Jun 02, 2026 Commission Meeting OLD

[00:00:03]

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MORNING. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU

[CALL TO ORDER ]

[A. PRESENTATIONS AND PROTOCOL DOCUMENTS]

BEAUTIFUL. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU HERE. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND ALL PRESENT HERE. LET'S TAKE A DEEP BREATH. SOURCE OF ALL WISDOM, KNOWN BY MANY NAMES AND HONORED IN MANY WAYS. WE GATHER IN GRATITUDE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE. WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE DIFFERENCES, STRENGTH, AND SHARED PURPOSE THAT SHAPED THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WE'RE ESPECIALLY MINDFUL OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUSTAIN THE WELL-BEING OF THIS CITY, INCLUDING THE CLOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND INSTITUTIONS LIKE DOCTORS HOSPITAL. WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND CARE OF ALL RESIDENTS. GRANT WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT TO THOSE ENTRUSTED WITH LEADERSHIP TODAY. MAY THEIR DECISIONS BE GUIDED BY INTEGRITY, COMPASSION AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD IN TIMES OF CHANGE AND CHALLENGE. STRENGTHEN US AS A RESILIENT COMMUNITY. TEACH US TO FACE ADVERSITY WITH COURAGE, TO RESPOND WITH UNITY, AND TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. OPEN OUR EARS TO LISTEN WITH RESPECT. OPEN OUR HEARTS TO ACT WITH FAIRNESS AND RENEW IN US A SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION, HOPE, AND PERSEVERANCE. MAY THE WORK DONE HERE TODAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING AND FLOURISHING OF ALL WHO CALL THIS COMMUNITY HOME. AMEN. REVEREND, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR BEST WISHES TO YOU, AS ALWAYS, AND TO YOUR CONGREGATION AND WORSHIPERS ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY. I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN. I KNOW ONE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER, BUT OBVIOUSLY, SINCE YOU REPRESENT DOCTORS HOSPITAL, IT'S EXCITING THAT AFTER A FEW YEARS OF APPROVING ALL THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE WORK THAT WILL BE DONE AROUND CORAL, AROUND CORAL GABLES, IN REGARDS TO DOCTORS HOSPITAL, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE NEW SIDEWALKS. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE STREETS IMPROVED IN FRONT OF DOCTORS HOSPITAL. AND THAT WORK HAS COMMENCED AFTER A LOT OF PLANNING. SO I WANT TO THANK THE MANAGER FOR THAT AND HIS TEAM. AND ALSO THANK YOU TO DOCTORS HOSPITAL FOR YOUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS. IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THE WORK IS ALL ENCOMPASSING OF THE ENTIRE HOSPITAL AROUND, BUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS REALLY GOING TO CONNECT. UNIVERSITY BLUE ROAD, GRANADA, THE TWO BRIDGES THAT ARE THERE. SO AGAIN, IT'S MUCH NEEDED. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT EFFORT.

THANK YOU. SEND OUR BEST TO THE LEADERS AT DOCTORS HOSPITAL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO THIS MORNING, AS WE CONTINUE, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE LIEUTENANT COLONEL JUAN CARLOS JC GOMEZ TO MOVE FORWARD AND COME HERE AND HELP US WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. OUR LIEUTENANT COLONEL, JUAN CARLOS JC GOMEZ, IS THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE OFFICER WHO HAS SERVED IN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE AND OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP ROLES IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OPERATION NEW DAWN AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS COMMANDER OF AMERICAN LEGION POST 98 AND IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN VETERAN MENTORSHIP, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT SOUTH FLORIDA. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THAT.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. SIR, TELL US YOUR STORY THAT WE'RE INCREDIBLY. WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF. HEY, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU. AND, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU, CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I COME ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 98 AND OUR 155 MEMBERS THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY DAILY ON FOUR MAJOR PILLARS THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION REPRESENTS. THAT'S NUMBER ONE IS VETERAN AFFAIRS, WHERE WE PARTICIPATE AND ACTIVELY ASSIST OUR VETERANS WITH THE RESOURCES THAT ARE

[00:05:02]

LAST WEEK, WE PLANTED ABOUT 7000 FLAGS ALMOST ON TWO CEMETERIES IN RECOGNITION OF OUR FALLEN VETERANS. AND THEN THIS WEEKEND, WE PICKED THEM UP BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE LANDSCAPING TEAMS KIND OF MOW OVER THE FLAGS. WE CAN'T ALLOW THAT. AND THEN LASTLY, WE'RE INVOLVED IN YOUTH PROGRAMS, WHICH IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT INTEREST IS TO DEVELOP THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE DO THAT THROUGH A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES THROUGH SCOUTING, THROUGH ROTC, THROUGH THE JCS IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THROUGH MENTORSHIP OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY OF CORAL GABLES AND BEYOND THAT, THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT US. WE'RE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM HERE. THERE'S A LOT OF INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THE THE POST LOOK BETTER, AND TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ACTIVE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. AND AS SUCH, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND OF COURSE, COMMISSIONER LARA FOR FOR THE INITIATIVE. ALL RIGHT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE INVITING US INTO THIS PLATFORM WHERE YOU. LAST WEEK WE HAD OUR LAST MEETING. YOU HAD 101 YEAR OLD VETERAN HERE, WHAT IS RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WAS A MEMBER OF OF THE US NAVY, ALTHOUGH YOU SAID HE WAS IN THE ARMY, BUT HE WAS IN THE NAVY.

IT WAS IT WAS NAVY. AND I CORRECTED MYSELF, I KNOW, I'M JUST I'M JUST FELL RIGHT INTO THAT SWORD. I'M JUST MESSING WITH YOU. I, I, I JUST THINK IT WAS GREAT THAT YOU HAVE HIM HERE AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE HIM AS THE MARSHAL FOR, FOR VETERANS DAY. AND I COMMEND THIS COMMISSION FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RECOGNITION OF VETERANS DAY HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO JUST GIVE YOU AND YOU A COUPLE OF COINS THAT THAT I BROUGHT FOR FOR TODAY. IS THERE A POLICE OFFICERS HERE TODAY? NO, THERE'S NOT. I DO HAVE SOMETHING FOR THEM, BUT I'LL JUST PASS IT ALONG TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN I, WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS I'M GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU, MR. MAYOR, THE DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA'S AMERICAN LEGION COIN, AND TO YOU, COMMISSIONER LARA, I'M GOING TO PRESENTING TO YOU A MORE, A MORE INVOLVED COIN THAT HAS TO DO WITH MEMORIAL DAY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I PRESENTED TO SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ON MEMORIAL DAY, AND I'M GOING TO I HAVE ONE LEFT, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU. WITH THAT, I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US HERE AT THESE MEETINGS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN LEGION. AND THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I JUST WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS GENTLEMAN, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, WHAT HE HAS DONE IN REGARDS TO THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS TO BE COMMENDED OVER THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS. HE INVITED ME MULTIPLE TIMES TO VISIT. HE HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED. AND IF I MAY, I WANT TO JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. AND WE DIDN'T REHEARSE THIS. WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

CORRECT. YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SEE THINGS AS WHAT YOU SEE WITH YOUR EYES, RIGHT? IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMERICAN LEGION POST, IT IS COMPLETELY REFRESHED FROM NEW WINDOWS. AND I WANT TO MENTION SIGNATURE WINDOWS WHO PROVIDED ALL THOSE WINDOWS? THEY DID. THEY PROVIDED THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A COST OR FREE. WELL, NO COST, NO COST. OKAY. THIS IS A RESIDENT HERE IN THE CITY, WHICH HAS COME HERE BEFORE AND HAS PROVIDED FREE WINDOWS TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE WHO HAVE A NEED. SO HE'S A VERY STAND UP INDIVIDUAL WHO ALSO DID ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. YOU REPAINTED THE STRUCTURE. YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS TO REALLY SPRUCE UP THE BUILDING, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE. AND AGAIN, IT'S WHAT CORAL GABLES IS ALL ABOUT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL, RIGHT? BUT I THINK IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT. AND THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THINGS WITH YOUR EYES, BUT YOU CAN ALSO FEEL THINGS. AND EVERY TIME THAT I'VE BEEN THERE, THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE POST. THERE'S A LOT MORE ENGAGEMENT, YOUR FRONT AND CENTER, YOU'RE AT EVENTS AND YOU'RE REMINDING PEOPLE. AND IT'S A SHAME THAT WE NEED TO BE REMINDED WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, AND THE SACRIFICES THAT ARE MADE BY VETERANS WHO EITHER PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OR IF MANY, MANY YEARS OF THEIR LIVES TO ENSURE OUR FREEDOMS AND THAT OUR DEMOCRACIES ARE INTACT AND THAT WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND ON THOSE DEMOCRACIES AND OUR CONSTITUTION IS PROTECTED. SO I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.

YOU'VE COME TO VISIT ME MULTIPLE TIMES IN OFFICE HOURS. YOU INVITED ME TO THE POST.

YOU'VE ALLOWED ME TO WITNESS THE CELEBRATIONS THAT HAPPEN AT THE POST. AND I RECOMMEND THAT EVERYONE TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY GET ENGAGED, BUT TO DONATE TO THE POST BECAUSE IT'S A TRUE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THE POST ON ON IN OUR BACK YARD ON ALHAMBRA. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD MENTIONED AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS THAT IT GETS THAT IT GOES THROUGH FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE WE'RE CELEBRATING

[00:10:02]

AND WE DON'T ALLOW JULY 4TH TO COME AND GO. WE DO. WE'RE VERY PATRIOTIC. WE DO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN GIRALDA AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN INSTALL AS MANY AMERICAN FLAGS IN OUR DOWNTOWN. SO PEOPLE COME TO OUR DOWNTOWN, THEY REALLY FEEL THE PATRIOTISM. SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT. IF I ENTERTAIN A SECOND, I'LL SECOND. MR. CLARK, VICE MAYOR, RUNNING THE MEETING, I APOLOGIZE. I WE CAN CALL THE ROLL. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. I WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THIS. I HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH. BEFORE, WHEN I HAD PROPOSED TO GO AHEAD AND PUT THINGS ON, GIRALDA, I THINK YOU HAD MENTIONED TO ME THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE BECAUSE OF HURRICANE SEASON. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, YES, COMMISSIONER. BUT WE WE WE HAVE IN OUR CONTRACT THAT IT WOULD BE TAKEN DOWN AND PUT BACK UP IN CASE WE HAVE A TROPICAL STORM OR A HURRICANE EVENT. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. VICE COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR LARGO.

YES. CAN YOU. MADAM VICE MAYOR, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE WITH. I KNOW THAT I CAN I CONTINUE NOW, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. YEAH. YES. OKAY. I WANT YOUR INPUT. OKAY. AND I WANTED TO COME AND I WANTED TO COME THROUGH THE MANAGER, AND I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO PROVIDE IT. AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GIVE US IDEAS IN REGARDS TO WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCORPORATE THE POST. YOU, YOU, YOU NEED, YOU NEED MORE FACE TIME. I WANT PEOPLE TO DONATE, I KNOW SIGNATURE DONATED. THEY GAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO THEM. IT'S IMPORTANT. I WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR BACK YARD. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. THEY DRIVE BY THAT BUILDING GOING TO WORK. WE ALL DO. WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TO AN EVENT OR GOING TO VISIT A DOCTOR OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING IMPORTANT. AND THEY FAIL. AND I, AND I TRUST ME, I DO IT EVERY DAY. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B, AND THEY FAIL TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S INSIDE THOSE WALLS OF THAT BUILDING, I GET IT. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, DURING MY TERM AS A COMMANDER THERE, WE'VE INCREASED ENGAGEMENT TREMENDOUSLY. YOU'VE ALREADY FELT IT. SOME FOLKS HERE IN THE ROOM HAVE FELT IT. THE IDEA BEHIND THAT IS THAT, HEY, LISTEN, VETERANS ARE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. I MEAN, THE NARRATIVE HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR MANY YEARS, JUST SOME DEGREE. WE'VE TRIED TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE OF WHO WE ARE. WE'RE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. WE'RE PEOPLE THAT LEAD OR PEOPLE THAT ARE ENGAGED AND ARE ARE HERE TO STAY AND LISTEN. VETERANS ARE MADE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW, RIGHT? PEOPLE THAT SERVE THE COUNTRY AND THE ANY CAPACITY IN THE ARMED FORCES, THEY CAME FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY DIDN'T COME FROM ANY PLACE OUT OF THE ORDINARY. SO THEREFORE, THEIR WHEN THEY COME BACK AFTER SERVICE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT CHANGED IN THAT THEY SERVE THEIR COUNTRY IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY. BUT MANY PEOPLE SERVE THE COUNTRY WITHOUT A UNIFORM. AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SORT OF CREATE IS A NARRATIVE THAT SAYS, HEY, LISTEN, WE'RE PART OF IT AND WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE GREATNESS OF THE OF THE CITY, OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF THE COUNTRY. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION. WITH THAT SAID, WITH THIS INITIATIVE THAT YOU JUST PUT FORWARD WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITY MANAGER SO THAT WE CAN BE A PART OF IT. WE JUST DID AN INITIATIVE WITH COMMISSIONER NATALIE ORBIS IN THE COUNTY, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ENGAGE THE

[00:15:04]

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE INITIATIVES THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE ON DISPLAY A WAR MEMORIAL THAT IS WHAT WE CALL A FIELD MEMORIAL. AND IF I CAN JUST BRIEFLY SPEAK ABOUT THAT, A FIELD MEMORIAL, WHEN WE LOSE A MEMBER IN IN SERVICE WHILE WE'RE DEPLOYED THAT SAME NIGHT, WE HOLD A MEMORIAL. IT'S GOT THE BOOTS, THE RIFLE, THEIR COVER, USUALLY SOME TYPE OF HELMET AND THEIR DOG TAGS, WELL, THEIR ID TAGS AND A FLAG. WE PLAY TAPS AT MIDNIGHT AND WE ALL SALUTE. WE HAVE THAT ON DISPLAY RIGHT NOW AT AT THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM. I URGE YOU TO GO SEE IT. IT'S EMOTIONAL. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT. YOU'RE GOING TO BRING UP SOME EMOTIONS.

IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF WRITING TO WHAT IT REPRESENTS. THAT SORT OF THING REPRESENTS EVERY RELIGIOUS FACTOR THAT WE HAVE IN THE SERVICE AND IN OUR COUNTRY. THE DOG TAG TYPICALLY STATES YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OR OR LACK OF. WE HAVE ALL OF THEM REPRESENTED ON THAT, ON THAT DISPLAY. IT'S A GOOD COLLABORATION. IT'S ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, LIKE I SAID IN THE POST, TO CONTINUALLY ENGAGE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND BRING PEOPLE INTO OUR POST THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY VETERANS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A VETERAN TO COME ON IN THERE. SO AGAIN, I WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE CITY FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND FOR ANY INITIATIVE THAT HAPPENS HAS TO DO WITH THE MILITARY OR VETERAN AFFAIRS.

THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER. IF I JUST TWO, TWO, TWO MORE REQUESTS, IF YOU IF YOU INDULGE ME THROUGH MARTHA PONTING AND MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT ME ON THIS. NUMBER ONE, I'D LIKE TO PUT ON OUR NEXT ON OUR NEXT NEWSLETTER, ADVERTISING THE SHOW AT THE MUSEUM SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BECOME AWARE OF IT. HERE IN THE CITY, WE HAVE OVER 30,000 PEOPLE THAT RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER, AND MARTHA DOES AN AMAZING JOB ALONG WITH HER TEAM TO GET THE WORD OUT. AND THE SECOND THING THAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS I'D LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH THIS GENTLEMAN AND THE, AND THE AND THE POST TO SEND A REQUEST TO ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS VIA OUR NEWSLETTER. I'M GOING TO PUT IT ON MY NEWSLETTER. SO I'M GOING TO REMIND LAURA AND THE TEAM TO DO IT. MAYBE WE CAN PIGGYBACK ON IT, ASKING, ARE YOU A VETERAN? LET'S DO SOME HOMEWORK FOR HIM. LET'S MAKE IT EASY ON HIM. WE HAVE A LOT OF A LOT OF CONTACTS. AND IF, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN LEAD WITH, ARE YOU A VETERAN? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE WANT TO ENGAGE YOU. WE WANT TO GET YOU INVOLVED NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE POST, BUT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT COULD BE POTENTIALLY BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FRONTS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE COULD HAVE OUR OWN DATABASE FOR MEMORIAL DAY, LIKE WHAT COMMISSIONER ALLADA HAS PUT TOGETHER NOW AS A FORMAL CITY EVENT. WE COULD HAVE IT FOR 4TH OF JULY. MAYBE WE CAN GIVE THEM SOME BENEFITS IN REGARDS TO COMING UP ON STAGE WITH US, JOINING US, ENGAGING WITH US. MAYBE WE CAN FIND VETERANS TO COME HERE BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS NOT FOR ONE YEAR. I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE DOING THIS ONCE WE EXHAUST ALL OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. WE'RE VETERANS. THERE'S ONLY SO MANY. I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE ROTATING THIS AND CONTINUING ENGAGING THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE WHO HAVE SERVED THIS GREAT COUNTRY. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN USE TO THAT INFORMATION.

OBVIOUSLY, PRIVACY WILL BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT AND OF COURSE, ENGAGE, BUT I'D LIKE FOR THEM ALSO TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE POST, BECAUSE THE POST WANTS TO ENGAGE AS MANY PEOPLE, BUT THEY DIDN'T COME IN AND CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AT THE POST. THE MAYOR, I THINK IF YOU IF I MAY, MADAM VICE MAYOR, I THINK, COMMISSIONER, I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE I INTERRUPTED. NO, NO, THANK YOU. BY THE WAY, I SUPPORT YOUR INITIATIVES AND THOSE IDEAS, AND WE SHOULD TAKE, I GUESS, A NECESSARY RHETORICAL VOTE, BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE HOW IT'S GOING TO COME OUT. WHATEVER. BUT I WANTED TO SAY LIEUTENANT COLONEL GOMES, THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL COUNTRY. THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL CITY FOR YOUR SERVICE. I MYSELF HAVE NEVER SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES, BUT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN AWE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE, BECAUSE, AS THE MAYOR HAS SAID, AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAIS HAVE SAID, THE FREEDOMS THAT WE'VE ENJOYED FOR THE LAST 250 YEARS ARE ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EXTREME AND ULTIMATE SOMETIMES SACRIFICE THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN ON BEHALF OF US. SO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AMERICANS WHO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN THE GREATEST NATION THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN. SO THANK YOU. AND I'M ALSO IMMENSELY HONORED THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER AND GAVE ME THIS MEMORIAL COIN OVERWHELMED.

DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER THIS. MY ROLE, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, IS VERY SMALL, YOU KNOW, TO TRY AND RECOGNIZE YOU ALL. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD. I DID SPONSOR THE WITH THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE ARE NOW RECOGNIZING FOR THE FIRST TIME,

[00:20:04]

JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY'S AWARE. YOU KNOW, WE'RE UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. MOREOVER, IN THE THE GREATER MIAMI-DADE AREA TO HAVE TWO COMMANDS HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THREE MAJOR COMMANDS. IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF THEM, I'M GOING TO HELP YOU. WE HAVE SOUTHCOM IN DORAL, WE HAVE CENTCOM AND SOLCOM IN TAMPA AND IN HOMESTEAD AIR BASE. WE HAVE VERY WELL NOT NOT VERY WELL KNOWN BECAUSE IT'S VERY QUIET LITTLE PLACE, BUT WE HAVE A SPECIAL OPERATING COMMAND DOWN THERE. YOU JUST MET WITH THE WITH OUR COMMANDING OFFICER, TWO STAR ADMIRAL IN THE IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY, NAVY, SEAL TYPE. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE. WE HAVE DISTRICT SEVEN COMMANDER HERE FOR THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD, WHICH I THINK NO, HE'S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. FORMER MAYOR SLEZAK WAS AT THAT CHANGE OF COMMAND. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF PRESENCE HERE. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A FOUR STAR COMMAND IS, IT'S ONLY A FEW OF THEM IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. AND WE HAVE ONE OF THEM HERE IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY. THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF RESILIENCY WITHIN OUR STATE AND WITHIN OUR CITY. IT'S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC BECAUSE THE PRESENCE OF THESE MAJOR COMMANDS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY BRINGS IN NOT ONLY MILITARY FAMILIES, BUT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT SUPPORT ALL THOSE FAMILIES AND THE EFFORTS THAT THE COMMANDS DO. MOST RECENTLY, YOU'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION FOR SOUTHCOM IN THE NEWS BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITY DOWN IN THE AREA OF OPERATIONS, WHICH HASN'T BEEN FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. RIGHT. AND SO THEN NOW IT'S GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND MAYBE WE CAN FEEL EXACTLY WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO RETAIN THOSE FOLKS HERE. AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE OUT OF SERVICE, AND THIS IS WHERE THE POST COMES IN AND TRIES TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY AND DOING POSITIVE THINGS. SO THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THESE TOPICS I KNOW I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF TIME THIS MORNING ARE VERY IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FOR THE RECOGNITION ON THE PATRIOTIC SIDE, BUT ECONOMIC IMPACT INTO OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU ALL FOR ENTERTAINING ME THIS MORNING AND HAVING THESE IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE ENGAGEMENT IN ACTUAL ACTIVITY TO FOLLOW. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM VICE MAYOR, JUST BRIEFLY, I MEAN, BOTH MY FATHER AND MY FATHER IN LAW SERVED, YOU KNOW, IN THE GREATEST GENERATION. ABSOLUTELY. AND THEY WERE CALLED THE GREATEST GENERATION BECAUSE THE THE FEAR THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE, STEPPING UP TO SERVE IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME, KNOWING THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF COMING HOME WAS EXTREMELY LOW. THAT'S WHY THEY GOT CALLED THE GREATEST GENERATION AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS, LIKE YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, DESERVE THE HONOR. SO I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM YOU IN ANY WAY THAT IN CAPACITY THAT WE CAN ASSIST BECAUSE IT'S SOMEWHAT SAD THAT MORE PEOPLE DON'T SHOW UP FOR MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERANS DAY. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE AT THESE EVENTS,

[00:25:02]

THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK TODAY. I KNOW YOU GOT A LOT OF BUSY THINGS TO DO TODAY, AND I WISH

[AMERICA'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT]

JOIN LOCAL TEN ALL YEAR LONG AS WE CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THIS GREAT NATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MARTHA. YOU WANTED TO SAY ANYTHING? OKAY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE COMING UP, I APOLOGIZE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO'S WHO'S ENGAGING IN THIS IN THESE FESTIVITIES. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO JULY 4TH. IT'S GOING TO BE AN AMAZING MOMENT AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR PARTNERS THERE.

THANK YOU FOR THE MANAGER AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. AGAIN, WE'RE EXPECTING PROBABLY THE LARGEST CROWD IN OUR IN OUR HISTORY SINCE WE'VE BEEN CELEBRATING FOR JULY 4TH.

IT ONLY CONTINUES TO GET BETTER. WE'RE ABOUT ABOUT 40,000. WE USUALLY HAVE AROUND 30. SO AGAIN, THESE ARE HUGE NUMBERS FOR US. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT AMERICA. 250 AND WE WELCOME EVERYBODY. THIS IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO ENJOY THAT CELEBRATION. IT'S SAFE, IT'S CLEAN, IT'S WELCOMING. WE'RE GOING TO BE IN FULL FORCE IN REGARDS TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. ALL OUR CITY EMPLOYEES WILL BE THERE, BUT WE WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT WE WELCOME EVERYBODY HERE IN THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN US AND CELEBRATE THIS MONUMENTAL MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE BILTMORE AND TO THE MANAGER FOR THEIR HARD WORK. I KNOW THEY HAVEN'T STOPPED WORKING ON THIS FOR THE LAST YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW AS WE MOVE ON TO PRESENTATIONS AND

[A.-1. 26-1667 Presentation of a Proclamation declaring June 2, 2026 as "Italian National Day" in Coral Gables.]

YES, SIR. IF I COULD TAKE ONE MOMENT, PLEASE, BEFORE WE GO TO THAT ITEM. OF COURSE. I APPRECIATE THAT. IF YOU JUST INDULGE ME. I JUST WANTED, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE. PRESENT WITH US IS TOM PRESCOTT, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BILTMORE HOTEL. HE'S WITH US TODAY. TOM, I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO HIDE, BUT THAT'S AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK. TOM, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION, I WANTED TO PUBLICLY CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER ONE TOP WORKPLACE AMONG LARGE EMPLOYERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

THAT IS A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT. AND IT SPEAKS NOT ONLY TO BILTMORE ICONIC HISTORY AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO CORAL GABLES, BUT TO THE CULTURE THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE BUILT FOR THE NEARLY 700 PEOPLE WHO HELPED MAKE THAT PROPERTY SO VERY, VERY SPECIAL. AND AS WE CELEBRATE ITALIAN DAY, AND I KNOW YOU'RE ITALIAN AS WELL, VERY PROUD ONE, I MUST SAY, AND WE WELCOME THE COUNCIL AS WELL. IT IS ESPECIALLY FITTING TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF CORAL GABLES GREAT LANDMARKS, A PLACE THAT CONTINUES TO REPRESENT HOSPITALITY, HISTORY AND EXCELLENCE IN OUR CITY. SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO YOU, TOM AND THE BILTMORE TEAM. IT'S VERY KIND OF YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND THANK YOU TO ALL. I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT'S VERY EASY FOR ME TO COME UP HERE AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE CREDIT, SO TO SAY. BUT IT'S THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE AT THE BILTMORE, JUST LIKE MANY OF YOU HAVE STRESSED ABOUT THE CITY TEAM THAT WE HAVE AND ALL THE OTHERS THAT REALLY EXCEL. BUT IT IS A NICE ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND RECOGNITION. I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE AND JOKED WITH COMMISSIONER LA EARLIER THIS MORNING THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SO TERRIBLE TO WORK WITH. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE. IT'S NICE TO GET THAT RECOGNITION FOR OUR EXTENDED FAMILY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BUT AGAIN, I DON'T

[00:30:01]

GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE, SIR. HOW ARE YOU DOING? VERY FINE, VERY FINE, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

WE WERE JOKING BEFORE. WE WERE JOKING ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY THE WORLD CUP AND ITALY'S EXPECTATIONS IN THE WORLD CUP. BUT. I SAID I SAID, LISTEN, WE'RE ALL OBVIOUSLY WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE HERE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE UNITED STATES. BUT AGAIN. YOU HAVE A LONG, STORIED HISTORY, NOT ONLY IN SOCCER, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD. AND WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE. AND YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, WHEN IT HAS COME TO INCREDIBLE SHOWS THAT YOU'VE DONE AT THE CULTURAL CENTER THAT YOU THAT YOU HAVE HERE IN THE CITY, FROM FASHION TO DESIGN TO ARCHITECTURE. WE WANT TO THANK YOU. WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE IN THE CITY.

BEAUTIFUL. IT'S A TRUE BLESSING. AND WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL STAY HERE WITH US FOR MANY DECADES TO COME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. SO BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT TODAY IS? YES, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONERS. 80 YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE JUNE THE 2ND, 1946, WHICH MARKED THE ITALIANS UNPRECEDENTED ACT OF FREEDOM THROUGH UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE, WOMEN AND MEN UNITED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, DECIDED TO LEAVE BEHIND THE RUINS OF WAR AND THE ATROCITIES OF AN OPPRESSIVE TOTALITARIAN REGIME. TODAY, WE ARE NOT REALLY MERELY COMMEMORATING A HISTORICAL ANNIVERSARY, BUT A MOMENT OF PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE THAT RENEWS OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING, SAFEGUARDING AND FULLY IMPLEMENTING THE VALUES THAT LIE AT THE HEART OF OUR CONSTITUTION. STATE SECRETARY RUBIO JUST YESTERDAY SAID THAT THE CURRENT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ITALY CONTINUES TO PROMOTE VALUES OF FAITH, FREEDOM, AND THE RULE OF LAW THAT BOTH NATIONS HOLD DEAR.

AND INDEED WE DO. MR. MAYOR, I AM HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY ON ITALY'S NATIONAL DAY, TO RECEIVE YOUR PROCLAMATION, WHICH ONCE AGAIN BEARS WITNESS TO THE FRIENDSHIP AND SOLIDARITY OF THE PEOPLE AND AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES TOWARDS ME, MY CONSULATE TEAM, AND ABOVE ALL THE ITALIAN PEOPLE AND THE MORE THAN 70,000 ITALIANS LIVING IN FLORIDA, MANY OF WHOM RESIDE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THIS SYMBOLISM IS VERY PROFOUND FOR US BECAUSE IT INVITES US TO REFLECT ON OUR FRIENDSHIP, OUR SHARED VALUES, AND THE PATH OF PROGRESS AND GROWTH THAT WE WISH TO CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

COUNCIL. AND BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR ACM FOR BEING A BRIDGE, AS ALWAYS, AND LEADING THE WAY AND ALWAYS REMINDING ME WHERE I DROPPED THE BALL ALONG WITH IT. ALONG WITH THE DCM. SHE DESERVES A LOT OF THE CREDIT ALONG WITH THE MANAGER FOR TODAY. ESPECIALLY FOR THIS, IF I MAY. WHEREAS THE CITY'S RICH ITALIAN INFLUENCE IS REFLECTED IN LANDMARKS SUCH AS THE HISTORIC ITALIAN VILLAGE, 17 HOMES CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1920S. EXCUSE ME, I APOLOGIZE. WRONG SIDE. EXCUSE ME. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. YOU DON'T WEAR YOUR GLASSES. WHEREAS ON JUNE 2ND, 1946, THE PEOPLE OF ITALY VOTED IN A HISTORIC REFERENDUM TO ESTABLISH THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC, MARKING A DEFINING MOMENT IN ITALY'S DEMOCRATIC HISTORY. COMMEMORATED ANNUALLY AS FIESTA DEL REPUBLICA REPUBLIC DAY, CELEBRATING THE ENDURING VALUES OF DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM AND NATIONAL UNITY THAT HAS INSPIRED PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES SHARES DEEP CULTURAL, HISTORICAL, ECONOMIC AND DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH ITALY, REFLECTED IN ITS MEDITERRANEAN INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE, VIBRANT ARTS AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CONNECTIONS, AND THE MANY RESIDENTS OF ITALIAN HERITAGE WHO HAVE ENRICHED THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO CIVIC, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE. AND WHEREAS, CORAL GABLES IS HONORED TO BE HOME TO THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF ITALY IN MIAMI, LOCATED AT 4000 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, WHICH MANAGES ONE OF THE LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING POPULATIONS OF ITALIANS, ITALIANS RESIDING ABROAD IN THE ITALIAN DIPLOMATIC NETWORK, SERVING RESIDENTS AND INSTITUTIONS ACROSS FLORIDA, THE SOUTHEAST, THE CARIBBEAN AND BEYOND WHILE FOSTERING CULTURAL EXCHANGE, DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, TRADE AND FRIENDSHIPS BETWEEN ITALY AND THE UNITED STATES. AND WHEREAS CORAL GABLES SERVES AS AN IMPORTANT CENTER FOR THE ITALIAN CULTURE, EDUCATION AND COMMERCE THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE, ONE OF ONLY SIX OFFICIAL ITALIAN GOVERNMENT CULTURAL OFFICES IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH I MENTIONED BEFORE, DANTE ALIGHIERI LANGUAGE CENTER AND THE ITALY AMERICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOUTHEAST, ALL OF WHICH PROMOTE ITALIAN LANGUAGE ARTS, TRADE AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING. AND WHEREAS THE CITY'S RICH ITALIAN INFLUENCE IS REFLECTED IN LANDMARKS SUCH AS HISTORIC ITALIAN VILLAGE 17 HOMES CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1920S TO REPLICATE ITALIAN FARMHOUSES, PROTOTYPES. EMBODYING THE VISION OF FOUNDER GEORGE

[00:35:03]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO THE MAYOR. YES.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE. I THINK IF THERE'S ONE COUNTRY THAT CORAL GABLES HAS THE MOST IN COMMON WITH IS ITALY, BECAUSE OF THE STYLE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADOPT FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF ITALY, THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THANK YOU FOR YOUR ALL YOUR CONSTANT PARTICIPATION HERE IN OUR CITY AND LA LIBERTA E FRATERNITA NOSTRA VIVA PER SEMPRE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO.

[B.-1. 26-1610 Regular City Commission Meeting of April 14, 2026.]

[C. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

THANK YOU. FIRST SPEAKER, THIS MORNING, MARIA CRUZ.

MRS. MARIA CRUZ 1447. MA'AM, CAN YOU TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE, PLEASE?

[00:40:02]

SAMANTHA GASTON. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY, AND I APPLAUD THAT. YOU ALSO LOBBIED STRONGLY FOR AN INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR OUR CITY, WHICH I SUPPORT AS WELL. THEREFORE, I'D LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AN ISSUE ON TODAY'S AGENDA, WHICH REQUIRES THAT YOU REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH YOUR PUBLIC STATEMENTS. ITEM E 1261629 IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION BY ONE OF YOUR CHIEF POLITICAL CONSULTANTS, BRIAN GOLDMEIER.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, YOU AND MR. GOLDMEIER HAVE ENJOYED A STRONG POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP FOR MANY YEARS AND BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL. YOU HAVE BEEN ELECTED AND REELECTED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND MR. GOLDMEIER HAS BEEN COMPENSATED EXTREMELY WELL FOR WORKING ON YOUR MANY SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS. IN FACT, SINCE 2024, BETWEEN YOUR CAMPAIGN AND YOUR PACK GABLES, FIRST, YOU HAVE PAID MR. GOLDMEIER NEARLY A QUARTER OF $1 MILLION. OF COURSE, THERE IS NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT HAVING A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, AND BOTH OF YOU SHOULD BE COMMENDED ON JOBS WELL DONE. HOWEVER, IT DOES CAUSE THE EVERYDAY RESIDENT TO QUESTION WHETHER YOU CAN IMPARTIALLY EVALUATE MR. GOLDMEIER APPEAL TODAY, AS MUCH AS AN INDIVIDUAL CAN TRY TO REMAIN OBJECTIVE, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE TO EVALUATE A CASE LIKE THIS ONE AND NOT HAVE SUCH A STRONG AND LONG STANDING RELATIONSHIP IMPACT THEIR DECISION MAKING, EVEN IF IT'S SUBCONSCIOUS. THEREFORE, MR. MAYOR, I ASK THAT YOU SHOW OUR CITY THAT YOU TRULY ARE ABOUT GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY. I ASK YOU TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, AND I ASK YOU TO RECUSE YOURSELF. REGARDING THE APPEAL BEING MADE BY BRIAN GOLDMEIER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE ON, MR. CLARK, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WOULD YOU

[00:45:04]

YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ASKED ME TO TO PROVIDE YOU AN OPINION ON WHETHER YOU HAD A VOTING CONFLICT WITH RESPECT TO THIS ITEM, ITEM E1, AND BASED ON THE FACTS THAT YOU PROVIDED THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY HAD A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP, CONTRACTUALLY, YOU WERE IN A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH AN ENTITY THAT'S, YOU KNOW, OWNED AND WAS FOUNDED AND OWNED BY MR. GOLDMEIER. YOU ADVISED THAT THAT CONTRACT HAS CONCLUDED THAT YOU CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS OR ANY BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. GOLDMEIER OR ANY ENTITY THAT HE'S ASSOCIATED WITH. SO BASED ON THOSE FACTS, I ANALYZED IT UNDER VOTING CONFLICTS, UNDER STATE LAW. AND THERE'S NO ACTUAL VOTING CONFLICT UNDER STATE LAW.

THERE'S NO ACTUAL VOTING CONFLICT UNDER THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CODE. ANY SUGGESTION THAT YOU WOULD BE ENHANCED BY THIS ACTION IS REMOTE OR SPECULATIVE. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL MATTER, THERE IS A QUESTION THAT ALL OF YOU MUST ALWAYS CONSIDER, WHICH IS, ARE YOU CAN YOU BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL OR ARE YOU BIASED? THAT'S A QUESTION THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONER HAS TO DETERMINE FOR THEMSELVES. AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE ADVICE THAT I GAVE YOU, THAT IF YOU CAN REMAIN FAIR AND IMPARTIAL, THEN YOU CAN PROCEED. THANK YOU. I DO NOT HAVE A BIAS ON THIS MATTER, AND I WILL I WILL NOT BE RECUSING MYSELF, BUT I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MOVING ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. EXCUSE ME. THE NEXT SPEAKER. GONZALO SANABRIA. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. GONZALEZ-SANABRIA. 944 SAN PEDRO AVENUE IN BEAUTIFUL GABLES BY THE SEA.

I'M HERE TO POINT OUT WHAT I CALL POLITICAL MALPRACTICE BY ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, COMMISSIONER ARIEL FERNANDEZ. AND I WANT TO RECALL SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MR. FERNANDEZ HAS SAID FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. WHY PUBLIC CONSUMPTION IN NEWSPAPERS AND INSTAGRAM POSTS? LET'S GO TO ONE, MR. FERNANDEZ, THAT YOU MADE ON FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025. YOU SAID THE FOLLOWING.

AN OP-ED IN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER. THE SUBJECT OF THIS WAS, QUOTE, THE POLITICS OF INTIMIDATION HAVE NO PLACE IN CORAL GABLES. YET. A LITTLE LIKE A MONTH BEFORE THAT THIS HAPPENED. AND PLEASE PLAY THE VIDEO THAT I PROVIDED. POLICIES ARE PUT INTO PLACE AND I'LL RESERVE MY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS. BUT, MR. SANABRIA, YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM MY ATTORNEY IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS REGARDING YOUR COMPLAINT, WHICH WAS A FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINT FILED WITH THE ETHICS COMMISSION, AND WE WILL BE PURSUING LEGAL CHARGES AND LEGAL FEES. WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR COMPLAINT. THIS IS MADE A MONTH BEFORE THIS PROCLAMATION THAT THE POLITICS OF INTIMIDATION HAVE NO PLACE IN CORAL GABLES. BUT I GOT SUED BY MR. FERNANDEZ. ON JANUARY 14TH OF 2025, AND YOU MADE THAT PUBLICLY CLEAR IN A COMMISSION CHAMBER SUING AN ACTIVIST BECAUSE THEY OBJECTED TO YOU HIRING AN UNQUALIFIED CITY MANAGER THAT HAS NO BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE OF RUNNING A CITY. AND I WILL MAKE THIS VERY SHORT. I'LL GIVE YOU A QUOTE FROM THE YEAR 49 BC. THE ROMAN GENERAL SATANIC IN A BATTLE ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE, TOLD CAESAR THE FOLLOWING. HE SAID THE FOLLOWING THREE WORDS. HE SAID ALEA IACTA EST IS A FAMOUS PHRASE THAT STILL LIVES TODAY, AND IT'S VERY APPLICABLE IN THIS CASE. AND IT SAYS THE FOLLOWING WHEN IT'S TRANSLATED, THE DIE IS CAST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CLARK. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING ON TO THE

[D. CONSENT AGENDA]

[00:50:01]

MR. MAYOR, I BELIEVE WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DEFERRING J. ONE, WHICH WAS TO AMEND. A COMMISSION MEETING DATES. UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NO LONGER NECESSARY. I DON'T KNOW IF THE COMMISSION. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION. OH YES. OKAY. PERFECT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR OVERALL THOSE ITEMS. DO WE NEED A MOTION OR. NO? WE'RE GOOD. OKAY, PERFECT.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL LISTEN TO ITEM E ONE. BEFORE WE HEAR E ONE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR EXCUSE ME JUST ONE ITEM FIRST. I THINK IT WAS THE THE SCHOOL ITEM. ITEM E 11. IS THAT STILL REQUIRED. MR. CLARK TO YOUR ITEM YOU WANT FIRST. NO NO NO YOU YOU CAN TAKE 11 IF YOU WISH. OKAY. WE'LL TAKE WE'LL TAKE WE'LL TAKE 11 FIRST. THANK YOU.

GIVE ME A FIVE. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BATHROOM BREAK AND THEN WE'LL TAKE 11 AND THEN WE'LL TAKE E ONE AFTER. THANK YOU. SEE ARE THEY GOING T? TIMES ARE. MR. CLARK. YES, MR. MAYOR, LET'S GO. ALL RIGHT. IT'S 1005. WELCOME BACK TO THE COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE PRIVILEGE JUST TO TAKE A QUICK BATHROOM BREAK. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FEW THINGS OUT OF ORDER JUST JUST TO GET SOME THINGS DONE QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IS WE'RE GOING TO GO EIGHT, SEVEN E 11, THEN E ONE. MR. CLARK, LET'S START OFF

[H.-7. 26-1647 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award RFP 2026-011 Disaster Debris Removal Services to the three (3) highest ranked responsive-responsible proposers in rank order: Ashbritt, Inc., (Primary), CrowderGulf Joint Venture, Inc., (Secondary), and Ceres Environmental Services, Inc. (Tertiary), pursuant to Section 2-763 of the Procurement Code entitled “Contract Award”.]

TERTIARY. PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-763, THE PROCUREMENT CODE ENTITLED CONTRACT AWARD.

PERFECT. MR. CLARK, DO WE HAVE ANY STAFF PRESENTATION? WE'RE GOOD. THERE YOU ARE. WHY DON'T YOU LOOK VERY NICE TODAY? THANK YOU. I LIKE THAT COLOR ON YOU. THANK YOU. BEAUTIFUL. GOOD MORNING. CELESTE WALKER HARMON, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER. THIS PROJECT WAS ISSUED ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC WORKS SO THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH CONTRACTORS TO PERFORM DURING AN EMERGENCY OR DECLARED EVENTS FOR THE CITY. WE HAD THE EVALUATIONS TAKE PLACE, AND WE'RE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE THREE HIGHEST RANKED PROPOSALS TO MOVE FORWARD FOR CONTRACT AWARD AND NEGOTIATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ALREADY ADDRESS ANY ISSUES WITH LITIGATION. YOU ADDRESS ALL KINDS OF OBVIOUSLY, BACKGROUND CHECKS, INSURANCE. YES. ALL OF THAT STUFF THAT WE ALWAYS GO OVER. I KNOW YOU GET TIRED OF HEARING IT FROM ME, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENT ANY COMMENT FROM THE COMMISSION? ALL RIGHT. MR. MR. CLARK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. CAN I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. PERFECT. MR. CLARK. I'M SORRY.

WHO MADE THE MOTION? THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ MADE THE MOTION. COMMISSIONER CASTRO.

YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES, COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR

[E.-11. 26-1569 A Resolution of the City Commission granting an amendment to a previously approved Conditional Use (Resolution No. 2016-140), with all remaining conditions of approval to remain in effect, pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-203, “Conditional Uses,” to allow a private school use with educational instruction from kindergarten through fifth (5th) grade within an existing day care facility, with no increase in square footage or student capacity, on the property legally described as the East 12.64 feet of Lot 3, all of Lots 7-45 and alley lying between, Block 35, Coral Gables Section K (320 Giralda Avenue), Coral Gables, Florida; including required conditions; providing for a repealer provision, providing for a severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (05 20 2026 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 7:0)]

[00:55:03]

PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. THANK YOU. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL PROVIDE? TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. PRESENTATION. I DON'T KNOW. OKAY, WE HAVE IT. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. SO TODAY I WILL EXPLAIN OUR REQUEST FOR THE PROPOSED KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM AND HOW IT FITS WITHIN OUR CURRENT SITUATION. SO GIRALDA PRESCHOOL IS REQUESTING CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL TO MODIFY THE CURRENT CHILDCARE PRESCHOOL USE TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM TO OUR ALREADY EXISTING FAMILIES. SO. LET ME. SO AS PART OF OUR CONTINUED GROWING SERVICES, WE ARE SEEKING TO INCLUDE A KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM WITHIN OUR EXISTING APPROVED CAPACITY. THIS IS NOT AN EXPANSION OF THE FACILITY, BUT AN EXPANSION OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE FOR OUR EXISTING FAMILIES. LET ME SEE. I THINK I. OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.

THE OUR OUR KINDERGARTEN WILL HAVE. WE HAVE AN ENROLLMENT OF 96 STUDENTS WITH 16 TEACHERS AND, AND THREE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. AND OUR CAPACITY. APPROVED CAPACITY IS ONE 174 STUDENTS. SO WE HAVE A HUGE GAP BETWEEN THE 96 STUDENTS AND THE 174. APPROVED CAPACITY. LET ME SHOW YOU JUST FOR YOU TO KNOW, WE HAVE AN INDOOR PARK BECAUSE WE ARE IN AN URBAN AREA AND THE KINDERGARTEN WILL BE LOCATED IN OUR EXISTING ART ROOM THAT HAS A TOTAL AREA OF 436FT■!S. WE HAE ABOUT THE PARKING. WE HAVE SIX DESIGNATED PARKING SPACES AND ALSO IN THE BUILDING THAT IS THE GRAND PLAZA. WE HAVE 305 PARKING SPACES FOR THE RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL. ABOUT THE TRAFFIC, THE TRAFFIC FLOW. WE HAVE TWO SCHEDULES THAT ONE THAT IS PART TIME FROM 730 TO 230 AND THE FULL TIME THAT IS UNTIL 6:30 P.M. AND MOST ARRIVALS HAPPEN FROM 830 TO 9.

