* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. I'D LIKE TO HAVE, [00:00:01] ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE TAKE THEIR SEATS. WELCOME TO THE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH, 2026 COMMISSION MEETING. I'M SORRY, WE'RE STARTING A FEW MINUTES LATE. WE HAD SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. AS I HAVE MENTIONED TO EVERYONE, WHEN WE START THESE MEETINGS, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK FREELY ON ISSUES THAT ARE DEALING WITH OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY. I ASK YOU TO PLEASE ENGAGE EITHER IN PERSON. WE HAVE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES VIA THE PHONE, VIA ZOOM, AND GET IN CONTACT, UH, THROUGH EMAIL, UH, WITH A CLERK OR WITH ONE OF US. BUT THERE'S MULTIPLE REASONABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE AND ENJOY OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR BLESSED DEMOCRACY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO, OR I'D LIKE TO REQUEST, UH, FOR REVEREND TIMOTHY FLECK FROM ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL PARIS, TO PLEASE JOIN US. REVEREND, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AGAIN WITH US. IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. MS. VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS STAFF, I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL AND THE SOUTH GABLES. THE LORD BE WITH YOU. WITH YOU. LET US PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, IN YOUR WORD, YOU HAVE GIVEN US A VISION OF THE HOLY CITY TO WHICH THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD COME TO KNOW YOU. BLESS AND CHALLENGE CORAL GABLES AND EVERY CITY OF THE EARTH. RENEW THE OF MUTUAL REGARD, WHICH FORM OUR CIVIC LIFE. GIVE US HONEST AND ABLE LEADERS AND PROTECT THOSE WHO SERVE. GIVE US GRACE TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE DANGERS OF DIVISION AND STRIFE. TAKE AWAY ALL INCIVILITY AND DISRESPECT AND ANYTHING ELSE WHICH IMPEDES THE WORK WE OWE OUR CITIZENS. ENABLE US TO ELIMINATE POVERTY, PREJUDICE, AND OPPRESSION SO THAT OUR CITY MAY FLOURISH IN PEACE AND CONCORD, SO THAT WE MAY LIVE IN HARMONY AND JUSTICE. AND SO THAT WE MAY ENJOY AND SHARE THE GIFTS YOU HAVE GIVEN US. AND YOUR HOLY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. REVEREND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. UH, WE SEND OUR BEST WISHES TO YOU AND TO YOUR CONGREGATION AND WORSHIPERS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE CHANGED THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT WE DO IT, BUT WE CONTINUE A NEW TRADITION HERE AT THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING WHERE WE ARE PROUD TO ONCE WELCOME ONCE AGAIN, WELCOME ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS WHO IS A VETERAN TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THIS MORNING, WE'RE HONORED TO WELCOME MARIA MARIAS, A LIEUTENANT IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, AND A VALUED MEMBER OF OUR TEAM. LIEUTENANT MARIA SERVED NEARLY EIGHT YEARS AS A NAVY NUCLEAR SUBMARINE ENGINEER STATIONED IN SAN DIEGO, WHERE SHE APPLIED ADVANCED MATHEMATICS TO SOLVE COMPLEX REACTOR CHALLENGES IN HIGH PRESSURE ENVIRONMENTS. GUIDED BY THE NAVY'S CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT. SHE TAKES PRIDE IN LEADING WITH INTEGRITY. SINCE JOINING THE CITY BEAUTIFUL IN 2024, MARIET HAS CONTINUED THAT COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS MANAGER FOR OUR PARKING, SUSTAINABILITY, AND MO MOBILITY DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND FOR CONTINUING THAT SERVICE HERE IN CORAL GABLES. AND I INVITE YOU TO PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE JOIN US TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MA'AM, WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN US ONE SECOND AT THE PODIUM, I, WHILE I READ A BRIEF BIO, WILL YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR TIME, UH, SERVICE IN EIGHT YEARS AND ALSO YOUR TIME HERE IN THE CITY? BEAUTIFUL. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. THANK YOU, SIR. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. SO I JUST WANTED TO ADD ON TO WHAT THE, UH, MAYOR SAID. I JUST BEEN PROUD TO CONTINUE MY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO ITS BEAUTIFUL CITY AND JUST MOVE IT FORWARD WITH ALL THE GOOD PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON, MOSTLY WITH MONICA LEADING OUR PARKING DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU, SIR. WHERE ARE YOU ORIGINALLY FROM? CUBA. WHAT? YOU WERE BORN IN CUBA? YES, SIR. BORN AND RAISED. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD? THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA? 16 YEARS. 16 YEARS. SO IMAGINE YOU MILITARY COME, YOU COME TO THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND YOU SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND NOW YOU JOINED US HERE IN THE CITY OF BEAUTIFUL. THAT IS CORRECT. NOW YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I SAY THIS IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, RIGHT? YES, SIR. WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU. IT'S TRULY A PRIVILEGE, AND YOU'VE MADE MY DAY BY BEING HERE. THANK YOUR STORY IS AN AMAZING STORY AND IT'S AN A STORY THAT AGAIN, MAKES US ALL INCREDIBLY PROUD. THANK YOU, SIR. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE. I BLESS YOU, MY FRIEND. YOU THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING. I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THE MAYOR READ ABOUT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THAT YOU'VE DONE THAT AT LEAST, UM, IN A VERY SHORT TIME THAT YOU'VE BEEN, I'M THINKING IN THE UNITED STATES. CAN I JUST ASK YOU A SILLY QUESTION? WHAT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF MATH THAT YOU COMPLETED IN SCHOOL? WHAT, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? 'CAUSE I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE CALLED. SO, UH, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY REAL ANALYSIS. . I DIDN'T TAKE THAT CLASS , SO I DIDN'T TAKE THAT CLASS. I WAS ABSENT [00:05:01] THAT DAY. AND I STUDIED A FULL ANALYSIS. A REAL, I I I DIDN'T TAKE THAT CLASS. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. THAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH US HERE. THANK GOD. THANK GOD YOU'RE ON OUR SIDE. THANK GOD. , UH, LIKE WE SAY ABOUT RAYMUNDO, WHO'S, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S HERE, BUT THANK GOD HE'S ON OUR SIDE ALONG WITH ALL OUR INCREDIBLE STAFF, MR. MANAGER. I LIKE TO, WITH THE, WITH THE, UM, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSION. I LIKE TO, UH, EVERY, EVERY TWO WEEKS WHEN WE HAVE A COMMISSION MEETING. AND WE HONOR AND WE HONOR, UH, ONE OF OUR INCREDIBLE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES. AND THANK YOU TO MARTHA BING FOR COMING UP WITH THIS GREAT IDEA. UM, I'D LIKE TO HOST, HOST THIS ON OUR WEBSITE. I'D LIKE TO SEND THIS OUT ON AN E NEWS, UH, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND OF WHO THIS INDIVIDUAL IS. MAYBE WE, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE A PHOTO TOGETHER, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE HIGHLIGHTING, YOU KNOW, THE THE LEVEL, THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THE DEDICATION TO NOT ONLY THIS GREAT CITY, BUT ALSO THIS GREAT COUNTRY. SO I'D LIKE TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AND MY COLLEAGUES WOULD, WOULD, UH, INDULGE ME WITH THAT REQUEST. MAYOR, HAPPY TO DO SO. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. MR. MAYOR. UM, JUST A SUGGESTION. MAYBE WE CAN INCLUDE A BRIEF BIO IN THE AGENDA, UM, WHEN THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING THE, UH, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. UH, 'CAUSE I THINK THAT'S A PLACE WHERE WE CAN MOST HIGHLIGHT IT. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE AGENDA TO SEE WHAT'S COMING UP. UH, I THINK IT'D BE GREAT FOR THEM TO READ WHO'S GONNA BE DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AND IF THEY WANNA BE PRESENT TO THANK THAT PERSON FOR THEIR SERVICE, THEY CAN. OKAY, PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, MOVING ON TO THE MERRICK MOMENT. [MERRICK MOMENT] YEAH, GOOD. SEE YOU OVER THE TV. THANKS, SIR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY TAKE TWO POINTS OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TODAY. I STAND IN FRONT OF YOU AS I ALWAYS DO ON TUESDAYS WITH MY, UM, COCONUT GROVE CRISIS FOOD PANTRY T-SHIRT. UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE LOST, UM, THE, THE BOHEMIAN COMMUNITY LOST ONE OF ITS, UH, MOST WONDERFUL LEADERS IN THELMA GIBSON, UH, RECENTLY. AND, UM, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT HER FUNERAL IS THIS FRIDAY THE 27TH AT CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. UH, THE BISHOP WILL BE THERE AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT LOSS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO, UM, THE MERRICK MINUTE, THE MERRICK HOUSE GOVERNING BOARD BRINGS YOU THE MERRICK MINUTE, LITTLE TIDBITS THAT ADD UP TO A REMARKABLE STORY. THE GOVERNING BOARD CONSISTS OF GENEVIEVE ORR, CHAIR MARY BETH BURKE, ALEXIS, ERIN HAFT, CARMEN CASON, CHRISTINA OTON, SUSAN RODRIGUEZ AND BONNIE SIP. TODAY MORE FROM ARVA EYES. SHE SPEAKS OF GEORGE'S YOUNGEST BROTHER, RICHARD AND OF GEORGE'S SHORT STORY SERIES, MEN OF THE MAGICAL ISLES, WHERE HE SPEAKS OF THE BAHAMIAN WAY SHOWERS. EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER AFTER RICHARD MERRICK'S WIDOW MILDRED, A FORMER, UM, RESEARCH LIBRARIAN OFFERED ME A GREAT GIFT. SHE HAD BECOME THE CARETAKER OF A CASH OF ORIGINAL MERRICK PAPERS FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. WE MET AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK CAREFULLY ORGANIZING THE MATERIAL FOR DONATION TO THE, UM, LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS. AND WE CAN ALL GO THERE TO TODAY AND SEE THESE WONDERFUL PAPERS. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN STUDYING CORAL GABLES FOR MANY YEARS, MUCH OF THE MATERIAL WAS NEW TO ME. INCLUDED, IT WAS A SERIES OF UNPUBLISHED SHORT STORIES THAT GEORGE HAD WRITTEN. BECAUSE OF MY KNOWLEDGE OF MIAMI HISTORY, I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THE STORIES WERE AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL, NOT FICTION. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I WAS ABLE TO DOCUMENT THE EVENTS HE DESCRIBED, THUS MAKING THE STORIES A UNIQUE PRIMARY SOURCE. MY FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO STUDY GEORGE'S FAMILY HERITAGE AND HOW IT HELPED DEFINE HIM. I DISCOVERED THAT MANY OF HIS ANCESTORS HAD PIONEER EXPERIENCES IN UNTAMED LANDS, AND AS A RESULT, WERE NOT AFRAID TO TAKE CHANCES OR TO MAKE CHANGE. I EVEN FOUND REMARKABLE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THEIR STORIES AND HIS, HIS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS SHARED THEIR PAST AND TAUGHT HIM TO BE PROUD OF HIS HERITAGE AND CARRY IT FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY. SO, AS ALWAYS COME FROM MORE OF THE STORY WEEKENDS AT ONE TWO AND THREE O'CLOCK AT THE MEIC HOUSE, AND I SHOULD MENTION, OUR THIRD VINTAGE MARKET WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE LAWN WITH MORE VENDORS THAN EVER ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH. AND NOW FOR MY SECOND MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, UM, CLERK ORIA, UH, SUGGESTED THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOW THIS TODAY. WE HAD A PRETTY NEAT LITTLE EVENT HAPPEN LAST NIGHT. I'M A VOLUNTEER AT PELICAN HARBOR SEABIRD STATION, AND THIS IS A RESCUE, REHAB AND, UH, RELEASE FACILITY THAT'S CURRENTLY UP ON 79TH STREET CAUSEWAY AT, UM, THE, THE WATER'S EDGE. UM, IN ITS 40 YEAR HISTORY, IT HAS SERVED OVER, UH, OR, OR TREATED OVER 47,000 ANIMALS. THESE ARE NATIONAL OR, UM, UH, UM, UH, NATIVE BIRDS AND SMALL MAMMALS. UM, SO WE ARE GOING TO SEE, AND YOU'RE SEEING IT NOW, THE WONDERFUL RELEASE [00:10:01] OF THIS BARN OWL THAT WAS RESCUED, UM, DUE TO, UM, WELL, OUR, THE HELP OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IN CORAL GABLES. THIS IS THAT THE CORAL GABLES, UM, TENNIS CENTER AT THE GRANADA GOLF COURSE. AND, UM, THIS BARN NOW WAS STUCK IN THE TOP OF A, A DEAD PALM TREE WHERE, UM, THE NEST WAS FOR HIS FAMILY. AND, UM, HE WAS, HIS BODY WAS HANGING AND THE, UM, CROWS WERE ALREADY PECKING AT HIS BODY. UM, A NEIGHBOR FOUND, UH, THIS BIRD AND, UM, FIRE RESCUE WAS CALLED BECAUSE THEY NEEDED A, A BUCKET, UH, CONTRAPTION TO BE ABLE TO GET UP AND GET THIS BIRD. BUT AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS AT PELICAN HARBOR, HE OR SHE WE'RE NOT SURE, WHICH WAS ABLE TO, UM, UH, BE REHABILITATED. AND IT WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL, PROUD MOMENT, AND WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE TO WATCH IT YESTERDAY. SO THE CEO, CHLOE CHELS OF, UH, PELICAN HARBOR WILL BE MAKING A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT PELICAN HARBOR DOES. AND, UM, THE, UH, CITY OF CORAL GABLES BEING AN ARBOR, UH, UH, UH, A, UM, CITY OF, OF MANY TREES. OF COURSE, YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT A LOT OF BIRDS GO TO PELICAN HARBOR. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH PELICAN HARBOR IN THE FUTURE, AND SHE'LL BE MAKING A PRESENTATION AT THE MAY 19TH COMMISSION MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, JUST TWO POINTS. UH, JOANNE BROUGHT THIS, UH, FORWARD TO MY OFFICE, UH, IN REGARDS TO HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ON, ON THE DICE. I SAID, IT'S A GREAT IDEA. UH, WE WANT TO PROMOTE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, UH, PELICAN HARBOR AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO. I WASN'T ABLE TO TELL LAST NIGHT, BUT I KNOW THAT MY STAFF WENT AND ENJOYED IT. UH, IT WAS AMAZING. UH, AND WE'LL BE SHARING IT LATER ON SOCIAL MEDIA. UH, IT'S AN AMAZING THING THAT WAS DONE YESTERDAY, SO THANK YOU FOR SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED A LOT MORE GOOD NEWS LIKE THIS, SO MM-HMM . THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. CERTAINLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO, PRESENTATIONS AND [A.-1. Presentation of a Certificate of Condolence to the bereaved family of Thelma Gibson.] PROTOCOL DOCUMENTS, ITEM A ONE, A PRESENTATION OF A CERTIFICATE OF CONDOLENCE TO THE BERE FAMILY OF THELMA GIBSON. SO I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE JOIN US. SO I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA, UM, AFTER HEARING THE NEWS OF THE PASSING OF THELMA GIBSON, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO I HAD A LOT OF RESPECT FOR AND CONTINUING TO OBVIOUSLY HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR, AND I'D LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCE ONTO THE RECORD. I'M GONNA USE IT, READ OFF A PAPER, BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE SMALL PRINT. WHEREAS THELMA GIBSON EMBODIED THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF SERVICE TO COMMUNITY AND DEDICATION TO OTHERS, DEMONSTRATING THROUGHOUT HER REMARKABLE 99 YEARS AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO HEALTHCARE, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS THEMA PIONEERED HER PATHWAYS IN NURSING, JUST DESPITE FACING SEGREGATION ON THE, AT THE ONSET OF HER CAREER, BECOMING THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR AT THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND DEDICATING OVER THREE DECADES TO CARRYING THOSE IN NEED. AND WHEREAS TOGETHER WITH HER HUSBAND, THE REVEREND THEODORE GIBSON, THELMA CHAMPIONED DESEGREGATION AND FOUGHT TIRELESSLY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN HISTORICALLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS, DEMONSTRATING THAT PARTNERSHIP IN MARRIAGE AND PARTNERSHIP AND PURPOSE CAN TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS UPON RETIRING FROM NURSING IN 1980, THELMA EXPANDED HER CIVIC IMPACT BY ESTABLISHING THE THEODORE GIBSON MEMORIAL FUND IN 1983, CREATING THE GIBSON PLAZA COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER, AND SUPPORTING YOUTH STEM INITIATIVES THAT CONTINUE TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS. SHE ALSO FOUND THAT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S FIRST WOMEN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPENING DOORS FOR BUSINESS WOMEN AND DEMONSTRATING THAT ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT STRENGTHENS ENTIRE COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS THROUGH HER WORK WITH THE COCONUT GROVE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, SHE CHAMPIONED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CREATED YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT TRANSFORMED NEIGHBORHOODS AND CHALLENGED THEIR LIVES. WHEREAS THELMA THELMA'S DEVOTION INTO CHRIST'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND HER DEEP FAITH GUIDED HER ASPECT OF HER SERVICE, REMINDING US THAT TRUE LEADERSHIP FLOWS FROM A HEART DEVOTED TO SOMETHING GREATER THAN ONESELF. NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, THAT WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES OF THELMA GIBSON, HONORING HER LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS AND RECOGNIZING A LEGACY THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED WITH GRATITUDE, RESPECT, AND ADMIRATION FOR HER SERVICE, COMPASSION, AND TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO KNOW, UH, MS. GIBSON, UH, DUE TO A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE, UH, MAYOR FRANCIS SUAREZ, WHO ONE DAY INVITED ME TO AN EVENT, UH, THAT WAS HAPPENING IN COCONUT GROVE. AND, AND I SAID, LISTEN, I'M, I'M REALLY BUSY. UH, HE GOES, I WANT TO MEET. I WANT YOU TO MEET SOMEBODY. THIS IS ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO. UH, SHE'S A POWERHOUSE, SOFT SPOKEN. WHEN HE TOLD ME WHO IT WAS, I SAID, I'M DYING TO MEET HER. I'M DYING TO GET TO KNOW AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SOFT-SPOKEN INDIVIDUALS. TELL ME IF I'M WRONG. I MEAN, MAYBE, MAYBE . [00:15:01] SHE WAS DIFFERENT IN PRIVATE, BUT IN PUBLIC. SHE WAS INCREDIBLY SOFT SPOKEN, BUT ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED INDIVIDUALS I'VE EVER BEEN AROUND. UM, SHE WAS TRANSFORMATIONAL AND SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB, AND SHE IMMEDIATELY TOOK A LIKING TO ME. AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS AN HONOR OF A LIFETIME, UH, TO GET TO MEET HER AND GET TO KNOW HER AND BE INSPIRED BY HER. SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE, WHO ARE GONNA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MS. GIBSON, UH, SO THAT HER LEGACY, HER LEGACY'S GONNA BE REMEMBERED. SHE'S EVERYWHERE. UH, AND IT'S NOT ABOUT NAMING OF BUILDINGS OR FACILITIES OR ORGANIZATIONS OR LEGISLATION OR LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE. IT'S ABOUT ALL THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH, UM, THELMA GIBSON'S HANDS IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REMEMBER SPEAKING TO HER, SPEAKING TO HER ONE DAY ABOUT, WAS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND, UM, THE PRIDE THAT WE HAVE OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN, IN CORAL GABLES MCFARLAND GOLDEN GATE. AND SHE TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE BLACK COMMUNITY. CORRECT. AND I SAID, TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT MORE. WHAT IS IT ABOUT? SHE GOES, VINCE, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CUBAN COMMUNITY, HISPANIC COMMUNITY. ASIAN COMMUNITY. IT'S ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE BETTER FIGURE THIS OUT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. AND WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER. AND THAT WAS A MESSAGE THAT SHE REITERATED OVER AND OVER, AND IT WAS JUST A NATURAL MESSAGE. AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU, UH, AND TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD HER LEGACY AND ALLOW YOU A FEW MOMENTS TO PLEASE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THELMA AND ALL THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE. I AM STANDING HERE BEFORE NUMBER ONE, DENISE. NUMBER TWO, YOU'RE NUMBER EIGHT. EIGHT. AND YOU'RE NUMBER DON'T MATTER. . THANK YOU. WELL, WELL, I AM THE OLDEST AND TO THE CITY OF CARL GABLES CITY COMMISSION, THE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF, WE, THE FAMILY ARE SO HONORED THAT AT A TIME LIKE THIS, YOU THINK OF US. MY AUNT THELMA, THELMA GETS SENT TO YOU ALL, WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING PERSON FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE. NOT JUST US, BUT EVERY ONE OF EVERY COLOR. WHEREVER YOU WALKED, WHEREVER YOU WENT INTO A JOB, WHEREVER YOU WERE IN MIAMI AND ACROSS THE US CALIFORNIA HAVE CALLED ALL OVER. SHE BELIEVED IN HELPING EVERYONE. AND IT DIDN'T MATTER WHERE YOU WERE ON THE TREE, HOW HIGH OR HOW LOW. IF YOU NEEDED HELP, WE WERE GOING TO HELP YOU IF YOU NEEDED TO BE STRAIGHTENED OUT QUIETLY AS YOU THINK . UM, SHE HAD US, SHE WOULD TELL US WHEN WE WERE WRONG. AND I DON'T THINK SHE WAS TOO FAR IN NOT DOING THAT. WHEN SHE WAS ON BOARD, MEETING A BOARD AND COMMISSIONER AFTER, UM, FATHER GIBSON, SHE WAS REAL. AND TO TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HER AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HER IS ALMOST THE SAME BUT A LITTLE DIFFERENT WITH US. SHE BELIEVED IN EDUCATION. SHE BELIEVED IN LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR. IF YOU FELL, SHE LIFT YOU UP. SHE WOULD SMILE AT YOU. SHE WOULD TELL US TO DO BETTER, WALK BETTER, BE KINDER, BE A LITTLE BEFORE. GO A LITTLE FURTHER. KNOW A LITTLE BIT IF YOU HAVE TO SPEAK, KNOW SOMEBODY, SMILE AT SOMEONE. AND FOR ALL OF YOU TO HONOR HER [00:20:01] AND GIVE YOU CONDOLENCES TO US. WE THANK YOU. WE THANK YOU, AND WE LOVE YOU. AND WE ARE ALL COMING IN FROM ALL OVER TO BE HERE TO SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND FOR THE FUTURE. IF YOU EVER NEED US, WE STILL HERE. WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG, BUT WE ARE STILL HERE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP AND TO BE BETTER. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. FROM THE FAMILY. PLEASE. UM, AS NUMBER EIGHT NIECE, I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE LITTLE THING. UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH YOU'VE IMPACTED HER, AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH HER THINGS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW SHE SAVED EVERYTHING. IF YOU GAVE HER A PICTURE OF YOUR CHILD, OF YOURSELF, OF A WEDDING, SHE SAVED IT. IF YOU SENT HER INVITATION TO SOMETHING, SHE NOT ONLY SAVED IT, BUT SHE WROTE ON IT. WHEN SHE RECEIVED IT, WHEN SHE CALLED TO RSVP , SHE SAVED IT. AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE CATALOGING AND GOING THROUGH. AND IT'S JUST LIKE YOU SAID, IT TRANSCENDS EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC YOU CAN THINK OF AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THESE ITEMS. AND SOME OF THE THINGS WERE LIKE, I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS PERSON, YOU KNOW THIS PERSON. AND WE'RE LIKE, IT MUST HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT FOR HER TO HAVE SAVED IT ARTICLES. SHE SAVED IT. SO SHE WAS VERY MUCH A COMMUNITY PERSON FOR ALL DEMOGRAPHICS. SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU SENT HER SOMETHING, WE GOT IT. , THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE A QUICK PHOTO, PLEASE. WILL YOU HONOR ME WITH THE PHOTO WITH THE COMMISSION OVER HERE? WILL YOU DO A FAVOR? WE TAKE A PICTURE OF THE LITTLE OVER THERE. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM [A.-2. Presentation of a Proclamation declaring February 24, 2026 as "Tumblebees Gymnastics Day" in Coral Gables.] A TWO, A PRESENTATION OR PROCLAMATION DECLARING FEBRUARY 24TH, 2026 AS TUMBLE BEE'S GYMNASTICS DAY IN CORAL GABLES. COME ON UP. SO I'M GONNA READ THIS AND I, I WANTED TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA. I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA, UH, BECAUSE I'M REALLY PROUD OF THESE YOUNG LADIES. LOOK AT THIS. AND WHEN I THINK YOU HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THESE YOUNG LADIES HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OLYMPICS, YOU THINK WE HAVE A, YOU MAY HAVE SOME FUTURE OLYMPIANS HERE IN FRONT OF YOU. SO I'M GONNA READ THIS VERY QUICKLY AND TO THE RECORD. WHEREAS TUMBLE BEE'S GYMNASTICS, CORAL GABLES IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL GYMNASTIC SCHOOLS IN SOUTH FLORIDA, DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STRENGTH OF OUR YOUTH. AND WHEREAS AT THE 2025 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HELD IN APRIL AT THE BROWARD COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER, TUMBLE BEACH GYMNASTICS, CORAL GABLES ACHIEVED AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT BY PRODUCING MORE GOLD MEDALISTS THAN ANY OTHER GYM IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH 29 ATHLETES EARNING GOLD MEDALS. WHEREAS THIS REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE CONSIDERING THAT ALMOST 100 GYMS COMPETED IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, DEMONSTRATING THE EXCEPTIONAL [00:25:01] QUALITY OF TRAINING AND DEDICATION PRESENT AT TUMBLE BEE'S, GYMNASTICS, CORAL GABLES. AND WHEREAS THESE TALENTED GYMNASTS AGE FIVE TO 16 TRAIN WITH UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AT THE CORAL GABLES YOUTH CENTER SIX DAYS A WEEK DEMONSTRATING GRACE, POISE, AND COMPOSURE UNDER PRESSURE. AND WHEREAS DURING THIS COMPETITIVE SEASON, A SCORE OF A PERFECT 10, 10.0 WAS AWARDED SIX WAS AWARDED 16 TIMES COMBINED AMONGST ALL FOUR EVENTS, VAULT, BALANCE BEAM, UNEVEN BARS, AND FLOOR EXERCISE. AND WHEREAS UNDER THE DEDICATED LEADERSHIP OF THE GYM OWNERS AND THE EXPERT GUIDANCE OF THEIR COACHES, THIS PROGRAM HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS EXCELLENCE AND IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE HEALTH AND FITNESS OF OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUTH. AND WHEREAS GYM GYMNASTICS REQUIRES NOT ONLY STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY, BUT ALSO FOCUS, COURAGE AND PERSEVERANCE QUALITIES THAT INSPIRE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND REFLECT ON THE CHARACTER WE CELEBRATE HERE IN CORAL GABLES. WHEREAS THROUGH THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, THIS TALENTED GROUP OF ATHLETES REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF THE CITY'S VALUES, HARD WORK, INTEGRITY, TEAMWORK, AND THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE, MAKING THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS WORTHY OF RECOGNITION FOR THEIR PASSION EFFORTS AND POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH LOCALLY AND AT THE STATE LEVEL. NOW THEREFORE, IVANS LAGO AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION DO HERE, REP PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 20, 24, 20 FOURTH, 2026, AS TUMBLE BEE'S GYMNASTICS DAY IN CORAL GABLES. CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I WANNA BEGIN BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE RECOGNITION. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR FOR US TO SERVE THE CITY WE FEEL HAS SUPPORTED US IN BRINGING A SPORT THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH TO THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE DEEPLY PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY. WHILE WE ARE PROUD OF OUR CHAMPIONSHIPS AND OUR GOLD MEDALS THAT WE'VE EARNED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE ARE DEEPLY, WHAT MATTERS MOST TO US IS WHAT THESE CHILDREN ARE BECOMING TODAY. THROUGH GYMNASTICS, THEY LEARN DISCIPLINE, RESILIENCE, AND CONFIDENCE. THEY LEARN HOW TO PUSH THROUGH FEAR. THEY LEARN HOW TO FALL DOWN, AND THEY LEARN HOW TO GET BACK UP. THEY LEARN HOW TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES EVEN WHEN SOMETHING FEELS IMPOSSIBLE. AND THAT ITSELF IS A VICTORY FOR US. WE ARE NOT JUST BUILDING ATHLETES, WE ARE HELPING SHAPE STRONG, DETERMINE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WILL CARRY THESE LESSONS WITH THEM FOR LIFE. AS LIFELONG RESIDENTS OF CARL GABLES, THIS IS VERY MEANINGFUL FOR US. THE YOUTH CENTER HOLDS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR HEARTS. IT'S WHERE JENNY AND I TRAINED AS GYMNASTS IN THE ORIGINAL FACILITY. WE THEN BEGAN COACHING IN OUR CAREERS IN THE NEW FACILITY. AND I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF DESIGNING AND CREATING THE NEW FACILITY GYMNASTICS CENTER THE CITY OFFERS TODAY. TO STAND HERE NOW AND TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HELPED SHAPED US SOMETHING IS VERY SPECIAL FOR US, I'M SORRY, IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING STAFF WHO WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT THEM. OUR OFFICE MANAGER, DINA, AND OUR HEAD COACH NICOLE, HAS BRING SUCH RECOGNITION TO THE CITY, TO TUMBLE BEES AND TO THE SPORT OF GYMNASTICS. WE ALSO WANNA GIVE A GREAT THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO OUR FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHEERED US, JOINED US TO THE GIRLS THAT WORK HARD AND PRACTICE AND DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE SPORT OF GYMNASTICS, TO ALWAYS STRIVING TO BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE. WE THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN US. WE THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUTH GYMNASTICS AND YOUTH SPORTS, AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE PRIVILEGE OF HELPING RAISE THE NEXT GENERATION THAT THE CITY WILL. THE NEXT GENERATION IN THE CITY THAT WE ARE PROUD TO CALL HOME. THESE GIRLS WILL SHINE FOR US ONE DAY. AS ALWAYS, WE WILL DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO AND BE THE BEST THAT WE CAN BE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY US, BY OUR FAMILIES, AND BY OUR GYMNASTS. I ALSO WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE HAD AN OUTSTANDING WEEKEND COMPETING. WE SCORED 10 PERFECT TENS, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A HOST OF GYMNASTS WEARING MEDALS THAT WE, AND THEY ARE QUITE PROUD OF. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE CONTINUE [00:30:01] TO WANNA BUILD AND STRIVE THE BEST GYMNASTICS PROGRAM WE CAN FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU. JENNY, YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING, PLEASE? MM-HMM . JUST TO ADD TO WHAT ANDY SAID, UM, SHE ALREADY MENTIONED IT, BUT I STARTED MY GYMNASTICS CAREER HERE AT THE YOUTH CENTER. MY PARENTS PUT ME IN BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BUILDING, AND THAT'S WHERE I STARTED AS A CHILD. AND I CAME BACK YEARS AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION TO DO SERVICE HOURS UNDER ANDY. UM, I WOULD SAY A COUPLE YEARS LATER BECAME AN OWNER. AND IT FEELS VERY GOOD TO BE BACK HOME IN THIS CITY. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY SINCE I WAS BORN, AND CORAL GABLES IS MY HOME. WE PASSED BY A SHOP ON MIRACLE MAYO THAT HAD A BAG THAT SAID GABLES GIRL ON IT. AND I BOUGHT ONE FOR ME. I BOUGHT ONE FOR MY SISTER. AND IT FELT GREAT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE GABLES FOR OUR WHOLE LIFE. AND IT FEELS GOOD TO BRING A SPORT THAT I LOVE SO MUCH TO THIS CITY. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE KIDS GOES BEYOND THE MEDALS LIKE ANDY SAID. SO I'M HAPPY TO, UM, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THE CITY. AND I THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. AND I JUST WANNA SAY GYMNAST SALUTE. OH, YOU TOOK THE WORDS, YOU TOOK THE WORDS AWAY FROM ME. I WAS GONNA SAY IT . SO I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU LADIES. UH, AND ALSO OF THE WORK THAT JENNY DOES. UH, YOU'RE MY NEIGHBOR. UH, YOU'RE A PERSON WHO HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR, UH, YOU, YOU PRODUCE AN AMAZING TEAM, UH, AND IT SHINES A REALLY POSITIVE LIGHT ON THE CITY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR NOT ONLY BEING MY GOOD FRIEND, UH, BUT ALSO, UH, COMMITTING YOURSELF TO THE CITY. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT YOU COULD BE DOING, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT YOU ENJOY GOING TO WORK EVERY DAY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JENNY'S TOLD ME OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, LOOK, WE'RE AT CAPACITY. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO GROW. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BRING YOUNG KIDS, UH, WHO HAVE TALENT, BUT WE CAN'T, UH, CONTINUE TO GROW BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE AT CAPACITY HERE IN THE FACILITY. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO BRING, UH, TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSION AND OF THE, OF THE COMMUNITY WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST RECENTLY GOT YOUR, YOUR, YOU WENT THROUGH A PROCESS AND YOU WERE APPROVED ONCE AGAIN, UH, AS THE WINNER, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. AND HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WE CAN GROW SO WE CAN HAVE MORE YOUNG KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED IN GYMNASTICS. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SPORT. IT SHOWS DEDICATION, IT SHOWS COMMUNITY, IT SHOWS TEAMWORK. AND, UM, I THINK IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR YOUNG KIDS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG GIRLS, TO ENGAGE IN SPORTS. MY DAUGHTERS PLAY SOCCER. UH, AND AGAIN, IT TEACHES YOU A LOT. THEY PLAY COMPETITIVE SOCCER. THEY PLAY CLUB SOCCER, THEY PLAY AT THEIR SCHOOL. AND I THINK PLAYING IN SPORTS, UM, IS, IS HEALTHY. THAT COMPETITIVENESS, THAT, THAT I, THAT CONCEPT OF, OF HAVING TO LEAN ON ON YOUR COLLEAGUE, YOU KNOW, AND YOUR FRIEND, THAT THEY GOTTA GET THE SCORE UP BECAUSE MAYBE YOU DIDN'T DO AS GOOD OR THEY GOTTA PICK YOU UP WHEN YOU'RE DOWN. AND THAT'S WHAT THE SPORTS ARE ALL ABOUT. NOT ONLY ABOUT WINNING, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING IN THE MOMENT AND WORKING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL. I WAS GONNA SAY GYMNAST, SALUTE . SAY IT AGAIN AND I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN. YOU'RE HAPPY BECAUSE I HAVE IT HERE. WRITTEN DOWN. GYMNAST SALUTE. LOVE IT. EIGHTIES. WOULD, UH, WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO SEE A FEW WORDS BEFORE MY COLLEAGUES? ANY OF YOU? DON'T BE SHY. CAN'T BE SHY AFTER WINNING. GETTING A PERFECT 10. COME ON. I KNOW THEY WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT COACH NICOLE. ANYONE, ANYONE WILLING TO IT'S OKAY. COME ON. ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA PICK ONE OF YOU WITH THE THREE MEDALS THAT'S, COME ON. COME ON UP. ALRIGHT. MADAME VICE MAYOR. SO I, I USE THE, UH, GYM OVER AT THE YOUTH CENTER AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ALWAYS OBSERVED IS EVERYBODY'S HAPPY. EVERYBODY'S SUPPORTING EACH OTHER. THE FAMILY'S OUTSIDE, NO ONE'S COMPLAINING, AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES. UM, I CAN'T SAY THAT FOR EVERY PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE, BUT, UH, THIS PROGRAM IS SO WELL LOVED IN THE WAY THAT YOU SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND A SPORT AS A TEAM. I MEAN, LIFTING THE SOMEONE UP WHEN THEY'RE HAVING A BAD DAY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THING. 'CAUSE IT LEADS TO WHAT HAPPENS LATER IN LIFE WHEN YOU BECOME AN ADULT AND YOU LEARN HOW TO WORK AS A TEAM, WHETHER WHATEVER JOB THAT YOU HAVE OR IF YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR THE COMMISSION, LEARNING TO WORK TOGETHER IS AN IMPORTANT SKILL SET THAT STARTS NOW WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG, THAT TEAMWORK. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR CITY AND GIVING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THROUGH YOU AND HELP SUPPORT OUR CITY IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WANNA TAKE A PHOTO? YES, I'D BE HONORED TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH YOU. , WHY DON'T YOU WALK AND YOU GUYS GO AND COME ON. NO, [00:35:01] GO. GO. SO THAT SHE CAN WALK ALL THE WAY DOWN. YEAH. CAMILLA, WALK ALL THE WAY DOWN. OKAY. CAMILLA, MAYBE SLIDE DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE. WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE MIDDLE TO THE YES. ALRIGHT. LOOK AT THIS. LOOK OVER THERE. I HEAR THERE'S A BIT OF BACKGROUND NOISE AND A FEW VOICES AROUND YOU. NO WORRIES. TAKE YOUR TIME. I'M HERE. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY TO CHAT MORE, LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU'D LIKE TO CONTINUE OR EXPLORE FURTHER. IF YOU NEED A MOMENT TO SETTLE THINGS OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR ON YOUR MIND, JUST LET ME KNOW. WE CAN PICK RIGHT UP ALREADY. I'M STILL HERE WITH YOU. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY TO DIVE BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS NEXT. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HOPE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. MORNING, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND BUILD AN ANNEX. OH GOD. CONGRATULATIONS BACK. THANKS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU GUYS. THE NEXT ITEM IS DEFERRED, RIGHT? I WAS NOT SURE HE SAYS DEFERRED. OKAY. IF YOU SAY SO. UH, BUT I JUST WANNA CONFIRM ITEM A THREE IS DEFERRED. ITEM A THREE IS DEFERRED. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM A FOUR, [A.-4. Presentation of a Proclamation declaring 2026 as "Physicians To Children Centennial Year" in Coral Gables.] PRESENTATION OR PROCLAMATION DECLARING 2026 AS PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN'S CENTENNIAL YEAR IN CORAL GABLES. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE SON OF FOUNDER, DR. WARREN KILLIAN TO PLEASE JOIN US. DR, HOW ARE YOU? I'M FINE. PLEASE JOIN US. I'M UP MADAM VICE MAYOR. IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US AND THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. AND, UH, WE HAVE A, THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE WAS TWO SEVEN MANY YEARS AGO. HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT? I LOST TRACK OF TIME. I WOULD SAY 75 YEARS. WOW. . OKAY. OH, WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU. I WASN'T HERE THEN. SO . SO, UM, I HAVE A LITTLE POPULATION HERE FOR YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK FIRST OR HAVE IT READ FIRST TO YOU? WHATEVER'S EASIEST FOR YOU, HONOR. OKAY, WELL I'LL I'LL READ IT FIRST 'CAUSE I GET TO LEARN AS I GO. ALRIGHT. AND THEN YOU CAN TEACH ME MORE. WHEREAS FOUNDED IN 1926, PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN IS THE OLDEST PEDIATRIC MEDICAL PRACTICE IN CORAL GABLES AND HAS PROVIDED COMPASSIONATE, HIGH QUALITY PEDIATRIC CARE TO GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES FOR 100 YEARS. AND WHEREAS PRACTICE WAS ESTABLISHED BY DR. WARREN KILLIAN SENIOR, A PIONEERING PHYSICIAN WHOSE LEADERSHIP EXTENDED BEYOND PRIVATE PRACTICE TO INCLUDE FOUNDING JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL'S PEDIATRIC TRAINING PROGRAM, AND SERVING AS THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. AND WHEREAS FOR A CENTURY, PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN'S HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SAFEGUARDING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE CITY'S YOUNGEST RESIDENTS, EARNING THE TRUST OF FAMILIES ACROSS MULTIPLE GENERATIONS, AND CONTRIBUTING TO CORAL GABLE'S REPUTATION AS A COMMUNITY THAT VALUES EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE. AND WHEREAS LONGEVITY, UH, THE, THE LONGEVITY OF PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN REFLECTS NOT ONLY MEDICAL EXPERTISE, BUT ALSO A DEEP COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, CONTINUITY OF CARE AND STRONG COMMUNITY TIES THAT MIRROR THE CITY BEAUTIFULS [00:40:01] OWN ENDURING LEGACY. AND WHEREAS IN 2026, PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN PROUDLY CELEBRATES ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY, A MILESTONE THAT COINCIDES WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES CENTENNIAL ERA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE SHARED HISTORY, GROWTH AND RESILIENCE OF BOTH THE PRACTICE AND THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY IT SERVES. WHEREAS FOR 100 YEARS, THE BILTMORE HOTEL HAS INVESTED IN GENERATIONS OF EMPLOYEES WHOSE DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM HAVE SHAPED ITS LEGACY, STRENGTHENED THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND POSITION TO RESORT AS A GLOBAL AMBASSADOR FOR CORAL GABLES AND ITS VALUES. NOW, THEREFORE, I VINCE ALGO AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO HEREBY PROCLAIM 2026 AS PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN'S CENTENNIAL YEAR IN CORAL GABLES. OKAY. SO IT IT'S YOUR TURN TO, TO EDUCATE US. I, I WOULD SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT HONOR. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US THE HONOR. I'M GLAD I'M STILL UPRIGHT. , UH, ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT, WHAT THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY, THE FAMILY, ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE AND TALK ABOUT IT? I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOUR FAMILY'S DONE IN THE COMMUNITY OR ANYTHING ELSE? LET'S TAKE A PICTURE. HOW ABOUT THAT? JUST A MOMENT IF I CAN HAVE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. OF COURSE. SO DR. QUILLIAN, I, UM, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING, UM, HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES WITH, UH, BOTH YOUR SON WARREN AND YOUR LOVELY, LOVELY DAUGHTER FRANCIS. OH, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, WARREN, EXCELLENT SOCCER PLAYER THAT HE WAS, I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WAS EVER GONNA AMOUNT TO VERY MUCH BECAUSE HE WAS A RAP SKILLION MISCHIEVOUS GUY IN HIGH SCHOOL, WHO I'M PROUD TO SAY IS ALSO A PHYSICIAN TODAY. YES. I WANTED TO THANK, UH, MR. HUDAK FOR COMING TO HIS AGE ON . HE'S WAS THE GREATEST GUY. UH, AND, AND FRANCIS, YOU KNOW, JUST A, A DELIGHT TO HAVE HER AROUND. UH, WE'VE HAD SOME GOOD TIMES WE WENT SKIING TOGETHER, BUT I WANT TO, UH, CONGRATULATE YOU WITH ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY OVER ALL THESE YEARS. YOU ARE A LIVING ICON, I HAVE TO SAY THAT STANDING BEFORE US TODAY. BUT WITH ALL OF YOUR AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS FOR ALL THE CHILDREN YOU'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS, YOUR CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOUR OWN CHILDREN. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. IT IS BEEN A PLEASURE. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. OH, GO AHEAD, PLEASE. NO, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, TO BELONG TO THIS INSTITUTION, PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN THAT HAS SERVING CHILDRENS AND THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES FOR A HUNDRED YEARS IS, UM, IS BOTH A HUMBLING AND INSPIRING, UM, TO CONTINUE YOUR FOOTSTEPS, YOUR VALUES, AND TO PRACTICE WITH SUCH A WONDERFUL, KNOWLEDGEABLE PARTNER, EXCEPTIONAL AND MANY, MANY OTHER ADJECTIVES THAT I DOESN'T COME TO MIND, AS WELL AS OUR NEW PARTNER. MM-HMM . WHO IS PROBABLY THE ARCHITECT OF HAVING US HERE, BECAUSE SHE WAS THE ONE WHO DECIDED TO EXPOSE OUR OFFICE TO YOU, EVEN THOUGH MANY OF YOU KNOW PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN, UM, AND WITH GENUINE INTELLIGENCE. NO AI, NO NOT AI . UM, ALSO THE OFFICE WAS LIKE PRESENTED, UM, IN, UH, THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM A FEW YEARS AGO AND WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN A, UM, COMMEMORATING DR. QUILLIAN AND HIS FATHER AND SO ON. SO IT WAS VERY NEAT. BUT ANYWAY, UM, IT'S A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE HERE, UH, TO THANK YOU ALL TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR OFFICE MANAGER TERRY, WHO HAS BEEN ALSO A FOUNDATION IN OUR PRACTICE, UH, THE FAMILY OF THE DOCTORS. UM, AND, UM, AND I JUST ONLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH DR. Q FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE AND YOUR FATHER IN KEEPING THIS BEAUTIFUL INSTITUTION OF HOPE AND VALUES, GOOD MORAL VALUES AND HONESTY AND KNOWLEDGE WELL [00:45:01] KNOWN. THANK YOU EVERYONE. HERE YOU ARE, AS WELL AS MY PARTNERS HERE, . OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT TO PRACTICE WITH MY DAUGHTER. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TOO. NO, IT'S NOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US. IT'S, IT'S TRULY AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE JOINING SUCH A, A, A BEAUTIFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE AND A, UH, A PRACTICE THAT IS REALLY, UH, HERE TO SERVE AND CARE FOR LITTLE ONES AND OUR FAMILIES. AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE LEGACY THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD MAYOR COMMISSIONERS THAT IT REALLY HAS BEEN REALLY MORE LIKE A FAMILY, BEEN A PRACTICE. DR. KUAN WAS MY PEDIATRICIAN FOR OVER, IT'S BEEN OVER 60 YEARS AND THEN I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF JOINING HIM, UH, AND HAVING HIS MENTORSHIP, WHICH WAS AMAZING. AND THEN THE BLESSING OF WORKING WITH DR. LEBORA FOR ALL THESE MANY DECADES HAS BEEN REALLY AN ANSWERED PRAYER. AND OF, OF COURSE, SARAH MARIE, JUST A REAL PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TIME AND FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU, SIR. THE MAYOR. YES, OF COURSE. UM, I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE, I SHOULD HAVE PRE-READ THIS. IT MENTIONED THE BILTMORE HOTEL. IT SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THE POSITIONS TO CHILDREN. SO THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS GONNA CORRECT AND GIVE YOU A CORRECTED VERSION OF THE PROCLAMATION BEFORE YOU LEAVE. THEY'RE WORKING FEVERISHLY ON IT RIGHT NOW, SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE WITH THIS ONE. BUT YOU'RE GONNA GET THE CORRECTED TYPE. AND AARON, THE BILTMORE HOTEL WILL BE SUBSTITUTED OUT FOR PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE, UM, CLERICAL ERROR THAT OCCURRED AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO, WHATEVER, WANNA MAKE SURE I, ONE OF MY FAVORITE. OOPS, I GET YOU DOWN. FORGET, MAKE SURE YOU GOING THIS WAY OR THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GRAB ONTO THIS. BE VERY CAREFUL. TELL US THAT. VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT. I APPRECIATE. EXCELLENT. TAKE CARE. DID YOU SEND ME THE ADDRESS? YEAH, I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. LEMME HAVE IT. I'LL WRITE IT DOWN. I JUST WRITE IT TO YOU. YES. 2 6 1 GREENWAY. OH, OKAY. [00:50:06] THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. PERFECT. THANK YOU. SO AS THE PHYSICIANS WERE LEAVING, THEY WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS FOR ANOTHER A HUNDRED YEARS. ALRIGHT. I LOOKED AT THE YOUNG LADY WHO'S TAKING OVER THE PRACTICE AND I SAID, UH, NO PRESSURE, NO PRESSURE. , IMAGINE THAT I'M GONNA DO IT FOR ANOTHER A HUNDRED YEARS. NO PRESSURE. OKAY. UH, THAT'S NO, NO SMALL TASK AS THE SON OF A PHYSICIAN, NO. TRUST ME, I KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH EVERY DAY. ITEM A FIVE. [A.-5. Congratulations to Firefighter Daniel Mosqueira recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Firefighter of the Year Award,” for 2025.] CONGRATULATIONS TO FIREFIGHTER DANIEL MOSQUEDA, RECIPIENT OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLE'S, FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR 2025. GOOD MORNING, CHIEF. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMISSION. SO AS I PRESENT TO YOU WHY HE WAS SELECTED AS OUR FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME HISTORY, UM, WITH OUR FIREFIGHTER, HE'S A SIX YEAR VETERAN. HE CAME TO US TWO YEARS AGO. HE WAS A SIX YEAR VETERAN OF THE NAPLES FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND HIS CLAIM TO FAME THAT HE, I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS INFAMOUS OR FAME, HE WAS THE FIREFIGHTER ON DUTY DURING HURRICANE IRMA THAT WE SAW ALL THE FOOTAGE WHERE THERE STATIONED FLOODED. THAT WAS HIS ENGINE THAT HE PULLED OUT OF THE BAY DUE TO THE FLOODING. SO THAT WAS, UH, HIS CLAIM TO FAME AND HISTORY BEHIND HIM. BUT THERE IS A FAMOUS SCENE IN THAT MOVIE, BACKDRAFT OF MANY YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A FIRE DEPARTMENT MOVIE AND DONALD SUTHERLAND'S CHARACTER SAID, FUNNY THING ABOUT FIREFIGHTERS IS THEY'RE ALWAYS FIREFIGHTERS, WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE JOB OR NOT. UH, THE REASON THAT DANIEL WAS SELECTED AS OUR FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH, HE WAS OFF DUTY AND HE WAS GOING TO BREAKFAST WITH HIS LOVELY WIFE WHO WAS WITH US TODAY. AND SHE WAS PREGNANT WHEN HE NOTICED AN INDIVIDUAL SLUMPED OVER THE WHEEL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE, UH, WENT IN RENDERED HAIR, HELP ANOTHER FIREFIGHTER ALSO STOPPED, AND THEY COMMENCED TO DO CPR UNTIL MIAMI-DADE FIRE RESCUE ARRIVED AND TOOK OVER THE PATIENT. SO FOR HIS DEDICATION AND HIS LIFE SAVING COMMITMENT, WHETHER ON OR OFF DUTY, HE SELECTED AS OUR, UH, FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO DANIEL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO CHIEF DELAROSA, THE COMMAND STAFF AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT THE CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT. ALSO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I ALSO WANT TO THANK CITY, THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, AND THE COMMISSIONER. I'M TRULY HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BE STAYING HERE TODAY. AS WE KNOW, THIS JOB IS NOT A ONE PERSON JOB. IT IS BUILT ON TEAMWORK AND, AND TEAM BONDING. NO ONE EARNS THIS. NO ONE EARNS THIS AWARD BY THEMSELVES. EVERY CALL, EVERY LONG SHIFT AND EVERY MOMENT, IT'S ALL DONE SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS DEPARTMENT TO MY SHIFTS, MY CREWS, MY CLASSMATES OF 24 0 1 AND OUR CADRE. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE TRUST AND FOR ALWAYS HAVING OUR BACKS TO THE LEADERSHIP AND THE TRAINING DIVISION. THANK YOU FOR SETTING THE STANDARD AND GIVING US A TRAINING AND GUIDANCE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY IN THE RIGHT WAY. AND TO MY FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SACRIFICES YOU MAKE. SO I COULD DO THIS JOB, ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO MY WIFE CHRISTIE, AND MY SON MILES, FOR ALWAYS BEING MY MOTIVATION. EVERY SHIFT AND EVERY DAY. CORAL GABLES IS A SPECIAL COMMUNITY AND IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AND WORK HERE. THIS AWARD MAY HAVE MY NAME ON IT, BUT IT TRULY BELONGS TO THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CULTURE WE SHARE. I'M PROUD TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SIX YEARS OF SERVICE AND YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS COMMUNITY. AGAIN, THIS IS WHY WE LIVE IN THE BEST COMMUNITY, BECAUSE OF THE EMPLOYEES LIKE YOURSELF WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY, AWAY FROM THEIR PERSONAL ENDEAVORS, UH, TO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE SAFE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND GOING ABOVE, YOU KNOW, THE DAILY CALL, TAKING THAT EXTRA NECESSARY STEP TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, WE SHINE EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. [00:55:35] CONGRATULATIONS. YOU GUYS WORK. FIRST, FIRST TIME. SEEN SOMEBODY ACTUALLY SIGN CORRUPT. YEAH. YEAH. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. MR. CLERK. WE HAVE NO APPROVAL OF MINUTES. CORRECT. NOW [C. PUBLIC COMMENTS] WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I'D LIKE TO READ A BRIEF STATEMENT INTO THE RECORD. WELCOME. I'M GONNA ASK EVERYONE WHO COMES TO THE STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH THE COMMISSION. AS A REMINDER, THESE COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE CITY COMMISSION'S JURISDICTION. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM THAT IS ON THE AGENDA RIGHT NOW, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU WILL NOT BE GIVEN AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN ONCE THE ITEM IS CALLED, ALL COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE, ALL COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE. WHEN THE THREE MINUTES IS UP, THE TIMER WILL BEEP. I ASK YOU TO PLEASE WRAP UP YOUR SENTENCE AND LEAVE THE PODIUM WHEN YOU'RE DONE SPEAKING. IF SOMEONE KEEPS TALKING AFTER THREE MINUTES, I'LL ASK YOU VERY RESPECTFULLY TO PLEASE FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CLERK. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. FIRST SPEAKER THIS MORNING, MR. MAYOR CRUZ, MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. AS WE ALL KNOW, FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH RECOGNIZED FOR LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP. A FEW WEEKS AGO AT THIS IN THIS CHAMBER, I WAS IDENTIFIED AS MY DEAR FRIEND IN THE BACK. SO I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TODAY TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THE FRIENDSHIP THAT I HAD WITH SOME PEOPLE ON THE DIOCESE. PEOPLE ASKED ME ALL THE TIME WHETHER WE WERE REALLY FRIENDS AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT TO REST. YES, WE WERE FRIENDS AND IT'S EXTREMELY SAD THAT WE'RE NOT ANYMORE. BILLY, CAN YOU CABLE TV COULD PLEASE PUT UP THE PHOTO I'M SHARING ON ZOOM, AND THAT'S FROM THE INSTAGRAM PICTURE THAT I FOUND THAT SHOWS THAT WE WERE REALLY FRIENDS. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, JAVIER SAN JUAN. GOOD MORNING SIR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. GOOD TO BE HERE. HI, GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE MAYOR LAGO, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON, COMMISSIONERS AND OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I AM JAVIER SAN JUAN HOMEOWNER OF 3 0 5 SANTANDER AVENUE IN CORAL GABLES. AND I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, OR SHOULD I SAY, CITY BEAUTIFUL IN MY HOME, CASA SANTANDER SINCE 2008. [01:00:01] I CHOSE TO MOVE TO THIS CITY 18 YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE CORAL GABLES UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE, CHARACTER, AND ITS RESIDENTIAL SCALE AND BALANCE, AS WELL AS ITS LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING ITS RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. BETTER SAID, IN 2008 WHEN I MOVED HERE, I WAS A BELIEVER IN GEORGE MERRICK'S WONDERFUL VERSION. MR. MERRICK WAS DEFINITELY AHEAD OF HIS TIME, AS WAS THE CITY HE FOUNDED. AS A MATTER OF BACKGROUND, MY HOME AND DUPLEX WAS PLANNED, BUILT, AND SOLD TO ME BY THE HONORABLE BERNARDO NAVARRO, A RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY, WHO YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW. AND MY TWO NEIGHBOR, EXCUSE ME, MY TWO NEIGHBORING DUPLEXES WERE BUILT BY THE WELL-KNOWN MG DEVELOPERS. I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING THE DIRECT AND AND RECENT ACQUISITION BY A DEVELOPER OF THREE HOMES DIRECTLY BEHIND MY AND MY NEIGHBOR'S HOMES. THESE RECENTLY ACQUIRED HOMES ARE ADDRESSED AT 300, 310 AND 318 MALAGA AVENUE. MOST OF MY NEIGHBORS AND I RESIDENTS OF 3 0 1 3 0 5 3 0 9 3 11, 3 15, AND THREE 17 SANTANDER AVENUE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THIS RECENT ACQUISITION COULD RESULT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HIGH RISE BUILDING RIGHT OFF OF OUR BACKYARDS. ONE SIMILAR TO THE LARGE ELECTION CRAFTS I RISE RECENTLY BUILT BY TRAMELL CROW DEVELOPERS BETWEEN MALAGA AND CATALONIA AVENUES. EACH OF OUR SIX HOMES IS A RELATIVELY NEW TWO STORY RESIDENTIAL DUPLEX. WITH BETWEEN 2,220 500 SQUARE FEET OF LIVING SPACE BUILT AGAIN BETWEEN 2008 AND 2017, THESE HOUSES WERE CONSTRUCTED AND PURCHASED IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE REASONABLE AND JUSTIFIED EXPECTATION THAT THE SCALE, CHARACTER AND PRIVACY OF OUR UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE PREFERRED. BY WAY OF CONTEXT, MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AT 3 0 9 SANTANDER AVENUE PURCHASED THEIR TWO STORY HOME JUST LAST YEAR FOR APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION. AND THE 3 1 7 SANTANDER AVENUE NEXT DOOR IS CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET FOR $2.650 MILLION. SHOULD A HIGH RISE DEVELOPMENT BE PERMITTED ON THE RECENTLY ACQUIRED MALAGA AVENUE LOTS, SIX SANTANDER AVENUE FAMILIES WOULD FACE THE CHILLING AND UNFAIR REALISM OF A SEVEN STORY BUILDING JUST A FEW FEET. AND I EMPHASIZE JUST A FEW FEET AS IN BETWEEN ME AND WHERE YOU ARE OF A SEVEN STORY BUILDING. JUST THEY'RE DIRECTLY BEHIND OUR BACKYARDS, NOT EVEN A STREET TO DIVIDE A SINGLE HOME FROM A HIGH RISE. AND IF SUCH A HIGH RISE DEVELOPMENT PRECEDENT WERE TO BE ESTABLISHED, WHAT'S LEFT OF THE REST OF THE ENTIRE BLOCK MAY EASILY FOLLOW WITH HIGH RISE STRUCTURES AND NOT ROWS OF TOWN HOMES AND DUPLEXES, WHICH WAS THE DIRECTION THAT THE BLOCK WAS TAKING PRIOR TO THIS RECENT DEVELOPMENT. THIS WOULD LITERALLY MEAN DOZENS OF WINDOWS AND POSSIBLY AN OPEN ROOFTOP AREA WITH DIRECT UNOBSTRUCTED SITE LINES INTO THE SIX PRIVATE HOMES WITH PRIVATE LIVING AREAS, INCLUDING LIVING ROOMS, DINING ROOMS, BEDROOMS, BACKYARDS, AND POOLS OF THE SIX HOUSES, A HIGHRISE CONDOMINIUM WITHIN A FEW FEET DIRECTLY BEHIND OUR PROPERTIES WOULD DRAMATICALLY AND N NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR PRIVACY, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND NOT TO MENTION THE VALUE OF EACH OF OUR HOMES ALL WITHOUT ANY ACTION OR FAULT ON OUR PART. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THESE SIX SENT AND THEIR AVENUE HOMES I REFERRED TO WERE BUILT MANY YEARS PRIOR TO THE CONTROVERSIAL 2021 REZONING OF A PORTION OF THE CORAL GABLE CRAFT SECTION ON AND OFF. UH, I, I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THAT, UH, A FORMER, UM, COMMISSIONER WAS VERY INVOLVED IN SOME OF THESE REZONING THINGS. UH, ERIC MENENDEZ AND HE ALSO HAS A HOUSE A FEW BLOCKS DOWN FROM ME, NOT A FEW BLOCKS, A FEW HOUSES. EXCUSE ME. YOU MEANT, YOU MEANT TO SAY KIRK MENENDEZ. CORRECT. KIRK. KIRK MENENDEZ. OKAY. UH, WHO WAS VERY, VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THIS CONTROVERSIAL, UH, 2021 REZONING, WHICH I CALLED 2021 COVID. UH, BECAUSE WE WERE ALL GONE. WE WERE, WE WERE TRAVELING, WE WERE NOT GOING OUT OF OUR HOUSES AND WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. THE INVESTORS, BUILDERS AND [01:05:01] OWNERS OF THESE HOMES MOST CERTAINLY DID NOT BUY INTO A TRANSITION ZONE OR A HIGH DENSITY CORRIDOR. THE HOMES WERE BUILT IN A STABLE, LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WITH FAIR-MINDED AND REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF ZONING RELATED PROTECTION BY THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WE WERE EVEN TOLD THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS NEXT TO A CORAL GABLES SITE WITH HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, WHICH HAD NEIGHBORHOOD HEIGHT RESTRICTION CONSIDERATIONS IN PLACE. CLARITY FROM THIS HONORABLE COMMISSION IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR PEACE OF MIND AND OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT OUR HOMES AND FAMILIES. TODAY. ON BEHALF OF MY NEIGHBORS AND MYSELF, I HUMBLY AND RESPECTFULLY ASK THE HONORABLE CORU GABLES MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS TO PLEASE PROVIDE CLEAR AND TIMELY GUIDANCE REGARDING THE APPLICABLE ZONING HEIGHT LIMITATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS FOR THE THREE PROPERTIES DIRECTLY BEHIND OUR HOMES. MY CAR, MY CARDIOLOGIST ASKED ME TO PUT THAT THERE . I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CLEAR THAT I AM NOT HERE TO OPPOSE REASONABLE DEVELOPMENT. ON THE CONTRARY, I AM SIMPLY HERE TO ASK FOR FAIRNESS, CONSIDERATION, AND TRANSPARENCY FOR THE HARDWORKING AND, AND THEIR AVENUE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE INVESTED THEIR LIVES AND THEIR CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS INTO THIS FINE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY. FINALLY, WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND MEET WITH THE DEVELOPERS AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IN A CONSTRUCTIVE AND RESPECTFUL MANNER TO DISCUSS THEIR PLANS AND SHARE OUR VERY REAL AND VALID CONCERNS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR SERVICE, AND FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE HONORABLE MAYOR, THE VICE MAYOR, THE COMMISSIONERS, AND THE OFFICERS OF CORAL GABLES, UH, REGARDING THESE MATTERS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY ON THE RECORD, MR. MANAGER, THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT. UM, THIS GENTLEMAN HAS COME TO SEE ME BEFORE ON, ON ZONING MATTERS AND OTHER MATTERS THAT DEAL WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS HERE WHEN THE LOT FOR TREMCO, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BUILT AND HAS A CO AND IS INHABITED NOW, WAS BUILT THAT ZONING WAS SEVEN STORIES, CORRECT? IT'S MX ONE HAS SEVEN STORIES, UH, WITH MEDITERRANEAN BONUS. SO 77 FEET, CORRECT. 77 FEET WITH THEN VICE MAYOR MIKE MANNA TOOK THE PROPERTY WHERE YOU LIVE THE ENTIRE BLOCK. AND DURING MUCH NEGOTIATION STATED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A TRANSITION TO THE HISTORIC BUILDING, WHICH IS ON THE CORNER OF LAJEUNE AND UNIVERSITY, WHICH YOU CAN SEE. MR. CLERK, CAN YOU PUT UP THAT PHOTO AGAIN PLEASE? YES. I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR. I WANNA PUT THIS ON THE RECORD AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SATISFY THE RESIDENT. SO IN BETWEEN THAT TREVOR CROW PROJECT, WHICH IS COMPLETED AND IS, WAS ALLOWED TO BE 77 FEET AND HAS A PARK ON THE CORNER, YOU CAN SEE THE EMPTY LOT WHERE THE RED.IS, WHERE IS THE BLOCK IN QUESTION? THAT BLOCK WAS ZONED BY THE VICE MAYOR THEN MIKE MENA, TO 45 FEET MAXIMUM. SO AFTER MUCH DISCUSSIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE THREE HOMEOWNERS THAT SOLD THEIR PROPERTIES JUST RECENTLY GOT TIRED OF WAITING. AND AS, AS THEY WERE TRYING TO ASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE BLOCK, THEY SOLD THE PROPERTIES, THOSE HOMES CANNOT BE TALLER THAN 45 FEET. SO WHAT YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE THERE IS A TOWNHOUSE THREE STORY PRODUCT SIMILAR TO WHAT MG PRODUCES IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY. THAT IS THE MAXIMUM THAT'S ALLOWED BY THE CODE. THEY CAN ALWAYS COME BACK, BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHERE I STAND AND MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO INTERJECT AND ADD THEIR POSITION. I'M PERFECTLY WELCOME TO THAT. I WILL NOT ACCEPT A REZONING ABOUT 45 FEET THERE. WHY? 'CAUSE YOU'RE AT 77 FEET FOR THE TMO CROW PROJECT, WHICH IS JUST NORTH. YOU CAN SEE THE EMPTY LOT. IT'S NO LONGER EMPTY. NOW IT'S A BUILDING AND YOU HAVE YOUR ENTIRE BLOCK, WHICH IS A PERFECT TRANSITION TO THE HISTORIC BUILDING THAT YOU SEE THERE, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE A TRIANGLE ON THE CORNER OF LEJEUNE UNIVERSITY. THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI BUILDING, CORRECT? UH, THAT IS CORRECT, MAYOR. SO THAT IS A HISTORIC BUILDING AND THAT'S WHY WE WENT FROM 77 FEET AT THE TERMINAL CROW SITE TO YOUR ENTIRE BLOCK, WHICH IS 45 FEET TO THIS BUILDING, WHICH I THINK MAY BE 40 FEET OR, OR 35 FEET OR SOME, THE HISTORIC BUILDING. SO YOU HAVE A VERY SMOOTH TRANSITION THAT AGAIN, MINIMIZES THE IMPACT OF, OF WHAT YOU SEE THERE. I WILL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, SUPPORT AN [01:10:01] INCREASE IN HEIGHT ON THOSE THREE LOTS OR IN YOUR BLOCK. IT IS 45 FEET AND MY ROLE WILL, WILL REMAIN 45 FEET. YOU THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. UM, I WANT TO ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS. I WASN'T ON THE COMMISSION AT THE TIME THAT, UH, THE TRAMELL CROW PROJECT, UM, WAS, UH, ELEVATED TO, UH, 77 FEET. SEVEN STORY. I WOULD, I WOULDN'T HAVE VOTED FOR THAT IF I WAS ON THE, THE COMMISSION AT THAT TIME. BUT I'M ALSO, UH, ECHOING THE MAYOR IN STATING THAT I AM COM VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED AND WOULD NOT VOTE FOR ANY CHANGE TO THE 300 BLOCK OF MALAGA TO BE ABOVE THE 45 FEET, WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED NOW. SO YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT, UH, SHOULD THAT EVER COME UP IN THE FUTURE. MAYOR, MAYOR, VICE MAD VICE MAYOR. SO I'M GONNA ADD IN, IN THE ZONING IN THAT AREA ALSO UH, LIMITS TO 45 FEET, ANYTHING WITHIN A HUNDRED FEET OF LAJEUNE ROAD. AND THIS WOULD BRING A CONSISTENT HOLLOW WAY ACROSS. AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY POSITION THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THESE TRANSITION ZONES DOWN TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA. AND IT WOULD NOT BE, UH, APPROPRIATE WITHIN A FEW FEET OF THE, OF A HOME, A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOME WITHOUT A STREET SEPARATION TO HAVE ANYTHING MORE THAN THE 45 FEET THAT'S ALREADY BEEN, UH, ZONED THERE. AND I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TOO, JUST SINCE I WANNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PUTTING IT ON THE RECORD. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT 'CAUSE I'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF UNIVERSITY, THAT'S SOUTH SIDE OF UNIVERSITY. SO YOU HAVE YOUR LOT, YOUR BLOCK, THEN YOU HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI BLOCK. IT'S NO LONGER UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, NOW IT'S AN APARTMENT BUILDING, AND YOU HAVE UNIVERSITY, AND THEN YOU HAVE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ON THE OTHER SIDE, RIGHT FROM THERE ALL THE WAY TO BIRD ROAD. I WILL NOT CHANGE THE ZONING. THE DIVIDING LINE IS UNIVERSITY. IT'S VERY CLEAR THERE WILL NOT BE ANY ZONING CHANGE THAT WILL NOT ENTERTAIN A ZONING CHANGE NEITHER ON PONDS OR ON LAJEUNE, EVEN IF YOUR PROPERTY'S ON LAJEUNE. SO I'VE HAD PEOPLE COME UP TO ME, CAN WE TURN A TWO INTO A FOUR? CAN WE OPEN AN OFFICE? CAN WE DO SOMETHING WITH SOME FRONTAGE TO LAJEUNE? UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES. THE DIVIDING LINE FOR ME IN REGARDS TO DEVELOPMENT IS UNIVERSITY. AND YOU CAN SEE A PERFECTLY WELL CHOREOGRAPHED STEP DOWN IN BUILDINGS THAT RESPECTS THE HISTORIC NATURE OF THE BUILDING ON THE CORNER OF LEJEUNE UNIVERSITY, BUT ALSO ENSURES THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THE STREET IS PROTECTED. UM, NOBODY KNOWS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, WHY THOSE THREE BLOCKS ENDED UP BEING RESIDENTIAL WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE WAS COMMERCIAL, BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKED OUT. MR. MANAGER, MAYOR. THANK YOU. MAYOR. UH, WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT THAT PARTICULAR BLOCK IS NOT, MX IS NOT MULTI-USE, IS MULTI-FAMILY. YEP. SO WE HAVE THE FIRST BLOCK NORTH OF THE UNIVERSITY'S MULTIFAMILY, AND THEN THE OTHER TWO BLOCKS ARE MIXED USE. AND THAT MULTIFAMILY SITE HAS BEEN, LI WAS LIMITED, AS YOU MENTIONED, TO 45 FEET. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UH, MR. SAN JUANA HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF VISITING YOUR HOME, AND I HAD PRIVILEGE OF VISITING WITH BOTH OF YOU. UH, AND I THINK THE, THE, THE BIGGEST SELLING POINT TO ANYBODY WHO IS ON THE FENCE ON THIS ARGUMENT IS STEPPING INTO YOUR BACKYARD, UH, AND JUST VISUALIZING WHAT EVEN A 45 FOOT BUILDING WOULD BE BEHIND YOUR HOME. UH, AND THE INVASION OF PRIVACY THAT IT WOULD BE. UM, I WOULD DEFINITELY BE AGAINST, UH, ANY, UH, CHANGE IN THAT ZONING. UH, AND IN FACT, I WOULD URGE THE DEVELOPER WHO WAS PURCHASED, UH, TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE HOMES THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE. AND WHEN THEY'RE PROPOSING A PROJECT, TRY TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT MINIMIZES THE IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON THE PRIVACY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF YOU, THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE. UM, BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT. I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. UH, THERE SHOULD BE NO CHANGES TO, UH, THE ZONING SOUTH OF UNIVERSITY EITHER. I THINK WE NEED TO PRESERVE OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS THERE. UH, WE HAVE, UM, AN INCREDIBLE WEALTH OF, UM, COMMUNITY THERE, UH, A COMMUNITY THAT'S VERY UNITED. UH, AND THEY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE THESE SMALLER SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, UH, THAT THEY CAN ENJOY. AND, UM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE PRESERVE THAT. UM, I THINK THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE HERE, UH, WITH THE UPZONING ALREADY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. UM, BUT WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE DEVELOPERS AS THEY HAVE IN OTHER PROJECTS WHERE THEY HAVEN'T MAXIMIZED ON WHAT THEY CAN BUILD, UH, TO TRY TO WORK WITH YOU. AND I APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO SIT DOWN. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN YOUR, UH, YOUR MOTTO. THE TIMES THAT WE'VE SPOKEN, BOTH OF YOU HAVE SAID, WE'RE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AND FIND A SOLUTION THAT WORKS, UH, FOR BOTH SIDES, BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR OWNERSHIP, RIGHT? AND THEIR ABILITY TO, UH, TO BUILD THIS SOMETHING THAT THEY DO HAVE. UH, BUT I THINK THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE THAT, UH, OTHER SIDE WHERE THEY CAN APPRECIATE THE FACT WHATEVER THEY BUILD THERE IS GOING TO BE RIGHT BEHIND YOUR HOUSE. UH, AND THESE AREN'T VERY LARGE PROPERTIES WHERE YOU HAVE, YOU [01:15:01] KNOW, THESE HUGE TREES THAT CAN, UH, PROTECT YOU. UH, THERE IS NO TREE CANOPY THERE, UH, THAT CAN PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM THE VISIBILITY THAT YOU HAVE FROM A THREE OR FOUR STORY BUILDING BEHIND YOU. UH, SO, UH, AGAIN, UM, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO HELP, UM, YOU KNOW, MEDIATE BETWEEN YOU AND THE DEVELOPER, HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH BOTH SIDES THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. YES. FIRST, I WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO GO AHEAD AND, UM, SAY YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT HERE AND, AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. I WANNA REASSURE YOU AS THE STRONGEST VOICE ON THIS COMMISSION THAT YOU HAVE MY COMPLETE, UM, ATTENTION WHEN IT COMES TO THIS. I WILL HAVE A VERY, VERY STRONG STANCE WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGING OR UPZONING THE ZONING CODE. AND YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT FROM MY PART. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP. OF COURSE, VERY QUICKLY, ONE THING THAT GOT US EXTREMELY WORRIED WAS THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER DEVELOPER THAT WANTED TO DO THE, THE ENTIRE BLOCK. AND WHAT WE HEARD WAS THAT THEY WANTED TO DO A HIGH RISE. THEY SPOKE TO EVERYBODY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD EXCEPT FOR THE FOUR DUPLEXES, EIGHT FAMILIES. THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANNA TALK TO US. AND SO STUFF LIKE THAT GOT US WORRIED. AND THEN THIS IS THE NEXT. SO I, I WAS WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOOT TO FALL. THE, THE, THE SAYING, THE OTHER SHOOT TO FALL AFTER THESE ACQUISITIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SHOOT FALLING, BUT I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SO, AS IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE, BY THE WAY. THANK YOU. SO AS I VISITED YOU, YOUR HOUSE A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN WE WERE WALKING DOOR TO DOOR, AND AS YOU COME TO VISIT ME, I TOLD YOU, IF YOU'RE IN, IF YOU'RE NOT SURE IN REGARDS TO THE COMMISSION'S POSITION, I WILL TELL YOU MY POSITION ON THE RECORD. SO IT WAS A PLEASURE TO INVITE YOU AND I'M HAPPY YOU CAME. AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THEY CAN ONLY BUILD 45 FEET AT THE END OF THE DAY. I KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO TRY THAT WAS LED BY COMMISSIONER MENENDEZ IN AN EFFORT TO UP ZONE THAT PROPERTY, SO THERE COULD BE MORE OF AN ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION IN THE SALE THAT DID NOT FALL, THAT FELL THROUGH WHEN THE THREE PROPERTIES SOLD, BREAKING UP THE ENTIRE PARCEL. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WORKED OUT IN YOUR FAVOR, IN THE COMMUNITY'S FAVOR. AND IF THEY DO BRING IT FORWARD TO THE COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION, I WILL OBVIOUSLY KEEP MY WORD AND SAY THAT I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF CHANGING THE ZONING. NOT ONE INCH. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. CLERK JACKSON HOLMES. GOOD MORNING, SIR. GREETINGS, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, MY NAME IS JACKSON ALS. I LIVE AT 35 SED AVENUE IN CORAL GABLES. UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE UPCOMING REFERENDUM VOTE BY MAIL. UH, AND I URGE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING, UH, THIS PROCEEDING ON TELEVISION AND WHATNOT, UH, TO VOTE, UH, TO KEEP OUR ELECTIONS IN APRIL. THIS REALLY IS A DEVELOPER PLOT TO TAKE CONTROL FOREVER OF CORAL GABLES. HOW SO? IF WE MOVE THE ELECTION TO NOVEMBER, IT WILL BE SUCH SUCH A CROWDED BALLOT WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT REALLY FOCUSED ON CORAL GABLES. IT'LL BE VOTING FOR PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNOR, AND THEN THE VOTING IN CORAL GABLES WILL ALMOST BE AN AFTERTHOUGHT. AND THEY WON'T EVEN NECESSARILY KNOW WHICH CANDIDATE IS WHICH. AND HERE'S WHERE THE DEVELOPERS TAKE OVER OUR CITY FOREVER. THEY BUY NAME RECOGNITION IN ADVERTISING. THE REGULAR GUY, UH, CAN'T AFFORD THAT KIND OF PURCHASE OF NAME RECOGNITION. AND SO THE DEVELOPERS WILL HAVE, IF WE MOVE IT TO NOVEMBER, BOUGHT CITY HALL, AND THEY WILL CHANGE THIS CITY TO MAKE IT UNRECOGNIZABLE. THE BEST OUTCOME MIGHT BE BRICKELL AVENUE, AND THE WORST MIGHT BE THE CITY OF MIAMI. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PAUL SAVAGE. MR. SAVAGE, GOOD MORNING. GOOD TO SEE YOU. HI, GOOD MORNING. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO SEE THE HONORABLE MAYOR, THE HONORABLE VICE MAYOR, AND THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. UH, SOMETIMES I'M HERE ON CONTROVERSIAL ITEMS, AND THIS MORNING I HAVE A NICE EASY ONE, AND I JUST WANTED TO COME DOWN AND PERSONALLY AND INFORMALLY THANK THE COMMISSION FOR ITS SUPPORT OF CORAL GABLES HIGH SCHOOL. UH, IN CASE I DIDN'T SAY FOR THE RECORD, I LIVE AT 5 22 VELLA AVENUE IN CORAL GABLES, WHICH IS THE STREET IMMEDIATELY BEHIND CORAL GABLES HIGH. UH, I AM THE PROUD FATHER OF A, OF A GRADUATE OF [01:20:01] CORAL GABLES HIGH, WHO'S NOW AT EMORY UNIVERSITY. AND I ALSO HAVE A JUNIOR. MY SON IS A JUNIOR AT CORAL GABLES HIGH. I'M HERE TODAY, UH, AS A VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF CORAL GABLES HIGH. UH, AND I'M TO THANK THE, UH, COMMISSION AND THE MAYOR AND THE VICE MAYOR FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF CORAL GABLES HIGH. UH, SOMETIMES I'M HERE ASKING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OR I'M ASKING FOR, UH, INTERLOCAL COOPERATION FOR EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT TODAY, I'M JUST HERE TO THANK YOU AND TO, UM, UM, AND IN EXPRESSION OF OUR SUPPORT, UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR AS THE CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO HAND OUT AN INVITATION TO OUR NEXT EVENT. UH, AND I INVITE YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO PLEASE RSVP, UH, TO THE EMAIL THAT I'LL PROVIDE. UM, AND WE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO HOST YOU AT A VERY NICE GARDEN PARTY THAT WE HAVE COMING UP NEXT MONTH. SO, UM, TODAY, AGAIN, IS A, IS A HAPPY ONE. I REALLY ENJOYED, UM, THE FUN PART OF YOUR JOB THIS MORNING, HONORING THE, UH, HONORING OUR MEDALISTS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND THE LIKE AND IN THAT ELK. WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO HAND OUT THIS INVITATION. AND AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AT CORAL GABLES HIGH, WHICH I NOTE IS NOW AN A SCHOOL, UM, AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME YEARS NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. SAVAGE, FOR ALWAYS, ALWAYS ENGAGING IN THE COMMUNITY AND BRINGING US, NO MATTER IF IT'S CONTROVERSIAL, IT'S IMPORTANT. , THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE. THANK YOU MY FRIEND. MR. CLERK. NEXT. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE ON TO [D. CONSENT AGENDA] THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE THE BOARD ADOPTING THE CONSENT AGENDA IS TAKEN. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OR REVIEW OF ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? NOT MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR A AYE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, MOVING ON [E.-1. An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 105, “Buildings and Building Regulations,” of the Code of the City of Coral Gables by amending Section 105-30, “Construction Staging Plans,” to modify construction fencing requirements; requiring visual displays in multi-family, mixed-use, and Special Use and Preservation zoned districts; establishing standards for temporary storefront barricades; and by creating Section 105-33, “Demolition Standards,” to establish requirements for demolition activities; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] TO ITEM E ONE. E ONE IS IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 1 0 5 BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES BY AMENDING SECTION 1 0 5 DASH 30 CONSTRUCTION STAGING PLANS TO MODIFY CONSTRUCTION FENCING REQUIREMENTS REQUIRING VISUAL DISPLAYS IN MULTI-FAMILY MIXED USE AND SPECIAL USE IN PRESERVATION ZONE DISTRICTS ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR TEMPORARY STORE FROM BARRICADES. AND BY CREATING SECTION 1 0 5 DASH 33 DEMOLITION STANDARDS TO ESTABLISH REQUIREMENTS FOR DEMOLITION ACTIVITIES PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISIONS OF ABILITY CLAUSE CODIFICATION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING? OH, I DIDN'T SEE YOU THERE, . GOOD TO SEE YOU, MADAM DIRECTOR. HI. GOOD MORNING. NO CHANGES. NO CHANGES. ALRIGHT, UM, I JUST WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD, UH, ONE OF THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT I WROTE, WHICH AGAIN, THIS WENT AGAINST MY OWN INDUSTRY, WHICH WAS STOPPING ANY EXTERIOR WORK IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS ON SATURDAYS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THE ENTIRE WEEKEND COULD BE ENJOYED BY FAMILIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. UH, AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER, WHILE A LITTLE BIT MORE COSTLY FOR CONTRACTORS AND DEVELOPERS, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, UH, IN REGARDS TO UPHOLDING OUR STANDARDS HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. UH, YOU CANNOT BE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL. YOU DO NOT UPHOLD THOSE STANDARDS. SO WHILE PEOPLE MAY SEE THIS AS PUNITIVE, PEOPLE MAY SEE THIS AS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I HEARD FROM THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, ENGINEERING ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPERS, I HEARD FROM EVERYBODY, VINCE, HOW CAN YOU STOP CONSTRUCTION ON SATURDAYS BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR CITY. PEOPLE WANNA BE ABLE TO, AFTER A LONG WEEK OF WORK, THEY WANT TO ENJOY THEMSELVES OUTSIDE AND NOT HEAR A HOT MOPPING TAR ROOF, UH, BEING PUT ON OR SHINGLE TILE BEING PUT ON, OR CONCRETE BEING POURED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEKEND. SO WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO OUTLAW, UH, CONSTRUCTION ON SATURDAYS. SO, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THIS IS THE GOOD THING AND I'M MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, UH, TO ENSURING THAT WE AGAIN, CAN SAY THAT WE'RE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL WITH THE RIGHT LEVEL OF RESPECT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'LL MOVE, I'LL MOVE. SECOND. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM [E.-2. An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for a text amendment to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code by amending Appendix A, “Site Specific Zoning Regulations Section,” to amend Section A-36, “Crafts Section,” to modify building height standards for bungalow-type duplexes by removing the one-story limitation and providing that the maximum building height shall be consistent with the underlying zoning district; providing for repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (02 11 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 6-0)] E TWO ITEMS ON FIRST READING E TWO IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION PROVIDING FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES OFFICIALS ZONING CODE BY AMENDING APPENDIX, A SITE SPECIFIC ZONING REGULATIONS SECTION TO AMEND SECTION A DASH 36 CRAFT SECTION TO MODIFY BUILDING HEIGHT STANDARDS FOR BUNGALOW TYPE DUPLEXES. BY REMOVING THE ONE STORY LIMITATION, PROVIDING THAT THE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE UNDERLYING ZONE UNDERLYING ZONING DISTRICT PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISIONS OF ABILITY CLAUSE CODIFICATION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MADAM DIRECTOR, GOOD MORNING AGAIN. UM, I HAVE, UM, YES, THERE WE GO. SO THERE ARE EIGHT PROPERTIES THAT ARE FACING SANTANDER AND UNIVERSITY THAT ARE CURRENTLY ZONED DUPLEX. UM, THE SITE SPECIFICS OF OUR ZONING CODE, UM, LIMITS THESE DUPLEXES TO BE ONE STORY. AND SO THAT'S A STANDARD TWO STORY DUPLEX. THERE ARE BUDDING, UH, SINGLE FAMILY, WHICH IS OF COURSE ALLOWED TO GO UP TO TWO STORIES AS WELL. UM, WE ARE PROPOSING TO ELIMINATE [01:25:01] THAT HEIGHT RESTRICTION TO BE ONE, SORRY, TO BE TWO STORIES INSTEAD OF ONE STORY. AND THAT'S IT. OKAY. UM, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I I'LL MOVE IT SECOND? YES. NO, I, I'LL SECOND. OKAY. FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. MR. CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MR. MAYOR, DOES THE COMMISSION HAVE ANYTHING LIKE TO ADD THE MAYOR, CAN YOU PULL THE MAP UP AGAIN? I JUST WANTED TO YES. IF THEY COULD PULL UP THE MAP. YES. ALRIGHT. SO THE CURRENT DESIGNATION FOR THESE EIGHT PROPERTIES IS ONE STORY. YES. MF ONE DUPLEX. OKAY. AND WE WOULD BE CHANGING IT TO, SORRY. SO NOW IT'S MF TWO, SORRY. MF ONE DUPLEX. UM, DUPLEX AND CITYWIDE IS ALLOWED TO GO TWO STORIES FOR THESE EIGHT. THERE'S A SITE SPECIFIC THAT CAPSAT HEIGHTS BE ONE STORY, SO ELIMINATING THAT ONE STORY CAP. SO IT COULD BE TWO STORIES, JUST LIKE ALL THEIR DUPLEXES IN THE CITY. OKAY. I'M, I'M, I'M GONNA BE A, NO, UH, WE JUST HAD A COMMENT ON THIS AND, AND I COMMITTED NOT TO CHANGING THE ZONING CODE SOUTH OF UNIVERSITY. UH, SO I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS MEASURE. MAD VICE MAYOR. SO I, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. OKAY. UM, THE, UNDER THE AS READ, THE UNDERLYING ZONING IS TWO STORIES. YES. OKAY. SO THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE UNDERLYING ZONING. CORRECT. OKAY. SO WE'RE NOT UPZONING ANYTHING. CORRECT. WE'RE JUST CORRECTING SOME TEXT. YES. ALRIGHT. CLOSE. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT. SO LET'S REPEAT THAT ONE MORE TIME 'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET THAT FOR, FOR, UH, FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. SO YES, RIGHT NOW, MF ONE IS A DUPLEX ZONING. SO THE CITYWIDE, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE TWO STORIES, JUST LIKE YOU ARE FOR A SINGLE FAMILY. YOU'RE JUST ALLOWED TO HAVE TWO UNITS THAT HAVE ONE UNIT FOR A SINGLE FAMILY. UM, THERE ARE TWO OTHER AREAS IN OUR, IN OUR CITY THAT CAP THAT HEIGHT. WE'RE NOT TOUCHING THOSE. THOSE ARE NEAR, UM, UNIVERSITY, UM, UM, RTZ, UM, AREA AS WELL AS IN THE AREA NEXT TO, UH, LEE LINCOLN. ON PONCE LEON. WE'RE NOT TOUCHING THOSE. BUT THESE EIGHT PROPERTIES, THERE'S ONE, AT LEAST ONE PROPERTY THAT CURRENTLY IS BUILT AS TWO STORIES. IT'S NOT COMPLYING WITH THE UNDERLINING SITE SPECIFICS OF ONE STORY CAP. SO REMOVING THAT ONE STORY CAP. SO THEY CAN DO TWO STORIES JUST LIKE MOST OTHER, UH, DUPLEXES IN THE CITY. BUT THE UNDERLYING ZONING ALLOWS FOR TWO STORIES, CORRECT? CORRECT. YES. WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE HEIGHT, CORRECT? NO. SO THE HEIGHT, YOU'RE ALLOWING TO HAVE TWO STORIES JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DUPLEX IN THE CITY. BUT THE HEIGHT REMAINS THE SAME AS A DUPLEX OF TWO STORIES. YES. OKAY. UM, THROUGH THE MAYOR, YES. BUT UNDERLYING MAY BE TWO STORIES, BUT AT THE PRESENT MOMENT, YOU CANNOT BUILD A TWO STORY. YOU'RE LIMITED TO A ONE STORY CORRECT. FOR THOSE EIGHT S. SO WE ARE CHANGING THE ABILITY TO BUILD A TWO STORY HERE VERSUS CURRENTLY ONLY BEING ALLOWED TO BUILD A ONE STORY IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU MAY HAVE A COUPLE OF TWO STORY HOMES MAY BE ON THE CORNERS, UH, ON, UH, ON POTTS, BUT MOST OF THE HOMES IN THAT SPECIFIC PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE ONE STORY HOMES. THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT ELEVATED BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE THE, UM, THE CRAWL SPACE IN MOST OF THEM. UM, BUT I, I'M JUST NOT SUPPORTIVE. I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO, IF YOU, IF THIS RESTRICTION WASN'T THERE, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF LIFTING THIS RESTRICTION. I'LL MAKE IT EASY FOR EVERYBODY. I'M GONNA DEFER THE ITEM, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT THE SPONSOR. I'M GONNA REQUEST TO THE MANAGER, DEFER THE ITEM, AND WE'LL BRING IT AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK AND WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION ON IT. OKAY. AND ONE OF THE ITEMS I'D LIKE TO SEE IS, I DON'T, I'M NOT AWARE OF HOW MANY ONE OR TWO STORY, UH, BUILDINGS ARE AROUND, AROUND THESE EIGHT. MAYBE YOU CAN GET ME THAT INFORMATION. OKAY. OKAY. WE DO THAT. MR. MR. CLERK, WE DEFERRED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, F1, [F.-1. A Resolution of the City Commission directing City staff to deny the issuance of building permits to contractors with expired permits within the City consistent with applicable law. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] F1 IS RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO DENY THE ISSUANCE OF BUILDING PERMITS TO CONTRACTORS WITH EXPIRED PERMITS WITHIN THE CITY CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE LAW. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS ALREADY DOING THIS, BUT THIS RESOLUTION MAKES CLEAR THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE FLORIDA LAW AND THE BUILDING OFFICIALS AUTHORITY, UM, PERMITS FOR CONTRACTORS WITH EXPIRED PERMITS IN THE CITY WILL BE DENIED. SO LET ME CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT AS A SPONSOR OF THE ITEM. LET ME CLARIFY. OUR CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY WAS NOT DOING THIS. CORRECT? MR. MANAGER? YES, MA'AM. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MANAGER AND WE WERE ONE OF THE FEW CITIES THAT ALLOWED, FOR EXAMPLE, LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS JUST HERE WITH US BEFORE, UH, THE DEVELOPER THAT BUILT HIS HOME MG FINISHED THE HOME, SELLS HIM THE HOME, BUT THEY STILL HAVE AN OPEN PERMIT. OKAY. UM, IF, IF THEIR, IF THAT PERMIT IS NOT CLOSED, EVENTUALLY THAT PERMIT WILL LAPSE. CORRECT. [01:30:01] AND WHAT I WILL DO, WHAT I WILL DO, WHAT I RECOMMEND IS WHAT OTHER CITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, REQUIRE THAT THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, AGAIN, I'M GOING AGAINST MY OWN INDUSTRY ONCE AGAIN. SECOND TIME IN THIS, IN THIS COMMISSION MEETING, THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PULL ANOTHER PERMIT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES UNLESS THEY RECTIFIED THIS GENTLEMAN'S OPEN PERMIT IN HIS PROPERTY. THAT IS A STANDARD PROCESS IN THE CITY OF MIAMI. AND I HAD IT, I HAD IT INFLICTED ON ME, UH, BY OUR NOW CITY MANAGER. AND HE WAS CORRECT. BY THE WAY, IT'S ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PULL A PERMIT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES UNLESS YOU HAVE ADDRESSED OPEN AND EXPIRED PERMITS. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. AMI CABRERA, WHO WAS THE BUILDING OFFICIAL HERE, WHO DID AN AMAZING JOB. AN AMAZING JOB, AND NOW SHE'S WORKING IN THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER, UH, SHE CAME HERE. AND MY UNDERSTANDING, MR. RAMIREZ, THAT WAS THOUSANDS OF OPEN OR EXPIRED PERMITS, CORRECT? DID YOU BRING US THAT? A MAYOR THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES. 7,000, 7,000 OPEN EXPIRED PERMITS THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF MR. RAMIREZ AND MS. CABRERA, UH, AND THE TEAM, YOU WERE ABLE TO BRING IT DOWN TO HOW MANY TOOK YEARS, BUT YOU WERE BRINGING, YOU WERE BRINGING IT DOWN TO A FEW DOZEN WE'RE WE'RE DOWN TO THE SINGLE AND DOUBLE DIGITS HOME. OKAY. WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED ALL THIS. WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED ALL THIS. HOW BY NOW ALLOWING MY INDUSTRY, AGAIN, I'M GOING AGAINST MY OWN INDUSTRY TO PULL A PERMIT UNLESS THEY'VE RESOLVED EXISTING PERMIT ISSUES THAT THEY MAY HAVE WITH AN EXPIRED PERMIT. THIS IS ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS IS AN ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURE THAT WILL PROTECT THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE IS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND LEFT IN THE LURCH WITH UNFINISHED WORK. SH SHODDY WORK OR THINGS THAT, AGAIN, RESULT IN A PERMIT NOT BEING COMPLETED. BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE ISSUES DEAL WITH FIRE ALARMS, FOR EXAMPLE. FIRE ALARMS ARE ALWAYS VERY DIFFICULT. BUT IF YOU LET THAT LAPSE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, IT JUST BECOMES MORE AND MORE CLOUDED AND IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE OF A CONUNDRUM TO ADDRESS. SO THIS IS, AGAIN, CONTRACTORS, ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, DEVELOPERS ARE NOT GONNA BE HAPPY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS STOPS PROJECTS. THIS DOESN'T MOVE PROGRESS. BUT IN REFERENCE TO OUR RESIDENTS, THIS IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. AND IN REFERENCE TO OUR STAFF, OUR STAFF SHOULD NOT BE WORKING ON THESE PROJECTS, THIS BOGS STAFF DOWN TO HAVE TO ADDRESS 7,000 EXPIRED PERMITS. YOU COULD BE WORKING ON THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS TODAY, BUT WHAT YOU FIND YOURSELF IS BASICALLY HAVING A RESIDENT COME TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, LOOK, I HAVE AN EXPIRED PERMIT. WHAT DO I DO? WELL, YOU CONTACT THE, THE, THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR. THEY HAVE 10 OTHER PERMITS ALREADY ACTIVE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WATCH HOW QUICKLY THEY RESOLVE THAT EXPIRED PERMIT WHEN YOU DON'T ALLOW 'EM TO PULL ANOTHER PERMIT. MM-HMM. REAL QUICK. SO I'M VERY PROUD TO BRING THIS FORWARD, EVEN IF IT IS AGAINST MY OWN INDUSTRY. THIS IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY MEASURES THAT THIS THE RESIDENTS DESERVE THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. UM, I'VE, I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS BEFORE. UH, WHEN MY WIFE AND I FIRST, UH, BOUGHT OUR, OUR HOME, WE GOT MARRIED, UH, WE BOUGHT A HOME IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND OUR CLOSING WAS DELAYED BECAUSE OF AN OPEN PERMIT. UH, AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS BELIEVED IT HAD BEEN CLOSED. THE, UH, THE CONTRACTOR HAD TOLD 'EM THE PERMIT HAD BEEN CLOSED. WHEN WE STARTED DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY, UH, THE DRIVEWAY PERMIT HAD NEVER BEEN CLOSED. UM, THEY HAD TO START BACKTRACKING. UH, THIS IS THE DAYS OF PAPER. SO, UH, THEY HAD TO GO FIND THE ORIGINAL PLANS, HAVE A FINAL INSPECTION DONE ON THE DRIVEWAY, AND IT DELAYED OUR CLOSING 30 DAYS. SO, UH, AT AN EXPENSE TO THEM, UH, THE CONTRACTOR WAS NOWHERE TO BE FINED. HE, HE FOUND HE WOULD NEVER ANSWER THEIR CALLS. UM, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE CITY, THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ANSWER TO THE CITY. SO, I, I APPLAUD THIS. I THINK THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY GONNA BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR RESIDENTS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO DEAL WITH ANY, UH, UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE FUTURE. UH, KNOWING THAT THEY GO THROUGH A CONSTRUCTION PROCESS, THEY PAY A FINAL, UH, UH, CHECK TO THEIR CONTRACTOR AND THEIR PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED. SO I'M BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY. ONE FINAL POINT, BECAUSE I HAD SEVERAL RESIDENTS WHO CAME TO ME WITH THIS ISSUE AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE MANAGER. THE MANAGER SAID, WE'RE GONNA IMPLEMENT THIS IMMEDIATELY WITH STAFF ABOUT A MONTH AGO. WE STARTED DOING IT ABOUT A MONTH AGO, BUT I WANTED TO CODIFY IT TO ENSURE THAT THIS BECOMES LAW, UH, BECAUSE THIS IS THE TYPE OF, OF LEGISLATION THAT AGAIN, ADDRESSES ISSUES AND PROVIDES REAL TRANSPARENCY AND REALLY ADDRESSES, UH, RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES HERE IN THE CITY. UH, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. MR. MAYOR? YES. MARIA CRUZ. IT'S UP TO YOU. NO, NO. TAKE IT, TAKE IT. MARIA CRUZ 1447. MRS. MARIA CRUZ. 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. I THINK THIS ITEM IS WONDERFUL. I SUPPORT IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING ELSE TO BE ADDRESSED. I, UM, HAD THE [01:35:01] PLEASURE TO GO ON THE TOUR OF THE KITCHENS THE OTHER DAY. AND LET ME TELL YOU, LOTS AND LOTS OF THOSE PROPERTIES HAD, UM, REMODELS CHANGES, NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND, UM, SOMEBODY'S DROPPING THE BALL BECAUSE , I'M GONNA TELL YOU, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT, UM, SOME OF THE OWNERS DID NOT WANT, UH, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT PERMITS, THEY TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AND I SUGGEST SOMEBODY LOOK AT THAT BOOKLET THAT THEY PASSED OUT AND YOU WILL SEE, YOU'LL SEE HOW MANY WERE DONE WITHOUT PERMITS. MR. CLERK? THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. WE'RE GONNA JUMP AROUND [H.-1. A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Innovation and Technology Director to waive the competitive bid process of the Procurement Code as a Special Procurement/Bid Waiver for Unitec Inc., to provide fiber optic construction services for the Phase 5 broadband expansion project, pursuant to Section 2-691 of the City’s Procurement Code. Lobbyist: N/A] TO CITY MANAGER ITEMS REALLY QUICKLY TO ADDRESS SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE. UM, I THINK WE CAN RUN THROUGH THESE VERY QUICKLY. ITEM H ONE. H ONE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR TO WAIVE THE COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE AS A SPECIAL PROCUREMENT BID WAIVER FOR UNITECH INC. TO PROVIDE FIBER OPTIC CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE PHASE FIVE BROADBAND EXPANSION PROJECTS PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 6 91 OF THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT CODE. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLARK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. MR. MAYOR MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. I HAVE A CONCERN. I AM VERY HAPPY THAT MOST OF THE STUFF THEY'RE DOING WITH FINANCIAL, UH, STUFF TODAY, I SAW THAT THEY HAD GONE THROUGH A BID PROCESS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT APPROVING, UM, PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH A BID PROCESS BECAUSE THERE'S TIME AND THERE'S MORE COMPANIES THAN ONE. AND WHY WOULD WE NOT GO THROUGH A BID PROCESS IF LET THE COMPETITION SUPPLY THE FACT THAT THE, THE COMPANIES DO BUSINESS WITH US AND WE BECOME VERY FRIENDLY WITH THEM, SHOULD NOT KEEP 'EM FROM BIDDING. AND IF THEY'RE THE BEST, LET THEM GET THE BID. BUT WHY SHOULD WE NOT BID? THAT'S IT, MS. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? WE DO. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. BEFORE I VOTE, ONE PROCE, ONE QUESTION. WHY IS IT THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE BID WAIVER? UM, COMMISSIONER THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. UH, COMMISSIONER, THEY HAVE DONE PHASE ONE THROUGH PHASE FOUR OF OUR, OF THE PROJECT. THIS IS CONNECTIVITY FROM PONDS, UH, NORTH PONDS TO, UH, US ONE, AND THEY, IT, THE PROJECT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY COMPETITIVELY, UH, PRICED. SO CONSISTENCY SEEMS LIKE A GOOD REASON. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. I'M MOVING ON TO ITEM H TWO. [H.-2. A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award RFQ 2025-050 for Mobility Hub Preconstruction and Construction Manager at Risk and negotiate a Professional Services Agreement (“Agreement”) with Kaufman Lynn Construction, Inc., the highest ranked responsive and responsible proposer, pursuant to Section 2-763 of the Procurement Code entitled “Contract Award” and Florida Statute 287.055, known as the “Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act”. Lobbyist: Leslie E. Pantin] H TWO IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO AWARD RFQ 2025 DASH 50 FOR MOBILITY HUB, PRE-CONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK. AND NEGOTIATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH KAUFMAN LYNN CONSTRUCTION, THE HIGHEST RANKED RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE PROPOSER PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 7 63 OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE ENTITLED CONTRACT AWARD IN FLORIDA STATUTES 2 87 DASH, I'M SORRY, 2 87 0.055, KNOWN AS A CONSULTANTS COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION ACT. GOOD MORNING, MADAM DIRECTOR. GOOD MORNING. LES WALKER HARMON, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER. UM, THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH KAUFMAN LIN AS THE, UM, PROPOSER THAT WAS HIGHEST RANKED FOR THE MOBILITY HUB. THEY'LL BE DOING THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INITIALLY BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CONSTRUCTION. PERFECT. OKAY. UM, JUST TO GET, GIVE A QUICK, UM, SYNOPSIS. CAN YOU PROVIDE, I KNOW IT'S PUBLIC RECORD ALREADY, CAN YOU PROVIDE OF A BREAKDOWN OF THE TOP THREE? I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH EVERYONE, JUST THE TOP THREE POINT SCORING SO WE CAN SHOW, UM, THAT IT WAS NOT A CLOSED CALL AT ALL. OKAY. THERE WERE FIVE PROPOSERS. SO THE TOP RANKED WAS KAUFMAN LIN. YOU WANT THEIR POINTS? YES. OKAY. THEIR POINTS WAS 4 59 0.5. NUMBER TWO WAS SOFO ON CONSTRUCTION, THEY WERE FOUR, 4.5 AND LAMAR CORPORATION WAS 4 4, 4 0.5. SO THEY WERE ALL VERY CLOSE. 10 POINTS. AND THEN, UM, BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND AND FIVE POINTS BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD. OKAY. MR. MANAGER, YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, UM, WITH, WITH THE CONTRACTOR? UH, YES MA'AM. I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH ONE, TWO, OR THREE. SO I THINK WE, [01:40:01] WE, UM, ARE ARE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS, WITH THIS, UH, CONTRACT. OKAY. SO RIGHT NOW, UH, THE, THE NEXT STEP IN MY OPINION AND WHAT I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME, IS WE WOULD NEGOTIATE WITH A CONTRACTOR. I SAT DOWN WITH A CONTRACTOR AND I WAS VERY CLEAR. UH, WE HAVE THREE VERY QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS. WE WOULD LOVE TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU. WE WANNA DO BUSINESS WITH YOU. WE PUT TOGETHER A GREAT PRESENTATION. I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. AND YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE A SPLENDID, UH, REPUTATION. UM, BUT I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY CHANGE ORDERS. I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY OPEN-ENDED ITEMS, ANY ALLOWANCES. IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S NOT CLEAR IN REGARDS TO THE CITY SCOPE, MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. UH, I WANT THIS TO BE AS, AS, UH, BOOK ENDED AS POSSIBLE. 'CAUSE WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH A GOAL, AND THAT IS TO DELIVER WORLD CLASS PARKING TO THE DOWNTOWN. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE A TEAM AND I PROMISE THE A TEAM AND THEN THE C TEAM SHOWS UP BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL AT ANOTHER JOB. IT'S HAPPENED TO ME ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. I WANT THE A TEAM, I WANT THE BEST. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MOT, WE TALKED ABOUT TRAFFIC CONTROLS. WE TALKED ABOUT COORDINATING WITH, UH, THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. WE TALKED ABOUT VISITING THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY, HAVING, UH, DAILY UPDATES WITH THE CITY MANAGER, SENDING AN EMAIL. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE FACING TODAY IS WHAT WE'RE GETTING AHEAD OF THE BALL. UH, WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION. I THINK WE MET FOR OVER AN HOUR. IT WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING. I'M VERY IMPRESSED BY YOUR TEAM. UM, BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR, WE HAVE THREE VERY, VERY CAPABLE WORLD CLASS CONTRACTORS. AND IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET TO A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION WITH YOU, WE WILL MOVE ON. 'CAUSE WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY. WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY, BUT DILIGENTLY AND BE VERY THOUGHTFUL. I WANNA START THE CM PROCESS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN, WE GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR. BECAUSE THAT, IN MY EXPERIENCE, AND I THINK THE MANAGER CAN ATTEST, AND THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE BEST WAY TO FINISH A PRODUCT IS HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WHERE YOU START WITH AN ARCHITECT AND YOU START WITH A GENERAL CONTRACTOR, AN ENGINEERING TEAM, ALL OF THE, THE, UM, THE, UH, CONSULTANTS. AND WE WORK HAND IN HAND IN HAND TILL WE FINISH THIS PROJECT. I, THE MESSAGE THAT I'VE ALWAYS SEEN IS THE DESIGN IS COMPLETED. WE BRING THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR IN. HOLD ON A MINUTE. NO CONSTRUCTABILITY, NO VALUE ENGINEERING. AND NOW WE LOSE ANOTHER YEAR REDESIGNING THE PROJECT. THAT SHOULDN'T BE, THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE CASE HERE. SO, UH, I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS TEAM. UH, I HAD A VERY, I HAD A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION WITH 'EM. THEY'RE ON THE BALL. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THEY'RE WELL AWARE THAT IF, AGAIN, IF THEY DON'T DELIVER, WHICH THEY'VE ALWAYS DELIVERED, I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BAD ABOUT THIS COMPANY. UH, THAT WE'LL MOVE IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. MR. MANAGER? UH, YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, JUST TO CLARIFY TO THE COMMISSION, THIS IS A PRE-CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT? YES. THIS IS A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK CONTRACT. SO WE'LL BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN, IN, THROUGHOUT THE, THE, UH, CONSTRUCTION BIDDING PROCESS. AND, UH, AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, WITH, UH, THE FIRST THREE. UH, AND IF I CAN SAY SOMETHING, AND I HOPE YOU AGREE WITH ME. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTRACT. THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT. THIS IS WHERE THE MONEY'S MADE OR THE MONEY'S LOST. THE TIME IS MADE, OR THE TIME IS LOST. IF YOU CAN'T DO IT NOW, DON'T EMBARK ON THE PROJECT. PRECON, THERE'S A REASON WHY IT'S CALLED PRE-CONSTRUCTION. WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE PROJECT TO MAKE SURE IT'S SEAMLESS AND IT SAVES STAFF'S TIME. THE STAFF HAS A MILLION THINGS TO DO. YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT, MOST CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT. YES, SIR. THE MAYOR. UM, I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. UH, I THINK, UH, CHANGE ORDERS IS ALWAYS A CONCERN THAT, UM, HE'S HAD, UH, RESIDENTS HAVE HAD, UH, I HAVE HAD. UM, SO I, I AGREE ON THOSE POINTS. UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO CONSTRUCTION, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD REQUEST IS THAT WE RESPECT THE STAGING AREA. UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AS LITTLE IMPACT ON, UH, TRAFFIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, DURING CONSTRUCTION. UM, SO, UM, I'LL BE HAPPY TO MOVE IT. SO ON THAT POINT, I WANT TO TOUCH ON STAGING AREA. 'CAUSE I, I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH THEM. STAGING AREA IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. OKAY? UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE UP A LANE OF TRAFFIC. THERE'S NO OTHER CHOICE HERE. I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE SURPRISED. I WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THE BLOG STARTS GOING CRAZY. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY TIGHT SITE. YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS FOR A CRANE EITHER OFFSITE ON THE, ON THE LANE, OR YOU PUT IT WITHIN THE PROJECT. BOTH OF THEM HAVE THEIR FLAWS. MM-HMM . IN MY OPINION, IF YOU PUT IT WITHIN THE PROJECT, YOU GOTTA REPORT THE SLABS WHEN YOU'RE DONE. 'CAUSE IT'S IN THE CORE OF, OF THE PROJECT. AGAIN, IT CAN BE DONE, BUT THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN STAGE, WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE ALLEY, IS NOT GONNA HAPPEN. UH, WE NEED TO FIND A LOCATION FOR PARKING THAT IS APPROPRIATE. WE ARE, WE, WE'VE, WE'VE ADDRESSED CERTAIN AREAS. THE MANAGER'S WORKING ON THAT. AND, UH, WE NEED TO AS AGAIN, HAVE AS LITTLE IMPACT AS POSSIBLE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THERE WILL BE IMPACTS. I'VE TOLD THEM VERY CLEARLY. I WANT, I WANT, UH, A PERIMETER, TWO BLOCKS SOUTH, TWO BLOCKS EAST, TWO BLOCKS WEST, TWO BLOCKS NORTH TO BE CLEANED EVERY SINGLE DAY, MORNING AND AT NIGHT. UM, IT'S WORTH PAYING FOR. UH, THERE ARE CERTAIN PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT PROVIDED THE NECESSARY CLEANING IN THE DOWNTOWN. AND YOU CAN SEE IT. YOU CAN SEE IT. I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SO FAN THAT WE JUST PASSED THAT LEGISLATION. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING [01:45:01] FROM PICKING UP THE GARBAGE TO SPEAKING TO, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, VENING TORY, WHO'S ACROSS THE STREET, BOOYA, UH, CHEESECAKE FACTORY. YOU NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND BE ON TOP OF THINGS. THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED PROJECT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR. IT'S JUST THE LOCATION IS VERY DIFFICULT. VERY DIFFICULT. AND WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES BEFORE WE START BLAMING PEOPLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE THERE ON CITY STAFF. I'VE EVEN TOLD THEM ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I BROUGHT UP. OBVIOUSLY I CAN'T MAKE THESE DECISIONS TO THE DECISIONS TO THE MANAGER. I'M BRINGING IT UP HERE JUST TO BRING IT TO THE ATTENTION AND PUT IT ON THE RECORD. HE, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A DEDICATED POLICE OFFICER ON THIS SITE WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING. WE SHOULD HAVE A, THIS, I MENTIONED TO THEM, I TOLD IT TO THEM, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A DEDICATED POLICE OFFICER WHO'S BASICALLY SOLE JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON WHO'S ON THEIR PHONE, I THINK THE NUMBERS AROUND 30% OF PEOPLE ARE ON THEIR PHONE, IS, DOESN'T, DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LINE OF CONCRETE TRUCKS THAT ARE POURING. SO THEY'RE ALL THE WAY DOWN, YOU KNOW, THE STREET GO, YOU KNOW, DON'T, DON'T SIT BEHIND 'EM BECAUSE THE CONCRETE TRUCKS ARE NOT MOVING 'CAUSE YOU DON'T REALIZE IT. SO YOU NEED A POLICE OFFICER THERE TO NAVIGATE TRAFFIC, TO PUSH TRAFFIC, TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU JUST CAN'T WALK THROUGH A JOB SITE. YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW MOT. SO IT'S A, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. AND I THINK THAT IT'S, YES, THERE'S A COST TO IT, BUT THANK GOD NOW WE HAVE A DEDICATED POLICE FORCE IN THE DOWNTOWN, A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE SPONSORED AND, AND MOVE IT FORWARD SO WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THINGS DONE. MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO I'LL, UH, HAPPILY, UH, SECOND THIS AND, UH, SHARE THAT. I ALSO HAD SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CONTRACTOR. TOLD HIM ABOUT THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIGHT CONSTRUCTION ZONE. YOU HAVE, THE USABILITY OF THE ALLEY, THE CLEANLINESS OF THE ALLEY, THE CLEANLINESS OF THE STREET, THE IMPACT UPON THE SURROUNDING BUSINESSES, THE TYPE TIGHT DEADLINES THAT WE HAVE TO MEET IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER WORLD CLASS PARKING TO THE RESIDENTS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND NOT HAVE, HAVE DISRUPTED, UH, THE BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN FOR ANY LONGER THAN NECESSARY TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE. SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS FINALLY MOVING FORWARD. MR. MAD TO THE MAYOR. UH, THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH, WE, WE HAVE LOOKED AT, WE ARE LOOKING AT, AT ALL PHASES, INCLUDING THE, THE, THE FACT THE GARAGE ONE WILL BE DOWN, OUR PARKING DIRECTORS IS LOOKING AT, AT, AT, AT, UH, ALTERNATE PARKING. THAT'S WHY WE WERE VERY QUICKLY MOVED ON THE, ON THE, UH, DAVIDSON SITE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE EIGHT, UH, 98 CARS. WE WENT FROM 24 TO, UH, TO 89 CARS, EXCUSE ME. AND WE ARE DEVELOPING THE LASALLE SITE ALSO. THAT WILL INCREASE THAT TO 129 CARS. AND IN, IN ADDITION, WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT, AT, AT PRIVATE PARKING TO, TO HELP MEDIATE THAT. WE ARE ALSO VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, ABOUT THE MOT. WE'RE LOOKING AT, AS YOU MENTIONED, MAYOR, UH, THE CRANE INSIDE OR THE, OR THE CRANE OUTSIDE LOOKING AT, AT VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES. AND WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH ALL THESE ITEMS, UH, WITH THE, UH, WITH THE CMR. THANK YOU. UM, BY THE WAY, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE THE BEST PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF ANY CITY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND WE HAVE A GREAT CONTRACTOR ONCE IT'S RATIFIED AND I THINK WE MAKE A GREAT TEAM. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT I'M ALSO MEASURING EXPECTATIONS. I KNOW IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED PROJECT. SO IN ADVANCE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK. WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. MR. CLERK, DO YOU ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. JACKSON HOLMES. DON'T SEE HIM HERE. OKAY. NEXT. THAT'S IT. ALRIGHT. WE CLOSE BY THE COMMENT. MOTION A SECOND. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. I THINK MY STANCE ON THE MOBILITY HUB HAS BEEN VERY WELL EXPLAINED, SO NO. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. UH, MOVING ON TO ITEM [H.-3. A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award RFQ 2025-038 for Landscape Architectural Consulting Services and negotiate a Professional Services Agreement (“Agreement”) with Calvin, Giordano & Associates, Inc., Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., Landscape DE, LLC, Miller, Legg & Associates, Inc., and Savino Miller Design Studio, P.A., the five (5) highest ranked responsive-responsible proposers, pursuant to Section 2-763 of the Procurement Code entitled “Contract Award” and Florida Statute 287.055, known as the “Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act” (CCNA). Lobbyist: N/A] H THREE. H THREE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER AWARD, RFQ 2025 DASH 38 FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL CONSUL CONSULTING SERVICES AND NEGOTIATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CALVIN GIORDANO AND ASSOCIATES, INC. KINLEY HOR AND ASSOCIATES, INC. LANDSCAPE, D-E-L-L-C, MILLER LEG AND ASSOCIATES, INC. AND S SENO MILLER DESIGN STUDIO PA THE FIVE HIGHEST RANKED RESPONSIVE RESPONSIBLE PROPOSERS PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 7 63 OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE ENTITLED CONTRACT AWARD IN FLORIDA STATUTES 2 87 0.055. NOTICE AS THAT CONSULTANTS COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION ACT. THIS IS A POOL OF, UH, PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS OR CONSULTANTS FOR LANDSCAPING ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES TO BE USED ON AN ASNE BASIS. WE EVALUATED FIVE PROPOSERS AND WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT ALL FIVE MOVE FORWARD IN THE PROCESS. OKAY, MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. OKAY. ANYTHING, A MOTION? MOVE IT SECOND. WHATEVER YOU ROLL THE DICE. MR. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. MOVING ON TO H [H.-4. A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award HVAC & Refrigeration Systems Services to Weathertrol Maintenance Corp., as the sole responsive and responsible bidder in an estimated annual amount of $591,746.50 and not to exceed budgeted funds, pursuant to Invitation for Bids (IFB) 2025-033 and section 2-763 of the City’s Procurement Code entitled “Contract Award”. Lobbyist: N/A] FOUR. H FOUR IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO AWARD HVAC AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEM SERVICES TO WEATHER PATROL MAINTENANCE CORP AS THE SOLE [01:50:01] RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER IN AN ESTIMATED ANNUAL AMOUNTS OF $591,746 AND 50 CENTS, AND NOT TO EXCEED BUDGETED FUNDS PURSUANT TO INVITATION FOR BIDS 20 25 33 AND SECTION TWO DASH 7 63 OF THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT CODE ENTITLED CONTRACT AWARD. UM, THIS WAS A SOLICITATION ISSUED FOR HVAC AND REFRIGERATION SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ON AN ASNE BASIS. WE HAD ONE PROPOSAL OR ONE BIDDER RESPONSE, WHICH IS BROTHER TO ALL. THEY'VE BEEN OUR CURRENT TRYING CONTRACTOR FOR SINCE 2018. WE HAVE NO ISSUES OR CONCERNS WITH THEM. THANK YOU. I'LL MOVE IT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. MR. CRAIG, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. OKAY. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. MOVING ON TO H FIVE. [H.-5. A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award Parking Lot Improvements to Tadeos Engineering LLC, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in the estimated amount of $929,275.00 but not to exceed budgeted funds, pursuant to Invitation for Bids (IFB) 2025-043 and section 2-763 of the City’s Procurement Code entitled “Contract Award”. Lobbyist: N/A] H FIVE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO AWARD PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS THAT TODAY'S ENGINEERING LLC AS THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER IN AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $929,275. BUT NOT TO EXCEED BUDGETED FUNDS PURSUANT TO INVITATION FOR A BASE 2025 DASH 43 AND SECTION TWO DASH 7 63 OF THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT COURT ENTITLED CONTRACT AWARD. THIS WAS COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION. WE RECEIVED FIVE BIDDERS WE'RE AWARDING TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER AND THEY ARE FOR, UM, PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS TO PARKING LOTS 12 THROUGH 16 THROUGHOUT THE CITY. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. MR. PER, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LA YES. MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT SIX, AGE [H.-6. A Resolution of the City Commission approving a Second Amendment to the Lease/Use Agreement between the City of Coral Gables (Lessor) and (Lessee) Ventas Realty, Limited Partnership for the property that adjoins the property commonly known as Kindred Hospital South Florida Gables located at North 105.00 feet of the 30 foot wide right of way of Wallace Street, as shown on the Recorded Plat of Tamiami Place, Plan No. 3, Coral Gables, according to the Plat thereof, as recorded in Plat Book 146, at Page 90 of the Public Records of Miami-Dade County, Florida, being bounded as follows: bounded on the North by the South Right of Way of S.W. 8th Street (also being the North Line of Tracts B and C of said Recorded Plat of “Vencor Hospitals, South, Inc.); bounded on the South by the easterly extension of the South Line of said Tract B, to its intersection with the westerly line of said Tract C; bounded on the West by the easterly line of said Tract B. for an additional ten-year term (03/29/2026-03/29/2036) for the continued utilization of the property in connection with the tenant’s adjacent parking facility to complement the tenant’s medical objectives. Lobbyist: N/A] SIX IS A RESOLUTION OF CITY COMMISSIONER APPROVING A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE LEASE USE AGREEMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE LEASE USE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, LESSER AND LESS AND LESSIE VENT, VENTAS REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PROPERTY THAT ADJOINS THE PROPERTY, COMMONLY KNOWN AS KINDRED HOSPITAL SOUTH FLORIDA GABLES LOCATED AT NORTH 105 FEET OF THE 30 FOOT WIDE RIGHT OF WAY OF WALL STREET, AS SHOWN ON THE RECORDED PLAT OF TAMI PLACE. PLAN NUMBER THREE, CORAL GABLES, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 1 46 AT PAGE 90 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MIAMI COUNTY BEING BOUNDED AS FOLLOWS, BOUNDED BY THE NORTH OR ON THE NORTH BY THE SOUTH RIGHT OF WAY OF SOUTHWEST EIGHTH STREET, BOUNDED BY THE SOUTH, OR ON THE SOUTH BY THE EASTERLY EXTENSION OF THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID TRACK B TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE WESTERLY LINE OF SAID TRACK C BOUNDED ON THE WEST BY THE EASTERLY LINE OF SAID TRACK B FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10 YEAR TERM FOR THE CONTINUED UTILIZATION OF THE PROPERTY AND CONNECTION WITH THE TENANT'S ADJACENT PARKING FACILITY TO COMPLIMENT THE TENANT'S MEDICAL OBJECTIVES. THANK YOU, MADAM DIRECTOR. MORNING, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR RICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS PAIGE PEREZ, ASSET MANAGER TODAY FOR YOUR APPROVAL. WE ARE PRESENTING A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH BETA'S REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP SERVES AS LESSEE TO THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. AND AS LANDLORD TO KINDRED HOSPITAL SOUTH FLORIDA, THIS AMENDMENT WOULD EXTEND THE LEASE TERM FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10 YEARS AND WILL ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUED USE OF THE DEMISE PREMISES ADJACENT TO THE HOSPITAL'S SURFACE PARKING AREA, WHICH PROVIDES CONVENIENT AND SAFE ACCESS FOR PATIENTS, VISITORS, AND STAFF TRAVELING TO AND FROM THE HOSPITAL. IN ADDITION, UNDER THE AMENDED LEASE TERMS, THE TENANT IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY WILL COMPLETE CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS. THESE INCLUDE RESURFACING AND RES STRIPING, THE PARKING FACILITY AND LEASE PREMISES, AS WELL AS INSTALLING NEW LANDSCAPING WITHIN NINE MONTHS OF THE AMENDMENT'S EXECUTION UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED TO BY THE CITY. IN A SEPARATE AGREEMENT, THE EE WILL ALSO REMAIN FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF THE PARKING SITE, INCLUDING THE ASPHALT SURFACE PARKING, IRRIGATION SYSTEM, AND OVERALL HEALTH OF ALL PLANT MATERIAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MADAM DIRECTOR. THANK YOU. SO, UM, JUST BEFORE WE VOTE ON THE SIDE, I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, I HAVE SOME SLIDES THERE FROM, FROM THE CLERK THAT I'D LIKE TO SHOW. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AREA AND WE'VE MADE PROBABLY ABOUT THREE SITE VISITS TO THE AREA, UH, WITH STAFF AND WITH THE RESIDENTS. WE'VE MET WITH PROBABLY ABOUT A DOZEN RESIDENTS THERE. UH, PROBABLY THE LAST TIME WE WERE THERE WAS MAYBE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. AND, UH, THE CHIEF WAS THERE WITH US, CHIEF OF POLICE CAME WITH US, UH, IN REGARDS TO KINDRED HOSPITAL. UH, 'CAUSE THEY WERE HAVING SOME ISSUES THERE IN REGARDS TO, UM, JUST CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND, UH, IN THE BACKYARDS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THERE'S A LOT OF TRASH AND GARBAGE. UH, AND ALSO BEAUTIFICATION IN REGARDS TO THERE WAS NO LANDSCAPING. UM, THERE WAS NO IRRIGATION. SO, UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, AND I THINK THAT WE, WE HAVE IT, UH, ALREADY PRETTY MUCH BUTTONED UP AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT. WE'LL BE ADDRESSING OBVIOUSLY THE, THE ISSUE WITH, UM, WITH THE CAMERA. THE CAMERA IS, UH, FORTHCOMING OR I THINK IT'S ALREADY BEEN, HAS IT BEEN INSTALLED OR NOT YET? UM, MR. DCM, YOU WERE THERE AT THE MEETING ALSO. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. UM, JOE GOMEZ, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER. UH, THE PLANS THAT INCLUDE THE CAMERA ALSO INCLUDES CLOSING THE PEDESTRIAN GATE. YES, THAT'S RIGHT. UH, THOSE PLANS HAVE, ARE, ARE DUE FOR BIDS THIS COMING THURSDAY. WE EXPECT TO START CONSTRUCTION, UH, SOMETIME IN MAY BE COMPLETE BY AUGUST. PERFECT. SO THIS IS RIGHT OFF A STREET, THE DEAD END STREET. BUT AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THOSE GATES. UM, AND THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC AS A RESULT OF KINDRED HOSPITAL. AGAIN, UH, WE, WE LOVE KINDRED HOSPITAL. WE'RE GREAT TO HAVE [01:55:01] 'EM HERE IN THE CITY, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY KEEP IT BEAUTIFUL, KEEP IT CLEAN, AND KEEP IT SAFE. UM, WE WERE VERY CLEAR. WE WILL FIND THEM. WE WILL FIND THEM. UH, THEY DO NOT FOLLOW OUR STANDARDS AND DO NOT ENSURE THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE FEEL SAFE AND THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT DUMPING TRASH. AND THAT, AGAIN, THE LANDSCAPING HAS TO BE UP TO A STANDARD. THERE'S NO LANDSCAPING RIGHT NOW, AS YOU KNOW. I THINK WE, I THINK WE'VE DONE TWO OR THREE. THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED ADDRESS TWO OR THREE. THREE, YEAH. THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED ADDRESSING, UH, A LOT OF THE, THE VIOLATIONS THAT WE HAD ON FILE. WE'VE CLOSED ALL OF THEM. UM, AND I BELIEVE DOUG, WE PROVIDED SOME PHOTOS. UM, DO YOU HAVE THOSE PHOTOS, BILLY SIR? THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. UH, MAYOR, THE NEW CONTRACT, THE NEW, THE NEW AGREEMENT IS VERY STRICT ON MAINTENANCE OF THE, OF THE ENTIRE AREA. OKAY. FROM, FROM LANDSCAPING TO IRRIGATION TO ASPHALT. MR. RAMIREZ, GOOD MORNING. UH, DOUG RAMIREZ, ACTING DEVELOPMENT SERVICE DIRECTOR. YES. WE, WE, WE'VE WORKED AS DEPUTY CITY MANAGER GOMEZ SAID WE'VE, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE HOSPITAL SO THAT THEY COULD ADDRESS THE LANDSCAPING CONCERNS. THEY ALSO HAD GRAVEL ON THE SWALE, TRASH, UH, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ISSUES, DIRTY SIDEWALKS, SIGNS ON RIGHT OF WAYS. OVER THE YEARS, WE, WE'VE BEEN THERE MULTIPLE TIMES. UH, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT AT THIS MOMENT. IT DOES LOOK UP TO OUR STANDARDS. UH, AND, AND WE HAVE SOME PHOTOS THAT WERE SHARED EARLIER TODAY. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE YEAH, WE'LL BRING 'EM UP RIGHT NOW. THOSE ARE WHEN WE DID OUR WALKTHROUGH. NO, BUT WE HAVE DIFFERENT PHOTOS. WE HAVE DIFFERENT, YES. YES. THE PHOTOS THAT WE'RE SHARING WERE TAKEN THIS MORNING. OKAY, GREAT. YEAH. YES, SIR. GOOD TO SEE A YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF REFRESHING. OKAY. IF CABLE TV COULD PLEASE PUT UP MY SCREEN. AH, THEY PAINTED, THEY PAINTED. IT LOOKS GOOD. OH, THAT, THAT'S ACTUALLY A RENDERING. OH, RENDERING, UH, THAT'S A RENDERING OF THE RENDERING OF THE COMING, UH, GATE CLOSURE. THAT WAS NOT TAKEN TODAY. THAT WAS NOT TAKEN TODAY. THAT, THAT'S THE PLANS THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN BID. OKAY. OKAY. UM, IF YOU NOTICE, UM, ON THE PHOTOGRAPH THAT YOU'LL SEE SOME NEW MULCHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PLACED. UH, IF YOU CAN CONTINUE. YEAH, THESE ARE JUST THE PLANS. I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T THINK THEY'VE PUT THE PHOTOS. HOWEVER, THE TEAM DID GO OUT, UM, UH, MAYOR AND WE TOOK PHOTOS. UH, THEY CLEANED THE SIDEWALK. THEY PRESSURE CLEANED THE SIDEWALK. UH, THEY MULCHED THE AREAS. UH, SO THEY, THEY, THEY'VE PRETTY MUCH COMPLIED AND CLOSED OUT ALL THE OUTSTANDING VIOLATIONS AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MANAGER. UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID, WE, WE TIGHTENED UP THE, UH, AGREEMENT VERY MUCH AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE AND, AND MAINTAINING THAT AREA IN, UH, AS A, AS, AS A VERY SUITABLE, UH, UH, END TO THAT TWO, TWO WALL STREET. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S A CLOSURE AND THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. AS FAR AS THE COUNTY'S CONCERNED. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE VOTE ON THIS TODAY, THAT KINDER HOSPITALS UNDER, UNDER STRICT UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THEY DON'T KEEP THIS UP AND THEY DON'T MAINTAIN THE LANDSCAPING, THE IRRIGATION, THE CAMERA IS NOT KEPT IN PLACE. IT COULD BE A DEFAULT IN THE AGREEMENT. YES. IT'LL BE DEFAULT IN THE AGREEMENT. ALRIGHT. UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR PROBABLY OVER TWO YEARS NOW. AND THIS IS AGAIN, UH, THE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA BE INCREDIBLY HAPPY OF THIS IN THIS AREA THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FINALLY DELIVER ON THIS. UH, MR. CLERK. DO, UM, WE DO WE HAVE A MOTION? NOT YET, RIGHT? NOT YET, SIR. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'M MOVING. I'M SECOND. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MR. CLERK? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. UH, MR. DCM, MR. MANAGER. MR. RAMIREZ, THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, ALONG WITH YOUR STAFF. I KNOW MUNDO PLAYED A ROLE IN OBVIOUSLY PUBLIC WORKS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. ITEM 8 7 8 7 [H.-7. Social Media Year-End Performance Report.] SOCIAL MEDIA YEAREND PERFORMANCE REPORT. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MARTHA PANTENE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. UH, OUR COMMITTEE, UH, THE COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE ACTUALLY ASKED US TO, UH, COME BEFORE YOU TO SHARE, UH, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT. SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE ARE THE NUMBERS BETWEEN ONE YEAR AND THE NEXT AND HOW WE HAVE GROWN. UH, WE HAVE GROWN IN EACH OF OUR CATEGORIES. I THINK THAT ONE OF THE, WE THINK WE HAVE GREAT NUMBERS AND WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE FIGHTING ABOVE OUR CLASS. AND WHY I SAY THAT IS WHEN I COMPARE OURSELVES WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF MIAMI WAS WITH 450,000 RESIDENTS, HAS 46,000 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS AND 149,000 INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS. THE CITY OF DORAL WITH 76,000 RESIDENTS HAS 3000 LINKEDIN FOLLOWERS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, WE HAVE 12,000. SO WE HAVE [02:00:01] ACTUALLY, UH, CONTINUE TO GROW. LINKEDIN IS THE ONE OF OUR MOST, UH, OF OUR BIGGEST SU SUCCESS STORIES, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO FEATURE OUR EMPLOYEES. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR, UH, OFFICER OF THE YEAR OR COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER OF THE YEAR, UH, WE WILL FEATURE AS YOU ASK TODAY, I THINK THAT IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO FEATURE, UH, OUR VETERANS THAT ARE DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, THAT WE WILL FEATURE THEM, UH, IN, UH, OUR LINKEDIN AND CONSTANT CONTACT, WHICH IS OUR ENEWS, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, WE WENT FROM, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS AGO FROM, UH, BIWEEKLY TO WEEKLY, UH, CONTINUES TO, TO GROW. AND THAT ONE IS REALLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE THAT, UH, WE REMOVE THEM, RE REMOVE THEMSELVES. SO OUR FACEBOOK REACH AND, UH, AND VIEWS, YOU COULD SEE WE, WE HAVE, UH, TWO, 2 MILLION VIEWS. SO THAT'S FOR THE, FOR THE YEAR. THIS IS A GOOD NEWS FOR US IN, UH, FROM THE TROLLEY SYSTEM, THE, THE, THE TOP TWO POSTS BY REACH. UH, WERE BOTH ABOUT THE SOUTHERN, THE SOUTHERN LOOP, UH, WHICH, YOU KNOW, FOR US WAS SURPRISING BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY SANTA CLAUS. AND OUR MOST REACTED POST, WE SAW THAT THE CENTENNIAL AND THE CENTENNIAL CONCERT WAS JUST REALLY POPULAR ACROSS THE BOARD. OUR, ON INSTAGRAM, WHICH IS, UH, OUR LARGEST, UH, UH, MESSAGE ONE, UH, WE HAVE, UH, 74,000, UH, VISITS, AND WE HAVE A VERY LARGE REACH. AND, UH, AND IF YOU SEE A SPIKE THERE IN OCTOBER, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD GET DAVID BECKHAM TO VISIT ONE OF OUR STORES AT ANY TIME, THAT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE THAT WAS, UH, OUR MOST REACTED. IT'S VICTORIA BECKHAM, UH, POSTED THAT STORY. AND OUR INSTAGRAM INTERACTIONS, THESE ARE THE LIKES, THE COMMENTS, ET CETERA THAT WE SEE. AND THEN YOU SEE OUR VIEWS ARE AT THREE POINT, UH, 5 MILLION. OUR TOP POST, UH, YOU SEE THAT WE HAVE THE BECKHAMS OF COURSE, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, THE, THE, THE, THE PATCH AND THE MOST REACTED POST, NOT, NOT SURPRISING IT'S BECKHAM, BUT LOOK, WE HAVE, UH, THE VENETIAN POOL CONCERT AND WE ALSO, UH, THE FERNANDO MENDOZA HEISMAN ALSO DID EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TRY TO KEEP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NEWS BECAUSE THE MOMENT THAT HE RECEIVED THE, THE HEISMAN, WE WENT AHEAD AND POSTED BECAUSE WE KIND HAVE TO KEEP THE NEWS FRESH, UH, TWITTER OR X OVERVIEW, UH, THAT WE'VE PUBLISHED 257, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF THE LIKES AND THE FOLLOWERS, UH, GREW A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE SAW A PHENOMENON THAT HAPPENED NATIONALLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT PEOPLE WENT AWAY FROM, UH, TWITTER OR X. BUT NOW IT'S, AGAIN, BEGINNING TO GROW. OUR TOP RETWEETED POST WAS, UH, THE FARMER'S MARKET AND THEN AGAIN THE TROLLEY. SO THAT TROLLEY HAS BEEN VERY POPULAR. OUR CONSTANT CONTACT. UH, THE BIGGEST STORY HERE FOR US IS THE OPEN RATE. WE HAVE A GREAT OPEN RATE. ANY BUSINESS CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE LUCKY IF THEY GET A 20% OPEN RATE, AND WE'RE AT 52%, WHICH IS WAY ABOVE A GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION. SO THAT MEANS THAT THE CONTENT WE ARE PUTTING IS ALSO, UH, BEING, BEING LIKED. AND I THINK THAT OUR PHILOSOPHY IS WE KEEP OUR STORIES SHORT AND WE ALSO TRY TO BRING IN COMMUNITY PARTNERS BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THAT MEANS THAT, THAT THEY'RE PEOPLE, WHETHER IT'S THE GARDEN CLUB OR THE ROTARY CLUB, THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING AT TO WHAT WE HAVE. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT MANY ORGANIZATIONS LOCALLY REACH OUT TO US IN A CONSTANT BASIS TO BE INCLUDED. AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO, UH, BE EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS, AND WE HAVE TO DECIDE BECAUSE WE ALSO WANNA FEATURE, UH, THE CI THE CITY'S, UH, INFORMATION. UH, SO WHAT'S THE CONCLUSION? WE HAVE GROWTH ACROSS EVERY PLATFORM. WE HAVE PERFORMANCE OF BOTH UNI, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND BENCHMARKS. VERY STRONG ENGAGEMENT. UH, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ACCESSIBILITY. SO FOR EXAMPLE, BEFORE IT BECOMES LAW, WE'RE ALREADY DOING ALTERNATE TEXT FOR, UH, FOR OUR, FOR OUR PICTURES. SO WE'RE DOING THAT AND ACROSS ALL SYSTEMS AND THE, AND WE HAVE STRATEGIC MOMENTUM HEADING INTO NEXT YEAR. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING FOR [02:05:01] THE CITY'S MAIN ACCOUNT, BUT NOW WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS, WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO BEGIN TRACKING, YOU KNOW, POLICE, FIRE PARKS, ET CETERA, SO THAT WE CAN LOOK TO SEE WHAT IS WORKING AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE BECAUSE, UH, THIS IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE OF HOW WE CAN GET OUR INFORMATION OUT AND ENGAGE WITH OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. AS ALWAYS. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE GROWTH AND, UH, AMAZING, UH, THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HOW WE'RE GONNA TACKLE CERTAIN AS, AS THIS, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA CONTINUES TO EVOLVE EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO THANK YOU MARTIN. I APPRECIATE ALL HER WORK. CAN WE TAKE A QUICK RESTROOM BREAK? OKAY. WE WILL TAKE A 15 MINUTE BREAK. UH, WE'LL BE BACK AT, UH, 1135. MR. CLERK. ONE SECOND, MR. MAYOR. YOU READY? ALRIGHT, LET'S START WITH ITEM F [F.-2. A Resolution of the City Commission expressing the City’s policy recognition that first responders, including fire rescue and emergency medical services, play a critical role in identifying victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault; acknowledging that properties generating repeated calls for service may warrant review through nuisance abatement processes in a victim-centered, trauma-informed manner; and proving for an effective date. (Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)] [F.-4. A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Manager to ensure that all fire rescue and emergency medical services personnel complete an assault, human trafficking, and abuse training course within the next six months focused on familiarizing emergency responders with the unique patient care considerations and characteristics inherent in incidents of sexual assault, human trafficking, and abuse, directing new fire rescue and emergency medical services personnel to complete similar training within six months of their initial hire, and directing the City Manager to ensure that all fire rescue and emergency medical services personnel complete additional training thereafter.(Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)] TWO. F TWO IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION EXPRESSING THE CITY'S POLICY RECOGNITION THAT FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING FIRE, RESCUE, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN IDENTIFYING VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT PROPERTIES GENERATING REPEATED CALLS FOR SERVICE MAY WARRANT REVIEW THROUGH NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROCESSES IN A VICTIM-CENTERED TRAUMA-INFORMED MANNER AND PROVING PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT WE CAN DO F TWO AND F FOUR TOGETHER? MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, THAT WAS ACTUALLY GONNA BE MY REQUEST. THANK YOU. SO F FOUR IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENSURE THAT ALL FIRE, RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL COMPLETE AN ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE TRAINING COURSE WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, FOCUSED ON FAMILIARIZING EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WITH THE UNIQUE PATIENT CARE CONSIDERATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS, INHERENT AND INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE, DIRECTING NEW FIRE RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL TO COMPLETE SIMILAR TRAINING WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THEIR INITIAL HIRE. AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENSURE THAT ALL FIRE, RESCUE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL COMPLETE ADDITIONAL TRAINING THEREAFTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH CITY ATTORNEY FOR READING THIS RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. F TWO. I'M GONNA MAKE IT VERY, VERY SIMPLE. THIS IS JUST A PRIORITY AND A STANCE THAT THE SHOULD, THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE TAKING REGARDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE THE SET ABOVE. UM, I ALSO WANNA GIVE A VERY KIND WELCOME, A VERY KIND THANK YOU TO THE STATE ATTORNEY, ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE INVITATION TO THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING PRESS CONFERENCE. I, I SPOKE DELI DELIBERATELY WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY REGARDING HER EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AND SHE KNOWS THE STANCE I AM TAKING TOGETHER HERE WITH THE COMMISSION AND THE PRIORITY WE ARE SETTING UPON HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AND I, AND I BELIEVE SHE'S, UM, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF IT. NOW I WANNA GO AHEAD AND JOIN THE OTHER RESOLUTION. I DO WANNA SAY I HAVE TWO EXPERT TESTIMONIES FOR THIS ITEM, BUT BEFORE THAT I WANNA GO AHEAD AND SAY WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME. AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY FOR ME, BUT FOR THE COMMISSION AND FOR THIS CITY. SO WHAT GREW THE MOST, UM, INTEREST IN ME IS WHEN I GOT THIS LITTLE CARD AND IT'S ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING VERSUS SMUGGLING. AND I REALLY STARTED TO EXAMINE IT. I DUNNO IF MAYBE WE COULD ZOOM INTO IT A LITTLE. YEAH, THERE YOU GO. PERFECT. AND HERE WE IN THE, IN THE BACK OF THE CARD, WE HAVE A PHONE NUMBER. OKAY. NOW THIS IS ABOUT THE BLUE CAMPAIGN. THE BLUE CAMPAIGN IS A NATIONAL PUBLIC AWARENESS INITIATIVE TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING. UM, SO THEY WERE LAUNCHED IN 2010, BUT WHAT IS IT THAT THEY DO? WHAT THEY DO IS THEY EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. THEY TRAIN PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE MOST LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER VICTIMS, AND THEY ENCOURAGE REPORTING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO DOING A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH, AND THIS IS REALLY WHAT GREW ME SO PASSIONATE ABOUT, PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, DOING A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH. I CALLED THE NUMBER AND THIS IS WHAT I GOT. YOU HAVE REACHED THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT TIP LINE. IF YOU HAVE A LIFE OR DEATH EMERGENCY, PLEASE. SO IF YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU HEARD RIGHT THERE, WE'RE ACTUALLY CALLING ICE ON VICTIMS. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND I THINK OUR CITY SHOULD BE LEADING BY EXAMPLE. AND I WAS REALLY NOT ONLY SAD, BUT OUTRAGED. SO WHAT DID I DO? I PARTNERED WITH NONPROFITS, I SPOKE TO A STATE ATTORNEY, AND I'VE BEEN VERY, VERY INVOLVED IN THIS SUBJECT. WHY? BECAUSE CORAL GABLES HAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST [02:10:01] COASTLINE AND WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS AND WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CONSTITUENTS, SADLY, TO SAY WE ARE THE THIRD, WE ARE NUMBER THREE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE NATION, GUYS. AND WE ALSO ARE NUMBER THREE IN FLORIDA. NEEDLESS TO SAY, 88% OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAPPENS TO WOMEN. SO THAT BEING SAID, I'LL GO AHEAD AND START MOVING ONTO ITEM TWO. NUMBER ONE IS A PRIORITY. F TWO IS A PRIORITY THAT WE SHOULD BE SETTING AS A COMMISSION. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY EASY TO VOTE ON. THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD NOT BE DIVIDED ABOUT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT MEASURE PARTY LINES, THAT IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS. THIS IS ABOUT UNITY. THIS IS ABOUT UNITING FOR THE VOICES THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THAT BEING SAID, I WILL MOVE TO I TO THE NEXT ITEM, ITEM SF FOUR, WHICH THE CITY ATTORNEY WENT AHEAD AND READ AND READ IT ON THE, ON, ON THE RECORD. IF I COULD PLEASE MY EXPERT TESTIMONY, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME UP, STATE YOUR NAME AND WHAT ORGANIZATION YOU BELONG TO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. UM, PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH ALL OF YOU IN SHARING OUR EXPERIENCES AND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. MY NAME IS DR. LINDA PEREZ. UM, I AM THE VP FOR MIAMI-DADE, UH, SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE INITIATIVE. THAT IS OUR NONPROFIT. WE ARE NURSES, WE'RE MOTHERS. I ACTUALLY WROTE HERE ON A RAFT IN 1994. SO I AM AN IMMIGRANT. AND, UM, I WANNA RESONATE THE MAYOR'S PREVIOUS COMMENT THAT WE DO LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE FACE OF THE EARTH, RIGHT? WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZE THOSE DREAMS THAT WE HAVE AS CHILDREN AND MAKE THEM COME TRUE. FOR ME, EDUCATION HAS ONE BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALLOWED ME TO GIVE MY FAMILY AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS THE, THE REALIZATION OF THAT AMERICAN DREAM. AND SO WHY I AM HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY IS TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT, RIGHT? SOMETHING THAT ONLY MAKES SENSE. AND THAT IS TO STRENGTHEN THE EMERGENCY AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENT CRIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY. TO ENSURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY THAT THESE ISSUES HAPPEN IN THE COUNTRY OR IN THE WORLD, BUT RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN CORAL GABLES. RIGHT? AND THESE CIRCUMSTANCES LOOK DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHERE WE ARE. BUT THERE IS NO SOCIOECONOMIC STRATA THAT IS PROTECTED AGAINST THESE. THERE IS NO, UM, RACE OR GENDER. EVERYONE IS AFFECTED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. AND WE KNOW, UM, BEING PART OF THIS WONDERFUL MELTING POT THAT IS SOUTH FLORIDA IS A STRENGTH AND IT'S A BLESSING, BUT IT ALSO BRINGS MANY SPECIFIC CHALLENGES, UM, THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS HEAD ON. SO I AM PLEASED TO, TO SEE THAT WE ARE BEGINNING TO THREAD ON THESE WATERS AND, AND BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT OUR RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGES WE FACE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GIVING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. THAT THEY'RE OPERATING FROM A PLACE THAT IS RESEARCH BASED AND EVIDENCE BASED, THAT ARE BEST PRACTICES, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO ENSURE NOT ONLY THAT WE RESPOND IN A TRAUMA RESPOND, UH, TRAUMA INFORMED MANNER, BUT RATHER THAT WE CAN PROACTIVELY PREVENT THIS CONTINUING TO HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I, UM, WELCOME YOU STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THESE, UM, ITEMS SO THAT OUR RESPONSE CAN BE MORE ROBUST IN IN CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU. I'M VERY SURE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU COMMISSION MAYOR. MY NAME IS MARIE BETTENCOURT. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MIAMI-DADE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE INITIATIVE. I'M HERE TODAY, SICK AND ALL TO STRONGLY SUPPORT MELISSA CASTRO. UH, THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SEE A LOT OF OUR INITIATIVES AND OUR DIRECTIVES, THEY ARE INITIATED AND DIRECTED NOT TOWARDS HEALTH HEALTHCARE, BUT TOWARDS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR LEGAL. AND THAT IS WHERE THE GAP LIES. OKAY? THE LAB, THE GAP LIES IN WHERE WE TRAIN OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR PRE-HOSPITAL. OKAY? THERE IS NO MANDATE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS TO GET TRAINING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SEXUAL ASSAULT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE TRAIN OUR POLICE OFFICERS, WE HAVE A GAP. WE HAVE A DISPARITY. SO THAT BLUE CAMPAIGN WAS NOT CREATED FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS. WE WORK UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. WE WORK UNDER HIPAA AND WE WORK WITH PATIENTS AND VICTIMS. WE ARE NOT HERE TO INVESTIGATE, NOR ARE WE HERE TO PROSECUTE. WE'RE HERE FOR THE VICTIMS. 'CAUSE WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE ACTUAL TRAFFICKERS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT. WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT THE VICTIMS. [02:15:01] WE'RE ABOUT THE VICTIMS AND WE'RE ABOUT OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS. AND WE'RE ASKING THIS COMMISSION TO PASS THIS BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT. AND WE UNDERSTAND. WE'RE NEVER SAYING THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS POLICE, THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN. BUT WE ALWAYS WORK FROM THE POSITION OF WHAT WE UNDERSTAND AND WHAT WE KNOW. AND WHEN YOU SPEAK WITH FIRST RESPONDERS, WELL, WE CALL THE POLICE, BUT HERE'S THE THING. WE ARE HEALTHCARE WORKERS. WE DON'T CALL THE POLICE ON VICTIMS. WE DON'T CALL THE POLICE WITHOUT SOMEBODY SAYING YES, WE WOULD LIKE THE POLICE TO BE INVOLVED, OKAY? BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT AUTONOMY. AND AS A WOMAN, A HISPANIC WOMAN, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. I'M AN ER NURSE. I'M MARRIED TO A FIRST RESPONDER, AND I UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS, OKAY? SO IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO DO ANYTHING MORE, WE'RE JUST ASKING YOU TO GIVE YOUR FIREFIGHTERS THE SAME TOOLS. WE GIVE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND WHAT PRE-HOSPITAL YOU HAVE AND MAYBE THAT CONTACT 24% OF YOUR SEXUAL ASSAULTS AREN'T EVEN REPORTED. THE ONES THAT ARE REPORTED ARE REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR X, Y, Z REASON. BECAUSE WE'RE LIVING IN A TIME THAT WE'RE HANDING OUT NUMBERS AND TELLING PEOPLE TO CALL ICE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S GONNA BE THAT PUSHBACK, BUT SOMETIMES SHOWS UP, UH, SOMEBODY THAT IS IN THE HEALTHCARE FIELD, AND YOU WILL FEEL MORE RE YOU'LL FEEL MORE RESPONSIVE AND YOU MAY OPEN UP AND SAY THINGS THAT YOU WOULD NOT SAY. WE STILL LOVE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND THERE'S ALWAYS A ROLE AND A DEFINITION, BUT THE ROLE AND DEFINITION FOR THEM IS NOT THE SAME AS FOR A HEALTHCARE WORKER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK MARI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXPRESSING YOUR EXPERT TESTIMONY AS, AS WELL AS GLENDA. UM, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY? IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS? DOES THE COMMISSION HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY. WELL, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER YOUR TESTIMONY IS THAT THE CITY WOULD PROBABLY PUT UP A PRESENTATION THAT WOULD PORTRAY THAT THEY FEEL THAT THERE'S NO GAP IN ALL OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND THAT THEY'RE TRAINED PARAMEDICS AND THAT THEY DON'T NEED THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY TRAINED. RIGHT? HOWEVER, IN MY OPINION, I DON'T THINK A LITTLE MORE TO GO AHEAD AND TRAIN THEM ON SPECIFICS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS SUFFICIENT. SO DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT? WE ARE, IT IS NOT, WE'RE NOT CONDEMNING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU. WE WANT TO HELP YOU AND GIVE YOU THOSE TOOLS. OKAY? MOST OF YOUR MONEY IS ALLOCATED TOWARDS LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS ALL OF YOUR GRANTS AND FUNDING FOR TEACHING. WHEN WE SAY TEACHING FOR THE, FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS, WE HAVE A CURRICULUM FOR IT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T EXIST. I KNOW. 'CAUSE I SPENT PROBABLY A YEAR AND SOMETHING LOOKING FOR ONE. 'CAUSE IT'S EASIER TO JUST TAKE SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS. OKAY. SO THE, THE NONPROFIT YOU GUYS REPRESENT, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE SAME NONPROFIT, WOULD THAT GO AHEAD AND HELP THE CITY MAYBE ACQUIRE FUNDING, STATE FUNDING OR OTHER METHODS AND WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO ENGAGE IN GETTING INTO OUR GENERAL FUND OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS? YES. OKAY. SO IT'S VERY, THE WORK THAT WE DO IS STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL, UH, GRANTS. AND SO WE HAVE A VARIETY OF SOURCES FOR FUNDING. AND WE STAND BEFORE YOU BECAUSE WE ARE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND WE UNDERSTAND WHERE THE GAPS LIE. I SEE PATIENTS ALL THE TIME COMING BACK AND BEING READMITTED TIME AND TIME AGAIN FOR THE SAME THINGS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM THAT WE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND TO BE RED FLAGS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. WE CLEARLY UNDERSTAND TO BE SIGNS OF ABUSE. UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS DISHEARTENING TO SEE THAT WHEN WE SAY SOMETHING AND WE IDENTIFY IT RIGHT, NOTHING REALLY HAPPENS AFTER THAT BECAUSE THE RESOURCES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY SADLY HAVE BEEN FRAGMENTED, WHICH MEANS A LOT OF VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS. WE HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO SET UP A NATIONAL MODEL WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES CAN ALSO IMPLEMENT. THAT MAKES SENSE? THAT IS PRACTICAL, THAT WORKS. UM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE A DECISION TO LEAD ON THIS ISSUE AND NOT FALL BEHIND THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR A LONG TIME. OUR EFFORTS NEED TO BE COLLABORATIVE. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS SILOS WHERE EVERYONE IS IN THEIR OWN LITTLE BOX AND CAVE AND ONLY WANTS TO, YOU KNOW, SOLVE ONE, ONE PROBLEM AT A TIME. UNFORTUNATELY, THESE ISSUES ARE DYNAMIC. THEY'RE ROBUST. THE SAME SURVIVOR THAT WAS A SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR YESTERDAY, TODAY COULD BE A TRAFFICKING, UH, VICTIM AGAIN. AND SO WE UNDERSTAND HOW IT INTERSECTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE, THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. HOW MANY OF OUR YOUTH THAT ARE AT RISK IN OUR COMMUNITY FALL PREY TO PREDATORS THAT SPECIFICALLY CAPITALIZE ON THEIR VULNERABILITIES? THIS IS THE BIG PROBLEM. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS. UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE WANT TO BE THE ONE TO LEAD ON IT OR NOT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS US. THESE VICTIMS ARE NOT [02:20:01] A NUMBER ON A PIECE OF PAPER. THERE ARE FRIENDS, THERE ARE DAUGHTERS, THEY'RE OUR SISTERS, THEY'RE YOUR WIVES, UM, THAT WE SEE IN THOSE EMERGENCY ROOMS THAT WE GET THE CALLS FROM IN A PANIC. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF STANDING FOR SOMETHING, UM, AS SIGNIFICANT AND AS UNIFYING AS THIS IS WHERE, WHERE WE ALL KNOW SOMEONE IN OUR LIVES THAT HAS GONE THROUGH SOMETHING AS HORRIBLE AS A, YOU KNOW, SEXUAL ASSAULT OR, AND WE WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING WHICH IS VERY INTERESTING. AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, IF YOU ARE A HUMAN TRAFFICKER, YOU ARE NOT GONNA LET THE POLICE OFFICER INTO YOUR HOUSE, BUT YOU KNOW WHO YOU WILL LET IN. YOU'LL LET IN FIRE RESCUE BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE TO HELP. THEY'RE THERE TO PATCH UP YOUR VICTIMS AND YOU'RE GOING IN AND THEY'RE SEEING THINGS. BUT WHO EXACTLY ARE YOU GONNA REPORT THAT TO? SO THAT TRAINING AND THAT LEVEL OF LIKE SOMEBODY YOU CAN REACH OUT TO AND SAY, LISTEN, I SAW THIS. SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. BUT WHO ARE YOU SEEING IN SAYING SOMETHING TO THE BLUE CAMPAIGN? LOCAL ALWAYS HELPS BECAUSE IT'S SOMEBODY CAN PUT HANDS ON AND CAN HELP YOU WALK IT THROUGH. I WANNA PUT SOMETHING INTO PERSPECTIVE. AND THAT IS, IF WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO SOMETHING MORE AND BIGGER ABOUT THIS, CALLING EYES ON A VICTIM, OKAY? AND DEPORTING THE VICTIM. NOW HOW ARE WE SOLVING THIS BY THE ROOT? NOW, IF WE'RE DEPORTING THE VICTIM, HOW IS IT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ACTUALLY CATCHING THE PERSON WHO'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING THESE WOMEN? SO IF NOW WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE TESTIFYING AGAINST THE ACTUAL PEOPLE THAT ARE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, GUESS WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT? THEY'RE FINDING OTHER WOMEN TO HUMAN TRAFFICK. AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CITY, IN THIS CITY THAT WE LOVE SO MUCH. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PARTIES. THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE VOICES THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE. AND I REALLY HOPE I CAN HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THIS COMMISSION. AND THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS THERE'S NO GAP IN THE SYSTEM. WE COULD ALWAYS DO MORE, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE UNDERAGE GIRLS THAT ARE BEING HUMAN TRAFFICKED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MR. CLERK, MR. MAYOR, CAN YOU, CAN YOU GIVE ONE, I'M SO SORRY. CAN YOU GIVE ONE OF THOSE CARDS TO EACH OF THE PEOPLE? WILL YOU GIVE THEM TO THE CLERK? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND HE'LL, HE'LL PASS 'EM OUT THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. I JUST WANT, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT. CAN WE HEAR PUBLIC? DO WHAT? PUBLIC COMMENT DO WE HAVE? YES, SIR. YES. WOULD YOU MIND YOU, WOULD YOU MIND SITTING DOWN AND AND YOU CAN GIVE THOSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST SPEAKER MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. THIS IS, UM, A TOPIC THAT OF COURSE, IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, WE USUALLY DO NOT LIKE TO, UM, UH, SHOW THAT WE'RE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, WE WILL, UH, USUALLY ASSUME THAT BECAUSE WE'RE WELL OFF, BECAUSE WE HAVE NICE HOMES, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN HERE. WELL, THEY DO HAPPEN HERE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS DRIVE AROUND LATE AT NIGHT. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MOTELS ON A I'M TALKING ABOUT US ONE NEAR MY HOUSE. YOU SEE PEOPLE THERE THAT OBVIOUSLY NEED HELP, THAT OBVIOUSLY ARE DOING THINGS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING, THAT WHO KNOWS WHO PUTS THEM THERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, SCANDAL IS NOT A GOOD WORD IN CORAL GABLES. AND I'M GLAD THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER CASTRO ALREADY POINTED OUT, I KNOW WHAT THE, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN. I CAN PREDICT I DON'T HAVE A, UM, WHAT IS THAT? A BALL THAT I CAN LOOK, I CAN TELL YOU, SHE BROUGHT UP THE TOPIC. IT WILL BE, IT WON'T BE A GOOD TOPIC FOR THIS COMMISSION TO GO WITH. AND THEN A FEW, A FEW MONTHS FROM NOW, WE'LL HAVE A NEW IDEA AND SOMEBODY WILL BRING UP EXACTLY WHAT SHE PROPOSED AND IT'LL BE GREAT BECAUSE THE ISSUE HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, IF SHE BRINGS IT UP, WE DON'T NEED TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW. NOW, AS A MOTHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS AND TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS, I TELL YOU THAT OUR KIDS ARE CHILDREN ARE IN DANGER BECAUSE THE SAME WAY AS KIDS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES GET TRAFFICKED, OURS CAN GET TRAFFICKED TOO. AND [02:25:01] IF YOU REMEMBER, NOT LONG AGO, I MEAN A FEW YEARS BACK, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT DISAPPEARED AND THEN THEY WERE FOUND SOMEPLACE DEAD. OKAY? IT HAPPENS IT EVERYWHERE. ALL YOU NEED IS A YOUNG, GOOD LOOKING GIRL WALKING AROUND AND SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN, OKAY? AND WE NEED TO OPEN OUR EYES AND FORGET THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS AND FACE REALITY. WE NEED TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE IT IS THERE AND WE CANNOT AVOID LOOKING AT IT. AND IT IS NOT JUST THE MOTELS IN SOUTHWEST EIGHTH, IT IS ALL OVER THE CITY THAT YOU SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. AND I'M GLAD THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE HEALTH FIELD SEE IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE. THEY SEE IT, THEY'RE TAKEN THERE, AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN AFTER THAT. MR. CLERK, TONY DIAZ. SEE IF I COULD, UH, A LITTLE BETTER. HEY EVERYBODY, HOW ARE YOU? IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY. I SEE WHY THEY CALL IT THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. NOTHING BUT BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM. REALLY GOOD LOOKING COMMISSIONERS HERE. UM, I THINK THIS IS COMMON SENSE FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I THINK CORAL GABLES HAS ALWAYS LED BY EXAMPLE. I'M, UH, I'M RUNNING RIGHT NOW FOR DISTRICT ONE 13, YOUR NEIGHBOR'S OVER IN MIAMI. AND WE ALWAYS LOOK UP TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE THE WAY YOU TRAIN AND THE WAY YOUR PERSONNEL EXECUTES IS JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S WHAT PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IS MEANT TO BE. SELDOM IS THERE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE POLICE IN CORAL GABLES WITHOUT SOMEBODY SAYING, REMEMBER, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT EVERYBODY'S TRAINED ON THE DEFIBRILLATOR. EVERYBODY HAS ONE IN THEIR CAR. JUST GREAT DIFFERENTIATING FACTORS LIKE THOSE MAKE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL. GREAT. I THINK THIS IS JUST ONE MORE WAY TO DO THAT. AND IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT IT MORE SELFISHLY, BECAUSE I HAVE, YOU KNOW, LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE EIGHTH STREET CORRIDOR BECAUSE I GO TO THE MCDONALD'S ON 42ND AND EIGHTH, AND THEN MY PARENTS LIVE ON 2,800 ELHAM. SO I'LL GO DOWN THAT ROAD A LOT. WE CAN STOP THE BEHAVIOR IN THAT CORRIDOR IF WE JUST LENGTHEN THE RECIDIVISM PIPELINE WITH THESE OFFENDERS. IF WE REPORT THEM, IF WE MAKE THEM GO THROUGH THE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS TRAINING WOULD HELP FIRE, HELP THEM GO THROUGH. WE CAN STOP THEM FROM GETTING OUT THERE AND PLACING THAT PRESSURE ON THE BUSINESS BETWEEN CORAL GABLES AND MIAMI, I THINK WOULD MAKE THAT A STREET AREA BETTER AND WOULD HELP WITH THE FUTURE PLANS. YOU HAVE TO REDEVELOP THE AREA AND TAKE OUT SOME OF THE BLIGHTS THERE ARE WITH THOSE MOTELS. SO I REALLY THINK IT'D BE GREAT IF YOU SUPPORTED THIS RESOLUTION. I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M HOPING TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE TO HELP BRING SOME FUNDING DOWN FOR THAT. BUT EVEN IF I DON'T, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT REPRESENTATIVES RIGHT NOW IN TALLAHASSEE WHO I'M SURE WE COULD REACH OUT TO AND THEY'D BE WILLING TO GET US SOME FUNDING BECAUSE IT'D BE, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE BELOW THE CITY, HONESTLY, FOR US NOT TO GET MORE TRAINING. MORE TRAINING IS ALWAYS WHAT'S MADE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL. GREAT. AND I THINK IT'S JUST ONE MORE ITEM WE HAVE THAT CAN MAKE CORAL GABLES AN EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTY. AND, UM, WHILE I'M HERE, 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA WASTE YOUR TIME A SECOND TIME, DEFINITELY WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD, UH, PROTECT THE UDB AND KEEP IT FROM EXPANDING. I THINK CORAL GABLES IS, UH, ONCE AGAIN AN EXAMPLE OF GREAT PUBLIC PLANNING, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PLANNING AND EXPANDING NEEDLESSLY ISN'T GONNA LEAD US TO SOLVE MANY OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CLERK. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, PERFECT. UH, MR. MANAGER STAFF, UH, MAYOR, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY POLICE AND FIRE CONCERNING THE, UH, UH, F TWO AND F FOUR AND, AND THE, AND THE, UH, RESPONSE AND THE TRAINING THAT, UH, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND, AND POLICE HAVE AND, AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE EVERY DAY. CHIEF, GOOD MORNING. OH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MORNING, SIR. BEFORE FIRE GETS INTO IT, I, I JUST, I JUST NEED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING, UM, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I KNOW THE 2 87, WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH THIS DAY BEFORE ABOUT HAVING TO SIGN THAT, WHICH I SIGNED, UH, AS WELL AS IT GOES IN WITH STATUTE 9 0 8 AND SPECIFICALLY IN 9 0 8. AND, AND I NEED, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE UNDER SECTION EIGHT, IT READS, IN THE LAW, THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY ALIEN UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES IF HE OR SHE HAS BEEN A NECESSARY WITNESS, VICTIM OF A CRIME OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RAPE, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, SEXUAL ASSAULT, MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER, ASSAULT, BATTERY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, KIDNAPPING, FALSE IMPRISONMENT AND VOLUNTARY SERVITUDE, FRAUD AND FOREIGN LABOR CONTRACTING, BLACKMAIL, EXTORTION, OR WITNESS TAMPERING. IN OTHER WORDS, [02:30:01] IF THEY ARE A WITNESS OR A VICTIM OF ANY OF THOSE CASES, I AM NOT ALLOWED BY LAW, NOR IS YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO NOTIFY ICE. AS THE COMMISSIONER ASKED ME EARLIER THIS WEEK, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CARD CAME FROM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE WILL NOT, YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT NOTIFY ICE IF SOMEBODY IS A VICTIM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT. WE HAVE HAD CASES THIS YEAR THAT HAVE RISE TO THAT LEVEL, AND WE HAVE NOT CONTACTED THEM AS FAR AS THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN POLICE AND FIRE. WE ARE, OUR 9 1 1 CENTER IS RUN BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE SAME PEOPLE THAT HANDLE THE POLICE CALLS, HANDLE THE FIRE CALLS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF VERY FEW TIMES DO WE NOT RESPOND TO MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. THAT'S WHY THIS BODY GAVE EVERY ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS AN A ED IF IT'S A HEART ATTACK, RESCUE'S RUNNING, AND WE'RE GOING AS WELL. SO WE ARE ALL THERE. I'M NOT SAYING WHETHER WE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WE ARE NOT TURNING OVER PEOPLE ICE. I CAN TALK TO THE OTHER, UM, ISSUES THAT WE WORK WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AFTER THE FIRE CHIEF. THANK YOU. SO TO SEGUE OFF OF THE, UH, POLICE CHIEF, WHAT HE JUST STATED, UM, I CAN SAY THAT OUR MEDICAL PROTOCOLS THAT I'LL DISCUSS HERE IN A FEW MINUTES HAVE SPECIFIC NUMBERS THAT WE USE, WHETHER IT'S FOR ELDER ABUSE OR IF IT'S FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR VULNERABLE POPULATION, UH, ABUSE OR MISTREATMENT. AND, UH, THOSE NUMBERS ARE EITHER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S AND FAMILY OR ELDER LINKS, WHICH IS, UH, ALLIANCE FOR THE AGING. SO I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER NUMBER, UH, AS THE CHIEF JUST STATED. SO CAN WE GO TO MY PRESENTATION PLEASE? NEXT SLIDE. OH, SO TO BEGIN AND TO GIVE A 3000 FOOT LEVEL OF WHAT WE PARTICIPATE, WHETHER IT'S INVOLVING ANY ACTIONABLE INFORMATION OR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING, WHETHER IT'S, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WHETHER IT IS, UM, UH, TERRORIST THREATS OR, UH, AREAS OF CONCERN, OR WHETHER IT IS SITE SECURITY FOR MAJOR EVENTS SUCH AS THE SUPER BOWL OR FIFA OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, POLICE AND FIRE COMMAND STAFF ATTEND REGIONAL DOMESTIC SECURITY TASK FORCE MEETINGS. FIRE COMMAND IS PART OF THE URBAN AREA SECURITY WORKING GROUP, AS WELL AS THE FIRE OFFICERS OF MIAMI-DADE. WITHIN THOSE GROUPS, INTELLIGENCE IS SHARED INFORMATION IS AFFORDED, AND EDUCATION WITH REGARDS TO ALL TOPICS, INCLUDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. OUR FOLKS WILL BE PART OF CERTAIN SPECIFIC C COMMUNITIES THAT DRILL DOWN, WHETHER THAT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT, MASS CARE, PUBLIC HEALTH, COMMUNICATIONS, SPECIAL RESPONSE INTELLIGENCE, OR COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION. TO MENTION A FEW, WE ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF INFORMATION THAT IS BROUGHT TO US THROUGH A FUSION CENTER. A FUSION CENTER IS A COMPLEX, MULTI, UM, DIMENSIONAL GROUP THAT SEARCHES THROUGH ALL ACTIONABLE DATA, UH, WHETHER IT'S, UH, CYBER, WHETHER IT'S, UM, INTELLIGENCE THROUGH THE INTERNET, OR GROUPS THAT ARE TALKING OR REPORTS THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM OUR ALPHABET AGENCIES, WHETHER IT'S D-H-S-F-B-I-F-D-L-E. THAT INFORMATION IS THEN SHARED WITH, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS THAT, THAT IS HAS SPECIFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS OR SECURITY FUNCTIONS WILL ONLY GOES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOT NECESSARILY TO FIRE. UM, WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE MIAMI-DADE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MULTI AREA COMMAND GROUP FOR FIFA. AND I WILL BE REPRESENTING AS A STATE COORDINATOR FOR FIRE RESCUE RESOURCES. SO WITH REGARDS TO THE TRAINING THAT OUR PARAMEDICS RECEIVE AS PART OF THE FLORIDA TRAINING, UH, REQUIREMENTS AND FRAMEWORK, UH, INCLUDED IN THAT EDUCATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION IS 150 HOURS OF PATIENT ASSESSMENT TRAINING, WHICH INCLUDES ABUSE, NEGLECT, EXPLOITATION, AND, UH, SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. NOW, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THE ENTIRE 150 HOURS ARE DEDICATED TO THAT SUBJECT, BUT ALL OF THESE AREAS, WHETHER IT'S A SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ARE [02:35:01] A COMPONENT OF THE SCENE ASSESSMENT THAT WE HAVE. HOW OUR INTERACTION WITH OUR PATIENT IS WHAT IS OUR FINDING FROM OUR PATIENT'S INTERACTIONS, UM, RECOGNITION AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE FOCUS. WHAT THAT MEANS IS, IS THAT ONCE OUR PARAMEDICS IDENTIFY THAT A VICTIM, UM, IS EITHER THE SUBJECT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR SEXUAL ABUSE, THEN THE MANNER IN WHICH WE QUESTION THAT PATIENT, WHERE WE QUESTION THAT PATIENT, WHAT WORDS WE USE OR DON'T USE, UM, TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT FROM THE EMERGENCY THAT THEY'RE, UM, UNDER. IT PROVIDES FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF FLORIDA STATUTES. IT, UM, RECOGNIZES THE COORDINATION AND IMPORTANCE TO COORDINATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND IT DEMONSTRATES APPROPRIATE SCENE MANAGEMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. THOSE PATIENTS INCLUDE DOMESTIC PARTNER ABUSE, ELDER AND CHILD ABUSE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, IDENTIFYING YOUR TYPICAL ABUSER PROFILE, AND IDENTIFYING THE PROFILE OF AN AT RISK INDIVIDUAL. WE ARE PART OF WHAT'S CALLED A COMMON MEDICAL PROTOCOL. SO THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, UH, PARTICIPATE IN ONE COMMON MEDICAL PROTOCOL. SO WHAT I'M DISCUSSING OR PRESENTING HERE IS THE SAME FOR DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING MIAMI BEACH, MIAMI HIALEAH, JUST TO NAME A FEW. UM, OUR MEDICAL PROTOCOLS ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDICAL DIRECTOR. HE'S A CERTIFIED, UH, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PHYSICIAN AS WELL AS A PROFESSOR. UM, OUR PARAMEDICS RECEIVE TRAINING ANNUALLY ON ALL OUR MEDICAL PROTOCOLS, WHICH INCLUDE THE PROTOCOLS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO EITHER, UM, VULNERABLE POPULATION OR SEXUAL ASSAULT. UH, THOSE PROTOCOLS WE PARTICIPATE IN AN ANNUAL EXAMINATION. UH, THEY ARE, UH, PROCESSED AND EXAMINED AGAIN WITH CONSIDERATION FOR RESCUE ASSIGNMENT AND ALL THAT INFORMATION IS ALSO PART OF OUR PROMOTIONAL PROCESS. THE DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE A SPECIFIC PROTOCOL FOR ABUSE, NEGLECT, EXPLOITED, AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. UH, THAT PROTOCOL, AND I'LL RE I'LL RESTATE THIS. OKAY. IT IS A SPECIFIC PROTOCOL THAT IDENTIFIES THE REPORTING MANDATES OF BASED ON, ON STATE STATUTE FOUR 15. IT IS NOT A STANDALONE PROTOCOL. IT IS A PROTOCOL THAT GOES ALONG WITH, UM, THE ASSESSMENT OR THE TREATMENT OF A, THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY OR TRAUMATIC EMERGENCY THAT THAT PATIENT IS, UM, EXPERIENCING. IT IDENTIFIES, WE HAVE PROTOCOLS THAT WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS, THAT IDENTIFY THE NEED TO IMMEDIATELY TREAT LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS. IT SPEAKS ON PHYSICAL EXAM AND TREATMENT, AND THEN THE SUPPORTIVE CARE. SO THEY ALL WORK IN CONJUNCTION. IT'S NOT A STANDALONE PROTOCOL THAT IDENTIFIES OR SPEAKS ON EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THAT PATIENT, BUT IT WORKS IN CON IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL OUR OTHER MEDICAL PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES. UM, WITH THAT, WE ALSO HAVE A PROTOCOL FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS. THE REASON THAT PROTOCOL IS THERE IS BECAUSE OF THE IDIOSYNCRASIES THAT GOES WITH THAT, WITH THOSE EMERGENCIES, WHETHER IT IS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA, AS I STATED BEFORE, TRAUMA FOCUSED COMMUNICATION OR THE EVIDENCE PRESERVATION THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THAT PROTOCOL, WHETHER IT'S COACHING THE PATIENT OR WHAT OUR RESPONDERS DO ON SCENE. SO BEHAVIOR INDICATORS, UM, THAT WHEN WE APPROACH ON SCENE, UH, FLAG OR GIVE US A REASON FOR CONCERN OR TO, FOR FURTHER SCRUTINY AS IT WAS STATED BEFORE, UM, WHEN WE GO ON A CALL, IT IS NOT A CALL THAT THEY'RE IDENTIFYING THAT THERE'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR SEXUAL ABUSE. SO REPEATED EMERGENCIES OR INCIDENT TO THE SAME LOCATION BEGIN TO DRAW A FLAG, WHETHER, UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR SEXUAL ABUSE. BUT A VERY COMMON ONE IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT RAISES TO THE LEVEL WHERE A CONCERN OR INCIDENT IS FLAGGED IS ELDERLY FOLKS THAT LIVE BY THEMSELVES AND ARE CONTINUOUSLY SHOWING SIGNS THAT THEY'RE UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES. AND THOSE FREQUENT CALLS BY EITHER POLICE OR FIRE PERSONNEL START TO FLAG THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THESE PATIENTS OR A SPECIAL NEED THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THESE PATIENTS. THE INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS IN THE HOME OR THE BUSINESS AND HOW THAT PATIENT INTERACTS [02:40:01] BEGIN TO RAISE FLAGS FOR US. THE PHYSICAL SIGNS UPON, UM, EXAMINATION THE PATIENT'S RESPONSE TO OUR QUESTIONING. UM, THE FEARFUL BEHAVIOR OR LACK OF IDENTIFICATION OF THAT VICTIM TO US, OR EVIDENCE OF LABOR OR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION ARE ALL FLAGS THAT ARE RAISED DURING OUR SCENE ASSESSMENT OR WHILE WE'RE ON THAT SCENE. UM, THE PROTOCOL ITSELF INVOLVES ENVIRONMENTAL SCANNING. UM, SO WHAT THAT MEANS, AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET INTO PARTICULARS BECAUSE THERE'S ISSUES THERE THAT WE'D RATHER NOT SHARE WITH EVERYBODY, IS HOW OUR PARAMEDICS ASSESS THAT SCENE AND WHAT CLUES ARE THEY TAKING FROM THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY'RE IN, WHETHER IT'S A HOME OR A BUSINESS THAT STARTS TO EITHER RAISE FLAGS OR, UM, QUESTION, ARE WE GETTING THE BIG PICTURE ON THESE CALLS? UM, THE PATIENT'S MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THEIR PRIVACY. UH, TRAUMA-INFORMED COMMUNICATIONS, AS I STATED EARLIER, UM, THE SCENE MANAGEMENT AND CROWD CONTROL WHAT WE SAY AROUND OUR PATIENTS. WHEN THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE AROUND. WE TRY TO ISOLATE OUR PATIENTS, UM, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS, UH, PROTECTED MEDICAL INFORMATION THAT WE ARE ASKING ON. WE FOLLOW OUR SPECIFIC PROTOCOLS FOR THE VULNERABLE, FOR THE VULNERABLE POPULATION, AND OUR DOCUMENTATION IS OBJECTIVE AND THOROUGH. UM, AS I STATED BEFORE, OUR SPECIFIC PROTOCOLS WORK IN CONJUNCTION. SO THE UNIVERSAL ASSESSMENT TREATMENT OF LIFE AND INJURIES ALWAYS COMES FIRST. UM, WITH THESE PATIENTS THAT WE SUSPECT OUR VICTIMS, WE EXPLAIN OUR PROCEDURES AND OBTAIN CONSENT PRIOR TO, UH, TREATING OUR PATIENTS. WE TRANSPORT TO APPROPRIATE FACILITIES, THEY'RE ALWAYS TRANSPORTED BY OUR RESCUES. AND, UM, WE NOTIFY POLICE IF NOT ALREADY ON SCENE, UM, OF ANY OF THESE SUSPICIOUS LIKE HUMAN TRAFFICKING BECAUSE OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN. SO A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS, IS, UH, POLICE HAVE AN INTEGRATED RESPONSE WITH US ON MOST OF OUR CALLS. HOWEVER, WE MAY GO TO A SCENE WHERE IT'S, UM, IT GETS DISPATCHED THROUGH THE 9 1 1 QUESTIONING FOR A SLIP AND FALL. WELL, THAT'S A LOW ACUITY CALL THAT POLICE MAY NOT RESPOND WITH US. BUT AS A RESULT OF OUR, EITHER OUR ASSESSMENT WITH OUR PATIENT OR OUR, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN, POLICE MAY BE ALERTED TO THAT SCENE. UM, WE USE, UM, SPECIFIC RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE'LL NEVER USE THE WORD SEXUAL ASSAULT OR RAPE ON A RADIO, OKAY. UM, OR IN PUBLIC. AND WE AVOID ONE-ON-ONE MALE, UM, MALE CAREGIVERS. UM, IF WE'RE IN THE PRESENCE OF A, A FEMALE VICTIM, WHETHER, SO WE EITHER TRY TO INCORPORATE A FEMALE PARAMEDIC ON THAT CALL, AND IF THERE'S NOT ONE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE WHILE WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT PATIENT, THEN WE'LL LEAN ON OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS TO PROVIDE A FEMALE PRESENCE DURING OUR PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND CARE OF THAT PATIENT. SOME OF OUR BEST PRACTICES, UH, AS THE CHIEF MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE A COMMON PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT OR 9 1 1. USUALLY THAT IS THE FIRST PLACE THAT STARTS TO FLAG FREQUENT CALLS, FOR INSTANCE, TO A SPECIFIC LOCATION, WHETHER IT'S A BUSINESS OR A RESIDENT. UM, WE HAVE THAT INTEGRATED RESPONSE WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS THAT THEY GO AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR CALLS, UM, WE USE A UNIFIED COMMAND INTELLIGENCE MEETINGS DURING MAJOR EVENTS OR SIGNIFICANT TRENDS THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE. SO AS WE APPROACH MODA AND WE APPROACH, UM, CARNIVAL ON THE MILE, POLICE AND FIRE WILL HAVE MEETINGS TOGETHER WHERE OUR PLANS ARE REVIEWED AND ANY ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, EITHER THROUGH OUR END OR THROUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT, IS SHARED AS PRECAUTIONS. UM, WE COORDINATE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON FREQUENT EMERGENCIES OF SUSPECTED ABUSE. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE USE THE FLORIDA ABUSE HOTLINE AS OUR DIRECT CONTACT FOR THESE PATIENTS. WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER FOR ELDERLY PATIENTS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT ARE EITHER UNABLE TO BE CARED OR WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S NEGLECT OR ABUSE. UM, WE ARE MANDATED BY STATE STATUTE TO COMPLETE THE HOTLINE FORM AND DOCUMENTED IN OUR PATIENT CARE REPORTS. UM, EMS MUST REPORT THE INCIDENTS THAT ARE IN FOUR 15, EVEN THOUGH POLICE OR THE HOSPITAL MAY BE INVOLVED AS WELL. UM, AND THERE IS MAG MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR MINORS AND REPORTS THAT ARE UNLIVABLE [02:45:01] OR SELF CON, UM, NEGLECT CONDITIONS WHEN APPROPRIATE, MAINLY WITH OUR ELDERLY IS MENTIONED AS WELL, OR, OR SHARED. SO WHAT DO WE DO TO PREPARE FOR MAJOR EVENTS DURING MAJOR EVENT PLANNING? THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL ASSESS OUR OPERATIONAL RESPONSE READINESS TRAINING AND PREVENTION. SO AS WE APPROACH MODO, WE APPROACH, UM, UH, CARNIVAL OUR OPERATIONAL PROTOCOLS, WHETHER IT'S MASS CASUALTY INCIDENTS, OUR INCIDENT COMMAND, OUR SITE PLANNING, ALL OF THAT IS REVIEWED. FIREFIGHTERS WILL RECEIVE TRAINING AND UPDATES THROUGH ROLL CALL ANNOUNCEMENTS, UM, SITUATIONAL REPORTS AND REAL TIME INFORMATION. OUR PERSONNEL ARE TRAINED OR ASSIGNED THROUGH OUR TRAINING PORTAL, UH, COURSES ON AWARENESS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. UM, I PUT THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE SUBJECT MATTER THAT WE'RE PRESENTING HERE TODAY, BUT WE ALSO RECEIVE TRAINING THROUGH THAT PORTAL FOR MASS CASUALTY, FOR COMMAND TRAINING AND OTHER RELATED EITHER MEDICAL OR FIRE TRAINING THAT WE USE THAT PORTAL OR, OR ENGAGE THAT PORTAL FOR, UM, OUR ONLINE COURSES, THERE'S ABOUT 240 IN THAT LIBRARY. THEY'RE ALL ACCREDITED. AND THE COURSES CONTENTS THAT REINFORCES THE PARAMEDIC TRAINING AND REPORTING CRITERIA AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, ARE ALL PART OF OUR COMMON PROTOCOL AND PARAMEDIC TRAINING. THE, THE COURSES, THE COURSES THAT OUR PARAMEDICS ARE RECEIVING CURRENTLY FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS ARE THE SAME ONES THAT MIAMI BEACH, UH, FIRE RESCUE FOR INSTANCE, ARE USING, UM, IN THEIR PREPARATIONS. SO WE HAVE UNIFIED COMMAND BRIEFING. WE PARTNER WITH AGENCIES FOR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND INFORMATION, UM, SHARING. WE'VE PARTICIPATED IN MAJOR EVENT TABLETOP TRAININGS WITH FIFA IN PREPARATION FOR THE G 20 20 26 TO G 20 MIAMI AND OTHER SCHEDULED LARGE EVENTS. SO IN SUMMARY, UM, OUR PARAMEDICS HAVE TRAINING AND RECOGNITION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF VULNERABLE AND OR EXPLOITED VICTIMS. UH, THE CORRUGATES FIRE DEPARTMENT UTILIZES A COMMON PROTOCOL FOR THE ASSESSMENT, MANAGING AND REPORTING CRITERIA OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, AND EXPLOITED AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND THAT INCLUDES SEXUAL ASSAULT. CORAL GABLES FIRE IS PROVIDING TRAINING AWARENESS TO OUR PARAMEDICS THAT REINFORCE OUR PROTOCOLS AND REPORTING CRITERIA. UH, GABLES USES A JOINT PSAP, UM, FOR 9 1 1 CENTER THAT IDENTIFIES POTENTIAL INSTANCES OF VULNERABLE OR EXPLOITED VICTIMS. WE USE AN INCORPORATED RESPONSE WITH OUR POLICE PARTNERS. IT COLLABORATES WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN CASE MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION SHARING. AND THE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATES IN REGIONAL SECURITY GROUPS THAT PROVIDE FOR CRITICAL INFORMATION AND POTENTIAL THREATS TO VULNERABLE OR EXPLOITED VICTIMS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. AND THAT SURMISES MY, UH, PRESENTATION, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU, CHIEF. CHIEF HUDAK. UM, SO AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS HANDLED ON A, AN A STATEWIDE LEVEL AS COME UP NOW AND NOW MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE STATE ATTORNEY CATHERINE RUNDEL, HAS HAD A HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE FOR YEARS OF WHICH YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN A PART OF, TO THE POINT WHERE THE PERSON WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE STATE OF THE COUNTYWIDE TASK FORCE IS A RETIRED CORAL GABLES POLICE SERGEANT. WE ALSO HAVE A DETECTIVE THAT'S ASSIGNED TO IT. WE HAVE ACTIVELY WORKED ALONGSIDE OF ALL OF THOSE DETECTIVES FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS. UH, LAST YEAR, THAT TASK FORCE HANDLED ABOUT 20 CASES, I'M SORRY, INVESTIGATED 20 CASES ON OPERA, HAD OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT ALL OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. APPROXIMATELY 20 OF THOSE CASES WERE INVESTIGATED WITHIN THE TASK FORCE, SOME BY OUR DETECTIVES IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES ITSELF. WE HAVE HAD TWO OF THOSE OPERATIONS RESULTING IN ARRESTS, SEARCH WARRANTS AND IDENTIFICATION OF TRAFFICKED PEOPLE AS WELL AS SUBJECTS, UH, THAT WERE ACTUALLY TRAFFICKING THEM. THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE STATE ATTORNEY, THAT THE ATTOR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAD WAS IN DEFERENCE TO FUNDING SPECIFICALLY TO THAT TASK FORCE FOR THE UPCOMING FIFA WORLD CUP EVENTS. NOW, BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS ISSUES GOING BACK TO THE SUPER BOWLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THERE IS A COORDINATED, UH, SILO BREAKING TYPE OF THEORY THAT THE STATE ATTORNEY YOURSELF HAS. SO OUR, OUR PEOPLE FROM SALT, AS WE KNOW, RIGHT, SALT, UM, THEY'RE BROUGHT IN, THERE IS A, THERE IS A BUILDING, AN UNDISCLOSED BUILDING IN, IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY [02:50:01] THAT RUNS THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIDE THAT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE, UH, FOR ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE IDENTIFIED. THE STATE ATTORNEY'S GOAL, YOUR POLICE CHIEF'S GOAL IS NOT TO DEPORT ANYBODY LIKE THAT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO TAKE THEM OFF THE STREET. WE'RE LOOKING TO GET THEM ASSISTANCE LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE OUR CITY DOES WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION. THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS WE ARE GOING AFTER THE JOHNS. WE ARE NUMBER THREE BETWEEN BEHIND NEW YORK AND TEXAS AND US. AND WE KNOW BECAUSE OF THE INTELLIGENCE THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THAT THEY'RE BRINGING THESE WOMEN HERE. WELL, I TELL YOU, THE ATROCITIES THAT I'VE SEEN AND THE PICTURES THAT I'VE SEEN AND WHAT THESE VILE HUMANS DO TO THESE POOR WOMEN, IT WOULD TURN YOUR STOMACH. SO WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO THAT. THE MONEY, AGAIN, THE MONEY THAT, THAT, UH, THE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SENT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT. THERE IS GOING TO BE A LARGE TASK FORCE OF OFFICERS HOURS INCLUDED, THAT ARE GOING TO BE ATTACKING THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT IS COMING THIS WAY FROM AROUND THE WORLD. UM, TO, TO THE COMMISSIONER'S POINT, HOW DO WE NOTIFY THEM? RIGHT? THERE ARE, AND IF WE GO INTO SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES, SOME OF OUR HOTELS, THERE ARE HUMAN TRAFFICKING POSTERS. THE LATEST ONE COMING UP IS ALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SHUT OUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING. IT IS SPECIFICALLY GEARED TOWARD THE UPCOMING FIFA EVENT. THIS WAS PUT OUT THE OTHER DAY. THE NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT. THERE'S A QR CODE. SO YOU'LL SEE THESE IN BACKSTAGE AREAS AROUND HOTELS WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO IDENTIFY THINGS THAT THEY, THAT THEY HAVE SEEN. UH, ATTORNEY GENERAL MEYERS ALSO PUT OUT THE REPORT OF CRIME. I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S THE SAME NUMBER, WHICH HAS ME THINKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO GET THE FLORIDA SAFE NUMBERS ON OUR PHONE, RIGHT? UM, UH, BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE STARTED TO PUT OUT. PART OF THOSE MONIES THAT WERE ALLOCATED THE OTHER DAY ARE GOING TO GO TOWARD THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE. IT IS GOING TO BE A JOINT OPERATION. UM, AS THE CHIEF TALKED ABOUT, UH, AND I CAN'T REITERATE ENOUGH, YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDS ON EVERY OVERDOSE JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT. THE REASON WHY WE RESPOND TO OVERDOSES IS NOT TO PENALIZE THE PERSON THAT'S IN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY IS TO TRY AND BACKTRACK WHERE THE DRUGS CAME FROM. SO WE SEND OUR NARCOTICS PEOPLE AFTER THE FACT TO TRY AND FIND OUT AND STEM THE TRIBE OF, OF FENTANYL OVERDOSES THAT WE'VE SEEN. SO WE ARE USED TO THAT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, POLICE OFFICERS ALSO GET STATE OF FLORIDA TRAINING. AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S NOT VERY MUCH. BUT THEY ALSO RETRAIN EVERY YEAR OR EVERY TWO YEARS, I BELIEVE IT IS, WE'RE DOING ONLINE FOR RE RECOGNIZING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THAT'S THOSE KIND OF ISSUES THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIDE HAS PUT IN THAT AS WELL. SO IS IT, IS IT ON THE TIP OF EVERYBODY'S TONGUE? NOT NECESSARILY, BUT IS IT IN THE FOREFRONT OF EVERY OFFICER'S AND FIREFIGHTER'S MIND? ABSOLUTELY. UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE DEALING WITH UNIQUE TIMES, WHETHER IT BE, UM, SOMEBODY WORKING AT THE HOUSE THAT'S WORRIED ABOUT IT. BUT AGAIN, I CAN'T STATE ENOUGH. THE, THE, THE PROPAGANDA ABOUT WHO'S GETTING DEPORTED THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY OR, OR THE STATEMENTS, UH, ARE HUGE. I CAN ONLY GO BY THE LAW AS I'VE TOLD THIS BODY BEFORE FOR STATUTE 9 0 8, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO NOTIFY ICE. NOW THAT BEING SAID, IF THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS AN OPERATION, WHICH WE HAVE CON HAVE DONE IN THIS CITY, WE HAVE HAD ICE AGENTS EMBEDDED NOT TO GO AFTER THE VICTIMS TO IDENTIFY THE TRAFFICKERS. AND THOSE ARE THE KIND OF CASES THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, AND I'VE TOLD YOU THIS, IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO ARREST THAT TRAFFICKER AND THEY ARE DEPORTABLE, WHY WOULD WE NOT TURN THEM OVER TO ICE? THAT'S THE TRAFFICKERS. THE VICTIMS ARE THE VICTIMS. YOU, THAT'S DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHERE YOU WERE BORN OR WHERE YOU CAME FROM. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IN A NUTSHELL HOW WE'VE ADDRESSED THE ISSUE. UH, A AGAIN, AS YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR THE BETTER PART OF 30 DAYS BETWEEN CROWD CONTROL ISSUES COMING IN, BUT WE ARE NOT LOSING SIGHT OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIDE TO THE POINT OF, YOU ALL KNOW WE HAVE A FINANCIAL CRIMES TASK FORCE. THAT'S ALSO THE, THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT OF CORAL GABLES, [02:55:01] BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON THE MONIES THAT ARE COMING IN FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING DURING THAT TIME PERIOD AS WELL. SO IT IS GONNA BE A CONCENTRATED EFFORT. THANK YOU, CHIEF. UM, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. OKAY. MOST OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE HAVE THEIR MINDS MADE UP ALREADY BEFORE THIS ITEM EVEN CAME UP. UM, AND THAT'S REALLY SAD. I UNDERSTAND THE CITY MANAGER WITHOUT EVEN TALKING TO ME, OPPOSED MY RESOLUTION BEFORE EVEN ME EVEN SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT IT JUST BY READING THE LANGUAGE. AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS YOUR BOSS. I JUST UNDERSTAND THE CITY MANAGER IS THE POLICE'S BOSS. SO WHATEVER DIRECTIVE HE GIVES YOU, I UNDERSTAND YOU NEED TO COMPLY WITH. OKAY. HOWEVER, I AM ASKING FOR STRONGER TRAINING FOR FIREFIGHTERS. AND, UM, FROM THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU GAVE, IT WASN'T VERY REFLECTIVE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I THINK YOU MENTIONED HUMAN TRAFFICKING ONCE. OKAY. I WENT THROUGH THE TRAINING PROTOCOLS. IT WAS JUST A LOT, A LOT OF THINGS. IT WAS LIKE A WORD SALAD. TRYING TO CONFUSE ME A LITTLE BEFORE I CON CONTINUE TALKING, I WANNA BE THANKFUL BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL FORCE, POLICE AND FIRE. AND IN NO MEANS IS THIS MEANING TO DIMINISH YOUR WORK, WHICH I THINK YOU GUYS ARE EXCEPTIONAL, BUT DO I THINK WE CAN IMPROVE? ABSOLUTELY. DO I THINK THERE'S ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT? 100%. SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS PERSONALLY BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE OUTSTANDING. OKAY? THE OTHER THING IS, THERE IS NO FISCAL IMPACT TO THE TRAINING THAT I AM PROPOSING TO THIS DEPARTMENT. OKAY? UM, AND THE OTHER THING IS, WE SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTING THIS ON SPECIAL EVENTS. DO YOU THINK THIS IS WHAT OUR TAXPAYERS ARE ACCEPTING TO? SHOULD WE NOT HAVE YEAR ROUND TRAINING SPECIFICALLY TARGETING HUMAN TRAFFICKING? ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M OFFERING YOU SOLUTIONS WHERE I CAN OFFER YOU STATE FUNDING, THAT IS MORE EASY. OKAY. THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TO SAY THIS IS ENOUGH TRAINING, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS INVOKING INTO OUR COMMUNITY SO DEEPLY. I KNOW YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE, THE MIGRANTS AND WE HAVE THE BIGGEST COASTLINE HERE IN CORAL GABLES. SO FOR YOU TO SAY WE HAVE SUFFICIENT AND THERE'S NO GAP, I STRONGLY HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH THAT. NOW, WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL ME IS THAT WE WON'T BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL FUNDING. I WOULD WANNA ONCE AGAIN, WANNA CALL MARIE V THAT SHE'S AN EXPERT ON THIS. AND REALLY, DO YOU FEEL THAT AFTER THIS PRESENTATION THERE IS NO ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT? AND I KNOW, AND I'M CALLING YOU BECAUSE THIS IS STILL MY ITEM. SO WHEN MAYBE THE CHIEF STEPS ASIDE, YOU CAN APPROACH THE PODIUM. SO BE GIMME ONE, JUST GIMME ONE SECOND THROUGH, THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES SIR. IF YOU DON'T MIND. UM, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY ONE STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE. SO, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS PART OF OUR ALL ENCOMPASSING MEDICAL AND TRAUMA PROTOCOLS. THIS FALLS UNDER THE, UH, PROTOCOL THAT I MENTIONED TO BEFORE, WHICH WAS VULNERABLE AND SPEC, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES TO THE VULNERABLE POPULATION, WHICH IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AMONGST ALL THE OTHER PO UH, VULNERABLE POPULATION THAT I'VE IDENTIFIED, WHETHER IT'S CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY SEXUAL ABUSE WAS ANOTHER PROTOCOL THAT I MENTIONED. THOSE PROTOCOLS, AS I STATED IN MY PRESENTATION, ARE PRESENTED AND TESTED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THEY ARE AGAIN, PRESENTED AND TESTED UNDER, UH, CONSIDERATION FOR RESCUE ASSIGNMENT, WHICH IS OUR ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT UNITS. AND AS PART OF OUR PROMOTIONAL CONTENT OF, UH, INFORMATION THAT HAS TO BE, THEY HAVE TO READ AND THEY'RE GONNA BE TESTED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING RIGHT NOW FOR SPECIAL EVENTS IS AS THE CHIEF STATED ON EVERYBODY'S FOREFRONT WITH THE UPCOMING MAJOR EVENT. SO I JUST POINT THAT AS A CLARIFICATION THAT TO MY RESIDENTS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ALL VULNERABLE POPULATION PROTOCOLS ARE REVIEWED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THE AWARENESS THAT WE'RE PRESENTING CURRENTLY TOWARDS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS WELL AS MASS CASUALTY TRAINING, AS WELL AS ACTIVE SHOOTER, AS WELL AS COMMAND TRAINING, ARE ALL COMMENSURATE WITH A MAJOR EVENT, WHETHER IT'S A SUPER BOWL OR FIFA. SO IT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH, BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, OUR TAXPAYERS, OUR TAX, OUR MEDICAL PROTOCOLS, AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES ARE CONSTANTLY [03:00:01] EVALUATED AND TRAINED ON. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I MAKE, I'M VERY SPECIFIC ON THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHIEF. QUICK QUESTION, BUT IF I MAY, BUT IF I MAY, COMMISSIONER, WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH, LET'S, LET'S ALLOW SOME OF THE COMMISSION TO GET A LITTLE WORD IN HERE. UM, PLEASE SIT DOWN. I DON'T WANT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU, UH, TO THE CHIEFS, ALL THREE OF YOU. I JUST WANNA BE VERY CLEAR BECAUSE THE WORD, WORD SALAD WAS USED AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. I SEE A LOT OF WORD SALAD ON TRAINING AND TRAINING AND TRAINING AND TRAINING. UM, I HAVE THESE TWO DOCUMENTS HERE. COMMON EMS PROTOCOLS. THAT'S CORRECT. IT SAYS CORAL GABLES, HIALEAH, MIAMI, MIAMI BEACH, AND KIVA SKIN. THE PROTOCOLS ARE DELINEATED HERE VERY CLEARLY, CORRECT? CORRECT. THESE ARE PROTOCOLS. DO WE TRAIN ON THESE PROTOCOLS EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONTH. ONCE A YEAR, ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS. WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRAINING ON THIS. CORRECT. THEY ARE, UH, TRAINED ON AND WE PARTICIPATE IN A, UM, PROTOCOL TEST ANNUALLY, AS I JUST STATED. THEN AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE ASSIGNED TO, UM, WHEN YOU'RE BEING CONSIDERED FOR AN ASSIGNMENT TO RESCUE, AND THEN AGAIN AS THE READING CONTENT FOR PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. SO LET ME, LET ME JUST ASK YOU A QUESTION AGAIN, BECAUSE I THINK USING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS A POLITICAL PLOY IS RIDICULOUS AND DISGUSTING. SO I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND SOMETHING 'CAUSE I'M NOT AN EMS EXPERT. I'M NOT A FIREFIGHTER. I'M NOT A POLICE OFFICER. WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU TRAIN ON A YEARLY BASIS, OKAY. AND YOU BRING IN EXISTING STAFF AND NEW STAFF, AND YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND YOU FIND OUT NEW INFORMATION FROM PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE THE ONES THAT WRITE THESE PROTOCOLS AND THEN PROVIDE IT TO US. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PHYSI THE PHYSICIAN THAT WE HAVE ON STAFF, WHO IS OUR, OUR HEAD MEDICAL DIRECTOR. CORRECT? HE'S A DOCTOR, YES. YEAH. DIRECTOR. SO WHAT WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WE UPDATE THESE PROTOCOLS, CORRECT? AND WE SAY THERE'S A NEW KEY TARGET, THERE'S A NEW, UH, YOU KNOW, WAY OF ATTRACTING YOUNG WOMEN OR YOUNG MEN. WE UPDATE THIS, RIGHT? WE DON'T, WE DON'T CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR OLD PROTOCOLS IN PLACE. AND THIS IS CONTINUOUSLY, IT'S AN ORGANIC DOCUMENT THAT'S EVOLVING CORRECT. TO BETTER BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. YES, SIR. HENCE WHY I PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING. UM, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND AN OBJECTIVE OF OURS TO PARTICIPATE IN REGIONAL TASK FORCES IN LOCAL, UM, WORKING GROUPS, WHETHER THEY'RE SECURITY OR FIRE RESCUE BECAUSE MEDICAL PROTOCOLS, ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE, UM, ALL THAT INFORMATION WILL PUSH TO CHANGE THE MANNER IN WHICH WE CONDUCT OUR SYSTEMS. OKAY. SO I WANNA JUST SHOW YOU TWO DOCUMENTS THAT I, I READ THROUGH THAT ARE PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE. AGAIN, I'M NOT A, I'M NOT A HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROFESSIONAL OR A PERSON WHO IS A, I'M NOT A, I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL LIKE THESE YOUNG LADIES THAT CAME UP AND SPOKE, UH, WHO ARE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. THAT'S NOT WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. OKAY. WHAT IS A VECTOR SOLUTIONS MANUAL HERE? SO I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE THE TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT WE ARE DISSEMINATING CURRENTLY AND WILL BE DISSEMINATING TO OUR PARAMEDICS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE TIME APPROACHING FIFA. UM, THOSE ARE THE COURSE CURRICULUMS AS I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE FOR THE ONLINE TRAINING THAT OUR PARAMEDICS ARE TAKING CURRENTLY OR WILL BE TAKING AS PART OF OUR TRAINING PLAN MOVING TOWARDS FIFA. COULD WE HAVE, COULD I HAVE THIS UP ON THE, ON THE CAMERA PLEASE. VECTOR SOLUTIONS IS THE SOFTWARE OR THE TRAINING PORTAL THAT WE CONTRACT WITH. THAT TRAINING PORTAL ALLOWS US TO PUT OUR PROTOCOLS ON THERE, OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, UH, ANYTHING WHETHER IT'S A NEW DEVICE, UH, DRUG INFORMATION, NEW MEDICATION OR MEDICATION REVIEW THAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE. ANYTHING THAT'S A TRAINING ASPECT THAT'S NOT HANDS-ON THAT CAN BE DELIVERED THROUGH AN ONLINE PORTAL. IT IS INCLUDED IN THE VECTOR SOLUTIONS OR TRAINING PROTOCOL. AND, AND CHIEF, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER, AND I'M SORRY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. FINISH UP, FINISH. I WAS LEFT WITH WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH. SO I WAS SAY THESE TWO COURSES ARE PART OF THEIR 200 AND SOMETHING ODD COURSES THAT THEY OFFER THROUGH THEIR TRAINING LIBRARIES THAT ARE ACCREDITED. AND WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT OF, OF YOUR TEAM? OF EVERYBODY WHO, EVERYONE WHO'S A FIREFIGHTER. SO EVERYONE WILL BE ASSIGNED THIS TRAINING. UM, THEY HAVE TO COMPLETE IT AND WILL GET A REPORT, UH, MONTHLY AS TO THE LEVEL OF THOSE THAT ARE STILL NEEDING TO COMPLETE THAT TRAINING. AND AS THIS DOCUMENT EVOLVES EVERY YEAR IT GETS UPDATED. CORRECT. AND THEN YOU, AND THEN YOU, YOU DO NEW THINGS, OR MAYBE NOT THIS DOCUMENT, BUT OUR STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS. CORRECT. OR WE USE OTHER, UM, ASPECTS THAT ARE IN THAT LIBRARY FOR TRAINING, WHETHER IT'S FIRE, EMS, UM, ISO CRITERION TO, TO MEET OUR ISO MANDATES. UM, IT'S AN ALL [03:05:01] ENCOMPASSING GLOBAL TRAINING SOLUTION THAT WE HAVE. I THINK THE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME UP AND SPOKE TO IN PUBLIC COMMENT MADE A, MADE A COMMENT THAT I THINK IS ALWAYS THE STANDARD IN THE CORAL GABLES, OUR REQUIREMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR POLICE OFFICERS REQUIREMENT OF TWO YEARS OF, OF, OF HIGHER LEARNING, CORRECT. OF, YOU KNOW, FIREFIGHTERS. CORRECT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE CERTAIN STANDARDS AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOTTEN CERTAIN CERTIFICATES, FOR EXAMPLE, EMS THAT IS NOW REQUIRED, FOR EXAMPLE, BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, CORRECT? CORRECT. I, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. SO WE HAVE THE HIGHEST STANDARDS ALREADY. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME HERE TO CHERRY PICK SOME OF OUR, SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES, AND IT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST. OKAY. UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE PRETTY MUCH THE FIRE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT FULL CAPACITY. I THINK MAYBE WE'RE HOW MANY SHORT WOULD YOU SAY CHIEF RIGHT NOW? OKAY. YES. I CAN LET YOU KNOW EXACTLY. I HAVE THAT WITH ME. JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD. I KNOW THAT OBVIOUSLY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS STACKED AND PEOPLE WAITING IN THE, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE WINGS. GIMME ONE SECOND. NO WORRIES. TAKE YOUR TIME. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES SIR. UH, ALL OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE PARAMEDICS. SO ALL OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE PARAMEDIC, WHICH I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER CITY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, CAN SAY THAT CORRECT. I BELIEVE IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, WE ARE THE ONLY DEPARTMENT THAT REQUIRES YOU TO BE A STATE CERTIFIED PARAMEDIC UPON THE JOB OFFER. WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR TOTAL VACANCIES. WE HAVE FIVE CASES IN BACKGROUND, 18 IN THE ACADEMY, AND TWO, THEY'RE AWAITING THE NEXT ACADEMY. THANK YOU. SO I WANT TO TALK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, LISTEN, WE ARE INVESTED IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICES. I WANNA TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS COMES AROUND DURING FIFA AND ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WANNA LINE UP AND TAKE PICTURES BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, IT GETS A LOT OF CLICKS. OKAY. MR. MR. CLERK? MR. CLERK? YES, SIR. CAN WE, CAN WE PUT ON MY PRESENTATION, SO I WANT TO BRING BACK A LITTLE BIT OF GO DOWN MEMORY LANE. SO FOR ITEMS F TWO AND F FOUR AND THE CHIEF, PLEASE STEP IN WHENEVER YOU'D LIKE 'CAUSE YOU WERE PART OF THIS. OKAY. UM, I INTRODUCED IN 20 16, 10 YEARS AGO, A RADICAL NEW ZONING CHANGE, WHICH OUTLAWED HOURLY MOTELS IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I RECEIVED TO SAY THAT I RECEIVED IMMENSE HEAT FROM THAT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT FROM THE MOTEL OWNERS, BOTH IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND IN THE CITY OF MIAMI. UH, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO THEN RAN MY CAMPAIGN WAS A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF STEVE MARIN, WHO CAME TO ME AND INTRODUCED ME, UM, TO THE MOTEL OWNERS WHO LOBBIED ME INCESSANTLY TO NOT PASS THIS LEGISLATION. I PASSED IT ANYWAYS, WHO WERE THE FIRST THAT I'M AWARE OF, CITY, IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO BAN HOURLY MOTELS. I THEN WENT, UH, TO THE CITY OF MIAMI, AND I'M GONNA BACKTRACK TO THE CITY OF MIAMI. I PERSONALLY WENT TO THE CITY OF MIAMI, AND I WENT TO THE CITY OF MIAMI COUNTY TO GET THIS LEGISLATION PASSED. WE WERE TO GET SOME SORT OF ITERATION, BUT IT WASN'T REALLY THAT AS EFFECTIVE AS I WANTED TO. I ENDED UP TAKING MEASURES INTO MY OWN HAND AND GOING TO TALLAHASSEE AND MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR. AND THE GOVERNOR MADE IT A STATE MANDATE. OKAY. UM, SOME CITIES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CIRCUMVENT IT BY DOING TWO HOURS OR THREE HOURS INSTEAD OF HOURLY. AGAIN, THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT, AGAIN, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, ALL I CARE ABOUT IS MONEY. THE, THE BOTTOM LINE, YOU'RE READING BLOGS THAT I WENT TO MIAMI, THAT I WENT TO THE CITY OF MIAMI, UH, IN DECEMBER TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER ROSADO WHO WAS PUTTING MONEY, UH, IN THE BUDGET, WHICH I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE. THEY SHOULD, THEY SHOULD BUY UP ALL THOSE PROPERTIES AND THEY COULD DO SOMETHING WITH 'EM. UM, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM DO IS, FOR EXAMPLE, I'M, I'M SITTING ON THE BOARD AND I'VE BEEN HELPING FOR OVER FIVE YEARS. GLORY HOUSE, UH, WHICH IS ANOTHER RESOURCE HERE, LIKE LOTUS HOUSE AND WHAT WE DO THERE, I I GIVE A LOT OF, OF, UH, CHARITABLE DONATIONS TO GLORY HOUSE. I, I ATTEND THEIR GALA. I HELP THEM SEE THE GALA. I'M A SPONSOR OF THE GALA. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY TAKE WOMEN OFF THE STREETS AND THEY HOUSE WOMEN. SO THE CITY TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHIEF, THE MANAGER, MYSELF AND THE COMMISSIONERS THAT WERE ON THE COMMISSION ON 2016, I WROTE THAT LEGISLATION. CAN WE HAVE THE NEXT, CAN WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE? I'M VERY PROUD OF THE LEGISLATION. IT STOPPED HOURLY MOTELS HERE IN THE CITY. NOW WHAT DO WE DO FURTHER? AND I WANT THE CHIEF TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. I WENT ON OVERNIGHT RAIDS TO SEE THIS MYSELF. I'VE GONE ON, I'VE GONE ON OVER A DOZEN WITH THE CITY. CORAL GABLES CITY, MIAMI. KATHY FERNANDEZ RUN'S DEPARTMENT. DORAL. HI. IT WAS A JOINT ENFORCEMENT EFFORT. I'VE GONE ON 12 WHERE WE'VE DONE OVERNIGHT RATES. I'VE SEEN IT ALL. WHAT THE CHIEF SAYS HE'S SEEN, I'VE SEEN THE SAME THING. I EVEN MENTIONED IT, UH, IN THE CITY OF MIAMI. SO I AM ENCOURAGED IN THE CITY OF MIAMI USE FUNDING TO BUY THESE MOTELS AND TAKE 'EM OFFLINE. AND WHY NOT BUILD A HALFWAY HOUSE FOR THE WOMEN INSTEAD OF SAYING THAT [03:10:01] THE BLOGS THAT MANY OF YOU'RE SUPPORTED BY, UH, END UP THRASHING ME AND MAKING UP ANOTHER RIDICULOUS STORY, WHICH IS ABSOLUTE INSANITY, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. IT DOESN'T MATTER. CHIEF, WILL YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, ABOUT, UM, THE JOINT ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE? ANOTHER THING THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF, A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I PASSED WITH THE HELP OF THE CHIEF AND THE MANAGER WAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS THE CITY OF CORRUGATE WAS, IT'S THE FIRST OF ITS KIND THAT I'M AWARE OF. I HAVEN'T SEEN IT. YOU CAN TALK, EDUCATE ME IF, IF MAYBE PEOPLE ARE DOING IT NOW, BUT AT THAT POINT, THEY DIDN'T DO IT. WHERE THE CITY, CORAL GATORS CAN GO A HUNDRED FEET INTO THE CITY OF MIAMI AND ARREST PIMPS, ARREST DRUG DEALERS. I'VE SEEN 'EM IN MY OWN EYES. RESIDENTS HAVE CALLED ME IN NORTH GABLES. I'VE GONE THERE 11, 12 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. I'VE SEEN THEM. THAT'S WHERE WE, WE WORKED ON THIS LEGISLATION AND, AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD COME TO THE CEDAR, CORAL GABLE SIDE. WHEN THE POLICE WOULD SHOW UP, THEY WOULD SEE 'EM COMING. THEY WOULD RUN TO THE OTHER SIDE WHERE THE MOTELS WERE. SO NOW WE CAN GO INTO THE MOTELS AND WE CAN LITERALLY GO IN THERE. WE SEE SOMEBODY WHO'S TAKING ADVANTAGE, WHO'S BEING TRAFFICKED. WE SAW PEOPLE BEING BEATEN ON THE STREET THERE. SO TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THIS LEGISLATION, NOBODY HAD DONE THIS BEFORE AND WE DID IT HERE IN THE CITY. WILL YOU GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF WHAT THAT IS? SO THERE ARE WITH, WITHIN THE AGENCIES OR THE POLICE AGENCIES, THERE'S WHAT WE CALL A MUTUAL, UH, MOU MUTUAL, UH, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. THESE ARE LEGAL DOCUMENTS THAT GIVE US CROSS JURISDICTION ON, ON MANY ISSUES OUTSIDE. SPECIFICALLY THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI IS THAT OUR JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARY STOPS AT THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE ALONG EIGHTH STREET AND ALONG DOUGLAS ROAD. UH, THIS LEGISLATION THAT CAME FROM THIS BODY THROUGH THE MAYOR OR THE COMMISSIONER AT THE TIME? UM, YEAH, WELL, I, I'VE SPONSORED IT, RIGHT. SO IT CAME THROUGH, IT WAS APPROVED BY THIS BODY AND THEN ALSO APPROVED BY THE CITY OF MIAMI. SO OUR JURISDICTION ACTUALLY GOES TO THE NORTH SIDE AND TO THE WEST SIDE, OR THE EAST SIDE, IF YOU WILL, OF DOUGLAS ROAD BY AGREEMENT WITH THE TWO ENTITIES. UH, SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT. IT, IT KIND OF STOPPED THERE. WE TALKED WITH THE COUNTY AT THE TIME, BUT IT DID NOT, IT DID NOT GET EXTENDED WITH THE COUNTY FOR WHATEVER REASON. SO IT DID GIVE US THE ABILITY, AS THE MAYOR ALLUDES TO, IS THAT IF OUR CARS DRIVE DOWN THE SOUTH SIDE OF H STREET, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE EITHER WALKING THE STREET OR BEING NEFARIOUS WOULD WALK TO THE NORTH SIDE THINKING THEY WERE OUTTA THEIR JURISDICTION AFTER ABOUT A MONTH OF US GOING AND GRABBING AND PICKING THEM UP AND NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT CITY OF MIAMI BEING THERE. THAT REALLY KIND OF DISSIPATED EVEN FURTHER. WE STILL, TO THIS DAY, CONTINUE TO WORK THOSE AREAS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREETS, UM, BOTH COLLECTIVELY WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI. UM, YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE MANY OPERATIONS. I'M, I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT. I MEAN, WE'VE HAD ONE GET INTERRUPTED, UH, BECAUSE SOMEBODY WANTED TO ADVERTISE AND PUT UP NAMES OF OUR UNDERCOVER OFFICERS, WHICH WAS A PROBLEM FOR ME AND HAD TO STOP THE OPERATION. BUT WE STILL CONTINUE THAT SAME PROCESS. AND IT WAS THE SAME THING THAT, UH, THE LADIES TESTIFIED AROUND THE SILO, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY, IS BEING BROKEN DOWN JUST ON THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIDE, BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATION AND THE MOUS THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO STEP OUTSIDE CORAL GABLES AND, AND ARREST THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PREYING ON PEOPLE IN OUR CITY AS WELL. SO TO BRING IT IN FOR A CLOSING, OKAY, THIS IS A FEEL GOOD RESOLUTION. WE HAVE TO VOTE FOR IT AT THE END OF THE DAY. 'CAUSE IF WE DON'T VOTE FOR IT TOMORROW, WE'LL BE IN THE BLOG SAYING THAT WE ARE IN FAVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THERE'S NO CHOICE. WE GOTTA VOTE FOR THIS. BUT TO SAY, I WANT TO PUT VERY CLEARLY, OKAY, OUR CHIEFS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANOTHER, ANOTHER DEPARTMENT IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THAT IS, THAT IS TAKING THE LEVEL OF TRAINING THAT WE HAVE ALREADY. AND BY WAY, IT'S NOT BECAUSE THE SUPER BOWL'S COMING. THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS. WE HAVE LEGISLATION IN PLACE TO BE THE FIRST, THE FIRST TO ADDRESS HOURLY MOTELS WHEN OTHER CITIES DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO TAKE IT. BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY BETWEEN THE MOTELS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. WE ARE THE FIRST TO DO A JOINT ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS ISSUES OUTSIDE OF OUR JURISDICTION. AND IT'S VERY CLEAR, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE NOW, THE AMOUNT OF, THE AMOUNT OF TRAINING THAT WE'RE DOING AND THE PROTOCOLS THAT WE'RE DOING. AND WHEN NEW THINGS COME OUT, WE'RE DOING WHATEVER, EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE, ARE, UH, ON THE, IN THE BEST HANDS AND HAVE THE BEST INFORMATION TO ADDRESS HORRIFIC SITUATIONS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. NOW, UM, DO YOU FEEL THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, ANY OTHER LEVEL OF TRAINING WHERE WE FALL SHORT THAT ANOTHER, THAT ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY OFFERS WHERE WE COULD DO BETTER TO ENSURE THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS STOPPED AND, AND LOOKING AT THE RESOLUTION AND ACTUALLY HEARING IT PRESENTED TODAY? UH, I WOULD, I WOULD IF IN FACT, THIS PASSES, I BELIEVE THROUGH THE MANAGER WHO, AS YOU SAID, AS BOTH OF OUR BOSSES. [03:15:01] SO I, I, I BELIEVE, AND, AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK WALKING OUTTA HERE, THAT THERE IS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL TRAINING THAT'S GONNA BE ABLE TO TELL THEM AND MY PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT. AND WHEN I'D SAY HUMAN TRAFFICKING CHANGES DAILY, ALL OF MY OFFICERS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. WE WOULD HAVE TO RELY ON THE DETECTIVES AND THE HOSTAGE NEGOTIATORS WHO ARE, HAVE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF TRAINING TO COME IN BECAUSE THEY ARE CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS BY THE STATE. IF THIS PASSES, THEN WHAT WE WOULD DO, AS WE HAVE DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE, IS COME UP WITH A CURRICULUM TO SUPPLANT, NOT SUPPLANT, BUT ON TOP OF THEIR, UH, ELECTRONIC CURRICULUM. HAVE A, HAVE A, A PART OF THAT TO BE PUT ON BY OUR DETECTIVES ON ANY OTHER KIND OF NUANCES OF WHAT WOULD BE RECOGNIZED, WHICH I THINK WOULD, UH, IF IT PASSES, THEN THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DO. THERE'S, THERE'S NOT A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. IT WOULD BE USING OUR IN-HOUSE PEOPLE AND BRINGING THE INFORMATION FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND WHAT THE TRENDS ARE TO WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. I, LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, I HAVE THE FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR MANAGER AND OUR, AND BOTH OF OUR CHIEFS. BUT WHEN YOU USE A WORD LIKE ADDITIONAL TRAINING, IT'S SO BROAD THAT, I MEAN, HOW COULD YOU NOT SAY, LET'S DO ADDITIONAL TRAINING. LET'S DO IT, MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO, UM, THROUGHOUT THE, THE COURSE OF MY LEGAL CAREER, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT VICTIMS AND ALSO FOLKS THAT DO BAD THINGS. UM, AND LOOKING AT THIS, UH, PROPOSAL TOGETHER WITH MY BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE, UH, DEALING WITH VICTIMS OF ALL TYPES OF CRIMES, UM, AND WITNESSES OF VARIOUS TYPES OF CRIMES, THE BIGGEST GAP THAT WE HAVE IS EDUCATING THE PUBLIC. AND THE PUBLIC IS OUR EYES AND EARS. I'VE HAD RESIDENTS CONTACT ME AND I'VE PICKED UP THE PHONE AND CALLED THE CHIEF THEREAFTER BECAUSE THEY WERE WITNESSING SOMETHING. THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE WITNESSING. BUT I RECOGNIZED IT BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE HAD. I'VE HAD VICTIMS AND ALSO WITNESSES IN MY CAREER THAT WERE UNWILLING TO STEP FORWARD OR UNWILLING TO PROSECUTE. AND I CONVINCED THEM TO DO SO BECAUSE YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING MORE THAN YOURSELF. YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT VICTIM AND STOPPING THE CYCLE FROM GOING AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO, I, I DID TAKE THE TIME, UH, 'CAUSE I KNEW, UH, BECAUSE CATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDEL HAS A HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE. I WAS AWARE OF IT WHEN I WAS A YOUNG LAWYER. I'VE BEEN OVER TO THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE, THE PROTOCOLS THAT THEY GO THROUGH WITH CHILDREN'S VICTIMS AND, AND ADULT VICTIMS. AND I KNEW THAT THEY HAVE AN EXTENSIVE, UH, NETWORK IN THERE. THEY HAVE SIX NUMBERS ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROJECT. GOLD VICTIM'S COMPENSATION BUREAU, 24 HOUR STATE, FLORIDA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE, FLORIDA HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE. ALL OF THEM ARE ON THERE. NONE OF THEM ARE THIS NUMBER ON THIS CARD, READING IT THROUGH A LAWYER'S EYES. THIS CARD IS DIRECTED AT THE JOHNS. THIS IS DIRECTED AT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BRINGING THE PEOPLE OVER. SO YES, I'M, I'M SURE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IT, BUT IT'D BE THE LAST NUMBER I WOULD EVER CALL. AND THE LAST NUMBER THAT I WOULD, UM, SELECT BECAUSE I WANT MY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SHOW UP AND ANALYZE A SITUATION. YOU WANT YOUR NSAS OBSERVING THINGS. WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY THAT REPORT AIRBNBS TO US. IT'S A HOT AREA FOR CRIME TO OCCUR. ANYTIME THAT YOU SEE A MARIJUANA GROW HOUSE, A METH LAB, A ANY TYPE OF CRIME SITUATION, IT'S USUALLY NOT INSIDE SOMEONE'S OWN HOME ISN'T SOMETHING THAT THEY RENT. IT'S IN A HOTEL, IT'S IN AIRBNB, BECAUSE YOU CAN PICK UP AND LEAVE AND NOT LEAVE A TRAIL. AND THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY GONNA USE THEIR OWN NAME WHEN THEY'RE RENTING EITHER. THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO COVER THEMSELVES AND THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY GONNA BE CALLING FIRE RESCUE. 'CAUSE THE LAST THING THAT THEY WANT IS SOMEBODY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OR CONNECTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOWING UP AND BE ABLE TO HAVE A DATA POINT THERE. BUT YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE ITEMS THAT THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE ON HAS ON THERE FOR IDENTIFICATION OF THE VARIOUS ISSUES THAT OCCUR. AND SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THERE'S A [03:20:01] LITANY OF THEM LISTED ON THE STATE ATTORNEY, STATE ATTORNEY'S WEBSITE. AND COMMISSIONER, I, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE I THINK THIS SPEAKS TO A BIGGER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE. AND THAT IS THAT WE NEED TO EDUCATE OUR RESIDENTS. WHY DO I SAY THAT? I'VE GOT UP ONE MORNING, MY HUSBAND TOLD ME A STORY ABOUT SOMEBODY WALKING ON A WALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AT THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. I SAID, WELL, DEAR, DID YOU CALL THE POLICE? OH, NO, I DIDN'T SEE THEM DO ANYTHING. THE FACT THAT THEY WERE WALKING ON THE WALL ACROSS THE STREET ON MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE WAS ENOUGH FOR ME TO RAISE AN ALARM BELL THAT THIS IS ILLEGAL ACTIVITY GOING ON. THEY'RE EITHER CASING THE JOINT OR THEY JUST GOT DONE DOING SOMETHING OR SEALING SOMETHING. I MYSELF, I WALK IN THE DOGS, I SEE A WOMAN ON THE SIDE. SOMETHING DIDN'T SMELL RIGHT TO ME. I CALL THE POLICE. WE CALL IT A CLUE. THEY CALL IT A WALKING ON THE WALL. THAT'S WHO WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE NEED NOT TO THINK, AH, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T ACTUALLY SEE THAT ACT HAPPEN. CALL THE POLICE. IT CAN BE THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER. LET THE POLICE CONNECT THE DOTS. THE FACT THAT AIRBNBS EXIST GIVES A GREATER OPPORTUNITY, AND THERE'S MANY OTHER NAMES FOR THEM OTHER THAN A AIRBNBS GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRIME TO OCCUR UNTRACED. SO THAT'S WHERE I SEE THE GREATEST DEFICIENCY. AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM CATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDEL, WHERE SHE FEELS THAT THERE'S GAPS IN OUR TRAINING WHERE WE CAN DO BETTER. 'CAUSE THIS IS BORDERLESS CRIME. SO THIS IS NOT JUST CITY OF CORAL GABLES RED ROADS RIGHT OVER THERE. WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS COUNTYWIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND, AND I, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE PUT VICTIMS AND I'VE, I'VE CONNECTED WITH NOT ONLY STATE, BUT ALSO FEDERAL, TO PUT VICTIMS AND WITNESSES INTO, UM, PROTECTIVE CUSTODY, CHANGE THEIR NAME, GIVE 'EM A NEW LITTLE HOME, MOVING THEM AROUND. WHY? BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA SIT ON THAT WITNESS STAND, AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA REPORT THE CRIME BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO AFRAID OF WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THEM TOMORROW IF THEY DO. SO WE HAVE TO PROTECT THEM. SO THAT'S WHERE I SEE THE BIGGEST GAP. AND I'D, AND I'D ASK YOU TO REALLY TAKE THE ADVICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RUNNING THIS HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE. AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU CHIEF, UH, FURTHER ON THAT, UH, BASED UPON WHAT I'VE JUST SAID, YOUR THOUGHT, THOUGHTS, ABSOLUTELY. COMM, UH, VICE MAYOR, YOU ARE, YOU ARE WISE BEYOND YOUR YEARS. I, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE HAVE SOLVED A LOT OF CRIMES BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE CALLED US ON WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS SUSPICIOUS, BUT WE HAVEN'T SOLVED ONE EVER WHEN SOMEBODY DIDN'T CALL US. SO WE PICK UP THE PIECES AFTER THE FACT GOING FORWARD. AND THE REASON WHY THE STATE ATTORNEY AND THE OTHER CHIEFS ARE FORWARDING THE VICTIMS AND THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AREN'T HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY YET, THEY WILL BE BROUGHT HERE. AND THAT IS WHY THE FOCUS FOR FIFA AND THESE EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE, ARE LOOKING AT IT BOTH STATE AND FEDERALLY, I BELIEVE. AND, AND IT WAS MENTIONED, UH, PREVIOUSLY BY SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM SALT. THIS IS A MODEL, SAY OUR STATE ATTORNEY HAS A MODEL OF HOW WE DO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S A PART OF IT, THE NOTIFICATIONS, WHICH IS WHY I SAY, WE CAN DO THE TRAINING, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. AND, AND AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THE FI, THE POLICE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN LOOK AT FOR US. BUT AGAIN, IT'S LETTING US KNOW THIS HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE THE MOMENT THAT THEY FEEL THAT SOMEBODY CLICKS THAT TRIGGER, YOU KNOW, SHEEPISH, UM, SCARED TO TALK, COACHED, BRUISES NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE CALL IS, IT'S AUTOMATIC. AND EVEN THE OFFICERS, THE FIRST ARRIVING OFFICERS WOULD PROBABLY CALL OUR HUMAN TRAFFICKING DETECTIVE, WHICH IS WHY THE TRAINING WILL NEVER KEEP UP WITH THE TRENDS. THANK YOU, CHIEF MADAM. I'M SORRY, WHAT? NO, I, I WAS JUST GONNA ASK, I MEAN, COULD YOU REACH OUT TO STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND PROVIDE US THE RECOMMENDATIONS PERHAPS BY THE NEXT MEETING? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS. UH, BACK IN MY DAYS IN CONGRESS, UM, I HANDLED ALL DOMESTIC ISSUES FOR CONGRESSWOMAN ROSS LAYTON. AND WE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS BACK THEN. AND THE VICE MAYOR BRINGS UP A GREAT POINT THAT WAS ALWAYS PART OF THE DISCUSSION. I REMEMBER WE HAD A, A LARGE MEETING WITH, UM, [03:25:01] FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS ON HOW TO RAISE AWARENESS ON THE ISSUE. AND IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT HOW TO BRING THAT INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, WHO ARE THE ONES WHO CAN BRING THAT INFORMATION FORWARD, AND HOW TO PUT THEM IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE NOT AFRAID TO PUT, TO STICK THEIR NECKS OUT. BECAUSE ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD BACK THEN, WE STILL HAVE IT TODAY, IS THEY WERE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT BRINGING UP THE INFORMATION, AND NOW THEY HAVE A TARGET ON THEIR BACKS. UM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THESE CARDS, IF THEY WERE MADE AT SOME POINT, THE PHONE NUMBER OBVIOUSLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHANGED IF THESE WERE, UH, DELIVERED TO THE PUBLIC. UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CONDUCIVE TO ANYTHING. THEY'RE NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. UH, I THINK THESE TWO RESOLUTIONS ARE NO-BRAINERS. UM, CHIEF, YOU'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE YOUR OFFICERS HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS. YOU ARE AS WELL. I THINK IF THERE'S A TOOL OUT THERE THAT WE CAN HELP IN DOING YOUR JOB AND GETTING THE INFORMATION, WE SHOULD TRY TO EMBRACE IT. WE SHOULD BRING IT IN. WE SHOULD INCORPORATE IT IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. UM, I THINK YOU TWO ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT I EVER GO TO. AND I SAY, WHAT DO WE NEED TO INCLUDE IN THE BUDGET THAT WILL MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR YOU TO DO YOUR JOBS? ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, I TELL THEM, LET'S FIND A WAY TO DO IT IN A FEW YEARS. BUT WITH YOUR TWO DEPARTMENTS, I ALWAYS SAY, LET'S FIND A WAY TO GET IT DONE, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONES THAT PROVIDE SAFETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND WE HAVE A VERY LARGE UNIVERSITY RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY. BEAUTIFUL. AND THOSE STUDENTS CAN BE TARGETS OF THESE HUMAN TRAFFICKERS. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD CONCERN ME. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING NOT JUST CORAL GABLES PD, BUT UMPD WITH WHATEVER RESOURCES ARE NECESSARY TO PROTECT GOING BACK. AND, AND JUST THINKING BACK ON ALL THE, THE, THE, UH, UH, DIFFERENT, UM, MEETINGS THAT, THAT I'VE BEEN IN ON THIS TOPIC IN THE PAST, UM, YOU BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT. AND IT'S THAT WE CAN NEVER KEEP UP WITH WHAT THEY'RE DOING. AND YOU ALWAYS SAY IT, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERY CRIMINAL THAT WE CATCH, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND A NEW WAY TO DO IT. UH, I REMEMBER SPEAKING WITH, UH, SCOTT CARMICHAEL CARMICHAEL WAS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT DOWN ANNABEL MONTES. SHE WAS THE CUBAN SPY, UH, IN THE, UH, THE STATE DEPARTMENT. AND IT TOOK THEM 20 YEARS TO BRING HER DOWN. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SCOTT, I, I DROVE HIM AROUND FOR A FEW DAYS WHEN HE WAS HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE TOLD ME WAS THE THING THAT KEPT ME UP AT NIGHT WAS NOT THE FACT THAT SHE WAS DOING WHAT SHE WAS DOING. IT WAS THE FACT THAT IT TOOK US THIS LONG TO FIGURE OUT WHO IT WAS. AND THE FACT THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHICH OTHERS ARE OUT THERE DOING THE SAME THING. AND I THINK GETTING ADDITIONAL TRAINING, NO BRAINER, LET'S DO IT. IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN DO AN AWARENESS EVENT FOR RESIDENTS, UH, SOME TRAINING. I KNOW THAT THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOES TRAININGS ALL THE TIME FROM NUMEROUS ISSUES, UH, BECAUSE THEY TALK ABOUT IT AT OUR CRIME WATCH MEETINGS, THAT THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF, OF OUR CRIME WATCH. THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMMINGS THAT THEY OFFER. UH, BUT MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN INCORPORATE INTO THE OFFERINGS THAT THEY HAVE. MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HOST AT THE, THE, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, UM, AND HAVE RESIDENTS COME OUT. UM, YOU ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE PUTTING OUT THERE TOO, BECAUSE YOU'RE SHOWING YOUR CARDS. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A, A DECK OF UNO CARDS, YOU DON'T WANNA SHOW YOUR DECKS THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT YOU HAVE TO PLAY. AND THAT'S ALWAYS THE PROBLEM. BUT THERE ARE MARKERS THAT WE CAN GIVE PEOPLE AS REFERENCE POINTS TO SAY, THERE'S SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS HERE. THERE'S A NUMBER YOU CAN CALL THE POLICE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER OR THE NUMBER THAT'S PROVIDED BY, UH, OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL. RIGHT. I THINK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S, UH, CAMPAIGN IS, IS AN A, A GREAT CAMPAIGN THAT THEY'RE LAUNCHING RIGHT NOW, UH, FOR FIFA. YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT, AND I, I BET YOU A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. THE ONE EVENT WITH THE LARGEST PROSTITUTION AND TRAFFICKING EVENTS ARE POLITICAL, UH, UH, CONVENTIONS. UH, HERE WE HAVE AN EVENT THAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT THAT'S GONNA BE ATTRACTING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND NOT ONLY FOR SMUGGLING, BUT ALSO FOR TRAFFICKING. 'CAUSE THEY WILL BE TARGETS AS WELL. AND I THINK IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEAM HAS WHATEVER TRAINING IS NECESSARY, WHATEVER TRAINING IS OUT THERE, LET'S GIVE THEM THAT TOOL. LET'S EQUIP THEM WITH THAT TOOL. LET'S GET THEM OUT THERE ON THE STREETS WITH EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED. YOU WATCH THESE, UH, TELEVISION SHOWS, FBI, UH, FBI MOST WANTED. AND PART OF THAT DISCUSSION IS ALWAYS WHETHER THE OFFICERS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL HAD THE TRAINING THAT THE FBI, UH, TEAM DID. AND I THINK THE CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE, THAT ARE BEING OFFERED NOW, AND I THINK STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BEEN LEADING ON THESE ISSUES FOR MANY YEARS WITH OUR TASK FORCE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME INFORMATION, EVERYBODY'S PREPARED [03:30:01] TO ADDRESS WHATEVER ISSUE IS OUT THERE. UH, I DID THE RIDE ALONG A FEW YEARS BACK, AND WE HAD TWO DOMESTIC CALLS THAT NIGHT. AND EVEN BACK THEN, OUR OFFICERS WERE TRAINED ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR. AND, AND AS WE DID, UH, THE, THE WALKTHROUGH, THEY KIND OF TOLD ME, THESE ARE THE MARKERS WE'RE LOOKING FOR. AND IN FACT, IN ONE OF THE RESIDENCES, THEY ARRESTED BOTH THE HUSBAND AND THE WIFE BECAUSE THEY WERE BOTH BLOODIED. UM, BUT IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT I THOUGHT YOU, YOU WERE SAYING SOMETHING. NO, NO. I'M LISTENING TO YOU. UM, IT, IT'S ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE RESOURCES ARE OUT THERE AND THAT OUR TEAM IS READY TO ADDRESS IT. AND, UH, I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR. THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO GET THE PUBLIC, UH, INVOLVED. WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH, WITH THE PUBLIC IN THE PAST. UH, I THINK OUR BIGGEST SIZE AND EARS ARE OUR PUBLIC, UH, OUT THERE GIVING US INFORMATION. UH, LET'S JUST GET THEM ON BOARD ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND GIVE THEM, UH, SOME POINTERS ON WHAT WE CAN DO. COMMISSIONER LATO, UH, SURE. THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY. I MEAN, AS EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS, RIGHT? HOW CAN ANYBODY TAKE A DIFFERENT POSITION? I FULLY SUPPORT ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS EFFORTS, UM, TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, RIGHT? BUT THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY SERIOUS CRIMES. AND I UNDERSTAND AND KNOW, ESPECIALLY BY AND THROUGH YOUR PRESENTATIONS TODAY, THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ALREADY PAY A, PLAY A VERY CRUCIAL ROLE IN, UH, PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR INDIVIDUALS. UM, MY HESITATION THOUGH, WITH THIS RESOLUTION, UM, REALLY DIRECTED TO COMMISSIONER CASTRO, WHO'S THE SPONSOR. IT'S, IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ITS CLARITY OR ITS SCOPE, NOT ABOUT ITS GOAL. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE GOAL IS, IS LAUDABLE. UM, THE RESOLUTION EXPRESSLY STATES THAT IT'S POLICY GUIDANCE ONLY, AND IT DOES NOT CREATE NEW LAW. IT DOES NOT CREATE NEW FUNDING. IT DOES NOT CREATE NEW PROCEDURES. SO FOR ME, THAT RAISES A THRESHOLD QUESTION, WHAT OPERATIONAL CHANGE ARE WE LOOKING TO, UM, ACTUALLY MAKE TODAY WITH THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION? IF THE RESOLUTION IS SYMBOLIC, THEN I QUESTION WHETHER WE EVEN NEED A FORMAL RESOLUTION, WHETHER THAT'S EVEN NECESSARY. IF THE RESOLUTION IS INTENDED TO INFLUENCE FUTURE ENFORCEMENT, OR EVEN NUISANCE ABATEMENT REVIEW FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON THE RESOLUTIONS. UM, THEN I BELIEVE THE DISCUSSION SHOULD OCCUR THROUGH A MORE STRUCTURED POLICY PROCESS, UH, WITH CLEAR SAFEGUARDS. WHAT, WHAT I'M HEARING THROUGH YOUR COMPREHENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE RECOUNTING OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING AND HOW THIS IS EVER EVOLVING, AND UP TO THE MINUTE TRAINING THAT'S GOING ON FOR YOUR OFFICERS AND YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS IS LAUDABLE. BUT I DON'T SEE HOW THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION ADDS ANYTHING TO WHAT YOU ALL ARE ALREADY DOING RIGHT NOW. SO, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN, WELL, LEMME ASK YOU THIS FIRST, DID YOU SPEAK WITH, UH, THE CHIEFS HERE TODAY? AND WERE YOU PRESENTED WITH THE, UH, LAYING OUT OF ALL OF THE, UM, PROTOCOLS, TRAINING POLICIES, PROCEDURES, THAT THE FIRST RESPONDERS ARE TRAINED PRIOR TO YOU BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION TODAY? YEAH, AND LET ME GO AHEAD AND PUT A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, BUT I'LL ANSWER YOUR LAST QUESTION FIRST. THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION. YES. NO, NO. THE FIRST ONE WAS THAT YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS PUTTING FORWARD. BUT LET ME ASK, LEMME ASK YOU THAT QUESTION. I'M JUST SAYING THIS QUESTION. THE SECOND QUESTION. THE ONLY QUESTION. OKAY. THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES. I REACHED OUT TO CHIEF AK FOR SOME CLARIFICATION, WHICH I WAS VERY SATISFIED WITH HIS RESPONSE. NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, I REACHED OUT TO CHIEF DE ROSA VIA EMAIL, AND I BELIEVE THE COMMISSION WAS ALSO COPIED. I WENT THROUGH ALL THE PROTOCOLS. I WENT THROUGH WHAT I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE TRAINING WAS ACTUALLY AN ONLINE PLATFORM OR VIDEOS IN WHICH YOU JUST CHECK MARK. AND THAT'S THE TRAINING. ME PERSONALLY, I WASN'T SATISFIED WITH THE LEVEL OF TRAINING. IT COULD BE SUFFICIENT. MAYBE THAT'S, THAT'S THE NORM FOR ME FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I THINK WE NEED SOMETHING MORE HANDS-ON. NOW, WHEN YOU SAY FOR THE, THERE'S TWO RESOLUTIONS IS F TWO AND F FOUR, F TWO RESOLUTION IS TAKING A STANCE SAYING THAT THIS IS OUR PRIORITY. AND F FOUR GOES INTO THE ACTUAL EXPLANATION AND POLICY OF WHAT TRAINING SHOULD BE. AND THAT'S A DI THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOTH. SO ON, ON F1, WHICH IS WHERE F TWO, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. NO, NO, YOU, NO, NO, NO. I JUST WANNA, DO YOU FEEL, DO YOU FEEL THAT THE RESPONSE WAS APPROPRIATE? BECAUSE I, WHAT I, WHAT I'M DEALING WITH AND I'M NOT CAPABLE TO UNDERSTAND, AND I'M, IF YOU WANNA PASS A FEEL GOOD [03:35:01] RESOLUTION TODAY, I'M ALL FOR IT. I KNOW I'M ALL GOOD. I'M FINE WITH IT. WE'RE LITERALLY SPENDING AN HOUR, 15 MINUTES ON SOMETHING THAT LITERALLY SAYS IS MORE EDUCATION. I'M ALL FOR IT. BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY NOTHING, NOTHING OF TANGIBLE CONCRETE PLAN OF ACTION. THERE ISN'T ANYTHING, NO RE NO RESOLUTION THAT'S BEING SHOWN. I KNOW IT'S ELECTION SEASON. I KNOW EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET OUT THERE, BE ABLE TO PUT THINGS THAT I PASSED, YOU KNOW, HUMAN TRAFFICKING STOP YOU IN TRAFFICK. BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE EXPERTS HERE ARE TELLING YOU THAT THEY ARE ALREADY DOING ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT DOES. WE PASS LEGISLATION TO STOP HOURLY MOTELS. WE HAVE A JOINT ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE WITH NOT, BY THE WAY, TO CORRECT THE RECORD BECAUSE, UH, SOMEBODY SAID IT'S ONLY ON EIGHTH STREET. NO, WE ACTUALLY HAVE IT WITH, WITH WEST MIAMI, CORRECT. WEST MIAMI OR WEST MIAMI. WE DIDN'T HAVE IT. WE HAVE 57TH AVENUE ALSO ON TWO BORDERS OF OUR STREET. THAT WAS ALSO MY LEGISLATION. SO MY POINT IS THAT I, I JUST, WE COULD TALK ABOUT THIS TILL, TILL THE COWS COME HOME, BUT I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS COMING BACK WITH ACTUAL ROBUST LEGISLATION THAT SITS DOWN WITH THE TWO CHIEFS. NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS TAKEN. AND LET'S, LET'S JUST DO SOMETHING TODAY TO DO SOMETHING. 'CAUSE WE CAN HIT IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WE REALLY, REALLY HAVE TO LIKE, DRILL DOWN AND, AND BRING THINGS HERE THAT TAKE TIME, THAT TAKE WORK. YOU KNOW, JUST, IT'S NOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CLICKS. SO COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANNA, I DON'T WANNA SPEND THE WHOLE DAY TALKING ABOUT THIS. WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT ANYTIME THAT I'M BEING GIVEN TO PEOPLE TO SAY, YOU CAN SPEND AS, TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU WANT, JUST SAY, BUT IT'S JUST, UM, BUT THAT, THAT, THAT YOU'RE REALLY ENCAPSULATING, YOU KNOW, WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS. RIGHT? SO WHILE I THINK THAT THE INTENT IS, IS, UM, IS LAUDABLE, RIGHT? I MEAN, LOOK, I'M A FATHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS. I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH CATHERINE FERNANDEZ, RONDEL FOR OVER A DECADE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING, UM, TASK FORCE. YOU KNOW, THE COMPANY I WORK FOR AND I SERVE AS AN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, HAS DONATED, DONATED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DOLLARS, INCLUDING A BILLBOARD ON US ONE AND SOUTHWEST 27TH AVENUE TO PROVIDE A HOTLINE QR CODE AND TO RAISE AWARENESS PRECISELY DURING F1 SUPER BOWL FIFA UPCOMING HERE RIGHT NOW. SO, I MEAN, I TAKE A PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANCE TO BE MORE THAN JUST AGAINST THIS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, RIGHT? SO THIS CANNOT BE INTENDED, AND I'M EXPRESSLY SAYING IT ISN'T. MY LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THIS RESOLUTION, AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, IS BASED UPON THE FACT THAT IT PROVIDES NOTHING TANGIBLE TO WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE. BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO ALWAYS BE FOCUSED ON IT. BUT IF WE'RE INTENDING TO DO SOMETHING TO AFFECT FUTURE LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE NEED MUCH MORE THAN THIS RESOLUTION. YEAH. BUT THAT'S, IF I MAY, COMMISSIONER, NOW YOU'RE PLAYING WITH FIRE. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHERE IT'S GONNA END THAT'S GONNA PUT YOU RIGHT. AND I, AND I GOTTA HAVE THIS CONVERSATION HERE IN THE PUBLIC. IF YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS, I PROMISE YOU, I PROMISE YOU, MY ADVICE TO YOU IS JUST DON'T DO IT. BECAUSE TOMORROW YOU'LL GET EVISCERATED. YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. YOU'RE THIS, YOU'RE THAT. IT WILL BE, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE A DESTRUCTION JUST LIKE IF YOU VOTE. YOU KNOW? SO, SO YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, I'M JUST GIVING YOU, AS A PERSON WHO RESPECTS YOU, WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU'VE DONE, WHO KNOWS YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR INTENTIONS, WHICH ARE A GOOD PLACE, WHAT I WOULD HOPE IS THAT WE'LL USE COMMON SENSE. THIS IS A, THIS IS, THIS IS BASICALLY, THEY'RE PUTTING A LITTLE RAT TRAP THERE FOR YOU. THEY'RE DYING FOR YOU. THEY'RE DYING FOR YOU TO JUST GO IN THERE AND GET YOUR HAND CAUGHT IN THE RAT TRAP. THEY'RE DYING TO DO IT SO THEY CAN ALL LOOK, LOOK AT THE CROWD, THEY'RE HERE. YOU GOT THE UNIONS IN THE BACK. YOU GOT THIS GENTLEMAN THAT'S NEVER SHOWED UP BEFORE. IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TEEING. THEY'RE TEEING. THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TEEING UP, THEY'RE TEEING UP FOR YOU. THEY'RE TEEING UP FOR YOU HERE, THEY'RE TEEING UP FOR YOU FOR, FOR, TO MAKE THIS INTO A CIRCUS AND TO SAY THAT WE ARE ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING, EVEN THOUGH THE LEGISLATION SAYS, EVEN THOUGH THE LEGISLATION CLEARLY SAYS IT'S JUST MORE EDUCATION. SO I'M JUST GIVING YOU MY FAIR BIT OF ADVICE THAT I HATE WHAT THIS HAS BECOME. THIS IS POLITICS CENTRAL. PLEASE SIT DOWN. THIS IS POLITICS CENTRAL. POLITICS CENTRAL. YOU HAVE TWO TRAINED PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE TOLD YOU, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. THIS IS THE PROTOCOLS, THIS IS HOW WE'RE UP HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. WHAT WOULD YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK, I, I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS FOR ME, RIGHT? AS THE NEWEST ELECTED COMMISSIONER HERE. UM, UH, BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS I'LL SAY, AND I'LL FINISH ON THIS POINT. I'M ALSO BE A LITTLE FACETIOUS AS SHE KNOW THAT A, A LITTLE, LITTLE BIT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I I TRUST AND KNOW THAT THE TWO CHIEFS ARE HERE BEFORE US TODAY, RIGHT. HAVE GIVEN YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR PROFESSIONAL VIEWS AND OPINIONS INDEPENDENT OF ANY UNDUE INFLUENCE FROM ANYONE. AM I CORRECT IN THAT? YES SIR. YES SIR. OKAY. 'CAUSE I WOULD TAKE OFFENSE IF ANYBODY WOULD'VE THOUGHT TO THE CONTRARY, I'LL FINISH BY SAYING THIS. I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RESOLUTION AS IT'S CURRENTLY DRAFTED, BUT COMMISSIONER CASTRO, I THINK THAT MY CONCERNS [03:40:01] ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED WITH SOME MORE WORK ON IT. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE WORK MAYBE TOGETHER ON AN AMENDMENT TO IT THAT ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHES BETTER, I THINK YOUR GOAL OF TRYING TO SHORE UP ADDRESS A GAP OR PRODUCE A MORE ROBUST AND EFFECTIVE MEANS OF ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I JUST FEEL THAT THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW DOESN'T GET US ANYWHERE NEAR THERE. I DON'T THINK IT MOVES THE NEEDLE IN ANY WAY. WHY BE SYMBOLIC WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE, UM, EFFECTIVE BY PUTTING SOME ACTUAL REAL TEETH IN IT? SO THAT WOULD BE MY, MY MY FRIENDLY SUGGESTION TO DO THAT. BEFORE THROUGH THE MAYOR, BEFORE, BEFORE YOU, BEFORE YOU TAKE THE FLOOR, I JUST WANNA, I WANNA ASK THE TWO CHIEFS A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION. I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT ANYMORE. UH, LET THE, THE COMMISSIONER FINISH OFF. UM, DO YOU THINK WE ARE HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING EDUCATION AND OUR EFFORTS TO ERADICATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING? CHIEF? I MEAN, I THINK WE ARE AHEAD OF A LOT OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS SMALLER THAN US. I MEAN, CAN WE ALWAYS DO MORE? YEAH, BUT IT'S GONNA COST MONEY AND RESOURCES. I MEAN, COULD I PUT THREE DETECTIVES OUT THERE? UH, SO YEAH, IT, IT'S A CONSTANT BALANCING ACT. AND, UM, BUT CAN, I MEAN, IF, IF THIS WERE TO BE WORKED ON SOME MORE, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE CAN ALL COME UP WITH AND, AND THE FIRE CHIEF AND I CAN LOOK AT BOTH HIS, I HATE TO USE THE WORD SILO, BUT HIS AREA OF TRAINING AND MY AREA OF TRAINING IN POLICE. AND WE MAY BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING CHANGING FOR MUNICIPALITIES OUR SIZE THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE BASED ON WHAT CHIEF WHO HAD JUST SAID TO TABLE THIS, UM, UH, ITEM SO THAT WE CAN MAYBE ALL GET TOGETHER AND WORK ON AN AMENDMENT TO IT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE, THE POINTS RAISED BY THE TWO CHIEFS TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE, UM, RESOLUTION. SO I'M, I I I, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT. SO I'M GONNA SECOND THAT BASED UPON MY REQUEST TO HAVE THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO WEIGH IN ON IT, RIGHT? BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN DO SO. I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER. I THINK WE CAN DO MORE. OKAY. AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED COUNTYWIDE. IT'S A BORDERLESS CRIME. ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE MAYOR, JUST GIMME ONE SECOND. I ASKED TO BE RECOGNIZED BEFORE THAT MOTION. JUST GIMME ONE SECOND. JUST GIMME ONE SECOND. I MEAN, I WOULD'VE MOVED IT, BUT YOU, YOU SELECTED SOMEBODY BESIDES ME WHEN I WAS TALKING FIRST A COMMISSIONER. WE CAN PLAY THE TAPE BACK MONTHS AND MONTHS IN THE PAST. IT'S HAPPENED. THE SAME THING'S HAPPENED BEFORE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE. SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE YOUR MOMENT NOW. UH, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. MR. CLERK. I, I, I, I KNOW ON THIS SIDE. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. EVERYBODY JUST RELAX. REMEMBER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MORE EDUCATION. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING. ANYTHING HERE. THERE'S MORE EDUCATION. OKAY, GUYS, WE HAVE A LONG ITEM OF LIST ITEMS OF THINGS TO FINISH UP THE CITY WITH. SO COMMISSIONER CASTRO, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO FINISH? GO AHEAD. YES. THE BEFORE YOU, I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND RESPONSE TO YOU BECAUSE I SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS ACTUALLY LOOKING AT TRAININGS AND PROTOCOLS. OKAY. AND THAT IS THE REASON THAT I WANTED MS. MARI TO COME UP NEXT. DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT? DO I WANT I WANNA SEE WHAT YOU STUDY. CAN YOU SEND ME NO, NO, BUT NOT HER, NOT SHE, SHE SPOKE ALREADY. WE, WE GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT, SAID I'M NO, THAT'S NOT PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT'S MY EXPERT TESTIMONY. AND THIS IS MY ITEM. I CALLED HER UP BEFORE. I'M SO SORRY. COMMISSIONER, PLEASE. I HAVE THE FLOOR AT THIS POINT. OKAY, COMMISSIONER, I'M RUNNING THE MEETING. LET'S BE RESPECTFUL. IM ASKING YOU, YOU ARE RUNNING THE MEETING, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT GONNA, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET INTO THE DEBATE NOW. FLOOR IS MINE. WE'RE NOT GONNA GET INTO THE DEBATE. WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEBATE WITH ME, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. THE FLOOR IS MINE. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. YOU, I WAS RECOGNIZING THE FLOOR IS MINE. PLEASE LET MAYOR YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE RECOGNIZED THE COMMISSIONER, BUT THE MAYOR DOES PRESIDE OVER THE MEETING. HE RUNS THE MEETING. SO IN TERMS OF SPEAKERS, I THINK HE'S ALREADY SAID THAT THE SPEAKER HAS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, YEAH. SO HER, HER HER TIME TO SPEAK. SO WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE THE FLOOR. I'M SO SORRY. THE FLOOR IS STILL MINE. PLEASE RESPECT THAT. LIKE I'M ASKING YOU GRACIOUSLY RESPECT THAT THIS IS MY ITEM. THAT IS NOT PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT IS MY EXPERT TESTIMONY. OKAY. THERE WAS CONCERNS BROUGHT UP TO THIS COMMISSION. I WANT HER TO GO AHEAD AND CLARIFY THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TRAINING. THAT'S THE ONLY STATE APPROVED TRAINING REGARDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SO PLEASE, MS. MARVI, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS SPOKEN. PLEASE MOVE, FINISH, FINISH YOUR STATEMENT, PLEASE. I'M TRYING TO, BUT YOU KEEP ON INTERRUPTING ME. MARVI, CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THE TRAINING BEFORE THIS MOTION GOES THROUGH SO THAT THE, THE COMMISSION CAN HEAR CLEAR THE CONCERNS THAT THEY ARE HAVING THROUGH THE MAYOR? OKAY. CAN WE STOP, STOP. I I WILL. PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS AGAIN. I KNOW YOU GUYS WANT IT FOR THE BLOGS. I KNOW, I KNOW. I'M NOT GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU TODAY. OKAY. THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS SPOKEN. PLEASE, COMMISSIONER, I'M BEGGING YOU FINISH YOUR STATEMENT, FINISH YOUR STATEMENT. NO [03:45:01] ONE ELSE WILL BE SPEAKING EXCEPT FOR THE CHIEFS AND THE PEOPLE ON THIS DIOCESE. WE'RE DONE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE DONE WITH EXPERT TESTIMONY. AS THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL TELL YOU THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME THAT YOU NEED TO FINISH YOUR LEGISLATION AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD. OKAY. COMMISSIONER LARA, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE TRAINING. THIS IS ONLY APPROVED TRAINING FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. OKAY? IT'S NOT GONNA COST US ANYTHING. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THEY'RE GONNA ASSIST US WITH STATE FUNDING. I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS AND I'VE WORKED HARD ON IT BECAUSE IT MEANS A LOT TO ME, ESPECIALLY HAVING CHILDREN AS YOU DO THAT ARE WOMEN. OKAY. AND I'VE ALSO RESEARCHED WHERE, WHERE THE HUMAN TRAFFICK, THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS HAPPENING. AND A LOT OF IT FROM PUBLIC RECORDS THAT I'VE READ IS IN MIAMI BEACH AND IN THE BRICKLE AREA AND IN AIRBNBS, NOT IN THESE HOURLY MOTELS. WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THESE HOUR HOURLY MOTELS ARE ACTUALLY PROSTITUTION. OKAY? SO I AM VERY, VERY, VERY INVOLVED. AND I'M NOT JUST BRINGING UP A RESOLUTION. THIS IS A MEANINGFUL ONE. AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. EXCUSE. I MAY ANSWER. UM, I THINK, I THINK THE GREAT THING, I THINK THE GREAT THING, UH, TO DO IS SHE HAS ALL THIS INFORMATION. SHE'S NOT WILLING TO SHARE IT HERE TODAY. SHE DOESN'T HAVE IT HERE. THE TRAINING, UH, STUFF THAT I GUESS IS HAPPENING IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, UH, THAT ARE NOT, IT'S NOT HAPPENING HERE. LET'S GET ALL THAT INFORMATION AND LET'S PRESENT THAT COMMISSION MEETING AFTER THE TWO CHIEFS HAVE REVIEWED. HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU REVIEWED THE TRAINING THAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT? THE, THE TRAINING, ADDITIONAL TRAINING? NO. HAS A MANAGER, MR. MANAGER, HAVE YOU REVIEWED ANY OF THESE ADDITIONAL TRAINING? SHE'S TALKING, I'VE BEEN PROVIDED NOTHING, MA'AM. I, WHEN I PRESENT SOMETHING, WHEN I PRESENT LEGISLATION AND I SAY I HAVE SOMETHING, I, I PROVIDE IT TO STAFF. I WRITE A MEMO TO MY COLLEAGUES. I WORK ON IT FOR A WHILE, AND WE TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT BEFORE WE PRESENT IT, THAT IT MAKES COHERENT SENSE. SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF AMBIGUOUS TRAINING. YOU HAVE A LOT OF AMBIGUOUS FACTS THAT, AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT HERE. LET'S GET IT ON ORDER. THAT'S PRESENTED IN A, IN A, IN A, IN A RESOLUTION OR AN ORDINANCE, A BODY WHICH HAS APPROVAL FROM THE CHIEFS THAT SAYS, LISTEN, WE'RE NOT BEING REDUNDANT ON THESE FACTS. PUT IT THROUGH THE MANAGER AND WE'LL BRING IT FORWARD. I THINK I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THAT. YES, COMMISSIONER. WELL, I WAS GONNA SAY, AND NOT TO ENGAGE IN AN EXTENSIVE BACK AND FORTH, UH, COMMISSIONER CASTRO. THAT ONE, THE REASON I ASKED YOU WHETHER YOU HAD GONE THROUGH WHAT THE PRESENTATIONS WE JUST SAW TODAY MADE BY BOTH OF THE CHIEFS WAS FOR THE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, WAS THERE AN AREA THAT YOU NOT, ANOTHER SURROGATE COULD ADDRESS? WHAT YOU COULD ADDRESS IS WHERE YOU BELIEVE IT CAME UP SHORT IN SPECIFIC TRAINING. BUT I'LL WITHDRAW THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON MAKING A STRONGER RESOLUTION. AS I SAID BEFORE, I THINK THE INTENT IS LAUDABLE, BUT I JUST THINK THAT THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN'T GET MY SUPPORT, BUT YOU WILL GET MY SUPPORT TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT A BETTER ONE. AND THAT'S WHY I MADE MY MOTION. YES, PERMISSION. ALRIGHT. UM, GOVERNMENT WORKS A LOT BETTER WHEN YOU REMOVE THE WORD I AND I'M TIRED OF HEARING, I, I WANNA HEAR RESULTS. THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT SETS US ON THE RIGHT TRACK. IT MAY NOT COME ATTACHED WITH A FULL PLAN, BUT IT IS GIVING DIRECTIVE TO THE CITY MANAGER TO GET THAT PLAN GOING. WE ARE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD TWO WEEKS, JUST BECAUSE IT WASN'T OUR IDEA. IT WAS COMMISSIONER CASTRO'S IDEA. THAT'S THE REALITY THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M FED UP WITH IT. HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS LEGISLATION. OUR OFFICERS AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE TRAINING THAT COMES FROM THIS LEGISLATION. AND BECAUSE IT WASN'T SOMEBODY'S IDEA IN THE MAJORITY, IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. I THINK THIS COULD HAVE PASSED AND WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, A FORMAL PLAN COULD HAVE MOVED FORWARD. AND IF IT NEEDED TO BE CODIFIED, IT COULD HAVE BEEN CODIFIED. MANY ITEMS COME UP HERE AS RESOLUTIONS WITHOUT A PLAN ATTACHED SHOWING THAT THE COMMISSION SUPPORTS THE ACTION. INSTEAD, WE'RE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. I'M SORRY, TO THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS WHO ARE GONNA SUFFER BECAUSE OF THIS. I'M SORRY, TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, I'M SORRY FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE GONNA HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR THE TRAINING THAT COULD HAVE HELPED THEM DURING THIS PROCESS. YOUR MOTION IS ON F FOUR, CORRECT? OR ON F TWO TWO. AND F FOUR. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO IF I MAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, JUST TO PUT SOMETHING, TWO THINGS ON THE RECORD. NUMBER ONE, IF YOU LOOK AT F SIX AND YOU LOOK AT F SEVEN AND YOU LOOK AT F EIGHT DISCUSSION ITEMS ARE FOR THE COMMISSION TO TALK IN THE, IN THE SUNSHINE AND TALK ABOUT THINGS AND GET IDEAS AND PUT PIECES OF LEGISLATION TOGETHER AND SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. YOU ALSO WRITE, CAN WRITE MEMOS AMONGST EACH OTHER. AND YOU CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS [03:50:01] TO TRY TO BUILD LEGISLATION AND TO TRY TO DO THINGS THAT BUILD CONSENSUS CHIEFS. THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. BUT I RECOMMEND CHIEF, BOTH CHIEFS. SO THE DISCUSSION HERE, THE KEY STICKING POINT HERE IS EDUCATION. SO COMMISSIONER OTTA SAID HE'S GONNA WORK WITH COMMISSIONER CASTRO ON THIS EFFORT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH MORE EDUCATION IN REGARDS TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT AS FAR AS PROVIDING MORE EDUCATION, MORE RESOURCES? YEAH. UH, OKAY. DO YOU FEEL THAT TODAY THAT IF WE DON'T PASS THIS AS COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SAID, THAT WE, THAT VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARE GONNA BE FURTHER PENALIZED OR FURTHER PUT IN A BAD POSITION AS A RESULT OF US NOT PASSING THIS LEGISLATION TODAY, THAT CALLS FOR MORE EDUCATION IN THAT CONTEXT? NO, I DON'T. OKAY. ALRIGHT. I WANNA MAKE SURE IF YOU SAY THAT, DO YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY OR DO YOU FEEL DIFFERENTLY? SO I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT, UM, AS I MENTIONED IN MY PRESENTATION, THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE OR GAPS THAT WE TRY TO IDENTIFY. HENCE WHY I TELL YOU THAT OUR DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATE IN EVERY DOMESTIC SECURITY TASK FORCE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN BE PART OF. BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE IDENTIFY TRENDS. THAT'S WHERE WE IDENTIFY OUR, OUR GAPS. THAT'S WHERE WE IDENTIFY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES OR ENHANCED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. I'M WELCOME TO LOOK AT AND EVALUATE ALONG WITH CHIEF HUDAK WHETHER THAT TRAINING COMES FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHETHER THAT TRAINING COMES FROM WHAT COMMISSIONER CASTRO STATED OR THE HER EXPERT TESTIMONIES. I CAN SAY THAT IN THE AREAS THAT I PARTICIPATED, WHICH ARE STATEWIDE OR FOUR COUNTIES WIDE, UM, I'M INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THE TRAINING THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY STATE CERTIFIED AND THAT IS PRESENTED OR THAT WAS DISCUSSED HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M UNAWARE OF IT. THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T EXIST. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT CAN'T ENHANCE OUR RESPONSE AND OUR EDUCATION TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. I'M JUST SAYING THAT WHETHER IT IS THROUGH OUR, OUR LOCAL COMMITTEE AMONGST EMS CHIEFS OR WHETHER IT'S AT A REGIONAL STATE, UM, FOLKS COME BEFORE US AND PROVIDE INTELLIGENCE SHARING OR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES OR BUILD A BETTER, A BETTER COLLABORATION WITH FIRST RESPONDERS, WHETHER IT'S, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT OR FIRE IN WHICH ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED. WHETHER IT IS, UM, ELDERLY ABUSE AND VULNERABILITY OR NEGLECT, WHETHER IT IS, UM, ENHANCING OUR RELATIONSHIP AND SUPPORT WITH AMERICAN HEART OR THE ALLIANCE OR THE, UH, THE, UM, FOR THE ELDERLY OR, UM, IN PREPARATION WITH SPECIAL NEEDS VICTIMS THROUGH HURRICANES OR AUTISM FOLKS THAT HAVE TRAINING OR PROVIDE FOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN ENHANCE OUR RESPONSE AND ANY ASPECT NORMALLY COME BEFORE US. I INVITE THIS GROUP THAT PRESENTED TODAY TO COME BEFORE THE FIRE OFFICERS OF MIAMI-DADE EMS SUBCOMMITTEE PRESENT THEIR TRAINING, THE VALIDATION OF THAT TRAINING. AND IF IT ENHANCES, NOT MINE, BUT REGIONALLY WISE, OUR TRAINING, I WELCOME IT AS I DO WITH THE VALIDATED TRAINING THAT CAN COME THROUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THAT THEY SHARE WITH US, WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY. I CAN SAY, HOWEVER, AT THIS MOMENT, THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE LEARNED OF IT. CHIEF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY, MY BIGGEST CONCERN ON THE ISSUES AS, AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW IF LEGALLY I CAN DO THIS AND THAT'S WHY I'M, I'VE GOT QUESTIONS, WHICH I WANNA WORK WITH EVERYBODY TO ANSWER THEM. BUT, AND ON SPECIFIC ON F TWO, UH, THE PART WHERE IT SAYS ACKNOWLEDGING PRIORITIES GENERATED REPEATED CALLS FOR SERVICE MAY WARRANT REVIEW THROUGH A NUISANCE ABATEMENT PRO. I CAN'T AGREE LEGALLY THAT WE, THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN AGREE TO A NUISANCE ABATEMENT POLICY. IF YOU ALL WERE TO PUT THAT IN TO A RESOLUTION. IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD PARTAKE IN THAT AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE OUR STATUTES AND THINGS THAT WE DO THROUGH OUR VICTIM ADVOCATE PROGRAM ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO. SO I, I, AGAIN, I THINK WE ALL WANT TO GET THERE. UM, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE ONE THING, AND THIS GOES BACK TO SOMETHING EARLIER. THE CITY MANAGER HAS ALLOWED ME AND THE FIRE CHIEF TO TALK WITH YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY, NOT TO VI VIOLATE THE HAW SUNSHINE. HE'S UNDERSTOOD AS MY BOSS THAT [03:55:01] YOU CAN CALL ME ALL DIRECTLY. AND I THINK EVERYONE ON THIS DAY HAS, HAS, WHEN IT'S COME ISSUES, THE MANAGER HAS NEVER STOPPED ME FROM THAT. THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE CAN HAVE TO GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GET. NOBODY DOESN'T WANNA DO THAT. MY CONCERN, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, IS THAT THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS PAST AS IS THAT WOULD COME BACK. AND I WOULD HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I CAN ENFORCE. THAT'S, AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRAINING IS. I KNOW OF SALT, I KNOW THE VALUE THAT THEY HAVE. BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO INCORPORATE THAT AS A GUIDE ON FOR, FOR THIS, I'M NOT THERE YET. SECOND PART OF THAT, THE EDUCATION PART IS WE'VE GIVEN THAT FLYER OUT AND WE WILL WORK THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND MARTHA PANTENE AND MY PEOPLE TO START PUSHING OUT THE AWARENESS TO SAY, SO SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING HAS WORKED MAGNIFICENTLY FOR US. THIS IS JUST A BIGGER, BROADER PICTURE OF IT. RIGHT? SO THAT TO MY POINT IS THAT'S MY TREPIDATION OF IF THIS IS PASSED THE WAY IT IS. I DON'T KNOW HOW I CAN ANSWER THAT. IT'S, IT'S, AND WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ON, ON ORDINANCES. SO WHAT, WHAT I, WHAT I RECOMMEND IS GO BACK, SIT DOWN WITH THE CHIEFS, WITH THE MANAGER, HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION. SAY YOU CAN BRING BACK SOMETHING THAT AGAIN, OFFERS TRUE VALUE AND CAN OFFER, UH, HELP TO THESE VICTIMS. AND TO, LIKE I'VE DONE BEFORE, IS TRY TO AVOID HAVING ANY MORE VICTIMS IN THE FUTURE. RIGHT. THAT'S THE PLAN. WE'VE GOT 119 DAYS UNTIL FIFA STARTS COMING. SO WE WILL, I WILL MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, COMMISSIONER LARA, AND WE WILL BRING IN OUR EXPERTS, VICE MAYOR, AND WE WILL PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER IN A VERY TIMELY FASHION WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE MANAGER. 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT IT TO BELAY ANY LONGER THAN WE HAVE TO THROUGH THE MAYOR. I ECHO THAT. YES, SIR. THROUGH THE MAYOR. UH, THE ISSUES I HAVE IS WHEN WE SEE NUISANCE OF BASEMENT ISSUES OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSAULT, HUMAN TRAFFICKING COURSE, THE REASON IAII ASK THE, THE, UH, THE, THE CHIEFS TO PROVIDE THIS, THIS PRESENTATION, WHICH I WAS DIDN'T EVEN SEE UNTIL RIGHT NOW, WAS THAT WE ARE DOING ALL THESE THINGS RIGHT NOW. CAN WE GET BETTER? WE WILL BE HAPPY TO GET BETTER. HOWEVER, UH, I DON'T WANT THE THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING. OF COURSE. AND THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE. OUR, OUR CHIEFS ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB. OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS INCREDIBLE. EVERY ONE OF THEM IS A PARAMEDIC. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, WHEN THEY SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING, THEY IMMEDIATELY WORK WITH POLICE, WHICH IS, WHICH ARE, WHICH WOULD BE PROBABLY THERE AT THE SAME TIME. SO ARE WE DOING THESE THINGS? IF WE WANT TO DO BETTER, I'LL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE TWO CHIEFS TO GET TO, TO GET SOMETHING, UH, TO GET A RESOLUTION THAT REALLY, UH, ADDRESSES ANY, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN ADD THAT WE CAN ADD AS YOU, AS YOU SAW BY THE PRESENTATION, IT'S EXTENSIVE THE AMOUNT OF, OF, OF WORK THE POLICE AND FIRE DO ON ALL THESE ABUSE ISSUES. ALL OF THEM. AND, AND, AND THAT IS MY CONCERN, COMMISSIONER, THEN. WE'LL THEN WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. YEAH. SO, SO BRIEFLY, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, UM, UH, ILLUMINATING THESE POINTS, RIGHT? ALL MORE TO THE POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK BEFORE WE LEAP AND THAT WE ACTUALLY DO SOME MORE HOMEWORK BEFORE WE PUT FORTH A RESOLUTION THAT MAY ACTUALLY DO MORE HARM THAN IT WOULD DO ANY GOOD OR AT BEST WOULD ACTUALLY NOT MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. BUT I WANNA MAKE ONE COMMENT AND TO YOU, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, THAT IT, UM, RESPECTFULLY, YOU KNOW, I DO RESPECT YOU. I, I, I THINK IT'S PANDERING OF THE WORST KIND TO SAY OR TO INSINUATE THAT MY WANTING TO WORK TOGETHER WITH COMMISSIONER CASTRO TO IMPROVE WHAT I THINK IS A LAUDABLE BUT FLAWED RESOLUTION AS PRESENTLY DRAFTED, WOULD IN ANY WAY INSINUATE THAT I'M IN FAVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR SEEKING A WAY TO BETTER THEIR ENVIRONMENT TO COMMIT THE HEINOUS CRIMES THAT THEY DO. I TAKE OFFENSE TO THAT, IF THAT WERE YOUR INSINUATION, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE CHIEFS HERE TODAY WOULD SAY THAT THE FAILURE TO SIGN THIS OFF TODAY, UM, VERSUS NOT SIGNING IT OFF, SIGNING OFF IN A AND VOTING FOR IT TODAY, WOULD IN ANY WAY IMPEDE WHAT THE FIRST RESPONDERS ARE DOING WITH RESPECT TO EVIDENCE THAT THEY ENCOUNTER OF ANY SORT OF HARM OR, OR, OR VICTIMS, UH, DUE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I'M CERTAINLY, I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT'S NOT YOUR, YOUR SUGGESTION, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, BUT TO BE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. BUT I AM, UH, I WANTED, I WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT MY INTENT. GO THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, GO AHEAD. UH, JUST CLARIFICATION. THAT WAS NOT, UH, MY COMMENT. THANK YOU. MY COMMENT WAS REGARDING, ON WHO BROUGHT UP THE LEGISLATION. UM, AND ON THE SECOND POINT, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR AN HOUR AND 40 MINUTES, AND THIS IS THE FIRST WE HEAR THAT YOU HAVE A CONCERN WITH THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE AND THAT THE MANAGER HAS CONCERN WITH THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH STAFF DURING AGENDA REVIEW. NOBODY BROUGHT UP ISSUES ABOUT THE LANGUAGE OF THE RESOLUTION AT THAT POINT, EITHER. THAT IS A CONCERN, AND I THINK [04:00:01] WE SHOULD ADDRESS IT AFTER THIS MEETING, BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS HAD AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION. WHEN YOU'VE HAD ANY ISSUES WITH ANY RESOLUTION THAT'S COME UP, YOU'VE READ THEM BEFOREHAND, YOU'VE COME UP TO ME AND SAID, THIS NEEDS TO BE OUT. YOU NEVER BROUGHT THAT UP TO MY ATTENTION. I'D APPRECIATE IT ALL OF YOU. IF IN THE FUTURE THERE IS A CONCERN WITH ANY PART OF THE, THE LANGUAGE OF A RESOLUTION OR ANYTHING THAT'S ON THE AGENDA THAT I BE BROUGHT INTO YOUR CONCERNS BEFOREHAND SO THAT I CAN BE AWARE OF THOSE. BECAUSE TO THIS POINT, AN HOUR AND 40 MINUTES INTO THE DISCUSSION, THIS IS THE FIRST I HEAR OF ANY CONCERN WITH THE LANGUAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION THROUGH THE MAYOR. BRIEFLY BRIEF. BRIEFLY. OKAY. SO, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, UM, I, I BELIEVE THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THIS DISCOURSE THAT WE HAVE ON THE DAAS, AND YOU YOURSELF HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE ON THE DAAS, THAT DURING THE COURSE OF OUR DISCUSSION, YOU'RE ILLUMINATED, YOU'VE SEEN THINGS THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE FROM THE FIRST INSTANT, RIGHT? SO I WOULD LEAVE THE, THE, UH, OPTION OPEN THAT THE CHIEFS LISTENING TO OUR DISCUSSION MAY BE LOOKING AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE. AND BY THE WAY, THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT WE SPENT DISCUSSING THIS WAS, UH, LARGELY TAKEN UP ON A VERY COMPREHENSIVE, UM, UH, PRESENTATION BY THE TWO CHIEFS, AS WELL AS THE, UH, EXPERTS IN THE AREA, NOT NECESSARILY IN THE DIALOGUE IN AND AMONGST US ON THE DS BY THE WAY. JUST, AND WE'LL TAKE IT FOR A VOTE, JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, UH, COMMISSIONER. SO YOU DON'T FEEL, FEEL THAT LEFT OUT. UH, THE CHIEF DID NOT CALL ME AND TELL ME, HEY, I'M WORRIED ABOUT X, Y, AND Z AGAIN, WE HAD OUR PRE AGENDA MEETING. WE ALL HAVE OUR PRE AGENDA MEETINGS. YOU'RE, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO ASK QUESTIONS. I HAD OVER, I HAD AN HOUR LONG PRE AGENDA MEETING. I SAT THERE, I HAD CONVERSATIONS. I, I ASKED A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION, WHAT, LIKE I DO WITH EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATION? WHAT DOES THIS LEGISLATION DO TO MOVE THE NEEDLE? AND THE ANSWER AMONGST EVERYONE, WELL, THERE'S, IT JUST CALLS FOR MORE EDUCATION. I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TYPE OF EDUCATION, WHERE'S THE FUNDING COMING FROM? WHAT BILL ARE WE LOOKING AT AT THE SENATE, THE STATE HOUSE? WHAT, WHAT'S GONNA BE OUR AGENDA? HOW ARE WE GONNA TRAIN THESE INDIVIDUALS? BUT AT THE END OF THE, ALL WE TALK ABOUT IS HOW GREAT ARE POLICE AND FIREARM, HOW THEY TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL? HOW EVERYBODY WANTS TO EMULATE WHAT THE CITY DOES. AND SO, UH, MOVING FORWARD, I THINK WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AD NAUSEUM, AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA COME BACK. WE'RE GONNA TABLE THIS ITEM. WE HAVE A VOTE, UH, AND WE'LL COME BACK AND HOPEFULLY DELIVER SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY HAS ACTUALLY HAS EXAMPLES OF EDUCATION THAT SUPPOSEDLY THE STATE IS DOING THAT WE'RE NOT DOING. UH, MAYBE COURSES THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT ARE NOT ONLINE. MAYBE THEY'RE IN PERSON. UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, FIND SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, GIVES US THE WARM AND FUZZIES THAT THIS COURSE IS GONNA BE, THIS NEW EDUCATION'S GONNA BE GREAT. AND HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF THE DAY, STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING. 