* 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. [00:00:01] ALL RIGHT, WELL, WELCOME, [CALL TO ORDER ] UH, WELCOME THIS MORNING. I APOLOGIZE IF MY, UH, VOICE IS A LITTLE HOARSE. I'M A LITTLE BIT UNDER THE WEATHER. I'M GETTING OVER A COLD. MUCH BETTER NOW. I'M NOT CONTAGIOUS. THANK GOD. THAT'S THE, UH, PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A FATHER WHO'S A PHYSICIAN WHO CAN TAKE CARE OF YOU. UH, WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 27TH, 2026 COMMISSION MEETING. UH, TODAY'S TRULY A SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS ON THE AGENDA. LIKE I MENTIONED, AT EVERY, UH, COMMENCEMENT OF THE COMMISSION MEETING, YOU HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD, WHETHER IT'S BY EMAIL, WHETHER IT'S IN PERSON, WHETHER IT'S IN ZOOM, WE EVEN TAKE CARE OF YOUR PIGEON. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, UH, WHAT WE APPRECIATE IS THE ABILITY TO HAVE YOU HERE IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, PROVIDING US GUIDANCE AND GUIDANCE AND INSIGHT, UH, IN REGARDS TO WHAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO WE'RE BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THAT. UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO CALL IT MEETING TO ORDER AND START OUR INVOCATION WITH REVEREND HEDY CULVER FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF CORAL GABLES. REVEREND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU. WE SENT OUR BEST WELCOMES, UH, TO YOUR CONGREGATION, AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. YES, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF IT. WE ARE KNOWN AS THE, UH, CHURCH BEHIND CITY HALL. YEAH. SO, YES, WE ARE GLAD TO BE HERE. I HAVE THE SHORTEST COMMUTE OF ALL THE PASTORS IN THE, IN THE AREA, WHICH BY THE WAY, YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, AS WE SAY IN SPANISH UNTO YES. AND WE COPIED YOUR NATO THIS YEAR. MM-HMM . UH, THANKS TO THE GENEROUS DONATIONS OF, YOU KNOW, THE VICE MAYOR, UH, RHONDA ANDERSON, AND COMMISSIONER LARA, AND ALSO, UH, MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE HERE, ALONG WITH WILLIE EO ALSO DONATED, UH, TO THAT, TO THAT CAUSE. SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. LET'S BEGIN WITH A WORD OF PRAYER. GRACIOUS GOD, IN A WORLD THAT OFTEN FEELS UNSETTLED AND DIVIDED, WE PAUSE TO SEEK CLARITY BEYOND THE NOISE AND WISDOM. DEEPER THAN OUR OWN CERTAINTY, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THIS CITY, ITS PEOPLE'S, ITS NEIGHBORHOODS, ITS HISTORY, AND ITS HOPES FOR THE FUTURE. IN THESE TROUBLED TIMES, GRANT CORAL GABLE'S LEADERS CLEAR MINDS TO DISCERN WHAT TRULY MATTERS, STEADY HEARTS TO RESIST FEAR AND REACTION, AND THE PATIENCE TO LISTEN WELL TO ONE ANOTHER. BLESS THESE LEADERS HERE TODAY WITH INTEGRITY AND JUDGMENT, COURAGE AND DECISION MAKING, AND HUMILITY AND SERVICE. MAY EVERY CONVERSATION BE SHAPED BY RESPECT, EVERY DISAGREEMENT, GUIDED BY GOODWILL, AND EVERY CHOICE MEASURED BY ITS IMPACT ON ALL THOSE LIVING AND WORKING IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. WE ASK FOR SAFETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS, STRENGTH FOR THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, COMPASSION FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE, AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD. MAY THE WORK DONE THIS DAY HONOR THE TRUST PLACED IN THIS COMMISSION AND HELP BRING LIGHT, STABILITY, AND HOPE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AMEN. AND AMEN. GOD BLESS YOU, AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, REVEREND. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, MAY WE HAVE OUR DCM LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SETTING. THANK YOU, SIR. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IT STANDS. ONE, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, AN INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, [MERRICK MOMENT] ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOMENTS OF THE DAY, MERICK MOMENT. PLEASE JOIN US. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THE MERRICK HOUSE GOVERNING BOARD BRINGS YOU THE MERRICK MOMENT, LITTLE TIDBITS THAT ADD UP TO A REMARKABLE STORY. IN 1926, GEORGE MERRICK HIRED NOTED AUTHOR AND FELLOW ROLLINS COLLEGE ALUM REX BEACH, TO EXTOL THE PLEASURES AND BENEFITS OF TAKING UP RESIDENCE IN HIS CITY. HE PAID HIM $25,000. THAT'S JUST UNDER 460,000 TODAY TO PEN, THE MIRACLE OF CORAL GABLES. AS I READ THIS EXCERPT, BEAR IN MIND THAT TRAVEL BY AIR WAS STILL A NOVEL THING FOR THE AVERAGE CITIZEN IN 1926. WHAT WAS THIS THAT MERRICK TALKED ABOUT A CITY, BEAUTIFUL AMERICA'S FINEST SUBURB, A PLACE WHERE CASTLES IN SPAIN ARE MADE REAL GOOD ADVERTISING, BUT NOBODY TOOK THAT STUFF SERIOUSLY. HE BETTER FORGET HIS UTOPIAN IDEAS, GET HIS MONEY OUT, AND LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE. TOWNS AREN'T MADE. THEY GROW, THUS RAN. LOCAL COMMENT. HE HAD A HARDER TASK AT FIRST TO SELL HIS IDEA THAN TO DISPOSE OF HIS PLOTS FOR IT WAS TOO LARGE TO BE READILY GRASPED, AND HIS CITY WAS TOO BIG TO BE SEEN. THERE WERE TOO MANY TREES IN THE WAY. HE MET THESE INITIAL DIFFICULTIES BY TAKING HIS CUSTOMERS OUT IN AIRPLANES. NOW, ANYBODY WHO WAS NOT TOO AGITATED TO SEE AT ALL CAN PERHAPS SEE A GOOD DEAL FROM AN AIRPLANE. I HAVE MY OWN THEORY ABOUT HOW HE INDUCED PURCHASERS TO BUY AND BANKERS TO BACK HIM. I SUSPECT HE [00:05:01] THREATENED TO LOOP THEM IF THEY REFUSED. BUT I MAY BE WRONG. HIS ENTHUSIASM MAY HAVE TURNED THE TRICK. ON THE OTHER HAND, EXPERIENCE CONVINCES ME THAT OF ALL WAYS TO SELL LAND, THE AIRPLANE METHOD MIGHT BE THE EASIEST. FOR THE FIRST TIME I WENT UP, I WOULD HAVE GLADLY BOUGHT ANY PART OF THE LANDSCAPE BENEATH ME AT ANY PRICE, PROVIDED THE PILOT HAD CONTRACTED TO PUT ME IN IMMEDIATE POSSESSION OF MY PURCHASE. THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU BACK. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT ITEMS A SIX AND F 12 HAVE BEEN DEFERRED. UH, DOES THE COMMISSION OR THE CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT REQUIRE DEFERRAL? NO. MAYOR ITEMS A SIX AND F 12. NOW, MOVING [A.-1. 26-1072 Presentation of a Certificate of Condolence to the bereaved family of Peter J. Dolara.] ON TO PRESENTATIONS AND PROTOCOL DOCUMENTS, ITEM A ONE. UH, THIS IS A SPECIAL, UH, ONE THAT I WANNA THANK, UM, MARTHA INE FOR WORKING SO DILIGENTLY ON, UH, AND BRINGING IT TO FRUITION. UH, THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCE, BUT THESE ARE MOMENTS THAT I LOOK UPON IN SOME PEOPLE MAY SEE IT AS AS SADNESS. I LOOK AT IT AS REMEMBERING A LIFE THAT, UH, PLAYED NOT ONLY A HUGE ROLE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, BUT TRULY PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN EVERYONE'S LIFE HERE IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. UH, WHEN I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING WITH HIS LOVELY WIFE THAT YOU'LL GET HER TO HEAR FROM IN A FEW MOMENTS, UM, AND HIS DAUGHTER, I WAS A LITTLE BIT, IT WAS TOUGH TO TRULY ENCAPSULATE WHAT THIS MAN MEANT TO HIS COMMUNITY. SO I CAN ONLY COMPARE HIM TO ONE PERSON THAT'S MY FATHER. I THINK THAT'S THE HIGHEST HONOR THAT YOU CAN PAY SOMEBODY IF YOU COMPARE THEM TO YOUR OWN FATHER AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR YOU. UH, THIS IS A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME IN REGARDS TO BEING A LEADER IN BUSINESS, BUT WAS A LOT MORE THAN THAT, WAS A MAN OF FAMILY, A COMPASSIONATE MAN, A PERSON WHO WAS VERY INVOLVED IN PHILANTHROPY, AND WHO, A GENTLEMAN WHO SIGNED, WHO, WHO SHINED AN INCREDIBLY POSITIVE LIGHT ON SOUTH FLORIDA. UH, NOT ONLY ON BUSINESS, BUT ON WHAT WE COULD BE. AND HE PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN MENTORSHIP. AND I THINK MENTORSHIP, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY INVOLVED IN, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY WRITTEN LEGISLATION HERE IN THE CITY IN REGARDS TO THE PAGE PROGRAM, IS THE KEY TO ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW IN A POSITIVE WAY. AND MENTORSHIP, TO ME, WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT PETER DELORE REMEMBER FOR. SO I ASK BEFORE I READ THIS RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCE THAT WE, UH, BRING UP HIS FAMILY, UH, SO THAT I CAN READ THIS AND HAVE THEM GIVE A FEW WORDS. WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY MANY OF HIS FRIENDS, HIS LOVELY WIFE. PLEASE JOIN US, HIS DAUGHTER. UM, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM. GOOD MORNING. MORNING. SO IF YOU ALLOW ME TO, LET ME READ THIS INTO THE RECORD, A RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES EXTENDING ITS HEARTFELT SYMPATHY TO THE BRIEF FAMILY OF THE LATE PETER J DELORE. WHEREAS PETER J DELORE WAS A VISIONARY LEADER WHOSE LIFE REFLECTED PERSEVERANCE, HUMILITY, AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVICE RISING FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO A DISTINGUISHED CAREER THAT EMBODIED THE PROMISE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. AND WHEREAS AFTER MOVING TO SOUTH FLORIDA, PETER J DELO MADE CORAL GABLE'S HIS FOREVER HOME AND ESTABLISHED AMERICAN AIRLINES DIVISIONAL OFFICES WITHIN THE CITY, FURTHER STRENGTHENING CORAL GABLE'S ROLE AS A CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY. AND WHEREAS THROUGH MORE THAN FOUR DECADES OF LEADERSHIP WITH AMERICAN AIRLINES, INCLUDING HIS SERVICE AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR MIAMI, THE CARIBBEAN, AND LATIN AMERICA, PETER J DELORE PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN TRANSFORMING MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT INTO ONE OF THE WORLD'S PREMIER AIRLINE HUBS AND THE LEADING GATEWAY TO LATIN AMERICA. AND WHEREAS HIS VISION FOR MIAMI AS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY CLOSELY REFLECTED THE FOUNDING IDEALS OF CORAL GABLES, ENVISIONED BY GEORGE MERRICK, RECOGNIZING THAT ECONOMIC VITALITY, TOURISM AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT ARE INSEPARABLE FROM THE STRENGTH AND SUCCESS OF THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE. AND WHEREAS BEYOND HIS PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PETER WAS DEEPLY RESPECTED AS A HUMBLE MENTOR, DEDICATED COMMUNITY PARTNER, AND A COMPASSIONATE LEADER WHOSE INFLUENCE EXTENDED FAR BEYOND THE AMERICAN INDUSTRY, THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY, EXCUSE ME, INTO THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS. HE GUIDED AND INSPIRED. NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF CITY OF CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, THAT WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES OF PETER J DELORE, HONORING HIS LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY, OUR REGION, AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY, AND RECOGNIZING A LEGACY THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED WITH GRATITUDE, RESPECT, AND ADMIRATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, PLEASE, A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [00:10:01] PETER WAS A PROUD CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND DEFINITELY A PROUD MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. AND, AND HE ACCOMPLISHED AS MUCH AS HE POSSIBLY COULD, PROUDLY, AND WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE RECEIVED THAT, THAT HONOR, ESPECIALLY FROM YOU. MAYOR LAGO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REMEMBER MOST BESIDES HA HAVING THE ABILITY TO INTERACT WITH HIM AND ON A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL, UH, HE WAS ALWAYS NOT ONLY ACTIVE IN THE CITY, BUT HE WAS ALWAYS ACTIVE IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PERSON WHO WAS ALWAYS RUNNING, YOU KNOW, GETTING OUT THERE. UM, AND IF I, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THIS BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN YOU MY WHOLE LIFE, UM, LONG THAN I KNEW PETER. UM, YOU'RE AN INCREDIBLY ACCOMPLISHED ATTORNEY, AND YOU DON'T FALL TOO FAR FROM WHAT PETER HAS ACCOMPLISHED HERE. OKAY? SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THIS YOUNG LADY IS, GET TO KNOW HER BECAUSE SHE'S, UH, THE TOP, THE TOP WHEN IT COMES TO HER SPECIALTY, UH, IN THE LEGAL WORLD. UH, AND ALSO YOU'RE JOINED BY YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY HERE. WOULD YOU, LIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, MAYBE ANY ANECDOTES, ANYTHING THAT LIKE, NO, THIS IS OUR SON, GEORGE. YEAH. YOUR SON JOSEPH. MY DAUGHTER KATRINA, AND OUR DAUGHTER BROOKE, A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. AND ALL OF THESE GUYS HERE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT PETER AS WELL. MR. COLINA, IF WE COULD HAVE A, I'D LIKE TO ARMO IF I COULD HAVE THESE INDIVIDUALS JUST COME UP. ARMANDO, UH, WILLIE, UH, PLEASE JOIN US, GENTLEMEN, PLEASE JOIN US. WILLIE, COME ON, SAY SOMETHING. YOU, YOU NEVER LACK WORDS. PETER WAS AN ICON IN THIS COMMUNITY. UM, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A LIFE THAT HE DID NOT TOUCH SINCE HE ARRIVED IN OUR SHORES JUST BEFORE HURRICANE ANDREW. AND, UM, NOT JUST WHAT HE DID FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES, BECAUSE HE SAW THINGS THAT OTHERS DID NOT, WHEN OTHERS DID NOT SEE THE VALUE OF SOME OF THE ROOTS OF EASTERN AIRLINES. HE, HE SAW THE VALUE IN WHAT HE DID FOR AMERICAN AND FOR MIAMI. OPENING THE GATEWAY TO SOUTH AMERICA, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS TRANSFORMATIONAL TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND, UH, HE HAD A GREAT HEART BECAUSE UNLIKE SOME COMPANIES THAT COME TO OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY AND SIMPLY GROW AND TAKE BACK TO THEIR HOMETOWN OR THEIR HEADQUARTERS, UH, PETER MADE SURE THAT WHETHER IT WAS UNITED WAY OR EVERY SINGLE NON-FOR-PROFIT IN THIS COMMUNITY WAS TOUCHED, UH, BY HIS GENEROSITY. SO WE, WE MISS HIM DEARLY. UH, HE MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN ALL OF OUR LIVES, AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT MARTHA PENTIN TOOK THE INITIATIVE WORKING WITH YOU TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND, UH, HIS LEGACY TODAY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, WILLIE. JULIE, AND ICON MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO YOU GO. FIRST, THANK COMMISSIONER. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR MARILU AND FAMILIA. UM, UM, JC LASCANO, I, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF FOLLOWING IN PETER'S FOOTSTEPS AND HEADING AMERICAN AIRLINES TODAY, BUT I THINK IT'S, I IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF THINGS. PETER ARRIVED IN MIAMI WITH A VISION, AND HIS VISION HAS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT TO SOUTH FLORIDA, $24 BILLION. AND HE EMPLOYS MORE THAN 15,000 PEOPLE IN MIAMI. AND SO I WANT YOU TO, FOR, FOR A SECOND, UNDERSTAND THE DEATH AND BREADTH OF THE WORK, UM, THAT HE BROUGHT, BUT, BUT ALSO HOW HE HAS IMPACTED THE LIVES OF MANY OF OUR CITIZENS IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND, UH, HE DIDN'T JUST BELIEVE IN SORT OF THAT CORPORATE SIDE OF, OF THE, OF THE HOUSE. HE BELIEVED IN WHAT MR. WILLIE JUST SAID, WHICH WAS DOUBLING DOWN ON OUR COMMUNITY, ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT GROWTH. AND IT'S BECOME A MODEL FOR MANY OTHER COMPANIES TO FOLLOW HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND SO I'M INTERNALLY GRATEFUL ON BEHALF OF OUR 15,000 EMPLOYEES HERE IN MIAMI. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM VICE MAYOR. I WAS FORTUNATE TO WORK FOR 20 YEARS WITH PETER. UH, HE WAS A MENTOR, HE WAS A FRIEND, BUT HE REALLY TAUGHT US WHAT TRUE LEADERSHIP MEANT. AND THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL TAKE FOR HIM FOREVER. HE MIGHT HAVE TAKEN HIS LAST FLIGHT, BUT HIS IMPACT, UH, RESONATES WITH SO MANY OF US HERE. SO IF I COULD JUST MAKE A POINT TO, UH, MARTHA. SO WHEN MARTHA JOINED US A FEW YEARS AGO, I REMEMBER LAUGHING. WE WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT SOMETHING, AND THE ISSUE, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAME UP. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE, THIS CONVERSATION CAME UP, BUT IT WAS LIKE, MARTHA WORKED FOR PETER, HOW MANY YEARS YOU WERE 20 YEARS IN, IN, AND BASICALLY, THIS IS, HER CAREER IS COMING TO AN END HERE IN OBVIOUSLY THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND I [00:15:01] MENTIONED IT VERY CLEAR. I GO, SHE GOT TRAINED BY THE BEST AND WHAT SHE DID AT AMERICAN AIRLINES SET HER UP TO BE HERE. AND THIS IS EASY FOR HER IN COMPARISON TO WHAT SHE DEALT WITH. AND I REMEMBER I TOLD YOU THAT. SO, UM, WE ARE FEEDING, WE'RE FEEDING THE FRUITS AND THE EFFORTS OF PETER BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE TRAINED LIKE MARTHA. SO, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, LIKE THE GENTLEMAN WHO JUST SPOKE, WHO'S LEADING, UH, NOW IN THE SAME FOOTSTEPS AS PETER IS, UH, WE'RE BLESSED. AND I THINK WILLIE MENTIONED SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING TOO, THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHARITY AS A BOARD MEMBER OF NGA, UH, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT BOARDS THAT I SIT ON, AMERICAN AIRLINES PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE VIABLE, THAT WE'RE VIABLE, AND WE COULD HELP, UH, THOSE THAT WERE MOST NEEDED IN THIS COMMUNITY. AMERICAN AIRLINES NOT ONLY WAS AN ICON AND CONTINUES TO BE AN ICON IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, BUT WAS A SAFETY NET FOR A LOT OF CHARITIES IN THIS COMMUNITY THEN THAT NEEDED TO MAKE PAYROLL THAT NEEDED TO, YOU KNOW, THAT LITTLE BIT OF MONEY JUST TO MAKE SURE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, INCLUDING THE UNITED WAY. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT, UH, SOMETIMES WE EASILY FORGET, UM, BUT NEED TO BE REMEMBERED THAT VICE MAYOR. SO I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW MR. DELORE PERSONALLY, BUT I DID GET TO SEE THE IMPACT THAT HE HAD UPON, UM, THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO REMAINED AT EASTERN AIRLINES. MY FATHER RETIRED BEFORE THE LAST DAYS OF EASTERN, BUT THE COWORKERS THAT STAYED BEHIND THAT WERE YOUNG, MUCH YOUNGER THAN HIM AND, AND DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETIRE, VERY MUCH APPRECIATED WHEN MR. BELO DID IN PICKING UP THE PIECES AND, AND REMAINING NOT ONLY JUST TO GIVE THEM THE JOBS, BUT ALSO MAKING MIAMI THE HUB THAT IT IS TODAY. I MEAN, EASTERN HAD A WIDE HUB, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO IMPLEMENT AND BROADEN AND KEEP THIS, THIS SOUTH FLORIDA AREA VIBRANT FOR THE FUTURE. SO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE IMPACT THAT HE HAD FOR OUR CITY. YOU MAY TAKE A PHOTO. I'D BE HONORED TO, IF WE COULD, I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US, PLEASE. WELL, ITEM [A.-2. 26-1045 Presentation of a Proclamation declaring "Ponce de Leon Middle School Day" in Coral Gables.] [F.-2. 26-1079 A Resolution of the City Commission co-designating Augusto Street as "Explorers Way" in honor and recognition of the centennial celebration of Ponce de Leon Middle School. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)] A TWO AND F TWO ARE RELATED, SO WE'LL ADDRESS BOTH OF THOSE. MADAM VICE MAYOR, I WANNA READ IT IN THE RECORD. UM, I CAN READ IT SURE. THE RESOLUTION. I, I CAN, WELL, I CAN, H TWO IS THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN I WILL READ F TWO. ENTER THE RECORD. IT IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION CO DESIGNATING AUGUSTO STREET AS EXPLORER'S WAY IN HONOR AND RECOGNITION OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF POONE MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND BY THE WAY, MADAM VICE MAYOR, APOLOGIZE. THERE'S ALSO A VIDEO THAT, UH, STAFF HAS WHENEVER YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THAT THE FLOOR'S YOURS. SO WHY DON'T WE START WITH THE, UM, THE VIDEO AND THEN WE CAN READ THE PROCLAMATION SO WE CAN APPRECIATE WHAT PO LEON HAS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS TO OFFER. BOTH OF MY GIRLS WENT THERE, SO I GOT TO SEE IT IN PERSON MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. STAFF. IS STAFF READY OR, MY NAME IS ANGIE GONZALEZ, BORN AND RAISED HERE IN MIAMI DADE. [00:20:01] I, I HAVE BEEN AN EDUCATOR WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 20 YEARS, AND NOW HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS A PRINCIPAL OF PONDS DE LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I ARRIVED AT PONDS JUNE OF 2024. PONCE IS UNIQUE IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 100 YEARS, AND IT'S SUCH A GREAT SCHOOL WITH SUCH A HISTORICAL AND STRONG FOUNDATION. SO MY ROLE REALLY LAST YEAR WAS TO SEE WHERE ARE THOSE POCKETS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE ON? AND ONE OF THE, THE PRIORITIES WAS REALLY TAKING TECHNOLOGY AND THE ADVANCEMENTS OF WHERE WE ARE AT IN A SOCIETY TODAY, AND COEXISTING THAT WITH THE TRADITIONS OF PON MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE OTHER AREA THAT WE FOCUSED ON WAS BRINGING UP ACADEMICS. SO WE CAME IN AS A C AND QUICKLY BROUGHT THAT UP TO A B, AND WE ARE ONLY FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS AWAY FROM AN A. SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST YEAR. PO LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL TODAY WAS ACTUALLY PO LEON HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN 1926. SO WE INITIALLY STARTED FOR THE FIRST 25 YEARS AS THE HIGH SCHOOL OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND THEN TRANSITIONED INTO THE DYNAMIC IB PROGRAM IN MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT WE ARE TODAY. IN THE 1950S, CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL THEN BECAME THE HIGH SCHOOL OF CORAL GABLES. WE TRANSITIONED INTO PO LEON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE WE SERVICE STUDENTS FROM GRADES FIVE THROUGH NINE. AND THEN YEARS LATER, WE TRANSITIONED ONCE AGAIN INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE TODAY, SERVICING STUDENTS GRADES SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT. I'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED WITH MY STAFF AND MY STUDENTS. I'M HONORED TO WORK AMONGST INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE. SOME OF MY STAFF MEMBERS WERE ACTUALLY STUDENTS AT PALM LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL. NOW WE HANG ON TIGHT TO TRADITIONS, AND THAT IS WHAT GROUNDS US, RIGHT? THE CULTURE, THE FEEL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP ADVANCING WHEN IT COMES TO ACADEMICS, WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY, WHEN IT COMES TO MOVING FORWARD AND CREATING PROGRAMS THAT OUR CURRENT STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM. IN 2008, PONE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS THE FIRST IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES TO BE ESTABLISHED AS AN INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAM. SO THAT IS OUR FOCUS WITHIN THE MAGNET SYSTEM OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE ARE EXCITED TO NOW COMBINE WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST, START FROM PO LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES TO WHEREVER WALKS LIFE TAKES ME THROUGH THE EDUCATION AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AND RECEIVED FROM PO LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO I'LL, I'LL START WITH THE PROCLAMATION AND WE WILL GO INTO EXPLORER'S WAY AFTERWARDS AND WELCOME YOU UP HERE TO, TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. WHEREAS PO LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED ALONGSIDE THE C OF CORAL GABLES IN THE 1920S, KNOWN THEN AS PO PELLI LEON HIGH SCHOOL NOW STANDS AS ONE OF THE OLDEST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND WHEREAS FOR 100 YEARS, PELLI, LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS PROVIDED HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION TO GENERATIONS OF CORAL GABLES YOUTH AND FAMILIES, DEEPLY SHAPING THE CIVIC, CULTURAL AND ACADEMIC LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE SCHOOL EVOLVED INTO A FULLY, FULLY MAGNET INTERNATIONAL BACHELORATE, UH, PROGRAM, AN IB PROGRAM MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAM IN 2008, OFFERING A GLOBALLY FOCUSED CURRICULUM PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IN A DIVERSE AND INTERCONNECTED WORLD. AND WHEREAS A WORLD AND, AND WHEREAS A SCHOOL AND IB MAGNET PROGRAM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS A CERTIFIED NATIONAL MAGNET SCHOOL, NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL, TOP MAGNET SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE BY MAGNET SCHOOLS OF AMERICA ORGANIZATION, AFFIRMING ITS LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO ADVANCED ACADEMICS AND EQUITY. AND WHEREAS THE SCHOOL HAS EARNED THE GOLD STEM SCHOOL DESIGNATION FOR STRONG EMPHASIS IN PRODUCTION OF AWARD-WINNING STUDENT TEAMS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ROBOTICS, AND MATHEMATICS. AND WHEREAS P**N MIDDLE SCHOOL CONTINUES TO FOSTER A CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE STUDENT BODY AND STAFF OFFERING FOREIGN LANGUAGES SUCH AS SPANISH, FRENCH, AND ITALIAN, AND PREPARING STUDENTS TO BE BILINGUAL, BI LITERATE, AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT, CONSISTENT WITH ITS MISSION TO DEVELOP CARING, OPEN-MINDED GLOBAL CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS PO LEON CONTINUES TO OFFER FULL COMPLIMENT OF ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS IN INCLUDING FINE ARTS, MUSIC, DIGITAL MEDIA, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND [00:25:01] COMMUNITY SERVICE CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF WELL-ROUNDED STUDENTS, WHEREAS THE SCHOOL'S, EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS HAVE DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING DEDICATION, INNOVATION, AND LEADERSHIP IN SUPPORTING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND STUDENT WELLNESS OVER THE COURSE OF A CENTURY. NOW, THEREFORE, IVAN ALGO AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION DO HEREBY PROCLAIM 2026 SCHOOL YEAR AS CENTENNIAL YEAR OF PON LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO WITHOUT, I INVITE YOU UP TO SPEAK ABOUT IT. AND WE CAN ALSO, UM, TALK ABOUT EXPLORER'S WAY, UM, THERE, WHICH IS ITEM, UH, F TWO ON THE AGENDA. AND SO WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION AND HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION IF SOMEONE WILL SECOND IT. 20. WE HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE A SECOND. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, YOURS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. MAYOR LAGO, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF OUR PONCE EXPLORER FAMILY, THANK YOU. WE GLADLY APP, UH, ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION AND OF COURSE, THE CONA OF EXPLORER'S WAY. WITH GREAT HONOR AND GRATITUDE FOR A CENTURY, PONCE HAS BEEN A PLACE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FIND THEIR FOOTING, DISCOVER THEIR STRENGTHS, AND BEGIN TO SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF A GREATER COMMUNITY. TODAY, AS AN INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAM, WE HAVE IMPROVED OUR OVERALL STATE, GRADE TWO A B. WE HAVE BEEN RANKED NATIONALLY AS A MAGNET SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE BY MAGNET SCHOOLS OF AMERICA, AND WE HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS A GOLD STEM SCHOOL BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND WE CONTINUE THE MISSION OF NURTURING, CURIOUS, COMPASSIONATE, AND GLOBALLY MINDED LEARNERS TO BE PREPARED AND ENGAGED THOUGHTFULLY WITH THE WORLD AROUND THEM. WE ARE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE ALONG A CITY THAT VALUES EDUCATION, LEGACY, AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AS DEEPLY AS WE DO. AND AS WE HONOR THE PAST, WE ALSO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SHAPING THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS, ENSURING THAT CELON MIDDLE SCHOOL CONTINUES TO BE A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY, POSSIBILITY, AND PURPOSE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR. AND REMEMBER, POONE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS BEEN, IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR BEST CHOICE. THANK YOU. REMIND US WHEN THE DATE IS FOR, UM, YOU'RE GONNA UNVEIL EXPLORER'S WAY, AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA ALSO HAVE AN OPENING TOWARDS THE END OF THE FEBRUARY. YES. WHAT ARE THOSE DATES? FEBRUARY 12TH WILL BE OUR CEREMONIAL CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, AND FEBRUARY 26TH WILL BE A CELEBRATION TO INVITE ALUMNI AND COMMUNITY TO WALK THE HALLS AND ENJOY OUR ARTS AND PONDS EVENT. OKAY, MR. MANAGER, IF, IF, UH, IF WE MAY, CAN WE PUT THAT, UM, ON OUR NEWSLETTER TO MAKE SURE THEY RECEIVE THE PROPER EXPOSURE OF THE CELEBRATION? YES, MA'AM. OF COURSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. UM, CAN WE HAVE A VOTE, MR. MR. CLERK? SORRY, MR. RAMARIA? YES, WE DO. MR. MARIA CRUZ. GOOD MORNING, MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY AND PROUD TO SUPPORT F TWO BECAUSE BEING THE MOTHER, MY OLDEST DAUGHTER WENT TO PONDS MIDDLE AND NOW IS A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. AND MY TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS, ONE IS A SENIOR AT CORAL DAVIS HIGH AND THE OTHER ONE IS AN EIGHTH GRADER UPON, SO I ENDORSE THE NAMING OF THE STREET AS EXPRESSWAY A HUNDRED, AND IF I COULD A THOUSAND TIMES, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. I'M SORRY. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO WITH, UM, PRO. [00:31:20] SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I WAS JUST SPEAKING WITH THE PRINCIPAL WITH THE VICE MAYOR, AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED WAS OBVIOUSLY HOW GREAT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US AS WE'RE SELLING THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES TO BIG BUSINESSES. APPLE WRITER, UH, FIFA. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ALWAYS ASK US IS ABOUT EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION FOR THEIR EXECUTIVES, FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, WHERE CAN THEY PUT THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL? SO AS YOU CONTINUE TO TREND UPWARD, IT JUST MAKES OUR JOB EVEN EASIER, NUMBER ONE. AND SOMETHING YOU SAID WAS, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT A VERY CRITICAL AGE, AND I SAID THAT I HAVE A SIXTH GRADER. UM, BUT YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME AND I WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD. AND THAT WAS, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY, THIS IS THE MOMENT. LOOK AT IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SHAPE AND MOLD AND SOMETHING THAT I SAID TO YOU THAT I MAKE SURE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU SHOULD TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT. ANYBODY WHO TELLS YOU THAT A TEACHER DOESN'T SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR KIDS IS NOT SAYING THE TRUTH. YOU KNOW, WE'RE OUT THERE WORKING EVERY SINGLE DAY. WHEN OUR KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL, THEY'RE SPENDING EIGHT, NINE HOURS WITH TEACHERS, WITH MENTORS, WITH THEIR TRAINERS. UM, YOU GUYS ARE SPENDING THE BULK OF THE DAY WITH OUR CHILDREN. SO, UH, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS GOD'S WORK. AND I JUST WANNA SAY, ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, THANK YOU FOR, UH, PROTECTING AND TAKING CARE OF OUR CHILDREN, TOMORROW'S LEADER. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND I WITNESSED THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER, OBVIOUSLY HAVING TWO DAUGHTERS MM-HMM . UH, I SEE, I SEE THE FRAGILITY. UH, I SEE HOW SOMETIMES I FAIL MISERABLY, UH, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE TEACHERS ARE THERE, UH, TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. IT'S A THANKLESS JOB. UH, ITEM A THREE. [A.-3. 25-1185 Congratulations to Misha's Cupcakes on receiving the 2025 Commercial Beautification Award.] I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN DO A FEW OF THESE BEFORE WE GO TO OUR TIME CERTAIN AT 10 O'CLOCK. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSION. WE ARE AT SOLAN LOPEZ, BUSINESS COMMUNITY MANAGER WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MATT ANDERSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MOBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY. AND WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT THE THIRD WINNER OF OUR 2025 COMMERCIAL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD. AS WE'VE DONE AT THE LAST TWO COMMISSION MEETINGS, WE'RE HERE TO HONOR, UM, A BUSINESS THAT HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN MAINTAINING AND BEAUTIFYING THEIR STOREFRONT AND SURROUNDING AREA. AND THIS TIME WE ARE HERE TO HONOR MISHA'S CUPCAKES, LOCATED AT 1586 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY, AND WE HAVE MISHA HERSELF HERE WITH US. YOU CAN COME ON UP. AND HERE ARE JUST SOME PICTURES OF THE BEAUTIFUL STOREFRONT THAT SHE HAS CREATED AT THIS SOUTH DIXIE LOCATION, UH, MAKING IT VERY INVITING TO THOSE DRIVING BY AND WALKING BY AND ENJOYING THOSE DELICIOUS CUPCAKES OF HERS. SO WE HAVE A PLAQUE AND YOUR WINDOW DECAL. AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? OH, WOW. THANKS. GOOD MORNING. HI. CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. HI EVERYBODY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU LADIES. THIS IS SO AWESOME. I WAS GENUINELY PLEASED AND SURPRISED WHEN WE RECEIVED THE, UM, EMAIL SAYING THAT WE'D WON THIS AWARD. AND I'M LOOKING AROUND THIS ROOM AND SEEING WONDERFUL FACES THAT I RECOGNIZE AND THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF OUR JOURNEY SINCE WE STARTED IN 2005, BUT THE FIRST STORE WAS IN 2008. SO I'M THRILLED THAT OUR STORE HAS ENHANCED THE BEAUTY OF CORAL GABLES. THIS IS MY HOMETOWN, AND I WAS BORN IN COCONUT GROVE AND RAISED HERE, SO I'M A BIG FAN. SO THANK YOU. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WHOLE THING WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFYING OUR STOREFRONTS. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF CUTTING THE RIBBON A FEW YEARS AGO. IT WAS WONDERFUL. YEAH. AND WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS AMAZING. YOU'RE SO SWEET. AND THIS LOCATION IS, IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY BECAUSE FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, I REMEMBER GOING THERE WITH MY GRANDPARENTS, THE SWENSEN, I SWENSON'S. SO I WAS REALLY EXCITED WHEN MISHA [00:35:01] OBVIOUSLY OPENED BECAUSE IT'S IN KIND OF THE SAME LINE, YOU KNOW, IT SWEETS AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ABOUT CELEBRATION. WE USED TO GO TO, WE USED TO GO TO SWENSON'S FOR BIRTHDAYS. WE USED TO GO TO SWENSON'S TO CELEBRATE DATES. AND WHEN YOU, WHEN WE ORDER MISHA'S CUPCAKES, IT'S FOR AN EVENT, IT'S FOR A PARTY, IT'S FOR A BIRTHDAY, IT'S FOR WHAT ARE WE CELEBRATING? YEAH. SO I THINK IT'S, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE YOU BEING SUCCESSFUL THERE. AND, UM, JUST THANK YOU FOR GOING THE EXTRA MILE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CITY'S ALL ABOUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. APPRECIATE IT. SO I ALSO WANNA ECHO HIS SENTIMENT. SO IT'S GLAD TO HEAR, I KNOW THAT YOU ALSO GREW UP, UM, LIKE ME IN CORAL GABLES. I REMEMBER BACK IN THAT DAY, UH, OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY WENT TO SWENSON'S AND I ALSO WORKED AS A TEEN AT SPECS, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, RIGHT THERE. SPECS, IF ANYBODY REMEMBER SPECS, IT'S AGING. YOU. . I THINK ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MY AGE IS LOOKING RIGHT HERE, . UM, BUT, BUT I, I WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, I LOVE MISHA'S CUPCAKES. I'M PROBABLY A QUARTER S AT THIS POINT, , UM, OF YOU EVEN MORE . BUT LIKE THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, UM, THERE'S SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL ABOUT THE WAY THAT THAT STOREFRONT, UM, WAS DECORATED THAT MAKES IT FEEL HOMEY, FAMILY ORIENTED, NOT THAT COLD. UM, GENERIC SORT OF FORMULAIC LOOK THAT TOO MANY TIMES CORPORATE AMERICA LIKES TO KIND OF PUSH ON YOU. SO THANK YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. WE, WE SEE IT, WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. AND YOU MAKE THE EXPERIENCE ALL AROUND JUST REALLY GREAT FOR FAMILY. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I I'M GONNA HAVE TO BRING CUPCAKES. . NO, I, I THINK YOUR CUPCAKES SELL THEMSELVES. UM, BUT AS FAR AS LOCATION, I KNOW IT'S A VERY TOUGH LOCATION BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF HIDDEN, IT'S TUCKED AWAY. UM, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ESTABLISHMENTS THAT TRIED TO BE SUCCESSFUL THERE, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE MAKES IT POP AND IT REALLY ATTRACTS THE EYE PINK. UH, YES. WELL, JUST, JUST THE GENERAL DESIGN. UM, AND I THINK IT, IT'S REALLY CHANGED THE LOOK OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, AND OF THAT BLOCK. AND I'M HOPING IT JUST CONTINUES TO EXPAND AS IT GOES THROUGH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. TELL ALL YOUR PEOPLE TO GO. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. YES. YES. THANK YOU ALL. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. YES. OH, THANK YOU. ITEM [A.-4. 25-1178 Congratulations to the Coral Gables Fire Extrication Team.] A FOUR. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CORAL GABLES. FIRE EXTRICATION TEAM CHIEF. GOOD MORNING. THAT SCREEN DOESN'T EXIST. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. HEY CHIEF, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? COMMISSION, UH, I'M PROUD TO PRESENT OUR EXTRICATION TEAM THAT COMPETED IN A NATIONAL, UH, VEHICLE RESCUE ASSOCIATION, REGIONAL COMPETITION IN PALM BEACH IN THE FALL. AND, UH, TO TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OKAY, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP. I COULDN'T FIND ANY OF THAT. SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION CHIEF LOUIS FERDO, WHO HEADS UP THE PROGRAM CHIEF. GOOD MORNING, SIR. MAYOR, GOOD MORNING. UM, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE THE CORAL GABLES EXTRICATION TEAM. WITH OVER 35 YEARS OF SERVICE, THE TEAM HAS REPRESENTED THE CITY LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONAL. THEY HAVE BUILT A STRONG REPUTATION AND EXCELLENCE IN THE VEHICLE RESCUE TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION. BEYOND THE COMPETITION, THE TEAM HELPS DEVELOP IMPORTANT FIREFIGHTER SKILLS, SUCH AS CRITICAL THINKING, LEADERSHIP, AND TEAMWORK. IN FACT, 45% OF OUR OFFICERS HAVE ALL BEEN PART OF THE TEAM. THE TEAM IS MADE UP OF AN INCIDENT COMMANDER, FIVE TECHNICIANS, A PARAMEDIC. THEY TRAIN ON REALISTIC SCENARIOS. UM, THIS RECENT PA THIS PAST RECENT YEAR, THEY, THEY COMPETED IN THE NAV R 2025 INVITATIONAL, UM, WHERE THEY PLACED FIRST PLACE. OVERALL, THE TECHNICIANS ALSO PLACED IN THIRD PLACE, SORRY, THIRD PLACE OVERALL, FIRST PLACE TECHNICIAN. UM, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE ACTUAL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM. FIRST ONE BEING THE TECHNICIANS, WHICH IS NICHOLAS SIERRA. HE WAS, HE'S NOT HERE WITH US TODAY. NORMAN ANGEL, DRIVER ENGINEER, NICO FERNANDEZ, THE FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC. ZACHARY LYNN, JOHN PAUL, IAN [00:40:01] YAL GOMEZ. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, INCIDENT COMMANDER. UM, ALEXANDRA GONZALEZ. THE REASON I SAVED HER FOR LAST IS THIS. THIS IS A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL. SHE'S BEEN AN OFFICER FOR ONLY, I WANNA SAY THREE MONTHS. FOR HER TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT SHE ACCOMPLISHED AT THIS COMPETITION IS HUGE. IT SHOWS THAT THE, THERE'S THE VALUE IN THE PROGRAM AND WHAT THE TRAINING GETS YOU TO. UM, THE BIG PICTURE HERE IS NOT REALLY THE, THESE AWARDS, IT'S MORE THE REWARD THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE GONNA RECEIVE, THE EXPERIENCE THEY RECEIVE FROM THE HOUR, THE HUNDREDS OF HOURS AND HUNDREDS OF CARS THEY CUT, UM, AND SCENARIOS THEY DID UP TO THAT COMPETITION IS WHAT REALLY BRINGS THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE, CONGRATULATE THEM ALL AND VERY PROUD OF THEM. THANK YOU GUYS. GOOD MORNING. CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO START BY THANKING OUR FIRE CHIEF FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE FOR US, UM, AND THE ADMINISTRATION AS WELL. WITHOUT THEIR NEVER ENDING SUPPORT, WE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO. UM, I'M SO PROUD OF THESE BOYS THAT THEY WORK SO HARD, THEY LITERALLY SHED BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS DOING THIS. UM, AND IT'S OUR HONOR TO BRING BACK THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE GAINED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE AND SHARE IT WITH THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN BE BETTER RESCUERS FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF. SHE'S VERY QUIET AND PLEASANT. AND THEN SHE'S VERY LOUD AND HAS INCREDIBLE COMMAND PRESENCE WHEN SHE'S COMPETING. BUT, UH, AS THE CHIEF SAID BEFORE, I, I CONGRATULATE THEM. AND THE AWARDS ARE NICE AND THAT'S WHY WE COME UP HERE IN THE COMMISSION. BUT THE END PRODUCT IS WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT, UM, THREE QUARTERS OF THIS TEAM HAS LESS THAN FIVE YEARS ON THE JOB. UH, SHE, AS THEY JUST MENTIONED, IS A BRAND NEW OFFICER. AND THE COORDINATION THAT HAPPENS THERE IS WHAT TRANSLATES TO THE STREET. THESE SCENARIOS ARE GREAT, BUT AS A FIRE CHIEF, I WORRY A LOT BECAUSE THEY'RE REAL CARS AND THEY'RE REAL TOOLS AND IT TAKES A LOT OF COORDINATION TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY DO I ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY NEED TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT DO IT IN A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MANNER WHERE THEY DON'T GET THEMSELVES HURT. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM AND WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND ENABLING US TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. SURE. LET EXTRA I'M SO HERE. LOOK OVER HERE GUYS. LOOK OVER HERE GUYS. REAL QUICK. ITEM A FIVE. [A.-5. 25-1177 Congratulations to Lieutenant Peter Bernstein, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Firefighter of the Month Award,” for the month of January 2026.] SO A FIVE. WE PRESENT OUR, EXCUSE ME, FIREFIGHTER, THE MONTH FOR JANUARY. UH, LIEUTENANT BERNSTEIN HEADS UP OUR PEER SUPPORT AND CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT TEAM. UH, WE RECOGNIZE HIM OR HIS PEERS RECOGNIZE HIM BECAUSE HE'S SILENTLY TAKES CARE OR FACILITATES CARE, UH, FOR A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, HE IS PART OF A STATE TEAM WHERE HE GETS DEPLOYED TO PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICES FOR FIREFIGHTERS THAT ARE EITHER RESPONDED OR HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY DISASTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. SO FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR MEMBERS AND THAT OF THOSE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, HE IS NOMINATED AS OUR FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH. SO LIEUTENANT BERNSTEIN, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK, WELL DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MY WIFE FOR SUPPORTING ME AND GIVING ME THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, TO SUPPORT THE TEAM, THE STATE, AND [00:45:01] THE, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. I WANT TO THANK THE CITY AND I WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. THIS ISN'T JUST AN AWARD THAT'S GOING TO ME. THIS IS A REFLECTION OF A CITY AND A DEPARTMENT THAT CARES ABOUT ITS PEERS AND ITS COMMUNITY ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF US, TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. PEER SUPPORT ISN'T ABOUT JUST BEING ONE STRONG INDIVIDUAL. IT'S ABOUT HAVING THE STRENGTH TO LOOK FORWARD AND TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AT THE BASE LEVEL. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M PROUD TO WORK HERE IN THE CITY AND THIS DEPARTMENT THAT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE LEADERSHIP, EXEMPLARY SERVICE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, STEVE. LET'S DO THE OTHER. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE, RIGHT? NO, THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT. ALRIGHT, LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. I THOUGHT WE HAVE ONE MORE. THANK. BRING YOUR WIFE. BRING HER UP. YEAH. ITEM A SIX, CHIEF. GOOD MORNING. A SEVEN OH A SIX. I APOLOGIZE. IS DEFERRED CORRECT? A SEVEN. [A.-7. 26-1071 Congratulations to Officer Gabrielle Richardson, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Officer of the Month,” for the month of December 2025.] THANK YOU. MADAM VICE MAYOR, I AM AWAKE. . I MISSED THAT ONE. THANK YOU, CHIEF. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. MADAM VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS, UH, THIS MORNING WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE OUR OFFICER OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER, 2025. ON DECEMBER 26TH, AT APPROXIMATELY ABOUT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, A CORAL GABLES RESIDENT OBSERVED ON HIS RING CAMERA AS SOMEBODY GO AND STEAL HIS PACKAGE OFF OF THE FRONT PORCH IN THE 600 BLOCK OF ALHAMBRA CIRCLE. ONCE THE INDIVIDUAL WISELY CALLED US, GAVE US A DESCRIPTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT STOLE THE PACKAGE, EXCUSE ME, AND LEFT ON WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRIC BIKE WITH A SUBJECT, ANOTHER SUBJECT DRIVING WESTBOUND FROM THE RESIDENCE. OUR OFFICER WHO DISPATCHED THE CALL QUICKLY RESPONDED TO THE AREA, CANVASED THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND AS SHE SEARCHED AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER ONE, SHE LOCATED BOTH INDIVIDUALS GOING EASTBOUND IN A 1400 BLOCK OF ABISPO AVENUE. THE SUBJECT AND OFFENDER, WHILE RIDING THE BIKE WAS ON THE BACK. SHE STOPPED THE INDIVIDUALS ALONG WITH OTHER UNITS IN THE 1300 BLOCK OF ABISPO. ONCE SHE ORDERED THEM TO STOP, THEY DID STOP AND WAS THE OFFENDER WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE INVEST THE INCIDENT WAS A BURGLARY OF A CURTILAGE SINCE THEY ENTERED ONTO THE PROPERTY AND STOLE THE PACKAGES, WHICH MADE IT A THIRD DEGREE FELONY. UH, THE INDIVIDUAL WAS THEN PLACED IN CUSTODY AS WELL AS THE DRIVER TAKEN BACK TO THE STATION. IT WAS LATER IDENTIFIED THROUGH BACKGROUNDS IN THE CID UNITS THAT THE OFFENDER HAD A LONG, LENGTHY HISTORY OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE AS WELL AS OTHER OFFENSES. DUE TO OFFICER RICHARDSON'S PERSISTENCE, SHE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE OFFENDER QUICKLY AND RECOVER THE STOLEN PROPERTY THAT SHE FOUND FROM NOT JUST THAT LOCATION, BUT OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. BECAUSE OF HER ACTIONS, SHE WAS NOMINATED AND AWARDED DECEMBER 9TH, 2025, OFFICER OF THE MONTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS. THIS IS AN HONOR. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. I FEEL LIKE YOU'VE BEEN HERE A FEW TIMES ALREADY. NO, ? I HAVE NOT. NO. THAT'S YOUR HUSBAND. AH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSION, UH, MY COMMAND STAFF, UH, MY SUPERVISOR, SERGEANT DICKINSON FOR NOMINATING ME FOR THIS AWARD. UH, I'M TRULY GRATEFUL, UH, FOR MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL, FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S SURROUNDED, UH, THEMSELVES AROUND ME, MY FAMILY, MY SUPPORT TEAM, AND, UH, MOST OF ALL GOD, BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM I WOULD NOT BE HERE RIGHT NOW. UM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS AN HONOR MAYOR, IF I CAN, AND OF COURSE I KNOW YOU'VE ALL HEARD ME SAY THIS ABOUT A FAMILY. WELL, THIS IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL FIRST FAMILY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES HER HUSBAND WORK [00:50:01] ALONGSIDE OF HER, BUT HER FATHER IS ALSO SERGEANT GARCIA. AND I THINK THE KIDS ARE NOW GONNA BE IN THE EXPLORER PROGRAM IN ABOUT, IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS. SO, UH, IT, IT IS DEFINITELY, UM, THE FUTURE. UH, GABBY WAS THE LAST OF THE GARCIA CLAN TO COME THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT AND SHE HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES THROUGH OUR TRAINING PROCESS AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HER AS WELL AS ALL OF THE RICHARDSON AND GARCIA FAMILY. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO, FOCUSING. SHE'S NOT, CAN I GET A, DO WE WANNA HAVE YOU GONNA HOLD IT? I CAN'T GET THROUGH THERE, THEN I COME AROUND. OH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND VICE MAYOR. YES. ARE WE HOLDING ON THE ISSUE OF E-BIKES? IS THE ISSUE OF E-BIKES A VOTE? UH, IT IS. THERE'S AN ORDINANCE. OKAY. SO WE HAVE TO HEAR PUBLIC, WE HAVE TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST. THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST NOTIFIED. I WANNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE CHIEF HERE AND WE CAN TACKLE A FEW THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, UH, 9 1 1 CONSOLIDATION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT AGAIN, THE CHIEF HAS BEEN WORKING ON WITH THE MANAGER. SO IF YOU JUST LET ME GET THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL TACKLE IT. FIRST THING, UH, [B.-1. 25-1191 Regular City Commission Meeting of December 9, 2025.] B ONE APPROVE OF MINUTES. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. AYE. AYE. UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS, [C. PUBLIC COMMENTS] SPEAKER, APOLOGIZE. FIRST SPEAKER IS MS. MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WOULD LIKE TO CALL ME THE NUMBER'S (305) 323-2154. UM, THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN [00:55:01] IT. I'M GONNA HAVE TO TALK FAST. I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO DISCUSS AND THEN I REALIZED THAT I WAS NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO TALK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, SO I HAD TO PULL SOMETHING IN VERY FAST. UM, LAST COMMISSION MEETING. OUR STEAM MAYOR TOOK THE TIME DURING D FIVE TO STATE, AND I QUOTE, NEVER TAKING A TRIP ON THE CITY DIME. THAT'S D FIVE ON LAST ON THAT VIDEO THAT WE ALL SHOULD WATCH. AND TODAY, THE TRAVEL EXPENSE BUDGET IS BEING AMENDED TO INCREASE HIS, UM, TRAVEL EXPENSES. THE MAYOR'S EXPENSES FROM 1800 TO 4,500, THAT MEANS $2,700. IF MY MATH IS STILL GOOD, THAT'S ABOUT 150% INCREASE. NO ARGUMENT. I WOULD JUST REMEMBER HEARING THAT HE'S NEVER TAKEN THE A TRIP ON THE, ON THE CITY'S DIME. AND TODAY WE'RE ASKING TO ADD, UM, $2,700 TO THE MAYOR'S TRAVEL EXPENSES. THIS IS WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO TALK, TALK ABOUT TODAY. ALRIGHT, UM, I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SCANDALS AND HOW WE COVER SCANDALS IN THE CITY FOR SOME TIME, FINANCIAL SCANDALS, UH, BEHAVIOR SCANDALS. BUT THEN LAST COMMISSION MEETING WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE DO TO COVER WHAT WE DON'T WANT THE PEOPLE TO KNOW. AND AT FIRST I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT, BUT THEN I SAT DOWN AND I WATCHED THE VIDEO. SINCE I HAD BEEN HERE AND I HAD TAKEN NOTES, I REALIZED THAT THE WAY WE WERE GOING TO COVER THIS ONE WAS BY EDITING THE VIDEO. AND OF COURSE, I'M SURE THAT WE'RE GONNA SAY THAT IT WAS DONE BECAUSE IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE CITY. BUT MY QUESTION IS, WAS IT NOT GOOD FOR THE CITY OR WAS IT NOT GOOD FOR THE MAYOR? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY HIS BEHAVIOR WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. NOW WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND TRUTH. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. , UH, UM, WHAT WE WITNESS, WHAT THE PEOPLE WITNESS, WHAT MADE THE NEWS, WHAT EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT. NOW, MS. CA IS WW MS. CRUZ, WOULD YOU BE EXCUSED? EXCUSE ME, I NEED TO FINISH THE SENTENCE. LIKE, TO ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE FOR LANDING. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO MIAMI NEWS NEW TIMES AND READ WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW IT HAPPENED AND HOW, UH, CARL GABLES FIRST IS NOT GONNA REPORT ON IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JACKSON HOLMES BEFORE. WELL, WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT AT THE END. ONE MORE YOU, THIS IS THE LAST PART OF COMMENT. YES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. PERFECT. GO AHEAD SIR. THANK YOU. UM, SO I'M ON THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER. UM, AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, THERE WAS A ARTICLE PUBLISHED, UH, IN THE MIAMI NEW TIMES, UH, IMPLYING THAT, UM, UH, THIS SAME VIDEO, IT, THERE, IT'S ON THE SLIDE HERE NOW, UM, WAS, UH, TAMPERED WITH. AND SO WHAT I PROPOSED TO YOU ALL, I DUNNO IF YOU REMEMBER, A FEW MONTHS AGO, SO JULY 5TH, UH, THE CITY COMMISSION VOTED TO START A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF ANOTHER CITY OFFICIAL, UH, OVER ALLEGED, UM, TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC RECORDS. UH, SO I THINK THAT, UH, THIS ALLEGATION IS AT LEAST AS SERIOUS. UH, AND SO THEREFORE, WHAT I PROPOSE IS AN ALTERNATIVE, UH, ACTION. UM, EITHER BECAUSE, BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAWS UNDER THE US CONSTITUTION. SO MY PROPOSAL IS THAT THE CITY COMMISSION EITHER RESCIND, UH, ITS VOTE TO START A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF THE PRIOR ALLEGATION OF TAMPERING WITH PUBLIC RECORDS, OR THAT IT NOW ORDER A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF THE SUBJECT MATTER OF, UH, TAMPERING WITH THE CITY COMMISSION VIDEO IN FAVOR OF, UH, THE MAYOR, EQUAL PROTECTION ON CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE [01:00:01] DONE. YES, SIR. WE'RE DONE. OKAY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, BEFORE WE TACKLE THE NEW TIMES ISSUE, 'CAUSE I I WAS HOPING THAT SOMEONE WOULD BRING IT UP, UH, MR. MANAGER, WILL YOU DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF TRAVEL? AND I WANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD FOR MS. CRUZ. UM, I'VE NEVER TAKEN A TRIP ON THE CITY DIME. THE ONLY TRIPS THAT I'VE EVER TAKEN, I'VE NEVER GONE TO ISRAEL, I'VE NEVER GONE TO TAIWAN. I'VE NEVER TAKEN A FREE TRIP. THE ONLY TRIPS THAT I'VE EVER TAKEN WERE TO TALLAHASSEE TO BRING BACK MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON BEHALF OF TALLAHASSEE, THANK YOU TO OUR STATE LEGISLATORS, OUR SENATORS, AND OUR GOVERNOR FOR HAVING FAITH AND TRUST THAT WE DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE YEAR WHERE WE RECEIVED ZERO. AND THEY WERE VERY CLEAR ON THAT. THEY GAVE US ZERO. MADAM VICE MAYOR, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THEY STATED ON THE RECORD BECAUSE OF COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, MELISSA CASTRO, AND KIRK FERNANDEZ RAISING THEIR SALARIES BY 101%. AND THE WAY THEY CONDUCTED THEMSELVES FOR THAT ONE YEAR, WHERE IT WAS BASICALLY A CIRCUS HERE IN THE CITY. SO MY STATEMENT IS VERY CLEAR. THE ONLY TIME I'VE EVER SPENT ANY CITY MONEY, UM, AND IT'S PUBLIC RECORD, YOU CAN LOOK IT UP, IS IN AN EFFORT TO BRING BACK MONEY AND APPROPRIATIONS AND PASS LEGISLATION IN TALLAHASSEE. SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE. OBVIOUSLY THEY'LL CUT AND PASTE IT, THEY'LL PUT IT ON, UH, THE COFFEE WEBSITE, AND THEY'LL PUT IT ON, UM, THE NEW TIMES AND THEY'LL PUT IT ON THE GAZETTE, THE AI GAZETTE. UH, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, IT IS WHAT IT IS. MR. MANAGER, WILL YOU ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF, OF THE, OF THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF THE ADDITIONAL COST FOR TRAVEL, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. UH, MR. UH, YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, THE, SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, WERE LOW IN THE, IN THE TRAVEL EXPENSE. WE, WE HAD $1,200. WE DECIDED TO MULTIPLY THAT BY 2.5 FOR EVERYONE. AND THAT'S HOW WE CAME UP, UH, WITH THAT AMOUNT. UH, AND THOSE ARE GENERALLY, THOSE ARE TRIPS, UH, TO TALLAHASSEE, UH, AND, UH, FOR THE MAYOR, YOU IN PARTICULAR HAVE NOT USED ANY OF THAT MONEY YET. AND BUT WE, WE WENT, UH, WITH 2.5 TIMES THE, THE AMOUNT FOR, FOR, FOR EVERY COMMISSIONER AND FOR THE MAYOR THAT THAT ALLOWS TWO TRIPS TO TALLAHASSEE. AND, UH, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE DID THAT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, WITH ANY, ANY OTHER ISSUE OR ANY OTHER TRAVEL. AND ALSO IN AN EFFORT, WHICH I KNOW THIS WHEN I MAKE THE BLOGS, BUT I'M GONNA PUT THIS ON THE RECORD, I WISH, I WISH MY COLLEAGUES TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT, THEY SPENT THE TIME TO DO THE EFFORT THAT THEY'RE PUTTING IN TO SMEAR ME, THAT THEY SPENT THE TIME TO ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE CITY. WE HAD THE DELEGATION FROM, UH, FROM ABROAD HERE, UH, WHO WERE HERE WITH US LAST WEEK. AND WE WERE ABLE TO RATIFY OUR EXISTING, UH, COMMITMENT, UH, WITH THE MAYOR. UH, WE WENT OUT TO DINNER ONE NIGHT AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DINNER AT, UH, BUGATTI. UH, THE COST WAS ALMOST A THOUSAND DOLLARS. AND I INSISTED THAT I PAY FOR IT PERSONALLY OUTTA MY OWN POCKET. THE FOOD AND THE WINE. UH, NOT PUT IT ON THE CITY'S TAB. UH, YOU CAN ASK STAFF. THE MANAGER WAS THERE. I PAID FOR EVERYONE'S BILL LIKE I ALWAYS DO. I WISH THAT MY COLLEAGUES WOULD DO THE SAME, BUT FOR SOME REASON, THERE'S TWO COLLEAGUES THAT WON'T DO THAT. THEY WON'T PAY FOR THE NATIVITY SCENE, THEY WON'T PAY FOR THE MENORAH. THEY WON'T DONATE TO CAUSES THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT. FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE LEAF EVENT. IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT THEY JUST SPEND THEIR TIME SMEARING AND SMEARING AND SMEARING AND MAKING UP INSANE STORIES. LIKE THIS ONE, YOU JUST HEARD IT FROM THE MANAGER. IT WILL NOT GET ANY AIRTIME. OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BE PUBLISHING SOME INSANE STORY ON SOME SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE, WHICH I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT. I'M, I'M GRATEFUL THAT MS. CRUZ BROUGHT IT UP, UH, SO THAT WE CAN REALLY HAMMER THIS ISSUE HOME. UH, MR. KIRK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS IT AND TELL HIM EXACTLY WHAT I SAID AFTER THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED, BY THE WAY. GO AHEAD, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY IN RESET. EXCUSE ME, WHEN THE MEETING, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THE RECORD. UH, I WANTED TO SAY THAT I PERSONALLY HAVE HANDLED EVERY SINGLE CITY COMMISSION MEETING VIDEO SINCE 2011. AND EVERY SINGLE VIDEO, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NONE, I HAVE EDITED THE VIDEO AND I HAVE CUT OUT RECESSES. AND WHEN THE COMMISSION HAS STEPPED OUT, ADDITIONALLY, WHENEVER THE COMMISSION TAKES A RECESS, I HAVE INSTRUCTED CABLE TV TO CUT OFF THE MICROPHONES IN THE CHAMBER BECAUSE WE MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT EACH OTHER'S FAMILY. I MIGHT ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU DID OVER THE WEEKEND OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. AND IT'S NOT PART OF THE VI OF THE VIDEO. IT'S NOT PART OF THE MEETING. THERE'S TIMES WHEN THE, WE COME BACK TO THE MEETING, THE MAYOR ASKS, MR. CLERK, ARE WE READY? I KNOW IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS YOU'VE HEARD THE VIDEO SAY RECORDING IN PROGRESS NOW, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN I START RECORDING AGAIN. WHAT WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING WAS THAT I REQUESTED CABLE TV TO REMOVE THE YOUTUBE LINK, THE LIVE LINK FROM YOUTUBE, NOT CORAL GABLES.COM. EVERY SINGLE VIDEO ON CORAL GABLES.COM HAS BEEN EDITED BY ME SINCE 2011. THE YOUTUBE LINK WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE MICROPHONES REMAINED ACTIVE WHILE THE COMMISSION WAS ON RECESS. THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY THE YOUTUBE VIDEO AND ONLY THE YOUTUBE VIDEO WAS CHANGED. ASIDE FROM THAT, WE HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS FOR THE ENTIRE [01:05:01] MEETING VIDEO FROM DIFFERENT CAMERA ANGLES, AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN RESPONDED UP UNTIL YESTERDAY. SO THE RECENT, THE MIAMI NEW TIMES GOT THE ENTIRE VIDEO WITH THE DIFFERENT CAMERA ANGLES 'CAUSE MY OFFICE GAVE IT TO THEM IMMEDIATELY. SO IF THE COMMISSION WANTS ME TO CHANGE THE PRACTICE OF REMOVING THE BREAKS OR REMOVING LUNCH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT FROM THE VIDEOS THAT I POST ON THE WEB, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO IT. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT A FEW ISSUES. FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS HAD? NUMBER ONE, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS NOT HERE TODAY. UM, WAS MAKING STATEMENTS AS SHE DOES ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN REGARDS TO MY FAMILY. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. UNACCEPTABLE. WHEN I WALKED OUT, I SAID, IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. I WILL NOT TALK ABOUT PEOPLE'S FAMILIES UNACCEPTABLE OFF LIMITS. I ASKED, AND I, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MR. MANAGER, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, MR. CLERK, I SAID, MR. MANAGER, MR. CITY ATTORNEY, MADAM CITY CLERK, I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU IN MY OFFICE. AND I WALKED OUT OF THE CHAMBERS. THAT'S A STANDARD PROTOCOL. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS TO PUBLIC RECORD HAS FOUGHT ME TO STOP, TO HAVE RECESSES, TO NOT HAVE A RECESS, HAS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS SAYS WE WON'T HAVE GOOGLE TO RECESS. WHEN THEY HAD THE CONTROL OF THE COMMISSION ON THEIR AMOS ROJAS. I CALL THE RECESS TO HAVE ORDER IN THE CHAMBERS. WE WILL HAVE ORDER IN THE CHAMBERS. WE WILL HAVE RESPECT. YOU'RE NOT GONNA TALK OVER THE MAYOR, YOU'RE GONNA TALK THROUGH THE MAYOR. AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE ORDER SIMPLE. THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. THIS IS NOT HAPPEN IN THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION. TO THE EXTENT THAT I WENT TO SPEAK AT THE CITY OF MIAMI COMMISSION IN REGARDS TO RALPH ROSADO, COMMISSIONER ROSADO INVITING ME TO SPEAK ABOUT, UM, THE, THE LINK, I FORGOT, EXCUSE ME. THE, NOT THE UNDERLINE, BUT I FORGOT WHAT IT'S CALLED IN THIS MOMENT. THE LOOP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THE CHAIRMAN CUT ME OFF IN TWO MINUTES. YOU'RE CUT OFF. DONE. LITERALLY CUT ME OFF IN TWO MINUTES. DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, DOESN'T MATTER WHO IT IS. AND I WAS ABOUT TO PRAISE THE COMMISSION FOR DOING SOMETHING GOOD. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S RULES. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT'S CERTAIN PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, DON'T WANNA FOLLOW THEM. THEY WANNA GET AWAY WITH CERTAIN THINGS AND THEY WANT TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE. THEY WANNA MAKE ME LOOK BAD. BUT NOW, SINCE WE BROUGHT UP THE NEW TIMES, LET'S HAVE A GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. HERE WE GO. DO YOU KNOW WHY THE NEW TIMES PUBLISHED THAT ARTICLE? BECAUSE IT WAS FED TO THEM BY A MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION. I DIDN'T FEED IT TO THEM. NO, NO, I DIDN'T FEED IT. MR. DID YOU FEED IT TO THEM? NO. OKAY. SO IT WAS FED TO THEM. AND HOW DO I KNOW THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW SOMEBODY WHO TOLD ME THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THE NEW TIMES AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT. WHY DO THE NEW TIMES PUBLISH THAT? BECAUSE THEY'RE PAY FOR PLAY. JUST LIKE THE AI GAZETTE AND JUST LIKE THE COFFEE WEBSITE, THEY'RE ALL, YOU PAY THEM AND THEY'LL WRITE WHATEVER THEY WANT. THEY'LL SMEAR ANYBODY. IT DOESN'T MATTER. NOW, WHAT IS THE REAL REASON WHY THE NEW TIMES HAS A BONE TO PICK WITH ME? I'M GONNA SHOW YOU MR. CLICK. WILL YOU RUN, WILL YOU RUN IT, PLEASE? OKAY. WE'LL, THE REASON WHY THIS IS YEARS OF HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT STANDING UP TO THE, HERE IN THE CITY, THEY DO NOT FOLLOW A DA REQUIREMENTS. THEY DO NOT FOLLOW BEAUTIFICATION. AND BY THE WAY, MR. MANAGER, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM? WE'VE FORCED THEM. THEY'RE UNHAPPY ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE FORCED THEM TO REPAINT, UM, THESE, UH, NEWSPAPER STANDS. OTHERWISE YOU CAN TELL THERE'S NO NEWSPAPERS THERE. UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE? LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS THE WAY IT LOOKS IN OUR CITY. UH, AND THEY'RE UPSET BECAUSE FOR YEARS I'VE BEEN HOLDING 'EM ACCOUNTABLE. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, HOW MANY, HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU THINK WE'VE MET OVER THIS ISSUE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENFORCE AND WE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE? WE'VE HAD VARIOUS INTERNAL CI CITY MEETINGS, MAYOR, AND WE'VE NOTIFIED THEM MANY TIMES. RIGHT? I BELIEVE CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. BUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS IS, THIS IS THE LAST MONTH. THIS IS YEARS IN THE MAKING, CORRECT? I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A, A, A BIG CONCERN OF YOURS, MAYOR FOR MANY YEARS. YES. OKAY. SO IT'S NOT A CONCERN ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT BEAUTIFICATION OF THE CITY. SO WHAT DO THEY DO NOW? THEY'RE TRYING TO INTIMIDATE ME. WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE PHOTOS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHOW? UM, MR. CLERK? I THINK I SENT YOU SOME MORE THAT ARE THERE. NO SIR. OKAY. I SENT A FEW MORE, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. SO THIS IS THE NEW TIMES THAT YOU HAVE HERE. IT'S 10 PAGES. LOOK, THIS IS SOME MORE, SOME MORE THAT I PERSONALLY TOOK PHOTOS OF THAT I SENT. AND IT TAKES MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS, TO CORRECT THIS. IF OUR CITY, IF YOU WANT OUR CITY TO LOOK LIKE THIS, THEN IT'S OKAY AND WE'LL LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS. BUT I'M NOT GONNA BE INTIMIDATED BY THE NEW TIMES BY AN ARTICLE SAYING THAT I STOOD UP FROM THE DAIS AND I LEFT BECAUSE ONE OF MY COMMISSIONERS WAS TALKING ABOUT MY FAMILY. I'M GONNA CALL A RECESS AT THE END DAY. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. I HAVE DOZENS OF THESE. DOZENS OF THESE. SO THIS IS THE TYPICAL INTIMIDATION BY A LIBERAL BLOG, LIBERAL MEDIA, WHO IS TRYING TO DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH WHO I AM, MY FAMILY, MY BUSINESS. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS. THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THIS IS IT. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HAVING. I DON'T, I DON'T READ THE ARTICLE, I JUST PICKED THIS UP [01:10:01] FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS IS 10 PAGES. THIS USED TO BE THIS THICK WHEN I WAS YOUNG. NOW IT'S DOWN TO 10 PAGES. NOBODY READS THIS. NOBODY, NOBODY CARES. SO I WILL NOT STOP MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY, THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING THE RULES, AND THAT WE'RE DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY BECAUSE WE HAVE STANDARDS HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO, UH, MR. CLERK, YOU WERE THE ONE THAT WAS NEXT TO ME. DID I SAY ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE SPOKE ABOUT? NO. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. I WANNA PUT IT ON THE RECORD. NO, SIR. OKAY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE CAN DO THIS BACK AND FORTH AND THEY CAN WRITE ALL THE ARTICLES THEY WANT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M GONNA CONTINUE DOING WHAT I THINK IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY. AND I WILL HAVE THE QUORUM HERE ON THE COMMISSION FLOOR. I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. UM, MR. CLARK, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT MATTER? YES, SIR. I, SO I DO HAVE, I DO HAVE A FOLLOW UP ON THAT. AND I, TO ME, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHO WROTE THE ARTICLE, WHO DIDN'T WRITE THE ARTICLE. THERE WERE SEVERAL ARTICLES THAT WERE WRITTEN. UM, MY CONCERN IS, AND I MENTIONED IT IN MY EMAIL TO THE CITY CLERK, CITY, UH, MANAGER, AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, WAS REGARDING THE SECOND BREAK WHERE THERE WAS NO RECESS CALLED. UH, AND IF YOU WATCH THE VIDEO, YOU'LL SEE THERE WAS NO RECESS CALLED. THE REST OF US REMAINED UP HERE, AND WE WERE GETTING INSTRUCTION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY DURING THAT TIME ON WHETHER WE WERE IN RECESS, WHETHER THE MOTION TO ADJOURN DID HAVE MARRIAGE TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE RECORD BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION UP HERE. NOW, FROM THE INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED FROM A ROBERT TRUE EXPERT, IF THE WORD RECESS IS NOT MENTIONED, WE ARE NOT IN RECESS. AND IF YOU GO BACK AND WATCH A VIDEO, THE MAYOR SAID ANOTHER HOUR AND HIT DOWN THE GAVEL. NEVER WAS THERE A CALL FOR RECESS AT THAT POINT. I MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN SO THAT WE COULD COME BACK WITH COOLER HEADS AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN TODAY, WHICH WAS SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CASTRO. THAT IS MY LARGER CONCERN. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION UP HERE ABOUT PROCEDURE, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE RECORD, WHETHER THE, THE, THE PROCEDURE THAT THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOLLOWS OF WHEN WE'RE UP HERE, I'VE ALWAYS SEEN VIDEO OF THE COMMISSION WHEN THEY'RE UP HERE. AUDIO IS SPORADIC BECAUSE THE MICROPHONES DON'T PICK EVERYTHING UP WHEN WE'RE SITTING UP HERE PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. AND LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, THERE IS THE, THE, UH, THE AUDIO THAT SAYS RECORDING IN PROGRESS. 'CAUSE THAT IS WHEN THE RECORDING BEGINS FOR THE COMMISSION MEETING. I DON'T QUESTION THAT. WHAT I DO QUESTION IS THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ON PROCEDURE, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD, WHETHER THERE'S ANOTHER VIDEO THAT IS SAVED SOMEWHERE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE IF YOU REQUEST IT OR NOT. THE OFFICIAL VIDEO OF THIS COMMISSION MEETING SHOULD HAVE KEPT THAT PROCEDURAL DISCUSSION UP UNTIL WHERE THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS, WE ARE NOW IN RECESS. BECAUSE THAT WAS WHAT THE MO THE, UH, THE MAYOR'S INTENT WAS. UNTIL THAT POINT, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE RECORD. AND IT WAS NOT. THAT WAS CUT OUT OF THE VIDEO. UH, I WATCHED THE VIDEO SEVERAL TIMES JUST TO SEE IF MAYBE I MISSED IT. IT, IT'S NOT MISSED. IT'S NOT THERE. THE MINUTE THAT IT IS GAVEL THAT, THAT THE MAYOR HITS THE GAVEL, EVEN THOUGH THE WORD RECESS WAS NOT SAID. AND WE REMAINED UP HERE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER THAT WAS AND GETTING INSTRUCTION FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. UM, THAT IS NOT PART OF THE VIDEO THAT'S AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE, UH, OR THE VIDEO THAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. SO THAT, THAT WAS MY CONCERN ABOUT THE, UH, UH, THE VIDEO. WHETHER IN THE PAST THERE HAVE BEEN EDITS OF THE, THE TIME THAT, THAT THERE'S A BREAK. I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE WE DO TAKE A LUNCH BREAK, WE DO TAKE BREAKS. AND IF A RESIDENT IS TRYING TO WATCH A VIDEO AT HOME AFTERWARD, THEY SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT A ONE HOUR BREAK IN BETWEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN IT STARTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IF THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION THAT ARE SITTING UP HERE AND HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CITY OR PROCESS, THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECORD. COMMISSIONER, LEMME RESPOND TO YOU VERY QUICKLY. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. WE WERE ON RECESS, CORRECT? I HIT THE GAVEL. WE'RE ON RECESS. SO, SO I HAVE NOT GONE BACK TO WATCH THE VIDEO MAYOR, BUT MY RECOLLECTION IS THAT THERE WAS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WORDS HE USED, BUT I THINK THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT WE WERE TAKING A RECESS OR BREAK. UM, AND THEN THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT A, UM, YOU DID MAKE A MOTION OR ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A MOTION, AND THERE WAS A, AN ATTEMPTED SECOND. AND THERE WAS A QUESTION ASKED OF ME IS, CAN WE VOTE? AND I SAID, IF WE ARE IN RECESS, WE CANNOT TAKE A VOTE. AND YOU ALL STOOD [01:15:01] UP, OR, OR THERE WAS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THAT. AND THAT IS MY RECOLLECTION WITHOUT HAVING GONE BACK TO WATCH THE VIDEO. SO, WELL, WE'RE NOT HERE, WE'RE NOT HERE TO DISCUSS WHETHER WE'RE IN RECESS OR NOT. WE'RE JUST HERE TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER, WHICH IS TO TRY TO MAKE ME LOOK BAD. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. IT'S THE EFFORT. BUT I WANT TO, I WANNA GO INTO SOMETHING. LET'S DO SOMETHING SIMPLE. LET'S DO SOMETHING SIMPLE, MR. CLERK. THERE IS A, THERE IS A, THERE IS A VIDEO OUT THERE. MAYBE, MAYBE YOU CUT IT BECAUSE AT THE END, I THINK WE DID GO INTO A BREAK WHERE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ LEAVES THE DICE AND IS SCREAMING AS HE IS RUNNING OUTTA HERE, INSULTING ME, SAYING THAT I SHOULD QUIT, THAT I SHOULD DO. SO ALL KINDS OF RIDICULOUS THINGS. IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO SAYING I SHOULD QUIT ALL KINDS OF, WAS THAT CUT ALSO, OR WAS THAT, OR WAS THAT HE LEFT RUNNING? I WAS STILL ON THE DICE. DID I CALL FOR A RECESS OR IS THAT STILL AVAILABLE? THE DIFFERENCE IS VERY SIMPLE, IS THAT I DON'T TAKE THAT VIDEO AND THEN LEAK IT TO BLOGS. I DON'T NEED TO. I DON'T NEED TO DO THAT. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER. 'CAUSE THE NEW TIME IS NOT GONNA MOVE A DIAL HERE. IT'S NOT MOVING A DIAL. THE RESIDENTS HERE KNOW THE TRUTH AND YOU CAN SELL THEM THAT. I GOT UP AND I LEFT. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CALLED RECESS. I WAS NOT GONNA ALLOW THE DISCOURSE TO EVOLVE INTO SOMETHING RIDICULOUS AND DISRESPECTFUL. YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT PEOPLE'S FAMILY. YOU DON'T, YOU DIDN'T, I I GAVE YOU EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A STAND AND YOU TOOK A WEAK, WEAK STAND BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO HURT YOUR COLLEAGUE WHO IS, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE WORKING TOGETHER. I WOULD NEVER ALLOW FOR ANYBODY TO TALK ABOUT ANYBODY'S FAMILY UP HERE. AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST, IT'S NOT THE SECOND OR THE THIRD TIME THAT HAPPENS. AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. YOU, I GAVE YOU EVERY OPPORTUNITY, EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS IT. UH, AND YOU DIDN'T ADDRESS IT, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S NOT CONVENIENT FOR YOU. SO I'VE NEVER RUN OUTTA HERE SCREAMING, YOU SHOULD QUIT. YOU SHOULD DO ALL KIND. IT'S ON THE RECORD. YOU DID THAT. DO I GO AND LEAK THAT TO, TO, TO MEDIA OR ANYTHING? NO, I DON'T. IT'S JUST THE SAME THING YOU'VE DONE FOR YEARS. YOU'VE DONE FOR YEARS. YOU'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE COA. YOU'VE TURNED PEOPLE INTO THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS. FDLE. YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS. AND EVERYBODY KNOWS. EVERYBODY KNOWS. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S OKAY, WE PUT UP WITH IT FOR TWO YEARS. I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T USE YOUR NAME. MM-HMM . SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE PUT UP, WE, WE PUT UP WITH IT FOR TWO YEARS. WE PUT UP WITH TWO YEARS. NOW, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GRASPING AT STRAWS IN AN EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A CIRCUS UP HERE. I'M NOT GONNA ALLOW IT. WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE. WE HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS AT HAND. WE HAVE EXCEPTIONAL ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE THAT WE GOTTA GET THE WORK AT HAND. AND I'M NOT GONNA GO BACK AND FORTH AND TIT FOR TASK. IT CAN BE USED ON SOME BLOG POSTS BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT. MADAM VICE MAYOR AND THEN THE COMM COMMISSIONER LARA. SO DURING THE RECESS, WHICH WAS CLEARLY A RECESS, I WAS SITTING AS CHAIR. AND IN MY CAPACITY AS CHAIR, I SAID THAT THERE WAS A RECESS CALL. NOW WHETHER WE WANNA SPLIT HAIRS ON WHETHER YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT IT RELATED BACK TO THE PRIOR RECESS OR WHETHER THE WORD WAS ACTUALLY UTTERED INTO THE MICROPHONE OF RECESS, IT WAS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR WE WERE IN RECESS. AND THAT THE MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING WAS THE MOST NON-PRODUCTIVE THING THAT WE COULD DO. WE NEEDED TO GET THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY DONE. NOTHING MORE. I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY ON THIS TOPIC. AND IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. THE MIAMI NEW TIMES DOES NOT WANNA BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THEY DO NOT WANNA MAINTAIN THEIR BOXES. THEY'RE NOT A DA COMPLIANT. THEY'RE RUSTED. THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT BEING KEPT UP. THEY'RE FULL OF STICKERS AND GRAFFITI. I JUST GAVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES THAT DCM CAN TELL YOU. I'VE SENT THEM TO HIM FOR, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WE GET COMPLIANCE, THEN WE DON'T GET COMPLIANCE. WE'RE REQUESTING CODE OF ENFORCEMENT SPENDING HOURS, WRITING THEM UP, SENDING THEM LETTERS. LEGAL GETS INVOLVED. THIS IS TIME THAT BELONGS TO THE RESIDENTS. IF YOU'RE GONNA BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A NEW STAND IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, HALF DOZEN OR A DOZEN OF THEM, YOU SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD THAT EVERYONE ELSE'S. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR GARBAGE CANS ARE CLEANED EVERY WEEK ON MIRACLE MILE. YOU UNDERSTAND? WE MAKE SURE THAT WE CLEAN THE SCULPTURES, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE UPHOLD THE FLOORS. THE FLOORS HAVE TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAN. WE DO WHAT WE CAN TAKE THE GUM OFF. WHY DO THEY GET SPECIAL TREATMENT? WHY? BECAUSE THEY'RE A MEDIA OUTLET AND THEY CAN WRITE A BAD ARTICLE ABOUT YOU. I'M NOT GONNA BEND TO THEM AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA INTIMIDATE ME. SO COMMISSIONER LATA. YES. SO WE GOTTA MOVE ON, BY THE WAY, THIS IS RIGHT. AND THAT AND TO THAT POINT, RIGHT? SO, UM, JUST TO RESPOND TO YOU, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, I THINK IT WAS CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT WHEN THE MAYOR, AS THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMISSION MEETING, UH, SMACKED THE GAVEL AND SAID ANOTHER HOUR, I, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THAT CAN BE POSSIBLY DEBATED. ANOTHER HOUR WHEN WE HAD JUST HAD A MOTION TO RECESS FOR, WELL, HOW LONG? AN HOUR. SO WHEN HE SAYS ANOTHER HOUR, COMMON SENSE DICTATES HE'S SPEAKING IN THE SAME TONE AND IN THE SAME CONTEXT OF CALLING FOR ANOTHER RECESS, AT LEAST THERE WAS NO CONCERN OR QUESTION IN MY MIND ONCE THAT OCCURRED, WE COULD HAVE BEEN UP HERE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER WHAT JUST HAPPENED WAS OR WASN'T A RECESS, BUT IT WAS A RECESS. WE COULD HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WEEK TALKING ABOUT IT. AND I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD'VE PUT BEEN A PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD, BECAUSE ONCE A RECESS WAS CALLED, EVERYTHING AFTERWARDS IS [01:20:01] NOT A PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD, EVEN IF A MOTION WAS ATTEMPTED DURING THE RECESS. SO MAYOR, I WOULD URGE US TO MOVE ALONG TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. YEAH. SO I THINK WE SHOULD, I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE. DO THE MAYOR COMMISSIONER, LET'S MOVE ON. I JUST, I JUST WANT TO CLEAR UP ONE POINT THAT, THAT, UH, THE COMMISSIONER MADE, UH, REGARDING THE RECESS. AGAIN, MY CONCERN IS NOT REGARDING WHETHER WE WERE IN RECESS OR NOT. THE CITY ATTORNEY MADE THAT JUDGMENT CALL WHEN SHE SAID BA OR, OR GAVE US THAT CLARIFICATION. AND YOU ARE, WHEN WE HAD THE DISCUSSION, MY BELIEF THAT DISCUSSION SHOULD BE PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD. THAT IS THE ARGUMENT THAT I'M MAKING. IT'S NOT ABOUT WHETHER WE WERE IN RECESS OR NOT. THAT'S BASED ON INTERPRETATION. THAT'S FINE. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE PARLIAMENTARIAN HERE. WHO MAKES THOSE CLARIFICATIONS IF WE HAVE A DOUBT? OKAY. THE MOMENT THAT SHE SAID WE ALL GOT UP AND LEFT, THAT WAS THE END OF THE DISCUSSION. BUT WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION OF WHETHER WE WERE THERE. THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECORD. THAT'S IT. THAT'S MY ONLY 2 CENTS. WE COULD, WE COULD GO, LIKE YOU SAID, WE CAN GO AT THIS ALL DAY ABOUT WHAT HAS OR HAS NOT HAPPENED. DEFAMATORY COMMENTS MADE IN MY DIRECTION ARE TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR. BUT I WILL ADDRESS THOSE IN A DIFFERENT VENUE. OKAY, LET ME RESPOND. ALRIGHT, SO WHEN WE'RE IN REESE'S AND WE GO FOR ANOTHER HOUR, AND I STAND UP, MR. CLERK, IT'S OVER. YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE CONVERSATION YOU LIKE, BUT IT'S NOT PART OF THE RECORD. YES OR NO, MR. CLERK. THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE OPERATING UNDER, SIR, WE TURN OFF THE MICROPHONE. SO THAT HAPPENS. SO COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ IS WRONG, EVEN THOUGH HE THINKS HE'S RIGHT, HE'S WRONG. AND EVERYONE AGREES WITH ME. YOU ARE WRONG. NOW LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU AGAIN, WHY DON'T WE DO SOMETHING. I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ANOTHER BITE OF THE APPLE. OKAY? WHY DON'T WE DO SOMETHING? JUST, I GAVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEND A MESSAGE TO COMMISSIONER CASTRO THAT SPEAKING ABOUT SOMEBODY'S FAMILY IS UNACCEPTABLE. WHY DON'T WE MAKE, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE A MOTION AND HELP ME, LIKE I'VE ASKED YOU, HELP ME HOLD THE MIAMI NEW TIMES, WHICH YOU WERE PART OF LEAKING THE STORY. WHY DON'T YOU HELP ME? WHY DON'T YOU HELP ME HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE SO WE DON'T DIMINISH OUR STANDARDS HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. SO WHY DON'T YOU MAKE A MOTION AND SAY THE MIAMI NEW TIMES HAS 30 DAYS TO CORRECT THE GRAFFITI, THE STICKERS AND BRING, BRING THEIR NEW STANDS UP TO A STANDARD THAT'S APPROPRIATE. IF NOT, WE WILL REQUEST FOR THESE NEWAND TO BE REMOVED. I IF YOU, IF YOU MOTION, YOU THE MAYOR, IF YOU MAKE THAT MOTION, I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FOR YEARS. AND THE DCM WILL TELL YOU, MR. DCM, CAN YOU SEND UP HERE ONE SECOND PLEASE? BECAUSE I, YOU GET MY TEXT MESSAGE. YOU GET MY PHOTOS. THE PHOTOS ARE UP THERE. WILL YOU, WILL YOU DO ME A FAVOR? WILL YOU DO ME A FAVOR? WILL YOU EXPLAIN JUST BEFORE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ FIGURES A WAY TO WIGGLE, WIGGLE HIS WAY OUTTA THIS. WILL YOU, WILL YOU DO ME A FAVOR AND EXPLAIN THE EFFORTS THAT WE'VE MADE TO TRY TO BRING THE STANDARDS UP IN REGARDS TO THE MIAMI TIMES? AND THIS IS WHY THIS ARTICLE IS WRITTEN. THANK YOU MAYOR JOE GOMEZ, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER. UM, WE'VE, UH, OUR TEAM, OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM HAS HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS. WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE NEW TIMES, UH, TO THE, UH, CONTRACTOR THAT, UH, THAT PROVIDES THE, THE, THE VENDING, THE, THE MACHINES FOR, FOR THE NEWSPAPERS. UH, WE'VE, UH, BROUGHT IT TO THEIR ATTENTION. THE DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF MANY OF THESE, UH, UH, UM, STANDS. UM, AND, UM, TO DATE, WE STILL HAVE, UH, MANY OF THE STANDARD THAT ARE IN VERY BAD CONDITION. UM, SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTION, INCLUDING, UH, BRINGING THEM TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD. THANK YOU, MR. MUSEUM. SO, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS STAFF TELLING YOU, THE CITY ATTORNEYS JUST TOLD YOU THAT DCM HAS TOLD YOU, I SENT 'EM PICTURES, RESIDENTS SEND ME PICTURES. BUSINESS OWNERS SEND ME PICTURE. THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. YOU HAVE LAWS THAT REQUIRE ME TO PRESSURE CLEAN MY FRONT OF MY, OF MY, OF MY BUSINESS. BUT WHY ARE YOU NOT HOLDING THE MIAMI NEW TIMES? SO, AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA BE INTIMIDATED. YOU CAN MAKE AN ARTICLE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY BOGUS. UH, IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY SHAMEFUL. THIS IS THE STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY. AND AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT WE'RE FIGHTING. WE'RE FIGHTING TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY AND CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE STANDARD HERE AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE. SO I, I THINK ON YOUR POINT, WELL, BUT YOU'RE ASKING, YOU'RE ASKING ME TO MAKE A MOTION, BUT I, I'M, BUT I, YOU KNOW WHAT? I SCRATCH THAT. I TAKE THAT. NO, YOU'RE ASKING ME TO MAKE A MOTION. AND ACTUALLY, IF WE GO ON THE RECORD, BUT IT'S EVERYONE, EVERY SINGLE TIME THIS ITEM HAS COME UP, I HAVE STOOD LOCKSTEP WITH YOU. IN FACT, IF YOU GO BACK ON THIS ISSUE, AT ONE POINT I ASKED TO FIND A WAY WHERE WE CAN CONFISCATE THESE IF THEY'RE ABANDONED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. AND YOU WERE GONNA BRING BACK LEGISLATION ON THAT. THAT HASN'T HAPPENED. BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE. AND I'VE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE LAST MEETING WHEN THIS CAME UP, I MENTIONED THAT I WAS SUPPORTIVE OF ENSURING THAT THIS IS CLEANED UP BECAUSE THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. OKAY, SO ENOUGH GRANDSTANDING COMMISSIONER, UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU, WILL YOU TELL, WILL YOU EXPLAIN TO THE COMMISSIONER WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR? PLEASE. SO, THANK YOU MAYOR AND, AND, AND COMMISSIONER. SO, OUR CITY CODE DOES ALREADY PROVIDE A PROCESS WHEN THE NEWS RES ARE ABANDONED, THAT THEY CAN BE REMOVED. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING, AND OF [01:25:01] COURSE, CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF ARE, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO WOULD INSPECT THE NEWS RES. AND THERE HAS TO BE A PERIOD OF TIME, I BELIEVE IT'S 48 HOURS AFTER, UM, OR, OR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY HAVE TO BE EMPTY, UM, WITHOUT THE A, A NEW ISSUE AFTER THEIR PUBLICATION DATE. AND I BELIEVE THAT THOSE FACTORS, I, AGAIN, I HAVE TO DEFER TO CODE ENFORCEMENT STUFF. I DON'T THINK THOSE HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEY DO PUBLISH ON, ON WHATEVER BASIS THEY USUALLY PUBLISH AND THEY'RE THERE. NOW, THEY, THEY GO QUICKLY. BUT THAT IS, THAT IS NOT DEEMED AS OF NOW, UNLESS WE HAVE ADDITIONAL FACTS TO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED. SO THIS, AS OF THIS MORNING, THEY'RE EMPTY. OKAY, BECAUSE I WENT BY THERE. SO, RIGHT. SO, BUT LET ME, LET ME RESPOND. SO I DON'T NEED TO WRITE MORE LEGISLATION, REDUNDANT LEGISLATION THAN WHERE IT ALREADY EXISTS. SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING NOW WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT ADDRESSES THE ISSUE AND THAT THEY'RE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD. PLEASE DON'T BRING UP WRITING LEGISLATION. MY, MY RESUME SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. I'M STILL WAITING AFTER THREE YEARS AND THREE YEARS OF SALARIES FOR YOU TO WRITE ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT LEAVES AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THIS COMMUNITY. OKAY? SO PLEASE DO NOT TALK TO ME ABOUT LEGISLATION OR WRITING LEGISLATION, BECAUSE IF ANYBODY'S WRITTEN LEGISLATION IN THIS COMMUNITY IN THE LAST 15, 20 YEARS, IT'S BEEN ME, UH, MADAM VICE P LET'S GET, LET'S GET GOING. 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT, I THINK IT'S SO, SO, SO I'LL CUT TO THE CHASE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO REQUIRE NEW TIMES TO RESTORE THE, TO HAVE THESE CLEANED UP WITHIN 30 DAYS. MM-HMM . MAYOR, CAN I BE RECOGNIZED? PLEASE? YES. SO, VICE MAYOR, WE ARE ALREADY PURSUING THE CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS, WHICH IS THE PROCESS IN THE CODE. AND THEY WOULD GO BEFORE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD. THAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS TO ADDRESS VIOLATIONS. UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE NEWS RACKS. AND I BELIEVE THAT IS IN PROCESS. UM, THE CODE HAS ISSUED THE NOTICES OF VIOLATIONS AND BEGUN THAT PROCESS. BY THE WAY, THE BIG ISSUE HERE IS ALSO A DA, IT'S A BIG A-D-A-A-D-A CONCERN. SHARP OBJECTS. THEY'RE RUSTED. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE WALKING BY, CHILDREN ARE PLAYING WITH IT. AND AGAIN, OF THE DAY, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GETTING INJURED. MR. RAMIREZ, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? GOOD MORNING. DOUG RAMIREZ, ACTING DEVELOPMENT SERVICE DIRECTOR. I JUST WANTED TO, UH, REITERATE WHAT, UH, DCM GOMEZ STATED EARLIER. WE HAVE CITED THE NEW TIMES AND WE HAVE GIVEN THEM A TIMELINE. UH, I DON'T HAVE THE TIMELINE WITH ME RIGHT NOW, BUT IT WAS VERY SHORT. SEVEN DAYS. 14 DAYS. SOMETHING VERY SHORT FOR THEM TO, UH, GET THESE PUT TOGETHER CORRECTLY. WE WERE WORKING WITH THEM FOR MONTHS. UH, WE DID NOT CITE THEM UNTIL RELATIVELY RECENTLY WHEN WE SAW THAT THERE WASN'T SUFFICIENT PROGRESS BEING MADE. WHY, WHY ARE WE ESCALATING? DOES IT HAVE TO? WHO? WHO'S THE ONE PUSHING THIS ON THIS COMMISSION? WELL, MR. MAYOR, YOU WERE THE ONE THAT SENT US THE PHOTOS. OKAY? YOU WERE SURE. AND WHO'S THE ONE THAT GOT THE ARTICLE WRITTEN ABOUT THEM IN THE NEW TIMES? , THE MAYOR, RIGHT? BECAUSE I SUPPOSEDLY LEFT AND I DIDN'T RECESS PROPERLY. AND I HAVE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ EDUCATING ME NOW ON, ON PARLIAMENTARIAN RULES AND ROBERTS RULES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING ME LOOK BAD. IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING ME LOOK BAD IN AN EFFORT. AND IT'S NOT GONNA WORK. IT'S NOT GONNA WORK. PEOPLE ARE NOT DUMB. PEOPLE WANT ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WORK, THAT DO OFFICE HOURS, THAT WRITE LEGISLATION. PEOPLE WANT PEOPLE WHO STICK UP FOR THIS CITY, WHO FIGHT FOR THIS CITY, NOT PUT THE CITY IN JEOPARDY. SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, TO YOU AND TO YOUR STAFF FOR WORKING SO HARD. CODE ENFORCEMENT. YOU DON'T GET ENOUGH PRAISE. YOU GUYS ARE WORKING VERY HARD OUT THERE, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH, DEAL WITH AN ENTITY THAT DOESN'T COMPLY, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR STANDARDS. THEY JUST CARE ABOUT SELLING ADS. AND AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE THICKNESS OF THIS PAPER, I MEAN, PRETTY SURE YOU WON'T EVEN BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR, FOR THE CANARIES, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, BECAUSE IT'S SO THIN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE. LITERALLY. IT'S ADS, NOTICE OF ACTIONS AND SOME CLASSIFIED IN THE BACK. THERE ISN'T ANYTHING OF REAL SUBSTANCE HERE TO, TO REALLY READ, EXCEPT FOR, UNLESS YOU PAY FOR A HIP PIECE TO BE WRITTEN AGAINST AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, AND THEN THEY PUBLISH IT. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M NOT AFRAID, I'M NOT, NOT. TRUST ME, I'VE DEALT WITH IT ALL. I'VE DEALT WITH EVERYBODY AND I'LL KEEP, KEEP PUSHING FORWARD TO PUT THIS CITY FIRST. AND I KNOW THAT I'M GONNA GET MORE NEW TIMES ARTICLES PUBLISHED AGAINST ME, BUT IT'S OKAY. IT'S FINE. THANK YOU, SIR. ALRIGHT, WE'RE MOVING ON. WE SPENT, WE'VE WASTED ENOUGH TIME, UH, ON THIS MATTER. AND NOW WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S A LOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS. I [F.-3. 26-1088 A Resolution of the City Commission supporting enhanced enforcement of federal sanctions related to Cuba; supporting State Legislation requiring proof of authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control for Businesses subject to federal sanctions programs; supporting the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners and the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s efforts to address businesses engaging in unlawful commerce with Cuba; supporting state efforts in Senate Bill 1176 and House Bill 1397; and directing that these efforts be included in the City’s 2026 Legislative Priorities. (Sponsored By Mayor Lago)] WOULD LIKE, UH, TO WELCOME OUR DISTRICT SIX COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND OUR TAX COLLECTOR. PLEASE JOIN US. UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TIME, CERTAIN ITEM THAT I AM EMBARRASSED TO SAY, F THREE I'M THE SPONSOR OF. IT WAS AT 10:00 AM AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME, UM, THESE TWO, THESE TWO ESTEEMED INDIVIDUALS TO PLEASE JOIN US. AND NOW I'M GONNA HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY READ IT INTO THE RECORD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. SO F THREE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION SUPPORTING ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT OF FEDERAL SANCTIONS RELATED TO CUBA, SUPPORTING STATE LEGISLATION REQUIRING PROOF OF AUTHORIZATION FROM THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL FOR BUSINESSES, SUBJECT TO FEDERAL SANCTIONS PROGRAMS, SUPPORTING THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND THE MIAMI-DADE [01:30:01] COUNTY TAX COLLECTORS' EFFORTS TO ADDRESS BUSINESSES ENGAGING IN UNLAWFUL COMMERCE WITH CUBA SUPPORTING STATE EFFORTS AND SENATE BILL 1176 AND HOUSE BILL 1397, AND DIRECTING THAT THESE EFFORTS BE INCLUDED IN THE CITY'S 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL, THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE. AND I WANT YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, WHAT YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR, AND THEN I'M GONNA, YOU KNOW, PUT A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, CONTEXT AND COLOR INTO IT. MADAM COMMISSIONER, LADIES FIRST. THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. UH, NATALIE MILIAN ORBIS, I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND REPRESENT THE CITY BEAUTIFUL, UM, IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. I, I AM HERE TO SUPPORT MAYOR LAGOS, ITEM F THREE. THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY ON THIS FRONT. UM, IT IS AN ISSUE THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHAT CORAL GABLES IS DOING TODAY MATTERS. AND IT SENDS A CLEAR SIGNAL THAT THIS CITY STANDS WITH THE CUBAN PEOPLE AND NOT WITH THE DICTATORSHIP. AT ITS CORE, IT IS ABOUT STOPPING THE COMMUNIST REGIME FROM USING AMERICAN AUTHORIZATIONS TO MOVE VEHICLES, MACHINERIES, AND OTHER GOODS, WHILE A JAIL'S DISSIDENTS AND DENIES BASIC FREEDOMS. NO AMERICAN LICENSE SHOULD BE ENRICHING A COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP 90 MILES AWAY FROM OUR SHORES. SANCTIONS HAVE TO MEAN SOMETHING AND THEY HAVE TO BE ENFORCED. THIS RESOLUTION IS ALSO IN LINE WITH SENATE BILL 1176 AND HOUSE BILL 19 30 13 97, WHICH REQUIRE PROOF OF AUTHORIZATION FROM OFAC BEFORE ANY SANCTION ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE. AND THAT IS BASIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND BASIC NATIONAL SECURITY. I BROUGHT FORWARD SIMILAR LEGISLATION AT THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION, AND IT WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY LAST WEEK. UM, SO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND CORAL GABLES ARE SENDING THE SAME MESSAGE THAT SANCTIONS, SANCTIONS MUST BE INFORMED AND LOOPHOLES MUST BE CLOSED. AND OUR COMMUNITY STANDS FIRMLY ON THE SIDE OF FREEDOM. SO, THANK YOU MAYOR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS, AND I URGE YOU ALL TO, UM, UH, APPROVE ITEM F THREE MEDICAL COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. YOU'VE BEEN A STEADFAST SUPPORTER OF, UH, OF THIS EFFORT. UH, YOU HAVEN'T MISSED A BEAT. YOU'VE BEEN IN HIALEAH CITY OF MIAMI, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AND NOW HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. AND WE'RE HONORED, HONORED TO HAVE YOU REPRESENTING THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO STICK TOGETHER, AND I HOPE THAT ALL CITIES WILL FOLLOW SUIT AND FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP OF YOURS AND OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS STAND. I ALSO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY AND, UH, ATTEND OUR MOBILE OFFICE HOURS HERE IN THE CITY HALL. THAT WAS LAST WEEK, RIGHT? YEAH, IT WAS, UH, THIS WEEK. MONDAY. YES. I SAW, I SAW, I SAW THE BANNER. I SAW YOUR TEAM HERE. IT WAS AMAZING. EVERY FOURTH MONDAY WE'RE HERE AT CITY HALL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS OUR PLEASURE AND OUR HONOR TO BE HERE. AND, AND BY THE WAY, OUR RESIDENCE, AND I APOLOGIZE, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON HERE IN CITY HALL. YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS HERE, ONE OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS WAS IN MY OFFICE AND, UH, MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS AND ADDRESSING ISSUES HERE IN CITY HALL. AND THAT'S ANOTHER BENEFIT OF, UH, HAVING YOU SO CLOSE. SO WE'RE GRATEFUL. THANK YOU FOR SPENDING THE TIME HERE. THANK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. MR. TAX COLLECTOR, WELCOME BACK. MORNING. WELCOME BACK. MORNING. GOOD MORNING. SO FIRST, UH, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER. AT THIS POINT, WE ALREADY TAKE CARE. WE ALREADY MAKE LIKE A 20,000 TRANSACTIONS IN THE NEW OFFICE OF THE TAX COLLECTOR HERE, AND CORA GAVE US, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER. UH, AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE HERE ALWAYS TO CONTINUE TO PUT IN PEOPLE FIRST AND BRING THE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. GOOD MORNING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER AND RESIDENT OF CORA GS. MY NAME IS DANIEL FERNANDEZ, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TAX ELECTOR. AND HERE IN SUPPORT OF IF THREE A SPONSORED BY MAYOR LAGO. THIS RESOLUTION IMPROVE COORDINATION AND SANCTION RELATED TO THE CUBAN COMMUNIST AND SOCIALIST DICTATORSHIP, AND REINFORCE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ANY BUSINESSES OPERATING UNDER FEDERAL SANCTIONS PROGRAMS MUST HAVE PROPER AUTHORIZATION AND PROOF OF COMPLIANCE. FOR 65 YEARS, THE CUBAN COMMUNIST DICTATORSHIP HAS CONTROLLED THE PEOPLE OF CUBA, HAS SPREAD THE FEAR ACROSS THE REGION, AND HAS STAYED ALIVE ONLY BECAUSE OF THE MONEY AND SUPPORT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. NO COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THAT REALITY BETTER THAN OURS. AND IT IS WHY SANCTION A ENFORCEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY MATTER. THIS IS NOT JUST TALK. YESTERDAY I SENT A LETTER TO PRESIDENT TRUMP INFORMING HIM THAT TWO BUSINESS WITH COMMERCE DEPARTMENT LICENSE HAS THOSE LICENSES TAKE AWAY. THIS SHOWS THE RISK IS REAL, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS WATCHING, AND WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER. IT IS SHOW THIS IS A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ITEM F THREE, ALSO ALIGNED WITH PENDING STATE LEGISLATOR THAT I AM SUPPORTING, INCLUDING SENATOR BILL 1176 AND HOUSE BILL 1397, WHICH REQUIRE BUSINESS SU YET TO FEDERAL SANCTION TO SHOW PROOF OF PROPER AUTHORIZATION. THE ITEM ALSO RECOGNIZE A GOING FORCE BY MY OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT BUSINESSES ARE COMPLIANT WITH THE LAW. I WANT TO, UH, THANK MAYOR LAGO AND COMMISSIONER FOR CONSIDERING THIS ITEM. MY OFFICE IS READY TO HELP MAKE SURE EVERY, [01:35:01] FOLLOW THE LAW AND TO KEEP SERVING THE POLL WITH PROFESSIONALS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. GOD BLESS THE CITY OF CORAL GGO, GOD BLESS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU. WELL DONE MR. TAX ELECTOR. THANK YOU. UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. YOU'RE STEADFAST, LIKE I MENTIONED TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, UH, YOU'RE A VOICE OF REASON AND YOU'RE AN UNWAVERING VOICE ON MANY DIFFERENT FRONTS, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY. BUT THIS ISSUE OF CUBA HITS HOME. AND LEMME TELL YOU WHAT HITS HOME. IT HITS HOME BECAUSE WHILE I WAS BORN IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY, UH, TO IMMIGRANTS WHO CAME, PETER PAN, PEDRO PAN, UM, OUR BLOOD, OUR BLOOD IS CUBAN. MY HEART IS AMERICAN. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY MORE THAN I LOVE ANYTHING ELSE. THIS COUNTRY HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE, ONE THAT WE WOULD NEVER HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. WE KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING IN COMMERCE IN CUBA, PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING MONEY. IT'S NOT A, IT IS NOT AN EASY TASK TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE CEREMONIAL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUT PRESSURE, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, I AM A MEMBER OF A DIRECTORIAL AND , TWO, TWO ENTITIES HERE THAT ARE FIGHTING FOR FREE CUBA FOR A DEMOCRATIC CUBA HUMAN RIGHTS. AND WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER. AND THE MESSAGE SENT BY THE TAX COLLECTOR, THE COUNTY COMMISSION, MAYOR ALBU, COMMISSIONER ROSA FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI, IS A STRONG COALITION. ONE THAT WILL PAY REAL DIVIDENDS IN REGARDS TO OUR SECRETARY OF STATE, WHICH WE HAVE IMMENSE PRIDE FOR MARCO RUBIO AND PRESIDENT TRUMP. THE CHANGES IN VENEZUELA OVER 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING ARE A GODSEND, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WHEN MALU WAS REMOVED FROM POWER OVER 30 OF THE, OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE IN THAT WERE PROVIDING PROTECTION AND INTELLIGENCE, WERE CUBAN REGIME MEMBERS. YES, THAT IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT CUBA IS NOT ONLY THE LARGEST DESTABILIZING FORCE IN THIS HEMISPHERE. IT IS PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE ACROSS ALL SECTORS. CHINA, RUSSIA, VENEZUELA, NICARAGUA, CUBA. CUBA NEEDS TO BE FREE 65 YEARS. I HAVE NEVER GONE BACK TO CUBA. I'VE NEVER BELIEVED IN DIALOGUE WITH CUBA. I'M A STAUNCH HARDLINER ON THIS ISSUE. AND I MENTIONED IT BEFORE. I WILL NOT CHANGE MY THEOLOGY ON THAT FRONT. SO THE IDEA AND THE TIME AND THE COMMITMENT THAT COMMISSIONER FROM DISTRICT SIX AND THAT YOU HAVE SPENT ALONG WITH CALVO ROSA IS TO BE COMMENDED BECAUSE NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO GIVE, MAKE THIS COMMITMENT. AND THIS COMMITMENT IS NOT FOR OUR CITIES. THIS COMMITMENT IS FOR MY GRANDPARENTS. THAT IS WHY THIS COMMITMENT EXISTS. MY GRANDFATHER WAS A DOCTOR IN CUBA, A PROUD FOUNDING MEMBER OF KOS, UH, WAS A CONGRESSMAN IN CUBA AND CAME TO THIS COUNTRY WITH NOTHING AND BECAME A DOCTOR IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY. IMAGINE THAT COMING HERE, STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM UP AGAIN IN THIS COUNTRY, ALLOWING YOU THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BECOME A PHYSICIAN. THEY LIVED ON MENORCA TWO BLOCKS AWAY, RIGHT OVER THERE. AND THAT'S WHERE I GREW UP. THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT CUBA. THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT MY HERITAGE. THAT'S WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT TARARA, ABOUT ANA, ABOUT THE PRIDE THAT IT IS TO BE AN AMERICAN. MY GRANDPARENTS WERE THE FIRST TO TELL ME THE HONOR AND THE PRIVILEGE THAT IS TO LIVE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY, AND WE SHOULD NEVER TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. AND THAT'S CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH YOU ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER ORBIS. SO, UM, I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP AND I WANT, I WANNA TALK TO THE CITY ATTORNEY BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING WHERE I'M GONNA NEED A LOT OF HELP. WE HAVE TO COORDINATE ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FRONTS. AND I'M GONNA USE THE CITY OF HIALEAH AS AN EXAMPLE. THEY'VE CREATED A PRELIMINARY LIST OF BUSINESSES BASED ON BTL, AND WE'LL SEND THEM A QUESTIONNAIRE REQUESTING INFORMATION ON SERVICES PROVIDED TO DETERMINE IF A FOLLOW-UP IS REQUIRED. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANNA REALLY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE MY TEAM, LAURA AND NICOLE, WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO FIND ENTITIES THAT ARE DOING BUSINESS IN OUR CITY WITH CUBA. UH, WE REACHED OUT TO OFAC AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING IS PROVIDE, IS GET THAT LIST DIRECTLY FROM OFAC AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON ALSO, CORRECT? MR. KO? YES. CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING? AND WOULD YOU MIND ALONG WITH, WITH COMMISSIONER ORBIS WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH MY CITY ATTORNEY AND MY CITY MANAGER TO BE ABLE TO FIND THIS LIST AND GET THE INFORMATION. SO, UM, WHAT WE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST, UH, TWO OR THREE MONTHS WHEN WE STARTED IS A COORDINATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, OFFA DEPARTMENT, [01:40:01] STATE, STATE LEVEL, AND COUNTYWIDE. WE ARE THE ENTITY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THAT ISSUED THE LOCAL BUSINESS TAX. WE CANNOT CLOSE THE BUSINESS. WE START THE PROCESS TO SEE IF THE BUSINESS IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LOCAL BUSINESS TAX. AFTER THAT, WE COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF OF COMMERCE, AND THEY MAKE THE DECISION. THAT IS WHY IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WE RECEIVED THIS LETTER OR REVOCATION OR SOME OF THIS BUSINESS LICENSE. THAT IS THE, THE THINGS THAT WE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED. ALSO, WE COMMUNICATE WITH DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITY. IF THAT BUSINESS ISN'T YOUR MUNICIPALITY, YOU NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE TO YOU. OKAY. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY THROUGH THE MANAGER AND MY COLLEAGUES AGREE, UH, I'D LIKE TO START WORKING ON THIS. UM, AND I ALSO WANT TO HAVE OUR, OUR VICE MAYOR WHO HAS AN EXTENSIVE LEGAL BACKGROUND AND ACTUALLY PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN A SALA CASE, WHICH IS LEGENDARY CASE HERE. UH, SHE WAS THE LEAD ON THAT, ON THAT CASE, AND IT WAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S HISTORY HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW WE CAN WORK ON THIS TOGETHER. DISTRICT SIX, HI, ALIYAH, CITY OF MIAMI, THE TAX COLLECTOR, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY MOVE FORWARD. I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE JUST CEREMONIAL AND SYMBOLIC. THAT'S NOT MY INTENT. I WANNA SEND A MESSAGE TO THESE BUSINESSES THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT TYPE OF BEHAVIOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. MM-HMM. YOU KNOW, HOW CAN YOU BE LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY AND DOING BUSINESS WITH A SOCIALIST COUNTRY THAT IS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, EXTINGUISHING DEMOCRACY, MISTREATING INDIVIDUALS, PUTTING THEM IN PRISON. TO ME, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S A COUNTER NARRATIVE TO WHAT WE BELIEVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO PLEASE WORK HAND IN HAND, UH, TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN GET THE SAME LIST. AND, HI, ALIA'S GONE. THE TAX COLLECTOR'S GONE. SO MAYOR, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MANAGER AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR ON THIS ISSUE. AND, UM, WE, WE THINK THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE, UM, ONGOING OR RECURRING MEETINGS OR, OR COMMUNICATION WITH THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. SO THE INFORMATION THAT HE OBTAINS AND, AND THE LIST OF BUSINESSES THAT HE IDENTIFIES, THE CITY CAN THEN REVIEW ITS RECORDS AND, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS NECESSARY. SO MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO, UM, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND, UH, I WILL MAKE A, A MOTION, UM, FOR THIS TO BE PUSHED FORWARD. BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, BEING A CHILD OF THE SIXTIES AND HAVING LIVED THROUGH THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS AND HAVING SEEN AND HAVING PARTICIPATED IN DEFENDANT POSADA IN EL PASO, LEARNING A LOT MORE DETAIL ABOUT HIS ROLE IN VENEZUELA, IN NICARAGUA, TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COMMUNISM THROUGHOUT THOSE AREAS, THE RISK IS REAL. PEOPLE NOW DON'T REALIZE AS TO HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO BEING STRUCK IN THE UNITED STATES 90 MILES AWAY FROM US. AND HAVING COLLECTED A JUDGMENT, HAVING TO GET THAT LIST FROM OFAC IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO COLLECT THE JUDGMENT. I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS, I KNOW HOW DETAIL ORIENTED IT IS, BUT DOING THE RESEARCH IN IT TO EACH ONE OF THOSE ENTITIES IS EYE-OPENING. JUST EYE-OPENING THINGS THAT YOU DIDN'T THINK WERE RELATED AND FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA ABSOLUTELY. WERE FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA AND THE TORTURE. WE HAD A WITNESS COME AND TESTIFY IN COURT IN EL PASO, WHO HAD BEEN TORTURED, ABSOLUTELY TORTURED BY ANOTHER WITNESS WHO'S NOW SITTING AS A CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CUBA. IT'S REAL, FOLKS. SO I'M VERY PROUD THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT THIS, UH, AND I'M PROUD TO, UM, TO MAKE THE MOTION TO SUPPORT IT. I'LL SECOND MR. MANAGER. UH, MAYOR, I, WE'VE, WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN ACTION ON THIS. WE WILL BE WORKING WITH, AND I, I, AND I COMPLETELY APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. WE WILL, WE ARE ALREADY TAKING ACTION. THOSE BTRS AND THOSE CU THAT ARE FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE WORKING WITH, UH, ECONOMISTS, UH, COUNTRY THAT'S HURT. SO MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MY FAMILY AND OUR FAMILIES, UH, WE, WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE ARE ALREADY WORKING ON THAT. AND I, I TRULY APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION'S SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT, SOMETHING THAT I WANNA MENTION, AND, AND I'M, I'M TAKING THIS FROM A TAX COLLECTOR. HE SAID THIS THE OTHER DAY. I GO, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT, DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY IS INCREDIBLY FRAGILE. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE INTENT, THE INTENT IS TO PROTECT OUR HEMISPHERE AT ALL COSTS. LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FRONTS IN REGARDS TO CHINA, IN REGARDS TO RUSSIA. UH, THEY'RE IN OUR BACKYARD. WE'RE IN OUR BACKYARD ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FRONTS. SO TO ME, TO ME, IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT OUR GRANDPARENTS. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE I SAY THAT ALL THE TIME, AND TO ME, I, I, I, I MISS THEM DEARLY, DEARLY. UM, BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 65 [01:45:01] YEARS, I FEEL THAT WE'RE SO CLOSE. AND I TALK TO VENEZUELANS WHO LIVE IN OUR CITY, AND THEY'RE OVER THE, OVER THE STARS, UH, IN REGARDS TO THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY. AND THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. YOU KNOW, CUBA HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE SUPPRESSION OF DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA, UH, THROUGH INTELLIGENCE, THROUGH A LINE OF OTHER THINGS. AND NOW IT'S TIME. NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO DO OUR SMALL PART. THIS IS A SMALL GESTURE, BUT IT COMBINED SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT IT IS TIME, IT'S TIME TO PROTECT OUR HEMISPHERE, TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY, TO DO WHAT WE CAN. I'D ALSO, UM, I WAS SPEAKING TO OUR LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, UH, IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE. UH, I'D LIKE TO ADD THIS IF POSSIBLE. UH, SHE RECOMMENDED THAT WE ADD IT TO, TO OUR PRIORITIES, OUR LEGISLATION PRIORITIES, WHICH AGAIN, SENDS A MESSAGE TO OUR STATE LEADERS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS IMPORTANT. YEAH. YOU KNOW, AND CONSIDER EVERYBODY WHO'S IN FAVOR OF DEMOCRACY SHOULD WANNA PROTECT OUR INTERESTS. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTIES THAT I WANTED TO LEAVE THIS, UH, VERY CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY, WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE, UH, 365 DAYS AGO, WE SAY THAT WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA. WE ARE HERE TO PROTECT THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY THAT GIVE US EVERYTHING FOR ME, IN MY CASE. UM, THIS IS A NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATE OF OF AMERICA ISSUE. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT, UM, UM, PART SIN. YOU KNOW, THIS IS ABOUT SAVING THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA. I CAME FROM CUBA BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE FREE. I WANTED TO, TO LEAVE THE AMERICAN DREAM. THE AMERICAN DREAM IS NOT JUST TO BUY A, A CAR, BUY A HOUSE. IT'S THE FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY. AND THIS, THAT, THAT IS THE FREEDOM THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR, FOR EVERY SINGLE DAY OF OUR, OUR LIFE. MR. THE MAYOR. YES. SO, UM, I APPLAUD ALL OF YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP HERE IN, IN OUR CITY COMMISSION. CUBA'S STRUGGLING. THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT IS IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW THAT RUSSIA NO LONGER HAS THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE FIGHTING IN UKRAINE AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THEMSELVES BACK TO THE FOOTING THEY WERE IN. CHINA HAS INTERNAL STRUGGLES RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE PURGING THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY BECAUSE OF CORRUPTION, INTERNAL CORRUPTION THAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE HAPPENING, OR WHO KNOWS WHAT THE REAL REASON IS BEHIND IT. UM, VENEZUELA IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE AIDING CUBA. NOW, WHO DOES CUBA RELY ON? UNFORTUNATELY, CUBA HAS BEEN RELYING ON THESE COMPANIES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE UNITED STATES HELPING THEM FUND THEIR OPERATIONS THERE. SO THERE'S NOTHING MORE TIMELY. AND MR. TAX COLLECTOR, I MUST APPLAUD YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE KEYS TO THE DEMISE OF THE CUBAN REGIME. AND WHEN CUBA IS FREE, THEY'LL OWE IT TO YOU BECAUSE YOUR WORK HAS BEEN INTEGRAL IN ENSURING THAT THE CASTRO GOVERNMENT ISN'T ABLE TO CONTINUE. THE DI GOVERNMENT ISN'T ABLE TO CONTINUE, AND OUR CUBAN FAMILIES CAN FINALLY LIVE IN FREEDOM. AMEN. AND THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION. WE NEED TO START CRACKING DOWN ON ALL THE COMPANIES THAT ARE AIDING THAT GOVERNMENT AND KEEPING IT AFLOAT, BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR ONLY LIFELINE RIGHT NOW. AND WE'RE SEEING IT, YOU KNOW, CUBA, IF YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEOS FROM CUBA THE LAST FEW DAYS, THEY'VE HAD 40 HOURS WITHOUT POWER BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER HAVE THE OIL THAT'S COMING FROM VENEZUELA. MM-HMM . THAT'S JUST THE FIRST STEP OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. PEOPLE ARE ON THE STREETS CALLING FOR FREEDOM JUST LIKE THEY ARE IN IRAN, JUST LIKE THEY ARE AROUND THE WORLD. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HEAR A LOT ON THE, ON THE MEDIA, IN THE MEDIA ABOUT PROCESS, HOW WE'VE GOTTEN HERE. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND OUR SECRETARY OF STATE, AS THE MAYOR STATED, HAVE BEEN INTEGRAL IN ENSURING THAT FREEDOM IS FINALLY STARTING TO REACH MANY OF THE COUNTRIES. THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT POLITICAL PARTY, EVERY PRESIDENT HAS PROMISED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HELP FREEDOM. THEY'RE GONNA BRING FREEDOM. BUT TODAY WE CAN FINALLY SAY THERE'S A PRESIDENT IN THE OVAL OFFICE WHO'S WORKING TO BRING FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD AND KEY LEADERS LIKE YOURSELVES, LIKE THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION WHO ARE READY TO FIGHT THAT FIGHT AND STAND UP FOR FREEDOM. WE STAND NEXT TO YOU AND WE COMMEND YOU FOR THE STEP THAT YOU'RE TAKING. AND I'M HAPPY TO, TO SECOND THIS MOTION FROM THE VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, MAYOR, IF I MAY, COMMISSIONER OF COURSE. OF COURSE. COURSE. I WANTED JUST TO EXPAND THAT. SO THE POLICY, THE, THE, UH, THE URGING THAT I DID LAST WEEK URGES PRESIDENT TRUMP TO SUSPEND ANY LICENSES FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOING, UH, BUSINESS WITH CUBA. HOWEVER, IT'S NOT JUST AN URGING, IT DIRECTS OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, TO WORK WITH THE TAX COLLECTOR BECAUSE THE TAX COLLECTOR DOES THE LOCAL BUSINESS, UH, TAXES TO, UM, THE LOCAL BUSINESS LICENSES TO, TO GIVE US A REPORT AS TO THE FINDINGS IF THEY DO FIND BUSINESSES THAT [01:50:01] ARE WORKING WITH CUBA. SO ALONG THOSE LINES, I DO URGE YOU TO WRITE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP ON THIS AND CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, THE STEAM THAT WE HAVE BEHIND THIS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT. TO OUR, OUR, OUR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT CAN SUPPORT THIS MISSION. AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION ONCE I RECEIVE IT BACK FROM OUR ADMINISTRATION. SO I'D LIKE WE HAD, WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. I, I'D LIKE TO ADD A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO MY LEGISLATION TO INCLUDE BOTH THOSE POINTS, LIKE YOU SAID BEFORE, UH, WORKING WITH TAX COLLECTOR, WHICH IS, IT'S ALREADY IN THERE, BUT I WANT TO TWEAK IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S VERY CLEAR, BECAUSE AGAIN, I THINK HE HOLDS THE KEYS, A LOT OF THE KEYS TO REALLY, UH, BEING ABLE TO DRILL DOWN ON THIS INFORMATION AND FIND OUT THE RIGHT INFORMATION FROM OPEC, UH, AMENDMENT. YEAH. UM, BRIEFLY, SO VERY PROUD OF ALL THE COMMENTS MADE BY, UH, THE FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, BUT ESPECIALLY TO YOU, UM, COMMISSIONER, UH, ORBIS AND TO, TO YOU, UH, TAX COLLECTOR, UH, DARIO FERNANDEZ, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I KNOW ALL OF US HERE, LIKE SO MANY OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL, HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY AFFECTED, UM, BY THIS ILLICIT REGIME GOING BACK SOME 50 YEARS. UM, I I'M SURE I'M NOT SPEAKING OUTTA TURN TAX COLLECTOR, THAT WHEN YOU WERE LIVING IN CUBA, YOU WENT HUNGRY. YES. YEAH. DUE TO THE REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT RELENTLESSLY ATTACKING AND HARMING ITS OWN CITIZENS TO LINE THEIR OWN POCKETS AND PUSH THEIR OWN INTERESTS. YEAH. SO I APPLAUD YOU FOR COMING TO THIS COUNTRY AND STEPPING UP AND MAKING A, A CHANGE, A MEANINGFUL CHANGE ALONG WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, UM, TO BETTER, UM, THIS COUNTRY. BECAUSE MYSELF, AS THE SON OF CUBAN EXILES WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY WITH NOTHING TO ESCAPE A TOTALITARIAN REGIME, I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHY THESE FEDERAL, UH, SANCTIONS EXIST, RIGHT? THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT ABSTRACT. THEY, THEY, THEY EXIST TO, UM, DENY RESOURCES TO, UM, A GOVERNMENT THAT REPRESSES ITS PEOPLE. SO I THINK THAT, UM, I JOINED, UH, WITH MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES HERE ON URGING THE PASSING OF F THREE BECAUSE, UM, WE, WE CANNOT TOLERATE AND WE WILL NOT TOLERATE BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE, UH, FUNDING, UM, THESE ILLICIT, ILLICIT GOVERNMENT. AND IT EXISTS TO PROTECT OUR MORAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS. SO I ALSO ECHO THE COMMISSIONER'S, UM, REQUEST THAT WE REACH OUT TO OUR PRESIDENT AND TO OUR FELLOW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AS WELL, TO CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM THAT HAS ALREADY BEGUN. UH, FIRST WITH THE, UH, OUSTING OF THE CRIMINAL THAT WAS, UH, ILLEGALLY, UH, SERVING AND ACTING AS A DICTATOR OF VENEZUELA. AND WITH THAT MOMENTUM, I HOPE THAT IT EXTENDS FURTHER, UH, TO TOPPLE THE GOVERNMENT THAT RIGHT NOW IS AT ITS WEAKEST IN CUBA IN 50 YEARS, I THINK THAT THE, UH, RESOLUTION IS CLEAR, IT'S RESPONSIBLE, AND IT'S LONG OVERDUE. SO I WOULD URGE, URGE A YES VOTE. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO, TO END WITH THIS, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONER. UM, IT'S IMPORTANT WHAT YOU SAY, IF YOU READ SOME OF THESE, UH, GENERAL LICENSE OR THIS LICENSE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, IT'S CRAZY. UM, WHO HAVE MONEY IN CUBA TO BUY A JET KEY WHO HAVE MONEY IN CUBA TO BUY MERCEDES BENZ WHO HAVE MONEY IN CUBA TO BUY JUST, UH, TOYOTA. SO THIS IS NOT HUMANITARIAN. THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS THE TIME TO TALK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THEY NEED TO END THIS. AND THAT IS WHY WE, WE ARE PUTTING THIS OVER THERE BECAUSE WE FIRST, WE NEED TO PUT THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES FIRST. THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE. SOMETIME THE MONEY THAT THESE PEOPLE GENERATE FROM THE UNITED STATES, AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS, THEY GO BACK TO THE UNITED STATES TO CREATE ISSUES, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, FOUND THE DIFFERENT OTHER ORGANIZATION AGAINST TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE, AND WE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR BEST. OKAY. UH, MR. CLARK, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. UH, WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, JUST A QUICK QUESTION. THE, THE TWO FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS, UH, WERE ACCEPTED, RIGHT? BUT, UH, DID WE INCLUDE ADDING IT TO OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES? YES. THAT WAS PERFECT. SO JUST, SO IF WE CAN CLARIFY THAT THAT WAS ALREADY PART OF THE RESOLUTION. YES. SO WE'RE ADDING, WHAT PART ARE WE ADDING, UH, TO CONTACT, UH, THE PRESIDENT. OKAY. AND OBVIOUSLY TO WORK WITH A TAX COLLECTOR, UH, WAS THE SECOND POINT THAT WAS PROPOSED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER OF DISTRICT SIX. YES. AND THAT, THAT WAS ALREADY PART OF IT, BUT CERTAINLY CONTACTING JUST THE PRESIDENT, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE NEED TO SHOW THAT WE, WE ARE, WE ARE STANDING STRONG AS A COMMUNITY ON THIS FRONT. AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT CUBA, VENEZUELA, IRAN, IT'S ABOUT DEMOCRACY IN THE HEMISPHERE. IT'S ABOUT ABOUT PROTECTING OUR INTERESTS, OUR INTERESTS, OUR CONSTITUTION, WHAT HAS MADE THIS COUNTRY, THE COUNTRY TO BE EMULATED. YES. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND SOME FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER [01:55:01] LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING TIME. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT REST. THANK, UH, MOVING ON TO ITEM [2.-1. 26-1050 A Resolution of the Coral Gables Advisory Board on Disability Affairs urging that the City of Coral Gables prioritize the installation of audible pedestrian signals on the crosswalks of Miracle Mile.] TWO DASH ONE TIMES CERTAIN 10 30, SIR. MAYOR, HOW YOU DOING? VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THIS. SO THIS IS A, AN ITEM THAT CAME FORWARD FROM THE DISABILITY AFFAIRS BOARD. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT THEY'RE REALLY, THEY'RE ADVOCATING FOR. SO TODAY I HAVE MOST OF THE MEMBERS FOR THE DISABILITY AFFAIRS BOARD PRESENT. UM, SO THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHT ON IT. THIS WAS A MOTION THAT WAS MADE, UM, THAT RESULTED IN THAT RESOLUTION TO PUSH THIS ITEM FORWARD. SO I'D LIKE TO CALL UP THE ACTUAL BOARD MEMBERS SO THEY CAN GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT ON THE ITEM, SOME BACKGROUND AND WHY THEY FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUSH FORWARD. OKAY. YOU DID WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU, ALL OF YOU, YOU SO MUCH OUR FRIENDS FROM CRYSTAL WHO ARE HERE. YES, YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S NOT A DAY IN CORAL GABLES WHERE CRYSTAL'S NOT INVOLVED, WHICH IS A GREAT THING. , HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. GOOD MORNING. OKAY. UM, SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO, UH, DISCUSS THE AUDIBLE CROSSWALKS. AND IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE THAT OUR BOARD HAS BEEN IN CONVERSATION ABOUT, UM, FOR SOME TIME NOW. AND, UM, AS YOU KNOW, I'M NEW TO THE BOARD AND, UM, I, I DID SOME RESEARCH ON IT AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE CROSSWALKS WERE APPROVED OVER A DECADE AGO. AND, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT, UH, WHY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IMPLEMENTED. AND, UM, WE ARE HONORED TODAY TO HAVE, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD HERE, MAORI, WHO HAS BEEN ON THE BOARD AND NOW IS A CITIZEN ADVISOR. AND ALSO WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS TO DISCUSS THE AUDIBLE CROSSWALKS. SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY AND I WAS HOPING THAT MAYBE WILLIE COULD, UM, GIVE HIS INPUT BECAUSE HE HAS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS. UM, SO WILLIE, YOU'D LIKE TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND, AND DISTINGUISHED COMMISSIONS. UH, I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT, UH, WE DO NOT HAVE AUDIBLE CROSSWALKS IN THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF CORAL GABLES. UH, I SUFFER FOR RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA, SO I'M LOOKING AT YOU, COMMISSIONER, BUT I CAN'T SEE THE MAYOR AND I CAN'T SEE RICHARD. UH, I HAVE WHAT THEY CALL TUNNEL VISION. SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CROSS THE STREET, UH, EVEN WITH THOSE LITTLE NEW DEVICES WANDERING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, I, I URGE YOU TO, TO LISTEN TO OUR PLEA AND APPROVE THIS AND MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE IT'LL ALSO INCLUDE THE CITY IN ALL THE DISABILITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY. MARI, DID YOU OH, THANK YOU. UM, I SERVED A DISABILITY BOARD FOR SIX YEARS, AND FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE AUDIBLE CROSSINGS. AND, UH, IT'S NOT ONLY FOR THE LOW VISION, IT'S ALSO FOR SENIORS FOR CHILDREN MM-HMM . UM, FOR GUESTS THAT VISIT OUR CITY. SO REALLY THE ASK IS TO REALLY PRIORITIZE, UH, AT LEAST STARTING WITH MIRACLE MILE, THOSE AUDIBLE CROSSINGS AND THAT THEY ACTUALLY DO TAKE PLACE AND ACTUALLY BE IMPLEMENTED. AND THANK YOU. VANESSA, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? I JUST WANNA STEP UP HERE AND SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR TAKING, TO LISTENING TO US ON THIS ISSUE. UM, I FIND IT VERY IMPORTANT, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD SINCE 2019 AND MY JOB IS TO ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK ON THE, ON THEIR BEHALF. AND, UM, THIS IS AN, UH, AN ITEM THAT REALLY, TRULY IS SOMETHING OF REALLY A LOT OF IMPORTANCE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF VISITORS WE HAVE ON TOP OF THE CONSTITUENTS. UM, I KNOW THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY ONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. IT'S IN OUR, UM, I GUESS IN THE PAPERWORK SINCE 2013 THAT VIRGINIA JACKO HAS BROUGHT THIS UP. UM, SHE IS THE CEO FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND. SO IT IS, UM, AN IMPORTANT ASPECT THAT NOT ONLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, UM, ACROSS MANY SPANS. THIS WOULD HELP MANY INDIVIDUALS. AND SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO US. UH, AND YES, AT THAT MOMENT I WOULD LIKE TO, WE'RE SO HONORED THAT WE HAVE MS. VIRGINIA JACKO HERE WITH US AND ALSO MS. CAROL BRADY SIMMONS, WHO CAN SORT OF GIVE SOME CONTEXT ON THE HISTORY OF THE DISCUSSION. AND, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, THE AUDIBLE CROSSWALKS AND THEY CAN REALLY SPEAK, THEY'RE THE EXPERTS ON THE, ON THE ISSUE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH THIS ONCE AGAIN. RIGHT HERE. THERE WE GO. [02:00:02] MR. MAYOR. AH, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I ASK YOU WHEN YOU'VE GOT A STATE HIGHWAY, A COUNTY ROAD, AND THEY INTERSECT. SOME PEOPLE THINK, WELL, THAT'S GONNA BE DIFFICULT. THINK ABOUT IN LITTLE HAVANA WHERE YOU'VE GOT EIGHTH AVENUE, EIGHTH STREET, SEVENTH STREET, EIGHT. SOME YEARS AGO, I WAS TOLD IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, VIRGINIA, BECAUSE THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THE ENTIRE INTERSECTION. AND WITH THE HELP OF OUR CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER, AN INTER INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ORIENTATION MOBILITY SPECIALIST, WE MADE IT HAPPEN. WE WERE ASKED MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO TO PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION FOR CORAL GABLES. EVERY WEEK I GO TO AVANT GARDE ON MIRACLE MILE, DEPENDING UPON HOW I AM GETTING THERE, WHERE I'M DROPPED OFF, I SAY TO MYSELF, IF ONLY THERE WERE ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS. WHEN I GO TO THE PALACE AND I VISIT PEOPLE THERE THAT ARE LOW VISION AND I SAY, DO YOU GET OUT? DO YOU WALK DOWN MIRACLE MILE? AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT ONE OF THE EXCUSES ARE? OH NO, I'D PROBABLY BE KILLED AS I TRY TO CROSS THE STREET. IT IS NOT COSTLY TO RETRO EFFECT AN INTERSECTION. IT PROVIDES EQUAL ACCESS. AND WHILE WE'RE NO LONGER TALKING ABOUT DEI AND SOME OF THAT STUFF, THAT WAS PURE BS, THIS IS NOT BS. THIS IS GIVING EVERYBODY THE RIGHT TO ACCESS YOUR INTERSECTIONS AND MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CAROL BRADY SIMMONS. VOLUNTEERS AGAIN TO HELP CORAL GABLES BEGIN AGAIN. THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING AT KEY INTERSECTIONS, ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS. CAROL BRADY SIMMONS, TAKE OVER. HI. THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO DO IS INVITE YOU ALL TO COME TO MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO UNDER THE BLINDFOLD AND USE OCCLUDES AND MAYBE SOME DIFFERENT EYE DISEASES LIKE REUS PIGMENTOSA AND HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF WALKING WITH SOMEONE SIDED GUIDE AND ALSO WITHOUT MAYBE WITH A CANE. ALSO GOING OUT TO THE INTERSECTIONS AND JUST STANDING THERE CLOSING YOUR EYES AND LISTENING TO TRAFFIC PATTERNS. TRAFFIC APPEARS MUCH CLOSER AUDITORILY THAN IT ACTUALLY IS. IT'S VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE ON THE STREET AND YOU HEAR A LOT OF CARS GOING ON, AND THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND ON TOP OF THAT TO REALLY MAKE THE DESIGNATION OF WHEN TO CROSS. AND THEN ON TOP OF IT, WE HAVE INCREDIBLE CARS THAT ARE VERY SILENT NOW, AND YOU CAN'T HEAR THEM. SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT AND FOR THE SAFETY OF CORAL GABLES TO HAVE THESE PEDESTRIAN, UM, STREET CROSSINGS SO THAT YOUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WILL BE SAFE. AND SO I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY. YOU CAN CALL US ANYTIME. I WILL EVEN COME OUT HERE AND BRING SOME BLINDFOLDS AND DIFFERENT TYPE OF SIMULATION GOGGLES AND GIVE YOU THE EXPERIENCE AND JUST WALK IN AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SIGHTED, GOD, YOU DON'T HAVE TO U USE A CANE, BUT JUST SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF WHAT YOUR, UM, CONSUMERS AND YOUR RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING, AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WOULD BE TO HAVE PEDESTRIAN CROSS SIGNALS. A GREAT IMMEDIATE EVENT. MR. MAYOR , I PROMISE YOU, I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR YOU BEING HERE. TRUST ME. UM, I, I WANNA LET THE VICE MAYOR WHO HAS A, IT WAS REALLY THE, THE, THE REAL, THE LEADER HERE IN REGARDS TO A DA ISSUES HERE IN THE CITY. WE JUST FOLLOW HER AND WE DO, AS WE'RE TOLD IN REGARDS TO THAT. I'M VERY THOUGHTFUL. BUT BEFORE I HEAR FROM HER, I, I WANNA ASK THE MANAGER A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION. IS THIS A FUNDING ISSUE? DO WE HAVE THE FUNDING? WELL, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE FACING HERE? 'CAUSE I, I, I WANNA BE HONEST, HER CANDOR TO ME [02:05:01] IS AMAZING. AND I WISH MORE, MORE PEOPLE WERE LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TRY TO BEAT AROUND THE BUSH AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA. I MEAN, HER CANDOR WAS STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. THIS IS BS. THIS IS WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. UM, I NEED, I I, I APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S VALUE IN THAT. THERE'S VALUE IN THAT. SO I WANNA UNDERSTAND WHAT IS IT THAT'S HOLDING US BACK FROM BEING ABLE TO DELIVER THIS SERVICE THAT IS SO NEEDED? YES, MA'AM. UH, TRAFFIC CONTROL, UH, INCLUDING CIVILIZATION IS PART OF THE, OF WHAT A, WHAT THE COUNTY PROVIDES TO US. AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF A TAX, UH, BASE THAT, UH, TAX ROLL THAT GOES TO, TO DADE COUNTY. I THINK IT'S 30, 30, 30 2%, 32% OF EVERY DOLLAR, 32%. UH, SO WE, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH DADE COUNTY, AND WE, WE CURRENTLY ARE, HAVE WORKED WITH THE STATE TO, TO DO THIS ON VARIOUS INTERSECTIONS IN, IN ROAD. AND THE, AND THE STATE HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE, AND WE'LL WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO SEE IF THEY, IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN WORK THROUGH THE, UH, MORE IMPORTANT INTERSECTIONS, UH, FOR, FOR THIS. BUT, UH, BUT, UH, TRAFFIC CONTROL AND SIGNALIZATION IS, IS, IS A, IS FOR US AT DAY COUNTY FUNCTION. SO BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE VICE MAYOR, UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE, MAYBE WE CAN INCLUDE IF THE COMMISSION'S IN FAVOR OF INCLUDED THIS IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. SO, MR. MANAGEMENT, WE CAN SPEAK WITH CHELSEA AND HAVE, THIS HAS A, AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME FUNDING, UH, FUNDING ON THE MATTER. LAST NIGHT, I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH, WITH, WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE DEMI BOADA CABRERA, UH, ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PROJECTS. AND SHE WAS ASKING ME, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION? SO, MADAM VICE MAYOR, TAKE IT AWAY. SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA START BY GIVING YOU TWO TYPES OF, A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY. UM, ONE, I HAVE A SISTER THAT HAD A STROKE AT A YOUNG AGE AND HAS, UH, PERIPHERAL LOSS OF PERIPHERAL VISION. SO CROSSING A STREET, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE THE CARS COMING. HEARING IS ALSO AFFECTED. MY FATHER ALSO HAD MACULAR DEGENERATION. SO SOME PEOPLE WONDER WHY I HAVE THE GLASSES THAT AUTOMATICALLY CHANGE LIKE THAT TO DARK GLASSES. THAT'S WHY, 'CAUSE GENETICALLY, YOU KNOW, IT RUNS IN MY FAMILY. IT WAS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, OUR STAFF HAD A MEETING WITH FDOT AND SENT A COMPREHENSIVE LETTER ASKING FOR AUDIBLE CROSSWALKS AT KEY INTERSECTIONS ALONG LAJEUNE ROAD AND ALONG OTHER MAJOR INTERSECTIONS, INCLUDING SOUTHWEST EIGHTH STREET. EVERY FDOT STREET WAS ADDRESSED. THEY'RE DOING A ROAD SAFETY AUDIT. UH, THE, THE REPORT, AS BEST AS I CAN RECALL, CAN RECALL RIGHT NOW, WAS DUE TO US IN DECEMBER. BUT THE KEY INTERSECTIONS YOU'RE DISCUSSING WERE ADDRESSED LAJEUNE ROAD, CORAL WAY, PONDS AND CORAL WAY. EVERY LOCATION YOU HAVE, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WAS A PRIORITY. IN ADDITION, WHEN WE HAVE PROJECTS COMING THROUGH, SUCH AS THE PUBLIC'S SITE, IT'S ASKED FOR, AGAIN, FOR THOSE AUDIBLE CROSSWALKS TO BE INSTALLED AT VALENCIA ANDALUSIA SO PEOPLE CAN GET TO THE STORE. IT DOES COST MONEY. SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO COME UP FROM A DEVELOPER USUALLY WANTING TO DO IT. IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING WE INITIATE. AT LEAST THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE. BUT ALONG US, ONE, WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ALL THE WAY ALONG THE UNDERLINE. WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PEDESTRIANS ARE APPAREL CITED AND UNSIGHTED FOR TRAFFIC ALL THE TIME. UH, I ASKED OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEER WHO'S IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM TO FOLLOW UP WITH FDOT, UM, I DON'T THINK SHE'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY YET TO SPEAK WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY KEEP PLAYING FO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT PLAY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO USE THE WORD PLAY. THERE'S, THERE'S UNAVAILABILITY. I HOPE TO HAVE THE RESPONSE, UH, THROUGH HER TO THESE REQUESTS THAT WERE MADE BACK IN 20 23, 20 24, SO THAT WE HAVE A REAL TIME SCHEDULE NOW BECAUSE THE DEADLINE FOR THE ROAD SAFETY AUDIT HAS COME AND PASSED. AND WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT THERE YET. SO I AM FULLY SUPPORTIVE, BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE TO PRIORITIZE THE KEY INTERSECTIONS FIRST. EVERY LOCATION WHERE YOU HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HAS TO HAVE AN AUDIBLE CROSSWALK. SO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN GET ACROSS, WHETHER YOU'RE SIGHTED OR UNSIGHTED, THE TIME TO CROSS IS INADEQUATE. IF YOU DON'T PRESS THAT BUTTON, IT'S NOT GOING TO EVEN PUT UP A WALK SIGNAL. , IT DOESN'T, I, I EXPERIENCED IT HERE. WE HAVE AN AUDIBLE CROSSWALK AND HERNANDO AND BILTMORE WAY. UM, BUT IF YOU DON'T PRESS THAT BUTTON, [02:10:01] THERE IS NO TIME TO CROSS. WE'RE VERY DEPENDENT UPON THE DRIVERS SEEING US. AND THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT MY SISTER HAD WHEN SHE WALKED IN FRONT OF A TRUCK AND SHE WAS SHORTER THAN THE HOOD DIDN'T GO WELL. SO I'M, WE'LL MOVE THIS FURTHER PRIORITIZATION OF INTERSECTIONS WHERE WE HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION KEY INTERSECTIONS, LIKE WERE COVERED IN THE LETTER TO THE FDOT. UM, AND I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THE GOAL TO HAVE MORE OF THESE CROSSWALKS AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. OKAY. UM, DID I JUST SAY SOMETHING? YEAH. UM, FIRST OFF, I APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S, UH, INTERACTION WITH THIS ISSUE. UM, THAT'S THE RE THIS IS THE REASON WE HAVE ADVISORY BOARDS. 'CAUSE A LOT OF THINGS WE THINK THEY'RE BEING DONE. WE THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALREADY MOVING FORWARD AND THEY'VE HIT A SNAG IN THE ROAD. AND YOU HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE. AND YOU BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION, UH, VIRGINIA, I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR, UH, 25 YEARS SINCE MY DAYS AT CONGRESSWOMAN ROSS LAYTON'S OFFICE IS CON, UH, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. UM, AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A STEADFAST ADVOCATE, AND YOU HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUE WITH TELLING TRUTH TO POWER. UH, AND I COMMEND YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER, THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE, UM, FOR PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO HAVE HAD A NEED. UH, 'CAUSE YOU HAVE NEVER SAID NO. AND I DEFINITELY, UH, RECOMMEND THAT MY COLLEAGUES DO, UH, THE WALK, UH, THAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED. UM, IT REALLY GIVES YOU A PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU GENERALLY DON'T GET. 'CAUSE EVEN IF YOU'RE STANDING AT AN INTERSECTION WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE SAME THING. IT REALLY ISN'T. AND YOU, YOU MENTIONED A POINT ABOUT OUR VEHICLES TODAY, AND THEY DON'T SOUND THE SAME WAY. UM, I KNOW THAT FEDERALLY THEY'VE ADDED, UH, EITHER MUSIC SOUNDS OR, OR SOME SORT OF NOISE TO ENSURE. BUT IF THE CAR IS JUST ABOVE THE, UH, THE, THE MILEAGE, WHICH I THINK IS 20 MILES PER HOUR, SOMETIMES YOU JUST CAN'T HEAR IT. UH, AND, AND JUST US WALKING, WE CAN'T HEAR IT. AND, AND THE VICE MAYOR BROUGHT UP A VERY VALID POINT AS WELL ABOUT THE TIMING TO CROSS. 'CAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT. UH, I HAVE NOTICED THAT IN SOME INTERSECTIONS WHERE I HAVE PRESSED THE BUTTON AND I HAVE BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET ACROSS AT REGULAR SPEED, WE, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET ACROSS. SO A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, IF WE CAN ALSO REVIEW THE TIMING OF OUR, UH, CROSSWALKS AT THE INTERSECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT IS THERE'S ENOUGH TIME, UM, THAT'S IN FOR FOLKS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL TIME TO GET ACROSS. THAT'S IN THE LETTER TO THE FDOT. IT'S A PEDESTRIAN LEAD SIGNAL. YEP. OKAY. SO THAT, THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN COVERED. PERFECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO, OH, COMMISSIONER, GO AHEAD. JUST VERY, VERY BRIEFLY, UM, I'M COMPLETELY IN SUPPORT OF THE VICE MAYOR'S RESOLUTION, AND I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF OUR, UM, FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HERE. UM, JUST THIS SUGGESTION OF DOING A WALK, I, I'M GONNA RELUCTANTLY DO IT MM-HMM. BECAUSE JUST YOUR SUGGESTION OF IT KIND OF MADE ME THINK ABOUT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. UM, AND, UM, AND, AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESS THROUGH, THROUGH EMPATHY, YOU CAN OPEN THE PATH TO ACTIVISM AND GET SOMETHING DONE. AND I WANT TO JUST TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL, UH, PRIVILEGE TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR BEING HERE. BY THE WAY, THIS IS COMMISSIONER LADA. UM, THANK EACH OF YOU, UH, FOR BEING HERE BECAUSE, UM, UH, IN, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, YOU ALL ARE ALL DEALING WITH ONE CHALLENGE, PHYSICAL, AND, UM, ARE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND COMING HERE AS THE MAYOR NOTED TO EDUCATE US, UH, FIRSTHAND IS INVALUABLE. AND, UM, WILLIE REGI, UM, YOU, YOU ARE, UH, A FORCE AND, UH, YOU ARE ON MY APPOINTEE TO THE DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD. AND, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, HE ASKED ME, YOU WANT ME TO KIND OF SIT BACK OR, OR YOU WANT ME TO BE AT THE FRONT LINE? I SAID, WILLIE, I WANT YOU TO BE YOU. AND WILLIE, BY THE WAY, IS A, A PROUD, AND WE ARE PROUD OF HIM, VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MY FRIEND. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. AND HE WAS A STAR BASEBALL PLAYER ON TOP OF ALL THAT. SO, TO TO BE, UM, UH, DEALING WITH, UH, UH, RETTINO PIGMENTOSA, I THINK RE RE IS, UM, PARTICULARLY DIFFERENT, DIFFICULT FOR A MAN FOR RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA, FOR, FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD RP, FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD SUPERHUMAN VISION AT ONE TIME, TO ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE, BOTH ON THE BASEBALL DIAMOND AS WELL AS ON THE BATTLEFIELD. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WELL SAID, COMMISSIONER. [02:15:01] UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS HAPPEN. UM, COMM UM, MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MR. MAYOR, CAN WE JUST, UM, RESTATE THE MOTION SO THAT WE'RE, WE'RE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD? SO IT'S A MOTION, AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, IT WAS A, A MOTION TO PRIORITIZE THE KEY INTERSECTIONS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE LETTER TO FDOT. NO, NOT ONLY IN THE LETTER TO FDOT, BUT THE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COUNTY, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE ARE COUNTY INTERSECTIONS AS WELL. UH, EVERY, EVERY PLACE WHERE WE HAVE, UM, TRANSPORTATION HUBS, BUS STOPS, TROLLEY STOPS, IF WE HAVE A SIGNALED INTERSECTION, WOULD ASK THE COUNTY TO, BECAUSE, UH, DOUGLAS ROAD IS, IS A COUNTY INTERSECTION. SO, UH, EACH ONE OF THOSE NEED TO BE PRIORITIZED. AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD, THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD, UH, THROUGH THE GUIDANCE, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE VICE MAYOR RUN POINT ON THIS, UM, IS I WANNA UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH DELIVERING THIS AS PER THE, THE LETTER THAT THE VICE MAYOR'S TALKING ABOUT. SO WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT ACROSS THE BOARD SO WE CAN REALLY ATTACK THIS AT THE STATE AND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET AS MUCH MONEY TO REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. CAN I [D. CONSENT AGENDA] HAVE A MOTION FOR CONSENT AGENDA? I MISSED THAT ONE. MOVE IT SECOND BEFORE THE VOTE. ADOPTING THE CONSENT AGENDA IS TAKEN. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OR REVIEW OF ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO TIME. CERTAIN ITEM [H.-5. 26-1073 Update on City Hall Floor Plans.] H FIVE. MR. MANAGER, WHAT IS THE TIME THAT YOU THINK YOU NEED FOR THIS PRESENTATION, MR. MANAGER? ITEM H FIVE TIME, SIR, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK YOU NEED FOR THAT? UM, FIVE MINUTES. I, I THINK IT'S, WE'RE DISCUSSING THE ACTUAL FINAL FLOOR PLANS, MAYOR, SO PROBABLY 15 MINUTES. OKAY. PERFECT. MR. HEBA, IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU. IT'S MORE THAN THAT. IT'S GONNA HAVE A BATHROOM BREAK. , THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UH, PLEASURE TO BE HERE. AND, UH, PLEASURE TO TALK ABOUT OUR FAVORITE PROJECT, ALL OF OUR FAVORITE PROJECTS HERE. UH, WHAT WE WANTED TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY IS ACTUALLY THE FLOOR PLANS, BECAUSE WE, WHEN WE WENT THROUGH LAST TIME, WE DIDN'T QUITE HAVE ALL OF THAT NAILED DOWN AND, AND FINISHED. UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE, UM, THERE WE GO. WE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, OUTDOOR COURTYARD AND THE CHANGES WE WERE MAKING THERE. BUT WE WANT TO JUST GIVE YOU, UH, AN IDEA OF WHERE THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, UH, SHAKE OUT AND, AND WHO'S ACTUALLY IN, IN THIS SPACE. THE CITY MANAGER IS, HIS AREA IS, UH, CODED IN, IN RED OVER HERE. AND HIS OFFICE IS IN THE SAME PLACE. IT IS, IT IS IN TODAY. WHEREVER POSSIBLE. WE HAVE TRIED TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY WITH WHAT WAS HISTORICALLY THERE, UM, WITH, WITH JUST, UH, A HANDFUL OF ADJUSTMENTS, UH, THROUGHOUT ON THE, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. IN, IN GREEN IS, UH, BILLY'S OFFICE, OUR CITY CLERK, UH, WHICH, WHICH YOU CAN SEE FALLS OUT, UH, VERY NICE, VERY SIMILAR TO THE WAY THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS. I THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE DELIGHTED WITH, WITH BOTH OF THEIR SPACES. UH, THERE'S ALSO RESTROOMS ON EACH FLOOR NOW, SO WE WON'T HAVE TO GO DOWNSTAIRS TO FIND A RESTROOM. UH, SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S GOOD. WE'VE GOT BREAK ROOMS ON EACH FLOOR, ALSO ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE DRAWING OVER HERE. AND SOME FLEXIBLE SPACES AS WELL. SO WE, WE'VE GOT A NICE, UH, LAYOUT, WE THINK HERE FOR, UM, FOR THE, THE GROUND FLOOR WITH, WITH A GALLERY SPACE, A LARGE, UH, CONFERENCE ROOM, UH, ON THE GROUND, UH, ON THE GROUND FLOOR, UH, AS, AS WELL, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. UM, MOVING TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND THE MOST IMPORTANT FLOOR, YOUR FLOOR, THE ELECTEDS FLOOR . UM, YOU, I THINK WE, WE TALKED, UH, UH, ENOUGH LAST TIME, AND WE'LL GO OVER BRIEFLY A AGAIN, THE COMMISSION CHAMBER CHANGES THAT YOU'LL, YOU'LL SEE THE ENTERINGS ONE ONE MORE TIME. UM, BUT WHAT I WOULD WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT HERE IS THE, THE LOCATIONS OF EVERYONE'S, UH, OFFICE AND HOW WE'VE ORGANIZED THIS THAT'S GOT A, HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION. ALL THE, UM, THE, THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, AREA IS RIGHT ON THE CENTER LINE OF THE BUILDING, LINING UP WITH THE MAYOR'S, UH, BALCONY. UH, WHICH I THINK, UM, UH, MAYOR LAGO WILL GET TO USE AGAIN IN THE NEW SCHEME OF THINGS. UM, IF I MAY INTERJECT, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT'LL MAKE THE BLOGS TOMORROW. UH, I, WITH THE TIMELINE FOR CONSTRUCTION, I'M PRETTY SURE I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO USE THAT OFFICE . I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO USE IT, BUT I DO WANT WORKING HARD. BUT I DO WANNA MENTION SOMETHING HERE THAT, UH, THAT, UH, SINCE YOU'RE THE ARCHITECTS, AND I WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD. I THINK IT'S [02:20:01] FUNNY. IT'S FUNNY. CAN WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RECEPTION AREA NOW, WHERE MY OLD OFFICE USED TO BE AND WHAT'S GOING THERE NOW? YOU SEE THE HALLWAY, HOW IT SAYS THE CORRIDOR, WHAT IS SEPARATING THE CORRIDOR, UH, TO THE RIGHT? HUH? YOU SEE THE CORRIDOR? SEE HOW YOU HAVE, YOU SEE, YOU HAVE YOUR CORRIDOR, RIGHT? AND YOU HAVE YOUR STAIRCASE. OOPS, LET ME GO BACK. SORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU SEE HOW YOU HAVE YOUR, YOUR CORRIDOR RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR STAIRCASES. YES. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. WHAT DO YOU SEE THERE? HE WANTS YOU TO SAY THAT THERE'S A WALL TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. YOU'RE SEEING YOU, YOU'RE SEEING, YOU HAVE, UM, YOUR CHIEF, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. I'M TALKING ABOUT, THERE'S A, THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S TWO LINES. THE PARTITION, THERE'S TWO PARTITIONS. WHAT ARE THOSE? I'M SORRY. SOMEONE'S GONNA HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS TO ME. RICK GETS IT. GO AHEAD. OH, I THINK, I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE RIBS IN THE, IN THE CEILINGS. NOTHING ON THE FLOOR. THOSE, I MEAN, IF, UNFORTUNATELY, I'M, I'M NOT SURE HOW TO ACTUALLY USE THIS AS A POINTER. IS THIS, IT'S ALL GOOD. IT'S ALL GOOD. IT'S ALL GOOD. WHAT IS THIS, THIS AND THIS? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT. THAT IS THE, THE REFLECTED ARCHWAY THAT IS IN THE CEILING WHEN YOU GO OUT AND LATER ON, TAKE A LOOK UP AT THE CEILING AND YOU'RE GONNA SAY, OH, YES, THERE'S AN ARCH GOING ACROSS THE PLASTER CEILING. OKAY. SO LET ME TELL YOU, LEMME TELL YOU WHAT I THINK SHOULD GO THERE. I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. YOU NEED TO HAVE A CONTROL. YOU NEED TO HAVE A CONTROL. I REMEMBER WHEN THE MANAGER AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE ONE DAY I WALKED INTO MY OFFICE AND THERE WAS SOMEBODY USING MY BATHROOM. THAT'S A PROBLEM. AND I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER THAT THROUGH MULTIPLE PUBLIC RECORDS, THROUGH MULTIPLE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS AND THROUGH LOTS OF HEARTACHE AND DAMAGE, I GOT A LOT OF HEARTACHE FROM CERTAIN PEOPLE ABOUT PUTTING A CONTROL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEPT OUR OFFICE SAFE AND SECURE. IF YOU HAD A PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING, AS YOU'RE AWARE, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY PLANNING AND ZONING, BOARD MEETINGS, PEOPLE, YOU WOULD TAKE PHONE CALLS LITERALLY ADJACENT TO MY OFFICE BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE NOOK WHERE YOU COULD HIDE AND GET AWAY FROM THE CHAMBERS. SO I REALLY THINK THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND FOR STAFF, UH, THAT THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF PARTITION WALL. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING THERE WHICH BREAKS THE CORRIDOR, BOTH ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SIDE. I THINK THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING THERE, BECAUSE I THINK IT PROVIDES THE NECESSARY SECURITY AND THE BREAK WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE CONGREGATING IN THOSE HALLWAYS, UM, THROUGH THE MAYOR. BUT YOU, FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, I MEAN, IT'S KINDA SMALL, BUT LIKE MR. HEISENBERG, WHERE, WHERE WOULD THE MAYOR'S OFFICE BE? IT'S IN DEAD CENTER, RIGHT? YEAH. SO THEN, BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A CONTROL. YEAH, I WOULD. THAT IS THE MAYOR'S. YES, YOU DO HAVE A CONTROL. YOU KNOW, YOUR CONTROLS. PP PAUSE FOR A SEC. FELT, LET ME EXPLAIN THIS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. AND I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO OPERATE THE POINTER OVER HERE, BUT, UM, BUT, BUT WE CAN'T OPERATE A POINTER, BY THE WAY. YOU DO HAVE A CONTROL OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. YOUR CONTROL, UHHUH YOUR CONTROL WOULD BE THE TWO DOORS THAT ARE THERE THAT OBVIOUSLY WOULDN'T BE TOUCH OR HISTORIC. RIGHT? TWO DOORS. YOU CLOSE 'EM, YOU CLOSE 'EM, YOU DON'T OPEN 'EM. AND YOU USE THE, YOU USE THE, YOU USE THE, THE DOOR TO THE RIGHT, WHERE THE RIGHT OFFICE, UHHUH SAYS MAYOR'S OFFICE. RIGHT? RIGHT. MAYOR'S DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE THE MAIN ENTRY POINT. MAIN ENTRY POINT TO YOUR OFFICE IS THE DOUBLE TIP DOORS, UM, WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, RIGHT IN FRONT. THEY WALK UP, GREET BY, BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. OKAY? SO THAT'S THE CONTROL. YOU, YOU HAVE YOUR, UH, THE CHIEF, UH, ENGAGEMENT OFFICER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE WITH A PRIVATE OFFICE. MM-HMM . WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THIS DRAWING. AND THEN YOUR OFFICE HAS THE, THE ENTRANCE THAT COMES FROM THE ADMIN, YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE OFFICE, OR DIRECTLY FROM THE OUT OUTSIDE. SO I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WOULD BE DONE WITH THE FUTURE MAYOR IS GOING TO BE, 'CAUSE THERE, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF CONTROL. YOU HAVE THE MAYOR'S, THE MAYOR'S, ADMINISTRATION OFFICE, THOSE DOORS WOULD BE CLOSED. YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD USE THAT AS A MAIN ENTRANCE. AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO SEE, WHICH HAS A DOOR. THAT DOOR WOULD NEVER BE USED. IT WOULD JUST BE LOCKED. BECAUSE YOU'D WANT PEOPLE TO COME IN THROUGH THE MA THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE, AND THEN BE WALKED INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THAT'S THE SAME THING I'M SAYING FOR THE COMMISSIONERS. AND WHEN I, WE HAVE, UH, EACH, EACH ONE OF YOUR OFFICES HAS A, HAS A LOCKING DEVICE. AND, UH, AND, UH, YOU'RE ONLY GONNA BE ABLE TO GET IN IF YOU'RE AUTHORIZED. WE HAVE A RECEPTION DESK THAT, THAT WE VERY MUCH PUT IN OVER HERE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE TO THE, UM, AND AGAIN, I WISH I COULD POINT AT IT HERE. UM, I SEE IT TO THE RIGHT. YOU HAVE THE, UM, THE LINES ALONG WITH, ALONG WITH YOUR COMMISSIONER, UH, LIAISONS AND YOUR, UH, YOUR SENIOR LIAISON OFFICE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, THAT THOSE OFFICES ARE [02:25:01] FOR WHAT WE'D REALLY SERVE EVERY ONE OF YOU. UM, BUT THE, THE RECEPTIONIST THERE IS THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWING FOLKS TO GO INTO THE OFFICES UNLOCKING DOOR, PRESSING A BUTTON FROM, FROM, YOU KNOW, HIS OR HER DESK AND, AND, OR, OR ESCORTING A GUEST DIRECTLY TO THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE. OR I, I BELIEVE, AND I THINK IT WILL SERVE, NOT ME, THIS IS FOR FUTURE ELECTED OFFICIALS. I WON'T BE HERE WHEN THIS IS BEING COMPLETED. UM, I'LL BE HERE TO CUT THE RIBBON IF THEY INVITE ME, WHICH WOULD BE VERY NICE. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS TOLD ON THE RECORD HERE. REMEMBER, THIS IS ON YOUR WATCH. YOU GOTTA GET THIS DONE. MAYOR COMM, REMEMBER THAT? COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, WE GOT IT DONE. IT'S ON MY WATCH. SO, UM, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WHERE IT SAYS RECEPTION, YOU GOTTA HAVE A CONTROL WALL THERE. IF MY COLLEAGUES WANT IT. I THINK SIMILAR TO WHAT I HAVE THERE IN MY OFFICE NOW, IT HAS BOWED, YOU KNOW, GOOD DIVIDENDS, UH, BECAUSE IT PROTECTS THE AREA AND IT DOES NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO WALK IN AND OUT OF THAT HALLWAY CONGREGATING IN THAT HALLWAY. UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE DOING, FOR EXAMPLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'RE DOING OFFICE HOURS. I DO OFFICE HOURS EVERY FRIDAY. I HOPE THAT, UM, THE NEXT MAYOR WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. UH, SOMETIMES I HAVE 20, 30, 40 PEOPLE IN THAT HALLWAY, AND I DON'T WANT IT TO BE MADNESS. SO I MAKE SURE THAT I CAN CORRAL DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT, UH, GROUPS. LEMME GO BACK TO THAT. AND WE MEET WITH STAFF AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT. I JUST THINK THAT IT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT UNMANAGEABLE IF YOU, IF THAT CORRIDOR IS OPEN THROUGHOUT, THAT THAT CORRIDOR IS IN FACT A WAITING ROOM FOR, FOR EVERYONE ON THE FLOOR WHENEVER, WHENEVER THEY HAVE OFFICE HOURS. I DO WANNA POINT OUT SOME OTHER THINGS THAT, UM, THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE LARGE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO WAIT FOR. HOW DO YOU, WHERE DO YOU PLACE, UH, THE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WAITING THAT WOULD, WOULD BE NECESSARY IF, UM, MULTIPLE COMMISSIONERS WERE HAVING, UH, OFFICE HOURS AT THE SAME TIME? LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, OKAY? OKAY. WELL, ALL DUE RESPECT. IF YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND YOU'RE HAVING A PRIVATE MEETING WITH SOMEONE, AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR MAKING NOISE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T, IT AFFECTS THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS. SO YOU NEED TO HAVE A BREAK, A BREAK SO THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING ABLE TO WALK DOWN THAT HALLWAY. I, I'M, I'M A TESTAMENT TO IT. TRUST ME, THERE'S PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT USED THAT WALL TO THE, TO, TO, TO, TO BANG ME UP AS MUCH AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN IN AN EFFORT TO CAUSE AS MUCH HAVOC THAT IT WAS A VANITY ISSUE, THAT IT WAS AN EFFORT FOR ME JUST TO HAVE A VANITY WALL. THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID. I THINK IT, THAT'S WHAT THEY USED IN THE BLOGS. BUT NOW IT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT IT, NOT ONLY DID WE GO THROUGH HISTORIC, NOT ONLY DID WE GO THROUGH STAFF, IT'S NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T DAMAGE THE HISTORIC INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING. I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS, THAT'S THE ONLY ITEM THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP. EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. YOU HIT A 99.9%, MR. HEBA. OKAY? I'M DISAPPOINTED. . I KNOW. I CAN TELL BY THE WAY, HOW MUCH YOU'RE PUSHING BACK ON ME. . I CAN TELL. UM, SO MY POINT IS THAT, UH, THE ISSUE IS THAT YOU'RE HAVING A MEETING IN A COMMISSION WITHIN A COMMISSION OFFICE WITH SOMEONE. AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN A PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING OR IN A HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING, AND THEY'RE ALL COMING OUT CONGREGATING IN THAT AREA. CASE IMPORTANT. YOU HAVE A COMMISSION MEETING AND SOMEONE IS HAVING A MEETING. THERE, THERE HAS TO BE A BREAK. SO THE NOISE AND THERE'S NO SPILLOVER IN FRONT OF THE OFFICE. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO, SO MAYBE I CAN, I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT. I CAN'T BELIEVE WE SPENT THIS MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS. SOMEBODY ADD JUST A TINY BIT OF CONTEXT. OKAY? I ASKED FOR SOLID WOOD DOORS TO BE PUT BETWEEN MY OFFICE AND COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S OFFICE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A LITTLE LOUDER VOICE THAN I DO. AND WHEN YOU WERE HAVING MEETINGS, UM, I MIGHT AS WELL JUST BE IN THE ROOM WITH YOU BECAUSE THERE WAS A GLASS PIECE OF GLASS IN BETWEEN. SO SOLID WOOD, IT HELPS DEAL WITH THE NOISE. THE OTHER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHICH DOOR TO ENTER TO JUST COME IN AND YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF ANOTHER MEETING. SO IT'S DISRUPTIVE. AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE PERSON WHO'S GONNA GET THE MOST VISITS, WHICH IS THE MAYOR, WHOEVER'S THE MAYOR, EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE MAYOR. SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PEOPLE JUST WALKING IN TO THE MEETINGS. SO THINK ABOUT THIS. YOU MIGHT HAVE A BUZZER SYSTEM. UH, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE AN OPEN WINDOW THERE FOR THE RECEPTIONIST. WE HAVE, IT'S A, IT'S A MAJOR RECEPTION DESK, BUT YOU'RE EXPECTED TO WALK UP TO THAT DESK TO GET INTO ANY ONE OF OPEN OF THOSE OFFICES. IT'S OPEN, IT'S AN OPEN WINDOW. OKAY? YES. TAKE THESE COMMENTS, GO TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER AND SEE IF WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WE, WE CERTAINLY WILL. UM, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO REDUCE NOISE. UH, WE CAN SOUND ISOLATE EVERY ONE OF THOSE WALLS SO THAT, SO THAT THEY'RE SOUND INSULATED WITH AN SDC RATING OF OVER 50. UM, WE CAN, WE CAN THAT WE'LL BE DOING. YES. AMEN. WE SHOULD DO THAT. . YES. YES. YEAH. SO GLASS, THE GLASS ENCLOSURES, I DUNNO IF THEY'RE HISTORIC OR NOT, BUT [02:30:01] THE GLASS, THEY'RE NOT PRACTICAL GOOD WHATSOEVER. THE GLASS IS SO HARD. THE SOUND IS BOUNCING OFF OF IT. UM, WE'LL USE ACOUSTICAL PLASTER ON THE CEILINGS OF THOSE ROOMS ALL OVER, UH, AS, AS THIS ROOM ONCE HAD. AS IT WILL HAVE AGAIN, AS, AS, AS WE GO FORWARD THROUGH, THROUGH THE MAYOR, EXCUSE ME. YES. THROUGH THE MAYOR, UH, MAYOR, WE, WE UNDERSTAND THE, THE ACOUSTICS ISSUE THERE. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF SO THAT WHEN, WHEN YOU ALL ARE MEETING IN YOUR OFFICES, THOSE SHOULD BE PRIVATE AREAS AND WE WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THAT, THAT THAT'S PART OF THE DESIGN. SO I JUST WANNA, I WANNA, I WANT FOR THE RECORD AGAIN, OKAY. I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE WHEN THIS IS DONE. I'M JUST TELLING YOU THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S BENEFICIAL MOVING FORWARD. I THINK IT'S BENEFICIAL MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE OF WHAT I'VE SEEN, WHAT I'VE SEEN HAPPEN, UH, UH, HERE. SO IT'S NOT LIKE I, IT'S NOT A VANITY PROJECT. I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT USE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE. AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE. NOT A LOT, BUT A LITTLE BIT. AND, UH, I, I, I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN THAT OFFICE FOR FIVE YEARS, SO I, I WANT THE NEXT PERSON WHO HAS THE PRIVILEGE TO HOLD THAT SEAT, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AT THEIR DESK AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE IT INSIDE THE BATHROOM PRIVATELY, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO HEAR YOU . THAT'S HOW, THAT'S HOW PAPER THIN THE WALLS ARE. AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE INTERESTING THAN WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF A HISTORIC, UH, PRESERVATION MEETING OR, AND SOMEBODY'S STANDING AT YOUR DOOR AND YOU HAVE TO WALK OUTSIDE, OPEN THE DOOR AND SAID, CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR, SIR? WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, CAN YOU GO SIT, UH, GO SIT BY THE CORRIDOR OR GO SIT BY THE, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE A MEETING HERE WITH AN, WITH A RESIDENT OR WITH AN EMPLOYEE. JUST TRYING TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PRIVACY THROUGH THE TWO, THE MAYOR BRIEFLY. SO FOR ME, UM, UH, I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS, UH, BUT FOR, THERE'S ANOTHER ISSUE, AND I GUESS IT'S A GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT, UM, IS SAFETY, RIGHT? AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, ALL OF THESE CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, PRIVACY AND BEING ABLE TO GET THE WORK OF THE, OF THE, OF THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY DONE. BUT CURRENTLY, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE SOLVING FOR IT, RIGHT? BUT ONE BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW FOR ME IS THAT CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC COULD COME THROUGH, UM, THE MAIN DOORS ON THE FIRST FLOOR, UP THE STAIRS, COME IN THROUGH THE DOUBLE DOOR, WHERE ME, MY LIAISON, OUR LIAISONS ARE WORKING. AND THEN THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHO'S COMING THROUGH, WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THEM COMING THROUGH IS. AND MANY TIMES NOT, I WOULDN'T SAY MANY TIMES, BUT IT IS NOT INCONCEIVABLE THAT YOU CAN HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN AND THEY MAY BE IRATE ABOUT SOMETHING. AND THEN THE FRONTLINE IS ONE OF MY, MY LIAISONS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE CONFIDENCE OR SAFETY IN DISCHARGING THE JOB. SO CAN YOU JUST TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THIS PROPOSED PLAN ADDRESSES THAT FOR THEM? THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. THROUGH THE MAYOR. WE SHOULD MENTION, UM, IF YOU, UH, IF WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK AT THE FIRST FLOOR. THANK YOU. UH, WE ARE USING, WE ARE USING THE COURTYARD ENTRANCE AS THE MAIN ENTRANCE. MM-HMM . AND THERE, THERE IS, THERE IS A, A SCREENING AT THAT, AT THAT FIRST, AT THAT FIRST FLOOR. THE TWO OTHER DOORS ARE JUST USED FOR FIRE. SO THOSE WILL BE LOCKED. YOU CAN GET OUT, BUT YOU CAN'T COME IN ON THE, ON, ON THE TWO SIDE DOORS. SO THE, THE DOOR AT THE, AT THE, AT THE LOBBY AREA, WHICH IS DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE, THAT WILL HAVE SECURITY ON YOUR RIGHT. AND YOU WILL GO THROUGH THE MAG, UH, MAGNETOMETER TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THERE ARE, THAT, UH, THERE ARE NO WEAPONS, ET CETERA, OR, OR WHATEVER, UH, AT THAT POINT. AND IF YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE, THE GREEN AT THE VERY BOTTOM NEXT TO THE RED, THAT'S THE SECURITY AREA. SO EVERYBODY WILL COME. SO THAT WILL BE THE ENTRY OF THE BUILDING. WE ALSO HAVE ADDED IN THAT SAME ROOM, UH, CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION MONITORS, SO THAT THE OFFICER THAT IS ON DUTY THERE HAS A VIEW OF ABSOLUTELY EVERY AREA THAT YOU, WE COULD ASK FOR ON EVERY FLOOR. BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYONE'S FLOOR. THIS ATTORNEY ALSO COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, IRATE THROUGH, THROUGH THE MAYOR. SO THEN IF THAT'S WONDERFUL. AND SO, BUT IF ONE OF THE, UM, UM, FOLKS MANNING THE RECEPTION AREA ON THE SECOND FLOOR, THE LIAISON OR WHOEVER'S AT THE RECEPTION WOULD NEED ASSISTANCE. IS THERE SOME SORT OF LIKE A BUTTON OR A COMMUNICATION DEVICE TO GET TO SECURITY THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. WE HAVE THAT NOW, COMMISSIONER, WE, WE HAVE A SAFETY AND SECURITY CONSULTANT, RANDY ATLAS, PHD, WHO IS ACTUALLY GONNA MEET WITH US, UH, NEXT WEEK, I BELIEVE, RICK. UM, TO, TO GO BACK OVER HIS EARLIER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HE MADE IN, IN THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN PHASE, TO MEET WITH STAFF AND GO OVER EACH LOCATION, UH, MEET WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE. PETER, WE, WE'VE GOT THOSE SCHEDULED ALSO. I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA MAKE THIS REALLY EASY. WE'RE, WE'RE ALL OVER THE SECURITY ISSUE. I'M GONNA MAKE THIS REALLY EASY, REALLY EASY. I, I, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T EVEN THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. I JUST, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION. I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION. I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS. I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO DO EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE THERE NOW FOR THE FUTURE COMMISSIONERS AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SECURITY IN REGARDS TO A WALL WITH A DOOR THAT THE RECEPTIONIST WILL SEE. THAT PERSON THERE WILL LET THEM IN AND THEY CAN COME IN AND DEAL WITH THE COMMISSIONERS. THAT'S MY [02:35:01] MOTION. IF, IF I COULD TAKE IT FURTHER ACTUALLY, BUT, BECAUSE I THINK YOU DO TECHNICALLY HAVE THAT DOOR, BUT YOUR AID SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY FOR, OR THE MAYOR'S AGE SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED IN THE PAST. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF PROTECTION ALSO FOR WHOEVER THE MAYOR IS AT THE TIME. AND I DON'T THINK THAT, THAT, I'M SEEING THAT, I KNOW THAT WE'RE VERY LIMITED IN THE ABILITY BECAUSE THE STAIRCASE IS RIGHT THERE. BUT I'VE HAD PEOPLE IN MY BATHROOM AS WELL, AND I'VE SHOWN UP TO MY OFFICE AND THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THE BATHROOM IN MY OFFICE. I'VE, AND THE NOISE ISSUE HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE. BUT MY CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SECURITY COMPONENT. BECAUSE LIKE THE MAYOR SAYS, YOU'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY AND SOMEBODY STANDING RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR LISTENING, OR PEOPLE JUST WALK IN. THEY THINK THAT IT'S THE RECEPTION DESK BECAUSE I'M RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS. SO, SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA REITERATE THIS AGAIN AND I, AND I, I WANNA SEE IF THIS MAKES SENSE. OKAY. WHERE IT SAYS RECEPTION, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY TWO LINES. IT'S THE ARCHWAY UP ABOVE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT. YES, YES. THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF WALL PANELING SYSTEM. KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE HAVE THERE NOW, WHICH WE INSTALLED, WHICH, IF YOU NEED A LITTLE INFORMATION, I THINK WE CAN SEND YOU THE BLOG POST. I THINK I, I THINK WE CAN SEND YOU THE BLOG POST, WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY LEAKED BY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, UH, TO MAKE AN ISSUE ABOUT IT BEING A VANITY PROJECT FOR MYSELF, WHICH IT WAS NOT. AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY THAT THAT WAS INSTALLED. AND I WILL TELL YOU WHY IT'S INSTALLED. AND THE MANAGER KNOWS VERY WELL. 'CAUSE HE HELPED ME WITH IT. WE WENT THROUGH ALL THE BOARDS. IT WAS APPROVED BY HISTORIC, IT WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY. AND WE DIDN'T TOUCH THE FLOOR OR THE WALLS TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECTED THE BUILDING. WE INSTALLED THAT BECAUSE MY STAFF MEMBERS AT THAT POINT ENCOUNTERED AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD AN INCISION FROM HIS FOREHEAD ALL THE WAY TO HIS BACK AND CAME IN THERE INTO THE OFFICE AND WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH MY FEMALE STAFF. OKAY. AND IT WAS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION AS A MANAGER WILL TELL YOU. AND WE HAD TO TAKE ACTION. OKAY? BUT THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE BLOGS OR MADE THE BLOGS, WAS THAT THE MAYOR'S PUTTING TOGETHER A VANITY PROJECT, WHICH IS ABSOLUTE INSANITY. AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE. I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE. OKAY. SO MY POINT IS THAT WHERE YOU HAVE THE ARCHWAY ON TOP, YOU SHOULD HAVE RIGHT THERE, AND LEMME TELL YOU WHY IT MAKES SENSE. BECAUSE YOU HAVE 1, 2, 3 COMMISSIONERS AND THE VICE MAYOR, THE RECEPTIONIST WILL LET PEOPLE IN. THE PERSON WILL BE WAITING THERE LIKE YOU DO IN THE CITY OF MIAMI. WHEN YOU GO TO THE, WHEN YOU GO TO THE FOURTH FLOOR AND YOU TRY TO MEET WITH A, WHEN YOU TRY TO MEET WITH A DIRECTOR, YOU'RE SITTING IN A, IN A, IN A CONTAINMENT AREA. YOU MEET THE RECEPTIONIST. HI, I'M HERE TO MEET WITH A PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. HI, I'M MEETING HERE TO MEET WITH THE BUILDING DIRECTOR. YES, PLEASE SIT DOWN. THEY CALL YOU IN, YOU HAVE A DOOR JUST LIKE I HAVE RIGHT NOW. AND IT RESOLVES THE ISSUE IN REGARDS TO THE MAYOR, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE DOOR TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SHOULD BE REMAIN CLOSED, CONSTANTLY LOCKED. THE ONLY WAY TO GET INTO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS TO GO THROUGH, OBVIOUSLY THE ADMINISTRATION. THE ADMINISTRATION. WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION 'CAUSE WE CAN'T FIT IT. THERE'S ONE, THERE'S ONE, WELL, ONE OTHER OPTION, WHICH I WAS JUST LOOKING AT, WHERE YOU HAVE THE COMMISSION AIDS THAT LARGE SUITE RIGHT THERE. YES. WHAT IF WE MOVE THE MAYOR THERE? SO THE MAYOR HAS THAT LARGE OFFICE SPACE, RIGHT? NE RIGHT WHERE, WHERE RIGHT, WHERE YOU HAVE THE RECEPTION, THAT AREA THERE, AND THEN THE MAYOR'S WITHIN THE PROTECTED ZONE. OKAY. I'LL TELL YOU WHY, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT EITHER. I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE . IT'S OKAY. THE WORST SPACE IN THE BUILDING, I DON'T WINDOWS. BUT MY POINT IS, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL MAYOR'S OFFICE. THE ORIGINAL MAYOR'S OFFICE IS WHERE THE MAYOR'S GOING BACK TO NOW. 'CAUSE I'M NOT IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW IS COMMISSIONER LARA AND COMMISSIONER CASTRO. LET ME, LET ME MAKE ONE OTHER SUGGESTION HERE TO THE, PUTTING THE DOOR THERE AND, AND, AND HAVING SOMEONE BUZZ AT THE DOOR, UH, UH, WHERE YOU'RE SUGGESTING IT IS CERTAINLY ONE POSSIBILITY. I THINK THAT THE PERSON, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED A SECURITY OFFICER THERE IN THAT RECEPTION DESK WHO IS TRULY A SECURITY OFFICER. SECURITY OFFICER WHO CAN CONTROL ALL THAT HAPPENS OUT HERE, UH, ON A DAILY BASIS WHENEVER WE HAVE GUESTS. UM, JUST HAVING THE RECEPTIONIST THERE IS, IS GONNA DO NO MORE THAN, THAN IT DID BEFORE. SHE'S GONNA BE SCARED IF WE HAVE A, A STRANGE PERSON OR THE ARRANGED PERSON WHO, UH, COMES INTO THE SPACE AND, AND THAT DOOR ISN'T GONNA SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. YES, WE CAN. WE'RE YOU, EACH OF THESE DOORS WILL BE LOCKABLE. EACH OF THEM WILL ONLY BE OPENABLE IF THAT PERSON AT THAT DESK, UM, PUSHES THE BUTTON AND UNLOCKS THE DOOR. BUT HE'S BETTER. I CAN MAKE A PERSONAL, BUT I CAN MAKE A PERSONAL CASE FOR THAT, FOR THIS. AND THAT'S A FACT THAT CONGRESSWOMAN ROSS LAYMAN'S OFFICE, WE HAD A LADY SHOW UP WITH A KNIFE. WE DID NOT HAVE A SEPARATED RECEPTION AREA. WE HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR. IT WAS JUST AN OPEN HALLWAY. ANYBODY COULD WALK IN AND EVERYBODY WAS AT RISK BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROTECTED ZONE FOR OUR INTERNAL OFFICES. [02:40:01] FOLLOWING THAT INCIDENT, WE MOVED TO AN OFFICE WHERE WE HAD A SEPARATED RECEPTION AREA FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WAITING. BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE REALITY THAT WE'RE LIVING IN TODAY. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A STATEMENT. THEY'RE GONNA SHOW UP AND MAKE A STATEMENT HOWEVER THEY THINK FIT. THIS LADY IN THIS CASE HAD SEEN THE, UM, UH, THE SUICIDE OF A MEMBER OF THE CO OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION. AND SHE BELIEVED IF SHE SAW IT ON TV, SHE HAD TO RELIVE IT. THANKFULLY, SHE DID NOT OWN A GUN, SO SHE JUST HAD A KNIFE. IT TOOK TWO TASERS TO BRING THE LADY DOWN BECAUSE SHE WASN'T ON HER MEDICATION. SO I HAVE LIVED IT, I HAVE SEEN IT. I CAN TELL YOU THERE SHOULD BE A LEVEL OF PROTECTION THERE. THERE SHOULD. THE PROTECTION IS, IS RIGHT AT YOUR FRONT DOOR. OKAY. I, I GET THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE BLOCKING GUNS, BLOCKING KNIVES, BLOCKING ANYTHING THAT SOMEONE, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE. OKAY. BUT OKAY, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA SECOND THE MOTION. LET'S, LET'S, THIS IS, I THOUGHT I, ANYWAY, I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT WE WERE HERE TO LIKE, TO TALK ABOUT THE LAYOUT AND THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO SEE CHANGED. I'M TRYING TO BRING ONE ITEM. I CAN'T, I'M GETTING LIKE REBUTTAL. REBUTTAL OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I'M NOT EVEN GONNA BE HERE, . I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP, I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP, YOU KNOW, WITH, TO HELP THE FUTURE. WE CAN PUT THAT DOOR IN. THERE'S NO QUESTION. OKAY. BUT, BUT HOLD ON ONE SECOND. MADAM. VICE SPARE. SO I MADE A MOTION. I WANT TO MEMORIALIZE THIS. I MADE A MOTION TO PUT THAT DOOR RIGHT WHERE THAT ARCHWAY IS. CAN I HAVE A SECOND? I, I SECOND IT. OKAY. HOLD ON. MR. CLERK, CAN WE HAVE A, CAN WE HAVE A, CAN WE HAVE A VOTE? SO MAYOR, SORRY, JUST TO REMIND YOU, SINCE YOU MADE THE MOTION, THE VICE MAYOR IS, IS NOW CHAIR. YES. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I APOLOGIZE. EXCUSE ME. I ALWAYS FORGET THAT. MAY WE, MAY WE HAVE A VOTE. VICE MAYOR. EXCUSE MAYOR, UH, THROUGH THE CHAIR. YES. ONE QUICK QUESTION. DO WE HAVE TO ASK FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT OR NO? WE, WE SHOULD ASK MR. CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, WE DO NOT. OKAY. FOR THE SAKE OF GOOD ORDER. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THAT'S THE REST. WOW. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS IN THE FUTURE WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT FUTURE IN THE FUTURE. FUTURE, FUTURE. I'M CHAIR AGAIN. OKAY. I NEVER DEALT WITH THIS ONE FOR 10 YEARS WITH THE PREVIOUS MAYORS OR COMMISSIONERS. IT'S THE CRAZIEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. UM, IT'S, IT'S, THIS IS SO SIMPLE. WE JUST BATTLE FOR 30 MINUTES OVER A DOOR. MAYBE WE NEED A SUNSHINE MEETING FOR THE COMMISSION AND, AND, AND OUR, AND OUR, AND OUR INCREDIBLY ESTEEMED ARCHITECTS TO GO OVER THIS. WHAT DO YOU THINK? 'CAUSE WE HAVE A LONG AGENDA. IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE THROUGH ONE DOOR, WE'RE THROUGH ONE DOOR. WHAT DO YOU THINK MR. MAN AND THE VICE MAYOR WANTED TO TALK, SO I APOLOGIZE TO THE MAYOR. I, I THINK WE, THAT DOOR WILL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT CONTROL IS THERE NO ISSUES. OH, WE JUST VOTED ON IT. SO YES. YES. THERE. AND WE WERE GONNA MAKE, WELL, WE WERE, I WAS GONNA DO IT ANYWAY. YEAH, BECAUSE I THINK IT, I THINK IT WAS THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION. IT WAS, IT WAS OBVIOUS. UH, SO, UH, IF WE CAN, IF WE CAN MOVE ON, BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT TO GET CDS GOING. OKAY. I WOULD APPRECIATE, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. ALRIGHT. MADAM VICE MAYOR, WHAT'S OUR SECURITY CONTROL DOWNSTAIRS? DO WE HAVE A SIMILAR DOOR TO CONTROL TRAFFIC FLOW? YOUR, YOUR CONTROL IS THE SECURITY DESK AND THE OFFICER AT THAT SECURITY DESK GOING THROUGH THE MAGNETOMETER AND, AND AT THE SAME TIME HAVING AROUND THOSE OFFICER OR OFFICERS, UM, THE, THE CCTV SYSTEM FOR SECURITY THAT IS SET UP TO LITERALLY VIEW EVERY AREA OF THE BUILDING. WE'VE ALREADY LAID THE CAMERAS OUT. UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A BIG STEP FORWARD. UM, WELL, WELL LET'S TALK TO THE POLICE CHIEF AND SEE IF A DOOR IS, IS RECOMMENDED AS WELL, UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. YES. UH, MAYOR, UH, CAN YOU PLEASE GO, GO BACK TO THE FIRST FLOOR AND WE ARE WORKING VICE MAYOR, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE POLICE CHIEF ON THIS AND A, AND A SECURITY CONSULTANT TO MAKE SURE THE BUILDING IS AS SECURE AS POSSIBLE. IT'S A BUZZER, A BUZZER SYSTEM TO OPEN THE DOOR. YES. A TYPICAL MECHANISM THAT YOU USE TO STOP AND TRIGGERS, THERE'LL BE CONTROLLED AT EVERY DOOR. AND, AND, AND THOSE ISSUES ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF. IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOBBY AREA DOWNSTAIRS, UH, THAT AREA TO THE RIGHT, UH, THE, THE, THE ENTRY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE, TO THE LOBBY AREA THAT YOU SEE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, OF THE BUILDING. IN THE LOWER PART OF THE ACTUAL DRAWING. THE DOORS ON EITHER SIDE, WE'LL JUST BE ABLE TO GO OUT. THEY'RE JUST FIRE DOORS. YOU CANNOT COME IN. SO FROM A FIRE PERSPECTIVE, URGENCY EXITS ONLY THEY, THEY'RE FINE. AND THEN, AND THEN THAT WHOLE RIGHT AREA, THERE WILL BE SECURITY. SO WE'LL HAVE MULTIPLE SECURITY PEOPLE THERE WITH THE MAGNETOMETER TO, TO GO IN. AND THERE'LL BE ALSO SECURITY CAMERAS AVAILABLE THERE FOR THE ENTIRE BUILDING. WE ARE WORKING, UH, WITH, WITH A SECURITY CONSULTANT, UM, AND THE POLICE CHIEF TO, TO GET TO, UH, WE WE'RE LOOKING AT CAMERAS VIEWS AND, AND ALL ISSUES LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW. UH, AND, AND, UH, GO TO ITEM, UH, GO TO THE, [02:45:01] UH, THE SECOND FLOOR AND RIGHT WHERE THE RECEPTIONIST MAYOR, WE'LL PUT THE, THE CONTROL DOOR RIGHT THERE FOR THE RECEPTION AREA. OKAY, PERFECT. OKAY. IS, BUT I WANTED TO JUST SEE IF THE LAY, IF THE LAYOUT WAS, WAS, WAS, UH, OKAY FOR THE, I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE COMMISSIONER FRAN, MAKE A STATEMENT. I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE LAYOUT. I JUST WANTED TO MY YES. MY, THE LEVEL OF SAFETY AND THE LEVEL OF HEAT THAT I GOT AND THE WAY THAT THIS WAS WEAPONIZED, WEAPONIZED TO GO AFTER ME OVER A WALL RECEIPTS. AND THE PERSON'S IN THE ROOM HERE TODAY WHO WENT AFTER ME ON PUBLIC, THE RECORDS REQUEST, THEY'RE HERE, BACK IN THE BACK. AND, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S ALL ABOUT SAFETY. IT'S ALL ABOUT PUBLIC. IT'S ALL ABOUT SAFETY FOR THE EMPLOYEES. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT, IT, IT, IT'S, IT, IT BOGGLES THE MIND THAT WE WENT THROUGH ALL THAT AND ALL THE, AND ALL THE RIDICULOUSNESS THAT WAS MADE. AND NOW WE'RE BASICALLY DOING THE SAME THING. SO, MR. FERNANDEZ, SO ON, CAN WE GO BACK TO THE FIRST FLOOR? SURE. BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A CONCERN OF MINE SINCE THE BEGINNING. THAT CONFERENCE ROOM THAT WE HAVE NEXT TO THE LOBBY IS OUTSIDE THE PROTECTED ZONE. YET THAT CONFERENCE ROOM IS USED SUBSTANTIALLY. IS THERE A WAY TO RESTRUCTURE THAT AREA WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE ENTRANCE BEYOND THAT DOOR AND MAYBE HAVE THE MAGNETOMETER IN THE AREA WHERE WE HAVE THE CONFERENCE ROOM? NO. SO WE HAVE A PROTECTED ZONE WITHIN THE BUILDING. I MEAN, I THINK HARDENING THE BUILDING IS A CONCERN THAT ALL OF US HAVE, AND I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE. I I JUST DON'T, AND I KNOW WE'RE DEALING WITH HISTORIC, WE'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF WALLS THAT CANNOT BE MOVED. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WE'VE HARDENED THE BUILDING ENOUGH IN, IN THESE PLANTS TO THE MAYOR. YES, YES. UH, ANYBODY GOING INTO A LOBBY WILL BE, WILL HAVE CONTROL BY, BUT HA HAS TO GO TO, TO A MAGNETOMETER AND BE ESCORTED BACK, BACK INTO THE LOBBY. NOBODY, NOBODY WILL BE IN THE BUILDING. THAT DOESN'T, THAT DOESN'T GO THROUGH THE CONTROL CENTER INITIALLY. SO WE, WE'VE WORKED ON THIS A LOT AND, AND COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE HISTORICAL SIDE THAT, THAT, THAT WE DON'T, THAT THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH. SO, SO FROM A SECURITY PERSPECTIVE, THERE'LL BE CAMERAS ALL THROUGH THAT AREA. THE, THE CONTROL WILL BE ON THAT RIGHT HAND SIDE AND EVERYONE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THERE TO ACCESS ANY PART OF THE BUILDING. SO IF YOU WERE TO GO INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, YOU'D HAVE TO GO TO THE GUARD, CHECK IN, GO THROUGH, AND THEN COME BACK AND THEN COME BACK AND THEN COME BACK IN AND BE ESCORTED BY SOMEONE THAT, THAT, THAT CONFERENCE ROOM IS NOT GOING TO BE, UH, AN OPEN CON CONFERENCE ROOM. AND EVERY DOOR THAT WE HAVE IN THE BUILDING WILL BE A SECURITY DOOR. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, ANYTHING ELSE, SIR? I, I WANTED TO JUST TO CONCLUDE BY SHOWING YOU WHERE THE COMMISSION CONFERENCE ROOM IS ON THE, ON THE LEFT HAND, UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THIS DRAWING. SO IT'LL BE RIGHT OUTSIDE THAT DOOR. THAT'S YOUR DAY-TO-DAY, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, CONFERENCE ROOM. AND IT WILL ALSO BE USED BY STAFF, UH, DURING COMMISSION MEETINGS WHERE THEY CAN WAIT TO, UH, TO, BEFORE THEY HAVE TO COME INTO THE CHAMBER, UH, WHEN THEY'RE GONNA BE CALLED, UM, GOING UP TO THE, THE, UH, MEZZANINE FLOOR. WE HAVE IT PRIMARILY ON THE MEZZANINE FLOOR AND SOME FLOATING CONFERENCE ROOMS IN A MAIL ROOM. NOTHING TERRIBLY SPECIAL THERE. BUT ONE OF THE VERY BRIGHT THINGS THAT I THINK WE DID IS WE'VE HIDDEN ALL THE AIR CONDITIONING UNITS, UH, IN, UH, THE CEILING ABOVE, ABOVE THIS FLOOR. SO THERE'S A MEZZANINE FLOOR ABOVE THE COMMISSION HALLWAY THAT HIDES EVERY AIR CONDITIONING UNIT THAT YOU NOW SEE ALL ACROSS YOUR PROPERTY. UM, SO THAT'LL, THAT, THAT MAKES IT, UH, EXTREMELY EFFICIENT. UH, AND, UH, AND, AND NOT A VISIBLE, UH, NIGHTMARE THAT IT, THAT IT IS TODAY. WE HAVE THE LAW DEPARTMENT ON THE THIRD FLOOR. THE WHOLE LOWER SIDE OF THE THIRD FLOOR, UH, IS IN FACT THE CITY OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, A LITTLE, UH, AREA FOR, UH, CIP AND, AND OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICE ON THE UPPER, UH, LEFT HAND CORNER. SO, UM, THAT IS GENERALLY THE, THE LAYOUT. AND UH, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT AND, AND WE'VE TAKEN DUE NOTE OF ALL THE SECURITY CONCERNS AND, UH, AND, AND, AND AUDIO. UH, SO WE'LL WORK VERY HARD, HARD ON GETTING THE, UH, THE SOUND ATTENUATION BETWEEN OFFICES. UH, CORRECT. PERFECT. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND I NOTICED WHERE YOU HAVE THE A DA ACCESSIBLE RAMP FOR THE COMMISSION DIETS. SO , THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE NEED A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. NO, I, I THOUGHT WE HAD A MOTION IN A SECOND. AND WE, THE MOTION IN THE SECOND WAS JUST, JUST FOR A SAFETY, JUST JUST A PRESENTATION. WE DON'T NEED A, JUST AN UPDATE. YES. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED ANOTHER, WE DON'T NEED ONE OR NO, YOU SAID YOU WANTED [02:50:01] TO START MOVING FORWARD WITH CDS. WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY MAYOR, SO WE WAY PAST THAT. SO MAYOR, GIMME ONE SECOND. YES, THE MAYOR. WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW THE ACTUAL FLOOR PLAN AS A FINAL. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE FINE WITH EVERYTHING. SO WE JUST WANTED TO MOVE ON WITH THE, THE COMMISSIONER. IF THE COMMISSIONER IS IS GOOD, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE WITH THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND WE WILL PROVIDE THAT, THAT SECONDARY WALL AND UH, AND WE'LL HAVE A, A VERY ROBUST SECURITY SYSTEM. OKAY. AND SO IF IT'S, IF, UH, WE WOULD, BUT WE WOULD LIKE THE, THE OKAY FROM THE COMMISSION, UH, TO MOVE ON CDS. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A VOTE MAYOR, BUT JUST, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS SATISFIED WITH THE WORK SO FAR. OKAY. PERFECT. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, MOVING FORWARD. I HAVE ONE ITEM THAT I WANT TO, I WANT TO HIT BEFORE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THESE YOUNG LADIES HAVE TO GO. UH, LADIES COME UP PLEASE. SO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH THESE AMAZING YOUNG LADIES. UH, I THINK IT WAS ON OFFICE HOURS, RIGHT? YEAH. VERY COURAGEOUS. YOU KNOW, VERY OUTSPOKEN. THEY CAME TO MEET WITH ME, UH, AT OFFICE HOURS. I'VE NEVER MET YOU. AND THEY HAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS. AND I TOLD 'EM, YOU KNOW WHAT, IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT TOUGH ON YOU. WE'RE GONNA BRING YOU BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND YOU GOTTA SELL THE COMMISSION ON WHAT YOU WANT. SO I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THEM. AND I WANT YOU TO START OFF BY SAYING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU DO, AND WHY YOU'RE HERE. ALRIGHT, TAKE IT AWAY. HI. GOOD MORNING. SO WE'RE PROJECT POUND, UM, A STUDENT LED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED RIGHT HERE IN CORAL GABLES. AND WE STARTED OUR SERVICE PROJECT LAST YEAR IN 2025 WITH OUR MAIN GOAL BEING TO HELP SERVICE TO HELP, UM, DOGS GET ADOPTED. SO MY NAME'S ANNA SOSA AND I LIVE HERE IN CORAL GABLES ON ANDERSON ROAD. AND I'M PRESLEY BLY AND I LIVE IN CORAL GABLES AT, UM, 1900 COUNTRY CLUB. AND OUR MISSION IS TO SPREAD AWARENESS ON SHELTER ANIMALS HERE IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. WE LOVE TO MEET THE DOGS AND HIGHLIGHT THEIR PERSONALITIES AND POST THEM ON OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE TO HELP THEM GET A BETTER CHANCE OF BEING ADOPTED. AND OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO FIND A LOVING HOME FOR EVERY SHELTER DOG HERE. SO OUR IMPACT SO FAR, WE, LAST YEAR WE HAD 18 ANIMALS THAT WE GOT ADOPTED AND WE RAISED OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS AT DIFFERENT EVENTS AND DONATED TO LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS. AND WE CREATED AN INSTAGRAM PAGE THAT GENERATED THOUSANDS OF VIEWS FOR, UM, AND SHELTER DOG AWARENESS. SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A NEW, UM, DOG DOG PARK OPENING HERE IN CORAL GABLES ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 31ST. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND MIAMI-DADE ANIMAL SERVICES TO LIKE ORGANIZE AN ADOPTION EVENT THERE. SO WE HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED MIAMI-DADE AND CONFIRMED, UM, THAT THEY CAN BRING THEIR ADOPTION TRUCK ON SITE, UM, TO TRANSPORT THEIR RESIDENT DOGS OVER TO THE EVENT. AND WE HAD AN IDEA THAT TO MOTIVATE CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS TO ADOPT SHELTER DOGS, THAT WE WOULD COVER THE, THE ADOPTION FEES FOR THE FIRST FIVE CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS TO COME AND ADOPT A DOG AT THE HOPE EX AT THE HOPE EXPRESS TRUCK. AND WE'D ALSO LIKE TO SET UP A BOOTH TO TALK TO CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS AND OTHER VISITORS AT THE EVENT TO ABOUT HOW THEY CAN ADOPT DOGS AND TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THEM. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, WELL I WANTED YOU TO, TO BEAR WITNESS. UH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE NEW LAYOUT, THE NEW LAYOUT FOR CITY HALL A LITTLE WHILE AGO. UM, THESE ARE THE LADIES THAT ARE GONNA BE USING THOSE COMMISSION AND MAYOR'S OFFICES VERY, VERY SOON. UH, THEY CAME TO MY OFFICE, THEY WERE PREPARED. I WAS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED, UH, BY THEIR COMMITMENT, UH, BY THE FACT THAT WHEN I TOLD 'EM YOU'RE GONNA COME AND SPEAK BEFORE THE COMMISSION FOR FIVE MINUTES, THEY DIDN'T EVEN FLINCH. UH, I WANT TO THANK LAURA FOR MY OFFICE AND NICOLE, WHO DID AN AMAZING JOB WORKING WITH THEM. I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, UH, TO NOW BRING, UH, THE VEHICLE. UH, SO ONCE WE DO OPEN THIS BRAND NEW DOG PARK IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF, HAS TO DO WITH THE UNDERLINE, UH, WE'VE, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR 10 YEARS AND IT'S FINALLY COMING TO FRUITION. I WROTE THAT LEGISLATION, SO I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF IT. UM, BUT TO HAVE YOU MAKE THAT EVENT EVEN STRONGER AND IN, IN MY OPINION, MORE EMBLEMATIC OF WHAT WE STAND FOR AND THE IDEA THAT YOU HAVE, THAT YOU'RE GONNA COVER, COVER THE COST OF THE FIRST FIVE ADOPTIONS GOES TO REALLY SHOW YOUR COMMITMENT. BUT MY GOAL WAS ALSO TO GET PEOPLE OUT THERE. SO I'M ASKING THE MANAGER AND MY COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE SUPPORT THAT. WE, WE HAVE A FLYER. WE HAVE A FLYER THAT WE'RE GONNA SEND OUT SO THAT WE GET PEOPLE TO COME HOPEFULLY ADOPT DOGS, BUT WE ALSO WANT 'EM TO DONATE TO YOUR ORGANIZATION. 'CAUSE THE END GOAL HERE IS AGAIN, GET AS MANY OF THESE DOGS OUTTA THE SHELTERS AND GET 'EM INTO GOOD HOMES. AND CORAL GABLES IS A GREAT PLACE FOR DOGS, UH, THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE VICE MAYOR. UM, [02:55:01] WE'VE, WE'VE NOW ARE GONNA HAVE, I, I THINK IT'S LIKE FOUR OR FIVE DOG PARKS, UH, IN THE CITY. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A FEW THAT ALREADY COME ONLINE AND WE'RE WORKING ON A FEW MORE. UM, AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, SO I WANTED TO BRING THEM FORWARD SO YOU CAN MEET THEM, START WORKING WITH THEM. UH, AND I HOPE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SUPPORT, UH, TODAY THROUGH, THROUGH THE COMMISSION VICE MAYOR. YES, I AM THRILLED THAT YOU'VE COME, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING, UH, AREAS, UH, NOT ONLY FOR DOGS TO EXERCISE, 'CAUSE THEY NEED EXERCISE JUST LIKE WE DO, WHERE THEY'LL HAVE MUSCLE ATROPHY, UH, BUT ALSO FOR HELPING SUPPORT BRINGING THE DOGS OUT. I DID SPEAK TO THE, UH, SHELTER CREW AND I SUGGESTED THEM BRING A VARIETY OF SIZES OF DOGS. 'CAUSE THEY OUT BROUGHT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE LARGER ONES THAT JUST DIDN'T WORK AT THE LAST EVENT I WAS AT, UH, DIDN'T WORK FOR EVERYBODY. SO THEY NEED TO BRING SOME LITTLE ONES, SOME MIDDLE SIZED ONES AND SOME, SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES. BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AS FAR AS TRYING TO GET AWARENESS OUT THERE ON THE PERSONALITIES OF THE DOGS IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GONNA BEHAVE ONCE THEY GET HOME. AND I'M ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT LOOK UP DOGS FROM PEOPLE THAT FOSTER THEM AND HAVE SOME PERSONALITY, UH, TRAITS ON THE DOG. SO IT, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE GOING IN BLINDFOLDED, UH, ADOPTING THE ANIMAL. SO, UM, KUDOS TO, TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING. UM, AND I WOULD SUGGEST TOO, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SAYING THE FIRST FIVE, BUT YOU ALSO GIVE THE PE PEOPLE THE OPTION TO DONATE AS OPPOSED TO GOING FREE, BECAUSE, UH, GETTING A FREE DOG SAYS A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WOULD LOVE TO DONATE AND ALLOW THE, UH, ADOPTION FEE TO GO TOWARDS HELPING SUPPORT SOMEBODY THAT MAY BE A LITTLE MORE INCOME LIMITED, UH, ON ADOPTION. SO, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT IF YOU'RE, UM, ADOPTING AN ANIMAL FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, IT'S ALREADY SPAYED OR NEUTERED, IT'S ALREADY GOT ITS VACCINATION SHOTS, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE WALKING OUT THE DOOR WITH A DOG THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO DO AS MUCH WORK ON. OKAY. SO, THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE. THANK YOU. THE MAYOR. MAYOR. YES, SIR. SO, I WANTED TO SAY BRIEFLY, UM, ANNA AND PRESLEY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR IMPRESSING THE HECK OUT OF US HERE ON THE COMMISSION. UH, THE, THE, THE MAYOR DID PUT YOU, UM, UP TO THE CHALLENGE AND YOU, YOU, YOU MET IT AND YOU OVERCAME. SO VERY PROUD OF THE WAY YOU PRESENTED YOURSELVES, AND I'M VERY, VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE PROJECT THAT YOU STARTED. UH, I'D LIKE TO HELP IN ANY WAY I CAN. SO, AS THE MAYOR SAID, THERE'S A FLYER THAT WE'RE GONNA TRY AND PUSH OUT. I'M GOOD WITH THE ELECTRONICS, SO IF THERE'S A WAY FOR US TO GET THAT KIND OF THING FOR OUR VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, INSTAGRAM AND WHATNOT, SO WE CAN PUT IT OUT. AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE, UH, IT'S JANUARY 30, UH, OR JANUARY 31ST. 31ST. JANUARY 31ST, 10:00 AM AT 10:00 AM UH, WE'LL BE THERE, RIGHT? I, I WISH I COULD TAKE ONE OF THOSE DOGS. I, I, I, I HAVE THREE . I THINK I'LL MOVE OUTS BEFORE WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COME IN. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I'M BREAKING A CODE VIOLATION IF I SAY I HAVE THREE . OH, WELL. UM, BUT THEY'RE WONDERFUL. AND YOU'LL SEE ME WALKING DOWN OR BEING, BEING PULLED BY MY DOGS DOWN THE STREET. UM, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. YEAH. SO, UM, THANK YOU AGAIN, IS WHAT YOU WANNA SAY? SOMETHING? YEAH. YEAH. JUST, UH, JUST WANTED TO COMMEND BOTH OF YOU, ANNA AND PRESLEY, FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. UM, GETTING 18 DOGS ADOPTED IS NOT AN EASY FEAT. UH, AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB STUDYING, RIGHT? SO YOU HAVE PLENTY ON YOUR PLATE AS IT IS. UH, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS MISSION AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, UH, YOUR ROLE MODELS FOR OTHER CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE INVOLVED, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO REALLY ARE TRYING TO GET INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU'RE ONE OF THE ROLE MODELS TO FOLLOW. SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU. THANK YOU. SO, TWO BIG THINGS. YOU'LL, YOU'LL SEND US, OBVIOUSLY, WHERE WE HAVE THE, UM, THE FLYER. WE'LL CIRCULATE IT, UH, PUT IT ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA. WE'LL MAKE EVERYONE A COLLABORATOR. UH, YOU'LL SEND IT OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES SO THEY CAN POST IT ALL. WE'LL SEE EACH OTHER THIS WEEKEND. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING OUT. AND THE IDEA IS TO RAISE AS MUCH MONEY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. SO, LIKE THE VICE MAYOR SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INDIVIDUALS WHO POTENTIALLY DON'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL OR THE FINANCIAL MEANS, UH, TO BE ADOPT TO, TO ADOPT A DOG, BUT IT WOULD BE AMAZING PARENTS TO A DOG. YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE WANNA FIND. WE WANT TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS. WE WANNA GET AS MANY OF THESE DOGS ADOPTED. SO I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU FOR BEING HERE. UM, DO, CAN WE DO, CAN WE DO A, A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THIS AMAZING, AMAZING EVENT? UM, CAN SOMEONE, CAN SOMEONE, I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. GREAT JOB, LADIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT WASN'T THAT BAD. YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB. CONGRATULATIONS. UH, NOW [E.-3. 25-1161 An Resolution of the City Commission granting to Florida Power & Light Company, its successors and assigns, an electric franchise, imposing provisions and conditions relating thereto, providing for monthly payments to the City of Coral Gables, and providing for an effective date. Lobbyist: N/A] WE MOVE ON TO ITEM E THREE. [03:00:03] E THREE IS AN ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COMMISSION GRANTING TO FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY. ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGN AND ELECTRIC FRANCHISE IMPOSING PROVISIONS AND CONDITIONS RELATING THERE TO PROVIDING FOR MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. CAN I, CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. MOVE IT. WE'LL, SECOND, SECOND IT. SECOND. MR. MANAGER, DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION? UH, MAYOR, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS, UH, UH, FOUR. THIS IS THE FOUR POUND LIKE CONTRACT. UH, IT, UH, IT'S A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT AND IT, WE HAVE A, A FAVORITE NATION STATUS AS FAR AS, UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY GETTING 6%. IF THERE'S ANY, UH, ANY OTHER CHANGES IN THAT, UH, GOING UP, WE DO HAVE IT. AND, AND WE ALSO HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT KEEPS OTHER, OTHER AGREEMENTS IN PLACE. AND SO WE BELIEVE IT'S THE, THE, UH, CONTRACT IS FINE AND, AND, UH, FRANCE AGREEMENT SHOULD BE, CAN BE APPROVED. OKAY. UH, I WANNA THANK ADDIS CARRELL FOR OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS BEING PRESENT. UH, ONE PHONE CALL AWAY OR AN EMAIL. UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH FPNL, AND I THINK WE'RE IN THE BEST POSITION. WE'VE BEEN IN A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. UH, THIS IS A PARTNER THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, UNLESS YOU CAN FIND US ANOTHER ENERGY PROVIDER. I DON'T THINK THERE ONE EXISTS. UH, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT, UM, OUR PARTNERSHIP, ESPECIALLY THE MOST FAVORITE NATIONS CLAUSE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT, UH, FOR US TO DO BUSINESS. UM, WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? ALRIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, AND YOU GUYS ARE GREAT TO WORK WITH, AND WE JUST LOVE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH YOU. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MUCH MORE IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I, MY, MY TEAM AND I DRAG YOU OUT TO A LOT OF RESIDENCE HOMES ON ONE FOR ONE ISSUE OR ANOTHER. YOU ALWAYS SHOW UP. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S 7 30, 8 O'CLOCK, NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, IN THE MORNING, YOU'RE THERE, UH, TO MEET AND TO ACCOMMODATE THE RESIDENTS. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY. I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY SOMETIMES BECAUSE THE ASKS ARE SIGNIFICANT. UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, FPNL ALWAYS COMES THROUGH. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. UH, MOVING TO ITEM [2.-2. 26-1051 A Resolution of the Waterway Advisory Board requesting the City Commission, through the City Manager, to move forward with the Oasis Waterway Decontamination Pilot Program, further directing the Public Works Department to identify potential locations, and for the City to develop the criteria to be met and report its findings back to the board.] [F.-1. 26-1052 A Resolution of the City Commission approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Coral Gables and Clean Rivers Foundation and Applied6 Engineering and for the Oasis Waterway Decontamination Pilot Program. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago) Lobbyist: N/A] TWO DASH TWO. SO TWO DASH TWO MAYOR IS RELATED TO ITEM F1. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO READ F1 INTO THE RECORD? YES. YES. F1 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION. I APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND CLEAN RIVERS FOUNDATION AND APPLIED SIX ENGINEERING AND FOR THE OASIS WATERWAY DECONTAMINATION PILOT PROGRAM. SO I'M THE SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM I BROUGHT UP BEFORE THE COMMISSION ONE DAY FOR CONSIDERATION. THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND, AGAIN, OTHER WAYS TO CLEAN UP OUR WATERWAYS AND BE GOOD STEWARDS. IT'S A PRETTY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO TEST SOMETHING BRAND NEW. UH, AND GOD WILLING, UH, WE CONTINUE TO EVOLVE IN OUR EFFORTS TO KEEP OUR WATERWAYS AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE. REMEMBER MY UNDERSTANDING, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MR. MANAGER, THAT OVER 20% OF OUR TAX BASE, 20 SOMETHING, I THINK IT'S LIKE 27% OR 26%. I GOTTA, I FORGOT THE NUMBER, UM, OF, COMES FROM THE WATERWAYS. SO, UH, IF OUR WATERWAYS ARE NOT CLEAN, THE VALUES OF THE HOMES ARE GONNA FALL. AND I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY SERIOUS, OBVIOUS, ANY SERIOUS TECHNOLOGY, UM, WHERE WE COULD POTENTIALLY JUST CONTINUE TO ADD BETTER WATER QUALITY HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. I'LL MOVE IT. IT'S GREAT PIECE THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS, UM, SOUNDS AND FEELS ALMOST REVOLUTIONARY OR MAGICAL, YOU KNOW, IF IT ALL ENDS UP WORKING OUT THE WAY WE'RE HOPING IT WILL, AND YOU'VE GOTTEN SOME INTEREST IN THIS INITIATIVE OF YOURS FROM MEMBERS OF OUR, UM, RESIDENTS. RIGHT? SO I'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY DR. LEE SWER, WHO IS AN ESTEEMED ENGINEER WITH, UH, MORE DEGREES THAN I CAN RECALL, WHO'S OFFERED HIS SERVICES AS AN UNPAID CONSULTANT, UH, TO ASSIST IN THIS REGARD. HE'S VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT TOO. SO PERHAPS YOU AND I CAN SPEAK ABOUT HOW THAT, IF THERE'S A, IF THERE'S A NEED THAT COULD BE FILLED BY, UM, THE RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO HELP PROVIDE SERVICES ON A, ON A, ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS GIVEN THEIR EXPERTISE, LET ME KNOW SO I CAN REALLY RELAY THAT TO HIM AS WELL AND ENCOURAGE OTHER RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT WAY AS WELL. I LOVE IT. THANK YOU. LET'S, WONDERFUL. LET'S TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A PERSON WITH THOSE CREDENTIALS. LET'S MAKE SURE WE BRING 'EM ON BOARD SO WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. NO. MR. MAYOR. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESULTS, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BRING THOSE RESULTS BACK TO THE COMMISSION. IT'LL BE FAVORABLE AND WE CAN, UH, REALLY PUSH FORWARD. ITEM E [E.-1. 25-9279 An Ordinance of the City Commission approving amendments to the text and maps of the City of Coral Gables Comprehensive Plan pursuant to small-scale amendment procedures (Section 163.3187, Florida Statutes), and Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-213, “Comprehensive Plan Text and Map Amendments,” to modify the required mix of uses when developed within the “University Station Rapid Transit District Overlay,” to allow a maximum floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.5, to provide policies to implement the “University Station Rapid Transit District Overlay;” to amend the Future Land Use Map from “Commercial Low-Rise Intensity” to “Commercial High-Rise Intensity”, and to create the “University Station Rapid Transit District Overlay” on the Mixed-Use Overlay Districts Map, for Blocks 155 and 156, Coral Gables Riviera Section Part 8, Tract “A,” Replat of Coral Gables Riviera Section Part 8, which are the properties bounded by South Dixie Highway, Caballero Boulevard, Madruga, and Turin Street (1150, 1190, 1250, 1320, and 1350 South Dixie Highway); providing for a repealer provision, providing for a severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (07 02 2025 PZB recommended approval for Comp. Plan Map Amendments, Vote: 5:1) (12 10 2025 PZB recommended approval for Comp. Plan Text Amendments, Vote: 6-0)] [E.-2. 25-9280 An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for map and text amendments to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-212, “Zoning Code Text and Map Amendments,” by 1) amending Article 2, “Zoning Districts,” to create Section 2-408, “University Station Rapid Transit District Overlay” for promoting the use of mass transit facilities and pedestrian activities along transit corridors and near multimodal stations; 2) amending Appendix A, “Site Specific Zoning Regulations,” to remove inconsistent Site Specifics; 3) amending Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-204, “Transfer of Development Rights,” to expand Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) receiving sites to the “University Station Rapid Transit District Overlay,” and 4) making Zoning District boundary changes from “Mixed-Use 1 (MX1)” to “Mixed-Use 3 (MX3)” and creating the “University Station Rapid Transit District Overlay” boundary for Blocks 155 and 156, Coral Gables Riviera Section Part 8, and Tract “A,” Replat of Coral Gables Riviera Section Part 8, which are the properties bounded by South Dixie Highway, Caballero Boulevard, Madruga, and Turin Street (1150, 1190, 1250, 1320, and 1350 South Dixie Highway), and to create the “University Station Rapid Transit District;” providing for repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (07 02 2025 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 5:1)] ONE, E ONE AND E TWO ARE RELATED. MAYOR, IF IT'S OKAY, I'LL READ THEM BOTH. UM, IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVING AMENDMENTS, THE TEXT AND MAPS OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLE'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PURSUANT TO SMALL SCALE AMENDMENT, PROCEDURES AND ZONING CODE. ARTICLE 14, PROCESS SECTION 14 DASH TWO 13, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TEXT MAP AMENDMENTS TO MODIFY THE REQUIRED MIX OF USES WHEN DEVELOPED WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY STATION RAPID [03:05:01] TRANSIT DISTRICT OVERLAY TO ALLOW MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO OF 3.5 TO PROVIDE POLICIES TO IMPLEMENT THE UNIVERSITY STATION RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT OVERLAY TO AMEND THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FROM COMMERCIAL LOW RISE INTENSITY TO COMMERCIAL HIGHRISE INTENSITY. AND TO CREATE THE UNIVERSITY STATION RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT OVERLAY ON THE MIXED USE OVERLAY DISTRICT MAPS FOR BLOCKS 1 55 AND 1 56. CORAL GABLES RIVER AREA SECTION PART EIGHT TRACKED A RELA OF CORAL GABLES RIA SECTION PART EIGHT, WHICH ARE THE PROPERTIES BOUNDED BY THE SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY CAO, MADA INSURANCE STREET, PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISION, PROVIDING FOR FAVORABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. E TWO IS A NOR TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR PROVIDING FOR MAP AND TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLE'S OF OFFICIAL ZONING CODE PURSUANT TO ZONING CODE. ARTICLE 14, PROCESS SECTION 14 DASH 22, ZONING CODE, TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENTS BY ONE AMENDING ARTICLE TWO ZONING DISTRICTS TO CREATE SECTION TWO DASH 4 0 8 UNIVERSITY STATION, RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT OVERLAY FOR PROMOTING THE USE OF MASS TRANSIT FACILITIES AND PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITIES ALONG TRANSIT CORRIDORS AND YOUR MULTIMODAL STATIONS AMENDING APPENDIX, A SITE SPECIFIC ZONING REGULATIONS TO REMOVE INCONSISTENT SITE SPECIFICS. AMENDING ARTICLE 14, PROCESS SECTION 14 DASH 2 0 4. TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO EXPAND TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS RECEIVING SITES TO THE UNIVERSITY STATION, RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT OVERLAY. AND FOUR, MAKING ZONING DISTRICT BOUNDARY CHANGES FROM MIXED USE. ONE TO MIXED USE THREE THREE. AND CREATING THE UNIVERSITY STATION RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT OVERLAY BOUNDARY FOR BLOCKS 1 55 AND 1 56. CORAL GABLES REVERA SECTION PART EIGHT AND TRACKED A RELA AT CORAL GABLES RIVIERA SECTION PART EIGHT, WHICH ARE THE PROPERTIES BOUNDED BY SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY, CABALLERO BOULEVARD, MADREA, AND TRU STREET. AND TO CREATE THE UNIVERSITY STATION RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISIONS, FAVORABILITY, CLAUSE, CODIFICATION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU. AFTERNOON, GARCIA , DIRECTOR. THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING. THIS HAS BEEN KIND OF PIECEMEALED TOGETHER. SO I HAVE BRIEF PRESENTATION TO GO THROUGH, UH, REFRESHMENT MEMORY FROM OCTOBER, AS WELL AS THOSE SUMMARIZED SOME OF THESE CHANGES. IF I CAN HAVE THE POWERPOINT PLEASE. THANK YOU. SO AS YOU RECALL, UM, THE, UM, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DID ADOPT ON FIRST READING BACK OF LAST MAY IS WHAT INITIATED THE CITY'S RAPID TRANSIT, UM, UH, OVERLAY DISTRICT. UM, AFTER DISCUSSION FROM FROM THIS COMMISSION, UM, IN MAY OF OF LAST YEAR, UH, PINE ZONING BOARD DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF COMPREHENSIVE MAP CHANGES AS WELL AS, UH, ZONING CODE TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENTS AS WELL. UM, THE, THIS COMMISSION AFTER THE BOARD OF, OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADOPTED ON SECOND READING, UM, THEIR SUB ZONE. THIS COMMISSION DID APPROVE ON FIRST READING THE CONFERENCE OF MAP AMENDMENTS AS WELL AS THE, UH, ZONING CODE MAP AND TEXT AMENDMENTS. UM, AFTER THAT MEETING, AT THAT MEETING, ACTUALLY , THIS COMMISSION DID, UM, DELEGATE, UM, THE MAYOR AS WELL AS CITY MANAGER TO MEET WITH THE APPLICANTS OF THE MARK AND DISCUSS WITH THEM FOR PO POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE TEXT AMENDMENTS. UM, AT THAT MEETING OR MEETINGS I SHOULD SAY, UM, THERE HAS BEEN SOME CHANGES TO THE CONFERENCE PLAN TEXT AMENDMENTS THAT WE DID REVIEW TWO WEEKS AGO, AS WELL AS SOME TEXT LIMITS TO ZONING CODE, WHICH I'LL GO THROUGH REALLY QUICK RIGHT NOW. SO THE, THE BOUNDARY, SO THE SAME ON US, ONE BETWEEN CABALLERO AND TRU STREET. AGAIN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT TWO, UH, TWO, UM, ORDINANCES TODAY. COMFORT TO PLAN, MAP, MAP AND TEXT AMENDMENTS, AS WELL AS ZONING CODE MAP AMENDMENTS. THE TEXT AMENDMENTS IS WHAT ARE CHANGED SINCE YOU'RE FRUSTRATING IN OCTOBER. SO THE MAP, THE MAXIMUM FAR WILL BE 3.5. THE CORAL GARE STYLE WILL BE REQUIRED FOR ANY BUILDINGS WITHIN THIS DISTRICT. THE US ONE, UH, SETBACK WILL BE 20 FEET. WE MEASURED FROM THE CURB. THE UPPER STORY SETBACKS WOULD BE PROVIDED BASED ON THE DESIGN AND NOT NECESSARILY THE, THE DISTANCE OF FROM THE STREET OR, OR EVEN A STEPBACK ON THE UPPER STORIES. UH, THE REAR SETBACK WOULD BE 15 FEET ALSO MEASURED FROM THE CURB. THE MINIMUM UNIT SIZE WOULD BE 400 SQUARE FEET. UM, WE DID CLARIFY THAT BALCONIES COULD PROJECT INTO THE SETBACK, A MAXIMUM OF SIX FEET. UM, TWO USES WOULD BE REQUIRED ON US. ONE, THERE WOULDN'T BE A REQUIREMENT OF A THRESHOLD. UM, LET'S SEE, THE PARKING REDUCTION WOULD BE WITHIN A QUARTER MILE, AND THEN MINOR DEVIATIONS FROM THE ZONING CODE COULD BE APPROVED ADMINISTRATIVELY BY A DEVELOPMENT REVIEW OFFICIAL IN REGARDS TO TRANSPARENCY OR WIDTHS OF DRIVEWAY, SOMETHING THAT'S VERY, VERY MINOR TO OUR ZONING CODE. AND WE ALSO CLARIFY THE FORMATTING OF THE SITE SPECIFICS. THIS IS THE GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS THE EXISTING CONDITIONS EXISTING AS FAR AS LAND USE AND ZONING GOES. UH, AGAIN, COMMERCIAL LOW RISE INTENSITY AND MX ONE, MX THREE ZONING. WHAT'S PROPOSED TODAY IS COMMERCIAL HIGH RISE INTENSITY AND MX THREE ZONING. THIS, UM, I THINK THE MAYOR REQUESTED SOME COMPARISONS. UM, THEIR CURRENT REGULATIONS ARE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE MIDDLE IS THE COUNTY'S RTZ SUB ZONE REGULATIONS, AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE CITY'S PROPOSED DISTRICT, WHICH HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN. UM, THE REVIEW FOR THE COUNTY WOULD REQUIRE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION PER THE COUNTY BOARD. UM, WHAT'S PROPOSED TO YOU BEFORE TODAY IS EXP EXPEDITED REVIEW WITH CITY [03:10:01] STAFF REVIEW AS WELL AS CITY COMMISSION. SO WE'RE BYPASSING BOARD OF ARCHITECTS AND CLIENTS ZONING BOARD. THE HEIGHT FOR THE RTZ IS IN A QUARTER MILE, WHICH IS 150 FEET. THERE'S ALREADY A BUILDING THERE IN THE DISTRICT THAT MEASURED THAT HEIGHT. UM, WHAT PROPOSED TO YOU TODAY IS 120 FEET WITH A MAXIMUM OF 147 FEET WITH, UM, ADDITIONAL OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS, THE DENSITY WOULD REMAIN THE SAME AT 125, UH, UNITS AND ACRE. THE FAR IS UNLIMITED AND RTZ, BUT WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY IS MOMENT OF 3.5 FAR, WITH THE ABILITY TO HAVE FAR, UH, INCREASE WITH THE TDRS FOR A MAXIMUM OF 4.375 FAR. THE SETBACKS WOULD BE ZERO WITH RTZ. UH, THE CITY'S PROPOSING 20 FEET TO BE MEASURED FROM THE CURB FOR THE FRONT SETBACK ON US ONE, AND THEN 15 FEET ON THE BACK, ALSO MEASURED FROM THE CURB. THE STEP BACKS, UM, ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR EITHER THE COUNTY RTZ OR THE CITY PROPOSED, UH, DISTRICT. AND THE PARKING WOULD REQUIRE ZERO, UH, RESIDENTIAL UNITS FOR THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS SOME COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CITY'S PROPOSING. A 50% REDUCTION FOR PARKING, AS WELL AS 25% OF WAIVER WITH A PARKING PLAN AND A REMOTE PARKING, UM, ABILITY. ALSO HERE WE'RE, WE'RE COMPARING THE USES. SO CURRENTLY ZONING CODE ONLY ALLOWS, USES LIKE RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, COMMERCIAL RETAIL OFFICES IN OUR MX THREE ZONING, AND IT'S APPROVED BY THE CITY. THE COUNTY WOULD, UH, ON OTHER HAND, UM, ALLOWS BARS WITH THE RESTAURANTS, UH, PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES ARE PERMITTED USES. AND ALL OF THOSE SIMILAR USES WOULD BE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY. UM, THE IMPACT FEES, IF, IF, IF THE PROJECT DEVELOPS WITHIN THE CITY, UM, THE POLICE FIRE MUNICIPAL AS WELL AS PARKS AND MOBILITY IMPACT FEES WOULD STAY WITH THE CITY, UM, WITH THE COUNTY, THEY WOULD PAY THOSE IMPACT FEES TO THE COUNTY. UM, ARE PUT PLACES. OF COURSE, WE REQUIRE 1% OF CONSTRUCTION COSTS. UH, THE COUNT DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. AND THE DESIGN IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT KEY HERE. UM, THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE AESTHETICS REVIEW BOARD OR AESTHETICS REVIEW IN GENERAL BY STAFF. UM, WHAT WE'RE POSTING TODAY IS THAT THE CITY ARCHITECT WILL REVIEW FOR THE, THE PRELIMINARY REVIEW AND AS WELL AS THE MEDITERRANEAN STYLE THAT'S REQUIRED HERE IN THIS DISTRICT. SO THE COMPARISON OF CURRENT RTZ PROJECT IN THE NEAR THE DOUGLAS STATION, I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED THE CASCADE DEVELOPMENT. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UM, HOW THE COUNTY, UM, DOES LANDSCAPE AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND STREET DESIGN, UH, COMPARED TO THIS CA COMPARED TO CORAL GABLES, WHICH ON THE RIGHT SIDE YOU SAID A PLAZA WITH THE LANDSCAPE, THE STREET TREES ON STREET PARKING, UM, ARCADES AND STREETS AND, AND TAPE, UH, WINDOWS AND DOORS FACING THE STREET, ET CETERA. JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COUNTY'S DEVELOPMENT PERIMETERS AND CORAL GABLES. SO THIS WENT THROUGH A RIGOROUS, UH, REVIEW TIMELINE APPLIANCE. CAN YOU GO BACK, CAN YOU GO BACK FOR A SECOND? YES, OF COURSE. THIS IS IMPORTANT. I GOTTA PUT THIS ON THE RECORD. OKAY. SO, UH, THE LAST TIME THIS CAME UP ON FIRST READING, IT WAS VOTED FOUR TO ONE. CORRECT. OKAY. I THINK THE CLEAR EXAMPLES HERE, I THINK THINGS ARE A, A LOT OF THE WORDING THINGS GET LOST, BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT IN PHOTOS LIKE THIS, IT REALLY, UH, PROVIDES AND, AND ENCOMPASSES WHY WE ARE HAVING TO DO THIS. WE'RE NOT DOING THIS BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. A DEVELOPER HAS TWO OPTIONS. GO THROUGH THE CITY PROCESS OR GO THROUGH THE RTZ. WE HAVE NOT DELIVERED A THIRD OPTION IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO FIND SOME MIDDLE GROUND. IN THAT MIDDLE GROUND. YOU CAN SEE THAT MIDDLE GROUND IS TO YOUR RIGHT. IF NOT, THEY GO THE RTZ, WHICH IS TO YOUR LEFT. I WANT LUSHNESS, I WANT CANOPIES, I WANT MEDITERRANEAN STYLE, I WANT ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. FEES, I WANT, UH, FEES THAT, THAT DEAL WITH POLICE, FIRE IMPACT FEES COMING TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, NOT TO THE COUNTY. I WANT SETBACKS TO OUR STANDARDS. I WANT USAGES TO OUR STANDARDS. I WANT SIGNAGE TO OUR STANDARDS THAT IS ALL BEING DELIVERED IN REGARDS TO THE MARK, WHICH I'M GRATEFUL THAT THAT DEVELOPER HAS HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH MYSELF AND THE MANAGER AND YOURSELF AND YOUR TEAM TO FIND COMMON GROUND AND MOVE FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT IF WE DO NOT NEGOTIATE, WE END UP WITH THE LEFT. IF WE NEGOTIATE, WE END UP WITH THE RIGHT. SO I KNOW THAT IN POLITICS THERE'S A LOT OF GRANDSTANDING AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, UH, JUST TO TRY TO BASH PEOPLE AND TEAR PEOPLE DOWN. LIKE I'VE, YOU'VE, I'VE MENTIONED A FEW TIMES HERE, YOU KNOW, YOU SAW A CLEAR POINT EXAMPLE WITH, WITH THE NEW TIMES. YEAH, THE NEW TIMES DOESN'T WANT TO COMPLY. THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH BEAUTIFICATION. SO WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY TRY TO INTIMIDATE ME BY WRITING AN ARTICLE ABOUT ME. [03:15:02] SO WHEN YOU VOTE AGAINST THE CITY RTZ, YOU'RE JUST HURTING THE CITY. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU'RE HURTING THE CITY. 'CAUSE WE DON'T GET THOSE IMPACT FEES. WE DON'T GET ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. WE DON'T GET A TREE CANOPY, WE DON'T GET A SETBACK. WE DON'T GET A MEDITERRANEAN DESIGN. WE DON'T GET TO CONTROL SIGNAGES. WE DON'T GET TO CONTROL USAGES. SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING WHEN THE COMMISSIONER CASTRO VOTED AGAINST THIS, THAT IS PURE POLITICS, SO THAT SHE CAN SAY LATER WHEN SHE RUNS, HEY, I DIDN'T CHANGE THE ZONING CODE. YEAH, BUT IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, THEY'RE GONNA GO TO THE RTZ, WHICH IS GONNA BE A BUILDING THAT IS GARGANTUAN IN HEIGHT. YOU'RE ONLY HURTING THE CITY. SO WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES AND WE HAVE TO FIND AND BE REALISTIC THAT RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL. WE'RE NOT IN THE BEST POSITION. WE HAVE TO COMPROMISE THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. SO THE QUESTION TO YOU, JENNIFER, TO MAKE IT REAL SIMPLE, VOTING AGAINST THE, UM, ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS TO AMEND TO ALLOW FOR WHAT YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE MAYOR HAVE NEGOTIATED WITH THE MARK, IF THAT HAD NOT CARRIED RIGHT, UNFORTUNATELY, I WANTED TO BE FIVE. OH, IT WAS FOUR ONE. BUT LET'S SAY IT WASN'T CARRIED. WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE RESULTING PROJECT OF THE MARK UNDER THE RTZ WOULD REPRESENT, UM, UH, THE, THE, THE ABSOLUTE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU WOULD SAY ARE CORAL GABLE STANDARDS FOR A DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF FAR IN TERMS OF HEIGHT, LACKING IMPACT FEES, SETBACK, SIGNAGE, IN OTHER WORDS, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT MAKE UP CORAL GABLE'S ZONING AND CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPMENTS WOULDN'T APPLY. RIGHT, RIGHT. EXACTLY. WHAT, WHAT IT WOULD DO IS IT WOULD HAVE THAT CONTROL DESIGN IN THE COUNTY'S HAND, AND YOU CAN SEE BY THE COUNTY WHAT THEY'RE REVIEWING RIGHT NOW. AND APPROV AND BUILDING IS NOT UP TO OUR STANDARDS, WHICH IS WHY THIS SLIDE'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU CAN PUT ALL YOU WANT IN THE ZONING CODE, BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE ACTUALLY VIEWING FOR AESTHETICS AND MAKING SURE IT'S IMPORTANCE ON STREET TREES AND STREET DESIGN AND DOORS AND WINDOWS FACING THE STREET. YOU'RE PUTTING ALL THAT CONTROL INTO THEIR HANDS AND NOT KEEPING HERE. AND I WOULD SAY THAT VOTING FOR WHAT AT LEAST FOUR OF US AT THE COMMISSION DID AT THAT LAST MEETING, IS TO TRY AND BRING BACK THAT DEVELOPMENT UNDER CORAL GABLE'S STANDARDS. AND THAT A VOTE OF NO COULD NOT STAND FOR PROTECTING OUT OF CONTROL DEVELOPMENT. IT COULDN'T STAND FOR PROTECTING CORAL GABLE'S STANDARD DEVELOPMENTS BECAUSE WITHOUT THIS COMPROMISE THAT WE'VE GOT, THIS PROJECT WAS GOING TO CONTINUE AS IT LOOKS ON THAT EXAMPLE, THAT EXHIBIT UP THERE WHERE IT SAYS COUNTY RTZ, AM I RIGHT? RIGHT. SO I THINK THAT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD. AND I, AND I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES PUTTING IT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE THIS IS A, THIS WILL BE A POLITICAL ITEM COME NEXT NOVEMBER. THIS IS POLITICS RIGHT HERE. THIS WILL BE USED NEXT NOVEMBER TO SAY, YOU KNOW, BY THE BLOGS AND, AND OTHER ENTITIES OUT THERE TO SAY, OH, MAYOR LAGO VOTED IN FAVOR OF REZONING AND PROVIDING MORE BENEFITS TO THE MARKET. IF YOU DID NOT PROVIDE THIS EXPEDITED SERVICE, WE WOULD LOSE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF IMPACT FEES PLACES, AND WE WOULD LOSE CONTROL, SETBACKS, USAGES HEIGHTS. THIS IS WHAT'S BEEN DONE, AND THIS IS WHY I THANK GOD FOR TRUTH IN JOURNALISM WHERE YOU HAVE ENTITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE, WHICH PROVIDE THE FACTS, NOT ROMANTICIZE THE LIES THAT ARE USED, UM, BY ENTITIES HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IN AN EFFORT TO IMPACT ELECTIONS. BUT AS YOU KNOW, AS WAS SHOWN BEFORE, THERE WAS A TIDAL WAVE AT THE LAST ELECTION WHERE PEOPLE WERE CRUSHED WHO SIDED WITH THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES AND BE TRUTHFUL TO THE RESIDENTS. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE PUTTING THIS UP THERE. SO THEY UNDERSTAND AND WE CAN EXPLAIN LATER, MR. MANAGER, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN IN A TRANSPARENT WAY IN OUR NEXT NEWSLETTER WHERE WE EXPLAIN THE DECISIONS THAT WERE DONE HERE, WHY THEY WERE DONE, AND WHAT WOULD BE THE OUTCOMES IF WE DID NOT TAKE THIS ACTION AS A COMMISSION. SO THE MAYOR YES, SIR. YES. UH, MAYOR, I WILL, I WILL CERTAINLY DO THAT. ONE THING THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LEFT TO THE RIGHT IS THAT USES AND SIGNAGE WOULD BE THROUGH, THROUGH THE COUNTY. SO THIS WOULD ESSENTIALLY PROVIDE A COUNTY BUILDING INSIDE CORAL GABLES. SO NOT ONLY ARE WE GETTING THE LEFT, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOSING CONTROL OF THAT, OF THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING. SO IT, THERE, THERE, THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS, NOT [03:20:01] ONLY ARE ARE ARE WE GETTING PERMIT FEES, IMPACT FEES AND SO FORTH, BUT WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE YOU WE'RE LOSING THE CONTROL OF THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING. AND, UH, MAYOR, I'LL BE HAPPY TO PUT THAT OUT BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED THIS THINGS TO BE EXPLAINED THOROUGHLY SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE, THE POSITION THAT, THAT THE CITY'S IN IS IT'S EITHER TAKE, TAKE A COUNTY BUILDING OR GO WITH, WITH OUR OVERLAY, WHICH IS, UH, AS WE CAN SEE THIS PICTURE IS, IS FANTASTIC BECAUSE IT SHOWS WHAT WE CAN ACCOMP WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED VERSUS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED THROUGH THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. SO I THINK A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS. AND, AND THIS, THIS PHOTO IS A, AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE. I MEAN, WE UNFORTUNATELY CANNOT TURN BACK TIME AND WE CAN'T UNDO, YOU KNOW, THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE, UM, APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO WHERE THE DEVELOPER WAS MOTIVATED TO GO THROUGH THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE TREATMENT THAT OCCURRED AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD LEVEL. SO WE CAN'T CHANGE THAT, BUT WE CAN TAKE CONTROL NOW. IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT, UH, WHAT I WOULD'VE DONE HAD THE EVENTS AT THE PON UNION ZONING BOARD, UH, MEETING HADN'T OCCURRED. BUT, UH, WITH THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THIS IS THE BEST OPTION WE CAN DO. AND I, UH, APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS TO BRING BACK THE MARK. YOU KNOW, IT'S BROUGHT BACK A LOT OF THINGS FOR OUR CITY. WE HAVE THE IMPACT FEES FOR OUR PARKS SO WE CAN HAVE MORE PARKS IN OUR CITY. WE HAVE ALSO THE IMPACT FEES, UH, FOR THE POLICE AND THE FIRE AND SO FORTH THAT WE CAN DO THAT. WE HAVE GREATER SETBACKS THAN WHAT THE COUNTY WAS GOING TO PROVIDE. MORE WALKABILITY, MORE TREES, MORE GREEN. BUT, UH, THANK YOU. AND, UH, PICTURE'S WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, SO USE IT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. SO JUST, UM, I AGREE THE PICTURE DEFINITELY DOES, UM, MAKE THIS UNDERSTANDABLE. UM, I, I'M, I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR THE MANAGER. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, MAYBE A PSA ON LIVE LOCAL AND THE RTZ. WERE WE EVER ABLE TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS THAT BOTH ARE HAVING IN OUR CITY TO THE MAYOR? YES. UH, YES. COMMISSIONER, THERE IS, UH, THERE'S TWO SHORT VIDEOS ON, ON ON EACH ONE. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, AND, UM, I, I THINK WE'VE SEEN AN OPENNESS FROM DEVELOPERS TO REALLY TRY TO WORK WITH THE CITY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER DEVELOPER IN THE ROOM, UH, WHO WORKED WITH US ON THE ERIA PROJECT, UH, WHICH WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM ON ALLEVIATING THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE TO THEIR, UM, THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. IT'S A PROJECT THAT COULD HAVE GONE WITH LIVE LOCAL, DID NOT GO WITH LIVE LOCAL. THEY DECIDED TO GO WITH A PROJECT THAT FIT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT NEIGHBORS WERE, WERE ABLE TO STAND BEHIND. AND WE HAD NOBODY COME UP TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THAT PROJECT AS WELL. I THINK THIS LEGISLATION, UH, REALLY GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THIS PROJECT BACK TO THE CITY AND ENSURE THAT, UH, CORAL GABLES HAS A FINAL SAY ON, ON WHAT THIS PROJECT LOOKS LIKE. UM, WE KNOW THE COUNTY'S NOT VERY GOOD AT, UH, AT APPROVING PROJECTS. UM, WE'VE SEEN THE PROJECT TYPE OF PROJECTS THAT THEY APPROVED. THEY WOULD NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT OUR CITY IS WITH THE VISION THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE FOR THIS CITY. UH, SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATURE. UH, WE HAVE A MOTION. WE, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. SO THAT WOULD BE ON E ONE? YES. DO YOU ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. RAM. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE BY. COMMENT. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. ON ITEM E TWO. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON E TWO. NO MA SIR. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL DONE. UH, TIME SIR. [G.-1. 25-1217 A Resolution of the City Commission approving the concept, commissioning, and donation of a work of public art by Alicja Kwade in conjunction with the development project at 103 Sevilla / 130 Almeria, in fulfillment of the Art in Public Places requirement for public art in private development (unanimously recommended by the Arts Advisory Panel approval/denial vote: 8 to 0; unanimously recommended by the Cultural Development Board approval/denial vote: 4 to 0). Lobbyist: N/A] ITEM G ONE. G ONE IS THE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVING THE CONCEPT COMMISSIONING AND DONATION OF A WORK OF PUBLIC ART BY CIA GADE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AT 1 0 3, AVI AT 1 0 30 EL MARIA IN FULFILLMENT OF THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC ART AND PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT. UM, THAT WAS IT. GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS CATHERINE CATHARS, ARTS AND CULTURE COORDINATOR FOR THIS CITY. SO WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION. THE DEVELOPERS OF 1 0 3 SE SEVE, AND ONE 30 ELM AVENUE, ARE WITH US TODAY WITH A PETITION WAIVER REQUEST FOR THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FEE REQUIREMENT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP JOSE ANTONIO VIS CARDO AND GEORGE NAVARRO, WHO ARE REPRESENTING THE PROJECT, AND WE'LL DISCUSS DETAILS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL, AND THEN I'LL COME BACK UP AND TALK ABOUT THE CITY SIDE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS, UH, MR. MAYOR GEORGE NAVARRO WITH OFFICES AT 3 3 3 SOUTHEAST [03:25:01] SECOND AVENUE. I'M HERE THIS MORNING WITH MY CLIENT, JOSE ANTONIO, VICE CARDO. WE'RE BACK BEFORE YOU TO PRESENT, UH, THE PUBLIC ARTWORK THAT WE'VE SELECTED FOR THE ONE 30 AMI PROJECT. AND AS YOU MAY RECALL, UH, LAST YEAR WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THIS COMMISSION TO, UM, CREATE A 12,500 SQUARE FOOT PUBLIC PARK IN DOWNTOWN THAT WILL BE, UH, FULLY CONSTRUCTED, UM, AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE AND DEDICATED TO THE CITY. THIS INCLUDES A NEW PLAYGROUND, NEW PASSIVE, UH, LANDSCAPE AREAS, HARDSCAPE, UH, LIGHTING. UH, IT'S GONNA BE A BEAUTIFUL PARK. AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED. UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE TIME WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF PAIRING THIS PARK WITH A WORLD CLASS SCULPTURE TO CREATE A CENTERPIECE FOR THIS NEW PUBLIC SPACE. AND I THINK, AS YOU WILL SEE TODAY, THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE. UH, SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, JOSE, WHO COULD, UM, PRESENT THE ARTWORK FROM OUR ARTIST ALI ALICIA ADE, WHO'S AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CONTEMPORARY ARTIST WHO HAS EXHIBITIONS IN ALL THE MAJOR MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC SPACES AROUND THE WORLD. THANK YOU, JORGE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ONCE MORE AGAIN TO DISCUSS, UH, WHAT'S PART OF THIS PROJECT. I APPRECIATE YOUR GUYS' PATIENCE WITH ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TAKEN FROM YOU GUYS ON IN REFERENCE TO THE PROJECT. SO, UM, THE PROPOSED ARTWORK IS, UH, NAME IS, SORRY. OKAY. SO, AS JORGE MENTIONED IS ALICIA KUWAIT. UH, SHE'S A POLISH ARTIST, UH, REPRESENTED BY PACE GALLERY. THE, THE WORK IS CALLED THE DU. IT IS PART OF A, IT'S A UNIQUE PIECE, PART OF HER TOTEM SERIES. THE, THE ARTWORK IS EXPLORES THE RELATIONSHIP IN BETWEEN HUMAN EXISTENCE AND THE UNIVERSE. UH, SHE USED REFERENCE TO PIERO MATSON'S, UH, UDE, WHICH IS THE BASE OF THE WORLD, WHICH LITERALLY INVERTS TO THE NOTION OF WHAT SU SUPPORTS THE WORLD. SO IN A SIMILAR WAY, THE SCULPTURE ASK VIEWERS TO RECONSIDER ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT POWER, SCALE, AND PERSPECTIVE. AND THE ARTIST WAS ABLE TO DESCRIP IT IN HER WORK BY USING ITEMS THAT ARE OF HUMAN FORM AND, AND USING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE, OF, OF THE, OF, OF WORLDS OR PLANETS. AS JORGE MENTIONED, THE ARTIST, THE, THE, THE ARTIST IS A RECOGNIZED CONTEMPORARY ARTIST. UH, HER PUBLIC'S WORKS HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN, IN OTHER, IN MAJOR CITIES. UH, AS FORGE MENTIONED, THE VENICE VIAL IN BEDOIN, PARIS AND NEW YORK, UH, HAS REPRESENTATIONS IN STORM KING ART CENTER AND THE METROPOLITAN, AS WELL AS HONG KONG BAY AS PART OF A PUBLIC, UH, ART PIECES SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE DOING IN, IN CORAL GABLES. THE PROPOSED MATERIALS OF THE WORK ARE BRONZE AND, AND NATURAL STONE. UH, BOTH OF THESE MATERIALS HAVE BEEN USED BY SENTEN FOR CENTURIES, MILLENNIA, AND IT'S REPRESENTED IN CIVIC ARTWORKS IN, IN, IN MAJOR CITIES. AND SOME EXAMPLES OF THOSE WE CAN PUT AS THE HIGHLIGHT AS MIC, MICHELANGELO, DAVID, AND OTHER ASIAN ANCIENT ROMAN BRONZES. THE, THE, THE LOCATION AND, SORRY, THIS GOT A LITTLE MESSED UP ON, ON THE ORGANIZATION. SO THE, THE, THE, THE ART PIECE IS 23 FEET TALL, AND IT'S GONNA BE SET ON A PLINTH THAT'S FIVE FEET. IT'S GONNA BE LOCATED AS PART OF THE PARK. SO THE PARK THAT WE'RE DONATED IS IN THE CORNER OF CALANO AND SEVE. THE ART PIECE IS BEING M MADE, A FOCAL POINT OF THE OPEN LAWN THAT WE'RE DOING ON THE, ON THE, ON THE PARK. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BRING IN IS HAVE THE PIECE BE PART OF, LIKE, THE PREDOMINANT HIGHLIGHT OF THE PARK. SO THE, THE GOAL OF THE ARTWORK AS IT'S ALIGNING TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS WE WANTED TO CREATE A RECOGNIZABLE LANDSCAPE, PROVOKE THOUGHT THROUGH ENGAGEMENT AND OFFER WORK THAT CAN RESONATE THROUGHOUT GENERATIONS. THE FAMILIARITY OF THE FORM OF THE CHAIR IS GONNA MAKES THE WORK ACCESSIBLE WHILE THE COSMIC SYMBOLISM OF THE PLANETS INVITE A DEEPER REFLECTION INTO WHEN GAZING AT THE, AT THE PRO, AT THE ARTIST SELECTION PRO PROCESS WAS DONE THROUGHOUT THE, THE ASSISTANCE OF ALL THE BOARDS WE HAVE. UM, MARCUS [03:30:01] ART FOUNDATION, UH, ASSISTS US IN CON CONTACTING THE GALLERY. IT WAS DONE THROUGH, THROUGH PACE GALLERY PACE IS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL ART GALLERY ESTABLISHED IN THE 1960S. AND THE NOTABLE ART, UH, ARTISTS THAT IT REPRESENTS OUR CALDER DUFF, UM, BETWEEN OTHERS, THE SCOPE OF THE WORK, UM, OUR, OUR DONATION IS AROUND, UH, AS PER, AS PER THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY IS SUPPOSED TO, THE THREE AROUND $390,000. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING THIS R PIECE, THE R PIECE EXCEEDS A LITTLE BIT ON THE, ON THE COST OF, OF, OF WHAT THE DONATION NEEDS TO BE. SO ONLY THE RPC IS COSTING 450 PLUS THE INSTALLATION, THE SHIPPING, AND THE OTHER ACCOUNTABLE COSTS THAT WE HAVE ON THE, ON THE, ON THE, ON THE PROJECT. SO THE TOTAL BUDGET ROUGHLY IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND 470 $480,000. THE SCHEDULE, THE THIS, THIS ART HASN'T BEEN COMMISSIONED YET, WAITING FOR YOUR APPROVAL. THE, THE APPROVAL WILL TAKE, UM, THE COMMISSION SHOULD TAKE AROUND SIX MONTHS AS PART OF OUR PREVIOUS RESOLUTION AND AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AND THE DONATION OF THE PARK, THE, THE, THE BUILDING WILL RECEIVE A TCO IN, IN PARALLEL WITH, WITH THE, WITH THE BUILDING. SO THE ART PIECE WILL BE STAGGERED INTO THE, THE FINAL TIMES OF THE CONSTRUCTION WHEN THE, THE, UH, THE, THE, THE, UM, EXCUSE ME, THE, UM, WHEN THE, UM, THE PARK IS COMPLETED. SO WE'RE ROUGHLY ESTIMATING A CONSTRUCTION TIMING BETWEEN 20 AND 22 MONTHS. THE, THE ART WILL BE INSTALLED TOWARDS THE END TO PREVENT ANY DAMAGE BEING DONE TO THE, TO THE ART PIECE, THE PLANT MAINTENANCE AS PER THE ARTIST. AND SOME OTHER, UM, CONSERVATORY, UM, GUIDANCE THAT WE RECEIVED IS IT'S BRONZE AND NATURAL STONES. SO THESE ARE HIGHLY DURABLE AND EXPOSED TO, TO THE ELEMENTS. IT REQUIRES PERIODIC CLEANING AND SOME WAXING BEING DONE ON THE, ON THE BRONZE. UM, THANK YOU JOSE. UH, SO AS YOU SEE, UM, WE'RE VERY CAREFUL IN SELECTING THIS ARTIST. UM, YOUR CODE REQUIRES, UM, FOR THE ARTWORK CONTRIBUTION TO EITHER BE PAID AS A MONETARY PAYMENT INTO YOUR PUBLIC, UH, ART FUND OR TO BE, UH, COMMISSIONED. AND WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE SELECTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH COMMISSIONING THE ARTWORK. UH, IN THIS CASE, THE ARTWORK, AS JOSE MENTIONED, FAR EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT THAT'S REQUIRED. UH, THIS IS SOMEONE WHO TRULY CARES ABOUT ART, AND WE SAW THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY DELIVER SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND LASTING TO THE CITY. AND THE CITY'S DONE AN AMAZING JOB OVER THE YEARS OF SECURING MAJOR ARTWORK FOR ITS PUBLIC ART COLLECTION. IT'S BECOME A NATIONAL LEADER IN INTEGRATING HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC ART INTO PUBLIC SPACES. AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS LEGACY. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID IS SELECT AN ARTIST WHO REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE EXPOSURE OF ARTWORK TO THE ELEMENTS. SO WE EXPECT MAINTENANCE TO BE MINIMAL. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S STANDARDLY DONE WHEN YOU ARE, UM, COMMISSIONING ARTWORK AND DEDICATING IT TO THE CITY IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE PART OF THE PARK, WHICH WILL BE DEDICATING TO THE CITY THAT THEY'LL BE MAINTAINING. UH, THE CITY, UH, TYPICALLY REQUIRES A 10% MAINTENANCE FEE TO BE PROVIDED IN THIS CASE, UH, IN LIGHT OF THE PUBLIC PARK. AND BECAUSE WE ARE FAR EXCEEDING THAT AMOUNT AND WANT TO TRULY DO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY, WE'RE ASKING FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER THAT. UH, WE WOULD ASK FOR THE CONDITION FOR THE 10% MAINTENANCE FEE TO BE, UH, WAIVED IN THIS CASE, SO WE COULD, UH, GO AHEAD AND DO SOMETHING, UM, UM, FAR MORE GREATER THAN WOULD OTHERWISE WOULD BE POSSIBLE. SO, UH, WE HOPE YOU TAKE OUR CONSIDERATION OF THAT REQUEST. UH, THIS, I THINK IS A, IS SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTR CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CITY'S PUBLIC ART COLLECTION. AND I THINK IT'LL BE A CENTERPIECE OF THIS PARK THAT WE ALL WORKED, UH, CLOSELY TO DELIVER TO THE COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU. UH, WE HAVE A FEW MORE SLIDES TO COMPLETE THE PRESENTATION AND JUST GIVE, UH, THE DETAILS ABOUT THE PROCESS OR REVIEW PROCESS. SO, UM, THIS IS, UH, THROUGH SECTION NINE DASH 1 0 3, WAIVER OF THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FEE BY DONATING AND INSTALLING ARTWORK TO THE CITY WITH AN APPRAISED VALUE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE AMOUNT OF THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FEES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED, AND PROVIDING FURTHER PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ARTWORK. SO, AS PART OF THE DEVELOPER'S AGREEMENT AND HAS STATED THE GREEN SPACE ALONG SEVERE AVENUES BEING DEEDED TO THE CITY AS A PUBLIC PARK WHERE THE SCULPTURE IS PROPOSED FOR INSTALLATION AND WILL BE DONATED TO THE CITY, THE ARTS ADVISORY PANEL AND THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO [03:35:01] RECOMMEND THE PROPOSED ARTWORK BY ALICIA QUADE AT THEIR RESPECTIVE MEETINGS ON JANUARY 7TH AND JANUARY 20TH. AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, TAKE A SPECIAL POINT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JOSE AND HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS PROJECT, UM, WHO HAS SHOWN UP TO THE MEETINGS AND PRESENTED ON HIS OWN BEHALF, UH, FOR THE DEVELOPER. AND, AND, UH, IT WAS REALLY GREAT. SO THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FEE, AS IS MENTIONED, IS 1% OF THE PROJECTS TOTAL. IT'S AN AGGREGATE PROJECT TOTAL, THAT IS THE ESTIMATED FEE THAT WE WORK OFF OF THE COST OF THE PROPOSED ART PIECE. UM, AND THE PROJECT IS APPROXIMATELY $450,700 FOR THE ARTWORK, PLUS ADDITIONAL FEES FOR FOUNDATION. OTHER RELATED EXPENSES, FUNDS TOWARDS THE ARTWORK SHOULD NOT REPLACE EXPENSES TOWARDS LIGHTING AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE OR HARDSCAPING THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE DESIGNED. AND PART OF THE, THE PROJECT, THE ARTWORK AND ALL RELATED EXPENSES WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEVELOPER WITH ANY DIFFERENCE IN COST, WHICH, AS YOU MENTIONED, IS NOT EXPECTED. UM, BUT WE DO HAVE TO JUST NOTE THAT IF THERE WOULD BE, THEN IT WOULD BE PAID INTO THE ART FUND. UM, AND AS MENTIONED, DEVELOPERS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FOR THE PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE OF THE ARTWORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR GUIDELINES, WHICH IS REALIZED TYPICALLY AS A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION OF 10% OF THE VALUE OF THE ARTWORK THAT'S PLACED INTO THE PUBLIC ART MAINTENANCE FUND WITH THE CITY MAINTENANCE OF THE ARTWORK HERE AFTER WILL BE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY, THE COST OF THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE. IN THIS CASE, WE WILL ASSESS IT AND DETERMINE IT UPON COMPLETION. SO WE HAVE NOT MADE A DETERMINATION YET OF WHETHER IT WOULD BE MINIMAL OR EXTRAORDINARY, BUT ONCE IT IS INSTALLED, THEN WE WILL HAVE THAT ASSESSED BY A CONSERVATOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, FIRST TO THE APPLICANT, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU, UH, ON YOUR EFFORTS. UH, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF HOMEWORK. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH HIS ARTIST. I'VE SEEN THIS ARTIST, UH, IN MULTIUSE MUSEUM SHOWS. I'VE SEEN THIS ARTIST IN ART BASEL, UH, REPRESENTED BY PACE, PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOP THREE TO FOUR MOST IMPORTANT GALLERIES IN THE WORLD. UM, ROTHKO CALDER, JUST TO NAME A FEW. LOUIS NEVELSON, WHICH IS AN ARTIST WHO'S BEING CONSIDERED, UH, FOR PURCHASE HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL WORK. IT'S ALSO INSPIRES ME TO SEE ANOTHER FEMALE ARTIST, UH, JOINING THE ROSTER, UH, LIKE WE'VE DONE WITH CELIA SANCHEZ. UH, LIKE WE'VE DONE WITH A LINE OF ARTISTS, ARTISTS THAT HAVE, UH, JOINED THE ROSTER HERE THAT HAVE BEEN FOCAL POINTS. AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE WOMEN AND ARTISTS GET THEIR JUST DUE. THEY'RE AMAZING. AND, UH, FOR A LONG TIME THEY WERE NOW RECOGNIZED. UM, SO, UM, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CITY, SOMETHING DIFFERENT. BEAUTIFUL. BUT I THINK IT'LL BE A TALKING POINT. UM, AND AGAIN, WE'RE CONTINUING TO ELEVATE, UH, THE QUALITY, LIKE YOU SAID, SHOWCASING WHAT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS ALL ABOUT. UM, I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UM, YOUR, YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER, UH, JOHN MARQUEZ FROM MAP, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE. I VISITED, UH, THIS COLLECTION MULTIPLE TIMES. I WISH, I'M DISAPPOINTED. IT'S NOT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. UM, BUT IT'S IN, IT'S IN SOUTH FLORIDA SO ANYBODY CAN SEE IT. IT'S CALLED MAP MARQUEZ ART PROJECTS. IT'S AN EXCEPTIONAL, UM, PRIVATE COLLECTION THAT IS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY IN LINE WITH THE MARGOLIS COLLECTION, IN LINE WITH THE REBEL COLLECTION. IT IS SOMETHING AMAZING. UH, HE'S ONE OF YOUR PARTNERS AND HE'S BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE WITH YOU, UH, TO ENSURE THE CUR THE, THE, THE CURATION OF THIS ARTWORK IS AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT HE'S PROUD TO PUT HIS NAME ONTO. SO THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS KNEW THAT SOMETHING AMAZING WAS GONNA BE FORTHCOMING. UH, IN REGARDS TO YOUR REQUEST, I'M IN SUPPORT AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. UM, I WANT TO, I WANT TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BRINGING FORTH PROJECTS MAKE A VERY QUICK DECISION. EITHER USE STROKE, A CHECK TO THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FUND, WHICH I RECOMMEND THAT EVERY DEVELOPER DO, SO THAT WE CAN PURCHASE WORKS LIKE FRANK STELLA, LIKE NEW NEON, LIKE CELIA SANCHEZ. AMAZING, AMAZING WORKS. FIRST CLASS WORKS. OR IF YOU WANNA GO THROUGH THE PROJECT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE, YOU KNOW, THE GYMNASTICS LIKE YOU'VE DONE. I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN GOOD HANDS WHEN A PERSON OF YOUR CALIBER AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE IS, IS GONNA STEP UP AND DO THIS. 'CAUSE THE SENSE OF PRIDE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BUILD A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND THEN PUT A PIECE OF ARTWORK THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE SATISFIED WITH. CASE IN POINT, I'M VERY PROUD OF MY NO VOTE, UH, ON THE PROJECT ON PONCE, WHICH LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IN DISNEY WORLD. UH, IT'S HORRIFIC. UH, THE WORKS WHEN YOU GET TO NEAR EIGHTH STREET, I THINK IS AN ABOMINATION. MM-HMM . IT SHOULD BE REMOVED AND SCRAPPED. OKAY? IT ACTUALLY, UH, TAKES AWAY, IT ACTUALLY TAKES AWAY AT THE COLLECTIONS VALUE. AND THAT WAS $500,000. I WAS VERY CLEAR ON THAT, AND I SAID, DON'T VOTE FOR IT. WELL, MY COLLEAGUES VOTED FOR IT. WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR IT? BUT THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO WHEN YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU WANT TO SAVE 10% ON, I THINK IT'S AROUND 40,000, BUT YOU'RE WILLING TO INVEST A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A BETTER, [03:40:01] FOR A BETTER WORK OF ART, AS LONG AS ALL THE APPRAISAL ARE IN PLACE, AND I KNOW WHAT THE VALUE OF THIS WORK IS, I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THAT. BUT I'M NOT CHANGING THE LAW. I WANT TO DO IT A CASE BY CASE, CASE BY CASE. I WANT TO LEAVE THE REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF, IF SOMEONE IS COMING TO ME AND SAYING, I'M WILLING TO SPEND $500,000, 200,000 BUCKS CASE IN POINT OF V SPAN, I THINK WE SPEND MORE MONEY ON THAT WORK. UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL CONSIDER IT, WE'LL CONSIDER IT, UH, SOMETHING THAT I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T PUT IT ON THE, ON THE RECORD. UH, ANOTHER THING THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF WAS THAT YOU ALLOWED TO MEET AND NEGOTIATE WITH YOU SO THAT WE COULD BUILD A PARK HERE IN THIS LOCATION, JUST LIKE I DID WITH PUBLIX AND JUST LIKE I DID WITH MANNY CADRE AND, UM, AND, UH, HIS PARTNER. UM, THESE THREE PARKS ARE GONNA BE ANCHORS IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THEY'RE GONNA TRANSFORM OUR CITY. IT'S GONNA HAVE WORLD CLASS ART, AND IT'S GONNA BE A TRUE MEETING PLACE FOR PEOPLE, FOR COMMUNITY TO BE BUILT. SO I WANT, I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMMITTING TO GIVE UP A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S WORTH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, UH, IN OUR DOWNTOWN. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT EASY. AND I, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE BOTH OF YOU FOR, FOR NEGOTIATING, FOR NEGOTIATING TO GIVE THAT PROPERTY AND TO STEPPING UP IN REGARDS TO THE ART. SO I'M IN FAVOR OF YOUR REQUEST AND I'M IN FAVOR OF THE ARTWORK. I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL, MAYOR. YES, MA'AM. SO, UM, AND MS. COWERS, YOU, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE, IF THEY, SOMEONE PAYS THE ONE-TIME FEE INTO THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FUND, THEY DON'T PAY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF WHATEVER IT GOES INTO THE ART FUND. SO THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT MAY BE USED TOWARDS EXTRAORDINARY MAINTENANCE IN THE FUTURE. SO THE FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. SO, SO, BUT THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL MONIES THAT THEY PAY OVER AND ABOVE THE ARTWORK, THE ARTWORK MONEY. NO. SO, UH, I'M IN FAVOR FOR THAT, UM, REASON, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE MORE WAS SPENT HERE. UH, I DO HAVE A REQUEST THAT CITY MANAGER, AND THAT IS JUST TO LOOK, MAKE SURE THAT STRUCTURALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE, UM, HURRICANE FORCE WINDS, UH, AS MUCH AS, AS REASONABLE. I IMAGINE THERE CAN BE A PIECE OF STRUCTURE PUT THROUGH THE CENTER TO PROVIDE THAT, UM, SUPPORT THAT'S NEEDED. THAT'S MY HONOR REQUEST. THANK YOU. THE MAYOR. UM, I THINK IT'S A GREAT ART PIECE. UM, I WAS JUST SPEAKING ABOUT YOU DURING THE LAST ITEM. I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS WERE, WERE LISTENING WHEN I WAS MENTIONING IT, BUT IT SHOWS THAT YOUR COMMITMENT IS TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO IMPROVING CORAL GABLES. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CREATING A PROJECT AND MOVING ON. YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. I THINK YOU'RE ELEVATING THE ARTWORK THAT YOU'RE BRINGING IN. UH, SO IT'S A NO BRAINER. UH, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE MAYOR THOUGH. UM, 'CAUSE CATHERINE, YOU, UH, CATHERINE SAID THAT, UM, THERE ISN'T, UH, ADDITIONAL MONIES REQUESTED FOR MAINTENANCE WHEN THE DEVELOPERS JUST PUTTING MONEY, UH, ASIDE. ARE WE FACTORING IN THAT ADDITIONAL 10% WHEN WE'RE ASKING FOR THE, UH, THE CONTRIBUTION? SO LEMME TELL YOU THE WAY I SEE IT HERE ON THIS ITEM. THIS IS JUST A 1, 1 1 TIME ITEM. OKAY? I'M LOOKING AT IT AS A CALCULATION. IF IT'S 10% OF THE VALUE OF THE ART ON THIS TIME, IT WOULD BE $40,000, RIGHT? , HE'S WILLING TO GIMME A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ADDITIONAL. SO WE CAN DO IT, WE CAN DO IT. IF I'M JUST SAYING, IF THIS COMMISSION WANTS THE MAINTENANCE FEE OF $40,000, PERFECT. THEY'LL REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE ARTWORK. THIS IS THE WAY THAT ARTWORK WORKS. THE SMALLER IT GETS, OBVIOUSLY THE CHEAPER IT IS. SO WE'RE GONNA GO FROM 23 FEET TO, LET'S SAY, I'M JUST MAKING UP A NUMBER, OKAY. 15 FEET FOR THE ARTWORK, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'LL, IT'LL REDUCE IT BY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. YOU HAVE A SMALLER ARTWORK, AND THEN THEY CAN JUST TAG ON THE $40,000 FOR THE MAINTENANCE. I PERSONALLY WOULD RATHER SAY, LET'S PUT THE BILL FOR THE MAINTENANCE OURSELVES WHEN WE HAVE TO DO MAINTENANCE TO SAY, IN 10 YEARS OR 15 YEARS. UM, BUT GET A WORK THAT'S MORE MONUMENTAL. UM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DID WITH FRANK STELLA. REMEMBER WE STARTED WITH FRANK STELLA AT ONE POINT SOMETHING MILLION, AND WE ENDED UP AT A WORK THAT'S OVER $2 MILLION. UH, SO IT'S JUST, JUST GIVING YOU IDEA OF THE WAY THAT I, MY, BUT MIKE, MY THOUGHT IS DIFFERENT. ACTUALLY, MY THOUGHT IS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION THAT, THAT YOU, UH, CREATED. DOES IT FACTOR IN MAINTENANCE FOR THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE JUST PUTTING MONEY ASIDE OR ARE, ARE, ARE WE NOT FACTORING IN AN ADDITIONAL 10%? BECAUSE THEN THEY'RE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THEY'RE GETTING OFF WITH EASY BECAUSE A DEVELOPER WHO'S ACTUALLY PUTTING FORWARD THE ARTWORK AND IS PUTTING IN THE ADDITIONAL 10% FOR MAINTENANCE, UH, IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND IN COMPARISON TO THE ONES THAT ARE JUST PUTTING MONEY ASIDE. IF THEY'RE NOT PUTTING ASIDE AN ADDITIONAL 10% THAT WOULD BE FACTORED IN FOR MAINTENANCE THAT WE AS A CITY WOULD PURCHASE, I NEVER CONTEMPLATED THAT, BUT I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT THE DIRECTOR'S POSITION IS. YES. JUST TO CLARIFY. SO IF THEY'RE PAYING THE FEE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE PAYING A FEE, RIGHT? ALL THAT THOSE FUNDS GO INTO OUR ART FUND. SO OUT OF THOSE FUNDS, WE ARE PAYING FOR ARTWORK, WE'RE PAYING FOR MAINTENANCE, WE'RE PAYING FOR A, A VARIETY [03:45:01] OF EXPENSES. SO IF THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER IS PURCHASING AND INSTALLING ARTWORK ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF IT. SO THEY ARE NOT BEING ASKED TO, YOU KNOW, DO ADDITION BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY TAKING THAT ON. SO THIS IS A DONATED ARTWORK THAT OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT BE MAINTAINING. RIGHT. SO I GUESS THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS NO, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE REQUIRED 390,000, THEY'RE TECHNICALLY REQUIRED 429,000, WHEREAS A DEVELOPER WHO'S JUST PUTTING THE MONEY ASIDE IS JUST BEING REQUIRED. THE 390,000 CORRECT. THERE, MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK ON THE LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN THAT LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE IT TO BE THE 4 29 GOING FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT A DEVELOPER WHO'S GOING FORWARD AND BUYING THE ARTWORK ISN'T PAYING MORE THAN ONE WHO'S JUST PUTTING THE MONEY ASIDE AND ALLOWING THE CITY TO, TO UTILIZE JUST EVEN PLAYING FIELD. YEAH, EXACTLY. SO, SO, UM, AND THEN WE CAN, WE CAN UPDATE, IF THAT'S THE, THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION, WE CAN UPDATE THE RESOLUTION FOR THIS PARTICULAR PIECE TOO. I'LL BE HAPPY TO MOVE THIS ONE, MOVE THAT PART. OKAY. TO THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. BUT THIS IS A COUNTER VIEW, RIGHT? A COUNTER VIEW. I ALSO WANT TO DISCUSS WHAT'S BEFORE US RIGHT NOW, THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION, BUT AS A COUNTER VIEW TO YOU, UM, YOUR POINT, WHICH IS WELL TAKEN, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, I MEAN, IF I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY, RIGHT? SO THE, THE DEVELOPER WHO HAS THE PRIDE AND HAS THE INTEREST IN PUTTING FORTH A BEAUTIFUL DEVELOPMENT ENSURE IT'S, UM, RAPID SALE AT MARKET PRICES, RIGHT? I, I CAN SEE THE INCENTIVE IN WANTING TO PUT A WORLD CLASS PIECE OF ART THERE. AND, UM, AND THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL AND THE GENEROSITY, TAKE YOUR PICK OF WHICH TERM YOU WANT TO USE WILL DRIVE THE DECISION AS TO WHAT THAT PROJECT WILL LOOK LIKE. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING IN JUST, UM, THE FUNDING, IT JUST, THE, THE CASH PORTION IN LIEU OF PUTTING IN THE, THE ARTWORK IT GIVES TO THE CITY, THE DISCRETION ON HOW TO USE THAT MONEY MM-HMM . SO TO THE CITY, THERE WOULD BE A, A, A BENEFIT. I DON'T KNOW HOW, AND I'M NOT GONNA ATTEMPT TO QU QUANTIFY IT, RIGHT? BUT THERE IS A BENEFIT TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS CASH AS IT SEES BEST IN TERMS OF HOW TO CHOOSE ART. IT WISHES TO, UH, PURCHASE, RIGHT? RELINQUISHED THAT FROM THE DEVELOPER WHO COULD HAVE CHOSEN IT THEMSELVES. BUT EVEN THE DEVELOPER WHO CHOOSES IT THEMSELVES IS SUBJECT TO THE, THE COMMISSION, OR I SHOULD SAY THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION DECIDING IT DOESN'T WANT THAT ART. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN THAT CASE IN THE LOWE'S EXAMPLE, RIGHT. BUT THE DEVELOPER REALLY WANTED THAT. AS YOU SAID, THE DISNEY WORLD LOOK WOULD'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED IF IT WOULD'VE BEEN TODAY'S, UH, COMMISSION, RIGHT? SO I THINK THERE'S A GIVE AND TAKE IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. UM, WHETHER THERE'S SOME TWEAKING THAT YOU NEED TO DO. UM, BUT YOU, YOU HEAR, YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST, UM, RIGHT, THAT LIKE, WE GOT A COMMISSIONER HERE LOOKING OUT FOR THE INTEREST OF THE DEVELOPER . I LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, , THAT'S THE, THERE'S A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING SAYING WE WANT AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD FOR THE DEVELOPERS. UM, SO I, I'M, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE READY NECESSARILY RIGHT NOW TO AMEND OR, OR MAKE, UH, CHANGES TO, UH, THE CURRENT RESOLUTION. I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT ON, ON THAT SCORE. I THINK IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART. I REALLY, REALLY LOVE IT. IT LOOKS GREAT AND I REALLY LIKE TO SEE IT AS PART OF THE FINISHED DEVELOPMENT ON THAT, UH, IN THE PARK THAT'S BEING DONATED. I THINK IT ELEVATES IN ALL RESPECTS, UM, NOT ONLY THE PROJECT, BUT ALL THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK AROUND IT OR TRAVEL THROUGH IT AS TOURISTS. SO YEAH. YEAH. MY, MY SUPPORT FOR THAT AS THE RES RESOLUTION IS CURRENTLY, UM, COMPRISED MAD MAYOR. SO, UH, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, UM, AS FAR AS, UH, WHAT THE SENTIMENTS ARE IN TALLAHASSEE, WE SHOULD NOT BE INCREASING IMPACT FEES, UH, AND COST FOR DEVELOPERS. SO I WOULD CAUTION AGAINST BRINGING THAT SUGGESTION AT THIS TIME. SO I THINK IT WOULD, UH, HAVE MORE OF A NEGATIVE EFFECT THAN A POSITIVE EFFECT. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. I'LL SECOND. SO, MAYOR, JUST TO CLARIFY, IS THE MO, DOES THE MOTION INCLUDE THE AMENDMENT TO WAIVE THE 10%? THAT'S WHAT I REQUESTING. YES. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LAGO. DO WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT? WE'RE GOOD. GOOD? YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS. OF COURSE. UH, I WANT TO THANK THIS COMMISSION AND YOUR STAFF. YOU, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH. THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY PROJECT. THIS PROJECT HAS EVOLVED SO MANY INSTANCES. UH, BUT THE PROJECT HAS EVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT HAS BECOME MORE EMOTIONAL FOR US. YOU KNOW, WE'RE FIRST GENERATION AND VENEZUELAN IMMIGRANTS INTO, INTO, INTO THIS COMMUNITY. FOR US, IT'S ALLOWED US TO REALLY DEFINE THE ROOTS OF WHAT MADE THIS COMMUNITY AND HAS ALLOWED OUR FAMILY. SO THIS IS A LEGACY FOR US. HAVING THIS PARK AS PART OF OUR PROJECT. IT CEMENTS OUR LEGACY AND OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS IN HERE. SO FOR US, IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS REPRESENTED SO MUCH MORE. IT STARTED [03:50:01] AS A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT AND IT'S BECOME SOMETHING THAT HAS MOVED A LOT OF THINGS. THAT'S PART OF WHY WE WANTED THE ART PIECE TOO. IT'S ANOTHER LITTLE NICHE OF SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE IN, IN CONTEMPORARY ART THAT MARK MAKING THIS MARK AND MAKING THIS PLACE A LANDMARK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO, TO, TO, TO ENJOY IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND IT ALLOWS OUR FAMILIES TO THROW FULL ROOTS ON THIS COMMUNITY. SO WE ARE, AS ONE OF THE COMMISSIONS MENTIONED, WE ARE COMMITTED TO TO, TO IMPROVING THE CITY WHERE WE ARE AND SEEING GROW INTO THE BEAUTIFUL CITY IT HAS BEEN. AND WE THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO BECOME. AND I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. YOU THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. UH, MOVING ON [E.-5. 26-1082 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 2, "Administration," Article VII, "Finance," Division 1, "Generally", to create Section 2-353 of the City Code to formally establish ongoing priority capital projects and capital matrices funding programs; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)] TO, UM, ITEM E FIVE. E FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE SEVEN, FINANCE DIVISION ONE GENERALLY TO CREATE SECTION TWO DASH 3 53 OF THE CITY CODE TO FORMALLY ESTABLISH ONGOING PRIORITY CAPITAL PROJECTS AND CAPITAL MATRICES, FUNDING PROGRAMS PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, RE REPEAT PROVISION, CODIFICATION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I BROUGHT IN ORDER TO, UM, MEMORIALIZE WHAT OUR STAFF HAS BEEN DOING FOR, UH, A VERY LONG TIME, THE PAST FIVE YEARS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROPERLY FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS GOING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE, UM, AND NOT HAVE, UH, FLUCTUATIONS AND AVAILABLE CAPITAL FUNDS, UH, WHEN WE HAVE PERIODS OF TIME. THAT WE HAVE LOWER, UM, TAX BASE, UH, AVAILABLE. I ALSO THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT TO SHOW TALLAHASSEE THAT WE ARE SERIOUS. THIS IS THE WAY BUDGETING SHOULD BE DONE, NOT JUST HERE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE WHERE YOU HAVE RESPONSIBLE BUDGETING AND THERE'S NOT A NEED THEN TO RAISE TAXES, TO TAKE CARE OF PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS DUE TO IMPROPER, OR I SHOULD SAY LACK OF CAPITAL FUNDING MATRICES LIKE WE HAVE HERE IN THIS CITY. SO THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE IT. I'M HAPPY TO SECOND. OKAY. SO I THINK VICE MAYOR, YOU'RE ACTUALLY THE, THE CHAIR RIGHT NOW SINCE THE MAYOR STEPPED UP. OH, THAT'S, THAT'S TRUE. SORRY. HAT. SO YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE ELSE MOVE IT OR, OR SOMEONE WILL ALSO WILL HAVE TO MOVE IT. WELL, YOU CAN STILL MOVE IT. SHE HAS TO PASS THE G DIE SENIOR. WE WOULD JUST PASS TO THE NEXT ONE. SO WE'LL JUST CALL FOR A VOTE. OKAY. WELL THAT, THAT, OR WE COULD ALL TAKE A QUICK BATHROOM BREAK AND WAIT FOR THE MAYOR TO COME BACK. WE CAN DO THAT TOO. FIVE MINUTE BREAK. FIVE MINUTE BREAK. FIVE MINUTES. I MEAN, REALLY? FIVE MINUTES. LET'S DO IT, MR. CLARK. YOU READY? ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. UH, GOING BACK TO THE ITEM THAT WE WERE, UH, PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSING. SO WE HAD A MOTION TO SECOND. ALRIGHT. YES. NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE, I'LL MOVE IT. ALRIGHT. PERFECT. SECOND AGAIN. ALRIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MR. CLERK? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. LET'S WAIT FOR THE COMMISSIONER TO COME IN. SHOULD BE COMING IN ANY MINUTE. I DON'T WANNA TAKE THIS VOTE WITHOUT, UH, TIME TO WARM MY HANDS. YEAH, WE'RE GOOD. HERE WE GO. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND MR. CLERK, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. AND THANK YOU FOR WAITING FOR ME. UH, ITEM [E.-6. 26-1104 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 74, “Traffic and Vehicles,” Article I “In General,” Section 74-3 “Riding of Bicycles Upon Pedestrian Sidewalks Generally” and Chapter 74 “Traffic and Vehicles,” Article IV “Bicycles, Skateboards, Scooters, Shared Mobility Devices, and Other Similar Devices,” Section 74-239 “Definitions” to amend the City Code to add a definition of electric bicycles and prohibit the riding Of electric bicycles on city sidewalks; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored By Vice Mayor Anderson)] E SIX. BE THE LAST ITEM BEFORE WE GO TO LUNCH. BREAK. E SIX IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 74, TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES. ARTICLE ONE IN GENERAL, SECTION 74 DASH THREE, RIDING OF BICYCLES UPON PEDESTRIAN SIDEWALKS GENERALLY. AND CHAPTER 74, TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES. ARTICLE FOUR, BICYCLE SKATEBOARD SCOOTERS, SHARED MOBILITY DEVICES, AND OTHER SIMILAR DEVICES. SECTION 74 DASH 2 39 DEFINITIONS TO AMEND THE CITY CODE TO A DEFINITION OF ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND PROHIBIT THE RIDING OF BICYCLE OF ELECTRIC BICYCLES ON CITY SIDEWALKS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CAUSE REPEAT PROVISION, CODIFICATION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU MAYOR. THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY THE VICE MAYOR. AS YOU ALL ARE, UM, WELL AWARE. UNDER STATE STATUTES, THE CITY IS ALLOWED TO REGULATE THE USE OF BICYCLES AND ELECTRIC BICYCLES ON OUR SIDEWALKS. AND THOSE ARE OUR CITY SIDEWALKS, NOT NECESSARILY COUNTY OR STATE SIDEWALKS. WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES IS IT INCORPORATES THE CURRENT STATE DEFINITIONS OF ELECTRIC BICYCLES INTO OUR CODE, WHICH WASN'T CURRENTLY DEFINED, AND IT PROHIBITS ELECTRIC BICYCLES ON ALL CITY [03:55:01] SIDEWALKS WITHIN THE CITY. SO RIGHT NOW, REGULAR BICYCLES ARE PERMITTED ON SIDEWALKS EXCEPT FOR WHERE POSTED. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE THOSE POSTED ON MIRACLE MILE ON CERTAIN BLOCKS OF PONDS AND ON CERTAIN NARROWER SIDEWALKS. THIS WOULD HAVE A BLANKET PROHIBITION ON ELECTRIC BICYCLES ON CITY SIDEWALKS. I KNOW, UM, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN KEPT ABREAST BY THE CHIEF AND BY, UH, CHELSEA ON MOVEMENT AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE REGARDING ELECTRIC BICYCLES. THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT TO CAP THE SPEED LIMIT OF BICYCLES, ELECTRIC BICYCLES ON SIDEWALKS IN THE CITY THAT WE'RE CLOSELY MONITORING. AND, UM, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE HAVE THE EXPERTS, UM, UM, CHIEF HANLIN OVER HERE TOO AS WELL TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES. IT INCORPORATES THAT DEFINITION AND IS A BLANKET PROHIBITION ON ELECTRIC BICYCLES ON CITY SIDEWALKS. MAD VICE MAYOR. SO THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE'VE HAD RESIDENTS ASKING FOR SOME RELIEF ON FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE THE SPEED AT WHICH ELECTRIC BICYCLES CAN GO DOWN CITY SIDEWALKS IS, UH, FRANKLY DANGEROUS. UM, AND, UH, THE ONLY OBJECTION THAT I'VE, UH, RECEIVED IN WRITING WAS THAT, WELL, WE'RE LACKING BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT'S A SEPARATE PROBLEM THAT, UH, I INTEND TO AT THE CONCLUSION THIS MAKE A SEPARATE MOTION ON TO GET, UH, I'VE BEEN ASKING MEMBERS OF THE TRA TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD ON, UM, LOOKING AT OUR BICYCLE, UH, PLAN AND REVISE IT BECAUSE AREAS NEED TO BE TWEAKED BECAUSE BUILDINGS WENT UP AND NOW CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFERENT ON VALENCIA THAN WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY, UH, PLANNED. BUT, AND AS MUCH AS THE STATE IS MOVING FORWARD ON LEGISLATION, UH, THEY'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST, WE, I THINK TAKING ACTION NOW WILL SHOW TALLAHASSEE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THEM TAKING, UM, ACTION TO HELP PROTECT, PROTECT THE PEDESTRIANS IN OUR CITY FROM ELECTRIC BIKES ON, ON SIDEWALKS. SO, UH, WITHOUT, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. MOVE IT. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND, MR. GR DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. SWEAR. ALRIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAW. YES. WE'RE GONNA DO THE CITY MANAGER ADAMS OR FOUR, WE SHOULD JUST BE ABLE TO GO RIGHT THROUGH THOSE H ONE. SO, SO BEFORE WE DO THAT YES. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE, THE, THE, THE NEXT ITEM TO HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD DELIVERED TO US WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE OF, OF THEIR MEETINGS. OKAY. TO REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BICYCLE, UH, PLAN FOR THE FUTURE SO THAT BY THE SUMMER WE HAVE SOMETHING IN FRONT OF US. SO JUST TO UNDERSTAND, TO HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD, UM, DISCUSS WITH STAFF THE BICYCLE MASTER PLAN AND THEIR PROPOSED EDITS TO THAT. CORRECT. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. AYE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM [H.-1. 26-1009 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation contract to EnviroWaste Services Group, Inc, the most responsive and responsible bidder, pursuant to Invitation for Bids (IFB) 2025-029 Section 2-763 of the Procurement Code entitled “Contract Award”. Lobbyist: N/A] H ONE. H ONE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO AWARD THE SANITARY SEWER REHABILITATION CONTRACT TO ENVIRO WASTE SERVICES GROUP, INC. THE MOST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER PURSUANT TO IATION FOR BIDS 2025 DASH 29 SECTION TWO DASH 7 63 OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE ENTITLED CONTRACT AWARD. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE IT. SECOND. MR. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. UM, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAW? YES. ITEM H TWO [H.-2. 26-1039 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to authorize a Cooperative contract with Genuine Parts Company dba NAPA Auto Parts from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) contract number FSA-HCB-IBS1.0 Integrated Business Solutions to provide on-site vehicle and equipment parts and supply services pursuant to Section 2-947 of the Procurement Code. Lobbyist: N/A] H TWO IS RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO AUTHORIZE A COOPERATIVE CONTRACT WITH GENUINE PARTS COMPANY DOING BUSINESS AS NAPA AUTO PARTS FROM THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONTRACT NUMBER F-S-A-H-C-B-I-B-S 1.0 INTEGRATED BUSINESS SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE ONSITE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT, PARTS AND SUPPLY SERVICES PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 9 47 OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE. MAY HAVE A MOTION, I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE'LL HAVE A VOTE. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. ITEM H THREE H THREE'S [H.-3. 26-1040 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award RFP 2025-044 Gymnastics Programming Services to Tumblebees Gymnastics, the highest ranked responsive and responsible proposer, pursuant to Section 2-763 of the Procurement Code entitled “Contract Award” and Request for Proposal (RFP) 2025-044. Lobbyist: N/A] RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO AWARD RFP 2025 DASH 44 GYMNASTICS PROGRAMMING SERVICES TO ENSEMBLE BEACH'S GYMNASTICS, THE HIGHEST RANKED RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE PROPOSAL PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 7 63 OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE ENTITLED CONTRACT AWARD AND REQUEST A PROPOSAL 2025 DASH 44. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLERK, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR COMM, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. MOVING ON TO ADAM H [H.-4. 26-1070 A Resolution of the City Commission amending Resolution No. 2022-83 to replace the location for installation of the sculpture “Mars” by Julio Larraz from Pittman Park to the city plaza at Aragon Avenue and Merrick Way. Lobbyist: N/A] FOUR. H FOUR IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. H FOUR IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2022 DASH 83 TO REPLACE THE LOCATION FOR INSTALLATION OF THE SCULPTURE MARS BY JULIO RAZ FROM PITMAN PARK TO THE CITY PLAZA, ARAGON AVENUE IN GALLO STREET. PERFECT. UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. SECOND. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, BUT SWEAR PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY. ALRIGHT. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SCULPTURE. I THINK IT'S THE PERFECT LOCATION. I THINK, AGAIN, THIS PUBLIC PLAZA [04:00:01] IS, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY ART IN THAT AREA. AND I THINK, AGAIN, JUST CONTINUING TO EXPAND. WE JUST HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION BY ANOTHER WORLD CLASS ARTIST. THIS IS A WORLD CLASS ARTIST. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE CUBAN AMERICAN, REPRESENTED BY MARLBORO GALLERY, REPRESENTED BY SOME AMAZING GALLERIES, UH, BROUGHT UP, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S CUBAN AMERICAN, I'M PROBABLY, HE'S JUST AN AMAZING ARTIST. AND WHEN YOU GO TO ALL THE MAJOR ART FAIRS, YOU SEE HIS WORK AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL, TASTEFUL AND, UH, VERY WHIMSICAL. AND IF YOU EVER GET TO SEE HIS, HIS PAINTINGS, HIS, HIS OIL PAINTINGS, OR YOU GET TO SEE HIS WORKS ON CHALK OR DRAWINGS, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL. UH, A LOT OF 'EM HAVE UNDERTONES THAT TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY. UH, THEY HAVE A, HE HAS, HE HAS A SERIES ABOUT DICTATORS WHERE HE IS BASICALLY POKING FRONT OF THE DICTATORS. AND, UH, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU, THAT YOU, UH, RESEARCH JURA, BECAUSE AGAIN, BY THE WAY, HIS STUDIO IS A STONES THROW AWAY FROM CORAL GABLES. I'VE BEEN TO IT, AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TO AGAIN, JUST ENJOY A WORLD CLASS ARTIST WHO NOW WILL HAVE IN OUR BACKYARD. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO STAFF. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A HEAVY LIFT. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS. THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF, UH, FOR BRINGING IT TO FRUITION. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THE FOUNDRY. UH, AND FINALLY I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT COME. MR. CLERK. WE HAVE A DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. DO YOU WANNA ATTACK ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE GO TO LUNCH OR ARE WE GOOD FOR LUNCH? WE GOOD? ALRIGHT. SO WE'RE GONNA GO TO A RECESS. WE'RE GONNA GO TO RECESS. OKAY. AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE, WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'RE GONNA START WITH F FOUR. ALL RIGHT. I WILL SEE YOU. IT IS, UH, ONE 20 IS UH, 1 45. GOOD. OKAY. TURN ON TIME. YEP. 1 45. IT IS. HOW WE DOING MR. CRAIG? YOU READY? YES, SIR. WE'RE READY. ALRIGHT, GOOD STUFF. WE'RE [F.-4. 26-1087 A Resolution of the City Commission recognizing the Holy Month of Ramadan and supporting a community Ramadan Observance in the City of Coral Gables. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)] GONNA START OFF WITH ITEM F FOUR, CORRECT? YES, SIR. IS MAN MS. PANT AVAILABLE? WILL YOU JOIN US? F FOUR. F FOUR IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION, RECOGNIZING THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN AND SUPPORTING A COMMUNITY RAMADAN OBSERVANCE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. OKAY. WELL THIS IS AN ITEM I BROUGHT AND, UH, MS. PANT, I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WANNA HOLD THIS EVENT. COULD YOU FILL US IN WHERE YOU ARE AT WITH, SO WE'VE BEEN, BEEN WORKING, UH, WITH, WITH THE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT, THAT BROUGHT THIS UP, WE DO HAVE A TENTATIVE DATE. I KNOW THAT THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED IN HAVING THE VICE MAYOR THERE. SHE IS NOT AVAILABLE THAT DATE. UH, WE NEED TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF BREAKING THE FAST. WE NEED TO DO IT BEFORE THE TIME CHANGES AND THE TIME CHANGES ON MARCH 8TH. OKAY. SO WE'RE JUST GETTING FOR A DATE. UM, MICHAEL, IF YOU COULD SHOW THE, THE TENTATIVE INVITATION, WHICH THEY'RE FINE. IT'S GONNA BE AT CITY HALL COURTYARD AND WE WILL HAVE LIKE A COFFEE CART OR SOMETHING SIMILAR LIKE WE HAD FOR THE INTERFAITH EVENT. PERFECT. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. SO I'LL BE FLYING BACK FROM MONTANA ON THE 19TH, SO YOU CAN, I'LL MAKE SURE TO BE THERE. SO YOU CAN FILL, FILL IN MY SHOES AND WE DO IT VICE VERSA. SO ONCE I, ONCE I CONFIRM WITH THE, THE TWO LADIES, UH, TODAY, I WILL MAKE SURE TO SEND THIS TO EVERYONE HERE. AND THEY ARE VERY, UH, GRATEFUL THAT THE CITY IS REC WORKING WITH THEIR COMMUNITY. SO THROUGH THE MAYOR. YEP. RIGHT. SO I, UH, I'VE ALSO BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, WITH THE RESIDENTS ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL. AND I'M VERY PLEASED THAT THE VICE MAYOR BROUGHT, UM, THE RESOLUTION. SHOULD THERE BE, UM, SOME CONFLICT AGAIN, ARISING THAT TIME. AND ASSUMING I'M NOT CONFLICTED, I'D LIKE TO JOIN THE MAYOR ALSO AS WELL. BE HAPPY TO MAKE SOME REMARKS AS WELL. PERFECT. THANK YOU ALL. UM, I'M GONNA MOVE IT A SECOND AND IF I MAY, UM, I'M INCLINED IF THE VICE MAYOR WILL ALLOW ME TO, I'D LOVE TO CO-SPONSORS. ABSOLUTELY. AND I THINK THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE SHOULD CO-SPONSOR IT ON THIS ITEM, BUT I'D LIKE THAT AS WELL. I AGREE. I THINK IT'S, I KNOW IT'S THE VICE MAYOR'S ITEM. I'D LIKE TO STEP ON ANYBODY'S TOES, BUT I THINK THAT, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING. NO TOES. WE'RE GONNA HOLD HANDS TODAY, SO. ALRIGHT. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO [F.-5. 26-1089 A Resolution of the City Commission urging the Florida Legislature to address certain considerations when proposing or reviewing legislation regarding property taxes and adding certain proposals to the City's 2026 Legislative Priorities. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)] F FIVE. F FIVE IS A RES RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS WHEN PROPOSING OR REVIEWING LEGISLATION REGARDING PROPERTY TAXES AND ADDING CERTAIN PROPOSALS TO THE CITY'S 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS. THIS ON ITEM IS SPONSORED BY THE VICE MAYOR. [04:05:01] UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW AND HAVE BEEN KEPT AWARE, THERE ARE, UM, MANY PROPOSALS, ALMOST A DOZEN BILLS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PENDING AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW REGARDING PROPERTY TAXES. THIS RESOLUTION URGES THE LEGISLATURE WHEN CONSIDERING THOSE PROPOSALS TO, UM, TAKE INTO MIND, UM, FOUR SORT OF LARGER POINTS, UM, NAMELY ABOUT THE EVALUATION OF PROPERTIES, INCLUDING WHETHER OR NOT CERTAIN RESILIENCY RELATED IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE VALUATION OF PROPERTIES. PROHIBIT REASSESSMENT OF ORIGINAL HOMESTEADED SQUARE FOOTAGE WHEN YOU'RE ADDING ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE. IN A SMALL ADDITION, CONSIDER PROHIBITING, UM, PROPERTY APPRAISERS FROM COMPARING, UM, APPLES TO ORANGES AS IT WERE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE COMPARING LIKE TO, LIKE, AND TO CONSIDER REQUIRING COUNTIES TO NOTIFY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS OF CERTAIN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND SAVE OUR HOME PORTABILITY FILING REQUIREMENTS WHEN THEY'RE CONSIDERING, UM, PROPERTY TAX LEGISLATION. THIS SESSION, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR TURN IT OVER TO THE SPONSOR. SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND AS TO WHY, YOU KNOW, I CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA AND I ALSO DID ALSO SHARE IT WITH, UM, SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. IT'S A LITTLE LATE IN THE SESSION FOR IT TO BE PROPOSED, BUT, UH, THESE ARE STATUTORY AMENDMENTS. IT WON'T REQUIRE A VOTE OF ELECTORS TO HELP PROVIDE RELIEF FOR, UM, TAXPAYERS. UM, THE PROPERTY TAX APPEAL THAT I WAS HANDLING ON BEHALF OF, UH, SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE CITY, UM, BROUGHT TO LIGHT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S STATUTE THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW, UH, ALLOW THEM TO ADD OR REASSESS YOUR PROPERTY OR INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY BASED UPON CERTAIN THINGS. SO IF YOU DO A SMALL ADDITION, YOU KNOW IT, YOU ADD A GARAGE, THEY COULD REASSESS AND BRING UP TO, UH, CURRENT VALUE YOUR ENTIRE HOME. THEY CAN MAKE THAT DECISION TO DO THAT. IF YOU PUT ON A NEW ROOF, THE THE NEW ROOF INCREASES THE VALUE OF THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, BUT EVERY TIME YOU PUT ON A NEW ROOF, YOU'RE GETTING A, AN INCREASED VALUE OF YOUR HOUSE EVERY, EVERY SINGLE TIME. THIS DISCOURAGES PEOPLE FROM DOING IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS. SO I LISTED, YOU KNOW, ROOF REPLACEMENTS, IMPACT DOORS. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT IMPACT WINDOWS ARE ALREADY INCLUDED, BUT IMPACT DOORS AREN'T GARAGE DOORS. REWIRING OF YOUR HOME, UH, WHERE IT'S DETERIORATED OVER 50 YEARS. REPLUMBING, UM, REPLACEMENT OF ROTTED WOODEN AND PANELING AND EAVES AND SO FORTH. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, UM, SHOULDN'T RESULT IN INCREASED VALUE OF OUR HOMES EVERY SINGLE TIME WE REPLACE THE HVAC UNIT FOR OUR HOME. BECAUSE THIS INDEED DISCOURAGES DOING RESILIENCY EFFORTS THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE IF YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE TAXED FOREVER MORE ON THAT INCREASED VALUE OF YOUR HOME, WHICH THEN STILL GETS ADDED TO 3% A YEAR FOR, UH, SAVE OUR HOMES, UM, PROVISION. SO THERE WERE FOUR TALKING POINTS THAT ARE DISTILLED INTO THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION, AND I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO URGE OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO CONSIDER, UH, AMENDING THE STATUTE, UH, TO PROVIDE MORE IMMEDIATE, UH, RELIEF FOR TAXPAYERS. SO, I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND MR. CLERK. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. MOVING ON TO ARREST SIX. THANK [F.-6. 26-1106 A Resolution of the City Commission calling for a Special Election on a Proposed Ballot Question and City Charter Amendment to be held on April 21, 2026; providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking whether the City Charter should be amended to eliminate the Run-Off Election in City Commission and Mayoral Races; providing for a mail ballot; providing for notice; providing for inclusion in the City Charter; providing for related matters; providing for an effective date. (Sponsored By Mayor Lago)] YOU MADAM. CITY ATTORNEY. F SIX IS THE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION ON A PROPOSED BALLOT QUESTION IN CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT TO BE HELD ON APRIL 21ST, 2026, PROVIDING FOR SUBMISSION TO THE ELECTORS FOR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF A BALLOT QUESTION ASKING WHETHER THE CITY CHARTER SHOULD BE AMENDED TO ELIMINATE THE RUNOFF ELECTION IN CITY COMMISSION AND MAYORAL RACES PROVIDING FOR A MALE BALLOT, PROVIDING FOR NOTICE, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CITY CHARTER, PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY THE MAYOR. AS YOU ALL MAY RECALL, AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, THERE WAS, UM, A DISCUSSION FROM THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND ONE OF THEIR SUGGESTIONS WAS THAT THIS QUESTION, OR A QUESTION SIMILAR TO IT SHOULD BE PUT TO THE VOTERS IN THE APRIL 21ST, 2026 SPECIAL MAIL BALLOT. AS YOU ALL MAY RECALL, IN 2016, VOTERS APPROVED A CHARTER AMENDMENT THAT ADDED A RUNOFF ELECTION TO THE CITY CHARTER, AND THE CLERK CAN CORRECT ME, BUT I BELIEVE THAT SINCE, SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD A RUNOFF BETWEEN TWO CANDIDATES, UM, IN AT LEAST ONE OF ONE RACE IN EVERY ELECTION SINCE THEN IN THE LAST FIVE ELECTIONS. UM, THERE IS OF COURSE, A COST TO THOSE RUNOFF ELECTIONS, AND THIS PROPOSAL WOULD STRIKE THE RUNOFF FROM THE CITY CHARTER AND INSTEAD WOULD RETURN TO WHAT WE HAD BEFORE 2016, WHICH WAS THAT THE CANDIDATE RECEIVING, UM, THE PLURALITY OF VOTES, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE THE MAJORITY, IS THE ONE WHO WAS ELECTED. UM, AND THERE IS NO LONGER A RUNOFF ELECTION. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT THIS RESOLUTION, IF ADOPTED, WOULD ADD THAT TO THE APRIL 21ST, 2026 SPECIAL MAIL BALLOT. THIS IS SIMPLE. I JUST WANTED TO SEE THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION. UM, WE HAD MULTIPLE, WELL, WE HAD ONE INDIVIDUAL ON THE COMMISSION THAT SAID THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING THAT THE CHARTER REVIEW SAID OR MENTIONED. UH, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. UM, AGAIN, [04:10:01] NOT THAT I'M SAYING I'M IN FAVOR OR I'M AGAINST, BUT I WANTED TO BRING IT FORWARD. UM, I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. DO WE MAYBE HAVE TOO MANY ITEMS, UM, CURRENTLY FOR, FOR DISCUSSION AND FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE RESIDENTS IN REGARDS TO THE REFERENDUMS? SHOULD WE ADD THIS ONE? SHOULD WE NOT ADD THIS ONE? SO I WANTED TO KIND OF HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES IN THE COMMISSION WHAT THEIR OPINION WAS. I VICE MAYOR. WELL, THIS WAS, THIS WAS ON AN ITEM THAT I WAS, UH, CONSIDERING ADDING BECAUSE ONE, I THINK IT, IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE, UM, VERY FEW PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR A RUNOFF ELECTION AND WE'RE SPENDING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY ON A RUNOFF ELECTION. UM, IF THE ELECTION IS MOVED TO, UM, NOVEMBER, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A DECEMBER ELECTION, VERY HARD TIME TO GET PEOPLE BACK IN. THEY'RE PROBABLY STILL OUT FOR THANKSGIVING. SAME THING HAPPENS IN APRIL. UH, MAJOR REASON TO MOVE THE ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ON SPRING BREAK. PEOPLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE. IT'S AN ODD TIME TO BE, UM, BE VOTING ON THINGS WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE OFF WITH YOUR KIDS AND GO TO DISNEY WORLD OR WHEREVER ELSE YOU WANNA GO. UH, AND IT'S LOW TURNOUT AND COSTS A LOT OF MONEY, UM, WHETHER TO HAVE IT THIS ELECTION OR PUT IT ON A NOVEMBER BALLOT. UM, WE ALREADY HAVE THE PAPER GOING OUT. ONE MORE ITEM. I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA MAKE OR BREAK WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY, UH, MAKES A SELECTION ON THIS ITEM, BUT I THINK AN OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE VOTERS TO MAKE A DECISION. THE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER. UM, I THINK IF WE ARE GIVING VOTERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE ELECTION DATES, THIS IS THE TIME TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AS WELL. UH, I AGREE. I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS IS IF THE ELECTION IS MOVED IN NOVEMBER, YOU'RE TALKING OF, UM, A RUNOFF ELECTION THAT WOULD LAND PRETTY MUCH ALMOST AT CHRISTMAS TIME OR AT LEAST, UH, DURING HANUKKAH. SO IT'LL BE, UH, A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO GET FOLKS TO COME OUT TO VOTE. SO, UM, I I THINK WE SHOULD SEND IT TO VOTERS AND HAVE THEM MAKE THAT DECISION, COMMISSIONER. RIGHT. SO PICKING UP ON COMMISSIONER CASTRO'S, I MEAN, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S COMMENTS. YOU KNOW, I, I AM CONCERNED AS WELL WHEN ELECTIONS HAPPEN AROUND HOLIDAY RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS, RIGHT. AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE, ARE AWAY ON SPRING BREAK. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I WAS A STRONG PROPONENT AND AN ADVOCATE THAT WE MOVED FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER, FROM APRIL ODD YEAR TO NOVEMBER EVEN YEAR, BECAUSE WE WERE CONSTANTLY RUNNING INTO THIS ISSUE OF EASTER AND SPRING BREAK AS BEING ARGUABLY, UH, NOT A DETERRENT, BUT CERTAINLY AN OBSTACLE THAT WAS UNFAIR, I THINK PUT ON THE RESIDENTS TO VOTE. SO, UM, THAT BEING SAID, MY PIECE OF ADVOCACY THERE, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE ULTIMATE, UH, YOU KNOW, VOTE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, ELIMINATING, UH, THE RUNOFF. BUT SINCE THE QUESTION AND THE ISSUE THAT THE MAYOR HAS BROUGHT UP IS, YOU KNOW, SHOULD IT EVEN GO ON TO THE BALLOT? YEAH, I'M, I'M, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS GOING NOW ONTO THE BALLOT. OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE IT SECOND, MR. GREG, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR? I DO. UH, MS. MAYOR ALSO, JUST REALLY QUICK BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. YES. JUST WANTED TO STRESS, THERE'S A, THERE'S A, A SCENARIO WHERE THIS ITEM PASSES, BUT ELECTIONS DO NOT GET MOVED TO NOVEMBER. OKAY. SO WE WOULD NOT HAVE RUN OFF ELECTIONS ON APRIL EITHER. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER PERFECTLY FINE. I UNDERSTAND THAT. UM, MS. MARIA CRUZ FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND IT'S MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO ISSUE WITH, UH, ELIMINATING THE RUNOFF, BUT I STILL FEEL THAT IF IN FACT WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT PEOPLE THINK, IT SHOULD NOT BE MAIL ONLY. THAT'S IT. MR. MAYOR, CLOSE. WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LOGGER? YES. ITEM F SEVEN MR. THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. BEFORE WE GO TO F SEVEN, I HAVE A, UM, A MOTION I'D LIKE TO RAISE THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT ONTO THE, THE AGENDA. OKAY. BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH BALLOT QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING RIGHT NOW ABOUT THIS ONE. SO, UH, I'M GONNA PASS OUT A, UH, UH, IN A MOMENT, A, UM, A, UH, A PROPOSED CHANGE TO WHAT'S GONNA GO TO THE BALLOT. AND, BUT I'M GONNA FIRST START WITH A MOTION TO RECONSIDER OUR PRIOR VOTE ON F SEVEN AT THE LAST MEETING. AND THAT WAS THE ONE THAT, UH, DEALT WITH WHETHER, UM, IT SHOULD GO ON TO THE BALLOT. A, UH, A CHANGE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER REQUIRING, [04:15:01] UH, ANY, UH, UH, IMPACT TO THE RESERVE BEING AS A RESULT OF THE ELECTORATE. UH, F SEVEN WAS, UH, WELL, IF YOU WANNA READ IT FOR ME, UH, MAYOR, IF IT'S OKAY, DO YOU WANT ME TO, JUST SO WE ALL KNOW, WE ALL KNOW WE'RE UP. LET'S, LET'S BACK UP FROM F SEVEN AND WE'LL TAKE THAT NEXT. LET'S LISTEN TO THE COMMISSIONER'S ITEM. SO, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, COMMISSIONER, IT'S A MOTION TO RECONSIDER RIGHT, THE JANUARY 13TH, UM, F SEVEN ITEM, WHICH WAS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, AMENDING RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 1 61 TO CHANGE THE DATE OF THE SPECIAL ELECTION AND CALLING FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE PROPOSED BALLOT QUESTION AND CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT TO BE HELD ON APRIL 21ST, 2026. THAT PROVIDING FOR SUBMISSION TO THE ELECTORS FOR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF A BALLOT QUESTION, ASKING WHETHER THE CITY CHARTER SHOULD INCORPORATE THE CITY'S FUND BALANCE AND RESERVE POLICY ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE 2025 DASH FIVE AND BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORS PRIOR TO AMENDMENT OF THAT FUND BALANCE AND RESERVE POLICY, OR THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL'S RESERVE, EXCEPT FOR THOSE FUNDS AUTHORIZED TO BE SPENT PURSUANT TO THE EMERGENCY POWERS AUTHORIZED BY THE CHARTER CITY CODE, DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY OR OTHER APPLICABLE LAW, PROVIDING FOR MAIL BALLOT, PROVIDING FOR NOTICE, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CITY CHARTER, PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. SO MY, MY CONCERN, AND THE REASON THAT I MOVE FOR THIS RECONSIDERATION, JUST TO GIVE YOU, UM, MY THOUGHTS ON THAT, IS, UM, AND ALSO BORROWING AND, AND CONSIDERING THE COMMENTS MADE BY THE CHARTER RE COMMITTEE ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF US MAINTAINING A 25% RESERVE. I THINK THAT'S PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE, AND I ALSO THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AND CONTINUE TO HAVE A FOUR FIFTHS, UH, SUPER MAJORITY ON THE COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TAP INTO THE RE RESERVES. BUT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WE APPROVED LAST TIME WOULD PUT IT AS AN AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER, SO THAT BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THE RESERVE FUNDS WOULD REQUIRE A VOTE OF THE ELECTORATE. AND I BELIEVE, UH, UPON RECONSIDERATION THAT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE, UM, ANTICIPATED CHANGES, UH, TO PROPERTY TAX, UH, EXPECTED FROM TALLAHASSEE AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR TERM, UM, AS WELL AS THE EXISTING CONTROLS THAT I THINK ARE SUFFICIENT, THAT FOUR FIFTHS OF THE COMMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE IN ALIGNMENT IN ORDER TO EVEN ACCESS THE FUNDS. THAT, UM, ALLOWING THIS QUESTION TO GO AS WE PREVIOUSLY VOTED ONTO THE BALLOT, MAY PUT IT JUST A BRIDGE TOO FAR AND TO UN AND UNREASONABLY PERHAPS TIE THIS COMMISSION'S HANDS IF WE NEED TO GET TO THAT MONEY. SO, UM, I'VE SPOKEN WITH, UH, THE MANAGER, I'VE SPOKEN WITH, UH, THE ATTORNEY CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ABOUT THIS, AND SO I WOULD URGE US TO RECONSIDER THAT VOTE. AND I ALSO HAVE A COMPANION, UM, QUESTION THAT I'LL PASS OUT NOW SO THAT WE CAN PERHAPS REPLACE IT AND STILL ACHIEVE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, WHICH IS PROTECTION OF THE RESERVES AT 25%, BUT LEAVING FOR THE COMMISSION AT A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE, THE, THE DECISION WHETHER NOT TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDS. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? UH, NO. I, IT IT, THEY DO SEEM TO BE DOVETAILING ONE WITH THE OTHER, BUT PROCEDURALLY THE FIRST THING, MOTION TO RECONSIDER. OKAY. SO THAT IF THAT CARRIES, THEN WE, THEN I WILL BE MOVING FOR THIS TO BE THE LANGUAGE ON THE BALLOT. SO, UM, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, UH, I'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, ANSWER THOSE. BUT THE BASIC THRUST OF THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT TOUCH 25% AS THE ESTABLISHED RESERVES. THE CITY MANAGER HAS ALREADY, UH, ASSURED ME THAT THAT'S A REASONABLE, PRUDENT AND FAIR NUMBER TO MAINTAIN. AND, UH, MY VIEW IS THAT NOW THAT WE ARE ALREADY AT FOUR-FIFTHS OF THE VOTE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT MONEY, UM, THE, THE RESOLUTION I'M SUPPORTING HERE IS THAT THAT KEEPS FOR US THE, FOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ACCESS IT RATHER THAN PUTTING IT INTO THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS, WHICH MIGHT BE, UH, AN UNREASONABLE HINDRANCE OR OBSTACLE. AND IN LIGHT OF WHAT WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR AND SEE WHAT TALLAHASSEE DOES WITH RESPECT TO ITS PROPERTY TAX REFORM. SO, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, AS THE AUTHOR OF THIS LEGISLATION, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE RECONSIDERATION. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. UH, NUMBER TWO. BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR OUR LEGAL TEAM. SO WHAT IF, WHAT IF WE, IN THE FUTURE, WE APPROVE THIS, CORRECT. THAT WE NEED A FOUR FIFTH VOTE TO TAP INTO THE RESERVES. COULD THERE PIECE, COULD THERE BE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT IS PROFFERED THAT SAYS WE'RE LOWERING THE RESERVES FROM 25 TO 20%? SO, WHICH THEN IS NOT TAPPING INTO THE, I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET CUTE HERE. MM-HMM . TRYING TO GET CUTE HERE, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH DIFFERENT WAYS, UH, TO END AROUND AND [04:20:01] FIGURE OUT HOW TO, HOW TO, SO AS AND AT THE MONEY WITHOUT GETTING AT THE MONEY AS AS REQUESTED BY THE COMMISSIONER, THE, AND WE'LL, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO TAKE, DO THIS IN TWO STEPS, RIGHT? MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION, AND THEN IT WOULD BE THE, THE SECOND TO TAKE UP THE, THE, HIS PROPOSED REVISED QUESTION. IT WOULD BE THAT THE 25% IS SOMETHING THE CITY HAS TO MAINTAIN, AND THAT WOULD BE IN THE CHARTER AND WOULD BE ONLY AMENDED BY REFERENDUM, THAT ASPECT OF IT. SO TAPPING IN WOULD THEN REQUIRE THE, THE, AS YOU SAID, TAPPING IN WOULD REQUIRE FORFEITS, BUT THE 25% WOULD BE THE POLICY. SO LET ME TELL YOU, THE POLICY ALREADY IS 25%, RIGHT? WE, WE WROTE THAT POLICY, I WROTE THAT POLICY, OKAY? WHEN I GOT HERE, IT WAS $15 MILLION, AND NOW WE'RE OVER $60 MILLION. TOOK A LOT OF BELT TIMING. UH, TWO YEARS AGO ON THE COMMISSION, WE STARTED SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY, $20 MILLION COLAS, RAISES, CAR ALLOWANCES, ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT TO ME ARE FISCALLY UNSOUND AND NOT IN CHARACTER WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THEY'RE JUST NOT, THEY'RE NOT, UM, THE VICE MAYOR AND I WERE VERY CLEAR. WE DID NOT, WE WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF HIRING. I THINK HOW, HOW MANY PEOPLE DID WE HIRE ONE YEAR, MR. MANAGER, EXCLUDING POLICE? EXCLUDING POLICE. IT WAS LIKE 17, 17. I VOTED BEFORE ANYONE HERE GOT ON THE COMMISSION. I WAS ONE OF THE VOTES TO INCREASE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS. SO EXCLUDING, WE DID 17 FROM MY TIME WHEN YOU'VE BEEN HERE, MR. MANAGER, WHAT'S THE MOST WE'VE EVER HIRED IN ONE YEAR OUTSIDE OF POLICE? WELL, THIS YEAR, MAYOR, BECAUSE WE USED THE, UH, NO OUTSIDE OF, OF, OH, OUTSIDE A FRACTION OF THAT. YEAH. ONE, TWO PEOPLE A YEAR LESS THAN, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN BETWEEN THREE AND, AND SIX, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OKAY. SO ONE YEAR WE BUMPED IT UP TO 17 PEOPLE. THAT IS A MASSIVE INCREASE OF OVERHEAD. OKAY? SO THE REASON WHY I PROFFERED THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN A COMMISSION MEETING AND PEOPLE ARE OPENLY TALKING ABOUT IT, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ TALKED ABOUT IT AND SAYS, HEY, LET'S TAP INTO THE RESERVES FOR SIDEWALKS FOR THIS PROJECT, FOR THAT PROJECT, OKAY? UM, IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD. WE CAN LOOK IT UP. YOU GET SCARED AFTER BELT TIGHTENING FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND YOU SEE WHERE THE ECONOMY'S HEADED AND YOU SEE WHERE THINGS ARE, THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, UH, KIND OF BEING FORECAST. SO YOU WANT TO BE AS CONSERVATIVE AS POSSIBLE FISCALLY TO NOT PUT THE CITY IN A TOUGH POSITION. BEFORE I GOT ELECTED. AND WHEN I GOT ELECTED, WE WERE A DOUBLE A RATED CITY THROUGH OUR BELT TIGHTENING AND PAYING DOWN OF THE PENSIONS, WHICH HADN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE UNTIL JIM CASON STARTED THAT. AND I WAS A ROOKIE ON THE COMMISSION. WE HAD A DOUBLE A RATED CITY. WE WROTE THE 25% PIECE OF LEGISLATION REQUIRING 25% RESERVES. WE STARTED PAYING DOWN OUR RE, WE STARTED PAYING DOWN OUR OVERHEAD, OUR, EXCUSE ME, OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITIES. AND WE WERE GRANTED AWARDED ONE OF THREE CITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, HAD TRIPLE, TRIPLE BOUNDARY. I REPEAT THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER, AND I WILL DO IT TO THE DAY, MY LAST DAY ON THIS COMMISSION, BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE REMINDED TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE. TODAY WAS A HERCULEAN TASK IN BELT TIGHTENING. IT WAS A HERCULEAN TASK TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER ON SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES, LIKE THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, LIKE THE LITANY OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKED ON HERE IN THE CITY WHILE YOU'RE STILL PUTTING MONEY AWAY. SO WHEN ANYBODY MENTIONS TO ME THAT, UH, LET'S JUST SPEND MONEY FROM THE RESERVES, I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT BEFORE IN 10 YEARS OF BEING IN PUBLIC OFFICE THAT HAPPENED ON THIS COMMISSION BEFORE YOU WERE ELECTED. SO TO ME, THAT IS, THAT IS, THAT'S WHY I PROFFERED THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION BECAUSE I KNEW GOD WILLING THAT IF I WAS ABLE TO TURN OVER THE COMMISSION, WE WOULD DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD ENSURE THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF THIS COMMISSION. 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE ANY OTHER CITY THAT HAS 5% OF RESERVES, 10% OF RESERVES. THAT'S NOT WHO WE ARE. SO I HAVE NO ISSUES. IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE IN REMOVING THAT PORTION, I WILL GO ALONG WITH IT AS LONG AS WE KEEP THE FOUR FISTS. TO ME, THE FOUR FIST WAS IMPORTANT. REMEMBER, WE ALREADY REQUIRE A FOUR FISTS FOR A COLA, OKAY? SO WE'RE GONNA REQUIRE THAT AND WE SHOULD REQUIRE IT FROM TAPPING INTO THE RESERVES THROUGH THE MAYOR. I, I, I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE SINCE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE ON THIS. UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE THOUGH, RIGHT, IS LIKE YOU WANT, IS TO ENSURE THAT THIS REMAINS LONG AFTER WE'RE GONE, OF COURSE. OR MAKE IT KNOWN TO, ALL RIGHT? WHEN YOU AMEND A CHARTER, AS WE'RE HOPING, IF THIS BALLOT QUESTION GETS PUT ON THE WAY, I'VE GOT IT HERE, 25% WILL BE THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE CAN'T BE CHANGED UNLESS YOU HAVE ANOTHER VOTE OF THE ELECTORATE. AND THEN, BUT WE KEEP FOR OURSELVES THE COMMISSION, THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THAT THROUGH A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE, WHICH WAS, WHICH WE HAVE NOW. BUT I WOULD LIKE THAT IN THE CHARTER SAYING YOU NEED A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDS. I THINK THIS IS THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS BECAUSE IT PROVIDES US WITH THE REQUISITE MANEUVERABILITY IF WE SHOULD ENCOUNTER SOME REALLY BIZARRE, UH, MOVES COMING OUTTA TALLAHASSEE, BUT IT'S SUFFICIENTLY ENCASED IN, IN CONCRETE SO THAT IT WILL NOT BE WILLY-NILLY OR THROUGH A SIMPLE [04:25:01] MAJORITY AMENDED. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACHIEVE. MR. MANAGER? YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY SOMETHING BECAUSE I, I THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT 25% IS, IS EVERY YEAR, AND IT'S PART OF 25% OF THE BUDGET. THIS IS A RESERVED FUND WHERE THE, THE AMOUNT IN THE FUND IS 25% OF THE BUDGET. WE CANNOT PUT 25% OF THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR INTO A FUND. IT'S, IT DOES NOT WORK. SO THIS IS A FUND THAT, AS YOU KNOW, MAYOR, YOU'VE WORKED VERY HARD AT, AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN GETTING TO THIS 25%, WHICH BY THE WAY, I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT NUMBER BECAUSE IT GENERALLY PROVIDES US WITH TWO SMALL HURRICANES AND ONE LARGE HURRICANE. AND THAT'S OUR, AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR MAJOR ISSUES. UH, SO, SO I, UH, WHEN WE, WHEN WE SPEND MONEY OFF OF, OFF OF THE RESERVE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT PUT BACK. IF WE TAKE $20 MILLION OFF OF THE RESERVE, WE CAN'T PUT THAT THE NEXT YEAR. THIS, THIS WAS PAINSTAKINGLY BROUGHT TO THAT LEVEL MAYOR OVER, OVER MANY YEARS. AND, AND, AND SO, SO I THINK THERE'S, UH, THERE, THERE MAY BE A DISCONNECT IN PEOPLE THINKING THAT'S JUST 25% OF THE BUDGET. IT'S NOT, IT'S TAKING A LONG TIME TO GET TO THIS 25%. AND IN THE PANDEMIC, WE NEVER TOUCHED IT, AND THAT WAS AN EMERGENCY. WE NEVER TOUCHED IT BECAUSE WE ALL REALIZE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO, AND HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET TO THAT 25%. NOW WE WORK WITH HURRICANES. WHY? BECAUSE THERE'S A FEMA REIMBURSEMENT. WE GOT 95 PLUS PERCENT OF, OF, OF THE HURRICANE. SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A RECEIVABLE COMING BACK FOR THAT. SO THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS FUND IS A CRITICAL FUND. IT ALLOWED US TO WORK MUCH BETTER. IT ALLOWS US NOT TO HAVE TO GO TO THE BANK. IT ALLOWS US TO, TO, TO, TO GATHER CONTRACTORS FASTER. SO, SO I, I DO THINK THAT WHAT THIS DOES ALSO, MAYOR IS, IS, IS, IS TWOFOLD. IT IS FOUR-FIFTHS TO CHANGE THE POLICY AND FOUR-FIFTHS TO ACCESS THE MONEY. SO YOU HAVE FOUR-FIFTHS FOR BOTH ITEMS. TWO, TWO QUICK POINTS THAT I THINK I WANNA MENTION, WHICH I'M IN FAVOR OF. AND I, JUST TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD, AGAIN, REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT ONLY A RESERVE. WE ALSO MADE MONEY. OKAY? 5%, 6% INTEREST. DO THE NUMBERS, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR CAN TELL US WHAT WE MAKE. SO THAT IS ADDITIONAL GRAVY FOR US TO SPEND ON PROJECTS THAT THE COMMISSION AND OUR DIRECTORS DEEM APPROPRIATE AND NUMBER AND THE LAST POINT. AND THEN, UH, THE VICE MAYOR AND THE LAST POINT, UM, AND THE MANAGER, UH, OR THE FINANCE DIRECTOR CAN TELL US, I THINK IT TOOK SEVEN YEARS TO GET REIMBURSED FROM THAT LAST HURRICANE. THAT'S CORRECT, MAN. AND WHILE OTHER CITIES WERE SCRAMBLING FOR LINES OF CREDIT, WHICH BY THE WAY, IF YOU WOULD'VE GOT A LINE OF CREDIT FROM A BANK FOUR YEARS AGO AT THREE AND A QUARTER, RIGHT? THREE AND A HALF NOW, LINES OF CREDIT ARE SEVEN 8%. SO IMAGINE HAVING A 10, 15, $20 MILLION CLEANUP BILL. YOU HAVE A FLOATING LINE OF CREDIT LIKE I HAVE FOR MY BUSINESS, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LINE OF CREDIT SPIKES TO EIGHT. OKAY? AND YOU ARE AT A TWO POINT A HALF, 3%. SO THESE ARE, THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE AND YOU LEARN IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S SO CREATIVELY IMPORTANT. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, THAT PEOPLE NEED TO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE PLAYING WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. ONCE IT'S YOUR MONEY, YOU WANNA BE AS CAREFUL AS POSSIBLE. I TREAT THIS LIKE AS IF IT WAS MY MONEY, I'M NOT GONNA SPEND AWAY. AND THEN HOPEFULLY ONE DAY SOMEBODY ELSE WILL RESOLVE IT. BECAUSE BY THE WAY, THAT'S HOW WE GOT INTO THIS TROUBLE. WE GOT INTO THIS TROUBLE WHEN I WALKED IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT OUR, OUR, UM, UNFUNDED LIABILITIES WERE AT 51%. I WISH I WOULD'VE WALKED IN AND SAID, HEY, OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITIES ARE AT ZERO AND WE HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT OR 95% FUNDED, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT, WE WOULDN'T BE SPENDING NINE, $8 MILLION A YEAR IN THAT ADDITIONAL 13 CHECK. WE COULD HAVE DONE A LOT OF GREAT PROJECTS OVER THE LAST 13 YEARS, BUT WE DECIDED TO BELT TIGHTEN AND PAY DOWN THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES BECAUSE THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. NOT TO DREAM AND DO PEP PROJECTS, BUT TO ACTUALLY DO PROJECTS THAT DELIVERED. SO, UH, MAD VICE MAYOR, GO AHEAD. SO I'M GONNA, UM, ADD TO THE COMMENTS THAT BACK WHEN, UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION TRIED TO USE THE RESERVE ACCOUNT TO DELIVER AS IT WAS COUCHED WHAT PEOPLE WANTED YOU, THE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BECAUSE WE COULD GO OUT AND TAKE A CREDIT LINE, UM, FOR THESE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THERE WAS A PRESENTATION DONE I WORKED ON WITH STAFF, UM, THAT PROVIDED THE REAL COST OF THOSE DOLLARS AND WE'RE TALKING MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOST, IN LOST REVENUE AND, UH, INTEREST COST. YOU KNOW, AND I, AS I RECALL, THE PAYBACK PERIOD WAS APPROXIMATELY FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS FROM FEMA. BUT THE COST OF UTILIZING THE RESERVE WAS MULTIMILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND LOST REVENUE AND INTEREST COSTS THAT THE CITY WOULD HAVE, UM, ENCOUNTERED. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A VERY CONSERVATIVE VIEW WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT, UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RESERVES, UM, IT'S LIKE MY TRUST ACCOUNT. YOU TOUCH IT AND IT'S A GUILLOTINE. EXACTLY. [04:30:01] . IT'S A GUILLOTINE. IT'S OVER. IT'S OVER. YOUR LICENSE IS GONE. AND THAT'S THE WAY WE NEED TO TREAT THIS RESERVE VERY CAREFULLY. THIS IS JUST FOR THESE HURRICANE EMERGENCIES, UNPREDICTABLE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN. IT'S NOT FOR SIDEWALKS, IT'S NOT FOR OUR ORDINARY, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAN FOR AND CONTINUE TO USE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND PUT THAT MONEY AWAY. AND IF WE HAVE A, A HIGH YEAR OF TAXES COMING IN, SOCK IT INTO THESE ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES AS OPPOSED TO HIRING MORE PEOPLE, OKAY? IT'S VERY EASY TO SAY HIRING MORE PEOPLE. THAT'S MONEY IS GONE IN AN INSTANT. YOU'LL NEVER GET IT BACK AND YOU'LL NEVER GET SIDEWALKS OUT OF IT OR, OR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. SO THESE ONE TIME EXPENDITURES IS HOW WE SHOULD HA HANDLE THE PEAKS THROUGH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS AS OPPOSED TO SPENDING THE MONEY, UM, BECAUSE SOMEBODY JUST WANTS SOME MORE PEOPLE IN THEIR DEPARTMENT, WHICH IT'S A TENDENCY, YOU KNOW, I, I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT WE HAVE TO DO THE BELT TIGHTENING. SO I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS. THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING IT. UM, I WANNA BE CAUTIOUS. SO I KNOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE. AND I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE REASON WHY THIS SHOULD BE BROUGHT ROCK BECAUSE THAT WOULD SAY THAT, WELL, IF TALLAHASSEE CHANGES THE PROPERTY TAX POLICY, WE THEREFORE SPEND THE RESERVES. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING HERE. WE NEED TO MAINTAIN A RESERVE BECAUSE THE HURRICANES ARE GOING TO COME. IT'S, IT'S NOT A MATTER, IT'S A MATTER OF, OF NOT IF, BUT WHEN THEY HIT WELL THROUGH THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. I AGREE WITH YOU COMMISSION, UH, VICE MAYOR, A HUNDRED PERCENT. AND THAT'S WHAT THE, THE, THE LEADING, UM, POINT OF THIS BALLOT QUESTION IS 25% WILL BE, UH, WHERE THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE WILL BE SET AND KEPT, UNLESS PUT TO A REFERENDUM, ASSUMING THIS CARRIES RIGHT THIS APRIL, IT CAN'T BE CHANGED. IT CAN'T EVEN BE CHANGED BY FOUR FIFTH VOTE TO THE COMMISSION. IT CAN ONLY BE CHANGED THROUGH A REFERENDUM. BUT IT ALLOWS US, THOUGH A SUPER MAJORITY OF, OF, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES TO ACCESS IT. WE ALWAYS HAVE IT AVAILABLE TO US WHEN THERE'S BEEN A STATE OF DECLARED EMERGENCY, BUT LIKE YOU SAID, AN UNFORESEEN CALAMITY ALLOWS US AT A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT FOR EMERGENCY TYPE SITUATIONS. BUT THE 25 REMAINS SACRO SACROSANCT. UM, IF THIS CARRIES, AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAYOR DID MAKE A GREAT POINT DURING THE LAST ITEM TO GIVE, UH, DEFERENCE, UH, DUE CONSIDERATION TO WHAT THE CRC, THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, UH, HAD TEED UP IN THEIR, IN THEIR COMMENTARY. WHAT I'M DISCUSSING HERE ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT THEY RECOMMENDED. BUT AGAIN, THIS COMMISSION IS SHOWING APPROPRIATE AND DUE CONSIDERATION TO, UM, OPINIONS AND ADVICE GIVEN BY THE CRC AS WELL. AND, UH, AND THAT'S OUR PART, PART OF OUR DELIBERATIVE PROCESS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAD ANY COMMENTS, BUT AT SOME POINT, I GUESS WE NEED TO SEE IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN, UM, MOVING IT OR, WELL, I GUESS YOU'VE MADE THE MOTION. WELL, I'LL MOVE IT SECOND, BUT I, I THINK COMMISSIONER FE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. WELL, I THINK THE, RIGHT NOW WE'RE YOU, YOU MADE THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER YES. AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS THE LANGUAGE. CORRECT. BECAUSE I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT LANGUAGE JUST TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR AND PROCEDURALLY AND SEQUENTIALLY WE'RE, SO, I'M, I'M, I'M WILLING TO, I'M READY TO, TO VOTE ON THIS ONE. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND FOR RECONSIDERATION. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. OKAY. SO ON THE, ON THE LANGUAGE, THERE'S ONE LINE THAT I THINK, MAYOR, SORRY, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. MY APOLOGIES. I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL IF I READ THE LANGUAGE YES. OR, OR THE COMMISSION WANTS TO READ THE LANGUAGE BECAUSE PUT IT ON THE RECORD SO WE KNOW EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. ATTORNEY MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WHY DON'T YOU READ IT. SO IT'S FUND RESERVE POLICY AND EXPENDITURE OF GENERAL FUND RESERVES. SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT THE CITY MAINTAIN A GENERAL FUND RESERVE AT 25% OF THE CITY'S OPERATING BUDGET. AND THAT A FOURTH FIFTH VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO AMEND THE RESERVE, THE FUND RESERVE POLICY ADOPTED IN ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH ZERO FIVE, EXCLUDING THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE REQUIREMENT, OR TO EXPEND FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE, EXCEPT IN CERTAIN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. AND JUST TO CLARIFY MY UNDERSTANDING, COMMISSIONER LARA, IS THAT YOU, YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE THE, THE SAME RESOLUTION THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY ON LAST MEETING, THE ONE THAT WE, THAT WE RECONSIDERED. SO NO ACTION'S BEEN TAKEN ON THAT, BUT WITH THIS UPDATED LANGUAGE. CORRECT. OKAY. EXACTLY RIGHT. OKAY. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. OKAY, SO MY QUESTION IS REGARDING THE LINE WHERE [04:35:01] IT SAYS, EXCLUDING THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE REQUIREMENT, ISN'T THAT REALLY IMPLIED WHEN WE ARE SETTING IN THE CHARTER THE 25%? 'CAUSE I THINK THAT COULD CONFUSE PEOPLE. 'CAUSE THEN ANY, ANY AMENDMENT THAT THROWS IN EXTRA LANGUAGE THAT COULD CONFUSE A VOTER MIGHT HAVE A, A VOTER JUST SAY, I'M NOT SURE AND JUST NOT VOTE. SO THE INTENT IS CERTAINLY THAT THE, THE, THE PROVISION IF, IF, IF APPROVED THE CHARTER WOULD BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE A 25%, UM, RESERVE FUND. UM, AND THAT EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES OTHER CHANGES TO THE POLICY, RIGHT? 'CAUSE THE POLICY IS A, IS ALL SET FORTH IN THAT ORDINANCE. OTHER CHANGES TO THE POLICY THAT DON'T AFFECT THAT 25% CAN BE DONE BY FORFEITS VOTE. UM, AND THAT CERTAINLY IS THE INTENT. AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WORKED WITH THIS LANGUAGE WITH COMMISSIONER LARA. THERE'S ALSO, UM, THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE RESOLUTION IF THIS IS ADOPTED TODAY, THE PROPOSED, UM, AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER THAT WE HAVE, IT, IT, IT CON IT CONTINUES ON THE SHEET THAT WAS, UM, DISTRIBUTED TO YOU. UM, AND IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY SAY THAT THE CITY SHALL MAINTAIN THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF FUND BALANCE ADOPTED IN ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH ZERO FIVE, WHICH CODIFIED THE CITY'S FUND BALANCE AND RESERVE POLICY. THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE SHALL BE MAINTAINED AT 25% OF THE CITY'S TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSE AND DEBT SERVICE BUDGET, ANY AMENDMENT TO THE FUND BALANCE AND RESERVE POLICY, EXCLUDING THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE 25% REQUIREMENT. AND ANY EXPENDITURE OF THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE, OTHER THAN THOSE FUNDS AUTHORIZED TO BE SPENT PURSUANT TO THE EMERGENCY POWERS OF THE CITY AS AUTHORIZING THE CHARTER OR CITY CODE, SHALL REQUIRE SUPER MAJORITY FORFEITS VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION. OKAY. UM, THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, I, I, IN ADDITION TO WHAT SHE SAID, BUT JUST MAYBE TRY AND PUT IT A LITTLE SIMPLER. RIGHT. I, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT FIRST GLANCE, IT CAN LOOK LIKE IT'S CONFUSING, BUT IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE LEAVING FOR OURSELVES THE FOUR FIFTHS VOTE TO AMEND THE POLICY, RIGHT. TO AMEND THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY AS STATED IN THE ORDINANCE. WE WOULDN'T WANT THAT TO BE MISUNDERSTOOD TO MEAN YOU CAN CHANGE THE NUMBER OF 25%. THAT'S THE ONE THING IN THE ORDINANCE THAT'S GONNA BE CHARTER BOUND. BUT ANYTHING ELSE IN THE ORDINANCE HAVING TO DO WITH THE RESERVE POLICY, THAT'S WHAT'S SUBJECT TO FOUR FIFTHS VOTE. SO I I I, I COULD LIVE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING TO TAKE IT OUT, BUT TALKING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, IT, IT, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS. YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THERE CAN BE NO ARGUMENT THAT IN GIVING OURSELVES A FOURTH, FIFTH MAJORITY TO CHANGE THE POLICY COULD POSSIBLY INCLUDE CHANGING THE 25% THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. MAYBE WE CAN CHANGE THAT LINE. AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE LIMITED TO 75 WORDS, BUT WHILE REQUIRING A VOTE BY THE ELECTORATE TO AMEND THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE THROUGH THE MAYOR, BUT THAT'S ALREADY IMPLIED WHEN IT'S IN THE CHARTER, YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT. I AGREE. BUT THAT'S WHY THIS LINE IS, IS JUST I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'LL CONFUSE VOTERS AND WE WILL NOT GET THE, THE, THE PARTICIPATION ON THIS QUESTION BECAUSE THEY MAY BE CONFUSED. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO JUST REWORD IT A LITTLE SO THAT THERE IS NO CONFUSION AS, UM, AS THE INDIVIDUAL INTRODUCING THE REVISED LEGISLATION THAT I PRESENTED. HOW DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, UH, COMMISSIONER LARA? WHAT DO, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO, HOW DO YOU WANNA MOVE FORWARD? I AM, I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THE WAY IT CURRENTLY READS BECAUSE THE THRUST AND THE IMPART OF THIS IS FOR THE ELECTORATE VOTING TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHARTER IS BEING REQUESTED TO BE AMENDED TO LEAVE 25% AS THE FLOOR FOR THE RESERVE. AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT, UH, UH, LEAVING AT THIS FOR ABSOLUTE, I BELIEVE IT'S THE POINT IS FOR ABSOLUTE CLARITY IF THERE'S ANY GOING TO, IT'S GONNA BE ANY ATTEMPTED CHALLENGE, UM, LATER, ASSUMING IT'S CARRIED, AND I WANNA BE ABLE TO REFER TO THE CHARTER AS THE SHIELD AGAINST ANY, UH, POSSIBLE ATTACK OR, UH, CLAIM THAT THERE'S A, UH, LOOP HOLE THAT WILL CLOSE THE LOOP. OKAY. UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR SUGGESTION. I'M FINE. I'M, I'M PERFECTLY FINE WITH THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN AND PRESENTED. I'M WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD UNLESS MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES OR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS. YEAH. YEAH. MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, THE CITY AND ATTORNEY AND I WERE TALKING AND WE DO HAVE A, A FEW WORDS THAT WE COULD TWEAK AROUND AND MOVE. OKAY. AND I THINK THAT THE SUGGESTION THAT WE'VE JUST DISCUSSED HERE IS THAT WE COULD ADD THE WORD THAT OTHER ASPECTS OF THE FUND RESERVE POLICY REQUIRE A FOUR FIFTH VOTE. SO, RIGHT. NO, I FOLLOW YOU. IT'S EXTRA CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT THE 25. I THINK AS THE MANAGER HAS POINTED OUT, THIS IS A VERY, UH, COMPLEX THING [04:40:01] THAT OFTENTIMES THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY. AND AS, AS YOU KNOW, AND THE MAYOR KNOWS AS THE SPONSOR, THE FUND RESERVE POLICY ORDINANCE IS, UM, MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE SECTION. AND SO PERHAPS THE ADDITION OF THAT LANGUAGE ABOUT OTHER ASPECTS OF THE POLICY MAY ADDRESS AND MAY MAY PROVIDE SOME CLARITY THAT WE MEAN EVERYTHING BUT THAT 25%. ANOTHER WAY OF PUTTING IT TOO, YOU CAN ALSO SAY, UM, AND I'LL JUST READ THAT THE CITY MAINTAINED A GENERAL FUND RESERVE AT 25% OF THE CITY'S OPERATING BUDGET AND THAT A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO OTHERWISE MM-HMM . AMEND THE FUND RESERVE POLICY TO OTHERWISE THAT IS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. I THINK THAT THAT'S MORE THAN SUFFICIENT. AND THEN YOU WOULD WANNA KEEP THE EXCLUDING, TAKE OUT THE EXCLUDING NO, NO, NO. YOU TAKE OUT THE EXCLUDING THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE REQUIREMENT, BUT LEAVING IN OR TO EXPEND FUNDS. YEP. I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE. IT'S CLEAR. OKAY. SO WE NEED A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND AND MAYOR, IF I MAY, FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, CAN I JUST READ THE REVISED QUESTION I WANT, BUT IF I MAY WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. WE DON'T NEED PUBLIC COMMENT, DO WE? WE WE SHOULD TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. YEAH. PUBLIC COMMENT MR. CLERK? NO, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. PERFECT. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED PLEASE. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. SO THE, THE QUESTION THAT, UH, YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING NOW, UM, SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT THE CITY MAINTAIN A GENERAL FUND RESERVE AT 25% OF THE CITY'S OPERATING BUDGET AND THAT A FORFEITS VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS OTHERWISE REQUIRED TO AMEND THE FUND RESERVE? SORRY, LET ME READ THAT AGAIN. THAT THE CITY, THAT THE CITY MAINTAIN A GENERAL FUND RESERVE AT 25% OF THE CITY'S OPERATING BUDGET AND THAT A FORFEITS VOTE OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO OTHERWISE AMEND THE FUND RESERVE POLICY ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE NUMBER 2025 DASH ZERO FIVE OR TO EXPEND FUNDS FROM THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE ACCEPT IN CERTAIN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. PERFECT. YES. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER LADA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ALDA. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY WHO HELPED ME WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR DILIGENCE. WE'RE GOING BACK TO F SEVEN, RIGHT? [F.-7. 26-1105 A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Manager to direct City Staff to conduct a community meeting to obtain public input regarding the proposed dog park on the city-owned property located at 520 University Drive; providing for a report back to the City Commission. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] F SEVEN IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DIRECT CITY STAFF TO CONDUCT A COMMUNITY MEETING TO OBTAIN PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE PROPOSED DOG PARK ON THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY. LOCATED AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, PROVIDING FOR A REPORT BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION RE REELING YOU BACK IN, REELING YOU BACK IN. ALRIGHT, UM, SWITCHING DEPARTMENT. SARAH REELING YOU BACK IN. UM, MR. DIRECTOR, HOW ARE YOU SIR? HI, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD. SO IT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY. CORRECT. YOU WANNA GIVE US A QUICK, QUICK SYNOPSIS? YEP. WE ARE, UH, WE, UH, UPON UH, THE PASSES OF THIS RESOLUTION, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD AND, UH, HAVE A COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING SIMILAR TO HOW WE DO OUR COMMUNITY INPUT MEETINGS FOR ALL PARKS. UM, WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT DONE WITHIN A MONTH, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT NEAR THE END OF FEBRUARY. UM, AND WE SHOULD HAVE, UM, INFORMATION ON IT COMING OUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS ONCE WE GET AN APPROVAL ON A RESOLUTION HERE. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, MR. KLU, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, SIR. ALRIGHT, LET'S HEAR IT. THANK YOU, MR. DIRECTOR. MS. MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. UM, AT FIRST I WAS NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE, UM, I THOUGHT HE WAS, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND THERE, THE NEIGHBORS, THE, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE AFFECTED SHOULD BE THE ONES, UM, GIVING THEIR OPINION. BUT THEN WHEN I CAME TO THE PREVIOUS MEETING AND I HEARD PEOPLE FROM KENDALL, FROM FAR AWAY PLACES EXPRESSING THEIR OPINION, I FIGURED MINE WAS AS GOOD AS THEY ARE. SO BETTER BECAUSE AT LEAST THEY LIVE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE PLACE. SO MY ISSUE IS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OBTAIN PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE PROPOSED DOG PARK, IS THERE AN OPTION THAT SAYS WE DON'T WANT A DOG PARK? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE NEIGHBORS WERE SAYING. THEY WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GONNA SET UP THE DOG PARK. YOU KNOW, ARE WE GONNA FENCE IT OR NOT FENCE IT. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WE DO NOT WANT A DOG PARK, AND IF THAT'S NOT AN OPTION, THEN WE'RE NOT. WAS THE PURPOSE OF MEETING TO, UH, DECIDE HOW WE'RE GONNA SET IT UP IF WE DON'T WANT IT? THAT'S, THAT'S MY, MY CONCERN. IT WAS VERY CLEAR TO ME, AND I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF PHONE CALLS ABOUT IT, IT THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE MOST AFFECTED, THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD NOT BE BRINGING THE DOGS IN A CAR, BECAUSE SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE THAT DAY, THEY, THEY WERE . I REMEMBER WHEN [04:45:01] SPECIFICALLY HE'S GONNA GET HIS BIG DOG IN THE CAR SO HE CAN TAKE HIM TO THE DOG PARK. WELL, THE, THE DOG PARK IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR PEOPLE THAT WILL NOT NEED PARKING BECAUSE THE PARKING SUPPOSEDLY WILL BE AN ISSUE. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. IF YOU HAVE AS MANY DOG PARKS AS WE ALREADY HAVE, I MEAN THERE'S ONE COMING UNDER THE UNDERLINE AND, UH, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. THIS PARK SHOULD BE THE CONCERN OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND THERE THAT WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY PEOPLE COMING FROM OTHER PLACES TO PARK LIKE WE DID WITH SIDEWALKS AND SUCH. BECAUSE IT'S BECOMING THAT OUR DOG PARKS ARE NOT JUST FOR CORAL GABLES RESIDENCE. ANYBODY WHO CAN GET A DOG IN A, IN A CAR WILL BE COMING FROM ANY OTHER PLACE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A DOG PARK. SO THEY'LL COME HERE. SO WE'LL END UP BEING THE DOG PARK OF THE COUNTY AND NOT CORAL GABLES. MR. MR. MAYOR. THAT'S IT. OKAY. PERFECT. MY SON UP TO SPEAK. I'M SORRY MA'AM. I YOU'RE RIGHT. I APOLOGIZE. UH, LYNN PARDO. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, MY NAME IS LYNN GORGE PARDO. I LIVE AT 4 21 KADIMA AVENUE. I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF AND MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS IN THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION THAT LIVE NEAR FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. AS YOU RECALL, A HUNDRED IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS SIGNED A PETITION OPPOSING THE PROPOSED DOG PARK. SINCE THEN, THE NUMBER OF PETITION SIGNERS HAVE ONLY GROWN IN NUMBERS. TO BE CLEAR, WE CONTINUE TO OBJECT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY DOG PARK ON FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. AND WHILE THE ASSOCIATION AND ITS MEMBERS ARE NOT WAIVING ANY OF OUR OBJECTIONS RELATED TO NOTIFICATIONS, PROCESS, LAND USE, OR POSSIBLE DESIGN PLANS FOR THE PROPOSED OFF-LEASH DOG PARK, WE ARE IN FAVOR OF ITEM FOUR, UH, ITEM F SEVEN DIRECTING STAFF TO CONDUCT A COMMUNITY MEETING TO OBTAIN PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE PROPOSED DOG PARK AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE AND PROVIDE A REPORT BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION. WE THANK MAYOR LAGO FOR PLACING THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR COMMISSION CONSIDERATION. SHOULD THE ITEM PASS IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE MEETING TAKE PLACE AT THE CORAL GABLES YOUTH CENTER AND BE CONVENED IN THE EARLY EVENING THAT A MEETING NOTICE BE POSTED IN A TIMELY MANNER AT THE PROPOSED DOG PARK LOCATION. THAT PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 1500 FEET OF FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE RECEIVE UNI UH, NOTIFICATION, INVITING THEM TO THE COMMUNITY MEETING AND THAT THE FINDINGS BE SUMMARIZED AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION AT A SCHEDULED CITY COMMISSION MEETING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS IMPORTANT ITEM. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. UM, EXCUSE ME. UM, MR. DIRECTOR, MAY I ASK YOU A GOOD QUESTION? THROUGH THE MANAGER, UM, THERE WAS SOME REQUESTS THAT WERE MADE. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE REQUESTS NOT ONLY ARE MET, BUT I ALSO WANT YOU TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT'S THE STANDARD PROTOCOL. YES. UH, WE WILL, UM, WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE IT AT THE YOUTH CENTER, HAVING TO PLAN IT IN THE EVENING. WE USUALLY DO OUR COMMUNITY INPUT MEETINGS IN THE EVENINGS. UM, AND THEN, UH, WE WILL DO, UM, AS WE DO WITH ALL OF OUR PARK, UH, INPUT PROCESSES, MEETINGS, WE DO DOOR HANGERS, UM, AND WE GET IT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS, AS I TOLD, UM, THE NEIGHBORS. UM, YOU'LL SEE MY STAFF, THEY'LL BE THE ONES THAT'LL BE MAKING SURE THAT YOU GET NOTIFIED. ALRIGHT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT AN EMAIL, UH, AN EMAIL OUT, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY, TO THE CITY, UH, TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE. SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT GET A DOOR HANGER. AN EMAIL IS JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GET EVEN MORE INPUT. YES, SIR. MR. MANAGER, UH, UH, MAYOR, WE WILL, UH, ALSO NOTICE WITHIN 1500 FEET ALL AROUND THE PARK. AND, UH, OUR, OUR PARKS DIRECTOR IS VERY, VERY GOOD AT HANDLING. HE'S BEEN, HE, HE'S HANDLED QUITE A NUMBER OF THEM, AND, AND HE'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE AT IT. BY THE WAY, I JUST WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD, AND MADAM A CM CAN COME UP AND TALK IF, IF SHE DEEMS IT APPROPRIATE. UM, THIS IS THE STANDARD PROTOCOL. THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING THAT WE DON'T DO FOR ANYBODY ELSE. WE'VE DONE THIS FOR EVERYONE. YEP. I JUST DON'T WANT THERE TO BE, YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF AMBIGUITY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE BEING EXTRA TRANSPARENT. NO, NO. THIS IS WHAT WE OFFER EVERYBODY . CORRECT. WE OFFER THIS TO EVERYBODY. SO IF YOU, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE CAN'T FORCE YOU TO COME, WE CAN'T PAY YOU TO COME TO A MEETING. SO, UM, THE INTENT IS TO GARNER SUPPORT. AND WHEN I, WHAT I MEAN BY SUPPORT, NOT IN FAVOR OR AGAINST THE DOG PARK IN SUPPORT OF WHAT THEY WOULD, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TO THE MEETING WANT TO SEE ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY. WHAT IS THE INTENT? SO, GOD WILLING, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A COMMUNITY MEETING THAT IS LIKE IN THE SAME VEIN AS ALWAYS. THE CORAL GABLES MEETINGS ARE, THIS IS A COMMUNITY. WE'RE NOT HERE TO FIGHT AND ARGUE. WE'RE HERE TO FIND THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY, WHICH HAS BEEN VACANT FOR A LONG TIME. UM, SO, [04:50:01] UH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT MEETING. UH, WE'RE GONNA SUNSHINE THAT MEETING. RIGHT? WELL, MAYOR, DO WE NEED TO SUNSHINE MEETING? NO, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BECAUSE I, I THINK THAT THE, THOSE MEETINGS ARE NORMALLY DONE THROUGH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. UH, UH, WE, WE, UH, AS, AS I MENTIONED, WE NOTICED WITHIN 1500 FEET, THAT'S OUR STANDARD. AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY. I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY I DON'T WANNA POLITICIZE THE MEETING. I WANT IT TO BE ABOUT STAFF. OKAY. AND THEN GIVE A REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSION THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE. OKAY. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. AND THAT'S WHAT WE NORMALLY DO, MAYOR, THAT'S STANDARD OPERAT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, THE STANDARD THAT WE ALWAYS DO. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. DIRECTOR. OKAY. SO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. YES, SIR. WE DO. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA. YEAH, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'M, I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GONNA DO. MAYOR, YOU, YOU MADE IT A POINT AT THE LAST MEETING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR CONSENSUS. YOU'RE NOT LOOKING TO DIVIDE OR PIT RESIDENT AGAINST RESIDENT. AND I ADDED TO THAT SAYING THAT DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE, UH, RESIDENTS TO INFLUENCE ULTIMATELY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. YOU MAY BE SURPRISED WITH WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, AND WE'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN HERE WITH OTHER PROJECTS AS WELL. SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, AND IN THE SPIRIT AND, AND, UH, IN THE HOPE OF, UM, POSITIVITY CONTINUING THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, MY VOTE IS YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU TO STAFF. UH, ITEM [F.-8. 26-1107 A Resolution of the City Commission directing City Staff to promote internship placements within the Historic Resources and Cultural Arts Department to students with a demonstrated interest in Historic Preservation. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)] F EIGHT, VICE MAYOR F EIGHT IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO PROMOTE INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS WITHIN THE HISTORIC RESOURCES AND CULTURAL ARTS DEPARTMENT TO STUDENTS WITH A DEMONSTRATED INTEREST IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION. SO THIS, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN, UH, THE PACE PROGRAM AND THE OTHER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS BECAUSE IT GIVES THE CITY MANAGER AND THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY REACH OUT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, BUT ALSO COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION. AND IT'LL, IT, YOU GET A HANDS-ON APPROACH, AND I THINK STAFF WILL APPRECIATE THE EXTRA HANDS, UH, TO ASSIST WITH THE BIG PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, UM, NEEDING, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL HOURS THAT THESE INTERNS CAN HELP YOU OUT WITH. SO THAT'S THE SPIRIT THAT THIS IS BROUGHT WITH. UM, AND ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON IT? I THINK IT'S GREAT. ALL RIGHT. IT'S GREAT. I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING. WE WILL, WE'LL WORK WITH THE HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT. WE'LL WORK OUT KIND OF A SCOPE OF, OF WHAT THE INTERNSHIP WILL ENTAIL. WE'LL CREATE SOME MARKETING MATERIALS, SEND IT OUT TO OUR CONTEXT AT THE SCHOOLS, MAYBE MAKE SOME CLASSROOM VISITS TO REALLY GET THE NOTIFICATION OUT THERE. YEAH. GET IT TO THE UNIVERSITIES AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I THINK SOME PEOPLE MIGHT, UH, BE HEADING THEIR CAREERS IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER. AND THIS INTERNSHIP MAY HELP, UH, ENTICE THEM TO GET INTO HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS WELL. ABSOLUTELY. SO, I'LL MOVE IT SECOND. MR. CL, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ITEM F NINE [F.-9. 26-1108 A Resolution of the City Commission urging the Florida Legislature to establish due diligence and reporting requirements for organizations and entities leading municipal recall efforts pursuant to Florida Statutes § 100.361. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] F NINE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH DUE DILIGENCE AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES LEADING MUNICIPAL RECALL EFFORTS PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTES. SECTION 100.361, CITY ATTORNEY. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY THE MAYOR. AS YOU ALL KNOW, FLORIDA STATUTES GOVERNS MUNICIPAL RECALL, UM, PETITIONS AND THE MUNICIPAL RECALL PROCESS, THIS OR THIS RESOLUTION, EXCUSE ME, WOULD URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH DUE DILIGENCE AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN RECALL EFFORTS, INCLUDING OBLIGATIONS TO ENSURE THAT ALL PERSONNEL, UH, HAVE PROPER WORK AUTHORIZATION. AND ALSO ENCOURAGE THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE MEMBERS OF RECALL COMMITTEES, WHICH ARE A TERM OF ART IN THAT FLORIDA STATUTE, AS WELL AS EMPLOYERS OF THOSE EMPLOYEES OR SUBCONTRACTORS ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS OF PROCURING SIGNATURES ON BEHALF OF THE RECALL COMMITTEE, BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ILLEGAL ACTIONS OF THOSE CONTRACTORS OR EMPLOYEES ENGAGED BY THE RECALL COMMITTEE. AND THIS WOULD ADD THIS TO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO ENACT SUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. CRUZ. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. WOW. MAN, THE FIRST TIME MARIA CRUZ DOESN'T HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT. ALRIGHT, WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS, AND I'M GONNA PUT THIS ON THE RECORD. SO THERE WAS A RECALL THAT WAS HEADED BY MARIA CRUZ AGAINST ME. AND THE VERY INTERESTING THING ABOUT IT IS THAT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A FULL ONSLAUGHT INVESTIGATION BY FDLE. AND NOW THERE'S BEEN A CRIMINAL REFERRAL TO THE STATE ATTORNEY. THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INVE INVOLVED IN THAT RECALL, ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO GO TO PRISON SOON, AS YOU PROBABLY READ IN THE AESOP'S ARTICLE REPORT. AND THE OTHER ONE FOR A SEPARATE CASE THAT DEALS WITH FRAUD. AND THE OTHER RECALL MEMBERS ARE BEING PURSUED, BUT THEY'RE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. SO THEY FLED. THESE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED UNDER [04:55:01] THE AUSPICE OF MARIA CRUZ IN THIS RECALL EFFORT. THE RECALL EFFORT WAS FUNDED. THIS IS A PROVEN FACT WITH A $100,000 CONTRIBUTION BY BILLY MCALLISTER AND THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FIRE UNION. HOW DO I KNOW THIS? BECAUSE JEFF GARCIA TOLD ME AND HE RAN THE RECALL. I'M PUTTING ALL THE NAMES OUT THERE HOPING THAT SOMEBODY RUN, WRITES A STORY. SO WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING TODAY, AND I'LL BE SPEAKING WITH DANNY PARIS AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE GOVERNOR, AND EVERY, HE IS SPOKEN TO BYRON DONALDS, AND I'LL BE SPEAKING TO, UH, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THAT THERE BE ACCOUNTABILITY ALL THE WAY FROM THE TOP, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE GROUND, WHO THEY'RE SEARCHING FOR. NOW, THESE SIGNATURES WERE FRAUDULENTLY COLLECTED. THEY WERE FALSIFIED. PEOPLE LIKE JIM CASSONS SIGNATURE WERE FALSIFIED AND A LITANY OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THIS COMMUNITY UNDER THE AUSPICE OF MARIA CRUZ. SO, WHILE WE SIT HERE AND WE GIGGLE AND WE LAUGH, AND WE HAVE A GOOD TIME IN THE BACK ROOM, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES AND PEOPLE WILL PAY THE CONSEQUENCES IN REGARDS TO THIS ILLEGAL ACTS. THESE PEOPLE ARE ON THE RUN. NOW, ONE OF THEM WHO WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO RAN THE SIGNATURE EFFORT, IF YOU READ THE AESOP'S ARTICLE, HE'S GOING TO GO TO PRISON FOR A SEPARATE FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY. SO MY POINT IS THAT THIS IS A GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO CLEAN UP, TO CLEAN UP THE ANTICS THAT YOU SEE HAPPENING HERE FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MIAMI-DADE FIRE UNION WHO PAID A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. WHERE DID THAT MONEY COME FROM? CAME FROM UNION DEUCE. WHAT PACK DID THEY USE? HOW DID YOU FUND IT? AT LEAST WHEN YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT CORAL GABLES FIRST, AT LEAST YOU KNOW, MY NAME'S ATTACHED TO IT, FRONT AND CENTER. SO WHILE PEOPLE SIT IN THE BACK AND LAUGH AND GIGGLE AND TRY TO DESTROY PEOPLE, LOOK WHERE THAT RECALL ENDED UP. NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA, THAT ARE WANTED, AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA GO TO PRISON, AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHOSE REPUTATIONS ARE TARNISHED. SO I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE RECALLS ARE IMPORTANT. THEY'RE IMPORTANT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT SHOULD BE DONE RIGHTFULLY SO LEGALLY. AND ALL THE PROCESS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED TO A T. OKAY? SO THE MAYOR, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE THROUGH THE MAYOR. I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES MA'AM. I ALSO AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY. AND AT THE BOTTOM LINE, WE NEED TO PREVENT ELECTION FRAUD. AND THAT'S WHAT'S AT THE ROOT OF THIS. SO I'LL MOVE IT SECOND. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A SECOND. JUST, ALRIGHT, MR. CLERK, YOU HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT, RIGHT? NONE, LIKE I SAID, THAT'S CLOSE. SO, FOR ONCE, MARIA CRUZ DOESN'T WANNA SAY SOMETHING EXCEPT FOR GIGGLE, LIKE SHE ALWAYS DOES IN THE BACK. MM-HMM . YES, SIR. OKAY. UM, I AGREE. I THINK THAT EVERY PROCESS OF SIGNATURE COLLECTION SHOULD HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY. UM, RECALLS ARE NO, NO EXCEPTION. I KNOW THE, THE LEGISLATURE HAS MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO TIGHTEN THE SHIP WHEN IT COMES TO RECALL EFFORTS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. UM, SO I THINK THIS WOULD BE A NO-BRAINER FOR THE LEGISLATURE. UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU. UH, MR. MANAGER, WOULD YOU PLEASE DO ME A FAVOR? UH, I REQUEST THAT THIS RESOLUTION BE SENT TO EVERY STATE REPRESENTATIVE, UH, WITH A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, MR. PARIS, UM, THE SENATE PRESIDENT TO THE GOVERNOR, TO THE AG, I'D LIKE A COPY OF IT, SENT TO OUR STATE ATTORNEY, KATHY FERNANDEZ RUNDEL, I'D LIKE A COPY OF IT. SENT TO THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS, BOTH LOCAL AND STATE, REQUESTING THAT THIS BE PLACED INTO LAW AT THE STATE LEVEL. THERE HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU CANNOT CAST THE BLAME ON THE PEOPLE UNDERNEATH YOU WHEN YOU'RE THE PERSON LEADING THE SHIP. AND THAT'S VERY SIMPLE WHEN YOU HIRE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO DO THE WORK. AND THEY GO OUT THERE AND THEY FALSIFY PEOPLE'S SIGNATURES IN THIS COMMUNITY VERY, IT'S VERY SIMPLE JUST TO THROW THE BLAME ON THEM. AND THEN THEY RUN OFF AND HIDE IN THE SHADOWS. AND NO ONE IS LEFT HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THE MONEY WAS SPENT, THE REPUTATIONS WERE RUINED. IT WAS FAILED, BUT IT WAS ALL A CALCULATED EFFORT TO OBVIOUSLY REMOVE ME FROM PUBLIC OFFICE THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. WELL, ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE, AND I ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS, IS THAT, UM, THIS IS, UH, ALL BEEN DANGEROUSLY MOVING INTO BUSINESS AS USUAL. PEOPLE MAKING A CAREER OUT OF DESTROYING OTHER PEOPLE'S NAMES, BESMIRCHING THEM SO THAT LONG AFTER THE RECALL FAILS, THE DAMAGE CONTINUES. [05:00:01] AND THAT MAY BE ACTUALLY WHERE THEY CONSIDER IT TO BE A NO LOSE SITUATION TO GET INVOLVED IN THAT PARTICULAR TYPE OF BUSINESS. RIGHT. SO, TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU'LL HAVE THIS COMMUNICATED TO ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED, IF THERE'S AN ADVOCACY LETTER THAT, UM, WILL BE PROVIDED THAT YOU'LL BE SIGNING, I'D LIKE TO OFFER MY SIGNATURE AS WELL AND URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE DIOCESE TO ALL SIGN OFF ON THE SAME LETTER. I APPRECIATE THAT. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. THE MAYOR. THANK YOU. AND I, AND I WILL NOT REST AS I DID NOT REST WITH THE ACT. AIDA RADIO, UH, PROGRAM, WHICH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ WAS ON. ALL I REQUESTED WAS AN APOLOGY LETTER. THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE IT. I GOT THE APOLOGY LETTER, I GOT THE GUY REMOVED, AND I WON A MASSIVE SETTLEMENT. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, WE BEAT THE RECALL. WE GOT REELECTED BY ALMOST 19%. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE ARE NOT DUMB IN THIS COMMUNITY. THEY KNOW WHO'S HERE TO SERVE, AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHO'S HERE COMMITTED TO SERVE ON BEHALF OF THEM. JUST LIKE THE LAWS WERE CHANGED AT THE STATE LEVEL TO, EXCUSE ME, AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, TO MIMIC THE STATE IN REGARDS TO THE ETHICS COMPLAINTS. NO MORE ANONYMOUS COMPLAINTS. NO MORE MICKEY MOUSE COMPLAINTS. YOU HAVE TO NOW FOLLOW THE STATE. GOOD. WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU'RE UNAWARE OF. SO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH TRANSPARENCY. TRUE TRANSPARENCY. EXACTLY. REAL TRANSPARENCY. WE MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT HAS TRUE ACCOUNTABILITY. SO, AND I WILL ALWAYS INVEST MY TIME AND MY PERSONAL TREASURE TO ENSURE THAT TRANSPARENCY IS AT THE FOREFRONT. AND THAT THESE KIND OF SITUATIONS, LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY RECALL, NEVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE EVER AGAIN. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT PUT STRESS ON A PERSON'S CAREER, THEIR FAMILY. AND THIS IS PUBLIC SERVICE. SO, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. YES, SIR. WE DO. AND, UH, WE HAVE A, A REQUEST BY COMMISSIONER LADA, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA. I HOPE THAT ALL MY COLLEAGUES SIGN ON THIS LETTER. MR. MANAGER, PLEASE, UH, MAKE IT, MAKE IT AVAILABLE. UH, EVEN COMMISSIONER CASTRO, WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY. UH, SO SHE CAN SIGN ON THE LETTER. UH, WILL DO MAYOR. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. MOVING ON TO ITEM F [F.-10. 26-1095 La Antigua, Guatemala Sister City visit recap. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] 10. FIRST AND FOREMOST, UM, MADAM DIRECTOR, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. UH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. THESE WERE WONDERFUL ELECTED OFFICIALS. A A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. UH, WE TRULY HAD A GOOD TIME. BUT YOU GUYS, YOU AND YOUR, AND YOUR COWORKER CARRIED THE, CARRIED ALL THE WATER, UH, THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. UH, AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DID. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAYOR. UH, BEKI PEREZ, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF CORAL CABLES. UM, SO THE DELEGATION, AS YOU KNOW, CAME FROM LAND DIWA, GUATEMALA WITH, UH, THE MAYOR AND SOME OF, UH, HIS CON COUNCIL, UH, PEOPLE. AND, UM, REALLY THEY WERE HERE TO STRENGTHEN THE ONGOING, UM, INTERNATIONAL TIES THAT WE HAVE. UM, SO THE DELEGATION WAS LED BY MAYOR LA OF TIWA, WHICH IS JUAN MANUEL RIA. AND HE WAS JOINED BY, UH, SEVERAL OF HIS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MUNICIPAL LEGAL ADVISOR, THE CONS GENERAL OF GUATEMALA, ROSA MARIA, MARIA DERA, AND HER TRADE COUNCIL, UH, WHICH IS LISA SIFUENTES, WERE ALSO PRESENT. AND THANK YOU TO THEM BECAUSE THEY REALLY HELPED US TO, UH, ORGANIZE THE AGENDA AND HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH. UM, SO BASICALLY WE MET WITH THEM, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE, UM, OF THEIR STAY HERE. AND INITIALLY WHAT WE DID IS THAT WE WANTED TO DISCUSS WHAT WE WANTED OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP. AND SO, UM, THAT INVOLVED CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, ART EXHIBITS, UH, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, LEARNING BEST PRACTICES. WE SCHEDULED ALL THE MEETINGS AND THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN BASED ON THAT INITIAL MEETING THAT WE HAD WITH THEM. AND SO, WHAT CAME OF OF THAT WAS THAT, UM, WE, WE HAD A LOT OF KEY DEPARTMENTS THAT, UM, THEY HAD MEETINGS WITH DIRECTLY. UM, WE HAD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, WE HAD THE POLICE CHIEF ALONG WITH OUR IT, IT DIRECTOR EXPLAIN ABOUT SMART CITY TECHNOLOGIES AND HOW IT SUPPORTS SAFETY AND TRAFFIC. UH, MANAGEMENT. OUR DEPUTY AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS DISCUSSED THE INNOVATIVE, UH, WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM THAT WAS ACTUALLY PRESENTED AT THE COMMISSION AT A COMMISSION MEETING, UM, EARLY, A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WOULD SAY. AND, UM, OUR PARKING AND MOBILITY DIRECTOR AND THE SUSTAINABILITY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, WHICH SPEAKS A LITTLE BIT OF SPANISH, IF YOU GUYS DID NOT KNOW, DISCUSSED PARKING INNOVATION, TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES, UH, PRICING STRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT, AND TROLLEYS, [05:05:01] WHICH WERE, THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED IN. AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TOOK THEM ON A TOUR OF ONE OF OUR SEWER PUMP STATIONS AND HOW IT WAS MANAGED. AND AT THE END, WE HAD A, UH, SISTER CITIES AGREEMENT. SO THAT WAS, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED TO FORMALIZE THE AGREEMENT WITH OUR, WITH OUR SISTER CITY. AND, UM, MANY OF THE KEY ITEMS THAT, UM, THAT WE TALKED ABOUT MADE ITS WAY INTO THAT AGREEMENT. SO THIS IS WHAT CORAL GABLES WANTED. CORAL GABLES IS INTERESTED IN CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES, ONE OF THEM BEING LAS , WHICH HAPPENS DURING SE SANTA. SO THAT IS A CARPET OF SAWDUST THAT IS COLORED IN DIFFERENT DESIGNS. AND THAT HAPPENS DURING HOLY WEEK. THEY ARE VERY ADAMANT THAT THEY WANT TO DO THE SAME THING HERE DURING HOLY WEEK AS WELL. THAT EVENT. AND THEIR HOLY WEEK OVER THERE IS ON UNESCO'S LIST OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE, UH, OF HUMANITY. SO IT IS AN IMPORTANT, UM, THEY TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE AND IT'S THEIR, THEIR MOST IMPORTANT, UM, UH, CULTURAL, UH, EVENT. AND SO THEY WANNA BRING IT TO CORAL GABLES. THE MAYOR ALSO SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT BRINGING SOME SIGNIFICANT ART PIECES TO, UM, TO CORAL GABLES. AND SO THEY TALKED ABOUT PERHAPS A, A SIGNIFICANT ARTIST, UH, BRINGING SOME PIECES THERE. AND ALSO SOME OTHER CULTURAL EXHIBITS AND EXCHANGES THAT WE CAN HAVE. UA IS INTERESTED IN THE TROLLEY SYSTEM. THEY WANNA KNOW MORE ABOUT THE TROLLEYS. UM, THEY WANNA IMPROVE THEIR CIRCULATION. THEY HAVE, THEY TALK TO US ABOUT HAVING A GARAGE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY AND HAVING TROUBLE BRINGING PEOPLE IN TO THE MAIN, UM, DOWNTOWN BECAUSE OF THAT. SO THAT LAST MILE IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, BEST PRACTICES ON. THEY TALKED ABOUT MEDICAL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT, UM, AND THEN THE EXPLORATION OF TECHNOLOGY. SO SECURITY CAMERAS AND SYSTEMS THAT SUPPLEMENT THEIR CURRENT INVENTORY. SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE NOW GOING THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENTS AND SEEING WHAT IS IT THAT WE, THAT IS AT THE END OF ITS LIFE OR THAT HAS REACHED A SENSE OF ITS LIFE AND COULD BE DONATED TO LANDA. THEY'RE OPEN TO, TO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM. AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE STAND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL DINNER, AS I MENTIONED. UH, THANK YOU FOR COORDINATING THAT. UH, AND IT WAS ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE, THE SIGNING CEREMONY HERE. OUR STAFF DID AN AMAZING JOB. UH, ALSO, I WANNA THANK THE BILTMORE FOR HOSTING US. YES. UH, WE HAD A GREAT BREAKFAST THERE. UM, AND WE HAD A, A GOOD, PROBABLY ABOUT A THREE HOUR ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION. AT LEAST TWO HOURS. YEAH. YEAH. ANDTO CUETO WAS THERE AND FTO WAS THERE, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM. AND IT WAS A REALLY, IT WAS REALLY A, A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, UH, TO DEAL WITH THIS MAYOR. UH, HE'S A MAYOR, YOUNG GUY, PROBABLY YOUNG, PROBABLY HIS FORTIES. 38. YEAH. 40, 38. UM, HE'S A GENERAL CONTRACTOR. FUNNY HOW THAT WORKS OUT. UM, AND THEN HE, UH, HE, HIS COLLEAGUES ARE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, UH, COMMISSIONERS FROM THE RURAL PARTS OF THAT CITY MM-HMM . AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPERIENCE, UH, AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT IN THEIR CITY. SO ONE OF THEM WAS THAT WHEN THEY STARTED TO COLLECT THE PARKING REVENUE ELECTRONICALLY, THAT THEY WENT, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF GOING, INSTEAD OF FROM GOING FROM CASH AND COINS, THAT THEY SAW A 300% INCREASE IN THE REVENUE. WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? OKAY. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. AND NUMBER TWO, HE ALSO TOLD ME A VERY INTERESTING STORY. AND HE SAID THAT, UH, THE FIRST PROJECT THAT HE COLLECTED, THAT THEY COLLECTED PERMIT FEES FOR, UH, THEY ANALYZED IT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS OF ALL THE PROJECTS THAT THEY'VE COLLECTED. AND I WAS, I, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN HE TOLD ME, HE GOES, VINCE, THAT ONE PROJECT, WHEN WE COLLECTED IT, THE PERMIT FEES AMOUNTED TO MORE PERMIT FEES RECOVERED THAN THE LAST 10 YEARS COMBINED. SO TALKING ABOUT CORRUPTION MM-HMM . AND THESE YOUNG MEN, THESE, THEY'RE ALL YOUNG. UH, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT, WHAT THEIR ASPIRATIONS ARE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. AND IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR THEM, YOU KNOW, EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, POLICE CARS, YOU KNOW, UM, FIRE STATIONS, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, ROADS, THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT THEY CAN FINALLY DELIVER FOR THEIR COMMUNITY ONCE THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO STOP, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE SELF-SERVING, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WERE THERE BEFORE THEM. BUT I ALSO HAD A FUNNY CONVERSATION WITH THEM, UH, WHEN, WHEN THEY, ONE OF, I WAS HOPING I WOULD HAVE IT HERE TO SHOW YOU, BUT I DON'T THINK WE UPLOADED IT IN TIME. I'LL HAVE THE MANAGER SEND IT TO YOU. SO THERE'S A, THERE'S A, THERE'S A ANTIGUA GAZETTE AND THE ANTIGUA GAZETTE WITH LIKE THE CORAL GABLES GAZETTE. UH, REMEMBER THIS, THEY, UH, THEY, UH, THEY WROTE AN ARTICLE [05:10:01] ABOUT WHEN THESE FOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS CAME TO MIAMI TO CORAL GABLES TO BE WITH US. AND IT'S AMAZING HOW THAT TYPE OF JUST MUD SLINGING IS EVEN HAPPENING IN SOUTH AMERICA. AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, UH, MAYOR AND HIS COLLEAGUES GO TO CORAL GABLES TO LEARN HOW TO COR HOW TO DO CORRUPTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, SPREADING THEIR CORRUPTION TO OTHER CITIES. AND THEY WERE LAUGHING BECAUSE THEY HAD READ OUR GABLES INSIDER ARTICLES, AND THEY HAD READ OUR, UH, CORAL GABLES GAZETTE ARTICLES AND, UH, THE COFFEE, THE COFFEE BLOG AND WHATEVER, ALL THAT STUFF. AND THEY WERE LAUGHING ABOUT IT. THEY WERE LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENS HERE. AND IT HAPPENS OVER THERE. SO I HAD THE ARTICLE, AND I WAS GONNA SHOW IT HERE, BUT I, I, I, UM, WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO UPLOAD IT. BUT THE INTENT OF DOING THIS RECAP WAS NOT TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE VISIT AND HOW PLEASANT IT WAS, IT WAS TO ALSO TALK ABOUT THAT. I'D LIKE TO PUT TOGETHER, UM, A LIST THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE OF ITEMS THAT WE HAVE IN EXCESS, OR THAT THEY'RE BEING DECOMMISSIONED, WHETHER IT BE A FIRE TRUCK, WHETHER IT BE AN AMBULANCE, WHETHER IT BE A, A, AN ELECTRIC CAR, A VEHICLE, A TRUCK THAT'S 20 YEARS OLD. YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT WE MAY HAVE OVER THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR AND SEE IF WE CAN WORK, UH, WITH OUR SISTER CITY. UM, I THINK THAT WE COULD DO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN, WE GET SO MUCH MORE OUT OF GIVING THAN WE DO RECEIVING THAT. I THINK IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING, UH, TO HELP OUT OUR BROTHERS, UH, AND SISTERS IN ANOTHER CITY THAT HAPPENED TO BE OUR SISTER CITY. SO IF ANYBODY HAS ANY IDEAS, I'M ASKING THE MANAGER TO, TO WORK ON A LIST OF THINGS THAT, AGAIN, ARE GOING TO BE DECOMMISSIONED IN THE SENSE THEY'RE GONNA BE SCRAPPED, THEY'RE GONNA BE THROWN AWAY. I'M NOT TAKE, I'M NOT SAYING TO TAKE ANYTHING THAT HAS GOOD VIABLE VALUE. I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THE NEXT THING MAYOR WANTS TO GIVE AWAY THE CITY. YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW HOW IT'S WHO? THE MAYOR. THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. UM, SO I, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VERY REFRESHING TO SEE THAT WITH SO LITTLE RESOURCES. 'CAUSE THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET IS $20 MILLION. THEY'RE TRYING TO REALLY REFORM AND DO A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE CITY. UM, I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT AN ITEM THAT WE DISCUSSED LAST COMMISSION MEETING, WHICH WAS THE, UM, SISTER CITIES ROOM AT THE MUSEUM. AND THEY ARE INTERESTED IN BEING THIS FIRST CITY TO, UH, DISPLAY IN THAT, UH, IN THAT ROOM. AND, UH, THEY TALKED ABOUT GIVING US A PERMANENT RUG THAT WE CAN USE, UH, IN THAT ROOM AS WELL. SO, UH, I'M STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM ELVIS ON, ON SETTING UP A MEETING. SO I'LL, I'LL BE BRINGING THAT BACK UP TO THE COMMISSION SOON. AND AS FAR AS RESOURCES, THE ONE THING THEY DID TELL ME THAT THEY WERE IN REAL NEED OF RIGHT NOW WAS POLICE CARS. AND THAT I HAD TALKED TO BRIEFLY WITH CHIEF HANLIN ABOUT WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO WITH OUR POLICE VEHICLES WHEN THEY REACH THEIR, UH, END OF LIFE CYCLE HERE, WHICH FOR THEM IS NOT AN END OF LIFE CYCLE. UH, THEY HAVE A POPULATION OF 60,000 RESIDENTS AND THEY HAVE ONE MUNICIPAL POLICE CAR, UH, THAT THEY USE TO COVER THE ENTIRE, THE ENTIRE CITY. SO THEY, THEY DO RELY ON THE NATIONAL POLICE, BUT THE NATIONAL POLICE IS LIMITED ON WHAT THEY CAN PATROL AND WHAT THEY CAN SERVICE. SO THEY TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE CURRENT NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE IS ONE OR TWO POLICE CARS TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR OFFICERS PATROLLING THE STREETS. SO, UH, I TOLD THEM I WOULD DEFINITELY BRING THAT UP. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER VEHICLES, LIKE YOU SAID, MR. MAYOR, I THINK THEY WOULD DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THAT. AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE CAN OFFER OUR SISTER CITY, UH, WHEN THINGS ARE AT THEIR END OF LIFECYCLE. I CAN SEE IT TOMORROW. YOU READY? COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ GIVES AWAY ALL POLICE CARS. WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO POLICE THE CITY. IT'LL BE ON APRIL 1ST TO OUR CITY. I WILL, I'LL SEND THAT. I'LL SEND THAT OUT. I'LL SEND THAT OUT. I'LL SEND THAT OUT. DONE. I GOT 'EM. I GOT 'EM. WE'RE GIVING AWAY ALL OUR POLICE VEHICLES TOMORROW. PUT THE PICTURE OF THE NEW, UH, TAHOES BEING SHIPPED OFF. OF COURSE. DONE. DONE DEAL. DONE DEAL. THEY'LL BE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I'M SURE THEY CAN DO WITH AI. DONE DEAL. I CAN SEE IT. . THANK YOU. BELLIES AGAIN. THANK YOU. AND TELL YOUR COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING GREAT JOB. ALLOWING ME TO, UH, TO JOIN YOU FOR DINNER. THANK YOU FOR PAYING. NO, IT WAS MY PLEASURE. MY PLEASURE. IT WAS A TRULY A PLEASURE. AND, UH, I LEARNED A LOT. I, LEMME TELL YOU, I LEARNED A LOT FROM THESE GUYS A LOT. SO, SO HUMBLE. MM-HMM . SWEET, KIND, YOU KNOW, UM, JUST THOUGHTFUL. IT WAS VERY, VERY NICE. AND ALSO VERY POSITIVE. RIGHT. VERY POSITIVE. VERY POSITIVE. THE, THE, THE, THE, UM, THE OTHER, UM, REPRESENTATIVES THAT CAME, AS YOU SAY, FROM LIKE, MORE LET'S SAY RURAL AREAS OF THE AREA. YEAH. WERE THE ONES WHO WERE THE MORE OUTGOING. YEAH. GREGARIOUS POSITIVE. THEY'RE VERY JOVIAL. YEAH. THAT'S IT. THEY WERE JOKING ABOUT, THEY WERE MAKING FUNNY WITH EACH OTHER ON HOW MUCH CLOTHES THEY BOUGHT AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER HAVING A GREAT TIME. SO IT WAS FUN. IT WAS FUN. YOU MONKEYS THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES. I JUST, UM, I, I HAVE TO SAY, UH, OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, MR. ANDERSON OVER THERE, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HIS SPANISH. WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT, UH, THE TROLLEYS AND OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. [05:15:01] AND THE REALITY IS, IS, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO THE OVERHAUL ON ENGINES HERE THAT, UH, WE USED TO DO MANY YEARS AGO. MY HUSBAND USED TO DO REBUILD ON ENGINES, UH, BEFORE. UH, SO THEY'LL BE VERY EXCITED TO, UH, EXTEND THE LIFE, OR, OR I WOULD SAY, UM, THE BEST RECYCLING IS REUSE AS OPPOSED TO, UH, MELTING THEM DOWN. SO THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO DRIVE THEM BACK. JUST LIKE, UH, THE OTHER COUNTRY DROVE BACK ONE OF OUR, UH, FIRE TRUCKS. THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING. IT IS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US. OH NO. F 11. [F.-11. 26-1096 Discussion regarding sidewalk expansion on Orduna Drive between Paradiso and Blue Road. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] IT'S SIMPLE. IT'S A DISCUSSION REGARDING SIDEWALK EXPANSION ON OUR JUNIOR DRIVE BETWEEN PARAISO AND BLUE ROAD. AND, UM, MADAM DIRECTOR, HOW ARE YOU? WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HAD, UH, THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT I'VE SPONSORED. AGAIN, WE HAVE RESIDENTS WHO WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO HAVE THEIR HOMES HAVE SIDEWALKS, ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOUR OFFICE DID IN REGARDS TO BLUE ROAD. AND NOW WITH THE DAVID LAWRENCE PARK. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONNECTIVITY, UH, TO GET THERE. HOW DO YOU SEE IT? SO, MELISSA DIAS, UM, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC WORKS TRANSPORTATION. SO WE PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST SO WITH SOME PICTURES AND EVERYTHING TO GIVE EVERYBODY IDEA OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, THIS PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE. UM, IT'S BASICALLY 0.12 MILES OF SIDEWALK ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT'S GONNA BE THREE INTERSECTIONS. SO THIS MAP SHOWS ALL THE EXISTING SIDEWALK IN THE AREA. MM-HMM . WITH A DASH LINE. YOU CAN SEE THAT BY PARMA AND PARA PARADISO. THERE'S NO SIDEWALK. YEP. SO WE'RE LOOKING TO FILL IT IN WITH THE GREEN, UM, LINE. SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE MIGHT HAVE WITH THIS PROJECT WOULD BE DECORATIVE DI DRIVEWAY APPROACHES THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT THROUGH TREE IMPACTS AND OTHER LANDSCAPING ENCROACHMENTS. SO BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IS GET AN ARBUS REPORT, GET A SURVEY, AND THEN COME BACK TO COMMISSION AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE. LISTEN, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. I'D LOVE TO SEE, AGAIN, LIKE WE HAD TO DO IN ALHAMBRA, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 7,500 YEAR OLD TREES IN CERTAIN AREAS. LET'S TRY TO OBVIOUSLY DELIVER ON THE SIDEWALKS WHILE MINIMIZING THE IMPACT OF THE CANOPY. YOU KNOW, WE DO WHAT WE CAN, WE DO WHAT WE CAN. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS AREA. VERY FAMILIAR. UH, NOW WHAT HAPPENS IS, AFTER THE HARD WORK THAT YOUR OFFICE DID, NOW YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU GAVE, YOU GAVE PEOPLE SIDEWALKS AND NOW PEOPLE ARE LIKE, HOLD ON A MINUTE. I WANT SIDEWALKS. AND, AND THAT'S THE LAST GAP THAT'S MISSING. AND THAT'S THE LAST LITTLE GAP. SO PEOPLE ARE KIND OF PERPLEXED BY IT. RIGHT. SO, UH, NOW WITH A PARK MM-HMM . COMPLETELY RENOVATED PARK, BOTH OF THE BRIDGES ARE CONNECTED. NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU'RE GOING DOWN GRANADA, YOU DID UNIVERSITY, NOW WE'RE ABOUT TO START DOCTOR'S HOSPITAL. UH, IT'S, EVERYBODY NOW WANTS SIDEWALKS AND THEY WANT THE CONNECTIVITY. SO THE MAYOR, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. I'VE, UH, BEEN IN THAT AREA AND SEEN HOW THE TRAFFIC MOVES VERY SWIFTLY TO AND FROM THE UNIVERSITY. UH, IT'S A DANGEROUS PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK ON THE STREET. AND SO FOR PUBLIC SAFETY REASONS, I THINK IT'S A, A VERY WORTHWHILE PROJECT THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT ON THAT INTERSECTION. IS, IS INTERESTING. 'CAUSE WE ACTUALLY SPENT, UH, PROBABLY HALF AN HOUR, 45 MINUTES, UH, AT, UM, OBSERVING THE INTERSECTION, OBSERVING THAT INTERSECTION DURING RUSH HOUR. AND WHEN THE LIGHT ON GRANADA IS RED, IT BACKS UP ALL THE WAY TO THE BRIDGE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN, IT ALL CLEARS UP. YEP. SO YOU HAVE THAT CONSTANT, YOU KNOW, HEAVY TRAFFIC CLEARS UP, HEAVY TRAFFIC CLEARS UP. UM, SO IT'S A VERY, IT'S A VERY, UH, YOU KNOW, COMPLICATED. AT SOME POINT GETTING ACROSS, WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO GET THE COUNTY INVOLVED. SO OUR GOAL IS TO BRING OPTIONS, BE ABLE TO BRING OPTIONS TO YOU TO DECIDE, UH, OBVIOUSLY WITH SOME FUNDING AND TIMELINES, UH, SOMETIME IN APRIL. CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? SURE. AGAIN, YOU GUYS ARE THE EXPERTS, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE LEVEL OF TRAFFIC IN GRANADA THAT'S CAUSED BY THE LIGHT, WHY NOT REMOVE THAT LIGHT AND PUT A TRAFFIC CIRCLE? SO BLUE ROAD IS A, IS A COUNTY ROAD. WE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THEM AND ASKED THEM, YOU KNOW, IF THEY COULD POTENTIALLY, UM, REPLACE THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL WITH, UH, WITH A ROUNDABOUT, BUT THEY WEREN'T IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. BUT ULTIMATELY IT WOULD BE THEIR DECISION BECAUSE IT IS A COUNTY ROAD. RIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. SO SINCE YOU BROUGHT THAT ISSUE UP AND YOU SPOKE TO THE COUNTY, CAN YOU JUST TELL ME AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, WHAT DO THEY TYPICALLY SAY IS THE PUSHBACK? WHEN, WHEN WE WOULD WANT A ROUNDABOUT. THEY SAY, WHEN THEY SAY NO, WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? THEY JUST DON'T RECOMMEND IT. THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THEY SAY. THEY'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, LIKE, BASED ON THE VOLUMES AND EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT AT THAT PARTICULAR INTERSECTION. SOMETIMES IT HAS TO DO WITH LIKE THE GEOMETRY. MM-HMM . YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE, YOU KNOW, SUFFICIENT SPACE FOR THE TYPE OF ROUNDABOUT YOU MIGHT NEED DUE TO THE VOLUME. IT'S [05:20:01] DIFFERENT REASONS. SO, OKAY. IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SOME TURNING LANES. YES. SO YOU MAY END UP WITH A SITUATION WHERE YOU MAY NARROW THE TRAFFIC AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE TWO LANES INTO ONE AND, YOU KNOW, IT CAN GET COMPLICATED. I'M NOT SAYING IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE, BUT, UM, THE COUNTY TENDS NOT TO BE TOO FUN. OF THOSE, UH, CIRCLES THAT ARE NOT, UH, STANDARD STANDARD, DO YOU, UM, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY TO THE MANAGER'S OFFICE? WE'RE GONNA GET A, WE NEED TO GET A SURVEY OKAY. UH, ON OUR BOARD REPORT, AND THEN WE'LL PUT TOGETHER ANALYSIS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN RA AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION. WE THINK PROBABLY IN APRIL, UH, WITH SOME ESTIMATES AND SOME TIMELINE FOR WHAT THE FOLLOWING STEPS WILL BE. COULD I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE IT. SECOND. SECOND. MR. CLERK. ALL IN FAVOR? A. AYE. THANK YOU. SO YOU SAID APRIL, LET'S SAY MAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. A LOT OF WORK. NO, YOU'RE RIGHT. IT IS. YOU GOT THREE SURVEY, NO SET. SMILE ON YOUR FACE. NO. AND YOU GOTTA DESIGN. WE'LL TAKE IT. I MEAN, IT'S OKAY. I MEAN, LISTEN, IT'S BEEN A HUNDRED YEARS, YOU HAVEN'T HAD SIDEWALKS. MM-HMM. THEY CAN WAIT FOUR MONTHS. RIGHT. , THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE JUST GONNA BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT IT'S MOVING FORWARD. ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS. AND WE'RE GONNA SET ON THIS VIDEO, SO, OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, BOTH OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. F 12 DEFERRED. OH, DEFERRED. F 13, [F.-13. 26-1098 Discussion regarding America's 250th Birthday celebration - July 4, 2026. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] F 13. DISCUSSION REGARDING AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. MS. PONTINE. THANK YOU. UH, IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UH, PUT UP THE PRESENTATION. YEP. SO HOPEFULLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOR ME TO PRONOUNCE THIS, THE SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL. THAT'S GOOD. CENTENNIAL. WOW. SEMIAL. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE. THAT'S A BIG ONE. THERE'S A FEW MOMENTS WHEN YOU SAY A WORD THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SAYING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. SO SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL. THAT'S IT FOR SOME. THAT'S IT. THAT'S AMAZING. . THAT'S AMAZING. SO TELL US WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ANYWAY EXISTED? OKAY. SO THE UNITED STATES STARTED THIS CELEBRATION OFFICIALLY LAST YEAR, UH, DURING MEMORIAL DAY. THE FIRST BIG EVENT WAS, UH, THE 250TH, UH, ANNIVERSARY OF THE US ARMY ON FLAG DAY, WHICH IS, UH, JUNE 14TH. AND THAT'S WHEN THEY HAD THE MILITARY PARADE IN WASHINGTON DC. SO THIS IS A, A STATE AND, AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES ALREADY UNDERWAY. AND, UH, WE CAN START IMMEDIATELY AND, UH, HAVE SOME IDEA. WE BELIEVE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CIVIC FOCUSED, EDUCATIONAL, INCLUSIVE, COMMUNITY ORIENTED. AND IT'S NOT A SINGLE EVENT MUCH LIKE WE DID WITH THE CITY'S CENTENNIAL. UH, AS YOU SEE, THIS IS THE OFFICIAL, UH, LOGO. UH, IT SAYS AMERICA TWO 50. AND IF YOU SEE, WE'VE COME UP WITH OUR OWN LOGO, UH, THAT YOU'LL SEE THERE ON THE SLIDE, AMERICA TWO 50 WITH THE ONE THAT HAS THE STAR AND IT SAYS CORAL GABLES UNDERNEATH. AND IT'S NICE. IT'S PRETTY. OKAY. SO WE CAN ALSO DO SOME VISUAL INSTALLATIONS. WE CAN DO, UH, FLAGS IN OUR FACILITIES, MUCH LIKE WE DID WITH THE CENTENNIAL. WE CAN PURCHASE THOSE FLAGS FROM THE, FROM THE COMMITTEE, AND WE CAN DO THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, AS, AS, AS LONG AS SOON AS YOU TELL ME TO DO. SO, UH, WE THINK THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO, UM, TO DO A PARTNERSHIP JUST LIKE WE DID SOME BANNERS, UH, ALONG, UH, LEON FROM GRANADA TO SANAMA THAT WE WOULD DO SO AGAIN. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEN WE SHARE THE COST, UH, DIGITAL AND STREETSCAPE. UH, WE COULD DISPLAY THE GRAPHIC ON OUR IKE, UH, EVENTS, UH, THE TROLLEYS. THAT'S A MA MAGNET THAT WE PUT FOR THE CENTENNIAL. SO WE COULD, WE COULD PURCHASE THOSE AND WE COULD HAVE THE SEAL FOR THE COMMISSION AGENDA AND FOR THE, UH, AND, AND FOR PROCLAMATIONS, ET CETERA. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH AND EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT. WE CAN REACH OUT IMMEDIATELY TO, UH, CORAL GABLES HIGH SCHOOL. ACTUALLY, WE HAVE, WE ALREADY STARTED REACHING OUT TO THEM, AND NOW THAT WE ALSO HAVE, UH, A PERSON THAT WE WORK WITH AT PONDS MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY COULD BE INCLUDED AS WELL. AND WE THINK THAT WE SHOULD, UH, HAVE A CONTEST AND THE WINNERS, WE WOULD GIVE THEM A $250, UH, GIFT CARD. I LOVE THAT. UH, AND, UH, THE CLERK'S OFFICE HAS ALREADY AGREED, AND WE HAVE, UH, WE HAD A CENTENNIAL COLORING BOOK FOR THEIR, UH, PASSPORT OFFICE. THIS WOULD BE A PATRIOTIC, UH, FOR, FOR THE UNITED STATES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. UH, WE THINK THAT THE [05:25:01] 4TH OF JULY ACTUALLY GIVES US THE, THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY WITH THE DRONE SHOW THAT'S ACTUALLY ALREADY BUDGETED FOR. AND IF ANYBODY HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE THE DRONE SHOW AT THE, UH, BILT MORE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, IT ALSO INCLUDED MUSIC AND, AND A VOICEOVER. SO WE THINK THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART, UH, TO, TO INCLUDE IN, IN THAT DRONE SHOW. UH, THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION HAS ACTUALLY, UH, GIVEN, UH, SOME MONEY FOR THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY'RE INVOLVED, WHICH ACTUALLY SOUTH FLORIDA, MIAMI IS ONE OF THEM, WHERE THEY'RE DOING SOME STORYTELLING. SO FOR US TO REACH OUT TO THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION TO SEE IF WE CAN INCLUDE CORAL GABLES AND SOME OF OUR PEOPLE IN THAT STORYTELLING, UH, A BIG PART OF HOW THE UNITED STATES IS CELEBRATING IS THEY'RE ASKING FOR VOLER FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND FOR THAT TO BE LOGGED INTO THEIR, UH, SITE. SO WE THINK THAT WE SHOULD DESIGNATE A, WITH YOUR AGREEMENT, A CITYWIDE VOLUNTEER INITIATIVE, UH, FOR THIS. UH, AND THERE THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. UH, I THINK THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, I DON'T KNOW UNTIL WE'RE DOING THE MERRICK MINUTES, IF IT'S THROUGH APRIL, BUT MAYBE WE CAN DO LIKE A UNITED STATES MINUTE. I KNOW THAT MAYBE IF, MAYBE IF WE PARTNERED WITH CHANNEL 10, THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING THEM ON, ON ONLINE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LIKE 32ND SPOTS. MAYBE WE COULD DO, UH, SOMETHING WITH THEM. SOMETHING TO, TO BRING THE HISTORY. I LOVE THE IDEA TO LIFE. AND SO WE THINK THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY WE CAN START IMMEDIATELY AND WE CAN USE RESOURCES ALREADY IN PLACE. WE WILL NEED SOME RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME OF THESE PURCHASES. UH, I'VE ALREADY, IF YOU LIKE THE LOGO, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND WE CAN ORDER PINS FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND, UH, OUR, OUR STAFF TO MAKE THEM ALL PART OF THIS CELEBRATION. AND I'LL JUST LEAVE WITH A, WITH A REFLECTION THAT AMERICA HAS AN IDEA BUILDS ON LIBERTY RESPONSIBILITY AND THE ENDURING PROMISE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT. WELL SAID. WELL SAID. WELL DONE. UM, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. THANK YOU FOR, FOR HELPING HELPING WITH THIS, UH, MARTHA. IT'S AMAZING. I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US, AGAIN, NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE 250 YEARS, BUT LOOK WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE ABOUT CUBA TO CELEBRATE AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM. YOU KNOW, THE PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LIVE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND THE FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH NOBODY WOULD MADE IT, I ADMIT IT, WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. WE DON'T REALLY REALIZE, WE REALLY DON'T REALIZE HOW GOOD WE HAVE IT HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. UH, AND IT'S VERY EASY TO COMPLAIN AND WE ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN. I'M THE BIGGEST CULPRIT OF IT. YEAH, OKAY. . BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, AND I SAY IT ALL THE TIME, THERE'S NO PLACE, NO PLACE ON THIS PLANET WHERE IMMIGRANTS CAN COME AND IN LESS THAN ONE GENERATION BE PUT IN A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE STANDING ON THEIR OWN TWO FEET AND THEY'RE ENJOYING THE LIBERTIES THAT ARE AFFORDED TO US BY THE CONSTITUTION. I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE RICH, I'M SAYING THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE YOUR LIFE WHAT YOU DEEM APPROPRIATE ALL THROUGH HARD WORK. AND I THINK THAT THE 250 YEARS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE. I THINK WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE 4TH OF JULY, I WAS THINKING ABOUT PINS UNTIL YOU SAID IT RIGHT THERE. IT'D BE NICE TO DO SOMETHING. I DON'T WANT TO, I, BY THE WAY, THEY, I SAW PINS THIS WEEKEND, NOT THIS WEEKEND. I'M SORRY. YESTERDAY I BURNING A BURNING NAVARROS UH, SWEARING IN PEOPLE WERE ALREADY WEARING THE 250 YEAR PIN. RIGHT? BUT THIS, THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY BIG. WELL, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE SMALL. UH, I'VE ALREADY, UH, HAVE A DESIGN. I'VE ALREADY GONE OUT TO GET, UH, ITEMS. I ACTUALLY HAD HOPED TO DO A SHOW AND TELL. I'VE ORDERED, UH, FROM THE, THE COMMITTEE, UH, IT'S A, LIKE A FLAG STAND WITH THE, THE, THE, THE SEMIS. I'M NOT LOOKING AT IT, UH, WITH, WITH THAT FLAG AND, AND THE US FLAG FLAG TO, TO, TO PUT ON, TO PUT ON THE, ON, ON THE DAAS. UH, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO, TO GIVE, UH, THE, THE DAAS ALSO PART OF THE PARTICIPATION. UM, WE HAVE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR FLAG DAY. WE CAN HAVE, UH, IN FRONT OF BILTMORE WAY AND OR ALONG, UH, MIRACLE MILE, WE CAN HAVE, UH, US FLAGS PUT THERE. WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE WITH THE, WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES. AND OF COURSE, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING NOT ONLY FOR IDEAS, UH, FROM, FROM THE DIOCESE, BUT FROM FROM ANYONE, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS ANY IDEA OF HOW WE COULD PROCEED TO MAKE THIS AN EVEN, UH, BIGGER CELEBRATION. I THINK WHAT I NEED FROM YOU IS DO WE, UH, THERE'S SOME STATES THAT ARE GOING, FOR EXAMPLE, NORTH CAROLINA, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH IN CELEBRATING THROUGH 32 BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING LIKE THE WHOLE REVOLUTIONARY WAR PERIOD. THERE'S OTHER STATES, UH, LIKE, UH, I FORGOT WHICH ONE, BUT THAT WE'LL GO THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. DO [05:30:01] WE GO THROUGH, UH, JULY 4TH? OR DO WE CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR? THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE IF IT WAS UP TO ME. I CONTINUE FOR THE END OF THE YEAR. AND MAY, YOU MIGHT AS WELL. YOU'RE ORDERING, YOU'RE ORDERING SOME GREAT SWAG, UH, THAT I THINK COULD BE USED. AND I, AND, AND I, YEAH. AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ALSO GET OUR EMPLOYEES INVOLVED. LIKE IF THEY HAVE SHIRTS AND THEY'RE GONNA REORDER SHIRTS, YOU KNOW, TWO 50. AGAIN, I KNOW WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR CENTENNIAL AND WE JUST FINISHED OUR CELEBRATING CENTENNIAL, BUT WE CELEBRATE AMERICA FIRST AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND, YOU KNOW, TO PUT TWO 50 ON, ON ON SOMETHING, TO ME IS A BIG DEAL. IT'S A BIG CELEBRATION. AND I WANT TO HEAR IDEAS, LIKE YOU SAID, FROM THE RESIDENTS. MAYBE WE CAN HAVE IN ONE OF OUR EMAILS THAT YOU SEND OUT, SAY, LOOK, WE'RE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE 250 YEARS. I'M NOT EVEN GONNA TRY TO PRONOUNCE IT. , UH, THE 200, THE 250 YEARS . AND, UH, SAY, SEND US YOUR IDEAS. HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS A MEMORABLE TWO 50? WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? OKAY. I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I IDEA CELEBRATE THE SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL CORRECTLY. YES, YES, THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. SO, UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT AND I LOVE THE IDEA THAT WE'RE, ME PERSONALLY, THAT WE'RE, WE, WE'VE JUST COMPLETED A REALLY SUPER SUCCESSFUL 100 YEAR CELEBRATION IN THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. LET'S JUST KEEP THE, THE SPIRIT GOING RIGHT FOR, FOR THE 250TH, UH, FOR THE FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY. UM, BUT MAYBE YOU AND I CAN WORK TOGETHER ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, SO THAT ON THE MORE PATRIOTIC CELEBRATIONS THAT WE HAVE DURING THE YEAR, WHICH INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, VETERAN'S DAY, THAT WE MAKE IT A SUPER SPECIAL ONE GIVEN THAT IT'S OCCURRING IN THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE, OF THE FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY. SO I, I THINK THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY ESPECIALLY BE, IT'LL BE THE FIRST ONE THAT'LL BE RECOGNIZED, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE RESOLUTION WAS CARRIED. SO LET START OFF WITH THE BANK. SO WHAT YOU, YOU HAVE THE BEST IDEAS, MARTHA, SO, OH, THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THE MAYOR, UM, SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP, MR. MAYOR AND, AND, UM, IT HAD GIVEN ME THE IDEA AND I JUST HADN'T, WE DIDN'T, NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO DISCUSS IT THAT DAY. IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN COMPILE A LIST OF VETERANS WHO LIVE IN THE CITY AND MAYBE HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, EVERY COMMISSION MEETING LED BY ONE OF THE VETERANS OR VETERANS IN THE CITY, OR ACTIVE MILITARY WHO LIVE IN THE CITY? I THINK THAT WOULD, UH, I MEAN, I, I KNOW WE HAVE A LIST OF DISABLED VETERANS BECAUSE WE, WE DO HAVE THE, THE DISABLED VETERANS, UH, RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM. SO WE HAVE A LIST OF THOSE. BUT IF WE CAN MAYBE COMPILE THIS AND HAVE ONE OF THEM LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE EVERY COMMISSION MEETING, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO HIGHLIGHT AMERICA BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN INTEGRAL TO ENSURING THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY. YES. I KNOW THAT FOR, UH, DURING CLOSE TO VETERAN'S DAY, UH, FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE MAYOR HAS CALLED UPON A CITY EMPLOYEE, UH, THAT IS A VETERAN TO LEAD IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT COULD BE EXPANDED TO THE COMMUNITY. UH, MAYBE THE BEST PLACE FOR ME TO START WOULD BE THROUGH THE AMERICAN LEGION. THAT IS PEOPLE THAT HAVE SERVED AND MEN THEN. BUT HOWEVER, IF YOU DID NOT SERVE IN A WAR, ALTHOUGH YOU ARE A VETERAN, YOU'RE THAT YOU'RE NOT PART OF THE AMERICAN LEGION TYPE OF THING. SO MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN JUST SEND OUT ON THE E-NEWS. IF YOU'RE A VETERAN, LET US KNOW. UM, I LOVE IT. AND THEN WE CAN JUST DO IT THAT WAY. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. YEAH. UM, THANK YOU MARTHA. I'M LOOKING FOR ALL IDEALS ARE WELCOME. EVERYTHING OKAY. AMERICA TWO 50. BEAUTIFUL. GOOD WORK. MARTHA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, ITEM [F.-14. 26-1099 Discussion regarding recognition of past Coral Gables Mayors in connection with President's Day. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] F 14. THIS IS A SIMPLE ONE. SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AS, AS I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING HERE FOR 13 YEARS, AND I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED, WE HAVE ALL THESE AMAZING PHOTOS OF PAST MAYORS ON THE WALL, RIGHT? BUT I THINK THEY'RE TAKING UP WAY TOO MUCH SPACE. AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE CONCISE. AND I WANT MARTHA TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK IN REGARDS TO WHAT SHE THINKS MAYBE WE SHOULD DO, UH, IN REGARDS TO ALL THESE PORTRAITS. WHAT COULD BE THE INTENT AND HOW COULD WE DO SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE IF YOU'RE IN, IF YOU'RE IN ONE OF THE FLOORS OF THE BUILDING, YOU JUST SEE A PICTURE, BUT YOU DON'T SEE ALL THE PICTURES. SO YOU, YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THAT PERSON IS. AND I'LL BE, BE FRANKLY, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE WALL, BUT I DON'T KNOW EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THE WALL. SO I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO SOMETHING. UH, IT'S BEEN DONE RECENTLY IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. I'VE SEEN IT BECAUSE WHEN I'VE GONE TO VISIT 'EM, I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAYOR'S WALL COMPLETED. UM, AND WHEN WE FINISH THIS BUILDING IN THREE YEARS, IT'S GONNA BE, WHEN IT'S GONNA BE DONE. UH, I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL AS WE INAUGURATE THE BUILDING. SO, AS YOU KNOW, THE, THE PICTURES, THE PHOTOS OF THE PAST MAYORS ARE ACTUALLY IN THE COMMISSION ASSISTANCE OFFICE. SOME HAVE ACTUALLY FADED A LOT BECAUSE OF HOW OF WHERE THEY'RE PLACED. UH, TOMORROW I HAVE SOMEONE FROM MANURE STUDIO WHO, AS YOU REMEMBER, THEY CELEBRATED THEIR CENTENNIAL AS A BUSINESS. THEY'RE HERE IN CORAL GABLES COMING TO SEE IF MAYBE THOSE COULD BE RESTORED, UH, TO GIVE THEM A, A BETTER SHAPE. UH, WE THINK THAT ONCE THIS [05:35:01] BUILDING IS COMPLETE, THAT WE COULD HAVE A MAYOR'S WALL, BUT IT, IT WOULD HAVE TO SAY, AND IT WOULD NOT IN AN OFFICE, IT WOULD NEED TO BE IN A HALLWAY SO THAT IT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S ONLY IF SOMEONE IS GOING IN TO SEE, UH, UH, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT THEY GO IN THROUGH THAT OFFICE. BUT WE ALSO THINK THAT WITH THE RESTORATION, WE ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. AND THE OPPORTUNITY IS TO DO SOMETHING ONLINE WITH, IN, IN THE CITY COMMISSION PAGE. WE CAN ACTUALLY ADD FORMER MAYORS. AND WE CAN ACTUALLY EVEN TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER. WE COULD PUT THE NAMES OFF ALL FORMER COMMISSIONERS, I BELIEVE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, UH, DOES HAVE THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE. AND THEN THAT WAY IN THE COMMISSION PAGE, YOU COULD SEE THE PEOPLE PASSED AND PRESENT, UH, BY YEARS, UH, WITH THE MAYORS IS WHERE WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE, UH, PICTURES. SO, UH, LET'S SEE HOW THIS RESTORATION AND HOW WE CAN USE THAT RESTORATION TO DIGITIZE, TO DIGITIZE THE PHOTOS. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA OF, ON MULTIPLE FRONTS. AND I, IF YOU, IF I MAY, UH, THROUGH THE MANAGER, I ASKED YOU TO PLEASE LOOK AT WHAT THE CITY OF MIAMI JUST DID. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING LARGE, YOU KNOW, ONE BY TWO FOOT PHOTOS, THEY WENT SMALL SIX INCHES AND THEY PUT ALL THE MARES ON ONE WALL, AND IT LITERALLY FIT PERFECTLY RIGHT WHEN YOU WALKED IN, UH, TO THE PAN-AMERICAN BUILDING. AND YOU COULD SEE, AND YOU COULD FOLLOW THE FIRST MAYOR TO THE, TO THE LAST MAYOR. UH, I AGREE. YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONERS, WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING ONLINE WHERE, WHERE IT SAYS WHO HAS SERVED, WHAT YEARS DO THEY SERVE, UM, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION IF WE HAVE SOMETHING BRIEF, ONE PARAGRAPH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. UM, I THINK, I THINK GETTING A PARAGRAPH FOR PEOPLE FROM THE TWENTIES, THIRTIES, FORTIES, IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE, BUT WE COULD ALWAYS DO IT WITH, WITH RESPECTFULLY. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH FAMILY. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, JEANETTE LESTE, WHO'S NO LONGER WITH US. YOU WOULD ASK DON TO PROVIDE, TO PROVIDE A QUICK ONE OF, I'M JUST SAYING IF THAT'S AN INTEREST, IF NOT, I UNDERST UNDERSTAND IT'S VERY COMPLICATED. BUT I DON'T, TO ME, WHAT I, WHAT I'VE SEEN HERE BEFORE, AND THIS IS WHY I BRING IT UP, ALL THOSE PHOTOS, THEY'RE GREAT, BUT THEY'RE EVERYWHERE. YOU CAN'T PUT 'EM INTO ONE ROOM. I THINK WHAT'S GREAT IS WHEN YOU WALK INTO, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE PLACE AND YOU SEE ALL THE PHOTOS ON A WALL, AND YOU CAN FOLLOW IT FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE, TO THE, TO THE LATEST. NO, I KNOW. I WENT TO THE CITY HALL IN, UH, ANTE IN SPAIN, UH, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND THEY DID HAVE, UH, ALL THE MAYORS AND IT WAS, UH, AND VERY, VERY NICE, UH, IN PLACE. WE'VE ALSO REACHED OUT, UH, WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK. I THINK THAT THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN POSSIBLY DOING AN EVENT. SO WE'VE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM. THEY HAVE A SMALLER SPACE WHERE CURRENTLY, LIKE WHERE THEY HAVE THE CELIAC CRUISE EXHIBIT THAT MAYBE, UH, IN THE FUTURE THEY COULD DO AS WE RESTORE THESE, UH, AS, AS WE RESTORE THESE, THAT MAYBE WE COULD DO AN EVENT RELATED TO THAT. PERFECT. ACTUALLY, I, I HAD, UM, WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, UH, I REACHED OUT TO THE CLERK 'CAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW WHO HAD BEEN IN THIS SEAT PRIOR TO THE, MY PREDECESSORS AND THE ONES THAT I KNEW, I KNEW IT WAS, UH, VICE MAYOR MEN. I KNEW IT WAS VICE MAYOR KERIG BEFORE HIM, UH, AND, UH, JEANETTE LESNIK. BUT IT WAS HARD TO GO BACK BEYOND A CERTAIN POINT BECAUSE THE COMMISSION STRUCTURE HAD CHANGED. AT ONE POINT EVERYBODY WAS ON THE SAME BALLOT AND THE TOP FIVE VOTE GETTERS WERE ELECTED. THE TOP VOTE GETTER WAS MAYOR AND, AND THE NEXT FOUR WERE ON THE COMMISSION. UM, BUT IT WAS EVEN HARD TO FIND PHOTOS OF ANYBODY PRIOR TO A CERTAIN DATE BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THEM. UM, SO IT, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. UH, SOMETHING I WOULD SUGGEST IS MAYBE WE CAN DESIGNATE THE CONFERENCE, ONE OF THE CONFERENCE ROOMS HAS THE MAYOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM, UM, AND HAVE THE THEM DISPLAYED THERE. AND THAT, THAT MIGHT BE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN DISPLAY IT IN CITY HALL. THAT'S, THAT'S VISIBLE. YEAH. SO THE FIRST STEP I SAID, AS I SAID, TOMORROW WE HAVE, UH, THE PERSON FROM MANOR STUDIO, UH, COMING, COMING BY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN WORK WITH. I MEAN, WE WILL OBVIOUSLY REACH OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE. WE JUST THOUGHT, UH, WE HAVE A PERSON LOCALLY. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN WORK WITH THEM. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MARTHA. I APPRECIATE IT. JUST BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. AND LET'S SEE. LET'S SEE. WE GO FROM HERE. UH, MR. CLERK, HAVE [H.-6. 25-1257 Celebrating a Century: The Coral Gables Centennial Year.] I CAUGHT EVERYTHING HERE ON THE AGENDA? AM I MISSING ANYTHING? UH, WE'RE MISSING ONE CITY MANAGER ITEM, I BELIEVE, SIR. H SIX. CENTENNIAL. H SIX. PERFECT. H SIX. THANK YOU. I FEEL LIKE I'M ON DUTY HERE. YOU CAN SEE EASIER, MARTHA, BACK TO BACK. THIS ONE'S EASIER TO SAY. YES, THIS ONE IS MUCH, MUCH EASIER. AND, UH, SUPER CALIFORNIA. I HAVE A SANDY HERE BECAUSE, UH, THIS HAS A, BEEN REALLY A TEAM EFFORT ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY BECAUSE WE'VE HAD ALL DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED. BUT, UH, MY OFFICE HAS LED THIS CHARGE, [05:40:01] BUT THE PERSON THAT HAS REALLY LED THE CHARGE HAS BEEN, UH, SANDY RODRIGUEZ. AND I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE HER. I ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE TWO OTHER PEOPLE, UH, NICK SIGNS, WHO IS OUR WEBMASTER, AND HE ACTUALLY GOT OUR WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING, UH, 100 CORAL GABLES.COM. WE DID IT AT A REDUCED, UH, PRICE FOR LIKE $3,000. UH, OTHER CITIES, WHEN WE LOOKED TO DO A WEBSITE LIKE NAPLES HAD SPENT SOMETHING LIKE $80,000 AND, AND OURS IT, IT, WE HA SO, AND WE DID IT ALL IN-HOUSE. THE OTHER PERSON I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE IS TODAY, YOU SAW ONE OF THE VIDEOS IS THE VIDEO OF THE PERSON FROM WAS FROM THE PERSON, UH, THE PRINCIPAL OF PON LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE DID GET TO A HUNDRED VIDEOS. THAT WAS A BIG, BIG JOB TO GET DONE. WE STARTED LIKE THREE YEARS AGO. AND FOR THAT WE HAVE TO CREDIT, UH, MICHAEL ROCHA, THE MAN BEHIND THE SCENES, ALWAYS, UH, HERE. SO, WELL, WE'VE BEEN, WE WERE, WE CELEBRATED THE CENTENNIAL FOR THIS PAST YEAR. UH, THE ANNIVERSARY WAS ON APRIL 29TH, AND WE WANTED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE PAST, LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. PART OF THIS IS WE MET WITH, UH, WE HAD MORE THAN LIKE 200 MEETINGS WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE. WE ACTUALLY, UH, HAVE, IN ADDITION TO THE 100 VIDEOS THAT WE DID, WE WENT OUT TO COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE THE FARMER'S MARKET. UH, WE WERE THERE EVERY WEEKEND. WE WENT TO THE LITERACY FEST, WE WENT TO, UH, ADVENTURE DAY. WE EVEN WENT TO EWM OFFICES, UH, TO GET PEOPLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, TO MAKE IT INCLUSIVE. SO WE HAD, UH, ABOUT 200 PEOPLE, UH, SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH US. SO, AS I SAID, THE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT, WE THINK IS REALLY A, A, A LINCHPIN OF, OF THE SUCCESS OF OUR CENTENNIAL. AND THE PROFILES ARE HOUSED. UH, WERE HOUSED DURING THE CENTENNIAL AT THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM. WE ARE MOVING THAT INSTALLATION OVER TO THE, SINCE THAT'S GONNA BE THE NEW CITY HALL FOR A WHILE. UH, WE'RE MOVING THAT INSTALLATION TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING SO THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY, UH, LOOK AT THESE VIDEOS. UH, THEY ARE ALSO THE WEBSITE, A HUNDRED CORAL GABLES.COM. WE'RE STILL KEEPING KEEPING IT UP. I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP IT UP CONSTANTLY. YES, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. IT'S, AND IT'S ONLY LIKE $300 A YEAR. YEAH. UH, YOU'RE SELLING, I MEAN, YOU'RE SELLING WHAT MAKES CORAL GABLES SPECIAL. . IT'S GREAT. IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT FOR $300. SO, UH, WITH BUILDING COMMUNITY AS THE CENTENNIAL SITE THAT, UH, HAD IMPACTFUL PICTURES, WE HAD PEOPLE PARTICIPATE, UH, BY SHARING THEIR, THEIR PHOTOS, ET CETERA. AND FOR AN UPDATE ON EVENTS. AND AS I SAID, THE EVENTS WERE NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THEY INCLUDED, WHETHER IT WAS THE BAR ASSOCIATION'S EVENT OR, OR THE GARDEN CLUB EVENT. AND, AND IN THE ORAL HISTORY, I FAILED TO MENTION, WE WENT OUT. WE NOT ONLY REACHED OUT TO PEOPLE ON THIS DIOCESE AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED, BUT WE REACHED, REACHED IT OUT TO MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE ROTARY CLUB, THE GARDEN CLUB, SO THAT THEY COULD ALSO SAY THEIR STORIES OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN CORAL GABLES, THE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES PEOPLE SHARED THEIR, THEIR BEAU CITY BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES. WE HAD TO FRAME THE MEMORY CHALLENGE, THE AUDIO BOOTH SUBMISSIONS, UH, HISTORIC TIMELINE, UH, WHERE WE INCLUDED. AND WE HAD, YOU KNOW, WHEN DID CORAL GABLES HOSPITAL START? WHEN DID, UH, DOCTORS HOSPITAL START? UH, WHEN DID THE ROTARY CLUB START? WE DID COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UH, AND IN CELEBRATION. AND CONTINUUM U UM, HAD THEIR OWN CELEBRATION. UH, BUT FOR HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU SEE THE GARDEN CLUB, THAT'S THE SCULPTURE THAT THEY, THAT THEY COMMISSION, UH, PART OF OUR ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. SO THAT IS ONE OF THE ACTIVATIONS. AND HERE WE HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR FORMER CITY ATTORNEYS, UH, BECAUSE WE WORKED WITH THE CORAL GABLES BAR ASSOCIATION TO MAKE IT, UH, THEIR ANNUAL GALA A SALUTE TO CITY'S ATTORNEYS. UH, BECAUSE WHEN THE CITY WAS ESTABLISHED, THE CITY ATTORNEY POSITION WAS PART OF WHAT, UH, GEORGE AMERICAN VISION THAT NEEDED FOR THE CITY TO HAVE. UH, SO IT WAS A YEAR OF COMMEMORATIONS. HERE'S JUST LIKE A BRIEF TIMELINE THERE, WHERE THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY OTHERS OF, OF WHAT WE DID IN ORGANIZING THIS. AND I'D LIKE TO STRESS THAT WE DID IT WITHOUT, UH, ANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. AND OUR [05:45:01] CITY DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT CELEBRATED. SO, UH, WE HAD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, HAD THE, UH, THE, THE, THE ORNAMENT, UH, PUBLIC WORKS. WE HAVE 10 OF THOSE, UH, STORMS, UH, STORM DRAIN COVERS. UH, WE HAD, UH, PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, THE, THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY FOR THE DRONE SHOW. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD THE CARS. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES IS GOING TO HAVE, UH, THIS ONE IS ONE THAT'S STILL PENDING, BUT THAT WILL BE HERE RIGHT ACROSS IN MERRICK PARK, WHICH IS TO COMMEMORATE, UH, THE BAHAMIANS THAT WERE THE WORKERS THAT BUILT, UH, THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. UH, HERE WE SEE A HOUSE WITH A PLAQUE, UH, THAT IS A CENTENNIAL HOUSE. SOMETHING I KNOW THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ BROUGHT FORTH. AND YOU SEE ONE OF THE HOUSES THAT, THAT HAS THAT PLAQUE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALSO DID A, SOMETHING WITH OUR CITY SISTER CITIES OF, UH, IN PROVENCE, UH, THE BUDGET COVER, THE, THE PASSPORT OFFICE HAD THEIR, THEIR COLORING BOOK. UH, ALL YOUR AGENDAS HAD THE, THE SEAL, UH, ALL OUR EMPLOYEES RECEIVED, UH, THE PIN. SO DID OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR BOARD MEMBERS. SO WE WANTED TO MAKE IT SPECIAL. AND, UH, YOU HAD OH, AND THE COIN, RIGHT? WE CAN DO A COIN FOR THE, UH, CENTENNIAL, UH, ON CENTENNIAL DAY. UH, YOU ALL REMEMBER YOU WERE ALL HERE. UH, WE, WE DID THE, THE FLAG RACING CEREMONY, AND WE ALSO DID OTHER THINGS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAD THEIR ELECTRONIC MESSAGE ABOUT CORAL GABLES. UH, FIU HAD AN ELECTRONIC MESSAGE ABOUT CORAL GABLES. WE GOT, UH, THREE BUILDINGS BESIDES CITY HALL TO BE, TO BE LIT. THE BILTMORE, UH, HAM TOWERS AND THE LOWE'S HOTEL. I LOVE THE FLOWERS IN FRONT OF, OF CITY HALL. THAT, THAT, THAT WAS GREEN SPACE MA. THAT WAS GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT. OH, BEAUTIFUL. UH, IT WAS COVERED IN THE MIAMI HERALD, UH, AS A FRONT, AS A FRONT PAGE. WE HAD THE ESSAY CONTEST WINNER FROM, UH, FROM CORAL GABLES, UH, HIGH SCHOOL READ THE GRAND FINALE WAS THE, THE CONCERT, UH, AT THE VENETIAN POOL. AND, UH, THAT WAS AN EVENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. SO BY THE NUMBERS, A HUNDRED ORAL HISTORIES, STORIES FILMED 193 AUDIO STORIES RECORDED. 12 MERRICK MOS HIGHLIGHTED THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED. ALSO, I KNOW THAT THEY'VE CONTINUED, THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED IN, UH, IN NEWS, IN NEWS, HAD A CENTENNIAL LOOK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND WE LOOKED AT, WE HAD A, A CENTENNIAL CORNER. UH, WE HAD 10 CENTENNIAL MANHOLE COVERS. 54 3 OF THE YEAR SUBMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED, AND THERE WERE 250 AT ATTENDEES AT THE CENTENNIAL CONCERT. SO WE THINK IT WAS A SUCCESS. AND, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO SANDY FOR ALL HER HARD WORK. AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE WITH US. THANK YOU. NOT TO, NOT AT ALL TO WANT TO ADD ANY WORK TO YOUR OVERFLOWING PLATE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MAY, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING YOU HAVE ALREADY COOKED UP IN YOUR LABORATORY SOMEWHERE, BUT YOU'VE DOCUMENTED, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER, YOU AND THE, AND THE CITY STAFF DONE SUCH AN AMAZING JOB, YOU KNOW, PUTTING TOGETHER A WELL ONCE IN A HUNDRED YEAR EVENT, RIGHT. CELEBRATING THE CITY. BUT THEY'RE ALL SUCH WONDERFUL EVENTS, RIGHT. AND THEY'RE, EACH OF THEM WAS OVER THE TOP AND BEYOND WHAT I THOUGHT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN, AND CULMINATING WITH THE, UM, VENETIAN POOL CELEBRATION. I MEAN, THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY WHO WAS THERE IS GONNA HAVE TO SAY IS, IS, IS, UH, BEYOND MEMORABLE. RIGHT? IT WAS SUCH SO AMAZING TO HAVE A, DO YOU HAVE A, A VIDEO RECAP OF LIKE, STARTING IN JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER, JUST LINKING ALL THESE EVENTS AS SOMEBODY CAN SEE IT FOR POSTERITY. THIS IS HOW WE CELEBRATED OUR, OUR, UM, 100TH YEAR. I DON'T HAVE A VIDEO RECAP, BUT I GUESS MICHAEL JUST GOT A NEW ASSIGNMENT. THE POWER OF DELEGATION, . I DON'T KNOW. I WOULD JUST LOVE IT. COULD BE SO MUCH WENT INTO THAT CELEBRATION THE YEAR LONG TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST GIVE PEOPLE, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF RELIVE IT, UM, WITH, UH, VIGNETTES SHORT, UM, TO THE EXTENT YOU HAVE PHOTOS OR ACTUAL VIDEO BITS THAT JUST TAKES YOU THROUGH THE TIMELINE OF THE YEAR AND CULMINATING WITH, 'CAUSE THERE'S SUCH GREAT STUFF, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S DESERVING OF THAT KIND OF, UM, I'M SURE, WE'LL, I'M SURE MICHAEL AUSTERITY, I'M SURE MICHAEL ROCHA WILL WORK HIS MAGIC. AND WE WILL MAKE SURE TO SHOW IT AT AN UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETING. WONDERFUL. AND THEN HOPEFULLY IT'LL LIVE ON, [05:50:01] ON OUR WEB, UH, PAGE, BE LIKE A, BE LIKE A TIME CAPSULE HAPPEN. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING FOR, FOR POSTERITY, YOU KNOW? RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE SO LONG, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE THAT TOMORROW WE HAVE THE FIRST JOSE MARTI CELEBRATION AT 10:30 AM I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MARTHA FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON THAT. THANK YOU. UM, MADAM [K. DISCUSSION ITEMS] VICE MAYOR, ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? JUST, UM, USUAL REMINDERS. WE HAVE THE FARMER'S MARKET A LOT OF ACTIVITIES IN THIS CITY, UH, ON GO GOING, UH, WE HAVE THE UNDERLYING DOG PARK AT 10 O'CLOCK. BRING OUT YOUR POOCH. WHICH ONE ARE YOU GONNA BRING? ALL THREE. ALL THREE. I'LL BRING ONE, UM, ZONE DEFENSE. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR TALLAHASSEE TRIP COMING UP. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. PERFECT. SO, COMMISSIONER, OH, SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE DONE. THAT'S IT. NO, THAT'S IT. COMMISSIONER, UM, UH, ECHO EXACTLY WHAT THE VICE MAYOR SAID. I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S, UM, WILLINGNESS TO WORK THROUGH AND GET DONE IN ALMOST RECORD TIME. TODAY'S, UM, AGENDA MEETING WITH A LOT OF SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES BEING MET AND DONE IN A, UM, IN A, IN A POSITIVE, UH, COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT. UM, JUST REMINDING EVERYBODY, I CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN MY OFFICE HOURS ON MONDAY MORNINGS FROM 8 32 11. COMMISSIONER, NOT GONNA REPEAT THINGS, HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID, SO, OKAY. UM, I'M GONNA TOUCH A FEW POINTS. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, MR. MANAGER, UH, PLEASE, UH, CONGRATULATE YOUR TEAM. UH, THE, UM, WATCH PARTY WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. I WANT TO THANK AGAVE. UM, OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T DO IT JUSTICE. THIS DOES IT JUSTICE. UH, SO LET'S HOLD THAT PICTURE RIGHT THERE. OKAY. WE PUT THIS TOGETHER IN A MATTER OF DAYS, AGAVE CAME IN WITH A SPONSORSHIP AND THEY PAID FOR THE, THE, THE TV, CORRECT? YES. THE RENTAL DID NOT COME OUTTA THE CITY'S BUDGET. THIS IS SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. NOT ONLY AM I A DIEHARD HURRICANE FAN, BUT BRINGING, CAN WE GO BACK TO THAT PICTURE, IF YOU DON'T MIND? BUT BRINGING, BRINGING ALL THESE PEOPLE OUT TO ENJOY THIS GAME AND BE AMONGST COMMUNITY IN THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL. IN THE PERFECT WEATHER. YOU KNOW, THEY WERE HAVING A GREAT MOMENT CELEBRATING SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED, HAPPENED IN THE CITY IN OVER 25 YEARS. UH, THAT BROUGHT ME A LOT OF GREAT PRIDE. AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER, I KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW AND FINALIZING THE DESIGN, AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH THE ATTORNEY, UH, THAT'S REPRESENTING ALAN MORRIS TO TALK ABOUT THE, THE DESIGN, BECAUSE I HAVE SOME INTEREST IN REGARDS TO HOW, LIKE, THE JUXTAPOSITION OF THE ARTWORK WITH THE PROPOSED ACTUAL PARK LAYOUT. IT'S COMING OUT VERY NICE. THE MANAGER'S DONE A GREAT JOB, AND WE'RE JUST DISCUSSING ABOUT A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS. BATHROOMS, NO BATHROOMS, THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT WHEN YOU SEE THIS TV THERE, YOU THINK TO YOURSELF, I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS, THIS, THIS MAY BE IT. I KNOW THAT IT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING WHERE, BY THE WAY, THE PARKS DEPARTMENT KILLED IT. MR. DIRECTOR, YOU KILLED IT. GREAT JOB. MAD. A CM, YOU KILLED IT. UM, I, I'M JUST, I'M LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE. YOU KNOW, I BROUGHT THIS IDEA UP. LOOK AT THIS. LOOK AT THIS CROWD. LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HAVING A GREAT TIME. THE KIDS SITTING DOWN. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF WE HAD THIS FULL TIME AND WE COULD DO SOMETHING WHERE IT COMES OUT OF THE GROUND, COMES OUTTA THE GROUND. NOW WE RENT THIS, NOT THAT WE PUT IT UP, SOMETHING THAT COMES OUT OF THE GROUND AND PEOPLE CAN WATCH A MOVIE, WATCH A SUPER BOWL IN TWO WEEKS. THERE WAS NO FIGHTING, THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS, THERE WAS NO SCREAMING. YOU, YOU KNOW, IT, IT WASN'T, IT WASN'T, UH, ROWDY. YOU KNOW, IT WAS FAMILIES. THROUGH AND THROUGH. PEOPLE WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME. AND THIS IS WHAT I, I ENVISION WHEN I THINK ABOUT POND CIRCLE PARK, DO THAT, MAYOR. YEAH. JUST, I WANTED TO BRING IT UP. I MEAN, I, I THINK AT POND CIRCLE PARK, UH, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO HAVE A BANDSHELL. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I AGREE. AND THAT CAN BE PART OF, UH, THE BANDSHELL. NOW, WHETHER OR NOT, UM, MOISTURE WISE, IT CAN STAY THERE OR JUST BE ONE OF THOSE, I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THESE FANCY TVS NOW THAT CAN EVEN ROLL UP LIKE A, LIKE A BLIND YEP. LIKE AN OLD BLINDER YOU COULD ROLL DOWN. UH, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STAFF CAN FIGURE OUT. BUT DESIGN, DESIGN-WISE, I, I ABSOLUTELY THINK WE NEED A PERMANENT BANDSHELL THERE. SOMETHING THAT CAN WITHSTAND A HURRICANE AND PROVIDE AND PUT THE, THE NOISE TO THE NORTH, AND NOT TO THE RESIDENTIAL AREA. BUT THERE'S BEEN SO MANY OCCASIONS WHERE WE HAD STAGING THERE AND FUNCTIONS OCCURRING. IT CAN BE REALLY A, UH, IMPORTANT MAGNET FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE COMING OUT AND ENJOY. [05:55:01] LIKE YOU JUST SAW, YOU COULD HAVE, YOU COULD HAVE THROUGH THE MIRROR, THE SYMPHONY, YOU COULD HAVE CONCERTS, RIGHT? YOU COULD DO CONCERTS. LET'S SAY YOU COULD HAVE A, A MASS FROM THE VATICAN. YOU COULD HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, CELEBRATE HIGH HOLY DAYS. YOU COULD, YOU COULD CELEBRATE, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, IF, IF, IF, IF THERE'S A SYMPHONY IN PARIS OR IN ROME OR THE OLYMPICS ARE BEING PLAYED, OR YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, JUST THIS YEAR ALONE, YOU HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR OWN BACKYARD WHERE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO GO. PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO GO TO, UM, GAME NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO GO TO THE SUPER BOWL. IT'S IN OUR BACKYARD. I'M NOT GONNA THE SUPER BOWL. I'M NOT PAYING FOR THOSE TICKETS. YOU KNOW, A THERE'S, THERE'S THE G 20 SUMMIT. THERE'S A LITANY OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON HERE. YOU CAN WATCH F1 RACING. YOU CAN DO ALL THESE THINGS. AND THIS PLACE LENDS ITSELF PERFECTLY. LOOK AT THE CROWD THAT'S THERE HAVING A GOOD TIME. IT'S SAFE. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. OUR STAFF DID AN AMAZING JOB PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. I MET WITH THE DIRECTOR AND THE A CM, AND IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE RUNNING AROUND TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE. YOUR STAFF DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB. WE ALWAYS WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE THINGS THAT ARE WRONG OR THE THINGS THAT COULD BE BETTER. THIS WAS PERFECT. LIKE, PERFECT. NO SEATING, , NO SEATING. IT WAS PERFECT ON EVERY SINGLE FRONT. LOOK AT NOBODY COMPLAINING THERE. PEOPLE WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME. EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD TO BRING CHAIRS, BRING A THROW. YOU KNOW, JUST BECOME, BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS PERFECT THROUGH THE MAYOR. SO I AGREE WITH YOU. UM, AND LEAVING THAT PHOTO UP THERE AND TAKING A QUICK PEEK. OH, JUST PUTTING IT BACK, YOU KNOW HOW THAT ALWAYS SEEMED, AT LEAST TO ME, I'M PRETTY SURE TO YOU THAT, THAT THAT BUILDING JUST SEEMS LIKE TOO BIG, RIGHT? YET WHEN YOU HAVE A CROWD LIKE THAT, IT'S SORT OF LIKE HELPS, UM, BRING IT ALL AND TIE IT TOGETHER. BECAUSE WHEN YOU WANT A BIG EVENT THERE, IT JUST FEELS LIKE IT, IT'S NOT SO MUCH OF AN EYESORE. IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE, THE CENTER OF WHERE LIKE ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE CAN COME TOGETHER FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. AND LIKE THE VICE MAYOR SAID, I, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, I LIVED IN BOSTON FOR A WHILE, AND I LOVE THE HAT CHILD I HAVE HAD UP THERE FOR THE BOSTON POPS, RIGHT? AND THEY WOULD PUT ON AN INCREDIBLE 4TH OF JULY ALL THE TIME WITH MUSIC, RIGHT? WITH JOHN WILLIAMS PUTTING ON HIS PERFORMANCE, THE MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC. YOU KNOW, I BET YOU THERE'S AT, AT OVER ABUNDANCE OF REALLY HIGH QUALITY CULTURAL EVENTS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO GET PUB PUBLICITY AND ATTENTION DRAWN TO THEIR OWN ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE WILLING TO DONATE THESE TYPES OF EVENTS TO A PUBLIC FORUM LIKE THAT ON A REAL CLASSY PREMIER STAGE. SO IF YOU'RE THINKING LIKE, SOME KIND OF LIKE INTERESTING TECH WHERE THE TV COMES UP OUT OF NOWHERE BIG, RIGHT? YEAH. THERE'S ALREADY, THERE'S ALREADY THAT TECHNOLOGY ALREADY EXISTS. IT'S EXPENSIVE. IT'S EXPENSIVE. BUT TO ME AND THE MANAGER, I WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT TO ME, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE BUILDING, BUT TO ME IT WAS JUST THE SCENE OF ALL THESE PEOPLE, ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, ALL THESE OAK TREES IN THE BACK. LIKE, YOU BREAK UP THE BUILDING IN THE BACK, YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF GET LOST IN THE FACT THAT YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY AND YOU'RE WATCHING THIS AMAZING GAME. THE WEATHER WAS IMMACULATE. IT WAS PERFECT. EVERYTHING WORKED OUT PERFECT FOR THAT NIGHT. UH, MR. MANAGER, UH, WAIT, EXCEPT FOR THE WIN. WE DIDN'T WIN. BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE DID WIN BECAUSE WE HAD AN AMAZING SEASON. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DID WIN IN NUMBER TWO. UH, MAYOR, WE, WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN FROM FOR THE PARK YET. WE'RE WORKING ON THE ACTUAL BUDGET, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT A BAND SHELL ON THAT SITE. YES. WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT A BANDSHELL ON, ON THAT SIDE. WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH A, WE, WE, WE WANT, WE WANT TO, WE WANT TO BRING IN AN ACOUSTICAL ENGINEER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ACOUSTICS, UH, THAT EVERYTHING IS BROUGHT NORTH. YEAH. SO THAT NOTHING IS, IS, UH, SO THAT THE, UH, RESIDENTIAL AREA IN THE, IN THE, IN THE SOUTH IS NOT IMPACTED. THE PARK HAS A CENTRAL AREA TO DO THESE KIND OF EVENTS. AND THEN THE PARK HAS THE, THE, UH, MAJOR ARTWORK ON THE NORTH SIDE. SO WE, UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE, ON THE BUDGET. 'CAUSE IT'S KIND OF AN ELABORATE PARK AND, AND WE HAVE TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT. BUT THAT'S, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE THOUGHT THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD WANT IN AT THIS PARK. YEAH. I SAW THE BAN SHOW. IT LOOKS GREAT SO FAR BECAUSE IT'S VERY PRELIMINARY. VERY PRELIMINARY. BUT ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT THE DIRECTOR MADE WAS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING UP LIKE AN INFLATABLE, AN INFLATABLE THAT THE CITY OWNS. YOU, YOU GUYS WERE A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT. THE A CM THE DIRECTOR, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN OKAY PUTTING UP THIS SCREEN, WHICH WE GOT A VERY GOOD DEAL ON, WAS WE DIDN'T PAY FOR IT. BUT I'M SAYING IT WAS SPONSORED, BUT WE WERE LOOKING, WE WERE LOOKING AT SOME PRICES THAT WERE LIKE, DOUBLE THE PRICE. YOU KNOW, THIS CHANGED THE GAME. I MEAN, THIS, LOOK [06:00:01] AT THAT. THAT'S JUST ANYBODY. YOU COULD BE AT THE END OF THE PARK, COULD BE THE END OF THE PARK, AND YOU COULD WATCH THAT GAME FROM ANYWHERE IN THE PARK. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE UP FRONT. THERE WAS NO GLARE. THERE WAS NO, YOU KNOW, YOU WEREN'T, THERE WAS NO PROJECTION. IT WAS PERFECT. PERFECT. SO, UM, I THINK THE, THE BANDSHELL THAT'S BEING PROPOSED WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE A PROJECTOR PROJECT ON THE BACK WALL. AND THE PROJECTOR TECHNOLOGY TODAY ISN'T WHAT IT WAS EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO. UH, WE HAVE 4K PROJECTION NOWADAYS, WHICH MIGHT BE CHEAPER THAN A TV THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE MOVING IN AND OUT, BECAUSE THE TV TECHNOLOGY MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT TO IMPROVE IN FIVE OR 10 YEARS. WHEN IT DOES. A PROJECTOR MAY BE EASIER TO, TO REPLACE, BUT THE DESIGN IS REALLY FACING THAT DIRECTION. SO IT'S, IT'S EXACTLY WHERE THIS IS. UM, AND AS I SAW THIS PICTURE, I, I WAS VISUALIZING THE, THE DESIGN. I THINK IT, IT'S GONNA BE PERFECT FOR WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, AND IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UH, AT, AT THIS PARK. AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO MAKE POND CIRCLE PARK A HUNDRED YEARS LATE. BUT WHAT ORIGINALLY WAS INTENDED TO BE, OH, WAIT, THIS IS, THIS WAS A GREAT TEST RUN, A GREAT TEST RUN TO THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. UH, THE PARK ALSO SLOPES SOUTH, SOUTH, YEAH. UH, UP. SO, SO WHEN YOU SIT ON THE NORTH, YOU'RE LOOKING UP ON, ON, ON A GOOD POINT. SO IT'S, IT'S ALMOST, I MEAN, EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING FALLS IN LINE WITH A DESIGN, UH, TO DOING THAT. WE ARE, WE'RE, WE'RE CURRENTLY PRICING IT OUT, BUT, AND, AND IF WE CAN GET THE ACOUSTICS CORRECT, THEN THE, THE SOUTHERN, UH, RESIDENCE WILL, WILL NOT BE, WILL, UH, WILL NOT BE, UH, IMPACTED BY IT. MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO I'M GONNA PASS MY PHONE A PHOTO THAT WAS TAKEN LAST FRIDAY EVENING WHEN I WENT OUT TO WALK MY DOGS. AND THAT IS SANCTUARY OF THE ARTS. AND THEY HAD A SCREEN UP RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, AND THEY'VE DONE THIS MORE THAN ONCE. AND THEY, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF FANFARE, BUT THIS WAS FULL MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, IT WAS, UM, QUITE A PRODUCTION. BEAUTIFUL. AND YOU CAN BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S A SCREEN THAT WAS BROUGHT IN. I KNOW THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE PERMITTING PROCESSES OF IT, BECAUSE I I BROUGHT IT TO THE OFF MANAGER'S OFFICE ATTENTION THAT THEY NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TIMING ON THIS WAS, WAS COMPLIED WITH IT. SO THEY COULD DO THE SHOW ON FRIDAY NIGHT, SO IT CAN BE DONE. AND THIS ONE WAS TRUCKED IN, THEY'VE DONE THIS MORE THAN ONCE. SO YOU MIGHT WANNA JUST ASK THEM, UH, WHO THEY'RE USING, BECAUSE THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALWAYS GONNA BE CHANGING. SO THAT'S A FACTOR THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONSIDER WHETHER IT'S PROJECTION FORMAT OR THIS LED DIG DIGITIZED FORMAT. THERE WAS A, A STAGE BELOW IT AS WELL. SO IT REPLICATES THE CONCEPT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OF HAVING A VAN SHELL. SO, UH, FRED, IF YOU WANNA LOOK AT THE PICTURE, I, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS . SO YOU SAW IT. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO THE MAYOR. IT WAS AMAZING. YES, SIR. UH, THIS PARK IS JUST TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL. WE HAVE A, THERE'S PROBABLY OVER A MILLION PEOPLE GOING BY. UH, WE JUST, THEY JUST HAVE, WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ISOLATE THE PARK. THE CIVIL IMPROVEMENTS ARE GONNA BRING THE PARK BACK TO THE PEOPLE. THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A TROLLEY THAT TAKES OVER A MILLION PEOPLE, UH, GOING THROUGH THE PARK, EVEN THE SLOPE IS CORRECT. UH, SO, SO I THINK THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE WE'RE LOOKING AT A VERY UNIQUE DESIGN, AND AS SOON AS WE GET SOME SOME OF THAT PRICING IN, WE WILL BE BRINGING IT TO THE COMMISSION. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT THE, WHAT THE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS ARE. AND A PERFECT SEGUE TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THERE, PETER, ABOUT HOW THE TROLLEY SYSTEM IS, IS REALLY GONNA BE CONTRIBUTIVE IN A BIG WAY TO THIS SUCCESS. BUT ULTIMATELY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT, BUT LIKE THE MOBILITY HUB, RIGHT? SO WHEN WE HAVE THAT COMPLETED, RIGHT, THE, THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE'RE HOPING ARE GONNA BE ATTENDING THIS, THIS AND EVENTS TO COME IN THE FUTURE. IMAGINE LIKE, JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THAT PARKING FACILITY AT THIS, AT THIS TIME, COMING TOGETHER. THEN THE FOLKS DOING A WONDERFUL SHORT AND SHOW OFF WALK FROM THERE TO PUN CIRCLE, WHICH SHOULD BE, I HOPE, AN ADDITIONAL DRIVER TO ECONOMIC, UM, UH, ACTIVITY TO ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES ALONG THE WAY. BECAUSE FROM THERE, EVERYONE'S THERE AND YOU'RE JUST HOPING THEY'RE GONNA BE LIKE, WELL, LET'S JUST KEEP IT GOING EITHER BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER THE EVENT. KEEP ENJOYING THE CITY BEAUTIFULS, UM, SHOPS AND DINING EXPERIENCES. THAT'S A GREAT POINT. UM, IN CLOSING, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE PLAZA, UH, JOSE ANTONIO FOR ALWAYS SAYING YES. UM, OR SEE , OR SEE, YOU KNOW, MM-HMM . I KNOW HE WAS DONATING. I KNOW THAT HE WAS, UH, SINGLED OUT AS ONE OF MY DONORS IN MY CAMPAIGN. YES, HE WAS. AND I VOTED AGAINST THIS PROJECT, BUT HE DIDN'T SAY NO WHEN I ASKED HIM FOR MONEY FOR, UH, [06:05:01] UH, FOR THIS PROJECT. SO I GUESS THAT WON'T, THAT WON'T MAKE A DONATION LIST THOUGH. BUT IT WAS GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. BUT IT'S GOOD TO BODY SLAM PEOPLE WHEN YOU GET EVERY OPPORTUNITY TOO. ALRIGHT, SO MOVING ON. UH, THE BARK PARK, LIKE WE SAID, UM, SUPER IMPRESSED BY THOSE TWO YOUNG LADIES TODAY. I WANNA DO MORE THINGS WITH THEM. THEY'RE VERY, THEY'RE VERY COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE OF DOGS. I WANNA, I, I WANNA SEE IF I CAN ENGAGE THEM WITH THE VICE MAYOR AND MAYBE, AND NOW THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE DOG PARKS COMING ONLINE OR THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THESE TWO YOUNG LADIES, THEY'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL, UH, THEY GOT ABOUT ANOTHER TWO YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND ENGAGE THEM IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I DON'T WANNA WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO JUST DO A ONE AND DONE. I THINK WE CAN REALLY GET THEM INVOLVED. THEY CAME TO MY OFFICE. THEY WERE LIKE SUPER COMMITTED. UH, THEY BROUGHT THESE GREAT IDEAS, UH, AND I THINK THAT THESE ARE TWO YOUNG LADIES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO USE FOR, TO OUR ADVANTAGE. I HATE TO SAY IT THAT WAY, BUT THEY'RE AMAZING. THEY'RE AMAZING, AND THEY, UH, HAVE GREAT IDEAS, AND THEY ARE SUPER, SUPER COMMITTED. SO THINK ABOUT IDEAS THAT WE CAN ENGAGE WITH THEM. OH, WELL, THIS IS HOW, UH, NEW FOSTER AGENCIES, UH, ARE SPAWNED. I MEAN, UM, I THOROUGHLY ENJOY GETTING DOGS FROM A FOSTER, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE, THOSE REASONS. UM, SO DEFINITELY TELL 'EM TO COME ON DOWN THE OTHER END OF THE HALL. I DO HAVE OFFICE HOURS EVERY FRIDAY, EXCEPT FOR WHEN I'M OUT OF TOWN. SO TRUE. TALKING ABOUT THAT. OFFICE HOURS AGAIN, UH, THIS PAST WEEK WE STARTED AT TWO O'CLOCK. WE ENDED ALMOST AT SEVEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. WE WERE THERE FOR FIVE HOURS. IT WAS AMAZING. SO MANY PEOPLE THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR, UH, UH, FOR ALWAYS RESOLVING ALL THE PROBLEMS AND DOING THE BEST THAT YOU CAN. VERY, FOR VERY COMPLEX ISSUES TO, TO SIMPLE ISSUES. UH, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE OFFICE HOURS THIS FRIDAY, AGAIN, UM, STARTING AT TWO O'CLOCK. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I WANNA PUT IN YOUR FRONT BURNER. UH, THIS IS SORT A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH THE TAX COLLECTOR. SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN, THAT'S BEEN, UH, THATCHING, NO PUN INTENDED IN MY EYE HERE, BUT ITCHING, UH, AT THE BACK OF MY BRAIN FOR A LONG TIME. AND THAT IS THE ISSUE OF HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES. SO THINK ABOUT HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES. WHAT IS THE INTENT OF A HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE? YOU HOPE THAT WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY, AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH MY CITY ATTORNEY, UH, WHAT IS THAT? WHAT IT ENCOMPASSES A HANDICAP. THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES. YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL, OBVIOUSLY, AND BE CONSIDERED AND BE THOUGHTFUL ON THAT FRONT. BUT I, THERE IS A LOT OF ABUSE, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYTHING WRONG TO SAY. UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF, IF WE CAN MR. MANAGER PUT TOGETHER A RESOLUTION FOR AN URGING TO THE STATE WHERE WE URGE THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE RENEWAL PROCESS FROM EVERY FOUR YEARS TO EVERY ONE YEAR AND MAKE IT HARDER TO GET A DECAL. I ALSO WANT US WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE STOP THESE, UM, KIND OF LIKE THESE MILLS WHERE YOU BASICALLY GO ONLINE WITH A PHYSICIAN, WHICH IS NOT REALLY A PHYSICIAN, AND THEY SAY, OH YEAH, SEND ME $150, $200. AND YOU, WHAT'S, WHAT'S YOUR, WHAT'S YOUR, UH, YOUR HANDICAP? I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO IT. THIS IS MY HANDICAP. AND YOU HAVE TO RESPECT IT. YOU KNOW, FOR ME, FOR ME, I MAY GET IN TROUBLE FOR THIS, BUT IT'S OKAY, I'LL TAKE IT. UM, A HANDICAP NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS SEVERE. YOU KNOW, A PERSON WHO SUFFERS FROM, YOU KNOW, A TRAGIC INJURY, YOU KNOW, BACK, BACK, BACK SURGERY OR HAS THEIR, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE WHAT THE, WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAD, AND I HAD AT ONE POINT WHERE SHE HAD A BROKEN LEG AND SHE HAD TO HAVE A TEMPORARY HANDICAP, UH, STICKER. UM, YOU KNOW, BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU ALSO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE, WHO ARE DISABLED IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT THERE'S JUST SO MUCH ABUSE AND WE SEE IT EVERY DAY WHEN WE GO TO A SHOPPING CENTER OR WE PARK IN ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, YOU SEE PEOPLE HOPPING OUT OF THEIR PORSCHES, YOU KNOW, OR THEIR FERRARIS, UH, WITH A HANDICAP STICKER. THEY JUST TAKE IT OUTTA THE GLOVE BOX AND THEN PUT IT ON THE TOP AGAIN. THAT TO ME, IS AN INSULT. FOR SOMEBODY WHO SERVED THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND WAS INJURED IN AFGHANISTAN, WORLD WAR II, VIETNAM, UH, I THINK THAT WE CAN DO MUCH BETTER. SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER. UM, LISTEN, MY MOTHER HAS A HANDICAP. MY MOTHER HAS MULTIPLE BACK, BACK SURGERIES. UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS PARKINSON'S AND YESTERDAY SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA, JUST STAGE TWO DEMENTIA. SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER. WE HAVE TO COLLABORATE ON THIS FRONT. UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO [06:10:01] ARE SUFFERING OUT THERE, AND THE PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM. THEY GAIN THE SYSTEM. AND I THINK THAT WE AS A CITY CAN BE A VOICE OF REASON AND ASK OUR STATE LEADERS TO TRULY CRACK DOWN ON CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY. I REMEMBER ONE OF MY BUDDIES TELLING ME WHO'S A, WHO'S AN ATTORNEY TELLING ME THAT 70% OF THE FRAUD, YOU KNOW, UH, INSURANCE FRAUD HAPPENS IN SOUTH FLORIDA IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. I MEAN, THAT'S , THAT'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T WANNA BE KNOWN FOR. AND THAT ACTUALLY IS EMBARRASSING AND SHAMEFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT 70% OF THE FRAUD HAPPENS IN THIS COMMUNITY, IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. SO I'M PRETTY SURE, AND I WAS TALKING TO THE TAX COLLECTOR ABOUT IT, THAT THEY'RE LOOKING INTO IT ALSO. THEY'RE GONNA BE CRACKING DOWN. AND I THINK THAT WE, WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA BE A RESOURCE TO THE TAX COLLECTOR. AND TAX COLLECTOR IS A RESOURCE FOR US. AND IF WE CAN EMBOLDEN OTHER COMMUNITIES, 34 MUNICIPALITIES, THE COUNTY, TO MAKE THE SAME REQUEST OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND CHANGE THE LAWS, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA RUFFLE A FEW FEATHERS. I GET IT. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SO YES, HAVING A HUSBAND WHO CAN'T BARELY WALK FROM THE FRONT DOOR TO THE, TO THE CAR, YOU KNOW, DISTANCE IS AN, IS AN ISSUE, BUT I'M GONNA MAKE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTION. I AM HIS DESIGNATED DRIVER. I DON'T NEED THE HANDICAP STICKER. OKAY. IF HE WAS DRIVING ON HIS OWN, HE NEEDS IT. SO WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE DRIVING YOU THAT CAN DROP YOU OFF AT THE DOOR, YOU SHOULDN'T BE USING, THE DRIVER SHOULD NOT BE USING THE HANDICAP STICKER TO PARK. I CAN GO TO THE PARKING. THAT'S, THAT'S INTEGRITY. INTEGRITY, RIGHT. YOU KNOW, SO IF I USE IT, OKAY, I CAN BE MOVING THAT CAR UP TO THE DOOR FOR HIM. AND THAT'S WHAT I DO. IT'S MY ROUTINE. UM, HANDICAPS, PARKING STICKERS SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. FREQUENCY I DON'T THINK IS GONNA CHANGE IT. IT'S JUST GONNA ADD MORE PAPERWORK FOR PEOPLE. AND I HAVE THE, I HAVE THE HANDICAP PLACARD BECAUSE IF HE EVER NEEDS TO DRIVE IT, HE ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO GET NEAR THE DOOR. 'CAUSE YOU CAN GO FROM THERE TO THE LITTLE SCOOTER CART TO GO TO PUBLIX TO GET A FEW GROCERIES AND COME BACK HOME. SO THAT'S SOME OF THE, THE POINTS I THINK WHERE YOU COULD REALLY SHAVE OFF. UM, UM, A LOT OF THE FRAUD THAT'S OCCURRING, I THINK RIGHT NOW, WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE USING THE HANDICAP PLACARD. UM, I HAD CALLED IN ONE TIME, UH, PARKING BECAUSE I SAW SOMEBODY WHO WAS VERY ABLE-BODIED, UM, PARK IN A LOCATION AND, UM, PARKING ADVISED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT ASK THE PERSON WHO WAS DRIVING TO SEE THE DRIVER'S LICENSE, SEE IF IT MATCHED THE HANDICAP PLACARD. THAT'S A HUGE PROBLEM. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY A HUGE PROBLEM BECAUSE HOW ELSE ARE WE GONNA, YOU KNOW, MAY THEY BE PICKING UP SOMEBODY THAT'S DISABLED. YES, THEY MAY BE. BUT THEN WE GO BACK TO THE SCENARIO THAT I DESCRIBED TO YOU. THAT PERSON CAN PARK REMOTELY AND THEN DRIVE UP TO PICK UP WHOEVER THAT PERSON IS, WHETHER IT'S A CHILD OR, OR OTHERWISE. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF IMPROPER USE OF HANDICAP PLA PLACARDS. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THESE SCENARIOS AND PROVIDE PARKING AND PROVIDE, UH, MORE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE THE TICKETS OR QUESTION WHETHER THE PERSON PARKING THERE IS ACTUALLY THE, THE, THE DRIVER THAT HAS THE PLACARD. SO ON THAT POINT, YOU REMEMBER THAT YEARS AGO THERE WAS THE ISSUE OF PILL MILLS. OH YEAH. YOU HAD PHYSICIANS WHO WERE RETIRING CLOSE TO RETIREMENT AGE, AND THEY WERE ONLINE PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, UH, PRESCRIPTIONS AND IT GOT OUTTA CONTROL, YOU KNOW, AND THEY WERE, THEY STARTED BUSTING, THEY STARTED BUSTING CLINICS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BUY A PRESCRIPTION FOR A FEW DOLLARS. SO THAT'S IN THE SAME VEIN AS, AS WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN REGARDS TO THESE, UM, THESE HANDICAPPED PARKING DECALS WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTUALLY HANDICAPPED ARE GETTING TO THE HANDICAPPED PARKING, DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE, AND THEY CAN'T USE IT BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN TAKEN BY SOMEBODY WHO'S ABLE BODIED. SO I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. I'D LIKE TO WORK THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO ENGAGE IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, UM, TO WORK WITH A TAX COLLECTOR. UH, HE'S THE REAL RESOURCE HERE, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. I WANT TO CRAFT A RESOLUTION OF SOME SORT THAT BASICALLY CALLS ON THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON, [06:15:01] ON THE STATE, OUR STATE LEADERS, UH, TO CRACK DOWN ON THIS, TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE. UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRUE HANDICAPS SHOULD DESERVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE. THOSE DES THOSE, THOSE SPACES ARE DESIGNATED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. ALL OF US THAT HAVE THE HONOR TO BE ABLE TO WALK WITHOUT PAIN SHOULD PARK WHERE WE ARE DESIGNATED TO PARK, NOT TAKE IT AWAY FROM SOMEBODY WHO IS, AGAIN, LIKE THE VICE MAYOR SAID HER HUSBAND, MY MOTHER, WE'RE DEALING WITH REAL ISSUES THAT THEY'RE BATTLING EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. I THINK WE'VE COVERED A LOT OF THINGS TODAY. UM, I WANT TO THANK, UM, AS ALWAYS, UH, THE EMPLOYEES FOR WORKING SO HARD. I KNOW THAT, UM, OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, THEY TACKLED A LOT. THE CITY'S NEVER LOOKED BETTER, IN MY OPINION. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK. UM, I KNOW THAT I TALKED TO THE DCM AND WE ARE FULL FLEDGED IN AN, IN AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEIR, THEIR TRASH DAYS ARE, THAT THEY'RE NOT THROWING OUT, UH, PLASTIC BAGS, UH, IN THE TRASH PIT AND LEAVING IT OUT THERE FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS. I MEAN, I GET THE CALLS FROM THE, FROM THE NEIGHBORS WHO ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT THAT. UH, I KNOW THAT WE ARE PUSHING FORWARD AND ADDRESSING A LOT OF ISSUES, UH, IN THE DOWNTOWN IN REGARDS TO CLEANLINESS, UH, ENSURING THAT, THAT BUSINESSES ARE PRESSURE CLEANING, THAT THE STREETS ARE CLEAN, THAT THE STREET SWEEPERS WORKING. UM, AGAIN, WE CONTINUE TO PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD. LANDSCAPING LOOKS GREAT. AND LIKE I SAID, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MONUMENTS ON PONTON A STREET, I'VE NEVER SEEN 'EM THAT CLEAN. IF YOU LOOK AT THE MONUMENTS ON, ON MIRACLE MILE, ON MIRACLE MILE AND 37TH AVENUE, THEY LOOKED IMPECCABLE. THEY LOOK GREAT. THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO STAFF, TO STAFF'S EFFORTS. UH, IT LOOKS GREAT. AMAZING WORK. UM, AND MR. MANAGER, I KNOW YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE WHEN WE CAN EXPECT TO HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, UH, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ON THE, ON THE COMMISSION. I KNOW WE ARE ABOUT, PROBABLY ABOUT A MONTH AWAY. YOU THINK WE'RE TRYING TO WORK IT AS FAST AS WE CAN POSSIBLY CAN, MAAM. OKAY, PERFECT. I LOOK, BUT I THINK, I THINK WE, WE, WE'VE COME TO A CONSENSUS. OKAY. UM, COMMISSIONER, YOU BROUGHT UP THE PRODO ENTRANCE AND I, I HAD FORGOTTEN TO MENTION IT TO THE MANAGER. THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO'S SELLING A MOTORCYCLE, THEY'RE PARKING IT THERE AT THE PRODO ENTRANCE. UH, AT LEAST ON WEEKENDS. I'VE SEEN IT. I SAW IT ON SUNDAY AND I WAS TOLD BY A RESIDENT THEY HAD SEEN IT THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND AS WELL, UM, ON THE EIGHTH STREET SIDE. SO RIGHT BETWEEN, I GUESS, RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE PARK, THEY'RE JUST PARKING IT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ANYTHING ELSE FURTHER? GOD BLESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT MEETING. WAS THAT 10 MINUTES AFTER FOUR? IS THAT ACCURATE? WELL, NINE MINUTES. THERE WE GO. MINUTES EIGHT MINUTES NOW. NINE MINUTES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. * 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.