HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2018-09-27 MinutesCity of Miami
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 27, 2018
5:05 PM
Second Budget Hearing
City Hall
City Commission
Francis Suarez, Mayor
Keon Hardemon, Chair
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner, District One
Joe Carollo, Commissioner, District Three
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner, District Four
Emilio T. Gonzalez, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
City Commission Meeting Minutes September 27, 2018
SECOND BUDGET HEARING
5:05 PM CALL TO ORDER
Present. Chair Hardemon, Vice Chair Russell, Commissioner Gort, Commissioner Carollo
and Commissioner Reyes.
On the 27th day of September 2018, 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
8: 00 p.m., and adjourned at 10:04 p.m.
Note for the Record. Commissioner Reyes entered the Commission chambers at 8:01 p.m.,
Vice Chair Russell entered the Commission chambers at 8:02 p.m., and Commissioner
Carollo entered the Commission chambers at 8:06p.m.
ALSO PRESENT.
Emilio T. Gonzalez, Ph.D., City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
Chair Hardemon: Welcome to the September 27, 2018 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, Joe Carollo, Manolo Reyes; the Vice Chairman, Ken
Russell; and myself, Keon Hardemon, the Chairman. Also on the dais are Emilio Gonzalez,
City Manager; Victoria Mendez, our City Attorney; and Todd Hannon, our City Clerk.
ORDER OF THE DAY
Chair Hardemon: We --the City Attorney will state the procedures to be followed
during this meeting. Madam City Attorney.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Thank you, Chairman. This evening the City is
holding its second budget meeting and related hearings for the purposes of
approving the final millage rate, adopting a final budget, and approving various
agency budgets. Any person who is a lobbyist, including all paid persons or firms
retained by a principal to advocate for a particular decision by the City Commission,
must register with the City Clerk and comply with the related City requirements for
lobbyists before appearing before the City Commission. A person may not lobby a
City official, board member, or staff member until registering. A copy of the Code
section about lobbyists is available in the City Clerk's Office or online at
wwwmunicode. com [sic]. Any person making a presentation, formal request, or
petition to the City Commission must make the appropriate disclosures required in
writing. A copy of the Code section is available in the City Clerk's Office or online
at wwwmunicode.com [sic]. The material for the agenda is available during
business hours at the City Clerk's Office and online 24 hours a day at
wwwmianiigov. com [sic]. Any person may be heard by the City Commission through
the Chair for not more than two minutes on the items on the City Commission
agenda, unless such time is limited or modified by the Chair. If the proposition is
being continued or rescheduled, the opportunity to be heard may be at such later
date. The Chairman will advise the public when the public may have the opportunity
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to address the City Commission during the public comment period. When
addressing the City Commission, the member of the public may first state his or her
name, his or her address, and what the item he or she will speak about. A copy of
the agenda item titles are available at the City Clerk's Office and at the podium for
your ease of reference. Pursuant to Administrative Code Rule 12D-17.005, anyone
wishing to appeal any decision made by the City Commission for any matter
considered at this first [sic] budget meeting does not need a verbatim record of the
item, but a video of this meeting may be requested at the Office of Communications
or viewed online at wwwmiamigov.com [sic]. No cell phones or other noise -making
devices are permitted in City Commission chambers; please silence those devices
now. No clapping, applauding, heckling, or verbal outburst in support or opposition
to a speaker or his or her remarks shall be permitted. Any person making offensive
remarks or who becomes unruly in City Commission chambers will be barred from
further attending Commission meetings and may be subject to arrest. No signs,
banners, placards shall be allowed in Commission chambers. Any person with a
disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids and services for this meeting may
notify the City Clerk. The meeting will end at the conclusion of the second budget
meeting agenda. Please note, Commissioners have generally been briefed by City
staff and the City Attorney on items on the agenda today. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR BUDGET ITEMS)
Chair Hardemon: So what I would like to do now is open up the public comment
period for this agenda, so if you're here from the public and you'd like to make a
comment on the record regarding any of the items that are on our agenda today, this
is your opportunity to do so. You have two minutes to address this body. State your
first name, your last name; you may state your address and what item it is that you're
here responding to. Please, you can begin, sir.
Itai Benosh: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Itai Benosh, 50 Biscayne, Miami, Florida.
I would like to start by voicing -- or sharing my support for the proposed expansion
of the Downtown Enhancement Team. This is a wonderful DDA (Downtown
Development Authority) operative program in partnership with Camillus House that
provides assistance to formerly homeless individuals. It provides them with work,
with pay, with pride, with training; and in addition to all that, it makes downtown
beautiful. I would absolutely support the expansion of this program, which was very
successful in downtown Miami, and would recommend that you consider adopting it
for the rest of the City. Second, I would like to urge the Commissioners to consider
allocating funds towards resilience efforts to mitigate the risk of sea level rise. After
all, we're only a couple of feet away from not having a Bayfront Park to fight about.
And finally, I would like to take a few seconds to thank each and every one of you for
making a difficult decision today and standing up for Miami residents. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Pedro Martinez: Hello, Commissioners. Reverend Martinez -- Pedro Martinez. I
want to express my support for the Downtown Enhancement Team, a/k/a the Yellow
Shirts. This initiative is key to keeping downtown in better condition, plus it gives
employment to people in need. I believe when we empower people by giving them a
job, we are inspiring them to seek wealth and self-sufficiency. I work with the City of
Miami Beach Homeless Department. I work doing outreach with the Green Shirts --
their Green Shirts -- and we hire shelter homeless people to work with us as part of
the team. It is temporary work, and it gets them back to work as they seek a full-time
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position. The Downtown Enhancement Team is a good investment. Please vote
"yes. " I also would like to allocate funds for the resilience to protect against the sea
level rise. I thank you, Commissioners, for the vote that you gave us today. Have a
wonderful night.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Let me ask you something. The --
Mr. Martinez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: --you told -- the Yellow Shirts, who finances that?
Mr. Martinez: Who finances that?
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Vice Chair Russell: I can help you with that.
Mr. Martinez: You could answer that, Commissioner.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: May I, Mr. Chairman? Right now the program is completely
housed within the DDA, and it's just for the downtown. It --
Commissioner Reyes: It's DD -- doesn't -- I mean -- and deals with homeless
assistance, right?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes. The DDA employs about 30.
Commissioner Reyes: Just a question. You know where I'm going. Just a question.
It is finances with funds from DDA, right?
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: It doesn't -- it's not finances with any other funds?
Vice Chair Russell: Currently, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, sir. Thank you very much.
Vice Chair Russell: Actually, that's not true. The Omni CRA (Community
Redevelopment Agency) also employs an additional 10.
Commissioner Reyes: At 10 million?
Vice Chair Russell: No; 10 people. And the Omni --
Commissioner Reyes: Oh.
Vice Chair Russell: -- funds their actual salaries, and the DDA funds the
management and training of them.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. That could be added to what is being spent on the
homeless problem.
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Commissioner Carollo: You're not using the -- our $2 million for Museum Park for
that area?
Commissioner Reyes: Part of it.
Chair Hardemon: Sir, you're recognized.
Steve Dutton: Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, Commissioners, for this late
opportunity to speak again. I first of all thank the Commission in general for
approving the parklet test in response to the concerns; however, lighting was
immediately raised; and obviously, that is part of the improvements that we need to
make on Northeast 3rd. So I want to encourage the City staff to work with me and
this Commission to approve the dollars that I believe the staff has identified,
perhaps, that are available for additional lighting on that street. I've also in
conversation with the County learned that there are general obligation funds the
County has allocated to street improvements for City streets; and so, I'm working
through that process to idents exactly how that, in fact, is available as a possible
funding source for lighting and for other improvements to that two -block street to
facilitate a successful test. I also stand in support of any efforts that this City makes
with regard to resilience, because we all know we're facing challenges very soon
regarding sea rise. And so, again, thank you. And one last comment: please take
my invitation seriously. October 20 is a Saturday night. We're going to have the
party of the decade in downtown at Taste of Avenue 3. I hope you'll come, bring
your families, because it's going to be a fun, fun event. And you'll be fed bites from
13 restaurants that are looking to show you the diversity of culinary available on
that street. Thank you.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir.
Joy Prevor: So back when the little one was still in a stroller, I would walk the
streets of downtown every single morning, and it was kind of quiet, deserted.
Commissioner Gort: And you are?
Ms. Prevor: Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Joy Prevor, a resident at 50 Biscayne. So I'd walk
and it was quiet. And the only people around were these people in yellow shirts.
And they became this, you know, daily sight. And, of course, we started talking, and
I had the privilege of getting to know some of these amazing people who were
working as part of the Downtown Neighborhood Enhancement. Not only were they
doing a great job cleaning up our neighborhood and making it beautiful, but they're
connecting with neighbors and making us better understand the plight of some of the
homeless in our community. And I really was so proud of some of them when they
finished the program and moved on. One of the ones who I was closest to got a job
as a butcher at a Publix, and this was such an accomplishment for her. And I was so
proud of her, and just really think that this program is important and should be
continued, replicated. This is the way to make a difference. You teach someone to
fish. Thank you.
William Quinlan: Hi. My name is William Quinlan. I'm a resident at 7223
Northeast 4th Court, and I wanted to talk about the Office of Resilience and
Sustainability, because I was here at the last time and I came with a bunch of my
friends from Miami Climate Alliance, and we all raised a fuss about it, and I see that
no change has been made on that issue. So maybe I'm missing something. I don't
know that the Commission here might have come to some understandings about
maybe a less need in the future for resilience. Do you imagine if these issues are
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going to become less important or less complicated in the future, or that fewer
people will be able to manage the work as the more it gets -- more it becomes
pressing? I think about the staff cutting as like a real way to weaken the long-term
institutional capacity of the office. This seems like difficult and complicated work
that's going to take a lot of expertise and a lot of know-how, and a lot of experience.
And so, I imagine that given its jurisdiction, building up the people to move forward
is really, really key to the long-term livability of this city. I mean, the County today
just approved for a big highway through the Everglades. We really need some good
long-term local thinking about sustainability, and I really want to see the funding for
this one cut position reinstated in the budget. Thank you so much.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Manager, any comments you would like to make?
Emilio T. Gonzalez (City Manager): Sir, I could spend a great deal of time
correcting my neighbor, but --
Chair Hardemon: Well, I wouldn't want to do it just yet during public comment
period, because I just want people to have an opportunity to speak.
Commissioner Gort: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: And then we'll get to that.
Commissioner Gort: Take notes.
Chair Hardemon: But it's the public comment section. Let's not respond to ever
public comment just yet.
Mr. Gonzalez: Very good, very good. I will save my statements.
Gustavo Perez: Hello. My name is Gustavo Perez, and I live at 4725 Northwest 7th
Street in District 1. I am here to speak about BH 1. First, my first request is to fully
restore the funding of the Resilience and Sustainability Office on the way here, so a
warning about flooding that will take place on South Bayshore Drive. Resilience
must be a high priority at every level of government, starting here. And, you know,
in the last 10 years, I -- going to one of these community hearings in the budget, I
saw like an overview of the budget, and property values have gone up 47 percent in
the last -- since 2009. The City has never had such a high tax base. I ask the
Commission to make further investments in community, in housing, and
infrastructure. Times like these are when we should double down and invest in the
neighborhoods most affected by rising rents, rising sea levels, and decreasing quality
of life. I urge you to think long term, and I also ask to -- also might not be part of
this, but, you know, the Miami Forever Bond got approved almost a year ago, and
we haven't seen a list of either a list of projects or a meeting from the Oversight
Board. The time for action is now. I have faith in this Commission to do the right
thing to make Miami a place that is a home for everyone. Thank you very much.
Michael Clarkson: Good evening. My name is Michael Clarkson. My address is
6022 Northeast 60th Street. I'm here this evening to encourage you to add the
$62, 000 back in funding to the Office of Resilience. I would also like to quote our
Mayor, who at the last meeting, budget hearing, he said, "A resilient budget for a
resilient city. " If we're going to have a resilient city, then the Office of Sustainability
and Resilience is very important, City fathers. It's going to help educate people. It's
going to help bring people closer to CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)
training, which is something that's very important. It also is going to help educate
the community, not only in terms of how we respond in situations of hurricanes and
et cetera, but how we have to become more greener in our community, and how we
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have to become more productive economically, also, too, while we talk about climate
change. And we must also think about the possibilities of introducing programs
outside of structural, but programs that people could go to at the NET
(Neighborhood Enhancement Team) Office, where they could learn more about
climate change, what they can do, how they can change some of their habits. We
believe that's real important, and that job, that $62, 000 could be a job for somebody
to make that connections throughout the various communities in our area. We
believe that it's very important to put that money back. And if I'm not mistaken, Vice
Chair, you even talked about the fact that there was some money that we probably
could get from some other place, but we need that money back into that office.
Thank you very much.
Phalange Brutus: Yes. Hello. My name -- Hello, Commission. My name is
Phalange Brutus with Catalyst Miami. I'm also representing --
Commissioner Gort: Speak into the mike.
Mr. Brutus. Yes. Hello. My name is Phalange Brutus with Catalyst Miami. I'm
also with the Miami Climate Alliance, and we're here to -- against -- excuse me -- to
talk about the cuts for the Resilient Office. We also wanted to let you guys know a
resilient budget is for a resilient city, and to reinstate the 62, 000. Thank you.
Sherman Rattner: Sherman Rattner, 1809 Brickell, Miami. First, after this
afternoon's meeting, I want you to know I am available for mediation services, some
counseling. We are a family in the City, and I think we all have to work
cooperatively with respect with each other, and I'm available to help in that area.
Commissioner Carollo: Got a good customer over here.
Mr. Rattner: I think it'll cover everybody. We all need to work together respectfully
with each other. And there are so many problems to be dealt with, that doesn't need
to be one of them. So we'll go in the backroom, have a beer together, and shake
hands, and come outfighting.
Commissioner Carollo: I don't drink.
Chair Hardemon: Come on.
