Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2026-05-14 MinutesCity of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com Meeting Minutes Thursday, May 14, 2026 9:00 AM City Commission Meeting City Hall City Commission Eileen T. Higgins, Mayor Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner, District One Damian Pardo, Commissioner, District Two Rolando Escalona, Commissioner, District Three Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner, District Four Christine King, Commissioner, District Five James Reyes, City Manager George K. Wysong III, City Attorney Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 9:00 AM INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Present: Commissioner King, Commissioner Gabela, Commissioner Pardo, Commissioner Escalona, and Commissioner Rosado. On the 14th day of May 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 Mayor Higgins at 9:05 a.m., and adjourned at 11:52 a.m. Note for the Record: Commissioner Rosado entered the Commission chambers at 9:07 a.m., and Commissioner Gabela entered the Commission chambers at 9:11 a.m. Note for the Record: Pursuant to City of Miami Charter Section 4(g)(1), Mayor Higgins served as the presiding officer for this meeting. ALSO PRESENT: James Reyes, City Manager George K. Wysong III, City Attorney Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk Commissioner King: At this time, we are going to have Pastor Ray come and join us. He's going to lead our meeting in prayer. Good morning. Unidentified Speaker: Good morning. Good morning. God bless you. Thank you to the Commission. Thank you to Mayor Higgins. Thank you to all of you. And a special thank you to Commissioner King, my Commissioner, District 5. If we could all stand, that would be wonderful. Let us pray. Invocation delivered. Commissioner King: Thank you. Madam Mayor, would you like to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Mayor Higgins: Yes. Pledge ofAllegiance delivered. City ofMiami Page 1 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 PR - PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS PR.1 PROTOCOL ITEM 19307 Honoree Jewish American Heritage Month Presenter Mayor and Commissioners Protocol Item Proclamation ORDER OF THE DAY RESULT: PRESENTED Mayor Higgins: Good morning. Settle down, folks. Welcome everybody to the first meeting in May. May is a pretty beautiful month in the City of Miami. Presentation made. 1) Mayor Higgins and Commissioners presented a Proclamation in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month and honored the generations of Jewish Americans who helped shape the City of Miami with their contributions, thereby proclaiming the month of May as "Jewish American Heritage Month? in the City of Miami. Mayor Higgins: Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming to our May city -- May 14th City Commission meeting. To the Clerk, show that all commissioners are here. I think we can call the meeting to order. So, again, welcome everybody to the City of Miami Commission meeting on May 14th, 2026 in these historic chambers. Procedures for the public comment will be explained by the City Attorney shortly. Procedures far the swearing in of parties for the Planning and Zoning and/or quasi- judicial items will also be explained by the Clerk. The members of the City Commission appearing for this meeting are Miguel Angel Gabela, Damian Pardo, Rolando Escalona, Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, and Christine King. Also appearing are City Manager James Reyes, City Attorney George K. Wysong, III, City Clerk Todd Hannon, and myself Mayor Eileen Higgins, Chair. Mr. City Attorney, would you please state the procedures to be followed during the meeting? George Wysong (City Attorney): Yes, Madam Mayor, thank you. Good morning. 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 Code of the City, of Miami, which is available online at www.municode.com. Any person who is a lobbyist pursuant to Chapter 2, Article 6 of the City Code must register with the City Clerk and comply with related City requirements for lobbyists before appearing before the City Commission. A person may not lobby a City official, board member, or staff member until 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 the City clerk or online at www.municode.com. The City of Miami City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 requests 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 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 www.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 presiding officer. Public comment will begin at approximately 9 a.m. and remain open until public comment is closed by the presiding officer. Any person making offensive remarks or who becomes unruly in the Commission Chambers will be barred from further attending City Commission meetings and may be subject to arrest. No clapping, applauding, heckling, or verbal outbursts in support or opposition to a speaker or his or her remarks shall be permitted. No signs or placards shall be allowed in the City Commission Chambers. Persons exiting the Commission Chambers shall do so quietly, please. Members of the public wishing to address the body may do so by submitting written comments via the online public 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 been 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 public 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 presiding officer closes public comment. Public comment may also be provided live here at City Hall, located 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 he at such a later date before the City Commission takes action on such a proposition. When addressing the City Commission, the members of the public must .first state their name, their address, and what item will be spoken about. Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids, and services for this meeting may notify the City Clerk. 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 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 testing on behalf of the applicant, appellant, or 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 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 City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 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. And lastly, this meeting may be viewed here 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 Mavor. Mayor Higgins: Thank you very much. Mr. City Clerk, will you please state the swearing -in procedures to be followed during this meeting? Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Thank you, Chair. The procedures for individuals who will be providing testimony to be sworn in for Planning and Zoning items and any quasi-judicial items on today's City Commission agenda will be as follows: The members of City staff or any other individuals required to be sworn in who are currently present at City Hall will be sworn in by me, the City Clerk, immediately after I finish explaining these procedures. Those individuals who are appearing remotely may be sworn in now or at any time prior to the individual providing testimony for Planning and Zoning items and/or quasi-judicial items. Commissioners, are you comfortable with all the notice provisions set forth in these uniform rules and procedures that we have established for this meeting? Chair, may I administer the oath for the Planning and Zoning items? Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. If you'll be speaking on any of today's Planning and Zoning items, those are the PZ items, may I please have you stand and raise your right hand? The City Clerk administered oath required under City Code Section 62-1 to those persons giving testimony on zoning items. Mr. Hannon: Thank you. Mayor Higgins: Alright, thank you very much. Mr. City Manager, do you have any items you would like to he deferred, withdrawn? James Reyes (City Manager): Good morning, Madam Mayor Madam Chair, Commissioners, City Attorney and City Clerk. At this time, the administration would like to defer or withdraw the .following items: PH.6, to be withdrawn. PH.6, to be withdrawn. RE.2, to be deferred to the May 28th meeting. RE.2, to be deferred to the May 28th meeting. RE.6, to be withdrawn. RE.6, to be withdrawn. SR.5, to be withdrawn. SR.5, to be withdrawn. And PZ.1, to be indefinitely deferred. PZ.1, to be indefinitely deferred And that concludes the items. Commissioner Gabela: Sony, can you repeat the PH (Public Hearing)? Mr. Reyes: Sure, Commissioner. It's PH.6, to be withdrawn. PH.6. Commissioner Gabela: Thank you. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Colleagues, do you have any other items you would like to see deferred or withdrawn? Commissioner Escalona: No. Mayor Higgins: Alright. I'll take a motion to accept these. Commissioner Pardo: So moved. Commissioner Escalona: Move. City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mayor Higgins: All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Mr. Hannon: And my apologies, Chair, for the interruption. I just want to briefly state the sponsor and cosponsor requests during the order of the day. Mayor Higgins: Yes, please. Mr. Hannon: Commissioner King was inadvertently left off the agenda as a sponsor for RE.15. Commissioner Escalona will be cosponsoring RE.9. Commissioner Rosado will be cosponsoring RE.15, SR.1, and SR.3. And Commissioner King has a pocket item that the City Attorney can read the title into the record before the public comment period. Mr. Wysong: Thank you, Madam Mayor. An ordinance of the Miami City Commission, amending Chapter 38, Article 1 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, titled `Parks and Recreation in General," by amending Section 38-18, titled `Naming of Facilities at Hadley Park," more specifically, naming the skating rink located therein as the `Railroad Shop Roller Rink," containing a severability clause and providing for an immediate effective date. Mayor Higgins: Do we need to have a motion on that or that's just added to the agenda and well take it as first reading? Mr. Hannon: It's been added to the agenda so we can now move on with public comment. Mayor Higgins: Alright, thank you. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF ALL ITEM(S) DISCUSSION ITEM 19314 PUBLIC COMMENTS SUBMITTED ONLINE BY MEMBERS OF THE Office of the City PUBLIC FOR THE MAY 14, 2026, CITY COMMISSION MEETING. Clerk RESULT: PRESENTED Mayor Higgins: Okay. Now folks, so thank you very much for being patient. We're going to open reasonable opportunity to be heard on all of the other items. And then once that is finished, we will take up the election items. There's a couple -- Commissioner Pardo, 1 will let you run that discussion when we get there. So, please line up if you have any comments on any other items on the agenda. Thank you. John Dolson: Hi, John Dolson, 4205 Lennox Drive, Coconut Grove. Interesting discussion this morning. I thought it was a great presentation. By the way, I'm in a purple zone, so whatever you do, make a decision here in the next couple of weeks. And I'd like to thank the Fire Department, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) meet those guys personally. Look, what I want to talk about quickly is first the tree ordinance, getting City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 a committee together. It's long overdue. Just make sure it has teeth and it has the right people in it. People like (UNINTELLIGIBLE), who know what they're doing with trees. Let's just make that happen. Secondly, on voting, RE.3, this is a very confusing agenda on the even year voting. I'm in -- absolutely in favor of it. Don't put it off. Get it done as quick as you can. I'm also an extremely strong supporter of Stronger Miami, which I hope gets on the ballot this fall, which would give us nine commissioners, nine districts, instead of the five of you. That means that I like what you're doing. I'd like to see a few more of you up there so the representation's a lot better. So, thank you very much. Isabelle Benditte-Pike: Good morning. My name is Isabelle Benditte-Pike. I live at 15720 Southwest 76th Avenue, Palmetto Bay. It's a pleasure to be here this morning. Mayor Higgins, Commissioners, thank you for giving me a couple minutes. My name, again, is Isabelle and I serve as the Senior VP (Vice President) of Development at Branches. Branches is a local nonprofit and I'm here to speak in support and in favor of RE.5. Branches, again, is a local nonprofit and we serve families. And we partner with families to really help them build educational and financial assets, community, and hope. We provide two generational programming for low-income families through our Grow, Climb, and Achieve programs. Our Grow and Climb programs serve children and youth. We serve students age 5 through 25 through our after school and enrichment programming. But it's so much more than after school. Our kids grow up with us. We have a 94 percent retention rate year over year. Also, our Achieve programs serve our students' families. We believe in two generational programming. The Achieve programs focus on financial wellness. That includes one-on-one financial coaching. We lead the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) free tax prep program in Dade County. We have an incredible micro business program. And again, it's all about getting families on that path towards long-term economic stability. We are very excited about the Branches Allapattah project and we look for your support on RE.5. And again, are excited to bring this incredible project and all of our programs to the community of Allapattah. Thank you all so much. Sandy Moise: Ready? Commissioner King: Good morning. Ms. Moise: Good morning. My name is Sandy Moise, 5910 Northeast 6th Court. It's hot in Miami, and yet, Miami is in a full-blown tree crisis, and this tree committee is being proposed at a time when the very laws that is meant to protect are already being ignored, violated, and undermined. Across our city we are watching protected specimen trees including those in the public right-of-way being cut down under the excuse that they conflict with construction activities. This is not policy. This is a failure of planning and a failure of enforcement. We are seeing arborist reports that are exaggerated, inconsistent, and sometimes so careless they misidentify the tree species. These flawed reports are being used to justify permanent irreversible loss. At the same time, the City itself is removing trees without permits and without public notice. That is a direct violation of Chapter 17. Furthermore, the Miami 21 Code requires, requires trees on every single lot, and yet those are routinely ignored. So, we have to ask, why aren't we enforcing the laws already on the book? Because while this is being debated, Miami is getting dangerously hotter. We are living through extreme heat and expanding urban heat islands. There is less shade, hotter streets, and more exposure for workers, families, seniors, and children. And every time we remove a mature tree, we make that worse. Trees are beautiful, but they're not decorations. They are life-saving infrastructure. They cool our city, reduce flooding, clean our air, and protect public health. And once they're gone, they're gone for generations. The City Charter mandates protection of our natural environment. Yet what we are witnessing is the erosion of our tree canopy and our City ofMiami Page 6 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 public trust. So, yes, create this committee, but it must not be used to weaken Chapter 17 or to hide behind it. We demand immediate enforcement of Chapter 17 and Miami 21, a moratorium on non -emergency tree removals, independent arborist reviews, full transparency and public notice for every tree removal. Mayor Higgins: Thank you, Sandy. Thank you. Ms. Moise: Thank you. So, please protect our trees now. Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Moise: Once they're gone, Miami gets hotter, harsher -- Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Moise: -- and harder to live in. Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Moise: You're welcome. Mayor Higgins: Folks, thank you means your two minutes are up. Nelson Canizares: Nelson Canizares, 2850 Tigertail Avenue, Related Urban. Good morning, Commissioners and Madam Mayor. I'm here representing Related Urban in support of RE.19. For decades, Wagner Creek has faced severe bacterial contamination that in turn pollutes the Miami River and our beloved Biscayne Bay. Related Urban, in partnership with Miami -Dade County and the Jackson Health System, will be spearheading the redevelopment of the existing Jackson Medical Towers property located directly adjacent to Wagner Creek. With funding from the City of Miami and State of Florida already secured, this multi phase redevelopment will provide approximately 800 much needed affordable/workforce housing units to the Health District, a major employment hub in the City of Miami and essential medical resource area serving residents from all over. Phase one, Gallery at Wagner Creek, is slated to break ground in the first quarter of next year. As part of the adaptive reuse strategy for the existing Jackson Medical Towers, the adjacent green space next to Wagner Creek will be turned into a welcoming amenity where the community can gather and relax with the local nature. This may only be possible, however, if the environmental conditions are addressed and the community can feel good knowing it is safe to leisure in this area. Last year, Libra Lopez and Fast Cleaning Solutions, LLC (Limited Liability Company) placed one water quality improvement device in the Wagner Creek area beside the Jackson Medical Towers. And since then, there has been a massive and noticeable reduction in the bacterial contamination. The results of this were reported in a TV news segment released three weeks ago by WPLG Local 10. Thank you, Commissioner Gabela, for sponsoring this item and identifying available funding within your district's budget to address a longstanding environmental concern in our community and for your dedication to expanding more affordable/workforce housing opportunities in this great city. By committing now to join the efforts in cleaning up Wagner Creek, the City of Miami would strengthen their pledge in building a Miami forever, a Miami for everyone. Thank you. Jocelyn Mahone: Good morning. Is it still morning? My name is Jocelyn Mahone. I'm here on behalf of The CLEO Institute, 2937 Southwest 27th Avenue. I am here today to speak both urgently to the request for the creation of the Tree Committee and also to request a moratorium on tree removal until the committee has been fully invested. Miami cannot afford to lose tree canopy, certainly not now. Our city is City ofMiami Page 7 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 heating up. We already know that extreme heat in South Florida has increased by 50 days per year over the last few decades. And heat is expensive for the city. It costs residents money. It costs them their energy for running more air conditioning. It costs our health care system in terms of preterm births, medical emergencies, and even an increase in mental health crises. And if the City is not paying these costs, the residents that you claim to serve are. Trees can be part of the solution for cooling Miami. In our opening prayer, we prayed for those who may not be able to be here or speak up for themselves. So, on their behalf I ask you to take care of them. Thank you. Eileen Broton: Good morning. My name is Eileen Broton, 951 Northwest loth Court, Miami, the historic Spring Garden neighborhood. I want to make a comment about RE.19. I serve on the board Jrothe Spring Garden Civic Association, and this polluted piece of waterway runs through my neighborhood. And once again, it runs through your Health District. We can try now with new technology to mitigate what's happening. I strongly urge you to protect this waterway and make this a safer environment for the Health District and also for Spring Garden. Thank you. Lindsay Cain: Hello, my name is Lindsay Cain. I live at 333 Northeast 24th Street, Miami, Florida 33137. I'm not only a resident of Miami, but also a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. And in my culture and modern science backs this up, each tree is a living, breathing being that communicates. And even in this room, we started with a prayer. The sign beside you -- behind you reads, in God we trust. And are these trees not God's creation? I have a feeling that your office and the Mayor's office, environmental resources, has experienced an uptick in emails, public comments, social media engagement because it doesn't take an expert to see what's going on is wrong and it doesn't make sense. All it takes is one shred of compassion or an understanding that every single tree is a living being or a basic understanding of the ecological value that trees provide in a hot tropical climate to understand that what's going on and has been going on is a massacre and it's traumatized residents and the world which is now watching in horror on social media. People are donating to funds, signing petitions and asking me for any way to stop this. You call this a beautiful city, Mayor, and in all honesty, it does not look beautiful right now. So, I came today to ask .for an instant moratorium on all approved and planned tree removals. I don't know anyone who supports tree removals except for a few privileged developers and politicians. Amongst these 27 intended decisions, tree removals granted for the month of May alone, when we include the 57 trees approved for the pickleball courts in Coconut Grove, we have over 100 proposed removals in the Grove alone, 22 removals in Allapattah, and 29 trees were cut in a lot in Edgewater without proper permits. And what happened? More removals were approved. Chapter 17, which is being abused, still isn't even enough to cover because it leaves too many species unprotected. Fruit trees that provide sustenance and give life are not being replaced or relocated, for which there is a find for. There was a murder of a 100-year-old banyan tree recently -- Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Cain: -- which devastated -- Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Cain: -- the Edgewater communi Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Cain: -- and has left a scar -- City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Cain: -- deep on the community -- Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Cain: -- and won't be mitigated -- Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Cain: -- by planting shrubs. Mayor Higgins: Back again, good morning. Albert Gomez: Good morning. Albert Gomez, 3566 Vista Court. Wish all the commissioners were here. PH.3, PH5, traffic calming requests Miami -Dade County approve to fast -track traffic calming projects in District 2, 4, and 5, and waiving neighborhood balloting requirements. Just want to clarify to Commission, sidewalks alone are not traffic calming. Hopefully this is not direct action related to Morningside. To be clear, removing neighborhood balloting, as a result, fast - tracking tree removals under the auspice of traffic calming. I hope that's not the case. PH.1, PH.2 plat approvals, technical subdivision replats. I noticed a little change that could affect potentially trees, and it would be hard to follow where these plats are. They are now charged -- they basically denote the plat name. It doesn't have the address as traditionally was applied in the agenda. Please correct that. It is difficult for people to see where these properties are and if it affects their neighborhood. RE.12, affordable housing access agreement. This might have tree impacts because they can prioritize staging over tree protection. We know a little about this since we fought this issue before, and we are currently fighting it as there are staging equipment and materials on property and damaging critical root zones right now in various properties in Miami and we put the request for those sites to be stopped and fined. On the tree ordinance, my takeaway on this would be the mission statement, make sure that the verbiage is to strengthen tree protection. We take no less than five guaranteed community, workshops. Community recommendations are included and not washed out through the committee. And to highlight the fact that the historic tree removal permit data has been requested by the CRC (Climate Resilience Committee) and the City staff has said that that's not available. It can easily be released by opening up the API (Application Programming Interface) and giving that information to the public so that they can -- Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Mr. Gomez: -- bring that forward to the City. Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Mariella Lopez De Albear: Good morning, Mayor. Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Mariella Lopez De Albear, 661 Northeast 68th Street. I'm VP for Bayside HOA (Homeowners Association) and president for Elmira Historic Street. I would also like for the Commissioners and the Mayor to execute a moratorium on this item of RE.15. I would just like to share some facts with you. you. Urban trees provide significant health benefits, including reducing heat -related deaths by up to 40 percent, lowering obesity risk by 40 percent, and decreasing stroke and (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Figures of mortality and heat increasing tree canopy 30 percent in European cities could prevent 4 out of 10 premature heat -related deaths. A 10 percent increase in tree cover is associated with reducing mortality by 11 deaths. I can go on and on and on. Basically, what we need to understand is we're City ofMiami Page 9 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 not against progress. We're not against development, but developers need to be mindful and to be kind and soulful to the environment around them that they're corning in to develop. For me, I believe that they're having a vision of just concrete is an attack -- a hostile attack on the environment and the green spaces. I think it's time for the City, to really understand that green spaces are important to the community. They're needed for the health, they're needed for the beautification, and more importantly, they exist. They have a soul, they have a life, and they shouldn't be being cut down because a developer says it's in their way of their construction. I hope that you will do the right thing, that you live up to your oath, which is for the people, by the people, and we the people, which is plural and not developers. Thank you so much. Brenda Betancourt: Good morning, Commissioners, Madam Mayor. My name is Brenda Betancourt, 1436 Southwest 6th Street. I'm in favor of the secure bond that you guys are asking for. The presentation was very informative, and to me, it's very important to understand, due to the fact that my radio show touched around 900 people a day. And I was asked many questions about this because when you do dial 911 for the City of Miami, most of the time don't get a person, you get a beep, somebody who's going to call you back. So, when you're asking for $450 million to fix a facility, what about the service? And that happened to me on Saturday, over 10 minutes, in order for me to get an answer for a human being. And you can go back to the recording, since the City of Miami is supposed to record every single 911 call. And it's important for the citizens of the City of Miami, who right now are expecting the state to cancel the property taxes for homestead to understand what is going to happen if you guys put this on the ballot and eventually the voters will decide, even though it is so important for fire and police. It is important. So, sad that we let it neglect the buildings. But it's the responsibility of the citizens of Miami to vote to see if we actually want to have an extra tax in our bills every month. So, I'm glad for the presentation. And yes, every day I give you [sic] phone numbers of your office to the citizen who asked for it, to the seat of you, because you are elected officials and you're supposed to he answers the peoples of the City of Miami calls. Thank you. Katrina Morris: Hi, Katrina Morris, 4130 Lyber Avenue. Firstly, I commend and support CA.1 and PH 7. These are just the sort of municipal expenditures that enrich and strengthen our city and address the needs of residents. And I ant happy to finally see the Miami Tree Ordinance Advisory Committee formation on the agenda. I fear that it's to rewrite our code, but we have a unique opportunity to take stock of our tree canopy and not only halt the losses, but hopefully, start adding canopy across our city, bringing shade, rainwater mitigation, and filtering, and a host of additional benefits to Mianii residents. The studies are in. Trees are good for people. We've known since Roger Ulrich's 1984 study in Pennsylvania that a tree view outside a hospital window reduces the length of hospital stays, pain medication usage, and minor complications during recovery significantly, statistically significantly. If just having a tree outside a hospital window can show a statistically significant difference in recovery time, what can having adequate tree coverage throughout our city do for the well-being of residents, workers, and visitors? Developers may offer buildings with luxurious interiors, but nature is becoming a far more valuable luxury, and one that is rapidly disappearing. Anyone can scrape a lot and pour concrete. It takes upwards of 50 years to grow a specimen tree. Now that's a luxury. Let's invest in our future happiness and well-being by not only halting the removal of all specimen trees, but by enhancing our city with a robust urban forestry plan. We have a chance here. Let's look back on this period with pride that we all worked together to build a climate resilient city to which other cities can lookfbr inspiration. Please. Brett Bibeau: Good morning. Brett Bibeau, managing director of the Miami River Commission, with offices located at 1407 Northwest 7th Street. Miami River City of _Miami Page 10 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Commission Chairman Horacio Stuart Aguirre has a cold today and is therefore unable to join us, but he sends his regards and support for agenda item RE.19. On behalf of the Miami River Commission, many thanks to Honorable Commissioner Gabela and the entire Honorable City Commission for securing the funding for water quality improvement devices to reduce the frequent bacteria violations in Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal. In partnership with the public and private sectors, this portion of the Miami River District is being transformed into a healthy and safe environment to live, work, and play. Thank you. Steven Leidner: Steven Leidner, 1130 102nd Street, Bay Harbor Islands. Hello, Commissioners, and hello, Mayor Higgins. Congratulations. I hate public speaking, but I hate knowing that our tree canopy is being assaulted and mutilated. Please do not end today's Commission meeting without taking concrete steps to deal with this assault. Thank you so much. Jennifer Diana: Good afternoon, Commissioners and Mayor. My name is Jennifer Diana, and I'm the general manager of Paramount Miami World Center located at 851 Northeast 1st Avenue in Miami. I'm speaking today regarding agenda item RE.2, the proposed 2025 Bicycle Master Plan. I appreciate the City's efforts to improve mobility, connectivity, and alternative transportation options through the proposed plan. Paramount is not opposed to bike lanes, and we support thoughtful infrastructure and improvements that make Miami safer and more accessible. However, as the City moves forward with implementing this plan, I respectfully ask that the Commission carefully consider the real -world safety implications of bike lane design and placement in dense urban residential corridors like Downtown Miami. Specifically, I want to bring attention to the conditions on Northeast 1st Avenue between Northeast 8th Street and Northeast loth Street. This corridor presents a serious and ongoing safety concern. Since the opening of Paramount, the addition of street parking alongside the bike lane on this one-way roadway has created significant visibility issues for vehicles entering and exiting residential driveways and garage entrances. Drivers often cannot see approaching cyclists and until the last moment because parked vehicles obstruct sight lines. At the same time, cyclists and high-speed scooters frequently travel through the corridor without slowing or yielding near active garage entrances. Unfortunately, we are witnessing accidents and collisions a couple times a month. Thankfully, no one has lost their life yet. But individuals have been injured and many residents and staff genuinely fear that a fatality is only a matter of time if changes are not considered. We have repeatedly raised these concerns through public meetings and with various agencies. Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Diana: Thank you. James Torres: Good morning. James Torres, president of the Downtown Neighbors Alliance. You know there's an old saying in politics, when politicians don't want to solve a problem, they create a committee. And that's exactly what this tree committee feels like. This is nothing short of lack of leadership, no accountability, but a political smokescreen designed to deflect the very policies destroying Miami's tree canopy in the first place. Because let's be honest about what's happening here. Trees are not disappearing because residents suddenly woke up one day and hated shade. They're disappearing because City Hall keeps approving policies and projects that make destruction inevitable. Twenty foot store concrete sidewalks being pushed waterfront parks because the policies championed by Commissioner Damian Pardo, sidewalks forced through historic neighborhoods like Morningside, healthy legacy trees suddenly labeled replaceable, easy tree removal permits handed out while developers keep getting the benefits of the doubt and residents keep getting ignored. Now, after years of public outrage, after residents have begged this Commission to City ofMiami Page 11 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 stop the destruction, the answer is a committee, really? Miami does not have a committee shortage. Miami has a courage shortage. If this Commission truly wants to protect trees, you wouldn't need another layer of bureaucracy to study the problem while the chainsaws keep running. You would stop approving these policy causing the destruction. Residents are tired of studies, tired of task force, tired of advisory boards. What they want is action because every month City Hall delays, more of these canopies disappear forever. Please do the right thing on this item. Thank you. Andy Parrish: Still good morning, Commissioners? So, it's trees, traffic, and affordability. Those are always the three main topics. But today it seems like the trees have taken front and center, which probably they should because that's an emergency. I would just like to bring to the Mayor's attention and to the City Manager's attention there was a HEP (Historic and Environmental Preservation) Board meeting that went to 11: 30 just a couple of days ago. One of the big items was on Swanson Avenue, where there were two trees that were debated for like two hours as to whether what should be done with them. And the HEP Board voted to keep them both, because they were both in good shape. But last night, FP&L (Florida Power & Light) decided that they would go in and take the matter into their own hands and decimated one of the trees the PZAB (Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board) spent two hours debating. So, I don't know what you can do with FP&L. They seem to operate on their own. But this is the City of Miami, and I think between Mr. Wysong and our mayor and you commissioners, we can send a message to FP&L that they are being looked at. They are not autonomous. They can't do whatever they feel like anytime they feel like it. And when you do that, then the credibility of everybody goes up because we know our city is protecting our trees. Thank you very much. Michelle Yi: Hello. Sorry. Hello. Thank you so much. Sorry, okay. Hello, my name is Michelle Yi. Address is 23 -- sorry, 2937 Southwest 27th Avenue, Suite 301. I'm an FIU (Florida International University) student and research assistant working on wetland and seagrass restoration, as well as FIU's lead organizer for genCLEO under the CLEO Institute. It was FIU alongside OF (University of Florida) that helped develop the urban tree canopy assessment in 2021. And as I'nz soon to graduate, I wonder about the urban forest that was promised. With the hottest summers on record compounding, adequate tree cover is crucial for the well-being of the community across all sectors. They reduce storm runoff lower electric bills, as well as improve air quality by absorbing pollutants. With the diminishing expanse of third spaces, trees also provide social benefits and bring communities together. By working toward coding the Climate Action Strategy Plan, a request can be made to Miami-Dade's evaluation appraisals to evaluate whether current development and tree permitting policies are sufficient to meet the country's 30 percent tree canopy cover and resiliency goals, as stated in the Urban Forestry Plan and Million Trees Miami initiative. Removing mature live oaks in the City of Miami shows a possible gap between countrywide climate targets and local implementation. The comprehensive development master plan should prioritize preservation of mature native canopy. I'm so sorry. Mature native canopy require transparent canopy loss tracking by municipality and ensure redevelopment does not create a long-term canopy deficit in heat vulnerable communities. As well, we have signed onto a letter with many other leaders in the community to address this issue and we are waiting to hear back on a response. Thank you so match for your time. Denise Tubino: Hello, good morning. Thank you, Madam Mayor and Commissioners for your time and attention. My name is Denise Tubino. I live in Coconut Grove, 2566 Trapp Avenue, 33133. I have lived in Miami for the past 14 years. Prior to establishing roots here, I lived in six countries, and I love this city. I have lived in Edgewater and Coconut Grove these past 14 years, witnessing drastic changes over City ofMiami Page 12 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 a short amount of time. I'm a mother of two boys horn right here in Miami. We love it here. When they're my age, I want them to still see the Miami of today. But Miami is experiencing an unprecedented boom. As an environmental consultant with a focus on environmental and social impact assessment, I see this boom coming at a very high cost to Miami's environment and its local residents. The rate at which we are losing our trees is out of control. In my line of work, we bring forth solutions to complex problems. One way to solve the problems is through nature -based solutions, which is a growing sector valued at over $220 billion annually. Here in Miami, we already have the trees providing critical functions for free in the form of ecological services, which are priceless. Miami needs to start viewing trees as part of the solution to Miami's complex problems, such as flooding and urban heat island effect. As a community, trees are not a nuisance and they are an asset that should be viewed as critical infrastructure. As a community, we want tree conservation. There's a path forward. Let's come together and make it happen. Thank you. Arnie Hertzig: Hi, I'm Arnie Hertzig. I live at 3564 Linden Lane in Coconut Grove. I took the Circuit here today and I'd like to thank whoever, I believe it's our commissioner. It was wonderful, wonderful experience and I'm hoping it takes me home as well. I'm here to speak about my personal experience as a resident of Coconut Grove and a homeowner for four decades and multi -generational and I have deep grief I know feelings don't seem to matter in this society. But what I've seen happen to my neighborhood and my home in real time is devastating. I used to look out over majestic trees. There was always an avocado or a mango or things for all the children. And now I am sandwiched between concrete walls. I would invite all the commissioners and mayor to come to my house and see what's happening. And the thing is, the developers and the whole situation now, they don't -- there's no investment in the neighborhood, really. They don't care. It's not like it used to be before. On Linden Lane, we know all of our neighbors, except for a foreign developer that was able to buy a property that would have been lovely, an old homestead, and cut down all the trees. And I'm like, who is allowing this to happen? Seriously, it is a crime. And when I spoke recently to someone representing Coconut Grove, and they said, well, property owners have rights. Now, why do their rights to make a profit ()flour neighborhood and destroy it -- Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Hertzig: Why is that more important -- Mayor Higgins: Thank -- Ms. Hertzig: -- than the rights of children, the rights of nature -- Mayor Higgins: Thank -- Ms. Hertzig: -- the rights of community? Mayor Higgins: Thank you for coming. Noel Cleland: Good morning. My name's Noel Cleland. I live at 5990 Southwest 50th Street. And I'd just like to thank all the tree huggers for being here today. Trees are living beings and they can't be here to represent themselves, so thank you all for speaking up. Full disclosure, I do own a chainsaw, but I will say I've never cut a tree down. They come out -- my chainsaw comes out in times for storm preparation and afterwards. Because trees have a value, and we spend a lot of time trying to put the price tag on a value of a tree. But it's more than just the monetary value, and obviously, the developers have enough money that they can get around whatever kind of penalty you try to put financially on them. So, I would suggest, think of it City ofMiami Page 13 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 another way. When we have a violation of the tree removal, maybe we should suspend the developer's permits process -- Unidentified Speaker: Yes. Mr. Cleland: -- so that they now have an incentive to do something other than just cut down trees. Thank you. Jessica Johnson: Hello, Commissioner, Mayors -- Mayor and Commissioners. Jessica Johnson, 5262 Northeast 5th Avenue, Morningside. Who do you represent? You are stewards of this city, not owners, and you are failing that stewardship on your watch. Your own charter says the City shall conserve and protect its natural resources. Any public official who willfully violates this shall forfeit their office. You are violating it on City -owned land, every neighborhood. 411 Northeast 69th Street owned property -- a City -owned property, an 88-year-old woman next door got a form letter saying, sorry, 10 days. Commissioner King, trees on City -owned affordable housing land in your district, I know you want to do better. These are not developers. Commissioner Pardo, 14 mature mahogany's at Grove Station. Albert Gomez pleaded at this podium, the community pleaded. The trees were killed anyway on your command. You cannot blame developers or the state. Mayor Higgins, you have said nothing, not one word. Specimen trees are being destroyed across every neighborhood, and you have been silent. And we know you hear us because you pay social media people hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars. This is environmental justice. Every community, regardless of race or income deserves equal protection from environmental harm. In Miami, that means trees. The difference between East Grove and West Grove, between Morningside and Little Haiti is the tree canopy. But make no mistake, they are cutting down trees in Brickell, Coconut Grove, Morningside, Edgewater, Bayside Park on your watch. RE.4 -- 15, vote yes. Appoint Dr. Chris Baralotto, it must have teeth. Follow what he says and everything Albert Gomez and Sandy Moise say and the CRC. Who do you represent? Not us. We also don't want to pay for your events, PR (Public Relations) gimmicks, galas, perks. Tighten your belts, it looks ridiculous. More trees. Ian Wogan: Good morning, Commissioners, Madam Mayor. Ian Wogan, 2360 Overbrook Street. I am a registered consulting arborist and a Florida ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) arborist. Fin also a father of three and was born here at Mercy Hospital, local. My professional practice focuses on integrating trees in the built environment through preservation strategies and urban canopy enhancement plans. The development pressures here in Miami are notable and significant. And I think we are at a point that's been heard multiple times over the course of this meeting of demand from the residents. And also, just opportunity as a global city that can lead the way in integrating trees as infrastructure. I've spoken on many panels on trees as infrastructure, managing trees during construction, relocating specimen trees, and I look forward to the tree committee. And I just urge that there are -- there's teeth behind it. Quatisha Oguntoyinbo-Rashad was a dear colleague of mine. And I respected her tremendously because she stood for the preservation of trees when it -- when seemingly nobody else really did. And I would suggest that we embody some of her spirit to carry forward to a new means of integrating tree preservation and enhancement in a way that aligns development interests and leverages PPPs (Public -Private Partnerships) so that we're coming together to enhance Miami as a whole and not squabble over -- over silliness. Madison Kinder: Good morning, Commissioners, Mayor. My name is Madison Kinder. I live in Coconut Grove at 3471 Main Highway, and I am here in support of strengthening Miami's tree protections with an advisory committee to consider revisions to the tree ordinance. In a city that is already facing extreme heat, flooding, and rapid overdevelopment, mature trees are not cosmetic amenities. City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 They're a critical infrastructure. They provide shade, reduce urban heat, improve air quality, and absorb stormwater, and protect quality of life for residents. 1 strongly support prioritizing keeping healthy trees in the ground whenever possible. Tree removal should only be treated as a last resort, not a routine development expense. When removal is unavoidable, the penalties and mitigation requirements must be significantly stronger. Right now, for many developers, fines are simply absorbed as the cost of doing business. That does not create meaningful protection or accountability. Fines should be high enough to actually discourage unnecessary removal, especially for mature canopy trees that take decades to replace. I also encourage the committee to prioritize stronger protections for mature and native trees, transparent public oversight and enforcement, meaningful replacement requirements, and prioritizes that recognized canopy loss disproportionately impacts vulnerable neighborhoods as well as requiring an urban tree canopy survey so that we can actually know how many trees are still -- stand in our city. Miami cannot continue losing its tree canopy while temperatures rise year after year. Development and environmental protection cannot be treated as mutually exclusive, especially as the City has already stated that they have a goal of reaching 30 percent canopy by 2030. Thank you so much for your time. Mel Meinhardt: Good morning, Madam Mayor, Madam Chair, Commissioners. There is no urgency to make bad policy. RE.6 and 13 are very well intentioned, but they are partial, incomplete measures. An incomplete reform can look like progress while leaving deep structural problems unresolved. Good governance argues Pr comprehensive reform. Miami's history matters. It needs reform and it needs it now. More than 20,000 petitioners signed Stronger Miami petitions because they believe the City has deeper protections, needs deeper protections jrovoters, especially protections against election manipulation. They do not want mere calendar adjustments. They want trust, safeguards, and accountability. These are hard, Commissioner, polarizing tunes in the U.S. It is not the moment for ambiguity about democratic principles. And that is why this distinction matters between these proposals. Miami doesn't need to choose between reform and public trust. However, RE.6 and 13 ask voters to accept trades they should not have to make. If they want better governance, that they first must give up something to those already in office, that's the wrong starting point. RE.3 shows leadership. The pattern is not by accident. It happens over the world, and it undermines citizens' confidence in the future. Good reforms strengthen trust, their motives should be clear. Defer RE.6, defer RE.13. Bring together a better package that meets all the needs of the City. Thank you, sir. Mayor Higgins: Mel, we need your name and address for the record. Mr. Meinhardt: Mel Meinhardt, 3075 Virginia Street. Thank you. Mayor Higgins: I know we know you, but for the record. Anyone else? Okay, go ahead. Thank you, Rob. Rob Piper: Yes, thank you for having me again. Again, Rob Piper, 1401 Southwest 17th Terrace. I'm just up here to express my support for RE.3. Yes, I think that is a good legislation. Thank you, Madam Mayor, for advancing that. But express my lack of support for RE.6 and RE.13. I figure, begrudgingly, I guess I would have to support either 6 or 13. If I have to support them begrudgingly, then let's support the one that is going to bring us even -year elections sooner as opposed to later. Thank you very much. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Seeing no other speakers lined up, reasonable opportunity to be heard is closed. City ofMiami Page 15 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 AM - APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS: 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) City, of Miami Page 16 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 CA.1 19120 Department of Police CA - CONSENT AGENDA The following item(s) was Adopted on the Consent Agenda MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A DONATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($75,000.00) TO AMPLIFY COMMUNITY RESOURCES, INC., A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION, FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT YOUTH COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING IN THE CITY WITH A FOCUS ON PROMOTING MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND, PROJECT NUMBER 19- 690001, AWARD 1169, AND ACCOUNT CODE 12500.191602.883000.0.0, 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-26-0209 This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda. Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item CA.1, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s)." City ofMiami Page 17 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 CA.2 19201 Department of Police RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF A PART-TIME SUBJECT MATTER SPECIALIST POSITION FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY") POLICE DEPARTMENT ("DEPARTMENT") AND EMPLOYING A CERTIFIED POLYGRAPH EXAMINER WITH A PROJECTED NET ZERO FISCAL IMPACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 THAT SHALL BE FULLY FUNDED THROUGH THE APPROPRIATED FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT CODE 00001.191501.531000.0.0; FURTHER 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 CREATE AND FILL SAID POSITION 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-26-0210 This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda. CA.3 RESOLUTION 19157 Department of Solid Waste A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE PROJECT TITLED "RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM"; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND THE RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP, INC. A FOREIGN NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, WITH PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS LOCATED AT 601 13TH STREET NORTHWEST, 12TH FLOOR, WASHINGTON, DC 20005 ("GRANTOR"), FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THREE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($360,000.00) ("GRANT") FOR ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INCREASING RECYCLING AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS ("PURPOSE"), WITH AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($125,000.00) OF SAID GRANT BEING PROVIDED BY THE GRANTOR TO THE CITY IN THE FORM OF IN -KIND SERVICES, WITH NO CITY MATCH REQUIRED; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR ACCEPTANCE AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE GRANT; PROVIDING FOR THE INCORPORATION OF RECITALS AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0211 City ofMiami Page 18 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda. CA.4 RESOLUTION 19133 Department of Resilience and Public Works A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THREE (3) RIGHT-OF-WAY DEEDS 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-26-0212 This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda. END OF CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Higgins: Alright. Colleagues, we're just after noon. Would you like to push through the agenda? It seems like I don 't think there's' too many controversial things. Is that okay? Commissioner Escalona: I would like to move forward. Mayor Higgins: Okay. Alright. Let's start with the consent agenda. Is there anything anyone would like to bifurcate? Alright. Seeing none, I would entertain a motion on the consent agenda, please. Commissioner Gabela: Motion. Commissioner Pardo: So moved. Commissioner Gabela: Second. Commissioner Pardo: Second. Mayor Higgins: Alright. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Any opposed? Those items passed. City ofMiami Page 19 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 PH - PUBLIC HEARINGS PH.1 RESOLUTION 19067 Department of Resilience and Public Works A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE PLAT TITLED "JOHN JACOBS," A REPLAT AND A SUBDIVISION 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-26-0213 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item PH.1, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s)." Mayor Higgins: Public Hearing items. Is there anyone who would like to bifurcate anything on the Public Hearing items? Commissioner Pardo: No. Mayor Higgins: Alright, seeing none, I would enter -- yes, Mr. Clerk. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And just for the record, PZ (Planning and Zoning) -- PH.6 was withdrawn. Commissioner Pardo: Withdrawn. Mr. Hannon: PH.6 was withdrawn. Mayor Higgins: Yep. PH.6 is withdrawn. Alright, so we'll have -- I'll entertain a motion on PH.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7. Commissioner Gabela: Motion. Commissioner Rosado: Second. Mayor Higgins: Motion by Gabela, second by Commissioner Escalona. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. City of Miami Page 20 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mayor Higgins: Any opposed? Show those unanimously passed. PH.2 RESOLUTION 19072 Department of Resilience and Public Works A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE PLAT TITLED "SHEAR WILDWOOD CIRCLE TRUST PLAT," 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; 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-26-0214 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.2, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s)" and Item PH.1. PH.3 RESOLUTION 19139 Department of Resilience and Public Works 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 AND 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 EIGHT (8) LOCATIONS IN THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS OF DISTRICT 2, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO SEND A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE DTPW DIRECTOR. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0215 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.3, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s)" and Item PH.1. City of Miami Page 21 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 PH.4 RESOLUTION 19132 Department of Resilience and Public Works 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") TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED TRAFFIC FLOW MODIFICATIONS AND 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 THIRTY- SIX (36) LOCATIONS IN THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS OF DISTRICT 4, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO SEND A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE DTPW DIRECTOR. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0216 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.4, please see Item PH.1. PH.5 RESOLUTION 19175 Department of Resilience and Public Works 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") TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED TRAFFIC FLOW MODIFICATION AND 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 FIVE (5) LOCATIONS IN THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS OF DISTRICT 5, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO SEND A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE DTPW DIRECTOR. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0217 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.5, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s)" and Item PH.1. City of Miami Page 22 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 PH.6 RESOLUTION 19185 Commissioners and Mayor A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY A FOUR FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDINGS, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," THAT COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ALLOCATE FUNDING, ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FOUR MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($4,000,000.00) FROM PROJECT NO. 40-B263412 TO SG LITTLE HAVANA LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ("DEVELOPER"), FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELDERLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN DISTRICT 3 THAT WILL CONTAIN THREE HUNDRED (300) UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNITS FOR ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS WHOSE ANNUAL INCOME IS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN SIXTY PERCENT (60%) OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME, THE USE, ALLOCATION, AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS IDENTIFIED HEREIN, ARE SUBJECT TO THE RECEIPT BY THE CITY MANAGER OF THE WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE LOAN BY THE CITY'S HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL LOAN COMMITTEE ("HCLC APPROVAL"), AND SUBJECT TO THE TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN, IN THE HCLC APPROVAL, THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES, ANY OTHER APPLICABLE CITY RESOLUTIONS RELATED TO THE PROJECT, AND ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE OF FLORIDA, LOCAL, AND CITY LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS; RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN NECESSARY ACTIONS BY THE CITY MANAGER AND DESIGNATED CITY DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO UPDATE THE CAPITAL PLAN, RELEVANT FINANCIAL CONTROLS AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, FOR PROJECT CLOSE-OUTS, AND FOR GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES IN PROGRESS IN CONNECTION HEREWITH; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS, AND MODIFICATIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE, SUBJECT TO THE RECEIPT BY THE CITY MANAGER OF THE HCLC APPROVAL. 