HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2017-12-14 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
TY EDI6 Ar
T
i
* INC0RP CBATE0
1
is 08
0__ It__ �r
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, December 14, 2017
9:00 AM
Regular
City Hall
City Commission
Francis Suarez, Mayor
Keon Hardemon, Chair
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner, District One
Joe Carollo, Commissioner, District Three
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner, District Four
Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
4i%I11ALyi�IkiUNZ6YA11Ile] ►I_1►Ili »;Isle]*e] yet 44*1FAkiN4
Present. Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Russell, Commissioner Gort, Commissioner Carollo
and Commissioner Reyes.
On the loth day of December, 2017, 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 Chair Hardemon at 9:I0
a.m., recessed at 10:14 a.m., reconvened at 10:18 am., recessed at 12:08 p.m., reconvened at
2:26 p.m., recessed at 5:05 p.m., reconvened at 10:32 p.m., recessed at 10:33 p.m.,
reconvened at 11:15 p.m., recessed at 11:17 p.m., reconvened at 12:02 a.m., recessed at
12:03 am., reconvened at 12:19 a.m., and adjourned on Friday, December 15, 2017 at
12:23 am.
Note for the Record. Commissioner Reyes entered the Commission chambers at 9:20 am.,
and Vice Chair Russell entered the Commission chambers at 9:25 a.m.
ALSO PRESENT.
Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
Chair Hardemon: Welcome to the December 14, 2017 meeting of the City of Miami City
Commission in these historic chambers. The members of the City Commission are Wifredo
Gort, Joe Carollo, Manolo Reyes; Ken Russell, the Vice Chairman; and me, Keon Hardemon,
the Chairman. That was a first. Also on the dais are Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager;
Victoria Mendez, our City Attorney; and Todd Hannon, our City Clerk. The meeting will be
opened with a prayer by Commissioner Gort, and Commissioner Carollo will lead us in the
pledge of allegiance. All rise, please.
(Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered.)
W:M:JN;NNI►111041[07►1; FAki191:1NONIVALyi/ed1[07►61
PRA PROTOCOL ITEM
3383
Honoree
Presenter
Protocol Item
Liberty City Optimist Dance Team
Comm. Hardemon
Salute
Ann Carlton's 100th Birthday
Mayor and Comm.
Salute
Employee Service Milestone
Awards
City Manager
City of Miami Service Pins
Jose "Pepe" Campos
Comm. Gort
Proclamation
City of Miami Page I Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
RESULT: PRESENTED
1) Mayor Suarez and Chair Hardemon, paused in their deliberations of governance to
to pay highest tribute to the Liberty City "Warriors" Optimist (LCO) Junior Pee
Wee National Dance Team for their valuable efforts and success. The team is
comprised of 9 members between the ages of 9-11, and are supported by a host of
coaches and staff. After placing first in a local Miami competition, the LCO Junior
Pee Wee Dance team competed in the South East Region Pop Warner Regional
Competition in Orlando, Florida, where they placed second and received the Award
for Highest Score Dance Theme, Costumes, and Props. The team then advanced to
the 2017 Pop Warner National Championship Cheer/Dance Competition, which was
held at the ESPN Wild World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. On December
6, 2017, the LCO Junior Pee Wee Dance Team displayed strength and
determination, receiving first place in Junior Pee Wee Dance Theme Category.
Elected Officials commended the Liberty City "Warriors" Optimist Junior Pee Wee
National Dance Team for their laudable achievements, and encouraged them to
continue their ambitious endeavors.
2) Mayor Suarez and Commissioners paused in their deliberation of governance to
celebrate and salute Ms. Ann Carlton on the notable occasion of her 100' Birthday.
Elected Officials thanked Ms. Carlton for her contributions to the City of Miami.
3) Mayor Regalado and City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso recognized various City of
Miami Employees for their 25 and 30 years of service presenting them with Service
Milestone Awards and commending them for their dedication and commitment to the
City if Miami; furthermore thanking them for their dedication as City Employees.
4) Mayor Suarez and Commissioners paid tribute to Jose "Pepe" Campos, also known
as "El Chamby, " a prestigious Spanish-language sports and radio broadcaster. "El
City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 2/09/2018
City of Miami
City Year
Check Presentation
City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
Mayor and Comm.
Proclamation
City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
The Mourning Family
Foundation
Recognition
City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
NAACP
Recognition
City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
Hadley Park
Neighborhood Assoc.
Recognition
City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
Veteran's Affairs
Recognition
City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
Information Technology
Department
Recognition
RESULT: PRESENTED
1) Mayor Suarez and Chair Hardemon, paused in their deliberations of governance to
to pay highest tribute to the Liberty City "Warriors" Optimist (LCO) Junior Pee
Wee National Dance Team for their valuable efforts and success. The team is
comprised of 9 members between the ages of 9-11, and are supported by a host of
coaches and staff. After placing first in a local Miami competition, the LCO Junior
Pee Wee Dance team competed in the South East Region Pop Warner Regional
Competition in Orlando, Florida, where they placed second and received the Award
for Highest Score Dance Theme, Costumes, and Props. The team then advanced to
the 2017 Pop Warner National Championship Cheer/Dance Competition, which was
held at the ESPN Wild World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. On December
6, 2017, the LCO Junior Pee Wee Dance Team displayed strength and
determination, receiving first place in Junior Pee Wee Dance Theme Category.
Elected Officials commended the Liberty City "Warriors" Optimist Junior Pee Wee
National Dance Team for their laudable achievements, and encouraged them to
continue their ambitious endeavors.
2) Mayor Suarez and Commissioners paused in their deliberation of governance to
celebrate and salute Ms. Ann Carlton on the notable occasion of her 100' Birthday.
Elected Officials thanked Ms. Carlton for her contributions to the City of Miami.
3) Mayor Regalado and City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso recognized various City of
Miami Employees for their 25 and 30 years of service presenting them with Service
Milestone Awards and commending them for their dedication and commitment to the
City if Miami; furthermore thanking them for their dedication as City Employees.
4) Mayor Suarez and Commissioners paid tribute to Jose "Pepe" Campos, also known
as "El Chamby, " a prestigious Spanish-language sports and radio broadcaster. "El
City of Miami Page 2 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chamby" has hosted successful radio shows since 2002, beginning with "Descarga
Deportiva" and currently hosts Al Duro y Sin Careta. " He has also appeared in
ESPN Deportes and various local radio shows. In 1999 Campos was the Spanish-
language play-by-play voice of the University of Miami and later became the official
Spanish-language play -by play voice of the University of Miami football, basketball,
and baseball teams. During Florida International University's inaugural season in
2002, he became the color commentator for the FIU football and basketball teams,
as well as the color commentator and play -by play voice of the baseball team. He is
also a founding member and original Committee Chairman for the Miami Senior
High School Sports Hall of Fame, and a member of the St. Brendan Athletic
Association, and Tamiami Basketball League. Elected Officials paused in their
deliberations and commended Mr. Jose "Pepe" Campos, "El Chamby" for his
contributions to the City of Miami and proclaimed December 14, 2017 as "Jose
"Pepe" Campos Day" in the City ofMiami.
S) Mayor Suarez and Commissioners presented the City Year Organization, a non-profit
mentorship program, with a check for $100,000 for the program. The City Year
Program supports City of Miami students with mentorship opportunities. City Year
also presented the Mayor and Commissioners with red jackets in appreciation of
their support.
6) Mayor Suarez and Commissioner Hardemon paused in their deliberation of
governance to present a proclamation to City of Miami Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
who has served the City of Miami honorably, responsibly, compassionately, and
competently since March 4, 2014. The City has fiscally grown during his
administration as evidenced by its significant improvement in bond ratings, an
increase of its fund balance from $13 million to $150 million, as well as receiving
the Government Finance Officers Association Award for Excellence in Government
Finance every year during his tenure, and most recently, was awarded the 2017
National Procurement Institute's Achievement of Excellence in Procurement. City
Manager Alfonso has been at the forefront of environmental issues facing the City.
He funded and nearly completed the environmental cleanup of all City parks,
secured state legislative appropriations, began the process of building a new facility
for Parks and Public Works Operations, has prioritized the City's Police
Department and its officers maintaining its highest staffing level of sworn police
ojficers in its history, along with increasing the overall size of the Department. He
established the Strategic Planning Office, Office of Innovation, and Office of
Resiliency to prepare for the City's future and helped create the Department of
Veterans Affairs and Homeless Services, making the City of Miami the first in the
nation to fully fund a veterans support program. Elected Officials commended and
recognized Mr. Alfonso's distinguished efforts and contributions and thereby
proclaimed December 14, 2017 as "City Manager Daniel J Alfonso Day. "
7) Mr. Bill Diggs, President of the Mourning Family Foundation, recognized and
commended City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso for his support and contributions to the
foundation.
8) Mr. Rubin Robertson from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP) recognized and commended City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso for his
support and contributions to the organization.
9) Mr. Samuel Latimore from the Hadley Park Neighborhood Association recognized
and commended City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso for his support and contributions to
the residents of the City of Miami and the association.
10) The City of Miami Department of Veterans Affairs presented City Manager Daniel J.
Alfonso with a commemorative United States Flag and recognized his services to the
United States and to the residents of the City ofMiami.
11) Mr. Kevin Burns, Director and Chief Information Officer from the City of Miami
Department of Information Technology presented City Manager Daniel J. Alfonso
with a 3-1) memento of the Miami Riverside Center (MRC) building and thanked him
for his leadership in the City of Miami.
Chair Hardemon: We will now make presentations and proclamations.
City of Miami Page 3 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
(Presentations and proclamations made.)
AM - APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS:
AMA City Commission - Planning and Zoning - Sep 28, 2017 9:00 AM
MOTION TO:
Approve
RESULT:
APPROVED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Reyes
ABSENT:
Carollo
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Is there a motion to approve the Commission meeting
minutes from 20 -- the 28th of September and the second budget hearing meetings
from the 28th of --
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: September? Been properly moved and seconded to approve AMI
-- or AM.1 and AM.2. Any discussion about that motion? Hearing none, all in favor
of the motion, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye
Chair Hardemon: Motion approved.
AM.2 City Commission - Second Budget Hearing - Sep 28, 2017 5:05 PM
MOTION TO:
Approve
RESULT:
APPROVED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Reyes
ABSENT:
Carollo
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item AM.2, please see Item AM.].
I Ji lYa di le\Yel ZU ILV Nk%7 ;&l
NO MAYORAL VETOES
(Pursuant to Section 4(g)(5) of the Charter of Miami, Florida, Item(s) vetoed by the Mayor shall be placed by the
City Clerk as the first substantive item(s) for City Commission consideration.)
END OF MAYORAL VETOES
City of Miami Page 4 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
ORDER OF THE DAY
Chair Hardemon: Mr. City Clerk, are there any mayoral vetoes?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, there are no mayoral vetoes.
Chair Hardemon: Hearing no mayoral vetoes, I'll move on to the public comment
period.
Chair Hardemon: We will now begin the regular meeting. The City Attorney will
state the procedures to be followed during this meeting.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you, Mr. Chair. Any person who is a
lobbyist, including all paid persons or firms retained by a principal to advocate for a
particular decision by the City Commission must register with the City Clerk and
comply with the related City requirements for lobbyists before appearing before the
City Commission. A person may not lobby a City official, board member, or staff
member until registering. A copy of the Code section about lobbyists is available in
the City Clerk's Office or online on wwwmunicode.com [sic]. Any person making a
presentation, formal request, or petition to the City Commission concerning real
property must make the appropriate disclosures required by the City Code. A copy
of this Code section is available in the City Clerk's Office or online at
wwwmunicode.com [sic]. 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
wwwmiamigov.com [sic]. Any person may be heard by the City Commission through
the Chair for not more than two minutes on any proposition before the City
Commission, unless modified by the Chair. If the proposition is being continued or
rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard may be at such later date before the City
Commission takes action on such proposition. The Chairman will advise the public
when the public may have the opportunity to address the City Commission during the
public comment period. When addressing the City Commission, the member of the
public may first state his or her name, his or her address, and what item will be
spoken about. A copy of the agenda item titles will be available at the City Clerk's
Office and at the podium for your ease of reference. Anyone wishing to appeal any
decision made by the City Commission for any matter considered at this meeting may
need a verbatim record of the item. A video of this meeting may be requested at the
Office of Communications or viewed online at wwwmiamigov.com [sic]. No cell
phones or other noise -making devices are permitted in chambers; please silence
those devices now. No clapping, applauding, heckling, or verbal outburst in support
or opposition to a speaker or his or her remarks shall be permitted. Any person
making offensive remarks or who becomes unruly in Commission chambers will be
barred from further attending Commission meetings and may be subject to arrest.
No signs or placards shall be allowed in Commission chambers. Any person with a
disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids and services for this meeting may
notify the City Clerk. The lunch recess will begin at the conclusion of deliberation of
the agenda item being considered at noon. The meeting will end either at the
conclusion of the deliberation of the agenda item being considered at 10 p.m. or at
the conclusion of the regularly scheduled agenda, whichever occurs first. Please
note, Commissioners have generally been briefed by City staff and the City Attorney
on items on the agenda today. At this time, the Administration will announce which
items are being withdrawn, deferred, or substituted, if any. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Manager?
City of Miami Page 5 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Mr. Chairman, thank you. Commissioners, good
morning. I'd like to mention that it has been requested that SR.2 be indefinitely
deferred; SR.4 be deferred to February 8; SR.6, deferred to February 8; SR.7,
deferred to February 8; RE. H, deferred to January 11; and DI2, deferred to
January 25.
Chair Hardemon: Can you repeat those for me, please?
Mr. Alfonso: SR.2 --
Commissioner Gort: It's FR.2, right?
Mr. Alfonso: "S, if "S, if "S. if
Commissioner Gort: As in "Sierra," "S."
Mr. Alfonso: SR.2, indefinite; SR.4, to February 8; SR.6, February 8; SR.7,
February 8; RE. 11, January 11; and DI2, January 25.
Chair Hardemon: Are there any other items that need to be continued or deferred,
or withdrawn? You're recognized, Mr. Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to defer RE.3 for one month,
please.
Commissioner Gort: RE.3?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes; the January 11 meeting. That is the Miami Children's
Museum item.
Chair Hardemon: Are there any other items? You're recognized, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Mr. Chair, I would like to move Discussion Item 3 to the
beginning of the meeting, due to multiple items in agenda regarding cameras, so we
can get rid of it.
Chair Hardemon: They will have an opportunity -- Well, is it a discussion for you
to discuss; is that what you're saying; or for people to leave comment?
Commissioner Reyes: No. We have -- there's a lot of -- there are different items on
the agenda, and I think Carollo has one and -- Commissioner Carollo; the Mayor
has one. So I had an item for discussion. So we'll -- let's everybody get them
together.
Chair Hardemon: We may not -- Typically, we handle many items at one time, so I
don't plan on calling one item at one time. I plan on calling a number of items, and
those items will be probably bunched together.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. I don't understand. We're just going to --
Chair Hardemon: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: -- group them and then --
Chair Hardemon: Exactly.
City of Miami Page 6 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Reyes: I'm sorry.
Chair Hardemon: So is there a motion to approve the --?
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved; seconded by the Chair --
Vice Chair Russell: Second.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Hardemon: -- to approve, as what was stated on the agenda, besides the
discussion item. Is there any further discussion about those items? Hearing none,
all in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes, so give me one second to note them on my agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR REGULAR ITEM(S)
Chair Hardemon: If you are here from the public and you want to speak on any
agenda item that is on the morning agenda -- that is any agenda item besides the
Planning & Zoning items -- this is your opportunity to be heard, so what I'd like for
you to do is approach either of the two lecterns; state your name, first and last; you
may state your address, and then which item it is that you're here to speak about.
Like I said, once again, this is your opportunity to be heard. You have two minutes
to address this body. State your first name, your last name, and which item it is that
you're hereto speak of. You may also state your address. You're recognized, sir.
Grant Stern: Yes. My name is Grant Stern, 425 Northeast 22nd Street. I'm here to
speak on Item C.13 [sic]. Commissioners, almost six years ago, I wrote an article in
the Miami Herald that said if Walmart wanted to move into Midtown Miami, if they
followed all the rules, there was nothing we, as citizens, could do about it. That
project has not happened yet. And the reason that I bring that up as part of Item
C.13 [sic] is that I have been forced to undertake ongoing litigation in order to finish
what I started nearly six years ago, and the reason for that is the reason that I speak
with you today. It is your decision to make on Item C.13 [sic] whether or not to
retain the City Attorney as --in her position for the next two years. And I am here to
oppose that resolution for some very specific factual reasons, which I have alleged in
court; however, I would be glad to provide the written documentary evidence of all
of this, since much of it was derived from another court case, which the City of
Miami lost. The City Attorney in the City of Miami does not perform her mandatory
duty of delivering public records in a reasonable fashion to the citizens of this City.
And more importantly, her advice is flawed to the point where not one, but two of the
Commissioners sitting on this dais today have been exposed to legal liability because
of her omissions or her actions. And furthermore, I would like to say that what she is
doing is just wrong. Whether she has a duty or not, legally, is very important, and
she does; it's indisputable. She has to uphold all of the laws; not just the Florida
Constitution and the U.S. (United States) Constitution, but as an attorney, she
swears to uphold all of the laws, and she is not doing it in her official role, and I ask
you to oppose C.13 [sic]. Thank you, Commissioners.
City of Miami Page 7 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. You're recognized, sir.
Horacio Stuart Aguirre: Mr. Chairman, good morning. Horacio Stuart Aguirre. I
stand before you as chairman of the City of Miami Civilian Investigative Panel. I
beg your indulgence to give a two -minute update on important changes in the
Civilian Investigative Panel, if I may.
Chair Hardemon: Go ahead, sir.
Mr. Aguirre: Thank you, sir. This is the agency that provides civilian oversight over
the City of Miami Police Department. It reviews the conduct of police officers, the
management of the Miami Police Department, and reviews their policies and
procedures. I'd like to note that this is an assignment that I did not actually seek,
and necessarily didn't welcome, but I answered the call when then -chairman of the
dais -- today, Commissioner Willy Gort -- asked me if I would be his representative
from the District of Allapattah on the Civilian Investigative Panel. I'd like to add
that I was a bit reluctant at that time, because word in the hallways was that civic
activists in the City of Miami were at war with the Civilian Investigative Panel; and
that, indeed, there was a civil war within the panel. This all proved to be true, quite
unfortunately. Thankfully, those details need not be rehashed today, because they've
all been resolved, and those with long institutional memories know it well. Today
this is an agency that is a model throughout the country for good police oversight. I
am proud to report that it is functioning very, very well. We have a good and healthy
debate amongst ourselves and our public meetings are open and we sort through the
evidence, and reach very independent conclusions. We have a much better rapport
with the leadership of the Miami Police Department than we have ever had in our
history, and today we have more applicants to sit on the panel than we have seats, so
I'm very pleased with these reports. But the success is not because of me; it's been
because of the strong participation from outstanding panel members; outstanding
contributions from civic leaders, including the NAACP (National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People), and AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants) -- no, not the AICPA -- the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
and the strong professional leadership with an excellent, second -to -none staff, led by
Cristina Beamud. It's been my privilege and pleasure to serve on this very important
panel, but it's now time for me to move on. So I'm happy to say that at the next
meeting of the CIP, that will be my last meeting, and I will be transferring the gavel
to a successor, and wishing that person good luck. I've served on this panel for over
six years, and it's now time for me to stand before you and say thank you for the
service that you've all provided this panel. To you on the dais, especially to
Commissioner Willy Gort that appointed me and supported us; to Manager Daniel
Alfonso that stood before us, and with us, during the difficult times that we went
through; to the leadership of the Miami Police Department that has collaborated
with us, understanding the difficult role that we have; to all of you, I say thank you,
and very grateful for this privilege to serve.
Commissioner Gort: Thank you for your service.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Brett Bibeau: Good morning. Brett Bibeau, managing director of the Miami River
Commission, with offices located at 1407 Northwest 7th Street. Happy holidays;
here to read a letter into the record from River Commission Chairman Horacio
City of Miami Page 8 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Stuart Aguirre -- the letter is being distributed -- providing our advisory
recommendation on four agenda items on your agenda today. PZ. 15 and 16 is a
land use and zoning amendment at 2222 and 2260 Northwest North River Drive.
"During a public meeting held on October 2, the Miami River Commission
considered this application to amend the land use and zoning. The River
Commission unanimously recommended approval of the proposed development, with
the following two conditions: Number one, that the public riverwalk and side yard
connectors be provided as presented in the plans, the letter of intent and the
voluntary covenant; number two, to maintain recreational vessel dockage, as
presented." On Agenda Item PH4, about Jose Marti Park, "While this specific
agenda item hasn't been considered by the Miami River Commission, the City's
acceptance of $120,000 grant from the Trust for Public Land for new outdoor
exercise equipment in Jose Marti Park is consistent with the Miami River Greenway
Action Plan, which was adopted by the River Commission and the City of Miami."
And finally, on FR.], regarding the riverwalk and the baywalk, "While this specific
new ordinance hasn't been considered by the Miami River Commission, it further
advances implementation of the Miami River Greenway Action Plan, which, again,
was adopted by the River Commission and the City of Miami. Your time and
continued support for the Miami River District are appreciated. "
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Joseph King: Joseph King, Thelma Gibson Health Initiative, 3464 Grand Avenue,
Coconut Grove, 33133. I'm the vice president of Thelma Gibson Health Initiative,
and I am here on PH.9. It is an allocation for $50, 000 for the Thelma Gibson Health
Initiative, through District 2, Commissioner Russell's district, for furthering our
mission that we provide health -- behavioral health, mental health, and substance
abuse services for some of the most needy clients throughout West Coconut Grove
and the surrounding communities. We've been in existence since 2000, and long
funded from Miami -Dade County, the City of Miami, and the Children's Trust,
working with 400 clients annually on average.
Chair Hardemon: Please, there's one meeting happening. Can you lower your
voices? You're recognized, sir.
Mr. King: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Our agency has the capacity and the ability
to provide job services, leading into affordable housing opportunities for some of our
most needy clients in the area, and with this funding, we would expand, doing
behavioral, vocational and job training services for the community and some of the
most needy residents, taking at -risk clients to affordable jobs and affordable housing
in the community, and we appreciate the City and Commissioner Russell allowing us
to be part of your vision. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Joe.
Melissa Tapanes-Llahues: Good morning, Chairman, Vice Chair, Commissioners.
My name is Melissa Tapanes, with law offices at 200 South Biscayne Boulevard. I'm
here representing Sergio Rok of Rok Enterprises and Moishe Mana of Mana
Holdings; two significant property owners within the downtown urban core of the
City. We're here to respectfully request your approval of SR.], with one
modification that we believe is essential to revitalize the downtown core into a truly
mixed-use urban environment that is inviting to both professionals and residents to
work, live, and play. As you know, we've been working closely with the City
Commission, the Planning & Zoning Department, the Downtown Development
Authority, and downtown stakeholders to create the Flagler Specialty District.
City of Miami Page 9 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
We're urging your approval of Chapter 4; and specifically, the modification to
remove the caps requirements. This is consistent with the Downtown Development
Authority's resolution. You may recall, following first reading, we were asked to
bring this issue to the Planning, Zoning & Appeals Board, and request no caps as a
modification. We're here to report that the Planning, Zoning & Appeals Board
unanimously agreed with these downtown stakeholders to remove the cap. Why?
The implementation of the liquor license reservation system to cap the Flagler
Specialty District would just add a level -- an unnecessary level of administrative
approval that the current Code does not require or ask for. It would encourage
property owners such as my clients to hoard liquor reservations to protect business
and property interests. The cap is simply a ruse. Many properties in this -- in the
downtown core would already be exempt due to their density, intensity, historical
nature, as well as the uses that are already permitted, as of right. Implementation of
a cap of 50 would not serve to protect any legitimate interest. All dining
establishments -- or all outdoor establishments would be -- require warrant
approval, and any nightclubs or uses over 5,000 square feet would require an
exception approved at public hearing. And these items are part of your Miami 21
Code amendment that will be heard today, as well. We're available for any
questions, and thank you for your consideration.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Sir, you're recognized.
Fabio Iannelli: Good morning. My name is Fabio Iannelli, 3404 Poinciana Avenue,
Miami, Florida. I'm here to speak on behalf of PH. 3, Battersea Woods. The -- I
want to say that I think it should go forward and be approved. I do want to say,
though, however, that I think this was a perfect example of the issues that have been
arising frequently, and the amount of time that we've been spending on this issue is a
real testament to the changes that need to be done within the Planning & Zoning and
the NCD (Neighborhood Conservation District) -3 overlays, which I know
Commissioner Russell has been working very hard on. And so, on behalf of myself
and several adjacent neighbors to the property, I want to say that I thank you for
your time, the amount of work that the City has done to try to remedy the situation
that has occurred; and as well, I want to thank the developer, as well, for conceding
a lot of things I think were to his detriment, probably, but I think in the end, it's a fair
deal for both parties involved. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Sir, you're recognized.
John Snyder: My name is John Snyder. I represent the South Grove Neighborhood
Association, and I'd like to speak on PH. 3, opposing the approval of the permanent
plat. The Commission is again considering the permanent plat for Battersea Woods.
For some reason, the City Attorney's Office is agreeing to a settlement that would
allow the single-family building site to become a small subdivision. Their plans -- or
their agreement is to build four houses where there was formerly one. It requires a
warrant in order to do that. There's been no warrant approved. There's been no
warrant applied for. There are good and valid reasons for the NCD -3 Code, which
is designed to protect the neighborhood. The existing NCD -3 Code uses virtually the
same language as the Coral Gables Code with regard to lot diminishment. The case
of Holiday versus Coral Gables, which I have included in the record, was appealed
to the Third District Court of Appeals in 1980. It's a clear precedent for the current
situation. In this case, the court found that what plaintiff sought to do with respect to
their parcel was clearly and expressly prohibited. In addition, that ordinance was a
proper exercise of police power. And by reference to a prior case, they said, "The
obvious intent of the ordinance was to prevent developers, et cetera, from coming
into Coral Gables, tearing down existing residences on large lots, and then building
more residences on smaller lots"; exactly what is happening in this case. The
language is virtually the same as the Coral Gables Code. They copied it from that.
City of Miami Page 10 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
We recognize that errors were made with regard to this situation by the developer
and the City Attorney's Office. We have heard the Code is confusing. The three
justices in the Holiday case said the intent of the Code was obvious. It seems pretty
obvious to me. Since two residences have already been constructed on this single-
family home site, and there remains an approximately 30, 000 -square -feet parcel, we
are asking that the compromise be to build one additional house on the 30,000
square feet. We don't want a vacant lot to become a public nuisance. We realize
that the neighbors want this matter to be settled, and we are in agreement with that,
as soon as it can be done.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir.
Mr. Snyder: Thank you.
Cindy Snyder: Good morning, Commissioners; new Commissioners, Mr. Reyes and
the other Commissioners who've been here before. I'm going to review a little bit for
Mr. Reyes' benefit, because he was not here when we discussed this earlier.
Chair Hardemon: I want you -- but you know you have two minutes.
Ms. Snyder: Yeah, I know. We are members of the South Grove Neighborhood
Association, and share a concern with many of the neighbors. Can you hear me all
right? With many -- Mr. Carollo, good morning -- with many of the neighbors for a
pattern of overdevelopment which is taking place in our community, which is
Coconut Grove. Single-family building sites have been becoming subdivisions in our
midst, comprised of multiple over -sized houses, crammed onto tightly -spaced lots,
where canopy trees will never be able to grow again, due to absence of adequate
space for their roots. This formula has been overcrowding our canopy trees, as well
as the dense tropical foliage for which Coconut Grove is known. The errant
development is taking place via various efforts to circumvent, weaken and destroy
the protective Neighborhood Conservation District zoning contained in Miami 21.
The Single -Family Residential District is intended to protect the low density,
residential, and dominant tree canopy characteristics of Coconut Grove, and prevent
the intrusion of additional density, accompanying soil erosion, excessive runoff and
flooding. This is justified by the fragile nature of our infrastructure. As Miami
celebrates its 120th year, we celebrate and also need to remember that Coconut
Grove's first post office was opened in 1873, and the Grove is arguably the oldest
community in Miami. Our lane -like roads and historic community were laid out
more than 100 years ago, before automobiles were present. There are no sanitary
sewers in the South Grove, little or no storm water controls. Canopy trees overarch
the narrow roads and right-of-ways [sic]. This is a place where neighbors enjoy
their regular walks, where they run, bike, and visit. Visitors often bike and stroll on
these roads, as well, while they take in the ambience of this magical place. Many
visitors are so enchanted that they decide to move to Miami. Many claim they would
not come here if the canopy were gone and if Coconut Grove were not here. I'll
wind up here. We ask the Commission to assist us in stopping this destruction of the
nature and character of our neighborhood by simply enforcing the letter and the
intent of Miami 21, the tenets of Appendix A-3, NCD -3. There's an important part of
the Code that says, "If any such requirements conflict, NCD -3 requirements shall
apply. " This means that Neighborhood Conservation District Code is a Code which
supersedes other aspects of Miami 21. If we do not protect our Neighborhood
Conservation District, it will ultimately lead to the demise of established
communities, and may even kill the goose that laid the golden egg. We respectfully
request that this replat be considered to allow the building of only one additional
home in excess of the first additional home, which has already been built, and to do
so upon the three remaining lots. We make this request not because we want more
density, but because we wish to limit any additional problems related to this overall
City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
site. We want the intent of the Code to be followed inasmuch as possible at this
point; that the three lots become one site for a single-family home to be built in such
a way as to allow the canopy to be re-established, and the south -most entrance into
the Grove off Ingraham Highway be re-established in a fashion most comparable to
how it had been prior to all the errors; which, unfortunately, occurred concerning
what had been a single-family site, in excess of 70 years. We make -- we need to
make this as right as possible. To do otherwise is an --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, ma'am. Your time has expired.
Ms. Snyder: -- insincere attempt to do the right thing.
Chair Hardemon: Ma'am --
Ms. Snyder: It is a mockery of the Code and to cast a cloud over
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: I gave you an additional two minutes, ma'am, so that's why I had
to come to a hard close. You're recognized, sir.
Luther Campbell: Good morning, good morning. Ms. Lamb already told me to keep
it short, because I do talk a long time. I'm here to bring some money to the City.
Chair Hardemon: Sir, who might you bel
Mr. Campbell: My name is Luther Campbell, Liberty City Optimist president, co-
founder. How y'all doing? All right. I'm here on Item CA.] 7, asking the City of
Miami to accept the donation from Adidas. What we're doing at Charles Hadley
Park, as you know, we have a brand-new facility there, and we partnered up with
Adidas to come in and invest $300,000 into a design lab where they'll be actually
teaching kids design, where they can be able to design apparel, uniforms, cleats, T-
shirts, et cetera, et cetera, and the program will be pretty much -- You'll have
professors from Adidas, up in Oregon, as well as Germany, that'll be skyping in to
the kids and teaching the kids. You know, it's a very strenuous curriculum, but at the
same time, you know, they're going to invest into the park, into the facility over
$300,000 worth of equipment, and it'll be able to help our kids, because one thing
about our kids in our neighborhood, they like -- they can take the phone and they can
tell you how to work your phone, as well as design. I have a couple other people in
our program; Ms. Lamb, who runs the academic portion of the program, and Dr.
Rutledge.
Shirley Presley: Good morning. I'm Shirley Presley, and I'm the academic director
for Liberty City Optimist. I run the tutoring program, ages six to 15. And we visit
schools, I check test scores, collect grades, have parent conferences. We go on field
trips, be exposed -- so the kids can get good exposure. And whatever the kids need to
be worked on, that's what I do. So we have tutoring program three days a week; and
sometimes four, if needed. If the kids are getting ready to take a big test, then I'll
work on the skills that they need to accomplish their goals, and I've been doing this
for 29 years. So we have an excellent education program.
Pierre Rutledge: Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners. I am Pierre
Rutledge. I reside at 798 Northwest 55th Street, Miami, Florida. I'm here today to
ask your support of CA. 17, the $300, 000 grant from Adidas. I'm overwhelmed this
morning as I come before you. Traffic caught me coming off of 95, but earlier, we
had our dance and cheerleaders, who were honored as they won in the Pop Warner
National Championship. We come before you today to talk about something other
than athletics, other than sports. You know, in a village, it takes just more and more
City of Miami Page 12 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
and more to complete a whole child. We're dealing with something that will give
them livable skills. And as you can see, as the world turns, design and technology,
and those type of fields are becoming very, very lucrative. We all understand that all
kids are not college material, but we do want to be able to give them skills that they
can be productive citizens, and hopefully stay here in the City of Miami, and give
their talents to this great city. So I ask for your support for this item; it would be
greatly appreciated. It's a grant for $300, 000 from Adidas. Thank you. Thank you
for your time.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Ma'am, you're recognized.
Denise Galvez: Good morning. My name is Denise Galvez, and I'm a resident of
District 4. I'm here to speak on the issue C.13 [sic], the reappointment of Attorney --
City Attorney Victoria Mendez. Just want to say that from, I mean, her -- I think her
14 years at the City speaks for itself. The work she's done with FPL (Florida Power
& Light) also speaks for itself. But on a personal level, I remember when Mayor
Suarez was a freshman Commissioner, and I was opening a business at the City, and
I needed help on some zoning changes. And I have to tell you that my Commissioner
couldn't help me, but Mayor Suarez did try to help me, but the person who helped me
the most was Victoria Mendez. So I just want to make sure all of you who -- maybe
you haven't had the pleasure of working with her, but I want to highly recommend
her and highly recommend that we keep her. She's a huge asset to the City. Thank
you very much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Sir, you're recognized.
Alex Uribe: Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Alex Uribe. I have offices
at 2525 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. I'm here on behalf of Porto Fino Wine Bank, and
we're here to support SR.], the rewrite to the -- of the Alcoholic Beverage
Ordinance, with one very minor change that we'd like to see happen. Section 4-3 has
the times of operation for all of the different types of establishments. We'd like to
change the time of operation for package stores from I p.m. to 9 a.m. on Sundays
only. The reason we'd like to do that is, quite frankly, we think that this time is a
little bit too late to open. If you think of an NFL (National Football League) Tailgate
on Sunday, the Miami Dolphins, they play whenever they're home at I p.m., so
you've already lost it. And if you're going to take your friends out to Elliot Key on
their boat, everybody who's a boater knows that if you have to wait till I p.m. to get
your party supplies, your day is cut in half. There are ordinances in our neighboring
municipalities that have already changed this. Coral Gables opens at 9 a.m.; Miami
Beach, at 8 a. m. We'd like to just modernize this and, you know, recognize that these
ordinances -- or at least this time is not stopping people from getting their alcohol
early. They're going and patronizing other -- excuse me -- businesses in other
municipalities, rather than helping our own businesses in the City of Miami and
helping grow our tax base. So we'd ask respectfully for that one change. Thank you
very much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Samuel Latimore: My name is Professor Sam Latimore. I live at 937 Northwest 55
Street, Miami, Florida; been a resident a long time. I want to speak in support of
CA.17. I've been visiting some of the other parks in the area to see exactly what they
put on, and I realize that a grant like this would definitely aid our efforts to provide
our kids with more fundamental activities and skills. So I want to just share with the
Commission that we are -- the Hadley Neighborhood Association is fully supportive
of this grant. The other grant, while I'm speaking, is SR.1, having to do with the
regulation and hours of alcohol sales. As a police officer for 16 years, one of my
things was to run and operate, as major, the community service division. And I took
City of Miami Page 13 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
it personally that a lot of these stores that sold alcohol to people would be selling
alcohol all day long, and we would have to respond and provide law enforcement
services for people who drank all day long. My efforts got so irritating to some of
the people who ran the stores that they complained to me -- about me at the City
Commission meeting. They said that I was costing them $3, 000 a month, because I
wouldn't allow people to sit in front of stores to yell at children, to interfere with the
egress and -- of children, and I found that to be commendable. Tell the Commission
I was charge -- I was costing you $3,000 a year. The other issue is that it results in a
lot of first responder responses that people -- We used to have to call first
responders, because a drunk would fall and hit his head, and that would tie up time.
Also, alcohol is -- contributes to over 50 percent of domestic calls that law
enforcement gets. And so, by curtailing the hours where the -- we would force
people not to be able to consume alcohol in that particular area, but it would go a
long ways in dealing with a major problem we have in our community, and that's
alcoholism. So we would support any notion to regulate that time.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir. Ma'am, you're recognized.
Anat Kremen: Good morning. My name is Anat Kremen, Big Bus Tours Miami;
address is 2444 Northwest 7th place, Miami, Florida, 33127. And I'm speaking on
Resolution 3319, which is Item CA. 11, which is the use of the easement of Parcel 3A
by the U.S. (United States) Army Corps of Engineers. My business uses the
northeast street service road and the turnabout which abuts Parcel 3A, and I'm
concerned that the use of this easement for construction for a project, as my business
and others would be affected. Please, I'm just asking that we make all
considerations to the businesses that use the service road when deciding on this
resolution.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Ms. Kremen: Thanks.
Marleine Bastien: Good morning.
Chair Hardemon: Good morning.
