HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2016-09-20 MinutesCity of Miami
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
5:05 PM
Second Budget Hearing
City Hall Commission Chambers
City Commission
Tomas Regalado, Mayor
Keon Hardemon, Chair
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner District One
Frank Carollo, Commissioner District Three
Francis Suarez, Commissioner District Four
Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
City Commission Meeting Minutes September 20, 2016
5:05 RM.
ORDER OF THE DAY
SECOND BUDGET HEARING
Present: Commissioner Gort, Vice Chair Russell, Commissioner Carollo, Commissioner Suarez
and Chair Hardemon
On the 20th day of September 2016, the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida, met at its
regular meeting place in City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, for its second
budget hearing session. The meeting was called to order by Chair Hardemon at 5:08 p.m. and
adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Note for the Record: Vice Chair Russell entered the Commission chamber at 5:09 p.m.,
Commissioner Gort entered the Commission chamber at 5:10 p.m., Commissioner Suarez entered
the Commission chamber at 5:10 p.m., and Commissioner Carollo entered the Commission
chamber at 5:16 p.m.
ALSO PRESENT:
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
Chair Hardemon: Welcome to the September 20, 2016 second budget meeting and related
hearings of the City of Miami City Commission in these historic chambers. The members of the
City Commission are Wifredo Gort, Frank Carollo, Francis Suarez; the Vice Chairman, Ken
Russell; and me, Keon Hardemon, the Chairman. Also on the dais are Daniel J. Alfonso, the
City Manager; Victoria Mendez, the City Attorney; and Todd Hannon, our City Clerk. The
meeting will open by a prayer and also the pledge of allegiance. All rise, please.
Invocation and pledge of allegiance delivered.
Chair Hardemon: We will now begin the second budget meeting and related hearings. The City
Attorney will state the procedures to be followed during this meeting.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you, Chairman. 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 City requirements for
lobbyists appearing before the City Commission. A person may not lobby a City official, board
member or staff member until registering. A copy of the City Code section about lobbyists is
available in the City Clerk's Office or online at wwwmunicode.com [sic]. Any person making a
presentation, formal request or petition to the City Commission concerning real property must
make any disclosures required by the City Code in writing. A copy of this Code section is
available at 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 maybe heard by the City Commission
through the Chair for not more than two minutes on any proposition before the City Commission,
unless such time is 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 must first state their name, his or her
address, and what agenda item he or she will speak about. A copy of the agenda items' titles are
available at the City Clerk's Office and at the podium for the public's reference. Pursuant to
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Florida Administrative Code, anyone wishing to appeal any decision made by the City
Commission for any matter considered at the second budget meeting does not need a verbatim
record of the item and a video is available and may be requested at the Office of
Communications or viewed online at miamigov. com [sic]. No cell phones or other noise -making
devices are permitted in City Commission chambers; please silence those devices now. No
clapping, applauding, heckling, or verbal outbursts 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 the City Commission chambers will be barred from further attending Commission meetings
and may be subject to arrest. No signs, banners or placards shall be allowed in the City
Commission chambers. Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids and
services for this meeting may notify the City Clerk. The meeting will end either at the conclusion
of the regularly scheduled second budget meeting agenda or continued or rescheduled by the
City Commission. Thank you.
Later...
Chair Hardemon: So at this time, I'd like to recognize the public for their reasonable
opportunity to be heard on the Budget items. To be very clear, we are addressing BH I and
BH.2. However, you should know that opening this for public hearing, you're able to speak on
any item that is on the agenda today, so that's BH. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11; but especially
BH.9, 10 and]], those that deal directly with the City of Miami's budget for the year operating
and capital budget, as well as the DDA's millage and final budget, which would be, I believe,
BH.3 and BH. 4. So to be clear, if you'd like to speak on any of the items that are on the agenda
today, including the City of Miami budget, both operating and capital, DDA's budget, you should
come and be recognized to speak at this time. You're recognized, sir.
Albio Castillo: Good afternoon. My name is Albio Castillo. I live at 2235 Southwest 16th
Terrace. We have a problem with not having enough Code Enforcement personnel in which to do
their jobs, mainly, since we have the problem we used to have, but still we do, with the
mosquitoes; schools, with the ice cream vendor not complying with the laws, and other things
related. We don't have enough inspectors for Code Enforcement to do their jobs. I believe we
need --I don't know if it's slated for how many --for budget this year for Code Enforcement. I'd
also like to know is if the City of Miami is enforcing the sign and banner, because last year, I
presented this item, and I never got a straight answer, because it's not in Miami 21. I know
where it is. It's in the City Code. And I'd like to know if the inspectors are looking where it's
supposed to be, and not giving people the runaround. There's also the question of the Parks and
Recreation. Finally, we have a good director, but you also need employees that are dedicated to
Parks and Recreation. The trolley system, that is working. We have, thanks to the Commissioner
-- you know which Commissioner spearheaded the trolley system and everybody got into the
bandwagon. There's also the question of the Marlins. You know, this year was a disaster, but we
really cannot blame the owner; but still, the attendance is low. What is the City going to do
about that? And I propose an idea for Code Enforcement, which Commissioner 2 had a problem
with Code Enforcement. I know the Commissioner 5 has that program with unsafe structures
and squatter houses that they're living in, in poor condition, and it should be torn down. I
propose that with the first meeting of the City Charter to be changed.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, sir.
Mr. Castillo: Any question from the Administration? Any question from the Commission?
Chair Hardemon: I don't thinkso. You have a nice day.
Mr. Castillo: Iknow. Thankyou.
Chair Hardemon: Bye-bye. Is there any other person from the public that would like to speak at
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the public hearing at this time? Seeing no other person that'd like to speak, I'm going to close
the public comment --yes. You're recognized, ma'am.
Juliann Gigi: Hi. My name is Juliann Gigi. I reside at 50 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida.
I represent here tonight the neighborhood -- Downtown Neighborhood Alliance; also, a small
business owner in the downtown area. One issue especially that all the downtown neighbors are
experiencing is a lack of police presence downtown. Police Commander Alfonso last Thursday
night in a meeting that we had with Commissioner Ken Russell, as well, informed us that there
are currently 13 police officers on duty, Monday through Friday; and two police officers,
Saturday and Sunday. For an area that has an increase in population over -- tripled the past
seven years --we're at over 90,000 residents now. Of the 1,100 homeless people in Miami, at
least 400 of them reside in downtown. People are scared to go outside of their house after hours.
I, as a business owner, have had to hire securityjust so my customers feel safe. And just
speaking on everyone in downtown, we would like to request more police presence. Also, I
would like to request more downtown ambassador presence. I know from a financial aspect, it's
much more valuable. They end work Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. After 4 p.m. is when
people are leaving, or people are going out for walks with their dogs, their children, after they
get home from school. Sothis is definitely our number one ask, as all downtown neighbors. The
other two issues that I have are probably a little bit less easy to resolve than just asking for more
police presence. It is to request short-term beds. Right now, there's hardly any beds, especially
in the downtown and District 2 area to bring homeless people to. Oftentimes, if a police officer
does have an issue, they are unable to find a bed for this person. If they send them to TGK
(Turner Guilford Knight) overnight, they're released the next day, and they get a one-way bus
ticket -- as does everyone who visits TGK -- to downtown; not to mention the fact that we're
about to get an influx of homeless people who are traveling down for the winter for the better
weather in downtown Miami. So also, we request that there's just more security, and whether
that can be privately or publicly, for this meeting we request the security. And then also, to fund
some sort of outreach program. This will definitely take some time, but an outreach program
where there are more people on the ground, more people helping the Police Department assess
the needs of the homeless people. I'm sure, as you all know, Stephen Dutton (phonetic) of the
community has become very involved. His husband, Tom, was killed two weeks ago right on
Flagler Street, and the homeless person who killed him actually had committed murder before,
and he was out on our streets. So this is just a huge area -- an area of concern for all downtown
residents. We want to enjoy where we live. It's not a 9 -to -5 community. We want to be able to be
out after hours. I, as a business, have just this year opened up for dinner to try to entice people
to come out and to be able to be apart of the community. So we're looking to you all to please
help us; at the very least, to fund more police officers, more security presence in downtown
Miami.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, ma'am.
Ms. Gigi: Thank you.
BHA DISCUSSION ITEM
16-01214
Office of Management DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED FY 2016-17
and Budget MILLAGE RATE AND FINAL BUDGET.
16-01214 Summary Form.pdf
DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor, you're recognized if you'd like to speak.
Mayor Tomas Regalado: Thank you very much. And good morning, Mr. Chairman, Vice
Chairman, Commissioners. Thank you very much. I think that this is an important exercise, and
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I think that on the first hearing, you had a lot of information since then. The Administration has
come back with some minor changes. One of the changes you will see today is the Wynwood BID
(Business Improvement District), which has to do an amendment to the budget, because the
Administration believed that it's much better that the in-kind services that you all approved are
paid by them and not directly by the City, because of ministerial issues, and so you might want to
have other type of amendment, but overall, I believe that this is a good budget. I believe that this
is a logic budget. I believe this is a budget for all the people of the City of Miami. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Manager.
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): Yes, sir. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. I'm simply going to
ask that we recognize the City employees, both directors and folks in the Budget Office who've
worked to put the budget together. Also, I want to thank all the citizens who participated in
many of our meetings throughout the year to get us here today. And I'll just recognize the Budget
director for the ministerial functions that we have to take care of. Thank you.
Christopher Rose (Director): Good evening, Commissioners. Chris Rose, Office of Management
and Budget. I have some language that needs to be read into the record for State Statute
purposes. The proposed general operating millage rate is 7.6465 mills for the City of Miami for
the fiscal year beginning October], 2016 and ending September 30, 2017. That operating
millage is 11.99 percent higher than the State -defined rollback rate of 6.8278 mills. Thank you,
Commissioners.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Madam City Attorney, just a question of procedure.
Does the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) also have to read into the record their rate,
as well? I mean, I'm not saying to do that at this moment, but if you'd like.
Mr. Rose: DDA does have that opportunity. They take that opportunity at BH2 -- or really
BH.3, when their millage comes up, sir.
Chair Hardemon: All right. Okay.
BH.2
DISCUSSION ITEM
16-01224
Downtown
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND FINAL BUDGET FOR
Development
THE MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
Authority
AFTER A DULY NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING, RELATED TO TAXATION,
16-01224 DDA Budget Discussion.pdf
DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other person that's like to speak for public comment? Seeing that
there is no other person that wants a reasonable opportunity to be heard, I'm going to close the
public hearing section of this meeting. And so, therefore, we extinguish our responsibility of
satisfying BH.1 and BH. 2, which is the public comments section of the agenda.
BH.3
RESOLUTION
16-01221
Downtown
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ("COMMISSION"), WITH
Development
ATTACHMENT(S), BY FOURTH -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE,
Authority
AFTER A DULY NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING, RELATED TO TAXATION,
DEFINING AND DESIGNATING THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ("DISTRICT") OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA ("CITY"), FIXING AND ADOPTING THE FINAL MILLAGE
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AND LEVYING AN ADDITIONAL AD VALOREM TAX ON ALL REAL AND
PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICTAT THE RATE OF 0.4681 MILLS
ON THE DOLLAR OF TAXABLE VALUE OF SUCH PROPERTY IN SAID
DISTRICT FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING THE OPERATION OF THE
MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2016 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,2017;
PROVIDING THAT SAID FINAL MILLAGE SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO THE
MILLAGE ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 9,
ARTICLE VII, FLORIDA CONSTITUTION, AND SECTION 166.211, FLORIDA
STATUTES (2016), AS WELL AS ANY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IMPOSED
BY THE SAME; PROVIDING THAT THIS RESOLUTION SHALL NOT BE
DEEMED AS REPEALING OR AMENDING ANY OTHER RESOLUTION OR
ANY ORDINANCE FIXING MILLAGE OR LEVYING TAXES, BUT SHALL BE
DEEMED SUPPLEMENTALAND IN ADDITION THERETO; CONTAINING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
16-01221 Memo - Downtown Development Authority. pdf
16-01221 Back -Up Documents.pdf
16-01221 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf
16-01221 Legislation.pdf
16-01221 ExhibitA.pdf
16-01221 Exhibit B.pdf
16-01221 Exhibit C.pdf
1 6 -01 221 -Submittal -Alyce Robertson -Advertisement of Millage Rate.pdf
ACTIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION:
1. RECOMPUTE THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE, IF NECESSARY
2. ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE
Motion by Vice Chair Russell, seconded by Commissioner Suarez, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Russell, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon
R-16-0437
Chair Hardemon: Now we're going to move on to BH. 3.
Alyce Robertson: Good evening. Alyce Robertson, executive director of the Miami Downtown
Development Authority, to read into the record the piece that this -- Our millage rate is proposed
at four -- .4681, over -- which is 10 percent -- 10.04 percent over the rollback rate of .4254. I
want to add into the record that we submitted to the Clerk's Office -- that we advertised this
budget in September 16, 2016. The Clerk now has a copy of those advertisements for items BH.3
and BH.4. This proposed millage rate is the same as this year's current rate.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve the millage rate?
Vice Chair Russell: Move.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved --
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: -- by Vice Chairman; seconded by Commissioner Carollo. Any further
discussion about the item? Seeing none, all in favor, say fiye. "
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The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
1311-11.4
RESOLUTION
16-01222
Downtown
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Development
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FINALANNUAL
Authority
BUDGET OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ("DDA") OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ("CITY"), ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $9,214,100.00, AND
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
DISTRICTAD VALOREM TAX LEVYAND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS
INCOME FOR THE DDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER
1, 2016 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,2017; AUTHORIZING THE DDA
TO INVITE AND ADVERTISE REQUIRED BIDS; PROVIDING FOR
BUDGETARY FLEXIBILITY; PROVIDING THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE
DEEMED SUPPLEMENTALAND IN ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION
MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING
OCTOBER 1, 2016 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2017 FOR THE
OPERATIONS OF THE CITY.
16-01222 Memo - Downtown Development Authority. pdf
16-01222 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf
16-01222 Pre-Legislation.pdf
16-01222 Legislation.pdf
16-01222 Exhibit.pdf
16 -01221 -Submittal -Alyce Robertson -Advertisement of Budget.pdf
ACTIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION:
1. AMEND THE BUDGET, IF NECESSARY
2. ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGET
Motion by Vice Chair Russell, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Russell, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon
R-16-0438
Alyce Robertson: BH4 is the actual budget for the Miami Downtown Development Authority. It
is based on ad valorem revenues of seven million -zero -eight -two -seven -two -seven. And this is a
-- the '15116 was based on that, excuse me. And next year's is proposed to be seven
million -eight -o -eight -seven -two -six.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve?
Vice Chair Russell: Move for discussion.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Properly moved and seconded to approve BH.4. You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Alyce, our constituent was asking about ambassador
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presence in the core. Can you tell us sort of what we're looking at right now with our
ambassador presence? How many do we have, how often are they on, and what would it take to
increase that presence in the core?
Ms. Robertson: So we currently have 18 ambassadors, and they are on till midnight on three
nights out of the week, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We can address what that presence
could be increased to. I want to make it clear, though, to the City that that doesn't substitute for
police services. And the -- you know, we originally added the ambassadors, who are extra eyes
and ears out on the street, but I agree with the citizens that we need -- we -- our population has
doubled. It went from 39, 000 to now almost 90, 000; it was more than doubling. And I think we
need to address that issue.
Vice Chair Russell: I agree. Of those ambassadors, how many are operating right in the core
versus the entire spread of the DDA (Downtown Development Authority)?
Ms. Robertson: Gee, it varies. We have routes that they -- we have several that are in the core,
but it does serve the entire DDA District, including the Adrienne Arsht Center, including down in
Brickell, Mary Brickell Village area, also. So they have different routes, and I can get that
information to you about where they are.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. I'm sorry. As the Chair of the DDA, I shouldn't have surprised you
with this from the dais. I apologize. I guess I'm -- what I'm getting at is, is it efficient for us to
shuffle any of the ambassadors within therefrom an area where maybe there's not as much of a
critical need more into the core, or in order to serve us properly and increase any presence in the
core, would we need to hire a --
Ms. Robertson: Probably increasing additional ambassadors and expanding the program.
Vice Chair Russell: And what are we looking at per ambassador, if we were to increase?
Ms. Robertson: Carolina, do you know, per ambassador? This is Carolina Londono, as the
accountant for the Miami DDA.
Carolina Londono: We had $450, 000 budgeted for the entire program, and I'm finding outright
now about your question. Sorry.
Vice Chair Russell: Oh, then per -- I guess what I'm looking for is to see if we were to hire two
more ambassadors --
Ms. Londono: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: -- and concentrate them within the core, I'm looking to see what that would
cost the DDA.
Ms. Londono: I'll find out for you right now.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you very much.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Gort: Let me add a little bit to it. It's important to understand the biggest
problem we have with the homeless, and it's important for the people to understand that the
homeless, the police, there's not much they can do, because of the --
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Ms. Robertson: Pottinger.
Commissioner Gort: -- Pottinger. So the thing is we have to get everyone in downtown -- and
you're right. I remember a long time ago, says they could not have enough police officers,
because there was not enough people. Now there's enough people, and I think somehow, you
have to coordinate all that and get your ambassador to work very close to -- with the police
Officers and also with the Homeless Trust, and so on. At one time -- and I don't know if you still
have that in DDA -- all the security guards in all the buildings were in contact with the police,
and that was very helpful, also. So I don't know if you still have that program with the -- where
they're able to combine their phones and get in contact with the police immediately.
Ms. Robertson: So the Miami DDA has been --
Commissioner Gort: Just a suggestion. I'm sorry.
Ms. Robertson: -- I'm sorry.
Commissioner Gort: I didn't mean to get out of it,- just food for thought.
Ms. Robertson: Okay. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any further discussion about the motion on the floor?
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I'd like to thank Ms. Robertson
for the information that you provided tome. Although I'm not exactly -- let's just say in
agreement with it -- I think we've had these discussions in the past, and I'm going to yield to the
Chairman of the DDA, and I would move to approve your budget. And by the way, with regards
to the increase in salaries, that's not -- what you're saying is that it's budgeted, but it's not
guaranteed, because you're going to do evaluations and not everybody may actually receive the
increase, correct?
Ms. Robertson: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. That's all I have.
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, I just want to say briefly that to the issue that was raised by the
constituents that came up, as president of the League of Cities -- the League of Cities is
responsible for deciding three of the seats that are on the Homeless Trust. And because
two-thirds of all the homeless in Dade County happen to be in the City of Miami, and our Mayor,
you know, sits on the Homeless Trust, I put myself on the Homeless Trust, as well, so that -- I
thought we could -- the City of Miami could better represent itself in a budget that's a $SO
million budget to deal with homelessness issues. What I did, in recognition ofsome of the issues
that were raised at the DNA (Downtown Neighborhood Alliance) meeting is I'm asking the Vice
Chair to -- I can designate someone in my place, and so I'm going to ask the Vice Chair to go to
the Homeless Trust -- the next Homeless Trust meeting, because I think these issues are very
acute. You know, they're issues that are -- that have to be dealt with immediately. And so he has
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an out -- through that an opportunity to deal with the short-term bed issue and the outreach
program issue, which is something that I think, you know, has been discussed a lot. I know that
the Federal Government sometimes seems to have an incompatible view of the issue than we
have, and they have a -- more of a continuum of care model, but I think we have effectively
pushed back on that, because we're the ones that are dealing with the homeless issue in our city.
As you said, you know, people are being -- whether it's from Miami Beach, whether it's from out
of town, whether it's from TGK (Turner Guilford Knight), whatever -- wherever they're coming
from, I mean, they're -- and they're not just in downtown. They're going to other districts of the
City. So, you know, I think it's important that we collectively express our voice on this issue and
that we come up with alternatives to deal with this issue, because it's a very pressing issue,
obviously. It cost someone their life. So something we have to deal with. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Ms. Robertson -- you want to add something?
Alvin West: Yes. Alvin West. I am board treasurer, and I want to speak on behalf of the board,
and I really want to thank the Commission and the Chair for the work and the collaboration that
we've done this year. And I know that we all have worked hard to make the City what it is today.
And the board just really needs to say, Thank you for what you do, and we really appreciate all
of the effort, U.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Ms. Robertson: I have an answer to Commissioner Russell's question. To hire two more
ambassadors would be $75, 000 a year, full-time.
Vice Chair Russell: Together?
Ms. Robertson: Mm-hmm.
Vice Chair Russell: Two of them. Okay. That's what I thought. Alyce, would that tremendously
upset the budget?
Ms. Robertson: No. We could find that in our budget.
Vice Chair Russell: I would like to make an amendment that we add two ambassadors at that
cost within the DDA; that we focus it within the core.
Ms. Robertson: I'm not a lawyer, but I think the proper time would be back at the DDA, but --
Commissioner Gort: Yeah.
Ms. Robertson: -- to make that amendment to the budget.
Vice Chair Russell: So here, we're only accepting the budget; we can't actually change the
budget?
Ms. Robertson: I defer to the City Attorney. What --? No, I'm asking whether we make it here
or we make it back at the DDA, the budget change.
Ms. Mendez: The budget change, I think it has to be simultaneously, so you basically pass your
amendment, subject to going back to your board and ratifying that.
Ms. Robertson: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
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Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: I'll yield to the Manager, but I believe we're passing it in its totality, so
as long as it's within the budget and you have room --Asa matter of fact, I think you have
vacancies in your salaries and employees, so I think within the room, but I'll yield to the
Manager.
Ms. Mendez: Commissioner Carollo, you're much better at numbers than I am, so there's no
change in capacity, and that's why you're saying it could be moved around?
Commissioner Carollo: What I'm saying is that I believe the budget could be passed as is, and
he can make the changes at the DDA level, yeah, as long as they have -- as long as they don't
need --
Commissioner Gort: Yeah, but --
Commissioner Carollo: -- any additional funding.
Commissioner Suarez: Category.
Ms. Mendez: Okay. Thank you for claming that point.
Chair Hardemon: So everyone understands, what Commissioner Carollo is saying is that there's
no need to modify the resolution that's before us; no need to amend the motions. Just pass the
resolution, and then at the board level with the DDA, you can make the changes to your budget
as you see fit.
Ms. Robertson: And we'll bring that in front of the board in October.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay. We would not need to amend this, then, because we're not accepting
it line for line then. Line items are (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Ms. Mendez: Correct, correct. I thought it would change some sort of capacity.
Chair Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Ms. Mendez: But it's not, so.
Vice Chair Russell: Category. Good. So no amendment necessary then. Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor, say Bye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Ms. Robertson: Thank you very much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
BH.5 RESOLUTION
16-01177
City of Miami Page 11 Printed on 111812016
City Commission Meeting Minutes September 20, 2016
Midtown Community A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Redevelopment ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING AND ADOPTING THE AMENDED BUDGET
Agency OF THE MIDTOWN COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("MIDTOWN
CRA"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," FOR THE FISCAL
YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2015 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
2016 ("AMENDED BUDGET"), AS APPROVED BY THE MIDTOWN CRA'S
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
16-01177 Memo - Midtown CRA.pdf
16-01177 Back -Up Documents.pdf
16-01177 Pre-Legislation.pdf
16-01177 Legislation.pdf
16-01177 Exhibit.pdf
Motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Russell, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon
R-16-0439
Chair Hardemon: BKS.