Mr. Rattner: I don't, either. So we'll have a glass of water together. You know,
there's the old saying, "Follow the money, " and if you want to know what's important
to people, you look at where they spend their money. In my mind, there is not one
single thing that encompasses more of the problems we face in the City than
affordable housing, or the lack of affordable housing. Last year -- or this year, 97
percent of the housing that was built in the City was luxury housing. 50 percent of
the people who live in the City struggle to pay for housing and living cost; 27
percent are considered living in poverty; about 25 percent are paying more than 50
percent of their income for housing. So many problems are encompassed in those
issues right there, but I do not see that refected in this budget. I haven't gone
through it through a fine-toothed comb. I did see, I believe, a million dollars cut
from Housing and Community Development. The effects of the Miami Forever
Bonds will be forever in the future, so I think you need to change the priorities here,
and you need to start helping that 50 percent. Thank you very much.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you, sir. Seeing no further persons here for public
comment, I'm going to close the public comment section at this time. Let's move to
BH 3, which is the final approval of the millage for the Downtown Development
Authority. Is there any --?
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Vice Chair Russell: Is that a public comment?
Chair Hardemon: Oh, you have a public comment?
Rebecca Yu: Here for the budget.
Commissioner Carollo: Yes.
Chair Hardenzon: Yes.
Ms. Yu: I'm here.
Chair Hardenzon: Okay.
Ms. Yu: Hi. I'm Rebecca Yu, a resident of 50 Biscayne. I'm in support of the budget
expansion, because the Downtown Ambassadors are a great addition. They
represent Miami with such a positive light. They give directions to tourists. They
clean up the sidewalks. They are always pleasant to talk to. I never knew they were
former homeless residents, but this is a great change for their lives. So we're fully
supportive of this program to improve their lives; at the same time, enrich everyone's
experience and Miami downtown. So please vote "yes. " They need the expansion,
and we need their help. Thank you.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you so much. As I stated earlier, the public comment time
is closed now.
:1:eBWA9:1mrilN1ki[ 7
131-1.1 DISCUSSION ITEM
4810 PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ALL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDING
Office of PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CITY'S PROPOSED FY 2018-19 MILLAGE
Management and RATE AND FINAL BUDGET
Budget
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: I believe that the Budget Director has some special magic
language that he must add into the record. Keep trying; IT (Information
Technology) will catch up with us. IT?
Christopher Rose (Director, Office of Management and Budget): Go over to the
other one?
Chair Hardemon: No, you --
Mr. Rose: There we go; I'm on now.
Chair Hardemon: All right.
Mr. Rose: So good evening, Commissioners. Chris Rose, Office of Management and
Budget. The proposed general operating millage rate is 7.5865 mills for the City of
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City Commission Meeting Minutes September 27, 2018
Miami for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018 and ending September 30, 2019.
That operating millage rate is 9.47 percent higher than the State -defined rollback
rate of 6.9301 mills. As well, I'd like to give the City Clerk Exhibit "B" to the
legislation, which is the memorandum entitled "Information for the Second Budget
Hearing, " and amended language, stating, "With attachments. " The Administration
would recommend that this legislation be amended, as laid out in this memorandum.
It is an attachment to BH 10. So with your permission, Mr. Chair, I'm going to give
that to the City Clerk. And those are all my words that need to be made.
Vice Chair Russell: Do we take that up with BH 10, or is that to be amended at this
point?
Mr. Rose: BH 10, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: BH 10; that's fine.
Commissioner Reyes: I want also for the record to add that the operational millage
increased to 7.5865. Total millage remains the same. Operational millage
increased.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
131-1.2 DISCUSSION ITEM
4695 DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE AND TENTATIVE BUDGET
Downtown FOR THE MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
Development
Authority
RESULT: DISCUSSED
Chair Hardemon: Is there some language that our DDA (Downtown Development
Authority) Executive Director needs to add into the record?
Alyce Robertson: Hi. Alyce Robertson, Executive Director of Miami Downtown
Development Authority. The proposed operating millage rate for the Downtown
Development Authority is .4681 mills for the Miami Downtown Development
Authority for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018 and ending September 30,
2019. That operating millage is 3.17 percent higher than the State -defined rollback
rate of . 4537 mills.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you very much.
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BH.3
RESOLUTION
4697
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ("CITY COMMISSION"),
Downtown
WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTH (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE,
Development
AFTER A DULY NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING, RELATED TO TAXATION,
Authority
DEFINING AND DESIGNATING THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ("DISTRICT") OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA ("CITY"), AND FIXING AND ADOPTING THE FINAL
MILLAGE AND LEVYING AN ADDITIONAL AD VALOREM TAX ON ALL
REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT AT 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, 2018 AND ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30,2019; PROVIDING THAT SAID MILLAGE SHALL BE IN
ADDITION TO THE MILLAGE ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 9, ARTICLE VII, FLORIDA CONSTITUTION, AND
SECTION 166.211, FLORIDA STATUTES, 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 SUPPLEMENTAL AND IN
ADDITION THERETO; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-18-0418
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardenzon: Is there a motion on BH. 3?
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move it.
Chair Hardenzon: It's been properly moved and seconded to approve BH 3. All in -
- Is there any unreadiness --
Commissioner Gort: What are we approving?
Chair Hardenzon: -- or discussion?
Vice Chair Russell: DDA (Downtown Development Authority).
Chair Hardenzon: BH 3; DDA budget.
Vice Chair Russell: DDA Budget.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Chair Hardenzon: Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor, say "aye "
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The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? Motion carries.
BHA
RESOLUTION
4694
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Downtown
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE FINAL ANNUAL
Development
BUDGET OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY
Authority
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA ("DDA"), ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF $12,436,000.00, AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS
FROM THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AD VALOREM TAX
LEVY AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS INCOME FOR THE DDA, FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2018, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER
30, 2019; AUTHORIZING THE DDA TO MAKE TRANSFERS BETWEEN
ACCOUNTS FOR NECESSARY AND PROPER PURPOSES; AUTHORIZING
THE DDA TO INVITE AND ADVERTISE REQUIRED BIDS; PROVIDING
THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE DEEMED SUPPLEMENTAL AND IN
ADDITION TO THE RESOLUTION MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2018, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER
30, 2019, FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-18-0419
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...................
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardenzon: Is there a motion to approve BH 4?
Vice Chair Russell: There is.
Chair Hardenzon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Commissioner Carollo: Are you going to take the $62, 000 that they're asking you
from here or is it conning from your office budget?
Vice Chair Russell: The Manager can -- but this team is going to clean every
district.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: Not just downtown and not just my district.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Vice Chair Russell: This is for everyone.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- I figure the only way I'm going to get rid of the
cockroaches and rats that are in my district is over water the way this is going.
Emilio T. Gonzalez (City Manager): Mr. Chairman, would you allow me to respond
to the Commissioner?
Chair Hardemon: To the cockroaches and rats, or to --?
Mr. Gonzalez: No, sir; no sir; to the --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Gonzalez: --position. You know, there's still --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Gonzalez: -- I'll be very brief. There still seems to be a great deal of
misunderstanding about the issue of what we, as a city, are doing with resilience.
And at no point are we cutting the budget of the Resilience Office. In fact, our
Resilience Office and our Chief Resilience Officer works collaboratively across all
departments. We've probably dedicated more time, energy, resources, and stomach
acid to the issue of resilience, particularly over the last six months than at any point
in this city's history, I believe. Just today, this morning -- or first thing in the
morning, we issued the first of our soon -to -be -many resilience newsletters. We've
already undertaken projects with -- I'm getting my topics confused -- with storm
water. We're already take -- undertaking projects with safety valves for flooding.
We've got projects in the pipeline. We've got our priority list out. Quite frankly,
we're more interested in doing than being.
Commissioner Carollo: That's great.
Mr. Gonzalez: And when people tell us, "Well, we have to put this position back,
because if you don't, you're obviously not doing anything, " that is just factually
incorrect on so many levels that I hope this will be the last time that I have to
address this. So thank you for allowing me to get this off my mind.
Commissioner Carollo: I thank you, Mr. Manager. Now that you got all those other
little issues under control, maybe if I could bring up some of the Code Enforcement
and Building issues on my side of the street, and we could start taking care of those.
Mr. Gonzalez: Sir, I'm here to work with you on that.
Commissioner Carollo: Great.
Chair Hardemon: So right now we're considering BH 4.
Commissioner Carollo: There's a motion.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion?
Vice Chair Russell: I moved it.
Chair Hardemon: It's properly moved and seconded.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): It's seconded by Commissioner Gort.
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Chair Hardenzon: All right. Any further consideration? Seeing none, all in favor,
say „aye. "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardenzon: All against? Motion carries.
Alyce Robertson: Thank you very much.
Commissioner Carollo: Sure.
BH.5 RESOLUTION
4552 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
ATTACHMENT(S), ACCEPTING AND APPROVING THE BUDGET OF THE
Midtown MIDTOWN COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA") ATTACHED
Community AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,818,257.00
Redevelopment FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2018 AND ENDING
Agency SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 AS APPROVED BY THE CRA'S BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-18-0420
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ...................
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Hardenzon: Is there a motion to approve BHS?
Commissioner Carollo: There's a motion to approve BH 5.
Chair Hardenzon: It's been properly moved. Is there a second?
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Chair Hardenzon: Properly moved and seconded to approve BH 5.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, my apologies. For the record, I need to
amend BKS to include the following CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency)
Resolution number: MCRA -R-18-0002.
Chair Hardenzon: All right; should be adopted by the mover and seconder. Seeing
no further discussion, all in favor say "aye "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardenzon: All against? Motion carries.
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BH.6 RESOLUTION
4711 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
Miami Sports and ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
Exhibition OF THE MIAMI SPORTS AND EXHIBITION AUTHORITY ("MSEA")
Authority ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $678,085.00, TO
PROVIDE FOR THE OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES OF
MSEA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1st, 2018, AND
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30th, 2019.
MOTION TO:
Defer
RESULT:
DEFERRED
MOVER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. Item BH.6 was deferred to the October 11, 2018, Regular
Commission Meeting.
Chair Hardenzon: BH 6.
Commissioner Carollo: I'm confused. It says we're approving the annual budget of
Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority, but --
Vice Chair Russell: We're doing that one, aren't we?
Commissioner Carollo: -- didn't we get rid of it or going to get rid of it?
Chair Hardenzon: That's something that -- Do they have money?
Commissioner Carollo: What conies first, the chicken or the egg?
Christopher Rose (Director): Commissioners, Chris Rose, Office of Management
and Budget. Even though the MSEA (Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority) Board
met this past week, they did not approve a budget, so there is not a budget for you to
approve tonight. So just like the last meeting, it will be continued to the next
meeting. In the meantime, since the fiscal year will begin, they will live with the
existing budget, pursuant to State law.
Victoria Mendez (City Attorney): Commissioner --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, yeah, but --
Ms. Mendez: -- Commissioners, the MSEA Board actually passed a resolution
recommending that they -- to the Commission that they dissolve, so you will see that
on October 11 --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, but --
Ms. Mendez: -- so this is appropriate at this time.
Commissioner Reyes: -- but I have a request. When you are going to bring that in
front of this Commission, I want an itemized report of all the expenditures, contracts,
and all the debts they have, and -- because I want to see what's going on with this.
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And also, I want to know who is going to -- I mean, all those contracts that we have
in Watson Island, who is going to oversee them and --?
Ms. Mendez: DREAM (Department of Real Estate and Asset Management).
Commissioner Reyes: -- DREAM is going to oversee them and --
Commissioner Carollo: Vicky, we need to sit down on this, because --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I'm really, really concerned --
Commissioner Reyes: I'm really confused with that and --
Commissioner Carollo: -- and --
Commissioner Reyes: --excuse me, Joe, a minute.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. I apologize.
Commissioner Reyes: I'm really confused about what's going on with the seaport
that -- the airport that we have in there that -- with Chalks Airport, and also, the
heliport and what -- everything that is going on in that area. And I heard that there
are some lawsuits, that they are pending, and I want to know how that's going to be
paid, if we lose them. Why are those lawsuits? And I would like to see more
information. I have to sit down with you and whoever, or the -- our Auditor -- and
have a very honest and open discussion about this, because I'm totally confused
about this.
Ms. Mendez: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: When do we want this continued to?
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman?
Commissioner Carollo: You said next meeting, right?
Chair Hardemon: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: My understanding, a resolution was passed; this be dissolved
once we get all the agreements taken care of, all the suit and the -- we recommended
that they go talk to each one of the board members, and come and talk to each one of
the Commissioners --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Gort: -- in the facility where it should be done.
Commissioner Reyes: That's fine.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, my only concern here right now is that the reason that
MSEA was still in existence, supposedly, was to get through the back door what
legally couldn't be done through the front door, because of the Carollo Amendment.
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And if you do away with it, I'm very concerned that someone could challenge the
whole legality of --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: -- the contracts that we entered into there. And I don't know
if we would be in a safer position if one of our other agencies takes it. And I'm -- you
know, I'm not looking for it, because the headaches that this brings, I don't want it at
the Bayfront Park. But, you know, there might be some other semi-independent
agency or trust or something that might be able to deal with it and avoid any
possibility that, you know, we could end up --
Commissioner Reyes: Yep.
Ms. Mendez: All right. We'll brief you on it.
Chair Hardemon: All right.
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Chair, so are we moving --?
Chair Hardemon: There's a -- if there is no -- well, is there a motion to continue it
to --
Commissioner Reyes: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: -- the next meeting?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, it's a motion to continue it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved and seconded to continue it to the next
meeting.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Any unreadiness? Hearing none, all in favor say "aye "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion carries.
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BH.7
RESOLUTION
4593
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
General
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
Employees'and
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GENERAL EMPLOYEES' & SANITATION
Sanitation
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT TRUST ("GESE RETIREMENT TRUST FUND"),
Employees'
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,274,449.00,
Retirement Trust
EXCLUDING NORMAL COSTS OF $43,526,929.00 AS ACTUARIALLY
DETERMINED FOR THE PENSION FUNDING REQUIREMENT, TO
PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GESE RETIREMENT
TRUST FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2018,
AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2019.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-18-0422
........ ......... .........