THE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM WILL HAVE A SCHEDULE OF 730 TO 330, BUT THEY HAVE TO ARRIVE AT 730 SHARP. SO THERE IS A LIKE A SEPARATION, ENOUGH SEPARATION BETWEEN THE SCHEDULE FOR THE PARENTS TO ARRIVE. ALSO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT MOST OF OUR PARENTS ARRIVE BY BICYCLE WALKING OR OR EVEN USING A STROLLER FOR THE KIDS BECAUSE MOST OF OUR FAMILIES LIVE, LIVE WITHIN 1000 FOOT RADIUS OF OUR SCHOOL, WHICH ALSO HELPS MINIMIZE THE, YOU KNOW, THE TRAFFIC AND THE CONGESTION. AND WHEN THEY PICK UP AND DROP OFF THE KIDS. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME. NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM DIRECTOR. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? POWERPOINT, PLEASE. WILL YOU WILL YOU PLEASE SIT DOWN? YEAH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. SO, AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE GABLES GRAND PLAZA. MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IN BETWEEN SALCEDO AND LEJEUNE ON GIRALDA AVENUE.

SO IN 19, SORRY, IN 2016, THE COMMISSION DID APPROVE A DAYCARE IN THIS LOCATION WITH THREE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. THIS IS GOING TO AMEND THAT AND EXPAND IT TO NOT JUST BE A DAYCARE, BUT TO BE A SCHOOL, BECAUSE ONCE YOU HIT KINDERGARTEN, YOU HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED A SCHOOL PER THE STATE LAW. SO THEIR SCHOOLS ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF OF THE GABLES GRAND PLAZA DEVELOPMENT FACING GIRALDA, THEY ARE STEPS AWAY FROM SIX PARKING SPACES THAT ARE IN THE GARAGE IN ADDITION TO THE GARAGE SPACES AS WELL THAT ARE USED FOR THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL SPACES. THERE WAS LETTERS SENT OUT TO THE OWNERS AND THE

[01:00:04]

DOES THE COMMIN HAV TS ORUGGESTNSR AN YTORING U ON MAY I HAVA MOTWMAKE A SECOND. SECONBY THE VICE YOR. MR.LERK COMMISSNERNDEZ. YE.

S. CSSIONER CO. YES. DAY. GD LUCK. THANK YOU. MOVING ON T IM ENE THA

[E.-1. 26-1629 An Appeal to the Coral Gables City Commission from the decision of the Board of Adjustment on May 4, 2026 approving an application for a variance to allow a mechanical equipment for a swimming pool to have a side setback of one foot and nine inches (1’-9”) and rear setback of two feet and seven inches (2’-7”), where a minimum of five feet (5’) is required on both side and rear, per Section 3-308.D and Section 5-606.4 of the Coral Gables Zoning Code for the property located at 722 Aledo Avenue, legally described as lot 8 & W1/2 of lot 9, Block 134 Coral Gables Country Club Sec 6.]

[01:05:07]

ACRDINGLE RESPEFUY TERMATIOT VOMMISS LD BE GRA, BUT THE REVE T REQMENTS FOR T UNDAMPEERND RICTIVENAN TNKYOU ROURE ANCOATIM VICEAYOREMBERS OF THECOMMISSI SE ATRN. I SITH THE BY OFDJTMENND IS MY PLSURE TE RE TODGIOU A SUMRY OE BEFORE U.EIT TOEY EXPLAINED, IT WANT GOVETHE THREE PR, E PRS,HE TAL MPETENT EE, THERE ACAF HERD ADJUST ONWI L 13THFTER A FDISCUS,HEMAS DEFERREDO 4TH INRDER T PLORE ALTERVE OPTIONSE PLACEMENY WA ALLO S.SRSOMTEUBANAL TEN ANDT BLS WL HEICAN. ATTY.XCME.YEMRS E AND AS THEPPLICANT'SY MEIOD, THE BOASIDED E E CONRATI F A RICE IN TH CITY' ZG DE.LTEL THE BOARDDEED THAT THEPD N AEEITHE CY, THATLD ENSURE THATMILAR AUSCAL A WONSLLE THE SND OF0%FORHEURRENT, MAINED ANY PRER OWN A MTIED, WE SAT A THAT PROPER DID JOB. ANDWE'REER ANGIT LLYEGALIA FROMHE ZIN STF TO AR AUEIONS IF HAVNY.HA Y VERY MU. THANKOU. M C, DO YOU VE ANYUBC MMENT? YE MR.AYOR YES.IRSTSPEAKEAN CRIN THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMNT? IYOUKE DURTI IT.I SHLDE MENON Y PUBLIC COM AND'R SPKIBOUTHEAME E AIOU WIL NOT BLLOWED . YOUNEITE OF GAESN RENCE TOTHEITY OF COR PREVIO PUBC MMTHAT ADS. DO WE H AES R? IT'S INCA,50 MIN AE,PARTME THE R SO , SH DN'ET OK. ANTO MAKE SU THATAN IEVER M WITHERWHUL HE MES MOVING I REGAR T BL CNT FIRST SPEER I HAVHI MNI. I DO NOT HAVEAM B I FROM THE GNATURE I. I BIEVEO BE VIRGINIAIR GOO MORNI ICANS REQ. DO YOFLYBJ TO E ORD,LEASE?H,T' 71 ESCOBAR AVE YOU I RLL OBJECTE VEHE CAUSTIC ENCLO NDIT THAWASTTD T THEARNCE APPVAL. THE RI WASRAEDNLYFT EPPLICANTIMSEPOSE THE ATI ERE A MEAN OFING E A IMCT LOCG THEOOL EQPMT WN THUIREDSETBACOVINEONTII BU OTH NEIGHBONG TY OWNERO PCT THRUI ENJOYME AND QUITIFE.E LID OV YEARS BD. 722 ATO 7 EAR AVEEL EQPMENTOISE W HPL HWNAS APPLYG FO A VARIAE,ONYPPOSED SINCE HELATEDHE FE FOOT THE SE,RRATINYAPPY PR,HICH I HAVRERDGF. NT DOORNEIB LUTIONS THA WOULD MIM AND AND A ACOCLOSUREANENT CETE AATERFALLTWATERGER, HEAR AL ARE ALL SITTETHE LEIO ANDANENTCRETE WALUL HA C THEARUSOR SOLUTION TETTEMITTED THEOMEOWNER TRD O ADJUSEN HEDG ASIGATN. TWO MEETG, MR.ODRIEZUSHE S A PTOA RANDO OU ELOSU C TO RE,ED AM I D JUINH ITP. YOU CAN TAKTAKE AEW L WOD ADDRESSHE POOLP. ISAUNG AHE NSE MOR WEHED FOR A NCL ANDE WENHAPPY WITH JT ANCSTN TH ANY VE SHOULD GRAND A THATT OU G BACK THAT HEHOULD BSTOPFORBJECNE SILE SOLUTIOE PPODND TH RED OED TCOMMISSION TO DENYHA D SDTTO T BOAS WHETHHE MITIGAILCTUAY EFIV, , RADDIALITA YOU. DANIELOWENTH ELLE FNTND I'VBEMORNG EVEONYE IS ESCOBA W ARE HEREY 7 THARPPL,OOLEQT,QUIP TTOET COMYHS RE FE OT SETBACKTHIS ISOT ALL OR APPROXELYIGEETY VE FEE AA.NCLUDES CHANIS A PL PUM VISUAL UNATTRAIV AND I LGE, WFA ACE IS AIA.FFOER KIHANFD AT WE' SY EOA OFUSEN M ONAYTH, MISS FRAND ASKE SN TO MIGA THEOI,E WASST BY THROOF PROOFIN CER LLANSTTNEY A HAIL AD BY TOARD OUNYCI ON IT.

OWHA TO APAL TO VNCWITH NDITIONS ILWAYSCOLIITE CIT RES DUIMENTWHEN NOTIYHENHIS CLOS TO PERTY OL OF SCKREQUIREN,T RAISED AN WHILE OTHER CAN RWARDS IMPNTLY CST CAREFEVIEHE AL P I SRTEDHE CODSTRDND RND PEIT F THEOOL RATN.A SHOWED THEQUNTOCED

[01:10:08]

WENDER COMETEATN, INUDING SUBSTTIL CONSTR A EXTEN ACCEPT T ANT PASEDOANCI ELFOR 3 MIL.OR TH LISTI ITSELTASTNOENAS SPAREH, GHTING NS HIGH THK U. I AOST. AFTESND, YO GONO. PROPTYHE AELNT NOW ES THE CIAEH CALCULATGHLYVER AAL MIL IN RATNT HEOULD AD THE TION OTH POOL EQPMENTO COMPLWITH TCIES ID N DE ADJU,NDTAINSNTLED VARIANCE WITH CONDIS. ILMOST DONE. HE SHOWS TOTISRDOR HIS NEIBO, TOTALRET TITUL AND W T A MOCKE THE FINANCIA HDSHIP. TRUALFOU I THEO APPET'S, OND FOR ARELOCATEHE EIT COMP WH EITYITULES LIKE A THE OTHER RESEN.

YOUE GONE OWO MINUS. THANK YOU MR.LARK. SI MORNING, VICMAYOR.

L. MYAME IS ALBERT SANCH. I LIVE A 619 CILO AVENUE, YEARS. LE TO FUS ON SSUE THA IMPTS EVERY ISUR CY C'MDENT, AND THAT E CERTA THAHEATJO OFUR RENTS HAV DESIATOM'M QEQST APEIT.IVISTOCA ACCUOM TOUMNG TGH US HOOPS ORDO H AMI APPVED. A YES, AT TIMES RUIMENTSEEM EXCEIVY ONE.ET RE THEING DE BEE THEY ARE T BACKBE R CYDEAIFUL I MANYAYS. VIEW ING DES DNA OF OUR CITY. A IMPL CONTRACHRE AER HERI C ANDHEY HAVEN IMPLIACWITH EI NGHRS, A SONND F. AND I SOMEO N'ERTO IMPCIT RACT HAVE THE CY M TO TASEEFE ICH TOERT UE WITE VERLEAR RUIREMENTT BOTH DECONND THEN AN IS ADM TT HEDID NOTDHERE TO N E R THINGROM E OET, VARIANCE AND JUSG I BY HOWEVES COMIOSSHI WE ARENOMI HARDSP CONTIOR VIANCE.

ONUS OFDHIN TAN AP PT I AS. EVALDIGHT CTISSWELL LAIDUT R THN D ONHELUATYST ARE OBJECTI EXPTS RICE. THEREFO, O REUL A T COMMIN DENY ANY TE OF VNCE, O WHONDITIONS. DOI SOL UPHDY STA SUPPOTHELICIT DNG CORACTT ERY NEIGHIN CORAL GLE H WACH HEOIOELAIN RITY'NI DNTAC ANOU. THANKOU, M MAY.

OK, SO IANT TO I JUSTAN PUT ONHE RECOR THINK SPEAKERSN OPPOSITION. A EPEAK BLEWOUGH ONE. I WTO BEAIR. WAST AD TBERTUL. BOU HOWDOT M N' ADHEREO THEUINES RE TE, WAN TO PUT LLING GTIOM MORTH AND ALOUTHLE OETINGS, BUT IS IS EXTEND.ESES T FTHAPE E PEOPLE SGUT ISES THAT,INMY ION, D'T KNOW THEPEAKG ABTSS EY HAVE TOPEAKVERY SI I. SO I THINK THERE'IN THE'STHINIT'SMPTANT. BT ERAHECKWE ASKEOTO ADHER TO T I GUESS IONLY GOOR ME, BUTOTOOD FOR AO MO OO TM, ITHER Y IE PUBC MMT? NOINELSE OKAY, PERFECT WE'LL CLO T PLI CMENT.

ES THE CSSHAVE ANY COENTS DO THEY HAVENY QUTIONFORFF? WOU YOU LIKEO AR ANY FURTH INATIOORHEOR YES. DAMD THEE TO TWOMINUTESORUBLIC S FOR FOR T MATTE Y ERAS A PCERAER FOR TH MATT WASWO MITES NCET'S TEON J TWO MIN ERE WAS NOBODYAS OOEM SPEAK ANDE NOT. AND IF IAY, IS IS THIS IS NOTNG NEW. THIS IS THE WAY NOALLYS.RECT, MAY PILLFOR ESE I JT WANT WT TOE VERY CLEAR B BEE THEMIIONES BEEN ON THE CMISSN FOTHREE YEARS N. ANISS NOTNGFFERT.N IT S, FHEPPEA.KAY.ATTH F THEPPEALSE . SO THEN AND TTH OTRHI TI S, HADSO CONCERNUT WHIE Y PMIT. YEA WHEN. WN WE APP FORERMI AND A VA W P ATP TO DATE, IT TO BE UP TO CODE,VENHOUGEE PO OHATER T CASE I IN.E SOIEOT GRAFAER NOON PRORT Y NE T COMPL WIT WHAR WHOUHY WOULD,MOST UP ABLE COMPLY? WOU THEY NOT?AIE THE N RS WOU N BE ABLE TOMPLY WITH T L COITIOAUSE THE WN BILI O DEVELOPNTALDIBITIES. CANO HER HAT? YEA TT W TH CONCERNT THEY EXPRESD TO US WHEN WE AISED THEM OF THE RULINGF THEOARD.

WE BUGHTOHE THE COIONS UHICH AN WASRAED T ANDTTYSREED SPIAL NEEDHILD AND SY WOMND SHES MAINNC REQUIRENTERE ING CERAN THE COVENAUNSH E LFOVE SO AS LS SHES HAPPENTO THE T TIME THATHERE SEI M ST TRY FINE,BITYO COMY WITH TT NNECON T HN, W PRESSEATT'NSSUERM. O THETHER TN.

S ALSO A QUOTE FROMMECHAL NSERDN G TO E CY,GOIN TO REDUCT BY. RIGHT N

[01:15:05]

AN TASO B MEASU FRHE OTHPERTY,HE PROPTYHAAININGBASILLY. RIGAN THA KINDFHE POINTFHYE' APALING. TENT IELWO RUIREODENFOE VE ATIME T NGHBOR, OH,HINK I HRA HA CE IO THEACKY AN SAY O IEEDO GASURE THE E AMAW DB THE 5 REDON CA THA WOUWE ST GOI TGHS CONT PROCESSIT WIT ST ONEF THENS ATUPND SD, WELL, BALINE DECEL RNG FOR LIP. AND TN BE AE TOO INTO TH BACAR ATHEGHR'SEQST TOME I A,NDEASU HER IT'STILL A0% REDUCT ISETHING THA REYS TT IF H MED OULDTE RUIREO PAONETAL AN ACOUSC FENCE, SHRRY, ANYTHND ANYO WHO THINKST T FFN THE NSEEVD BY T NEIGHBOTHBA' UNABLE TO TNK THARIOHAWE'R AIN F MMOD WE UNDERSTAND WE THINK THERE NO PUBLIC BENEFIO F T CT TO ME THOOMENT THAT WA THERE HE HTHE OPTYIGHT WE'RE NALIZING HIM CING IN SEEKI P T IMPEAVERSUND HIOOLANU YOOESONCTIO THROUSE,IG. WRE PEZING HIMORIN TH POOQUIPMENT W TI ATH TIME. S WHILE 'RE WSTD IT AT'ANCCOMDA. WE'REQU EC GRANT THE MAR. Y HAVOMET YOU'D A DIFFERENCWHEN YOUEN SETOESN'TK LKING ABT PCHND NSE BEE OF THE PITCHNDOI MYEIGHR'S AIR CONDIG INGAS O,ND TT'S 55FTWAY F THE FROF MY HOUSE. A IOUEAR THAT AS WELL SO TWOT I NOT G TOAKE DFEE. WHAT N'T THE RECORD, ANDKES IT DFILE TH DECEL OF THI WTS EQT CPA TO, Y KNOWHE NEX DOO NEIBO UIPMEN TECORDMSO BE SENTNHA ISHE A THE POO EIPHAT'QT, BUT CAN TOU STALLED AND W PTT AS REV SOME OTH LATESTOOLQUNT AVAAB AND TSE LATEST PPS ETERHANVIOUS OL MPSTALLROD TSTHERE? I'T HAVN ACT N BETIPUTED TO ITAT KNHE BNGCROSS THE BSE T M HOUSE YOU L ASEPLACE AND OE WAS REPCE IT WINE.

MEAN I H A VEO WCH I WAT AOWEDUT IO TH RE. I HAV VEO TT I NT T T T THEIT RNEY THA SWS LOUD IT ISD TH ITALKS OVER TOEGHBOOOLIP EQUIPMENT THAT EXIES. SOIONN POL MECHANICSE LIKE PL PMENTS. D JUST FOR E RERD T VIDEOS AT WER SUBMITTEDESTERDAY WERE NEW TESTIMONND THAT'S WHY TY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECORD BEW. THE EXTENT YOUWANT TO SETHI JUANT TOCLEAR TT THEY WERE NOT PART ROR BELOW, A TT'WH TY WE INIALLY PON AG SIF YF Y WA TO SEEHEM, YOU'RMO PARTHE RORBELO Y.Y WERNO MEANICAL EQUIPMENTINUDING PO EQUNT ADDRESSED BYTHNG CODE.A OFD. PHAPS WE MEON FRODEVEENSE WNOWS T OH, HA IT.O ODOVIDES THATN SGLE FAMILY THHOSF 1P.M.ND30 ONTEN WEEKDAYS ESSTILY THE MAXIMUM SOU F F AN NSE ISIVE BE ABOVEIENT SND AT ALL OTHER TIMES S F E TT'S TEN DELS A AIE SOUND WE'RE TOPUTEHAT 60D BELOW TT LEL W HAVE TO LL A FIN BLDING PERMIT THIS MATTER.NE OF ZO AVAL,ALONIN AL W IS CONTINGON AVING THISARIG COM ATSTAYS BEL THE BEL.. SO TH I T C SOHEVE T COMPITTHAT. CORREC WE CAYOU WANT TMA THAT MO SFIC. BUT TYLREA HAERYOAS COMY THT D WE AND WT E POOL EQUIPMENTOULDN'T TE HE HAS A YNG CHILD, 'M SUR TY US I JUST AS A ANYORMAL RESIDENT WOUL IHIHEE RYATENIGHHELD UNG NOISES A LOUDER LATE AT NIGHT AN THE ARE DING THEAY, BECAUSE YOU' GOI TO H EM MORE OFT. I'VAD DEILED CONRSATION WI OUR ERENT TYPESF MERVECLHAT YOON'T E EMG TH D, BER ERINOU TY BEC OFSES. ION TNK RHT, IN A WAY TH'S TOE A CONCN IS PROPE DUAVE

[01:20:01]

IT'S MEARED FRORTYURED F U AND THE ZONG DICT WHEND AFFECTEDITE OUNIT I CADLL APPLY T PROPERINOFHENDOM TEA ED UT. Y C MESSAGFR O CENT EMADAMIALL T PP. 00 EVEHT. IS TONIPMENT AT MEOR THATANY. YES,ON A T. I GUAM VICE, ANYTHG ELSE?OR GOOD O O?ANNE ELSOMMINER LANA, THROH THEOR?. ALL AND, MR.ODRIGU, YOUW,EIONS 'VKNOWN EACH O F MAN YES.M YOUR ME AS VICEMAYOR INIAE ALWAYSYOU IN HARD.ANK YR. IHAVEI WOULD CONRDYTH TOO EIPNT NOW. WE'REING ISOING TBE WEN OWNER CURRENTUAONHERE WE'R L AT THE PICTURE ITAFF PSENTATN , IT S LST TWO FT AWAFR WHESURIL THEACTULY IS BECAUEROPEY LIN IUS ADJAO, I'T KNOW IF CANULL UP'S PRTAON.HERE WEREVER RIGHT. TT'WH I'M SAYG. W WERE REA TSE CILST'S T THE. IUNDETAND TERPTNE ENCE. I'M SINGHE AND I ME CKWO E KN, YOUNOW, AND I NOT AMAJOR DIO FEETACK, T FEET THE SIDE,WHICIW DIFFERENCE.HAIS.NDGUS QSTIOOR STF, WHA IS E REQUIRE AT'S BEI PUTAR ASHAT D ED TO BEMPMENT REENANCEING FWA IS T A PRECTST?T IS TT' MEET THE APPLICANT COEQIN AOVTRUING WH LAND, A S D TOE MAINTAINED TGHOUT NGTH O USETOO DHAURNTOCIO SO THHE BRDUIHE COVENANTT ENSURHAT SIMAR ACOCAR IT DOE'TAVE TO BEHEONEAINTNETHE PROPERLL TIMDHA OVER MAINTAINUCTION OFIBELS. DON'T IFS THE C TERM REN NDF 50%,TAILS OF HOW ITAS TN E DRAFTE WASEF THE PROPERWN A AND OFFICE TOK O AFT T S THAT IWO B APPLICANT AN FFYTHERE BIG WE GO BA THE COMMTION FMFFASMPLETEENIAL. F M, TTY POS, WEE THAT T IDIN HODAY, 'S VERY DIF FOR ME SAY, KW,OU RS AREEI EDS AFF THEDECISI BHE BRDEVEN REMANDIN BAC TO BOA HE A VIA SHOULD HA BEEN ACCEP ALL, BSEWE ARE IIN AN UNDUURDEN T DIRECTNEIGHBORS OFHE CEPT MR.ND I UNRSTAND, YOU KW, Y DID NTIOTHATSS WAS AEXNGO NERSP. THEY HAV A STED TT TH DEI ILLEY? N THERE WASN' A ER'S DISOSURE. A ERN'T BEEN VIOTION,ISED,IENRCHN EY W HHAD HAVECFORMING.

BOUT T ORDINAN COSIONER FERNA BROHTE N ? I JUST WA TO LEAR FOR THE RERD TE PR IC CERTHEY NFF PROFTHE VENTTHAT WA REQUIREMOF O E TNGNGIGATN TO UP BY THE BOD. JTO BCLEAR. AG FL ACLY,H. SOU'RE TT E HGINGR ON AALL. MEANS TO H ON THAT. SF OULD IMPLYT AT THAMA SENEA, THE, T UNDSTANTHEYAYOT HAVE WHEN YROERGT,NT, BUT YORENG TO HAHI YOU'RE HAVINNN THE HBHOOD COMNEF I MA THESTEETI THATE DN TH W IN APRIL. PUOMNTSAME UPND THE SAME UP A SPO AGNST THETEM. BOA TO D THE ITEM FON MTHO A TIME O H AGRNT B MEEDRY DAMPENROFFER REIRING A CCRETETRUCRE PL EQUIPMEWHH IT WASP THE IN WHETHHA WASVE ALNDERHEER WEUT AONCRTUAROUHAT AAN AN ATTEM TRYND R AMICABLE SOLU. WEROFFERHE PMPOV UPTHATOI.

TYERE NOT IN FF TH. THE T. THENHEBOD DECED TET D WITHPEALAINTENANCEIREN AALSTINGS NE BUTN GENT NC THEUTUR BER.SO THAHY WE W HAA ISSUEIT THE COVT WITHTHEONS ATEO SEND. S AING EL? O STFETEMENTS. LES SEEE CAO CKFORT I TNKHEHET RE I FMEDLE GROU W TO YOUR KNOWLED D'DE IFURY TO C CE UP HE. AL WAS TO YOUNOGE WITH PVI EQPMT, W I THIE N L S WITH CONE THATOLMENT I MUCH. BELS, NEWIPMENTUN

[01:25:03]

W ANALOGY. Y'R OBVLY G ITE A LENERGYSE. Y NO VLATI AND WE'REHATGRECTOR THK WED EAY GUREE OF TSI T HE IS THE ME GRND. WHY IEENGING HAVEN'T D E PVILEU SEEINGAND NONE OF TH MMISSIERHAVE THEITYEYAS. C WCH T ERED I REGARDS TOO O DEAKING.'M PRETT TT I GOI OLOOPUMP TUBO A HE FM5, TENWAWHEVBEAT WHYALL OFN ISSUE TOOL P THAT'SIG QUESTIO S N IC N ME, BEENGHT UBY OTHER COSIERST . SO NOW THEEWWNER, OER TT OWNER BE, GO IAND, NOW CALL CODE ENFOR ON TH INEGARDS TE OLP ANDOTO HAV A THE OUNDOF DOLLARSREPLINL R P EQT.S WHAT YOU N'T NTEE ICO GA. S ILDE S AT VIDHIT'S RT'RMOHAN AS W MENONED,T JUSTNO FRHE ROROW THAT,UT SH TO TREVIOURDUT THEACTTT HEVIN EV TDE COMMTI ION'T KNOW WHIT WAS SWN. YE, WA NOT PROD TO THE BOADJUSTM S N RE T DEBATE WHETHETHGENTLEMAN,HT INSTALLE EIP O H DINS THE ENT INE SETCK. THAS ALY ENIX BTHE CE THAT S ANTED BY PVIOUS EV B, DHAS ING CONSIDER BYHE COMMIS THINK WE HE WECOULD HAVE. TUIO H L ACCEPT STAYS OHE COVEROULD STAAT THE C ERPETUITY. THE NOI POOLMENT THE'S WE NET TULAON O T UITR HAVE POF TT D RIGHT N S THA VIOLATI A Y HAVES PROS THAEWEQPMT INSTA ON E ACKECSE HEASLY TUIMSE INHEN PREDERMIOORRECT E PVI OWN VLATION WHICH WAS N A V,UT E ILLEGAL ACT OF INSTAING A POERMIUSME, L IRECT O? CCT. OKAY, SO N GDEEDOE UISHEDHERE, RIGHT?I CORO W TRE WEE TO FD A POCS ASIDE AND, CAN IVERN THIS? HOW CAN WDELIHIS? IT GOING TO THEOOLUM VECOMESFF,ECAUSE . BUT I TNKTVERY DIENT WCH ESTU MNTANCE SETNGE NER SEENEFE.EVER SEEN VEN PPEAL FIVES,AT RUIRES PTUALV NCAR A HITTHATIERTAIN VELOPE HASOAY INTO THEBL TRUSTER WHETHE ISRAICMING,, WH THAT MA BE. W PRTS, CAN MITING MAKE SURAT IMP ISLEENED. SO INE IS IS Y RSONALT I,AT LAND I A IS 4O 5,ORGABL.T S RE ON TH GAESHEALABOUN E OPERTYUE IRE AND FO ANDHATIND O ISE SO B THESER TOR TTHAT IFET LIN R C AND ONCE THEY SIKE CASHAWHY THEY'R LEAOUSEIGW THO CELEBTE THE FT THAT THEY SOLTH PPEORE AN W THEY BOUGT R? THATT'S WHAT HHY CIT TY AE OMTHAT.TO OUR THAT'S RLLYULD EBEONSIDED. A IT' MEG TH W SULDN TALK ABOECAU DAY IGS ARENGO SELL GOG TOT TO SIT A 'DTO PFF, I'BLN. WTOEC AS ST. AS YOU CELL, WE THEY'RE ING MAHAVEE HAVE IUERE OBVISLY, TT TOVER STAYS VE TT, YOUNO WA I WORK AS NEIGHBO BAU WORKITH THECOE IGS ANDHATE DOHI LLEGIATSFUAY THAT BUAL L N TUT HE OESO HE M MTA BGH. AH THPROPERTY, BUTS N A 'S NOT AACTOR.E'OTAN EEER.S NONO HE'S NOTAWR. HE'S T A W, YO KNO CCK SEF A PUMP.NDT, BY TAND W CAN ALL YANL, BECSE T EY'RNOT CHE LT OF CERTA TS. KN, THEREEY'RE VY CAREL. TDO TEE P SPECTIONS, BS BO SEF .ANE ESSE TOEE INDUSPOKE BE RSI THEAN CYO EXPMADAMITY RNTH PROHAWE HE.ONT O Y THAT I'M T BEG SO, CLOSED PUBLICOENT.THERE S ANPPORTUNITYNDOU'VE CLOSLIC COENT.T IS ALYS UPO YOU, T IF WANTO TAORE.YOU. B WE DO NEHAWET MMENT HERE IN THE CIT RRECT? CORCTYOR. T D MOVE FWA. AREOUY REACH MDLE D WI MFFERR. MOR? IENTUT I'M SINES. AND E COVENWAS THNE THATEMENT. MAINA WAS REAL BOTNG HIM. OY. ANDNAL CONRN IANT YOTAUTTI THELEAES UNDERSTD IT,HN PERPETUAL, YOUNO IMAGE HING TBE AH. THE GOVEMENT A PROVIDE YE DOCUMT.LEGIVE YOUXAMPLE. I AS RORT CEN,UTOUR AND NO GOINGNTN HERE BAUSE THINK I D ARIVATEY THATOES SINESSERHE TO PRE YEARLYORT, A LY REPOR IN GARDO ST,OW MANYENS THA TO TT MNIDE,UT THINKTHAT THAT'SE AVY ED. D WE DOT WANT SOBO W'S, WHO'WHOWNS

[01:30:05]

DON'T WANT DAIYOUR CONVSA. YOU CANLWS A FRLYNDNTF Y LIKE.

NO, ,O, IT'S ACALLYTA QUESTION E RD A LITEIT BTER. S BOTHHELICANT ANDO C ATEYTORNEY, WHE EVER AAINT ONHE ISE VIOLATIETBAOLATN AT Y TIME O E APPNTEENG THEPE?OMIO MM I MAY, I ASK THST F SONDS A TH WIVEWER WAS N S INREING. I'M N A MMON.HAT'WHY.

MMISSIONER, IED WITO AD FQUIPNTOR LET'S Y TEN YEARS, DON KN I DON'T KWHE AMOT OFIME. ITASYEOLD.OLT MAE NOE. NOI.WAS NOT TENOLOYAND AIT ODAY.OU ILLRAEW ENRCEM VTIOT OVERAN THE YEA R IDENILY WTED TO KE THT CAUSE I THINK, YOUW, JUSTA IO AM WA T UERANTHATHASRELY ON, A I JT MPLAIN AT LEASTOTNHERECORDF ANYR TH EQUHA THEWITH RPE TO OPER, HLREADYAD ALDN TH AT THA AO,IGHT RRT. THAT' NO.ND WAS RESIDEH RESPEHEAIYNY SEACK, V OF COUOF F IAC DTION TITYRIO TH Y KNOWLEDGE, NO,ND TO MY CLIT'SNOWLEDGEOU THAY.NE SON SO P IT IN MOR, PUT M CONTT, WT I' ASKING IS TO HEECISIONITH NDITION REME COVE.RE YOUKAY WITH THATM OKAASONAS HE GETSO INSTALER. ANE AHAT W PROFFERED ATRD WAS AER THAT DUCESHEOUNDY 50 IUST NT TO MAKE SITAUSE NOW I COLUESO FINEH ATRENTIS OKATH IT, I LE TO MOVE ON. Y, COMMISONER. OKAY. SOHE THEICE YOWAS WAS SAY, SH I STARTEDHINKIN DON'TKNOW HON THIS DAIE A POON OURHOME.AY'M D. I TN OFY PU. I N'T KW H T YOU OF IROY ONIM,,N THOULDN'T, AM. T IS WT SD. YKAY.WELL, GUESS I'MT OFRG YEAH. SY, M ALLY QIOS WE C NTHE NSE AHE TE PETI OF PQUNT ESAL WHEN AOME BEING HOMEOW GOE AHEAD AND S NTLT.HE ONLWAWE CAN GHT? BECAUES MHE HOOW ISNG T COLY, BU WHA GUAEE TH FOLLOEOER IS GOIN TOOMPLY AN THE OAFR AT GNG? THAS NEVEEN ASENNTIOT. AT NO POS DINC I. THI WA BNBACKSS.D TRGUM WASOMYI ALL.ER AND IT RLLLDAT BE NEGLIEECTN WH NEIGHBOTHEK HEG. TWO FTAY AND TWO FEE ANOER W RIGHT CNCE IG TOPOINTHE S HAVOMWITH 'S THE T CRNGAINHEOISE THES THEE IN WOU GUARAEES THAT TSOVERSOI STAYR CTAIN AUNT OFRI, EVEF E HE THEOARDF ADJENTSAS ACIO ENOH TORAHIS RICE.ON TNKT' THISENHEGO AHEAD A HOUSEOR T REASOYS T GAHAND MOV TOFF TOA BEFOR WE KE V YEAH, I N TO MAKE SOME ADTIONAL COMMENTS. A I BEE BASE U WHAT M DOESN BOTHER UNTIL TH BEARI G ANDALD OL PUM BECAUSEIS INDEEDNAVNO NEIGHBORSR THE'S ABOUTWINWS, TO. NS EST FANST WE XCESSISE, AND ASON TEREAKG EXSSE NOI AINAS BEUSE OE BEAS I THE. EVEN THOH IWA A NEWFBEARIN,AD,HR WAS LACK O,ACK OF GRSE BNSLLATION, REVERBATING A BLOCK AWA TH'S WHA FORVE SCE IS IOU'RE CPLIANT WITHTHE DECIBO ALIE A BADEARI A GNG CAUSET SQUEALS. IT'S L VERY BAD OKAY, RECNIZE I BEE I HAD A FATR O WAS A MHANIC,N ENNEVEL.

EN TY'RE BAD BAUSE ITEING I ANDO DIURBS MY S. ITISTURB MY DOG SLEEP, ITS ENTIRE NGHBORS ANYI SOOROVERSUBSNCE. T ISSUE HS AT THE NOI DECIBEL LEL S.E HNO RORDT THHE DECIBEL LS EXCEEDEDHAT THE CODE ALOUD A EROPEYINO I YE FINDING ONF BOA BASUPOMTENT, SL EVEN,ND THE EVIE IS NOTRE TO SPORT THA NDN E ADEFICI RECD.UT W COVON SY ON COVER PEANENTLY. THEHAO BE NG MAINTENANCE. WHE Y'ROEAKENFF REG, YOU KW,IOUS THINGS MAINGCHNG THEETTINGNN TH

[01:35:06]

VI MAYOR ANDSO ON THENCE OF ITION O E RECOR AS TOHE NESTYFOR RNG CM IO CNT N AHEAD ARE YR M IENT CO. AND AOVAN IS E LY W TGO AAD HEO, BSE THE'SD, ICANNOT BE HEO GOG FFENT HONE. SO YES NO. LET ME EXPLA TU AT XTOVE IS AERY SPLNE.

EN THE PROPERT CHAES HAN EER INSED. IF THE MEATELY. NOW WVE AOENILL BE OBOUECAUSE ON ROR HERE WE STHAT E NEIBORSOOL AOAK EXESE.ND AVIDE TT A PUBLIEC TTNEE HANYDSF THE PELEE OOVCH PLIC RDS AN US T BGSOW WE HAVE ECT WHAIAS NG TAVOID.HAVE IGOR ONEHBORFLIC IT HY HOW MY CENANLIKEHESEAVOUVA CAIVE AANSWERO FSTNEAT'VEEEN.AI THAT. I DKNOW THAT THAT S THEREAVBEEN NAS A SCI SITUAT, SOMETIT STIC PROPERTS OR EVEN ERS REASONABL CONTIONAND OS AREO ME MEMORIALIZE AVENA BUT IANGIVE MY, M IT A LI BIST OTHATNO BUTA ATOKN HAVE YOU ER PFORM COVENANT KES?VERY I HAVBEEN HERE3 YEARS AND IAV Y T SE ONE THAT REQUI DENTIAL HOME THATUIRES AEROVENT WHERE CY CANTEP OU OPER AAY THIS IS TRE'SOISE, THHY WE FOEMENT WILL COME OUT ANDDREUE W DEMENTERE IN THE CY OF CORA?HY?O WE HAVE A CODE ENFORMENT RTNTE INTT OF THE CODEORMEEPARTMTS TOE SURE, JUST E HAVESPTIONS,HEE A SBA IPECTIO WHEREDYOAVTHPECTSD EYOR, I SAYAPANT IS BUILDG TH LLG STRRE, AND MESHE SETTADS A PER THE ZINGVA IF WRE N GNGSTTIALRMMERCIHECKAN. PLHESEOVENAN T ERY NG RESIDENTIIGHBOROD'RE GOIO BEN AUATION WHEREHY CODE ENFORME, THE INND COD ENFORCEMENT,S SUE WITH THE NOISE AND M CRNOW BSE NOW HAVE ONHEOR AND I WA TO BE V CAR, US IT B AINSTE TEON THEGS. DT UPULTIPLIM BEFORE WE ENKE ABOT HERET E ORASL PP SNCREDI LOUDND PEEC F NODALLE COORNT ANYE. AND

[01:40:04]

[E.-2. 26-1557 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending the City Code, Chapter 2, Entitled “Administration”, Article VIII entitled “Procurement Code”, Section 2-607(24), Exemptions; Section 2-685, Competitive Sealed Bidding (formal bid); Section 2-688 Small Purchases; Section 2-689 Sole Sources Procurement; Section 2-690 Sole Source Procurement; Section 2-691 Special Procurement/Bid Waiver; Section 2-763 Contract Award; Section 2-764 Approval of Change Order and Contract Modifications; and Section 2-910 Resolution of Protested Solicitations and Awards - Formal in order to amend certain approval thresholds; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date.]

COMMISER. FERNA. Y, COISONER LA. YESVICE TH IS RDCEEREE EAYOR.

[E.-3. 26-1394 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 74, "Traffic and Vehicles," to create "Article X-Personal Delivery Devices and Mobile Carriers" to impose certain safety and operational requirements for personal deliver devices and mobile carriers consistent with State Law; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)]

DIAZ. I THI TD IOFF, I APOLOGIOSÉ F DIAZ, CORALS, FLORI.N, VICE MOR THOUGHTFULL, WT TOOMME PA B THE CITYF MON A MODELT WAS BU TSON TSE ROB CRTE THAT CREU A STA STATEWA ATIDE FRAMEOR HOW TH RS UL BE DD TOTATE WH TTAM AREEMN TT CONTROLD THY T LOCNMENTS ULD THEM. AND WHA EEMPTI. FES O TWIT T BEEE TMI BEAATION MIL POUR. AMIEAIN SLY LOOKED AT CTG THE SPEED SIX KNOW, SPL THEBEITHTHTA SRYAXIMU, WHHSILESER H AND LAND O EIL PERR.

THCEOR GRACIS OUOEAS O. WEOULDLY A TT YOU COIDER MMEG TAT HARD ITS UT AEN BACUHAE TE,WE HOL Y W CONSIDER

[01:45:02]

EDONNUE WIHO BUT TOMIAADVEEMWE FEEL IS SUBSTANTIATEESOO FAR FROMVEROBOTICS, OUTTE IAB ZOO YOU.HA YOUIR. TT' IAT'ST.O'M JUO ADDKA BAUSE I DID HESOME CVERSNI ME, OUR CY DSN'T A BILLARDS. T A CONRNS OUOU KNO ENFORCEMENT BEFORE THIS IS IN EFFECT. WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS IF THERE'S A CONTENT NEUTRAL BAN. AND YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IT'S MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IF WE START PARSING OUT WHAT TYPE OF SPEECH IS ALLOWED OR NOT ALLOWED. SO I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU. BUT RIGHT NOW, THE BIGGEST ISSUE HERE IS THE FACT THAT THESE ROBOTS DO NOT YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS. THEY DO NOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. THEY COMPLETELY BLOCK THE SIDEWALK AND EVEN WHEN THE SIDEWALK IS IS WIDER, THEY STRADDLE THE CENTER OF THE MIDDLE. SO THERE ARE HUGE ISSUES, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LEGISLATION LIKE THIS. HAVING THE INNOVATION TEAM MAKE THESE ROBOTS SMARTER SO THAT THEY DO NOT POSE THE LEVEL OF RISK THAT THEY DO NOW. AND THAT'S PART OF MY HESITANCY TO ENTERTAIN RIGHT NOW, INCREASES IN SPEED, BECAUSE IF YOU ADD THE INCREASE IN SPEED TO A VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREATER POTENTIAL FOR INJURY. SO LET'S CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.

LET'S LOOK AT THE TECHNOLOGY AND SEE HOW WE CAN DO BETTER GOING FORWARD. SO I'LL MOVE IT FOR THE MAYOR. ONE SECOND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. HAVE CONVERSATION, COMMISSIONER.

YEAH. I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR WHEN IT COMO EN ICOMES TOIGGE ANDRYSTCTOLS, L

[01:50:01]

I'LL SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM. AND TWO MILES PER HOUR IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU THERE THAT MUCH FASTER. I WAS JUST LOOKING IT UP AND IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE. AT TWO MILES PER HOUR. BUT AS THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES AND ARE ABLE TO MODULATE THEIR SPEED AND STEER AWAY FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK AND NOT OCCUPY THE THE ENTIRETY OF THE SIDEWALK AND CREATE A BARRIER FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, CHILDREN, PEOPLE IN STROLLERS, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN MOVE ERRATICALLY.

THESE ARE HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A PAIR OF LARGE DOGS AND THEY'RE SWEET AS CAN BE, AND THEY CAN KNOCK OVER A CHILD. OKAY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. THESE ARE HEAVY VEHICLES. THEY CAN KNOCK OVER A CHILD. AND IF THEY'RE NOT YIELDING TO ADULTS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO YIELD TO CHILDREN. OKAY? SO WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE TECHNOLOGY TO SEE WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE IT. AND AS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES, WE CAN MODIFY THE ORDINANCE ACCORDINGLY. I'M TOTALLY OPEN TO THAT. TO THE MAYOR. GO AHEAD.

YOU'RE THE MAYOR? YEAH. I WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENT SUGGESTION. I THINK WE SHOULD DEFER THIS ITEM AND PERHAPS HAVE A PRESENTATION TO THE COMMISSION WHERE WE CAN SEE THESE ROBOTS IN ACTION, BECAUSE I'VE HAD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE IN THE VICE MAYOR.

I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN A SIDEWALK WHERE I'VE BEEN WALKING, AND AS SOON AS THE ROBOT REALIZES THAT I'M THERE, IT STOPS. IT DOESN'T CONTINUE MOVING. IT ALLOWS ME TO PASS.

AND THEN IT REENGAGES. I'VE BEEN IN AN INTERSECTION WHERE YOU'VE HAD MULTIPLE OF THESE ROBOTS TRYING TO CROSS THE STREET, AND THEY'VE LINED THEMSELVES UP TO CROSS THE STREET AND ALLOWED SPACE FOR ME AS A PEDESTRIAN TO CROSS THE STREET AT THE SAME LOCATION, HEADING IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION. AND ACTUALLY, THEY ALLOWED ME TO GO FIRST. SO I WAS ABLE TO CROSS THE STREET FIRST. THEN THE ROBOTS FOLLOWED ME ACROSS THE STREET. I THINK IT DOES NOT CAUSE US ANY HARM TO HAVE A PRESENTATION WHERE WE CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SIX MILES PER HOUR VERSUS EIGHT MILES AN HOUR, SO THAT WE CAN VISUALIZE WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE ACTUALLY IS BEFORE WE JUMP TO LEGISLATING. AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LEGISLATE HERE.

TALLAHASSEE FINDS OUT ABOUT IT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE PREEMPTED ON ANY CHANGES THAT WE WANT TO MAKE ON THESE THINGS. THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. AS FAR AS THE ADVERTISING, I REALLY HAVE NO ISSUES WITH WITH THE ADVERTISING. WE HAVE CABS THAT COME INTO THE CITY WITH ADVERTISING ON THEM. WE HAVE BUS BENCHES IN SOME AREAS THAT DO HAVE ON THE MORE. THE AREAS WHERE THEY'RE ALLOWED. WE'VE ALLOWED ADVERTISING ON ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS, WHICH ARE PROVIDING A SERVICE TO THE CITY. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I AGREE, THERE IS A SERVICE THAT IS BEING PROVIDED BECAUSE FOOD DELIVERY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA CAN BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, BECAUSE MOST OF THE DELIVERY SERVICES ARE EITHER ON A MOPED OR ON A BICYCLE, WHICH ARE ADDING TO THE CONGESTION THAT WE HAVE IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. THESE ROBOTS ARE ALLOWING FOR THOSE DELIVERIES TO BE MADE AND TAKING THOSE VEHICLES OFF OF OUR STREETS AND CREATING THE CONGESTION, YOU KNOW, JUST ON THE VALET AREAS ALONE, YOU SEE THAT SOME OF THESE DELIVERY VEHICLES ARE TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK. THEY'RE CAUSING TRAFFIC TO BACK UP. IN SOME CASES. YOU SEE THE DRIVERS PARK ON MIRACLE MILE ON THE STREET NEXT TO THE PARKED CARS, GET OFF, GO TO MAKE THEIR DELIVERY AND GET BACK ON THE CAR. SO THERE IS A SERVICE THAT'S BEING PROVIDED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THIS ADVERTISING LOOKS LIKE JUST TO SEE. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PREEMPTIONS FROM TALLAHASSEE ON WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT REGULATE AS FAR AS ADVERTISING AS WELL. SO THERE ARE PROTECTIONS THERE. I UNDERSTAND THE VICE MAYOR'S

[01:55:05]

AND I DON'T I HAVEN'T SEEN A BUS BENCH THAT WE HAVE ADVERTISING HERE IN THE CITY YET THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY BOUNDARIES. I KNOW THAT WE USE THESE THESE VERY WELL PLACED KIOSKS, ONE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL AND ONE ON ON MIRACLE MILE ON THE CORNER OF MIRACLE MILE AND PONCE IN FRONT OF THE REGIONS BANK BUILDING. BUT I'M NOT AWARE, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IF WE HAVE IF WE HAVE AN ACTUAL ADVERTISEMENT ON BUS BENCHES HERE. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT HERE IN THE CITY. SO COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S COMMENTS ARE, ARE NOT, ARE NOT ARE NOT IN LINE WITH OUR STANDARDS. I ALSO WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT WE THAT THEY WANTED TO DO SOME ADVERTISEMENT ON THE TROLLEYS. I WAS ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THAT.