Ms. Bastien: Marleine Bastien, 100 Northeast 84th Street. I'm here to speak in
favor of Resolution Number 14, introduced by Vice Chair Ken Russell, and it's also
supported by each and everyone of you. Thank you for your leadership. As you
know, temporary protected status was awarded by then -President Obama to allow
Haiti, which had gone through the worst crisis in modern history, an earthquake that
killed over 300,000 people and destroy Haiti's infrastructure. TPS (Temporary
Protected Status) was also awarded to other nations, and some of them have already
lost TPS, so that's why this resolution is so important. And as you know, on the 20th
of November, the Trump Administration also ended TPS for Haiti, and 58,000
Haitians who had been living here, deeply rooted in our community, pay taxes,
contribute to our economy will be facing deportation in July 2019 if nothing is done.
So what we are doing -- and we thank you for this resolution, and we hope that you
will accompany us in our efforts, not only to get TPS reinstated, but also to find a
permanent solution to those over 320, 000 TPS recipients from Haiti, from Honduras,
from Salvador, from Nicaragua, and other African nations. We have several bills
introduced in Congress; three of them by members of the House; one of them by our
own legislator, Congressman Carlos Curbello; also supported by Congressman
Mario Diaz Balart, Congresswoman Ileana Ross-Lehtinen, Congressman
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) and also Congressman [sic] Fredericka Wilson. This is a
bipartisan deal that I hope that each and every one of you will support and will
travel with us to Washington to champion it. There are also two other bills by
City of Miami Page 14 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
members of the House; one by Congresswoman Yvette Clark of New York and one --
another one by Congressman [sic] Nydia Velasquez, also of New York, and both of
them bipartisan bills. And there is one bill in the U.S. Senate we hope our own
Senator Mario Diaz-Balart will sponsor. Thank you, leaders. We -- it takes
leadership to stand up, you know, and fight for immigrants' rights these days, but
these TPS recipients deserve to be here. They are deeply rooted in our nation; they
contribute socially, economically, and politically. So thank you so much, Vice Chair
Russell, for your leadership, and each and every one of you, Mr. Chair, for
supporting. Mr. Carollo, good to see you back. And Mr. Reyes, I hope to learn to
know you. And then, also, Mr. Gort, always on the right side of history. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Sir, you're recognized.
Williams Armbrister: Well, praise the Lord Jesus, and good morning to every
wonderful man, woman, and child at the sound of my voice. My name is Williams
Alfred Armbrister, Sr. I reside at 3260 Thomas Avenue, here in Coconut Grove.
And before I begin, I'd like to first start off with acknowledging -- Mr. Russell, I'd
like to acknowledge the fact that you continue to say what Armbrister wants, and I've
never endorsed you or encouraged you, or authorized you to say what I want,
because I am not hampered by youth and inexperience. I can speak for myself. And
in this PH.9 and PH.10, I am totally against any monies being distributed in the
community of West Grove, unless it first begins with retooling these -- housing on
Grand Avenue. We -- every Mayor we've had in the City of Miami, every
Commissioner we've had, every City Manager has totally ignored this community
here in West Grove, and what we need is some of those dollars. We're going to have
between 25 and $40 million contributed to the Coconut Grove Playhouse between
the City of Miami and Miami -Dade County. You contributed $50 million to the
Museum of Science. You keep bringing a lot of money into this district in this area
south of U.S.], but you have not seen fit to do anything as far as housing for the
people in this community, and it's a shame. You should feel ashamed, because --
Chair Hardemon: Can you speak to the Chair? Speak through the Chair.
Mr. Armbrister: -- the Chair -- because this Commission should feel ashamed,
because this community has totally been ignored by every elected official for
generations. And instead of bartering with the Day Avenue Eight, we should have
been in -- having conversation with the owners of these apartments on Grand
Avenue, offering to retool those apartments for housing for the people in that
community, and come up with a covenant agreement that would last some 15 years
so that their rent doesn't go up, and they'll -- we have to go through this all over
again. So until you are going to invest money holistically in this community for the
people who live there, Thelma Gibson's -- and their health initiative is not going to
offer what we need in this community. The Collaborative is not offering what we
need in this community. What we need in this community is a body of elected
officials who know what we need. And I want to give you an illustration here so
you'll understand that I'm not speaking for Armbrister. Here is -- When you see me,
you can look at me as a ten -dollar bill, but this ten -dollar bill is representative of a
thousand pennies. So when you see me, you see this, but I'm speaking for all the
people that you often hear, but you never listen to, because if you had listened to
these people, time and time again, meeting and meeting again, what we need in this
community, you're refusing to provide --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Armbrister: -- and I'm going to ask that before you give some more money to --
in the individual geographical location in our community that you deal in a holistic
mode --
City of Miami Page 15 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Armbrister: -- and take care of the community as a whole --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Mr. Armbrister: -- and I thank you very much for your time.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you. Sir, you're recognized.
Edward Lugo: Good morning, members of the Commission. My name is Edward
Lugo. I am president of Miami Fraternal Order of Police, 710 Southwest 12th
Avenue. I'm here today to speak on Item Number RE. 17. The Fraternal Order of
Police does not support of this change regarding American Traffic Solutions. The
Red Light Camera Program is extremely beneficial to the City of Miami for two
reasons. The first reason is for safety and as an investigation tool. We are not only
able to utilize the cameras to deter people from running red lights, but we are also
able to use it to do investigations regarding homicides, robberies, and other crimes
that affect our citizens. The second benefit: It brings approximately 4 million a year
in reoccurring revenue. As you are aware, the City of Miami owes the Fire and
Police Pension Fund over $200 million. Just Police alone, you owe us
approximately $110 million in wages. We have already won in the Supreme Court,
in their second Supreme Court decision that we expect to come out in the beginning
of the year in regards to the constitutionality of the fiscal urgency. I urge our
Commissioners to table this before making rash decisions dealing with financial and
economic items that can affect the Miami taxpayer. Thank you.
Johanna Brown: Good morning. My name is Johanna Brown. I live at 4360
Ingraham Highway, and I have some comments regarding P113, but I'd like to
respectfully request to give those comments when the item is heard, if that's okay.
I'm a intervenor in the Circuit Court case, and don't know if that's okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Ms. Brown. The Chairman is not here at the
moment. Normally, we would take these up at this point.
Ms. Brown: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Madam City Attorney, in this item, which is a PH (public
hearing) item -- this is the Battersea case. It's coming back from the court. We have
an intervenor who would like to speak a little longer. Do they maintain intervenor
status within a PH item?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): It is your decision right now, as Chairman,
whether you would like to give her the time at the time that the item is discussed. It's
fine.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. I'm happy to allow you to have extra time if you'd like to
do it now, or you can speak at the item.
Ms. Brown: I'll speak at the item, if that's okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay, fine.
Ms. Brown: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: And that is -- yeah, that's PH. 3.
City of Miami Page 16 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
David Polinsky: My name is Dr. David Polinsky, from the Wynwood BID (Business
Improvement District), 1040 Biscayne. I'm here to speak on behalf of Item SR.S,
which is temporary uses on vacant land. Wynwood's a district that's -- owes a
significant amount of its successes to the temporary activations that we've had on
vacant land, including very popular places, like the Wynwood Yard. The TUP
(temporary use permit) legislation is very much in need of updating, and we want to
commend both DS for sponsoring this legislation and City staff for putting together a
reasonable balance between extending the periods of time for TUPs while increasing
the control and supervision of these temporary uses. Thanks so much.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard.• Good morning. My name is Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard.
My address is 730 Buttonwood Lane, in Miami. I'm here to speak about RE.17,
RE.19, and DL3. First of all, it is proven that red cameras save lives. It has
modified the behavior of the people that have gone and had a ticket before. They
don't want to go again and have another ticket. It also reduces the number of
fatalities, injuries to our children, the Miami citizens, our parents, your brother, your
sister. It has stopped that. If people run a red light, it's breaking the law; just like
they get a speeding ticket. So why shouldn't we have the red lights? It has also
helped the police, as you've heard from the president of the Fraternal Order of the
Police. It's helped them stop crimes. They've caught many crimes from the cameras.
Police have used this for along time. We also ask to delay this decision till you see
more studies done, because this has helped a lot. It also helps different
organizations like the trauma centers. It helps research, for a certain amount of
money from those tickets goes to help people and all the traumas that they're having
right here in the City. But we could help stop those traumas if we keep the red light
cameras. Please help us save lives. Help us, as citizens, keep the red light cameras
so they can help your families, and your friends and families, and your citizens of
Miami. Also, I know Mark Buoniconti wants to come and speak; he's on his way.
Maybe he could speak when the item is risen later on? He's getting out of the car,
and I know we're running late here, so is that possible?
Chair Hardemon: It's possible.
Ms. Aagaard: Okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate your time.
Brenda Betancourt: Good morning. Brenda Betancourt, 1436 Southwest 6th Street;
in favor of RE. 14, of course. I think all we can do for those that are in the limbo of
immigration will be great. But at the same time, I think we all have to work more
than just the letter; maybe inform them completely. Some of them are so confused
that they are too afraid to even ask to see the applications that are going to be done
on that, and sometime information is not as real as we want. In reference of the
RE. 16 and RE. 19, I just have questions for all of you. How can it be possible that we
been talking about red light cameras for the past several years, people complaining,
because seniors that doesn't have the money to pay for those tickets they give them?
Those that are being taken to court, because they are stopped on the red light for let
somebody cross the street, they still have to pay for the ticket, even though they see
that it's not the person doesn't want to stop on the red light; it just had to cut off in
the middle. We have seen all type of cases, and we have already a study, for those
who doesn't know, that it shows that when it's the red light cameras, we have more
accidents in those traffic light. And to me, it just a shame; that if you guys are the
ones that represent us, then have the power to cancel these contracts so you can
have the service -- as I read in your papers -- you can have the service or keep
moniting [sic] all those people. But why putting so much burden onto our
neighbors? The poor neighbors that we have as a Little Havana is one of them that
City of Miami Page 17 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
have the majority of the cameras. How come we can do that? So those, the police
officers, I think they are -- they can keep monitor the cameras. They can have the
fees, as long as I see in the paper that you have in your agenda. It's not like you are
taking it out. But why keep making those people doesn't have the money to pay $149,
suffering? How much money do you guys want more from the regular senior that
cannot pay it? Some of us can pay it, but some of us, they don't. And sometimes it's -
- no matter what you do, it will never let you take the ticket out of the area you said;
you have to pay, no matter what. I think that's really unfair. I hope that you guys do
the right thing, because remember, we are getting the fees out of our seniors, so just
think about it. Some of them, we can pay for if we make the mistake and we do it.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, ma'am.
Ms. Betancourt: Okay. Thank you. Hap --Merry Christmas, guys.
Chair Hardemon: Same to you.
Javier Ortiz: Hi, Commissioner. Javier Ortiz, past president of the Fraternal Order
of Police. RE. 17 and RE. 19, I was hearing all about the red light camera and how
people don't understand the purpose of the cameras. It's not really about money,
and I can say that firsthand, because my great-uncle was killed here in the City of
Miami by a red light runner. We're number one in pedestrian fatalities in the United
States. That's something that we shouldn't be proud of, and I would say it's either 60
or 70 percent of our residents aren't the ones that get the tickets. And if you can't
afford paying the ticket, maybe you shouldn't run the red light. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Is there any other person that'd like to
speak on public comment? Oh, he's here.
Mark Buoniconti: Mark Buoniconti, 7390 Southwest 100th Street. I'm here on
behalf of the red light camera. You know, I'm angry and I'm not going to sugarcoat
it today. I'm very angry. I can't even believe that this issue is even in front of the
Commission. When I heard this was going to be on the Commission, I knew right
away that it was all for political reasons. Joe, you and Mayor Suarez did this
specifically for an issue to raise during the campaign; not about the program.
Congratulations. I hope you're proud of yourself, because if this program goes
down, you just killed 13 people. That's right. 27 people were killed in intersections
by red light cameras before they were put up. They were reduced to 13 fatalities. So
I hope you're proud that you're going to kill 14 people. Now, if those people happen
to survive, they go to Jackson Hospital, guess what? Red light cameras fund
Jackson Hospital, too. You're going to hurt Jackson Hospital. God forbid it's one of
your grandchildren that gets hurt in a red light camera crash. They go to Miami
Children's Hospital. Guess what? Miami Children's Hospital gets money from the
red light camera, too. Their lives are going to be impacted. $15 million a year goes
to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis for treatment on people who suffer spinal
cord injuries; mainly from people who are injured in driving accidents. If that's not
enough for you to pass the program, think about all the crimes that have been solved
with these cameras. Over 3,000 times, the City of Miami Police have used these
cameras to solve crimes, to solve murders, to solve rapists, and that's just part of the
program. You guys have an opportunity to do the right thing. Don't be responsible
for more people losing their lives. And, look, are you going to go to the funerals of
these families that you turned these cameras off? Because if not, someone's going to
have to go and apologize for wanting to know why their children are dead --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Buoniconti: -- because none of the cameras have been turned on.
City of Miami Page 18 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much for your comments, sir.
Mr. Buoniconti: It's time to do the right thing, okay? Turn the cameras on --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Mr. Buoniconti: --keep them on. Thankyou.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Is there any other person that'd like to speak
during public comment? I'm sure no one wants to follow that. The public comments
section has ended.
CA - CONSENT AGENDA
The following item(s) was Adopted on the Consent Agenda
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
CA.1
RESOLUTION
3118
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
Department of
THE BID RECEIVED ON AUGUST 14, 2017 PURSUANT TO
Police
INVITATION FOR BID ("IFB") NO. 676380 FROM DECON
ENVIRONMENTAL & ENGINEERING, INC., THE LOWEST
RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, FOR THE
PROVISION OF INDOOR FIREARM RANGE DECONTAMINATION,
DISPOSAL, AND MAINTENANCE FOR AN INITIAL CONTRACT
PERIOD OF THREE (3) YEARS WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW
FOR ONE (1) ADDITIONAL THREE (3) YEAR PERIOD;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE VARIOUS SOURCES OF
FUNDS OF THE USER DEPARTMENT, SUBJECT TO THE
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE
TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER
DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS,
AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE CONTRACT, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE
NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0577
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.], please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
City ofMiarni Page 19 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CA.2
RESOLUTION
3227
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
Department of
THE BID RECEIVED AUGUST 8, 2017 PURSUANT TO
Police
INVITATION FOR BID ("IFB") NO. 689381 FROM GT
Rescue
DISTRIBUTORS, INC., THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND
RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, ON A GROUP -BY -GROUP BASIS, FOR
THE PURCHASE OF LETHAL AND NON -LETHAL AMMUNITION
AND ACCESSORIES FOR THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT ON
AN AS -NEEDED BASIS FOR AN INITIAL PERIOD OF THREE (3)
YEARS WITH AN OPTION TO RENEW FOR TWO (2) ADDITIONAL
TWO (2) YEAR PERIODS; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE
VARIOUS SOURCES OF FUNDS OF THE END-USER
DEPARTMENT SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND
BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF NEED; AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO ADD SUPPLIERS TO THE CONTRACT
AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE CITY MANAGER; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY AND ALL
AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE
SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0578
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.2, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
CA.3
RESOLUTION
3222
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ESTABLISHING A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE
Department of Fire-
PROJECT ENTITLED "STATE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT
Rescue
PROGRAM ('SHSGP') SUB -RECIPIENT AGREEMENT FOR
EXPENDITURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT FUNDING FOR
FL USAR TASK FORCES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017" AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000.00) CONSISTING OF A GRANT
FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL
SERVICES TO BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -
RESCUE TO ACQUIRE EQUIPMENT AND PROVIDE TRAINING IN
STATE FIRE MARSHAL ("SFM") APPROVED USAR TRAINING
COURSES; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
THE FEDERALLY -FUNDED SUBAWARD AND GRANT
AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, IN
ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE AND
ADMINISTRATION OF SAID GRANT AWARD.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0579
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.3, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
City ofMiarni Page 20 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CAA
RESOLUTION
3230
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of Grants
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Administration
ACCEPT A GRANT AWARD IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $295,969.00 ("GRANT") FROM THE HEALTH
FOUNDATION OF SOUTH FLORIDA ("HFSF") TO CONTINUE THE
ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION OF HFSF'S LIVE
HEALTHY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE IN LITTLE
HAVANA ("PROGRAM") WHICH TOTAL GRANT FUNDS (1) SHALL
NOT EXCEED $144,375.00 FOR THE PROGRAM YEAR FROM
JANUARY 1, 2018 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2018 ("2018
PROGRAM YEAR") AND (2) SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF
FUNDS AND SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF 2018 GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES, SHALL NOT EXCEED $151,594.00 FOR THE
PROGRAM YEAR FROM JANUARY 1, 2019 THROUGH
DECEMBER 31, 2019 ("2019 PROGRAM YEAR"); ESTABLISHING
AND APPROPRIATING THE GRANT FROM A NEW SPECIAL
REVENUE PROJECT FUND ENTITLED "LIVE HEALTHY LITTLE
HAVANA INITIATIVE 2018-2019" IN ORDER TO FUND THE
PROGRAM; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS,
AMENDMENTS, EXTENSIONS, RENEWALS, AND
MODIFICATIONS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF
AND COMPLIANCE WITH SAID GRANT AWARD AND THE
OPTION TO RENEW FOR THE 2019 PROGRAM YEAR.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0580
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.4, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
City ofMiarni Page 21 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CA.5
RESOLUTION - Item Pulled from Consen'
3340
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
City Manager's
THE RESIGNATION OF DANIEL J. ALFONSO ("ALFONSO") AS
Office
CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") EFFECTIVE
AYES:
JANUARY 11, 2018; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR
OF FINANCE TO PAY ALFONSO THE EQUIVALENT OF SIX (6)
WEEKS' PAY AND ALL EARNED BUT UNUSED VACATION AND
SICK LEAVE AS OF JANUARY 11, 2018 UPON EXECUTING A
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
("AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO DESIGNATE
FERNANDO CASAMAYOR, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER/ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AS THE INDIVIDUAL TO
EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO.
00001.980000.515000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0576
MOTION TO:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Adopt
ADOPTED
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
CA.5
RESOLUTION - Item Pulled from Consent
3340
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
City Manager's
THE RESIGNATION OF DANIEL J. ALFONSO ("ALFONSO") AS
Office
CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") EFFECTIVE
AYES:
JANUARY 11, 2018; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR
OF FINANCE TO PAY ALFONSO THE EQUIVALENT OF SIX (6)
WEEKS' PAY AND ALL EARNED BUT UNUSED VACATION AND
SICK LEAVE AS OF JANUARY 11, 2018 UPON EXECUTING A
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
("AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO DESIGNATE
FERNANDO CASAMAYOR, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER/ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AS THE INDIVIDUAL TO
EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO.
00001.980000.515000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0576
MOTION TO:
Reconsider
RESULT:
RECONSIDERED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Mano to Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Harde mon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
City ofMiarni Page 22 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CA.5
RESOLUTION - Item Pulled from Consent
3340
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
City Manager's
THE RESIGNATION OF DANIEL J. ALFONSO ("ALFONSO") AS
Office
CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") EFFECTIVE
JANUARY 11, 2018; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR
OF FINANCE TO PAY ALFONSO THE EQUIVALENT OF SIX (6)
WEEKS' PAY AND ALL EARNED BUT UNUSED VACATION AND
SICK LEAVE AS OF JANUARY 11, 2018 UPON EXECUTING A
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE
("AGREEMENT"), IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO DESIGNATE
FERNANDO CASAMAYOR, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER/ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AS THE INDIVIDUAL TO
EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY;
ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO.
00001.980000.515000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0576
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Vice Chair Russell: Can we hear PK 7?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: I apologize. We would need to amend, I believe, CA. 5, with the new
date.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah. And there's another issue, which is the Mayor -- and, you
know, Commissioner brought up an issue about having an interim Manager. The
problem with an interim Manager is if it's longer than 14 days, it needs to be ratified
by the Commission, right? So that was the other problem that we had with doing it
that way, which is -- Even naming an interim Manager for January 3 -- you
understand what I m saying?
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Mayor Suarez: So that's the tricky part; that we're dealing with a couple of different
things here, one of which is that 14 -day rule.
Commissioner Carollo: That is correct, Mr. Mayor, and at least, hopefully, we
resolved it until the 11 th and --
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- hopefully, we have a happy ending on the 11 th, and we
could bring Barney out.
City of Miami Page 23 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mayor Suarez: Cheers.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: I like that.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, so we have to --Madam City Attorney, what's the -- what
specific line in CA. S? Because --
Commissioner Gort: We have to call it back.
Ms. Mendez: CA (Consent Agenda) --
Mayor Suarez: You have to reconsider it --
Commissioner Gort: Reconsider it.
Mayor Suarez: -- to change it.
Chair Hardemon: No, no, but --
Ms. Mendez: CA. S, instead of the January 2 date, it is now January 10 [sic].
Vice Chair Russell: Move and accept the amendment.
Ms. Mendez: So we have to change that throughout the resolution.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Commissioner Carollo: It's the 11 th, right?
Chair Hardemon: So the --
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry. It would be 11 th.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah, the 11 th.
Commissioner Carollo: The 11th, yeah; not the 10th; the 11th.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Do we need to make a call to your future employer?
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): I will request to --
Mayor Suarez: I think they'll be okay.
Mr. Alfonso: -- I'm -- I think they'll be okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: So my first question, Madam City Attorney: Is it necessary to
amend it where it says that it pays Mr. Alfonso six weeks' pay and all earned but
unused vacation and sick leave as ofdanuary 2, 2018?
Ms. Mendez: Right.
City of Miami Page 24 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: Why --?
Ms. Mendez: We have to change it to January IL
Chair Hardemon: But I'm asking you, because would he accrue new sick leave as of
January 11th or --?
Ms. Mendez: He accrues every month.
Mr. Alfonso: If that becomes a problem, I don't have to accrue anything; just for --
Mayor Suarez: He's saying that he doesn't have to burn a week --
Mr. Alfonso: I'll just --
Mayor Suarez: -- of his vacation time.
Mr. Alfonso: -- burn another week of vacation. I -- And if you want to limit it to
whatever I have accrued as of that -- the January 2, I'm fine with that, as well,
Commissioners. I'll --
Mayor Suarez: Chair, I think the fair thing to do --
Mr. Alfonso: -- help you out.
Mayor Suarez: -- in fairness to the Manager is that he doesn't have to burn a week
of vacation time when he's working for an extra week. I think that's the fair -- that's
the right thing to do.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mayor Suarez: In other words -- You understand what I'm saying? So it's just a
slight modification and now it's a --
Ms. Mendez: Just the date.
Mayor Suarez: -- that's it, yeah.
Ms. Mendez: So I just have to change the 2nd --
Chair Hardemon: So, Mr. Clerk, I know you always have --
Ms. Mendez: -- throughout the document to be like --
Chair Hardemon: -- heartburn about this, so I'll break this down. Look, the motion
-- you don't want to reconsider the motion. Reconsidering the motion opens up the
entire motion as all the items.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: That's not what we want to do. But individually, this item did
pass, right?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): If you just want to make the reconsideration on CA.5
Chair Hardemon: That's exactly --
City of Miami Page 25 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mr. Hannon: -- we have adopted a new custom.
Chair Hardemon: Right; that's exactly what I'm going to ask. So I'm going to ask
that a mover moves to reconsider CA. S.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: And I do.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved by Commissioner Carollo to reconsider
Item CA. S.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by Commissioner Reyes. All in favor of the motion to
reconsider CA. S, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? That motion passes.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm impressed with the Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Now --
Mayor Suarez: He's very good.
Chair Hardemon: -- CA.5 is open. Is there a motion to amend CA. S and--?
Commissioner Carollo: A motion to amend.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to amend CA. 5, and I'm
assuming to change the date from January 2 to January 11.
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Chair Hardemon: That is a motion to amend CA.S. The motion to amend will also
include a motion to pass, okay? All right. It's been properly amended. Is there any
discussion regarding that item? Hearing no discussion, all in favor of the item, say
"aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou, Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
City of Miami Page 26 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CA.6
RESOLUTION
3233
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY
Public Works
MANAGER TO ACCEPT THIRTEEN (13) RIGHT-OF-WAY DEEDS
AND ONE (1) QUIT CLAIM RIGHT-OF-WAY DEED OF
DEDICATION (COLLECTIVELY, "DEEDS"), AS DESCRIBED IN
EXHIBIT "A," ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR HIGHWAY
PURPOSES; APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE
RECORDATION OF SAID DEEDS IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA; FURTHER DIRECTING THE
CITY CLERK TO KEEP RECORDED COPIES OF SAID DEEDS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0581
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA. 6, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
CA.7
RESOLUTION
3234
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Public Works
EXECUTE A MAINTENANCE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
("AGREEMENT"), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM,
WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR
LANDSCAPE, TURF, INTEGRAL COLORED SIDEWALKS,
PAVERS, AGGREGATE TEXTURED SIDEWALKS, LIGHTING
SYSTEMS AND OTHER INCIDENTAL FEATURES ON STATE
ROAD 968/SOUTHWEST 1ST STREET FROM SOUTHWEST 6TH
AVENUE TO SOUTHWEST 2ND AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBITS "A," "B," AND
"C" OF THE AGREEMENT, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED,
WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED IN THE AGREEMENT; FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE NON -SUBSTANTIVE
AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0582
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA. 7, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
City ofMiarni Page 27 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CA.8
RESOLUTION
3235
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Public Works
EXECUTE AN OFF -SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION AND
Public Works
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM, WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ("FDOT"), FOR
IMPROVEMENTS ON STATE ROAD 968/SOUTHWEST 1 STREET
FROM WEST OF SOUTHWEST 5TH AVENUE TO SOUTHWEST
2ND AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF
THE SOUTHWEST 1ST STREET BRIDGE, INCLUDING
IMPROVEMENTS ON ROADS NOT ON THE STATE HIGHWAY
SYSTEM.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0583
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item CA.8, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
CA.9
RESOLUTION
3236
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
Department of
EXECUTE A LOCALLY FUNDED AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE
Public Works
OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, PROVIDING FOR THE
CITY OF MIAMI'S CONTRIBUTION, IN THE AMOUNT OF EIGHTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($80,000.00), FOR THE CONSTRUCTION
CONTINGENCY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NORTHWEST 34TH AVENUE BRIDGE
OVER COMFORT CANAL, FROM APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF
STATE ROAD 836/DOLPHIN EXPRESSWAY TO NORTHWEST
14TH STREET; ALLOCATING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF
EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($80,000.00) FROM PUBLIC
WORKS PROJECT NO. 4013-183605.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0584
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA. 9, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
City ofMiarni Page 28 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CA.10
RESOLUTION
3249
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE PROCUREMENT OF
Procurement
ARMORED CAR SERVICES FOR CITYWIDE USE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 18-111 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, UTILIZING THE COMPETITIVELY
SOLICITED AND EXISTING CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA
CONTRACT NO. 2014 -002 -ITB -MF EFFECTIVE THROUGH
FEBRUARY 23, 2020, SUBJECT TO ANY EXTENSIONS AND/OR
REPLACEMENT CONTRACTS BY THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
GENERAL FUND, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS
AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF NEED;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE
SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM, FOR SAID PURPOSE; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ANY
RENEWALS, AMENDMENTS, AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE
SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0585
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.10, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
City ofMiarni Page 29 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CA.11
RESOLUTION
3319
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of Real
ATTACHMENTS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Estate and Asset
ACCEPT AND EXECUTE, AN EASEMENT FOR A PUBLIC ROAD
Management
OR STREET ("EASEMENT"), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED
FORM, FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS OVER PROPERTY OWNED
BY THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
("ACOE") ALLOWING FOR PEDESTRIAN AND/OR VEHICULAR
ACCESS OVER THE SAME, IDENTIFIED AS PARCEL 3A
LOCATED AT MIAMI BAYFRONT PARK, AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN EXHIBIT "A" ("PROPERTY') OF
THE EASEMENT, , WITH SAID PROPERTY BEING UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT LAND CURRENTLY LEASED TO THE
CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY') FOR A PUBLIC PARK UNDER THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY LEASE NO.
DACW17-1-90-0001; AT NO COST TO THE CITY, IN PERPETUITY,
INCLUDING ANY EVENT OF A SALE OR CONVEYANCE OF THE
PROPERTY, WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE EASEMENT; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ALL OTHER NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN FURTHERANCE OF
THE EASEMENT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0586
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.]], please see "Public
Comment Period for Regular Item (s) and "End of Consent Agenda. "
CA.12
RESOLUTION
3256
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of the City
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Attorney
TO PAY TO THE TRUST ACCOUNT OF GORDON & DONER, P.A.,
ATTORNEYS FOR JUAN ZAMORA LAMAS ("LAMAS") IN THE
CASE OF JUAN ZAMORA LAMAS V. CITY OF MIAMI, PENDING IN
THE CIRCUIT COURT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, CASE
NO. 15-001815 CA 34, THE TOTAL SUM OF SEVENTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($70,000.00) IN FULL SETTLEMENT OF
ALL CLAIMS ALLEGED AGAINST THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY')
WITHOUT ADMISSION OF LIABILITY UPON EXECUTING A
RELEASE, SETTLEMENT, HOLD HARMLESS, AND
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT OF THE CITY, ITS PRESENT
AND FORMER OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES FROM
ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AND DEMANDS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE REVISIONS AND NON -
SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS TO SUCH RELEASE, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS NEEDED FOR SAID
PURPOSE; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM ACCOUNT NO.
50001.301001.545011.0000.00000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0587
City ofMiarni Page 30 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA12, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
CA.13 RESOLUTION
2861 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Commissioners REAPPOINTING VICTORIA MENDEZ AS CITY ATTORNEY OF
and Mayor THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA TO HOLD OFFICE AS PROVIDED
FOR IN THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED, WITH COMPENSATION AND EMOLUMENTS TO
REMAIN THE SAME.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0588
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.13, please see "Public
Comment Period for Regular Item (s) and "End of Consent Agenda. "
CA.14 RESOLUTION
3253 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Commissioners REAPPOINTING TODD B. HANNON AS THE CITY CLERK OF THE
and Mayor CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA TO HOLD OFFICE AS PROVIDED FOR
IN THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED, WITH COMPENSATION AND EMOLUMENTS TO
REMAIN THE SAME.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0589
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.14, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
CA.15
RESOLUTION
3345
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
AUTHORIZING THE DESIGNATION, PURSUANT TO SECTION 54 -
Commissioners
136(2) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
and Mayor
AMENDED, OF THE PLAZA LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION
OF HIGHLAND ROAD AND NORTHWEST 14TH STREET, MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS "DR. MICHAEL S. GORDON PLAZA," BY
MOUNTING A DESIGNATION POST UNDER THE STREET SIGNS
AT THE INTERSECTION, SUBJECT TO ALL APPLICABLE
PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0590
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.15, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
City ofMiarni Page 31 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CA.16 RESOLUTION
3362 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Commissioners AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH A PILOT
and Mayor PROGRAM FOR HOLIDAY LANDSCAPE LIGHTING TO ENHANCE
SIGNATURE CORRIDORS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON BY
INSTALLING DECORATIVE LIGHTING ALONG CERTAIN
ROADWAYS WITHIN THE CITY AND ANALYZING THE COSTS OF
THE PILOT PROGRAM TO REVIEW FURTHER LOCATIONS FOR
INCLUSION IN THE PROGRAM; ALLOCATING FUNDS IN THE
AMOUNT OF $55,000.00 FROM ACCOUNT NO.
00001.980000.548000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0591
This matter was ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S) on the Consent
Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.16, please see "End of
Consent Agenda. "
CA.17
RESOLUTION
3375
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Commissioners
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT A GRANT
and Mayor
FROM ADIDAS AMERICA, INC., A FOREIGN FOR-PROFIT
CORPORATION ("ADIDAS"), AT AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF
$300,000.00, IN THE FORM OF MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN
EQUIPMENT AT HADLEY PARK, A CITY -OWNED PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 1350 NORTHWEST 50TH STREET, MIAMI,
FLORIDA; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR THE
ACCEPTANCE OF THE MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN
EQUIPMENT; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY OTHER NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF
SAID DONATION.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0592
This matter was ADOPTED on the Consent Agenda.
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item CA.] 7, please see "Public
Comment Period for Regular Item (s) and "End of Consent Agenda. "
END OF CONSENT AGENDA
Chair Hardemon: Right now we're on the CA (Consent Agenda) agenda. And things
have changed just a little hit, so I just want to mention to my dear Commissioners --
Citv ofMiarni Page 32 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Reyes, you've already sat through a meeting. Commissioner Carollo,
because you've been here, left here, and you've come back, I just want to explain to
you that we handle a lot of our motions and a lot of our matters at one time. And so,
what I'll do -- Much like you remember the consent agenda, we do one motion, but
we also do one motion many times in our public hearings and the resolutions. You
can bunch up as many items as you want, and we have a discussion about any item
that we've bunched up in there, and it's just a matter of reducing the amount of time
that it takes to get through the agenda; it's been working very, very well. And if
there's an item, for instance, that you want to vote against, you just ask that one of
those items not be bunched into that group. So you are a master of parliamentary
procedure, so I know you get exactly where we'll be going, and you understand the
pace in which we'll be trying to get it done. And so, what I'd like to ask is that I hear
a motion to approve the CA agenda and -- but also with a caveat on CA. 16. The City
of Miami, when you're coming from Miami Shores -- Miami Shores, of course, is a
beautiful city. It's not very large, but it's beautiful. And when they're approaching
into the City of Miami -- or coming into the City of Miami, you many times are
accosted with the appearance of the City. And so, I'd like to ask that either there or
somewhere along that U.S.1 corridor be added into the pilot program to -- for the
lighting, so that that community sees some beautification, as well, when they
approach the City of Miami, or are driving through the City of Miami from U.S.].
And so, what I'd like to ask is for a motion to approve the CA agenda, with that
included. You're recognized, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Hit your mike; the red button. See the little button? This controls
that mike, and that one controls that mike.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, okay. Thank you very much. If I may, Mr. Chair,
you're going to have to bear with me a little today. It's been 16 years; and as you
said, we've made some good changes, I think, in moving the agenda along, and I
compliment you for that, because I know you were a great part of that. At the same
time, I'm a little older, so -- and I haven't taken my smart pills today, so I ask you all
to bear with me in the process until we get ahold of it on this agenda.
Commissioner Gort: Commissioner, we get younger.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. The -- there might be some items as we move
along that I might ask if we could hold them off. I'm going to try to go through them
as quickly as I can so that you could have them as one bunch, but I might skip some,
so if you could bear with me in that, if it would be appropriate, I would greatly
appreciate it from the Chair.
Chair Hardemon: No problem.
Commissioner Carollo: On these CA items, there is one that I'd like to hear from the
Mayor and get his recommendation on it, if he has one or not. So you tell me how is
the appropriate way; if we need to take it out or leave it in, or --
Chair Hardemon: Well, it depends. If it is something that you can anticipate that
you'll be voting against -- I'm not saying that you will, but you can anticipate that
you could vote against -- then it's appropriate to pull it out. But if it's on the motion
to accept or to pass all the items --
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- we can still have the discussion --
City of Miami Page 33 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo:
Okay.
Chair Hardemon: -- you
can still ask the questions --
Commissioner Carollo:
Okay.
Chair Hardemon: -- and we just do it.
Commissioner Carollo:
So ifI may ask the Mayor --
Mayor Francis Suarez:
Yes.
Commissioner Carollo:
-- on --
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- Resolution CA. S --
Mayor Suarez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: -- if -- I'd like to hear your recommendation on this.
Mayor Suarez: Well, I said in the press -- thank you, Commissioner; I appreciate
that -- that I have no specific perspective on it. I've made my thoughts known about
the Manager. Obviously, this is in the purview of the Commission to decide whether
or not they want to accept or reject this. My understanding when I met with the
Manager was that he had already spoken to the Commissioners. I'm not sure if he
had a chance to speak to you on this item or not, and he indicated to me that he had
the support of the Commission for this item. And so, I --
Commissioner Carollo: But that's not what I'm asking, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: I want -- and my vote could depend greatly on your feelings
on this.
Mayor Suarez: Sure.
Commissioner Carollo: I mean, I heard you praising the Manager greatly this
morning, but I also understand the decision that you made when you first came
towards the Manager, so I'd really like to hear your recommendation on that --
Mayor Suarez: And --
Commissioner Carollo: -- because it might have a bearing on how I vote on this.
Mayor Suarez: Understood. Look, I said in the press, also, that I felt that it was
reasonable. The reason why I felt it was reasonable was because it was essentially
accrued leave, plus the severance that he would receive if he were terminated. So it
wasn't an exorbitant amount of money. I think it was in the $70, 000 range, if I'm not
mistaken. And since he had indicated to me that he had the support of the
Commission, I indicated to him that I would not oppose that item.
Commissioner Carollo: Mayor, I appreciate that, but I think that we need to look at,
whether there is support or not, what you personally feel, then, so I don't think your
City of Miami Page 34 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
feelings are always going to be what the Commission wants. That's not how we run
government, nor we should run government that way.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: And all I'm trying to get is something simple. Do -- are you
in favor of this, or are you opposed to it?
Mayor Suarez: I said I think it's reasonable; I think it's in the purview of the
Commission, and I have no problem -- I'm not going to veto it if that's what you're
asking.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. You -- I think you answered my question --
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou.