Pieter Bockweg: Good evening, Commissioners. Pieter Bockweg, executive director for the
Midtown CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency). The item before you is the amended budget
for the fiscal year '15116 of the Midtown CRA that was approved on September 8.
Commissioner Suarez: Move it.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion about the item?
Seeing none, all in favor, say aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
BH.6
RESOLUTION
16-01288
Midtown Community
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Redevelopment
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING AND ADOPTING THE BUDGET OF THE
Agency
MIDTOWN COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA"), ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A", FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2016 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2017, AS
APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE MIDTOWN
CRA.
16-01288 Memo - Midtown CRA.pdf
16-01288 Back -Up Documents.pdf
16-01288 Legislation.pdf
16-01288 ExhibitA.pdf
Motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Russell, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon
Citv ofMiami Page 12 Printed on II18/2016
City Commission Meeting Minutes September 20, 2016
R-16-0440
ChairHardemon: BH6.
Pieter Bockweg: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Pieter Bockweg, executive director of the Midtown CRA
(Community Redevelopment Agency). The item before you is the proposed budget for fiscal year
'16117; again, that was approved on September 8.
Commissioner Suarez: Move it.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing
none, all in favor, say aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes.
Mr. Bockweg: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
BH.7
RESOLUTION
16-01223
OMNI Community
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Redevelopment
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING AND ADOPTING THE PROPOSED BUDGET
Agency
OF THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("OMNI CRA"), ATTACHED AND
INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A", FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING
OCTOBER 1, 2016 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2017, AS APPROVED BY
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI CRA.
16-01223 Summary Form.pdf
16-01223 Back -Up Documents.pdf
16-01223 Legislation.pdf
OBSOLETE
16-01223 Exhibit SUB.pdf
Motion by Vice Chair Russell, seconded by Commissioner Suarez, that this matter be
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Russell, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon
R-16-0441
Chair Hardemon: BH.7.
Jason Walker: Good afternoon, Commissioners. BH7 is a resolution of the City Commission
adopting the Omni Redevelopment -- CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) budget that was
adopted on September 13, with a revision that I have to pass out to you. You were sent it via
email, but I have the revision now. And basically, the revision is there was a $2 million payment
in thereto the City for Museum Park. The board voted to move that $2 million payment to the
reserve until further action or notice.
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Meeting Minutes September 20, 2016
Chair Hardemon: Can you pass it to the Clerk? Make sure that it's passed on to the City
Commissioners.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, you're recognized, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: I just want to verify that this is the exact -- what's being passed out is the
exact same budget as we approved at the CRA level; the only difference is the $2 million to
Museum Park put in the reserves.
Mr. Walker: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: But still --
Chair Hardemon: Designated.
Commissioner Carollo: -- designated for Museum Park.
Mr. Walker: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other question?
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Yes. For -- and I just wanted to clam. The money is there, so
once we iron out the details, the money can be paid to the City if that's what's determined,
correct?
Mr. Walker: Yes, ma'am. Ifyou see at the bottom, FY2017 budget reserve, it was increased to
$4 million. It was originally $2 million. But the intent from the board was to hold it until further
action.
Vice Chair Russell: By designated, 'ft's not ready to cut the check, it means more work to be done
before the decision is made, but it's set --
Chair Hardemon: But it's separated.
Vice Chair Russell: -- so it can't be sent -- spent on anything else until that time; is that --
Commissioner Suarez: That's fine.
Vice Chair Russell: -- accurate, what we agreed?
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any further question?
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move it.
Commissioner Suarez: Second.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing
none, all in favor, say bye. "
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The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
ChairHardemon: Motionpasses.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Amended; as amended.
BH.8
RESOLUTION
16-01133
Wynwood Business
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Improvement District
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF
(BID) Board
THE WYNWOOD BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ("BID"), ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,073,158.00, TO PROVIDE
FOR THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BID,
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2016, AND ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2017.
16-01133 Memo - Wynwood BID.pdf
16-01133 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf
16-01133 Legislation.pdf
OBSOLETE
OBSOLETE
16-01133 Exhibit SUB.pdf
Motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Russell, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon
R-16-0442
ChairHardemon: BH 8.
Tom Curitore: Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the Commission. Tom Curitore,
executive director, Wynwood Business Improvement District. I want to present our budget
tonight, but I have to do a floor amendment to our budget, which I'll pass around. Thank you.
On the streetscape line, we're going to add $588 more to make it 22,588. On the security line,
we're going to add another 198,330 to make it 498, 330. And on the sanitation line, we're going
to add 49,170 to make it 115,170, for a total budget of one million -seven -three -one five -eight for
operation and maintenance, management of the BID (Business Improvement District) for the
fiscal year commencing October 1, 2016 and ending September 30, 2017.
Commissioner Suarez: Move it.
Commissioner Carollo: Second. Discussion.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded. You're recognized, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for coming before us, and I see
that we are no longer a Zika zone in Wynwood, so congratulations.
Mr. Curitore: And thankyou. I just wanted to thank the City ofMiami for that, also. I mean,
you really did a great job helping us in the City ofMiami. We appreciate it.
Commissioner Carollo: Absolutely. This -- and this one-time contribution is considered a
one-time contribution, correct?
Citv ofMiami Page 15 Printed on 111812016
City Commission Meeting Minutes September 20, 2016
Mr. Curitore: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Because of the situation which we all know.
Mr. Curitore: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Listen, I'm fine with your budget. The only thing, I just want to caution
you before the 247, your overall administrative expense, were about 36percent of income, which
some might consider that to be pretty high; so just as a caution, but I'll move to approve it.
Mr. Curitore: Thank you, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor, say aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion passes, as amended.
Mr. Curitore: Thank you, Commissioners. And thank you and the Mayor for your continuing
support of Wynwood.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): As amended.
BH.9
RESOLUTION
16-01216
Office of Management
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION RELATED TO
and Budget
TAXATION, DEFINING AND DESIGNATING THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS FOR
THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"); LEVYING AN AD VALOREM TAX ON ALL REAL
AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE CITYATA FINAL TOTAL RATE OF
8.2900 MILLS ON THE DOLLAR OF THE TAXABLE VALUE OF SUCH
PROPERTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE GENERAL OPERATING
BUDGET AND PAYMENT OF DEBT SERVICE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2016 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,2017;
CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
16-01216 Summary Form.pdf
16-01216 Legislation.pdf
ACTIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION:
1. RECOMPUTE THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE, IF NECESSARY
2. ADOPT THE FINAL MILLAGE RATE
Motion by Commissioner Gort, seconded by Chair Hardemon, that this matter be
ADOPTED PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Russell, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon
R-16-0443
Chair Hardemon: BH.9.
Christopher Rose (Director): Good evening, Commissioners. Chris Rose, Office of Management
and Budget. BH.9 is setting the City's millage rate for fiscal year '16117. It has a general
Citv ofMiami Page 16 Printed on 111812016
City Commission Meeting Minutes September 20, 2016
operating millage of 7.6465 mills, a debt service millage of 0.6435 mills, and a total millage rate
of 8.290 mills; an overall reduction from last year.
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve?
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved by Commissioner Gort; seconded by the Chairman.
Is there any discussion about the item? Seeing none, all in favor, say aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
ChairHardemon: Motionpasses.
BH.10 RESOLUTION
16-01215
Office ofManagement A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
and Budget ATTACHMENT(S), ADOPTING A FINAL BUDGET AND MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS RELATING TO CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") OPERATIONAL
AND BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING
OCTOBER 1, 2016 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,2017; RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN NECESSARY ACTIONS OF THE
CITY MANAGER AND DESIGNATED CITY DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER TO
UPDATE THE RELEVANT FINANCIAL CONTROLS, PROJECT CLOSE-OUTS,
ACCOUNTING ENTRIES, AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH AND FOR GRANTS IN PROGRESS; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
16-01215 Summary Form.pdf
16-01215 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf
16-01215 Legislation.pdf
16-01215 Exhibit.pdf
16 -01215 -Submittal -City Manager Budget FY15-16.pdf
16 -01215 -Submittal -Vice Chair Russell-CRA's Obligation to Museum Park.pdf
16 -01215 -Submittal -City Manager -Change Memo.pdf
16 -01215 -Submittal -Commissioner Carollo-Park Powerpoint Presentation. pdf
16 -01215 -Submittal -Benefits for Daniel J. Alfonso.pdf
ACTIONS BY THE CITY COMMISSION:
1. AMEND THE BUDGET, IF NECESSARY
2. ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGET
Motion by Commissioner Suarez, seconded by Commissioner Gort, that this matter be
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 4 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Russell, Suarez and Hardemon
Noes: 1 - Commissioner(s) Carollo
R-16-0444
Chair Hardemon: BH.10. Mr. Manager, is there a presentation you want to make on BH.10, or
are you fine with moving through full staff?
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Christopher Rose (Director): Good evening, Commissioners. Chris Rose, Office of Management
and Budget. BH. 10 is the appropriation document, the budget for the City of Miamiforfiscal
year '16117.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve the budget as presented?
Commissioner Suarez: I will move it, subject to the latest change memo.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion on that?
Commissioner Gort: For discussion.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, please.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: I've never asked anything -- Thank you, Mr. Chairman -- but this time, I
don't know if -- it was sort of a surprise for us -- but about three weeks ago, we were awarded the
PGA (Professional Golf Association) Latinos, which means all the championship golf that takes
place in Latin America, throughout the competitions. Originally, the last one was going to be
taking place in Puerto Rico. They selected Miami and Melreese Park. They had to put the whole
package together in less than a month, so I'm respectfully requesting $50, 000 contribution for
this tournament. It's going -- the contract's going to be extended for three years, so it's not only
this year. The --what happens is the top 60 players from Latin America comes in playoff inhere,
and the best five will stay to be part of the PGA Tour in the United States. It's a great economic
impact to the City. At the same time, it's the -- the amount ofpublicity that we're going to
receive, because the coverage -- they cover it live, and if you watch the golf channels and all
those channels, you get a lot ofpeople watching those and watching Miami.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. All right. So I'll recognize the Mayor first.
Mayor Tomas Regalado: Thank you very much. I am herein support of Commissioner Gort's
amendment, and for the reason that he said, and for more reasons. Several months ago, we
heard that the PGA Championship -- oh, that's good.
Commissioner Gort: We got kids listening.
Mayor Regalado: All right.
Vice Chair Russell: Was that one of mine?
Unidentified Speaker: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: No, I don't think so. No.
Mayor Regalado: Constituent, constituent. Several months ago, we all heard and were really
sad to hear the news that the PGA had left Miami -- actually, Doral -- and they have moved to
Mexico. And, of course, we knew that that was part of South Florida economy. But what the
media didn't reported was that the PGA Championship, every single year, donated $150, 000 to
the First Tee. The First Tee is located at Melreese Golf Course in the City of Miami, and it takes
care of dozens of dozens of children from the inner city in the City of Miami. They do their --
after school, they practice golf. They're trained in --to become ladies and gentlemen, and this
has been a national model. So as Commissioner Gort said, when the possibility came of not
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having this PGA Latin America Championship in Puerto Rico, Mr. De Luca and his son
immediately jumped at it, knowing that there were some commitment, as we did with the All Star
Games. And they have commitment of in-kind services of police. They need to have off-duty
police for the people that will be attending; also for the parking. They need to have permanent,
by request of PGA, a Rescue truck parked there all the time the days of the tournament. And they
have other commitment. Like Commissioner Gort said, this is an investment. We are going to be
showcased in ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network), and the Golf Channel
for several hours; and, of course, the fact that this has been already signed for three years means
that the City of Miami will be the host city of PGA Latin America; which, by the way, will expand
to Europe next year. So I'm just hear in support of Commissioner Gort's motion.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much. Mr. Manager, would that $50, 000 come from the
reserve from uncollected, as well?
Daniel J. Alfonso (City Manager): That is correct, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: And does the mover and seconder accept the friendly amendment?
Commissioner Suarez: Yes, I'll accept it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been accepted. So currently, we're still in discussion, with the friendly
amendment of $50,000 being added for the Latino PGA. Any further discussion?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. I just wanted to thank the members of the DNA (Downtown
Neighborhood Alliance) from 50 Biscayne for coming and talking about the homeless issue
downtown. I was really moved at your meeting. Commissioner Carollo was therewith me, as
well as a representative from Commissioner Suarez' office. And we had a constituent die this
month -- Thomas Lange -- and his partner, Steve Dutton, his husband was -- should have been
the angriest one in the room, but he was the calmest voice of reason on what we need to improve
as a city; not only for the quality of life of the homeless, themselves, but for the quality of life of
the residents who cohabitate and live with them downtown. And that moved me enough to put
pen to paper and really start thinking about what could we do in change, and I know they've
done the same this week, as well as with the recommendations they had. And so I have a couple
of amendments I would like to ask for the Board to consider, please. One is an additional
200, 000 in lighting within the CBD (Central Business District). Zerry, I know you're working
with a pilot program on the solar lighting, but this is a more inexpensive and eicient method,
not only capital -wise, but operating -cost -wise. I'd like to see how far we could go with
something like that. The NET (Neighborhood Enhancement Team) Team Neighborhood Service
Workers, the NSWs, I'd like to see if we could hire two more -- I know they come in pairs --for
downtown that would work with Will Plasencia in that area. They could really affect and assist
with the neighborhood and with homeless issues. If I'm not mistaken, that would be an $83, 000
addition for the first year, and then 55, 000 per year after that, if I'm not mistaken. Those are
numbers from Vanessa Acosta. In terms of sanitation and cleanliness, I would like to see -- right
now, we're doing a three -time -a -week cleaning downtown, of the downtown streets, and I'd like
to see that to do a five -time -a -week, and I've already spoken with the director, Mario Nunez, who
says that is possible. Of course, we have to talk with the Manager, but I -- if I understand
correctly, there would not be a budgetary impact, that within his current budget, Mario would be
able to accommodate that, so that wouldn't cost anything additional. And then the Green Shirts,
the ask was that the Green Shirts -- I know we currently have some that are funded but un -hired,
but the ask is that we start looking at a little bit different role, a little more of an active outreach
role that includes the evenings and the weekends, and the holidays. And I believe Mr. Vickers
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was going to get an answer for that, that could help me with a number, but I understand their
starting salary is 26, 000. So if we were to increase them --I was looking for a number of what
that would be if we were to do any sort of evening or weekend work with the Green Shirts. Mr.
Manager, could you help me with that?
Mr. Alfonso: Well, sir, formulate the request. We'd have to sit down and go over it, whatever it is
that you're asking for, to see what the cost is going to be.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll defer to Commissioner Gort.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: Let me ask Grace. Who determines where the Green Shirts -- what are
their routes and what are their hours of work? Does the City of Miami or the Homeless Trust?
Mr. Alfonso: Well, the Homeless Trust funds a large portion of our Green Shirts.
Commissioner Gort: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: They don'tfully fund them. We fund a significantportion of their salaries.
Commissioner Gort: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: But we manage where they go.
Commissioner Gort: Okay. Because my understand is --
Mr. Alfonso: It's a countywide service.
Commissioner Gort: -- the Green Shirts is a countywide service?
Mr. Alfonso: That's correct.
Commissioner Gort: That's why I asked the question. I want to make sure that we put them
where the concentrated is, because we have them in downtown, but we also have it at the Health
District, quite a bit of it.
Mr. Alfonso: That is correct. They get distributed, Commissioner, basically based on need.
Commissioner Gort: All right. Thank you.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Vickers, I guess the question is -- I know there's some funded, but
un -hired positions within the Green Shirts.
Milton Vickers (Senior Advisor to the City Manager): Yes, sir.
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, there's a number of vacancies, but we are working to hire those
vacancies.
Vice Chair Russell: So it wouldn't necessarily be a budgetary impact to allocate some of those
toward potentially different shifts?
Mr. Alfonso: A large portion of the funding for the Green Shirts, Commissioner, comes from the
Homeless Trust.
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Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Alfonso: Which is a countywide fund.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Alfonso: So I don't think that we can take their money and say, These guys will only be
allocated to downtown. "
Vice Chair Russell: Isn't there a portion that we fund, though?
Mr. Alfonso: There is a portion that we fund that is because they were not covering enough
salary. So we gave those folks a little bit of an increase. Say, you know, they cover the first, let's
say, $12, and we cover a little more than that. We made them permanent, so we cover their
pension, we cover health insurance and those things, which was not covered by the Homeless
Trust monies that we get. But it's not like they say, well, they cover 40 and we cover three.
Vice Chair Russell: Right. But the ones that you're hiring, would we be able to --
Mr. Alfonso: No, sir. The ones that we're hiring, they're still funded in portion -- in large
portion from the Homeless Trust.
Vice Chair Russell: So we would not be able to control their schedules?
Mr. Alfonso: We control their schedules, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay.
Mr. Alfonso: But we cannot say, These guys are only going to work in downtown. "
Vice Chair Russell: Right. No; that I understand.
Mr. Alfonso: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: That I understand, because they're on call, basically, but that's what I'm
looking to advocate for, is a little bit of a change in their methodology, that there's a little more
of an active outreach, and if there's an additional cost to that, that's what I wanted to know.
Mr. Alfonso: Right. So what we are doing is we are looking at their deployment and working
with the department to see if there's a way to redeploy them in a more efficient manner, but it's
not that we can make a commitment that, Eley, 10 guys are going to be downtown all the time,
and never go anywhere else," that we cannot do.
Vice Chair Russell: Fine. No amendment there then. Thank you. We'll work with the schedule
and see what we can do on the ones that we do hire. I appreciate that. I wanted to askfor two
other amendments, please. Mr. Chair, Commissioner Carollo has really inspired me on Museum
Park, and I've been over there several times, and I -- you know, I wasn't hearing the constituent
complaints, but I went there, and you're absolutely right; the need to improve that park and add
to its amenities and the capital improvements there. You know, there were so many different
plans and visions of what that park could be. What it is right now, it's not bad. It's a beautiful
open green space, but it's not active. People aren't there playing. There's not enough shade.
There's nothing for kids. There's nothing for dogs. It's -- you know, at night, it's not quite safe as
it could be in terms of lighting. Everything that you've brought to me is absolutely true, and your
involvement with the Bayfront Park Trust; and obviously, my welcoming of your input into my
district is the reason that I'm in complete agreement. Ido believe that there are ways for us to
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pay for this that we may not have to lean on the Omni CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency).
There was a legal opinion issued in 2012 -- I only just found this in the last day here -- that the
Omni CRA -- I'll have it distributed to all Commissioners here so you can study it, but it basically
says, You have asked whether the Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment
Agency has any continuing financial obligations with respect to the Museum Park Project. For
the reasons set forth below, your question is answered in the negative. "And so there is at least
one legal opinion that says that the CRA doesn't owe it to the City, based on the global
agreement. That's open to discussion, interpretation and everything, but really, for me, I wanted
to try to find some solutions, and I think we have some. Within the Tree Trust of the City, we
have over $3.3 million waiting for trees just to be planted. And so if this is the appropriate
place, I definitely wanted to allocate 303, 000 from the Tree Trust toward Museum Park.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): The Tree Trust Fund has specific ways where it could be
allocated, a certain amount, so it needs to conform with that. I don't know if you did the
calculations, but it's like 10 percentfor this, 5 percentfor that, so --
Commissioner Suarez: For every dollar spent.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. I was speaking with Francisco about this earlier today. Are we -- is
this something that's possible, or--?
Ms. Mendez: I'm just bringing it up. I'm not saying it's not an -- but it just has to come through
certain parameters on what is spent --
Commissioner Suarez: Why don't you just say, Subject to compliance
Vice Chair Russell: Sure.
Commissioner Suarez: --With the Tree Trust requirements. "
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. The DRI (Development of Regional Impact), the downtown DRI has
funds available within it. $197, 000 could go toward potential trees and/or solar light
installation. If our pilot program is finalized and approved, this could be a very cost-efficient
and energy-effilcient way for us to make the park much more beautiful and safer, and that's just a
start to finish off the improvements, which could include the lighting, kids' park, dog park. I
would look for 1.5 million in citywide park impact fees to be allocated toward Museum Park.
And then the final amendment I'm going to ask for -- and I really appreciate your indulgence
here --is a crisis that I'm facing herein Coconut Grove. And I know it's a crisis that is
happening in different parts of the City, but I'm seeing it in a very poignant way right now. We
have a lot -- we have people that are getting evicted this week, actually. And I've been trying for
the last several months with the City and with the neighbors to find solutions; everything from
filing a lawsuit against the slumlord who has put them in this situation where they're being put
out, and this first building is -- the evictions are happening this week. Over the next few months,
there's going to be sic full blocks of evictions in the West Grove, and there is no place for them to
go. I've literally walked every single door and handed them the phone numbers of every
available unit of affordable housing in the City; they're calling, they're getting on wait lists.
There's issues that I know are coming up on our agenda on Thursday with regard to affordable
housing and how we can allocate, you know -- what do you call it? -- preference for City. And,
you know, there's -- it's a tough situation. So what I'm looking for is some help within the
Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and to know if those funds can be used for emergency housing to
help supplement and rehouse some of these folks.
Chair Hardemon: Is your first question one of legal sufficiency? Is it one where you're saying --
Mayor Tomas Regalado: Can I say --?
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Chair Hardemon: -- can the Affordable Housing Trust Fund be utilized to temporarily house
individuals?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. And ifso, I'm going to make an amendment to ask to allocate some
more funds toward it.
Mayor Regalado: Well, I'm not going to answer that question that's come, but I just wanted to
remind you that yesterday, there was a lottery at Mundy Street for the new --
Vice Chair Russell: Stirrup.
Mayor Regalado: -- building. And 16 families from the West Grove were selected in the lottery;
the rest citywide.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Mayor, 16 qualified, but only four made the lottery. So out of over 60
placements in there, four of them are from the West Grove.
Mayor Regalado: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Mayor Regalado:
16 qualified.
Vice Chair Russell:
Yeah, but only --
Mayor Regalado:
Then four --
Vice Chair Russell:
--four of them --
Mayor Regalado:
-- of them were --
Vice Chair Russell:
-- were placed within the lottery.
Mayor Regalado:
-- Correct.
Vice Chair Russell: So.
Mayor Regalado: And that's the way it goes, the lottery. Well, it's a Federal process.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: And four was from the West Grove. The rest came from not just the City
of Miami; Dade County, correct?
Vice Chair Russell: Nationwide, right?
Mayor Regalado: No. I think it was all over Miami -Dade County.
Commissioner Carollo: Right. So it's not --
Mayor Regalado: Allover Miami -Dade County.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- necessarily the City residents.
Mayor Regalado: Right.
Chair Hardemon: We build affordable housing, and Miami -Dade Countyfills them.
Mayor Regalado: Because Miami -Dade County put some money on it, and that's the caveat that
they --
Chair Hardemon: Yeah. And we are Miami -Dade County, as well.
Mayor Regalado: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: You know? I would love to see more affordable housing built in Aventura and
Pinecrest and all the places where you don't see not one homeless facility --
Commissioner Gort: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- not one affordable housing project, not one anything that is open, if you
will, to people who typically couldn't afford to live in that area. So, you know, I've been saying,
like the community has been saying for a very long time that the City of Miami is the place that
you put our homeless facilities in, or build -- well, you raze single-family homes to put apartment
buildings, and then the people that live -- who used to live in those homes or just around that --
that new apartment building can't get into that building. That's probably the reason that
Commissioner Russell is bringing that -- those numbers up.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: I --
Mayor Regalado: And as --just to finish. Asa member of the Homeless Trust, and
Commissioner Suarez is, there is an avenue for about three months, the Homeless Assistance in
motels. I don't know apartments, because there's no available apartments in South Dade where
the Homeless Trust has facilities, but in motels. If it's a family, not a single person, but if it's a
family, maybe a couple, you get three months. But the Homeless Trust is running out of money
and I think the City is also running out of money because ofplacement in motels.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort, Suarez, and then the Vice Chairman.
