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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1972-04-18 MinutesOF MEETING HELD ON APRIL 18, 1972 PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY HALL CITY OF MIAMI SPECIAL COMMISSION MINUTES MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA On the lath day of April, 1972, the City Commission of Miami, Florida, met at its regular meeting place at City Hall in said city in special session called by the Mayor to consider business of public import pursuant to Resolution No. 72 -74, adopted April 11, 1972. The meeting was called to order at 2 :55 o'clock P.M. by Mayor David T. Kennedy with the following members of the Commission present: Messrs. Christie, Plummer, Mrs. Gordon and Mayor Kennedy. Absent: None. The Mayor announced that the purpose of the meeting was to select a new Commissioner to fill the unexpired term of Commissioner Reverend Edward T. Graham, resigned. The Clerk announced that the names of Mr. Nathaniel Dean Mrs. Dolores Turner and Reverend Temperance Wright had been placed in nomination at the meeting of April 11, 1972. Reverend Temperance Wright appeared and stated that due to the press of his ministerial affairs he would be unable to accept an appointment to this position of City Commissioner and requested that his name be withdrawn from nomination. Mr. Plummer stated he desired to place in nomination the name of Mr. Harold L. Braynon, former Municipal Judge of the City of Miami. Mr. Christie stated he would place in nomination the name of Mr. Sonny Wright to fill this unexpired term. The Mayor instructed each Commissioner to place his or her name on a piece of paper marked "Ballot No. 1" and to write his or her choice to fill this term on said paper, whereupon the Clerk would read the ballots in order to attempt to arrive at a majority vote for one of the nominees. After the reading of each ballot the Mayor called for any withdrawals of nominations or new nominations by the Commissioners, and balloting proceeded to the point where ten ballots had been cast without any one nominee receiving a majority vote, whereupon the Mayor declared a brief recess. The Commission resumed the balloting in the same manner as previously, and prior to Ballot No. 11 being taken Commissioner Plummer stated he would withdraw the name of Mr. Harold Braynon and offer the name of Reverend Theodore R. Gibson as a nominee to fill this unexpired term. Balloting resumed, and after Ballot No. 14 had been com- pleted without any nominee receiving a majority of the votes another brief recess was declared by the Mayor. MODEL CITIES & EDISON- LITTLE RIVER BUSINESSMEN'S RESOLUTION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT: The Commission reconvened at 4 :05 o'clock P.M. with all members present, and Mr. Oscar Weaver, representing the total busi- ness and civic community and especially the Model Cities and Edison - Little River businessmen, appeared and read the following resolution of said organization: WHEREAS, Concerned citizens representing the total business and civic community and especially the Model Cities and Edison - Little River businessmen have responded to the continued crimes against life and property, and WHEREAS, There is a concensus of opinion of a wide cross section of Black businessmen who suffer daily under selseless fear of loss of life and property, and WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of City and County Government through its police and public safety departments to pro- vide both protection and swift and thorough investigation of all acts of crime and violence; such protection and investigation should not be limited to harassment of local businesses and resi- dents while in search of drugs, petty crimes in poolrooms and tav- erns, or stopping and frisking of youngsters who, although often looking suspicious are merely on the way home from school, work or play, and WHEREAS, It is both impracticable and intolerable for more Governmental Delay or Budgetary excuses to allow more and more of the same to plague the minority areas, while state and federal funds are used to build a police arsenal for defense against the reoccurrence of Black Community Civil disorder of a few summers ago, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT: Citizens who have an investment in Dade County and are vitally interested in the community's welfare demand of the County's elected officials that attention be given to listed priorities de- termined by the community as follows: 1. Better Law Enforcement, citing need for better trained men. Better enforcement does not mean harassment of business catering to the youth of the community. 2. Leniency in courts, which has permitted a number of individuals who have been arrested one or more times to be released and continue to prey upon the community. These people are con- sistently responsible for additional acts upon their release. 3. Better opportunities in the tower levels of the County and City governmental employment with serious consideration given to removal of such obstacles as polygraph tests and questions re- lated to arrest records. 4. Upgrading of vocational training opportunities, special- izing in training of youthful offenders. 