Mayor, there are only two of them that have significance to the public. This is where we get into the need to have this advertisement in the paper. The total operating millage last year 1973-74 was 9.655 and produced,revenues in the amount of $22,000,000, practically $23,000,000. I am going to take 73-74 year first and then compare them to 74-75. Debt service was 3.781 mills which provided a total millage to the taxpayer of 13.036 mills and produced revenue in an amount of $31,954,000. This year those same two millages, General Operating and Debt Service will require a total millage of 10.880 and will produce $31,352,000. You will note that the amount of money that the City of Miami will receive and this Is on existing properties is less than the monies produced last year. That is significant in that the total amount of tax dollars from existing properties throughout the City of Miami will be less this coming year than it was last year. The total amount of money received as a result of new add- itions for the first time to the property tax base will provide us with $34,567,000. Now the factor that causes this advertisement even though we are reducing taxes on existing property is that the law requires that if we exceed the certified millage for operations shown on that chart before you, which is 8.569 and I would like someone to point to it so the public can follow me on this explan- ation, is that the tax assessor informed the City that we should levy a millage of 8.387 mills. That figure under certified conditions should have 8.387 and while we are reducing taxes, it was necessary to go through this process because we are exceeding that certified millage by .182 mills. Mr. Mayor, have I explained this well enough or do you want to try to explain it once again? So that there is a double explanation of this matter. Mayor Ferre: I think you have explained it very clearly. Are there any questions on the part of the City Commission on what has been presented here? Are there any questions from the public on the budget as presented? Does anybody in the public want to speak to the budget as presented? Are there any questions? Do you understand what the Manager has said about the millage? The actual money raised from taxes to the homeowner is $700,000 less than last year on existing properties. $31,352,987. Last year it was $31,954,758. Now new additions, that is new buildings that have been built that were not on the tax roll last year will give us this year, $3,214,000. That gives us a total of $34,567,000 in total revenues. Mr. Andrews: Mr. Mayor, may I suggest following language of the law that you make a public announcement asking that if there is any member of the public that wishes to comment on the proposed increase in millage over certified millage which represents .182 and that the specific question be raised because that is the whole reason for this public hearing. Mayor Ferre: All right, you heard the Manager's question and this is in compliance with state law. Is there anybody here who wishes to ask a question or to raise a point? Yes Ma'am, if you will step forward and identify yourself. Leonie Brodeur: I am Lenone Brodeur and I was trying to reconcile the revenue that you say you can raise with a tax millage of $34,500,000 with a budget you expect to spend of $84,850,000? Mayor Ferre: Let me explain this to you and this is something that the citizens of Miami, as I go around talking to people do not recognize because when you get into budgetary things it becomes difficult. OCT 71974 About 1/3 of the City of Miami Budget is paid for directly by the homeowner in taxes. The rest of our budget comes from fees, licenses, federal revenue funds, state funds and in other words what I am saying is, that out of every dollar we spend, 350 comes directly from the homeowner and the rest of it comes from other sources other than taxes. That's why we have a budget of almost 85 million of which 3411 million comes from advolorum taxes. Mrs. Brodeur: That .182 that he claims in excess of the allowable millage, what law is there, I mean how can you change that allowable millage? Mayor Ferre: The State passed a law which said that the County had to certify the millage to us and then we go through the proceedings if we go over that certified amount, then we have to have a public hearing which is what we are doing tonight co comply with the law. Would you explain one more time Mr. Andrews because it is complicated? Mrs. Brodeur: No but I mean, do you have to have approval from the people of Miami? Mayor Ferre: No Ma'am, all we have to do is have a public hearing and express why we are going over the certified millage. Mrs. Brodeur: In other words, you need only Commission approval? Mayor Ferre: Yes, the Commission approves it after a public hearing like tonight. Now would you explain one more time Mr. Andrews how much are we going over the certified amount? Mr. Andrews: Mayor Ferre: Mr. Andrews: .182 mills. How much is that in dollars? That would represent about $550,000. Mayor ferre: Now would you explain one more time as to why we have gone over? Mr. Andrews: The City Commission had set a policy that they wanted