* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. GOOD MORNING. GOOD [00:00:01] MORNING. GOOD MORNING. [CALL TO ORDER ] I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU, UH, TO THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2026. UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE. UH, WE HAVE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES, AS ALWAYS, FOR ENGAGEMENT. UM, YOU CAN EITHER ZOOM, YOU CAN EITHER SEND US AN EMAIL, YOU CAN DISCUSS IN PERSON. UH, BUT WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE AND THAT, THAT EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO VOICE THEIR OPINION AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON ALL MATTERS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA TODAY. SO, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, AS I SAID BEFORE, WELCOME TO THE CITY COMMISSION, AND I'D LIKE TO START OFF THIS MORNING WITH OUR DEAR FRIEND BICHO, DIRECTOR OF CHAPLAINCY AND SPIRITUAL CARE AT DOCTOR'S HOSPITAL. GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME BACK TO THE CITY OF 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 SHAPE THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WE'RE ESPECIALLY MINDFUL OF THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT SUSTAIN THE WELLBEING OF THE CITY, INCLUDING THE CLOSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND INSTITUTIONS LIKE DOCTOR'S 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 WELLBEING AND FLOURISHING OF ALL WHO CALL THIS COMMUNITY HOME. AMEN. REVEREND, UH, WE'D LIKE TO EXTEND OUR BEST WISHES TO YOU AS ALWAYS, AND TO YOUR CONGREGATION AND WORSHIPERS ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY. UH, 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 DOCTOR'S 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 DOCTOR'S HOSPITAL, YOU'RE GONNA SEE NEW SIDEWALKS. YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE STREETS IMPROVED IN FRONT OF DOCTOR'S 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 THE DOCTORS HOSPITAL FOR YOUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS. UH, IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, UH, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THE WORK IS ALL ENCOMPASSING OF THE ENTIRE HOSPITAL AROUND, BUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS REALLY GONNA CONNECT UNIVERSITY, UH, BLUE ROAD, GRANADA, UH, THE TWO BRIDGES THAT ARE THERE. UH, SO AGAIN, UH, 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, AT DOCTOR'S HOSPITAL. WILL DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO THIS MORNING, UH, AS WE CONTINUE, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO HAVE LIEUTENANT COLE, JUAN CARLOS, JC GOMEZ, TO MOVE FORWARD AND COME HERE AND HELP US WITH A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. OUR LIEUTENANT CAR, COLONEL JUAN CARLOS JC GOMEZ, IS UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE OFFICER WHO HAS SERVED IN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE AND OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP ROLES IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OPERATION NEWAN, AND OPERATION, AND DURING 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. 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 COMMISSION. THANK YOU. CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I COME ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 98 AND, UH, 155 MEMBERS, UH, THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY DAILY ON FOUR MAJOR PILLARS THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION REPRESENTS. THAT'S NUMBER ONE IS VETERAN AFFAIRS, WHERE WE PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVELY ASSIST OUR VETERANS WITH THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH VETERAN AFFAIRS, UH, DEPARTMENT. SECONDLY, LEGISLATIVE ACTION. WE, UH, TAKE PART IN THESE TYPE OF PROCESSES LOCALLY, [00:05:02] STATEWIDE, AND NATIONALLY FOR MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES. THIRD, WE'RE INVOLVED IN, UH, REALLY ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN PATRIOTIC EVENTS. UH, LAST WEEK WE PLANTED ABOUT 7,000 FLAGS ALMOST ON, UH, TWO CEMETERIES IN RECOGNITION OF, UH, OUR FALLEN VETERANS. AND THEN THIS WEEKEND WE PICKED THEM UP BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE LANDSCAPING TEAMS KIND OF MOVE OVER THE FLAGS. WE CAN'T ALLOW THAT. AND THEN LASTLY, UM, WE'RE INVOLVED IN YOUTH PROGRAMS, WHICH IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT INTEREST IS, UH, TO DEVELOP THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THE UNITED STATES IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE DO THAT THROUGH A NUMBER OF, UH, INITIATIVES THROUGH SCOUTING, THROUGH RTCS, THROUGH THE JCS IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THROUGH MENTORSHIP OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND, UH, 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 POSTS LOOK BETTER AND TO CONTINUE TO BE AN ACTIVE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. AND AS SUCH, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, YOU MR. MAYOR, AND OF COURSE COMMISSIONER LARA FOR, FOR THE INITIATIVE. ALL RIGHT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE, UH, INVITING US INTO THIS PLATFORM WHERE YOU, LAST WEEK WE HAD, OR LAST MEETING YOU HAD 101 YEAR OLD VETERAN HERE, WHAT IS RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WAS A, UH, MEMBER OF, UM, OF THE US NAVY, ALTHOUGH YOU SAID HE WAS IN THE ARMY, BUT HE WAS IN THE NAVY. IT WAS THE, IT WAS NAVY. AND I CORRECTED MYSELF UNDER. I KNOW, I JUST, I'M DISMISS. SO RIGHT ON THAT SWORD. I'M DISMISSING WITH YOU. I, I, I JUST THINK IT WAS GREAT THAT YOU HAVE HIM HERE AND THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE HIM AS THE MARSHAL FOR, FOR VETERANS DAY. AND I COMMEND THIS COMMISSION FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RECOGNITION OF VETERANS DAY, UH, 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, UH, THAT I BROUGHT FOR, FOR TODAY. IS THERE POLICE OFFICERS HERE TODAY? NO, THERE'S NOT. UH, I DO HAVE SOMETHING FOR THEM, BUT I'LL JUST PASS IT ALONG TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN I, WHEN I GET OUTTA HERE. SO, WHAT I'M GONNA PRESENT TO YOU TODAY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. I'M GONNA PRESENT TO YOU, MR. MAYOR, THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA'S AMERICAN LEGION COIN, AND TO YOU, UM, COMMISSIONER LARA, I'M GONNA PRESENTING TO YOU A MORE, A, A MORE INVOLVED COIN THAT HAS TO DO WITH, UM, MEMORIAL DAY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT PRESENTED TO SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, A MEMORIAL DAY. AND I'M GONNA, I HAVE ONE LEFT AND I'M GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU. UH, WITH THAT, I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING US HERE AT THESE, UH, 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 WANNA 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 THREE OR FOUR YEARS. HE INVITED ME MULTIPLE TIMES TO VISIT. HE HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED. AND IF I MAY, I WANNA JUST PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. AND WE DIDN'T REHEARSE THIS, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE, CORRECT? NO. UM, 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 WANNA MENTION SIGNATURE WINDOWS, WHO PROVIDED ALL THOSE WINDOWS. UM, THEY DID, THEY PROVIDED 'EM, I DUNNO IF IT WAS LIKE COST OR FREE. WHAT? NO COST, NO COSTS. OKAY. THIS IS A RESIDENT HERE IN THE CITY, WHICH HAS COME HERE BEFORE AND HAS PROVIDED FREE WINDOWS, UH, TO RESIDENTS, UH, WHO ARE, WHO HAVE NEED. UM, SO HE'S A VERY STANDUP INDIVIDUAL. YOU 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, UH, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE. AND AGAIN, IT'S WHAT CORAL GATE WAS ALL ABOUT. THAT'S WHY WITH THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL. THAT'S 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. YOU'RE FRONT AND CENTER, YOU'RE AT EVENTS, AND YOU'RE REMINDING PEOPLE. AND IT'S A SHAME THAT WE NEED TO BE REMINDED, UH, WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, AND THE SACRIFICES THAT ARE MADE BY VETERANS, UH, WHO EITHER PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OR IF MANY, MANY YEARS OF THEIR LIVES, UH, 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. UH, YOU'VE COME TO VISIT ME MULTIPLE TIMES IN OFFICE HOURS. YOU INVITED ME TO THE POST. YOU'VE ALLOWED ME TO WITNESS, UH, THE CELEBRATIONS THAT HAPPEN AT THE POST. AND I RECOMMEND THAT EVERYONE, UH, 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 BACKYARD ON ALHAMBRA. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD MENTIONED AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS, THAT IT GETS, UH, THAT IT GOES THROUGH. UM, BUT THE NEXT YEAR WE'RE GONNA BE, WE'RE CELEBRATING, UH, AMERICA'S SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT AT THE COMMISSION MEETING. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS ENSURING THAT WE [00:10:01] HONOR THOSE WHO HONOR US WITH THEIR SACRIFICES. AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, NOT JUST FOR ONE YEAR, THAT WE CONTINUE TO HONOR THESE INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF. AND I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE TWO EVENTS RIGHT NOW, TWO INSTALLATIONS ON ALDA, CURRENTLY TEDO, WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE AFTER FOR THREE MONTHS. IT WAS GONNA BE SIX MONTHS. AND I HAD REQUESTED THAT WE DO SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE AMERICA TWO 50, RIGHT? WITH AMERICAN FLAGS. AND I HAD ASKED THE MANAGER AND THE COMMISSION, DID WE EVER TAKE A VOTE ON THAT? I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER DID, TOOK A VOTE ON THAT, OR IF, OR IF WE WERE STILL DID, DID WE TAKE A VOTE OUT? OR DID I JUST BRING IT UP? I CAN'T REMEMBER. MR. MANAGER, UH, MAYOR, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DO FLAGS ON ALL ALONG PON, LEON AND BOULEVARD, AND WE'RE WORKING ON, ON THAT TO HAVE AMERICAN FLAGS ON, ON PONCE. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT AND WE LEAVE THEM UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT WE WERE THINKING ABOUT USING THE STRUCTURE AT HI THAT WE ALREADY PAID FOR, FOR SIX MONTHS TO POTENTIALLY ADD THOSE FLAGS ON HIDA. ALSO. I MEAN, I THINK IT'S AN OVERKILL, BUT THE FLAGS, STRUCTURE'S AN OVERKILL. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE IT UP. WHY NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO USE IT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION IF THE VICE MAYOR WILL RUN THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING TO PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET THROUGH YOUR OFFICE TO SEE WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PUT UP FLAGS AS WE LEAD UP TO 4TH OF JULY. WE HAVE TIME. AND ALSO TO START PREPARING THE THIRD ITERATION OF AN INSTALLATION THAT DEALS WITH MAYBE WE CELEBRATE ALL THE AMERICAN FLAGS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A NEW ONE THAT JUST CAME OUT OF I SAW THE OTHER DAY, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, TWO 50. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY TWO 50 IN THE MIDDLE, AND IT'S A CIRCULAR WITH ALL, WITH ALL 13 COLONIES. SO I THINK IT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL. I THINK IT'S VERY EMBLEMATIC OF WHAT WE ARE HERE AS A CITY. VERY PROUD TO BE AMERICANS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, AND WE ACTUALLY DELIVER ON THAT. AND WE DON'T ALLOW JULY 4TH TO COME AND GO. WE DO, WE'RE VERY PATRIOTIC. WE DO A LOT OF GREAT, GREAT THINGS, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN HIDA AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN INSTALL AS MANY AMERICAN FLAGS IN OUR DOWNTOWN. SO IF PEOPLE COME TO OUR DOWNTOWN, THEY, THEY REALLY FEEL THE PATRIOTISM. SO I, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT. IF I ENTERTAIN A SECOND. I'LL SECOND MR. CLERK. WELL, THE VICE MAYOR RUNNING THE MEETING. I APOLOGIZE. . OH, I, WE CAN CALL THE ROLL. AYE, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. I, I WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THIS. I, 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. UH, UH, 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, A TROPICAL STORM OR A HURRICANE EVENT. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. VICE COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. CAN YOU, MADAM VICE MAYOR, I'M GONNA CONTINUE WITH NOW THAT I MAY, CAN I CONTINUE NOW? JUST WANNA MAKE SURE. YEAH. YES. OKAY. WE'LL HAND THE, 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. UH, YOU, YOU, YOU NEED, YOU NEED MORE FACE TIME. I WANT PEOPLE TO DONATE. I KNOW SIGNATURE DONATE IT. THEY GAVE A LOT OF MONEY. THEY, TO THEM, IT'S IMPORTANT. I WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR BACKYARD. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. THEY DRIVE BY THAT BUILDING GOING TO WORK. WE ALL DO. OR GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TO AN EVENT OR GONNA VISIT A DOCTOR, OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING IMPORTANT. AND THEY FAIL. AND I, AND I, TRUST ME, WE, 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. UM, AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, DURING MY TERM AS THE COMMANDER THERE, UH, 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, UH, THE NARRATIVE OF ALL WE'VE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS, UH, TO SOME DEGREE, UH, WE'VE TRIED TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE OF WHO WE ARE. WE'RE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. PEOPLE THAT LEAD OR PEOPLE THAT ARE ENGAGED AND, UH, 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. AND THE ARMED FORCES, THEY CAME FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY DIDN'T COME FROM ANY PLACE OUTTA THE ORDINARY. SO THEREFORE, THEY'RE, WHEN THEY COME BACK AFTER SERVICE, THERE'S, THEY'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT CHANGE IN THAT. THEY SERVE THEIR COUNTRY IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY. BUT MANY PEOPLE SERVE THEIR COUNTRIES WITHOUT A UNIFORM. AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SORT OF CREATE IS A NARRATIVE THAT SAYS, HEY, LISTEN, WE'RE PART OF IT. WE WANNA BE PART OF THE GREATNESS OF THE, OF THE CITY, OF THE COMMUNITY, AND OF THE COUNTRY. AND I THINK THAT WE ARE HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION. WITH THAT SAID, UH, WITH THIS INITIATIVE THAT YOU JUST PLACED FORWARD, WE'LL COMMUNICATE WITH THE, UH, CITY MANAGER SO THAT WE CAN BE A PART OF IT. WE JUST DID AN INITIATIVE WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, NATALIE ORBIS, UH, IN THE COUNTY. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ENGAGE THE CITY, OF COURSE, IN THE SAME TYPE OF MANNER. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU COULD, IF YOU COULD [00:15:01] GO THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE, MR. YOU WANT, YOU CAN COPY MYSELF OR ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES, UH, I'D LIKE TO BE COPIED, UH, TO SEE HOW WE CAN BETTER ABSOLUTELY BETTER ENGAGE THAT. THERE'S GREAT SYNERGY THERE, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED. WHAT I, WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS HERE. YEAH. I KNOW. THAT'S ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE GONNA BRING FORWARD IS, UH, TO FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW MANY VETERANS WE HAVE WITHIN CITY OF CORAL GABLES. 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, UH, WAR MEMORIAL THAT IS, UH, WHAT WE CALL A FIELD MEMORIAL. AND IF I CAN JUST MAY BRIEFLY SPEAK ABOUT THAT, UH, A FIELD MEMORIAL, WHEN WE LOSE A MEMBER IN, IN SERVICE WHILE WE'RE DEPLOYED THAT SAME NIGHT, WE, UH, HOLD A MEMORIAL. IT'S GOT THE BOOTS, THE RIFLE, THEIR COVER USUALLY, UH, SOME TYPE OF HELMET AND THEIR DOG TAGS, WELL, THEIR ID TAGS, UM, AND A FLAG. WE PLAY TAPS AT MIDNIGHT AND WE SALUTE. WE HAVE THAT ON DISPLAY RIGHT NOW AT THE, AT THE, UM, CORAL GABLES MUSEUM. I URGE YOU TO GO SEE IT. IT'S EMOTIONAL. YOU'RE GONNA SEE IT. YOU'RE GONNA BRING UP SOME EMOTIONS. IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF PRIDE 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, UH, BELIEFS OR, OR LACK OF. WE HAVE ALL OF THEM REPRESENTED ON THAT, UH, ON THE 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, UH, WORK WITH THE CITY, UH, FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND FOR ANY INITIATIVE THAT HAPPENS THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE MILITARY OR VETERAN AFFAIRS. THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER. IF I JUST 2, 2, 2 MORE REQUESTS. IF, IF YOU, IF YOU INDULGE ME, UH, THROUGH MARTHA INE, UM, AND MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT ME ON THIS. NUMBER ONE, I 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, UH, TO GET THE WORD OUT. AND THE SECOND THING THAT I LIKE TO DO IS I 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, UH, NEWSLETTER. I'M GONNA PUT IT ON MY NEWSLETTER, SO I'M GONNA 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, UH, WE WANT TO GET YOU INVOLVED. UH, 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, FOR EXAMPLE, WE COULD HAVE OUR OWN DATABASE, UH, FOR MEMORIAL DAY. LIKE, UH, WHAT COMMISSIONER AOT HAS PUT TOGETHER NOW AS A FORMAL CITY EVENT. UH, WE COULD HAVE IT FOR, FOR THE JULY. MAYBE WE CAN GIVE THEM SOME BENEFITS IN REGARDS TO, UH, COMING UP ON STAGE WITH US, JOINING US, ENGAGING WITH US. MAYBE WE CAN FIND VETERANS TO COME HERE. 'CAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS NOT FOR ONE YEAR. I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE DOING THIS. ONCE WE EXHAUST ALL OUR CITY EMPLOYEES OR VETERANS, THERE'S ONLY SO MANY. UH, I LIKE TO CONTINUE ROTATING THIS AND CONTINUALLY, UH, 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 WITH THAT INFORMATION. OBVIOUSLY, PRIVACY WILL BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT. AND OF COURSE, UH, ENGAGE. UH, BUT I'D LIKE FOR THEM ALSO TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE POST, BECAUSE THE POST WANTS TO ENGAGE AS MANY PEOPLE. SO THEY DIDN'T COME IN AND CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AT THE POST THE MAYOR. UH, I THINK IF YOU, IF I MAY, MADAME VICE MAYOR. I THINK COMMISSIONER AL, I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE I INTERRUPTED YOU. OKAY. NO, NO. THANK YOU. AND BY THE WAY, SUPPORT YOUR INITIATIVES AND THOSE IDEAS. AND WE SHOULD TAKE, UM, I GUESS A, UH, A NECESSARY RHETORICAL BOAT. 'CAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE HOW IT'S GONNA COME OUT, WHATEVER YOU LIKE. BUT I WANTED TO SAY, LIEUTENANT, UM, COLONEL GOMEZ, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL COUNTRY. THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL CITY, UH, 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 IN THE DIOCESE 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, UH, 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. UM, MY ROLE, UH, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES IS VERY SMALL, YOU KNOW, TO TRY AND RECOGNIZE YOU ALL. UM, I'M EXTREMELY PROUD. I DID SPONSOR, UH, THE, WITH THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE ARE NOW RECOGNIZING FOR THE FIRST TIME VETERANS DAY IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THAT'S A BIG DEAL. IT IS A BIG ONE. I'M VERY HAPPY [00:20:01] THAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS FIRST ONE SO MEMORABLE. AND I'M REACHING OUT TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THROUGH THIS COMMUNICATION, AND WITH THE MAYOR'S INDULGENCE, YOU KNOW, TO PUBLICIZE THIS AS, UH, UM, AS, UH, WITH THE BROADEST REACH THAT WE CAN, UH, VIA NEWSLETTER AND OTHERWISE, UM, TO COME. IN FACT, UH, FRED CERO AND I ARE TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE CELEBRATION WILL BE. 'CAUSE I ANTICIPATE IT'S GONNA BE VERY, VERY WELL ATTENDED. IT'S GONNA BE A VERY LARGE CELEBRATION. AND, UM, AND NEW YORK, RIGHT? THE FORMER NAVY MAN, DR. HAL SILVERMAN WILL BE OUR HONOREE VETERAN FOR THE, UH, VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION. AND, UH, AND I'LL FINISH BY SAYING THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN AWE OF OUR VETS AND HAVE HAD THE EXTREME GREAT FORTUNE IN JUST THE LAST FEW WEEKS TO HAVE MET COAST GUARD, OBVIOUSLY ARMY, VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE, AND SOME OF HIS COLLEAGUES WHO ARE MARINES. AND OF COURSE, I SPENT, UH, THIS PAST WEEKEND, I WAS, UH, WITH, UH, ADMIRAL MATT SCHAFER. MM-HMM . I KNOW THAT'S MY COMMANDING OFFICER. HE'S A WOW, WHAT A, WHAT A NAVY SEAL. I MEAN, IT'S THE WHOLE THING. SO THE, THE, MY POINT IS, AS I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH THESE MEN AND WOMEN, AND I'M FLOORED, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 98 NEEDS TO BE AS THE MAYOR WAS BURING US A PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY SHOULD FREQUENT. YOU MEET ON THE SECOND AND WEDNESDAYS OF EVERY MONTH, 3 0 3. 3 0 3 HAMBRA IS THE LOCATION, UH, BEAUTIFUL BUILDING RIGHT ACROSS FROM CAFE DERIO. UM, I, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE, OH, BY THE WAY, I SHOUT OUT TO MATT BROPHY AS WELL, WHO IS A FORCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE POST GREEN BERET. GREEN BERET, RIGHT? SO WE'RE MAKING OUR, WE'RE MISSING THE DELTA FORCE HERE, OR THE RANGERS, RIGHT? WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO THEM ALL EVENTUALLY. BUT IF YOU MAKE THE EFFORT, UH, AND SPEAKING TO THE RESIDENTS TO GO MEET WITH THE VETS, THEIR STORIES ARE NOT ONLY INSPIRING, UM, THEY'RE HEARTWARMING AND THEY'RE UPLIFTING. AND THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE KIDS, IS SO VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE FABRIC OF OUR COUNTRY. AND TO CONTINUE THE SPIRIT AND THE SOLIDARITY THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO KEEP THE, THE FLAMES OF FREEDOM ALWAYS BURNING BRIGHT. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LIEUTENANT COLONEL. IT'S MY PLEASURE. I WILL LEAVE IT. ONE MORE THING, JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY'S AWARE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, MOREOVER, IN THE, THE, UH, GREATER MIAMI-DADE, UM, 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 GONNA HELP YOU. WE HAVE SOUTHCOM IN DORAL. WE HAVE CENTCOM AND SOCOM IN TAMPA, AND IN HOMESTEAD AIRBASE, WE HAVE VERY, WELL, NOT, NOT VERY WELL KNOWN, BECAUSE IT'S A VERY QUIET LITTLE PLACE, BUT WE HAVE A SPECIAL OPERATING COMMAND DOWN THERE. YOU JUST MET WITH THE, UH, WITH OUR COMMANDING OFFICER, TWO STAR ADMIRAL ON 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 LES WAS AT THE CHANGE OF COMMAND. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF PRESENCE HERE. UH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A FOUR STAR COMMAND IS, THERE'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. UH, 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 TO SUPPORT ALL THOSE FAMILIES IN THE EFFORTS THAT THE, UH, THE COMMANDS DO MORE. MOST RECENTLY, YOU'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION FOR SOUTHCOM AND THE NEWS BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITY DOWN IN THE, UH, 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 OUTTA THE 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, UH, UH, 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, UH, DESERVED, UH, 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, AND VETERAN'S DAY. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE AT THESE EVENTS, AND WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA NEED TO HAVE A, UH, CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE TYPE OF, UM, UH, SET UP SO THAT WE [00:25:01] CAN ANTICIPATE HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE THERE. AND SO WE CAN PROVIDE THE NECESSARY CHAIRS AND, UH, AMENITIES. BUT PLEASE REACH OUT AND LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN ASSIST IN ANY WAY TO HELP THE POST. EXCELLENT. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, SIR. THANK YOU AS ALWAYS. GOOD LUCK TODAY. I KNOW YOU GOT A LOT OF BUSY THINGS TO DO TODAY, AND I WISH YOU LUCK IN YOUR DECISION MAKING. GOOD DAY. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. SO, AS PART OF OUR SEMI [AMERICA'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT] QUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT, WE'RE CONTINUING TO REFLECT ON THE DEFINING MOMENT THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR NATION AND EXPANDED THE PROMISE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. TODAY'S MOMENT HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE, A PIVOTAL CHAPTER IN OUR HISTORY, AND A REMINDER THAT THE RIGHTS WE CHERISH WERE ADVANCED BY GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS WHO WORKED, ORGANIZED AND PERSEVERED SO THAT MORE VOICES COULD BE HEARD. AS A FATHER OF TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS, THIS MOMENT IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME BECAUSE THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS AT THE VERY HEART OF OUR DEMOCRACY. AND THE SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT REMINDS US THAT EACH GENERATION HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO CARRY FORWARD THE PROMISE OF LIBERTY, EQUALITY, AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION. I WANT TO THANK, UH, LOCAL 10 FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE THIS VIDEO HERE ON THE COMMISSION, MR. CLERK AMERICA AT TWO 50, DEFINING MOMENTS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY. AUGUST 18TH, 1920, THE 19TH AMENDMENT IS RATIFIED, ALLOWING WOMEN TO VOTE MORE THAN 8 MILLION WOMEN CAST BALLOTS FOR THE FIRST TIME, JOIN LOCAL 10 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, UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO'S, WHO'S, UH, ENGAGING IN THIS, IN THESE FESTIVITIES. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO JULY 4TH IS GONNA BE AN AMAZING MOMENT AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL. UH, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR PARTNERS THERE. AND THANK YOU FOR THE MANAGER AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. UH, AGAIN, UH, WE'RE EXPECTING PROBABLY THE LARGEST CROWD, UM, IN OUR, IN OUR HISTORY, SINCE WE'VE BEEN CELEBRATING FOR LIKE JULY 4TH. IT ONLY CONTINUES TO GET BETTER. WE'RE ABOUT ABOUT 40,000. UH, I, WE USUALLY HAVE AROUND 30. UH, SO AGAIN, UH, THESE ARE HUGE NUMBERS FOR US. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT AMERICA TWO 50, AND WE WELCOME EVERYBODY. UH, THIS IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO ENJOY THAT CELEBRATION. IT'S SAFE, IT'S CLEAN, IT'S WELCOMING. WE'RE GONNA 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, UH, TO JOIN US AND CELEBRATE THIS MONUMENTAL MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY. SO THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE BILMORE AND TO THE MANAGER FOR THEIR HARD WORK. I KNOW THEY HAVEN'T STOPPED WORKING ON THIS, UH, FOR THE LAST YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW AS WE MOVE [A.-1. 26-1667 Presentation of a Proclamation declaring June 2, 2026 as "Italian National Day" in Coral Gables.] ON TO PRESENTATIONS AND PROTOCOL DOCUMENTS, I WANT TO, UH, CALL ON A ONE PRESENTATION OR PROCLAMATION DECLARING JUNE 2ND, 2026 AS ITALIAN NATIONAL DAY IN CORAL GABLES. THERE COUNCIL HERE, HERE HE IS. MR. MAYOR. 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, UH, 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 FOR JUST AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK. TOM, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION, I WANTED TO PUBLICLY CONGRATULATE YOU, UH, 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 BILTMORES ICONIC HISTORY AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE CORAL GABLES, BUT TO THE CULTURE THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE BUILT FOR THE NEARLY 700 PEOPLE WHO HELP 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 CONSOLE AS WELL. IT IS ESPECIALLY FITTING TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF CORAL GABLE'S GREAT LANDMARKS, AND A PLACE TO CONTINUES TO REPRESENT HOSPITALITY, HISTORY AND EXCELLENCE IN OUR CITY. SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO YOU, TOM, AND THE ENTIRE 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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RECOGNITION. I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE AND JOKED WITH COMMISSIONER LAW 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 WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE CONSOLE, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TOM, AS ALWAYS. THANK YOU. GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE, SIR. HOW ARE YOU DOING? VERY FINE. VERY FINE. MR. MAYOR, [00:30:01] THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE, WE WERE JOKING BEFORE, WE WERE JOKING ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THE WORLD CUP AND, UH, ITALY'S EXPECTATIONS IN THE WORLD CUP. UH, UH, BUT AT THE , I SAID, I SAID, LISTEN, WE'RE ALL, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE HERE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE UNITED STATES. BUT OF COURSE, UH, AGAIN, UH, YOU HAVE A LONG STORY HISTORY, NOT ONLY IN SOCCER, BUT ON ACROSS THE BOARD. AND WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE, UH, AND YOUR INVESTMENT IN CITY OF CORAL GABLES, UH, 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, UH, 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 SEE A FEW WORDS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT TODAY IS? YES, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, COMMISSIONERS 80 YEARS, UH, HAVE PASSED SINCE THE JUNE THE SECOND, 20, 19 46, WHICH MARKED THE ITALIAN UNPRECEDENTED DETECT OF FREEDOM THROUGH UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE, WOMEN AND MEN, UNITED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME DECIDED TO LIVE 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, UH, PROFOUND SIGNIFICANCE THAT RENEWS OUR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING, SAFEGUARDING, AND FULL 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 PE 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 SYMBOL IS, 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 WALKING TOGETHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. UH, AND BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR A CM, UH, FOR BEING A BRIDGE AS ALWAYS, UH, AND LEADING THE WAY AND ALWAYS REMINDING ME WHERE I DROPPED THE BALL ALONG WITH IT, ALONG WITH THE DCM. UM, SHE DESERVES A LOT OF THE CREDIT ALONG WITH THE MANAGER FOR TODAY, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS, UM, 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 WHEN 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 DE REPUBLICA REPUBLIC DAY, CELEBRATING THE ENDURING VALUES OF DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM, AND NATIONAL UNITY THAT INSPIRE 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 GABLE IS HONORED TO BE HOME TO THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF ITALY IN MIAMI, LOCATED AT 4,000 PONDS DE LEON BOULEVARD, WHICH MANAGES ONE OF THE LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING POPULATIONS OF ITALIANS, TRO 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 GABLE 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, LOS DANTE RI LANGUAGE CENTER, AND THE ITALY AMERICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SOUTHEAST, ALL OF WHICH PROMOTE ITALIAN LANGUAGE, ARTS, TRADE, AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING. AND WHEREAS A 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 MERRICK, AS WELL AS IN ONE OF SOUTH FLORIDA'S MOST VIBRANT ITALIAN DINING SCENES WITH NEARLY [00:35:01] 200 RESTAURANTS AND FAMILY OWNED ESTABLISHMENTS CELEBRATING ITALY'S CULINARY EXPERIENCE AND HOSPITALITY. AND WHEREAS ITALIAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE INNUMERABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND CIVIC FABRIC OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES EMBODYING VALUES OF FAMILY, FAITH, HARD WORK, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, INNOVATION, AND PUBLIC SERVICE. AND WHEREAS THE BOND THAT RESIDENTS OF ITALIAN DESCENT MAINTAIN WITH THEIR HERITAGE IS A CHERISH SENTIMENT THAT ENRICHES OUR COMMUNITY, DESERVES TO BE PRESERVED AND SHOULD BE PASSED ON FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. NOW. THEREFORE, VINCE LAGO AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, CORAL GABLES, TOGETHER WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 2ND, 2026 AS ITALIAN NATIONAL DAY FEA REPUBLIC IN CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND BEFORE WE TAKE A PICTURE, I WANT, THANK YOU. ALSO, BECA, BESIDES ENGAGING WITH THE CONSULAR CORE, YOU'RE INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CITY. YOU GO TO, ALL THE EVENTS YOU ENGAGE, EVEN IF IT'S NOT AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT THAT'S OPENING, YOU'RE STILL THERE, YOU KNOW, SHOWING SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT, UH, ITALY IS REPRESENTED WELL, REPRESENTED ALWAYS. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S TRULY A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. AND AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW THE CONSULATES, IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER FOR ME AND THE DCM AND THE A CM AND THE MANAGER AND BELKEY AND THE CONSULAR CORE TO REALLY SELL CORAL GABLES, RIGHT? SELL WHAT WE OFFER AND WHY. AND AS YOU'RE NOTICING, A LOT OF THE CONSULATES WANNA MOVE TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THEY DO. ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES, AND PROBABLY THE ONLY ISSUES IS SPACE, RIGHT? UH, WHERE THEY HAVE TO FIND A LOCATION THAT IS APPROPRIATE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF, UH, THESE COUNTRIES. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I USE ITALY AS AN EXAMPLE ALL THE TIME WHEN I SIT DOWN WITH ANOTHER COUNTRY WHO IS, UH, RENEGOTIATING A LEASE, POTENTIALLY LEAVING ANOTHER CITY AND COMING TO CITY CORAL GABLES. AND IT'S A GREAT SELLING POINT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT COUNTRY AND A GREAT RELATIONSHIP LIKE ITALY HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THAT PRIVILEGE. 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. UM, I THINK IF, 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, UH, THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF, OF ITALY. UM, THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY IS THANK YOU FOR YOUR, ALL, YOUR CONSTANT PARTICIPATION HERE IN OUR CITY, AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. MOVING ON TO THE [B.-1. 26-1610 Regular City Commission Meeting of April 14, 2026.] APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 14TH, 2026. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. ONE SECOND. MR. CLERK. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. CLERK? [C. PUBLIC COMMENTS] YES, MS. MAYOR, FIRST SPEAKER THIS MORNING, MARIA CRUZ, MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447. MA'AM, CAN YOU TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE PLEASE? THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, [00:40:01] 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE LETTERS. REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. AFTER ALMOST EVERY COMMISSION MEETING, WE HEAR THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LENGTH OF IT. I HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO WATCH SOME OF THEM HAVE READ OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES AND RUBISH RULES, AND COME TODAY WITH SOME COMMENTS. THERE'S A WORD FOUND ON BOTH THE CODE AND THE RUBBISH RULES WHEN ADDRESSING THE ROLE OF THE CHAIRPERSON. OBJECTIVE. OBJECTIVE, ACCORDING TO A CODE OF ORDINANCES, 2.78, CHAIRPERSON NUMBER SEVEN, IT SAYS, REMAIN OBJECTIVE FOR THE CHAIRPERSON TO MAKE A MOTION, THE GAVEL MUST BE RELINQUISHED. BASED UPON THESE RULES AND PROCEDURES, THE GAVEL SHALL BE RELINQUISHED IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER TO THE VICE MAYOR TO OTHER COMMISSIONERS BASED UPON SENIORITY. AND THEN IT CONTINUES THE RULE AGAINST CHAIRPERSON'S PARTICIPATION IN DEBATE. AND AS A QUOTE, STATES THAT THE CHAIRPERSON WHO RELINQUISH THE GAVEL SHOULD NOT RETURN TO THE CHAIR UNTIL THE PENDING MOTION HAS BEEN DISPOSED OF IN SITUATIONS THERE'S NO SECOND. THE CHAIRPERSON MAY 2ND THE MOTION FOR PURPOSES OF ALLOWING DISCUSSION AND VOTE. DURING ONE OF THE LAST MEETINGS, THE CHAIR MADE A MOTION AND IT WAS SECONDED AND VOTED ON. CLEARLY THE RULES WERE VIOLATED, BUT THAT WAS NOT THE ONLY TIME THAT IT HAPPENED. THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHO I BELIEVE ACTS AS THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, CALLED HIS ATTENTION AND SHE WAS COMPLETELY IGNORED. IF THE CHAIRPERSON REALLY WANTS TO RUN AN ORDERLY MEETING, HE NEEDS TO BE THE EXAMPLE. RULES ARE THERE FOR EVERYONE, BY THE WAY, ON THE POSITIVE. I'M VERY HAPPY THAT NOW WE ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. SOME OF MY FRIENDS CALL IT THE CRUISE RULE, EVEN THOUGH IN FACT IS A RUBBISH RULE. THANK YOU, SAMANTHA GATA, 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 1 2 6 1 16 2 9 IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION BY ONE OF YOUR CHIEF POLITICAL CONSULTANTS, BRIAN GOLD. AS YOU ARE AWARE, YOU AND MR. GOLDMINE 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. GOLDMINE HAS BEEN COMPENSATED EXTREMELY WELL FOR WORKING ON YOUR MANY SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS. IN FACT, SINCE 2024, BETWEEN YOUR CAMPAIGN AND YOUR PAC GABLES, FIRST, YOU HAVE PAID MR. GOLD NEARLY A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS. OF COURSE, THERE'S 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. GOLD'S 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 LONGSTANDING 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 GOLD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE MOVE ON, MR. CLERK, UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD, UH, MY REQUEST FROM YOU MAYOR, [00:45:01] YOU WOULD WANT, YOU'D LIKE ME TO READ THE ENTIRE OPINION? NO, NOT THE WHOLE OPINION. OH, SO, OKAY. JUST GIVE A QUICK, QUICK GIVE A QUICK SYNOPSIS. YES, MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO YOU ASKED ME TO, TO PROVIDE YOU AN OPINION ON WHETHER YOU HAD A VOTING CONFLICT WITH RESPECT TO THIS ITEM, ITEM E ONE. AND BASED ON THE FACTS THAT YOU PROVIDED, THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY HAD A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP, CONTRACTUAL, YOU WERE IN A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH AN ENTITY THAT'S, YOU KNOW, OWNED AND, AND WAS FOUNDED AND OWNED BY, BY MR. GOLD, MY, YOU ADVISED THAT THAT CONTRACT HAS CONCLUDED THAT YOU CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ANY CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS OR ANY BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH MR. GOLDMINE OR ANY ENTITY THAT HE'S ASSOCIATED WITH. SO BASED ON THOSE FACTS, UM, I, 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 MEADE COUNTY CODE. UM, UM, ANY SUGGESTION THAT YOU WOULD BE, UM, ENHANCED BY, BY THIS ACTION IS, IS REMOTE OR SPECULATIVE. UM, ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE THIS IS A QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTER, THERE IS THE 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, UM, 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. UH, 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. WE'LL BE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. EXCUSE ME, THE NEXT SPEAKER, GONZALEZ AND ABIA. RIA, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, GONZALES. RIA 9 44 SAN PEDRO AVENUE IN BEAUTIFUL GABLES BY SEA. I'M HERE TO POINT OUT WHAT I CALL POLITICAL MALPRACTICE BY ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, COMMISSIONER ARIEL FERNANDEZ. AND I WANNA RECALL SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MR. FERNANDEZ HAS SAID FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. WHY PUBLIC CONSUMPTION IN NEWSPAPERS AND INSTAGRAM POST? AND LET'S GO TO ONE MR. FERNANDEZ THAT YOU MADE ON FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025. YOU SAID THE FOLLOWING, AN OP-ED IN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER, YOU, 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 A VIDEO THAT I PROVIDED. POLICIES ARE PUT INTO PLACE AND I'LL, I'LL RESERVE MY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS. BUT MR. SABRE, 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, UM, AND LEGAL FEES WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR COMPLAINT. THIS IS MADE A MONTH BEFORE THIS PROCLAMATION THAT THE POLITICS AND INTIMIDATION HAVE NO PLACE IN CORAL GABLES. BUT I GOT SUED BY MR. ARIEL FERNANDEZ ON JANUARY 14TH, 2025. AND YOU MADE THAT PUBLICLY CLEAR IN A COMMISSION CHAMBER SUING AN ACTIVIST BECAUSE HE OBJECTED TO YOU HIRING AN UNQUALIFIED CITY MANAGER THAT HAS NO BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE OF RUNNING A CITY. AND I'LL MAKE THIS VERY SHORT. I'LL GIVE YOU A QUOTE FROM THE YEAR OF 49 BC THE ROMAN GENERAL SATAN IN A BATTLE ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. TOLD CAESAR THE FOLLOWING, HE SAID THE FOLLOWING THREE WORDS. HE SAID, AALIYAH IS A FAMOUS PHRASE THAT STILL LIVES TODAY AND IS VERY APPLICABLE IN THIS CASE. AND IT SAYS THE FOLLOWING, WHEN IT'S TRANSLATED, THE DIE IS CAST. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT [D. CONSENT AGENDA] AGENDA. MAY I HAVE A MOTION BEFORE THE VOTE ADOPTING THE CONSENT AGENDA? IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OR REVIEW OF ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. [00:50:01] ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS AMONGST THE COMMISSION OR STAFF, MR. MANAGER, UH, TO DEFER TODAY ON THE AGENDA? I HAVE ONE. ANYONE ELSE? NO, MA'AM. I'LL BE DEFERRING. ITEM F SEVEN. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD, UH, TO HAVING MY INTERN, UH, PRESENT, UH, THIS, THIS, UH, ITEM, WHICH I THINK IS A REALLY NICE AND INTERESTING ITEM TO GET MORE PARTICIPATION. AND IT WAS PART OF HER PROJECT, UH, IN COMPLETION OF HER WORK AT MY OFFICE, AND I WAS HOPING THAT SHE COULD PRESENT IT TODAY, BUT, UH, DUE TO THE FACT THAT SHE HAS A, A SCHOOL MATTER, UH, HOPEFULLY WE'LL DO IT AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. WE'LL FIGURE OUT, MAYBE SHE CAN COME LATER ON DURING THE DAY, BUT FF SEVEN WILL BE DEFERRED TO THE NEXT COMMISSION AGENDA. MR. MAYOR, I BELIEVE WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE DEFERRING J ONE, UH, WHICH WAS TO AMEND, UM, UH, COMMISSION MEETING DATES. UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT'S NO LONGER NECESSARY. YEP. I DON'T KNOW IF THE COMMISSION, ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION. ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, PERFECT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR DEFERRAL OF THOSE ITEMS? DO WE NEED A MOTION OR NO, WE'RE GOOD. OKAY, PERFECT. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN WE'LL LISTEN TO ITEM E ONE. BEFORE WE HEAR E ONE, WE'RE GONNA HEAR, EXCUSE ME, JUST ONE ITEM FIRST. I THINK IT WAS THE, UH, THE SCHOOL ITEM ITEM E 11. IS THAT STILL REQUIRED MR. CLERK TO HEAR ITEM E ONE FIRST? NO, NO, NO. YOU, YOU CAN TAKE E 11 IF YOU WISH. OKAY. WE'LL TAKE E WE'LL TAKE, WE'LL TAKE E 11 FIRST. THANK YOU. GIMME A FIVE. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BATHROOM BREAK AND THEN WE'LL TAKE E 11 AND THEN WE'LL TAKE E ONE AFTER. MR. CLERK. YES, MR. MAYOR, LET'S GO. ALRIGHT. IT'S, UH, 10 0 5. WELCOME BACK TO THE COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME, UH, THE PRIVILEGE JUST TO TAKE A QUICK BATHROOM BREAK. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A FEW THINGS OUTTA ORDER, UM, JUST JUST TO GET SOME THINGS DONE QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. UH, THE WAY WE'RE GONNA TAKE IS WE'RE GONNA GO EIGHT, SEVEN E 11, THEN E ONE. UH, MR. CLERK, LET'S [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”.] START OFF WITH H SEVEN PLEASE. A SEVEN? YES. H SEVEN. YES. H SEVEN. OKAY. YES. H SEVEN IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO AWARD RFP 2026 DASH 0 1 1. DISASTER DEBRIS REMOVAL SERVICES TO THE THREE HIGHEST RANKED RESPONSIVE RESPONSIBLE PROPOSALS IN RANK ORDER, ASHBURY INC. PRIMARY CROWDER, GULF JOINT VENTURE, INC. SECONDARY AND SERIES ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. TERTIARY, PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 7 63, THE PROCUREMENT CODE ENTITLED CONTRACT AWARD. PERFECT. MR. CLERK, DO WE HAVE, UH, ANY STAFF, UH, PRESENTATION? WE'RE GOOD. OH, THERE YOU ARE. . OH, YOU LOOK VERY NICE TODAY. THANK YOU. I LIKE THAT COLOR ON YOU, . THANK YOU. BEAUTIFUL. GOOD MORNING, LES WALKER HARMON, UM, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER. THIS PROJECT WAS ISSUED ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC WORKS SO THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH, UM, CONTRACTORS TO PERFORM DURING EMERGENCY OR DECLARED, UM, EVENTS FOR THE CITY. UM, WE HAD, UM, THE, UM, EVALUATIONS TAKE PLACE AND WE'RE MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE THREE HIGHEST RANKED PROPOSERS TO MOVE FORWARD FOR OUR CONTRACT AWARD AND NEGOTIATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ALREADY ADDRESSED ANY ISSUES WITH LITIGATION. YOU ADDRESS ALL KINDS OF, UH, OBVIOUSLY BACKGROUND CHECKS, INSURANCE. YES. ALL OF THAT. OUR STANDARD PROCESS, PROCESS, WE ALWAYS GO. I KNOW YOU'VE GOTTEN TIRED OF HEARING IT FROM ME, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. DO WE HAVE ANY COM, ANY COMMENT FROM THE COMMISSION? ALRIGHT, MR. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE, I'LL MOVE IT. AND I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. UH, PERFECT. MR. CLERK, I'M SORRY, WHO MADE THE MOTION? THANK YOU, SIR. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ MADE THE MOTION. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LADA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. MOVING ON TO E 11. [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)] E 11 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION GRANTING AN AMENDMENT TO A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2016 DASH ONE 40 WITH OUR REMAINING CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL TO REMAIN IN EFFECT PURSUANT TO ZONING CODE. ARTICLE 14, PROCESS SECTION 14 DASH 2 0 3 CONDITIONAL USES TO ALLOW PRIVATE SCHOOL USE WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE WITH AN EXISTING DAYCARE FACILITY WITH NO INCREASE IN SQUARE FOOTAGE OR STUDENT CAPACITY ON THE PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS THE EAST 12.64 FEET OF LOT THREE, ALL OF LOT SEVEN TO 45 AND ALLEY LINE BETWEEN BLOCK 35 CORAL GABLE, SECTION K THREE 20 GIRALDA AVENUE, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, INCLUDING REQUIRED CONDITIONS PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISIONS, FAVORABILITY CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS IS A QUASI-JUDICIAL ITEM. HI, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD MORNING. HI. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. EXCUSE ME, MAYOR, SINCE IT'S MY APOLOGIES, SINCE IT'S A QUASI-JUDICIAL ITEM. YES. EVERYONE WILL BE SPEAKING TODAY. SHOULD BE, THOSE WILL BE SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM. PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. PLEASE RAISE YOUR, YOU'RE SPEAKING, 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? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [00:55:02] THE FLOOR IS YOURS. I HAVE A PRESENTATION. I DON'T KNOW. OKAY. IF WE HAVE IT. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. SO TODAY I WILL EXPLAIN OUR REQUEST FOR THE PROPOSED KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM AND HOW IT FITS WITH OUR CURRENT SITUATION. SO GERARD, THE PRESCHOOL IS REQUESTING CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL TO MODIFY THE CURRENT CHILDCARE, PRESCHOOL USE TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER KINDER A KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM TO OUR ALREADY EXISTING FAMILIES. UM, SO, UM, 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. LEMME SEE. UM, I THINK I, YAY. OKAY. OKAY. UM, THE, OUR, OUR KINDERGARTEN, WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE AN ENROLLMENT OF 96 STUDENTS WITH 16 TEACHERS AND, AND THREE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. AND OUR CAPACITY APPROVED CAPACITY ONCE 174, UH, STUDENTS. SO WE HAVE A HUGE GAP BETWEEN THE 96 STUDENTS AND THE 174, UH, APPROVED CAPACITY. UM, 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 436 SQUARE FEET. WE HAVE, UM, ABOUT THE PARKING, WE HAVE SIX DESIGNATED PARKING SPACES, AND ALSO IN THE BUILDING THAT IS THE GAVE GRAND PLAZA, WE HAVE 305 PARKING SPACES FOR THE RESTAURANTS AND RETAIL ABOUT THE TRAFFIC, UH, THE TRAFFIC FLOW. UH, WE HAVE TWO SCHEDULES. THE ONE THAT IS PART-TIME FROM SEVEN 30 TO TWO 30, AND THE FULL-TIME THAT IS UNTIL 6:30 PM AND MOST ARRIVALS HAPPEN FROM EIGHT 30 TO NINE. UH, THE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM WILL HAVE AN SCHEDULE OF SEVEN 30 TO THREE 30, BUT THEY HAVE TO ARRIVE AT SEVEN 30 SHARP. SO THERE IS A, LIKE A SEPARATION, UM, ENOUGH SEPARATION BETWEEN THE SCHEDULE FOR THE PARENTS TO ARRIVE. ALSO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT MOST OF OUR PARENTS, UM, ARRIVE BY BICYCLE WALKING OR, OR EVEN USING A STROLLER FOR THE KIDS BECAUSE MOST OF OUR FAMILIES LIVE, UM, LIVE WITHIN A THOUSAND, UH, FOOD RADIUS OF OUR SCHOOL, WHICH ALSO HELP MINIMIZE THE, YOU KNOW, THE TRAFFIC AND THE CONGESTION OF AT WHEN THEY PICK UP AND DROP OFF THE KIDS. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION FOR ME? NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MM-HMM . MADAM DIRECTOR. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? POWERPOINT PLEASE. WILL YOU, WILL YOU PLEASE SIT DOWN? YEAH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UM, SO AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE GABLES GRAND PLAZA MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IN BETWEEN, UM, SAO AND LAJEUNE ON HIDA AVENUE. SO IN 19, SORRY, IN 2016, UM, THE COMMISSION DID APPROVE A DAYCARE IN THIS LOCATION WITH THREE, UH, COMMISSION OF APPROVAL. UM, THIS IS GOING TO AMEND THAT AND EXPAND IT TO NOT JUST BE A DAYCARE, BUT TO BE A SCHOOL. 'CAUSE ONCE YOU HAVE KINDERGARTEN, YOU HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED A SCHOOL, UH, PER THE STATE LAW. SO, UM, THERE SCHOOLS ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF, OF THE GABLES GRAND PLAZA, UM, DEVELOPMENT, UH, FACING HIDA. THEY'RE STEPPED AWAY FROM SIX PARKING SPACES THAT ARE IN THE GARAGE IN ADDITION TO THE GARAGE, UH, SPACES AS WELL. THEY'RE USED FOR THE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL SPACES. UM, THERE WAS LETTERS SENT OUT TO THE OWNERS AND THE OCCUPANTS WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF THE PROPERTY. UH, THAT WAS DONE THREE TIMES. THE PROPERTY AND WEBSITE WAS POSTED TWICE, AND THE NEWSPAPER WAS ADVERTISED TWICE AS WELL. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS. THE CONDITIONS ARE TO MAINTAIN THE ENROLLMENT TO BE MAXIMUM OF 174 [01:00:01] STUDENTS. THE HOURS WOULD BE BETWEEN 7:30 AM TO 6:30 PM AND THEN ALL THE PICKUP AND DROP OFF WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE GARAGE AND NOT ON THE STREETS. AND THEN TO REQUIRE A STAGGERING, A SCHEDULE BETWEEN THE, UM, DAYCARE AND THE KINDERGARTEN OR ANY SUBSEQUENT, UH, CLASSES. UM, IF THEY DO EXPAND, IF THEY DO EXPAND BEYOND KINDERGARTEN, I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE, THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE AND MAKE SURE THAT ANY COMMENTS AND CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED, UM, BEFORE THEY CAN PROCEED TO ADDING IN FIRST GRADE. FOR EXAMPLE, ALL THEIR CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN RESOLUTION NUMBER 2020, SORRY, 2016. UH, ONE 40 WOULD REMAIN IN EFFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, PLEASE CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. DOES COMMISSION HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS OR ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO BRING OF THE MOMENT BEFORE WE MAKE A MOTION? MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I SECOND. SECOND. BY THE VICE MAYOR. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LADA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. HAVE A NICE DAY. GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM E ONE. [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.] THANK YOU, MAYOR E ONE IS AN APPEAL TO THE CORAL GABLE CITY COMMISSION FROM THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ON MAY 4TH, 2026, PROVING AN APPLICATION FOR A VARIANCE TO ALLOW MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT FOR SWIMMING POOL TO HAVE A SIDE SETBACK AND OF ONE FOOT AND NINE INCHES AND REAR SETBACK OF TWO FEET AND SEVEN INCHES WHERE MINIMUM OF FIVE FEET IS REQUIRED ON BOTH SIDE AND REAR PER SECTION THREE DASH THREE EIGHT POINT D AND SECTION FIVE DASH 6 0 6 0.4 OF THE CORAL GABLE ZONING CODE FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7 22 ALEDO AVENUE, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT EIGHT AND WEST HALF OF LOT NINE BLOCK 1 34. CORAL GABLES COUNTRY CLUB, SECTION SIX MAYOR. UM, THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL ITEM PURSUANT TO SECTION 14 DASH 2 0 8 0.6 OF THE CITY ZONING CODE. THIS APPEAL IS BASED ON THE RECORD OF THE HEARING BEFORE THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND SHALL NOT BE A DE NOVO HEARING. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT NO NEW OR ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY SHALL BE TAKEN, AND IT'S AN APPEAL BASED ONLY ON THE RECORD. THE COMMISSION'S RULES TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CODE WAS FOLLOWED AND WHETHER COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTED THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AFTER THE CITY COMMISSION'S REVIEW. THE CITY COMMISSION HAS FOUR OPTIONS AS PROVIDED IN THE ZONING CODE. THE CITY COMMISSION CAN AFFIRM THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, WHICH IN THIS CASE APPROVE THE VARIANCE WITH CONDITIONS. THE CITY COMMISSION CAN AFFIRM THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT WITH CONDITIONS. THE CITY COMMISSION CAN OVERRIDE THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, WHICH IN THIS CASE MEANS THE VARIANCE WOULD BE DENIED, OR THE CITY COMMISSION CAN REMAND FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. THE MAYOR AS CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION WITH ME AS PARLIAMENTARIAN, HAVE ISSUED A PROCEDURAL ORDER THAT WAS PROVIDED IN ADVANCE TO THE COMMISSION AND THE PARTIES PURSUANT TO THAT PROCEDURAL ORDER. THE APPELLANT PROPERTY OWNER WILL BE ALLOWED 15 MINUTES FOR PRESENTATION, WHICH SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE RECORD BEFORE THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. NEXT, THE DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF WILL BE ALLOWED 15 MINUTES FOR THEIR PRESENTATION, WHICH WILL ALSO BE LIMITED TO THE RECORD BELOW. NEXT WILL BE TIME FOR QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO STAFF OR THE PARTIES. AND THEN PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE ALLOWED, BUT WILL BE LIMITED TO TWO MINUTES PER SPEAKER BECAUSE THE REVIEW OF THIS APPEAL IS NOT DE NOBLE. PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED TESTIMONY IN THIS CASE. AND THEN FINALLY, THERE'LL BE TIME FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION BY MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION. BECAUSE THIS IS A QUASI-JUDICIAL ITEM. I DO NEED TO ASK IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS THAT, UM, ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION NEEDS TO DISCLOSE. ANYONE? I HAVE HEARD COMMENTS FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE. THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. YEAH, I'VE HEARD COMMENTS, UM, FROM SEVERAL RESIDENTS, AND I'VE ACTUALLY HEARD FROM BRIAN GOLD, MY, WHO SPOKE TO ME, UH, EXPRESSING HIS DISPLEASURE FOLLOWING THE, UM, UH, THE, UM, APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION. ANYONE ELSE? I'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS AS WELL. UH, I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO MR. GOLDMINE ABOUT THIS. I'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS AND I'VE HEARD FROM MR. GOLDMINE ALSO. MR. MAYOR, I WOULD ASK THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE HAD, UM, HAD EX-PARTY COMMUNICATIONS, IF YOU COULD JUST PLEASE AFFIRM THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO REMAIN, UM, FREE FROM BIAS AND, AND BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL IN YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER. COMMISSION. YES. YES. YES. THANK YOU. UH, NOW MOVING ON, UH, TO STAFF OR TO THE, EXCUSE ME. THE, THE APPELLATE. THE APPELLATE. I APOLOGIZE. EXCUSE ME. GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME'S JEFF RODRIGUEZ AND I REPRESENT THE APPLICANTS AT THE OUTSET. I WANNA THANK THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, THE CITY STAFF, AND THE COMMISSION FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. I WANTED TO ALSO APOLOGIZE. THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SOME INACCURACIES WITH THE TRANSCRIPT COMPANY THAT PREPARED THE TRANSCRIPT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU. THEY SAID SOME ONE PERSON SAID SOMETHING WHERE IT WAS ACTUALLY ANOTHER, UM, GOING BACK TO THE MATTER AT HAND, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS [01:05:01] IS NOT A CASE WHERE THE BOARD DENIED THE VARIANCE. AFTER HEARING THE EVIDENCE, THE BOARD DETERMINED THAT THE VARIANCE SHOULD BE GRANTED. THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COMMISSION TODAY IS WHETHER THE CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY THE BOARD ARE NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE. BEFORE DISCUSSING THE CONDITIONS, I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY REVISIT WHY THE REQUEST, WHY THE VARIANCE WAS REQUESTED, AND WHY THE BOARD CORRECTLY FOUND THE VARIANCE STANDARDS WERE MET. THIS MATTER INVOLVES A POOL EQUIPMENT VARIANCE FOR POOL EQUIPMENT THAT HAD EXISTED AT THE SAME LOCATION WELL BEFORE MY CLIENT PURCHASED A PROPERTY AND SERVES AN EXISTING RESIDENTIAL SWIMMING POOL. THE VARIANCE DOES NOT ARISE BECAUSE MY CLIENTS BUILT A NEW POOL, EXPANDED THEIR POOL AREA, OR INTENSIFIED THE USE OF THE PROPERTY. RATHER AROSE BECAUSE MY CLIENT VOLUNTARILY UNDERTOOK IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR EXISTING POOL SYSTEM AND WORK WITH THE CITY TO PROPERLY PERMIT THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. THE BOARD RECOGNIZED THAT REQUIRING RELOCATION OF THE EQUIPMENT WOULD IMPOSE A SIGNIFICANT HARDSHIP WHILE PROVIDING LITTLE TO NO CORRESPONDING PUBLIC BENEFIT. THE BOARD FURTHER DETERMINED THAT THE VARIANCE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE CHARACTER AND NATURE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WOULD NOT BE CONTRARY TO PUBLIC INTEREST. WE BELIEVE THE BOARD WAS CORRECT IN THAT ASSESSMENT. HOWEVER, OUR CONCERN IS WITH THE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY THE BOARD REQUIRING A SOUND DAMPENING COVER AND A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT ON THE LAND. FIRST, THIS COVENANT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER AND ENFORCE. IT REQUIRES ONGOING DETERMINATION OF SOUND LEVELS, COMPLIANCE STANDARDS THAT FUTURE OWNERS MAY STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND AND MAY LEAD FU TO LEAD TO LEAD TO FUTURE DISPUTES. SECOND, THE BURDEN OF THIS COVENANT WOULD EXTEND FAR BEYOND MY CLIENTS. THIS PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT FOR SALE TO AN ELDERLY PURCHASER WITH A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD. THEY'VE EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING THEIR OBLIGATION AND THEIR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE COVER INDEFINITELY AND THEIR ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH PERPETUAL COVENANT AFFECTING THE PROPERTY. THIRD, THE CONDITION DID NOT ACCOMPLISH THE BOARD'S INTENDED PURPOSE. THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS WHO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT WERE NOT SATISFIED BY THE COVER OF THE COVER, THE COVER OR COVENANT REQUIREMENTS. IN FACT, DESPITE THOSE CONDITIONS BEING IMPOSED, THEY NEVERTHELESS FILED AN INTENT TO APPEAL THE VARIANCE THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE CONDITIONS DID NOT RESOLVE THE DISPUTE AS INTENDED AND MERELY CREATED ADDITIONAL BURDENS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE OWNERS. FINALLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A FINDING THAT THIS EQUIPMENT VIOLATES THE CITY NOISE OR REGULATIONS CONSTITUTES A NUISANCE OR FAILS TO COMPLY WITH ANY OBJECTIVE NOISE STANDARDS. THE EQUIPMENT HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS WITHOUT ANY CITATIONS, CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTION OR DETERMINATION THAT CREATES AN UNREASONABLE IMPACT ON THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES. THIS IS A STANDARD RESIDENTIAL POOL EQUIPMENT, THE TYPE FOUND THROUGHOUT CORAL GABLES. THERE'S NOTHING UNIQUE OR ORDINARY ABOUT IT, AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT IT CREATES MATERIAL DIFFERENT FROM SIMILAR RESIDENTIAL POOL EQUIPMENT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. ACCORDINGLY, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSION AFFIRM THE BOARD'S DETERMINATION THAT THE VARIANCE SHOULD BE GRANTED, BUT TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SOUND DAMPENING COVER AND RESTRICTED COVENANTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. STEPHANIE THROCKMORTON, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY. I SIT WITH THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY. TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE ITEM BEFORE YOU. UM, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY EXPLAINED, I JUST WANNA GO OVER THE THREE PRONGS, THE DUE PROCESS TO SUBSTANTIAL COMPETENT EVIDENCE AND THE CORRECT APPLICATION OF LAW. THIS ITEM WAS HEARD TWICE BY THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT ON APRIL 13TH. AFTER A FULL DISCUSSION, THE ITEM WAS DEFERRED TO MAY 4TH IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE PROPERTY OWNER TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF THE EQUIPMENT. WHEN THE MEETINGS WERE PROPERLY NOTICED, THERE WAS PUBLIC COMMENT TAKEN AND THE PROPERTY OWNER WAS ALLOWED TO SPEAK. UM, AS FAR AS COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, THERE WAS, UH, NUMEROUS PRESENTATIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS THE APPLICANT'S, UM, ATTORNEY, EXCUSE ME. AND AS THE, UM, APPLICANT'S ATTORNEY MENTIONED, THE BOARD CONSIDERED THE EIGHT CONSIDERATIONS FOR A VARIANCE IN THE CITY'S ZONING CODE. ULTIMATELY, THE BOARD DETERMINED THAT THE APPROVAL WOULD BE GRANTED CONDITIONED ON AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT A SIMILAR ACOUSTICAL COVER THAT WOULD REDUCE THE SOUND OF 50% FOR THE CURRENT EQUIPMENT ONLY WOULD BE INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED BY ANY FUTURE PROPERTY OWNERS. UM, AS MENTIONED, I BELIEVE THAT THOSE THREE PRONGS WERE SATISFIED AND THAT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT, UM, PROPERLY TO THEIR JOB. AND WE'RE HERE ALONG WITH OUR LIA FROM THE ZONING STAFF TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR? YES, [01:10:01] OUR SPEAKER. CAN WE CLARIFY ALSO ON THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENT? UM, OBVIOUSLY I I DIDN'T MENTION IT. I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED IT'S MY FAULT. IF YOU SPOKE IN PUBLIC COMMENT AND YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO. YOU GET ONE BITE OF THE APPLE HERE IN THE CITY. CORAL GABLES, UH, IN REFERENCE TO THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE YOUNG LADY, DO WE, SHE NEVER PROVIDED HER ADDRESS? DO WE HAVE AN ADDRESS FOR HER? IT'S, IT'S 50 MENORCA, 50 MENORCA AVENUE, APARTMENT 1110. SHE DIDN'T PROVIDE IT ON THE RECORD, SO NO, SHE DIDN'T. OKAY. JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, AND I NEVER MET WITH HER, WHICH I, I WOULD'VE MET WITH HER IF SHE WOULD'VE COME TO SEE ME. UM, MOVING ON IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC COMMENT. ALRIGHT, FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE THIS MORNING, I DO NOT HAVE A NAME, BUT I, FROM THE SIGNATURE I UNDER, I BELIEVE IT TO BE VIRGINIA FERRERA. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I RESPECTFULLY OBJECT TO THE PLA APPLICANT'S REQUEST. MA'AM? YES. DO YOU MIND STATING YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE? OH, IT'S 7 1 9 ESCOBAR AVENUE. THANK YOU. OKAY. I RESPECTFULLY OBJECT TO THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST TO REMOVE THE CAUSTIC ENCLOSURE CONDITION THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VARIANCE APPROVAL. THE VARIANCE WAS GRANTED ONLY AFTER THE APPLICANT HIMSELF PROPOSED THE ACOUSTIC ENCLOSURE AS A MEANS OF MITIGATING THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF LOCATING THE POOL EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE REQUIRED SETBACK. REMOVING THE CONDITION INCREASES THE ALREADY UNFAIR BURDEN OF THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS TO PROTECT THEIR QUIET ENJOYMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE. I'VE LIVED OVER 30 YEARS BEHIND 7 22 ALITO AT 7 1 9 ESCOBAR AVENUE, AND ONLY RECENTLY HEARD LOUD POOL EQUIPMENT NOISE. WHEN I HEARD THE HOMEOWNER WAS APPLYING FOR A VARIANCE, I STRONGLY OPPOSED IT. I THOUGHT I HAD THE RIGHT SINCE HE VIOLATED THE FIVE FOOT SETBACK RULE AND WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE ON SIGHTLY IRRITATINGLY NOISY EQUIPMENT SO CLOSE TO MY PROPERTY, WHICH I HAVE A RECORDING OF. THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR ALSO WAS DISTURBED BY THE NOISE. SO WE CAME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD MINIMIZE THE INCONVENIENCE, WHICH INCLUDED A PERMANENT CONCRETE WALL AROUND THE POOL EQUIPMENT AND, AND AN CAUSTIC ENCLOSURE AROUND THE POOL. PUMP THE SPA, A WATERFALL, A SALT WATER GENERATOR, A HEATER, AND A POOL. PARP ARE ALL SITUATED IN THE ILLEGAL LOCATION. AND A PERMANENT CONCRETE WALL WOULD'VE CUT THE VARIOUS MOTOR NOISES AND MITIGATED THE SOLUTION. THE LETTER SUBMITTED BY THE HOMEOWNER'S LAWYER PRIOR TO THE BOARD OF ADDRESS MEETING ONLY OFFERED FOUR HEDGES AS MITIGATION. TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE ACTUAL MEETING, MR. RODRIGUEZ RUSHED TO SHOW US A PHOTO OF A RANDOM ACOUSTIC ENCLOSURE THAT CLAIMS TO REUSE REDUCE. AM I DONE ? JUST FINISH IT UP. YOU CAN TAKE, TAKE THE FEW MOMENTS TO FINISH UP THAT ONLY WOULD ADDRESS THE POOL PUMP. WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE WHAT MOTOR IS CAUSING ALL THE NOISE. THAT'S WHY WE PUSHED FOR A CONCRETE WALL AND WE WEREN'T HAPPY WITH JUST AN CAUSTIC ENCLOSURE. UM, ANYWAY, UM, WE DON'T THINK ANY VARIANCE SHOULD BE GRANTED AND THAT IT SHOULD GO BACK, THAT HE SHOULD BE STOPPED FOR OBJECTING TO THE SINGLE SOLUTION HE PROPOSED AND THEN RENEGED ON. I ASK THE COMMISSION TO DENY THIS APPEAL AND SEND IT BACK TO THE BOARD OF TO ASSESS WHETHER THE MITIGATION WILL ACTUALLY BE EFFECTIVE AND IF NOT, REQUIRE ADDITIONAL MITIGATION. THANK YOU, ENTAL. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DANIELLE ELLA, AND I'VE BEEN LIVING FOR OVER 15 YEARS ON SEVEN 15 ESCOBAR AVENUE. WE ARE HERE TO TODAY TO ASK YOU TO DENY THIS APPEAL AND DENY ANY VARIANCE. THE VARIANCE APPROVED OF POOL EQUIPMENT THAT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE CITY'S REQUIRED FIVE FOOT SETBACK. THIS IS NOT A SMALL OR STANDARD INSTALLATION. IT COVERS APPROXIMATELY EIGHT FEET BY A FIVE FEET AREA. IT INCLUDES MECHANISMS FOR A POOL, PUMP FILTER, HEATER, SPOT EQUIPMENT, UH, SPIKE WATERFALL SYSTEM, AND SALT WATER CONVERTER. IT IS LARGE, VISUALLY UNATTRACTIVE AND EXTREMELY NOISY. WE'RE NOT HERE [01:15:01] TO DEBATE WHERE WHETHER THE FIVE FOOT SEATBACK RULE IS APPROPRIATE. THE RULE WAS ESTABLISHED BY PROFESSIONALS. WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING THAT IT BE ENFORCED AT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING ON MAY 4TH, MS. FERRA AND I ASKED FOR A SOLUTION TO MITIGATE A NOISE LIKE A CONCRETE WALL SURROUNDING IT. SO A SOUNDPROOF PROOFING COVER WAS SUGGESTED BY THE APPELLANT'S ATTORNEY AND HASTILY APPROVED BY THE BOARD WITHOUT ANY SPECIFICS ON IT. AND NOW THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO APPEAL TO THE VARIANCE WITH CONDITIONS. I HAVE ALWAYS COMPLIED WITH THE CITY RULES AND AND REQUIREMENTS. WHEN RENO RENOVATING MY HOME. WHEN THIS EQUIPMENT WAS INSTALLED TO CLOSE TO MY PROPERTY AND IN VIOLATION OF SETBACK REQUIREMENTS, IT RAISED AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. DO SOME RESIDENTS HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES WHILE OTHERS CAN IGNORE THEM AND SEEK A VARIANCE AFTERWARDS? IMPORTANTLY, CITY STAFF CAREFULLY REVIEW THE VARIANCE REQUEST UNDER THE CODE STANDARDS AND RECOMMENDED DENIAL. THIS PROBLEM IS STARTED WHEN THE APPELLANT SUBMITTED A PERMIT FOR THE POOL RENOVATION. THE ENGINEER'S ORIGINAL PLANS SHOWED THE EQUIPMENT RELOCATED TO COMPLY WITH THE SETBACK REQUIREMENT. ACCORDING TO A LETTER PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT'S ATTORNEY, IT CHOSE NOT TO DO IT. CLAIMING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND DISPROPORTIONAL SCOPE OF THE WORK, THE DISPROPORTIONAL DISPROPORTIONATE SCOPE OF THE WORK IS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT. FOR TWO YEARS, THE WHOLE HOUSE WENT UNDER COMPLETE RENOVATION, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIAL POOL RECONSTRUCTION AND EXTENSIVE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR UPGRADES. SO THERE WAS EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO RELOCATE THE EQUIPMENT. THE APPELLANT SIMPLY CHOSE NOT TO DO SO. THE CLAIM OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IS ALSO DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT. THE APPELLANT PURCHASED IT FOR PROPERTY TEAM 2022 FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.2 MILLION EXTENSIVELY RENOVATED AND IS NOW SELLING IT FOR 3.8 MILLION. THE LISTING ITSELF STATES THAT NO EXPENSE WAS SPARED HIGH, HIGHLIGHTING NUMEROUS HIGH-END IMPROVEMENTS. MA'AM, IF YOU'D BE SO KIND, YOU'VE GONE OVER A MINUTE. IF YOU WOULD HELP ME OUT. THANK YOU. I'M ALMOST, AFTER INVESTING HEAVILY IN THE PROPERTY, THE APPELLANT NOW ARGUES THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY CODE WAS TOO COSTLY. I CALCULATED, UH, ROUGHLY OVER A HALF A MILLION DOLLAR IN RENOVATIONS. BUT HE COULD NOT AFFORD THE RELOCATION OF THIS POOL EQUIPMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE CITY RULES. HE DID NOT DESERVE THE APPROVAL OF THE VARIANCE GIVEN HASTILY BY THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND CERTAINLY IS NOT ENTITLED TO A VARIANCE WITH NO CONDITIONS. I'M ALMOST DONE. HE SHOWS TOTAL DISREGARD FOR HIS NEIGHBORS TOTAL DISRESPECT TO THE CITY RULES AND WANTS TO MAKE A MOCKERY OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS BY CLAIMING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. I TRUST IN ALL OF YOU IN THE COMMISSION TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE THE APPELLANTS ONCE AND FOR ALL. RELOCATE THE EQUIPMENT AND COMPLY WITH THE CITY RULES LIKE ALL THE OTHER RESIDENTS. MA'AM, YOU'VE GONE OVER TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK ALBERT SANCHEZ. GOOD MORNING, SIR. MORNING MAYOR. MORNING, MY VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. NICE TO SEE YOU ALL. UH, MY NAME IS ALBERT SANCHEZ. I LIVE AT SIX 19 CAMILO AVENUE WHERE I'VE LIVED FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS. I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS EVERY CORAL GABLES RESIDENT, AND THAT IS OUR CITY ZONING CODE. I'M QUITE CERTAIN THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE AT SOME POINT DURING THEIR TIME IN CORAL GABLES REQUESTED A PERMIT LIVING IN A HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED HOME. I'M QUITE ACCUSTOMED TO JUMPING THROUGH NUMEROUS HOOPS IN ORDER TO HAVE A PERMIT APPROVED. AND YES, AT TIMES THE REQUIREMENTS SEEM EXCESSIVELY ONEROUS, YET I ADHERE TO THE ZONING CODE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY. IT IS WHAT KEEPS OUR CITY INDEED BEAUTIFUL IN MANY WAYS. I VIEW OUR ZONING CODE AS THE DNA OF OUR CITY AS A RESIDENT. I ALSO ADHERE TO THE CODE BECAUSE THERE IS AN IMPLICIT CONTRACT WITH MY NEIGHBORS THAT THEY TOO ARE ADHERING TO THE CODE AND THEY HAVE AN IMPLICIT CONTRACT WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. NOW, IF SOMEONE DOESN'T ADHERE THE IMPLICIT CONTRACT, WE HAVE THE CITY TO CALL OUT THE VIOLATION, WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE CASE BEFORE US. TODAY, A PERMIT WAS ISSUED WITH A VERY CLEAR REQUIREMENT THAT THE POOL EQUIPMENT BE PLACED WITH A FIVE FOOT SETBACK IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. AND THE APPLICANT IS ADMITTING THAT HE DID NOT ADHERE TO THE APPROVED PERMIT. SO RATHER THAN DOING THE RIGHT THING FROM THE ONSET, HE IS SEEKING [01:20:01] A RETROACTIVE VARIANCE AND JUSTIFYING IT BY CLAIMING ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. HOWEVER, THIS COMMISSION IS WELL AWARE. ECONOMIC HARDSHIP IS NOT A CONDITION FOR A VARIANCE. THE ONUS OF ADHERING TO AN APPROVED PERMIT IS ALWAYS ON US. THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER IN ITS WELL LAID OUT REPORT, THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT EVALUATED EIGHT CONDITIONS BASED ON THEIR EVALUATION. CITY STAFF ARE OBJECTIVE EXPERTS, RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF ANY VARIANCE. THEREFORE, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSION TO DENY ANY TYPE OF VARIANCE, EVEN ONE WITH CONDITIONS. DOING SO WILL UPHOLD CITY STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF DENIAL. DOING SO SUPPORTS THE IMPLICIT CONTRACT THAT EVERY NEIGHBOR IN CORAL GABLES HAS WITH EACH OTHER. DOING SO HELPS MAINTAIN OUR CITY'S UNIQUE DNA INTACT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT, MS. RE. OKAY. SO I WANT TO, I JUST WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. UH, WE HAD THREE SPEAKERS IN OPPOSITION. ALL THREE SPEAKERS BLEW THROUGH THE TIMELINE. 30 SECONDS, 25 SECONDS. AND OVER TWO MINUTES ON THE LAST ONE. I WANNA BE FAIR, WHAT FAIR IS APPROPRIATE? 'CAUSE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE TIMES MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMISSION WANNA TALK ABOUT HOW WE DON'T ADHERE TO ROBERT'S RULES. WE DON'T ADHERE TO THE GUIDELINES HERE ON TIME. AND I WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD. I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO GIVE TIME TO EVERYONE. AND WE TALK ABOUT THE LENGTH OF MEETINGS, BUT THIS IS A REASON WHY MEETINGS ARE SUPER EXTENDED BESIDES THE FACT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE SPEAKING ABOUT ISSUES. THAT, AGAIN, IN MY OPINION, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE SPEAKING ABOUT ISSUES. THEY HAVE TO SPEAK ON EVERY SINGLE ISSUE. SO I'M, I THINK IT'S GREAT. I LOVE OUR DEMOCRACY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. BUT THERE'S A TIMELINE. THERE'S, THERE'S A, THERE'S A CLOCK AND WE ASK PEOPLE TO ADHERE TO IT. BUT I GUESS IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR SOME, BUT NOT GOOD FOR ALL. SO, MOVING ON TO THE ITEM. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, SIR. NOTHING ELSE. OKAY, PERFECT. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, DOES THE COMMISSION HAVE ANY COMMENTS? DO THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR ANY FURTHER INFORMATION? THE, FOR THE MAYOR? YES. UH, DID WE AMEND THE TIME TO TWO MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. FOR, FOR THIS MATTER. YEAH. THERE WAS A PROCEDURAL ORDER FOR THIS MATTER. THAT WAS TWO MINUTES. SINCE IT'S NOT TESTIMONY, JUST TWO MINUTES. BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR LET THEM SPEAK AND FINISH ALL THEIR COMMENTS. SO I DON'T THINK THERE WAS, NOBODY WAS CUT OFF TO BE CLEAR. NO, NO, NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. BUT, AND IF I MAY, UH, THIS IS, THIS IS NOTHING NEW. THIS IS THE WAY IT NORMALLY IS, CORRECT? ME OR TYPICALLY FOR THESE? NO, I JUST WANT, I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR BECAUSE, BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONER'S BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR THREE YEARS NOW, AND THIS IS NOTHING DIFFERENT WHEN IT'S A QUASI DIGITAL ITEM LIKE THIS. WE HAVE, WE, WE HAVE THE TIME OF THIS LIMIT FOR THE APPEALS. YES, YES. FOR THE APPEALS. OKAY. OKAY. SO THEN, THEN, THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I WAS, I HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHILE THE APPLICANT WAS UP THERE. UM, WHEN WE APPLY FOR A PERMIT, YEAH. WHEN WE APPLY FOR A PERMIT AND A VARIANCE AND WE PUT A PERMIT UP TO DATE, IT HAS TO BE UP TO CODE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE SAME POOL OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS, YOU NEED TO ABIDE BY IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT GRANDFATHERED IN, ONCE YOU START DOING RENOVATIONS TO A PROPERTY, YOU NEED TO COMPLY WITH WHATEVER ZONING CODE IS THE MOST UP TO DATE ZONING CODE. OKAY. NOW, WHY WOULD, WHY WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO COMPLY? WHY WOULD THE NOT, YOU SAID THE, THE NEW OWNERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ADULT WITH OR, OR A CHILD WITH DISABILITIES OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. CAN YOU GO FURTHER ON THAT? YEAH. THAT WAS THEIR CONCERN THAT THEY EXPRESSED TO US. WHEN WE ADVISED THEM OF THE RULING OF THE BOARD, WE BROUGHT TO THEM THE CONDITIONS UPON WHICH THE VARIANCE WAS GRANTED. THE BUYER AND THEIR ATTORNEYS EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE BUYER'S AN ELDERLY WOMAN AND SHE HAS A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD. AND SHE WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE'S AN ONGOING PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT REGARDING THE COVER. AND THE COVENANT RUNS WITH THE LAND FOREVER. SO AS LONG AS SHE'S THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY, AT ANY TIME THAT THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE COVER THAT'S INSTALLED, THEY HAVE TO GO OUT AND THEY HAVE TO INSTALL IT. AND ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY'RE HAVING CONCERNS REGARDING THAT, THE ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH THAT. UM, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND THE CONNECTION TO HOW, I MEAN, WHY WOULD IT BE AN ISSUE THEY'VE EXPRESSED THAT IT'S AN ISSUE FOR THEM. OKAY. THE OTHER THING, UM, THERE'S ALSO A CODE FROM MECHANICAL NOISE ORDINANCE. I, ACCORDING TO THE CITY, IT'S GONNA REDUCE IT BY 50%. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE AN EXCEPTION OR A BENEFIT TO YOU TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THIS VARIANCE. RIGHT. WITH CONDITIONS, A VARIANCE IS NOT SOMETHING YOU'RE ENTITLED TO. IT'S A BONUS. IT IS SOMETHING YOU APPLY FOR. AND, AND IF WE FEEL IT'S [01:25:01] APPROPRIATE, WE GRANT IT. NOW, I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT IF WE'RE GRANTING THE, OR IF WE'RE GRANTING THE VARIANCE, YOU COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS. I WENT INTO, LIKE GOOGLE MAPS, I LOOKED AT THE PROPERTY WHERE THE PUMP WAS LOCATED. I LOOKED AT THE PUMP. I WAS TRYING TO FIND EVERY JUSTIFICATION TO BE ON YOUR SIDE. YEAH. NOW, AND I ACTUALLY, IT, IT'S FUNNY YOU MENTIONED GOOGLE MAPS. YOU CAN'T SEE THE PUMP FROM GOOGLE MAPS. THERE ARE SO MANY TREES SURROUNDING MY CLIENT'S PROPERTY SURROUNDING BOTH NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTIES. YOU CANNOT PHYSICALLY SEE THE POOL EQUIPMENT FROM THE AIR. I'VE MEASURED IT. I ACTUALLY HAVE A VIDEO THAT I PROFFERED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, BUT THEY SAID WE COULDN'T BRING IN NEW EVIDENCE. BUT THERE'S A VIDEO THAT SHOWS MY CLIENT STANDING NEXT TO HIS POOL EQUIPMENT AT THREE, FOUR FEET AWAY. AND THEN HE WALKS OVER TO THE NEIGHBOR'S POOL EQUIPMENT AT 10 TO 12 FEET AWAY. AND THEIR POOL EQUIPMENT IS TWICE AS LOUD AS OURS. THIS IS NEW PULL EQUIPMENT. IT'S, IT'S MUCH QUIETER THAN THE EXISTING PULL EQUIPMENT THAT OUR REAR NEIGHBOR HAS. SO DOES THIS PULL EQUIPMENT SOUND MORE THAN THREE DECIBELS STANDING? I COULDN'T TELL YOU THE, I COULDN'T TELL YOU THE ACTUAL DECIBELS. SO THREE DECIBELS IS ALMOST LIKE NOTHING. IT'S LIKE AMBIENT, LIKE LITERALLY NOTHING. RIGHT. AND THIS HAS TO BE MEASURED FROM THE OTHER PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY THAT'S COMPLAINING BASICALLY. RIGHT. AND THAT'S KIND OF THE POINT OF WHY WE'RE APPEALING. THE COVENANT ITSELF WOULD REQUIRE QUOTE ENFORCEMENT TO CONTINUOUSLY GO OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BELOW THE, THE NOISE LEVEL. ANYTIME THE NEIGHBOR SAYS, OH, I THINK I HEARD IT A LITTLE LOUD. CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS TO COME INTO THE BACKYARD AND SAY, OH, I, I NEED TO GO MEASURE THE POOL EQUIPMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BELOW THE 50 DECIBELS, THE 50% REDUCTION. 'CAUSE THAT WOULD, WHEN WE STARTED GOING THROUGH THIS COVENANT PROCESS WITH, WITH STAFF, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP IS THAT, WHOA, NOW WE NEED TO SET UP A BASELINE DECIBEL READING FOR THIS POOL EQUIPMENT. AND THEN FOREVER CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE BACKYARD AT THE NEIGHBOR'S REQUEST TO COME IN AND, AND MEASURE WHETHER IT'S STILL A 50% REDUCTION. IT'S SOMETHING THAT SEEMS OVERLY CUMBERSOME. THE REALITY IS THAT IF HE HAD MOVED THE POOL EQUIPMENT TWO FOOT ONE WAY AND TWO FOOT ANOTHER WAY, HE WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED TO PUT A CONCRETE WALL, AN ACOUSTIC FENCE SHRUBBERY ANYTHING. AND ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT TWO FEET ONE WAY AND TWO FEET ANOTHER WAY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE ON THE NOISE LEVEL HEARD BY THE NEIGHBORS IN THE BACK. IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S UNREASONABLE TO THINK THAT. RIGHT. SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S AN ACCOMMODATION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE VARIANCES OF ACCOMMODATION, BUT WE THINK IT'S A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION. WE DON'T THINK THERE'S NO PUBLIC BENEFIT TO FORCING THE CLIENT TO MOVE THE POOL EQUIPMENT THAT WAS THERE WHEN HE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY. RIGHT. SO WE'RE PENALIZING HIM FOR COMING IN AND SEEKING A PERMIT TO IMPROVE THE, THE PAVERS AROUND HIS POOL AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS. YES. HE, HE DID CONSTRUCTION TO HIS HOUSE. EVERYONE DOES CONSTRUCTION TO THEIR HOUSE. RIGHT. WE'RE PENALIZING HIM NOW FOR COMING OUT AND DOING THE RIGHT THING WITH POOL EQUIPMENT THAT WAS EXISTING AT THE TIME. SO WHILE WE'RE, WE UNDERSTAND IT'S A, IT'S AN ACCOMMODATION. WE'RE REQUESTING THAT YOU RESPECTFULLY, UH, GRANT THE ACCOMMODATION. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR, YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY OR? YEAH, I JUST, UM, DISTANCE SOMETIMES DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PITCH AND NOISE. UM, I WAS HEARING THE, UH, MARIACHI HORN FROM THE MEXICAN RESTAURANT THREE BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE PITCH AND NOISE. MY NEIGHBOR'S, UH, AIR CONDITIONING, UM, BEARING WAS OUT AND THAT'S 55 FEET AWAY FROM THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE. UM, AND I COULD HEAR THAT AS WELL. SO TWO FEET IS NOT GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHAT I DON'T SEE IN THE RECORD, AND IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO, UM, MAKE A DETERMINATION ON IS WHAT IS THE DECIBEL LEVEL OF THIS EQUIPMENT COMPARATIVE TO, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S EQUIPMENT. UM, THE RECORD SEEMS TO BE SILENT ON THAT. IS THERE ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US? WE DON'T HAVE ANY DECIBEL READINGS OF THE POOL EQUIPMENT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE POOL EQUIPMENT THAT'S INSTALLED AND WILL BE PERMITTED AS REVISED IS SOME OF THE LATEST POOL EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE. AND THESE LATEST POOL PUMPS ARE MUCH QUIETER THAN PREVIOUS POOL PUMPS INSTALLED AROUND TOWN. IS THERE, BUT I DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL DECIBEL READING FOR IT. IS THERE [01:30:01] A, UM, DECIBEL READING THAT CAN BE STIPULATED TO, THAT'LL BE MAINTAINED AT THAT IT'S MAINTAINED PROPERLY? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE BEARING ACROSS THE STREET 55 FEET AWAY FROM THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE, YOU COULD HEAR THROUGH THE IMPACT WINDOWS UNTIL IT WAS REPLACED. AND ONCE IT WAS REPLACED IT WAS FINE. I MEAN, I HAVE A VIDEO WHICH I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO PUT INTO THE RECORD. I HAVE A VIDEO THAT I SENT TO THE, TO THE CITY ATTORNEY THAT SHOWS HOW LOUD IT IS AND THEN IT WALKS OVER TO THE NEIGHBORS AND IT SHOWS IT MUCH LOUDER AT MUCH FURTHER DISTANCE. I'M GONNA ASK STAFF IF THERE IS A DECIBEL, UH, LIMITATION ON POOL EQUIPMENT THAT EXISTS. YES. YES. SO THE CODE DOES ADDRESS MECHANICAL NOISE, LIKE POOL EQUIPMENTS. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE VIDEOS THAT WERE SUBMITTED YESTERDAY WERE NEW TESTIMONY AND THAT'S WHY THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECORD BELOW. TO THE EXTENT, UNDERSTAND, EXTENT YOU ALL WANT TO SEE THEM, YOU CAN, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR THAT THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECORD BELOW. RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHY THEY WERE NOT, UM, INITIALLY PLACED ON THE AGENDA. UNDERSTOOD. IF, IF YOU ALL WANT TO SEE THEM, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME, BUT THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECORD BELOW. UM, YES, ME MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING POOL EQUIPMENT, IS ADDRESSED BY THE ZONING CODE. I'M NOT AWARE OFFHAND. AND PERHAPS WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WHO KNOWS THE OH, YOU HAVE IT. SO THE, THE CODE PROVIDES THAT IN SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, UM, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11:00 PM AND SEVEN 30 ON WEEKDAYS. ESSENTIALLY, UM, THE MAXIMUM SOUND FOR, FOR MECHANICAL NOISES, FIVE DECIBELS ABOVE AMBIENT SOUND LEVEL OR MAXIMUM OF 55 DECIBELS, AND THEN AT ALL OTHER TIMES. UM, SO MOST OF THE TIME IT'S 10 DECIBELS ABOVE AMBIENT SOUND LEVEL OR MAXIMUM OF 60 DECIBELS. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO STIPULATE THAT THE POOL EQUIPMENT WILL BE, BE BELOW THAT LEVEL. UM, WE HAVE TO CALL FOR A FINAL BUILDING PERMIT ON THIS MATTER. ONE OF THE, OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE APPROVALS THAT WE NEED IS A ZONING APPROVAL, FINAL ZONING APPROVAL, WHICH IS CONTINGENT ON APPROVING THIS VARIANCE. SO IF YOU WANTED TO PUT SOMETHING ON THERE THAT WE HAVE, THEY HAVE TO CONFIRM THAT IT STAYS BELOW THE DECIBEL. THE, THE, SO THAT IS DE THE CITY CODE. SO THEY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THAT. CORRECT. COULD YOU WANNA MAKE THAT MORE SPECIFIC? BUT THEY ALREADY HAVE, EVERYONE HAS TO COMPLY WITH THAT. RIGHT. AND WE DO. AND WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF THE POOL EQUIPMENT? I COULDN'T TELL YOU. HE HAS A YOUNG CHILD, SO I I'M SURE THEY USE IT JUST AS MUCH AS ANY NORMAL RESIDENT WOULD. I DON'T THINK THERE'S, THEY HAVE ANY RESTRICTION. I I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE USING IT VERY LATE AT NIGHT. THEIR, THEIR CHILD WAS JUST BORN. OKAY. NO, AND I JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT CLEAR. 'CAUSE NOISES ARE LOUDER LATE AT NIGHT THAN THEY ARE DURING THE DAY BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HEAR THEM MORE OFTEN. I'VE HAD A, UM, DETAILED CONVERSATION WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUFFLER ON VEHICLES THAT YOU DON'T NOTICE 'EM DURING THE DAY, BUT AFTER A CERTAIN HOUR THEY BECOME VERY SHOCKING. RIGHT. AND A WAY OF NOISES. SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A CONCERN AT THIS PROPERTY. YOU HAVE INFORMATION REGARDING THE, UM, HOURS OF OPERATION OF THE POOL EQUIPMENT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE PUMPS ARE GONNA BE RUNNING. 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS RUNNING 24 7, ARE THEY? NO, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THE, THE HOURS OF OPERATION. BUT AGAIN, MY, MY CLIENT IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO BE SELLING THIS PROPERTY. SO THE ELDERLY BUYER AND HER SPECIAL NEEDS SON, THEY MAY HAVE SPECIFIC USE DURING THE DAY. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL BE USING IT AT NIGHT. I COULDN'T REALLY TELL YOU THE HOURS OF OPERATION, BUT I, ANYTIME THEY'RE OPERATING IT, I CAN ALMOST ASSURE YOU THAT IT'S GONNA BE WITHIN THE CITY'S, UH, DECIBEL LEVEL REQUIREMENT. SO I'LL ASK CITY STAFF. IS THERE AN HOURS OF OPERATION WHERE, UH, OVERNIGHT WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SLEEP THAT THESE, UH, PUMPS ARE NOT RUNNING? IT'S MORE RESTRICTIVE. THE, THE SOUND LEVELS ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SO IT'S, UM, FIVE DECIBELS ABOVE AMBIENT SOUND OR MAXIMUM OF 55 DECIBELS. WHEREAS AT ALL OTHER TIMES THE DAYTIME IT'S 10 DECIBELS ABOVE AMBIENT SOUND LEVEL OR MAXIMUM OF 60 DECIBELS. AND WHERE IS IT MEASURED FROM? IT'S MEASURED FROM THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE SOUND AFFECTED SITE OR UNIT. AND THE ZONING DISTRICT WHERE THE SOUND AFFECTED SITE OR UNIT IS LOCATED IN SHALL APPLY. UM, THEY SHOULD BE MEASURED WITH A YEAH. TO BE MEASURED FROM THE REAL PROPERTY LINE OF THE SOUND AFFECTED SITE OR UNIT. SO YOU CAN MEASURE IT FROM EITHER PROPERTY LINE, RIGHT? ESSENTIALLY ESSENTIALLY THE PROPERTY LINE. YEAH. OKAY. AND WE DON'T, MADAM VICE MAYOR, I JUST GOT A MESSAGE FROM OUR CLIENT THAT HE SHUTS OFF HIS POOL EQUIPMENT AT SIX O'CLOCK EVERY NIGHT. IS THAT ON A TIMER OR IS THAT MANUALLY YES, ON A TIMER I GUARANTEE. ALRIGHT. MADAM VICE MAYOR, ANYTHING ELSE THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? NO. ANYONE ELSE? COMMISSIONER LA THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES. ALL RIGHT. UM, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. AND UM, MR. RODRIGUEZ, YOU KNOW, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR MANY YEARS DURING YOUR TIME AS VICE MAYOR IN, IN MIAMI LAKES. UM, I'VE ALWAYS HELD YOU IN HIGH REGARD. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, [01:35:01] I DO HAVE CONCERNS WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER MUDDING THE WATERS. YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POOL EQUIPMENT, NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHO THE NEW OWNER'S GONNA BE. AND WHAT WE SHOULD REALLY BE CONSIDERING IS THE CURRENT SITUATION WHERE, WHERE WE'RE AT, UM, LOOKING AT THE PICTURE IN STAFF'S PRESENTATION AT THE APRIL 13TH MEETING. IF WE'RE MES MEASURING THOSE DECIBEL LEVELS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TWO FEET AWAY FROM WHERE THE PUMP ACTUALLY IS BECAUSE THE PROPERTY LINE IS JUST ADJACENT TO, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PULL UP STAFF'S PRESENTATION. THERE WERE NEVER ANY DECIBEL READINGS MADE. RIGHT. THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING IF WE WERE TO, TO READ THOSE DECIBELS, IT'S, IT'S RIGHT THERE. UM, I UNDERSTAND THE PERCEPTION OF TWO FEET ONE WAY AND TWO FEET. ANOTHER DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT IF I'M SPEAKING HERE AND I MOVE BACK TWO FEET AND MOVE OVER TWO FEET, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CAN'T HEAR ME. THIS PLANE HAVE A MIC. SO, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT A MAJOR DIFFERENCE. I I MOVE TWO FEET BACK, TWO FEET TO THE SIDE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. UM, WHAT IS, AND I GUESS THIS QUESTION IS FOR STAFF, WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT THAT'S BEING PUT AS FAR AS WHAT WOULD NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED THAT WOULD REQUIRE MAINTENANCE GOING FORWARD? IS THIS JUST A COVER? IS IT, UH, A STRUCTURE THAT PROTECTS IT? WHAT IS IT THAT'S BEING, UH, REQUIRED? SO DURING THE MEETING, UM, THE, UH, THE APPLICANT PROFFERED THE COVER. WHAT THE BOARD, UM, EXTENDED WAS THAT THE COVER BE REQUIRED IN A COVENANT RUNNING WITH THE LAND. AND SO THAT THE COVENANT BE REQUIRED TO BE MAINTAINED, UM, THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF USE OF THAT POOL PUMP IN THAT CURRENT LOCATION. SO THE, THE BOARD REQUIRED THE COVENANT THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT THAT, UH, A SIMILAR ACOUSTICAL COVER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE EXACT ONE BE MAINTAINED ON THE PROPERTY AT ALL TIMES. AND THAT THE COVER MAINTAIN A REDUCTION OF 50% DECIBELS, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE CORRECT TERM, A REDUCTION OF SOUND OF 50%. THE DETAILS OF HOW IT WAS TO BE MEASURED, HOW THE COVENANT WAS TO BE DRAFTED WAS LEFT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER AND AND I, AND OUR OFFICE TO WORK OUT, UM, AFTER THE MEETING. SO, UM, THOSE ARE THE DETAILS THAT IT WOULD BE MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES WHILE THAT EQUIPMENT IS IN THAT LOCATION. AND LOOK, I GUESS FOR ME, THAT'S WHERE THE BIGGEST QUESTION IS. THIS WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS PROFFERED BY THE BOARD. IT WAS PROFFERED BY THE APPLICANT. UH, AND IN FACT, IF WE GO BACK TO THE RECOMMENDATION FOR STAFF, IT WAS COMPLETE DENIAL. SO FOR ME, BASED ON THE QUESTIONS THAT THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY POSED WE'RE CONSIDERING HERE TODAY, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOUR RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED BY US, UH, AFFIRMING THE DECISION BY THE BOARD, UM, OR EVEN REMAINING IT BACK TO THE BOARD TO ASK THEM TO RECONSIDER WHETHER A VARIANT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AT ALL. UH, BECAUSE WE ARE IMPOSING A, AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THE DIRECT NEIGHBORS OF THIS PROPERTY BY ACCEPTING THIS. MR. AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, YOU DID MENTION THAT THERE IS, THIS WAS PREEXISTING TO THEIR OWNERSHIP? NO. DID THEY HAVE A SELLER'S DISCLOSURE WHICH STATED THAT THIS WAS DONE ILLEGALLY? NO, THERE WASN'T A SELLER'S DISCLOSURE. AND UNFORTUNATELY WHEN, WHEN YOU DO A REAL ESTATE CLOSING, IF THERE HASN'T BEEN A VIOLATION ISSUED, A LIEN SEARCH OR PERMIT SEARCH WOULD NEVER HAVE SHOWN UP THAT WAS NONCONFORMING. THEY WOULD'VE HAD TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE ORDINANCE BEFORE. UM, SO YEAH, THEY, THEY WERE NOT AWARE. MR. MAYOR, CAN I JUST ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ BROUGHT UP? I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER DID PROFFER THE ACOUSTICAL COVER. THEY DID NOT PROFFER THE COVENANT. THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT OF THE BOARD. SO THE, THE ONGOING OBLIGATION TO HAVE THE COVER WAS ONE BROUGHT UP BY THE BOARD. JUST TO BE CLEAR. ANYTHING FURTHER? WELL, ACTUALLY, YEAH. SO IF YOU'RE PROFFERING AN ACOUSTICAL COVER, IS IT JUST TO HAVE IT HANGING ON A WALL? I MEAN, IT'S TO HAVE IT OVER. I'LL DEFER TO THE APPLICANT ON THAT. SO IF IT, IT WOULD IMPLY THAT THERE IS A COVENANT TO HAVE THAT OVER THE, THE, THE, UH, THE POOL EQUIPMENT. I MEAN THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT MAKES SENSE. I UNDERSTAND THEY MAY NOT HAVE USED THE TERM COVENANT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE OFFERING THAT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THIS, THAT'S TO REDUCE THE NOISE THAT, THAT YOU'RE HAVING ON, ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY, THE FIRST MEETING THAT WE HAD ON THIS WAS IN APRIL. DURING THE MEETING, IT APPEARED TO ME AT LEAST THAT THE BOARD WAS GOING TO APPROVE IT. THEN PUBLIC COMMENTS CAME UP AND THE NEIGHBORS CAME UP AND SPOKE AGAINST THE ITEM. THE BOARD DECIDED TO DEFER THE ITEM FOR ONE MONTH TO ALLOW US TIME TO REACH AN AGREEMENT, BE NEIGHBORLY. UM, MY CLIENT PROFFERED, UH, SOME HEDGES TO TRY AND DAMPEN THE SOUND A LITTLE BIT. THE NEIGHBORS WERE REQUIRED REQUIRING [01:40:01] A CONCRETE STRUCTURE AROUND THE POOL EQUIPMENT, WHICH IT, IT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE MEETING WHETHER THAT WAS EVEN ALLOWED UNDER THE CODE, WHERE WE CAN PUT A CONCRETE STRUCTURE AROUND THAT AREA. UM, IN AN ATTEMPT TO TRY AND REACH AN AMICABLE SOLUTION, WE PROFFERED THE POOL PUMP COVER. UM, AT THAT POINT THEY STILL CAME UP AND SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT. THEY ALSO, THE, THEN THE BOARD DECIDED TO MAKE IT A COVENANT RUNNING WITH THE LAND WITH PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND PERPETUAL TESTING REQUIREMENTS. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT GOT MY CLIENT CONCERNED, BUT EVEN MORE CONCERNING FOR THE FUTURE BUYER. SO THAT'S WHY WE, WE HAD AN ISSUE, UM, WITH THE COVENANT, WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE PLACED ON THE VARIANCE TO THE MAYOR. EXCUSE ME ONE SECOND. SO ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. UM, FEW QUESTIONS, A FEW STATEMENTS. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH. I THINK THE, THE EFFORT HERE IS TO FIND SOME MIDDLE GROUND WAS TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IF OUR CITY ATTORNEY COULD COME UP HERE ALSO WAS TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH THE PREVIOUS POOL EQUIPMENT, WHICH I THINK WE CAN ALL SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT OLDER EQUIPMENT IS MUCH LOUDER. CORRECT. YOU RUN AT LOWER DECIBELS, NEW EQUIPMENT RUNS AT LOWER, LOWER DECIBELS, WASTE LESS ENERGY. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE MOVING INTO A NEW ERA FOR THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS. EVERYTHING FROM COMPUTING TO EQUIPMENT TO ENGINES TO TRYING TO WASTE AS LITTLE ENERGY AS POSSIBLE. CORRECT? CORRECT. SO WAS THERE EVER A VIOLATION IN REGARDS TO THE OLD POOL EQUIPMENT THAT WAS PLACED WITHIN THE SETBACK AND WAS PLACED WITHOUT OBVIOUSLY A PERMIT? I'M NOT AWARE OF ONE. NO, THERE WAS NOT. OKAY. SO WE CAN BOTH SAY VERY CLEARLY THAT THAT POOL EQUIPMENT WAS OBVIOUSLY OLD AND WAS OBVIOUSLY MUCH LOUDER THAN THE CURRENT POOL EQUIPMENT, RIGHT? IT'S PRETTY COMMON SENSE. YOU BUY NEW POOL EQUIPMENT, YOU INSTALL IT, YOU YOU BUY A NEW COMPUTER, EVERYTHING WORKS MUCH SMOOTHER. NEW TECHNOLOGY, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY LOWERING THE ENERGY USE, YOU'RE EXPECTING IT TO BE A LOT MORE EFFICIENT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYTHING CORRECT BIAS OR ANYTHING THAT WE'RE SAYING THAT, UH, IS OUT OF THE NORM. SO THERE WAS NO VIOLATION. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE OLD VERSUS THE NEW. UH, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY FIGURE OUT HERE IS THE MIDDLE GROUNDS. WHY DO I KEEP BRINGING UP MIDDLE GROUNDS? BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT UP A VIDEO THAT I HAVEN'T HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SEEING AND NONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE, THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS. WE CAN WATCH IT TODAY, BUT IT CANNOT BE CONSIDERED IN REGARDS TO, TO, UM, OUR DECISION MAKING. UM, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THAT VIDEO IS GONNA SHOW THAT THE NEIGHBOR HAS A POOL, POOL PUMP THAT YOU CAN HEAR FROM 15, 10 FEET AWAY, WHATEVER NUMBER THAT IS. WHILE ALL OF A SUDDEN WAS THERE AN ISSUE WITH A POOL PUMP? THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION. SO NOW WE'VE IN THE PUBLIC, IN THE PUBLIC RECORD, NOT ME, BEEN BROUGHT UP BY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT THE NEIGHBOR'S POOL PUMP IS VERY LOUD. SO NOW THE NEW OWNER, WHOEVER THAT OWNER MAY BE, IS GONNA STEP IN AND SAY, NOW CALL CODE ENFORCEMENT ON THE NEIGHBOR NOW. AND THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO ADDRESS THEIR ISSUE IN REGARDS TO THE POOL PUMP AND SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS REPLACING ALL THEIR POOL EQUIPMENT. THAT'S WHAT YOU DON'T WANNA SEE IN CORAL GABLES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT VIDEO. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. UH, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO SEE IT, MR. MAYOR, AS WE MENTIONED IT JUST, IT'S NOT FROM THE RECORD BELOW, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IT'S BEEN MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE I STARTED SPEAKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT HAS EVIDENCE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO THE PREVIOUS BOARD THAT REVIEWED THIS AND MADE THE RECOMMENDATIONS. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS NOT SHOWN. YEAH, IT WAS NOT PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT. SO WE'RE NOT HERE TO DEBATE WHETHER, UH, THE GENTLEMAN, THE APPLICANT, UM, INSTALLED THE EQUIPMENT OR HE DID INSTALL THE EQUIPMENT IN THE SETBACK. THAT'S ALREADY DONE. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE, WE HAVE TO FIX THAT. THAT'S ALREADY BEEN FIXED BY THE VARIANCE THAT WAS GRANTED BY THE PREVIOUS, BY THE PREVIOUS BOARD. AND NOW IT'S BEING CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSION. UH, I THINK WE HAVE, WE COULD HAVE A SOLUTION HERE. OKAY, LET'S ALLEVIATE THE SITUATION HERE. LET'S ACCEPT THE REMOVAL OF THE COVENANT, BUT MAKE SURE THAT THE COVER STAYS ON THE COVER COULD STAY ON IN PERPETUITY. THE NOISE WOULD BE DAMPED IN. WE DON'T HAVE ANY ACTUAL INFORMATION RIGHT NOW, WHETHER WITH THE NEW POOL EQUIPMENT, THERE'S ACTUALLY A VIOLATION OF [01:45:01] THE NOISE OF THE EXISTING NOISE ORDINANCE, WHICH TO ME MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW. BUT YOU NEITHER HAVE PROOF THAT THERE'S A VIOLATION. ALL YOU HAVE IS PROOF IS THAT NEW EQUIPMENT WAS INSTALLED ON THE SETBACK BECAUSE HE BASICALLY TURNED HIMSELF IN WHEN HE PROVIDED A PERMIT TO CORRECT THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S VIOLATION, WHICH WAS NOT A VIOLATION, BUT THE ILLEGAL ACT OF INSTALLING A POOL PERMIT, EXCUSE ME, A POOL PUMP IN, IN, UH, IN THE SETBACK. AM I CORRECT OR NO? CORRECT. YEAH. OKAY. SO NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED HERE. RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK HERE WE HAVE TO FIND A COMPROMISE AND WE HAVE TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE AND SAY, HOW CAN WE DELIVER ON THIS? HOW CAN WE DELIVER ON THIS? I'M PERFECTLY FINE WITH LEAVING THE POOL PUMP COVER ON IT. THE NEIGHBOR'S GONNA KNOW IF THE POOL PUMP COVER COMES OFF BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE BEING VERY VIGILANT. BUT I THINK THAT ADDING A COVENANT, WHICH REQUIRES PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE IS SOMETHING LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT TYPE OF HEAVY HANDEDNESS EVER. AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY. AND I'VE BEEN HERE 13 YEARS, OKAY? I'VE SEEN IT WHEN DEVELOPMENTS COME AND THEY SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO DO A TRAFFIC STUDY EVERY YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS. THAT REQUIRES PERPETUAL REVIEW FOR NOT EVEN PERPETUAL 5, 10, 15 YEARS. AND IF CERTAIN BENCHMARKS ARE HIT, THAT DEVELOPER HAS TO PAY INTO THE PUBLIC TRUST IN ONE FOR ANOTHER, WHETHER IT'S SIDEWALKS, WHETHER TRAFFIC COMING, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. WE'VE DONE IT ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, CONSTANTLY MONITORING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IMPACT IS LESSENED. SO I THINK THAT WE CAN FIND, UM, COMMON, COMMON GROUND HERE. ONE THING THAT I, THAT I, THAT I DON'T LIKE, AND I, AND I, THIS IS JUST MY, MY PERSONAL OPINION, WE ALL LIVE IN CORAL GABLES. UM, MOST OF US HERE ON THE COMMISSION, FOUR OUTTA FIVE ARE PROPERTY OWNERS HERE IN GABLES TO TALK ABOUT PROPERTY VALUE INCREASES AND HOW MUCH SOMEONE'S SELLING A HOME FOR. AND THAT KIND OF STUFF IS TACKY. YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. UH, IF WE WANT SOMEONE TO BUY THE HOUSE OR TO LIVE IN OUR CITY. AND ONCE THEY MOVE ON, WHETHER THEIR FAMILY GROWS LIKE THIS CASE, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE LEAVING THE HOUSE TO A BIGGER HOUSE. YOU WANT THEM TO CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT THEY SOLD THE PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN WHAT THEY BOUGHT IT FOR. THAT THAT'S WHAT A HEALTHY CITY IS. PEOPLE WANNA MOVE TO OUR CITY AND WE WELCOME THAT. SO I I, TO ME THAT'S, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY SHOULD EVEN BE CONSIDERED. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT BECAUSE ONE DAY THE NEIGHBORS ARE GONNA SELL THEIR PROPERTY AND THEY'RE GONNA WANNA SELL IT FOR A MAXIMUM DOLLAR AND THEY'RE GONNA WANT TO RECEIVE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN. SO I LIKE TO PROFFER, I LIKE TO PROFFER THE APPLICANT IF THEY'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT IT, UH, THAT THE COVER STAYS ON. AS YOU CAN TELL, WE MAY HAVE, WE HAVE ISSUES HERE, OBVIOUSLY, UM, THAT THE COVER STAYS ON, BUT THAT THE COVENANT IS REMOVED. UM, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WORK AS NEIGHBORS 'CAUSE THESE NEIGHBORS ARE GONNA HAVE TO WORK WITH FORTHCOMING NEIGHBORS AND THAT WE DO THINGS IN A RIGHT WAY. THAT IS COLLEGIAL, THAT IS RESPECTFUL. UM, BUT ALSO, LET'S NOT TAKE IT OUT ON THE, ON THE PERSON WHO'S SELLING THE HOME TODAY. YEAH, HE MADE A MISTAKE. HE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, BUT HE'S NOT A, HE'S NOT A CONTRACTOR, HE'S NOT AN ENGINEER, HE'S NOT AN ARCHITECT, HE'S NOT A SURVEYOR. HE'S NOT A LAWYER. HE'S NOT A PERSON WHO, YOU KNOW, CHECKED TO SEE IF A POOL PUMP AND THAT, BY THE WAY, AND AS WE CAN ALL, AS YOU CAN TELL, 'CAUSE BOTH OF YOUR ATTORNEYS, WHEN YOU HAVE DISCLOSURES, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT CHECKING EVERY LAST INCH OF, OF CERTAIN THINGS. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE VERY CAREFUL. THEY DO THREE POINT INSPECTIONS, BUT THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND. SO I LIKE TO SEE US FIND A MIDDLE. I LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN, CAN WE ADDRESS ONE THING? 'CAUSE I, I, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SPOKE BEFORE KEEP RAISING THEIR HAND. CAN YOU EXPLAIN MADAM CITY ATTORNEY THE PROCESS THAT WE DO HERE? I DON'T WANT IT TO COME FROM ME. 'CAUSE, AND THEN THEY SAY THAT I'M NOT BEING FAIR. SO MAYOR, I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT. YES. SO THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND YOU'VE CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT. IT, IT IS ALWAYS UP TO YOU THOUGH IF YOU WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, TAKE MORE. THANK YOU. BUT WE DO NOT MAKE THAT, WE DO NOT REALLY MAKE THAT COMMENT HERE IN THE CITY. CORRECT? CORRECT. MAYOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN REACH A MIDDLE GROUND AND MOVE FORWARD. UM, IS, ARE YOU OKAY WITH MY PROFFER, MR. MAYOR? THE, THE COVER WAS PROFFERED BY MY CLIENT. YES, BUT I'M, I'M SAYING YES AND AS, BUT BEYOND THAT, WE'RE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHO PROFITED IT, INSTALLS IT, IF HE INSTALLS IT AND THERE'S NO PERPETUAL REQUIREMENT, MAINTENANCE OVERSIGHT. THAT THAT WAS WHAT, THAT WAS THE CONCERNING PART. THE COVENANT WAS THE ONE THAT WAS REALLY BOTHERING HIM. OKAY. AND MY FINAL CONCERN, I WANNA MENTION AGAIN, JUST SO MY COLLEAGUES UNDERSTAND IT, WHEN YOU START PUTTING THESE PERPETUAL, YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS ON HOMES, IT'S, IT'S JUST, AGAIN, ANOTHER WALL, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT SOMEONE HAS TO DEAL WITH. IMAGINE HAVING TO BE A HOMEOWNER AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND PROVIDE EVERY SINGLE YEAR A DOCUMENT. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. I DUNNO IF YOU CHECKED YOUR EMAILS LATE LAST NIGHT, BUT THERE [01:50:01] WAS A REPORT THAT CAME IN, AND I'M NOT GONNA MENTION IT HERE 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S, I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FROM AN A PRIVATE ENTITY THAT DOES BUSINESS HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND THAT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE A YEARLY REPORT. A YEARLY REPORT IN REGARDS TO STUDENTS HOW MANY CENSUS THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSION THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE YESTERDAY. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT TO THAT MAGNITUDE, BUT I THINK THAT TO ME, THAT'S A LITTLE HEAVY HANDED. AND WE DON'T WANNA, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO'S, WHO'S, WHO OWNS A BUSINESS HERE IN THE CITY AND THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS, THAT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION. BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HOMEOWNER, I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO BE KNOWN AS PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, PUTTING PERPETUAL EASEMENTS ON PROPERTIES BECAUSE I THINK IT'S JUST A LITTLE TOO MUCH. AND I THINK THAT WE AS A CITY CAN ACHIEVE THE SAME GOAL WITH THE COVER WITHOUT HAVING THAT COVENANT PUT IN PLACE. SO YOU THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. JUST A QUICK QUESTION. I DON'T WANNA DERAIL YOUR PROFFER AND THE, AND THE CONVERSATION. YOU CAN ALWAYS DO A FRIENDLY MEMO IF YOU LIKE. UH, NO, NO, NO. IT'S ACTUALLY JUST A QUESTION TO UNDERSTAND THE RECORD A LITTLE BIT BETTER. SO BOTH TO THE APPLICANT AND TO CITY ATTORNEY, UH, TO ATTORNEY, WAS THERE EVER A COMPLAINT ON THE PROPERTY WITH RESPECT TO A NOISE VIOLATION OR SETBACK VIOLATION AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE APPLICANT SEEKING THE PERMIT? COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER LA IF I MAY, I ASKED THAT QUESTION A FEW SECONDS AGO AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. SO THAT'S WHAT I FIND VERY INTERESTING. I'M NOT AWARE OF IT. AND THAT'S WHY COMMISSIONER, THAT'S WHY COMMISSIONER I LED WITH, SO YOU HAD POOL EQUIPMENT FOR LET'S SAY 10 YEARS. I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THE AMOUNT OF TIME. IT WAS FIVE YEARS OLD POOL EQUIPMENT. IT MADE MORE NOS NOISE. IT WAS NOT AS TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED AS IT IS TODAY. YOU INSTALL BRAND NEW EQUIPMENT WITH A PERMIT AND NOW IS WHEN YOU GET A CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATION, NOT OVER THE YEARS. RIGHT. AND, AND I DEFINITELY, UH, WANTED TO MAKE THAT CRYSTAL CLEAR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST TAKING IT TO A, UM, LEVEL SET MOMENT HERE, RIGHT. I MEAN, WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON? AND I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NO COMPLAINT, AT LEAST NOT IN THE RECORD OF ANY RESIDENT OR NEIGHBOR CONCERNING ANY EXCESSIVE SOUND WITH RESPECT TO THE POOL EQUIPMENT THAT THE APPLICANT, UH, WHEN HE BOUGHT, UH, THE PROPERTY HAD ALREADY HAD INSTALLED ON THE LAND. AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A NO, RIGHT? CORRECT. THAT'S A NO. AND WAS THERE EVER ANY COMPLAINT BY ANY RESIDENT WITH RESPECT TO THE SETBACK VIOLATION OF A COUPLE OF FEET IN EACH DIRECTION, UH, EVER MADE TO THE CITY PRIOR TO THE APPLICATION, UH, FOR THE PERMIT? NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO. AND NOT TO MY CLIENT'S KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE MAYOR. JUST ONE SECOND. SO TO PUT IT IN MORE, PUT IN MORE CONTEXT, WHAT I'M ASKING IS TO AFFIRM THE DECISION WITH CONDITION TO REMOVE THE COVENANT. ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? I'M OKAY AS LONG AS HE GETS TO INSTALL A COVER. YES. AND THEN THE CUT AND WHAT WAS PROFFERED AT THE BOARD WAS ANY COVER? YES. THAT REDUCES A SOUND BY 50%. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S BECAUSE NOW I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER WHAT I'M OFFERING. CORRECT. AND AS LONG AS YOU'RE FINE WITH THAT AND YOUR CLIENT, CLIENT IS OKAY WITH THAT, I LIKE TO MOVE ON. YES, COMMISSIONER. OKAY. SO WHEN THE VICE MAYOR WAS, WAS SAYING HER COMMENTS, SHE, I, I STARTED THINKING I, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF US HERE ON, ON THIS DIOCESE HAVE A POOL IN OUR HOME. MAYBE I'M DOING IT WRONG. I DON'T TURN OFF MY PUMP. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO YOU SHOULD, YEAH. WELL THEN IT SHOULD RUN. I AM. HUH? YOU TURN IT OFF TOO. IT'S PROBABLY IN A TIMER IS WHAT I SAID. YEAH. OKAY. WELL I GUESS I'M WASTING A LOT OF ENERGY. YEAH. SO MY, MY REALLY QUESTION HERE IS WE CAN CONTROL THE NOISE AND THE TIME OF OPERATION OF POOL EQUIPMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN A HOME IS BEING UP FOR SALE. RIGHT? WE CAN'T CONTROL THE BEHAVIORS OF THE NEW HOMEOWNER. AND IF THAT NEW HOMEOWNER GOES AHEAD AND SELLS TO SOMEBODY ELSE, WE CAN'T CONTROL IT. THE ONLY WAY WE CAN CONTROL IT IS BY PUTTING A COVENANT ON THE ACTUAL LAND. RIGHT? RIGHT. BECAUSE YES, MAYBE THE HOMEOWNER NOW IS GOING TO COMPLY, BUT WHAT GUARANTEES US THAT THE FOLLOWING HOMEOWNER IS GOING TO COMPLY AND THE OWNER AFTER THAT IS GOING TO COMPLY. WELL, I THINK THE CITY ATTORNEY MENTIONED THAT AT NO POINT HAS THIS POOL EQUIPMENT BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE NOISE ORDINANCE. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A NOISE ORDINANCE ISSUE. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SETBACK ISSUE. AND THE ARGUMENT WAS COMPLYING WITH THE SETBACK A WOULD NOT REQUIRE US TO PUT ANY COVERS AT ALL. ZERO. AND IT REALLY WOULD BE A NEGLIGIBLE EFFECT ON WHAT THE NEIGHBORS IN THE BACK ARE HEARING. IT'S TWO FEET ONE WAY AND TWO [01:55:01] FEET ANOTHER WAY. RIGHT. BUT, BUT TO GET TO YOUR POINT, THE, THE COMPLIANCE IS GONNA BE, WE STILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE NOISE ORDINANCE AND OUR NA AND OUR BUYER WILL STILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE NOISE ORDINANCE. IF THEY GO OUTSIDE OF THAT NOISE ORDINANCE, THEN THEY'LL HAVE AN ISSUE. OKAY? SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE, THE CONCERN REGARDING THE NOISE. SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT WOULD GUARANTEE US THAT THIS CUP IS GOING TO STAY ON FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PERIOD, EVEN IF THE HOUSE IS SOLD RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO GRANT THIS VARIANCE. MM-HMM . I DON'T THINK IT'S A HARDSHIP TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS COVENANT FOR THE PROTECTION OF WHOEVER ELSE BUYS THIS HOUSE. SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO AFFIRM THE BOARD, THE BOARD'S DECISION BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE. YEAH. I, I NEED TO MAKE SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. AND I WROTE DOWN SOME NOTES HERE BECAUSE BASED UPON I'M WHAT I'M HEARING, IT'S TAKING FORM OVER SUBSTANCE. I ALSO HAVE A POOL PUMP WITHIN A FEW FEET OF MY FENCE. IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME UNTIL THE BEARING GOES. AND I TALKED TO MY NEIGHBOR, I SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN YOU HAVE A BAD BEARING ON YOUR POOL PUMP BECAUSE THIS IS INDEED CLOSER TO MY HOUSE THAN IT IS TO HIS WINDOWS TO HIS BEDROOM. IT'S CALLED BEING NEIGHBORLY. I ALSO GOT THE, THE CALL FROM NEIGHBORS NEAR THE LOWE'S ABOUT FANS, EXHAUST FANS THAT WERE MAKING EXCESSIVE NOISE. AND THE REASON THEY WERE MAKING EXCESSIVE NOISE, AGAIN, WAS BECAUSE OF THE BEARINGS AND THE FANS WERE WORN AND SQUEALING EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A NEW SET OF BEARINGS, BAD METAL, WHATEVER IT WAS, LACK OF OIL, LACK OF GREASE, BAD INSTALLATION, FAULTY INSTALLATION, WHATEVER THE CAUSE THE NOISE WAS REVERBERATING A BLOCK AWAY. UM, THAT'S WHAT FORM OVER SUBSTANCES. IF YOU'RE COMPLIANT WITH THE DECIMAL RATINGS REQUIRED OF OUR CODE, THEN THERE'S NO ISSUE. NO AMOUNT OF COVERS ARE GOING TO AMELIORATE A BAD BEARING. 'CAUSE IT SQUEALS, IT'S LIKE NAILS ON A CHALKBOARD. IT'S VERY BAD. OKAY. I RECOGNIZE IT BECAUSE I HAD A FATHER WHO WAS A MECHANIC, AN ENGINE OVERHAUL. HE HAD MY HANDS DEEP IN ALL KINDS OF STUFF WHEN I WAS YOUNG. SO I KNOW WHAT THE SOUND OF A BAD BEARING IS. AND I COMMUNICATE WITH MY NEIGHBORS WHEN THEY'RE BAD BECAUSE IT DISTURBS MY SLEEP, IT DISTURBS MY DOG'S SLEEP, IT DISTURBS THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S ANNOYING. SO FORM OVER SUBSTANCE. THE ISSUE HERE IS THE NOISE. WE HAVE NO RECORD OF WHAT THE NOISE DECIBEL LEVEL WAS. WE HAVE NO RECORD THAT SHOWS THAT THE DECIBEL LEVELS EXCEEDED WHAT THE CODE ALLOWED AT THE PROPERTY LINE. SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO BASE A RECORD OR A FINDING ON A OF A BOARD BASED UPON COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, AND THE EVIDENCE IS NOT THERE TO SUPPORT THAT FINDING, THEN YOU HAVE A DEFICIENT RECORD. BUT YET WE HAVE A PROFFER TO PUT A COVER ON. COVERS DON'T STAY ON PERMANENTLY. THEY HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF DURING HURRICANES. THEY HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF DURING MAINTENANCE WHEN YOU'RE REDOING, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS THINGS AND MAINTAINING OR CHANGING THE SETTINGS ON, ON THE PUMPS, ET CETERA. SO A CONDITION THAT REQUIRES IT NEVER, EVER TO COME OFF IS UNREALISTIC. AGAIN, FORM OVER SUBSTANCE. THE ISSUE IS NOISE. THE RECORD IS ABSENT OF ANYTHING. IT SHOWS THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE NOISE THAT EXCEEDED THE CODE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY. GRANTED, WE DO HAVE VARIANCE REQUESTS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, WHETHER IT BE WALL HEIGHTS, SO PEOPLE AREN'T ANNOYED BY THE NOISE OF A BUSY STREET OR THE LIGHTS OF A TRUCK COMING AROUND A TRAFFIC CIRCLE. UM, EVERY INSTANCE IN WHICH WE HAVE CONDITIONS ON OUR CODE CANNOT BE ALWAYS ANTICIPATED. THAT'S WHY THERE'S A VARIANCE PROCEDURE. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A VARIANCE THAT'S BEING REQUESTED THAT TAKES FORM OVER SUBSTANCE, WE HAVE TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT MAKES COMMON SENSE. AND IF IT DOESN'T MAKE COMMON SENSE, [02:00:01] THEN WE FIND A WAY TO MEET PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE, GET DOWN TO THE CORE OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE, CONTROLLING THE DECIBEL LEVELS IN THE ANNOYANCE OF THE NEIGHBORS. BECAUSE IF INDEED WHAT WAS MENTIONED TO ME THAT THE NEIGHBOR'S PUMP IS LOUDER THAN THIS ONE AND IS MORE ANNOYING, AGAIN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS NEIGHBOR'S WAR. AND I'VE HAD TO SETTLE A FEW OF THOSE DURING MY TIME ON THE COMMISSION. I'M SURE YOU'VE HAD TO DO IT IN YOUR CAPACITY AS WELL. AND IT BECOMES A NUMBER ENDING CYCLE UNLESS YOU TAKE PEOPLE BACK AND SAY, LET'S STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT HERE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AS A NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER AND WORK TOGETHER. SO WE MAKE OUR ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD A NICER PLACE TO LIVE. SO, NO, I WILL NOT SECOND THAT. MOTION IS THE MAYOR, IF I MAY, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND. I HAVE, I SECOND IT. UM, SO THE REASON I SECOND THIS MOTION, I THINK THIS IS THE MIDDLE GROUND. I THINK THE RESIDENTS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VARIANCE. GRANTED, EVEN WITH THE CONDITION, UH, I THINK GRANTING THIS VARIANCE IS A MIDDLE GROUND FROM HAVING TO MOVE THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE AS THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO BASED ON OUR CODE AND WHAT THE RESIDENTS, WHICH IS WHAT THE RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRING AND NOT DOING ANYTHING AT ALL. UM, THE OTHER THING THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALREADY BEING TOLD THAT THE NEW OWNER DOESN'T WANNA DO THIS. YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE CONCERNS WITH THIS BEING SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IN PERPETUITY. AND IN MY OPINION, IF WE DON'T HAVE SOME SORT OF PROTECTION FOR THE NEIGHBORS, IT IS NOW GONNA BECOME AN ISSUE WHERE THE NEIGHBORS ARE CONSTANTLY GONNA HAVE TO BE MONITORING THE SITUATION, CALLING THE CITY TO FILE A CODE ENFORCEMENT COMPLAINT. AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A NEIGHBOR VERSUS NEIGHBOR ISSUE LIKE THE VICE MAYOR'S SAYING, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME ASSURANCES ON OUR SIDE THAT THIS WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF. NOW, AS FAR AS THE, THE VICE MAYOR'S COMMENT THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF, IT DOES NOT. UM, MY GRANDPARENTS' HOUSE HAD A POOL, AND AS JUST THEM WANTING TO BE NEIGHBORLY, THEY BUILT A STRUCTURE AROUND IT, WHICH COVERED THE, THE POOL PUMP. AND THEY PUT SOUNDPROOFING ON THE INSIDE TO ENSURE THAT THERE WASN'T ANY NOISE THAT WAS GOING TOWARDS THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY AND LOCATION TO THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. SO THE, THE, THE, THE SETBACK WASN'T AN ISSUE, BUT IT WAS JUST THEM TRYING TO BE NEIGHBORLY AND ENSURE THAT NEXT TO SOMEBODY'S BEDROOM, YOU DON'T HAVE A POOL PUMP THAT THAT'S GOING, UH, AT ANY TIME. SO I THINK WHAT HAS BEEN PROFFERED AND THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT HAS MOVED ON, I THINK IS A FAIR, UM, COMPROMISE BETWEEN WHAT THE NEIGHBORS ARE REQUESTING AND WHAT THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEW OWNER NOT HAVING AN INTEREST IN MAINTAINING THIS GOING FORWARD. SO, UM, FROM A, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, UM, WHEN I GAVE MY COMMENTS, I WAS TRYING TO HAVE MY COLLEAGUES, I WAS GIVING MY COLLEAGUES DEFERENCE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD AT LEAST SPEAK ABOUT WHAT I PROFFERED COMMISSIONER CASTRO JUMPS IN, UH, WITH, WITH A MOTION. UH, THAT WAS NOT THE PURPOSE, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. MR. CLERK, CAN WE HAVE A, CAN WE HAVE A VOTE, PLEASE? YES. MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER LADA, NO. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON, BASED ON THE ABSENCE OF IN INFORMATION ON THE RECORD, UM, AS TO THE NECESSITY FOR, UH, RUNNING COVENANT, UM, AND MY PRIOR COMMENTS, NO. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, MY, UM, I, I, I WENT AHEAD AND I ADDRESSED YOUR CONCERNS. AND A COVENANT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO AHEAD AND GUARANTEE THAT THE COVER IS GOING TO STAY ON AFTER THE PROPERTY IS SOLD. IT HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE LAND, AND IT CANNOT BE TO THE DISCRETION OF THE HOMEOWNER BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT HOMEOWNERS. SO, YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES, MAYOR LAGO. OKAY. THE ANSWER'S NO, LEMME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT THE NEXT MOVE IS. OKAY. THE NEXT MOVE IS A VERY SIMPLE ONE. WHEN THE PROPERTY CHANGES HANDS, THE COVER'S INSTALLED. IF THE COVER DOES NOT WORK, CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL BE THERE IMMEDIATELY. NOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM, THOUGH, BECAUSE NOW ON THIS RECORD HERE, WE SAID THAT THE NEIGHBOR'S POOL ALSO MAKES EXCESSIVE NOISE. AND THERE IS A VIDEO THAT IS A PUBLIC RECORD THAT IS IN THE HANDS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE WHO LOVE TO CHASE DOWN PUBLIC RECORDS AND THEN USE 'EM IN THE BLOGS. SO NOW WE HAVE EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO AVOID. WE HAVE NEIGHBOR ON NEIGHBOR CONFLICT. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, [02:05:01] GIMME A PERCENTAGE. I WON'T HOLD YOU TO IT. HOW MANY, HOW MANY COVENANTS LIKE THESE HAVE YOU EVER SEEN PUT ONTO A RESIDENT A RE A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY HERE IN THE CITY OF CORGIS? THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT I'VE SEEN. MAYOR, I, I, I CANNOT GIVE YOU AN ANSWER TO THAT. I DO KNOW THAT, THAT OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN COVENANTS IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS, SOMETIMES WITH, UM, HISTORIC PROPERTIES OR EVEN EVEN WITH VARIANCES, THAT THERE'S REASONABLE CONDITIONS AND THOSE ARE OFTEN, OR SOMETIMES MEMORIALIZED IN A COVENANT. SO, BUT I CANNOT GIVE YOU A, ANY KIND OF A STATISTIC ON THAT. NO, BUT THOSE COVENANTS, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME CORRECT MYSELF. MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT ON YOU. I THINK IT'S VERY EASY TO SLIP OUT OF THAT. OKAY. WHEN, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A PERFORMANCE COVENANT LIKE THIS? EVER? I HAVE BEEN HERE 13 YEARS, AND I HAVE YET TO SEE ONE THAT REQUIRES IN A RESIDENTIAL HOME THAT REQUIRES A PERFORMANCE COVENANT, WHERE THE CITY CAN STEP ONTO YOUR PROPERTY AND SAY, NO, THIS IS NOT WORKING. IF THERE'S NOISE, IF THERE'S NOISE, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT. CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL COME OUT AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THEN WHY DO WE HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT HERE IN THE CITY, CORAL GABLES? UM, WHY, WHY DO WE HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT? THE INTENT OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT IS TO MAKE SURE, JUST LIKE WE HAVE INSPECTIONS, WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING, WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING, YOU HAVE THE INSPECTORS COME OUT AND YOU HAVE WHAT IS CALLED A SETBACK INSPECTION, WHERE YOU PROVIDE A SURVEY BY A CERTIFIED SURVEYOR AND IT SAYS THE APPLICANT IS BUILDING THE FOLLOWING STRUCTURE AND IT MEETS THE SETBACK STANDARDS AS PER THE ZONING APPROVAL, WHETHER IT'S IN RESIDENTIAL OR IN COMMERCIAL, THERE ARE CHECKS AND BALANCES HERE IN THE CITY. IF WE'RE NOT GONNA START APPLYING THESE COVENANTS TO EVERY SINGLE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU'RE GONNA BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WHY HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT? THE TENDER CODE ENFORCEMENT IS THAT THE NEIGHBORS HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE NOISE. AND THIS IS MY CONCERN NOW, BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE ON THE RECORD, AND I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR 'CAUSE IT'LL BE USED AGAINST ME LATER ON THE BLOGS, I DIDN'T BRING THIS UP. IT WAS BROUGHT UP MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE WE EVEN TALKED ABOUT IT HERE, THAT THE NEIGHBOR HAS A POOL PUMP THAT IS INCREDIBLY LOUD, AND THAT, AGAIN, THESE ARE RESIDENTS THAT COEXISTED THERE WAS AN ISSUE AND EVERYTHING WAS PERFECTLY FINE. NOBODY CALLED CODE ENFORCE ON ANYONE. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, NOW IT'S AN ISSUE. SO I LIKE TO BRING THIS IN FOR A LANDING. I, I PROFFERED A CONSIDERATION FOR MY COLLEAGUES BEFORE, UH, COMMISSIONER CASTRO'S MOTION, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. COMMISSIONER OTTO, I'M GONNA TRY, UM, AND SEE IF WE CAN JUMP ON A LANDING. OKAY. JUST MAKE THIS KIND OF, AND, AND, AND I THINK I'M UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION PRETTY WELL. BUT FIRST OF ALL, WHAT WE DON'T HAVE, AND THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING THE QUESTIONS BEFORE THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE APPLICANT, THE RECORD DOESN'T REFLECT ANY, UH, EVIDENCE WITH RESPECT TO, UH, THE, THE DECIBELS, UH, THE SOUND DECIBELS WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPERTY, UM, AT ISSUE. AM I RIGHT AGAIN? CORRECT. OKAY. BUT YOU KNOW, AND THE VICE MAYOR ARTICULATED IT VERY WELL. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE ABOUT SOUND BECAUSE IT IS QUITE CANOPY WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, VISUAL. AND REALLY WHAT THE VARIANCE WAS SEEKING WAS BEING PERMITTED TO STAY WHERE IT'S, WHERE IT'S CURRENTLY LOCATED AND NOT BE REQUIRED TO BE MOVED A COUPLE OF FEET. NEITHER DIRECTION. CAN'T SEE IT FROM ABOVE. CAN'T SEE IT FROM NEXT DOOR. UM, SO IT'S ABOUT SOUND, RIGHT? SO I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF LEGISLATING CONSTANTLY AROUND PICCO OR IDIOSYNCRATIC CONCERNS THAT RESIDENTS MAY HAVE, BECAUSE THE MORE YOU LEGISLATE AROUND IT, THE MORE YOU SUBJECT YOURSELF TO FURTHER COMPLAINTS, LITIGATION, OR CONFUSION REGARDING ITS ENFORCEMENT. INDEED, ITS INTERPRETATION. SO WHAT I THINK IS THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THIS AND CONSISTENT WITH HAVING, UH, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND SINCE NO ONE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SOUND, TO MY KNOWLEDGE TO DATE, IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ACTUALLY TO GRANT THE VARIANCE THAT WAS SOUGHT ORIGINALLY WITH NO COVENANT RUNNING WITH IT, SO THAT IT CAN REMAIN WHERE IT LIES PRESENTLY, UH, WITHOUT HAVING TO BE MOVED A COUPLE OF FEET IN EACH DIRECTION. SO GRANT THE VARIANCE AS SOUGHT AND SHOULD THERE BE A CONCERN BETWEEN EITHER THE CURRENT RESIDENCE OR FUTURE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY AS IT PERTAINS TO ANY CLAIMED VIOLATION OF THE SOUND. WE ALREADY HAVE A PROCESS AND A PROCEDURE TO A, TO, TO ATTEND TO SUCH CONCERNS, RATHER THAN US TRYING HERE TO LEGISLATE AROUND A PROBLEM THAT HASN'T EVEN BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE THE, UH, THE BOARD OR THIS COMMISSION. SO MY MOTION IS, UH, TO GRANT THE VARIANCE [02:10:01] SOUGHT WITH NO COVENANTS. MR. MAYOR. YES. SECOND. CAN I JUST, CAN I JUST CLARIFY PROCEDURALLY, I BELIEVE THEN IT WOULD BE A MOTION TO AFFIRM THE, THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT WITH CONDITIONS WITH YOUR CONDITION BEING THAT THE COVENANT REQUIREMENT BE REMOVED FROM THEIR APPROVAL AND THE COVER. AND THE COVER. THOSE TWO. CORRECT. UNDERSTOOD. I SECOND THAT MOTION AS I HAD MY, MY NOTES HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A DECIBEL READING. NO. SO FUTURE OWNER CAN ALWAYS PROFFER PUT A COVER ON IF THEY CANNOT ACHIEVE THE, THE ACQUIRED DECIBEL READING AT THE PROPERTY LINE. SO NOT HAVING SOMETHING THAT IS FORM OVER SUBSTANCE HERE. THE SUBSTANCE IS THE NOISE ISSUE, AND IT CAN BE OFFERED AS A WAY TO DEAL WITH THE NOISE. AND IF ANYBODY'S EVER DONE MAINTENANCE ON PUMPS, THEY KNOW THAT THE COVERS MUST COME OFF IN ORDER TO DO DO THAT. SO, UM, JUST, JUST SO YOUR AWARE, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANYTHING ELSE FURTHER FROM THE COMMISSION? NOTHING ELSE? OKAY. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? NO. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? NO. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING ON TO ITEM E TWO. [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.] E TWO IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING THE CITY CODE CHAPTER TWO ENTITLED ADMINISTRATION. ARTICLE EIGHT ENTITLED PROCUREMENT CODE SECTION TWO DASH 6 0 7 24 EXEMPTION SECTION TWO DASH 6 85 COMPETITIVE SEAL BIDDING SECTION TWO DASH 6 88. SMALL PURCHASES SECTION TWO DASH 6 89. SOLE SOURCES PROCUREMENT SECTION TWO DASH SIX 90. SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT SECTION TWO DASH 6 91. SPECIAL PROCUREMENT BID WAIVER SECTION TWO DASH 7 63 CONTRACT AWARD SECTION TWO DASH 7 64. APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER AND CONTRACT MODIFICATION AND SECTION TWO DASH NINE 10. RESOLUTION OF PROTEST SOLICITATIONS AND AWARDS FORMAL IN ORDER TO AMEND CERTAIN APPROVAL THRESHOLDS PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISIONS OF ABILITY CLAUSE CODIFICATION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES FROM FIRST READING, NO CHANGES? NO. THERE WAS A MINOR CHANGE TO THE TITLE. UM, MAYOR, JUST TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THESE ARE, TO AMEND THOSE APPROVAL THRESHOLDS, BUT, UM, NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. MR CLERK. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING ON TO ITEM E THREE [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)] E THREES IN ORANGE TO THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 74, TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES TO CREATE ARTICLE 10, PERSONAL DELIVERY DEVICES AND MOBILE CARRIERS TO IMPOSE CERTAIN SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONAL DELIVERY DEVICES AND MOBILE CARRIERS CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW, PROVIDING PREFERABILITY CLAUSE, REPEATED PROVISION CODIFICATION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. DO WE HAVE A STAFF, UH, PRESENTATION? YES. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. UM, SO THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING, BUT WE HAVE, UM, HAD VARIOUS MEETINGS WITH, UM, SOME OF THE OPERATORS OF THESE PERSONAL DELIVERY DEVICE, LITTLE ROBOTS. UM, WE'VE MET EXTENSIVELY WITH THE SPONSOR AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH IT. THE ITEM AS BEFORE YOU TODAY, UM, IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT WAS ON FIRST READING, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT OPERATIONALLY, AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CITY'S CONCERNS ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY ON OUR PEDESTRIAN RIGHTS OF WAY ABOUT SAFETY, VISIBILITY AND, UM, SAFE OPERATION OF THESE WITHIN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA WHERE THEY CURRENTLY OPERATE MAD VICE MAYOR. SO, UH, I DID SEND THIS TO MY, UH, DISABILITY AFFAIRS BOARD APPOINTEE, UM, AND THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THE LANGUAGE AS IT IS BECAUSE IT DOES INCORPORATE THE A DA, UH, PROVISIONS. UH, I KNOW THERE'S SOME DESIRE BY THE OPERATORS TO MAKE SOME CHANGES, BUT WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE AS THE TIME COMES IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME TO DISCUSS THEM. SO, UM, IF THERE'S NO, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? UH, YES MA'AM. FIRST SPEAKER, JOSE FELIX DIAZ. I THINK I TURNED IT OFF. I APOLOGIZE. UH, JOSE FELIX DIAZ TO ALHAMBRA PLAZA, SUITE 1 0 2, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA ON BEHALF OF SERVE ROBOTICS. UM, FIRST OF ALL, I, I WANNA COMMEND THE VICE MAYOR ON THIS THOUGHTFUL LEGISLATION. UH, THIS LEGISLATION IS BASED ON A MODEL THAT WAS PASSED BY THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH. UH, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, BUT THE REASON THESE ROBOTS ARE IN EXISTENCE IS REALLY BECAUSE OF A STATE STATUTE THAT WAS CREATED THAT CREATED A STATEWIDE FRAMEWORK FOR HOW THESE, UH, ROBOTS WOULD BE DEPLOYED INTO OUR STATE. UM, WITH THAT CAME A PREEMPTION THAT, UH, CONTROLLED THE WAY THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COULD REGULATE THEM. [02:15:01] AND WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY, UH, IS MOSTLY IN CONFORMANCE WITH THAT PREEMPTION. UH, IT FOCUSES ON THE SAFE OPERATIONS OF THESE DEVICES. UH, ONE PLACE WHERE THERE IS A SLIGHT DEVIATION BETWEEN THE MIAMI BEACH ORDINANCE AND THIS ONE, UH, IS ON THE MILES PER HOUR. UH, MIAMI BEACH ALSO SIMILARLY LOOKED AT RESTRICTING THE SPEED TO SIX MILES PER HOUR. BUT ULTIMATELY, UM, YOU KNOW, SPLIT THE NUMBER WITH THE STATE STATUTORY MAXIMUM, WHICH IS 10 MILES PER HOUR AND LANDED ON EIGHT MILES PER HOUR. UM, THE VICE MAYOR WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO HEAR US OUT. UH, WE WOULD HUMBLY ASK, UM, THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER MAYBE AMENDING THIS AT THIS LEVEL AND NOT WAIT UNTIL IT BECOMES STATUTE AND CHANGE IT IN THE FUTURE. WE KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO PUT A GENIE BACK IN THE BOTTLE. SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER, UH, AN EIGHT MILE PER HOUR, UM, RESTRICTION. UH, IT IS LESS THAN WHAT THIS STATE ALLOWS. UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER, UH, TO BE OPERATIONALLY SOUND. UH, OBVIOUSLY THESE DEVICES ARE USED, UH, TO TRANSPORT FOOD, WHICH IS EITHER SUPPOSED TO STAY COLD OR REMAIN HOT. AND SO OPERATIONALLY THAT IS THE IDEAL, UH, SPEED THAT THESE MACHINES WOULD OPERATE AT. UM, WE UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE VICE MAYOR'S INTENT AND, UH, HER BACKGROUND WITH THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE ON BEHALF OF THAT COMMUNITY. UM, WE WILL, UH, PROFFER ANY ONE OF YOU WANTS TO MEET WITH OUR ACCESSIBILITY TEAM, WE WILL. UM, THEY ARE EVOLVING. THESE MACHINES ARE EVOLVING AND TRYING TO, UH, BE MORE MINDFUL. UM, WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT PERFECT. WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT PERFECT, UH, BUT WE DO HOPE THAT YOU CAN FIND A, A NICE BALANCE BETWEEN, UM, ACCESS, CONVENIENCE AND EFFICIENCY, UH, WHICH WE THINK IS THAT EIGHT MILE PER HOUR MARK. UH, THOSE ARE MY REMARKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DIAZ. UH, I'LL ENSURE YOU THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT. I HAVE, UM, A SCOOTER ITEM COMING UP. WE'RE GONNA BE ADDRESSING SPEEDS AND OTHER ISSUES DEALING WITH THE SCOOTERS. UM, AS YOU SAW IN THE REPORTING LAST NIGHT, AND ARE BIG CONCERNS WITH SCOOTERS, THERE ARE BIG CONCERNS WITH, WITH THESE MO THESE, UH, DELIVERY DEVICES. BECAUSE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, AS THE TECHNOLOGY EXISTS, UM, THEY DON'T MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF PEOPLE, PERIOD. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE 'EM MOVING OUT OF THE WAY OF PEOPLE AND THEY'RE GOING EVEN FASTER, I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND SEE WHERE WE CAN DO ADDITIONAL, UM, CHANGES. THERE IS A SIX MONTH PERIOD, UH, BEFORE THIS IS ENFORCEABLE. SO I THINK WE HAVE ADEQUATE TIME TO MASSAGE IT FURTHER, UH, IN THE FUTURE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH YOU AGAIN THROUGH THE VICE MAYOR, MA'AM, THROUGH THE CHAIR. SORRY, I APOLOGIZE. I HAVE ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WANT ME YES, YES. CALL THE CALL THE ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS. UH, JOSEPH SALZBERG. HI, GOOD MORNING. UH, JOSEPH SALZBERG WITH GRAY ROBINSON, ALSO ON BEHALF OF SERVE ROBOTICS. 3 3 3 SOUTHEAST SECOND AVENUE, SUITE 3,200, MIAMI, FLORIDA. UM, ALONG WITH, I WANNA ECHO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUE PEPPI DIAZ'S COMMENTS. AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND TO THE SPONSOR AS WELL AS STAFF AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR MEETING WITH US AND HAVING SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS. UM, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS OF THESE ROBOTS IS TO, NUMBER ONE, HELP THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS TO PROVIDE FOOD DELIVERY AT A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER COST THAN, UH, REGULAR DELIVERY. NUMBER TWO IS TO REDUCE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, BOTH WITH VEHICLES AND WITH SCOOTERS, WHICH WE ALL KNOW ARE AN ISSUE. THIS COMMUNITY FACES, UM, SERVER REMAINS EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THE PROVISION OF THE ORDINANCE THAT CATEGORICALLY BANS COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING. UM, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PROVISION IS INCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF THE MIAMI BEACH ORDINANCE, UH, FROM WHICH THIS WAS DRAFTED UPON. UM, IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT DURING THE ROBUST, UH, DISCUSSION THAT OCCURRED ON FIRST READING SURROUNDING THESE DEVICES, UH, INCLUDED A MULTITUDE OF CONCERNS, UH, THAT ARE VERY VALID. AS YOU'VE HEARD, SIR, IS NOT HERE TO SAY THAT THESE ROBOTS ARE PERFECT, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE ORDINANCE THEY DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH. UM, BUT THAT CONVERSATION AND THAT ROBUST DISCUSSION THAT THIS BOARD THAT THIS BODY HAD, UH, FRANKLY DID NOT MATERIALLY MENTION ANY CONCERNS REGARDING ADVERTISEMENTS ON THE DEVICES AFFORD A LAW DOES PROVIDE THAT THESE PDDS HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES APPLICABLE TO A PEDESTRIAN IN THE SAME SITUATION. SO, ANECDOTALLY, IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WOULD THE CITY LOOK TO REGULATE WHAT I WEAR ON MY T-SHIRT OR ON [02:20:01] MY BACKPACK IF I AM IN THE PROCESS OF DELIVERING FOOD, UH, PURSUANT TO, YOU KNOW, MY EMPLOYMENT OR 10 99 AGREEMENT? UM, FURTHER, THE BLANKET PROHIBITION ON ADVERTISING IN ITS CURRENT FORM, UH, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, LIKELY FAILS EVERY PRONG OF THE CENTRAL HUDSON TEST, WHICH IS THE LEGAL STANDARD IN DETERMINING WHETHER GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF COMMERCIAL SPEECH VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT. UH, RESPECTFULLY, THE ORDINANCE NOR THE ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS AT THIS TIME INCLUDE ANY DATA OR FINDINGS, UH, THAT STATIC NON ILLUMINATED ADVERTISEMENTS ON THESE PDDS CREATE A MEASURABLE RISK. GOING BACK TO THE HUDSON TEST, UH, NOR DOES THE LIMITATION, UH, OF A PROPOSED RISK, UH, NARROWLY TAILORED TO THE REGULATION AT HAND. DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A NEXUS. AND AGAIN, THE AFOREMENTIONED CONVERSATION OF THE ADEQUATE AND REAL CONCERNS JUST DIDN'T SURROUND COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT JUST KIND OF TOOK A ROAD ON THE DRAFT OVER FROM MIAMI BEACH. LASTLY, AND MOSTLY FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, CORAL GABLES IS KNOWN TO CELEBRATE EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND INGENUITY PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING A HAVEN FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT. UM, PLEASE DO NOT OVERBURDEN THAT WITH REGULATIONS THAT ARE, FRANKLY, IN OUR OPINION, A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM. THERE ARE MATERIAL ISSUES WITH THESE, UH, OPERATIONS OF THESE PDDS. WE PLEDGE TO CONTINUE WITH THOSE, BUT THE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENT WE FEEL, UH, IS UNSUBSTANTIATED GOES TOO FAR. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT REMOVED. AND LASTLY, OUR CLIENT FROM SERVER ROBOTICS, WHO'S OUT OF STATE, IS AVAILABLE VIA ZOOM IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT. SO, MAYOR, I, I JUST GONNA ADD, OKAY. 'CAUSE I, I DID HAVE SOME CONVERSATION WITH HIM. I MEAN, OUR CITY DOESN'T ALLOW BILLBOARDS. THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DISTRACTIONS. THERE IS A SIX MONTH ENFORCEMENT, UH, BEFORE THIS IS IN EFFECT, WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS. UM, 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. UM, 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. 'CAUSE IF YOU HAD TO INCREASE THE SPEED TO A VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO MOVE OUTTA THE WAY, YOU'RE GONNA 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 ON THAT, I'LL, I'LL MOVE IT FOR THE MAYOR. ONE SECOND. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND HAVE CONVERSATION COMMISSIONER. YEAH. UM, I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR WHEN IT COMES TO ADVERTISING. WE HAVE VERY, VERY STRICT POLICIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SIGNAGE AND, AND ILLUMINATED ADVERTISING. NOW, I UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT THAT'S A HARDSHIP TO THE COMPANY BECAUSE THAT'S PROBABLY HOW INCOME COMES IN TO, UM, OPERATE THESE ROBOTS. WHAT I, WHAT I WOULD'VE LIKED BEFORE THAT MOTION WAS TO GO AHEAD AND MAYBE BEFORE THIS WAS VOTED ON, TALK ABOUT THE SPEED. BECAUSE I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT'S A HARDSHIP WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DELIVER FOOD. AND IT'S NOT EVEN, IT'S NOT, I MEAN, HOW'S ICE CREAM GETTING THERE AT FIVE MILES PER HOUR? I'M NOT SURE. THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THESE ROBOTS, IF THEY'RE INSULATED, THEY'RE NOT. UM, I'M NOT SURE. BUT FIVE MILES PER HOUR, IT PROBABLY BE SLOWER THAN I, I DON'T KNOW. SOMEBODY WALK, WALKING. UM, I WOULD'VE OFFERED A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO GO AHEAD AND CONSIDER THAT BEFORE VOTING, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT EASIER TO LOWER TO, TO LOWER SOMETHING THAN TO GO AHEAD AND RAISE IT. UH, COMMISSIONER, YOU CAN STILL OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT. THEN I WOULD CONSIDER, UH, VICE MAYOR, IF YOU'RE THE SPONSOR, WE CAN CONSIDER THE A MILES PER HOUR, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE SEVEN, UM, TO REACH SOME MIDDLE GROUND. NOT AT THIS TIME. I'LL SIT DOWN [02:25:01] AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH 'EM. AND, UM, TWO MILES PER HOUR IS NOT GONNA GET YOU THERE THAT MUCH FASTER. I WAS JUST LOOKING IT UP. AND IT, IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE AT TWO MILES PER HOUR. BUT AS THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES AND THEY'RE 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, A BARRIER FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, CHILDREN, PEOPLE IN STROLLERS, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN MOVE ERRATICALLY. THESE ARE A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A PAIR OF LARGE DOGS AND THEY'RE SWEET AS CAN BE, AND THEY COULD 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 GONNA 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 TO THE MAYOR. UM, 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. 'CAUSE I'VE HAD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, UH, 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, IT DOESN'T CONTINUE MOVING. UH, IT ALLOWS ME TO PASS AND THEN IT REENGAGES. UH, 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 STILL CROSS THE STREET, THE SAME LOCATION, UH, 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 A ACROSS THE STREET. UM, I THINK IT, 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. UH, SO THAT WE CAN VISUALIZE WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE ACTUALLY IS, UM, 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 WANNA MAKE ON THESE THINGS. UM, 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, UH, WITH ADVERTISING ON THEM. WE HAVE BUS BENCHES IN, IN SOME AREAS THAT, THAT DO HAVE, UH, ON, ON THE MORE, UM, UH, THE AREAS WHERE THEY'RE ALLOWED. UM, WE'VE ALLOWED ADVERTISING ON ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS WHERE THEY 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. UH, BECAUSE MOST OF THE DELIVERY SERVICES ARE EITHER ON A MOPED OR ON A BICYCLE, UH, WHICH ARE ADDING TO THE CONGESTION THAT WE HAVE IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. THESE ROBOTS ARE, ARE ALLOWING FOR THOSE DELIVERIES TO BE MADE AND TAKING THOSE VEHICLES OFF OF OUR STREETS, UH, AND CREATING THE CONGESTION. YOU KNOW, JUST ON THE, UM, VALET AREAS ALONE, YOU SEE THAT SOME OF THESE DELIVERY VEHICLES ARE TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK. THEY'RE CAUSING TRAFFIC TO BA 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 IN THE CAR. UM, SO THERE IS A SERVICE THAT'S BEING PROVIDED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THIS ADVERTISING LOOKS LIKE, UH, JUST TO SEE. UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PREEMPTIONS FROM TALLAHASSEE ON WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT REGULATE AS FAR AS ADVERTISING AS WELL. UM, SO THERE ARE PROTECTIONS THERE. I UNDERSTAND THE VICE MAYOR'S CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT JUST ALL SORTS OF ADVERTISING PLACED ON THESE, UH, DEVICES. YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WOULDN'T BE ACCEPTABLE TO MOST OF OUR POPULATION. UM, BUT I THINK TAKING A STEP BACK, SEEING HOW IT WORKS, SEEING THEM IN ACTION, UH, COULD REALLY HELP US MAKE A BETTER DECISION AND ENSURE THAT THE LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE PASSING IS IRONCLAD AND WE'RE NOT GONNA BE PREEMPTED BY TALLAHASSEE A FEW MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD. AND WE'RE STARTING FROM SCRATCH. MR. LARA? NO COMMENT. OKAY. UM, I MEAN, JUST GO AHEAD. MY, A FEW COMMENTS ON THE RECORD. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I DO HAVE AN ISSUE, UH, WITH ADVERTISING. IT'S BEEN A HALLMARK OF THE CITY WHERE WE HAVE VERY LIMITED ADVERTISEMENT. UM, AND I DON'T, I HAVEN'T SEEN A BUS BENCH THAT WE HAD ADVERTISEMENT HERE IN THE CITY YET, UH, THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY BOUNDARIES. UH, I KNOW THAT WE USE THESE, THESE, UH, VERY WELL PLACED KIOSKS, UH, ONE IN FRONT OF CITY HALL AND ONE ON, ON MIRACLE MILE ON THE CORNER OF MIRACLE MILE PONDS [02:30:01] 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, ARE NOT, ARE NOT, ARE NOT IN LINE WITH OUR STANDARDS. UM, I ALSO WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT WE, THAT THEY WANTED TO DO SOME ADVERTISEMENT IN THE TROLLEYS. I WAS ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THAT. UM, 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. UH, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE BUS BENCHES. SO DON'T, DON'T WRITE EMAILS. UH, DON'T, DON'T SEND, UH, CONCERNS. UH, WE HAVE NOT GONE THAT FAR YET. UM, NOW, UM, IN REGARDS TO THESE VEHICLES, UH, I HAVE CONCERNS OVER 'EM. AND I'VE MADE, MADE, UH, UM, THE COMPANY AWARE. UM, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF, OF ATTENTION TO DETAIL. UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY EARLY ON, YOU KNOW, ON 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, UM, IN MASS QUANTITY, WHERE AGAIN, THEY BOTHER THE NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, 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'S STROLLER, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I, I KNOW THAT THIS'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 WHEN WE, WE APPROVED THAT LEGISLATION, WE HAD LIMITATIONS IN REGARDS TO HOW MANY SCOOTERS WE APPROVED. AND I THINK IT WAS LIKE A HUNDRED 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 THE MAINTENANCE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCOOTERS, THEY ARE CONSTANTLY ROTATED. MATT 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. AND THAT WAS CORRECT. AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MATT, SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS OLD NOW. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. AND HOW MANY SCOOTERS DO WE HAVE IN THE CITY? THEY COULD 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, UH, UNDER, UNDER A PILOT. SO THAT AMOUNT IS BEING SHARED BETWEEN BOTH CITIES, IF I USE THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SETS OUR CITY APART FROM OTHER CITIES. MM-HMM . WE'RE VERY METHODICAL. WE'RE VERY CAREFUL. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA SAY, OPEN THE FLOOD GATES AND, YOU KNOW, START ADVERTISING EVERYWHERE. SO I AM 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. IT'S A SOURCE OF REVENUE. UM, SO MR. MAYOR, IF I CAN, UM, STATE LAW DOESN'T ALLOW US TO, UM, LIMIT THE NUMBER OPERATING WITHIN THE CITY. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THERE, 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. MM-HMM . WHILE WE, THERE MAY BE PREEMPTION ON THAT, ON THAT FRONT, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED FOR A FEW WEEKS ALREADY, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE ACTION BY THE STATE. 'CAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE A FREE FOR ALL. THERE'S GONNA 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. UM, SO COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ENTITY AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT AND FIGURING OUT WAYS TO WORK ON THINGS. I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE DELIVERY TIMES AND WHETHER SIX MINUTES OR SEVEN MINUTES OR EIGHT MINUTES THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A DIFFERENCE. BUT DO YOU FORESEE, MATT, 'CAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE THAT DEALS WITH A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUES HERE IN THE CITY, DO YOU FORESEE A BENEFIT IN REGARDS TO SAFETY IF THERE IS A REDUCTION IN SPEED? I MEAN, SAFETY IS ALWAYS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. AND I KNOW THAT'S WHERE THE VICE MAYOR WAS COMING FROM. BUT I MEAN, FROM EIGHT MILES TO SIX, DO YOU THINK THERE'LL BE A REDUCTION IN SAFETY? I MEAN, THE SLOWER, THE SAFER, RIGHT? I MEAN, HOW MUCH SLOWER ARE YOU GONNA GET? , YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH SLOWER ARE YOU GONNA HAVE? ARE WE GONNA GET, I MEAN NO, OF COURSE, LIKE WITH THE SCOOTERS, WE LIMIT IT TO 15. UM, 'CAUSE THAT, THAT'S WHAT IT IS, UH, FOR, FOR, FOR THAT PROGRAM AND FOR THE STABILITY OF THE SCOOTERS, UH, 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. YEAH. AND THAT IS THAT THEY'RE ON THE SIDEWALKS. YEP. AND WE'RE GONNA GO, THE SCOOTER AND THE WIDTH OF THE SCOOTER IN [02:35:01] REFERENCE TO THE FLAG WIDTH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH A DA. YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE A BASICALLY A MOMENT THERE WHERE YOU CONFRONT THE SCOOTER, YOU CONFRONT THE WHEELCHAIR, YOU CONFRONT THE PERSON IN ONE OF THOSE LITTLE MOTORIZED VEHICLES WHO MAY BE DISABLED. SO I JUST WANNA FIND COMMON GROUND. I DON'T WANNA VOTE ON SOMETHING TODAY WHERE, WHERE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE GONNA BE, BE ADDRESSING A PREEMPTION ISSUE AND THEN WE'RE GONNA EVEN BE GET HARSHER TREATMENT FROM THE STATE. MM-HMM . 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, UM, AS ALWAYS, YOU ALL ARE ON THE FOREFRONT OF THINGS HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. UM, SO MIAMI BEACH HAS ADOPTED LEGISLATION. I BELIEVE CITY OF MIAMI IS CONSIDERING LEGISLATION, THOUGH IT HAS NOT BEEN ADOPTED YET. UM, SO AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE'RE THE SECOND IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO, TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE. UM, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY DIRECTION TO KEEP, UM, LOOKING AT ANY ISSUES. I DO WANNA SAY SERVE IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN VERY, UM, HELPFUL IN HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH US AND INFORMING US ABOUT THEIR OPERATIONS. AND, UM, AS THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING IN THE CITY, THEY HAVE BEEN, AND I KNOW, UM, BELLIES CAN SPEAK TO THIS WHEN WE HAVE SPECIAL EVENTS AND CLOSE DOWN ROADS, THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN GEO-FENCING, UM, THOSE, UH, 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. UH, JOSEPH SALZBERG AGAIN. AND, AND THE SAME BACK TO MATT AND, AND YOUR STAFF THAT, UH, THIS HASN'T BEEN A SNEAK ATTACK. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT CONVERSATION BETWEEN PUBLIC SECTOR AND PRIVATE SECTOR. UM, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION WITH REGARD TO, I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A, A COUPLE ITEMS THAT HAD CAME UP IN THIS DELIBERATION. NUMBER ONE, UM, BOTH OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND INSIDE SERVE INDIVIDUALS, UH, 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, UH, PRESENTATION BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION, UM, WITH APP, WITH AMPLE TIME. WE COULD ALSO BRING, UM, SERVE HAS AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT FOCUSED ON DISABILITY. AND, AND, AND THAT THOSE ASPECTS, WE CAN INCLUDE THEM IN THE CONVERSATION. WE CAN BRING, UH, 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. UM, THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT TO SWIM INTO THE STREAM OF THIS COMMUNITY AND BE GOOD STEWARDS SO THAT IT'S NOT EMPTY GESTURE. THEY'RE WILLING TO COME MEET INDIVIDUALLY OR, UH, COLLECTIVELY IN A, IN A DEMONSTRATION WITH REGARD TO. SO WITH THAT, WITH THAT, WITH THAT POINT, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. YES, SIR. SO YOU WANNA SWIM INTO THE STREAM AND I LIKE THAT. UM, AS YOU SEE, I'VE BEEN MENTIONING, LET'S COLLABORATE ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FRONTS. YES, SIR. UM, YOU SEE THE REQUESTS FROM THE VICE MAYOR, WHICH ARE IN LINE WITH OUR STANDARDS HERE IN THE CITY. ARE YOU GONNA COLLABORATE ON ISSUES AS IMPORTANT AS ADVERTISEMENT BAN AND REDUCING SPEED IF IT'S AN ISSUE ON MULTIPLE FRONT FOR 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 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 GATOR AREA, SO THEY'RE TRAVERSING CITY ROAD. SO IT'S ALSO HARD TO, YOU KNOW, LIMIT 'EM PER CITY. BUT AGAIN, UM, THEY'RE VERY AMENABLE. AND, AND I THINK THAT'S DEMONSTRATIVE OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING MAYOR, WITH REGARDS TO ADVERTISEMENTS. UM, WE UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, CONTENT SPECIFIC. YOU DON'T WANT SIN STUFF. I, I THINK RATHER THAN A PUBLIC SECTOR CONCERN, THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS ESTABLISHING A GOOD FRAMEWORK TO NOT HAVE ADVERTISEMENT THAT IS DANGEROUS OR, UH, CONTRARY TO THE CHARACTER OF THIS COMMUNITY. MEANING THERE IS NOT A PROLIFERATION OF THESE SERVE AS THE 900 POUND GORILLA. THEY'RE OWNED. ONE THIRD OF THEIR OWNERSHIP IS BY UBER. THEY'RE PUBLICLY TRADED. AND THERE'S NOT MARKET SHARE FOR A LOT OF THESE FIVE BY NIGHT COMPANIES TO COME. THERE'S ONLY REALLY TWO OR THREE NATIONWIDE. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE THERE'S EXCLUSIVITY AGREEMENTS WITH DOORDASH AND UBER EATS. THEREFORE, THIS CORPORATE STATURE OF THIS COMPANY IS, THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, BODILY INJURY OR SOMETHING THAT MAY BE SIN OR, YOU KNOW, NOT OKAY TO DISPLAY IN PUBLIC. UM, AND THAT'S WHY RESPECTFULLY I'VE, I'VE PROFFERED TO, TO THE BODY AND TO THE CITY IS WHAT'S, WE'VE HEARD THE SPECIFIC CONCERNS AS IT RELATES TO SAFETY AND SPEED AND MANEUVERABILITY. WE ARE NOT HERE TO SAY THOSE AREN'T AN ISSUE AND WE'RE PLEDGED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY, BUT FRANKLY WE HAVE NOT HEARD SPECIFIC CONCERN WITH AN ADVERTISEMENT THAT HAS BEEN LOCATED ON A BOT WITHIN THE CITY DURING THEIR DEPLOYMENT. [02:40:01] 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, 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 OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. GOOD QUESTION. SO WHILE WE ARE PREEMPTED, IF WE DO TAKE MEASURES TODAY, UH, 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, THE SPEED AS IS HERE TODAY. OR IF YOU WANNA 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 IS WRITTEN IS PERFECTLY DEFENSIBLE. THE CITY HAS AESTHETIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, MOVING OBJECTS IN THE CITY, UM, FOR SAFETY OF DRIVERS DISTRACTED DRIVING, AS WELL AS OUR REGULATION OF AESTHETICS IN THE CITY. SO WE ALSO FEEL THAT THAT, UM, IS DEFENSIBLE THOUGH AS ALWAYS, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY FEEDBACK AND ADDRESS, UM, ADVERTISING HOWEVER YOU WOULD WISH IN A LEGAL MANNER. OKAY. AND THE SECOND QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU, SIR, WHO OWNS THIS COMPANY? UH, THANK YOU. SERVER ROBOTICS IS PUBLICLY TRADED ON THE NASDAQ AND AS PUBLIC INFORMATION, ONE OF THEIR LARGEST SHAREHOLDERS, UM, IS UBER TECHNOLOGIES IS BASED OUTTA THE UNITED STATES OR YES, SIR. BASED OUT OF OUR, OUR POINT OF CONTACT, UH, WHO USED TO WORK AT THE CITY OF MIAMI, WHO ALL Y'ALL KNOW. WELL, YAARI DIAZ IS BASED OUT OF DALLAS, BUT ACTUALLY, UM, IT'S BASED OUTTA THE UNITED STATES AND THEY'RE OPENING MARKETS WORLDWIDE. UH, BUT THIS IS NOT A CHINESE COMPANY, IS IT? NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. I'M SURE. WILL WE, WILL WE ALLOW NO, NO, NO, WE ALLOW IN OUR BACKYARD. NO, NO, NO. I'M NOT PICKING ON YOU. I NO, NO, NO. I'M PICKING UP WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING DOWN. UM, NOT A CHANCE. I WOULDN'T BE UP HERE REPRESENTING THEM, SIR. OKAY, GOOD. JUST WANNA MAKE SURE AS, AS A FIRST GENERATION OF CUBAN IMMIGRANTS, THERE'S NOT A CHANCE YOU COULDN'T PAY ME ENOUGH. GOOD. THAT MAKES ME HAPPY TO HEAR. YES SIR. FOR THE MAYOR. MAD VICE MAYOR. SO I'M JUST GONNA, FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRYING TO MOVE THIS CONVERSATION ALONG YES MA'AM. UM, THE ADVERTISEMENT PROHIBITION IS ONLY FOR THE EXTERIOR. YOU CAN PUT WHATEVER YOU WANT INSIDE. YOU HAVE FLYERS 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 RESERVOIRS, I'M SORRY, THEN I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT WAS SENT OVER TO YOU. YEAH. VIA EMAIL, PROPOSED LANGUAGE THAT YOU KNOW, OH, THE CHICAGO, THAT, 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 LET'S, I UNDERSTAND IT WAS OVERROAD. I'M NOT AT THIS POINT 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, ON PUTTING STUFF INSIDE OF THE MOBILITY DELIVERY DEVICE, UH, YOU KNOW, TO ADVERTISE AND HAND OUT FLYERS OR HAVE SOMETHING PAINTED ON THE INSIDE. IT'S ONLY AN EXTERIOR, UM, 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, UH, ON GIRALDA 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 FLYERS, THE INDIVIDUAL RESTAURANT MAY DO THAT. AND THAT'S THEIR OWN VOLITION. THAT DOES NOT BENEFIT THE OVERALL ECONOMICS OF THE PROLIFERATION OF THESE. UM, JUST WANNA BE CLARIFIED GOING FORWARD. I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, HOW WE FEEL ABOUT STICKERS, GRAFFITI AND ADVERTISING ON OUR BENCHES AND SO FORTH. WE CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION BEYOND THIS POINT. THIS ORDINANCE WAS PUBLISHED THIS WAY. THIS HAS BEEN PENDING FOR SOME TIME. WE EVEN TOOK AN ADDITIONAL 30 DAY DELAY TO ALLOW MORE COMMENT PERIOD AND DISCUSSION TO OCCUR. I SENT IT TO MY DISABILITY BOARD MEMBER FOR COMMENT. AND IF YOU'VE EVER HAD UN UNFORTUNATELY THE OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, TRAVEL IN A WHEELCHAIR, YOU UNDERSTAND JUST HOW EASY IT IS TO TIP SOMEBODY OVER. OKAY. I GAVE YOU EXAMPLES OF CHILDREN. YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN WALKERS, YOU HAVE PEOPLE WITH STROLLERS. YOU KNOW, THE SPEED ON THE SIDEWALKS IS CONCERNING. I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THEM. THEY DO NOT BACK UP. THEY DO NOT CHANGE DIRECTION. THEY DO NOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF PEDESTRIANS. SO HAVING IT DO FASTER AND, AND THE INABILITY TO STOP [02:45:01] WITHIN A REASON REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE IT'S GOING SO MUCH FASTER. WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WHEN THIS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES, CAN IT STEER OUT OF THE WAY? CAN IT STAY ON ONE SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK AS OPPOSED TO TAKING THE CENTER OUTTA THE MIDDLE OF A MUCH LARGER SIDEWALK THAT NOW LEAVES LESS THAN TWO, TWO AND A HALF FEET FOR PEOPLE TO GET A BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO IF YOU HAVE A CHILD IN A STROLLER OR IF YOU'RE IN A WHEELCHAIR, YOU HAVE TO TURN AROUND AS OPPOSED TO THE ROBOT MOVING OUT OF THE WAY. 'CAUSE IT DOES NOT, I UNDERSTAND. I I HAVE A TWO AND A HALF YEAR OLD AND ONE ON THE WAY. WE'RE IN GIRALDA FOUR TIMES A WEEK. I'M NOT GONNA SAY THEY WORK PERFECTLY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS CONVERSATION REGARDING THE SAFETY RESPECTFULLY, AGAIN, I THINK IS SEPARATE, APART FROM THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE REGARDING, UH, ADVERTISEMENTS. I JUST DON'T WANT THEM TO BE LUMPED AS ONE. NO, NO. THEY, YOU KNOW, I MOVED FROM ONE ONE ISSUE TO THE OTHER, MA'AM. NO, I UNDERSTAND. SO WE, WE DO NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. I MADE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. OKAY. SO, I MEAN, SAFETY FOR THE CITY OF CROW IS PARAMOUNT. YES, MA'AM. UM, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WITH THIS LEGISLATION, THIS ORDINANCE, IT'S NOT HINDERING THE ABILITY OF YOUR BUSINESS ACTUALLY WORKING IN CORAL GABLE. 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, UM, CONSIDER DEFERRAL INTO MAYBE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING THAT YOU CAN COME IN MAYBE WITH A SAMPLE ROBOT. ABSOLUTELY. MAYBE SO THAT WE KNOW HOW FAST REALLY IS EIGHT, IT'S EIGHT MILES PER HOUR, UM, SEVEN MILES PER HOUR, WHAT THE INSTALLATION LOOKS INSIDE. WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR COMPANY STILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE HERE IN CORAL GABLES? 'CAUSE WE'RE OFFERING A SERVICE AT ONLY TO OUR RESIDENTS OR TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY. OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT MAYBE FOR LUNCH CANNOT AFFORD TO GO AHEAD AND PAY $7 FOR DELIVERY FEE. AND NOW THESE ROBOTS ARE NOT CHARGING ANYTHING. NO TIP, NO DELIVERY FEE. I, 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, UM, 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 THE MOTION. I KNOW COMMISSIONER LARA DID THIS. I'M NOT SURE A, 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 A SECOND. I KNOW A MOTION TO POSTPONE CAN BE MADE WHEN THERE'S A, A MAIN MOTION. THIS HAS BEEN POSTPONED ENOUGH. THIS IS, YOU'VE HAD MANY MONTHS. THESE ROBOTS HAVE NOT IMPROVED. I'VE ENCOUNTERED THEM 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 GONNA 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 THE GRASS AND GOD, THEY HAD LEGS TO DO IT WITH BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT. IF THEY WERE IN A WHEELCHAIR SOMEHOW, SOME WAY THE, THE PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR WOULD'VE HAD TO MANUALLY WHEEL THAT WHEELCHAIR BACKWARDS NEXT TO LAJEUNE ROAD TRAFFIC. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. POSTPONEMENT ONLY EXASPERATES THE DAMAGES TO THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES THAT ARE UNABLE TO REVERSE AROUND THESE ROBOTS. WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. UM, AND LET ME EXPLAIN WHY, AGAIN, MY REQUEST IS VERY SIMPLE AND WHY I THINK WE SHOULD DEFER THIS ITEM. AND THAT IS BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A PRESENTATION AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE AN, A MEETING WITH A COMMISSION, THE DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD AND OUR SENIOR CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD AND HAVE A PRESENTATION SO THAT WE CAN SEE HOW THESE ROBOTS ARE BEHAVING. BECAUSE AGAIN, I'M SPEAKING FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, IT'S BEEN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM YOURS. SO I [02:50:01] WANNA SEE WHY WE'RE HAVING A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE WHEN WE ARE INTERACTING WITH THESE ROBOTS. UM, HOW MANY USERS DO, DO THE ROBOTS HAVE IN THE CITY RIGHT NOW? HOW MANY PEOPLE, RESIDENTS IN CORAL GABLES ARE UTILIZING THIS SYSTEM? UH, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT THAT TIME, BUT IF AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT AND ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WE PLEDGE TO GET THAT. AND ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUESTED BY THE BODY PRIOR TO ANY DEMONSTRATION OR SUBSEQUENT MEETING? I BELIEVE THE INFORMATION WE WERE PROVIDED WAS ABOUT 31 WITHIN THE CITY. SO I MEAN, AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION TO DEFER, IT WOULD BE A MOTION TO DEFER REQUIRING THAT WE HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH THE DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD AND THE SENIOR CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD FOR A PRESENTATION SO THAT WE CAN SEE HOW THESE ROBOTS ARE OPERATING AND MAD AND VICE MAYOR. THERE, THERE COULD BE ISSUES THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN REALIZING OR ISSUES UNTIL WE START INTERACTING WITH THEM. UM, SO IT'LL PRESENT US WITH AN OPPORTUNITY OF, AGAIN, HAVING A MORE ROBUST LEGISLATION AND AVOIDING ADDITIONAL PREEMPTIONS BY TALLAHASSEE, WHICH ARE COMING PRETTY MUCH ON EVERYTHING THAT WE PASS THESE DAYS THROUGH THE MAYOR. SO JUST ONE, JUST ONE SECOND THROUGH THE MAYOR, BUT JUST ONE SECOND. UM, COMMISSIONER NOW DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? YEAH, IN MY VIEW, WE HAVE BEEN KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON THIS ISSUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE TECHNOLOGY NEEDS, IN MY OPINION, SOMETHING LIT UNDER IT TO ENCOURAGE IT TO MOVE FORWARD. UM, MY VIEWS ARE THAT, UH, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE MOTION TO GRANT THE RESOLUTION AND NOT TO DEFER IT. VICE MAYOR, ONE LAST COMMENT. THE PREEMPTION WE HAVE IS A FEDERAL PREEMPTION. IT'S CALLED THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. THESE ROBOTS THAT ARE OPERATING IN OUR CITY ABSOLUTELY DO NOT COMPLY. I BROUGHT THIS LEGISLATION TO BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE. IT'S JUST LEGISLATION. AND YOU HAVE SIX MONTHS TO COMPLY. THE ALTERNATIVE IS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH DISABILITIES BRINGS A FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY AND YOU'LL HAVE AN INJUNCTION BY A FEDERAL COURT. NO STATE LAW CAN PREEMPT THE A DA. SO ANY NOTION THAT THIS FLAT, THIS IS JUST GOING TO BRING ON AN ADDITIONAL PREEMPTION FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY MATTERS, IS, IS JUST MISGUIDED. I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A VOTE THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. YES. SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND ACCEPT YOUR FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, BUT I'M ALSO GOING TO ADD THERE A TIME LIMITATION OF 45 DAYS. 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS TO KEEP ON DRAGGING. WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS AS, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I THINK 45 DAYS TO GET THE BOARD TOGETHER. AND FOR YOU GUYS TO PREPARE FOR THIS PRESENTATION AND BRING ONE OF THOSE ROBOTS IN IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME. THAT WAY, UM, IT STAYS BELOW THE SIX MONTHS. AND I THINK THAT WITH MORE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION, WE CAN COME UP WITH EVEN TIGHTER AND BETTER LEGISLATION THAT ALSO, UM, PROTECTS THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS THAT ARE WALKING AROUND OR DRIVING. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A, A MOTION AND A SECOND? YES. MR. MAYOR. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA. EXCUSE ME. WHICH MOTION 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 LAGO. OKAY. NO, LEMME TELL YOU WHY I VOTED NO. WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS THE ISSUE TODAY. OKAY. NO, WE'RE GONNA 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'M, I'LL PLAY ALONG WITH A RIDICULOUSNESS. WHY NOT? OKAY. AND I WILL NOT NEGOTIATE THE ISSUE OF ADVERTISEMENT. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE STAND HERE. CITY CORAL GABLES HAS STANDARDS WE WANT ADHERE TO THOSE STANDARDS. IF WE WATER DOWN OUR STANDARDS, WE BECOME LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. WHY ARE YOU DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY? CORAL GABLES? 