Commissioner Gort: You know, mainly, this is not only a problem here in the Grove. I mean, we
have the same problem throughout the whole City. I mean, District], we have a lot of people in
Allapattah area. You have people throughout the whole City, the rents that people cannot afford
to rent. This is something we had discussed quite a bit. And this is a problem that we have, and
we have to analyze it citywide. We have to work on this.
Chair Hardemon: Suarez.
Commissioner Suarez: I'll yield.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Vice Chairman and then --
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Vice Chair Russell: That's okay. Go ahead, Commissioner Carollo.
Chair Hardemon: Go ahead.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, I'm not sure if it was 2014 or 2013, I brought up
legislation with this issue, giving preference to City residents; however, Mr. Mensah mentioned
at the time that due to HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) guidelines, we
cannot do that. And the only thing I was thinking, as far as fairness and as far as actually
bringing the services to our residents, I mean, we're putting Cityfunds here, especially,
sometimes, we put all Cityfunds; not all the time, but there has been occasions where we put all
Cityfunds; yet other people from Miami -Dade County move into the City; yet, we can't service
the needy in our own City. So I brought legislation back in -- I want to say 2014; however,
again, you know, I would -- You know, we passed something that was better, so all
Commissioners get, you know, some type of notice and so forth, but as far as giving preference to
letting the residents of the City of Miami know, it was shot down by Mr. Mensah, according to
HUD guidelines.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, Commissioner Suarez.
Commissioner Suarez: I think we have an item on the next agenda, tomorrow's agenda --
Thursday's agenda, where we're -- all three of us co -sponsoring a fix of that, so I think we -- that
should take care of that.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: So what the Mayor brought up about the hotel rooms is true and that is
available, but as -- it's probably the least efficient way to house families in emergency situations,
the most expensive, if you can imagine buying a hotel room every night for a family; whereas if
we were to allocate some assistance to subsidize some rents for a period of time, that would go a
lot longer of a way. And Fin just -- I'm open to other recommendations, but I know we've got to
do something, or these folks will be homeless, and we will add -- it's 120 units in the West Grove
right now that will be evicted over the next few months --
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: -- and so we got to do something.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: We also have a program that I think we've funded over the years, which is
the rental assistance program, where if someone gets evicted, they get -- I think it's a hundred
percent the first month, 75 percent the second month, 50 percent the third month. So it's sort of a
declining rental assistance, it's temporary and it's sort of supposed to phase you into your own
dependence -- or independence, I -- better said. So maybe we can do -- if there is funding in the
homeless -- I'm sorry -- in the --
Vice Chair Russell: Affordable Housing Trust.
Commissioner Suarez: -- Affordable Housing Trust Fund, maybe what we can do is model it on
that program of rental assistance.
Vice Chair Russell: Is that the HANDS [sic] (Housing Assistance Network of Dade) Program?
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Commissioner Suarez: Yes, that's it.
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Suarez: The HAND Program.
Vice Chair Russell: And so adding funds toward that.
Commissioner Suarez: Correct.
Vice Chair Russell: Do we know what the funding is available within the HANDS [sic] Program
and how far that'll go, and if we could use --?
Commissioner Suarez: We're just modeling -- if we have funds, you know, modeling it based on
that same program for those residents. You know, you've identified a --sort of an acute situation.
Vice Chair Russell: What Id like to do is make sure we're not sharing the money with HUD so
that all those restrictions come along with it, so the more independent we can be with these
funds, the better.
George Mensah: Hi. George Mensah, director of Community Development. Yes, I agree with
what the Commissioner said, which means that if we're going to use Cityfunding, I prefer it so
that we don't add it to the HUD Fund, so we have much more flexibility with it than having it as
part of the HANDS [sic] Program. But I also think that, you know, giving the tenants three, four,
five months, be able to ween them off the funds is definitely also a better way to handle it. So we
can do just, you know, a hundred percent, 50 percent, 60 -- that kind of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in
four, five months, so that they can be able to find a way of doing that, so that's probably a better
way of using the funds.
Vice Chair Russell: And so what funds are available to do exactly that exercise right now? Do
we have within the Affordable Housing Trust Fund or --?
Mr. Mensah: Right now, you -- the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, obviously, because it's City
funds, the funds that the City collected from developers, the City Commission has the ability to
change the use of those funds; probably, it meets the goal of the City Commission, so that can be
done. However, I think the problem right now is the -- most of the Affordable Housing Fund has
already been committed to projects and to the employee program. What I -- I didn't know this
was coming up, so what I will attempt to do is to go find exactly what the balance is, and then
maybe we can discuss if there's any need to be able to move some of it to this -- a program like
this. We definitely have to design a program to make sure that it meets the needs of the residents
Commissioner Suarez: What's the timing on it?
Mr. Mensah: -- to be able to help them.
Commissioner Suarez: What's the timing of it, Vice Chair?
Vice Chair Russell: They're getting evicted this week, the first groups of families. And HANDS
[sic] has not been able to help most of them. They've all -- many of them have tried, either
haven't qualified for various reasons. If we could manage the program or assign someone within
the community that's a not-for-profit to manage the program and distribute these funds in the
method that you lay out, I think it would be very effective, very focused, and really help a very
specific population that's got a very specific problem right now. I just need to know how much
we need to allocate and where it comes from.
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Chair Hardemon: You know, one of the things that comes to my mind, too, is, are we kicking the
can down the road? I mean, if you're saying that you're going to give someone temporary
funding for three to four months --
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- that means that they can't afford that lease in the first place, most likely;
compared to if we're providing them some form of housing until they find a lease that they can
afford. And so what comes to my mind is that four months down the line, you end up having a
tenant -- in your words, about a hundred tenants -- that can't afford the rent, and then will be
looking at eviction once again. And I know that with the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, we've
been looking at providing permanent housing for people that is affordable. The rents being
affordable is a function of the owners providing a product to a person at a reasonable cost, and
that's our problem in the City of Miami. We don't have much of that, but we -- but there are -- It's
an interesting conundrum, because some -- there are places, like, for instance, in Liberty Square,
where there's a vast number of units that are available for people to move into. Now, the
question is, do people want to move into Liberty Square? And you'll probably find that people
say, ho. "Why? Because there's issues of crime, there's issues of the need of more police officers
in the area, it's a -- there's issues that -- I think that the Federal Government should be involved
with a few issues regarding domestic terrorism there. So, I mean, these issues are rather
complicated, but what I want to caution us all about is truly pushing someone into a lease that
they can't afford so they can get some gap assistance for just three or four months, because
you're going to find that they're going to be evicted soon after that.
Mr. Mensah: Okay, I wanted to add to what the Commissioner said. That is why the HANDS
[sic] Program is there, and that is the reason why some of them didn't qualify, because we are
required to ensure that this is just a temporary gap; that after the initial stay, that person has the
ability to be able to pay for themselves, so we review them (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on a monthly
basis. So if the person is not working, then we have to have the --show proof that the person has
the ability to work and that the person is just temporary out of work, and that they can get work.
If it's somebody who's not worked for a year or two years, then that person probably might not
be helped, because of the fact that they don't have -- they haven't shown the ability to be able to
find work to do.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah. I can imagine it working for someone who needs assistance with down
payments or, for instance, if I'm moving -- sometimes, when you sign a lease, they want your
first, last and security. Well, that's a large sum of money for many people. If that's $6, 000, that
can be troublesome. So if you're able to save 6, 000 and then have someone pay your first month,
75 percent of your second month, and 50 percent of your third, it makes it a bit more tolerable or
palatable, if you will. Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Your point is actually very correct that this would be
a kicking of the can down the road, and we may be in a crisis at that point.
Commissioner Gort: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: But if we don't do this now, they're going to be homeless now, and we do
have plans, especially in the West Grove. We're working with a church CDC (Community
Development Corporation); a developer, Pinnacle, right now, to renovate existing units of
housing in the West Grove, but it's going to take a few months, and they're already on it, so we've
got units coming down the line.
Chair Hardemon: But is there a reason why the units that they're in now cannot be renovated?
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Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. They're going to be torn down. One of them, the City actually --
Unsafe Structures said it's got to come down. This is the effect of a slumlord --
Chair Hardemon: Well, let me --
Vice Chair Russell: -- decades of neglect, collecting rent and not doing any repairs.
Chair Hardemon: -- yeah. Madam City Attorney, I face this same issue in my district, and, of
course, with us, we -- typically, they give you a repair or demolish order. And so, we like for you
to repair and not necessarily demolish. And in our case, we were able to have a receiver and
collect those rents so that we could make improvements on those properties. So is that not a
possibility in this case?
Ms. Mendez: In this situation, unfortunately, all the properties are -- most of them are in
bankruptcy, there's cross -mortgages. And the properties that we did it within your district were
mortgage free, so we were able to collect rents and fix certain situations so that they could stay
in there longer versus some of these properties are really in a bad situation. So we're intervening
in bankruptcy court and everything for these properties to try and get whatever monies are left
over there to try and provide assistance for relocation, but --
Vice Chair Russell: If we win --
Ms. Mendez: -- it's just different.
Vice Chair Russell: -- Excuse me, I'm sorry. If we win, this is exactly what we're asking that
these funds be allocated for. So if we allocate funds now and we win the lawsuit, that would
basically balance out what we're hoping to spend here today with Mr. Mensah's plan and --
Chair Hardemon: I mean, that lawsuit, I'm not sure -- remember that when you win a lawsuit,
you win --
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. You don'tgetpaid.
Chair Hardemon: -- a piece of paper.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: That's all you get.
Vice Chair Russell: Well, to put it in context, these six blocks are for sale and under contract.
Someone's going to buy them and someone's going to redevelop them and kick everyone out,
whether the place is in bad shape or not. But the fact is most of them are in bad shape and
unrepairable. They haven't met their 40 year certifications, the roofs are caving in, mold,
sewage, everything. And so in the -- you know, in the event that there's redevelopment or that
there's a sale, this money would come from that sale; that's our goal right now. There's -- we are
standing in the way of that sale, and for that sale to go through, we're hoping that the leverage
we've created with this lawsuit will have the seller, from his proceeds, pay into this fund, and
that'll create the gap that we need and also help create some of the actual housing that we need.
This is about a $40 million project we're looking at that's going on these six blocks, so.
Commissioner Suarez: Well, he can't close on the sale if there's a pending lawsuit, because that's
-- there's a lis pendens then, so he's frozen. He cannot sell -- he can't close on a deal --
Vice Chair Russell: That gives him a lot of incentive to work with us and --
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Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: -- take from those proceeds when they do sell.
Commissioner Suarez: Oh, I agree.
Vice Chair Russell: The settlement -- I've already had one settlement with -- meeting with the
current owner, and if he come -- if we come to an agreement, we'll drop the lawsuit. In return,
they'll --
Commissioner Suarez: Of course.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Suarez: You settled it.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: You don't have to drop it. You settled it.
Vice Chair Russell: That's the goal; that's what I meant. But in the meantime, it hasn't
happened, and the evictions are happening now, and, you know, I'm going to be there this week.
If they're -- you know, people are getting, you know, kicked out of their homes, I don't know what
I can do, but I think here, we can do something, even if it is a temporary filling of the gap. And,
you know, they're paying 500 bucks a month right now. The units that the church is creating all
around the West Grove are between five and 700; 500 for a one -bedroom, 700 for two bedrooms.
There is housing that's coming; it's coming down the line. Pinnacle's working on it, we're
working on it.
Commissioner Suarez: I think the issue, just to see if maybe that we can move forward on some
of this stuff, obviously, having the lis pendens is a tremendous leverage in terms of the sale, so
there's no doubt about that, that I can tell you from the real estate transaction work that I do, so
you shouldn't have to worry about that. But I think the Chairman's concern, which is a good
concern, you know, it's an equity issue, which is, look, if -- you know, and I remember you had
one, Commissioner Carollo, in your district not that long ago, where they condemned the
building and they threw everybody out of the building, and you went there. So, I mean, I think
the issue is, if we're going to have a crisis stabilization fund, you're going to have issues in your
district, you're going to have them in your district, I'm going to have them in my district. And so
I think from an equity perspective, we need to look at this issue holistically. I understand that
your issue is acute, because it's going to happen potentially this week, so I think that's where
some of the push -back is coming from. You know, I mean, we all have -- you know, I've been
very blessed and haven't had one yet in my district, but it could easily happen in my district, as
well, because there are buildings that I oftentimes look at and wonder what kind of repair they're
in. So, you know, again, I remember the one that was in your district not that long -- maybe a
year or two ago, if you remember; couple years ago. So -- and everyone got thrown out on the
street, and it was a big -- you know, the news came, the media came, and it was a really big deal.
So I just -- you know, I think we need to be mindful of the city --
Vice Chair Russell: Setting a precedent, sure.
Commissioner Suarez: Look, I don't think it's a bad precedent. I just think -- and I want to talk
to you about one of the other ones. You know, I think what's good for the goose is good for the
gander. If we're going to do it for your district, then the next day that Commissioner -- that the
Chair comes and says, Look there's somebody getting kicked out of my district and it's a crisis, "
then we need to be ready to step up. And when Commissioner Gort comes and says, Ney, There's
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something going on in your district and that's a crisis, Commissioner --
Commissioner Gort: I got people coming in my office just about every day.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. And look, I --
Commissioner Gort: And we got to work with them.
Commissioner Suarez: -- affordable housing is a crisis, just like, you know, the lack of mass
transportation is a crisis in this community. And I think we all in our individual capacities have
all tried to do what we can, and we've moved the ball forward tremendously as a City. And
there's some countywide initiatives that are also potentially getting a little bit of steam. But I
think the issue here is, specifically -- I don't have a problem supporting your stabilization fund.
just want us to be mindful -- and I'm going to talk about it on another issue -- but I want us to be
mindful and we should be mindful of the fact that there's going to be a moment when you're
going to come to me, to this Board, and you're going to say, you know, On someplace, on
somewhere in my district, you know, there's about to '=- they're about to get shut down, and a
bunch of people are about to get evicted, and it's a crisis. So we need to be prepared to step up,
just like we've done, for example, with elderly meals. It's an issue that we've stepped up on --
right? -- when we've lost funding in other areas. So I just want to caution everyone in the
Commission that we got to do -- what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Vice Chair Russell: Well, I'll gladly be there to support any district that's having this sort of
crisis. You know, I'm right now tasked with finding away to help these residents, and I'm floored
at the fact that anywhere within the City and the County, we actually don't have --
Commissioner Suarez: I'm with you.
Vice Chair Russell: -- the opportunityfor them. So if we --
Commissioner Suarez: I'm with you.
Vice Chair Russell: -- can create that even on a short-term basis right now to bridge that gap
and to get those other programs in place, to get that other housing in place -- It's not just an
open-ended ask to, you know, throw money down a hole. We have a plan. We're just trying to
get there, and we will get those funds back if we're successful in the lawsuit, which I think we will
be, but I'm looking for guidance from Mr. Mensah on what we can and should allocate, and to
where, in order to --
Chair Hardemon: Before we go deep into that, we first need to find out if you have the will of the
Commission as far as these amendments go. There were quite a number of amendments. So, for
instance -- I'll refer back to them -- the first of which was $200, 000 in writing --
Vice Chair Russell: And this is my last one, by the say, so.
Chair Hardemon: -- So let's add the last one.
Commissioner Suarez: That's the last one, the one with stabilization?
Chair Hardemon: Oh, the one that you just said was your last one?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Well, we don't have a figure to that yet. So the request-- and I'll -- I
mean, there are many ways that you can handle this. Typically, if you want to add on or you
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want to amend a motion, you can make a motion to amend the motion, but because this is so
large, I would probably recommend that. So the request from Commissioner Russell was
$200, 000 in lighting; $83, 000 in two NET workers. I know downtown doesn't have a NET office
right now. I mean, they're in the Overtown office, so that might be an issue.
Mr. Alfonso: We're working on that, sir.
Chair Hardemon: All right. So 300,000 -- $303, 000 in Museum Park from the Tree Trust;
197, 000 from the DRI to Museum Park and solar lights; $1.5 million in citywide Park impact
fees. And so -- and then right now, which is open-ended, so it's to be determined, the Affordable
Housing Trust Fund towards evictions --
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: -- that a sum -- amount that's yet to be decided.
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chairman, may I be heard?
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: So I have a question. I don't have a problem with the 197 and the 303,
because, you know, I think those are creative ways to get, you know, a good amount of the money
that we were sort of debating about in the Omni CRA, and I think you're making a good faith
effort to follow through on the promise that you made to the Commissioner about trying to find
substitute funds for the $2 million that we were debating and discussing. The 1.5, I have a little
bit of an issue with, and I'll tell you why. First of all, Mr. Manager, have you identified where
that 1.5 is going to come from? Because --
Mr. Alfonso: Absolutely not. We haven't looked into that. We don't have that money available.
Something else would have to be cut from the budget; understanding also, you say the $197, 000
would wipe out the DRI Fund.
Commissioner Suarez: No, I understand. I --
Mr. Alfonso: Look --
Commissioner Suarez: -- I'm okay --
Mr. Alfonso: -- and I'm not sure what the 303 was.
Commissioner Suarez: What -- the 303 was from the Tree Trust Fund, subject to compliance with
the requirements.
Vice Chair Russell: The Tree Trust, right.
Mr. Alfonso: So you would also wipe out thatfund. I think that's the --
Commissioner Suarez: So --
Mr. Alfonso: -- no? Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: So the 1. 5, I was looking to take that from the $4 million in citywide park
acquisition fees that we have.
Commissioner Suarez: And so therein lies my issue. You know, number one, I just asked for $2
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million -- what? -- two -- what? -- the last Commission meeting for --
Vice Chair Russell: Ludlam.
Commissioner Suarez: -- it to be allocated for Ludlam, and, you know, I didn't get support for it.
So, you know, and that's for -- not -- it's actually for acquisition. This is not for acquisition. So
that's the issue that I have, you know. Again, that goes back to the goose/gander -- you know.
Chair Hardemon: And then, I mean, you can also add to that, there's $3.5 million in impact fees
for Parks that was granted for the district for the acquisition of that expensive --
Vice Chair Russell: Trolley, right.
Chair Hardemon: Trolley.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah. If we did the breakdown of actually how the impact fees were spent by
district for this year, I think you would see that your district did very, very, very well. So that's
the part -- Again, does Museum Park need it? Absolutely. Have they been fully funded in their
--in the ultimate vision? Not at all. I still haven't seen an accounting of what actually has been
spent. I could tell you one thing that hasn't been done in Museum Park, which is interesting,
which is the --you know, the underground parking garage. One of the big issues that I said at
the CRA is that, you know, all of our parks citywide are -- one of the great things about our parks
is that everybody wants to be there, everybody wants to go to them. And so our parks suffer from
a lack of parking. And nobody, I think, up here wants to diminish the size of our parks to add
parking. So I think one of the things that was part of the plan for Museum Park was an
underground bermed parking garage, but that's extremely expensive, and I think that's one of the
things that obviously got on the chopping block. I think, you know, certainly, improving the
park, making, you know aesthetic improvements to the park is something that would encourage
people to go and attend the park, obviously, for obvious reasons. But I think, also, there is a
capacity issue. I think the parking lot for people to go there is, you know, it's extremely small.
So unless you're going to play Frogger and cross Biscayne Boulevard, which is extremely
dangerous with your kids, you know, on a stroller, you know, there's just not sufficient parking
for the park. So, you know, I think that's something that we need to take into account. I think
we, you know, we -- in the Omni CRA, this is an open issue, and I don't think it needs to be
solved, you know, in a week.
Vice Chair Russell: I was hoping.
Commissioner Suarez: I appreciate it. I appreciate your resolution. I think the Commissioner is
thankful for it, and we did -- you know, we segregated the money in the reserve account. It's
there, it's not going anywhere, that, you know, this issue is not solved. And it's not just $2
million. The obligation continue --I don't even know what the continuing obligation would
theoretically be. You know what I'm saying? In other words, I don't know what the deficiency is
from the $68 million that was supposedly promised.
Vice Chair Russell: 30.
Commissioner Suarez: 30?
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Suarez: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: So the Omni -- if --
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Commissioner Suarez: 15.
Vice Chair Russell: -- by the global agreement, we pay --
Commissioner Suarez: Right, 15.
Vice Chair Russell: -- 15 years --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: -- at 2 million a year.
Commissioner Suarez: So we have to reconcile all that.
Vice Chair Russell: It's going to be a nice park.
Commissioner Suarez: By the way, the --
Vice Chair Russell: But this is our one chance -- or this is our first new chance to really do
affordable housing projects in the Omni CRA, and that's what I think that money is truly meant
for.
Commissioner Suarez: And I agree.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Suarez: And that's why I supported it.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Suarez: And I think we all came to a healthy compromise on that issue. I was,
you know, supporting that.
Vice Chair Russell: Yep.
Commissioner Suarez: And I think there were other ideas that were floated at that meeting that I
also support that could also increase the ability of the Omni CRA to do affordable housing,
which I think we all agree. I think the issue here was just one of fairness, you know, in terms of
taking the million -five and repurposing it, because it's not even allocated for, you know, that. It's
allocated for acquisition --
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Suarez: -- and we're saying we're going to do -- you know, that's my issue.
Vice Chair Russell: I understand.
Chair Hardemon: Well, there are other -- and when you look at the park impact fees that are in
the plan for new appropriation that are with District 2, there's -- there -- I mean, there's a large
amount of money that is there, also, that if you want to look into that to repurpose some of the
dollars to go towards, you know, where you see -- where you best see fit, I mean, you have that,
also. Commissioner Gort and then Madam City Attorney. Madam City Attorney.
Commissioner Gort: I'll wait. I want to make sure the -- we give the total figures of the
amendments that we're making, because whatever we get, we have to take away from some other
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place.
Chair Hardemon: Right. So right now, I --
Commissioner Gort: And that's the decision that we have to make.
Chair Hardemon: -- if we listen to what Commissioner Suarez said, if you -- if this body agreed
that 303, 000 that would go from the Tree Trust to Museum Park, it would exhaust, as I
understand, the Tree Trust Fund.
Commissioner Suarez: No, no, no. The Tree Trust Fund has a significant amount of money.
Chair Hardemon: No? Okay.
Commissioner Suarez: This is one-tenth of the Tree Trust Fund.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: All right. So that it --you can take that from the Tree Trust Fund; and then,
also, for the DRI to the Museum Park for the solar lights of 197, 000. I'm likened to the ideas
that Commissioner Suarez expressed in all of this. And so the question is if there's a motion, you
know, what would that motion bel Right now, I understand the motion to include everything,
200,000; 83, 000 for NET workers; 303, 000 for Museum Park; 197 for DRI, and 1.5 for citywide.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. And let's just say this: You know, I think he made a passionate
argument at the Omni CRA as to how --where the 2 million should go. We compromised on that
issue. I think I made a passionate argument on Ludlam. You know, we decided not to go
forward on the issue. I think the fair thing to do is to let the million five rest for a bit. You got
half a million on it, and I think it's half a million that we could easily identify, we could allocate
and feeling good about it without, you know, creating any sort of -- you know. And I think we do
need to think about this issue holistically going forward, because, you know, it's an issue we got
to deal with. And the good news is -- let me just say the good news is that, you know, I think
there's still enough development that we have not only this year, but probably another year
where we're going to have a nice, sizable amount of impact fees for Parks, certainly. So -- and
we've -- and that's not going back a year, because I'm not going to go -- you know, I'm not even
talking about going back a year, so -- which we could look at, as well.