to try to establish as close as possible, no tax increase, in the presentation of this budget. In getting into the budget details, they even went beyond that, the way they deliberated through the budget process, they were able to show that the existing properties in the City of Miami that are now on the tax rolls will experience actually totally for the whole city, the revenue produced from taxes will be less in the coming year than they were in the past year. Now the reason for the increase is that a portion of the total millage, called the operating portion, the law provides specifically that that portion of the millage can be separated from the debt service in that there is no ceiling on the debt service millage and the effort is to try to get that millage so that it produces exactly the same dollars as it did in the prior year. Well the COmmission has gone beyond that. They considered even debt service because the property owner is faced with'a tax bill and his whole millage is on that tax bill. The property is not so specifically concerned about how the millages are divided up but how much is his taxes or how much will they be in relation to the amount of the assessments went up. The existing properties went up a total through the whole city, we have to look at the entire city 21% in assessments and the Commission is adopting a millage which will produce less revenue even with the increased assessments in the coming year than they have in the past so we are depending less on tax sources on existing properties, tax dollars, in the coming year than we were in the last year. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Andrews, let me ask this question. Do I recall correctly the figures, that we this year are charging 520 less per thousand of assessment? Mr. Andrews: You can't say that really. We went back and did a lot more work and we even got together with the tax assessor and this thing got so complicated when you try to relate it to an 5 individual property that I haven't found a real good way to try to explain to the property owner when we look at his individual home. The only way we can assist them is for them to contact our office and we will help them figure that out. All we can tell you at this state is, that for the total city, using existing properties, that the total amount of money produced through taxes on existing properties will be less in the coming year than it is in the current year. Mrs. Gordon: May I say something that I think might help a little bit because the difference in the tax assessors estimate to us when it was issued to us, may be changed because that was based upon the values at as the assessed properties would have returned before any equalization hearings were held. After the equalization hearings are held, quite logically the tax roll for the City of Miami may be less. Therefore that would create a situation where the small differential that we are talking about which is the .182 would be wiped out and we would be at the certified millage rate. I just thought I ought to explain this because this is in the process right now. A lot of people, may be some of you in this room have applied for a re-evaluation on your property and when all of these have been taken into account, tax roll for the City may be different and that very slight amount will probably be adjusted away. We still had to have these hearings. Mayor Ferre: I think you wanted to ask a question Ma'am. Viola Luckey: My name is Viola Luckey, did you say the average assessment was 21%? Mayor Ferre: No the average assessment went up how much Mr. Andrews? Mr. Andrews: I can tell you that we speak of averages and I will explain that. The total assessment went up for the entire City on existing properties 21% so we say then, the average of the whole roll, all the properties together in the City of Miami, went up 21%. Ms. Luckey: Now mine went up 50% and I pay 50% more taxes than I paid the previous year? Mayor Ferre: Well, now you are one of the sad cases along with me and let me explain to you what happens. I think it is unfortunate but unfortunately the City of MIami doesn't have anything to do with assessments. We turned that over to Metropolitan Dade County years ago so the tax assessor goes and he decides what he thinks your property is worth. We don't have anything to do with that. Now, we can only deal in averages. I went up almost 80% - but the average was 21%, so we can only deal with the average. The average went up 21% so we are going down to compensate for that but if your average tax assessment went up2l% or 23 or 24%, you would still pay the City of Miami the same or less taxes. If it went up 50%, obviously your taxes are going to go up. I wish it were different in your case and mine. Are there any other questions or statements as presented? Mr. Lloyd: I would like to ask Mr. Andrews if he has any further explanation on the increase over the certified millage? Mr. Andrews: No I have not but to assist the City Commission, I would be willing to have myself and staff answer any more questions. Mayor Ferret Are there any further questions? Mr. Andrews: You will have to adopt a resolution to