WHILE THE CITY OF MIAMI MAY DO IT, THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE FOR THEM. I DON'T HAVE ANY. I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH ADVERTISEMENT WITHIN THE TROLLEY OR WITHIN OUR PARKING GARAGES AS YOU DRIVE IN, FOR EXAMPLE, INSIDE AS YOU GO UP THE RAMP. I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT, BUT ADVERTISING IN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, THEN FOR THAT, LET'S MONETIZE IT AND MAKE REAL MONEY. LET'S PUT BILLBOARDS ALL OVER THE CITY AND THEN THERE'S A TON OF MONEY TO BE MADE THERE. I THINK IT'S A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT. BUT WE DO NOT HAVE BUS BENCHES. SO DON'T DON'T WRITE EMAILS, DON'T DON'T SEND CONCERNS. WE HAVE NOT GONE THAT FAR YET. NOW. IN REGARDS TO THESE VEHICLES, I HAVE CONCERNS OVER THEM AND I'VE MADE MADE THE COMPANY AWARE. YOU KNOW, THERE HAS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF OF ATTENTION TO DETAIL. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY EARLY ON, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY THIS IS THE VERY EARLY DELIVERY OF THESE ROBOTS. SO, YOU KNOW, THE KINKS ARE BEING WORKED OUT. BUT WHAT I'M HEARING FROM RESIDENTS IS THAT THEY CONGREGATE IN CERTAIN AREAS IN MASS QUANTITY, WHERE AGAIN, THEY BOTHER THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY TAKE UP THE SIDEWALKS. AND IT'S A ROBOT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY THEY DON'T HAVE THE JUDGMENT THAT A HUMAN BEING DOES. WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY COMING IN A WHEELCHAIR OR A BABY STROLLER, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A LEARNING CURVE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, DO WE KNOW OR MR. MANAGER, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE ROBOTS CAN BE DEPLOYED? WHY DO I SAY THAT? FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE SCOOTER, IN THE SCOOTERS THAT WE HAVE APPROVED HERE IN THE CITY, WE WE I REMEMBER WE APPROVED THAT LEGISLATION. WE HAD LIMITATIONS IN REGARDS TO HOW MANY SCOOTERS WE APPROVED. AND I THINK IT WAS LIKE 100 OR SOMETHING SCOOTERS PER COMPANY, I THINK, OR 75 OR SOMETHING. AND THEY WOULD GRADUALLY GO UP IF EVERYTHING WAS IN LINE AND THEY CONTINUED WITH A MAINTENANCE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCOOTERS, THEY ARE CONSTANTLY ROTATED. MAN AND HIS TEAM DO A GREAT JOB. AND I THINK THAT WE'VE REALLY HELD THEM, YOU KNOW, A TIGHT GRIP ON THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE SCOOTERS LIKE YOU DO IN OTHER CITIES THROWN ALL OVER THE CITY. THAT WAS AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MATT, 7 OR 8 YEARS OLD NOW. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. AND HOW MANY SCOOTERS DO WE HAVE IN THE CITY? THEY CAN HAVE UP TO 300, BUT THEY'RE NEVER NEAR THAT AMOUNT. AND IT'S ACTUALLY THAT AMOUNT IS NOW SHARED WITH SOUTH MIAMI, WHO HAS DEPLOYED THE SAME VENDOR UNDER THE UNDER A PILOT. SO THAT AMOUNT IS BEING SHARED BETWEEN BOTH CITIES. I USE IT AS AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SETS OUR CITY APART FROM OTHER CITIES. WE'RE VERY METHODICAL. WE'RE VERY CAREFUL. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO SAY, OPEN THE FLOODGATES AND, YOU KNOW, START ADVERTISING EVERYWHERE. SO I'M IN LINE WITH THE VICE MAYOR'S COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO THE THE ADVERTISING. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL. AGAIN, IT'S A SOURCE OF REVENUE, A SOURCE OF REVENUE. SO, MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN, STATE LAW DOESN'T ALLOW US TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OPERATING WITHIN THE CITY. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THERE IS A PREEMPTION, BUT I BELIEVE MATT HAS NUMBERS FROM THOSE WHO ARE OPERATING IN THE CITY TODAY. BUT IF I MAY, YEAH, THAT WAS MY SECOND POINT. WHILE WE THERE MAY BE PREEMPTION ON THAT ON THAT FRONT, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED FOR A FEW WEEKS ALREADY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE ACTION BY THE STATE BECAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE A FREE FOR ALL. THERE'S GOING TO BE CORRECTIVE ACTION. AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN LOBBY ALSO THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT ACTION IS TAKEN TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS THE AMOUNT OF DELIVERIES OF A DELIVERY ROBOTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY. BUT I DON'T WANT THAT. WHAT I WANT IS COOPERATION, KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE TRIED TO ESTABLISH BEFORE BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS. SO COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ENTITY AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES.

[02:00:05]

AND I KNOW THAT'S WHERE THE VICE MAYOR WAS COMING FROM. I MEAN, FROM EIGHT MILES TO SIX, DO YOU THINK THERE'LL BE A REDUCTION IN SAFETY? I THINK THE SLOWER THE SAFER, RIGHT. I MEAN, HOW MUCH SLOWER ARE YOU GOING TO GET? YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH SLOWER ARE YOU GOING. ARE WE GOING TO GET. NO, OF COURSE, LIKE WITH THE SCOOTERS, WE LIMIT IT TO 15 BECAUSE THAT THAT'S WHAT IT IS FOR FOR, FOR THAT PROGRAM AND FOR THE STABILITY OF THE SCOOTERS. AS FAR AS THE RENTAL ONES THAT WE HAVE OPERATING IN THE CITY. BUT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE ROBOTS THAT WE'RE THAT WE HAVE A LIMITED PROBLEM WITH THE SCOOTERS, AND THAT IS THAT THEY'RE ON THE SIDEWALKS. YEAH. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SCOOTER AND THE WIDTH OF THE SCOOTER IN REFERENCE TO THE FLAG WIDTH DOES AND I COMPLY WITH ADA. YOU HAVE YOU HAVE A BASICALLY A MOMENT THERE WHERE YOU CONFRONT A SCOOTER. YOU CONFRONT THE WHEELCHAIR, YOU CONFRONT THE PERSON IN ONE OF THOSE LITTLE MOTORIZED VEHICLES WHO MAY BE DISABLED. SO I JUST WANT TO FIND COMMON GROUND. I DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON SOMETHING TODAY WHERE WE'RE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING A PREEMPTION ISSUE, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO EVEN GET HARSHER TREATMENT FROM THE STATE. WHAT DO YOU FORESEE AS WHAT DO YOU FORESEE OTHER COUNTIES OR OTHER CITIES? HOW ARE THEY ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE? OR ARE WE THE ONLY ISSUE THAT'S BRINGING THIS FORWARD? SO, MR. MAYOR, I BELIEVE, AS ALWAYS, YOU ALL ARE ON THE FOREFRONT OF THINGS HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO MIAMI BEACH HAS ADOPTED LEGISLATION. I BELIEVE CITY OF MIAMI IS CONSIDERING LEGISLATION THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED YET. SO AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE'RE THE SECOND IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY DIRECTION TO KEEP LOOKING AT ANY ISSUES. I DO WANT TO SAY SERVE IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH US AND INFORMING US ABOUT THEIR OPERATIONS. AND AS THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING IN THE CITY, THEY HAVE BEEN, AND I KNOW BELKIS CAN SPEAK TO THIS WHEN WE HAVE SPECIAL EVENTS AND CLOSE DOWN ROADS, THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN GEOFENCING. THOSE PEDESTRIAN AREAS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT INTERFERING WITH ANY SPECIAL EVENTS. SO THANK YOU TO THEM FOR THEIR COOPERATION. I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT JUST IN REGARDS TO THAT MATTER. THANK YOU, JOSEPH SALZBURG AGAIN. AND THE SAME BACK TO MATT AND YOUR STAFF THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN A SNEAK ATTACK. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT CONVERSATION BETWEEN PUBLIC SECTOR AND PRIVATE SECTOR, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION. WITH REGARD TO. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE ITEMS THAT HAD COME UP IN THIS DELIBERATION. NUMBER ONE, BOTH OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND INSIDE SERVE INDIVIDUALS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD NOW BY OUR CLIENT, WHO'S OUT OF STATE AT THIS TIME, ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO COME IN WHATEVER CAPACITY, AT WHATEVER TIME, WHETHER IT'S A COMMUNITY DEMO, WHETHER IT'S A PRESENTATION BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION WITH WITH AMPLE TIME, WE COULD ALSO BRING SERVE AS AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT FOCUSED ON DISABILITY AND THOSE ASPECTS.

WE CAN INCLUDE THEM IN THE CONVERSATION. WE CAN BRING EXAMPLES OF OTHER ADVERTISING SPEED AND TAKE AS MUCH TIME. THAT IS NOT AN EMPTY GESTURE. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE BY RIGHT IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT TO SWIM INTO THE STREAM OF THIS COMMUNITY AND BE GOOD STEWARDS, SO THAT IS NOT AN EMPTY GESTURE. THEY'RE WILLING TO COME MEET INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY IN A IN A DEMONSTRATION WITH REGARD WITH THAT WITH THAT POINT. I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. YES, SIR. SO YOU WANT TO SWIM INTO THE STREAM, AND I LIKE THAT. AS YOU SEE, I'VE BEEN MENTIONING LET'S COLLABORATE ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FRONTS. YES, SIR. YOU SEE THE REQUESTS FROM THE VICE MAYOR, WHICH ARE IN LINE WITH OUR STANDARDS HERE IN THE CITY. ARE YOU GOING TO COLLABORATE ON ISSUES AS IMPORTANT AS ADVERTISEMENT BAN AND REDUCING SPEED? IF IT'S AN ISSUE ON MULTIPLE FRONTS OR YOUR BOTTOM LINE? NO, ABSOLUTELY. AND THANK YOU FOR FOR THE VERY VALID QUESTION, KIND OF TAKING A ZOOM BACK. SO WITH REGARD TO, LET ME FIRST TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ROBOTS THAT OPERATE WITHIN A CERTAIN CITY, ALTHOUGH THAT IS PREEMPTED, AGAIN, SERVE IS WILLING TO COME SHARE THAT INFORMATION, SHARE WHERE THEY ARE IN REAL TIME, LISTEN TO CONCERNS. JUST BECAUSE THEY GET TO OPERATE BY RIGHT HERE DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, HEAR THE CONCERNS, REDUCE, MOVE THEM AROUND. ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, I LIVE IN THE CORAL GABLES AREA, SO THEY'RE TRAVERSING CITY ROADS. SO IT'S ALSO HARD TO, YOU KNOW, LIMIT THEM PER CITY. BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE VERY AMENABLE. AND I THINK THAT'S DEMONSTRATIVE OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, MAYOR, WITH REGARDS TO ADVERTISEMENTS. WE UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, CONTENT SPECIFIC. YOU DON'T WANT SIN STUFF. I THINK RATHER THAN A PUBLIC SECTOR CONCERN, THE

[02:05:07]

BUT FRANKLY, WE HAVE NOT HEARD SPECIFIC CONCERN WITH AN ADVERTISEMENT THAT HAS BEEN LOCATED ON A BOT WITHIN THE CITY DURING THEIR DEPLOYMENT. IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC CONCERNS, RATHER THAN REGULATE AND THEN COME BACK AFTER THE FACT, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. BUT AT THIS TIME, WE'RE FRANKLY AT A LOSS OF ANY SPECIFIC CONCERN AS IT RELATES TO ADVERTISEMENT, AND I THINK A LOT OF THE CONCERNS THAT SURROUND TAXES AND BUS BENCHES, IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION, GIVEN WHAT I MENTIONED ABOUT THE MARKET SHARE. SO BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO GET UP HERE AND SHARE THAT THAT IS NOT AN EMPTY GESTURE, BOTH AS OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND SERVE. ROBOTICS ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO COME WORK, DISCUSS, PROVIDE DEMONSTRATION OR ANYTHING GOING FORWARD. SO TWO QUESTIONS. YES, SIR. BEFORE I PASS IT OFF TO MY COLLEAGUES. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, GOOD QUESTION. SO WHILE WE ARE PREEMPTED, IF WE DO TAKE MEASURES TODAY TO REGULATE ADVERTISING AND TO REGULATE SPEED, WHAT REACH DO WE HAVE? SO THERE'S NO PREEMPTION AS TO THE SPEED. THERE'S A MAXIMUM SPEED SET IN STATE STATUTE. AND WE CAN SET THE SPEED AT THIS. THERE'S NO LEGAL CONCERNS WITH THE SPEED AS IS HERE TODAY. OR IF YOU WANT TO RAISE IT OR CHANGE IT TO THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED UNDER STATE LAW, THAT'S COMPLETELY PERMISSIBLE. AS FAR AS ADVERTISING, THE CITY FEELS THAT THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN IS PERFECTLY DEFENSIBLE. THE CITY HAS ESTHETIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT MOVING OBJECTS IN THE CITY FOR SAFETY OF DRIVERS, DISTRACTED DRIVING, AS WELL AS OUR REGULATION OF ESTHETICS IN THE CITY. SO WE ALSO FEEL THAT THAT IS DEFENSIBLE, THOUGH AS ALWAYS, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY FEEDBACK AND ADDRESS ADVERTISING HOWEVER YOU WOULD WISH IN A LEGAL MANNER. OKAY. AND THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU, SIR, WHO OWNS THIS COMPANY? THANK YOU SIR, ROBOTICS IS PUBLICLY TRADED ON THE NASDAQ AND AS PUBLIC INFORMATION, ONE OF THEIR LARGEST SHAREHOLDERS IS UBER TECHNOLOGIES IS BASED OUT OF THE UNITED STATES. YES, SIR. BASED OUT OF OUR POINT OF CONTACT, WHO USED TO WORK AT THE CITY OF MIAMI, WHO ALL YOU ALL KNOW. WELL, ARIEL DIAZ IS BASED OUT OF DALLAS, BUT ACTUALLY IT'S BASED AT THE UNITED STATES AND THEY'RE OPENING MARKETS WORLDWIDE. THIS IS NOT A CHINESE COMPANY, IS IT? NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT SURE WHAT WE WHAT WE NO NO NO NO. WE ALLOW IN OUR BACKYARD. NO NO NO, I'M NOT PICKING ON YOU. NO NO NO.

I'M PICKING UP WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING DOWN. NOT A CHANCE. I WOULDN'T BE UP HERE REPRESENTING THEM, SIR. OKAY, GOOD. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AS THE FIRST GENERATION OF CUBAN IMMIGRANTS, THERE'S NOT A CHANCE YOU COULDN'T PAY ME ENOUGH. THAT MAKES ME HAPPY TO HEAR. YES, SIR. TO THE MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO I'M JUST GOING TO. FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRYING TO MOVE THIS CONVERSATION ALONG, THE ADVERTISEMENT PROHIBITION IS ONLY FOR THE EXTERIOR. YOU CAN PUT WHATEVER YOU WANT INSIDE. YOU HAVE FLIERS GOING. YOU CAN HAVE PAINT, PAINT INSIDE. THIS IS AN EXTERIOR PROHIBITION, AND THERE'S A REASON FOR DISTRACTION AND SO FORTH. WE CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION. BUT WHAT WAS SENT OVER TO ME WAS SO OVERBROAD. AND THE WAY THIS WAS ADVERTISED FOR FOR RESIDENTS, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT WAS SENT OVER TO YOU VIA EMAIL, PROPOSED LANGUAGE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CHICAGO THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THAT'S BASED ON AN OPERATING AGREEMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE BY. RIGHT, WHEREAS THEY ARE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. SO I UNDERSTAND IT WAS OVERBROAD. I'M NOT AT THIS JUNCTURE WILLING TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITHOUT HAVING MORE TIME WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY. SO RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT A SIX MONTH WINDOW. YOU'RE NOT PROHIBITED ON PUTTING STUFF INSIDE OF THE MOBILITY DELIVERY DEVICE, YOU KNOW, TO ADVERTISE AND HAND OUT FLIERS OR HAVE SOMETHING PAINTED ON THE INSIDE. IT'S ONLY AN EXTERIOR RESTRICTION. RESPECTFULLY, MAYOR, THAT'S NOT WHERE THE, THE, THE AD GENERATION THAT THEN GOES TO THE PROLIFERATION OF THIS TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE FOOD DELIVERY MORE AFFORDABLE IS GENERATED FROM THE EXTERIOR. SO THE ONLY ONE THAT I'VE EVER SEEN, FRANKLY, ON GERALDO WAS LIKE A, A STICKER THAT SAID, YOU KNOW HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON IS COMING TO THEATERS.

SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. BUT THE INSIDE OF PUTTING FLIERS, THE INDIVIDUAL RESTAURANT MAY DO THAT. AND THAT'S THEIR OWN VOLITION. THAT DOES NOT BENEFIT THE OVERALL

[02:10:02]

WE HAVE A SECOND TO THE MAYOR. YES. OKAY. SO I MEAN, SAFETY FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS PARAMOUNT. YES, MA'AM. BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH THIS LEGISLATION, THIS ORDINANCE IS NOT HINDERING THE ABILITY OF YOUR BUSINESS ACTUALLY WORKING IN CORAL GABLES. AND I FEEL THAT IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE NEED TO REACH A MIDDLE GROUND. BUT I DON'T FEEL WE HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION OF HOW THESE ROBOTS ACTUALLY FUNCTION, THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THEM AND HOW THEY OPERATE. AND I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IF MAYBE THIS THIS COMMISSION WOULD CONSIDER DEFERRAL INTO MAYBE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING THAT YOU CAN COME IN MAYBE WITH A SAMPLE ROBOT, MAYBE SO THAT WE KNOW HOW FAST REALLY IS A IT'S EIGHT MILES PER HOUR, SEVEN MILES PER HOUR. WHAT THE INSTALLATION LOOKS INSIDE. WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR COMPANY STILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE HERE IN CORAL GABLES? BECAUSE WE'RE OFFERING A SERVICE NOT ONLY TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUT TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT MAYBE FOR LUNCH AND OUT, AFFORD TO GO AHEAD AND PAY $7 FOR DELIVERY FEE. AND NOW THESE ROBOTS ARE NOT CHARGING ANYTHING. NO TIP, NO DELIVERY, I UNDERSTAND. YEAH, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND, I THINK IT'S A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY TO THE DOWNTOWN AND FOR EVEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT DO NOT LIVE HERE. SO I WOULD CITY ATTORNEY, WOULD I BE ABLE TO I KNOW THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE, BUT WOULD I BE ABLE TO PUT THIS ON HOLD MOTION? I KNOW COMMISSIONER LARA DID THIS. I'M NOT SURE A MOTION TO POSTPONE CAN BE CONSIDERED.

WHEN THERE'S A MAIN MOTION. I WOULD I WOULD MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. I KNOW A MOTION TO POSTPONE CAN BE MADE WHEN THERE'S AN A MAIN MOTION. THIS HAS BEEN POSTPONED ENOUGH. THIS HAS HAD MANY MONTHS. THESE ROBOTS HAVE NOT IMPROVED. I'VE ENCOUNTERED A NUMBER OF TIMES COMPLETELY BLOCKING SIDEWALKS COMPLETELY, YOU KNOW, BLOCKING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, BEING ABLE TO BE ABLE TO TRAVERSE DOWN A CITY SIDEWALK.

WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. AND IF THIS IS WHAT'S NECESSARY TO GET THIS COMPANY TO IMPROVE ITS TECHNOLOGY, SO BE IT. YOU HAVE SIX MONTHS TO DO SO. SO IT IS RATHER A SLAP IN THE FACE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO TRY TO POSTPONE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT EVEN GOING TO BE IN EFFECT FOR SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THEM BLOCKING YOUR PATH. I'VE EXPERIENCED IT A NUMBER OF TIMES AND I'VE TESTED IT. IT DOESN'T MOVE TO THE LEFT. IT DOESN'T MOVE TO THE RIGHT. IT DOESN'T GO IN THE REAR. I BROUGHT UP A PICTURE. YOU SAW IT A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO. THE PEDESTRIANS HAD TO MOVE INTO

[02:15:02]

NO S L CANEM THE ADDITIOLREPTION FROMHISS JUS GG E STEFLODAHENE'RE TALKINUBLI SAFETY MATTER ISUST MISGUID THUGH THE MAYOR. YES YES. SO I'M IN T GEAD AND ACPT YOUR FRIENDLYMENDMENT A TIMEIMITATIO OF 45 DA,CAE I DT ON DRAGGING. WE NEED TO ASOSSI IHI 4 DAYS THIS AS SOO YOU GS TOPAOR TS ESEN ANDRING ONE O THE ROTS IN,S A FAI NT OF TE.HAT STAYSHE STHNDI THK THAT WIT ME MEP WITH EVEN TER ANDE CA PROT THE SYF O CITIZENSHA WAL AROUND OR DRING. OY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. Y, LA EXCUS ME, WHICH MOTION CMISSE IS IT? THIS IS THE MOTION TO DEFER. NOPE. WITH A 45 DAY WINDOW. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN BEFORE THE DISABILITIES FAIR BOARD.

AND THIS LANGUAGE WAS REVIEWED BY MY DISABILITY MEMBER. ABSOLUTELY NO. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LARGO NO. LET ME TELL YOU WHY I VOTED NO. WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE TODAY. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO FIND A COMMON GROUND. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS WHAT I'M WILLING TO DO. I'M WILLING TO MAKE IT SEVEN MILES AN HOUR. I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. WE'RE FIGHTING FOR ONE MILE. OKAY.

BUT I'LL PLAY ALONG WITH THE RIDICULOUSNESS. WHY NOT? OKAY. AND I WILL NOT NEGOTIATE THE ISSUE OF ADVERTISEMENT. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE STAND HERE. CITY WILL SET STANDARDS.

WE WANT TO ADHERE TO THOSE STANDARDS. IF WE WATER DOWN OUR STANDARDS, WE BECOME LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. WHY ARE YOU DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES? BECAUSE YOU WANT OUR BUSINESS. YOU WANT THE 200 RESTAURANTS. YOU WANT THE FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES. YOU WANT THE CLASS A, CLASS B AND CLASS C OFFICE SPACE THAT ARE FULL HERE. YOU WANT THE DROVES OF

[02:20:02]

AT THE END OF THE DAY, LET'S WORK MUTUALLY. LET'S LET'S PUT A PLAN TOGETHER THAT ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS OF ALL THE BOARDS AND THE COMMISSION, AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD. I THINK I DON'T KNOW YOUR BUSINESS STRUCTURE. AND AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I, I, YOU KNOW, I COMMEND YOU FOR FINDING A NICHE IN THE MARKET AND DELIVERING. BUT I WILL ASK YOU QUESTION IF YOU'D BE SO KIND TO COME UP. DO YOU CHARGE THE RESTAURANTS TO USE THIS SERVICE? AS A REMINDER, I'M OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR SERVE AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CAPACITY, SO I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THAT. BUT AGAIN, INFORMATION THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER THAT I DON'T KNOW.

WELL, THERE'S NOTHING FREE BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU TOLD ME IF YOU TOLD ME SO, IF YOU TOLD ME SO. THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE RESTAURANT DOES NOT GO THROUGH SERVE. IT WOULD STILL GO THROUGH THE DELIVERY COMPANY DOORDASH OR UBER EATS. SO THE PRIVITY OF CONTRACT, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, EXISTS THERE. BUT I'M SURE, I MEAN, WE'RE COMPENSATED FOR OUR SERVICES, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I'M MAKING A POINT BECAUSE YOU SAID BEFORE THAT THE RESIDENT THAT IS MAKING THE DELIVERY REQUEST DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY OR TIP. SO IT'S IT'S WHEN I'VE DONE IT, IT'S NO OPTION FOR TIP. AND YOUR DELIVERY FEE, I BELIEVE, DON'T QUOTE ME WAS ABOUT ONE THIRD IF THAT OF A REGULAR DELIVERY FEE. THIS IS NOT FREE. YEAH, I GET IT. YOU'RE NOT YOU DON'T HAVE A HUMAN. NO, NO. THE CAPITAL COST, OF COURSE, IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT MORE THAN THAN A ROBOT. SO. I IMAGINE THEY USE THE ADVERTISING FEES THAT ARE GENERATED TO SUBS, YOU KNOW, TO TO BE ABLE TO MAKE EVEN MORE MONEY, TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE AND TO BE ABLE TO BE MORE PROFITABLE. CORRECT. YES, SIR. THAT'S INTERESTING. THERE'S ACTUALLY NOT A LOT OF ADVERTISEMENTS ON THESE YET. SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY BEING USED TO THE FULL EXTENT RIGHT NOW. IT'S SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY FROM A FUTURE STANDPOINT IS A REVENUE STREAM. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST DISPLAYING EITHER THE UBER EATS OR DOORDASH OR A STATIC, AN ILLUMINATED. BUT IT ABSOLUTELY IS A REVENUE STREAM. SO THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO. I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME AND THE VICE MAYOR. AND I WILL SAY FOR SERVE ROBOTICS WANTS TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT CORAL GABLES IS NOT JUST A JURISDICTION. CORAL GABLES IS A PRIORITY JURISDICTION FOR THIS COMPANY. AND WE WANT TO WORK HERE AND WE WANT TO BE COLLABORATIVE. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE POLICY, I DO WANT TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT SERVE IS HERE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY, AND WE ARE HONORED TO DO BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THAT'S WHY I TOLD YOU IT'S 200 RESTAURANTS HERE AND OVER 150 MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE DESPERATELY MOVING HERE TO THE CITY, LOOKING FOR OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, OUR TRANSPORTATION, OUR CLEANLINESS, OUR PARKS, OUR STYLE OF LIFE. SO LET ME MAKE YOU AN OFFER. IF THE VICE MAYOR WILL ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WE'RE GOING TO DO, WE'RE GOING TO DO SEVEN MILES AN HOUR. WE'RE GOING TO DO THREE MILE, THREE MONTH ADVERTISING BAN. AND THE NEXT 2 OR 3 WEEKS WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE VICE MAYOR. WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH STAFF. WE'RE GOING TO CRAFT LEGISLATION THAT MEETS THE GOALS OF THE CITY, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION BEFORE THE DISABILITY BOARD. YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE A PRESENTATION. YOUR STAFF'S GOING TO GIVE A PRESENTATION. YOU'D LIKE TO GIVE A PRESENTATION. LIKE I'VE DONE A LITANY OF TIMES WITH OTHER ENTITIES THAT WANTED TO SHOW ME PRODUCTS FROM THE MANAGER AND I WRITING IN AN ELECTRIC, AN ELECTRIC TROLLEY, ELECTRIC BUS THAT WE ENDED UP NOT PURSUING BECAUSE IT WAS NOT AMERICAN MADE TO OTHER OUTSIDE COMPANIES THAT COME HERE, AND THEY LET US TRY THE PRODUCTS TO SEE IF IT MEETS OUR STANDARDS FROM ELECTRIC BLOWERS VERSUS GAS POWERED BLOWERS. I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON. I'D LIKE TO HAVE A THREE MONTH BAN ON ADVERTISEMENT, WHICH I'M VERY CLEAR. YOU BETTER COME UP WITH SOMETHING TASTEFUL IF YOU WANT ME TO EVEN CONSIDER IT. I MEAN, IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING TASTEFUL IF IT'S A NEON LIGHTS, IF IT'S STROBE LIGHTS, IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL AND THAT KIND OF STUFF. I'M NOT EVEN I'LL VOTE NO IMMEDIATELY. AND REDUCTION OF SPEED FROM 8 TO 7. I NEED TO GET MY HANDS AND UNDERSTANDING WHY IT'S GOT TO BE SIX VERSUS SEVEN. AND OBVIOUSLY STAFF'S RESPONSE WAS, WELL, THE SLOWER THE BETTER, OBVIOUSLY, OBVIOUSLY. BUT I WANT TO SEE THE REAL NUMBERS. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THINGS ARE. AND I THINK THIS COULD THIS COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET DOWN THE MIDDLE. IF THE VICE MAYOR IS WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT. THE REASON WHY I BRING IT TO THREE MONTHS IS BECAUSE IT LIGHTS A FIRE ON US. TO GET THIS ADDRESSED QUICKLY BEFORE THE END OF THE SUMMER, THE END OF THE SUMMER COMES. YOU GO INTO THE MONTHS HERE OF THE CITY. THE BEST WEATHER PEOPLE ARE ORDERING, PEOPLE ARE BACK IN TOWN. SCHOOL STARTED AND THAT'S WHERE THE MOST MONEY OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR RESTAURANTS. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS IT DURING THE SUMMER WHEN IT'S THE SLOWEST MONTHS. MADAM VICE MAYOR. YEAH, MY MAIN CONCERN ON SPEED IS BECAUSE THESE DEVICES CANNOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY AND

[02:25:06]

BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SOMEONE SENT ME A PHOTO OF ONE AND ANOTHER, ANOTHER CITY WHERE RAMMED RIGHT INTO A BUS BENCH AREA AND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. SO THE CONCERN IS REAL. OKAY, ABSOLUTELY. NO, WE DON'T WANT TO JUST WE DO NOT WANT TO BE PORTRAYED AS DISMISSING ANY OF THE CONCERNS RAISED. WE JUST WANT TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION. I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED, MAYOR, WITH REGARD TO THE 6 TO 3 MONTHS, IF IT'S GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD, THEN OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD LIKE MORE TIME. THE SIX MONTHS THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DELIBERATED, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO THAT ASPECT OF OF WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING. LET ME MAKE SURE. I THOUGHT WE WERE SAYING THERE WAS GONNA BE A SIX MONTH BAN ON ADVERTISING. WHY DON'T WE WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? BECAUSE IT'S IT'S A SIX MONTH EDUCATION PERIOD. SO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENFORCEMENT FOR THAT SIX MONTH PERIOD. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THE ORDINANCE I THINK YOU'RE BEING YOU'RE BEING VERY LENIENT ON THAT. I WOULDN'T I WOULDN'T ALLOW ANY ADVERTISING.

IT WAS UP TO ME UNTIL THEY CAN SHOW ME A WAY TO DO THIS IN A MANNER THATENIT THENDNE U I ACHE WA MR.IA IS HO AN WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. YEAH, AND RE THAN LCE IN RARDS TSI A THREETION THREE NTHS, GIVE M THREE MOHSO WORK WITYOU, NOT OBVIOUSLY THTY MANAGER, THREE MONTHS TO WORK WITH YOU TO COLLABORATE AND FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN DO. ADVERTISEMENT. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE IKEA, THE NOT THE IKEA, THE KIOSKS, THE THOSE ARE TASTEFUL. YOU KNOW, WE CURATE THAT. WE DON'T ALLOW ANY TYPE OF ADVERTISING ADVERTISEMENT ON THAT. WHOEVER PAYS MORE GETS ON IT. IT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS.

WE'RE VERY THOUGHTFUL. WE'RE VERY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH CITY BUSINESS.

SO IT'S AGAIN, IT'S A SOFTER APPROACH ON HOW TO DO BUSINESS. WE'RE VERY CAREFUL. IT'S MULTI-LAYERED APPROACH. IT'S NOT JUST IT'S NOT JUST A, YOU KNOW, COME AND GET IT. WHOEVER PAYS THE MOST GETS IT. AND I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO BE DEROGATORY TOWARDS ANY, ANY COMPANIES. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT, AGAIN, WE DON'T ALLOW HERE IN THE CITY GUN STORES, WE DON'T ALLOW STRIP CLUBS, WE DON'T ALLOW PET STORES. YOU KNOW, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE STANDARDS HERE IN THE, IN, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE CITY. SO WE'RE NOT THAT DESPERATE FOR ADVERTISEMENT MONEY. IT'S NOT SHARED WITH. I UNDERSTAND THAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT, YEAH. EVEN IF IT WAS SHARED, I'M JUST I'M. SIR, WE WANT TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. WE JUST HAVEN'T. AND TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AGAIN, WE ARE HERE TO RESPOND TO ALL THE CONCERNS WE HAVE HEARD. BUT AGAIN, JUST GOING BACK TO THE ADVERTISEMENT PORTION, WE HAVE HEARD ABSTRACT BUT NOT CONCRETE EXAMPLES. WE WOULD RECTIFY THAT IMMEDIATELY. SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES YET. MAYOR OR COMMISSION ON ISSUES SPECIFIC TO THE ADVERTISEMENTS INCLUDED ON THESE SPOTS. AND I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE WE ARE WILLING TO COME TO WHATEVER AGREEMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF THE LAW, THAT IT'S SOMETHING, AGAIN, THAT SWIMS INTO THE STREAM OF THIS COMMUNITY. BUT JUST TO BE FRANK ON THE RECORD, WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING SPECIFIC. THAT CONCERN HAS BEEN MORE ABSTRACT, WHEREAS THE OTHER ONES TURNING AROUND, THE DISABILITY ADVOCATES, ALL THAT HAS BEEN CONCRETE. THOSE ARE ACTION ITEMS. SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT. BUT ANY ACTION ITEMS, WE'LL MOVE ON. BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, MR. DIAZ, WHO IS IN HOUSE FOR SERVE, IS ON ZOOM AND AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. MR. DIAZ. SIR, HERE WE GO. MR. MAYOR. YES, SIR. YES, MR. MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS, VICE MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY AND CLERK. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH ME. I'M IN MY CAR, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY WHY YOU SAW THE TOP OF MY HEAD A MINUTE AGO.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND ACCESSIBILITY HERE AT SERVE ROBOTICS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS ITEM. WE ARE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THE MAJORITY OF THIS ITEM. I THINK IT'S A VERY THOUGHTFUL APPROACH, JUST AS IT WAS WITH MIAMI BEACH. ON FOCUSING ON SAFETY AND

[02:30:06]

WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ANSWERED QUESTIONS OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION. SO AT SOME POINT LAST YEAR, I'M FORGETTING THE DATE EXACTLY BECAUSE I'M DRIVING. AS I MENTIONED, I MET WITH THE THE CIO, WE MET WITH BELKIS, WE MET WITH SEVERAL FOLKS FROM THE CITY TO TALK THROUGH OUR PRODUCT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THEY HAD. AND ONE OF THE REQUESTS THAT RAYMUNDO HAD WAS FOR US TO INTEGRATE INTO THE CITY'S GIS AND TECH SYSTEMS. SO WE'VE WORKED TO CREATE A REPORT OUT FROM US TO YOU GUYS SO THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE FULL FLEET MANAGEMENT VIEW OF ALL OF THE FLEET THAT IS IN THE CITY OF WHERE THEY ARE, HOW THEY'RE OPERATING, WHAT THEIR NAMES ARE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE INDIVIDUAL NAMES PER ROBOT SO THAT YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM. ON THE TOPIC OF ADVERTISEMENT, JOSEPH MENTIONED THAT THE ONLY ADVERTISEMENTS THAT WE'VE RUN IN CORAL GABLES SO FAR IS TOOTHLESS. THE THE LITTLE DRAGON FROM HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT DOING FREE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR CITIES AND NONPROFITS, MEANING THAT IF YOU WANT TO RUN AN AD CAMPAIGN, KEEP THE CITY BEAUTIFUL OR ADVERTISING AN EVENT OR THINGS LIKE THAT, WE HAVE INCLUDED THAT AS PART OF OUR ADVERTISING EVENTS, SAVING THOSE SPACES FOR CITIES TO DO IT IN KIND. WE RECENTLY DID ONE IN MIAMI-DADE AND THE CITY OF MIAMI WITH THE WOMEN'S FUND AROUND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THAT WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A DIFFERENT WRAP THAT WE'VE DONE. WE DID A WRAP IN MIAMI BEACH WITH MIAMI BEACH COLORS TO EXEMPLIFY HOW WE ARE WORKING TO BE PART OF COMMUNITY. THE IDEA OF A DEMONSTRATION IS A WONDERFUL ONE. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE ACTUALLY TOOK A ROBOT WHEN WE MET WITH CITY STAFF, SO THAT THEY COULD SEE IT, THEY COULD TOUCH IT, THEY CAN SEE WHAT THE SENSORS LOOK LIKE TO THE POINT OF THE VICE MAYOR ABOUT THE ROBOT NOT GETTING OUT OF THE WAY. THE SAFEST ROBOT IS A STOPPED ONE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF IT COMES INTO A SITUATION WHERE IT IS NOT ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY, IT'LL STOP TO ALLOW WHAT THE NEXT STEP SHOULD BE FOR THE REMOTE SUPERVISOR TO DO SO. IF A PERSON IS LITERALLY RIGHT ON IT, IT WILL TAKE A MINUTE FOR THE REMOTE SUPERVISOR TO BACK IT UP OR TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE WAY. ANOTHER COMMISSIONER WHO'S WHO MENTIONED THAT THE ROBOT WAITS PATIENTLY AT THE CROSSWALK. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE PROGRAMED TO DO. THEY WOULD LINE UP, WAIT SOMETIMES 2 OR 3 LIGHT CYCLES BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEDESTRIANS CROSSING IN ORDER TO WAIT FOR THOSE PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS, TO THEN FOLLOW BEHIND THEM. SO THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO MENTION. I DID ALSO HEAR THE MAYOR MENTIONED DOING ADVERTISING TASTEFULLY, AND THE VICE MAYOR MENTIONED SOME ITEMS THAT WERE PROFFERED BY US. THIS CAME FROM OUR

[02:35:01]

DISPLA GRAIC VLENCE OR ANYTHING THAT IS OBSCETY, THITHATRINGON AOREASIC, COPYRIT,NGS THATECRES OR IMPES THE CITF COR BLES HASSSOCIATI WHY SPECIFIDU.T ARE THINGS THAT I WA TO MAKSURE TWE OFFED REY THEITY ASEANSO NOT HAO BLOCK THE ENTIRE ADVERNG OVERALL. SO I'M HAPPY TTAKE A ADDITIONALUESTNS THAYOU FOLKS MIHAVE, BUT IUST WANTED T ME RE TO ADESS EACHF THIN THAT I' HESOAR. OKA MADAM VIC R, AS SNS,HAT WOULD HOW WLDOU LIKE TOPRD WE CAN GE? YES. A I WOULD LIKE GETGO I WOK FSAVING A MONSATION, SN PLENTY DONRATI,NCLUNGNE THE SIT ITHE MIDE HE SIDEWALK F IN EXCESS OF SIX HOURS ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOME. AS FAR AS A STOP ROBOT BEING THE BEST OPTION, IF YOU'RE IN A WHEELCHAIR AND YOU'RE THE ONE HAVING TO BACK UP ON THAT SIDEWALK ANOTHER 100FT BECAUSE THE ROBOT DOES NOT MOVE, THAT IS NOT A GOOD OPTION. THAT'S A BARRIER TO ACCESSIBILITY. IT'S CLEARLY IN VIOLATION OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH. SO THIS NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD. AS FAR AS BEING PASSED NOW, I HOPE THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES. THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS IN HERE ON WHAT SIDEWALKS CAN BE USED. SO WE DON'T HAVE A FIVE FOOT SIDEWALK NEXT TO A HIGHWAY WHERE YOU HAVE HIGH VOLUMES OF TRAFFIC. FORCING AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY TO BACK THEIR WHEELCHAIR UP IN THAT DANGEROUS CONDITION. SO WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THAT. AS FAR AS TALKING ABOUT THE ADVERTISING, WE HAD STARTED THAT CONVERSATION, BUT I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS IN A RUSHED FASHION, NOR DO I WANT TO SEE THE TYPE OF ADVERTISING THAT IS UNBECOMING OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I DO WANT TO SEE THINGS THAT HELP OUR BUSINESSES, NOT HURT OUR BUSINESSES, AND HAVING EXCESSIVE ADVERTISING ON SOMETHING COULD ALSO BE A DISTRACTION. SO WE HAVE TIME TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. WE CAN PASS THIS ON AT THIS TIME, AND THERE'S A SIX MONTH PERIOD OF NON-ENFORCEMENT. WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORDSMITH THE ADVERTISING ISSUE IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME. I'M OPEN TO THAT. I STARTED HAVING THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU, BUT WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS LAST MINUTE, RIGHT BEFORE THIS THING, GET A DRAFT OF SOMETHING TO TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH YOU ON A DAIS, ON A FLY, AND NOT HAVING AN ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH MY CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY STAFF TO THINK ABOUT THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE, BECAUSE I'D RATHER DO IT ONCE. SO RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE SIX MONTHS BEFORE ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO WORK ON IT. EVEN WHEN I'M TRAVELING, I TAKE ALL THESE DEVICES WITH ME. WE CAN WORDSMITH ON THE FLY AND CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE LANGUAGE ON IT. BUT THE DISABILITY ISSUE MUST MOVE FORWARD. NOW. I'VE SEEN ENOUGH DEMONSTRATIONS, REAL LIFE. OKAY. AND IF YOU TAKE THE CENTER OUT OF THE MIDDLE AND YOU CAN'T BACK THESE THINGS UP TO GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY, YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE A WALL IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET PAST IT. SO MAY I ASK YOU A QUESTION, VICE MAYOR? SO SIX MONTHS COMES AND GOES. IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO COME TO SOME SORT OF FRAMEWORK IN REGARDS TO ADVERTISEMENT, WHAT IS WHERE DO WE GO FROM THERE? I DON'T FORESEE THAT WE CAN'T HAVE SOME FRAMEWORK, BUT SIX MONTHS COMES AND GOES. IF THERE HASN'T BEEN AN EFFORT ON BOTH PARTIES PART TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, TO WORDSMITH, SOMETHING THAT IS PALATABLE FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, THEN IT'S, IT'S IT'S IN PLACE. OKAY. BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE EFFORTS ON BOTH SIDES. I JUST WANT TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDS SIX MONTHS COMES AND GOES. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES. IF YOUR AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED, I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THAT 100%.

THE STAFF HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT INJURY POTENTIAL, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MILES WE ON CARS. VICE MAYO WE DON'T AT THIS TIME, BUT'M SURE WCA WK TH OUR PUIC WORKSTAFF TOUGH THE MANAGER TOET YOU SOME INFORMATIOIF YOU WLD L OKAY,AN YAVTH FOR THE NEXTOMMISSION ETING?L RO THE MAGER STAFF TH,UTAPPY TO LPEV AN TOU T MOR YES, VICE MAYOR WN LOOTO THAT. S IL ACCEPT THE FRND AMEMENTUT WITHTHE UPDATF IW THATHERE'S AN IREASEDPOTE FOR IN

[02:40:09]

COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN RUN A FEW A FEW OF THESE BEFORE WE HAVE TO

[E.-4. 26-1608 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 58 "Special Assessments", Article III - "Repair or Construction of Streets and Sidewalks" to amend Section 58-48 "Duty of Abutting Property Owners to Repair" in order to amend the code to clarify that abutting property owners are not responsible for defective sidewalks where such defects are a result of City trees and the City has been notified of those defects; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)]

MAYOR. THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY THE VICE MAYOR. THERE HAVE NO BEEN HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING. AS A REMINDER, IT'S THE DUTY OF THE OWNER OF PROPERTY ABUTTING DEFECTIVE SIDEWALKS TO REMEDY SUCH DEFECTIVE CONDITIONS, UNLESS IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE CITY THAT SUCH DEFECT IS A RESULT OF DAMAGE FROM A CITY INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED TREE, AND THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNER HAS NOTIFIED THE CITY OF THOSE DEFECTS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. MR. MAYOR MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, (305) 323-2154. WONDERFUL ORDINANCE. THE ONLY THING THAT I'M HERE TO ASK IS TO PLEASE GET OUR OUR CORAL GABLES PR OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED, THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE GET THIS, BECAUSE MOST OF US THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A GIVEN. IF THE TREES DAMAGED THE THE SIDEWALK, THE CITY WOULD FIX IT. AND SOME OF THE. THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT, YES, THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO CONTACT THE CITY AND REQUESTED AND LET THE CITY KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL THING. IF WE CAN GET COMMUNICATIONS TO TRANSMIT WHAT HAPPENED TODAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOVE IT, MOVE IT! SECOND. SECOND. MR. CLERK. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES.

COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER. LATA. YES. MAYOR

[E.-5. 26-1559 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 18 "Elections", to amend the Code consistent with the recently adopted Charter amendments to change the date of the City election, run-off, and qualifying dates; to amend the sections regarding the Canvassing Board and adjusting other associated dates for vacancies in qualifying; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY REPEALER CODIFICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING. MAYOR, AS A REMINDER, THIS IS IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGES THAT WERE ADOPTED INTO THE CHARTER AT THE LAST REFERENDUM, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL VACANCIES IN CANDIDACY AND QUALIFYING DATES, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE CLERK AND THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS INFORMATION. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE IT. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES.

COMMISSIONER. LATA. YES. VICE MAYOR. ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LAGO, AS A SPONSOR ITEM, I

[E.-6. 26-1560 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 2 "Administration", Article II "City Commission" to amend Section 2-29 "Compensation of Mayor, Commissioners; Travel Allowance; Office Expense" to require a vote of the electors prior to certain changes in compensation consistent with the recently approved Charter amendment; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

[E.-7. 26-1617 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 2 "Administration", Article III "Boards, Commissions, Committees" to create Division 12 "Charter Review Committee" to amend the Code to codify the Charter Review Committee, membership and qualifications, and require convening of the Committee every ten years beginning in 2035, consistent with the recently adopted Charter amendment; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

[02:45:03]

I SKE MYOI T THAT B. WT THE 668% AGAINST FOR FORST.

WHASHE WHAT S OU34,4%.OS ALMOSTOUE ORWHELMIN LLEAESORPORTS LEGISLIONKOU VY CH. MAY I HIO I'LLT. SOND, ANYUC COENT? NO, M M. PERFE WE HE A MOTN. AECONISSIER LAT YE YOERSON. Y. COMMSIERTRO.ES.