Commissioner Carollo: -- so I can move ahead. For the record, on this item, State
law does say that we can pay up to six weeks'severance pay, and that's all that we're
giving; along with accrued vacation time and sick time; that, for the most part, in
most governments, they do that for a Manager. You might have some tweaks here
and there, but -- and particularly, under the circumstances that this Manager is
leaving, I will support it, especially since the Mayor has given his blessing to it.
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou, Commissioner.
Chair Hardemon: -- Commissioner Carollo, I'll accept what you're stating as the
motion to approve, as I stated before on the record.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. Well, the --
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. And the Chair will second. Is there any
other comment on any other items? Commissioner Reyes, you're recognized. You're
recognized, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: I'm seconding that motion.
Chair Hardemon: Oh, okay, okay. Is there any other discussion about the items?
Vice Chair Russell: As a block?
Chair Hardemon: Correct. Hearing none, all in favor of the items, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And for the record, CA. 16 will be amended.
Chair Hardemon: Thankyou very much.
City of Miami Page 35 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
0001:1IDI: 1;0N1ki[4�
PHA
RESOLUTION
3228
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Department of
EXECUTE A COLLABORATION AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY
Community and
THE ATTACHED FORM, BETWEEN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, THE
Economic
CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"), THE CITY OF NORTH MIAMI, THE CITY
Development
OF HIALEAH, THE HIALEAH HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE CITY OF
MIAMI GARDENS, THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, AND THE
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH FOR THE
2020-2025 ASSESSMENT OF FAIR HOUSING FOR THE PERIOD
FROM OCTOBER 1, 2020 TO SEPTEMBER 30,2025;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0601
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT: Russell
Mayor Francis Suarez: I want to take two very simple -- what I think are two simple
items, PH.8 and PH 10 --
Chair Hardemon: If we can --
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- can we have a motion to approve the PH (Public Hearings)
agenda?
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to take them separately.
Chair Hardemon: You want to take them --?
Mayor Suarez: I have one floor amendment on PH.8.
Chair Hardemon: PH.8?
Mayor Suarez: Yeah. It's just a floor amendment,- then you can approve the PH
agenda. The floor amendment is in conversations with Commissioner Reyes'office, I
think we decided that it would be more appropriate since I've been elected Mayor to
put the Poverty Initiative Program that I had sponsored initially as a District 4
Commissioner into the Mayor's Poverty Initiative Fund; and so with the -- So I think
it's the right thing to do for the Commissioner. I think he's going to start his own
legacy of programs, which I'm sure are going to be very beneficial for our City.
Commissioner Reyes: And it's all right with me; it's fine with me.
City of Miami Page 36 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mayor Suarez: Okay.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, it is my understanding that PH.7 needs to be
amended, as well.
Chair Hardemon: No, no. Is there an amendment for PH. 7?
Commissioner Carollo: PH -- ?
Mr. Hannon: PH. 7.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry. I need -- Can you read it, PH. 7?
Chair Hardemon: PH.7 is the -- accept the gift -- agreement from the Van Alen
Institute.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): The department is supposed to clam the amount
of it on Page 1, so.
Chair Hardemon: So, Commissioner Carollo, this is the resolution of the Miami
City Commission, by a four-fifths affirmative vote, rating the City Manager's
recommendations; amending and waiving the requirements of competitive sealed
bidding for purposes of accepting a donation of approximately $180,000; $120,000
in in-kind services, and $60,000 in monetary funds from the Van Alen Institute, a
New York City 501(c)(3), to be used for design and development phase of a new
general plan for the Jose Marti Park.
Commissioner Carollo: I was informed of this when the Administration went
through the agenda with me. I'd just like to get on the record from you what they're
going to do for us, and what benefits are we getting from the money that we will
approve that they will spend.
Jane Gilbert: Sure, absolutely. Jane Gilbert, chief resilience officer, City of Miami.
So the Van Alen Institute is a non-profit, based in New York, that helps cities,
communities, sometimes States, larger jurisdictions with procurement and
stakeholder engagement on large resilient redesign projects. They are doing a
challenge here in Greater Miami and the Beaches. This is the project they selected
with the City of Miami to look -- do a general plan -- new general plan for Jose
Marti Park, taking climate change, sea level rise, as well as some of the other
stresses facing that East Little Havana area of more densification, transportation
stresses, et cetera into account. So what they're going to do is help us both make
sure that we reach out very broadly and widely for the best team possible to do that
design and help us with writing it. It's going to go through all the City's regulated
procurement processes. They're giving us the money to -- for the design phase,
60,000 towards the design phase. We already have funding budgeted for the general
plan and the implementation of that for Jose Marti Park, but this is added. And then
when we -- once the design team is chose -- actually, even before the RFQ (Request
for Qualifications) goes out, they're going to do some stakeholder engagement in --
or citizen engagement in the Little Havana area to ask what people want to see in a
general plan, what they want to see out of a design. And then once the team is hired,
they will also do -- help us with more -- actually making sure they identify some key
people in the neighborhood to really help make sure we have as much engagement
as possible, and make sure that they actually recruit people to those meetings, and
get as much input on the park process as possible.
City of Miami Page 37 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: How long is this going to take, approximately, before they
come back with a final report to us?
Ms. Gilbert: How long will the general plan?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, how long is it going to take for them to do the study
that they're going to do for us?
Ms. Gilbert: Well, it has to go through our procurement processes.
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Ms. Gilbert: So it's --
Commissioner Carollo: I understand.
Ms. Gilbert: -- that --
Commissioner Carollo: Outside of that.
Ms. Gilbert: Outside of that, once we have the design team?
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Ms. Gilbert: I expect it would be a three -- four month, maybe, because there'd be
some designs, and then we'd get feedback from the community again, and then they'd
have to redo it.
Commissioner Carollo: The only comment that I want to make publicly that I want
to make sure that we go wide -- very wide. When we talk about input from the
community, what I have found for many years, citywide, and particularly in the
poorer districts like this, that when we talk about input from the community, you're
really getting very little input from the real community, because those people are so
busy working --
Ms. Gilbert: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- trying to make a living and feed their families.
Ms. Gilbert: Of course.
Commissioner Carollo: And you're only getting it from a handful of people that
usually are the ones that have invested and they're looking to invest more in real
estate, and have their own personal agendas that's not the district -wide or citywide
concerns, so I want to make sure -- and I'm saying this for the record -- that before
that press goes out that they meet with me, staff meets with me, and we really go out
to a lot of people, not just a handful, because if not, I know what's going to happen
there.
Ms. Gilbert: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Having said that, I --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner --
Ms. Gilbert: Okay. So I need to read into the record just a --
City of Miami Page 38 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Ms. Gilbert: -- they were just some minor edits. The amount -- so for Item 1 in
Exhibit "A," on Page 12: Provide the City with in-kind services valued at
approximately 120, 000, instead of 160, 000, for the support of conceptual design
phase of the project; and 60, 000 in monetary funds, to be used to compensate the
selected proposal from the City's Request for Qualifications process. And then I -- in
Section "B: " The City of Miami will: Number one, pay the selected proposer a
minimum of 60, 000, to be allocated from the gift amount, based on the work invoiced
during the conceptual design phase. The City will be responsible for any funding in
excess of 60,000 for phase one conceptual design, subject to allocation
appropriations and budgetary approval, and compliance with applicable provisions
of the City Code.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. I ask that this board -- I would ask to entertain a motion to
approve Item PH. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Commissioner Carollo: Motion --
Chair Hardemon: I'll go again. I --
Commissioner Carollo: -- to approve.
Chair Hardemon: -- 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. It's been properly moved by Commissioner
Carollo; second by the Chair. Any further discussion on that motion? And that
includes the amendments that were made on the record for PH. 7. Hearing none, all
in favor; say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Ms. Mendez: PH 8 was also amended, Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Correct.
Ms. Mendez: Thank you.
PH.2
RESOLUTION
3232
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE PLAT ENTITLED "ROYAL
Department of
DUKE," A REPLAT IN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") OF THE
Public Works
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-17-0593
City of Miami Page 39 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: You want to do PH.2? We have PH.2, 9 and 10.
Vice Chair Russell: Whatever you'd like.
Juvenal Santana: Good afternoon again. Juvenal Santana, director of Public
Works. The item before you is a resolution of the Miami City Commission, accepting
the final plat of Royal Duke.
Commissioner Gort: I'll move it.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded Any discussion about the issue on the floor? Any
unreadiness? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
PH.3
RESOLUTION
3359
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING THE PLAT ENTITLED
Department of
"BATTERSEA WOODS," A REPLAT AND A SUBDIVISION IN THE
Public Works
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; AND 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-17-0609
MOTION TO: Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT: ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
NAYS: Hardemon
City of Miami Page 40 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item PH.3, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s). "
Chair Hardemon: The December 14, 2017 Miami City Commission meeting is back
in order. The last point of business that we left was the public hearing. We have
PH.2, 3, 9 and 10 that have not been considered yet. What's the desire of the board?
Vice Chair Russell: I'd be glad to hear PH.3. An intervenor from the situation
wanted to speak separately. You were off the dais when she made the request, and
she's here, so if we would hear PH. 3.
Chair Hardemon: PH 3. Let's let it be introduced first; no problem.
Vice Chair Russell: No, it -- the Administration will go first.
Chair Hardemon: You can come on this side if you'd like; no problem.
Juvenal Santana: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Juvenal Santana, Public Works
director. PH.3 is a resolution of the Miami City Commission, accepting the final
plat of Battersea Woods.
Chair Hardemon: Before -- I do have a question of process, because, as I
understand right now, this is up for us to reconsider. It's not a motion for
reconsideration; it's just for us to re -- I'm trying to understand where we are with
things, because I know we voted at our last meeting -- well, many meetings before.
That was a decision that was made. It was appealed, and there was an agreeance to
bring it back down to the City Commission. So I'm trying to understand the
procedure that we're following right now, because I would have thought that if it was
appealed and a decision was rendered by the -- well, the court, then maybe we make
a different decision here or follow something in suit with that opinion. But, I mean,
is this proper and should we be considering it this way, or should we be considering
it as a whole new application for something different?
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): I will defer to Mr. Rogers, who's the appellate
counsel handling the matter for the City, but this has been remanded back from the
Appellate Division for the City Commission's consideration of this legislation.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. I -- yeah, please.
Daniel Rogers: Good afternoon. Daniel Rogers. I am acting as the City's Attorney,
outside counsel for the City in this matter. My interpretation of what the court did
was they relinquished jurisdiction back to the City Commission for it to consider this
plat application again. Based upon the agreement between the parties, I understand
that there is going to be some proffers of some things that are going to come forward
from the developer and from the neighbors that are going to be considered, kind of
as amendments to what's going to be proposed as the plat to the City for the City
Commission to approve.
Chair Hardemon: But, see, that's the part that confuses me, because there was no
action with the above court. All I know is that we made a decision here. It was
appealed.
Mr. Rogers: Correct.
Chair Hardemon: Nothing happened above. And you're saying, "Hey, reconsider."
But there's -- it's --
City of Miami Page 41 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mr. Rogers: We asked the -- I'm sorry, go ahead.
Chair Hardemon: No, I mean, that's part of my confusion, you know. I understand
how courts can remand things to be heard, et cetera, but here --
Mr. Rogers: Yeah. We specifically asked the court for it to relinquish and/or
remand for this court [sic] to consider the plat application again, based upon what
was going to be proffered by the parties. And so, the court granted that motion; and
so, legal interpretation of that is that it's back before the City Commission to
consider the application, subject to what's going to be proffered here, and then the
Commission can make a decision about whether or not it wants to approve the
application, based upon what's been proffered here, based upon the agreement
between the intervenors and the developer.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. And -- but is the application -- the original
application before us, or is it an amended application, based on their settlement?
Mr. Rogers: It's an original application that speaks --
Vice Chair Russell: So for (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Rogers: Wait, wait. It's my understanding that there's going to be a proposed
amendment on the floor here today during the public hearing.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: And I guess that's the part that confuses me, because we're
looking at an original application where there was nothing that was done with the
above court. It didn't say -- it didn't remand it with instructions to find in
accordance with whatever they discovered or -- it's nothing. I'm really looking at the
same issue I was dealing with before, before me, except someone says, "I'll build one
less house. " And I guess that's the part -- I just don't understand how it is before me.
Now, if, in the end, no one appeals this decision, no one fights it, then, you know, it is
what it is. But I would have thought that we're done with this until a decision is
made by an Appeals Board; and then whatever the Appeals Board says, you know,
that is what it is, unless you appeal it higher than that. But here, I'm just being asked
to reconsider my initial vote. I'm just perplexed by it.
Mr. Rogers: Your Honor, you know -- and I understand. And in this particular
instance, if the court had actually entered an order quashing, they're actually --
under the law, they're not allowed to tell the City Commission exactly what to do;
they're just allowed to quash the order. And so, in this particular instance, we
thought that the procedure that we would follow here would be to ask the court
specifically to relinquish jurisdiction for this specific reason. So the court basically
was agreeing with the motion, which was to bring it back before the City
Commission for it to consider this again. And --
Chair Hardemon: But that's the part that puzzles me, because they have this
jurisdiction. We no longer have it once you had our vote. So by them releasing or
relinquishing the jurisdiction, how does that give it back to us, for us to make a
decision on facts we've already decided?
Mr. Rogers: Well, it -- Your Honor, those were the application that was there. It's
my understanding that there's going to be an amendment to that that's proffered here
today, which would be something that is unique and different than what you voted on
before.
City of Miami Page 42 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Vice Chair Russell: That might change our decision, because of the amendment.
The -- But it was remanded though, right? It was sent back to us? That was their
action?
Commissioner Gort: Yeah.
Mr. Rogers: Absolutely. They --
Vice Chair Russell: To reconsider?
Mr. Rogers: Yeah. The court entered an order granting the motion to relinquish
jurisdiction back to the City Commission for it to consider this plat, based upon what
was going to be proffered. And as I read the law, the City Commission can now act
on this, based upon the amendments that are going to be proffered. It's going to be
eight different factual setting and different thing that's before the City Commission
than you voted on earlier.
Chair Hardemon: Because the way I think about it is this: Any court is going --
most -- If you're going to relieve a court of the burden of having to hear a case --
Commissioner Gort: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- most courts are going to say, "Okay. You agree? Fine." But
then what does that mean for us as the City Commission? That every time there's an
appeal and then subsequent to the appeal -- because the appeal is only if someone is
not happy, and then you appeal; and then, subsequent to the appeal, further
negotiation with the court. Then the court relinquishes jurisdiction, and then it
comes back to us. It's --
Mr. Rogers: I mean, if you analogize it to have, you know, a lower court proceeding,
a trial court makes a decision, it goes up on appeal, and then the parties advise the
Appellate Court that they want to go back and they want to present something a little
bit different, to see if the trial court (UNINTELLIGIBLE). They relinquish
jurisdiction back. They enter an amended -- you know, a decision on the amended
proposal before the trial court. And then the party who was aggrieved or who had a
problem then dismisses the appeal. And this is something that I'm familiar with
through the court system, and as I read the law, that's something that can be done
here before the City Commission.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman, if I may?
Chair Hardemon: Of course.
Vice Chair Russell: So this is a long story that's coming to a close, and I think it not
only has a good ending -- I hope -- but it's started a new discussion in the City,
within our Legal Department and our Planning & Zoning Department, and within
the community. This very simple re platting of a property brought about property
rights questions and neighbors' right questions, and interpretation of our Code. In
the NCD (Neighborhood Conservation District), in Coconut Grove, where we have
heightened restrictions that protect our canopy, that protect building size, our Code
was written in a way that it could be interpreted possibly in multiple ways, and that
brought about the idea that this particular property was granted a warrant -- or was
told they would not need a warrant. The warrant would have allowed the neighbors
to have the ability to appeal the situation. They never had that voice; and so, this
one property would have been split into five. The misinterpretation I hear often from
City of Miami Page 43 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
the community is that lot -splitting is illegal, period; diminishing a lot is illegal,
period. And even within our current Code and the changes that are being proposed,
that's not the case. It is illegal -- it is not possible, unless by warrant. And when that
warrant is granted -- and it surpasses the neighbors' appeal -- then it is allowed.
And so, we voted unanimously to say that the warrant -- it should not have been
brought to us on a re plat without going through a proper warrant system. It went
up on appeal. The settlement that happened up there that I believe we're going to
hear about today is the one that probably should have happened in the early parts of
the discussion, but both sides took a gamble on where our vote would be, where this
would end up, because, really, the settlement does the same exercise as the warrant.
It brings all the neighbors to the table who are affected. They get to discuss with the
applicant, the developer, and they came out to what they believe -- if I understand
correctly -- is a reasonable solution amongst them, so that diminishing a lot is
possible, basically, with working together with your neighbors through a warrant
process appeal; or in this case, a settlement on an appeal of our decision. So I'm
satisfied as a spirit -of -the -law guy. I certainly understand our letter of the law
specialist here, who recognizes a potential process issue. But the end result, I
believe, is a good one for the community; and more importantly, it has started a
discussion of us revamping our entire Neighborhood Conservation District Code,
which I'll be sponsoring early next year. So that's going through a public process
with our Planning Department and the community; it'll go to PZAB (Planning,
Zoning & Appeals Board) in February; it'll be before us, hopefully, in March and
April, and we'll be able to tighten up any of these loopholes that have gotten us
where we are today. So with that in mind, with the Chair's discretion, I believe the
intervenor in this situation, the appellant -- no. The intervenor in our situation
would like -- reserved her comments from public comment today.
Chair Hardemon: Before you speak -- and I'll say, counselor, the -- When I read the
resolution that's before this Commission today, it reads as if this never came before
us before, which is not true. I mean, it -- we considered this before. So the
resolution that I see before me is as if this was the first time I heard this, and this is
not the first time I heard this. We spent a lot of time dealing with Battersea Woods.
Vice Chair Russell: Sorry about that.
Chair Hardemon: And I voted the way that I did regarding the issue, so I remember
how I voted. So -- and this, the first thing I think to my head is, well, we've already
opined on this matter, and it's just that the City Commission can now look at the
facts anew, because you have new things you want to introduce. I would have
thought that it has to go back through the process -- right? -- which is not something,
I'm sure, that Battersea Woods -- those who support the application would like. But,
you know, I don't see any mechanism, and unless someone tells me different -- and
I'm asking you to -- that says that it should go in the way that you're presenting it
before us right now, which is a resolution, as if it was never heard before, you know.
And that's --you know, that's my trouble with it, because it's two different processes.
It's more than just being heard. It's not as if, you know, it's not -- because it had to
go through an application process to get here; it's not like it was just heard before
us. So I would think that it would have to go through the application process again,
because it's a different matter. When it was before us, would have been the perfect
time to say, "Okay, we'll make four houses instead of five," right? But you didn't --
no one did that. We had to go through this whole process; there was no
compromise. And then now, it's like, "Oh, but, you know, come back and we'll
decide this whole thing again, " because now, you've come to a compromise. So, I
mean, that's my only issue with that. I'm sure this is not going to have an issue
moving forward today; I really don't think it's going to have an issue. But I just want
to be clear about how I felt about, you know, what we're doing, because if -- I say
this for all matters that come before Planning & Zoning, especially -- if we're going
City of Miami Page 44 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
to consider this thing, and we're going to spend hours in its consideration, we don't
want to come back to look at something that could have been done before we had
that hours -long discussion regarding it, right? And it's not your fault, you know.
You're standing here, you're the man at the lectern, and you offer the legal advice;
it's certainly not your fault, but I just want that to be known for all of our applicants
and those who are appellees in this matter, or appellants. So I just want to make
sure that was clear on the record. Ma'am, and you're recognized.
Johannah Brown: Thank you very much. I want to thank the Commission for
allowing me to speak right now. I've been deeply involved in the dispute and the
resolution, and I feel strongly about a few things regarding this moment. I'm an
intervenor in the Circuit Court case between the City of Miami and Battersea
Woods, and I support this resolution. Do I think it's ideal? No. Ideally, this never
would have happened if the Code was well written and enforced properly, but this
resolution is the best possible outcome to a very tricky situation. Myself and the
other intervenors, the Codys, have spent a considerable amount of our time and
resources trying to reach an agreement. It has taken us over a year to come to this
compromise, and it is just that -- a compromise -- the hallmark of which is that no
one is fully happy. We have achieved several concessions: Reduction in density and
scale, restrictions in height, changes in style, and increased expenditures on
landscaping; all things that speak to the intent of the NCD. The developer's
negotiated in good faith and done what we've asked of him, but there will still be four
houses where there once used to be one. But it's time to put this chapter behind us.
Rejecting this agreement today would only serve to drag out an already
excruciatingly complicated and difficult situation, so let's not squander this
opportunity and take this agreement seriously. Both the developer and the neighbors
feel it is a decent resolution and that it is time to move forward and begin the hard
work in earnest to fix what got us here in the first place, and that's the NCD. But
before we move forward, let me state clearly for the record this is by no means a
rubber stamp for other developments like it, and it is by no means a tacit agreement
or approval of the -- tacit approval of the interpretation of the Code that the
developer argues allows him this density. It is a statement that pitting residents and
the City and developers against each other, spending massive resources, arguing
about poorly written Code is a waste of our collective and limited resources as a
community. This approval is simply a message to the City that we, as residents, are
ready for the big problems to be addressed. We have gotten engaged. We have
made our statement that this type of development, increase in density, outside scale
of houses, similar architectural styles, all the things that are changing the face of our
neighborhood that are going against the intent of the Code and that are devaluing
what makes Coconut Grove an attraction for the City of Miami are not okay. This
statement -- this is a statement that it is now time for the City --for each and every
one of you to show that you have heard our voices. Commissioner Russell has been
working to make these changes, and we thank him for that. And I hope all of you
will support him and Planning & Zoning in coming up with real reforms to the NCD
that will show the residents that you've heard our voices. The City must support
significant and reasonable restrictions, and allowable FAR (floor/area ratio).
Language on lot -splitting must acknowledge property rights, but make lot
diminishment a process that is weighted towards long-term preservation. You must
support stronger restrictions for specimen trees, among other things. It's time for the
City to begin to recognize the property rights of those who have chosen to live in the
Grove because of the low density, heavily -canopied historical village feel. We await
the coming NCD reforms from the City, and we will continue to believe that our
voices are being heard. We will reject the more cynical voices that claim the
invisible hand of the developers are more powerful than the residents who live here,
and we will put our faith in the elected officials to do the right things. The residents
of the Grove are active and engaged and will continue to be vigilant, and it is time
for the City to join our efforts. We will operate on the assumption that the City
City of Miami Page 45 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
wants an end as much as we do to the endless stream of residents showing up at
Commission meetings, PZAB meetings, City staff meetings, spending tax dollars and
your precious time, trying to be heard. We have shown today that we can be
reasonable, that we can find compromise, and now we ask you to do the same. And I
really appreciate your time, and Merry Christmas. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Vice Chairman?
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman, in order to accept the plat -- and I guess this is a
question for City Attorney -- do we need to accept the amendments, or a proffer on
this before -- In order to make account for the settlement that they've come to, are
there amendments needed to be made to this resolution?
Mr. Min: Again, I will defer to Mr. Rogers on that.
Mr. Rogers: It's my understanding that the court relinquished this for the -- it to be
considered pursuant to the amendments that are going to be proposed. You know, to
the Chair's point about the fact that are you going to be voting on the exact same
resolution again, or are you going to be voting on an amended resolution, the way I
interpret the court's order is that it's for this court [sic] to consider it with the
amendments.
Vice Chair Russell: And have those amendments been proffered? Are they in our
backup?
Mr. Rogers: It's my understand --
Vice Chair Russell: Or are they being proffered on the floor right now?
Mr. Rogers: Yeah. It's my understanding that they're -- they have been considered
by -- submitted to the City staff for them to be able to consider what's going to be
proffered, but that it's not part of the packet; it was going to be proffered on the floor
here today.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. So are we going to -- ?
Commissioner Gort: Would be additional amendments coming up on the floor, my
understanding. You're going to have additional amendments coming up on the floor;
is that what you're saying?
Mr. Rogers: That's my understanding, yes. The applicant is going to be proffering
an amendment, yes.
Commissioner Gort: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Then I guess we hear it.
Chair Hardemon: Those amendments? Now, this will be an amendment, I'm
assuming, to the application, no?
Carlos Tosca: I'm not an attorney.
Chair Hardemon: No, not you. All right. I'm just --
Mr. Tosca: And I didn't stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. I know what we're
doing, but I --
City of Miami Page 46 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: You're smart, man.
Mr. Tosca: -- like I'm scared to say anything here. Would you like to like call a time
out? You take over. We're doing four houses instead of five. They're going to be
really nice, lots of trees.
Mr. Santana: Commissioner, the plat that's being presented today is the exact plat
that was presented last year. What is -- there is no amendment to the plat. What is
being proffered is a unity of title where through a zoning instrument, they're going to
be tying two lots together. So as far as an amendment, there is no amendment. The
plat today is the same one that you saw a year and a half ago.
Vice Chair Russell: So the same plat with a unity of title over two --
Mr. Santana: Correct, which is --
Vice Chair Russell: -- the effective result of which is --
Commissioner Gort: Four.
Vice Chair Russell: --four instead of five.
Mr. Santana: Correct.
Commissioner Gort: Four instead of five.
Mr. Santana: But that is not part of the platting process; that's part of a zoning
process, which my understanding is that they've already begun with the City, and
that's what the applicants for the plat are going to be discussing with you today.
Lowell Kuvin: After reviewing it -- My name is Lowell Kuvin, and I represent the
intervenors. And after reviewing the unity of title, it is my opinion as -- and as I
portrayed it to my client -- that the unity of title for the two plats will remain as one
single piece of property, and cannot be changed, unless it were to go through the
warrant process in the future. So we're basically at exactly, I think, where you were
at the last hearing on this, of which that decision was appealed.
Vice Chair Russell: So it couldn't be undone? For example, they're unifying title.
Let's say they build only on half of those two platted lots, unified, then they un -unify
them later.
Mr. Kuvin: It cannot -- Commissioner Russell, it cannot be undone, and the only
way that it could be done is to come back to the City and to go through the entire
warrant process, and split the plat, and then to maybe do whatever someone in the
future wanted to do. However, I don't see that happening for probably -- maybe
forever. I mean, they're going to build a house here, so unless someone's willing to
tear down the brand-new house to then go ahead and split the plat, I don't really see
that occurring. It's not a concern to my client, because they don't see that in
probably the next 50 to a hundred years.
Vice Chair Russell: And I'm with you, Chairman, that this is procedurally
complicated. It's a work -around to fix a situation. It's a bit of a --
Mr. Kuvin: It is. The way that I would portray it a little bit is more of -- and I'm not
sure if the developers would agree with this -- but I -- the way that I look at it and the
way that I've explained it to my clients is almost is that the developer's acquiescing
to the City's position before, with very few minor changes in it. And so, basically,
City of Miami Page 47 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
they're back here saying, "We could continue the appeal, we could continue going on
in the appellate court," where they may win, or they may not win. However, they've
come back with concessions, basically, for the City. And then, the City would say
yes" or "no. "
Vice Chair Russell: Certainly. I'm prepared to make a motion, as long as I have full
understanding from my City Attorney and the Administration that the -- that this
motion encompasses the unity of title so that we don't move one without the other,-
that
ther;that they are going together.
Mr. Min: My suggestion is the legislation should be modified to include that
language.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. So then we'll -- I'll make a motion with an amendment to
accept the proffer of the applicant to unify title of the remaining two lots, and that's
my motion; that we move forward with the replat.
Mr. Min: Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. I believe Mr. Santana and Mr. Rogers wanted
additional modifications concerning clarity that this item is relinquished from the
court. Did you want that "whereas" clause added?
Mr. Santana: In the "whereas" clause of the resolution, we're going to be adding a
modification, adding the reference to the court order, which is already included in
the agenda summary form as part of the background.
Chair Hardemon: So your motion will need to include that.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, please.
Chair Hardemon: It was moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Properly been --
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: -- seconded. Any discussion about it? All in favor of the motion,
say "aye. "
Commissioner Gort: Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Aye.
Commissioner Carollo: Aye.
Commissioner Reyes: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Please note one against. Motion passes.
Commissioner Gort: I think they want to know what happened.
Chair Hardemon: Huh?
Commissioner Gort: They want to know what happened.
Chair Hardemon: Oh. It passes.
City of Miami Page 48 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Vice Chair Russell: It passed.
Chair Hardemon: Whatever you guys agreed to, if no one appeals it, then it'll be
fine.
Mr. Tosca: Fine. Thank you --
Chair Hardemon: You're very welcome.
Mr. Tosca: -- for bringing it back and giving us a chance to continue our project,
which I think the neighbors are happy with, and we're very happy. Everybody has
worked pretty hard to get us to this point. Commissioner Russell and his team,
Rebecca Wakefield in particular, has worked really hard, and both neighbors, the
Codys and the other -- all the neighbors really have been very, very good, so thank
you very much, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Can you state your name again for the record?
Mr. Tosca: Carlos Tosca.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
PHA
RESOLUTION
3251
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5TNS) AFFIRMATIVE
Parks and
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
Recreation
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT "A," THAT
COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES
ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS, PURSUANT TO
SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
SAID PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A
GRANT FROM THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND, A FOREIGN NOT
FOR PROFIT CORPORATION ("TRUST"), AT AN ESTIMATED
VALUE OF $120,000.00, IN THE FORM OF OUTDOOR FITNESS
EQUIPMENT AT JOSE MARTI PARK, A CITY -OWNED PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 351 SOUTHWEST 4TH AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE
AGREEMENT FOR ACCEPTANCE OF FITNESS ZONE
EQUIPMENT AND THE RIGHT OF ENTRY PERMIT AND LICENSE
AGREEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, WITH
THE TRUST, AND ANY AND ALL OTHER NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF
SAID DONATION.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0603
City of Miami Page 49 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Russell
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item PH.4, please see "Public
Comment Period for Regular Item(s) " and Item PH.].
PH.5
RESOLUTION
3179
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
Procurement
VOTE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-92 OF THE CODE OF THE
AYES:
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AFTER AN
ABSENT:
ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND
CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING OF A SOLE
SOURCE, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT
"A"; WAIVING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED
BIDDING PROCEDURES AND APPROVING THE PROCUREMENT
OF MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES OF AIRHAWK
EXHAUST REMOVAL SYSTEMS ("AIRHAWK EXHAUST SYSTEM")
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE -RESCUE ("FIRE") FROM
GARRISON MECHANICAL SERVICE CORPORATION
("GARRISON"); ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM FIRE GENERAL
OPERATING FUND, ACCOUNT NO. 00001.184010.546000;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE
MAINTENANCE CONTRACT AND ADDENDUM, IN
SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY
AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE MAINTENANCE
CONTRACT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0604
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Russell
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item PH. 5, please see Item PH.].
City ofMiarni Page 50 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
PH.6
RESOLUTION
3065
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING,
Information
THE FINDINGS, UNDERTAKINGS, AND DETERMINATIONS OF
Technology
THE CITY MANAGER, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS
ABSENT:
ATTACHMENT A, AND THE NECESSARY CITY DEPARTMENTS
REGARDING THE NECESSITY OF UPGRADING THE CITY OF
MIAMI'S ("CITY") ETHERNET CAPACITY AND SERVICES AND
WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING BY AN AFFIRMATIVE FOUR-
FIFTHS (4/5THS) VOTE, AFTER A DULY NOTICED PUBLIC
HEARING, PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, AS AMENDED; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE, EXECUTE, AND RENEW, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR A ONE (1) YEAR
PERIOD AND EXPAND NECESSARY SERVICES UNDER THE
CITY'S AGREEMENT WITH AT&T FOR METRO ETHERNET
SERVICES ("AT&T METRO ETHERNET AGREEMENT") BY AN
ADDENDUM THERETO ("ADDENDUM") INCREASING THE
ANNUAL CONTRACT CAPACITY BY AN ANNUAL AMOUNT NOT
TO EXCEED $168,000.00, THEREBY INCREASING THE TOTAL
ANNUAL CONTRACT CAPACITY FROM AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED $432,000.00 TO AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$600,000.00, TO ALIGN WITH HISTORICAL USAGE AND
ANTICIPATED FUTURE UPGRADED CAPACITY AND RELATED
EXPENDITURES, AS STATED HEREIN FOR ETHERNET
SERVICES CITYWIDE PURSUANT TO THE AT&T METRO
ETHERNET AGREEMENT; ALLOCATING FUNDS FROM THE
VARIOUS SOURCES OF FUNDS, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF
NEED; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
RENEW, EXTEND, MODIFY, OR AMEND, THE AT&T METRO
ETHERNET AGREEMENT AND THE ADDENDUM FOR THE SAME
NOT TO EXCEED CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR AN ADDITIONAL
ONE (1) YEAR PERIOD, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0605
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Russell
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH.6, please see Item PH.].
City ofMiarni Page 51 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
PH.7
RESOLUTION
3078
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, BY A FOUR -
Office of
FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED
Resilience and
PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, CONFIRMING, AND APPROVING
Sustainability
THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION AND WRITTEN
ABSENT:
FINDINGS, ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT
"A," PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING AS NOT
BEING PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI FOR PURPOSES OF ACCEPTING THE DONATION OF
APPROXIMATELY $180,000.00 ("GIFT"), $120,000.00 IN IN-KIND
SERVICES, AND $60,000.00 IN MONETARY FUNDS FROM THE
VAN ALEN INSTITUTE, A NEW YORK CITY 501(C)(3), NOT FOR
PROFIT ORGANIZATION ("VAI"), TO BE USED FOR THE DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT PHASE OF A NEW GENERAL PLAN FOR JOSE
MARTI PARK ("PARK") TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE
INCREASING FLOOD RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SEA LEVEL
RISE, THE UNIQUE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF LITTLE HAVANA,
THE INCREASING USE RELATED TO DEVELOPMENTS
SURROUNDING THE PARK, AND CONSIDERING PARKING,
TRANSPORTATION, AND ACCESS ISSUES, AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GIFT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF MIAMI AND VAI, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE
ATTACHED FORM; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO THE GIFT
AGREEMENT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0606
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Russell
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item PH. 7, please see Item PH.].
City ofMiarni Page 52 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
PH.8
RESOLUTION
3271
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
and Mayor
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
AYES:
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING,
ABSENT:
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT "A," THAT
Note for the Reeord: For minutes refereneing Item PK8, please see Item PH.].
COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES
ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE CITY OF
MIAMI ("CITY"), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE
ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT 4
COMMISSIONER'S SHARE OF THE CITY'S ANTI -POVERTY
INITIATIVE IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,000.00 TO
PEOPLE UNITED TO LEAD THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY, INC.
("P.U.L.S.E."), A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, TO
SUPPORT P.U.L.S.E.'S YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY THAT
PROVIDES LOCAL YOUTH WITH LEADERSHIP TRAINING SKILLS
TO BECOME EFFECTIVE LEADERS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0607
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Russell
Note for the Reeord: For minutes refereneing Item PK8, please see Item PH.].
City ofMiarni Page 53 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
PH.9
RESOLUTION
3330
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
and Mayor
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT "A," THAT
COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES
ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE CITY OF
MIAMI ("CITY"), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE
ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE DISTRICT 2
COMMISSIONER'S SHARE OF THE CITY'S ANTI -POVERTY
INITIATIVE IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FIFTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000.00) TO THELMA GIBSON HEALTH
INITIATIVE, INC., A FLORIDA NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION,
FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S MODEL PROGRAM INVOLVING
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT, LIFE SKILLS AND
SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AND MONEY MANAGEMENT
SKILLS NECESSARY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESIDENTS
AND THOSE AT -RISK RESIDENTS IN VARIOUS CITY
COMMUNITIES; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY
ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0610
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item PH. 9, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item (s). "
Chair Hardemon: You want to do PK9 and 10 separately?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, please.
Chair Hardemon: PH. 9, Thelma Gibson Health Initiative.
Vice Chair Russell: This is Mr. Mensah or --?
Chair Hardemon: Probably yours, more than anything.
Vice Chair Russell: Well, it's my allocation.
Chair Hardemon: Because it's (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Vice Chair Russell: It's my allocation and it's probably -- PH 10 is the Mayor's.
City ofMiarni Page 54 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Yeah. PH9 is an allocation from the Anti -
Poverty funds fi^om Commissioner Russell's office for the Thelma Gibson Health
Initiative. It's an allocation of $50, 000, and it requires a four-fifths approval.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much. The Thelma Gibson Health Initiative has
really led the charge in finding holistic ways to build the community in Coconut
Grove Village West, where they recognize the problem primarily is housing
availability and stock, but far beyond that, there is a personal need of education and
implementation wraparound program for the community. They've also been very
helpful with its in emergency relocation of those being evicted 50,000 to their
program is going to be very helpful to the Coconut Grove, and just the beginning of
what we intend to do, so I'd like to move the item.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved.
Commissioner Reyes: Second
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by Commissioner Reyes. Any discussion regarding the
item? Hearing none, all in favor of the item, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
PH.10
RESOLUTION
3373
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5TNS) AFFIRMATIVE
and Mayor
VOTE, AFTER AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S FINDING,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT "A," THAT
COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION METHODS AND PROCEDURES
ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE CITY OF
MIAMI ("CITY"), PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-85(A) OF THE CODE
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR SAID PROCEDURES; AUTHORIZING THE
ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS FROM THE MAYOR'S SHARE
OF THE CITY'S ANTI -POVERTY INITIATIVE IN A TOTAL AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED $25,000.00 TO COLLABORATIVE
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ("CDC"), A FLORIDA NOT FOR
PROFIT CORPORATION, TO SUPPORT CDC'S KROMA ART
SPACE & STUDIOS INITIATIVE; AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0611
City of Miami Page 55 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item PH.10, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s). "
Chair Hardemon: PH. 10. Mr. Manager?