establish the next hearing date at 7:30 on October loth. Thereupon the following resolution was introduced by Mr. Plummer who moved its adoption: 6 OCT 71974 RESOLUTION N0.74-1098 A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO PLACE AN APPROPRIATE ADVERTISEMENT PERTAINING TO THE OCTOBER 10, 1974 MEETING WHEREIN THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI PROPOSES TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE LEVYING A MILLAGE RATE IN EXCESS OF THE CERTIFIED MILLAGE AND FURTHER ADOPTING AN APPROPRIATION QRDINANCE (Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on `ale in the City Clerks Office) Upon being seconded by Reverend Gibson, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote - AYES: Messrs. Plummer, Reboso, Mrs. Gordon, Reverend Gibson and Mayor Ferre. NOES: None Mayor Ferre: Since these ladies and gentlemen have taken the time to come before us, how many of you would like to speak? We will give each speaker 5 minutes and then if we need to extend the time, we will extend it. Now does anybody else want to speak before this Commission on any subject that is not scheduled before us tonight? Okay, for the Ives Centennial. Mr. Plummer: I think you better inform the gentleman that we are not in any way taking up debate on social service programs tonight. That is going to be on October 17th. Mayor Ferre: That would be the appropriate time for you to make your presentation. Mr. Plummer: I just hope these people from Silver Bluff are aware that this hall on the 17th is going to be jammed packed. I hope that you are going to bring the same crowd out because we are probably going to have to listen to these same speeches all over again. I, like the Mayor, feel that you may be doing yourself an injustice by speaking tonight. If you want to be heard, because everybody has to be treated fair by this Commission. Mayor Ferre: Why don't you come forward and give us your name and address for the record. Susan Barkamus: My name is Susan Barkamus, I am a parent with two children in the after school care program at Silver Bluff community schools which you people have so wonderfully passed legislation or appropriations so that we could have money for this program. I am sure that you all must have seen the letters that we have sent to you and also that I have given to Mayor Ferre this evening in appreciation for this program. I would like to take a moment to tell you what the program means to me as a parent. I am a single parent, struggling to bring up my 2 children by myself to the best of my ability and I feel that this program that you people have given us has given me a chance so that I can work, not to be on the welfare rolls. I can get out there and I can work and I can bring up my children. I don't have to worry after school where they are, what they are doing, who they are with, what they are into. They are in a very well supervised program at the Silver Bluff Community School. We have got a program there that I just have never seen a quality program as this is. We have people taking care of our children that, I mean, I just can't say enough for them. We have arts and crafts. I really would like to extend an invitation to all of you, Mayor Ferre and all of you Commissioners to please, come to our program some afternoon. Drop by. Don't be announced, just drop by and see what its really like. OCT 71974 And what a great job these people are doing for all these kids. I mean yoU would really be astonished at what a great program this is. It's not just a program of taking care of the lower level income people, it's a program that is taking care of also, the middle class people, people like myself that are working to get by, people like you, and also upper class program people because we have a woman in our program that has taken her child out of Deerborne and put her child in our program because she finds the quality of our program much surpasses that of Deerborne and I am not downing Deerborne. What I. am saying, is that this is a quality program and I think it should be continued. There is going to be an awful lot of our parents that are going to have an awful lot of hardship because I know I for one, may just end up on your welfare roll if my kids aren't allowed to continue in this program and I would like to thank you very much for giving it to us in the first place and please, I beg you, I beg you from the bottom of my heart as a Mother, please don't stop this program, please, we are not asking for that much, just give us the money to keep it up, that's all I ask and I thank you for your time. Mrs. Gordon: How old are your children? Mrs. Barkamus: I have a daughter 7 and a son 8. Mrs. Gordon: And if you didn't have the program, where would they be, out in the streets waiting for you to come home? Mrs. Barkamus: I have no place to keep them. I would have to stop working because I am alone, I have no parents here or anything. I have been alone and I would have to quit work. Mrs. Casey: Good Evening Mayor Ferre and Commissioners, my name is Bonnie Casey and I have 2 daughters enrolled in the after school program at Silver Bluff. It is by far the finest program that I have