5. Inducement of the total business community to employ persons with arrest records for continuing employment. 6. Development of Drug Programs in areas heretofore neglect- ed. Upgrading those programs already operational. Emphasis should be placed in the Black Community. 7. Programs designed to benefit the community in its ef- fort to deter crime, should be able to function with a minimum of bureaucratic interventions. 8. Stricter and more effective regulations governing the training and employment of private security agencies. -2- Apr 18, 1972 9. Immediate installation of sodium vapor lights in areas of high crime rates. Such lights have been employed in the down town area (Flagler Street) and the garment district. They are needed for safer living in high crime areas. 10. Improvement of the Dade Correctional Institutions, including the development of a rehabilitative center with intensive counseling programs for youthful offenders. Such programs must employ staff which are sensitive to the needs of their people. 11. Enactment of legislation reflecting a move to make Dade County a safer place to live for all citizens. CONCLUSION: The businessmen and civic minded people responsible for this document which it to be known to the governing bodies of Dade County and the City of Miami they are totally concerned with the rising crime rate, and they are prepared to support all responsible and constructive actions the Board of Commissioners may enact, and shall watch with concern the response of this Board. We shall also hold the Board of Commissioners responsible for police actions not in the best interest of the Black Community. The Mayor requested that this resolution be referred to the City Manager with the suggestion that a resolution of principle be submitted to the Commission for its adoption at the next meet- ing of the Commission. CITY COMMISSIONER - APTG REV. THEODORE R, GIBSON: The Commission proceeded with its attempt to select a new City Commissioner to fill the unexpired term of Commissioner Reverend Edward T. Graham, resigned. The Mayor stated he had contacted Mr. Nathanial Dean and informed him that he had been unable to obtain a second to his nomination of Mr. Dean, and that Mr. Dean had consented to a withdrawal of his name as a candidate to fill the unexpired term.' The Mayor thereupon nominated Mr. Wellington Rolle to fill this vacancy on the Commission. Whereupon Ballots No. 15 and 16 were taken without a majority being received by any nominee. Mrs. Gordon stated she would offer the name of Mr. Harold Braynon again as a candidate for this office. Ballot No. 17 was taken without a majority being received by any nominee. Mr. Kennedy stated he would withdraw the name of Mr. Rolle as a nominee and agree to vote for Reverend Gibson. Be stated he had hoped to persuade the Commission to select a Commissioner ,from the northern part of the City, since it was not represented on the Commission at the present time, but that he felt Reverend Gibson would be an excellent choice. Mr. Christie stated he would also like to change his vote in favor of Reverend Gibson, whom he stated was an outstanding man in the community. .3.. Apr 18. 1972 • Mrs. Gordon stated she also would change her vote in favor of Reverend Gibson, stating she had refrained from doing so up to this time solely because she had hoped to obtain an appointee who lived in the northern part of the City. Thereupon the following resolution was introduced by Mr. Plummer, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 72 -76 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND ELECTING REVEREND THEODORE R. GIBSON AS A CITY COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF REVEREND EDWARD T. GRAHAM, RESIGNED BE ITIESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: That Reverend Theodore R. Gibson be, and he is, hereby a /pointed and elected as a City Commissioner of the City of Miami, Florida, to fill the unexpired term of Reverend Edward T. Graham, resigned. Upon being seconded by Mr. Christie the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote - AYES: Messrs. Christie, Plummer, Mrs. Gordon and Mayor Kennedy. NOES: None. VICE -MAYOR - APPOINTING MRS. ROSE GORDON: The following resolution was introduced by Mr. Christie, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 72 -77 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND ELECTING COMMISSIONER ROSE GORDON AS VICE - MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MIAMI TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF REVEREND EDWARD T. GRAHAM, RESIGNED BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: That Commissioner Rose Gordon be, and she is, hereby appointed and elected as Vice -Mayor of the City of Miami to fill the unexpired term of Reverend Edward T. Graham, resigned. Upon being seconded by Mr. Plummer the resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote - AYES: Messrs. Christie, Plummer and Mayor Kennedy. NOES: None. Mrs. Gordon abstaining. ADJOURNMENT: On motion duly made and seconded the meeting was adjourned at 4 :50 o'clock P.M. DAVID T. KENNEDY ATTEST/ H. D. SOUTHERN MAYOR CITY CLERK �-4- Apra 18, 1972 A PRIL 1B 1912 DISCUSS 1. 1 DOCUMENT IDENTIFICA LITTL MODEL CITIES & EDISON L AW ENFORCEMENT MODEL RIVER BUSINESSMEN' 1 0001 cry DOCUMENT t MEETING OAT EI ,_