'CAUSE THAT'S THE GOAL. THAT'S WHY I KNOW FERNANDEZ DOESN'T LIKE IT. BUT I WROTE LEGISLATION HERE TO STOP THAT, THIS FROM HAPPENING, GIVING THE POWERS TO THE POLICE THAT THEY NEVER HAD BEFORE, STOPPING HOURLY MOTELS. AND THERE IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING ACROSS THE STREET. AND I WILL HAVE OUR POLICE CHIEF, WHO KNOWS MORE THAN EVERYBODY, CHIEF, THERE WAS A STATEMENT HERE, MADE THAT ACROSS THE STREET ON EIGHTH STREET, OH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS NOT HAPPENING. CAN WE PLEASE CLARIFY THAT PLEASE? HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS EVERYWHERE, HAPPENING EVERYWHERE. AND IT IS NOT THE, IT IS NOT THE TRADITIONAL, I MEAN, THEY WILL RENT HOTEL ROOMS AND THEY WILL USE OUT ON THAT. THEY WILL GO TO HOTEL ROOMS. UH, I DON'T WANNA DISCUSS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE USE, UH, TACTICALLY, BUT IT COULD BE AT AN AIRBNB. SO THERE'S, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT PEOPLE WILL COME ACROSS PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING TRAFFICKED. BUT I DO WANNA SAY COMMISSIONER, THE ONLY PERSON THAT I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH WAS THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL. THAT WAS IT. I AND MY BOSS, THE MANAGER, I TOLD HIM THIS WAS THE CONVERSATION THAT I HAD. AND THOSE ISSUES WERE, I THINK WE ADDRESSED BACK AND FORTH AND MY CONCERNS WERE AIRED. UM, QUITE FRANKLY, I WAS FOCUSED ON F FOUR MORE SO THAN F TWO, UH, WITH THE FIRE CHIEF. AND, AND THAT'S IT. UM, ANY OTHER KIND OF BRIEFINGS THAT, THAT GOES THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER ON? SO YOU MATTER ON MY SCREEN AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. ALRIGHT. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. YEAH. FOR THE CHIEFS, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A, A WONDERFUL TURNOUT THANKS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE DOGGY CPR, AND EVERYBODY WAS INTERESTED IN IT AT THE FARMER'S MARKET. IF YOU WERE, IF YOU WERE PROVIDED SOME TIME AT THE FARMER'S MARKET TO DO A PRESENTATION ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND TRY TO GET THE, HERE'S SOMETHING, SEE SOMETHING MORE EDUCATION OUT THERE, WOULD YOU HAVE TIME TO DO IT HERE IN MARCH BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME? FOR, FOR TRAINING? YES. I MEAN, WE WOULD INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE CRIME WATCH GROUP, UM, OF WHICH WE MEET WEEKLY. I CAN PUT THAT OR MONTHLY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD DOES, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE OUT IN THERE AND WE'LL PUT THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AGAIN, THOSE POSTERS THAT WERE GIVEN, WERE FRESH OFF OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE THIS PAST WEEK AND THEY WILL GO OUT AGAIN. SO I'M REFERRING TO THE TENT THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE. YES, YES. JUST LIKE WE HAD THE DOGGY CPR, [04:05:01] WE CAN HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, PUT A BANNER UP THERE, PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH ALL THE, THE SIX NUMBERS THAT, THAT, UH, THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS, THE SIGNS THAT THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, AND THINGS SUCH AS, IS IT A SHORT TERM RENTAL IS IT A RENTAL PIECE OF PROPERTY? THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT PEOPLE WILL HELP MAKE PEOPLE MORE AWARE AND PERHAPS WE CAN GET THIS SO WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE DELAY IN PASSING. THIS MORE EDUCATION FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. REALLY GETTING THE MORE EDUCATION FOR THE PUBLIC SO THEY CAN CALL IN SUSPICIONS AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THAT'S MY RESPECTFUL SUGGESTION. THANK YOU, MADAM VICE MAYOR. MAYOR TO THE MAYOR. OKAY. YES, COMMISSIONER? YEAH. BEFORE, BEFORE WE GO TO A VOTE, I JUST WANNA GO AHEAD AND, AND, UM, MOVE ON MY ITEM TOO. JUST LET THE COMMISSION KNOW. WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS. I KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE VOTING ON ONE FIRST. I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON BOTH OF MY ITEMS. AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I WANT GO AHEAD AND OFFER YOU SOME EASE AND MAYBE REMOVE THAT WORD. UM, THAT WAS TROUBLING FOR YOU. UM, COM COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, CAN YOU ADDRESS THE, THE FACT OF MOVING ON TWO ITEMS, PLEASE. SO WE HAVE A, A PENDING MOTION, SO WE CAN'T HAVE ANOTHER MAIN MOTION WHILE THERE'S A PENDING MOTION. YEAH. UH, OKAY. SO MOVING FROM THIS. OKAY. UH, MR. CLERK, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TABLE THIS ITEM. MR. MAYOR, CONFIRMING WE'RE MAY, UH, THE MOTION AND THE SECOND IS TO DEFER BOTH ITEMS. YES, SIR. OKAY. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? NO. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? NO. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. I MAYOR LAW FEEL IT NEEDS WORK? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE MOVING ON TO [F.-5. A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Manager to Coordinate with Miami-Dade County to make available the MeetQ Permit Services at the City's Development Services Department. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] ITEM F FIVE. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, MANNY SID FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AS AN AMAZING STAFF. UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FROM MIAMI COUNTY. SO COULD GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND IN OUR EFFORTS TO STREAMLINE THE, THE PERMITTING PROCESS AND, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. WE HAVE A LOT OF IRONS IN THE FIRE IN REGARDS TO OUR PERMITTING DEPARTMENT. YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF THINGS COMING. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH MR. SID, UH, LAST WEEK. I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME. MAYOR SID, HE DOESN'T LIKE TO BE CALLED MAYOR ANYMORE, BUT I STILL CALL HIM MAYOR. AND NOW HE'S WORKING AT THE COUNTY. AND HE BROUGHT FORTH SOME IDEAS ON HOW WE COULD STREAMLINE THE PROCESS WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, DEALING WITH THE CITY, EXCUSE ME, WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. I'VE SPOKEN TO OUR, OUR CITY MANAGER AND OUR TEAM MEMBERS. I WANTED TO BRING YOU FOR THE COMMISSION, UH, SO WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT AND HOPEFULLY IMPLEMENT, UH, THIS SIMPLE MANEUVER, WHICH WILL GIVE US A DIRECT LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. AND WE'LL STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING PROCESS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY. MAYOR SID, GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AGAIN. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS, GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. UH, MANNY SID, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR LOCAL, UH, SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. I'M JOINED BY ARIANNE OLIVA, OUR CHIEF, UH, ONE OF OUR CHIEFS IN THE REGULATORY AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES DEPARTMENT IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. AND ALSO WE HAVE, UH, ONE OF OUR DIRECTORS, ANGELIQUE BESTARD, UH, WHO RUNS THE SMALL BUSINESS PERMITTING TEAM. SHE DOES A LOT IN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT THAT TEAM IS A NATIONAL MODEL. AND SEVERAL OTHER OF OUR MEMBERS HERE THAT DO A GREAT JOB. UH, ANGELIQUE RUNS THE, UH, I MEAN, ANNE MANAGES AND CREATED THE MEQ PROGRAM. SO WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY IS THE INSTALLATION OF A MEQ KIOSK, UH, WITHIN A CORAL GABLES BUILDING DEPARTMENT WORKFLOW. UH, THIS WAS THE, THE MAYOR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, DAN LAVIN, KAVAS VISION FOR HER SECOND TERM TO COLLABORATE WITH MUNICIPALITIES, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHAT CITY A BUSINESS BUSINESSES IS IN, THEY'RE GONNA NEED TO WORK WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, UH, CORAL GABLES DOES NOT HAVE THEIR OWN WATER DEPARTMENT. SO IT, THROUGH MEQ, YOU CAN MEET THROUGH THOSE REVIEWERS, THE WATER DEPARTMENT, THE WDI, UH, UH, DEPARTMENT, UH, THROUGH MEQ, VIRTUALLY SAME THING, THE REVIEWERS, DERM, UH, AND SO FORTH AND SO ON. SO WE STARTED OFF WITH A PILOT PROGRAM IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH AND SAW INCREDIBLE SUCCESS, UH, ONE OF THOSE STORIES. AND THE MAYOR, UH, HIGHLIGHTED IT IN THE STATE OF THE COUNTY ADDRESS THIS YEAR WAS A YOGURT SHOP, UH, THAT UTILIZED THE, THE MEQ KIOSK IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH. AND THEY RECEIVED THEIR PERMITS, EVEN THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS, UH, WITHIN 16 DAYS. SO WE SAW THAT THIS IS A SCALABLE SOLUTION. AND SO FAR WE HAVE MANY, MANY CITIES. FIVE OUT OF THE SIX LARGEST CITIES IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. JUST THIS MORNING I WAS TALKING TO THE MAYOR OF MEDLEY AND, AND THE, UH, CITY MANAGER, UH, DOWN IN LER BAY. UH, AND THERE'S MORE AND MORE CITIES EVERY SINGLE DAY COMING ON BOARD. BUT I WANT TO HAND IT OVER TO ARIANNE BECAUSE SHE RUNS THE DAY TO DAY AND SHE'S REALLY THE ARCHITECT, UH, BEHIND THIS PROGRAM. AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S A SEAMLESS PROCESS FOR OUR, UH, MUNICIPAL PARTNERS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR SHARED CUSTOMERS. RIGHT? THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT TO DO ANYTHING IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, WHERE WE CAN ADD THIS WITHIN THE WORKFLOW. ARIANNE, [04:10:01] GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR WAITING. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO ESSENTIALLY, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO BRIDGE THE SPACE BETWEEN OUR JURISDICTIONS. OFTENTIMES, UH, CORAL GABLES HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS ARE TOLD THAT THEY NEED TO GO TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL APPROVALS AS PART OF THEIR PERMITTING OR THEIR LICENSING PROCESS. SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE AN ONLINE SYSTEM THAT HAS BEEN WELL ESTABLISHED FOR SOME TIME, AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS BRING THOSE SERVICES CLOSER TO THEIR HOMES, CLOSER TO THEIR BUSINESSES, SO THAT WHEN THEY HEAR THAT THEY HAVE TO GO TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO OBTAIN THESE APPROVALS, IT DOESN'T SEEM SO DAUNTING. IT DOESN'T SEEM SO SCARY, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING TO PLACE THESE KIOSKS CLOSE TO THE OFFICES WHERE YOUR EXPERTS ARE PROVIDING THEM THIS FEEDBACK. UM, AND WITH THEIR GUIDANCE, THEY CAN USE THIS KIOSK TO SIGN UP FOR THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE AND GET A MEETING WITH, UH, THE EXPERTS OVER AT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO GO OVER ANY OF THEIR REQUIREMENTS AND SMOOTH THINGS OUT SO THAT THEY CAN TURN AROUND AND COMPLETE THEIR PROCESS RIGHT IN YOUR OFFICES. UH, ESSENTIALLY WE HOPE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE, UH, LESS SCARED ABOUT GETTING THIS INFORMATION FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. AND WE'RE JUST HOPING TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES TO EVERYONE BECAUSE, UH, OUR CUSTOMERS ARE, ARE, ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS AS WELL. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SEE IS NOW THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES PERMITTING SITE, AND WE'RE ADDRESSING MANY FRONTS THAT THE MANAGER AND HIS TEAM, UH, MR. RAMIREZ PUBLIC, THE WORKS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TEAMS THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS TOGETHER, IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK, UH, TO REALLY STREAMLINE THE PROCESS. I'M JUST TRYING TO BRING A SOLUTION HERE FROM THE COUNTY. 'CAUSE YOU, AGAIN, PEOPLE FORGET, HEY, I GOT MY PERMIT. NO, YOU DIDN'T GET YOUR PERMIT. YOU GOTTA GET THE COUNTY . YOU GOTTA GO TO THE COUNTY. YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH CERTAIN THINGS AND YOU GOTTA GO TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL OR THE STATE LEVEL, DEPENDING ON, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TO, UH, HEALTH AND IF YOU HAVE TO, OBVIOUSLY YOU GOTTA GO TO DERBY, YOU GOTTA GO TO WASA. BUT WHAT I WANNA TRY TO DO IS I WANNA TRY THIS OUT AS A PRIVATE PROGRAM AND SEE HOW EFFICIENT IT IS. UM, SEE IF WE'RE REALLY SUCCESSFUL, SEE IF WE CAN REALLY CUT WAIT TIMES, SEE IF WE CAN REALLY OFFER OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO BASICALLY SAY, MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO DOWNTOWN. MAYBE OUR REVIEWER CAN IMMEDIATELY SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEIR REVIEWER ONLINE THROUGH A PORTAL SYSTEM WITH A CLIENT THERE FACE TO FACE. SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T THINK IT COSTS REALLY ANYTHING TO, TO IMPLEMENT, UH, A COMPUTER. A COMPUTER. WE HAVE COMPUTERS, UH, IN STORAGE. AND I THINK AGAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, I WANNA HEAR FROM THE MANAGER. I BROUGHT IT TO THE MANAGER. SO WHAT I WAS TELLING MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMISSION, THIS IS BEING WORKED ON, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I MET. WE SAT DOWN, WE HAD A CONVERSATION, I MET WITH THE MANAGER, I MET WITH STAFF. I WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? WHAT ARE THE PROS? WHAT ARE THE CONS? IS THIS TRULY VIABLE? DOES THIS REALLY WORK? THAT'S WHEN YOU WORK ON REAL LEGISLATION AND YOU TRY TO PASS THINGS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. IT'S, IT'S PROVEN BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE BRINGING SOMETHING THAT IS COMPREHENSIVE, ROBUST. MAYBE YOU GET A NO VOTE ON IT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHY WOULD YOU VOTE? KNOWING ON THIS, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? THESE ARE GOOD THINGS AND I TRY TO GET AS MANY YES VOTES AS POSSIBLE. SO, MR. MANAGER, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? WHAT CAN WE DO AND HOW CAN WE TRACK? UH, MAYOR WE'VE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED YESTERDAY. OKAY, SO WE WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THIS AND IF I MAY SUGGEST SOMETHING TO THE, OF COURSE, TO THE COUNTY, SOMETHING THAT I WAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR, I DON'T WANT YOU TO SUGGEST ONE THING. I WANNA I WANT YOU TO SUGGEST 50 THINGS. YES. WHATEVER IT TAKES. UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I, I ACTUALLY, I WORKED WITH THE COUNTY BACK WHEN I WAS IN MIAMI, RUNNING THE MIAMI BUILDING DEPARTMENT. AND THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR CORAL GABLES, WASA, AND DURHAM. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO, I THINK THAT, I THINK THE COUNTY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THEIR, THEIR, AT THEIR IT ISSUES AND SEE IF THEY CAN ELEVATE THEM TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH US. AND THAT WOULD BE A REAL SAVINGS. UH, WE, WE, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THIS YESTERDAY WHERE IT, UH, TO, TO HELP CERTAINLY OUR RESIDENTS, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD HAVE SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE ARE NOW WORKING WITH ELECTRONIC REVIEWS, AND THE IDEA IS TO SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLY TO EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME. WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IT 10 YEARS AGO. WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IT NOW BECAUSE THERE'S SOME GLITCHES BETWEEN DADE COUNTY AND IT WAS MIAMI AT THE TIME, AND CORAL GABLES NOW. SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT DEE COUNTY IS LOOKING AT, UH, MAYBE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT SOLUTION FOR THEIR BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND, AND FOR, AND FOR RER. AND THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD, UH, HAVE A SIMULTANEOUS APPLICATION, WHICH WOULD BE EVEN BETTER THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. SO, MAYOR, SO IN THE, IN THE POINT THAT THE MANAGER WAS MAKING, AS YOU'RE AWARE, JUST PUTTING IT OR DELAY INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY NOT BE INVOLVED IN PERMITTING CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING ARCHITECTURE, YOU CAN'T PULL THE PERMIT, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN'T GET A PLUMBING APPROVAL UNTIL THEY SEE A STAMP APPROVAL FROM THE COUNTY DURHAM WASA. THEN THAT HAS TO COME BACK TO THE CITY, OKAY, YOU HAVE APPROVAL FROM THE COUNTY, PERFECT. NOW WE'LL GIVE YOU PLUMBING APPROVAL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ALREADY BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR REVIEWERS. AND THEY SAID THAT EVERYTHING IS IN COMPLIANCE. THEY HAVE TO, THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT YOU'LL HAVE ONE COMMENT LEFT. [04:15:01] LIKE IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW, YOU GET, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A STRUCTURAL, YOU GET ELECTRICAL, YOU GET, YOU KNOW, UH, MECHANICAL, YOU GET ALL THE DISCIPLINES, BUT THEN YOU HAVE PLUMBING IS ALWAYS THE LAST ONE. YOU GOTTA GET A COUNTY APPROVAL, THEN BRING IT BACK. THE REVIEWER HERE SEES IT, SAYS, OKAY, PERFECT. REMOVE THE COUNTY COMMENT, EXCUSE ME, REMOVE THE, THE PLUMBING COMMENT AS APPROVED BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR COUNTY STAMP. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. 'CAUSE WE, WE CAN SAVE A LOT OF TIME WHERE WE'RE WAITING ON THAT AND WE DON'T HAVE TO JUST GET ALL THE STUFF IN THE CITY OF CORAL WAS DONE FIRST. DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS? DO YOU HAVE ANY, IS IS, ARE OTHER CITIES FACING THAT ALSO, HAS THAT BEEN BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION? I DUNNO IF ANGELIQUE WANTS TO TOUCH UPON THAT, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT, THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WE SERVICE THE LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTY. RIGHT? IT'S 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE, WHICH IS UNINCORPORATED DATE. YEP. PLUS ALL THE OTHER TRADES WITHIN ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES. AND EVERY CITY HAS A DIFFERENT SYSTEM, A DIFFERENT PROCESS, A D GOOD DIFFERENT CODE. UM, BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING. I DON'T WANNA SPEAK OUTTA LINE A LOT THAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING INTERNALLY TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS. ANNE'S BEEN, UH, HER HAND IS IN, IN ALL OF THAT. AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING. I THINK PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW TOO IS, I DUNNO IF YOU ALL KNOW, DERM IS NOW, UM, ITS OWN DEPARTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCIENTIFIC SIDE OF DERM. BUT THE REGULATORY, THE ACTUAL INSPECTION SIDE, UH, IS LYING WITHIN RER. SO NOW YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT SIDE OF IT GETTING ALL STREAMLINED WITH OUR INTERNAL, UH, PROCESSES. UH, WHICH AGAIN, ARIANNA, HER TEAM HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH THAT. SO WE HOPE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, WITH THIS PROGRAM, LITTLE BY LITTLE START THAT INTEGRATION, UM, WITH THE, THESE MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY. WELL THAT'S A VERY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S SOUNDS EASY, BUT IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE, THE, THE OLD MAINFRAMES AND THE OLD SYSTEMS THAT EXIST, IF I MAY, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT PROCESS ON SERVICES DELIVERED TO ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT WE HAVE TO SERVICE. YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME NUANCE TO THAT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THE OPTIMIZATIONS THAT YOU SPEAK OF CAN BE ALSO ACHIEVED THROUGH SIMPLE BUSINESS PROCESS CHANGES OR MAYBE EVEN APPROACHING THE PROCESS IN BETTER TIMING. UM, WE ALREADY HAVE AN ONLINE SYSTEM, UM, AT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR BUILDING PERMITTING. IT'S ACTUALLY A SYSTEM THAT I CREATED. UM, IT'S, IT'S AVAILABLE TO BE EXPANDED AS NECESSARY AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AS NEEDED. AND SO PERHAPS IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING MORE ACHIEVABLE THROUGH A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT, UM, WE CAN HAVE YOUR STAFF OR YOUR EXPERTS SHEPHERD THE PROCESS OVER TO US IN A SPECIFIC WAY. UM, AS OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE ALREADY EMBARKED ON DOING, I BELIEVE THAT, UM, CITY OF MIAMI IS CURRENTLY SHEPHERDING ALL OF THEIR, UH, PERMITS OVER TO US THROUGH THEIR STAFF AND THEY'VE ACHIEVED GREAT, GREAT GAINS WITH THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS AND THEN RECEIVE ALL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS AND THEN HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THE STAMPED APPROVED PLANS, UM, THEMSELVES THAT CAN BE THEN SEAMLESSLY INCORPORATED INTO YOUR PLAN SET AS WELL. OKAY. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT. PERFECT. MM-HMM . PERFECT. WELL, WE IMPLEMENTED ALREADY THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE. UM, IF YOU JUST CODIFY IF YOU WANT TO CODIFY IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS? I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. MR. CLARK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. ALRIGHT. FIRST SPEAKER. MARIA CRUZ. MM-HMM . THANK YOU MAYOR. I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. I'M FASCINATED BY THE WAY WE DO THINGS HERE. LAST MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO, DR. RAMIREZ, WHO I BELIEVE IS THE ACTING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR, CAME HERE PRESENTING, PRESENTED THE IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. TWO WEEKS AGO, I GUESS NOBODY TALKED TO HIM BECAUSE TWO WEEKS NOW WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. WELL, WE CRITICIZED ALL THE PEOPLE FOR NOT TALKING. I GUESS HE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GONNA PRESENT THIS TODAY BECAUSE HAD HE KNOWN HE WOULD'VE INCLUDED TO HIS IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT IT NOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING WHAT SOME OF YOU ARE VERY GOOD AT SMOKE AND MIRRORS. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, YOU KNOW. DID YOU TALK TO THIS ONE? DID YOU TALK TO THAT ONE? DID YOU TALK TO THE POLICE CHIEF? DID YOU TALK TO THE FIRE CHIEF? DID YOU TALK TO A ANY, WELL, DID ANYBODY TALK TO DR. RAMIREZ BEFORE YOU BROUGHT THIS UP? OH, NO, BECAUSE HAVE YOU TALKED TO HIM? IT WOULD'VE BEEN ON HIS PLAN. HELLO? DON'T USE DOUBLE [04:20:01] TALK HERE. THIS IS 9 19 60, 84, 64, WHATEVER THE NAME OF THE BOOK WAS. JACKSON HOLMES GREETINGS. UH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. UH, JACKSON HOLMES 35 EDIA. UM, I, UM, GENERALLY SUPPORT MANNY SID, I SUPPORTED HIM FOR MAYOR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. SO I HOPE Y'ALL WILL GIVE HIM, UH, THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AS YOU CONSIDER THIS. UM, I DID UNFORTUNATELY MISS THE ITEM THAT CAME UP H TWO EARLIER. 'CAUSE USUALLY THE CITY MANAGER ITEMS ARE AT THE END. BUT THIS CAME UP MIDWAY. UH, I JUST WANT TO SAY AMEN, UH, AND BRAVO FOR GETTING THIS MOVING FORWARD. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MOBILITY HUB. MY CONCERN IS, AND I'LL, I'LL QUIT HERE. I'M NOT TRYING TO CHANGE THINGS. UM, UH, MY CONCERN IS LET'S NOT LET A RECESSION OVERTAKE THIS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE GLAD TO DERAIL THE MOBILITY HUB WITH THE EXCUSE OF A RECESSION. SO LET'S SEE IF WE CAN BREAK GROUND. UM, AND, UH, BEFORE ANY RECESSION HITS US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CLARK. THAT'S HIM, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, MR. RAMIREZ, WOULD YOU MIND COMING UP HERE, SIR, FOR A SECOND? THROUGH THE MANAGER, JUST TO CLEAR THE RECORD AS ALWAYS. UM, WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THIS DOUG RAMIREZ ACTING DEVELOPMENT SERVICE DIRECTOR? UM, I HEARD ABOUT IT THURSDAY EVENING OR FRIDAY MORNING WHEN MR. MANAGER ILES HAS CALLED ME. YEAH, THE REASON WHY, BECAUSE I MET WITH MANNY SID, I MET WITH MAYOR SID, I THINK IT WAS ON FRIDAY OR TH OR, OR THURSDAY. THAT'S WHEN I MET WITH HIM. SO, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A COUNTY PROGRAM THAT'S BEING OFFERED, THAT'S BEING OFFERED. IT'S COMPLIMENTARY TO WHAT WE'RE DOING TO THE PLAN. AND THE WHOLE PURPOSE IS TO STREAMLINE OUR CONVERSATIONS, UH, WITH, UH, WITH MIAMI COUNTY. DO YOU OBJECT TO THIS, SIR, IN ANY FORM OR ANY WAY? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I WOULD'VE BROUGHT THIS TO YOU EARLIER, BUT MANNY, I'M GONNA THROW YOU UNDER THE BUS. MANNY ONLY BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION, UH, LAST WEEK, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA. AND BY THE WAY, I WANNA BRING GOOD IDEAS FORWARD TO HELP SAVE AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK MAYOR SID FOR, FOR OFFERING THAT INFORMATION, UH, TO MY OFFICE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH RER AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT. AND I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND JUST STREAM, STREAMLINE THE PROCESS EVEN MORE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH MY FRIEND. APPRECIATE YOU MR. CLERK. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LUNCH BREAK. I WANT TO THANK, UH, MAYOR SID AND HIS AMAZING STAFF. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK, UH, WITH YOUR ENDEAVORS. YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE A LOT OF, YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK BEFORE YOU. UM, AND I WANT YOU TO PLEASE CONTINUE WORKING AS YOU WERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR GRACIOUSLY, UH, SENDING US THE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO THIS, UH, COUNTY PROJECT. ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I SEND MY BEST WISHES, UH, TO MAYOR KAVA, UH, FOR ALLOWING THIS, FOR THIS PROGRAM TO HAPPEN. AND I HOPE THAT IT HELPS US STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND ALSO KEEP TABS PLEASE, UH, MAYOR SID, KEEP TABS WITH THE MANAGER BECAUSE WE'RE REVAMPING OUR ENTIRE PERMITTING SYSTEM ON MULTI DIFFERENT LEVELS. AND ANY GUIDANCE OR ANY ADVICE SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SENT ME THIS PAST WEEK IS ALWAYS, UH, WARMLY AND GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU, SIR. WE'LL BE BACK IN ABOUT, UM, TWO 30. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, [F.-6. Discussion regarding a bicycle rental program. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)] MAYOR, WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR ITEM NEXT. PARDON? WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR ITEM NEXT. F SIX. YES MA'AM. THEN, UM, SPEAKING WITH STAFF FOR SOME TIME ABOUT, WE'RE GONNA GET A, HOLD ON, WE'RE NOT ON RECORD YET. WE GOTTA WAIT FOR THE MANAGER. . NO PROBLEM. A GOOD, YES. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. WE'RE GOOD TO GO. ALRIGHT, LET'S GET STARTED. ITEM F SIX. F SIX. YES MA'AM. F SIX. I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH TO STAFF, UH, FOR SOME TIME ABOUT A BICYCLE RENTAL PROGRAM AND THERE IS A NEED FOR IT. UM, THE, THE, WE'VE BEEN MOSTLY TALKING ABOUT A DOCKED TYPE PROGRAM AND I WANTED STAFF, UH, TO NOT ONLY HEAR MY COMMENTS, BUT TO BE ABLE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS, NOT NECESSARILY NOW, BUT ALSO IN THE FUTURE. SO I'M GONNA SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE, THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD. [04:25:01] AND I WANTED, UH, THIS ALL STARTED TO GO BEFORE THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD, UH, FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENT AS TO WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE RENTALS. IT BECAME PATENTLY OBVIOUS TO ME THAT WE CONSTANTLY HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BORROW BIKES TO GO ON BIKE, WALK, CORAL GABLES RIDES. UM, SO ONE LOCATION I THOUGHT OF IS AT ACROSS FROM THE MUSEUM. UH, WE HAVE A CITY FACILITY THERE WITH THE PARKING GARAGE. WE COULD PROBABLY, AND I'M JUST SAYING PROBABLY 'CAUSE IT'S UP TO STAFF TO TRY TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, HAVE A BICYCLE RENTAL PROGRAM THERE. THERE'S OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY WHERE RENTAL BIKES COULD BE HELPFUL, PERHAPS AT THE COUNTRY CLUB, PERHAPS AT THE VENETIAN POOL, MAYBE OVER AT THE PLAZA. UM, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION AS TO WHERE THERE'S SOME NEED, MAYBE D**E PARK, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE A LOT OF MAYBES IN MY MIND, BUT I WANT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION. I WANT THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS. AND I ALSO WANT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF MY COLLEAGUES WHERE YOU SEE A NEED. WHERE DO YOU SEE A NEED? YOU KNOW, AND WE WANT 'EM DOCKED BECAUSE MY PERSONAL OPINION IS WHAT WE WANT 'EM DOCKED, UH, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT 'EM LAYING ALL OVER THE SIDEWALKS AND BLOCKING, UH, PEOPLE. THIS IS, THIS IS A USEFUL THING FOR OUR CITY. I THINK PEOPLE WOULD ENJOY OUR, OUR CITY MORE. AND YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO OWN A BICYCLE AND STORE A BICYCLE IF YOU CAN RUN A BICYCLE. SO THAT'S LONG AND SHORT OF THAT ONE. I THINK I TOOK THREE MINUTES TO THE MAYOR. YES. SO I THINK THE, I I THINK THIS IS A PHENOMENAL IDEA. SO YOUR CONCEPT IS NOT LIKE THE, THE SCOOTERS THAT PEOPLE JUST PICK UP AND LEAVE. THIS WOULD BE A PICKUP AT A LOCATION AND RETURN TO THAT LOCATION. I THINK THAT'S GREAT. THE OTHER LO THE OTHER LOCATION THAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS MAYBE AT THE KERAK TENNIS CENTER. UH, FOR FOLKS WHO COME TO THE BILTMORE, YOU SEE THEM WALKING A LOT AND TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET TO DOWNTOWN, UH, EVEN TO GET TO THE CHURCH. SOMETIMES I'VE GIVEN LADIES A RIDE BACK FROM THE CHURCH TO THE BILTMORE AFTER MASS, UM, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN HOT AND THEY'VE PREFERRED JUST TO, TO GET A RIDE. UH, BUT MAYBE IF THERE WAS A BICYCLE THAT THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION. SO THERE IS BICYCLES THERE, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I ASKED STAFF TO TALK TO THE BILTMORE. PERHAPS WE CAN HAVE A COHESIVE PROGRAM AND WE HAVE OUR EXPERTS IN FRONT OF US. DO YOU WANNA, DO YOU WANNA ADD SOMETHING MAYBE TO HELP GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE IN THE MEANTIME? SURE. I'LL ACTUALLY LET MONICA START. UM, AND THEN I, I'LL CHIME IN. WHERE, MONICA? GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS, MY BOSS. UM, SO WE'VE DONE A LITTLE DIGGING INTO THIS. UM, MY PREVIOUS LIFE WE HAD A CONTRACT WITH, UH, DECO BIKE, AND THE SPONSOR WAS CITI BANK. MM-HMM . SO REACHED OUT TO THEM BECAUSE ACTUALLY BETWEEN MIAMI BEACH AND MIAMI, THEY'VE HAD 22 MILLION BIKE RIDES. AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IF ANY OF THOSE RIDES CAME HERE, IT WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THE CITY. RIGHT. AND ACTUALLY, THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT RIDE EVEN FROM MIAMI BEACH AND DEFINITELY FROM MIAMI. SO THE IDEAL WOULD BE TO HAVE A DOCKED SYSTEM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BEGINNING AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN END. YEAH. AND WHAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER WOULD BE TO GET A SPONSOR SO THERE'S NO COST TO THE CITY. AND WE COULD NEGOTIATE A BENEFICIAL, UH, ANNUAL PROGRAM OR SOMETHING FOR RESIDENTS. SO I'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS THAT THEY DON'T KEEP BIKES BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA HAVE 'EM IN THEIR LIVING ROOM OR BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN STOLEN OR BECAUSE THEY JUST WANNA HAVE ACCESS WHEN THEY WANNA HAVE ACCESS OR BECAUSE WE HAVE WONDERFUL EVENTS IN THE CITY THAT MAYBE THEY WANT TO RIDE THEIR, GO TO THE FARMER'S MARKET, RIGHT. TAKE A STROLL, WHATEVER, AND THEN RIDE BACK HOME. SO I REACHED OUT TO DECO BIKE AND I SAID, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR US TO GET A SPONSORSHIP WITH CITI? WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH MY BOSS. AND, UM, HE SAID, LET ME REACH OUT TO THEM. SO HE DID. AND THEY SAID IF WE COULD PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL WITH PROPOSED LOCATIONS AND DOCKING STATIONS AND NUMBER OF BIKES THAT WE WOULD LIKE, THEY WOULD EVALUATE IT FOR A SPONSORSHIP AND THAT WOULD BE IDEAL. SO WHAT I DID WAS, AGAIN, AT THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY MANAGER AND DCM REACHED OUT TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SO THAT WE COULD LINK IT TO BUSINESS PARKS OR RECREATION SO THAT WE COULD LINK IT TO EVENTS. RIGHT. UM, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PLANNING, UH, DEPARTMENTS THAT, THAT COULD ASSIST US IN DETERMINING WHAT ARE THE LOCATIONS SO THE CITY WILL BUY INTO OUR PROGRAM. SO, UM, I DID [04:30:01] SPEAK TO BELKA AND WE THOUGHT MAYBE AT THE LARGE, UH, COMPLEXES, UH, APARTMENT OR CONDOMINIUMS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE USED. AND AGAIN, YOU CAN TAILOR THIS TO HOWEVER MANY BIKES YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NEED. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. THE, UH, BY SPEAKING TO DECO BIKE, BY THE WAY, THEY'RE MIAMI BASED BUSINESS. THEY, THEY WORK IN ABOUT FIVE CITIES IN SOUTH MIAMI OR IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND, UH, KNOW THEY SAID THEY HAVE LOGGED MORE THAN 23 MILLION RIDES, TRAVELED MORE THAN 60 MILLION MILES, UH, BURNED MORE THAN 2.1 BILLION CALORIES AND RESULTED IN A CARBON EMISSION REDUCTION OF 54 MILLION POUNDS. SO IT WOULD BE SOMETHING GOOD TO BE HERE. BUT THE SUCCESS IS GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW WE DESIGN THIS. I ALSO ASKED THEM, THERE WOULD BE NO ELECTRIC BIKES, BUT THERE WOULD BE PEDAL, REGULAR PEDAL MM-HMM . AND WE COULD ALSO ASK FOR SOME PEDAL, UH, ASSISTED, WHICH IS A LOWER VELOCITY, BUT YOU COULD STILL ENJOY THAT IF YOU WANTED A COMBINATION. AND SO, YEAH, IT LOOKS GOOD. WE'RE WORKING ON IT. I'LL ALSO ADD, UH, VICE MAYOR THAT I'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI TO SEE IF THEY'D BE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING THIS AS WELL. SO, SO NO, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR HALLMARK ON IT AND, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND MANY OTH SOME OTHER PEOPLE KNOW THAT I DO, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF BIKING . SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN UP ON MIAMI BEACH, I'VE SEEN HOW WELL USED THEY WERE. I'VE ALSO BEEN, UH, IN SOUTH DADE, YOU KNOW, A 20 MILE RIDE IS KIND OF LIKE MY MINIMUM . UM, SO I, I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE. YEP. AND THE REASON WHY I MENTIONED 20 MILE RIDE, IT'S, IT'S NOT UNFORESEEN THAT PEOPLE WILL TAKE A BIKE FROM HERE AND GO TO THE BEACH. CORRECT. OR GO TO SOUTH MIAMI OR COCONUT GROVE OR PINECREST OR PALMETTO BAY OR CUTLER BAY. YEAH. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ENJOYABLE. THE, THE GOOD THING ABOUT A GET WIND, THE CITY PROGRAM, UM, UH, SPONSORSHIP IS THE INTEROPERABILITY, RIGHT? SO THAT YOU COULD START A RIDE HERE, DOCK IN MIAMI, MIAMI BEACH, SURFSIDE, OR WHEREVER YOU'RE GOING. AND SO THAT INTEROPERABILITY WOULD BE FANTASTIC FOR US. UM, I MUST SAY THAT THE UNDERLYING DOES HAVE A PROGRAM ALSO THROUGH DECO, BUT A DIFFERENT SPONSOR AND IT'S A BRAZILIAN BANK. UM, AND IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE LIMITED. SO I THINK THAT IF WE COMBINE THIS ALSO AS A FIRST MILE, LAST MILE, SO THAT IT WOULD FOLLOW WITH THE, WITH THE TROLLEY AND AT THE MANY LOCATIONS, THAT WE COULD HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM HERE. UH, NOT ONLY AS A BIKE PROGRAM, BUT ALSO AS A SERVICE TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. I DO HAVE A QUESTION. YES. CAN WE ALSO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE, UH, DOCKING OVER AT SOME OF THE RAIL STATIONS? BECAUSE THE TROLLEY'S GREAT AND IT CARRIES A MILLION PASSENGERS. I UNDERSTAND, BUT IT DOESN'T GO EVERYWHERE. YEAH. SO PERHAPS PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, GO FROM THE COUNTRY CLUB OR BILTMORE TO DOUGLAS STATION OR TO UNIVERSITY STATION, LEAVE THE BIKE THERE AND THEN GO ELSEWHERE. AND WE COULD PUT IT IN THE PROXIMITY. 'CAUSE WE'RE THAT, THAT'S ALL OUR AREA AS WELL. SO WE COULD PUT IT IN THE PROXIMITY TO WHERE YOU CAN WALK WITHIN HALF A BLOCK OR SOMETHING AND YOU'RE AT THE METRO STATION. AND I, AND I'LL ADD, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT USE THE TROLLEY THAT USE THEIR BIKE AND THEN USE THE BIKE RACKS IN THE FRONT OF THE TROLLEY. SO THIS WILL JUST PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL, UM, VENUE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO, TO GET TO THE TROLLEY STOP AND REALLY ACT AS THAT FIRST AND LAST MILE OF OUR MAIN TRANSIT SYSTEM. SO I THINK IT'D BE VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL AND COMPLIMENTARY OF OUR EXISTING, UH, TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS WITHIN THE CITY. SO COLLEAGUES, THIS IS SOMETHING ELSE WE CAN COLLABORATE ON. WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ALL OUR COMMENTS TODAY. YOU CAN REACH OUT TO STAFF AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL IDEAS AND, UM, YOU LET US KNOW WHEN YOU CAN BRING IT BACK SOONER OR BETTER THAN LATER. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF, IF, IF WE GET IDEAS AS TO THE LOCATIONS SO THAT WE COULD PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL FOR CITI THAT HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BUY. IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. I'VE SPOKEN AS WELL TO DECO ABOUT ALTERNATIVES SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME TYPE OF SPONSORSHIP OR SOMETHING SO THAT IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE TO US AND IT'S AFFORDABLE, ESPECIALLY FOR RESIDENTS THAT WOULD LIKE A PROGRAM, A LONG-TERM PROGRAM, UH, FOR THEIR USE. AND I'LL BE PRESENTING AT THE, UH, SORRY, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, I'LL BE PRESENTING AT THE, UH, TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD NEXT MONTH, UH, GIVING AN OVERALL UPDATE ON, UH, OUR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. SO I'LL BRING THAT UP AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD COMMISSIONER. WE DID PRESENT IT, SORRY, TO, TO THE PARKING ADVISORY BOARD AND THEY WERE MOST INTERESTED. OKAY, COMMISSIONER. [04:35:02] SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT IT. BUT WHILE WE'RE HERE, DOES ANYBODY ON THE DIOCESE HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT FURTHER SOUTH? LIKE SAY DOWN ON OLD CUTLER, IF THERE'S A PLACE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR IT TO BE ORIGINATING? LIKE ANY CITY PROPERTY OR OTHER IDEA? MATH, I DON'T KNOW, LIKE MAYBE BE FAIRCHILD, RIGHT? FAIRCHILD? BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT'S MATHESON. YEAH. MATHESON. RIGHT. BECAUSE THAT IS SUCH A WELL TRAVELED AREA FOR BIKES IN PARTICULAR. YEAH. AND, UM, AND WE CAN GET THEM MAYBE TO SAY OUR RESIDENTS THAT LIVE DOWN THERE. I'LL TAKE THE BIKE INTO DOWNTOWN. YEAH. YOU KNOW, WITH THAT DOCKING SYSTEM ANYWAY, SOUTH. OKAY. UH, THEN MIND I SAY YOU'RE HAPPY, EVERYTHING FINE WITH THIS? UM, NO, I'M HAPPY WITH IT AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN IS UPDATED AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDING THE BEST ROUTES ON, ON THAT NOTE, WE'LL, UH, COULD PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THAT. WE ARE, ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH MELISSA AND, AND THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM AND UPDATING, UH, WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT TO UPDATE BOTH THE PARKING MASTER PLAN, TROLLEY MASTER PLAN, AND THE BIKE AND PED MASTER PLAN IN UNISON SINCE THEY ALL, UH, COLLABORATE, UH, AND WITH ONE ANOTHER. SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND HAVE BEEN HAVING MEETINGS WITH THE CONSULTANT THAT WE HAVE ON BOARD. OKAY. THE MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. UH, THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, THE REASON WE, WE, WE WERE TALKING TO DECO IS BECAUSE DECO'S IN MIAMI BEACH IN MIAMI AND THEN CORAL GABLE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF SYNERGIES THERE WHERE, WHERE A BIKE CAN BE, CAN BE LEFT OFF AT DIFFERENT DOCKING STATIONS. I THINK WHAT WE CAN DO IS, IS REACH OUT TO, TO DECO AND LOOK TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PLAN THEY SEE AS EFFECTIVE FOR CORAL GABLES. AND WE CAN GET BACK WITH THE, TO THE COMMISSION ON THAT AND SEE HOW EFFECTIVE THAT IS. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE, SO WE HAVE MIAMI BEACH, MIAMI AND CORAL GABLES AND WE HAVE OTHER CITIES. UH, FOR THE, FOR SOUTH COMMISSIONER LARA, IT WOULD BE, IT, IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC WITH HAVING THAT SAME, THAT SAME PROVIDER BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE THAT FIRST START AND END TO, TO THE, UH, TO THE BI TO THE, UH, BICYCLE ROUTE, UH, FROM, FROM MULTIPLE CITIES. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, MOVING ON TO ITEM F SEVEN, ALSO THE VICE MAYORS, UH, [F.-7. Discussion regarding a City compost station. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)] DIFFERENT TOPIC. COMPOST. YES. SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS ON FOR WHAT, ABOUT SIX MONTHS AT LEAST. YES. AND UH, WHEN WE DID THE UNVEILING OF THE XAVIER CORTA ART PIECE WITH THE GARDEN CLUB AT THE LIBRARY, WE MET WITH THE LIBRARY DIRECTORS, IDENTIFIED A LOCATION TO, TO PLACE A CENTRALIZED, UH, COMPOSTING COLLECTION FACILITY. AND WE'RE COMING FORWARD ON A NEXT STEP. SO I WANTED TO BRING YOU ALL UP TO DATE ON THAT AND HAVE, UH, MATT ANDERSON, WHO'S BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THIS ITEM, UH, PROVIDE US AN ADDITIONAL UPDATE AS TO WHEN FOR EARTH MONTH WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DEBUT THIS, THIS BEAUTY. SO YES, THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. UH, SO WE'VE BEEN REACHING OUT. WHAT WE DID WAS, MY TEAM AND I, WE MET WITH THE THREE COMPANIES THAT OPERATE IN THE REGION. UH, THE, AND GOT BASICALLY PRICING FROM THEM TO SEE AND PROPOSALS. AND WE HAVE RENEWABLE FURTHER EARTH AND COMPOST FOR LIFE. AND THEY ALL GAVE US A PROPOSAL. UM, THE TWO LOWER COSTS COMING IN, AROUND $6,000 A YEAR FOR 2 45 GALLON BINS TO BE PLACED AT THE CORAL GABLES LIBRARY. UH, ONE PROPOSER EVEN HAS A CONTAINER THAT WE CAN PUT IT IN, DESIGN IT IN A WAY THAT HAS EDUCATION ON THERE FOR THE RESIDENTS. AND WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IS TWICE A WEEK PICKUP, UH, IN THAT LOCATION. SO I'M CURRENTLY LOOKING AT, THEY JUST SENT ME OVER A TEMPLATE CONTRACT. SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT RIGHT NOW, REVIEWING THAT. I'M GONNA PUT THAT THROUGH LEGAL, THROUGH, UH, PROCUREMENT, UH, THROUGH RISK, UH, AND HAVE EVERYONE, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. SO WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING IS LAUNCHING SOME, I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT DATE YET DURING EARTH MONTH, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT AN EVENT, POTENTIALLY AN EARTH MONTH, BUT ALSO HAVING THEM DO THE INITIAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH OF THE PROGRAM AT THE LAST FARMER'S MARKET. ON MARCH 28TH, WE HAVE OUR SUSTAINABILITY VILLAGE. WE'RE GONNA HAVE UPWARDS OF 12 SUSTAINABILITY VENDORS OUT AT THE FARMER'S MARKET. AND WE ARE INVITING THE COMPANY TO COME OUT AND KIND OF HELP EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THIS IS COMING. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE, OBVIOUSLY AT THAT TIME, WE'LL DEFINITELY HAVE THE DATE OF WHEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT OFFICIAL LAUNCH OVER AT THE LIBRARY. IN ADDITION, UM, CHELSEA AND I ARE GONNA BE MEETING WITH THE LIBRARY, UM, JUST TO GO OVER FINAL DETAILS, UH, AND GET THAT ALL READY SO I CAN INVITE CHELSEA UP TO, SHE WANTS TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THAT. UH, YEAH. UM, SO WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONER RAQUEL GELATO, WHO FULLY SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM AS WELL. AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'VE BEEN IN VERY ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CORAL GABLES LIBRARY. IN FACT, I, I SPOKE WITH THE BRANCH MANAGER TODAY WHO, UM, HAD INVITED US TO MEET WITH HIM ON SITE, UH, TO FURTHER, UH, WORK OUT THE LOGISTICS OF THAT. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AND, UM, WE WOULD PROVIDE THOSE UPDATES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. AND AS FAR AS FUNDING GOES, UH, WE'VE IDENTIFIED FUNDING WITHIN OUR CITY, UH, SUSTAINABILITY FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO FUND IT. BUT [04:40:01] BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WANNA MAKE OUR PROGRAMS GO AS FAR AS WE CAN WITH EVERY CITY DOLLAR. UH, WE'VE APPLIED FOR TWO GRANTS, ONE FLORIDA BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION. WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THAT BEFORE IN GETTING OUR REVERSE VENDING MACHINE THAT WAS AT THE, UH, THE YOUTH CENTER. AND WE APPLIED FOR A $15,000 GRANT TO START THE COMPOSTING PROGRAM TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT FUNDING. WE'VE ALSO RECENTLY, YESTERDAY SUBMITTED A $5,000 GRANT TO KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COCA-COLA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD, UH, TAKE THAT AS WELL. SO INSTEAD OF USING CITY FUNDS, IF WE CAN THEN USE GRANT FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO START THE PROGRAM, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO DO. AND A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE STARTED IN THE CITY THROUGH KEEP, UH, CORAL GABLES BEAUTIFUL, WE'VE DONE AT NO COST TO THE CITY, JUST STAFF TIME. UH, WE TRY TO GET GRANTS TO BE ABLE TO, TO, TO PURSUE THESE PROGRAMS. SO IT HAS A MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE CITY BUDGET. THAT'S GREAT. SO I, I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT. AND WE'LL ALSO BE OUT THERE, UM, ON THE LAST FARMER'S MARKETS, UH, REFRESHING EVERYBODY. 'CAUSE I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF REQUESTS TO ON RECYCLING. YES. THAT WE HAVE, UM, BASICALLY SHOW AND TELL ON WHAT TO RECYCLE AND WHAT NOT TO RECYCLE. SO WE'LL COVER THAT TOPIC AS WELL. IT'S GONNA BE A, A LOT, LOT TO COVER THAT PARTICULAR THERE WILL. AND, AND JUST AS AN UPDATE, I KNOW, UH, JOE AND CAROLINA AND MYSELF, WE JUST TOURED THE NEW WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY UP IN PEMBROKE PINES THIS PAST WEEK. THEY HAD A GREAT EVENT. UH, SO WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE NEW TECHNOLOGY AND, AND THAT, SO WE'LL BE SHARING THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, UH, WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY BOARD. SO A LOT TO COME ON THAT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO ITEM F [F.-8. Discussion regarding Senate Bill 1422: Coral Reefs. (Mayor Lago)] EIGHT. YEAH, YOU GET ME AGAIN. UM, SO WE HAVE HERE F EIGHT ARE TWO BILLS THAT WERE INTRODUCED, UH, THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ASKED ME TO COVER. UH, SB 1422, WHICH BROUGHT WAS, WAS BROUGHT TO, UH, BY SENATOR ILANA GARCIA, I BELIEVE, AT THE BISCAY BAY COMMISSION WAS DISCUSSED AND, AND WAS LOOKING FOR SUPPORT. THIS BILL REALLY COVERS AND, AND, AND REALLY LOOKS INTO LOOKING AT THE BENEFITS OF CORAL REEFS IN OUR REGION, UH, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HEALTHY HEALTH, HEALTHY AND EFFECTIVE. MANAGED CORAL REEFS CAN HELP MITIGATE RISK FROM FLOOD CLIMATE CHANGE, NATURAL DISASTERS, PROTECTING COASTAL PROPERTIES. THEY ALSO PROVIDE FOR RISK REDUCTION AND HAVING A RESTORATION STRATEGY. IT TALKS ABOUT FEMA, HOW THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESPONDING TO NATURAL, NATURAL DISASTERS AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL HAZARD MITIGATION SUPPORT. AND REALLY LOOKING AT NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS AND CORAL REEFS AS A NATURE-BASED SOLUTION. AND IT REALLY DESIGNATES THE PROTECTION OF THE CORAL REEFS WITHIN THE FOUR COUNTY AREA. MARTIN, MIAMI, DAD AND MONROE AND PALM BEACH COUNTIES. AND ALSO GOES INTO DETAIL OF THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF WHAT THE CORAL REEFS PROVIDE TO OUR REGION. OVER $6 BILLION ANNUALLY, UH, FOR ALONG THE FLORIDA, UM, CORAL REEF REGION. AND ALSO MENTIONS THE, THAT 98% OF OUR CORAL REEFS HAVE BEEN LOST, UH, DUE TO THE VARIOUS SHOCKS AND STRETCHES WITHIN THE BILL. IT ALSO HAS FINES FOR THOSE THAT CAUSE DAMAGE TO CORAL REEFS, AND IT DOES IT PER SQUARE METER AND FINES COULD BE, UH, UP TO, UH, $375,000. SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A METRIC ON EACH ONE. SO REALLY LOOKING AT PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THE CORAL REEF SYSTEM, UH, WITHIN, YOU KNOW, WITHIN FLORIDA. SO, YOU KNOW, AND IT DOES ALIGN WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER POLICIES THAT WE ALL, YOU ALL AS, AS THE COMMISSION HAS TAKEN LEADERSHIPS ON WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROTECTION OF BISCAYNE BAY AND HOW VITAL THAT IS TO OUR CITY AND TO OUR, REALLY TO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TO OUR ECONOMY. I DON'T KNOW IF CHELSEA WANTED TO ADD. SO WE REALLY WANT TO, UH, CHELSEA GRINNELL, UH, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR. WE REALLY WANNA THANK SENATOR GARCIA FOR BRINGING THIS KIND OF BILL FORWARD THAT FALLS IN LINE WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY DONE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, SPECIFICALLY IN 2026. AS YOU ALL RECALL, LEGISLATIVE PRI PRIORITIES ARE POLICY PRIORITIES INCLUDES A SECTION THAT TALKS ABOUT PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, UM, WHICH INCLUDES BISCAYNE BAY. IF YOU ALL LIKE, I CAN REFINE THAT TO ALSO INCLUDE BISCAYNE BAY AND OUR CORAL REEF SLASH MARINE LIFE, WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN A CONVERSATION THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE SEVERAL, SEVERAL TIMES. UM, FURTHERMORE, UM, THE COMMISSION CAN DIRECT US TO WORK ON A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF, UM, OF THAT SENATE BILL. SO IT'S UP TO YOU ALL. UM, AND WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU WITH THAT. SO, SO THAT'S WHY I PUT THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU TO STAFF. THANK YOU BOTH OF YOU. UH, I WANTED TO GET, AGAIN, BUY-IN FROM MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE I PUT IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA, UM, AND MAKE SURE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS WERE FINE WITH. AGAIN, BENIGN ISSUE, SOMETHING SIMPLE. LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE WHEN WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION, LET'S BUILD DIALOGUE. LET'S BUILD ROBUST LEGISLATION, LET'S DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, HAVE CONVERSATIONS. UM, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, UH, TO BRING THIS FORWARD, UH, IF EVERYBODY'S IN FAVOR OF IT. I ALSO AGREE WITH YOU, CHELSEA, WE SHOULD, UM, WE SHOULD, UM, UH, REVAMP, UH, OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TO INCLUDE THIS. GREAT. YES, MA'AM. I, I WOULD AGREE. I FULLY SUPPORT THAT. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. ALRIGHT, GOOD. TO THE MERIT. CAN WE TAKE A VOTE ON ADDING IT TO THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES SINCE WE'RE ALREADY ON THE, UH, LET'S DO IT. I'M MOVE SESSION'S ALREADY MOVING THROUGH QUICKLY, SO I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. [04:45:01] ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL HAVE, UH, THE TEAM DRAFT, UH, LEGISLATION FOR OUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU. GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. THANKS. MOVING ON TO MR. CLERK. [F.-3. A Resolution of the City Commission affirming support for the preservation of the Miami-Dade Urban Development Boundary (“UDB”) as it currently exists to protect downstream water resources, including the Biscayne Aquifer, regional groundwater supplies, and connected coastal waters, as well as the Everglades wetlands, and agricultural lands; urging the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners to reject the proposed development outside the UDB; urging the Florida State Legislature to oppose any legislation that would weaken the UDB in the Miami-Dade County Charter; encouraging advancement of attainable and workforce housing within the UDB to address housing affordability without expanding development into environmentally sensitive lands; adding preservation of the UDB to the City’s legislative priorities; and further directing the City Clerk to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, the President of the Florida Senate, the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation, all other municipalities within Miami-Dade County, and the City’s lobbying team. (Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)] ONE LAST ITEM. CORRECT. ITEM F THREE. F THREE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. F THREE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE MIAMI-DADE URBAN DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARY AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS TO PROTECT DOWNSTREAM WATER RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE BIS, THE BISCAYNE AQUIFER, REGIONAL GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES AND CONNECTED COASTAL WATERS, AS WELL AS THE EVER GAZE WETLANDS AND AGRICULTURAL LANDS. URGING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO REJECT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE UDB, URGING THE FLORIDA STATE LEGISLATURE TO OPPOSE ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD WEAKEN THE UDB IN THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CHARTER, ENCOURAGING ADVANCEMENT OF ATTAINABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING WITHIN THE UDB TO ADDRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY WITHOUT EXPANDING DEVELOPMENT INTO ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS, ADDING PRESERVATION OF THE UDB TO THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, SPEAKER OF THE FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA SENATE, THE MIAMI AID STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, ALL OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE CITY'S LOBBYING TEAM. THANK YOU CITY ATTORNEY FOR READING THIS, UM, RESOLUTION IN INTO THE RECORD. THIS ONE SHOULD BE VERY FAST AND VERY SIMPLE. BASICALLY THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR WATER LINE. I I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS, THIS IS, WE'RE NOT ON THE WESTERN EDGE. HOWEVER, WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY ARE REGIONAL. UM, THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT ABOUT STOPPING PROGRESS. IT'S REALLY DEFINING THE PROGRESS RESPONSIBLY. UM, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PROTECT OUR WATER, OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND OUR TAXPAYERS, WHILE ENCOURAGING SMART GROWTH WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY EXISTS. THAT'S IT. OKAY. I'LL MOVE IT IF I MAY. I JUST WANNA ADD SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY. UH, MR. CLERK SECOND? YES, SIR. MOTION AND A SECOND FOR CON FOR, I APOLOGIZE. WHO SECONDED. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. UM, I'M PUTTING ON THE, UH, MR. CLERK. MR. COULD WE HAVE, UM, COULD WE HAVE, I HAVE AN ITEM THAT I WANNA PUT UP ON THE GRAPHIC. THERE'S A GRAPHIC THAT I HAVE FOR ITEM F THREE. OKAY. SO THIS IS, THIS IS WHY, AGAIN, I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR. I DO NOT SUPPORT MOVING THE UDB LINE. I HAVE FOUGHT TO NOT MOVE THE UDB LINE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. I WENT AND FOUGHT AGAINST THE HIGHWAY THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER LITIGATION. I WENT AND SPOKE AT THE COUNTY AGAINST THAT. I'M VERY CLEAR THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE IN MOVING UDB LINE. I BELIEVE IN VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT, NOT HORIZONTAL DEVELOPMENT. WHEN YOU DO HORIZONTAL DEVELOPMENT, YOU HAVE TO SPEND MORE IN REGARDS TO INFRASTRUCTURE ON ALL FRONTS, POLICE, FIRE, DRAINAGE, WATER, EVERYTHING. BUT I BELIEVE AS A CITY, WE SHOULD NOT, WE SHOULD NOT GET OURSELVES INVOLVED IN THIS. BEFORE COMMISSIONER CASTRO GOT THIS RESOLUTION, THIS WAS SENT TO ME BY MAYOR KAVA. I TOLD HER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT I WILL NOT BE EMBARKING IN THIS BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS A COUNTY ISSUE. LEMME EXPLAIN TO YOU TWO VERY SIMPLE POINTS. VERY SIMPLE POINTS. OKAY. NUMBER ONE, IN 2017, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ENGINEERS AND THE COUNTY WERE GONNA TRANSFORM THIS 250 PLUS ACRE SITE INTO A NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT ON THE SAME SITE. IT WAS BLOCKED BY A LAWSUIT, BUT THE INTENTION OF THE COUNTY AT THAT POINT WAS TO DEVELOP THAT SITE. IF YOU LOOK AROUND THAT SITE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S ALREADY TRUCK PARKING ON THAT, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE UDB LINE. THERE'S ALREADY EXTENSIVE WAREHOUSES THAT ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE WHERE THE 8 36 IS. AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ARE GOING UP IN THAT AREA. OKAY? THE UDB LINE IS NOT OUR FIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD STEER CLEAR. WHAT'S THE SECOND AND FINAL POINT? AND THEN WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON US. ANY FURTHER COMMENT IS THAT, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO US WITH THE RTZ, WITH THE RTC, WE INVOKED, THEY, THEY INVOKED IT ON, ON, ON, ON, UH, ON THE CITY. AND WE HAD TO COME AND BASICALLY PUT TOGETHER OUR OWN RTZ OVERLAY TO MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE IN MY BELIEF THAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED TO THE CITY IN REGARDS TO IMPACT FEES, USAGE, SIGNAGE, SETBACKS, HEIGHTS. I THINK THIS IS A COUNTY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TWO VERY COMPETENT, UH, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER RETO AND CO AND COMMISSIONER ORBIS, THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. IT IS CURRENTLY GOING BACK AND FORTH, AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE FINAL, WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE FINAL END OF WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE PROPOSED. IT WENT BEFORE THE, IT WENT BEFORE THE COMMISSION, WHICH IT ALREADY HAS CO COMMISSION APPROVAL. THE MAYOR VETOED IT, AND IT WAS GOING BACK BEFORE THE COUNTY, AND THEY WERE NEGOTIATING ALSO FINAL TERMS. SO TO ME, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO STAY IN OUR LANE ON THIS ISSUE. I DO NOT BELIEVE IN MOVING UDB LINE, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AT THIS CURRENT MOMENT, A VOTE ON THIS ISSUE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE BATTLE WE WENT THROUGH IN REGARDS TO THE RTZ THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. YOU KNOW, NORMALLY I, I I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT ON, ON BOARD WITH NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR AREA. UM, I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL AFFECT US THOUGH, UM, INDIRECTLY, [04:50:01] ANY INFRINGEMENT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE TOWARDS THE EVERGLADES ARE GONNA HAVE AN IMPACT, UH, ON OUR, UM, WEATHER HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA ON OUR ACCESSIBILITY TO WATER. UM, IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. UM, I WORKED FOR MANY YEARS ON TRYING TO STOP THE ENCROACHMENT INTO THE EVERGLADES AND TRY TO RESTORE, UH, THE EVERGLADES TO WHAT IT WAS. ANY MOVEMENT OF THAT UDB LINE FURTHER WEST WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT, UM, WHAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND OUR, UH, ACCESS TO, TO WATER. UM, FOR MANY YEARS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO RESTORE THE NATURAL WATER FLOW. WE RAISED THE, UM, TAMIAMI TRAIL IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR PART OF IT. UM, IT'S A PROJECT THAT JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING TO CONTINUE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROJECT. UH, BUT THAT WA NATURAL WATER FLOW WAS SUPPOSED TO COME FROM THE NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA AREA ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO FLORIDA BAY. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THERE. SO I, I DO THINK THAT LONG TERM FOR THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT COULD AFFECT US. UM, SO I, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A STAND IN THIS ISSUE JUST IN, IN, IN SUPPORT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT, THAT WILL, UH, SEE THE IMPACTS OF ANY ENCROACHMENT INTO, INTO THAT, THAT AREA. COMMISSIONER LADA? NO, I'M READY TO VOTE. HUH? I'M READY TO VOTE. OKAY. I'M JUST GONNA ADD A FEW ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. AS THE UDB LINE CONTINUED TO GO WEST, OR TRAFFIC INCREASE, AND THE MORE ASPHALT WE PUT OVER, UM, AREAS WHERE WE CAN HAVE NATURAL PERCOLATION AND RECHARGE OF THE BIS CANINE AQUIFER, THE LESS FRESH WATER WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, RECHARGING THE BIS CANINE AQUIFER. THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. THEY THINK THAT THE FLUORIDE A AQUIFER IS ALSO A WATER SUPPLY, BUT IT'S REALLY BRACKISH. IT'S BELOW THE BIS CANE AQUIFER. WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE IT. UM, SO I DO FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THIS ITEM. I, UH, THERE WAS A PREVIOUS ATTEMPT TO EXPAND THE UDB IN ANOTHER DIRECTION ON VERY LOW LYING PIECES OF PROPERTY. I DID EXPRESS MY OPINION TO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. UH, THE VOTE WAS CHANGED AFTER THAT. UH, IT MIGHT'VE BEEN MY VOICE, IT MIGHT'VE BEEN SOMEBODY ELSE'S VOICE. BUT I THINK COLLECTIVELY, WE, WE NEED TO LET, UH, THE COUNTY COMMISSION KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONCERNED. UM, I'D RATHER DO SEE INFILL. WE HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTY THAT IS NOT DEVELOPED TO ITS OPTIMUM WITHIN OUR CI WITHIN, NOT, YOU KNOW, WITHIN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE IMPACTING THE RECHARGE OF THE BI CAN AQUIFER. SO THAT'S WHY I, I MOVED IN, UM, COMMISSIONER CASTRO'S ITEM AS I FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IT TO THE MAYOR. YES, I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. I, UM, I ALSO WANNA ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING RESIDENTS TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE OPINION PIECE THAT I POSTED IN COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER REGARDING THIS SUBJECT IN PARTICULAR. WE WEEKS BACK. SO THIS IS, THIS IS FAIRLY IMPORTANT TO ME. MR. CLARK, WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. YES. MR. MAYOR, I ALSO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. YES. MARIA CRUZ. OKAY. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. MADAM VICE [K. DISCUSSION ITEMS] MAYOR. ANYTHING GOOD FOR THE ORDER? THIS SATURDAY IS A COUPLE THINGS. WHEN WE HAVE THE FARMER'S MARKET, THERE'S SOME WONDERFUL VENDORS OUT THERE. I HOPE EVERYBODY ENJOYS IT. CRIME WATCH IS GONNA BE OUT THERE. THEY HAVE THESE REFLECTIVE BANDS YOU CAN GO PICK UP. UM, DID HAVE A NEIGHBOR WHO LIKES TO WALK OUT IN THE STREET, UNFORTUNATELY, GET HIT BY A VEHICLE. THESE THINGS LIGHT UP. UH, AVAIL YOURSELF OF THAT AS WELL. UH, THE DOLPHINS CANCER CHALLENGE RIDE IS ALSO THIS SATURDAY. UH, I WILL BE OUT THERE. I URGE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE RIDING, MAKE A DONATION. IT'S A GREAT CAUSE. AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT MEETING. SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YEAH, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT MEETING AS WELL. UM, BILLY, DID YOU GET TWO VIDEOS FROM MY, OH GOD, WE DID RECEIVE, YOU GOT ONE. WE RECEIVED ONE VIDEO. COMMISSIONER. OKAY, LET ME, OKAY, SO THE FIRST ONE IS ON, ON SATURDAY. WHEN I'M HEARING THERE'S THIS DOLPHIN THING. OH, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT OKAY. WE'LL PUT , WE'LL PUT THAT. THIS IS A DOG WALK. THIS IS A DOG WALK. IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. I THINK THERE WAS MORE THAN 70, UM, DOGS THAT [04:55:01] ATTENDED. AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF ALL THE BUSINESSES THAT WERE REALLY DISPLAYED ON MIRACLE MILE. THERE WAS SOME BUSINESSES THAT WITHOUT ME CONTACTING THEM AT ALL, THEY, THEY JUST CAME OUT AND STARTED GIVING TESTERS OF THE RESTAURANTS. LIKE IN THE FOOD COURT, WHEN YOU GO TO A MALL, UM, TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WALKING BY, I HAD A VERY, VERY LARGE, LARGE CROWD, WHICH I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH. IN FACT, BLISS WAS OUT THERE TOO, PUTTING WA PUTTING LITTLE BOWLS OF WATER FOR THE DOGS. I'M VERY THANKFUL TO THEM. NOT ONLY THAT, THEY GAVE PEOPLE LIKE, UH, LITTLE FANS BECAUSE IT WAS FAIRLY HOT. SO I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THEM. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS COORDINATED. BUT I DO ENCOURAGE OTHER BUSINESSES TO GO AHEAD. IF YOU WANNA GIVE TEST SO PEOPLE TASTE YOUR FOOD AND YOU CAN PROMOTE, THIS IS A VERY, UM, COMPLIMENTARY WAY TO, TO EXPOSE YOUR BUSINESS. UM, THE OTHER THING IS, I WANNA GO AHEAD AND REMIND EVERYONE THAT ON SATURDAY THERE IS ANOTHER, WELL, THERE'S A COM. THERE YOU GO. THERE'S A COMMUNITY RUN. SO IF YOU WANNA COME WITH ME AND RUN, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UM, LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS. IT'S A SATURDAY AT 10 IN THE MORNING IN FRONT OF THE PARK. COMMISSIONER LADO. YEAH, SO A COUPLE THINGS. JUST REMINDING EVERYBODY THAT WE HAVE THE UPCOMING, UH, CARNIVAL ON THE MILE MARCH SEVEN AND EIGHT, I DO BELIEVE, WHICH IS AN AMAZING EVENT. LOOK FORWARD TO THAT EACH YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE, UM, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GO RECENTLY, BUT I PLAN ON GOING TO THE, UH, UPCOMING GABLES GALLERY NIGHT. IT'S THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. THE WEATHER'S OUTSTANDING TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE. AND MAYBE IF YOU'RE LUCKY, PUT ON A SWEATER. AND THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO JUST, UH, REMIND, REMIND, REMINISCE, OR I GUESS COMMENT ON, IS HOW OUTSTANDING AND HOW ENCOURAGING AND UPLIFTING IT WAS. THE, UM, CELEBRATION THAT WE HAD, THE RECOGNITION OF THE MONTH OF RAMADAN HERE IN THE, UH, COURTYARD AT CITY HALL. IT WAS SO WELL ATTENDED. I THINK ALL IN ATTENDANCE WERE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED OF HOW ENTHUSIASTIC, UM, THE COMMUNITY WAS TO COME OUT TO THAT EVENT. I THOUGHT OUR MAYOR SPOKE BEAUTIFULLY. I THINK IT WAS WONDERFUL TO HAVE ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMISSION PRESENT FOR THAT EVENT. AND, UH, AND I DEFINITELY LEARNED QUITE A BIT ABOUT, UH, THAT PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY. AND, AND THAT'S REALLY KEEPING IN THE SPIRIT OF THE CITY'S ONGOING RECOGNITION OF THE OTHER MAJOR FAITHS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTMAS AND AS WELL AS HANUKKAH. SO, UH, KUDOS TO ALL, IN PARTICULAR THE CITY STAFF WHO DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB PUTTING TOGETHER A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION TOO. UM, SO I, I ECHO YOUR COMMENTS. I THINK THE RAMADAN EVENT WAS, UH, AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY BUILDING, UH, OPPORTUNITY. UH, AND OUR STAFF DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. UM, THE FOOD WAS, UH, I, I DIDN'T GET TO TRY IT. I HEARD IT WAS VERY GOOD. ME NEITHER . UM, BUT, UM, BUT I WASN'T FASTING. I WASN'T FASTING EITHER. UM, BUT IT WAS A, IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND, UM, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT MAYBE HAD, UH, SOME ANIMOSITY TOWARDS ACTIONS THAT, UH, WE HAD TAKEN IN THE PAST COME TOGETHER AND BE JOYFUL ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING THAT DAY. UH, AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND REALLY, UH, CELEBRATE WHAT RAMADAN IS ALL ABOUT, WHICH IS ABOUT BUILDING COMMUNITY. UM, QUESTION FOR THE MANAGER. NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. ARE WE AT THE NEW LOCATION OR ARE WE STILL HERE? BECAUSE I KNOW THE COMMISSION IS MOVING TOMORROW. THE, THE MARCH MEETING WILL BE, UH, AT THE CMR FROM NOW ON. IT'LL BE AT THE MEETINGS WILL BE AT THE CMR. OKAY. SO FOR RESIDENTS WHO ARE GONNA BE COMING IN, THE NEXT MEETING WILL BEGIN AT, UH, THE PUBLIC, UH, SAFETY BUILDING AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING ROOM. UH, AND THE COMMISSION, UH, WILL BE MOVING AS OF TOMORROW. SO IF YOU'RE GONNA BE MEETING WITH US, UH, CHECK WITH OUR STAFF JUST TO SEE WHERE WE WILL BE, UH, UH, DURING OUR NEXT MEETINGS. SO, THANK YOU. UH, MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE SOME PHOTOS THAT I WANTED TO SHOW LAST NIGHT? I DON'T. MAYBE MY STAFFING IS HANDS A SECOND. WELL, WE'LL WAIT FOR THOSE. SO, UM, I WELCOME EVERYONE TO TAMIR. YES. ARE THESE NO, NO, NOT THOSE, THOSE ARE JUST SOME THINGS. WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PUT THOSE ON. IT'D BE NICE TO SHOW THOSE. SO THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE FOUND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THIS WEEK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ON SATURDAY, UM, THAT I SENT OVER. AS YOU CAN TELL, THOSE ARE MY, MY, UH, TEXT MESSAGES WITH, UH, THE DCM. UH, THOSE ARE ON MILLER SPECIFICALLY. I'M GETTING A LOT OF CALLS FROM RESIDENTS ON MILLER ABOUT HOW CERTAIN HOMES, UH, JUST THE AMOUNT OF THINGS THAT ARE PUT OUTSIDE THE HOUSES AND, AND, AND THE ACTUAL, UM, THE LACK OF THE HOMES BEING PROPERLY MAINTAINED. UH, BUT THIS WEEKEND IT WASN'T ABOUT THE MAINTAIN THE, THE HOMES ON MILLER OR JUST THE APPEARANCE OF THESE HOMES. IT WAS ABOUT, UH, YOU HAD AN ABANDONED [05:00:01] BOAT. AND IF YOU CAN SEE THE DATE OF THE, THE DATE OF THE, UH, TEXT MESSAGES, THAT WAS ON SATURDAY. ON SATURDAY, I SENT THAT, UH, THAT BOAT TO, UM, THE DCM WITH THE ADDRESS. UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT WENT OUT THERE AND CODE ENFORCEMENT FIND THEM. UM, BUT THAT BOAT REMAINED TILL, I THINK IT WAS TILL TUESDAY, RIGHT? TILL TODAY, . YEAH, THEY'RE STILL THERE. UM, AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE ON THE FIR ON THE TOP LEFT, YOU'LL SEE, UH, A TABLE, UM, THAT WAS THERE. AND THERE WAS A BUNCH OF OTHER ITEMS THAT LATER PROPPED UP. BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE MORE PICTURES THAN BOTHER THE D CM OVER THE WEEKEND. UM, I BOTHER HIM ENOUGH WITH ALL THE STUFF THAT THE RESIDENTS SEND ME AND WE TRY TO RESOLVE. SO THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WAS USED IN THE LAST ELECTION AGAINST ME. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA BE VERY, VERY CLEAR OF, I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THIS WHEN THE RESIDENTS CALL ME. SO ADDRESS THEIR ISSUES. I WON'T STOP. UM, WE SAY WE'RE RESIDENTS FIRST. WE WORK 24 7, 7 DAYS A WEEK. AS OF DCM WILL TELL YOU, THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER OF OUR CITY. MR. MR. CLERK. THERE'S ALSO SOME, YES, I HAVE IT. YEAH, I'D LIKE TO PUT THOSE UP. SO, I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS. THIS IS A PRODUCT THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A FEW YEARS. THE PRODUCT IS FINALLY DONE. AND I KNOW WE DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD I, BUT I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SPENT ON THIS, THE INVESTMENT THAT WE MADE, THE FACT THAT STAFF DID A WONDERFUL JOB, AND THE FACT THAT THIS WAS A, THIS WAS REQUESTED BY THE COM, THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. I WORKED ON THIS WITH THE A CM, THE DCM, THE MANAGER, OUR STAFF FOR YEARS ON THIS PROJECT. AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE HARD WORK. AND THEN I'M ALSO HONORED THAT MY COLLEAGUES APPROVED BY NAMING OF THE PARK BE THE DAVID LAWRENCE JR. AND FAMILY PARK. I ASKED YOU TO COME OUT ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH. IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT. PARKING IS GONNA BE AN ISSUE. SO I ASKED PEOPLE JUST LIKE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PARK AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE AND WALK. OR MAYBE WE CAN THE SHUTTLE, THERE'S GONNA BE A SHUTTLE, BUT SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE SHUTTLE. LET'S BE, LET'S BE THOUGHTFUL AND COGNIZANT OF, OF THE COMMUNITY. YOU CAN MAYBE, YOU CAN MAYBE PARK ON, ON PONDS, ON PONDS NEXT TO THE UNDERLINE AND WALK. THERE'S GONNA BE SOME PARKING THERE, BUT I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF OVERFLOW. THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE. UH, DAVID IS BELOVED. SO I WANT PEOPLE TO GET THERE. MR. CLERK, ANYTHING ELSE I HAVE FROM YOU? YES. OKAY. THERE'S ONE MORE. IF CABLE TV COULD SHARE MY SCREEN. ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS FROM LAST NIGHT. UM, I SHOW YOU THIS PICTURE BECAUSE THESE PICTURES, BECAUSE WE ARE FAILING TO, TO TRULY SHINE A LIGHT ON WHAT HAPPENED 30, 30 YEARS AGO. TODAY, MY FATHER TOOK ME 30 YEARS AGO TO A MARCH AFTER THE FOUR BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE. PILOTS WERE SHOT DOWN BY RAUL CASTRO. UH, IT'S ALREADY PROVEN, IT'S A PROVEN FACT BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES THAT RAUL CASTRO GAVE THE ORDER TO KNOCK DOWN THESE FOUR AMERICANS, CUBAN AMERICANS WHO WERE, UH, IN AMERICAN WATERS, AND THEY WERE SHOT DOWN AND KILLED. UH, LAST NIGHT WAS AN AMAZING TURNOUT AT THE FIU MEMORIAL. UM, I WAS THERE WITH MY FATHER AND, UH, THE TAX COLLECTED THAT HE HAD FERNANDEZ. AND WE ALSO HAD REPRESENTATIVE RICK SCOTT'S, UH, REPRESENTATIVE THERE. THERE WAS MANY POLITICAL PRISONERS THERE, THERE WAS MANY ALS THAT WERE THERE. UH, MANY MEMBERS OF ABIO, UH, LITANY. IT WAS WELL REPRESENTED, THE COMMUNITY. THERE WAS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THERE LAST NIGHT. AND, UM, THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT NOT ONLY IN REMEMBRANCE AND IN A CANDLE LIT VIGIL, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE TOP, BUT IT ALSO CAME OUT IN REQUEST OF WHAT OUR CONGRESSMEN AND OUR SENATORS ARE DOING, ASKING FOR RAUL CASTRO TO BE INDICTED. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION SOMETHING THAT'S JUST IMPORTANT AS THE INDICTMENT AND ALSO REMEMBERING THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE LOST, IS I WANT TO GIVE THANKS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP AND TO OUR SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO. UH, THEY HAVE BEEN LEADING IN OUR HEMISPHERE LIKE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN LED BEFORE. UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ISSUES LIKE VENEZUELA, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ISSUES LIKE CUBA, YOU LOOK AT ISSUES LIKE VENEZUELA, CHILE, NICARAGUA, UM, AND I, I KNOW THAT I'M FORGETTING COUNTRIES, UH, ARGENTINA, WE'VE SEEN A REAL CHANGE IN OUR HEMISPHERE. WE'RE SEEING A, A CHANGE FOR DEMOCRACY, FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. AND IT HAS TAKEN REAL TOUGH LEADERSHIP. WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE'RE ALL FOR DEMOCRACY, AND WE'RE ALL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND WE'RE ALL FOR FREE SPEECH. AND WE HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. AND AS A PROBLEM MEMBER OF ST. AUGUSTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH, IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR TO SEE THE SECRETARY OF STATE THERE. UH, HE'S ONE OF US IN HIS COMMUNITY. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN OR INDEPENDENT, IT DOESN'T MATTER. HE'S ONE OF US. HE'S A GUY WHO CAME FROM WEST MIAMI AND IS TRYING TO DO THE BEST JOB HE POSSIBLY CAN TO ENSURE OUR WAY OF LIFE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS HEMISPHERE. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UH, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, UH, FOR HIS EFFORTS. AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE GET INVOLVED. 'CAUSE TODAY IS 30 YEARS SINCE THOSE FI THOSE PLANES WERE KNOCKED DOWN. SO IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ANYBODY. MM-HMM . UH, [05:05:01] ONE OF MY, ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBER, VERY CLOSE FRIENDS, UH, A LADY WAS ONE, WAS ONE OF THE, WAS ONE OF THE PILOTS FOR BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE. UH, THANK GOD THAT SHE WAS SPARED, SHE WAS NOT SHOT DOWN THAT DAY, BUT SHE DID MANY, MANY VISIONS, UM, UM, TRIPS IN SEARCH OF CUBANS THAT WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN, UH, SEARCHING FREEDOM IN HOPES OF FREEDOM. SO, UH, IT'S A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, UH, SITUATION THAT, UH, THOSE FAMILIES HAVE HAD TO LIVE THROUGH OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS. AND I HOPE THAT AN INDICTMENT OF ROW CASTRO WILL BRING SOME COMFORT AND PEACE. IT'LL NEVER, IT'LL NEVER TRULY MAKE THEM WHOLE, AND YOU CAN NEVER EXPECT THAT THE LOSS OF A, A SON. UM, BUT, UM, BUT HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY THIS MOMENT WILL BRING SOME PEACE AND TRANQUILITY TO THOSE FAMILY. SO GOD BLESS THEM. UM, MR. CLERK, ANYTHING ELSE THAT I HAVE THERE? ANYTHING ELSE? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. ALRIGHT, WELL, I'LL MEN, I'LL MENTION THESE FEW THINGS AND I WELCOME EVERYONE TO PLEASE JOIN ME. I'LL BE HAVING A TOWN HALL ON MARCH 9TH, AS I DO EVERY YEAR, TWICE A YEAR AT FIVE 30 IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING. THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS WILL BE THERE, ALINA GARCIA. SHE WILL PRESENT, SHE WILL PRESENT, UH, THE BALLOT PROCESS AND THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOTS. THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE REFERENDUMS OR ANYTHING THAT DEALS WITH THE CITY. IT'LL PROBABLY BE ABOUT A 30 MINUTE PRESENTATION IN BETWEEN THE CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR, UH, LENA GARCIA, WHO WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE HER. SHE'S ALSO DONE SOME VIDEOS ON BEHALF OF OUR OFFICE TO EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS TO COME OUT AND VOTE, UH, IN THE APRIL REFERENDUMS ELECTION. AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ON, ON ALL THE ISSUES THAT ARE PERTINENT TO THE CITY. UM, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS ALREADY MENTIONED IT, BUT I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT THIS IS OUR LAST COMMISSION MEETING HERE FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. UM, THERE WAS A CHALLENGE THAT WAS MADE TO TO, TO GET THIS BUILDING IN ORDER. IT'S A HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND WE'RE GONNA MEET THAT CHALLENGE. WE'RE GONNA DEAL WITH IT HEAD ON. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I NEVER LEFT THIS BUILDING. I NEVER LEFT THIS BUILDING. I NEVER LEFT MY OFFICE. I'VE HELD OFFICE HOURS EVERY FRIDAY. I MET WITH RESIDENTS. MY TEAM HAS BEEN HERE. WE NEVER LEFT THIS OFFICE. NO MATTER WHEN THE COMMENTS WERE MADE THAT THIS BUILDING WAS FALLING, THIS BUILDING WAS NEVER FALLING AS OUR DCM SO ELOQUENTLY STATED IN THE COMMISSION FLOOR. UH, WE'RE HERE AND NOW WE LEAVE TO BRING THIS OLD, BEAUTIFUL BUILDING BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL SPLENDOR, ITS ORIGINAL GLORY CHALLENGE MADE, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, AND WE WILL GET IT DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST TEAM TO DELIVER ON IT. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE MANAGER, THE DCM, THE A CM PUBLIC WORKS, ALL THE DIRECTORS, ALL OUR STAFF. THIS IS A LIFT THAT'S MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH YOUR HARD WORK. AND THIS IS A MONUMENTAL MOMENT IN OUR CITY, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. WE MAY NEVER BE BACK AGAIN. TRULY AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, IN REFERENCE TO, I MAY NEVER BE BACK HERE, BUT I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THIS AMAZING, AMAZING, UH, BUILDING. UM, BY THE WAY, I'LL BE MOVING MY OFFICE HOURS THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, AND THE NEW ADDRESS IS 2 34 MENORCA AVENUE. I WANT TO COMMEND THE MANAGER, THE DCM, THE A CM, THE ENTIRE TEAM. I MET WITH HIM, MUNDO, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE CITY ARCHITECTS, EVERYONE THAT HAD A HAND IN IT. UH, THE OFFICES LOOK INCREDIBLE. YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB. I THINK THE RESIDENTS ARE GONNA BE VERY HAPPY WITH THE NEW OFFICES. UH, SO I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, SEAMLESS TRANSITION. I'LL BE OUTTA MY OFFICE PROBABLY IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AND I'LL BE, UH, 2 34 FOR OFFICE HOURS ON FRIDAY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WELL, JOB SEAMLESS. NO ONE SKIPPED A BEAT. TWO LAST THINGS. I WANNA, UH, MENTION THAT TODAY'S STEPHANIE'S BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEPHANIE , UH, I DUNNO WHERE SHE'S AT. SHE'S AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE. UH, AN AMAZING CITY ATTORNEY THAT WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE HERE. TODAY'S HER BIRTHDAY, SO WISH HER HAPPY BIRTHDAY WHEN YOU SEE HER. AND IN CLOSING, UH, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF LENS. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT FOR US CATHOLICS. UM, IT'S A MOMENT FOR, YOU KNOW, REPENTANCE. IT'S A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS CATHOLICS, WHO WE ARE AS HUMANS, WHO WE ARE AS MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY. I WANNA WISH ALL OF, UH, MY CATHOLIC MEMBERS ALONG WITH MY RAMADAN MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY A BEAUTIFUL SEASON. UH, THIS IS A MOMENT TO ENJOY YOURSELVES, ENJOY YOURSELVES, UH, BASK AND UNDERSTAND, UH, WHY WE'RE HERE AND WHY WE'RE BLESSED, UH, TO LIVE IN THIS WONDERFUL COUNTRY AND TO LIVE IN THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY. AND, UH, THIS IS A MOMENT FOR COMMUNITY AND TO TRULY BE AMONGST THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SO, GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE HONOR TO SERVE YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT MEETING, NOT AT CITY HALL, BUT AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING. YES, MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR GOING OUT TO FIU AND SUPPORTING THE CITY IN THAT EVENT. AND, UM, I HAD THE, UM, HONOR TO REPRESENT, UH, ONE OF THE VICTIMS OF TERRORISM. AND I JUST WANNA REMIND PEOPLE THAT, UH, IT'S NOT JUST THOSE, THE PI, THE BRAVE PILOTS THAT GOT SHUT DOWN, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT, UH, RO CASTRO AND, UM, CASTRO REGIME HAD PLACED IN OUR MIDST, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT INFILTRATED, [05:10:01] UH, BROTHERS OF THE RESCUE, UH, MARRIED AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, UM, WHO DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY WERE DEALING WITH A, A CUBAN REGIME, UM, YOU KNOW, INFORMANT. AND THAT THAT PERSON IS BACK IN, IN CUBA AS A HERO. AND THAT, UH, CUBA IS, AND AS LONG AS THE CURRENT REGIME IS IN, IN PLACE, ALWAYS BE A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM RIGHT AT OUR DOORSTEP. SO THANK YOU. AND I'M HAPPY YOU MENTION THAT, THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER, YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT IT PRIVATELY, BUT YOU, ONE THING I WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CASE AND THE BATTLE THAT YOU WON IN THE COURTS, WHICH IS A LEGENDARY, A LEGENDARY BATTLE, NOT ONLY FOR CUBANS, BUT FOR FOR AMERICANS, FOR PEOPLE WHO, WHO LIVE AND FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, UH, FOR FREE CUBA, UH, TO ENSURE OUR WAY OF LIFE HERE, OUR CONSTITUTION. UH, SO THAT CASE THAT YOU WERE INVOLVED IN, UH, TWO IS ONE IS ONE, TWO WAS, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TWO FOR THE AGES. THEY'RE TWO FOR THE AGES. SO I WANT TO COMMEND YOU, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, BESIDES I, AND I'M HAPPY, SOMETHING CAME TO TO MIND AND I TOUCHED UPON IT BEFORE I GOT TO MEET, I GOT TO MEET SOME OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE INDIVIDUALS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN YESTERDAY, WHO, WHO, WHEN I'VE MET MANY OF THEM BEFORE, UM, I'VE HAD DR. BESET WHO WAS OVER 15 YEARS IN PRISON, UH, IN, IN, IN MY HOUSE, IN MY PARENTS' HOUSE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. HE'S STILL IN CUBA. UM, I'VE MET, YOU KNOW, I MET DANIEL FERRE YESTERDAY, WHICH I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM ON THE PHONE, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD THE PLEASURE AND HONOR OF MEETING HIM. UM, HE'S A GOOD FRIEND OF MY FATHER'S. MY FATHER'S BEEN SUPPORTING HIM FOR A LONG TIME. UH, YESTERDAY I GOT TO MEET A LOT OF THE MEMBERS OF LOS PLANT. IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT LOS PLANT, I'VE MET A FEW OF THEM. UH, BUT THESE ARE RESILIENT INDIVIDUALS. YOU KNOW, UH, PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK TO 'EM, THERE'S A SMILE ON THEIR FACE. AND SOME OF THEM WERE, UH, TORTURED, MISTREATED FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THEM, THEY TALK ABOUT THIS COUNTRY, ABOUT AMERICA. THEY TALK ABOUT FREEDOM, THEY TALK ABOUT THE LOVE. THEY HAVE A LOVE AFFAIR WITH WHAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS. AND I SAT THERE AND I LISTENED TO THEM, YOU KNOW, FOR A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE THE EVENT COMMENCED. AND, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE. LIKE REALLY PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE. UH, AND THE MANAGER AND MY FATHER AND MY FATHER CAME TO VISIT ON OFFICE HOURS ON FRIDAY. AND IT WAS JUST COINCIDED THAT YOU WERE THERE SPEAKING TO ME ABOUT AN ISSUE AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL FOR YOU. AND NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS, BUT FOR THE MANAGER TO TELL HIS FAMILY STORY ALONG WITH MY FATHER AND SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, MY GRANDFATHER WAS A POLITICAL PRISONER. ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN YOUR, UH, IN YOUR FAMILY'S LIFE IN REGARDS TO THEM BEING POLITICAL PRISONERS. AND IT, THAT STORY IS, THE STORY IS WHO WE ARE. AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S IN OUR MAKEUP, IT'S IN OUR BONES, AND IT'S IN OUR DNA AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT SO CLOSE, BUT AS AMERICANS, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THAT FREEDOM FOR MY GRANDPARENTS THAT ARE LONG GONE. YOU KNOW, I WANT MY PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING AS BEAUTIFUL AS THAT. SO, UM, AGAIN, IT'S A PRIVILEGE, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO, TO REPRESENT THE CITY. AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE PRIVILEGE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL, ALL OF YOU AT THE NEXT, AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING. THANK YOU. AND GOD BLESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.