MOTION TO:
......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ......... ..................
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
SECONDER:
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Chair Mardemon: BK 7.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. Manager, on 7, we had a little problem; that it's about
a $1,150, 000 difference between the management of one pension board versus the
other. This one has double the employees that the other one has. And even though
they gave a lot of excuses why it is, I still cannot buy any of that; why there's such a
wide gap. And while we're bound by Gates to provide their funding, we're not bound
by Gates to give them a Rolls-Royce. And, you know, this is money that's conning
from the general fund, the residents of Miami. It's not chicken feed; it's 1,150, 000.
I'd like to get your opinion as Manager, or anybody else in your staff that would like
to precede you.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Gort.
Commissioner Gort: If you recall, I requested them to conte back because of the
sante situation. I received some numbers, and the comparison with FIPO
(Firefighters and Police Officers), with GESE (General Employees & Sanitation
Employees), with -- what do you call them? -- 407? -- and the differences. And I
asked them to conte and explain, first of all, what are they able to reduce; second, to
explain why is the difference there between the FIPO and --
Vice Chair Russell: GESE.
Commissioner Gort: -- GESE.
Vice Chair Russell: First, if the Administration can respond, and then we'll turn it
over to GESE to respond.
Commissioner Reyes: And I would like to make a comment.
Vice Chair Russell: And then Commissioner Reyes' question, as well?
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Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Vice Chair Russell: All right. So, Administration, any comment? Do you have any
comment to Commissioner Carollo's question?
Emilio T. Gonzalez (City Manager): Sir. No, I was consulting with our Budget
Director. I was here the last meeting we had, and I understand and fully support
your concern, sir. My expectation was that the budget would be lowered
considerably, or at least to come by and see me to discuss those issues. That never
happened. I still think there's a great deal of room to cut into that budget. I'm still
more than willing to sit with them, with our Budget folks, but to date, that has not
happened.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Well --
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Manager. And would you like to respond to
Commissioner Gort's question?
Edgard Hernandez: Yes, Commissioner. Good evening. What we've prepared for
you is a presentation to show what -- basically, what we've done over the past three
years, because there's a comparison between GESE and FIPO. And what I've
prepared for you is basically our performance over the last three years. This is the
budget as I became the Administrator and the Board of Trustees decided to change
direction. The budget was for 3.3 million. We came under the budget for 3.2. The
second year, which is last year, it was 3.4, and we came out 2.8. And this year, it's
3.3, and we're hoping to come in at 3 -- about $3 million; just a little bit over. Now,
this shows all the differences that we have tried to make over the past two and a half
years to make sure we bridge that gap between FIPO and GESE, but I still think that
it's not correct for us to be compared to FIPO in many areas. First of all, one of the
areas that you have concerns was the life and health insurance.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah. The life and health insurance -- unfortunately, we're a small
plan. We cover employee and we cover family members, which is very comparable
to what the City Commission -- or what the City employees get.
Commissioner Reyes: Why do you cover family members also?
Mr. Hernandez: I'm sorry?
Commissioner Reyes: You're supposed to cover employees, and not employees and
family members.
Mr. Hernandez: Well, that's a benefit that was given by the Board of Trustees, and
it's something that I -- we, as employee, we really appreciative to have. It's
something comparable to what the City employees had -- or still have. So we
reached out to the Administration to see if we can save some cost in there, and there
is a possibility that if we are able to participate in the group benefit insurance from
the City, we can have an immediate cost on this item. For instance, we allocated
250, 000 for the health insurance, and if we're able to work out the details and the
health insurance cost 120, there'll be a difference between 120 and 250, and that will
be an immediate savings to the City.
Commissioner Reyes: And you covered life insurance for the employees and the
family? You covered --
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Mr. Hernandez: No. We just cover --
Commissioner Reyes: -- all of them?
Mr. Hernandez: No, no. Life insurance is only for employees --
Commissioner Reyes: I meant to say health insurance.
Mr. Hernandez: It's just the health.
Commissioner Reyes: The health insurance. If you cover -- let's say there is an
employee that has two children. You cover the man and the per-- the couple, plus
the children, and you pay the whole thing?
Mr. Hernandez: No. We just cover the health insurance for the employee, the
spouse and the children.
Commissioner Reyes: And the employee contributes anything?
Mr. Hernandez: No. They-- actually --
Commissioner Reyes: You see, that's not the same thing that we do, because --
Mr. Hernandez: No. We actually take --
Commissioner Reyes: -- I mean, we, as regular employees, if I am -- and correct me
if I'm wrong. If -- I mean, I want to include my wife in my insurance, I have to pay
additional, don't I?
Commissioner Gort: No.
Christopher Rose (Director, Office of Management and Budget): Yes, sir. There is a
different rate for employee only versus --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Mr. Rose: -- family plan. Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. Once you include your --any family member,
you have to also contribute to the insurance --
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: --for that family member, and you are paying everything.
Mr. Hernandez: No, no, we're not paying everything.
Commissioner Reyes: That's what you said.
Mr. Hernandez: No, no. What we're saying is the coverage is for all family
members. We pay 20 percent of the premium for all family members. Yeah, we have
different rates, whether it's a single employee or someone who's married, but we still
pay all family members, and we pay a f at rate of 20 percent.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chairman?
Commissioner Gort: They pay 80 percent then?
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Mr. Hernandez: 20 percent, which is a little bit more than what the City employees
are paying currently.
Vice Chair Russell: But rather than getting into the details of your health plan, I
think you're proposing that your employees join the City plan, and that would create
a savings, because of the efficiencies of working in a much larger pool.
Commissioner Reyes: That's correct.
Vice Chair Russell: What would that savings be? And then my question to the City
is, is that a viable option to save in their budget, and how much would it save?
Mr. Rose: We have been talking about it, and the one concern I have expressed to
the Executive Director is that we don't have a savings over there and create more
expense over here. So the devil is into details. And to be honest, we have not gotten
to the bottom of that yet. We have been --
Vice Chair Russell: But you're open to it?
Mr. Rose: We are open to it, yes, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: And what sort of savings do you envision that would create?
Mr. Hernandez: At least half of what's budgeted here, because you're a bigger plan,
bigger pool.
Vice Chair Russell: Half of what's budgeted in --for healthcare?
Mr. Hernandez: For healthcare, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: For healthcare. We -- there is --
Vice Chair Russell: So it could be --
Commissioner Reyes: -- 274.
Mr. Hernandez: Because --
Vice Chair Russell: -- a 7 or 8 percent decrease in your current budget; is that
about rough --?
Mr. Hernandez: That's about -- that's -- will take care of 7 percent on that line item,
yeah.
Vice Chair Russell: But of the overall?
Mr. Hernandez: Of the overall, 7 or 8 percent.
Vice Chair Russell: 7 or 8 percent of your overall budget?
Mr. Hernandez: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: I'm trying to see how much we can cut, and this is the first thing
you've brought up, and that's getting us someplace, so I think that's a good start.
Mr. Hernandez: So that's 7 percent. The other item that we identified throughout
the -- our presentation is, basically, as we work from budget to budget, we're able to
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do some of the other items. For instance, during the past three years, we've been
able to perform really well and add about $113 million to the net of the plan
position, and that's a -- that's good for us, that's good for the board, and that's good
for the City, because it reduces unfunded liability over the long term. Now, one of
the things we can do is basically go innovate and say, "Well, why don't we prepare
and do all the board meetings paperless?" We can do a one-time expense, and
everyone has -- everyone can bring their own laptop and just reduce the cost of
paper, which is the cost of open -- the supplies, which is another concern.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, I have another question. And according to your budget
versus actual, and you are showing that in 2015 and '16, you asked for 3, 300, 000,
and you spent 3.2. And then there was another substantial savings on '17 -- '16/16
[sic], so from 3.4, you went to 2.8.
Mr. Hernandez: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. And now last year, you -- from 3.3, you went to
3.1. And this year, you are asking for 3.2. You have made a substantial saving on it.
Why do you expect to have a substantial saving in this one, in this year?
Mr. Hernandez: Because in that year --
Commissioner Reyes: No, no; in this year, '18/19, the one that you're asking.
Mr. Hernandez: Well, in this year, another substantial saving will be -- we're going
to have one more retirement; that's one of the contractual employees that we retain,
whose salary was reduced by 30 percent. So every employee that was contractually
retained for institutional knowledge, we said, "Okay, you can stay, but you have to
reduce your salary for -- by 30 percent, and you have to take a freeze in pay, as for
the duration of the contract. " So one of them is about to expire, and that person is
going to roll out. That should be another -- about another 25 to $40, 000 on salaries.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. But --
Mr. Hernandez: With health insurance of thatperson, as well.
Commissioner Reyes: --you are asking for 3.274. That's what you're asking this
year, right?
Mr. Hernandez: Yes, that's what I'm asking for.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. You're asking for 3.74 [sic]. And what you're showing
in here is that every year, you have experienced a savings. You have not spent -- I
mean, the expenditures have not been the total -- your total budget. You have a
saving, like you did last year. You have a saving, about $200, 000. Do you expect to
have another additional savings?
Mr. Hernandez: Well, that's the whole purpose of this year. So last year, we had --
Commissioner Reyes: How much do you expect to save here?
Mr. Hernandez: So the last year we were at 3.3. I came in and said, "Let's do 3.2.
There's a hundred -thousand -dollar savings. " Last year was my full year in the
budget, and I needed to have some consistency. Now, if we can have another
additional hundred thousand, then that would be an immediate savings in this year's
budget, 3.1.
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Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Even -- I mean, now you think that you going to have --
let's say that you are going to have $180, 000 saving if you go with them, you see?
And it's going to be another hundred thousand saving.
Mr. Hernandez: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: You think that's going to be less saving. It's going to be just
to make -- it's going to be 300, 000. So you're going to be 2.9. That's what you
expect to expect?
Mr. Hernandez: No. I expect to be about 3.1.
Commissioner Reyes: 3.1?
Mr. Hernandez: 3.1, yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: Still, it's 1 million and one -- I mean, it's 1 million over FIPO.
Mr. Hernandez: That is correct. That's why I was pointing out this --
Commissioner Reyes: And now, you have 10 persons. You got five more persons
there.
Mr. Hernandez: And that is correct, also, Commissioner. But if I may, we're a more
diverse plan. The membership is diverse; meaning, we have people who has -- who
have MBA's (Master of Business Administration) and JD (Juris Doctor) degrees, and
we have people who only have a high school degree; that makes a big difference.
We serve across 33 departments. We also have to have oral and written
communications in three languages, because we have people who speak a little bit of
English, but only Creole. They have some people that speak Spanish and only a little
bit of English. So we need to have a staff that is basically able to serve these
individual, and sometimes hand -hold their decision. This is a livelihood decision
that they're about to make when it comes to retirement. But our individuals, overall,
are less self-sufficient than perhaps FIPO. Historically, firefighter and police
officers are more efficient at what -- self-sufficient at what they do.
Chair Hardemon: But they also only have high school diplomas --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. And they --
Chair Hardemon: --for the most part, as well, right?
Commissioner Reyes: -- make more.
Mr. Hernandez: Absolutely right.
Commissioner Reyes: They make more than an MBA.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Mr. Hernandez: I'm not aware.
Commissioner Reyes: They make more than an MBA. They make more than a
teacher.
Mr. Hernandez: Yes, but the variety of our members is that. Now, we also have a
complex plan. Today, you approved a Labor Union negotiation that basically adds
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another level of complexity. We have one GESE plan where, under that plan, we, the
staff, know we have a six -- basically having six subsets of that plan, because you
have people who are unclassified; you have people who are one union; you have
people who are another union. Then that's three sets. Then you have people who
were hired before 2010, after 2010; you have new hires. And there are different
rules in every type of member, and it just makes it very complicated to manage six
different plans under one umbrella.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, maybe --
Mr. Hernandez: So the complexity of the plan --
Commissioner Carollo: -- you need more money.
Mr. Hernandez: I just need the staff, Commissioner, to be able to serve those
members to the best of our abilities.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I've heard plenty last time. Today, I'm not hearing
anything different today. I heard from the Manager. There's a difference of
1,150,000 between both plans. I will make a motion that we approve this budget,
less $1 million. They're going to get 150, 000 more than the firefighters and police,
and that's my motion.
Commissioner Reyes: I am -- (INAUDIBLE) maybe more. But I don't think that it is
fair, because they have a double -- personnel is double. It's -- FIPO has five
persons, and then you are cutting them a million dollars, you see.
Commissioner Carollo: Let them figure out what they need to do. They should have
extended all those contracts.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. But at 10 person -- I mean, in all --
Commissioner Carollo: They were used to riding a Rolls-Royce.
Commissioner Reyes: --fairness, I want to bring it down, but by a million dollars, I
think it's going to be --
Commissioner Gort: Let's compare apple with apple, guys.
Commissioner Carollo: Huh?
Commissioner Gort: Let's compare apple with apple.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I am.
Commissioner Gort: But I want him to explain each one of them. I understand, also,
you got some contracts and people that retired. Can you explain that?
Mr. Hernandez: Right, we have some contract.
Commissioner Gort: Because you have some of those contracts.
Mr. Hernandez: Yes, I do.
Commissioner Gort: At the same time, you can eliminate the trips anywhere. Trips
can be taken here.
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Commissioner Reyes: That's what I want hint to do.
Commissioner Gort: One other suggestion is, you can ask any of those investment
banker to come and give lessons to your people in here, in Miami, and come to your
office, and they give it to you.
Mr. Hernandez: Yes, that's --
Commissioner Gort: Sothis is what you got to look at.
Mr. Hernandez: Right.
Vice Chair Russell: Mr. Chair?