Chair Hardemon: So --
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So I was having a discussion --or actually, I had a short
discussion with our Independent Auditor General, due to the question that l posted in the last
Commission meeting regarding usage of our Park impact fees, and make sure we do not lose it.
He came up with a report that he sent to me recently, and he's showing that for the years 2011,
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, the City received revenues from impact fees of $44,738,240. In the
meantime, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, we had total expenditures ofabout $10,546,128, so
approximately 24 percent of that amount. So there should be roughly another $30,000
somewhere.
Commissioner Suarez: 30 million.
Commissioner Carollo: 30 million, I'm sorry; 30 million somewhere. So I think it's a little --
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Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- premature, but we're looking into it to make sure, you know, exactly
that we spent the monies adequately, within a reasonable amount of time, and if that's the case,
we really should have the money for Ludlam Trail, Museum Park, and an additional park; which,
by the way, just as a note, I wanted to bring to Thursday's Commission meeting an addition to a
new park in the Roads. Unfortunately, I was not aware that the amount was double the fair
market value, and I asked the City Attorney to pull that item out of the Commission until I have
more discussion.
Commissioner Suarez: Clarity. Yeah, and we need to --
Commissioner Carollo: I -- by the way, I'll forward this to --
Commissioner Suarez: To all of us.
Commissioner Carollo: -- our office. It was emailed to me by Mr. Guba.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: Well, my understanding, there's funds in there to do a lot of the projects,
but I'd like to see the Administration to come up with the plan how we're going to implement it
throughout the City, like you were stating a little while ago. I think it's very important --
Commissioner Suarez: Well, I'll give you --
Commissioner Gort: -- that it benefits to the City as a whole.
Commissioner Suarez: -- I can give an example, too. Like, for example -- and I think this is
where you were going to go with this -- the Shenandoah pool is one that I think got two and a
half million last year and is getting two and a half million this year, but it hasn't broke ground.
So that's 5 million; that there are some districts that have --
Mr. Alfonso: All impact fees that we have received in the last five, six, seven years, whatever it is
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: -- have been allocated through a budget process.
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: There is no unallocated --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: -- impactfee money. As a matter offact--
Commissioner Suarez: Well --
Mr. Alfonso: --for this coming budget, we estimated, we estimated impact fees monies that
would come in. They haven't actually come in yet --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
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Mr. Alfonso: -- which is why I raised some concern about the allocation that we made --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: -- that, you know, it may require us coming back and defunding some projects --
Commissioner Suarez: Sure.
Mr. Alfonso: -- depending on where the monies come from.
Commissioner Carollo: And we'll reconcile this amount to see exactly where all the fees are,
which is what I asked in the last Commission meeting when we had the issue with the trolley
station -- or the item with the trolley station.
Chair Hardemon: So is there -- would the mover and the seconder of --
Commissioner Suarez: I will --
Chair Hardemon: -- the amendment --
Commissioner Suarez: -- accept the amendments that he proffered on the Tree Trust Fund and
the DRI and the NSW, and the lighting. I think those are the --those are all your amendments,
and I think we agree that --
Commissioner Gort: The Tree Trust and --?
Commissioner Suarez: The Tree Trust was 303, 000; the downtown DRI was 197 for Museum
Park; the --
Chair Hardemon: The $200,000 was also for lighting. Is there a difference between the lighting
and --
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: -- the 200, 000 and 197?
Vice Chair Russell: The 197 is for Museum Park. 200, 000 is for --
Commissioner Suarez: The downtown.
Vice Chair Russell: -- the downtown core in -- well, we have a list of spots that are currently
dark that are key areas that could be much safer if they were lit up, and we'll go through that
with the Administration, but that's specifically for the downtown core lighting issues in the
streets, to help with homeless issues and safety.
Commissioner Suarez: Good stuff.
Chair Hardemon: Does the seconder accept that, also? Because, I'm telling you, if we're giving
lighting, the darkest area in the City of Miami is probably Overtown. Why? Because it's tucked
under the expressway. But the one thing that I've been saying, in this area -- and I asked for, but
you all as a Board denied the Innovation Tower. We --you know, the one thing I said, that that
was going to be the first thing that would cast light into Overtown, and give people a destination
in that place that think would eradicate crime for the mostpart in that area. And whatl'm
looking at now is the darkest area, if we go through today. I take rides all the time with my
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sergeant -at -arms, the City Manager has been, our Police Chief has been, and the one thing that
you can guarantee is that it's dark. There's people on the street, selling and using drugs, and I
think the reason that you had that press conference with our Police Chief and some other
dignitaries is because I personally watched an overdose -- actually three -- in a matter of three
weeks. And then, there have been a number of overdoses that have been reported. So I'm saying
that to say that I'm all for us providing lighting. Actually, within my dollars for capital
improvements, I'm going to be adding additional lighting throughout my entire district,
especially in our alleyways. But the one thing that we are in need of in the areas where there is,
in fact, lots of crime, is lighting. IfI had my way, I would light it up like a football field, so that
everyone knows that, you know, this is not going to be tolerated; but, unfortunately, I don't have
that ability. And, of course, with the lighting in Overtown, because it's directly related to
downtown, we have the homelessness that -- they have all accumulated underneath the
expressway; that the City has provided trashcans to try to keep it at least clean; which, of course,
is down the street from Camillus House and now Lotus House and St. Mary's, or whatever other
homeless facility that you can name that's in throwing distance of Overtown. So, I mean, this is
goose/gander argument, but solely --
Commissioner Suarez: And we did allocate $600, 000 to the park underneath the underpass,
which is going to be the skate park, but I think it's also --
Chair Hardemon: I mean, but that's --
Commissioner Suarez: No, I think it's a good thing.
Chair Hardemon: -- no, but the skate park is across the street from the police station.
Commissioner Suarez: Listen.
Chair Hardemon: We don't have homelessness issues and --
Commissioner Suarez: I think it's --
Chair Hardemon: -- you don't have crime being committed there.
Commissioner Suarez: -- no, no, absolutely. I think it's a good thing.
Chair Hardemon: As a matter of fact, most of the kids who skate there probably have household
incomes north of $500, 000 a year.
Commissioner Suarez: I won't --
Chair Hardemon: So I think that's a completely different avenue.
Commissioner Suarez: -- dispute that. I won't dispute that, but it's good. I think it's a good
thing for the area.
Chair Hardemon: Right. And I'm glad you recognize it's D5.
Commissioner Suarez: There you go. Come one, man; come on, man.
Chair Hardemon: So who was the mover and the seconder on the --?
Commissioner Suarez: I was the mover, and I think Commissioner Gort was the seconder?
Yeah.
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Chair Hardemon: So the question would be, as far as what has been proffered --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- the mover accepted the 200, 000 in lighting, the 303 in Tree Trust, and the
197 in solar lights from the DRI. Does the seconder also agree to that?
Vice Chair Russell: Who was the seconder?
Chair Hardemon: Seconder was Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Suarez: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: I'll go with it, but I want to see the impact.
Mr. Alfonso: You want to see the impact is what you're saying?
Commissioner Gort: Yeah, because if we --
Mr. Alfonso: Yeah, obviously.
Commissioner Gort: -- give from one, we have to take from the other.
Mr. Alfonso: That's correct. So there -- if you give us a few minutes, we can sit down and try to
work it out, but, I mean, it's kind of hard to do it here on the fly.
Commissioner Gort: No, I understand that.
Chair Hardemon: We can recess for 10 minutes and --
Commissioner Gort: Why don't we get all the amendments onboard, so they can work it out, and
they can come back and tell us, Yes, we can do this and that, but we have to take away from here
and there '-'-
Chair Hardemon: Are there any --
Commissioner Gort: -- which is very important.
Chair Hardemon: -- other amendments that would be proposed?
Vice Chair Russell: The -- Mr. Mensah's working on some help for the emergency housing
assistance monies, so we should amend to --
Chair Hardemon: Okay. I think that'll be included, and I would like you to match me for that
lighting, so maybe we can have some lighting that extends from downtown through Overtown. I
know you have lots of problems in the downtown area, but --
Mr. Alfonso: You said that you would like to match the lighting for --?
Commissioner Suarez: He wants -- yeah, another $200, 000 for lighting in Overtown.
Mr. Alfonso: Another 200, 000 for Overtown lighting.
Chair Hardemon: Because -- that's if -- because I don't see the lighting coming from Museum
Park for the --from the Tree Trust Fund. It's not coming from the DRI.
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Commissioner Suarez: I accept.
Chair Hardemon: So what I'm saying is that --
Commissioner Suarez: I accept.
Chair Hardemon: -- that light will come from somewhere else.
Commissioner Suarez: I accept.
Mr. Alfonso: Okay.
Commissioner Suarez: I accept.
Mr. Alfonso: So another 200 for lighting?
Commissioner Suarez: Yes.
Mr. Alfonso: 197 or 200? There's two lighting numbers. You want to match the 200?
Vice Chair Russell: The 200 is the one he's liking to match.
Mr. Alfonso: The 200.
Commissioner Suarez: 197 was for trees from the DRI for Museum Park, actually.
Vice Chair Russell: And solar lighting.
Commissioner Suarez: Right, solar lighting. Sorry, you're right. My apologies.
Mr. Alfonso: Okay, 200.
Commissioner Suarez: Right. I'm wrong, I'm wrong.
Mr. Alfonso: Okay. Are there any other floor amendments to the budget that we need to go work
out?
Ms. Mendez: IfI can mention something in -- with regard to the affordable housing, right now,
as the guidelines stand, it's more for brick -and -mortar -type projects that we give money to
developers to create affordable housing -type projects, so the guidelines may need to be amended
in order to do a little bit more of what you want to do.
Vice Chair Russell: Well, could we just allocate them to Mr. Mensah's department and --for him
to create a program?
Ms. Mendez: Well, I just want you to know, from the actual affordable housing --
Vice Chair Russell: Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Ms. Mendez: -- line item.
Commissioner Suarez: Can I make a recommendation?
Vice Chair Russell: Sure.
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Commissioner Suarez: I know it's -- because we're sort of doing this almost as if it were a
pocket, because they're not prepared for it. Could he at least have until Thursday to prepare for
it? Because we could -- Can we not deal with this on Thursday at the Commission meeting as a
pocket item?
Mr. Alfonso: If we are looking at the budget for that fund that gets approved --
Commissioner Suarez: I'm saying --
Mr. Alfonso: -- and all you want to do is redirect the money within -- like, say, Eley -'-
Commissioner Suarez: -- what I'm getting at is it seems like we have almost consensus, and I
won't want to, you know, I don't want to slow things down if we can deal with this issue in two
days when we're going to meet already --
Mr. Alfonso: Correct. So --
Commissioner Suarez: -- so at least give them 48 hours to figure it out.
Mr. Alfonso: -- right. So we have figured out -- like that -- there may be some money that's not
allocated in that fund. There's also the money that we allocated to our employees assistance.
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: If we defund some of that and fund some of this, that's something that is up to the
Commission. The overall pot is still the same. That can be approved today.
Commissioner Gort: And the emergency funds are very important.
Commissioner Suarez: Oh, I agree. I just -- you know, I think we need to -- I think we should -- I
don't know how you feel, but I think we should punt until Thursday on that so --
Vice Chair Russell: Are we going to breakfor ten minutes right now anyway, to let them work
out some numbers? I think that was the -- what we were talking about -- right? -- on the other
things, because they were -- Because, Commissioner Gort, in order to accept the second, he
wanted to know the impact first, and they needed to do some pencil sharpening.
Mr. Alfonso: And I'm talking to George Mensah. Look, I don't know that he can design the
program 48 hours, but --
Commissioner Suarez: No, I'm not saying design it in 48 hours. I'm just saying 48 hours is
better than four minutes.
Mr. Alfonso: That's absolutely true. We'll see what -- the best we can do by Thursday --
Commissioner Suarez: All right.
Mr. Alfonso: -- with that.
Ms. Mendez: And then the other --just issue I wanted to bring up with regard to the 2 million,
because I know that you were reducing amounts, you know, from the DRI and from Tree Trust
Fund, and just making mental notes with regard to the 2 million. You know, it is the position of
the City Attorney's Office that that money is still owed.
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Vice Chair Russell: Understood.
Ms. Mendez: I understand that you read an earlier opinion. It was, you know, limited in scope.
With that said, remember that even though you're taking monies and maybe allotting certain
amounts to it, the 2 million is technically still owed, and if we're going to change that around,
that would probably need to have a whole slew of other amendments to contrast.
Mr. Alfonso: Well, we may need to reopen the global agreement.
Ms. Mendez: I just -- I'm putting that out there just -- so.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Rose, you had mentioned in my office that between first and second
reading, certain funds -- about 300 and -- could you explain the -- because what I'm looking for
is this affordable housing rapid assistance money. What my proposal is going to be is that those
monies be allocated across all the districts, and if it's 360, then it could be 72 per district, and
Mr. Mensah could create this program, emergency rehousing assistance. You know mirror it to
some of the other best practices that are out there, but that way, there's a fund available for all
districts to pull from within this budget, so at least I can affect the issues in my district on an
emergency basis, and then funds are available for the other districts as issues happen.
Chair Hardemon: One of the things that I will say, Vice Chairman, if --for instance, in the
$200, 000 for lighting that you asked for earlier, I mean, if we want to move that to -- because
that's going to probably end up being some sort of general fund dollars, or some unrestricted
fund source for that lighting, I'm assuming. I haven't had any discussions with the Manager
about it, but if you use that for the -- as a contribution to the -- that emergency assistance --
Vice Chair Russell: Mm-hmm.
Chair Hardemon: -- I mean, I think that would probably be something that the Commissioners
will back --I would back. Certainly, I wouldn't ask for $200,000 additionally for lighting if that
was a request, and I would move forward with the budget --
Mr. Alfonso: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: --as amended.
Commissioner Suarez: Time out.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: I don't have a problem with giving, you know, Overtown $200, 000 and
downtown $200, 000 for lighting. Why? Because we have a $660 million budget -- I think it's
670, actually -- correct me if I'm wrong. And we have 127 million in reserves, hopefully, at the
end of the budget year, approximately. So we're not going to make -- a $200, 000 one-time
capital expenditure is not going to make or break us, but it could have a significant increase in
quality of life for downtown and Overtown. So I don't have a problem spending $200, 000 and
$200,000; none at all. The issue I have is on the Homeless Assistance Fund, which I think is --
you've made a very good and passionate argument as to why we need to do this and why it is an
emergency, because it is, in fact, an emergency if it's going to happen this week, right? The issue
I'm seeing is, that's fine, I'm okay with that, but I think we need to be mindful of the fact that
every single district has issues that are similar to that.
Vice Chair Russell: That's why I'm saying make a fund that's spread across all of our --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
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Vice Chair Russell: -- with this budgetary issue.
Commissioner Suarez: And that's the issue that I have, because, you know, thankfully, it hasn't
happened in my district, but it's happened in almost every other district. I mean, it could happen
in my district --
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Suarez: -- very easily. That's all I'm saying.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. Well, would that proposal work, if the funds are available, that we
spread it across the districts?
Commissioner Suarez: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: Okay.
Commissioner Suarez: I would think so.
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioners, any additional funds that we continue to take is just reducing our
unallocated reserve that we have in the budget.
Commissioner Suarez: Okay, but --yes.
Mr. Alfonso: So if you decide on a number, tell us a number, I will tell you what the impact is --
Commissioner Suarez: I think we're good.
Mr. Alfonso: -- on unallocated reserve.
Commissioner Suarez: I think we're good.
Chair Hardemon: So what's the number?
Vice Chair Russell: 360.
Chair Hardemon: 360. So that 360 --
Commissioner Suarez: So that is not going to be from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund?
Vice Chair Russell: 3-0-6.
Commissioner Suarez: That is not going to be from --
Vice Chair Russell: That's the number, 3-6-0 -- 3-0-6, that's --
Commissioner Suarez: -- the Affordable Housing Trust Fund?
Mr. Alfonso: No, that's not what I'm hearing.
Vice Chair Russell: According to the City Attorney, that's for capital -- construction.
Commissioner Suarez: Right. Only.
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Ms. Mendez: It could be changed by this Commission, but right now, as the guidelines stand --
Commissioner Suarez: That's fine.
Ms. Mendez: -- it's monies that are done --
Commissioner Suarez: That's fine. So --
Vice Chair Russell: What is the balance in that fund right now; do we know?
Unidentified Speaker: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Suarez: Look, we can --
Vice Chair Russell: We got you counting—
Ms. Mendez: It's the -- through the Housing and Loan Committee, remember, the people come
for affordable housing projects, the monies are allocated through there to make affordable
housing. That's how traditionally it's been spent, and that's how the guidelines read right now.
So it would just have to be changed to come to Commission to --
Mr. Alfonso: Additionally, I want to point out that this Commission requested that we do a crisis
study. We don't know the impact of that yet. I sent a letter to all of you earlier today that we're
going to come and ask you for money for that study, for that housing crisis issue that you
identified.
Ms. Mendez: Commissioner Russell, remember, you were the one that asked for that.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. But I certainly don't need a study to see what's going on very tangibly
right now, on a very specific issue, so I think -- that's why I'm trying to create a solution for that
issue. The study will show us what's going on citywide and will project what problems we're
going to have, but --
Commissioner Gort: The study will confirm our experiences, that's for sure.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: So let's be clear. I know, Mr. Manager, you said that any dollars that we
allocate now will come from the reserve.
Mr. Alfonso: That's correct.
Chair Hardemon: Does that include the 306 or --?
Mr. Alfonso: That's correct.
Chair Hardemon: -- okay. So as of now, then, the amendment to the main motion would be that
it would include $200, 000 in lighting for downtown; $200, 000 in light for Overtown; 303, 000
from the Tree Trust to Museum Park; 197, 000 from the DRI to Museum Park, and 306, 000 from
reserve or unallocated to a emergency fund for housing; is that correct?
Commissioner Suarez: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Did I properly capture it?
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Commissioner Suarez: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Is --
Commissioner Suarez: Everyone's onboard?
Chair Hardemon: -- does the mover and the seconder agree to that?
Commissioner Suarez: I agree.
Mr. Alfonso: Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry. Could -- you want to read those through again? I'm on
-- ask to make sure we got it right.
Chair Hardemon: $200, 000 in lighting, one for downtown; another 200 for Overtown.
Commissioner Gort: That's 400.
Chair Hardemon: It's 400.
Mr. Alfonso: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: 303, 000 from the Tree Trust to Museum Park; 197, 000 from the DRI to
Museum Park.
Mr. Alfonso: For lighting.
Chair Hardemon: For lighting, correct.
Mr. Alfonso: Correct.
Chair Hardemon: And also, 306, 000 for the -- from the reserve to the emergency fund for
housing.
Mr. Alfonso: That's 306, 000.
Chair Hardemon: That is 306.
Mr. Alfonso: And --
Commissioner Gort: For housing.
Commissioner Suarez: Correct.
Chair Hardemon: That is correct.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. And the two NET workers.
Mr. Alfonso: And if I remember correctly, there was a $50, 000 for the PGA event?
Commissioner Gort: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: That was already --
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, that's already included.
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Commissioner Suarez: -- accepted.
Mr. Alfonso: I understand. I just want to make sure that we got all the numbers.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: And then the two additional NSWs.
Mr. Alfonso: And the two additional NSWs, is that something the Commission is approving, as
well?
Chair Hardemon: Well, I don't remember the NSWs were part of --
Commissioner Suarez: Yes. I did make that part of my motion.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Mr. Alfonso: I'm taking that as a Yes?
Commissioner Suarez: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: That is correct. The mover and seconder agree. They have agreed, and that's
the motion.
Mr. Alfonso: All right. We'll need to break for a little while so we can work out the numbers and
come back to you with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the budget.
Chair Hardemon: But I thought it was coming from reserve.
Commissioner Suarez: I thought we had the numbers, yeah. There's no need to break.
Mr. Alfonso: I'm sorry? You're okay with going to reserve?
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, for now. If you can find a substitute fund later, then --
Mr. Alfonso: All right. We're good then.
Commissioner Suarez: -- we'll come back with it.
Mr. Alfonso: All right.
Chair Hardemon: All right. So seeing that the mover and seconder agree to that amendment to
the motion, is there any further discussion about the main motion on the floor? Seeing --
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry, are we taking a vote on the budget as a whole or --?
Chair Hardemon: That's what I'm trying to get into now, yeah.
Mr. Alfonso: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: No, I still have discussion.
Chair Hardemon: Then you have a discussion. You're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to begin by addressing in the change
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memo item number 6. I actually had what I thought was a very productive meeting with Mr.
Vickers and Chief Llanes; however, what was sort of agreed to, how it should work, was not
what's written here in number 6, so I want to address that.
Mr. Alfonso: Okay. I want to make sure that I understand. When we wrote it, Commissioner, we
were going by the discussions that were had at the last Commission meeting, so we wrote the
item that way. When you met with Mr. Vickers, that item was actually being sent, so I found out
that you had reached some kind of different agreement, but after the item had been sent. Now, if
you read it carefully, you'll notice that there is really no fiscal impact, because we're internally
reallocating resources. So if that's still the intent, we can modify it a little bit without an impact.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. No, and that's why I'm bringing it to your attention. It still will
have no fiscal impact, but I want to make sure that it's understood that this is not what we're
going to do; we're actually going to have two or three ojjicers that will be trained specifically for
that. The Police Chief -- I don't want to put words into his mouth, but that's -- and Mr. Vickers is
here -- stated that he'll have two or three from the Police Academy that will be coming out to
replace two or three skilled officers and will be taking this training in order to be able to work
hand in hand with the Department of Juvenile Justice and be able to really identify these at -risk
youth, and be able to provide the additional services needed.
Mr. Alfonso: Okay. Yes, we agree.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Manager.
Mr. Alfonso: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Manager, with regards to funding for
the Storm Water Master Plan update, I did not see it in the budget. Could you please identify
where the Storm Water Master Plan funding is at?
Commissioner Suarez: Didn't we do that through the Sea Level Rise Committee?
Commissioner Carollo: We only did $50,000.
Commissioner Suarez: I don't think that's going to be enough.
Commissioner Carollo: That is definitely not going to be enough. And so here's what we have:
We have an outdated which -- in essence, it's obsolete -- Storm Water Master Plan that never
took into consideration sea level rise. I mean, that is the base. I mean, if we're serious about sea
level rise, we need to do this, and the Manager knows it. So, you know, Mr. Manager.
Mr. Alfonso: Right. So, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, we don't have a number for that yet, so
what we are anticipating, we're going to come back in November to this City Commission with
the 2016 end -of -year closeout, which we're required to do. At that point, we'll know what the
size of our surplus is going to be. We're going to have to pay the liability that we have just
incurred, given the legal actions that have been taken. I want to make sure we book that as a
prior year payable and get it out of this, so it doesn't impact our next year's budget.