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 PH.6, please see "Order of the Day." City of Miami Page 23 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 PH.7 RESOLUTION 19268 Commissioners and Mayor A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, BY A FOUR- FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING(S), ATTACHED HERETO AND INCORPORATED HEREIN AS EXHIBIT "B," THAT COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT 3 SHARE OF THE CITY'S MIAMI FOR EVERYONE ("MFE") PROGRAM, PRIMARILY ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($125,000.00) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026, WITH AN OPTION TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($125,000.00) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027, TO SUNSHINE FOR ALL, INC., A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THE "DISTRICT 3 ACTIVE SENIOR PROGRAM," WHICH WILL OFFER ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION TO LOW- OR MODERATE - INCOME SENIOR ADULTS AT TWENTY-SEVEN (27) SENIOR CARE FACILITIES IN DISTRICT 3, AND PROVIDE MONTHLY RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL OUTINGS THAT ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE, PROMOTE SOCIAL CONNECTION, REDUCE ISOLATION, AND OFFER ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SENIOR ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY (THE "PROJECT"); AUTHORIZING A LIMITED INITIAL ADVANCE PAYMENT NOT TO EXCEED THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO (2) MONTHS OF PROGRAM OPERATING EXPENSES, WITH ALL REMAINING DISBURSEMENTS TO BE MADE ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS; SUBJECT TO ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS GOVERNING THE USE OF SUCH FUNDS; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY, IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0218 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.7, please see Item PH.1. END OF PUBLIC HEARINGS City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE - RESOLUTIONS RE.1 RESOLUTION 19158 Office of Management and Budget A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING APPROPRIATIONS RELATING TO THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR ADOPTED OPERATING BUDGET PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-25-0413, ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2025, AS AMENDED, THE FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN, THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THE MULTI- YEAR CAPITAL PLAN PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-25- 0412, ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2025, AS AMENDED (COLLECTIVELY, THE "BUDGET"), AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES TO ADJUST, AMEND, ALLOCATE, AND APPROPRIATE THE BUDGET, AND ANY PART THEREOF, REGARDING CITY OF MIAMI SERVICES AND RESOURCES AS NECESSARY AND LEGALLY ALLOWED; RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN NECESSARY ACTIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER AND DESIGNATED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENTS TO UPDATE THE RELEVANT FINANCIAL CONTROLS, PROJECT CLOSE-OUTS, ACCOUNTING ENTRIES, AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AND FOR GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES IN PROGRESS AND FOR NECESSARY RELATED DOCUMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND EXECUTIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY; PROVIDING FOR APPLICABLE EFFECTIVE DATES. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0219 MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s) RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S) MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Mayor Higgins: Okay, moving into resolutions. Are there any resolutions that need to be bifurcated? Commissioner Pardo: No. Mayor Higgins: None. Okay, so -- Commissioner Rosado: I --1 do have one. Mayor Higgins: Okay, Commissioner Rosado, which one? Commissioner Rosado: I think the Chairwoman spoke before I did. Mayor Higgins: Yes, go ahead. Commissioner King. Commissioner King: I'd like to pull RE.15 for discussion. Mayor Higgins: Alright. City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Commissioner Gabela: RE.15, okay. Mayor Higgins: RE.15, any others? Commissioner Rosado? Commissioner Rosado: Yes, RE.17. Mayor Higgins: RE.17, okay. Commissioner Gabela: Okay, RE.17. Okay, hang on a minute, please. Commissioner Escalona: Okay, we can start with RE.15. Mayor Higgins: Yeah, why don't I do a motion on everything else? Commissioner Gabela: Okay, RE.8. Mayor Higgins: RE.8, you would like to --? Commissioner Gabela: Yeah. Mayor Higgins: Okay. Commissioner Pardo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Sorry, so for RE.1, just for the record, RE.1 needs to be amended pursuant to a substitution amendment dated May 11, 2026, so RE.1 will be as amended. Mayor Higgins: Alright, so do I have a motion on RE.1 -- Commissioner King: Madam Mayor? Mayor Higgins: Yes, ma'am. Commissioner King: I'd like to pull RE.16 as well. Mayor Higgins: RE.16, okay. So -- Commissioner Gabela: RE.16, hang on. Hang on a minute. RE.16, okay. Mayor Higgins: So, I'm going to recap, 1 think, what have been bifurcated. So, we all know. RE.8, RE.15, RE.16, RE.17. Does that sound correct? Commissioner Gabela: You're missing RE.5. Mayor Higgins: And RE.5. Commissioner Gabela: So, what are we doing again, RE.5? Mayor Higgins: Are you bifurcating RE.5? Do you want --? Commissioner Gabela: No, no, I don't want to pull it. Mayor Higgins: Okay, no, that's fine. Commissioner Gabela: If nobody wants to pull it -- City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mayor Higgins: Yeah, okay. No one has pulled it. Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, okay. Mayor Higgins: Yeah, the items that are pulled are 8, 15, 16, and 17. Commissioner Gabela: 8, 15, 16, 17, okay. Mayor Higgins: Alright, so I would entertain a motion on RE.1, RE.5, RE.7, RE.9, RE.10, RE.11, RE.12, RE.18, and 19. Commissioner Gabela: Motion. Commissioner Escalona: Second. Mayor Higgins: Okay, motion by Commissioner Gabela, seconded by Commissioner Rosado. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Any opposed? Carries unanimously. RE.2 RESOLUTION 18325 Department of Resilience and Public Works A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN, DATED SEPTEMBER 2025, PREPARED BY KIMLEY HORN, INC. FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI'S DEPARTMENT OF RESILIENCE AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT NUMBERS 40- B203613 & 40-B70245, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A" ("BICYCLE MASTER PLAN"), TO UPDATE THE 2009 BICYCLE MASTER PLAN PROVIDING UPDATED TYPICAL SECTIONS, IDENTIFYING IMPROVEMENTS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVING SAFETY AND MOBILITY, AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN; 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 RE.2 was deferred to the May 28, 2026, City Commission Meeting. Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.2, please see "Order of the Day" and "Public Comments for All Item(s)." City of Miami Page 27 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.3 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: Withdraw RESULT: WITHDRAWN MOVER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.3, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s)." Mayor Higgins: Commissioner Pardo, would you like to address RE.3, 13, and 14? I think they sort of have to go at the same time. Commissioner Pardo: 1 think what we did, Madam Mayor, is we rolled your item and continued with this one, going to even -year elections starting in November, but deducting the year from the group that is not yet, which means 2034 would be the first year of even -year elections going forward. And that's what that item is on the agenda. We withdrew RE.6. Personally, I had -- you know, I think 2030, taking away a year from the next set of election would be doable for me, but I also know that not everybody's comfortable imposing that on other people who already came in with the expectation of having regular terms. So, as it stands, I know, City Attorney -- I do also want to add that the plus one minus one year, which is something that's gone back and forth over months and months and months and months, really has depended on the legal opinions at the time as to what is most legally defensible. I City of Miami Page 28 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 know in the City of Miami, we had the experience of the challenges that were never expected and things that didn't work the way originally intended. And we definitely want to try to avoid that as much as possible. And the best way to avoid that is by following the advice of counsel and taking away that year on that impacted group. George Wysong (City Attorney): So, what that means is, on RE.6, which has already been withdrawn, that item would have added a year to everybody's term. And, you know, it was our best advice that notwithstanding the fact that there are cities and towns across the state of Florida that are doing this exact same thing -- there's one in Broward that's doing it now -- that the City of Miami is uniquely situated in that folks will sue. And we didn't want to -- we advised you that it's better to move forward without adding the additional year pursuant to a section of the Florida Constitution. So, that's why RE.6 was withdrawn. And I believe -- Commissioner Rosado: George? Mr. Attorney, could you speak a little more clearly into the microphone? Thank you. Mr. Wysong: Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, sorry. I was just saving that RE.6 would have added an extra year to everybody's term, and based on a provision of the Florida Constitution, we felt that notwithstanding the fact that cities and towns and villages across the state of Florida have moved their election and added an extra year or so, we just felt that the City of Miami gets sued in these matters for whatever reason. And we wouldn't want that to be a pitfall for your reform effort to change the dates of the election to the even year cycle. The only other thing that I wanted to mention was we were observing -- so in the event that you move forward with RE.13, we just have a quick change that -- I'm sorry, did I say 13? Yes, RE.13. We consulted with the Supervisor of Elections Office, and we initially wrote the item on the agenda to reflect their qualification period. And, in fact, they had a charter review process where they were going to ask the County to change the provisions of Article 6 of the Miami -Dade County Charter to mandate a certain time frame for which we would have our qualification period. However, with the assistance of the Clerks Office, we pointed out to the Supervisor of Elections that their numbers are slightly off. And that would have created a problem for us. Our qualification period would actually go four days beyond what they require, even though it's their period. So, what we did was we are proposing adding a different qualification deadline, which would be, however, commencing in the year 2030, an affidavit of candidacy shall be filed not earlier than 10 calendar days preceding the deadline for candidate qualifying as provided by the Supervisor of Elections for Miami -Dade County and no later than 12 o'clock noon on the day prior to the deadline for candidate qualifying as provided by the Supervisor of Elections for Miami -Dade County or during the qualifying period for a special election to fill a vacancy. What that means in simple terms is year the Supervisor of Election puts out a little notice saying that the ballot deadlines are these. So, our qualification period would count 10 days from their deadline backwards. And the reason that's necessary, we couldn't provide an actual date, is the State of Florida from time to time will move its primary cycles in order to be more competitive with other states and things like that. So, the County could not assure us -- or the Supervisor of Elections Office could not assure us, you know, what numerical formula would work, so we think this is the best way to do it based on their determination of when the deadline is, and we start our qualification periods 10 days prior to that. That would be the only change to 13. 13, essentially, what it does is every sitting commissioner would fill out their term. So, if you don't mind, I'll use you for example. You were elected in 2023. You're up for election in 2027. The District 2 commissioner elected in 2027 will serve a four-year term. Then this charter amendment would, on 2031, the next person that runs for District 2 would have a three-year term, and then their subsequent term would be a four-year term. So, in order to align, because like we've maintained all along, there's no way to move it to the even years without gaining a year or losing a year. We thought it was City of Miami Page 29 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 sort of inappropriate, and some of you could have actually challenged if you had a year taken away from you. So, we thought the best thing to do would be to move it down so nobody's affected on the dais. You would all get to fulfill your second four- year term, and then the first subsequent person running would lose that year. And then that would align everything. And then the last thing of note is that this would be on the November -December cycle as well. That's what the proposed change in 13 is. Commissioner Pardo: And George, the only thing I would add to that is that from the very beginning, we've had two overwhelming goals. One is to increase voter participation, hopefully, to that 70 percent number, and then immediately by to get this done as soon as we possibly can and passed. And it has been very, very challenging, and I think we've been working on it two years. So, hopefully, people can see the logic of what we're putting forward and open it up to the rest. Mayor Higgins: Colleagues, are there any discussions or questions? Commissioner Pardo, do you want to take us through the motions on those three items that need to be done? Commissioner Pardo: I'll make the motion. Mayor Higgins: Yeah. To the Clerk. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And I apologize for the interruption. So, RE.14 must be voted upon first before RE.13. Mr. Wysong: Right. Mr. Hannon: RE.13 will not only have the City Attorney's amendment, but there will also be another amendment for RE. 13, which is to amend to add a date and resolution number in the 13th whereas clause, in addition to adding a resolution number in Section 5 of the legislation. So, RE.13 would he as amended, and then RE.3 is in play. Commissioner Escalona: So, RE.14 has to go first. Commissioner Rosado: George, for clarity -- Commissioner Pardo: Okay. Can we withdraw RE.3? Mayor Higgins: I'm not pleased about it, but yes. Commissioner Rosado: Commissioner -- Commissioner Pardo, could you take us through the years? Just take us through the years, just for clarification because it is - Commissioner Pardo: From the beginning? Commissioner Rosado: -- tricky. What is proposed ultimately? Commissioner Pardo: Okay, what is being proposed right now, and we'll use my term just for the sake of making it easier. So, elected in 2023, it's a four-year term. Come due 2027. If we ever tried to touch an existing term that we're all sitting in, it's open, very open to legal challenges. So, we start looking at the next term. The next term would be 2027 to 2031. And on that one, it becomes an issue of how marry people -- voting for reducing someone else's term that, you know, would have a normal objection when they were looking at the, you know, those original four years, if re-elected, right? So, then that would be 2031 to 2035. So, that one cuts back to City of Miami Page 30 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 2034. That's the three years. So, the folks in 2031 who get elected in 2031 will have a three-year term, and then they'll be aligned, and everything will go on for four years. And that was -- you know, originally we had wanted to set this to voters and the late Commissioner Reyes had been sick. We had missed like three meetings. We weren 't able to get it to the voters. And then we tried to do it in 2026 as soon as possible, get it to 70. That didn't work. That path was closed. And so, now we've been here going back and forth with the legal aspects of what is the best thing to do, add a year, take away a year, that is most defensible for the City of Miami, because we are very likely to get challenged. You know, like the City Attorney said, many other cities have done this. 1t really hasn't even been much of a, you know, much of an issue, but in this city, it will be. So, at least we think we do, if I -- okay. Mr. Wysong: Correct. Commissioner Pardo: Did that answer your question? Commissioner Rosado: It did. [Later...] Commissioner Pardo: Okay. Make a motion. Commissioner Escalona: So, motion -- first we have to go RE.14. Mr. Hannon: Well, did you want to address RE.3 first before --? Commissioner Escalona: Okay. Commissioner Pardo: Motion to withdraw RE.3. Commissioner Escalona: So move. Commissioner Gabela: Motion to withdraw right? Is that correct? Commissioner Escalona: RE.3. Mayor Higgins: Alright. There's a motion and a second on RE.3. All in favor? The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Okay. City of Miami Page 31 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.4 RESOLUTION 19183 Commissioners and Mayor A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE, SUBJECT TO THE ELECTION HEREIN PROVIDED FOR, IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($450,000,000.00) OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS ("BONDS") OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ("CITY"), IN ONE OR MORE SEPARATE SERIES, TO REPAIR AND REPLACE CRITICALLY DETERIORATING FIRE AND POLICE FACILITIES, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTING NEW FIRE STATIONS AND A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS FOR POLICE AND FIRST RESPONDERS, WITH INTEREST PAYABLE AT RATES NOT EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM RATE ALLOWED BY LAW; PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF AD VALOREM TAXES TO PAY SUCH BONDS, PROVIDED THAT THE DEBT MILLAGE NOT EXCEED THE RATE OF 0.5935 MILLS, WITH SAID BONDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S INDEPENDENT ANNUAL AUDIT CONDUCTED BY THE CITY'S EXTERNAL AUDITOR; CALLING FOR A BOND REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION AND MAKING PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC NOTICES AND HOLDING A BOND REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION ON AUGUST 18, 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORATE AT SAID ELECTION, WITH RESPECT TO THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH BONDS; DESCRIBING THE REGISTRATION BOOKS AND RECORDS MAINTAINED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE GENERAL LAWS OF FLORIDA AND OF THE CHARTER AND CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, WHICH THE CITY HAS ADOPTED AND DESIRES TO USE FOR HOLDING SUCH BOND REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION; DESIGNATING AND APPOINTING THE CITY CLERK AS THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF VOTER REGISTRATION BOOKS AND RECORDS; AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH NOTICE OF THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION AND THE PROVISIONS HEREOF PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO CAUSE A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE HEREIN RESOLUTION TO BE DELIVERED TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW NOT LESS THAN FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF SUCH BOND REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. MOTION TO: Defer RESULT: DEFERRED MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Rosado NAYS: Escalona Note for the Record: Item RE.4 was deferred to the May 28, 2026, City Commission Meeting. City of Miami Page 32 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.4, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s). " Mayor Higgins: Alright, colleagues. Today we have a couple of items that are pretty important to get through, particularly because the Supervisor of Elections needs an answer next week from us. Certainly that includes the three remaining items about the timing of elections for the City of Miami, the crisis in our public safety infrastructure and that bond proposal. And then also, we've been hearing a lot from residents about our tree committee, which 1 think we'd like to get set up today. So, I'm going to take those three items out of order. We're going to start with RE.4, the public safety bond. And on each of these items, I will be opening public hearing and closing public hearing only on that item, and then we will move to the full agenda and have public hearing and reasonable opportunity to hear on anything else that's on the agenda or on our residents' minds. So, with that, I'd like to take up RE.4. Commissioner Escalona: So move. Commissioner Rosado: Second. Mayor Higgins: We have a motion and a second, but gentlemen, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We have to hear from the public. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And Chair, my, apologies again for the interruption. Mayor Higgins: Yeah. Mr. Hannon: RE.4 will be amended to add a resolution number in Section 4 of the legislation. So, do the mover and seconder accept the amendment? Commissioner Rosado: Yes. Commissioner Escalona: Yes. Mr. Hannon: Thank you, Chair. Mayor Higgins: Okay. I'd like to now, for members of the audience, if anybody is here to speak on RE.4, please line up. Thank you very much. Mr. Cruz. You ready, or no? Elvis Cruz: Why don't you -- could you let the other gentleman go? Mayor Higgins: Yes, please. Mr. Cruz: Thank you. Mayor Higgins: RE.4 only. All other public item -- all other items will be heard later. Juan Cuba: Good morning. My name is Juan Cuba. My address is 165 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, Florida, 33134. And let me just start by saying it's incredibly refreshing to see the makeup of the City Commission, and I have a lot of hope and expectations for what you all can do. I rise to speak in concern with the bond. And, Madam Mayor, one of the promises you made when you were elected is to do a deep dive into the -- audit into the City budget. That feels like a necessary first step. Recent reporting said that together salaries and benefits of the City's 5,000 plus employees account for 77 percent of Miami's operating budget. The City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 police department saw its annual operating budget increase by 50 percent over five years, a $138 million jump to $450 million annual operating, driven largely by personnel costs, which account for nearly 90 percent of spending. At least over 100 City of Miami employees now earn over $200,000 in the current fiscal year, more than double the number that was two years ago. I believe in government. I believe in paying our employees fairly and treating -- treating people fairly, but there's a line you cross when it moves from public service to serving yourself It undermines all the hard work that you all are doing and the trust the public must have in government for our democracy to function. Since a large share of the bond will go to the police department, we have to ask why hasn't the police department been budgeting over the years to fix their workplace conditions? And now the public is being asked to foot the bill. And, Mayor, there's another promise we ask that you deliver before making this bond the cornerstone of your first year. And that is that you promise to revisit the 287(g) agreement that the police is conducting. This is incredibly important because we are giving such a large share of the bond to the police department. So, we ask that you and the Commission ask the hard questions about what's going on with this program. I have a personal family friend who's -- who left this country because the -- not just ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), but all police agencies across Florida, state and local are now participating in this program. So, we ask that you revisit that, ask hard questions about the program, and thank you for your time. Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Mr. Cruz, Mr. Cruz: Thank you. Elvis Cruz. On RE.4, we've seen this movie before. In 2001, the City wanted $255 million for the neighborhood improvement bond. Then 9/11 happened, so they cleverly added the name Homeland Defense. This sign at Morningside Park promised swimming pool improvements. Twenty-five years later, they never improved the pool, they demolished it. Another of the many victims of the City's addiction to deferred maintenance. It makes no sense to reward and feed an addict more of the same drug instead of stopping the addiction, but that's what's proposed. It's deja vu all over again as the City now wants a $450 million bond to demolish fire and police stations because they weren't maintained so they can build new fire and police stations that they also won't maintain. Over my 45 years of civic activism, I've learned the City of Miami loves to do things for its own comfort and convenience, even if it's at the public's discomfort and inconvenience and expense. $450 million is about a thousand dollars for every man, woman, and child in the City. A deep dive into City finances was promised. 1 did a shallow dive and found the City already owes $288 million on general obligation bonds and $900 million in principal and interest on special obligation bonds. That's almost $1.2 billion of preexisting debt. This Miami Today article reports taxpayers are on the hook for $3 billion of debt from the Marlins Stadium scam. Before you consider any more debt, please have the City post how much we already owe in a simple online spreadsheet listing all current bonds, debts, and obligations. Similarly, despite repeated requests, the present public have not been able to get a clear accounting of the Tree Trust Fund. Please have the City post an online spreadsheet showing income expenditures and the running balance of the Tree Trust Fund. Transparency is essential to a fair, honest, and financially responsible democracy. Thank you. And Commissioner King, railroad shops, I like it. Mayor Higgins: Mr. Kennedy. Thomas Kennedy: Hello, my name is Thomas Kennedy. I reside in 6601 Northwest 1st Avenue, Miami, Florida 33150. I'm here to speak against the proposed municipal bond. I have concerns about its fiscal impact on our city, but also the continued role of Miami's Police Department in immigration enforcement under the City's 287(g) agreement. According to a state database of figures put out by the state of Florida, City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Miami is the City, with the highest level of immigration enforcement encounters in the state. I have brought a printout of the dashboard for your awareness, which I will share with the City Clerk after my comments, so you guys have them. The figures are concerning and City officials should clarify them. Before asking our residents to consider footing an additional $450 million, which with interest will compound to well over a billion dollars over time, over the life cycle of the bond, the 287(g) contracts need to be addressed by this Commission. And if commissioners won 't do it, Mayor, you have the power to fulfill one of your campaign promises in this matter. You could address this matter and put this on the agenda. As a matter of fact, I see your name as a cosponsor of the bond item. And / also see your name as a sponsor of the item in the page before that. So, I respectfully ask this body to defer the bond and address the 287(g) agreement, which is a matter of urgency Jrothis community. If the commissioners won't do it, Mayor, you have the power to do it. Thank you. Elissa Margulies: Good morning. Elissa Margulies, Rice Street in Center Grove. Miami residents support our police officers and firefighters. But loving our first responders does not mean taxpayers should be expected to silently accept a $450 million bill without serious scrutiny. Have multiple independent estimates been completed? Have actual scopes of work, timelines or competing bids been posted for public review? Trust us doesn't work anymore. We want full transparence. Our mayor campaigned on doing a forensic audit of City finances. Has that been completed? Because a lot of time has been invested in making Instagram reels to tug at our heartstrings. But has anyone taken the time to look for ways, duplication, or bloated contracts before deciding taxpayers should once again be the first source of cash? If not, how can our commissioners confidently say the money isn't already there? This City bends over backwards for developers and large private interests. In fact, Miami has become famous for an environment that creates multi -millionaires and billionaires. And yet, taxpayers are being presented as the only solution. Why not explore alternative funding? For example, when businesses seek special treatment or favors from the City with waivers, exceptions, favorable leases, zoning changes, or public land deals, why not require meaningful investments hack into the neighborhoods they impact? The Hangar in Coconut Grove is just one example of granting lease waivers with no community benefit attached. Why not negotiate a direct investment for Fire Station 8? They are the first responders to Hangar events and emergencies. This firehouse could directly benefit from the lease deal. $450 million is not only an astronomical amount, it 's a huge burden to put on the backs of taxpayers. We need leadership creative and smart enough to find solutions beyond simply treating us like an ATM machine. Thank you. Miriam Haskell: Good morning. My name is Miriam Haskell, and I'm an attorney in the City of Miami. I represent, among other people, individuals who have been caught up in the deportation machine, either unnecessarily or illegally in many cases. I'm here because this bond item does present an opportunity to address the 287(g) agreement, and as you all know, Miami has more immigration encounters than any city in Florida. This is shameful and must be reconciled with. So, we ask that you defer the vote on this bond until after this urgent matter can be readdressed. And simply breezing past this agreement again without reconsidering it would be unacceptable. Thank you. Albert Gomez: Albert Gomez, District 2. I still have an opportunity to speak in the public comment period, right? Mayor Higgins: Yes. Mr. Gomez: Thank you so much. Mayor Higgins: We need your name and address for the record, please. City ofMiami Page 35 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mr. Gomez: Sure, sure. 3566 Vista Court, Albert Gomez. I'm on --1'm speaking on RE.4. I'm in manufacturing and I deal with maintenance pretty regularly on equipment, et cetera. Continuing maintenance is something I've been harping on for years here. And I've also spoken about how the budget has been whittled into the general fund. Every item that was registered as a maintenance item for parks, what have you, was moved over into the general fund and became a bargaining chip afterwards at the Commission. You guys all saw it, it's happened. And realistically, what I've been asking for is that when we put money for bonds or anything, especially for something as important as Police and Fire, two departments which 1 collaborate with regularly, I wish that we would incorporate a very clear distinction of maintenance included in that bond so that we don't run into this issue and we have a little bit of runway to fix the budgeting. As you go into the budget season now, you can start to ask for that continuing maintenance moving forward on all items so that we don 't get into this problem again. Because I saw the videos and I agree with the videos, it's a horrible idea. But then us just putting a blanket bond doesn't make sense. Furthermore, I've also asked many times that we start posting the liabilities for each of the departments. It used to be very prominent, they'd post it so that we understand bad actors, we can clarify bad actors within those departments, and we can right the ship. So, let's try to do -- be fiscally responsible here and start putting deferred maintenance on these bonds if we put them forward and also start talking from the dais when the budgeting season comes that we put maintenance in play. Because it has been put into the general fund and we no longer have it. Everything is a bargaining chip and it shouldn't be. Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Maria Bilbao: Good morning, Commissioners. Good morning, Mayor. My name is Maria Bilbao. I work with the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization that supports immigrants. And I also was an undocumented immigrant for more than 17 years. I'm asking the City of Miami to end the 287(g) agreement with ICE. This program allows local police to work with ICE. It's made many immigrants' families afraid to call the police, report crimes, or ask for help. According to the state of Florida's own data, the Miami Police Department is one of the top agencies in the state for immigrant -related encounters. This means Miami Police are playing a major role in helping ICE target immigrants in our community. Today, you are discussing a $450 million investment in public safety. Real public safety means that everyone in our city feels safe, no matter where they were born. Miami should not continue a police that creates fear in our community. Please end the 287(g) agreement with ICE. And you, Mayor, please put in agenda to be vote. This is a message for you. Thank you. Mel Meinhardt: Madam Chair; Madam Mayor, Commissioners, I speak on RE. 6 and 13. There is no urgency to make bad policy. Mayor Higgins: I'm sorry. Commissioner King: Sir -- Mayor Higgins: We're only taking public comment on RE.4 at this time. So, we'll do that next. Mr. Meinhardt: Okay, thank you. Mayor Higgins: So, you got a few extra steps in so we'll get you up here in a minute. Mr. Meinhardt: My apologies. City of Miami Page 36 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mayor Higgins: Alright, continue. Thank you. Katrina Morris: Hi, Katrina Morris, 4130 Lyber Avenue. I get that our city needs maintenance. It's a little obvious. I'm wondering if we could revisit impact fees as the reason that we're going to need more police and more maintenance, more buildings, et cetera, is that we are increasing in size. So, the way that we increase in size is we're increasing a market for developers. So, I feel like the developers have reaped the rewards of building luxury condos, and we have 500,000 residents, but we have 28 million people who -- visitors who come through every year. So, the tour operators and the hotels and the Airbnb people, they are reaping the rewards of all of that tourism, and our police are amenities for them. So, while we get the benefit of having a great police force, the operators of the businesses and the builders are the ones reaping the amount of rewards for us paying for services for them. So, I would - - I think our impact fees haven't been addressed in 20 years. I think that before we go into another bond, it would be nice to, you know, have a deep dive, have -- I just feel like we keep making really bad decisions with money, and that there's a fire hose of money going out to -- Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Ms. Morris: Yeah. Mayor Higgins: You all want to line up on both sides, please? And we're only, again, on RE.4. The elections items are not being spoken about yet, or any other item. Just RE.4. Thank you. Rob Piper: Yeah, good morning, Madam Mayor, City Manager, Commissioners, thank you for having me. My name is Rob Piper. I'm at 1401 Southwest 17th Terrace. I am commenting on RE.4. And this is for just as much as everybody in the room as well. We are borrowing almost a half a billion dollars again. And I don't know if anybody else knew this, but did you know that in 2024, the City of Miami had about $240 billion in GDP (Gross Domestic Product)? That's a lot of money, but yet we find need to borrow more money. They're almost -- I'd say my math might be a little -- my numbers might be a little bit off because it's early, but about 200 billionaires and centimillionaires that live or reside here in Miami in some way. Our finance industry is one of the biggest in the country, if not the world. But there are no franchise fees getting charged for financial transactions. We pay franchise fees on utilities, internet, what have you. But one of the biggest industries, including logistics, finance, doesn't pay. So, I wonder, who is underwriting this bond? Likely somebody in the finance industry. They're going to make a lot of money paying back all that interest over the years. So, that's why I'm just asking, instead of approving this, this bond, can we at least take a really hardcore look first about where we could find other sources of revenue in order to pay for these badly, needed repairs to these facilities for Police and Fire? I don't know, maybe create a revenue generation task force or something to seriously look at where we could find other sources of money as opposed to borrowing it again and again, because aren't we almost a billion dollars in debt already? Thank you. Ramon Ventura: My name's Ramon Ventura. I live in 3220 Northwest 7th Avenue, Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Mr. Ventura (as translated by official Spanish interpreter, Irene Orces): I have been a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church for 32 years. I would like to request to the City of Miami to eliminate the 287(g) law, which is an agreement with ICE. This law gives the City of Miami Police authority to work in alliance with ICE. We have a lot of immigrant families who are scared of calling the police to report crimes and/or City of Miami Page 37 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 ask for help. We need a safe city for all of us, regardless of where we are born. Miami should discontinue this regulation, which creates fear in our community. We need this alliance with ICE to come to an end immediately. Thank you, and God bless you. Mercedes Rodriguez: Good morning. My name is Mercedes Rodriguez, and I reside in the area of Allapattah, District 1. And I'm in support of this item, the Safety and Ready Bond Initiative. And it's very simple, this is the 911 emergency call to our residents, regarding the situation, regarding their infrastructure, their stations. And there's been a lot of valid points mentioned so far this morning, and many probably agree with them. But there's a process and there 's a time, and that conversation will probably happen during the budget process to look at the overall budget of the City of Miami. Unfortunately, that is not what is before you today. What is before you today is the bond initiative. That has to be a decision made by the voters, by the residents of the City of Miami. And it isn 't easy for me because the Fire Department has always been there for my family when my father was sick. I am a member of the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Program and I've gotten to have the experience to be involved with what they do on a daily basis. They are property owners, they are voters, they are residents. It's never time to give them what they need. They have been out there, and it's been a joy to work next to them. They were out in Surfside, the task force, day and night helping us going through all the crumbles of what that situation occurred. They were out there in Overtown in the fire a couple of ;years ago and they did an amazing job. That was the biggest fire we have had in 25 years. So, I think there's a time and a place, and the time is now to put this item before the voters to give our fire department and our police force what they actually are requesting is what they need. Thank you. Fernand Amandi: Good morning, Commissioners. Madain Mayor, congratulations again. Fernand Amandi, resident from the South Grove on item RE.4. I've been a longtime advocate for public safety, always have called for additional officers, our firefighters, our police department, extraordinarily important in a city like ours. But, today, I respectfully ask you to slow down, hit the pause button, and exercise the fzduciaiy responsibility that this moment requires, because this isn't just a $450 million bond as advertised. With interest and 30 years of debt service, this actually approaches over a billion dollars in long-term obligation for taxpayers at a moment that we all are aware of the financial precarious situation not to mention the economic uncertainty where the Florida Legislature might possibly eliminate property taxes and cities don't know what their revenue model will look like if that happens. To be clear, this is not advocacy for a vote against police or firefighters, quite the contrary. It is a request to defer placing a billion -dollar bond on the ballot until residents and the public can first fully understand what they're being asked to finance. If buildings are moldy and leaking, if fircfighters are in trailers, that's evidence of years of deferred maintenance and admittedly poor management decisions. This proposal also involves major land decisions, potential property sales, and long-term development implications. Those deserve Sunshine meeting workshops and a hearing by the Finance Committee, which is the typical protocol, by the way, that is done historically, not in this case. We still don't know what's going to come out of that June special session, as I said. Please defer this. Hold public meetings. Show the accounting, the true accounting. Please publish the true debt cost. Present a district by district plan. Should we fix these buildings? Absolutely. Should we prioritize public safety? Of course. But first, show residents the full plan they are being asked to pay for in what would be the largest bond referendum in the history of the city, over $1 billion. Thank you. Please defer. James Torres: Good morning, Madam Chair, Madam Mayor. James Torres, president of Downtown Neighbors Alliance. Here's a novel idea. On the $450 million bond issued, instead of siphoning millions of dollars from Brickell and City of Miami Page 38 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Downtown families, take the hostage tax of $21 billion, transfer that over to the 450, and release the residents of the hostage tax that we're currently paying. Let that sink in, Commissioner. Police, Fire, and paramedics do deserve this. However, we should look for ways to make this work. There 's a better way to invest this double taxation that residents are constantly paying. And a way to do that is to shift the money from the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) to the bond that you're asking for, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Billy Corben: Good morning, Mayor. Billy Corben on RE.4, the billion -dollar bond boondoggle. Don't be fooled. It's not $450 million. With $20 million a year in debt over 30 years, it will be over a billion dollars. And most of that money isn't going to firefighters and police officers. It's going to interest, to bankers, to lawyers, to insurance companies. We all support our first responders. We do not support you bankrupting the city. Mayor, you've been on the job for less than five months, and you've already surprised us with the largest bond in the history of the city. Before fulfilling any of your campaign promises about transparency and financial responsibility, this is the wrong plan at the wrong time. First, Tallahassee may cut our property tax revenue. Second, the City is currently negotiating expensive new contracts with all four of your city worker unions while already spending 77 percent of the budget on salaries and benefits. Third, you know we have to start paying the massive balloon payments on the Marlins Park bonds this year? It's true. $130 million in interest on $103 million in bonds, and we still don't have any of the accountability for the Miami Forever Bond that the mayor promised. So, what's the rush, guys? For example, Mayor, why are you pushing this for an August election instead of November, when there's higher voter turnout? And please, don't believe the science fiction poll. You saw it, right? That the mayor's political puppeteer and unregistered lobbyist, Christian Ulvert, released? It's a lie. It's propaganda. You know how I can tell? Because during the entire campaign last year, the mayor did not mention this bond scheme one time. If it was so popular, she would have run on it instead of keeping it a secret from all of you and the voters until after she got elected. Commissioners, please, despite the mayor hijacking the gavel today, she is not a strong mayor. You have the power. Please he responsible stewards of taxpayer money. This deserves more public scrutiny, more financial review, and more incremental approach. Remember, the strong mayor initiative lost by a larger margin than the mayor won. Don't let the tail wag the dog. Thank you. Enrique Santos: Good morning, Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager, and City Attorney, and members of the administration. My name is Enrique Santos. I'm a nationally syndicated radio host with iHeartRadio. I'm also proud to serve as a reserve police officer with the City of Miami. I am -- for the past 16 years, I was a reserve officer here with Miami. I'm a homeowner in the city. Both of my parents reside in the city. This city is deeply personal to me. 1 come before you as a concerned citizen who loves this community and believes deeply in the men and women who protect and serve it every day. I'm also grateful to the city for the honors it has bestowed upon me, including proclamations, one initiated by Commissioner Gabela just months ago, and the key to the city. When people receive the key to the city, everyone always asks, what does this key open? Well, today I know it opens the door to responsibility. Responsibility to speak up for the people who protect this city. So, today it's not about me. Today is about the brave men and women of the Miami Police and Fire departments. Before you today lies a decision that will prove that we not only respect and appreciate our first responders with words and ceremonies, but that we are willing to give them what they need to do their jobs. The conditions that many, of our officers and firefighters are working are unacceptable. Leaking roofs, mold, sewage issues, broken air conditioning, a parking garage at the police headquarters so unsafe it had to be demolished before someone was killed. Outdated and insufficient fire stations. It's embarrassing that Miami is a world -class city and our first responders should not be working in third -world conditions. Yet these men City ofMiami Page 39 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 and women show up, they don't complain, and they serve this city with pride. The problem has been kicked down the road for far too long. The time is now to do what we all know is right, to future proof our police and fire facilities, and to give the residents the opportunity to vote on this issue. I ask respectfully, that we let the people of Miami vote on it, give it a chance. The people who protect the greatest and safest city in America should not have to work in conditions that belong to another era. Let's do what's right for them. Let's do what's right for our city and its residents. Let the people choose. Thank you. Mayor Higgins: Thank you. Alright, seeing no other speakers -- oh, one more speaker, here we go. Andy Parrish: Sorry, I'm late to the party. I haven't quite rearranged my schedule to starting on time. But, thank you, Commissioner, for being here, and Madam Mayor for being here. I'm glad I showed up, though, because I thought a lot about this referendum. And certainly -- Mayor Higgins: We will need your name and address for the record, yeah. Mr. Parrish: Andy Parrish. I've been here so much, they know me. Almost as much as Elvis. 3940 Main Highway. We all support our police, we 've known them, we trust them, and our firefighters, too. But trust is the main issue in this referendum, Madam Mayor, I think. Nationwide, but also locally and countywide, a lot of trust has been lost in our elected officials, rightly or wrongly. But I think this one is going to come down to trust as to whether people are going to say, is the money -- $450 million is a lot of money. It's not as much as the county's going to be asking for in their bond referendum, which I've been told is in the billions. So, to get it passed, it's going to require trust. I'll just leave you with this. You can't keep doing the same thing in the same way that we've always done it. There's always been five commissioners. I know Commissioner Gabela's going to start shaking his head at me. I think this trust issue is very deeply entwined with finally what's going to he on the ballot referendum at some time for nine commission districts, which I support wholeheartedly. Not because I don't trust you. I just think we need better representation, more local representation. And when that goes on the ballot, it will pass. Take my word for it. Thank you very much. Mayor Higgins: Thank you very much. Alright, seeing no other speakers, public comment and reasonable opportunity on this item is closed. Colleagues, this is my item, so certainly I've spoken to a lot of our residents and have now visited every fire station and our police facilities. And so, I want to share a little bit about, one, what I fbund, and also what I've learned from our residents before we open it up to all of you for your comments and ideas. I began thinking about the state of disrepair of our public safety facilities last April when I decided to declare to run a campaign for mayor. And in every public forum, I spoke clearly about the fact that particularly in our police headquarters, we had horrific conditions, right? We had months and months where there were no bathrooms on the first floor. When the showers were dysfunctional, you would go catch a murderer. You can't even come back and shower. There were days and weeks where raw sewage was running through the police headquarters building. Today, if we walked into the Homicide Department, and we're all sitting around trying to do a homicide investigation, there is a trash can, not an itty-bitty trash can like we've got under here, the kind you sweep your lawn trimmings into, that is four feet high, and it is under the roof in the middle of the homicide department, and it rains in there every single day it rains in our city, and has been doing so for years. The windows are so old in this 50-year-old building they don't make the parts anymore. We, for the water intrusion, have to use duct tape to keep the windows closed. There is water intrusion literally everywhere. You go into the evidence room, you can't even use most of the bottom pieces of it because it City of Miami Page 40 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 floods on sunny day flooding because it was built below sea level because sea level is a little higher now than it was when this building was built 50 years ago. Water pours into the generator room. The electrical system is at its breaking point. If we want to buy, a new computer and plug it in, we have to unplug something else because there is literally no electrical capacity in this facility. This facility houses our 911 call center for both Police and Fire. It can never go down, 24/7 operation. If 911 has any sign of an incident with electrical or flooding, a life isn't saved, a crime isn't stopped. That facility's backup facility, and we have had to close that center due to flooding, is in a 100-year-old building. Worst case scenario, we'd have to rely on the County rather than our own people. These are not cosmetic problems. This is operational failures that are waiting to be a disaster. Our fire stations -- actually, that's almost like working in paradise relative to what we have going on at our fire stations. You've got mold. You have exhaust in the areas where our firefighters who spend 24-hour shifts near where they are working, planning calls, where they have meals. Literally, the exhaust for the trucks are in there because our fire stations are so old. Eight of our 17 fire stations are over 50 years old. Two of them are over 60 years old. Let me give you an example of the breaker boxes. At least two stations, the breaker boxes, you cannot buy the parts. We have to shop on eBay. and depend on collectors of old electrical parts in order to maintain our electrical systems. Fire Station 5, the air conditioning broke a couple of weeks ago, and so we obviously had to put in a portable HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system. Guess what? We couldn't plug it in because we didn't have the power to do it. We had to bring a diesel generator in. This is not the sort of facilities that our residents need in order to keep them safe. And I can tell you, these buildings, this has been going on for decades. The investment has not been made. One or more of them are going to fail while all of us are still on the dais. And we cannot allow that to happen. Just because others have ignored the issue, we don't have to do that. So, there are two issues here, right? Obviously, the facilities are failing, right? And they've been failing for a long time. and previous administrations have just ignored them. And it's easy to ignore that, right? Because we never have to say to our residents, guys, we have to invest in these. And you know what city -- we invest together. Our residents help us with these things, right? That's what a bond does. We ask our residents, do they care about these issues enough to say, yes, I'm going to contribute from my own pocketbook to keep our community, safe, right? So, we have all of these infrastructure issues, fire stations, but I also have issues of response times. And our fire stations are so old and so inadequate, modern firefighting apparatus don't even fit in the stations. So, in some cases, they're stored outside in the elements. But in other cases, we don't even have the space to do that. We have our fire and our am -- res -- our fire vehicles and our ambulances stationed a mile and a half away from the place they are supposed to serve. And that impacts our response times. We are going to have a fidl presentation. Many of you have asked about what are the exact projects. Its very different from the Miami Forever Bond. Miami Forever Bond was pockets of money, and the projects got figured out over time in whatever way the commissioners at the time decided to do. This is a project -based bond. We know what every dollar is going to go to. We know what facility it's going to go to. And Chief Hevia is going to present the combined police and fire system to that so that you can understand what this is. But our response times in many parts of the city are so bad you should be afraid. The national standard for response time is six minutes, right? That's considered excellent. You need to have a fire station be able to -- and an ambulance be able to get to you, to keep your home from burning down, and rescue you if you're in there, and to make sure you're in response, whether it's a stroke or a heart attack. There are parts of our city where the response time exceeds 10 minutes. There are parts of our cities where it is always over six minutes. And it's not minimum, right? We have the North Grove and the South Grove have some of the worst response times in the city. West Allapattah, among the highest. East Shenandoah, the Roads, our new -- the rebuilt Liberty Square, the four far northwest corners of our city in D5 (District 5). These residents are waiting far longer than six City of Miami Page 41 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 minutes for an ambulance to come. And that is because in the past 45 years, we've only built four fire stations. Four fire stations have been built in the last 45 years. So, we have huge holes in coverage where we have people, and you're not talking these high density -- I know everybody's talking about density. We're talking about people in single-family homes are living too far away from fire and rescue facilities. Every second matters. Every second matters. The other thing I've heard a lot about is, let's let developers pay for this. So, we're going to share some examples later, but the City has spent -- the previous administration of the City did a lot of "Let's Make a Deal" rather than let's build a fire station. And so, as a result, we have, in Brickell, no fire station. None. We have, in North Brickell and South Brickell, facilities that are in trailers. Trailers because the previous people wanted to do a P3 (Public - Private Partnership) make a deal. And so, in those make a deal, one of which is over 20 years old, we gave them the land we, the City, owned to a private company who then demolished our fire station so they could theoretically build a new one, put us in a temporary facility, which is a trailer and a tent, and haven't bothered to do that yet; 20 years in South Brickell, right? Remember, that's part of the Brickell City Center project. The other -- I'm sorry, that's the northern part. South Brickell, that's another one. They put us in trailers. By the way, those trailers are falling apart. Our fire rescue personnel can fall through the floor where that Mercedes-Benz building was supposed to be. We cannot depend on the private sector to ever care. What they care about is our land. And when those deals are executed, they're not building the fire -rescue facilities. We did have one -- I use the term extremely, loosely -- successfiil one. It's in Commissioner Escalona's where we have a fire station in a building with housing. That deal, this is how successful it was. When they tore down our fire station, we were in trailers for 18 years before it opened. So, the idea that P3s are the solution, it's antiquated, the City has tried, the City has failed repeatedly and repeatedly to do that. This bond, and you will see, Chief Hevia will take you through every project, the cost of every project, the timing of every project. It will also, in addition to repairing some of our aging facilities. It will add four new fire stations, which completely transforms our response times. It gets every, neighborhood down to that six -minute or under response time, so that everybody here gets the same level of care when an ambulance leaves the station, no matter where you live in our city. It will also build us a new public safety building, so we will have a unified command. We need a unified command. That is the way every other public safety department in modern cities are run. Right now, we got 911 in that aging building with police. I got the fire headquarters somewhere else, and our emergency operations center is somewhere else. We need a facility that is ready for - - it's Cat5 ready with redundancy and backups where everyone is communicating together. Now, there's been a lot of talk about this is rushed. 