[E.-8. 26-1561 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 2 "Administration", Article VII "Finance", Division 1 "Generally" to amend Section 2-352 "Fund Balance and Reserve Policy" to require a vote of the electors, prior to certain changes to the Fund Balance Reserve Policy consistent with the recently approved Charter amendment; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES, COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR LAGO.

YES. IT'S GREAT TO PUT A BOW ON IT. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO

[F.-1. 26-1656 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing an initial funding commitment to support the operations and maintenance of The Underline within the City of Coral Gables in the prorated amount of $180,000 for Fiscal Year 2026; and authorizing the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding with The Underline Management Organization, Inc. d/b/a The Underline Conservancy regarding the funding, operations, maintenance, management, and programming of The Underline within the City of Coral Gables. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

[02:50:11]

SO WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME ISSUES, AND THE RESOLUTION AS IT READS, IT DOES HAVE THOSE INITIAL CONDITIONS THAT WE MENTIONED DURING THE LAST MEETING THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THOSE ITEMS TO BE PROVIDED TO US BY STAFF FROM THE UNDERLYING. THANK YOU, MADAM. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER? NO. I DO WANT TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT CAME UP DURING THE LAST MEETING WAS THE FINANCIAL NUMBERS FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

SO THEY DID COMMIT LAST FISCAL YEAR ABOUT $2.6 MILLION TO MAINTAIN THE UNDERLYING, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST COUPLE OF SEGMENTS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN OPEN AND USABLE FOR THIS 2526 ADOPTED BUDGET. THEY DID FUND $2.6 MILLION IN MAINTENANCE. AND AS I MENTIONED DURING THE LAST MEETING, IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT THE FUNDING COMMITMENT WILL BE DURING THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. SO AS A SPONSOR OF THIS OF THIS LEGISLATION. I'M NOT A FAN OF HAVING MY BACK AGAINST THE WALL, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE CITY HAS BEEN PUSHED TO A CORNER. WHEN I SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION THAT I WORKED ON WITH MAYOR DALEY PROUDLY TEN YEARS AGO, WE WORKED ON A FUNDING MECHANISM FOR CONSTRUCTION. WE TALKED ABOUT ENVISIONING A TEN MILE LINEAR PARK THAT WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL, TRANSFORMATIONAL NOT ONLY IN REGARDS TO QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT ALSO RAISING PROPERTY VALUES, BRINGING A COMMUNITY TOGETHER. NEVER DID WE DISCUSS, ACTUALLY, WE DID DISCUSS THE FACT THAT THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY WOULD BE FOR CAPITAL IN REGARDS TO CONSTRUCTION AND PLANNING. IT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED THAT WE WOULD HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY IN PERPETUITY FOR MAINTENANCE AND OVERHEAD. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE WERE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT WHEN WE INVESTED ALMOST $10 MILLION IN THE UNDERLYING. NOW, THE COUNTY HAS BACKED OUT OF THAT AGREEMENT, AND THE COUNTY IS SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE THE MAINTENANCE AND OVERHEAD. TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UNDERLYING IS KEPT TO THE STANDARD THAT WE ENVISIONED WHEN WE INVESTED ALL THIS MONEY.

I WROTE THE LEGISLATION WHICH DELIVERED ON THE FUNDING NECESSARY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, USING FUNDS IMPACT FUNDS WITHIN 1000FT OF THE UNDERLYING. WE'VE TRIED TO FIND WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THE COUNTY IS NOT COOPERATING. THEY'RE REQUIRING CITY OF MIAMI AND SOUTH MIAMI, WHICH I'VE MET WITH BOTH MAYORS, TO FIND SOLUTIONS. IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET MORE DIFFICULT ON CITIES. AND WHETHER YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF THE TAX CUTS OR NOT, THAT'S NOT THE DISCUSSION. IF THOSE TAX CUTS ARE APPROVED, WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS ISSUES. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNFORESEEN CONDITION THAT WE, AS A CITY, HAVE TO ADDRESS. WE HAVE ALMOST THREE MILES OF THE UNDERLYING WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES BORDERS. THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI RUNS PARALLEL TO ONE OF OUR MAJOR STREETS, PONCE DE LEON, AND WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ENSURE THAT THIS LINEAR PARK IS UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT WE TAKE SO MUCH PRIDE IN WHEN WE OPEN UP A NEW PARK. CASE IN POINT DAVID LAWRENCE PARK, THE LAST PARK THAT WE OPENED UP THAT EVERYBODY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY RANTS AND RAVES ABOUT, OR THE DOROTHY THOMPSON PARK AND I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON. SO I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AGREEING TO ANYTHING ELSE BUT THIS 180,000. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY COLLEAGUES CONSIDER AND SUPPORT ME IN ENSURING THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS EITHER APPOINTED OR HAS A DESIGNEE THAT HE APPOINTS TO THE GOVERNING BOARD. ONCE THAT GOVERNING BOARD IS ESTABLISHED. I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL, AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR REQUESTS, IS I JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD SO PEOPLE CAN HEAR IT AT HOME. WE'RE NOT JUST PUTTING

[02:55:03]

I'M NERVOUS ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY WILL RUN THAT. THREE MILES WITHIN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I DON'T LIKE TO TAKE SWIPES AT OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNTY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE SEE THAT HERE AT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, WE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER STANDARD IN REGARDS TO OUR PARKS, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND HOW WE MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS. AND THE REASON WHY I'M DOING IT FOR ONE YEAR IS BECAUSE I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO PLAY A ROLE. THIS COMMISSION, THIS COMMISSION, AND FUTURE COMMISSIONS TO PLAY A ROLE AND TO CONSTANTLY BE VETTING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY, THE UNDERLYING, AND THE COUNTY. I WELCOME EVERYONE'S GUIDANCE ON THIS MATTER. YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FORMS, BUT THIS, I THINK, ALLOWS US TO BACKSTOP THE UNDERLYING, SHOW THEM THAT WE SUPPORT THEM, BUT GET BACK TO THE TABLE TO NEGOTIATE WHAT THE NEXT THREE YEARS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE. I WILL NOT APPROVE FIVE YEARS. THAT WILL BE MY VOTE IN OPPOSITION. SO THAT'S WHERE BASICALLY WE STAND ON THIS ISSUE AFTER TEN YEARS. AND THAT'S THE UNDERLYING COMES TO FRUITION. IT'S A LITTLE BITTERSWEET FOR ME, AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU AS WE CUT THE RIBBON ON THAT, BECAUSE SO MANY ARE GOING TO ENJOY IT, BUT I NEVER EXPECTED THAT IT WOULD BE THIS MUCH OF A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE CITY. AND THE DIFFICULT NATURE OF IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET MORE COMPLICATED AS THE TAX ISSUE BECOMES A REALITY IN 2028, IF THE VOTERS APPROVE IT AND OTHER ISSUES. SO THAT'S WHY, AS THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH THE MANAGER AND STAFF THE OTHER DAY AND I MENTIONED IN OUR PENSION BOARD MEETING, IF WE CAN JUST BE FISCALLY PRUDENT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE WILL HAVE CLOSE TO $25 MILLION. AND I'M PRODUCING A MEMO THAT WILL BE GOING OUT TODAY TO THE RESIDENTS. AS A RECAP TO THAT MEETING, WE WILL HAVE $25 MILLION A YEAR THAT CAN BE SPENT BY THOSE LEADERS AT THAT MOMENT, IN FIVE YEARS, TO CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? THROUGH THE MAYOR. THANK YOU. SO BRIEFLY. YOU KNOW, DON'T TAKE MY MY VIEWS ON THIS AS IN ANY WAY CONDEMNING OR SHARING OR SHINING ANY SORT OF NEGATIVE LIGHT ON THE UNDERLYING. YOU THINK YOU THINK I HAVEN'T BEEN DIFFICULT ENOUGH ON MYSELF FOR IN THE LAST THREE MINUTES. IT'S OKAY. DON'T WORRY, I CAN TAKE IT, BUT I, I KNOW, BUT I, I.

AGREE AND SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION, BUT QUITE RELUCTANTLY, AS YOU'VE MADE PERFECTLY CLEAR, I EXPRESSED DURING THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING DISPLEASURE AT. ON SO MANY POINTS ON THE COMPASS, RIGHT, OF HOW WE FIND OURSELVES IN THIS POSITION. AND I ALSO DON'T LIKE TO HAVE MY BACK AGAINST THE WALL OR FIND MYSELF WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SHIFTING OF OF THE DECK OF CARDS, THREE CARD MONTE FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE A DEAL AND THEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE STARING AT A DIFFERENT SET OF VARIABLES RIGHT WHEN THERE SHOULD BE NO VARIABLE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS EVER BEEN AGREED TO. BUT, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENT WITH AND SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AMAZING PROJECT, RIGHT? THREE SOON BE THREE LINEAR MILES COMING THROUGH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES TO TRANSFORM WHAT WAS OTHERWISE AN ABANDONED OR, OR LET'S JUST SAY, BLIGHTED LOOKING TRACK OF LAND UNDERNEATH THE, THE METRO RAIL WHERE WE JUST NOW ARE PROVIDING THE RESIDENTS, WHICH IS ENHANCED PARK ACTIVITY, BEAUTY.

I'M 100% SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AND IN PARTICULAR OF MEG DAILY WITH HER PERSONAL SACRIFICE OVER SO MANY YEARS ON THIS LABOR OF LOVE. THAT IS THE UNDERLYING, BUT RELUCTANTLY SUPPORTED

[03:00:03]

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ASSISTANT MANAGER CAROLINA VESTER. SHE'S BEEN REALLY WORKING WITH US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH RESPECT TO NOT ONLY THE UNDERLYING IN GENERAL, THE FULL THREE MILES, BUT ALSO OTHER DESTINATION AREAS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO, YEAH, WE ABSOLUTELY WILL COMMIT TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING REQUESTED. AND WE ALSO WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND, AND ASSISTANT MANAGER. VESTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES. SO. SOMETIMES YOU WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS SORT OF LIKE THE PERFECT STORM. WE HAVE A YOU HAD A COMMITMENT AT ONE POINT FROM THE COUNTY TO MAINTAIN A BEAUTIFUL ASSET. AND NOW YOU'VE PUT SO MUCH WORK INTO AND BENEFITS, ALL BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT TRAVEL THROUGH OUR CITY ON AN UNDERLYING ARE NOT JUST FROM THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND VICE VERSA. AND, AND I THINK YOU'RE AWARE OF THE EFFORTS I'VE MADE TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THEIR UNDERLYING THROUGH ITS ENTIRE LENGTH. AS WE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING ON, ON 27TH AVENUE TO IMPROVE THAT INTERSECTION IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE IT'S VERY DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE TO TRAVERSE. BUT THIS HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOT TO BE LOOKED AT AS A LONG TERM ASSET. I THINK FROM THE COUNTY, AND THAT SERIOUS CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE HAD. IT'S A PERFECT STORM TO BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME, ALL MUNICIPALITIES AND ACCOUNTING ARE LOOKING AT LOWER PROPERTY TAX REVENUES GOING FORWARD, NOT ONLY BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE FLATTENED OUT, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE THREAT FROM TALLAHASSEE TO CUT REVENUES SIGNIFICANTLY. SO IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FORECAST FOR THE UNDERLYING OR TO FORECAST FOR THE CITY WHAT OUR COMMITMENTS CAN BE IN THE FUTURE. SO BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CAVEATS THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS PUT FORWARD TO TRY TO IMPROVE OPTIONS IN THE FUTURE EFFICIENCIES, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR BUDGET BUDGET MEETINGS COMING UP, AND I KNOW WHAT IT COSTS FOR US TO MAINTAIN OUR PARKS. AND AS EXPRESSED TO ME BY OTHER CITY MANAGERS DURING SATURDAY'S GALA, WE CAN BUILD IT WITH MOBILITY IMPACT FEES OR WITH BONDING MONEY, BUT WE CAN'T MAINTAIN IT WITH THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE THOSE MONIES CANNOT BE USED FOR THAT.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A RECURRING COURSE, RECURRING SOURCE, I SHOULD SAY, OF FUNDING GOING FORWARD. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION YET? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I'LL SECOND. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR OR THE MANAGER. DO WE KNOW DO WE HAVE AN IDEA WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW IN REGARDS TO PROPERTY, PROPERTY REVENUE, LIKE THE INCREASES OF PROPERTY VALUES, WE'VE GONE FROM TEN AND A HALF TO EIGHT AND A HALF TO FIVE AND A HALF OVER THREE YEARS. I DON'T THINK I WAS LAUGHED AT. I THINK I WAS MOCKED AT BY CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HERE WHEN I SAID THAT WINTER WAS COMING. NOW, WITH THE TAX TAX IMPLICATIONS THAT ARE FORTHCOMING WITH A $2 MILLION COLA THAT WE'RE SPENDING A YEAR NOW WITH OUR REQUIREMENT TO FUND THE UNDERLYING. TO GIVE EVERYBODY BETTER BUNDLE UP, BECAUSE IT'S

[03:05:09]

SO NEW CONSTRUCTION, THE VALUE OF NEW CONSTRUCTION IN OUR CITY ACTUALLY MORE THAN DOUBLED THAN LAST YEAR. SO AS YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR OUR NEW CONSTRUCTION VALUE HAD GONE DOWN AND THIS YEAR IT WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY. SO WHAT IS SO WE WENT FROM THREE YEARS AGO, TEN AND A HALF OR TEN AND A HALF. RIGHT. I THINK IT WAS TEN AND A HALF. THEN TWO YEARS AGO WAS ABOUT EIGHT AND A HALF, AND THEN IT WENT TO FIVE AND A HALF. THERE WAS A YEAR THAT WE WENT TO 12, AND THEN LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT 5.8, 5.8, AND THIS YEAR IS 6.5. I THOUGHT YOU WERE SAYING 6.5 ON TOP OF THE 5.8.

NO NO NO. SIX POINT. DON'T GET TOO EXCITED GUYS. DON'T GET DON'T GET TOO EXCITED BY THE WAY. HEALTH HEALTH COSTS WENT UP THIS YEAR. HEALTH HEALTH COSTS WENT UP THIS YEAR. SO WE GOT THE UNDERLYING WE GOT THE COLA THIS YEAR. AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WHAT THE STATE'S GOING TO DO WITH PROPERTY VALUES NEXT YEAR. SO YEAH. SO WE'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY INTERESTING NUMBERS BY THE WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THOSE NUMBERS WITH THE MANAGER. I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS WORKED ON IT OVER THE WEEKEND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS AND THEY'RE PRETTY STAGGERING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 250,000 HOMESTEAD VERSUS THE 500, WHICH WOULD BE SUBSEQUENT THE YEAR AFTER THE NUMBERS, THE NUMBERS ARE MASSIVE. AGAIN, GREAT RELIEF FOR SENIORS AND THOSE RETIREES THAT DESERVE IT AND THE MILITARY. BUT IT WILL HIT THE CITY MASSIVELY. MASSIVELY. YES.

YES, SIR. YES, MAYOR. WE HAD EXISTING VALUES WENT UP 5.5%. THE NEW CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNTABLE LAST YEAR, 0.4% THIS YEAR, 1%. AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE HAD SOME MAJOR SALES IN CORAL GABLES. WE'VE HAD BECOME A VERY POPULAR CITY. AND WE'VE WE'VE HAD SALES REPORTED NATIONALLY. AND SO WE I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT OUR EXISTING PROPERTY VALUES WENT UP 5.55% WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1% OR NEW CONSTRUCTION, THANK GOD.

SO MAYBE, MAYBE 1% BETTER THAN LAST YEAR. OKAY, WELL, IT'S BETTER, BETTER THAN BETTER, BUT WE'RE STILL, STILL NOT WHAT WE NEED TO BE THE MAYOR. WE WENT UP 4.4% LAST YEAR FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE WENT ONE FULL PERCENT UP THIS YEAR. CONSTRUCTION. GOOD STUFF. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. SO I AGREE, MR. MAYOR, AS WE DISCUSSED LAST TIME, I THINK THAT WE'RE BEING PUT UP AGAINST THE WALL WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AFTER WE'VE SPENT AS MUCH AS WE'VE SPENT ON THIS PROJECT. AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE MENTIONED LAST TIME, TO NO FAULT OF THE UNDERLYING THIS IS THE COUNTY. WHAT WAS STRIKING FOR ME WAS AFTER THAT MEETING, I ACTUALLY HAD PEOPLE APPROACH ME WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS AND WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT, AND THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNTY WAS THE ONE THAT WAS RENEGING ON WHAT IT HAD PROFFERED ORIGINALLY, AND I HAD TO INFORM THEM. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE OUT THERE WHO DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S TAKING PLACE UNDERSTAND. MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS THE ONE WHO IS PULLING BACK ON PAYING FOR THE MAINTENANCE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE EVEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE PROCESS, DID NOT APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT IT WAS THE COUNTY. THEY THOUGHT THAT THE CITY WAS THE ONE WHO WAS ALWAYS REQUIRED TO DO THIS. THE CITY NEVER HAD A REQUIREMENT TO PAY FOR MAINTENANCE. WE HAD THE REQUIREMENT TO PUT IN THE CAPITAL, BUT THE MAINTENANCE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE HANDLED BY THE UNDERLYING AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THAT ON THERE. AND I AGREE WITH YOU, MR. MAYOR. I THINK IF WE DO HAVE AN AGREEMENT GOING FORWARD, I THINK A THREE YEAR MAXIMUM HAS TO BE OUR WHAT WE CONSIDER, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF UNCERTAINTIES GOING FORWARD PAST 2028. SO I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER WE HAVE, WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD. FIRST, SPEAKER MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD (305) 323-2154. I HEARD THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT THE

[03:10:01]

THE OTHER THING IS YOU COMMIT $180,000 OF CORAL GABLES MONEY. WHAT ARE YOU WHAT ARE WE? WE'RE GOOD CREDITORS. WE ARE GOOD CREDITORS. AND THAT MONEY CAN BE USED TO MAKE ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY WANT TO DO ALONGSIDE THE UNDERLYING. IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE THE ONES GUARANTEEING WHATEVER LOAN OR IMPROVEMENT OR PROJECT IS GOING ALONG THERE. WHETHER IT BE A MILLION, EIGHT WILL BE 3.6 MILLION. WHATEVER IT IS WE ARE UNDERWRITING THIS. THE SERVICE CALLS THAT WE HAVE THERE, THE ISSUES THAT COULD POP UP FROM THREE MILES OF UNDERLYING. IT'S JUST ASTOUNDING TO TO COMMIT ANYTHING ALONG THE LINES OF THE UNDERLYING IS OBJECTIONABLE TO EVERYBODY. I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT COULD ENTAIL. IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMMITMENT. IT'S GOING TO BITE US AND IT'S GOING TO HURT US. IT'S NOT GOING TO BENEFIT

[03:15:06]

THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN LIKE ABOUT $20,000 LEFT, AND WE'LL GIVE THAT TO SOMETHING ELSE THAT WILL NEED IT. OKAY. SO. THE UNDERLINE IS SOMETHING THAT SUPPORTS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT RESIDENTS REALLY LIKE THAT THEY SHOW A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR. AND, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO CONFLICTED. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE YES ON THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WHEN THEY DID NOT COME INTO AGREEMENT FOR THE REST OF THE THE THE MILLION DOLLARS TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COUNTY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN OUR CITY. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THIS TO MAKE IT MOVE FORWARD, BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING FURTHER THAN THIS. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES, COMMISSIONER LATTA, FOR THE REASONS I STATED. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON, FOR THE REASONS STATED. YES. MAYOR LARGO, YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING ON TO ONE FINAL ITEM BEFORE WE GO

[E.-10. 26-1388 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Zoning Code Article 14, "Process," Section 14-208, "Appeals," to revise appeal procedures, extension deadlines, and notice of appeal requirements; limiting the scope of stays; establishing provisions regarding consolidation, related approvals, finality, and abandonment of appeals; providing for severability clause; providing for a repealer provision, providing for a severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (05 20 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 7-0)]

[03:20:03]

[H.-6. 26-1640 A Resolution of the City Commission granting the City Manager to negotiate purchase terms for the purchase of 475 Biltmore Way.]

ONE EXTRA THING DONE. WE CAN. IT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY. IT SHOULD BE VERY QUICK. OKAY, THAT. WE'LL DO IT NOW. OKAY. THE CIRCULATOR SERVICES IS A IS THE TROLLEY. MR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS AND VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. SO THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS AN IS THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. IT SAYS CIRCULATOR SERVICES. BUT THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE TROLLEY. IT'S AN ONGOING AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY.

THANK YOU. SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. NO. IT'S OKAY. I THOUGHT WE JUST TAKE TWO LITTLE TWO LITTLE ONES. YEAH. THIS IS UPDATING OUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR THE TROLLEY SERVICE. OUR ORIGINAL AGREEMENT THAT STARTED IN 2012 IS SET TO EXPIRE NEXT YEAR. THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING IT. SO WE WENT THROUGH AND AND ARE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR, OKAY, I'LL MOVE IT.

SECOND. SECOND. COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES.

COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. AND I HAVE ONE LAST ONE. I THINK THE DCM WILL BE HAPPY ABOUT THIS. THIS WILL BE VERY, VERY QUICK. H6 IF WE CAN DO THIS 1 IN 15 SECONDS, WE'LL BE EVEN FASTER. H6H6. IS THE RESOLUTION GRANTING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE PURCHASE TERMS FOR THE PURCHASE OF 475 BILTMORE WAY? MR. MANAGER MR. MAYOR COMMISSIONERS,

[03:25:01]

SO, SO IT'S, IT'S AVAILABLE NOW. AND I THINK AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGO IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT AGAIN SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGO, BUT FROM A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE, A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT WILL BE NOW. YES IT WILL. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS PAGE PEREZ, ASSET MANAGER. JUST TO ADD TO WHAT THE CITY MANAGER JUST ARTICULATED, THE CITY REQUEST TODAY YOUR APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE HIM TO FINALIZE PURCHASE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 475 AND 495 BILTMORE WAY. IT IS SITUATED SITUATED ON THE SAME BLOCK AS CITY HALL IN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. THIS PROPERTY SUPPORTS THE LONG TERM PLAN OF CONSOLIDATING CONSOLIDATING MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS INTO ONE CENTRAL HUB, CREATING A SEAMLESS ONE STOP SHOP FOR RESIDENTS TO ACCESS MUNICIPAL SERVICES. THIS CONSOLIDATION WILL REDUCE THE NEED FOR DEPARTMENTS TO OPERATE FROM MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, IMPROVE COORDINATION AND OVERALL EFFICIENCY BETWEEN STAFF, AND CREATE A SMOOTHER AND MORE CONVENIENT EXPERIENCE FOR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CLERK, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. YES, MR. MAYOR MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, (305) 323-2154. I LIKE THE IDEA. I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TOLD SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE IS FULLY RENTED. WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING RENTAL LEASE MONEY. ET CETERA. ET CETERA. THE PROBLEM IS THAT AS WE KNOW, BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THE 427 ORDEAL, ONCE WE BUY IT, YOU'LL HAVE TO BE REFITTED. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON IT. AND EVEN THOUGH I LIKE THE IDEA, I THINK THE TIMING IS NOT GOOD. WHEN WE DON'T KNOW AND WHEN WE KNOW THE WINTER IS COMING BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TALLAHASSEE IS GOING TO END UP DOING. NOT A GOOD IDEA TODAY. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. PERFECT. MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO. SOURCE OF THE FUNDS ARE LIMITED FUND THAT WE CANNOT PUT INTO THE GENERAL FUND. SO FOR THAT REASON, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE THIS THIS FUNDS CAN ONLY BE SPENT FOR THIS TYPE OF THING.

SO WITH THAT I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. YEAH. AND IF I MAY ALSO GO AHEAD. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. NO. GO AHEAD. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES.

COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. MAYOR LAGO IN THE NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY PAINT EVERYTHING IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT, THE LACK OF ACTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY REFLECTS POORLY ON THAT INDIVIDUAL. THE MONEY HERE IS NOT BEING PUT FORTH VIA DEBT. IT DOES NOT COST THE CITY ANYTHING. IT'S MONEY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE AND AS THE VICE MAYOR MENTIONED, CANNOT BE USED FOR ANYTHING EXCEPT THIS. SO AT THE END OF

[03:30:02]

OPPOSING VIEWS. BUT WITH ACTUAL FACTS AND ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW. SO MY VOTE IS YES. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. MANAGER, WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK ON THIS. OKAY. THANK YOU. I KNOW WE I KNOW WE HAVEN'T CLOSED IT, BUT I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG, LONG PROCESS AND YOU'VE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. MAYOR, WE'RE GOING TO GO ON A LUNCH BREAK RIGHT NOW. I HOPE EVERYBODY ENJOYS LUNCH. WE'LL BE BACK AT 155. THAT MEANS WE'LL BE REALLY BACK AT 2:00. MR. CLARK. RECORDING IN PROGRESS NINE

[E.-9. 26-1570 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Ordinance No. 1952, as amended, which changed the zoning on Lots 1, 2, 3, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 Block 120 and Lots 1 thru 5, Block 131, Country Club Section 6, (430, 440, 450, and 520 University Drive), Coral Gables, Florida, to remove certain conditions of approval for Lots 1 thru 5, Block 131 (520 University Drive): (1) that limit the use of the property to overflow parking, and (2), that revert the zoning of the property under certain circumstances to single-family zoning; all other conditions of approval contained in Ordinance No. 1952 shall remain in effect. (05 20 26 PZB recommended approval with recommendations, Vote: 5-2)]

THESE TWO PROPERTIES ARE FORMERLY SINGLE FAMILY TO BE ZONED. SPECIAL USE TO BE USED FOR OFF OFF STREET OVERFLOW PARKING FOR THE YOUTH CENTER AND THE LIBRARY. THE THIRD CONDITION HAS TWO PARTS. THE THIRD CONDITION DEALT WITH THE INGRESS AND EGRESS OFF OF UNIVERSITY DRIVE. THAT WOULD ONLY BE OFF THE UNIVERSITY DRIVE FOR THESE PARKING LOTS.

AND THEN WHEN IT WAS NOT BEING USED FOR PARKING, IT WOULD BE CLOSED OFF FOR ANY PUBLIC ACCESS AS A FENCE OR SOME KIND OF BARRIER. AND THE FOURTH CONDITION DEALS WITH REVERTER CLAUSE THAT IF THERE WAS SOME TIME THAT THE COMMISSION OR THE CITY DEEMED THAT THE OVERFLOW PARKING WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY, THAT THE PROPERTY WOULD BE REVERTED BACK TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONING. SO WE ARE LOOKING JUST AT THE PROPERTY THAT IS KNOWN AS 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE AND BETWEEN RIVIERA AND KADIMA. THE PROPERTY RIGHT THERE. SO THE CURRENT FUTURE LAND USE IS PUBLIC GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS, AND THE ZONING IS STILL SPECIAL USE ZONING AS IT REMAINS BACK FROM 1972. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE DEALING WITH THOSE FOUR CONDITIONAL APPROVALS THAT WERE PART OF THAT ORIGINAL ORDINANCE TO SPECIFY FOR ONLY THE PROPERTY, AGAIN, DEALING WITH 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, THAT WOULD STILL REMAIN TO BE IN A PARK LIKE MANNER WITH THOSE TREES AND PRESERVATION OF THAT OF THAT LANDSCAPE THAT'S THERE.

THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE AMENDED TO CLARIFY THAT THE INTENT OF THE COMMISSION IS TO ALSO HAVE IT AS OVERFLOW PARKING, OR ALSO FUNCTION AS A PUBLIC PARK. AND THE THIRD CONDITION IS AMENDED

[03:35:08]

PUBLIC COMMENT. YES, MISTER. MAYOR. FIRST SPEAKER. MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD (305) 323-2154. I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE APPROACHED ME. PEOPLE THAT LIVE WHERE I LIVE AND THEIR COMMENTS ARE VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE MOST OF THEM SAID THAT THERE'S TOO MANY DOG PARKS IN THAT AREA WHERE IT'S BEING PROPOSED. SOME PEOPLE ASKED ME, WHAT ABOUT SOUTH GABLES? WE HAVEN'T. ARE THERE ANY DOG PARKS IN SOUTH CABLES? WELL, I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU THAT THIS IS NEEDED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PART OF DOGS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SOCIALIZE BECAUSE MAYBE THE DOGS CANNOT BE TAKEN BY CAR BECAUSE THEY MAY GET CAR SICK, MAYBE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A BACKYARD BIG ENOUGH FOR THEIR DOGS. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU HAVE A DOG PARK AND SALVADOR PARK. YOU HAVE THIS, THE WORLD FAMOUS CHUEY PARK UNDER BY THE UNDERLYING AT THE UNDERLYING. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT CONCERN ME. I HAVE A CAT AND I DON'T HAVE A CAT PARK, BUT I DON'T NEED ONE BECAUSE I DO HAVE A BACKYARD.

AND BESIDES, MY CAT LIVES INSIDE MY HOUSE AND HE DOESN'T NEED TO SOCIALIZE WITH CATS THAT ARE ROAMING AROUND, POSSIBLY CARRYING DISEASES. AND THAT'S WHAT MY VET SAID WHEN I ASKED, WOULD YOU TAKE YOUR DOGS TO A DOG PARK? HE SAID, ABSOLUTELY NOT, BECAUSE WHAT GUARANTEE DO I HAVE THAT THEY'VE BEEN VACCINATED, PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF? THAT'S FROM A VET. AND THEN MY LAST COMMENT, I THINK, IS THAT ONCE AGAIN, HERE WE OPEN THE DOOR.

WE REMOVED THE RESTRICTION FROM ONE PROPERTY. BUT GUESS WHAT? ONCE YOU DO THAT, ALL OTHER PEOPLE CAN COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, WAIT A SECOND. THERE ARE OTHER PURPOSES THERE THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ELSE. AND EVENTUALLY WHAT THE INTENT OF THAT PLAN WAS NOT TO DO ANYTHING UNLESS PARKING, BECAUSE PARKING IS ONLY SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. OKAY. AND THE PEOPLE CAN USE THOSE PROPERTIES FOR A PARK, BUT IT'S NOT ENCUMBERED WITH BENCHES AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE PUT ON PARKS. OKAY. SO TO ME, THIS IS A WASTE OF EVERYBODY'S TIME.

IT'S A WASTE OF CITY'S MONEY. AND ONCE AGAIN, A FEW ARE TRYING TO TELL THE THE MOST TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. SYLVIA KING. SYLVIA KING, 3617 HARLAN STREET. I AM AN ATTORNEY

[03:40:07]

ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS ANOTHER SUNSHINE LAW VIOLATION AT THE MAY 20TH BOARD HEARING. ANOTHER SPEAKER WILL ADDRESS THIS. WE INCUR CORPORATE WITHOUT WAIVER. ALL OF OUR LACK OF NOTICE AND IMPROPER PROCEDURE ARGUMENTS FROM THE ZONING HEARING AND OUR NEW COMPLAINT. SEPARATELY, WE SERVE DISCOVERY ON THE CITY. THE COMMISSION SHOULDN'T DECIDE ANYTHING UNTIL WE GET ANSWERS TO THE DISCOVERY AND UNTIL THE LAWSUIT IS RESOLVED. SECOND, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE VICE MAYOR SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON THIS ISSUE. SHE IS A CENTRAL FIGURE IN OUR LAWSUIT, AND SHE IS TOO PERSONALLY INVESTED IN A DOG PARK AT THIS LOCATION TO BE IMPARTIAL MEMBERS OF OUR ASSOCIATION WHO LIVE DIRECTLY ON THE TRIANGLE SAY THAT IN 2024, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON PERSONALLY CONTACTED THEM ABOUT THE DOG PARK. SHE HEARD THEIR OPPOSITION AND PROMISED THE CITY WOULDN'T GO FORWARD WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT. A YEAR LATER, AT THE NOVEMBER 2025 COMMISSION MEETING, THE VICE MAYOR DIDN'T DISCLOSE THOSE CONTACTS. SHE SAID HER PROJECT, QUOTE IS FOR THE NEIGHBORS, NOT MENTIONING THAT THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS WERE OPPOSED, SHE SAID SHE FOUND 520 UNIVERSITY AND MADE A ROUGH DOG PARK SKETCH. THIS WAS, IN HER WORDS, HER HANDIWORK. SHE SAID. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION BETWEEN ME AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THIS. BUT AT THE JANUARY 13TH COMMISSION MEETING, CONFRONTED WITH PUBLIC OPPOSITION, HER STORY CHANGED. WE WENT FROM THIS IS MY HANDIWORK TO. IN HER WORDS, THIS WAS NOT LED BY ME. AND SHE CHASTISED THE ASSOCIATION, SAYING, QUOTE, NONE OF YOU CAME TO PROVIDE INPUT. IN FACT, OUR MEMBERS WERE SOME OF THE FIRST TO PROVIDE INPUT TO HER. AND IT WAS A FIRM NO. THE VICE MAYOR CONTINUED TO MAKE PROMISES. AT THE ZONING BOARD MEETING, I MET A RESIDENT WHO SIGNED OUR PETITION AGAINST THIS DOG PARK.

HE WAS THERE TO MAKE SURE THE REVERTER CLAUSE WAS NOT REMOVED FROM THE 400 UNIVERSITY BLOCK BY HIS HUNDRED YEAR OLD HOME. JENNIFER GARCIA FROM ZONING CAME OVER TO ASSURE HIM THAT THE REVERTER WOULD NOT BE REMOVED FOR HIM. HE EXPLAINED. THE VICE MAYOR PERSONALLY ASSURED HIM THE BARK PARK WOULD NOT BE PLACED NEXT TO HIM. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE SAY THE AMENDMENTS ARE ILLEGAL ZONING. THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL ACTION. WE ARE ENTITLED TO AN IMPERSONAL, IMPARTIAL DECISION MAKER. RESPECTFULLY, THE RECORD SHOWS THE VICE MAYOR IS BIASED ON THIS MATTER AND WE MOVE TO RECUSE HER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ELENA. LENA FERNANDEZ, CAN I SUBMIT THIS TO THE CLERK? THANK YOU MA'AM. EXCUSE ME, IF I MAY, JUST OUT OF RESPECT FOR FOR EVERYONE WHO'S HERE, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP ALL THE COMMENTS TOWARDS THE COMMISSION AND THAT WE DON'T SPEAK OUT OF TURN AND SPEAK FROM THE GALILEE.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FROM THE GALLERY, I APOLOGIZE. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS LEONEL FERNANDEZ. I'M A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. I LIVE AT 415 KADIMA AVENUE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE JANUARY 13TH CITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES IN RELATION TO TODAY'S ITEM. COMMISSIONER CASTRO AND COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, WHEN I RAISED THESE POINTS, I'M NOT DIRECTING THEM TO YOU. THE MINUTES SHOW THAT YOU ADVOCATED FOR A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS. YOU LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS AND ENCOURAGE YOUR COLLEAGUES TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS AND START OVER.

AT THAT MEETING, OUR ATTORNEY TOLD YOU, AND YOU CAN SEE ON PAGE FOUR OF THE TRANSCRIPTS THAT THE CITY COULD NOT BUILD A DOG PARK AT 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE FOR SEVERAL REASONS, INCLUDING THE ZONING ON THE PROPERTY, WHICH IS S USE WITH CONDITIONS, WOULD NOT ALLOW IT.

THOSE CONDITIONS PER ORDINANCE 1952 REQUIRE THE PROPERTY BE USED ONLY FOR OVERFLOW PARKING.

THAT PROPERTY BE MAINTAINED IN A PARK LIKE CONDITION. THAT INGRESS AND EGRESS OCCUR ONLY FROM UNIVERSITY DRIVE, AND THAT IF OVERFLOW PARKING WAS NOT NEEDED IN THE FUTURE, THE PROPERTY WOULD REVERT BACK TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONING. TODAY'S ITEM PROVES ORDINANCE 1952 REMAINS IN EFFECT, AND THAT YOU CANNOT BUILD A DOG PARK ON THE PROPERTY WITHOUT CHANGING THAT ORDINANCE. WHEN OUR MEMBERS TOLD YOU WE RECEIVED NO NOTICE OF THE NOVEMBER 18TH REGARDING

[03:45:02]

SUAREZ ON PAGE 20. ON 21, YOU ALSO TOLD US WE WERE NOT EXCLUDED FROM THE PROCESS, AND THAT WAS MR. LAUREN, 21. MR. LARGO ON PAGE 22. TODAY'S ITEM WITH PROPERTY POSTINGS, MAILINGS WITHIN 1000FT AND LEGAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, PROVES THE NOVEMBER 18TH ITEM, AN ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION WERE NOT CORRECT. MR. MAYOR, YOU ASKED STAFF TO LOOK AT SALVADOR DOG PARK AND BLUE ROAD OPEN SPACE AS EXISTING PIECES OF LAND THAT WERE CHANGED. SOME.

PAGE 23. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WERE BRIEFED, BUT BLUE ROAD WAS A VERY DIFFERENT PROCESS FOR TWO REASONS. IT HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. UNLIKE OURS IN THE TWO PROPERTIES WERE PARKED IN OPEN SPACE, UNLIKE OURS. PAGE 23. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THIS PROPERTY WAS ALREADY A PARK, AND NO NOTICE WAS NEEDED TO TRANSITION THE PARK TO ANOTHER PARK USE. THAT WAS MR. IGLESIAS, 20, LARA, 20 AND 21 AND 24. TODAY'S DRAFT AMENDMENTS PROVE 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE IS NOT ALREADY A PARK, AND YOUR PROCESS WAS INCORRECT WHEN WE SAID A BARK PARK WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND DISRUPT THE FRAGILE ECOSYSTEMS, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, BUT WE CAN HELP DESIGN IT. MR. LAUREN, 19 AND ON 27 WE DON'T WANT A DOG PARK. IF WE WERE GOING TO DESIGN A DOG PARK, IT WOULD BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WANTED IT. IT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH MIAMI-DADE AND CITY OF CORAL GABLES CODES, AND IT WOULDN'T INCLUDE PLANTS AND TREES THAT ARE UNSAFE FOR DOGS IF INGESTED. WHEN ONE OF OUR MEMBERS RAISED SERIOUS AND SPECIFIC ISSUES WITH THE NOVEMBER PETITION SUBMITTED IN SUPPORT OF OFF LEASH DOG PARKS, YOU ALLOWED THE THREE YEAR OLD CATALONIA DOG PARK SIGNATURES TO BE ADDED TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED DOG PARK. THAT WAS ON PAGE TEN AND 16. ANDERSON, 15 AND 17, LARGO ON 16 AND ON. PAGE 30. COMMISSIONER CASTRO ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO DEVELOP A STANDARDIZED PARK NOTIFICATION AND PETITION PROCESS. PAGE 25 AND 26. IT'S BEEN FIVE MONTHS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESULTS, OR AT LEAST A WORKING DRAFT. PLEASE ALSO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN A PASSIVE PARK AND AN ACTIVE RECREATION USE IN YOUR APPROACH. THERE ARE SEVERAL SECTIONS IN THE JANUARY 13TH MINUTES WHERE MAYOR LARGO, COMMISSIONER LARA AND VICE MAYOR ANDERSON SAID, YOU DO NOT WANT TO PIT RESIDENTS AGAINST EACH OTHER, BUT THIS FAILED PROCESS HAS IGNITED THAT CONFLICT. IN ADDITION, ONE OF YOU REACHED OUT TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED OUR PETITION TO GET THEM TO RECONSIDER. COMMISSIONER LARA, YOU SAID THIS NOVEMBER 18TH VOTE WAS A LAWFUL VOTE, PAGE 27. BUT TODAY'S VOTE ITEMS PROVES OTHERWISE. WHETHER YOU WERE GIVEN INACCURATE INFORMATION FROM STAFF, NOT ADVISED OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES DEALINGS, OR IT JUST DIDN'T MATTER, I DON'T KNOW. BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO KNOW IS HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CORRECT THIS? AND IT'S NOT BY RAISING THIS ITEM THROUGH BECAUSE OF LITIGATION, AS THE BOARD ATTORNEY ADVISED THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. IVAN. ALISA. HELLO. MY NAME IS IVANA. I'M A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I LIVE AT 535 BIRD ROAD. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CORAL GABLES PUBLIC LIBRARY AND GIVE YOU STATISTICS THAT MAKE CLEAR WHY ORDINANCE 1952 SHOULD NOT BE AMENDED TO BEST UNDERSTAND WHY CORAL GABLES PUBLIC LIBRARY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO OVERFLOW PARKING IN THE LOT, YOU NEED ONLY LOOK AT THEIR CURRENT DOOR COUNT, SPECIAL EVENTS AND COUNTRYWIDE EARLY VOTING ATTENDANCE. YOU MAY RECALL THAT CORAL GABLES PUBLIC LIBRARY UNDERWENT AN EXTENSIVE RENOVATION PROGRAM AT A COST OF 6.8 MILLION. THE BUILDING RECEIVED A NEW ROOF, NEW HURRICANE IMPACT WINDOWS, BATHROOMS AND AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS YOU CAN NOW PLUG INTO YOUR CHAIR FOR DATA AND TECHNICAL HOOKUP, RATHER THAN SCORING FOR AN OUTLET. NEW COMPUTERS AND OTHER TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT ENHANCEMENTS ARE ALSO IN PLACE, INCLUDING OUTDOOR WIFI FOR THE PUBLIC. IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS EMAILED THE MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM A SERIES OF QUESTIONS REGARDING ATTENDANCE AT THE CORAL GABLES BRANCH. THEY RECEIVED A TIMELY AND. THROUGHOUT RESPONSE FROM THE

[03:50:01]

THE CORAL GABLES BRANCH LIBRARY AVERAGES 30 TO 40 PROGRAMS PER MONTH, WHICH PROGRAMING RELATED ATTENDANCE ESTIMATED BETWEEN 1000 AND 1250 PER MONTH. THUS, 12,000 TO 15,000 PER YEAR CURRENTLY, FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 AND 26, THE DOOR COUNT AVERAGES ARE APPROXIMATELY 26,000 VISITS PER MONTH. THAT'S 312,000 VISITORS PER YEAR, THE THIRD HIGHEST AMONG ALL THE 50 BRANCHES LAST YEAR FISCAL YEAR 24 AND 25. THE CORAL GABLES BRANCH AVERAGED APPROXIMATELY 31,000 VISITS PER MONTH, OR 372,000 FOR THE YEAR, THE SECOND MOST VISITED BRANCH IN TERMS OF DOOR COUNT, SURPASSED ONLY BY THE MIAMI. THAT MY. THE MAIN LIBRARY IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI FROM 2018 TO 2024. COUNTRYWIDE. EARLY VOTING AT THE CORAL GABLES BRANCH LIBRARY HAS RANGED FROM 16,000 TO 25,000 PARTICIPANTS. THAT'S A LARGE NUMBER OF VOTERS IN A CONCENTRATED TWO WEEK PERIOD FOR THE PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION, WITH GOVERNOR, U.S.

SENATOR, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND MANY OTHER STATE POSITIONS. IN ADDITION.

NOW TO CORAL GABLES, THE NUMBER WILL AGAIN BE HIGH FOR THE TWO WEEK PERIODS, PRIMARY AND GENERAL THROUGHOUT ALL YEARS. THE CORAL GABLES BRANCH HAS CONSISTENTLY RANKED AMONG THE TOP FIVE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, WHERE EVERYBODY IS COMING THROUGH IN OR NEAR CORAL GABLES TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS. OTHER COUNT OF 372 000 ANNUALLY, 15000 SPECIAL EVENT ATTENDEES YEARLY AND 25000 VOTERS DURING EARLY VOTING PERIOD IS EASY TO SEE.

WHY THE ABILITY TO HAVE OVERFLOW PARKING IN THE LOT MUST REMAIN. TAKING AWAY THE OVERFLOW PARKING AT 520 UNIVERSITY MAKES NO SENSE. SIMPLY, THE NUMBERS DO NOT ADD UP. THANK YOU, GINA AND DAVIS. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM GINA DAVIS AND I SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE. I AM A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. I LIVE AT 3710 HARLAN STREET, WHICH I HAVE OWNED SINCE 2004. I BOUGHT MY FIRST HOME IN CORAL GABLES IN 1973, AND OVER THE YEARS I HAVE ALSO OWNED HOMES ON COLUMBUS, MARIANA, ANDALUSIA AND ANDERSON. I TELL YOU THIS TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED NEIGHBORHOOD NOTIFICATION IN NUMEROUS PAST OCCASIONS. NEVER DID I THINK THAT THIS CITY WOULD UNDERTAKE TO BUILD A DOG PARK HALF A BLOCK FROM MY HOME WITHOUT NOTIFICATION. I WAS FURTHER SURPRISED THAT THE COMMISSION DECIDED NOT TO REMEDY THIS ORIGINAL ERROR. I DO NOT SEE THE NEED FOR ANOTHER DOG PARK WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF AND FENCES. MY DOG GRACE AND I ARE HAPPY TO WALK THROUGH NATURE AS IT HAS EXISTED ON THE LOTS IN QUESTION FOR MANY YEARS.