Additionally, since that is part of a -- what you're talking about, the master plan is part of our
long-term capital. When we close out the year, we should know by November what the cost to
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that is. We're working with folks right now. And then when we close it out, we'll allocate from
the surplus an amount of money that then will get booked as a capital allocation, and then we
come in and amend the budget, and make it official.
Commissioner Carollo: Understood. I just want to make sure that we had a plan for it and --
Mr. Alfonso: We have a plan, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So -- and what's the anticipated surplus that --?
Mr. Alfonso: Right now, we're about 16 and a half, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Mr. Alfonso: Which means that the fund balance will --
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: -- be reduced by about $9 million. Remember, we were at 147 --
Unidentified Speaker: And we had carryover.
Mr. Alfonso: -- and we used almost $30 million in carryover in last year's budget.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Manager. Here's something that I brought to
Commission and a resolution was passed; so was the Storm Water Master Plan. But Text 911,
when the resolution was passed, I specifically asked if we can receive it by the budget hearing,
and Mr. Ihekwaba stated that by the preliminary -- a preliminary report will be done by the
budget hearing. And if you want, I could show you the minutes. And I haven't received any
report. And here's the minutes.
Chair Hardemon: It's in the minutes, so unless you're saying Todd messed up, it's no way, Mr.
Ihekwaba.
Commissioner Suarez: Todd didn't mess up. Todd didn't mess up. I'm vouching for Todd.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, you can't put it on Todd, because we approved the minutes. Right,
Todd? So again, listen, I think if we're going to be on the cutting edge of technology, I think, you
know, especially with the unfortunate situations that are happening more and more, I --
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, we have an answer for you on that.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Kevin Burns: Kevin Burns, director of Information Technology. Commissioner, we had a short
conversation directly after that Commission meeting, I believe. And I've been in touch with the
County, who is in charge of our 911 funding and the 911 source for all of the County. They are
not equipped at this point in time to accept text to 911. They're working on it, there's a plan in
place, but they will not be ready by the end of this calendar year.
Commissioner Carollo: So let me ask you something. If the County is not ready, that doesn't
mean the City cannot be ready? Don't we have a different 911 ?
Mr. Burns: We have a different 911 call system, but the system has to be compatible throughout
the County.
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Commissioner Carollo: I don't think so. And I think all the major carriers will -- and I don't
know the terminology, but if --
Mr. Burns: But I can take a look at --
Commissioner Carollo: -- we want that system the will --
Mr. Burns: -- I can take it one step further, if you would like. Our current computer-aided
dispatch systems for both Police and Fire, Police is going through an upgrade at this time.
When that upgrade is completed, it would have the capability to accept the text to 911. The Fire
system at this point in time does not have that capability.
Commissioner Carollo: And when will they have that capability? When -- in other words, when
we -- can we move forward? Because I think it's something that is extremely important. I mean,
listen, unfortunately, we're seeing all the terrorist acts that are happening, all the different
situations that are happening in our own United States, and the bottom line is, more and more, it
becomes less feasible for people to call 911 and speak and -- much easier, especially if you don't
want someone to know that you're there to give a text to 911. And I'll give you a perfect example.
It was in the Orlando shooting, the massacre there. So I want to make sure that we are in the
cutting edge of technology, and that's why I brought it up. We passed a resolution. I figured by
now -- it was promised we would have something, so we could see if we need to allocate funds or
not.
Mr. Burns: I can give you an answer on the Police system by Thursday, if that's acceptable.
They are in the process of planning and upgrade -- performing that upgrade at this point in time.
I do not have the delivery date for when that will be in play. The Fire computer-aided dispatch
system, they're going through and reviewing an upgrade or a replacement of that computer-aided
dispatch system, but it has not been brought to Commission for approval or anything at the time.
Mr. Alfonso: I want to point out that both the computer-aided dispatch and the radio system
replacement is a package deal, and so we're going to have to bring that, and we talked about
doing it pay -as you -go, so it'll be close to a $30 million project that will be brought to the
Commission. So, when that gets brought, we'll, I guess, be able to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: At that time, would we be able to have that technology in place?
Mr. Burns: Yes, with those upgrades. That is correct.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Suarez.
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: I like the Text 911 idea, because I think it's important that we should have
the ability, as residents, to be able to text our emergency operators and get information out that
maybe we're not able to do through cellular communications. There's another software that I
want to look into called `Intelligent. " And what that does is that allows a emergency personnel
to blast -- to have a blast to a phone. So let's say, for example, there's an event in downtown and
everyone -- or any part of the City, for that matter; any parade, Calle Ocho, any parade -- and
they have this feature on their phone. If there is a terrorist attack, if there is an active shooter
situation, you can blast to every phone in that radius, in that area a message like, you know,
"Stay where you are, " or you know, "Please take the nearest exist, " or whatever instruction
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that, you know, public service (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Whereas the Text 911 is something that
you're able to, as a resident, feed 911 and communicate with 911; this is something that allows
you to blast back information. So that's something that I also want to work with our IT director
on, as well.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any further discussion?
Commissioner Suarez: That's --
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: -- no fiscal impact, by the way, on that one.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are showing the $600, 000 that was
mentioned earlier with regard to the skate park; however, when it first came to Commission, we
mentioned that -- I had asked who owned the property, and asked if we could get an MOU
(Memorandum of Understanding) with FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation). As of
now, have we received some type of long-term MOU with Florida Department of
Transportation?
Mr. Alfonso: Not yet, Commissioner. So we're talking to the MPA (Miami Parking Authority),
and they have given us preliminary direction that it's possible that instead -- the current
agreement, they basically give us 30 days, and we got to get out. What --
Commissioner Carollo: That's --
Mr. Alfonso: -- we're trying to get is two years to move out, and we want to work with the
designer of the skate park, so that the portions that we fund are as portable as possible, so that if
we get two years to move out, then we can transport that into another location and not lose all of
the investment. That's the discussion that we're having at this time.
Chair Hardemon: Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. I met with Jim Wolfe, the new secretary of FDOT, and he wasn't
aware of it before, but he became aware of it and he worked with Art Noriega, who I met with
this week, and they got together with Nick Katz from the -- from Skate Free, and exactly what the
Manager said, so that the matching funds that are coming in to our 600, those will be used for
concrete structures and things like that, and our funds will be modular. So if we need to move
the skate park, all of our investment will be, theoretically, able to be moved.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Commissioner. And, again, that's all that I want. I mean, I
voted for it. I just want to make sure that we don't pour money into a property that's not ours.
They tell us, `Hey, you got to go; we need this, "for whatever reason, then all of a sudden, we
lost the money.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Mr. Manager, with regards to the Gusman Hall --I have
mentioned Gusman in the past -- have you seen their annual budget?
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Mr. Alfonso: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Carollo: Have you seen their annual budget?
Mr. Alfonso: I have not, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Has anybody seen their annual budget?
Mr. Alfonso: We -- I haven't seen it.
Commissioner Carollo: I haven't, either. I know -- I guess last year during the budget time, they
reached out to my office, and Ilet them know, "Well, send me the" -- "send me your budget
and, " you know, "we'll have a meeting. " But when I requested their budget, I never received it;
I never had a meeting with them, and I still haven't'seen their annual budgets.
Mr. Alfonso: We'll have to look into what the requirements are. Are they supposed to come in
front of the Commission and get their budget approved by the Commission, or --?
Commissioner Carollo: I don't know, but I haven't seen their budget.
Mr. Alfonso: We'll look into that.
Commissioner Carollo: It --
Mr. Alfonso: They don't report to us.
Commissioner Carollo: The bottom line is that it's a City -owned property. It's a City -owned
building, so we should have some type of physical, I guess, oversight on what's happening,
especially when it is asked that we allocate a million dollars for capital. Have we seen their
capital plan?
Mr. Alfonso: Their capital plan from years ago, sir, required, I believe, in excess of $13 million
to do the fascia. As you know, if you walk by there even now, it's still scaffolded [sic], because
they don't have enough funds to repair the exterior wall, which is falling out. So in the last
couple of years, this City Commission has allocated a million dollars a year to get to, I believe,
up to $3 million, and their goal was to go to the County and get funds to match the other side so
that they can get that project done. That's been established for some years now.
Vice Chair Russell: The bond proposal that we had gone through a couple months ago included
funds for the Olympia as well, right?
Mr. Alfonso: Yes, it did, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: How -- do we remember how much that was?
Mr. Alfonso: No, I don't recall off the top of my head, sir, but it had some funds in therefor that,
yes.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. Thank you. And, listen, I understand that it's a City -owned
property, but, you know, every year we request a million dollars, and we really don't know where
that money is going to. Yes, I get it; it needs to go to capital; they need to do some
improvements, but there is no capital plan. I haven't seen anything -- or at least I haven't seen
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any. So I'm wondering if someone from the Administration that is putting this budget together
and is requesting a million dollars has seen the capital plan or has seen some type of
justification for the money.
Chair Hardemon: Has the money been spent, the million dollars that we've --
Mr. Alfonso: No.
Chair Hardemon: -- been allocating? As -- I thought that it was for the improvement of the
outside of the fascia --
Mr. Alfonso: And that is correct.
Chair Hardemon: --and you were just holding it until you had enough money to actually make
the improvements.
Commissioner Carollo: That's not my belief, but -- so we're holding money in a fund, in a
special revenue fund?
Chair Hardemon: No. It's already allocated.
Mr. Alfonso: This is -- whatever we do is based on reimbursements, so they would have to send
us invoices for work being done, and then we release the funds.
Commissioner Carollo: Have we received any of those invoices for reimbursements?
Mr. Alfonso: We have received some funds, but they're nowhere near the million dollars,
because, really, a lot of work is not being done.
Commissioner Carollo: But, remember, that's a million dollars last year, a million dollars this
year, so I would like to see a plan.
Mr. Alfonso: We will --we can report back to the Commission. We have requested already from
them that they provide us the budget. I'm told that the DREAM (Department of Real Estate and
Asset Management) made that request, so, I mean, we can report to the Commission on that, and
you (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Carollo: And their capital plan?
Mr. Alfonso: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Yes, and the capital plan.
Chair Hardemon: Any further discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Manager, why did the employee one-time payout increase by 2.3 or
2.4 million? I don't -- the employee --
Mr. Alfonso: One-time payout.
Commissioner Carollo: --one-time payout increased by 2.3 or 2.4 million.
Mr. Alfonso: That is based on the estimate that we have for the employees that are leaving at a
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certain time, the hours that they have accrued, et cetera.
Commissioner Carollo: So we have additional employees. Is it Police or --?
Mr. Alfonso: If you'll recall, there's 117 or so police officers leaving at the end of September of
next year, so that's where it is.
Commissioner Carollo: That's the increase of the one-time payout? Also, to non -departmental,
why has the lobbying service increased, also?
Mr. Alfonso: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Carollo: Why has the lobbying service -- lobbying services increased?
Mr. Alfonso: Lobbying service increase?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Mr. Alfonso: Give me a second. We have Federal and State, butjust give me a second.
Commissioner Carollo: Which, by the way, this last year we didn't do very well when we had a
record year in revenues for the State, and we had to use City funds to subsidize one of our senior
centers.
Mr. Alfonso: And by the way, I would argue that we did pretty well with our lobbying efforts;
just not a lot ofpeople got a lot of money from the State. All right. So it used to be, atone time,
over $250,000 a year for lobbying services. We're currently --last year --or the current year
that's ending, we spent 75,000. There was an additional $15, 000 that we put into the budget to
contract a company called Ansfield [sic], which is helping us with Wagner Creek monies. As a
matter of fact, there's an item on the agenda where we're accepting $250, 000 for Wagner Creek,
so it wasn't a bad investment.
Commissioner Suarez: That was a good return on our investment, is what you're saying.
Chair Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE), absolutely. Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: I think you mentioned this already with regards to taking any budget
consideration with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) verdict. You've mentioned
that already.
Mr. Alfonso: Correct. The way we plan to treat it, sir, is we'll book a payable, because we have
incurred a liability, given the legal action that's been taken. We're working on the preliminary
language on a settlement, which will come to the Commission, I think, in early October, but we
can assume that there's a liability to be paid out, and we'll book that as a payable; and on the
closeout, it will be noted.
Chair Hardemon: In the current budget.
Commissioner Carollo: In the current budget, which is what --?
Mr. Alfonso: That is correct.
Commissioner Carollo: And I believe with Mr. Rose -- and I want to make sure that in the
adopted book, will it show the breakdown of the E-911 revenues? That will be shown in the --?
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Mr. Rose: Yes, sir. Chris Rose, Office of Management and Budget. Right now the E-911
revenues are lumped together --
Commissioner Carollo: Exactly.
Mr. Rose: -- and we will separate them into land line, wireless, and pre paid in the adopted
book. Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Thanks.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any further discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You have more? Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: With regarding to the Transportation Department, I see "other
contractual services" increased about $800,000. Why?
Mr. Alfonso: Give us a second, sir. I believe we explained that in the book, but we'll check it
out.
Commissioner Carollo: No. The book says to show GRM (Geospatial Resource
Management) -related services. I'm not sure what GRM-related services -- So we have $800, 000
of storage?
Commissioner Suarez: You have to go to the microphone.
Chair Hardemon: Yeah, you have to come to the microphone. You can't speak out --
Commissioner Suarez: This is not the peanut gallery; you got to come to the mike.
Chair Hardemon: I was wondering who that was. Everyone was wondering who that was.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. Thank you, though.
Chair Hardemon: Just like the show, "Come on down. "
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, "you're the next contestant."
Chair Hardemon: "You're the next contestant on Carollo's Right. "
Commissioner Carollo: It's a valid question.
Chair Hardemon: And the gentleman's upstairs, seemingly eating chips, watching the show.
Mr. Alfonso: That's the FDOT grant for Coral Way route improvements. We're getting a
Department of Transportation -- Florida Department of Transportation -- what do you call it? --
Joint Participation Agreement grant --
Commissioner Suarez: So that's money coming in.
Mr. Alfonso: --for the Coral Way route.
Commissioner Suarez: That's money coming in.
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Mr. Alfonso: There's money coming in; there's money going out.
Commissioner Suarez: Right. We're receiving it and spending it.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: Correct.
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: But we're spending it on what? On "other contractual services. " What
-- am I --?
Unidentified Speaker: It's the route.
Mr. Alfonso: It's the route.
Unidentified Speaker: LSF (Limousines of South Florida).
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry?
Mr. Alfonso: I'm sorry. One at a time. It's the route services for the Coral Way trolley. It is
contractual services. It's a company providing the service.
Commissioner Suarez: So maybe we just better identify it a little bit better in the book.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Are they called GRM,'br something like that?
Commissioner Suarez: Limousines of South Florida, right, LSF?
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, because in the backup material, that's what it's showing,
GRM-related services, "so that's why it caught my attention.
Commissioner Suarez: Greater Rolling Motors. I made that up.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any further discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, thank you. With regards to the Capital Improvement
Department, I'm seeing that we're going away from some of the consultants and bringing in
full-time employees, and I'm seeing that --
Mr. Alfonso: That was approved by the Commission in the mid -year, Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: Right. I'm seeing that there is an additional 11, so a total of 48. My
question is more -- something that Commissioner Suarez mentioned. Why is the turnaround time
in some of these projects taking so long? And is this going to make it any better? And I'll give
you an example beforehand, and this is why I'm saying that: Back in early 2014, I approved --
or this Commission approved all these projects. Some of them are -- still haven't broken ground.
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Chair Hardemon: That's the expedited project list?
Commissioner Carollo: I could tell you, in January of this year, we approved all of these
projects. None of them have broken ground. So what's going to happen is that sometime, maybe
next year, all of them are going to come at once, hopefully -- if it's not two or three years from
now -- and I know that some very good -intentioned citizens are going to think, "Hey, all these
billboards going up, all these projects happening" --
Commissioner Suarez: Election year.
Commissioner Carollo: -- "right around election time. " Yet, when you really look at it, it's been
over two years and getting close to another year that all these projects have been approved by
the Commission.
Commissioner Suarez: Sounds fishy to me.
Commissioner Carollo: So, again --
Commissioner Gort: I wonder why?
Commissioner Carollo: I want to know, you know, when are these projects -- some that have
been approved over two years ago -- going to finally break ground so they're not all coming
around the same time?
Commissioner Suarez: And why do we not put up signs so that people don't think they're
political?
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, these staffpersons are not to augment the size of the department.
These are to simply save the department money, because we've been paying through a
consultant. We're going to hire them in-house, so it's not augmenting the size of the department.
Now, I will say that this Commission has authorized over 350 capital projects. We have a staff of
roughly 40, which means -- and that's not including all the engineers, by the way, or architects
or project planners or whatever, but -- so every project manager, depending on the size of the
project at one time or another, is looking at 12, 15 projects. Not all of the projects move at the
same speed, so we -- one of the things that we've told our director, and we're coming to the
Commission with, is, as you approve projects, you need to understand that we're going to have to
either set priorities for those projects, which are the ones that you want to move first and get
those done, because all projects cannot move at the same time. We just don't have enough staff
to do all 355 projects at one time. So, you know, we've -- our CIT (Capital Improvements &
Transportation) people meet with you on a regular basis, and you tell us what your priorities are.
To the extent that those priorities remain constant, we move the projects forward. If the priorities
change, sometimes projects get delayed further. But we're certainly understanding that there is a
problem, and we're trying to move as fast as possible, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. Mr. Manager, it's just not acceptable to the residents of this City. I
mean, which projects are -- have a priority? I mean, shoot, these were approved more than two
years ago. These were all approved January 2016 [sic]; none of these have started. So, again,
we have a serious problem with CIP and being able to do some of these projects. In addition to
that, I am actually waiting for some of these projects to take place in order to give additional
streets and residents that have come forward with new projects. So I- you know, I don't think a
good answer to them is, Listen, it's passed the Commission two and a half years ago or two years
ago, and some of those projects still haven't done, so I really can't give you an answer when this
is going to actually break ground. All I could do is bring it to Commission and ask my
colleagues to pass the resolution, Uhich we do, but then it's the Administration's part to move on
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them. And two years is unacceptable, unacceptable, especially when I have residents that saw a
McDonald's get knocked down and built in 45 days. I mean, 45 days. 15th Avenue and
Southwest 8th Street, 45 days, you know. And to add salt to a wound, you know, in the 30th day,
they sent me an invitation for the ribbon -cutting, and I said, Nah, they got to be kidding. "And
they did it. So again, listen, I understand streets are different, but, you know, curbs, gutters, mill,
resurfacing, some approaches, some drainage, I mean, it's pretty cookie -cutter. So again, I just
saw the increase in full-time positions. I understand that it is a cost savings, but at the same
time, or supposably [sic] cost-saving, but at the same time, the service is just not there. The
service is just not there and --
Mr. Alfonso: Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I want to know, if it's a financial -- how do we improve it?
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Manager, I think we had discussed this quite a bit. And the people
need to understand, it's a hell of a difference between the private sector and the public sector.
My understanding, we can improve a project in here, but then it takes the Administration before
they go to bed, they go to this, they have to go to a different off ice to come up, but at the same
time, my suggestion is, let's look at all those projects, and let's see where they were stopped,
because sometimes projects get going, they get financed; all of a sudden, somebody wants to
change it; they change it. And every time you make a change, that makes a delay. It's got to
come in front of the Commissioners, we got to approve it, and we got to go through a process. So
I think it's very important that we explain the process, how it goes, and how we can expedite it,
because I think it's very important for people to understand that.
Mr. Alfonso: Yes. Thank you, Commissioner. You know, when the McDonald's broke ground,
they had two years ofplanning before they broke ground on the project, so that's the part that
perhaps we don't see. And they already knew what color they wanted their equipment and all
that stuff. So we don't -- when a project is approved, we don't even know what color the
playground equipment is going to be or what kind of screws we're going to have or any of those
issues; and those issues, you know, need to be resolved sometimes, so that takes time.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Alfonso: But we're more than willing to meet with each and every Commissioner and give
you a timeline for each and all of your projects.
Chair Hardemon: Yes, you're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, this isn't about playground equipment; this is about
Plain Jane, blacktop, curb, gutter, approaches. I mean, this isn't anything that needs to take, you
know, thinking and -- again, I just really believe that the residents are expressing that it's
unacceptable, and the only thing I can do is bring it back to this Commission. Additionally, I
don't know if to do it now or if we're going to have discussion on the capital budget, but, you
know, one thing that occurred when we had the discussion regarding the bond issuance was only
one or two streets needed repair in Little Havana, besides whatever we're doing right now in the
capital improvement. And, you know, I was actually quite disappointed because the
Administration never came to discuss the item or what needed to be done in Little Havana, so I
want to make sure that I put all these streets that need curb, gutter, mill, resurfacing, you know,
they have broken sidewalks, in the capital budget. I'm not saying that all -- it's all going to be
funded. Maybe some of this will be unfunded until the future, but I want to make sure that if
there's ever in the near future anything about a bond that you know clearly that there's issues in
the streets of Little Havana. So, Mr. Clerk, Madam City Clerk, Mr. Clerk, I want to make sure, is
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this where I put this list or do I wait for the next capital item or how should I put all these items
or all these streets on there, so I make sure that the next time that there's a bond offering, there's
not only one street when everybody in Little Havana and in neighboring areas know that there's
a lot of issues with the road work? Should I put it for this budget hearing, or should I put it in
the capital --?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): We could actually do it for both, if you'd like, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Commissioner Suarez.
Commissioner Suarez: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know he's on a roll. I don't want to get too
much in his way.
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Commissioner Suarez: But I have more of a macro question, and I don't want to undercut your
leverage, because I know you're in the midst of negotiations with our firefighters' union, but that
is the one particular employees that are not under contract, and so my -- I'm sorry, that are --
have a -- correct, that have a pending contract. So without getting into specifics, you know, we
have obviously entered into new contracts with our other labor partners, and that's one that's
pending, and so have you made provisions for those contractual negotiations?
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, we assumed growth in their salaries based on the existing contract.
Commissioner Suarez: So I just want to be clear that, without overstepping the, you know,
negotiating power that you have, that that is something that you have given thought to in terms
ofyour negotiation strategy.
Mr. Alfonso: Well, we have given thought to it. We'll have to discuss with this Commission --
Commissioner Suarez: Sure.
Mr. Alfonso: -- on how you want to --
Commissioner Suarez: Fund this.
Mr. Alfonso: --proceed. Right.
Commissioner Suarez: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Can I continue?
Chair Hardemon: Please.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you. With regards to parks, if I may, if you all would indulge me
real quick, I want to show you some slides real quick. If you could go through them, Judy, just
somewhat slowly so everyone could see them. I want to show you Jose Marti Park. This is
obviously one of the benches. Here's some of the broken concretes, and how the roots are
growing and breaking up some of the pavers. Here, I think, speaks for itself. I think this other
picture also speaks for itself. And, you know, I think it's a shame that we have one of our parks
looking the way this is looking. Those are the railings. Again, I think it's embarrassing that one
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of our parks looks this way, and that we don't address it. You could see, even by the pavers of
broken concrete that holds in there the drainage problems that we're having; and this is our
landscaping, falling, our palm trees or palm tree limbs. This is our landscaping. You could see
the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) place that's already worn out and some of our equipment, how it looks.