ever seen. I have had many other places where I have had to take my children that were far inferior to this program and they cost me twice as much and frankly, I don't know how I would get along if the program is discontinued. The children would have to be placed in some kind of program and it would cost me maybe 40 or 50 dollars a week and I would not be able to handle that. I am also a single parent and I am struggling to raise my children in the best way that I know how and this program enables me and mothers like me to make the lives of our children flow in a free easy way where they are interacting with their peers, with people who care from the time they get out of school until the time that we pick them up until we are finished with our jobs. I can only say that I hope that you will do everything in your power to keep this program going. Thank you for your time. Mayor Ferre: All right, are there any other speakers on this? Yes Ma'Am. Jane Jernigan: My name is Jane Jernigan and I have a little boy in the after school program. The question I have, is when you have this meeting on October 17th, will a decision be made then, one way or the other? Mayor Ferre: I hope that it will be the case, I don't know. Ms. Jernigan: Because October 25th, we have been informed there are no funds left. From the 17th to the 25th, if it is decided negative, that gives us less than a week to find new - Mayor Ferre: Let me explain to you where we are. We established a committe that is in part, its a 3 prong committee, Metropolitan Dade County, the United Fund and the City of Miami. The reason for that was so that in some areas where there is duplication, not in your case, but in other areas that people don't come asking us for funds for social services and also ask the County and also ask the United Fund and they have kind of like a game going around. OCT 71974 So we put the 3 units together to look through all the programs and cotne back and recommend the ones they think should receive the City of Miami's help. obviously we don't have the money to do everything and we had 51/2 million dollars requested and we have 1,100,000 to be spent so there is 41/2 million dollars that people want but they will not get and what this Commission has to do is a very difficult task of reviewing these recommendations and then deciding who is going to get what and I hope that it will proceed very quickly. Ms. Jernigan: But certainly it doesn't cost that much to run the program at Silver Bluff. Mayor Ferre: Yes, I am sure it doesn't but there are many - If you come here on the 17th, you will see, there will be many other people here with similar projects that warrant our attention and at that time we will have to decide. Mr. Plummer: Let me say one thing the Mayor hasn't hit on it, so that you will know what we have to sit up here and decide. Presently we have set aside federal revenue sharing, call it roughly one million dollars. Our requests that have been put to this Commission which will be heard on the 17th of October is for 511 million dollars. That's the request. In other words, we have had requests to the City Manager asking that 531 million dollars go to social programs. Now this Commission has to decide where of the 51/2 million we best going to spend the million dollars. Ms. Jernigan: In other words, Silver Bluff is clumped in with all these other things. Mr. Plummer: That is part of the 51 million, right. Ms. Jernigan: I don't know if I was misinformed but I was led to believe that compared to pre-school programs, I know they are building a school at Silver Bluff, it's costing a couple of million dollars. I was told it was a relatively inexpensive program and the facilities were already there. Mrs. Gordon: Could I give you some accurate information please. The program for the year for the 3 centers that are now in operation, the total that we funded last year was only $150,000. It didn't carry it for the full year, it started in March. To fund the same 3 centers for this year would cost about 2 hundred and some odd thousand dollars. Do you have the exact figure Mr. Andrews? Mr. Andrews: Yes I can find it Mrs. Gordon, just a minute. Mrs. Gordon: I think its necessary because you -see that two hundred and some odd thousand means approximately $70,000 per location. We are not talking of 5 million. We are also not talking of brand new programs, we are talking about programs we started and programs people are using and programs people need and I cannot see how we can lump that into any previous or any programs that are being presented for the first time. Now I would suggest and I respectfully request, that this Commission do the same thing now that they did of a previous request where we were asked to fund some monies in advance for the African Square Project and I am totally in favor of what we did there and I am totally in favor of us taking this step now so that Mothers don't have to wait until the 17th of October to know what the kids are going to do on the 26th. If you would permit me, I would move the motion Mr. Mayor. Mayor Ferre: I'll recognize you in a moment and Mrs. Gordon - Mrs. Gordon: You can't say you are a