GRACE AND I ARE DOCUMENTED DOING JUST THAT USE OF THE AREA IN THE GABLES GAZETTE. THEY RUN THAT PHOTO EVERY TIME THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE ACTIVITY ON THIS ISSUE. I SEE THIS AS AN ISSUE WHERE IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT HAS STEAMROLLED OVER THE RESIDENTS OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. IF YOU THINK THAT THIS IS NOT YOUR ISSUE BECAUSE YOU DO NOT LIVE CLOSE BY, THEN I SHARE WITH YOU THE FOLLOWING FROM PASTOR MARTIN, NEIL MEYER. FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE COMMUNISTS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A COMMUNIST. THEN THEY CAME FOR THE SOCIALISTS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A SOCIALIST. THEN THEY CAME FOR THE TRADE UNIONISTS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A TRADE UNIONIST. THEN THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT, BECAUSE I WAS NOT A JEW. BUT THEN THEY CAME FOR ME, AND THERE WAS NO ONE LEFT TO SPEAK FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. LYNN MACHADO. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LYNN

[03:55:02]

THE YOUTH CENTER, WITH YEAR ROUND PLAYING FIELDS, TOURNAMENTS, THEATER PERFORMANCES, CLASSES AND RENTALS, ALSO BRINGS CARS, SCHOOL BUSSES, TRAFFIC AND ENERGY DAILY. THE PASSIVE GREEN SPACE SERVES AS A NEEDED BUFFER WHILE ALSO PROVIDING THE LIBRARY WITH OCCASIONAL OVERFLOW PARKING DURING THE HYPER PEAK TIMES. THE CITY HAS NO OPERATIONAL PLAN, NO ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES, NO CAPITAL PROGRAM, AND NO MAINTENANCE DOLLARS IDENTIFIED FOR THE PROJECT. IF ANOTHER DOG PARK IS NEEDED, PLEASE CONDUCT THE APPROPRIATE STUDIES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO TO IDENTIFY A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WOULD WELCOME A DOG PARK, WHILE ENSURING IT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH ALL CITY AND COUNTY CODES AND REGULATIONS. MR. CITY CLERK, WE WOULD LIKE TO TURN IN 36 ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE DOG PARK. MORE ARE ON THEIR WAY, INCLUDING 60 NEW ONES THAT WE WILL SUBMIT AFTER VERIFICATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, WILLIAM RIVENBARK.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BILL RIVENBARK. I LIVE AT 3616 HARLAN STREET. I AM A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. OUR HOUSE IS 125FT AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED DOG PARK.

I WALKED THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT LEAST THREE TIMES A DAY WITH AN AMAZING RESCUE DOG. I KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS. I KNOW OUR DOGS, I KNOW THE LIBRARY, AND I KNOW THAT WE DO NOT WANT A DOG PARK AT 520 UNIVERSITY. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES WE WERE TOLD THAT THE PROPERTY WAS ALREADY ZONED AS A PARK, AND THAT THE CITY COULD TRANSITION IT TO ANOTHER PARK WITHOUT USE OF CONSULTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSIONER, LAURA, SAID IT. THE CITY MANAGER SAID IT.

COMMISSIONER ANDERSON SAID IT. THE ASSISTANT MANAGER SAID IT. AND THE PARKS DIRECTOR SAID IT TO US TWICE IN PERSON WHILE WALKING THE PROPERTY. WE TOLD YOU THAT IT WAS NOT ZONED AS A PARK AND YOU DISMISSED US. YOU ALSO TOLD US THAT THIS WAS NOT A PARK, THAT IF IT WAS NOT A

[04:00:07]

THAT'S A LOT OF CARS IN A TWO WEEK PERIOD. IF YOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN TIME TO ASK, YOU WOULD HAVE LEARNED THAT SPECIAL EVENTS, PARKING ON THE GRASS AREA OF 520 UNIVERSITY IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. WHERE, PRAY TELL, DOES YOUR STAFF TELL YOU THAT THE CARS WOULD BE PARKED? OTHERWISE IT WOULD PROBABLY BE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN WE CAME TO YOU ON JANUARY 13TH AND SAID WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS UNTIL AFTER YOU HAD VOTED ON IT, THAT NO ONE FROM THE CITY CAME TO OUR STREET. NO MAILERS WERE SENT. WE LEARNED AFTER THE FACT THAT THERE WAS AN ITEM BURIED IN THE AGENDA. 2 OR 3 DAYS BEFORE THE COMMISSION. WE WERE AND REMAIN ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT. AT THE MEETING, MAYOR LARGO SAID, BUT IF YOU TOLD ME THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE MATRIX IN REGARD TO THE PROCESS, THAT WE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE RULES AND SOMEONE WAS DISENFRANCHIZED, I WOULD SAY TO MYSELF, OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO FIX THIS. WE'VE GOT TO BACK THIS OUT. MAYOR LARGO, THIS ITEM PROVES THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE PROCESS, THAT THE CITY DID NOT FOLLOW THE RULES. AND SOMEONE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS DISENFRANCHIZED. WE'RE HOLDING YOU TO YOUR WORD, SIR. YOU'VE GOT TO FIX THIS. YOU'VE GOT TO BACK THIS OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WE'LL SAVE ALL COLON. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOSE VALLE. I'M A MEMBER OF UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. I LIVE AT 520 CADIMA AVENUE. I ASKED THE CITY COMMISSION TO REMAND THIS ITEM BACK TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD DUE TO IMPROPER ADVERTISING, UNDUE INFLUENCE BY THE BOARD ATTORNEY, AND IN COMPLETE STAFF REPORT AND THE FAILURE OF STAFF TO HONOR THE CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS, THE CITY MUST HAVE BEEN VERY CONFIDENT THE ITEM WILL MOVE FORWARD, SINCE THE NOTICES FOR TODAY'S MEETING WERE MAILED. EVEN BEFORE THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD STARTED. ITEM E TWO AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ORIGINALLY RELATED TO 434, 4450 AND 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, WHICH SHARE THE SAME ZONING, THE SAME GOVERNING ORDINANCE.

ORDINANCE 1952 AND IDENTICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT EXPLANATION. THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TITLE WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY REVISED TO RELATE ONLY TO 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. YET THE BOARD ATTORNEY READ THE UNCHANGED TITLE, LISTING ALL FOUR PROPERTIES INTO THE RECORD, AND CTB DID THE SAME THROUGH THE TELEVISED PRESENTATION. AND YOU INFLUENCED BY THE BOARD ATTORNEY, CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD WANTED TO DEFER A RECOMMENDATION UNTIL THE LITIGATION HAD BEEN CONCLUDED, AND A PARKING STUDY AND TRAFFIC STUDY WERE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD, THE BOARD ATTORNEY TOLD THE BOARD. WITH REGARD TO THE LITIGATION, I THINK THE CITY IS LOOKING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE PRIOR TO LITIGATION, NUMBER ONE, HE CONTINUED. NUMBER TWO, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A CERTAIN URGENCY OF THE ITEM GETTING TO THE COMMISSION. IF YOU ALL FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A PARKING STUDY AND A TRAFFIC STUDY, I THINK THAT COULD BE INCLUDED IN ANY MOTION TO APPROVE OR MOTION TO DENY ACTING AS A CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE EX-PARTE COMMUNICATION, ACTING AS A QUASI JUDICIAL BOARD ON MATTERS RELATED TO ZONING. SIMILAR WHEN THE ZONING COMMISSION HEARS A ZONING ITEM, BOARD'S MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE EX PARTE COMMUNICATION, ONLY ONE MORE MEMBER DISCLOSED THEY HAD VISITED THE SITE. HE LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT HAD NOT SPOKEN TO HIS NEIGHBORS ON ITEM

[04:05:05]

FUNCTION AS PUBLIC PARK SPACE, THEREBY INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF RECREATIONAL AND OPEN SPACE AMENITIES WITHIN THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. HOWEVER, THE PARK LIKE MANNER OF 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE ALREADY PROVIDES PASSIVE GREEN SPACE, WHICH IS A DIRECT PREFERRED BENEFIT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. P5. THE REPORT STATED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON DEVELOPMENT. THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION BELIEVES THE IMPACT OF THIS AMENDMENT, AS ENVISIONED, WILL DIRECTLY AND NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD P5, THE REPORT STATED. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND THE CITY STATED INTENTIONS TO BUILD A DOG PARK WILL NOT CAUSE A SUBSTANTIAL DIMINUTION IN THE PROPERTY VALUE OR NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER. THE ERNEST GREEN ASSOCIATION CATEGORICALLY DISAGREES. HOMES THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE DOG PARK, ESPECIALLY THE THREE ON THE SAME RESIDENTIAL BLOCK ABUTTING IN ACROSS FROM IT, WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED ON MINE.

STAFF COMMENTS STATED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WILL BE MORE COMPATIBLE THAN SURFACE PARKING LOTS. P6. THIS IS NEITHER A FAIR NOR ACCURATE DESCRIPTION. DECEPTION.

CURRENTLY, THE PROPERTY OPERATES AS A PASSIVE PUBLIC GREEN SPACE WITH OCCASIONAL SPACE EVENT PARKING ON THE GRASS, MUCH LIKE FAIRCHILD TROPICAL GARDENS OVERFLOW LOT DURING THE FESTIVALS. THE ABILITY FOR CARS TO PARK SHORT TERM ON THE GRASS KEEPS THEM FROM PARKING THROUGH THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE SUPPORTING THE LIBRARY, CULTURAL PROGRAMING AND EARLY VOTING. LASTLY, THE CONDITION TO INCLUDE A LEGITIMATE, LEGITIMATE PARKING STUDY AND TRAFFIC STUDY PRIOR TO THE ITEM BEING PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION WAS NOT HONORED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ROSE BAUER. HELLO, MY NAME IS ROSE BAUER. I LIVE AT 3716 SEGOVIA STREET, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE DOG PARKS AND THE PROPERTY VALUES. I GREW UP HERE AND LOVE THE HISTORIC CHARM OF THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. I HAVE A SENIOR AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD AND A CAT. I'M A MEMBER OF THE GABLES CAT NETWORK AND I OFTEN FEED OUR COMMUNITY CATS TOO, WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE TRIANGLE FOR MANY YEARS, ALONG WITH POSSUMS, RACCOONS, AND EVEN A FOX. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL HABITAT FOR ANIMALS AND PEOPLE TO EQUALLY ENJOY. BUT TODAY I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT MY PROFESSION. I AM A SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE BROKER FOR 30 YEARS WITH MY FIRM, RIVERO REAL ESTATE, AND I AM CONCERNED FOR THE IMPACT A DOG PARK WOULD HAVE TO NEARBY HOMES AND MY NEIGHBORHOOD. BUYING A HOME IS A LARGE INVESTMENT. THE GREEN SPACE IS MOST CERTAINLY A GRAND AMENITY TO ANY BUYER WHEN THEY PURCHASED IT. TODAY, IT PROVIDES FOR OVERFLOW PARKING FOR THE LIBRARY. IF THE BOARD APPROVES A CHANGE. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS GREEN SPACE AND A LARGE DOG PARK IMMEDIATELY ABUTTING HOMES. MOST CORAL GABLES HOMES HAVE A YARD BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY LIMITED ZERO LOT LINES. BUYERS PURCHASE IN CORAL GABLES FOR THE SECURITY DOG PARKS CREATE A SECURITY CONCERN. THE MAINTENANCE IS VERY EXPENSIVE OR PROBLEMS SURFACE WITH TRASH AND ODOR FROM THE FAKE GRASS. THESE FACTORS AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE HOMES AND REDUCES THE ABILITY TO COMMAND TOP DOLLAR FOR THE SELLER. I QUESTION WHO ARE WE PROVIDING THIS DOG PARK FOR THE RENTERS? THEY DO NOT PAY ANY OF THE HIGH TAXES THAT WE DO. MOST OF THE NEW BUILDINGS, SADLY, ARE NOT ALLOWING PETS YET. APPROVING A DOG PARK TAKES THE VALUE AWAY FROM THE CHILDREN AND THE ADULTS THAT ENJOY THE WALK IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND PLAY IN THE OPEN GREEN SPACE. IF THIS WAS REALLY ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF THE DOGS, THE MIAMI-DADE ANIMAL SHELTER WOULD NOT HAVE 600 HEALTHY DOGS WAITING TO BE ADOPTED AND HORRIBLY BEING EUTHANIZED DAILY FOR SPACE. WE LIVE IN CORAL GABLES, IN PART BECAUSE OF THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF THE LOCATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE. OUR TAXES AND PROPERTIES HAVE INCREASED EVERY YEAR, BUT THE PROPERTY VALUES FOR HOMES CLOSE TO THE PROPOSED 400 ZERO SQUARE FOOT DOG PARK WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED. PLEASE HEAR OUR VOICE. IT IS NOT WANTED BY THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. MARY POWELL. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON,

[04:10:19]

CORAL GABLES HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT ITS RESIDENTS AND THEIR PETS ARE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY. THIS PARK IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MATCHES THAT COMMITMENT. SINCE NOVEMBER, THE CITY HAS DONE ITS HOMEWORK. PUBLIC WORKS, PARKING, COMMUNITY RECREATION AND THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ALL REVIEWED THE PARKING QUESTION AND REACHED THE SAME CONCLUSION.

520 UNIVERSITY IS NOT NEEDED FOR OVERFLOW PARKING. THE PCSB REVIEWED AND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ORDINANCE 1952 AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. EVERY PROTECTION FOR ADJACENT NEIGHBORS REMAINS FULLY INTACT. BOTH THE PARK LIKE CHARACTER AND THE PRESERVATION OF TREES AND FOLIAGE. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOME NEIGHBORS DISAGREE, AND THEY DESERVE RESPECT, BUT I ASK THIS COMMISSION TO CONSIDER WHAT 520 UNIVERSITY IS TODAY. CITY OWNED LAND ZONED FOR PUBLIC USE, SITTING LARGELY UNUSED. THE CITY'S OWN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CALLS FOR PARKS WITHIN A TEN MINUTE WALK OF EVERY RESIDENT. THIS SITE FULFILLS THAT COMMITMENT, AND OFF LEASH DOG PARK IS NOT SIMPLY A CONVENIENCE. IT IS A PLACE WHERE NEIGHBORS MEET, WHERE FAMILIES GATHER, AND WHERE THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF A COMMUNITY IS SEWN TOGETHER.

THIS EFFORT HAS FOLLOWED THE PROPER PROCESS. RESIDENTS ENGAGED. PETITIONS WERE SUBMITTED ON BOTH SIDES. PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE GIVEN. THE ITEM WAS PROPERLY NOTICED, DEBATED AND APPROVED BY BOTH THE P, Z, B AND THIS COMMISSION. BY CONTINUING YOUR SUPPORT TODAY, YOU PROVIDE WHAT THIS COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON CONSISTENCY, PREDICTABILITY AND TRUST.

RESIDENTS ENGAGED IN GOOD FAITH AND NOW REASONABLY EXPECT THE CITY TO FOLLOW THROUGH. THIS DOG PARK IS A QUALITY OF LIFE INVESTMENT. IT FULFILLS A CLEAR PLANNING COMMITMENT, AND IT REFLECTS THE WILL OF A BROAD CROSS-SECTION OF CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS. WHAT HAS GROWN SINCE NOVEMBER IS NOT JUST COMMUNITY SUPPORT, IT IS THE BODY OF EVIDENCE BEHIND THIS DECISION.

RESIDENTS INPUT STAFF'S REPORT AND THE RECOMMENDATION. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS COMMISSION TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING AND KEEP THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

BARRY GOLDEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BARRY GOLDEN. I AM A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN MEMBERS ASSOCIATION OR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I LIVE AT 3628 HARLEY STREET. I LIVE FIVE HOUSES AWAY FROM THIS PROPOSED DOG PARK BEFORE THE CITY CONSIDERS REVISING THE ORDINANCE, REMOVING CERTAIN PROTECTIONS AND CONDITIONS AND CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL USES. A COMPREHENSIVE PARKING STUDY AND REVIEW SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN. I THINK YOU NEED ALL THE FACTS IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE AN INTELLIGENT DECISION ON PARKING AN OVERFLOW IN THE AREA WHERE I

[04:15:04]

ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED A PETITION BACK IN NOVEMBER 2025, I DON'T SEE ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE HERE. I SAW ONE AND THAT'S ALL I SAW. ONE PERSON THAT'S HERE. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE IT

[04:20:02]

SO I'M IN ON DOG PARKS. AND I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY. SO I'M GOING TO START ON THE UPSIDE. I WAS A TAXI DRIVER ON THE FAMOUS SOUTH BEACH FOR THE FIRST 20 YEARS AFTER I GOT BACK TO MIAMI. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS FUNNY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU ALL HAVE SPENT ON SOUTH BEACH, BUT WHAT YOU SEE THERE, YOU GO TO THE DOG PARK ON WASHINGTON AVENUE AND SECOND STREET, AND YOU SEE SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN THE WORLD WALKING SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DOGS IN THE WORLD. AND AND SO HOW MANY OF US KNOW WHAT A A BLUE MERLE COLLIE IS? ASK YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DOG IN THE WORLD. AND WE GOT THEM IN CORAL GABLES. AND I MADE FRIENDS WITH A BLUE MERLE COLLIE. ALL RIGHT, NOW HERE'S ANOTHER RARE DOG. IT'S NOT THAT BEAUTIFUL, BUT I LOVE IT. ANYWAYS. HOW MANY KNOW WHAT A KENDO IS THAT? THAT'S A KOREAN DOG. HOW ABOUT A RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK? AND THEN SOMEBODY SAID THEY HAD AN AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD. THAT'S THE SECOND MOST BEAUTIFUL DOG IN THE WORLD. SO I DID A BROCHURE AND I SAID, SOUTH BEACH IS IS AN AN EVERYDAY INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY CONTEST. NOW LAUGH ALONG WITH ME HERE FOR BOTH WOMEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S A MISS UNIVERSE CONTEST FOR WOMEN AND, AND THE DOGS OF THE WORLD CONTEST FOR DOGS. SO YOU GET THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WALKING THEIR BEAUTIFUL DOGS. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. RIGHT? WHY WOULD WE NOT WANT A DOG PARK? PEOPLE SAY IT'S GOING TO LOWER THE PROPERTY VALUE. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE I LOVE DOGS TOO MUCH. I PLEAD GUILTY, ALL RIGHT. I DON'T SEE WHY ANYONE WOULD ASK COMMISSIONER ANDERSON TO DISQUALIFY HER. RECUSE HERSELF. OH, I'M A DOG LOVER. THEREFORE, I CAN'T VOTE ON THIS, OKAY? I'M GUILTY. I'M A DOG LOVER. AND I FIND IT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

VERY DEPRESSING TO THINK THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD TURN OUT AGAINST DOGS. SOME PEOPLE SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WITH THE GREEN INITIATIVE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. OKAY, SO CORAL GABLES IS A IS A TREE CITY. AND CORAL GABLES SHOULD ALSO BE A DOG CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO A LITTLE CONVERSATION AMONGST THE COMMISSION, I WANT TO MEMORIALIZE THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE HEAVILY DISCUSSED IN TOMORROW'S BLOGS VIA THE GABLES GAZETTE. FIRST AMENDMENT WILL BE DISCUSSED. SO I WANT TO PUT THIS ON THE RECORD. THERE'S TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE DOG PARK. ONE STAYED ON TIME, THE OTHER ONE RAN OVER BY 54 SECONDS. IT'S OKAY. IT'S FINE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE HAD OVER 13.5 MINUTES OF ADDITIONAL TIME THAT WAS GRANTED. I WROTE IT DOWN. COMMISSIONER WAS WATCHING AS I WROTE DOWN EVERY SINGLE, EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT'S PERFECTLY FINE. I KNOW EVERYBODY'S PASSIONATE. I WANT TO GIVE YOU AS MUCH TIME. I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE ABOUT NEIGHBORS VERSUS NEIGHBORS OR FIRST AMENDMENTS, AS REPEATED OVER AND OVER AND OVER ON THESE BLOGS. THANK GOD I DON'T READ THE BLOGS. I JUST GET PEOPLE TO SEND THEM TO ME AND I KEEP TELLING THEM, DON'T SEND IT TO ME. STOP READING IT. MY POINT IS THIS WE'RE VOTING ON ON ISSUES AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, BASED ON WHAT WE BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY. THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE. WE'RE NOT MIAMI DADE COUNTY, NOT THE MIAMI DADE COUNTY IS NOT A SPECIAL PLACE. BUT IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH POLITICS IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY AND I WON'T TAKE OVER 13 MINUTES NO MORE, I'LL

[04:25:03]

I SAID, YOU GATHER THE PETITION SIGNATURES AND I'LL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER. AND THAT ITEM ON THE AGENDA WAS TO PROCEED WITH A DESIGN. IT WASN'T APPROVAL FOR A DOG PARK. IT WAS A DESIGN. BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WITH SALVADOR DOG PARK. A DESIGN WAS DONE FIRST, THEN RESIDENT INPUT WAS SOUGHT. SO THE STATEMENT THAT IT WAS APPROVED AS A DOG PARK IN NOVEMBER WAS INCORRECT. THE DESIGN NEEDED TO BE DONE SO. SO PUBLIC INPUT COULD BE HAD. SO I LOOKED AT THE RESULTS OF THE PUBLIC INPUT, AND I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LISTEN TO THOSE RESULTS. AND THOSE RESULTS INDICATED THAT 71% OF THE PEOPLE THAT RESPONDED THAT LIVE IN CORAL GABLES WANT THE DOG PARK. AM I TO IGNORE 71% OF THE RESIDENTS THAT TOOK THE TIME TO RESPOND? THAT'S NOT MY HABIT.

I'M LISTENING TO WHAT THE MAJORITY WANTS, SO THAT'S WHERE I SIT ON THIS MATTER. I DO THINK I CAN BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL. I WILL LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS AND PROVIDE WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE LOOKING FOR. AND I'LL ADD ONE MORE THING. WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED, THIS WAS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES OF RESIDENTS THAT VOTED, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES OF RESIDENTS THAT VOTED. SECOND TO TRAFFIC ISSUES, SAFETY ISSUES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO DEFER THE REST OF MY COMMENTS AFTER HEARING FROM MY OTHER COLLEAGUES. YES, YES. OKAY. SO FIRST, I WOULD WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT I AM A DOG LOVER, THAT I FOSTER DOGS. I DO THE DOG WALK HERE IN CORAL GABLES. I LOVE DOGS, BUT THE TRUTH HERE IS THAT THIS IS NOT A DOG PARK ARGUMENT. THIS IS A PROCESS ARGUMENT. FROM THE BEGINNING, I'VE STATED THAT WE NEEDED TO GO AHEAD AND START ALL OVER AND GIVE A FAIR CHANCE TO EVERYONE, AND I WOULD SUPPORT WHAT THE END RESULT WOULD BE. THIS COMMISSION

[04:30:01]

THERE'S NOBODY USES IT. AND WHY DO PEOPLE NOT USE IT? BECAUSE IT WASN'T DONE RIGHT. THE FIRST COMPLAINT THAT YOU GET FROM PEOPLE THAT GO TO THE DOG RUN IS IT'S THE WRONG MATERIAL, IT'S SAND. SO IT'S HURTING THE DOGS. IT'S DIRTYING THEIR CARS WHEN THEY TRY TO GET BACK IN THEIR CARS. BUT SOME PEOPLE HERE THINK THAT THEY'RE SMARTER THAN THE PROCESS, AND THEY WANT TO IMPOSE THEIR WAY OF DOING THINGS. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, BECAUSE WE'RE NOW TRYING TO IMPOSE ON OUR RESIDENTS WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE PROPERTY THAT CLEARLY IS NOT ZONED FOR WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THIS COMMISSION WANTS DONE. SO WHAT THE COMMISSION HAS DECIDED TO DO IS MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLAN AND FORCE THE RESIDENTS TO SUE THE CITY. AND GUESS WHO'S ON THE HOOK AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR THAT LAWSUIT? THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES ARE HAVING TO PAY FOR IT. SO WE LOVE TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON THIS. WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON THAT. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT ON THIS LAWSUIT SO FAR? DO YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER? I DON'T HAVE IT HANDY, SIR, BUT I COULD I COULD LOOK IT UP. OKAY. IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THAT FOR ME. I COULD SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT NUMBER. I'D APPRECIATE THAT. BECAUSE THAT'S MONEY THAT WE'RE LITERALLY WASTING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DECIDE TO JUST PAUSE IT, GO BACK, HAVE THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WERE REQUESTED, AND THAT WOULD HAVE SAVED US A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF MONEY. I KNOW IT UPSETS YOU, MR. MAYOR,

[04:35:02]

BUT THE FACT IS, YOU DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PROCESS THAT WAS NOT THE PROCESS THAT WAS LAID OUT, BECAUSE THIS SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE. PARKS COMMITTEE FIRST. THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE A RECOMMENDATION THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER THE FACT BECAUSE THE COMMISSION DECIDED TO TAKE IT UP. THE RESIDENTS WHO WERE AGAINST THE PROJECT, WHO HAD BEEN VOCAL THAT THEY DID NOT WANT THIS PROJECT, WERE NOT NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS TAKING PLACE DURING THAT COMMISSION MEETING. IT WAS SCHEDULED FOR A 6 P.M. TIME. CERTAIN. LAST MINUTE. THE FUNNY THING IS, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WERE NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS TAKING PLACE WERE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO BE THERE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT. BUT LET'S NOT MINCE WORDS HERE.

THERE WAS DEFINITELY A PLAN IN PLACE, AND IT EXCLUDED THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, YES, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD DEFER, AND I BELIEVE A PROCESS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED SO THAT IT DOESN'T CONTINUE TO COST THE CITY IN LITIGATION, BECAUSE WE'VE DECIDED TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD. COMMISSIONER LATTA, A QUESTION FOR EITHER THE CITY ATTORNEY OR CITY MANAGER AT THE NOVEMBER HEARING SPECIAL SET AT 6:00. WAS THE WAS 520 UNIVERSITY ZONED AT THAT TIME. PARK. THE ZONING IS AS IT EXISTS TODAY, WHICH IS SPECIAL USE ZONING, WHICH DOES ALLOW FOR A PARK USE. BUT THIS ORDINANCE NUMBER 1952, DOES HAVE A RESTRICTION THAT LIMITS THE USE TO OVERFLOW PARKING. SO IT IS TO PUT DIFFERENTLY, IT'S ACCURATE THAT WHEN I REPEAT IT THAT IT WAS ZONED FOR A PARK, THAT'S AN ACCURATE STATEMENT WITH SOME RESTRICTIONS ON HOW IT CAN BE USED AS A PARK. RIGHT. AND IT SAYS EVEN EVEN THAT THE ORDINANCE THAT ZONED SPECIAL USE, SAID TO BE MAINTAINED IN A PARK LIKE MANNER, RIGHT.

BECAUSE IF IT WAS THE CASE THAT IT WASN'T A ZONE, WAS NOT ZONED FOR A PARK, OR IF IT WAS THAT I SAID INCORRECTLY THAT IT WAS ZONED AS A PARK WHEN IT WASN'T, I WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY HOW TO GO FORWARD. BUT IT SEEMS TO ME ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO ME THAT THAT MEETING WAS PROPERLY NOTICED BACK IN NOVEMBER, THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ALL ATTENDED A MEMORIAL THAT DAY FOR A FALLEN OFFICER WHO USED TO BE A PART OF THE CORAL GABLES POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR MEETINGS REGULARLY GO BEYOND 6:00, 7:00. THEY'VE GONE 8:00. I'VE BEEN HERE TILL 9:00. I WISH THEY WERE SHORTER, BUT WE'VE DONE THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY IT SHOULD BE COUNTENANCED OR SUPPORTED FOR A MOMENT THAT BECAUSE AN ITEM WAS SPECIFICALLY SET FOR A 6:00 START TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE THE NORM OF WHEN NORMAL ITEMS ARE HEARD DURING A GIVEN DAY'S AGENDA AT A COMMISSION MEETING. SO I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE COVERED ALL OF THE NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. COMMUNITY OUTREACH HAS BEEN ADEQUATELY CONDUCTED. MARY POWELL PROVIDED US THEN AND REPEATED AGAIN TODAY THAT WE HAD SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, AS WE ARE HERE, SERVING THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IN SUPPORT OF A DOG PARK.

BUT WE ARE NOT DECIDING. WE WEREN'T DECIDING THEN, AND WE'RE NOT DECIDING TODAY WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A DOG PARK OR WHAT THE DESIGN OF A DOG PARK IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

WE'RE DESIGNING, DECIDING TODAY WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE. SO WITH RESPECT TO YOUR REQUEST, COMMISSIONER FOR DEFERRAL, BASED ON LITIGATION, I'M QUITE CONFIDENT THAT WE DID THINGS APPROPRIATELY STAND BEHIND THE CITY'S POSITION. I WELCOME ALWAYS THE RESIDENTS, VOICES, CHALLENGES WHEN APPROPRIATE, AND I WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY IF THE FACTS WERE DIFFERENT, BUT THEY'RE NOT. SO NO. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED IN LAW SCHOOL IS WITH DUE PROCESS, YOU HAVE TO ASK WHAT PROCESSES DO. THE INITIAL MEETING WASN'T A DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A DOG PARK. IT WAS TO CREATE A DESIGN FOR RESIDENTS TO REVIEW. THE PROCESS THAT HAPPENED THEREAFTER IS THE PROCESS THAT'S DUE. THE LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED WAS FILED PREMATURELY

[04:40:06]

MAYOR LARGO. SO BEFORE I RESPOND. HAVE YOU SEE ME A LITTLE BIT UNEASY ON MY SEAT? I KNOW WHY ARIEL INSIST ON BRINGING THAT UP IS BECAUSE I DID SOME HEAVY SQUATS TODAY AT FIVE IN THE MORNING, WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT ARIEL JOIN ME. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID. NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE RIDICULOUSNESS THAT ALWAYS RESULTS IN THESE MEETINGS. LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY I WANTED TO MOVE QUICKLY IN REGARDS TO THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE BY.

MELISSA CASTRO, COMMISSIONER CHATGPT. SO MY POINT IS THAT VERY SIMPLE IS THAT WE HAVE NOW BECOME WE HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED HERE TO CIRCUMVENTING PEOPLE'S ABILITY HERE ON THE COMMISSION WITH AN IMMEDIATE MOTION TO DO SOMETHING. NO, LET'S HAVE EVERYBODY HAVE CONVERSATION.

LET'S LET EVERYBODY TALK LIKE I ALLOWED ALL GROUPS TO TALK. SHE DIDN'T JUST MAKE A MOTION TO TRY TO JUST CHILL ALL CONVERSATION. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY. AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. SO. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE TO CORRECT, MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER LATTA ON THE RECORD, WHICH NOT CORRECT HIM BECAUSE HE FAILED TO MENTION IT WAS MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WHAT COMMISSIONERS WERE AT THAT MEETING? AT THAT PUBLIC MEETING, MAYOR, I BELIEVE I BELIEVE YOU WERE PRESENT. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON WAS PRESENT AND COMMISSIONER LORA WAS PRESENT. WHAT WAS THE REST OF THE COMMISSION? YOU ASKING ME? NO, NO, I'M NOT ASKING YOU. I'M ASKING. I'M NOT ASKING YOU. SO LET ME SPEAK. I ALLOW EVERYBODY TO SPEAK. JUST BE RESPECTFUL. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING YOU. OKAY, SO ANYTHING I'M ASKING YOU. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, SO THIS IS VERY SIMPLE. WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION. WE HAVE A DISAGREEMENT. IT'S PERFECTLY FINE. WE DON'T HAVE TO ALWAYS AGREE AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT. THERE'S NO NEED TO GET PERSONAL. SO MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, DO YOU HAVE THE LITIGATION COSTS? BECAUSE I'M INTRIGUED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. YES, I DO ACTUALLY. SO WHAT HAS BEEN BILLED TO THE CITY SINCE STARTING IN MARCH WAS IS A TOTAL OF $10,763. OKAY, PERFECT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. NOW, THE VICE MAYOR HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY ON THIS MATTER, VERY CLEAR IN REGARDS TO WHAT STEPS WE'RE TAKING. WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS I'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THE MERITS, ON THE FACTS THAT WE CAN MEET HALFWAY AND FIGURE OUT A WAY MAKES EVERYBODY HAPPY HERE. OKAY. I'M A NO BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DEFER THIS. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE HERE TODAY IN THE COMMISSION. THAT'S OUR JOB, NOT TO CONTINUE TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE CURB. MAMA. NO. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW GETTING BACK TO THE ISSUE AT HAND. OKAY, WE HAVE AN ITEM BEFORE US THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, MADAM VICE MAYOR. YES. MOVING FORWARD ON ITEM E NINE. CAN WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS, WHAT YOU'RE HEARING IN THE COMMUNITY? WE'VE HEARD SOME RESIDENTS FROM SOME RESIDENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE HERE. WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU THINK IS IS IMPORTANT HERE? BECAUSE AGAIN, I'VE ALSO AND I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY CHIME IN HERE BECAUSE YOU HAD COMMISSIONER CASTRO MENTIONED YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. YOU CANNOT MOVE FORWARD WITH WITH WITH ANY RESOLUTIONS OR ORDINANCES. WE HAVE TO RESPECT THE PROCESS. YOUR CITY ATTORNEY, ARE WE BREAKING SOME RULES? ARE WE DOING SOMETHING OUT OF COMMONPLACE HERE THAT WE HAVE TO CLARIFY THESE THINGS, BECAUSE THESE THINGS WILL ALL MAKE IT INTO THE INTO THESE VERY MISLEADING BLOGS. HOW DO YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THAT AS AN ATTORNEY? BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT IN 13 YEARS WE'VE MOVED FORWARD WITH LEGISLATION IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. SO, MAYOR, THE THE LAWSUIT IS CHALLENGING, ESSENTIALLY, THE COMMISSION'S ACTION IN DIRECTING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPMENT OF OF A DOG PARK AT THIS LOCATION AS AS THE VICE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED HERE, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THAT WAS A RESOLUTION DIRECTING STAFF TO PROCEED WITH DEVELOPMENT THAT DID NOT DEFINITIVELY START CONSTRUCTION OF A DOG PARK.

[04:45:02]

THIS ALSO ALSO, APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ALSO DOES NOT DEFINITIVELY MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE A DOG PARK DEVELOPED THERE. IN FACT, THE ORDINANCE IS NOT ABOUT A DOG PARK. IT'S REMOVING A RESTRICTION. AND AS WE UNDERSTOOD FROM STAFF, STAFF'S POSITION, IS THAT THERE'S NO LONGER A NEED TO RESTRICT THAT USE SOLELY TO OVERFLOW PARKING. BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IT DOES SAY THAT THERE MAY BE OVERFLOW PARKING AT, YOU KNOW, IS HOW STAFF IS PROPOSING THAT THE ORDINANCE BE AMENDED. SO I DO NOT THINK THAT. ARE WE DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL? NO. ARE WE BREAKING THE RULES? NO. DOING ANYTHING OUT OF THE NORM? TO THE CONTRARY, SIR, THIS IS FOLLOWING THE PROCESS. WE STARTED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD PROCESS, WHICH IS WHAT WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN WHEN THERE'S A CHANGE OF A CHANGE OF ZONING OR AN AMENDMENT TO A ZONING ORDINANCE. SO IT'S YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NOTICE FOR THAT HEARING. THERE WAS NOTICE, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE STEPS. THERE WAS NOTICE FOR THIS HEARING AS WELL. AND I, IF I MAY, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS ONE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE ABOUT THE MAILERS GOING OUT FOR THIS BEFORE P AND Z HAD MADE THEIR DECISION. THIS COULD MOVE FORWARD EVEN IF P AND Z HAD RECOMMENDED DENIAL. SO I THINK STAFF WAS JUST MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THE PROCESS TO TIMELY GET IT ON THIS AGENDA. SINCE WE WON'T HAVE ANOTHER MEETING UNTIL JULY. WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE. WE'VE WE'VE HEARD THINGS OUT OF TURN. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT BUT IT'S NOT SORRY, MAYOR, IT'S NOT OUT OF TURN. IT'S NOT OUT OF I KNOW, I KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, BUT I'M GOING EVEN FURTHER. WE'VE HEARD THINGS OUT OF TURN. WE'RE NOT EVEN OUT OF TURN. SO THE WORD LITIGATION IS USED A LOT OF TIMES TO CALL THE, YOU KNOW, TO THROW A BIG BUCKET OF ICE WATER ONTO THINGS AND SAY NO. SO, MADAM, MADAM, MADAM VICE MAYOR, WILL YOU KIND OF GIVE US A LITTLE BACKGROUND AND CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD IN REGARDS TO THE INTENTIONS OF THIS, OF THIS RESOLUTION AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE BEFORE US NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN AWAY, NOW WE'VE GOTTEN AWAY FROM, YOU KNOW, THE CIRCUS THAT USUALLY WHEN WE TRY TO DERAIL THINGS, LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION. LET'S TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT HERE AND LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN BUILD SOME CONSENSUS. SO WITH A FEW STATEMENTS MADE ABOUT SALVADOR DOG PARK, AND YES, IT DOES GET USED AND THAT I HAVE REGULAR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT, WHO CHOSE THE SAND SUBSTRATE, IN FACT, BROUGHT ME A SAMPLE OF EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANTED. THE FIRST ITERATION THAT WENT IN DIDN'T MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS, SO IT WAS UPGRADED. BUT EACH SITE IS DIFFERENT, AND THE DESIGN THAT STAFF PROPOSED FOR A PARK IN THIS AREA, WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON AT THE MOMENT, HAD A SMALL AREA THAT HAD ASTROTURF FOR SMALL DOGS, AND THE REST OF IT IS GRASS. SO I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU THE DISCUSSIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE RESIDENTS OVER AT SALVADOR DOG PARK WHO ARE VERY HAPPY WITH IT. IT'S REGULARLY CLEANED AND OUR STAFF TAKES VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION REGARDING PARKING ISSUES THAT IF AN ISSUE ARISES THAT WE COULD ADDRESS IT WITH THE CHOICE OF THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE BEING IMPACTED, WHETHER IT WAS RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT SIGNS OR NO PARKING PERMIT, NO PARKING SIGNS. AND IT WAS INDEED THEIR CHOICE, AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, ASSESS HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE VISITING THE PARK WHERE THEY BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WALK TO THE PARK. AND THAT IS THE PREMISE BEHIND HAVING THESE REGIONAL DOG PARKS TO WALK TO. I NOTICED THAT YOU ALL ARE CALLING IT A BARK PARK. THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS. DOGS DON'T GO TO THE PARK, THEY GO THERE TO RUN. AND THE REASON FOR HAVING REGIONAL PARKS FOR DOGS CAN RUN IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE EXERCISE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US NEED TO GET EVERY DAY. WALKING ALONE IS NOT GOING TO DO IT. THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR THE SALVADOR DOG PARK, AND THIS MIGHT HELP GIVE YOU SOME GUIDANCE. WERE VACCINATED DOGS ONLY. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TAG. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS AT SALVADOR DOG PARK, BUT IT REALLY BECOMES A PROBLEM WHERE THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE COMING.

WE CAN DO RESIDENTIAL ACCESS CARDS ONLY, BUT WE CAN ONLY DO THIS A STEP AT A TIME. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT A STAGE OF DEALING WITH THE ZONING ISSUE. THAT'S ALL WE'RE HERE FOR. SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS. I JUST WANTED YOU TO LAY THE

[04:50:03]

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ATTORNEYS LIKE MYSELF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, THEY SEE IT AS, OKAY, HOLD ON, WHAT ARE WE? WE'RE CIRCUMVENTING A PROCESS. WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING A PROCESS. WE ARE FOLLOWING A PROCESS. IT'S GONE THROUGH ALL THE NECESSARY STEPS.

IT'S GONE TO THE BOARDS AND WE'RE DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY. WE MAY DISAGREE, WE MAY DISAGREE. BUT AT THE END OF DAY, MAYBE WE COME TOGETHER. WE FIND A SOLUTION THAT MAKES EVERYBODY HAPPY. BUT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING A PROCESS IS NOT CORRECT. COMMISSIONER LADO, BRIEFLY, MAY I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT WERE MADE DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT THIS COMMISSION NOT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE APPEARED HERE TODAY. I HAVEN'T COUNTED, BUT I WOULD SAY THE UNIVERSITY GREEN ASSOCIATION NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I WOULD SAY, HAS PROBABLY LESS THAN TEN PEOPLE HERE. I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I REMEMBER A FEW YEARS BACK A PACKED HISTORIC CORAL GABLES CITY HALL PACKED, PACKED WITH RESIDENTS IN OPPOSITION TO A RESOLUTION TO FIRE PETER IGLESIAS, A CITY MANAGER, PACKED RESIDENT AFTER RESIDENT AFTER RESIDENT VOICING THEIR STRONG OPINIONS TO NOT GO FORWARD WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, COMMISSIONER, THEN COMMISSIONER MENENDEZ AND CURRENT COMMISSIONER CASTRO VOTED THE OUSTER OF PETER IGLESIAS. ONE WOULD SAY, HYPOCRITICALLY, THAT THEY'RE HERE TO LISTEN TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, THAT MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION THEN CERTAINLY DID NOT. HOWEVER, THIS MAJORITY OF THIS COMMISSION DURING THE NOVEMBER HEARING ON THIS ISSUE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS WHO SIGNED A PETITION AND LISTENED TO THE RESIDENTS WHO CAME BEFORE TO GIVE THEIR OPINIONS, HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD, WHICH WERE ALL DULY CONSIDERED BY THE ONLY THREE COMMISSIONERS THAT APPEARED AT THAT MEETING. SO I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THAT. WE ARE FAIR, WE ARE RESPECTFUL, AND WE ARE COLLEGIAL. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NOT BEING SO TODAY I HEAR YOU. I HEARD YOU THEN IN NOVEMBER, BUT I'M AN INDIVIDUAL WHO, BESIDES BEING COMMISSIONER, I'M ALSO AN ATTORNEY AND I BELIEVE IN THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED. I CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE, BUT WE'RE NOT MOB RULE. WE'RE NOT MAJORITY RULE.

WE'RE REPRESENTATIVE. AND WE FOLLOWED THE PROCESS. ONE LAST QUESTION, JUST FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE THE ISSUE WAS MENTIONED AND BROUGHT UP AND COMMISSIONER BROUGHT UP PROCESS. AGAIN, I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. THIS IS IMPORTANT. WAS THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS FOLLOWED WITH RESPECT TO THE. YEAH. I MEAN, DID WE DID WE BREAK THE LAW? I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY FAILURE IN PROCESS OR ANY FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCESS OR ANY REQUIRED DUE PROCESS, MAILINGS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SIR? NO. AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT INITIAL RESOLUTION WAS A DIRECTION TO STAFF TO PROCEED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF A DOG PARK, BUT THAT BEGAN THE DESIGN PROCESS, ETC. IT DID NOT BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF A DOG PARK. AND SO THERE WAS OTHER STEPS THAT HAVE TO TAKE PLACE. THIS IS ONE OF THEM. AND AND WE FOLLOWED ALL THE REQUIRED PROCESS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE MULTIPLE MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS, I'M NOT A LAWYER. MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS HAVE BROUGHT UP. I HAVE TO LEAN ON YOU. I HAVE TO LEAN ON YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT I'M VERY, VERY CLEAR. WHEN YOU MENTIONED PROCESS AND JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM HERE, THAT WE'RE CIRCUMVENTING ALL THE PROCESS AND THAT WE'RE TRAMPLING OVER ALL OF THAT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WILL BE WRITTEN LATER, ESPECIALLY IN COMMENTS ONLINE. BUT MAYOR, JUST IF I COULD JUST KIND OF BRING THIS BACK, WHAT'S BEFORE YOU ONCE AGAIN AND WHAT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE YOU IS NOT APPROVING A DOG PARK. IN FACT, IT IS AMENDING AN ORDINANCE THAT HAD CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS WHEN THE ZONING WAS CHANGED BACK IN THE 70S. AND THAT IS A DECISION THAT YOU ARE SHOULD BE MAKING ON THE COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT YOU'VE HEARD TODAY. AND AND IT DOES NOT DICTATE THAT WHETHER THERE WILL BE A DOG PARK, IT IT WOULD IF YOU ALL WERE TO VOTE NO TODAY, IT COULD PERHAPS HALT THAT PROCESS. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S PART OF THE PROCESS. AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE REASON WHY I BRING IT BACK AND IF THE CLERK, I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE HIM DO IT NOW BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO WASTE MORE TIME. BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK AT MULTIPLE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SPEAKING

[04:55:02]

THEY QUOTED MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION THINKING IT WAS A FAILED PROCESS, FAILED PROCESS. SO I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS A FAILED PROCESS, I WANT TO HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY WHO YOUR JOB IS NOT TO AGREE WITH US. YOUR JOB IS TO PROTECT THE CITY AND PROTECT THE CHARTER AT THE END OF THE DAY. SO WHEN I ASK YOU, WE BROKE THE PROCESS. WE FAILED THE PROCESS. YOUR ANSWER IS NO. NO. CLEARLY CORRECT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE THE MAYOR? YES. OKAY. SO WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE CLOSE TO THIS PARK WHERE THIS PARK IS IMPACTING THE RESIDENTS, BESIDES PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA, FOR ANY OF YOU NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE HEARD IN THIS MEETING, RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WERE NOTIFIED. OKAY. RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU WEREN'T.