That's it. So I wanted to bring this to the attention of everybody, especially the Administration,
because I think that this is absolutely unacceptable. While other parks get the attention that they
very well need, for some reason, Jose Marti Park doesn't get that attention. As a matter of fact, I
allocated $1.5 million of park impact fees in order for this to -- it was actually to improve the
playground and to enhance the park. Yet, I really do believe that some of that money should be
spent to what we're seeing right now. I mean, I don't know about you, but it is embarrassing to
have one of our parks looking that way. So, like I said, there's $1.5 million allocated from
impact fees, and I want to make sure that this gets addressed.
Mr. Alfonso: Right. Commissioner, ifI may. The $1.5 million that you allocated from impact
fee, if you recall, had previously been allocated to land purchase, and we reallocated it through
this Commission because you requested to move it to the park. Now, $1.5 million of impact fee
money that was designated for land acquisition cannot be used to make the repairs at the park,
because impact fee money is not allowed for that purpose. So, really, that money, unless you're
building a new facility, cannot be used, and we had this discussion. Now, we had the SAP -- I'm
sorry. Commissioner Suarez wants to say something.
Commissioner Suarez: No. I was just going to say what you were going to say, because I'm in
flood for the goose, good for the gander 1node, so I got to be honest. We got to be straight here,
and the straight is that, you know, there was money that was going to be in the SAP to fix the
park and that was changed, and I don't remember the exact number, but I think it was like $5
million or something like that.
Ms. Mendez: There is money in therefor the park.
Commissioner Suarez: There is some now from the SAP, but I think there was substantially more
that was going to be in the SAP originally, which is fine. I mean, we all agreed to change those
priorities, but -- you know.
Commissioner Carollo: So what you're saying is that from the pictures you saw, none of that will
be enhancements?
Mr. Alfonso: That's correct, sir --
Commissioner Carollo: So --
Mr. Alfonso: -- because that is considered repair and maintenance, and that is not something
that impact fee is eligible for. Now, if you were going to build a new building or expand the
existing community center another thousand square feet or whatever, that's something that
impact fees can be used for. But the fact that the roots have uprooted some of the bricks or the
bench is in disrepair, etcetera, impact fee cannot be used for that.
Commissioner Carollo: So what you're saying, if we put new benches, new pavers, then that
money cannot be used for that? Because it's my understanding that, yes, it can, especially if
we're going to put new pavers, new benches. No? That's not enhancement? That's not capital
improvements?
Mr. Alfonso: No, sir. That's a replacement of an existing facility. You're not adding to what's
there.
Vice Chair Russell: If you redesign the path, it is new path. Go a different direction.
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Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Gort: Chairman.
Commissioner Carollo: So then let's go a different path. How come the Parks Department
hasn't addressed these issues?
Chair Hardemon: Before we move into that, Commissioner Gort (UNINTELLIGIBLE) question.
Commissioner Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). That's going to be part of the question. I think --
what happened in there is lack of maintenance on that park, and that park is very significant
park. So I mean, we do have funds to work on our parks and improve and fix. That park is
about 20 years old or more.
Commissioner Suarez: More.
Commissioner Gort: No. More.
Commissioner Suarez: It's more than 20, way more.
Commissioner Gort: It's about 30 or 40 years old.
Mr. Alfonso: We are working to make the repairs that we need, and that is something that is in
our plan, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Where in the budget is it?
Mr. Alfonso: It's in the repairs and maintenance budget for the Parks Department.
Commissioner Carollo: So there was an additional 300, 000, I believe. Is that sufficient monies,
Mr. Manager? And the reason why I'm saying is because, yes, you're right. The problem is,
Commissioner Suarez, the SAP money regarding --
Commissioner Suarez: Next time.
Commissioner Carollo: --Jose Marti Park isn't going to be seen for many years to come.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: And unfortunately, this park and the conditions that it is cannot wait,
and it should be enhanced. I'm not saying a repair. I'm not saying, you know, put a little
cement, you know --
Commissioner Suarez: Bubble gum.
Commissioner Carollo: -- sand the rail, sand the benches. I'm saying, you should put new. It
should be new. It should be enhanced. And it's my understanding, just like I see enhancement
here in Kennedy Park, enhancement here in Morningside Park, I think we should enhance Jose
Marti Park, and we allocated the monies for it.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, Vice Chairman.
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Vice Chair Russell: Thank you. Mr. Manager, and Kevin as well, Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Mini Park just had its groundbreaking, and what it was before echoes some of the pictures that
we're seeing from Jose Marti Park. What it is now is absolutely amazing. And I understand, the
funds used for that was different than atypical park rebuild. It wasn't a Capital Improvements
project, it was a Parks project. Can you explain the difference in which way is more efficient,
and why that couldn't be done in Jose Marti Park?
Mr. Kirwin: Yes, sir. Kevin Kirwin, your City of Miami Park & Recreation director. And
Commissioner Carollo, I understand about the condition of that park, and there was a discussion
of Jose Marti Park, to be specific, and there was a discussion back when we were looking at the
Miami River LLC (Limited Liability Company) of redoing that entire park with those funds. Now
it's a matter of finding the funds. We have funds in our budget right now to make the necessary
repairs and really crank it up. I was just talking to the Manager that -- and we can have the
discussion -- that since the -- there is a large amount of growth in that area, and that we can
expand the capacity of the playground and some of the elements of the park that there should be
a potential for impact fees to be used, that the 1.5 that's allocated to that park now, that if we
can demonstrate that we're going to be servicing AInore -- A'amount of more kids, that we can
go in and expand the playground with that money. There's also repair money, which this year, in
the proposed budget that is in front of you, is the first year that the Parks Department has in their
budget an actual operating repair fund, repair amount. Off the top of my head, it's 300, 000 for
playground -type repairs; and yes, Jose Marti is on that list. Is it enough to replace the entire
playground? Absolutely not. Vice Chair Russell, to your point, sir, what the Parks Department
did using general fund monies at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Park is that we went and accessed
a playground contract, I believe, from Collier County, and replaced the park elements and the
playground apparatus there, and it's great, and we can do that at Jose Marti. And what I'd
really like to do is to sync that up with whatever is going to be coming on -- if I remember
correctly, most of the SAP monies were going to be directed toward the River Walk, and that it's
up to the City to find the funding, because, rightly so, we're investing in affordable housing.
Commissioner Carollo: And that's where we allocated $1.5 million, so we could work hand in
hand with the bay walk, which, again, that bay walk is not going to be built in a year; it's going
to take longer, but we can start enhancing all that area. So, you know, this isn't repairs. I
understand very well capital improvement versus a repair or an expense. No. This is an
enhancement. That's why we have $1.5 million. I don't even know if that's enough, to be honest
with you.
Mr. Kirwin: Absolutely.
Commissioner Carollo: I mean, I've had -- I've started having that conversation with
Commissioner Barreiro also, and quite honestly, I don't even think that's enough. But the bottom
line is, the way that park is -- and we haven't even gotten into, Have you checked the conditions
of the pool yet? "And I think we've preliminary -- I remember about maybe a year ago had that,
and the answer I got wasn't great. So --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner, ifI may interrupt for a moment. I think you made your point
very clear about the condition of the park, but for the sake of the board and those who are
watching, is there a motion that you want to -- or an amendment that you want to make to the
budget to include something to address it, or are we --? Do you -- you know, that's where I want
to take us to.
Commissioner Carollo: Well -- and thank you, Mr. Chairman. Well, here's the thing. There's
money --first of all, there's -- I've allocated 1.5 of impact fees. You know, the Manager believes
that there might be expenses that we cannot use. I'm pretty comfortable that we will be able to
use it. We'll get a legal opinion to make sure, because this isn't about just fixing a bench and
painting it. This is more. This is enhancing a whole park --
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Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: -- which needs it. Now, with regards to repairing some of this in the
meantime, I mean, the general fund has money. I just want to make sure that, yes, I have a
commitment that it will be addressed to Jose Marti Park, but keeping in mind, keeping in mind
that my plan is not just to take out the weeds and -- no. It's an enhancement. We need new
pavers. We need landscaping. I mean, it's embarrassing.
Chair Hardemon: Understood.
Mr. Kirwin: Commissioner, ifI could -- Mr. Chair, ifI could.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Mr. Kirwin: And I agree. And to your point --and you said it before. Really, it's a redo of that
park.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Mr. Kirwin: It is. I mean, we could go in there and make repairs now, but it's going to be
patching. It's going to be patchwork. I mean, really -- And to Commissioner Gort's point, I
mean, that's a prestigious park in the City, just like all of them are. I mean, that area is growing
and expanding, and it really needs a redo, so -- and I'm committed to work with you --
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Mr. Kirwin: -- and your office to do that.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Suarez.
Mr. Kirwin: Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Suarez: The other thing is --and it's not your fault, because this predates you.
You know, that park, like Gibson Park and other parks, benefited enormously from the last bond
issuance from the Homeland Security Bond issuance, and I think that park got a elevated
basketball court, you know, that goes, you know -- and I -- how much did that basketball court
cost? I mean, I'm sure that basketball court probably cost like --
Commissioner Gort: 10 million.
Commissioner Suarez: -- 10 or 13 -- more than that -- 13, 14, $15 million. So it's not within
your decision, and I think that's unfair. I mean, in the sense that it wasn't your decision, but that
park did receive --I mean, I wish I had $13 million for anyone of my parks. Trust me, I've
gotten, you know, nowhere near that for anyone individual park. We spent 10 million on
Gibson. It's beautiful. It looks fantastic. So, you know, I think part of it is understanding the
history of what we spent our money on, and that's why my sort of theme has been, What's good
for the goose is good for the gander, 'jou know, today.
Chair Hardemon: So there's currently a motion on the floor. The budget already reflects
Commissioner Carollo's request for the $1.5 million for enhancements to that park, so I'm
assuming that it'll carry with this motion. Is there any further --?
Commissioner Carollo: It --
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Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, it's already -- that's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Gort: My understanding, it's been allocated already.
Commissioner Carollo: It's already there.
Commissioner Suarez: It's (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Chair Hardemon: Right, that's what I'm saying, it's already in it.
Commissioner Suarez: So we're good.
Chair Hardemon: So is there any further discussion about the main motion on the floor before
we take a vote?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Ido need to address Triangle Park, also. You know, and as a matter of
fact, very brief conversation when I was at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and I commended the
Parks director, and I let him -- and I told him, "This is the best work you've done" -- "that I have
seen you've done in the City. "And he told me, So give me a chance. "And I said, What do you
mean? "We actually visited Triangle Park, him and I, over a year ago, but nothing has occurred.
Chair Hardemon: Is this the budgetary item? It's something that's already been budgeted for, or
is this a new allocation that you're requesting for?
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not requesting anything right now, because --
Chair Hardemon: So what you're --
Commissioner Carollo: -- see, District 3 receives very little monies from the general fund.
Chair Hardemon: No, no. The reason I'm saying this -- and I completely understand that --
Commissioner Carollo: And I mean the Parks --from the Parks Department.
Chair Hardemon: The reason I'm saying this is because right now, you know, we've spent the
last hour discussing things we didn't make one change to the actual amendment or to the request
for the budget. And so what I'm trying -- what I'm saying -- and, you know, the board members
have allowed everyone to continue on with this discussion, but if we're going to discuss
something further, let it be something where we're making the actual amendment to the budget.
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, sometimes we resolve things without having to make an actual
amendment. For example, the issue with the youth gun violence. It was cost -neutral, so -- but
we still were able to articulate what we're expecting, so --
Mr. Alfonso: Mr. Chair.
Commissioner Carollo: -- sometimes it's important to have that discussion, even though we don't
necessarily make an amendment.
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Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Kirwin, I just want you to step forward, because I know we may have a
discussion about Triangular [sic] Park.
Mr. Kirwin: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner.
Commissioner Suarez: Can I just say this? I think we need to put this issue in its proper context,
and I think for us to do that we need to look at impact fees spent by district over the last 10
years, and we need to look at bond monies spent by district over the last 10 years in our parks,
so that everyone can have a perspective of where the investments have gone. We may not like
where they've gone. They may not have been good decisions. But, you know, a lot of them have
gone into certain areas and into certain parks, and you know, we're sort of living with some of
those consequences. I don't think that's ever an excuse, by the way, for not having a park that's
well maintained, okay, and I -- and, you know, it's news to me, because our Parks director has
done a phenomenal job, you know, maintaining our parks, and I constantly get praise from
residents about the way that our parks are maintained. Clearly, those pictures --you know, I
don't know if they were after a rain. It definitely did not look good. And, you know, certainly, I
think you're going to take that under advisement. Knowing you, I know you're not going to rest
on your laurels.
Mr. Kirwin: You know where I'll be going, Commissioner.
Chair Hardemon: Kevin has --
Commissioner Suarez: Yes, sir, I know you will.
Chair Hardemon: --Kevin has (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Suarez: I know where you'll be tomorrow. I know you'll probably be there
tonight, pulling weeds yourselves. But anyhow, I just think -- I think we need to have a proper
context on this discussion just to see what has happened there.
Commissioner Carollo: And that's why, with the impact feels, I requested that. And like I said,
we'll reconcile, because I -- listen, you know I always wanted the details.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: All the details. But these are issues that need to be addressed, and the
only place that I know to address it is herein the Commission. I'll be honest with you, Kevin. I
would have preferred the 750,000 that you allocated -- or ultimately, the Commission allocated
-- but that you requested for Henderson Parkfor an expansion to have gone to Jose Marti Park
to make sure that that park is properly suited for the residents of the City of Miami. And you
know that Henderson Park, in the last few years, have received a lot of love there. So, you know,
instead ofgrowing or actually creating a community center or expanding a building, I think Jose
Marti Park really needs that help, so I will -- my preference would have been for those 750 to
have gone to Jose Marti Park, but that's neither here or there right now. With Triangle Park,
there's monies there. You actually told me, "Give me the money. " I mean, do you have money
for the general fund to do --and we don't need anew playground. Landscaping, you know,
pour -in-place, like what's done in Marjory Stoneman Douglas' Park, the brown pour -in place.
Commissioner Suarez: Guys?
Commissioner Carollo: Mulch type --
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Vice Chair Russell: Bonded rubber mulch.
Mr. Kirwin: The rubber mulch.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, that's --
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: -- really nice stuff.
Commissioner Carollo: I mean, you know --and that's what I'm asking. I'm asking you to work
with me.
Mr. Kirwin: Commissioner, we --and again, we're hereto work with you. To your point about --
and we can talk about the enhancements at Henderson Park. I mean, we can work with the City
Manager, and if we need come back and do a adjustment to re -appropriate those funds, we can
do that. We do have funding in place to enhance Triangle Park. We replaced benches recently
and -- throughout the whole park; and then where the shade is, we can put in some of the bonded
rubber mulch.
Commissioner Carollo: How recent did you do the benches?
Mr. Kirwin: I can check. It was maybe two, three weeks ago.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Okay, because I know a month, month and a half ago, I was
there, and I was like, `No benches were replaced, " but okay, I'll take your word for it. And all
I'm asking is work with me, you know. And again, you and I visit there; it has to be over a year
ago, you know, so.
Mr. Kirwin: And I think -- and you're right, Commissioner. And you and I talked about a plan,
and it got put to the side, and we can readdress that, and work together and get things done.
Commissioner Carollo: Perfect. Thank you, Kevin.
Mr. Kirwin: Thank you, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: I lookforward to working with you.
Chair Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Seeing no further --
Mr. Kirwin: Me, too, sir. Thankyou.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: -- discussion -- you got some more?
Commissioner Carollo: Of course, Mr. Chairman. I mean, this is a $670 million --
Chair Hardemon: Listen, but Commissioner Carollo --
Commissioner Carollo: -- general budget.
Chair Hardemon: -- the reason I'm saying that is not because of the -- how large the budget is. I
think, you know, the purpose of BH. 10 is to approve a budget. And generally, from the time that
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I've been here -- you've been here significantly longer than I have -- you know, we use this time
to make changes to the budget so that we can get a budget passed. And it seems to be that the
things that you're discussing seem more like discussion items and not necessarily discussing the
motion that's on the floor, and that's part of where I'm troubled with this, because the motion on
the floor is to approve the budget with the amendments that we proposed. And the discussion
items that you're discussing, it seem not to affect -- or have any effect on the motion that's on the
floor. And so that's why, you know, as Chair, I'm just a little --
Commissioner Carollo: So, Mr. Chairman, let me ask you something. Before you take a vote,
you don't have discussion? Because I know many, many items --
Chair Hardemon: We have discussion --
Commissioner Carollo: -- I know many, many items to have -- before we vote, we take -- we
have discussion, we have debate, we have -- and I thought that's what we're doing right now.
Chair Hardemon: No, I think -- we're not having debate. You're asking questions and the staff is
answering them. I don't think there's been much discussion from any of the other
Commissioners, and we've been, you know, patient. I think that's what we do as colleagues. And
all I'm asking is that we discuss things that affect the motion that's on the floor, and that's why I
stopped for a moment and said, you know, "Commissioner, do you have a motion to amend the
budget?" For instance, when you talk -- when you start talking about the $750,000 you'd rather
see here than there, then, you know, can we make that amendment? You know, that type of thing.
But it doesn't appear that that's what you want to do. So I'm asking that, you know, you finish
what you have. I just want to reiterate that this is -- the discussion is about the motion that's on
the floor. Typically, during discussion you use that time to sway your Commissioners one way or
the other, or you have some unreadiness, and then you want to make an amendment to the
motion, or something of that nature, and I just want to reiterate that for all of us so that we know
what the purpose of the discussion or unreadiness is when we have a motion on the floor. That's
all.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chair, with all due respect, I absolutely -- I've learned something from
hearing what Commissioner Carollo said tonight and seeing what's going on with the parks in
his district, and I hope you invite me to the ribbon -cutting of.Iose Marti, as I did to the Marjory
Stoneman. Everyone has their own style of how we get through this, and I certainly respect the
will of this body and Commission to see us through it however we as a body see fit. So I'm happy
to listen to Commissioner Carollo with however he would like to discuss this budget.
Chair Hardemon: But all of us are doing that, because no one has moved -- no one has called
the question, no one has second to the call the question, neither have I. I just -- my job is to task
this Commission with moving forward in a way that's productive and expe -- not -- in a way that
is productive and, one, stays on task. And so that's why Fin just doing my job, so that's all I'm
trying to do. I'm stating that because at the end of the day, when someone says, Well, the
Chairman allowed discussion to go on for two hours, " we know why, right? So that's all that
I'm saying, and that -- moving forward.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And again, I think we all have different
views with regards to the budget, and we all have different questions in order for us to reach our
comfort zone with regards to voting in favor or against. For instance, something that
Commissioner Suarez mentioned, which was an item that I have, is in this current budget, we
have all the unions that are contractually obligated with the City, except for one. And if we pass
this budget, realistically, we're going to be making history, because this is the largest budget in
the history of the City of Miami. So with the largest budget in the history of Miami, I want to
know, just like we had last year, do we have a public safety reserve? Because I think that public
safety is pretty important, and we've done it in the past when we approved the budget without one
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or two of the unions having a contract. So now that all of our employees have endured quite a
bit of cuts and different adjustments, I want to know if we have a public safety reserve for our
Fire Department that -- and their current budget, September 30 and starts October 1.
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, the reserves that we have in the budget are the reserve for
uncollectable, which is now below $9 million, given today's allocations. And the emergency
contingency reserve and the payout reserve, there is no additional reserve. As I talked to this
Commission when we approved the past contracts, the budget's going to get tighter. Right now
the assumptions in the budget for next year are that we cover the expenses of all of our labor
groups with the contracts that are currently in place. Whatever we yield from a negotiation with
the union or Fire Department of the firefighters going forward, that may need adjustments to the
budget, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: So what you're saying right now is that you think that it's reasonable not
to have some type of public safety reserve in case we reach some agreement with the union; and
instead of having a two-year contract, they really should be grateful and have a three-year
contract and extend whatever they have right now. And I think that's unrealistic. That seems
unrealistic; not to mention that in the year that is the highest budget in the history of the City of
Miami, you mean to tell me that we don't have enough money for public safety?
Chair Hardemon: Mr. Manager, with the budget reserve --
Mr. Alfonso: The public --
ChairHardemon: -- ifyou came to a conclusion -- or ifyou came to an agreement with the
union, could you use the budget reserve that you have towards payments towards that union ?
Mr. Alfonso: Yes, Commissioner. And I want to point out that the public safety departments, sir,
combined, grew by more than $37 million between 2016 and the 2017 proposed budget, so
clearly, public safety is a priority of the City of Miami; and because it is a priority, they actually
were awarded all of the revenue tax growth from property taxes and then some additional that we
took from other departments.
Commissioner Carollo: So, Mr. Manager, you're saying, when the City grew, general fund alone
over 150 million since our time in 2010 when we first got here, right now that we are
record-breaking, because it's the most that has ever been approved as a budget for the City of
Miami, you don't have, separate from the fund balance, a public safety reserve, just like you did
last year, for our Fire Department. Do you think that the same contract that ends September 30
is what they're going to carry over for next year? Because I think that's unrealistic.
Mr. Alfonso: Well, Commissioner, I'm not going to pre -- try to preempt what we will end up with
in negotiation, or assume what this Commission will direct me to do when we enter into labor
negotiations as we meet with you soon, in terms of having the executive discussions. So at this
time, the reserves that we have are the ones that we're carrying over from previous years, like we
normally bring the revenue source for our reserve, which, by the way, a few years ago, it used to
be over $11 million; now it's under 9 million. The budget, because of the 36 plus million dollars
that had to grow into Police and Fire, because of the last contracts that we approved last year,
primarily, public safety had to be covered; and so, therefore, no, we don't have any additional
funds, unless we want to cut other projects or other funds elsewhere in the budget. Everything is
allocated, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, exactly, and that's where I bring -- that's my point. And listen, in
light of the Chairman here, I'm not going to start mentioning all the different areas that I think
we should cut, because what's going to happen is that should we reach some type of agreement,
you're going to come back to this Commission and you're going to want to fund it through fund
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balance, and in all fairness, I think that there's a lot of areas here that we should cut prior to
doing that. That's why I would like to have seen a reserve, like we have done in the past years,
for public safety. I am in total disagreement with not having a public safety reserve, especially
where it's unrealistic that there's not going to be some type -- I'm not even saying what type -- but
some type of increase. It has happened with Police. It happened with the general employees in
their. first year. So it's unrealistic to be -- to not have some type of reserve for public safety. And
Mr. Chairman, I have one more item that I want to mention. I saw that in the non -bargaining
employees, I'm seeing that we're making a bit of a difference from last year, where last year there
was an evaluation process, and this year there is not an evaluation process. Mr. Manager, is
there a reason why you have disregarded the evaluation process in order --?
Mr. Alfonso: It's not being disregarded, Commissioner. It just didn't put the wording in, but
people will get a raise based on their evaluation process for the un -classifieds, non -bargaining.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. But that's not what the language says in our current budget.
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, again, we just budgeted the amount. We didn't write out that it
would be based on evaluation. If you want me to articulate that for the record, I so so state.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So then you agree that all the non -bargaining employees will --
are due part an average of 5 percent, to be distributed based on each employee's evaluation?
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, for employees under my purview, that is what I intend to do.
Commissioner Carollo: But I'm not saying the -- okay. So you're saying all employees of the
City of Miami?
Mr. Alfonso: Those un -classifieds under my purview, sir. We have a contract, for example, in
1907 that is not -- does not require an evaluation. October 1 or the first full period thereafter,
they're going to get a 5 percent, regardless of evaluation. So for those unclassified employees
that are under my direct purview, in terms of not being bound by contract, et cetera, we will do
their evaluations when the time is appropriate, and they will get their merit increase based on
that.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Suarez.