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Okay. PH 10 is another Anti -Poverty Initiative
allocation. This one is from Mayor Francis Suarez. It is for the Collaborative
Development Corporation, CDC. The Mayor is proffering it. Do you want to --?
Mayor Francis Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah.
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll second it.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by the Vice Chairman. Any discussion regarding the
item? Any unreadiness? Hearing none, all in favor of the item, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
END OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
City of Miami Page 56 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
M:II&I*K91kiloil NN0I]1►[eye]NI]IkgWkiIs] *I
SRA ORDINANCE Second Reading
1374 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Office of Zoning CHAPTER 4 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED, ENTITLED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES", BY
REPEALING SECTIONS 4-1 THROUGH 4-76 IN THEIR ENTIRETY
AND REPLACING THEM WITH NEW SECTIONS 4-1 THROUGH 4-
11, MORE PARTICULARLY BY ADDING DEFINITIONS;
PROVIDING FOR HOURS OF SALES; PROVIDING FOR AN
APPROVAL PROCESS; PROHIBITING MINGLING; PROHIBITING
ALCOHOL SALES DURING EMERGENCIES; PROVIDING
REGULATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS TO DISTANCE SEPARATION;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Notes for the Record. Item SR.] was continued to the January 11, 2018 Regular
Commission Meeting.
Note for the Record. A motion was made by Commissioner Carollo, seconded by
Chair Hardemon, and was passed unanimously, directing the City Manager and
City Attorney to Amend SR.1 with the following changes:
Hours of Operation Sec 4-3:
Liquor Packaze Stores
Mon — Sun
9 AM (Opening Hours)
Convenience Stores
Mon —Sun
HAM-10PM
Specialty District Sec 4-5:
8" Street Specialty District
Remove Capacity ("CAP") Total of 25
(Note: To be discussed and determined by District 3 Commissioner)
NW 7h Ave Specialty District
Replace name w/Liberty City Specialty District
Flazler Specialty District
Remove CAP Total of 40 /No CAP as per PZAB recommendation
For additional minutes referencing Item SR.], please see "Public Comment Period
for Regular Item(s). "
City of Miami Page 57 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: Madam City Attorney, can you read SR.1 into the record, please?
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. I know there were some amendments that needed to be
presented. I don't know if you -- they've been supplemented --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- in the record or not, or if that's something you need to discuss
on the record. You are recognized, Mr. Cejas.
Devin Cejas: Yes, sir; to be discussed on the record and to be circulated. Devin
Cejas, Zoning administrator/director for the City of Miami. (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
proceed with stating the minor amendments into the record -- that is not the printed
version before you -- minor amendments to reinstate some significant items that exist
today for enforcement purposes, and address hours of operation for the
commencement of sales or consumption of alcohol beverages on premises. First
item is to reinstate and amend the existing nightclub uses and licenses language that
clarifies and specifically defines "use" for enforcement purposes, and reinstates the
opening hours for nightclubs, which are 7 p.m.; reinstate the CU (certificate of use)
revocation process related to alcohol-related uses; amend opening hours for alcohol
service establishments and cafes only from 11 a. in. to 11 a. in. [sic]; closing hours
are not affected; Park West remains 24 hours. And strike through the term,
"residential uses" from hours that it only pertains to lodging in the section of
specified uses.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Commissioner Gort, you had a question?
Commissioner Gort: No, go ahead, go ahead.
Vice Chair Russell: These recent changes you said will help alleviate some of the
concerns that were brought up, at least in the Central Business District and the
Flagler area, with regard to the caps and warrants discussion that we were having
and -- is that correct?
Mr. Cejas: That is correct.
Vice Chair Russell: Because during first reading, we had discussed the -- going
against Planning & Zoning's recommendation, but I believe if this is the case, if this
is a good remedy for that, I would be comfortable going back to Planning &
Zoning's recommendation with regard to caps and warrants.
Mr. Cejas: Okay. So if I hear that --
Vice Chair Russell: Right. So that would need a slight amendment to the current
language that's in here?
Mr. Cejas: Right. The current language, which was not amended from first reading,
was what was stated and voted on here, which was the removal of the warrant
process for the alcohol service establishments located within the Flagler District, but
implementing a cap of 40.
City of Miami Page 58 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Mr. Cejas: That was presented to PZAB (Planning, Zoning & Appeals Board) per
the direction of this Commission, and that was approved unanimously by PLO, but
with a caveat of also removing the --
Vice Chair Russell: The cap.
Mr. Cejas: -- cap total of 40.
Vice Chair Russell: Right. So I would like that on second reading that our version
honor what PZAB was recommending in that change from first reading. Does that
make sense?
Mr. Cejas: It does. So --
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: Mr. --
Commissioner Gort: The other thing I would look at is the liquor package stores.
The -- it starts from 1 o'clock, and I'd like to see it at 9 o'clock, because the reason
being, in Coral Gables, right across from 37th Avenue from the City of Miami, they
can cross there and buy it. At 9 o'clock would be a good time for this, for liquor
package stores. I'd like to see it changed to 9 o'clock, opening on Sunday.
Mr. Cejas: For Sundays?
Commissioner Gort: Yeah.
Mr. Cejas: We'll make that -- we'll go ahead and make that change. And for the rest
of the week --
Commissioner Gort: Everything's fine.
Mr. Cejas: -- it's still 7 a.m.?
Commissioner Reyes: Excuse me. Can I make a recommendation of that item? I've
been thinking about it, and I agree with Commissioner Gort that opening on Sunday,
I remember that old -- that is an old legislation from since I came from Cuba in
1959, you know. I've seen it.
Commissioner Gort: 1940.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, that was before I was born. I'm old, but not that old.
Commissioner Gort: No, I'm telling you --
Commissioner Reyes: That was before my time, but I remember. But it is -- the truth
of the matter is that now, as it is, you can go to Coral Gables. I mean, you just cross
one street and you can purchase alcohol before I o'clock. And I think that also -- I
don't know, but I think that you start selling at 7 o'clock, it's also a little bit too early.
Why don't we -- it's just a suggestion. Why don't we do -- we start at 9 o'clock every
day, you see and -- across the board -- and then we take it from there, you see? And
that way, if a game, as the gentleman expressed, is going on, but they have enough
time to come and purchase alcohol item.
City of Miami Page 59 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mr. Cejas: Okay. And this is at it pertains to liquor package stores only?
Commissioner Reyes: Liquor package stores only.
Mr. Cejas: Okay. So it's a uniform opening --
Commissioner Reyes: Opening hours.
Mr. Cejas: -- hours of operation at 9 a.m.
Commissioner Reyes: 9 o'clock, 9 a.m. in the morning. You agree with that, Mr.
Gort?
Commissioner Gort: If it --
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Commissioner Gort: -- does not affect the business, I don't have any problem.
Vice Chair Russell: I would accept that amendment, too.
Commissioner Reyes: You accept that amendment, too?
Vice Chair Russell: Have we made a motion yet? Is there a motion on the floor?
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: We have not made a motion as yet.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Wait. I just wanted to -- I'm sorry. I wanted to
clarify something. So we're changing it from an opening of 7 a.m. to an opening of 9
a.m. --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) 9 a.m.
Ms. Mendez: -- during the week.
Mr. Cejas: Monday through Saturday.
Commissioner Reyes: During the week and Sundays.
Ms. Mendez: I think that that --
Commissioner Gort: Sundays.
Ms. Mendez: -- on Sundays, but not during the week. The week -- during the week,
itwill remain 7 a.m.?
Mr. Cejas: What --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. I thought that -- I made a --just a suggestion. Why
don't we open our liquor -- that's only for liquor stores.
Mr. Cejas: Correct.
Commissioner Reyes: They will open at 9 o'clock every day, and that is --
City of Miami Page 60 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Ms. Mendez: I --
Commissioner Reyes: -- the opening time for the liquor stores.
Ms. Mendez: Right. If it is diminishing their hours of operation, I don't think we
have given enough notice, unfortunately, in this legislation --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: -- to do that. We can --
Vice Chair Russell: Let's do Sundays.
Commissioner Reyes: A point well taken.
Commissioner Gort: Let me tell you the --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Gort: -- problem with that. You got all the businesses that can sell at
7 o'clock, so it'd be a disadvantage to put that on the package stores.
Commissioner Reyes: Then let's start in the City of Miami at 9 o'clock.
Chair Hardemon: Listen, I'll be very clear. I want to diminish the hours of
convenience stores' --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- ability to sell liquor. We have lots of crimes that happen --
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Chair Hardemon: -- in and around convenience stores in my district. And if not --
but for the sale of cheap wine, if you will, or beer, I don't believe that many of them
would have a purpose of being there; drugs, too, but, you know, that's for the police,
for us to help tackle. But as far as us being able to legislate, I want to see
convenience stores not be able to sell liquor after a certain hour. And so, if that is
the crux of things, I mean, I want that to be known immediately.
Mr. Cejas: Yeah. If I may, for clarification, convenience stores are only permitted
to sell beer and wine. It's a separate use of that --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Mr. Cejas: -- of a package liquor store; where today, convenience stores which are
ancillary to a grocer, if you will, is allowed to sell alcohol for consumption off
premises up until 3 a.m. So I believe your --
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, because, see, for instance --
Mr. Cejas: -- impulse is to reduce it to 11 or 10?
Chair Hardemon: Right. So we don't have a problem with the people loitering
around 7 -Elevens, drinking, you know, beer.
Commissioner Reyes: MD (Mad Dog) 20/20.
City of Miami Page 61 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: We have a problem with people loitering around convenience
stores --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- at 12, 1 o'clock in the morning, 2 o'clock in the morning,
drinking alcoholic beverages. And I understand that as long as the store is open,
which is typically until -- well into 3 a.m., today they still have that right to do that.
They have the right to sell the liquor. It's up to the police to stop someone from
consuming alcohol, and it's a tough crime, because no one wants to really -- It's one
of those things where if you disperse people who are doing that type of activity, you
have least -- it's less likely that they're going to find themselves victims to a crime or
participate in a crime at that store. However, you know, people loiter around
convenience stores; that's just the truth of the matter. And so, I don't want to find
ourselves where we find our residents in a situation where they're arrested for a
crime and it gets dismissed in court, because no one's going to prosecute someone
who had an open container, consuming liquor in our municipal courts; it's just not
going to happen. However, as a city, we can hold a facility, a business responsible
for selling liquor after certain hours. I think that's something that we're readily
capable of doing, and that's something I want to see done in my community.
Ms. Mendez: Chairman, is there any way that, with regard to the legislating of the
lesser hours, we can bring that back as a separate item? The Sunday --
Mr. Cejas: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Ms. Mendez: -- expansion of -- the Sunday expansion is fine, but it's --
unfortunately, it's a notice issue with regard to we're limiting businesses on their
hours of operation if -- and we haven't properly advised them.
Chair Hardemon: No, I understand that. Look, I know everyone wants to get this
thing done rather quickly. A lot ofpeople have interest in it. And it's not as if this is
being kicked down the road. I mean, this is something that we're discussing. I have
residents that have actually wrote me emails about this very topic. And if any of you
drive through some of my neighborhoods during that time of the hour, you'll see
exactly what I'm talking about; people complaining about convenience stores. And
I'm a kid that grew up down the street from a convenience store, so I know what I'm
talking about. I live down the street today from a convenience store. So, you know, I
understand what's happening. And so, this is something I really want to be able -- I
want to see done, and --
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, you're absolutely correct. What --
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you're saying here is the truth that's affecting all of our
communities, because my philosophy is what happens in one area of Miami --
Commissioner Reyes: Affect the other one.
Commissioner Carollo: -- is going to affect all of us. And I'm with you on that; that
should be curtailed. I'll be willing to second whatever motion you would like to
make on that. But further, let me go into the other side of the tracks in Little
Havana, 8th Street. That's becoming a major tourist area, but there's not a lot for
them to see. They get brought there. When they get there, after they take a few
pictures of a few roosters and what have you, there's not a lot there. And I'm truly
City of Miami Page 62 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
afraid that the word is going to get out that they're getting taken; that, you know,
there's nothing to see, and that's going to hurt us in the future. We need to bring in
new restaurants, new places that attract people to make them stay there, not for half
hour. One of my other problems with this ordinance is that while on Flagler -- and
Flagler's got a whole different area of needs, and I understand that; that it's kind of -
- as many license as you want in the area between 27th Avenue and 8th Street and all
the way down to the expressway, that has very few license issued. You haven't
increased the license much, so I have a problem with that, too, that I want to revisit
it and, you know, put a cap at a reasonable amount into the future where we don't
end up just having a handful of people controlling license again --
Commissioner Reyes: Yep.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and we have to come back to this issue in a very short
time. So that's my other issue, besides the one the Chairman brought that is right on
target.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: We been working for quite a bit now, because one of the
biggest problem we also have, you have these little cafe --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Gort: -- it's supposed to be a little cafe for coffee and lunch, and all
that. But the -- on the weekends, they become nightclubs, and this is something
where Code Enforcement have to come in at the same time. It's important to people
to understand that part of this ordinance, those establishments can be audit by us,
because there's certain amount of food you have to sell, a percentage of food,
according to alcohol, so we have to make sure the enforcement takes place. This is
important.
Chair Hardemon: So what I --
Commissioner Reyes: It is quite important that enforcement takes place, because, as
you well know, and everybody here that goes around Flagler Street, or in Allapattah
and in Little Havana, there are a lot of those cafes that they act as restaurant, but
they are bars and other activities take place besides that. I know we want to close up
those as much -- as fast as we can, and we need the legal backing to do it.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, it's like I asked the Manager in my first meeting with
him before I even got sworn in, "How many blind Code Enforcement officers do we
have?" And he kind of got back -taken a little bit. And he challenged me just to show
him one place, one place. And I didn't want to get into it, because the list was long.
I said, "Hey, if you walk down 8th Street, you ain't gonna walk more than 20 feet
before you could" --
Commissioner Reyes: Or Flagler.
Commissioner Carollo: -- "running into Code Enforcement violations and building
violations that shouldn't be there. " So he finally got one place out of me, and he had
to shut it down; an illegal restaurant. Now, the people that did it -- boy, I met them
recently. It's a young couple, really nice people. It breaks my heart. They got sold,
you know, a bad bill of goods on what they could do or not. But what I can't
understand is why did we let this go on for so long? And I'm seeing it everywhere.
So what my colleagues are saying is a reality. If we don't have Code enforcement,
City of Miami Page 63 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
we could approve anything we want in the City, you know, and it'll be the Law of the
West.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: The changes you're suggesting, would they be wrapped into this
second reading, or would it be -- would we be able to pass this and bring a separate
ordinance changing that issue?
Chair Hardemon: I mean --
Commissioner Gort: This is second reading.
Vice Chair Russell: I know. This is second reading, so I'm asking if we can wrap in
what you're asking and pass this today, or do we -- are we looking to defer this or
pass this as is, and bring an extra -- a separate ordinance with regard to the changes
that you'd like?
Chair Hardemon: I'll say this: The changes that I require on this document would
require us to make -- to pass this on our next hearing, so we couldn't pass it today
with the changes being made, because the City Attorney is telling us that we're
restricting or reducing some rights; and so, there needs to be some notice. If I did
bring it as an amend -- as a separate item, it's going to be two readings for that item,
if not more, because the City Attorney's Office is going to have to write -- you know -
- write the item, which, you know, could or could not take a significant amount of
time. And so, what I'd like to do is -- There are some changes that we want to make
generally to this. Let's in the motion state those changes on the record so that those
changes can be made, and we could bring this back for the next hearing to vote
upon.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. In that case -- and not to open a totally separate
can of beer -- but miniature sales, single -unit miniature sales, the small airline
bottles, this would fall under this ordinance, and I'm really -- I've asked the City
Attorney to see whether there's, "A, "precedent; or "B," legal ability for us to restrict
miniature sales, because it's a big problem on the streets. And if you live in an area
of downtown or in the core, nobody's buying a single miniature to take home to make
a cocktail.
Chair Hardemon: They buy it to sneak it into the club. You haven't been out in a
long time. The women take it --
Vice Chair Russell: I'm getting old, I'm getting old.
Chair Hardemon: -- they put it in their purse and they take it into the club.
Vice Chair Russell: But if we have the ability to restrict that, I believe it would
alleviate a lot of the quality of life issues we have on the streets and the cleanliness
issues that we have on the streets, but I don't know where we stand legally on that,
Madam City Attorney.
Ms. Mendez: We did some research, and we're pre-empted from doing that.
Vice Chair Russell: We cannot do that. All right. I will not be adding that
amendment.
City of Miami Page 64 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: So what I'd like to do -- I know that Commissioner Gort -- and I
want you to say on the record what -- your changes that you would like to see. So
let's be clear about what changes that we want, and then once we have on the record
all those changes, let's make a motion to defer this to the next -- yeah, defer it to the
next meeting, with those changes to be included with the notice to be put out that
we're making these changes so we can come to a vote on that day, and then we'll see
the representatives from the different stores here at that meeting. Commissioner
Gort, you want to go first? You want to repeat the items that you want to make
changes to? I know you had about liquor package.
Commissioner Gort: That's the hours for the liquor package store.
Chair Hardemon: The hours for the liquor package stores, they're going --
Commissioner Gort: On Sunday from I o'clock to 9 o'clock in the morning.
Chair Hardemon: Got that, Mr. Cejas? Okay. Was there another change?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. On 8th Street, I'd like to increase the number of
licenses that you're talking about giving. The increase I felt was not high enough, so
I'd like to have a discussion on that before you bring it back to see --
Chair Hardemon: Well, how many --is there a number that you would like? Would
you like to double it?
Commissioner Carollo: I don't know what the number is, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to
speak to them first and get their feedback.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Cejas: If you'd like to know the number, I can pass that along right now so you
have an understanding, and obviously, I'm available to -- happy to discuss this with
you.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I don't want to hold up the whole day as a district
issue. So --
Mr. Cejas: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: -- since we have to bring this back anyway, we could sit, go
over it, and I'll hear your reason why and I'll give you mine, and maybe we could
find some common ground there. Last but not least, on the Flagler area -- The area
downtown is one area that is very different. We want to have a lively downtown, not
a dead downtown. So I know it's different, but what I'd like to see, if we could speak
to some of the stakeholders there and if they could come with a number that they feel
comfortable with, instead of just having a blanket "as many as you want. " I'm not
saying that, you know, I will vote against it if that doesn't happen, but I prefer if we
have a fixed number, that we know what we're all dealing with when it's brought
back, if that's possible.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman? So that was actually the amendment I
mentioned first, and I was notified that I wasn't very clear on it.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: That after a lot of discussion --because I started in a position of
looking for caps, and we discussed this with the neighbors. I believe that the Zoning
City of Miami Page 65 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
administrator/director -- is that the right title? The Zoning administrator/director's
recent changes help alleviate some of the issues that we're looking at downtown to
where I would be comfortable removing the cap issue, because I was the one who
actually implemented the 40 number --
Mr. Cejas: Correct.
Vice Chair Russell: --and I recognize the ability for a small group to actually hoard
up those applications, hold up the system. If we're trying to get a vibrant downtown,
I really do have to trust in the stakeholders that they're not trying to run it into the
ground with a party zone that's just going to turn into garbage.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: I believe there's a good plan there amongst the stakeholders.
We can always change it if it looks like it's not heading that direction. But based on
your recommendation and the changes you've mentioned, I'm comfortable removing
the cap system from the downtown core of the Flagler Entertainment District there.
Mr. Cejas: And that's in tandem with the hours change of commencement of --
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Mr. Cejas: -- alcohol service establishments only from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Vice Chair Russell: Everything that you mentioned, but that might be in opposition -
- opposite to what you were just mentioning, so.
Commissioner Carollo: Not really, Commissioner. What I am saying is that if the
stakeholders could come with a number as liberal as it could be, I would prefer to
have a liberal high number than have no number at all. But I'm not saying that I will
oppose it if we don't have a number. I'm just saying that I would prefer, if it's
possible, to come with a number, a high number so that at least we all know what
we're dealing with each area, that's all.
Vice Chair Russell: Understood.
Commissioner Reyes: Just so that, I mean, to understand, Commissioner Gort, are
you recommending that the liquor store open at I o'clock in the afternoon or at 9
o'clock?
Commissioner Gort: No --
Commissioner Reyes: Change it?
Ms. Mendez: 9 a.m.
Commissioner Gort: Right now, (UNINTELLIGIBLE); 9 a.m.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. And Commissioner Carollo, from what I understand,
what you want to do is you want to cap the numbers of those liquor licenses; that
they are given to people that open up in Flagler Street and 8th Street and all that?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, in --
Commissioner Reyes: No, I just want to clam it and see --
City of Miami Page 66 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: -- 8th Street, I want to increase them, because there's very
few.
Commissioner Reyes: Fantastic.
Commissioner Carollo: You know, in other words --
Commissioner Reyes: From 8th Street from --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: -- certain area to certain area --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: -- I mean, from 17th to 12th.
Commissioner Carollo: We're going to two extremes. In Flagler, there are no
limits. In 8th Street, you know, we increased it just a little bit --
Commissioner Reyes: No.
Commissioner Carollo: -- not enough --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, okay.
Commissioner Carollo: -- because it's a huge area. Compared to the few blocks on
Flagler, 8th Street, you're going from 27th to 4th Avenue or past 4th Avenue.
Commissioner Gort: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: So it's a huge area and you just have a handful of license
now -- 15 -- and it's being increased by not that much more for such a big area, so
there, I want to increase it. In Flagler, you know, what Commissioner Russell said, I
think is right, and that's my concern, also, in 8th Street, that you don't get a handful
ofpeople that control everything.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: And we don't want that happening in Flagler, either. But
what I'm saying is that what I prefer in Flagler -- I'm not saying that I would vote
against it if we don't have it, because that's an area that we got to do whatever we
can to bring it alive at night. If we can meet with the stakeholders and they could
come up with a high number, but a number they could feel comfortable with, that I
would prefer to have a number assigned to it than no number. That's all that I'm
saying; what I prefer, not necessarily what I would vote against.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah. But I want to -- but what I want to make clear is that
Flagler is -- when you refer to Flagler, you say, Flagler, downtown Miami.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, yeah, downtown, that's what we're talking about.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right, that's right, because I want to make clear that --
Commissioner Carollo: Yours is a different story.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Yes, there are --
City of Miami Page 67 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry.
Commissioner Reyes: -- I don't want you talking about 8th Street. We're talking
about certain --
Commissioner Carollo: Exactly.
Commissioner Reyes: -- area of 8th Street.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. We're not talking about --
Commissioner Reyes: Its a specific geographical area.
Commissioner Gort: Exactly.
Commissioner Carollo: -- Flagler and Little Havana.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right, and Flagler --
Commissioner Carollo: We're not talking about Flagler in District 4.
Commissioner Reyes: In District 4 and all that.
Commissioner Carollo: A few blocks in downtown.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right, yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: From the other side of the river --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, that's right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- to Biscayne.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, because --
Commissioner Carollo: In 8th Street, we're talking about my side of 27th, which is
what they're talking about, all the way down past the expressway --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: -- in District 3. You have different requirements and
different needs on the other side of 27th and 8th Street.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. And even Flagler, between 27th -- I mean, going
east on 27th, there's a lot of little -- those little cafes or little restaurant that they act
as restaurants. They are not. And I would love to -- I mean to have some sort of -- I
don't know. We have to strengthen --
Mr. Cejas: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: -- the zoning or -- zoning or whatever permitting that we have
to have there, because it is almost impossible. Sometimes at night, you see a lot of
people that walk in and walk out, and all kinds of activities are taking place in those
little so-called cafes. So regulations have to be strengthened so they have to serve so
much food, or whatever type of regulation we have to do in order to get rid of them.
City of Miami Page 68 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner -- if I may, Mr. Chairman? We do have the
regulations. The problem is we have --
Commissioner Reyes: Not enforcement.
Commissioner Carollo: -- no enforcement.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Well, we have to enforce it.
Commissioner Carollo: And I'm glad that you and Commissioner Gort are bringing
this up, because I'm seeing too much of this. I will tell you, back 16 years ago, when
I was Mayor, I would go out until 3, 4, S in the morning sometimes. We created a
task force, and I became a real unpopular guy with some of these places, because we
would shut them down. We'd bring in the Feds to go along with us, Building,
Zoning, Code Enforcement, Fire, everybody. And we started closing them all down,
and we did close them down. And I'm glad that when the next Mayor came in, he
kept it up, and we won the battle. But they're back again. Somehow, they're back.
Mr. Cejas: If I may? And you're absolutely correct. A little history for the -- what
has taken place in the last two years, we've been working very closely with DI and
the other district Commissioners with exactly those issues, and a lot of what is in this
ordinance, the framework, the cleanup is essentially that; to draw a clean
delineation of what exactly is an alcoholic service establishment against a
restaurant, because the concerns are real, and it's -- I know it affects the people, as
well as it does affect the Administration. It makes it very difficult for us, law
enforcement, and Code Enforcement, to enforce an ordinance that is very difficult to
read and understand.
Commissioner Carollo: Not really; it's quite simple. And if the Manager would
authorize the resources, I'll gladly spend whatever time at night, and I guarantee
you, before he leaves as Manager, you're going to have three quarters of the
problem cleaned up.
Mr. Cejas: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: I promise you that.
Chair Hardemon: Are there any other changes --
Commissioner Reyes: I'll ride with you.
Chair Hardemon: -- that need to be put on the record, though? Are there any other
changes? And I'll -- because I don't -- I want to make sure that my changes are
reflected. So for convenience stores, I want to change or amend the hours of sale of
liquor or beer or wine, whatever they sell --
Mr. Cejas: Beer and wine.
Chair Hardemon: -- to --from -- to start at -- was it -- Cafes are 11 a.m.? Yeah.
So 11 a. in. to 10 p.m. I want the same hours as the cafes.
Mr. Cejas: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: So now all of us residents, when we're taking our children to
school in the morning, we don't see anyone on the corner, drinking a beer in front of
the local convenience store that's in our neighborhood.
City of Miami Page 69 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. And those are reasonable times, yeah.
Chair Hardemon: I think so.
Ms. Mendez: Chairman, just for scheduling purposes, with all these changes that
we're doing, it will have to go to Planning, Zoning & Appeals Board, which will be
January 17, and then you'll be able to get this legislation back January 20 -
something.
Chair Hardemon: Why does it have to go back to PZAB?
Ms. Mendez: Because of the request to upgrade the licensing on 8th Street. That'll
be more liquor licenses throughout 8th Street, and I think it's a considerable number
that we're looking at, I think, based on discussions, so they would weigh in on that.
Chair Hardemon: But they're a --
Ms. Mendez: The hours.
Chair Hardemon: -- board that gives their recommendations to us, right?
Ms. Mendez: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: They've already considered this matter. They went to increase,
and we want to increase it more than what they recommended.
Ms. Mendez: Right. I don't know that that was a request, unless --
Mr. Cejas: It was.
Ms. Mendez: -- Zoning can tell me if these matters were considered but not acted
upon. Then we don't need to take it back to PZAB.
Mr. Cejas: They were spoken about at PZAB, but the main reason why we returned
to PZAB from the first reading hearing was for the creation of those two districts,
because that wasn't heard before, and that needed to go to PZAB, because we were
affecting boundaries, and that is a Planning & Zoning item. This ordinance and that
information lies within the City Code. So from my understanding in my previous
discussion with City -- with the City Attorney's Office is that's the purview of the
Commission, since it is a City ordinance.
Ms. Mendez: Just because it's in the City Code, and if it affects zoning uses, it's -- it
still has to go to PZAB. However, if you're saying that you have already discussed
hours of operation on 8th Street before PZAB, then we wouldn't -- and licenses --
then it doesn't have to go back.
Mr. Cejas: License was a discussion, not to the extent on 8th Street. Hours in
general wasn't discussed. It was generally just carried over from what it exists
today. Seeing that this ordinance does create a -- some flexibility for alcohol service
establishments, it made sense to us to also allow some restrictions to the sale of
alcohol in these areas so there is some safety net, if you will, for the residents. But
it's before you --
Commissioner Gort: My understanding, there's no changes in any of the districts
that have been created; the district maintain the same zoning and so on, right?
Commissioner Reyes: Right.
City of Miami Page 70 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mr. Cejas: The zoning is the same, right.
Chair Hardemon: So as we like to tell our attorneys, make it work, right? This is
what -- this is the result that we want and we need you to make it work for us. And
so, the convenience store hours to be from 11 to 10 p.m. for the sale of alcohol or
liquor. And then I also want you to make the change. I think you still have the
Northwest 7th Avenue -- whatever it's called -- the district that -- where they sell the
liquors from Osun Village. Just make it Liberty City. Liberty City --you know what
I'm describing to you?
Mr. Cejas: Okay. So the 7th Ave. that before was Osun?
Chair Hardemon: Right. Make that Liberty City.
Mr. Cejas: Which is 7th. Now we want to go to --
Chair Hardemon: Liberty City.
Mr. Cejas: -- Liberty City?
Chair Hardemon: Just Liberty City/Northwest 7th Avenue.
Mr. Cejas: Okay. And also, for the record, in case I did not mention it before, the
language that was passed around also included a correction that you all voted on, on
first hearing, which was the distancing to schools that was invertedly [sic] changed
to "religious facilities" when we were correcting that "church/religious facility"
language. So now it's back to its original form, which is correct, which is "schools."
Chair Hardemon: Right. So what I'd like -- and I need a mover to capture all that
language. You heard the language. Mr. Cejas recorded the language. The Clerk's
Office has the language recorded, as well. So I need a mover to -- I would like to
entertain a motion to amend or modem -- to modem the legislation as what was stated
earlier. And then what we'll do is once that's passed, as modified --just modify it
first; then we're going to continue that modification to the next Commission meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: There's the motion.
Chair Hardemon: So the mo --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): I'm sorry, Chair. Just for my own edification, so this
is Item SR. 1.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Hannon: Essentially, what you're requesting is what -- Is it more of a direction
for them to make those amendments?
Chair Hardemon: Well, we're just --
Mr. Hannon: Because we're not modifying the legislation to the motion.
Chair Hardemon: So I want to explain. So typically, the way that we describe
things, we say, "Okay, I want to make an amendment to this. Let's make an
amendment." Most of the time, it's very friendly that we do that, right? Say, for
instance, if the mover did not agree to my amendment and I was forceful, and I said,
"Well, I want to have an amendment, so I move that we amend the legislation this
City of Miami Page 71 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
sort of way. " I get a second, and we vote on it. You know, that's not -- that's a
hostile amendment. We made that amendment, we agreed that's the amendment, and
the original mover can't -- because he's upset that we made that amendment, it's -- it
just is what it is. So we basically -- we wanted -- we have a pizza, and I want this
board to move to add pepperoni to that pizza; not a direction. We're going to, as a
board, say, "We want pepperoni on the pizza. " So when the pizza comes back to us,
it has pepperoni on it. Right?
Commissioner Carollo: So what you're really talking about is a substantive motion
in that case, which takes precedent over the --
Chair Hardemon: Over the -- right, yeah, it took -- right; over the motion that's on
the floor. And that's why I was saying --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- we described it as not being a friendly amendment. So right
now, the amendment is to modem the legislation the way that we described it. That's
the motion that Commissioner Carollo moved, and I'll second.
Mr. Hannon: Correct. And I -- it was just -- I just wanted to make sure that, for my
own edification, that what we're going to capture is a motion essentially -- maybe for
lack of a better term -- directing, but --
Chair Hardemon: Making the changes.
Mr. Hannon: -- requiring that these amendments be made, and there's going to be
another motion after that to continue to defer the item.
Chair Hardemon: Correct.
Mr. Hannon: Because the way that -- it's more how we capture the action that's
going to be taken.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Hannon: So I just want to make sure we're clear, and I'm clear.
Chair Hardemon: That is the way we want to capture it.
Mr. Hannon: Thank you, Chair.
Chair Hardemon: So it's been properly moved and seconded. Any further
discussion on that, or any unreadiness to the motion? Hearing none, all in favor of
the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. So what -- that motion that passes was to make
the amendments; to add the pepperoni onto this pizza. And so now we have --
Commissioner Carollo: Motion to defer.
Chair Hardemon: -- a pepperoni pizza that's just been deferred by motion by
Commissioner Carollo, seconded by the Chair, to the next meeting of this City
Commission. Any further discussion on that motion?
City of Miami Page 72 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: None.
Chair Hardemon: Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Mr. Cejas: Thank you.
SR.2
ORDINANCE Second Reading
2099
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION
Department of
2/SECTION 2-892 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
Planning
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), ENTITLED
"ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS, COMMITTEES,
COMMISSIONS/GENERALLY/'SUNSET' REVIEW OF BOARDS",
TO PROVIDE FOR SUNSET REVIEW OF THE ART IN PUBLIC
PLACES BOARD; AND AMENDING CHAPTER 62/ARTICLE XVI OF
THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED "PLANNING AND ZONING/ART IN
PUBLIC PLACES," TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC ART
REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Indefinitely Defer
RESULT: INDEFINITELY DEFERRED
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Reyes
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item SR.2, please see "Order of the
Day. "
City ofMiarni Page 73 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
SR.3
ORDINANCE Second Reading
2121
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
City Manager's
ESTABLISHING A NEW SECTION 2-208 OF THE CODE OF THE
Office
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"),
ENTITLED "NEW PERMITS PROHIBITED, NON -HOMESTEAD
PROPERTIES," TO PROHIBIT NEW PERMITS FROM BEING
ISSUED FOR NON -HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES WHERE THERE
ARE OUTSTANDING CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS,
BUILDING VIOLATIONS, CITY LIENS, OR CITY INVOICES DUE
AND OWING; AMENDING SECTION 10-4 OF THE CITY CODE TO
ADD SECTION 10-4(B)(6), ENTITLED "NEW PERMITS
PROHIBITED, NON -HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES," FOR THE SAME
PURPOSE; FURTHER AMENDING SECTION 62-22 OF THE CITY
CODE, ENTITLED "PLANNING AND ZONING/SCHEDULE OF
FEES," FOR THE SAME PURPOSE; EXCEPTING PERMITS TO
REPAIR NECESSARY LIFE SAFETY ISSUES AND OPEN
VIOLATIONS; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13717
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: SR.3. Can you read it into the record, please?
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Clerk.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved, and is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by Commissioner Carollo. Any discussion on this item?
Hearing none, all in f7vor of the item, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Citv ofMian ni Page 74 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
SR.4
ORDINANCE Second Reading
2889
TO BE DEFERRED
Commissioners
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
and Mayor
CHAPTER 42/ARTICLE IV/DIVISION 3 OF THE CODE OF THE
AYES:
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED
ABSENT.
"POLICE/TOWING AND IMMOBILIZATION OF MOTOR
VEHICLES/IMMOBILIZATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES," MORE
PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING SECTIONS 42-117 THROUGH 42-
118 TO CLARIFY EXISTING REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE
IMMOBILIZATION/BOOTING OF MOTOR VEHICLES ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO:
Defer
RESULT:
DEFERRED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Reyes
ABSENT.
Carollo
Notes for the Record. Item SR.4 was deferred to the February 8, 2018, Regular
Commission Meeting.
For minutes referencing Item SR.4, please see "Order of the Day. "
SR.5
ORDINANCE Second Reading
2905
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 62/SECTION 62-535 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
Commissioners
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED PLANNING AND
and Mayor
ZONING/TEMPORARY USES ON VACANT LAND," BY
MODIFYING REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY USES ON
VACANT LAND THAT HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR
THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF MIAMI; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Notes for the Record. Item SR.5 was continued to the January 11, 2018, Regular
Commission Meeting.
For additional minutes referencing Item SR. 5, please see "Public Comment Period
for Regular Item (s). "
City ofMian ni Page 75 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: SR.S. Can you read it into the record, please?
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Chair Hardemon: I do have one question. This BID (Business Improvement
District) language that's been inserted in here under "HI, " I don't remember that
BID language being there. Maybe I missed -- I didn't read it before; maybe I did.
And the reason I feel like I haven't read it before, because I'm always averse to
giving power to a board that is not of the City, and I know our Business Improvement
Districts want to grab more and more power, but it makes me a little --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, you hit the nail right on the head, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm glad you brought it up, because I now know where it's
coming from. It's a future BID.
Chair Hardemon: Well, it could be something --
Commissioner Carollo: And it's in my district.
Chair Hardemon: You want to see that language stricken?
Commissioner Carollo: I would like to see that language stricken, and I'd like to ask
a few more questions beyond that, but let's get to that first.
Chair Hardemon: Well, we -- I mean, you could ask your questions, because we can
strike it.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. I'd like for that to be striked [sic]. You know, I'm
glad you brought that up.
Devin Cejas (Zoning Administrator): It's -- ifI may?
Chair Hardemon: Please.
Mr. Cejas: That was brought in due to some concerns of certain individuals, the
stakeholders in the community. The language essentially reinforces what exists in
another section of the Code, which is the duty of the NET (Neighborhood
Enhancement Team) Office once notification letters are circulated that these
stakeholders are made aware of what's taking place in their community.