mother. Mayor Ferre: I want you to understand ladies and gentlemen, that many of us here on this Commission have gone on record on many occasions favoring this and other good projects. OCT 71974 Since we are only a week and a half away from this I think it would be highly inappropriate for us to matter tonight. It would be very simple for me to play the part of make heated speeches with very loud words and talk things and the motherhood, and you know - Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, you are being very dramatic and I don't appreciate it one ibt:a, neither do these ladies appreciate your drama. public hearing, vote on this a demagogue and about the great Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Gordon, let me finish my statement, I didn't interrupt you. I think it's important that we go through the logical governmental process. We cannot run the government, and I understand how you feel believe me. I think you will be happy when this is done and over with, I feel that way but we just can't vote on it tonight. Do you understand that? I hope you do. It doesn't mean in my opinion, we are not putting you down, it's just that we are so close to the 17th where we are going to go through all of this. It isn't fair to others. Mr. Andrews: I must express that based on the Commission's policy and in all my communications with these organizations, of which there are many involved with many good causes. We were consistent in our approach to the processes that we were going to use in evaluating this and that no determination would be made until after my recommendations and' those are recommendations to the Commission and the Commission would take those and weigh those and come up with a final program. All these people are awaiting the date and now you have set'it so that they could be present and present other arguments if they find that they aren't satisfied with my recommend- ations. Mrs. Gordon: Will you answer yes or no? Is this program included in your recommendations? Mayor Ferre: I am not recognizing you Mrs. Gordon at this time. I will recognize you in a moment. Now don't you realize that for us to this now would be breaking good faith with other people that are also interested? You surely don't want us to do that. Unidentified person: Are these new programs or not? Mayor Ferre: Some of them are and some of them are not. Unidentified person: Its just that you are talking about 4 and 5 million dollars. I mean politice is very vague. Mayor Ferre: It isn't politics. Unidentified person: all right, one million dollars and you are saying there are requests for 4 and 5. All I know is that the request for our school is 80,000 which is nowhere near 4 or 5 million dollars. Mr. Plummer: But you see what you are not being fair with and let me just interject one little point. Your program is so successful and so fantastic that it's been asked for by 3 other groups that want it and they want to expand it more. There are now 3 other schools that want the same program. They are telling us By God, you are giving it to Silver Bluff, we want the same thing! Now these are the kind of problems that we are faced with. Okay, so I want you to know. unidentified person: discontinuing one program is not a way of expanding the program. Mr. Plummer: The requests before us now is to expand if I am not mistaken is to expand to either 2 or 3 other schools for the sum total of $342,000. Mrs. Gordon: I'm going to tell something like it is. We've got revenue sharing of almost 9 million dollars and out of 10 OCT 71974 that. 1.1 is only going for social services, that's all and the rest is going for a lot of other things to keep the taxes down, that's true but on the other hand, what's more important, lets face reality gentlemen. Mayor Terre: Mrs. Gordon: programs like Mayor Ferre: Now everybody on this thing Commission? Mrs. Gordon, didn't you vote for the other things? I did, I certainly did and t didn't vote to cut out this either or I wouldn't have voted. Mrs. Gordon, please, let's not grandstand here. knows what's going on and we are going to be voting on the 17th. Would you have a little faith in this Rev. Gibson: I would hope that the public and I am talking to the people from Silver Bluff. I received some letters. I would hope that I could prevail upon you to do what I prevailed upon some people on the Board of Theological Education of the Episcopal Church just this past saturday. You know in our anxiety sometimes, we lose our friends. I would hope that since we want to be as fair to you as we are to the others, that you would understand. Let me tell you something that you don't want to forget. If you permit me to do it to you, you have no other reason to believe that I would be permitted to do it to the other person. Now the date has been set. Everybody knows. God knows, I am in sympathy with social service programs but I am opposed, unalterably opposed, bitterly opposed and I am not saying anything about this to doing it, the way we are doing it. I would be your greatest supporter if you gave the other people the same opportunity that you are receiving and ladies , don't blow your chances, I urge you. Mrs. Sojak" My name is Annette Sojak and I have 2 children enrolled in this program. It looks to me is what you are doing is is holding out an ice cream cone to these children. You give them the bite and then holding it back and saying, maybe we will give you the rest of it and it hurts. You are the people we have elected for what? To tempt our children? Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Sojak, you think we are doing the wrong thing? Honestly? Mrs. Sojak: Yes. You have given it to them. Are you going to take it away? Mayor Ferre: I don't think anybody is telling you that we are taking it away. Mrs. Sojak: You are holding it back saying maybe we will give the rest of it to them. Mayor Ferre: This is a country of laws. We have to follow rules. We have to be fair to everyone. Don't you accept that? Mrs. Sojak: Do you think thats fair to the children? Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Sojak: saying maybe Absolutely1 Giving them the bite and then holding it back and you can have the rest of it? Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Sojak, don't you realize that you will be doing your cause more harm by getting emotional here? Mrs. Sojak: I am emotional. My children are involved. Mayor Ferre: Sure they are involved and sure you are concerned. Don't you think other, if we had told everybody that you were going to be here, don't you think we would have 500 people here in this room. Don't you think that they are entitled to be heard just like you? w 11 OCT 71974 Mrs. Sojak: But you have given us the program already. Mayor Ferre: What makes you think we are going to take it away? You are positive, you are positive it's going to be taken away. Mrs2. Sojak: I do not know, what I said that you are doing is giving them a bite and then holding it back and then saying maybe we will give you the rest of it. Mayor Ferre: All right, there is a very simple way of doing this thing. Mrs. Rose Gordon wants to make a motion. Mrs. Gordon: I will school care programs my real deep hope we that we fund at this sharing, those three we will let the rest be glad to move that we re -fund the after - that we have funded last year. It would be could fund some new schools but I would move time from our 1974-75 budget of revenue schools that are presently in existence and wait for the 17th. Mayor Ferre: We have a motion on the floor. Is there a second to the motion? Is there a second to the motion? Is there a second to the motion? Hearing no second, the motion dies for the lack of a second. Now we will take this matter up at the appropriate time which will be the 17th at 6 o'clock and you are welcome to be back here and I will recognize you at that time and I am hopeful and I am fairly sure that the City of Miami Commission will act upon this deliberately and appropriately, as we should do things. Thank you very much. Mrs. Barkamus: Mr. Mayor, may I please thank all of you for listening to our pleas. I realize we are very over emotional about this but we are running scared right now and I would like to thank you for listening to us and putting up with our emotions. Mayor Ferre: Well you be patient and I am sure you will be happy after the 17th. Mrs. Barkamus: I would like to thank you all very much for hearing us, I appreciate it. It was decided in brief discussion that child related matters would be heard -first on'thb meeting of the 17th. An Ordinance entitled - AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING THE AMOUNT OF $50,000.00 FROM THE UNEXPENDED BALANCE OF FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING FUNDS TO BE RESERVED FOR THE OPERATION OF MODEL DAY CARE CENTERS was introduced by Mr. Plummer, seconded by Reverend Gibson for adoption as an emergency measure and dispensing with the requirement of reading same on two separate days which was agreed to by the following vote AYES: Messrs. Plummer, Reboso, Reverend Gibson and Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Gordon not voting. NOES: None SAID ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 8311. 12 OCT 71974 The following resolution was introduced by Mr. Plummer who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION N0, 74-1089 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EXPENDITURE OF $12,500 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING THE URBAN LEAGUE STREET ACADEMY AND RESTORATION CENTER AS DIRECTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION IN MOTION 74-483; THIS PROGRAM IS TO BE FUNDED FROM THE FUNDS ALLOCATED IN THE SPECIAL PROGRAM AND ACCOUNTS SECTION OF THE CITY BUDGET AND FURTHER APPOINTING THEODORE R. GIBSON TO THE URBAN LEAGUE BOARD AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI (Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the City Clerks Office) Upon being seconded by Mr. Reboso, the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote - AYES: Messrs. Plummer, Reboso, Mrs. Gordon, Reverend Gibson and Mayor Ferre: NOES: None. ADJOURNMENT: THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT: ATTEST: H. D. Southern CITY CLERK Ralph G. Ongie ASSISTANT City CLERK 6:00 O'CLOCK P.M. Maurice A. Ferre MAYOR 3.3 OCT 71974