Commissioner Suarez: What about the non -bargaining unit members of our public safety?
Mr. Alfonso: The non -bargaining, like the Chief and the -- that -- I have budgeted that,
Commissioner.
Commissioner Suarez: And the guys in the back that protect us?
Mr. Alfonso: I don't know about those guys. I think they get paid too much already. Just
kidding. Commissioner, I'm working on that. We're looking at some historical numbers. There's
been a request made, and I'm having some folks look at it, look at what's been done in the past,
how does it relate to the commander, the lieutenant, the captains, et cetera. That is something
that is being analyzed, and it is under my purview, sir.
Commissioner Suarez: I take it -- I take your word for it.
Mr. Alfonso: Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
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Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: So I just want to be -- I just want to clam. There will bean increase in
regular salaries and wages, due in part to an average of 5 percent for all non -bargaining
employees, to be distributed based on each employee's annual evaluation.
Mr. Alfonso: That's correct. And as a matter of fact, Commissioner, the current year, the one
that we're just finishing, we had budgeted the same 5 percent. And what we did, we actually
distributed out with half of the increase happening at the beginning of the year, sort of to get in
line with what the other unions were getting, and the other half was imparted upon their
evaluation, so that they didn't it get all the 5 percent immediately, right off the bat. Some people,
perhaps, also got a little more than 5 percent, and others, depending on their evaluation, got a
little less. These are the un -classifieds. That's how we work it. For next year, we have budgeted
5 percent; and when their anniversaries come up, we will do an evaluation, and we'll award
them the monies. We're trying to just get the budget in.
Commissioner Carollo: So everybody was evaluated?
Mr. Alfonso: The -- Commissioner, we give them the raises upon their evaluation, for the
employees that were the un -classifieds. That's the direction that was given to the directors.
Commissioner Carollo: Understood. Were you evaluated? Did you feel you were evaluated,
Mr. Manager?
Mr. Alfonso: I said, The employees under my purview, "sir.
Commissioner Carollo: So you don't feel that you're under this?
Mr. Alfonso: I'm not under my purview, correct.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry?
Mr. Alfonso: I'm not under my own purview.
Commissioner Carollo: Exactly. So if you're not under your own purview, were you evaluated?
Do you feel that you were evaluated?
Mr. Alfonso: No, I was not evaluated.
Commissioner Carollo: Did you get this 5 percent raise?
Mr. Alfonso: Yes, I did, sir. It was included in our budget, as we talked about before.
Commissioner Carollo: So what's included in the budget is that every -- non -bargaining
employees to be distributed, based on each employee's annual evaluation.
Mr. Alfonso: If you look under -- you're talking about for next year or for the year that passed ?
Commissioner Carollo: No. I'm saying the year that -- this current year. This current year,
what it stipulates is that: "For all non -bargaining employees " -- and that's considering if you
consider yourself a non -bargaining employee, which I think you do, because you -- in this year's
budget, you put: "This includes the City Manager. "
Mr. Alfonso: Yes, because we wanted to clam that, because there was some question raised as
to whether -- in the contract that I have, where it says that I get the raise that is equivalent to
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that of the other bargaining units, there was a dispute as to whether that's what it meant. So, yes,
I received the 5 percent.
Commissioner Carollo: Where does it say that you get the raise, based on other bargaining
units?
Mr. Alfonso: You have it in front of you, sir; I don't.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, I do.
Mr. Alfonso: So I think it's near the bottom, where it talks about the cost of living, COLA (Cost
of Living Allowance).
Commissioner Carollo: So you think this is a COLA? So the -- so a 5 percent is a cost of living
Mr. Alfonso: Could you read what it says, please, Commissioner?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. There's a COLA same as granted -- a COLA -- "same as granted to
the members of the classified or unclassified service, whichever is higher. " Do the members of
the classified or unclassified service believe they received a COLA?
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, to the extent that we gave 5 percent increases across the board to
members of classified service without any evaluation --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that's --
Mr. Alfonso: -- where we simply raised their salaries --
Commissioner Carollo: No, no.
Mr. Alfonso: -- that's a -- that's the interpretation that we had.
Commissioner Carollo: No, no, no, no, no. It says here, `Based on each employee's annual
evaluation, " which is --
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, that was the interpretation that we gave it. If you have a concern,
we can have that discussion.
Commissioner Carollo: I do have that concern, and we're having the discussion.
Mr. Alfonso: Okay, good.
Commissioner Carollo: Because, listen, I really do believe that this lacks the transparency that
your office at least portrays to express. Some, I'm sure, would even go as far as this is -- to think
that this could be interpreted as embezzlement or grand theft, but the bottom line is that --
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, with all due respect, we send out a report to this Commission
quarterly of all of the pay adjustments for every employee in the City of Miami, and that raise
that I received was reported to our Commission in that quarterly report, so it was transparent,
Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: And why did you think you were entitled to that raise? Because it
clearly stipulates here: "Increase in regular salaries and wages due in part to the average of 5
percent for all non -bargaining employees, to be distributed based on each employee's annual
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evaluation. " You didn't have an annual evaluation, so I don't understand -- Yeah, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Tomas Regalado: Could I respond?
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
Mayor Regalado: Mr. City Attorney --
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Yes, sir.
Mayor Regalado: --what does the Charter says about the powers of Executive Mayor?
Mr. Min: The Mayor has the ability to retain the City Manager upon the approval of the City
Commission, if that is the direction that you're going, Mr. Mayor.
Commissioner Suarez: What happened?
Mayor Regalado: So what you're saying is that the Executive Mayor appoints the City
Manager?
Mr. Min: Yes, sir, subject to --
Mayor Regalado: That is correct.
Mr. Min: -- confirmation by the City Commission.
Mayor Regalado: Subsequent to --
Commissioner Carollo: Confirmation.
Mayor Regalado: -- the approval of the City Commission. So I appointed this Manager, and I
evaluated his role, and I gave him an A+. "
Commissioner Suarez: Plus.
Commissioner Carollo: Right. But Mr. Mayor, with all due respect, you're just one of the
bosses. Even when you appoint him, it still needs to be ratified by this Commission.
Mayor Regalado: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: And this Commission never evaluated. So with all due respect to you --
and you may have evaluated him A+'L this Commission did not evaluate him; and as a matter of
fact, the Manager even stated that he was not evaluated.
Mayor Regalado: Well, he was evaluated by me
Commissioner Carollo: Well, that's not what he stated. He stated that he was not evaluated.
But even if he was evaluated by you --
Mayor Regalado: I didn't do it -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: -- he wasn't evaluated by this Commission.
Mayor Regalado: But, you know, the Commission had a chance to fire the Manager; you didn't.
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Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor, with all due respect, whether we had a chance to fire him or
not, the bottom line is that we did not evaluate him, based on what the requirements are in the
budget that we passed. Okay, so whether we had chance to fire him, whether not, whether he
should have received this raise, whether or not, the bottom line is, it's very clear in the language,
in our budget that we approved: `Increase in regular salaries and wages due in part to an
average of 5 percent for all non -bargaining employees, to be distributed, based on each
employee's annual evaluation. " "To be distributed based on each employee's annual
evaluation. "
Mayor Regalado: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: The Manager did not have an annual evaluation.
Mayor Regalado: And I did that evaluation.
Commissioner Carollo: But this Commission did not.
Mayor Regalado: And so the Charter says that the Commission has the power to evaluate the
Manager?
Mr. Min: There is no language in the City Charter concerning the evaluation process for the
City Manager.
Commissioner Carollo: However, his contract does stipulate: "To remain in effect until
changed by the City Commission. "
Vice Chair Russell: What to remain in effect?
Commissioner Carollo: His original salary proposal clearly stipulates -- it's actually highlighted
-- "To remain in effect until changed by the City Commission. "
Mayor Regalado: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: So --
Mayor Regalado: You haven't change it.
Commissioner Carollo: -- this City -- Oh, really? But he's not making 199, 000 anymore; he's
making a lot more.
Mayor Regalado: But you haven't change it, and as a --
Commissioner Carollo: So if we haven't changed it, why is he making more money?
Mayor Regalado: Well, because that is what was approved by you in the budget.
Commissioner Carollo: His salary has to be approved by this Commission, per the contract.
Mayor Regalado: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: And therefore, this Commission never approved that salary increase,
because this Commission never evaluated him, and that's the issue. How could he --?
Mayor Regalado: I don't think that you have the right to evaluate the Manager; I do.
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Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Mayor Regalado: You cannot confirm, or you can fire the Manager. I do not think that this
Commission has the power to evaluate the Manager.
Commissioner Carollo: So --
Mayor Regalado: And that will be a legal opinion.
Commissioner Carollo: And Mr. Mayor, so, like I stated from the very beginning, at the worst,
this lack transparency. How could he approve his own raise?
Mayor Regalado: Well, it's not about transparency.
Commissioner Carollo: Think about that. How did he -- how can he approve his own raise,
which is what he did?
Mayor Regalado: Because --
Commissioner Carollo: You know, it goes -- so let's forget this contract that we have for benefits
for Mr. Daniel Alfonso. Let's forget the statement that says, To remain in effect until change by
the City Commission. "Let's forget that. Let's forget the budget that we approved under the City
Manager, which clearly stipulates: `Increase in regular salaries and wages due in part to an
average of 5 percent for all non -bargaining employees" -- that's even considering that he's a
non -bargaining employee -- and we'll go with that -- but "to be distributed, based on each
employee's annual evaluation. " Why is he above all the other employees?
Mayor Regalado: Well, I think that Commission --or yourself or the Commission missed a
chance when they approved the contract, you should have have [sic] language saying, "The
evaluation will take place individually or collectively by the City Commission. " But the fact of
the matter is that everyone understand that the Executive Mayor of the City of Miami, the form of
government that we have now, the Mayor appoints the Manager; the Mayor can fire the
Manager, provided that the Commission do not vote against; and the Commission affirms the
appointment of the Manager, so it is understood that the person that appoints the Manager has
the authority or the power to evaluate the Manager.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. --
Mayor Regalado: I don't know
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor, I don't want to mix apples with oranges. Yes, you have the
power to appoint the Manager.
Mayor Regalado: No.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, the Commission ratifies all the appointment process, the firing
process. All that is fine and dandy. However, you cannot give the Manager a raise. Why?
Because this Commission is the one who approves the budget.
Mayor Regalado: I understand that.
Commissioner Carollo: And the budget we approved said clearly that it was based on annual
evaluation. And this Commission, even in the contract, the contract that you presented to us,
clearly says, "To remain in effect until changed by the City Commission. " So -- and here's the
problem with this. Here's the problem with this: That -- and I am glad that the Manager said
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that he made an error, and now we're going to put the language in this current budget book.
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, I want to --I didn't say we made an error. I said that if you read
that contract, it talks on the bottom about the COLA, and I'm looking at that and saying that was,
in fact, what the City Manager was entitled to because of the description. If you're saying we
can disagree about that description, that's fine. I'm not saying we made an error. What I'm
saying is that I further clarified it in this year's budget so that even that question could not be
raised.
Mayor Regalado: And I just want to know, if somebody can tell me, what will be a process for
the Commission to evaluate the Manager? Do we do it in a public hearing? Do we do it on a
shade meeting? Do we do it in an executive session? Do we do it individually? If it gets three
votes of approval of a good job; what happen if it gets two, what happened --?
Commissioner Suarez: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) our Chairman?
Mayor Regalado: I mean, I don't know. I don't know.
Commissioner Carollo: Unfortunately, Mr. Mayor, we should have had that discussion before
the Manager felt that he was entitled to that have raise. And then what happens is that this is a
compound effect. Because if we approve this budget, in all fairness, this 5 percent for the next
year's budget, starting October 1, is 5 percent, based on what he's making right now, which I
think is unjustifiable that he had that raise. And like I said, at the best -case scenario, it lacks the
transparency that this office portrays to have; and in a worst-case scenario, I think some people
may even think it's a lot worse than that. So again, I have a real problem with this.
Commissioner Gort: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: I have a real problem with this.
Commissioner Gort: Okay.
Mayor Regalado: I don't know, Commissioner --
Commissioner Gort: So --
Mayor Regalado: -- about transparency, butt think that this Administration has been very
transparent. So what happened in the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) ruling and
the jury trial shows that there were Administrations that were not as transparent, and even the
SEC had admitted that this Administration fix -- right the wrongs; and I think that, you know,
everyone has plenty of information. And I still say that I consider that the Executive Mayor of
the City of Miami has the right to evaluate the Manager. And the reason that he's been here and
the reason that he has received praise from all ofyou once in a while is because he's here. And,
you know, you can change the Charter and --
Commissioner Suarez: Tried that --
Mayor Regalado: -- you can --
Commissioner Suarez: -- couple of times.
Mayor Regalado: You tried. You tried.
Commissioner Suarez: I've tried a couple of times.
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Mayor Regalado: You can have a strong Mayor. You can do whatever you want to do. Take it
to the voters. One thing I know for sure, the salary of the Mayor is set by the Commission. The
salary of the Commission is set by the voters. One thing for sure is that in bad times, I ask the
Commission --in 2010, I asked this Commission to allow me to reduce my salary; and since
then, in the last seven years, I've never been here, although we have good times, to ask for a
raise. I do think that the Manager deserves that raise, because his contract is way below of
many -- comparable to other smaller cities of what Managers are making. I mean, the director
of Miami Parking Authority makes more than the City Manager, and the budget for that agency
was approved in 10 seconds in the first public hearing, with no comment.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: And if I may? Listen, Mr. Manager, that all --
Mayor Regalado: And this is not apples and oranges. This is --
Commissioner Carollo: By the way, Mr. Manager, this all may very well be true. The bottom
line is that we didn't have a chance --
Mayor Regalado: No, this is true. This Commission approved the budget of the Miami Parking
Authority --
Commissioner Carollo: It was not unanimous, by the way.
Mayor Regalado: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Carollo: It was not unanimous.
Mayor Regalado: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: I voted against it.
Mayor Regalado: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: So let's start there.
Mayor Regalado: So --
Commissioner Carollo: Now, with that said --
Mayor Regalado: -- that's good to hear.
Commissioner Carollo: -- that's neither here or there. The bottom line --
Mayor Regalado: It is here.
Commissioner Carollo: No, it's not, because everything you're saying could be true if it actually
would have come to this Commission for an evaluation, and it never did.
Mayor Regalado: But what I'm asking, Commissioner -- what I'm asking --
Commissioner Carollo: So --
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Mayor Regalado: -- Commissioner, is how do you evaluate the Manager? And there is no
protocol for that. There is no protocol for that.
Commissioner Carollo: But --
Mayor Regalado: There is no protocol for that.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mana -- I mean, Mr. Mayor, understand, I didn't write that
language in the budget book, your Manager or the Administration did. I didn't write that
language. So they're the ones who wrote that language. And it wasn't the Commission. The
Commission approved the budget --
Mayor Regalado: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: -- with the language that the Manager put.
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner, again --
Commissioner Carollo: And the Manager was --
Mr. Alfonso: -- I'm not referring to that language that you're referring to. You're ignoring the
other language that says that the City Manager gets the increase equal to that of the union that
gets the largest increase, so you're ignoring that part, and that's what we based it on. And by the
way, the largest increase was about 15 and a half percent on average, which we didn't do that.
We did 5.
Commissioner Carollo: That's if it's a cost of living adjustment. I don't think anyone believes
that in the last years you -- anyone received a cost of living adjustment.
Commissioner Gort: Please, okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Even nationally, the cost of living adjustment was not 5 percent. So to
think that it was a cost of living adjustment, I think is wrong.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: Look, you're going to make an amendment or --?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, first of all, the amendment was already made, that in this current
year, we right, which ironically was left out, that these raises be based on an evaluation. And
isn't it ironic that the issue that we're discussing is what was taken out of this current year's
budget? So if I have an amendment to start with is that, yes, that this year's --
Commissioner Suarez: Can you give me a copy of the -- can we get a copy of the Manager's
contract, please?
Vice Chair Russell: What would you like a copy of, Commissioner Suarez?
(UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, of the -- I mean, his reading --
Vice Chair Russell: That term sheet that he's speaking of.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, yeah, that term sheet.
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Commissioner Carollo: That term sheet.
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like that as well. Thank you.
Mayor Regalado: I just want to know, what is the protocol for the Commission to evaluate the
Manager? I just want to know that.
Commissioner Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mayor Regalado: Somebody will --
Vice Chair Russell: There is --
Mayor Regalado: Somebody will say it --I don't know.
Vice Chair Russell: There isn't one at this time.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor, that could very well be, but it's not: Let's not say anything.
Let's not bring anything to the Commission, and let's take a 5 percent raise. "I don't think that's a
protocol.
Mayor Regalado: Well, I just want to know the protocol.
Commissioner Carollo: Understood. But I could tell you, the protocol is not, "Let's not bring
anything to the Commission. Let me not speak to my bosses, and let me just take a 5 percent
raise. " That's not the protocol. So again, listen -- and the reason I'm bringing it up is because if
we approve it the way it is, then this 5 per -- this additional 5 percent will be based on top of the
5 percent in all the others that may or may not be --
Mayor Regalado: But you can make an amendment, eliminating the 5 percent for all
non -bargaining employees.
Commissioner Carollo: This is not about all non -bargaining employees.
Commissioner Gort: He's talking about the Manager.
Commissioner Carollo: Let's not penalize what the Manager did. This is not about
non -bargaining employees.
Mayor Regalado: But you're saying that they have to be evaluated. I'm saying, I evaluated him.
Commissioner Carollo: Right, but it's not just about you; it's this Commission. Unless you're
saying that this Commission really has no power whatsoever, you're the one who, you know,
deals with the Manager and --
Mayor Regalado: Oh, trust me, this Commission has a lot of power, but --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo, you could make a motion to approve the 5 percent
increase for him or disapprove the 5 percent increase for him. You can make that motion.
Vice Chair Russell: Amendment.
Commissioner Carollo: The -- okay, the issue in hand is not necessarily whether we would have
approved it or we're approving the 5 percent. The issue in hand is that, clearly, clearly, in last
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year's budget that was approved by us, it stipulates: `Increase in regular salaries and wages
due in part to an average of 5 percent for all non -bargaining employees, to be distributed based
on each employee's annual evaluation. " The Manager was not evaluated; therefore, I don't think
he was entitled to that 5 percent. Now --
Mayor Regalado: I am telling you that the Manager was evaluated by me.
Commissioner Carollo: Please, Mr. Mayor. Now, if you look at this year's budget, it stipulates:
"The increase in regular salaries and wages is due to part an average of 5 percent for all
non -bargaining employees, " this includes the Manager. So obviously, he believes that he's
included in the non -bargaining. Ironically enough, this year we do away with the annual
evaluation. So what I'm saying is, at the very least, the amendment that I want is there to be an
annual evaluation on non -bargaining employees -- all non -bargaining employees, an annual
evaluation.
Commissioner Suarez: You're going to evaluate every single one of the non -bargaining
employees?
Commissioner Carollo: No. Okay, so the Commissioners don't evaluate every single one of the
employees; their directors or the Managers does.
Commissioner Suarez: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: But, in essence, but then we --
Commissioner Suarez: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Carollo: -- also --
Commissioner Suarez: --it sounds like your motion was to evaluate all non -bargaining
employees.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm saying that we should keep the same language that was there last
year. I do not write this. I do not write the language. I do not cause the issue, okay? I am just
telling you that, based on what this Commission approved and based of [sic] what it was
stipulated on the language that was written by the Administration, I don't think the Manager was
entitled to those 5 percent. And then when we're approving this year's budget, we leave out the
evaluation; and then, if this is approved, that means the 5 percent is compounded from last year's
5 percent or other raises. I mean --
Chair Hardemon: I just want to clear the facts. Mr. Manager, I want -- before you respond, Mr.
Mayor.
Mr. Alfonso: Mr. Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: I heard you clarify on the record that the 5 percent increase --or up to 5
percent increase does require an evaluation. Is that true for this new year? You just didn't
include the language. Is that --?
Mr. Alfonso: Right. So the way we're implementing it throughout the organization is that when
the employee gets their evaluation, they're going to get that 5 percent increase.
Chair Hardemon: But the -- last year --I mean, I'm only --I only have one document in front of
me. The document I'm reading from is the attached number one, "Benefits for Daniel J.
Alfonso, " under -- I'm not sure this is the document that Commissioner Carollo was initially
looking at, but it says, "COLA, same as granted to the members of the un " -- "of the classified
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or unclassified service, whichever is higher. "
Mr. Alfonso: That's correct.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. So --
Mr. Alfonso: So last year --
Commissioner Carollo: That's a cost of living adjustment.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: -- we granted 1907 a 5 percent, effective the first pay period in October, or
October 1. I don't remember. It was automatic. It wasn't based on an evaluation or nothing.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Alfonso: It was across the board for all members, including those members who had only
been here maybe a month or two, who had gotten to the Cityjust a month before. So --
Chair Hardemon: So I'm looking at last year's -- I'm looking at last year, page 93, this appears
to be of the -- either the --
Mr. Alfonso: That's the City Manager's budget.
Chair Hardemon: -- adopted budget --
Mr. Alfonso: That's correct.
Chair Hardemon: So the adopted budget for City Manager. The last itemized dot says,
"Increase in regular salaries and wages due in part to an average of 5 percent for all
non -bargaining employees, to be distributed based on each employee's annual evaluation. "
Mr. Alfonso: Correct.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. And that's about general fund dollars, 73,200. Now, Mr. Mayor is
saying that he evaluated the Manager's performance. He believes that he's due to the increase.
Is there anything within our City governing documents that says that we do the evaluation for the
City Manager?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, think about it this way: First of all, I did not write that language.
That language came from the Administration. I specifically asked the Manager if he was
evaluated, and he said, No. "I understand the Mayor came to his rescue. I got it. However, don't
you think that this Commission --
Mr. Alfonso: Commissioner --
Commissioner Carollo: -- has a say in evaluating him?
Chair Hardemon: No, no, no.
Commissioner Carollo: Doesn't he work for the pleasure of the five of us and the Mayor?
Chair Hardemon: Right. But I -- you know, what I heard was that he doesn't evaluate himself,
and then I heard the Mayor say that he evaluated him; he,'fneaning the Mayor evaluated the City
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Manager. You know, do you propose that we evaluate the City Manager, rather than the Mayor?
Is that what you're proposing? Do you want to make that amendment to the budget this year to
state that?
Commissioner Carollo: Absolutely. First of all, what was stated that we will include the same
language as yesterday -- and, yes, if you want to be more specific, since he was a little more
specific this year and he put "this includes the City Manager, " I think we need to be clear and
put that "evaluated by" -- what I think is a no-brainer -- "his bosses, " and he's got sir bosses.
So I don't understand why someone would think --
Commissioner Suarez: You're making the strong Mayor initiative (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: I don't understand --
Mayor Regalado: Look, I --
Commissioner Carollo: -- why someone has six bosses, he --you know, you would think, or pick
and choose. I mean, did he go to any one of your guys and say, "Hey, who do you think should
evaluate me?"
Mayor Regalado: Well, I -- if7 may?
Chair Hardemon: Please.
Mayor Regalado: I didn't interview or cross-examine the Manager. I have, every week, about
five, seven hours of time, maybe more, with the Manager and other directors and other person.