Mr. Hernandez: One -- another item that was brought up last time was the building;
the expense on that building.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Mr. Hernandez: The building -- our building is one-third larger than FIPO's
building. Our building, it was built in 1979. This is an asset that the Board of
Trustees bought back in 2004. They bought a building that's 1979, located at 2901
Bridgeport Avenue. It's a three-story building. It's one-third larger than FIPO, and
it's older than FIPO's building. We required basically on a three floor -- story tall
building, we require three different A/C (air conditioning) units. And I know how
hot it was in here before, so I know what it is to make sure that the A/C runs when
you have a board meeting. We have a board meeting tomorrow, and we'll be
addressing some of the concerns you have. But what I'm saying as far as the
building expense, we're not really comparing one plan to the other on apples to
apples, because they have one type of building; we have another one. Now, in this
budget we have allocated a one-time project to renovate that Rose Gordon Building,
which is basically an immediate savings for next year's budget. Once we renovate
that building, we do the 40 -year-old inspection, it's over. We don't have to come
back and say, "We need 200, 000 for the building. " That's an item that's going to
come off for next year's budget. And the fact that we have three-story building, we
have to have a dedicated person in there. I -- FIPO --
Commissioner Carollo: Why do you need a three-story building when you have]]
people?
Mr. Hernandez: You know, that's a good point, Commissioner.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Mr. Hernandez: Back in 2015, there was some talk about maybe leasing or renting
or owning the building, because the building is getting old. That's just an asset they
bought in 2004.
Commissioner Carollo: How many square feet is it?
Mr. Hernandez: About 8,600 square feet.
Commissioner Carollo: 8,600 square feet --
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah, but --
Commissioner Carollo: --and you haven't thought about leasing it out until now?
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Mr. Hernandez: No. We thought of -- if we --
Commissioner Carollo: But you haven't done it
Mr. Hernandez: Well, we did an analysis. We did a rental, and the last slide on that
presentation basically concluded that the building expense is cheaper than trying to
go out and try to get a building with the sante amenities, perhaps a little smaller.
Commissioner Carollo: That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about leasing
part of the building. All you need is one floor for 11 people, and that's plenty.
Mr. Hernandez: That's correct. And I wish I could, but the structure, the way the
building is structured -- it was built in 1979. It's not as flexible as some of the newer
buildings; that they just have one story, and they have independent entrance for
separate stories. This is a -- one entrance for all the three floors, so it's made into a
one building. And historically, for all the tenants that have been in that building
before, it's always been one tenant, yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, you know, frankly --
Chair Hardemon: Well, Mr. --Commissioner, before you --
Commissioner Carollo: -- every time I think we're coming, you know, to something
positive, I hear excuses from you; and frankly, I can't buy that. If you got some
9, 000 square feet of a building, I would imagine it's approximately 3, 000 per floor.
6, 000 square feet in the Grove on U. S.1, you could be getting a lot of money for that.
Chair Hardemon: Vice Chairman.
Vice Chair Russell: Thank you, Mr. Commissioner -- Mr. Chairman. We had a
productive meeting, I felt, in my office. I wasn't expecting you to come back
justifying the expenses that you have, but I think the message you received was clear
that it was time to get out the scalpel, if not the sledgehammer, and find some
savings. You heard the potential worst-case scenario here, where the budget is
simply approved (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and you're going to have to be firing people
tomorrow. I don't think we want to do that. I would rather hear from you what is the
most aggressive cuts that you can make to this budget that we can approve today that
shows that you're on the way to becoming more in a comparable state with a similar
other board. How much can you cut? You've already brought about a good idea
with the health insurance. If that can cut 7 or 8 percent and that works out, great.
What additional percentage can you cut, total, from your budget?
Mr. Hernandez: Then we will have -- as we -- in the past, we worked with the City
Administration, trying to find out what can we do as far as savings. There's one
more person that's coming off the roll; that could be another 50, 000. And just last
board meeting, the board took a decision to terminate an investment consultant, and
that's another $50, 000. So I came in a hundred thousand, so that will be an
additional hundred thousand, too, that we can immediately take off that budget, and
I'm not too sure if the Commissioner is comfortable with that. Now, I don't have the
authority to change a budget, but that's -- those are the immediate savings that I can
provide.
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to see at least a 15 percent decrease over where you are
now in this first year transition, but next year, you've got to be much more
aggressive. You can see where things are on this dais; it's very obvious.
Commissioner Carollo: Yep.
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Commissioner Reyes: That could be -- 15 percent of your budget --
Vice Chair Russell: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: -- would be around --
Vice Chair Russell: Commissioner Carollo is asking for 30, at $1 million --
Commissioner Gort: That's right.
Vice Chair Russell: -- if my math is right.
Commissioner Reyes: 15 percent, it will be 450, 000, something like that. I mean,
how much you --
Commissioner Carollo: Well, if --
Commissioner Reyes: -- asking for? Are you asking for three --?
Mr. Hernandez: Well, from last year, to come back to 3. 1, but, I mean, it's
something that -- and the life insurance. That can get us to 15 percent.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I'm going to tell you how you can get another
150, 000. You lease two of those floors. 6, 000 square feet, at the very least -- and
that's probably very low --
Commissioner Reyes: 491, 000.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you could get $25 a square foot. In the Grove, right off of
U.S. I and Bridgeport, that's 150, 000 a year.
Mr. Hernandez: That's -- I will definitely mention that to the board as we meet
tomorrow, so we can bring that up.
Commissioner Reyes: That will bring the -- what you have in your building, you
have your cost and repair and maintenance and cleaning service, which I think is
extremely high; it's $273, 000.
Mr. Hernandez: I'm sorry, what line item is that?
Commissioner Reyes: That is line item that -- it says 50 -- 18. It says, "$273, 000, "
right there. I mean, you have some -- the problem is that you have some line items
that they are considerable -- I mean, very high. For example, retirement
contribution. FIPO has five people and it's 58, 000. But then you have 10 people;
you have 275, 000, you see.
Mr. Hernandez: Right. That's another one where I'd say, if we really compare one
plan to the other -- You have to think that our staff has been with us for over 20
years, and as I mentioned, some of them have retired. So we have basically seven
retirees in that staff plan, and we have four active employees. Now, FIPO, as I
understand, they don't have any retirees in the plan as of yet.
Commissioner Reyes: And why do you have retirees?
Mr. Hernandez: Because --
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Commissioner Reyes: Get people that are not retirees, I mean. You see? It's that
easy; just replace them. You see?
Mr. Hernandez: No, but that's an actual requirement; meaning, those are payments
that are made to retirees who, at one point, were a member of the staff.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Hernandez: So that's just saying there have been people in the staff plan who
have retired and are basically enjoying that retirement, and FIPO doesn't have any
as of yet. So if we wouldn't have any retirement -- or retired people in the plan, then
we wouldn't have this requirement.
Commissioner Reyes: But I want you guys to understand, and I want all the unions
to understand is this, you see: We -- or the City of Miami, we don't have a machine
that we make money, you see. We are the -- I mean, our general fund comes from
taxes, you see; from taxes that people that work and goes to work every day, and
they make a lot less than people that are part of the union, and I can tell you that as
being a past teacher, you see. And it is very -- I mean, people don't -- if we stop
paying and we keep on paying out of the general fund so much money, you see,
what's going to happen is that, sooner or later, there has to be either cuts, or we will
have to increase taxes, which we -- I am not going to do, you see; I am not going to
do. It requires that you guys --and this goes for all the unions --that you guys start
working with us so we can have, you see, savings, and we don't spend that much
money, and we don't have -- and you don't stress the general fund, because those --
some of those funds that we are paying you guys, it could be an additional police
officer, and we'd have more public safety, you see. It could be any other things. We
can build streets, we can do other things, you see, and that is why some of us would
say, "Well, why are we paying so much money?" you see. And I will really
appreciate it if you start -- as he said -- that you get the scalpel and start cutting fat.
Start cutting; that's all it is. That's all I'm asking; start cutting.
Mr. Hernandez: And I believe I started, and that's why I wanted to show the
progression in the budget versus actual, so that way, we can see the difference, that
we're making a difference systematically so that everything can be done in a way
that we don't affect services to our member. And just for the record, we're not union
employees. The staff is not a union employee; they're all at -will employees. The
only person who is not sort of at will --
Commissioner Reyes: But you administer --you're administering the --I mean --
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah. Well, we do administer for the plan for the unions.
Commissioner Reyes: -- you're administering the -- I mean, that's the
Administration, I mean.
Mr. Hernandez: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, and it's like you are getting funds out of general fund,
and that's fine.
Commissioner Gort: Gentlemen, let me ask you a question.
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Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Gort: I'm willing to make a motion to reduce it by $400, 000, and let
him go back to his board members and tell them how they're going to be affected.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll second that motion.
Commissioner Gort: And see how the --
Commissioner Reyes: Would you repeat that?
Commissioner Gort: 400, 000.
Vice Chair Russell: 400, 000. I'm sorry; I'm the Mr. Chair.
Commissioner Reyes: 400, 000, that's close to 15 percent. I mean, it's about 12
percent. That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: Can you --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that 400, 000 --
Vice Chair Russell: There's a motion. Is there a second?
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Vice Chair --
Commissioner Reyes: 495 --
Mr. Hannon: -- there's already a motion by Commissioner Carollo on the floor --
Mr. Hernandez: Is that from last year's budget --
Mr. Hannon: -- and that was made at 8:44 --
Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Mr. Hannon: -- regarding less one million.
Vice Chair Russell: Let me follow process, guys. Is there a second to Commissioner
Carollo's motion to reduce their budget by $1 million? Hearing none, that dies for a
second. Commissioner Gort has a motion to reduce their budget by 400, 000?
Commissioner Reyes: 400, 000.
Commissioner Gort: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: I second that motion.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: Seconded by Commissioner Reyes.
Commissioner Carollo: If I could ask the maker of the motion and the seconder if
they would reconsider 450, 000?
Commissioner Gort: 425.
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Commissioner Carollo: You'll know why I'm asking 450 in a minute; 450.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah. And another one -- I want to include another -- I mean,
a suggestion or maybe an amendment. Chris, I want you to work -- Chris? I want
you to work closely with them, trying to reduce the budget and try to tighten the
screws.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a friendly amendment?
Commissioner Reyes: And I saw your expertise (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Gort: I'll accept the amendment as the maker.
Commissioner Carollo: Thank you.
Commissioner Gort: I'll accept the amendment. Go to your board tomorrow --
Commissioner Carollo: It's 450.
Commissioner Gort: -- and present it to your board, and what is your plan to reduce
-- or whatever.
Mr. Hernandez: Is that from last year's budget, 450, 000 to --?
Commissioner Reyes: What's the budget you're asking for?
Mr. Hernandez: From this year? That's an additional--?
Commissioner Reyes: What are you asking for?
Commissioner Gort: 2 million, 800 and -- comes out to two million, eight hundred
and -- where did I put it?
Commissioner Reyes: No. It will go to -- they're asking for --
Commissioner Gort: 2 million, 800 and --
Mr. Rose: 24.
Commissioner Reyes: And 24.
Commissioner Gort: -- 24.
Commissioner Reyes: 2 million --
Commissioner Gort: 29.
Commissioner Carollo: Having said that, Commissioners --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: -- if we could also include, besides the 450 in the motion, a
request -- a firm request to their board tomorrow that they immediately put up for
lease two floors, whichever two they'd like to give up the most.
Chair Hardemon: Let's go to this 450first; that's a good question.
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Commissioner Reyes: No, 450. Let hint bring it down. Let hint bring it down, okay?
Chair Hardemon: I think you're -- I think they will make money.
Commissioner Reyes: They will make --
Chair Hardemon: If they don't get the -- you'll be here next year.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: Right?
Commissioner Reyes: Hopefully, if they don't recall him.
Commissioner Gort: Mr. Chairman?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, I don't know. After they passed that recall item in
November, they say they could not recall all of us; not a strong Mayor anymore; it's
a recall.
Chair Hardemon: You are right. I did -- I get the things in my mail. It is a recall.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: You're recognized, sir.
Joe Simmons, Jr.: Joe Simmons, Jr., for the record, Chairman on the GESS Trust.
Just for the record, we want you all to understand that when contracts of our experts,
actuaries, money managers are up, everything is for sale. So we re-evaluate those
things; extensive discussion, debate. If a money manager is not performing well,
they have to take a reduction in their fees. We think that's more than fair. We need
your support, because what I think the bone of contention has been in the back office
-- The back office story is -- has been focused on one staff member of our office.
That staff member is the former Administrator. And I --there's been some back -story
discussions about it, and we believe the extra 50, 000 is coming from that. We're
doing everything we can in our power. When you look at the -- when you compare
FIPO personnel cost to GESS, there's a higher per capita cost for FIPO. Five
people at 500, 000 is roughly about 90, 000 apiece; versus 70, 000 on average for 10
people. We're doing everything where we can in our power. We have to do what's in
the best interest of the City at the end of the day, and balance the needs of our
members, but we do need your support, as amended for the original 400, 000,
because all of those contract -- employees' contracts going to be up, and we're
obviously in the process of transitioning replacements anyway. We have a $700
million trust fund. We need capable people that we can trust. We just can't put
anybody at the head of these funds. There are people that transfer millions of
dollars in a split second, in stroke of a key, and we need capable people. You have
to pay people decent. So we just ask for your support, as amended. We understand
your concerns, and that's well warranted. We welcome that scrutiny, because we're
in the public eye. We understand that. And the symposium that we had was
something that we hadn't had in over 10 years. The last one we had was in Key
Largo. So we thought it best as a board to have that in the City of Miami, and what
better place to have it; that we reinvest back in our city where the hotels and -- can
benefit from that, because people -- you know, we have to figure out the best way to
spend the money for the people. It's not our money; it's the people's money.
Commissioner Carollo: Hold on, Joe. Ilostyou.
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Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Commissioner Carollo: Is this another one you're going to have, or is this the one
that you had last year?
Mr. Simmons: Excuse me?
Commissioner Carollo: Are you talking about another shindig in the City of Miami,
or are you talking about the last one you had?
Mr. Simmons.- We're talking about the sante one we had that our board unanimously
approved. It's nine trustees that approved that.
Commissioner Carollo: The one that he told me you spent about 35, 000 on, right?