Commissioner Carollo: But here's the point that I'm having. I keep hearing,
"stakeholders." But, you know what? The vast majority of residents of Miami are
not being looked upon stakeholders; they're being pushed aside, and not taken into
consideration. It's a handful of people that have the deep pockets in some cases -- I
don't know where the money's coming from -- that are the so-called stakeholders.
And in some cases, people that just parachuted in a few years ago that haven't been
around for decades and decades, like a lot of real stakeholders in Miami that we
know who they are, have legitimate business, and a lot of them have built them up,
you know, from little business to, in some cases, huge business. And I'm really
concerned with that term, how it's being used, what is happening with it. This
ordinance I think is great for certain parts of the City that have a lot of open land,
like Wynwood and others, but here's the only point, and I don't know if we could do
this in piecemeal or not; that we could do it for certain parts of the City that really
need it, instead of just throwing a blanket in all of the City. I'm concerned for
City of Miami Page 76 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
District 3 in this, because I don't know what effect it's going to have. I don't know if
this is what some people are planning on doing to get away with a lot of stuff- that
before I know it, it's not going to be really empty lots; it's going to be all over the
place; that they're going to be putting, you know, food trucks or building small
restaurants out of trailers or what have you. There are parts of the City that this
would be a real plus for, because you got all this open land, and nothing's being
done with it. My concern right now is 8th Street and the backs of it, like, you know,
7th Street, that people could buy up property, connect it to 8th Street, and what they
do there. And I don't want to hold this up for other areas of Miami that I know that
do need it; it would really help them. But I would like to get some guidance from
you, from the Chair and others that have worked with this ordinance a little longer
so that I could feel that the area of 8th Street is going to be protected more; that
people that have restaurants, that have other business there are going to be
protected; that someone's just not going to open up something, the -- you know, right
next door, in an empty lot next to them.
Chair Hardemon: I know that when this was -- I know this -- when this initially
came up, that same worry was the worry that Commissioner Gort had, and we took
significant time to address Commissioner Gort's concerns. We also took the time to
recognize that there was one particular site, which was the Wynwood Yard, that was
-- had a -- basically, time wasn't on their side. And so, we did, I believe, what we
could through the City to help them. So I think that -- I don't mind personally if you
take the time to address Commissioner Carollo's concerns. We want to get it right;
but certainly, the issue about who determines what goes on a lot, I think is something
that concerns me, and typically -- I mean, because the thing about BIDS are -- is
this: BIDS do a wonderful job in many different areas. I've seen successful BIDS. I
-- we work closely, our office, with successful BIDS. But what I know is that just
because you are in a BID area does not mean you're a part of a BID, and I think that
can also have some ramifications as far as you trying to use your site the way you
want to. And so, in a perfect world, everyone who is in a BID area would be
participatory, but it's not like that. And so, I just want everyone to have an
opportunity to do what it is that they wish on their lots, within the parameters of the
law, so that we can encourage business and new job creation within our
communities. And so, if -- I know that's going to be a goal for Commissioner
Carollo, and if we need some additional time to work that out with Commissioner
Carollo, I'm all for it. Commissioner Gort, you have anything to add? No? So --
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, if you're okay with that, I thank you. I
would like a little more time in this, then. And if I'm wrong and it's not because of
what I know has been going on in my district, and it's because of a BID in any of
your areas -- in particular, Commissioner Russell's area -- that is put in, then I
understand that, and we'll work a way around it. But I just want to make sure that
things weren't put into this ordinance for a specific reason already, a specific group.
Chair Hardemon: How much time do you think you need?
Commissioner Carollo: Next meeting, you'll bring it back; is that all right?
Mr. Cejas: Yes. I think that'll be fine, and it'll give us the opportunity to discuss not
only this --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Cejas: -- item, but the other item, as well.
City of Miami Page 77 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
Chair Hardemon: We need to move to continue to the next item [sic].
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to continue to the next
item [sic]. Commissioner Carollo was the mover; Commissioner Gort is the
seconder, SR. S. Any unreadiness7 Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. Now, I expect that the language regarding BIDS -
- okay, understood.
Commissioner Carollo: Understood.
City of Miami Page 78 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
SR.6
ORDINANCE Second Reading
2961
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
Commissioners
CHAPTER 62 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
and Mayor
AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), ENTITLED "GROUP HOMES," TO
AYES:
AMEND SECTION 62-650 OF THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED
ABSENT:
"REGULATION OF GROUP HOMES PURSUANT TO STATE LAW,"
TO CLARIFY APPLICABILITY, AND TO AMEND SECTION 62-651
OF THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED "APPLICATION OF GROUP
HOMES," TO ADD SUBSECTION E, ENTITLED "EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS," TO ESTABLISH A CITYWIDE
REQUIREMENT THAT CITY FUNDED AFFORDABLE SENIOR
HOUSING, NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
("FACILITIES") CATERING TO THE ELDERLY, AND OTHER
SIMILARLY SITUATED CITY OF MIAMI SUBSIDIZED ELDERLY
LIVING UNITS, AS DEFINED BY DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ("HUD") GUIDELINES, BE
EQUIPPED WITH PROPERLY FUNCTIONING GENERATORS
WITH ADEQUATE FUEL CAPABLE OF CONTINUOUS USE TO
POWER ESSENTIALS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
ELEVATORS, LIGHTS, EMERGENCY ALARMS, AND AIR
CONDITIONING ("A.C.") IN THE CORRIDORS OF THE FACILITY;
AND PROVIDING THAT RESIDENT ATTENDANTS/STAFF TO THE
ELDERLY SHOULD BE ON SITE WITHIN 24 -HOURS OF A
HURRICANE OR STORM'S PASSAGE, OR AS SOON AS SAFELY
POSSIBLE, TO ENSURE THE ADEQUATE CARE OF OUR SENIOR
RESIDENTS IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANES AND MAJOR
STORMS RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES.
MOTION TO:
Defer
RESULT:
DEFERRED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Reyes
ABSENT:
Carollo
Notes for the Record. Item SR.6 was deferred to the February 8, 2018, Regular
Commission Meeting.
For minutes referencing Item SR. 6, please see "Order of the Day. "
City ofMian ni Page 79 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
SR.7
ORDINANCE Second Reading
2988
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI COMMISSION AMENDING
MOVER:
CHAPTER 10/ ARTICLE I OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
Commissioners
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), ENTITLED
and Mayor
"BUILDINGS/IN GENERAL," TO CREATE NEW SECTION 10-8,
ABSENT:
ENTITLED "EMERGENCY PLAN REQUIRED FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY', TO REQUIRE ANY BUILDINGS
CLASSIFIED AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY TO
HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN IN PLACE TO PROVIDE FOR,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, EMERGENCY POWER AND FUEL FOR
GENERATORS; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Reyes
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record. Item SR.7 was deferred to the February 8, 2018,
Regular Commission Meeting.
For minutes referencing Item SR. 7, please see "Order of the Day. "
SR.8 ORDINANCE Second Reading
3152 AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI COMMISSION AMENDING
Office of the City CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE VI OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
Attorney FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), ENTITLED
"ADMINISTRATION/LOBBYISTS," TO AMEND APPLICABILITY,
DEFINITIONS, REGISTRATION AND ETHICS REQUIREMENTS,
AND EXPENDITURE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13718
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
Chair Hardemon: SR.8.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much, Madam City Attorney. This is the final
piece of a three-part legislation on lobbying reform I've wanted to bring to the City.
Citv ofMian ni Page 80 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
The first we implemented was a transparency software, basically, that digitally
enters all lobbying registration and reports, and so it's easily searchable so people
know who's lobbying us and when, and it's not hidden in a PDF (portable document
format) that's scanned that can't be actually searched. Number two is an API [sic].
We already passed that software. Number two is an API, directing the Management
to come up with a policy on how to deal with lobbyists. So it's not just electeds and
our policies on dealing with lobbyists; so that our staff knows when they're being
lobbied; and so, that's taken care of appropriately, so they're working on that. And
this is number three, which is the second reading of our lobbying ordinance, which
basically brings us in line with the County, and making sure that everything that we
change strengthens our lobbying ordinance, nothing weakens it, but it also makes it
much more easy for lobbyists to comply, as they have one set of rules to follow for
the City and County. And I've spoken with the Ethics Commission, where this
originally came from, and they had one recommended amendment, which I've got to
pass out to you now, which basically takes it back to first reading. I'd wanted to
strengthen it where -- Right now, if they -- if a lobbyist doesn't have any expenses to
report that they expend on somebody, they just wouldn't have to issue a report. And
the amendment I originally wanted to make, thinking it would strengthen it, was that
you have to submit a report that says "zero. " But the actual backlog that that creates
and ethics complaints that that creates, unexpectedly and mistakenly, from someone
who's not necessarily a traditional lobbyist -- maybe they're an architect or
something -- they don't submit a report, they get hit with an ethics violation, they got
to go and appeal it, and the backlog in the ethics -- We decided to take that out and
bring it back so that if they're at a zero, they just don't have to file a report. And the
other thing is --just did some clarification. So those are the only amendments, and I
can pass that out now, with the changes, but really no change. It takes it back to first
-- the first -- the version at first reading, so there's no substantive change. But the
change is on Page 5, which -- and that change just takes us back to where they don't
have to report if they have no expenses to report. So I'd welcome a motion on this.
As I have the gavel, I won't be --
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Vice Chair Russell: -- making the motion myself. It's been moved by Commissioner
Gort; second by Commissioner Reyes. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor,
say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): As amended.
Vice Chair Russell: As amended.
Commissioner Gort: As amended.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
City of Miami Page 81 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
SR.9
ORDINANCE Second Reading
3153
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI COMMISSION AMENDING
Office of the City
CHAPTER 11.5/ARTICLE II OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
Attorney
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), ENTITLED
"CIVILIAN
COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION AND REVIEW/THE CITY
OF MIAMI CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIVE PANEL," MORE
PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING SECTION 11.5-32, ENTITLED
"SUBPOENA POWERS," AND AMENDING SECTION 11.5-34,
ENTITLED "EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; INDEPENDENT COUNSEL;
ASSISTANCE FROM CITY OFFICIALS," TO CONFORM WITH THE
FLORIDA SUPREME COURT RULING IN THE CASE OF
D'AGOSTINO, ET AL. VS. CITY OF MIAMI, ET AL., CASE NO. 16-
645; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING
FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13719
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
ABSENT:
Hardemon
Vice Chair Russell: SR. 9, Civilian Complaint and Investigation and Review.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: SR. 9, subpoena powers of the Civilian Investigative Panel, is
there a motion on this item?
Commissioner Carollo: Can I ask a question?
Vice Chair Russell: Of course.
Commissioner Carollo: Is there anyone from the FOP (Fraternal Order of Police)
here that would like to address this?
Vice Chair Russell: Or the CIP (Civilian Investigative Panel)?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Basically, this item is bringing in conformance the
-- our City Code with the case regarding D'Agostino, and bringing it in line.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: It reduces the --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: -- subpoena power.
Ms. Mendez: "en there are investigations pending, yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
City of Miami Page 82 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Motion by Commissioner Carollo; second by Commissioner
Reyes. Any further discussion from the dais? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Any opposed? Motion passes.
NIkiIOZe]; &Ixf%]►1911N; W 911►[eye]N911kiVAki N 4=
City of Miami Page 83 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
FRA
ORDINANCE First Reading
2903
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 29/ARTICLE I OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
Commissioners
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "LANDFILLS AND
and Mayor
WATERFRONT IMPROVEMENTS/IN GENERAL," MORE
PARTICULARLY BY ADDING SECTION 29-6 TO PROVIDE A
FRAMEWORK FOR CERTAIN WILLING WATERFRONT
PROPERTY OWNERS TO GRANT AN EASEMENT TO PROVIDE
THE BAYWALK OR RIVERWALK FOR PUBLIC RECREATIONAL
PURPOSES AND FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") TO
CONSTRUCT A BAYWALK OR RIVERWALK AND FOR THE
PROPERTY OWNER TO PROFFER A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT
RUNNING WITH THE LAND TO THE CITY FOR REPAYMENT IN
THE EVENT THE PROPERTY OWNER ENGAGES IN SUCH
DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE A DUTY TO PROVIDE A
BAYWALK OR RIVERWALK; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Pass on First Reading
RESULT: PASSED ON FIRST READING
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item FR.], please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s). "
Vice Chair Russell: Moving to the first reading ordinances. FR.1, landfills and
waterfront improvements.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by the City Attorney.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Madam Citv Attorney. If I may, gentlemen, this is
really the hope that we start paying attention to our baywalk and riverwalk, the same
way we do our underline. A lot of effort and funding, and attention is being paid
there. The baywalk is before its with only nine pinch points that do not connect it
that would create a five -mile linear jogging, walking, running, dog -walking path all
along our waterfront. It's within our Code that anyone who develops on the
waterfront must set back this 25 feet for the public and another 25 foot buffer before
they can develop so no one can develop right up to the water without allowing public
access. The problem is a lot of people aren't planning to develop for many, many
years; and so, those points sit there. This legislation allows the City to invest up
front and actually activate those spots; plan them, build them, pay for them. And
when that developer triggers the ordinance that would have normally had them build
it, whether it's five years from now, 10 years from now, they pay its back on a
schedule, so that's the intention of this legislation. I welcome a motion or any
discussion.
City of Miami Page 84 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Gort: So let me ask a question. When the -- they pull a construction
permit, that'll be part of the cost of the construction permit, to get the permits so we
can assure our self that we get paid back?
Vice Chair Russell: I'm sorry, I don't --
Commissioner Gort: We get reimbursed? In other words, how are we going to be
assured that we're going to get reimbursed for the expenditure?
Vice Chair Russell: So we get reimbursed for the hard cost, basically.
Commissioner Gort: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: Is that correct, the way it's currently written? So we're going to
pull the permits --
Commissioner Gort: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: -- and we're going to expend (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Gort: We're paying for that, and we're going to expend it, we're
going to do it. But whenever the guy or the individual pulling construction permits --
Vice Chair Russell: Which triggers it.
Commissioner Gort: -- would -- that would trigger it, and they would have to pay it
back at that time?
Vice Chair Russell: Correct.
Commissioner Gort: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Now in the current form -- and this is first reading, so we're
open to some changes -- there's an amortized schedule at which the amount they
have to pay us back reduces. Let's say it's, you know, a 50 year life span of that
baywalk, and they don't actually activate or require the need by pulling a permit for
25 years. They'd owe us less. I'm -- What I'm trying to do is make it attractive for
them to let us do this, because they don't have to let us do this, and this ordinance
would enforce it. We would pick and choose and approach -- and that would be my
first thing once we pass this ordinance. I would approach the landowners on those
easiest low -hanging fruit spots and say, "Is this attractive to you now?" because if
we get a FIND (Florida Inland Navigation District) grant, for example, that pays for
half of it, they don't have to pay that back and we're not out another penny for that,
but it makes their baywalk cost half as much to them, and it's readymade for when
they want to sell their property or develop it. So I think it's very attractive to them,
but the pay -back schedule does reduce over time, so that's something we can look at
between first and second reading.
Commissioner Gort: Yeah, I'd like to see the time of the reductions.
Vice Chair Russell: I believe we did a 50 year life span for amortizing, but we can
look at that. Questions?
Commissioner Reyes: Commissioner, I want to clarify something about this
ordinance. You mean what -- according to what I read -- I might be wrong -- that
what you're asking is for the authority to go into somebody else's -- somebody's
backyard that lives on a -- lives right on the -- I mean, lives on the coast and -- or
City of Miami Page 85 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
lives next to a river, and you're going to say, "Now you have to give up so many feet
of your property, and we are going to build a sidewalk here, all a walk"; is that what
this ordinance does?
Vice Chair Russell: No. We -- That already exists. Currently, everyone on that
waterfront within the baywalk area, if they develop, they have to do that already.
Commissioner Reyes: If they develop?
Vice Chair Russell: If they develop.
Commissioner Reyes: But they -- if they are leaving -- And let's say that I have a
house or a home that is next to shore. And now, according to this ordinance, it's
giving the City of Miami the authority of what -- to go knock on my door and say,
"Listen, we are going to build a walkway behind your house. "
Vice Chair Russell: At their discretion. It doesn't give us the authority to take it and
do it; it gives us the ability to offer to them, "If you would like us to do it, we will
plan it, pay for it, and implement it. You give us the easement and you give us public
access, and" -- because they're -- they have to do it anyway when they redevelop.
Commissioner Reyes: Right. That's another thing.
Vice Chair Russell: It's not mandatory.
Commissioner Reyes: You say -- It's not mandatory, but now you say, 'pay for it.
Where the money is going to come from?
Vice Chair Russell: Well, my intention and hope is that within the bond that just
recently passed -- and this was expressed by the previous Administration, Mayor
Regalado, and I'm looking for interpretation from the City Attorney's Office --
depending on the mechanism used, this could be considered for public use.
Commissioner Reyes: Fine.
Vice Chair Russell: It could also be shoring up of our sea level rise situation with
the seawall; and so, we could use bond funds. And so, when the DDA (Downtown
Development Authority) issued their list of bond items that they were requesting, we
did a study that looked at all nine pinch points that are --exist. There's $25 million
worth of planning and construction there. Now, of course, when they trigger their
need to make the baywalk, they pay it back, but -- so if we utilize the bonds --
Commissioner Reyes: Right, but according that -- I mean --
Vice Chair Russell: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) out of pocket.
Commissioner Reyes: -- excuse me, but I haven't read what are the -- and I need to
get myself a little bit more knowledgeable of what it is permitted on the bond issue,
what -- I mean, what projects can we undertake and it will be legal --
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: -- under the bond issue. You are assuming that it could be
done, and I am telling you now I don't think -- I don't know if it is true or not. I --
Can we get a little more time so we can determine where the funds are going to come
in and all the other questions that I have? Because I have questions about this.
City of Miami Page 86 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Vice Chair Russell: I can understand that. You might not -- colloquy, please. I do
understand that completely. And so, this mechanism wouldn't trigger the funds and
wouldn't trigger the cost, and wouldn't trigger the need. It would just give us the
mechanism and the ability, and we could sit there and wait on it until the funds are
available, but at least this gives us the mechanism.
Commissioner Reyes: But it's going to be -- but I want to make it clear that it does
not give us the authority to go and knock on a door.
Vice Chair Russell: 100 percent, not.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. And I want to make it clear and I want to see it, yeah,
you see that it is at the owner's discretion if they want it and give -- I mean, comply
with this or not, you see?
Vice Chair Russell: Can you clam Madam City Attorney?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Commissioner Reyes, the -- this doesn't apply to
residential homes; it's basically to those commercial buildings that are around the
baywalks. It's not somebody's backyard or residential home.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, but we are going in and we are telling them, and I --
"You're going to do this because" --
Vice Chair Russell: No; asking if they would like to do it.
Commissioner Reyes: Asking. Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: If they would like us to do it, we're asking. If they pull a permit
for major development, they have to do it.
Commissioner Reyes: And we are going to assume all the cost?
Vice Chair Russell: Upfront.
Commissioner Reyes: What do you mean, "up front"?
Vice Chair Russell: Because when --
Commissioner Reyes: That means that when they sell, they have to return the money
to us?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes; when they develop. When they develop --
Commissioner Reyes: When they develop.
Vice Chair Russell: They would normally have had to build the baywalk at their
cost.
Commissioner Reyes: How about if they don't develop? We still are stuck with the
fund -- with -- stuck with the cost.
Vice Chair Russell: We sit on it until they develop, yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: But --
City of Miami Page 87 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, we have a lot of other areas that we have a lot of
needs, and we have to -- I can use a couple million dollars in D4 right now. You
see? That's what I -- that's -- see, I think we have to be a little careful how we spend
our money, you see, and how we -- I mean, the way that we try to force people to do
something, you see? I have questions about this and I -- I don't know. I'm not too
comfortable with it. I will ask for more time to make it clear that we are not forcing
anybody to do anything and that the funds are identified, and the funds -- we are not
taking funds from someplace and placing in it, because we need -- There are a lot of
streets that are -- a lot of sidewalks; there's a lot of puddles; there is a lot of -- I
mean, in every single district in the City of Miami.
Vice Chair Russell: I do agree with you, and we have many needs. My -- ask for
your indulgence, because I can address both of your questions right now definitively,
with the Attorney's opinion; that we pass it on first reading, which gives us a full
month to -- for you to work with the City Attorney's Office and the Planning &
Zoning Department, and there's a lot of departments who have weighed in on this,
because there were a lot of concerns. Who does the maintenance? Who has the
liability? There's a lot of questions you may still have.
Commissioner Reyes: That's another question. If we -- let's say that we build this.
Vice Chair Russell: Yep.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right? We are the builders. Guy comes and he is
jogging and he falls, and he breaks his neck or her neck, or breaks a knee. Who's
liable for that?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. And we've addressed all that in this.
Commissioner Reyes: I don't know. I'm not an attorney. And maybe the Chairman
here, that he wants to clam that and -- or the -- Madam City Attorney, who's going
to be liable? Because they're going to sue you -- I mean they're going to sue the
owner of the property. But the owner of the property can turn around and said, "I
didn't build this; it was the City of Miami, the one that built it." Do they have -- I
mean, is that a --
Ms. Mendez: This --
Commissioner Reyes: -- are we liable or what -- we not liable?
Vice Chair Russell: It has been considered.
Ms. Mendez: So the -- Your first question with regard to forcing anyone to doing it,
it's not an issue, because we have in the ordinance that -- "willing waterfront
property participants, " so if they're willing --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: -- to participate in this program, then the City can provide the
framework with which to fund it. So that's the -- your first main question; that we
will not force anyone to do this at all. The second issue with regard to liability, we
have -- the property owner will be responsible for maintaining the baywalk or the
riverwalk after it's constructed. There will be -- the way that this is set up right now
is for a public easement, so chances are we will be sued and the property owner. But
we are providing for this public baywalk. It's like sidewalks.
City of Miami Page 88 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Ms. Mendez: So that is the -- with regard to that. But we have liability only to a
certain extent. And obviously, since the property owner will be responsible for the
maintenance, we can -- they would obviously share in whatever liability --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, but we are assuming that the property owners, they are
going to keep maintaining that -- I mean, that sidewalk or that construction that we
going to make behind the houses. If they don't maintain it and then, as we can see in
all the sidewalks, I mean, they're -- are not properly maintained, and they have some
-- I will say uneven levels of the sidewalk, and somebody falls, you see. Who is
responsible for that person? I mean for -- who's liable? That's a big question for
me.
Ms. Mendez: Jointly. It's jointly.
Commissioner Reyes: It's jointly. Jointly.
Ms. Mendez: Jointly.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, I think that we are leaving our self a little bit in --
Vice Chair Russell: Well, this is an intention that was made decades ago with
regard to opening up our waterfront to the public, but it was done in such a way for
us to have the least cost, the least liability, the least maintenance; and in a sense, you
get what you pay for. We have a broken baywalk. All the requirements are therefor
them to take on the construction, planning, easement, I mean, access to the public
and liability. The only missing factor is the trigger that makes them do it. So -- and
I'm -- this isn't a open, broad discussion amongst residents throughout the City. This
is -- we're talking about nine remaining pinch points that may not get completed for
the next 20 years, for all we know. This gives us the mechanism to go to them and
say, "If you are open to this, if you would like us to, if you think this would be
actually helpful to your property and help you financially down the road, we will do
it upfront; then we will give it back to you, and at that point, you have to maintain it,
just like all the other baywalk portions already do by our Code. " I mean, what
you're suggesting might be to reverse everything we already have on our baywalk on
the other dozens ofpoints that we've actually connected --
Commissioner Reyes: No, don't -- no, no.
Vice Chair Russell: -- so I --
Commissioner Reyes: I'm talking about this. No, I'm not talking about the other
one. Don't bring it back to us.
Vice Chair Russell: The other ones are okay? You're okay with --?
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, no, because I have no -- I mean, they were not part of
the legislation when I was -- I wasn't here. That is already there.
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: What I'm talking is about this.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
City of Miami Page 89 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Reyes: Okay? The other ones, if we now have the -- we could be
liable for anything that happened there, if it's there already. I'm talking about not
getting into this. I mean -- no, no, no. Don't try to --
Vice Chair Russell: I'm just asking, because it seems --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no.
Vice Chair Russell: -- that the idea that this is a --
Commissioner Reyes: I don't want to do anything. What -- I want to make sure that
this is done properly, that we are not liable, and we have money to -- I mean, where
the funds are going to come from, you see? The other -- what is done --
Vice Chair Russell: Very fair questions.
Commissioner Reyes: -- what's been done been done; it's there, okay? So don't try
to mix both things.
Vice Chair Russell: So what I'm asking for, from the indulgence of the board so that
we can at least move forward and address your questions and concerns between first
and second reading. If we're in disagreement as a board by second reading, the
whole thing dies. But if we don't get past first reading, we just don't get started. So
we've done all -- we've done many, many months of work on this to get it to this
point, and we have deferred it in the past. I'd just like to know if the will of the board
is there to at least pass it on first reading or consider it.
Commissioner Reyes: Let's -- okay, that is fine. Let's pass it in first reading and --
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman?
Commissioner Reyes: -- please, I would like all those questions to be addressed.
Commissioner Carollo: I think that's fair enough, what Commissioner Russell
stated. I have some questions myself- the main one being, what is the maximum that
staff perceives that this would cost us? And I think that not just in this, but in every
item that we deal with into the future, we should know that. We should know about
the cost factors that the City's going to be dealing with. So to me, that's one of the
most important factors. What is the maximum cost to the City that this could
possibly have, knowing that it could be less? Because we don't know how many of
these we're going to build. But the -- it's a fair request that you make,
Commissioner. We could always, you know, vote it down on second reading, and I'm
ready to move it if you'd like.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move it on first reading. I'm sorry --
Commissioner Reyes: I second.
Vice Chair Russell: -- Commissioner Gort had a comment.
Commissioner Gort: I'll second for discussion. My question that I'd like to have
answered is the Inland Navigation grants can apply in here? Because if we can get
the grants like we have done in the past, that could be very useful.
City of Miami Page 90 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Robert Weinreb (Project Manager, "T," Capital Improvements Program): Good
afternoon. Robert Weinreb. For the City to obtain a Florida Inland Navigation
District grant, we would need to control the property with either an easement of --
some sort of control, and we'd have to control it, theoretically, for 30 years.
Commissioner Gort: But when you're talking about control, is to have -- people
have access to the public and to the facility?
Mr. Weinreb: It has to be open to the public for the entire period of time.
Commissioner Gort: So grants might be able to be applied to this project, if we
comply with the regulations and requirements and --?
Mr. Weinreb: The Florida -- If we had an easement or other such way of holding
this property, yes, we could apply for a Florida Inland Navigation District grant.
Commissioner Gort: Okay, thank you, because that's something we can be looking
into.
Chair Hardemon: All right. It's been properly moved and seconded to accept or
pass FR. 1. Is there any further discussion from the board?
Miguel Gabela: Sorry.
Chair Hardemon: Yes?
Mr. Gabela: Can I ask you a question? Is this open to the reading -- I happen to
live on the river, and I just heard this, and can I just say something?
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Russell?
Vice Chair Russell: I'm open to hearing him, of course.
Chair Hardemon: Right, of course.
Vice Chair Russell: Sure.
Mr. Gabela: May I be allowed to --?
Chair Hardemon: Can you state your name for the record, please?
Mr. Gabela: Of course. My name is Miguel Angel Gabela, 1701 Northwest South
River Drive. And I happen to agree with the -- with Manolo Reyes that maybe this
should -- instead of hastily pass it, study it a little bit more. I'm concerned about
what I just heard.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Gabela: And I could get some input for some of us that also live on the river.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Gabela: You're welcome.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion on the matter? Hearing none, all in favor
of the motion on the floor, say "aye. "
City of Miami Page 91 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Vice Chair Russell: On first.
Chair Hardemon: On first.
FR.2
ORDINANCE First Reading
2739
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Commissioners
ATTACHMENTS, AMENDING CHAPTER 2/ARTICLE XI/DIVISION
and Mayor
13/SECTION 2-1177 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED
"ADMINISTRATION/BOARDS, COMMITTEES,
COMMISSIONS/CITY OF MIAMI BEAUTIFICATION
COMMITTEE/MEMBERSHIP; TERM OF OFFICE; VACANCIES;
OFFICERS; RULES OF PROCEDURE; MEETINGS; QUORUM;
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS," BY AMENDING THE QUORUM
AND TERM PROVISIONS; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
MOTION TO: Withdraw by Sponsor
RESULT: WITHDRAWN BY SPONSOR
Mayor Francis Suarez: The last one is FR.2, which is brought to me by the chair of
the Beautification Committee. We created a Beautification Committee, this
Commission together that I sponsored as a Commissioner. I believe -- and I don't
know how you all feel, and I haven't had a chance to talk to all of you about this, but
I think the City really needs to dedicate more of its energy and emphasis and some of
its resources to being beautiful in the -- from the perspective of you get a great
return on your investment. I mean, I know we talked a little bit about Christmas
lights, and that may seem like something small to some, but it's something that really
improves the quality of the experience of being a Miami resident, and it, you know,
brings hope, and it brings -- you know, it brings joy to those who traverse our cities
for a very little bit amount of money in the grand scheme of things as a budgetary
matter. And so, the chair of the Beautification Committee has asked that we change
the quorum requirements to lower them. I know that's something that we've talked
about, and it's been sort of controversial in the past. You know, I just wanted to
convey his sentiments. He's here if he wants to speak on it. I think it's a nine -
member board. The quorum is six, and he is requesting that it be lowered to four,
just so that you can have more active meetings and we can actually move along on
an agenda of beautification. I guess in his experience as the chair -- and I don't
want to speak for him -- but this has -- you know, getting quorum has been sometime
an issue.
Vice Chair Russell: Quorum should be five; right, on a nine -member board?
Mayor Suarez: Fine with that, too. I mean --
Vice Chair Russell: No, no, no, but I mean that's what --
City of Miami Page 92 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mayor Suarez: I think the quorum is six.
Vice Chair Russell: -- a quorum on a nine -member board is five?
Chair Hardemon: Five.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): It's 50 percent plus one.
Chair Hardemon: That's to pass.
Ms. Mendez: All of you know that I'm really bad at math, so I'm -- it's supposed -- I
think it's supposed to be five.
Chair Hardemon: That would be to pass a measure; 50 percent plus one is to pass
it.
Ms. Mendez: What -- that's how it is now, I mean.
Mayor Suarez: Is that the quorum measure?
Ms. Mendez: Now the quorum, I believe, is five.
Mayor Suarez: Quorum; not passing, but quorum?
Ms. Mendez: If you --
Mayor Suarez: Okay.
Ms. Mendez: -- pass this amendment, then it would be reduced to four. That is what
this legislation does; reduces quorum.
Mayor Suarez: We're -- up to you guys now.
Chair Hardemon: Quorum is five now, correct?
Ms. Mendez: 50 percent plus one, which I assume is five.
Chair Hardemon: 50 percent plus one is the passing rate, but --
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- quorum is the majority of the members of the body. That's what
-- unless it's written differently, I don't know. But --
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Ms. Mendez: Right. It's written --
Commissioner Carollo: My --
Mayor Suarez: Three, which is the major -- which is the majority.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: My concern is if we don't have a unified --
City of Miami Page 93 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Vice Chair Russell: I can't hear you.
Mayor Suarez: Platform.
Commissioner Carollo: -- rules and regulations for everybody, you know, it
becomes hard. And then others will say, "Why them, not us?"
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: I truly think that maybe what is needed is for members of
this Commission, this body to --
Mayor Suarez: Choose.
Commissioner Carollo: -- appoint people that are going to show up. If they're not
showing up, they shouldn't be there.
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner, I completely agree. I have no issues with that.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mayor Suarez: Maybe because we have a new Commission now we can give it a
shot with the new Commission that's -- with the new board members --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mayor Suarez: -- that you all will inevitably appoint.
Commissioner Carollo: I don't know if I'm entitled, if some of the people aren't
showing up are some that fall within my vote.
Mayor Suarez: They do.
Commissioner Carollo: If they do, then I'll make sure that I'll get you some people
there that will show up.
Robert Powers: And we -- and your seat has been the one that hasn't appointed
anybody.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Vice Chair Russell: Hasn't appointed anybody.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I'll --
Vice Chair Russell: Not that they don't show up; they're not appointed.
Commissioner Carollo: -- appoint people for you in the next meeting in January,
and I'll make sure that I appoint people that will show up.
Mr. Powers: All right. So -- and just for -- so you know is that eight members of
that board decided that this -- that was what we requested, so what's before you is
what we requested. We requested that the -- because there was only eight members
to our board, and we were constantly having -- The other problem, too, by the way,
was that this committee was moved to four different City Administrations. So in the
City of Miami Page 94 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
two years that it has been active, we did not have a secretary and we didn't have
anybody being able to run our meetings, so that left it a little chaotic.
Mayor Suarez: Sure.
Mr. Powers: All right? So that was the other thing that we were facing. And the
other thing -- the only reason why -- It isn't that other people don't get disseminated
the information, if that's what you're worried about. We have a very active board.
They're all professional people, and a lot of times, they can't make meetings. And it
doesn't mean that anything happens behind closed doors. At any rate, it's -- they're
professional people.
Mayor Suarez: Let's do this.
Mr. Powers: Yeah.
Mayor Suarez: We have a new Commission.
Mr. Powers: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: I think it's fair to give this new Commission an opportunity to point -
- appoint new members; or if there are deficient members or if there are vacancies,
to appoint members.
Commissioner Carollo: To fill them, yeah.
Mayor Suarez: And then I think we can always look at this again in six months or a
year if the board -- if it's really a critical need.
Chair Hardemon: Because you're my guy, right?
Mr. Powers: I am not.
Chair Hardemon: Who's my guy?
Mr. Powers: I'm not; Shane Graber is.
Chair Hardemon: Shane. Shane is my guy.
Mr. Power: Shane Graber is your man.
Chair Hardemon: Well, you're both --
Mr. Powers: And we both live in the same district.
Chair Hardemon: Exactly.
Mr. Powers: So -- and as a point of reference, I've now sat on six committees for the
City of Miami, and I never serve for less than five years, so I know my way around a
board and how to make a board work. So that's why we wanted -- Commissioner
Russell, that's why I asked for the five years, and that's what -- The eight people who
sit on that board, that's why we asked for five years. We have a lot of work to do on
this board to come up with a way to make the beautification of the City, first off, all
fit together; make it look like -- our historic districts all kind of fit together; our
parks kind of all fit like -- so there's a multi -- it's a multifaceted thing. And it's going
to take a lot of thinking and a lot of time to put it all together so that Art in Public
Places works with Park -- you know -- works with Parks, works with all this stuff.
City of Miami Page 95 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
And that, as the beautification, that's where I see us and our board actually working
the best together. And I'm sorry that I've taken up more time than you probably
would like to give me, but I am -- I do make myself available to any of you
gentlemen, if you want to call and ask me questions or meet with me to go over what
the vision of that board is for you. And the thing that I ask the Mayor to do for me is
in January, we would like to do a presentation for you to show you where we would
like to take that board and what we have as far as the vision for the City. You know,
like 25 years down the road, like where should this City be looking at as far as its
beautification and the quality of life that we have for the citizens of the City of Miami
and what they want, and what they require?
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair?
Mr. Powers: Yes? Thankyou. I'm sorry.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: Oh, I'm going to withdraw the item. I think we, as a board that is
with the new Commissioners, I think we have an opportunity to reshape it, and I'm
hopeful -- I thank you for, you know, hearing this out, because I do think it was
important --
Mr. Powers: Thankyou.
Mayor Suarez: -- for you guys to hear what's going on, and then we'll make
whatever adjustments are necessary. And if we have to bring it back, we'll bring it
back, but now we have the experience.
Mr. Powers: Thankyou.
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou, Mr. Powers.
Commissioner Carollo: Thankyou, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: Yes, you're recognized.
Commissioner Gort: I'm telling you, the person who serves on my behalf in that
board is very happy with it, is very pleased. But what I would like to ask is the
chairperson on all these boards to make sure they keep us abreast of the people that
not going to the meetings, like Commissioner Carollo had stated a little while ago.
The guys that not going to the meeting, get them out. I mean, we -- they should -- It's
our responsibility to make sure that people we put in boards are going to perform.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: It's very difficult for us to keep all of our boards well populated
and also monitor the performance of our board members. I would like to propose a
solution, and maybe it'll come in legislation soon, because we've had this discussion
about quorum in the past. I am with the Chairman in not reducing quorum, just as a
flat rule. What -- I would like to see quorum based on the number of actual
appointed seats. So if It's a nine person board, but only eight of them or seven of
City of Miami Page 96 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
them have been appointed, that quorum is based on the actual appointed number;
half plus one --
Mayor Suarez: Some sense.
Vice Chair Russell: -- of that actual appointed number --
Mayor Suarez: Makes some sense, but --
Vice Chair Russell: -- because otherwise, they're waiting for us to make those
appointments. And we say we're going to do it, and we have the intention to do it,
but we haven't found the right person, or who knows what.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, ifI may?
Vice Chair Russell: Just an idea.
Mayor Suarez: Let's -- I think we have a brand-new Commission. This is day one.