1 really don't think something that's been lingering for 20 years is rushed. I myself started thinking about how to do this and talked about it. I think you were at some debates, Mel. You know I always talked about our aging public safety infrastructure. So, 1 absolutely spoke about it on the campaign trail. And 1 knew we needed to look at it, and so 1 have been here -- I think in two days, I'll have been here .five months. And five months is a long time to look at these facilities, to meet the men and women that work with them, and talk to our residents. I wanted to share publiciv, and I have through the media and through meetings, these needs with our residents. And I did that very, very openly and very, very actively for about two months, right, before our meeting last time when we deferred this. So, in that communication, I also wanted to say, how are we doing on that communication? And so, I did implement a pretty extensive poll. And one -- the first question we asked was pretty simple, right? There might be a public safety bond on the ballot in August. Have you heard about it? Well, guess what? Already 34 percent of the people that were surveyed had heard about it. So, that is a very high level of awareness. The very next question was, are you likely to support the $450 million -- and I put the dollar in there -- public safety bond? And without having any other information than what we had already provided, nearly 57 percent said they were supportive. Right, so our residents know City of Miami Page 42 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 they want to be safe and they know that these facilities are inadequate and our response times are not up to par. When you began to explain and ask them with a little more detail, you know, let me tell you a little bit about what's going on with police and the 911 call center and let me tell you what's happening in our fire stations, the fact that our fire trucks can't fit, blah, blah, blah, right? That support for this bond initiative goes to over 67 percent. And that was consistent across all five districts in every part of the country. Now -- of the count -- of the city. Now, we're going to talk a lot about costs. One thing that is -- there's two things. One is we do not need to change our bond millage because voters have already approved that. That's our bonding cap. But we also have to tell the residents the truth. We build these things, and we are going to have to ask them do they care enough about this in August to help contribute with their own hard-earned money, right? We know that depending on the year, as we phase in all these projects, there are going to be costs, and our residents are going to pay for that. That's why we have to ask their permission on the ballot. So, I was very specific. The City Manager, our chiefs, OCI (Office of Capital Improvements), we have worked very hard on coming up with a phasing, and so I've come up, and you'll see the new numbers, which I sent to you in a presentation yesterday. But I started with very conservative numbers, and I asked our residents another simple question. Are you more or less likely to support the bond if you knew that the cost of the first year would be about $4 a month, and over time would be over $10 a month. And you know how they answer that question? Would you be more likely to vote for the bond while paying this, like with the actual numbers? Sixty-two percent of the people said they would be more likely to vote for the bond. Why? $450 million people can't figure out. But they sure as heck can figure out that, yeah, it's worth having an ambulance in my neighborhood for $10 a month or $4 a month. What we have done over the course of the weeks, and you'll see this in the presentation, is the phasing of this has taken those costs down. The first year is closer to $2.40, and then it will be about $9.20 over time, and that's because it's a phased project -based bond. So, at the end of the day, I did not put this bond on our agenda lightly. I view it as a moral responsibility. When I see the response times, I know that lives are at stake and lives are at risk, and I could not live with myself if I, as mayor of this beautiful city, did not take the opportunity to say, we can do better for our residents, we can save more people's lives, we can make sure we continue to be a safe place, and we will not have any of our critical public safety infrastructure facilities fail. That's why I did it. Let me tell you, you see everybody hooting and hollering about this. I didn 't do it because I wanted to be popular. I didn't do it because I think it's easy to run a citywide election after I just finished running a citywide election and trying to do that. I did it because it's the right thing to do. And this city for too long has neglected this and brushed this away and it is not going to work. One of these facilities will fail while we are all here and we can't be the people that allow that to happen. And then in closing, let's remember what we're doing here. We're giving the people the chance to say, yes, 1'd like to support our police, our firefighters, our paramedics, and I'd like to keep my neighborhood safe. They are the ultimate decision makers. All we are doing today is allowing them to make that choice. With that, that's sort of my entrance. Commissioner Escalona -- Commissioner Escalona: Yeah. Mayor Higgins: -- you're the cosponsor, do you want to speak? Commissioner Escalona: Yes. Mayor Higgins: Or you want the chief -- Commissioner Escalona: No, I would like to -- City of Miami Page 43 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mayor Higgins: And then will you -- and then Chief Hevia can come up after you. Commissioner Escalona: Yeah, yeah. Mayor Higgins: Okay, call him up when you're ready. Thank you. Commissioner Escalona: I have multiple questions that I understand our residents, but I also understand why they feel that way, because a lot of things have happened in the past in the City of Miami, so I understand why they feel the way they feel. I met with multiple residents. City Manager, I submitted to your administration six pages of questions last week. I would like all these questions to be public by tomorrow, please. On the questions that I submitted, there are two that were missing, and one is, would you commit today to a public dashboard showing spending timelines and project status? James Reyes (City Manager): Yes. Commissioner Escalona: Last question, would the City commit to quarterly public financial reports specific to bond spending? Mr. Reyes: Yes. Commissioner Escalona: Awesome. So, those two questions, with all the other questions, six pages, that I've submitted, I would love those to be public by tomorrow, please. I think this is going to answer a lot of the questions and concerns our residents have. Mr. Reyes: Understood, Commissioner. Coniniissioner Escalona: And with that, we can go to Chief -- Mayor Higgins: Yeah. Commissioner Escalona: -- Robert. Mayor Higgins: Chief Hevia, are you able to take our team and the public and the commissioners through the projects and some of the response time data? Thank you, sir. Chief Robert Hevia: Thank you, Madam Mayor, Commissioners, Mr. Manager. Robert Hevia, director of Department of Fire -Rescue. So, today's really about three topics 1 want to cover. One, and the most important one to me as the fare chief, is response time and being able to get to residents who call 911 for an emergency, the working conditions of police and firefighters, and also public safety coordination. I'm going to walk through, and I think by the time we're done with this, I'll have answered most of the questions that have been asked. But I'll stick around, obviously, and answer whatever you need. When it comes to response time, this isn't my opinion or the opinion of firefighters. This is fact, right? So, on the screen, you have two studies -- one was published as recently as last year -- from the Academic Emergency Medicine archives, the other one to the right in red is from the Journal of the American Heart Association. That basically says, if you live far away from first responders, your chances of survivability decreases, okay. Specifically, if we respond and we take longer than eight minutes to get to you, your chances of survival cut in half:If you have an out of hospital cardiac arrest, and we arrive within eight minutes, you have two times the chance of survival. Not chance of survival with us, chance of survival of actually walking out of the hospital. That's an incredible number. The American Heart Association, years and years of replicated studies, City of Miami Page 44 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 replicated studies with thousands of patients, has shown that for every minute that it takes us to respond and start CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) or apply a defibrillator, your chances of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent every single minute. So, in our business minutes count. Also, the studies show -- these are large studies. These are studies with over 5,000 patients. These are not small studies. Assess the distance to fire stations, and what they show is that if you live less than a mile from a fire station, your chances of survival are two times as high. If you live one to one and a half miles away from a fire station, you have one in -- 1.6 chances of survival. And if you live farther than one and a half miles from a fire station, the impact of EMS (Emergency Medical Services) essentially dissipates. It's essentially no difference. So, these are all great studies in academia, but what does it mean in the City of Miami? This is what it means in the City of Miami. And I really want you to draw close attention to this map. What you see in green diamonds are our fire stations. And the green diamonds represented in GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping is one mile of travel distance. If you look closely under the green, you'll see a lot of yellow. Because yellow is where we're responding and arriving within six minutes. That's our goal, within six minutes, and you'll see that near the fire stations. Where you see peach is where we're taking six to eight minutes. We're already taking too long, and there's a lot of peach there. But horrifically, you see burgundy. And when you see burgundy in the South Grove, in the Roads, in Shenandoah, in Flagami, in Liberty Square, we're taking over eight minutes to arrive. This is not theoretical data. This is our data for the last 12 months placed on a GIS map. Specifically, these are the areas that have problems. We're taking too long to get there because you can see the gaping holes in the City in coverage where lire stations needed to be built and they were not built. These are the problem areas. So, how are we responding now? How we respond now, you'll see the arrows. You'll see a station in Coconut Grove on Oak Avenue in Virginia traveling to the Roads or traveling to Shenandoah. You will see a station that's in District 5 at Station 12 traveling to West Allapattah to get there. It's going to take too long. And then that station is without coverage. So, when you have one station leaving to cover another station, their territory now is without coverage. So, it's not like, well, that's not an area that live in, that's not a concern. This is a city-wide impact, because the calls have -- we have to respond to the calls, so the units are going to come from somewhere. So, what is it that we're proposing here, and what do we say regarding our capital funding needs? Let's look right here. One station in Allapattah, where we already have a City -owned land. It's a 12,000 square foot two -bay station that'll provide EMS coverage as well as fire coverage for $13.2 million. It covers the West Allapattah area, currently the busiest fire station in the city. The busiest fire station in the City is on Northwest 12th Avenue and 20th Street. And it is also covering an area with the worst response times, okay? Next, you see this big hole here. This has been open for a long time. We've spoken about this over years. Shenandoah, the Roads, the North Grove. Where are the stations coming, from? They're coming from Brickell, from a station in a trailer. They're coming from Oak and Virginia to cover that area, leaving that area without coverage. This is also a two -bay station, 12,000 square feet, $16.7 million. This includes land acquisition costs as well. These are all in costs with land acquisition, design, and construction for these costs. We have the northwest section of the city, a very busy area of the city for EMS, very busy station. We have a rescue that's for that. This station doesn't even need the EMS truck because we have it, but it's residing in another station because they don't have a physical place to stay. This is 14.56 million for a two -bay station, also includes land acquisition and design costs. And we have our fire boat and development on Watson Island. There's partial funding through this public benefit agreement. It's a two -bay station, $13.36 million. This is essentially two fire stations in one, because you have a fire station for a fire boat, for all the water responses, and you have coverage for Watson Island. Currently, when we have alarms on Watson Island, you're taking a station from downtown Miami, the HAZMAT (Hazardous Materials) Team, the urban core of the city, and they're traveling over a bridge to get to Watson Island. City of Miami Page 45 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 That happens today. Or from Wynwood, one of the busiest stations as well in the city, have to travel from Wynwood, Miami Avenue, Northwest 20th Street, over to Watson Island to respond. That's how it's covered today. These aren't the only issues. Those are four new stations where we don't have coverage today. They do not exist today. But we also have stations that are beyond their useful life. We have two stations in particular that are over 60 years old. The station to the left of your screen is Station 10. You see when that station was built in 1964, our fire truck was a convertible. You see to the right is Fire Station 1. So, let's talk about these individually. Station 10, that's Station 10 when it was built. To the right is station now. You see what's interesting about it is that there's a white extension, a white addition, the fire truck to the left. That's because in the `80s, in the early '80s, this station was too small already. Forty years ago, the station was too small, and they built that addition to fit the fire truck. Since then, we added another truck, and now we've needed to add another truck. Four trucks in the station, four trucks don't fit. So, the fourth truck is residing on Beacon Boulevard. So, the area that needs the truck, because we've taken strip malls to the left and converted them to five -story mixed use, they can't respond in that area, in the area they are in. This is in Commissioner Gabela's district, but it also affects Commissioner Rosado because 50 percent of the calls are in D4 (District 4) and 50 percent of the calls are in DI (District 1). Commissioner Rosado, you know the first day I met you, I spoke about this, how there's a fire truck that doesn 't , fat in the station, it's responding from Beacon Boulevard. This is the inside of Fire Station 10. You see soot on the walls from the exhaust trucks that goes into the living areas of the station. You see mold, because we've had partial funding for this station since the inception of the Forever Bond, never been able to snake up the difference. So, you know, I would think it's reasonable the City says how we're going to invest in the station, we're going to rebuild it, okay? That funding came in 2017, it's 2026. This is also the inside of Station 10 where we have no room for storage. And the apparatus room is carrying the storage because it's not a modern station. This is also Station 10, with a sanitary line that's collapsing. It has eroded the asphalt, and we've placed a metal plate so the fare trucks can go over it, because there's a sinkhole where the fire trucks drive over. We could talk about Station 1 in Downtown Miami. This is one of our iconic fire stations. This is the birthplace of EMS for all of you in the stands. Take your ChatGPT out and you can ChatGPT what fare department was the first fire department in the world to train firefighters as paramedics. It was the City of Miami, and it was at this fire station. The fire station is aged. To the left is the skyline of Miami when that fire station was built. To the right is the current skyline. Same fire station, even some of the original bathrooms in that station. Same sanitary line, same electrical panel as when the station was built when the skyline looked like to the left. This is the inside of Station 1. The porthole to the right, modern fire stations don't have this anymore. That's an open -- an opening -- an open porthole that the exhaust from the trucks goes into the living areas of the firefighters. We can say, well, you know, we haven 't maintained it. That porthole closet was cleaned, pressure cleaned with chlorine and washed four months before that picture. That's not years, that's four months. These trucks are constantly moving. To the left., you see a sign over a bathroom, a shower that can't be used because the water leaks into the dining area. This is also Station 1 with age mechanical systems at their end of life, a boiler room that's nonexistent anymore. So, this is Station 10 and this is Station 1. Station 10, we have partial funding through the Forever Bond, some impact fees. Our current funding is $8.95 million. There's a shortfall of $15.47 million. This will be the first station to be built, Commissioner Gabela, because the plans are done. It's already in permitting. It's waiting for the remaining funding to be built. It's the one that would be the first to be built to be able to house all the stations in your -- all the units in your territory. Fire Station 1 is $44 million. This is a large station because it's home to the Hazardous Materials Team. The tanks, the air tanks that the firefighters wear in the entire city are maintained at this station. Station 1 is a very important station. So, those are four brand-new stations and two rebuild stations. But we also know, it's been widely City ofMiami Page 46 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 publicized through the media, you've seen it, that all of our stations are in some state of disrepair. We have bathrooms that are old, we have sanitary lines that have issues, we have kitchens that have issues as well. We have plumbing that needs to replace. We've been able to do some. We have a training center that's a hundred years old. Currently we have 47 recruits there. We have limited shower use. We've had to use portable showers in the past because we don 't have enough for the recruits. And we also have HVAC systems. We're talking air quality for firefighters and police officers in the police headquarters. We're talking sanitation lines. These are the types of issues we're talking about in repair. We also have fire trucks in undersized stations that do not fit within the station. This is -- Commissioner Escalona, this is in your district. You walked this station, so you're very familiar with it. You were there. You saw the fire truck. This is a $670,000 fire -rescue unit that's parked under an awning. It doesn't fit in the station. A fire -rescue unit costs $670,000. A fire truck costs $1.5 million. An aerial costs $2.5 million. We need to protect these units because they last a long time and we care for them. These are the repairs and modernizations projects throughout all the stations in the city. You'll see some of them are HVAC projects, some of them are sanitary lines, about just over $10 million in those facilities. Let's talk about the public safety building. I'm not going to go into too much detail over the living conditions and the working conditions of the police headquarters because I've been here -- I've only been the chief for two years, but I've heard it numerous times here at the Commission talk about it. I know that Chief Morales has spoken about it. So, I'm not going to give you any new news there. But what I want to talk to you about is what a public safety building is. Any modern metropolitan city responds to emergencies from police and fire unified. You see that already. You see, when we prepare for Ultra and we prepare for FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association), we have a unified command post. We respond together because any major incident is going to require Police and Fire assisting them, or vice versa, when the Fire Department responds, Police assists us. It is a unified response. It's a unified response when we respond to calls in the stadium, during major events, during Calle Ocho, during the art festival, during any event at Bayfront Park, we have a unified command. Yet, day to day, we have a police headquarters in a police building that's failing. We have a fire headquarters in another building, and we have an EOC (Emergency Operations Center) in another building with no parking for anyone. And then we have a major disaster we all kind of have to meet. So, a public safety building unifies that response, not for special events, but for every day, for every resident, 365 days of the year. That's what a major metropolitan city should do. We have our 911 center. Our 911 center's in the police building. Our 911 center has had to leave because there's been one working bathroom. The building has smelled like methane. And they leave to the backup 911 center that's at our training center -- Commissioner Pardo, your district -- that's a hundred years old. That is the 911 center, every 911 call. And we cannot have one failure. We cannot have one failure in our 911 system. So, the police -- the public safety building addresses all of this. It addresses the needs of the police department. It addresses the needs of fire headquarters. It addresses the needs of having an EOC that is hardened with -- able to withstand storms. And it addresses the need of us in a unified response in a major metropolitan city in the world. The $305 million costs design -- this covers design and construction costs. So, this is what our capital needs are; 68 percent for the public safety building, police headquarters, fire headquarters, an EOC, unified response, and combined 911. And, also, $145 million for those four new fire stations where our response time is taking too long to rebuild Stations 1 and 10 and to repair and modernize all the other facilities, HVAC, sanitary lines, and all the other needs that it has. This is much different than bonds we've seen in the past. This is a project -based bond. You see, we know where the money's going. The funding we've asked for will complete the project from design all the way to construction. And we have a timeline, starting from 2027, extends a seven-year phase timeline. You'll see that the public safety building takes a little longer, it's a big building, the design takes a little longer. City of Miami Page 47 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 You'll see the next one, Station 10 in Commissioner Gabela's district, which is for Flagami, Little Havana, and Grapeland. That starts immediately because we already have the plans done. It's going through permits, just need to demo and build a new station. That will be done within two years. We have Station 1 in downtown. Station 3, which is a remodel of the rescues parked outside, and four -- constructing four new fire stations. This is a specific timeline, with specific costs, with specific years, that we will keep on a dashboard, that we will keep transparent to the public, and show them the progress moving along. There's no one that is more invested in making sure that we can respond to the community and get -- and these projects get done than a fire chief and a police chief You have two chairs that are going to make sure that this happens because lives are on the line. We spoke -- you heard the mayor speak a little about temporary fire stations. Station 4 and Station 16 are temporary fire stations in the Brickell area, okay? Station 15 that you see here is for the fire boat, right? That is a fire boat temporary station. Where do these temporary stations move to in the time of a storm, in the time of a hurricane? They have to go to Station 1, they go to Station 10. The pictures that showed you of the stations collapsing are where these firefighters retreat to because they're in a flood zone most of the time. So, I want to give you a very, -- just one slide on what your fire department looks like. This is your fire department, right? If there's one take home slide, this is your fire department. We have 17 stations, and we say 17 stations in quotations because one rescue is living in another station, so you really don 't have 17 physical stations. And you have an 18th station that's corning online soon, I'll tell you about that one. But let's really take a deep dive, because we say we have these stations, but let's see what it really means. You have two stations, Station 1 and 10, that are over 60 years old, and you saw the pictures of what they look like. They need to be rebuilt. You have another six stations that are 50 years old. You have two stations that were built between 30 and 50 years ago. You have three stations that were built less than 20 years ago. And I want to highlight that Station 11 was a rebuild of a station. So, the only two new service areas with a physical fire station that was built within the last 20 years is Station 13 and 14, the Upper East Side and the 14 that's in Commissioner Rosado's district. There's only two in 20 years. The rest of the stations that we have added in quotation marks, they're in trailers, where Station 4 is in trailer waiting to be rebuilt. You have Station 17 that's residing at another station. And you have Station 18 that's going to come online now, that's a golf pro shop. It's a golf pro shop that's being remodeled to a fire station. So, when you look at our 18 fire stations, this is like a streetlight. Black is you're dead on arrival. Red is you're in real trouble. Red and black is you got one foot in the grave. Yellow is we need to start paying attention to you. And green, you're okay of the 18 fire stations. So, if I can leave you with anything is that we need an infusion of capital funding to restore operational readiness. We have to have it. We're a major metropolitan city. Major metropolitan city requires a unified response in a public safety building. We have your police headquarters, your fire headquarters, your 911 center, and your EOC. New stations are going to improve your response times citywide. Citywide, we showed you, they couldn't be clearer on demonstrating what it looks like. And lastly, we do need to improve the working conditions of our existing stations. They're deplorable. It affects the morale of our stations. When you call 911, we act and we act now. That's what we do. The men and women that work for the Fire Department and the Police Department, they do that every day, deserve the best working conditions. And with that, I'll answer any of your questions. Unidentified Speaker: (INAUDIBLE). Mr. Hannon: And my apologies. These comments are all off record. Mr. Hevia: Thank you. City ofMiami Page 48 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mayor Higgins: Thank you, ma'am. Alright. Colleagues, do you have questions for the chief or --? Okay. Commissioner Rosado: I do, yes. Mayor Higgins: Commissioner Rosado, do you --? Commissioner Rosado: Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Mayor Higgins: Okay. Go ahead. Commissioner Rosado: Good morning, everyone. So, I'll start with the toughest request first. Madam Mayor, Mr. Manager, there are a couple things that we need, and some of them have been addressed to some extent by my colleagues already. We absolutely need better budgeting for maintenance. This is not a new issue. This is -- this was foreseeable. And so, we have to make sure that for the upcoming year and every single year, we budget more and better, more accurate dollars for maintenance. There also needs to be, I think, for the public's sake, there needs to be much more clarity around the 2017 bond. By my calculations, less than 2 percent of the bond was allocated for police- and fire -related expenses. That's really important. So, even though it was a large amount of money to address a number of things like flooding and roadway improvements, workforce housing, a number of things that we get requests for on a daily basis, less than 2 percent was earmarked for police and fire. And so, that bond was never really designed to address the things that we're discussing here today. But I think there needs to be a lot more public -facing information about what the dollars were for, how they've been spent, how they will be spent. I know I did a very deep dive on the District 4 dollars, and I'm completely up to speed, but I don't expect that my residents are up to speed in the same way. I think we need to do a much better job, and this is not just about this particular issue, but about so many things. My number one consistent request is always going to be, let's let the public know in a way that is much more easily digestible. I agree with the notion of the dashboard. 