Mr. Simmons: That was the one we had recently.
Commissioner Carollo: Is that the one you're talking about now, or is there another
one?
Mr. Simmons: No; that's the only one. I told -- I spoke about two. We had a
symposium nearly 10 years ago, and we had the most recent one. So we haven't --
we have been good custodians, I believe, of the people's money. So the way we look
at it is everything is for sale. We have to evaluate every penny, every dollar that
goes out, from our experts, from our actuaries, and we do an enormous amount of
analysis. We use our counsel, we use our experts that we have; relationships they
have that kind of keep those costs down, because we understand the obligation that it
puts on the general fund. And quite frankly, you are in the best line of questioning,
because iron sharpens iron. If we're not scrutinized, then guess what? We get
comfortable in what we're doing, and it's just status quo. So we welcome that
scrutiny, we welcome that debate, that discussion, in order to keep us in line with
your -- the City's ideology of keeping those costs down for all the residents.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, I don't think it's going to be such a big issue, because
according to you, you said that you expect to spend -- I mean, have a savings from
the request that -- your budget request. As in past years, you expect to have a
savings of about 200, 000. You have to cut then to get to the two -- 450; only cut 250.
You are talking aboutjoining the insurance that will be another hundred --180 --
Mr. Simmons: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: -- that is going to be cut, so --
Mr. Simmons: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: -- you can meet that 450 easy, if you keep on doing what
you're doing, and maybe a little bit more.
Mr. Simmons: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: And that's it. That -- the only thing that we are asking, for
you guys to be a little more frugal. Okay?
Mr. Simmons: Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Thankyou.
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Mr. Simmons: And we do, and we do.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Thank you, sir.
Mr. Simmons: And just to clarify a comment from the record, we were able to meet
with the deputy yesterday to kind of have a brief discussion over it regarding joining
GESE's (General Employees and Sanitation Employees) Plan, so we're going to
continue that discussion. We believe it's our obligation to do so, you know, because
it is the people's money; it's not our money.
Commissioner Reyes: Well, let me ask you something, just out of curiosity. How
much money you have?
Mr. Simmons: How much money I have?
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Mr. Simmons: I probably have about $2, 000 in the bank right now.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no, no, no, no. How money the union --
Mr. Simmons: My personal money, yes.
Commissioner Reyes: How many -- how much money GESS has? I heard that you
have in your -- in --
Commissioner Gort: 700 million.
Commissioner Reyes: Correct me if I'm wrong. Administration, how much money
do they have --
Mr. Simmons: 700 hundred million --
Commissioner Reyes: -- in reserve?
Mr. Simmons: --plus.
Commissioner Reyes: How much?
Mr. Simmons: It's about roughly 700 million.
Commissioner Reyes: You have in reserve 700 million? And you're asking us for
money?
Mr. Simmons: No, no, no, no, no.
Commissioner Reyes: No, no. We are going to ask you for money so we can pay our
people.
Commissioner Gort: But then you got to ask FIPO (Firefighters and Police Officers)
too --
Mr. Hernandez: Commissioner?
Commissioner Reyes: Huh?
Commissioner Gort: -- because FIPO's got 1.5 million.
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Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Mr. Hernandez: Commissioner, if I just could --
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, we are going to be asking you -- we should be asking
for your help so we don't have a shortage.
Mr. Simmons: Yeah, but --
Commissioner Reyes: I mean, this is what really (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Simmons: That's what we do, Mr. Commissioner. In the spirit of cooperation
and working together, we carry that same view in our own labor chapter, because
we believe it's not our money; it's the people's money, and we have to be the best
advocates for the people's money.
Commissioner Gort: Joe, come on; move it.
Mr. Hernandez: And Commissioner, the reason why we asked for the administrative
budget is the way it was settled in Gates, we have a fund that's restricted --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah, I know, I know.
Mr. Hernandez: -- only for benefits --
Commissioner Reyes: Gates have been following us --
Mr. Hernandez: -- and in noninvestment That's why we bring it to you.
Commissioner Reyes: --for ages. I mean, I remember when Gates first started. You
see, I remember. I remember, when Gates started, I was working for the City of
Miami. And we've been carrying this albatross -- I mean, we have that albatross on
our neck for a long, long time, and it has been refinanced and reshuffled, and all of
that. And we have lost so much money in that Gates case, you see, that it is
incredible.
Chair Hardemon: So the motion --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: -- on the floor right now is to reduce the budget by 450, 000.
That's what's been moved, seconded, and amended friendly. There's a friendly
amendment to it.
Commissioner Reyes: Call the roll. Call the --
Commissioner Gort: Call the question.
Commissioner Reyes: -- question.
Chair Hardemon: All in favor of the motion, say "aye."
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: Motion carries
Commissioner Carollo: With 400 --
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Mr. Simmons: Thank you --
Todd B. Hannon (City Clerk): Amended.
Mr. Simmons: -- Commissioners, for your support.
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Hey, listen, lend us some money from those
700 you have in reserve.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to approve --?
Commissioner Gort: Got to askFIPO, too.
Commissioner Reyes: Send some --
Mr. Simmons: Commissioner, I do, butt need a second signature; that's the spouse.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Bring our attention to BH 8.
Commissioner Carollo: Please let us know when you're putting up that property for
lease.
Chair Hardemon: You're here for BH 8?
Vice Chair Russell: No. I want to hear what she says.
Chair Hardemon: Right? Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: You want to hear what she (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Edgard Hernandez: Commissioner --
Chair Hardemon: You want to say something?
Mr. Hernandez: -- this is the excess budget for the General Employees --
Chair Hardemon: One second.
Mr. Hernandez: -- and Sanitation Employees --
Commissioner Reyes: What do you have to say?
Chair Hardemon: Let me hear what the lady has to say.
Mary Lugo: Hi, Commissioners. My name is Mary Lugo. I am a board member of
the GESE. It's a lot of stuff that you guys don't know. The member that they
appointee by the City Manager, I think they need to look at it; what she's doing there
and how she approve stuff. It's a lot of stuff going on there that you guys don't know
and hasn't been presented to you guys. For example, the employees that work in the
Pension, they able to work 10 years, retire, four years DROP (Deferred Retirement
Option Plan), and then they be contract again with 7 percent of their salary. In the
meantime, they're collecting their retirement; in the meantime, they get deferred
compensation, which we don't get it. So they administrate our plan, and they get
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better benefit than us. So when we tried to reduce that, we don't have the support,
not even from the City appointee, to save money. So I suggest for the City to look
into that --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Ms. Lugo: -- and the Budget Department to be present every meeting, which we
don't have anybody from the City there. That's just what I need to say.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Thank you very much.
Ms. Lugo: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: And I'm going to -- based on that information, I'm going to
ask the City Manager that -- perform an audit or be on the meetings; send somebody
for the meeting, because let me tell you about that practice -- and that practice is not
only from the City of Miami -- every single one in the -- that I know from the school
system -- in the school system, you retire, you spend two years out, and then you
comeback and you get your retirement, you get your check. And it's not that I agree
with it, but I don't disagree with it, because sometimes you don't want to lose the
institutional knowledge.
Ms. Lugo: Before I finish --
Mr. Hernandez: Commissioner, can we go to the next item?
Ms. Lugo: Hold on. Before I finish, one of the employees that has been hired there
are now, after retirement, is the Building Manager. City Hall does not have a
Building Manager. We have a Building Manager there; wearing suit and living in
Ocala, getting paid by the pension. That hasn't been said, and it's not on the papers
either.
Chair Hardemon: You said Ocala?
Commissioner Carollo: Ocala.
Ms. Lugo: Ocala. Now it's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Well, now you know why it's so high. You want to come
back and go for another 450?
Commissioner Gort: No, no, no, no. Let's --
Chair Hardemon: BH 8.
Commissioner Gort: -- get it over there.
Mr. Hernandez: Thank you, Commissioner. This is the --
Commissioner Gort: That can take place at the board. They have a board, and they
should take it there, so that's not a problem here. If there's something doing wrong,
they should go to the State Attorney's Office. I mean, that's very simple.
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BH.8
RESOLUTION
4592
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH
General
ATTACHMENT(S), APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET
Employees' and
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GENERAL EMPLOYEES' & SANITATION
Sanitation
EMPLOYEES' EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN ("GESE EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN"),
ATTACHED AND INCORPORATED, IN THE AMOUNT OF $112,477.00 TO
Employees'
PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GESE EXCESS BENEFIT
Retirement Trust
PLAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2018, AND
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2019.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: R-18-0423
MOTION TO: Adopt
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
AYES: Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo
ABSENT: Reyes
Commissioner Gort: What's next?
Chair Hardenzon: BH 8.
Edgard Hernandez: Thank you, Commissioner. This is the City -- the budget for
the City ofMiami Retirement Trust for the Excess Plan, for the amount of $112,477.
This is to manage the budget for the excess employees who exceeds the 415(b)
limits under the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) Code.
Chair Hardenzon: Is there a motion to approve?
Commissioner Carollo: How much does FIPO (Firefighters and Police Officers)
pay in this one?
Mr. Hernandez: They do not have an excess budget.
Commissioner Carollo: They don't have one? Okay.
Mr. Hernandez: Yeah.
Chair Hardenzon: Is there a motion to approve?
Commissioner Carollo: Where does that money --
Chair Hardenzon: Discussion.
Commissioner Carollo: -- go to exactly?
Mr. Hernandez: Where does that money go to?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. How is it spent?
Mr. Hernandez: Well, 35, 000 is for salaries. The other one is basically regarding
payroll, which is directly related to that expense. There's a consulting actuary to
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City Commission Meeting Minutes September 27, 2018
do the studies for the Excess Plan. We have requirements under GASB
(Government Account Standard Board) 67 and 68. We have auditing that does --
and audit the plan. We also have bank services for the plan, because you have to
maintain its own bank account for that plan. It's its own plan on its own, so you
have its own little expenses. It's just a way smaller plan than the GESS plan.
Yeah.
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Vice Chair Russell: I'll move the item.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved, and seconded by Commissioner Gort.
Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor of the motion, say "aye "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Mr. Hernandez: Thank you, Commissioner.
Chair Hardemon: Motion passes. Okay.
BH.9
ORDINANCE
4629
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, PROPOSING A FINAL
MOVER:
MILLAGE RATE FOR AD VALOREM TAXATION PURSUANT TO SECTION
Office of
200.065, FLORIDA STATUTES (2018), DEFINING AND DESIGNATING THE
Management and
TERRITORIAL LIMITS FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"); LEVYING AN AD
Budget
VALOREM TAX ON ALL REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY
AT A TOTAL FINAL RATE OF 8.0300 MILLS ON THE DOLLAR OF THE
TAXABLE VALUE OF SUCH PROPERTY FOR THE PURPOSES OF
FUNDING THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET AND PAYMENT OF DEBT
SERVICE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2018 AND
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,2019; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE,
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13789
MOTION TO:
Adopt
RESULT:
ADOPTED
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER:
Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item BH.9, please see
"Public Comment Period for Budget Item(s). "
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion to adopt the millage on BH 9?
Vice Chair Russell: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: It's been properly moved
Commissioner Gort: Which one?
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Vice Chair Russell: The millage of the City (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Gort: Oh. Second.
Chair Hardemon: And seconded to adopt BH 9.
Barnaby Min (Deputy City Attorney): Mr. Chair, it is an ordinance. Would you like
me to read the title into the record?
Chair Hardemon: I would like it.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min.
Chair Hardemon: When is the mid year budget amendment for this budget? What
month is that in?
Christopher Rose (Director, Office of Management & Budget): It will be probably
April; will be the -- that's the seventh month of the year.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. I already made my statement that --for the record, that
increased the operational millage, because I don't want anybody be saying, "You
increased the" -- `you didn't" -- the millage was increased because I was told, and
you are not acknowledging, you see. I don't want people to be misinformed. What
we use is, we increase the operational budget, and we use a reduction that we had in
our debt service millage, that it was reduced, but the amount that it was reduced was
flipped into the operational budget, and the total is the same. My concern, sir; is
now if we start -- and I express that concern -- issuing or acquiring debt, you see,
will that affect our millage next year?
Mr. Rose: We have --
Commissioner Reyes: Because if we keep the same operational budget, let's say that
we don't increase it, what is going to happen to our debt service?
Mr. Rose: Through the Chair?
Chair Hardemon: Please.
Mr. Rose: Thank you. Chris Rose, Office of Management & Budget. There are
many ways to structure debt, especially general obligation debt; and we believe at
this time, working with the City's Financial Advisor, that we can issue it without
raising the millage next fiscal year, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, sir. I really hope that we can keep that, okay.
Commissioner Gort: We can.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: If not, Chris will be working in the County again.
Commissioner Reyes: Chris --
Commissioner Carollo: He'll be leaving before we hear about it.
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Mr. Rose: God forbid.
Chair Hardemon: Is there a motion on the floor?
Vice Chair Russell: There already has been.
Commissioner Gort: Move it.
Chair Hardemon: There already has been?
Vice Chair Russell: Moved and second.
Chair Hardemon: Great.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor of the
motion, say "aye "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Chair Hardemon: All against? That motion carries.
BHA 0
ORDINANCE
4631
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION ADOPTING A FINAL
Office of
BUDGET AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS RELATING TO OPERATIONAL
Management and
AND BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING
Budget
OCTOBER 1, 2018 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,2019; RATIFYING,
APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING CERTAIN NECESSARY ACTIONS OF
THE CITY MANAGER AND DESIGNATED CITY DEPARTMENTS IN ORDER
TO UPDATE THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS, FINANCIAL CONTROLS,
PROJECT CLOSE-OUTS, ACCOUNTING ENTRIES, AND COMPUTER
SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AND FOR GRANTS IN
PROGRESS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ENACTMENT NUMBER: 13790
MOTION TO:
Adopt with Modification(s)
RESULT:
ADOPTED WITH MODIFICATION(S)
MOVER:
Ken Russell, Vice Chair
SECONDER:
Keon Hardemon, Chair
AYES:
Hardemon, Russell, Gort, Carollo, Reyes
Note for the Record. For additional minutes referencing Item BH.10, please see
"Public Comment Period for Budget Items. "
Chair Hardemon: B1110.