And I think what you've seen from the two new Commissioners is a -- and I believe --
I take them at their word -- desire to get involved on the board appointments and
make sure that the boards are working, and are proactive. So without sort of putting
the cart before the horse, if you will, I think we should just allow the new
Commissioners to, you know, make their selections. And then if we have a problem
six months from now, we can always address it.
Commissioner Carollo: I thank you for that in my behalf and Commissioner Reyes'
behalf there; the two new guys in the dais. But what Commissioner Russell said --
Mayor Suarez: Makes a lot of sense.
Commissioner Carollo: -- if the Chairman and the rest of the Commission go along
with that, I could buy into that.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Because, look, it's not fair that they don't have a quorum if
we don't appoint people, too.
Chair Hardemon: But see, the thing about it, Commissioner, is that the lower your
quorum is, the lower it is -- the lower the number that's required to pass an item. So,
you know --
Commissioner Carollo: Correct; you're right.
Chair Hardemon: -- the way that old folks like us think --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Carollo: You're right.
Chair Hardemon: If I say, "Okay, if this supposed to be a eight -member board and
we only appoint four, then, you know, it only takes three votes to pass it. "
Commissioner Carollo: You're right, yeah. And then it becomes difficult for us to
really keep track of what is the quorum on any given day. So that's why I like
City of Miami Page 97 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
uniformity at the end of the day. So let's give it a shot, as the Mayor said, for, you
know, the next six months, a year, and if we're still having problems, then let's revisit
it again.
Mayor Suarez: Perfect. Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Thankyou.
Mayor Suarez: So I'll withdraw the item. Thank you.
FR.3
ORDINANCE First Reading
3225
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING
CHAPTER 62/ARTICLE XIV OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF
Commissioners
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED ("CITY CODE"), ENTITLED
and Mayor
"PLANNING AND ZONING/PUBLIC BENEFITS TRUST FUND,"
MORE PARTICULARLY BY CREATING NEW SECTION 62-647 OF
THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED "UNDERLINE PUBLIC BENEFITS
TRUST FUND; INTENT," SECTION 62-648 OR THE CITY CODE,
ENTITLED "ESTABLISHED," AND SECTION 62-649 OF THE CITY
CODE, ENTITLED "FINANCIAL REPORT," ESTABLISHING THE
UNDERLINE PUBLIC BENEFITS TRUST FUND; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item FR.3 was continued to the January 11, 2018, Regular
Commission Meeting.
Mayor Francis Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I can be recognized for a couple of items that
should be pretty routine?
Chair Mardemon: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you. The first one is I'd like to defer FR.3, which is the
Underline Public Benefits Trust Fund I understand some Commissioners would like
some more time to understand it, maybe meet with the applicants; and so, out of
respect for their request, I'd like to ask that FR.3 be deferred to the next meeting.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move it.
Chair Mardemon: Properly moved.
Commissioner Reyes: Second
Chair Mardemon: Seconded.
City of Miami Page 98 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor, say "aye. It
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you. The next -- and there's a companion PZ (Planning &
Zoning) item that will go along with that, but once we're in the PZ agenda, then,
yeah, it's PZ.4, in case anyone is in the audience waiting on that.
END OF FIRST READING ORDINANCES
City of Miami Page 99 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
I N;&19]1110j1R]ki&'
REA
RESOLUTION
3068
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of the City
ATTACHMENT(S), OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE CITY
Clerk
CLERK'S CERTIFICATION OF THE CANVASS AND
AYES:
DECLARATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 7, 2017,
FOR THE ELECTION OF MAYOR, COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3,
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 4, AND COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5;
THE BOND REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION HELD ON
NOVEMBER 7, 2017, FOR THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL
OBLIGATION BONDS; AND THE REFERENDUM SPECIAL
ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 7, 2017, TO AMEND THE MIAMI
CITY CHARTER.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0575
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: All right. Now we're in our resolution section. Try to pick up the
pace, if we can. The Chair would like to askfor a motion to approve RE. 1, 2, 4, S, 6,
and 7.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move it. Or do you have more?
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved We can deal with that first. Been
properly moved --
Commissioner Carollo: 4, S and --
Chair Hardemon: -- and seconded by the Chair to pass RE. 1, 2 --
Commissioner Reyes: 2.
Chair Hardemon: -- 4, S, 6, and 7.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: All right.
Commissioner Carollo: So move.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Vice Chair Russell: I moved it.
City of Miami Page 100 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion on those items? Hearing none, all in
favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. 1, 2, 4, S, 6, 7.
RE.2
RESOLUTION
3339
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
MOVER:
ATTACHMENT(S), OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE
Office of the City
ATTACHED CITY CLERK'S CERTIFICATION OF THE CANVASS
Clerk
AND DECLARATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
RUN-OFF ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 21, 2017 FOR THE
ELECTION OF COMMISSIONER - DISTRICT 3.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0613
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE.2, please see Item RE.].
City of Miami Page 101 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
RE.3
RESOLUTION
2812
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
Department of
THE CITY MANAGER TO REVIEW THE INTERLOCAL
Miami Sports and
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND THE
Exhibition
MIAMI SPORTS AND EXHIBITION AUTHORITY ("MSEA") AND
Authority
THE SUBLEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN MSEA AND THE MIAMI
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, INC., A FLORIDA NOT FOR PROFIT
CORPORATION ("MCM"), IN ORDER TO CONSIDER WHETHER
THE CITY SHOULD TRANSFER APPROXIMATELY 26,599
SQUARE FEET OF LAND ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE
PROPERTY TO MCM IN ORDER TO ALLOW MCM TO EXPAND
ITS CURRENT PROGRAM SPACE AND TO PROVIDE A NEW
ENTRANCE TO GUESTS; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO RETURN TO THE CITY COMMISSION WITH A
PLAN OF ACTION TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME, IF
APPROPRIATE; FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE HEREIN
DESIGNATED OFFICES.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Reyes
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record. Item RE.3 was continued to the January 11, 2018,
Regular Commission Meeting.
For minutes referencing Item RE.3, please see "Order of the Day. "
REA
RESOLUTION
3275
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING
Department of
THE BID RECEIVED OCTOBER 3, 2017 PURSUANT TO
Police
INVITATION FOR BID ("IFB") NO. 702382 FROM TEGSCO, LLC,
THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, TO
PROVIDE THE MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT ("MPD") WITH
MUNICIPAL TOWING SOFTWARE, FOR AN INITIAL CONTRACT
PERIOD OF FIVE (5) YEARS, WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW FOR
ONE (1) ADDITIONAL FIVE (5) YEAR PERIOD; ALLOCATING
FUNDS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES OF FUNDS FROM THE MPD
AND OTHER AGENCIES, SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF
FUNDS AND BUDGETARY APPROVAL AT THE TIME OF NEED;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY
AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, EXTENSIONS, AND
MODIFICATIONS TO THE CONTRACT, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE
TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0614
City ofMian ni Page 102 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.4, please see Item RE.].
RE.5
RESOLUTION
3252
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
Department of Fire-
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $49,151.00
Rescue
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, FEDERAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ("FEMA") FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR 2015 — COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR THE
FLORIDA URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE ("USAR") TASK FORCE,
THEREBY INCREASING SPECIAL REVENUE PROJECT
"DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY — FEDERAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ("FEMA") — URBAN
SEARCH AND RESCUE ("USAR") COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
FISCAL YEAR 2015 - SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING" FROM
$1,244,082.00, PREVIOUSLY AWARDED UNDER RESOLUTION
NO. 15-0301, TO $1,293,233.00; APPROPRIATING FUNDS IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $49,151.00 CONSISTING OF A
GRANT FROM FEMA TO BE USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
FIRE -RESCUE TO ACQUIRE EQUIPMENT, TRAINING, SUPPORT,
ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, EQUIPMENT
CACHE PROCUREMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND STORAGE;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT SAID GRANT
AWARD AND TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, IN A
FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, IN ORDER TO
IMPLEMENT THE ACCEPTANCE OF SAID GRANT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0615
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE.5, please see Item RE.].
City ofMiami Page 103 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
RE.6
RESOLUTION
3086
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE
Planning
VOTE, RATIFYING, CONFIRMING AND APPROVING THE CITY
Management
MANAGER'S WRITTEN FINDING OF AN EMERGENCY,
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT "A,"
WAIVING COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING PROCEDURES, AND
RETROACTIVELY APPROVING THE SELECTION OF EARTH
ADVISORS, INC., TO PROVIDE A LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT
ASSESSMENT FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT;
ALLOCATING FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$150,000.00 FROM ACCOUNT NO. 10410.356000.351000.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0616
MOTION TO:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Adopt
ADOPTED
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE.6, please see Item RE.].
RE.7
RESOLUTION
3189
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of Real
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Estate and Asset
ACCEPT AND EXECUTE A QUIT CLAIM DEED ("DEED"), IN
Management
SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM, FOR THE DONATION
AND CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN SUBMERGED LAND FROM
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ("FDOT")
LOCATED NORTH OF INTERSTATE 395 ("MACARTHUR
CAUSEWAY"), AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN
EXHIBIT "A" OF THE DEED ("PROPERTY"), TO THE CITY OF
MIAMI; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS, IN A
FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR SAID
PURPOSE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0617
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE. 7, please see Item RE.].
City ofMiarni Page 104 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
RE.8
RESOLUTION
3250
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of Real
ATTACHMENT(S), AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
Estate and Asset
EXECUTE A TEMPORARY ACCESS AND HOLD
Management
HARMLESS/INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT ("ACCESS
AGREEMENT"), IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE ATTACHED FORM,
BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND THE MIAMI DADE
COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ("SCHOOL BOARD"), WHEREBY THE
CITY GRANTS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TEMPORARY ACCESS
RIGHTS TO THE CITY -OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 525
NORTHWEST 62ND STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND KNOWN AS
ATHALIE RANGE PARK ("PARK"), FOR DEMOLITION AND
REMOVAL OF THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE ("OVERPASS")
CONNECTING THE PARK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD -OWNED
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 6101 NORTHWEST 5TH COURT,
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND KNOWN AS MIAMI EDISON SENIOR HIGH
SCHOOL ("SCHOOL"), WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS
MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE ACCESS
AGREEMENT; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
MAKE ALL NON -SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS TO SAID ACCESS
AGREEMENT AS DEEMED NECESSARY, IN A FORM
ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: Item RE.8 was deferred to the February 8, 2018,
Regular Commission Meeting.
Chair Hardemon: I want someone from Miami -Dade County Schools to meet with
me regarding RE.8. That walkway is something that I know is of safety concerns for
those of -- the children that live in the area who want to cross that busy street,
Northwest 62nd Street. And so, without having a meeting with them, I'm not
comfortable moving forward with it. So I thought to defer it indefinitely, but I'll give
you a shorter time period. So what I request of this board is a motion to defer this
into the first meeting in February.
Commissioner Carollo: Motion to defer to the first meeting in February.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved and seconded Any further discussion on
that matter? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All right. Motion approved.
City of Miami Page 105 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
RE.9 RESOLUTION
3337
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Department of Real
ATTACHMENT(S), OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGING THE CITY
Estate and Asset
CLERK'S CERTIFICATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE
Management
REFERENDUM SPECIAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 7,
2017, AS APPROVED PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO.
,ADOPTED , FOR A CHARTER AMENDMENT
AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED ("CHARTER"); SPECIFICALLY BY AMENDING
SECTION 29-B OF THE CHARTER, ENTITLED "CITY -OWNED
PROPERTY SALE OR LEASE -GENERALLY", TO AUTHORIZE THE
CITY MANAGER BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5TNS) AFFIRMATIVE
VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION ("COMMISSION") TO WAIVE
COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND TO EXECUTE A FIFTH
AMENDMENT ("FIFTH AMENDMENT") TO THE LEASE
AGREEMENT ("LEASE") BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY")
AND ALIGNED BAYSHORE MARINA, LLC ("BAYSHORE
MARINA"), ALSO KNOWN AS MONTY'S, FOR CITY -OWNED
WATERFRONT PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2550 SOUTH
BAYSHORE DRIVE, MIAMI, FLORIDA ("PROPERTY"), TO EXTEND
THE CURRENT LEASE TERM BY AN ADDITIONAL TERM OF
APPROXIMATELY THIRTY-TWO (32) YEARS (TO EXPIRE MAY
31, 2067), WITH TWO (2) ADDITIONAL TEN (10) YEAR OPTIONS
TO RENEW, FOR A TOTAL TERM OF FIFTY TWO (52) YEARS (TO
EXPIRE MAY 31, 2087); AN ADDITIONAL MINIMUM RENT
PAYMENT OF TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
($200,000.00) PER LEASE YEAR (A MINIMUM OF TEN MILLION
DOLLARS [$10,000,000.00] OVER THE BASE TERM OF THE
AMENDED LEASE) OR ONE AND THREE QUARTERS PERCENT
(1.75%) OF GROSS RENT RECEIPTS FROM THE PROPERTY,
WHICHEVER IS GREATER, AS ADDITIONAL RENT DUE TO THE
CITY AND, COMMENCING JANUARY 1, 2019, MINIMUM ANNUAL
TOTAL RENT (INCLUSIVE OF THE ADDITIONAL MINIMUM RENT)
SHALL BE ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
($1,500,000.00), PLUS AN ADDITIONAL TWENTY FIVE
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000.00) TO BE PAID ON AN ANNUAL
BASIS FOR THE FULL AMENDED TERM TO A SPECIAL FUND TO
BE ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOW
INCOME HOUSING RENOVATION; FURTHER PROVIDING
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY OF A MINIMUM
OF SEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
($7,500,000.00) TO BE SPENT WITHIN THREE (3) YEARS OF THE
ELECTORATE'S APPROVAL OF THE FIFTH AMENDMENT TO
THE LEASE; THE CREATION OF A CAPITAL ACCOUNT
REQUIRING A MINIMUM ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN THE
PROPERTY OF FOUR MILLION DOLLARS ($4,000,000.00) OVER
THE TOTAL AMENDED LEASE TERM, INCLUSIVE OF THE
RENEWAL OPTIONS; REQUIRING A TRANSFER FEE PAYMENT
TO THE CITY IF THE PROPERTY IS TRANSFERRED OR
ASSIGNED; AND FURTHER REQUIRING A REFINANCING FEE
PAYMENT TO THE CITY SHOULD THE PROPERTY BE
REFINANCED AFTER THE INITIAL REFINANCING; AND
PURSUANT TO SECTION 29-B OF THE CHARTER, ENTITLED
"CITY OWNED PROPERTY SALE OR LEASE -GENERALLY," AND
SUBPART A, SECTION 3(F)(III), ENTITLED "POWERS," TWO (2)
INDEPENDENT APPRAISALS HAVING BEEN OBTAINED BY THE
City ofMiarni Page 106 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CITY AFFIRMING FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE FIFTH
AMENDMENT; ACKNOWLEDGING THE CITY'S SEPARATE
AUTHORIZATION BY RESOLUTION NO. 17-0323, ADOPTED JULY
13, 2017, OF THE CITY'S RELATED MODIFICATION OF
SUBMERGED LANDS LEASE AND WAIVER OF DEED
RESTRICTIONS REQUIRED WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA,
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT
TRUST FUND, AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS, REVERSIONS, AND
RETENTION BY THE CITY OF ALL OTHER RIGHTS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0594
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: Now we have RE (resolution) -- let's see -- 9 and 10, 13 -- Let's
do 9, 10, 13, and 15; is that fair?
Commissioner Carollo: 13 and --
Commissioner Reyes: 13. Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve those?
Commissioner Reyes: Which one; 13?
Commissioner Gort: Call them again.
Vice Chair Russell: We did allocate -- We did -- what about 12; did we already do
that?
Commissioner Reyes: 9.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, we did 12.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Chair Hardemon: So 9, 10, 13, and 15. Is there a motion?
Commissioner Carollo: Motion to approve.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): 9 needs to be amended to include a resolution
number.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): And Chair, for the record, that resolution number will
be R-17-0575, with the date of December 14, 2017.
Chair Hardemon: All right. Who is the mover of the motion?
Commissioner Carollo: I made it.
City of Miami Page 107 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Reyes: And I seconded.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo --
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Chair Hardemon: -- and then seconded by Commissioner Reyes, including those
amendments. Any further discussion on those motions on the floor?
Vice Chair Russell: One comment.
Chair Hardemon: Sure.
Vice Chair Russell: On RE. 13, we're opposing legislation at the State level. This
again comes into the preemption conversation. I really believe it's important for us
to continue to speak out where we believe local government can speak best for
what's good for our municipalities, because we know our local districts best. So
opposing this legislation will continue to allow us to regulate tree -- our tree
ordinance in the City, and I think it's good for our canopy and our community.
Commissioner Reyes: I want to make a comment about that. I agree with you,
Commissioner Russell, that we have to protect our right and our authority as an
institution, and the City of Miami should have -- I would -- we should have our own
ordinance about it; although I do not agree with the present tree ordinance that I
think that we have to revisit, but I will support this resolution because of our
independence as a city that we should enact our laws. Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion,
say "aye. If
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
City of Miami Page 108 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
RE.10
RESOLUTION
3343
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of Capital
ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR-FIFTHS (4/5) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE,
Improvements
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING THE CITY MANAGER'S
Budget
EMERGENCY FINDING, AS AGENCY HEAD, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS ATTACHMENT "A," THAT HURRICANE IRMA
HAS CAUSED A VALID PUBLIC EMERGENCY TO CITY OF MIAMI
FACILITIES AS OUTLINED IN EXHIBIT "A" OF THE CITY
MANAGER'S EMERGENCY FINDING, ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED, AND THEREFORE, IT IS MOST
ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") TO WAIVE
THE COMPETITIVE SEALED PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES
AND QUALIFICATIONS PROCESS PURSUANT TO SECTION
287.055(3)(A)l, FLORIDA STATUTES, AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO UTILIZE ARCHITECTURAL, ENGINEERING AND
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ("A&E') CONSULTANTS
CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0618
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE.10, please see Item RE.9.
REA 1
RESOLUTION
2916
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Office of
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE FINDING
Management and
OF NECESSITY REPORT PREPARED BY PMG ASSOCIATES,
Budget
INC., ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, FOR THE NON-
CONTIGUOUS EXPANSION OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY ("CRA") TO THE WEST GROVE AREA; DIRECTING THE
CITY MANAGER TO TAKE ALL ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS
NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE CRA'S EXPANSION INTO
THE WEST GROVE, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 163, FLORIDA
STATUTES, AND THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY,
FLORIDA, AS AMENDED.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Reyes
ABSENT: Carollo
Note for the Record. Item RE.11 was continued to the January 11, 2018,
Regular Commission Meeting.
City ofMian ni Page 109 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
For minutes referencing Item RE.11, please see "Order of the Day. "
RE.12
RESOLUTION
3101
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
MOVER:
AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE
Commissioners
ANY AND ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO JOIN AND
and Mayor
PARTICIPATE IN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN
ENERGY ("PACE") PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE FLORIDA
GREEN FINANCE AUTHORITY, THE FLORIDA RESILIENCY AND
ENERGY DISTRICT, AND THE FLORIDA PACE FUNDING
AGENCY, INCLUDING NEGOTIATING AND EXECUTING ALL
REQUIRED AGREEMENTS, IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0612
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Mayor Francis Suarez: RE. 12 is a PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) -- the
PACE Program, which simply allows -- well, right now, we only have one provider
of PACE programming in the City. This will allow for other companies to come in
and provide these energy-efficient retrofits to homes. It's just allows for more
competition, which protects consumers.
Commissioner Gort: Move it. Competition is good.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll second it for discussion.
Chair Hardemon: Seconded by the Vice Chairman. Discussion.
Vice Chair Russell: Just three questions. Do we know if we have PACE Programs
citywide yet, and how far away we are from that?
Commissioner Gort: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: No, we do. And --
Vice Chair Russell: This is citywide?
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: All districts accepted it?
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Commissioner Gort: Yes.
City of Miami Page 110 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mayor Suarez: So the way we did it was, if you remember, first we did it for
commercial properties.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. Then we did District 2.
Mayor Suarez: Then we did it for District 2 and 4, and then we did it citywide. So
now we have it citywide, but only one company can do it, and this opens the door for
other companies to be able to offer it; potentially compete and offer better rates to
our residents.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. I'll second, yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Any other discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
REA 3
RESOLUTION
3321
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION OPPOSING
MOVER:
SENATE BILL 574, HOUSE BILL 521, AND SIMILAR LEGISLATION
Commissioners
THAT PREEMPTS LOCAL REGULATION OF THE TRIMMING,
and Mayor
REMOVAL, OR HARVESTING OF TREES AND TIMBER ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY; FURTHER URGING GOVERNOR RICK
SCOTT AND THE MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
TO OPPOSE SAID LEGISLATION; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK
TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO
THE OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0619
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.13, please see Item RE. 9.
City of Miami Page 111 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
RE.14
RESOLUTION
3331
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING
MOVER:
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP AND THE 115TH CONGRESS OF
Commissioners
THE UNITED STATES TO REINSTATE TEMPORARY
and Mayor
PROTECTIVE STATUS ("TPS") TO HAITIANS AND AFFECTED
CENTRAL AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS FROM EL SALVADOR,
HONDURAS, AND NICARAGUA RESIDING IN THE UNITED
STATES; FURTHER URGING PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
AND THE 115TH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO
EXTEND TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS TO
VENEZUELANS FLEEING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR
COUNTRY; DIRECTING THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE INCLUDED
IN THE CITY OF MIAMI'S 2017-2018 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE
PRIORITIES; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A
COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS AS STATED
HEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0608
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item RE.14, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s). "
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Vice Chairman, you want to handle any of your plats; RE. 13,
RE.14? Right now on RE (Resolution) -- I'm sorry. On the PH (Public Hearing)
agenda, we have PH 2, PH. 3, PH 9, and PH. 10.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll defer to the Mayor if there were any other items that he
wanted to get before lunch that were part of his --
Mayor Francis Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair; just a couple, and I'll get out of your
hair. One is important, because it's time sensitive. It is "R" -- I'm sorry. It is -- hold
on, let me look at my notes here. It is -- I got a little shuffled here -- RE.14. And
RE.14 is a resolution of the Commission that is -- and this may be a first, so for the
new Commissioners who are here, we're already setting some, I think, good
precedent on a lot of things. It's the first time, I think, we've all co-sponsored --
Commissioners and the Mayor -- a piece of legislation. I don't think I've ever seen
that in eight years, and I think that's again another example of the unity, despite the
fact that there are so many people that would like to see its dis-unified [sic]. I think
it's amazing that we happen to be piercing through that and speaking with one voice
on issues that are as important as this issue, and it's something that I worked on in
particular with the Vice Chair, so I'd like to allow him to articulate the resolution,
and then invite all of you outside in the lunch break for a press conference for us to
explain the resolution and its impact to the public.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: Please.
City of Miami Page 112 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you all for working together with me on this issue; this is
important. And some might say that a City Commissioner shouldn't speak about
Federal issues, but I believe that we, as a City, bring a perspective to this
conversation, temporary protected status for immigrants in our country, that isn't
being talked about at the Federal level. At the Federal level, we're talking about the
fear of terrorism, the fear of making sure our borders are strong. What we need to
be speaking about is the effect that good immigration has on our community from a
socioeconomic point of view, from the business within the community, the hotels, the
industries. These are not foreigners to us. These are our neighbors, and they're
what I call future Americans. Just the other day, my cable was being repaired in my
house, and the gentleman was Haitian. And I happened to ask him if he knew
anybody who was being protected by TPS (Temporary Protected Service), and he
said his cousin, who is -- a job, who bought a house, who is paying taxes, and is
currently in the process of selling his house, because he knows his days are
numbered. These are not the type of people that we want to see a broad brush sweep
out of our country, and I believe that puts it on us as a city to speak for them and say
that we want TPS. And I spoke with our Congresswoman, Ileana Ross-Lehtinen,
yesterday, who says that things are moving along with DACA (Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals), but TPS is still having a hard time. And for that meaning --
reason, I would like to make a floor amendment to add DACA, with everyone's
permission, if they would accept the amendment, into this resolution, as well. While
it is different, it affects a different group of people, and it works under a different
mechanism, the spirit is the same. These are people that are here that are serving
our community well. They're upstanding residents of our neighborhood, and we
want them to stay.
Commissioner Carollo: I second that motion, and I compliment Commissioner
Russell for bringing this up to this Commission. And he's very correct. There are
many issues that this Commission has an obligation and a responsibility to bring to
the attention of the Federal Government, and this is one of those, because Miami's
one of the main cities in the United States that is affected by those actions or lack of
actions of the Federal Government.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may?
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner --
Commissioner Gort: Agreed.
Chair Hardemon: -- Reyes.
Commissioner Reyes: I do agree that we all should be -- we shall recognize the
positive contribution that all the immigration -- being a nation of -- being myself an
immigrant, you see, that we have to provide the opportunity to those people that they
are doing what they should be doing when they come to this country, is working
hard, bringing up a family, and we should protect them as much as we can. And it is
our duty as elected official, and I will join Commissioner Russell in his -- also, I
mean, in his proposal of including DACA on it. I think it's very good.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair -- Go ahead.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: I think you need to realize Miami is a little different from most
of the cities throughout the United States, and we can see the impact of immigrants,
what is taking place in Miami. We have seen all the progress that has taken place in
here. All the people -- Any travelling that I do, anywhere I go, people want to come
City of Miami Page 113 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
to Miami, because Miami's the place to be. So I'm all -- that's one of the reasons I'm
supporting all this. I mean, we're all immigrants.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I agree with the sentiments expressed by all
the Commissioners. We are the place to be, Commissioner Gort, and that's the --
what my high school principal used to say about my high school, so it -- those
particular set of words resonate with me. And I agree with Commissioner Carollo
and Commissioner Reyes. You know, this is a city of immigrants. We are
immigrants or products of immigrants; and so, I -- it -- As a young person that's
always felt -- I've always felt a sense of injustice of the unequal treatment of
immigrants in this country, and certainly, in this city. If you're law abiding -- Some
of the risks that some our immigrants take just to get here, risking their lives. I
mean, anyone who risks their life to come to a country to aspire to be free and to be
productive, and obviously, you know, is law abiding is someone who should have the
right to share in this incredible American dream that we all share in. And I think we
are not only the place to be, but we are the city of the future. And I think our city --
having come from a recent event at the Kennedy School for newly -elected Mayors
across the country -- our city really represents what this country is going to look like
in the future if it doesn't already look like it now. And so, I'm very proud of this
Commission for doing this, and I'm, of course, totally supportive.
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll make a motion.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor of -- Any further comment? Hearing none, all in
favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Vice Chair Russell: As amended.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if we can break for lunch?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): As amended.
Chair Hardemon: That is correct.
Mayor Suarez: If we can break for lunch so we can have the --?
Chair Hardemon: Right. So at this time, we'll break -- we'll recess for lunch. We'll
be back at 2 o'clock.
Commissioner Carollo: Can I just make one additional comment before we do? Mr.
Mayor --and this is directed to you. Thank you for working with all of us in getting
things done smoother. If I could make one suggestion, this is based on your phone
call to me --
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- on primary election day that you wanted suggestions.
This is one I'm giving to you, and out of good faith, please accept it that way;
obviously, you decide how you want to deal with it. I think -- I know other Mayors
City of Miami Page 114 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
did it differently, but I think you would do maybe better, the public will see you
better, you'll be more part of our government if, when you address the Commission,
you could do it from up here. You could sit between myself and the Chair, or the
Chair and the Vice Chair, and the public would look at you better. You know, you
would fit more in the group. But it's up to you. If you feel more comfortable that
way, it's fine; but, you know, it's your decision. I'm just saying that I did it that way
from up here when I was --
Mayor Suarez: Well, I appreciate --
Commissioner Carollo: -- the first Executive Mayor, and you could do it either way,
as others did it, but you might like it up here better. I don't know.
Mayor Suarez: -- I appreciate --
Commissioner Carollo: You're welcome.
Mayor Suarez: -- the piece of advice. I'll talk it over with our Chair. But I spent -- I
worked really, really hard so I can get on this side of the dais.
Commissioner Carollo: We really --
Mayor Suarez: No offense to you guys.
Commissioner Carollo: -- are all on the same side. We're part of the same
government.
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Mayor Suarez: Absolutely, of course. Kudos to you for that. Thank you. Thank
you.
RE.15
RESOLUTION
3386
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RESCINDING
RESOLUTION NO. 17-0545, ADOPTED NOVEMBER 16, 2017,
Commissioners
WHICH ALLOCATED $179,000.00 FROM THE DISTRICT 3
and Mayor
DISCRETIONARY SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT TO A HUMAN
RESOURCE SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT TO BE USED FOR
THE TRANSITION OF DISTRICT 3 PERSONNEL PURSUANT TO
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY MANUAL ("APM") 1-02 DATED
FEBRUARY 5, 2002 FOR UP TO ONE (1) YEAR; ENACTING THIS
NEW RESOLUTION RETURNING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF
$171,800.00 FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCE SPECIAL REVENUE
ACCOUNT BACK TO THE DISTRICT 3 DISCRETIONARY SPECIAL
REVENUE ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO REIMBURSE THE DISTRICT
3 ACCOUNT SINCE SAID ALLOCATION EXCEEDED THE THREE
(3) MONTH TRANSITION PERIOD PERMITTED IN APM 1-02;
RECOMMENDING THE CITY MANAGER TAKE ALL STEPS
NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE POLICIES OF APM 1-02
AND THIS RESOLUTION ARE COMPLIED WITH.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0602
City of Miami Page 115 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For minutes referencing Item RE.1 S, please see Item RE.9.
RE.16
RESOLUTION
3387
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
MOVER:
THE CITY MANAGER TO IMMEDIATELY CONDUCT A
Commissioners
NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE
and Mayor
POSITION OF THE NEXT CITY MANAGER; FURTHER DIRECTING
THAT A LIST OF THE TOP SIX (6) QUALIFIED FINALISTS BE
PROVIDED TO THE MAYOR FOR CONSIDERATION IN HIS
APPOINTMENT IN THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MANNER
POSSIBLE.
MOTION TO: Continue
RESULT: CONTINUED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Notes for the Record. Item RE.16 was continued to the January 11, 2018,
Regular Commission Meeting.
RE.16
RESOLUTION
3387
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
MOVER:
THE CITY MANAGER TO IMMEDIATELY CONDUCT A
Commissioners
NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE
and Mayor
POSITION OF THE NEXT CITY MANAGER; FURTHER DIRECTING
THAT A LIST OF THE TOP SIX (6) QUALIFIED FINALISTS BE
PROVIDED TO THE MAYOR FOR CONSIDERATION IN HIS
APPOINTMENT IN THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MANNER
POSSIBLE.
MOTION TO:
Reconsider
RESULT:
RECONSIDERED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
City ofMian ni Page 116 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
RE.16
RESOLUTION
3387
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO IMMEDIATELY CONDUCT A
Commissioners
NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR THE
and Mayor
POSITION OF THE NEXT CITY MANAGER; FURTHER DIRECTING
THAT A LIST OF THE TOP SIX (6) QUALIFIED FINALISTS BE
PROVIDED TO THE MAYOR FOR CONSIDERATION IN HIS
APPOINTMENT IN THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS MANNER
POSSIBLE.
MOTION TO: Deny
RESULT: ITEM WAS DENIED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Reyes
NAYS: Carollo
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.16, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s). "
Chair Hardemon: The only other item on the RE (resolution) agenda is RE.16.
Commissioner Carollo, do you want to address that item or --?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, my understanding, there was an RE.16. Is this the one
that you're talking about?
Chair Hardemon: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: I understood that the Mayor had requested for this to be
brought back, RE.16, right?
Chair Hardemon: You mean it's for another day; is that what you're saying?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, when we were here in the morning --
Commissioner Gort: Yeah, we --
Commissioner Carollo: -- this is a resolution that is approving the City Manager,
but he stated that he was going to be bringing this back on the meeting of the 11 th.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Sothis will be pushed to the 11th.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. So I just want to make it very clear. So then let's have the
mover, being Commissioner Carollo; I'll second; that this be brought back on the
11th.
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Chair Hardemon: So that will be a continuance --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, that --
City of Miami Page 117 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: -- to the 11 th.
Commissioner Carollo: --continues to the 11 th.
Chair Hardemon: All right. Any --
Commissioner Carollo: Unless the Manager could stay longer.
Chair Hardemon: --further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion,
say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All right. That motion passes.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Okay, so now we'll move on to our PZ (Planning & Zoning)
agenda. I know we have to move on to the next --
Commissioner Carollo: Before we do, Mr. Chairman, I told you this morning -- I
warned you I didn't bring the smart pills today, so you're going to have to be a little
patient with me, catch up; if we could go back and revisit RE. 16, and on this one, I'd
like to open it up for discussion so that we could go a little bit into history and the
members of the Commission can understand what I'm trying to accomplish here. In
RE. 16, I'm asking for a search. I call it a national search, because it is a partial
national search. What I'm really looking for is that we get a firm that does a
transparent process, like the first time ever that we had an Executive Mayor in our
system, we did -- I did with the Commission, and we held a national search before I
appointed the first Manager under the Executive Mayor form of government. The
way that I envision it is that they give us three names that are the best people they
think from throughout the country or throughout other parts of the State, and three
local people, so that we have a guarantee for the Mayor to consider, and bringing to
us at least three local names besides three national ones that we could look at. Why
am I talking about this process? Because Miami is not a Coral Gables, a Doral, if I
may say; a Sweetwater, an Aventura that are cities of 50,000 people or less, with
small budgets. We're a city of now hitting close to halfa million people, a budget of
over a billion dollars. Someone is going to immediately have $400 million in bond
monies to deal with, and many other major problems that small cities do not have.
And while some might think that, gee, $25,000 is too much money for us to spend on
a search for the best Manager, local and national, I say to you that history has
shown us time and time and time again that once we get away from truly going and
finding the best person available and we do things not transparent that it does end
up costing us much more. And if you look at any meeting that you attend here, you
see that we spent 25, 35,000, and much more every meeting on many, many items
that are not significant at all; certainly nowhere significant of having the best
professional, qualified City Manager that you can. And I'll tell you the history that I
had so that there's no doubt. I said that the first City Manager under this system that
we had was done through a national search. What happened with that Manager was
that when we had the voter fraud election, he got fired, and they preferred to pay an
honorable, honest Manager $250,000. That's what his contract said that he would
have to be paid if he was fired before a certain time before -- instead of having him
stay a City Manager. When I came back close to four months later, I had to
compromise in dealing with a City Manager. I wanted that Manager to come back.
A majority of the Commission did not want that, so I had to compromise and accept
someone that was not my first choice. And that's the history of that situation. I
would like for this Commission to, you know, have an open discussion in the
City of Miami Page 118 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
sunshine, which is the only way that we could do it, on a process that we can
establish, where the Mayor is the person that picks at the end from that process
whom he wants to nominate, and there's no doubt in anyone's mind that it's been a
transparent process, a fully open process. And then, it's done like what our form of
government says that it should be; just like in Washington. The President gets to
nominate and pick someone for a position, but it is the Congress that gives the final
approval; so does our Charter says that this Commission has an obligation to give a
final approval to whomever a Mayor chooses. And we have as much responsibility
in that process -- and when I say "we,"I'm saying any Commission that's here now
or in the future -- as this Mayor or any future Mayor in following that process in
approving or not approving a City Manager. So this is about trying to start in the
right foot, like I tried to get started the first City Manager under an Executive Mayor
process in a transparent -- the most transparent way that you can. And that's not
taking anything from this Mayor or any future Mayor. They have a right to decide
whom they're going to present to the Commission. And boy, I will back that right a
hundred percent to whomever the Mayor want, just like I had it back then. But the
Commission has not just the right, but an obligation under the Charter to be able to
look, study, and be convinced that that's the best choice for the City into the future.
The City has great needs. It needs someone that most of all is going to have a heart
for those needs in our city; individuals that need housing -- so many of our people
need housing; has to confront a drug epidemic where on a daily basis, we're having
many of our residents be picked up in the street, dead from drug overdoses; and
constant weekly random shootings, drug related, with drug gangs that are shooting
at each other. So this is not taking anything away from the Mayor; it's establishing a
process. I don't remember, Commissioner Gort. I think you --
Commissioner Gort: I was here. I was here.
Commissioner Carollo: -- were there back then. We went through that process --
Commissioner Gort: I seen all the changes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- the initial one.
Commissioner Gort: Yeah. But I seen all the change that have taken place, yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. And so, that's what I'm saying, and this is what I'm
talking about in this resolution; that we establish a transparent process where we try
to present the best candidates that we can, and we make sure that whatever company
is chosen to be a headhunter knows that they have to bring half of those candidates
that are local, but that you still get a picture of some of the most qualified from the
outside, in case we might find that we have an extraordinary individual out there.
And, yes, when I was chosen Manager of Doral, it was done during a crisis that the
Mayor at the time had gone through two Managers, and there was no national
search. But as I said, Doral, like many of our other cities -- it's a big difference
when you're talking about a city of 50, 000, with a budget that was 68 million, that I
brought down immediately to 38 million in a budget amendment to a city of the size
and importance of Miami, with close to half a million people, a budget of over a
billion dollars, and so much more; a Brickell Avenue that's the financial center of
Miami -Dade County, and a downtown that's the downtown of all of Greater Miami.