OKAY. SO THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WERE NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA WERE THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED THE DOG PARK. YOU WOULDN'T SAY THAT'S A FAILURE IN PROCESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PEOPLE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS DOG PARK REALLY, I MEAN, LIVING RIGHT NEXT TO IT ARE WERE NOT INFORMED. WHAT IS THE CITY GOING TO SAY? THE CITY IS GOING TO SAY IT WAS ON THE AGENDA. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK. LOOK AT THE AGENDA. I'M SORRY. EVERY NORMAL CITIZEN HERE IN CORAL GABLES DOES NOT LOOK EVERY TWO WEEKS OR THREE WEEKS TO SEE WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA. THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB. IF SOMETHING IS COMING CLOSE TO YOU, IT SHOULD BE THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO GO AHEAD AND AT LEAST LEAVE A DOOR HANGER OR MAIL SOMETHING TO THE CLOSEST RESIDENTS. NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT PART OF THE PROCESS. I DID TRY TO MAKE IT PART OF THE PROCESS, AND THIS COMMISSION DECLINED. OKAY, NOW, NOW, THE OTHER THING IS. I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT WE ARE MOVING TO CHANGE THE ZONING OF THIS PARCEL OF THIS PROPERTY, WHEN IT'S ONE OF THE MAIN COMPLAINTS OF THE LAWSUIT. SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S LIKE GOING INTO A STORE, STEALING SOMETHING, GETTING OUT THEM TELLING YOU YOU STOLE SOMETHING AND YOU SAY, OH NO, LET ME BRING IT BACK. HERE IT IS. I DIDN'T STEAL IT. THE CRIME WAS ALREADY DONE. EVEN IF YOU IF YOU IF YOU GIVE IT BACK. SO I THINK WE'RE HANDLING THIS VERY POORLY THROUGH THE MAYOR. GIVE ME ONE MOMENT, COMMISSIONER. LAURA. ABSOLUTELY.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE. NO, NO. AND THEN THE LAST THING THAT I DO WANT TO ADDRESS IS. MAYOR, THIS IS THE FIRST WARNING, AGAIN, DURING THIS COMMISSION MEETING. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO ADDRESS ME WITH RESPECT. I CORRECTED YOU. I AM YOUR COLLEAGUE. I'M A COMMISSIONER.

I'M NOT MRS. CHATGPT OR WHATEVER. IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO CALL ME? BECAUSE IF I HAVE NAMES TO CALL YOU. OH, TRUST ME, THERE'S A LIST. OKAY, I'M REFRAINING FROM THAT FIRST WARNING. I WILL MOVE TO CENSURE YOU. AND I WOULD HOPE MY COLLEAGUES, GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WOULD SUPPORT ME. I WELCOME IT, COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. THROUGH THE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, THAT WAS. INTERESTING, WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT PEOPLE AND DECLARING THAT THERE WAS NO NOTICE GIVEN, OR WORSE, THAT THERE WAS ONLY SELECTIVE NOTICE GIVEN. BUT I FIND THAT THE HEIGHT OF IRONY, WHEN YOU YOURSELF WERE NOT PRESENT AT THE MEETING, WHEN THIS VOTE WAS TAKEN. MISS. SORRY. YES. GO AHEAD. MY APOLOGIES. NO, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY SOME THINGS, BECAUSE I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER CASTRO WAS ASKING WHETHER THEY RECEIVED NOTICE FOR THE NOVEMBER COMMISSION MEETING, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR WHETHER THAT MEANT THIS MEETING. SO I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE THE NOVEMBER COMMISSION MEETING, THERE WAS AN ITEM IT WAS A RESOLUTION DIRECTING STAFF TO PROCEED WITH DEVELOPMENTAL PARK MAILED NOTICE IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THAT ITEM. AND BUT FOR TODAY'S MEETING, THERE WAS MAILED NOTICE. AND I WANT TO MAKE PUT THAT ON THE RECORD THAT THERE WAS MAILED NOTICE, AND I SEE THE THE PLANNING DIRECTORS UP THERE. IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO ADDRESS? YES. SO MAIL NOTICE WAS SENT OUT ON MAY 20TH, THE SAME DAY AS PLANS ARE MEETING, AS YOU, I THINK, HEARD FROM MULTIPLE RESIDENTS HERE. SO YES, WITHIN 1000FT OF THE 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE PROPERTY. RIGHT. COMMISSIONER. LAURA, IF I GO AHEAD AND RESPOND TO YOU, IF I MAY. OKAY. WE HAVE A VERY LONG AGENDA. LET'S GET MOVING ON THIS ISSUE. I KNOW WE WANT TO GO BACK AND FORTH, TIT FOR TAT AND IT'S PERFECTLY FINE. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER THAT THAT HAS, THAT ADDS A LITTLE BIT OF SUBSTANCE TO THE DISCUSSION? MADAM VICE MAYOR, AS THE YOUR OTHER SPONSOR, CORRECT ON THIS ITEM? YES. NO, THIS IS STAFF.

NO STAFF, I APOLOGIZE, THIS WAS THIS WAS A STAFF STAFF. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD

[05:00:03]

WE'RE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS AND THE VOTE IS, YES, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THE QUESTION. WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO WAS WHEN THIS ITEM FIRST CAME ABOUT, AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS IN NOVEMBER. IT WASN'T FAIRLY ADVERTISED. IT WAS ONLY ADVERTISED, OR ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN FAVOR OF THIS DOG PARK WERE PRESENT HERE. I WATCHED THE MEETING ONLINE. I WASN'T HERE TO CLARIFY THAT POINT. AND THE SECOND THING IS FOR THE CITY, THE CITY ATTORNEY, BY APPROVING THIS ORDINANCE, ARE WE REMOVING ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS FROM THE LAWSUIT? ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS? OKAY. SO WE'RE KIND OF FIXING THE ZONING CODE TO THE PRIVILEGE OF CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND THEIR LAWSUIT. THAT COMPLAINT WOULD NO LONGER BE VALID BECAUSE WE'RE FIXING IT. WELL, COMMISSIONER, RESPECTFULLY, IF YOU'RE FIXING SOMETHING, THEN THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING. IT'S IT'S IT'S IF THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT A DEFICIENCY OF SOME SORT AND WE'RE ADDRESSING IT, THEN WE'RE ADDRESSING IT. I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN A DEFICIENCY. TO BE CLEAR, THIS WAS IT'S A REQUIRED STEP. THEY HAVE INCLUDED MANY ARGUMENTS IN THEIR LAWSUIT. I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE VENUE TO TO TO HASH THEM OUT. BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A STEP THAT THAT WHEN DONE BY THE COMMISSION. YEAH, THEY IF THIS PROCESS CONCLUDES, THEN THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SAY THE CITY DIDN'T ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. YEAH, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CITY ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE OR NOT. IT'S THAT THAT IS ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS OF THE LAWSUIT. AND NOW WE'RE COMING HERE AND WE'RE FIXING IT BEFORE THE LAWSUIT WAS EVEN DONE. COMMISSIONER. THAT'S A IT'S A STEP IF, YOU KNOW, AS THE CITY IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DOG PARK OR NOT MOVING FORWARD, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS PART OF THAT PROCESS IN THE, YOU KNOW, THE THE NEXT STEPS IN DEVELOPMENT OF A DOG PARK. MY ANSWER IS MY VOTE IS NO MAYOR THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, IF THERE'S RELIEF BEING SOUGHT, AND ALONG THE WAY THE RELIEF SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN AS MOOT. THAT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND TWICE ON SUNDAY IN LITIGATION NUMBER TWO. RESPECTFULLY, YOU SHOULD ADDRESS ME AS COMMISSIONER LARA. I CERTAINLY KNOW I'VE EARNED THAT. I DIDN'T. THAT'S A BOO BOO. MY VOTE IS YES. MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM, WHICH WAS A 2372-1.

UNLESS ANYBODY NEEDS A BATHROOM BREAK, I MAY STAND UP TO STRETCH OUT MY BACK.

COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SAYS TO TAKE A BREAK. IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO ALL RIGHT.

RECORDING IN PROGRESS. WELCOME BACK. MR. CLARK, ITEM 2-1, PLEASE. YES, SIR. TIME SERVED

[2.-1. 26-1628 A Resolution of the Transportation Advisory Board requesting that the City Commission consider funding a study for a scramble crosswalk at the intersection of Miracle Mile and Ponce de Leon Boulevard.]

[05:05:03]

AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S COMING THROUGH VERY SAFE. THE TRAFFIC HAS CALMED DOWN. AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S ACCOMPLISHING ITS EFFECTIVENESS OF WHAT IT'S MEANT TO DO. SO I USE, I USE THAT STREET EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND ONE OF THE ITEMS I HAD MULTIPLE VISITS WITH THE MANAGER AND WE TALKED ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE BEEN PLANNING FOR THIS FOR A FEW YEARS NOW WITH YOUR HELP AND THE RESIDENTS HELP. AND IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW WHEN YOU TIGHTEN THE STREET AND THE SIDEWALK, YOU TIGHTEN THE STREET. BESIDES THE ISLAND THAT'S RIGHT ADJACENT TO, TO THE TO THE BRIDGE. THE TIGHTENING OF, OF THE STREET HAS REALLY SLOWED PEOPLE DOWN. IT SLOWS ME DOWN. YEAH. YOU HAVE TO BE OBVIOUSLY A LOT MORE ALERT, MORE CAREFUL AND MORE COGNIZANT OF IT. SO BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE ARE USING THE SIDEWALK. THAT'S THE INTENTION AND THAT OBVIOUSLY WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE THE TREES AND THE CANOPY STAYED INTACT. SO HAVE YOU HEARD ANY ANY OF THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA THAT ARE UPSET ABOUT IT? I HAVE NOT, NO. WE'VE HAD SOME CONCERNS DURING CONSTRUCTION, BUT THOSE HAVE BEEN RESOLVED WITH STAFF. I HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH STAFF ON THAT, AND I THINK WE FINALLY GOT TO THE END PRODUCT AND IT'S IT'S LOOKING GREAT. THE ONLY THING THAT I LEFT IN THE HANDS OF THE MANAGER WAS MR. FRIEDMAN. HE HAD AN ISSUE. HE HAS SOME. WE'RE GOING TO PUT A NO PARKING SIGN ON HIS HOUSE AND OBVIOUSLY REPLACE HIS GRASS THAT HIS GRASS WAS A LITTLE BIT DAMAGED, WHICH IS ABOUT I THINK IT'S TWO DOORS DOWN, TWO DOORS DOWN FROM YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.

RIGHT. HE'S ON THE ON THE GOLF COURSE SIDE. YEAH. SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. NO, NO. THAT MAKES ME HAPPY. GREAT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO DO IS FIRST AND FOREMOST, WILL YOU SEND BACK A MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION TO EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD THANKING THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK? WILL DO. AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO SCHEDULE TIME WITH THE MANAGER WHENEVER YOU GUYS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT WEEK, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE INFORMATION MOVING FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT. OKAY, MAYOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SET UP A MEETING WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION. SO WE CAN ALL WE CAN ALL DISCUSS AND LOOK TO SEE WHETHER WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS OR NOT. OKAY.

MADAM VICE MAYOR, YOU WANT TO ADD? SORRY I CAME IN LATE. NO, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SCRAMBLE SIDEWALK, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE ASKING US TO RECOMMEND IT. I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH IT AT ALL. I BUT I WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MANAGER, HIS EXPERIENCE. AND THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ENGINEERS CAN HAVE. MAYBE WE CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT, IN MY OPINION, NOT ONLY IS A SCRAMBLE SIDEWALK, BUT MAYBE WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT ALL THE

[05:10:04]

THS A LF WORK TAN BE DONE. ANDIN, PERN NAGER ANDITNG WOU I TH ME IORHANOMETHAT NST, THEANAG'SOTMANAGER' AN TT'S WHY I APPRECIE THE HE SE OF T C BAYS,AND MBECAUS HE LIKE YRSELHOAS PBABL MORE CIV ENGINEENG MAE THE DCMHAI'VE, THAT K CIND A LOT OONG T I AR INTOEI SHINGTIO ANDAL KD OF T ECL,AYBE SAM YBHE SAME SIWA E WE FIOLUT TOAT? OTHEES T WRE FING. T'S OI Y, SIR. MR. MAYOR,, I THINK I WOULD GREATO SOWN A LOO AN IMPORTA INTERION, BEINGUCH MIRACLEIL ANDON. AND I IN WITTH WITHLL THE ENGINEERINGHAT WE HAVE IN TH ROOM RIGOW, IHINKT LO ITVER AND SEE WHAT IS, TION FORHAT? LEIVEYOU LEMEE YOUE LET IVE YOU AN EXAME.

'S GNA LAUGH. LL GE YOU ANXALE WHERE THE MER AND I DIEE. OKA TNK SHOREVE TSE THINK SHOULD ROVHENES THENTERSECTIOUST A INVENTED. I DON'TW AN S AN DIFFERE CE MIXES AND AIOLREINRCEMTEB ANDU KN, IST OND? IS IT NO ONAND?FF HERMES IS HERMES AND MISSA TVE GONEZYRYG TO FIGURE OUT THEYGOTT BTE THEY'VE BEER.HEY DON'T FAIL LIKE THEY'RE JT YOUANHAVE TGHT HE TS ON, THOAVERS. THATAS SOING THATAS

[05:15:01]

WE'RE WRITING A MEMO ON IT. LAURA FROM MY OFFICE IS WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE SUBMITTED IT ALREADY. WHEN YOU GO TO REGIONS BANK, YOU SEE YOU SEE THAT THEY HAVE WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TILES. WE HAVE THE MIRACLE MILE STREETSCAPE TILE. THEN WE HAVE IT WAS A PAVER, EXCUSE ME. AND WE HAVE A VERY THIN TILE. AND THEN WE HAVE THE CONCRETE. WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TREATMENTS. THAT TILE IN FRONT OF REGIONS BANK SHOULD NOT EXIST. REMOVE THAT TILE AND THROW CONCRETE THERE OR EXTEND EXTEND THE MIRACLE MILE STREETSCAPE PAVER.

IF YOU GO AND LOOK AT THAT RIGHT NOW, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER. THE TILE IS LIFTING UP. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE COVENANTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE AND WE HAVEN'T ABOUT 3 OR 4 LOCATIONS. IT'S IN MY MEMO. CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR, MR. MANAGER AND THE DCM. CAN YOU SHARE THE MEMO WITH HIM? YEAH. SHARE IT WITH HIM. YES, MA'AM. BECAUSE IT'S WE'RE TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY AND OBVIOUSLY NOT BE A TRIPPING HAZARD, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU DRIVE, IF YOU WALK IN FRONT OF REGIONS, YOU'LL SEE LITERALLY A POTHOLE ABOUT THIS BIG. SO THROUGH THE MAYOR, YEAH, I'M GOING TO MOVE TO DEFER THE VOTE ON THE DOING A STUDY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE ENGINEER SYMPOSIUM MEET AND SEE WHAT WE CAN GET DISCUSSED AND RESOLVED AND COME WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSION ON HOW TO ADDRESS ALL THESE VARIETY OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HERE. AS IT LOOKS LIKE A SIX MORE ISSUES POPPED UP IN THE PROCESS, SO I'LL MOVE TO DEFER. LET ME ASK A QUESTION. HOW MUCH IS THE STUDY? WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS STUDY IS GOING TO BE? HERE COMES THE DIRECTOR. HAD YOU UP THE WHOLE TIME. GOOD AFTERNOON DIRECTOR, WE HAVE TO LOOK IN DETAIL. BUT A PLACE LIKE PONCE, YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50 TO $75,000. SO IT NEEDS TO BE A COUNTY. DO YOU MIND IF WE HAVE THIS MEETING AND WE BRING THIS BACK IN JULY? IN JULY? NO, BECAUSE I BEFORE I STRIKE 50, 75,000, WE'RE LOOKING FOR EVERY PENNY RIGHT NOW. WE MAY HAVE TO USE THOSE 50, $75,000 A REGIONS BANK AND COME TO SOME IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT OR WHAT. WE GOT TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

YOU KNOW, MR. MANAGER. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE OUR MEETING BEFORE.

OKAY. AND THEN WE WE CAN WE CAN WE HAVE A A LOT OF ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE HERE. WE CAN COME UP WITH WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS, LOOK AT SOME OF THESE SOLUTIONS. AND IF WE FEEL THAT A STUDY AT THAT TIME IS DONE, IS, IS, IS APPROPRIATE, WE WILL BRING IT BACK. IF YOU GIVE US TO THE MEETING IN IN AUGUST, IT WOULD IT WOULD BE GREAT TO ALLOW US A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO LOOK AT AT THE INTERSECTION AND, AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME, SOME, SOME DATA THAT OUR ASSISTANT TRAFFIC DIRECTOR HAS. AND IT WOULD BE A GREAT MEETING FOR ALL OF US TO SEE IF WE CAN IMPROVE REALLY OUR MOST, OUR MOST IMPORTANT INTERSECTIONS, AND CERTAINLY THE ONE THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I RESPECT ALL OF YOU, AND ESPECIALLY OBVIOUSLY, THE RESIDENT WHO'S GOING, YOU KNOW, GREAT GRACEFULLY. AGAIN, THIS IS A CONVERSATION STARTER. AND I THINK IT'S IT'S AN IMPORTANT A LOT OF GOOD ITEMS. AND THEN THESE ARE ALSO ITEMS THAT I CAN BRING UP TO THE TAB AS WELL FOR FURTHER CONVERSATION AND ELABORATION AS WELL. SO I THINK THIS HELPS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT TO IMPROVE OUR WALKABILITY, OUR SAFETY, MOBILITY AND OUR IN OUR CITY.

AND I THINK GOOD COLLABORATION HELPS ME ADD ONE MORE THING FOR THE MEETING, JUST FOR THE MEETING, BECAUSE HOW CAN WE GET THROUGH THE DCM? IF YOU SPEAK TO LAURA, I SENT OUR DISTRICT SIX COMMISSIONER, NATALIE ORVIS. I'VE SENT HER TWO LETTERS AND ONE WAS A MEMO. WE HAD A

[05:20:01]

SO WE HAVE OUR MARCHING ORDERS. MR. MANAGER, THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. THE THE ISSUE, COMMISSIONER, IS THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT THE DETAILS, BUT IT'D BE A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU AND LOOKING AT THE INTERSECTION.

MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT THE ENTIRE MILE, AND IT WOULD BE A GREAT MEETING FOR US TO DO SO.

SO I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. SO, MR. CLERK, WE'LL BRING THIS BACK ON THE AUGUST. YES, SIR.

SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND THAT'S PENDING. OKAY. AND I HAD A MOTION TO DEFER.

AND I, I THINK WE NEED TO ASK IF THERE'S A SECOND ON THAT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE ENGINEER SYMPOSIUM. I'M OKAY WITH WITH, YOU KNOW, THE THE MEETING MOVING FORWARD AND THEN HAVING US BRING THIS BACK IN AUGUST. YOU KNOW, IF THE, IF THE MOVER OF THE ITEM IS OKAY WITH IT, I'LL WITHDRAW MY MY SECOND. I'LL GO AHEAD AND RETRACT MY MOTION. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE NEED A SECOND FOR THE DEFERRAL, RIGHT. I THINK THERE'S CONSENSUS TO JUST BRING IT BACK.

SO AUGUST, IT'S ON THE AGENDA ALREADY. SO AND WE'LL JUST LOOK AT EVERYTHING HOLISTICALLY.

EVERYTHING FROM LIKE WE MENTIONED, SIDEWALKS, OBVIOUSLY TO ALL THE EQUIPMENT, ALL THE TECHNOLOGY, ALL THE POLLS, ALL THE SIGNAGE, EVERYTHING. I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT. THAT'S GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MY FRIEND. I APPRECIATE YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM F TWO. F TWO

[F.-2. 26-1658 A Resolution of the City Commission requesting that Mobility Impact Fees generated by the Ponce 8 Project, located at 3808 SW 8 Street, be used for eligible mobility and transportation improvements in the North Flagler/Ponce Area; and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

[05:25:04]

AND THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HOW THIS AREA IS UNDER UNDER SERVICE. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, THEY REALLY WANT TO BE FRONT AND CENTER. SO I'M REALLY SPENDING TIME HERE. AND I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE ALSO AND THE MANAGER ALSO, AND OUR TEAM, THE DCM AND THE ACM AND ALL DIRECTORS. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. THIS IS NOTHING NEW. WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, BUT I'M BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FIRST LIVE LOCAL PROJECT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND THIS IS GOING TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MANAGER TO GET HIS GUIDANCE IN REGARDS TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL DOING THIS, BUT THIS IS ALREADY A HIGH IMPACT AREA WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC A LOT. AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE EVEN MORE IMPACT WITH THIS LOCAL PROJECT MOVING FORWARD. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE AN INTEREST IN DOING THIS. I THINK THIS IS INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL AND I THINK IT WILL BE IT WILL HELP US FUND FUTURE PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIDEWALKS, TREE CANOPY, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRAFFIC CALMING. AND THE MANAGER WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, MR. MANAGER. THANK YOU. MAYOR, WE'RE LOOKING AT WE'RE CURRENTLY FINISHING OR WORKING ON EXCUSE ME, PHASE THREE OF PONCE DE LEON, WHICH WHICH WOULD TAKE PONCE ALL THE WAY TO SOUTHWEST EIGHTH STREET. AND WE ARE LOOKING AT PROPOSING A PONCE PHASE FOUR THAT WOULD THAT WOULD BE FROM SOUTHWEST EIGHTH STREET TO FLAGLER STREET. THERE'S APPROXIMATELY $160,000 AT THIS IN MOBILITY FEES AND MOBILITY IMPACT FEES THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD GENERATE. AND SINCE WHAT WE'RE DOING ON ON PONCE WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT, CERTAINLY THIS WOULD BE CERTAINLY A PLACE WHERE THIS IMPACT FEE COULD HELP US PROVIDE BETTER, BETTER TRAFFIC SITUATION ON PONCE TO HELP HELP WITH THE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC AND AND HELP US FUND PHASE FOUR OF PONCE DE LEON. IT'S A START. AND I THINK THAT'S THE POINT. WE SHOWS THAT WE'RE COMMITTED.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING BY THE WAY I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING INTO BUDGET SEASON SOON.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY COLLEAGUES AGAIN YOU KNOW, THERE'S SLIM PICKINGS FORTHCOMING, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO THIS AREA, COMMITTED TO THE PARK, COMMITTED TO A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE THERE. BECAUSE THIS AREA, THIS AREA, JUST LIKE BILTMORE WAY, IT'S ANOTHER AREA, THIS AREA AND BILTMORE AREAS THAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON OVER THE NEXT 4 OR 5 YEARS. THE MAYOR YES, SIR. WE ARE PROPOSING PHASE FOUR AS PART OF THIS BUDGET FROM FROM A DESIGN POINT OF VIEW. AND THIS $160,000 WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD USE TO TO START THAT THAT PROJECT. COMMISSIONER LATTA YEAH, I SO SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR RESOLUTION. YOU KNOW, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH PART OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AT ROTARY PARK WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ORIGINAL VISION FOR THAT AREA. AND I KNOW YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT AS WELL, HAVING BEEN SOMEBODY SPEARHEADING THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SO WITH PONCE EIGHT PROJECT LOOKING LIKE IT'S JUST MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THAT IT'S A VERY, VERY PRUDENT, APPROPRIATE, FAIR, EQUITABLE RESOLUTION TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE, THE FULL EXTENT OF THE FUNDS, I THINK THAT'S THE BEST PLACE AS WELL TO DEPLOY THEM. AND SINCE WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION, THANK YOU TO THE CLERK WHO REMINDED ME. LET'S ALSO DISCUSS H TWO. ALSO, MR. MANAGER, WHICH IS. YES, GO AHEAD, MADAM VICE. WE'RE DISCUSSING BOTH. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THEY'RE BOTH. I'M ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF I MEAN, I DID DO ONE RESOLUTION TO CARRY FROM EIGHTH STREET NORTH BECAUSE THERE IS A NEED TO DIRECT FUNDING FROM THE MOBILITY IMPACT FEES INTO THAT AREA. AND THIS IS A VERY APPROPRIATE PROJECT TO ALSO APPLY THOSE THAT FUNDING TO, BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT'S NEEDED FOR AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED FOR SOME TIME, MAKING IT MUCH MORE RESIDENTIAL AND DEALING WITH THE TYPE OF TRAFFIC THAT'S GOING THROUGH THE AREA. I DID THAT BEFORE I WAS A COMMISSIONER USING MOBILITY IMPACT FEES. AND AND THIS IS VERY, VERY APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME. SO I'M I'M IN FAVOR. OKAY. DO THE MAYOR DO YOU NEED A MOTION OR. YEAH, WE'LL DO WE WILL NEED A MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION. YEAH, YEAH. WE DO NEED A MOTION. SO MR. MAYOR, I THINK THIS IS A NO BRAINER. I THINK THIS IS THE COMMUNITY THAT'S MOST GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THAT PROJECT. AND THEY REALLY NEED THE FUNDING AND THE INVESTMENT IN THE AREA.

[05:30:05]

COMMISSIONER. LANDIS. YES. COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR. YES. MR. MANAGER, CAN WE DO H2,

[H.-2. 26-1562 Update regarding Live Local Act application located at 3808 SW 8th Street referred to as “Ponce 8.”]

MAYOR WOULD BE 10 TO $25 MILLION, DEPENDING ON ON WHAT WE DO THROUGHOUT THAT AREA. IF WE TAKE THE WHOLE AREA TOGETHER. MADAM DIRECTOR. YEAH. JENNIFER GARCIA, PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE PONCE PROJECT. IT'S A MIX. SORRY.

IT'S A MIXED USE PROJECT, BUT USING THE LIVE LOCAL ACT, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON EIGHTH STREET BETWEEN GALLIANO AND PONCE DE LEON. IT'S AN INNER BLOCK. YOU CAN SEE IT'S TAKING UP, I THINK, SIX PLOTTED LOTS. THERE'S AN AERIAL, SO IT'S NOT QUITE REACHING GALLIANO ON THE CORNER. IT'S WEDGED BETWEEN, I THINK, CAFE ITALIANO OR ITALIAN. THANK YOU. AN OFFICE BUILDING TO THE WEST. THERE'S AN AERIAL SHOT LOOKING SOUTHWEST. SO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP ACTUALLY IS COMMERCIAL HIGH RISE INTENSITY. AND THE ZONING MAP SHOWS IT TO BE THREE ZONING. THIS IS A SHOT OF THE MIXED USE SITE PLAN FOR THE GROUND FLOOR. SO IT HAS A GROUND FLOOR RETAIL FACING EIGHTH STREET. THERE'S AN ARCADE THAT RUNS MOST OF THE FRONTAGE ON EIGHTH STREET. THE PARKING RAMPS ARE IN THE BACK. THE ENTRANCE IS ACTUALLY SHOWN HERE ON THE LEFT SIDE. IT'S ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY. FOR ONE WAY END ACCESS. THEY HAVE UNDERGROUND PARKING AS WELL AS FOUR LEVELS OF PARKING. I'M SORRY, FIVE LEVELS OF PARKING ABOVE AND THEN THE VEHICULAR VEHICULAR EXIT TO THE WEST OF THE GROUND FLOOR AND A DOG PARK IN THE CORNER. THIS IS A TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S DOUBLE LOAD HALLWAYS. IT'S KIND OF A SHALLOW U SHAPE OF UNITS, AND IT HAS THE POOL AND AMENITY SPACE ON THE SOUTH SIDE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE TOP OF THE SCREEN. SO THE PROPERTY THREE 6000FT■!S, THE ZONING IS THREE. THE TOTAL FLOOR AREA RATIO OR F.A.R IS 5.0, WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM YOU CAN HAVE WITH THE LOCAL ACT.

[05:35:04]

COMMISSIONER, IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE PROJECTS ON US, ONE HAS BEEN THE LOCATION OF THE POOL, THE POOLS FACING RESIDENTIAL WHERE THEY HAVE THE BASICALLY LIKE A SOUND WALL, WHICH IS PROJECTING ALL THE NOISE INTO THE RESIDENTIAL. THERE'S SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT. MAYBE THEY CAN MOVE IT TO THE NORTH SIDE SO THAT IT'S NOT FACING THE ADJACENT TO THE RESIDENTIAL BEHIND IT. AND THE OTHER THING IS, ARE THERE GOING TO BE ANY, I GUESS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR ANY WAY FOR THOSE CARS THAT ARE MAKING LEFT AND LEFT INTO THE BUILDING BECAUSE TRAFFIC STACKS ALL THE WAY ALMOST TO 37TH AVENUE IN THE IN THE AFTERNOONS. SO ANYBODY WHO'S GOING TO TRY TO MAKE A LEFT INTO THAT BUILDING IS ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADD TO THAT TRAFFIC.

I DON'T KNOW IF IF THAT'S IN CONSIDERATION, THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE STATE, BECAUSE THE EIGHTH STREET IS IS FDOT, BUT JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT IN THE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO CAUSE MORE. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE 200 UNITS, YOU PROBABLY HAVE CLOSE TO THE, THE FULL, THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF THE VEHICLES COMING INTO THAT BUILDING, ESPECIALLY MORNINGS AND AFTERNOON AS THEY'RE LEAVING AND COMING IN, IT COULD

[05:40:02]

[F.-3. 26-1660 A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Manager not to proceed with any major capital improvements that would require temporarily ceasing operations at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center until the reverter clause in the deed to the property has been modified to address the City Commission's concerns regarding its potential interpretation; and directing the City Attorney to pause on litigation efforts until further direction is provided by the City Commission. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)]

MADAM VICE MAYOR, THIS WAS AN ITEM I. I BROUGHT IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO HELP REACH A RESOLUTION WITH THE WAR MEMORIAL YOUTH CENTER. THE REVERTER CLAUSE HAS BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF CLARITY FOR SOME TIME, AND THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION WOULD PUT A PAUSE ON DOING MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OTHER THAN THE MAINTENANCE THAT'S REQUIRED FOR OUR NORMAL OPERATIONS, BUT NOT A TEAR DOWN OF THE BUILDING WITHOUT HAVING THE REVERTER CLAUSE ADDRESSED. IT'S A ONE WAY STREET RIGHT NOW THAT IF MISINTERPRETED OR MISAPPLIED OR A LAWSUIT BEGINS AND THE PROPERTY IS REVERTED BACK TO THE WAR MEMORIAL YOUTH CENTER, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR THAT ORGANIZATION TO CONTINUE TO RUN A FACILITY, AS IT IS INTENDED TO BE RUN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE YOUTH. THEY GET THE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THERE'S NO OBLIGATION GOING FORWARD. SO THAT IS THE REASONING BEHIND THIS RESOLUTION TO TRY TO BRING CLOSURE TO THIS ISSUE. ANYONE ELSE ON THE COMMISSION? I KNOW YOU HAVE A I KNOW YOU HAVE A FOLLOWING ITEM ON F4. SO. WELL, WELL, ACTUALLY WHAT I WANT TO DO IS I WANTED TO WITHDRAW F4 AND CONTINUE CONVERSATION AND DIALOG REGARDING F3. OKAY, OKAY.

DO YOU WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS IT NOW OR WOULD YOU LIKE. WELL, NO, I WANTED TO SAY, SINCE WE'RE ON THAT ON, OBVIOUSLY THE F3, YOU KNOW, THE INTENT BEHIND WHAT F4 WAS.

INTERESTINGLY, THE VICE MAYOR AND I, OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T CONFER ON THESE THINGS IN ADVANCE. SO YOU'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT VIOLATING THE SUNSHINE LAW. CORRECT. BECAUSE I'M NOT COMMITTING A VIOLATION. OH, OKAY. OF SUNSHINE. BUT I DO THINK THAT GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE. AND WE, WE BOTH AND NOT NOT MAYBE INCONSEQUENTIALLY WE'RE BOTH ATTORNEYS AND WE'RE KIND OF THINKING THE SAME WAY. HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU GET TO AN ELEGANT SOLUTION OR RESOLUTION OR AN ELEGANT EXIT OFF A HIGHWAY OF, YOU KNOW, IMMINENT FILING OF LITIGATION? RIGHT. SO I ALWAYS FEEL THAT LITIGATION IS, WILL BE THE LAST RESORT, YOU KNOW, THE LEAST PREFERRED PATH, ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO AVOID LITIGATION BECAUSE THERE'S A LEGITIMATE DISPUTE, YOU MUST EXHAUST ALL REASONABLE ALTERNATE AVENUES. I THINK THAT THE VICE MAYOR HAS COME UP WITH AN INTERESTING ONE, RIGHT. BECAUSE IT MAY BE MAYBE THIS IS THE WAY WITHOUT REHASHING IT. ALL RIGHT. HERE. YOU KNOW, THE THE CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN.

AMONG OTHERS. BUT THE MAIN CONCERN HAS BEEN IS LIKE TRULY THE EFFECT OF THE REVERTER CLAUSE, HOW ANY CHALLENGE CAN COME AT ANY TIME WITH RESPECT TO ITS INTERPRETATION. SO TO ALLOW SOME OXYGEN INTO THE ROOM TO ALLOW THE PARTIES TO EXPLORE WITHOUT ANY UNDUE PRESSURE OR OR UNDUE, IF THE CASE MAY BE PERSONAL FEELINGS BEING INVOLVED, NONE OF WHICH THAT I HAVE OR SHARE, TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR ALL THE PARTIES, YOU KNOW, TO PUT A PAUSE ON THE LITIGATION TO. DO SO UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THIS REVERTER CLAUSE MATTER, THE PARTIES CAN SIT DOWN AND COME TO A RESOLUTION. AND THE BIGGEST CONCERN WOULD BE THE MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTITURE. RIGHT. WE CERTAINLY THE I UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE THAT THE CITY WOULDN'T BE IN A POSITION, SHOULDN'T BE IN A POSITION TO INVEST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND STILL HAVE UNRESOLVED THE UNCERTAINTY THAT PRESENTLY THE REVERTER RAISES. SO I, I WOULD

[05:45:04]

I THINK WE'VE NO PUN INTENDED OVER LITIGATED THIS CONVERSATION. WE'VE GIVEN THREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO SHOW UP. WE HAVE BEEN STOOD UP AT THE DANCE THREE TIMES. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, THANK GOD. BUT ANYBODY WILL TELL YOU WHO'S A LITIGATOR. AND I HAVE ONE ON MY LEFT AND ONE TO MY RIGHT, THAT IN THESE MOMENTS YOU CANNOT SHOW WEAKNESS. YOU CANNOT GIVE UP YOUR HANDS. OR AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY WON'T TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY. THEY DO NOT TAKE US SERIOUSLY ALREADY. OKAY, YOU'VE HAD MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD LEAVE THE BOARD. AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE LEFT TWO WEEKS AGO. THE VICE. THE VICE CHAIR, I THINK, IS NO LONGER PART OF THE BOARD. AND THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY. THERE IS NO NEED TO DISCUSS IT OR ARGUE IT OR BELABOR THE POINT. WE'VE HAD THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WE CAN TALK ABOUT FIVE YEARS OF NOT BEING AN ACTIVE 501 C THREE, YOU KNOW, NOT PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR PARTNER. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR PARTNER. I THINK IT'S A GREAT MOVE TO FREEZE ALL MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. LET ME GIVE YOU ONE FINAL EXAMPLE. AND THAT IS IN FIVE YEARS. IN FIVE YEARS. AND I'M SENDING OUT TODAY A LETTER TO ALL THE RESIDENTS AND EMAIL, EXCUSE ME. IT WILL DETAIL THE SUCCESS OF THE PENSION, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MANAGER. AND WE STARTED IN 2015 FUNDING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WE NEEDED TO. ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT PENSION BOARD MEETING WAS THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO OVERFUND THE PENSION AND THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD, AS WE AS IT'S BEEN MOVING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE'LL HAVE ABOUT $25 MILLION. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MISTER MANAGER. THAT'S CORRECT. ABOUT $25 MILLION OF EXCESS MONIES THAT WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO ATTRIBUTE TO PAYING DOWN THE PENSION. AND WE'LL BE CLOSE TO 98, 99% FUNDED. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ALMOST 80% FUNDED. WE'RE RIGHT THERE WHERE YOU CONSIDER SMOOTHING. WE'RE RIGHT THERE 77, 78%. WE'VE DONE A HEAVY LIFT. WE'VE DONE A HEAVY LIFT SINCE GOING FROM ALMOST 50% WHEN WE STARTED OVERFUNDING THE PENSION IN 2015. WHY DO I SAY THAT IN FIVE YEARS WE CAN BASICALLY RENOVATE THE COMPLETE YOUTH CENTER. BY THE TIME THAT WE'VE DONE THE PLANS, WE'VE ENTITLED IT, WE'VE GOTTEN THEM APPROVED, WE'VE SELECTED A CONTRACTOR, PROBABLY TAKES ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS. AND THEN WHEN YOU BUILD, IT TAKES ANOTHER TWO YEARS. THINK ABOUT IT. IT COULD BE ABOUT A FIVE YEAR PROCESS. IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE SOCKING AWAY $25 MILLION, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY PAY THAT RENOVATION IN CASH. HOW CAN YOU MAKE AN INVESTMENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE? BY THE WAY, REMEMBER WHAT KIRK MENENDEZ WANTED TO SPEND CLOSE TO $175 MILLION ON A BOND ISSUANCE, WHICH I VOTED AGAINST. AND GOD, I VOTED AGAINST THAT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE CITY WILL BE PAYING A LOT OF MONEY AS OUR TAXES ARE BEING CUT. SO I CANNOT SUPPORT RENOVATING SIGNIFICANTLY. AND BY THE WAY, I'M ALL FOR IT. I THINK THE YOUTH CENTER DESERVES A MASSIVE RENOVATION AFTER WE'VE DONE, AFTER WE'VE COMPLETED WITH CITY HALL AND THE MOBILITY HUB, I THINK THAT IS THE NEXT BIG PROJECT WE'VE DONE. VENETIAN POOL WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW THE WATER TOWER. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE GONDOLA BUILDING, WHICH ARE SMALLER PROJECTS, BUT A PROJECT OF THE MAGNITUDE OF, OF, OF THE YOUTH CENTER REQUIRES REAL ATTENTION AND REAL COMMITMENT. AND WE CAN'T DO THAT KNOWING THAT THERE'S A REVERTER. WHAT HAVE I PROFFERED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN? AND FOR SOME REASON I I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. EITHER A COVENANT OR I'M WILLING TO GO EVEN FURTHER AND TO REQUIRE A REFERENDUM. THERE'S THE CONSTANT RIDICULOUS. STATEMENTS BY THE BLOGS THAT ARE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO SELL THE YOUTH CENTER, OR WE'RE GOING TO REDEVELOP THE YOUTH CENTER INTO SOME MULTIFAMILY. IT'S A POLITICAL PLOY. YOU KNOW, THE PLOY, THE POLITICS, THEY STOKE THE FIRES, THE SCARE PEOPLE. I MEAN, THAT'S PURE INSANITY. OKAY. WE'RE IN THE WE'RE IN THE WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO ACQUIRE AS MUCH LAND. LOOK, LOOK WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY WITH ACQUIRING THE NEIGHBORING BUILDING OF CITY HALL AND WAIT TILL THEY HEAR ABOUT OUR. WE'RE ALMOST THERE, MISTER MANAGER. WE'RE ALMOST THERE. WELL, WE ARE, WE ARE THERE. CONCEPTUALLY WE'RE THERE. WE FINALLY GOT THE AGREEMENTS. WE'RE GOING TO PAPER IT UP. YOUR OFFICE IS GOING TO PAPER IT UP, AND WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER ON THE LARGEST PIECE OF LAND IN PRIVATE HANDS. AND WE'RE BRINGING THAT INTO THE CITY. AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WE'RE GOING TO PUT A COVENANT ON IT SO THAT IT REMAIN A PARK IN PERPETUITY, AND YOU CANNOT BUILD ANYTHING ON IT. BUT WE'RE ABOUT PROTECTING GREEN SPACES. SO I

[05:50:01]

IF YOU WANT TO FREEZE LITIGATION IN AN EFFORT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TWO PARTIES CAN COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION, I'M ALL FOR IT. THEY LOOK, WE'RE DOING OUR PART.

WE'VE INVITED THEM IN HERE THREE TIMES. THEY'VE STOOD US UP AT THE DANCE THREE TIMES.

WE'VE SAID, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO FREEZE LITIGATION NOW FOR THREE MONTHS, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN MEET AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A COMMITMENT IN THREE YEARS TO SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO DESIGN AND REMODEL OR REBUILD THE YOUTH CENTER, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. MAYBE TAKE A COMPLETE REBUILD. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THREE MONTHS TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS OR TWO MONTHS BY THE END OF, YOU KNOW, SEPTEMBER 1ST. WE WANT TO BE BE READY TO GO, AND THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO LITIGATION. BUT THE IDEA THAT IN PERPETUITY, WE CAN JUST SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO FREEZE LITIGATION. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT. I WILL BE A NO VOTE, BUT I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ONCE AND FOR ALL, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THESE CONSTANT FEARS AND THESE CONSTANT LIES THAT ARE BEING SAID. THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP, DEVELOP THE YOUTH CENTER. I MEAN, THAT IS SACRILEGIOUS IN MY EYES. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU LIKE TO DO IT, VICE MAYOR. I KIND OF I MEAN, MY CONCERN FOR THAT PROPERTY IS MORE THE FACT THAT THE EXACT OPPOSITE COULD HAPPEN IF WE END UP IN LITIGATION, IF THE WAR MEMORIAL YOUTH CENTER INTERPRETS THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE WAS NOT MET, BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH VAGUENESS IN THIS REVERTER CLAUSE, THAT OPENS IT UP TO ANYBODY'S OPINION, WHICH WE HAVE MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS IN A ROOM ABOUT HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH IN THE WAY OF ADULT ACTIVITY VERSUS YOUTH ACTIVITY ON THAT SITE. SO THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF MY IS MY CONCERN. WELL, THEY, THEY CLAIM AND THINK THAT CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS GOING TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY. IT'S MORE MY CONCERN THAT SOMEBODY DOWN THE LINE, WHOMEVER IS ON THE BOARD, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE ON THE BOARD IN THE FUTURE, ACTUALLY IS THE IS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAINTAIN IT AS A YOUTH CENTER HAS NO REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN IT AS A YOUTH CENTER AND COULD DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH THE PROPERTY THAT IS CLEARLY NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THIS PROPERTY GOING FORWARD, WE HAVE TO PUT A BOOKEND ON THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THIS MAJOR CAPITAL UNLESS THEY COME SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND RENEGOTIATE THIS REVERTER CLAUSE. AS FAR AS A BOOKEND ON ON THE LITIGATION, LET ME PUT IT ON THIS GRACE PERIOD, MORE AND MORE GRACE. SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, GRACE. PERIOD. YOU KNOW, I CAN TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT AND AND ADDRESS THAT IN THE FUTURE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TIME PERIOD IS APPROPRIATE THERE, COMMISSIONER.

LAURA, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT MATTER? MY THROUGH THE MAYOR, MY VIEW ON THIS IS THAT I THINK THAT LOOKING AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE IS THAT BOTH THE. WELL, IT'S THE CURRENT BOARD, THE BOARD THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS DESIROUS OF THE SAME THINGS THAT WE WOULD BE DESIROUS OF ULTIMATELY. RIGHT. IS THAT WHEN THE TIME IS APPROPRIATE FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT OF A MATERIAL AND MAJOR SCOPE, WE ALL WOULD WANT THAT, RIGHT? IT IS THAT COMMON DESIRE TO GET TO THAT END POINT THAT THEN THE CITY HAS LEVERAGE, RIGHT, TO GET THEIR ATTENTION SO THAT WE CAN COME TO A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE REVERTER CLAUSE. I THINK THAT IF IF, IF, IF PEOPLE WILL BE REASONABLE ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED FOR A VERY LONG TIME AT THIS POINT TO TO REACH AGREEMENT THAT WILL PROTECT ALL INTERESTS, THEN THEN THE LEVERAGE THAT THE CITY HAS IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OFF ON MAKING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT OF A MATERIAL SIZE, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEN WE WE WOULD BE SUBVERTING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE RESIDENTS WITH RESPECT TO MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF POTENTIAL EXPENDITURE. SO I THINK, MAYOR, THAT THERE'S THERE'S, THERE'S GREAT BENEFIT TO PUTTING A PAUSE, NOT LOSING THE MOMENTUM, CONTINUING THE CONVERSATIONS, BUT ALWAYS UNDERSTANDING THAT IF IF THEY IF THE PARTIES CAN'T COME TOGETHER FOR RESOLUTION, THE KEYS TO THE CELL ARE IN THEIR HANDS IF THEY WANT TO RESOLVE THE REVERTER CLAUSE WITH US. IF NOT, WE HAVE TO PROTECT WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE A MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT EXPENDITURE. SO THE WAY THAT THIS IS PRESENTLY PHRASED, I'M STILL SUPPORTIVE OF IT, THE WAY

[05:55:02]

AND IT REALLY WARRANTS IT BECAUSE IT'S A IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FACILITY. USE USE BY BY, BY MY NEPHEW, BY MY SON, BY, BY EVERYONE. AND YOU HAVE THE, YOU HAVE THE, THE KIDS OF KIDS NOW USING THIS FACILITY. SO IT'S NOT A FACILITY THAT CAN BE THAT CAN BE THAT WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH A, A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY WITHIN A COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION OF THIS FACILITY, WHICH MEANS THERE IS NO YOUTH CENTER OR MAYBE 2 OR 2 AND A HALF YEARS. AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, MISTER MANAGER THERE, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT DRASTIC STEP, AND WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $200 MILLION DOLLARS ON A FACILITY OF THIS MAGNITUDE, AND LET'S MAKE IT THE BEST. LET'S DREAM BIG. WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? YOU HAVE AN INTERSECTION, A STREET THAT RUNS BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND THE YOUTH CENTER. WHEN WE COMBINE THOSE STREETS, MAKING THE YOUTH CENTER EVEN BIGGER. AND THESE ARE JUST THOUGHTS, IDEAS THAT WE CAN WORK. WE OWN THE LIBRARY. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE COULD DO SOMETHING EVEN BETTER. WE COULD HAVE COMBINED PARKING. YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE DO SOMETHING IN THE YOUTH CENTER WHERE, WHERE AGAIN, THERE'S, THERE'S ACTUAL THINKING OUT LOUD. UNDERGROUND PARKING. YOU KNOW, IT'S EXPENSIVE. TREMENDOUS MASTER PLAN. YOU COULD DO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. YOU CAN DO A MASTER PLAN WITH A, B AND C AND THEN HAVE DIFFERENT PRICING IN REGARDS TO THE MAGNITUDE OF IT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE. FOR EXAMPLE, WE DID WITH THIS BUILDING.

REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT ADDITIONAL FLOORS, WE SAW THE COSTS. AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I REGRET WE DIDN'T DO AN ADDITIONAL FLOOR HERE. MAYBE WE TALKED ABOUT ELEVATED SWIMMING POOL. REMEMBER THAT RUNNING DECKS, UNDERGROUND PARKING. I MEAN, THE SITE REALLY LENDS ITSELF TO A LOT OF A LOT OF TO A TREMENDOUS PROJECT IN 31. IF WE TAKE CARE OF, OF, OF THE PENSION PLAN, THEN IT WOULD GIVE US ABOUT $25 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING AT THAT TIME. BUT, BUT I DO THINK THAT THAT THE BUILDING THERE'S NO SAVING THE BUILDING. AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS REAL CONVERSATION. IF YOU WANT TO PUT A FREEZE ON CAPITAL AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS REAL CONVERSATION, THAT'S FINE, BUT THERE HAS TO BE THERE HAS TO BE A TIME FRAME FOR THIS CONVERSATION. IT JUST CAN'T BE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL WE'LL SEE YOU IN SIX MONTHS. WE'LL SEE YOU IN TWO YEARS. WE'LL SEE YOU IN FIVE YEARS. IT HAS TO SAY, OKAY, LET'S, LET'S SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AND SEE.

LET'S SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF IT. DESIGNATE SOMEBODY FROM THE COMMISSION TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY. AND WE HAVE A REAL SIT DOWN CONVERSATION TO SEE HOW WE CAN WE CAN FIND CONSENSUS. BUT I, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT MY COLLEAGUES, I'M WILLING TO GIVE. I'M JUST ASKING THAT MY COLLEAGUES PUT A BOOKEND ON IT SO THAT WE CAN COME BACK AND SAY, LOOK, THESE ARE THESE ARE OUR FINDINGS. THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING. THE MAYOR. YES. SO THIS CONVERSATION CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AS IF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES HAD OVERSIGHT OVER THIS ASSOCIATION. BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE OTHER WAY AROUND. THE ASSOCIATION WAS CREATED AS A MECHANISM TO PROTECT RESIDENTS AND ENSURE THAT THE CORAL GABLES YOUTH CENTER ALWAYS REMAINED A YOUTH CENTER. YOU KNOW, AND AS I CONTINUE TO HEAR THIS CONVERSATION, THERE WAS ONE WORD THAT CAME TO MIND, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY IT UNLESS I LOOKED UP THE DEFINITION. OBTAINING MONEY, PROPERTY OR SERVICES THROUGH COERCION, INTIMIDATION, OR THE WRONGFUL USE OF THREATS. IT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. IT'S EXTORTION. WE'RE TRYING TO EXTORT A FOUNDATION OR AN ASSOCIATION THAT WAS CREATED TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS IN ORDER TO SECURE A CHANGE IN AN AGREEMENT THAT WE ALREADY HAD. AND WE JUST HEARD, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A COVENANT ON THIS PROPERTY SO THAT IT DOESN'T BECOME X, Y, OR Z YET. NOW WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE A REVERTER, WHICH IS, YES, A COVENANT AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE WITH THE ASSOCIATION WAY BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THE PROPERTY BECAME THE CITY'S TO USE FOR THE YOUTH CENTER. AND I UNDERSTAND YOU ALL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF THE FUNDING, AND WE'RE NOT THERE YET. WE HAVE NO MONEY IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW FOR YOUTH CENTER CAPITAL PROJECTS.

[06:00:08]

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LARGE SUM OF MONEY FOR THE RENOVATIONS OF THE CENTER, YOU KNOW, AND WE HEAR, OH, YOU PEOPLE ARE BEING SCARED INTO BELIEVING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE REDEVELOPED. WHAT IS THE REASON WE'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF A REVERTER? THE REVERTER IS THERE TO ENSURE THAT THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES ALWAYS HAVE A YOUTH CENTER TO RELY ON. THAT PROPERTY WILL NEVER CHANGE ITS USE. YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING CHANGES, UNDERGROUND GARAGES, ALL THAT SOUNDS GREAT, BUT IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT SOMETHING HAS TO PROTECT THAT PROPERTY TO ENSURE IT IS ALWAYS A YOUTH CENTER. AND LOOK, I TRUST THAT THE FIVE OF US UP HERE HAVE THE DESIRE OF KEEPING IT A YOUTH CENTER. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY UP HERE HAS A DESIRE OF CHANGING IT INTO SOMETHING ELSE, INTO SELLING THE PROPERTY.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I BELIEVE. I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE THE BEST INTENTION IN MIND OF PRESERVING THE YOUTH CENTER, BUT I THINK WE'RE SPENDING A TON OF MONEY GOING AFTER AN ASSOCIATION TO TRY TO CHANGE A REVERTER, WHICH IS THERE TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS. THAT'S WHY I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE GONE INTO LITIGATION TO BEGIN WITH.

I BELIEVE I MEAN, WE ARE ASKING AN ORGANIZATION THAT OVERSEES US TO PROVIDE US WITH DOCUMENTATION SO THAT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GET AWAY FROM A REVERTER YET TO THIS DAY, MR. CLARK, HAVE WE RELEASED ALL OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS THAT WERE REQUESTED UNDER DISCOVERY? WE HAVE WE HAVE NOT RELEASED ANYTHING. WE'RE STILL GOING BACK AND FORTH ON WHAT WAS REQUESTED. SO THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT OVERSEES US, AND WE HAVE NOT RELEASED RECORDS PUTTING OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY COULD FILE PAPERWORK TOMORROW TO TAKE THE YOUTH CENTER AWAY, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT RELEASED OUR RECORDS, PROVING THAT WE'RE USING IT FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSES. SO. I THINK GOING DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE, AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO USE MUSCLE POWER TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A RIGHT TO REQUEST. YOU DON'T GO BUY A CAR AND THEN SHOW BACK UP AT THE DEALER, YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS LATER AND SAY, HEY, I WANT TO RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT THAT I SIGNED IN THE CAR BECAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME ANYMORE. THAT DOESN'T WORK. THAT'S NOT HOW THE WAY THE WAY IT WORKS IN REALITY. AND LET'S CALL IT WHAT IT IS. THIS IS POLITICAL, 100% POLITICAL. YOU'RE DONE SIR. I'M DONE. OKAY, GOOD. FIRST AND FOREMOST, MADAM VICE MAYOR, IN A TYPICAL COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ WAY, HE DOESN'T GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION. IT'S GOOD FOR SOUNDCLIP ON THE GAZETTE OR OR CON LECHE OR WHATEVER IT IS. THEY CALL IT A. MR. CLARK, WILL YOU DO ME A FAVOR? WILL YOU PUT ON THE RECORD? EVEN THOUGH IT WON'T MAKE IT TOMORROW? MAYBE THE HERALD WILL PRINT IT. HOW LARGE WAS THEIR PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST? IT WAS AN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE ASSOCIATION IN ORDER TO NARROW IT DOWN, TO DETERMINE A NUMBER THAT IS, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHAT ACCURATE AND REALISTIC. OKAY.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU I'M GONNA ASK YOU AGAIN. I'LL ASK YOU AGAIN. I KNOW YOU WANT TO PROTECT THE CITY. YOU DO. IT'S OKAY. BUT WE HAVE TO SHOW HOW RIDICULOUS THE PUBLIC RECORD WAS. OKAY? BECAUSE SOMEBODY WHO IS SERIOUS, AND THIS IS WHY I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE VICE MAYOR UNDERSTANDS THIS AS AS PER PROPOSAL. THEY'RE NOT SERIOUS. THEY HAVEN'T COME HERE THREE TIMES. THEY'RE NOT PROTECTING THE THE YOUTH CENTER. YOU KNOW WHY THEY'RE NOT PROTECTING THE YOUTH CENTER? BECAUSE THEY CAN'T EVEN KEEP THEIR 501 C THREE ACTIVE FOR FIVE YEARS. THAT'S NOT SERIOUS. THAT'S NOT A FIRM OR AN ENTITY THAT'S SERIOUS. THEY DON'T KEEP THEY DON'T EVEN KEEP THEIR OWN RECORDS IN ORDER. MR. CLARK, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, PLEASE, TO TELL ME HOW LARGE OF A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST DID THEY MAKE, AND WHAT WAS THE COST OF THAT PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST? MR. MAYOR, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER RIGHT NOW, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT'S UPWARDS OF 200 MILLION EMAILS. WE WORKED BACK AND FORTH TO TRY TO REDUCE THE SCOPE OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. THE LAST NUMBER WAS SOMETHING AROUND 20 MILLION EMAILS, BUT WE'RE STILL GOING BACK AND FORTH BEFORE PROVIDING THEM WITH AN ESTIMATE ON HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO PRODUCE OVER 20 MILLION EMAILS FROM THE CITY. MR. CLARK, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PART OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES? 2003. OKAY, SO YOU'RE 23 YEARS HERE, CORRECT? YES, SIR. AMAZING. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU LEARNED FROM ONE OF THE BEST. AND YOU HAVE THIS LOVELY YOUNG LADY HERE WHO WORKS WITH YOU, WHO'S YOUR RIGHT HAND? LET ME ASK YOU

[06:05:03]

THE REVERTER CLAUSE THAT WAS WRITTEN BACK IN 1950S, JUST LIKE SOME LEASES THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR CITY FROM DECADES GONE BY, DID NOT ANTICIPATE THE REALITY OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF MISINTERPRETED. NUMBER ONE, IT'S NOT RECIPROCAL. NUMBER TWO, IT DOES NOT PROTECT THE YOUTH CENTER. IT ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT PROTECT THE YOUTH CENTER. IN FACT, IT DOES THE EXACT OPPOSITE BECAUSE IT'S NOT RECIPROCAL. THEY CAN ASSERT THAT THE REVERTER CLAUSE HASN'T BEEN COMPLIED WITH AND THEN RECEIVED THE PROPERTY AND HAVE ZERO OBLIGATION TO RUN IT AS A YOUTH CENTER, THERE ARE NO PROTECTIONS FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THAT REVERTER CLAUSE. NONE WHATSOEVER. NOR DOES THAT BOARD ANSWER TO THE RESIDENTS WHO VOTE IN THIS CITY. THEY CAN DO WITH IT WHAT THEY WANT. THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THEIR BOARD BYLAWS, WHICH CAN BE CHANGED AND AMENDED, AND STATE STATUTES WHICH CAN BE CHANGED, AMENDED, SOMEHOW PROTECTED. PERHAPS THAT'S A NEW AVENUE FOR LIVE LOCAL. PERHAPS IT'S A NEW AVENUE FOR OTHER LEGISLATION THAT WE COULD NEVER IMAGINE IN OUR LIFE TEN YEARS AGO WOULD EXIST TODAY. THEY'RE NOT PROTECTING THE YOUTH CENTER. THEY'RE JUST PROTECTING AN OLD RIGHT WITH A POORLY WRITTEN DOCUMENT THAT DOESN'T ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE YOUTH OF OUR CITY, OR EVEN A MEMORIAL THAT IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT, BECAUSE BOARDS CHANGE, THE PEOPLE ON THOSE BOARDS CHANGE.

AND THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES, WHO VOTE FOR PEOPLE THAT SIT UP HERE AND CAN REMOVE THE PEOPLE THAT SIT UP HERE, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS A RECIPROCAL REVERTER CLAUSE, NOT A ONE WAY REVERTER CLAUSE. THE BENEFITS AND ORGANIZATION WHOSE BODY CHANGES IS NOT SUBJECT TO ANSWER TO THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES. SO THIS RESOLUTION, IF YOU HAD READ IT PRECISELY, IDENTIFIES THAT AS THE ISSUE SAYS, WHEREAS THE CITY COMMISSION FULLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY INTENDS TO CONTINUE THE OPERATIONS OF THE CORAL GABLES WAR MEMORIAL YOUTH CENTER FOR THE RECREATION AND BENEFIT OF YOUTH, CORAL GABLES.

BUT CONCERNS REMAIN REGARDING THE RESTRICTION OF A PORTION OF THE YOUTH CENTER PROPERTY THAT IS SUBJECT TO A NON RECIPROCAL REVERTER CLAUSE. THEREFORE, WHILE DISCLOSURE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF ITS ORGANIZATIONAL OPERATIONAL FINANCIAL RECORDS WOULD ALLEVIATE THOSE CONCERNS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, THE CITY COMMISSION ULTIMATELY REMAINS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE INTERPRETATION OF THE REVERTER CLAUSE, WHICH IS OVERLY BROAD AND CONTAINS NO GUARDRAILS. OKAY. AND THAT'S A FACT. IT HAS NO GUARDRAILS. THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES ARE NOT PROTECTED BY THAT REVERTER CLAUSE. THIS RESOLUTION AIMS TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE BY GETTING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SIT AROUND A TABLE FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL,

[06:10:04]

YES IT DOES. IT DOES SAY, AND DIRECTING CITY ATTORNEY TO PAUSE ON LITIGATION EFFORTS UNTIL FURTHER DIRECTIONS PROVIDED BY THE CITY COMMISSION. BEAUTIFUL. OKAY. SO THEN I WILL I WILL SUPPORT THIS FOR THE REASON BEING THAT, YES, I AGREE WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ IS STATING. HOWEVER, THIS IS A RESOLUTION. SO TO BE HONEST, ANYBODY LIKE THERE'S ANOTHER MAJORITY CAN COME UP HERE AND DISSOLVE THAT RESOLUTION OR AMEND IT. I MEAN, AS EASY AS THAT IS JUST A RESOLUTION. IT'S NOT A COVENANT. IT COULD BE DONE UNDONE VERY EASILY. AND I THINK RIGHT NOW, STOPPING LITIGATION AND MAKING THIS A BIGGER DEAL IS, IS, IS MORE IMPORTANT. AND THE OTHER THING, IF I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO BE HONEST, I THINK THE REASON THIS IS BEING DONE IS BECAUSE AT SOME POINT WE'RE INVESTING SO MUCH MONEY INTO MOBILITY HUB. AND I DON'T THINK THIS COMMISSION WANTS THE YOUTH CENTER TO BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT COMPARED TO THE MOBILITY HUB, BECAUSE THEY WILL BE AFRAID THAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD PROBABLY PREFER TO INVEST SOME MONEY IN THE YOUTH CENTER. BUT THAT'S I MEAN, I ALREADY KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING, SO I WILL SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. AND JUST A MINOR CORRECTION HERE.

IT'S NOT ARROZ CON LECHE. IT'S CALLED POLITICO CORTADITO. THROUGH THE MAYOR. BY THE WAY, I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT ANYTHING GOING ON THE BALLOT FOR A REFERENDUM THAT DID NOT HAVE A REVENUE STREAM. AGAIN, THE MOBILITY HUB HAS A REVENUE STREAM COMING FROM PARKING FEES.

THE IDEA OF SPENDING $175 MILLION. THANK GOD I STOPPED THAT AND I WAS A NO VOTE ON THAT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS, JUST LIKE TAKING FROM OUR RESERVES WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. JUST LIKE THE COLA WAS A DISASTER. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO BE VERY FISCALLY SOUND. AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE MOVING IN. THANK GOD WE DID THE THINGS THAT WE DID IN 2015, IN 2015 LEADING UP TO THIS POINT, BECAUSE IF NOT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE RESERVES AND YOU WOULD HAVE A BLOATED ALBATROSS OF A PENSION SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE 50% FUNDED. SO VERY EASY TO POKE THE FINGER AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO SAY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, DELIVERING ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES, PUT THE CITY WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW. COMMISSIONER LATO, SO BRIEFLY, BECAUSE WE WERE REALLY BEATING THE DEAD HORSE HERE. YEP. SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE A NEWCOMER TO THE CITY? YOU FORGET OR YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT HERE. YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR AND THE VICE MAYOR AND I, WE VOTED FOR AND GAVE DIRECTION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TO BRING THE LITIGATION. TWO OF THE THREE SO FAR, THE VICE MAYOR AND I HAVE SPONSORED RESOLUTIONS TO TO PUT A PAUSE ON THAT LITIGATION. RIGHT. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT COMMISSIONER CASTRO WAS REFERRING TO ABOUT THIS IS NOT A COVENANT OR THAT IT CAN BE

[06:15:04]

AND SO TO NEGOTIATE WITH ANOTHER PARTY WITH RESPECT TO THE INTERPRETATION OF A REVERTER DRAFT THAT 60 YEARS AGO, TO MEET WITH AND MEET UP WITH THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE THAT THE CITY IS FACING RIGHT NOW IS EXPECTED. AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, ELECTED TO DO, NOT SIMPLY SAY, SET IT AND FORGET IT. SO I I'M STILL EXPLORING AND I HATE TO BE BE DELAYING THIS, BUT ALTHOUGH I'M COMPLETELY IN SUPPORT OF THE VICE MAYOR'S RESOLUTION, I AM STILL CONTEMPLATING WHAT THE VICE MAYOR IS SAYING WOULD BE SOME TYPE OF A BOOKEND. AND SO I. I WOULD SUGGEST A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND. AND PUT A BOOKEND BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. THE MAYOR. YES, MA'AM. ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY, WE HAVE A VOTE COMING IN NOVEMBER ON INCREASES IN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT MAY INFORM OUR DECISIONS GOING FORWARD. SO THAT'S WHY I SAID DECEMBER OR JANUARY WOULD BE THE BOOKEND TO REVISIT THIS THIS MATTER. WOULD YOU JUST ALLOW ME AND I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT THIS AGAIN, GIVE GIVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO TAKE ME TO THE DANCE AND NOT SHOW UP, YOU KNOW, FOR TIME. WOULD YOU JUST GRANT ME THE ABILITY TO AT LEAST HAVE A BOOKEND ON IT, AND I'LL MEET YOU THERE AND I'LL VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT? WHAT BOOKEND ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY. DECEMBER. I WAS GOING TO GO SEPTEMBER 1ST. I'M WILLING TO NEGOTIATE. I WANTED TO GET PAST THE PROPERTY TAX. THAT'LL BE DONE DECEMBER 1ST.

THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY? OKAY. BY THE WAY, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ WAS INCORRECT. ONCE AGAIN, THERE HAS BEEN MONEY SPENT ALREADY IN THE YOUTH CENTER. THERE HAS BEEN CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS THAT WERE, THAT WERE, THAT WERE, THAT WERE WORKED ON, THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT MONEY THAT SHOWED A COMPLETE REMODELING OF, OF, OF THE YOUTH CENTER. AM I CORRECT OR NOT? THAT IS CORRECT, MAYOR. AND THEY WERE EMBARKED ON BY BY ROMEO HAMILTON PARTNERS. AND THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL, BY THE WAY, BEAUTIFUL RENDERINGS. AND I WAS IN SUPPORT OF THAT 110%. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT COME TO FRUITION. I THINK THE CITY DESERVES THAT. I THINK OUR CHILDREN DESERVE THAT. FUTURE GENERATIONS DESERVE THAT. AND I THINK THAT THAT BUILDING, NOT ONLY IS IT OUTDATED, IT COULD IT'S IT'S THERE'S A LOT OF WASTED SPACE THERE BECAUSE OF THE LITTLE ROOMS, DOORS HERE, OPEN SPACES THAT ARE NOT EVEN USED. CASE IN POINT WHERE THE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, AND I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, WE HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING GYMNASTICS PROGRAM. THEY ARE LITERALLY, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THIS, BUT OVER CAPACITY, THEY'RE BEGGING, BEGGING. THAT'S HOW POPULAR AND THAT'S HOW WELL. AND THE AWARDS THAT THEY'RE WINNING, THEY'RE BEGGING US TO EXPAND. THEY'VE,

[06:20:02]

THERE HAS BEEN MONEY SPENT ALREADY. THERE ARE CONCEPTUAL PLANS. IT IS A PUBLIC RECORD.

WE WERE MOVING FORWARD. WE WERE DISCUSSIONS OF $175 MILLION BOND, THE PARKS WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY GOING TO THE YOUTH CENTER. IT WAS BROUGHT. IT WAS WORKED ON. WE PAID ■LAWYERS, WE PAID OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WE PAID CONSULTANTS. SO WE WERE HERE. AND GOD, I VOTED NO. WE WOULD BE TODAY. SO WHAT DO WE DO? WE DID PARKS LIKE DAVID LAWRENCE PARK. WE DID PARKS LIKE DOROTHY THOMPSON, PROPERLY BUDGETING, NOT ENCUMBERING THE CITY WITH MORE DEBT. SO, MADAM VICE MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON YOUR ITEM? I'LL MAKE A MOTION AS AMENDED ON THE FLOOR, WITH DECEMBER 1ST BEING THE FIRST AS A BOOKEND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? MR. CLERK? WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT, CORRECT? NO. WE DO. WE HAVE NOT DONE PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT. FIRST SPEAKER MARIA CRUZ. MISS MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD (305) 323-2154. IF IT WAS NOT SO SAD TO HEAR THE COMMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD TODAY, I WILL BE LAUGHING FROM NOW TILL THE END OF THE YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE MISSING A POINT WHERE WE'RE TALKING. AND BY THE WAY, I WAS ACCUSED OF BEING A BRINGING FORTH NEGATIVE COMMENTS BEFORE.

AND NOW WE HAVE TWO COMMISSIONERS TRYING TO PUT THIS TO MAKE IT WORK, AND WHO CAME UP WITH THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS? THE ONE THAT ACCUSED ME OF ALWAYS BRINGING NEGATIVE COMMENTS? ENOUGH ON THAT. I HAVE BEEN AROUND ENOUGH TO REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES THEY USED THE CENTER OF PLANS, AND I'M GLAD THAT THE MAYOR REMEMBER, WE DID HAVE A PLAN.

AND THEN. COMMISSIONER MENENDEZ WAS CONVINCED TO PUSH IT UP A LITTLE BIT SO WE COULD DO SOMETHING ELSE. AND THEN WE PUSHED IT UP A LITTLE MORE SO WE COULD DO SOMETHING ELSE. AND THEN I'M GLAD THAT MY EX-FRIEND, MY OLD FRIEND, BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT THEN WE DECIDED NOT TO DO IT BECAUSE THERE WAS A BREAK, BECAUSE THERE WAS A BREAK, BECAUSE THE SAME AS I WAS DEPOSED FROM BEING MADAME MAYOR, COMMISSIONER MENENDEZ BECAME THE BAD PERSON, AND POLITICS CAME IN. AND IT'S VERY SAD THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO IT. THE MANAGER SAYS THE PLACE NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER MENENDEZ DOESN'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN. THIS IS NOT BENEFITING HIM. THIS IS FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS, FOR THE YOUTH OF THIS CITY. AND WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH POLITICS. YOU KNOW WHAT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POORLY WRITTEN DOCUMENTS, I REMEMBER WHEN THE MATHESON FAMILY TOOK THE COUNTY TO COURT AND THEY WON. BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT AS THIS ONE, YOU DO HAVE LEGAL WAYS TO KEEP IT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP SAYING, AND YES, IT DOES SOUND LIKE EXTORTION TO ME. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WORD TO USE. BUT THEN COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ USED IT IS EITHER YOU DO WHAT I WANT OR YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE MONEY. DARN IT. I WATCH ENOUGH CRIME MOVIES TO TELL YOU THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE MAFIA TALKING.

I'M SORRY. OKAY, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ALL PART OF THE REVENGE TOUR. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY DESERVE TO GET A NEW YOUTH CENTER AND STOP THE POLITICS. MR. CLARK.

JACKSON. HOLMES. GREETINGS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT THIS IS THE MOST

[06:25:13]

I WOULD SUGGEST IN THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE, WE REALLY SHOULD BE EXPLORING A COVENANT SO THAT IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT WHAT BOTH PARTIES WANT, BOTH PARTIES AGREE TO, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S BEEN AGREED TO DOESN'T QUITE GET US THERE. BUT IF EVERYONE IS EXACTLY ON THE SAME PAGE AND THEY SAY WHAT THEY MEAN AND THEY MEAN WHAT THEY SAY, THEN A COVENANT WOULD BE THE CLEAREST AND MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO ENSURE THAT IT REMAINS EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO BE WHEN IT WAS GRANTED 60 YEARS AGO TO THE CITY TO PROTECT NOT ONLY THE CHILDREN, BUT ALSO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO SERVED. MY VOTE IS YES, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. GROSS MISINTERPRETATION IN STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION ABOUT WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESOLUTION ARE, AND THE UNFORTUNATE. WAY, IN CERTAIN WAY, CERTAIN RESIDENTS HAVE ACCEPTED THAT AS BEING. THE TRUTH IS SAD BECAUSE THE PURPOSE OF THIS ISN'T TO INDEED PROTECT THE YOUTH, PROTECT THE FUTURE FOREVERMORE. MANY TIMES WHEN YOU BEGIN CRAFTING SOMETHING, WHETHER IT BE IN WORDS OR BY AN INVENTION, THE FIRST ITERATION IS A GREAT IDEA. BUT AS TIME GOES ON, WE CAN IMPROVE UPON IT. WE IMPROVE ON ENGINEERING, WE IMPROVE ON DESIGNS, AND WE CERTAINLY CAN IMPROVE ON THE LANGUAGE IN A COVENANT THAT FOREVERMORE WILL PROTECT THE YOUTH AND THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE OF THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY. AND IT'S SAD THAT PEOPLE USE LOOSE WORDS SUCH AS EXTORTION, AS IF THIS IS EXTORTING SOME MONEY. THE TRUE

[06:30:04]

[F.-5. 26-1634 Update on the Summer Page Program. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

THANK YOU AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. SO, I MEAN, IF YOU SEE HIM, HE WALKED IN IN A SUIT AND A TIE. I WAS LIKE MESMERIZED WHEN I SAW HIM. I SAID, WOW, THIS IS THIS IS AMAZING. I BROUGHT HIM INTO MY FIRST MEETING. WE STARTED HAVING A CONVERSATION.

YOU KNOW, HE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. I WANT YOU TO MEET HIM. THESE INTERNS, THE ONES THAT WE SELECTED, THE 16. I WISH I COULD HAVE SELECTED THEM ALL, BUT WE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE ROOM. WE'LL BE WORKING IN EIGHT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I THANK OUR STAFF FOR REALLY, YOU KNOW, WORKING HARD. HCM, DCM, MR. MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, ALL THE DIRECTORS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE PATIENCE. YOU'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH PROFESSIONALS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING THE TIME TO REALLY MENTOR, MENTOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. I'VE BEEN DOING THE PAGE PROGRAM FOR, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY YEARS NOW, AND I ALWAYS GET SO MUCH OUT OF IT BECAUSE THESE THESE WE REMAIN FRIENDS WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS. SOME OF THEM COME BACK, SOME OF THEM GO TO LAW SCHOOL, GO TO ENGINEERING SCHOOL, GO TO ACCOUNTING. YOU KNOW, THEY BECOME PROFESSIONALS

[06:35:04]

AND THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER, FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS. THANK YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

I THINK THAT THESE THESE INDIVIDUALS LEARN A LOT WHILE WE'RE HERE, BUT WE ALSO LEARN FROM THEM AS WELL. YEAH. SO THEY'RE GREAT. THEY'RE GREAT. AND YOU GOT TO MEET THIS GENTLEMAN IN MY OFFICE. HE'S AMAZING ITEM. YES. I THINK, MR. MAYOR, THIS IS ONE OF THE THE HIGHLIGHTED THE PROGRAM THAT SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR CITY BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUTURE LEADERS TO NOT JUST SEE HOW WE WORK, BUT COOPERATE IN THE PROCESS AS WELL. AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE OFFERED IN THE PAST, HOW MUCH THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCUSSION.

WE RECENTLY HAD THE PRESENTATION FROM THE OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEIR INTERNS ARE DOING IN THAT DEPARTMENT, SPEARHEADING A PROJECT THE VICE MAYOR HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET DONE FOR A WHILE. WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A PRODUCT. THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT A REALITY. SO IT'S A CONTRIBUTION THAT THAT THEY GIVE TO US. BUT IT'S ALSO A LOT THAT WE BENEFIT FROM THEM AS A CITY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD DO MORE TO MAYBE HIGHLIGHT THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO ON THE E! NEWS, INTRODUCING THE COMMUNITY TO WHO ARE OUR INTERNS ARE AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AT THE END OF THEIR PROGRAM. GREAT IDEA. ANY WAY THAT WE CAN GET MORE ENGAGEMENT? BUT BESIDES THE SOCIAL MEDIA, WHAT I ASK YOU IS DON'T JUST PUT THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SPEND TIME IN CITY HALL, ENGAGE WITH THEM, COME TO YOUR OFFICE, MEET WITH THE WITH ME, WITH THE INTERNS.

SPEND TIME WITH THEM. SHADOW THEM, TAKE THEM TO YOUR OFFICE, TAKE THEM TO YOUR MEETINGS, AND REALLY GIVE THEM THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY DESERVE. BECAUSE IT'S VERY SIMPLE JUST TO BRING THEM HERE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT. WHAT I WAS SAYING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR HERE, WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS, WE HAVE PARKING, WE HAVE OUR LAW FINANCE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL OUR ALL OUR TEAM, YOU KNOW, ALL OUR TEAM MEMBERS HERE.

DOUGLAS RAMIREZ IN THE BACK. ENGAGE WITH THESE WITH THESE. I HATE TO SAY CHILDREN. I SHOULDN'T SAY CHILDREN, BUT THESE KIDS ARE 18, 19 YEARS OLD. THEY'RE YOUNG KIDS. JUST ENGAGE WITH THEM, SPEND FIVE MINUTES WITH THEM, BUY THEM A CUP OF COFFEE, OR HAVE LUNCH WITH THEM.

THESE KIDS ARE EXCEPTIONAL. THESE ARE AMAZING, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE CLAUDIA MORALES SON HERE. HE JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PERSONAL A PERSONAL ORGANIZATION THAT I RAISED OVER $150,000 FOR EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AND TO SEE HIM GET MONEY, TO ME, IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE. AND I'M PICKING ON HIM BECAUSE HE'S HERE, YOU KNOW? SO WHEN YOU MEET WITH THESE CHILDREN AND YOU HAVE A REAL SIT DOWN WITH THEM, I PROMISE YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO BE BEYOND IMPRESSED, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG MAN THAT I HAVE WORKING IN MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW. SPEND SOME TIME WITH HIM. AND IF YOU WANT TO STEAL HIM, STEAL HIM FROM MY OFFICE, YOU KNOW, TAKE HIM, TAKE HIM FOR A DAY OR TWO SO HE CAN GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY DO AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE, WHAT THEY DO, YOU KNOW, AT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. BECAUSE TO SEE WHAT THIS YOUNG MAN HAS DONE FROM WHEN HE'S GONE FROM CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH NOW TO COLUMBIA, I MEAN, AGAIN, IT'S IT'S AMAZING. IT'S AMAZING. IT'S IMPRESSIVE. SO I WELCOME IT. MADAM VICE MAYOR ADAM F6 F6. MR. CLARK, THERE'S

[F.-6. 26-1644 Discussion regarding FDOT Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Improvements. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)]

[06:40:07]

WE'RE REDUCING THE SPEED ON LEJEUNE ROAD TO 35 MILES AN HOUR, ALL THE WAY FROM US ONE TO SOUTHWEST STATE STREET. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS DONE THROUGHOUT THAT AREA WITH DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX AND NO LEFT HAND TURNS IN CERTAIN AREAS, BUT THERE WAS A PARTICULAR REQUEST, AND I AND I TALKED TO STAFF ABOUT THIS THAT FDOT HAS MADE. AND THAT REQUEST IS THAT EARLY ON IN THE PROJECTS, POSSIBLY AT D OR C LEVEL OR EARLIER, THAT WE REQUIRE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS TO TO SUBMIT TO FDOT EARLY ON, THE TRAFFIC. EXAMINATIONS, THE PLANS AND THE TRAFFIC STUDIES, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS RECEIVE THEM AT THE LAST MINUTE AFTER THE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED. AND IT'S AT THAT TIME THAT THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ARE PUT ON. BECAUSE I ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE THE INTERSECTION OF CABALLERO AND US ONE, AND WE NEEDED A TO HAVE A TRAFFIC LIGHT THERE. THEY NEED THE TRAFFIC STUDY IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THAT EARLY ON BEFORE THE PROJECT IS APPROVED, JUST LIKE WE DO. CONDITIONS OF IMPROVEMENT. THEY NEED FOR APPROVAL. THEY NEED TO HAVE THOSE AS WELL. SO THAT'S MY UPDATE AND MY REQUESTS FROM STAFF THAT WE BRING THAT FORWARD TO CHANGE THE PROCESS TO REQUIRE THE TRAFFIC STUDIES EARLY ON. THEY ALSO REQUESTED THE TRAFFIC STUDY FOR THE PUBLIX PROJECT ON LEJEUNE SO THEY CAN ADDRESS THE DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX. THE AUDIBLE SIGNALS, THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT WE'VE REQUESTED SO THAT IT'S NOT AN AFTER THE FACT ITEM THAT GETS FORGOTTEN AND I SEE UPDATE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER AND SENATOR GARCIA, FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US, AS WELL AS SECRETARY IGLESIAS AND AND FORMER SECRETARY STACEY MILLER. MADAM VICE MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR UNDERTAKING THIS. I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF WORK. I ALWAYS SEE HOW MANY MEETINGS YOU HAVE IN REGARDS TO THIS EFFORT, AND IT'S PAYING OFF. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. VERY WELCOME. AND THANK YOU FOR YOU DOING I MEAN, IT TAKES A TEAM. IT'S A PLEASURE. I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE GRINDING SO IT MEANS A LOT. THANK YOU. BY THE WAY, MAYBE YOU CAN USE SOME OF YOUR EXPERTISE. AND I MENTIONED IT BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAUGHT IT. I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT,

[06:45:02]

[H.-1. 26-1653 A Resolution of the City Commission rescinding Resolution No. 2023-360, which directed City Staff to instruct Florida Power and Light (FPL) to cease the replacement of certain silver light poles.]

THREE YEARS. OKAY. THE RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY WAS IN 2023, AND SO MAYBE TWO AND A HALF. THREE YEARS. TIME FLIES. YES. SO WE HAVE CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY THAT ARE NOT THAT DON'T HAVE LIGHT RIGHT NOW. SO I WANT TO SILVER LIGHTS. WE ALL WANT SILVER LIGHTS. THE LIGHTS ARE NOT HISTORIC. THEY'RE MADE OF FIBERGLASS. THEY'RE IN VERY POOR SHAPE. I EVEN HAVE ISSUES WITH THE BLACK LIGHTS RIGHT NOW IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AS I BROUGHT IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. SOME OF THEM ARE HAVING ISSUES, WHICH IS VERY WEIRD BECAUSE YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS. THEY'RE INTEGRAL. YES. SO THE PAINT IS INSIDE THE CONCRETE AND I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH INTEGRAL PAINT, INTEGRAL CONCRETE, EXCUSE ME, WHERE THE BLENDS AND I'VE EVEN TALKED TO THE MANAGER ABOUT IT COMES IN ALL DIFFERENT COLORS, VERY EXPENSIVE. IT'S WEIRD. YOU NEVER SEE IT FADE THIS EARLY. WE WE BROUGHT THAT UP TO FPL AND AND IN FACT, IF YOU SEE THE LIGHTS THAT ARE ON PISANO ITSELF. YEAH, THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN THERE LONGER. THEY'RE PERFECT. OUR SUSPICION IS THAT MAYBE THERE WAS A BAD BATCH. OKAY. THAT HAPPENS. AND SO WE BROUGHT THAT TO OUR ATTENTION TO FPL. AND OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE RESOLVED. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF MY COLLEAGUES, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU POUR CONCRETE AND YOU BLEND COLOR, WHAT THEY ALWAYS TELL YOU IS TRY TO BLEND ONE MIX, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR IT. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU GO BACK AND YOU DO A SIDEWALK AND THAT COULD BE A DIFFERENT, IT COULD END UP EVEN IF YOU USE THE SAME COLOR, THE AGGREGATE COULD BE DIFFERENT. IT COULD BE A CHANGE. AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, NATURE IS NOT PERFECT. AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF NATURE. SO WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THAT YOU'LL NEVER GET THAT EXACT COLOR. SO WHEN THEY POUR THESE WALLS AND THEY'RE, THEY WANT TO GET, AS THEY, THEY OVER REQUEST THE

[06:50:02]

I'VE SENT IT TO THE DCM, TO THE AND TO THE MANAGER AND TO YOU. THERE'S, THERE'S SOME FADING ISSUES. RIGHT. WE'VE GIVEN IT A FAIR SHOT. OKAY. I EVEN GOT, I EVEN GOT AN EMAIL THIS MORNING FROM MAYOR SULLIVAN. WE'VE MET ON SITE. WE'VE DEALT WITH THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW. WE JUST GOT AN EMAIL FROM OUR FROM EXCUSE ME, FROM OUR OUR DIRECTOR OF FROM CHELSEA GRINNELL, TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE FACT THAT IT ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE. IT'S MOVING FORWARD. THIS TAX PACKAGE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY THINGS ARE ENCUMBERING US OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, POTENTIALLY. OKAY. COSTS AND OUR REVENUE. THANK GOD IT WENT UP SIX AND CHANGE WHEN LAST YEAR WAS 5.5. SO IT DIDN'T GO DOWN AGAIN. IT STAYED KIND OF STABLE. BUT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL COSTS. OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE'RE GETTING A PLAY BY PLAY AND THIS IS MOVING VERY QUICKLY. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE MONTHS. SO IF WE HAD THE REVENUE, I WOULD SPEND THE MONEY. BUT MY CONCERN IS NOT ONLY THE MONEY. MY CONCERN IS THE MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN, WHICH THE MANAGER HAS DRILLED IN MY HEAD. THE POINT THAT IT'S I'M, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT ANYMORE, BUT IT MAKES SENSE. I MEAN, LISTEN, WE'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF LIABILITY SO WE DON'T EVEN. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE OWN A BUCKET TRUCK. DO WE OWN A BUCKET TRUCK TO BE DEALING WITH A BUCKET TRUCK? NO. OKAY. WE HAVE A BOOM. I KNOW, BUT THEN WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR WHO WE CAN GET IT. BUT BUT AT THE END OF DAY, IF WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT AT A COST, RIGHT? IT'S GOT TO BUY THE EQUIPMENT, GOTTA HIRE, WE GOTTA HIRE A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR. YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THE WORK OURSELVES. WHEN THE LIGHT BULB GOES OUT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CALL SOMEBODY TO COME AND DO IT. THE COST WOULD BE EXORBITANT.

PROBABLY HAVE OUR TEAM DO IT. WE DO A LOT OF STUFF IN-HOUSE. SO IT'S NOT ONLY THE COST, IT'S THE MAINTENANCE AND IT'S THE MANAGEMENT, AND IT'S MORE STRESS ON STAFF, WHICH ALREADY HAS AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF STRESS ALREADY TO DEAL WITH THE LEVEL OF QUALITY THAT WE REQUIRE HERE IN THE CITY. SO I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES, IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON. OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE THE RESIDENTS AS HAPPY AS POSSIBLE. I WANT TO MAKE MAYOR AS HAPPY AS POSSIBLE. AND I RESPONDED TO HIS EMAIL TODAY WHEN HE ASKED ME IF A MEETING HAD OCCURRED, WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE MEETING.

WE GOT TO FINALLY MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ISSUE. ANYBODY HAVE ANY ANY FURTHER GUIDANCE, ANY FURTHER HELP ON THIS? CAN WE CAN WE FIGURE THIS OUT? BECAUSE THIS IS LIKE THE UNDERLINE. OUR BACK IS AGAINST THE WALL AND WE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION HERE FOR THE MAYOR. YES, YES. I AGREE WITH YOU THAT RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE MOMENT TO INVEST THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO INTO LIGHTING. BUT I ALSO WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD PART OF MAYOR RESNICK'S EMAIL AND POINT NUMBER TWO THAT HE WAS BRINGING UP WAS, WHILE THESE LIGHTS ARE NOT AS HISTORIC AS THE 1920 INSTALLATIONS, THEY DO QUALIFY AS HISTORIC FOR BEING OVER 50 YEARS OLD. AND HE IS REALLY HE'S NOT TALKING TO ALL. HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL THE ONES AROUND THE GRANADA GOLF COURSE.

HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE ONES ON RIVIERA DRIVE AND SEGOVIA STREET. SO I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE WE CAN EXCLUDE THAT. SO THOSE ARE DIFFERENT LIGHTS ALTOGETHER. SO SO THE FIBERGLASS LIGHTS ARE BASICALLY A REPLICA DONE WITH FIBERGLASS. THE ONES ON SEGOVIA SPECIFICALLY. THOSE ARE CITY MAINTAINED. YEAH. AND THOSE ARE THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY HISTORICAL EITHER. YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE, BUT THOSE ARE MAINTAINED BY US.

AND THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS BATCH. THE ONLY THINGS THAT WE'RE CHANGING THOSE ARE FPL MAINTAIN LIGHTS THAT ARE BEING TRANSFERRED FROM THE SILVER INTO THE BLACK WASHINGTON, THE ONES IN SEGOVIA, THOSE ARE NOT UNDER THOSE ARE CITY LIGHTS. AND THERE'S NO CURRENT PLAN TO REPLACE THOSE, BY THE WAY. I MEAN, THIS IS I DON'T KNOW HOW. I MEAN, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE EVEN BROUGHT UP OR EVEN DISCUSSED. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY CONFUSED ABOUT THAT. WE'RE NOT REPLACING THE ONES TO GO WITH THE NEXT THING. NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET START GETTING PHONE CALLS. WE'RE GETTING REPORTS FROM SEGOVIA THAT HAS NEVER, NEVER EVEN BEEN IN CONSIDERATION. I THINK I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE, THIS LIGHTING ISSUE, FOR THREE YEARS NOW. WE SHOULD REPLACE THOSE LIGHTS IN SEGOVIA BECAUSE THEY LOOK TERRIBLE. AND I'VE SENT MANY PHOTOS TO THE TO THE TO THE DCM. HOW AT A MINIMUM, CAN WE AT LEAST CLEAN THEM? WE'VE DONE SOME. I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THEM ON ROTATION MAYBE ONCE A YEAR, EVERY SIX MONTHS. KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE DO WITH THE WHITE WAY LIGHTS. AND BY THE WAY, TALKING ABOUT THE WHITE WAY LIGHTS, THERE'S A WHITE WAY LIGHT ACROSS FROM THE LIBRARY THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO A TREE LIMB. SO MAYBE WE CAN HAVE DENA GO OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE I WOULD HATE, I WOULD HATE FOR THAT. AND IT'S A MASSIVE, MASSIVE BRANCH. I MEAN, I'M TALKING ABOUT IT'S THIS CLOSE TO IT. IT'S I KNOW IT'S RIDICULOUS, BUT IT'S WITHIN A FOOT OF A WHITE WAY LIGHT THAT REMEMBER, WE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THESE WHITE WAY LIGHTS AND WE HAVE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BASE WE WENT THROUGH WITH THE MANAGER THAT THE BASE HAS THE WHITE, THE WHITE ROCK AND THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING THEM, KEEPING THEM

[06:55:03]

SO LET'S BE CLEAR. I DON'T WANT TO I, I LOVE RECEIVING EMAILS, BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE CONFUSED. THE ONES IN SEGOVIA HAVE NOTHING TO DO AND THEY'RE NOT BEING REPLACED. THOSE ARE CITY LIGHTS. THEY'RE METAL. YES, THOSE ARE FIBERGLASS. THOSE ARE NOT FIBERGLASS. AND NUMBER ONE, THOSE ARE NOT HISTORIC. AND LET'S ALSO BE CLEAR, WE DON'T HAVE OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE HERE. JUST BECAUSE THINGS ARE 50 YEARS OLD DOES NOT MEAN THEY'RE HISTORIC. OKAY, THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS. WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL WHEN WE SAY THINGS LIKE THAT.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT. SO THE THE FIBERGLASS LIGHTS, IF YOU'VE SEEN THEM, THEY'RE ALL FULL OF PITTING. THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE CRACKING. THEY'RE FROM THE 1980S. THEY'RE ALMOST 50 YEARS OLD. BUT EVEN IF THEY WERE 50 YEARS OLD, THEY WOULD NOT BE HISTORIC. OKAY. SO DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD FOR THE RECORD? YES, MADAM VICE MAYOR, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT FIBERGLASS IS MADE OF BECAUSE BOATS ARE MADE OUT OF IT. CARS ARE MADE OUT OF IT. IT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER. OKAY, SO IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE MAINTENANCE AND WE'LL HAVE TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO TO DO IT. CLEARLY, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE SPENDING MONEY. ADDITIONAL MONIES ON THESE LIGHT POLES, PERHAPS WHEN AFTER THE PENSIONS PAID UP AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, WE CAN REVISIT THIS, THIS TOPIC. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE NEED TO CONSIDER PUBLIC SAFETY. AND LIGHTING IS IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. IT ABSOLUTELY IS. I MEAN, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE VOTED MOVING FORWARD, AND WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. AND WE DO NEED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE VOTERS ARE GOING TO DO ON THAT AND WAIT FOR THE PENSION TO BE FULLY PAID BEFORE EMBARKING ON LARGE EXPENDITURES GOING FORWARD. I USE THE SAME ANALYSIS ON THE YOUTH CENTER MATTER. WE NEED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER. AND FPL WILL NOT MAINTAIN METAL LIGHTS.