Vice Chair Russell: I'd like to move that we adopt the change memo, the second
change memo for BH 10.
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Commissioner Reyes: I have a couple of questions on BH 10. You see, I know that
some changes have been made, you see, and you offer us the -- some sort of -- The
Police Department is not going to suffer any cuts, right?
Christopher Rose (Director, Office of Management & Budget): There will be no
frozen positions in Police or Fire, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Nor (UNINTELLIGIBLE), okay. That's (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
the $100, 000 that I offered from my budget that I think that every Commissioner and
the Mayor should offer some cuts, too. You see? They should follow suit and --
yeah, I'm sending you a challenge, guys, you see. And also, you see --
Chair Hardemon: IfI jump off a bridge --
Commissioner Reyes: One thing that I -- Commissioner Carollo and myself, we
express our concern about the -- talking about -- you know, public safety is very
important to me and to Commissioner Carollo. I'm talking for you, Joe. And that --
because you express that we have very few motorcycle patrolmens [sic]; that we
should increase it.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. And I heard that we have even less mounted patrol --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- than I was told the last time, and I thought it was low.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: And I didn't even ask about how many dogs we have, after I
heard how many motorcycles and how many horses we had.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, if we could cut some from other areas, we might be
able to increase some motorcycle patrols. Also, I know, you see, that we have
well, this is very little, you know. I'm just going over this. It says that there is --
you're allocating -- the Downtown Development Authority, you're allocating
$63, 000. That comes from the general fund, right?
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Why don't we do it from the antipoverty instead of the general
fund?
Vice Chair Russell: From where?
Mr. Rose: I apologize; I didn't hear.
Vice Chair Russell: Antipoverty fund, AP. Happy.
Chair Hardemon: So we still have poverty?
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Chair Hardemon: Lots of it.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, it is for --formerly, it is -- and this is what I -- really,
sometimes I get into arguments with the -- of the Homeless Trust and all of that,
because we are spending here, and we are hiding formerly homeless persons to
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provide litter and graffiti removal. That is very good. That is very good, but why we
get it from the general fund, if the general fund can be used for many other things
that will bene -- directly benefit our districts, you see?
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. He's got a good point.
Commissioner Reyes: That's it You see, I mean, those are the questions that have;
that I think that we should do as much as we can to move funds from one place to the
other, you see. For example, now I know that we have -- you have an additional
$800, 000 that has been funded -- I mean, that is under Tree Trust Fund, you see. An
additional -- now, if we could -- we have from the Beautification Project, we still
have 700, 000 that comes from the general fund that -- I mean, they cut -- doesn't
come from the general fund; come from --
Mr. Rose: Lane closure.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right, lane closure, which could be used for what?
Mr. Rose: Anything within the right-of-way; improvement of roads.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Why don't we use this $800, 000, you see, and that we
remove that -- I mean, that -- then that 700 for lane closure, and then we use that
and we divide that equally between the five districts for street paving or repaving?
You see, we can use that -- those funds, and that will be a direct benefit into the
people -- for the people, you see. I want you to take a pencil, you see, and see how
you can shuffle some of that money to increase our general fund and our -- the
appropriation for streets and sidewalks and public safety, et cetera, et cetera. Okay.
And every time that -- Oh, this is very important. This is very important. You see,
when I look at this budget here -- and I almost forgot; thank you very much -- I see
that we have budgeted -- Mr. City Manager, I know that you are too concerned about
our security, you see. Well, yes. We expecting ISIS (State of Iraq and Syria) to come
and attack us, and we have $150, 000 out of the general fund for bulletproof doors
and windows -- I mean, bulletproof doors.
Commissioner Carollo: Huh?
Commissioner Reyes: You see -- yeah. $150,000.
Commissioner Carollo: Where?
Commissioner Reyes: Right here.
Commissioner Carollo: Where?
Commissioner Reyes: Right here, City Hall. You see, I don't believe that we should
be shortchanging our Police Department to protect politicians, you see. We should
be protecting the people.
Emilio T. Gonzalez (City Manager): Sir, ifI may, and I recognize --
Commissioner Reyes: Am I wrong that this comes from the general fund?
Chair Hardemon: Don't do his doors.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
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Mr. Gonzalez: Sir, that -- what we had asked -- and quite frankly, it came as a result
of our employees coming to us and saying, "Hey, look what's going on around the
world. We really don't feel safe. " And this is actually prudent protection. This is
the only building where you are here, the Mayor is here, I am here, the public is
here, all of the department heads are here, and what we were trying to do is find a
sensible -- and I will tell you, not expensive, because what it would really cost for
this building would be astronomical -- two harden the doors were anything to
happen. If you're telling me that you could live without that --
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely. I lived without it --
Mr. Gonzalez: -- and that is the wishes of the Commission
Commissioner Reyes: Well, I don't know about my fellow Commissioners. I don't
know about my fellow Commissioners.
Mr. Gonzalez: But I think it's important, sir; because I get exactly what you're
saying, but in this instance, it -- the only intent here is to address concerns that have
been brought to me by our employees.
Commissioner Reyes: Sir, thank you very much for being so concerned about my
health and my safety. I really appreciate that. And -- but I think that there are more
important places that we can place that $150, 000 that endorse -- we might -- you
might get bulletproof, I mean, doors, but how 'bout the walls around here? I mean,
you can come in. If anybody -- let me tell you, if anybody wants to come in and hurt
us, they wait until we get out there. They're not going to be shooting from the -- I
mean, through the door. They will wait for you if somebody has it for you or for me,
he's going to wait when I get to the parking lot. Come on, let's use -- let's place this
money in better use.
Mr. Gonzalez: Sir, I welcome --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Gonzalez: -- the wishes of the Commission. If you -- the Commission feels --
Commissioner Reyes: That is a suggestion, sir.
Mr. Gonzalez: -- that they can do something --
Commissioner Reyes: Let's protect the people.
Commissioner Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Rose: If I may --
Commissioner Reyes: You see.
Mr. Rose: -- through the Chair?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, $150, 000, Chair.
Mr. Rose: Those are not general fund dollars. I've got to be clear. They are
general government impact fees. They can only be used for enhancement of
government buildings.
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Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Let's enhance them, all the buildings with -- buildings
that need air conditioner or -- government buildings. Do we have any buildings that
we have senior citizens in it?
Chair Hardemon: It's a few of them here.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. I mean --
Chair Hardemon: My Chief of Staff serves; he's a senior citizen.
Commissioner Reyes: -- let's enhance those buildings.
Chair Hardemon: Protect James McQueen from (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Well --
Chair Hardemon: Listen --
Commissioner Carollo: -- I'm confused
Commissioner Reyes: That's (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: A hundred and fifty thousand for bulletproof glass, that ain't
going to get you that far. So besides your door --
Mr. Gonzalez: No, sir. Actually --
Commissioner Carollo: -- and the Mayor's door, who else door were you going to
do?
Mr. Gonzalez: -- sir, all of your doors; the idea being that should we have an
unfortunate event here that people can find shelter behind the office doors. This is
not just for the Mayor, me; this is actually for everybody here.
Commissioner Carollo: But Emilio, how 'bout the windows?
Mr. Gonzalez: Sir --
Chair Hardemon: Not in the budget?
Mr. Gonzalez: Say again?
Chair Hardemon: The windows are not in the budget?
Mr. Gonzalez: No, no.
Commissioner Reyes: Your air condition is broken here.
Mr. Gonzalez: This is a very preliminary -- as I mentioned, it's not a robust ask. It's
a very preliminary plan to fortify this building.
Commissioner Reyes: Come on.
Mr. Gonzalez: I am prepared to not do it if it is the will of this Commission, but I
have been contacted enough times by our employees, who, every time something
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happens somewhere around the world, they stop me in the lobby and say, "What are
we doing about this building? What are we" --? Again, we have to start
somewhere. I'm prepared to not do this, but I felt compelled that this would be an
opportunity to put a prudent level of first -level security for everybody, and that's all
of you, everybody in here, all of our directors. Again, I will work with you. If this is
not something you want, I'm very, very happy to redirect this somewhere else.
Commissioner Carollo: I thank you that you were thinking of us, but I --
Chair Hardemon: It was not general fund dollars, and I want to make that very
clear, as was stated --
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but I just don't see --
Commissioner Reyes: We don't have air condition.
Commissioner Carollo: -- what it's going to do if we can't do windows, too, and a
few other things. In fact, you know what --
Chair Hardemon: You get start.
Commissioner Carollo: -- you could best put those dollars in? Probably improving
the whole camera security system we got in this whole place. It's very obsolete, by
the way.
Commissioner Reyes: And the streets, places that we have -- that is -- we have a lot
of crimes on the street; maybe we can use cameras there; we can use something else.
I mean -- and besides, sir, you see, I'm willing to take my chances, and I -- and I'm
going to say this, because to me, it's -- I mean, I would -- if I don't say it, I won't be
Manolo, you know; I will be somebody else. But it is shocking sometimes that I come
here and I see this -- it's like we were waiting for Trump to arrive. I see three, four,
five, six armed police officers with M-15, like we were that important.
Chair Hardemon: Have you ever had a stalker yet?
Commissioner Reyes: I never had -- well, if I --
Chair Hardemon: No, I'm just saying. The time that I've been here, if there's five
members on this Commission, at least three of us have had incidences that were
serious in nature that required law --
Commissioner Reyes: In here? In the building or someplace else?
Chair Hardemon: -- enforcement, indoor intervention through the court system.
Commissioner Reyes: Right here?
Chair Hardemon: I just want to make that very clear. It does happen. And for a
fact, yes, in this building, we know -- I know of at least two of those three
occurrences that happened here.
Commissioner Reyes: So you think now that I start packing?
Chair Hardemon: They don't allow us, bylaw, to pack. If they did, I would.
Mr. Gonzalez: Not yet, not yet, but -- Again --
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Commissioner Reyes: No. If the City Manager gives me a special permission, I'll go
bring my pistol.
Mr. Gonzalez: Sir, again, I --
Commissioner Carollo: We don't have those (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Gonzalez: -- hear you. I respect your point of view. I am prepared to redirect
these funds, if it is the will of the Commission. Again, this is an opportunity to do --
Commissioner Reyes: No
Mr. Gonzalez: -- save one, if you will, of hardening the building for the protection of
everybody here.
Commissioner Reyes: I thank you for your concern, but seriously, me, personally, I
am not that concerned about placing -- I mean, I don't think that it's going to be -- I'd
be safer, personally, by having $150, 000 in front of --
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: I, personally. I don't know what the other people think.
Chair Hardemon: So, right now, there was a motion made by the Vice Chairman to
approve the memorandum. I didn't hear a second. Is there a second?
Commissioner Carollo: To approve?
Chair Hardemon: Right, to approve the memorandum.
Vice Chair Russell: To approve the change memo. To approve the change memo.
Chair Hardemon: Not the item; not the BH 10, but the --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: -- change memo.
Vice Chair Russell: The item with the amendment of the change memo.
Commissioner Reyes: The changes of the three trials -- the changes of $150, 000 and
change (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Rose: Through the Chair, so it will be --
Chair Hardemon: I know there was a -- if I may include City parks, I know we're
going to have some savings somewhere, because, of course, we have a number of
different things, and you all are smarter than I am and have more heads than I do, so
you'll figure it out, but for City parks, last year we had like a ration of funds that was
made available for in-kind services; for in-kind services and vendor services for
what we -- our -- that hugely successful Martin Luther King memorial event. And so,
I want to have included in that number $90, 000 for that as well, but have it go to the
Parks Department. That was -- will be a friendly amendment to it.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, if I could add another one of those fi^iendly
amendments then. For -- $90, 000 for parades, entertainment in Little Havana.
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Chair Hardemon: You're talking about park services, or are you talking about --
just $90, 000 for parades?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, yeah, entertainment. We do have one big parade
there, Three Kings, and for entertainment also. We're going to make Little Havana
great again.
Vice Chair Russell: Ouch. It's always great. It's already great.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, not -- I'll let it go at that. The -- Mr. Manager, we do
have a little extra room there because of -- well, we all know where, so don't need to
get into it, but not a lot, just a hair. Mr. Manager, the Communications Department,
there were three new positions that were added during -- about three months ago.
One, I read of it (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that we probably needed it; the other two, I
had great reservations on.
Commissioner Reyes: So do I.
Commissioner Carollo: You had told me verbally that, definitely, one of them you
were (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I just want to get it on the record that one of those
positions, out of the three new ones, was not going to be filled, and if you could just
let me know which out of the two that were left it's going to be.
Mr. Gonzalez: Sir, just to be clear, we did not fill a position in the Communications
Department, but what we did was used the money that was budgeted -- and Chris
could get into greater detail -- we actually bought a police office position with that,
so that position does not exist in the Communications Department.
Commissioner Carollo: And so, out of the three new ones that you were going to be
putting in, you ended up with two?
Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: And the third, how was it used for the Police Department?
The police officer makes a lot more than what that position is going to pay, plus all
the equipment.
Mr. Rose: Through the Chair. Chris Rose. It's the very first bullet of the
information for the second budget hearing. It lists out how the nine positions in the
Police Department are unfrozen, fully funded, and one of the items that funds it is the
reducing one position in the Communications Department $58, 000.
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Mr. Rose: So that position is deleted from the budget as of October 1.
Commissioner Reyes: You see, I want you to include that amendment -- you see, the
funds from the beautification --from the three --from the Tree Trust Fund, and shift
them around so we can -- every single Commissioner should get some -- divide this,
okay?
Chair Hardemon: So listen --
Vice Chair Russell: I'm doing something for you guys. Another thing that -- excuse
me. Before I forget --
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Chair Hardemon: I want to clarify where we are, because, as a seconder, I'm
seconding the Vice Chairman's motion, including the language that I requested, and
now we're trying to add more amendments to it. So I want to clearly understand
what you're asking for so that it's on the record.