So I'd like to hear from my colleagues and see what opinions there are.
Chair Hardemon: I'll say, Commissioner Carollo, you asked for indulgence. I gave
you that --
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
City of Miami Page 119 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: --because, you know, what you put on the table for us to discuss
is -- I mean, you put forth a debate, if you will. This Item RE. 16 was continued to the
January meeting. And typically, motions to continue be considered, things of that
nature, we don't have -- we have very limited debate about them, because it's obvious
that we're trying to -- you want a limited amount of time to discuss a procedural
motion so you can get to the substance of whatever motion there may be. So, you
know, if -- All of us thought that we would be having this discussion for RE. 16 at our
next meeting, because that's what the motion is on the floor. And if we're trying to
reconsider that previous motion, then that has to be something that the body has to
agree to, without much discussion at all. And so, if -- and forgive me, because I --
the language escapes me right now -- but if you want to reconsider the motion to
continue the item, then I think that's an appropriate motion to make, have a second;
no further debate about it, and let's vote on that; if not, then this is going to be heard
at our next meeting, because I think the motion to reconsider lets you know, first of
all, is there an appetite to discuss this today, right? And then -- and if that passes,
then let us consider it today.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- what I was trying to accomplish, Mr. Chairman -- and I
thank you for letting me speak -- is to try to get a Commission flavor to have the
Commission start thinking of how they want to proceed in different ideas, and to
make sure that the Commission understands what I'm presenting so that we don't
come January 11 -- you know, none of us have the advantage of speaking to each
other. We're bound to the Sunshine Law, so the only way that you will have an idea
between now and January 11 is by what I say here now, because we don't have any
other meetings.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: And I want all of my colleagues to be appraised where I'm
coming from, where I'm heading with this, so that we could deal then with this
motion first, like it was in the agenda here before, on the Il th; and then, we deal
with the second motion, as we had here, that would be the designee that the Mayor
would make at the time, if he wants to make it at the time.
Mayor Francis Suarez: Mr. Chair --
Commissioner Carollo: And that's all I'm trying to accomplish.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. You're recognized, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you. I have no problem dealing with this issue substantively
now, because, obviously, it affects what happens on January 11, so I have no
problem discussing, debating, deciding this issue right now on whether or not it's
necessary for us to do a national search for a Manager. Obviously, I've already
made my intentions public about who I want to select as Manager, based on that
person's qualifications, being a 20 year resident of the City. I think the person has
exemplary qualifications, and I believe that the Charter vests in the Mayor broad
discretion to select a Manager; subject to, of course, ratification by the Commission,
which --for which I've always given, as a Commissioner, very broad latitude to the
Mayor, based on, you know, minimums of -- you know, making sure that person's
minimally qualified to do the job; and other than that, I've allowed the Mayor to
make their selection out of deference to the Mayor, because it's one of the things that
the Constitution and the Charter requires the Mayor to do. And I think -- yeah, I
City of Miami Page 120 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
think the voters of the City of Miami, most importantly, decide who the Mayor is, and
based on that decision, our -- giving the Mayor a vote of confidence on who that
person decides, which is why I think, historically, I'd say maybe there was one
national search in 17 years; maybe one of them was done by Commissioner when he
was Mayor, but there were other ones that were not done, and I don't think it's been
done at other times, and it certainly wasn't done in the five that were ratified when I
was a Commissioner. And so, I think it makes a lot of sense to deal with this issue
now so that we don't have to deal with it, you know, at the next Commission meeting
and confuse the issues of ratifying a very qualified and capable candidate with, you
know, some distraction on that issue.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that's totally up to this body, if it wants to --
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- deal with it now. I expressed what my intentions were
now, and with all respect -- and I sincerely mean that -- to the Mayor, our system,
just like in Washington, is a system of check and balances. We don't have a
monarchy here; it's a democracy. We have a republic, and everything is dependent,
thank God, on check and balances; just like the President can't name whoever he
wants in whichever way he wants, because the check and balance is the Congress
and the Senate. Here, the way the citizens designed our Charter was that the check
and balance would be a Commission; that the fact that a Mayor is selected doesn't
mean he gets a free ride in naming whoever he wants if the Commission wants to do
its job and have a check and balance. I had that check and balance on me where I
had to discuss with the Commission, and I didn't end up with the Managers that I
wanted on some occasions. I had to accept some others in discussions. So it's not
anything personal with Mr. Gonzalez. I don't know the man; you know, I know very
little about him. He very well might be the best potential candidate out there; then
again, he might not be. I don't know, and I won't know that until I really see what's
out there, how many people locally might be interested in the job that are qualified,
or how many people outside of here might be interested that are also qualified.
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) certainly --
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion.
Chair Hardemon: Motion to rescind?
Commissioner Carollo: -- has the option of making it a local search, also.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may?
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to make a motion, because we're getting into the
discussion of the substance while we've actually continued this item, so I would like
to make a motion that we rescind our vote on RE. 16 so that we can actually take up
the substance of the item.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly --
Vice Chair Russell: Is that not the right motion, Mr. --
Chair Hardemon: I would think so.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): It's a motion to reconsider.
Vice Chair Russell: Reconsider. Thank you, Mr. City Clerk.
City of Miami Page 121 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: I would say it's to rescind, because "reconsider" means that
you're reconsidering the question, and the question was to continue. So then, you'd
just be saying, "No, I don't want to continue it, " and then it'd be on the table. Just --
the motion to reconsider or rescind is -- I think is proper. It leaves the question still
on the table. So I'll second the motion to rescind. Is there any further discussion on
the motion to rescind? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? That motion passes. So RE.16 is up for
consideration to conduct a national search --
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, if I may?
Chair Hardemon: --a national --nationwide search for a qualified City Manager.
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou, Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Mayor Suarez: I actually agree with the Commissioner. I think he's absolutely right
that it is a system of checks and balances, and I think the Mayor has a role to play
and the Commission has a role to play, and I think the Commissioner has a role, by
and through the Commissioner's vote in representation of his citizens, based on who
the Mayor chooses. And if the Commissioner is not satisfied with the process by
which the Mayor engaged in to select that person or the qualifications of that person,
then the Commissioner has the option, every right to vote against that person if he
doesn't feel that either the process or the person was properly chosen. Part of the
reason why I deferred the item of the selection of the Manager today was precisely
so that the Commissioners would have an opportunity to meet with the Manager and
get better -- get to know the Manager, ask whatever questions were needed of the
Manager so that when that critical moment came, the -- you know, the Commissioner
had the ability -- or the Commissioners had the ability to decide whether that was --
that person was qualified or not. I think -- where I think -- and I don't want to get
into a constitutional discussion, but I think the voters of the City of Miami vest the
Mayor with the right to choose that person, and the Commission with the right to
rates or not rates that person. I think it's very clear, it's very simple, it is a check
and balance, and that's the way I'd like to do it, with all due respect.
Vice Chair Russell: You're requesting a motion for what?
Mayor Suarez: I'd like to have a motion to vote down RE. 16.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move to deny RE. 16
Mayor Suarez: Move to deny.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to --
Commissioner Carollo: Further discussion?
Vice Chair Russell: Deny the resolution.
Chair Hardemon: No, right.
City of Miami Page 122 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Vice Chair Russell: For discussion. Second for discussion.
Chair Hardemon: That Alzheimer's is kicking in. It's been properly moved and
seconded to deny RE. 16. Is there any further discussion on the motion to --
Commissioner Carollo: There is.
Chair Hardemon: -- deny? You're recognized, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: As I further stated, the Commission has the option of
bringing this into a limited search to a local search, or a hybrid of getting three or
more people recommended as the best candidates on a local level, and a few others
on a national level. My whole purpose here is that I don't want to be part of
something in the future that explodes on us because we didn't do a transparent
search for a Manager. The Mayor, obviously -- and I defend that -- has the right to
propose whoever he wants. That doesn't take away our responsibility from making
sure that we try to go about the process in the most transparent way that we can, and
I'm not seeing that transparency in the process so far, and I'd like to see real
transparency in the process, because when you have transparency, that's what gives
you the protection from mistakes of the past to come again, so as long as the
Commission knows that they have within this resolution the ability to limit, if it's
more of a narrow search or of a ample search, or totally a local search. If there is
no one else that wants to make any statements, then we'll proceed and it's up or
down; whatever the Commission wants.
Commissioner Gort: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion?
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, Vice Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Commissioner Carollo, I understand you're looking
for transparency and process, and we all completely agree with you on that. Nobody
here is trying to pass something without oversight of the community and full
involvement in public hearings. But I believe that our Charter -- our Code does set
out a path where we are giving discretion to our Mayor to choose his leadership
team. The public process and transparency is our ability to rates that person. Now,
if one of us is unsure or actually completely disagrees with his choice, our vote and
our discussion, and our urging of the Commissioners will lead to that. But for us to
second guess his ability to even start that choice and that we create a selection that
he has to choose from that we then ratify, I believe it's going against the precedent of
the system in which we're -- expected our elected Mayor to choose that Manager,
because they have to work as a team. We all have to work as a team, but that
Administration has to work lock step. And if he has a leadership team that he has
vetted and chosen in place, we have to vote that up or down, in my mind, but I don't
believe we have to second guess the Mayor on starting a search process on his
behalf, and that's why I'm not speaking against transparency and process; I'm
speaking for the transparency and process that we have. That's all.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Commissioner Gort: I think the transparency comes when it comes to us. I mean, I
already sat down with the gentleman. I did some investigation on the gentleman, his
City of Miami Page 123 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
background, and his ability. We are the one that have to say 'yes" or "no." I mean,
the selection -- he makes the selection, but we make -- we confirm or deny it, so it's
up to us to -- if we agree with it or not.
Commissioner Carollo: Look, let me clarify something that I just heard from
Commissioner Russell that I think needs some major clarification. When you say
that he works -- he's going to be working with the Mayor, responsible,
Commissioner, whoever the Manager is better understand that he has six bosses
here; five that sit up here, and the Mayor; and that he's going to work with all of us;
that a Manager is just not going to come here and be the Manager to serve one
elected official, because that's not what our Charter states.
Chair Hardemon: He won't last too long.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you know that. And so, I want to clarify that. And the
transparency part is if for any reason -- and I don't know -- you know, maybe after I
do my due diligence on Mr. Gonzalez and meet him, I might think, you know, he's the
best guy around, you know. We might bond even more than he might have bonded
with the Mayor; I don't know.
Mayor Suarez: Hopefully.
Commissioner Carollo: But I will say this to you: What, if for any reason, this
Commission votes him down and doesn't agree with him? Then I don't know how
many more people the Mayor has; whereas, if you go through a transparent process,
you immediately have more people that are qualified that could have been vest --
vetted already that you could go through, and no one can deny that it was an open
process, and the Mayor had the right to tell us whom he thought was best, and that's
all that I'm saying. At the end of the day, whatever decision this body wants to make,
I'm fine with, but at least had the opportunity to say --
Commissioner Gort: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- "Let's do a proper process, open, in the sunshine."
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes. Yes, I have something to say about this. I understand,
Mr. Carollo -- Commissioner -- your concern that you want transparency and that
you want the best man chosen to --for the work. I, for one, am totally opposed to
national searches, and I'm opposed to national searches because if you go back in
history, and you all and I, we know a couple of people that were brought all the way
from -- I'd say Michigan or something, to name one, that you were here at the time,
and it was a disaster. The School System had the same problem; Coral Gables had
the same problem. And I think that we have a lot of local talent that we have to pick
for; full of local talent. I don't want anybody that comes -- and you mentioned
something that is true. We have a city that is unique; it's a unique city. I don't want
anybody to come here to -- that we have to teach him what Little Havana means for
the Cuban or what Liberty City, Overtown, and the reason that Overtown is like it is
now, you see? I want local talent. Now, having said that, we're talking about
transparency, and I think that transparency, it is -- there is transparency. The
Charter gives this man the right to pick whoever he chooses, but also give us the
right to vote him out or to vote him in, you see? And it's not -- that is check and
City of Miami Page 124 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
balances. That is check and balances. Now, whoever the Mayor picks, the Mayor is
accountable for the actions of that person, that individual, you see? There is
accountability that's in there, also. So the people of Miami should know that if the
City Manager is acting in a way that is hurting the interests of the people of Miami,
the Mayor is at fault. And we, as the legislative body, we have to let everybody know
and let the Mayor know that that City Manager is not acting in the best interest of
the City, and it is our duty to try to get him out and vote him out, and keep him out.
And if the Mayor doesn't want him out, we'll just go to the public and -- to let them
know. So he is responsible for his decision, and we are responsible for either
rating him and get him out. And with all due respect, I don't want to start -- you
see, in all the process now of trying to pick, part of six people, and if that is
according to the qualifications of this individual -- it's nothing against him -- if he
throws his application and he is one of the people that's going to be chosen, you see,
in the final analysis, he is going to bring us with a name, so we have to vote in or
out. You understand what I'm saying?
Commissioner Carollo: I under --
Commissioner Reyes: What I'm saying is, let's give him that deference and be totally
alert if his pick, it doesn't work, I mean, for the benefit of all the districts, of all the
bosses. Well, I'll be the first one that is going to move to fire the Manager, you see?
Chair Hardemon: All right.
Commissioner Reyes: Having said that, I think that we should vote.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no further discussion on the motion to deny or reject
RE. 16, is there any --? I'd like to move to a vote. All in favor of the motion to deny
or reject, say "aye. "
Commissioner Reyes: Aye.
Vice Chair Russell: Aye.
Commissioner Gort: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Commissioner Carollo: Nay.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou, Commissioners.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Now, I'd like to start our PZ (Planning &
Zoning) item. I know that you need to change over your tape, and as soon as you're
done, give the signal to the -- Madam City Attorney. Madam City Attorney, then you
can start reading into the record your script. Fair?
Commissioner Carollo: The PZ.
City of Miami Page 125 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
RE.17
RESOLUTION
3388
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE MANAGER TO RESCIND THE CITY OF MIAMI'S ("CITY'S")
Commissioners
TRAFFIC INFRACTION DETECTOR PROGRAM BY DIRECTING
and Mayor
THE CITY MANAGER TO TERMINATE THE CITY'S AGREEMENT
WITH AMERICAN TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS, INC., AND DISMANTLE
THE CITY OF MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RED-LIGHT
CAMERA PROGRAM; FURTHER INSTRUCTING THE CITY
MANAGER AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO FIND NEW
REVENUES AND/OR TO REDUCE CITY EXPENSES TO MITIGATE
THE BUDGETARY SHORTFALL THAT WILL OCCUR AT THE
TERMINATION OF THIS PROGRAM.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0620
MOTION TO:
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER:
AYES:
Adopt
ADOPTED
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record: For additional minutes referencing Item RE.17, please see
"Public Comment Period for Regular Item(s). "
Mayor Francis Suarez: I'd like to next take Item 19, 17, and DL 3, which are three
parallel items which have the effect of terminating for convenience the Red Light
Camera Program. I want to make two statements regarding this. The first is that
there are often many times in our public service where many competing interests that
are good competing interests come into conflict. And certainly, the Cure for
Paralysis, led by Mr. Buoniconti and Jackson Hospital are two of our most prized
institutions in this community. And so, I think the Commissioners, I'm sure, that
have sponsored this legislation, including Commissioner Carollo, all have a heavy
heart regarding the potential impact of this termination. At the same time, we live in
a very poor city, and I have just had too many stories of Rosa Rey. Rosa Rey is one
of many people who receives $635 a month from Social Security, but pays $731 in
rent. And I don't know how Rosa Rey and so many others like her find a way --
through family help, through family support -- to eek by a living every single month.
You know, we talk about disposable income and we talk about this being the second
highest rental market in the U.S. (United States), and we've all talked about that. It's
amazing how many stories you hear of people that are actually either living where
their monthly Social Security check either pays only -- 80 percent of their rent takes
up the whole monthly Social Security check; or in some cases, the rent exceeds the
monthly Social Security check. So it creates a situation where people -- And we talk
about disposable income -- 50 percent disposable income, 60 percent or 70 --
whatever is healthy. They have no disposable income. In some cases, they have
negative disposable income, because they have to be subsidized by their family
members. And so, I think that was the driving force for us to co-sponsor a resolution
that cancels for convenience this program. It's for the Rosa Reys of our community
that are in all of our districts, by the way. I want to -- you know, I tried to do this in
2013, and many of the members for the Cure for Paralysis came, and that's
something that impacted me, without a doubt. I tried to do -- to support State
legislation in January of this year, and unfortunately, that did not succeed at the
State legislative level. But because of those experiences, I realize that this program,
which negatively impacts our residents at such a high degree, from an economic
City of Miami Page 126 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
perspective, and is so unpopular does provide some positive benefits to other
organizations that are doing incredible work in our community, so because of that, I
reached out to Speaker Designee Jose Oliva, from the Florida House of
Representatives. And Representative Oliva sent me a letter stating the following,
and I'm going to enter it into the record: "Dear Mayor Suarez: The Miami Project
to Cure Paralysis is a world-class investigative research program funded in part by
the City of Miami's Red Light Camera Program, whose cutting edge discovery,
translational, and clinical investigations target spinal cord and brain injuries; as
such, you have my full commitment that should the City terminate its Red Light
Camera Program, I will work with my colleagues in the Florida House of
Representatives to ensure that funding for the project be included in the House
Appropriations Bill for this upcoming legislative session, to make up for any
shortfall in revenue resulting from the termination." And it's signed, "Jose Oliva,
State Representative, District 110," who is the incoming Speaker of the Florida
House. And you can enter that into the record. This is something that we need to do
together. This is not an individual proposal. This is something that I'm very happy,
as Mayor, to see that all the Commissioners and I -- pretty much all the
Commissioners either supported this or created a parallel resolution, which
essentially did the same thing. And I think, to me, that's a demonstration of unity;
and to me, that's a demonstration that we all feel that we need to fight for the Rosa
Reys of our community. And so, I would humbly request that the -- any
Commissioner please make a motion on RE.19, 17, together; and the discussion
item, Discussion Item --
Commissioner Carollo: Motion made, Mr. Mayor.
Commissioner Reyes: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou.
Vice Chair Russell: It's been moved and seconded. Any further discussion?
Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: Let me speak on this, because I think it's very important. Most
of us inherit this before 2010. This case was in court, and it came back to us. And
as I was walking throughout all the different campaigns, all you hear is the
complaint about the red light cameras, the red light camera. And for the last three
years, I've been telling the industry, I've been telling those people, "Please bring us
information why is -- what the cameras doing." I been waiting for three years to
bring me the information. Nobody has bring [sic] me the information. All you hear
is negative. You go to radio stations; all you hear, people speaking against the
camera. Most of these individuals got elected now, they were going door to door,
and the reason -- the biggest complaint they got is the red light camera. And the
other reason I'm doing it today is because at that time, if we were going to -- done it
two years ago or a year ago, we would have a liability of millions of dollars. At this
time, according to the contract, the contract is up. I have not received any
information from the industry or from the Police, telling me all the benefits that have
taken place.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Commissioner Gort. Any other comments?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, Mr. Chairman, ifI may.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: I'd like to ask a question of the City Attorney, and while
she's verifying the answer for me, I'd like to make a statement. Madam City
City of Miami Page 127 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Attorney, could you verify for us -- because I want to make sure that we're perfectly
in line with the contract -- when was the first time, the first month and date that we
could've exercised the right under the contract to do away with this contract with --
giving them the 60 -day notice that we would have to give today? If you could be
looking at that, I'm going to make a quick statement; and, hopefully, when I'm done,
you'll have the answer for me. But I want to state why I've taken this position, why I
made a promise when I ran that at my first meeting, I would present a resolution to
do away with red light cameras. First of all, there is hardly a red light in the City of
Miami that the yellow light before is synchronized with the same seconds as one to
the other when they change. You have such a wide range that in one area, one
corner, the yellow light changes in a few seconds; in another one, it changes much
longer. So it's impossible for any individual to really be able to time one yellow light
before it goes to a red light to another, because they change -- you don't have any
standard on them. Secondly of all, when we talk about people running red lights,
let's talk about the reality of this. From the information that I've gotten, it's
something like 80 percent or so of the people that have gotten tickets for supposedly
running a red light; that has been one second or less. Now, in that time, to get a
ticket that for some people is going to throw them off in their whole monthly budget,
if not two or three monthly budgets, I think is not fair. Thirdly, what's been
happening -- and this is not one or two people; I've gotten dozens and dozens that
have not only told me, but they've shown me what they've gotten -- that for some
strange reason, there have been thousands of our residents that never have gotten
the original $158 ticket. The first notice that they get is when they receive a second
notification that says, "You haven't responded to your first; now you have to pay
$277. " And, look, I could understand someone making a mistake, or someone maybe
fibbing to me, but when you have dozens and dozens of people that are telling you
the same story, you have to know that something's up, and it's a pattern that is
happening, and it's more than just a few people. Last but not least, what I have been
able to observe myself is that with all the additional traffic that on a daily basis we
have in Miami -- and I say that because it is on a daily basis, the traffic gets worse,
whether you're in Miami, you're in Aventura, you're in Palmetto, and God forbid if
you have to drive to Doral. I'm glad I'm not doing that anymore. And everyone is
braking half a block before they even get to the red light, because they're petrified to
run that red light by a fraction of a second. So what does it do? One, you're slowing
traffic up even more so than what we have already, because so much traffic. And
two, it is causing more accidents from rear -end collisions. So for all those reasons is
why I presented this, and I'm voting to do away with red light cameras forever in the
City of Miami. We have a very poor city, and for the last -- well, since 2010, when
this was first instituted, it's close to $120 million that our residents have paid out.
That's a huge amount of money that's been taking out of our community for the most
part, and hasn't been left here to circulate for new jobs, to keep other jobs so that
our businesses would be privy to our people spending that money here. And when
you hear the stories, as the Mayor described one to you, that we all have heard in
our communities of people that can't pay that $277, because they never got the
original 158; or can't pay the 158, and they call to see if they can make payment
arrangements. And they tell them, "No, you got to pay it right now, or your license is
going to be suspended." So this is not fair; and frankly, this has not been about
protecting our residents. This has been to generate money for a variety of areas,
including the people in red light cameras. The biggest concern to the City of Miami
has been net $4 million, like our good fine officers from the FOP (Fraternal Order of
Police) think that it's going to cost us. It's been slightly over $6 million that it's
supposed to be bringing to our general fund this year. So it's revenue -generated,•
that's why we have so many red light cameras, and this is why you don't have them in
some areas of the City and you have them in others, also. And last but not least, I
have to be responsible, also; we all have to. And this is why I included in the
resolution that I presented -- I'm assuming the Mayor has it in his, but if not, he's
going to be asking the same thing that I am, and all of us are of the Administration to
City of Miami Page 128 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
come up with new ways of creating recurring revenue to make up for that and/or
cutting back on some parts of the budget. And I welcome all our colleagues to do the
same. I think we have to do it as a whole. I'm certainly in the future going to
present other ideas how we can make up for that shortfall, but I'm sure the
Administration is going to have other ideas.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Are there any further comments from the dais?
Commissioner Reyes: I want to add that in my district, District 4, we have 21 red
light cameras; 21 red light cameras. And as I went door to door and I went visiting
all my constituents, all the voters and residents of that district, I heard the same
story. And Commissioner Carollo, I mean, I cannot say anything. I cannot add
anything to what you said and what Willy said -- I mean Commissioner Gort said.
And I do agree with the action that we are taking and we -- what we have to do. I
want -- the only thing that we have to add is that we will have -- and I would like to
suggest that we establish a traffic police. You see, we all know that traffic is very,
very -- it is dangerous to drive in the City of Miami or in all Dade County. But I
think that police enforcement, it will be a deterrent to those people that they drive in
a very -- I will say that -- dangerous or in a way that they will affect the -- well, the
end of our citizens. And so, I will suggest that we establish -- that is, increase our
police officers --force -- and make them specifically that they will enforce our traffic
laws.
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou, Commissioner.
Chair Hardemon: All right. So it's been properly moved and seconded that we
approve Items RE. 17 and RE. 19. Is there any further discussion on the matter?
Hearing none, all in favor of the motion, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Commissioners. And thank you for the collegial way in
which we handled this item.
Later...
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, I had asked the City Attorney to come back
with a date, if we could get it on the record already, and the question of -- that I put
to her was: "When was the earliest date that the Commission could have cancelled
the red light contract, giving them the 60 days' notice?"
Ms. Mendez: August 11, 2016.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. August 11, 2016, which is close to a year and a half
back.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Chair, ifl may?
Chair Hardemon: Please; you're recognized.
City of Miami Page 129 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, thank you.
Mayor Suarez: And I had this discussion with the Commissioner. I was under the
impression, Commissioner, that it was August of this year.
Commissioner Gort: Four months, yeah; months.
Mayor Suarez: The City Attorney and I had aback and --
Commissioner Carollo: It's fine.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: You and I both weren't sure --
Mayor Suarez: Right, right.
Commissioner Carollo: --because we were told different things. Frankly, I was told
it was even later.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: You were told it was closer. So we both got the wrong
answers and --
Mayor Suarez: It's okay.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you know, that's fine. We got it in the record now. Thank
you.
RE.18 RESOLUTION
3389 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPROVING
Commissioners MAYOR FRANCIS X. SUAREZ'S APPOINTMENT OF
and Mayor AS THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA EFFECTIVE
MOTION TO:
Continue
RESULT:
CONTINUED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reye
Note for the Record: Item RE. 18 was continued to the January II, 2018, Regular
Commission Meeting.
Mayor Francis Suarez: Mr. Chair, may I be recognized?
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Like to take some of my items. The first is
RE. 18, which is the ratification and appointment of the City Manager. Mr. Chair, I'd
City of Miami Page 130 Printed on 2109/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
like to ask that the Commission defer this item to the next Commission meeting,
because I know you were not available yesterday, when you were set to meet with the
new City Manager. I know Commissioner Carollo has not had an opportunity yet to
meet with the new City Manager, and I think it's appropriate and fair that both of
you have an opportunity to meet with the new City Manager. I think the practical
consequence of this does not negatively impact the residents of the City of Miami,
because according to the Charter, the Mayor makes the appointment, which must be
ratified within 14 days. So if this was going to be the appointment date, today would
have been the ratification date, as well. What I'll do is I will circulate a memo on
January 3, which was going to be the start date, naming the Manager, as I've
articulated it by press conference, and asking the Commission to ratify him on
January 11.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move to defer to January 11.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved, seconded by the Chair, to defer to
January 11 RE. 18. Is there any discussion on that?
Commissioner Carollo: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Got to start learning this red button
here. The present City Manager is going to be here until when; Mr. Alfonso? Until
when will he be here?
Mayor Suarez: He'll be here till January 2.
Commissioner Carollo: January 2?
Mayor Suarez: Is that correct, Mr. Manager?
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): That is correct. My resignation is effective
January 2, although I'll be on vacation for a couple of weeks; but, yes, that's correct.
I'll be the Manager through January 2.
Mayor Suarez: And Commissioner, in my understanding of the way the Charter
operates, the Mayor has the authority to select a Manager; of course, subject to
ratification by the Commission within 14 days. So if I select a Manager on January
3, by memo, he begins on January 3, subject to ratification of the Commission within
14 days; is that correct?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Yes.
Mayor Suarez: So --
Commissioner Carollo: That is correct, concededly. I just don't know if that would
be something that should be practical, if we would want to start a City Manager
without the full -- as Charter provides -- ratification of the City Commission.
Mayor Suarez: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: That's totally something up to the board. And I'm only
saying that because if for --
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- any reason, a majority of this Commission does not rates
that, then we're kind of in a situation that I don't think we --
City of Miami Page 131 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- want to be in.
Mayor Suarez: Yeah. And let me --
Commissioner Carollo: What -- ifI may, Mr. Mayor?
Mayor Suarez: Sure.
Commissioner Carollo: I mean, according to the Charter -- and I'm not trying to
take anything away of the few powers that you have as Executive Mayor under the
Charter, because I was the first Executive Mayor, and I know what you're dealing
with, and the restraints that you have. But can maybe you consider until the 11th
designating today for the approval of this Commission one of the Assistant
Managers, up until the time then on the 11th that it's fully ratified by the
Commission?
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: And only till that time, and that's all that I'm asking,
because I think it would --
Mayor Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you know, be better in doing it this way. Frankly, that I
could recollect, it's always been done that way. This would have been the first time
that we would have a Manager who's not ratified already by the Commission that's
sworn for so long and -- in operating. So I'm only suggesting --
Mayor Suarez: Yeah, and --
Commissioner Carollo: -- obviously, it's your prerogative --
Mayor Suarez: Sure.
Commissioner Carollo: -- how you do it.
Mayor Suarez: And I appreciate that, Commissioner, and I think it's a good
suggestion. You know, I was fully prepared to have the Manager ratified today, and
I just -- out of courtesy, in part, to you; and out of a courtesy to the Chair, who,
unfortunately, couldn't meet with the Manager yesterday, I'm prepared to delay that
ratification. I think naming that Manager on the 3rd simply creates a seamless
transition. And so, you know, if you want to ratify him right now, because you want
to maintain past practice, then we can ratify him right now. I just think that the fair
thing to do, because you haven't had a chance to meet with him and the Chair hasn't
had a chance to meet with him, would be to do it the way that I'm suggesting, so I'm
doing it as a courtesy to you.
Commissioner Carollo: And I appreciate that. There's also a five-day rule issue
that I think is very valid in -- that could have been used today. Tin not saying that it
would have, but Tin saying that it could have.
Mayor Suarez: Sure.
City of Miami Page 132 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Carollo: So I'm -- I think this is the best way of handling that, and I
appreciate it. But all that I'm saying is that I would be willing to accept any
designee out of the present Assistant City Managers that we have. And frankly, if
you put a gun to my head, I couldn't even say all of their names, because, you know,
I'm so new here that I haven't remembered them, but I think they're all qualified
individuals. And once we get to the 11 th, it would be the kind of transition that you
would want, because what if, for any reason -- and I'm not saying this is going to
happen -- but what if, for any reason, comes the 11 th, and your nominee doesn't get
approved by the Commission? Then it's kind of a --
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you know, a situation that I don't think any of us would
like to see, and that's all that I'm saying.
Mayor Suarez: No, and --
Commissioner Carollo: It's your decision finally.
Mayor Suarez: -- I appreciate that. And, look, that can always happen. Any time,
the Commission can decide not to ratify an appointee, and then you have to select
another appointee, or reselect the same person. Historically, that person sometimes
has not been rati -- you know the history of the system ofgovernment. So --
Chair Hardemon: Before we move on --
Mayor Suarez: Sure.
Chair Hardemon: --first, Commissioner Carollo, I'd like to say that, fortunately for
all of us, guns are not allowed in City Hall. It's okay.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, can I make a suggestion?
Chair Hardemon: And the next -- I'd like to recognize Commissioner Reyes, and
then Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Why don't we make -- I mean, if it is possible and it's
agreeable with Mr. Alfonso -- that we make his resignation effective the day that the
Manager has been --
Commissioner Carollo: Ratified.
Commissioner Reyes: -- ratified?
Mayor Suarez: Do you want to work it --?
Commissioner Reyes: And you have --
Mayor Suarez: You want to work --
Commissioner Reyes: -- you will have to deal with us for a little while, but we would
have a person that is --
Mayor Suarez: -- an extra nine days?
Commissioner Gort: He's got to go.
City of Miami Page 133 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioners, I would do that, but then I would ask that I would
continue to be granted to burn a little more of my time, because I have made a
commitment, and I will definitely take calls and participate as much as I can, so if
you give me that flexibility.
Mayor Suarez: Unfortunate --
Commissioner Reyes: Excuse me. When I say that, you will be properly
compensated; that's what I mean to say.
Mayor Suarez: And Commissioner, part of the reason why I suggested it this way,
even a prospective -- because this would have been a prospective, you know, in terms
of ratifying today for a prospective -- was in consideration of the Manager's
timeline. I wanted to be respectful. He has another job that he's going to start, and I
-- but if you're okay with that, then -- and this Commission is okay with that -- that
might be the best way to do it.
Commissioner Gort: It's a good idea.
Mayor Suarez: Okay?
Vice Chair Russell: What's that? Him continuing --?
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: Yeah. That's it.
Mayor Suarez: Sounds good to me.
Chair Hardemon: All right. So --
Commissioner Gort: Sounds good.
Chair Hardemon: -- the Vice Chairman moved to continue this item, and the Chair
seconded it. And so, is there any further discussion with the motion? Hearing none,
all in favor of the motion, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mayor Suarez: Thankyou, Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Motion approved.
City of Miami Page 134 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
RE.19
RESOLUTION
3395
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING
THE CITY MANAGER TO TERMINATE THE CITY OF MIAMI'S
Commissioners
("CITY") AGREEMENT WITH AMERICAN TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS,
and Mayor
INC., TO FURNISH, INSTALL, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN THE
CITY'S TRAFFIC INFRACTION DETECTOR PROGRAM; FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY
STEPS TO IMPLEMENT THE TERMS FOR TERMINATION OF THE
AGREEMENT FOR CONVENIENCE; AND FURTHER DIRECTING
THE CITY MANGER AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO ALLOCATE
THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS ANY
BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS RESULTING FROM THE
TERMINATION OF THE PROGRAM.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0621
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER: Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item RE.19, please see "Public
Comment Period for Regular Item (s) " and Item RE. 17.
END OF RESOLUTIONS
City ofMiarni Page 135 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Filewivi a 11010 kiIEVEMI1;I►III c94:9[07►1
ACA ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION
3316 UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
Office of the City STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
Attorney CONDUCTED AT THE DECEMBER 14, 2017 MIAMI CITY
COMMISSION MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION IN THE CASE OF VILLAGE OF KEY
BISCAYNE V. CITY OF MIAMI, CASE NO. 15-02997 CA 09,
PENDING BEFORE THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 11TH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO
WHICH THE CITY IS PRESENTLY A PARTY. THE SUBJECT OF
THE MEETING WILL BE CONFINED TO SETTLEMENT
NEGOTIATIONS OR STRATEGY SESSIONS RELATED TO
LITIGATION EXPENDITURES. THIS PRIVATE MEETING WILL
BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. (OR AS SOON
THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS' SCHEDULES PERMIT)
AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER. THE
SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDE CHAIRMAN KEON HARDEMON,
VICE-CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL, AND COMMISSIONERS
WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT, JOE CAROLLO, AND MANOLO REYES;
CITY MANAGER DANIEL J. ALFONSO; CITY ATTORNEY
VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEYS JOHN A.
GRECO AND BARNABY L. MIN; DIVISION CHIEF FOR LAND
USE/TRANSACTIONS RAFAEL SUAREZ-RIVAS; AND ASSISTANT
CITY ATTORNEYS KERRI L. MCNULTY AND FORREST L.
ANDREWS. A CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER WILL BE
PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT THE SESSION IS FULLY
TRANSCRIBED AND THE TRANSCRIPT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC
UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE ABOVE-CITED, ONGOING
LITIGATION. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT
SESSION, THE REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE
REOPENED AND THE PERSON CHAIRING THE COMMISSION
MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE TERMINATION OF THE
ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: Opening back up the December 14 Miami City Commission
meeting minute [sic].
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On November 16,
2017, under the provisions of Section 286.011(8), Florida Statutes, the City Attorney
requested the City Commission meet in private to discuss pending litigation in the
case of Village of Key Biscayne versus City of Miami, Case Number 15-02997 CA
09, pending before the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, in and for
Miami -Dade County, to which the City is presently a partv. City Commission
Citv ofMian ni Page 136 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
approved the City Attorney's request, and will now, at approximately midnight,
commence a private attorney/client session, under the parameters of Section
286.011(8), Florida Statutes. The subject of the meeting will be confined to
settlement negotiations/strategy sessions related to litigation expenditures. This
private meeting will conclude approximately one hour later. The session will be
attended by members of the City Commission, which include Chairman Keon
Hardemon, Vice Chairman Ken Russell; Commissioners Willy -- Wifredo "Willy"
Gort, Joe Carollo, and Manolo Reyes; City Manager Daniel Alfonso; City Attorney
Victoria Mendez; Deputy City Attorney John Greco; Division Chief for Land Use
Transactions Rafael Suarez -Rivas; and Assistant City Attorneys Kerri McNulty. A
certified court reporter will be present to ensure the session is fully transcribed, and
the transcript will be made public upon the conclusion of the above-cited ongoing
litigation. At the conclusion of the attorney-client session, the regular Commission
meeting will be reopened, and the person chairing the Commission meeting will
announce the termination of the attorney-client session. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Back in recess.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Opening back up the December 14 Miami City Commission
meeting.
Mr. Min: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That concludes the shade meetings. I do have
three to announce for January 11, if I may.
Chair Hardemon: Go ahead.
City of Miami Page 137 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
AC.2 ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION
3317 UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
Office of the City STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
Attorney CONDUCTED AT THE DECEMBER 14, 2017 MIAMI CITY
COMMISSION MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION IN THE CASE OF 346 NW 29TH
STREET, LLC ET AL., V. CITY OF MIAMI, ET AL., CASE NO. 13-
037260 CA 01, PENDING BEFORE THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO
WHICH THE CITY IS PRESENTLY A PARTY. THE SUBJECT OF
THE MEETING WILL BE CONFINED TO SETTLEMENT
NEGOTIATIONS OR STRATEGY SESSIONS RELATED TO
LITIGATION EXPENDITURES. THIS PRIVATE MEETING WILL
BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. (OR AS SOON
THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS' SCHEDULES PERMIT)
AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER. THE
SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDE CHAIRMAN KEON HARDEMON,
VICE-CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL, AND COMMISSIONERS
WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT, JOE CAROLLO, AND MANOLO REYES;
CITY MANAGER DANIEL J. ALFONSO; CITY ATTORNEY
VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEYS JOHN A.