THEY'VE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR. YEAH. NO, I KNOW IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. WE'VE KIND OF BEATEN THAT DEAD HORSE A FEW TIMES. SO IN THE INTEREST OF MOVING THIS MEETING FORWARD, I'M GOING TO NEED A MOTION ON THIS. YES. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION. SECOND, MR. MANAGER, THROUGH THE MAYOR, THE FULL NUMBER OF YEARS AGO HAD HAD SOME VERY FAVORABLE TARIFFS AS FAR AS LIGHTING IS CONCERNED, BY USING THOSE TARIFFS AS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THAN, THAN IF WE WERE TO DO THIS KIND OF THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT IN ADDITION TO, TO TAKING CARE OF, OF, OF THE MAINTENANCE, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CAR HITS THEM, THEY REPLACE THE LIGHT. IF A HURRICANE COMES IN AND, AND, AND DESTROYS THE LIGHTING, THEY REPLACE THE LIGHTS. SO IT'S A VERY FAVORABLE TARIFF. AND IT REALLY GETS US OUT OF THE LIGHT BUSINESS BECAUSE IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE FOR US TO BE IN THE LIGHT BUSINESS AND NOT IT'S NOT VERY EFFICIENT FOR US. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO BEST. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. YES, MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. MARIA CRUZ.

MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, (305) 323-2154. I KNOW THE TIMING IS NOT GOOD TO SPEND MONEY, BUT WE HAVE MONEY FOR ALL THE THINGS. LET ME TELL YOU.

I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THIS CITY, WHO I MEAN WE THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND THE WORLD KNOWS THAT WE'RE VERY IMPORTANT. WE CANNOT FORCE A PRESIDENT OF FPNL TO MEET WITH OUR MAYOR. THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. OKAY. I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW WHAT? WE USE OUR POWER WHEN WE WANT TO. WE GO TO COURT WHEN WE WANT TO. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. NOT TO ME, BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY HAD TO AGREE THAT I ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THE LIGHTS ARE HORRIFIC, 2 TO 2, HIGH UP AND INCREDIBLY UGLY. BUT I THINK DON'S LESNIK HAS MADE IT A POINT. AND HE'S RIGHT. YOU KNOW, WE ONLY FIGHT THE BATTLES THAT WE WANT TO FIGHT AND FORGET THE ONES THAT WE DON'T WANT TO FIGHT. AND AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THAT. AND THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO BE IN THE BUSINESS, WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE LANDSCAPING BUSINESS EITHER. GO LOOK AROUND AND SEE HOW WELL THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS HANDLING OUR GRASS, OUR, OUR, OUR CIRCLES IS HORRIFIC, BUT WE'RE OUT OF THE BUSINESS. WHEN WE WERE IN THE BUSINESS, WE DID

[07:00:04]

RIGHT? SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BEFORE, AGAIN, FACTUALLY INCORRECT ACROSS THE BOARD. I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO WASTE TIME WHETHER WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OR WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS. I LIVE ON SANTA MARTA. I LIKE THE LIGHTS. I LIKE THE LIGHTS. I'M A RESIDENT, OKAY? I'M A PROPERTY OWNER. I OWN MY HOME. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE ASKED. MY NEIGHBORS ASKED ME, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE LIGHTS? THEY SAY THEY'RE SPECTACULAR. NOBODY HAS COMPLAINED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT THE LIGHTS. IF ANYBODY FEELS THAT THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE LIGHTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME A CALL. WHAT THEY'RE HAPPY IS ABOUT THE HOW THE THEIR REFRESH. THEY LOOK GREAT. THEY WORK PROPERLY, THEY TURN ON AND OFF. THEY'RE NOT ON ALL DAY. AND IT'S AGAIN, MUCH BETTER THAN WE'VE HAD BEFORE. IS IT WHAT WE WANT EXACTLY? 110%. IT'LL NEVER BE 110%. BUT LIKE I SAID THREE YEARS AGO, LET'S MOVE FORWARD. IT DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD. WE'VE BEEN CAUGHT IN THIS BACK AND FORTH. AND GUESS WHAT? WE'RE IN THE SAME POSITION WE WERE THREE YEARS AGO NOW. WE GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF GOING INTO HURRICANE SEASON. IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE MONEY, IT IS ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF THESE POLES. AND IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN IN REGARDS TO A HURRICANE, WE COULD BE YEARS, YEARS WITH THESE POLES DOWN. SO TO THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. PHENOL IS A UTILITY. IT'S NOT A PRIVATE SECTOR, IT'S UTILITY. ACCEPTED THROUGH THE STATE AND PART OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. SO WE ARE DEALING WITH WITH WITH A A COMPANY THAT'S A UTILITY THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. AND THAT'S THE BUSINESS THAT THEY'RE IN. IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES UNDER AMOS ROJAS. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOW WE HAVE MORE SENSIBLE LEADERSHIP HERE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WE MOVE FORWARD, AND WE'RE STILL IN THE SAME POSITION IN REGARDS TO PEOPLE'S POSITION ON THIS. IT HAS NOT CHANGED WHATSOEVER. SO WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND, MR. CLARK.

YES, SIR. I JUST FEEL HORRIBLE ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE WASTED HERE, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES, COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES.

MAYOR LAGO. YES. WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS THREE YEARS AGO. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO. I'M GOING

[H.-5. 26-1636 A Resolution of the City Commission amending Ordinance No. 2015-17, As Amended, to add and amend fees for the Development Services Department and the Community Recreation Department; providing for severability clause, and providing for an effective date.]

MARIA CRUZ. THIS IS MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, (305) 323-2154 I. SO THE I

[07:05:17]

YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES.

[H.-4. 26-1635 A Resolution of the City Commission establishing its intent to reimburse certain project costs incurred with proceeds of future tax-exempt financings; providing certain other matters in connection therewith; and providing for an effective date.]

RELATED. YES. SO IF WE CAN DO THE PRESENTATION, WHICH IS THE START OF THE PRESENTATION, IS

[H.-3. 26-1646 Discussion regarding Mobility Hub Financing.]

MANAGER. MADAM DIRECTOR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. IF WE CAN PUT THE PRESENTATION UP. SO. DIANA GOMEZ FINANCE DIRECTOR SO THIS PRESENTATION IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE MOBILITY HUB PROJECT. EXPLAIN HOW THE PROJECT HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME. DISCUSS THE PLANNING THAT HAS OCCURRED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND PRESENT THE RATIONALE FOR THE REQUESTED INTENT, RESOLUTION, DEMOLITION AUTHORIZATION, AND FUTURE FINANCING PLAN. SO THE MOBILITY HUB HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR MANY YEARS. DURING THAT TIME, THE PROJECT HAS EVOLVED, HAS EVOLVED, CONSTRUCTION MARKETS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY, AND THE CITY TOOK DELIBERATE STEPS TO STRENGTHEN ITS FINANCIAL POSITION AND PREPARE FOR IMPLEMENTATION. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH IS THAT PROGRESSION AND EXPLAIN WHY WE BELIEVE THE CITY IS NOW POSITIONED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FINANCING. SORRY, HOW DO I MOVE IT? OH, THERE WE GO. HOW DO I MOVE IT FORWARD? YEAH. OKAY. SO THIS INTENT RESOLUTION PRESERVES THE CITY'S ABILITY TO REIMBURSE ELIGIBLE COSTS FROM FUTURE TAX EXEMPT BOND PROCEEDS.

THE PRIOR REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION WAS USED FOR THE DESIGN PHASE, AND IT'S NO LONGER VALID FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. THE $50 MILLION AMOUNT IN THAT RESOLUTION IS NOT THE FINAL PROJECT BUDGET OR THE FINAL BOND SIZE, BUT IT CREATES THE IRS REQUIRED REIMBURSEMENT FRAMEWORK SO THAT WORK CAN BEGIN ON DEMOLITION, WHILE FINAL CONSTRUCTION, PRICING AND BOND FINANCING ARE COMPLETED. THE CURRENT PLAN IS TO FINANCE THE PROJECT WITH TAX EXEMPT SPECIAL REVENUE BONDS FOR OVER 30 YEAR PERIOD. THE BONDS WOULD BE SECURED BY LEGALLY AVAILABLE NON-AD VALOREM REVENUES, WHICH ALLOWS THE CITY TO USE ITS TRIPLE A CREDIT PROFILE AND REDUCE BORROWING COSTS. OPERATIONALLY, THE EXPECTATION REMAINS THAT THE PARKING SYSTEM WILL ABSORB THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE. A KEY POINT IS THAT PARKING REVENUE ARE LEGALLY UNRESTRICTED. THEY CAN BE USED FOR ANY GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL PURPOSE, AND THE CITY HAS BEEN PLANNING FOR THAT DEBT SERVICE WITH THE PARKING SYSTEM OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE EVALUATED WHETHER TO ISSUE A TRADITIONAL PARKING REVENUE BOND, BUT THAT STRUCTURE WOULD CARRY LOWER RATINGS AND HIGHER BORROWING COSTS BECAUSE THE PLEDGE WOULD BE LIMITED TO THE PARKING REVENUES, THE RECOMMENDED STRUCTURE GIVES THE CITY A LOWER COST FINANCING TOOL, WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THE OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE PARKING SYSTEM TO CARRY THE DEBT SERVICE. SO TIMING IS IMPORTANT. TODAY'S ACTION PRESERVES REIMBURSEMENT ELIGIBILITY FOR DEMOLITION COSTS, SO ITEM H FOUR WILL BE THAT INTENT RESOLUTION, WHICH IS THE NEXT ITEM. AFTER THAT. THE NEXT MAJOR COMMISSION

[07:10:02]

TARGETED COMPETITIVE SALE IN MID SEPTEMBER AND CLOSE IN EARLY OCTOBER. THAT SCHEDULE IS DESIGNED TO HAVE PROCEEDS AVAILABLE BEFORE EXECUTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT EXPECTED IN LATE OCTOBER 2026. SO WITH THE INTENT RESOLUTION COVERED, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR A PROJECT UPDATE. MANAGER. THANK YOU. I WANT TO SHIFT TO THE BROADER, BROADER UPDATE. THIS IS WHERE WE WILL ADDRESS THE PROJECT, HOW THE PROJECT EVOLVED, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRICING BETWEEN 2020 AND NOW, WHERE THE CITY PAUSED THE PROJECT, AND WHY WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY MOVE FORWARD. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MOBILITY HUB ENCOMPASSES GARAGE ONE AND FOUR. THIS PROJECT WAS INITIATED BY THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED BY THE ALLEN MORRIS COMPANY, COMPOSED OF A MIXED USE BUILDING ON GARAGE SITE ON GARAGE FOUR ON THE GARAGE FOUR SITE AND A PARKING GARAGE ON THE GARAGE. ONE SITE CONNECTING GARAGE, GARAGE ONE AND GARAGE FOUR AS A DEVELOPMENT SITE WAS THAT IT WAS USED AS A PAD, A PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WOULD CONNECT BOTH SITES BECAUSE THERE'S THE. SINCE THE SITES ARE ARE ARE SEPARATED BY RIGHT OF WAY AND CITY AND CITY PROPERTY, THEY COULD BE VIEWED AS ONE SITE, AS A AS A PAD. THE FAR THE THE FAR PROPOSED ON ON THE SITE NUMBER FOUR ON SITE FOUR IS WAS 6.3. SINCE THE FAR FROM THE PARKING GARAGE ON SITE ONE IS NOT COUNTED TOWARDS THE FAR CALCULATION. YOU RECALL, MAYOR, THAT I THINK THAT WAS THE REASON WHY YOU VOTED AGAINST THE PROJECT, BECAUSE THE FAR WAS SO HIGH ON ON THAT PARTICULAR MY UNDERSTANDING WAS OVER 6.0. I THINK IT WAS 6.3, 6.3036.3. WE ALSO HAD THE LEGAL HURDLE TO, TO START THE PROJECT.

IF YOU. AND I THINK WE'VE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THAT, THAT WE HAD TO START. WE HAD TO START THE MOBILITY HUB BY OCTOBER 1ST OF 2022, OR THE PROJECT WOULD COME BACK AND, AND, AND BE APPROVED. THE PROJECT DOCUMENTS WERE COMPLETED, BUT DUE TO DUE TO THE, TO THE PANDEMIC, WE DID NOT START CONSTRUCTION AND IT WAS DEEMED TO BE TO BE TO THAT THAT THAT REQUIREMENT WAS SATISFIED AT THAT TIME. AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE HAVE THE HAVE THE DRAWINGS PERMITTED? WE COULD IF WE HAD A CONTRACTOR, WE COULD WE COULD PERMIT THOSE PULL THAT PERMIT TOMORROW. WE HAVE WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW IS, IS AS A REVISION REVISION, PROVIDING A REVISION TO THE SKIN AND TO THE AND TO THE ACTIVATED DECK, ON THE ON THE ON THE ON THE NINTH, ON THE NINTH FLOOR BY CHANGING IT FROM FROM TWO TO A MORE FROM FROM A MORE OF A, OF A, OF A KIDDY PARK TO REALLY MORE OF A RESTAURANT EVENTS AND EVENT EVENT PLACE. THIS SHOWS THE HOW HOW THE COST EVOLVED ON ON THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT DESIGN EVOLVED INTO A GARAGE MORE IN LINE WITH WITH THE FUTURE, THE MOBILITY HUB WOULD PROVIDE FOR EV MICROMOBILITY, ADAPTIVE REUSE AND ACTIVATED ROOF. BY 2023, CONTRACTOR FEEDBACK AND MARKET ESCALATIONS HAVE PUSHED THE PROJECT PRICING TO ABOVE 73 MILLION. THIS WAS THE DECISION POINT. WE COULD NOT PROCEED INTO AN OPEN ENDED ESCALATION ENVIRONMENT. PROJECT WAS PAUSED, REASSESSED AND MONITORED. THE PAUSE WAS NOT BECAUSE THE PROJECT WAS ABANDONED. IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO MARKET CONDITIONS. DESIGN PERIOD OVERLAPPED WITH COVID DISRUPTION, LABOR SHORTAGES, MATERIAL SHORTAGES, CONCRETE AND STEEL INFLATION, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT DELAYS AND A BROADER SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS. CONSTRUCTION ESCALATION WAS MORE SEVERE THAN GENERAL INFLATION, PARTICULARLY DURING THE 2020 21 TO 23 PERIOD. THIS GRAPH IS. THIS CHART IS INTENDED TO SHOW THE DIRECTIONALITY OF OF WHAT HAPPENED. IF WE LOOK AT THE.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE CPI. IF WE LOOK AT THE RED LINE, THAT'S A CONSTRUCTION COST INDEX BASED ON ENGINEERING NEWS RECORD. AND IF WE LOOK AT THE GREEN LINE, WE WE CAN SEE HOW THAT ESCALATION TOOK PLACE WITHIN THAT PERIOD. IT WAS IT WAS SO GREAT THAT WE COULD NOT SIGN A CONTRACT WITH A CONTRACTOR WITHOUT AN ESCALATION CLAUSE. SO WE REALLY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WHAT THE UPPER END COST OF THAT PROJECT WOULD BE. I THINK THAT WAS, IF YOU RECALL, MAYOR

[07:15:04]

ALSO, MINIMAL REPLACEMENT WOULD WOULD REQUIRE AN EQUAL MINIMAL REPLACEMENT OF GARAGE FOR AN OPERATION OBSOLETE FACILITY WITH CONSIDERABLE LAND VALUE. MOVING FORWARD NOT ONLY ADDRESSES A PROBLEM OF AN AGING, OBSOLETE FACILITY, BUT OFFERS SUPPORT, GROWTH, AND AND VITALITY TO OUR VERY IMPORTANT DOWNTOWN. WHILE MOVE FORWARD NOW REASONS. THE REASONS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD NOW ARE THE. THE PROJECT ESTIMATE HAS STABILIZED. THERE IS GREATER COST CERTAINTY.

THE PARKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED. THE FINANCIAL PLANNING IS READY, AND THE CITY HAS MAINTAINED A TRIPLE A CREDIT PROFILE, AND WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION TODAY THAN IT WAS DURING THE PEAK OF CONSTRUCTION MARKET VOLATILITY. SO OUR REQUESTED ACTION TODAY IS APPROVAL OF THE INTENT, RESOLUTION AND GENERAL AUTHORIZATION FOR DEMOLITION.

SITE PREPARATION UPON RESOLUTION WILL COME BACK NEXT MONTH. LATER THIS YEAR, AFTER BOND CLOSING, THE CITY WOULD BE POSITIONED TO EXECUTE THE CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT AND BEGIN FULL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL BECAUSE THE INTENT RESOLUTION PRESERVES REIMBURSEMENT ELIGIBILITY AND ALLOWS THE PROJECT TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD WHILE FINANCING IS IS COMPLETED, FINANCE DIRECTOR AND I ARE READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THE INTENT, RESOLUTION, FINANCING SCHEDULE, PROJECT COST, HISTORY AND OUR DECISION TO PAUSE AND RESTART THE PROJECT. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, BEF MY COEAGU A I'M GNGO OF YTHK THA AA TO SAI NT TO SAYH THE PRIPICOF ACCOMISNGSOMEG HED OU CITY HALLALLYNG NE, JUSTIKE TKE AUTVENETI JT LE TA ABO TATER TOWER, JUSTIKE TALKEEDIANS ON PON JUST LIKE WTALKED ER AND OR AGAIN WE TAHARGANVE ACLISH S WH THATMS. LKBOUT THEES BEAI DOIHIS F A PRID SEEHAT WE ARE INGING THIS TO FINALSE OU, M M AGTEERRKN SS.

YO INCDIE TEA THIS IS OJEC ISO FDA.ND U KVE TO HEHA OF CALABS IS TOI C TOA MTOS G TOAVE SIGNIFINT DIVDS OU DN. THIS N VEMENT IUSIN COMMY. WVE HEAECTLY AT WRE N P-BUSINESS. THTHEN THEY HAV US COED FOREBYLSE, THISS AN INVEST BUSI CMUNI.HIS IS SSNVEST BE ANYLEARERN REGARDSO THACAT W INVESTING UR BUSS CMUNI.? NE COMNITY. IFOUTES OWNTOWNRTS,MOST 40%O WH WLDE AGT BINOMMUNITY? IFT IENT? TKG SUCH A REAS'M IN FOR OTHPROJECT, A I'MM TS WERDE IE LARTAIN TO CRIFY BECAUSE N YSTEPNTMYNTOY NOT FORD AS RESUL,HE FACT TH THS ANDESAYS TTDE ISRO PSIBLE. THE SIDEW WE NHEUST LIKE BUDGS WE N TRIPL TH'S NHEE. THI UNPRECEDENTED CHAGE.ND IATVE WAAT FACE OF THT E ERE PROCT P WE ANNG OA D BASIS, ILY BIS.ROJECT W IN AEDA DAILY BASIS AS AULTF T UNPRECEDD CEN THAT WAS COV. OUR FANCER ALT THT AILY BIS WA ASKING FO MON, MORENE AND WNG COREOS TRE GNGCT WERE G VE SINGLE DA THEABCOSTS THAT W Y DA SO WAS UDENT MONTSHATNMMEN AM OES TYSTEM. BUI WO CONATULE YOU, HEOD, JUST KE WERE INREGASO CIT, LEADSHND BAUSERYR CAL EXPERTISEND AMHAYO HAV Y. FORWARD TO TEGTED I NT BAUSENK WE'GO TO BEE' GOI TOE VERYANTLY RI I HA L OF FAITH INHE CONTRACTORS,ND INOHERE DRIL D O T NUM I SO SAVINGSLREAN RESWE HTHERE,NDN TO TOUND. AND RE DIVIND IOOKING AGAINTH ARE GNG E FORWARD TO ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT FOR $40 MILLION?

[07:20:04]

THAT'S WHAT WE DO. BUT WHAT I DON'T THINK CAN BE DEBATED IS THAT DOING NOTHING. IF WE DID NOTHING THAT WILL NO LONGER SERVE THE RESIDENTS, THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO VISIT, OR THE PEOPLE WHO DO BUSINESS HERE IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY. SO I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT.

THIS IS THE TIME. THE TIME IS NOW. AND SO I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER. I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS IN MARSHALING THIS FORWARD THROUGH MANY DIFFICULT TIMES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS TO EARLY ON BACK IN 2023, WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH THIS PROJECT, IS WHY WE REPLACING THE OLDER GARAGES, AND DID WE REALLY NEED THAT MUCH PARKING? SO FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS NOW, I'M GOING TO REMIND YOU THAT I DID ISSUE A MEMO BASED UPON THE PARKING STUDIES THAT WERE DONE IN THE PAST AND THE PARKING DEMAND THAT WE HAD IN THE PAST THAT WE WE NEEDED THESE GARAGES IN THE DATE OF THE MEMO IS MAY 22ND, 2023. IT'S UP ON THE CITY WEBSITE IN 2023 IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I THAT I ISSUED THE INVESTMENT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT IN THESE OLD, OUT OF DATE, POORLY DESIGNED GARAGES TO MAKE THEM ADA ACCESSIBLE AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WASTED FUNDS. IT'S NOT GOING TO GET US AN ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACE. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE WORLD CLASS FACILITY THAT WE NEED TO SUPPLY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. NOT A WELL LIT, CLEAN LOOKING GARAGE THAT WILL ATTRACT CUSTOMERS TO COME TO MIRACLE MILE, TO GO TO THE RESTAURANTS AND HAVE THE AMENITIES THAT WE WILL HAVE AVAILABLE WITHIN THIS VERY MODERN, CLEAN AND WELL DESIGNED GARAGE. SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT ERA WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FACILITY THAT CENTRALIZED THAT CAN SERVE ALL THE NEEDS FOR OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, SERVE THE CUSTOMERS OF THE MILE, SERVE ALL THE RESTAURANTS, AND ALSO BE WITHIN A STONE'S THROW OF WHERE YOU CAN ALSO PICK UP A TROLLEY SERVICE AND, AND USE THE RAIL AS WELL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS AMAZING PROJECT.

THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, IF I, IF I MAY, IT'S ALSO DESIGNED FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE. SO THE 12 FOOT HEIGHT AND THE DESIGN HAS CAN BE CAN BE CONVERTED TO MULTIFAMILY VERY, VERY EASILY.

THE EVEN THE SKIN ADAPTS TO MULTIFAMILY. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE, THE SKIN.

SIMPLY REMOVE THE VEHICLE GUARD, PUT A STOREFRONT AND YOU'VE GOT FENESTRATION. THE FENESTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR, FOR MULTIFAMILY. SO IT'S, IT'S SO IT HAS SO MANY USES. THE UPPER FLOORS IN THE FUTURE COULD BE MULTI MULTIFAMILY AND, AND, AND SO COULD BE LIVING IN THE HUB AND, AND THE, AND THE BOTTOM FLOORS COULD BE USED FOR MICROMOBILITY AND THE EV. AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE AN ACTIVATED FIRST FLOOR WHICH IS ALIGNED WITH THE PASEO COMING, COMING FROM MIRACLE MILE. SO THE GARAGE IS REALLY IS REALLY, THAT'S WHY WE CALLED IT A MOBILITY HUB, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY BEYOND THAT. IT REALLY DEALS WITH, WITH OUR FUTURE REQUIREMENTS AND NOT SO MUCH A GARAGE THAT WILL THAT WILL BE REALLY OBSOLETE AND BE TORN

[07:25:05]

SO WE CAN PUT THE LARGER VEHICLES IN HERE, THE SMALLER VEHICLES NEXT DOOR AND IT WILL BE WILL BE READY TO REALLY ASSIST OUR RESIDENTS AFTER A MAJOR STORM. AND IF YOU LEAVE THINGS OUT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE AFTER A MAJOR STORM. SO LIKE YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, WE TALKED ABOUT LEGACY AND AND COMMISSIONER ALLARA MENTIONED IT. THIS IS ALSO YOUR LEGACY PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING. AND I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, SINCE WE MOVED OVER HERE AND I'VE BEEN PARKING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE PARKING GARAGE NEXT DOOR. I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A VERY PLEASANT EXPERIENCE, VERY PLEASANT EXPERIENCE, WELL LIT. YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S AGAIN, IT'S NOT NOT HOT. IT HAS MULTIPLE POINTS OF EGRESS AND INGRESS. VERY COMFORTABLE. AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS TAKEN ABACK AND IT MADE ME APPRECIATE EVEN MORE THE LEVEL OF QUALITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PRODUCING IN THE MOBILITY HUB. SO ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR, FOR THIS FOR THIS PART THAT WAS DONE AS A PILOT PROGRAM, BUT REALLY FOR MOBILITY. AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE WHEN YOU WERE DESIGNING AND YOU WERE WORKING ON, IT WAS THE FACT THAT ONE DAY, BECAUSE THEY TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT MAYBE ONE DAY WE'LL BE USING FLYING CARS AND THEY'LL BE ACTUAL TRANSPORTATION HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT FOR YEARS, GOD WILLING, AND PARKING GARAGES WILL BE OBSOLETE. WELL, LOOK, THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A PARKING GARAGE THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, TRANSFORMED INTO A COMMERCIAL BUILDING, COULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO HOUSING AS NEEDED. SO AGAIN, THERE'S NOT THAT IT WOULD BE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S PART OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, BUT WHO KNOWS? WHO KNOWS? AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT THESE INCREDIBLE PARKING GARAGES SLASH MOBILITY HUBS COULD BECOME IN THE FUTURE ONCE PARKING BECOMES OBSOLETE, WHICH I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE DESIGNING IT. WE'RE DESIGNING IT IN A WAY THAT WE LEAVE THOSE OPTIONS OPEN. EVERYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION, EVEN EVEN FLYING CARS NEED SOMEPLACE TO GO. SO I WAS HOPING, I WAS HOPING THAT THE BIG CONSTRUCTION COST TODAY BECAUSE I, I STUDIED, I STUDIED FOR THIS. I GUESS NOBODY WANTS TO BE. NOBODY WANTS TO BE CONSTRUCTION. MY POINT IS THIS YOU AND I HAVE A VERY. ALONG WITH THE DCM, HAVE A VERY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF OF COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF WHAT WE SAW DURING COVID. AND WE USED TO HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS DURING THOSE MOMENTS. IT WAS THE WILD WILD WEST. IT WAS $200 A YARD OF CONCRETE, YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU WANTED 205, YOU WANT TO PUMP THIS CONCRETE RIGHT NOW. WELL, THIS IS HOW MUCH IT COSTS.

AND WHEN WE PRICE THIS PRODUCT AND IT WENT FROM THE NUMBER TO THE WENT, THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO OBVIOUSLY SHELF THE PROJECT. AND ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE DID NOT MENTION HERE, AND I'M GOING TO BE VERY CAREFUL TALKING ABOUT THIS, WAS THE FACT THAT WHEN THE PROJECT WAS AWARDED, WHICH I VOTED AGAINST, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, THERE WAS A REVERTER FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF YEARS THAT WE HAD TO EXTINGUISH IN REGARDS TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WON THAT, BUT WE WERE NEVER GOING TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. GOING BACK TO THAT PROJECT, AT LEAST, I WASN'T, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT A 6.3 FAR WAS A BEHEMOTH OF A STRUCTURE THAT WOULD CAST AN IMMENSE SHADOW OVER THE ENTIRETY OF MIRACLE MILE, WHILE A VERY BEAUTIFUL DESIGN, THERE WERE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I WANTED. AND WHAT WAS THAT? NUMBER ONE WAS A SMALLER PROJECT, AND NUMBER TWO, I WANTED A GREEN SPACE IN DOWNTOWN. AND, YOU KNOW, WE ENDED UP DOING IT, ENDED UP WORKING OUT BECAUSE WE GOT A 20,000 SQUARE FOOT PARK DEEDED TO THE CITY IN PUBLIX, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I WORKED TOGETHER FOR, FOR YEARS TO BRING TO FRUITION. ANOTHER PART OF YOUR LEGACY. WE HAVE A ROOFTOP PARK IN THIS, IN THIS NOW WE HAVE A ROOFTOP. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE FORGOTTEN. ONE DAY THEY WILL BE REMEMBERED, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY. BUT I THINK WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION. THANK COMMISSIONER LARA MENTIONED BEFORE WITH THIS PROJECT THAN WE WERE WITH THAT PROJECT. AND WITH A 20,000 SQUARE FOOT PARK, INSTEAD OF A LITTLE POSTAGE STAMP THAT WAS BEING PROPOSED ON THE CORNER OF THE BUILDING, WHICH WAS REMEMBER, IT WAS IT WAS A PARK THAT HAD A CANTILEVERED, A CANTILEVERED ROOF OVER IT. I. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I REMEMBER ASKING IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD, WAS, THAT'S NOT REALLY A PARK.

THE SUN CAN'T SHINE. IT'S AN INVENTION OF A BUILDING WHERE PEOPLE CAN CONGREGATE, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY A PARK. THE PUBLIC IS 20,000FT■!S, IS TRULY A PARK THAT IS UNDER THE SKY, AND IT'S SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. IT'S GOING TO BE ENJOYED BY ALL THE RESIDENTS, JUST LIKE THE ONE

[07:30:01]

AND THEY SAID, WELL, LET ME MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR YOU. I SAID, GO AHEAD. THEY SAID, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE PARKING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RENEW THE LEASE. AND SO OF COURSE, FOR ME, SINCE THIS IS MY SOLE SOURCE OF MAJOR INCOME IN MY LIFE, THE WORLD STOPPED. AND THEN I STARTED REMEMBERING ALL OF THE THINGS YOU WERE DISCUSSING TODAY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ALTERNATIVE PLAN AND ALL OF THAT. AND THEN I REMEMBERED THAT THIS MOBILITY HUB, WHICH I HADN'T EVEN HAD CENTER FOR CENTER PLACE IN MY MIND. BUT THEN I SAID, I CALLED HIM BACK LIKE A WEEK OR TWO LATER. I SAID, LISTEN, DON'T WORRY. LOOK WHAT WE LOOK LIKE. WHAT'S IN THE WORKS HERE, THE MOBILITY HUB, YOU KNOW? AND HE SAID, OKAY, THEN WE'LL RENEW. BUT THAT'S IT. IT'S LIFE AND DEATH. WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE SAHARA DESERT OR YOU'RE ON MIRACLE MILE, AND IT'S WITH THE CITY TO. THIS DOESN'T END OUR PARKING PROBLEM. THERE'S THERE'S MORE TO GO. THAT'S WHY I WANT. CAN I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION? YEAH. SO WOULD YOU SAY THAT THIS IS THE LARGEST INVESTMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY'S HISTORY? WELL, IF YOU SAY SO.

I'M ASKING YOU, WOULD YOU IS IT THE BEST INVESTMENT? YEAH. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. IT'S LIFE OR DEATH.

IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY GIVING YOU WATER OR NOT GIVING YOU WATER IN THE SAHARA DESERT. OKAY.

ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG. THIS IS LIFE OR DEATH. THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE. BECAUSE IF I DON'T HAVE INCOME, GUESS WHERE I END UP EATING OUT OF GYPSY DUMPSTERS? THIS IS ABSOLUTE. THIS IS THIS IS IMPORTANT TO BUSINESSES AS WATER IS TO CONTINUED LIFE. SO CAN I SAY MORE? I THINK THAT THANK GOD. YOU KNOW, I THINK I HEARD

[07:35:02]

I'M I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAY. WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO. WE NEED YOU TO STAY. THANK YOU. MA'AM, THERE'S TOO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE. WE NEED A PERSON OF YOUR CALIBER TO STAY. SO I'M IN DENIAL, BY THE WAY. YEAH. WE'RE NOT. YOU'RE NOT. YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. SO WE MAY END UP JUST TYING YOU DOWN. YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. IF YOU CAN VISUALIZE THIS OR TAPE, LET IT BE. LET IT BE DUCT TAPE OR ROPE.

YOU'RE GOING ON A NICE VACATION RIGHT NOW. YOU DESERVE IT. YOU DESERVE IT. YOU'RE GONNA GO ON VACATION, AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK AND YOU'RE GONNA. YOU'RE TOO YOUNG, MAN. THAT'S 77 YEARS OLD. HE'S A SURGEON. HE GOES TO WORK, AND IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM.

YOU'RE YOUNG, YOU'RE STAYING. YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. THE DCM IS NOT READY YET. THE DCM NEEDS A LITTLE MORE COOKING. IT MAY SHOCK SOME OF YOU, BUT MY CONVERSATION WITH PETER THE OTHER DAY, I TOLD HIM I WAS DISAPPOINTED HIM LEAVING. SO, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND OUR RESETTING OUR RELATIONSHIP THIS LAST YEAR, AND YOU'RE WORKING WITH ME ON PROJECTS AND PUTTING THE CITY FIRST. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON.

YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER. LAURA. YES. MAYOR

[K. DISCUSSION ITEMS]

AND IF I'VE BEEN OUT OF LINE TODAY, I APOLOGIZE FOR LETTING MY CUBAN BLOOD GET THE BEST OF ME. BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORKING COLLEGIATELY IN THIS COMMISSION TO BRING ABOUT THE BEST RESULTS FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. A FEW POINTS I FORGOT TO MENTION. BY THE WAY, MR. MANAGER, WE FORGOT ABOUT HERNAN BOSS GOING TO BE THE ARTIST, GOD WILLING, IN IN THE IN THE MOBILITY HUB. THE MOST IMPORTANT ARTIST TO COME OUT OF MIAMI. IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR US. HE WENT TO A NEW WORLD, HIS WORLD RESPECTED. AND THESE ARE JUST OTHER LITTLE THINGS IN REGARDS TO THE MOBILITY HUB THAT AGAIN ARE GOING TO BE AMAZING. YOU KNOW, YOU THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF FACETS TO THE MOBILITY HUB THAT ARE REALLY INCREDIBLE. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO, I WANT TO COMMEND STAFF AND THE, OUR, OUR WHOLE TEAM. WE WROTE A LETTER TO SENATOR BRIAN AVILES, AND I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM TODAY IN REGARDS TO OUTLINING OUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TAX BILL. THANK YOU TO THE MANAGER, HIS TEAM, OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, FOR PREPARING THAT LONG LETTER, WORKING WITH LAURA AND THE MANAGER TO GET IT OUT THERE. JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UNDERSTANDING SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS THAT WE'RE THAT WE'RE FACING. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BE VERY CLEAR BEFORE THEY SAY I'M AGAINST IT, I'M IN FAVOR OF PROPERTY TAX REFORM. BUT WE HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES BECAUSE I MENTIONED SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY. HE'S AGAINST PROPERTY TAX. I'M NOT AGAINST PROPERTY TAX REFORM. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM. WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO. IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPLICATION ON OUR BUDGET. AND WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.

AND IT'S STILL UP IN THE AIR. IF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS RAISED, YOU KNOW LIKE TO $250,000 AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE CITY WOULD LOSE APPROXIMATELY AROUND $11 MILLION, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. MAYOR. THE FOLLOWING SUBSEQUENT YEAR WILL GO UP TO 500 000. THAT WILL BE ABOUT A $23 MILLION, $22.6 MILLION LOSS IN THE BUDGET. MR. MANAGER, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? OUR BUDGET, EXCLUDING CAPITAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, IS ON A YEARLY BASIS. MAYOR, IF IF WE LOSE 20, $22 MILLION, I, I DON'T KNOW. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO RECOVER. SO HARD TO RECOVER. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE NEED TO HAVE REAL. WE NEED TO START HAVING REAL CONVERSATIONS. SEA LEVEL RISE FUND, WHICH I STARTED WITH JIM CASEY WHEN HE WAS HERE. IT'S $4 MILLION A YEAR. WE HAVE $30 MILLION. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FUND THAT. HOW DO WE PICK UP THE GARBAGE? THE GARBAGE? THESE ARE REAL CONVERSATIONS. YOU GOTTA YOU GOTTA MAKE THE MONEY UP SOMEHOW. YOU JUST CAN'T WALK AWAY INTO THE SUNSET. HOW DO

[07:40:01]

THESE ARE REAL CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING. IT MAY NOT BE TOMORROW IN THE BUDGET HEARING, BUT THESE ARE REAL CONVERSATIONS THAT I WANT PEOPLE TO BECOME AWARE. THERE'S A GOOD SIDE TO THIS, BUT THERE'S ALSO A SIDE THAT HAS CONSEQUENCES. WE ALSO HAVE NEGOTIATIONS FORTHCOMING IN JUNE AND JULY. THE MANAGER'S TEAM IS GOING TO START WORKING WITH THE FIRE AND THE POLICE UNIONS. WE GOT TO OFFER THEM A DEAL. WE GOT TO OFFER THEM SOMETHING THAT'S RESPECTABLE. AND AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE COSTS. SO AND THEN WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY A LAUNDRY LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS. SO THOSE ARE THINGS JUST TO KIND OF KEEP IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MIND AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK DOWN THIS PROCESS. TALKING ABOUT THE WORLD CUP AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, I WANT TO THANK THE ACM. I KNOW SHE'S WORKING WITH THE PLAZA AND TO POTENTIALLY DO SOMETHING IN POND CIRCLE PARK, I'M GETTING A LOT OF CALLS IN REGARDS TO WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING DURING THE WORLD CUP.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ACTIVATION. THERE'S ALSO, EXCUSE ME, MULTIPLE ACTIVATIONS THAT ARE THAT ARE PART OF FIFA HERE IN THE CITY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SEEING COMING UP. THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF FOR DOING A GREAT JOB ON THAT.

SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED TODAY THAT I WANT TO MENTION, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANAGER, VIA MARTHA PANTING AND HER TEAM TO PUT OUT TOMORROW. LET'S PUT OUT AN EMAIL TOMORROW WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSION, BECAUSE TOMORROW IS GEORGE MERRICK'S BIRTHDAY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUT OUT A SIMPLE ONE PAGE EMAIL THAT TALKS ABOUT WHO WAS GEORGE MERRICK, WHO WAS OUR FOUNDER? WHAT DID HE DO? HOW DID HE COME TO THE CITY? BEAUTIFUL. HE BET.T ALL ON CORAL GABLES. AND HE DIED A BROKEN MAN BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN THE VISION OF CORAL GABLES. HE BELIEVED IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ HIS BOOKS. I READ A FEW OF HIS BOOKS. I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE PLAYS, ESPECIALLY THE PLAY THAT ALAN MOORE'S WIFE PUT TOGETHER, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE.

I WISH, YOU KNOW, THAT RAN AGAIN, AND IT REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE HERO THAT HE WAS, THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT HE MADE AND THE VISIONARY THAT HE WAS. SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO, WITH THE INPUT OF MY COLLEAGUES AND STAFF, COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, MAYBE A FEW PHOTOS OF GEORGE MERRICK AS A CHILD, GEORGE MERRICK, YOU KNOW, WHILE HE WAS HERE IN THE ORANGE FIELDS AND RIGHT BEFORE GEORGE MERRICK PASSED AWAY. AND WE CAN INCLUDE SOME PHOTOS TO GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT. ALSO INCLUDE INCLUDE SOME OF THE BACKGROUND IN REGARDS TO THE BAHAMIANS. YOU KNOW, THAT HE OBVIOUSLY ENTRUSTED WITH HIS VISION AND THEY WERE THE ONES THAT DELIVERED UPON HIS VISION. THEY WERE THE ROCK MASONS. THEY WERE THE ONES THAT KNEW. IT WAS A STORY THAT WE'RE MEMORIALIZING IN A BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURE ACROSS THE STREET FROM CITY HALL. MAYBE WE CAN INCLUDE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON ON THOSE ON THOSE PARTNERS OF OURS HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THE MAYOR. YES. IT POTENTIALLY AN EASIER WAY TO DO IT WOULD BE FOR US TO PUT OUT OUR MERRICK MINUTES. I THINK THERE WAS ONE THAT JOANNE MAHER DID ON GEORGE MERRICK. I THINK SHE READ ONE OF THE LETTERS WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BAHAMIAN COMMUNITY, BUT SHE DID SEVERAL THAT WERE SPECIFIC TO GEORGE MERRICK AND HIS VISION. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MAYBE DIDN'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT. I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO HIGHLIGHT IT. IN ADDITION TO THE THE SHORT SCRIPT, I GUESS I'M UP TO ANY SUGGESTIONS. OH, HERE COMES MARTHA. SHE HEARD HER NAME. I THOUGHT MARTHA HAD GONE HOME. SHE'S ALWAYS HERE. YES, MA'AM. DON'T TELL ME. GIVE ME CREDIT.

LET ME GET CREDIT FOR IT. DON'T. DON'T TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME. OKAY, SO TOMORROW WE. MARTHA, I KNOW YOU'RE ALREADY DOING IT FOR SURE. COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. TOMORROW WE DO HAVE A POST ABOUT HIS BIRTHDAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND WE WILL ALSO OR ALSO INCLUDING IT ON E! NEWS. I CAUTION AGAINST SENDING A SEPARATE ONE PAGE EMAIL BECAUSE IF WE SEND TOO MANY THINGS OUT, IT BECOMES SPAM AND WE ARE PRIDE OURSELVES IN HAVING A 55% OR ABOVE OPEN RATE, WHICH IS WAY ABOVE THE AVERAGE. AND I THINK THAT IT'S BEST JUST TO USE THE TOOLS WE HAVE. AS FAR AS JOANNES MARS MERRICK MOMENTS, THEY ARE ACTUALLY ALL ON OUR CENTENNIAL WEBSITE, WHICH WE HAVE KEPT ACTIVE. BUT CAN I ASK YOU FOR A FAVOR THROUGH THE MANAGER? CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR? I KNOW THAT WE DON'T DO THIS ON. WE NEVER. WE NEVER DO THIS. CAN YOU TAG THE

[07:45:05]

WE ALL DO. IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, GEORGE MERRICK WAS A VISIONARY.

GEORGE MERRICK WAS A PERSON WHO HELPED THOSE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND MADE SURE THOSE THAT WERE MOST NEED WERE TAKEN CARE OF. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING WHO GEORGE MERRICK IS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE MOVING INTO OUR CITY AND MAY NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND. MAYBE THEY GET MAYBE THEY GET INTERESTED AND THEY. AND THEY GROW AN APPETITE FOR LEARNING. I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE SAFEGUARDING THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY. WE.

PRETTY SOON WE WILL HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE AND WE WILL HAVE AN EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM. OF THE 25 PEOPLE THAT HAVE SERVED AS MAYORS OF CORAL GABLES, WE'VE RESTORED THE PICTURES THAT WERE OUTSIDE YOUR YOUR OFFICES. WE HAVE INCLUDED A BIO OF EACH ONE, A SHORT BIO OF 125 WORDS OR LESS. SOME WERE VERY HARD TO FIND. WE HAD TO LOOK THROUGH OBITUARIES, ETC. WE DID REACH OUT. WE DID REACH OUT TO SOME FAMILY MEMBERS, FOR EXAMPLE. KEITH. I CAN'T THINK OF THE LAST NAME THAT HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER WERE MAYORS. SO WE ARE PRESERVING THE HISTORY. OUR NEXT STEP IS WORKING WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYONE THAT HAS SERVED, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE BY YEAR AS A IN THE COMMISSION.

AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO PUT THAT IN THE WEBSITE. SO WE ARE INTERESTED IN PRESERVING OUR HISTORY, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY TAG YOU TOMORROW, ALL OF YOU, FOR OUR GEORGE MERRICK POST.

OKAY, MR. MANAGER, ANYTHING ELSE? FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER, MR. MAYOR? WELL, MISS, I HAVE ONE MORE ASK. OKAY. OKAY. SO I HAD SPOKEN. YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH PAIN ALREADY AT 7:00 AT NIGHT.

YOU WANT MORE? YES. OKAY. YES. IT'S FINE. NO, NO, DON'T FORGET I'M IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT MY BACK HURTS A LITTLE BIT FROM THIS MORNING. OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, NO PAIN, NO GAIN. RIGHT? RIGHT.

YOU KNOW THE I SPOKE WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ABOUT CREATING INFORMATION REGARDING RESTAURANTS. THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHOWING THE FIFA GAMES, THE WORLD CUP GAMES. AND I'D LIKE FOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM TO ALSO SHARE THAT WITH US SO THAT WE CAN REPOST IT AS WELL. OKAY. TOMORROW AND NEWS OF THE THE TOP STORY IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABOUT A FIFA STYLE ACTIVATION. THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS HAVING A, AN EXHIBITION IN THEIR OFFICES FROM AN URUGUAYAN ARTIST THAT IS ALL ABOUT FANS. SO THAT ALONG WITH AN ACTIVATION THAT HE'S DOING WITH THE MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN WILL ALL BE THERE. WE DO HAVE SOMEONE FROM MY OFFICE HAS BEEN CALLING DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS SO THAT WE CAN SHARE WHAT ALL RESTAURANTS OR BARS, ETC. IN CORAL GABLES ARE PLANNING TO DO, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT CORAL GABLES IS THE PLACE TO BE. OKAY, I APPRECIATE IT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAN SHARE IT WITH US. I WILL DEFINITELY WILL. YOU'RE MUCH BETTER AT THIS THAN I AM. SO IN CLOSING, I WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE AGAIN. WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A MEETING BEFORE 4TH OF JULY. CORRECT.

THE NEXT ONE IS JULY THE 7TH. THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING. YES. SO I WANT TO INVITE EVERYBODY, OBVIOUSLY, TO THE BILTMORE HOTEL AND TO OUR CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 4TH OF JULY, 250 YEARS OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD BLESSING TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE AND ASK THEM TO PLEASE JOIN. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN AMAZING AND AMAZING FESTIVAL AND CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, I.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.