Commissioner Reyes: He knows.
Chair Hardemon: Oh, he understands.
Commissioner Reyes: He knows what it is.
Chair Hardemon: Okay.
Commissioner Reyes: To switch it, and that additional is about $700, 000, you see,
that -- it can be used for street, you see, repaving and all that; to divide it evenly
among the Commissioners. Thank me, Mr. Russell. And another -- I have another
question, and this one has to do with homeless.
Chair Hardemon: I do think have more street miles than -- how do you call them?
Street --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Vice Chair Russell: Street humps.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: What do they call them?
Vice Chair Russell: Street humps.
Commissioner Reyes: No, street --
Commissioner Reyes: You see --
Chair Hardemon: The linear miles of streets in some -- some of the equations that
you all use?
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir. IfI may?
Commissioner Reyes: Linear miles.
Mr. Rose: So I'll restate everything at the end, just to make sure we're clear, but I
think what the Chairman's talking about is "lane miles. "
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Mr. Rose: We have in the past divided the halfpenny that was coming from the
County when it was going towards capital. It is no longer going towards capital, but
when it did, we had divided it amongst Commission districts by lane mile per district.
That may be what you're talking about, sir.
Chair Hardemon: That is what I was talking about.
Commissioner Reyes: And lastly -- and I'm not going to bother you anymore, but I --
looking at Human Resources, you see, last year we received about $2 million from
the Homeless Program, you see, from -- but this year -- and we had -- we included
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1.722 from the general fund. This year, the Homeless Program and the Homeless
Trust is providing us with $2.7 million, but we are using 4.2 million from our general
fund. Can we twist their arm and get more money and we don't use so much of our --
? Because we are great contributors to that trust fund, you see. We are great
contributors. And I think that we should --bring back our fair share. Why shall we
spend 4.264 -- 4,264, 000 of our general fund that we need so much and, you know,
Mr. Manager, that we might be --
Mr. Gonzalez: Sir, those are total expenditures across all departments --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir, but that's --
Mr. Gonzalez: -- but your point --
Commissioner Reyes: -- (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Mr. Gonzalez: -- is correct, yeah. We use --
Commissioner Reyes: It is used for the Homeless Program.
Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Twist arm.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. And what I'm saying is, well, let's request -- this is in
Human Services.
Chair Hardemon: Twist the arm. Just twist the arm.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay? Why don't we request an increase in the allotment that
they are giving us so we don't have to -- and I know what you're doing.
Mr. Gonzalez: Or a reimbursement for all of our costs.
Commissioner Reyes: Or reimbursement, absolutely, to our general fund, sir. Okay.
I want you to please look into that.
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir; noted.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay?
Commissioner Gort: I was told that we --
Vice Chair Russell: That's not an amendment to the budget, though, right?
Commissioner Gort: -- I was told we were --
Vice Chair Russell: That's a direction to the Manager.
Commissioner Reyes: Huh?
Commissioner Gort: -- going to send the bill to the Homeless Trust.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
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Mr. Gonzalez: That would be it. This is it. I mean, these are our essential out-of-
pocket expenses --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. No --
Mr. Gonzalez: -- over and above the --
Commissioner Reyes: -- I don't think that --
Mr. Gonzalez: -- the City's contribution.
Commissioner Reyes: -- we can make that amendment, because we are not -- we
don't know if we're going to get it or not, you see. It's not reshuffling, but what I
want you is to please, please make them pay, okay?
Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay, sir. Thank you very much. Chris --
Commissioner Carollo: I --
Commissioner Reyes: -- I'm done with you.
Mr. Rose: This is what do, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: I need to understand what the item is --
Commissioner Carollo: I'm not done, Chris.
Vice Chair Russell: -- before I -- the mover has not accepted the amendments yet,
but I want to understand fully. So this 800, 000 that would go from the Tree Trust
Fund but to the lane closure fund --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Vice Chair Russell: -- would be used for things other than trees, perhaps.
Commissioner Reyes: That --
Vice Chair Russell: It could be used for --
Commissioner Reyes: -- is going to be for -- that could be used for street
resurfacing.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. That was my intention.
Commissioner Reyes: That (UNINTELLIGIBLE) resurface.
Vice Chair Russell: So I -- because we have the funds in the Tree Trust Fund that
have been paid in there over a good amount of time, and they're restricted to trees --
and I'm trying to get a million of that 2 million that we have spent on trees in the
coming year. We can also do lane closure. We can do roadworks. We've got a bond
that's got tons of roadwork money in it.
Commissioner Reyes: What we're doing, sir -- let me explain. You see, from the
beautification plan --
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Vice Chair Russell: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: -- okay -- we have tree planting -- correct me if I'm wrong.
There were about $700, 000 that --for tree -planting that I said, take that out of the
three -- I mean, the Tree Trust Fund --
Vice Chair Russell: Spend it from the Tree Trust Fund?
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Vice Chair Russell: Yeah.
Commissioner Reyes: Take it from there. So you are freeing that money that it
comes from lane closures --
Commissioner Gort: So it will --
Commissioner Reyes: -- and then we use that for --
Commissioner Gort: -- become unrestricted funds.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. We use that for --
Vice Chair Russell: So --
Commissioner Reyes: And he understands what I m doing.
Vice Chair Russell: I get it. So I just want to make sure that we are going to plant
$800, 000 worth of trees next year --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes.
Vice Chair Russell: -- throughout the City, and then the remainder of that million
that I was looking for would be used for training, Code enforcement, tree
enforcement, and that sort of thing. That's in here, right?
Mr. Rose: So the adopted budget -- or the proposed budget has $100, 000 for
training already. It has another -- I don't have the number off the top of my head,
but it already has money in therefor the things you're talking about.
Vice Chair Russell: And that would be used from the Tree Trust Fund?
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: All right.
Commissioner Reyes: The Tree Replacement Fund has 1.7 million
(UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Chris --
Mr. Rose: Yes.
Commissioner Reyes: We're taking $800,000.
Mr. Rose: That's correct.
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Commissioner Carollo: Chris --
Vice Chair Russell: So the beauti --
Commissioner Carollo: -- make sure no medical maryuana.
Vice Chair Russell: Oh, it's coming.
Mr. Rose: I will enact the will of the Commission, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: It's coming. All right, so -- and then, while we're on the events
festivals, these -- the MLK (Martin Luther King) and the Little Havana Festivals are
things that we've spent in the past that were repeating, or is this additional funds?
Chair Hardemon: Right. So the one that -- the MLK vigil is one that we spent in the
past, so I'm asking for dollars for -- to go to the Parks Department for in-kind and
vendor services that the Parks Department has used with us last year, so that's why
we had the successful event.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it. And the Little Havana events? Is that Three Kings or is
that --?
Chair Hardemon: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Carollo: Three Kings is the main one, but there are others.
Vice Chair Russell: Got it. I'm less ambitious. I'm looking for 70 that are for
citywide events, and that includes the Veterans Day Parade, which all of you are all
invited to always; the Fourth of July at City Hall; and the Blacktop Basketball
Tournament, which is going citywide, and that one, I'm looking for 15; the Fourth of
July, I'm looking for 25; and the Veterans Day Parade, for 30. And I do believe
those are citywide events that Id love to see funded as well, and that would total 70
from my side.
Chair Hardemon: What's the --
Commissioner Gort: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: -- Fourth of July at City Hall thing?
Vice Chair Russell: Regatta Park, Fourth of July.
Commissioner Gort: Where's it come from?
Vice Chair Russell: So it used to at Peacock Park, and it was a smaller event. This
year we moved it to Regatta Park, and the Coconut Grove BID (Business
Improvement District) pays for it, and they will continue to pay for it and subsidize
it. Even though it's slightly out of the Coconut Grove BID footprint, it definitely
brings business to Coconut Grove. But to make it what it should be, that can be an
amazing festival for the City.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay, we're --
Chair Hardemon: Is there any other place, besides Regatta Park, what you just
described, Bayside, and where -- for Fourth of July (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Commissioner Carollo: Jose Marti Park.
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Chair Hardemon: In District 5, we do --
Commissioner Carollo: Jose Marti Park.
ChairHardemon: --fireworks. Jose Marti? Jose Marti does fireworks.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. We started it this year.
Chair Hardenzon: How -- where do you pay from it for [sic]?
Commissioner Carollo: Well, we spent -- ifI remember correctly --
Chair Hardenzon: Just on fireworks. Just --
Commissioner Carollo: The fireworks, we were able to wiggle it. I don't know if we
can next year, but -- and everything else, we -- I think we spent about 20,000, 25.
Commissioner Reyes: Chris?
Commissioner Gort: Chris?
Commissioner Reyes: Are we done? Chris, you see, I threw the bait. I asked these
people -- I challenged them to follow my lead. None of them cut their budget; only
me.
Vice Chair Russell: I did.
Commissioner Reyes: What do you think about --? On top of that, I found $170, 000
for the -- Jesus Christ.
Mr. Rose: Again, I'm just the Budget Director.
Commissioner Gort: You're the greatest.
Mr. Rose: I will enact the will of the Commission, sir.
Vice Chair Russell: And so, were we reducing the bulletproof doors?
Chair Hardemon: Look --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- before we get to the bulletproof doors --
Vice Chair Russell: All right, all right.
Commissioner Reyes: I --
Chair Hardemon: -- at his door --
Commissioner Reyes: -- think that we should, and let me tell you.
Chair Hardemon: But before we get there --
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
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Chair Hardemon: -- before we get there, before we get there, I want to -- Because
the Fourth of July that we have in -- at Hadley Park, I always brag about it, because
I say we have -- our show is longer than what they have at downtown Miami on the
waterfront. Right? It is probably the only thing in that section of the City of Miami -
- we pay for that from our budget, from our events budget. So if we're adding like
dollars -- and I'm asking to do (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to add -- to help for fireworks
there, we spend 15.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. So you're going to bring both of those, Hadley and
Little Havana, then, to 100 instead of 90, with the extra 10, because he included his
10 in there already with 15, I think he said.
Mr. Rose: I apologize. I couldn't hear that, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, what it's gone up to is District 5 is now up to 100;
District 3 is up to 100; District 2 included the Fourth of July in their 70, so those are
the new numbers; one, one -- excuse me -- 100, 100, 70.
Commissioner Reyes: Hey, I don't have Fourth of July?
Chair Hardemon: No. You're going to take your hardening of your doors.
Commissioner Reyes: Oh, I'll take the money from the doors.
Chair Hardemon: Right.
Commissioner Reyes: I'll take 150. No.
Chair Hardemon: Not all of it.
Commissioner Reyes: You know, if you have to spend that -- some of that money on
buildings, the air condition in my office is broken. You know what I mean?
Mr. Rose: If I may, the general government impact fees cannot be used for repairs
or renovations. They can only be used for enhancing City -- increasing capacity at
City buildings.
Commissioner Reyes: What about air conditioner?
Mr. Rose: So I have not found a project that I can swap that out and get any general
fund money to. I can -- there are --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Mr. Rose: -- other projects we can give it to, certainly --
Commissioner Reyes: Absolutely.
Mr. Rose: -- but nothing that would free up general fund, just so we're clear.
Commissioner Reyes: That's right. Chris, another thing that I want to leave on the
record is, I'm concerned about next year's shortfall, and I want you to start
streaming our operation, you see, by making it more efficient, by making more
efficient. I want you -- I'm requesting that we go into every department and
(UNINTELLIGIBLE), you know what I m talking about, you see. You know precisely
what I'm talking about. But I'm -- I want reports. What did you find? How much
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are we saving? How the process have been streamlined? Okay. And how much it
does not represent in savings, please? Okay? Okay. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: So I'll clarify on the record then where we are. So right now
we're on the record where -- better language --
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Chair Hardemon: --was told tome by my Budget Director: $90, 000 for the MLK
vigil for the -- for services. Right? That's being contributed to the Parks and
Recreation.
Mr. Rose: Just increasing the contributions to the vigil.
Chair Hardemon: Okay, increasing the contribution by $90, 000.
Commissioner Gort: By how much?
Chair Hardemon: He said, 90, 000. Well, I said 90, 000, but that's what it is. So
increasing the contribution for the MLK vigil, which is the celebration, by 90, 000;
increasing events, as noted by the Vice Chairman, by $90, 000, to be inclusive of the
$10, 000 for Fourth of July at Hadley Park, and $10, 000 for Little Havana Fourth of
July events, as well as the events that were noted on the record by the Vice
Chairman, which were Regatta --
Vice Chair Russell: Veterans Day, Fourth of July, and the Blacktop Basketball
Tournament.
Commissioner Carollo: 270 (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Vice Chair Russell: Correct.
Commissioner Carollo: Little Havana is entertainment and parades --
Chair Hardemon: We have you for it.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and the Fourth of July.
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: All right.
Commissioner Gort: What's the total?
Mr. Rose: $270, 000.
Vice Chair Russell: 270.
Commissioner Gort: 270?
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Gort: All the amendments, it's 270?
Mr. Rose: All the general fund amendments are 270. There's also a special revenue
amendment that Commissioner Reyes has put forward. It is not an amendment of a
dollar amount; it is swapping funds and in project. So the Beautification Program
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has already in the change memo received $800,000 more. What Commissioner
Reyes has suggested is that 700, 000 of that be put into the Tree Program, which is
total of $1.7 million --
Commissioner Gort: Right.
Mr. Rose: -- freeing up $700, 000 worth of lane closure fund for use between the
right-of-way, and I think there was also an amendment on there that suggested that it
be divided amongst Commission districts by lane miles; that was my mistake. It
should be "roadway miles. " I said it wrong.
Chair Hardemon: Roadway miles.
Mr. Rose: Which we do have.
Chair Hardemon: Right. What's the 270?