'CAUSE 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 PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING HERE TO THE CITY, CORAL GABLES, TO SPEND THEIR HARDER MONEY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, LET'S WORK MUTUALLY. [02:55:01] LET'S, LET'S PUT A PLAN TOGETHER THAT ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS OF ALL THE BOARDS AND THE COMMISSION. AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD INC I DON'T KNOW YOUR BUSINESS STRUCTURE. AND AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I COMMEND, YOU KNOW, I COMMEND YOU FOR FINDING A NICHE IN THE MARKET AND DELIVERING. BUT I WILL ASK YOU A 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 IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CAPACITY. SO I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THAT. BUT AGAIN, INFORMATION THAT WE'RE, I'M NOT GONNA GIVE YOU AN ANSWER THAT I DON'T KNOW, BUT WELL, THERE'S NOTHING FREE . OH, I'M, I'M IF YOU TOLD ME, IF YOU TOLD ME. IF YOU TOLD ME, YOU TOLD ME. SO THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE RESTAURANT, UH, DOES NOT GO THROUGH SERVE. IT WOULD STILL GO THROUGH THE DELIVERY COMPANY. MM-HMM . DOORDASH, UBER OR UBER EATS. UM, 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, IS MAKING THE DELIVERY REQUEST DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY OR TIP. SO IT'S, IT'S, WHEN I'VE DONE IT, IT'S UH, NO OPTION FOR TIP. OKAY. AND YOUR DELIVERY FEE, I BELIEVE, DON'T QUOTE ME, WAS ABOUT ONE THIRD IF THAT OF A REGULAR DELIVERY FEE. IT'S NOT FREE. I GET IT. YOU'RE NOT HAVE, 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 SUB, 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 THE DOORDASH OR A STATIC UN 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, AND THE VICE MAYOR, AND I WILL SAY FOR SERVER ROBOTICS WANTS TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT CORAL GABLES IS NOT JUST A JURISDICTION. CORAL GABLES IS A PRIORITY JURISDICTION FOR THIS COMPANY. OF COURSE. AND WE WANT TO WORK HERE AND WE WANNA BE COLLABORATIVE. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE POLICY, I DO WANNA 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 LEMME MAKE YOU AN OFFER IF THE VICE MAYOR WILL ACCEPT FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WE'RE GONNA DO, WE'RE GONNA DO SEVEN MILES AN HOUR. WE'RE GONNA DO THREE MILE, THREE MONTH ADVERTISING BAN. AND THE NEXT, NEXT TWO OR THREE WEEKS, YOU'RE GONNA DEAL WITH THE VICE MAYOR. YOU'RE GONNA DEAL WITH STAFF, YOU'RE GONNA CRAFT LEGISLATION THAT MEETS THE GOALS OF THE CITY. AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A PRESENTATION BEFORE THE DISABILITY BOARD. YOU ARE GONNA GIVE A PRESENTATION. YOUR STAFF'S GONNA GIVE A PRESENTATION. WE'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 RIDING IN AN ELECTRIC, AN ELECTRIC, UH, TROLLEY, ELECTRIC BUS, UH, THAT WE ENDED UP NOT PURSUING. 'CAUSE IT WAS NOT AMERICAN MADE TO OTHER OUTSIDE COMPANIES THAT COME HERE. AND THEY LET US TRY THE PRODUCTS TO SEE IF WE COME, IT MEETS OUR STANDARDS FROM ELECTRIC BLOWERS VERSUS GAS POWER BLOWERS. I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON. I 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 GOTTA 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, I'M NOT EVEN, I'LL VOTE NO IMMEDIATELY. UM, AND REDUCTION OF SPEED FROM EIGHT TO SEVEN, I NEED TO GET MY HANDS AND UNDERSTANDING WHY IT'S GOTTA 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 WANNA 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 ADDRESS QUICKLY BEFORE THE END OF THE SUMMER. AND THE SUMMER COMES, YOU GO INTO THE GOOD MONTHS HERE, UH, 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 WANNA 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 DON'T MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. UM, [03:00:01] I KNOW THERE'S A COMPETITOR THAT DOES MOVE OUT OF THE WAY AND OTHER, UM, COMPANY WITH THE DELIVERY. I DON'T KNOW THE, I DON'T KNOW ITS NAME. UH, THEY'RE CONS. I CALLED THEM THE SMARTER ROBOTS. THEY COULD STEER OUT OF THE WAY OR BACK UP AND BE OUT OF THE WAY. THAT'S OURS. OURS ARE THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED IN THE WORLD. OKAY, WELL, WHATEVER YOU HAVE ON THE STREET IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS NOT THAT. 'CAUSE THEY DON'T MOVE. I DUNNO WHY THEY DON'T MOVE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT, I MOVE TO THE LEFT, I MOVE TO THE RIGHT, SEE IF IT WOULD YIELD, WOULDN'T YIELD, WOULDN'T BACK UP, WOULDN'T MOVE DIRECTION. SO, UM, WELL, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN INJURY ON SIX MILES AN HOUR ON PUSHING A WHEELCHAIR OVER VERSUS SEVEN MILES PER HOUR. AGAIN, THERE IS A, A, A WINDOW FOR COMPLIANCE HERE. OKAY. AND DURING THAT WINDOW PERIOD, I WOULD EXPECT THAT YOU HAVE A DEMONSTRATION THAT WOULD SHOW THE DIFFERENCE IN SPEED OF, OF A ROBOT HITTING SOMETHING. BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SOMEONE SENT ME A, A PHOTO OF ONE IN ANOTHER, UH, ANOTHER CITY WHERE RAMMED RIGHT INTO A BUS BENCH AREA AND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. MM-HMM . SO THE CONCERN IS REAL. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. NO, WE, WE DON'T WANT DIS 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 SIX TO THREE MONTHS IF IT'S GONNA BE MOVING FORWARD. AND OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD LIKE MORE TIME THE SIX MONTHS THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DELIBERATED. UM, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO THAT ASPECT OF, OF WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING. SO, SO LET ME, LEMME MAKE THIS ADJUST. 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 NO, MAYOR, IT'S, IT'S A SIX MONTH EDUCATION PERIOD. SO THERE IS NOT GONNA BE ENFORCEMENT FOR THAT SIX MONTH PERIOD. THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE ORDINANCE, I THINK, I THINK YOU'RE BEING, YOU'RE BEING VERY LENIENT ON THAT. I WOULDN'T GIVE, I WOULDN'T ALLOW ANY ADVERTISING. IT WAS UP TO ME UNTIL THEY CAN SHOW ME A WAY TO DO THIS IN A MANNER THAT BENEFITS THEM AND BENEFITS US IN AN AESTHETIC WHEN IT COMES TO AESTHETICS. BY THE WAY, MR. DIAZ IS ON THE PHONE AND HE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. YEAH. UM, AND I'M MORE THAN WELCOME FOR HIM. UH, THAT WAS MY INTENTION IN REGARDS TO THE SIX AND THREE MONTHS. I WAS SAYING, GIMME THREE MONTHS, GIMME THREE MONTHS TO WORK WITH YOU, NOT ME. OBVIOUSLY THE CITY 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, THE, NOT THE IKEA, THE KIOSKS, LIKEK, YIK, THOSE ARE TASTEFUL. YOU KNOW, WE CURATE THAT. WE DON'T ALLOW ANY TYPE OF ADVERTISE ADVERTISEMENT ON THAT. WHOEVER PAYS MORE GETS ON. IT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS. WE'RE VERY THOUGHTFUL, WE'RE VERY CAREFUL AND 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 A TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. IT'S NOT JUST A, YOU KNOW, COME AND GET IT. WHOEVER PAYS THE MOST GETS IT. AND I'M, I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANT TO BE DEROGATORY TOWARDS ANY ADV, JUST ANY COMPANIES, BUT THERE'S 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 THE, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE, IN THE CITY. SO WE'RE NOT THAT DESPERATE FOR ADVERTISEMENT MONEY. WHAT? IT'S NOT SHARED WITH THE I UNDERSTAND THAT . I UNDERSTAND THAT. YEAH. EVEN IF IT WAS SHARED, I'M JUST, I'M SIR, WE WANNA DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. WE JUST HAVEN'T, AND, 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, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES YET, MAYOR OR COMMISSION ON ISSUES SPECIFIC TO THE ADVERTISEMENTS INCLUDED ON THESE BOTS. AND I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE WE ARE WILLING TO COME TO WHATEVER AGREEMENT, 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. OKAY. SO I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT. BUT ANY ACTION ITEMS, UM, WE'LL MOVE ON. BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, MR. DIAZ, WHO IS IN-HOUSE FOR SERVE, UH, IS ON ZOOM AND AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. MR. DIAZ. SIR, HERE WE GO. WE CAN HEAR YOU. UH, MR. MAYOR? YES, SIR. YES. MR. MAYOR, UH, CITY COMMISSIONERS, VICE MAYOR, CITY ATTORNEY AND CLERK, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH ME. UM, 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 [03:05:01] ON, UH, FOCUSING ON SAFETY AND FOCUSING ON PUBLIC SAFETY SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OUR DELIVERY ROBOTS WORKS EXACTLY ON THE SIDEWALKS AND ARE ONLY ON THE ROADWAY WHEN THEY'RE CROSSING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. THE BIG DISTINCTION BETWEEN US AND OUR COMPETITORS IS THAT WE ARE MOSTLY AUTONOMOUS. SO THAT MEANS THAT OUR ROBOTS ARE OPERATING ALMOST AT ALL TIMES AT LEVEL FOUR AUTONOMY, EXCEPT WHEN IT IS CROSSING THE STREET. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS ONLY OPERATING AUTONOMOUSLY. EVERY TIME THAT THE ROBOT IS IN MOTION, IT IS SUPERVISED BY A REMOTE SUPERVISOR, MEANING A HUMAN IS OBSERVING WHAT IS HAPPENING THROUGH THE CAMERAS AND THROUGH THE SENSORS SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE CHARGE WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT IT'S OUT OF COMPLIANCE. SO THE VICE MAYOR MENTIONED A COUPLE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS, UH, BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY RIGHT ON THE ROBOT TRAVELS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK SO THAT IT CAN AVOID EITHER COMING INTO CONTACT WITH SOMEONE THAT IS JUMPING IN FROM THE STREET, OR A DOOR THAT IS OPENING FROM, UM, ONE OR THE OTHER SIDE THAT IS SEEN AS A SAFEST PLACE OF TRAVEL. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT IT ISN'T NECESSARILY THE BEST PLACE OF TRAVEL BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE US FOLKS NORMALLY WALK ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IN AUSTRALIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES. FOLKS NORMALLY WALK ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. AND THERE IS THAT EXPECTATION THAT ALTHOUGH THIS IS A ROBOT, THAT IT ACTS LIKE A PERSON BECAUSE WE ARE CLASSIFIED AS A PEDESTRIAN. SO, TO THE VICE MAYOR'S POINT, WE ARE MAKING THOSE ATTEMPTS RIGHT NOW TO, TO GET TO, UH, WHAT THE EXPECTED BEHAVIOR IS WHEN IT COMES TO BEING THE CENTER VERSUS ON THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT. THERE ARE VIDEOS LIKE THE VICE MAYOR HAS SAID, OF OUR ROBOT AND COCO'S ROBOT RUNNING THROUGH A GLASS BUS SHELTER IN CHICAGO. UM, THIS HAD TO DO MORE WITH THE SHELTER ITSELF THAN US. IF YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT COCO IS MOSTLY HUMAN OPERATED, UH, VERSUS AUTONOMOUSLY. SO THERE WAS AN ISSUE. WE WORKED THERE WITH CDOT. UM, THEY'RE REALLY GREAT PARTNERS AND THAT HAS NOW BEEN CORRECTED COMING TO THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCERN FOR US, WHICH IS ACCESSIBILITY BECAUSE SAFETY IS OUR TOP CONCERN. BUT ACCESSIBILITY IS ALSO RIGHT UP THERE. THAT'S WHY WE ARE THE ONLY ONES TO HAVE AN IN-HOUSE ACCESSIBILITY TEAM. UM, MICHELLE LEE LEADS THAT TEAM. UH, WHEN WE BEGAN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DISABILITY, UM, COMMITTEE HERE AT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, WE PRESENTED TO THEM VIRTUALLY BACK IN, I WANNA SAY IT WAS NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, JUST TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE AROUND OUR PRODUCT. WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ANSWERED QUESTIONS OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION. SO ONCE SOME POINT LAST YEAR, I'M FORGETTING THE DATE EXACTLY 'CAUSE I'M, I'M DRIVING, AS I MENTIONED, I MET WITH, UM, THE C THE CIO. WE MET WITH BELL CASE. WE MET WITH SEVERAL FOLKS FROM THE CITY TO TALK THROUGH OUR PRODUCT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THEY HAD. AND ONE OF THE REQUESTS THAT RAIMUNDO HAD WAS FOR US TO INTEGRATE INTO THE CITY'S GIS AND UH, 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, THE FLEET THAT IS IN THE CITY OF WHERE THEY ARE, HOW THEY'RE OPERATING, WHAT THEIR NAMES ARE. 'CAUSE 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 GABLE SO FAR IS TOOTHLESS. THE, UH, THE LITTLE DRAGON FROM HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. UM, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT DOING FREE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR CITIES AND NONPROFITS, MEANING THAT IF YOU WANNA 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. UM, 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 LOOKED LIKE. UM, TO THE POINT OF THE VICE MAYOR ABOUT THE ROBOT NOT GETTING OUT OF THE WAY. THE SAFEST ROBOT IS A STOPPED ONE. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF IT COMES INTO A SITUATION WHERE IT IS NOT, UH, 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. UM, ANOTHER COMMISSIONER WHO'S WHO MENTIONED THAT THE ROBOT WAITS PATIENTLY AT THE CROSSWALK, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE PROGRAMMED TO DO. THEY WOULD LINE UP, WAIT SOMETIMES TWO OR THREE 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, THAT I'VE HEARD THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO MENTION. UM, I DID ALSO HEAR THE MAYOR MENTION, UH, DOING ADVERTISING TASTEFULLY AND THE VICE MAYOR MENTIONED SOME ITEMS THAT WERE PROFFERED BY US. THIS CAME FROM OUR PERMIT IN CHICAGO. IT WAS VERY SPECIFIC [03:10:01] TO COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING THAT WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED. SO AS EXAMPLES, MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT, IT WOULD BE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING THAT IS UNTRUTHFUL, MISLEADING, LIBELOUS, UH, DEFAMATORY COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING THAT IS OBSCENE, PORNOGRAPHIC, SEXUALLY EXPLICIT. AND IT GETS VERY DETAILED ON WHAT THAT MEANS. UH, COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING THAT DISPLAYS GRAPHIC VIOLENCE OR ANYTHING THAT IS, UH, OBSCENITY, RACIAL, ETHNIC SLUR, ET CETERA. AND THEN THINGS THAT ARE MORE BASIC, LIKE THINGS THAT INFRINGE ON COPYRIGHT, THINGS THAT IT DECLARES OR IMPLIES. THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, UH, HAS ANY ASSOCIATION WITH ANY SPECIFIC PRODUCT. SO JUST, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PROFITED ALREADY TO THE CITY AS A MEANS TO NOT HAVE TO BLOCK THE ENTIRE, UH, ADVERTISING OVERALL. SO, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU FOLKS MIGHT HAVE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO ADDRESS EACH OF THE POINTS THAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR. OKAY. MADAM VICE MAYOR, AS A SPONSOR, WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED SO WE CAN GET GOING ON THIS MATTER? YES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET GOING. UM, I WOULD LIKE, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS HAVING A DEMONSTRATION, I'VE SEEN PLENTY OF DEMONSTRATION INCLUDING ONE OF THESE SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK FOR IN EXCESS OF SIX HOURS ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOME. AS FAR AS A STOP ROW ROBOT BEING THE BEST OPTION, IF YOU'RE IN A WHEELCHAIR AND YOU'RE THE ONE HAVING TO HAVE BACK UP ON THAT SIDEWALK, ANOTHER A HUNDRED FEET BECAUSE A ROBOT DOES NOT MOVE, THAT IS NOT A GOOD OPTION. THAT'S A BARRIER TO ACCESSIBILITY. IT'S CLEARLY IN VIOLATION OF THE AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND IT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH. SO, UM, THIS NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD. AS FAR AS BEING PASSED NOW, UH, I HOPE THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES. UH, I, THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS IN HERE ON WHICH SIDEWALKS, UH, 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 WANNA DO THIS IN A RUSHED FASHION, NOR DO I WANNA SEE, UH, THE TYPE OF ADVERTISING THAT IS UNBECOMING OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I DO WANNA 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, UH, 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 WANNA DO IS LAST MINUTE RIGHT BEFORE THIS, THEN GET A DRAFT OF SOMETHING TO, TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH, UH, YOU ON THE DAIS ON THE FLY, AND NOT HAVING INADEQUATE 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 OUTTA THE MIDDLE AND YOU CAN'T BACK EASE THINGS UP TO GET 'EM OUTTA THE WAY, YOU MIGHT AS WELL BE A WALL IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET, BE ABLE TO GET PAST IT. OKAY. 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, WHAT, WHAT DO WE GO FROM THERE? UM, I DON'T FORESEE THAT WE CAN'T HAVE SOME FRAMEWORK, BUT SIX MONTHS COMES AND GOES. IF THERE HASN'T BEEN, UH, AN EFFORT ON BOTH PARTIES PART TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WORDSMITH SOMETHING THAT IS PALATABLE FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, THEN IT'S SITS IN PLACE. OKAY. BUT THERE'S GOTTA BE EFFORTS ON BOTH SIDES. I JUST WANNA LAY THE GROUNDWORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDS SIX MONTHS COMES AND GOES. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION? YEAH. THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES. UM, IF YOUR AMENDMENT WOULD'VE BEEN ACCEPTED, I WOULD'VE SUPPORTED THAT 100%. UM, THE STAFF HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT, UM, INJURY POTENTIAL, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MILES PER HOUR? 'CAUSE WHEN [03:15:01] WE DID, WE DID ON CARS VICE MAYOR, WE DON'T AT THIS TIME, BUT I'M SURE WE CAN WORK WITH OUR PUBLIC WORK STAFF THROUGH THE MANAGER TO GET YOU SOME INFORMATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE. OKAY. CAN YOU HAVE THAT FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING? UH, I'LL DEFER TO THE MANAGER STAFF ON THAT, BUT HAPPY TO HELP. HOWEVER WE CAN THROUGH THE MAYOR, UH, YES. VICE MAYOR, WE, WE, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT. SO I'LL ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, BUT WITH THE UPDATE, IF IT DOES SHOW THAT THERE'S AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR INJURY BASED UPON THE WAY THESE MACH THESE, UH, ROBOTS ARE OPERATING CURRENTLY, NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE OUTTA THE WAY, NOT BEING ABLE TO AVOID OBJECTS, NOT BEING ABLE TO AVOID CHILDREN, NON STROLLERS, ET CETERA, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO, UM, I'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS IT AT THAT TIME. SO TO CLARIFY THEN THE, THE MOTION IS AMENDED TO INCLUDE APPROVING THE ORDINANCE WITH THE, UM, CHANGE TO THE MAXIMUM SPEED TO SEVEN MILES PER HOUR. CORRECT. AND WE WILL RETURN NEXT MONTH WITH ADDITIONAL DATA. AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THE VICE MAYOR, THE MAYOR'S SUGGESTION REGARDING THREE MONTHS TO COME UP WITH ADVERTISING LANGUAGE WAS PART OF THE AMENDMENT YOU ACCEPTED OR NOT? NO, I THINK UNDERSTOOD. I THINK, I THINK THAT AS IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, THE SIX MONTH PERIOD, MAYBE BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF THE SUMMER MONTHS, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE WORDSMITH THIS ADEQUATELY. UNDERSTOOD. I UNDERSTAND YOUR MOTION. THANK YOU. OKAY. I DON'T KNOW IF THE SECOND ALSO ACCEPTS THAT. WELL, I'LL ACCEPT IT. IT'S A SECOND. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. ALRIGHT, MOVING ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN RUN A FEW, A FEW OF THESE BEFORE WE HAVE TO GO TO LUNCH. ITEM E FOUR. [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)] E FOUR IS AN ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 58 SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS ARTICLE THREE, REPAIR CONSTRUCTION OF STREETS AND SIDEWALKS TO AMEND SECTION 58 DASH 48 DUTY OF ABUDDING PROPERTY OWNERS TO REPAIR. IN ORDER TO AMEND THE CODE TO CLARIFY THAT ABUDDING 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 REPEAT OR CODIFICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU 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. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. WE HAVE, UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MS. MAYOR MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. WONDERFUL. UM, ORDINANCE, THE ONLY THING THAT I'M HERE TO ASK IS TO PLEASE GET, UM, 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 PE THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT. YES, THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO CONTACT THE CITY AND REQUEST IT 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. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOVE IT, MOVE IT. SECOND, SECOND. SECOND. MR. CLERK, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. ADAM, E FIVE. [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)] E FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE TO 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 RUNOFF IN QUALIFYING DATES TO AMEND THE SECTIONS REGARDING CANVASSING BOARD AND ADJUSTING OTHER ASSOCIATED DATES FOR VACANCIES AND QUALIFYING PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, REPEAT OR CODIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE WE'RE READING. MAYOR. AS A REMINDER, THIS IS IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGES THAT WERE ADOPTED INTO THE CHARTER AT THE LAST REFERENDUM, INCLUDING, UM, 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? I MOVE IT. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO. AS [03:20:01] A SPONSOR OF THAT, I THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. YES. ITEM E SIX [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 SIX IS AN OR TO CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION. ARTICLE TWO, CITY COMMISSION TO AMEND SECTION TWO DASH 29 COMPENSATION OF MAYOR COMMISSIONER'S TRAVEL ALLOWANCE OFFICE EXPENSE TO REQUIRE A VOTE OF THE ELECTORS PRIOR TO CERTAIN CHANGES IN COMPENSATION CONSISTENT WITH RECENTLY APPROVED CHARTER AMENDMENT PROVIDING FOR FAVORABILITY, REPEAT, OR CODIFICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES? NO. UM, THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY THE MAYOR AND AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS IMPLEMENTING THOSE CHANGES FROM THE CHARTER REVIEW REFERENDUMS. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE WAS OF THIS, OF THIS, UH, CHARTER AMENDMENT? I DON'T HAVE THAT IMMEDIATE. YOU DO YOU HAVE IT, JUDGE? I DO. UH, 77.84% OF THE VOTERS. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? 77 POINT 84%. THAT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT OVERWHELMING. THAT IS A TSUNAMI RESPONSE FROM THE RESIDENTS. AND I'M PROUD, UH, TO BE THE SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM. UM, MR. CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MS. RAM. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. E SEVEN [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)] E SEVENS NOR THE CITY COMMISSIONER AMENDING CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE THREE 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 10 YEARS, BEGINNING IN 2035, CONSISTENT WITH RECENTLY ADOPTED CHARTER AMENDMENT PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY REPEAL OR CODIFICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE. AS A SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM. ARE THERE, UH, ANY CHANGES? THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES, MAYOR. AND, UM, AS JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, WE'RE HAVING OUR, UM, I THINK FINAL MEETING OF THE CURRENT CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE LATER THIS WEEK. YES, I SPOKE TO MY, UH, MY APPOINTMENT TO THAT BOARD. UM, WHAT WAS THE OVERALL PERCENTAGES HERE? 66.38% AGAINST FOUR FOUR AGAINST WHAT WAS THE, WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT? OH, UM, 34 MAYOR ASKING ME TO DO 34% APPLY , 34%. SO ALMOST, ALMOST DOUBLE. SO, UH, OVERWHELMING. AND I WANNA THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING, UM, THIS LEGISLATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE SECOND. DO ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR. PERFECT. WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. ITEM E EIGHT [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)] E EIGHT IS IN ORDER TO THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER TWO, ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE SEVEN, FINANCE DIVISION ONE GENERALLY TO AMEND SECTION TWO DASH 3 52 FUND BALANCE AND RESERVE POLICY TO REQUIRE VOTE OF THE ELECTORS PRIOR TO CERTAIN CHANGES TO THE FUND BALANCE RESERVE POLICY CONSISTENT WITH THE RECENTLY APPROVED CHARTER AMENDMENT PROVIDING FOR SUB ABILITY, REPEAL, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES? NO CHANGES. I KNOW YOU'RE SICK OF ME, MAYOR. THIS IS 63% OF THE VOTERS, AND AS UH MENTIONED, IT JUST ADDS THE SAME LANGUAGE AS WAS ADDED TO THE CHARTER REQUIRING THAT ANY AMENDMENT TO THE 25% RESERVE REQUIREMENT REQUIRES APPROVAL OF THE ELECTORS. YES. SO AS THE SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM, UM, I WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUES FOR MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION AND SUPPORTING THIS ITEM. UH, THE RESIDENTS SPOKE, UH, THEY WANT TO HAVE, THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR RESERVES, THE RESERVES BELONG TO THEM. UH, WHEN I STARTED HERE, WE WERE NOT EVEN ONE, ONE FOURTH OF THE RESERVES THAT WE HAVE NOW THROUGH LEADERSHIP OF THE MANAGER AND HIS INCREDIBLE WORK ALONG WITH HIS TEAM, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, WE HAVE BEEN VERY FISCALLY SOUND AND VERY TIGHT. LET ME, UM, MY COLLEAGUES COULD HAVE, COULD GIVE ME JUST ONE MOMENT OF, UH, OF LATITUDE HERE. AS YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY FROM THE STATE, IT IS RATHER SIGNIFICANT, AND WE CAN GO OVER THE NUMBERS LATER IN THE MANAGER WILL BE MENTIONING IT, THE IMPACT FOR THE, FOR THE TAX REDUCTION, WHICH AGAIN, I'M FULLY IN FAVOR OF BEFORE SOMEBODY SAYS I'M NOT THE TAX REFORMS THAT ARE FORTHCOMING FROM TALLAHASSEE, WHICH I THINK ARE VERY BENEFICIAL, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE RETIRED AND THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY ARE GONNA TAKE A BIG CHUNK OUT OF OUR ABILITY TO POTENTIALLY FUND CERTAIN CAPITAL PROJECTS. UH, ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WHERE LAST YEAR WE SPENT NINE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF ADDITIONAL MONIES TO PAY DOWN OUR DEBTS, UH, WHICH WAS FOR OUR PENSION DEBTS, WHICH I STARTED DOING IN 2015, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WAIT ALL THOSE OPTIONS. BUT THANK GOD, THANK GOD WE DID NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE ENTERTAIN AT ONE POINT THIS COMMISSION DID TAKING MONEY, UH, FROM THE RESERVES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ MENTIONED, UH, FOR, FOR ADDITIONAL PROJECTS. THANK GOD WE NEVER DID THAT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS REDUCTIONS IN OUR ABILITY, UH, TO HAVE FUNDS HERE IN THE CITY. UH, WHEN THIS, IF IF THE, THE VOTERS, UH, VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS TAX REFORM, UH, THE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY STRATOSPHERIC. I WORKED WITH THE MANAGER AND THE MANAGER DID AN AMAZING JOB, UH, REALLY, REALLY, UH, GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION. UH, AND IT WAS, THE NUMBERS ARE, HE'LL GO OVER IT LATER, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK IT WAS AROUND $12 MILLION POTENTIALLY IF IT'S A 250 MILLION, [03:25:01] 250,000 REDUCTION IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. AND THEN IT'S ALMOST DOUBLE THAT, UH, WHEN YOU GO TO 500,000 THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR. SO THE RESIDENTS HERE MADE A VERY, VERY, VERY DECISIVE STATEMENT. THEY WANT TO PROTECT OUR RESERVES, AND IT COULD ONLY BE USED FOR EMERGENCIES AND FOR A RAINY DAY. CASE IN POINT, WHEN WE HAD A HURRICANE, WE WERE THE FIRST ONES CLEANED UP, WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO MARKET AND WE DID NOT HAVE TO GET ANY DEBT, WHICH WOULD'VE TAKEN, BY THE WAY, MR. MANAGER. IT TOOK HOW MANY YEARS FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO PAY US BACK. WE STILL HAVE A FEW BILLS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER EIGHT YEARS. IT TOOK US, YES, WE WERE, WE WERE 90% IN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS. YEAH. AND THEN THE, THE FINAL FIVE TO SIX 8% TOOK ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR YEARS. SO IMAGINE THAT IF WE WOULD'VE TAKEN OUT THAT DEBT AND WE WOULD'VE USED A PORTION OF THAT FUND OF OUR RESERVES, UH, IT'S SO EASY TO USE, BUT IT'S SO, IT'S SO DIFFICULT AS OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR WHO'S IN THE BACK ALONG WITH OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WILL TELL YOU TO TIGHTEN YOUR BELT EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND JUST SAVE, LIKE WE'RE DOING WITH THE SEA LEVEL RISE FUND, WHICH HAS ALMOST $30 MILLION IN IT THAT WE STARTED DOING. I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 7, 8, 6 OR SEVEN YEARS AGO. SO, UH, THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE. THE FINANCE DIRECTOR THAT SHE LOOKED AT ME ON, MAYBE I'VE SAID SOMETHING WRONG. DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG? OKAY, GOOD. I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CORRECT. UM, SO THESE ARE DECISIONS, TOUGH DECISIONS THAT WE MADE YEARS AGO. AND WHAT WERE THOSE DECISIONS? WE MADE 2015 TO OVERFUND THE PENSION BY, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT $4 MILLION, AND LAST YEAR WAS NINE AND A HALF, NO, LAST YEAR WAS SEVEN AND A HALF. THE PREVIOUS YEAR WAS NINE AND A HALF. UH, IT WAS A $2 MILLION REDUCTION BECAUSE OF THE COLA THAT WAS APPROVED, WHICH SHOULDN'T NOT BEEN APPROVED. WE TALK ABOUT SEA LEVEL RISE AND REALLY TAKING, REALLY TAKING SUSTAINABILITY SERIOUSLY. WE'VE BEEN PUTTING AWAY SOMETHING AROUND THREE AND A HALF MILLION TO $4 MILLION A YEAR INTO AN ACCOUNT SO THAT IN THE FUTURE, IF SEA LEVEL RISE TRULY AFFECTS US, THE COMMISSION THAT WILL BE IN PLACE, WE'LL HAVE CLOSE. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN PLACE. WE HAVE TO NOW LOOK TO SEE HOW THAT'S GONNA BE AFFECTED AS A RESULT OF THE POTENTIAL TAX CUTS AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SOCK AWAY IN A RAINY DAY FUND, 25% OF OUR BUDGET. WHEN I STARTED, WE WERE ABOUT $15 MILLION. NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WE'RE IN THE HIGH $60 MILLION. THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE A CITY THAT HAS A TRIPLE, TRIPLE BOND RATING. AND I WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUES IN THE COMMISSION FOR THOSE WHO SUPPORTED MAKING SURE THAT THIS GOT TO THE VOTERS. AND THE VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY WITH OVER 63% SAID THAT THEY WANT TO BE FISCALLY SOUND AND THEY WANT TO PROTECT OUR FINANCIAL ABILITY AND NOT JUST SPEND, UH, ITEMS ON ITEMS THAT WE SHOULD BUDGET FOR OVER 3, 4, 5 YEARS. THAT'S WHAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS. SO I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE RESIDENTS AND IT'S AN HONOR TO, TO, UH, BE THE SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM. THESE ARE TOUGH PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT AGAIN, MAY HANDCUFF THE CITY, BUT THEY'RE THE RIGHT THING TO DO. MR. CLERK, DO WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND? NO. MR. MAYOR, I'LL MOVE IT A SECOND. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LADA. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. IT'S GREAT TO PUT A BOW ON IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO ONE MORE ITEM [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)] BEFORE WE GO HAVE LUNCH. UM, ITEM F1 F1 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING INITIAL FUNDING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF THE UNDERLYING WITHIN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND THE PRORATED AMOUNT OF $180,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE UNDERLYING MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION INC. DOING BUSINESS AS THE UNDERLYING CONSERVANCY CONSERVANCY REGARDING THE FUNDING OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAMMING OF THE UNDERLYING WITHIN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES ABLES. OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FROM STAFF? MADAM? A CM CAROLINA STER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. UM, THIS ITEM REALLY IS KIND OF A STOP GAP TO FUND THE PRORATED AMOUNT FOR THIS YEAR. UM, THIS IS GONNA BE COMING FROM RECURRING CAPITAL AND UM, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS, UM, NOW AMONGST STAFF WITH THE UNDERLYING STAFF, UH, WITH THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL AS WELL AS WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY'S LEGAL COUNSEL. UH, SO WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME ISSUES AND THE RE 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 UNDERLINE. THANK YOU MADAM MACIA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FURTHER OR? NO, UH, I DO WANNA MENTION, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT CAME UP DURING THE LAST MEETING WAS THE FINANCIAL NUMBERS FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. UM, SO THEY DID COMMIT, UH, LAST FISCAL YEAR ABOUT $2.6 MILLION, UH, TO MAINTAIN THE UNDERLYING, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST COUPLE OF SEGMENTS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN OPEN AND USABLE FOR THIS, UH, 25, 26 ADOPTED BUDGET. THEY DID FUND $2.6 MILLION IN MAINTENANCE. AND, UM, AS I [03:30:01] MENTIONED DURING THE LAST MEETING, IT IS UNCLEAR WHAT THE FUNDING COMMITMENT WILL BE DURING THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. SO AS THE SPONSOR OF THIS, OF THIS LEGISLATION, UM, 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 MEG DAILY, PROUDLY 10 YEARS AGO, WE WORKED ON A FUNDING MECHANISM FOR CONSTRUCTION. WE TALKED ABOUT ENVISIONING A 10 MILE LINEAR PARK THAT WILL 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. MM-HMM . 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 UNDERLINE. NOW THE COUNTY HAS BACKED OUT OF THAT AGREEMENT AND THE COUNTY SAYING THAT THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE, UH, 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 1000 FEET OF THE UNDERLYING. WE'VE TRIED TO FIND WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THE COUNTY IS NOT COOPERATING. THEY'RE REQUIRING CITY OF MIAMI, SOUTH MIAMI, WHICH I'VE MET WITH BOTH MAYORS TO FIND SOLUTIONS. IT IS ONLY GONNA 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 UNDERLINE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY. CORAL GABLES BORDERS, THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI RUNS PARALLEL TO ONE OF OUR MAJOR STREETS ELLO. 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 RAN AND RAIDS 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, IS EITHER APPOINTED OR HAS A DESIGNEE THAT HE APPOINTS TO THE GOVERNING BOARD. ONCE THAT GOVERNING BOARD IS ESTABLISHED, I THINK THAT'S CRITICAL. WE NEED TO HAVE, AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR REQUESTS THAT IS TO, I JUST WANNA PUT IT ON THE RECORD SO PEOPLE CAN HEAR IT AT HOME. WE'RE NOT JUST CUTTING 180,000 CHECK. THIS IS A ONE TIME AND WE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND WE'LL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE. AND IF WE DO HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO APPROVE A FUNDING MECHANISM HERE FOR THE UNDERLINED, I WILL ONLY DO IT FOR THREE YEARS. I WILL NOT DO IT IN PERPETUITY. AND AS LONG AS THERE'S FUNDS LIKE OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE, WHETHER IT'S A CITY OF MIAMI OR SOUTH MIAMI. SO, UM, OUR BACK, LIKE I STARTED OUR BACK IS AGAINST THE WALL ON THIS ISSUE. UH, WE'VE TRIED TO FIND SOLUTIONS. WE'VE MET ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. UH, THE COUNTY WOULD NOT BE FUNDING WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE FUNDING. AND I HOPE THAT THE ENDOWMENT FOR THE UNDERLYING, UH, CAN GROW BECAUSE I THINK THE UNDERLYING DEPENDS ON ITS AUTONOMY. I WANNA BE CLEAR, UH, THE UNDERLYING DEPENDS ON ITS AUTONOMY. I DON'T, I'M NOT ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IF THE UNDERLYING FAILS IN ITS IN ITS ENDEAVORS TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THE CAPITAL NECESSARY TO RUN THE UNDERLINE. 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, [03:35:01] UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS. AND THE REASON WHY I'M DOING IT FOR ONE YEAR IS 'CAUSE I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO PLAY A ROLE, THIS COMM, THIS COMMISSION AND FUTURE COMMISSIONS TO PLAY A ROLE AND TO CONSTANTLY BE VETTING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY, THE UNDERLYING AND THE COUNTY. UM, I WELCOME EVERYONE'S GUIDANCE ON THIS MATTER. YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FORMS. UH, 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 GONNA LOOK LIKE. I WILL NOT APPROVE FIVE YEARS, I WILL BE MY VOTE IN OPPOSITION. SO THAT'S WHERE BASICALLY WE STAND ON THIS ISSUE. UM, AFTER 10 YEARS AND AS THE UNDERLYING COMES TO FRUITION, UH, 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 GONNA ENJOY IT. BUT I NEVER EXPECTED THAT IT WOULD BE, UH, THIS MUCH OF A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE CITY. AND THE DIFFICULT NATURE OF IT IS ONLY GONNA 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'LL 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'LL 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 SHINING OR SHINING ANY SORT OF NEGATIVE LIGHT ON THE UNDERLINE BECAUSE YOU THINK I YOU THINK I HAVEN'T BEEN DIFFICULT ENOUGH ON MYSELF ALREADY IN THE LAST THREE MINUTES. IT'S OKAY. DON'T WORRY. I CAN TAKE IT, BUT I, I, I, UH, NO, BUT I, I, UM, UH, AGREE AND SUPPORT, UH, THIS RESOLUTION, BUT QUITE RELUCTANTLY, AS YOU'VE MADE PERFECTLY CLEAR, UM, 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 THE, OF THE DECK OF CARDS. PRE CARD MONTE FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE A DEAL AND THEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE STARING AT A DIFFERENT SET OF VARIABLES, RIGHT? WHEN THERE SHOULD BE NO VARIABLE, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN AGREED TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENT WITH AND SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AMAZING PROJECT, RIGHT? THREE, IT WOULD SOON BE THREE LINEAR MILES COMING THROUGH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES TO TRANSFORM WHAT WAS OTHERWISE IN ABANDONED OR, OR LET'S JUST SAY BLIGHTED LOOKING TRACK OF LAND UNDERNEATH, UH, THE, THE METRO RAIL WHERE WE JUST NOW ARE PROVIDING THE RESIDENTS, WHICH IS ENHANCED PARK ACTIVITY BEAUTY. UM, UH, I'M, I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. AND IN PARTICULAR OF MEG DALEY WITH, UH, HER PERSONAL SACRIFICE OVER SO MANY YEARS ON THIS LABOR OF LOVE THAT IS, UH, THE UNDERLINE BUT RELUCTANTLY SUPPORTED. 'CAUSE I DON'T LIKE THE POSITION WE FIND OURSELVES IN. AND THIS IS THE, THE HOBSON'S CHOICE THAT WE'RE MAKING HERE. AND I WOULD URGE MY, MY COLLEAGUES TO ALSO SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S RESOLUTION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE STANDARDS OF CORAL GABLES PARKS. BUT THIS IS NOT AN OPEN CHECKBOOK. THIS IS NOT AN INVITATION TO CONTINUE TO RUN THE TABLE IF SOMEBODY AT WORST IS TRYING TO DO THAT, OR THAT IF IT'S SOMEONE ELSE'S ERROR OR INCOMPETENCE BECOMES MY PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA SOLVE IT. AND WE, WE WILL HAVE SOME, SOME IMMEDIATE TIME SPENT TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. I KNOW CAROLINA, YOU'RE WORKING ON THIS AS POINT, AND I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO INSIST ON WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS FAIR AND REASONABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED ALONG WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE APPROVED THIS SOME TIME AGO. AND I HAVE THE COMMITMENT, I THINK HE'S HERE, ULY REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE UNDERLINE, AND YOU CAN JOIN ME UP HERE IF YOU WANT, BUT HE HAS COMMITTED THAT HE WOULD GET US THE INFORMATION BY THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. AND, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE CONTINGENT ITEMS IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE STILL HAVE TO EXECUTE AN MOU AND THAT WE HAVE TO BE PROVIDED WITH THE ITEMS THAT WE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING. HOW ARE YOU SIR? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. DOING WELL. DOING WELL. THANK YOU. AND, UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. FIRST [03:40:01] I WANT TO THANK, UH, ASSISTANT MANAGER, UH, CAROLINA INVESTOR. UM, SHE'S BEEN REALLY, UH, WORKING WITH US TO MAKE SURE THAT UH, WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, UH, WITH RESPECT TO NOT ONLY THE UNDERLYING IN GENERAL THE FULL THREE MILES, BUT ALSO, UH, OTHER DESTINATION AREAS THAT WE HAVE, UH, WITHIN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. UH, SO YEAH, WE, WE, WE ABSOLUTELY WILL COMMIT TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING REQUESTED AND WE ALSO WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NEGOTIATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND AND ASSISTANT MANAGER INVESTOR FOR THE MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, SIR. SO, UM, SOMETIMES YOU, YOU WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS SORT OF LIKE A PERFECT STORM. WE HAVE A COM YOU HAD A COMMITMENT AT ONE POINT FROM THE COUNTY TO MAINTAIN A BEAUTIFUL ASSET. RIGHT NOW YOU'VE PUT SO MUCH WORK INTO AND BENEFITS ALL BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT TRAVEL THROUGH OUR CITY ON AN UNDERLINE ARE NOT JUST FROM THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND VICE VERSA. AND, UH, AND I'M THINKING, YOU AWARE OF THE EFFORTS I'VE MADE TO IMPROVE THIS, THE SAFETY OF THEIR UNDERLYING THROUGH ITS ENTIRE LENGTH AS WE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING ON, UM, ON 27TH AVENUE TO IMPROVE THAT INTERSECTION IN, IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE IT'S VERY DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE TO DIVERSE, BUT THIS HAS GOTTA BE, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S GOTTA 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 TOO, BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME, ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN COUNTY ARE LOOKING AT LOWER PROPERTY TAX REVENUES GOING FORWARD. NOT ONLY BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE FLATTENED OUT, OKAY, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE THREAT FROM TALLAHASSEE TO, BUT 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, UH, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS PUT FORWARD TO TRY TO IMPROVE, UM, OPTIONS IN THE FUTURE. EFFICIENCIES, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR, UH, 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, UH, DURING SATURDAY'S, UH, GA GALA, WE CAN BUILD IT WITH MOBILITY IMPACT FEES OR WITH BONDING MONEY, BUT WE CAN'T MAINTAIN IT WITH THOSE FUNDS 'CAUSE 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 GONNA BE EASY. SO, UM, DO WE HAVE A MOTION YET? I'LL MAKE NOT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLARK, DO YOU HAVE 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, UH, PROPERTY REVENUE, LIKE THE INCREASES OF PROPERTY VALUES? WE'VE GONE FROM 10 AND A HALF TO EIGHT AND A HALF TO FIVE AND A HALF OVER THREE YEARS. UH, I DON'T THINK I WAS LAUGHED AT, I THINK I WAS MOCKED AT BY CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HERE, UH, WHEN I SAID THAT WINNER WAS COMING. NOW WITH THE TAX TAX IMPLICATIONS THAT ARE FORTHCOMING WITH A $2 MILLION QUOTA THAT WE'RE SPENDING A YEAR NOW WITH OUR REQUIREMENT TO FUND THE UNDERLYING, UH, THINK GIVE EVERYBODY BETTER BUNDLE UP BECAUSE, UH, IT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH WINNER. IT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH WINNER. WHO THE MAYOR. ONE SECOND. YES MA'AM. HOW ARE WE LOOKING? I'D LOVE TO KNOW, HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO ANYONE IN REGARDS TO, UH, SO TO OUR, TO OUR THE PROPERTY PROPERTY APPRAISER? HOW ARE WE LOOKING? SO WE RECEIVED OUR JUNE ONE PROPERTY VALUES YESTERDAY. OKAY. UM, I WAS GONNA PRESENT THIS TOMORROW, SO A LITTLE EARLY. HELLO. UM, SO OUR JUNE ONE PROPERTY VALUES, I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THEY WENT UP BY 6.5%. WOW. GOOD. SO 6.5 WE NEED EVERY DOLLAR. HOWEVER, UH, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT THE, UH, EXISTING PROPERTY INCREASE WAS 5.5% AND NEW CONSTRUCTION ACTUALLY REPRESENTS ONE OF OUR INCREASE. 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. SI SIGNIFICANTLY. SO WHAT IS, SO WE WENT FROM THREE YEARS AGO, 10 AND A HALF. WELL, 10 AND A HALF, RIGHT? I THINK IT WAS 10 AND A HALF THEN TWO YEARS AGO WAS ABOUT EIGHT AND A HALF. AND THEN IT WENT TO FIVE AND A HALF. IT 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 TAKING 6.5 ON TOP OF THE 5.8. NO, NO, NO. 6.5. 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 [03:45:01] HEALTH COSTS WENT UP THIS YEAR. YES. SO WE GOT THE UNDERLINE, BUT WE GOT THE COLA THIS YEAR. WE HAVE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT PRO, WHAT THE STATE'S GONNA 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. YES. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. 'CAUSE 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. YES, 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. MAYOR. YES SIR. YES, MAYOR. UH, WE HAD, UH, EXISTING VALUES ON UP 5.5% LAST YEAR, THE THE NEW CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT. BUT LAST YEAR, UH, 0.4% THIS YEAR, 1%. AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE'VE HAD SOME MAJOR SALES IN CORGIS. WE'VE HAD, IT'S BECOME A VERY POPULAR CITY. AND UH, WE, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SALES REPORTED NATIONALLY AND SO WE, WE, WE, I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT, UH, OUR EXISTING PROPERTY VALUES WENT UP 5.55% WITHIN AN ADDITIONAL 1% OR NEW CONSTRUCTION, THANK GOD. SO MAYBE A ONE, MAYBE 1% BETTER THAN LAST YEAR? YES. OKAY. WELL IT'S BETTER, BETTER THAN BETTER, BUT WE'RE STILL, STILL NOT WHO WE NEED TO BE. THE MAYOR, WE WENT UP 4.4% LAST YEAR FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE WENT ONE FULL PERCENT UP THIS YEAR, NEW CONSTRUCTION. GOOD STUFF. UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. UM, SO, UH, 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. UM, AND YOU KNOW, AS WE MENTIONED LAST TIME TO NO FAULT OF THE UNDERLYING, UH, 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, UH, PROFFERED ORIGINALLY. UM, 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. UH, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT, THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE EVEN IN 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. UH, 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, UM, I I THINK A THREE YEAR MAXIMUM, UH, HAS TO BE, UH, OUR, UH, WHAT WE CONSIDER, UM, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF UNCERTAINTIES GOING FORWARD, PAST 2028. UM, SO, UH, I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? WE HAVE, WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT. YES, SIR. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD. FIRST SPEAKER MARIA CRUZ, MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. I HEARD THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TALLAHASSEE'S ACTIONS. WE ALL ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO NOT HAVE REALLY AT THIS POINT A CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE WITH THE UNDERLYING AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS LATER. BUT I HAVE A CONCERN, AND IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE WHEN THE MAYOR USED A TITLE, HE USED ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WHEN IN FACT, AS OF APRIL, AS OF APRIL, WE HAD AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR THAT WAS RECLASSIFIED AS A DEPUTY DIRECTOR, WHICH FOR SIX MONTHS OF THIS BUDGET YEAR IS GETTING 10% MORE THAN WAS BEFORE. AND THAT WILL AFFECT OUR BUDGET NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THAT CARRIES ON. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHETHER WE'RE IN A POSITION TO CONTINUE RECLASSIFYING PEOPLE, EMPLOYEES NOW AT THIS POINT WITH SALARIES THAT WILL BE IMPACTING OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, TIGHTEN OUR BELTS AND WE'RE TRYING TO TELL THE UNIONS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE MONEY FOR THEM. WE HAVE ISSUES WITH, UM, SIDEWALKS, TREES, [03:50:01] POTHOLES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. AND THEN WE CAN DO, WE CAN KEEP IMPROVING SALARIES. SOMEBODY'S MAKING THAT HIGH AMOUNT TO BEGIN WITH. A 10% IS NOT THE SAME AS GIVING A SANITATION EMPLOYEE 10% OF MAYBE $50,000 WHEN YOU GIVE 10% OF UPWARDS OF 150 PLUS THOUSAND. THAT'S A BIG IMPACT IN OUR BUDGET AND WE NEED TO RECONSIDER THAT. AND I, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT PERHAPS THIS COMMISSION NEEDS TO PUT A, A PAUSE ON ANY SALARY INCREASES FROM NOW TILL THE END, TILL WE KNOW WHAT TALLAHASSEE IS DOING OR ELSE WE'RE GONNA BE CAUGHT ON THAT. THANK YOU GONZALES. RIA. GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR GONZALES, RIA 9 44 SAN PEDRO AVENUE IN BEAUTIFUL GABLES BY THE SEA. I'D LIKE TO JUST TELL YOU THAT I AM AN ECONOMIST. I'M ALSO A FORMER BOARD MEMBER OF MIAMI-DADE EXPRESSWAY AUTHORITY FOR 13 YEARS AND EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE WITH THE UNDERLINE AND A LALU TRAIL. PRACTICALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE. WE WORKED OUT SOME STUFF THERE WITH DEALS, SOME, SOME STRUCTURE THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF GABLE'S PROPER, MOSTLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE BY DAY LAND STATION. I WANNA TELL YOU THAT I JUST GOT A FLASH ON MY PHONE THAT SAYS THAT THE STATE LEGISLATOR IT FAST TRACKING THE TAX REDUCTION ACT FOR NOVEMBER. SO IT'S COMING. AND YOU'RE RIGHT MR. MAYOR, WHEN YOU SAID IT, AND IT'S GONNA BE A PRETTY BIG HIT ON CORAL GABLES, UH, EXPENDITURES. ALSO WANNA TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE THAT, UH, BE BEFUDDLES ME. AND THAT'S WHEN I SAID THIS MORNING, POLITICAL MALPRACTICE. AT THE LAST MEETING HERE AT THE COMMISSION, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE UNDERLINE, SOMEBODY BLURTED, WE SHOULD SELL THIS TO THE COUNTY, MEANING THE UNDERLINE. AND THEY VICE MAYOR ANDERSON CORRECTED THAT PERSON BEING YOU, ARIEL FERNANDEZ, THAT THE COUNTY ALREADY OWNS IT. 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 WANNA DO ALONGSIDE THE UNDERLYING, IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE THE ONES GUARANTEEING WHATEVER LOAN OR IMPROVEMENT OR PROJECT IT'S GOING ALONG THERE. WHETHER IT BE 1,000,008, IT WILL BE 3.6 MILLION, WHATEVER IT IS, WE ARE UNDERWRITING THIS. THE SERVICE CALLS THAT WE HAVE THERE, THE, THE ISSUES THAT COULD PROP UP FROM THREE MILES OF UNDERLYING, IT JUST ASTOUNDING TO, TO COMMIT. ANYTHING ALONG THE LINES OF THE UNDERLINE IS OBJECTIONABLE TO EVERYBODY THAT CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT CAN ENTAIL. IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMMITMENT. IT'S GOING TO BITE US AND IT'S GONNA HURT US. IT IS NOT GOING TO BENEFIT US. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. SO, UM, WHILE I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MR. SANRIO, I JUST WANNA BE VERY CLEAR WHEN I SAY OUR BACK IS AGAINST THE WALL, BECAUSE THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE NOT GONNA BAIL US OUT HERE. AND THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY BEEN VERY, VERY CLEAR, AS YOU CAN SEE ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BUDGET. THERE IS NOT A FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT OUT OF THE 13 COMMISSIONERS TO PONY UP THE MONEY AS PER THE COMMITMENTS THAT WERE MADE OVER 10 YEARS AGO. WE ARE IN THIS POSITION, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. IF WE DECIDE NOT TO SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING, THIS COULD GO BACK TO THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY COULD DO THE BARE MINIMUM, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES. AGAIN, WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE GET THERE. WELL, MY GOAL NOW IS TO MAKE A SMALL INVESTMENT IN THE UNDERLYING AND PROVIDE AS MUCH HELP AND ASSISTANCE TO THE UNDERLYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN, TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THEIR ENDOWMENT, HOPEFULLY GET, ATTRACT AS MANY LARGE DONORS AS POSSIBLE. SHOW THAT THE THREE MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE FACING OR THEY'RE ATTACHED, UH, TO THE UNDERLYING CITY OF MIAMI, CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, AND CITY OF CORAL GABLES BACK THIS PROJECT, AND THAT WE'RE HERE, THAT WE ARE GOOD CREDITORS. [03:55:01] THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A SUCCESSFUL ENDEAVOR. BUT I'M VERY CLEAR WE'RE NOT GONNA BE TAKEN FOR A RIDE. I WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES APPROVE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PERPETUITY. I WILL, I'M, I'M ALSO, UM, VERY UNCERTAIN THAT I WOULD APPROVE THE CURRENT BUDGET OF $1 MILLION A YEAR. SO, UH, WE NEED TO FIND A REAL SOLUTIONS AND WE NEED TO FIND THE MONEY NECESSARY, UH, TO ADDRESS THIS. AND I'M WORKING ON THAT WITH HOPE WITH PARTNERS, UH, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING AND TO SEE IF WE CAN REALLY ENGAGE THROUGH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UH, SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUES, UH, TO ADDRESS THE SHORTFALL. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MR. CLERK? YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. I'M SUPER CONFLICTED ON, ON THIS ITEM. UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM THE LEFTOVER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT OVER FROM THAT? SO, AS WE'VE PRESENTED IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CAPITAL AS PROJECTS CLOSE, ANY SAVINGS FOR THOSE PROJECTS WOULD GO INTO CONTINGENCY. THOSE, UH, AVAILABLE FUNDS THAT GO INTO A CAPITAL CONTINGENCY HAVE BECOME LESS AND LESS AS THE COST OF PROJECTS HAVE GENERALLY BEEN EXCEEDING, UM, OR VERY CLOSE TO BUDGET. WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD SAVINGS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, SO WE ESSENTIALLY DEPLETED ALL OF OUR CONTINGENCY FOR CAPITAL, UH, TO FUND THIS ITEM. UM, THAT FUNDING WOULD'VE OTHERWISE GONE TO ANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE MIGHT'VE FOUND NEEDS. SO, UH, SIDEWALKS ALWAYS HAVE NEED OR ANY ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS, ANY PRO ANY PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE WAY THAT MAY, UM, THAT AN ESTIMATE MAY COME A LITTLE BIT HIGHER. SO THIS 180,000 IS ALMOST ABOUT ALL OF THE FUNDING THAT WE HAD. UM, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN LIKE ABOUT $20,000 LEFT, AND WE'LL GIVE THAT TO SOMETHING ELSE THAT'LL NEED IT. OKAY. SO THE UNDERLYING IS SOMETHING THAT SUPPORTS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT RESIDENTS REALLY LIKE, THAT THEY SHOW A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR, AND THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO CONFLICTED. UM, UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND VOTE YES ON THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S HERE 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, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THIS TO MAKE IT MOVE FORWARD, BUT I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING FURTHER THAN THIS. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES, COMMISSIONER LARA FOR THE REASONS I STATED. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON, FOR THE REASONS STATED, YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, MOVING ON [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)] TO ONE FINAL ITEM BEFORE WE GO TO LUNCH. E 10. E 10 IS IN ANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING ZONING CODE. ARTICLE 14, PROCESS SECTION 14 DASH 2 0 8 APPEALS TO REVISE APPEAL PROCEDURES, EXTENSION DEADLINES, AND NOTICE OF APPEAL REQUIREMENTS LIMITING THE SCOPE OF STATE ESTABLISHING PROVISIONS REGARDING CONSOLIDATION RELATED APPROVALS, FINALITY AND ABANDONMENT OF APPEALS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISION, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MR. CITY ATTORNEY, GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS CITY ATTORNEY GUS BILES. SO THE, UH, AMENDMENT THAT'S BEFORE YOU IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING OVER, FRANKLY, A COUPLE YEARS TO CLEAN UP OUR APPEAL SECTION AND TO MAKE IT CONSISTENT FROM BOTH A PROCEDURAL ASPECT AND A CODE ASPECT. UH, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE QUICK RECAP OF THE MINOR CHANGES, UM, SPECIFICALLY TO TIMELINES. THE ONLY TIMELINE THAT'S REALLY BEING MODIFIED IN TERMS OF APPEALS IS STAFF DECISIONS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? CURRENTLY, THE CODE REQUIRES 10 DAYS TO FILE NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPEAL FOR ANY APPEAL FROM BOARD OF ARCHITECTS HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THAT IS NOT CHANGING. THE ONLY TIMELINE THAT'S BEING SHORTENED IS STAFF DECISIONS. SO AN APPEAL FROM STAFF DECISION IS GOING FROM 60 DAYS DOWN TO 15 DAYS. WHERE DO WE GET THAT NUMBER? WE DID SEARCH SIMILAR PLACE, SIMILAR SIZE MUNICIPALITIES IN THE AREA, UM, BOTH ON THE EAST COAST AND THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA. AND WE FOUND THAT 10 TO 20 DAYS WAS THE AVERAGE THAT MOST STAFF DECISIONS COULD BE APPEALED. SO THIS BRINGS US MORE IN LINE WITH EVERY OTHER MUNICIPALITY THAT WE COULD, THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY. ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE NOTICED THAT APPEALS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE CITY AND THERE'S, THERE LACKS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SPECIFICITY. SOMETIMES WE JUST GET APPEAL AND THAT'S ALL THEY WRITE ON THE ACTUAL SECTION. SO THIS CODE CHANGES AND REQUIRES THEM TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED, PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION SO THAT ALL PARTIES KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S BEING APPEALED. [04:00:01] UM, A COUPLE OF THE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING IS, UH, SPECIFICALLY REMANDS FROM THE CITY COMMISSION, THAT ONLY REMAND WILL OCCUR WHEN THERE IS A, UH, MATERIAL ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AND IT CANNOT BE RESOLVED WITH THE EXISTING RECORD CONSOLIDATION. UM, THE IDEA BEHIND THAT IS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SCENARIO WHERE ONE PROJECT THAT GOES TO THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS AND THEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND FOR SOME REASON A DIFFERENT BOARD, THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE ITEMS CAN BE APPEALED. IF WE CAN CONSOLIDATE EVERYTHING AND BRING IT TO THE CITY COMMISSION ALL AS ONE ITEM, THAT'S THE GOAL AND THAT'S THE INTENT. ADDITIONALLY, POSTPONEMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN, UM, MODIFIED TO MINIMIZE ANY UNNECESSARY DELAYS. ONE BIG NOTE TO MAKE IS THAT NOTHING IN WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED TODAY PREVENTS A DELAY OR POSTPONEMENT IF ALL PARTIES ARE IN AGREEMENT. MEANING IF I'M THE, I'M THE PROPERTY OWNER AND I'M APPEALING A DECISION BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD AND I WANNA BRING TO THE COMMISSION AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHETHER IT BE A HURRICANE, WHETHER IT BE PERSONAL REASONS, IF THE CITY'S OKAY WITH THE EXTENSION, AND WHILE WE'RE OKAY WITH THE EXTENSIONS, THERE'S NO INJURED PARTY BESIDES MYSELF, WE CAN, WE CAN EXTEND FURTHER THAN ANY OF THE, THE, THE TIMELINE AND RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE HERE. UM, IT'S DESIGNED SO THAT IF THERE'S A THIRD PARTY THAT CAN'T UNNECESSARILY UNDO, UM, OR PROVIDE AN UNDO INFLUENCE ON THE APPEAL PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. ANY MORE SPECIFICS ON THE ACTUAL CHANGES? NO ISSUES. MR. CLARK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. WE HAVE AN EASY ONE [H.-8. 26-1652 A Resolution of the City Commission approving an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and Miami-Dade County for the provision of circulator services.] HERE. H EIGHT, WHICH IS UNDER THE MANAGER. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE YOUR TEAM HERE, BUT I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. IT'S A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER IMPROVING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. YOU WANNA DO THAT ONE NOW OR YOU WANNA DO IT AFTER? DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR THAT OR NO? UH, MAYOR, THIS IS THE, THE INTERLOCAL INTER AGREEMENT FOR, FOR THE TROLLEY. YOU WANT, YOU WANNA DO IT AFTER OR YOU WANNA DO IT NOW? WE CAN, WE CAN DO IT NOW IF YOU NO, NO, NOW WE DO. IT CAN DO IT NOW. MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO GET ONE THING DONE, ONE EXTRA THING DONE. WE CAN DO IT. I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY. IT SHOULD BE VERY QUICK. OKAY. THAT WE'LL DO IT NOW. OKAY. THE CIRCULATOR SERVICES IS, UH, IS THE TROLLEY, MR. , UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND, AND COMMISSIONERS AND VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. UM, SO THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS AN, IT IS THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH, UH, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. UH, IT SAYS CIRCULATOR SERVICES, BUT THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE TROLLEY. IT'S AN ONGOING AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH, UH, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY . THANK YOU, . SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. NO, IT'S OKAY. I THOUGHT WE JUST TAKE TWO LITTLE, TWO LITTLE ONES. GOOD TO, YEAH. THIS IS, UH, UPDATING OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. YEP. 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 WITH COUNTY. PERFECT. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. OKAY. I'LL MOVE IT SECOND. I SECOND COMMISSION. LADA. 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. H SIX. [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.] IF WE CAN DO THIS ONE IN 15 SECONDS WILL BE EVEN FASTER. H SIX H SIX IS THE RESOLUTION. GRANTING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE PURCHASE TERMS FOR THE PURCHASE OF 4 75 BILTMORE WAY. MR. MANAGER, UH, MR. MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, I, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO, UM, SIGN A PSA, UH, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE ON, UH, FOR, FOR THIS, FOR THIS PURCHASE. UH, WE HAVE OUR ASSET MANAGER COMING IN TO PROVIDE SOME, SOME FURTHER INFORMATION, BUT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS PROPERTY FOR SOME TIME. WE FEEL THAT, UH, HAVING A CITY HALL COMPLEX WHERE, WHERE EVERYTHING IS, IS, IS, IS HERE, WE CAN BRING ALL, ALL, UH, ALL OUR, ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS UNDER, UNDER, IN, IN ONE AREA, UNDER UNDER ONE, UNDER ONE UMBRELLA OF THIS CITY HALL COMPLEX. AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, AT THIS AS A CITY FOR SOME TIME. AND SO WE, WE BELIEVE THAT, THAT THE PROPERTY IS AVAILABLE. THEY'VE CONTACTED US AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR SOME TIME. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED, UH, WITH A PS WITH A PSA PURCHASE SALE AGREEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS AND, AND UNDERTAKING THIS BOTH OF YOU. UH, I BROUGHT THIS TO THE MANAGER SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN KATHY WAS OUR CITY MANAGER. UH, WE, WE, WE, IT WASN'T ENTERTAINED AT THAT MOMENT. UH, I I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT BY THEN. I THINK IT'S A GREAT BY NOW. UH, THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO CONTROL THE ENTIRE CITY BLOCK AND I THINK IT'S A, A GOOD BOOK AND FOR US, UH, MOVING FORWARD, AND IT'S ANOTHER INCREDIBLE ASSET. AS LARGE CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE MOVING INTO OUR CITY, THEY'RE MOVING INTO CITYWIDE. THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE IN CONTINUING TO BUY AS MANY PIECES OF PROPERTY IN THE DOWNTOWN, THAT THE CITY SHOULD CONTROL ITS OWN [04:05:01] DESTINY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR UNDERTAKING THIS, UH, NEGOTIATION. AND I WISH YOU LUCK AND YOUR TEAM ON THIS, UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES SIR. AS YOU, AS YOU SAW THIS PROJECT SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGO, WE'LL PROBABLY SEE THIS PROJECT AGAIN, AGAIN, WITH THE SAME VIEW, OF COURSE, SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGO, SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS FROM NOW, AND SAYING, UM, WE GLAD, UH, WE AREN'T, WE GLAD WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY. SO, SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S AVAILABLE NOW AND I THINK, UH, AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED, UH, 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, PAIGE BRAS, ESA MANAGER. JUST TO ADD WHAT THE CITY MANAGER JUST ARTICULATED, UM, THE CITY REQUEST TODAY, YOUR APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE HIM TO FINALIZE PURCHASE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4 75 AND 4 95 FILLMORE WAY, IT IS SITUATED, SITUATED ON THE SAME BLACK CITY HALL IN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. UM, 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, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. I LIKE THE IDEA. I KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA BE, UH, TOLD SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE IS FULLY RENTED. WE'RE GONNA BE GETTING, UH, RENTAL LEASE MONEY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. THE PROBLEM IS THAT AS WE KNOW, BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THE 4 27 ORDEAL, ONCE WE BUY IT, YOU'LL HAVE TO BE REFITTED. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE IT. 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 GONNA END UP DOING. NOT A GOOD IDEA TODAY. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. THAT'S IT. PERFECT. AND VICE MAYOR. SO, UM, SOURCE OF THE FUNDS ARE A LIMITED FUND THAT WE CANNOT PUT INTO THE GENERAL FUND. SO FOR THAT REASON, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT THIS 'CAUSE 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, WELL GO AHEAD. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND NO, GO AHEAD. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA. 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, UH, 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 BUT FOR ANYTHING EXCEPT THIS. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS AN, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PURCHASE FOR THE CITY. UH, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UH, THE MANAGER WILL GIVE MORE INFORMATION AS HE NEGOTIATES. BUT THIS IS NOT DEBT. THIS WILL NOT COST THE CITY ANYTHING. AND THIS IS A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY AS IT COMPLETES THE ENTIRE BLOCK AND CONTROLS OUR OWN DESTINY. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, I'M ALL FOR OPPOSING VIEWS, BUT WITH ACTUAL FACTS AND ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW. BUT MY VOTE IS YES. CONGRATULATIONS MR. MANAGER. WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LOVE. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK ON THIS. OKAY, THANK YOU. I KNOW WE, I KNOW, 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. UH, WE ARE GONNA GO ON A LUNCH BREAK RIGHT NOW. UH, I HOPE EVERYBODY ENJOYS LUNCH. WE'LL BE BACK AT 1 55. THAT MEANS WE'LL BE REALLY BACK AT TWO O'CLOCK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ITEM E [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)] NINE TIMES CERTAIN E NINE IS INANCE TO THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1952 AS AMENDED, WHICH CHANGES ZONING ON LOTS. 1, 2, 3, 20, 21, 22, 23, AND 24 BLOCK ONE 20 AND LOTS ONE THROUGH FIVE BLOCK 1 31 COUNTRY CLUB SECTION SIX, UH, 4 34 44 50, AND FIVE 20. UNIVERSITY DRIVE CROW GABLES, FLORIDA TO REMOVE CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR LOTS ONE THROUGH FIVE BLOCK 1 31 5 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. ONE THAT THE, THAT LIMIT THE USE OF THE PROPERTY TO OVER FOROUGH PARKING AND TWO THAT REVERT THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES [04:10:01] TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONING. ALL OTHER CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL CONTAINED IN ORDINANCE NUMBER 1952 SHALL REMAIN IN EFFECT. THIS IS A QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTER. SO EVERYONE WHO WILL BE SPEAKING TODAY NEEDS TO BE SWORN IN BY THE CITY CLERK. THOSE WHO WILL BE APPEARING ON THIS ITEM. AND PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL PROVIDE TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? THANK YOU. YES. UM, DOES STAFF HAVE A PRESENTATION? I DO. YES. YES. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROCEED? OKAY, THANKS. UH, JENNIFER GARCIA, PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR. OH, SO, UM, THERE ARE TWO PARCELS BACK IN 1972, THE LARGER ONE TO THE NORTH, UM, OFF OF UNIVERSITY DRIVE BETWEEN SARTO AND CAMILO. AND THE SECOND ONE BEING MORE SHALLOW BETWEEN, UM, RIVIERA AND CIMA. THESE WERE ZONED TO BE SINGLE FAMILY. THE COMMISSION AT THE TIME THEN PASSED OR ADOPTED, UM, ORDINANCE NUMBER 1952. UM, AND THAT HAD FOUR CONDITIONS. THEY REONE THE PROPERTY TO BE FROM SINGLE FAMILY TO SPECIAL USE ZONING WITH THESE, UH, FOUR CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. UH, THE FIRST ONE DEALING WITH THAT, THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY TO BE REMAINED, UM, UNPAVED, UM, BUT ALSO AS WELL USED FOR OFF STREET PARKING. UM, AND TO BE PRESERVED AS A PARK-LIKE MANNER, UM, WITH PRESERVATION OF THE TREES AS MUCH AS AS FEASIBLE. THE SECOND CONDITION DEALT WITH THE INTENTS OF THE COMMISSION TO ALLOW THESE TWO PROPERTIES ARE FORMERLY SINGLE FAMILY TO BE ZONED SPECIAL. USED TO BE USED FOR OFF, UH, OFF STREET OVERFLOW PARKING FOR THE YOUTH CENTER AND THE LIBRARY. THE THIRD CONDITION HAS TWO PARTS. THE THIRD CONDITION DEALT WITH, UH, INGRESS AND EGRESS OFF OF UNIVERSITY DRIVE. UM, THAT WOULD ONLY THE F UNIVERSITY DRIVE FOR THESE, UM, PARKING, UH, LOTS. UM, 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, UH, BARRIER. AND THE FOURTH CONDITION DEALS WITH THE REVERTER CLAUSE THAT IF THERE WAS SOME TIME THAT THE COMMISSION OR THE CITY, UM, DEEMED THAT THE OVERFLOW OF PARKING WAS NOT NECESSARY, THAT THE PROPERTY WOULD BE REVERTED BACK TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONING. SO WE ARE LOOKING JUST AT THE PROPERTY THAT IS, UH, KNOWN AS FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE IN BETWEEN RIVIERA AND KHIMA. I SEE THE PROPERTY RIGHT THERE. SO THE CURRENT, UH, FUTURE LAND USE IS PUBLIC GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS AND THE ZONING IS STILL SPECIAL USED ZONING AS IT REMAINS BACK FROM 19, UH, 72. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, UM, ARE DEALING WITH THOSE FOUR CONDITION APPROVALS THAT WERE PART OF THAT ORIGINAL ORDINANCE. UM, TO SPECIFY FOR ONLY THE PROPERTY, AGAIN, DEALING ONLY FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, UM, 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, UM, TO CLARIFY THAT THE INTENT OF THE COMMISSION IS TO ALSO HAVE IT AS OVER THE PARKING OR ALSO A FUNCTION OF THE PUBLIC PARK. AND THE THIRD CONDITION IS, UH, AMENDED AGAIN WHEN IT'S USED FOR TEMPORARY OVER THE PARKING. THAT INGRESS WOULD STILL REMAIN TO BE OFF OF UNIVERSITY DRIVE AND STRIKING THROUGH THE REQUIREMENTS OF HAVING A MEANS OF CLOSING OF THOSE PROPERTIES WHEN NOT IN USE FOR PARKING. AND THEN NUMBER FOUR WOULD BE REMOVED COMPLETELY, WHICH IS THAT REVERTER CLAUSE, UH, REVERTING BACK TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONING. SO THE PLAN ZONING WERE REVIEWED THIS, UH, LAST MONTH ON THE 20TH AND ARE GOING APPROVAL A VOTE OF FIVE TWO. AND HERE WE ARE FOR FIRST READING THEIR PROPERTY. UM, LETTER WAS SENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNED WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF THE FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE PROPERTY. THOSE LETTERS WAS SENT TWICE FOR APPLIANCE ZONING, BOARD AND COMMISSION FOR FIRST READING. THE PROPERTY WAS POSTED ONCE FOR A PCB MEETING. UH, WELL THAT WAS POSTED TWICE AND NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT WAS DONE. ONCE F HAS DETERMINANCE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMP PLAN AND IT'S ENCOURAGING, UH, MORE PARKS AND OUR SINGLE FAMILY AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND THAT WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL. THANK YOU. HI MAYOR. YES, YOU'RE BACK. YES MA'AM. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. NEXT STEPS. I THINK YOU CAN HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT. MAYOR. YES. PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. MR. MAYOR, FIRST SPEAKER MARIA CRUZ. [04:15:10] MRS. MARIA CRUZ. 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. 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 GONNA TELL YOU THAT THIS IS NEEDED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PARK, UH, 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 IN SALVADOR PARK. YOU HAVE THIS, THE WORLD FAMOUS CHEWY PARK UNDER BY THE UNDERLINE AT THE UNDERLINE. UM, THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT CONCERN ME. I HAVE A CAT AND I DON'T HAVE A A CAT PARK, BUT I DON'T NEED ONE. 'CAUSE I DO HAVE, UH, A BACKYARD. AND BESIDES MY CAT LIVES INSIDE MY HOUSE AND HE DOESN'T NEED TO SOCIALIZE WITH, UH, CATS THAT ARE ROAMING AROUND POSSIBLY CARRYING DISEASES. AND THAT'S WHY 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 OR PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF? THAT'S FROM A VET. AND THEN MY LAST, UH, COMMENT I THINK IS THAT ONCE AGAIN HERE WE OPEN THE DOOR, WE REMOVE THE RESTRICTION FROM ONE PROPERTY. BUT GUESS WHAT, ONCE YOU DO THAT, OTHER PEOPLE CAN COME BACK AND SAY, WAIT A SECOND, THERE ARE OTHER PURPOSES THERE THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING ELSE. AND EVENTUALLY WHAT THE INTENT OF THAT, UH, 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 IS A PARK, BUT IT'S NOT ENCUMBERED WITH, UH, BENCHES AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE, UH, PUT ON PARKS. OKAY? SO TO ME THIS IS A WASTE OF EVERYBODY'S TIME. IT'S A WASTE OF CITIES MONEY. AND ONCE AGAIN, A FEW ARE TRYING TO TELL THE, THE MOST TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. SYLVIA KING, SYLVIA KING, 36 17 HARLAN STREET. I'M AN ATTORNEY ASSISTING IN THE UNIVERSITY GREEN CASE AGAINST THE CITY. TWO THINGS. FIRST, WE FILED AN AMENDED COMPLAINT YESTERDAY. WE MAINTAINED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. OUR ILLEGAL SPOT ZONING WERE BEING TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN THE 400 BLOCK UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS ANOTHER SUNSHINE LAW VIOLATION AT THE MAY 20 BOARD HEARING. ANOTHER SPEAKER WILL ADDRESS THIS. WE INCUR INCORPORATE 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'S TOO PERSONALLY INVESTED IN A DOG PARK AT THIS LOCATION TO BE IMPARTIAL. MEMBERS OF OUR ASSOCIATION WHO LIVED 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 FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY [04:20:01] 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 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. THOUGH ICE 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 A 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 IMPART IMPARTIAL DECISION MAKER. RESPECTFULLY, THE RECORD SHOWS THE VICE MAYOR'S BIASED ON THIS MATTER AND WE MOVE TO RECUSE HER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NO HEARSAY. LENO FERNANDEZ, CAN I SUBMIT THIS TO THE CLERK? THANK YOU MA'AM. EXCUSE ME. UM, IF I MAY JUST OUTTA 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 GALLEY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE GALLERY. I APOLOGIZE. THANK YOU. YES SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME'S LENO FERNANDEZ. I'M A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. I LIVE AT FOUR 15 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. UH, WHEN I RAISE 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 FIVE 20 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. UM, WHEN OUR MEMBERS TOLD YOU WE RECEIVED NO NOTICE OF THE NOVEMBER 18TH, UH, REGARDING A PROPOSED DOG PARK AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY IMMEDIATELY ABUTTING THREE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WERE TOLD WE SHOULD HAVE READ THE AGENDA AND THAT NO NOTICE WAS REQUIRED. SUAREZ ON PAGE 20, LARA ON 21, YOU ALSO TOLD US WE WERE NOT EXCLUDED FROM THE PROCESS AND THAT WAS MR. LARA ON 21. MR. LAGO ON PAGE 22, TODAY'S ITEM WITH PROPERTY POSTINGS MAILINGS WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET AND LEGAL ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVES A NOVEMBER 18TH ITEM AND ACCOMPANY 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. IT'S ON 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, AND THE TWO PROPERTIES WERE PARK AND 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. IIAS 20, LARA 20 AND 21 AND 24. TODAY'S DRAFT AMENDMENTS PROVE FIVE 20 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 THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE, BUT WE CAN HELP DESIGN IT MR. LARA ON 19 AND ON 27, [04:25:01] 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 DALLAS POWELL. ON PAGE 10 AND 16, ANDERSON 15 AND 17, LAGO ON 16 AND ON UH, 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 THEIR RESULTS ARE 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 13 MINUTES WHERE MAYOR LAGO, 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 ITEM 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 RACING THIS ITEM THROUGH BECAUSE THE LITIGATION AS THE BOARD ATTORNEY ADVISED THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU IVAN. HELLO, MY NAME IS IVANA ADE. I'M A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I LIVE AT 5 3 5 THIRD ROAD. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CORAL GABLES PUBLIC LIBRARY AND GIVE YOU STATISTICS THAT MAKE CLEAR WHY ORDINANCE 1 9 52 SHOULD NOT BE AMENDED. TO BEST UNDERSTAND WHY CORAL GABLE'S PUBLIC LIBRARY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO OVERFLOW PARKING IN THE LOT YOU NEED ONLY LOOK AT THEIR CURRENT DOOR COUNTS. SPECIAL EVENTS ON COUNTRYWIDE EARLY BOATING ATTENDANCE. YOU MAY RECALL THE CORAL GABLES PUBLIC LIBRARY UNDERWENT AN EXTENSIVE RENOVATION PROGRAM AT A COUNTY COST OF 6.8 MILLION. THE BUILDING RECEIVED A NEW ROOF, NEW H, IT CAN IMPACT WINDOWS, BATHROOMS, UH, 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 MAILED THE MIAMI DAD PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM, A SERIES OF QUESTIONS REGARDING ATTENDANCE AT THE CORAL GABLES BRANCH, THEY RECEIVE A TIMELY AND THROUGHOUT RESPONSE FROM THE PUBLIC RECORDS CUSTODIAN OR THE MIAMI DAY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. HERE'S WHAT WE LEARN. THE CORAL GATEWAYS BRANCH LIBRARY AVERAGES 30 TO 40 PROGRAMS PER MONTH, WHICH PROGRAMMING RELATED ATTENDANCE ESTIMATED BETWEEN 1000 AND 1,250 PER MONTH, THUS 12,215,000 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 CORRUGATE WAS BRANCH AVERAGE APPROXIMATELY 31,000 S PER MONTH OR 372,000 FOR THE YEAR. THE SECOND MOST VISITED BRANCH IN TERMS OF DOOR COUNT SURPASSED ONLY BY THE MIAMI. THAT BY THE MAIN LIBRARY IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI FROM 2018 TO 2024 COUNTRYWIDE EARLY BOATING AT THE COR WAS RANCH. 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, US SENATOR, US 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 RANCH HAS CONSTANTLY RANK AMONG THE TOP FIVE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY [04:30:01] WHERE EVERYBODY IS COMING THROUGH IN OR NEAR CORAL GABLES TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS. A COUNT OF 3 370 2000 ANNUALLY 15,000 SPECIAL EVENT ATTEND THIS YEARLY AND 25,000 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 FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY MAKES NO SENSE. SIMPLY THE NUMBERS DO NOT ADD UP. THANK YOU GINA AND DAVIS. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM JEAN N. DAVIS AND I SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE. I AM A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. I LIVE AT 37 10 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 WHEREIN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT HAS STEAMROLLED OVER THE RESIDENCE 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 NE NEMAR. FIRST THEY CAME FOR THE COMMUNIST 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 UNIONIST AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A TRADE UNIONIST. THEN THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS AND I, I DID NOT SPEAK UP 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 WALSH PARDO, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LYNN GO PARDO. I LIVE AT 4 21 KADIMA AVENUE WHERE I'VE LIVED FOR THE PAST 36 YEARS. OTHER RESIDENTS ARE JOINING IN OUR FIGHT. A NEW CITYWIDE PETITION IS CIRCULATING AND WE HOPE YOU'LL SIGN IT. WE'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS THAT LIVE OUTSIDE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHO WANNA SIGN OUR PETITION IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED DOG PARK AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. SO WE DRAFTED AN EXPANDED PETITION, WHICH IS BEING CIRCULATED. IT IS ONLY FOR GABLE'S RESIDENCE 18 AND OVER WHO DID NOT SIGN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PETITION. YOU CAN EMAIL UNIVERSITY GREEN CG@GMAIL.COM FOR A COPY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ IT TO SIGN IT, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO READ IT. OPPOSITION TO PROPOSE DOG PARK AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE NEXT TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CORAL GABLE CITY COMMISSION. WE STAND WITH OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED DO OFF LEASH DOG BARK PARK AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE IN FRONT OF THE CORAL GABLES LIBRARY AND DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. OUR OBJECTIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING. THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS NEVER CONSULTED IN USING THE PASSIVE GREEN SPACE IN THIS QUIET SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A LARGE BARK PARK EXCLUSIVELY FOR DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS. YET THREE COMMISSIONERS VOTED FOR IT ANYWAY. THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS REPEATEDLY ASKED THE CITY COMMISSION AND CITY STAFF TO STOP THE PROCESS. A 40,000 SQUARE FOOT DOG PARK WOULD BRING SIGNIFICANT NOISE, PERSISTENT BARKING, EARLY MORNINGS AND LATE NIGHTS, INCREASED [04:35:01] TRAFFIC AND PARKING CONGESTION, SANITATION AND ODOR ISSUES, SAFETY CONCERNS FOR CHILDREN, ELDERLY AND PETS WOULD DISRUPT THE FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM AND POTENTIALLY DE DIS DECREASE PROPERTY VALUES, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE HOMES CLOSEST TO THE SITE. THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH CORAL GABLES OR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CODES. NO TRAFFIC STUDY OR PARKING STUDY HAS BEEN DONE TO MEASURE THE IMPACTS OF THIS LARGE DOG PARK ON THE CORAL GABLES LIBRARY, THE CORAL GABLES YOUTH CENTER AND THE SINGLE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD. NOR HAS ANY COMPREHENSIVE DOG PARK MASTER PLAN BEEN DEVELOPED. UNIVERSITY DRIVE IS A BUSY EAST WEST CORRIDOR FOR COMMUTERS AND BUSES AND BUSES, EXCUSE ME, AND A MAJOR ACCESS POINT FOR FIRE RESCUE. TRANSPORTING PATIENTS TO DOCTORS HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM, THE LIBRARY AND THE YOUTH CENTER ARE ALREADY SHORT ON PARKING AND A DOG PARK WOULD MAKE IT WORSE. THE CORAL GABLES LIBRARY IS THE SECOND OR THIRD BUSIEST IN THE 50 BRANCH SYSTEM WITH AN ANNUAL DOOR COUNT OF 372,000 PATRONS, 15,000 SPECIAL EVENT ATTENDEES AND 25,000 VOTERS DURING EARLY VOTING PERIODS. THE YOUTH CENTER WITH YEAR-ROUND PLAYING FIELDS, TOURNAMENTS, THEATER PERFORMANCES, CLASSES AND RENTALS ALSO BRINGS CARS, SCHOOL BUSES, 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 IN 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 FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE DOG PARK. MORE ARE ON THEIR WAY, INCLUDING 60 NEW ONES THAT WE WILL SUBMIT AFTER VERIFICATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WILLIAM RYEN BARK. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BILL RYEN BARK. I LIVE AT 3 6 1 6 HARLAN STREET. I AM A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. OUR HOUSE IS 125 FEET AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED DOG PARK. I WALK 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 FIVE 20 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 PARK, THAT WE WOULD HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS TO DISCUSS WHAT TYPE OF A PARK THE NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD LIKE. TODAY'S ITEM SHOWS THAT IT IS NOT A PARK AT PRESENT. THE DRAFT ORDINANCE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE IT ONE. SO I'D LIKE TO ASK WHEN DO THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS BEGIN? A PRIOR GENTLEMAN ALREADY GAVE UH, VERY VALUABLE STATISTICS REGARDING THE LIBRARY, SO I WILL NOT REPEAT THOSE. HOWEVER, DID YOU LOOK AT YOUR STAFF'S PARKING AND TRAFFIC STUDY MEMO? ONLY ONE SENTENCE ON ELECTIONS WAS INCLUDED IN THAT AS WELL AS WITH OTHER HIGH VOLUME EVENTS. THE REPORT FALSELY AND RECKLESSLY CONCLUDED THAT NO OVERFLOW PARKING IS NEEDED. YOUR STAFF DID NOT REACH OUT TO THE LIBRARY OR TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TO GET DETAILS ON BALLOTS CAST, ESPECIALLY DURING THE ELE EARLY ELECTIONS. IF YOU DID, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT 25,000 MIAMI-DADE AND CORAL GABLES VOTERS USED THE CORAL GABLES BRANCH LIBRARY IN 2024 FOR THE PRIMARIES AND GENERAL ELECTION. THAT'S A LOT OF CARS IN A TWO WEEK PERIOD, IF YOU WOULD'VE TAKEN TIME TO ASK, YOU WOULD'VE LEARNED THAT SPECIAL EVENTS PARKING ON THE [04:40:01] GRASS AREA OF FIVE 20 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 TWO OR THREE DAYS BEFORE THE COMMISSION. WE WERE AND REMAIN ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AT THE MEETING, MAYOR LAGO 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 DISENFRANCHISED, I WOULD SAY TO MYSELF, OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO FIX THIS. WE'VE GOT TO BACK THIS OUT. MAYOR LAGO, THIS ITEM PROVES THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE PROCESS THAT THE CITY DID NOT FOLLOW THE RULES AND SOMEONE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS DISENFRANCHISED. WE'RE HOLDING YOU TO YOUR WORDS, SIR. YOU'VE GOT TO FIX THIS. YOU'VE GOT TO BACK THIS OUT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, JOSE. VAL COHEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOSE VAL. I'M A MEMBER OF UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. I LIVE AT FIVE 20 ADEA AVENUE. I ASKED THE CITY COMMISSION TO REMAND THIS ITEM BACK TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD DUE TO IMPROPER ADVERTISING AND DUE INFLUENCED BY THE BOARD ATTORNEY AND INCOMPLETE 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 4 30, 4 44 50 AND FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, WHICH SHARED 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 FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. YET THE BOARD ATTORNEY READ THE UNCHANGED TITLE LISTING ALL FOUR PROPERTIES INTO THE RECORD AND CGTB DID THE SAME THROUGH THE DEVICE 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 THE 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, UH, ANY MOTION TO APPROVE OR MOTION TO DENY A ACTING AS A, UH, CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE EX PARTE COMMUNICATION, ACTING AS A QUASI JUDICIAL BOARD ON MATTERS RELATED TO SONY. SIMILAR, WHEN THE SONY COMMISSION HEARS A SONY ITEM BOARDS MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE EX PARTE COMMUNICATION. ONLY ONE MORE MEMBER DISCLOSE THEY HAD VISITED THE SITE, HE LIVES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT HAD NOT SPOKEN TO HIS NEIGHBORS ON ITEM E TWO AND HE AFFIRMED HE COULD CONSIDER THE ITEM WITH FULLY OBJECTIVITY. BASED ON COMMENTS FROM SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, IT APPEARS ONE OF MORE MAY HAVE FAILED. IN DISCLOSED, EXPORTED COMMUNICATION, INCOMPLETE AND INACCURATE STAFF REPORT, NO INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED ON PARKING. THE BOARD WAS NOT ADVISED. THE FAILURE LAND USE, THE FUTURE LAND USE WILL NEED TO BE CHANGED AND IT WAS UNCLEAR HOW THE PROPERTY COULD BE A FENCE. 40,000 SQUARE FEET DOCK PARK WILL CON WHILE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE OVERFLOW PARKING AS SUGGESTED IN THE STAFF REPORT, THE REPORT STATED THAT AMENDMENTS WILL ALLOW THE PROPERTY TO 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 FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE ALREADY PROVIDES PASSIVE GREEN SPACE, WHICH IS A DIRECT PREFERRED BENEFIT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. P FIVE. THE REPORT STATED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON DEVELOPMENT. THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION BELIEVES THE IMPACT OF THESE AMENDMENTS AS ENVISIONED WILL DIRECTLY AND NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OR FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. P FIVE. THE REPORTED 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. UNIVERSITY GREEN ASSOCIATION CATEGORICALLY DISAGREES. HOMES THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE DOG PARK, ESPECIALLY THE THREE ON THE [04:45:01] SAME RESIDENTIAL BLOCK ABOUT IN, IN, ACROSS FROM IT WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AND MINE STAFF COMMENTED, STATED, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WILL BE MORE COMPATIBLE THAN SURFACE PARKING LOTS. P SIX. THIS IS NEITHER A FAIR NOR ACCURATE DECEPTION. DECEPTION. CURRENTLY THE PROPERTY OPERATES AS A PASSIVE PUBLIC GREEN SPACE WITH A OCCASIONAL SPACE EVENT PARKING ON THE GRASS. MUCH LIKE FAIRCHILD TROPICAL GARDENS OVERFLOW LOT DURING THE FESTIVALS, THE ABILITY FOR CARS TO PARK SHORT TIME ON THE GRASS KEEPS THEM FROM PARKING THROUGH THE SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD WHILE SUPPORTING THE LIBRARY CULTURE PROGRAMMING AND EARLY VOTING. LASTLY, THE CONDITION TO INCLUDE A LEGITIMATE, LEGITIMATE PARKING STUDY AND TRAFFIC STUDY PRIOR TO THE ITEM 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 37 16TH 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 TWO 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 WANNA SPEAK ABOUT MY PROFESSION. I'M A SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE BROKER FOR 30 YEARS WITH MY FIRM RIVERA REAL ESTATE, AND I'M 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 PURCHASING 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 VALLEY 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 WELLBEING 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 VALLEY 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 40,000 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, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY. MY NAME IS MARY POWELL AND I LIVE AT 3 2 6 7 RIVIERA DRIVE. I WAS HERE LAST NOVEMBER WHEN THE COMMISSION VOTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DOG PARK AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY. I AM BACK TODAY TO REAFFIRM THAT THIS COMMUNITY SUPPORT HAS NOT WAVERED. SUPPORT FOR THIS DOG PARK IS BROAD, DOCUMENTED AND CITYWIDE. I PRESENTED PETITION SIGNATURES TO THE COMMISSION LAST NOVEMBER AND THAT SUPPORT HAS ONLY GROWN. THIS IS A CITY WITH A DOG'S ISSUE OF THE CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE, WHERE COMMISSIONERS LEAD GROUP DOG WALKS AND ENCOURAGE ADOPTIONS WHERE WE HOLD DOGGY HALLOWEEN COSTUME COMPETITIONS AND WHERE WE JUST WELCOMED THE FIRST DOGGY. ATM 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 [04:50:01] THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ALL REVIEWED THE PARKING QUESTION AND REACHED THE SAME CONCLUSION. FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY IS NOT NEEDED FOR OVERFLOW PARKING. THE PZB 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 FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY IS TODAY. CITY OWNED LAND ZONED FOR PUBLIC USE SITTING LARGELY UNUSED. THE CITY'S OWN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CALLS FOR PARKS WITHIN A 10 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 PZ 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 GABLE'S RESIDENCE. WHAT HAS GROWN SINCE NOVEMBER IS NOT JUST COMMUNITY SUPPORT, IT IS THE BODY OF EVIDENCE BEHIND THIS DECISION. PRESIDENT'S INPUT STAFF'S REPORT AND THE PCBS 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 36 28 HARLAN 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 GONNA MAKE, MAKE AN INTELLIGENT DECISION ON PARKING AND OVERFLOW IN THE AREA WHERE I LIVE AND ALL THESE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE LIVE, I THINK YOU NEED ALL THE FACTS. I'M NOT REFERRING TO THE THREE PARAGRAPH MEMO SUBMITTED BY THE STAFF THAT CONCLUDED NO OVER FLOW PARKING WAS NEEDED. I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY INTEND TO PARK THE 25,000 MIAMI-DADE VOTERS THAT CHOOSE OUR CORAL GABLES PUBLIC LIBRARY TO CAST THEIR THEIR BALLOT IN EARLY VOTING FOR THE PRIMARIES IN IN THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION. NO FORMAL CURRENT OR FUTURE DEMAND STUDIES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED. A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION CONDUCTED AN INFORMAL PARKING COUNT BETWEEN FIVE 30 AND 6:00 PM AND AROUND THE LIBRARY DURING THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF FEBRUARY, 2026. THIS INCLUDED DAILY SURVEYING THE 48 SPACE LIBRARY LOT, THE 11, INCLUDING TWO HANDICAPPED PARALLEL PARKING SPACES IN THE CIRCULAR DRIVE IN FRONT OF THE UNIVERSITY DRIVE ENTRANCE, THE 20 ANGLE PARKING SPACES ON THE WEST SIDE OF RIVIERA AND THE FIVE ANGLE PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF RIVIERA. AND THE 22 SPACES IN THE SWALE OF SEGOVIA IN FRONT OF THE WEST ENTRANCE OF THE LIBRARY. THE YOUTH CENTER PARKING LOT PARALLEL TO THE UNIVERSITY DRIVE IN THE SEGOVIA NORTH PARKING LOT BY THE PLAYING FIELDS WERE ALSO SURVEYED. ON MOST DAYS, ALL PARKING SPACES WERE EXCEEDING CAPACITY, INCLUDING THOSE UNDER OR AREAS UNDER THE BANYAN TREES MARKED NO PARKING ON UNIVERSITY DRIVE DEPENDING ON THE PROGRAMMING OF THE LIBRARY OR THE [04:55:01] YOUTH CENTER. PARKING REGULARLY EXCEEDS CAPACITY AS DRIVERS DROVE FRANTICALLY AROUND LOOKING FOR A SAFE PLACE TO PARK. THIS MAKES THE CORAL GABLES LIBRARY A PRIME CANDIDATE FOR SPECIAL EVENT STYLE PARKING DURING CERTAIN LARGE EVENTS. I HAVE PICTURES THAT, UH, OUR ASSOCIATION HAS TAKEN AND, UM, PUT INTO A, UM, ALL THE, ALL THE COMMISSION CAN SEE AND I'LL PASS THIS OUT TO THE CLERK SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE. BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE PICTURES OF SOME OF THE, UM, OVERFLOW OF PARKING DURING REGULAR DAYS. I I WAS AT, I DROVE DOWN AROUND THAT KADIMA DOWN UNIVERSITY, UM, BY RIVIERA AT THREE 40 LAST WEDNESDAY AND TOOK PICTURES AND THERE WERE CARS EVERYWHERE. CARS WERE PARKED RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF A SIGN THAT SAYS NO PARKING WHY A TRAFFIC STUDY IS NEEDED. THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD CONDITION THEIR MAY 20TH RECOMMENDATION ON CITY STAFF CONDUCTING A LEGITIMATE TRAFFIC STUDY BEFORE THE RECOMMENDATION IS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION. MANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WOULD'VE PREFERRED TO DEFER A RECOMMENDATION UNTIL THEY COULD REVIEW AND CONSIDER FINDINGS. A SHORT THREE PARAGRAPH STAFF MEMO STATED THAT A TRAFFIC STUDY IS NOT REQUIRED FOR ANY PROJECT WITH FEWER THAN 50 VEHICLE TRIPS. CARELESSLY OR DELIBERATELY. STAFF FAILED TO MENTION THAT THE CITY'S DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS HANDBOOK UNDER DEFINITIONS AND OR APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS SPECIFICALLY STATES SPECIFICALLY STATES A DEVELOPMENT GENERATING LESS THAN 50 NEW TRIPS MAY REQUIRE A LIMITED TRAFFIC STUDY TO ADDRESS SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS. I THINK I'M ALMOST OUT OF TIME, BUT UM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A DOG. I WALK THAT DOG EVERY, EVERY, EVERY DAY. I WALK AROUND THE AREA ON EDEMA, THE, THE GREEN SPACE AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY. UM, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, SARAH CORTEZ BROUGHT UP AT THE ZONING BOARD MEETING THAT UH, UM, WALKING THAT AREA WITH THAT GREEN SPACE HAS A VERY INCREDIBLE MENTAL EFFECT ON YOU THAT WHEN YOU JUST WALK AROUND THAT AREA PEACEFULLY. I TAKE FOR GRANTED SOMETIMES WHEN I WALK MY DOG AND I DON'T HAVE TO WALK BY A DOG PARK WITH A BUNCH OF BARKING DOGS AND PEOPLE YELLING AND SCREAMING AND THIS THAT AND THE OTHER. UM, I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT 'CAUSE IT'S A NICE PEACEFUL WALK. AND SO, UM, I'M THE NINTH SPEAKER AGAINST THIS DOG PARK. I'VE HEARD ONE PERSON, THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS SPEAK FOR IT, BUT I HOPE AS A COM COMMISSION THAT YOU'RE GONNA LISTEN TO ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING RIGHT HERE THAT HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FOR SIX MONTHS. ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED A A 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 DOESN'T AFFECT THEM. YOU'RE NOT PUTTING A DOG PARK RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE. YOU'RE NOT PUTTING A DOG PARK WHERE JOSE VAL, WHEN HE WALKS OUT HIS DOOR EVERY DAY, HE WALKS OUT NOT LOOKING AT A BEAUTIFUL GREEN SPACE. HE'S LOOKING AT A DOG PARK. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT THIS DOG PARK IS GONNA AFFECT, NOT THOSE OTHER 199 PEOPLE THAT SIGNED THAT PETITION. SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE, AS A COMMISSION, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT VOTED YOU IN THE OFFICE. LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT PAY YOUR SALARY. LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT IT AFFECTS. MOST US, I LIVE FIVE HOUSES AWAY. I DON'T WANT A DOG PARK. I LOVE DOGS. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 20 YEARS, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO A DOG PARK EVERY DAY. CAN I PLEASE HAND THIS TO THE CLERK? YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JACKSON HOLMES. YES, SIR. SO I'M IN ON DOG PARTS, UM, AND, UH, I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY. UH, SO I'M, I'M GONNA START ON THE UPSIDE. UM, I WAS A TAXI DRIVER ON THE FAMOUS SOUTH BEACH, UH, FOR THE FIRST 20 YEARS AFTER I GOT BACK TO MIAMI. AND, UH, 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 THE WASHINGTON AVENUE AND [05:00:01] 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, UH, HOW MANY OF US KNOW WHAT A, UM, UH, UH, BLUE MERL COLLIE IS A ASK YOURSELF, DO YOU KNOW THAT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DOG IN THE WORLD? AND WE GOT HIM IN CORAL GABLE AND, AND I MADE FRIENDS WITH A BLUE MERL COLLIE. ALRIGHT, NOW HERE'S ANOTHER RARE DOG. IT'S, IT'S NOT THAT BEAUTIFUL, BUT I LOVE IT. ANYWAYS, UH, HOW MANY KNOW WHAT A KENDO IS THAT THAT'S A KOREAN DOG? UH, HOW ABOUT A, A A RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK? UM, AND THEN SOMEBODY SAID THEY HAD A, 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, UM, BEAUTY CONTEST. UH, NOW LAUGH ALONG WITH ME HERE FOR BOTH WOMEN. YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A MISS UNIVERSE CONTEST FOR WOMEN. AND, UH, AND THE DOGS OF THE WORLD CONTEST FOR DOGS. SO YOU, YOU GET THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WALKING, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL DOGS. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE, RIGHT? UM, WHY WOULD WE NOT WANT A DOG PARK? PEOPLE SAY IT'S GONNA LOWER THE PROPERTY BY, I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE I, I LOVE DOGS TOO MUCH. I PLEAD GUILTY. ALL RIGHT? I DON'T SEE WHY ANYONE WOULD ASK, UM, 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. UM, AND I FIND IT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, UM, VERY DEPRESSING TO THINK THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WOULD TURN OUT AGAINST DOGS. SOME PEOPLE SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WITH THE GREEN INITIATIVE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. OKAY. SO, CORAL GABLES IS AN, IS A TREE CITY, AND CORAL GABLES SHOULD ALSO BE A DOG CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. UM, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO A LITTLE CONVERSATION, UH, AMONGST THE COMMISSION, I WANNA MEMORIALIZE THIS. 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS WILL BE HEAVILY DISCUSSED IN TOMORROW'S BLOGS VIA THE GABLES GAZETTE FIRST AMENDMENT WILL BE DISCUSSED. SO I WANNA PUT THIS ON THE RECORD. UH, 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 AND A HALF MINUTES OF ADDITIONAL TIME THAT WAS GRANTED. I WRITE 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. THAT'S REPEATED OVER AND OVER AND OVER ON THESE BLOCKS. THANK GOD I DON'T READ THE BLOCKS. I JUST GET PEOPLE TO SEND 'EM TO ME. AND I KEEP TELLING 'EM, 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. THIS CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE. WE'RE NOT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. NOT THAT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S NOT A SPECIAL PLACE. BUT IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH POLITICS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AND I WON'T TAKE OVER 13 MINUTES, NO WORRY, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF. YOU HAVE 13 ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS CARVED UP INTO DISTRICTS. SO THEY ONLY TAKE CARE OF THEIR DISTRICTS. WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE IN THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. ALL THE WAY FROM NORTH GABLES TO SOUTH GABLES. WHETHER YOU OWN A DOG OR YOU DON'T OWN A DOG, WHETHER YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, WE LIVE IN A HOUSE, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. SO SOMETIMES WE VOTE ON ISSUES THAT MAYBE DON'T AFFECT US. FOR EXAMPLE, MY AREA IS THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, WHERE I LIVE IN THAT AREA AROUND ST. AUGUSTINE, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, REVERA RA COUNTRY CLUB, LENNAR CENTER, DOCTOR'S HOSPITAL. THAT'S MY AREA, MY NECK OF THE WOODS. BUT I HAVE TO MAKE DECISION, I HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON FAIRCHILD TROPICAL GARDENS OR NORTH GABLES, LITTLE GABLES, RIGHT OUTSIDE. LITTLE GABLES IN NORTH GABLES. SO, MY POINT IS THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES, AND I SAW CERTAIN PEOPLE MENTION, YOU KNOW, LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. WE HAVE TO VOTE BASED ON WHAT WE BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY. NOT A PERSONAL ISSUE. IT'S NOT WHETHER I DON'T EVEN OWN A DOG, OKAY? RIGHT? SO MY POINT IS THAT I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANT TO BE ADVERSARIAL. I DON'T WANNA SEE PEOPLE BEING ADVERSARIAL. I KNOW WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT ISSUES, BUT THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE BY THIS COMMISSION MOVING FORWARD. NO, NOT A PERSONAL MATTER. I WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. UM, EVEN THOUGH I DOUBT THAT IT WILL BE COVERED IN THE BLOGS, I'LL BE ATTACKED FOR BEING ANTI FIRSTT AMENDMENT. SO, WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO KICK THIS OFF WITH THEIR PERSONAL COMMENTS, MADAM VICE MAYOR? WELL, I'LL, I'LL START BY ASKING THE CITY [05:05:01] ATTORNEY. YOU RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR RE MY RECUSAL. UM, HAVE YOU EVALUATED THAT? I HAVE NOT EVALUATED THAT. BUT, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING, UM, FROM WHAT WAS EXPLAINED DURING THAT REQUEST WAS THEY WERE ASKING FOR YOU TO RECUSE BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THAT YOU COULD NOT BE IMPARTIAL. AND SO THAT, AS WE'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED HERE IN THIS COMMISSION BEFORE, THE QUESTION OF BIAS IS ONE THAT EACH OF YOU SHOULD EVALUATE. WHENEVER THERE'S A QUASI-JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS SUCH AS THIS ONE. AND IT'S A DETERMINATION FOR YOU TO MAKE, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL IN CONSIDERATION OF THE APPLICATION, UM, BASED ON THE, THE PRESENT, THE EVIDENCE, WRITE, THE COMPETENCE, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, THAT'S A DETERMINATION FOR YOU TO MAKE. SO I'M GONNA START WITH THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS. RESIDENTS CAME TO ME AND ASKED ME TO PUT ON THE AGENDA A DOG PARK ITEM. 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 AN 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. A DESIGN NEEDED TO BE DONE SO RES 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 MY 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, UH, 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 WHO 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. UH, AND MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO DEFER THE REST OF MY COMMENTS TO AFTER HEARING FROM MY OTHER COLLEAGUES. YES. YES. OKAY. SO FIRST I WOULD WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD THAT I AM A DOG LOVER. THAT, UM, 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 DECIDED NOT TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND NOT TO SUPPORT MY LEGISLATION WHEN WE PRESENT. OKAY. NOW, WHAT DO WE HAVE BEFORE US? WELL, WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US IS VERY INTERESTING. 'CAUSE WHEN I HAD MY PRE AGENDA MEETING, I, I WAS WOW, ASTONISHED WITH WHAT I WAS READING. UM, I DON'T THINK THE CITY SHOULD BE CHANGING THE RULES OF THE GAME WHILE THE LEGALITY OF THE ORIGINAL ACTION IS ACTIVELY BEING CHALLENGED RIGHT NOW. THE OTHER THING IS, IF THE CITY BELIEVES IT ACTED PROPERLY, THEN IT SHOULD BE WILLING TO DEFEND THOSE ACTIONS BASED ON THE LAWS AND ORDINANCES THAT EXISTED WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE. THE OTHER THING IS IF THE CITY NOW FEELS COMPELLED TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE EXISTED FROM OVER 50 YEARS AND NATURALLY RAISES QUESTIONS OF WHY THOSE RESTRICTIONS SUDDENLY NEED TO BE REMOVED. REMOVED, WHILE THE MATTER IS PENDING LITIGATION, I HAVE A STATEMENT HERE. REGARDLESS OF, REGARDLESS OF HOW ANYONE FEELS ABOUT THE DOG PARK ITSELF, THIS PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY THE SUBJECT OF ACTIVE LITIGATION. ONE OF THE CENTRAL ISSUES BEFORE THE COURT IS THE MEANING EFFECT OF THE EXISTING ZONING CONDITIONS PLACED ON THIS PROPERTY DECADES AGO. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS COMMISSION TO AMEND OR ELIMINATE THIS CONDITIONS WHILE LITIGATION REMAIN REMAINS UNSOLVED. IF THE CITY BELIEVES ITS ACTIONS ARE, WERE LAWFUL, THEN IT SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE COURT, THEN IT SHOULD ALLOW THE COURT TO [05:10:01] EVALUATE THOSE ACTIONS UNDER THE ORDINANCES AND RESTRICTIONS THAT EXISTED WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE. NOW OUT OF RESPECT TO THE JUDICIAL PROCESS, TO THE TAXPAYERS FUNDING THIS LITIGATION AND TO THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BROUGHT THIS CONCERNS FORWARD, I MOVE TO DECLINE ANY CHANGES TO THE ZONING CONDITIONS. AND THEY SHOULD BE DEFERRED UNTIL THE CASE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION? YES, I MOVED. OKAY. THERE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND MR. CLERK THROUGH THE MAYOR. GIMME JUST GIMME ONE SECOND. AND WE HAVE A AND WE HAVE A, A VOTE ON THE MATTER. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. NORMALLY WE DISCUSS THINGS. I KNOW, BUT I, I WANNA GET A VOTE. IT'S OKAY. YOU CAN WAIT A SECOND. MAY I HAVE A VOTE? COMMISSIONER CASTRO. UM, WHILE YOU'RE VOTING, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND STATE WHATEVER YOU NEED TO STATE. SINCE THE MAYOR IS RUNNING THE AGENDA, HE'S NOT GIVING US TIME TO DISCUSS THE MOTION. BUT ONCE AGAIN, TO CLARIFY THIS MOTION, IT IS JUST TO DEFER IT UNTIL LITIGATION IS RESOLVED, IT'S NOT TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS. UM, MOVING FORWARD, THAT'S WHAT THE MOTION IS. AND MY VOTE IS, YES, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. SO, UM, THERE IS A LEGAL PROCESS IN PLACE. UM, THERE HAS, THIS COMMISSION HAS ACTED IN A WAY THAT HAS FORCED ITS RESIDENTS TO SUE THE CITY IN ORDER FOR THINGS, THINGS TO BE DONE THE RIGHT WAY. AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT RESIDENTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE EXPENSE AND THE TIME. I MEAN, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR A COUPLE HOURS TAKING TIME FROM THEIR DAY IN ORDER TO FIGHT FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY COMMISSION HAS DECIDED THEY'RE GONNA IMPOSE A DOG PARK IN THIS AREA. AND IF WE'RE ON THE TOPIC OF DOG PARKS, I DRIVE PAST SALVADOR PARK FOUR TIMES A DAY. AND IF I'VE COUNTED ONE DOG IN SALVADOR DOG RUN IN THE LAST THREE OR FOUR WEEKS, IT'S A LOT. 'CAUSE NOBODY USES IT. AND WHY DO PEOPLE NOT USE IT? 'CAUSE IT WASN'T DONE RIGHT. THE FIRST COMPLAINT THAT YOU GET FROM PEOPLE TO GO TO DOG, 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 WANNA DO WITH A PROPERTY THAT CLEARLY IS NOT ZONED FOR WHAT THE MAJORITY IN 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, I COULD SEE IF, IF WE COULDN'T GET THAT NUMBER IN FINANCE. PERFECT. 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'VE SAVED US A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF MONEY. AND I KNOW IT UPSETS YOU, MR. MAYOR, AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ALL JITTERY IN YOUR CHAIR RIGHT NOW. YOU CAN'T EVEN CONTROL YOURSELF. BUT THE FACT IS, YOU DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PROCESS THAT WAS NOT THE PROCESS THAT WAS LAID OUT. 'CAUSE THIS SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE PARKS COMMITTEE FIRST. THEY SHOULD HAVE MADE A RECOMMENDATION THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, DIDN'T HAPPEN TILL AFTER THE FACT. 'CAUSE 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 6:00 PM 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, SHOULD DEFER. AND I BELIEVE A PROCESS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED SO IT DOESN'T CONTINUE TO COST THE CITY IN LITIGATION BECAUSE WE'VE DECIDED TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD. COMMISSIONER LADA A QUESTION FOR EITHER THE CITY ATTORNEY OR UM, CITY MANAGER AT THE NOVEMBER HEARING SPECIAL SET AT, UM, SIX O'CLOCK WAS THE, WAS FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY [05:15:01] 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, UM, NUMBER 1952, DOES HAVE A RESTRICTION, UH, 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, AND IT DID, EVEN, EVEN THAT OR THE ORDINANCE THAT ZONED AT SPECIAL USE SAID TO BE MAINTAINED IN A PARK-LIKE MANNER. RIGHT? BECAUSE IF, IF, 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, IT, IT, IT SEEMS TO ME ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO ME THAT THAT MEETING WAS PROPERLY NOTICED BACK IN NOVEMBER. THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ALL ATTENDED A, UH, MEMORIAL THAT DAY FOR A FALLEN OFFICER WHO USED TO BE A PART OF THE CORAL GABLES POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR MEETINGS REGULARLY GO BEYOND SIX O'CLOCK, SEVEN O'CLOCK. THEY'VE GONE EIGHT O'CLOCK. I'VE BEEN HERE TILL NINE O'CLOCK. I WISH THEY WERE SHORTER. BUT WE'VE DONE THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY, IT SHOULD BE COUNTENANCE OR, OR SUPPORTED FOR A MOMENT THAT BECAUSE AN ITEM WAS SPECIFICALLY SET FOR A SIX O'CLOCK START TIME WOULD'VE BEEN OUTSIDE THE NORM OF WHEN NORMAL ITEMS OR HEARD DURING A GIVEN, UH, DAY'S AGENDA AT A COMMISSION MEETING. SO I, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE, UH, UH, COVERED ALL OF THE, UH, NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. UH, COMMUNITY OUTREACH HAS BEEN, UH, ADEQUATELY CONDUCTED. MARY POWELL, UH, 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'S GONNA LOOK LIKE. WE'RE DECIDING TODAY, DECIDING TODAY WHETHER WE'RE GONNA AMEND, UM, THE ORDINANCE. SO, UH, WITH RESPECT TO YOUR REQUEST COMMISSIONER OR, UH, DEFERRAL BASED ON LITIGATION, I'M QUITE CONFIDENT THAT WE DID THINGS APPROPRIATELY, UM, STAND BEHIND THE CITY'S POSITION. I WELCOME ALWAYS THE, THE RESIDENTS VOICES CHALLENGES WHEN APPROPRIATE. AND I WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY IF THE FACTS WERE DIFFERENT, BUT THEY'RE NOT. SO I'M 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, THE INITIAL MEETING WASN'T A DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS GONNA 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, IS THE PROCESS HAD JUST BEGUN. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY. PROVIDING THE PROCESS, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD SPOKE IN FAVOR FIVE TWO. SO NO, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF DEFERRING IT. WE NEED TO PROCEED WITH THE PROCESS. 'CAUSE THAT'S INDEED THE RELIEF THAT WAS REQUESTED IN COURT. AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT YOUR AMENDED COMPLAINT AND I'M NOT MAKING A LEGAL OPINION ON THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK DELAYING THIS BENEFITS ANYBODY. MAYOR LAGO. SO BEFORE I RESPOND, IF YOU SEE ME A LITTLE BIT, UH, UNEASY ON MY SEAT, I DUNNO 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, UM, NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO, UH, THE RIDICULOUSNESS THAT ALWAYS RESULTS IN THESE MEETINGS, LEMME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY I WANTED TO MOVE QUICKLY IN REGARDS TO THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE BY, UH, MELISSA CASTRO, MEASURE TO CHAT GBT. SO, UM, 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. [05:20:01] NO, LET'S HAVE EVERYBODY HAVE CONVERSATION. LET'S LET EVERYBODY TALK. LIKE I ALLOWED ALL GROUPS TO TALK. SHOULDN'T JUST MAKE A MOTION TO TRY TO JUST CHILL ALL CONVERSATION. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO GET THAT OUTTA THE WAY AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER. SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE TO CORRECT MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER LATA ON THE RECORD, WHICH NOT CORRECT HIM 'CAUSE HE FAILED TO MENTION IT WAS MADAM STATE ATTORNEY. WHAT COMMISSIONERS WERE AT THAT MEETING, AT THAT PUBLIC MEETING? MAYOR, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE YOU WERE PRESENT. UM, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON WAS PRESENT AND COMMISSIONER LARA WAS PRESENT. WHAT WAS THE REST OF THE COMMISSION YOU ASKING ME? NO, NO, I'M NOT ASKING YOU. I'M, I'M, I'M, YOU'RE ASKING, I'M, I'M NOT ASKING YOU. SO LET ME SPEAK. I ALLOW EVERYBODY TO SPEAK TO BE RESPECTFUL. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING YOU. OKAY. THAT'S THE ONLY THING I'M ASKING YOU. SO, AT THE END OF THE DAY, SO THIS IS VERY SIMPLE. WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION AND 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 COST? BECAUSE I'M INTRIGUED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. YES, I DO ACTUALLY. I'D LIKE TO. SO WHAT HAS BEEN BILLED TO THE CITY, UM, SINCE STARTING IN MARCH WAS IT 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 SO WE CAN MEET HALFWAY AND FIGURE OUT A WAY, UH, MAKES EVERYBODY HAPPY HERE. OKAY? UM, I'M A NO 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA 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. SO I'M A NO. ALRIGHT, 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. UM, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS, IS IMPORTANT HERE? BECAUSE AGAIN, I'VE ALSO, AND NOT, I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY AND I'D, I'D LIKE TO HAVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY CHIME IN HERE BECAUSE YOU HAD, UM, 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? 'CAUSE THESE THINGS WILL ALL MAKE IT INTO THE, INTO THESE VERY MISLEADING BLOCKS. HAPPY TO DO SO. WILL YOU GIMME A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THAT AS AN ATTORNEY? 'CAUSE 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, AT THIS LOCATION. UM, 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. THERE'S LOTS OF STEPS IN THE PROCESS, UM, INCLUDING ONE BIG ONE, WHICH IS FUNDING FOR THE DOG PARK, WHICH THAT RESOLUTION SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE PRIVATE FUNDING FOR THE DOG PARK. UM, SO THIS IS ONE, ONE OF THOSE NECESSARY STEPS IS ADDRESSING THESE RESTRICTIONS IN THIS ORDINANCE. UM, THE, THE LAWSUIT ALSO CLAIMS IT COMPLAINS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS ORDINANCE HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED OR THIS ORDINANCE EXISTS. SO THIS IS A STEP IN THE PROCESS. THIS ALSO ALSO APPROVAL OF THIS ORDINANCE ALSO DOES NOT DEFINITIVELY MEAN THAT THERE'LL 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, UM, STAFF'S POSITION IS THAT THERE'S NO LONGER A NEED TO RESTRICT THAT USE SOLELY TO OVERFLOW PARKING. BUT I I DO ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT IT DOES SAY THAT THERE MAY BE OVERFLOW PARKING AT, AT, YOU KNOW, IS, IS HOW STAFF IS PROPOSING THAT THE ORDINANCE BE AMENDED. UM, SO I DO NOT THINK THAT, ARE WE DOING ANYTHING ILLEGAL? NO. ARE WE BREAKING THE RULES? NO. ARE WE DOING ANYTHING OUT OF THE NORM? TO THE CONTRARY, SIR, THIS IS FOLLOWING THE PROCESS. WE, WE STARTED WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD PROCESS, WHICH IS WHAT, WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN WHEN THERE'S A, A, A CHANGE OF A CHANGE OF ZONING OR AN AMENDMENT TO A ZONING ORDINANCE. SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NOTICE FOR THAT HEARING. THERE WAS NOTICE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE'RE GOING TO, UH, THROUGH THE STEPS. THERE WAS NOTICE FOR THIS HEARING AS WELL BECAUSE, UM, AND I, I, I, IF I MAY MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS ONE COMMENT THAT WAS MADE ABOUT THE MAILERS GOING OUT FOR THIS BEFORE PNZ HAD MADE THE DECISION THIS COULD MOVE FORWARD EVEN IF PNZ 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. AND WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE. WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD THINGS OUT OF TURN. SO AT [05:25:01] THE END OF THE DAY IT'S, BUT, BUT IT'S NOT A, SORRY, MAYOR. I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW. IT'S NOT OUT OF TURN. IT'S NOT OUT OF TURN. I KNOW KNOW, BUT I'M SAYING, BUT I'M GOING EVEN FURTHER. WE'VE HEARD THINGS OUT OF TURN. WE ARE NOT EVEN OUT OF TURN. SO THE WORD LITIGATION IS USED A LOT OF TIMES TO PULL THE, YOU KNOW, 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, UH, 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 THERE'S A FEW STATEMENTS MADE ABOUT SALOR DOG PARK. AND YES, IT DOES GET USED. AND NOW 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, UM, HAD A SMALL AREA THAT HAD ASTROTURF FOR SMALL DOGS AND THE REST OF IT IS GRASS. SO I'M GONNA 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. UM, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION REGARDING PARKING ISSUES THAT IF AN ISSUE ARISES, THAT WE COULD ADDRESS IT WITH THE CHOICE OF THE RESIDENCE THAT WE'RE BEING IMPACTED, WHETHER IT WAS RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT SIGNS OR NO PARKING PERMIT. UH, NO PARKING SIGNS. AND IT WAS INDEED THEIR CHOICE AND THEY DIDN'T WANNA DO IT RIGHT AWAY. 'CAUSE THEY WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, ASSESS HOW MANY, UH, PEOPLE WERE VISITING THE PARK, UH, WHERE THEY, 'CAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WALKED TO THE PARK. AND THAT IS THE PREMISE BEHIND HAVING THESE REGIONAL DOG PARKS TO WALK TO. I NOTICE THAT YOU'RE ALL CALLING IT A BARK PARK. THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S, DOGS DON'T GO TO THE BARK. 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 THE SALVADOR DOG PARK, BUT REALLY BECOMES A PROBLEM, UH, WHERE THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE COMING. WE CAN DO RESIDENTIAL ACCESS CARD ZONING, BUT WE CAN ONLY DO THIS A STEP AT A TIME. RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT A STAGE OF DEALING WITH A ZONING ISSUE. THAT'S ALL WE'RE HERE FOR. SO I DON'T KNOW IF I ANY, IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS. NO, I JUST WANTED YOU TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK AND BE VERY CLEAR. I WANTED TO LAY THE GROUND, YOUR HONOR, THAT WAS, AND BE, AND BE VERY GRANULAR ON, ON THAT FRONT. BECAUSE AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE THROWN OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE LITIGATION, JUDICIAL PROCESS. WE'RE NOT BEING FAIR. A LOT OF WORDS THAT ARE USED. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ATTORNEYS LIKE MYSELF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, THEY SEE IT AS, OKAY, WELL 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 THROUGH THE BOARDS, AND WE'RE DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY. WE MAY DISAGREE, WE MAY DISAGREE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, MAYBE WE COME TOGETHER, WE FIND A SOLUTION THAT MAKES EVERYBODY HAPPY. BUT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING A PROCESS. ISN'T THAT CORRECT? COMMISSIONER ALDO, BRIEFLY, UM, MAYOR, I JUST WANNA 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, I, I HAVEN'T COUNTED, BUT I WOULD SAY THE UNIVERSITY, UH, GREEN, UH, ASSOCIATION, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I WOULD SAY HAS PROBABLY LESS THAN 10 PEOPLE HERE. I, 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 IGLESIA AS CITY MANAGER PACT RESIDENT AFTER RESIDENT AFTER RESIDENT, VOICING THEIR STRONG OPINIONS TO NOT GO FORWARD WITH WHAT? COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ COMM THEN COMMISSIONER MENENDEZ AND CURRENT COMMISSIONER CASTRO VOTED [05:30:01] THE ALSTER OF PETER ESIAS. 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, HAD 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 MA RULE, WE'RE NOT MAJORITY RULE. WE'RE REPRESENTATIVE AND WE FOLLOWED THE PROCESS. ONE LAST QUESTION, UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, 'CAUSE THE ISSUE WAS MENTIONED AND BROUGHT UP, AND, UH, COMMISSIONER ADA BROUGHT UP PROCESS AGAIN, I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, THIS IS IMPORTANT. WAS THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS FOLLOWED WITH RESPECT TO THE EVERY YEAH, I MEAN, I'VE, 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 WANNA REITERATE THAT INITIAL RESOLUTION WAS A DIRECTION TO STAFF TO PROCEED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF A DOG PARK. BUT THAT BEGAN THE DESIGN PROCESS, ET CETERA. UM, 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. UM, AND, AND WE FOLLOWED ALL THE REQUIRED PROCESS. JUST WANNA 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 MENTION PROCESS AND JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM HERE, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CIRCUMVENTING ALL THE PROCESS AND THAT WE'RE TRAMPLING OVER ALL OF THAT. I WANNA 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, I KNOW WHAT'S BEEN SAID WAS BEFORE YOU IS NOT APPROVING A DOG PARK. IN FACT, A HUNDRED PERCENT IT IS AMENDING AN ORDINANCE THAT HAD CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS WHEN THE ZONING WAS CHANGED BACK IN THE SEVENTIES. 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'LL BE A DOG PARK. IT WILL, IT WOULD, IF, 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 GONNA HAVE HIM DO IT NOW 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANNA WASTE MORE TIME. BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK AT MULTIPLE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SPEAKING FROM THE PUBLIC, THEY MENTIONED A FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS, A BREAKDOWN IN THE PROCESS. THEY QUOTED MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION THINK IT'S A FAILED PROCESS. FAILED PROCESS. SO I WANNA 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. THROUGH THE MAYOR, YES. NO. OKAY. SO WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE CLOSE TO THIS PARK, WERE, THIS PARK IS IMPACTING THE RESIDENTS. BESIDES PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA, WERE ANY OF YOU NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS GONNA 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 GONNA BE ON THE AGENDA WERE THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO 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, WE'RE NOT INFORMED. WHAT IS THE CITY GONNA SAY? THE CITY'S GONNA 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 [05:35:01] RESIDENTS. NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT PART OF THE PROCESS. I DID TRY TO MAKE IT PART OF THE PROCESS IN THIS COMMISSION DECLINED. OKAY, NOW, NOW THE OTHER THING IS, UM, I WANNA 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, UM, I THINK WE'RE HANDLING THIS VERY POORLY. YOU THE MAYOR, UM, UM, GIMME ONE, ONE MOMENT. COMMISSIONER LARA. 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 THAT I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO ADDRESS ME WITH RESPECT. I CORRECTED YOU, I AM YOUR COLLEAGUE, I'M A COMMISSIONER. I'M NOT MRS. CHAD, GPT OR WHATEVER IS THAT YOU WANNA CALL ME? 'CAUSE 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 C YOU. AND I WOULD HOPE MY COLLEAGUES GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD SUPPORT ME. I WELCOME IT. COMMISSIONER LARA THROUGH THE, YES, THROUGH THE MAYOR COMMISSIONER CASTRO. THAT WAS, UM, 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. MS. SORRY. YES, GO AHEAD. MY APOLOGIES. NO, NO. UM, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY SOME THINGS BECAUSE I, I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER CASTRO WAS ASKING WHETHER THEY RECEIVED NOTICE FOR THE NOVEMBER COMMISSION MEETING, BUT I, IT, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT UNCLEAR WHETHER THAT MEANT THIS MEETING. SO I WANNA 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 WANNA MAKE, PUT THAT ON THE RECORD THAT THERE WAS MAILED NOTICE. UM, AND I SEE THE, THE PLANNING DIRECTORS UP THERE. IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE GONNA ADDRESS? YES. SO MAIL NOTICE WAS SENT OUT ON MAY 20TH, THE SAME DAY AS PLANS ARE BEING, AS YOU, I THINK HEARD FROM MULTIPLE RESIDENTS HERE. SO YES. WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF THE FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE PROPERTY. RIGHT. COMMISSIONER LARA, GO AHEAD AND RESPOND TO YOU. SO IF, IF I MAY MM-HMM . OKAY. WE HAVE A PRETTY LONG AGENDA. UH, LET'S GET MOVING ON THIS ISSUE. I KNOW WE WANNA GO BACK AND FORTH TIT FOR TAT AND IT'S PERFECTLY FINE. UM, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER THAT, THAT HAS THAT ADDS A LITTLE BIT OF SUBSTANCE TO THE DISCUSSION ITEM? VICE MAYOR AS THE, YOUR OTHER SPONSOR CORRECT. ON THIS ITEM? YES. NO, THIS IS STAFF ISSUE. NO STAFF. I APOLOGIZE. EXCUSE THIS WAS, THIS WAS A STAFF? YEAH. STAFF. STAFF. ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? NO, I'M, I'M JUST READING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, A THAT THE PROPERTY AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY SHALL BE NOT BE PAVED FOR OFF STREET PARKING. THE PROPERTY SHALL BE KEPT IN A PARK-LIKE MANNER, AND THEN WITH THE TREES AND FOLIAGE OF THE SAID PROPERTY SHALL BE PRESERVED IN THEIR PRESENT STATE AS MUCH AS FEASIBLE. OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF THE PROCESS TO MAINTAIN THIS PROPERTY AS THE GREEN SPACE THAT IS INTENDED TO BE. UM, THIS DOESN'T DICTATE RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING A DOG PARK. IT REMOVES THE RESTRICTION ON THE PROPERTY THAT IT'D BE USED FOR OFF STREET PARKING. SO I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THIS THING FORWARD. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? CAN I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, MR. CLERK. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, THE CORAL GABLES. JANUARY, 1972, THE COMMISSION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MARY W KEITH PHILLIPS STATED SPECIFICALLY THAT THE INTENTION OF THE COMMISSION IS THAT THE SAID LOTS SHOULD BE USED ONLY FOR OVERFLOW PARKING FROM THE YOUTH CENTER AND THE LIBRARY. NOWHERE DOES IT SAY IT CAN BE USED AS A PARK. IT IS VERY CLEAR. IT IS IN BLACK AND WHITE AND I AM A NO, THIS IS A MATTER THAT'S UNDER LITIGATION RIGHT NOW. AND WE SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD [05:40:01] UNTIL THE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED AND RESIDENTS HAVE THEIR SAY, COMMISSIONER LARA, FOR THE REASONS STATED YES, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT'S REQUIRED. THE REASON FOR THE LAWSUIT IS TO HAVE THE PROCESS FOLLOWED. WE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS AND THE VOTE IS YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND ANSWER HI LAW'S 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, 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? WHAT DO YOU BY 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 WILL NO LONGER BE VALID BECAUSE WE'RE FIXING IT. WELL, COMMISSIONER, RESPECTFULLY, IF YOU'RE FIXING SOMETHING, THEN THAT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING. UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IF THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT A, A DEFICIENCY OF SOME SORT AND, 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, 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. UM, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A STEP THAT, THAT WHEN DONE BY THE COMMISSION YEAH, THEY, 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'S 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 GOTTA FIGURE THAT OUT. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS PART OF THAT PROCESS IN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE NEXT STEPS IN, IN DEVELOPMENT OF A DOG PARK. MY ANSWER IS, MY, MY VOTE IS NO. MAYOR LAGO 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. YOU DIDN'T. THAT'S A BOO BOO. UH, MY VOTE IS, UH, YES. MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. UH, LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM, WHICH WAS A TWO 30 TIME TURN. TWO DASH ONE. 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 STRETCH OUT MY BACK. WELCOME BACK, MR. CLERK ITEM TWO [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.] DASH ONE, PLEASE. YES, SIR. TIME TURNED FOR TWO 30. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. YES, GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, THIS ITEM IS TO THE RESOLUTION, ASKING THE COMMISSION TO, TO APPROVE THE STUDY OF A, UH, SCRAMBLE SIDEWALK. JUST TO BE CLEAR AS TO APPROVE THE STUDY, NOT THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE, UH, SCRAMBLE SIDEWALK. SO, AS A TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD, UH, CHAIRPERSON, I'VE, I TASKED MY, UH, MY MEMBERS TO LOOK FOR, UH, AVAILABILITY FOR SAFETY AND MOBILITY THROUGHOUT OUR CITY. UM, OBVIOUSLY PONDS AND MIRACLE MILES, ONE OF THE MOST TRAVERSE SECTIONS IN OUR, IN OUR CBD AND I THINK IT, IT, IT, IT MERITS THE ADDITIONAL STUDY FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY CROSSING, UH, THROUGH THAT AREA. UM, MIRACLE MOUNTAIN PONDS ARE, ARE AREAS THAT ARE MANAGED BY THE CITY. SO BASICALLY THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT IN THE STUDIES. UM, THERE ARE SOME, UM, THERE, THERE ARE POTENTIAL, THERE ARE BENEFITS AND THERE ARE CONS LIKE IN ANY STUDY. SO WHAT THE, WHAT THIS STUDY WOULD DO IS, UH, EVALUATE THOSE AND SEE IF, AND DETERMINE IF A, A CROSSWALK IS FEASIBLE IN THIS AREA. UM, THERE IS PRECEDENCE OF, OF, OF, UH, SCRAMBLE CROSSWALKS. WE HAVE IT AT 57TH AND SUNSET. THERE'S ALSO ONE IN BRICO ON EIGHTH STREET. UM, I PULLED UP SOME GENERAL DATA ON THE COST. UM, IN THIS CASE, BESIDES THE COST OF THE STUDY, UH, IF WE WERE TO PROCEED, THE STUDY SHOWS THAT IT'S FEASIBLE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE. UM, AS FAR AS IN THE FIELD CONSTRUCTING IT, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE. I WOULD BASICALLY DO THE RETRIP, UH, THE SIGNAGE SIGNING IS IN PLACE, UM, AND ALSO THE RAMPS ARE [05:45:01] IN PLACE. AND THEN REDO SOME OF THE SIGNAL TIMING TO, UH, IMPROVE THE PHASING FOR POSITION CROSSINGS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SCRAMBLE SIDEWALK, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. YOU'RE WELCOME. AND AS, AND AS A RESIDENT, YOU DO A LOT. AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU'RE ENGAGED AND WE'RE HAPPY TO USE AN ENGINEER LIKE YOURSELF WHO WANTS TO SERVE AND WHO WANTS TO SPEND TIME HERE. AND I APOLOGIZE, WE'RE ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATE FOR THIS ITEM. OKAY. UM, I, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO DO, IF YOU WOULD JUST APPEASE ME, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO SIT DOWN WITH A MANAGER AND HAVE A, HAVE A CONVERSATION IN REGARDS TO THIS, TO THE SCRAMBLE SIDEWALK AND SEE HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE ON THIS ISSUE, OF COURSE. UH, AND WORK TOGETHER. UM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL. THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO TELL YOU WAS, UM, YOU'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY PATIENT IN REGARDS TO SIDEWALKS AND THE ROAD WORK THAT'S BEING DONE IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ACCOMPLISHED. SO IT'S LOOKING, YEAH. SO HOW DO, HOW DOES, HOW ARE, HOW IS THE RESIDENTS AND THE, AND, AND, AND, UM, I WAS TALKING WITH, WITH VICE MAYOR AND WE SEE A LOT OF PEDESTRIANS WALKING THROUGH THE AREA. THEY'RE ACTUALLY, THEY ENJOY IT. UH, HAVE CONVERSATION WITH ALL MY NEIGHBORS WALKING THROUGH IT. 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, WHAT IT WAS IT MEANT TO DO. SO I USE, I USE THAT STREET EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND ONE OF THE ITEMS, UH, I HAD MULTIPLE VISITS WITH THE MANAGER AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT. 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, WHEN YOU TIGHTEN THE STREET, BESIDES THE ISLAND THAT'S RIGHT. ADJACENT TO, UH, TO THE, UH, TO THE BRIDGE, UH, THE TIGHTENING OF, 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 MM-HMM . AND MORE COGNIZANT OF IT. SO, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT A LOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE ARE USING OBVIOUSLY A SIDEWALK. THAT'S THE INTENTION. AND THAT OBVIOUSLY WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE THE TREES AND THE CANOPY STAYED INTACT. RIGHT. SO HAVE YOU HEARD ANY, ANY OF THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA THAT ARE UPSET ABOUT IT? I HAVE NOT. NO. UH, WE'VE HAD SOME CONCERNS DURING CONSTRUCTION, BUT THOSE HAVE BEEN RESOLVED WITH STAFF. UM, 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, UH, IN THE HANDS OF THE MANAGER, UH, WAS, UH, MR. FRIEDMAN, UH, HE HAD AN ISSUE, HE HAD SOME PEOPLE WERE GONNA 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. YES. MM-HMM . 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. OKAY. NO, THAT MAKES ME HAPPY. GREAT. UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO DO, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WILL YOU SEND BACK A MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION TO EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD, UH, THANKING THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK? WILL DO, OF COURSE. 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, UH, MOVING FORWARD ON THIS PROJECT. OKAY. GOOD. MAYOR, THANK, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. I'LL BE HAPPY TO SET UP A MEETING WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND OUR ASSISTANT, UH, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION SO WE CAN ALL, SO WE CAN ALL DISCUSS AND, AND, 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. UM, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE, 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, UH, IN MY OPINION, UH, NOT ONLY IS A SCRAMBLE SIDEWALK, BUT MAYBE WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT ALL THE ANGLES. AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE SIT DOWN ON A TABLE WITH YOUR EXPERTISE, YOUR BACKGROUND AS A CIVIL ENGINEER IS HIM AS A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, WE CAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION AND SAY MAYBE THERE'S OTHER AREAS HERE THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT. SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GO TO A JOB SITE AND, AND I GO WITH STAFF. THEY SEE THINGS THAT I DON'T SEE AND I SEE THINGS THAT THEY DON'T SEE. RIGHT. SO, UM, I JUST WANNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, OF, OF THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY, OF COURSE, THAT WE HAVE A TEAM THAT WE HAVE HERE, AND ESPECIALLY RESIDENTS ALONG WITH ES AND MELISSA, WHO ARE THE DIRECTORS WHO ARE AMAZING. UH, AND THE DCM WHO COULD PROBABLY JOIN US TOO, UM, AND ENGAGE ON, ON THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION. SURE. SO THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. UH, SO YES, I AGREE. I I BELIEVE IN ONSITE MEETINGS A LOT BECAUSE YOU GET TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND, UH, THE MEETING THAT I DID WITH, UH, THE SECRETARY OF, UH, DISTRICT SIX, UH, MR. IGLESIAS WAS EYE-OPENING AT THE INTERSECTION. THERE'S LIT UP NO RIGHT HAND TURN SIGNS THAT REMIND DRIVERS NOT TO MAKE A RIGHT WHEN THE PEDESTRIANS ARE CROSSING ARE, ARE WONDERFUL. SO, UM, YES, I HOPE THAT WE CAN HELP IMPROVE SAFETY THERE AT TS AND, AND CORAL WAY. AND I LIKE THOSE DIAGONAL SIDEWALKS AS WELL BECAUSE IT JUST, I THINK MAKES IT MUCH SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS, UH, GOING FORWARD. SO IN PREPARING FOR THIS, I I, DUE DILIGENCE, I, I HAVE, UM, ACQUAINTANCES WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS AT DISTRICT SIX AS WELL AND KIND OF, KIND OF, UM, HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS AND THEY SAID, YEAH, IT COULD BE FEASIBLE. AND THE SAME THING. IT WOULD SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE, FIND OTHER ALTERNATIVES IN THE CURRENT CONDITION. SOMETHING THAT MAY, MAY HELP IS ACTUALLY ENFORCEMENT OF THE NO RIGHT TURN ON RED SIGNS. UM, WHICH IF YOU'RE CROSSING [05:50:01] NOW, IT THE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOT ONLY DEALING WITH THAT, BUT YOU'RE ALSO DEALING WITH THE LEFT TURNS COMING IN. SO, UM, AGAIN, I, IN MY OPINION, I THINK, UH, SCRAMBLE, IT'S, IT'S WORTH LOOKING AT. 'CAUSE YOU HAVE A DEDICATED PHASE NOW. UH, INSTEAD OF HAVING TWO PEDESTRIAN PHASES, YOU REDUCE IT TO ONE, IT'S AN INCREASE A LITTLE BIT. AND OBVIOUSLY WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF TRAFFIC AND THAT THE STUDY WILL SHOW ALL THAT THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. YES. SO I DON'T BELIEVE THE MANAGER IS A REALLY BIG FAN OF THIS PROPOSAL, UM, ESPECIALLY IN THIS INTERSECTION. BUT THEN AGAIN, I CAN REFER TO HIM. I'M JUST SAYING, UM, BASED ON OUR CONVERSATION IN OUR, UH, PRE AGENDA MEETING NOW, HOW MUCH, YOU SAID YOU WENT AHEAD AND YOU FOUND OUT HOW MUCH THE TRAFFIC, THE, THE STUDY WOULD COST. HOW MUCH IS IT? WELL, UM, I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT 'CAUSE I'M NOT AWARE OF WHAT THE, THE CONSULTANTS' RATES AND NEGOTIATION PROTOCOL IS FOR THE CITY. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CITY CAN DETERMINE. UM, I I, AS FAR AS CONSTRUCTION COSTS, UM, AT EIGHTH STREET AND BRICKELL, THE COST THERE WAS ABOUT $120,000. BUT THAT INVOLVED MORE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK THAN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. YEAH. BUT JUST, IT WAS JUST STRIPING AND, AND, AND TASING JUST A STUDY. 'CAUSE THIS IS FOR A STUDY, RIGHT? CORRECT. THE FUNDING A STUDY. NOW, THIS ACT THIS ITEM DOESN'T REQUIRE ACTION UNLESS ONE OF US MOVES IT. AND I'M, I'M WILLING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THIS ITEM JUST FOR THE STUDY TO FIND OUT, UM, IF IT'S REALLY CONVENIENT BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERSECTION WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO STOP ALL TRAFFIC LANES TO LET PEOPLE CROSS. RIGHT. SO JUST FOR THE, FOR THE STUDY, FOR THE FUNDING OF THE STUDY, I WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THE SIDE. WE HAVE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND. SO IN RESPONSE TO COMMISSIONER CASTRO'S COMMENTS, I WAS TRYING TO ELOQUENTLY GET THE MANAGER AND YOU IN A ROOM WITHOUT SAYING THE MANAGER WAS IN OPPOSITION. 'CAUSE THE MANAGER IS NOT IN OPPOSITION. THE, THE MANAGER HAS CONCERNS. AND AS AN ENGINEER, I RESPECT HIS CONCERNS AND I WANNA MAKE SURE HE CAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND HIS STAFF AND REVIEW IT AND SEE HOW WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND. UM, SO THAT'S THE WAY THAT I'VE ALWAYS DONE IT. I'M NOT GONNA SAY WHETHER HE'S IN FAVOR OR AGAINST IT, BUT WHEN I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ME, HE TOLD ME HIS CONCERNS. HE ALSO TOLD ME WHY HE ALSO WAS IN FAVOR OF CERTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS NOT JUST AN APPROVAL. WE CAN VOTE ON THIS. IT'S VERY EASY TO VOTE ON IT. WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS TWO PEOPLE OF YOUR CALIBER GET IN A ROOM WITH STAFF AND FIND SOLUTIONS, UH, AND FIND DIFFERENT THINGS IN THAT INTERSECTION THAT CAN BE BENEFITED. LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE. OKAY. WE HAVE SIGNAGE IN THERE ON THE SIGNAGE. SIGNAGE ON THE CORNERS THERE. I THINK WE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE SIGNAGE. I THINK THAT WE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY, UH, ASSIST IN WHAT THE VICE MAYOR HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR YEARS, UH, WHICH IS A DA INFRASTRUCTURE IN REGARDS TO THE NOISE ATTENUATION, UH, MACHINE MACHINES THAT ARE FORTHCOMING ON, ON, ON, ON MAJOR, UH, INTERSECTIONS. MM-HMM . THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT CAN BE DONE. UH, AND AGAIN, A PERSON LIKE YOURSELF, SITTING WITH A MANAGER AND SITTING WITH OUR AMAZING STAFF IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST SAYING, HEY, THE MANAGER'S AGAINST IT. UH, THE MANAGER'S NOT AGAINST IT. HE JUST HAS CONCERNS. AND THAT'S HIS JOB. AND THAT'S WHY I APPRECIATE THE MANAGER EVERY DAY MORE AND MORE BECAUSE HE, HE GIVES ME THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, BUT SAYS, LET'S REVIEW IT. SO WITH A PERSON LIKE YOURSELF WHO HAS PROBABLY MORE CIVIL ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE THAN, UH, OUTSIDE OF MAYBE THE DCM THAT, THAT I'VE, THAT I'VE MET IN A LONG TIME, I THINK WE CAN FIND A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT SOLUTIONS. UH, AND ALSO KIND OF CRAFT, CRAFT, UH, THAT AREA INTO BEING SOMETHING SPECIAL. UM, MAYBE THE SCRAMBLE, MAYBE THE SCRAMBLE SIDEWALK DOESN'T WORK. MM-HMM . BUT GUESS WHAT, MAYBE WE FIND SOLUTIONS TO OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING. AGREE. THAT'S MY POINT. YES, SIR. MR. MITCH, THE MAYOR. I, I THINK IT WOULD BE, UM, A GREAT TO SIT DOWN AND, AND LOOK AT THIS INTERSECTION BEING SUCH AN IMPORTANT INTERSECTION, MIRACLE MILE AND TS. AND I THINK WITH THE, WITH UH, ALL THE, UH, UH, ENGINEERING, UH, THAT WE HAVE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SIT DOWN, LOOK IT OVER AND SEE WHAT IS, WHAT IS WHAT, WHAT IS THE OPTIMUM SOLUTION FOR THAT? LET, LET ME GIVE YOU, LEMME GIVE GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. LEMME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. HE'S GONNA LAUGH. LEMME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE WHERE THE MANAGER AND I DISAGREE. OKAY. I THINK WE SHOULD REMOVE, HE'S, I THINK WE SHOULD REMOVE THE STONES AT THE INTERSECTIONS. JUST A MAINTENANCE NIGHTMARE. HE'S TRIED EVERYTHING. HE HAS INVENTED, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SLABS AND DIFFERENT CONCRETE MIXES AND, UH, ADDITIONAL REINFORCEMENT REBAR AND YOU KNOW, IS IT ON SAND? IS IT NOT ON SAND? STAFF EARNINGS IS ES AND MELISSA. THEY'VE GONE CRAZY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO DO THIS. OKAY. THE CROSS BOX YOU MEAN? YEAH. AND THEY'VE GOTTEN BETTER. THEY'VE GOTTEN BETTER. THEY'VE GOTTEN BETTER. THEY DON'T FAIL LIKE THEY USED TO FAIL, BUT THEY STILL, THEY'RE JUST, YOU CAN'T HAVE THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCKS ON, ON THOSE PAVERS. IT, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT ACCOUNTED [05:55:01] FOR WHEN YOU AND I WERE THERE WHEN THEY WERE MILLING THE FIRST TIME THAT EVENING WHEN THEY STARTED THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW, TO THE NEW MIRACLE MILE STREETSCAPE. SO I LIKE TO BRING HIM IN AND MAYBE THAT'S A, THAT'S SOMETHING WE LOOK AT AND SAY, BECAUSE IT WAS UP TO ME AS WE'RE HAVING, AS WE'RE FACING THIS TAX ISSUE NOW THAT'S FORTHCOMING FROM TALLAHASSEE AND WE HAVE THE COLA AND WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER EXPENSES THAT WE'RE TAKING, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING A YEAR ON THE MAINTENANCE OF, OF, UH, OF THE CROSSWALKS. $200,000. THAT'S WHAT WE BUDGET A LOT OF MONEY DO I THINK THEY'RE WORTH IT? THEY'RE STUNNING. BUT THE MATERIAL THAT IS FROM BRAZIL, CORRECT? YES. FROM BRAZIL. IT'S JUST, IT'S NOT THAT IT'S FRAGILE, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT MUCH WEIGHT FOR TRUCKS. AND BY THE WAY YOU CAN'T STOP TRUCKS FROM GOING DOWN MIRACLE MILE OR CROSSING ON PONDS. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE ARE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISAGREE ON. AND GUESS WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LEFT IT THERE. BECAUSE ONCE THEY'RE, ONCE THEY'RE, ONCE THEY'RE REFRESHED, WHICH HAPPENS ONCE EVERY, THIS HAS BEEN A WHILE. IT'S BEEN A WHILE. IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR AND CHANGE. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE'VE HAD IT. BUT, UM, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, UM, IT'S PAINFUL. IT'S PAINFUL TO SEE STAFF HAVING TO GO RUN OUT THERE AND BRING IN A CONTRACTOR TO ADDRESS THE DITCHES THAT HAVE BEEN FORMING THERE. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT. MAYBE YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA. IN THE SECTOR, THERE'S MULTIPLE ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THERE'S STAMPED ASPHALT, THERE'S STAMPED CONCRETE, THERE'S COMBINATIONS OF, SO THERE'S MULTIPLE ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE FEASIBLE AND LESS COST OR MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR ME. SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TELL YOU NOW, I'M GONNA TELL YOU NOW, IF I MAY STAMPED CONCRETE IS NOT GONNA, I I KNOW I, IT, I ALWAYS LIKE TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES, A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE, AND OBVIOUSLY COME DOWN WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE SAFEST AND MOST COST EFFECTIVE. AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW THAT THE DCM IS DEALING WITH IT. AND WE HAD A MEETING WITH IT ABOUT YESTERDAY. UH, WE'RE WRITING A MEMO ON IT. LAURA FROM MY OFFICE IS WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE SUBMITTED ALREADY. UH, WHEN YOU GO TO REGIONS BANK, YOU SEE, YOU SEE THAT THEY HAVE, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TILES. WE HAVE THE MIRACLE MOUSE STREETSCAPE TILE, THEN WE HAVE, IT WAS A PAVER, EXCUSE ME. AND WE HAVE A VERY THIN TILE. AND THEN WE HAVE THE CONCRETE. SO WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TREATMENTS THAT TILE IN FRONT OF REGENTS BANK SHOULD NOT EXIST. REMOVE THAT TILE AND THROW CONCRETE THERE, OR EXTEND, EXTEND THE MIRACLE MILE STREETS PAPER. IF YOU GO AND LOOK AT THAT RIGHT NOW, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER. THE TOWEL IS LIFTING UP, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE COVENANTS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE AND WE HAVE IN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR LOCATIONS, IT'S IN MY MEMO. CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR, MR. MANAGER AND THE DCM, CAN YOU SHARE THE MEMO WITH HIM? YES. AND SHARE 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. 'CAUSE 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. UH, I'M GONNA MOVE TO THE DEFER THE VOTE ON, UH, THE, UH, DOING THE STUDY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE ENGINEER SYMPOSIUM, UM, MEET AND SEE WHAT WE CAN GET, UH, DISCUSSED AND RESOLVED AND COME WITH SOME, UM, SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSION ON HOW TO ADDRESS ALL THESE VARIETY OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HERE. 'CAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, SIX MORE ISSUES POPPED UP IN THE PROCESS. SO I'LL, I'LL MOVE TO DEFER. LEMME ASK YOU A QUESTION. HOW MUCH IS THE STUDY? WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE STUDY'S GONNA BE? HERE COMES THE DIRECTOR, HAD YOU UP THE WHOLE TIME. GOOD AFTERNOON HERE, MS. YES. POLAR WORKS DIRECTOR. UM, WE HAVE TO LOOK IN DETAIL, BUT A PLACE LIKE PONDS, YOUR PROBABLY LOOKING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50 TO 75,000 BUCKS. SO IT NEEDS TO BE A COUNTY. UH, DO YOU MIND IF WE HAVE THIS MEETING AND WE BRING THIS BACK IN JULY? IN 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 AT REGENTS BANK AND COME TO SOME IF, IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO IT OR, OR WHAT. WE GOTTA FIGURE THIS OUT, YOU KNOW, UH, MR. MANAGER, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I THINK THAT, 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, UH, A STUDY AT THAT TIME IS DONE, IT IS, IS IS APPROPRIATE, WE WILL BRING IT BACK. YOU COULD GIVE US TO THE MEETING IN, UH, 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, UH, AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME, SOME, SOME DATA THAT OUR ASSISTANT TRAFFIC, UH, DIRECTOR HAS. AND IT WOULD BE A GREAT MEETING FOR ALL OF US TO SEE IF WE CAN IMPROVE REALLY OUR, OUR MOST, ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT, UH, INTERSECTIONS. AND CERTAINLY THE ONE THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I RESPECT ALL OF YOU. AND ESPECIALLY OBVIOUSLY THE RESIDENT WHO, WHO'S GOING, YOU KNOW, GRACEFULLY, AGAIN, THIS IS A CONVERSATION STARTER AND I THINK IT'S, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD ITEMS. AND THEN THESE ARE ALSO ITEMS THAT I CAN BRING UP TO TAB AS WELL FOR FURTHER CON CONVERSATION AND ELABORATION AS WELL. SO I THINK THIS HELPS AT THE END OF THE DAY, IS WE WANNA IMPROVE OUR WALKABILITY, OUR SAFETY MOBILITY IN [06:00:01] OUR, IN OUR CITY. AND I THINK GOOD COLLABORATION HELPS. MAYOR MAY ADD ONE, ONE MORE THING FOR THE MEETING. JUST FOR THE MEETING. 'CAUSE UH, CAN WE GET THROUGH THE DCM? IF YOU SPEAK TO LAURA THROUGH, SENT OUR DISTRICT SIX COMMISSIONER AND NATALIE ORBIS, I'VE SENT HER TWO LETTERS. AND ONE, THE ONE WAS A MEMO. UH, WE HAD A CONVERSATION IN BETWEEN ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ADDRESSES THE LIGHTING. THE LIGHTING, OBVIOUSLY THE TRAFFIC LIGHTING AND THAT THERE'S NEW TECHNOLOGY. AND MAYBE WE CAN DO A PILOT PROGRAM, UH, USING SOME OF THE SUBCONTRACTORS IN THE COUNTY TO JUST BASICALLY ADDRESS IT ON PONDS IN CERTAIN AREAS. I WOULD LIKE TO DO A TRAFFIC, EXCUSE ME, A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE MAYBE WE, THE INTERSECTION, FOR EXAMPLE, IN FRONT OF HILLSTONE, IF WE CAN REMOVE, IF WE CAN REMOVE THAT BOX OR AT LEAST MINIMIZE THAT BOX AND JUST PUSH IT INTO THE GRA, PUSH IT INTO THE BUSHES A LITTLE BIT, WHICH IS NOT THAT FAR. IT'S THREE OR FOUR FEET AWAY. I KNOW IT COSTS MONEY TO RELOCATE IT, BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE THE BEAUTIFICATION THAT WE COULD DO? AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CORAL GABLES WOULD BE WILLING TO DO. IF, IF, IF OUR STAFF REALLY FINDS AREAS THAT, THAT ARE HIGH IMPACT LIKE PONDS AND, AND MIRACLE MILE, YOU HAVE A BOX RIGHT IN FRONT. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I THINK WE COULD TALK AND WE CAN GET THAT MEMO THAT I WROTE THIS WEEK, UH, TO THE DISTRICT SIX COMMISSIONER. AND SHE, SHE WAS VERY INTERESTED. WE HAD A CONVERSATION. SHE'S ALL IN ON THAT FRONT TO THE MAYOR. YES. UM, I THINK IF YOU'RE HAVING THE MEETING, HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ENTIRE MIRACLE MILE. 'CAUSE WE HAVE THREE INTERSECTIONS IN MIRACLE MILE AND MAYBE THERE'S ONE OF THEM THAT YOU'D BE MORE WILL OPEN TO, TO HAVING OUR FIRST SCRAMBLE, UH, CROSSWALK IN AND TEST OUT, SEE WHAT NEEDS, WHAT WORKS, WHAT DOESN'T WORK, SO THAT WE CAN MOVE DOWN MIRACLE MILE AND HAVE 'EM ALL BE THE SAME. 'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU'RE IN MIRACLE MILE, MOST OF THE TIME YOU'RE TRYING TO CROSS THE STREET, WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE YOU PARKED ACROSS THE STREET OR WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO AN ESTABLISHMENT ACROSS THE STREET, UM, THOSE SCRAMBLED CROSSWALKS ARE GONNA MAKE IT A LOT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET ACROSS. 'CAUSE MOST OF THE TIME YOU'RE CROSSING NORTH SOUTH OR, OR EAST WEST, AND THEN YOU'RE HAVING TO STOP THERE, WAIT FOR THE NEXT LIGHT TO THEN BE ABLE TO CROSS. UM, SO ESPECIALLY IN THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS WHEN PEOPLE ARE JUST STANDING THERE BAKING IN THE SUN, UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY MAKE THE WALKABILITY OF MIRACLE MILE A LOT BETTER, UH, AND MAYBE HELP SOME OF THE BUSINESSES. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THAT SOUTHWEST, UH, BLOCK ON, ON MIRACLE MILE BEING THE ONE THAT STRUGGLES THE MOST. IF ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE MAKING THOSE SCRAMBLE CROSSWALKS THAT MAKE IT EASIER TO GET THERE, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET THAT PEDESTRIAN, UH, TRAFFIC THERE, UH, AND GET PEOPLE FREQUENTING THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE THAT ARE STRUGGLING. MOST OF OUR BUSINESSES ON THAT STRIP ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE FIRST TO CLOSE. THEY'LL OPEN FOR SIX MONTHS, BUT THEY JUST CAN'T SUSTAIN THE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC. PEOPLE END AT STARBUCKS. THEY DON'T TAKE THAT EXTRA, UH, BLOCK OVER. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF YOU'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION, HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ENTIRE STRIP, UH, AND SEE WHAT WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER. I KNOW THE CITY HAS DONE WORK IN THE PAST AND HAS DONE STUDIES ON, ON WHAT BEST PRACTICES WOULD BE AND STUFF. UH, AND I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. I THINK THOSE, THOSE CROSSWALKS FOR ME IN PARTICULAR, THE DAYS THAT IT RAINS, I HAVE CERTAIN SHOES THAT I CANNOT WEAR TO WALK ON THOSE CROSSWALKS BECAUSE I SLIP ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT. YOU HYDROPLANE. SO ANY SUGGESTION, AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CONSIDER SELLING THEM, MAYBE WE CAN SELL THEM TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO COULD USE THEM AND USE SOME OF THAT FUNDING FOR, UH, . YEAH. YOU NEVER KNOW, RIGHT? SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE, THE TAB DOES. UH, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE ADVISORY BOARDS THAT HAS BEEN UNDERUTILIZED FOR YEARS, BUT I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU'RE ALL TAKING INITIATIVE ON, ON MOVING SOME OF THESE GREAT PROJECTS FORWARD. UH, IT'S GONNA HELP WITH A DA ISSUES IF WE GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS DONE AS WELL. UM, SO IT'S, IT'S WELCOME AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT ON IT. YOU'RE WELCOME. AND, AND WE WE'RE PRIVILEGED AS NOW, AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ENGINEER. THERE'S, UH, SANTA MARIA IS ON, ON THERE AS WELL, WHO'S ALSO AN ENGINEER. SO WE HAVE TWO ENGINEERS NOW ON THE BOARD. I GOT A GROUP. OKAY. SO WE HAVE, UH, MARCHING ORDERS, MR. MANAGER, UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. UH, THE, THE ISSUE COMMISSIONER IS THE DEVIL'S ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS, SO YOU WANNA MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT, AT THE DETAILS, BUT IT'D BE A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU AND LOOKING AT, AT THE INTERSECTION. MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT THE ENTIRE MILE AND IT, WE, IT WOULD BE A, A GREAT MEETING FOR US TO DO SO. SO I, I, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. SO, MR. CLERK, WE'LL, WE'LL BRING THIS BACK ON THE AUGUST. YES, SIR. YES. SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. YEAH, THAT'S PENDING. OKAY. AND I HAD A MOTION TO DEFER AND I, I THINK, UM, WE NEED TO ASK IF THERE'S A SECOND ON THAT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE ENGINEER SYMPOSIUM. I'M OKAY WITH, WITH, UH, 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, UM, UH, I WITHDRAW MY IN MY SECOND. I'LL GO AHEAD AND RETRACT MY MOTION. THANK YOU. BUT WE NEED A SECOND FOR THE DEFERRAL, RIGHT? NO, I THINK THERE'S CONSENSUS TO JUST BRING BACK FINE. SO AUGUST, IT'S ON THE AGENDA ALREADY. SO, AND WE'LL JUST LOOK AT EVERYTHING HOLISTICALLY. EVERYTHING FROM, LIKE WE MENTIONED, [06:05:01] SIDEWALKS, OBVIOUSLY TO ALL THE EQUIPMENT, ALL THE TECHNOLOGY, ALL THE POLES, ALL THE SIGNAGE, EVERYTHING. I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT. THAT'S GREAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MY FRIEND. I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING ON [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)] TO ITEM F TWO. F TWO IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION REQUESTING THAT MOBILITY IMPACT FEES GENERATED BY THE PONDS EIGHT PROJECT LOCATED AT 38 0 8 SOUTHWEST H THREE B USED FOR ELIGIBLE MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS AND THE NORTH FLAGLER PONDS AREA AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. OKAY. UH, I'M THE SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM. UH, I'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH THE RESIDENTS, UH, NORTH OF A STREET AND PONCE, UH, MANY OF YOU'RE AWARE ZULI PARDO IS, IS, UH, KIND OF LIKE THE GENERAL IN THAT AREA. I SAY THAT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SHE'S ENGAGED IN A LINEA OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE CITY, 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, 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 A CM 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 LIVED LOCAL PROJECT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND THIS IS GONNA 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 WANNA 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 GONNA SEE EVEN MORE IMPACT WITH THIS LIVE 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, UM, 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, WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY, UH, FINISHING, OR WE'RE WORKING ON, EXCUSE ME, PHASE THREE OF PON LEON, WHICH WOULD, WHICH WOULD, UH, TAKE PONS ALL THE WAY TO, UH, SOUTHWEST EIGHTH STREET. AND WE ARE LOOKING AT, UH, PROPOSING A PONS PHASE FOUR THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE FROM SOUTHWEST EIGHTH STREET TO FLAGLER STREET. THERE'S APPROXIMATELY $160,000 AT THIS IN MOBILITY FEES, UH, IN MOBILITY IMPACT FEES THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD GENERATE. AND SINCE WHAT WE'RE DOING ON, ON PONTS WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT, UH, IT CERTAINLY, THIS WOULD BE CERTAINLY, UH, A PLACE WHERE THIS IMPACT FEE COULD HELP US, UH, PROVIDE BETTER, BETTER, UH, TRAFFIC SITUATION ON PONTS, UH, UH, HELP, HELP WITH THE CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC AND, AND HELP US FUND PHASE FOUR OF, OF PONZA LEONIAN. IT'S A START. AND I THINK THAT'S THE POINT. WE SHOWS THAT WE'RE COMMITTED. AND, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING, BY THE WAY, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE GOING TO BUDGET SEASON SOON. I WANT MAKE SURE THAT MY COLLEAGUES, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LIMB PICKINGS FORTHCOMING, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO THIS AREA, UH, COMMITTED TO THE PARK, COMMITTED TO A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE THERE. UH, BECAUSE THIS AREA, THIS AREA, JUST LIKE BILTMORE WAY, IT'S ANOTHER AREA. THIS AREA AND BILMORE WAY ARE AREAS THAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON OVER THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. THE MAYOR YES, SIR. WE ARE PROPOSING PHASE FOUR YES. 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, UH, THAT, THAT PROJECT. PERFECT. COMMISSIONER LADA. YEAH, I, UM, SO SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR RESOLUTION. YOU KNOW, I HAD THE, THE PRIVILEGE OF MEETING WITH, UH, ZULI PARTO, UH, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AT ROTARY PARK WHERE WE, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ORIGINAL VISION FOR THAT AREA, AND I KNOW YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT AS WELL, HAVING, UH, BEEN SOMEBODY SPEARHEADING THIS, UH, FOR SOME, QUITE SOME TIME. SO WITH TS UH, EIGHT PROJECT, UH, LOOKING LIKE IT'S JUST MOVING FORWARD, , I THINK THAT IT'S A VERY, VERY, UH, PRUDENT, APPROPRIATE, FAIR, EQUITABLE, UH, RESOLUTION TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS, UM, LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE THE FULL EXTENT OF THE FUNDS. I THINK THAT'S THE BEST PLACE AS WELL TO DEPLOY THEM. IT, SINCE WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION, THANK YOU TO THE CLERK WHO REMINDED ME. LET'S ALSO DISCUSS H TWO ALSO. UH, MR. MANAGER, WHICH IS YES, GO AHEAD. MADAM VICE MAYOR. UH, I'M, WE WE'RE DISCUSSING BOTH AT THE END OF THE DAY. I THINK THEY'RE, YEAH, BOTH RELEVANT. I'M ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF, UM, I MEAN, I DID DO ONE RESOLUTION AT CARRY FROM H STREET NORTH BECAUSE THERE IS A NEED TO DIRECT FUNDING FROM THE MOBILITY IMPACT FEES, UH, INTO THAT AREA. AND THIS IS A VERY APPROPRIATE PROJECT TO ALSO, UH, APPLY THOSE, THAT FUNDING TOO, BECAUSE, UH, THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT'S NEEDED FOR AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN, UH, NEGLECTED FOR SOME TIME, UH, MAKING IT MUCH MORE RESIDENTIAL IN DEALING WITH THE, UM, TYPE OF, AND SPEEDING OF TRAFFIC THAT'S GOING THROUGH THE AREA. UM, I DID THAT BEFORE I WAS A COMMISSIONER USING MOBILITY IMPACT FEES. AND, AND THIS IS VERY, VERY, UM, APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME. [06:10:01] 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. IT IS A RESOLUTION. YEAH. YEAH, WE DO NEED A MOTION. UM, SO MR. MAYOR, I THINK THIS IS A, A NO BRAINER. I THINK THIS IS THE COMMUNITY THAT'S MOST GONNA BE AFFECTED BY THAT PROJECT. UM, AND THEY REALLY NEED THE FUNDING AND THE INVESTMENT IN THE AREA. UH, I THINK WE DID WELL WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT'S COMING. THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING A LOT OF PROFFERS THAT ARE GONNA BE HELPFUL. UH, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT FIRST DROP IN THE BUCKET TO, TO MOVE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FORWARD. UH, AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE CAN ALSO HAVE THAT ENTRANCE FEATURE UP ON, ON FLAGLER, WHICH, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO BUY THAT PROPERTY AND, AND HAVE IT READY, UH, AND REALLY COMPLETE THAT FINAL, UH, STRETCH OF PONDS ALL THE WAY UP. UH, I WAS ON PONDS THIS WEEK AND SAW THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE. UH, IT'S LOOKING GOOD. UM, I HEARD A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA WHO HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR THIS FOR YEARS. UH, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO FINALIZE THAT PROJECT SOON AND, AND MOVE THIS FORWARD. SO IF YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION, MR. MAYOR, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SECOND, UH, THE VICE MAYOR MADE THE MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. YEAH. MOTION. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC SECOND, MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. OKAY. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LA. YES. MAYOR LAW. YES. UH, MR. MANAGER, WE CAN, [H.-2. 26-1562 Update regarding Live Local Act application located at 3808 SW 8th Street referred to as “Ponce 8.”] WE DO H TWO, WHICH IS BASICALLY IN LINE WITH NCEE AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE, THE LIVE LOCAL. YES, SIR. YEAH. YEAH. UM, THE, THE, UM, IMPACT FEES, UH, THE PARKS IMPACT FEE IS APPROXIMATELY $700,000. UH, THE MOBILITY FEE'S APPROXIMATELY 160,000. THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER 50,000 FOR FIRE AND, AND POLICE. SO, UH, THESE, UH, THESE, UM, ARE CERTAINLY THE, THE PARKS IS A, IS A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT FEE, WHICH COULD BE USED IN THE PARK ON, ON FLAGLER, THE, THAT, THAT WE PURCHASED. AND THAT CAN BE, THAT CAN BE EVEN DONE AS FAR OF, UH, PONDS PHASE FOUR. SO I THINK IT, IT GIVES US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY, UH, IN THE AREA. AND WE'RE LOOKING, UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO, UH, AS THIS, AS, AS IT COULD BE A POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT, THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. AND HOW, AND, AND IN REGARDS TO YOUR ITEM ON H TWO, WE TALK ABOUT THE LIVE LOCAL APPLICATION OF PO OF PONSE. HOW'S THAT GOING? YES, WE ARE HAVING A PRESENTATION NOW. PERFECT. AND, UH, BUT I, BUT I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IMPACT FEE. YEAH, JUST WONDERING. SO THIS BRINGS A, A NUMBER OF, OF BENEFITS FROM AN IMPACT FEE PERSPECTIVE. BY THE WAY, JUST BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THIS, DON'T MOVE. I, I, I KNOW WE'RE BUDGETING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE ENGINEERING, ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONNA BE DONE, ALL THE CONSULTANTS, BUT I THINK THAT'S, THIS IS GONNA PROBABLY BE LIKE A $10 MILLION PROJECT, MAYBE EVEN MORE IF YOU TALK ABOUT, DEPENDING ON THE SCOPE, OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AS MUCH COMMUNITY INPUT AND WE REALLY HAVE SOME IDEAS. YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE MAY WANNA DO SOME CONCEPTUALS AND WE WANNA SHOW PEOPLE, BUT, UM, THE MORE HARDSCAPE WE PUT IN, THE MORE IT'S GONNA COST. AND THE NUMBERS COULD BE STRATOSPHERIC WITH THE PRICING OF CONSTRUCTION NOW, UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR. YEAH, OF COURSE. YES, MAYOR. IT WOULD BE 10 TO $25 MILLION DEPENDING ON EASILY ON WHAT WE DO THROUGHOUT THAT AREA, IF, IF WE TAKE THE, THE WHOLE AREA TOGETHER. MADAM DIRECTOR, UH, YEAH, JENNIFER GARCIA, PLENTY ZONING DIRECTOR. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE PON STATE PROJECT. IT'S A MIX, SORRY. IT'S A MIXED USE PROJECT. UM, BUT USING THE LIVE LOCAL ACT, UM, THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED ON EIGHTH STREET BETWEEN GALLO AND PON. LEON, IT'S AN INNER BLOCK. YOU CAN SEE IT'S TAKING UP, I THINK, SIX POTTED LOTS. THERE'S AN AERIAL, SO IT'S NOT QUITE REACHING GANO ON THE CORNER. UM, IT'S WEDGED BETWEEN, I THINK, CAFE IT, ITALIANO OR ITALIA. THANK YOU. . UM, AN OFFICE BUILDING, UM, TO THE WEST. UM, THERE'S AN AERIAL SHARP LOOKING SOUTHWEST. SO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP ACTUALLY IS COMMERCIAL HIGH RISE INTENSITY. AND THE ZONING MAP SHOWS IT TO BE MX THREE ZONING. THIS IS A SHOT OF THE MIXED USE SITE PLAN FOR THE GROUND FLOOR. SO IT HAS, UM, GROUND FLOOR RETAIL FACING, UM, EIGHTH STREET. THERE'S AN ARCADE THAT RUNS MOST OF THE, UH, FRONTAGE ON H 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 IN ACCESS. THEY HAVE, UH, UNDERGROUND PARKING AS WELL AS FOUR LEVELS OF PARKING, I'M SORRY, FIVE LEVELS OF PARKING ABOVE. AND THEN THE VEHICULAR ENG, SORRY, VEHICULAR EXIT, UM, 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, UM, UH, HALLWAYS. UH, IT'S KIND OF A SHALLOW U UH, SHAPE OF UNITS. [06:15:01] AND IT HAS THE POOL AND AMENITY SPACE, UM, ON THE SOUTH SIDE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE TOP OF THE SCREEN. SO THE PROPERTY THREE 6,000 SQUARE FEET, THE ZONINGS MX THREE, UM, THE TOTAL FLOOR AREA RATIO, OR FAR IS 5.0, WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM YOU CAN HAVE WITH THE LIVE LOCAL ACT PREEMPTION. THE BUILDING HEIGHT IS SUPPOSED TO BE 175 FEET. UM, THAT'S WITH THE MIXED, THAT'S, SORRY, THE MED BONUS. UM, RESIDENTIAL UNITS OR BE 200 UNITS, WHICH, UM, EQUATES TO BE 242 DWELLING UNITS AN ACRE. THAT'S ANOTHER, UM, PREEMPTION BY THE LOUIS ACT. UH, COMMERCIAL WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 18,000 SQUARE FEET. AND THAT SPLIT BETWEEN THE RETAIL ON THE GROUND FLOOR, AS WELL AS, UM, SHARED, UH, COWORKING SPACE ON THE SIXTH FLOOR. AND THERE'LL BE 294, UH, PARKING SPACES AND 6,200 SQUARE FEET OF OPEN SPACE. THERE'S A RENDERING SHOWING THE FRONTAGE, UM, ON H STREET. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT'S A 16 STORY BUILDING. LEMME GO BACK, UM, WITH AN ARCADE, UM, ON THE FRONTAGE AND THAT ONE WAY IN ONE WAY OUT ON H STREET. SO THE DRC REVIEWED THIS IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR. UH, WE WENT THROUGH A ROUND OF COMMENTS, UH, MULTIPLE TIMES BY THE TIME THEY GOT THAT, UH, RESOLVED SOME OF OUR COMMENTS FROM, FROM ZONING. THEY'RE REVIEWED BY THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS FOR CONCEPTUAL REVIEW, WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR THE MED BONUS. AND THEN THE, THE BOA, UH, ISSUED THEM A PRELIMINARY APPROVAL AND THE MED BONUS WAS GRANTED. UM, IN APRIL, A PLANNING ZONING BOARD WILL NOT BE SEEN APPLICATION, NOR WILL THIS COMMISSION, BECAUSE IT IS A LIV LOCAL ACT APPLICATION. THERE'S A RENDERING LOOKING WEST LOOKING. UM, SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, CAFE ITALIA IN THE FOREGROUND. UM, THE ARCADE FACING H STREET, YOU CAN SEE THE ARCADE HERE. YOU CAN SEE THE ENTRANCE INTO THE GARAGE. ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN. THIS IS THE PICTURE OF A ARCADE. AND THEN IN THE DAYTIME, AND ALSO IN THE EVENING, AS FAR AS HOW THE LINE WILL, WILL, WILL BE EXPECTED, THIS IS THE, UM, RENDERING OF THE TOWER FACING SOUTH. SO THAT'S THE, UH, TERRACE SPACE IN THE, THE PLACE WITH THE THREE ARCHES IS THE LOBBY, UM, FOR A TOP FLOOR OF THE BUILDING. THE TOP IS SHOWING THIS, THE MINI SPACE. THE TOP IS SHOWING THAT, UH, POOL AREA THAT'LL BE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING AT THE SIXTH FLOOR. AND THEN THIS, UM, TERRACE AREA THAT'LL BE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE POOL, AGAIN, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING. AND IT'S A RENDERING OF THE, OF THE LIGHTING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING, AGAIN, FACING, UH, THE NORTH PONDS AREA. AND THEN, UM, THIS LAST SLIDE SHOWING AGAIN, THAT LIGHTING, UM, SITUATING THE GROUND FLOOR FOR THAT RETAIL LIGHTING AS WELL AS THE TOP OF THE BUILDING. AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. MAY I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION? YES. UH, THE PROJECT, IF IT WAS NOT LIVE LOCAL, WHAT WOULD BE THE HEIGHT THAT'S ALLOWED THERE? UM, WITH MED BONUS, IT'D BE ONE 90.5, AND THE DENSITY 1 25 UNITS 10 ACRE. SO THIS IS A, A PRETTY, PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PROJECT THAT'S FORTHCOMING. AND IT HAS NO, HAS NO REVIEW FROM THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, CORRECT. BY STAFF? IT DOES, BUT MINIMAL. BUT MINIMAL. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE COMMISSION APPROVAL. CORRECT. AND THAT'S A MIXED USE PROJECT. YES. SO ALL MIXED USE PROJECTS, NO MATTER IF THEY ARE AS OF RIGHT, REQUIRE REVIEW BY THE COMMISSION. SO THAT'S A BIG, A BIG HURDLE THAT THE DEVELOPER NO LONGER HAS TO GO THROUGH. CORRECT. MR. MANAGER, MAYOR. AND NO REVIEW OF, UH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD EITHER. SO, BUT, BUT IT DID GO THROUGH THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS. I WAS THERE FOR THE FIRST REVIEW. IT, IT WAS A VERY, UH, SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS, TO THE MAYOR. UM, IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER, UM, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH, UM, 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. JUST SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT. MAYBE THEY CAN MOVE IT TO THE NORTH SIDE SO THAT IT'S NOT FACING THE, THE, UH, ADJACENT TO THE RESIDENTIAL BEHIND IT. UM, AND THE OTHER THING IS, ARE THERE GOING TO BE ANY, UM, I GUESS TRAFFIC, UH, LIGHTS OR ANY WAY FOR THOSE CARS THAT ARE MAKING LEFT IN, UH, LEFT INTO THE BUILDING IS TRAFFIC STACKS ALL THE WAY, ALMOST TO 37TH AVENUE IN THE A IN THE AFTERNOONS. SO ANYBODY WHO'S GONNA TRY TO MAKE A LEFT INTO THAT BUILDING IS ONLY GONNA CONTINUE TO ADD TO THAT TRAFFIC. I DON'T KNOW IF, IF, UH, THAT'S IN CONSIDERATION. THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE STATE BECAUSE, UH, EIGHTH STREET IS, UH, IS FDOT. [06:20:01] BUT JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT IN THE CONVERSATIONS, UM, BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS IT'S JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO CAUSE MORE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE 200 UNITS PROBABLY HAVE CLOSE TO THE, 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 CAUSE A, A MAJOR ISSUE FOR TRAFFIC FOR, FOR RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA. SO JUST AS YOU HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS, I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO, TO PUSH WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, BUT IF THEY COULD CONSIDER THOSE THINGS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT. UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. UH, YES. COMMISSIONER, THEY, THEY'LL, THEY WILL, THAT, UH, H STREET IS A STATE ROAD MM-HMM . SO THEY WILL HAVE TO GET PERMITS FROM EACH STREET FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS. AND, AND, UH, THEY'LL, THEY'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT, UH, UH, WITH, WITH, WITH FDOT AND THROUGH THE MAYOR, THOUGH, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FDOT, IT'S HOW BY THEY CHANGE. IT'S ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT. RIGHT. SO THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FDOT FOR THOSE DRIVEWAY PERMITS AS WELL AS THE CIRCULATION ONTO THAT ROAD. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAD. UH, ITEM [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)] F THREE. F THREE IS 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 MEMORIAL YOUTH CENTER UNTIL THE REVERTER CLAUSE AND THE DEED TO THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO ADDRESS THE CITY COMMISSION'S CONCERNS REGARDING ITS POTENTIAL INTERPRETATION AND DIRECTING CITY ATTORNEY TO PAUSE ON LITIGATION EFFORTS UNTIL FURTHER DIRECTION IS PROVIDED BY THE CITY COMMISSION MAD VICE MAYOR. UM, THIS WAS AN ITEM I I BROUGHT IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO HELP REACH A RESOLUTION, UH, WITH THE WORLD MEMORIAL YOUTH CENTER. UH, THE REVERTER CLAUSE HAS BEEN A POINT OF CONTENTION, UH, BECAUSE OF ITS LACK OF CLARITY, UH, FOR SOME TIME. AND THIS, UH, PARTICULAR RESOLUTION WOULD PUT A PAUSE ON MA DOING MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OTHER THAN THE MAINTENANCE THAT'S REQUIRED, UH, FOR OUR NORMAL OPERATIONS, BUT NOT A TEAR DOWN OF THE BUILDING WITHOUT HAVING, UH, THE REVERTER CLAUSE ADDRESSED. IT'S A ONE WAY STREET RIGHT NOW THAT IF MISINTERPRETED OR MISAPPLIED OR A LAWSUIT BEGINS, UM, AND THE PROPERTY IS REVERTED BACK TO THE WAR MEMORIAL USE CENTER, UM, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR THAT ORGANIZATION TO CONTINUE TO RUN THE FACILITY AS IT IS INTENDED TO BE RUN, UH, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE YOUTH. UH, THE, THEY GET THE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THERE'S NO OBLIGATION GOING FORWARD. UH, THAT IS THE REASONING BEHIND, UM, THIS RESOLUTION, UH, TO TRY TO BRING CLOSURE TO THIS ISSUE. ANYONE ELSE ON THE COMMISSION? I KNOW YOU HAVE A FO I KNOW YOU HAVE A FOLLOWING ITEM ON A FOUR, SO, WELL, WELL, ACTUALLY, WHAT I WANTED DO IS I WANTED TO WITHDRAW F FOUR AND CONTINUE CONVERSATION AND DIALOGUE REGARDING F THREE. OKAY. OKAY. UM, DO YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS IT NOW OR WOULD YOU LIKE FOR WELL, NO, I, I WANTED TO SAY, SINCE WE'RE ON THAT, ON OBVIOUSLY THE F THREE, YOU KNOW, THE INTENT BEHIND WHAT F FOUR WAS, INTERESTINGLY, THAT VICE MAYOR AND I, OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T CONFER ON THESE THINGS IN ADVANCE, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT VIOLATING THE SUNSHINE LAW , RIGHT? BECAUSE I'M NOT COMMITTING A VIOLATION OH, OKAY. OF SUNSHINE. BUT, UM, I I, I DO THINK THAT GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE, AND, AND WE WERE, WE, WE BOTH, AND NOT, NOT MAYBE INCONSEQUENTIALLY WE'RE, WE'RE BOTH ATTORNEYS AND WE'RE KIND OF THINKING THE SAME WAY. HOW DO YOU, HOW DO YOU GET TO AN ELEGANT, UH, SOLUTION OR RESOLUTION OR AN ELEGANT EXIT OFF A HIGHWAY OF, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, IMMINENT FILING OF LITIGATION, RIGHT? SO I, I ALWAYS FEEL THAT LITIGATION IS, WILL BE THE, THE, THE LAST RESORT, YOU KNOW, THE LEAST, UH, PREFERRED PATH, UH, ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO AVOID LITIGATION BECAUSE THERE'S A LEGITIMATE DISPUTE, UM, YOU, YOU MUST EXHAUST ALL REASONABLE, ALTERNATE, YOU KNOW, AVENUES. I THINK THAT THE, UH, VICE MAYOR HAS COME UP WITH AN INTERESTING ONE, RIGHT? BECAUSE, AND MAYBE, MAYBE THIS IS THE WAY, UM, WITHOUT REHASHING IT ALL RIGHT HERE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN, UM, AMONG OTHERS, BUT THE MAIN CONCERN HAS BEEN, IS LIKE TRULY THE EFFECT OF THE VERDICT CLAUSE AND 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, UH, WITHOUT ANY UNDUE, UM, PRESSURE OR, OR UNDO, IF THE CASE MAY BE PERSONAL FEELINGS BEING INVOLVED, NONE OF WHICH THAT I HAVE OR SHARE. UM, TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR ALL THE PARTIES, YOU KNOW, TO PUT A PAUSE ON THE LITIGATION TO, UH, UH, 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, THE, THE, THE MAJOR [06:25:01] CAPITAL, UH, INVESTITURE, RIGHT? WE, THE, CERTAINLY THE, 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, THE UNCERTAINTY THAT PRESENTLY THE REVERTER, UH, RAISES. SO I, I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE, UM, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE VICE MAYOR'S, UH, RESOLUTION, AGAIN, WITH THE COMMON VIEW THAT WE BOTH SHARE OF WANTING TO EXPLORE RESOLUTION SHORT OF LITIGATION BY GIVING EVERYBODY A FAIR AND REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. UM, SO MY COLLEAGUES DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THEY'D LIKE TO SAY. I, I JUST GIVE YOU MY THOUGHTS ON THIS. UM, I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD. UM, I THINK WE'VE, NO PUN INTENDED, OVER LITIGATED THIS CONVERSATION. UH, 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 AT AN ATTORNEY, THANK GOD. UM, 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, UH, 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 5 0 1 C3, 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, UH, 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, UH, TO ALL THE RESIDENTS, AN 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, MR. MANAGER. THAT IS 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, 90 9% FUNDED. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ALMOST 80% FUNDED. WE'RE RIGHT THERE. YOU CONSIDER SMOOTHING. WE'RE RIGHT THERE, 77, 70 8%. BUT 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 INCOMPLETE USE CENTER. BY THE TIME THAT WE'VE DONE THE PLANS, WE'VE ENTITLED IT, WE'VE GOTTEN THEM APPROVED, WE'VE SELECTED A CONTRACTOR, IT PROBABLY TAKES ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS, AND THEN WHEN YOU BUILD IT, IT TAKES ANOTHER TWO YEARS. THE THING ABOUT IT, IT COULD BE ABOUT 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 MASTER 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 GONNA DO NOW THE WATER TOWER, WE'RE GONNA DO THE GONDOLA, THE BUILDING, WHICH ARE SMALLER PROJECTS, BUT A MAG PROBABLY THE MAGNITUDE OF, OF, OF, UH, OF, UM, 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, I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY DON'T THINK IT'S SERIOUSLY EITHER A COVENANT OR I'M WILLING TO GO EVEN FURTHER AND TO REQUIRE A REFERENDUM. THERE'S THE CONSTANT RIDICULOUS, UH, STATEMENTS BY THE BLOGS THAT ARE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA SELL THE YOUTH CENTER, OR WE'RE GOING TO REDEVELOP THE YOUTH CENTER INTO SOME MULTIFAMILY, IT'S A POLITICAL PLOY. YOU KNOW, THE PLO THE POLITICS, THEY STOKED THE FIRES TO 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. WE'RE ACQUIRING THE NEIGHBORING BUILDING OF CITY HALL AND WAIT TILL THEY HEAR ABOUT OUR, WE'RE ALMOST THERE, MR. MANAGER. WE'RE ALMOST THERE. WELL, WE ARE, WE ARE THERE. CONCEPTUALLY WE'RE THERE. WE FINALLY GOT THE AGREEMENTS. WE'RE GONNA PAPER IT UP, YOUR OFFICE IS GONNA PAPER [06:30:01] IT UP, AND WE'RE GONNA DELIVER ON THE LARGEST PIECE OF LAND IN PRIVATE HANDS, AND WE'RE BRINGING THAT INTO THE CITY. AND WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? WE'RE GONNA PUT A COVENANT ON IT, SO IT'LL REMAIN A PARK IN PERPETUITY, AND YOU CANNOT BUILD ANYTHING ON IT. BUT WE'RE ABOUT PROTECTING GREEN SPACES. SO I, IT PINGS ME TO SEE PEOPLE GET SCARED FOR POLITICAL PLOY AND POLITICAL REASONS, BUT THANK GOD WE DIDN'T APPROVE THAT $175 MILLION BOND ISSUANCE. SO, TO ME, I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT. I JUST THINK, I JUST ASKED MY COLLEAGUE, THE VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER LARA, TO PUT A BOOKEND ON IT. IF YOU WANNA FREEZE LITIGATION AND EFFORT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TWO PARTIES CAN COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION, I'M ALL FOR IT. SAY, LOOK, WE'RE DOING OUR PART. WE'VE INVITED HIM, HIM HERE THREE TIMES. THEY STOOD US UP AT THE DANCE THREE TIMES. WE'VE SAID, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA FREEZE LITIGATION NOW FOR THREE MONTHS TO, HOPEFULLY WE CAN MEET AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA MAKE A COMMITMENT IN THREE YEARS TO SPEND 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 GONNA 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 OF THAT IN PERPETUITY, WE COULD JUST SAY, HEY, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA FREEZE LITIGATION. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT. I'LL BE A NO VOTE, BUT I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS, UH, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ONCE AND FOR ALL. UH, 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, UM, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE GONNA DEVELOP, DEVELOP, UH, THE YOUTH CENTER. I MEAN, THAT IS SACRILEGIOUS IN MY EYES. SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'D LIKE TO DO IT. VICE MAYOR. I KIND OF, I MEAN, UH, MY CONCERN FOR THAT PROPERTY IS MORE, UM, THE FACT THAT THE EXACT OPPOSITE COULD HAPPEN IF WE END UP IN LITIGATION. BECAUSE IF THE WAR MEMORIAL YOUTH CENTER INTERPRETS THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE WAS NOT MET, BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A 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 A 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, UH, CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS GONNA DEVELOP THE PROPERTY. IT'S MORE MY CONCERN THAT SOMEBODY DOWN THE LINE, UM, WHOMEVER IS ON THE BOARD, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA BE ON THE BOARD IN THE FUTURE, UM, ACTUALLY IS THE, IS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S NOT GONNA MAINTAIN IT AS A YOUTH CENTER, HAS NO REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN IT AS A YOUTH CENTER AND TO 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, A BOOKEND ON THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE THIS MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT UNLESS THEY COME AND SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND, UH, RENEGOTIATE, UH, THIS REVERTER CLAUSE. UM, AS FAR AS A BOOKEND ON, ON LITIGATION, UM, I MEAN IT ON THIS GRACE PERIOD, MORE AND MORE LIKE THE GRACE PERIOD. SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU ON THE GRACE PERIOD. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I CAN TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT AND, AND, AND, UH, 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? YES. MY, UH, VIEW ON THIS IS THAT I THINK THAT LOOKING AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE IS THAT BOTH THE, UH, 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'S APPROPRIATE FOR A 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 GONNA 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, I THINK MAYOR, THAT, 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, IF THE PARTIES CAN'T COME TOGETHER FOR RESOLUTION, THE KEYS [06:35:01] TO THE CELL ARE IN THEIR HANDS. IF THEY WANT TO RESOLVE THE REFERER 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 THAT THE VICE MAYOR HAS IT THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. UH, MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, THIS, THIS FACILITY IS A DATED FACILITY. IT, IT, THERE'S NO FIXING IT. UM, IF WE WERE TO DO A, A NEW FACILITY WOULD PROBABLY BE AROUND NOW AROUND 70 TO $75 MILLION. AND WE, WE, THERE'S, IT'S VERY DATED. IT'S OLDER BUILDINGS. UH, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE, IT WOULD'VE TO BE TORN DOWN. UH, THAT MEANS THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A YOUTH CENTER FOR TWO YEARS, TWO, TWO AND A HALF YEARS. AND, AND SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS NO YOUTH CENTER, AND TECHNICALLY IT'S NOT A YOUTH CENTER. I, I, I, I THINK I WOULD RATHER HAVE MY, THE CONTROL ON THE CITY COMMISSION THAN ANY ABOARD FROM ANY PLACE ELSE. BUT IT, IT, IT, THERE'S NO FIXING THIS BUILDING. IT REALLY, IF, IF WE'RE GONNA GO DO SOMETHING NEW AND, AND SOMETHING, AND IT REALLY WARRANTS IT BECAUSE, UH, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FACILITY. USED, USED BY, BY, BY MY NEPHEW, BY MY SON, BY, BY EVERYONE. AND, AND, AND, AND YOU HAVE THE, YOU HAVE THE, THE, THE KIDS OF KIDS NOW, UH, USING, UH, THIS FACILITY. SO IT, IT'S NOT A FACILITY THAT, THAT THAT CAN BE, UM, THAT CAN BE THAT, THAT, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH A, A CORRECTION OF THE FACILITY. WE DID A COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION OF THIS FACILITY, WHICH MEANS THERE IS NO USE CENTER OR MAYBE TWO OR, OR TWO AND A HALF YEARS. AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY MR. MANAGER THERE, WHERE WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT DRASTIC STEP. WE'RE GONNA SPEND, SAY, A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ON A FACILITY OF THIS MAGNITUDE, THEN LET'S MAKE IT THE BEST. LET'S DREAM BIG. WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT? YOU HAVE A INTERSECTION, A STREET THAT RUNS BETWEEN THE LIBRARY, UH, AND THE YOUTH CENTER. WE COMBINE THOSE STREETS MAKING THE YOUTH CENTER EVEN BIGGER. MAN, 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, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE DO SOMETHING IN THE YOUTH CENTER WHERE, WHERE AGAIN, THERE'S, THERE'S A ACTUAL SPEAKING OUT LOUD, UNDERGROUND PARKING, YOU KNOW, IT'S EXPENSIVE. TREMENDOUS MASTER PLAN. YOU COULD DO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. YOU COULD 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 COST. AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I REGRET, WE DIDN'T DO AN ADDITIONAL FLOOR HERE, MAN, WE TALKED ABOUT ELEVATED SWIMMING POOL. REMEMBER THAT? RUNNING DECKS, UH, UNDERGROUND PARKING. I MEAN, THERE, THERE, THE SITE REALLY LENDS ITSELF TO A LOT OF, A LOT OF, UH, TO A TREMENDOUS PROJECT, UH, IN 31. UH, 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. UM, BUT, BUT I DO THINK THAT, THAT THE BUILDING, UH, THERE'S NO SAVING THE BUILDING. AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS REAL CONVERSATION. IF YOU WANNA PUT A FREEZE ON CAPITAL AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS REAL CONVERSATION, THAT'S FINE. BUT THERE HAS TO BE, THERE HAS TO BE A TIMEFRAME FOR THIS CONVERSATION. IT JUST CAN'T BE IN, 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. LET'S SEE, LET'S SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF IT. DESIGNATE SOMEBODY, UH, 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, HOW 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, UH, 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 THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. SO THIS CONVERSATION CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AS IF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES HAD OVERSIGHT OVER THIS ASSOCIATION. 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 YOUTH CENTER. YOU KNOW, AND AS I CONTINUE TO HEAR THIS CONVERSATION, THERE WAS ONE WORD THAT CAME TO MIND AND I DIDN'T WANNA 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. A ORDER TO SECURE A CHANGE IN AN AGREEMENT THAT WE ALREADY HAD. AND WE, WE JUST HEARD, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA 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 [06:40:01] THAT WAS MADE WITH THE ASSOCIATION WAY BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THE PROPERTY, UH, BECAME, UH, THE CITIES 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, UM, CAPITAL PROJECTS. UM, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSIONS FOR THE LAST PROBABLY SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, UH, BUT IT HASN'T MATERIALIZED. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LARGE SUM OF MONEY FOR THE RENOVATIONS OF THE CENTER, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE HEAR, OH, YOU PEOPLE ARE BEING SCARED INTO BELIEVING THAT IT'S GONNA BE REDEVELOPED. WHAT IS THE REASON WE'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF THE 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 DIDN'T. 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. CLERK, 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 FROM WHAT WAS REQUESTED. SO THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT OVERSEES US AND WE HAVE NOT RELEASED RECORDS. PUTTING OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN 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, 10 YEARS LATER AND SAY, HEY, I WANNA RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT THAT I SIGNED IN THE CAR. 'CAUSE IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME ANYMORE. IT 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. THIS IS GOOD FOR SOUND CLIP, LIKE ON THE GAZETTE OR, OR, OR, OR CHE OR WHATEVER IT IS. THEY CALL IT A MR. CLERK. WILL YOU DO ME A FAVOR? WILL YOU PUT ON THE RECORD? EVEN THOUGH IT WON'T MAKE IT TOMORROW, MAYBE THE HAROLD 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, AND RE REALISTIC. OKAY. I'M GONNA ASK YOU, I'M GONNA ASK YOU AGAIN. I'M GONNA ASK YOU AGAIN. I KNOW YOU WANNA 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 WANNA MAKE SURE THE VICE MAYOR UNDERSTANDS THIS AS PER 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 5 0 1 C3 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. NOW, MR. CLERK, I'M GONNA 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. RAM MAYOR, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER RIGHT NOW, BUT I, I'M GONNA SAY IT'S UPWARDS OF 200 MILLION EMAILS. UM, 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. CLERK, HOW LONG [06:45:01] 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 A QUESTION. IN YOUR 23 YEARS OF BEING THE ASSISTANT CLERK AND NOW, AND LEARNING UNDER WALTER FULLMAN, WHO WE MISS HIM A LOT. IS THIS THE LARGEST PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST YOU'VE EVER SEEN IN YOUR LIFE? WITHOUT A DOUBT, SIR. OKAY, SO WHEN YOU SAY THESE THINGS, IT JUST ADDS CREDENCE TO MY STATEMENT THAT THEY'RE NOT SERIOUS. WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS BOG US DOWN IN THE MUD. BUT THAT'S FINE. AND MY COLLEAGUES DON'T WANNA DO IT. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM. I'M READY TO MOVE, HUN. THEY'RE NOT PROTECTING ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHO PROTECTS US? THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES DOES. WHY? BECAUSE WE MAINTAIN IT. BECAUSE THE MANAGER GOES OUT THERE WITH THE DCM AND DCM AND STAFF AND THEY DEAL WITH PEOPLE AND THEY ADDRESS THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING AND THEY'RE THERE IN THE BUILDING. ANYBODY WHO IS SITS ON THAT BOARD AND PUTS THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY ON THE BOARD IS NOT DOING WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY. AND WE MAY DISAGREE WITH IT AND WANNA CONTINUE TO PLAY POLITICS. THAT'S POLITICS AT ITS FINEST. THAT'S POLITICS. SO YOU CAN MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE BOARD. SO, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF REQUESTS IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC RECORDS, REQUESTS BEING INVITED HERE THREE TIMES AND NOT COMING HERE. WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH ALL DAY. I'LL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH I OPPOSE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA GO ANYWHERE. YES. SO, BECAUSE THERE'VE BEEN SO MANY MISSTATEMENTS PUT ON THE RECORD, I WANNA MAKE SURE COMMISSIONER UH, FERNANDEZ, THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I STATED. 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. 'CAUSE IT'S NOT RECIPROCAL. IT CAN ASSERT THAT THE REVERTER CLAUSE HASN'T BEEN COMPLIED WITH AND THEN RE RECEIVE 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 IN STATE STATUTES, WHICH CAN BE CHANGED AND 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 10 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, 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 THAT BENEFITS AN 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 IS THE ISSUE SAYS, WHEREAS THE CITY COMMISSION FULLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY INTENDS TO CONTINUE THE OPERATIONS OF THE CORAL GABLES WAR MEMORIAL USE CENTER FOR THE RECREATION AND BENEFIT OF YOUTH OF CORAL GABLES, BUT CONCERNS REMAIN REGARDING THE RESTRICTION OF A PORTION OF THE YOUTH CENTER PROPERTY THAT IS SUBJECT TO A NON-RECIPROCAL VERTI 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? [06:50:02] 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, BUT ONCE AND FOR ALL, HAVE CLEAR LANGUAGE DEFINING HOW WE'RE GONNA PROTECT THIS VALUABLE ASSET FOR THE FUTURE LONG BEFORE WE'RE ALL GONE. MADAM VICE S MAYOR, I'M ALSO, AGAIN, I'M IN FAVOR OF GETTING AGAIN, TOGETHER AGAIN AROUND, AROUND THE TABLE. UM, I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE ONCE AGAIN, BE WAITING AT THE ALTAR FOR A FOURTH TIME FOR THEM JUST TO EVEN SHOW UP. SO I HAVE NO ISSUES. I JUST WOULD LIKE FOR JUST A TIMEFRAME IF POSSIBLE. SO, THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE SOME BALLOT ITEMS COMING FORWARD IN NOVEMBER ON PROPERTY TAXES. I THINK WE'LL HAVE A CLEARER FORECAST AT THAT TIME AS TO WHEN, UM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO INCLUDE IN A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET ITEMS SUCH AS THE YOUTH CENTER. I WOULD ASK THAT WE REVISIT THE MATTER, UM, IN JANUARY OR DECEMBER, YOUR CHOICE TO ADDRESS THIS TIMEFRAME ISSUE. OKAY. OKAY. AS FAR AS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET, I'D LIKE TO PASS THIS, UH, AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK ON THE AGENDA AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. MOVE IT. YEAH. UM, THROUGH, THROUGH THE MAYOR QUESTION. I KNOW THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER LARA'S ITEM WAS TO STOP LITIGATION UNTIL THERE WAS A MEETING. IS THERE ANY COMBINATION? ARE WE STOPPING LITIGATION WITH, UM, VICE MAYOR'S ORDINANCE? NOT AN ORDINANCE. IT'S A RESOLUTION. IT'S A COMBINATION. WE DIDN'T VIOLATE SUNSHINE. WE JUST HAPPENED TO BE THINKING ALONG THE SAME LINE. NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY. I I NEVER SUGGESTED YOU DID. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IF THIS IS ACTUALLY STOPPING LITIGATION. UM, 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, 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, UM, 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 WANNA BE HONEST, I THINK THE REASON THIS IS BEING DONE IS BECAUSE AT SOME POINT WE'RE INVESTING SO MUCH MONEY INTO A 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, UM, I WILL SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. AND JUST A MINOR CORRECTION HERE. IT'S NOT CHE CALLED POLITICAL , THE MAYOR, UM, BY THE WAY, UM, I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT ANYTHING GOING ON THE BALLOT FOR A REFERENDUM, UH, 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. UH, IT WOULD'VE BEEN DISASTROUS, JUST LIKE TAKING FROM OUR RESERVES WOULD'VE BEEN DISASTROUS. UH, JUST LIKE THE COLA WAS A DISASTER. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, WE HAVE TO BE VERY FISCALLY SOUND, AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE MOVING IN. UM, THANK GOD WE DID THE THINGS THAT WE DID IN 2015. IN 2015 LEADING UP TO THIS POINT. 'CAUSE IF NOW YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE RESERVES AND YOU WOULD HAVE A BLOATED ALBATROSS OF A PENSION SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE 50% FUNDED. SO IT'S VERY EASY TO POKE THE FINGER AND, AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO SAY. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, DELIVERING ON FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES, PUT THE CITY WHERE IT'S AT RIGHT NOW. COMMISSIONER LATO, SO BRIEFLY, 'CAUSE WE ARE REALLY BEATING THE DEAD HORSE HERE. YEP. UM, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE A NEWCOMER TO THE CITY? YOU FORGET OR YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT HERE. YOU KNOW, UM, THE MAYOR AND THE VICE MAYOR AND I, WE VOTED FOR AND GAVE DIRECTION TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TO [06:55:01] 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 I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT COMMISSIONER CASTRO WAS REFERRING TO ABOUT THIS IS NOT A COVENANT, UH, OR THAT IT CAN BE UNDONE. OF COURSE IT CAN BE REVISITED. WE WERE ON THE UPSIDE OF THE VOTE. IT'S NOT AN AMENDMENT TO THE EARLIER ONE, BUT IT'S AN EVOLVING SITUATION. WE ARE EXPLORING WAYS TO GET TO THE COMMON GOAL END. UH, TO ONE EXTENT, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, RIGHT, THAT NOBODY ON THIS DAIS WANTS TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN PRESERVE THE WAR MEMORIAL AND THE YOUTH CENTER IN THE WAY THAT IT WAS ALWAYS INTENDED TO BE, UH, MAINTAINED AS I BELIEVE, UM, THE SAME FOR THE CURRENT BOARD OF THE WAR MEMORIAL YOUTH CENTER. BUT I COMPLETELY DISAGREE, AND I ACTUALLY GOTTA SAY, I FIND IT UNFAIR AND, AND EVEN OFFENSIVE TO SUGGEST THAT THE VICE MAYOR'S RESOLUTION IS, UM, AN EXTORTION MOVE THAT'S, UM, INFLAMMATORY. I, I, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE ADVANCING THE BALL HERE IN ANY WAY. UM, IT'S KIND OF DISTRACTING. SO THAT BEING SAID, BRINGING IT HOME, RIGHT? UH, I THINK THAT WHAT WE WANT IS TO, UH, BRING THE PARTIES TO THE TABLE TO SEE IF WE CAN RESOLVE WHAT IS A, UM, UNFAIR, UM, UM, MEETING OUT OF OBLIGATION. AS THE VICE MAYOR SAID, WE ARE THE ONES THAT RESPOND AND ARE OUR BOSSES ARE THE RESIDENTS, AND WE'RE SUBJECT TO WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT, BUT NOT THE BOARD. THEY DON'T, RIGHT. THE YOUTH CENTER, THE, THE WAR MEMORIAL YOUTH CENTER DO, DO NOT ANSWER TO THE RESIDENTS. AND SO WE HAVE QUITE A BIT AT STAKE HERE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE THE BEST, MOST RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY. AND SO TO NEGOTIATE WITH ANOTHER PARTY WITH RESPECT TO THE INTERPRETATION OF A REVERTER DRAFTED 60 YEARS AGO, TO MEET WITH AND MEET UP WITH THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE THAT THE CITY'S FACING RIGHT NOW IS EXPECTED. AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN RE, YOU KNOW, ELECTED TO DO. UM, NOT SIMPLY SAY, SET IT AND FORGET IT. SO, I 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, UM, CONTEMPLATING WHAT THE VICE MAYOR IS SAYING WOULD BE SOME TYPE OF A BOOKEND. UM, AND SO I, I WOULD SUGGEST A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, UH, AND PUT A BOOKEND BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. THE MAYOR? YES, MA'AM. THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY. WE SAY WE HAVE AN 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, 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, FOURTH 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 WILLING TO GO SEPTEMBER 1ST. I'M WILLING TO NEGOTIATE. I I WANTED TO GET PAST THE PROPERTY TAX. WELL, THAT'LL BE DONE DECEMBER 1ST. DECEMBER 1ST, OKAY. BY THE WAY, UM, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ WAS INCORRECT. ONCE AGAIN, UH, THERE HAS BEEN MONEY SPENT ALREADY IN THE YOUTH CENTER. UH, THERE HAS BEEN CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS THAT WERE, THAT WERE, THAT WERE, UH, THAT WERE WORKED ON, THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT MONEY THAT SHOWED A COMPLETE REMODELING OF, OF, UH, OF THE YOUTH CENTER. AM I CORRECT OR NOT? THAT IS CORRECT, MAYOR. AND THEY WERE EMBARKED ON BY BER, BY BERMEO HAVELAND 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 THAT OUTDATED, IT COULD, IT'S A, 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 [07:00:01] WHERE THE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, AND I MENTIONED THEM BEFORE, WE HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING GYMNASTICS PROGRAM. THEY ARE LITERALLY, I DON'T WANNA 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 GO, THEY, THEY, THEY'VE COME TO SEE ME. VINCE, WE'LL TAKE DOUBLE THE SPACE THAT I DON'T HAVE THE SPACE TO PUT YOU. WE'LL PAY MORE. WE WANNA PAY YOU MORE RENT. GIVE US SPACE. GIVE US THE AUDITORIUM. GIVE US, WE DON'T HAVE THE, THE SPACE FOR THEM. SO, UM, I APPRECIATE, UM, THE CONCESSION, UH, MADAM VICE MAYOR. AND THIS IS WHY WE HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL WHEN WE SAY THINGS. THERE HAS BEEN MONEY SPENT ALREADY. THERE ARE CONCEPTUAL PLANS. IT IS A PUBLIC RECORD. WE WERE MOVING FORWARD. THERE WAS 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. IT PAID LAWYERS. WE PAID OUTSIDE COUNSEL. WE PAID CONSULTANTS. SO WE WERE HERE. AND GOD, I VOTED NO TO WHO WE BE TODAY. SO WHAT DID 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, UH, MAKE A MOTION ON YOUR ITEM? I'LL MAKE A MOTION AS AMENDED ON THE FLOOR WITH DECEMBER 1ST BEING BOOKEND DECEMBER 1ST AS A BOOKEND. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND, MR. CLERK? YES. WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT, CORRECT? NO, WE DO, WE HAVE NOT DONE PUBLIC COMMENT YET. PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST SPEAKER OR MARIA CRUZ? MRS. MARIA CRUZ. 1447 MILLER ROAD. 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. 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, OF BRINGING FORTH NEGATIVE COMMENTS BEFORE, AND NOW WE HAVE TWO COMMISSIONERS TRYING TO PUT THIS TO MAKE IT WORK. AND WHO CAME UP WITH A NEGATIVE COMMENT? 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, UH, PLANS. AND I'M GLAD THAT THE MAYOR, REMEMBER WE DID HAVE A PLAN AND THEN COMMISSIONER, UM, AND THEN THIS WAS, UM, 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 MADAM 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. HE, 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, UH, POORLY WRITTEN DOCUMENTS, I REMEMBER, REMEMBER WHEN THE MATHESON FAMILY TOOK THE THEY 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, UM, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ USED IT. IT IS EITHER YOU DO WHAT I WANT, OR YOU'RE NOT GONNA 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 [07:05:01] DESERVE TO GET A NEW YOUTH CENTER AND STOP THE POLITICS. MR. CLERK JACKSON HOLMES . GREETINGS. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT, UH, THIS IS THE MOST SHOCKING ATTACK ON CHILDREN. THIS I THING OF TRYING TO GET THEM TO, TO LIFT THEIR REVERTER THAT I'VE EVER SEEN, UH, IN OUR CITY. IT'S AN ATTACK ON CHILDREN. IT'S SAYING THAT, UH, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND THIS, THERE WAS, THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT OWNED THIS LAND, AND THEY, THEY OWN THE LAND. THERE'S NO NEGOTIATING OVER REVERTER. IF SOMEONE SAYS, HERE'S, HERE'S THE PRESENT, HERE'S THE LAND. AS LONG AS YOU ALWAYS USE IT FOR YOU CENTER. OKAY? THAT'S NOT, UH, FOR MUTUALITY OF A REVERTER. THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY UNBELIEVABLY, UH, I WOULD SAY DISHONEST. TALK ABOUT MUTUALITY OF REVERTER. THEY OWN THE LAND A HUNDRED PERCENT. THEY SAID YOU CAN HAVE IT AS LONG AS YOU ALWAYS USE IT AS A YOUTH CENTER. UM, AND I, I INTERPRET THIS THING AS AN UNCONSCIONABLE ATTACK ON OUR CITY'S CHILDREN, SAYING THAT THE CITY WANTS TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO WITH THIS. WHATEVER THE CITY DECIDES. MAYBE IT'S, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MAYBE IT'S A DEVELOPER THAT CONTRIBUTED TO A CAMPAIGN. UH, WE DON'T, WE SHOULD NEVER EVEN BE THINKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SELLING THE YOUTH CENTER TO A DEVELOPER. IT'S INCREDIBLY BAD. I, I, I THINK YOU SHOULD RESCIND THIS WHOLE, UH, UH, ORDINANCE OR MOTION, OR WHATEVER RESOLUTION THAT YOU'RE DOING. IT'S A DISGRACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? WE DO, SIR. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. GO BACK. I GO BACK TO 1972, WHERE A COMMISSION SAT ON THE DAYS AND TOLD ITS RESIDENTS THAT IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE COMMISSION THAT THE SAID LOTS SHOULD BE USED ONLY FOR OVERFLOW PARKING FROM THE YOUTH CENTER AND THE LIBRARY. TODAY, THIS COMMISSION IS SAYING THE INTENTION IS TO CONTINUE TO USE THIS LOT FOR YOUTH CENTER. YET TODAY WE TOOK A VOTE WHERE THIS COMMISSION VOTED TO RESCIND THAT COMMITMENT IT MADE TO THE COMMUNITY BACK IN 1972. AND THE ONLY PROTECTION THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS YOUTH CENTER IS AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION THAT IS THERE TO OVERSEE THE CITY'S OPERATION AND ENSURE THAT IT'S BEING USED FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. FOR THAT REASON, I'M A NO COMMISSIONER LARA. YEAH, I, I GOTTA SAY THAT JUST SO MANY MISSTATEMENTS THAT ARE FLYING AROUND THAT IT'S MIND BOGGLING. I THINK THAT, UM, WHAT AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE TODAY WITH THIS VOTE IS ENSURE THAT THE INTENTION OF THE ORIGINAL GRANTOR, WHICH IS TO MAINTAIN A WAR MEMORIAL AND A YOUTH CENTER, ALWAYS REMAIN A WAR MEMORIAL IN A YOUTH CENTER. 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 A YES, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON, THE GROSS MISINTERPRETATION AND STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION ABOUT WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESOLUTION ARE. AND THE UNFORTUNATE, UM, WAY, IN CERTAIN WAYS, 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 [07:10:01] ON THE LANGUAGE IN A COVENANT THAT FOREVERMORE WILL PROTECT THE YOUTH AND A MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE OF THEIR, 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 MEANING OF EXTORTION IS THAT WE'RE TAKING SOME MONEY AWAY FROM SOMEBODY. NO ONE'S TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THE WAR MEMORIAL USE CENTER HERE. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THOSE WHO CRAFTED THE REVERTER CLAUSE ARE PROTECTED IN A MUCH BETTER FASHION GOING FORWARD. SO MY VOTE IS YES, MAYOR LAGO. UH, MY VOTE IS YES. AND, UH, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S CONTINUES TO BE EMBARRASSING THAT LIKE THE VICE MAYOR JUST MENTIONED, RIGHT NOW, THE WORD EXTORTION, UH, IS USED, UH, BY COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. UH, IT'S PROBABLY LIKE ONE OF THE MOST OBSCENE THINGS I'VE SEEN, UH, A COMMISSIONER DO ON THIS FLOOR. IT IS THE MOST OBSCENE THING I'VE SEEN WHEN SOMEONE SAYS THAT EXTORTION OCCURS, THAT'S JUST A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE. UH, BUT AGAIN, I WISH IT WAS JUST A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. THAT'S JUST TRUE. DISINGENUOUSNESS IN AN EFFORT TO POLITICALLY GRANDSTAND TOMORROW ON THE BLOGS AND CLOER SOMEBODY OVER THE HEAD, UH, BY SOMETHING THEY'RE GONNA SEND OUT, UM, IT'S JUST SHAMEFUL. SO SHAMEFUL THAT, THAT IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS HERE. AND THANK GOD THIS IS ALL COMING TO AN END SOON ENOUGH. UH, IT CAN'T COME FAST ENOUGH. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE VOTERS TO HAVE CHANGED THE ELECTIONS FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER, UH, BECAUSE, UH, THIS WILL BE ALL EXPOSED AND PEOPLE WILL BE MADE AWARE OF JUST THE ABSOLUTE RIDICULOUSNESS. I MEAN, LOOK AT, LOOK AT THE AGENDA. LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF LEGISLATION THAT'S PROFFERED BY CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS OF THE COMMISSION, AND LOOK HOW, HOW LITTLE LEGISLATION IS PROFFERED BY PEOPLE IN THIS LEGISLA IN THIS, IN THIS BODY. UM, YOU, YOU COME TO WORK, YOU COME TO OFFICE OFF TO OFFER OFFICE HOURS TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, TO MEET WITH RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO REALLY ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, NOT TO, NOT FOR A PAYCHECK. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S, IT'S JUST EMBARRASSING THAT THOSE WORDS ARE USED. SO MY VOTE IS YES, UNEQUIVOCALLY, AND I WOULD LIKE, UM, THE MANAGER AND FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, UH, TO HAVE ONE OF ONE OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE ME, UH, BE SELECTED, HOPEFULLY ONE OF OUR ATTORNEYS. SO THAT MEANS EITHER COMMISSIONER LARA OR THE VICE MAYOR TO ASSIST AND BE THE POINT PERSON ON THIS, UH, MOVING FORWARD, UH, JUST LIKE WE DID WITH THE MARK, JUST LIKE WE'VE DONE WITH OUR UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AGREEMENT, UH, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION, UH, WITH THE COMMISSION. THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR COMMISSION MEETINGS. WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR, FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A WEEKLY MEETING WITH A MANAGER. I TALK TO HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY, FOUR OR FIVE TIMES A DAY. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT. AND I HAVE FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMISSION THAT THEY'LL DO WHAT'S RIGHT BY THE CITY. BUT JUST THE IDEA THAT YOU WOULD MENTION EXTORTION, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S JUST EMBARRASSING AND IT'S SHAMEFUL, SHAMEFUL. UM, AND AGAIN, THAT'S JUST THE TYPE OF POLITICS THAT WE DON'T EXPECT HERE. WE EXPECT IT IN OTHER CITIES, BUT WE DON'T EXPECT IT HERE. UM, WOULD YOU MIND, MADAM VICE MAYOR AGAIN, LEAVE IT UP TO YOU, OR, OR COMMISSIONER OTTO. UH, I'D BE HAPPY TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY. OKAY. THANK YOU, MADAM VICE MAYOR. UM, MOVING ON, SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE BENEFICIAL, AND I THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE HAPPY. ITEM [F.-5. 26-1634 Update on the Summer Page Program. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] F FIVE IS AN ITEM THAT I PUT ON THE AGENDA. I'VE BEEN DOING THE SUMMER PAGE PROGRAM FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HIGHLIGHT THE EFFORTS, UH, OF OUR STAFF, ESPECIALLY LAURA, UH, WHO RUNS MY OFFICE NOW. UH, AND NICOLE BEFORE SHE LEFT. UM, SO THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED DOZENS OF APPLICATIONS FROM 11 DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS. UM, WE'VE SELECTED 16 STUDENTS TO ENGAGE, UH, IN THIS PAGE PROGRAM. MOST OF THEM ARE RESIDENTS, SOME OF THEM ARE NOT. UH, BUT THEY'RE INCREDIBLE. UH, YOU SHOULD COME BY AND MEET THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS, UH, IN THE UNIVERSITY OF COLUMBIA, UH, RIGHT NOW. AND HE'S, HE'S WORKING IN THE OFFICE. HE'S AMAZING. UH, I HOPE THAT YOU GET A CHANCE TO MEET WITH HIM AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH HIM. UM, HE'S WITH MEXICAN DESCENT. UH, HE'S, YOU KNOW, REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSED ME ON HIS FIRST TWO DAYS IN THE OFFICE. UH, THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL INTERN IN EIGHT CORAL GABLES, SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE CORAL GABLES, SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. THANK YOU. 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. UM, 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. UH, THESE INTERNS, THE ONES THAT WE SELECTED AT 16. I WISH I COULD'VE SELECTED 'EM ALL, BUT WE, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE ROOM. UM, WE WORKING AT EIGHT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. I WANNA MAKE SURE I THANK OUR STAFF, UH, FOR REALLY, YOU KNOW, WORKING HARD. A-C-M-D-C-M, MR MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, ALL OF THE DIRECTORS. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE PATIENCE. YOU'RE GONNA BE DEALING WITH PROFESSIONALS, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, UH, BUT YOU'RE [07:15:01] GONNA BE SPENDING THE TIME TO REALLY MENTOR, MENTOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. UM, 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. UM, BECAUSE THESE, THESE, WE REMAIN FRIENDS WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS. SOME OF 'EM COME BACK, SOME OF 'EM GO TO LAW SCHOOL, GO TO ENGINEERING SCHOOL, GO TO ACCOUNTING, YOU KNOW, THEY BECOME PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. THEY VISIT US, AND IT'S, UH, SOMETHING TRULY IMPRESSIVE. AND THE END GOAL IS, UH, HOPEFULLY FOR THEM TO ONE DAY, HOPEFULLY WORK AT THE CITY. SO, I WANT TO THANK STAFF. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING, UH, THEIR FINAL PRESENTATIONS. SO ON JULY 7TH, AFTER THEY'VE WORKED HERE IN THE CITY FOR A MONTH, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS NOW, THEY WILL BE PRESENTING A FINAL PROJECT HERE, UH, IN THE CITY, CORAL GABLES, ON THE JULY 7TH MEETING. AGAIN, UH, THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE DICTATED BY THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS. IF THE COMMISSIONERS WANNA WORK WITH THEM, UM, I WELCOME IT. UM, MAYBE YOU WANT TO CRAFT SOMETHING IN REGARDS TO SUSTAINABILITY, OR YOU WANT TO CRAFT SOMETHING IN REGARDS TO FINANCE. OR MAYBE THE MANAGER WANTS 'EM TO PRESENT SOMETHING IN THE COMMISSION OR ASSIST IN A PRESENTATION. BUT THE WHOLE GOAL IS TO HAVE THESE PRESENTATIONS SO THEY CAN LEAVE WITH THAT EXPERIENCE. A LOT OF 'EM COME IN NERVOUS, AND, UH, WE'VE SEEN HERE BEFORE IN THE PAST, AND A LOT OF THEM LEAVE VERY CONFIDENT. AND THAT MAKES ME REALLY PROUD. SO, UM, I HOPE THAT YOU ENGAGE WITH THEM AND YOU, UM, AND YOU, UH, YOU GET THE FEELING THAT I GET THE, THAT I GET WHEN I GET MORE OUT OF IT THAN THEY DO. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, LAURA, ONCE AGAIN. AND THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS. THANK YOU. NO, I DON'T, PLEASE. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. UM, 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 GOTTA MEET THIS GENTLEMAN IN MY OFFICE. HE'S AMAZING. UM, ITEM YES, I THINK MR. MAYOR, THIS IS ONE OF THE, THE, THE HIGHLIGHTED PRO, THE PROGRAM THAT SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR CITY, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUTURE LEADERS TO, UM, 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, UM, HOW MUCH THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE, THE DISCUSSION. WE RECENTLY HAD THE PRESENTATION FROM THE, UH, UM, OUR, UM, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEIR INTERNS ARE DOING IN THAT DEPARTMENT. UH, SPEARHEADING A PROJECT DEVICE MAYOR HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET DONE FOR A WHILE. WE HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND A PRODUCT, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT A REALITY. UM, SO IT, IT'S A CONTRIBUTION THAT, THAT THEY GIVE TO US, BUT IT'S ALSO A LOT THAT WE BENEFIT FROM THEM, UH, AS A CITY. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD DO MORE TO MAYBE HIGHLIGHT THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO ON THE ENEWS, INTRODUCING THE COMMUNITY TO WHO OUR, OUR INTERNS ARE, AND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AT THE END OF THEIR PROGRAM. GREAT IDEA. ANY WAY THAT WE CAN, UH, GET MORE ENGAGEMENT. BUT BESIDES THE SOCIAL MEDIA, WHAT I ASK YOU IS DON'T JUST PUT 'EM ON SOCIAL MEDIA. SPEND TIME IN CITY HALL, ENGAGE WITH THEM. UH, COME TO YOUR OFFICE, MEET WITH THE, WITH ME, WITH THE INTERNS, SPEND TIME WITH THEM, SHADOW THEM. TAKE 'EM TO YOUR OFFICE. TAKE 'EM TO YOUR MEETINGS, AND REALLY GIVE 'EM THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY DESERVE, BECAUSE IT'S VERY SIMPLE JUST TO BRING 'EM 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, WE FINANCE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALL OUR, ALL OUR TEAM, YOU KNOW, ALL OUR TEAM MEMBERS HERE, UM, DOUGLAS RAMIREZ IN THE BACK, UM, ENGAGE WITH THESE CHIL 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 'EM, BUY 'EM A CUP OF COFFEE, WE'LL 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 MURROW'S SON HERE. HE JUST RECENTLY RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PERSONAL, A PERSONAL, UH, ORGANIZATION THAT I RAISE 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 'EM, I PROMISE YOU, YOU'RE GONNA BE BEYOND IMPRESSED, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG MAN THAT I HAVE WORKING IN MY OFFICE RIGHT NOW. UM, SPEND SOME TIME WITH HIM, AND IF YOU WANNA STEAL HIM, STEAL 'EM FROM MY OFFICE. YOU KNOW, TAKE 'EM, TAKE 'EM 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, UH, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. UH, BECAUSE TO SEE WHAT THIS YOUNG MAN HAS DONE FROM WHEN HE, HE'S GONE FROM CORAL GABLE SENIOR HIGH NOW TO COLUMBIA. I MEAN, IT'S AGAIN, IT, IT'S AMAZING. IT'S AMAZING. IT'S IMPRESSIVE. SO I WELCOME HIM. UM, MADAM VICE MAYOR, ADAM, F [F.-6. 26-1644 Discussion regarding FDOT Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Improvements. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)] SIX, F SIX, UM, MR. CLERK, THERE'S A FEW PHOTOS THAT WERE SHARED WITH YOU JUST TO HELP TELL THE STORY OF THIS ITEM. AND I SEE COMMISSIONER ORBIT'S STAFF IS HERE AS WELL. UH, THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY, UM, WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AT ALL, PLEASE LEMME KNOW. UM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OUT ON SITE WITH, UH, FD T'S [07:20:01] SECRETARY DANIELLE, SENATOR GARCIA, OUR STAFF MEMBERS, REGARDING CHANGES THAT WERE NEEDED, UM, AT CERTAIN INTERSECTIONS. AND I'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER WITH SENATOR GARCIA AND, UH, FDOT STAFF, UH, STACY MILLER, UH, AND NOW, UH, SECRETARY, WHO HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY RECEPTIVE TO MANY OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE LOOKED FORWARD TO AND ATTACHED TO THIS ITEM AS A MEMORANDUM THAT PROVIDES YOU A HIGHLIGHT OF SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED AT THIS PARTICULAR MEETING. WE MET OUT AT 27TH AVENUE BECAUSE IT PRESENTS EXCEPTIONAL, UH, CIRCUMSTANCES, UM, THAT NEEDED LOOKED AT ON SITE. AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE TO COMPLETELY REDESIGN THAT INTERSECTION IN ORDER TO MAKE IT A MUCH SAFER PLACE FOR PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS. BUT ALSO DISCUSS DURING THAT MEETING WHERE MANY OF THE OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD, UH, WE DISCUSSED THE FDOT, NO RIGHT HAND TURN SIGNS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE TWO OF THE MEMO, UH, AND I'LL ASK, UH, THE CLERK TO BRING IT UP WHEN THERE'S AN OPPORTUNE MOMENT TO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT A, UH, NO TURN BLANK OUT SIGN LOOKS LIKE. UM, NO RIGHT HAND TURN, BLANK OUT SIGN. UH, AND WHEN YOU BRING IT UP, I'LL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. BUT ALSO THE, THE RESOLUTION THAT WE HAD BROUGHT FORWARD AND ALL VOTED ON TO HAVE THE SIGNAL PRIORITIZATION NECESSARY PUSHED FORWARD BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. AND I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER ORBIS, UH, HAS TAKEN A LEADING INTEREST IN THAT. UM, DO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ANY UPDATES WITH US? NO, NOT AT THIS TIME. TOO EARLY. IT'S TOO EARLY. OKAY. I, I'M ALWAYS HOPEFUL, YOU KNOW, COMING FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY, IT GETS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT SOMETIMES. 'CAUSE YOU WANT IT DONE LIKE NOW, UH, BECAUSE IT IS A PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ISSUE. UH, ARE YOU ABLE TO PULL UP, UH, PAGE TWO? YES, MA'AM. AND WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT, I'LL CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS. SO STARTING BACK IN 2024, WORKING WITH OUR STAFF AND SENATOR GARCIA, WE ADDRESSED A NUMBER OF PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR AREA. YOU READY? OKAY. A LITTLE DULL THERE, BUT IT'S ON THE OTHER SCREEN. IT'S A LOT BETTER. THAT IS WHAT A NO RIGHT HAND TURN, BLANK OUT SIGN LOOKS LIKE. AND IT TURNS ON WHEN TRAFFIC IS NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE THAT PARTICULAR MOVEMENT. UM, SO WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT. AND THIS PERIOD OF TIME COLLABORATING WITH THE SENATOR, COLLABORATING WITH FDOT, AND NOW WE'RE COLLABORATING ALSO WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO GET CHANGES IN OUR DISTRICT. WE'RE REDUCING THE SPEED ON LAJEUNE ROAD TO 35 MILES AN HOUR, ALL THE WAY FROM US ONE TO SOUTHWEST STATE STREET. WE'RE GONNA 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, UM, AND I'D LIKE, AND I'VE TALKED TO STAFF ABOUT THIS, THAT FDOT HAS MADE. AND THAT REQUEST IS THAT EARLY ON IN THE PROJECTS, POSSIBLY AT DRC LEVEL OR EARLIER, THAT WE REQUIRE, UM, MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS TO, TO SUBMIT TO FDOT EARLY ON, THE TRAFFIC, UM, UH, EXAMINATIONS, THE PLANS, UM, TRA 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, PUT ON, BECAUSE I ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE, THE INTERSECTION OF CABALLERO AND US ONE, AND THAT 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 APPROVEMENT, THEY NEED TO, UH, 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, UH, FOR THE PUBLIX PROJECT ON LAJEUNE SO THEY CAN ADDRESS THE, DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX, THE, THE AUDIBLE SIGNALS, THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT WE'VE REQUESTED SO THAT IT'S NOT AN AFTER THE FACT, UM, ITEM THAT GETS FORGOTTEN. AND THAT'S THE UPDATE. THANK AND THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER ORBIS AND SENATOR GARCIA FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US AS WELL AS SECRETARY IGLESIAS AND, AND, UM, FORMER SECRETARY STACY MILLER. UH, MADAM VICE MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR UNDER TAKING 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 [07:25:01] YOU FOR THAT. YOU'RE 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. UM, 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 DID CATCH, I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT, BUT MAYBE YOU TAKE CARE OF IT LATER. BUT WHEN WE HAD OUR, OUR, OUR RESIDENT HERE FROM THE TAB AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MEETING WITH THE MANAGER AND THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A MAJOR INTERSECTION. WE CAN ALWAYS WORK ON THAT. FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY. YES. OKAY. UH, WE'LL MOVE ON [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.] NOW TO ITEM H ONE CITY MANAGER. ITEMS. ONE IS THE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION REGARDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2023 DASH 360, WHICH DIRECTED CITY STAFF TO INSTRUCT FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT TO CC REPLACEMENT OF CERTAIN SILVER LIGHT POLES. MR. DIRECTOR. GOOD. A GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON. YES. GOOD. NOT EVENING YET. YES. UM, SO, UM, THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO, UM, AN ITEM, A PRESENTATION THAT WAS UNDER THE PRIOR COMM COM COMMISSION MEETING REGARDING, UM, THE ISSUE ABOUT THE SILVER LIGHTS VERSUS THE BLACK WASHINGTON LIGHTS. UM, AND, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, UM, ABOUT THE 137 LIGHTS THAT WERE INSTALLED, I WOULD SAY WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS, UM, VERSUS THE 86 ON GREENWAY. AND, UH, BASED ON ALL THE FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSIONS THAT I HAVE WITH FPL, UH, WE REALLY ONLY HAVE TWO OPTIONS, RIGHT? ONE OPTION. EITHER WE PROCEED WITH THE FPL PROGRAM TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS, OR THE CITY IS GONNA TAKE OVER THE LIGHTS AND BE RESPONSIBLE NOT ONLY FOR THE INSTALLATION, NEW LIGHTING, BUT, UM, THEIR MAINTENANCE. SO JUST TO RECAP, UM, FROM, FROM LAST, UH, LAST COMMISSION MINI PRESENTATION TO DO ONLY THE 86 AROUND GREENWAY, YOU'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY COST OF $2 MILLION PLUS ELECTRICITY AND MAINTENANCE VERSUS 325,000 PAYMENTS TO FPL OVER THE FOLLOWING 20 YEARS TO DO 137 LIGHTS, WHICH INCLUDED THE OTHER LOCATION OF RO AND ANO. UM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY $3.2 MILLION VERSUS A PAYMENT OF $518,000 TO FPL ALL THE FOLLOWING 20 YEARS. SO OUR, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE COMMISSION CINS, UM, THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED, UM, AND, UM, NUMBER 22, UH, 2023 DASH 360, UH, WHICH YOUR EXIT CITY STAFF TO INSTRUC FPL TO SEIZE THE REPLACEMENT CERTAIN SILVER LIGHT BULBS. AND THEY WILL ALLOW, UM, FPL TO COMPLETE THE INSTALLATION OF THE, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BLACK LIGHTS THAT REMAIN, WHICH THINK THAT GOT 12 OR 13. MAYOR. YES, SIR. I BELIEVE THAT FPNL IS ADAMANT BEEN ABOUT NOT CHANGING THEIR CATALOG AND MAINTAINING THEIR CATALOG SCHEDULE, UH, OF, OF LIGHTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH SO MANY CITIES THAT, UH, IT'S VERY HARD TO, TO MAINTAIN THE, THAT MANY DIFFERENT LIGHTS. UM, AND SO, AND SO IT, IT WOULD TAKE MONTHS TO, FOR THEM TO GO OUT, BUY DIFFERENT LIGHTS AND, AND, UH, INSTEAD OF BEING STOCKING ITEMS AS FAR AS MAINTENANCE, UH, DAMAGE, SO FORTH IS CONCERNED. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER. UM, ANYTHING FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE MAYOR? YES. I JUST WANTED TO THAT, I KNOW WE HAD SAID WE WERE GONNA BRING THIS BACK AFTER, UH, THE MAYOR MET WITH THE PRESIDENT OF FPL. WERE YOU ABLE TO AT LEAST TRY? I KNOW THAT THEY WERE RELUCTANT TO DO IT, SO, UH, I MADE, I MADE AN EFFORT. I TRIED, UH, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS EFFORT. WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR, IF I MAY, I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK INCORRECTLY. CAN YOU GIVE AN IDEA? I DON'T WANNA PUT YOU ON THE HOT SEAT, MR. DIRECTOR. HOW LONG, HOW MANY YEARS IS THIS NOW? THREE YEARS. THREE YEARS, OKAY. THE, THE, THE RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY WAS IN 2023. AND SO MAYBE TWO AND A HALF, THREE YEARS TIME FLIES OR TAKE. YES. SO WE HAVE CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY THAT ARE NOT, THAT DON'T HAVE LIGHT RIGHT NOW. MM-HMM . SO I WANTED 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, ARE HAVING ISSUES, WHICH IS VERY WEIRD. 