GRECO AND BARNABY L. MIN; DIVISION CHIEF FOR GENERAL
LITIGATION CHRISTOPHER A. GREEN; SENIOR ASSISTANT
CITY ATTORNEY HENRY J. HUNNEFELD; AND ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEY KERRI L. MCNULTY. A CERTIFIED COURT
REPORTER WILL BE PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT THE
SESSION IS FULLY TRANSCRIBED AND THE TRANSCRIPT WILL
BE MADE PUBLIC UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE ABOVE-
CITED, ONGOING LITIGATION. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE
ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION, THE REGULAR COMMISSION
MEETING WILL BE REOPENED AND THE PERSON CHAIRING
THE COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
TERMINATION OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION.
L RESULT: - DISCUSSED
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Oh, and sorry, Mr. City Attorney. So DI2 will not --
I'm sorry -- AC.2 will not be heard tonight?
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): We're -- that is correct.
Mr. Hannon: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Meeting is adjourned.
Citv ofMian ni Page 138 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
AC.3 ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION
3318 UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
Office of the City STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
Attorney CONDUCTED AT THE DECEMBER 14, 2017 MIAMI CITY
COMMISSION MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE
COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION IN THE CASE OF HEADLEY V. CITY
OF MIAMI, PERC CASE NO.CR-2017-001, PENDING BEFORE
THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RELATIONS COMMISSION (PERC) TO
WHICH THE CITY IS PRESENTLY A PARTY. THE SUBJECT OF
THE MEETING WILL BE CONFINED TO SETTLEMENT
NEGOTIATIONS OR STRATEGY SESSIONS RELATED TO
LITIGATION EXPENDITURES. THIS PRIVATE MEETING WILL
BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. (OR AS SOON
THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS' SCHEDULES PERMIT)
AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER. THE
SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COMMISSION WHICH INCLUDE CHAIRMAN KEON HARDEMON,
VICE-CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL, AND COMMISSIONERS
WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT, JOE CAROLLO, AND MANOLO REYES;
CITY MANAGER DANIEL J. ALFONSO; CITY ATTORNEY
VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEYS JOHN A.
GRECO AND BARNABY L. MIN; DIVISION CHIEF FOR LABOR
AND EMPLOYMENT KEVIN R. JONES; ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEYS STEPHANIE K. PANOFF AND BARBARA DIAZ;
LUKE SAVAGE, ESQ.; AND MICHAEL MATTIMORE, ESQ. A
CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER WILL BE PRESENT TO ENSURE
THAT THE SESSION IS FULLY TRANSCRIBED AND THE
TRANSCRIPT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC UPON THE CONCLUSION
OF THE ABOVE-CITED, ONGOING LITIGATION. AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION, THE
REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE REOPENED AND
THE PERSON CHAIRING THE COMMISSION MEETING WILL
ANNOUNCE THE TERMINATION OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT
SESSION.
L RESULT: DISCUSSED
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): On November 16, 2017, under provisions of
Section 286.011(8) --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): ,lust a moment, please.
Mr. Min: I'm sorry.
Mr. Hannon: All right. We're good to go, Chair.
Mr. Min: On November 16, 2017, under the provisions of Section 286.011(8),
Florida Statutes, the Ciiv Attorney requested that the City Commission meet in
private to discuss the pending litigation in the case of Headley versus City of Miami,
PERC (Public Employees Relations Commission), Case Number CR -2017-001,
Citv ofMiarni Page 139 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
pending before the Public Employees Relations Commission, to which the City is
presently a party. The City Commission approved the City Attorney's request, and
will now, at approximately 10:30 p.m., commence a private attorney/client session
under the parameters of Section 286.011(8), Florida Statutes. The subject of the
meeting will be confined to settlement negotiations or strategy sessions related to
litigation and expenditures. This private meeting will conclude approximately one
hour later. This session will be attended by members of the City Commission, which
include Chairman Keon Hardemon, Vice Chairman Ken Russell, and Commissioners
Wifredo "Willy" Gort, Joe Carollo, and Manolo Reyes; City Manager Daniel
Alfonso; City Attorney Victoria Mendez; Deputy City Attorneys John Greco and
Barnaby Min; Division Chief for Labor and Employment Kevin Jones; Assistant City
Attorneys Stephanie Panoff and Barbara Diaz; Luke Savage, Esquire, and Michael
Mattimore, Esquire. A certified court reporter will be present to ensure the session
is fully transcribed, and the transcript will be made public upon the conclusion of the
above-cited ongoing litigation. At the conclusion of the attorney-client session, the
regular Commission meeting will be reopened, and the person chairing the
Commission meeting will announce the termination of the attorney-client session.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Min: You can proceed upstairs to the Manager's conference room.
Vice Chair Russell: Proceed upstairs.
Chair Hardemon: So we'll all go upstairs to the City Manager's conference room,
and we have our shade meetings there, and you all do not have to come back down
once we've completed those. Everyone is free to go and at that time, close the
meeting. So meeting's in recess.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Clerk?
Mr. Hannon: One second, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: Are we recording?
Mr. Hannon: Okay, we're good to go, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Opening back up the December 14 Miami City Commission
meeting and -- to announce the closing of the previous -- I think that was a shade
meeting, and now going back into recess.
Mr. Hannon: One second, sir. Barnaby will be reading a statement into the record,
and then we'll recess afterwards, so I believe he's on his way down.
Chair Hardemon: We'll recess at the conclusion of Mr. Min's statement.
Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
END OF ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION
City of Miami Page 140 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
I*Z*07ilNBill FAkiI9Xd0]►yll►yll111iiI; I�?
BCA RESOLUTION
3352 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING THE MAYOR AND
Office of the City MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AS CHAIRPERSONS, VICE-
Cierk CHAIRPERSONS AND/OR MEMBERS ON VARIOUS TRUSTS, AUTHORITIES,
BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES FOR TERMS AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
APPOINTED AS CHAIRPERSON:
Commissioner Ken Russell of the Downtown Development Authority
Commissioner Ken Russell of the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency
Commissioner Keon Hardemon of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency
APPOINTED AS VICE CHAIRPERSON:
Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort of the Midtown Community Redevelopment Agency
Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community
Redevelopment Agency
APPOINTED AS MEMBER:
Commissioner Keon Hardemon of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau
Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort of the Miami -Dade County League of Cities
Commissioner Keon Hardemon of the Miami -Dade County Tourist Development Council
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0595
City ofMiarni Page 141 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
MOTION TO
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER
AYES:
Adopt
ADOPTED
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: So I think at this time, we have the boards and our committees.
Commissioner Carollo: Where are we at now? On --?
Chair Hardemon: Boards and committees. The --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. BC. 1 ?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): It's just --
Chair Hardemon: Correct.
Mr. Hannon: --yes; just one item.
Chair Hardemon: The City Clerk --
Mr. Hannon: Just one item, Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Oh, just one item. Okay.
Mr. Hannon: Just one item.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no. We're talking BC. 1.
Mr. Hannon: Yes, BC. 1.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well, on BC. 1, I'd like to make a motion.
Chair Hardemon: Before we get --
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: -- I just want to hear what the -- they typically tell us --
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, okay.
Chair Hardemon: -- what is being considered, and then we go into the motion.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Hannon: BC.1 is essentially the Commissioners as board members, and this is
where you address a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and also non -City -related
boards.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Are there any proposed names just yet for any of the committees?
City of Miami Page 142 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Mr. Hannon: Well, currently we -- ifyou want me to go run down the list, the -- For
the Bayfront Park Management Trust that was previously held by Commissioner
Frank Carollo; the current Chair of the Downtown Development Authority is Vice
Chair Russell; Commissioner Suarez was previously the Chair of the Midtown
Community Redevelopment Agency; Commissioner Russell currently serves as the
Chair of the Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency); Commissioner
Hardemon serves as the Chair of the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA; for Vice
Chair, Commissioner Gort currently serves as the Vice -- well, Commissioner Gort
currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Midtown CRA; Commissioner Suarez
previously was Vice Chair for the Omni CRA; Commissioner Gort also serves as the
Vice Chair for the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA. And then for non -City
boards, Commissioner Hardemon currently serves on the Greater Miami Convention
and Visitors Bureau; Commissioner Suarez previously served on the Florida League
of Cities; Commissioner Gort currently serves on the Miami -Dade County League of
Cities; Commissioner Hardemon currently serves on the Miami -Dade County
Tourist Development Council; and Commissioner Carollo previously served on the
Miami River Commission.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. So do we want -- as a board, do we want to reappoint to --
for those who are already serving on boards and are still on this body -- to reappoint
to those same boards; is that fair?
Vice Chair Russell: I would like that.
Chair Hardemon: All right. And then from there, we'll discuss the vacancies. So is
there a motion to reappoint those current sitting Commission members to their same
positions?
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move it.
Commissioner Carollo: There's a motion.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved; and seconded by Commissioner Carollo.
Any discussion regarding that? Hearing none, all say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes.
A►IMe] a:Z07e N11m_1kiI1Zd0]►yiIMIka9;1=E;*]
City of Miami Page 143 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
1-11111211111-111Biel NkI
BU.1 BUDGET DISCUSSION ITEM
1516 MONTHLY REPORT
Office of I. SECTION 2-497 OF THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES
Management and (RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT AND
Budget BUDGET)
II. SECTION 18-502 (CITY'S ANTI -DEFICIENCY ACT)
III. SECTION 18-542 (FINANCIAL INTEGRITY PRINCIPLES)
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: BU. 1.
Christopher Rose: Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Chris Rose. I'm
the Budget Director for the City of Miami. It is a bit too early still in the fiscal year
to be making meaningful projections, but we are starting to see some trends and
some anomalies develop. We will be bringing the first meaningful, substantive
projections at the second meeting in February; although I'll be prepare -- appearing
again in January with sort of an overview of projections at that time. At the end of
November, the City had received $64 million in the General Fund, which is a bit
lower than it was last year at this time -- 127 million -- but there's an -- it's not
apples to apples. There is revenue that came in early in December that last year had
come in, in November. If it was apples to apples, we would still be about $3 million
behind last year to date. Also, at the end of November, the City had spent $154
million in the General Fund, but again, there's a timing issue, where a large charge
had been -- occurred last year in November. So if we bring it apples to apples, we
would have spent about $6 million more than we would have last fiscal year. The
Internal Service Fund has spent $17 million, which is about $5.4 million higher than
last fiscal year. We are watching the property and casualty, in particular. After a
hurricane, things need to shake out a little bit before it settles again. So we're
watching property and casualty insurance; we're watching our health insurance;
and we're watching our workers' compensation claims right now. All of them are a
bit elevated from what we had seen in previous years. But again, we will know as we
get a little deeper into the fiscal year. We continue to expect that the fund balance of
last year will end at $163 million; that's what I told you last time. It remains the
same number at the moment. We won't know a final number until the CAFR
(Comprehensive Annual Financial Report) is released at the end of March. The 20
percent threshold required by the Financial Integrity Principles is 120 million. So
the 163 is above that number; but again, a large portion of that is in restricted funds,
so we need to be careful; it cannot all be spent on all things. Also, remember, we
adopted the current year budget with 17.388 million of prior year fund balance
being used for capital projects, so that money will be earmarked immediately in the
current fiscal year. As I said already, we're watching insurance; insurance, so far,
this year. We're also watching the Department of Real Estate & Asset Management
and the City Attorney's Office; just -- it's a little too early to tell, but those are some
that we're keeping an eye on for elevated spending thus far. We'll know more as we
get closer, deeper into the year. There is one capital project that we know of, which
is Curtis Park; not the remediation part of Curtis Park, but the park part of Curtis
City of Miami Page 144 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Park that's going to need an amendment at some point; it is running over budget at
the moment. And there was a memo that the Manager sent out yesterday regarding
the New Year's Eve Celebration; that we had budgeted 50,000, and it's going to be
closer to 100, 000, maybe even 125, 000, so that may create a midyear budget
amendment that we'll be bringing back to you. I ended last month's report with,
"We're in good financial shape right now, but there are some things on the horizon
that we're going to need to watch for." Some of those have come true today. We
have repealed the red light camera ordinance. That is a net positive to the City of $6
million. What was passed today did require us to come up with either expenditure
reductions or revenue enhancements to fill that gap. We'll be working with staff, all
of City staff, to get that accomplished. As well --
Chair Hardemon: Let's -- we'll do the enhancements rather than the reductions. Try
your best.
Mr. Rose: I will do my best, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir. As well -- I have said it before, but I want to make sure it's noted
-- the trolley program is going to be exceeding the half penny from the County next
fiscal year. Now, we have built up a reserve called the Transportation Reserve that
will at least carry us through the next fiscal year, will get us well into the following
fiscal year, but in the very near future, we'll be needing General Fund money for the
trolley program. Let's see. There are many things that are outside of our control
that we're watching. Fuel costs have gone up nationwide. Now, it's not so much that
it's a concern yet, but it is something we're keeping an eye on. All the insurance --
this'll be the third time I've said it in this -- insurance is a concern. And this is the
first year that our pension costs citywide have been over $100 million, and it is
expected to grow. I don't want to presume what future votes may be taken, but two
fiscal years from now is a potential additional homestead exemption that could be an
option at a local level, going from 50,000 per homestead at home to 75,000. That
would have a net impact of $7.4 million on the City.
Chair Hardemon: Who will be eligible for that additional homestead exemption?
Mr. Rose: All homesteaded properties.
Chair Hardemon: All homesteaded properties?
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir. Now, it has to go through a referen --statewide referendum, and
then a local option vote, so I don't want to presume what either the voters of the
State or our City Commission may do but --
Chair Hardemon: I know they won't let us down though.
Commissioner Gort: That'll give (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the City.
Chair Hardemon: You all won't let us down.
Mr. Rose: If I were a betting man, Commissioners -- so -- but that would be 7.4
million to the City. Part of that's in debt and part of that's in the General Fund. Of
course, there are a couple of attorney/client privileges meetings this afternoon that,
should the City ultimately not prevail, would have large fiscal impacts. And there's
other pending court cases that we're not going to be talking about later today that
you may need to keep an eye on for financial impact. Two last things, and that is:
We don't expect the tax roll to grow in future years as it has over the last few years.
City of Miami Page 145 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
That's not to say that we don't ex -- that we expect the tax roll to reduce, but we don't
expect it to grow as fast. And we actually hit our peak two years ago, so the last two
years have been reduced growth from 2015. 2015 was 13.1 percent. The last two
years have been in the H percent range. And this past year, of that 11.3 in the past
year's growth, 6.4 of it was new construction, and a lot of that was attributable to
City Centre, and that's not going to happen again. Finally, we would expect to see at
least some growth in our labor contracts. We have in our five-year plan built in
normal step progression. I don't know what exactly we will do, but we could see
increased -- increases above that normal step progression. So all that is to say while
we're in good financial shape right now, there are concerns to watch on the horizon,
sirs.
Chair Hardemon: Do your calculations also include the dollars that were earned by
the City from the claw -back?
Mr. Rose: Yes. At the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency)?
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir, they do.
Chair Hardemon: We want that back, too; the -- you know -- CRA does, but -- okay.
Mr. Rose: Not sure which "we" that was, sir, but --
Chair Hardemon: Exactly.
Mr. Rose: -- I understand. So I'll be happy to take any questions you may have at
this time.
Chair Hardemon: Any questions? Hearing none, Dl. 1.
Mr. Rose: Thank you, Commissioners.
END OF BUDGET
City of Miami Page 146 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
91a911;�d11*9101kiIkIAM1.1
D1.1 DISCUSSION ITEM
3226 DISCUSSION ON THE STATUS OF HIRING POLICE OFFICERS.
Department of
Police
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Eldys Diaz: Good afternoon, Eldys Diaz, Executive Officer to the Chief of Police,
City of Miami Police Department. I'm presenting the quarterly Police hiring update
for the fourth quarter of 2017. We are currently operating with 24 sworn vacancies.
As of the close of the quarter, we had 27. We've hired a couple. We anticipate two
more hires prior to the end of the year, bringing us to a total of 105 hires year-to-
date. Currently, we have 103 hires year-to-date. Does anybody have any questions?
Commissioner Gort: You have a class going on at this time, right?
Mr. Diaz: We do. And we also anticipate having another Police Academy class
opening on January 30 of next year.
Commissioner Gort: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any way that you can provide us with a written document
that shows how you go about staffing; when you have these additional police officers
that come in, where those police officers go, so that we have a written understanding
of exactly how you go about filling the vacancies; not only to the force, but also,
supplementing the force that you have out in the field?
Mr. Diaz: So do you mean an organizational chart indicating what our deployments
are and what the methodology is for filling those vacancies as they become -- you
know -- as they appear?
Chair Hardemon: Well, that, but more, more.
Commissioner Carollo: We haven't done (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Sure, an -- the -- I want to be able to see who -- what officers are
where, but I also want to be able to see that -- because it's -- besides vacancies, if
you hire a new officer and there is no vacancy for an area, how is it that you use
those officers that you hired to enhance the services in certain areas? So for
instance --
Mr. Diaz: Very good, yes. So if we don't have a regularly -- regular position for a
particular NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) area, for example, typically,
what we do in staffing is we assign the officers as overflow officers on the high -crime
areas first until we achieve the maximum span of control for the supervisor for that
area, and then we start distributing over to additional NET areas where there is an
identified need until we have an even distribution of those overflow officers.
Chair Hardemon: See we -- I want to be able to understand -- and I'm sure that
some of my colleagues will appreciate this when we receive it -- I want to understand
City of Miami Page 147 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
what we have and then how it's -- how they are deployed; and then what we receive,
and how they'll be deployed, because I understand that we have all these different
types of forces. So, you know, you have your beat officer; you have your NET
officer; you have your NROs (Neighborhood Resource Officers); you have all these
different people.
Mr. Diaz: So you're interested in what our total resources are and how they're being
deployed?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Mr. Diaz: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: And how new ones will be included.
Mr. Diaz: Sure.
Chair Hardemon: I want to be able to see it, because I want to have a real
understanding of it, because, you know, regularly, we'll hear from our residents, "We
need more officers here or there, " and then I'll hear a response from the Police
Department, "Well, we have these officers that do these certain things in all these
other areas. We enhance the" -- "We enhanced your services in the Southeast
Overtown/Park West Redevelopment Agency, and also in the Omni area. "
Mr. Diaz: True.
Chair Hardemon: But, you know, you want it to be an enhancement and not being
supplanted. And then, what does that mean? Why then are we having certain issues
in those areas if we have six additional officers that are being placed in these areas?
So I'm just -- I'm really concerned about how we go about deploying those officers,
because I want to see how is it that all officers are affecting quality of life for
residents who are on the Upper Eastside as far north, and what's the farthest
community south in Miami? I'm not sure how that goes, but --
Mr. Diaz: Coconut Grove (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Coconut Grove, probably, right; all the way to the Grove to the
south. So that's what I want to be able to see, because I want to be able to have
some educated discussion about what it is that we're doing and how we're deploying
our officers.
Mr. Diaz: Sure. It may be useful for you to actually see our staffing system, also.
Chair Hardemon: However you need to --
Mr. Diaz: Sure.
Chair Hardemon: -- make it plain for me, please. I want to be able to see it and I
want to be able to read it.
Mr. Diaz: Sure. We'll find the best way to get that information to you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Mr. Diaz: Sure.
City of Miami Page 148 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: Any other questions for him? Seeing none, thank you very much,
sir.
Mr. Diaz: Sure.
D1.2 DISCUSSION ITEM
2534 QUARTERLY UPDATE BY MR. WAYNE PATHMAN, CHAIRMAN OF
Office of THE SEA LEVEL RISE COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS OF THE SEA
Resilience and LEVEL RISE COMMITTEE REGARDING RECOMMENDATIONS
Sustainability FOR ADVANCING THE CITY OF MIAMI'S RESILIENCE TO
INCREASED FLOODING RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SEA LEVEL
RISE.
D1.3
3385
Commissioners
and Mayor
MOTION TO: Defer
RESULT: DEFERRED
MOVER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER: Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Reyes
ABSENT: Carollo
Notes for the Record. Item DL2 was deferred to the January 25, 2018, Planning and
Zoning Commission Meeting.
For minutes referencing Item DL2, please see "Order of the Day. "
DISCUSSION ITEM
DISCUSSION TO TERMINATE CONTRACT AND PHASE OUT RED
LIGHT CAMERAS.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Note for the Record. For minutes referencing Item DL 3, please see "Order of the
Day" and Item RE. 17.
;I►Iexel0a]!;'10i11�'�11IQkgIIll I;1661
City of Miami Page 149 Printed on 210912018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
►yia►viWkel:9AkiIlZd0]►v�I►vi1t;-9[0]►I;IZ& i1111NI►yiRl
CITYWIDE
HONORABLE COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT FOUR MANOLO REYES
1NI►IoxelZol11VIVA 19741111NILy, 1.1
City ofMiarni Page 150 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
34e11611IM"s
VICE CHAIR KEN RUSSELL
END OF DISTRICT 1 ITEMS
City of Miami Page 151 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
CHAIR KEON HARDEMON
END OF DISTRICT 2 ITEMS
City of Miami Page 152 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
0211117619:7[00?
COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT ONE WIFREDO GORT
END OF DISTRICT 3 ITEMS
City of Miami Page 153 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT THREE JOE CAROLLO
END OF DISTRICT 4 ITEMS
City of Miami Page 154 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
END OF DISTRICT 5 ITEMS
City of Miami Page 155 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
END OF FUTURE LEGISLATION
City of Miami Page 156 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
NA - NON -AGENDA ITEM(S)
NAA RESOLUTION
3425 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
Office of the City COMMISSIONER JOE CAROLLO AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE
Cierk BAYFRONT PARK MANAGEMENT TRUST.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0596
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
NAYS:
Russell
Commissioner Carollo: If I could make a motion now and --?
Chair Hardemon: You can make a motion, yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, I'd like to make a motion that Commissioner Carollo -
Chair Hardemon: Who is that?
Commissioner Carollo: -- be appointed -- Joe Carollo.
Chair Hardemon: Oh, okay.
Commissioner Carollo: I thought I had him but he's sharp -- that Commissioner
Carollo, Joe Carollo would be appointed to the Bayfront Park Management Trust as
Chairman.
Commissioner Reyes: I second that.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved and seconded; that is the selection. Is there
any discussion regarding that matter?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. I was going to appoint you, Commissioner Hardemon.
Chair Hardemon: You can't do it by yourself. Any further discussion about the
matter? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion, say "aye."
Commissioner Carollo: Aye.
Commissioner Reyes: Aye.
Commissioner Gort: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Vice Chair Russell: No.
City of Miami Page 157 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. The next committee --that was for Bayfront Park
Management Trust.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): That was 5-0, correct?
Chair Hardemon: No. That was --
Vice Chair Russell: No. I was a "no. "
Chair Hardemon: It was 4-1.
Mr. Hannon: It was 4-1. My apologies.
NA.2 RESOLUTION
3426 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
Office of the City COMMISSIONER MANOLO REYES AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE
Cierk MIDTOWN COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("MIDTOWN CRA").
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0597
MOTION TO
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER
AYES:
Adopt
ADOPTED
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: The next board would be -- Which one has another vacancy?
Which board that Commissioner Reyes will be --?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): The next one would be Chair of the Midtown
Community Redevelopment Agency.
Chair Hardemon: That's what Commissioner Francis Suarez sat on, correct?
Mr. Hannon: Previously, the Chair was Commissioner Suarez, yes.
Chair Hardemon: All right. Is there a motion to appoint Commissioner Reyes to
that position?
Commissioner Carollo: There's a motion to appoint --
Commissioner Reyes: Which one was it?
Chair Hardemon: That's the Midtown Redevelopment Agency.
Commissioner Carollo: -- Commissioner Reyes to that board as Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved, and I assume Commissioner Reyes is
the second. Any further discussion on that motion? Hearing none, all in favor, say
"aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
City of Miami Page 158 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
NA.3 RESOLUTION
3427 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
Office of the City COMMISSIONER KEON HARDEMON AS VICE -CHAIRPERSON
Cierk OF THE OMNI COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("OMNI
CRA") FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0598
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: What other bodies do we have left?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): The next vacancy will be the Vice Chair of the Omni
CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency).
Chair Hardemon: And that's something that who vacated?
Mr. Hannon: It was previously held by Commissioner Suarez.
Vice Chair Russell: We don't appoint that amongst the board, itser
Mr. Hannon: No, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: That's voted on at this point, then.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Hannon: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: But I --
Commissioner Carollo: I would make a motion --
Vice Chair Russell: I'll appoint -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I was going to --
Chair Hardemon: He's the Chair of the --
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, sure.
Vice Chair Russell: -- appoint Commissioner Hardemon to that as the Vice Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Of Omni?
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: I'll second it.
City of Miami Page 159 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Commissioner Carollo: Third and fourth, and a fifth coming.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor of that motion, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes. He's just trying to guarantee that I
come to the meetings, that's all. He's going to keep me there.
NAA RESOLUTION
3428 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
Office of the City KEON HARDEMON AS A MEMBER ON THE FLORIDA LEAGUE
Cierk OF CITIES FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0599
MOTION TO
RESULT:
MOVER:
SECONDER
AYES:
Adopt
ADOPTED
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardemon: The -- Are there any other vacancies?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Yes, sir. Florida League of Cities, which was
previously held by Commissioner Suarez.
Chair Hardemon: Now, let me ask you a question about that, because we know that
Commissioner Gort was a past president of the League of Cities of Miami -Dade
County.
Commissioner Gort: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: I currently sit as the treasurer of the League of Cities of Miami -
Dade County. Is there anyone else that sits on any of the Miami -Dade County
League of Cities?
Commissioner Gort: I'm not really sure.
Chair Hardemon: If not --
Commissioner Gort: I'm not interested.
Chair Hardemon: I'm there; if not, I would love to be involved, because I'm on a
Dade County, with the Florida --
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Commissioner Carollo: I will make a motion that Commissioner Hardemon is
appointed.
City of Miami Page 160 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved by Commissioner Carollo; seconded by
Commissioner Gort. Any further discussion on that matter? Hearing none, all say
"aye. If
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Against? Motion passes.
Mr. Hannon: And that will be again for the Florida League of Cities; Commissioner
Hardemon.
NA.5 RESOLUTION
3429 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION APPOINTING
Office of the City COMMISSIONER WIFREDO (WILLY) GORT TO THE MIAMI RIVER
Cierk COMMISSION FOR A TERM AS DESIGNATED HEREIN.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-17-0600
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): The last one will be the Miami River Commission,
which was previously held by Commissioner Frank Carollo.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Gort: I would like to be appointed to that one, if possible.
Vice Chair Russell: Second.
Commissioner Gort: I got a large portion of the river in my district.
Chair Hardemon: That is correct. It's been properly moved by Commissioner Gort
and seconded by both Commissioner Reyes and the Vice Chairman. Any further
discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Mr. Hannon: Thank you, Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
City of Miami Page 161 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
NA.6 ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION
3447 UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
Office of the City STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
Cierk CONDUCTED AT THE JANUARY 11, 2018 MIAMI CITY
COMMISSION MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE CITY OF
MIAMI COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION IN THE MATTER OF FLAGSTONE
ISLAND GARDENS, LLC AND FLAGSTONE DEVELOPMENT
CORP. V. CITY OF MIAMI, CASE NO. 17-13829 CA 44, PENDING
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN
AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO WHICH THE CITY IS
PRESENTLY A PARTY. THE SUBJECT OF THE MEETING WILL
BE CONFINED TO SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS OR STRATEGY
SESSIONS RELATED TO LITIGATION EXPENDITURES. THIS
PRIVATE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M.
(OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS'
SCHEDULES PERMIT) AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE
HOUR LATER. THE SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDE
CHAIRMAN KEON HARDEMON, VICE-CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL,
AND COMMISSIONERS WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT, JOE
CAROLLO, AND MANOLO REYES; GONZALO DORTA, ESQ.;
MATIAS DORTA, ESQ.; AND LAURA BESVINICK, ESQ. A
CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER WILL BE PRESENT TO ENSURE
THAT THE SESSION IS FULLY TRANSCRIBED AND THE
TRANSCRIPT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC UPON THE CONCLUSION
OF THE ABOVE-CITED, ONGOING LITIGATION. AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION, THE
REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE REOPENED AND
THE PERSON CHAIRING THE COMMISSION MEETING WILL
ANNOUNCE THE TERMINATION OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT
SESSION.
LRESULT: DISCUSSED
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Mr. Chairman, members of the City
Commission, pursuant to --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Min: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Min: Pursuant to the provisions of Section 286.011(8), Florida Statutes, I am
requesting that at the City Commission meeting of January 11, 2018, an attorney-
client session closed to the public be held for the purpose of discussing the pending
litigation in the matter of Flagstone Island Gardens, LLC (Limited Liability
Company) and Flagstone Development Corporation versus City of Miami, Case
Number 17-13829 CA 44, pending in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial
Circuit, in and for Miami -Dade County, to which the City is presently a party. The
subject of the meeting will be confined to settlement negotiations or strategy sessions
related to litigation expenditures. This private meeting will begin at approximately 3
City of Miami Page 162 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
p.m., or as soon thereafter as the Commissioners' schedules permit, and conclude
approximately one hour later. The session will be attended by the members of the
City Commission, which include Chairman Keon Hardemon, Vice Chairman Ken
Russell; Commissioners Wifredo "Willy" Gort, Joe Carollo, and Manolo Reyes;
Gonzalo Dorta, Esquire, Mattias Dorta, Esquire, and Laura Besvinick, Esquire. A
certified court reporter will be present to ensure that the session is fully transcribed,
and the transcript will be made public upon the conclusion of the litigation. At the
conclusion of the attorney-client session, the regular Commission meeting will be
reopened, and the person chairing the Commission meeting will announce the
termination of the attorney-client session.
NA.7 ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION
3448 UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
Office of the City STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
Cierk CONDUCTED AT THE JANUARY 11, 2018 MIAMI CITY
COMMISSION MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE CITY OF
MIAMI COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION IN THE MATTER OF LIEBMAN, ET AL.
VS. CITY OF MIAMI, CASE NO. 17-13687 CA (44), PENDING IN
THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND
FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO WHICH THE CITY IS PRESENTLY
A PARTY. THE SUBJECT OF THE MEETING WILL BE CONFINED
TO SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS OR STRATEGY SESSIONS
RELATED TO LITIGATION EXPENDITURES. THIS PRIVATE
MEETING WILL BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. (OR AS
SOON THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS' SCHEDULES
PERMIT) AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER.
THE SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE
CITY COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDE CHAIRMAN KEON
HARDEMON, VICE-CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL, AND
COMMISSIONERS WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT, JOE CAROLLO,
AND MANOLO REYES; CITY MANAGER DANIEL J. ALFONSO;
CITY ATTORNEY VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY
ATTORNEYS JOHN A. GRECO AND BARNABY L. MIN; DIVISION
CHIEF FOR GENERAL LITIGATION CHRISTOPHER A. GREEN;
AND ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY FORREST L. ANDREWS. A
CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER WILL BE PRESENT TO ENSURE
THAT THE SESSION IS FULLY TRANSCRIBED AND THE
TRANSCRIPT WILL BE MADE PUBLIC UPON THE CONCLUSION
OF THE ABOVE-CITED, ONGOING LITIGATION. AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION, THE
REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING WILL BE REOPENED AND
THE PERSON CHAIRING THE COMMISSION MEETING WILL
ANNOUNCE THE TERMINATION OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT
SESSION.
RESULT: DISCUSSED '
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Additionally, pursuant to provisions of
286.011(8), Florida Statutes, the City Attorney is requesting at the City Commission
meeting of January 11, 2017 [sic], an attorney-client session closed to the public be
held for the purpose of discussing the pending litigation in the case of Liebman, et al.
City of Miami Page 163 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
versus City of Miami, Case Number 17-13687 CA 44, before the Circuit Court of the
Eleventh Judicial Circuit, in and for Miami -Dade County, to which the City is
presently a party. The subject of the meeting will be confined to settlement
negotiations or strategy sessions related to litigation expenditures. This private
meeting will begin at approximately 3 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the
Commissioners' schedules permit, and conclude approximately one hour later. The
session will be attended by the members of the City Commission, which include
Chairman Keon Hardemon, Vice Chairman Ken Russell; Commissioners Wifredo
"Willy" Gort, Joe Carollo, and Manolo Reyes; the City Manager; City Attorney
Victoria Mendez; Deputy City Attorneys John Greco and Barnaby Min; Division
Chief for General Litigation Christopher Green; and Assistant City Attorney Forrest
Andrews. A certified court reporter will be present to ensure the session is fully
transcribed, and a transcript will be made public upon the conclusion of the
litigation. At the conclusion of the attorney-client session, the City Commission
meeting will be reopened, and the person chairing the City Commission meeting will
announce the termination of the attorney-client session.
City of Miami Page 164 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
NA.8 ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION
3449 UNDER THE PARAMETERS OF SECTION 286.011(8), FLORIDA
Office of the City STATUTES, A PRIVATE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION WILL BE
Cierk CONDUCTED AT THE JANUARY 11, 2018 MIAMI CITY
COMMISSION MEETING. THE PERSON CHAIRING THE CITY OF
MIAMI COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
COMMENCEMENT OF AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION,
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING
THE PENDING LITIGATION IN THE MATTER OF 346 NW 29TH
STREET, LLC ET AL., V. CITY OF MIAMI, ET AL., CASE NO. 13-
037260 CA 01, PENDING IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 11TH
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO
WHICH THE CITY IS PRESENTLY A PARTY. THE SUBJECT OF
THE MEETING WILL BE CONFINED TO SETTLEMENT
NEGOTIATIONS OR STRATEGY SESSIONS RELATED TO
LITIGATION EXPENDITURES. THIS PRIVATE MEETING WILL
BEGIN AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. (OR AS SOON
THEREAFTER AS THE COMMISSIONERS' SCHEDULES PERMIT)
AND CONCLUDE APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR LATER. THE
SESSION WILL BE ATTENDED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY
COMMISSION, WHICH INCLUDE CHAIRMAN KEON HARDEMON,
VICE-CHAIRMAN KEN RUSSELL, AND COMMISSIONERS
WIFREDO "WILLY" GORT, JOE CAROLLO, AND MANOLO REYES;
CITY MANAGER DANIEL J. ALFONSO; CITY ATTORNEY
VICTORIA MENDEZ; DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEYS JOHN A.
GRECO AND BARNABY L. MIN; DIVISION CHIEF FOR GENERAL
LITIGATION CHRISTOPHER A. GREEN; SENIOR ASSISTANT
CITY ATTORNEY HENRY J. HUNNEFELD; AND ASSISTANT CITY
ATTORNEY KERRI L. MCNULTY. A CERTIFIED COURT
REPORTER WILL BE PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT THE
SESSION IS FULLY TRANSCRIBED AND THE TRANSCRIPT WILL
BE MADE PUBLIC UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE ABOVE-
CITED, ONGOING LITIGATION. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE
ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION, THE REGULAR COMMISSION
MEETING WILL BE REOPENED AND THE PERSON CHAIRING
THE COMMISSION MEETING WILL ANNOUNCE THE
TERMINATION OF THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT SESSION.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Finally, pursuant to the provisions of Section
286.011(8), Florida Statutes, the City Attorney is requesting at the City Commission
meeting of January 11, 2018, an attorney-client session closed to the public be held
for the purposes of discussing the pending litigation in the case of 346 Northwest
29th Street, LLC (Limited Liability Company), et al. versus City of Miami, et al.,
Case Number 13-037260 CA 01, before the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial
Circuit, in and for Miami -Dade County, to which the City is presently a party. The
subject of the meeting will be confined to settlement negotiations or strategy sessions
related to litigation expenditures. This private meeting will begin at approximately 3
p.m., or as soon thereafter as Commissioners' schedules permit, and will conclude
approximately one hour later. The session will be attended by the members of the
City Commission, which include Chairman Keon Hardemon, Vice Chairman Ken
Russell; Commissioners Wifredo "Willy" Gort, Manolo Reyes, and Joe Carollo; the
City Manager; City Attorney Victoria Mendez; Deputy City Attorneys John Greco
and Barnaby Min; Division Chief for General Litigation Christopher Green; Senior
City of Miami Page 165 Printed on 2/09/2018
City Commission Meeting Minutes December 14, 2017
ADJOURNMENT
Assistant City Attorney Henry Hunnefeld; and Assistant City Attorney Kerri
McNulty. A certified court reporter will be present to ensure that the session is fully
transcribed, and the transcript will be made public upon the conclusion of the
litigation. At the conclusion of the attorney-client session, the City Commission
meeting will be reopened. The person chairing the City Commission meeting will
announce the termination of the attorney-client session. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The meeting adjourned at 12:33 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2017.
City of Miami Page 166 Printed on 2/09/2018