1 think we need to make information as transparent, as simple and straightforward as possible on a regular basis, not just periodically, but on a regular basis. All of that being said, we're the oldest city in the county. It's not surprising we're going to have the oldest infrastructure in the county. I -- Police and Fire and 911 workers absolutely deserve much better working conditions than they've been subjected to for a very long time. As the mayor has said, the neglect is real, and unfortunately, it's gotten exponentially worse in the last few years. We're seeing it. We're seeing the police headquarters garage being demolished. That is millions of dollars just going down the drain. That is something that could have been prevented but was not. More importantly, this can be, and it should be to all of us, this is personal. So, my parents lived just a few blocks outside the city. A few years ago, my father had a heart attack. And were it not for the fact that the station nearest to him got there so quickly, we know he would not have made it. So, more than anything, I'm concerned about our response times and our ability to serve our residents. I, for one, would like to give them the opportunity to make a decision as to how they want to move forward on this. Commissioner Gabela: Madam Chair? Mayor Higgins: Yes, Commissioner Gabela, please. Commissioner Gabela: May I proceed through the Chair? So, I have several concerns here. And listen, we all -- I think we all agree here that this is needed. We are a big city, you know, and nobody disputes the conditions on the ground in the fire stations and pertaining to the Police Department. However, as for me, when I look at the yearly 2856 on the first year and then the 110, I, for one, want to see the City of Miami Page 49 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 formula, how you guys arrived at that number specifically. I'm a numbers guy, okay, and 1 want to see the formula how you guys exactly arrived at that number. I don't have that formula in front of me. So, that's a problem for me. Number two, I think that August is premature, okay? Why do I say that? Because you have a lower voter participation, okay. I want a true feeling of the taxpayer. I don't want to rush this through, oh, we got an advantage in August, let's do it in August. No, no, no. I want a true feeling of what the voter out there wants, because at the end of the day, he's the one that's going to foot the hill, okay. And, you know, I think with all due respect -- and again, you made a wonderful presentation, Madam Mayor, really have, you know, and City Manager and I commend you, the fire chief you know, and I have yet to give the police chief a chance to talk. But, at the end of the day, you know, at the end of the day, Jrome, it's very important, you know, because you've got to balance things out. And like we said, we already know the need exists. Nobody is disputing that. The only thing we're disputing is the vehicle, the financial vehicle, how to get us there, in fact. That's really what we're discussing here, right? So, I have that concern of the August. I don 't want to rush it through. I want a true reading of what the taxpayer is thinking out there, whether he does want to do this or not, and he probably does, but I want that, you know, to be so. Number two, I want a covenant because nobody's talked about when we sell the old police station, okay, which I'm thinking that's probably worth -- that lands probably worth between $100 million to $150 mill. What exactly -- or if it's worth less, I don't know how much it's worth. What exactly is it that we're doing with that money? Because that money can also go to reduce maybe the $450 million. Then we have another set of'problems. The other set of problems is that nobody talks about that when they issued the $400 million bond in 2017, okay, granted it was not for -- you know, it was not for this, but here's the problem with that. Out of the 400, 200 -- out of the 400 that was approved by the voter, 272 was actually sold, in other words, issued. And there remained a balance of 127, I think there was, 100 now, that was never issued, never sold. And apparently, we -- you know, we had it, but we never issued. So, then somebody would say, well, hell, if you got the money and you didn 't use it, why'd you ask us for the money? You know, that's number one. So, the problem with that is that, you know, I don't want to see that happen here. And I think it's to your concern, Commissioner Rosado, you don 't want to see that either. And I don't think any of us do. I want a true, you know -- I want a covenant of whatever that land sold for, what exactly is going to be done with that money? Because maybe, you know, we can put that money towards the 450 to reduce the 450 on the new -- you know, on what we're doing. And also, there's another set of problems, which might be realistic, might not. Tallahassee, Tallahassee. They're talking about, you know, property taxes, okay. And granted, what I heard the governor say was that we collected about $60 billion, I believe, last fiscal year, okay. And 20 percent of that is actually seniors, okay, or homestead, okay. Now, if they just go after the homestead, that's a $20 billion reduction, folks, $20 billion reduction, okay? And one more thing 1 want to bring your attention to. When you say that you're going to get a $450 million bond, really, it's much more money than that, because what hasn't been said here, that it's my duty to say it, and some will get upset, but I got to do my fiduciary duty, and I got to protect the taxpayer, is that when these funds are given to us, they're not going to be given to us at the same time because we don't want to spend the money for money that hasn't been used yet, and I understand the mayor, we're going in phases here. But here's the thing, there are grants that are applied for. So, that 450 really is more money. That 450 might become 600 or 650, and that's the other one that -- that's the other one nobody talks about. And I need to say it because if we're going to ask for the taxpayer for 450, and then we go out and then we get grants -- like, by the way, I asked the question, on the $400 million of the Mianai For Everyone Bond, what actually did we get in grants? And we got a substantial amount of money. We got a substantial amount of money. And -- but I know that somebody will say, well, we can't do it that way because that's not for sure. No, I know that. But the fact of the matter is, I mean, I don't feel good, you know, asking, you know, a 65-year-old, over City of Miami Page 50 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 65, that he's on a fixed income -- you know, my dad used to say to me, you know, when 10 cents on the gallon of gas, you know, the old man, when they put 10 cents up, I go, what are you worried about? He goes, because I'm on a fixed income, and you don 't understand that. I retired from the Dade County School Board, and I don't get more money. You know, to you, it's okay, because you have your business, and you 've got years ahead of you. But I'm on a fixed income. But this, for me, you know, is a lot, you know. And then years later, I understood what it -- because now I'm much older. I'm approaching that age now, right? And now you understand what my old man, my dad, which is up in heaven, was talking about. So, that's the thing for me. 1 think -- me personally, and you've made a wonderful presentation, Madam Mayor, and I know you have the best intentions in the world, and I'm not saying let's not do this. I'm not saying that, okay? What I'm saying is that we need to --1 need that formula. We need some of this stuff revisited, and the November thing for me, that's an important issue, because I want a true reading when we put this question to the taxpayer of what it's going to -- and then I know the answer. Well, Gabela, the problem is that in November, there's a midterm, there's a lot of stuff going on. That ballot, that slate is going to be about four, five pages long, and then that question might be in the back and nobody will get to that. I understand that, you know, I know that. But at the end of the day, I can't, on the other side of the coin, if you have people voting for August, okay, and not everybody came out, and then in November they come out, and then we find out that people really, weren 't for this or were, but had their reservations, you know, I'm not going to be -- you know, I'm not going to feel good. I don 't -- I don't feel good doing that, you know, to the -- to the taxpayer. So, for me, November is very important for me. Thank you very much. Commissioner Escalona: Madam Mayor, I'm okay with moving the bond to November as well. Mayor Higgins: So, you would accept a friendly amendment on -- Commissioner Escalona: Yeah. Mayor Higgins: -- moving this to November? Does the seconder, Commissioner Rolando [sic], do you accept that amendment? Commissioner Escalona: Yeah. (COMMENTS MADE OFF THE RECORD) Mayor Higgins: Okay. Mr. Hannon: My apologies for the interruption. Commissioner Escalona moved the item originally. It was seconded by Commissioner Rosado. Commissioner Gabela: (INAUDIBLE). Unidentified Speaker: Right. Commissioner Gabela: I want the formula. I want to see the formula (INAUDIBLE) - Mayor Higgins: We'll get you the formula today. We'll have -- we'll be able to do that at the meeting. Commissioner Gabela: (INAUDIBLE). City of Miami Page 51 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mayor Higgins: Fantastic. Okay. Alright. So, Commissioner Rosado, you're okay accepting a November as a friendly amendment from Commissioner Gabela? Okay. Commissioner Pardo, please go ahead. Commissioner Pardo: Thank you, Madam Mayor. First of all, all of you have done a phenomenal job. And I want to thank you especially for communicating, going to the media, really pointing out to residents and everyone the kind of conditions that a lot of our safety buildings are in and our fire and our police. The one thing right off the bat, I know that $10 million shows up as repairs and modernization, and it includes like 12 to 15 fire stations. If there was a way to peel that off and make that happen without having to wait for a bond, 1 think that would be important and something to prioritize. And while that is the case, there's also the reality that we have a strong fiduciary duty to protect the taxpayer. And so, what I've been working with you on and what I've tried to do, I want to continue trying to do, is peel away from the general obligation bonds, all the things that we can peel away. Thank you for doing the phasing, because I think the phasing lowered from $168 to $120. And Commissioner Gabela alluded to it as well, but I had asked for defeasance of if that police building is sold. What will that look like? What is the impact to the taxpayer if we condition it to immediately come back to the bond to repay it? Something else that I had focused on is the other revenues, which we're not looking at with non -ad valorem tax. So, special revenue bonds, any other kind of bonds, special obligation bonds that don 't impact the taxpayer based on revenues that we expect, and as an example, Freedom Park, $10 million a year. What will that give us in bonding capacity? I'd like to see a rigorous application of the phasing. So, maybe there's a way with that application of the phasing we can also time some special obligation bonds and again peel away from anything that might impact the taxpayer. So, I think, you know, all of those things would be very, very important to see before voting on the item. And again, I echo the transparency, the dashboard, guardrails, Finance Committee, all the things we've kind of been hearing as a way of making sure that we're doing as much as possible to limit the impact on the taxpayer. Thank you. Commissioner King: Good afternoon, everyone. I feel much the same as my colleagues do. Just in public comments, I was doing a straw poll of my own, and only two public commenters spoke in favor of the bond. I've also been speaking to my residents and others. I know that Commissioner Pardo and I have had the experience of putting forth a bond for our CRAs (Community Redevelopment Agencies), which took a year of planning, a year of diving into what impact having a bond would do to our community, what projects. I've spoken to several people about this because I'm no subject matter expert on bonds and the like. One person I spoke to said, okay, we have the starting phase. Now it's time to take out our pencils, sharpen up our pencils and start to do the work, much like you just said, Commissioner Pardo. No one up here is against having our fire stations and our police headquarters addressed, but 1 don't think it's fiscally responsible for us to act on it today. I believe we should defer this item because we have to do the work for our residents. And I see many of the residents here shaking their head in favor of what we are saying. Mayor, you mentioned public private partnership. I teach Miami politics at FIU (Florida International University). I think all of you know that. In teaching Miami politics, we study a book called The New Localism, and there are three case studies in that book, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Copenhagen, three cities that were in crisis. And they didn't have bonds to rely on. What they did was lean heavily into public private partnerships. Right now, we have an SAP (Special Area Plan) in Wynwood that requires the building of a new fire station. There was a successful public -private partnership for a fire station in Coral Way. I didn't think that that would work because housing is on top and the fire station is on the bottom. And I thought, I don't want to live under a fire station because they're going out, wah, wah, wah, all times of day and night because they're there 24 hours, but apparently that's working. There was the Brickell issue, but that development has now sold to Ray Malindi City of Miami Page 52 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 (phonetic), who 1 spoke to, and he is moving full speed ahead with the support of our mayor. He said that he spoke to you, and we're going to expedite that. 1 think we have to learn from our previous mistakes and not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Public private partnerships can work. We just have to learn from the mistakes' that were made previous. And then there's also the issue of there are other issues that plague the City that we don't have resources for. A few weeks ago, you saw us squabbling over public benefits money, that pot of money, who -- where should it go? We have parks that need repair. I have a park that's been closed two months before summer. When kids are out of school, where are they going to go? They need to go play. And the park is closed because the playground equipment is so bad that it's hazardous. However, we don't have the money to go and replace the playground equipment. I have to wait until the next budget cycle to see if maybe -- and I agree that if we move forward with this bond, it should be in November, because then we would have had a little bit more time to do the work. But 1 can tell you that my residents are concerned. And much like your dad, my father had the same issue. He couldn't support another $4 because I was helping him pay his mortgage. So, if we're going to do this and we're going to ask our residents to pay for this, then it is our responsibility to be fiscaliv responsible, take our time with this. The difference between August and November is a month or so. But when you consider bonding $450 million, it is not something you do between two commission meetings. There is a win -win for everyone. I am completely on board with addressing the issues that we have with our fire station and the police. I don't know that anyone here is against that. Me personally, my best friends were firefighters. I've been team Miami City Fire Department for over 30 years now because my best friends were firefighters. I visited the fire station because they live there. I want them to have perfect living conditions. I want the response times to be the best in the nation, but I am also beholden to niy community who elected me to be their public servant to serve them as well. No one wants -- no one wants to put anyone's life in jeopardy. No one. But these fire stations won't be built tomorrow. And I think from what my commissioner was saying, Commissioner Pardo, we sharpen up our pencils. If we have a fire station that's ready to move right now, we need to work on it. I personally, every single time a developer comes to me for something, 1 get community benefits. Every single time. I ask for community benefits. I am going to have a development that's going to redo the police substation on 62nd Street, MLK (Martin Luther King) Boulevard. Because when I got elected, I toured all of our police stations. And I was told at the time I was the only commissioner to do so. And that facility is in deplorable shape. But through a public -private partnership, I have not one, but four developers that want to develop that space. We just have to decide when the projects come before us. But there are ways. Our City Attorney's Office, there's a ton of attorneys in there. They can write these contracts that will hold the developers accountable, that will get sanctions from the developers, that could even make them pay if they're behind schedule, put more money in. It's about taking the time to do the work and not trying to just go with the easiest approach. We can do the work. We all can do the work, and everybody can win in this situation. And I'm just asking that we do the work for our residents because there's a lot of unreadiness in my community. Thank you. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Any other comments or questions? We have a motion and a second on the table. Commissioner Gabela: Hang on. Mayor Higgins: Yeah, for the November election? Commissioner Gabela: Sorry, hang on. Mayor Higgins: Yes, sir. City of Miami Page 53 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Commissioner Gabela: Let's straighten this out a minute. Okay, so what are we actually voting for? We're voting for November, but this vote will have to be taken again, correct? Mr. Hannon: No, sir. Commissioner Gabela: No, no, no. Commissioner King: No, 1 think we -- well, Jrome, I would like to defer this. Commissioner Gabela: Yes. Commissioner Pardo: I agree. Commissioner Gabela: Yeah. Mayor Higgins: So, on -- on the deferral, we have been evaluating this now for over two months. This is critical life safety. We are talking about response times that are so excessive in some of our neighborhoods. And we are now saying we're going to wait another month or another two months before deciding to ask the voters, deciding to ask the voters, our residents, who, by the way, are smart and intelligent and caring people about what they want the future of public safety to look like in their community. That's all we're voting on. We are voting to ask our residents their permission and their opinions. I understand that you are more comfortable with waiting to November and November is fine. Bear in mind I asked for this in August because I think this is a matter of life and death, not a matter of voter participation. I love voter participation, right? In my normal life, I would say November, November, November. But we are talking about we have neighborhoods where ambulances are not going to arrive in six minutes while we defer. Because the City has been deferring this for decades and years and months. We should take a vote on this item to put this on the item [sic] in November today, and then, in the meantime, while we're getting all this ready to explain to the residents and going out and having conversations with them, put together the dashboard, go through the detailed campaigns, and also look deeply at what are the options with our existing property in downtown and because that property is worth money. And the question is, what is it worth? Is it worth -- this is just a number, right? Is it worth $50 million if we sell it today? We also can do something very different. We don't always have to sell our land. That's been our mistake. We are giving our land with our police stations and fire stations to the private sector who, when they get it, don't bother for decades to build what they say they're going to build. So, we could sell that land, and folks could do whatever they want with it. We also have the opportunity to do something the County is more used to doing, which is actually doing an RFP (Request for Proposals) and saying, what do we want on that land? And then we write an RFP and say, whatever it is we want. We want mixed income. We want affordable housing. We want mixed income housing. And then you generate a long-term revenue stream. I can tell you the project I worked on in Brickell generates over a 99-year lease, there's like, the starting rent payment is $3 million a year, so you could have a long-term revenue stream that generates off this. We need to make sure that we're looking at all the possible options, and showing you all the possible options for how that can be monetized, and how we can make sure that that benefits the long-term success of our city, which, by the way, could be we sell it, we take the money, and we immediately pay off the debt from this bond. That may be the most fiscally, prudent thing to do, but we might be able to generate more revenue off of that land by looking at other options and holding onto it for the future. I really believe we should take a yes vote today on this item and move it forward to City of Miami Page 54 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 November and continue to answer your questions and the residents' questions between now and then. Thank you. Commissioner Gabela: You know -- Commissioner Pardo: Madam -- Commissioner Gabela: -- I'll state it on the record, this doesn't work for tne. This will not work for me, because then the rules of the game can be changed. And I'm not going -- just me, I'm just saying I'm not going for that, with all due respect. Because here's the thing, we still have time to talk about this and still put it on the November ballot. And that's the fact of the matter. Commissioner Pardo: Madam Mayor, I think the issue for us is the 450. If we vote on it now, we're locking into that amount. And I think that's been the primary issue on the dais. Mayor Higgins: We have looked at this in depth, at what the cost of these projects are going to cost, and the costs are real. The costs are $450 million. And let me give you an example from the Miami Forever Bond, which put $7 million into public safety. That's $7 million. Because at the time, the Commission, 10 years ago, said, oh, we're going to get grants, and we're going to get this, and we're going to get that. Put $7 million into Station 10, which was falling apart then. That is only the money, that is available for design. Because this city just said, we're going to get other money. We have to make sure we have the money to construct these things, and then we offset them. Because you know what? We are going to get some grants, but we don't know what those are going to be. At some point in time, the federal government may issue a grant, and we could get $20 million, and we'll offset some costs. You know, every now and then, we get a little bit of money out of the state to help with some fire things, and we'll offset those costs. And yes, we may find that we as a commission are going to make the decision that we have the sale of several properties and we want to offset this. At the end of the day, we still have to build these buildings and the bond allows us to build them. And it's a project -based bond, right? It's not like this all -- it's not like Miami Forever Bond, where you just say, we got $100 million jorX, and then over time, the Commission adds things in. These are the projects. The projects you saw in the presentation are the projects. So, when they're done and paid for, if we don 't issue $450 million worth of bonds, we don 't need to issue $450 million worth of bonds. But it is irresponsible for us to not askfor what we need, because we have constantly asked for what we don't need. We did that for Station 10, and Station 10 continues to not be built. We are only asking for money for design and not the construction. I really believe this needs to go forward today. I think we need to show the residents of the City that we care about their safety. We're going to get these facilities faxed, and we're going to get them fixed quickly. And you can bet that we are going to look for other ways to offset this cost, so we never have to issue $450 million worth of bonds. But we can 't be Pollyannish like we did with the Station 10 in the Miami Forever Bond, where we never, ever had enough money to ever build that station. That's what's misleading to the residents, when we tell them the number is too low. And then they're sitting around going, I thought I voted for Station 10 in the Miami Forever Bond. And you say, oh, no, you just voted for the design. We never voted for the money. And so, now we're sitting, particularly in Commissioner Gabela's district, with a facility that can't even house the ambulances and fire facilities we need to respond to that neighborhood. So, I really do believe we should move this forward today. I think it's important. And I think it sends a big signal to this resident that it's not business as usual at the City, that we are going to take the bull by the horns. We're going to address the things that need to be addressed. We're going to present truthful, truthful information to City of Miami Page 55 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 our residents. And we're going to ask their permission in November to build these facilities and help keep our community safe. Commissioner Gabela: Well, I appreciate the gesture. Commissioner Gabela also has a lot of seniors that are on a fixed income, and this is why I am also concerned. And that's why I want to revisit this with ample time. There's no time today, for example, for the covenant. Are we going to draw up a covenant in 10 minutes on what we're going to do with the money, when the building is sold? So, I think it's better to move on. We're still going to do it. I vow, you know, that we know we got to do this. We're not, you know, saying that we're not going to do this, you know, but we got to be very clear and very responsible, and this cannot be like the $400 million that was issued back in 2017, which, by the way, out of the $400 million that the voter approved, only 272 was actually issued, sold, and out of that, half of that was used, and then the other half is earmarked the way it was explained to me about a week ago. And then we still have another 120 something of that $400 million that was never issued, that now we're going to issue it, okay? So, you know, we got to be clear about this, you know, and I don't want to torpedo -- because I think we're all doing this for the best intentions. I really do think Madam Mayor that you did an excellent job and you are doing an excellent job in presenting this and it needs to be done. We know that. All we're saying is that we need a little bit more time to put this on the November ballot. And I, for one, you know, typically, like, things have happened here in the past that you say one thing, and then something else happened. You know, I want to see it on paper. I'm like Ronald Reagan. Trust but verb, okay, is my motto. You know what I mean? I believe everybody, and guys believe me, but, you know, when I tell you something, verify, and just make sure that it's done that way. So, for me, you know, it's not going to work voting now, because I want to see it in black and white. I want to see the formula. I want to study the formula. And that's what works for me. That's just me. Thank you. Mayor Higgins: Somebody has to make a motion, if you'd like to defer. Is there a motion to defer? Commissioner King: Motion. Commissioner Gabela: Second. Mayor Higgins: All in -- Mr. Hannon: And my apologies, Chair. Mayor Higgins: Yes. Mr. Hannon: Sony. To what date? Mayor Higgins: The next Commission meeting. Commissioner Gabela: Next Commission meeting is fine. Mr. Hannon: May 28th. Understood. Thank you. Mayor Higgins: Okay. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Any opposed to the deferral? Commissioner Escalona: Aye. City of Miami Page 56 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mayor Higgins: So, we have four for the deferral and show Commissioner Escalona as against the deferral. Thank you. Alright. Mr. Hannon: I'm sorry. So, that was unanimous or 4-1, Commissioner Escalona? Mayor Higgins: 4-1. Mr. Hannon: Okay, Commissioner Escalona you're a no. Understood. Sony, I just want to make that clear. RE.5 RESOLUTION 19257 Commissioners and Mayor A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DISTRICT 1 CITY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRANCHES ALLAPATTAH REGIONAL COMMUNITY CENTER AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2001 NORTH WEST 35TH STREET, MIAMI FLORIDA ("PROJECT"); FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO IDENTIFY ANY AND ALL AVAILABLE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT; AND PROVIDING THAT ALL ACTIONS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS AND THE COMPLETION OF APPROPRIATE DUE DILIGENCE RELATED TO THE PROJECT. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0220 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.5, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s)" and Item RE.1. City of Miami Page 57 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.6 RESOLUTION 19186 Commissioners and Mayor A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING, SETTING FORTH, AND SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORATE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER") 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 2031 GENERAL ELECTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS TO 2032, THEREBY MOVING ALL SUBSEQUENT YEARS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONERS AND RUN- OFF ELECTIONS FROM ODD -NUMBERED YEARS TO EVEN - NUMBERED YEARS SO THE GENERAL ELECTION FOR CITY COMMISSIONERS ARE CONCURRENT WITH ANY STATEWIDE OR COUNTYWIDE ELECTION; AMENDING THE PERIOD FOR QUALIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR THE EXTENSION OF EXISTING TERMS OF OFFICE DUE TO SAID CHANGE; FURTHER PROVIDING THAT UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE, THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE; CALLING FOR A REFERENDUM AND PROVIDING THAT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORATE AT THE REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 18, 2026; DESIGNATING AND APPOINTING THE CITY CLERK AS THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF VOTER REGISTRATION BOOKS AND RECORDS; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO CAUSE A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE HEREIN RESOLUTION TO BE DELIVERED TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OF MIAMI- DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA NOT LESS THAN FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF SUCH ELECTION; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. 