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) total budget (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Rose: Correct. It is an amendment ofproject,- not an amendment of total on
either. The 270, as I understand it -- and you can correct me -- the MLK vigil goes
up -- the support for the MLK vigil goes up $90, 000; parades, entertainment, and
Fourth of July in District 3 in Little Havana, $100, 000, so we're at 190 at that point;
an additional 10, 000 for Hadley Park, so we're at 200; and then an additional
70, 000 for the Veterans Day, the Blacktop Basketball, and the City Hall Fourth of
July, 70, 000 in District 2; total, 70, 000; so that's 90, plus 10, plus 70, plus 100, for
270.
Vice Chair Russell: Correct.
Chair Hardemon: All right. That's what it was.
Vice Chair Russell: So the mover accepts those amendments.
Chair Hardemon: So does the seconder.
Vice Chair Russell: And I just have one comment with regard to the subject of
resilience. I -- there's a phrase in marketing where they say, An ounce of image is
worth a pound of performance, " and I think that could apply to politics, as well. You
all are doing the work of resilience. You are doing the work of strengthening this
City and getting us ready for the things that will come, and we know they will come,
but maybe we're not telling the message well enough. And so, this is a
communications issue. I am going to trust that the human side of resilience is not
getting forgotten with this Administration. I see amazing things going from the
infrastructure side. The cert team trainings have been a huge success. If we're at a
lack of those, I'd love to see those strengthened. The best practices that we can study
from other cities, I don't need to say more. I really -- I'm trusting the Administration.
I really do believe you.
Mr. Gonzalez: Sir, and I appreciate your confidence. Again, what I mentioned
earlier, we want to not just be resilient; we want to do it. We want to take projects
on. We want to be best practices. We have the best staff right now to handle these
subjects. And at a time when we're stretched thin, the idea of putting back 60 -some -
odd thousand dollars in a budget just to make people feel good is not a prudent way
of expending taxpayer money. Sir?
Commissioner Carollo: I agree with (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
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Vice Chair Russell: Yeah. If you say that particular position is not necessary, you're
the Manager; I trust and believe in that. I just want to make sure that we're not
forgetting about the human side of resilience as we do all of the strengthening and
hardening to the pipes and the (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir. And actually, our Human Services Department, which will
be stood up, will also be addressing the issue of resilience across the board, as well
as all our other departments.
Commissioner Reyes: That is very good. And also --
Commissioner Carollo: Chris?
Commissioner Reyes: -- don't forget --
Commissioner Carollo: Chair, can I--?
Commissioner Reyes: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) tried to collect $4 million from them.
Mr. Gonzalez: Sir, if I may, I wasn't clear. You would like me to invoice the
Homeless Trust --
Commissioner Reyes: Yes, sir.
Mr. Gonzalez: --for the equivalent amount of all the --
Commissioner Reyes: All the --
Mr. Gonzalez: --funds that the City of Miami expends --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Mr. Gonzalez: -- on homeless issues?
Commissioner Reyes: All the money that we spend from our general fund, we should
try to collect from them, because we are a major contributor and we are not
receiving, you see.
Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Gort: Second.
Commissioner Reyes: And we are -- let me tell you something. We are -- the burden
of -- the major -- the main burden or -- the only burden in Dade County for the
homeless, it is placed on Miami, so we have all the right to say we need to be
refunded.
Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir. And actually, with the help of our City Attorney's Office,
we've made a very big case before the court this week --
Commissioner Reyes: And you can blame it on me.
Mr. Gonzalez: --and hopefully, it'll happen. Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: Mr. --
Chair Hardemon: You're absolutely right.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- Finance Director and Manager --
Commissioner Gort: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I need a report, or at least, do not put it in writing; you
could meet with me, and we could discuss it verbally. I said, you don't have to put
this in writing; you could do it verbally with me. But I would like the Manager and
the Budget Director to sit with me, so we could go over the remaining union
contracts. I want to see what the real tag might be so that we could make plans for
it.
Mr. Gonzalez: Sir, we'll get on your schedule next week.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah. That's a reality that we got to face --
Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: -- and we got to deal with it. Secondly, I really would like
to in that meeting also address Flagstone, so we could start getting ready for
whatever scenarios come, and, you know, we're not caught like a deer in the middle
of the night when the lights hit it. Last but not least, Mr. Manager, I expect also, by
Monday when we meet, I get a full report on what we estimate are the rates -- the
real market rates on our two marinas and the dry dock marina that we're still
running, and we could discuss that from there, because I fully intend to bring that up
with the Off -Street Parking, because I consider that a package deal.
Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir. Consider it done.
Commissioner Carollo: Okay. Last but not least, Mr. Chairman -- and I'm letting
the Chair, I'm letting the Administration know now, on next meeting, I need time,
because I want all of you, I want the community to see what the real situation is with
Code violations in my district, and I'm tired of spending so much time in showing the
problems that we have. Citizens complain to me. We see things; we point it out to
the Administration through the proper channels, and I never hear back as to what is
being done. I keep seeing the same thing happen and happen again. It's rare that I
get some feedback. There are things that have been going on for months and
months, and this is just no way of running business. Furthermore, Mr. Manager --
Mr. Manager?
Mr. Gonzalez: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Carollo: When -- I have people in my district that have gotten hit by
Code Enforcement, and rightly so, I think; that it wasn't selective enforcement, but
you never know; supposedly, they were making rounds. And one small business that
-- because basically, a new landlord has been there two years didn't want to honor
the leases that he took on when he bought the new place, and wanting to get rid of
everybody, and he became a bully with the small tenants, except this one was lucky;
they were able to get an attorney to help them, so they haven't been able to get them
out. There's a couple that all they do is work in the place they have, and because of
that -- and their water being shut down, lights being shut down to try to get them out
of the place, they don't have parking anymore. It's a constant harassment that they
got to work under those conditions, to pay the rent still and try to make a living. And
then on top of that, they have a daughter that's got cancer; that whatever spare time
they have, they're having to constantly be in the hospital so she could get treatment.
They got hit. They forgot to renew their CU (Certificate of Use), and, you know, it's
their mistake. Code comes. They threaten to not only put them in jail, but they shut
them down immediately, and this is a reality. When Mr. Bernat walked with me, the
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-- that famous march -- it's probably the longest march in the history of Code
Enforcement in Miami. Soon after that, he, on his initiative, not on my request, sent
Code Enforcement Officers, starting from the 95 side, all the way where it stopped at
15th Avenue. It was like you couldn't cross over 15th Avenue. People were telling
me they had been visited, in some occasions, twice; one even said three times. I
inquired, why so many times? And why hadn't they gone all the way further? He
says, you know, he's got a whole City; "Eventually, we'll get there. " Well, I found
out recently through merchants that, in fact, Code Enforcement had never gotten to
that block in between 15th Avenue and 16th plus -- at least in one building, because
in this particular building, a Code Enforcement female that is not assigned to Little
Havana --so she's not part of the walking blind. I'm told that she's in some movable
position throughout the City -- she hit a place, I guess, was untouchable. She found
that while there was a Master CU, there were 15 other companies or individuals
working there without a CU, without a BTR (Business Tax Receipt) tax receipt. That
was in August 7. They all had to sign that they were in violation; they would have
their --they would get their license by the 14th. She came back on the 14th; nobody
had done anything. So they signed again that they will get it by the 22nd. Seven
weeks after she originally went there, no CUs had been taken out; they're still
working with that tax license, but the worst thing is that for years, for years, this is
how this place has been operating under.
Vice Chair Russell: Call the question.
Commissioner Carollo: And then, as you know, you were told that -- originally, that
they were checking to see if they really needed them or not. When Code
Enforcement one on one in the City of Miami tells you that there's a master, and
anybody else that's working needs to get what is called a "Shared CU, " and that
with that, they could get their tax license, their BTRs, as we call it. Now, Mr.
Manager, I expect that there is no selective protection on this City, and this is what
I'm beginning to see; that there is selective protection on certain individuals.
They're going through the MRC (Miami Riverside Center) almost on a daily basis,
seeing the top people in Building, seeing the top people in Code, seeing the top
people in Zoning; what no resident of Miami could do. Why? Because all over the
place, they got all kinds of violations. So next Commission meeting, I am going to
put up pictures, video, reports, and I really want answers. And since at this point in
time, I see that every time that we sent complaints of violations that we're seeing, we
have no idea what is being done, but we keep seeing the same violations most of the
time, time and time again, I'm going to dedicate myself this weekend on putting
requests that you'll get on Monday, and I hope this time, it's not going to take a
month plus for me to get answers.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Seeing no further questions --
Commissioner Reyes: Hold on a second. Hold on a second.
Vice Chair Russell: Can we vote on the budget?
Commissioner Reyes: Hold on a second. I want clarification of the $100, 000 --
$50, 000 from the doors; that you 're going to reduce that, and you're going to change
that from the doors to something else that you can --
Chair Hardemon: I don't think we agreed to that on the budget.
Commissioner Reyes: No. I mean, I'm requesting -- I don't know about you guys,
but I'm requesting, personally, if you agree with me, that $150, 000 be taken out -- I
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mean, those doors don't be installed, and you can use those $150, 000 for something
that it is allowed, and then you can free $150, 000 --
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner --
Commissioner Reyes: --from the general fund.
Commissioner Carollo: -- I agree with that, because the way that it was explained to
me that it's going to be used, frankly, it's a waste of money. You're not going to
accomplish much by just doing some doors. You need to do a lot more than that --
windows, etcetera --for it to make sense.
Chair Hardemon: Can do it step by step.
Commissioner Carollo: And frankly, I would rather see that be used in some other
areas that are more important than here.
Commissioner Reyes: That are more important, yes. Okay. Is that clear, Chris, Mr.
Manager?
Vice Chair Russell: Is it all or nothing, or you want to choose (UNINTELLIGIBLE) ?
Commissioner Reyes: Is that on the record?
Chair Hardemon: Well, the motion --
Vice Chair Russell: Because I do not want to keep -- if a Commissioner has concern
and they would like a hardening of their office, I do not want to keep that from
happening. I recognize some that don't feel it's necessary and it's a waste of money,
and that's perfectly respectable as well. So is there a way to parch this out? If so, I
would accept the amendmentfor the two Commissioners that do not wish this in their
office.
Mr. Gonzalez: Yeah. I'm sorry; say again.
Chair Hardemon: To be put that way --
Mr. Gonzalez: We could --
Chair Hardemon: -- to be put the way as the Vice Chairman said it, I will accept
that amendment, as well --
Commissioner Reyes: Yeah.
Chair Hardemon: -- the way the Vice Chairman said it But seeing no further
unreadiness in the way that the Vice Chairman --
Mr. Min: It is an ordinance.
Commissioner Carollo: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Is there --
Mr. Rose: An amount?
Commissioner Carollo: -- any particular Commissioner that --
Chair Hardemon: Won't be 150.
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Commissioner Carollo: -- has had the need for it or --? I mean --
Commissioner Reyes: No need.
Mr. Rose: I do --
Chair Hardemon: Well --
Mr. Rose: -- need an amount that we would reduce that project by.
Chair Hardemon: -- I don't know how much it cost to reduce it by Commissioner
Carollo and Commissioner Reyes' offices.
Vice Chair Russell: I'd say half. Take it in half --
Mr. Rose: Okay.
Vice Chair Russell: -- because we don't know where Commissioner Gort is, so.
Commissioner Carollo: All right.
Vice Chair Russell: That way, you've got --
Mr. Rose: We'll take half, and we'll put it towards the 20th Street Project, thereby
freeing up --
Commissioner Reyes: Good.
Mr. Rose: -- $150, 000 of general fund.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Mr. Gonzalez: Commissioner Carollo, I believe you asked if any Commissioner had
asked for this. The answer is, "no. " Actually, employees had asked for it, but again -
Commissioner Carollo: Who?
Mr. Gonzalez: Employees.
Commissioner Carollo: Oh, okay.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Commissioner Carollo: Employees.
Chair Hardemon: But I'll tell you --
Commissioner Reyes: Guys, it is not --
Chair Hardemon: All right. Seeing no further unreadiness --
Mr. Min: It --
Mr. Rose: Sorry.
Chair Hardemon: We still have unreadiness?
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Mr. Rose: Forgive nee. I need to be clear. Some of the funds have been spent, so
we're going to take half of whatever has not been spent.
Chair Hardemon: Thatprobably sounds like (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
Commissioner Reyes: How can you spend a budget that has not been approved?
Mr. Rose: No. That project was approved in the June capital re -appropriation by
this Commission.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. And this is a carryover from last budget?
Mr. Rose: It has been in the budget since June.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, wait. Where is the bulletproof glass then?
Mr. Rose: You can spend money before you actually install, so.
Commissioner Carollo: Yeah, but where has the money been spent? This is
bulletproof --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: Where has it been spent?
Mr. Rose: I just know that -- I can only see the report right now.
Commissioner Carollo: Well, can you send us copies of invoices to see --
Commissioner Reyes: That's right.
Commissioner Carollo: -- what was spent and where and what date?
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay. Well, if it is not spent --
Commissioner Carollo: Commissioner, you did hear the request, right?
Commissioner Reyes: I request personally that won't be spent, okay, and you find
work to switch that money.
Mr. Rose: Yes, sir.
Commissioner Reyes: Okay.
Chair Hardemon: Okay. Seeing no further unreadiness on the budget and what we
described the budget, how the budget is going to be spent --
Mr. Min: It is an ordinance.
Chair Hardemon: Can you read it into the record, because (UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Mr. Min: Yes, sir. And just to be clear, the only amendments are the ones that
(UNINTELLIGIBLE) --
Chair Hardemon: Can you read it on the record, please?
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ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Min: Yes, sir.
Chair Hardemon: Thank you.
The Ordinance was read by title into the public record by Deputy City Attorney
Barnaby Min
Chair Hardenzon: All in favor of the budget, say "aye "
The Commission (Collectively): Aye.
Unidentified Speaker: All amendments.
Chair Hardenzon: All against? Motion passes, as amended.
Commissioner Reyes: Goodnight.
Mr. Hannon: Chair, is that 5-0?
Commissioner Reyes: This meeting is over.
Mr. Hannon: 5-0, as amended. Thankyou, Commissioners.
END OF SECOND BUDGET HEARING
The meeting adjourned at 10: 04 p. in.
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