And always, every single week, we have two hours of him and I talking about the business of the
City of Miami. To me, that's an evaluation. Now, do you want it in writing, by email, by text? I
can do that and send it to everyone. I believe that he has done a great job for the City of Miami.
I do. Now, however, if the Commission passes an ordinance, or whatever -- I don't know what
you want -- and said that, "In the future, every year" -- and mind you, it's only one year left --
"we evaluate the Manager collectively or individually, "fine by me. What I'm saying, there is no
protocol to evaluate the Manager, other than the Executive Mayor of the City of Miami. That's
what I'm saying. He does work for the Commission, absolutely. I totally agree. But I can't
evaluate the City Clerk or the City Attorney or the Auditor General, because I don't vote for
them, but in the Charter, I have the authority to appoint the City Manager.
Commissioner Carollo: Ratified by the City Commission. But that aside, the point is -- and by
the way, Mr. Mayor, I believe that you should also be part of the evaluation process. I definitely
believe that, but so should this Commission; not to mention, in his contract, the same contract
he's saying about the COLA, it clearly stipulates, "To remain in effect" -- and saying his salary,
annual salary, payable bi-weekly -- "to remain in effect until changed by the City Commission. "
So if -- and again, I didn't write the language in the budget, the Administration did. If in the
language in the budget it stipulates "distributed" -- which is the 5 percent increase -- "based on
each employee's annual evaluation, " every employee, I would imagine, received that annual
evaluation, except the Manager. The Manager did not receive (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
Mayor Regalado: No. The Manager -- no, you're wrong.
Commissioner Gort: He's killing me.
Mayor Regalado: The Manager is evaluated by me.
Chair Hardemon: Listen --
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Mayor Regalado: You are wrong.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Carollo, this is one of those things where there are differing
opinions about the issue that is at hand, so the only thing we can do is come to some resolution
in the powers that we have. So if you have a motion that you want to use to amend the budget,
then you make that motion so that we can vote it up or vote it down. But to continue on with this
discussion, I think, does not make any sense, if we're not going to have any action come from it.
I want to get to the action, at least so we know that what we're talking about, and we can vote it
up or vote it down. Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, strong words were said, so I do want a
little clarification on the discussion. Are you saying, Commissioner Carollo, that his S percent
last year was considered a COLA; and this year, it's being considered based on evaluation, and
that's the problem, that it's not consistently being applied?
Commissioner Carollo: First of all, we're talking last year, but it's really current year.
Vice Chair Russell: That's what I meant.
Commissioner Carollo: Remember. we started October I --
Vice Chair Russell: That's what I meant.
Commissioner Carollo: -- through September. Okay, so in there he -- the Manager, the
Administration puts in the contract, under the City Manager: "Increase in regular salaries and
wages due to " -- "due in part to an average of S percent for all non -bargaining employees, to be
distributed, based on each employee's annual evaluation. " The first thing I think of Is he
considered a non -bargaining employee? Let's say he is. But then the raise is based on each
employee's annual evaluation. Who would a reasonable person think should do that evaluation?
I would think his bosses. Now, when we go to this year's --next year's budget, starting October
1, obviously the Manager believes -- he's not worried about the COLA anymore. He believes
that he's part of the non -bargaining employees, except the language stipulating "the annual
evaluation " is not there. So at the very least, I want the annual evaluation language to be
placed back. I think for him to receive any raise -- whether he should receive a raise or not,
that's not the issue. The issue is we never -- we, the Commissioners, never had that opportunity
to debate it.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chair.
Chair Hardemon: Is that your motion? Can you state your motion again? Your motion is to do
what?
Commissioner Carollo: My motion --
Commissioner Suarez: I'll accept the language that he proffered, which is essentially last year's
-- the language that was in last year's budget.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes, but it should be even stronger, because I don't want to get into the
same --
Chair Hardemon: So can you just put the motion on the floor, please?
Commissioner Carollo: Where it says, "This includes the City Manager, based on an evaluation
of the City Commission and the Mayor. "
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Chair Hardemon: Is there a second to his motion?
Vice Chair Russell: I'll second that.
Chair Hardemon: The Vice Chairman has second it.
Mayor Regalado: Would the City Commission evaluate the Manager under sunshine on a public
hearing?
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Manager -- I'm sorry -- Mr. Mayor, in all fairness, in all fairness,
this -- each Commissioner doesn't act independently. If there's an evaluation, it has to come
before this whole Commission.
Mayor Regalado: No, I understand that. But I just want to understand the process. I don't
understand.
Commissioner Gort: There's no process (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: There's no process.
Commissioner Carollo: So what I am saying is, again, using the language that the Manager
used for last year's contract --
Mayor Regalado: No, I understand that. And I understand --
Commissioner Carollo: To use it again --
Mayor Regalado: -- but I'm saying --
Commissioner Carollo: --and now I'm just bringing clarity to what you or others --
Mayor Regalado: Right. No, but --
Commissioner Carollo: --find confusing, which is who should evaluate the Manager.
Mayor Regalado: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: I think (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bosses.
Mayor Regalado: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) -- I say the executive Mayor has the power. However,
it's okay. There's --you mentioned six persons.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Mayor, you do have the power, along with the Commission. That's
why even when you nominate him --
Mayor Regalado: And that's what I'm --
Commissioner Carollo: -- we ratify him.
Mayor Regalado: -- trying to understand here, because, you know, I'm not --
Chair Hardemon: So it's --
Mayor Regalado: --that intelligent. I just want to know, you mentioned six persons.
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Commissioner Suarez: This is not like a biblical thing, the trinity.
Mayor Regalado: What if three say he's good and three say he's bad?
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chair.
Mayor Regalado: What happens?
Vice Chair Russell: I --
Chair Hardemon: Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: I have a comment to that and a question. So in the first section on his
attachment for his salary, it says in parentheses, "To remain in effect until changed by the City
Commission. " And I'd like to get a legal opinion on that, because to me that implies that his
salary will not change until this City Commission approves its change --
Commissioner Suarez: Mr. Chair.
Vice Chair Russell: -- which implies, perhaps, an opinion, whether it's a verbal evaluation or an
up or down to the change. My question is, legally, is approving a budget in which his salary has
changed, does that meet the standards of this parenthesis to remain effect, or is that a City
Commission specific --
Commissioner Suarez: Guys?
Vice Chair Russell: -- decision that needs to be made?
Chair Hardemon: You know what? But that question is really going off on a tangent.
Vice Chair Russell: Is it?
Chair Hardemon: The discussion -- it is, because the motion on the floor is to have the City
Manager -- to use the language from last year --
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Chair Hardemon: -- and have the City Manager, his increase, if you will, that 5 percent, be
based upon the evaluation of the Mayor and the Commissioners. That's how I heard it. That's --
Commissioner Carollo: And by the way, the 3-3, the way this Commission has functioned for --
since the executive Mayor, everything comes to this Commission, a vote is taken, and the Mayor
has the power to veto or not.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah, but -- wait, wait, wait, wait. Guys, let's -- look, I think there's a lot
of different things that we're talking about here. One of them is the salary, which is a box. The
box for salary says, "$199, 000 annual salary, to remain in effect until changed by the
Commissioners. " He has no right, nor does the Mayor, to change the salary. What they're
referring to is a box down in the bottom, which is the COLA.
Vice Chair Russell: COLA
Commissioner Suarez: Which is a different box.
Vice Chair Russell: But COLA doesn't -- it doesn't need an evaluation for COLA.
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Commissioner Suarez: Well, I think there's a variety of issues with calling it a COLA, because
cost of living implies that it's somehow indexed to inflation, or something like that, because that's
what cost of living is. That's inflation, essentially. So then we can get into a big debate as to
whether or not, you know, this -- you know, this is inflation or whether it's not inflation and
whether -- you know, so -- I mean, we can really get off the deep end on this more than we
already have. These issues go to the way that we're governed, and they have -- there's a lot of
things that are, in my opinion, ambiguous; and that's why, you know, I proposed changes to the
way we're governed, but I'm not going to harp into that. My issue here today is that I do have
some discomfort about six of us evaluating one person under this sort of scheme, because, first of
all, that's an even problem, so that's problematic right there, okay? I'm not saying that we will
end up in a tie, but it's possible that we can end up in a tie, and then -- you know, I just don't
know that that makes any sense, okay? Maybe we can clarify, going forward, what the
evaluation is going to be for, whether -- we can also change the contract. We have the ability to
change the contract.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. --
Commissioner Suarez: You understand what I'm saying? So why -- you know, you get --
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Suarez: To the extent that there's ambiguities, we can change --
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: That's all right. Let him keep going.
Commissioner Carollo: And real quick, that's my point. The Commission originally did his
contract. So if there's going to be any changes, it says, "to remain in effect until changed by the
Commission. "
Vice Chair Russell: That's five votes.
Commissioner Carollo: So --yes.
Vice Chair Russell: Not six.
Commissioner Carollo: Five. The Mayor --
Vice Chair Russell: And a veto.
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: So if there's a change to his salary, we would decide it, and then the Mayor
could veto that, for example.
Commissioner Gort: Right.
Commissioner Carollo: I believe so.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: Let me give you a suggestion. The Chairman of the Commission has got to
work very closely with the Manager and the Mayor constantly.
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Chair Hardemon: I have lots of meetings with them.
Commissioner Gort: The Chairman has to meet every week before the -- every Commission, so
you guys do the evaluation, come back to us, and let us know what you think, and then we'll vote
on it, if that's what you guys want to do. I mean, we can discuss this all night long, and we're not
going to -- let's take a vote on it.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: That's certainly a recommendation to be taken into consideration by
Commissioner Gort. However, there's a motion that's on the floor that's been properly seconded
by the Vice Chairman. And at this time, I would like to have a vote on that motion --
Commissioner Carollo: So we're not --
Chair Hardemon: -- unless you remove your motion.
Commissioner Carollo: So we're not voting on the budget as a whole? We're just --
Chair Hardemon: No, no, no. We're voting on your motion, which is to amend the budget,
specifically the item within the budget that refers to the Manager's --
Commissioner Suarez: I'm not comfortable doing this on the fly, guys.
Vice Chair Russell: Can we have a motion --
Commissioner Gort: No, no (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Suarez: I'm not comfortable doing this on the fly. I'm not comfortable doing this
on the fly.
Chair Hardemon: But we've been talking about it for an hour.
Commissioner Suarez: No, but I'm saying, I'm not comfortable voting on this -- on that
procedure on the fly. I think it interacts with a lot of things, not to mention our Charter, and I --
I'm not comfortable doing it on the fly, like doing this kind of amendment to our -- you know,
there's a million different ways we can solve this problem. I just -- you know, if the discomfort is
that this is in our budget, we can amend our budget at anytime. We can change his contract at
anytime. I mean, I'm not comfortable making this --that -- I'm just telling you, I'm not
comfortable making this decision this way.
Chair Hardemon: I understand that.
Vice Chair Russell: So it's not an amendment to the budget.
Chair Hardemon: No, I understand.
Vice Chair Russell: It couldn't be, right?
Commissioner Suarez: Look, I understand his concern about the budgetary impact of this
decision, and I'm okay with dealing with this issue. I'm not saying we don't have to deal with this
issue. I'm just saying I'm not --I don't like dealing with it the way we're dealing with it right
now, because I think it implies way too many things, okay? We're talking about Charter things.
Does the Mayor evaluate the Manager? Do we --? What's the best process for that? You know
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what I'm saying? How has it been put into the contract? Whether -- is it in the top box? Is it in
the bottom box? You know, whether it -- should it be called a COLA? Should it not be called a
COLA?
Vice Chair Russell: Okay.
Commissioner Gort: Since we're --
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman.
Commissioner Gort: -- having this discussion, I think it's very important that we change it also
with the contract, I understand, with the City Attorney, City Clerk, and the Auditor. It shows the
same thing, COLA.
Commissioner Carollo: I don't think they all show the same thing, Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: They're not all the same.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm sorry; Mr. Gort.
Commissioner Gort: They're not all the same (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner Gort, I don't think they all show the same thing. Mr.
Chairman.
Chair Hardemon: Yes.
Commissioner Carollo: Lost my train of thought now.
Commissioner Suarez: Look, it's a real issue.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Commissioner Suarez: It's a real issue. I'm okay with dealing with it, but let's not do it today.
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner Suarez, look --
Commissioner Suarez: You know what I'm saying?
Commissioner Carollo: The only reason why we have to deal with this is because it's a
budgetary item.
Commissioner Suarez: I get it.
Commissioner Carollo: And it affects --
Commissioner Suarez: I get that.
Commissioner Carollo: -- next year's budget. Now, with that said, please keep in mind, I did not
come up with this language.
Commissioner Suarez: I got it. I'm not -- I --
Commissioner Carollo: The Administration is the one who came up with this language.
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Commissioner Suarez: I got it. I got it.
Commissioner Carollo: And it was voted upon by this Commission.
Commissioner Suarez: I got it.
Commissioner Carollo: So, you know, all I'm saying is, listen, it lacks transparency. It lacks so
much transparency that we're not even sure where we're going with this. So that's what I'm
saying. At the very least, it lacks transparency.
Chair Hardemon: So the motion is still on the floor. It's been properly moved and seconded.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Chairman, I mean, if you all feel uncomfortable on voting on it --
but all we're doing is putting the same language that this Commission voted last year, with only
one exception, and the exception is to clam who evaluates the Manager.
Chair Hardemon: Well—
Commissioner Suarez: I think we evaluate the Manager. There's no doubt about it. I mean --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, the Mayor doesn't think we evaluate the Manager.
Chair Hardemon: Look, I'm comfortable with my vote on this issue, so -- I mean --
Vice Chair Russell: Are we voting on a motion within a motion? This is not a vote on the budget
as a whole?
Chair Hardemon: This is not a vote on the budget at all.
Vice Chair Russell: And this is not an amendment to the budget. Is it a separate motion?
Chair Hardemon: No. It's a separate motion that does have an effect upon the budget, because
as -- the item that he's reading from is a -- as I understand, is from the actual budget book, the
proposed budget book.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: So it will be an amendment to the budget.
Vice Chair Russell: But within the budget book, should there be criteria for evaluation? That's
what we're talking about. So I'd rather be --
Commissioner Suarez: But that's my point. My point is this, guys --
Vice Chair Russell: Right. I'm starting to agree with you, Commissioner Suarez.
Commissioner Suarez: Right, right.
Vice Chair Russell: And I certainly wanted to talk about this, because I want to hear more about
what Commissioner Carollo is saying and understanding, you know --
Commissioner Suarez: Look --
Vice Chair Russell: -- maybe the amendment is about the amount.
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Commissioner Suarez: No.
Vice Chair Russell: If he feels that the Manager took an incorrect --
Commissioner Suarez: No. This is a governance issue. This is a governance issue. Okay, it's a
governance issue, and it's an issue worth discussing, and it's an issue that goes to the core of
how we're governed. It has a fiscal impact, vis-a-vis one employee, which I think we can always
address at some future date, if we feel that things weren't done appropriately, okay. But I don't
think to hash out the governance issue right now in the middle of our budget makes --
Commissioner Carollo: Right.
Ms. Mendez: Commissioner Suarez -- and not to throw another wrinkle into this -- but it also
affects three other people, so I don't know if you just -- which would be myself, the Auditor, the
Clerk. So I don't know if maybe you just want to take it out of there and then do it some other
way.
Commissioner Suarez: No. I think there's two different things. We're --
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: --you guys are clearly constitutional o icers that are clearly within the
purview of the City Commission. I don't think there's any debate about that. I think the debate is
-- and just from a governance perspective, does it make sense that if the Mayor is the person, for
purposes of the contract, who appoints the Manager, maybe it makes sense for that -- him to
evaluate --
Commissioner Carollo: Ratified by us.
Commissioner Suarez: Okay, maybe that's a way to do it. You know what I'm saying? Maybe
that's the way to do it. Maybe that's the way to do it.
Vice Chair Russell: What's that? Ratifying any salary increase?
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah. But what I'm saying is like -- this is a -- you know, something we
shouldn't deal with right now in the budget. You know, this is a governance issue.
Vice Chair Russell: So really, if there's a fiscal change you'd like to make, maybe that's the
correct --
Commissioner Gort: If we pass (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Well, the fiscal change is still there. Whether you like it or not, I mean,
it's there. That's -- then that's why I'm bringing it up.
Vice Chair Russell: Well, if-- you're saying it shouldn't be there is the point. Ifyou'd like to
amend that amount --
Commissioner Carollo: What I'm saying is at the very -- again, I didn't bring this language, but
at the very least, if he writes language that he should be evaluated, I think we should be part of
that evaluation, unless all of you think that, "No, we shouldn't evaluate the Manager. "
Commissioner Suarez: I think --
Commissioner Carollo: Which I don't think that's it.
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Commissioner Suarez: -- again, this is part of a larger conversation, because I think we evaluate
the Manager constantly. I mean, we can -- we've -- you know, we've talked about -- I think the
issue here is, what if the Mayor says he's doing a great job and we think he's doing a terrible job
and now we're in the back and forth --?
Commissioner Carollo: But that's where we have the discussion.
Commissioner Suarez: I know. But I'm saying, for purposes of the contract, he says, "He's
doing a great job; he deserves a 5 percent raise. " And then we say, "Well, we don't think he's
doing a great job; he doesn't de " -- I mean, where do we go from there?
Commissioner Carollo: How is everything solved here? We have a --
Vice Chair Russell: The evaluation is (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) veto power.
Vice Chair Russell: The evaluation is inherent in that his salary cannot change, unless it's
changed by the City Commission; at which point, we discuss it, we vote on it, and we change it
or we don't. There's your evaluation right there.
Commissioner Suarez: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: Right?
Commissioner Carollo: It's never happened.
Vice Chair Russell: And that's never happened.
Commissioner Carollo: No.
Vice Chair Russell: So why did his salary change?
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Vice Chair Russell: If it was a COLA --
Commissioner Carollo: --that's --
Vice Chair Russell: -- that's a different story; that has nothing to do with evaluations.
Commissioner Carollo: --exactly my point.
Commissioner Suarez: But he's saying that in the budget book, it talks about the COLA being
done only under evaluation purposes.
Commissioner Carollo: I mean, does any--?
Vice Chair Russell: COLA is not evaluation, at all.
Commissioner Carollo: Let me ask this: Does anybody even know how much the City
Manager's making? Clearly, if we look at his -- attachment number one, we clearly see 199.
Does anybody even know how much he's making?
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Chair Hardemon: I don't know. I don't think he's paid enough, though.
Commissioner Carollo: Could be.
Commissioner Gort: Same here.
Commissioner Carollo: Could be, but what I'm saying is --
Commissioner Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) underpaid.
Chair Hardemon: He's a salary (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Could be.
Commissioner Gort: A lot of our directors are underpaid; that's why we have so many people
leaving the City. Come on.
Commissioner Carollo: But that process needs to come to this Commission.
Vice Chair Russell: Vote on it. Right.
Commissioner Carollo: Thatprocess needs to come to us.
Commissioner Gort: Call the question.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a second to the "call the question "?
Vice Chair Russell: I'll --
Commissioner Carollo: Call what question?
Chair Hardemon: Is the -- the question that's the motion that you put on the floor. Is there a
second to the calling the question?
Vice Chair Russell: I'll remove --
Chair Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) better explain, when there's a second to the "calling of
the question, " that means that they feel that there should be no more discussion about the issue;
we've exhausted our discussion, and we should come to a vote (UNINTELLIGIBLE) matter.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll remove my second to the motion.
Chair Hardemon: Now you have a motion without a second. Is there a second to the motion
that's on the floor?
Commissioner Suarez: Motion dies.
Chair Hardemon: Motion dies for lack of a second. So we bring us back to our main motion --
Commissioner Suarez: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) issue dies.
Chair Hardemon: We're back on our main motion, which is BH. 10, the adoption of the final
budget, with amendments. Is there any further discussion on the adoption of the budget with the
amendments? Seeing no further discussion, all in favor, say liye. "
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Vice Chair Russell: Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Commissioner Carollo: No.
ChairHardemon: Motionpasses.
BH.11
RESOLUTION
16-01297
Office of Management
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
and Budget
ATTACHMENT(S), AMENDING THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") FISCAL YEAR
2016-17 MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN, PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED
SEPTEMBER 6, 2016, PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. 16-0393.
16-01297 Summary Form.pdf
16-01297 Pre-Legislation.pdf
16-01297 Back -Up from Law Dept.pdf
16-01297 Legislation.pdf
16-01297 Exhibit SUB.pdf
Motion by Vice Chair Russell, seconded by Commissioner Carollo, that this matter be
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATIONS PASSED by the following vote.
Votes: Ayes: 5 - Commissioner(s) Gort, Russell, Carollo, Suarez and Hardemon
R-16-0445
Chair Hardemon: BH.11.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): As amended.
Christopher Rose (Director): Good evening, Commissioners. Chris Rose, Office of Management
& Budget. There are four amendments to the capital plan. They are either new projects or
amendments to existing projects. They are $200, 000 for lighting downtown; another $200,000
for lighting in Overtown; solar lights in Museum Park at 197 --197, 000; and trees in Museum
Park at 303.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve with those amendments?
Vice Chair Russell: Moved.
Chair Hardemon: Been properly moved by the Vice Chairman and seconded by the Chairman.
Commissioner Gort: It's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) already moved and second.
Commissioner Carollo: Second.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any further discussion?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Gort: Has been moved and second already.
Commissioner Suarez: Yeah?
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Chair Hardemon: No.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes. Discussion.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized.
Commissioner Carollo: I want to include the list of roads that was not included with the bond
offering, or anything like that. I know it's not going to be funded right now; some of this will be
unfunded, but I want to make sure that it's clearly that these projects need to happen in Little
Havana and the areas surrounding (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Suarez: I'm going to do something similar. I think it's a good idea.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Commissioner Suarez: I'm going to do something similar for my district, yes.
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: I have a question. We had a five year plan, capital plan that's been put
together. Have you guys looked at it and see if those already in the --?
Commissioner Carollo: What happens, Commissioner Gort, is this: I have this list and this list
that have not been done. They've been approved two years ago --
Commissioner Gort: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and almost a year ago, so we're sort of trying to give them time to
catch up, but I'm seeing that that's not working; especially when they do a bond offering, they
don't come to speak to my office, and you have one road in Little Havana, which I can clearly
tell you, there's a lot of other roads that need --
Commissioner Gort: No, I understand.
Commissioner Carollo: -- a lot of --
Commissioner Gort: I understand.
Commissioner Carollo: -- improvements.
Chair Hardemon: Go ahead.
Commissioner Gort: But I want you to know, it might be a long time before we can do another
bond issue, so that's something we got to work on it. But my understanding is, I asked the
Manager -- I asked the Administration -- Mr. Mayor, I asked the Manager, I asked
Administration, that list that he presented, you should report to us the reason why it has not been
done, every step of it. Okay?
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Does the mover accept the amendment of adding this list that the
Commissioner -- that Commissioner Carollo's presenting as unfunded request?
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: Yes, of course.
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ADJOURNMENT
Meeting Minutes September 20, 2016
Commissioner Gort: Yes.
Chair Hardemon: And the seconder agrees to that. Is there any further discussion about it?
Seeing none, all in favor, say fiye.?
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against?
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. Meeting --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): As amended.
Chair Hardemon: --adjourned.
Mr. Rose: Thank you, Commissioners.
END OF SECOND BUDGET HEARING
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
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