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 RE.6, please see "Order of the Day" and "Public Comments for All Item(s)." City of Miami Page 58 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.7 RESOLUTION 19205 Department of Real Estate and Asset Management A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT'), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND MARIA M. HERNANDEZ AND TERESITA HERNANDEZ, AS TRUSTEES OF THE JOSE R. HERNANDEZ, FAMILY TRUST ("SELLER"), FOR THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS FOLIO NUMBER(S) 01-4103-014-0010 AND 01-4103-014-0020, LOCATED AT 1702 AND 1714 W FLAGLER STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA (COLLECTIVELY "PROPERTY"), FOR A PURCHASE PRICE OF SIX MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($6,000,000.00); FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO SAID AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE SAID ACQUISITION; FUNDING FOR THE ACQUISITION SHALL NOT EXCEED SIX MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($6,500,000.00) WITH FUNDS BEING ALLOCATED, APPROPRIATED, AND AWARDED FROM THE DISTRICT 3 REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING FUNDS, TO COVER THE COST OF SAID ACQUISITION, INCLUSIVE OF THE COST OF SURVEYS, ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS, TITLE INSURANCE, SECURING THE PROPERTY, PROJECT SIGNAGE AND ALL RELATED CLOSING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ACQUISITION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0221 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.7, please see Item RE.1. City of Miami Page 59 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.8 RESOLUTION 19255 Commissioners and Mayor A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ESTABLISH A MUNICIPAL PROSECUTION FUNCTION TO HANDLE CERTAIN CITY OF MIAMI ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS; PROVIDING THAT SUCH PROSECUTION SHALL PRIMARILY FOCUS ON QUALITY -OF -LIFE OFFENSES WHICH ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AND ARE OF A NON- VIOLENT NATURE; DIRECTING COORDINATION WITH THE MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ENSURE A COLLABORATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY APPROACH TO PROSECUTION; DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DETERMINE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES; REQUIRING THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER RETURN TO THE CITY COMMISSION WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS WITH ANY NECESSARY IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CODE AND STAFFING AUTHORIZATIONS. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0222 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Mayor Higgins: Okay, shall we go to RE.8? Who is the pulling commissioner on RE.8? Commissioner Gabela. Commissioner Gabela: Okay, I think, was it me? I think it was me. So, just in real brief 1 know what's been trying to be -- so can you walk me through again, what is it exactly? Is this the one with the bench? And if they're -- that's yours? Commissioner Escalona: No, that's RE (Resolution) -- that is RE.16. RE.8 -- Commissioner Gabela: Yeah. Commissioner Escalona: -- is the municipal prosecutor. Commissioner Gabela: Who's RE.8? Who did RE.8? RE.8. RE.8. George Wysong (City Attorney): RE.8 is the municipal prosecution. That's Commissioner Escalona's item. Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, that's yours. Commissioner Escalona: Yes. Commissioner Gabela: And could you just walk me real brief? I mean, I don't have a main problem, butt didn't understand it quite well. What are we trying to do here? Commissioner Escalona: So, the goal here is the state attorney is very busy, and there are so many cases that are being dropped. There are things that are happening in our city that I believe they deserve attention. And the main goal here is to bring a City ofMiami Page 60 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 couple of attorneys here that can take care of those cases, and we can move forward the City to a better situation, safe, et cetera. That's the main goal with this. Commissioner Gabela: Now, I remember, okay. Commissioner Escalona: And to my knowledge, there are other cities that have done this before. Commissioner Gabela: Okay, yeah, my only, concern was the money that this is going to cost us. That was my only concern. But other than that, 1 have no concerns. Commissioner Escalona: So, this is used for a 90 days action plan. So, they are going to come back to us with a plan. And then if we don't want to move forward because it'll cost a lot of money, we don't move forward. Commissioner Gabela: Okay. Alright. That's fine. I'm good. Thank you, Commissioner. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Anyone else? Otherwise, I'll entertain a motion. Commissioner Escalona? Commissioner Escalona: So move. Commissioner Rosado: Second. Mayor Higgins: Moved and seconded. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Okay, motion passes unanimously. RE.9 RESOLUTION 19256 Commissioners and Mayor A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE 119TH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO PASS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BILL 2904 AND SENATE BILL 978, KNOWN AS THE HOMES FOR EVERY LOCAL PROTECTOR, EDUCATOR, AND RESPONDER ACT ("HELPER"); DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0223 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.9, please see "Order of the Day" and Item RE.1. City of _Miami Page 61 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.10 19258 Commissioners and Mayor RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-86 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), APPROVING THE CITY MANAGER'S AWARD RECOMMENDATION FOR REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ("RFQ") NO. 25-26-002, MORNINGSIDE AND SHORECREST SEAWALL IMPROVEMENTS — D2/D5, PROJECT NOS. 40-B233811 AND 40-B233812 ("PROJECTS") TO FLORIDA ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ("CONTRACTOR"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A"; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF RESILIENCE AND PUBLIC WORKS ("RPW") PROJECT NOS. 40-B233811 AND 40-B233812 FOR THIS PURPOSE, SUBJECT TO BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE PROJECTS, WHICH SHALL BE PERFORMED IN PHASES, IN AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF NINE MILLION, TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE DOLLARS AND SIXTY- ONE CENTS ($9,275,965.61), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THATA NOTICE TO PROCEED ("NTP") FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL PHASE IS EXPRESSLY SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND PRIOR BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS AND EXTENSIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, SUBJECT TO ALL ALLOCATIONS, APPROPRIATIONS, PRIOR BUDGETARY APPROVALS, AND COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE, INCLUDING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE, ANTIDEFICIENCYACT, AND FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES, ALL AS SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 18 OF THE CITY CODE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0224 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.10, please see Item RE.1. City ofMiami Page 62 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.11 19259 Commissioners and Mayor RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-86 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), APPROVING THE CITY MANAGER'S AWARD RECOMMENDATION FOR REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ("RFQ") NO. 25-26-003, SEAWALL IMPROVEMENTS - D2, PROJECT NO. 40-B233809 ("PROJECT") TO HARBOUR CONSTRUCTION, INC. ("CONTRACTOR"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A"; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF RESILIENCE AND PUBLIC WORKS ("RPW") PROJECT NO. 40-B233809 FOR THIS PURPOSE, SUBJECT TO BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WITH CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH SHALL BE PERFORMED IN PHASES, IN AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF TWO MILLION THREE HUNDRED NINETY-FIVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOUR DOLLARS AND FIFTY-EIGHT CENTS ($2,395,784.58), PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT A NOTICE TO PROCEED ("NTP") FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL PHASE IS EXPRESSLY SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND PRIOR BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF ISSUANCE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS AND EXTENSIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, SUBJECT TO ALL ALLOCATIONS, APPROPRIATIONS, PRIOR BUDGETARY APPROVALS, AND COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CITY CODE, INCLUDING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE, ANTIDEFICIENCYACT, AND FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES, ALL AS SET FORTH IN CHAPTER 18 OF THE CITY CODE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS, AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0225 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.11, please see Item RE.1. City ofMiami Page 63 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.12 19264 Commissioners and Mayor RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A TEMPORARY ACCESS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND GREATER ST. PAUL A.M.E. CHURCH, INC., FOR THE TEMPORARY USE OF CITY -OWNED REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3501 PLAZA STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR CONSTRUCTION -RELATED ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT BEING DEVELOPED ON THE ADJACENT PROPERTY, FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED NINETY (90) DAYS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS INCLUDING AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS, AND RENEWALS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0226 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.12, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s)" and Item RE.1. City ofMiami Page 64 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.13 19266 Commissioners and Mayor RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING, SETTING FORTH, AND SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORATE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER") 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 GENERAL AND RUN-OFF ELECTIONS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI FROM ODD -NUMBERED YEARS TO EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS BEGINNING IN THE YEARS 2034 AND 2036 TO COINCIDE WITH ANY STATEWIDE OR COUNTYWIDE ELECTION; AMENDING THE PERIOD FOR QUALIFICATION AND CLARIFYING THAT THE TERM OF OFFICE FOR THOSE ELECTED IN THE YEARS 2031 AND 2033 GENERAL AND RUN-OFF ELECTIONS SHALL BE REDUCED FROM A FOUR (4) YEAR TERM TO A THREE (3) YEAR TERM DUE TO SAID CHANGE; FURTHER PROVIDING THAT UPON APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORATE, THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE; CALLING FOR A REFERENDUM AND PROVIDING THAT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORATE AT THE REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 18, 2026; DESIGNATING AND APPOINTING THE CITY CLERK AS THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO THE USE OF VOTER REGISTRATION BOOKS AND RECORDS; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO CAUSE A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE HEREIN RESOLUTION TO BE DELIVERED TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, NOT LESS THAN FORTY-FIVE (45) DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE OF SUCH ELECTION; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0228 MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s) RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S) MOVER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: Pardo, Escalona, Rosado NAYS: King, Gabela Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.13, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s)" and Item RE.3. Mayor Higgins: RE.13, do I have a motion? Commissioner Pardo: So moved. Mayor Higgins: Second? City ofMiami Page 65 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Commissioner Escalona: Second. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): That's with the amendments. Mayor Higgins: With the amendments. Motion by Commissioner Pardo, seconded by Commissioner Escalona. All in favor, say "aye." Commissioner Escalona: Aye. Commissioner Pardo: Aye. Mayor Higgins: Any opposed? Commissioner Gabela: No. Mayor Higgins: Show one "no" vote, Commissioner Gabela. Passes 4 to 1. Commissioner Escalona: Two. Two "no" votes. Commissioner Gabela: Two, two. Commissioner Escalona: King is no. Mayor Higgins: And King as well. I'm sorry, 3 to 2. Commissioner King as well. Alright. Mr. Hannon: And my apologies, Chair, again, for the interruption. So, we now have two ballot questions that have been passed for the August primary election. The one we just spoke about was the Mayor and City Commission even -year election cycle. And we have another one, management agreement with Global Spectrum LP to activate and manage events at the historic Miami Marine Stadium and Flex Park. I just want to receive direction from the Commission as to the order of the ballot questions. Would you like the election question to go first, followed bv the management agreement with Global Spectrum? Mayor Higgins: Yeah, I think the election one makes the most sense, if you all agree. Commissioner Rosado: Agreed. Commissioner Escalona: Yeah. Mayor Higgins: So, okay. Mr. Hannon: Good to go. Commissioner Pardo: Good to go. Mayor Higgins: Thank you, Mr. Clerk. [Later...] Mayor Higgins: Alright. Mr. City Attorney, you had a comment on RE.13 -- George Wysong (City Attorney): Yes. Mayor Higgins: -- you needed to put on the record. City of Miami Page 66 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.14 19267 Commissioners and Mayor Mr. Wysong: I just want to make a quick note. When we modified -- the City Commission adopted it as modified. When 1 read the -- this relates to the moving of the qualification deadline. 1 said 2030.1 meant to say 2034, but the item was adopted with modification, so I just wanted to let you know that we'll be making that change as well. Commissioner Pardo: And to be clear, we are moving elections, not canceling them? That cannot happen in the City ofMiami? Mr. Wysong: Correct. Commissioner Pardo: Okay. Mr. Wysong: Correct. Commissioner Gabela: And to be clear, what you did was, none of the two terms of the people that are here now, if they get elected to a second term, is affected. It's the -- at the -- when we finish our terms here. Commissioner Pardo: If reelected and -- Commissioner Gabela: Correct, yes. Mr. Wysong: Except for District 1, sir. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. R-26-0025 AND, IN LIEU THEREOF, DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS 4(B), 7, AND 12 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CHARTER"), FOR SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY AT THE REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 18, 2026, TO CHANGE THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND RUNOFF ELECTIONS FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS FROM ODD -NUMBERED YEARS TO EVEN -NUMBERED YEARS BEGINNING IN 2034 AND 2036, AS APPLICABLE, SO SUCH ELECTIONS COINCIDE WITH ANY STATEWIDE OR COUNTYWIDE ELECTION; AMENDING THE QUALIFICATION PERIOD ACCORDINGLY; PROVIDING THAT THOSE ELECTED IN 2031 AND 2033 SHALL SERVE THREE- YEAR TERMS AS AN ADJUSTMENT DUE TO THE CHANGE IN ELECTION YEARS; TO CONFORM THE VACANCY -FILLING PROVISIONS OF SECTION 12 OF THE CHARTER TO THE REVISED ELECTION CYCLE; AND TO PROVIDE THAT THE CHARTER AMENDMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON APPROVAL BY THE ELECTORATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0227 City ofMiami Page 67 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.15 19230 Department of Building MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner AYES: King, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado NAYS: Gabela Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.14, please see "Public Comments for All Item(s)" and Item RE.3. Mayor Higgins: Let's move on to RE.14, please. Commissioner Escalona: So move. Mayor Higgins: Is there a second? Commissioner Rosado: Second. Mayor Higgins: Okay. All in favor to rescind this, signify by saying "aye." Commissioner Rosado: Aye. Commissioner Escalona: Aye. Commissioner Gabela: No. Mayor Higgins: Okay, show that 4 to 1, with Commissioner Gabela being a "no" vote. RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ESTABLISHING THE MIAMI TREE ORDINANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ("COMMITTEE") PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE XI, DIVISION 2, SECTION 2-883 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TO SERVE IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY REGARDING THE CITY'S CONSIDERATION OF REVISIONS TO CHAPTER 17, ARTICLE I OF THE CITY CODE ("TREE ORDINANCE"); REQUIRING THE COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP AND PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COMMISSION; PROVIDING FOR THE COMMITTEE'S PURPOSE, POWERS, DUTIES, COMPOSITION, MEMBERSHIP, QUALIFICATIONS, ATTENDANCE, VACANCIES, MEETINGS, QUORUM, RULES OF PROCEDURE, LEGAL AND STAFF SUPPORT, PUBLIC NOTICE, AND SUNSET; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0229 City ofMiami Page 68 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s) RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S) MOVER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner SECONDER: Damian Pardo, Commissioner AYES: Gabela, Pardo, Escalona ABSTAIN: King, Rosado Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.15, please see "Order of the Day" and "Public Comments for All Item(s)." Mayor Higgins: Moving on to RE. 15. Commissioner King: That's the item I pulled. Just need some information from staff in reviewing the backup documentation. When this came up, we talked about adding FIU (Florida International University), and I don't see that in the backup documents. It has FSU (Florida State University). But the whole reason why I requested that we have a committee of the community was because, for me, example, I'm not a tree subject matter expert, and I didn't get into the fray of the tree removal because District 5 is planting trees. Commissioner Pardo: Yeah, so are. Commissioner King: We're not pulling trees up. We -- we need tree canopy. Commissioner Pardo: Absolutely. Commissioner King: And we don't have in Liberty City hundred -year -old oaks to do away with. We just -- my community doesn't have that issue. We need trees. But in here, FSU is, from what I understand, the mediator for community meetings, and I thought I was told in my agenda briefing that community, meetings have been happening, but my appointees to the Tree Committee have said they haven't had any meetings, and I don't see FIU in here anywhere, and FIU is to step in as an expert with regards to trees and this ordinance, not to do mediation. But I don't see FIU in here. And that came up when we were voting on this. So, are - -have you had meetings in the community? And my -- because my tree advocates, one was here today. She's not going to miss a meeting about this. And I tell you, it's from me speaking to our residents that I learned -- again, not a tree expert -- that you shouldn't trim your trees during nesting season because you're -- the nest is going to fall on the ground and the birds are going to die. Little things like that that 1 or many folks I would consider don't know that kind of thing. So, that's why it's important for me to make sure that the committee, the advisory committee, is working in tandem with FIU and staff to make sure that we have a tree ordinance that makes sense for everyone. Melissa Fernandez-Stiers: Good afternoon, Madam Mayor, Madam Chair, members of the City Commission. Melissa Fernandez-Stiers, assistant director with the Building Department. 1 can directly answer the question regarding FIU now, but we're also prepared to go through a very brief presentation that will address the composition of the committee, as well as the work that has been done to date by the Consensus Center. So, at your pleasure, would you like us to go through the committee? Commissioner King: Well, okay. So, there's work being done by the Consensus Center without the input from the committee? Ms. Fernandez-Stiers: No. So, if you'll allow me to back up a little bit. City ofMiami Page 69 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Commissioner King: Okay. Ms. Fernandez-Stiers: So, in July of 24, 2025, this Commission directed the City Manager to engage the Consensus Center through FIU to provide public outreach services, including stakeholder interviews, community workshops in each district, and a web -based public comment, all that would facilitate the public's voice in the process of crafting what would eventually become our revised tree ordinance. During that meeting, as you directed, Madam Chair, the Commission -- the City Manager was also asked to convene a 10-member advisory committee that would be made up of residents that reside in each of your districts. The public service agreement was eventually executed with FSU in November, and FSU did immediately start work on its processes at that time. And the work that started at that time included to date a dozen or so stakeholder interviews representing a wide range of perspectives, many, of which are individuals that have spoken before you here today during public comment, as well as others who have been active advocates on this role. I can represent to you that one of the folks that has been interviewed is, in fact, an FIU community member, Professor Chris Baroloto, who we have the distinct pleasure of hosting on the committee once he's appointed as Commissioner Pardo's appointment. So, FJU will have a voice in this process. They will have a voice on the committee, and they will also be tagged as subject matter experts in terms of their expertise with respect to tree canopy and preservation. UM (University of Miami) has also been tagged as part of that process. We 've been in communication with them, and by "we" I mean the administration as well as the folks from the Consensus Center, and they are ready to deploy their expertise on the matter once we get this committee in place. I can also represent to you that we have a tentative integrated process plan. Once we establish the committee today by resolution, you'll be receiving names during the next Commission meeting to fill out the appointments. We have nine out of the ten appointments. And just so that you can rest assured with respect to the timeline going forward, our intent is to bring this committee and convene it at the end of June, early July. We will give them an orientation at that point. Then we'll move forward with the public workshops in July, where we're going to get feedback from the community, during that time. Once we have that feedback in place, we'll bring it back to the advisory committee. We'll have a series of meetings with the advisory committee, presenting to them what the feedback is that we've comprised from the community, and look at options given on what the community has told us. So, they'll put together options, then compile those options and bring back those approaches to the community for a second round of workshops so that the community can digest all this work that is being done. Again, all of it being facilitated through the Consensus Center, which is a neutral party that's intended to bring in the community and their voice on the matter. We hope after that second round of workshops, bring them back to the committee to develop a final set of recommendations. And, all this being said, we're probably looking at some time in mid-2027 for draft recommendations to this body. Commissioner King: So, is Commissioner Pardo's appointee the participation of FIU, or is it his appointee and FIU? Because that's what I intended, for FIU to be a part of this process. Ms. Fernandez-Stiers: So, the participation with FIU is going to be on a volunteer basis because we entered the public service agreement with FSU and we're relying on FIU and UM to volunteer in the process as community participants. We have reached out to them. FIU has a long list of folks that they want to weigh in in the process, and through our work with the Consensus Center, we'll be sure that those folks will be tapped. As an extra step -- I'm sorry, go ahead. Commissioner King: So, that wasn't my intent. I wanted FIU to be brought on as a consultant for the process. So, you know, suppose they decide, no, I don't want to City ofMiami Page 70 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 volunteer today, or 1 don't have time today. I wanted to make sure that they participated fully in this. That -- if you go back to that Commission meeting, that's -- and then some of our public commenters said why did we go to Tallahassee, where we have universities here that could weigh in? And their role for me, FIU, is not the same as FIU. FIU, as was explained to me -- FSU, I'm sorry, are acting as mediators. FIU is going to, for what I intended, to serve as subject matter experts to help guide the discussions with the advisory committee. So, I wanted FIU to be a part of this process, not in a voluntary role, but as a consultant for this process. And it is clear that the community is very engaged in this. They stop me everywhere I go to talk about this. They -- grocery store, gas station, running, because 1 run in Morningside. I have the T-shirt, the tree T-shirt. So, this is very important to me that we utilize our universities here in Miami to help us with this process, because it's very, very important. And, the other day, I went out. walked into a store, walked outside, and it felt like I walked into an oven, and it's only May. So, we have to make sure that we get this tree ordinance correct, and we have to continue to plant trees. Commissioner Pardo: I just -- I just wanted to add to that as somebody who walks around Morningside with my dog in the morning and at night all the time. Absolutely, these are all issues we are very, very protective and want to grow our tree canopies. We believe that this process that we're starting on now, which we've already started a while back, is a good step forward. I understand FIU's participation would be fantastic. I would love University of Miami to be a participant and to be able to weigh in on these issues. They have very good expertise. And so, I think there's a way to add all of this. And I think you guys are the ones in the best position to do it. Commissioner King: Wait, one thing, one thing, one thing. Because I am a professor at FIU, adjunct professor, not a tenured professor, I need to make a conflict of interest thing. It's -- I won't vote on that if you guys want to engage FIU. I'm not advocating for them because I have a connection with them as an employee of FIU. Be clear about that. My chief of staff just ran up to tell me that. You know, as an attorney, we got to -- George, you should have said that first. George Wysong (City Attorney): We discreetly spoke to your chief of staff. Commissioner King: There you go, there you go. Full -- so, we're full transparency. I am a professor at FIU. I teach Miami politics, and I'm in no way trying to violate any kind of regulation with me advocating. And 1 did that already in the Commission meeting for that. So, iifI -- George, do 1 need to refrain from the vote? Mr. Wysong: Since what it seems to be is it's advocating for a consulting contract, which is a contract, 1 would recommend that you -- just the appearance of impropriety -- I hate using that term -- but I would just withdraw yourself from the vote. Mayor Higgins: So, if I may, Mr. Manager, do you have a way of ensuring that FIU can be added to this so we can actually get this committee established? Commissioner Pardo: And University ofMiami. Mayor Higgins: And UM. James Reyes (City, Manager): Madam Chair and Commissioner Pardo, I will ensure that we contract both with FIU and University of Miami. We will get that done. Mayor Higgins: Okay. So, we -- we're able to move this item forward today. City ofMiami Page 71 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Commissioner Rosado: Madam Mayor, Madam Chair, 1 need to make the same disclosure with regard to FIU, so 1 will be abstaining from this vote. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Well, I hope none of the other three are working at FIU, otherwise we can't take a vote, people. Commissioner Pardo: I don't work at UM. Mayor Higgins: Alright, okay. Commissioner Escalona: So move. Mayor Higgins: So, I need a motion from someone that isn't involved with FIU. Commissioner Escalona: So move. Commissioner Pardo: So move. Mayor Higgins: Todd, you've got a question. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And, again, my apologies for the interruption. RE.15 will be amended pursuant to a substitution memo dated May 11, 2026. So, this item will be as amended. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Do I have a motion? Commissioner Escalona: So move. Commissioner Pardo: Second. Commissioner Gabela: I'm not working for FIU, but I'm going to reach out to a college to see ifI can have somebody, on to that. Mayor Higgins: That's right. But not one -- not FIU. You've got to be recused onn a different item. Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, no, no, granted. Mayor Higgins: Alright. We have a motion, we have a second. Of the three commissioners that are able to vote, all in favor, say "aye. The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Any opposed? Motion carries. Please show Commissioner King and Commissioner Rosado as recused. City ofMiami Page 72 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.16 19275 Commissioners and Mayor RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY CLERK, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO COLLABORATIVELY CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, SEARCHABLE WEB -BASED PORTAL FOR TRACKING ALL DIRECTIVES ISSUED BY THE CITY COMMISSION TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATION; PROVIDING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BY DISPLAYING THE STATUS OF EACH DIRECTIVE; REQUIRING COMPLETION OF THE WEB PORTAL WITHIN NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS OF ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0230 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Mayor Higgins: Alright, RE.16, I think, Commissioner Rosado, you may have wanted to speak on this. Commissioner Rosado: I do. I certainly support the idea of adding additional transparency, but in speaking with my staff, we realized we've been holding these biweekly block walks in Downtown and in Brickell, and it includes sometimes additional -- Commissioner Escalona: Sorry, on what item are you speaking? Commissioner Rosado: RE.16. Commissioner Escalona: That's 17, the one that you're referring to. Commissioner Rosado: Oh, yes, I'm sorry. Yes, correct. RE.17, my apologies. Mayor Higgins: RE.16. Who pulled RE.16? Commissioner King: I pulled RE.16. Mayor Higgins: Okay. Commissioner King: My concern with RE.16 is who's going to do this and how are we going to fund doing it? This is a lot of work. Commissioner Escalona: They already have a system that they can see. You just have to make it public. Commissioner Rosado: Make it public, yeah. Commissioner King: Oh, okay. James Reyes (City Manager): Through the Chair? Mayor Higgins: Yeah. Mr. Manager; if you'd just explain the process. City ofMiami Page 73 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mr. Reyes: Madam Chair, we currently have a searchable database that we maintain, the administration, to keep track of all the administrative orders that comes from these bodies. So, it would be a matter of making that forward facing and giving access to the public. Commissioner Gabela: Okay, so this would not cost any, you know, monies, is that correct? Mr. Reyes: Not this one, Commissioner, no. Commissioner Gabela: Okay. Commissioner Escalona: Also, we're always speaking about transparency. I believe 16 and 17 brings transparency to the table, and that's the reason we have these two items. Commissioner Gabela: Yeah, but 17 is going to cost us money, I've been briefed. Commissioner Escalona: From the City? Commissioner Gabela: From the City. Commissioner Rosado: Well, could we wrap up discussion on 16? Commissioner Escalona: Alright. Commissioner Rosado: Yeah. Commissioner King: Motion, motion. Mayor Higgins: We have a motion on 16 with Commissioner King. Is there a second? Commissioner Rosado: Second. Commissioner Escalona: Second. Mayor Higgins: Commissioner Escalona. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. City ofMiami Page 74 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.17 19276 Commissioners and Mayor RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY CLERK, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY TO COLLABORATIVELY CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, SEARCHABLE WEB BASED PORTAL PROVIDING ACCESS TO AUDIO AND/OR VIDEO RECORDINGS OF ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS OF ANY CITY OF MIAMI BOARD ("CITY BOARD"), AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2-882 OF THE CODE OF CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"); PROVIDING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC ACCESS; REQUIRING COMPLETION OF THE WEB PORTAL WITHIN NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS OF ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THAT WITHIN SAID NINETY (90) CALENDAR DAYS, ANY NECESSARY LEGISLATION BE PRESENTED TO REQUIRE THE AUDIO OR VIDEO RECORDING OF ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS OF ANY CITY BOARD AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2-882 OF THE CITY CODE. MOTION TO: Defer RESULT: DEFERRED MOVER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: Item RE.17 was deferred to the May 28, 2026, City Commission Meeting. Mayor Higgins: RE.17. Commissioner Rosado: I pulled RE.17 because, as I was starting to mention, we're hosting these walks and they're outside. We do have, in some cases, additional Commission members or multiple DDA (Downtown Development Authority) members. 1 don't know how that kind of process, which 1 think has been very positive, how it interacts with this, which I'm generally supportive of But are there any carve -outs for things like that? Because those are exterior walks. That's the nature of it. That's how they're going to continue. It's what makes sense. But I don't know how we capture it in the same way we might capture a meeting in the chambers. James Reyes (City Manager): So, Commissioner, and I'll look to Todd as we 've been working collaboratively on this item. I think if a more palatable ask is for obviously, all of the bodies capture minutes. They capture minutes just like there's minutes of this -- of this meeting, for example. Commissioner Rosado: Yeah. Mr. Reyes: And they get published on our site. I think a more palatable ask, without additional costs, without an overbearing on those organizations, the very ones that you just mentioned would be to publicize those minutes the same way in the same format that we do these. Commissioner Rosado: Okay. City ofMiami Page 75 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mr. Reyes: I do have a concern with audio and video to a whole host of legalities, to include closed captioning and contracts that we would have to sign in order to bring folks on board to convert all the audio and video, plus storage costs, plus manpower hours as it relates to audio and video. But, with that said, and I think this is what Commissioner Escalona is trying to accomplish, for the sake of transparency, those bodies do keep minutes, as does this body, and I think the public should have access to those minutes in the same format that they have access to the minutes here. So, Clerk, I don 't know if you have any further input than that, but I feel comfortable with that. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Mr. Manager, you summed it up perfectly. Mayor Higgins: So -- Commissioner Escalona: So, if we could -- Commissioner Rosado: That seems like a great compromise, absolutely. Mayor Higgins: So, colleagues, I don't know if we can amend that on the fly, or do you want Commissioner Escalona to change this more into a directive of having it come back with the Manager explaining how he would implement it, so we would be Commissioner Escalona: Can it be amended? Mayor Higgins: I think it can be amended. The question is, can you amend it specifically enough to Todd's thing, or would you rather have it come back in writing? It's up to you, Mr. Clerk. Mr. Hannon: Mr. City Attorney, are you okay with the substantive amendment of moving it from audio and video to simply just minutes? The minutes that the lower hoards, whatever summary, verbatim, whatever type of minutes they produce, that those would be published to the Legislative Hub, along with the City Commission minutes and the other boards. George Wysong (City Attorney): So, long as it's clear, in lieu of providing access to audio or video recordings of all public meetings, it would be to provide access to all minutes of meetings of the City. Mr. Hannon: Yes. Mr. Wysong: Yeah, we can make that change if the mover -- the sponsor is okay with that. Commissioner Escalona: So, the main reason you want to amend this item is because it'll add additional costs, right? Mr. Reyes: Additional costs and additional bearings on those organizations, Commissioner. So, as you know, it's -- and I think our Clerk talked about it. Commissioner Escalona: I don't think -- Mr. Reyes: It's not only the committees and the boards, but it's' subcommittees, so on and so forth. Commissioner Escalona: Aren't they required to record all the meetings? City of Miami Page 76 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mr. Reyes: No. And that's another thing that what 1 think you're doing, even by publishing the minutes of those boards go beyond what we're required to do legally. So, we're in compliance with the law. Video and audio is not part of that. Mr. Wysong: And, just so you know, Chapter 286 requires notice, opportunity to be heard. And it also provides for copying of minutes or taking of minutes. But it does not require verbatim minutes or audio/video recording. It just simply requires minutes. So, we comply with 286. I think the fear here is that this -- this in its extreme form would be asking every single board to be video recorded, and that's where the cost comes in, 1 believe. Commissioner Gabela: And the problem is keeping all that storage up, the administration of it, and then future liabilities of lawsuits in the future, right? Is that what you're saying, George? Mr. Wysong: Well, there's not so much -- well, the liability is we'd have to provide all those public records once we create them. Commissioner Gabela: Okay, so again, another -- okay. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Do I have a motion on the item as amended? Commissioner Escalona -- Commissioner Escalona: Motion. Mayor Higgins: -- since it's your item. Commissioner Escalona: So move. Commissioner Gabela: Commissioner, are you okay with that? Mayor Higgins: You want to think about it some more and come hack? Commissioner Pardo: You want to defer it? Commissioner Escalona: Yes. Let's defer. Mayor Higgins: Yeah, it seems to make sense. Let's get this right. Okay, there is a motion to defer. Is there a second? Commissioner Gabela: Second. Mayor Higgins: All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mr. Hannon: And to what meeting, Chair? Commissioner Escalona? Commissioner Escalona: Next meeting is fine. Mr. Hannon: Understood. May 28. Mayor Higgins: Perfect, thank you. City ofMiami Page 77 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.18 19271 Commissioners and Mayor RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM THE WYNWOOD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ("BID") AND ITS PUBLIC BENEFITS TRUST FUND COMMITTEE ("COMMITTEE") FOR THE ACQUISITION, DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 29 NORTHWEST 28 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA ("PROPERTY"); FURTHER AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR A FUTURE LAND USE MAP ("FLUM") AMENDMENT AND REZONING AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DESIGNATE THE PROPERTY TO "PARKS AND RECREATION" IN THE FLUM AND "CS" TRANSECT ZONE IN THE ZONING ATLAS UPON CONVEYANCE OF THE PROPERTY TO THE CITY; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT FUNDING ("FUNDS") FROM THE BID AND ITS COMMITTEE FOR THE ACQUISITION, DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTY; FURTHER AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH A DEDICATED CITY ACCOUNT FOR THE DEPOSIT AND EXPENDITURE OF THE FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTY; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THIS RESOLUTION AND TO ACCOMPLISH THE CONVEYANCE OF THE PROPERTY. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0231 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.18, please see Item RE.1. City ofMiami Page 78 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 RE.19 19274 Commissioners and Mayor RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT 1 SHARE OF THE CITY'S MIAMI FOR EVERYONE ("MFE") PROGRAM, ON A LUMP SUM BASIS, IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED THREE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($360,000.00), TO MIAMI RIVER FUND, INC., A FLORIDA NOT -FOR -PROFIT 501(C)(3) CORPORATION, AS THE FINANCIAL AGENCY FOR THE MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION, FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTALLING AND OPERATING NINE (9) QUALITY IMPROVEMENT DEVICES AND THREE (3) WATER QUALITY DEVICES, SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND PRIOR BUDGETARY APPROVAL; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM DISTRICT 1 PROJECT D1 000- D1 MFE FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, AND EXTENSIONS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE, SUBJECT TO ALL ALLOCATIONS, APPROPRIATIONS, AND PRIOR BUDGETARY APPROVALS, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0232 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner SECONDER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.19, please see "Public Comments for All limits)" and Item RE.1. END OF RESOLUTIONS City ofMiami Page 79 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 SR - SECOND READING ORDINANCES SR.1 ORDINANCE Second Reading 18842 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. R-24-0225, ADOPTED JUNE 18, 2024, City Manager's Office AMENDING CHAPTER 40/ARTICLE IV/DIVISION 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED "PERSONNEL/PENSION AND RETIREMENT PLAN/CITY OF MIAMI FIREFIGHTERS' AND POLICE OFFICERS' RETIREMENT TRUST," MORE PARTICULARLY AMENDING SECTION 40-203 TO GRANT INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS MEMBERS VESTED ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2015, THE BENEFITS IN EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2010, AND PERMITTING FIREFIGHTER MEMBERS ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT TO ELECT UP TO SEVEN YEARS IN THE FORWARD DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM BASED ON THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 587 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR OCTOBER 1, 2023, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: 14459 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item SR.1, please see "Order of the Day." Mayor Higgins: Alright, second reading items. Colleagues, is there anything that you would like to --? You've got to read them. You want to read them all? George Wysong (City Attorney): Yes. Mayor Higgins: Okay, let's do that. Mr. Wysong: Alright. Thank you, Madam Mayor. SR.1, second reading ordinance. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Mr. Wysong: SR.2, second reading ordinance. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Mr. Wysong: Second reading ordinance, SR.3. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Mr. Wysong: SR.4, second reading ordinance. City of Miami Page 80 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mr. Wysong: And lastly, SR (Second Reading) -- no, SR.6, second reading ordinance. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Mr. Wysong: And finally, SR.7, second reading ordinance. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Mr. Wysong: Thank you, Madam Mayor. Mayor Higgins: Alright, take a breath there, Mr. Attorney. Alright, colleagues, anyone want to bifurcate any of the second reading items? Alright, seeing none, I'll take a motion on SR.1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Commissioner Gabela: Second. Commissioner King: Motion. Commissioner Gabela: Second. Mayor Higgins: Okay, who moved it? Okay, it's moved by Commissioner King, seconded by Commissioner Gabela. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Any opposed? Carried unanimously. SR.2 ORDINANCE Second Reading 18956 Commissioners and Mayor AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE XI OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "ADMINISTRATION/BOARD, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS," TO COMBINE THE AUDIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE INTO THE FINANCE AND AUDIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ("COMMITTEE"); MORE SPECIFICALLY BY REPEALING IN ITS ENTIRETY DIVISION 4, SECTIONS 2-946 TO 2-951 TITLED "AUDIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE;" FURTHER AMENDING DIVISION 6, SECTIONS 2-1011 TO 2-1018 CREATING THE "FINANCE AND AUDIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE;" CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: 14460 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item SR.2, please see Item SR.1. City of Miami Page 81 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 SR.3 ORDINANCE Second Reading 19076 Commissioners and Mayor AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 10/ARTICLE VI OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "BUILDINGS/UNSAFE STRUCTURES," TO PROVIDE A WAIVER FOR QUALIFYING SENIOR CITIZENS AND LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS TO THE COSTS OF RECOVERY IN UNSAFE STRUCTURE VIOLATION CASES; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: 14461 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item SR.3, please see "Order of the Day" and Item SR.I. SR.4 ORDINANCE Second Reading 19115 Commissioners and Mayor AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 54 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "STREETS AND SIDEWALKS," BY CREATING SECTION 54-19 OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED "TRANSIT SHELTERS; USE AND CONDUCT," PROVIDING DEFINITIONS AND PROHIBITED CONDUCT AT TRANSIT SHELTERS; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE X OF THE CITY CODE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: 14462 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item SR.4, please see Item SR.1. City of Miami Page 82 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 SR.5 19114 ORDINANCE MAY BE WITHDRAWN Second Reading Commissioners AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RENAMING and Mayor THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") OWNED PARK LOCATED AT 342 SOUTHWEST 7TH AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND IDENTIFIED BY FOLIO NO. 01-0202-030-1010, FROM "GENERAL JOSE FRANCISCO MORAZAN QUESADA PARK" TO "RIVERSIDE 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 38-28 OF THE CITY CODE, CURRENTLY TITLED "NAMING OF GENERAL JOSE FRANCISCO MORAZAN QUESADA PARK" TO RENAME THE PROPERTY DESIGNATED THEREIN AS "RIVERSIDE PARK"; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE RENAMING OF THE PARK, INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF APPLICABLE SIGNAGE WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE 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 SR.5, please see "Order of the Day." SR.6 ORDINANCE Second Reading 19113 Commissioners and Mayor AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RENAMING THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") PARK LOCATED AT 971 NORTHWEST 2ND STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND IDENTIFIED BY FOLIO NO. 01-4138-003-0690, FROM "RUBEN DARIO PARK" TO "HENDERSON 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 38-38 OF THE CITY CODE, CURRENTLY TITLED "NAMING OF RUBEN DARIO PARK," TO RENAME THE PROPERTY DESIGNATED THEREIN AS "HENDERSON PARK"; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE RENAMING OF THE PARK, INCLUDING THE REPLACEMENT OF APPLICABLE SIGNAGE WITHIN THIRTY (30) CALENDAR DAYS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. ENACTMENT NUMBER: 14463 City of Miami Page 83 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item SR.6, please see Item SR.1. SR.7 ORDINANCE Second Reading 19116 Commissioners and Mayor AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION 11 AND 12 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), TITLED "ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS, COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS/RESERVED," MORE SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING DIVISION 11, SECTION 2-1145 THROUGH DIVISION 12, 2-1174 OF THE CITY CODE TO ESTABLISH THE "ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY BOARD" ("BOARD"), STATING THE BOARD'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. ENACTMENT NUMBER: 14464 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Miguel Angel Gabela, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item SR.7, please see Item SR.1. END OF SECOND READING ORDINANCES City of Miami Page 84 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 FR - FIRST READING ORDINANCE FR.1 ORDINANCE First Reading 19207 Commissioners and Mayor AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 38/ARTICLE I OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED "PARKS AND RECREATION/IN GENERAL," BY CREATING SECTION 38-42, TITLED "NAMING OF SILVER BLUFF DOG PARK" TO PROVIDE FOR THE NAMING OF THE PROPERTY CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 5,250 SQUARE FEET, LOCATED AT 2201 SOUTHWEST 26 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS "SILVER BLUFF DOG PARK"; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE NAMING OF THE PARK; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. rMOTION TO: Pass on First Reading RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING MOVER: Ralph "Rafael" Rosado, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Mayor Higgins: Okay, first reading, and I think the pocket item, right, is the first reading? George Wysong (City Attorney): Yes, ma'am. Mayor Higgins: Okay, can, you read those? Thank you. Mr. Wysong: Alright, so FR.1, first reading ordinance. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Mr. Wysong: That was FR.1. And I believe we already read the pocket item title into the record. Mayor Higgins: Alright. On FR.1, do I have a motion? Commissioner Rosado: So moved. Commissioner Escalona: Second. Mayor Higgins: Okay, moved by Commissioner Rosado, seconded by Commissioner Escalona. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. END OF FIRST READING ORDINANCE City of Miami Page 85 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 BC.1 19263 Office of the City Clerk BC - BOARDS AND COMMITTEES RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION WAIVING THE TERM LIMIT BY A FIVE -FIVE (5/5) UNANIMOUS AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AS IT RELATES TO MARIA NAPOLES AS A MEMBER OF THE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES BOARD. ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-26-0233 MOTION TO: Adopt RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Mayor Higgins: Now, well do BC.1. Todd B. Hannon (City, Clerk): BC.1 is a resolution of the Miami City Commission waiving the term limit by a 5-5 unanimous vote -- affirmative vote as it relates to Maria Napoles as a member of the Art in Public Places Board. Commissioner King: Motion. Commissioner Escalona: Second. Mayor Higgins: Okay. All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. Mayor Higgins: Passes unanimously. END OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES City of Miami Page 86 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 PART B: PZ - PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S) PZ.1 ORDINANCE First Reading 13878 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 "T5-L," URBAN CENTER TRANSECT ZONE - LIMITED, TO "T6-8-O," URBAN CORE TRANSECT ZONE — OPEN, OF THE PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED AT 1121, 1127, 1133, 1141, 1149, 1157, 1213, 1219, 1227, 1229, AND 1235 NORTHWEST 1 PLACE; 132, 139, AND 145 NORTHWEST 12 STREET; 140 NORTHWEST 13 ST; AND 1118, 1126, 1134, 1142, 1212, 1218, 1228, AND 1238 NORTHWEST 1 COURT, 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.1, please see "Order of the Day." City of Miami Page 87 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 PZ.2 ORDINANCE First Reading 18675 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 "DUPLEX RESIDENTIAL" AND "MAJOR INSTITUTIONAL, PUBLIC FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES" TO "LOW DENSITY RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL" OF THE ACREAGE DESCRIBED HEREIN OF REAL PROPERTY AT 145 AND 151 NORTHWEST 60 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED EXHIBIT "A"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado NAYS: Gabela Mayor Higgins: Alright. Now, we'll move into the Planning and Zoning items. Would you read the titles, please? George Wysong (City Attorney): Yes, Madam Mayor. PZ.2, first reading ordinance. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Mr. Wysong: PZ.3, first reading ordinance. Excuse me. The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney. Mayor Higgins: Commissioner King, these are both in your district. Commissioner King: These are both -- Mayor Higgins: So, I'll let you take the lead. Commissioner King: And I'd like to just make a couple of comments. This project, if it was April Fool's, I would move to defer just to give Melissa a heart attack. But this is an example of what I'm talking about with development and getting community benefits, because I absolutely carved out community benefits, got additional affordable housing. There isn't a development that passes through District 5 that I do not advocate for community benefits for my residents. I think Melissa could tell you with much heartburn, because we've done a lot of projects in District 5. She -- and the last one, the Adela Project, where I was able to carve out a million dollars to address traffic issues -- Melissa Tapanes Llahues: Parking garage. Commissioner King: -- parking garage. City of Miami Page 88 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Ms. Tapanes Llahues: Affordable housing. Commissioner King: I mean, now I have a parking garage that will allow residents to park for free every single day for three hours minimum. So, I just want to reiterate that if we do the work, we can work with developers to carve out benefits for our residents and take some of the financial burden off of the City so -- Tapanes Llahues: Thank you, Chairwoman, and thank you to your staff because, thankfully, it's not April Fool's Day. This was a very challenging project. It was a small project, and it's turned into 100 percent affordable housing. So, it's a Live Local Act project, but protecting the neighborhood. So, it's one of these examples where development is -- can be sustainable and can do everything that it's intended to do. So, thank you. Commissioner King: Thank you. Ms. Tapanes Llahues: And thank you for not April Fool's Day. Mayor Higgins: So, for Commissioner King, would you like to move both of them together? Commissioner King: Motion. Yes, PZ.1 and 2. And 3, I'm sorry. Mayor Higgins: Just 2 and 3. Commissioner King: 2 and 3. Commissioner Pardo: 2 and 3. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Commissioner Escalona: Second. Mayor Higgins: I have a motion, seconded by Commissioner Escalona. All in favor, say "aye. Commissioner King: Aye. Commissioner Escalona: Aye. Commissioner Pardo: Aye. Commissioner Gabela: No. Mayor Higgins: They both carry unanimously. Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Sorry, is that 4-1? Commissioner, you're a no. Mayor Higgins: Okay. Mr. Hannon: So, I believe it's 4-1. Mayor Higgins: 4-1. Mr. Hannon: Commissioner Gabela voted no. City of Miami Page 89 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 Mayor Higgins: Commissioner Gabela. Mr. Hannon: Sorry, Chair. Mayor Higgins: Okay. Mr. Clerk or Mr. Attorney, anything else? Mr. Hannon: Other than the pocket item, that's it. Mayor Higgins: We did the pocket item, didn't we? Commissioner Escalona: We did. Commissioner Pardo: We did. Commissioner Escalona: We did it. Mayor Higgins: Do you want us to do it again? We can. Mr. Hannon: No, no, no. I'm sorry. My apologies. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Move your pocket item again just to be on the safe side. Mr. Hannon: No, no, no. We're good. I totally, missed it. Mayor Higgins: Alright. Well, the meeting is adjourned. Thank you very much. Commissioner Escalona: Thank you. PZ.3 ORDINANCE First Reading 18676 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH Department of ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE Planning NO. 13114, THE ZONING CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ("MIAMI 21 CODE") BY CHANGING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FROM "CI," CIVIC INSTITUTION ZONE, AND "T3- O,"SUB-URBAN TRANSECT ZONE — OPEN, TO "T4-L," GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT ZONE — LIMITED, FOR THE PROPERTY GENERALLY LOCATED AT 151 NORTHWEST 60 STREET AND 145 NORTHWEST 60 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED EXHIBIT "A"; FURTHER RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTANCE OF THE VOLUNTARILY PROFFERED COVENANT ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "B"; MAKING FINDINGS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado NAYS: Gabela Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PZ.3, please see Item PZ.2. END OF PLANNING AND ZONING ITEM(S) City of _Miami Page 90 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 NA - NON -AGENDA ITEM(S) NA.1 ORDINANCE First Reading 19312 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING City Commission CHAPTER 38/ARTICLE I OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TITLED PARKS AND RECREATION/IN GENERAL", BY AMENDING SECTION 38-18, TITLED "NAMING OF FACILITIES AT HADLEY PARK"; MORE SPECIFICALLY, NAMING THE SKATING RINK LOCATED THEREIN AS THE "RAILROAD SHOP ROLLER RINK"; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE. MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING MOVER: Christine King, Commissioner SECONDER: Rolando Escalona, Commissioner AYES: King, Gabela, Pardo, Escalona, Rosado Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing ItemNA.1, please see "Order of the Day." Mayor Higgins: Alright, we have BC.1, for boards and committees. Commissioner King: Madam Chair? Mayor Higgins: Yes. Commissioner King: Madam Mayor, you forgot the pocket item. Mayor Higgins: Todd said -- we can do that out of order, right? Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Sure. Mayor Higgins: He told me I had to do it at the end, but I'll move it back up. Commissioner King: Oh. Mayor Higgins: Alright, pocket item. Commissioner King: Okay. Mayor Higgins: We haven't forgotten. But we can do it now. Commissioner King: Motion. Mayor Higgins: Make a motion. Commissioner Escalona: Second. Commissioner Pardo: Aye. Mayor Higgins: All in favor, say "aye." The Commission (Collectively): Aye. City ofMiami Page 91 Printed on 08/04/2026 City Commission Meeting Minutes May 14, 2026 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Higgins: There we go. Passes unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:52 a.m. City ofMiami Page 92 Printed on 08/04/2026