'CAUSE 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 WERE, WE BROUGHT THAT UP TO FPL L UM, AND, AND IN FACT, IF YOU SEE THE LIGHTS THAT ARE ON PISANO ITSELF, YEAH, THEY'VE ACTUALLY BEEN THERE LONGER. THEY'RE PERFECT. SO OUR SUSPICION IS THAT MAYBE THERE WAS A BAD BATCH. OKAY. THAT HAPPENS. AND, UH, SO WE BROUGHT THAT TO ATTENTION TO FPO AND, AND OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT THAT'S GONNA BE RESOLVED. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA TO MY COLLEAGUES, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU POUR CONCRETE AND YOU BLEND COLOR, WHAT THEY ALWAYS TELL YOU IS TRY TO BLEND ONE MIX. MM-HMM . EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR IT. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU GO BACK AND THEN YOU DO A SIDEWALK, AND THAT COULD BE A DIFFERENT, IT COULD END UP, EVEN IF YOU USE [07:30:01] THE SAME COLOR, THE AGGREGATE COULD BE DIFFERENT. RIGHT. IT COULD BE A CHANGE. AND IT, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, NATURE'S NOT PERFECT. AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF NATURE. SO WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THAT YOU'LL NEVER GET THAT EXACT COLOR, RIGHT. SO WHEN THEY POUR THESE WALLS AND THEY'RE, THEY, THEY WANT TO GET AS THEY, THEY OVER REQUEST THE CONCRETE. SO ON THIS ISSUE, I'VE SEEN IT ON MY, I'VE SEEN 'EM, I'VE TAKEN PICTURES OF IT, 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 OUR FAIR SHOT. OKAY. I EVEN GOT A, I EVEN GOT AN EMAIL THIS MORNING FROM, UH, MAYOR . WE'VE MET ON SITE, WE'VE DEALT WITH THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW. WE JUST GOT AN EMAIL FROM OUR, UM, 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, RIGHT. 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 ARE GETTING A PLAY BY PLAY. AND THIS IS MOVING VERY QUICKLY. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA 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 TO THE POINT THAT IT'S, I'M, I'M, 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 LEGIT BUCKET TRUCK TO BE DEALING WITH, WITH A BUCKET TRUCK? NO. OKAY. WE HAVE A BOOM. I KNOW, BUT, AND THEN WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR WHO WE CAN USE. I GET IT WHEN NEEDED, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, IT'S ADDED COST. IT'S, WE GOTTA BUY THE EQUIPMENT. GOTTA HIRE, WE GOTTA HIRE A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR. YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THE WORK OURSELVES. WHEN THE LIGHT BULB GOES OUT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA CALL SOMEBODY TO COME AND DO IT. THE COST WILL BE EXORBITANT AND 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 REQUIRED HERE IN THE CITY. SO I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES, IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON. OKAY. I WANNA MAKE THE RESIDENT AS HAPPY AS POSSIBLE. I WANT TO MAKE MAYOR SLES AS HAPPY AS POSSIBLE. AND I RE RESPOND TO HIS EMAIL TODAY WHEN HE ASKED ME IF A MEETING HAD OCCURRED, WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE MEETING. WE GOTTA 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 UNDERLYING, OUR BACK IS AGAINST THE WALL AND WE GOTTA MAKE A DECISION HERE FOR THE MAYOR. YES. AS I, I AGREE WITH YOU THAT RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE MOMENT TO INVEST THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY INTO, INTO LIGHTING. BUT I ALSO WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD PART OF, UM, MAYOR LES NICK'S, UM, 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 THE, HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL THE ONES AROUND THE GRANADA GOLF COURSE. UM, HE IS TALKING ABOUT THE ONES ON RIVIERA DRIVE AND SEGOVIA, 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, AND THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS BATCH. THE, THE, THE ONLY THINGS THAT WE'RE CHANGING THOSE ARE FPL L MAINTAIN LIGHTS THAT ARE BEING TRANSFERRED FROM THE SILVER INTO THE BLACK WASHINGTON. THE ONES AND SEGOVIA. THOSE ARE NOT UNDER, THOSE WERE CITY LIGHTS. AND THERE'S NO CURRENT PLAN TO REPLACE THOSE, BY THE WAY. I MEAN MM-HMM . THIS IS, I DON'T KNOW HOW, I MEAN, NOT AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE EVEN BROUGHT UP OR EVEN DISCUSSED. I DON'T WANT GET ANYBODY CONFUSED ABOUT THAT. WE'RE NOT REPLACING THE ONES SEGOVIA. THE NEXT THING NOW WE'RE GONNA GET IS START GETTING PHONE CALLS THAT WE'RE GETTING REPLACED FROM SEGOVIA. THAT HAS NEVER, NEVER EVEN BEEN IN CONSIDERATION. AND I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FPO ISSUE, THIS LIGHTING ISSUE FOR THREE YEARS NOW. WE SHOULD REPLACE THOSE LIGHTS IN SEGOVIA 'CAUSE THEY LOOK TERRIBLE. AND I'VE SENT MANY PHOTOS TO THE, TO THE, UH, TO THE DCM. HOW AT A MINIMUM CAN WE AT LEAST CLEAN THEM? WE, WE, WE'VE DONE SOME OF 'EM. I KNOW, I KNOW. BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE 'EM ON ROTATION MAYBE ONCE A YEAR, EVERY SIX MONTHS. KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE DO WITH THE WHITE WAY LIGHTS. AND BY THE WAY, AND 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 DINA, UH, GO OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. 'CAUSE I WOULD HATE, ABSOLUTELY. 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, [07:35:01] BUT IT'S WITHIN A FOOT OF A WHITEWAY LIGHT. REMEMBER, WE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THESE WHITEWAY LIGHTS, AND WE HAVE, I WANNA MAKE SURE THE BASE WE WENT THROUGH WITH A MANAGER THAT THE BASE HAS THE WHITE WAY, THE WHITE ROCK. RIGHT. AND THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING THEM, KEEPING THEM AWAY FROM SPRINKLERS AND GETTING THE REPORTS. SO THE LAST THING I WANNA SEE IS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON AFTER THIS MASSIVE INVESTMENT. SO LET'S BE CLEAR. I DON'T WANT TO, I, I I LOVE RECEIVING EMAILS, BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BE CONFUSED. THE ONES ON SEGOVIA HAVE NOTHING TO DO, AND THEY'RE NOT BEING REPLACED. THOSE ARE CITY LIGHTS. THEY'RE METAL. YES. THOSE ARE NOT FIBERGLASS. THOSE ARE NOT FIBERGLASS. AND NUMBER ONE, THOSE ARE NOT HISTORIC. AND LET'S ALSO BE CLEAR, RIGHT. WHEN 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 WITHOUT 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, UM, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING, UH, TO ADD FOR THE RECORD? THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, MA'AM. VICE MAYOR. I MEAN, UM, 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. YEP. OKAY. SO IT'S GONNA 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 PENSION'S PAID UP AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, WE CAN REVISIT THIS, THIS TOPIC. WE, IN THE MEANTIME, WE NEED, NEED TO CONSIDER PUBLIC SAFETY. AND LIGHTING IS IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. IT ABSOLUTELY IS. I MEAN, THE, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE HAVE VOTED MOVING FORWARD, AND WE KNOW IT'S GONNA 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. UH, GOING FORWARD, I USE THE SAME ANALYSIS ON THE YOUTH CENTER MATTER. WE NEED TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER. NFPO WILL NOT MAINTAIN METAL LIGHTS. THEY, THEY'VE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR. YEAH, NO, I, I KNOW IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. WE'VE KIND OF BEATEN THAT DEAD HORSE A FEW TIMES. SO IN THE INTEREST OF, UH, MOVING THIS ME MEETING FORWARD, I'M GONNA, WE NEED A MOTION ON THIS. YES. UH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION. ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION. SECOND, MR. MANAGER, UM, THROUGH THE MAYOR, UH, THE FPNL NUMBER OF YEARS AGO HAD HAD SOME VERY FAVORABLE TARIFFS AS FAR AS LIGHTING IS CONCERNED. BY USING THOSE TARIFFS IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN, THAN, THAN IF WE WERE TO DO THIS KIND OF, UH, UH, THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT. AND, AND IN ADDITION TO, TO TAKING CARE OF, OF, OF THE MAINTENANCE, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CAR HITS 'EM, THEY REPLACE THE LIGHT. IF A HURRICANE COMES IN AND TEAR AND, AND, AND DESTROYS THE LIGHTING, THEY REPLACE THE LIGHTS. SO IT'S, IT IS A VERY FAVORABLE TARIFF. AND IT REALLY GETS US OUTTA THE LIGHT BUSINESS BECAUSE IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE FOR US TO BE IN THE LIGHT BUSINESS AND, AND, AND, AND NOT, IT'S NOT VERY EFFICIENT FOR US. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO BEST, WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. YES, MS. MAYOR, I HAVE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REQUESTING TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. MM-HMM . MARIA CRUZ. OH MY GOD. MRS. MARIA CRUZ. 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. 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 ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THE SAMA LIES ARE HORRIFIC TOO, TOO HIGH UP AND INCREDIBLY UGLY. BUT I THINK DON LESNIK HAS MADE IT A POINT. AND HE'S RIGHT. YOU KNOW, WE ONLY FIGHT THE BATTLES THAT WE WANNA FIGHT AND FORGET THE ONES THAT WE DON'T WANNA FIGHT. AND AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THAT. AND THE FACT THAT WE [07:40:01] DO NOT WANNA BE IN THE LIVE BUSINESS, WE DIDN'T WANNA 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 BETTER THAN NOW. THAT'S IT. MR. WE ALRIGHT, MR. CLERK. UH, JUST A FEW POINTS OF CLARIFICATION. I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE MANAGER FOR HIS COMMENTS BEFORE IN REGARDS TO NOT WANTING TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF, OF, UH, HANDLING THE POWER POLES. JUST FOR THE RECORD, NOTHING HAS CHANGED FROM TODAY THAN THREE YEARS AGO. IT'S BEEN THE SAME, SAME CONSISTENT STATEMENT THAT WE SHOULD NOT DO THIS. THAT FPNL IS NOW WILLING TO BEND THAT WE ARE SELECTING THE MOST, THE MOST SPECTACULAR HIGH-END LIGHTING FIXTURES AVAILABLE IN THE CATALOG. WE ARE RECEIVING A FAVORABLE TARIFF, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, CORRECT MAYOR. AND WE SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BUSINESS OF MAINTENANCE. THIS IS THE SAME THING. WE COULD HAVE HAD THESE LIGHTS ON THREE YEARS AGO. WE WASTED THREE YEARS. NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE NOT HAD LIGHTS FOR THREE YEARS. OKAY, WELL THAT'S NUMBER ONE. UH, NUMBER TWO, UH, THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BEFORE, AGAIN, FACTUALLY INCORRECT ACROSS THE BOARD. I'M NOT EVEN GONNA WASTE TIME WHETHER WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OR WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OR LIVE ON SANTA MARO. 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, 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. GIMME A CALL. WHAT THEY'RE HAPPY IS ABOUT THE, THE, THE 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 PIANO 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 THE MAYOR, YES, SIR. UH, FPL IS A UTILITY. IT'S NOT A PRIVATE SECTOR, IT'S A UTILITY, UM, ACCEPTED THROUGH THE STATE AND PART OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. SO WE ARE DEALING WITH, UH, WITH, WITH, UH, A, A, A COMPANY THAT'S A UTILITY. THAT, THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. AND THAT'S THE BUSINESS THAT YOU'RE IN. IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME IN THE CITY. 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. UM, WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE'RE STILL IN THE SAME POSITION IN REGARDS TO FP AND L'S POSITION. AND THIS, IT HAS NOT CHANGED WHATSOEVER. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MR. CLERK? YES, SIR. I JUST FEEL HORRIBLE ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE WASTED HERE. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS THREE YEARS AGO. ALRIGHT, LET'S GO TO, I'M GONNA GO BACKWARDS. WE'RE GONNA GO [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.] H FIVE, H FOUR AND H THREE. HOPEFULLY WE CAN LEAVE H THREE FOR THE END. I THINK MAYBE THAT MAY TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. H FIVE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2015 DASH 17 AS AMENDED TO ADD AND AMEND FEES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY RECREATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDING FOR FAVORABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. AND A FINANCE DIRECTOR. HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, GIMME ONE QUICK SECOND. I'M SORRY. I WAS EXPECTING THE OTHER ORDER. UM, OKAY. SO, UM, THIS IS A FEE SCHEDULE CHANGE. UM, THERE TWO DEPARTMENTS ARE HAVING, UH, FEES UPDATED. THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CERTIFICATE OF USE FEE SCHEDULE TO SIMPLIFY THE FEE SCHEDULE STRUCTURE AND ALIGN RENEWAL PERIOD PERIODS WITH THE CITY'S BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT RENEWAL CYCLE. AND THEN THE COMMUNITY RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS AMENDING THE SUMMER CAMP FEES SCHEDULE FOR NEXT YEAR'S FEES FOR YOUTH CENTER SUMMER CAMPS, 10 SUMMER CAMPS TO ACCOUNT FOR INCREASED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATING THE PROGRAMS THROUGH OVERALL SUMMER CAMP FEE INCREASES. AND THESE ADJUSTMENTS WILL HELP OFFSET THE RISING COSTS OF THESE, UM, SUMMER CAMPS. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION? MR. CROW, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. [07:45:01] MAYOR. OKAY. MARIA CRUZ. THIS IS MARIA CRUZ. 1447 MILLER ROAD. 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. I, UM, SO THE, I GUESS THE BOOKLET, THE MANUAL, THE POLISH WITH THE AGENDA AND SPOKE. IT WASN'T JUST THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY RECREATION DEPARTMENT. I THOUGHT IT INCLUDED, UM, SOME OTHER FEES THAT WILL BE CHANGED INCLUDING SANITATION. JUST NOT HERE, BUT IT IS, IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE SAME, UH, MANUAL THAT WAS PUBLISHED. OKAY. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. SO I'LL WAIT TILL IT COMES. OKAY. THANKS. THAT'S IT MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. PERFECT. UH, CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. MOVING ON TO H FOUR, [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.] PAGE FOUR. IS THERE RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ESTABLISHING AN INTENT TO REIMBURSE CERTAIN PROJECT COSTS INCURRED WITH PROCEEDS OF FUTURE TAX EXEMPT EXEMPT FINANCINGS PROVIDING CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEY'RE WITH AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BLUE MAYOR? YES, PLEASE. TWO UNIT H FOUR RELATED? [H.-3. 26-1646 Discussion regarding Mobility Hub Financing.] YES. SO IF WE CAN DO THE PRESENTATION, WHICH IS OF COURSE, UM, THE START. SO THE PRESENTATION YEP. IS THE H THREE PRESENTATION. YOUR COMMISSIONERS WILL BE TAG TEAMING WITH THEIR FIVE. OH, THAT'S NICE. THIS IS A, THIS IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. I LIKE THIS. MR. MANAGER, CAN YOU BRING YOUR MICROPHONE UP PLEASE, SIR? , YOU GOTTA LISTEN TO THIS, MAN. DOES ANYBODY, DOES ANYBODY NEED A FIVE MINUTE BREAK? YEAH, LET'S DO IT. AH, YOU SAID YOU MY GUYS NEED A FIVE MINUTE, MINUTE BREAK. OKAY. FIVE MINUTE BREAK. THANK, THANK, THANK YOU MAYOR . MR. MANAGER. MADAM DIRECTOR FLOOR'S, YOURS. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, 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, UH, 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 PROJECTS HAS INVOL HAS EVOLVED. CONSTRUCTION MARKETS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY, AND THE CITY TOOK DELIBERATE STEPS TO STRENGTHEN ITS FINANCIAL POSITION AND PREPARE FOR IMPLEMENTATION. WHAT WE'RE GONNA WALK THROUGH IS THAT PROGRESSION AND EXPLAIN WHY WE BELIEVE THE CITY IS NOW POSITIONED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A FINANCING. UH, SORRY, HOW DO I MOVE IT? OH, THERE. HOW DO I MOVE IT FORWARD? NO. 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 NUM, UH, 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 A CITY TO USE ITS AAA 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 [07:50:01] 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 ACTION IS THE BOND RESOLUTION SCHEDULED FOR THE JULY 7TH MEETING. AGENDA APPROVAL AT THAT MEETING IS CRITICAL MILESTONE FOR THE FINANCING SCHEDULE. AFTER THAT, THE FINANCING TEAM WILL COMPLETE THE RATING AGENCY WORK AND BOND PREPARATION IN JULY AND AUGUST. TARGET A 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 OF UPDATE. THANK YOU, MANAGER. THANK YOU. UH, I WANT TO SHIFT TO THE BROADER, BROADER UPDATE. THIS IS WHERE WE WILL, UH, ADDRESS A PROJECT, HOW THE PROJECT EVOLVED, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PRICING BETWEEN 2020 AND NOW, WHY THE CITY PAUSED THE PROJECT, AND WHY WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY MOVE FORWARD. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE, UH, MOBILITY HUB ENCOMPASSES GARAGE ONE AND FOUR, THE PROJECT, IT WAS INITIATED BY THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED BY THE ELLEN MORRIS COMPANY, COMPOSED OF A MIXED USE BUILDING ON GARAGE SITE ON GARAGE, FOUR ON THE GARAGE FORE SITE, AND A PARKING GARAGE ON THE GARAGE. ONE SITE CONNECTING GARAGE, UH, 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 THESE, SINCE THE SITES ARE, ARE, UM, 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, THE FAR, THE THE FAR PROPOSED ON, ON THE SITE. NUMBER FOUR, THE SITE FOUR IS SIX, WAS 6.3. SINCE THE, UH, FAR FROM THE PARKING GARAGE ON SITE ONE IS NOT COUNTED TOWARDS THE FAR CALCULATION. DO YOU RECALL, MAYOR? 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, 6.3 OVER THREE, 6.3. WE ALSO HAD THE LEGAL HURDLE TO, TO START THE PROJECT. IF, IF YOU, UH, AND, AND I THINK WE'VE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THAT, THAT WE HAD TO START, WE HAD TO START THE MOBILITY HUB BY OCTOBER 1ST, 2022, OR THE PROJECT WOULD COME BACK AND, AND, AND BE APPROVED. THE PROJECT DOCUMENTS WERE COMPLETED, UH, BUT DUE TO, DUE TO THE, TO THE PANDEMIC, UH, WE DID NOT START CONSTRUCTION. AND IT WAS DEEMED TO BE, TO BE SET TO THAT, THAT THAT REQUIREMENT WAS SATISFIED AT THAT TIME. AND, UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, HAVE THE, HAVE THE, UH, DRAWINGS PERMITTED. UH, WE COULD, IF WE HAD A CONTRACTOR, WE COULD, WE COULD PERMIT THOSE, UH, PULL THAT PERMIT TOMORROW. UH, WE HAVE, WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW IS, IS AS A REVISION REVISION, UH, PROVIDING A REVISION TO THE SKIN AND TO THE, AND TO THE, UH, ACTIVATED DECK ON THE, ON THE, ON THE, ON THE NINTH, ON THE NINTH FLOOR, BY, UH, CHANGING IT FROM, FROM, UH, TO, TO A MORE, UM, FROM, FROM A MORE OF A, OF A, OF A KITTY PARK TO REALLY MORE OF A RESTAURANT EVENT. EVENT, EVENT PLACE. THIS SHOWS THE, UM, HOW, HOW THE COST EVOLVED ON, ON THE, UH, PROJECT. THE PRODUCT DESIGN EVOLVED INTO A GARAGE MORE IN LINE WITH, WITH THE FUTURE, THE MOBILITY HUB WOULD PROVIDE FOR EV, MICRO MOBILITY, ADAPTIVE REUSE, AND AN ACTIVATED ROOF BY 2023, CONTRACTOR FEEDBACK AND MARKET ESCALATIONS THAT PUSHED THE PRODUCT PRICING TO ABOVE 73 MILLION. THIS WAS THE DECISION POINT. WE CANNOT PROCEED INTO AN OPEN-ENDED ESCALATION ENVIRONMENT. PROJECT WAS PAUSED, REASSESSED, AND MONITORED. THE PAUSE WAS NOT BECAUSE THE PROJECT WAS, WAS ABANDONED. IT WAS IN RESPONSE TO MARKET CONDITIONS. DESIGN PERIOD OVERLAP WITH COVID DISRUPTION, LABOR SHORTAGES, MATERIAL SHORTAGES, CONCRETE AND STEEL INFLATION, ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT DELAYS, AND A BROADER SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS. INSTRUCTION ESCALATION WAS MORE SEVERE THAN GENERAL INFLATION, PARTICULARLY DURING THE 20 20, 21 TO 23 PERIOD. THIS GRAPH, UH, IS, UM, THIS, THIS CHART INTENDED TO SHOW DIRECTIONALITY OF, OF WHAT HAPPENED. IF WE LOOK AT THE, UH, BO, THE BOTTOM LINE IS A 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, UH, TOOK PLACE WITHIN THAT PERIOD. IT WAS, UH, IT WAS SO GREAT THAT WE, WE COULD NOT SIGN A CONTRACT, [07:55:01] UH, WITH, WITH A CONTRACTOR WITHOUT AN, AN ESCALATION CLAUSE. SO WE REALLY DID NOT KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE UPPER END COST OF THAT PROJECT WOULD BE. UH, I THINK THAT WAS, IF YOU RECALL, MAYOR CONSTRUCTION AT THAT TIME WAS, WAS INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST VERY RISKY. WHAT THAT PROJECT WAS, WA WAS PAUSED, IS CLEAR EXPLANATION TO THE PO TO THE DEPOSIT FOR, FOR THE PAUSE. IN 2022 AND 23, PROJECTED PRICING EXCEEDED 73 MILLION. THE CONTRACTOR NEEDED AN ESCALATION CLAUSE IN ANY SIGNED AGREEMENT. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLARITY AROUND FINAL COST. AS MENTIONED, WE PAUSE RATHER THAN RECOMMEND MOVING FORWARD UNDER THOSE, UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS, AS EVIDENT IN THE PRIOR GRAPH IN 25 AND 26, THE PROJECTED COST IS BACK DOWN BELOW THE ESCALATED 23 PROJECTION. AND BACK TO CONSTRUCTABILITY. WE COULD GO BACK TO THAT PRIOR SLIDE. WE, WE CAN SEE HOW THE COSTS ARE NOW BELOW THE RED LINE. AND WE ARE DOING, UH, THAT'S THROUGH VALUE ENGINEERING, WHICH WE ARE, WHICH WE ARE PROCEEDING TO DO NOW, IN ADDITION TO A STRONG NEGOTIATIONS. WHAT HAPPENS IF, IF WE DO NOTHING, DOING NOTHING DOES NOT OF WHAT COST? RAJU ONE REMAINS AN AGING ASSET WITH LIMITED CAPACITY. A MINIMAL REPLACEMENT WILL ADDRESS SOME IMMEDIATE NEEDS, BUT WOULD NOT DELIVER THE MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS, PUBLIC AMENITIES, OR LONG-TERM DOWNTOWN SUPPORT REFLECTED IN THE MOBILITY HUB. ALSO, A MINIMUM REPLACEMENT WOULD, WOULD, WOULD REQUIRE AN EQUAL MINIMAL REPLACEMENT OF GARAGE FOUR AND OPERATIONAL OBSOLETE FACILITY. WITH CONSIDERABLE LAND VALUE MOVING FORWARD, NOT ONLY ADDRESSES A PROBLEM OF AN AGING, UH, OBSOLETE FACILITY, BUT OFFERS SUPPORT, GROWTH AND VITAL AND VITALITY TO OUR VERY IMPORTANT DOWNTOWN. WHY 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 THE FINANCIAL PLANNING IS READY, AND THE CITY HAS MAINTAINED AAA CREDIT PROFILE, AND WE ARE IN 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. A BOND 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, UH, 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, BEFORE MY COLLEAGUES, AND I'M GONNA RESERVE MY QUESTIONS, UH, I WANNA LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU. UH, I THINK THAT WE ARE AT THE PRECIPICE OF ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DREAMED ABOUT, JUST LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, CITY HALL FINALLY GETTING DONE. JUST THAT. WE TALKED ABOUT VENETIAN POOL, JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT THE WATER TOWER. JUST LIKE WE TALKED TO MEDIANS ON PONDS, JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT SO MANY THINGS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. UM, WE HAVE TAKEN CHARGE AND WE'VE ADDRESSED THESE ISSUES. UM, LET ME NOT FORGET THE REFERENDUMS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE REFERENCE FOR A LONG TIME. WE GOT THEM ACCOMPLISHED. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, DOING THIS FOR A LIVING BRINGS ME GREAT JOY AND PRIDE TO SEE THAT WE ARE BRINGING THIS TO A FINAL CLOSE WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA EMBARK ON THIS PROCESS. WE WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN HERE WITHOUT YOU, MR. MANAGER AND YOUR INCREDIBLE TEAM. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX PROJECTS IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND YOU KNOW, I, TO HAVE TO HAVE THAT ACCOMPLISHED HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS TRULY GOING TO BE A MILESTONE THAT'S GONNA HAVE PAY SIGNIFICANT DIVIDENDS FOR OUR DOWNTOWN. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY. UH, WE'VE HEARD RECENTLY THAT, UH, WE'RE NOT PRO BUSINESS. UH, THEN, THEN THEY HAVE US CONFUSED FOR SOMEBODY ELSE. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THIS IS A MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. UH, SO, UH, WE CAN'T BE ANY CLEAR IN REGARDS TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY. WHY? BECAUSE OVER 25% OF THE TAXES THAT WE BRING IN COME FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY . AND IF YOU ADD THE DOWNTOWN APARTMENTS, ALMOST 40%. SO WHY WOULD WE BE AGAINST THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY? WHY WOULD WE MAKING SUCH A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT? THE REASON WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT, AND I'LL GO MORE INTO DETAIL BECAUSE I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL BREAKDOWN COST TO CERTAIN COMMENTS WERE MADE IN THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING THAT I WANT TO CLARIFY, UH, BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE STEPPING INTO MY, INTO MY TERRITORY. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT [08:00:01] THE FACT THAT THIS PROJECT IS NOT AFFORDABLE AS A RESULT OF, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SAYS THAT HE MADE THIS PROJECT POSSIBLE. NO, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. JUST LIKE THE SIDEWALKS WERE NOT, THE BUDGETS WERE NOT TRIPLED. THAT'S NOT THE CASE. THIS PROJECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF YOUR HARD WORK. AND LET'S NOT GET THAT EVEN REMOTELY TWISTED IN YOUR TEAM'S HARD WORK. WE FACE AN UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE, AND I WAS AT THE FACE OF THAT, AT THE FRONT OF THAT IN MY INDUSTRY, WHERE PROJECTS, PRICES WERE CHANGING ON A DAILY BASIS. ESCALATIONS WERE HAPPENING ON A DAILY BASIS. PROJECTS WERE BEING ABANDONED ON A DAILY BASIS AS A RESULT OF THIS UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE. THAT WAS COVID, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR DEALT WITH IT ON A DAILY BASIS BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE CONTRACTOR WAS ASKING FOR MONEY, MORE, MORE MONEY. AND IT WASN'T OUT OF GREED BECAUSE WE WERE SHOWING YOU THE INCREASES AT LA RAS, WE WERE SHOWING YOU THE SUPPLIER COSTS THAT WERE GOING UP EVERY SINGLE DAY, THE CONCRETE COSTS THAT WERE GOING UP EVERY SINGLE DAY, THE LABOR COSTS THAT WERE GOING UP EVERY DAY. SO IT WAS UNPRECEDENTED MOMENTS THAT PUT AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF STRESS ON THE SYSTEM. BUT I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU, MR. MANAGER, BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TODAY JUST LIKE WE ARE IN REGARDS TO CITY HALL ACCOMPLISHING THAT GOAL AND MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND BECAUSE OF YOUR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND THE TEAM THAT YOU HAVE AROUND YOU. SO, I WANNA GO INTO MORE OF THE DETAILS OF FINANCE AFTER, AND I WANT TO HAVE A REAL DISCUSSION ON THAT. UM, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEGOTIATED AMOUNT BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE, WE'RE GONNA BE VERY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED. I'VE SPOKEN TO THE CONTRACTORS. I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN THE CONTRACTORS, AND I KNOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE DRILLING OUT ON THE NUMBERS, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE NEW SKIN AND THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE THERE. AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME SAVINGS ALREADY IN REGARDS TO THE FOUNDATIONS, AND YOU'RE WORKING ON THE RELOCATION OF FP AND L. SO THESE ARE THINGS, AGAIN, THAT ARE GONNA PAY HUGE DIVIDENDS. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT FOR $40 MILLION. I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT FOR $40 MILLION. WE'RE NOT EVEN GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT FOR $50 MILLION BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A RESET IN REGARDS TO PRICES. BUT I THINK THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PROJECT ON OUR HANDS THAT'S GONNA BE PALATABLE, THAT'S GONNA BE FUNDED THROUGH, UH, PARKING REVENUE, WHICH IS SOMETHING WHY I AM SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT, BECAUSE THERE'S A REVENUE SOURCE IN LINE AND THAT IT'S GOING TO FEED, FEED THIS PARKING GARAGE AND FEED THIS DEBT FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. SO, I WANTED TO THANK YOU, FIRST AND FOREMOST. DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANYTHING I'D LIKE TO ADD THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. I AGREE WITH YOU AND PETER IN PARTICULAR, BOTH OF YOU. BUT PETER, CIA IN PARTICULAR, THANK YOU, UM, FOR SPEARHEADING THIS, NAVIGATING IT CORRECTLY THROUGH INCREDIBLY CHOPPY ECONOMIC TIMES. UM, IT WILL ULTIMATELY BE A LEGACY THAT YOU CAN CLAIM RIGHTFULLY AS YOURS. BECAUSE THE MOBILITY HUB PROJECT, IT, IT'S REPLACING TWO OBSOLETE GARAGES. THAT MEANS JUST THE LEVEL SET, RIGHT? UM, WITH ONE RIGHT MODERN, A DA COMPLIANT FACILITY THAT SUPPORTS OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. IT IMPROVES ACCESSIBILITY, IT ACCOMMODATES FUTURE TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGIES. IT PROTECTS CORAL GABLE'S ECONOMIC ENGINE. NOW, WE AS REASONABLE RESIDENTS, WE CAN ALWAYS DEBATE HEIGHT OR DESIGN, WHICH IS PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE. 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, UH, 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. UM, AND SO I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. MAD VICE MAYOR, UH, UM, CITY MANAGER. I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS AND MARSHALING THIS FORWARD THROUGH MANY DIFFICULT TIMES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS TO, UM, EARLY ON, BACK IN 2023 WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH THIS PROJECT, IS WHY ARE WE REPLACING THE OLDER GARAGES? AND DID WE REALLY NEED THAT MUCH PARKING? SO, FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS NOW, I'M GONNA 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. AND 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 THAT THESE'S OLD, OUT OF DATE, POORLY DESIGNED GARAGES TO MAKE THEM A DA ACCESSIBLE TO MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WASTED FUNDS. IT'S NOT GONNA GET US AN ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACE, NOT GONNA BE THE WORLD CLASS FACILITY THAT WE NEED TO SUPPLY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. NOT A WELL LIT, UM, CLEAN LOOKING GARAGE THAT WILL ATTRACT, UM, CUSTOMERS TO COME TO MIRACLE MILE, TO GO TO THE RESTAURANTS AND HAVE THE AMENITIES [08:05:01] THAT WE WILL HAVE AVAILABLE, UH, WITHIN THIS VERY MODERN, CLEAN, AND WELL-DESIGNED GARAGE. SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD, UH, TO THAT ERA WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FACILITY THAT'S CENTRALIZED, THAT CAN SERVE ALL THE NEEDS FOR OUR CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. UM, SERVE THE, THE CUSTOMERS AT THE MILES, SERVE ALL THE RESTAURANTS, AND ALSO BE WITHIN A STONES THROW OF WHERE YOU CAN ALSO PICK UP THE 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. AND IF I, IF I MAY, WE, IT'S ALSO DESIGNED FOR ADAPTIVE REUSE. SO, UH, THE, THE 12 TO FOOT HEIGHT AND THE DESIGN HAS, CAN BE, CAN BE, UM, CONVERTED TO MULTIFAMILY VERY, VERY EASILY. UH, THE, EVEN THE, UH, 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 OF THE FENESTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR, FOR MULTIFAMILY. SO IT'S, IT'S, SO, IT HAS SO MANY USES OF THE UPPER FLOORS IN, IN, IN THE FUTURE, COULD BE MULTI, UH, MULTIFAMILY. AND, UH, AND, AND SO COULD BE LIVING IN THE HUB AND, UM, AND THE BOARD AND THE BOTTOM FLOORS COULD BE USED FOR MICRO MOBILITY. UH, AND, AND, AND THE EV AND, AND OF COURSE WE HAVE AN ACTIVATED FIRST FLOOR, WHICH IS, UH, 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, UH, OUR FUTURE REQUIREMENTS, UH, AND NOT SO MUCH A GARAGE THAT WILL, THAT WILL BE, UH, REALLY OBSOLETE AND, AND, AND BE TORN DOWN IN THE FUTURE, AS MOST OF OUR OTHER GARAGES WILL BE, EXCEPT FOR THE ONE NEXT DOOR, WHICH, WHICH IS, UH, WHICH IS A, UH, UH, A, UH, GARAGE DESIGNED TO, TO STORE VEHICLES. UH, IT'S A STORE OF VEHICLES FOR POLICE AND FIRE. THAT'S A HARDENED GARAGE. UH, WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED ON THE, ON THE WEST COAST WHEN THERE WAS NO PROTECTION. POLICE AND FIRE CANNOT, CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT VEHICLES, WITHOUT THEIR EQUIPMENT. SO, SO THE, UH, THE MEN, THE, THE MENORCA GARAGE IS ACTUALLY PART OF, OF OUR EOC. WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THE EOC IS ACTIVATED, THAT BECOMES THEIR STORAGE AREA FOR, FOR, FOR OUR VEHICLES. AND WE HAVE A, WE HAVE, THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN DESIGNED WITH VERY HIGH FLOORS. SO YOU CAN PUT THE LARGER VEHICLES IN HERE, THE THE SMALLER VEHICLES, UH, NEXT DOOR. AND, UH, AND WE WILL BE, WE'LL BE READY TO REALLY ASSIST OUR RESIDENTS AFTER A MAJOR STORM. AND IF YOU LEAVE THINGS OUT, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE THERE AFTER A MAJOR STORM. UH, SO LIKE YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, WE TALKED ABOUT LEGACY AND, AND, UH, COMMISSIONER ALDO MENTIONED THAT THIS IS ALSO YOUR LEGACY PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING. AND I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU, SINCE WE MOVED OVER HERE, AND I'VE BEEN PARKING FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, UH, IN THE PARKING GARAGE NEXT DOOR. I MEAN, IT'S A, IT'S A VERY PLEASANT EXPERIENCE. VERY PLEASANT EXPERIENCE. WELL LIT. YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, AGAIN, UH, IT'S NOT, NOT HOT. UH, IT HAS MULTIPLE POINTS OF EGRESS AND INGRESS. IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE. AND, YOU KNOW, I, I WAS TAKEN ABACK AND I'M, IT MADE ME APPRECIATE EVEN MORE, UH, THE LEVEL OF QUALITY THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PRODUCING IN THE MOBILITY HUB. SO, UH, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR, FOR THIS, FOR THIS PARTNER, YEAH. THAT WAS DONE AS A PILOT PROGRAM. YEAH. BUT REALLY FOR MOBILITY HUB. AND IT'S ALSO, AND IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT. 'CAUSE WHEN WE WERE, WHEN YOU WERE DESIGNING AND YOU WERE WORKING ON, IT WAS THE FACT THAT ONE DAY, 'CAUSE THEY TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT, UM, MAYBE ONE DAY WE'LL BE USING FLYING CARS, AND THERE'LL BE ACTUAL, UH, TRANSPORTATION HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. WE'VE BEEN WORKING OUTTA THAT FOR YEARS, GOD WILLING. UM, AND PARKING GARAGES WILL BE OBSOLETE. WELL, LOOK, THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A PARKING GARAGE THAT COULD BE CONF, YOU KNOW, TRANSFORMED INTO A COMMERCIAL BUILDING, COULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO HOUSING AS NEEDED. UH, SO AGAIN, THERE'S MO NOT THAT IT WOULD BE, OBVIOUSLY IT'S PART OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, BUT WHO KNOWS, WHO KNOWS AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, WHAT THESE, UH, INCREDIBLE, UH, PARKING GARAGES SLASH MOBILITY HUBS COULD BECOME IN THE FUTURE ONCE PARKING BECOMES OBSOLETE, WHICH I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING IN THE FRONT NEO FUTURE, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE DESIGNING IT. WE'RE DESIGNING IT IN A WAY THAT, UH, WE LEAVE THOSE OPTIONS OPEN. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION? WELL, EVEN, EVEN FLYING CARS NEED SOMEPLACE TO GO. SO I WAS HOPING, I WAS HOPING TO DEBATE CONSTRUCTION COSTS TODAY, BECAUSE I, I STUDIED, I STUDIED FOR THIS. I GUESS NOBODY WANTS TO MAKE, NOBODY WANTS TO MAKE CONSTRUCTION. UM, MY POINT IS THIS, UH, YOU AND I HAVE A VERY, ALONG WITH, UH, 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, UH, DURING THOSE MOMENTS. IT WAS THE WILD, WILD WEST. IT WAS $200 A YARD OF CONCRETE, YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU WANT IT, IT'S 2 0 5. UH, YOU WANT TO PUMP THIS CONCRETE RIGHT NOW? WELL, THIS IS HOW MUCH IT [08:10:01] COSTS. AND WHEN WE PRICED THIS PROJECT, AND IT WENT FROM THE NUMBER TO THE WENT, THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE. BUT TWO, OBVIOUSLY SHELF THE PROJECT. AND ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE DID NOT MENTION HERE, AND I'M, I'M GONNA BE VERY CAREFUL TALKING ABOUT THIS, WAS THE FACT THAT WHEN THE PROJECT WAS AWARDED, WHICH I VOTED AGAINST, I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, UH, THERE WAS A REVERTER FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF YEARS THAT WE HAD TO EXTINGUISH, UH, IN REGARDS TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WON THAT. BUT WE WERE NEVER GONNA 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 WAS 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, AND ENDED UP WORKING OUT, 'CAUSE WE GOT A 20,000 SQUARE FOOT PARK DEEDED TO THE CITY IN PUBLIX, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I WORKED TOGETHER FOR FOUR YEARS TO BRING TO FRUITION ANOTHER PART OF YOUR LEGACY. WE HAVE A ROOFTOP PARK IN THIS, IN THIS, AND 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, UH, I THINK WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION, LIKE COMMISSIONER ALTA 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 A INDENTION OF A BUILDING WHERE PEOPLE CAN CONGREGATE, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY A PARK. THE PUBLIX $20 GR FEET IS TRULY A PARK THAT IS UNDER THE SKY. AND IT'S SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT'S GONNA BE ENJOYED, UH, BY ALL THE RESIDENTS, JUST LIKE THE ONE WHERE ADJACENT TO BACHE A PROJECT, AND THE OTHER ONE WHERE, UH, WE HAVE THERE NEXT TO THE PLAZA AND THE ADJACENT ONE WHERE COLLE AND CADRE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER. SO THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN IN DISCUSSION FOUR YEARS AGO. WE WERE IN THIS SITUATION, IF YOU RECALL, MAYOR, HOW MANY, HOW MANY, UH, TALKS WE HAD ABOUT ESCALATION, REMEMBER, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY IT WAS, BUT, UH, IT WAS, IT WAS CONSTANT. YES, PROBABLY THE, UH, COST WAS GOING UP ON ALMOST ON, ON, ON A DAILY BASIS. IT WAS, UM, OR I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DISCUSSIONS WE HAD, BUT, UH, IT WAS ALMOST EVERY DAY. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I WANNA THANK THE STAFF, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, D-C-M-A-C-M, UM, I WANNA THANK SU CABRA WHO'S NOT HERE WITH US. UH, SHE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE, UH, YOU KNOW, ON, ON, YOU KNOW, ON REALLY ON OUR WHOLE CONSTRUCTION TEAM. I WANNA THANK OUR, OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, OUR, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR CITY CLERK, EVERYONE THAT PLAYED A ROLE, YOU KNOW, OUR OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT. UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER TO DELIVERING SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, WE DON'T NEED TO SAY IT, BUT I'LL SAY IT ANYWAYS, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY POLITICALLY EVERYTHING'S ABOUT POLITICS. UM, WE'RE MAKING THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT ANYONE HAS EVER MADE IN REGARDS TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE IN CORAL GABLES. I, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO PROVE TO ANYONE THAT WE ARE IN FAVOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IF I CAN SAY MAYOR, I'M BLESSED WITH AN INCREDIBLE TEAM. YES, THANK YOU. YOU ARE. YES, YOU ARE. AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU. UM, IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, I'LL, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. WE'RE GONNA DO THAT NOW. I'M SORRY, MR. MAYOR, WHO SECOND IT? UH, COMMISSIONER LA SECOND. THANK YOU. MICROPHONE STILL. DO WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR, GO AHEAD. JACKSON HOLMES. THANK YOU. SO FORGIVE ME, I SHOULD HAVE A BETTER PREPARED SPEECH ON THIS, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ALONG WITH SHAIN, AMAD ZAGON AT GINSLER AND ALL THEIR TEAM. AND, UH, SO WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU SAY IF YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE, MIDDLE OF THE SAHARA DESERT AND YOU'RE DYING OF THIRST AND SOMEBODY SHOWS UP WITH, WITH, UH, A GALLON OF WATER, YOU SAY, THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE. THANK YOU ALL FOR SAVING MY LIFE. NOW, WHAT DO I MEAN BY SAVING MY LIFE? UM, I DON'T LIKE TO DISCUSS MY PERSONAL BUSINESS, BUT IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY BRING IT HOME. UH, TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO, UM, I WAS TALKING WITH MY TENANT AT MY STORE AT 2 56 MIRACLE MILE, UH, MASSAGE ENVY. AND, UH, I SAID, LOOK, UM, THINGS ARE NOT GOING WELL AT THE CITY COMMISSION. UH, ALL THESE DEVELOPERS DON'T LIKE TO BUILD PARKING, BUT THEY WANT TO USE PARKING. THINGS ARE IN FLUX. 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 GONNA RENEW THE [08:15:01] LEASE. AND SO, OF COURSE, FOR ME, SINCE THIS IS MY SOLE SOURCE OF MAJOR INCOME IN LIFE, THE WORLD STOPPED. AND THEN I STARTED REMEMBERING ALL OF THE THINGS YOU WERE DISCUSSING TODAY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, ALTERNATIVE PLAN AND ALL OF THAT. AND THEN I REMEMBERED THAT THIS, UH, MOBILITY HUB, WHICH I HADN'T EVEN HAD CENTER FOR CENTER PLACE IN MY MIND, UH, BUT THEN I SAID, I CALLED HIM BACK LIKE A WEEK OR TWO LATER. I SAID, LISTEN, DON'T WORRY. LOOK WHAT WE, LOOK WHAT'S IN THE WORKS HERE, THE MOBILITY HUB, YOU KNOW. AND HE SAID, OKAY, THEN WE'LL RENEW. BUT IF THAT'S IT, IT'S LIFE AND DEATH, WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE SAHARA DESERT OR YOU'RE ON MIRACLE MILE. AND, UH, IT'S WITH THE CITY TOO. UH, THIS DOESN'T END OUR PARKING PROBLEM. WE, THERE'S, THERE'S MORE TO GO. THAT'S WHY I WANT, UH, UH, OH, RIP. 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? UM, WELL, IF YOU SAY SO, NO, I'M ASKING YOU. WOULD YOU, IS IT THE BEST INVESTMENT? YEAH. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. IT'S, IT'S LIFE OR DEATH. IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY GIVING YOU WATER OR NOT GIVING YOU WATER, AND THE SAHARA DOESN'T. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. PERFECT. THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG. THIS IS LIFE OR DEATHS. THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE. BECAUSE IF I DON'T HAVE INCOME, GUESS WHERE I END UP EATING OUT OF DIPSY DUMPSTERS. UM, THIS IS ABSOLUTENESS, AND THIS IS AS IMPORTANT TO BUSINESSES AS WATER IS TO CONTINUED LIFE. SO, UM, CAN I SAY MORE? UH, I THINK THAT, UM, THANK GOD, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK I HEARD POSSIBLY THAT YOU'LL BREAK GROUND, UH, POSSIBLY EVEN BEFORE YOU LEAVE, HOPEFULLY. UM, AND THAT, THAT SEALS US OFF FROM ANY KIND OF COMEBACK FROM, YOU KNOW, THE ALTERNATIVE, UH, PLAN. AND, UH, SO THANK YOU FOR LIFE. THANK YOU, SIR. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. UM, PERFECT. NOW WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. AND BY THE WAY, I, I, I KNOW THAT HE MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE LEAVING. I'M, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAY, WE WE'RE GONNA FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, WE NEED YOU TO STAY. THANK YOU. 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, YOU PREFER A LET IT BE DUCT TAPE OR ROPE. YOU'RE GOING ON A NICE VACATION RIGHT NOW. YOU DESERVE IT. YOU DESERVE IT. YOU ARE GONNA GO ON A NICE VACATION AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK AND YOU'RE GONNA, YOU'RE TOO YOUNG. . MY DAD'S 77 YEARS OLD. HE IS 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. OKAY. IT MAY SHOCK SOME OF YOU, BUT MY CONVERSATION WITH PETER THE OTHER DAY, I TOLD HIM I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN HIM LEAVING. SO, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND, UH, ARE RESETTING OUR RELATIONSHIP THIS LAST YEAR. AND YOU'RE WORKING WITH ME ON PROJECTS, UH, AND, UH, PUTTING THE CITY FIRST. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK, I THINK WE'RE READY. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. ALRIGHT, MADAM VICE MAYOR. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? UNLESS I MISS SOMETHING MR. CLARK? DID I? NO, SIR. ALRIGHT. HOPE [K. DISCUSSION ITEMS] EVERYBODY HAS A BEAUTIFUL AND SAFE WEEK. I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW MORNING. BRIGHT AND EARLY COMMISSIONER. SEE YOU TOMORROW MORNING. VERY EXCITING. MORNING. CAN'T WAIT. COMMISSIONER LARA, I THANK YOU ALL FOR A VERY PRODUCTIVE, UH, MEETING TODAY. SEE YOU ALL VERY, VERY SOON. COMMISSIONER. I THINK WE'VE, UH, GOTTEN A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ACCOMPLISHED TODAY. UM, YOU KNOW, UM, SOMETIMES WE GET HEATED UP HERE AND IF I'VE BEEN OUT OF LINE TODAY, I APOLOGIZE, UH, FOR LETTING THE, MY, UH, CUBAN BLOOD GET IT, UH, THE BEST OF ME. UM, BUT, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORKING COLLEGIALLY IN THIS, UH, COMMISSION, UH, TO BRING ABOUT THE BEST RESULTS FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU. UM, FEW POINTS, AND I FORGOT TO MENTION, BY THE WAY, AS YOUR MANAGER, WE FORGOT ABOUT HER AND BOSS GONNA BE THE ARTIST, GOD WILLING IN, IN THE, IN THE MOBILITY HUB, THE MOST IMPORTANT ARTISTS TO COME OUTTA MIAMI. IT'S A BIG DEAL FOR US. YOU WENT TO NEW WORLD, WORLD RESPECTED, AND THESE ARE JUST OTHER LITTLE THINGS IN REGARDS TO THE MOBILITY HUB THAT AGAIN, ARE GONNA BE AMAZING. UH, YOU KNOW, YOU, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF FACETS TO THE MOBILITY HUB THAT ARE REALLY INCREDIBLE. [08:20:01] UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANNA, I WANT TO COMMEND STAFF AND THE, OUR, OUR WHOLE TEAM, UH, WE WROTE A LETTER, UH, TO SENATOR BRIAN AVILAS, UM, AND, UH, HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM TODAY, UH, IN REGARDS TO OUTLINING OUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TAX BILL. UH, THANK YOU TO THE MANAGER, HIS TEAM, UM, OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, UH, FOR PREPARING THAT LONG LETTER, WORKING WITH LAURA AND THE MANAGER, UH, 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 WANNA 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. 'CAUSE I MENTIONED SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY. HEY, HE'S AGAINST PROPERTY TAX REFORM. 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 GONNA DO? IT'S GONNA HAVE AN IMPLICATION ON OUR BUDGET, AND WE'RE GONNA LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW. AND IT'S STILL UP IN THE AIR. IF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS RAISED, YOU KNOW, BY TO $250,000, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE CITY WOULD'VE LOSE APPROXIMATELY AROUND $11 MILLION, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, MA'AM. 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. UM, IF THE, IF WE LOSE 20, $22 MILLION, I, I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S GONNA BE HARD TO RECOVER. SO IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO RECOVER. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE NEED TO HAVE REAL, WE NEED TO START HAVING REAL CONVERSATIONS. SEA LEVEL RICE FUND, WHICH I STARTED WITH JIM KAON WHEN I 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 YOU PICK UP THE GARBAGE? UM, HOW ARE WE GONNA CONTINUE TO OVERFUND THE PENSIONS? YEAH, WE'RE SUBSIDIZING ABOUT, UH, $8.9 MILLION OF GARBAGE FROM, FROM THE GENERAL FUND RIGHT NOW. HOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO, ARE WE GONNA CONTINUE TO OVERFUND? THE PENSION LAST YEAR WAS NINE AND A HALF MILLION. WE STARTED DOING THIS AT 4 MILLION 20, 20 15. WHEN I, WHEN I GOT HERE THIS YEAR WAS OVER SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION. I'M JUST GIVING YOU SOME MAJOR NUMBERS OF THINGS THAT WE DO HERE IN THE CITY TO ENSURE QUALITY OF LIFE AND TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. THAT WAS PART OF THE LETTER THAT WE SENT OBVIOUSLY TO, TO OUR, TO OUR RESPECTED SENATOR BRIAN AVIDA. THESE ARE REAL CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA 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 GONNA START WORKING WITH, UH, THE FIRE AND THE POLICE UNIONS. WE GOTTA OFFER THEM A DEAL. WE GOTTA OFFER THEM SOMETHING THAT'S RES, RESPON, 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. WELL, THOSE ARE THINGS JUST TO KIND OF KEEP IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MIND AS WE CONTINUE, UH, TO WORK DOWN, UH, THIS PROCESS, TALKING ABOUT THE WORLD CUP AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. I WANT TO THANK THE A CMI KNOW SHE'S WORKING WITH THE PLAZA AND TO POTENTIALLY DO SOMETHING, UH, IN POND CIRCLE PARK. UH, I'M GETTING A LOT OF CALLS, UH, IN REGARDS TO WHAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING, HAPPENING DURING THE WORLD CUP. UM, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE GREAT. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ACTIVATION. THERE'S ALSO, EXCUSE ME, MULTIPLE ACTIVATIONS THAT ARE, THAT ARE PART OF FIFA, UH, HERE IN THE CITY THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE SEEING COMING UP. THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF FOR DOING A GREAT JOB ON THAT. SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MENTIONED TODAY THAT I WANNA MENTION, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANAGER, UH, VIA MARTHA PONTINE AND HER TEAM, UH, TO PUT OUT TOMORROW. UH, LET'S PUT OUT AN EMAIL TOMORROW, UH, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSION. 'CAUSE 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. AND HOW DID HE DIE? HE BET HE BET IT ALL ON CORAL GABLES. AND HE DIED OF BROKE MEN BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN THE VISION OF CORAL GABLES. HE BELIEVED IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. AND I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ HIS BOOKS. I'VE READ A FEW OF HIS BOOKS. I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE PLAYS, ESPECIALLY THE PLAY THAT ALAN MORRIS'S WIFE PUT TOGETHER, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE. I WISH, YOU KNOW, THAT RAN AGAIN. UM, AND IT REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE HERO THAT HE WAS, UM, THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT HE MADE, UH, AND THE VISIONARY THAT HE WAS. SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, WITH THE INPUT ON MY COLLEAGUES, UH, AND STAFF, UH, COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, MAYBE A FEW PHOTOS OF GEORGE MERRICK AS A CHILD, GEORGE MERRICK, YOU KNOW, WHILE HE WAS HERE, UH, IN THE ORANGE FIELDS, UM, AND RIGHT BEFORE GEORGE MERRICK PASSED AWAY. AND WE CAN INCLUDE SOME PHOTOS TO GIVE PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT. ALSO INCLUDE, INCLUDE, UH, SOME OF THE BACKGROUND IN REGARDS TO THE BAHAMIANS. UH, YOU KNOW, THAT HE OBVIOUSLY ENTRUSTED, [08:25:01] UH, WITH HIS VISION. AND THEY WERE THE ONES THAT DELIVERED UPON HIS VISION. THEY WERE THE ROCK BASES. THEY WERE THE ONES THAT KNEW IT'S A STORY THAT WE'RE MEMORIALIZING IN A BEAUTIFUL SCULPTURE ACROSS THE STREET, UH, FROM CITY HALL. AND WE CAN INCLUDE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON, ON THOSE, ON THOSE PARTNERS OF OURS HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. UM, IT POTENTIALLY AN EASIER WAY TO DO IT WOULD BE FOR US TO PUT OUT OUR MERRICK MINUTES. UM, I THINK THERE WAS ONE THAT, UH, JOANNE MAR DID ON, UM, GEORGE MERRICK. I THINK SHE READ ONE OF THE LETTERS WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH, UH, THE BAHAMIAN COMMUNITY. UH, BUT SHE DID SEVERAL THAT WERE SPECIFIC TO GEORGE MERRICK AND HIS VISION. UH, 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. UH, IN, IN ADDITION TO THE, THE SHORT SCRIPT. I GUESS I'M UP TO ANY SUGGESTIONS. OH, UH, HERE GOES MARTHA. SHE HEARD HER NAME . I THOUGHT MARTHA, I GONE HOME. SHE'S ALWAYS HERE. YES, MA'AM. UH, DON'T TELL ME GIMME CREDIT. LEMME GET CREDIT FOR IT. DON'T, DON'T TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME. I'M JUST KIDDING. OKAY, SO TOMORROW WE HAVE, SHE'S ALREADY DOING IT. MARTHA PANTY YOU, 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 GOVERNMENT AVERAGE. AND I THINK THAT IT'S BEST JUST TO USE THE TOOLS WE HAVE AS FAR AS JOANNE'S MARS MERRICK MOMENTS. THEY ARE ACTUALLY ALL ON OUR CENTENNIAL WEBSITE, WHICH WE HAVE KEPT ACTIVE. CAN I ASK YOU FOR A FAVOR? THROUGH THE MANAGER? UH, CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR? I KNOW THAT WE DON'T DO THIS. UM, WE EVER, WE NEVER DO THIS. CAN YOU TAG THE COMMISSION SO THAT WE CAN REPOST WHATEVER YOU PUT, LET'S SAY ON TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM JUST FOR THIS ONE, ONE TIME. OKAY. BECAUSE I, I, I DON'T WANT, I'M GONNA POST SOMETHING AND I'D RATHER IT JUST BE UNIFORM. UH, IN REGARDS TO THE CONTENT, IN REGARDS TO GEORGE MERRICK'S BIRTHDAY, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A SIMPLE BENIGN REQUEST YES. WHERE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT WE, WE KIND OF, YEAH. AND JUST SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO BE VERY CAREFUL ON SUNSHINE AND POLITICS AND ALL, AND I RESPECT THAT. BUT ON THIS ISSUE, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE UNIFORM, THE CITY, THE FIVE ELECTED OFFICIALS, BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHO GEORGE MERRICK IS AND TAKE PRIDE. WE HAD A MOMENT IN THE CITY. I DON'T THINK IT WAS, I THINK IT WAS JUST THE VICE MAYOR AND MYSELF, BUT WE DEALT WITH ISSUES HERE IN THE CITY WHERE GEORGE MERRICK WAS CHARACTERIZED AS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HE WAS NOT. RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO COMMEND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO STEPPED UP AND SAID, YOU KNOW, GEORGE MERRICK HAD HIS FLAWS. 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 IN NEED WERE TAKEN CARE OF. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING WHO GEORGE MERRICK IS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE MOVING INTO A CITY AND MAY NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND. MAYBE THEY GET, MAYBE THEY GET INTERESTED AND THEY, AND THEY, UH, UH, GROW AN APPETITE FOR LEARNING A LITTLE BIT OF THE CITY. WELL, I, I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE SAFEGUARDING THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY. UH, WE, UH, 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, ET CETERA. WE DID REACH OUT. YOU DID JOB. YOU DID, WE DID REACH OUT TO SOME FAMILY MEMBERS. FOR EXAMPLE, UH, KEITH, KEITH, UH, I CAN'T THINK OF THE LAST NAME THAT HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, UH, WERE MAYORS. SO, UH, 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 WHAT THIS IS GONNA BE BY YEAR AS A CO IN THE COMMISSION. AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA PUT THAT IN THE WEBSITE. SO WE ARE INTERESTED IN PRESERVING OUR HISTORY, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY TAG YOU TOMORROW, UH, ALL OF YOU FOR OUR GEORGE MERRICK POST. OKAY. SO, UH, MR. MANAGER THERE, ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? UH, NO, MR. MAYOR, I, WELL, MS. PANTAIN HERE, I HAVE ONE MORE ASK. OKAY. OKAY. SO I HAD SPOKEN, YOU HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH PAIN ALREADY AT SEVEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. YOU WANT MORE? YES, YES. YES. THAT'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. UM, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, SPOKE WITH OUR ECONOMIC, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, DEPARTMENT ABOUT, UH, CREATING, UM, INFORMATION REGARDING RESTAURANTS. THEY'RE GONNA BE SHOWING THE FIFA GAMES, UH, THE WORLD CUP GAMES. AND, UH, I'D LIKE FOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS [08:30:01] TEAM TO ALSO SHARE THAT WITH US SO THAT WE CAN REPOST IT AS WELL. OKAY. TOMORROW. AND INUS, THE FIR THE TOP STORY IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE ABOUT A FIFA, UH, STYLE ACTIVATION. THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS HAVING A, AN EXHIBITION IN THEIR OFFICES FROM AN URUGUAYAN ARTIST THAT IS, UH, ALL ABOUT FANS. SO THAT ALONG WITH, UH, AN ACTIVATION THAT HE'S DOING WITH THE MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN WILL ALL BE THERE. WE DO HAVE, UH, SOMEONE FROM MY OFFICE HAS BEEN CALLING DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS SO THAT WE CAN SHARE WHAT ALL RESTAURANTS OR BARS, ET CETERA IN CORAL GABLES ARE PLANNING TO DO, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT CORAL GABLES IS THE PLACE TO BE. OKAY. UH, 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 WANNA INVITE EVERYONE AGAIN. WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A MEETING BEFORE 4TH OF JULY. CORRECT. THE NEXT ONE IS, UH, NO, JULY THE SEVENTH. THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING. YEAH. SO I WANNA INVITE EVERYBODY, OBVIOUSLY TO THE BILTMORE HOTEL AND OUR, TO OUR CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 4TH OF JULY, 250 YEARS OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, UH, BLESSING TO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE AND ASK 'EM TO PLEASE JOIN. UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN AMAZING AND AMAZING, UH, FESTIVAL AND CELEBRATION, UH, IN HONOR OF THIS GREAT COUNTRY. UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.