* 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. MR. MAYOR, [00:00:01] UH, GOOD [CALL TO ORDER ] MORNING. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE, UH, TO THE JULY 7TH, 2026 COMMISSION MEETING. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. UH, THERE'LL BE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS. EITHER YOU CAN SEND AN EMAIL, MANY OF YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON. UH, YOU CAN ALSO GET ENGAGED THROUGH ZOOM. UH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE TO ENJOY AND TO PARTAKE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. UH, MOVING ON. TODAY, WE HAVE A SPECIAL INVOCATION. UH, WE DON'T HAVE, UM, A, A MEMBER OF THE CLERGY TO JOIN US, BUT WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S JUST AS EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND A PERSON WHO I HAVE AN, AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF ADMIRATION AND RESPECT FOR. AND I ACTUALLY LOVE HER A LOT. A PERSON WHO I BRINGS ME A SMILE TO MY FACE EVERY TIME I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HER. AND THAT IS FROM THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, OUR DEPUTY YOLANDA DAVIS. SOMETIMES I WONDER, HMM, I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, I PREFER YOU MORE, MORE THAN I PREFER THE CLERK. SO THAT'S OKAY. HE WON'T GET MAD. HE WON'T GET MAD. HE WON'T GET MAD. IT'S OKAY. COME . GOOD MORNING. THANK, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, HONOR, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, MR. MANAGER, MAD NAME'S, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, AND THE AUDIENCE, THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND THOSE PARTICIPATING BY ZOOM. I PRAY YOU ALL HAD A WONDERFUL 4TH OF JULY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, CELEBRATING THIS GREAT COUNTRY, THE UNITED STATES WE CALL HOME. THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR OF STANDING BEFORE YOU TO GIVE THE INVOCATION. GALATIANS FIVE 13 STATES SERVE ONE ANOTHER HUMBLY IN LOVE. PHILIPPIANS TWO, FOUR STATES LOOK NOT ONLY TO YOUR OWN INTERESTS, BUT ALSO TO THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND COME BEFORE YOU HUMBLY ASKING FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS AND WISDOM TO GUIDE THESE PROCEEDINGS, GRANT THEM CLARITY AND SOUND JUDGMENT ON EVERY ITEM BEFORE THEM TODAY. WE KNOW THESE DECISIONS AREN'T ALWAYS EASY, BUT WITH YOUR GUIDANCE WILL SERVE THE GOOD OF THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICE OF TIME AND FAMILY THAT PUBLIC SERVICE REQUIRES. HELP EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND PARTICIPATING ON ZOOM TO ACT WITH HUMILITY, INTEGRITY, AND RESPECT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS DISAGREEMENT, SO THAT TOGETHER WE PURSUE THE GREATER GOOD FOR ALL LEST THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND ALL WHO LIVE, WORK, AND DO BUSINESS HERE. IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY, AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. MADAM DEPUTY DIRECTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH AS ALWAYS, AS WE MOVE ON TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, UH, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE VICE MAYOR READ A DEAR FRIEND AND RESIDENT JUDGE SNOOKS INTRODUCTION AND BIO, WHICH I THINK EVERYONE HERE WILL BE VERY PROUD TO CALL HIM A RESIDENT HERE ONCE YOU HEAR HIS BIO AND HIS ENGAGEMENT HERE IN THE CITY. AS WE CON CONTINUE THIS TRANSITION IN OUR COMMISSION MEETINGS, WE ARE HONORED TO RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVICE TO OUR NATION AND COMMUNITY REFLECTS THE VERY BEST LEADERSHIP, PATRIOTISM AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY. THIS MORNING, WE'RE PROUD TO WELCOME JUDGE THOMAS W SNUCK, A DISTINGUISHED VETERAN ATTORNEY AND JURIST, AND A LONGTIME CIVIC LEADER IN CORAL GABLES. JUDGE SNUCK GRADUATED FROM THE UNITED STATES COAST, COAST GUARD ACADEMY IN 1967 AND BEGAN HIS MILITARY CAREER AS AN ICEBREAKER AT US, UH, CGC TITO OUT OF BOSTON, PARTICIPATING IN TWO ARCTIC MISSIONS TO BREAK ICE AND RESUPPLY FUEL AIR FORCE BASE IN GREENLAND DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COLD WAR. ALTHOUGH HE HAD ANTICIPATED AN ASSIGNMENT IN TO ANTARCTICA, THE VIETNAM WAR CHANGED THOSE PLANS. IN 1969, HE SUBMITTED WHAT HE HAS DESCRIBED AS A FIVE WORD WISHLIST THAT SIMPLY READ ANY SHIP GOING TO VIETNAM. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED AS DAMAGE CONTROL ASSISTANT ABOARD THE U-S-G-U-S-C-G-C MENDOTA AND SERVED ON COMBAT PATROL OFF THE COAST OF VIETNAM. IT WAS DURING THAT DEPLOYMENT THAT HE DEDICATE, DECIDED RATHER TO PURSUE A LEGAL CAREER LATER SAYING [00:05:01] HE WANTED TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE WITHIN THE SYSTEM. THE COAST GUARD LATER SENT JUDGE SNOOK TO LAW SCHOOL IN HIS HOMETOWN OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, WHERE HE GRADUATED WITH HONORS FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW, AND SERVED AS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE SYRACUSE INTERNATIONAL LAW JOURNAL. OVER THE COURSE OF A REMARKABLE 26 YEAR COAST GUARD CAREER, JUDGE KING HELD NUMEROUS LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, INCLUDING ASSIGNMENTS ON GOVERNOR'S ISLAND DURING DON NATION'S BIENAL CELEBRATION, GOVERNMENT APPELLATE COUNCIL AT COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, DC STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE FOR THE EIGHTH COAST GUARD DISTRICT IN NEW ORLEANS, CHIEF TRIAL JUDGE FOR THE COAST GUARD. AND FINALLY, STAFF JUDGE ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMANDER OF THE ATLANTIC AREA BEFORE RETIRING FROM MILITARY SERVICE. IN 1993, FOLLOWING HIS MILITARY CAREER, JUDGE SNOOK SETTLED IN CORAL GABLES, PRACTICED MARITIME LAW, AND LATER SERVED AS A US UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE WITH A SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 2016. TODAY, HE CONTINUES HIS DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE AS THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE GABLES GOOD GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, AND A MEMBER OF THE MIAMI DADE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS. JUDGE SNOOK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO OUR NATION, YOUR LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SERVICE, AND YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP WITH THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY. IT IS TRULY OUR PLEASURE TO INVITE YOU TO LEAD IN THE P PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE STAND IF YOU'RE ABLE. 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. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE. WE HAVE, YOU'RE NOT DONE YET, . OKAY. SO IN ADDITION, WE HAVE A TOKEN OF, OF THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TODAY'S PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE FRIENDSHIP THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY, UH, AND LEADERSHIP FOR THE NEXT LEADERS TO, UM, BE ON THIS COMMISSION. SO IF YOU, IF YOU MIND, I'LL, I'LL COME MEET YOU. I CAN COME TO YOU. WE KNOW YOU'RE VERY ATHLETIC, SO LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. JUDGE . NOW WE MOVE ON [AMERICA'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT] TO AMERICA'S SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT. I'D LIKE TO INVITE JOANNE TO PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN. FOR MANY OF YOU WHO ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS OVER THIS 250 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. WE'RE CELEBRATING IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN OUR HISTORY, AND WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT JOIN US AT EVERY COMMISSION MEETING OVER THE, OVER THIS YEAR, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THIS MOMENT MEMORIALIZED AND WE GET THESE EXPERIENCES ON RECORD. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. AS IF I MAY. YES. AS WE CONTINUE OUR SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL MOMENTS AT COMMISSION MEETINGS, AS I'VE SAID, IT IS ESPECIALLY FITTING TO WELCOME BACK A FAMILIAR FACE AND A TRUE FRIEND OF CORAL GABLE'S HISTORY. JOANNE MEAGER. MANY OF YOU'LL REMEMBER, JOANNE, FOR HER TREMENDOUS WORK IN HELPING BRING US THE MERRICK MOMENT DURING OUR CITY'S CENTENNIAL YEAR. THROUGH THOSE PRESENTATIONS, JOANNE AND THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE MERRICK HOUSE GOVERNING BOARD HELPED US REFLECT ON THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND STORIES THAT SHAPED CORAL GABLES OVER THE PAST CENTURY. TODAY, WE'RE HONORED TO WELCOME JOANNE BACK AS PART OF OUR SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT AS WE CONTINUE EXPANDING [00:10:01] THAT REFLECTION FROM OUR LOCAL HISTORY TO OUR NATIONAL STORY. THIS MORNING'S PRESENTATION IS ESPECIALLY TIMELY AS THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM RECENTLY OPENED LOCAL LEADERSHIP, NATIONAL LEGACY, CORAL GABLES MAYORS ACROSS THE CENTURY. THE EXHIBITION RECOGNIZES THE 25 INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SERVED AS MAYORS OF CORAL GABLES AND CONNECTS THEIR LEADERSHIP TO A BROADER AMERICAN STORY AS A NATION COMMEMORATING 250 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE. THIS EXHIBIT REMINDS US THAT DEMOCRACY IS NOT ONLY SHAPED IN WASHINGTON DC OR IN THE STATE CAPITOL. IT IS ALSO SHAPED RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITIES THROUGH CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, PUBLIC SERVICE, AND A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY. AND WE SAW THAT RIGHT NOW WITH JUDGE SNOOK AS A PRIME EXAMPLE. OVER 100 YEARS, THE MAYORS OF CORAL GABLES HAVE HELPED GUIDE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL THROUGH MOMENTS OF GROWTH, CHALLENGE, AND TRANSFORMATION. THEIR SERVICE REFLECTS THE STRENGTH OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT CITIES PLAY IN PRESERVING AND ADVANCING THE IDEALS OF OUR GREAT NATION. JOANNE, THANK YOU FOR ONCE AGAIN HELPING US TELL THE STORY OF CORAL GABLES IN SUCH A MEANINGFUL WAY. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU WITH US THIS MORNING, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING TODAY'S SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT. THANK YOU. THERE'S A LITTLE IMAGE OF OUR VERY FIRST MAYOR EDWARD DOCK DAMERS. THE THEME RUNNING THROUGH THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM'S SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL MAYOR'S EXHIBIT IS THAT OUR CITY'S LEADERS HAVE WORKED THROUGH TIMES OF CHALLENGE AND TIMES OF CHANGE. PERHAPS OUR FIRST MAYOR EDWARD DOCK DAMERS DID BOTH DAMERS, THE SHOWMAN DESCRIBED AS THE IRON MAN OF REAL ESTATE, CONDUCTED ALL OF GEORGE MERRICK'S LAND AUCTIONS. HE WAS THE ONLY MAYOR TO BE ELECTED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT BY THE BRAND NEW CITY COMMISSION FORMED IN 1925. HE FACED THE CHALLENGES OF ESTABLISHING GOVERNANCE PRACTICES AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES IN A NEWLY INCORPORATED CITY, AND IN VERY SHORT ORDER, DEALT WITH THE CHANGES BROUGHT ON BY MIAMI'S RAILROAD EMBARGO, A THREE MONTH MIAMI HARBOR BLOCKAGE WHEN THE PRINCE VAL DEMAR BRIGANDINE RAN AGROUND IN GOVERNMENT CUT AND THE 1926 HURRICANE CONSTRUCTION FLOUNDERED, MIAMI'S BOOM HAD BECOME A BUST, BUT DAMERS HAD THE MANAGEMENT SKILLS, THE ENERGY, THE BULLDOG TENACITY FOR THE JOB. AT THE PEAK OF CORAL GABLE'S PROMOTION, HE HAD OVERSEEN A NATIONAL SALES FORCE OF 3000. JOURNALIST THEODORE WEIGEL DESCRIBED HIM THUSLY EDWARD DAMERS, ENORMOUS AND GENIAL. HUMOROUS AND SHREWD WAS A MAN WITH MORE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING THAN 10 MEN WOULD HAVE IF ROLLED INTO ONE. BEFORE WE HAD BEEN TALKING FOR TWO MINUTES, HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED AND WHY I WAS THERE. AND IN THREE, HE HAD SIGNED MY PAPERS, SHOVED A HANDFUL OF CIGARS INTO MY POCKET, CLAPPED ME ON THE BACK, AND WAVED ME CHEERFULLY AWAY, AND WAS ALREADY SIGNING MORE CHECKS AND CONDUCTING A SHOUTING CONVERSATION WITH A SALESMAN ABOUT ANOTHER LAND DEAL. IN A 1927 PHOTO, WHICH WILL COME UP IN A MOMENT, UH, DOC DAMERS DEMONSTRATED HIS CHEEKY STYLE DRESSED IN SPANISH MILITARY UNIFORM. HE PENNED A SENTIMENT TO HIS FRIEND GEORGE MERRICK AND SIGNED IT FROM HIS MAYOR, THE BEST MAYOR CORAL GABLES EVER HAD. AT THAT TIME, THE STATEMENT COULDN'T BE REFUTED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOANNE. AS ALWAYS, IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE AND, UH, WE'RE UNGRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL, ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH MEIC HOUSE. UH, TWO QUICK POINTS, UH, BEFORE WE GIVE A NICE LITTLE TOKEN OF APPRECIATION TO JOANNE. IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED, UH, THE MEIC HOUSE, UH, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF TAKING OUR PAGES WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, PLEASE RISE. PAGES DO BE RECOGNIZED FOR PAGES. SO THE PAGE PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM THAT I STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND IT'S CONTINUED TO GROW. UM, AND THESE ARE TOMORROW'S FUTURE LEADERS. THEY'RE RISING STARS. SOME OF 'EM ARE JOINING US FOR A SECOND YEAR. LIKE I SEE THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BACK. AND, UH, WE WELCOME YOU HERE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK, ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO STAFF OUR A CM, OUR DCM AND OUR MANAGER. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. SO THEY WENT TO SEE THE AMERICA HOUSE, AND THEY WERE INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED, AND I JOINED THEM. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, OUR CONSTRUCTION TEAM, THE MANAGER. UH, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE CORRECTIONS THAT WERE REQUIRED, THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, UM, AT THE AMERICA HOUSE. IT'S NEVER LOOKED BETTER. IT WAS AMAZINGLY WELL PUT TOGETHER, CLEAN, UH, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE PENDING ISSUES THAT [00:15:01] WERE ADDRESSED. WE HAD A LEAKY ROOF, WE HAD A LEAKY CHIMNEY THAT WAS ADDRESSED. THE DRYWALL HAD BEEN DAMAGED. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT HARD WORK. AND THE SECOND THING IS I HAVE A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR YOU. MAY I GIVE IT TO YOU AND HAVE THE COMMISSION TAKE A PHOTO? JUST A, A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. BACK IN MAY, THE PELICAN HARBOR SEABIRD STATION MADE A PRESENTATION, AND, UM, THE HOPE IS THAT THE CITY HAS, UH, THE COMMISSION HAS, UM, GIVEN, GIVEN, THOUGHT TO THAT. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT THE CITY'S SUPPORT. JUST A REMINDER, THE ASK IS $5,000 PER YEAR. SO I'M HOPING WE WILL HEAR SOON. THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA ABOUT THE DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN VENEZUELA. THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS COLLECTING DONATIONS AT ALL FOUR. CORAL GABLES FIRE STATIONS SUPPORT RELIEF EFFORTS THROUGH GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT MISSION. UM, I'VE MADE A REQUEST AND THANK YOU TO THE MANAGER AND THE DCM WHILE THE MANAGER WAS AWAY ON THE A CM, UH, FOR MOVING EXPEDITIOUSLY. UH, THANK YOU TO CHIEF DE ROSA. I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S HERE. OH, HE'S IN THE BACK. UH, THANK YOU WITH YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS. UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. UH, WE MOVED VERY, VERY QUICKLY. UH, YOU GUYS MOVED HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND WE WERE ABLE TO DELIVER ON AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO REALLY, UH, GET AS MUCH SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU TO MARTHA PONTING, WHO'S IN THE BACK, ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE IT TEAM, UH, FOR GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT THERE VERY, VERY QUICKLY. WITH SOUTH FLORIDA, BEING HOME TO MANY VENEZUELAN FAMILIES, THE CRISIS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY. SEVERAL, OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE FRIENDS, RELATIVES, OR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY. EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO DONATE NEW, UNOPENED APPROVED EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES TO ANY CORAL GABLES FIRE STATION DONATIONS WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO VENEZUELA THROUGH GEM. UH, THIS MORNING, UH, WE HAD OUR FIRST INITIAL PICKUP, AND THE FIREFIGHTERS, UH, TOLD US THAT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A GOOD SHOW SUPPORT THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE AMOUNT OF, UH, THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED BY RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. UH, WE'RE, WE'RE AN INCREDIBLY BLESSED COMMUNITY. I MEAN, CORAL GABLES THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. WE HAVE SO MUCH TO GIVE THANKS FOR. SO THIS IS THE MOMENT TO JUST TAKE A FEW SECONDS WHEN YOU STOP BY A PUBLIX OR MILAM, OR WHOLE FOODS OR TRADER JOE'S. HOPE I DIDN'T MISS ANYBODY. UM, JUST BUY AN EXTRA OF CANNED GOOD, YOU KNOW, BUY SOMETHING ON THE LIST, DROP IT OFF AT A FIRE STATION. JUST REMEMBER HOW BLESSED WE ARE, UH, TO LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. UH, WE HAVE SO MUCH. AND AT A MOMENT WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN PURE DESPAIR, PANIC, UH, IN VENEZUELA, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THAT COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS, TO OUR CITY MANAGER, A-C-M-D-C-M, MARTA ING, AND ALL THE, ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO, WHO HAVE BEEN SO GRACIOUS AND HAVE, UH, REALLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE QUICKLY AND GET THESE DONATIONS IN PLACE. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, MOVING ON [A.-1. 26-1742 Presentation of a Resolution of Condolence to the bereaved family of Daniel Ramudo.] TO OUR FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, IDA A ONE PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCE TO A BERE FAMILY OF THE OF DANIEL UL. MS. REUL, WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN US? I'D LIKE TO READ A QUICK RESOLUTION ON THE RECORD, AND THEN I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM UL, A DEAR FRIEND AND A RESIDENT, A PERSON WHO, UH, UH, SHE'S NOT ONLY A COLLEAGUE, BUT A PERSON WHO I HOLD AN INCREDIBLY HIGH RESPECT, WHO HAS, IS INVOLVED IN COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF BOARDS AND, UH, CHAMBERS, AND IS CONSTANTLY ENGAGING IN JUST THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. YOUR ONLY INTEREST IS MAKE PUSHING CORAL GABLES FORWARD. UM, AND I FELT THAT, UH, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, UH, WHEN WE WERE INVITED FROM PRIME MINISTERS TO, UH, AMBASSADORS, YOU'RE FRONT AND CENTER, YOU'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEIR VISIT HERE, ALONG WITH BELLIES AND HER ENTIRE TEAM IS JUST FLAWLESS. AND YOU'RE MAKING THE CITY CORAL GAVE LOOK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, LIKE WE ALWAYS DO, BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF AND BEY'S TEAM. SO YOU DESERVE ALL THE CREDIT. WHEREAS A COMMUNITY MOURNS THE PASSING OF DANIEL ULU, A BELOVED RESIDENT OF CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, WHOSE WARMTH, DEDICATION, AND ZEAL FOR LIFE TOUCH ALL WHO KNEW HIM. AND WHEREAS DANIEL BUILT A DISTINGUISHED CAREER MARKED BY DEDICATION AND VERSATILITY FROM HIS YEARS AS A TRADING ASSOCIATED IN NEW YORK TO FOUNDING [00:20:01] HIS OWN REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY VENTURE. AND WHEREAS DANIEL'S GREATEST JOY IN LIFE WAS THE TIME HE SPENT WITH HIS DAUGHTER, A BOND THAT HE CHERISH ABOVE ALL ELSE. AND WHEREAS IN MORE RECENT YEARS, DANIEL FOUND PARTICULAR JOY IN WORKING ALONGSIDE HIS MOTHER, SHARING IN WHAT, IN THAT SPECIAL BOND AND PARTNERSHIP. AND WHEREAS DANIEL POSED AN ADVENTUROUS AND CURIOUS SPIRIT LIGHTING AND DISCOVERING NEW RESTAURANTS AND EXPLORING NEW PLACES, EMBRACING TRAVEL AS A WAY OF EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCING THE RICHNESS OF LIFE. AND WHEREAS DANIEL'S KINDNESS, WARMTH, AND LOVE FOR THOSE AROUND HIM LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION ON HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ALL THOSE LIVES THAT HE TOUCHED. NOW THEREFORE, BE A RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, THAT WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONSOL CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND LOVED ONES OF DANIEL RAMO, AND THAT WE JOIN TOGETHER IN CELEBRATING A LIFE WELL LIVED, FILLED WITH HARD WORK, LOVE, CURIOSITY, AND CONNECTION. AND A WITNESSED WHEREOF I HAVE HERE ON TWO, PLACED MY HAND AND CAUSE THE GREAT SEAL OF THE CITY CORAL GAVE US TO BE AFFIXED ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF JULY, 2026. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, MY SON LIVED, WORKED AND PLAYED IN CORAL GABLES JUST LIKE ME. HE LOVED THIS CITY, AND I KNOW THAT THIS MOMENT WOULD BE VERY, VERY LOVED BY HIM. THANK YOU. AND, UH, HE WENT FAST, BUT I'M SURE HE'S UP ABOVE LOOKING AT US AND THANKING YOU ALL. THANK YOU, ORGA. THIS IS JUST A SMALL RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCES FOR YOUR SON. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPENDING TIME WITH HIM. WE BROKE BREAD, UM, SUPER SMART, KIND, UM, EVEN IN SOME VERY DIFFICULT MOMENTS THAT HE HAD IN HIS LIFE, HE WAS ALWAYS RESILIENT. HE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE. AND I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE INCREDIBLE PERSON THAT YOU ARE. THANK YOU. UM, I'M VERY SORRY THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO, UH, TO MAKE, UH, THE FUNERAL. I APOLOGIZE I WAS OUTTA TOWN. UM, BUT THIS IS THE SIMPLEST GESTURE THAT WE AS A CITY CAN GIVE, UH, TO HONOR HIS LEGACY AND TO HONOR THE HARD WORK. AND, UM, HE HAS A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER, UH, THAT WILL CONTINUE THAT LEGACY. AND THAT IS SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO TIGHT AND TO LOOK IN HER EYES. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER, UH, YOUR INCREDIBLE SON. THANK YOU. SO, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE LOVE IT. THANK YOU. WE LOVE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WANNA TAKE A QUICK PHOTO, PLEASE? MAY WE MAYBE TAKE A PHOTO? YES, PLEASE. ITEM [A.-2. 26-1626 Presentation of a Proclamation declaring July 2026 as "Taste of the Gables - Restaurant Month" in Coral Gables.] A TWO, A PRESENTATION OR PROCLAMATION DECLARING JULY, 2026 AS TASTE OF THE GABLES RESTAURANT MONTH IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. I, GOOD MORNING, IES. GOOD MORNING. UM, WE'RE HERE FOR TESA GABLES, JULY 1ST STARTED. UM, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE WEBSITE, PLEASE GO TASA GABLES.COM. SO I WANNA GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY. UM, SO TESSA GABLES HAS BECOME ONE OF CORAL GABLES SIGNATURE SUMMER INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO DRIVE BUSINESSES TO OUR RESTAURANTS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE VERY, UM, SLOW MONTHS THAT WE HAVE. UM, SO THIS YEAR MARKS THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD TASTE THE GABLES. WHEN WE STARTED, WE HAD 30 RESTAURANTS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 75 RESTAURANTS PARTICIPATING. UM, AND THE REASON OF COURSE, THAT WE DID IT AGAIN IS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO GET OUR RESTAURANTS THROUGH THE SLOWER MONTHS. AND WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THEM IS FROM THOSE THAT DID TAKE THE SURVEY, UM, LAST YEAR, THEY SAID THAT 70%, UH, 70% OF THOSE THAT TOOK THE SURVEY SAID THAT THEIR, UH, REVENUES WENT UP FIVE TO 20%. AND IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, THAT'S, THAT IS, UM, THAT IS VERY GOOD. AND SOME SAW EVEN MORE OF AN INCREASE. SO, LIKE I SAID, 75 RESTAURANTS, IT'S REALLY A GREAT WAY TO, UH, EXPERIENCE CORAL GABLES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. UM, THERE ARE PREFIX MENUS. [00:25:01] SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS YEAR IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT SECURED MORE THAN $24,000 IN, UH, SPONSORSHIPS. AND THAT'S IN KIND AND ALSO CASH DONATIONS. SO WE WERE ABLE TO USE THAT MONEY TO PROMOTE THE CITY IN A, IN A, IN A MORE, UH, HIGHER LIGHT. I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, OUR PARTNER THAT IS HERE TODAY. SO, UM, IT'S ALSO AN INTRODUCTION TO YOU ALL OF YOU. UM, GLORIA BAEZ, UH, IS THE NEW VP OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND SHE'S HERE WITH US. UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE, A COUPLE OF RESTAURANTS THAT ARE HERE, COGEN, I DON'T SEE HIM RIGHT NOW, CHEF, BUT, UM, WE HAVE OMA, PERU THAT ARE HERE AND, UH, LET THEM HAVE CAKE. ESTEFANIA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, OH, THERE YOU ARE. MM-HMM . IF I CAN HAVE YOU COME UP AS WELL FOR A SECOND, OMAZE PERU AS WELL. AND SO, UM, I JUST WANNA HAVE GLORIA, IF IT'S OKAY, MAYOR, TO SEE IF YOU WORKS NO. GREAT. AS OUR NEW CHAMBER, I WANNA WELCOME YOU TO THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF HAVING MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS. YES. AND IT'S A REAL BLESSING TO HAVE YOU HERE IN THE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM SO HONORED TO BE HERE. THANK YOU, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, UM, AND THE REST OF THE CITY. ON BEHALF OF THE CHAMBER AND THE BOARD, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY IS, IS MAGNIFICENT, AND I TRULY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY. SO THANK YOU. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM ALSO, BY THE WAY, DON'T BE SHY, BY THE WAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD THIS YOUNG LADY'S CAKES. I HAD THE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CUT THE RIBBON AT HER, AT HER, UH, ESTABLISHMENT. IT'S ON, LOCATED ON ALHAMBRA. UM, AND LEMME TELL YOU, I'VE ORDERED FROM THEM BEFORE. AMAZING. AMAZING CAKES. DELICIOUS CAKES. SHE, I'M, YOU'RE AN ARCHITECT. YOU'RE AN ARCHITECT, CORRECT? YES. I REMEMBER THAT FROM ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE CUT THE RIBBON. YES. AND SHE'S MORE OF AN ARTISAN THAN AN ARCHITECT. SHE IS AMAZING, AMAZING AT WHAT SHE DOES. UH, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T EATEN THAT AROMA, DE PERU, ONE OF THE BEST, THE BEST RESTAURANTS HERE, WE HAVE LOCALLY, UH, DELICIOUS. AND IT'S ALSO VERY HEALTHY FOOD TOO, ALSO. I ENJOY IT. UM, SO PLEASE, UH, MAKE SURE YOU GO OUT THERE AND TRY THESE INCREDIBLE RESTAURANTS. THE FLOOR IS YOURS, PLEASE. UM, YEAH, WELL, I OWN LET THEM HAVE CAKE. AND YES, THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, UM, I, I LOVE TO WORK WITH SUGAR, FLOWERS AND DESIGN CAKES. UM, BUT I GUESS AFTER THIS MEETING, ALL OF YOU WILL NEED SOME, SOME CAKE, SOME COOKIE, UH, COFFEE SO YOU GUYS CAN WALK OVER THERE. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. , WHAT IS THE EXACT ADDRESS ON, UH, IT'S 3 6 7 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE. YES. AND BY THE WAY, I HAVE COFFEE THERE ALSO. YES. WE HAVE COFFEE. WE HAVE TEA. I FEEL LIKE I'M PART OF LIKE YOUR TEAM. I'M LIKE SELLING IT. YES, EXACTLY. THEY'RE NOT JUST SELLING CAKES AND COOKIES. YOU'RE GONNA STOP BY THERE AND HAVE A COFFEE. YOU CAN ENJOY YOURSELF. IT'S IN A GREAT LOCATION ON ALHAMBRA. MAKE SURE YOU GO THERE. I'VE STOPPED BY THERE FOR COFFEE THROUGH THE MAYOR, SO, SO YOU DON'T GET TOO SINGLED OUT. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THERE MANY TIMES AND MY WIFE IS A HUGE FAN AS WELL. AND YOU, YOU DID COME IN WITH THE SAVE AS WHILE THE, THE PASTRIES ARE EXCELLENT. I'M A BIG FAN OF THE COFFEE. YEAH, RIGHT. YOU'VE GOT THAT BEAUTIFUL MACHINE THAT'S, UH, THE BIG MACHINE, VERY WELL, UH, ADMINISTERED BY YOUR BARISTA. SO EVERYONE SHOULD CHECK IT OUT ON ALHAMBRA, RIGHT BY THE, THE GLOBE, YOU KNOW, NOT TOO FAR FROM THERE. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. YEAH. YEAH. THE SHOP IS SUPER CUTE AND I AM MARKETING. IT IS HARD. BUT YES, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF PEOPLE CAME BY AND, YOU KNOW, UM, GOT TO SIT THERE. UH, WE REALLY DID A, A HARD WORK WITH, UM, MAKING IT SUPER CUTE AND SUPER PINK AND EVERYTHING IS SUPER NICE AND GIRLY. VERY WELCOMING. YES, VERY WELCOME. THANKS, . THANKS. HI. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. UM, HOW ARE YOU, MAYOR? GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. UM, SO I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BE PART OF, YOU KNOW, THE NEWS TRIP HERE IN GIRALDA. UM, I THINK THAT THE TASTE OF GABLES IS SUPER CREATIVE AND SOMETHING NEW. IT'S BRINGING IN SO MANY PEOPLE. I HAVE A LOT OF CLIENTS AND GUESTS WHO ARE COMING IN THAT ARE SO EXCITED OVER THE OPPORTUNITY. I THINK WHAT, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS ALMOST A BETTER VERSION OF MIAMI SPINE WITH SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE LOCALLY. SORRY. YEAH. UH, AND I JUST WELCOME ANY OF YOU WHO WANNA COME AND VISIT US, WE'D BE SUPER GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU. YES. AND IT'S BEEN 16 YEARS. WE'RE HERE IN CORAL GABLES AND WE HOPE TO KEEP BEING HERE FOR EVEN LONGER. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR MOVE? YOUR, YOUR, OH, YEAH. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, I MEAN, I VISIT YOUR RESTAURANT , SO I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE NO LONGER AT THE SAME LOCATION. YEAH, SO WE, WE OPENED IN 2010 IN POND LEON, THE LOCATION HERE NEXT TO TARGET. AND WE MOVED ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS AGO TO GIRALDA, RIGHT NEXT TO LUCO STEREO. UH, SO WE'VE BEEN THERE. IT'S BEEN, UH, PHENOMENAL. THE FOOT TRAFFIC THAT THAT WE HAVE IS AMAZING. I MEAN, THE WORKS THAT YOU GUYS DO, JUST TO BRING IN MORE FOOT TRAFFIC, IT'S ABSOLUTELY GREAT. I MEAN, I, I CAN'T COMPLAIN. I'M, I'M SO GRATEFUL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. BY THE WAY, IF I MAY, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US CREDIT FOR THE FOOT TRAFFIC. AND I WORKED ON, THE MANAGER DESERVES ALL THE CREDIT FOR HIAL. HE WAS THERE FIRST DAY I WAS WITH HIM AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT AS WE WERE WORKING. IT WAS REALLY MIRACLE MILE THAT FIRST DAY WHEN WE WERE THERE. BUT IT WAS PART THE PROJECT. MIRACLE MILE HIDA WAS THE SAME PROJECT, THE STREETSCAPE PROJECT. BUT [00:30:01] YOU DESERVE ALL THE CREDIT. LEMME TELL YOU WHY. SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US CREDIT ON ALDA AND ALL THE PROGRAMMING THAT BELK EAST DOES, AND MARTHA AND ALL OUR TEAM DOES. THAT'S A GREAT THING. BUT YOUR FOOD IS AMAZING. OH, THANK YOU. THE QUALITY OF YOUR FOOD IS AMAZING. NOW YOU HAVE AN AMAZING SETTING BECAUSE YOU HAVE, YOU HAD A, YOU HAD A LOCATION THAT WAS ALREADY BUILT OUT, AND YOU BASICALLY NOW ARE ABLE TO ENJOY THAT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY ON THAT, THE SECOND GEN SPACE. SO IT'S REALLY NICE. UM, BUT YOUR FOOD IS TOP-NOTCH. THE QUALITY IS IMPECCABLE, THE AMBIANCE, THE SERVICE. I SLIP IN AND SLIP OUT. I GO EAT, I EAT THERE. IF I WANT SOMETHING HEALTHY, IF I WANNA EAT SOME FISH, IT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON, ON, IF YOU'RE A RESTAURANT OWNER AND YOU'VE HAD A RESTAURANT FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, IT'S A TESTAMENT THAT YOU'RE, THAT YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. YEAH. SO, UH, CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CHAMBER, UH, THAT WE, I HAVE A, I THINK THE CHAMBER HAS AN INCREDIBLE BRIGHT FUTURE YEAH. UH, ON THE GLORIA AND, AND THE NEW TEAM THAT WE HAVE THERE. SO, UM, I'M EXCITED THAT BOTH OF YOU COULD JOIN US. WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SPECTRUMS. WE HAVE DESSERT, AND WE HAVE A MAIN COURSE. SO , UH, THANK YOU BELLIES FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE. WELL, I DO HAVE THE PROXIMATION, BUT I DO WANT TO COMMEND EACH, EACH ONE OF YOU, YOU KNOW, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, BEL EAST PEREZ, AS WELL AS THE CHAMBER. 'CAUSE WE ARE BLESSED IN OUR CITY THAT WE HAVE A CHAMBER THAT WORKS WITH OUR CITY AND CITY THAT WORKS WITH THE CHAMBER. THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN, UH, WHERE YOU HAVE PUT THE BUSINESSES ON A PEDESTAL BASICALLY, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE ECONOMIC, UH, HEALTH OF OUR CITY ALL THE WAY AROUND AND ATTRACTING GREAT BUSINESSES LIKE THIS. OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRO UH, DEPARTMENT'S DONE A GREAT JOB. OUR MAYOR'S DONE A FABULOUS JOB OF INTRODUCING OUR CITY TO MANY, MANY COMPANIES THAT HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE THIS THEIR HOME FOR BOTH OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR BUSINESSES. SO, UH, FURTHER ADO, I'LL, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS RENOWNED FOR ITS VIBRANT CULINARY SCENE, FEATURING A DIVERSE ARRAY OF RESTAURANTS THAT CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF JULY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TASTE TO THE GABLES RESTAURANT MONTH, AN ANNUAL ACTIVATION AIMED AT DRIVING BUSINESS TO CORAL GABLES RESTAURANTS DURING THE TRADITIONALLY SLOW SUMMER SEASON. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR MARKS THE FOURTH YEAR OF TASTE TO GABLES PROGRAM UNDER THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SHOWCASING OF THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND PROMOTING CULINARY EXCELLENCE. AND WHEREAS TASTE THE GABLES OFFERS AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE TO EXPLORE THE CITY'S DINING ESTABLISHMENTS WITH MORE THAN 75 PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS IN 2026, INCLUDING MICHELIN STARRED AND LOCAL FAVORITES, OFFERING SPECIALLY PRICED PICKS, FIX MENUS, AND EXCLUSIVE PROMOTIONS. WHEREAS THERE'S, THERE IS NO COST FOR RESTAURANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM ENSURING THAT ALL LOCAL DINING ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM INCREASED VISIBILITY AND PATRONAGE. NOW, THEREFORE, IVANS LAGO AS MAYOR, THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSIONED, YOU HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY, 2026 AS TASTE GABLES RESTAURANT MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS. AND LET'S TAKE A PICTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DO WANNA POINT OUT, UH, MY STAFF, SO SOLAN LOPEZ AND DANIELLE CORDOVA, THEY HAVE TO INPUT ALL OF THOSE PICTURES AND MENUS MANUALLY, SO I JUST WANNA GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT. MOVING ON TO [A.-3. 26-1582 Congratulations to Lieutenant Carlo Milito, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Firefighter of the Month Award,” for the month of July 2026.] ITEM A THREE. CONGRATULATIONS TO LIEUTENANT CARLO MILITO, RECIPIENT OF THE CITY OF CORAL G'S FIREFIGHTER, THE MONTH AWARD FOR THE MONTH OF [00:35:01] JULY, 2026. CHIEF, YOU HAVE TWO ITEMS. ITEM A THREE AND ITEM A FOUR. YOU WANT TO, WE'LL TAKE 'EM BOTH. YES. TAKE 'EM BOTH. THANK YOU. SO, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMISSION. UH, I'D LIKE TO JUST ECHO WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. BUT I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR RESIDENTS FOR PUTTING, UH, TURNING OUT AND PROVIDING ALL THE SUPPLIES. UH, EVERYTHING THAT WE SUCCEED IN THIS CITY IS USUALLY, AND, AND FOR THE MOST PART, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE, IS A TEAM EFFORT. SO, AS YOU STATED, I'D LIKE TO THANK MARTHA, WHO SPEARHEADED THE COMMUNICATIONS AND OUR POLICE AND FIRE PIOS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR, UH, RECEIVING AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE, UH, SUPPLIES GOT TO STATION ONE AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND GREEN SPACE THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDED THE TRUCK, BUT ARE ON OUR WAY TO DELIVER THE FIRST ROUND OF SUPPLIES TO VENEZUELA. SO IT'S DEFINITELY A UNIQUE CITY AS TO HOW EVERYONE BANDS TOGETHER FOR THE SAME CAUSE. I JUST WANT TO ECHO, UH, WHAT YOU JUST SAID RIGHT NOW, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR. UM, THE TAX COLLECTOR AND MYSELF HAD A CONVERSATION. WE IMMEDIATELY, DAR FERNANDEZ AND I WERE TALKING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT DOING SOMETHING HERE IN THE CITY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE MANAGER THE DCM, UM, THAT EVENING AND THE A CM AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION AND SAID, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO? THE NEXT DAY WE HAD AN ONSITE MEETING WITH LAURA, WE, MARTHA TINE AND THE IT TEAM. WE PUT TOGETHER A QUICK CLIP, WE GOT IT OUT THERE, AND EVERYTHING WAS ROLLING. SO I, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR STAFF MOVES INCREDIBLY QUICK, COHESIVE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MANAGER. AND, UM, I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER CITY CAN MOVE AS QUICKLY AS THAT. WE HAD, I THINK WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION. MADAM MUSEUM WAS LIKE NINE O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. UH, AND THE NEXT DAY WE WERE SET FOR AN EIGHT O'CLOCK MEETING AT THE FIRE STATION. SO, UM, THAT'S A TESTAMENT, UH, TO THE MANAGER'S LEADERSHIP, TO YOUR LEADERSHIP, MR, MR. CHIEF, D-C-M-A-C-M, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, ALL THE EMPLOYEES, ALL DIRECTORS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS HERE, UH, THAT WAS PRESIDENT THAT OBVIOUSLY HAD PLAYED A, PLAYED A HAND IN THIS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I'D JUST LIKE TO WELCOME CHIEF ARD O BACK. HE HAD DEPLOYED WITH TASK FORCE TWO AND HE RETURNED LATE ON MONDAY. SO WITH THAT, I'D ASK, UH, CHIEF JONES TO PRESENT OUR FIREFIGHTERS OF THE MONTH. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HIGHLIGHT THE AMAZING WORK THAT IS DONE BY OUR STAFF. AND TODAY WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT SERVE AS A TEAM. I ONCE READ A QUOTE THAT SAYS, YOU DON'T GO AS FAR AS YOUR DREAM, YOU GO AS FAR AS YOUR TEAM. THESE ARE TWO EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUALS THAT HAS DONE AMAZING WORK IN OUR NEWLY FORMED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DIVISION. MOST RECENTLY, UH, BECAUSE OF THEIR PREPARATION AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL, UH, THESE INDIVIDUALS ENSURED THAT WE NOT ONLY HAD A SITE INSPECTION BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BUT ENSURED THAT THERE WAS ZERO DEFICIENCIES. UH, AND IN ADDITIONS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS OF PROCESS IMPROVEMENT AS WELL AS EFFICIENCY AND HAVE EXCELLED IN THAT AREA. SO TODAY WE'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT LIEUTENANT CARLO MILITO AND CAPTAIN CHRISTINA RA FIRST. ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSION, UH, COUNCILMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HONOR. UH, TRULY HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK FIRST AND FOREMOST MY WIFE AND MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACK. GOOD JOB, UM, AND CHIEFS AND EVERYBODY HERE TO GAVE ME THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT I DO EVERY DAY HERE. I TOOK A LOT OF PRIDE OUT IN THE STREETS NOW AND IN IN ADMINISTRATION, UM, DELIVERING THAT TO OUR NEW RECRUITS AND EVERYBODY THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT. SO WITH THAT, I SAY THANK YOU. NOT [A.-4. 26-1581 Congratulations to Captain Cristina Muslera, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Firefighter of the Month Award,” for the month of June 2026.] A GREAT PUBLIC SPEAKER, BUT I'LL DO MY BEST. . I'D LIKE TO THANK CHIEF OSA AND ASSISTANT CHIEF JONES, ASSISTANT CHIEF GRO, UM, FOR THEIR ASCENDING LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY AND TRUST THEY'VE EXTENDED TO ME TO SERVE AS EMS CAPTAIN FOR CORAL GABLES FIRE. I ALSO APPRECIATE CHIEF FLETCHER AND LIEUTENANT ALITO FOR THEIR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT WE COULDN'T ACCOMPLISH AS MUCH AS WE HAVE IN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS WITHOUT THEM RECEIVING FIRE FOR THE MONTH IS AN HONOR, THEIR FLEX AGREED TEAM I WORK WITH. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SERVE THIS DEPARTMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR HARD WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LET'S TAKE A QUICK PHOTO [00:41:29] ITEM, A FIVE. [A.-5. 26-1791 Congratulations to Officer Christopher Challenger, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Officer of the Month Award,” for the month of April 2026.] CONGRATULATIONS TO OFFICER CHRISTOPHER CHALLENGER, RECIPIENT OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, OFFICER OF THE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2026. AND WE ALSO ARE GONNA DO ITEM A SIX. CONGRATULATIONS TO OFFICER GEORGE BARINAS, RECIPIENT OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, OFFICER OF THE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, 2026. GOOD MORNING, CHIEF. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, VICE MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. UM, FIRST UP WILL BE OFFICER CHALLENGER. UM, AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THIS FORUM TO BE ABLE TO GIVE SOME, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TASTE OF WHAT OUR OFFICERS DO ON A DAILY BASIS. AND, UH, IN THIS CASE, OFFICER CHALLENGER BACK ON APRIL 14TH, 2026 A, HE RESPONDED TO A BURGLARY IN PROGRESS AT 55 26 MAGGIORE STREET. UH, THE HOMEOWNER RE ADVISED THEY WERE NOT HOME, BUT THEY RECEIVED THE ALERT ON THEIR, ON THEIR, UH, ZOOM, THE RING CAMERA. UM, SHE DESCRIBED A SUBJECT WHO WAS WEARING A WHITE HOODIE AND A BLACK HAD A BLACK BEARD AND TWO BROWN BACKPACKS THAT WAS TRYING THE BACK DOOR OF THE HOME SUBJECT FLED PRIOR TO THE OFFICERS ARRIVING. OFFICER CHALLENGER AT, UH, LOOKING AT, UH, GETTING THE BOLO STARTED TO LOOK AROUND THE AREA AND FOUND A SUBJECT IN THE AREA OF 400 BLOCK OF CUOMO AVENUE THAT MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION. UH, THE VICTIM WAS BROUGHT OVER, POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED THE SUBJECT. UH, OFFICER CHALLENGER READ HIM MIRANDA, AND HE WAIVED HIS RIGHTS. AND HE ASKED THE SUBJECT WHAT HE WAS DOING. HE SAID HE WAS HUNGRY LOOKING FOR FOOD. SO DUE TO HIS GREAT OBSERVATION SKILLS AND HIS DETECTIVE SKILLS, HE WAS ABLE TO APPREHEND THE SUBJECT AND TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY. SO FOR THAT, HE RECEIVED OFFICER THE MONTH FOR APRIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, CHIEF COMMAND STAFF, UH, COMMISSION FOR HAVING ME UP HERE. UH, MR. MANAGER. I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, SERGEANT SALZEDO AND, UH, LIEUTENANT GUSTO FOR NOMINATING ME FOR OFFICER OF THE MONTH. AND AS WITH ANYTHING WITH THE, WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT'S A TEAM EFFORT. UH, PRETTY MUCH, I JUST HAPPENED TO FIND HIM FIRST, BUT EVEN IF NONE OF US FOUND HIM THAT DAY, UH, ONE OF OUR OFFICERS IDENTIFIED THE SUBJECT THE DAY BEFORE AND CONDUCTED AN FI THAT WAS, UH, UH, OFFICER CASTANEDA, WHO WAS ALSO ON SCENE. AND NOT ONLY DID HE IDENTIFIED HIM, HE WAS WITH HIS, UH, HIS TRAINEE. UH, WHEN HE HEARD THE CALL GO OUT, HE SHARED A PHOTO OF THE GUY. SO IT WAS PRETTY EASY TO, TO FIND HIM ALONG WITH THE HELP OF OFFICER MOLINA. AND HONESTLY, UH, LIEUTENANT BENA, IF HE WERE FIVE SECONDS QUICKER, HE'D BE UP HERE ACCEPTING THIS NOMINATION 'CAUSE HE WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME. SO IT'S A, A TEAMWORK, AND I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EVERY TO THE MAYOR. YES. YEAH. OFFICER CHALLENGER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. I DON'T THINK IT'S A SURPRISE TO ANYONE THAT THE POLICE HOLDS A VERY SPECIAL PART IN MY HEART. BUT YOU IN SPECIFIC HAVE SACRIFICED AND SERVED THIS COMMUNITY WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'VE SAVED THESE [00:45:01] CENTENNIAL COINS FOR VERY SPECIAL MOMENTS AND FOR VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE. AND I HAVE ONE FOR YOU TODAY. NOT ONLY A CENTENNIAL COIN, BUT I ALSO, I'M ALSO GIVING YOU THE 250 COIN. SO IF YOU WOULD, I HAVE A LITTLE NOTE IN HERE FOR YOU. CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING NAMED OFFICER OF THE MONTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND DEDICATION DURING THE CITY'S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AND THE 250 ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES. YOUR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT ARE SINCERELY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU WHEN WE'RE TAKING A PICTURE. AND, AND BEFORE I GO, I JUST WANT TO SAY ANOTHER SHOUT OUT. THANK YOU TO AARON GLASSER, WHO'S WITH, UH, HE JUST LEFT, BUT HE'S BEHIND THE SCENES WITH EVERY OFFICER OF THE MONTH. UH, HE CELEBRATES IT EVERY YEAR, OFFICER OF THE YEAR. HE DOESN'T GET ENOUGH NOTORIETY, BUT, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FOP, EVERYBODY APPRECIATES AARON GLASSER. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT [A.-6. 26-1792 Congratulations to Officer Jorge Brenes, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Officer of the Month Award,” for the month of May 2026.] RECIPIENT IS OFFICER GEORGE BRENNI. HE WAS NOMINATED FOR MAY OF 2026. OFFICER LONG BETWEEN APRIL 21ST AND THE 30TH. A TOTAL OF ABOUT 20 INCIDENT WERE GENERATED AND AN AREA INVOLVING PROPERTY CRIMES. UH, SUBJECT WAS GOING THROUGH THE BACKS OF, UH, RESIDENCE OFF THE GOLF COURSE. HE WAS, UH, GOING INTO CARS, AND THERE WAS SEVERAL CASES THAT WE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE SUBJECT. THERE WAS A, HE WAS IDENTIFIED IN ONE PHOTO, AND WE WERE ABLE TO PUT OUT A PROBABLE CAUSE FLYER FOR HIM. WE LOOKED IN THAT AREA, WE PUT TOGETHER DIFFERENT GROUPS. WE HAD THE DRONE FLYING UP. ALL OF THIS, UH, AREAS, WE WERE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE SUBJECT. AND THEN ON MAY 6TH, OFFICER BRENNI WAS AT THE, UH, THREE 50 BIRD ROAD AT THE SEVEN 11. HE WAS STILL ON WRITING ASSIGNMENT WITH HIS FIELD TRAINING OFFICER. WHEN HE OBSERVED THE SUBJECT WALK INTO THE STORE AND RECOGNIZED HIM IMMEDIATELY FROM THE FLYER. UH, THE SUBJECT WAS DETAINED. SEARCH INCIDENT ARREST, UH, REVEALED THAT THE OFFENDER WAS IN POSSESSION OF SEVERAL CREDIT CARDS, IDS, AND HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PLACED IN ARREST BY THE DETECTIVES. OFFICER BRENNI IS A NEW OFFICER WHO IS STILL ON WRITING ASSIGNMENT, WHO'S HIS SENSE OF KEEN AWARENESS. AND THANKS TO HIM, TO THE INTEL FROM THE DETECTIVES, ALONG WITH TRAINING BY HIS FTO LED TO THE APPREHENSION OF PROLIFIC CRIMINAL TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I BELIEVE IN THE END, WE CLOSED ABOUT 14 CASES INVOLVING THIS SUBJECT. UH, HE NOT ONLY HAD BROKEN IN HERE, HE WAS ON MIAMI BEACH, CITY OF MIAMI, SEVERAL OF THESE CASES. SO OUR CLOSURE HELPED THEM CLOSE THEIR CASES FOR HIS EFFORTS. HE'S RECOGNIZED AS OFFICER OF THE MONTH FOR MAY, 2026. HELLO. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THAT'S SUNDAY. GOOD MORNING. CITY OFFICIALS, DEPUTY CHIEF COMMAND STAFF, FELLOW OFFICERS, AND GUESTS. I'M STANDING HERE TO RECEIVE OFFICER OF THE MONTH. SO EARLY IN MY CAREER AS AN INCREDIBLE HONOR, TO WHICH I'M HUMBLY ACCEPTING. I KNOW FOR A FACT I WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT SYSTEM I RECEIVED AROUND ME. WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT SUBJECT WITHIN AN HOUR. AND WITHOUT THAT IDENTIFICATION, WE WOULD'VE NEVER APPREHENDED HIM. TO MY FTOS, DETECTIVE RIVERA, OFFICER BECKER ALTE, AND OFFICER LOUIS LOPEZ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, SETTING RIGOROUS STANDARDS, AND SHARING YOUR WISDOM AND PASSION WITH ME. THE AWARD AND RECOGNITION IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO OUR COMMAND STAFF AND CITY OFFICIALS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PROVIDING US WITH THE RESOURCES TO DO OUR JOB EFFECTIVELY AND FOR PLACING YOUR TRUST IN ME. THIS AWARD MAY HAVE MY NAME ON IT, BUT IT BELONGS TO SEVERAL OFFICERS AS I RELY ON THE SUPPORT OF MY FELLOW OFFICERS DAILY. THAT DAY I WAS RIDING WITH LOUIS LOPEZ AND OFFICER ALEX RODRIGUEZ. WITHOUT THEM, I WOULD'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO IT. WE SET UP, UH, SORT OF A PERIMETER. WE BLOCKED THE BACK, EXIT THE FRONT DOOR, AND ONE WENT IN AND APPREHENDED. IT WAS A TEAMWORK EFFORT. NO INCIDENT COULD HAVE GONE, COULD HAVE GONE THE WRONG WAY, BUT IT WENT, IT WAS VERY SMOOTH. LUCKILY TO 'EM, I'M PROUD TO WEAR THIS UNIFORM. PROUD TO SERVE THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUALLY SERVING EACH OUR COMMUNITY EACH AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU TO BOTH GENTLEMEN. UH, GREAT WORK OFFICER CHALLENGER BRENNI. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN SLEEP EASY AT NIGHT, KNOWING THAT YOUR HARD YOUR TEAM IS WORKING OUT THERE, UH, IN PURSUIT OF ALL THESE [00:50:01] CRIMINALS, AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, AGAIN, UH, THIS IS THE SAFEST PLACE TO LIVE, NOT ONLY IN SOUTH FLORIDA, BUT IN THE COUNTRY. SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU. HERE, BACK HERE FOR . MOVING ON [A.-7. 26-1625 Congratulations to Javier Romero, from City Manager / Communications, recipient of the "Part-Time Employee of the Second Quarter Award", for 2026.] TO ITEM A SEVEN. CONGRATULATIONS TO JAVIER ROMERO FROM THE CITY MANAGER SLASH COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, RECIPIENT OF THE PART-TIME EMPLOYEE OF THE SECOND QUARTER FOR 2026, SIR. MORNING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, UH, JOSE RODRIGUEZ, ASSISTANT HR AND RISK DIRECTOR. UM, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE WITH THE EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION. SO THIS IS THE BEST PART OF MY JOB. UH, WE GET TO RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. SO FOR OUR, UH, PART-TIME EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER, WE HAVE JAVIER ROMERO. HE ACTUALLY JOINED THE CITY LAST FALL. HE IS A PART-TIME PRODUCER AND EDITOR. HE WAS NOMINATED BY MARTHA. MARTHA WROTE A PHENOMENAL NOMINATION. SO I'M GONNA HAVE MARTHA COME UP WITH JAVIER SO THEY CAN BE RECOGNIZED. CONGRATULATIONS. SO, AS I JOSE SAID, JAVIER JOINED US RECENTLY, BUT HE HAS SOMETHING THAT I CAN'T TEACH. HE HAS GREAT INITIATIVE. SO AS PART OF HIS, IN PART OF THE EXAMPLES OF HIS INITIATIVES ARE WHEN WE STARTED HAVING THE MEETINGS HERE, HE THOUGHT WE WERE, DIDN'T LIKE HOW THE DROP THING LOOKED BACK HERE. AND BEFORE WE GOT THE CURTAINS, HE WAS THE ONE THAT CAME UP WITH THE SOLUTION, AND WE ACTUALLY GOT IT DONE IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. HE ALSO CAME UP WITH, TO US, WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING A FUN EDUCATIONAL SERIES FOR INSTAGRAM AND SOCIAL MEDIA CALLED DID YOU KNOW, AND IT HIGHLIGHTS AND, UH, CITY PRO PROGRAMS, ET CETERA, LIKE WHAT GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT DOES OR, UH, AND OTHER EXAMPLES. AND THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO EDUCATE OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY DOES DO, BUT THAT WE CAN HIGHLIGHT THEM FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. UH, IN OUR CONFERENCE ROOM, UH, WE HAD CABLES RUNNING DOWN THE FLOOR. WE WERE HAVING PEOPLE COMING OVER HERE, UH, FOR MEETINGS, AND HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO GET THAT DONE. SO ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS OF HAVING AN EMPLOYEE IS ONE THAT HAS HIS OWN INITIATIVE, AND WE ARE REALLY LUCKY THAT HE JOINED US RECENTLY. SO, THANK YOU, JAVIER. OF COURSE. YEAH, IT'S A, IT'S A LITTLE ODD TO BE IN FRONT OF THESE CAMERAS. I'M USUALLY BEHIND THEM. UM, BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK MARTHA PANIN FOR THIS NOMINATION AND FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP. SHE PLAYS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN GUIDING THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR HER SUPPORT. UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK MICHAEL ROCHA FOR HIS MENTORSHIP AND GUIDANCE AND ALL OF MY INCREDIBLE COLLEAGUES WHO I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY. EACH OF YOU HAS HELPED ME GROW AND GET ME TO WHERE I AM TODAY TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND MY AMAZING GIRLFRIEND. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS PUSHING ME TO BE THE BEST VERSION TO MYSELF AND FOR SUPPORTING ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. AND TO EVERYONE HERE AND THE ENTIRE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE LETTING ME DO THIS JOB. I'M TRULY GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION, TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THIS WAY. SO THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, WELL DESERVED. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. [00:55:35] MOVING ON TO [A.-8. 26-1319 Congratulations to Robert Chang, from Parking Department recipient of the "Employee of the Month " for April 2026.] ITEM A EIGHT. CONGRATS TO ROBERT CHANG FROM THE PARKING DEPARTMENT, RECIPIENT OF THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR APRIL OF 2026. SO OUR, AS YOU SAID, MAYOR APRIL WINNER IS ROBERTO. HE COMES TO US FROM A PARKING DEPARTMENT. HE'S A PARKING ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST WITH NEARLY 20 YEARS OF SERVICE. SO EMPLOYEES ARE OFTEN NOMINATED FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. AND THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE CASE OF GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. SO, UM, I'M GONNA CALL IT MARTHA, PA, UH, SO NOT MONICA, MONICA, THE OTHER . YEAH. SO SHE CAN TELL THE UNIQUE STORY OF, OF HOW ROBERTO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND AND IS DESERVING OF THIS REWARD. SO ROBERTO, IF YOU COULD JOIN US. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MONICA BELTRAN, DIRECTOR, PARKING, SUSTAINABILITY, AND MOBILITY SERVICES. FIRST, I WANNA START BY THANKING ALL OF YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM. IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT OUR STAFF GETS TO COME OUT HERE, UH, LOOK AT OUR LEADERS AND SHARE A MOMENT. TODAY, IN PARTICULAR, SOME OF MY EMPLOYEES HERE, OUR EMPLOYEES HERE ARE RATHER NEW TO THE CITY HAVING JOINED US IN THE LAST TWO, THREE MONTHS. SO THEY GET A TASTE OF WHAT A COMMISSION MEETING IS, AND ALSO OF THE APPRECIATION THAT WE HAVE FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO. AND I'M GONNA TAKE THIS MOMENT TO REMIND THEM THAT MORE THAN AN ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DOES PARKING AND PRESERVES PARKING FOR THE USE OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS AND BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE ALSO AMBASSADORS AND WE'RE OUT THERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ROBERT CHANG, UM, ON OR ABOUT NINE 30 IN THE MORNING, WAS DRIVING HIS VEHICLE, UM, CITY VEHICLE TO GET WASHED. HE SAW A, A, HE HEARD A HONKING COMING FROM A SCHOOL BUS. IT WAS ABOUT NINE 30, LIKE I SAID, AND HE STOPPED. NOW, NOBODY ELSE HAD STOPPED. HE STOPPED AND HE GOT CLOSER AND REALIZED THERE WAS A CHILD IN THIS BUS THAT WAS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. IT WAS SEVEN 40 OR SO. THE CHILD TOLD HIM HE HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE BUS. THE DRIVER HAD GOTTEN OUT, HE APPARENTLY FELL ASLEEP. AND, BUT THE DRIVER APPARENTLY WAS AWARE THAT HE WAS THERE. BUT ANYWAY, LEFT AND LEFT THE CHILD IN THE BUS WITH THE DOORS SECURED. OFFICER CHANG STOPPED, GOT OUT, PRIED THE DOORS OPEN AND GOT THE CHILD OUT. HE WAS CRYING AND NERVOUS, ET CETERA. NOW IMAGINE THE PARENT NOT KNOWING WHERE THIS CHILD WAS. SO OFFICER CHANG CALLED THE PARENT CALLED HIS SUPERVISOR, WHO CALLED THE PD, AND IT WAS ALL COORDINATED. OFFICER CHANG THEN TRIED TO APPEASE THE CHILD, OFFERED TO BUY HIM FOOD. THE KID WAS HUNGRY, CALLED THE PARENT AGAIN TO FIND OUT IF THE KID HAD ANY FOOD, FOOD ALLERGIES SO THAT HE COULD GET HIM SOMETHING. HE STAYED WITH THE CHILD UNTIL THE MOTHER WHO WAS VERY DESPERATE IN CRYING, UM, CAME TO THE SCENE. NOW, IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN A PEAK HEAT OR HOT DAY, UM, THE CHILD MAY NOT HAVE SURVIVED. SO MANY PEOPLE DROVE BY, BUT NOBODY WAS AWARE ENOUGH TO STOP AND RENDER AGE. AND FOR THAT, OFFICER CHANG HAS RECOGNIZED TODAY. GOOD MORNING, A . THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. UH, IT'S TRULY A PLEASURE. UH, WE'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING BEFORE, ALONG WITH ALL THE EMPLOYEES BEHIND YOU WHO DO AN AMAZING JOB ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. UM, WHO KNOWS THE DAMAGE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY LEAVING THAT CHILD ANY LONGER INSIDE THAT SCHOOL BUS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THESE BRUTALLY HOT DAYS. WE GOT VERY LUCKY THAT YOU WERE THERE. AND THAT LUCK COMES WITH THE PRIDE THAT YOU TAKE IN BEING AN EMPLOYEE HERE AT THE CITY, CORAL GABLES. SO WE'RE BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AND, UH, THIS IS JUST A SMALL [01:00:01] TOKEN AND A, AND A GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. BUT THANK YOU, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, TAKING THAT EXTRA STEP, YOU KNOW, MAKING AN EXTRA, YOU KNOW, CORNER. YOU KNOW, NOT JUST DOING YOUR SCOPE OF WORK, BUT, YOU KNOW, DOING WHAT WE HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, UH, ARE KNOWN FOR, WHICH IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING ON TO THE FINAL ITEM BEFORE WE TAKE ON APPROVAL OF MINUTES. ITEM A NINE. CONGRATS [A.-9. 26-1320 Congratulations to Jose Vilar, from Community Recreation Department recipient of the "Employee of the Month " for May 2026.] TO JOSE VELAR FROM COMMUNITY RECREATIONS DEPARTMENT, RECIPIENT OF THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR MAY, 2026. SIR JOSE VELAR COMES TO US FROM THE COMMUNITY REC DEPARTMENT. HE'S THE AQUATICS MANAGER. SO HE IS COME UP THROUGH THE RANKS OF THE VENETIAN POOL, UM, STARTING AS A LIFEGUARD, COMING AS ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR, AND NOW HE'S THE MANAGER OF THE POOL. UM, HE'S A A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH. YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF RECRUITING, A LOT OF HIRING FOR THE POOL. SO WORKING WITH HIM, IT'S A PLEASURE WORKING WITH HIM. HE WAS NOMINATED BY CAROLINA INVESTOR, OUR A CM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO JOIN US. YEAH, SHE, SHE WROTE A VERY NICE NOMINATION AS WELL. UM, SO IF YOU COULD, JOSE, PLEASE JOIN US. BE RECOGNIZED. ALL JOSE IS PROUD. . SORRY, I, I APOLOGIZE THAT I JUMPED BEFORE THE DIRECTOR, BUT THIS IS VERY, VERY PERSONAL AND, UH, LONG OVERDUE. UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND THIS IS VERY, VERY RARE IN UH, JANUARY, HE REACHED OUT TO HAVE LUNCH AND SHARE SOME NEWS WITH ME. AND, UH, THAT NEWS WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, HE HAD WORKED ON A DIFFERENT CAREER PATH FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND MADE THE DECISION THAT IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE THE CITY. BUT HE UNDERSTANDS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND TRAINING HIS NEW STAFF AND HIS REPLACEMENT AND SAID HE WOULD GIVE THE CITY A 10 MONTHS NOTICE BEFORE LEAVING US, WHICH IS EXTREMELY RARE. SO HE'S WORKED VERY HARD TO FIND HIS REPLACEMENT. AND LIKE I SAID, THIS RECOGNITION IS LONG OVERDUE. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE IS RECOGNIZED BEFORE HE LEAVES THE CITY. AND I WANTED TO SHARE SOME WORDS ABOUT JOSE AND WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE CITY, IF YOU'LL LET ME. JOSE'S COMMITMENT TO AQUATICS PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC SERVICE IS DEEPLY ROOTED AND DATES BACK TO HIS EARLIEST DAYS ON LEARNING HOW TO SWIM AT THE VENETIAN POOL. UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF OUR VERY OWN VENETIAN AQUATIC CLUB MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS, HE CARRIED THAT EXPERIENCE FORWARD AND PAID IT BACK BY SERVING AS A VENETIAN AQUATIC CLUB AID, WHERE HE SPENT MANY SUMMERS VOLUNTEERING HIS TIME AND TEACHING SWIM LESSONS. THIS WORK IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL AS SWIM INSTRUCTION REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE PREVENTATIVE MEASURE AGAINST DROWNING. THAT EARLY DEDICATION TO WATER SAFETY HAS DEFINED HIS CAREER AND CONTINUES TO SHAPE HIS LEADERSHIP APPROACH. TODAY. FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, JOSE HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED NOT ONLY WITH THE STEWARDSHIP OF ONE OF OUR MOST ICONIC HISTORIC AND HIGH TRAFFIC FACILITIES, BUT ALSO WITH THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS WHO PASS THROUGH THE POOL EACH YEAR. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY AND HAS CONSISTENTLY MET WITH PROFESSIONALISM, VIGILANCE, AND A DEEP SENSE OF DUTY. HIS LEADERSHIP HAS ENSURED THAT SAFETY REMAINS THE TOP OPERATIONAL PRIORITY WHILE MAINTAINING A WELCOMING AND ENJOYABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL PATRONS. BEYOND HIS OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE, JOSE'S COMMITMENT TO HIS TEAM IS EQUALLY NOTEWORTHY. HE IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO FOSTERS A CULTURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY, MENTORSHIP, AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. HE LEADS BY EXAMPLE, INVESTING IN THE [01:05:01] DEVELOPMENT OF HIS TEAM AND ENCOURAGING THEM PURSUE TRAINING, CERTIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES. HIS EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION AS A DRIVER OF RENOVATION HAS ELEVATED NOT ONLY HIS OWN PERFORMANCE, BUT THAT OF HIS ENTIRE AQUATICS TEAM. JOSE'S DEDICATION TO THE CITY IS EVIDENT IN HIS PROACTIVE APPROACH TO CHALLENGES, HIS WILLINGNESS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND, AND HIS CONSISTENT PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE. HE HAS POSITIONED HIMSELF AS A FORWARD-THINKING LEADER, WHO EMBRACES NEW IDEAS, BEST PRACTICES, ENSURING THAT OUR AQUATICS OPERATION REMAINED BOTH SAFE AND PROGRESSIVE. IN EVERY RESPECT, JOSE EXEMPLIFIES THE VALUES OF PUBLIC SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND INNOVATION. HIS CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INVALUABLE AND HE'S MOST DESERVING OF THIS RECOGNITION. SHE SAID. YOU GOT THAT? ALRIGHT, WELL, GOOD MORNING. UH, VERY HUMBLED TO BE HERE. UH, I'M ON SEASON 18 OF THE SHOW. SO, UH, THE ORIGINAL CAST, MOST OF THEM ARE ALREADY GONE, BUT, UH, I COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER TEAM BLESSING, FAMILY, COWORKERS OR ANYTHING. I'VE, I, I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY EXCEPT THANK YOU. THIS, UH, ALL THESE YEARS HAVE BEEN A BLESSING AND I'M VERY HAPPY AND PROUD TO BE HERE. THANK YOU, . THANK YOU, MR. VILAR. WE WISH YOU GODSPEED. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE, AND HOPEFULLY, GOD WILLING, YOU'LL YOU'LL JOIN US SOON AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MOVING [B.-1. 26-1819 Regular City Commission Meeting of May 19, 2026.] ON TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES. B ONE, REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 19TH, 2026. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ITEM B TWO, [B.-2. 26-1820 Regular City Commission Meeting of June 2, 2026.] REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF JUNE 2ND, 2026. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE IT. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. MOVING [C. PUBLIC COMMENTS] ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. FIRST SPEAKER THIS MORNING. JESS OSBORNE. FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE APPEARING, PLEASE REMEMBER TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. AND ALSO, PLEASE, I'D LIKE FOR EVERYONE TO BE CONCISE AND ALSO TO BE AWARE THAT IF YOU SPEAK ON AN ITEM DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AND IT COMES UP LATER IN THE AGENDA, WE WON'T GIVE YOU A SECOND BITE OF THE APPLE. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING THE CITY'S TIME AND YOUR TIME. ABSOLUTELY. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UH, MY NAME IS JESS OSBORNE. UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF MIAMI. UH, MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY, AND HE AND, UM, UH, BORN AND RAISED HERE IN MIAMI, UH, GRADUATE OF, UM, UH, LIVING AND WORKING IN AND AROUND, UH, THE CURRENT AREA, UH, SORRY, EXCUSE MY DEMEANOR. I'M, UH, A LITTLE SICK, BUT I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UM, L-G-B-T-Q PROTECTIONS FOR OUR RESIDENTS HERE, UM, ESPECIALLY AS BEING A MEMBER OF THE, OF THAT TRIBE. UM, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING A REALLY GOOD SCORE ON THE HRCS MEI, UM, INDEX OF 92. UM, AND I'D LIKE TO KEEP [01:10:01] AND, AND UPHOLD THOSE PROTECTIONS FOR FOLKS LIKE MYSELF AND MY TEAM. UH, IT IS CURRENTLY BEING THREATENED BY SB 1134, THE ANTI DEI BILL. UH, AND SO I'D JUST LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL, THE CITY, UH, MY TEAM HERE WHO IS ALSO GOING TO SPEAK JUST TO BE, UM, AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND, UH, GET CREATIVE ON HOW TO, UH, KEEP THOSE PROTECTIONS. UM, IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT L-G-B-T-Q PEOPLE, IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY, ALL TYPES OF MINORITIES. UM, I'M ALSO A PROUD HISPANIC AMERICAN. UH, AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT, UH, THE IMPORTANCE TO THIS IS EVERYBODY. UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO TRY TO SAY IS, UH, I'VE ALSO TRAVELED A LOT AROUND THE WORLD. AND WHAT I HAVE GATHERED IN MY YEARS IS THAT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOUR CULTURE IS OR YOUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, UH, EVERYBODY JUST REALLY WANTS LOVE AND SAFETY. AND I'D LIKE TO, UM, SEE THAT REFLECTED IN OUR CITY'S LAWS SO THAT, UM, PEOPLE FEEL THAT, UM, IN THEIR COMMUNITY. UM, I'D, I'D LIKE FOR, UM, POLITICS TO NOT GET DANGEROUS AND CHANGE THE WAY THAT, UM, I NEED TO LIVE UM, ESPECIALLY BEING FROM HERE, THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE THAT I BELONG THAN HERE, AND I'M NEVER LEAVING , EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE WORLD. UM, SHOOTING A LITTLE OFF THE HIP HERE, BUT, UH, I THINK THAT'S ABOUT IT. JUST, UH, PLEASE CONSIDER, UM, HOW WE CAN HELP ONE ANOTHER, UM, IN REGARDS TO SP 1134. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. LEONARDO MONTENEGRO. GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS LEO AND I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF LGBTQ PLUS INCLUSION IN CORAL GABLES. I, UM, LIVE HERE AND I WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI WHERE I CONDUCT RESEARCH ON HIV AND MENTAL HEALTH. AND SO I'VE DEDICATED MY ENTIRE LIFE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO SB 1134, WHICH IS RELATING TO OFFICIAL ACTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THIS BILL IS DEEPLY CONCERNING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT RESTRICTS COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES FROM FUNDING, PROMOTING, OR TAKING OFFICIAL ACTION RELATED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. IN PRACTICE, THIS COULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RESPOND TO THE REAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE, ESPECIALLY COMMUNITIES THAT ALREADY FACE BARRIERS TO SAFETY, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND PUBLIC SERVICES. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION ARE NOT ABSTRACT POLITICAL CONCEPTS. THEY'RE PRACTICAL TOOLS THAT HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS UNDERSTAND WHO IS BEING SERVED, WHO IS BEING LEFT OUT, AND HOW PUBLIC SERVICES CAN BE MADE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE. WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LANGUAGE ACCESS, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE HEALTH OUTREACH, LGBTQ PLUS INCLUSION, RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES, OR SUPPORT FOR UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NEED THE ABILITY TO ADDRESS INEQUITIES DIRECTLY. I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED THAT THIS BILL COULD CREATE FEAR AND CONFUSION AMONG LO LOCAL OFFICIALS, NONPROFIT PARTNERS, CONTRACTORS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS. WHEN THE LAW THREATENS LOCAL OFFICIALS WITH, WITH MISFEASANCE OR MALFEASANCE OR ACTIONS RELATED TO, UM, DEI, IT DISCOURAGES PUBLIC SERVANTS FROM DOING THE VERY WORK NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT ALL RESIDENTS ARE TREATED FAIRLY AND HAVE ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES. FLORIDA IS DIVERSE. OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES KNOW THEIR RESIDENTS BEST, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE PREVENTED FROM CREATING POLICIES, PROGRAMS, TRAININGS, OR PARTNERSHIPS THAT REFLECT THE NEEDS OF THOSE RESIDENTS. PREVENTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM SUPPORTING INCLUSION DOES NOT MAKE THE GOVERNMENT MORE NEUTRAL. IT MAKES IT LESS RESPONSIVE TO THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON IT. SO I JUST URGE LAWMAKERS AND LOCAL LEADERS TO OPPOSE EFFORTS THAT LIMIT EQUITY FOCUSED WORK AND TO PROTECT THE ABILITY OF COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES, AND COMMUNITY OF OFFICIAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE ALL FLORIDIANS WITH DIGNITY, FAIRNESS, AND RESPECT. SO I EXPECT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN AND I EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN SOON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DAVID LLOYD. GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS DAVID GARY LLOYD, AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE INCLUSION AND VISIBILITY FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY HERE IN CORAL GABLES. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE RESIDENTS HERE, AND WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS CITY. HOWEVER, I WAS SHOCKED WHEN WE MOVED HERE FROM DOWNTOWN MIAMI BECAUSE I REALIZED THERE'S ACTUALLY A VERY LARGE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY THAT RESIDES HERE IN CORAL GABLES. AND IT WASN'T OBVIOUS TO ME AT FIRST, BUT OVER THE YEARS I'VE MET SO MANY NEIGHBORS, FAMILIES, BUSINESS OWNERS, EMPLOYEES, CHURCHGOERS [01:15:01] STUDENTS, ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ PLUS. THE RECENT SB 1134 BILL THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW SPECIFICALLY TARGETS ANY GOVERNMENT FUNDING THAT FALLS UNDER THE VERY BROAD TERM OF DEI. OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTES SO MUCH TO THE CITY AND STATE, AND WE ALL JUST WANNA MAKE THE PLACE WE CALL HOME A BETTER PLACE FOR US ALL TO ENJOY AND LIVE. IN. THIS PAST JUNE FOR PRIDE MONTH, I PRODUCED AN ART SHOW WITH THE LOCAL NETWORKING GROUP, GAY THE GABLES, AND THE HISTORIC CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, WHICH IS THE CHURCH THAT'S DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE BILTMORE HOTEL. IT'S BEAUTIFUL, VERY ICONIC. UH, WE TRANSFORMED THE SANCTUARY INTO AN ART GALLERY FEATURING QUEER FLORIDA ARTISTS. THE SHOW WAS ONLY OPEN FOR THREE DAYS, AND WE HAD ABOUT 700 VISITORS OVER THAT VERY SHORT TIMEFRAME. UM, THAT REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART TO SEE HOW MUCH SUPPORT EXISTS BETWEEN THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS HERE IN CORAL GABLES. TO TARGET HUMANS BECAUSE OF RACE, GENDER, OR ORIENTATION IS NOT WHAT I BELIEVE THE CITY STANDS FOR. I'M ASKING FOR YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL TO REVIEW ANYTHING THAT CAN BE AFFECTED BY THE SB 1134 BILL AND FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT HELP BRING ESSENTIAL INCLUSION FOR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT MEANS TO SEE MY CITY SHOW SUPPORT WITH VISIBILITY LIKE ILLUMINATING, UH, CITY HALL WITH A RAINBOW COLORS DURING JUNE, IT MAKES US FEEL SAFE, WELCOME, AND PART OF THE CITY WE LOVE TO BRAG ABOUT. CORAL GABLES HAS, HAS RECEIVED A 92 OUT OF A HUNDRED ON THE MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX SCORECARD VIA THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN THAT SHOWS THAT THE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE ARE WORKING NOW. WE JUST NEED TO PROTECT THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, SIR. LANE, TIDWELL LANE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD TO SEE YOU BEFORE LANE COMES UP HERE AND SPEAKS LANE. AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF, UH, VISITING LANE AT HIS HOME. AND LANE IS THE, IS THE INDIVIDUAL ALONG WITH HIS HUSBAND WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BEAUTIFUL FOUNTAIN THAT YOU SEE ADJACENT TO, UH, THE GRANADA, THE COUNTRY CLUB, THE ONE ADJACENT TO THE COUNTRY CLUB. HE, ONE OF, ONE OF THE WORKS THAT HE IS BEEN WORKING ON IS TO MAKE SURE THAT FOUNTAIN IS UP AND RUNNING. HE WRITES ME EMAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES, UH, IF THERE'S EVER A TREE IN THE WAY OR THE FOUNTAIN STOPS WORKING, OR HE SEES SOMETHING THAT'S NOT RIGHT IN THAT PARK, UH, HE'S ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WHEN WE FOUND THAT PARK, ADVOCATED FOR THAT PARK REALLY TAKES CARE OF IT AND MAKES SURE THAT HE'S A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE ON ALL FRONTS, JUST IN THAT LITTLE SLICE OF HEAVEN THAT HE HAS RIGHT THERE BETWEEN THE LITTLE PARK AND GRANADA AND ALHAMBRA AND THE, UH, AND THE FOUNTAIN. SO LANE IS A BIG ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, LANE. ABSOLUTELY. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU. OH, AND BY THE WAY, HE ALSO MAKES A MEAN BANANA CHOCOLATE CAKE. JUST YOU . THANK YOU. UH, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M TERRIBLE AT THIS. MY NAME IS LANE TIDWELL AND I LIVE AT 9 3 3 MAYORCA AVENUE, FLORIDA 3 3 1 3 4. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. UH, I APPLAUD YOU AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE LIVING. UM, I'M A PROUD, I'M SO PROUD WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME, WHERE DO YOU LIVE? I LIVE IN CORAL CABLES. IT'S COOL. IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE THIS MORNING. I'M ALSO HERE TO SUPPORT SAVE AND ITS ADVOCACY IS PRIDE CAMPAIGN. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT TOGETHER WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS DIVIDED. WE CAN ONLY SEE OR HOPE WE CAN SEE THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN FROM A DIFFERENT VIEW. AND I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. AND I, LIKE I SAY, I JUST APPRECIATE ALL YOU'VE DONE OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ELAINE. ROBERT JOHNSON. MR. JOHNSON, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR AND, UH, COMMISSION MEMBERS AND, UH, THE OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND ALL THE STAFF WHO MAKE THIS, UH, MEETING POSSIBLE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. MY NAME IS ROBERT JOHNSON. I LIVE AT 9 3 3 MYORCA AVENUE. I SUPPORT SAVES ADVOCACY IS PRIDE CAMPAIGN, AND I WANT TO THANK CORAL GABLES AS A CITY, UH, FOR ITS PAST SUPPORT AND URGE THAT [01:20:01] YOU TAKE ACTION BEFORE, UH, FLORIDA SDE 1134 TAKES EFFECT AND LIMITS OUR CITY'S ABILITIES TO RESPOND TO THE, UH, PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING IN THE PAST THAT MAKES US ALL LIVE SO WELL AND STAY SO WELL IN THIS CITY. I ALSO, UH, RECOGNIZE AND, UM, REGRET THAT THIS LAW WILL AFFECT NOT ONLY THE RESIDENT'S WELLBEING, BUT ALSO WILL PLACE THE CITY AT, UH, RISK AND LIABILITY, UH, FROM UNINFORMED, UH, UH, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT WANNA BRING A LAWSUIT. AND THAT IT PLACES EACH OF YOU ON A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR WHAT IS DONE. UH, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, GIVEN THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO. WHAT YOU NEED IS CONGRATULATIONS, NOT, UH, THREATS. A STATE CANNOT RUN WITHOUT THE WELL RUN CITIES THAT, UH, ARE IN IT. AND TO BE SHACKLED THIS WAY IS, UH, SHAME. UM, THE THREAT, OBVIOUSLY, UH, THAT I SEE FIRST OF ALL DOES, UH, IS AIMED AT THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, BUT FLORIDA SB 1134, UH, IT GOES MUCH FURTHER THAN THAT. THE BILL IS TRIGGERED BY ETHNICITY AND SEVERAL OTHER, UH, UH, IDENTITIES THAT INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THIS CITY OFTENTIMES, UH, EXPRESSED THROUGH THEIR PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC ENDEAVORS AND THROUGH RECOGNITION BY THE CITY ITSELF. BECAUSE THE BILL IS TRIGGERED BY ETHNICITY, THERE ARE MANY FESTIVALS AND PROGRAMS THAT MAY BE AT RISK, UM, AND WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER, UH, THE IMPACT THAT THAT MIGHT HAVE ON THE CITY. I HAVE SPENT NEARLY 50 YEARS NOW STUDYING THE DISTRIBUTION OF HEALTH, UH, ILLNESS, UH, DISEASE AND DEATH IN SOCIETY. THIS IS MY PROFESSION, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE PATTERN OF THAT DISTRIBUTION IS NOT RANDOM. IT IS PREDICTABLE, AND IT VARIES BY COMMUNITIES. OUR COMMUNITY HAPPENS TO BE A VERY FAVORABLE COMMUNITY IN THAT WE BENEFIT, UH, FROM THINGS THAT THE CITY ITSELF DOES TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH, WELLBEING, AND SAFETY OF ITS CITIZENS. THOSE MAY BE IN JEOPARDY, AND I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THEM. UM, CLEARLY. I ALSO THINK THAT THE BILL MIGHT, UH, GIVE US SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO, UH, IMPLEMENT THOSE PROGRAMS IN NON-DISCRIMINATORY WAYS BECAUSE OF THE CARVE OUTS, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO FEDERAL LAW, DEALING WITH HEALTH LIKE THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT, UH, PROVIDING APPROPRIATE CARE, UM, FOR THOSE, UM, WHICH INCLUDE SOME OF THESE, UH, UM, IDENTITIES AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN ALSO LIMIT HARM IN OTHER WAYS. AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT, UM, I'VE STUDIED, PARTICULARLY THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS RECOGNIZE, IS THAT YOU CAN LIMIT THE HARMS OF LONELINESS. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE UNITED STATES SAID THAT AFTER COVID, UH, THE PUBLIC IN THE UNITED STATES WAS FACING A LONELINESS EPIDEMIC. AND THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU OFFER PROVIDE CONNECTION AND TIES TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT DEFEATS THE IMPACT THAT LONELINESS HAS. AND SO, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, FOR THAT. I WANT YOU TO URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS PART OF A PUBLIC, UH, SAFETY AND HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THE CITY CAN UNDERGIRD ITS, UH, CITIZENS WITH. UM, AND, UH, KEEP ACTIVE IN THAT REGARD. WHAT I'M ASKING FOR TODAY IS FOR, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL TO TOOK AND, UH, LOOK AT AN INVENTORY OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU DO THAT HAVE THIS PUBLIC HEALTH FOCUS AND FIGURE OUT WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN PRESERVE THEM. OF COURSE, I'M ALSO VERY INTERESTED IN PRESERVING WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST FOR THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMITTEE. AND, UH, WITH THAT, I THANK YOU. BELONGING IS GOOD. IT'S GOOD TO BE SEEN. IT'S, ONCE YOU'RE SEEN, IT'S, UH, GOOD TO BE WELCOME. IT TELLS YOU THAT YOU BELONG, AND I THINK WE ALL BELONG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DR. MILES DAVIS. MR. DAVIS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING MAYORS, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER CITY STAFF. MY NAME'S MILES DAVIS. I SERVE AS DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATIONS AT SAVE. WE'RE SOUTH FLORIDA'S LEADING LGBTQ PLUS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. I'M HERE TO RECOGNIZE CORAL GABLES FOR EARNING A 92 ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN'S 2025 MUNICIPAL EQUALITY INDEX. THAT IS A STRONG CASE, AND IT REFLECTS VERY MEANINGFUL WORK BY THE CITY TO TREAT RESIDENTS, EMPLOYEES, FAMILIES, AND VISITORS WITH FAIRNESS AND RESPECT. BUT A 92 IS NOT JUST A SCORE TO CELEBRATE, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY FOLKS HERE ALREADY. IT IS A FOUNDATION THAT WE MUST PROTECT. CORAL GABLES IS A CITY THAT VALUES PLANNING, STABILITY, AND THOUGHTFUL GOVERNANCE. THAT IS EXACTLY WHY THIS MOMENT MATTERS. AS NEW STATE RESTRICTIONS COME INTO PLAY, CITIES ACROSS THE STATE WILL NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR LOCAL SERVICES, PARTNERSHIPS, CONTRACT OUR ADVISORY BOARDS, [01:25:01] FUNDING AGREEMENTS, AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. OUR ASK IS SIMPLE. WE'RE ASKING THE COMMISSION TO DIRECT CITY STAFF AND LEGAL COUNSEL TO REVIEW THE MEI SCORECARD ALONG THE NEW STATE LAW AND IDENTIFY WHAT MAY BE IMPACTED, WHAT CAN BE PRESERVED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT STEPS THE CITY CAN TAKE NOW TO PROTECT LOCAL DECISION MAKING. AT ITS CORE, THIS IS ABOUT HOME RULE, AND WE KNOW CORAL GABLES SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT REFLECT, OF COURSE, CORAL GABLES, ITS RESIDENTS, ITS WORKFORCE, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR LOCAL NEEDS. BEFORE SERVICES ARE DISRUPTED OR LOCAL AUTHORITY IS NARROWED. OUR TEAM WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH EVERYONE, AND WE HOPE THAT THE CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP THAT THE CITY HAS HAD IN THE PAST WILL CONTINUE AS WE HELP YOU REVIEW THE LAWS, UNDERSTAND WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE, AND, UM, CHART A PRACTICAL PATH FORWARD. A 92 IS A STRONG SCORE, BUT A STRONG SCORE STILL NEEDS A STRONG DEFENSE. AND SAVE IS HERE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT. CORAL GABLES HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT BOTH ITS PROGRESS AND ITS RIGHT TO GOVERN LOCALLY. AND I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. MARIA CRUZ. UH, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PERSON, MADAME CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU DO ME A FAVOR, PLEASE? WILL YOU SCHEDULE TIME WITH ME NEXT WEEK, UH, TO GO OVER THE MEI SCORECARD AND I WANNA REVIEW, UH, THE PREEMPTION, UH, LEGISLATION, AND I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR TO OUR FRIENDS AT SAVE DATE AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. UH, PREEMPTION IS NOT SOMETHING NEW, AS YOU'RE AWARE, YOU'RE VERY AWARE OF IT. UH, IT HANDCUFFS US ON MANY DIFFERENT FRONTS. I'M JUST GONNA THROW A FEW OUT THERE AND I KNOW I'M GONNA FORGET THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES. UH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL, CORRECT? NOW THERE'S NEW STATE LEGISLATION THAT CAME THROUGH PREEMPTION WHERE TREES CAN BE CUT DOWN WITHOUT, UH, APPROVAL FROM THE CITY. AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE DIRECT DIRECTOR WHO'S GONNA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, BUT ALSO, UH, WE CAN NO LONGER NOW CONTROL THE ISSUE OF WHETHER FULL GRASS GOES IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE OR IN THE SIZE IN THE BACK, LIKE WE'VE ALLOWED IN THE PAST. UH, SO PREEMPTION IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AS A CITY. UM, BUT I'M GONNA BE VERY CANDID WITH YOUR HANDS ARE TIED, UH, IN REGARDS TO A LOT OF THE PREEMPTION THAT COMES, I WILL REVIEW, I WILL REVIEW, UH, THE REPORT CARD, THE MEI REPORT CARD, WHICH I THINK IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO REVIEW IT. AND I WILL DRAFT A MEMO, UH, WITH THE HELP OF MY CITY, CITY ATTORNEY, AND OUR, AND OUR DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATION, UH, AT THE STATE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THROUGH THE WHOLE COMMISSION THESE ISSUES, AND WE CAN MAKE A, A STRONG CASE OF HOW WE ADVOCATE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. AND I'M BEYOND GRATEFUL, ESPECIALLY TO SEE MY FRIEND LANE HERE WHO I HAVEN'T SEEN IN A FEW MONTHS, UH, TO HAVE YOU HERE, UH, RAISING YOUR VOICE. BECAUSE WE DON'T WORK FOR JUST ONE INDIVIDUAL. WE WORK FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE. AND WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU WERE ACTUALLY IMPRESSED THAT THERE WAS A RATHER LARGE L-G-B-T-Q UH, COMMUNITY HERE IN CORAL GABLES, YOU KNOW, I'VE KNOWN THAT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOCK ON DOORS. AND, UM, THAT COMMUNITY IS VERY VOCAL, IS VERY PROUD, AGAIN, TO BE RESIDENTS HERE AT THE CITY, CORAL GABLES. AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO HAVE YOU HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. SO, I WILL SIT DOWN WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND OUR DIRECTOR AND OUR CITY MANAGER, UH, TO REVIEW THE MEI SCORECARD AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. MADAM DIRECTOR. HI. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, VICE. MAYOR . MY NAME IS CHELSEA GRINNELL AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. I JUST WANTED TO, UM, PUT OUT ON THE RECORD THAT, UM, WE ARE STAFF IS, UM, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY MEETING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADHERE TO THE STATE REQUIREMENTS, BUT ALSO THINK OF CREATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN CIRCUMVENT, UM, CERTAIN, UM, PROHIBITIONS. UM, SO WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO INCLUDE YOU IN THOSE MEETINGS, MR. MAYOR. BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ON IT AND WE DO VERY MUCH CARE, UM, ABOUT HOW TO PRESERVE WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITY. YEAH, I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL THAT THE MANAGER'S TEAM IS ALREADY ON IT BECAUSE THIS IS, AGAIN, WE'RE ADDRESSING EVERY SINGLE, EVERY SINGLE EMAIL THAT COMES FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA. OUR DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS IS ON IT, ALONG WITH THE MANAGER, UH, NOT ONLY LOOKING AT FUNDING ISSUES, BUT ALSO LOOKING AT PREEMPTION ISSUES, UH, WHICH AGAIN, ARE EXTREMELY PAINFUL FOR THE CITY BECAUSE THERE IS NOBODY, AND I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR, AND I'VE TOLD THIS TO OUR LEADERS WHO I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT AT THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THERE IS NOBODY CLOSER TO THE RESIDENTS THAN THE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU SEE HERE IN FRONT OF YOU AND IN THIS ROOM. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ONLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, I'M TALKING ABOUT STAFF. WE'RE THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH THE POTHOLES. WE'RE THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH THE FOUNTAINS THAT ARE BROKEN. WE'RE THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH THE TREES THAT NEED TO BE TRIMMED WHEN A CRIME IS COMMITTED IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, MR. MANAGER, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO ENGAGE IN THAT PROCESS, ALSO BE KIND, AND WE CAN BRING BACK, UH, ALONG WITH THE VICE MAYOR, SHE WANTS TO GET INVOLVED. WE CAN BRING BACK, UH, A MEMO, UH, TO THE COMMISSION. MADAM VICE MAYOR. WELL, I, I WANNA BE INVOLVED TOO BECAUSE, UH, THE TYPE OF LITIGATION I'VE DONE, UH, UNDER THE ADA A, IT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR, UH, THAT FEDERAL LAW, UH, OFFERS [01:30:01] A PREEMPTION AS WELL. SO I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE THAT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. PERFECT. THANK YOU, MR. CLERK MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. THERE IS AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND SINCE THE CONSENT AGENDA, I'VE BEEN TOLD IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT UNLESS SOMEBODY PULLS IT, I AM GONNA TALK ABOUT IT. NOW, THIS ITEM D SEVEN. ITEM D SEVEN IS A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. THE ANNUAL REPORT, 24 25, PREPARED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AUGUST 26TH, 2025. IT IS A VERY LENGTHY, UM, REPORT. I, IT TOOK A LITTLE TIME TO GO THROUGH IT, BUT I MANAGED IT ON PAGE 12. ON PAGE 12, IT TALKS ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE UNIVERSITY WAS GONNA FUND SOME PUBLIC REALM ITEMS FOR $250,000. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN WE, THE RESIDENTS DISCUSSED IT WITH THE UNIVERSITY WAS A MILLION DOLLARS, NOW IT'S DOWN TO 250. AND AT THE TIME THAT WE DISCUSSED IT, WE WANTED, WE WANTED, UH, LIGHTNING BECAUSE OF ANYBODY THAT GOES IN THAT AREA NEXT TO UNIVERSITY FROM MILLER, UH, NORTH IS VERY DARK AT NIGHT, EXTREMELY DARK. SO ON PAGE 12, IT TALKS ABOUT 250,000 FOR PUBLIC REALM IMPROVEMENTS. ON PAGE 13, IT MENTIONS THAT THERE'S A 10 YEAR DATE. UH, THERE'S 10 YEARS OF THE DATE OF THE ADOPTION FOR THIS TO EXPIRE. OKAY? THIS WAS 2016 TO DECEMBER, 2026. THAT WILL EXPIRE. ON PAGE 14, IT SAYS THAT THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE CITY TO IDENTIFY THE IMPROVEMENT THAT IS GONNA BE DONE WITHOUT MONEY. SO PAGE 12, 13, AND 14, WE TALK ABOUT THAT ON PAGE 20. WE TALK ABOUT ANNUAL PAYMENTS, THAT THE UNIVERSITY WAS GONNA PAY THE CITY. IT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT SAYS ANNUAL PAYMENTS. ANNUAL PAYMENTS, AND THE LAST PAYMENT WAS NOVEMBER NINE, NOVEMBER 29TH, 2024. SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PAYMENT IN 25? THERE'S NO RECORD. ACCORDING TO THEM, THERE'S THE LAST PAYMENT WAS NOVEMBER 29TH, 2024. OKAY. IS OVER A HUN OVER A MILLION DOLLARS. OKAY? AND THE LAST THING THAT I HAVE IS WE TALK ABOUT THE WASCO CENTER. OKAY? I WANT TO REMIND THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE HERE THEN. AND IF YOU WERE NOT HERE, I CAN TELL YOU, YOU CAN FIND IT ON THE RECORDS THAT THE WASCO CENTER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CONVOCATION CENTER FOR THE UNIVERSITY. IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A VENUE FOR CONVENTIONS, CONCERTS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. AND IT SAYS IT ON THE DOCUMENTS AT THAT TIME. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE THEM CONVOCATION CENTER, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE. OUR ADMINISTRATION SOMEHOW, BECAUSE THIS IS THE PROBLEM, WHEN YOU HAVE COVENANTS AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY THAT THEY SIGN IN GOODWILL, AND THEN PEOPLE COME BACK AND SAY, OOPS, I COULDN'T DO IT, THEN I NEED A BREAK. I NEED A AN AMENDMENT. I NEED A WAIVER. AND [01:35:01] MS. CRUZ, OUR ELECTED PEOPLE, GO FOR IT. WE'VE GONE OVER A MINUTE AND 40 SECONDS. I'M SORRY. OTHER PEOPLE WENT OVER IT TOO, BUT THEY DIDN'T GO OVER ONE MINUTE, 40 SECONDS. OKAY. I'M, SO, I'M, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE BRING IT IN FOR A 11. OKAY? I'M GONNA CLOSE IT UP. I SUGGEST THAT ANY OF YOU THAT ARE INTERESTED TO KNOW, SINCE IT'S GONNA BE APPROVED TODAY, THAT YOU NEED TO GO ONLINE AND PULL IT AND READ IT SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT I'VE SAID. AND IT'S THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JACKSON HOLMES. ADDITIONAL TIME? YES. GOOD MORNING, SIR. THANK YOU. UH, JACKSON HOLMES 35 SEDIA AVENUE, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA. UM, I, UM, HOPE WE CAN PULL UP THE FIRST PICTURE HERE. IF CABLE TV CAN PLEASE SHARE MY SCREEN. THANK YOU. MAYBE YOU CAN SLIDE IT UP. CAN YOU SLIDE IT UP? OKAY, THERE WE GO. SO, FOR, UH, AS YOU ALL CAN SEE, THAT'S ME WITH, MAYBE YOU NEED TO SLIDE IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. SORRY. UH, UH, THAT'S ME WITH FORMER UNITED STATES SENATOR BOB GRAHAM. AND I'M GONNA PUT MYSELF UNDER PENALTIES FOR PERJURY. AND WHAT I'M GONNA SAY TODAY, I'M ASKING THAT THE RESIDENTS WATCHING THIS PAY CLOSE ATTENTION. BOB GRAHAM, I'M SAYING THIS UNDER PENALTIES FOR PERJURY, OPENED THE DOOR FOR ME TO DISCOVER FREE ENERGY. AND I'M SAYING THAT UNDER PENALTIES FOR PERJURY. UM, SO CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? NOW, WHAT IS THE PROOF OF FREE ENERGY? THIS CAME IN A 60 MINUTES BROADCAST, WHICH YOU CAN SEE A SLIDE FROM HERE. UM, HOW ABOUT THE NEXT ONE? OR DID, DO YOU HAVE THAT THREADS VIDEO THAT WE, THAT I JUST SENT YOU? NO, SIR. IT'S, IT'S A SEPARATE EMAIL. I SENT YOU A, A THREADS TO CLICK ON. I DID NOT RECEIVE YOUR SEPARATE EMAIL. MR. HOLMES NO THREADS VIDEO. I JUST SENT IT. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT, SIR. OKAY. SO I'M GONNA ASK THE PEOPLE WITH THE IT TO TRY AND GET THE CAMERA TO ZOOM IN HERE. I'M GONNA PLAY IT OFF OF MY IPHONE. SEE IF YOU CAN PICK UP THE FEED. THIS IS THE PROOF OF FREE ENERGY, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY COMES TO YOU AND SAY, I GOT PROOF OF FREE ENERGY. AND SAY, YEAH, I KNOW A GOOD PSYCHIATRIST. BUT IF THE US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COMES TO YOU AND SAYS, YES, THERE IS FREE ENERGY, THEN YOU LISTEN. 'CAUSE IT'S UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. THAT'S WHAT THIS VIDEO IS. IT'S TOO BAD WE COULDN'T GET IT, UH, SYNCED PROPERLY HERE. AND WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UH, GUESS WHO ENTER INVENTED THE INTERNET. DARPA DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY. THEY INVENTED THE INTERNET. PEOPLE AT HOME WATSON, WE LINKS HERE THAT I'M BE SHOWING, UH, AND DARPA, WHO INVENTED THE INTERNET, IS THE ONE THAT SAYS THERE IS FREE ENERGY. SO I'M GONNA SEE IF THIS, UH, CAN BE PICKED UP BY THE CAMERAS. IT'S QUITE REAL. ARE YOU SURPRISED TO HEAR YOURSELF SAYING THIS VERY MUCH. TRY AND PICK IT UP. AND WE FOUND THAT THE PENTAGON IS SAYING IT TOO. THE DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY, KNOWN AS DARPA DID ITS OWN ANALYSIS. AND MR. HOLMES, THIS INTERNAL MEMO THAT CONCLUDES THERE IS QUOTE, PLEASE BRING IT IN FOR A LANDING AND ANOMALOUS IS PRODUCED IN THESE EXPERIMENTS. STAFF WILL HAVE THE VIDEO. YOU'RE GONNA CORAL GABLES PEOPLE FROM LEARNING ABOUT FREE ENERGY. YOU HAVE PLAYED IT BEFORE, BUT NO ONE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO SEE IT FROM YOUR PHONE. WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING COMING UP IN A MONTH. THEY, THEY, THEY CAN PICK UP ON IT AND FOLLOW IT UP LATER. DO YOU HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE? YOUR TIME IS UP AND WE HAVEN'T HOW MANY PEOPLE WAITING TO SPEAK? WE, YOU'RE SUPPRESSING FREE ENERGY FROM THE PEOPLE OF CORAL GABLES. COULD YOU PLAY THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? MR. HOLMES, THE NEXT SLIDE I HAVE FOR YOU IS NOT A VIDEO. ONCE AGAIN, IT'S RIGHT, IT'S A SLIDE, RIGHT? WE, WE NEED TO MOVE ON, ALLOW SOME OTHER PEOPLE TO SPEAK. WE HAVE MANY THINGS ON PEOPLE AT HOME. YOU CAN SEE THE CITY COMMISSIONER IS, IS SUPPRESSING YOUR ABILITY TO KNOW THAT THERE IS FREE ENERGY THAT I GOT THROUGH THE HELP OF US SENATOR BOB GRANT, I, I UNDERSTAND WE SPOKE ABOUT IT. THE SUN IS FREE AS WELL. IT DOES COST MONEY. WE NEED ALLOW SUPPRESSION OF INFORMATION FROM THE CITIZENS OF CORAL GABLES. OKAY, NEXT MEETING YOU. YOU CAN HAVE THE VIDEO. [01:40:02] MARINA BRAMAN RAYMOND. THANK YOU MADAM VICE MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. UH, GOOD MORNING, UH, MAYOR LAGO COMMISSIONERS AND CITY STAFF. UH, MY NAME IS MARINA BRANAN AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF SAVE THIS MORNING. MY COLLEAGUES AND I, AND OF COURSE THE CORAL, UH, GABLES RESIDENTS WHO CAME TO JOIN US. UM, WE DO, OF COURSE, UH, WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE CITY TO EXAMINE ALL THE EVENTS PROGRAMS LIKE WE'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, THAT COULD FALL UNDER, UM, SB 1134. JUST A FEW ITEMS THAT COULD BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. UH, THE, THE CITY HAS A SPONSORED WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, UH, CELEBRATION. PEARL GABLES ALSO HAS AN ANNUAL HANUKKAH FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS. THERE'S ALSO A CITYWIDE CLERGY PRAYER BREAKFAST, AND AS WELL AS A BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROGRAMMING, INCLUDING A JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATION. NOW, IN TERMS OF THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY, UM, I'M NOT SURE IF RESIDENTS KNEW THIS, BUT, UH, SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR MEI, UM, IS THAT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES HAS AN L-G-B-T-Q LIAISON IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS THE CITY EMPLOYER. CORAL CABLES ALSO OFFERS SAME-SEX PARTNER BENEFITS AND INCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE IN A SHOW OF SUPPORT. AS ONE OF YOUR, UH, RESIDENTS MENTIONED, THE CITY OF CORAL CABLES ALSO HAS LIT UP CITY HALL IN, UH, IN CELEBRATION OF PRIDE MONTH. SO ALL OF THESE EVENTS AND POLICIES, UM, IT WON'T JUST AFFECT L-G-B-T-Q PEOPLE, IT COULD AFFECT, UM, ANY CATEGORY THAT FALLS UNDER THE DEI UMBRELLA. NOW, LIKE HE SAID, MAYOR LAGO STATE PREEMPTION DOES EXIST. OF COURSE, WE , RIGHT? WE KNOW THAT. UM, AND IT DOES TIE THE HANDS OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES. HOWEVER, UH, ATTORNEYS AT THE ACL U, UM, UH, FORMER LEGISLATIVE STAFF WHO USED TO WORK IN THE STATE, INCLUDING MYSELF AND MILES WHO SPOKE BEFORE, UM, AS WELL AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHO, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY REACHED OUT TO YOU, WILL BE, UH, OFFERING OTHER OPTIONS FOR MUNICIPALITIES LIKE YOURS. UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THEY, THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS AS YOUR STAFF MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY. UH, CORAL GABLES CAN STILL ENTER INTO LONG-TERM CONTRACTS, FUNDING AGREEMENTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROTECT THESE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR FUTURE YEARS BEFORE JANUARY 1ST. ANOTHER OPTION THAT OTHER SOUTH FLORIDA MUNICIPALITIES ARE CONSIDERING IS JOINT LEGAL ACTION. THESE ARE STILL OPTIONS BEFORE THE BILL TAKES PLACE IN JANUARY 1ST. SO WE STAND, OF COURSE, READY TO, UH, PARTNER IN THIS PROCESS. UM, OUR GOAL IS NOT TO CHANGE THE IDENTITY OF CORAL GABLES, UH, BUT TO UPLIFT OUR RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE. UM, AND OF COURSE TO PREVENT THE STATE FROM, UH, CONTROLLING WHAT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN DO. 'CAUSE THEY ARE OF COURSE, CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE. UM, SO WE WILL, OF COURSE, YOU'RE REACHING OUT TO YOUR OFFICE AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND WE REALLY JUST APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND, UH, THE TIME THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. THAT'S IT, MR. RAM MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, [D. CONSENT AGENDA] MAY I HAVE A, NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. BEFORE THE VOTE ADOPTED AND THE CONSENT AGENDA IS TAKEN, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OR REVIEW OF ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, MOVING ON TO [G.-1. 26-1659 A Resolution of the City Commission approving Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Cultural Grant recipients and setting in place a funding mechanism contingent on the City’s approved budget. (Unanimously recommended by the Cultural Development Board approval/denial vote: 7 to 0).] TIME CERTAIN AT 10:30 AM AGENDA, THE ITEM G ONE. G ONE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVING FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO 2027 CULTURAL GRANT RECIPIENTS AND SETTING IN PLACE A FUNDING MECHANISM CONTINGENT ON THE CITY'S APPROVED BUDGET. GOOD MORNING, MS. CS. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, CATHERINE CS, ARTS AND CULTURAL COORDINATOR WITH THE CITY. UM, WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION. SO ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY'S CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD IS TO RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COMMISSION THE ANNUAL ALLOCATION OF CULTURAL GRANT FUNDING. I WANNA THANK THE MEMBERS OF OUR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD WHO HAD THE ROLE OF REVIEWING AND STORING EACH APPLICATION. BOARD MEMBER ERIC FLISS IS HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, AND HE WILL COME UP AND JUST SAY A FEW WORDS. UM, AFTER THE PRESENTATION, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR CULTURAL PARTNERS, THE CULTURE, THE CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE ARTS AND BUSINESS COUNCIL WHO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES [01:45:01] AND SUPPORT TO OUR GRANTEES. AS A REMINDER, UM, THE CITY COMMISSION ADOPTED AMENDMENTS TO THE CULTURAL GRANT GUIDELINES AND INCLUDED A PROCESS TO, UM, HAVE BONUS POINTS FOR THE FOLLOWING SCENARIOS. FIVE ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR PRINCIPAL ADDRESS IN CORAL GABLES. FIVE FOR APPLICANTS WHO INCLUDE PROGRAMMING THAT IS FREE, AND TWO, FOR ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE OPERATING BUDGETS ARE $50,000 OR LESS. THE BOARD HAVE PLAYED THE SAME, UH, FUNDING RECOMMENDATION AS LAST YEAR, MAINTAINING THE DEDICATED FUNDING OF YOUTH ARTS PROGRAM AT 50,220 $8,228 FOR CORAL GABLE'S CORE CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMS. SO THIS YEAR, ON MAY 14TH, THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD REVIEWED AND SCORED 53 APPLICATIONS FOR THE ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDING IN ALL CATEGORIES WITH ONE OF THE APPLICATIONS REQUIRED BY THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM, WHICH IS FUNDED SEPARATELY OF THE 52 REMAINING APPLICATIONS. FIVE DID NOT MEET THE 80 POINT THRESHOLD, ESTABLISHED TO RECOMMEND FUNDING AND TWO, WERE DISQUALIFIED FOR NOT SUBMITTING REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. THE PROPOSED FUNDING FOR OF THE ELIGIBLE 45 APPLICANTS AND THEIR SCORES, PLUS THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. AND YOUR EXHIBIT A THAT'S ATTACHED TO PROPOSED RESOLUTION. THE BOARD IS RECOMMENDING FUNDING FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO REPRESENT A DIVERSE RANGE OF THE ARTS, INCLUDING MUSIC, THEATER, FILM, DANCE, OPERA, LITERARY ARTS, PERFORMANCE, POETRY, GARDENS, AND MUSEUMS. SO WE HAVE QUITE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CULTURE HERE. UM, WE HAVE A FEW SLIDES THERE INTERSPERSED. AND THEN JUST REPRESENTING THESE HERE WE SEE A GALLERY OPENING A BOOK, READING AND A GARDEN TOUR. AND THEN OF COURSE, A SUMMARY DEMONSTRATING ACTUAL IMPACT OF THE CULTURAL GRANT PROGRAM AND BENEFITS TO CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. SO YOU CAN SEE HERE, AND AND THIS IS SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR, THE TOTAL NUMBER 1,308 PROGRAMS. OVERALL, THE PERCENTAGE OF EVENTS OF THAT ARE IN CORAL GABLES, OF COURSE, IS ALWAYS 100%. UH, PERCENTAGE OF FREE EVENTS IS 40%, WHICH IS VERY HIGH. AND THE NUMBER OF CORAL GABLES VENUES THAT ARE USED IS 28, AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. YOU'LL SEE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURES BY THE GRANTEE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR AUDIENCES AS WELL OVER $20 MILLION. AND THE LOCAL BENEFIT, UH, RATE OF RETURN FOR THE, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ITSELF IS OVER $800,000. SO AGAIN, JUST A FEW MORE IMAGES SHOWING THE CINEMA, SOME SIM, UH, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING, DANCE AND ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. THESE ARE JUST A FEW. UM, SO AS I SAID, WE HAVE ERIC FLISS WITH US TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION. GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING. ERIC FLISS, CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD, UM, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF. UH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM. LAST YEAR YOU PROVIDED SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE YOUTH PROGRAMS, WHICH HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. THEIR FUNDING LEVELS WERE RAISED, AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THEY CAN DO WITHIN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WAS INCREASED BY THOSE DIRECTLY BY THOSE FUNDING. IT ALSO PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDS OR OUR MAJOR, UH, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN CORAL GABLES. UM, IT WAS ALSO AS A PANEL MEMBER, EASIER TO, UH, REVIEW ALL OF THE GRANTS AS WE WERE NOT COMPETING CHILDREN'S ORCHESTRAS WITH PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRAS. AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE CLEAR, UM, EVALUATIONS OF ALL THE APPLICATIONS. SO, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND, UH, ASK TO PLEASE ACCEPT THE, UH, PACKAGE THAT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY. PLEASURE, A GREAT IMPACT. AND, UH, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. ALONG WITH THE DIRECTOR, UH, MS. CERS, MAY I ASK JUST A FEW QUESTIONS VERY QUICKLY, MY QUESTIONS, WHAT IS A QUESTION? AND ONE IS JUST REITERATING IT TO BRING IT HOME. NUMBER ONE, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF THE MONEY THAT'S SPENT OF THIS GRANT MONEY THAT IS SPENT IN THE CITY? BEAUTIFUL. 100%. CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? 100%. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. AND NUMBER TWO, WHERE DOES THAT MONEY COME FROM? IT COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND. WANNA BE CLEAR? SO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE RIGHT NOW IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, OVER $20 MILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN EVENT, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE A WORLD CUP GAME, AND THEN EVERYBODY DISPERSES AFTER TWO HOURS, WHERE DO THEY GO? THEY GO HAVE LUNCH, THEY GO HAVE DINNER, THEY GO HAVE A DRINK, MAYBE THEY DO SOME SHOPPING, UH, MAYBE GO SEE A, THE, YOU [01:50:01] KNOW, UH, THE MIRACLE THEATER, UH, THE CINEMA. MAYBE THEY GO TO BOOKS AND BOOKS, MAYBE GO HAVE A COFFEE SOMEWHERE. BUT THEY SPEND THEIR HARD-EARNED DOLLARS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE ARE ALREADY RESPECTED AS THE CULTURAL DESTINATION IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND IT'S AN INCUMBENT ON US IN MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SPREAD, SPREAD THIS MESSAGE BECAUSE THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT INVESTING IN ART, IF WE'RE NOT INVESTING IN THEATER, IN THE CINEMA, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT INVESTING IN THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY. UM, I THINK THAT IT, IT WILL ONLY HURT US. SO I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU AND THE BOARD, THE CITY MANAGER AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, UH, IN REGARDS TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE VERY CAREFUL, WE'RE VERY METHODICAL. WE ARE AUDITING, WE'RE AUDITING. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO GOT A GRANT SUBMIT AN AUDIT, CORRECT? YES. THEY SUBMIT A FINAL REPORT, A FINAL REPORT, WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THIS IS WHEN THE EVENT HAPPENED. THIS IS PROOF THAT THE EVENT HAPPENED, THIS IS HOW MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A RECEIPT SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS BEING USED FOR THE APPROPRIATE, UH, THE APPROPRIATE VENUE OR EVENT THAT WE, THAT WE AS A BOARD AND AS A, AS A CITY DICTATED AND APPROVED. CORRECT. OKAY. JUST WANNA BE CLEAR OF THAT. OKAY. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? JUST FOR THE MAYOR, JUST THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO EVALUATING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE APPLICATIONS BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO GO THROUGH THEM ONE AT A TIME AND YOU BRING SO MUCH BACK TO OUR CITY. SO MUCH RICHNESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MADAM VICE MAYOR. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENT? MAYOR? ALRIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE OVER COMMENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. LET'S GO TO [G.-2. 26-1654 A Resolution of the City Commission approving “Intervals”, a Coral Gables Art Series, as part of Miami Art Week and for an application to Art Basel for an official event, further approving funding up to $110,000 from the Art Fund toward the program and marketing materials (unanimously recommended by the Cultural Development Board approval/denial vote: 4 to 0); and authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget to recognize the transfer of funds from the Art in Public Places Reserve and to appropriate such funds to put towards the cost of the project.] G TWO. THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE G TWO RIGHT NOW SINCE WE'RE HERE. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU MR. FE. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. G TWO IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVING INTERVALS, A CORAL GABLES BASED ART SERIES AS PART OF MIAMI ART WEEK, AND FOR AN APPLICATION TO ART BASEL FOR AN OFFICIAL EVENT. FURTHER APPROVING FUNDING UP TO $110,000 FROM THE ART FUND TOWARD THE PROGRAM AND MARKETING MATERIALS, AND AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26 OPERATING BUDGET TO RECOGNIZE THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES RESERVE AND TO APPROPRIATE SUCH FUNDS TO PUT TOWARD THE COST OF THE PROJECT. JUST REALLY QUICKLY, SHE SAID 210, IT WAS 110 OR 210. IT'S 101 10. OKAY. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, BUT WE'LL TAKE 210. I KNOW . TRUST ME. I KNOW YOU'LL GOOD MORNING. UM, SO FOLLOWING UP ON THE SUCCESS FROM LAST YEAR, THE ARTS ADVISORY PANEL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD DISCUSSED THE CITY'S MIAMI ARTWORK 2026 PROGRAM AND UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED CONTINUING INTERVALS, WHICH IS A PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION. WE PROGRAMMED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CORAL GABLE'S PUBLIC SPACES AND WITH GALLERIES PRESENTING AT ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH. SO INTERVALS IS DESIGNED TO PRESENT A MINIMUM OF FIVE ARTISTS IN SITE. RESPONSIVE INSTALLATIONS ARE OPEN AND PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, INCLUDING PARTNERING BUSINESSES AND HOTELS IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR BASEL MIAMI BEACH PROGRAM. REQUIREMENTS. GALLERIES AFFILIATED WITH ART BASEL ARE BEING APPROACHED TO PRESENT THEIR ARTISTS, AND WE ALREADY HAVE SOME COMMITMENTS. IF THIS IS APPROVED. ARTISTS ARE PROVIDED FUNDING TO CREATE, TO CREATE THE SITE SPECIFIC INSTALLATIONS FOR EXHIBITION THAT LASTS ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS. AND THEN WE, LAST YEAR WE ENDED UP, UM, EXTENDING AT LEAST TWO OF THOSE BEYOND THAT. SO AGAIN, BUILDING ON THE ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR BASEL, WE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AN ART BASEL VIP EVENT APPLICATION TO CELEBRATE INTERVALS AT ONE OF THE LOCATIONS WITH AN INVITATION TO VISIT ALL THE SITES. FUNDING OF 110,000 IS BEING REQUESTED FOR THE RECOMMENDATION RELATED EXPENSES AND MARKETING, AND IS PROPOSED THROUGH THE ART FUND, WHICH IS FUNDED THROUGH PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS TODAY. WE ALSO HAVE DR. JILL DUPY WITH US, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE ARTS ADVISORY PANEL AND IS AVAILABLE TO ALSO DISCUSS THE PROGRAM AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS. THANK YOU DOCTOR FOR BEING HERE WITH US. MR. MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP. MY DAY JOB, AS YOU MAY KNOW, IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF CURATOR OF THE LOW ART MUSEUM. SO THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THAT CHANNEL. BUT BECAUSE OF THE WORK I DO, I REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT ART CONTRIBUTES TO QUALITY OF LIFE AND IT IS ALSO AN ECONOMIC DRIVER. IT'S NOT JUST A FRILL. SO I AM REALLY GRATEFUL FOR, AGAIN, YOUR ENLIGHTENED AND VISIONARY LEADERSHIP. AND I THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THAT SAME VISION. AS I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE, ART BASEL HAS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT THAT RESONATES FAR BEYOND MIAMI BEACH. THOSE WHO ARE A PART OF THOSE PROCEEDINGS REALLY ARE ELEVATING [01:55:01] THEIR OWN PROGRAMS AND IN THIS CASE THEIR OWN CITIES. SO I THINK THAT, UH, AS WE DISCUSSED ON THE ARTS ADVISORY PANEL, THAT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND, UH, BECAUSE IT DOES BRING RELEVANCE, IMPACT, AND ENGAGEMENT THAT REVERBERATES FAR BEYOND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND E EVEN SOUTH MIAMI. SO I SPEAK FOR THE PANEL IN GIVING OUR FULL SUPPORT TO THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU, DOCTOR. MR. CLARK, DO ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, CLOSE OF PUBLIC THE COMMENT, UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND MR. CLEAR. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. AGAIN, THANK YOU AND SEND MY BEST TO THE BOARD. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WORK ON THE BOARD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WILL DO. THANK YOU. 11 O'CLOCK WE HAVE A TIME. CERTAIN AND FOR ONCE, THIS IS A WORLD RECORD, WE'RE GONNA START ON TIME. I'M CERTAIN [E.-7. 26-1692 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending the Future Land Use Map and Mixed Use Overlay District Map of the City of Coral Gables Comprehensive Plan pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-213, “Comprehensive Plan Text and Map Amendments,” and Small Scale amendment procedures (ss. 163.3187, Florida Statutes), from “Religious/Institutional” to “Commercial Mid-Rise Intensity” and to include within the boundaries of the North Ponce Mixed Use District Overlay, Block 21, Revised Plat of Coral Gables Douglas Section (110 Phoenetia Avenue), Coral Gables, Florida; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (06 17 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote 4-3) Lobbyists: Jorge Navarro, Devon Vickers and David Butter] [E.-8. 26-1693 An Ordinance of the City Commission making Zoning District boundary changes pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-212, “Zoning Code Text and Map Amendments:” 1) from “Special Use” to “Mixed Use 2”, and 2) to include within the boundaries of the North Ponce Mixed Use District Overlay, Block 21, Revised Plat of Coral Gables Douglas Section (110 Phoenetia Avenue), Coral Gables, Florida; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (06 17 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote 5-2) Lobbyists: Jorge Navarro, Devon Vickers and David Butter] [E.-9. 26-1694 An Ordinance of the City Commission granting approval of a Planned Area Development (PAD) pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-206, “General Procedures for Planned Area Development” for a mixed-use project referred to as “Crystal Residences,” including a private school, on property legally described as Block 21, Revised Plat of Coral Gables Douglas Section (110 Phoenetia Avenue), Coral Gables, Florida; superseding Ordinance No. 1909 and Ordinance No. 2962; including required conditions; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (06 17 26 PZB recommended approval with conditions, Vote: 6-1) Lobbyists: Jorge Navarro, Devon Vickers and David Butter] [E.-11. 26-1695 A Resolution of the City Commission requesting Mixed-Use Site Plan Review and an Encroachment Agreement pursuant to Article 14, “Process” Section 14-203, “Conditional Uses,” for a proposed mixed-use project, referred to as “Crystal Residences,” including a private school and live/work units; on property legally described as Block 21, Revised Plat of Coral Gables Douglas Section (110 Phoenetia Avenue), Coral Gables, Florida; superseding Ordinance No. 1909 and Ordinance No. 2962, to permit the current accessory school as a principal use; including required conditions; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (06 17 26 PZB recommended approval with conditions, Vote: 6-1). Lobbyists: Jorge Navarro, Devon Vickers and David Butter] 11:00 AM AGENDA E SEVEN, E, EIGHT, E NINE, AND E 11 MAYOR E SEVEN, UH, OR MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. E SEVEN IS THE NORTH TO THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AND MIXED USE OVERLAY. DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PURSUANT TO ZONING CODE ARTICLE 14, PROCESS SECTION 14 DASH TWO 13 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENTS AND SMALL SCALE AMENDMENT PROCEDURES FROM RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONAL TO COMMERCIAL MIDRISE INTENSITY AND TO INCLUDE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE NORTH PONDS MIXED USE DISTRICT OVERLAY BLOCK 21 REVISED PLAT OF CORAL GABLES DOUGLAS SECTION CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR RE REPEAT PROVISION SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. E EIGHT IS IN NOR TO THE CITY COMMISSION MAKING ZONING BOUNDARY CHANGES PURSUANT TO ZONING CODE. ARTICLE 14, PROCESS SECTION 14 DASH TWO 12 ZONING CODE TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENTS. ONE FROM SPECIAL USE TO MIXED USE. TWO AND TWO TO INCLUDE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE NORTH PONDS MIXED USE DISTRICT OVERLAY BLOCK 21 REVISED PLA TO CORAL GABLES DOUGLAS SECTION CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR RE APPEAL PROVISIONS OF MOBILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. E NINE IS IN ORDINANCE OF CITY COMMISSION GRANTING APPROVAL OF A PLANT AREA DEVELOPMENT PURSUANT TO ZONING CODE. ARTICLE 14, PROCESS SECTION 14 DASH 26. GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT FOR A MIXED USE PROJECT REFERRED TO AS CRYSTAL RESIDENCES, INCLUDING A PRIVATE SCHOOL ON PRI PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS BLOCK 21. REVISED PLAT OF CORAL GABLES DOUGLAS SECTION CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA SUPERSEDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1909 AND ORDINANCE NUMBER 29 62 INCLUDING REQUIRED CONDITIONS PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISIONS, FAVORABILITY CALLS, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. E 11 IS NOT GOING TO BE VOTED ON TODAY, IT'S ON FOR YOUR INFORMATION, BUT IT IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION REQUESTING MIXED USE SITE PLAN REVIEW AND AN ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 14. PROCESS SECTION 14 DASH 2 0 3 CONDITIONAL USES FOR PROPOSED MIXED USE PROJECT REFERRED TO AS CRYSTAL RESIDENCES, INCLUDING A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND LIVE WORK UNITS ON PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS BLOCK 21. REVISED PLA OF CORAL GABLES DOUGLAS SECTION CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA SUPERSEDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1909 AND ORDINANCE NUMBER 29 62 TO PERMIT THE CURRENT ACCESSORY SCHOOL AS A PRINCIPAL USE, INCLUDING REQUIRED CONDITIONS PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISIONS OF ABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. UM, MAYOR, WE WILL CONSOLIDATE THESE ITEMS FOR PURPOSES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND THIS IS A QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING, SO I WOULD ASK THAT THE CLERK PLEASE SWEAR IN EVERYONE WHO WILL BE TESTIFYING TODAY. THOSE WHO WILL BE TESTIFYING ON THIS ITEM. PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL PROVIDE TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? I DO. THANK YOU MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. HOW MUCH TIME ARE WE ALLOTTING FOR EACH SIDE? SO MAYOR, I THINK AS, AS, AS IS TYPICAL, YOU CAN, YOU CAN ASK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE, WELL FIRST YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT OF COURSE, AND THEN FROM STAFF. YEP. AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, YOU SHOULD, YOU, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ASK THAT THEY KEEP THE REMARKS TO THE THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT AS AS THEY CAN. BUT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IF SOME PEOPLE HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION GIVEN THAT THIS IS A QUASI-JUDICIAL PROCEEDING, PLEASE I WOULD ASK THAT YOU BE FLEXIBLE AND ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY MAKE THEIR, THEIR COMMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. COUNCILOR? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. POWERFUL SPEAKER. UH, GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, UH, AS MENTIONED BY YOUR CITY ATTORNEY. I THINK WE'RE TAKING THESE ITEMS ALL TOGETHER. SO ALL OF THE TESTIMONY THAT WE'RE PRESENTING WILL RELATE TO ALL, UH, THREE OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY, MR. CLERK, IF I MAY, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ACCUSED BEFORE, UM, OF NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH TIME, EVEN THOUGH WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING LATELY IN ALL THE MEETINGS IS BASICALLY TAKING BOTH SIDES AND MAKING SURE THAT I TRACK THE TIME VERY CAREFULLY. SO I'D LIKE TO EVEN PUT A TIMER ON THE APPLICANT AND, UH, ALSO ON MR. W****R, IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE AS A PUBLIC RECORD HOW MUCH TIME EACH, EACH INDIVIDUAL WAS GIVEN. MAYOR, CAN I JUST ADD ONE THING IN TERMS OF PUBLIC COMMENT? I UNDERSTAND. I IT UNDERSTAND IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU AS, AS THE CHAIR TO, TO RECOMMEND AND SUGGEST AND REMIND [02:00:01] FOLKS THAT IF THEIR COMMENTS ARE REPETITIVE, PERHAPS THEY CAN KEEP THEM BRIEF, YOU KNOW, AND, AND JUST SUMMARIZE INSTEAD OF GOING INTO DETAIL OF THEIR BEING REPETITIVE MADAM STUDENT ATTORNEY, WHAT I WILL DO IS, WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING LATELY IS I WILL PROVIDE EVERYONE WITH THREE MINUTES, I WILL ASK IT FOR YOU TO BE, BE CONCISE AND RESPECTFUL. AND ONCE YOU GO OVER, I WILL JUST, AT THE END WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED SPEAKING, I'LL SAY YOU WENT OVER A MINUTE, YOU WENT OVER TWO MINUTES. AND THEN AT THE END I WILL CONSOLIDATE IT AND I WILL TELL YOU WHAT BOTH SIDES SPENT IN REGARDS TO THE TIME. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S THE WAY THAT YOU CAN TELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO YOU AND SAYS, HEY, YOU DIDN'T GIMME ENOUGH TIME. BUT I WANNA DO THE SAME THING WITH THE APPLICANT AND WITH MR. WINER ALSO. SO PLEASE CAN I HAVE A, A, A TIME JUST SO I CAN KEEP TRACK YES, SIR. OF THE APPLICANT'S TIME? YES, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. SO, UH, MR. MAYOR, UH, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GEORGE EVARO WITH OFFICES AT 3 3 3 SOUTHEAST SECOND AVENUE. I'M HERE THIS MORNING ON BEHALF OF FRC REALTY AND CRYSTAL ACADEMY. UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT WHAT WE HOPE IS THE FINAL, UH, STAGE OF APPROVALS FOR THIS IMPORTANT AND UNIQUE MIXED USE PROJECT. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN MORE THAN FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING. IT'S GONE THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE, UM, WE COULD PUT THE PRESENTATION UP FOR THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE SCREEN. THANK YOU. UM, IT'S A PROJECT THAT'S GONE THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURAL AND PUBLIC RE REVIEW PROCESS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT PROJECT, IT'S ALSO BEEN, AS A RESULT OF THAT PROCESS, IT'S ALSO BEEN A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN EVALUATED, REFINED AND IMPROVED, UH, BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM CITY STAFF, RESIDENTS AND CITY BOARDS. THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A MIXED USE PROJECT. IT HAS RESIDENTIAL LIVE WORK, IT HAS OPEN SPACE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WHAT IT DOES IS THAT IT'S ANCHORED BY A NEW PERMANENT HOME FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY. AND BEFORE GETTING INTO THE PROJECT, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND EXPLAIN HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY. FOR MANY YEARS, THIS PROPERTY WAS OWNED BY A CHURCH AND THEY LEASED SPACE TO CRYSTAL ACADEMY. UH, CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS A NONPROFIT SCHOOL THAT HAS OPERATED ON THIS SITE FOR 17 YEARS. THEY'VE SERVED OVER 600 FAMILIES IN CORAL GABLES, UH, BY PROVIDING SPECIALIZED THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND DEVELOPMENT DELAYS. WHEN THE CHURCH DECIDED TO SELL THE PROPERTY IN 2021, CRYSTAL ACADEMY WAS FACED WITH, WITH THE REALITY, UH, THAT THEY MAY HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING THEIR HOME AND NO LONGER BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES THAT THEY GIVE TO OUR RESIDENTS IN CORAL GABLES. AT THE TIME, MY CLIENT, UM, REALIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS INSTITUTION MADE A PROMISE THAT THEY WOULD KEEP CRYSTAL ACADEMY ON SITE, BUILD THEM A BRAND NEW FACILITY AND GIVE IT BACK TO THEM RENT FREE FOR 99 YEARS. THIS IS A COMMITMENT THAT MY CLIENT TODAY HAS HONORED AND NOW YOU WILL SEE IT IMPLEMENTED IN THIS PROJECT. UM, THIS COMMITMENT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW I, HOW THE HIGH DEMAND FOR THESE PROGRAMS ARE AND JUST THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY THAT THEY ARE IN THIS COMMUNITY. THE CDC REPORTS THAT ONE IN SIX CHILDREN, ONE EVERY SIX CHILDREN ARE DIAGNOSED WITH A DEVELOPMENT DISABILITY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE VERY FEW SCHOOLS THAT PROVIDE THIS SPECIALIZED PROGRAM IN CORAL GABLES. THIS IS THE ONLY INSTITUTION IN THE CITY THAT PROVIDES THESE SERVICES, AND THIS PROJECT GIVES CRYSTAL ACADEMY A PERMANENT HOME TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. SO WITH THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT IN MIND, I'D LIKE TO WALK YOU THROUGH SOME OF OUR PUBLIC BENEFITS. UH, THIS PROJECT INCLUDES 184 NEW RESIDENTIAL UNITS, 16 LIVE WORK UNITS, AS I MENTIONED, A NEW GROUND FLOOR, UH, FACILITY, EDUCATIONAL FACILITY FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY. YOU COULD SEE IT HERE IN THE RENDERING. THIS IS THE RENDERING FROM GALLO STREET. THEY WILL BE LOCATED ON THE GROUND LEVEL, FRONTING GALLO IN THE SAME LOCATION THAT THEY ARE TODAY AND HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR THE LAST, UH, TWO DECADES. THIS IS ALL INTEGRATED INTO A NINE STORY MIXED USE BUILDING. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY, UH, COURTYARD THAT IS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH A PA, A PEDESTRIAN PAE THAT CONNECTS FANIA AND ANILA AVENUE, UH, AS WELL AS A 4,000 SQUARE FOOT CHILDREN'S PARK THAT WILL BE USED BY THE SCHOOL DURING SCHOOL HOURS AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AFTER SCHOOL HOURS. SO OVERALL, THE PROJECT, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEAS IN TERMS OF OPEN SPACE, THIS WAS DISCUSSED LENGTHY AT THE, UH, PUB AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. THIS PROJECT AS DESIGNED, PROVIDES THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF OPEN SPACE THAT WILL BE REQUIRED FOR A SIMILAR PROJECT IN THE NORTH PONDS AREA AND PROVIDES 55% MORE OPEN SPACE THAN IS REQUIRED BY YOUR PAD REGULATIONS. IN TERMS OF LOCATION, AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEMS, UH, THAT WAS DISCUSSED BY THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD WHEN THEY RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS APPLICATION. IT'S [02:05:01] THE CONTEXT OF THIS BLOCK. SO THIS CON, SO THIS BLOCK ENCOMPASSES AN ENTIRE CITY BLOCK BENE, UH, BETWEEN ESIA AVENUE AND IT FRONTS ONTO EAST PONDS. AND EAST PONDS IS THE MAIN COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR THAT CONNECTS S LEON BOULEVARD TO DOUGLAS ENTRANCE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL CENTERS IN THE CITY AND TO SOUTHWEST EIGHTH STREET AS A REFRESHER, AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH THE NORTH PONDS OVERLAY CREATION, BUT THE GOAL OF THE NORTH PONS OVERLAY WHEN IT WAS CREATED IN 2016, IT HAD A CLEAR VISION, WHICH WAS ENCOURAGE NEW HOUSING, EXPAND OPEN SPACE AND CIVIC AMENITIES, AND CREATE A MORE ACTIVE AND WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CITY IDENTIFIED THIS AREA AFTER MULTIPLE PLANNING STUDIES AS A PLACE THAT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR GROWTH BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO EMPLOYMENT CENTERS, TRANSIT AND COMMERCIAL USES. SO THE GOAL OF THE NORTH POND OVERLAY WAS TO ACTIVATE THIS AREA WITH FOOT TRAFFIC. THEY WANTED TO BRING RESIDENTS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF COMMERCIAL WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF SCHOOLS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF JOBS, AND WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF PARKS. AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS PROJECT ACCOMPLISHES AS SHOWN ON THE ZONING AND LAND USE MAPS HERE. UH, THIS PROPERTY SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT WE HAVE TO OUR EAST, WHICH IS THE MFT AREA OF THE NORTH PONDS OVERLAY THAT ALLOWS HEIGHTS UP TO A HUNDRED FEET IN HEIGHT. AND AS YOU WILL SEE, OUR PROJECT IS SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THAT BELOW WHAT'S ALLOWED TODAY TO OUR EAST AND TO OUR WEST. YOU HAVE THE NORTH PONDS MIXED USE OVERLAY DISTRICT THAT ALLOWS AND CURRENTLY HAS TODAY, AS YOU'LL SEE, UH, BUILDING HEIGHTS RANGING BETWEEN 150 TO 190 FEET IN HEIGHT. WHAT'S ALSO INTERESTING HERE IS THAT THE CITY'S 1926 ZONING MAP SHOWS THIS BLOCK WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED FOR MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, AS WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY WITH THE WESTERN PORTION, WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED HERE, ALLOWING FOR BUILDING HEIGHTS UP TO 150 FEET. AND THE EASTERN PORTION, WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN, ALLOWING FOR UP TO 60 FEET. SO BEFORE THIS PROPERTY WAS REZONED IN 1970 BY THE THEN OWNER FOR RELIGIOUS USES, THIS PROPERTY WAS HISTORICALLY ALREADY PLANNED FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH BUILDING HEIGHTS UP TO 150 FEET IN HEIGHT. SO HISTORICALLY IN UNDER TODAY'S PLANNING FRAMEWORK, THIS BLOCK REALLY ALWAYS SERVED AS A TRANSITION BETWEEN THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR TO THE WEST AND THE MID-RISE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE EAST. SO THE REQUEST TODAY, OUR REQUEST IS FOR MX TWO ZONING AND A MID-RISE COMMERCIAL DESIGNATION THAT FOLLOWS THE SAME PLANNING PRINCIPLE THAT YOU SAW IN THE NORTH PONDS VISIONARY WORKSHOP AND THE 1926 ZONING MAP. IT CREATES THAT APPROPRIATE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE MX THREE DISTRICT TO OUR WEST AND THE MF TWO DISTRICT TO OUR EAST. AND HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THAT TRANSITION? SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS THAT WE HAVE, UH, IN WORKING WITH MANY RESIDENTS IN THE AREA, AND BASED ON THEIR FEEDBACK, WE HAVE REDUCED THE HEIGHT ALONG THE EASTERN PORTION OF THIS PROPERTY TO CREATE A HEIGHT TRANSITION AND STEPPED THE HEIGHT DOWN FROM NINE STORIES ON THE WEST TO EIGHT STORIES ON THE EAST. THIS IS, AS YOU COULD SEE HERE, BOTH OF THESE HEIGHTS ARE WELL BELOW THE HEIGHT THAT IS CURRENTLY ALLOWED TODAY IN THE NORTH PONDS CONSERVATION DISTRICT. THIS IS THE CONTEXT I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT THAT WAS LOOKED AT CAREFULLY BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AND THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS AREA OF THE NORTH PONDS OVERLAY, WE ALREADY HAVE BUILDINGS THAT ARE APPROVED OR BUILT TODAY TO A HEIGHT THAT GREATLY EXCEEDS WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS BUILDINGS THAT RANGE FROM 130 FEET IN HEIGHT TO 190 FEET IN HEIGHT WITHIN THIS PORTION OF NORTH PONDS. SO I SAY THIS TO SAY THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT A DEPARTURE FROM THE PLANNING FRAMEWORK THAT WAS ESTABLISHED FOR NORTH PONDS, BUT RATHER IT'S A CONTINUATION OF IT. AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ALBERT CORDOVA, WHO'S OUR LEAD DESIGNER TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE PROJECT, UH, AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE PROPOSED LAND USE ZONING AND PAD REQUESTS. GOOD MORNING, SIR. THANK YOU GEORGE. MORNING, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS ALBERT CORDOVA WITH CORAL ARCHITECTS. UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND REVIEWING OUR APPLICATION THIS MORNING. EXTREMELY HAPPY TO BE HERE. THIS HAS BEEN, UH, A VERY LONG PROCESS, BUT A, A GREAT PROCESS WHEN WE TRULY BELIEVE THAT AT THE END WITH ALL THOSE, UH, MEETINGS WE HAD WITH STAFF, WITH OUR CLIENT, WITH THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS. WITH THAT, IT'S CULMINATING INTO WHAT WE TRULY BELIEVE IS AN INCREDIBLE PROJECT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. UM, GEORGE SPOKE ABOUT THE VISION OF NORTH POND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE STARTED. UM, WITH THAT PARTICULAR VISION, HAVING THE DREAM OF HAVING A CITY BLOCK IN THE CITY, [02:10:01] WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS PEDESTRIAN REALM TO TRULY ANOTHER LEVEL. UM, AND IN DOING THAT, OUR GOAL WAS TO BRING THE QUALITY OF OPENNESS, THE OPEN SPACE, THE ARTICULATION OF THE MASSING ITSELF FROM EIGHT TO NINE STORIES FROM EAST TO WEST. UM, AND WE, WE SAID TO OURSELVES, THE, THE ONE GOAL THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IS TO BRING THIS PEDESTRIAN REALM TO ANOTHER LEVEL. UM, WE STARTED WITH ACTUALLY ANCHORING THE BUILDING IN THE CORNER OF THE SITE, AND YOU'LL SEE HERE SOME OF OUR SITE PLANS, UH, WILL GO TO THE SITE PLAN, THE MAIN CORNER OF THE SITE, ANTIA RIGHT HERE. SO WE STARTED ANCHORING THE SITE IN THE VERY MAIN VISUAL CORRIDOR WITH THE MAIN LOBBY AXIS THAT VIEWS DIRECTLY INTO THE BEAUTIFUL COURTYARD THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT. UM, AND IN DOING THE PERIMETER, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE WERE ESTABLISHED ACTIVE SPACES, ORAL OR 16 LIFT WORK UNITS, THE DEER SCHOOL TO THE WEST, UH, AND ANCHORING WITH ANOTHER GREAT OPEN SPACE ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE SIDE, WHICH IS THE PARK. SO ESSENTIALLY 90% OF OUR PROJECT IS ACTIVATED, FULLY ACTIVATED AT GROUND LEVEL. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ACTUALLY STEPPED THE BUILDING BACK IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS FROM MINIMUM SETBACKS TO ANOTHER 10 FOOT SETBACKS, UH, TO CREATE MORE GREEN AND OPEN SPACE AREAS. AND THAT THEME WAS FOLLOWED THROUGH IN THE INTERIOR. THAT'S WHY THE REASON WE CREATED THAT COURIER, WE WANTED TO BRING THAT QUALITY OF LIFE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE PROJECT. AND THEN AGAIN, CONNECTING ALL THESE PIECES, WE GENERATED THE CROSS THROUGH, UH, BLOCK PA UH, WHICH ACTUALLY GENERATES AN INCREDIBLE CONNECTIVITY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK ITSELF. AGAIN, CONNECTING ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL OPEN SPACES THAT WE TOOK FROM THE MINIMUM 20% REQUIRED TO OVER 32% REQUIRED, OVER 32% PROVIDED ON THIS PROJECT IN OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS, WE WERE CAREFUL TO ANALYZE THE PARKING SCHEME, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ESSENTIALLY IS COMPLETELY LINED FROM ALL SIDES WITH ACTIVE USES. AS WE COME UP THE BUILDING, THE PROJECT, AS WE MENTIONED, BREAKS ITSELF UP INTO EIGHT STORIES IN THE REAR, NINE STORIES, NINE, EIGHT STORIES IN THE EAST, NINE STORIES ON THE WEST. AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, GOING BACK TO THE GROUND, I, I FORGOT TO MENTION, THE, THE INTERIOR, UM, INTERIOR LOADING FACILITIES, UH, AGAIN, WAS DONE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THAT PEDESTRIAN QUALITY. UH, ON THE PROJECT ITSELF, THE SCHOOL ITSELF AS A DROP OFF AREA AT GROUND LEVEL, UH, WHICH IS TOTALLY INTERNALIZED AS WE CAN SEE HERE, UH, AND THE ENTRANCE TO OUR PARKING IS ALSO TOTALLY INTERNALIZED. AGAIN, MINIMIZING THE CURB CUTS ONLY TWO IN THE ENTIRE BLOCK, ONE IN ONE OUT ON THE NORTH. AGAIN, THE ARTICULATION AS YOU GO UP, YOU SAW FROM OUR RENDERINGS, UH, THAT WE SHARED WITH YOU, UM, IS VERY KEY IN MAKING SURE THAT IT MET ALL THE MEDITERRANEAN BOARDS AS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS. UH, AND WHEN WE THOUGHT REALLY THAT THE PROJECT HAD CONCEIVED A BEAUTIFUL NATURE, WE COME UP WITH A, THE ABILITY TO MEET WITH, WITH STAFF, AND THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED, UH, ONE OR TWO CONDITIONS, WHICH WE THOUGHT COULD BE VERY WELL IMPLEMENTED INTO THE PROJECT. AND WE'VE TAKEN THE LEAD TO DO THAT. ONE OF THEM WAS TO ESSENTIALLY TAKE THAT COLONATE FROM THE LIFT WORK UNITS ON THE WEST AND ON THE SOUTH, AND PUSH IT BACK TO THE BUILDING, CREATING A MORE RESIDENTIAL LOOK AND FEEL FOR THESE AREAS. AND I'LL SHARE SOME OF THE, UH, JUST RECENTLY DEVELOPED, UH, RENDERINGS THAT WE HAVE OF THESE AREAS. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS BASICALLY THE SAME BUILDING, BUT STEPPING THE COLONY BACK, STILL FEATURING AN ARTICULATION TO THE BUILDING BY GENERATING A MORE, UH, SOFT AND RESIDENTIAL LOOK ALONG THOSE PEDESTRIAN REALMS. AGAIN, BY STEPPING IT BACK, WE WENT FROM A TOTAL OF 20 FEET OF GREEN AREA BETWEEN, FROM THE BACK OF COURT TO THE BUILDING TO ALMOST 30 FEET OF GREEN AREAS NOW, UH, WHICH REALLY, REALLY ENHANCES THAT, THAT COMPLETE PERIMETER OF, UH, OF A BUILDING AS YOU CAN SEE IN THESE PICTURES. SO, AGAIN, BY, BY THE COMMENTS OF STAFF, UH, AND WORKING TOGETHER, WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOOD, IT GOT EVEN BETTER BECAUSE I THINK NOW WE HAVE A, UH, AN EVEN MORE APPEALING PEDESTRIAN REALM ON THE PROJECT, AS WE CAN SEE HERE. THE OTHER COMMENT THAT WE'VE, UH, RECEIVED FROM THE PLANNING BOARD WAS TO TAKE THE ANCHORING PARK THAT WE HAVE ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE BUILDING. AND INSTEAD OF, INSTEAD OF ALIGNING THE PARK ON A NORTH SOUTH AXIS, UH, TO THINK OF ALIGNING [02:15:01] IT ON AN EAST WEST AXIS, SAME SQUARE FOOTAGE, WE DIDN'T LOSE ANY OPEN SPACE BY DOING THIS, BUT IT GENERATES MORE OF A BUFFER BETWEEN THE WOMEN'S CLUB AND, AND THE BUILDING ITSELF. UH, I, WE THOUGHT THAT WAS ANOTHER, UH, GREAT RECOMMENDATION. AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE STARTED IMPLEMENTING THIS ALREADY INTO OUR PROJECTS. BUT AGAIN, ALL IN ALL, I THINK FROM, FROM THE ONSET, THE VISION, THE NORTH PONDS VISION, THE, THE MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH STAFF, THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS APPROVALS, I THINK WE'RE TRULY, TRULY CULMINATING WITH AN INCREDIBLE PROJECT FOR THIS CITY AND FOR THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. BEFORE YOU END, JUST A QUICK QUESTION. WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE SLIDE NUMBER ON THIS PAGE? SO I WANNA, I WANNA REFER BACK TO IT LATER AND THROUGH THE MAYOR, I'M GONNA ASK THAT BETWEEN THE PRESENTATIONS, WE TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RESTROOM BREAK. MR. MAYOR, THAT'S SLIDE 48. 4 4 8. FOUR EIGHT. MM-HMM . 48. 48. OKAY. 48. OKAY. YES, SIR. SO, JUST TO WRAP UP, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE, UH, SOME RESIDENTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, BUT, UH, WHILE WE LIKE TO TAKE CREDIT FOR MANY OF THESE DESIGN SOLUTIONS THAT YOU SAW TODAY, THEY WERE, UM, OBVIOUSLY THE RESULT OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT, LOT OF COLLABORATION WITH RESIDENTS IN THE AREA WITH CITY STAFF, WITH YOUR CITY BOARDS. UM, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE ACTIVELY BEEN, UH, MEETING WITH RESIDENTS IN THE AREA. WE HAVE 500 PETITIONS OF APPROVAL. THESE PETITIONS ARE, AS YOU COULD SEE HERE, ONLY EIGHT BLOCKS, ONLY AN EIGHT BLOCK RADIUS. WE DID NOT TRAVEL, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, TO SOUTH GABLES OR NORTH OF EIGHTH STREET. THIS IS REALLY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, 500 RESIDENTS WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT AND ITS MISSION. AS I, UH, AS ALBERT MENTIONED, THERE'S THREE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH ALL THREE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. IF THIS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD, WE WOULD ASK THAT THEY BE INCORPORATED INTO THE APPROVAL SO WE COULD WORK WITH YOUR CITY ARCHITECT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED, UH, AS, AS PART OF THE FINAL DESIGN PROCESS. UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO REAFFIRM ON THE RECORD SOME OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE HAVE MADE THROUGHOUT THIS FIVE YEAR PROCESS. THE FIRST IS THE PRESERVATION OF THE OAK TREE THAT'S ON SITE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO RELOCATING IT TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THIS SITE, MAKING IT A PROMINENT FEATURE OF THIS PROJECT. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED THE WORK, WE'RE STARTING IT EARLY TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE PROPERLY AND CORRECT. SECOND OF ALL, I WANT TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO RELOCATE THE STATUE OF CHRIST THAT CURRENTLY SITS ON THE PROPERTY. WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CHURCH OF THE LITTLE FLOWER, AND IF THIS PROJECT IS APPROVED, WE WILL BE RELOCATING THE STATUE OF CHRIST TO THE CHURCH OF THE LITTLE FLOWER AND CREATING A FIRST COMMUNION GARDEN SO IT COULD SIT IN A PROMINENT LOCATION THAT COULD BE ENJOYED AND APPRECIATED BY THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE ALSO COMMITTED TO, WHICH WE HAVE CURRENTLY PRESERVED THE, UH, THE PLAQUES WITHIN WITHIN THE PROPERTY. UH, WE WILL BE, UH, HAPPY TO DONATE THE WAR PLAQUES TO THE CORAL GABLES WAR MEMORIAL SO THEY COULD BE PRESERVED IN A SECOND, IN A SETTING THAT RECOGNIZES THEIR IMPORTANCE. AND WE'VE ALSO, AS WE MENTIONED, THEY'RE IN THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UH, REVIEW PROCESS THAT WAS EARLY ON IN THIS PROJECT'S, UH, HISTORY, WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING AND INCORPORATING THE REST OF THE PLAQUES WITHIN THE PROPERTY THROUGHOUT THE COMMON OPEN SPACES. SO, AS YOU COULD SEE, THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT OF GOALS OF THE NORTH PONDS OVERLAY AND ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS. IT'S A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN DESIGNED AND EXTENSIVELY REVIEWED AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED RECENTLY THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH CITY STAFF AND YOUR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. AND FOR ALL THESE REASONS, WE RECOMMEND WE REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STAFF REPORT AND THE RECOMMENDATION OF YOUR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, MR. CLERK? I HAVE 1123 STARTING AT 1104. THAT'S 19 MINUTES. AM I OFF? I HAD HIM STARTING AT 1105, BUT YOU'RE NOT OFF BY THE PLEASE. OKAY, WELL, WE'LL GIVE HIM 1105 . SO WHAT DO WE HAVE? I WANTED TO COME FROM YOU SO I CAN WRITE THIS DOWN. 18 MINUTES, SIR. 1123 IS A TOTAL OF 18 MINUTES. OKAY. WE WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AT THE REQUEST OF THE VICE MAYOR AND THEN WE WILL HEAR, UH, FROM OUR DEAR FRIENDS. NOW. SEE YOU IN FIVE MINUTES AT GOOD MORNING. JENNIFER GARCIA, PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR, IF I COULD HAVE THE POWERPOINT PLEASE WHEN YOU'RE READY. THANK YOU. SO, AS WE KNOW, THIS IS THE ENTIRE BLOCK OF 21 IN THE DOUGLAS SECTION. HIGHLIGHT HERE IN YELLOW. THIS IS AN AERIAL LOOKING DOWN WITH AN EXISTING, UH, FORMER CHURCH. UM, THE [02:20:01] EXISTING HOME OF THE, UH, CRYSTAL ACADEMY, UM, BOUNDED BY THE NORTH, UH, ESIA GALLO ON THE SOUTH, UM, AND THEN EAST PONS TO THE WEST. THIS IS A VIEW LOOKING SOUTH. YOU CAN SEE PON LEON ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PROJECT. AND YOU CAN SEE, UH, GALLO RUNNING ALONG THE LEFT SIDE. SO IN 1967, THE PROPERTY WAS REZONED FROM APARTMENT USE TO SPECIAL USE ZONING TO ALLOW A CHURCH AS WELL AS TO ALLOW A KINDERGARTEN. I WAS EXPANDED IN 1971 TO I BELIEVE TO THIRD GRADE, AND THEN AGAIN IN 1991 TO CAP THAT STUDENT ENROLLMENT TO 75 STUDENTS ALONG WITH OTHER CONDITIONS. UM, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT A CONDITION OF 75 STUDENTS STILL REMAIN FOR THE PROPERTY, BUT TO ALLOW THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY TO BE A PRINCIPAL USE AND NO LONGER AN ACCESSORY USE, THERE ARE THREE REQUESTS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE CONSIDERING TODAY. THE FOURTH WILL BE CONSIDERED IF IT'S APPROVED ON FIRST READING. THE FIRST ONE IS A CHANGE THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SECOND ONE IS A ZONING MAP CHANGE. THE THIRD ONE IS THE PLAN AREA DEVELOPMENT. SO THE, THE CURRENT PROPERTY THAT CURRENTLY IS, UH, FUTURE LAND USE AS A NATION OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONAL, AND THEY'RE PROPOSING TO CHANGE THAT TO COMM COMMERCIAL MID-RISE INTENSITY, AND ALSO TO INCLUDE THAT, UH, PROPERTY WITHIN THE MIXED USE, UM, DISTRICT OF THE NORTH PONDS. AND THAT IS TO ALLOW THE SCHOOL TO BE A PRINCIPAL USE, UM, WITHIN THE PROJECT. SO LOOKING AT MASSING MODELS, IS IT EXISTING CONDITIONS? ALL THOSE WHITE BUILDINGS ARE THE CURRENT BUILDING HEIGHTS OF THE, OF THE AREA. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS THE GREEN PROPERTY. THE ZONED S AND AROUND IT ARE THE WHITE BUILDINGS WITH EXISTING HEIGHTS. SO IF YOU OVERLAY THE CURRENT ALLOWED ZONING OF FUTURE LAND USE, YOU HAVE, UM, THE BROWN, UM, BEING 70 FEET IN HEIGHT, OR NINE SEVEN WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN BONUS. YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE BROWN TO THE EAST AND TO THE SOUTH OF THE JU PROPERTY ON THE LEFT SIDE OR ON BON LEON, YOU CAN SEE THE RED, WHICH OF COURSE IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER. HEIGHTS OF 97, WHERE THAT STEP BACK IS UP TO ONE 50 OR 190.5 FEET ALONG PONCE LEON. THIS PROPERTY IS SETTLING BETWEEN THE, UM, LOWER, UM, MEDIUM INTENSITY OF NORTH PONDS, WHICH AGAIN IS 70 FEET OR 97 FEET IN HEIGHT. AND THEN THE MORE INTENSE, UH, HEIGHTS ALONG PONCE LEON, THE APPLICANT IS OPPOSING TO CHANGE THE ZONING HERE FROM SPECIAL USE. AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE TO A, UM, TO MID-RISE COMMERCIAL MID-RISE, AGAIN COMMERCIAL TO ALLOW THE SCHOOL TO REMAIN THERE ON SITE MATCHING THE SAME HEIGHT AS THE BROWN AROUND. SO THE HEIGHT WOULD BE 70 FEET OR NINE SEVEN FEET OF HEIGHT. SO AGAIN, THIS IS EXISTING WITH THE WHITE BUILDINGS OF WHAT THE MASSING IS TODAY WITH THE CURRENT ALLOWED ZONING, YOU CAN SEE POCKETS OF THOSE WHITE BUILDINGS ARE HISTORIC PROPERTIES, BUT THE REST HAVE HEIGHT WITH ALLOWED OF 70 FEET OR NINE SEVEN FEET. THEY'RE PROPOSING TO DO MX TWO OR COMMERCIAL MIDRISE, UH, LAND USE INTENSITY, AND THAT WOULD ALLOW A HEIGHT OF 70 OR NINE SEVEN FEET. THE ZONING MAP IS ALSO PROPOSED TO CHANGE FROM S ZONING TO MX TWO ZONING, ALSO INCORPORATING THE PROPERTY INTO THE NORTH PONDS MIXED USE DISTRICT, WHICH OF COURSE IS REMOVING THEM FROM THE NORTH PONDS CONSERVATION DISTRICT. AND A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT THAT. THE NORTH PONDS NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS FOR CONSERVING THOSE APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN THE AREA. THEY APPLIED TO MF TWO PROPERTIES. SO THEY ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL USES, CONDITIONAL USES FOR DESIGNATED HISTORIC PROPERTIES. THEY HAVE A HISTORIC PRESERVATION BENEFITS PROGRAM FOR PROPERTIES THAT ARE BUILT BEFORE 1964, THAT EXEMPT PARKING THAT ALLOW FOR TDR OR TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AND SITES, AS WELL AS, UM, ALLOWANCES AND SIGNAGE. THERE'S A GARDEN APARTMENT CONSERVATION BENEFITS PROGRAM AS WELL. THOSE PROPERTIES BUILT BEFORE 1964 TO ALLOW FOR VARIANCE REQUESTS AND REDUCE, UM, PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION. YOU'RE, UM, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDSCAPE FOR FRONT YARDS. THERE'S NO WALLS OR FENCES ALLOWED. THERE'S, UM, MAXIMUM DRIVEWAY WIDTHS AS WELL AS, UM, PARKING SETBACKS BEHIND CAPITAL SPACE. SO FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION UNDER THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE ZONING, THE HEIGHT, THE FIR, THE DENSITY, THE SETBACKS. THEY STILL APPLY FOR ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION OVERLAY. SO THE THIRD REQUEST [02:25:01] IS THE PAD, THE PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT. SO THE SITE PLAN THAT I HAVE, , I DID NOT, I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE NEW SITE PLAN OF ROTATING THE PARK. UM, SO THE PARK IS ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER. THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS FACING GANO. THERE ARE CROSSWALK ON ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE PROPERTY. UM, THERE'S A PUBLIC PLAZA ON THE SOUTHWEST CORNER, A PUBLIC COURTYARD IN PA, AN INTERIOR BLOCK OF THE, OF THE SITE PLAN. THE PICKUP AND DROP OFF OF THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED WITH INSIDE THE, UM, THE PROPERTY ACROSS THE PA AND THE COURTYARD INTERNALLY ACCESSED. SO THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TWO CODE DEVIATIONS. THE PAD ALLOWS YOU TO REQUEST DEVIATIONS FROM THE CODE IN EXCHANGE FOR PUG BENEFITS. SO RIGHT NOW YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO HAVE EIGHT STORIES OF HEIGHT FOR, UH, MX TWO PROPERTIES. UM, THEY'RE PROPOSING TO DO NINE STORIES ON EAST PO LEON AND THEN SCALE DOWN TO EIGHT STORIES WHEN FACING GALLO. THE OTHER, UH, DEVIATION THEY'RE REQUESTING IS, UH, A SLIGHT DEVIATION. THIS IS BASED OF COURSE ON THE PLANS THAT I HAVE SUBMITTED, NOT THE NEW ROTATED PARK PLAN. UM, THEY ONLY HAVE 27% OF TRANSPARENCY OR GLASS THAT'S FACING ESIA ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BACK OF HOUSE OF THE WOMEN'S CLUB. THE BENEFIT THAT THEY'RE, THAT THEY'RE OFFERING IS THE 5,000 SQUARE FOOT EDUCATIONAL FACILITY FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY OR ANY FEW FUTURE, UH, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION. UM, THEY'RE OFFERING THE SCHOOL TO BE THERE WITHOUT ANY COST RENT FREE FOR NINE, NINE YEARS. AND THEY'RE OFFERING THAT IN A COVENANT THAT'S INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET TODAY. THEY'RE ALSO PROVIDING A 4,000 SQUARE FOOT PARK FOR DAYTIME, UH, LEARNING FOR THE SCHOOL AS WELL AS PUBLIC ACCESS AFTER HOURS. AND THAT'S THE SAME FOR A COURT GUARD. AND THE PEDESTRIAN PASS THROUGH THE CONDITIONAL USE IS FOR THE SITE PLAN AND FOR THE SCHOOL AND FOR LIVEWORKS, WHICH THEY'RE ALL REQUIRED TO DO CONDITIONAL USE, UM, REVIEW AND AND APPROVAL. IT IS NOT BEING CONSIDERED BY YOU, BUT WE'RE GONNA EXPLAIN IT ANYWAY BECAUSE IT'S ALL CONNECTED TO THE PAD AND THE REQUEST. A CHANGE OF LAND USE AND CHANGE OF ZONING. SO AGAIN, THE PARK IS IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER TODAY. IT'S BEEN ROTATED AS, UH, REQUIRED OR RECOMMENDED BY THE FLYING ZONING BOARD. UH, THE SCHOOLS FACING ANO THE PICK UP AND DROPOFF INTERNALLY ACCESSED. YOU HAVE A VEHICULAR, UH, ACCESS FROM ANTIA FROM THE SOUTH AND GOING NORTH AND EMPTYING OUT ONTO FANIA. THERE'S A COURTYARD AND THE LIVEWORK SURROUNDS, UH, MOST OF THE PROPERTY. SO AGAIN, THE EXISTING, UH, PROPERTY IS ALMOST 1.5. IT'S 1.49 ACRES LARGE. THE FAR IS AT 3.5, WHICH IS THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO. THEY'RE REQUESTING A 93 FEET OF HEIGHT WHEN THEY'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE NINE, SEVEN FEET WITH MEDITERRANEAN BONUS. AND THEY'RE REQUESTING DO NINE STORIES INSTEAD OF EIGHT STORIES, WHICH ARE ALLOWED TO DO THROUGH THE PAD REQUEST DESIGNATION. THEY'RE DOING THE NINE STORIES AGAIN ON EAST PONDS AND THEN EIGHT STORIES FACING THE GANO. THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO 180 4 UNITS WITH THE 1 25 UNITS PER ACRE. THEY'RE REQUESTING TO DO 180 4 UNITS, UM, 16 LIVE WORK UNITS, THE SCHOOL OF 500 SQUARE FEET AND THE PARKING SPACES, UH, 3 0 1. THEY'RE, UM, PROVIDING 20,000 SQUARE FEET OF OPEN SPACE. THIS ARE RENDERING LOOKING NORTHWEST. THAT'S THE ENTRANCE OF THE SCHOOL. THIS IS OUTDATED. IT'S NOT SHOWING THE ROTATION ON THE PARK, WHICH WOULD LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WITH TODAY. SO IT WAS REVIEWED BY DRC BACK IN JANUARY, 2022. I REVIEWED BY THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS LATER THAT YEAR WITH APPROVAL. AND OCTOBER, 2023, WE HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING OFFICIALLY, UH, EARLIER THIS YEAR IN MAY, A CLIENT ZONING BOARD REVIEWED THIS PROPERTY, THIS APPLICATION, UH, LAST MONTH RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. AND YOU WERE HERE LOOKING AT THIS FOR FIRST READING FOR TODAY. WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVED FOR SECOND READING. LETTERS WERE MAILED TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND CURRENT OCCUPANTS WITHIN 1500 FEET OF THE PROPERTY AS REQUIRED BY THE ZONING CODE. AND THAT WAS MAILED THREE TIMES. THE PROPERTY WAS POSTED NINE TIMES, THE WEBSITE WAS POSTED NINE TIMES AS WELL, AND THAT NEWSPAPER WAS A ADVERTISED ONCE. SO STAFF HAS DETERMINED THAT THIS APPLICATION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMP PLAN. IT'S PROVIDING HOUSING AN AREA THAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE AND MORE, UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING, UM, TO KEEP WITH THE INCREASE IN OF HOUSING DEMAND IN THE AREA. WE RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS. THOSE CONDITIONS ARE OUTLINED IN THE PAD ORDINANCE AT THE VERY END, BUT BRIEFLY, IT'S UM, [02:30:01] COPYING THE HEIGHT AT NINE STORIES OR NINE THREE FEET OF HEIGHT. UH, 500 SQUARE FEET FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY WITH 75 STUDENTS MAXIMUM, UM, TO ROTATE THE CORNER PARK TO BE EAST AND WEST AS RECOMMENDED BY THE IAN ZONING BOARD, WHICH THEY HAVE DONE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REVIEW THAT AT LENGTH. UM, THEY WILL REMOVE THE ARCADE TO PROVIDE STOOPS AND PORCHES TO HAVE FRONT YARDS TO BE MORE IN CHARACTER WITH THE NORTH PONDS CONSERVATION DISTRICT. UH, THEY'RE GONNA INCORPORATE LANDSCAPE, A SETBACK ON NORTH SIDE, WHICH IS ESIA, AND THEN HAVE A PUBLIC ACCESSIBLE COURTYARD COVERED WALKWAY AND CORNER PARK. UM, THEY ALSO HAVE OFFSITE IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL, INCLUDING UNDERGROUND UTILITY LINES ALONG ISHA AS WELL. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM DIRECTOR. MR. WINER. GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING, MR. CLERK. WHAT TIME IS IT? 1147, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE A POWERPOINT I'D LIKE TO PRESENT. YES, SIR. I COULD. TABLE TV. PUT UP, UH, MR. WINKERS PRESENTATION. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. DAVID WINKER, LAW OFFICES AT 47 20 SOUTH LAJEUNE. I REPRESENT BONNIE BOLTON WHO LIVES ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY. HERE WE GO AGAIN. ANOTHER DEVELOPER WANTING TO BUILD AN OUT SCALE PROJECT BY GETTING THE CITY TO GRANT IT SPECIAL CONCESSIONS, WAIVERS, EXCEPTIONS, AND A MASSIVE UP ZONING. HERE WE HAVE AN OUT OF TOWN DEVELOPER WHO WANTS THE CITY TO RELIEVE IT FROM ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER OUR CITY CODE. AND OUR MASTER PLAN TO BUILD MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT IT WOULD OTHERWISE BE ALLOWED TO BUILD. AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT KEEPS HAPPENING AGAIN AND AGAIN IN OUR CITY, AND IT'S FRUSTRATING RESIDENTS. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR TODAY IN PUBLIC COMMENT. AND IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHAT ARE WE GETTING IN RETURN? AS RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS FOR THESE MASSIVE UPSELLING NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT MATTERS. THIS PROPERTY SITS WITHIN AN ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. FOUR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES DIRECTLY ABUT THIS PROJECT. THE CURRENT USE IS SPECIAL USE RELIGIOUS. THE CURRENT HEIGHT LIMIT IS FOUR STORIES. THE SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT, AS YOU SAW ON THE MAPS, IS PREDOMINANTLY ONE AND TWO STORY STRUCTURES. THIS PROJECT PUTS, PUTS OUR HISTORIC RESOURCES AT RISK. SIX. HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED STRUCTURES ARE LOCATED ON FANIA AVENUE NEAR THE PROJECT. THREE, HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED STRUCTURES ARE LOCATED ON TIA. THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS CURRENTLY BEING STUDIED FOR HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION. HISTORIC PRESERVATION INCLUDES PROTECTING THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE AND CONTEXT. THIS NINE STORY STRUCTURE PERMANENTLY WILL ALTER THAT CONTEXT. AND LET'S GET DOWN INTO THE CODE. WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU GUYS TO DO US A FAVOR, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO ENFORCE THE CITY CODE. SECTION 1 1 0 3 OF THE ZONING CODE SAYS THE PURPOSE OF THE CODE IS TO IMPLEMENT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN'S GOAL IS TO PROTECT CORAL GABLE'S HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER. PRESERVE GEORGE MERRICK'S VISION, PROTECT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM INCOMPATIBLE USES AND REQUIRE COMPATIBILITY WITH SURROUNDING ARCHITECTURE AND DEVELOPMENT. THIS PROJECT CONFLICTS WITH SECTION ONE OH THREE, TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY 6,000 SQUARE FOOT OF DEVELOPMENT 184 RESIDENTIAL UNITS 93 FOOT TALL BUILDING IN A LOW SCALE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE INTENSITY, THE MASSING AND THE SCALE ARE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT. THERE IS NO ARGUMENT AGAINST THAT. THE, UH, THIS PROJECT UNDERMINES THE STATED PURPOSES OF THE ZONING CODE. IT ALSO CONFLICTS WITH THE NORTH POND'S CONSERVATION OVERLAY. THE OVERLAY DISTRICT WAS ADOPTED TO PRESERVE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER, PROTECT THE HISTORIC GARDEN APARTMENT FABRIC OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, MAINTAIN TRADITIONAL DEVELOPMENT [02:35:01] PATTERNS. THE APPLICANT SEEKS REMOVAL FROM THE OVERLAY BECAUSE THE PROJECT CANNOT COMPLY WITH IT. I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT ASKING FOR FAVORS. THEY'RE ASKING THE PROJECT BE REMOVED FROM THE OVERLAY 'CAUSE THEY CAN'T COMPLY. IF THE PROJECT WAS COMPATIBLE, THEY WOULD COMPLY. CONFLICT WITH CORAL GABLE'S HISTORIC CITY PLAN. THE CITY PLAN WAS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED. CALLS FOR PRESERVATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER ENCOURAGES DEVELOPMENT COMPATIBLE WITH SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AREAS, SUPPORTING LOW SCALE DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS. AGAIN, NINE STORIES IS INCONSISTENT WITH THESE OBJECTIVES. CONFLICT WITH THE NORTH POND'S COMMUNITY VISION. THE VISION WORKSHOP RECOMMENDED OBSERVING THE GARDEN APARTMENT CHARACTER OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. RECOMMENDED MAINTAINING BUILDING HEIGHTS BETWEEN TWO AND FOUR STORIES. ENCOURAGED PRESERVATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD SCALE, SUPPORTED EXPLORATION OF PUBLIC PARK AND OPEN SPACE OPPORTUNITIES. AND WE'RE GONNA GET INTO THE PROBLEM WITH THIS PROJECT. VIS-A-VIS PUBLIC PARK AND OPEN SPACE OPPORTUNITIES. IT IS INCONSISTENT WITH OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IT CONVERTS A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONAL SITE INTO DENSE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. IT RES RE REMOVES EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTIONS. THERE IS NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITMENT DESPITE RELIANCE ON HOUSING POLICIES FAILS TO RESERVE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AND, AND OVERALL THE APPROVAL WILL UNDERMINE LONG-TERM PLANNING GOALS. THE COMPATIBILITY ANALYSIS SOUTH AND EAST PROPERTIES ARE RESIDENTIAL EXISTING CAMPUSES. LOW INTENSITY. THE PROPOSED PROJECT DRAMATICALLY INCREASES DENSITY AND ACTIVITY, SCALE AND MASSING OUTTA CHARACTER, TRAFFIC AND CONS. CURRENCY, THE STAFF ACKNOWLEDGES IN ITS REPORT THERE'S ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC AND DELAYS IN AN AREA THAT ALREADY HAS STREETS THAT THAT STRUGGLE TO HANDLE. THE EXISTING TRAFFIC 301 SPACE PARKING GARAGE IS GOING TO RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC GENERATION RESIDENTIAL TRAFFIC, SCHOOL TRAFFIC, VISITORS AND DELIVERIES ARE GONNA COMPOUND THOSE IMPACTS. THESE NARROW RESIDENTIAL STREETS ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR THIS LEVEL OF INTENSITY. THIS PROJECT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT NOR THE TRAFFIC STUDY. TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CHANGES THAT ARE CURRENTLY HAPPENING ON PONDS INFRASTRUCTURE. CONCERNED AGAIN, STREET NETWORK NETWORK IS CONSTRAINED. THE SCHOOL DROP OFF AND PICKUP ACTIVITY CREATES ADDITIONAL CONGESTION. TRAFFIC MITIGATION IS DEFERRED. NOW I WANNA GET TO WHAT I THINK IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS. WE AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, WE AS A COMMUNITY, AND WE AS RESIDENTS CAN DECIDE TO FOREGO OR GRANT EXCEPTIONS TO DEVELOPERS. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE GETTING IN RETURN? AND THIS PROJECT REALLY BRINGS INTO FOCUS HOW LITTLE WE'RE GETTING BACK FOR WHAT WE'RE GIVING. REMEMBER, WE'RE LETTING THEM BUILD TWICE WHAT THEY GOT OTHERWISE BUILT, OTHERWISE BUILT. SO LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE GETTING. THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE PAD PROCESS. IT'S INTENDED TO REWARD EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC BENEFITS. THE ADDITIONAL STORY COUNT AND DESIGN DEVIATIONS ONLY BENEFIT THE DEVELOPER. LET'S GO INTO THE CODE THREE DASH 5 0 1. THE PURPOSE OF PAD. ENCOURAGE CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT THAT GOES BEYOND STANDARD ZONING. ALLOW ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS ONLY WHEN THE PROJECT PROVIDES QUOTE, SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL PUBLIC BENEFIT. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? THE PURPOSE OF PAT IS NOT SIMPLY TO ALLOW A LARGER BUILDING. IT IS TO ENSURE THAT ANY ADDITIONAL HEIGHT, DENSITY, OR INTENSITY IS JUSTIFIED BY A MEANINGFUL BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC. THE CITY MUST FIND EQUIVALENT PUBLIC BENEFITS UNDER THREE DASH 5 0 2 BEFORE APPROVING A PAD. THE CITY MUST FIND THAT THE PROJECT PROVIDES PUBLIC BENEFITS, QUOTE, TO A DEGREE AT LEAST EQUIVALENT TO WHAT STANDARD ZONING REGULATIONS WOULD OTHERWISE REQUIRE. THE QUESTION BEFORE THE COMMISSION IS WHAT PUBLIC BENEFIT IS BEING PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR WHAT THEY'RE GETTING. ADDITIONAL HEIGHT, ADDITIONAL DENSITY, INCREASED INTENSITY AND DEPARTURE FROM THE STANDARD ZONING LI LIMITATIONS. IF THE BENEFIT IS [02:40:01] NOT EQUIVALENT, THE PAD MUST BE DENIED. THIS PROJECT HAS MORPHED. THERE WAS SOME TALK OF THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BEING THE PO THE, THE, THE GREEN SPACE THAT WAS BEING PROVIDED. THEY'VE MOVED PAST THAT. THEY'RE NOW SAYING THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS THE PUBLIC BENEFIT. THE CLAIM BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY IS CRYSTAL ACADEMY. WHAT IS CRYSTAL CRYSTAL ACADEMY? IT'S A PRIVATE SCHOOL, $38,000 TUITION AND CURRENTLY I BELIEVE HAS 75 STUDENTS. LAST TIME I CHECKED, PAYING ALMOST $3 MILLION IN TUITION, NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. AND IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO THE FAMILIES WHO ARE ENROLLED AT THE SCHOOL. THIS IS NOTHING AGAINST BRISTOL ACADEMY. CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS BEING USED BY THE DEVELOPER TO JUSTIFY WHAT'S HAPPENING. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT DOES IT QUALIFY AND PROVIDE THE BROADER BENEFITS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO SATISFY THE PAD CODE. A PRIVATE SCHOOL SERVING A SMALL NUMBER OF PAYING STUDENTS IS A PRIVATE BENEFIT, NOT A PUBLIC BENEFIT. THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BEING OFFERED IN EXCHANGE FOR A NINE STORY BUILDING IS A PRIVATE SCHOOL. SECTION THREE DASH 5 0 2 C SIX REQUIRES THAT AT LEAST 20% LANDSCAPED OPEN SPACE, THE COURTYARD THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING DOES NOT MEET THAT REQUIREMENT. WHAT THE DEVELOPER ATTORNEY DID NOT MENTION WHEN IT SAID THAT THIS PROJECT WAS APPROVED BY THE PA WAS WE WERE ASKED, I WAS SPECIFICALLY ASKED, WOULD YOU AGREE? WOULD YOU BE HAPPY IF WE CONDITION APPROVAL ON THIS, ON REORIENTING THE GARDEN IN A WAY THAT SAVES AS MUCH OF THE GARDEN AS POSSIBLE? YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT OF RESIDENTS TALKING ABOUT THAT. THAT WAS SEEN AS A VICTORY FOR THIS PROJECT. AND WE WERE EXPECTING TO SEE REORIENTATION OF THE GARDEN, A REORIENTATION, AND BE ABLE TO SAVE AS MUCH OF THE GARDEN AS POSSIBLE. YOU SAW FROM THE DRAWINGS, NOTHING'S CHANGED. THEY'RE NOT SAVING ANY MORE OF THE GARDEN. THE SLIDE THEY SHOWED, IT WAS 48. UH, MAYOR LAGO ASKED FOR WHICH TO WHAT IT WAS. IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S OVER ON THIS SIDE. THE GARDENS ON THIS SIDE, ON THE EAST SIDE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO. IT HAS NOT, IT HAS NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHAT PZA ASKED FOR. THE COURTYARD IS NOT MEANINGFUL PUBLIC SPACE. THE PROPOSED COURTYARD IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PRIVATE SCHOOL. PUBLIC'S ACCESS IS LIMITED AND CONDITIONAL, UNAVAILABLE DURING SCHOOL HOURS. IT'S NOT EQUIVALENT TO A PUBLIC PARK. IN SUM. THIS IS A BAD DEAL FOR TAXPAYERS. RESTRICTED ACCESS IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC SPACE. PART-TIME ACCESS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL PUBLIC BENEFIT. OCCASIONAL ACCESS SHOULD NOT JUSTIFY THESE MASSIVE INCREASES IN DESTINY DENSITY. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. APPROVAL REMOVES CONSERVATION PROTECTION, PROVIDES PLANNING POLICIES, CREATES THE TALLEST STRUCTURE OF THE IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT'S GONNA INVITE SIMILAR UP ZONING THROUGHOUT NORTH PONDS. WE ASK THE COMMISSION TO INDEPENDENTLY EVALUATE THE CONSISTENCY AND COMPATIBILITY, AND WE BELIEVE THAT MUST RECOMMEND DENIAL WHEN EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATES INCONSISTENCY WITH THE CITY'S PLANS AND REGULATIONS. PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS THE CORE REQUEST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. CLERK. WHAT TIME IS IT? 1212 NOON. MS. MAYOR, SO THAT'S 13 MINUTES. YES SIR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK A LITTLE FURTHER? ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. PERFECT. WANNA MAKE SURE? ALRIGHT, MR. CLERK, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? ? WE DO. MR. MAYOR. GOOD. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. FIRST, IF I WOULD, IF I COULD REITERATE WHAT I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, LET'S TRY TO BE AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE A VERY LONG MEETING TODAY. UM, WE'RE WILLING TO LISTEN TO ALL YOUR ISSUES AND YOUR CONCERNS, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE. UH, LET'S KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL. UH, REMEMBER THAT WE'RE HERE DISCUSSING THIS PROJECT. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE OUTSIDE OF THE PROJECT SCOPE. AND LET'S KEEP IT TO THAT PROJECT. OKAY? AND WHEN I ASK YOU VERY KINDLY, IF YOU COULD BRING IT IN FOR A LANDING, PLEASE TRY TO BRING IT IN FOR A LANDING. NOT A ROUGH ONE, BUT LET'S BRING IT IN FOR A SMOOTH LANDING. THANK YOU. FIRST SPEAKER, MARIA CRUZ. [02:45:11] MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. I JUST HEARD THAT THE PRINCIPLE USE OF THIS PROJECT IS A CRYSTAL ACADEMY. INTERESTING. NINE STORIES. THEY GET THE GROUND FLOOR, 20,508 FEET. THEY GET 5,000, NOT EVEN A QUARTER OF THE PROJECT. THE SECOND ITEM, A PUBLIC PARK. A PUBLIC PARK THAT DESIGNED OBVIOUSLY FOR LITTLE SMALL KIDS, NOT FOR TEENAGERS. WELL, I DON'T KNOW MANY SMALL KIDS THAT WILL BE TAKEN THERE AFTER SCHOOL HOURS WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING A BATH AND GOING EATING AND GOING TO SLEEP. THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC PARK. THAT'S A PART FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE SCHOOL. PERIOD. THE END. THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. IT'S NOT WHAT IS PRESENTED TO BE, AND I'M SORRY, IT SHOULD, SHOULD NOT BE APPROVED. KELLY CHILD. GOOD AFTERNOON. KELLY SHIELD 9 0 5 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. BEFORE I GIVE MY STATEMENT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A GENERAL COMMENT REGARDING CIVIC INVOLVEMENT IN OUR CITY. RESIDENTS THAT OPPOSE THIS PROJECT MAY NOT BE HERE TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE RESIGNED TO THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO USE IN GETTING INVOLVED AND HAVE EVEN PREDICTED THE VOTE. COMMENTS INCLUDE, IT'S A DONE DEAL. GOING TO THE CITY COMMISSION IS AN EXERCISE IN FUTILITY. AND WHAT'S THE USE PERSONALLY, I FEEL, AND I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT MAYBE MY VOICE MATTERS. SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER MY COMMENTS REGARDING ONE 10 FANIA AVENUE. TODAY YOU'RE BEING ASKED BY THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER WHO HAS OWNED THE PROPERTY FOR 90 DAYS AND IS REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER FROM CHICAGO TO REWRITE CORAL GABLES ZONING CODE IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE THEIR $16 MILLION INVESTMENT. THIS IS A COMPANY THAT STATES ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT THEY HAVE HARD NO SOLUTIONS TO MAXIMIZE PROCEEDS FOR OUR PARTNERS. THE CURRENT OWNERS TOOK A RISK AND BOUGHT 1.5 ACRES IN THE NORTH PONDS CONSERVATION DISTRICT WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT PROPOSED PLANS ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT ZONING TODAY. THEY'RE ASKING YOU TO IGNORE THE RULES AND BAIL THEM OUT. WHAT IS SAD IS THAT THESE OWNERS ARE USING CRYSTAL ACADEMY, THEIR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AS PONDS, EXPECTING THAT THEIR PLEDGED TO PROVIDE SPACE AT THE BOTTOM OF A NINE STORY BUILDING SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO REWRITE OUR CITY'S LAWS. FOR THE PRICE OF 5,000 SQUARE FEET, THE APPLICANT IS EXPECTING AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MORE STORIES AND 170,000 SQUARE FEET. I SPENT MY CAREER IN NURSING HOMES, SO I KNOW BETTER THAN MOST THE IMPORTANCE OF CARING FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. CRYSTAL ACADEMY HAS KNOWN SINCE 2022 THAT THEIR SCHOOL PROPERTY WAS SOLD, AND THEY MUST VACATE THE PREMISES, THE SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS WILL NEED TO MOVE WHEN THAT LAND IS DEVELOPED. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS PUTTING ALL THEIR FAITH IN THIS HAIL MARY PLAN AND SINCERELY HOPE THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBLE STEPS TO SECURE A FUTURE LOCATION. THIS IS NOT A VOTE FOR OR AGAINST CRYSTAL ACADEMY. IN FACT, THE DEVELOPER COULD BE ALTRUISTIC AND PROVIDE SPACE FOR THE SCHOOL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FOLLOWING THE CURRENT ZONING CODES. CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS ARE HELD TO STRICT ZONING CODES TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO APPLY TO DEVELOPERS FOR THE PROMISE OF A SCHOOL OR A PARK. EXCEPTIONS ARE MADE DESPITE THE LOUD PROTESTS OF THOSE THAT LIVE IN OUR CITY. THE SAD REALITY IS THAT MANY CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THIS IS A DONE DEAL. AND THEY MAY BE RIGHT, BUT YOUR DECISION WILL PUT YOU ON THE RECORD OF WHERE YOU STAND. IS THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES COMMISSION WITH DEVELOPERS OR RESIDENTS OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN? I DID PROVIDE A SLIDE THAT SHOWS A RENDERING OF WHAT COULD THE NEXT ONE PLEASE? CITY CLERK. THANK YOU. THIS IS A RENDERING OF WHAT COULD BE PUT ONTO THAT PROPERTY UNDER THE CURRENT CONSERVATION OVERLAY. THANK YOU, NICOLE. NICHOLAS CABRERA. GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR. AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION. [02:50:01] UH, MY NAME IS NICHOLAS CABRERA AND I RESIDE AT 45 NT AVENUE AND I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE CRYSTAL RESIDENTS PROJECT. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS. FIVE YEARS OF REVIEWS, HEARINGS, AND APPEALS. AT SOME POINT, THE QUESTION STOPS BEING WHETHER THE PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED AND BECOMES WHETHER WE'RE WILLING TO RESPECT IT WHEN WE DON'T LIKE THE OUTCOME. LAST MONTH I PUBLISHED A POST ON ASAPS GABLES IN WHICH I ADDRESSED THREE ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE PROJECT INCOMPATIBILITY, LOSS OF GREEN SPACE, AND LACK OF PUBLIC BENEFIT. IN FACT, I ALSO ADDRESSED MANY OF THE, UH, ARGUMENTS MADE IN MR. WINKERS PRESENTATION TODAY. SO LET'S DEAL IN FACTS. LET'S START WITH COMPATIBILITY, BECAUSE THAT'S THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING ELSE. THE NORTH PONCE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE LAST AND MOST APPROPRIATE AREA IN CORAL GABLES FOR THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. THIS AREA HAS LITTLE TO NO HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. ASIDE FROM A HANDFUL OF SITES, INCLUDING THE WOMEN'S CLUB, A CARRIAGE HOUSE, DOUGLAS ENTRE, AND A FEW HOMES. THIS IS NOT A HISTORIC DISTRICT. THE PROPERTY A ONE 10 FANIA IS NOT HISTORIC. THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD IS NOT HISTORIC. THAT ARGUMENT HAS BEEN MADE AND HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND IT DOES NOT APPLY. SECOND, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST ACCESSIBLE AREAS OF THE CITY. IT IS BOUNDED BY SOUTHWEST EIGHTH STREET, DOUGLAS ROAD, AND LAJEUNE ROAD. IT IS CONNECTED, IT IS WALKABLE, AND IT'S EXACTLY WHERE DENSITY BELONGS IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT SMART PLANNING. THIRD, THIS IS THE MOST TRANSIENT PART OF CORAL GABLES. IT IS DOMINATED BY RENTAL APARTMENT BUILDINGS WITH VERY FEW SINGLE FAN FAMILY HOMES. MANY OF THESE BUILDINGS ARE OLDER, UNDER MAINTAINED AND NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE ARCHITECTURAL IDENTITY PEOPLE CLAIM TO BE PROTECTING. THIS IS NOT A FRAGILE LOW DENSITY ENCLAVE. IT IS ALREADY AN EVOLVING URBAN CORRIDOR. AND LET'S BE HONEST, THIS PROJECT IS NOT OUT OF SCALE. THERE ARE BUILDINGS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA AND ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY THAT ARE EQUAL TO OR LARGER THAN WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED TODAY. LET'S TAKE 9 1 1 EAST PO LEON BOULEVARD AS AN EXAMPLE. IT IS OVER 12 STORIES OR 12 STORIES. THE IDEA THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW INCOMPATIBLE SIMPLY DOESN'T HOLD UP ON GREEN SPACE. THE CURRENT CONDITION IS PRIVATE. I CAN'T JUST JUMP OVER THE FENCE. I'D BE TRESPASSING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE PUBLIC CANNOT ACCESS IT. THIS PROJECT INTRODUCES TRUE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE GREEN SPACE IN THE FORM OF A PLAZA, A COURTYARD AND A PARK, REAL SPACE THAT RESIDENTS CAN ACTUALLY USE AND ON PUBLIC BENEFIT. THIS IS WHERE THE CONVERSATION SHOULD STOP AT THE CENTER OF THIS PROJECT IS CRYSTAL ACADEMY, A SCHOOL SERVING CHILDREN WITH PROFOUND AUTISM, 40 CHILDREN, 40 FAMILIES, TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO ARE DOING INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'M GONNA BE GOING OVER TIME, MAYOR, I APOLOGIZE. THE DEVELOPER HAS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THEM WITH A BRAND NEW PURPOSE-BUILT FACILITY UNDER A 99 YEAR LEASE AT NO COST. THAT IS NOT A TALKING POINT. IT IS NOT A PROMISE, IT IS A COMMITMENT. AND YET SOMEHOW THIS HAS TURNED INTO A REASON TO OPPOSE THE PROJECT THAT'S NOT JUST MISGUIDED. IT'S BACKWARDS. BEFORE I CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT GEORGE MERRICK BECAUSE HIS NAME HAS COME UP MORE THAN ONCE. THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT PRESERVING MERRICK'S VISION, AND I THINK IT'S WITH REMEMBERING. GEORGE MERRICK HIMSELF WAS A DEVELOPER. HE DIDN'T PRESERVE CORAL GABLES. HE BUILT IT. IF WE'RE TRULY HONORING HIS VISION, THEN WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THOUGHTFUL, WELL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT, LIKE THE CRYSTAL RESIDENCES NOT FREEZING THE CITY IN TIME. BECAUSE HERE'S THE TRUTH. IF GEORGE MERRICK HAD APPROACHED CORAL GABLES THE WAY WE APPROACH DEVELOPMENT TODAY, THE CITY WOULD NOT EXIST. I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE ARE A CITY THAT PLANS OR A CITY THAT STALLS. WHETHER WE FOLLOW OUR PROCESS OR ALLOW IT TO BE WEAPONIZED AGAINST ITSELF. WHETHER WE BUILD THOUGHTFULLY OR NOT AT ALL, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF CRYSTAL RESIDENCES. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR GOING OVER TIME. THANK YOU. 68 SECONDS. COMMISSIONER RALPH CABRA, IF WE, IF WE COULD, UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, LET'S ELIMINATE THE CLAPPING OF POLICY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US. I'M NOT HERE OFTEN. IT, IT HAPPENS INFREQUENTLY, AND I HOPE IT'LL HAPPEN MORE. I KNOW ABOUT THAT. WELCOME, WELCOME BACK TO YOUR HOME. THANK YOU, SIR. I LIKE YOUR, I LIKE YOUR TEMPORARY GIGS. UH, SO GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION. MR. MANAGER, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU AS WELL AS YOU, MR. CLERK FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS RALPH CABRERA. I LIVE AT 1300 PELLI BOULEVARD. SO I CONSIDER MYSELF A STAKEHOLDER IN THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION. I'VE GOT SOME COMMENTS TO MAKE AND OBSERVATIONS [02:55:01] TO MAKE, AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE LAST PIECE OF ADVICE, UH, BECAUSE I SPENT 12 YEARS UP THERE AND WE, WE DEALT WITH MANY, MANY SIMILAR PROJECTS. BUT FIRST, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND. WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, MY MOTHER INSISTED THAT WE LIVE IN CORAL GABLES. AND THE ONLY PLACE THAT MY DAD COULD AFFORD WAS A SMALL TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATH APARTMENT ON DOUGLAS ROAD BETWEEN FANIA AND CALABRIA. SO I'M ONE OF THOSE KIDS IN THE SIXTIES. I DON'T, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE I'M THAT OLD. I'M ONE OF THOSE KIDS IN THE SIXTIES WHO PLAYED IN THAT IMMEDIATE AREA. I, I WOULD GO TO THE CORAL GABLES LIBRARY, WHICH IS TODAY THE CORAL GABLES, UH, WOMEN'S CLUB. AND I WOULD VENTURE INTO THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD WITH MY FRIENDS. 'CAUSE WE WOULD, LIKE, WE ENJOYED FEEDING THE KOI FISH, UH, WITH CHEERIOS. AND, UH, ABOUT HALF THE TIME, WE WERE ASKED VERY PROMPTLY BY EITHER THE MINISTER OR A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH TO VACATE THE PREMISE. SO I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT EVEN IN THE SIXTIES, IT WAS NOT A PUBLIC SPACE. NOW, LET ME TAKE YOU TO 2000, 2001 WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE. AND I MADE A EMPHASIS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IN THOSE DAYS, WE HAD TWO TYPES OF DEVELOPERS. WE HAD A GROUP OF DEVELOPERS THAT WILL GO UNNAMED THAT SIMPLY WANTED TO DEVELOP FOR THE SAKE OF DEVELOPMENT. AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER GROUP OF DEVELOPERS WHO WERE THOUGHTFUL, WHO PLANNED THE DEVELOPMENT, WHO WORKED WITH THE CITY, WHO WORKED WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS AND BUILT A BETTER PROJECT. I'LL GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES OF THOSE DEVELOPERS. ONE IS MR. ARMANDO CODINA, WHO IS A LOCAL DEVELOPER. BUT THE SECOND, IT'S ACTUALLY AN OUT OF TOWN DEVELOPER. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? AN OUT OF TOWN DEVELOPER COMING TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, THAT WAS THE ROUSE COMPANY WHO BUILT AN INTROVERTED MALL FOR A LACK OF A BETTER WORD, OR A PARK CALLED THE VILLAGE OF MERRICK PARK THAT WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH THE COMMUNITY. NOW, MY SON MENTIONED THE PART ABOUT THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT. WHILE IN OFFICE, I FELT THAT THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST SUITED SPACE FOR DEVELOPMENT. WHY? BECAUSE IT WAS INDEED TRANSIENT. WHY? BECAUSE IT PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE. I'M SORRY, THE 12 YEARS MAYBE GIVES ME ANOTHER MINUTE. YOU GOT TIME. OKAY. AND IT PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL ACCESS AS IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT. LAJEUNE ROAD, DOUGLAS SOUTHWEST, EIGHTH STREET, WYNWOOD, MIAMI BEACH, DOWNTOWN. THOSE ARE ALL AREAS THAT ARE HIGHLY, HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE TO THIS PARTICULAR AREA. AND FINALLY, I'M GONNA COMMENT ON A COUPLE OF FALSE NARRATIVES. THE FIRST ONE IS, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC AREA FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA. I AM ONE OF THEM AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO GO TO THAT PARK. SECONDLY, THIS NONSENSE ABOUT THE STUDENTS WHO ATTEND CRYSTAL ACADEMY, BEING FROM WEALTHY FAMILIES, THE PERSON WHO MADE THAT COMMENT SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. SO I ASK YOU, LOOK AT THE DEVELOPER THAT'S BEFORE YOU, SOMEONE WHO'S DONE EVERYTHING THE RIGHT WAY. FIVE YEARS, POSSIBLY SIX YEARS. YOU HEARD ABOUT THE CHURCH, YOU HEARD ABOUT THE THE CROSS BEING RELOCATED TO ST. THERESA. YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE 100 YEAR LEASE THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY WILL BE RECEIVING. SO THIS IS THE INSTITUTIONAL PART OF MY COMMENTARY TODAY. WHILE I WAS UP THERE, THERE WERE NO HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE. THERE WERE ONLY RIGHT AND WRONG DECISIONS. AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT TODAY YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION ON BEHALF OF THIS APPLICANT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ARMANDO EROS, JR. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR MADAM LES, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. UH, MY NAME'S ARMANDO EROS. I ALSO LIVE AT 1300 PONDS. UH, I DON'T ENVY YOUR POSITION THERE. AS I WAS ON THE STUDY COMMISSION OF SOUTH MIAMI FOR MANY YEARS, BACK IN THE NINETIES, MY PRIOR LIFE, UH, AND I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION BEFORE YOU, HOWEVER, THAT PROJECT IS GOING TO ENLIVEN THAT AREA. I LIVE, WHAT, 200 YARDS FROM IT. UH, I DON'T SEE THE ISSUE [03:00:01] WITH NOT BEING COMPATIBLE. WE HAVE LARGER BUILDINGS, WE HAVE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS, OLD APARTMENT BUILDINGS. AND THIS WILL BRING NEW LIFE TO THIS AREA OF CORAL GABLES, WHICH HAS, IS I THINK THE LAST BASTION OF, UH, MORE DEVELOPMENT. WE'VE DEVELOPED A SOUTH PART OF BAHA DEION, AND NOW WE'RE MOVING A LITTLE BIT NORTH. AND I SEE THAT AS A BEAUTIFUL FUTURE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. I MOVED HERE FROM SOUTH MIAMI AFTER 40 YEARS THERE BECAUSE I LOVED THE AREA OF CORAL GABLES. IT HAD SOMETHING TO OFFER ME THAT SOUTH MIAMI DIDN'T AT THAT TIME, WHICH IS PEDESTRIAN AREAS TO WALK TO. I CAN WALK THE MIRACLE MILE, WHICH IS AT MY AGE, A LITTLE LONG WALK, BUT I STILL DO IT. I THANK GOD FOR THE TROLLEY. UH, BUT THIS WILL BRING MORE LIFE TO THIS PART OF THE COMMUNITY, TO THIS AREA WHERE I CAN WALK, WHERE I CAN SEE OTHER PEOPLE THAT AREA, UNLESS YOU LIVE THERE. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE IN IN CORAL GABLES WHO LIVE FAR AWAY, ARE OBJECTING TO THIS PROJECT. BUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER IS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA, WHO WANT IT, WHO NEED IT, WHO NEED MORE LIFE AND MORE, UH, ABILITY TO MOVE AROUND IN THIS LITTLE SECTION, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A BIG SECTION, IT'S A LITTLE SECTION. SO I DON'T WANNA REITERATE THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN BEFORE THE BOARD, IT'S BEEN BEFORE STAFF. IT'S BEEN CONTEMPLATED ALL THE DIFFERENT ISSUES AND IT'S PAST MUSTER WITH EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY HAS TO PROVIDE. NOW, I ONLY SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS ARE ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT. AND MY ONLY QUERY IS, AND I UNDERSTAND SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SCHOOL, THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY, WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION, WHERE ARE THEY GONNA MOVE THE SCHOOL? AND I WOULD ASK THE APPLICANT TO MAYBE EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO DO WITH THE STUDENTS DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE THAT WORRIES A LOT OF THE PEOPLE. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, OTHER THAN THAT, THIS PROJECT SHOULD BE A GO. IT'S GONNA BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT'S GONNA BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY, AND IT'S GONNA BE MOSTLY BENEFICIAL FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MARIA LONGO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA CHRISTINA LONGO. AND I LIVE IN A HISTORIC SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON THE SAME STREET AT 16TH FANIA AVENUE, WHERE THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS I SUPPORT PRESERVING THE SCHOOL AND I RESPECT ITS MISSION WHOLEHEARTEDLY. ACTUALLY, I USED TO BE A TEACHER, BUT IF THIS COMMISSION IS GOING TO APPROVE A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE, APPROXIMATELY 200 UNITS AND A NINE STORY BUILDING, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT APPROVAL BE CONDITIONED ON THREE THINGS. FIRST, REQUIRE THE DEVELOPER TO FUND A CORRIDOR OR STREET SCAPE STUDY COORDINATED BY THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE EAST BONDS, GALLIANO, FANIA, AND ANTIA AREA TO ADDRESS THE DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS, CIRCULATION PATTERNS, TURNING MOVEMENTS, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, CROSSWALKS, SIDEWALKS, AND LANDSCAPING. SECOND, REQUIRE SETBACKS THAT ALLOW, THAT FOLLOW THE MULTIFAMILY TO FORM, INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIAL BUFFER OF LARGE TREES ON THOSE SETBACKS. THIRD, REQUIRE MEANINGFUL AND FUNCTIONAL OPEN PUBLIC SPACE THAT IS TRULY ACCESSIBLE TO THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT SIMPLY A PRIVATE COURTYARD FOR THEIR RESIDENTS AND THE SCHOOL. THESE THREE CONDITIONS MATTER BECAUSE THIS PROJECT IS NOT BEING PROPOSED IN A VACUUM, IT WILL HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. FIRST, THE CORRIDOR STUDY, THE INTERSECTIONS AT EAST POND, GALLO, FANIA, AND ARE ALREADY DIFFICULT AND VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE PERSONALLY WITNESSED WALKING MY DOG TWO ACCIDENTS AND TWO HORRIBLE ACCIDENTS, WHICH I HAVE ALREADY. UM, I SENT EMAILS TO PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK. SO, BECAUSE ALSO OF THE NEW MEDIAN CONFIGURATION ON PONDS, THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM. CARS [03:05:01] EXITING THE PROJECT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE WEST THROUGH FANIA AS EASILY, WHICH MEANS FANIA TO THE EAST, MY SIDE, I LIVE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROJECT. IT'S LIKELY TO BECOME ONE OF THE EASIEST EXIT ROUTES THAT WILL PLACE EVEN MORE PRESSURE ON NEARBY RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND INTERSECTIONS THAT ARE ALREADY STRAINED. THAT IS WHY THE DEVELOPERS SHOULD FUND A CORRIDOR OR STREETSCAPE STUDY COORDINATED BY PUBLIC WORKS. SECOND, SETBACKS AND TREES, THE SETBACKS PROPOSED HERE ARE SIMPLY TOO TRY TOO TIGHT FOR A PROJECT OF THIS SCALE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SETBACKS PROPOSED ALONG GALLIANO ARE FAR TOO NARROW FOR THIS TYPE OF BUILDING AND LOCATION. IN SOME INSTANCES. ON THE GALLO SIDE, THERE ARE ZERO SETBACKS. A BUILDING OF THESE HIDE AND MASS SHOULD NOT SIT NEARLY ON TOP OF THE STREET AND THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES ACROSS FROM IT. IF THE APPLICANT WANTS THE BENEFIT OF THE REZONING, THEN THE PROJECT SHOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO USE THE MULTIFAMILY TWO FORM FOR THE SETBACKS ALONG ANO, COULD WE PLEASE WRAP IT UP? THANK YOU. MAY I, UH, COURSE YOU COULD FINISH. PLEASE WRAP UP. ALMOST FINISHED. THANK YOU. THIRD PUBLIC OPEN SPACE. WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED DOES NOT AMOUNT TO MINIMUM PUBLIC OPEN SPACE FOR THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. A PRIVATE INTERNAL COURTYARD OR GREEN SPACE EFFECTIVELY RESERV FOR THE PROJECTS RESIDENTS. AND THE SCHOOL IS NOT THE SAME AS A MEANINGFUL PUBLIC OPEN SPACE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS A LARGE BLOCK SCALE PROJECT, AND IT'S NOT ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S VISIONS OF MAINTAINING MEANINGFUL GREEN OPEN SPACE TO HELP MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT. AT THIS SCALE, I WANNA BE VERY, VERY CLEAR. THE SCHOOL AND GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING DO NOT HAVE TO COMPETE. A BETTER DESIGN CAN PRESERVE THE SCHOOL AND STILL PROVIDE SAFER STREETS, BETTER SETBACKS, MORE TREES, AND REAL OPEN SPACE. SO IF THIS PROJECT IS APPROVED, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU CONDITION APPROVAL ON THESE THREE ITEMS. JUST WANNA ADD, THE DEVELOPER HAS NOT NEGOTIATED THESE ISSUES WITH GOOD AND GOOD FAITH. THAT MEANS IT FALLS TO YOU AS COMMISSIONERS TO PROTECT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND REQUIRE THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THE PROJECT SHOULD DELIVER. I JUST WANNA END BY SAYING THAT THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT THAT. IT HAS TAKEN A VERY LONG TIME IN THE PROCESS. BUT IF THIS PROJECT, JUST LET ME FINISH THIS, PLEASE. I LIVE, I I, I LIVE IN THIS STREET. I HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR FIVE YEARS, AND I JUST WANNA TELL YOU THAT IF THE PROJECT WOULD'VE BEEN A GOOD PROJECT AND A GOOD DESIGN FROM THE GET GO, IT WOULD'VE PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS. AND THANK YOU FOR LE LETTING ME SPEAK FOR LONGER. THANKS. THANK YOU. THREE MINUTES AND FOUR SECONDS OVER MARY PALACIO. GOOD MORNING. UM, GOOD MORNING MISS, UH, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, CITY CLERK, ATTORNEY, AND MR. PETER IGL. YES, THIS IS, UH, I HAD SOMETHING WRITTEN ALREADY, BUT HEARING ALL OF YOU, UM, MAKES ME REALIZE EVEN MORE THAT YES, THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS. FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS, OUR PARENTS HAVE BEEN IN LIMBO. AND YES, TO SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS THAT WE KNEW THAT WE HAD TO MOVE. YES, EVEN BEFORE CENTURY BOUGHT, UM, THE, THE LAND, THE LUTHERAN CHURCH WAS ALREADY SELLING THE LAND. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE LIVED THROUGH MANY CHANGES IN THE LUTHERAN CHURCH AND WE KNEW THAT CHANGE WAS COMING. SO NOW THAT WE ARE HERE FACING THE REALITY THAT AT IS NOT ONLY A, UM, A, UH, CHICAGO DEVELOPER, THAT CHICAGO DEVELOPER ACTUALLY IS FOLLOWING WHAT CENTURY BUILDERS DID AND WAS APPROVED, UM, AND THEY HAVE IN GOOD FAITH, UH, KEPT THE PROMISE OF KEEPING THE SCHOOL. WE, WE DEAL WITH VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS EVERY DAY BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF WHAT WE DO AND THE CHILDREN THAT WE SERVE. BUT HEARING ALL OF THESE TWO SIDES [03:10:01] HAS REALLY, UM, TAKING A DENT AND ALL OF US, I THINK MY PARENTS, I THINK THE STAFF, I THINK, UH, ALL THE GOOD, UH, COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP AT CRYSTAL ACADEMY. AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE CITY OF CORY GABLES. AND, UM, IF THIS IS THE DAY THAT WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT GONNA HAVE A HOME HERE IN THE GABLES, THEN IN PART OF ME, THEN SO BE IT. BECAUSE THERE IS A MOMENT WHEN YOU HAVE TO SAY AND STAND STRONG, STRONG AND SAY, WE ARE JUST GONNA TURN THIS PAGE AND WE NEED TO HAVE A NEW BEGINNING. MY MY POSITION HERE TODAY WAS TO REALLY ASK YOU FOR THAT, WAS TO REALLY ASK FOR CERTAINTY ON FORECLOSURE ABOUT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF LITIGATION, AND EVERY TIME OUR PARENTS HAVE TO GO TO A HEARING THAT IS DELAYED EVERY TIME WE SEE SOMETHING IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY. AND TO YOUR POINT, WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO BE. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A PLACE, BUT IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO SAY, TO ANSWER A QUESTION'S LIKE, WHEN ARE YOU MOVING? I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE THIS SOMETHING GOING ON FOR YEARS. SO YES, WE HAVE BEEN IN THAT SITUATION. WE LOVE THE GABLES AND WE HAVE USED THE GABLES AS PART OF WHAT WE DO WITH OUR CHILDREN. AND IT WOULD BE A PITY TO LEAVE THIS AMAZING CITY. SO MY, MY MY MY CRY TO YOU TODAY IS TO MAKE A DECISION SO WE KNOW WHERE WE STAND. I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING TO THIS. I THANK YOU FAI FEEL FOR MAKING THAT AGREEMENT. AND UM, I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ALL THOSE PAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. PALAZ. BONNIE BOLTON. HELLO. UM, I, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO STATE THAT THE P AND Z GAVE THEIR APPROVAL UNDER THE CONDITION THAT QUOTE, THEY SAVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OF THE GORDON OF OUR LORD. AND, UM, THE RENDERING THAT WAS SHOWED TODAY SHOWED 0% OF THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD AS BEING SAVED. THEY HAVE VIOLATED THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE UPON WHICH THIS PROJECT WAS APPROVED. SO I THINK JUST ON THE BASIS OF THAT, YOU HAVE TO DENY IT. UM, AND MY ATTORNEYS TALKED ABOUT HOW IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE NORTH PONDS NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION OVERLAY DISTRICT ORDINANCE. IT VIOLATES THE HISTORIC CITY PLAN. IT VIOLATES ZONING CODE SECTION 1 0 1 0 3, UM, AND ALSO IT CONTRADICTS THE NORTH POND'S PLANNING PROCESS AND IT CONTRADICTS THE CITY'S, UM, CURRENT STUDY TO DESIGNATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIC. AND I ALSO WANNA MENTION THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT EXIST IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THAT PROJECT. THEY'RE BASING THEIR FEASIBILITY ON A TRAFFIC STUDY THAT WAS DONE IN 2022. UM, THE AREA HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY AND THEY DO NEED A NEW TRAFFIC STUDY. AND I ALSO WANNA MENTION THAT THE PAD, THE PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT BENEFIT IS EXCLAIMED. IT THAT'S CLAIMED IS FRAUDULENT AND HAS NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE IN THIS CITY. UM, THE PAD IS THE SCHOOL. IT'S ALSO THE GREEN SPACE. THE SCHOOL SERVES ONLY 40 STUDENTS. THE TUITION IS 30 TO $40,000 PER YEAR. UM, AND AS THE B AND Z BOARD POINTED OUT, IT'S ONLY 2% OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT. AND, UM, THE GREEN SPACE IS REALLY THE SCHOOL'S PLAYGROUND. IT'S ONLY GONNA BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AFTER 5:30 PM DURING THE WEEK AND ON THE WEEKENDS. ALSO, I WANNA COMPARE IT TO ALAN MORRIS'S POND CIRCLE PROJECT. HE'S DONATING $11 MILLION [03:15:01] TODAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO POND, CIRCLE PARK, AND IMMEDIATE BENEFIT THAT WILL BENEFIT, BENEFIT THE ENTIRE CITY, NOT JUST CRYSTAL ACADEMY, WHICH BENEFITS 40 FAMILIES. UM, ALSO THE DEVELOPERS STATED THEY'RE GIVING $6 MILLION OVER 99 YEARS, UM, FOR THE SCHOOL THAT ADDS UP TO $60,000 PER YEAR. NOT VERY MUCH WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO ALAN MORRIS'S. UM, BENEFIT. ALSO, I WANNA MENTION, THE CORAL GABLES WOMEN'S CLUB HAS A FREE DENTAL CLINIC THAT SERVES UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY SINCE 1939. OVER 49,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SERVED AT THE CORAL GABLES WOMEN'S CLUB DENTAL CLINIC. UM, THEY ARE GOING TO REALLY BE UNDER THREAT BECAUSE OF THIS PROJECT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE DEMOLITION AND THE CONSTRUCTION. THE DENTAL CLINIC RELIES UPON THE REVENUE GENERATED BY THE EVENTS HELD AT THE WOMEN'S CLUB. WHEN THIS PROJECT STARTS, AND EVEN AFTER IT'S FINISHED, IT WILL SEVERELY THREATEN THE THE WOMEN'S, UH, CLUB FREE DENTAL CLINIC. OKAY, THAT'S ALL I WANNA SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ONE MINUTE AND 55 SECONDS OVER. THANK YOU, VICTOR. AN GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONERS. I'M VICTOR ANTUNE AND I'M AN AUTISM DAD. I'M NOT HERE ABOUT ZONING CODE, SIR, I'M, BECAUSE YOU MIND SPEAKING DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE, SIR. AND CAN YOU ALSO GIVE US YOUR, YOUR ADDRESS ALSO? OKAY. VICTOR ANTUNE, 5 2 7 6 SOUTHWEST ONE 53RD COURT, MIAMI, 3, 3, 1 8, 5. THANK YOU. AS I SAID, I'M AN AUTISM DAD AND I'M NOT HERE ABOUT ZONING CODE. I'M HERE BECAUSE SOMEWHERE IN THIS DEBATE, A SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH PROFOUND AUTISM TURNED INTO A BARGAINING SHIP. AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. CRYSTAL ACADEMY SERVES 40 CHILDREN, NOT 40 UNITS, NOT 40 VARIANCES, 40 KIDS WHO NEED CARE AND EDUCATION AND LIFE SKILLS ALMOST NOWHERE IN THIS CITY CAN GIVE THEM. I CHALLENGE ANYONE IN THIS ROOM TO NAME ANOTHER SCHOOL INSIDE CORAL GABLES THAT EXISTS SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILDREN WITH PROFOUND AUTISM. A COMMITMENT WAS MADE TO CRYSTAL ACADEMY CENTURY, MADE IT FIVEFIELD, HONORED IT A 99 YEAR LEASE AT NO COST, A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY. CRYSTAL ACADEMY DIDN'T LOBBY ITS WAY INTO A DEVELOPMENT DEAL, IT WAS PROMISED A HOME, AND THE DEVELOPER KEPT IT PROMISED. NOW, I WAS JUST COMPLAINED THAT THEY ONLY SERVE 40 KIDS, BUT THEY'RE COMPLAINING IT'S TOO BIG OF A PROJECT. SO IF IT SERVED 80 KIDS, WOULD THAT BE BETTER? SO LIKE THAT ARGUMENT ABOUT IT'S ONLY 40 KIDS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. AND IN FACT, WHEN IT'S APPROVED, IT'S GONNA BE LIKE 75 KIDS. I UNDERSTAND THE PARTS OF THIS THAT ARE ABOUT A BUILDING. REASONABLE PEOPLE ARGUE ABOUT HEIGHT AND PRECEDENT. THAT'S YOUR JOB HERE, AND I RESPECT IT. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL THAT'S BEEN SAID. A LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION DESCRIBE THESE CHILDREN AS QUOTE, SEVERELY AUTISTIC AND VERY WEALTHY. THE FIRST HALF IS TRUE. THAT'S WHY CRYSTAL ACADEMY EXISTS. IT'S THE SECOND HALF THAT SHOULD EMBARRASS THE PEOPLE REPEATING IT. CRYSTAL ACADEMY TAKES INSURANCE. IT TAKES MEDICAID. AN AVERAGE STAFF SALARY IS $48,000 A YEAR. A SINGLE CHILD'S TUITION DOES NOT COVER EVEN ONE TEACHER'S PAY. THE SCHOOL EMPLOYS TWO PEOPLE WHOSE ENTIRE JOB IS CHASING PAYMENTS THAT IS IN A GOLD MINE. THAT'S A SCHOOL RUNNING CLOSE TO THE BONE FOR KIDS. THE REST OF THE SYSTEM GAVE UP ON AND CALLING THOSE FAMILIES WEALTHY TO SCORE A ZONING POINT IS BENEATH THIS COMMISSION. AND BENEATH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, SOME HAVE ASKED HOW A SCHOOL OF 40 SERVES A WHOLE CITY. HERE'S HOW CRYSTAL ACADEMY'S FOUNDER MONTE PALACIO MADE THIS SCHOOL PART ABOUT CORAL GABLES TRAINED ITS POLICE. WHEN THE CORAL GABLES POLICE DEPARTMENT WRAPPED AN INTERCEPTOR IN AN AUTISM MESSAGE. THE SCHOOL DESIGNED IT AND THE DEPARTMENT HANDED THE KEYS TO OFFICER ANDREW GEORGE, WHOSE BROTHER IS ON THE SPECTRUM. CORAL GABLES POLICE AND FIRE ARE SENATOR CADETS TO SPEND TIME WITH THESE CHILDREN. THE SCHOOL WORKS WITH THE 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUITS, CRIMINAL MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT ON CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING. AND 15 DAYS FROM TODAY, 25 OFFICERS FROM THE MIAMI-DADE SCHOOLS PUBLIC POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL WALK THROUGH THAT SCHOOL'S DOORS. AN OFFICER WHO HAS SPENT TIME WITH THESE CHILDREN RECOGNIZES AUTISM CALL. AND THAT RECOGNITION CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SAFE ENCOUNTER [03:20:01] AND A TRAGEDY FOR EVERY AUTISTIC PERSON IN THIS CITY. NOT JUST 40 STUDENTS. LOSE THE SCHOOL, LOSE THE MODEL. NOW, IT JUST SAID THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY CAN RELOCATE. WHERE NOT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, 5,000 SQUARE FEET AT CURRENT RENTS. THAT SCHOOL DOESN'T MAKE SENSE HERE. SO IF THAT SCHOOL HAS TO RELOCATE, IT WON'T BE HERE. SO THEN WHEN WERE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU GONNA SEND YOUR POLICE AND FIRE TO TRAIN? NOT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO LOSE THAT SCHOOL. WE LOSE THE MODEL. NOBODY ASKS US ON JUNE 17TH. SO I WILL WHEN CONSTRUCTION STARTS. WHERE DO THESE 40 CHILDREN GO? FOR A CHILD WITH PROFOUND AUTISM? ROUTINE ISN'T A PREFERENCE. IT'S THE GROUND THEY STAND ON. MAKE THE CONTINUITY OF THIS SCHOOL PART FOR DECISION, NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT. YOU CAN ARGUE THE BUILDING ALL YOU WANT, THAT'S DEMOCRACY. BUT DON'T LET 40 VULNERABLE CHILDREN BECOME THE THING YOU TRADE. AND REMEMBER, THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT LETTING SOMETHING NEW IN. IT'S ABOUT KEEPING WHAT'S ALREADY YOURS. KEEP THAT PROMISE. IT WAS MADE TO THEM. ANOTHER THING IT WAS SAID THAT THIS SCHOOL ISN'T OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. OF COURSE IT'S NOT. IT'S A, IT'S A SCHOOL FOR LITTLE KIDS. THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE KIDS THROUGH, UH, KINDERGARTEN AND 12TH GRADE, IF YOUR SCHOOL WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, HOW IRRESPONSIBLE WOULD THAT BE? I DON'T CARE. IF IT'S PUBLIC, PRIVATE, OR CHARTER, NO SCHOOL IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND SAYING THAT IT'S NOT, DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ONE MINUTE, 11 SECONDS. THANK YOU, SIR. CATHERINE KAO. GOOD MORNING, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CATHERINE KAO AND I LIVE AT 1 4 9 4 4 SOUTHWEST 59 STREET. WHILE I DO NOT RESIDE IN CORAL GABLES, I HAVE DEDICATED MORE THAN 12 YEARS OF MY LIFE TO CRYSTAL ACADEMY AND THE CHILDREN WE SERVE. IT IS NOT 75 CHILDREN, IT IS 40, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO REACH MORE FAMILIES. I AM NOT HERE TODAY AS AN EXPERT IN PLANNING, ZONING OR DEVELOPMENT. I AM HERE AS SOMEBODY WHO IS FULLY INVESTED IN THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN WE SERVE EVERY SINGLE DAY. NOT ONLY THE FAMILIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED, BUT THE MANY FAMILIES WE HOPE TO SERVE IN THE YEARS TO COME. WHILE CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS A PRIVATE SCHOOL, WE ARE ALSO A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR THE CHILDREN WITH SPECIALIZED NEEDS. WE ARE THE ONLY SCHOOL OF ITS KIND IN CORAL GABLE THAT PROVIDES A TRUE ONE-TO-ONE EDUCATION AND THERAPEUTIC SETTING FOR CHILDREN WHO REQUIRE, REQUIRE THAT LEVEL OF INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT. WHAT MAKES OUR PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL IS NOT ONLY THE LOVE, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF EACH OF OUR STAFF, BUT THE UNIQUE COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN. THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS, CORAL GABLES IS MUCH MORE THAN A LOCATION. IT IS THEIR CLASSROOM, IT IS THE COMMUNITY THEY KNOW AND THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY HAVE GROWN, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY LIVE HERE, BUT BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES HAVE MADE THE SACRIFICES NECESSARY TO MAKE THAT COMMUTE DAILY, TO BRING THEM SOME FROM MIAMI BEACH, SOME FROM KENDALL. THEY DON'T ALL LIVE IN CORAL GABLES. THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO DO THIS COMMUTE BECAUSE IT OFFERS THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT. IT WAS STATED THAT THE WOMEN'S CLUB HAS SERVED OVER 49,000, UH, INDIVIDUALS. I THINK THAT'S GREAT AND I'M HOPING THAT TODAY IF THIS GETS APPROVED, CRYSTAL ACADEMY WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE MANY MORE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY. THE WALKABILITY OF THE CITY, ITS TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS NEARBY BUSINESSES, PARKS, AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT DO ALLOW OUR STUDENTS TO PRACTICE REAL LIFE SKILLS THAT SIMPLY CANNOT BE REPLICATED WITHIN A CLASSROOM. THEY LEARN HOW TO CROSS THE STREET SAFELY. THEY LEARN HOW TO SHOP AT TARGET AND PUBLIX, ORDER THEIR LUNCHES AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS, BROWSE FOR BOOKS INTER UH, INTERACT WITH CASHIERS AND NAVIGATE THE WORLD WITH INCREASING CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE. THESE ARE NOT FIELD TRIPS. THESE ARE LESSONS THAT PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THE THINGS THAT WE TAKE SOMETIMES THE MOST FOR GRANTED. THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. CORAL GABLES HAS BECOME AN EXTENSION OF OUR CLASSROOM, AND THAT PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN INVALUABLE IN HELPING OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVE MEANINGFUL INDEPENDENCE. I APOLOGIZE. I'M ALMOST DONE. THROUGHOUT MANY YEARS AT CRYSTAL ACADEMY, I'VE ALSO WATCHED OUR STAFF AND FAMILIES WORK THROUGH THIS AGING BUILDING AND THE LEAKS AND THE CONSTANT PIPE BURST AND THE ISSUES ARE VERY UNSUSTAINABLE. DO WE LOOK FORWARD TO A NEW BUILDING? ABSOLUTELY NOT BECAUSE WE WANT SOMETHING NEW ONLY, BUT BECAUSE WE WANT SOMETHING [03:25:01] SAFE AND A MODERN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN PUT OUR TIME AND ENERGY AND NOT FOCUSING ON REPAIRS, BUT FOCUSING ON OUR STUDENTS. MANY OF OUR FAMILIES DO FACE TREMENDOUS OBSTACLES. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE WEALTHY AND THIS IS NOT ACCURATE. WE FIGHT ALONGSIDE WITH THEM, WITH THE INSURANCES THAT DENY THEM FOR THEIR MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICES, BUT WE CONTINUE THAT FIGHT AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE THE FIGHT AND APPROVE THIS. CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS NOT JUST A PLACE WHERE WE WORK. IT IS A PLACE THAT WE DEEPLY BELIEVE IN THE MISSION THAT WE DO. IT IS OUR HOME BECAUSE CORAL GABLES IS OUR HOME AND WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR THE SUPPORT OF CONTINUING TO ALLOW CORAL GABLES TO BE THEIR CLASSROOM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ONE MINUTE AND 12 SECONDS OVER. DANIELLE UETA, I ASK EVERYONE, PLEASE, IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAY WITHIN THE THREE MINUTE TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MAYOR LAGO, MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS DANIEL UETA. I LIVE AT 9 1 3 5 SOUTHWEST HUNDRED 25 AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING AT CRYSTAL ACADEMY FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS AND EXCEPTIONAL AT STUDENT EDUCATION TEACHER. DURING THOSE 10 YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED CHILDREN WHO ONCE STRUGGLE TO COMMUNICATE, LEARN TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, AND HAVE WATCHED STUDENTS WHO ARE ONCE AFRAID OF UNFAMILIAR PLACES GAIN THE CONFIDENCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THOSE ARE THE MOMENTS YOU NEVER FORGET, AND THEY ARE ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT. WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE HERE IN CORAL GABLES. CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS MUCH MORE THAN A SCHOOL. IT IS A PLACE WHERE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND INDEPENDENTLY. OUR LOCATION IN CORAL GABLES HAS PLAYED A TREMENDOUS ROLE IN THIS CASE, IN THEIR SUCCESS. PARDON? FOR MANY OF OUR STUDENTS LEARNING TO NOT STOP AT THE CLASSROOM DOOR. WE TEACH LIFE SKILLS BY BECOMING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AROUND US. WE RIDE THE TROLLEY TOGETHER. WE WALK THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS TO PARTICIPATE, ORDERING MEALS, PRACTICE ORDERING MEALS, PARDON, INTERACTING WITH STAFF AND BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN REAL WORLD SITUATIONS. WE VISIT BOOK SOURCE TO PER TO CHOOSE BOOKS, PRACTICE MAKING PURCHASES AND EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF READING. EVERY OUTING BECOMES A LESSON IN INDEPENDENCE, COMMUNICATION AND BELONGING. TO MANY PEOPLE, THESE MAY SEEM LIKE ORDINARY ACTIVITIES, BUT FOR OUR STUDENTS, THEY ARE EXTRAORDINARY MILESTONES. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SEEING STUDENTS WHO ONCE COULDN'T TOLERATE LEAVING THE CLASSROOM, EVENTUALLY WALK CONFIDENTLY THROUGH CORAL GABLES, GREET BUSINESS OWNERS BY NAME AND BECOME COMFORTABLE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY. THOSE ME MOMENTS HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY A SAFE, WELCOMING AND IT ENVIRONMENT. CRYSTAL ACADEMY HAS BECOME PART OF A FABRIC OF CORAL GABLES. OUR STUDENTS AREN'T VISITORS HERE. THEY'RE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY. THEY DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE LEARNING, GROWING, AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN THE PLACE THAT EMBRACED THEM FOR SO MANY YEARS. I UNDERSTAND THAT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS CAN BRING CONCERNS AND DIFFERING OPINIONS, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS PROJECT. YOU ALSO CONSIDER THE CHILDREN WHOSE LIVES ARE CHANGED EVERY DAY WITHIN OUR SCHOOL. THE BUILDING ITSELF MATTERS BECAUSE OF WHAT MAKES POSSIBLE. A PLACE WHERE CHILDREN WITH UNIQUE NEEDS CAN RECEIVE AN EDUCATION, GAIN INDEPENDENCE, AND BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS DEDICATED THE LAST DECADE OF MY CAREER TO THESE STUDENTS, I CAN SAY WITHOUT HESITATION THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY HAS TRANSFORMED LIVES. I SINCERELY HOPE IT CAN CONTINUE DOING SO HERE IN CORAL GABLES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, CARLOS. FELIPE DEPI. GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS FELIPE AND I LIVE A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE SITE AT ONE 18 MIN NORTIS AVENUE. I GREW UP BETWEEN CORAL GABLES AND COCONUT GROVE, SO I'VE SEEN HOW BOTH COMMUNITIES HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME AND HOW THEY'VE GROWN WHEN THAT CHANGE IS DONE THE RIGHT WAY. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE THIS KIND OF PROJECT IS EXACTLY WHY I CHOSE TO LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. WHAT DREW ME HERE WASN'T JUST THE BUILDINGS, IT WAS THE DIRECTION THE AREA IS HEADING. A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN WALK, WHERE YOU CAN SPEND TIME OUTSIDE, WHERE THERE'S A SENSE OF ACTIVITY AND CAN CONNECTION. THAT'S WHAT MAKES A NEIGHBORHOOD FEEL ALIVE AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PROJECT ADDS. I'M ESPECIALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC [03:30:01] SPACES THAT COME WITH IT. THE PARK, THE PLAZA, THE COURTYARD. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF PLACES PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE. PLACES WHERE YOU RUN INTO NEIGHBORS SIT FOR A WHILE, BRING YOUR DOG OR JUST SPEND TIME OUTSIDE WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. RIGHT NOW, THAT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST ON THIS SITE. SO FAR, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS ISN'T ABOUT LOSING SOMETHING, IT'S ABOUT GAINING SOMETHING WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE. I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE WHERE THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED. THIS PART OF CORAL GABLES ALREADY FEELS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. IT'S MORE ACTIVE, MORE CONNECTED, AND MORE SUITED FOR THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. TO ME, THIS CLEARLY FITS AND BEYOND THAT. THE INCLUSION OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY GIVES THE PROJECT A DEEPER PURPOSE. IT CONNECTS IT TO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT TO LIVE IN A PLACE THAT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE IN A WAY THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER AND CREATES A STRONGER SENSE OF COMMUNITY. THIS PROJECT MOVES IN THAT DIRECTION. FOR THAT REASON, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT CRYSTAL RESIDENCES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MICHELLE SAKA. GOOD AFTERNOON. HI EVERYONE. THANK YOU. UH, MY NAME IS MICHELLE SAKA, 37 11 CHASE AVENUE, MIAMI BEACH. I HAVE NOT PREPARED ANYTHING TODAY. UM, I'M A PARENT AT CRYSTAL ACADEMY. I'VE BEEN BEEN THERE FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS, TWO CHILDREN THERE, PROFOUNDLY AUTISTIC PROFOUNDLY, AND I KNOW THIS IS ABOUT THE BUILDING. THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE SCHOOL, BUT IT IS ABOUT THE SCHOOL. IT'S ABOUT HAVING A FUTURE FOR THE SCHOOL BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE SMALL AND THEN THEY GROW UP AND THEY HAVE TO REAL LIVE REAL LIVES AND BECOME REAL PEOPLE. AND CRYSTAL ACADEMY HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP MY CHILD. MY CHILDREN DO THAT BECAUSE OF CORAL GABLES. THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND THE INCLUSION THAT YOU GUYS ARE OFFERING THESE CHILDREN, THEY TAKE THE TROLLEY, THE WALKABILITY, THE SAME REASON WHY YOU WANNA LIVE IN CORAL GABLES IS A REASON WHY WE WANT CRYSTAL ACADEMY TO STAY IN CORAL GABLES. OUR CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO GO TO A RESTAURANT, THEY GO TO ELLA'S, THEY GO TO BEN AND JERRY'S. THEY GO TO TARGET. I WAS NEVER ABLE TO DO THIS WITH MY SON BEFORE. HE COULD NEVER GO ANYWHERE WITH ME. I COULDN'T TAKE HIM TO A RESTAURANT. WE COULDN'T FUNCTION AS A FAMILY. WE COULDN'T GO TO FAMILY EVENTS. WE COULDN'T LIVE OUR LIVES TO OUR FULLEST POTENTIAL. BUT BECAUSE OF THE LIFE SKILLS AND THE TRAINING AND THE LOVE AND THE THERAPY THAT THEY'RE GETTING FROM CRYSTAL ACADEMY AND THE INCLUSION OF CORAL GABLES, YOUR CITY HAS BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH INCLUSION. YOU ARE THE EXAMPLE OF MIAMI BEACH AND ALL THESE OTHER CITIES. LOOK AT THE AUTISM, UM, THE POLICE CARAVAN THAT COMES AND ENDS EVERY YEAR IN CORAL GABLES AT CRYSTAL ACADEMY. YOU GUYS ARE THE EXAMPLE. I'M VERY INVOLVED IN THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH. THANK GOD IT'S WONDERFUL THERE. I LOVE IT THERE. BUT THEY LOOK TO YOU GUYS FOR INCLUSION AND I REALLY FEEL THAT NOT PASSING THIS NEW HOME FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS KIND OF LIKE TURNING YOUR BACK ON INCLUSION. AND THESE CHILDREN, WE NEED AS A PARENT, I NEED A PLACE FOR MY CHILD WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE. THEY CAN BE A REAL ADULT, THEY CAN GET A PART-TIME JOB, THEY CAN HAVE A LIFE COACH, THEY CAN HAVE A JOB COACH, THEY CAN BE A REGULAR PERSON, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GIVING THEM. AND I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR THAT. I REALLY CAN'T. AGAIN, I'VE BEEN AT CRYSTAL ACADEMY FOR OVER 14 YEARS AND FOR THEM TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE THEY CAN GET A NEW FACILITY AND THE OVERHEAD IS REALLY MINIMAL, THAT'S PHENOMENAL. AND FOR EVERYONE OUT THERE WHO'S SAYING THAT IT'S ONLY A BUNCH OF WEALTHY CHILDREN WHO ARE GOING TO THIS SCHOOL, EXCUSE ME, FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS A VOUCHER FOR CHILDREN TO ATTEND ANY PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT THEY WANT WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES. SO YOU GET MONEY IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT. AND I HAVE TRIED EFFORTLESSLY, TIRELESSLY WITH OTHER PARENTS TO HELP RAISE MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS WHO NEED FINANCIAL NEED CAN ATTEND THE SCHOOL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR KIDS, AND I PRAY THAT YOU GUYS WILL LET THIS PASS AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE HERE IN CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MARIA DE LEONES. GOOD AFTERNOON. AFTERNOON. HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS MARIA DE LEONES. I LIVE AT 8 2 5 MESSINA AVENUE AND I'M ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY DAUGHTER WHO'S AT WORK. SHE IS AT 49 FANIA [03:35:01] DIRECTLY CATTYCORNER FROM THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE. AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT A CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB, NO DOUBT. AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM CAN QUESTION WHAT THEY ARE DOING, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY ARE BEING USED TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING, THE DENSITY OF THE BUILDING TO THE DEVELOPER'S ADVANTAGE. WE ALSO KNOW AS ARCHITECTS, I'M AN ARCHITECT AND ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, THAT THIS BUILDING COULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED IN A MANNER THAT WAS MORE COHESIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY COULD HAVE WORKED MORE WITH THE COMMUNITY. UH, LAST MONTH AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, THERE WAS APPROVED CONDITIONALLY ON THE BASIS OF THEIR CREATING, MAINTAINING, OR PRESERVING MORE OF THE GARDEN. AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS ESSENTIALLY JUST ROTATE THE PARK. THEY HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE GARDEN. WE THOUGHT, WELL, THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO MAKE AMENDS WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN THEY ASKED THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, WOULD, THEY WOULD BE GOOD WITH THAT. AND THAT WAS A VERY POSITIVE, UH, RESPONSE TO DO THAT. BUT WHAT ESSENTIALLY HAS BEEN DONE BY THE ARCHITECTS AND THE DEVELOPERS AND THE ATTORNEYS IS JUST ROTATE, SIMPLY JUST ROTATING THE GREEN, WHICH IS REALLY, IT'S ALMOST A SLAP IN THE FACE, UM, TO THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY, UH, TRYING TO MANEUVER SOME KIND OF COMPROMISE WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND WITH THE DEVELOPER. AGAIN, NO DOUBT THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS A WONDERFUL INSTITUTION. THE BUILDING COULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED IN A MUCH SMALLER SCALE, MORE COHESIVE. AND THE STATEMENT THAT SAYS THAT EVERY NEIGHBOR IN THAT AREA IS IN FAVOR OF THIS LARGE BUILDING IS INCORRECT. THERE ARE MANY NEIGHBORS THAT ARE AGAINST IT AS WELL. UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT IT'S GONNA PROVIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC, IT WILL PROVIDE MORE RESIDENTIAL, SO WE'LL PROVIDE MORE PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA PROVIDE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ANY KIND OF AMENITIES. IT'S NOT, THERE'S NO COMMERCIAL USE. SO IT WILL ESSENTIALLY JUST BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND CREATE NO OPEN SPACE. UM, THE STATEMENT THAT IT'S GOT A PARK, IT'S PARTIALLY OPENED. THE PASEO IS REALLY A GLORIFIED ALLEY, UM, WHICH YOU COULD SEE ON THE, UM, ON THE, UH, SLIDE. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ALLEY WITH SOME GREEN SPACE. UM, SO IT'S REALLY NOT PROVIDING A LOT IN RETURN FOR WHAT THEY'RE GETTING. PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS. PLEASE, UM, REALLY TAKE THE NEIGHBOR'S COMMENTS INTO PLACE, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE EVERY DAY, UH, AND PLEASE HAVE THIS BUILDING REDESIGNED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT'S MORE COHESIVE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHERYL. ACKERMAN, GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM. OH, GOOD. UM, I LIVE AT EIGHT 16 OLA AND MY NAME IS CHERYL ACKERMAN AND I'VE LIVED IN THE GABLES FOR 54 YEARS AND YES, I'M THAT OLD. SO I HAVE HEARD OTHER SPEAKERS SPEAKING, UH, ON ALL THE PROJECTS, UH, PROBLEMS IN THAT, UH, THERE ZONING PROBLEMS, NORTH TS NEIGHBORHOOD AND CORAL GALA'S, HISTORIC CITY PLAN, UM, MERRICK, MR. MERRICK DESIGN GARDEN APARTMENTS, WHICH WERE NOT OVERWHELMING TO THE ENTIRE, ENTIRE, UH, BLOCK AS I FEEL THIS ONE IS. THIS PROJECT IS OVERWHELMING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND I BELIEVE ATTORNEY WINKER, UH, STATED AT BEST TO SAY, PRESERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDITH PACKARD. GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. PACKARD. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JUDITH PACKARD. I LIVE AT NINE 11 EAST PO DE LEON BOULEVARD AND I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR MORE THOUGHT. WITH THIS, I'VE LIVED IN THE NORTH PONCE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER 43 YEARS. I AM HERE THIS AFTERNOON BECAUSE THIS PROJECT CONCERNS ME DEEPLY AS A RESIDENT AND AS SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CORAL GABLES. TIME. AND AGAIN, THE RESIDENTS [03:40:01] OF THE CITY HAVE STEPPED FORWARD TO PROTECT WHAT OTHERS FAILED TO VALUE. THE DOUGLAS ENTRANCE, THE LUMBO WATER TOWER, THE BILTMORE HOTEL. BECAUSE OF THEM, THOSE LANDMARKS STILL STAND TODAY. THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT ONCE SOMETHING SPECIAL IS LOST, IT CANNOT BE REPLACED. THOSE EFFORTS HELPED SHAPE THE CORAL GABLES WE KNOW TODAY AND REMIND US THAT PROGRESS AND PRESERVATION SHOULD GO HAND IN HAND. NO ONE HEARS AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT. NO ONE IS AGAINST CRYSTAL ACADEMY OR THE CHILDREN THEY SERVE. THERE'S A PATH FORWARD WHERE THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD IS PROTECTED. CRYSTAL ACADEMY ACADEMY CONTINUES AND A DEVELOPER BUILDS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY BELONGS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT PATH WAS WITHIN REACH AT THE END OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING, BUT INSTEAD OF TAKING IT, THIS DEVELOPER IS BACK HERE TODAY PUSHING THE SAME PROJECT. THIS COMMUNITY HAS OPPOSED FOR FIVE YEARS. PROGRESS AND PRESERVATION CAN COEXIST IN CORAL GABLES. THEY ALWAYS HAVE, BUT IT REQUIRES A DEVELOPER WHO'S WILLING TO LISTEN. I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK TO THE QUESTION OF THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT PAD REQUIRES AND THAT IS WHERE THIS APPLICATION FALLS APART. THE DEVELOPERS ASKING FOR SPECIAL APPROVALS IN EXCHANGE FOR A PRIVATE SCHOOL SERVING 40 STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES OFTEN DO NOT EVEN LIVE IN THE AREA, THAT IS A PRIVATE BENEFIT FOR A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE. THE TRUTH IS THE COMMUNITY ALREADY HAS A PUBLIC BENEFIT BENEFIT ON THE SITE. IT'S CALLED THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD. WHY DESTROY A GARDEN THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 75 YEARS? WHY NOT WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY? IN CLOSING, I'M ASKING THIS BOARD TO UPHOLD THE RULES THAT WERE CREATED TO PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY AND TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE HERE AND WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS DECISION. LONG AFTER TODAY'S MEETING IS OVER, PLEASE VOTE. NO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ELIA CARBONELL. GOOD AFTERNOON, . HOW ARE YOU? HELLO EVERYONE, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE EVERYONE. HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL JULY 4TH WEEKEND. I AM HERE REPRESENTING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OF CORAL GABLES, AND YOU HAVE ALL RECEIVED THE LETTER THAT WE SENT, UH, OPPOSING THIS PROJECT AS PROPOSED. SO I WILL REITERATE THE POINTS THAT WAS MADE IN THE LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OF CORAL GABLES. PLEASE ACCEPT THIS LETTER IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT AS PRESENTED. AND HERE ARE THE KEY POINTS ZONING VIOLATION. THE BLOCK IS ZONED SPECIAL USE RELIGIOUS WITH A FOUR STORY MAX HEIGHT. A NINE STORY BUILDING CLEARLY EXCEEDS THIS. IT'S INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT HAS HISTORIC SENSITIVITY. THERE'S THE CORAL GABLES WOMEN'S CLUB ACROSS THE STREET AND THE DOUGLAS ENTRANCE DOWN THE BLOCK. IT VIOLATES SECTION ONE DASH ONE THREE, WHICH THE ZONING CODE REQUIRES NEW DEVELOPMENT TO BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING ARCHITECTURE AND THE PROTECTION OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. IT VIOLATES TWO ADDITIONAL ORDINANCES, THE NORTH PONDS NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION OVERLAY DISTRICT, AND THE CORAL GABLES HISTORIC CITY PLAN ORDINANCE. THESE TWO ORDINANCES CALL FOR LOW RISE, LOW SCALE DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT CONTRADICTS THE COMMUNITY VISION WORKSHOP AND OF COURSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AS YOU'VE HEARD REALLY CAN SUPPORT IT. AND FINALLY, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT THE PAD REQUEST IS MISLEADING. THE COURTYARD OFFERED AS A PUBLIC BENEFIT IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE WHEN THE ADJACENT SCHOOL IS IN IN SESSION, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN ACCEPTING AS A QUALIFYING GREEN [03:45:01] SPACE. UNDER PAD RULES, THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD CAN SERVE AS THE PAD REQUIREMENT TO MEET THIS ZONING CODE. THE GARDEN AREA CAN BE CARVED OUT AND SAVED AS PART OF THE ALLOWABLE GREEN SPACE FOR FOR DEVELOPMENT. I JUST HAVE A FEW MORE, UH, JUST ANOTHER FEW SECONDS. THE AREA OF THE GARDEN IS 23% OF THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE. THE MINIMUM LANDSCAPE OPEN SPACE REQUIRED FOR A PAD QUOTE SHALL BE NOT LESS THAN 20% OF THE PAD SITE. THIS IS DIRECTLY UNDER SECTION THREE DASH 5 0 2, WHICH STATES THAT THE PAD REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF 20% LANDSCAPED OPEN SPACE OF THE TOTAL SITE. AND CRITICALLY THAT OPEN SPACE MUST BE GENUINELY ACCEPTABLE, ACCESSIBLE. THE GARDEN SITE TECHNICALLY SITS WITHIN THE PAD REQUIREMENTS. SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROJECT. UM, AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU OMAR PACKARD. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS OMAR PACKARD. I RESIDE AT NINE 11 EAST PONS DE LEON BOULEVARD. I'M A LIFELONG CORAL GABLES RESIDENT WHO HAS SPENT MORE THAN 40 YEARS LIVING IN THE NORTH PONCE AREA. I HAVE TO SAY, I'M GETTING TIRED OF COMING UP HERE AND SPEAKING AGAINST THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH FOR OVER FIVE YEARS, NOT BECAUSE IT IS A COMPLICATED PROJECT, BUT BECAUSE IT IS A BAD ONE. A PROJECT THAT THE COMMUNITY OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSES A PROJECT THAT SEEKS TO DESTROY WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE HERE AND FURTHER BURDEN AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS ALREADY STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP. WHAT MAKES IT WORSE IS THE DEVELOPER'S COMPLETE UNWILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN FINDING A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE. THEY HAVE HIDDEN BEHIND CRYSTAL ACADEMY, USING A SCHOOL THAT SERVES AUTISTIC CHILDREN AS A SHIELD AGAINST ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE SPEND 90% OF THE TIME TALKING ABOUT IT, YET IT IS 2% OF THE PROJECT. LAST MEETING, THE DEVELOPER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THIS COMMUNITY TO PROTECT THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD, A BELOVED AND HISTORIC LANDMARK THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER 75 YEARS. INSTEAD, THEY'RE BACK HERE TODAY LOOKING FOR ANOTHER WAY TO PUSH THIS THROUGH. THERE'S A WORLD WHERE THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD CAN EXIST, WHERE CRYSTAL ACADEMY CAN EXIST AND THE DEVELOPER CAN BUILD A PROJECT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IT REQUIRES THE DEVELOPER TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF STEAMROLLING IT. THIS WORLD ALMOST EXISTED AT THE END OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING AS IT IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED, AND YET THIS BILLION DOLLAR DEVELOPMENT FIRM OUT OF CHICAGO IS TOO GREEDY TO MEET US HALFWAY. I WANT TO ASK THIS COMMISSION A SIMPLE QUESTION. WHY ARE WE BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO APPEASE THIS DEVELOPER? THE PAD CASE ALONE SHOULD HAVE ENDED THIS APPLICATION. HOW IS A PRIVATE SCHOOL A PUBLIC BENEFIT? HOW IS A SCHOOL THAT LARGELY SERVES FOR FAMILIES OUTSIDE OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD A PUBLIC BENEFIT? HOW IS A PARK THAT IS INACCESSIBLE DURING THE EXACT HOURS WHEN MOST PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE THE PARK CONSIDERED A PUBLIC BENEFIT? AND WHY ARE WE RELYING ON A TRAFFIC STUDY FROM TWO THOU FROM 2022? THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THEN. THAT STUDY WAS CONDUCTED BEFORE A SIGNIFICANT INFLUX OF NEW RESIDENTS INTO THE AREA. THESE ARE NOT COMPLICATED QUESTIONS AND THEY HAVE OBVIOUS ANSWERS. THE COMMISSION HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO DO WHAT THE ZONING BOARD COULD NOT TO, TO FULLY DENY THIS PROJECT OUTRIGHT AND SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT IN CORAL GABLES, THE RULES MEAN SOMETHING. THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE MEANS SOMETHING. AND A WEALTHY DEVELOPER FROM OUTTA STATE CANNOT SIMPLY BUY HIS WAY THROUGH OUR ZONING CODE. THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER 75 YEARS. IT DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS. AND SO DO WE PLEASE VOTE? NO. THANK YOU. DORIS ALMORA. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. [03:50:01] MY NAME IS DORIS ALMORA. MY ADDRESS IS 2 3 5, UM, MAJORCA AVENUE IN CORAL GABLES. 3 3 1, 3 4. AND I SUPPORT THE PROJECT, UH, FOR THE SCHOOL AND THE OTHER SUPPORTERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. YEAH, THAT'S IT. YEAH. THANKS. THANK YOU MARIA. ESEN. WEGER. GOOD AFTERNOON. UM, OKAY. UM, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARIA ZANGER. I LIVE IN 802 GLASS ROAD. UM, CORAL GABLES. 3 3 1 3 4. THIS PROJECT HAS GONE THROUGH YEARS OF REVIEW AND HAS MET EVERY LEGAL REQUIREMENT. THE PROPERTY IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND THE PROCESS HAS ALREADY CONFIRMED THAT IT CAN MOVE FORWARD. CORALS LIKE MANY CITIES ACROSS MIAMI, IS CHANGING, GROWING, AND IT'S SOMETHING WE CANNOT STOP. BUT WE CAN CHOOSE PROJECTS THAT GROW RESPONSIBLY AND BELIEVE THIS PROJECT DOES EXACTLY THAT. IT'S PRESERVE MEANINGFUL GREEN SPACE CREATES NEW PUBLIC AREA FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY AND IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFELY. IT ALSO CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE CRYSTALS ACADEMY, A SCHOOL THAT HAS PROVIDE INVALUABLE CARE AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. AND IT HAS BEEN AN TREATMENT, THOSE RESOURCES FOR MANY FAMILY OVER THE YEARS. THE DEVELOPER HAS SHOWED GOOD FAITH, BUT AGREEING TO REAL LOCATE THE HISTORIC TREE, DEMONSTRATING AND WILDNESS TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE THESE PROJECTS RESPECT BOTH OUR COMMUNITY AND THE LAW. AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOTE YES. THANK YOU, KAREN LOPEZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KAREN. I LIVE AT 2 9 1 NAVARRA AVENUE HERE IN THE GABLES. I'VE WATCHED DOWNTOWN GABLES EVOLVE OVER THE YEARS, AND I THINK MOST OF US WOULD AGREE IT'S EVOLVED. WELL, EAST POND LEONE TODAY IS A REAL CORRIDOR OFFICES, HOTELS, RETAIL, RESTAURANT APARTMENTS. IT WORKS. THIS PROPERTY SITS DIRECTLY OFF EAST POND LEONE, ONE OF THE MAJOR NORTH SOUTH CORRIDORS RUNNING THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN GABLES, THAT CORRIDOR. AND TELL ME THAT YOU SEE OFFICE BUILDINGS, RETAIL CONDOMINIUMS, RENTAL APARTMENTS. THAT'S THE CONTEXT OF THIS SITE. IT'S NOT TUCKED INTO A QUIET RESERVATION STREET. IT'S ON THE SPINE OF THE BUSIEST MOST URBAN PART OF OUR CITY. AND THE NORTH PONDS NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND IT ALREADY ALREADY CONTAINS BUILDINGS OF SIMILAR AND LARGER SCALE. 1300 PONDS IS 12 STORIES. THIS PROPOSAL IS NINE STORIES AND 93 FEET. IF THIS BUILDING WERE BEING PROPOSED ON A SINGLE FAMILY BLOCK, I'D BE STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PODIUM. IT ISN'T, IT'S BEING PROPOSED EXACTLY WHERE A BUILDING LIKE THIS BELONGS. SO THE HONEST QUESTION IS IN FRONT OF YOU IS WHETHER THE ENERGY OF THAT CORRIDOR EXTENDS INTO NORTH PONDS IN A THOUGHTFUL PLANNED WAY, OR WHETHER THE NEIGHBORHOOD JUST SITS THERE AGING. WHILE EVERYTHING AROUND MOVES FORWARD. THE CHURCH ON THIS SITE HAS ALREADY CLOSED. THE PROPERTY HAS REACHED THE END OF CHAPTER. SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN EVENTUALLY. THE QUESTION IS WHAT? NEARLY 200 RENTAL HOMES ON THIS CORRIDOR BUILT TO CARRY THEM IN A BUILDING OF SCALE THAT'S ALREADY AROUND IT. THAT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER TO THIS LOCATION. IT'S NOT SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTS EVERY PROJECT, BUT THIS IS THE RIGHT PROJECT IN THE RIGHT PLACE. PLEASE VOTE. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALEXIS SANTOS. HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? MY NAME IS [03:55:01] ALEXIS SANTOS AND MY ADDRESS IS 1300 PO LEON BOULEVARD, APARTMENT 3 0 8. WE'VE HEARD MANY PARENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES FROM CRYSTAL ACADEMY COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AND AFTER HEARING FROM THEM, WE'VE ALSO HEARD OPPONENTS SAY THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE SCHOOL, BUT IT IS THE REASON SO MANY PEOPLE CONNECTED TO CRYSTAL ACADEMY ARE HERE IS BECAUSE THE PROJECT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THEIR FUTURE. CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS AN AGING BUILDING AND THE PROPOSAL GIVES THE SCHOOL A BRAND NEW FACILITY, MORE THAN 6 MILLION IN INVESTMENT AND RENT-FREE SPACE. SOMETHING IT SIMPLY CANNOT ACCOMPLISH ON ITS OWN. OPPONENTS ARGUE THE SCHOOL IS BEING USED TO JUSTIFY THE PROJECT. THE TRUTH IS THE PROJECT IS WHAT MAKES THE INVESTMENT AND THE SCHOOL POSSIBLE. WITHOUT IT, THERE IS NO NEW BUILDING, NO 6 MILLION INVESTMENT AND NO RENT FREE SPACE. THIS PROJECT JUST DOESN'T PRESERVE CRYSTAL ACADEMY. IT SECURES ITS FUTURE. THAT'S WHY SO FAR MANY FAMILIES, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABOUT THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE. YES. THANK YOU GIANCARLO VERA. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR. MY NAME IS GIANCARLO VERA. I LIVE IN, UH, 2 3 5 ANTI AVENUE APARTMENT SEVEN. ONE OF THE REASON I LOVE CORAL GABLES IS BECAUSE IT'S NEVER BEEN A CITY AFRAID TO DREAM A LITTLE BIT BIGGER. SOMEONE HAD A VISION FOR MIRACLE MILE. SOMEONE HAD A VISION FOR THE BILTMORE. SOMEONE HAD A VISION. FOR SO MANY PLACES WE NOW TAKE PRIDE IN. IF EVERY GENERATION SAY NO TO THUG FULL CHANGE, EVENTUALLY THE CITY STOPS MOVING FORWARD. THAT'S NOT THE CORAL GABLES I WANT. I HOPE WE CONTINUE BUILDING A CITY, FUTURE NATION WE'LL BE PROUD OF. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR. MARIA, MARIA TE GOOD AFTERNOON. MY, MY ADDRESS. WELL, MY NAME IS MARIA. MARIA. MY ADDRESS IS 800 DOUGLAS ROAD, APARTMENT 9 0 4 CORA CABLES. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT. I BELIEVE THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING POSITIVE GROWTH TO CORA CABLES AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HOUSING FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS PROJECT WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR THOSE REASON, I FULLY SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LIZETTE ARANGO. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LIZETTE ARANGO. I RESIDE AT 4 1 5 2 SOUTHWEST 13TH STREET, APARTMENT THREE IN CORAL GABLES. ONE OF THE REASONS I ENJOY LIVING IN CORAL GABLES IS BECAUSE I CAN WALK TO GRAB A DINNER, GRAB COFFEE, OR STOP INTO A LOCAL BUSINESS. THOSE BUSINESSES DO NOT SURVIVE BY THEMSELVES. THEY NEED CUSTOMERS THOROUGHLY. ADDING NEW RESIDENTS NEAR DOWNTOWN HELPS KEEP THOSE LOCAL BUSINESSES HEALTHY. MORE PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN WALKING DISTANCES MEANS MORE PEOPLE EATING LOCALLY, SHOPPING LOCALLY, AND SUPPORTING THE BUSINESSES THAT MAKE CORAL GAME MOST SPECIAL. THAT IS GOOD FOR ME. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU APPROVE THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. VANESSA SALAS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS VANESSA ZAS. I LIVE IN ONE TREE SEA HOTEL STREET, SUITE NUMBER FOUR. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THIS BEAUTIFUL AND NECESSARY PROJECT, CRYSTAL ACADEMIA SCHOOL. I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP, UM, PEOPLE THAT WITH REALLY NEED IT AND HELP OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE KIDS THAT THEY NEEDED. [04:00:01] UM, SO I, I WAS HERE IN THE PAST, FOLLOW ALL THE MEETINGS. I'M VERY PASSION FOR THIS PROJECT AND I GOING TO, IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL WITH A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL, UM, UM, CITY OF THE CORAL GABLES. I AM WORKING IN THAT BILMORE HOTEL FOR 10 YEARS AND I LOVE CORAL GABLES AND I'M SO PROUD OF THIS COMMUNITY AND WE NEED SOMETHING TO BE MORE, UH, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS, UM, THIS CITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANNA HOLMAN. HELLO, MY NAME IS ANNA HOLMAN. I RESIDE AT 2 3, 5 AND AVENUE, APARTMENT TWO, CORAL GABLES 3 3 1 3 4. ONE OF THE THINGS I ADMIRE MOST ABOUT CORAL GABLES IS THAT EVERY GENERATION HAS LEFT SOMETHING BEHIND BEAUTIFUL STREETS, WONDERFUL PARKS, GREAT ARCHITECTURE NEIGHBORHOODS. PEOPLE ARE PROUD TO CALL HOME. THEY DIDN'T DO THAT BY REFUSING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE CITY. THEY DO IT. THEY DID IT BY CHOOSING PROJECTS THAT REFLECTED THE VALUES OF CORAL GABLES. I BELIEVE THIS PROJECT IS ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. I HOPE WE'LL CONTINUE THAT TRADITION AND BUILD SOMETHING FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL APPRECIATE. I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT FOR ITS PURPOSE TO SERVE A LASTING IMPACT THE SAME WAY CRYSTAL ON, ON THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY, THE SAME WAY CRYSTAL ACADEMY HAS SERVED THE LASTING, IMPACTFUL TRANSFORMATIONS IN PEOPLE'S THESE CHILDREN'S LIVES. LET'S LET DEVELOPMENT SHINE THE SAME LIGHT AND LIVELINESS TO THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AURA QUINTO. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. MY NAME IS QUIN AND I LIVE ON 3 3 5 N AVENUE, APARTMENT NUMBER FIVE. I LIVE HERE FOR AND I DRIFT THIS STREET, STREET EVERY DAY. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN I FIRST HEAR ABOUT THIS PROJECT, TRAFFIC WAS MY CONCERT TOO. SO I DONE THIS BIG NEIGHBORHOOD WHO BRING IT UP. IT'S A FAIR QUESTION, BUT I TOOK THE TIME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS. A TRAFFIC STUDY WAS DONE FOR THIS PROJECT, AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE ACTUAL SITE PLAN, I SAW THINGS THAT OTHER, EXACTLY WHAT'S WORRIED PEOPLE. THE PROJECT WAS PROVIDES ON SITE JOB ABOVE AND PICK UP HIP TRAFFIC, CIRCULATION WITHIN THE PROPERTY AND AT A NEW CROSS WALL AND WEATHER SIDEWALKS TO IMPROVE SAFETY OR PEDESTRIAN. THAT'S A VERY SET UP THAN WHAT EXISTS TODAY WHERE EVERYTHING HAPPENED ON THE STREET AND PARKING IS ON THE LID ON THE SIDE. 301 SPACE WITHIN THE PROJECT ITSELF, I THINK WHAT ABOUT THE PROJECT? THE TRAFFIC SOMETIMES GET USED AS A REASON TO POST EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE FOREVER. WHEN A PROJECT INCLUDES SOLUTION LIKE , BOTH SIZE, CIRCULATION, PARKING, AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, GOOD BENEFITS SHALL BE RECOGNIZED. MY CONCERN WAS TRAFFIC. I COULD ANSWER IT AND ED AND SIDE FIVE AND I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU DOMINICA. FADO. GOOD AFTERNOON. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW ARE YOU? UM, MY NAME IS DOMINIC. I LIVE IN 271 MAJORCA AVENUE, CORAL GABLES, 3 3 1, 3 4. AND I REGULARLY WALK THROUGH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I'VE BEEN HEARING MANY CONCERNS THAT THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE AWAY GREEN SPACE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE WHAT I IS ACTUALLY THERE TODAY AND WHAT IT'S BEING PROPOSED. THE GARDENING THAT SOME PEOPLE WANT TO PRESERVE IS ON A PRO PRIVATE PROPERTY. IT'S NOT A PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN WALK IN, SPEND TIME OR ENJOY IT. IT BELONGS TO THAT PROPERTY. WHAT THIS PROJECT BRINGS IS GREEN SPACE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY USE AN EARLY 4,000 SQUARE FOOD PARK AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AFTER SCHOOL HOURS ALONE WITH A [04:05:01] PUBLIC COURTYARD, A PUBLIC PLAZA, AND A IAN WALKWAY THAT CONNECTS THE BLOCK. THE NUMBERS ALSO SUPPORT THIS. THE PROJECT INCLUDES ABOUT 20,500 SQUARES FEET OF THE GROUND LEVEL OPEN SPACE, UM, WHICH IS 31.6% OF THE SITE, MORE THAN 20% REQUIRED BY THE PROPOSED ZONING. CITY STAFF. REVIEW THE PROJECT AND COMPLIMENT THAT IT PROVIDES REAL PUBLIC BENEFITS, INCLUDING MORE OPEN AREAS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR PET S. REGARDING THE THREE, THAT CONCERN WAS HERE AND ADDRESSED. THE DEVELOPER AGREED TO PRESERVE IT, BE RELOCATING A FEW HUNDRED FEET AND THEIR EXPERTS DETERMINATE THAT THE THREE CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSLATED. SO WHEN I COMPARE WHAT EXISTS, UM, TODAY, UH, PRIVATE GARDEN BEHIND THE FENCE WITH, UH, WHAT THIS PROJECT OFFERS, A PARK, PLAZA, GOOD YARD, A WIDER SIDEWALKS THAT MY NEIGHBORHOODS AND I CAN ACTUALLY ENJOY, I SEE THIS AS A REAL IMPROVEMENT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WILL LIVE IN THE BUILDING FOR THESE REASONS, I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO APPROVE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HERMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS HERMAN DINO, GO. I LIVE IN 8 88 DOUGLAS ROAD, AND I HAS BEEN LIVING IN THIS AREA FOR MANY YEARS, AND I SEE, UH, MIAMI EVERYWHERE GROWING BRICK, COAL OR MANY AREAS. AND I THINK THE PROJECTS LIKE THIS THAT ARE REALLY SUPPORT BRINGS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THIS CITY TO GROW, BRING THE OPPORTUNITY TO OUR CHILDRENS TO HAVE PLACES TO LIVE, AT LEAST TO CHOOSE. UM, MIAMI BECAME THE, THE PLACE THAT YOU NEED TO MOVE OR FARTHER NORTH OR FARTHER SOUTH TO LOOK FOR, UH, A HOUSE APARTMENTS, SO EVERYWHERE THAT MAKES YOU TO COMMUTE LONGER AND MAKE EXPENSES, YOU KNOW, HIGHER FOR EVERY FAMILY. UM, FOR THIS AND ALSO THE BENEFIT OF THE SCHOOL FOR AND SMALL POPULATION THAT NEED A SPECIAL TREATMENT LIKE THE OTS, UH, SCHOOL CRYSTAL ACADEMY. AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT IT. I APPRECIATE IF YOU APPROVE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. SCOTT PEARSON. GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. EXCUSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE. I'M SCOTT PEARSON OF 41 11 SANTA MAR. I'VE LIVED IN THE GABLES SINCE 1974 FOR MOST OF THE TIME, AND FORGIVE ME IF MY MEMORY IS FAILING, BUT IT, IT SEEMS LIKE MANY OF THE PAST ADMINISTRATIONS TRIED TO PROTECT OUR GREEN SPACES, OUR ZONING LAWS, AND TRIED TO IMPROVE OUR TRAFFIC, UH, PROBLEMS. AND I'M, UH, HOPING THAT WE CAN, UH, CONTINUE THAT TRADITION OF HELPING OUR CITIZENS PRESERVE THEIR WAY OF LIFE. UH, I'VE NOTICED, UM, UM, IN THE TIMES I'VE TRAVELED, SOME OF THE GREATEST CITIES HAVE BIG GREEN SPACES RIGHT NEAR THE DOWNTOWN AREAS. PLACES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO BETTER WITH OUR GREEN SPACE PRESERVATION AND MAKING MORE OF IT, BUT IT'S GONNA BE TOO LATE AS THE LAND PRICES RISE IF WE DON'T START THINKING ABOUT THAT REALLY SERIOUSLY. STRICT ZONING AND HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS ARE PART OF GREAT CITIES AS WELL. 15 YEARS AGO, I REMEMBER THERE WAS A HOUSE FOR SALE ON ALHAMBRA NEAR WHERE I LIVE, AND I CALLED ABOUT IT AND, UH, THEY SAID, OH, THIS IS A TEAR DOWN HOUSE. IT'S DILAPIDATED. WELL, THE NEXT THING I KNOW, THE CITY OWNS THE LAND AND BUTTE AND BUILT A BEAUTIFUL PARK ON ALHAMBRA NEAR BLUE ROAD WHERE CHILDREN JUST ENJOY AND USE THAT PARK ALL THE TIME. A REALLY NICE PLACE. I'D LOVE TO SEE MORE OF THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN. [04:10:02] UH, I KNOW NONE OF YOU RAN FOR OFFICE WITH A SLOGAN. WE PUT DEVELOPERS FIRST. NO, YOU, YOU MADE PROMISES TO YOUR PUBLIC WHO VOTED FOR YOU TO HELP US. AND, UH, WE DON'T SEE HOW INCREASED TRAFFIC, TAKING AWAY TREES, TAKING AWAY GREEN SPACE AND ZONING FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, BIG BUILDINGS HELPS THE CITIZENS YOU PROMISED TO REPRESENT. UH, SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE SAID THIS AREA IS THE BEST AND LAST PLACE FOR DEVELOPMENT. ONE WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY GULLABLE TO BELIEVE THAT ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AROUND AS AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH BIG BUILDINGS GOING UP ALL OVER CORAL GABLES TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE LAST PLACE AND THIS IS NOT THE BEST PLACE. THE, YOU KNOW, IF THE DEVELOPERS WANT IT. MY QUESTION IS, WILL THEY GET IT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT THAT VOTED FOR YOU AS THE LOVELY LADY IN RED SAID, IS THIS A DONE DEAL OR DO THE VOICES OF YOUR VOTERS MATTER? THANK YOU. UH, SCOTT, BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE PODIUM, DO YOU MIND IF I USE YOUR INFORMATION AND REACH OUT TO YOU VIA, VIA THE CITY? SURE. BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU, UH, WHAT THIS CITY HAS DONE IN, IN THE LAST, UM, 14 YEARS, UH, IN REGARDS TO PARKS AND GREEN SPACES. UH, JUST THIS YEAR ALONE, THIS YEAR WE'RE ADDING 30 ACRES OF GREEN SPACE TO THE CITY, INCLUDING THE UNDERLYING THAT'S GOOD. GREAT NEWS. AND A SIX AND A SIX ACRE, ALMOST A SIX ACRE PARCEL OF LAND THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR 10 YEARS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO BRING INTO THE CITY, UH, WHICH IS THE LARGEST, WILL BE THE LARGEST PARK IN THE CITY'S HISTORY. I'M GLAD TO HEAR. AND WHEN I, WHEN I WAS ELECTED, WHEN I WAS ELECTED 14 YEARS AGO, WE HAD ONE PARK IN THE DOWNTOWN, WHICH WAS POND CIRCLE PARK IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MANAGER AND THIS COMMISSION, NOBODY WAS ELECTED. MAYBE RHONDA WAS THE VICE MAYOR, BUT NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE SEVEN PARKS IN THE DOWNTOWN. UM, THESE ARE NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE'VE DONE, UH, WITH DEVELOPERS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE GET GREEN SPACE IN TURN FOR, UH, CERTAIN PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED IN THE DOWNTOWN. THEY'LL BE FORTHCOMING, UM, IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS THESE PROJECTS ARE FINALIZED. AND YOU'LL SEE THESE PROJECTS. I LIKE TO GIVE YOU A COPY OF ALL THE PROJECTS THAT ARE FORTHCOMING. THAT'S NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER PARKS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE IN THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH ARE ALMOST, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY ABOUT MORE THAN 10, MORE THAN 10, UH, PARKS OVER THE LAST, UH, 13, 14 YEARS. SO, AND THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I'VE SPONSORED TODAY THAT WILL NOT ALLOW US TO SELL A GREEN SPACE IN THE CITY UNLESS IT GOES BEFORE THE RESIDENCE AND THEY VOTE IN FAVOR OR AGAINST IT AS A REFERENDUM. AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES, UM, THE YOUTH CENTER. AND IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE GRANADA GOLF COURSE. 'CAUSE THESE TWO, UM, PIECES OF PROPERTY HAVE BEEN USED AS, YOU KNOW, BARGAINING CHIPS AMONGST THE BLOGS TO SCARE PEOPLE TO SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA SELL AND, AND REDEVELOP GRANADA GOLF COURSE, OR WE'RE GONNA SELL AND REDEVELOP THE YOUTH CENTER. SO THE, THAT WILL BE IRONCLAD AND THE DECISION WILL BE MADE BY THE RESIDENTS IF SOMEBODY WERE CRAZY ENOUGH TO EVEN BRING THAT UP, UH, IN THE FUTURE. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PARKS THAT ARE ALREADY APPROVED AND ON THE WAY FOR THE DOWNTOWN. 'CAUSE I, I AGREE WITH YOU, IF YOU'RE A WORLD CLASS CITY, YOU WANNA PRETEND TO BE A WORLD CLASS CITY. YOU NEED TO HAVE OPEN SPACES AND GREEN SPACES. THOSE HAVE ALREADY BEEN NEGOTIATED, AND I NEGOTIATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE GREEN SPACES ALONG WITH THE 5.6 ACRE PARCEL OF THE MANAGER. AND I WORKED ON THAT FOR 10 YEARS TOGETHER. SO I'M GLAD WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PROTECTING GREEN SPACE AND UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF GREEN SPACES AND UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE. AND I WROTE ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT REQUIRES THAT ALL THESE GREEN SPACES, AT A MINIMUM BE 70% GREEN SPACE, NOT CONCRETE. SO YOU'RE GONNA SEE OVER, OVER OUR DOWNTOWN, ALMOST TWO HANDFULS OF PARKS, HOPEFULLY, OF MY COLLEAGUES. ONCE I'M DONE, WE'LL CONTINUE, UM, FIGHTING FOR, FOR PARKS IN THE DOWNTOWN, UH, AND IN THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT, THAT'S GREAT NEWS. I I JUST HOPE THAT YOU KNOW THIS PLACE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY AND TAKE SOME OF THAT INTO ACCOUNT. AGAIN, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT, MS. RAM MAYOR, WE'RE GONNA GO TO ZOOM NEXT. UH, FIRST SPEAKER ON ZOOM IS LARA MUNI. I'M ASKING MS. MUNI TO PLEASE TURN ON HER VIDEO. [04:15:03] MA'AM, IF YOU COULD PLEASE 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? I SWEAR. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS OT MUNI. I RESIDE AT 35 0 5 GRA STREET. I AM BOTH A RESIDENT AND EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF CORGIS, SPECIFICALLY HERE AT CRYSTAL ACADEMY. I HAVE HAD, UM, THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING THE CITY GROW AND DEVELOP THROUGH THE YEARS. I HAVE ALWAYS SEEN CORAL GABLES AS A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES, INCLUDING PROMOTION, UM, PROMOTING INCLUSION, PROGRESS AND OPPORTUNITY. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE NEW CRYSTAL RESIDENCES PROJECT. CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS A NONPROFIT SCHOOL AND THERAPY CENTER THAT HAS SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 16 YEARS. BEFORE THAT, THE PROPERTY WAS ALSO A PRIVATE SCHOOL SUPPORTING LOCAL FAMILIES. CRYSTAL SUSTAINS ITS WORK THROUGH ENDLESS HOURS OF BATTLING INSURANCE COMPANIES, COMMUNITY DONATIONS, A COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND THEIR FAMILIES. OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT SEPARATE FROM CORAL GABLES. THEY'RE A PART OF IT. THEY WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD WEEKLY, THEY CLEAN UP THE SURROUNDED AREAS, THEY PICK UP TRASH. AS PART OF LEARNING RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, C ACADEMY USES THE SERVICES OF THE FREE DENTAL CLINIC LOCATED RIGHT NEXT DOOR AT THE WOMEN'S CLUB. WE USE THE TROLLEY. WE ALSO WORK WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND MIAMI DAY POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO TRAIN RESPONDING OFFICERS, SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND USING DEESCALATION TECHNIQUES. WHILE I SEE THE CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC, THE BUILDING HEIGHT, THE GARDEN OF THE LORD AND PUBLIC GREEN SPACES, AND THEY ALL DESERVE CONSIDERATION, SIMILAR PROJECTS ARE MOVING FORWARD CURRENTLY WITHOUT THE SAME OBJECTIONS. THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD TODAY AND OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES, CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A GREEN SPACE AND IN THE MEDIA IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. AND THEY'RE NOW DEMANDING THEY GET ONE BASED ON A, ON A PRIVATE PROJECT. AT CRYSTAL ACADEMY, WE HAVE BEEN USING PHILIP SPARK FOR YEARS. IT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO INTERACT WITH NEUROTYPICAL PEERS. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE ALSO, UM, NOT TAKEN CARE OR COME TO CLEAN THE GARDEN OF THE LORD. IN OVER A DECADE THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING HERE, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WANNA PRESERVE IT. THE GARDEN IS ATTACHED TO OUR CURRENT SCHOOL. IT'S A PRIVATE PROPERTY. IT'S CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC. IT HAS BEEN CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC OVER THE LAST DECADE. IT'S REALLY SAD AND EMBARRASSING TO SEE AND READ COMMENTS AND HEARING STATEMENTS THAT DIMINISHES POPULATION AND THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. SPECIAL NEEDS AFFECT EVERYONE, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH SOMEONE THEY LOVE. THIS PROJECT IS NOT JUST ABOUT A BUILDING BECAUSE YES, AS AN INSTITUTION WE COULD MOVE ANYWHERE. WE COULD CON WE WOULD CONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN THE WORK THAT WE DO BECAUSE AS PROFESSIONALS WE ARE PASSIONATE AND CARING. THIS PROJECT IS MEANINGFUL TO US BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT CONTINUING THE CARGILL'S LEGACY AS THE CITY BEAUTIFUL BY MAKING IT MORE INCLUSIVE FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN, THEIR, THEIR PARENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING. A GOOD GOODMAN. UM, MR. MAYOR, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GONNA BE THOMAS MOONEY ASKING MR. MOONEY TO PLEASE TURN ON HIS VIDEO. MR. MOONEY, GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW MANY MORE SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE? OKAY, MR. MOONEY, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, SIR. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL PROVIDE TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, SIR? I DO. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, UM, SORRY I COULDN'T BE THERE IN PERSON TODAY, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SEND A FAIRLY DETAILED EMAIL TO EACH OF YOU. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME. GIVEN THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT THIS HEARING HAS TAKEN. I THINK AS IT PERTAINS TO THE URBAN PLANNING ISSUES, YOUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF HAS PROVIDED A VERY DETAILED AND OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS AS TO WHY THIS PROPOSAL IN AND OF ITSELF IS HIGHLY COMPATIBLE, UM, WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA. WHAT I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THOUGH, IS THE ROLE THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY HAS PLAYED AND, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT ROLE. FIRST, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, UM, UNDERSCORE THAT THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR THE POPULATION OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE AUTISM AND INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, UNFORTUNATELY JUST DON'T HAVE THE, UH, OPTIONS. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE COST OF PROVIDING THIS TYPE OF CARE IS SIGNIFICANT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RATIOS OF ONE INSTRUCTOR TO ONE STUDENT UP TO A MAXIMUM RATIO OF, OF THREE STUDENTS PER ONE INSTRUCTOR. AND THE SHEER COST OF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, IS NOT DIFFICULT, IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO ACCOMMODATE. A LOT OF FAMILIES, INCLUDING MY OWN, HAVE HAD TO SACRIFICE. AND EVEN WITH ASSISTANCE FROM SCHOLARSHIPS, IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT, UM, IS NOT EASY TO, [04:20:01] UM, TO FINANCE O OVER TIME. SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT, THAT IS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM A LUXURY CRYSTAL, AS A LOT OF YOU ARE AWARE, AND I THINK A LOT OF YOU IS HAVE VISITED. AND, AND FOR THOSE OUT THERE WHO HAVEN'T VISITED IT, I, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT HAS GROWN WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN THEY STARTED, IT WAS A VERY SMALL THERAPY CENTER, AND NOW IT'S GROWN INTO SERVICING, UM, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FAMILIES. AND THIS HAS HAD A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT. BUT THIS TYPE OF INSTITUTION, UNFORTUNATELY, DOES NOT HAVE A $40 MILLION ENDOWMENT. IN A PERFECT WORLD, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF CRYSTAL COULD PURCHASE THE PROPERTY OUTRIGHT AND HAVE UNLIMITED FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY COULD, UH, KEEP UP WITH THE UPDATES THAT ARE NEEDED TO, UM, TO, TO RUN THE, UH, ESTABLISHMENT. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. AND SO FOR, UH, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CRYSTAL THAT PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF SERVICE TO CONTINUE THESE TYPES OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ARE IN MOST CASES THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN. SO, WITH THAT SAID, UM, I THANK, UH, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND, AND YOUR DILIGENCE. AND, UM, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPROVE ALL OF THE APPLICABLE ORDINANCES AT FIRST READING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MOON. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WANT TO, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN DOING LATELY, ESPECIALLY DURING, I DON'T WANNA SAY CONTENTIOUS, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS. UH, THE NOS WENT OVER BY SIX MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS AND THE YESES WENT OVER BY SIX MINUTES AND 51 SECONDS. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK JUST TO ADD AN EXTRA 21 SECONDS SO WE CAN MAKE IT EQUAL? ANYBODY ON THE NO SIDE? ANYBODY? GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. WE ARE GONNA GIVE YOU ANOTHER 21 SECONDS, BUT WE GOTTA STICK TO 21. 'CAUSE THEN I GOTTA INVITE THEM OVER FOR ANOTHER 20 TO RUN. OKAY. SO, OH, YOU WANT, SO 20, SO 21 SECONDS. OKAY, START THE CLOCK. UM, YOU MENTIONED ALL OF THE WONDERFUL PARKS AND, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE AS RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLE HAVE A, I WANNA BE FAIR, 43 YEARS I'VE LIVED IN CORAL GABLES. MY HUSBAND WAS PRACTICALLY BORN HERE. I WENT TO ST. THERESA, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. WHAT PARK ARE YOU PROPOSING IN THAT NORTH DOUGLAS AREA? HOW ARE YOU GONNA PROVIDE THE, THE PARKS AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO NEGOTIATE? WHAT AREA WILL YOU NEGOTIATE AS A PARK AS YOU HAVE DONE IN OTHER AREAS OF CORAL GABLES? CUT IT OFF. OKAY. THANK YOU. NOW WE GOTTA GO TO THE, NOW WE GOTTA GO TO THE YESES FOR ONE SECOND. I'M JUST KIDDING. UM, VERY SIMPLE. I AM LOOKING FOR PARKS. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SELL MORE PARCELS, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PARCELS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. UH, WE JUST BOUGHT RECENTLY, THE LAST PARCEL WE BOUGHT WAS A $3 MILLION PARCEL, UH, IN SALVADOR PARK THAT I HAVE BEEN CHASING FOR SINCE I GOT HERE. AND WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BUY IT SO WE CAN EXPAND ON SALVADOR PARK. WE HAVEN'T DECIDED YET, WE'RE GONNA DO THERE, BUT WE JUST SPENT, I THINK IT WAS, UH, $10 MILLION ON PHYLLIS PARK. AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE, THAT WERE ACCOMPLISHED THERE. AND ALL, ALL THE THANKS AND THE, AND THE ACCOLADES GO TO THE MANAGER, THE DCM, THE A CM AND HIS AMAZING STAFF WHO'VE GOTTEN IT DONE. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKS. WE HAVE A LOT OF PARKS, UM, RIGHT NOW THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO EXPAND. MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE HAVE OVER 300 PLUS ACRES OF GREEN SPACE, UH, IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. UH, I DON'T THINK ANY, ANY CITY MIAMI COUNTY CAN COMPETE WITH US ON THAT FRONT. SO IF ANYBODY HAS ANY IDEAS OF ANY PRIVATE OWNERS OF PROPERTY THAT WOULD LIKE TO, UH, POTENTIALLY SELL THEIR PROPERTY, MAKE SURE THEY SPEAK TO THE CITY, UH, BECAUSE WE WILL, WE WOULD LOVE TO BE THE FIRST IN LINE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE PROPERTIES. ALRIGHT. UM, MADAM, MADAM , I JUST, I JUST WANNA TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE OF PHILLIPS PARK IS ON GALLIANO THE SAME STREET THAT BORDERS THE EAST SIDE OF THIS PROPERTY. AND IT'S ON MINORI, WHICH IS A FEW BLOCKS, UH, FURTHER SOUTH. AND BY THE WAY, THERE IS A, THERE IS A GREEN SPACE, UH, LOCATED ON PONDS. ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM THIS PROPERTY, WHICH IS WHERE THE FOUNTAIN IS. UH, IT'S, I FORGOT THE NAME. IT'S A GREEN SPACE LOCATED ON PONDS. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT, MAYBE ABOUT 25,000 SQUARE FEET. IT'S A PRETTY LARGE PIECE OF PROPERTY. AGAIN, NOT THE MOST APPROPRIATE 'CAUSE LOCATED ON PONTS, BUT THERE ARE GREEN SPACES WITHIN LESS THAN 150, 200 FEET AWAY. ARE YOU REFERRING A ROTARY PARK? NO, THAT'S THE ONE. THAT'S THE ONE DOWN PONDS. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ONE NEXT TO THE GREEK RESTAURANT. OH, THE ONE, THE ONE ACROSS FROM TON CAFE. RIGHT NEXT TO TON CAFE. IT'S, SO THERE ARE PARKS RIGHT ADJACENT TO THAT. OKAY. UH, MOVING ON, UH, FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER. MADAM VICE MAYOR, LET'S START WITH YOU. COMMENTS ON THE RECORD? YEAH, BEFORE THAT, LET ME, LET ME, MADAM STATE ATTORNEY, SHOULD I HAVE, SHOULD I HAVE THE APP, UH, THE APPLICANT, IF HE HAS ANY RESPONSES OR ANYTHING, WE'D LIKE TO GO. I'M NOT SURE IF HE RESERVED ANY TIME FOR REBUTTAL, BUT YOU'RE CERTAINLY MORE THAN WELCOME TO ASK. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO REBUTTAL? [04:25:01] START THE CLOCK. I'M GONNA KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT. I THINK, UH, OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS AND NINE HEARINGS, I THINK WE'VE ADDRESSED A LOT OF THESE ITEMS. I'M JUST GONNA CLARIFY THE RECORD. UM, YOU KNOW, THE CHARACTERIZATION OF NORTH PONDS AS A LOW RISE AREA IS FACTUALLY AND LEGALLY INACCURATE. THIS AREA IS ZONED TODAY FOR A HUNDRED FEET IN HEIGHT. UM, THIS PROPERTY IS SURROUNDED BY ZONING THAT ALLOWS 190 FEET IN HEIGHT. AND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT COMPATIBILITY FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY, YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THAT ADJACENT LAND USE. YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THAT ADJACENT ZONING AND YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE AND EXISTING BUIL ENVIRONMENT. THAT'S WHAT COMPATIBILITY IS. THE ONE ITEM I LIKE TO JUST MENTION, WHICH, UM, THANK YOU FOR, FOR UH, I WILL NOT GO OVER TWO MINUTES, IS THE GAR OF OUR LORD HAS BEEN SELLING, HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR FIVE YEARS. IT'S BEEN LITIGATED, IT'S BEEN DETERMINED BY YOUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER, HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD, THIS CITY COMMISSION TO JUDICIAL COURTS. IT IS NOT A HISTORICAL RESOURCE. IT DOES NOT BE, IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE PRESERVED. IT IS A PRIVATE GARDEN AND IT IS NOT RELEVANT TO THESE PROCEEDINGS TODAY. LASTLY, I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH WHAT I SET UP PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. CORAL GABLES IS KNOWN AS A CITY. BEAUTIFUL. WELL, WHAT MAKES THIS CITY BEAUTIFUL? IT'S NOT JUST IT WORLD CLASS ARCHITECTURE, IT'S PARKS, IT'S PUBLIC ART, OR IT'S RICH HISTORY. WHAT MAKES OUR CITY BEAUTIFUL AND SETS IT APART ARE THE VALUES THAT WE SHARE AS A COMMUNITY. IT'S THE COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR RESIDENTS. IT'S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, CHOOSE TO CALL CORAL GABLE'S HOME. THIS CITY IS HOME TO SOME OF THE BEST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE NATION. AND THAT'S BECAUSE CORAL GABLES HAS LONG RECOGNIZED THAT EDUCATION IS A IMPORTANT PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND THAT INVESTMENT SHOULD EXTEND TO EVERY CHILD WITH NO EXCEPTIONS. THIS PROJECT REFLECTS THOSE CORE CORAL GABLES VALUES. IT PRESERVES A SCHOOL THAT SERVES OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN. AND IF THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC BENEFIT, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. SO TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING TRULY BEAUTIFUL. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A PRO A PROJECT THAT'S THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED AND THAT IS MEANINGFUL AND IMPACTFUL. WE ASK THAT YOU UPHOLD YOUR PLANNING STAFF AND YOUR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD RECOMMENDATION AND APPROVE A PROJECT THAT NOT ONLY MAKES CORAL GABLES MORE AESTHETICALLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT A COMMUNITY THAT'S EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL TO LIVE IN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TWO MINUTES AND 35 SECONDS FOR THE RECORD TO THE MAYOR. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT. CAN I, CAN I JUST GO THROUGH MR. WINKER AND THEN WE'LL ABSOLUTELY. UM, MAY, WOULD MR. WINKER LIKE ANY ADDITIONAL TIME FOR REBUTTAL? HE HAD TO STEP OUT. HE'S MEETING WITH ANOTHER JUDGE TO BE BACK IN. OKAY, JUDGE, MR. LET'S WAIT FOR MR. WINKER TO, TO HAVE HIS MOMENT. I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M FAIR 'CAUSE IN THAT I'LL FACE THE WRATH OF THE BLOGS TOMORROW. MR. WINKER, WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APOLOGIZE. I GOT CALLED INTO ANOTHER HEARING FOR A SECOND. UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE LISTENING TO THIS. UH, A COUPLE THINGS ON REBUTTAL, IT'S UNREBUTTED THAT THEY DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THEY WERE ASKED TO DO BY THE PSAB ON THE CONDITIONAL, UM, APPROVAL. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU MAKE THEM DO THAT. I THINK THERE IS A SOLUTION THERE TO SAVE AS MUCH AS THE GARDEN AS POSSIBLE. THAT'S WHAT WE AGREED TO. AND THEN FURTHER THIS IDEA, EVERYONE KEEPS SAYING THAT THE GARDEN ISN'T OPEN TO THE PUBLIC RIGHT NOW AND THE GARDEN IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS CRYSTAL ACADEMY OWNS THE PROPERTY AND DOES NOT OPEN THE GAR, I'M SORRY, CRYSTAL ACADEMY'S THERE. THE DEVELOPER OWNS THE PROPERTY AND THEY LOCKED THE FENCE. YOU KNOW THAT THAT WAS, IT WAS OPEN PRIOR TO THAT. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT. IF, IF I MAY JUST, I DON'T, I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOU, BUT IF I HAVE A GARDEN IN MY BACKYARD AND I LOCK THE FENCE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO COME IN IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY, RIGHT? CORRECT. BUT THEY MADE IT PRIVATE. A HUNDRED PERCENT. BUT IT'S, IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY. THEY DON'T MAKE, I DON'T CHOOSE TO MAKE MY PROPERTY PRIVATE. MY, MY PROPERTY BELONGS TO ME. IT BELONGS TO ME. SO, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S USE SOME REASONABLE ARGUMENTS. I UNDERSTAND. PLEASE, WILL YOU PLEASE SIT DOWN, PLEASE. LET'S SIT DOWN. WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THIS TODAY. WE'VE GIVEN WE'VE, WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE OUTBURSTS FROM, FROM FROM THE GALLERY. WE'RE GONNA DO THIS PROFESSION. THAT'S WHY I'VE GIVEN EVERYBODY ALL THE TIME THEY NEED. EVERYBODY'S HAD THE TIME. WE'RE GONNA DO THIS PROFESSIONALLY. BUT I I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE WE PUT FACTUAL STATEMENTS ON THE RECORD. CRYSTAL ACADEMY DID NOT MAKE THIS PRIVATE. IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY. THEY JUST CLOSE A GATE BECAUSE THEY [04:30:01] HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE PART OF THAT INSTITUTION. AND OBVIOUSLY THESE CHILDREN NEED TO BE SUPERVISED AND SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN AND YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THERE'S BARRIERS TO ENTRY OR BARRIERS TO ESCAPE. SO LET'S BE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT ABOUT THAT COMMENT. 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT CHOOSING TO MAKE IT PRIVATE. IT ALREADY IS PRIVATE PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING RENT TO A LANDLORD. OKAY. WELL, BUT BACK UP. IT'S NOT, IT'S THE DEVELOPER THAT LOCKED IT AGAIN. AND TWO, IT WAS OPEN WHEN IT WAS WITH THE CHURCH. IT WAS OPEN AND WE, WE, WE HAVE MIAMI HERALD ARTICLES TALKING ABOUT HOW IT'S, IT WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHETHER WHETHER IT'S THE DEVELOPER, IT'S CRYSTAL ACADEMY, IT'S OWNED BY SOMEONE, IT'S PRIVATE PROPERTY. THEY CAN DO TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY. THEY CAN CLOSE THE GATE AND THEY CAN SAY, WE WANNA PROTECT THE PROPERTY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INSIDE THE PROPERTY, BUT THOSE OUTSIDE. CORRECT. RIGHT. SO, MOVING ON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE TO THE RECORD BEFORE WE HEAR IT? NOPE, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU SURE? YOU HAVE? YOU HAVE. I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU MORE TIME, PLEASE. NOPE. I, I, I APPRECIATE EFFORT. I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU TAKE THE ADVICE OF YOUR PA UM, THEY VERY CAREFULLY WEIGHED THIS. THEY GAVE THE ADVICE, DO YOUR BEST TO SAVE THE GARDEN, REORIENT THE GARDEN, HAVE THE BUFFER WITH THE WOMEN'S CENTER. THE GARDEN IS THERE, IT'S READY TO GO. WE ASK THAT YOU BASICALLY HAVE THEM DO WHAT THEY WERE ASKED TO DO BEFORE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. ALRIGHT. MADAM VICE MAYOR, THE FLOOR'S YOURS. YEAH. AND BEFORE I BEGAN, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A, A JOURNEY. IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS. WELCOME TO A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT HAVE PASSIONATELY COME IN AND EXPRESSED THEIR VIEWS. AND IT'S, IT'S EVOLVED. THIS, THIS PROJECT HAS EVOLVED. SO I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT. I SEE THAT SOME OF IT YOU'VE DONE, BUT I NEED SOME CLARITY. UM, WE TALKED ABOUT REMOVING, UM, EARLIER TODAY, THE ARCADE HAS IT BEEN COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE DRAWING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL GREEN SPACE AND SETBACKS THAT IS, UH, MORE CONSISTENT WITH AN MF UM, ZONING SETBACK. SO, UH, I'LL LET THE, UH, PROJECT ARCHITECT ALBERT RECORD OF IS EXPLAINED WHERE WE ARE. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE ARE AGREEING TO THOSE CONDITIONS. WE, UH, WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO BE INCORPORATED IN THE APPROVAL. WE HAVE A CONCEPTUAL PLAN THAT SHOWS WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE. IT DOES RESULT IN ADDITIONAL GREEN SPACE AND PLANTING AREAS ALONG THE FRONTAGES. UM, WE HAVE, AS WE SHOWED YOU, WHICH WE COULD SHOW AGAIN, SOME CONCEPTUAL IMAGES OF WHAT THAT DOES. I THINK IT COMPLETELY TRANSFORMS, UM, THAT STREET SCAPE INTO A MORE RESIDENTIAL FIELD, BUT IT WILL REQUIRE US TO WORK WITH YOUR CITY ARCHITECT TO INCORPORATE THOSE CHANGES AND APPLY THEM TO ALL THE DIFFERENT DRAWINGS THAT WE HAVE. SO WITH THE, UH, WORKING WITH THE CITY ARCHITECT, IS THE DEVELOPER AGREEABLE TO PROVIDING THAT ADDITIONAL GREEN SPACE? YES, WE ARE. OKAY. SO, UM, THE PLAYGROUND AREA, I SEE THAT IN ONE OF THE DRAWINGS, YOU'VE ALREADY ROTATED IT. I THINK THERE WAS ALSO AN ASK FOR A, UM, A KITCHEN FOR TEACHING THE CHILDREN. HAS THAT BEEN INCORPORATED AS WELL? SO, UM, WE HAVE ROTATED THE PARK AND, AND I HAVE A COPY OF THE MINUTES FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT. UH, THE MOTION WAS TO ROTATE THE ORIENTATION OF THE PARK ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER. IT WAS VERY SPECIFIC TO GO INSTEAD OF A NORTH SOUTH DIRECTION, AN EAST WEST DIRECTION. IT WAS ROTATING. IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, RELOCATING, WHICH ARE TWO DIFFERENT WORDS. CORRECT. UM, WE ARE AGREEING WITH THAT CONDITION. I KNOW THAT WE TOLD THE BOARD AT THAT MEETING THAT WE NEEDED TO STUDY IT. WE HAVE, UM, AND WE AGREE WITH THAT. WE THINK IT DOES PROVIDE WHAT THEY INTENDED, WHICH IS A BETTER BUFFER FROM THE WOMEN'S CLUB. THAT CHANGE, I BELIEVE, INCREASES THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, UH, THAT WILL BE ABLE TO BE USED BY CRYSTAL, THAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO 'EM BY 500 SQUARE FEET. SO THEY WILL HAVE SPACE NOW FOR, FOR THE KITCHEN THAT THEY NEEDED FOR THEIR OPERATIONS. OKAY. UM, TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AREA, I'M GONNA CALL IT THE, THE CHILDREN'S PARK, JUST FOR, YOU KNOW, SHORTHAND ON THAT. UM, WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF OPERATION OF CRYSTAL AND WHAT HOURS WOULD THIS BE OPEN FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AFTERWARDS? I'M GONNA HAVE MARY COME UP. MS. CIA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BEING ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. OH, MY PLEASURE. UH, SCHOOL OPERATION STARTS AT EIGHT O'CLOCK UNTIL 4 34. STAFF, UH, ARRIVES MORE, MORE OR LESS AT SEVEN 30 IN THE MORNING. OKAY. SO FOR THE EVENING HOURS AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, YOU KNOW, AND KIDS, KIDS THAT DON'T GO TO THE SCHOOL, UH, CAN ACCESS THE PARK AFTER HOURS. IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. UM, AND I'M, I'M JUST GONNA [04:35:01] NOTE WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACCESS TO PARKS AND ACCESS TO GARDENS, THERE WAS, AS I RECALL, A RESIDENT STEPPED FORWARD AND EXPLAINED THAT WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN AND USED TO GO THERE AND TRY TO FEED GOLDFISH THAT FACED OUT OF THE, THE, UH, GARDEN OF OUR LORD AREA WHERE THE KOI WERE SWIMMING. SO I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER AREA THAT HAS A POND IN THERE, UNLESS YOU ARE NO, THAT WAS, THERE'S ONLY ONE POND. THERE'S ONLY ONE POND. YES. AND IT WAS BEFORE I ARRIVED IN COAL GABLES, SO I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF IT EITHER. THE, THE COURTYARD. OKAY. AND THIS IS NOT PRESENTING TO THE, UH, CRYSTAL ACADEMY. MARY, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP. UM, PUBLIC ASKS ACCESS TO THE COURTYARD. IS IT LOCKED AT ANY POINT IN TIME DURING THE DAY? NOT DURING THE DAY, NO. OKAY. I THINK TRADITIONALLY, AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PROJECT THAT HAS DONE THIS, THAT HAS ACCESS TO A PUBLIC SPACE THROUGH A PASEO, UH, IT'S USUALLY THAT'S A PREFERRED ROUTE UNLESS THEY HAVE DIRECT FRONTAGE ON A STREET. UH, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE THEM LOCKED NORMALLY, UH, IN THE EVENINGS JUST FOR SECURITY. OKAY. AND WHAT, I THINK THAT'S A STANDARD CONDITION. WHAT HOURS TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, LOCKED AFTER DARK? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YEAH. UH, IT, IT'S USUALLY AT, UH, AT SUNDOWN. UM, BUT WE COULD SET A TIME, IF IT'S PREFERABLE, I WOULD SAY 9:00 PM UM, HONDA DOES. 'CAUSE USUALLY WHAT WE DO, IT'S USUALLY, I THINK THAT RUNS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY'S PARKS, UH, CORRECT HOURS AS WELL. ISHA, ON ISHA, YOU HAVE, UM, THE WOMEN'S CLUB IN IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU'RE GONNA BE LANDSCAPING. THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STREET IS THE DEVELOPER WILLING TO ALSO LANDSCAPE CONSISTENTLY. UH, THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STREET WHERE THE WOMEN'S CLUB IS, PROVIDE AN AMENITY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET. MY CLIENT IS NODDING THEIR HEAD. SO YES, WE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT. I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR INTENT AND ALBERT MENTIONED IS TO CREATE A REALLY NICE PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT. AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE WOMEN'S CLUB THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS AND, UH, WE'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT. OKAY. SO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ONE PARTICULAR OAK TREE ON THE SITE AND WHERE IT'S GONNA BE RELOCATED. UH, THERE'S A SECOND SPECIMEN OAK ON SITE. IS DEVELOPER WILLING TO MOVE THAT SPECIMEN OAK AS WELL OVER TO THE EAST PONDS CORRIDOR TO CREATE THAT, THAT VISION AS IN THE FUTURE, PLANNING FOR CORAL GABLES TO HAVE A GREEN CORRIDOR THROUGH THERE. AND WHERE WOULD THIS TREE BE LOCATED? IT WOULD BE, COULD WE PUT IT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY THROUGH LIKE A BUMP OUT OR SOMETHING? YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TO CREATE, YOU KNOW, THE MATURE CANOPY APPEARANCE. UH, SO OUR, UH, OUR, UM, ARBORIST IS SAYING THAT WE'VE, THAT HE'S EVALUATED THAT TREE ACTUALLY, AND THAT IT IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR RELOCATION. UM, AND, AND, AND MY CLIENTS AGREEABLE TO, TO MOVE THAT AS WELL. RIGHT NOW, JUST SO THAT WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE EAST BONDS CORRIDOR. UM, ORIGINALLY WE PULLED BACK OUR BUILDING ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER IN ORDER TO PRESERVE, I BELIEVE IT'S A LARGE MAHOGANY TREE. CORRECT. WE ARE RELOCATING THE, UH, LARGER OAK TREE TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER. AND I THINK, UM, THE IDEA THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS TO THEN RELOCATE THE ADDITIONAL OAK TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE TWO TREES ONTO, UH, EAST PONDS. IT IS. AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE TOO, THAT THERE'S ADEQUATE ROOT BALL SPACE LEFT. SO THIS TREE WE'RE GONNA INCREASE, UH, MICHAEL MCCOY, WHO'S OUR ARS. HELLO. HOW ARE YOU DOING? UH, MICHAEL MCCOY. UM, SO WE'RE ACTUALLY ASKED BY CITY STAFF TO CONSIDER, UH, A FEW TREES, AND THERE'S A FEW SPOTS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST COORDINATING WITH THE CITY STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT CONFLICTS WITH, UH, OTHER PROPOSED RIGHT OF WAY IMPROVEMENTS OR INFRASTRUCTURE. UM, BUT THAT TREE IS, UH, ONE OF THEM AND WAS EVALUATED FOR POTENTIAL RELOCATION, UH, TO AREAS WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY, MAKING SURE THAT MEETS WITH THE LANDSCAPE CONCEPT, UH, FOR THOSE AREAS. AND IT IS A GOOD CANDIDATE. AND AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, THE DEVELOPERS AMENABLE TO LOCATING THAT, UH, ONCE A SUITABLE SPACE IS IDENTIFIED. YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU'RE, UH, CONSIDERING SOME OTHER TREES AS WELL. UM, WHICH TREES WOULD THOSE HAVE BEEN OR ARE? UH, THERE, UH, ARE TWO OTHER, UH, SMALLER TREES THAT ARE WITHIN THE, UH, GARDEN OF OUR LORD, UH, AREA. AND AGAIN, THAT ONE, UH, WE'RE JUST OFFERED AT THIS POINT, THE CITY HAS NOT, UH, ASKED FOR THOSE TREES TO BE RELOCATED, BUT WE'RE ASKED TO SEE IF THEY WERE VIABLE CANDIDATES, [04:40:01] UH, AS THEY'RE LOOKING AT, UH, AREAS WITHIN THE SURROUNDING RIGHT OF WAY AND PLANTING SPACES TO SEE IF THEY COULD, UH, FIT THERE. BUT THAT WOULD BE AT THE CITY'S DISCRETION IF THAT ACTUALLY FITS WITH THE, UH, USE AND DESIGN OF THE RIGHT OF WAY. OKAY. UH, DO YOU HAVE DETAILS ABOUT WHICH TREES THOSE ARE AND WHAT ARE THEY? UH, GUMBO LIMBOS ON ESIA ALSO, THEY'RE ARE AVAILABLE, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO GUMBO LIMBOS THAT THEY WERE, UH, LOOKING AT. OKAY. OH, THEY MIGHT BE ON FANIA. RIGHT? I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO GO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD RIGHT NOW, BUT, UH, YES, THERE'S TWO OTHER, UH, TWO OTHER TREES. UH, I THINK WE DID LOOK AT SEVERAL IN THE, UH, GARDEN OF OUR LORD, BUT THEY DIDN'T, UH, HAVE THE FORM THAT WOULD RELOCATE THEM AS EASILY, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD DESTINATION SITE. SO IT WAS THE, THE TWO OAKS AND THE TWO GUMBO LIMBOS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I, I, I'VE WALKED THE PROPERTY, SO I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE GUMBOS WERE UNFORTUNATELY DAMAGED CONSIDERABLY, UM, BY FP AND L. THAT IS A, IS A WHOLE OTHER CHALLENGE THAT I CONSTANTLY FACED TO TRY TO GET, UH, FPL TO, TO PLAY NICE WITH TREES. BUT THERE WERE TWO GUMBO LIMBOS THAT WERE SUITABLE CANDIDATES. AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO RELOCATE THEM. OKAY. WELL, WELL THANK YOU FOR THE, THOSE DETAILS. OF COURSE. NO PROBLEM. ANYTHING ELSE? VICE MAYOR? UM, YES. UM, WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, LANDSCAPING, BOTH IN NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE OF FANIA. UM, I WANNA TALK TO YOU ALSO ABOUT RESIDENTIAL PARKING UNITS. WE DO HAVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS AROUND, ESPECIALLY ON THE ANTI SIDE, UM, WITH, UH, APARTMENT UNITS IN 'EM THAT DEPEND UPON HAVING SOME RESIDENTIAL PARKING. UM, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE, UH, DEVELOPER'S WILLING TO WORK WITH THE, THE CITY AND ESTABLISHING A RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM FOR, UM, THOSE BUILDINGS THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING ON THE STREET? I THINK YOU HAVE A SINGLE ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME, AND YOU HAVE AN EIGHT UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING THERE ON IT, DEPEND ON THAT PARKING. SO, UM, WE WOULDN'T HAVE AN OBJECTION TO THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS, UM, ONE OF THE EARLIER ITERATIONS OF THE PLAN, IT WAS USING, I KNOW THAT THE WOMEN'S CLUB USES THE PARKING ON THE EAST SIDE, UH, WHICH WE'RE NOT IMPACTING FOR THEIR VALET OPERATIONS ON WEEKENDS. MM-HMM . UM, WE WERE USING PORTIONS OF THE ABUTTING, UH, PARKING THERE FOR OUR SCHOOL PICKUP AND DROP OFF. BUT WE'VE COMPLETELY REVISED THAT, AS ALBERT SHOWED, IT'S ALL INTERNALIZED NOW. SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE A OBJECTION TO THAT. ALL OF OUR PARKING'S COMPLETELY INTERNALIZED NOW. SO THOSE SPACES ARE FREE. AND I KNOW THAT'S SEVERAL RESIDENTS ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP THAT COMMENT DURING OUR, UM, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING A FEW MONTHS AGO. RIGHT. I THAT'S VERY BENEFICIAL, ESPECIALLY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU HAVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS THAT HAVE ZERO PARKING AVAILABLE. UM, LET'S TALK ABOUT TRAFFIC FOR A MOMENT. AND GALLIANO, UM, NOTICE THAT THERE'S A COUPLE OF INTERSECTIONS WHERE THERE'S NO CROSSWALKS, AND I'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SPEEDING ON GALLEANO. UM, NO HIGH INTENSITY MARKINGS FOR THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK. NO STOP SIGNS, NO SPEED TABLES, NOTHING TO SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE, THE DEVELOPER IS WILLING TO HAVE THE TRAFFIC STUDY DONE AND FOLLOW THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON OTHER SIGNS, ET CETERA? YEAH, I BELIEVE OUR, SO OUR TRAFFIC STUDY CALLS FOR A STUDY OF THAT AREA AS PART OF THE PERMITTING PROCESS, UH, TO DISCUSS WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IMPROVEMENTS ON THE, UM, ON THE GALLO SIDE. ON GALLO 'CAUSE OF THE SCHOOL. YEAH. SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE CONDITIONS IN THE, IN THE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC STUDY. YEAH. YOU HAVE AT LEAST FOUR BLOCKS STRAIGHT THAT PEOPLE CAN GO WITHOUT ANY STOP SIGNS AND THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS AND YEAH. AT RISK. SO THERE IS, THEY, UH, PART OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC STUDY IS ACTUALLY FOR US TO, UH, UNDERTAKE THAT STUDY AND WORK WITH MA WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO SEE IF IT MEETS THE THRESHOLD FOR IT. OKAY. CAN YOU ALSO LOOK AT THE TRAFFIC FLOW WESTWARD IN THE TRAFFIC STUDY? 'CAUSE THERE WAS ONE COMMENT, UM, BASED UPON THAT IS THE, IS THE TRAFFIC IS COMING OUT ON BOTH ESIA AND AN IF THERE'S ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, UH, CAN BE MADE TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS WELL IN THAT AREA? WELL, I THINK THAT CONDITION, THAT, THAT SITUATION'S GOING TO BE ADDRESSED, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S, THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PROCESS. THIS APPLICATION HAS A CONDITION THAT AFTER CO WE NEED TO DO A WHOLE NOTHER TRAFFIC STUDY. AND IF THERE'S ANY IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED FROM THAT STUDY, WE WOULD IMPLEMENT THEM. OKAY. UM, SO [04:45:01] ACTUALLY, UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER UNDERWAY THAT WILL LIKELY GET CAPTURED IN THAT TRAFFIC STUDY. SO, UM, AND THE SIZE OF THE TREES THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE INSTALLING, YOU MEANING THE DEVELOPER, HAVE YOU COMMITTED TO PUT IN TREES THAT ARE AT LEAST HOW TALL? SO, UH, THERE'S A CONDITION IN YOUR STAFF REPORT THAT PROVIDES THAT, AND I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS SHOW TREES THAT ARE MUCH LARGER IN THE RENDERINGS, THAT THEY ACTUALLY ARE, THERE'S A CONDITION IN YOUR STAFF REPORT THAT THOSE TREES BE 16 FEET AT THE TIME OF PLANTING ALONG THE STREETSCAPE. OKAY. SO THE IDEA IS TO CREATE THAT BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE ON DAY ONE. OKAY. MAYOR, I DO HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, BUT, UM, I WANTED TO GET SOME OF THESE, UH, QUESTIONS ANSWERED BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU, MADAM VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YEAH. FIRST I WANNA THANK EVERY RESIDENT THAT WAS HERE AND SPOKE PRO AND CON THIS DEVELOPMENT. AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT THIS IS A QUASI-JUDICIAL CASE. SO I WOULD WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD THAT THERE HAS BEEN COMMUNICATION VIA EMAILS AND IN PERSON REGARDING THIS DEVELOPMENT. I ALSO WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD THAT I LIVED IN THIS AREA FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS, SO I KNOW THIS AREA VERY WELL. AND I ALSO WANNA BE VERY SENSITIVE TO CRYSTAL ACADEMY. I SPENT NEARLY 12 YEARS PRACTICING IN THIS FIELD, TREATING CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OR UNIQUE ABILITIES. SO THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART, BUT I'M ALSO SITTING HERE AS A COMMISSIONER, AND I'M PUTTING MY HAT FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY I OWE TO MY CONSTITUENTS. SO QUALITY OF LIFE OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. SO AS MUCH AS I DO LOVE THIS COMMUNITY AND, AND, AND THE SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, I NEED TO MAKE A DECISION NOT ON CRYSTAL ACADEMY. THAT'S NOT THE VOTE. IT'S ON THIS DEVELOPMENT. UM, UM, THIS IS AN OUT OF SCALE PROJECT. IT'S A MASSIVE UPZONING AND IT KEEPS ON HAPPENING IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND MY COLLEAGUES ARE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THIS CITY WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPMENT. IT FALLS ON US TO PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY. SO MY DUTY AND MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THIS COMMUNITY AND THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. WE MADE PROMISES TO OUR RESIDENTS WHEN WE TOOK AN OATH AND WHEN WE WERE ELECTED, ONE OF MY PROMISES IN SPECIFIC HAD TO DO WITH DEVELOPMENT. A GENTLEMAN HERE SAID, THE VOICES OF OUR RESIDENTS MATTER, AND THEY DO MATTER. I'LL GO AHEAD AND I RESERVE THE REST OF MY COMMENTS FOR WHEN I'M VOTING. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'VE BEEN HERE NOW CLOSE TO THREE AND A HALF YEARS, AND IN THREE AND A HALF YEARS, THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT HAS COME BEFORE US THAT HAS HAD ANY OPPOSITION. WHAT WE'VE SEEN FOR THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS IS DEVELOPERS SITTING DOWN WITH RESIDENTS, FINDING A PATH FORWARD THAT HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL, NOT JUST FOR THEIR MEANS AS A DEVELOPER AND THEIR GOALS, BUT ALSO FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY'RE COMING INTO. AND LOOK, YOU, YOU CANNOT TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT IT IS EXTREMELY NOBLE TO FIND A SPOT FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY, UH, AND GIVE THEM A NO COST 99 YEAR LEASE. UM, I THINK SAYING THAT THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO THAT, THERE IS A BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, IS THAT THE ONE THING THAT MAKES THIS PROJECT A GOOD PROJECT FOR THIS NEIGHBORHOOD? IT IS NOT THE, UM, ATTORNEY FOR THE DEVELOPER WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ADJACENT LAND USE. YOU HAVE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THIS PROJECT. UH, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, AND COMMISSIONER CASTRO BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, HAVING CONVERSATIONS. I'VE SPOKEN WITH RESIDENTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT THE PROJECT. I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM AS WELL, OR THE PRIOR DEVELOPMENT TEAM ABOUT THE PROJECT. SO I HAVE HAD EX PARTE IN, UH, COMMUNICATION ABOUT THIS. UM, BUT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THESE, THAT THIS PROJECT IS GONNA HAVE ON THEIR ENJOYING THEIR PROPERTIES. THERE'S A HOUSE ACROSS [04:50:01] THE STREET WHICH WILL HAVE THE DRIVEWAY COMING OUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME. AND THAT HAS BEEN THEIR CONCERN. AND AS FAR AS WHAT I SAW IN THE DESIGNS, AND, YOU KNOW, I COULD BE CORRECTED, THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. UM, I DON'T THINK GIVING CRYSTAL ACADEMY 5,000 SQUARE FEET FOR 99 YEARS IS ENOUGH. I THINK CRYSTAL ACADEMY, THE NEED FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY AND ITS GROWTH ALREADY EXISTS TODAY. I MEAN, THE AUTISM NUMBERS, AND MARY, YOU KNOW, THESE BETTER THAN I DO, ARE CONCERNING. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED AT LEVELS WHICH ARE WAY HIGHER THAN OURS. WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO ADDRESS THEM, BUT, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO TACKLE THE AUTISM ISSUE ENSURING THAT THE NUMBER OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN DOES NOT CONTINUE TO RISE. UM, I THINK WE'RE RIGHT NOW AT ONE OUT OF EVERY 36 CHILDREN. IS THAT THE, IS THAT CORRECT? ONE OUT OF, ONE OUT OF 31. AND THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE, IT WAS 36. THIS WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN I VISITED CRYSTAL ACADEMY. THE NEED FOR SCHOOLS LIKE CRYSTAL ACADEMY CONTINUES TO GROW EVERY DAY. YOU'RE CAPPING IT AT 5,000 SQUARE FEET. CRYSTAL ACADEMY IN 10 YEARS, 15 YEARS IS GONNA BE MAXED OUT. AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY HAS THE ABILITY TO GROW WITHIN ITS CAMPUS, SO THAT IN 15 YEARS, CRYSTAL ACADEMY ISN'T, AGAIN, IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY DON'T FIT OR THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WHO NEED IT. THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY MODEL WORKS, AND IT HAS WORKED FOR MANY CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I THINK WE'RE KIND OF TRAPPING THEM INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE LIMITED. AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT CRYSTAL HAS BEEN USED DURING, DURING THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND HAS BEEN DRAGGED ALONG FOR FIVE YEARS WITH UNCERTAINTY BECAUSE THE PARENTS ARE CORRECT. UNCERTAINTY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD WHEN YOU HAVE A CHILD IN THIS SITUATION WHERE THEY'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO THIS ENVIRONMENT AND READJUSTING TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT IS GONNA BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. SO, I I MEAN, ARE YOU EVEN, UH, ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS TODAY ABOUT CHANGES TO, TO THIS PLAN? UH, MR. NAVARRO, I HAVE MY CLIENT HERE AND, UH, WE, WE ARE, I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WENT AHEAD AND AS YOU'VE SEEN, UH, HAVE MADE THREE, THREE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE, TO THE PROJECT ALREADY WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT WE'VE AGREED TO. ALL RIGHT. SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS. UM, ONE, IS THERE ANY FLEXIBILITY IN THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT'S BEING GIVEN TO CRYSTAL ACADEMY FOR GROWTH? WHETHER IT'S CURRENT GROWTH OR WHETHER IT'S BASIC, IT CAN BE, UH, I GUESS, REPURPOSED IN THE FUTURE FOR THE ABILITY FOR GROWTH FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY? SO WITH THE RECENT CHANGE, THERE'S BEEN AN ADDITIONAL 500 SQUARE FOOT ADDED TO THE, I MEAN, IT'S A, I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CRYSTAL ACADEMY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. THIS IS WHAT THEY NEED. I MEAN, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY NOW TO BE ABLE TO PROGRAM THAT SPACE A LOT MORE EFFICIENTLY. AS YOU SEE, ONE OF THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL IS THAT ACTUALLY THERE'LL BE MORE CHILDREN THAN THEY CURRENTLY HAVE TODAY. SO THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW. I THINK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN HERE, HERE, 65 OR 70 CHILDREN THAT NOW COULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. 75 ACTUALLY. SO 30 ADDITIONAL KIDS ARE ALMOST DOUBLING THE CAPACITY. RIGHT. BUT AGAIN, IF WE GO OVER THE AUTISM NUMBERS, I THINK THAT NEED IS GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW YEAR OVER YEAR. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS SET UP TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GROW IF THEY NEED TO GROW IN THE SPACE OR IN THE BUILDING WHERE THEY'RE IN. I MEAN, I THINK WE CROSSED THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE GET THERE. RIGHT NOW IT'S, UH, TRYING TO PRESERVE AN ORGANIZATION THAT IF IT'S LOST, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLICATE. AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE IN A FACILITY THAT IS ESSENTIALLY FALLING APART. THEY HAVE NO ABILITY TO REPAIR IT. I MEAN, IT'S, I'VE BEEN VERY ROUGH SITUATION, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY THE TOP, UH, AUTISM FACILITY IN SOUTH FLORIDA WHEN IT'S COMPLETED WITH THIS BUILD OUT. UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS RENT FREE RIGHT NOW. THEY HAVE A HUGE OVERHEAD EVERY SINGLE MONTH, UH, NOT ONLY WITH REPAIRS, BUT WITH THE COST OF JUST MAINTAINING THIS PROPERTY, UM, THAT WILL GO AWAY. AND AT THAT POINT, THEY MAYBE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS. AND RIGHT NOW, I THINK WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROJECT FIVE YEARS AGO, IT WAS URGENT RIGHT, TO GET TO GET THEM A NEW FACILITY. AND NOW FIVE YEARS LATER, IT'S, WE'RE UP AGAINST THE CLOCK. UM, WE CAN'T SOLVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS AT ONCE, BUT THIS IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY PUT A BIG DENT, UH, INTO WHAT'S NEEDED OUT THERE IN TERMS OF CREATING A NEW FACILITY FOR 75, UH, CHILDREN WHO REALLY NEED THE SERVICE. [04:55:01] UM, AS FAR AS THE PARK, WHAT IS THE OBJECTION TO PLACING THE PARK AT THE LOCATION WHERE THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD IS? I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE INTENT OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD TO HAVE THAT BUFFER WITH THE WOMEN'S CLUB, THE OPEN SPACE OF THE WOMEN'S CLUB IS ON THAT SAME, I GUESS, PAR, UH, UH, ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD IS LOCATED, THAT WOULD ADD THAT OPEN SPACE TO THE FRONT, UH, OF THE BUILDING AND REALLY ALLEVIATE THE MAIN CONCERN THAT THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA HAVE ABOUT PRESERVING, UH, THAT, UH, THAT PIECE OF LAND. WE UNDERSTAND THOSE CONCERNS THAT RESIDENTS HAVE WITH THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD. IT HAS BEEN A BATTLE THAT HAS GONE ON FOR WAY TOO LONG. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ARCHITECTURAL PROCESS AND THE ZONING PROCESS WERE USED, YOU KNOW, AS REASONS TO TRY AND PRESERVE THE GARDEN. UH, THE WOMEN'S CLUB FACILITY WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE FACILITY IS ACTUALLY ON THE EAST SIDE. UH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD WANTED A BUFFER FROM THAT FACILITY. THAT'S WHAT THE, THE OPEN SPACE IS NOT HISTORIC, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN TRYING TO ALLEGE HERE. WHAT'S HISTORIC IS THE ACTUAL BUILDING, WHICH IS ON THE EAST SIDE, WHICH IS WHY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD WANTED THAT BUFFER. SO FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE AND A COMPATIBILITY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT THERE. THE SCHOOL IS OBVI IS, IS IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY TODAY. UM, THAT'S WHERE THEY'VE OPERATED, UH, THE INTERNAL CIRCULATION TO ACCOMMODATE INTERNAL PICKUP AND DROP OFF FOR THE SCHOOL AND NOT HAVE IT GOING ON ON THE STREET, REQUIRES 'EM TO BE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY. UM, AND, AND IT'S JUST THE WAY THIS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A PROJECT THAT'S TRYING TO, TO INTEGRATE A SCHOOL INTO A MIXED USE PROJECT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS AT PLAY. WHEREAS THE, UM, BACK OF HOUSE, ELECTRICAL VAULTS, ACCESS OPEN SPACES, ALL THESE THINGS GOING ON, THAT IS THE LOCATION, UM, THAT MAKES THIS PROJECT WORK AND ROTATING IT. WE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAID WE'D STUDY IT, I KNOW ALBERT COULD ATTEST TO THIS, WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE A PRETTY EASY THING. YOU JUST FLIP IT RIGHT ON THE PAGE. BUT IT IS A BIG REDESIGN, WHICH IS WHY WE SAID, LISTEN, WE WILL AGREE TO THE CONDITION, BUT PLEASE, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT'S DONE AS PART OF THE FINAL DESIGN STAGES, BECAUSE IT IS GONNA BE A BIG REWORK FOR THIS PROJECT INTERNALLY, UH, MOVING THAT COMPLETELY ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PROPERTY. UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT ACCOMPLISHES MUCH. YOU ACTUALLY LOSE, I THINK THAT BUFFERING EFFECT FROM THE WOMEN'S CLUB, AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IT, GAR OF OUR LORD, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY SAY THE SAVE THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN THERE. I'VE BEEN THERE A HUNDRED TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. I COULD TELL YOU, I MEAN, IF THAT WAS MY BACKYARD, I'D BE CALLING SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY TO COME SCRAPE THAT AND, AND LANDSCAPE IT. THERE IS NOTHING OF VALUE THERE TO PRESERVE. SO I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, MOVING IT. THERE MIGHT BE SOME, YOU KNOW, NOSTALGIA ABOUT IT, BUT THERE REALLY IS NOTHING THAT WE'RE EFFECTIVELY PRESERVING. AND I THINK IT LEADS TO NOT SUCH A GREAT DESIGN PROJECT IF IT WAS TO BE MOVED, WHICH IS WHY I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, IT WAS ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD RECOMMENDATION IN TERMS OF DESIGN. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE THERE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TREASURED, WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE IT OR NOT, BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION IT'S BEEN IN. WE KNOW THAT THE CHURCH HAD HUGE FINANCIAL ISSUES FOR MANY YEARS MM-HMM . AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO MAINTAIN IT. UM, FOR THEM IT DOES MEAN SOMETHING. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS, UH, A GOODWILL GESTURE THAT THE DEVELOPER CAN MAKE TOWARDS THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY'RE PUTTING THIS PROJECT IN, UH, AND REALLY MAKING AN IMPACT. AND I THINK YOU MAY EVEN BE ABLE TO GET A FEW EXTRA SQUARE FEET FOR, UH, CRYSTAL ACADEMY IF YOU MOVE THE LOCATION TO THIS OF THE SCHOOL, TO THE OTHER SIDE, GIVING THEM THAT EXTRA SPACE. I THINK WE'RE STILL IN A DESIGN PRO. NO, I'LL LET YOU FINISH. UM, I CAN TELL YOU THIS, UM, IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS. UH, WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS EARLY ON AND THERE WERE SOME THINGS WE COULD HAVE DONE. NOT PUTTING IT EXACTLY THERE, BUT A LOT OF THINGS, IF WE COULD HAVE DONE THAT, THAT EASILY AND MAKE THIS PROJECT WORK, WE WOULD'VE DONE IT , BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY, BUT IT JUST, IT DOES NOT WORK FOR THE PROJECT TO HAVE THAT OPEN SPACE AT THAT CORNER. I'M GONNA LET ALBERT ADDRESS IT. YES. I, I WOULD LIKE TO VIEW IT THIS WAY, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS PROCESS, THIS COLLABORATIVE PROCESS WITH THE CITY AND OUR STAFF. WE SEE THAT THE NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITY IS GETTING A LOT MORE THAN THEY HAVE TODAY. TODAY IS A PRIVATE PROPERTY, A PRIVATE GARDEN TODAY. THEY DON'T HAVE THE WIDER SIDEWALKS, THE WIDER STREET SCAPE THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING ON THIS PROJECT, UH, TODAY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARK [05:00:01] AFTER HOURS THAT THEY HAVE IN THE CORNER, 4,000 SQUARE FEET TODAY. THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A BEAUTIFUL COURTYARD THROUGH A BEAUTIFUL PA TODAY. THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THAT CONNECTIVITY, ALL THAT BEAUTIFUL PEDESTRIAN REALM AND WE'RE BRINGING FORTH ON THIS PROJECT. SO I THINK WE ARE LENDING A LOT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, TO THE, THAT'S HOW WE AS AN ARCHITECT, AS AS, UH, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESIGN, UH, A PROJECT IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, VIEWS IT. AND, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT PERSPECTIVE, BUT IT'S LIKE GOING TO BUY A CAR, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT ONE SPECIFIC FEATURE IN ORDER TO GET THAT FEATURE, THEY THROW IN 20 OTHERS THINKING THAT THOSE ARE FEATURES THAT YOU WANT. WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT IT. UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S ASKING FOR HERE. I THINK THE ONE THING THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THAT OPEN SPACE AT THAT LOCATION. AND IF WE ARE HAVING AN OPEN SPACE, ALL I'M ASKING IS WHY NOT JUST MOVE IT OVER TO THAT OTHER SIDE? I'M NOT EVEN ASKING YOU TO DO THE EXACT SAME FOOTPRINT. I'M ASKING YOU TO KEEP THE SAME SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT YOU'VE DESIGNATED FOR THE PARK. JUST MOVE IT TO THAT LOCATION. AND AGAIN, IT'S A GOODWILL GESTURE TO TO, TO THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. UH, LET'S END THIS FIVE YEAR PROCESS ON A HAPPY NOTE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU TO GET THE ONE THING THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR ALL THIS TIME. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A NINE STORY BUILDING IN FRONT OF THEIR HOMES, IN FRONT OF THEIR, THEIR, THEIR WINDOWS. LET'S GIVE THEM THAT PARK, JUST MOVE IT OVER TO THE OTHER LOCATION. THAT IS THE REQUEST THAT I'M, THAT I'M MAKING TO YOU. THAT'S THE SIMPLE REQUEST THAT I'M MAKING. MR. MR. NAVARRO. IT'S A BRIEF QUESTION. PIGGYBACK OFF WHAT COMMISSIONER FRANZ WAS SAYING, JUST SO I CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY. HOW LARGE IS THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD? HOW MANY SQUARE FEET IS IT DEPENDS HOW YOU DEFINE IT. TODAY, IT'S ZERO. BUT THAT AREA, THE OPEN SPACE, 20,000 SQUARE FEET. YEAH, BUT I MEAN, I'M JUST THROWING NOW WHERE THE PLAYGROUND IS NOW, WHERE THE PLAYGROUND, WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBOR. YEAH, JUST THE AREA WHERE, WHERE, WHERE THE ACTUAL GARDEN IS. HOW MANY SQUARE FEET IS THAT? PROBABLY LESS THAN 3000 SQUARE FEET. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UM, IS, IS THE CON JUST KIND OF, I WANNA GIVE MORE CONTEXT TO COMMISSIONER FRANCIS. IS THE ISSUE HAVING TO DO WITH THE FACT OF THE WAY THAT THE RESIDENTIAL IS STACKED ON TOP OF THE AREA, THAT THE PA MAY BE REQUESTED AND THAT ALL THOSE RESIDENTIAL UNITS WOULD BE LOST IF THAT PARK WAS INSTALLED? IS THAT, IS THAT, I MEAN, THAT'S, WE'RE HAVING A FRANK CONVERSATION HERE. WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO A, TRYING TO BRING THIS IN FOR A LANDING. YEAH, I MEAN, AND I'M TRYING, AND I'M TRYING TO GIVE MORE CONTEXT BECAUSE IF YOU, IF YOU PUT A, LET'S SAY A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT PARK, EXCUSE 5,000, IT'S KIND OF THE SMALLEST PARK WE HAVE IN THE CITY, RIGHT? MR. MANAGER, WOULD YOU SAY 5,000 SQUARE FEET? UM, WHEN YOU PUT A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT PARK, HOW MANY UNITS DO YOU LOSE ON THAT VERTICAL STACK THAT IF YOU WANTED TO, IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE A PARK THERE, YOU'D SAY, LET'S SHIFT THAT DENSITY AND INTENSITY ON TOP OF THE BUILDING AND MAYBE ADD AN ADDITIONAL FLOOR. I KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL FLOOR, BUT I'M ASKING, YOU GOTTA FIND A WAY TO SKIN THE CAT HERE AND FIND A RESOLUTION HERE. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? TELL ME. SO THAT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 25 UNITS, A 25 UNITS, AND THAT'S A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE. OKAY. JUST WANNA PUT THAT ON THE MIX HERE. AND THE WAY THIS PROJECT IS WORTH, I MEAN, WORKS, IS THAT OBVIOUSLY, UH, THERE IS A CERTAIN THRESHOLD WHERE WE'RE MAKING THE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INVESTMENT, OF COURSE, THAT IT JUST WON'T WORK ANYMORE. NO, I UNDERSTAND. AND THAT'S WHY WAS MY NEXT POINT. I MEAN, AGAIN, YOU, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT. AND I HAVE, AND I HAVE MY ASKS THAT I'M GONNA ASK YOU, WHICH ARE NOT AS COMPLICATED AS THIS ONE, EVEN THOUGH AFTER READING THE PZA MINUTES, I KIND OF AGREE WITH PZA. UM, THAT, BUT LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION ON THE ONE OF THE COMMISSIONER FEZ, FINISH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I HAVE, I, SORRY. WELL, I GUESS I NEVER GOT AN ANSWER. I DON'T THINK THAT'S POSSIBLE. I MEAN, I REALLY DON'T. NOT ONLY NOW AT THIS STAGE. UM, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT WILL DO. JUST PUT THE PO THE PROJECT ON PAUSE AGAIN. AND YOU'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY, ACTUALLY, IF YOU TOOK COUNT TODAY, I THINK THERE WAS ONLY NINE PEOPLE I SPOKE AGAINST, MAYBE 10. THERE WAS 22 PEOPLE IN SUPPORT, 500 PETITIONS OF IN SUPPORT AND NOT FROM, I, YOU KNOW, FROM AROUND HERE. THIS IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, 522 PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT FROM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN WE FIRST SHOWED UP [05:05:01] HERE FOUR YEARS AGO, THERE WAS PROBABLY A HUNDRED PEOPLE AGAINST US. THE ISSUE OF THE GARN OF OUR LORD IS NOT REALLY THE ISSUE ANYMORE. YES, THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S NOT A BIG COMMUNITY ISSUE. YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE RESIDENTS, THEY WANT TO SEE A SITE ACTIVATED. YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE PARENTS, THEY NEED THIS SCHOOL TODAY, ALL THIS, WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION. WE CAN'T KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE WE'RE JUST PUTTING THIS PROJECT AT JEOPARDY. AND THIS PROJECT, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR CRYSTAL HAS A TICKING CLOCK. BUT MR. NAVARRO, THIS IS NOT ABOUT PINNING ONE RESIDENT VERSUS ANOTHER BECAUSE OF WHAT THEIR DEMANDS ARE, WHAT THE REQUESTS ARE, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE. THIS IS A SIMPLE REQUEST. IT'S, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO GET RID UNITS VERY, BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE AN AREA DESIGNATED AS GREEN SPACE AS OPEN SPACE. SO YOU'RE NOT LOSING IT. YOU'RE JUST SHIFTING IT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION. IF THIS PROJECT WAS A PERFECT SQUARE, IF THE SITE WAS A PERFECT SQUARE, RIGHT? AND I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE DYNAMICS IN THIS PROJECT THAT IS, WHICH ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS. I UNDERSTAND THAT PROPERTY IS LIKE A TRAPEZOID. YES. SO THE MOVING OF THAT OVER THERE IS NOT AS SIMPLE. THE FACT THAT WE ROTATED IT AND IN THREE WEEKS WE'RE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN OF IT, SHIFTING IT TO THE COMPLETE OTHER SIDE, WHAT HAPPENS TO CRYSTAL'S PUBLIC OPEN SPACE, THEN JUST WE'RE GONNA HAVE CHILDREN THAT DON'T GET TO HAVE OPEN SPACE AMENITIES FOR THEIR, FOR THE CHILDREN, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE DISCUSSING HOW IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, THE NEED FOR AUTISTIC PROGRAMMING IS, AND OUTDOOR RECREATION IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THAT. WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT OPEN SPACE AMENITY? WHERE, WHERE DO WE GET THE SPACE FOR THAT? BUT LET'S TAKE IT BACK FIVE YEARS, YOU'VE HAD FIVE YEARS TO DESIGN THIS PROJECT WITH THE PARK AT THAT LOCATION. YES. AND, AND THE DEVELOP THINK IF WE COULD DO IT TIME AND DONE, IT HAS NEVER DONE THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. IT IS POSSIBLE. IT ABSOLUTELY IS. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. IT IS POSSIBLE. YOU'RE JUST NOT GONNA MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE. THAT'S THAT, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. IT'S NOT MAKING AS MUCH MONEY. IS THAT BEING ABLE TO, IT DOESN'T MAKE AS MUCH FINANCIAL SENSE. IT WOULD, IT WOULD. BASICALLY, THE PROJECT COULD NOT AFFORD TO HAVE CRYSTAL ACADEMY COME IN, BE COMPLETELY BUILT OUT AND RENT FREE FOR NINE, NINE YEARS. IT JUST DOESN'T WHAT PERCENT, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PROJECT IS CRYSTAL ACADEMY? IT'S NOT A PERCENTAGE. IT'S TWO. THE COST, COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION 2%. YOU KNOW WHAT FI OKAY, I'M, I I MEAN YOU'RE SAYING IT LIKE CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS THE MAJORITY OF THE PRO OF THE PROJECT. IT IS NOT, IT IS A SMALL FOOTPRINT, WHICH IS, AGAIN, MY OTHER CONCERN IS THE FACT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GIVING CRYSTAL ACADEMY ENOUGH SPACE. LONG, LONG RUN. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 99 YEARS WHERE CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS GONNA BE BOOTSTRAPPED TO NINE TO TO 5,000 SQUARE FEET. SO, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK YES, OF COURSE. AGAIN, COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY, I'LL RECORD THIS. UH, WE STARTED WORKING FIVE YEARS AGO ON THIS, AND THE FIRST THINGS WE DID IS WE LOOKED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF LEAVING THE GARDEN WHERE IT'S AT. LOGISTICALLY IT WASN'T POSSIBLE FOR MANY REASONS. WE WERE TRYING TO ALLOCATE THE PARKING SYSTEM, A TWO BAY PARKING SYSTEM, WHICH SERVES THE ENTIRE BUILDING. AND TO BE LIGHTER, ONLY TO BE ADEQUATELY URBANISTICALLY WITH THE BEST SOLUTION POSSIBLE. THAT HAS TO HAPPEN ON THE EAST, WHERE THE SITE HAS THE ABILITY TO GROW, RIGHT? OR TO ESTABLISH A PARKING CIRCULATION. THE OTHER ONE IS BASICALLY CUT OFF BY THE ANGLE. SO BY DOING THAT, THE SCHOOL NEEDED TO BE AT THE DOUBLE HEIGHT AREAS OF THE PARKING TO THE EAST. BY DOING THAT, THE CIRCULATION TO THE SCHOOL AND THE DROP OFF AREAS NEEDED TO BE TO THE EAST. AND BY DOING THAT, THE ASSOCIATED OPEN SPACE NEEDED TO BE WITH ADJACENCY TO THE SCHOOL, MOVING THE USE TO THE OTHER SIDE. IT WOULD DESTROY THE COM THE LOGISTICS OF HAVING WHAT WE HAVE TODAY, WHICH IS A COMPLETE LINER SYSTEM OF ACTIVE SPACES ON ANTI AND ON , RIGHT? TO ESTABLISH THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE ALL WANT THE URBANISTIC ACTIVE SPACES INTRODUCING IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT ANOTHER SPACE, WHICH IS THE SCHOOL WOULD DESTROY THE ADJACENCY, WOULD DESTROY THE INTERNALIZED PARKING CIRCULATION, THE ACTUAL LINE AIRING OF A PARKING ON THE UPPER FLOORS. WE LOOKED AT IT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. I CAN TELL YOU WE LOOKED AT IT SO MANY TIMES THROUGH THIS PROCESS. UH, WE WENT FIVE TIMES TO THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS AND THEY CONSIDER WE HAD THE APPROPRIATE, THE APPROPRIATE MASSING ELEMENTS, THE APPROPRIATE, UH, PLACEMENT OF, OF THE PARKING. UH, AND WE ENJOY THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MADE WHAT WE TRULY FEEL IS TODAY A PROJECT THAT IT'S, IT'S ALL THE CHECK MARKS HAVE BEEN CHECKED. I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU FROM OUR SIDE AND FROM, FROM A PLANNING STANDPOINT AND FROM AN ARCHITECTURAL STANDPOINT, MOVING THAT TO THE OTHER SIDE FOR IMPLEMENTING A PORTION OF, OF PROPERTY THAT IS PRIVATE AND IT'S A GARDEN. WE THOUGHT THAT ALL [05:10:01] THE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT WE COULD OFFER THE COMMUNITY, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL OPEN SPACE. NOW WE HAVE 32% OF THE PROPERTY BEING OPEN SPACE INSTEAD OF NOTHING TODAY. WE HAVE A WIDER PROP, WIDER SIDEWALKS, THE WIDER PEDESTRIAN ELEMENTS. I THINK THAT THAT MAKES A, A UNIQUE PROJECT AND A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT AREA, FOR THAT, FOR THAT PARTICULAR CITY BLOCK. I REALLY DO. I MEAN, I, I UNDERSTAND AND I APPRECIATE YOU BREAKING IT DOWN TO THE, THE NEEDS OF THE PROJECT AS WELL. THERE, THERE'S LOGISTICS INVOLVED. THIS, I THINK MR. NAVARRO AND I WORKED IN ON ANOTHER PROJECT, ONE NORTH POTS, AND I GOT SIMILAR CONCERNS AT THAT POINT FROM THE ARCHITECT THAT WE COULDN'T RELOCATE THE, THE ENTRANCE BECAUSE RESIDENTS DIDN'T WANT IT IN THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. AND IT WAS DONE. AND, AND WE HAD ZERO OPPOSITION TO THAT PROJECT WHEN THAT PROJECT WAS APPROVED BY, BY THE COMMISSION THREE MONTHS AGO. UM, IT TOOK WORK, UH, IT TOOK A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH RESIDENTS AND IT TOOK A LOT OF CONCESSIONS ON BOTH SIDES. UH, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A PROJECT THAT PRESERVED THE GREEN SPACE, GAVE THE RESIDENTS THE, THE BUFFERS THAT, THAT THEY WERE, UH, LOOKING FOR, UH, UH, REMOVED THE, UH, THE, UH, ENTRANCE RAMPS FROM THE RESIDENTIAL OR THE SINGLE FAMILY STREETS. SO WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY. UM, I'M NOT GONNA PRETEND TO BE AN ARCHITECT. I'M NOT GONNA PRETEND TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO. MY REQUESTS, I THINK, ARE SIMPLE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY, AND I THINK THE GARDEN OR, OR THE PARK AREA SHOULD BE MOVED TO THE OTHER LOCATION, COMMA. ALL RIGHT? SO I WANNA ALSO THANK EVERYONE FOR EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWS. I MEAN, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, UM, AS, UH, COMMISSIONERS TO REPRESENT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. BUT NOT ALL PEOPLE SHARE THE SAME THOUGHTS, VIEWS, OR OPINIONS AT THE SAME TIME. SO WE'RE NOT HERE TO MAKE THE, THE EASY DECISION. WE'RE HERE TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS. I I, I HAPPEN TO, YOU KNOW, RESPECT VERY MUCH ALL THE SIDES THAT WERE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY. UM, YOU KNOW, BUT FOR ME, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER, RIGHT? AND IT'S NOT, AS MANY HAVE SAID SO FAR, IT'S NOT ABOUT CRYSTAL ACADEMY. THAT'S NOT THE MAIN FOCUS HERE, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT I'M AWARE OF, WHERE YOU HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF TO HELP OUT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE MOST HELP RIGHT NOW. AND THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. YOU KNOW, THE, THE CHILDREN WHO ARE GETTING THE CARE, THE UNIQUE SPECIALIZED CARE WHEN YOU SUFFER FROM A DISABILITY LIKE AUTISM, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, AND, AND I'M, I, UH, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED FOR OVER A DECADE WITH EASTERSEALS. SO I'M THE CHAIR OF DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE LEADING, UH, ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PROVIDE, UH, THAT KIND OF SUPPORT AS WELL AS RAISE AWARENESS. SO THAT'S A REAL, UM, UH, EXISTING, UH, UNIQUE AND VITAL, UH, SERVICE THAT'S BEING PROVIDED TODAY. THE, BY COMPARISON, YOU KNOW, THE GARDEN OF THE LORD, I THINK IT WAS CREATED SOMETIME IN 1951. IT CERTAINLY IS NOT THE KIND OF, UM, LANDMARK DESIGNATED ICONIC, UH, HISTORICAL LOCATIONS THAT CAME FROM THE 1920S AS PART OF MERRICK'S PLAN AND VISION. IT, IT SIMPLY WASN'T, UH, I'D BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, LET'S FIND A NEW PLACE TO START A NEW GARDEN OF THE LORD. RIGHT? UM, NOT SO SIMPLE TO START A NEW CRYSTAL ACADEMY. CERTAINLY NOT AS IMPACTFUL. AND, UH, WHILE I SHARE, UH, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S CONCERNS ABOUT WANTING TO OPEN AND PROVIDE AS MANY, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY AS, UH, CAN BE PROVIDED, UM, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICANT IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS. CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS, AS WAS SAID BEFORE. IT'S AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROVIDED A RENT-FREE 99 YEAR LEASE WHEN IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, THIS TREMENDOUS OVERHEAD THAT MARY AND HER TEAM ARE, ARE TAKING ON INCREASED OVERHEAD ALSO MEANS INCREASED COST TO THE PARENTS, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE SERVICES. SO I THINK THAT THE APPLICANT HAS DONE, UH, LAUDABLE GESTURE, UH, TO PROVIDE THE SPACE TO MODERNIZE, IMPROVE, AND MAKE IT A BIGGER, AND EVEN A, A BIGGER SPACE AND A BIGGER, UH, GROUP OF, OF CHILDREN THAT CAN USE IT. UM, I DON'T THINK THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY, AND WHO AM I TO OPINE, UH, BESIDES SAYING IS CONSTRAINED OR, UH, PROHIBITED FROM GROWING. UH, PERHAPS WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR NOW, THERE ISN'T A FORESEEABLE INCREASE TO THE, UH, SQUARE FOOTAGE ALLOTTED, BUT, UM, IF CRYSTAL ACADEMY WANTED TO OPEN UP ANOTHER LOCATION, NO ONE'S PROHIBITING FROM THEM FROM DOING THAT AS WELL. DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS AND FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY MAY UNFOLD, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU, YOU'VE [05:15:01] GOTTA MAKE A DECISION BASED ON WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. AND I BELIEVE THAT FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN OVER THIS, UM, UH, SOMEWHAT TORTURED PERIOD OF TIME, IS THAT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS MORE REFLECTIVE OF BEING IN SUPPORT OF THIS, OF THIS DEVELOPMENT. NOT EVERYONE IS GONNA BE IN ALIGNMENT. NOT EVERYBODY WANTS THE SAME THING, BUT I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD, UH, QUITE A BIT OF SUPPORT FOR IT. AND WHY, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OBVIOUS REASONS ARE THERE'S A HIGH, UH, DEMAND FOR, UH, UH, HOUSING IN PARTICULAR IN CORAL GABLES. AND SPECIFICALLY IN THAT AREA, WE WOULD BE THEN APPROVING A PROJECT THAT CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HOUSING WHEN THE DEMAND IS SO HIGH. AND WHEN YOU CAN MEET THAT DEMAND BY PROVIDING THE ADDITIONAL SUPPLY, I BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD THEN YOU WOULD THEN BE PROVIDING THE ECONOMIC SUPPORT TO DRIVE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES, NOT ONLY IN THE, IN THE, IN THE PONDS AREA, UM, BUT, UH, CORAL GABLES, DOWNTOWN DISTRICT IN GENERAL. I SEE A LOT OF UPSIDE TO THIS PROJECT. IS IT PERFECT? NO, BUT IF WE WAIT FOR PERFECT, IF WE WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO BE IN AGREEMENT, NO MATTER HOW IDIOSYNCRATIC, PERSONAL OR UNIQUE YOUR VIEW IS ON IT, THEN, UM, WE WOULD NEVER EXPAND. WE WOULD NEVER DEVELOP. WE WOULD, UH, I BELIEVE, UH, UH, GO STATIC AND THEN REGRESS. AND THAT'S HOW A CITY DOES NOT GROW, DOES NOT IMPROVE. UH, MERRICK'S ORIGINAL VERSION WAS TO DEVELOP, MERRICK WAS THE FIRST DEVELOPER OF CORAL GABLES. AND, UH, UH, AND, AND IN, AND I, I WOULD CONSIDER HIM TO BE FROM CORAL GABLES. HE MOVED HERE WHEN HE WAS 12, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY'RE FROM OUT OF TOWN, THAT FAMILY ORIGINALLY AS WELL. SO, UH, I, I HAVE ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION THOUGH, FOR THE APPLICANT, MR. NAVARRO, COMMISSIONER. SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL. UM, YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN RAISED THAT, UM, CRYSTAL IS UNSURE ABOUT ITS, UH, FUTURE. SHOULD THIS BE APPROVED, UM, FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE ONGOING. DO YOU, CAN YOU SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT MAYBE PERHAPS CAN BE DONE TO ACCOMMODATE, OR I MISS SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY? IS THERE SOME PLANS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED OR SOMETHING HAS BEEN ALREADY DECIDED? SO THE TIMING IS IMPORTANT, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, GET THIS PROJECT APPROVED. UH, WE ARE BE BEHIND SCHEDULE ON WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED, BUT CRYSTAL ACADEMY, UM, THE RELOCATION PERIOD HAS TO BE IN THE SUMMER. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MARY, UH, FIFIELD AND HER TEAM. WE'RE TARGETING NEXT JULY, NEXT JULY AS THE MOVE DATE. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND OURSELVES, UH, TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION WHERE THEY CAN MOVE TO WHILE THIS PROJECT GETS CONSTRUCTED, UH, IDEA TO HAVE THIS SPACE, UM, READY, YOU KNOW, AND WE'LL WORK WITH YOUR MANAGER TO SEE CO THAT SPACE FIRST, SO THEY COULD COME IN WHILE THE REST OF THE BUILDING IS COMPLETED. RIGHT. THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE I MEAN, THERE A LINCHPIN OF THIS, RIGHT? AND, YOU KNOW, IS IS THAT THIS SPACE BE PROVIDED FOR THE 90 YEAR, 99 YEAR PERIOD. BUT THERE, THERE MUST BE A CRYSTAL ACADEMY TO TAKE OCCUPANCY. YES. AND THERE, AND THERE WILL BE, THERE WILL BE CONTINUITY. UH, WE NEED TO MOVE QUICK BECAUSE, UM, JULY IS WHEN, AND MARY'S LOOKING AT ME, I KNOW JULY OF NEXT YEAR IS THE DATE THAT WE HAVE TO, UM, UH, DO THE RELOCATION. SO I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FROM THE DAIS, THAT, UM, AN INFIRMITY THAT WE HAD BEEN DEALING WITH, UM, ON THE P AND Z WAS DELAY, DELAY AND, AND DELAY. AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES IT, UH, TAKES ON THE APPEARANCE, IF NOT THE ACTUAL FORM OF WEAPONIZING IN ORDER TO, TO, TO KILL. NOT, NOT NOT IRRESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT, BUT JUST ANY DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT? SO I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT. I THOUGHT WE SAW THAT OCCUR IN A WAY, IN A, IN A DISTINCT WAY WHEN, UM, THE MARK ON US ONE WAS BEING, UH, DEBATED ENDLESSLY, UH, WITH THE IDEA THAT TIME WILL WOUND ALL DEALS. SO THIS HAS BEEN A VERY LONG PERIOD, FIVE YEARS. I, I NOTE THAT THE P AND Z HASN'T BEEN VOTING IN, IN LOCKSTEP ON THE VARIOUS ORDINANCES. IT'S A FOUR THREE, AND THEN ABOUT A FIVE TWO VOTE, AND THEN A SIX ONE. WHAT THAT REFLECTS TO ME IS THAT THERE'S BEEN GREAT CONSIDERATION MADE BY THE MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD. EACH HAS PROVIDED THEIR VIEW, [05:20:01] EACH HAS VOTED ACCORDING TO THEIR, THEIR CHARGE. AND IT HAS BEEN THE MAJORITY IN EACH OF THE ONES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US. NOT DONE OVERNIGHT, NOT DONE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN A HURRY. UM, BUT MEASURED AND, UM, AND IN THE END, UH, PROVIDING VARIABLE GUIDANCE FOR US HERE ON THE COMMISSION. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR, YOUR PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS THAT CAME TODAY. I, I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER. UM, MY COMMENTS WILL BE BRIEF, BUT I WANNA TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER ALANA BROUGHT UP AND I THOUGHT HE SPOKE VERY ELOQUENT, AND I AGREE WITH MOST OF HIS COMMENTS. THE MARK IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. IT WAS AN, IT WAS AN ITEM THAT WENT BEFORE THE PA WAS STRICKEN DOWN UNREASONABLY, AND WAS LATER TAKEN UP BY THE COUNTY USING THE RTZ. AND WE ENDED UP WITH A BUILDING, I WANT TO BE CORRECT ON THE RECORD, I THINK TWO FLOORS TALLER THAN WHAT WAS BEING PROPOSED ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. I KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO FACE THAT, BUT MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, INSTEAD OF WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, UM, THEY ENDED UP GOING TOWARDS THE RTZ ROUTE OF THE COUNTY. AND IT IS A PUBLIC RECORD. AND IT WAS WHEN THEY PROPOSED IT WAS A SIX STORY BUILDING AND THEY ENDED UP GOING THE RTZ ROUTE AND GOING EIGHT STORIES. THAT IS THE KIND OF SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN. WE'VE LOST CONTROL DUE TO PREEMPTION, BOTH AT THE STATE TO LIVE LOCAL AND AT THE COUNTY WITH THE RTZ. SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY METHODICAL MOVING FORWARD, VERY METHODICAL. DOESN'T MEAN WE APPROVE THINGS TO APPROVE THINGS, BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY METHODICAL, UM, MOVING FORWARD. SO TO SAY THAT I'M FOND OF, OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING THERE, ALL SHORT. UM, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CORAL GABLES AND WHAT MAKES CORAL GABLES SPECIAL, THIS IS WHAT MAKES CORAL GABLES SPECIAL. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT CRYSTAL ACADEMY, A LOT OF TIME. I'VE INVESTED MY OWN TIME, MY OWN MONEY. UM, SELFISHLY, WHY, UM, I WON'T RUIN IT FOR YOU. SPEND SOME TIME AT CRYSTAL ACADEMY AND YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT REALLY QUICK. WHEN YOU WALK IN THERE, STEP ONTO THAT CAMPUS AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH THOSE KIDS. RUN INTO THEM HERE AT CITY HALL. RUN INTO THEM ON THE MARI ON MIRACLE MILE ON PONDS WHEN YOU'RE GRABBING YOUR LUNCH. UM, SPEND SOME TIME WITH MARY. SHE IS AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING. SHE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL HUMAN BEING. SOMETIMES I WONDER HOW SHE DOES IT, JULIA, A GIFT FROM GOD. AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU AS A FRIEND. UM, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU, MR. NAVARRO. MM-HMM . UH, AND I'M HAPPY THAT AFTER FIVE YEARS, THIS IS COMING TO AN END ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. MM-HMM . UM, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT, I THINK IT WAS PAGE 68 OR PAGE 48, CAN WE GO BACK TO THAT? WE CAN, UH, COMMISSIONER FRANEZ TALKED ABOUT HAVING SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SOME, THERE WAS A, THERE WAS AN ADJACENT LIVING SPACE. I'M NOT GONNA ASK YOU TO GIMME 25 UNITS OF THE GREEN SPACE, BUT I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO GIVE ME ONE OF THOSE LIVING SPACES NEXT DOOR FOR CRYSTAL. DO YOU HAVE THAT UP? DO YOU HAVE THAT UP THERE? PAGE 48. AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER IT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING. OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, I'D LIKE TO PULL UP, IF WE COULD, UM, THE SLIDE. 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF PAGE FOUR, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE LIVE WORKSPACES. YEAH. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF IT, AND I KNOW THAT IT COST, I KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA COST MONEY. I KNOW IT'S GONNA COST MONEY ON THE BOTTOM LINE. I KNOW IT WILL, BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING. MM-HMM . MM-HMM . AND THE SECOND THING I'M GONNA ASK YOU, BEING IN CONSTRUCTION WHILE WE WAIT THAT UP. SO IT'S BEAUTIFUL THAT YOU GIVE, UH, CRYSTAL THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY HERE IN THE CITY. 99 YEARS. RENT FREE. I THINK IT WAS THE AREA. CAN YOU OPEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE? BECAUSE I THINK IF IT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN, WE HAVE GIVEN THAT LIVE WORK UNIT, UH, TO CRYSTAL IN THIS UPDATED PLAN. CAN YOU OPEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE? THE ONE ADJACENT TO THE PARK UP THERE? WHAT'S THAT? WHAT'S THAT NEXT TO THE PARK? MY EYESIGHT IS NOT THAT, THAT'S THE GO TO THE LEFT. NO, NO, NO, NO. THE RAMP. THE RAMP. BUT NO, BUT UNDERNEATH THAT, NEXT TO THE PARK. NO, NO. GO HERE. I JUST [05:25:01] CAN'T SEE. MY EYESIGHT IS TERRIBLE RIGHT THERE. THAT IS, IS THAT THE ROAD, IS THAT, THAT IS THE FIRST LANDING OF A RAMP THAT'S OVER . YEAH. OKAY. LET'S GO DOWN THEN. THAT'S GONNA STAY THAT WAY. ALRIGHT. WHAT ABOUT HERE? WE, WE DO HAVE A, AN IDEA BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE REQUESTING. UM, YOU SEE WHERE WE HAVE A DROP OFF OF THE CARS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE PASS THROUGH FOR THE BUILDINGS. OKAY. THERE'S QUITE AN APRON THAT WE HAVE THERE BASED ON THIS NEW RENDITION WHERE WE MOVED THE SCHOOL. UH, AS YOU NOTICE, THERE'S ABOUT POSSIBLY 30, 30 SOMETHING FEET THERE THAT FOR A DROP OFF OF EVEN 75 STUDENTS'S LARGE, IT'S VERY LARGE. OKAY. BUT WE COULD POTENTIALLY EXPAND THE SCHOOL SQUARE FOOTAGE INTO THERE, UH, AND STILL ALLOW A BEAUTIFUL ADEQUATE DROP OFF AREA. OKAY. UH, AND THAT'S A PRETTY BIG SIGNIFICANT AREA. IT IT IS SIGNIFICANT. IT IS SIGNIFICANT. AND THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THIS, UH, CHANGE ALSO IS THAT ON THE NORTH SIDE WHERE WE ROTATED THE PARK, WE ELIMINATED WHERE THE BACK HOUSE AREAS THAT WE HAD. SO ACROSS THE WOMEN'S CENTER, NOW WE HAVE NO BACK HOUSE AREAS. WE ACTUALLY INTERNALIZED THEM ON THE LOWER PORTION IF YOU SEE THEM. UM, SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVES THAT CAME HERE FROM, FROM THIS PARTICULAR REQUEST, FROM A PLANNING ZONING. IF YOU WOULD, YOU WOULD ASSIST ME IN BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, YOU WOULD ALLOW AND MAYBE PROVIDE THE COMMISSION WITH CONCEPTUAL DRAWING OF WHAT THAT WOULD, EXPANSION WOULD LOOK LIKE AND WHAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. ABSOLUTELY. UH, EXPANDING THERE. THAT'S ONE. THAT'S ONE THING. THE SECOND THING IS OBVIOUSLY THERE'S, THERE'S NO BUILD OUT THAT I SEE. WHAT ARE YOU MR, MR. NAVARRO, WHAT ARE YOU PROVIDING? ARE YOU PROVIDING WITH A BUILD OUT, UM, RIGHT NOW FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY? NOT THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF IT. JUST, JUST THE, UM, INTERNAL BUILDING. SHELL, WELL, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THAT CURRENTLY. THAT'S THE WAY THE COVENANT IS DRAFTED. CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR? CAN YOU INCLUDE THAT IN THE DEAL? I KNOW OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT WAS 5,000 NOW IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT 6,000 BECAUSE NOT, NOT, I, NOT NOT 6,000, BUT IT'S BETWEEN, IT'S GONNA GO UP NOW, LET'S SAY IT'S $150 A FOOT. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, THAT WHERE IS, WHERE IS, UM, WHERE IS THE SCHOOL GONNA GET THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT? THEY'D HAVE TO RAISE THE FUNDS AND I'D RATHER HAVE THEM RAISE THE FUNDS FOR AN ENDOWMENT. WE COULD DEFINITELY COME BACK TO YOU ON THOSE TWO ITEMS AND GET YOU FINALITY ON IT ON SECOND READING, BUT, OKAY. AND THE THIRD ITEM THAT I HAVE A REQUEST. OKAY. BECAUSE THE VICE MAYOR ALREADY TOOK CARE OF TRAFFIC. CALL ME. SHE TOOK CARE OF THE SETBACKS ON GALLO, WHICH BY THE WAY, THAT'S WHERE MY GRANDFATHER LIVED. HE LIVED ON ANO A SMALL LITTLE APARTMENT. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. YEAH. THAT WAS JUST, THAT'S WHERE HE LIVED HIS WHOLE LIFE WHEN HE CAME TO THIS GREAT COUNTRY. UM, THE FINAL POINT IS, EXCUSE ME, I APOLOGIZE. OKAY. CRAZY IDEA. JUST GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT. MM-HMM . MAYBE WE CAN FIND SOMEBODY GENEROUS IN THE COMMUNITY. MAYBE THE CITY CAN PITCH IN. OKAY. THERE'S A PHOTO THAT I SAW THAT SOMEBODY PUT UP THAT SHOWED A TWO STORY BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET THAT HAD A LITTLE SIGN ON IT. I PRAY IT'S A FOR SALE SIGN AND NOT A RENT SIGN. AND THAT THE BUILDING'S NOT HISTORIC. 'CAUSE THEN I'LL HAVE MY DEAR FRIEND COMING TO ME AND TELL ME WE CAN'T TEAR IT DOWN. OF COURSE NOT. 'CAUSE IT'S HISTORIC AND I AGREE. BUT THAT LITTLE BUILDING, CAN WE FIND OUT IF THAT BUILDING'S FOR SALE? I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN RECENTLY SOLD. OKAY. CAN WE FIND OUT? IT WAS, IT WAS SOLD BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT IT AS WELL. IS IT HISTORIC? UH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S HISTORIC. IT IS. OH, IT'S HISTORIC. BUT IT WAS AVAILABLE AND ONE OF THE MANY OPTIONS THAT WE DID IN AN EFFORT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO TRY TO, UH, FIND A NEW HOME FOR THE GARDEN. THAT SITE BECAME AVAILABLE, BUT IT WAS SOLD BEFORE RETAIL. SOMEBODY USED THAT PHOTO BEFORE AND I SAW A LITTLE FOR SALE SITE. THE BUILDING LOOKED OBVIOUSLY OVER 50 YEARS OLD. MM-HMM . SO I WAS WONDERING IF POTENTIALLY THAT BUILDING WAS, WAS, I WAS HOPING IT WASN'T THE ONE THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, BUT YES. THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE HAD LOOKED AT. YEAH. IN THE PHOTO. AND IT'S SOLD. YEAH. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S HISTORIC. IT'S NOT GONNA BE . THANK GOD. UM, I LIKE TO SEE THROUGH THE MANAGER, IF POSSIBLE, THAT WE LOOK FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT IN THAT VICINITY. IF WE COULD HAVE YOUR TEAM AND SEE WHAT WE COULD FIND, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT POTENTIALLY WE COULD WORK ON AS A RELOCATION, [05:30:02] UH, FOR SOME OF THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD. ARTIFACTS. AGAIN, MAYBE IT'S A POSSIBILITY, MAYBE IT'S NOT. BUT IN CLOSING BEFORE I KNOW THE VICE MAYOR HAD SOME FURTHER COMMENTS, I'M READY TO VOTE. UM, I THINK AFTER FIVE YEARS, THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN. I THINK WE'VE HAD, UM, A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PARTAKEN IN THIS BEAUTIFUL DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT WE'RE BLESSED TO ENJOY HERE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY. UM, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT CRYTO ACADEMY BELONGS IN THIS COMMUNITY, NOT BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT MARY AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE DOING, BECAUSE I THINK IT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY BETTER, TRULY MAKES OUR COMMUNITY BETTER. AND I WANT TO COMMEND FIVEFIELD FOR UPHOLDING THE BARGAIN. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. UM, THE DEAL THAT WAS STRUCK BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS DEVELOPER, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR ALL YOUR CONCESSIONS TODAY, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT BETWEEN THE COMMISSION, WE'VE ASKED FOR A LOT. THIS IS A PRIVATE PIECE OF PROPERTY. THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC PIECE OF PROPERTY. WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE DEALING WITH PUBLIC PIECES OF PROPERTY SOON, WITHIN A FEW HOURS ON A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I WROTE, WHICH WILL PROTECT GREEN SPACES, WHICH WILL PROTECT THE YOUTH CENTER, WHICH WILL PROTECT GOLF COURSES LIKE THE GRANADA GOLF COURSE. BUT THIS IS A PRIVATE PIECE OF PROPERTY. I'LL BE VOTING YES TO PROTECT BRISTOL ACADEMY, WHICH I THINK IS A TRUE TREASURE IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT I WOULD LIKE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING TO ADDRESS THE THREE POINTS THAT I MADE. WE WILL, UM, IF YOU'D BE SO KIND, UH, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT WAY TOO TILL THE DAY OF THE, OF, OF THE HEARING. MM-HMM . THAT'S SEND THE MEMO THROUGH THE MANAGER AND HIS TEAM AND COPY THE COMMISSION. WE'LL START LOOKING AT IT RIGHT AWAY SO WE CAN BE, UH, ON THE SAME PAGE. MADAM VICE MAYOR, PUSH THE BUTTON. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PRESENT AND PROVIDING YOUR COMMENTS. UM, GREAT CITIES REQUIRE GREAT SCHOOLS AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GEORGE MERRICK STRONGLY BELIEVED IN HOW WE GOT TO UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. THE LAND WAS DONATED THERE. IT'S A BIG SACRIFICE THAT MERRICK MADE. CORAL GABLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS BUILT AND SO WAS ELLI OWNED, WHICH WAS THEN BOTH THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE JUNIOR HIGH. AND, UM, SERVES OUR, STILL SERVES OUR COMMUNITY THIS DAY IN A JUNIOR HIGH CAPACITY, IN A DIRECT ROUTE FOR CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS OR ANYBODY TO GO TO CORAL GABLES HIGH. THIS SCHOOL PROVIDES A MISSING GAP. WHEN I KNOCKED DOORS SIX YEARS AGO, THAT WAS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT PEOPLE EXPRESSED. OUR COMMUNITY LACKED SUFFICIENT RESOURCES. KEEPING CRYSTAL ACADEMY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALLOWING IT TO GROW. AND I AGREE IT DOES NEED TO GROW. UM, AND ALLOWING IT TO EXPAND ON THIS SITE RIGHT NOW TO BE ABLE TO ESSENTIALLY DOUBLE ITS CAPACITY IS A GREAT SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT I THINK MERRICK WOULD BE EXTREMELY PROUD OF FOR OUR COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD ON. AND THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE DO MATTER, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE IDEAS WHO WERE TOTALLY OPPOSED. THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD. THE FOLKS THAT SPOKE TODAY, I DID TAKE ACCOUNT, UH, 24 WERE IN FAVOR. NINE WERE AGAINST. WE HAD 500 YEAR PETITION. UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE VOTED WERE NOS BECAME YESES AS THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PROJECT BETTER. AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY, WATCHING THESE CHILDREN DEVELOP IN THIS SCHOOL AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS MAGICAL. AND IT GIVES ME HOPE ABOUT THE HUMANITY OF OUR COMMUNITY TO EMBRACE THEM. BECAUSE MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT STARTED OUT AS A NO UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY BRINGS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE HUMANITY THAT WE EXPRESS THERE. SO I'M, YES, AND AS I TOLD SOME FOLKS THAT I MET WITH YESTERDAY, THAT THE PREFER NO DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT WE WISH FOR 'CAUSE THAT HAPPENED DOWN ON US ONE, AND AS YOU HEARD, WE ENDED UP WITH RTZ ZONE, FIVE FOOT SIDEWALKS, MINIMAL STEP BACKS. [05:35:01] I'M JUST GONNA CALL THEM UGLY BUILDINGS 'CAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY IS NOT GONNA DO WHAT OUR BOARD OF ARCHITECTS DOES. THE QUALITY IS NOT GONNA BE THERE. LIVE LOCAL HAS BEEN AMENDED EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND IS NOW ALLOWED TO BE ON S TYPE PROPERTIES OR CHURCH TYPE PROPERTIES. AND WE ALREADY HAVE ONE ON SOUTH WITH 80 STREET. THERE'S NO PARK OR GREEN SPACE. THERE'S NO COMMUNITY BENEFIT, THERE'S NO PAD. AND, UM, MY LAST, UM, COMMENT IS PEOPLE FOCUS ON STORIES AS OPPOSED TO HEIGHT. WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH HEIGHT, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS LOWER CEILINGS, SO YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO FIT MORE STORIES IN THERE. THE MORE EXPENSIVE UNITS HAVE TALLER CEILINGS, SO FEWER UNITS, MORE EXPENSIVE, LESS AFFORDABLE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORIC FABRIC OF THIS NORTH PONDS AREA, AND MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAD FOUR BUILDINGS. GOD REST HIS SOUL, HE'S GONE. THEY WERE ALL SOLD IN THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS. THOSE UNITS RANGED FROM 375 SQUARE FEET. THAT'S THE 1 0 2 MINORITIES BUILDING ON THE CORNER OF MINORS AND GALLO. AND BUILDINGS SUCH AS ONE 14 MINORITIES, ONE 18 MINORITIES, THOSE BUILT THOSE HISTORIC BUILDINGS HAD ABOUT 650 SQUARE FEET. THIS BUILDING PROVIDES THE MISSING MIDDLE. IT'S GONNA PROVIDE HOUSING THAT HISTORIC PRESERVATIONISTS POINT OUT IS NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE AFFORDABLE PLACES FOR FOLKS TO LIVE. AND IT DOES SOMETHING MORE THAT NO OTHER PROJECT HAS DONE. IT BRINGS A GREAT COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT WE CAN LOOK BACK AT DECADES FROM NOW AND SAY, WE DID NOT FORGET. WE DID NOT FORGET THESE CHILDREN. WE DID NOT FAIL TO SUPPORT THEM. WE DID NOT FAIL TO PROVIDE THEM A PLACE TO CALL HOME. AND I HOPE THAT THERE'S MORE DEVELOPMENTS OUT HERE IN THE FUTURE THAT CAN HELP CONTRIBUTE TO HELP SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAD VICE MAYOR. UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT SECOND, JUST TO BE CLEAR, MR. MAYOR, THIS IS ON E SEVEN, THE LAND USE MAP CHANGE. YES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. I'M A NO TODAY. UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING. UH, I THINK WE CAN MAKE UP SOME OF THAT GROUND. UM, AND I WOULD STILL LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL OF MOVING THAT PARK, UM, TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE GARDEN IS. UM, BUT I CAN'T SUPPORT IT AS IT IS TODAY. SO I'M A NOTE. WE'LL LOOK AT THAT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER LARA. SO MY VOTE IS FOR RESPONSIBLE INTELLIGENT DEVELOPMENT FOR HELPING TO DRIVE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE IN THE PONCE AREA, AND IT'S FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY. SO I'M A YES VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. WELL, MY REASONS PREVIOUSLY STATED. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, I WANNA PUT SOMETHING INTO PERSPECTIVE. AND IT'S THAT THIS BODY IS GOING TO APPROVE THIS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS DOUBLE THE SIZE OF WHAT OUR ZONING CODE PERMITS. SO MY QUESTION HERE IS WHY DO WE HAVE A ZONING CODE? IS A ZONING CODE ONLY FOR RESIDENTS, OR IS IT TO MAKE EXCEPTIONS FOR DEVELOPERS? I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THAT INTO CONSIDERATION A LITTLE BIT. THE OTHER THING IS, THE QUESTION TODAY IS VERY SIMPLE. DO WE PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOODS WE REPRESENT OR DO WE WRITE THEIR PROTECTIONS JUST FOR ONE PROJECT? MY VOTE'S GOING TO BE NO MAYOR LAGO. UH, MR. MANAGER, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I FORGOT TO TOUCH UPON WAS THE MAP, THE 1926 MAP THAT WAS DISCUSSED, AND THAT WAS SHOWN THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE IN ZONING AND THAT IT WAS DOWN ZONED, UH, TO RELIGIOUS. UH, CAN WE HAVE THAT PREPARED FOR STAFF, UH, TO REALLY KIND OF SEND US A MEMO IN PREPARATION FOR THE SECOND READING OF THIS PROJECT? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES IN THE COMMISSION I WAS, I WASN'T AWARE OF. AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU THAT THE 1926 ZONING WAS THE CURRENT ZONING THAT'S BEING REQUESTED TODAY, CORRECT? WELL, IT'S KIND OF VAGUE. I UNDERSTAND, BUT I I NEED A LITTLE MORE CLARITY ON THAT. IT'S NOT GONNA AFFECT MY DECISION, BUT I FOUND THAT VERY INTERESTING AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE GONNA [05:40:01] ASK ME THAT QUESTION. SO I JUST WANNA BE A LITTLE MORE CLEAR ON THAT. HELLO? I GUESS YES. OH, IT WAS SHOWN WAS A HEIGHT MAP. YES. SO WE HAVE A HEIGHT MAP FROM THE 1926 AND ALSO A, A USE MAP, UM, WHAT WAS SHOWN AS THE HEIGHT MAP WOULD HAVE THE HIGHER HEIGHTS ON EAST PONDS AS WELL AS A LOWER ON THE EAST SIDE. OKAY. SO WHAT I WOULD RESEARCH THAT, WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO RESEARCH THAT THROUGH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND PROVIDE, PROVIDE THE COMMISSION WITH A MEMO, JUST EXPLAINING THAT. AND I'D LIKE TO SHOWCASE THAT AT THE NEXT COMMISSION PLEASE. THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER. UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S POLITICS SEASON AND ELECTIONS ARE NOVEMBER. THANK GOD THEY'RE NOT IN APRIL. BUT I UNDERSTAND WE CAN DISAGREE ON PROJECTS, WE CAN DISAGREE ON STYLE, USE HEIGHT UNITS, BUT I THINK WE COULD HOPEFULLY AGREE ON ONE THING. AND THAT IS WE'RE A BETTER CITY WITH CRYSTAL ACADEMY HERE. BUT MY VOTE IS A YES ON F EIGHT. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND PATE. MR. MAYOR, JUST TO BE CLEAR. OH YEAH, I APOLOGIZE. EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU. CAN I, I HAVE TO START WEARING MY GLASSES. APOLOGIZE. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. THE MAJORITY MIGHT HAVE THE VOTES TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THIS, BUT I WILL NOT VOTE TO REMOVE NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTIONS TO TRY TO FIT A NINE STORY BUILDING INTO A LOW RISE RESIDENTIAL AREA. ABSOLUTELY NOT. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? NO. MAYOR LAGO? YES. UH, E NINE. I'M GONNA MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND IT. AND BEFORE WE TAKE THE VOTE, I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE HEIGHT, A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT STORIES. WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT LESS HEIGHT THAN WHAT THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES HAVE, BOTH ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDE. SO BEFORE MY COLLEAGUE LEFT DISTORTS THE FACTS, THAT IS THE BASIS FOR MY MOVING THIS FORWARD. WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? NO. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? NO. COMMISSIONER LARA. SO MY VOTE IS IN FURTHERANCE OF THE CLEAR WILL OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA. SO MY VOTE'S A YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. UH, E 11 DOES NOT REQUIRE A VOTE, CORRECT? CORRECT. THAT'LL BE COMING BACK WITH THIS ITEM ON SECOND READING. WE WILL TAKE A 45 MINUTE BREAK FOR LUNCH. COMMISSIONERS, UH, AND MAYOR, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. WE HAVE A LIST OF ITEMS THAT WE'LL BE BACK. UH, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT OBVIOUSLY I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, BUT WE, UM, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE BE WORKING WITH CRYSTAL AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON SECOND READING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UM, JUST TO MENTION, THERE ARE OVER 3,500 PEOPLE WHO'VE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THIS PROJECT. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN AGAINST THIS PROJECT ARE STILL AGAINST IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE'RE BACK. LET'S, MR. CLERK, IF WE [F.-1. 26-1779 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the City to act as the Official Host City and Festival Sponsor for the 2026-2027 Junior Orange Bowl Festival Season and authorizing the City's annual financial and in-kind contributions as determined by the City Manager or his designee to the Junior Orange Bowl; and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] CAN, LET'S START WITH OUR F1, WHICH WAS TIME SERVED FOR TWO O'CLOCK, BUT WE'LL TAKE IT NOW. F1 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ACT AS THE OFFICIAL HOST AND FESTIVAL SPONSOR FOR THE 20 26 20 27 JUNIOR ORANGE BULL FESTIVAL SEASON. AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY'S ANNUAL FINANCIAL AND INKIND CONTRIBUTIONS AS DETERMINED BY THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNATION THAT WILL JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. UH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M THE SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM. I'M VERY PROUD TO BE THE SPONSOR. UH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, OUR FRIENDS FROM THE JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL. TAKE IT AWAY AND FOR YOURS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYORAL VICE MAYOR ANDERSON, COMMISSIONER LARA, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, AND CITY STAFF. MY NAME IS MIMI BALUM AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AS SERVING AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL, A CORAL GABLES BASED NONPROFIT. I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE COMMISSION, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE WHO HELPS MAKE OUR EVENTS POSSIBLE. YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIPS ALLOWS US TO EMPOWER OUR YOUTH THROUGH SPORTS ARTS, ACADEMICS, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING. THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TODAY REPRESENTS MUCH MORE THAN AN ANNUAL SPONSORSHIP. IT REFLECTS A 78 YEAR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND ONE OF ITS LONGEST STANDING YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. TOGETHER WE HAVE CREATED OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE SHAPED GENERATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHILST SHOWCASING CORAL GABLES [05:45:01] TO THE WORLD. OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING TWO FIFA WORLD CUP MATCHES, AUSTRALIA VERSE, PARAGUAY AND AUSTRALIA, VERSE EGYPT. WHAT STAYED WITH ME WASN'T THE FOOTBALL, IT WAS THE PASSIONATE UNITED SUPPORTERS. I LOOKED AROUND THE STADIUM AND SAW THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ON PAPER HAD VERY LITTLE IN COMMON, DIFFERENT CULTURES, DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND DIFFERENT BELIEFS. YET FOR 90 MINUTES THEY STOOD TOGETHER. UNITED BY ONE GAME, FAMILIES STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, THEY CELEBRATED TOGETHER, COMFORTED ONE AND ARTHUR AFTER HEARTBREAK. AND WHEN THE FINAL WHISTLE BLEW, RIVAL SUPPORTERS SHOOK HANDS, SHARED STORIES, AND WALKED AWAY WITH RESPECT. WHEN THE MATCH ENDED, THE SCOREBOARD TOLD ONE STORY, BUT THE STADIUM TOLD ANOTHER AUSTRALIA'S WORLD CUP JOURNEY WAS OVER AND EGYPT HAD EARNED A MOMENT OF NATIONAL PRIDE, GET AMID CELEBRATION. THERE WAS RESPECT, APPLAUSE FOR THE AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS, RECOGNITION OF THEIR FIGHT, AND A SHARED UNDERSTANDING THAT BOTH TEAMS HAD GIVEN EVERYTHING. IT WAS CLASS, RECOGNIZING CLASS. AND IT REMINDED ME THAT SPORT'S GREATEST LESSON IS CHARACTER. THE HUMILITY TO WIN GRACIOUSLY, THE RESILIENCE TO LOSE WITH DIGNITY, AND THE RESPECT TO HONOR THOSE WHO STOOD ACROSS FROM YOU. IN A WORLD THAT OFTEN FEELS DIVIDED, SPORTS CREATES COMMON GROUND. IT TURNS DIFFERENCES INTO CONVERSATIONS AND STRANGERS INTO TEAMMATES. IN THAT MOMENT, I WAS RE REMINDED THAT THIS IS THE VERY IMPACT THE JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL HAS BEEN MAKING IN CORAL GABLES FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS. EVERY YEAR, MORE THAN 7,500 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ATHLETES FROM OVER 70 COUNTRIES WHO TRAVEL HERE TO COMPETE ON OUR COURTS COURSES AND FIELDS. THEY ARRIVE CARRYING THEIR FLAGS WITH PRIDE, AND THEY LEAVE WITH SOMETHING EVEN MORE VALUABLE. FRIENDSHIPS THAT CROSS BORDERS CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES. MEMORIES THAT LAST A LIFETIME AND A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES MAY LOOK VERY DIFFERENT FROM THEIR OWN. OVER THE PAST 78 YEARS, THOSE EXPERIENCES HAVE HELPED SHAPE SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST RECOGNIZABLE ATHLETES, INCLUDING ROGER FEDERER, COCOA GOFF, TIGER WOODS, ANDRE AGASSI, AND CHRIS EVERETT. BUT OUR GREATEST LEGACY IS NOT MEASURED IN TROPHIES. IT IS MEASURED BY THE THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LEAVE CORAL GABLES MORE CONFIDENT, MORE RESILIENT, AND BETTER PREPARED TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. THIS PARTNERSHIP DOES MORE THAN INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE. IT STRENGTHENS CORAL GABLES. OUR INTERNATIONAL TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP ALONE BRINGS MORE THAN 600 ATHLETES AND NEARLY 2000 VISITORS TO CORAL GABLES. THEY STAY IN OUR HOTELS, DINING IN OUR RESTAURANTS, SHOP IN OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND OVER THE YEARS HAVE GENERATED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY WHILST EXPERIENCING EVERYTHING THAT OUR CITY HAS TO OFFER. THROUGH INTERNATIONAL MEDIA, LIVE STREAMS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. CORAL GABLES IS SHOWCASED TO FAMILIES AROUND THE WORLD AS A COMMUNITY THAT WELCOMES THE WORLD AND INVESTS IN YOUNG PEOPLE. THAT IS THE NECESSITY OF THIS PARTNERSHIP. IT EMPOWERS OUR YOUTH, STRENGTHENS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, AND REINFORCES CORAL GABLE'S REPUTATION AS A COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO THE NEXT GENERATION. BECAUSE WHEN WE INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE, WE ARE NOT SIMPLY FUNDING EVENTS, WE ARE CREATING FUTURE LEADERS, TEACHERS, ENTREPRENEURS, PARENTS AND CITIZENS. THAT IS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT SIMPLY CANNOT BE MEASURED IN DOLLARS. SO ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD, OUR VOLUNTEERS, AND THE THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE TOUCHED BY THE JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL EACH YEAR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING ONE OF CORAL GABLE'S GREATEST LEGACIES WHILE INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION. THANK YOU. NO, THANK YOU. DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO ADD? IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR MARIA CRUZ. GOOD AFTERNOON, MRS. MARIA CRUZ. 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. THIS IS, I GUESS BECAUSE OF MY PROXIMITY TO LIVING TO, UH, THE UNIVERSITY IN THAT AREA, I HAVE BEEN, UH, VERY LUCKY TO MEET SOME OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED. AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU [05:50:01] IF THERE'S ONE PROGRAM THAT WE DO THAT WE SPONSOR, THAT WE SUPPORT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES THAT MAKES US LOOK VERY, VERY GOOD IS THIS ONE. SO I REALLY, REALLY SUPPORT AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING FOR THEM WHAT WE'VE DONE ALL ALONG FOR WHAT, OVER 40 YEARS OR SO? THANK YOU. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. PERFECT. MADAM VICE MAYOR. UM, JUST A QUICK SUMMARY. I'M VERY PROUD TO HELP FOR OUR CITY TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORANGE, JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL. AND, UM, MS. BALLIN HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB DURING HER LEADERSHIP ON, ON THIS ROLE. SO I'M A YES VOTE ON THIS. ANYTHING ELSE THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. SO, UM, WHAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT THE JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID AND WELL DESERVED OTHER THAN TO SAY, I WANNA DIRECT MY COMMENTS TO YOU, UH, MIMI BALUM, UM, AS OUR OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DIOCESE IN THE CITY FOR YOUR TIRELESS LEADERSHIP, YOUR VISION AND YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS WORTHWHILE AND, UM, LONGSTANDING ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU, YOUR FORCE. AND, UH, WE'RE VERY, VERY, VERY, UH, LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AT THE HELM. THANK YOU. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. UM, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING AFTER SPEAKING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND TO THE CITY MANAGER, THAT REALLY WHAT THIS LEGISLATION IS DOING IS CUTTING THE THREE YEAR CONTRACT TO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT. THIS HAS BEEN A TRADITION SINCE 1948 AND I THINK CORAL GABLE'S PRIDES ITSELF ON HISTORY AND TRADITION. I THINK RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE, WE ARE IN A DIFFICULT PREDICAMENT AND I UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS COMING THROUGH, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO NEED TO PRESERVE THIS, THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT, THAT THIS IS A TRADITION. AND INSTEAD OF, UM, CUTTING THE CONTRACT TO ONE YEAR, I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS NEGOTIATING AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. OUR CASH PRO, OUR CASH CONTRIBUTION PER YEAR IS $33,250 FOR THIS ORGANIZATION AND FOR THIS PARADE, OUR IN KIND IS $205,000 IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS. WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS RENEWING THE THREE YEAR CONTRACT AND NEGOTIATING THOSE TERMS, NOT CUTTING THE CONTRACT TO ONE YEAR. MY VOTE FOR THIS WOULD BE NO, AS THE SPONSOR OF THE ITEM, I FULLY SUPPORT WHAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE ORANGE BOWLS DOING AMAZING WORK, ESPECIALLY UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP. LEMME TELL YOU WHY MY COLLEAGUE IS NOT AWARE OF SPEAKS WITHOUT KNOWING, UM, EVERYONE ACROSS THE BOARD, EVERY CITY IS SLASHING CONTRACTS IN PREPARATION TO THE MASSIVE, MASSIVE TAX IMPLICATIONS THAT ARE FORTHCOMING. IF IN 2028, THE REFERENDUM THAT IS SET FORTH BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES, THIS IS JUST MAKING US MORE AGILE AND MORE NIMBLE. I VOTE, I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS ORGANIZATION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE HELM BECAUSE LIKE COMMISSIONER LARA AND THE VICE MAYOR SAID, YOU HAVE TAKEN THIS TO NEW HEIGHTS. UM, IT'S, THE EVENT CONTINUES TO GROW AND IT'S A POSITIVE MARKET IN OUR CITY. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS ORGANIZATION. BUT LIKE I'M DOING ACROSS THE BOARD WITH ALL OUR CONTRACTS, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE. AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ME ON GOING ON A YEAR TO YEAR BASIS, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE AS NIMBLE AS POSSIBLE, THAT WE SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN A YEAR AND A HALF IN REGARDS TO, UH, OUR TAX BASE. SO I WANT TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL AND MAKE SURE THAT PROMISES THAT WE MAKE, WE CAN KEEP THOSE PROMISES. BECAUSE DON'T FORGET, SOME OF US ON THIS COMMISSION VOTED FOR A COLA THAT PUTS THE CITY BACK $2 MILLION A YEAR. AND GOD, I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT IS GONNA HURT THE CITY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS. SO IF YOU WANT TO CONCENTRATE ON CONTRACTS, THAT'S A CONTRACT THAT WE CAN'T BREAK, RIGHT? MR. MANAGER, THAT'S A $20 MILLION CONTRACT OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS FOR NOT OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES, FOR PAST EMPLOYEES THAT ARE RECEIVING A PENSION AND ARE ALSO RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY. SO MOVING FORWARD, YOU HAVE MY WHOLE HEARTED SUPPORT. ANY WAY THAT I CAN HELP YOU, YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANNA MAKE SURE, AND YOU KNOW, THAT WE ARE AS NIMBLE AS POSSIBLE MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE THERE'S A LITANY, A LITANY OF REQUIREMENTS HERE IN THE CITY. CASE IN POINT, OUR INSURANCE COSTS, OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS WENT UP DOUBLE DIGITS THIS YEAR. AND, UH, I HAVE TO MAKE SURE [05:55:01] THAT I CAN PAY FOR MY, MY EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE, UH, AND A AND A LITANY OF OTHER THINGS THAT CONTINUE TO GO UP THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING HERE. SO THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ORANGE BOWL. WE'RE SUPPORTING THE ORANGE BOWL, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE ORANGE BOWL. AND I LOOK FORWARD, UH, TO THIS YEAR'S FESTIVITIES. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT AND I'LL SECOND MR. CLERK, COMMISSIONER CASTRO FOR THE REASONS THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SLASHING THE THREE YEAR CONTRACT AND ONLY APPROVING ONE. MY VOTE IS NO. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES, COMMISSIONER LARA. RIGHT? I, I GUESS YOU CAN LOOK AT IT IN A STRAINED WAY USING A WEIRD SET OF FILTERED GLASSES. UM, I CHOOSE TO SEE IT AS WE'RE ONCE AGAIN SUPPORTING YOU THE JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL AND ITS LEADERSHIP FOR ONE MORE YEAR. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ONE YEAR FROM NOW SEEING YOU AS WELL UP THERE ACCEPTING ANOTHER YEAR FROM US. SO I CHOOSE TO SEE THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE POSITIVELY. SO I'M AN ENTHUSIASTIC YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. ABSOLUTELY. YES, MAYOR LAGO. AND JUST LIKE WE SUPPORT, LIKE YOU SAW A FEW MOMENTS AGO, THE GRANTS THAT WE SUPPORTED FOR DOZENS OF WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS, EVERY SINGLE YEAR THEY GO UP BEFORE THE BOARD, THEY PRESENT BEFORE THE BOARD, THEY TELL US WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, AND WE GRANT THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN SCHOLARSHIPS AND WIN THESE GRANTS. UH, THAT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. IT'S NOT A TWO TO THREE YEAR BASIS. YOU COUNT ON ME. IF YOU PERFORMED LIKE YOU PERFORMED LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS AMAZING, I CAN ONLY EXPECT IT'S GONNA ONLY GET BETTER, ESPECIALLY WITH YOU AT THE HELM. I HAVE FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS OF THE ORANGE BOWL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND MY VOTE IS A YES. THANK YOU. MOVING [F.-12. 26-1745 Summer Page Intern Presentations. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] ON TO ITEM TIME CERTAIN AT 2:30 PM WHICH IS AGENDA ITEM F 12. I LIKE TO, UH, CALL LAURA FROM MY OFFICE TO COME UP HERE. SHE DOESN'T WANNA COME UP HERE, BUT I'M GONNA ASK HER TO PLEASE COME UP HERE, . AND AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN OUR OFFICE AND THAT I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU ENJOY THIS OPPORTUNITY. UM, AND I'LL, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT LAURA TO TALK, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT. UH, I STARTED THIS PROGRAM A FEW YEARS AGO AND, AND THE PROGRAM IS BASICALLY TO HIGHLIGHT AND GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT. WE WANT PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT WORKING IN GOVERNMENT, NOT ONLY RUNNING FOR OFFICE, BUT BEING TOMORROW'S A-C-M-D-C-M, CITY MANAGER, DIRECTOR, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, YOU KNOW, BEING IN THE ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT. AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT HOPEFULLY, UM, GIVES THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES HERE IN THE CITY COURT, OKAY? AND GET AN IDEA WHAT IT IS TO WORK AT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, TO WORK AT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. THESE OPPORTUNITIES, WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW CITIES THAT DO THIS AT THIS LEVEL WITH THESE MANY PAGES. AND I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE, UH, IN THIS LEGISLATION AND THIS PROGRAM AND THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. AND ALL THE CREDIT GOES TO THE DIRECTORS, MY CITY MANAGERS WHO HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB, WHO HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY PROACTIVE TAKING THEM TO SITES, DOING SITE VISITS, AND TO LAURA WHO HAS, YOU KNOW, TAKEN THIS PROGRAM IN HER FIRST YEAR IN MY OFFICE AND HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, ONE OF THE PERKS IS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CLERK BOTTOM LUNCH TODAY. AND I WANNA THANK THE CLERK FOR THAT. ANOTHER THING THAT WE'VE DONE IN OUR OFFICE WAS I BOUGHT THEM ALL BOOKS, THE AR AOR PARKS BOOKS FROM GEORGE AMERICAN. THEY'LL TAKE THAT HOME AND THEY'LL READ ABOUT THAT. THAT'S PART OF THEIR, THAT'S PART OF THEIR HOMEWORK WHILE THEY'RE HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES FOR A FEW WEEKS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE LEFT WITH A LASTING IMPRINT OF WHAT IT IS THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND MANY OF THEM ARE RESIDENTS. SO IT'S A CRISIS OPPORTUNITY THAT HOPEFULLY WILL PAY DIVIDENDS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. SO, LAURA, WILL YOU TAKE IT AWAY PLEASE? I DIDN'T PREPARE ANYTHING. I KNOW YOU DIDN'T. THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT . AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU DIDN'T PREPARE MY FIRST TIME AT THE PODIUM AND I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY. WELL, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? OH, LAURA LARA. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? UH, 1537. SARAH GOES TO AVENUE. OH, YOU'RE A RESIDENCE? I AM. OH MY GOD, THAT'S AMAZING. THAT'S AMAZING. I GUESS NOBODY, NOBODY LIKES MY JOKES, BUT IT'S FINE. IT'S OKAY. TAKE IT AWAY. THE SHOW'S YOURS. UM, WELL THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM. UM, THE KIDS ARE WELL PREPARED AND THEY HAVE PRESENTATIONS READY, SO, AND THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. OKAY, WELL FIRST WE'LL START WITH DOMINIC AND ISA ISA. UM, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE AND [06:00:01] THE MAYOR FOR HAVING US HERE AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PAGES. SO TODAY WE HAVE PREPARED AN OVERVIEW ON PUBLIC RECORDS AND THE SEVEN NEW EXEMPTIONS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ADDED TO THE SUNSHINE LAW. UH, MY NAME IS DOMINIC SILVA AND I'M A RISING JUNIOR AT BERLIN. MY NAME IS AND I AM A RISING JUNIOR AT CORAL GABLE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. HI, LIKE DOMINIC SAID, WE HAVE PREPARED A PRESENTATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS AND THE SEVEN NEW EXEMPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RECENTLY ADDED TO THE SUNSHINE LAW. BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS THE SUNSHINE LAW? AS ONE CAN SEE, IT ALLOWS CITIZENS TO ACCESS THE GOVERNMENTAL PROCEEDINGS OF BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS AT THE STATES AND LOCAL LEVELS. THE LAW IS MADE UP OF THREE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, WHICH ARE LISTED IN THE NEXT SLIDE. THE SUNSHINE LAW FIRST MANDATES THAT THE MEETING OF PUBLIC BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS SUCH AS THIS ONE MUST BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, HENCE WHY OUR ATTENTIVE AUDIENCE IS ABLE TO ATTEND OUR MEETINGS TODAY. NOW THE SECOND REQUIREMENT ESTABLISHES THAT REASONABLE NOTICE OF THESE MEETINGS MUST BE GIVEN, WHICH GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE THIRD REQUIREMENT AS IT STATES. THAT SAID, MEETINGS MUST BE TIMED. SO EXEMPTIONS DEPEND ON THE FIELD OF EMPLOYMENT THAT SOMEBODY'S INVOLVED IN. BUT ACCORDING TO SECTION ONE 19, CHAPTER 71 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN THE NEXT SLIDE IS CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM BEING SHARED. SIX OF THE MOST COMMON EXEMPTIONS TO THE SUNSHINE LAW ARE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, BANK INFORMATION, MEDICAL RECORDS, HOME ADDRESS, CELL PHONE AND CELL PHONE INFORMATION OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, AND A SECURITY AND OR FIRE SAFETY PLAN. NOW WE WILL BE EXPLAINING THE SEVEN NEW EXEMPTIONS THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER. THEY ARE LISTED IN THE SLIDE WITH THE FIRST ONE BEING THE SENATE BILL, UM, 1716, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH SMALL BUSINESS LOAN DATA. IT CREATES A PERMANENT PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION RELATED TO HOW AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY ADMINISTER SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAMS. HOUSE BILL 655 PROVIDES AN EXEMPTION TO MEETINGS BETWEEN AGENCIES AND THEIR ATTORNEYS ABOUT CERTAIN PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS CLAIMS FROM PUBLIC MEETINGS, REQUIREMENTS SPECIFYING DISCUSSION SCOPE, REQUIRING TRANSCRIPTION AND MAKING TRANSCRIPTS, PUBLIC RECORDS AT SET TIMES. IT ALSO EXEMPTS RELATED TRANSCRIPTS, RECORDINGS, MINUTES, AND RECORDS FROM PUBLIC RECORDS REQUIREMENTS SUBJECT TO, IT'S ALSO SUBJECT TO FUTURE LEGISLATIVE REVIEW AND REPEAL, SENATE BILL 506 EXEMPTS BODY CAMERA RECORDINGS MADE BY CODE INSPECTORS FROM PUBLIC RECORDS REQUIREMENTS UNDER C CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES WITH, WITH EXCEPTIONS RETROACTIVE APPLICATION AND A SET RETENTION PERIOD. IT DIRECTS THE DIVISION OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES TO SET A RETENTION SCHEDULE FOR THESE RECORDINGS. AND IT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO FUTURE LEGISLATIVE REVIEW AND REPEAL. NOW I WILL TALK ABOUT SENATE BILL 70 24, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH CYBERSECURITY AND TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED USAGE OF TECHNOLOGY IN TODAY'S SOCIETY, IT IS CRUCIAL THAT ONLINE DATA REMAINS PROTECTED, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY THIS BILL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. IT RESTRICTS ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND SHIELDS, PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT REVEAL INFORMATION REGARDING AN AGENCY, CYBERSECURITY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, IT, AND OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY OT SETUPS. NEXT UP, WE HAVE SENATE A BILL 7,000, WHICH IS RELATED TO EMERGENCY SHELTER CONTACT INFORMATION. THIS BILL PERMANENTLY PROTECTS THE HOME ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO USE PUBLIC EMERGENCY SHELTERS PREVENTING THIS DATA FROM BEING DISCLOSED THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS. HOUSE BILL 1,113 EXPANDS THE PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION [06:05:01] FOR CRIME VICTIMS TO COVER THEIR NAME ID NUMBER AND ANY OTHER IDENTIFYING INFORMATION PLUS SIMILAR PROTECTIONS FOR A VICTIM'S FAMILY MEMBERS OR REPRESENTATIVES. IT ALSO MAKES A LAW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S IDENTITY CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FOR 72 HOURS WHEN, WHEN, WHEN THEY'RE A CRIME VICTIM. UNDER SPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCES, SENATE BILL 7,026 STATES THAT THE BILL PERMANENTLY EXEMPTS TRADE SECRETS AND PROPRIETARY BUSINESS INFORMATION HELD BY STATE AGENCIES FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AND UPDATE STATE'S LAWS TO MAKE THOSE PROTECTIONS CONSISTENT. AS OUR PRESENTATION IS WRAPPING UP, IT IS EXTREMELY WORTH MENTIONING WHAT THE SUNSHINE LAW HAS DONE FOR US IN OUR COMMUNITY AS IT HAS MADE TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR GOVERNING BODIES POSSIBLE, AS IT RIGHTFULLY ALLOWS CITIZENS TO OPENLY ATTEND COMMISSION MEETINGS AND ACCESS A WIDE VARIETY OF RECORDS WHENEVER THEY DESIRE. OBVIOUSLY, WITH A FEW EXEMPTIONS BEFORE WE OFFICIALLY WRAP UP, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COMMISSION FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE AMAZING PEOPLE IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR WELCOMING US AND GUIDING US FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS. CHRISTINA, YOU'RE AMAZING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT TEAM IS THROUGH THE MAYOR. IF I CAN REAL QUICK, WE HAD A LOT OF PRESENTATION, SO YOU KNOW, I'LL BE REAL QUICK. DOMINIC AND ISABELLA, YOU GUYS DID AN AMAZING JOB, ISABELLA, I WANNA SAY THAT YOU REALLY KNOCKED IT OUTTA THE PARK AND YOU'RE MAKING CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, VERY, VERY PROUD. HE'S BIASED. HE WENT THERE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, OKAY, NOW WE HAVE CECILE LESNIK. I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THAT LAST NAME AND CAMILA CHIRO REGARDING THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. LADIES, PLEASE JOIN US. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. WE ARE INTERNS WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT FOR YOU TODAY. TODAY WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A CLOSER LOOK INTO WAYS TO ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES UPCOMING PROJECT, THE MOBILITY HUB. MY NAME IS CAMILA SANTO AND I'M A RISING JUNIOR AT ST. BERNARDIN HIGH SCHOOL. AND MY NAME IS CECILIA LESICK AND I'M A RISING SOPHOMORE AT CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. TO START, WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE GOALS OF THE MOBILITY HUB. THE MOBILITY HUB SERVES TO REPLACE THE CURRENT PARKING GARAGE BEHIND THE MIRACLE THEATER, BUT THE GOAL IS TO MAKE IT MORE THAN JUST A PARKING GARAGE, EMPHASIZING MODERNITY AND OPPORTUNITY IN ITS DESIGN. THE BUILDING WILL INCLUDE SPACE FOR BUSINESSES ON THE GROUND FLOOR, AS WELL AS RESTAURANT SPACE ON THE TOP FLOOR, BOTH OF WHICH WILL SERVE TO ELEVATE THE PROPERTY BEYOND ITS INITIAL VALUE. IT IS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING FOR THE CITY, COMPROMISING A TWO YEAR LONG EFFORT TO BUILD THIS NEW FACILITY, BUT THE POTENTIAL THAT IT HOLDS AS A CENTER OF ENTERTAINMENT, DINING, AND CONVENIENCE MAKES IT ESSENTIAL TO PROMOTE THIS DEVELOPMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. WITH THIS IN MIND, WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE OUR SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW TO INCREASE COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THE MOBILITY HUB, AS WELL AS COLLECT FEEDBACK FROM THE CITY'S RESIDENTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION. FIRSTLY, GIVING CITIZENS ACCESS TO THE DESIGN RENDERS OF THE MOBILITY HUB WOULD ALLOW THEM A FIRST LOOK AT WHAT EXACT CHANGES WILL BE COMING TO THEIR COMMUNITY. BY POSTING THE DESIGN RENDERINGS OF THE HUB ON THE CITY WEBSITE, CITIZENS CAN VIEW THE PLANS FOR THE CHANGE AS WELL AS SEE THE TANGIBLE BENEFITS THIS THIS CONSTRUCTION COULD OFFER FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. ON OUR FIRST WEEK IN INTERN WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WE ATTENDED A MEETING WITH THE CONTRACTORS FOR THE MOBILITY HUB, MEMBERS OF THE CITY AND LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS. THE INTENT OF THE MEETING WAS TO SHOWCASE THE MOBILITY HUB TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OF THE FACILITY. AND OUR ATTENTION WAS IMMEDIATELY DRAWN TO THE DESIGN RENDERS THAT HAD BEEN PLACED AT THE FRONT OF THE MEETING ROOM. GIVING THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THESE RENDERS COULD HELP RESIDENTS GAIN A CLEARER IDEA OF THE VISION FOR THIS FACILITY. MEANWHILE, SHOWCASING NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES WILL DRAW PEOPLE INTO THE MOBILITY HUB, BRINGING ESSENTIAL BUSINESS AND ACTIVITY INTO THE AREA. THE RETAIL THAT THE MOBILITY HUB CAN OFFER ARE ONE OF THE MORE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES CAN CAPITALIZE ON TO BOOST CAP, UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AS SEEN WITH NEW RESTAURANTS IN CORAL GABLES, SUCH AS BUCHA OR STAND, WHEN PEOPLE ARE INFORMED ABOUT NEW AND UPCOMING BUSINESS, IT CAUSES AN INFLUX OF NEW CUSTOMERS INTO THAT AREA. APPLYING THIS PRINCIPLE TO THE MOBILITY HUB COULD HELP DRAW ON RESIDENTS WHO ARE MORE RELUCTANT TO UTILIZE IT, OR EVEN NEWCOMERS FROM NEIGHBORING CITIES SUCH AS THE CITY OF MIAMI OR CITY OF MIAMI BEACH. ONCE THE PUBLIC HAS A [06:10:01] BETTER IDEA OF HOW THE MOBILITY HUB WILL OPERATE, CONSISTENT UPDATES AS TO HOW THE PROJECT IS MOVING ALONG WILL SERVE TO DEMONSTRATE THE PROGRESS OF THIS CONSTRUCTION. FOR THE AVERAGE RESIDENTS, TWO YEARS CAN FEEL LIKE AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME TO WAIT TO SEE PROGRESS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AS SUCH, FREQUENT UPDATES CAN HELP FEEL RESIDENTS, HELP RESIDENTS FEEL MORE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS TO COME AND DEMONSTRATE THE WORK THE CITY IS PUTTING INTO THIS FACILITY. THESE UPDATES COULD BE CENTRALIZED IN THE CITY'S NEWSLETTER, A PLATFORM THAT ALREADY HAS A LARGE AUDIENCE OF INVESTED READERS. FURTHERMORE, THE CITY OF CORAL G HAS A NUMBER OF ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS THERE, WHICH THESE OBVIOUS COULD BE POSTED. I'M SURE MANY OF YOU KNOW AS YOU SEE MAYOR, MAYOR LAGOS POSTS ON INSTAGRAM. QUITE OFTEN SOCIAL MEDIA AS A PARTICULARLY UNIQUE PLATFORM TO ENGAGE CITIZENS BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE MOBILITY HUB, BUT ALSO FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE FEEDBACK ON CONSTRUCTION. WITH THIS IN MIND, WE'D LIKE TO TRANSITION INTO HOW WE CAN GET FEEDBACK FROM CITIZENS STARTING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA. AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED, SOCIAL MEDIA IS UNIQUE IN THAT CITIZENS CAN ENGAGE WITH THE CONSTRUCT, WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MOBILITY HUB, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING THEIR FEEDBACK ON THE PROJECT. FOR EXAMPLE, MAKING A SERIES ON THE CITY INSTAGRAM WITH MONTHLY UPDATES ON THE CONSTRUCTION COULD PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH A QUICK AND EASY WAY TO SEE THE PROGRESS OF THE MOBILITY HUB. INSTAGRAM ALLOWS FOR INTERACTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH POSTS LIKE THESE THROUGH THEIR COMMENT SECTIONS, WHICH CAN SERVE AS A VERY ACCESSIBLE WAY FOR RESIDENTS TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PROJECT. THIS COULD BE ESPECIALLY USEFUL FOR EARLY STAGES OF THE PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF COMMENTERS COULD BE USED TO GOUGE THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST AS TIME GOES BY AND AS THE MOBILITY HUB PROGRESSES FURTHER. FURTHERMORE, CORAL GABLES IS KNOWN FOR ITS COMMUNITY EVENTS FROM THE FARMER'S MARKET TO THE LITERARY FESTIVAL, WHICH ATTRACT INTERESTED MEMBERS OF THE CITY. THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS OFTEN PRESENT AT THESE EVENTS WITH BOOTHS FILLED WITH MEMORABILIA AND INFORMATION. THESE STANDS ALREADY PROVIDE SO MUCH VISIBILITY FOR THE CITY. SO USING IT TO PRESENT THE MOBILITY HUB AND ASK FOR FEEDBACK IN THE MOMENT WILL SERVE TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT THE PROJECT WHILE GAINING GENUINE POINTS OF CONTENTION FOR RESIDENTS. MEANWHILE, HAVING ONLINE SURVEYS WILL GIVE A CHANCE FOR PEOPLE TO SHOW HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THE PROJECT AND LEAVE FEEDBACK FOR THE CITY. KNOWING HOW THE CITIZENS AND OR BUSINESS OWNERS ARE FEELING ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION CAN BE VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL AT THE EFFORT MENTIONED IN-PERSON EVENTS. LINKS TO SUCH SURVEYS COULD ALSO BE PROVIDED IN ORDER TO GROW THE AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK THAT IS AVAILABLE. IN THE END, WE FEEL THAT THESE SUGGESTIONS WOULD GREATLY IMPROVE HOW THE COMMUNITY VIEWS THIS PROJECT AND KEEP THEM EXCITED FOR THE NEW STEPS. NOW WE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF OUR TIME WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND WE FOUND THAT THIS DEPARTMENT HAD THREE CENTRAL FOCUSES, ADAPTABILITY, LEADERSHIP, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. FIRSTLY, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS ONE OF THE MOST VARIED ROLES IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THE CITY'S MANAGER'S OFFICE MANAGES EVERY CITY DEPARTMENT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITY DEVELOPMENT TO HISTORICAL PRESERVATION. NO TWO DAYS WERE THE SAME HERE. AND IT'S CLEAR THAT BEING ABLE TO ADAPT TO EACH NEW CHALL CHALLENGE IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE JOB. WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S ROLE IN OVERSEEING EVERY DEPARTMENT. LEADERSHIP IS FUNDAMENTAL TO HOW THIS OFFICE OPERATES IN OUR DAYS, SHADOWING THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN ACTION, IMPLEMENTING NEW POLICIES AND MANAGING THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF EACH DEPARTMENT. AND FINALLY, ACCOUNTABILITY IS A MAJOR ASPECT IN THE CITY MANAGER'S ROLE. THE TIME THAT THE CITY PUTS INTO BUILDING PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS, RESIDENTS, AND CITY STAFF THAT THEY COMMUNICATE WITH IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. NOT EVERYTHING WILL GO PERFECTLY ALL THE TIME. AND MAINTAINING HONESTY WITH THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WORK WITH ON A DAILY BASIS MAKES IT EASIER TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGES WITH GRACE AND OPTIMISM. ALL IN ALL, DURING OUR TIME IN THE OFFICE, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHADOW MANY PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE OFFICE AND LEARN ABOUT NOT JUST WHAT THE CITY MANAGER DOES, BUT LOTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS AS WELL. FROM GOING TO CITY MEETINGS FOR THE MOBILITY HUB TO TOURING HISTORIC FACILITIES, WE GOT A FULL PICTURE INTO CORAL GABLES GOVERNMENT AND ALL THE ASPECTS THAT GO INTO MANAGING SUCC SUCH A SUCCESSFUL AND BEAUTIFUL CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO GUIDE US THROUGH THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS LADIES. WELL DONE. AMAZING, AMAZING PRESENTATION AND I HOPE MUCH HOPE. I HOPE THIS EXPERIENCE WAS AS WORTHWHILE FOR YOU THAT AS IT WAS FOR ME, VERY INSIGHTFUL, , I'M SO HAPPY YOU GUYS ARE HERE. THANK YOU. AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOUR GRANDFATHER, MAYOR LESNIK WAS ABLE TO CATCH, CATCH YOUR PRESENTATION. I CAN SEE YOU, UH, I CAN SEE WHERE THE, WHERE THE LEADERSHIP RUNS. GOOD TO SEE YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU LADIES. NOW NEXT UP IS AUDREY KAR AND JADEN LEE. SO I'M, I'M FAMILIAR WITH, UH, MR. JADEN LEE. AND IF YOU ARE KEEPING TABS OVER THE YEARS, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT WE HAVE MR. LEE HERE. YEAH. SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. IF HE'S COMING BACK FOR A SECOND BITE OF THE APPLE , THE [06:15:02] FLOOR'S. YOURS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR LAGO, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON COMMISSIONERS, CITY CLERK, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GUIDANCE AND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THESE PAST FEW WEEKS. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR SERVING THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. MY NAME IS JAYDEN LEE, A SENIOR AT GLR PREPARATORY SCHOOL. MY NAME IS AUDREY OCKER AND I'M A RISING SENIOR AT CARROLLTON SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART. WE'RE THE CLERK'S OFFICE, SUMMER INTERNS, AND WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT OUR PROJECT. WE COMPLETED THIS SUMMER, A PROJECT WE BELIEVE WILL SAVE STAFF TIME, STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S OFFICIAL RECORD AND MODERNIZE THE PRODUCTION OF MINUTES FOR ALL 37 OF THE CITY'S BOARDS AND COMMITTEES. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, WE IDENTIFIED A REAL OPERATIONAL PROBLEM IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE, AND THEN WE BUILT THE SOLUTION. . I THOUGHT YOU WERE PERFECT. OF COURSE. REAL QUICK, . OKAY, SO HERE'S WHAT WE FOUND WHEN WE GOT THERE. THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE KEEPS THE OFFICIAL RECORD FOR 37 DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, 37 DIFFERENT LIAISONS, 37 MEETING CYCLES. AND AS WE DISCOVERED, WORKING ALONGSIDE STAFF, ESSENTIALLY 37 DIFFERENT WAYS OF WRITING MINUTES, THAT INCONSISTENCY HAS REAL COSTS. DEPUTY CLERKS WERE SPENDING HOURS REFORMATTING AND CORRECTING DRAFTS BEFORE ANYTHING COULD BE FINALIZED. PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS TOOK LONGER BECAUSE A MOTION OR A VOTE MIGHT LIVE IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLACE IN EVERY DOCUMENT. AND WHEN A NEW BOARD LIAISON CAME ON, THERE WAS NO CLEAR PLAYBOOK TO HAND THEM. WE SAW THIS NOT AS A PAPERWORK PROBLEM, BUT AS A RECORDS INTEGRITY PROBLEM AND ONE THAT WAS FIXABLE WITH A, WITH A SINGLE SUMMER. SO WE FIXED IT. CONFIDENCE FIXED IT. I LOVE IT. SO OUR FIRST DELIVERABLE IS COMPLETE AND READY FOR CITYWIDE USE. TODAY, A SINGLE STANDARDIZED MINUTES TEMPLATE FOR EVERY BOARD AND COMMITTEE PAIRED WITH PLAIN LANGUAGE, STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS THAT ANY LIAISON CAN FOLLOW EVEN ON THEIR FIRST DAY. AND THIS IS A LAW FOR THE CITY. THE DRAFTS WILL ARRIVE MEETING READY, AND THIS LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF EDITING REQUIRED BY THE DEPUTY CLERK. ALSO, MOTIONS AND VOTES NOW SIT IN THE SAME PLACE FOR EVERY DOCUMENT, WHICH MEANS CLEANER RESPONSES TO PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS. THIRD, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'D ARGUE IS MOST IMPORTANT. A CONSISTENT FORMAT STRENGTHENS A CITY COMPLIANT POSTURE. UNDER FLORIDA SUNSHINE AND PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS, A UNIFORM OFFICIAL RECORD IS A DEFENSIBLE OFFICIAL RECORD. AND FOURTH, THE INSTRUCTION SERIES DOUBLES AS AN ONBOARDING TOOL. EVERY FUTURE LIAISON INHERITS A REPEATABLE PROCESS INSTEAD OF A BLANK PAGE. SO OUR PROJECT LOOKS FORWARD TOWARDS THE FUTURE. THE TEMPLATE STANDARDIZES THE FORMAT OF ALL MINUTES. OUR PROPOSED APP, WE, WE WILL CALL SHORTCUT TRANSFORMS HOW THE FIRST DRAFT GETS WRITTEN AT ALL. THE PROCESS IS SIMPLE. THE BOARD LIAISON RECORDS THE MEETING EXACTLY AS THEY DO TODAY. RIGHT AFTER ADJOURNMENT, THE RECORDING IS UPLOADED INTO THE APP. THE APP GENERATES A FULL TRANSCRIPT AND THEN DRAFTS THE MINUTES AUTOMATICALLY ON THE STANDARDIZED TEMPLATE. WE JUST SHOWED YOU STAFF REVIEW AND CORRECT THAT DRAFT. AND ONLY THEN DOES IT GO TO THE COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL. WE WANNA BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING, ONE DESIGN PRINCIPLE, BECAUSE WE BUILT IT VERY DELIBERATELY. PEOPLE STAY IN CHARGE. THE CLERK'S OFFICE STAFF REVIEW EVERY GENERATED DRAFT BEFORE ANYTHING REACHES THE DAIS. THE APP ACCELERATES THE FIRST DRAFT. IT DOES NOT REPLACE THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT THAT EXISTS TODAY, AND IT DOES NOT TOUCH FINAL APPROVAL. WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE, THE SLOWEST, MOST REPETITIVE PART OF THE MINUTES PRODUCTION, LISTENING BACK AND TYPING UP THAT FIRST DRAFT GETS COMPRESSED FROM HOURS TO MERE MINUTES WHILE THE OFFICIAL RECORD STAYS FULLY UNDER HUMAN CONTROL. SO YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHAT'S NEXT. STEP ONE, ADOPT THE TEMPLATES CITYWIDE. THE INSTRUCTIONS AND TEMPLATES ARE FINISHED AND CAN ROLL OUT TO EVERY BOARD LIAISON BY THE END OF THE SUMMER. STEP TWO, PILOT THE APP WITH A SINGLE BOARD TEST, TRANSCRIPTION AND DRAFT GENERATION ON ONE COMMITTEE'S MEETINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS BEFORE EXPANDING. THIS IS LOW RISK AND PROVIDES REAL DATA. STEP THREE, WE'RE GONNA MEASURE IT. TRACK STAFF HOUR PER SET OF MINUTES BEFORE AND AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION [06:20:01] OF THE APP AND REPORT THE RESULTS BACK TO THE CLERK. IF THIS WORKS THE WAY WE BELIEVE IT WILL, THE NUMBERS WILL MAKE THE CASE FOR US. AND BEFORE WE CLOSE, WE WANNA THANK THE CITY CLERK, BILLY U GIA, THE DEPUTY CLERK YLI DAVIS AND AGENDA COORDINATOR, EMEL SAN SORES, WHO MENTORED US THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND WHO TRUSTED TWO INTERNS WITH THE IDEAS THAT TOUCHED THE CITY'S OFFICIAL RECORD. THAT TRUST IS WHY WE WERE ABLE TO DELIVER FINISH WORK, A REAL PRODUCT, NOT JUST SUGGESTIONS. WE CAME IN AS INTERNS, WE'RE LEAVING HAVING BUILT SOMETHING THE CITY CAN USE ON MONDAY MORNING. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THESE PAST TWO WEEKS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND SHOWED US WHAT MAKES CORAL GABLES THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO SEAT MR. LEE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU LOOK VERY PROFESSIONAL. THANK YOU. VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER. SO DO YOU YOUNG LADY. UM, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS TO BOTH OF YOU, ESPECIALLY TO YOU, BETWEEN YOUR FIRST AND SECOND YEAR, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? SO THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE FOR ME, UM, I STARTED OFF WORKING ON A REELECTION CAMPAIGN. YEAH. SO NOW I ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE INNER PROCESS OF WHAT MAKES OUR CITY THE CITY BEAUTIFUL. SO IT'S MADE ME UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE PROCESS THAT GOES BEYOND THE SCENES AND IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME, YOUNG LADY. WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF BEING AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN THIS PROGRAM? WELL, FOR PERSONALLY, I THINK MY FAVORITE PART WAS ATTENDING THE PRE AGENDA MEETING AND JUST SEEING, I MEAN, I'VE LIVED IN CORAL GABLES MY WHOLE LIFE. I'VE NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE INNER WORKINGS OF GOVERNMENT. SO BEING ABLE TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM AS COMMISSIONER CASTRO, COMMISSIONER LARA, AND SEEING HOW THEY ASKED QUESTIONS, HOW THEY MADE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IN THE AGENDA WAS PROPERLY THERE FOR A REASON. I THINK THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART FOR ME TO SEE THAT THE AMOUNT OF, UM, YEAH, THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT IS PLACED IN TO MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE THING IS THOUGHT OUT THOROUGHLY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. SO ARE THEY GONNA BE CONSULTING FOR THE, UH, YOU CAN, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. WE'LL, WE'LL DO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT. WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. UH, GREAT WORK. DANIELLA OSORIO AND MARTINA HOYOS, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. LADIES SHOW. SHOW 'EM WHAT YOU GOT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT IN THIS MEETING. MY NAME IS DANIELLA SORIO. I GO TO ISPA. I'M A RISING SENIOR AND MY NAME IS MARTINA AGIOS AND I GO TO IMMA LASAL AND I'M ALSO A RISING SENIOR AND WE ARE INTERNING IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. AND TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE PRESENTING OUR PROJECTS ON MIRACLE MILE AND DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES. OUR GOAL WAS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY MANY YOUNG PEOPLE CHOOSE PLACES LIKE COCO WALK OVER MIRACLE MILE, AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES EXIST TO ATTRACT MORE VISITORS WHILE CONTINUING TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND OUR MAIN RESEARCH QUESTION WAS, WHY DO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE CHOOSE DESTINATIONS LIKE COCO? WALK OVER A MIRACLE MILE AND WHILE OPPORTUNITIES EXIST TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND RATHER THAN JUST RELYING ON ASSUMPTIONS, WE ACTUALLY DID RESEARCH TO ANSWER A QUESTION. THIS TOPIC MATTERS BECAUSE TODAY'S YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TOMORROW'S RESIDENTS, CUSTOMERS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS. A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN BENEFITS LOCAL BUSINESSES, STRENGTHENS THE LOCAL ECONOMY. AND UNDERSTANDING YOUTH PREFERENCES TODAY CAN HELP GUIDE FUTURE PLANNING DECISIONS. SO WE ACTUALLY HAD THREE DIFFERENT RESEARCH METHODS. SO THE FIRST ONE, WE CONDUCTED A YOUTH SURVEY OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 17, AND WE ASKED THEM WHERE THEY LIKE TO SPEND THEIR TIME AND WHY. AND WE VISITED COCOA WALK AND MIRACLE MILE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT FIVE 30 TO SEE THE DIFFERENCES AND THE SIMILARITIES. AND WE ACTUALLY INTERVIEWED WITH THE CORAL GABLES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, AND WE ASKED THEM WHAT CHALLENGES MIRACLE MILE AND CORAL GABLES FACE. SO FROM THE YOUTH SURVEY RESULTS, WHEN WE ASKED THESE STUDENTS WHAT CAME TO MIND WHEN THINKING ABOUT COCONUT GROVE, THEY USED WORDS LIKE FUN, BEAUTIFUL STREETS, AND GOOD RESTAURANTS. WHEREAS FOR MIRACLE MILE, MOST OF THEM RESPONDED THAT THEY RARELY GO THERE OR THAT THEY SIMPLY DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT. AND THIS KIND OF JUST SUGGESTS THAT MIRACLE MILE HAS A LOWER VISIBILITY AMONG MANY YOUNG PEOPLE. WE ALSO ASKED WHAT FACTORS MATTER MOST WHEN CHOOSING WHERE TO SPEND THEIR TIME. THE TOP RESPONSES WERE ATMOSPHERE AND GOOD FOOD. SHOPPING AND NIGHTLIFE WERE LESS IMPORTANT THAN SIMPLY [06:25:01] ENJOYING THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENT. AND WHEN ASKED WHICH AREA THEY VISIT MOST OFTEN, COCONUT GROVE WAS BY FAR THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATION. OUR SURVEY SUGGESTED THAT THE ATMOSPHERE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ATTRACTING YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO SEE WHETHER THAT MATCHED REALITY. WE VISITED BOTH LOCATIONS OURSELVES. SO THESE ARE THE PICTURES WE TOOK ON FROM MIRACLE MILE ON THAT SATURDAY AT AROUND FIVE 30. AND WE NOTICED FEWER FOOT TRAFFIC. IT WAS GENERALLY LIKE AN OLDER CROWD, AND THERE WERE MANY STORES APPEARED VACANT. AND OVERALL THE AREA JUST FELT QUIETER THAN WE EXPECTED FOR A WEEKEND AFTERNOON. AND THESE ARE PHOTOS FROM COCONUT GROVE AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME. UM, THE CONTRAST WAS THAT WE OBSERVED MANY MORE YOUNG PEOPLE GROUPS SITTING TOGETHER, BUSY SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC SPACES WHERE PEOPLE STAYED EVEN WITHOUT ACTIVELY SHOPPING. THAT ATMOSPHERE EFFECT FELT MUCH MORE ACTIVE IN SOCIAL, WHICH CLOSELY MATCHED OUR SURVEY FINDINGS. AND NEXT WE INTERVIEWED THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT RETAIL HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING AND THAT MANY OF THE OFFICE WORKERS ACTUALLY LEAVE DOWNTOWN AFTER BUSINESS HOURS. THE CITY'S GOAL IS TO CREATE MORE REASONS FOR PEOPLE TO STAY LONGER THROUGH EVENTS IS THROUGH EVENTS, BUSINESS SUPPORT, RETAIL RECRUITMENT, AND INCREASING THE RESIDENTIAL POPULATION. SO WHAT WE LEARNED, ONE THING THAT SURPRISED US WAS THAT MANY OF THE STOREFRONTS THAT APPEARED VACANT AREN'T ACTUALLY VACANT. AND ONLY 6% ARE TRUE VACANCIES. AND MANY OF THOSE WRAP STOREFRONTS ARE ACTUALLY LEASED AND THE BUSINESSES ARE PREPARING TO OPEN THEM. AND THIS HELPED US REALIZE THAT THE CHALLENGE ISN'T JUST FILLING EMPTY STORES, BUT IT'S ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STAY LONGER ONCE THEY ARRIVE. DURING OUR VISIT TO COCONUT GROVE, WE NOTICED MANY INTERACTIVE PUBLIC SPACES WITH PLACES TO SIT OPEN, GATHERING SPACES, PLAYGROUNDS, TEMPORARY INSTALLATIONS, AND COMFORTABLE PUBLIC SEATING. PEOPLE WEREN'T ONLY SHOPPING, THEY WERE SPENDING TIME TOGETHER. THESE SPACES ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO REMAIN IN THE AREA LONGER. AND THESE PICTURES ALSO SHOW THE PARK THAT COCONUT GROVE HAS FOR WHERE PEOPLE CAN SOCIALIZE AND HAVE FUN. AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A NEW PARK COMING SOON, THANKS TO OUR MAYOR NEXT TO MIRACLE MILE WITHIN THE PUBLIX THAT THEY'RE GONNA LIKE TEAR DOWN. AND OUR IDEA IS THAT WE THINK AN INTERACTIVE POP-UP WOULD ATTRACT YOUTH IN ADDITION TO JUST MAYBE THE WORKERS THAT WILL COME TO THE PARK ON THEIR LUNCH BREAKS OR AN OLDER CROWD. BUT OUR GOAL ISN'T TO CREATE A REPLICA WITH SOCCER OR PLAYGROUND, BUT IT'S TO CREATE A SPACE THAT CAN BE EQUALLY AS INTERACTIVE AND INCLUSIVE. BASED ON EVERYTHING WE LEARNED, WE DEVELOPED RECOMMENDATIONS. OUR SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MORE FREE PRECEDING, UM, VERY GAMES LIKE PING PONG, FOOSBALL POOL AND WEEKEND PROGRAMMING. AND OUR MEDIUM TERM, MEDIUM TERM RECOMMENDATIONS ARE, UM, INTERACTIVE PUBLIC SPACES THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITH YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND POP-UP EVENTS THAT CAN ENCOURAGE LOCAL AND TOURISTS. AND ALSO THE LONG-TERM MEASURES WHICH ARE RESIDENTIAL GROWTH, DIVERSE RETAIL, AND THE PRESERVATION OF MIRACLE MILES HISTORIC IDENTITY. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SUPPORTED BY WHAT WE CALL THIRD PLACES BEST DESCRIBED AS PUBLIC SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER OUTSIDE OF HOME OR WORK. RESEARCH SHOWS THEY REDUCE LONELINESS, STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, HELP FRIENDSHIPS DEVELOP NATURALLY AND EVEN IMPROVE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. AND STUDIES HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT EVEN SMALL DAILY INTERACTIONS CAN INCREASE HAPPINESS AND A STRONGER SENSE OF BELONGING. AND AS THESE SPACES HAVE BECOME LESS COMMON TODAY, LONELINESS HAS INCREASED, MAKING THEM MORE VALUABLE. THESE SPACES ALSO CREATE SOMETHING CALLED COMMERCIAL SPILLOVER, WHICH HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE COMFORTABLE PLACES WHERE THEY CAN SPEND TIME WITHOUT FEELING TO PRESSURE, FEELING PRESSURE TO BUY SOMETHING. THEY USUALLY STAY LONGER IN RETURN. THE LONGER PEOPLE REMAIN IN THE AREA, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO EXPLORE NEARBY BUSINESSES AND EVENTUALLY PURCHASE A COFFEE, SNACK MEAL OR OTHER PRODUCT. IN OTHER WORDS, CREATING PLACES TO GATHER CAN ALSO SUPPORT LOCAL COMMERCE. AND OUR RESEARCH LED US TO FORMING CONCLUSION. THE FIRST ONE IS THAT ATMOSPHERE IS THE BIGGEST FACTOR, INFLUENCING WHERE YOUNGER PEOPLE TEND TO SPEND THEIR TIME. AND THE SECOND IS THAT MIRACLE MILE ALREADY HAS STRONG FOUNDATIONS, BUT NEEDS MORE REASONS FOR VISITORS TO STAY LONGER. OUR THIRD CONCLUSION IS THAT PUBLIC GATHERING SPACES CAN BENEFIT BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING BUSINESSES. AND FINALLY, THAT INVESTING IN YOUTH ENGAGEMENT TODAY CAN HELP STRENGTHEN DOWNTOWN AND CORAL GABLES FOR YEARS TO COME. OUR GOAL ISN'T FOR MIRACLE MILE TO BECOME COCONUT GROVE. IT'S SIMPLY FOR MIRACLE MAO TO BECOME THE BEST VER VERSION OF ITSELF AND REACH ITS FULLEST POTENTIAL. AND THANK [06:30:01] YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INTERNS AND HAVE THIS LEARN SO MUCH AND TRY TO HELP THE CITY. SO I WANT TO COMMEND BOTH OF YOU BECAUSE FOR THE SIMPLE REASON, YOU COULD HAVE TAKEN A MUCH EASIER TASK. YOU TOOK ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TASKS I COULD POSSIBLY THINK. WHEN LAURA TOLD ME WHAT YOU WERE GONNA EMBARK ON. I SAID, IT'S GONNA BE VERY DIFFICULT TO UH, KIND OF ESTABLISH THOSE METRICS SO THAT YOU CAN DELIVER ON A PRESENTATION. BUT I THINK YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB. UH, AND THIS IS, UH, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO US. AND I THINK THAT SENSE OF PLACE IS COMING TO THE CITY. WE'RE GONNA HAVE FIVE TO SIX NEW GREEN SPACES ALREADY IN THE DOWNTOWN. UH, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A GAME CHANGER, SIGNIFICANT GAME CHANGER FOR US IN THE NEAR FUTURE, PROBABLY IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS ONCE THOSE, UH, OPEN SPACES ARE DELIVERED. AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT TRANSFORMATION AND I THINK IT'S ONLY GONNA GET BETTER AS, AS THE CITY CONTINUES, UH, TO GROW IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY, ESPECIALLY OUR DOWNTOWN. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR ENGAGING WITH THE CITY, ESPECIALLY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, YASIM ALIGN FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR'S. SIR. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. MAYOR, UH, MS. LAURA, OF COURSE, FOR HELPING ME, UH, COMPLETE THIS PROJECT. UH, GOOD MORNING. AND, UM, I'M READY TO PRESENT. PERFECT. SO HERE, UM, I TALKED ABOUT THE TRASH CAN BECAUSE WHENEVER I'M GOING DOWNTOWN, YOU CAN ONLY SEE LITTER AND I DON'T LIKE LITTER BECAUSE IT MAKES THE CITY VERY DISGUSTING. AND I REALLY, REALLY THROW UP SOMETIMES WHEN I SEE DISGUSTING PLACES. AND THE, UM, THE REASON WHY I CHOSE THIS TOPIC IS BECAUSE THERE'S SORRY. UH, THERE'S LIKE NO REASON WHY YOU SHOULD BE DOING LITTER. AND I CHOSE THE AI BECAUSE IT CAN HELP YOU TAKE THE TRASH AND COULD PICK UP TRASH, LITTER, ANYTHING. IT CAN ALSO, UM, GO TO A RECYCLE TO THROW THE TRASH ITSELF. AND THAT'S IT. SO THE MAIN, UH, REASON WHY, AGAIN, I CHOSE THIS WAS BECAUSE OF THE SMART MANAGEMENT. AND IF YOU COULD SCROLL DOWN, THERE SHOULD BE MORE. SCROLL DOWN. I DON'T HAVE THE, OH, CAN CABLE TV PUT IT BACK UP? WELL, JUST VERY BRIEFLY, I, I THINK THAT THE CONCEPT AND IDEA OF, OF GARBAGE MANAGEMENT AND THERE IT IS. AND ADDITIONAL TO THAT, UM, SINCE THE AI WILL BE NEEDING CHARGING INSTEAD OF USING, UH, CHARGING STATIONS, IT WILL USE SOLAR CHARGING, UM, LIKE SOLAR POWER TOPS TO GET ENERGY. UM, AND IT COULD ALSO USE USBC PORTS AS WELL AS, UM, IT COULD, IT COULD GENERATE WHETHER IT IS PLASTIC PAPER OR FOOD WRAPS AND OPENS THE CORRECT LID FOR YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT? YEAH. ALRIGHT, WELL, FIRST I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. THANK YOU, UH, FOR, FOR EMBARKING ON THIS PROCESS OVER THE SUMMER. UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AGAIN, I'M VERY INTERESTED IN ALSO. AND SO AS THE COMMISSION, UH, THE MANAGER WE'VE, WE'VE BROUGHT, WE'VE BROUGHT FORTH A PLAN OF ACTION, UH, TO ADDRESS LITTER. EVEN THOUGH I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLEAN AND COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES, WE CAN ALWAYS BE BETTER. UM, THE MANAGER RIGHT NOW IS WORKING WITH AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT THAT HE'S IN THE PROCESS OF, I THINK SIGNING A PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT WITH WHERE WE'RE GONNA FIND WAYS TO CLEAN THE SIDEWALKS MORE EFFICIENTLY. INSTEAD OF HAVING EACH AND EVERY SINGLE VENDOR OR BUSINESS OWNER HAVE TO CLEAN THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, 50 FEET, 30 FEET, 25 FEET, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA HAVE A VENDOR GO THERE AND DO ALL THE STREETS AT ONCE. IT'S GONNA BE MORE UNIFORM, IT'S GONNA BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE. UH, AND ALSO THE ISSUE OF ADDRESSING GARBAGE AND LANDSCAPING. UH, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE PUTTING OUR BEST [06:35:01] FOOT FORWARD IN AN EFFORT TO ATTRACT, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE TWO YOUNG LADIES WERE SAYING BEFORE, HOW DO WE BRING MORE YOUNG PEOPLE? HOW DO WE BRING MORE BUSINESSES? HOW DO WE BRING MORE PEOPLE TO SPEND THEIR HARDER MONEY INTO THE CITY? I THINK IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH MINIMIZING THE AMOUNT OF GARBAGE PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUST PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD SO THAT WE'RE INVITING AS POSSIBLE. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU, UH, FOR BEING INVOLVED IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU. SO NOW WE HAVE THREE PROJECTS, EVAN COULTER AND JACOB FINLEY, WHICH ARE GONNA BE WORKING ON SEPTIC TO SEWER BENEFITS OF LIVING SEA WALLS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. HEY GENTLEMEN, HOW ARE YOU? WE'RE DOING GOOD. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU. AND, UM, JUST BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANTED TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE MAYOR, THE VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER CASTRO, FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH US, SIT DOWN WITH US, AND GIVE US ENCOURAGEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON HOW TO DO THESE PROJECTS. AND ALSO THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT THE COMMISSION'S OFFICE. A HUGE THANKS TO THEM. THIS PROJECT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE COMPLETED WITHOUT THEM, SO THANK YOU GUYS. UH, WE HAVE THREE PROJECTS, BY THE WAY. MY NAME IS JACOB FINLEY, I'M A RISING SENIOR AND I GO TO TRUENORTH CLASSICAL ACADEMY. MY NAME IS EVAN COULTER AND I'M A RISING SENIOR AT RANSOM EVERGLADE SCHOOL. AND WE HAVE THREE PROJECTS HERE TODAY. AND THE FIRST ONE WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU IS ABOUT SEPTIC TO SEWER CONVERSION. SO FIRST THINGS FIR OH, CLICKER. I GOT IT. FIRST THINGS FIRST. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE COST VERSUS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS THAT IS TAKING PLACE. WHY IS CONVERTING FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW? AND THE BIG THING IS, AND THE KEY IS POLLUTION. WE HAVE SEEN INCREASED AMOUNTS OF POLLUTION POLLUTING THE CORAL GABLES WATERWAY BECAUSE OF THESE SEPTIC TANKS. THIS HAS LED TO MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF DANGEROUS ALGAE AND DEAD FISH, AS YOU CAN SEE UP THERE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A HIGH COST ASSOCIATED FOR THE HOMEOWNER AND THE CITY WHEN IT COMES TO CONVERTING FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER. SO THIS ISN'T MORE OF A SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT. THIS IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT THAT'S GOOD AND BENEFICIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR YOUR HOME, AND FOR EVERYONE AND THE PEOPLE OF CORAL GABLES. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RIGHT NOW. IT IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND IT IS ALSO GOOD FOR YOUR HOME, AND IT PREVENTS THE NUTRIENT POLLUTION STANDARD. SEPTIC SYSTEMS HAVE NO WAY OF FILTERING NUTRIENTS FROM WASTE LIKE SEWAGE DOES. ALONG WITH THAT ISSUE, FLORIDA HAS POROUS ROCK UNDERNEATH THE SOIL, UM, BENEATH, WHICH IS ALSO BENEATH THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS, MEANING THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF HOLES FOR THE POLLUTED WASTE TO LEAK THROUGH HERDING SOIL AND THE GROUND BENEATH US. SO WHEN THE WASTE DOES LEAK THROUGH THE POROUS ROCK, IT POLLUTES OUR DRINKING WATER, WHICH IS FOUND IN OUR AQUIFER. NEXT, WHY SHOULD HOUSEHOLDS CONVERT FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER? AND FOR THAT, I HAVE TWO WORDS. SEA LEVELS. TRADITIONAL SEPTIC SYSTEMS REQUIRE AT LEAST SIX FEET OF DRY, DRY SOIL BENEATH THEM, WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL AT FIRST. HOWEVER, WITH RISING SEA LEVELS AND THE AMOUNT OF HURRICANES AND STORMS MIAMI GETS, WE KNOW THAT WATER GETS PUSHED UP AND THEREFORE SO DOES WASTE AND IT CAN END UP IN YOUR HOME, IN YOUR YARD, AND IN THE ROADS. IT'S REALLY DISGUSTING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT. IF YOU'RE SHELTERING DOWN FOR A HURRICANE FOR, FOR A BIG STORM, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTS FLOODING, WHICH IT OFTEN DOES IN MIAMI WASTE COMES UP, WHICH IS AWFUL. AND IT'S AWFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY OF CORAL GABLES. LUCKILY, THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS REGIONAL SUCCESS MODELS FINANCIALLY THAT HAVE WORKED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SO STARTING WITH BARNSTABLE COUNTY IN MASSACHUSETTS, THEY USE THE BETTERMENT LOAN ASSESSMENT TO SORT OF TACKLE THEIR SEPTIC TO SEWER CONVERSION AND ALSO COVER THE COST OF HOUSEHOLDS CONVERTING NEXT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, RIGHT IN OUR BACKYARD, USED OR PROVIDED HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES, WHICH ABUT ALREADY ESTABLISHED SEWER SYSTEMS WITH UP TO $15,000 TO COVER THE UPFRONT COSTS OF CONVERTING FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER PER THE CITY'S, UM, ESTIMATE FOR HOW MUCH CONVERTING WOULD BE PER HOUSEHOLD, IT'S AROUND $16,000, WHICH WOULD MEAN THAT EACH HOUSEHOLD WOULD HAVE TO PAY ROUGHLY A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CONVERT FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER IF WE ADOPTED A SIMILAR PLAN. UH, THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE JUST SORT OF OUTLINES THE EXACT FORMAT AND PLAN, WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE WHEN CONVERTING FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. UM, BUT I'LL SKIP OVER THAT FOR NOW BECAUSE I JUST PROVIDED A BRIEF OVERVIEW. NEXT, SOME FLORIDA SUCCESS MODELS. UM, IN BREVARD COUNTY, THEY OFFERED A TAXATION PROGRAM TO COVER UP TO $24,000 PER HOUSEHOLD TO COVER THE COST OF CONVERTING FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER. AND THEN MONROE COUNTY AND THE FLORIDA KEYS USES FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS TO FUND THE CONNECTION OF SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE BETWEEN ISLANDS USING HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING TO STAY ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE. SO WHAT SHOULD THE FINANCING MECHANISM [06:40:01] LOOK LIKE IN CORAL GABLES? WELL, MOST LIKELY, AND PROBABLY IT WOULD BE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS, THE CITY WILL ISSUE BONDS BACKED BY HOUSEHOLD ASSESSMENTS, AND THEN BASINS WILL BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THEIR REPAYMENT STRUCTURE ONCE A MAJORITY OF HOMEOWNERS OPT IN TO THE PROCESS FOR SHOVEL-READY PROJECTS. AND LUCKILY THROUGH THE VICE MAYOR'S HELP SPECIFICALLY, WE'VE REALIZED THAT WE ALREADY HAVE A RESOLUTION IN PLACE, WHICH SHE WROTE HERSELF TO HELP US GAIN ACCESS TO STATE BACKED FUNDS. THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS JUST GETTING ACCESS TO THE FUNDS TO BEGIN WITH. SO ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO GET FUNDS, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO SOLVE THE UPFRONT PROBLEM OF CONVERTING FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER. NEXT, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT STATE FUNDING. HOW CAN WE GET IT? WHAT CAN WE DO AND WHAT ARE SOME APPROACHES WE CAN TAKE? THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROVIDES FUNDING FOR CITIES JUST LIKE CORAL GABLES. IF THEY HAVE SHOVEL-READY PROJECTS, MEANING THE PROJECTS HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED THEIR PRELIMINARY PLANS. THE APPROACH IS ALREADY SCAFFOLDED BY PROVIDING FUNDING FOR DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE PROJECT. AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS EXAMPLES ALREADY NEARBY US, LIKE MIAMI IMMEDIATE COUNTY, THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, AND THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD, WHICH HAVE ALL GOTTEN, UH, STATE FUNDING AND STATE GRANTS. SO WHAT ARE SOME NE NEXT STEPS? THIS, UM, THE COMMUNITY OF CORAL GABLES CAN TAKE ACTING NOW PROVIDES FOR A BETTER FUTURE FOR DRINKING WATER AND THE CORAL GABLES WATERWAY. WE ALSO WANT TO SECURE COMMITMENT FROM RESIDENTS, AND THEN WE AGGRESSIVELY SEEK FDEP FUNDING TO GAIN MORE TRACTION AND MONEY TO THIS CRUCIAL PROJECT. ONCE WE COORDINATE WITH THE FDEP AND RECEIVE NECESSARY FUNDING FOR THE SHOVEL-READY PROJECT, THERE WILL BE A FINANCIALLY ACCESSIBLE MODEL FOR ALMOST ALL RESIDENTS ALLOWING THEM TO CONVERT FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT WAS, THAT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION TO, TO UNDERSTAND ? NO. ANY QUESTIONS OR WELL DONE? OKAY. UH, FOR OUR NEXT PRESENTATION, WE'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT LIVING SEA WALLS. SO, UM, THIS PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND THE IMPERATIVE OF SWITCHING FROM TRADITIONAL SEAWALLS TO LIVING SEAWALLS HERE IN OUR CITY AND WHY IT SHOULD BE MORE, UH, PRESENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO FIRSTLY, WHAT ARE SEA WALLS? SEA WALLS ARE A HARD, SMOOTH, VERTICAL BARRIER OF CONCRETE OR STEEL BUILT TO PREVENT SHORE EROSION. BUT WHO ACTUALLY NEEDS SEAWALLS? WELL, ANYONE WHO LIVES ON THE SHORE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A NATURAL BARRIER TO THE WATER DEFINITELY NEEDS A SEAWALL. AND PRETTY INTERESTINGLY, I'M SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HERE IN THE AUDIENCE HAS SEEN A SEAWALL AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFE, WHETHER IT BE AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE OR ON THE CITY SHORELINE. THEY'RE PRESENT IN ALL OVER OUR COMMUNITY AS LONG AS YOU LOOK ON THE SHORELINE. BUT THE BENEFITS OF SEA WALLS ARE TWOFOLD. FIRST, WE SEE PREVENTING EROSION OF THE SHORE, BUT SECOND, IT PROTECTS THE COASTAL BUILDINGS THAT ARE SO IMPERATIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY. NEXT SEA WALLS. THE PROBLEM WITH, UM, TRADITIONAL SEA WALLS IS THAT THEY HAVE, UM, MANY LIKE POLLUTION IMPACTS. YEAH. AND, AND, AND LIKE EVAN WAS SAYING, THEY LEAK TOXINS INTO THE WATER THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY PROTECTING. IT'S AWFUL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT CREATES POOR ALLERGY AND POOR WATER QUALITY. AND SO WE HAVE A NEW QUESTION THAT NEEDS TO BE ASKED. HOW DO WE KEEP ALL THE GREAT BENEFITS OF SEA WALLS WHILE FIXING THE ISSUES THEY CURRENTLY HAVE? AND FOR THAT, WE HAVE AN ANSWER, LIVING SEA WALLS. WHAT IS A LIVING SEA WALL? IT IS A EXACTLY HOW YOU WOULD THINK OF A NORMAL SEAWALL, EXCEPT IT COMES IN MANY DIFFERENT SHAPES AND FORMS. BUT WHAT I WANT TO TELL YOU IS THAT IT WILL DO THE EXACT SAME THING AS TRADITIONAL SEAWALLS, EXCEPT IT HAS SOME SORT OF HABITAT FRIENDLY DESIGN. AND IN THIS CASE, IN THE PICTURE UP THERE, A TEXTURED WALL, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TO THRIVE. WHO HAS LIVING SEA WALLS? MANY COMMUNITIES HERE IN FLORIDA AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES HAVE LIVING SEA WALLS AND HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED PROGRAMS TO INCENTIVIZE THEM. MIAMI-DADE, FORT LAUDERDALE SATELLITE AND POMPANO BEACH AND MARYLAND, THEY HAVE ALL TAKEN SOME SORT OF STEP FORWARD, WHETHER IT BE IT THROUGH GRANTS OR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT AND THEY TOOK THAT STEP AND LEAP FORWARD IN ORDER TO PROMOTE LIVING SEAWALLS. SO WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SEAWALLS LIVING SEAWALLS? WHY SHOULD WE IMPLEMENT THEM HERE IN CORAL GABLES? UH, FIRST BIODIVERSITY, SECOND, IMPROVED WATER QUALITY. AND THIRD, THEY'RE COST EFFECTIVE. NUMBER ONE, BIODIVERSITY. THOSE TEXTURED AND HABITAT FRIENDLY DESIGNS THAT I SPOKE ABOUT BEFORE HAVE MANY PURPOSES, BUT THE KEY THING THEY DELIVER ON IS A MINI WREATH IN YOUR BACKYARD. IN THIS DESIGN SHOWN IN THE IMAGE, THOSE GROOVES SERVE A PURPOSE. IT ALLOWS ALGAE AND OTHER ORGANISMS TO GROW IN IT AND SURVIVE COMPARED TO A TRADITIONAL SEA WALL. WITH ITS SMOOTH FLAT DESIGN, IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY GROWTH. BUT THIS SIMPLE CHANGE FIXES EVERYTHING THAT IRREGULAR SEAWALL, LECTIN. IT ALLOWS ORGANISMS TO FLOURISH AND LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE WITHOUT FEAR OF TOXINS OR THE SLOW DECAY OF THEIR HABITAT. NEXT, IMPROVED WATER [06:45:01] QUALITY. REMEMBER HOW I JUST TALKED ABOUT THOSE TEXTURED PANELS THAT ALLOW ORGANISMS TO FLOURISH? WELL, THAT'S NOT JUST BENEFICIAL TO THEM. IT'S BENEFICIAL TO YOU AND THE COMMUNITY, UH, BY HAVING ALL THESE ORGANISMS LIVING ON THE WALL AND AROUND IT, IT CREATES A NATURAL FILTERING PROCESS THAT CLEANS YOUR WATER, NOT ONLY MAKING IT A BETTER ECOSYSTEM FOR THE ANIMALS, BUT ALSO MAKING IT CLEAR AND CLEAN, WHICH LOOKS AMAZING FOR YOUR PROPERTY. AND LASTLY, AND FINALLY, LIVING SEAWALLS COST THE SAME AS TRADITIONAL SEAWALLS, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE COST COMPARABLE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE MARINE GROWTH ON THE WALLS ADDS ANOTHER PROTECTIVE LAYER FROM EROSION AND WAVE ENERGY SO THAT OVER TIME THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE COSTS WILL BE LOWER. WHERE A TRADITIONAL SEAWALL MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED IN 30 TO 50 YEARS. A LIVING SEAWALL HAS A LIFESPAN OF OVER 50 YEARS. THANK YOU. AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ON THIS MATTER. AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS, IT, IT FROM MY RESEARCH, IT SEEMS LIKE A WIN-WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT LIVING SEA WALLS COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL SEA WALLS. THANK YOU. WELL DONE. VERY WELL DONE. ONE LAST POINT TO ADD IS WE HAVE REDUCED THE PERMITTING FEE FOR LIVING SEA WALLS IN ORDER TO TRY TO INCENTIVIZE RESIDENTS TO UTILIZE THEM, WHICH, WHICH, UM, I DID FIND IN MY PRELIMINARY RESEARCH AND HUGE THANKS TO VICE MAYOR. IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I KNOW MIAMI-DADE DID SOMETHING SIMILAR. SO THANK YOU VICE MAYOR. AND NOW WE HAVE OUR THIRD AND FINAL PRESENTATION SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES. SO WHY SHOULD THE COMMUNITY OF CORAL GABLE SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES? NUMBER ONE, IT KEEPS MONEY. LOCAL, LOCAL BUSINESSES RECIRCULATE A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF REVENUE BACK INTO THE CITY WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED. SECOND, IT BRINGS LIFE BACK ONTO THE STREETS. OUR DOWNTOWN AND WALKABLE AREAS ARE FILLED WITH SMALL BUSINESSES. LET'S BRING BACK LIFE TO THEM BY SUPPORTING THEM. AND THIRD, GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONALITY. THE IMPACTS HERE ARE THREEFOLD. FIRST, BY SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, WE SEE LOCAL FINANCIAL SUCCESS. SECOND, WHEN BUSINESSES ARE SUCCEEDING IN BRINGING IN GREATER AMOUNTS OF TAX REVENUE, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT RECEIVES MORE MONEY THAT THEY CAN THEN USE, AND THIRDLY, TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM. SO WHAT CAN WE TAKE AWAY FROM OTHER CITIES AROUND US? THE FIRST ONE I'D LIKE TO POINT TO IS GEORGETOWN AND WASHINGTON DC GEORGETOWN ALLOWS LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SET UP IN THE OUTDOOR SPACES USING, UH, ATTRACTIVE MECHANISMS LIKE POP-UPS TO PROMOTE THEIR BUSINESSES. NEXT IS COCONUT GROVE, WHICH GIVES THEIR CENTRAL DOWNTOWN AREA. UM, GIVEN THEIR CENTRAL DOWNTOWN AREA, THEY'RE ABLE TO REALLY CAPITALIZE ON FREEBIES AND POP-UPS AND STOREFRONTS THAT PROMOTE SMALL BUSINESSES. AND FINALLY, WINTER PARK HERE AND ALSO ALSO IN FLORIDA OFFERS ONCE A MONTH WORKSHOPS ON MARKETING THROUGH THEIR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, WHICH WE ALSO HAVE AND WHICH IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE COULD UTILIZE. SO WHAT ARE SOME GENERAL INCENTIVES THAT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES SHOULD TRY TO PROMOTE? WELL, WELL FIRST WOULD BE CREATING MORE SHOP LOCAL REWARDS APPS OR INCENTIVES. MANY CITIES HAVE USED THE REWARDS APP, WHERE IF YOU SPEND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY AT ONE LOCAL BUSINESS AND THEN SEND IN YOUR RECEIPT TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM, THEN YOU CAN THEN RECEIVE A GIFT CARD TO SHOP AT OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES. THEREFORE, PROMOTING THIS NEVER ENDING CYCLE WHERE ALL THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AROUND YOU ARE SUCCEEDING AND RESIDENTS ARE HAPPY WITH THE GOODS AND SERVICES THAT THEY CAN SHOP FOR. SECOND, WOULD BE CONTINUING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE NIGHTTIME. ALTHOUGH MANY BUSINESSES AROUND OUR CITY CLOSE BEFORE THE DINNERTIME HOURS, A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS ONLY ACTUALLY GET TO THE MIRACLE MILE OR ALL THE AREA DURING THE TIMES OF THE NIGHT FOR DINNER. SO THEREFORE, AT LEAST SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND TRYING TO KEEP THEIR LIGHTS ON AT LATER HOURS, PERHAPS THROUGH AN ORDINANCE, WOULD MAKE, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES FAR MORE VISIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEREFORE PROMOTE THEIR SUCCESSES IN THE FUTURE. LASTLY WOULD BE INCLUDING APPLE PAY IN GARAGES AND OTHER PARKING AREAS THAT PREVIOUSLY DIDN'T HAVE THEM. MANY YOUNGER POPULATIONS RELY ENTIRELY ON APPLE PAY TO GET THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES TO BEGIN WITH, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT THEM TO COME TO YOUR AREA AT ALL, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE FROM A PARKING UM, STANDPOINT. SO EARLIER LAST WEEK, JACOB AND I HAD A MEETING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND WE ONLY HAD APPLE PAY ON OUR PHONES, AND WE PARKED IN ONE OF THE CITY GARAGES. AND THEIR ONLY RESPONSE TO US WAS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO GO DOWN THE STREET TO PUBLIX TO GET A GIFT CARD TO THEN PAY FOR THE PARKING, WHICH WAS A LITTLE BIT INCONVENIENT AT THE TIME. UM, NEXT WOULD BE SOME SPECIFIC EVENTS THAT THE CITY COULD CAPITALIZE ON. FIRST WOULD BE MORE RESTAURANT WEEKS AND INITIATIVES WITH A DIVERSE LOCAL BUSINESS POPULATION. THE CITY SHOULD TRY TO PROMOTE, UH, CERTAIN CORPORATIONS DURING THE DISTRICT DIFF DISTINCT MONTHS OR WEEKS OF THE YEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, PROMOTING LATIN BUSINESSES DURING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH OR BLACK OWNED RESTAURANTS DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. ALSO, PARKING INCENTIVES COULD BE A VERY INTERESTING INITIATIVE FOR THE CITY TO TAKE ON. [06:50:01] ALLOWING CERTAIN GARAGES OFF THE BEATEN PATH OF MIRACLE MILE OR GIRALDA TO OFFER LOWER RATES, COULD HELP PROMOTE LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THOSE AREAS AND ALLOW THEM TO BECOME MORE VISIBLE. BECAUSE IF RESIDENTS GO TO THOSE GARAGES TO PARK, BECAUSE IF IT'S CHEAPER, THEN THEY ABLE, THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO GAIN MORE EXPOSURE TO THOSE LOCAL BUSINESSES. PERHAPS EVEN KEEPING PARKING MUCH LOWER OF A RATE ON SUNDAYS OR EVEN FREE ALTOGETHER COULD ALSO HELP THE CITY. GIVEN THAT SUNDAY IS A TYPICALLY SLOWER DAY OF THE WEEK AND THEREFORE COULD BE CAPITALIZED ON TO AT LEAST PROMOTE SMALL BUSINESSES, GIVEN THAT PARKING REVENUE ON THAT DAY IS NEARLY A NET ZERO TO BEGIN WITH. SO TO CONCLUDE WITH THIS PRESENTATION, WE WOULD SAY ALLOWING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SPACE THAT THEY HAVE ON MIRACLE MILE WOULD BE A GREAT AND, UM, PROMOTION AND INCENTIVE JUST IN NEW YORK CITY. THE SIDEWALKS ARE PROBABLY A THIRD, THE SIZE OF THOSE ON MIRACLE MILE. AND WHEN YOU WALK AROUND, ALL THE LOCAL BUSINESSES HAVE LITTLE TABLES SET UP OFFERING PERHAPS SAMPLES OR FREE FOOD OR CLOTHING TO THE PEOPLE WALKING BY, WHICH REALLY HELPS THEM PROMOTE THEIR GOODS AND SERVICES. THE CITY SHOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO PROMOTE LOCAL BUSINESSES THROUGH APPS AND MARKETING WORKSHOPS. AND LASTLY, CONTINUE TO INCENTIVIZE YOUNGER POPULATIONS TO TRY AND REACH MIRACLE MILE ANDAL, THE, TO TRY TO PROMOTE THE FUTURE OF THE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I I WANT TO CONGRATULATE BOTH OF YOU AGAIN. YOU DID THE, YOU DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB ON ALL THREE PRESENTATIONS, AND I WANT TO JUST GIVE YOU A, YOU KNOW, KUDOS AND A LITTLE BIT OF TESTAMENT AND CONGRATULATIONS BECAUSE IF YOU NOTICED THE MANAGER WHEN YOU WERE GIVEN YOUR FINAL PRESENTATION, HE WAS TAKING NOTES ON THE APPLE PAY . EXACTLY. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, MAYBE IT'S IN THE WORKS, MAYBE IT'S NOT, BUT YOU KNOW, HAVING ALL THESE YOUNG INDIVIDUALS IN THE ROOM GIVES YOU A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. YEAH. LIKE MY, MY 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER PAYS WITH APPLE PAY. I DON'T HAVE APPLE PAY ON MY PHONE. I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M BEING CANDID. TRY TO TRY TO TALK TO MY PARENTS ABOUT PAYING WITH LIKE A DEBIT CARD OR SOMETHING. THEY DON'T EVEN, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. SO I DON'T HAVE APPLE PAY AGAIN. UH, THE, THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS NOT ONLY THE EXPOSURE THAT YOU GET, 'CAUSE A LOT OF YOU, AND WE HAVE A FEW MORE PRESENTATIONS AND WE'RE ALMOST DONE, BUT THE, BUT THE POINT IS, AND THIS IS WHY WE STARTED THIS A WHILE BACK AGO, WAS BECAUSE WHEN MANY OF YOU WALKED IN, AND IT'S OKAY TO ADMIT IT, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE NERVOUS ABOUT SPEAKING IN PUBLIC, YOU WERE NERVOUS ABOUT ENGAGING WITH AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OR A DIRECTOR AT A-C-M-D-C-M CITY MANAGER. BUT THE WHOLE POINT IS FOR YOU TO, FOR THAT TO BECOME COMMONPLACE, FOR YOU TO FEEL EMPOWERED IN THESE POSITIONS. BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT, MAYBE ONE DAY AS THE MAYOR OR THE MANAGER, MAYBE IT'S ONE DAY AS AN EXECUTIVE AT A BIG FIRM, YOU ALREADY HAVE A STEP UP. WHEN YOU WALK INTO YOUR FIRST, YOU KNOW, COLLEGE OR YOU WALK INTO YOUR FIRST JOB OPPORTUNITY, YOU'RE GONNA TAKE CONTROL OF THE SITUATION AND YOU KNOW, TRULY BE A LEADER. SO HERE'S A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF, OF AN IDEA THAT MANAGER'S GONNA FOLLOW UP ON. THAT'S GREAT. I MEAN THAT TO ME IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. WE'RE LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. DONE THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE MAYOR. I WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WORKING ON THIS LAST PRESENTATION FOR ME. YOU GUYS DID AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. I PAY WITH APPLE PAY EVERYWHERE. SOMETIMES I DON'T TAKE MY PURSE, I DON'T ONLY PAY WITH MY PHONE, BUT I AM ALSO ABLE TO PAY WITH MY WATCH. I WAS STUCK IN THE COCOA WALK GARAGE WITH MY GRANDFATHER. THAT'S VERY IMPATIENT AND I FORGOT MY CREDIT CARDS AND CASH. SO I WAS STUCK WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND ME NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY, PRESSING THE LITTLE BUTTON FOR SOMEBODY TO COME AND HELP ME. SO I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON RENEWING OUR GARAGES. I THINK MENORCA IS GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE INCORPORATING THAT TECHNOLOGY. THAT IS A WONDERFUL IDEA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. GREAT JOB GENTLEMEN. UM, ROBERT MARINA, JACOB DEZA, AND CHARLOTTE RUDKIN. LUCAS MANZANO, COMMUNITY RECREATION. HOW ARE YOU? HAPPY TO HAVE YOU GUYS. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. ALRIGHT GENTLEMEN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSION. MAYOR LAGO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE ALL REALLY LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS INTERNSHIP. SO WE INTERNED WITH THE COMMUNITY RECREATIONS DEPARTMENT AND WE REALLY LEARNED A LOT, AS YOU'LL SEE IN OUR PRESENTATION. I'M LUCAS MANANO. I'M A RISING JUNIOR IN BELEN JESUIT. AND YOU GUYS, HI, I AM CHARLOTTE RUDKIN AND I'M A RISING JUNIOR AT CARROLLTON SCHOOL OF THE SACRED HEART. I'M ROBERT MEENA AND I AM A RISING SENIOR IN ISPA. I'M JACOB DEZA AND I'M A RISING SENIOR AT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL. TAKE IT AWAY. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS COMMUNITY RECREATION. LET'S ALL START. LET'S START WITH HOW IT ALL BEGAN. THE PAGE PROGRAM. I JOINED THIS PROGRAM 'CAUSE I WAS EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN MY GOVERNMENT. I'VE LIVED IN CORAL GABLES MY WHOLE LIFE AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN HOW THIS GOVERNMENT WORKS. WHAT I WASN'T EXPECTING WAS WHAT I LEARNED. I LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS [06:55:01] AND RECREATIONS ON THIS COMMUNITY. I JOINED THIS PROGRAM 'CAUSE I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOW I COULD DIRECTLY IMPACT MY COMMUNITY. THIS PROGRAM WAS RECOMMENDED TO ME BY MY COUNSELOR AND I BELIEVE IT TO HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN DEVELOPING MY LOVE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE. I JOINED THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE I WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW GOVERNMENT OPERATES FROM THE INSIDE, BEYOND WHAT WE CAN LEARN IN TEXTBOOKS. I WANT TO SEE THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK THAT GOES INTO RUNNING A CITY AND HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE IN REAL LIFE. AND I JOINED THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS ON A LOCAL LEVEL. MY EXPECTATIONS WERE MOSTLY ON THE LEGISL LEGISLATIVE ASPECT OF GOVERNMENT, BUT THIS PROGRAM SHOWED ME HOW MUCH THERE IS TO GOVERNMENT AND HOW MUCH IT KE TAKES TO KEEP RECREATION GOING. NOW WHAT WE LEARNED MY FIRST WEEK AT THIS INTERNSHIP WAS SPENT IN THE YOUTH CENTER. ALTHOUGH I WAS RELUCTANT TO BE AT THE YOUTH CENTER BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT ABOUT CAMPS AND GYMS AND STUFF. I REALLY GOT TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE YOUTH CENTER ON THE COMMUNITY. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I LEARNED LATER THE IMPORTANCE OF PARKS ON THE COMMUNITY. FOR EXAMPLE, LAMAR LOUISE CURRY PARK, WHICH IS A VERY SMALL PARK, ONE OF THE SMALLEST IN CORAL GABLES, LOCATED NEAR THE VENETIAN POOL, WHICH IS USUALLY OVERLOOKED. BUT THIS PARK IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. IT'S DEDICATED TO THE GARDENING CLUB AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM. THEY CARE FOR THE PARK AND APPRECIATING IT, SHOWING THAT EVEN THE SMALLEST PARK CAN HAVE THE LARGEST IMPACT. NOT ONLY THAT, I ALSO GOT TO SEE THE STEWARDS OF THE COMMUNITY IN ACTION. I MET AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF GREAT PEOPLE THAT ARE EXTREMELY PASSIONATE AND THAT REALLY WANTED TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY. ONE INSTANCE AND THEM WANTING TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY WAS IN DOOR HANGERS FOR, UH, THESE WORKERS WOULD COME IN AND GO AROUND THE COMMUNITY HANGING DOOR HANGERS TO ANNOUNCE PARKS, WHICH DEMONSTRATES THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. I'VE TRULY LEARNED A LOT FROM THEM. ANOTHER IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE DURING OUR INTERNSHIP WAS OUR FIELD TRIP TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF PHILLIPS PARK. LUCAS AND I LEFT THE YOUTH CENTER TO ATTEND A MEETING WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HEADS AND PROJECT LEADERS, WHERE WE GAINED FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE INTO THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO CREATE A NEW COMMUNITY SPACE. DURING THE MEETING, WE MET WITH THE TEAMS RESPONSIBLE FOR DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT. WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT DESIGN ELEMENTS OF THE PARK, SUCH AS THE COLOR SELECTIONS FOR THE RESTROOMS AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VARIOUS FACILITIES. THIS EXPERIENCE GAVE US A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR THE MANY DECISIONS AND THE EXTENSIVE COLLABORATION THAT GO INTO BUILDING A PARK THAT WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME. ANOTHER IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE FROM THIS INTERNSHIP WAS IN THE ACCREDITATION MEETINGS, ACCREDITATIONS OF FIVE, FIVE YEAR LONG PROCESS THAT REQUIRES FULL TEAM PARTICIPATION. I LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND IT DEMONSTRATED THAT IT DEMONSTRATED AND SHOWED ME THE WORK THAT IS PUT INTO MAINTAINING OUR PRESTIGIOUS PARKS. WE'VE BEEN ACCREDITED SINCE 2001, WHICH IS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE FEAT AND IT REALLY SHOWS THE BEAUTY OF ALL OUR PARKS. THROUGH THE ACCREDITATION MEETINGS, WE GOT TO SEE NOT JUST THE BEAUTY OF THE PARKS, BUT THE WORK PUT INTO CREATING AND MAINTAINING THEM. THESE MEETINGS TAKE A COUPLE DAYS TO COMPLETE BECAUSE THE PROCESS IS VERY EXTENSIVE. DEPARTMENT LEADERS WALK THROUGH EVERY CHAPTER AND DISCUSS IMPORTANT FACTORS OF MAINTAINING OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY, LIKE BUDGETING AND MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS SHOWING THE ACCREDITATION TEAM THE UNIQUE FEATURES EACH PARK HAS. FOR EXAMPLE, DOROTHY PARK, NAMED AFTER THE FIRST AND ONLY FEMALE MAYOR OF CORAL GABLES, IN WHICH HAS A WIZARD OF OZ THEME HIGHLIGHTING HOW PARKS CAN BRING SUCH JOY AND LIVELIHOOD INTO THE CITY. MY TIME AT THE CORAL GABLES COUNTRY CLUB WAS FOCUSED HEAVILY ON LEADERSHIP, OPERATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. ON THE LEADERSHIP SIDE, I SUPERVISED DAILY SUMMER CAMPS AND ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES. I ALSO HANDED FRONT DESK OPERATIONS AND RECEPTION WORKFLOWS USING REC TRACK. THIS GAVE ME GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS SHOWED ME THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THIS COUNTRY CLUB AND SHOWED ME HOW MUCH THIS COUNTRY CLUB REPRESENTS THE FRIENDLY STANDARD OF OUR CITY. FOR THIS PART OF THE PROGRAM, I WAS ACTUALLY WORKING AT THE VENETIAN POOL, THE ONE YOU SEE RIGHT HERE IN THE PHOTOS. IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH WORK GOES INTO MANAGING A PLAY LIKE THIS. I LEARNED ABOUT THEIR STRICT WATER SAFETY PROTOCOLS, HOW THEY HANDLE LIFEGUARD ROTATION, AND HOW THEY MANAGE THE DROUGHTS. IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE CITY MANAGED TO KEEP UP MANY HUNDRED YEARS, ALL HISTORIC LANDMARK, RUNNING PERFECTLY AND SAFELY FOR THE PUBLIC EVERY SINGLE DAY. IN SUMMARY, ALL IN ALL, THIS INTERNSHIP HAS TAUGHT ME VERY VALUABLE LESSONS. WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO THE INTERNSHIP, I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF PARKS AND RECREATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT I LEARNED THAT WITH PARKS AND RECREATIONS, THE CITY BEAUTIFUL WOULD NOT BE AS BEAUTIFUL. I STARTED THIS INTERNSHIP WITH VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT COMMUNITY RECREATION ACTUALLY DID. HOWEVER, OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE GAINED A MUCH DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR HOW COMMUNITY RECREATION PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING AND SUPPORTING THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY. INITIALLY, MY EXPECTATION WAS THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE STRICTLY TIED [07:00:01] TO TRADITIONAL POLITICS. HOWEVER, I DISCOVERED SOMETHING MUCH MORE VALUABLE. THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS A SILENT ENGINE THAT MAKES EVERYTHING ELSE WORK. IT'S WHAT MAINTAINS THE OF THIS CITY AND KEEPS THIS ICONIC. WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO THIS INTERNSHIP, I EXPECTED AN OFFICE WITH A LOT OF PAPERWORK, BUT THROUGH COMMUNITY AND RECREATION I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS AND HOW MUCH WORK IT TAKES TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND HAVE A COMMON AREA FOR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO US. THANK YOU. WELL DONE. WELL DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELCOME TO THE CITY, GABBY VIEZ. AND THEN WE HAVE ONE MORE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. GABBY, WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR VICE COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS GABRIELA EZ AND I'M A RISING SENIOR AT MASTER ACADEMY. FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE BEEN WORKING AT THE DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS HELPED ME STRENGTHEN MY PASSION FOR ARCHITECTURE. DURING MY INTERNSHIP, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES I SHALL. THE CITY ARCHITECT JUAN RESCO ATTENDED TWO BOARD OF OF ARCHITECT MEETINGS, OBSERVED PROJECT REVIEWS AND LEARNED ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT PROJECTS GO THROUGH BEFORE CONSTRUCTION EVER BEGINS. BEFORE THIS INTERNSHIP, I THOUGHT ARCHITECTURE WAS MAINLY ABOUT DESIGNING BUILDINGS. I, BUT I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT ARCHITECTS ALSO HOW THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THINK ABOUT HOW EVERY PROJECT AFFECTS THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. ONE OF MY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INTERNSHIP WAS ATTENDING TWO BOARD OF ARCHITECT MEETINGS. I WATCHED ARCHITECTS AND HOMEOWNERS PRE PRESENT PROJECTS RANGING FROM HOME ADDITIONS TO COMPLETE RENOVATIONS. I EXPECTED THE DISCUSSIONS TO FOCUS MOSTLY ON WHETHER DESIGN LOOKED NICE, BUT I WAS SURPRISED HOW MUCH ATTENTION WAS GIVEN TO HOW EACH PROJECT WOULD AFFECT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PORT CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THINGS LIKE SCALE, PROPORTIONS, ARCHITECTURAL STYLE, AND COMPATIBILITY WITH NEARBY HOMES. WATCHING THIS PROCESS HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT ARCHITECTURE ISN'T ONLY ABOUT INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT PRESERVING THE IDENTITY AND CHARACTER OF AN ENTIRE CITY. ONE CONCEPT THAT I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT DOING MY INTERNSHIP WAS MASSING, ESPECIALLY IN THE BOARD OF ARCHITECT MEETINGS. MASSING REFERS TO THE OVERALL SHAPE, SIZE, AND ARRANGEMENT OF A BUILDING. AT FIRST, IT SEEMED LIKE A SIMPLE DESIGN CONCEPT, BUT I LEARNED THAT IT HAS MAJOR IMPACT ON HOW A BUILDING FITS WITHIN ITS SURROUNDINGS. IN CORAL GABLES, MASSING IS CAREFULLY REVIEWED BECAUSE IT INFLUENCES HOW PEOPLE EXPERIENCE A NEIGHBORHOOD. GOOD MASSING CREATES BALANCE AND HELPS A BUILDING COMPLEMENT THE HOMES AROUND IT INSTEAD OF OVERPOWERING THEM LIKE IMPROPER MASSING. THESE DIGITAL MODELS HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IMPROPER AND PROPER MASSING. ON THE LEFT, THE BUILDING APPEARS AS ONE LARGE BLOCK. BECAUSE THERE ISN'T MUCH VARIATION IN ITS FORM, IT FEELS BULKY AND CAN OVERWHELM THE SURROUNDING HOMES ON THE RIGHT, THE BUILDING IS DIVIDED INTO SMALLER FORMS WITH DIFFERENT ROOF LINES AND SETBACKS. EVEN IF BOTH BUILDINGS HAVE SIMILAR SQUARE FOOTAGE, THE SECOND ONE FEELS MUCH MORE BALANCED AND FITS NATURALLY WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS WAS ONE OF THE CONCEPTS THAT REALLY CHANGED HOW I LOOK AT ARCHITECTURE. AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE I MADE PAPER MODELS, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT, IT'S IMPROPER MASSING, AND ON THE RIGHT THERE'S THE PROPER MASSING. ANOTHER THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME WAS HOW MUCH CORRU GABLES VALUES HISTORIC PRESERVATION. MANY OF THE CITY'S HOMES AND LANDMARKS WERE BUILT NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO AS PART OF GEORGE MERRICK'S VISION FOR CORAL GABLES. BECAUSE THESE BUILDINGS DEFINE THE CITY'S IDENTITY, EVEN RELATIVELY SMALL EXTERIOR CHANGES ARE CAREFULLY REVIEWED. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THESE REGULATIONS WERE RESTRICTIVE, BUT I CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE ONE OF THE REASONS CORAL GABLES HAS SUCH UNIQUE AND RECOGNIZABLE ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER. ANOTHER VALUABLE EXPERIENCE WAS SHADOWING THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEWERS. THIS GAVE ME A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS. BEFORE MANY PROJECT PROJECTS EVER REACHED THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS, I WATCHED REVIEWERS CAREFULLY EXAMINE BUILDING PLANS, IDENTIFY AREAS THAT NEEDED IMPROVEMENT, AND WORK WITH THE ARCHITECTS TO ENSURE PROJECTS MEET THE CITY'S STANDARDS. IT SHOWED ME HOW MUCH COLLABORATION AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL GOES INTO EVERY PROJECT LONG BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS. OVERALL, THIS INTERNSHIP COMPLETELY CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE ON ARCHITECTURE. I LEARNED THAT ARCHITECTURE SHAPES ENTIRE COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS. I ALSO SAW HOW SUCCESSFUL [07:05:01] PROJECTS REQUIRE COLLABORATION BETWEEN ARCHITECTS, REVIEWERS, HOMEOWNERS, AND THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS. SOMETHING ELSE THAT STOOD OUT TO ME WAS THAT EVERY DETAIL MATTERS. WHETHER IT'S MASSING, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, OR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS, EVEN SMALL DECISIONS CAN HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON A NEIGHBORHOOD. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS INTERNSHIP STRENGTHENED MY PASSION FOR ARCHITECTURE. IT SHOWED ME THAT ARCHITECTURE COMBINES CREATIVITY, HISTOR HISTORY, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND PUBLIC SERVICE. AND IT MADE ME EVEN MORE EXCITED TO PURSUE THIS FIELD IN THE FUTURE. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS SUMMER AND IT REALLY EXCITES ME TO KNOW THAT THIS OPPORTUNITY ONLY STRENGTHENED YOUR OPINION IN REGARDS TO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CHASE PROFESSIONALLY. SO, UH, WE'RE EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE AND HOPEFULLY ONE DAY YOU'LL BECOME PART OF THE TEAM. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. AND THE LAST ONE IS MARIA BEIT. AND, UH, SHE HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH A FINANCE DEPARTMENT. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST. OF COURSE. YES, , THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR. THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR. I LIKE TO HEAR THAT. SO, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA JOSE ANITA. UM, I'M A RISING SENIOR IN, IM LASAL AND AS A MAYOR SIDE, I WAS INTERNING WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. SO DURING MY TIME HERE, I MOSTLY WORKED ON THE BUDGET, WHICH TOMORROW THERE'S A BIG MEETING, . SO THE BUDGET IS A FINANCIAL GRANT. ARE YOU GONNA BE JOINING US TOMORROW FOR THE MEETING? IF THEY INVITE ME, I WILL COME. DID IT. BUT DIDN'T YOU WORK ON IT? YES, BUT THEY HAVEN'T YOU OH WAIT, YOU DID TELL ME TO COME, RIGHT? OH, THEN I'LL COME . WE NEED SOMEBODY. WE NEED SOMEBODY TO PRESENT THE BUDGET. NO, THANK YOU. . . OKAY. SO THE BUDGET IS A FINANCIAL PLAN FOR CITY OPERATIONS AND CAPITAL PROJECT. THE BUDGET DETERMINES HOW FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE USED TO SUPPORT MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS. HOW DO I CHANGE THE SLIDE? WHERE? OH, THERE'S A CLICKER. OH, OOPS. OKAY. OKAY. WE ALL SUFFER FROM THAT SAME PROBLEM. . SO THE BUDGET IS USED TO COVER TYPES OF SERVICES FOR THE CITY, SUCH AS CULTURE AND RECREATION, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC SAFETY, GENERAL GOVERNMENT, ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT. SO, BUT TO FUND THE BUDGET, THE CITY RELIES ON REVENUE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, PROPERTY TAXES ARE THE LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE, ABOUT 49.2%. SO I'M GONNA WHERE, SO I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW PROPERTY TAXES ARE CALCULATED. SO CORAL GABLE'S CURRENT MILLAGE RATE IS 5.59 MILS ON EVERY TAXABLE DOLLAR. SO THE FORMULA TO FIND HOW MUCH THE CITY RECEIVES IN PROPERTY TAXES IS A TAXABLE PROPERTY VALUE DIVIDED BY A THOUSAND TIMES THE MILITARY. AND THAT GIVES YOU HOW MUCH THE CITY RECEIVES FROM PROPERTY TAXES. SO THE CITY'S RESIDENTIAL HOMES, I MEAN VALUES, THERE'S NON HOMESTEADED RESIDENTIALS AND HOMESTEADED RESIDENTIALS. SO THE AVERAGE TAXABLE VALUE OF NON-HOMESTEAD RESIDENTIALS IS 1,062,286. AND IF WE PLUG THAT INTO OUR FORMULA, DIVIDED BY A THOUSAND TIMES 5.59 MILS, THE CITY RECEIVES $5,911 ON NON-HOMESTEAD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. BUT 45% OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES HAVE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. SO THE AVERAGE TAXABLE VALUE OF HOMESTEAD RESIDENTIALS IS $1,012,564. SO IN THE FORMULA, WE DIVIDE THAT NUMBER BY A THOUSAND TIMES OUR MILL RATE, AND THE CITY RECEIVES $5,629 FROM NON-HOMESTEAD RESIDENTIAL. BUT SINCE PROPERTY TAXES [07:10:01] IS THE LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE, ANY CHANGES WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON REVENUE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO RAISE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO 15, SORRY, $150,000 IN 2027 AND 250 DO THOUSAND DOLLARS IN 2028 IF THE PROPOSED BILL PASSES, THE CITY IS ESTIMATED AND APPROXIMATE LOSS OF $5.7 MILLION TO, TO IMPACT THE FISCAL YEAR 2028 BUDGET. SO IN CONCLUSION, I LEARNED THAT THE BUDGET IS MORE THAN JUST A FINANCIAL PLAN. IT IS WHAT ALLOWS THE CITY TO GROW, FUNCTION AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. GREAT WORK. THANK YOU. YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE LATE TOMORROW, RIGHT? SORRY? YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE LATE TOMORROW, RIGHT? DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT STARTS TOMORROW? NO. OKAY. I'LL BE HERE. BE HERE AT 8 45 . BE HERE AT 8 45. YES. OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THAT, LET ME TELL YOU, WHAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED. IT IS. AND YOU HAVE AN AMAZING HANDLE OF THAT. AND WE SHOULD USE THAT CHEAT SHEET ACROSS THE BOARD TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE, BECAUSE YES, YOU SHOULD. SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND THEY ASK YOU AND IT'S OKAY. AND THEY, YOU DON'T EXPECT, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND A MILLAGE RATE, YOU KNOW? MM-HMM. PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT ARE MY TAXES? WHAT ARE MY TAXES? MM-HMM . SO WHAT YOU EXPLAINED RIGHT THERE, YOU, YOU DID IT WITH GRACE, YOU DID IT. YOU KNOW, YOU SIMPLIFIED IT. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU, UH, FOR GETTING UP THERE AND DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. NO, PLEASE. IN CLOSING, UM, I'D LIKE TO TO THANK LAURA, UM, FOR HER HARD WORK. SHE'S AMAZING AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE HER AT THE COMMISSION OFFICE. SHE IS AN AMAZING AND AMAZING INDIVIDUAL WHO ALWAYS MAKES ME LOOK GOOD. UM, I WANNA ALSO THANK NORA GABBY AND GABRIELLE. GABRIELLE WHO'S HERE. UM, THE REST OF THE STAFF MEMBERS IN THE COMMISSION, UM, WHO HAVE DONE ALSO A GREAT JOB. AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE PAGES IF I POSSIBLY CAN. CAN WE GET YOU GUYS UP HERE REALLY QUICK FOR A PICTURE? ABSOLUTELY. AWESOME. SORRY. WHAT? ALL [F.-8. 26-1797 A Resolution of the City Commission expressing gratitude for the work and dedication of the Charter Review Committee and dissolving the current Charter Review Committee due to the completion of the Committee's work. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] [G.-3. 26-1795 Final Charter Review Committee Recommendations.] RIGHT. UH, MOVING ON. WE HAVE OUR MAYOR HERE. SO TIME SERVED, ITEM F EIGHT AND G THREE, RUNNING A LITTLE. MAYOR LESNIK, I APOLOGIZE FOR RUNNING A LITTLE LATE, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. I THINK YOU WA ENJOYED [07:15:01] WATCHING THE PRESENTATIONS, ESPECIALLY SINCE, UH, WAS YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER THERE? YES. . WELL, LEMME SAY THIS. I HOPE I CAN BE AS CLEAR AND CONCISE AS ALL THOSE STUDENTS WERE. SO THAT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE AND VERY IMPRESSIVE FOR YOU ALL TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY. A LOT OF FUN. SO, MR. MAYOR AND MADAME VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK COMMISSIONER CASTRO TO HELP ME SET UP APPLE PAY ON MY PHONE. SO NOT AN ISSUE. I, UM, A PLEASURE. HAVE NO EARTHLY IDEA WHAT, WHAT THAT IS. YOU AND ME BOTH. I'VE, I HAVE TO GET AN APPLE PHONE FIRST. I GUESS. MAYOR, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS. I I I THINK IT'S BEEN LIKE FIVE OR SIX YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THE PAGE PROGRAM AND IT STEADILY IT'S GROWING AND GROWING AND GROWING. YEAH. AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS THAT YOU HEARD WAS ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED VERY CLEARLY SHE SAID THAT I THINK IT WAS, I THINK IT WAS A YOUNG LADY THAT SAID, MY COUNSELOR TOLD ME TO JOIN THIS PROGRAM. YES. AND I THINK THAT TO ME, THAT TO ME, VERIFIES THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AS A CITY AND BRINGING THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER IS MAKES SENSE. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT TOO LONG AND IT'S NOT TOO SHORT. THREE WEEKS, FOUR WEEKS IS RIGHT ABOUT THE RIGHT TIME. AND YOU CULMINATE IT WITH HAVING THEM COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION. I THINK IT'S JUST BUILDS IT, IT'S CHARACTER BUILDING AND I THINK IT'S JUST HUGE. I ALSO THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD THAT YOU HAD SUCH A CROSS REPRESENTATION OF HIGH SCHOOLS HERE. I MEAN MM-HMM . YOU COVERED THE WATERFRONT. MA, MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE BEFORE I GET TO THE REASON I ACTUALLY CAME HERE. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I THOUGHT THAT I'D SHARE WITH YOU. 'CAUSE I HAVE BEFORE GREAT NEWS. 'CAUSE LAST NIGHT I OPENED UP THE BRAND NEW FLORIDA TREND MAGAZINE AND I THOUGHT THE COMMISSION WOULD BE PROUD TO HEAR THAT. IN THIS YEAR'S RANKINGS OF 125 BIGGEST PUBLIC COMPANIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, TWO IN THE TOP 20 LIST, CORAL GABLES IS THEIR HEADQUARTERS. AND SIX IN THE TOP 100 LIS CORAL GABLES. THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL THE ONES THAT ARE IN MIAMI, BUT TWO IN THE TOP 20. CORAL GABLES, SIX IN THE TOP 100 OF THE BIGGEST PUBLIC COMPANIES ARE HERE. AND IN PRIVATE COMPANIES, THREE OF THE TOP 20 LIS CORAL GABLES IS THEIR HEADQUARTERS. SO I'LL GIVE THIS TO THE MANAGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND NOW FOR THE REASON I'M HERE, OR AT LEAST VAN ASK ME HERE. OKAY. I AM OFFERING TO YOU THE COMMISSION OUR, UM, CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE'S FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS. AND AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF THREE YEARS OF WORK ON THE COMMITTEE'S PART. AND, UH, IT IS FOR ALL OF US, UH, BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN DOING THIS. AND ALSO, EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE GAVE YOU SOME OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOME WERE ACCEPTED, SOME WERE NOT. SOME WERE PUT ON THE BALLOT AND MOST WERE, UH, ACCEPTED BY THE PUBLIC. UH, SOME WERE MODIFIED FROM YOUR COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. SOME WERE ACCEPTED AS WE RECOMMENDED. AND SOME, UH, ARE COMING BACK TO YOU NOW AS FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS. SO FIRST, LET ME TELL YOU JUST TO SHOW YOU THE EXTENT OF THE CONVERSATION AND THE COMMITTEE. TWO THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL BUT DID NOT COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THAT IS CHANGING, UH, THE PERCENTAGE OF VOTER REQUIREMENTS FOR INSTITUTING INITIATIVES AND REFERENDUMS. UH, MS. MOSKOWITZ ACTUALLY WAS VERY, VERY, UH, SET ON US TALKING, CONSIDERING AND WORKING ON THAT. AND WE DID TALK AT LENGTH ABOUT IT MANY TIMES, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A RECOMMENDATION IN THAT AREA. SO, UH, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY WITH NO RECOMMENDATION, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THAT, UH, SUBJECT. UH, THE OTHER ONE IS, UM, THE, UH, THING THAT WE DID NOT, UH, GIVE YOU A RECOMMENDATION ON WAS, UH, CHANGING THE, UM, ESTIMATED EXPENSES AND REVENUES REPORT, UH, AND NON-TAX REVENUES THAT HAVE TO BE CITED IN THE, UH, BUDGET, UH, PROPOSALS. AND THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE TALKED ABOUT, TO BE A CHANGE IN THE CHARTER, TO ACTUALLY CHANGE WHAT HAS TO GO INTO THE BUDGET ESTIMATES AND THE BUDGET PROPOSALS. BUT WE FINALLY CAME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT IF YOU DESIRE TO DO THAT, IT SHOULD BE DONE IN THE CITY CODES AND NOT IN THE CHARTER. SO THOSE TWO WERE TALKED ABOUT, THEY'RE IN YOUR FINAL REPORT. DISCUSSIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR TRANSCRIPTS, BUT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH LEAVING THOSE ALONE. AS FAR AS OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU'LL FIND IN THE FINAL REPORT THAT WE DO NOW GIVE YOU AGAIN, UH, THAT WE GIVE YOU AS PART OF THAT IS CHANGING THE RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT FOR QUALIFYING [07:20:01] FOR OFFICE AT THE CURRENT TIME. UH, IF YOU LIVE A YEAR IN THE CITY FROM THE YEAR OF THE, FROM THE DATE OF THE ELECTION, YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR OFFICE, WHICH IN THIS CASE COULD MEAN FROM THE END OF THE QUALIFYING PERIOD TO THE TIME YOU MOVED IN, YOU COULD BE A RESIDENT FOR ONLY SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE A YEAR FROM THE, THE QUALIFYING IS ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION, UH, AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS WITH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS AND IS IN YOUR REPORT THAT THE QUALIFYING, UH, PERIOD BE THE, UH, JUDGE OF WHETHER YOU'VE LIVED A YEAR SO THAT YOU MUST LIVE A YEAR CONT CONSECUTIVELY BEFORE THE END OF THE QUALIFYING PERIOD. SO IN THIS CASE, WHEN WE QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN JUNE, IT WOULD'VE BEEN A YEAR AGO, JUNE, AND WE FELT THAT THAT WAS IN, AND THAT BY THE WAY, WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION, THE COMMITTEE. SO ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT EACH OF YOU APPOINTED VOTED IN FAVOR OF DOING THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO RUN FOR OFFICE HAVE LIVED HERE FOR ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THEIR CITY AND TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUTURE OF THE CITY. THE OTHER ONE THAT WE, UH, UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED TO SEND TO YOU IS ON THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS FOR MANY YEARS, THE AMOUNT OF, UH, AND THE CHARTER THAT YOU HAD TO GO OUT AND SOLICIT, UH, BIDS AND THEN HAVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING BEFORE YOU CAN ISSUE THE CONTRACTS IS 25,000, WHICH IS, UH, AS WE DECIDED BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY BOTH THE CITY MANAGERS WE WORKED WITH AND BY ALL THE PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE, WAS JUST WAY OUTTA DATE AND FAR TOO LOW AND HOLDS UP THE CITY'S PROGRESS IN MOVING FORWARD. AND SO WE RECOMMEND TO YOU IN OUR FINAL REPORT THAT THAT AMOUNT BE RAISED TO 300,000, AND THAT IS IN ACCORD WITH STATE STATUTE. SO IF IT'S IN ACCORD WITH STATE STATUTE, WE FELT THAT WAS A SAFE RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER, WHICH WOULD FACILITATE THE WORK OF THE CITY AND LET IT MOVE, UH, AGGRESSIVELY FORWARD ON PROJECTS THAT ARE LESS THAN THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE BID SOLICITATION PROCEDURE. UH, WE DID HAVE A FINAL MEETING ON JUNE THE FOURTH. UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULD NOT GET A QUORUM BECAUSE OF, UH, ILLNESSES. AND ALSO THERE WAS A DEATH WHICH AFFECTED SEVERAL OF THE FAMILIES, UH, WHO SERVE ON OUR COMMITTEE. AND, UH, IN THERE, IN THE MATERIALS THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS PROVIDED YOU, BESIDES THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS, SHE HAS ALSO GIVEN YOU A REPORT OF THAT MEETING, WHICH INCLUDES OUR DISCUSSION OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS. AND, UH, BUT THERE WAS NO ACTION TAKEN. BUT I OFFERED TO YOU THAT DISCUSSION. IT'S IN YOUR REPORT, AND THERE'S SOME BACKUP MATERIALS, UH, SOME OF WHICH I THINK THAT YOU WILL BE LOOKING AT, MAYBE AT ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS OF A MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION. ONE WAS OUR CONCERN FOR PARKS LAND, THAT OUR PARKS ARE SO PRECIOUS, IT LISTENING TO THE REPORT OF THE, UH, STUDENTS THAT YOUR INTERNS, I THINK THAT I WAS REINVIGORATED, UH, IN THIS SUBJECT THAT HOW CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT PARKS ARE. AND, UH, ONE OF OUR C UH, CITY, ONE OF OUR COM MISSION, OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, TOLD US THAT THE MANY CITIES ARE TAKING ACTION TO DOUBLY PROTECT THEIR PARK LANDS BEFORE FUTURE COMMISSIONS WHO MAY BE RUNNING SHORT ON MONEY AND SEE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO SELL OFF PARKLANDS. SO OUR RECOMMENDATION, THOUGH IS THAT IT WOULD TAKE A FOUR FIFTH, UH, VOTE OF THE COMMISSION BEFORE YOU COULD MOVE TO SELL PARKLANDS. NOW, I KNOW THAT THE MAY BE SUGGESTED TO GO TO PUBLIC VOTE, BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT, AND THIS IS NOT TO BE CONTRADICTORY OF THAT, BUT OUR COMMITTEE EXPRESSED, ALL OF US HAVE ALWAYS EXPRESSED, AND WE SAW THIS IN MY LAST REPORT, CONFIDENCE IN OUR COMMISSION. WE, AND WE KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME DISAGREEMENTS. WE KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD SOME DISRUPTIONS, BUT WE EXPRESS THE GENERAL IDEA OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. SO AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO GO TO AN ELECTION EVERY TIME THAT MAYBE PARKLAND IS SUPPOSED TO BE SOLD, WHICH BY THE WAY PROTECTS PARKLAND GREATLY. DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT WE SUGGESTED A FOURTH FIFTH VOTE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO GET, AS YOU MAY KNOW. UH, WE ALSO TALKED AGAIN ABOUT INITIATIVES AND REFERENDUMS, AND WE AGAIN, MOVED ON WITHOUT ANY, ANY SOLID DISCUSSION ON THAT. AND FINALLY, WE DID TALK ABOUT THE MAYOR'S TERM, UH, THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING BACK TO THE ELECTORATE TO CONSIDER A FOUR YEAR MAYOR'S TERM. AND I CANNOT STAND HERE AND PROPOSE TO YOU THAT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TAKE ANY ACTION, BUT IN YOUR MATERIALS, OUR BACKGROUND. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THAT IN 2007 OR SO FORTH, THE CITY DID VOTE FOR A FOUR YEAR MAYOR'S TERM BASED ON THE INFORMATION BEFORE THE ELECTORS. AND IT WAS ABOUT A 52% APPROVAL OF THE FOUR YEAR TERM. SEVERAL YEARS LATER, IT WENT BACK TO THE VOTERS AND WAS TURNED BACK TO A TWO YEAR TERM WITH A SLIGHTLY LESS APPROVAL OF A 50% TO TURN IT BACK [07:25:01] TO TWO YEARS. SO YOU KIND OF GOT A STANDOFF OF ONE YES AND ONE NO, BASICALLY A BREAK EVEN POINT. AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS WORTHWHILE. THE THREE OF US THAT WERE IN MEETING, IT WAS NOT A QUORUM TO GIVE YOU THE MATERIALS, LET YOU DISCUSS THAT AND LET YOU CONSIDER IT. AND AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, IF YOU'VE READ THE BACKGROUND MATERIALS, I HAVE STRONG OPINIONS ON IT, WHICH I'M NOT GONNA EXPRESS BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY INAPPROPRIATE FOR ME TO DO SO. UM, BUT THAT'S THE COMMITTEE REPORT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, IS THAT IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE WORKING WITH THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. OUR VICE CHAIRMAN, MAYOR RAUL VALDES FOLEY, OUR BOARD MEMBER, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANNIE BENTONCOURT, UH, BOARD MEMBER EVE BOUTTA. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT EVE IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR THE CITY. SHE'S A CITY ATTORNEY IN ANOTHER CITY IN SOUTH FLORIDA, BUT LIVES IN THE GABLES. AND A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON. NESTOR MENENDEZ, WHO JOINED OUR COMMITTEE LATELY, WAS A POSITIVE FORCE. JANE MOSCOWITZ WAS A SOLID, WELL-SPOKEN FORCE THROUGHOUT, AT THE BEGINNING. WE HAD TOM WELLS ON THE COMMITTEE. AND OF COURSE, THROUGHOUT THE TIME WE HAD FELIX PARDO, ALL OF YOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS SERVED WITH, UH, WITH DEDICATION AND WITH COMMITMENT. AND I THINK THEY ALL SHOWED IN THEIR OWN WAY, WHETHER WE AGREED OR NOT, THEIR LOVE FOR THE CITY, THEIR LOVE FOR THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL CORAL GABLES, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO FULFILLING THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU ALL ASSIGNED TO US. AND WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, I AM PROUD TO SAY IS OUR FINAL REPORT. AND WE ARE WAITING FOR SUNSET. WE ASK FOR SUNSET. WE ARE ANXIOUS FOR SUNSET , BUT WE HAVE, WE HAVE, IT WAS A COMPLETELY ENJOYABLE ACT TO, TO SIT. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE BEST PART WAS THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WHERE WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC LOUD AND CLEAR AT THE BEGINNING. THE, UM, UNFORTUNATELY THE PUBLIC LOST INTEREST IN US AFTER THAT . BUT THOSE FIRST MEETINGS WERE LIVELY, UH, DEBATES WERE GOOD, THERE WAS GREAT DIVERSITY OF OPINION. AND ALL OF THAT WAS COMPILED AND THEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN ALL THE MATERIALS THAT REPRESENT ALL OF THAT. SO I HOPE THAT EACH OF YOU MAY REACH OUT AND THANK YOUR APPOINTEES BECAUSE THEY REPRESENTED YOU WELL. THEY, UH, MADE YOU SHOULD HAVE MADE YOU PROUD BECAUSE THEY WERE GOOD MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE. AND I THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR MY APPOINTMENT. AND, UH, I PERSONALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO HELP THE CITY IN THE FUTURE, UH, AT A SHORTER MEETING. . MAYOR, IF I MAY, IF I MAY, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SAYING YES. UM, WHEN I CALLED YOU, YOU HAVE A MILLION THINGS GOING ON. YOU ARE RUNNING YOUR LAW CAREER, YOU'RE ENGAGED IN A LOT OF PHILANTHROPY. YOU'RE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, YOU'RE TRAVELING FOR A LOT OF GATOR CAUSES, A LOT OF PHILANTHROPY, CAUSES, PHILANTHROPIC CAUSES. EXCUSE ME. UH, BUT YOU SAID, IF YOU NEED ME, IF THE CITY NEEDS ME, I'D BE HONORED TO SERVE. YOU'VE DONE, YOU SERVED FOR TWO YEARS WITH INCREDIBLE DISTINCTION. UH, YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH, YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THE ROLLERCOASTER AND OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND YOU CAME OUT THE OTHER SIDE AND WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT. UH, THE REFERENDUMS THAT YOU SAW AT THE LAST ELECTION, UH, RECEIVED OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND A LOT OF THAT COMES AS A RESULT OF YOUR HARD WORK AND THE COMMITTEE'S HARD WORK. YOU, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD ASK TO BE EXCUSED IN THE SENSE I WOULD LOVE TO STAY HERE FOR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION THAT YOU MIGHT DO, BUT I HAVE TO GO PRESENT A MOVIE FOR THE MEMBERS AT THE CARL GABLE CINEMA THIS EVENING. SO , THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. EXACTLY. AND IF YOU ALL WOULD ADJOURN FAST ENOUGH, IF YOU CAN GET THERE TO SEE IT AGAIN. MAYOR, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE SHOWING TONIGHT. IT'S THE HARVEY GIRLS WITH JUDY GARLAND. AND, UM, WE BRING BACK MUSICALS FOR MEMBERS, UH, ONCE A MONTH. UH, UH, AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT THEATER. AND BY THE WAY, I'LL PUT A PLUG IN. I KNOW THAT I PROBABLY AM WAY OFF BASE NOW, BUT YOUR CINEMA IS JUST DOING GREAT. IT'S A WONDERFUL, UH, PLACE AND IT BRINGS TOGETHER SO MANY GOOD CITIZENS, AND THEY, AND THEY COME AND THEY LOVE IT. AND, UH, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO EXPAND, EXPAND. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT PROJECT WITH YOU FOR THE LAST, I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW MANY YEARS AND THE MANAGER, WE'RE RIGHT THERE, RIGHT? WE'RE IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. SO IT'S TAKING A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THANK EVERYBODY IN THE CINEMA. WE'RE THERE. HOPE TO SEE YOU. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE MOVIES. I WILL SEE YOU IN THE MOVIES. UH, AND AT THE, AND AT THE POLLS. . YES, AT THE POLLS. UH, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT F EIGHT? I'LL, CAN I JUST READ IT FOR THE RECORD, MAYOR? SO, F EIGHT IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR THE WORK AND DEDICATION OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE AND DISSOLVING THE CURRENT CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE DUE TO THE COMPLETION OF THE COMMITTEE'S WORK. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND WITH, UH, CORRECTION OF A TYPO ON, [07:30:01] UH, MENENDEZ LAST NAME. THERE'S AN EXTRA M WE'LL FIX THAT. PERFECT CLERK COMMISSION. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL AS ALWAYS. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEMS [E.-12. 26-1777 A Resolution of the City Commission amending Resolution No. 2024-107, as amended by Resolution No. 2025-463, which approved the mixed-use site plan and encroachment plan for the project referred to as "Ponce Park Residences" on a property legally described as Lots 8 through 21, less the west ½ of Lot 8, Block 29, Crafts Section, together with that portion of the 20-foot platted alley lying east of Lots 11 and 19, of said Block 29; (3000 Ponce de Leon Blvd., 216 & 224 Catalonia Ave., 203 University Dr., and 225 Malaga Ave.), Coral Gables, Florida, by specifically amending Condition No. 3 to reflect an increase in the estimated costs of the Ponce Circle Park project, an increase in the amount of the City contribution toward such costs, and an increase in the proffered applicant contribution, which is subject to certain conditions, toward such costs; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. Lobbyists: Walter Allen Spencer Morris and Derek Cardenas] [E.-13. 26-1816 A Resolution of the City Commission approving an amendment to the Development Management Agreement with Ponce Park Residences, LLC regarding enhancements to Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park and certain roadway improvements. Lobbyists: Walter Allen Spencer Morris and Derek Cardenas] E 12 AND E 13. WE, I THINK, ARE RELATED AT A 4 35. YES. WANNA TAKE IT AFTER, AFTER THE, AFTER THE TIMES SERVED? SO, E 12 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024 DASH 1 0 7 AS AMENDED BY RESOLUTION NUMBER 2025 DASH 4 63, WHICH APPROVED THE MIXED USE SITE PLAN AND ENCROACHMENT PLAN FOR THE PROJECT REFERRED TO AS PONDS PARK RESIDENCE ON A PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOTS EIGHT THROUGH 21 LES THE WEST HALF OF LOT EIGHT BLOCK 29 CRAFT SECTION. TOGETHER WITH THAT PORTION OF THE 20 FOOT PLATTED ALLEY LYING EAST OF LOTS 11 AND 19 SAID BLOCK 29, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA BY SPECIFICALLY AMENDING CONDITION NUMBER THREE TO REFLECT AN INCREASE IN THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE POND CIRCLE PARK PROJECT, AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF THE CITY CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS SUCH COSTS AND AN INCREASE IN THE PROFFERED APPLICANT CONTRIBUTION, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO SUCH CERTAIN CONDITIONS TOWARDS SUCH COSTS PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISIONS OF MOBILITY COSTS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. AND E 13 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH PONDS PARK RESIDENCES LLC REGARDING ENHANCEMENTS TO FRED B HARTNETT POND, CIRCLE PARK, AND CERTAIN BROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS. MAYOR FERNANDEZ, WELCOME BACK MR. MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU FOR THE RECORD. JAVIER FERNANDEZ WITH OFFICES AT UH, 2 0 1 ALHAMBRA CIRCLE. , AND GLAD TO BE ON TWO FEET THIS TIME. SO YEAH, I, I WAS JUST GONNA COMMENT ON THAT. I SEE YOU'RE OUT OF THE BOOT. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. YES. IT FEELS A WHOLE LOT BETTER. UM, AGAIN, UH, YOU'LL RECALL AT THE LAST PRESENTATION WE BROUGHT BEFORE YOU THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR APPROVAL. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH THE BOARD PROCESS. WE'LL BE GOING TO B-O-A-B-O-A LATER THIS MONTH. ALREADY HAVE GONE TO DRC AND EXCITED TO BE ADVANCING THAT DESIGN WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR STAFF. UH, TODAY'S DOCUMENTS ARE, UH, INTENDED TO REFLECT THE CHANGE IN THE BUDGET, WHICH WITH THE DESIGN MODIFICATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, HAS INCREASED BY ABOUT $2.3 MILLION. UM, THE, YOU'LL RECALL THERE WAS AN ORIGINAL $1.6 MILLION GAP. THE DOCUMENTS REFLECT HOW WE'VE FILLED THAT GAP THROUGH A COMBINATION OF ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY MY CLIENT, AS WELL AS SOME REALLOCATED MONIES THAT WERE AVAILABLE, UH, FROM THE AGAVE PROJECT THAT WERE WENT UNSPENT. SO, WITH THAT, BY WAY OF SUMMARY, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE 'EM AT THIS TIME. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. ANY, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND I, I TAKE IT THAT THE COMMENT WE HAD EARLIER TODAY THAT ALAN MORRIS WAS CONTRIBUTING IN TOTAL 11 MILLION, ADDITIONAL 11 MILLION WAS, WAS NOT, ISN'T THAT 11 MILLION? I DIDN'T WANNA BRING IT UP. . MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR THE RECORD. NO, WHAT? I, I CAN'T BELIEVE THE VICE I MOVED THAT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE VICE MAYOR BROUGHT THAT UP. HEARD 11 MILLION. WOW. WE'RE FEELING GENEROUS. . I COULDN'T RESIST. I MAYBE, MAYBE SOMEDAY . NO, YOU COULD. I KNOW YOU COULDN'T. UM, PERFECT. UM, LISTEN AGAIN. UH, THANK YOU. UM, I WANT RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN HERE. THE MANAGER AND YOUR TEAM HAVE WORKED ON DELIVERING PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARKS YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN FLORIDA. IT'S GONNA BE REMINISCENT OF WHAT YOU SEE IN LIKE WASHINGTON. YOU KNOW, WHERE IT HAS REAL STONE. IT'S NOT FOA, IT'S NOT JUST CONCRETE, IT'S REAL STONE. IT'S GONNA HAVE WORLD CLASS ART AND IT'S GONNA BE A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL LOCATION THAT'S GONNA BE THE ENVY OF EVERY COMMUNITY HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, INCLUDING MINE FOR THE RECORD. SO I'M JUST, I, I JUST WANT PEOPLE, 'CAUSE IT'S A LITTLE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS. IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT, UH, TO REALLY ENCAPSULATE IT AND REALLY EXPLAIN IT BECAUSE YOU, UNTIL YOU SEE THE MATERIALS AND YOU UNDERSTAND AND YOU TOUCH IT AND, AND YOU REALLY GET TO SEE THE BANISTERS AND YOU GET TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ACTUAL STRUCTURES THAT ARE BUILT OUT OF MARBLE. UH, THIS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL CONCRETE STRUCTURE. THIS IS SOMETHING INCREDIBLY TASTEFUL. IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S VERY WELL DONE, AND IT'LL STAND THE TEST OF TIME. I ALSO WANT TO, UM, THANK YOU, UH, BECAUSE YOU WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD, NOT ONLY WITH A PROJECT ACROSS THE STREET, UM, BUT YOU'VE WORKED LIKE A STATESMAN, UH, TO GET THESE THINGS DONE. UH, WITH A MANAGER. YOU'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY PATIENT. UH, YOU'VE LED BY EXAMPLE ALONG WITH YOUR CLIENT ALAN MORRIS AND SPENCER. IT HAS BEEN A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, UH, TO DEAL WITH A DEVELOPER WHO HAS IMPECCABLE TASTE AND UNDERSTANDS AND IS WILLING TO SPEND THE MONEY TO LEAVE, [07:35:01] TO LEAVE TO TRULY HIT NEW MILESTONES. AND LET ME JUST GIVE YOU AN IDEA. YOU WANT TO CHARGE $1,800 A FOOT, 1700 A FOOT, THEN YOU BETTER PUT FORTH A PRODUCT OUT THERE THAT COMMANDS THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY. AND THAT'S WHAT THE MORRIS COMPANY DID. UM, AND THEY'RE REACHING THE HIGHEST NUMBERS WE'VE SEEN IN THE GABLES EVER PER SQUARE FOOT. BUT THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY ON QUALITY. AND IT'S GONNA, AND IT'S GONNA MEAN NOT ONLY IN THEIR BUILDING, BUT IT'S GONNA BE ALSO REFLECTED IN POND CIRCLE PARK. 'CAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE AN EXTENSION, ALL THAT. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE POND CIRCLE PARK, YOU HAVE, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE AGAVE PROJECT. THERE'S FORTHCOMING PROJECTS ADJACENT TO THAT. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT TO HIT REAL NUMBERS IN REGARDS TO PER SQUARE, PER SQUARE FOOT RENTALS AND SQUARE FOOT SALES, YOU'VE GOTTA INVEST. AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR CLIENT HAS DONE IS TO BE COMMENDED. UM, THEY'VE SPENT THE MONEY. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU'VE, YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB. WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THE MANAGER. MY THANKS TO, UH, YOUR CITY ATTORNEY AND HER DEPUTY WHO I PESTERED WITH THIS AGREEMENT. THANK YOU FOR LEANING IN AND GETTING THIS DONE. AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HOPEFULLY GET STARTED WITH CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WE'RE KIND OF TARGETING FOR THE BEGINNING OF NEXT SUMMER. INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU. INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU MR. MANAGER FOR LEADING THE WAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, WE HAVE, YES, MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO JUST ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, I, I'M SORRY I COULDN'T RESIST THE EARLY ONE. WHAT YOUR CLIENT AND YOU DID BEST TOO WAS LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FOR REALLY ENHANCING THIS PARK TO THE NEXT LEVEL. AND THE ARCHITECTURE THAT WAS PUT IN, UM, REALLY STEPPED IT UP TO EXCELLENCE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN THIS PARK. AND WE'LL GET, WE'LL GET IT DONE RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT IT WILL BE THE SHOWCASE FOR OUR CITY. THE BAN SHOW IS GOING TO ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS OR A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY, UH, FOR MAKING IT A SPECTACULAR AREA FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS. I THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE INTRODUCTION TO MR. LAGUARDIA, WHO WE ARE HAVING A FANTASTIC TIME WORKING WITH. SHE'S BEEN A LOT OF FUN. YEAH. VERY, VERY CAPABLE. UH, WE HAVE A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND AND THIS WILL JUST FOR THE RECORD, THIS WOULD BE ON E 12. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. UH, MOVING ON TO ITEM E 13. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. DO WE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND VICE. MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL MY BEST. TO THE MORE STRONGLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, LET'S DO ITEM [E.-6. 26-1817 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Ordinance No. 2022-14, as amended, which approved a Planned Area Development for the property legally described as Lots 5 through 27, Block 28, Coral Gables Crafts Section (340, 330, 322, 314, 310, 300 Catalonia Avenue, 301, 309, 317, 323, 325, 333, 341 Malaga Avenue), Coral Gables, Florida, to allow for completion of the public park following issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, subject to posting of a performance bond for such work, and to require that the public park be dedicated to the City, with the deed for the public park to be executed and held in escrow with the City. Lobbyist: Jorge Navarro] [E.-10. 26-1818 A Resolution of the City Commission amending Resolution No. 2022-81, as amended by Resolution No. R-2025-468, which approved a mixed-use site plan for the property legally described as Lots 5 through 27, Block 28, Coral Gables Crafts Section (340, 330, 322, 314, 310, 300 Catalonia Avenue, 301, 309, 317, 323, 325, 333, 341 Malaga Avenue), Coral Gables, Florida, to allow for completion of the public park following issuance of a certificate of occupancy, subject to posting of a performance bond for such work; to require that the public park be dedicated to the City, with the deed for the public park to be executed and held in escrow with the City; to approve the encroachment plan required by Resolution No. 2022-81 for encroachments onto the public right-of-way as shown in the approved site plan; to authorize execution of a hold harmless agreement; and providing for an effective date. Lobbyist: Jorge Navarro] E SIX AND E 10. E SIX IS AN ORDINANCE OF CITY COMMISSION AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2022 DASH 14 AS AMENDED, WHICH PROVED A PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PROPERTY. PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOTS FIVE THROUGH 27 BLOCK 28, CORAL GABLES CRAFT SECTION CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, TO ALLOW FOR COMPLETION OF THE PUBLIC PARK FOLLOWING ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY SUBJECT TO POSTING OF A PERFORMANCE BOND FOR SUCH WORK. AND TO REQUIRE THAT THE PUBLIC PARK BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY WITH THE DEED OF THE PUBLIC PARK TO BE EXECUTED AND HELD IN ESCROW WITH THE CITY. AND THEN E 10, WHICH YOU WILL NOT BE VOTING ON TODAY, BUT YOU'LL, YOU'LL VOTE ON, UM, SECOND READING. IT'S JUST ON FOR YOUR INFORMATION. IT'S THE RESOLUTION, AMENDING RESOLUTION 2022 DASH 81 AS AMENDED BY RESOLUTION 2025 DASH 4 68, WHICH APPROVED THE MIXED USE SITE PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOTS FIVE THROUGH 27 BLOCK 28, CORAL GABLES CRAFT SECTION, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, TO ALLOW FOR COMPLETION OF THE PUBLIC PARK FOLLOWING ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, SUCH THE POSTING OF A PERFORMANCE BOND FOR SUCH WORK. AND TO REQUIRE THE PUBLIC PARK BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY WITH THE DEED FOR THE PUBLIC PARK TO BE EXECUTED AND HELD IN ESCROW. SO THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED. MM-HMM . SO, MR. MANAGER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS WE WORKED THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THIS IS ONE OF THE SIX OR SEVEN PARKS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE NOW FORTHCOMING INTO DOWNTOWN. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT IT SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS IN REGARDS TO MAKING SURE THAT THIS BECAME, THAT WE OWN THE PARK AND WE ARE HERE. AND AFTER WE MADE, AFTER WE MADE THAT MISSTEP, EVERY PARK MOVING FORWARD, THE MANAGER AND I MADE SURE AS WE NEGOTIATED THAT IT BELONGED TO THE CITY, CORAL GABLES. SO THIS IS THE PILOT PROGRAM THAT'S RIGHT. YES. YEAH. , WHICH IS GONNA HAVE, WHICH WAS A PILOT PROGRAM WHICH WE LEARNED A LOT FROM, HAS SUNSET FROM THE VICE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, RELOCATING MASSIVE TREES TO A BEAUTIFUL VON SPAN SCULPTURE FROM NEW YORK, UH, TO A PARK IN AN AREA THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS NEVER GONNA GET A PARK. UH, AGAIN, UM, THIS IS, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PARK, BUT I WISH YOU WOULD'VE CALLED THIS ITEM BEFORE. YES. THE MAYOR'S ITEM. 'CAUSE NOW WHEN YOU COMPARE THOSE PARKS, NO, BUT I MEAN, THAT, THAT'S . THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL, [07:40:01] IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARKS. NO, IT'S A GORGEOUS PARK. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARK AND IT, AND IT, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, IT SERVES IT PURPOSE. AND IT'S A BLOCK AWAY FROM PALM CIRCLE PARK. IT IS. SO AGAIN, THE WHOLE POINT IS TO PUT AS MANY OF THESE PARKS IN THE DOWNTOWN, WHICH AGAIN, WILL PAY HUGE DIVIDENDS ACROSS THE BOARD FOR OUR PROPERTY VALUES, QUALITY OF LIFE. AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF GREAT ART. WE, YOU KNOW, THE VICE MAYOR WAS ABLE TO SAVE THREE TREES, UH, THAT AGAIN, ARE, WHICH LOOK BEAUTIFUL, WHICH ARE HUGE, HUGE, GOING OVER THE RIGHT AWAY, IT'S GOING OVER THE RIGHT MASS OAK TREE. UM, AND NOW WITH THE ART, WITH THE TREES, WITH THE PUBLIC, PUBLIC OPEN SPACE. AND NOW AS THAT BUILDING BECOMES MORE AND MORE FULL OF RESIDENTS, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT AREA BECOME MORE ACTIVATED. SO I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S AN AREA OF, IN OUR CORE BUSINESS DISTRICT, WHICH I THINK IS GONNA JUST, JUST REALLY BLOSSOM WITH ALL THESE PARKS AND ALL THE ART AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE FORTHCOMING OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. SO THAT WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE MANAGER ON THIS. I KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN EASY, BUT I'M GLAD THAT WELL, WE GOT IT TO THE FINISH LINE. WE GOT IT TO THE FINISH LINE. THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER. I APPRECIATE THAT. HARD WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH THE MANAGER ON THIS ONE. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? THAT IS ALL. I MEAN, WE HOPE TO HAVE THE PARK DELIVERED WITHIN THIS 30 TO 60 DAYS AND THEN IT WILL BE, UH, CONVEYED OVER TO THE CITY. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR IT. WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO HAVE THE ARTWORK INSTALLED? SO THE ARTWORK RIGHT NOW, THE FOUNDATION IS THERE AND THEY ARE ASSEMBLING IT AT THE WAREHOUSE TO BRING IT OVER. PERFECT. SO GOOD START. WE WANNA MAKE SURE BEFORE THE ARTWORK IS INSTALLED THAT ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE TURF IS INSTALLED FIRST. SO THAT'D BE THE LAST ITEM GOING IN THE MAYOR. I JUST WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR CLIENT ONCE AGAIN FOR BEING WILLING TO SAVE THE TREES THAT WERE HEALTHY. I MEAN, IT WASN'T EASY. AND IF ANY OF YOU HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT HOW MUCH EFFORT WAS PUT IN, CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE DID COVER THIS. AND THE SAUSAGE TREE CAME FROM ONE SIDE OF LAJEUNE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF LAJEUNE. AND I'M STILL AMAZED WE GOT IT OVER THERE. NOT ONLY GOT IT OVER LINES, BUT THE CRANE LIFTED IT OVER THE BUILD. IT WAS SPECTACULAR. BUT IT, SHE ALSO SHOWS THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT THAT YOUR CLIENT AND YOU WORKED ON TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU ON BEHALF IT'S PLEASURE OF THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT SECOND. MR, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD TO SEE YOU. TAKE CARE. ALRIGHT, [F.-13. 26-1809 A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Manager and City attorney to draft proposed legislation to expand the parks and recreation youth advisory board into the coral gables teen advisory board by expanding its scope into a broader citywide advisory board; and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, F 13, WHICH IS OUR FINAL TIME, SIR. AND ITEM OF THE DAY, PLEASE COME UP, SIR. SO LET ME, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU ALL, UH, TO A YOUNG MAN THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING FOR SOME TIME. UM, HE'S GOING TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND IN REGARDS TO WHO HE, HE IS. HE'S HERE WITH HIS LOVELY MOTHER, WHO IS HIS BIGGEST FAN. AND I CAN SEE WHY, UH, HE'S WORKED AT MY OFFICE, UH, FOR SOME TIME. I THINK WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR HOW LONG NOW? IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR, I THINK. A YEAR. YEAH. AND WE'VE KEPT IN TOUCH FROM LAST SUMMER AND WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO WORK TOGETHER AND HE TOOK A SEMESTER OFF FROM, FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND HE WENT TO WASHINGTON TO WORK. AND I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, ABOUT, UM, WHY HE'S HERE, WHAT HE'S DOING, HOW HE WENT IN WASHINGTON, WHAT ARE HIS, WHAT ARE HIS, UH, HIS OBJECTIVES, UH, WHAT IS HE SEEING FOR THE NEAR FUTURE? AND THE REASON WHY I ASKED HIM TO BE HERE IS BECAUSE I COULD HAVE PRESENTED THIS IDEA, BUT HE BROUGHT ME THE IDEA. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION UNDER MY BELT IS NOT GONNA MAKE OR BREAK ME, BUT THE OP, BUT THE, THE ABILITY TO GIVE THIS GENTLEMAN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE UP HERE AND SPEAK AFTER HOW MUCH HE'S IMPRESSED ME OVER THE LAST YEAR. I THINK IT'S THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMISSION TO HEAR FROM HIM. SIR, TAKE IT AWAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. UH, TO THE COMMISSION AS WELL TO THE CITY MANAGER, CITY CLERK AND CITY ATTORNEY, HIS OFFICE. AND TODAY I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF FIRST. MY NAME IS DIEGO. I AM A RISING SENIOR AT BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL. I JUST SPENT A SEMESTER IN WASHINGTON DC AS A SENATE PAGE. SO WITH THE MAYOR'S HELP, I WAS ABLE TO APPLY AND GET NOMINATED BY A SENATOR TIM SCOTT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. AND I SERVED SIX MONTHS OVER THERE. WE WOKE UP AT 5:00 AM WENT TO SCHOOL EARLY IN THE MORNINGS AND WENT TO WORK IN THE SENATE ON THE FLOOR. IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE AND I COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR HIM TO MAKE, FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN, FOR HELPING ME MAKE IT HAPPEN. AND TODAY, I THINK I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR A WHILE. I GOT INSPIRED AND DURING MY TIME IN DC I ACTUALLY HAD A GREAT FRIEND WHO HIS CITY OLATHE, KANSAS, UM, A SUBURB OF KANSAS CITY, HAS AN EXISTING, UM, YOUTH COUNCIL. A TEEN COUNCIL. AND HE TOLD ME ALL ABOUT IT. HOW ABOUT LIKE HE WAS A COMMUNITY IMPACT DIRECTOR AND HOW ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT HE HE'D DONE THERE. SO I THINK I REALLY, REALLY INSPIRED ME TO KIND OF TRY TO MAKE [07:45:01] THAT INITIATIVE HAPPEN HERE IN CORAL GABLES. UM, AND IT JUST ECHOES LIKE ALL THAT I LEARNED FROM THAT EXPERIENCE. SO A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE EXPERIENCE ITSELF. UM, I WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY, UM, MEET MY SENATOR. OBVIOUSLY I MET, UM, THE TEAM OF ARTEMIS TWO. I MET, UM, THE OLYMPIC HOCKEY TEAM AND I HAD SO MANY GREAT EXPERIENCES THERE. SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF TOUCH ON IT A LITTLE BIT. IT REALLY INSPIRED ME TO KIND OF THINK MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGISLATION BEING RESPONSIBLE WHILE, UM, DEVELOPING IT. AND I, IT ALSO KIND OF SHOWED ME HOW MUNICIPAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A LOT MORE IMPACT IN OUR LIVES AND SOMETIMES EVEN FEDERAL OFFICIALS. SO, UM, THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT I REALLY WANTED TO ECHO HERE, HERE, UM, TODAY WHILE I PRESENTED. AND FIRST OF ALL, UM, I REALLY WANTED TO THANK THE CITY FOR HAVING THAT PAGE PROGRAM. I THINK IT'S A GREAT INITIATIVE AND I REALLY WANTED TO CONGRATULATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE ME THE MEMBERS THAT SPOKE TODAY OF THE PAGE INTERNS, 'CAUSE THEY DID A GREAT JOB. AND IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, BUT, UM, I'LL TRY MY BEST. SO I'M GONNA HAND OUT MY, UM, MEMORANDUM AND AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF WHAT I'M HERE TO PRESENT TODAY. WONDERFUL. SO WHAT I REQUESTED FROM THIS YOUNG MAN WAS TO , UH, WAS TO PUT FORTH A PRESENTATION THAT ENCOMPASSES HIS DESIRE, UM, TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM STARTED HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OF A SPINOFF FROM WHAT WE HAVE AT THE YOUTH CENTER, WHICH I WAS VERY CLEAR WITH HIM THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS, BUT TO PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT'S ALL ENCOMPASSING IN REGARDS TO CORAL GABLES AND HAVING, AS YOU SAW, HOW EFFECTIVE THESE YOUNG PAGES WERE TODAY WITH THE IDEAS THAT THEY CAME FORWARD. I DON'T THINK IT'S, I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYTHING, AGAIN, THAT WOULDN'T HELP THE CITY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU GET A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, UH, FROM FROM AS WE SAW TODAY ON MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY COME UP WITH IDEAS THAT ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DON'T IMPLEMENT IT. SO THIRD, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, I KIND OF WANTED TO TALK TODAY ABOUT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, WHAT IT MEANS TO ME AND SOME OF THE VALUES THAT I SEE AT GOOD IN, IN THIS PROPOSAL. SO I THINK CORAL GABLES ALWAYS DISTINGUISHED ITSELF THROUGH THOUGHTFUL PLANNING, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE ABOVE ALL ELSE. AND EVEN NOW, LIKE INVOLVING THE YOUTH AND HAVING THOSE PROGRAMS IS DEFINITELY A BIG PRIORITY FOR US AS A CITY. I THINK I'M A LIFELONG CORAL GABLES RESIDENT AND I COULDN'T SAY I'M MORE PROUD OF, OF THE CITY I LIVE IN AND, AND WHAT WE'VE DONE. SO, UM, I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO TALK ABOUT EXPANDING WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD. UM, IT KIND OF BUILDS UPON THE FOUNDATION. I'M NOT PROPOSING HERE TO CREATE ANOTHER YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD. I'M KIND OF TALKING ABOUT TRANSFORMING THE ONE THAT ALREADY EXISTS AND RECOMMENDING TO EXPAND IT INTO SOMETHING CALLED THE CORAL GABLES TEEN COUNCIL. SO THIS WILL BE A BROADER CITYWIDE ADVISORY BOARD AND IT'S GONNA REALLY REFLECT KIND OF A BROADER RANGE OF, OF ISSUES INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY, TRANSPORTATION, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INNOVATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ABOUT, AMONG OTHER THINGS. AND I THINK THAT IT COULD REALLY JUST BUILD UPON WHAT THEY ALREADY DO IN, UM, PARKS AND RECREATION. I THINK BROADENING THAT TO HAVING A YOUTH KIND OF FORUM TO KIND OF TALK ON AND DISCUSS EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF LIVING IN CORAL GABLES COULD BE REALLY GOOD FOR A CITY. AND IN OTHER WORDS IT WOULD GIVE THEM, UM, AN OFFICIAL FORUM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE. AND I THINK IT WOULD CREATE REALLY RESPONSIBLE AND CIVICALLY INFORMED ADULTS IN THE FUTURE. SO, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF MY PROPOSED, UM, COUNCIL. SO IT WOULD CONSIST OF 12 STUDENTS GRADES NINE THROUGH 12, AND THEY WOULD SERVE TWO TERMS CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CITY BOARDS. UH, MEMBERS WOULD BE APPOINTED, APPOINTED THROUGH THE EXISTING APPOINTMENT PROCESS. SO THAT WOULD BE CITY MANAGER, CITY COMMISSION, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. AND BASICALLY, I'M THINKING OF PROPOSING, UM, AN INSTAGRAM LIKE ONLINE APPLICATION SO THAT WE HAVE A REALLY DIVERSE BOARD, UM, KIND OF FROM KIDS FROM ALL OVER THE CITY THAT COME FROM ALL TYPES OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND JUST LIKE A MERIT BASED APPLICATION PROCESS WHERE THEY CAN KIND OF APPLY AND, AND BECOME PART OF THIS, OF THIS INITIATIVE. SO, UM, SOME OF THE LOGISTICS OF IT, IT WOULD MEET ONCE A MONTH DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. AND THE QUORUM IS 50 PLUS 1% KIND OF MIRRORING THE BOARD THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. AND, UM, VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE WOULD COUNT TOWARDS ATTENDANCE TOWARDS THE QUORUM BECAUSE I KNOW THAT TRANSPORTATION ISSUES ARE DEFINITELY A BIG THING FOR, FOR MANY YOUNG RESIDENTS AND I DON'T, I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE AN OBSTRUCTION TO, TO ATTENDING MEETINGS CONSISTENTLY. AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO JUST CREATE ANOTHER MEETING ON THE CALENDAR. I JUST WANNA INTRODUCE AN INSTITUTION WHERE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE CIVIC LEADERS IN THE FUTURE WANNA MAKE AN IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITY, KIND OF HAVE THAT VOICE AND HAVE THE GUIDANCE OF EACH AND EVERY [07:50:01] MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND, AND THE COMMUNITY OVERALL. SO I THINK THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE HAVE MUNICIPALITIES LIKE THE ONE IN OLE THE KANSAS, EVEN HERE IN MIAMI, WE HAVE MIAMI LAKES AND, AND CITIES LIKE THAT WHO, WHO KIND OF HAVE ENTITIES LIKE THIS THAT MIRROR THEIR, THEIR COMMISSIONS, THEIR CITY COMMISSIONS. AND I THINK IT COULD BE A GREAT INITIATIVE, JUST MORE OF A YEAR ROUND THING SIMILAR TO THE PACE PROGRAM, BUT THAT ACTUALLY LASTS THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND PROVIDES A CONSISTENT OPPORTUNITY. SO I THINK THAT I'M RE I'M REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE RECEIVED ALL THIS GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP FROM THE MAYOR AND I KIND OF WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND, AND JUST NOT BE A SUMMER THING, BUT MAYBE A YEAR ROUND THING. SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO CONTRIBUTE WHEN WE ARE GIVEN MEANINGFUL RESPONSIBILITY AS YOUTH. AND I THINK THAT PROPOSAL MAKES ALL THAT THE MORE POSSIBLE HERE IN IN CORAL GABLES AND, AND MY HEALTH. SO IT'S MORE OF A PARTNERSHIP AND IT RECOGNIZES EVERYTHING. I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THE CITY ALREADY DOES AND EXPANDS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL THE STUDENTS WHO CALL CORAL GABLES SUM. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO CORAL GABLES AND YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROPOSAL. AND I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. UH, THANK YOU DIEGO. WHAT I'M GONNA REQUEST IS, WELL, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT TWO THINGS FIRST AND FOREMOST. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, WE NOTICED THAT, UH, THE CURRENT COUNCIL, WHICH IS WITH THE YOUTH CENTER, HASN'T MET IN IN MANY MONTHS. CORRECT? THEY'VE BEEN HAVING SOME QUORUM ISSUES. RIGHT? UH, DO DO WE, DO WE HAVE, UH, CURRENTLY ANY OPENINGS ON THAT BOARD? NOT AS OF TODAY, SIR. DID WE HAVE ANY OPENINGS FROM LAST TIME? YES, WE DID, BUT WE, THOSE OPENINGS WERE FILLED DURING TODAY'S CONSENT. YEAH. HOW MANY OPENINGS DID WE HAVE? TWO. HOW LONG WERE THOSE OPENINGS THERE FOR? I COULDN'T TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. SO, UM, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'VE HAD OPENINGS ON THAT BOARD. THAT'S WHY THAT BOARD HASN'T MET FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS. WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE QUORUM. UM, SO I THINK IT'S, AGAIN, CRITICALLY IT'S INCUMBENT OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS NUMBER ONE TO, TO PUT PEOPLE ON THESE BOARDS. YOU'RE NOT, IF YOU'RE NOT PUTTING PEOPLE ON THE BOARDS, UH, WHEN THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE, UH, OPENING AGAIN AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CAN'T DO, CAN'T DO THE BUSINESS AT HAND 'CAUSE WE DEPEND ON THOSE BOARDS. SO THAT'S, UH, NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, UM, I'D LIKE FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO REVIEW THIS AND I'M GONNA PUT THIS ITEM ON THE NEXT AGENDA. PERFECT. AND I'D LIKE FOR THEIR INPUT, SO MR. CLERK, UM, THROUGH THE MANAGER, I'D LIKE TO PUT THIS ITEM ON THE NEXT AGENDA, BUT I WANT ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE MANAGER SO WE CAN ALL BE ON ONE PAGE AND TALK ABOUT THIS. UH, THIS YOUNG MAN HAS PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS. VERY PROUD OF YOU. YOU'RE ALWAYS VERY CONCISE AND ON AND ON POINT. YOU TAKE THINGS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY. UM, THAT'S WHY IT WAS AN HONOR FOR ME TO RECOMMEND YOU, UH, FOR THAT POSITION IN THE SENATE. AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPENDING TIME WITH SENATOR TIM SCOTT. UH, HE'S A NATIONAL TREASURE. IF YOU LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HIM AND WHAT HE STANDS FOR AND WHAT HIS FAMILY'S BEEN THROUGH, UH, IN THIS COUNTRY, UM, IT'S A TRULY AMAZING, UH, SUCCESS STORY ON WHAT IT IS TO BE AN AMERICAN. HIS FA HIS BROTHER'S A PHYSICIAN, UM, AND THEY, UH, THEY CAME FROM, I THINK IT WAS GREAT GRAND, GREAT GRAND, GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS WERE SLAVES. YEAH, THAT'S GREAT. AND UH, IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO READ HIS BOOK AND UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND, HE'S AN AMAZINGLY ACCOMPLISHED INDIVIDUAL. UH, AND HE HAS A, A REAL LOVE AFFAIR WITH THIS GREAT COUNTRY. SO I'M SO HAPPY YOU GOT TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING THAT I ENVY YOU THAT I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF EXPERIENCING TIME WITH HIM, BUT NOT AT THE LEVEL THAT YOU DID. UH, SO THOSE A WAS A PRIVILEGE. I CONGRATULATE YOU ON THAT. THANK YOU ON THAT. SO I'D LIKE FOR MY, UH, I'D LIKE FOR THIS TO BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA. YES SIR. UM, FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO REVIEW THESE COMMENTS AND SEE HOW WE CAN SEE HOW WE CAN ADOPT THIS. SO I'D LIKE FOR THIS BOARD TO HAVE MORE TEETH AND TO ENGAGE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE WILLING TO COME HERE, LIKE THE PAGE. YOU HAVE THESE GREAT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE HERE, WHO HAVE GIVEN UP A MONTH OF THEIR SUMMER TO BE HERE WITH THE CITY. AND I'VE WORKED ON THESE PRESENTATIONS. I'D LIKE FOR THEM TO ENGAGE IN THIS BOARD. YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE ONE PERSON PER COMMISSIONER, MAYBE WE NAMED TWO PEOPLE PER COMMISSIONER. YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD IT HURT? IS THERE YOUNG, YOUNG KIDS THAT, AGAIN, THE MORE THE MERRIER, THE MORE EXPERIENCED, THE MORE MINDS IN A ROOM THAT ARE WILLING TO GIVE UP THEIR TIME, I THINK IS A GREAT IDEA. UH, SO I CONGRATULATE YOU ONCE AGAIN AND THIS WILL BE ON THE NEXT COMMISSION AND HOPEFULLY MY COLLEAGUES WILL, WILL GIVE IT THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO RESTRUCTURE, RESTRUCTURE, UH, THIS BOARD AND, UH, YOU KNOW, REALLY GIVE IT THE TEETH IT NEEDS SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME INPUT FROM THE FUTURE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. YEAH, PERFECT. THAT'S EXACTLY IT TO THE MAYOR. YES. UM, WELL I'M GONNA GO ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT YOU WERE DOING EARLIER. I HAVE TO BOAST ABOUT OUR WOLVERINES WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE ROOM TODAY. UM, UH, YOU DID A GREAT JOB. UM, I THINK JUST GOING THROUGH THIS, UH, THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS, HOW YOU SHOULD, WE SHOULD FORMAT IT, HOW WE SHOULD MAKE IT WORK IS INCREDIBLE. [07:55:01] UM, I THINK MR. MAYOR TODAY HAS BEEN A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS BOARD, UH, COULD REALLY HELP OUR CITY. UH, THE THINGS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY OUR PAGES, UH, ARE ARE THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT, UH, OR WE DIDN'T EVEN CONSIDER BECAUSE IT'S AFFECTING A NEW GENERATION. AND OUR ROLE AS COMMISSIONERS HERE IS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SETTING IT UP FOR THAT NEXT GENERATION. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE ALSO PART OF THAT PROCESS, MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE SETTING UP THE CITY FOR WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE. UH, SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS UP AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME THAT YOU DEVOTED TO THIS AND TAKING THE TIME TO, TO SERVE, UH, UP THERE IN DC UH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF STARTING OFF AS AN INTERN IN CONGRESS MYSELF WITH CONGRESSWOMAN ROSS LAYTON WORKED MY WAY INTO, INTO HER OFFICE AND THAT'S REALLY THE REASON THAT I'M HERE TODAY. UH, I WAS GONNA STUDY METEOROLOGY AND I CHANGED MY MAJOR BECAUSE OF THAT EXPERIENCE. SO, UM, IT'S, UH, LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DO IT AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK, UH, WITH YOU ON THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. SO IT'S A, IT'S A MOTION TO BRING THIS BACK NEXT MEETING? YES. OKAY. YES. I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S THAT WE BRING IT BACK SO IT'S A DIRECTION FOR A DIRECTION TO BRING IT BACK. UNDERSTOOD. AND OBVIOUSLY FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO REVIEW THIS AND GIVE INPUT TO THE MANAGER SO THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A BOARD THAT AGAIN, IS REFLECTIVE OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THIS YOUNG MAN HAS PUT TOGETHER. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? UH, YES. JUST UM, DO THE MAYOR IF UM, IF THE, IF THE CLERK WOULDN'T MAYBE MIND SENDING, I KNOW YOU DO THIS PERIODICALLY, BUT JUST BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, AS SOON AS PRACTICAL TO SEND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS AN EMAIL IDENTIFYING ANY O OPEN POSITIONS. OH, ABSOLUTELY. YES SIR. WILL DO. ACTUALLY I'VE BEEN ASKED BY PEOPLE, HEY, DO YOU HAVE AN OPENING IN THIS OR ANYTHING? AND, AND UH, IT SAYS AN EXTRA STEP. SO MAYBE JUST SEND ONE OF THOSE BEFORE THE NEXT ONE SO WE CAN KEEP 'EM FILLED. SO THAT, WITH THAT BEING SAID, YES. THANK YOU SIR. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. DIEGO, ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR SUMMER. WELL DONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME LOOK GOOD. ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A TWO MINUTE BREAK. BATHROOM BREAK AND THEN WE'RE GONNA DO E ONE AND E TWO, CORRECT? WELL, E ONE. YES. E ONE. LET'S START WITH E TWO REALLY QUICK. 'CAUSE SO THAT TAKES A RECORDING. E ONE THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. OH YEAH. UM, I WOULD, UH, I FOUND OUT DURING THE BREAK THAT I DO HAVE A VACANCY ON THE YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD, SO IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD ENTERTAIN IT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT MR. BANIAS, UH, MY APPOINTEE TO THAT BOARD. PERFECT. SIR. SIR, A SECOND. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. THANK CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WELL DONE. UH, MOVING [E.-2. 26-1388 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Zoning Code Article 14, "Process," Section 14-208, "Appeals" and Section 15-103, “Reconsideration of City Architect administrative determination,” 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)] ON TO ITEM E TWO AND THEN WE'LL DO E ONE. E TWO IS IN ANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING ZONING CODE. ARTICLE 14, PROCESS SECTION 14 DASH 28 APPEALS AND SECTION 15 DASH ZERO THREE RECONSIDERATION OF CITY ARCHITECT ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATION TO REVISE APPEAL PROCEDURES, EXTENSION DEADLINES, AND NOTICE OF APPEAL REQUIREMENTS LIVING LIMITING THE SCOPE OF STAYS, ESTABLISHING PROVISIONS REGARDING CONSOLIDATION RELATED APPROVALS, FINALITY AND ABANDONMENT OF APPEALS PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISION, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE ON AN EFFECTIVE DATE. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY GUA BIOS. SO ONLY ONE CHANGE ON SECOND READING WE DID, WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE CODE AND WE REALIZED THAT THE APPEALS FOR CITY ARCHITECT WAS TUCKED IN UNDER SECTION 15 DASH 1 0 3. SO WE FOUND THAT WE'VE ADDED IT TO THIS AND WE ALSO MAKING IT CONSISTENT WITH THE STAFF APPEALS, WHICH IS 15 DAYS. PERFECT. UM, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. CLERK, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. THANK YOU. MR. CITY ATTORNEY ITEM E ONE. [E.-1. 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)] E ONE IS AN ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1952 AS AMENDED WHEN CHANGES THE 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, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA REMOVE CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR LOTS ONE THROUGH FIVE BLOCK 1 31 1 THAT LIMIT THE USE OF THE PROPERTY TO OVERFLOW PARKING AND TWO THAT REVERT THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONING. ALL OF THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL CONTAINED IN ORDINANCE NUMBER 1952 SHALL REMAIN IN, IN EFFECT. MR. CLERK, PLEASE SWEAR AND EVERYONE WHO WILL BE TESTIFYING TODAY, THOSE WHO WILL BE APPEARING ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL PROVIDE TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? [08:00:02] THANK YOU MADAM DIRECTOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING AND WE'RE HERE FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. CLERK. YOU SAID THERE WAS SOMEBODY, ONE I WANTED TO PRESENT ON THE OTHER SIDE. THERE ARE MULTIPLE SPEAKERS, ONE OF THEM HAS A SPEAKER. SPEAKER, YES. OKAY, PERFECT. LET'S HEAR THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. ALRIGHT, FIRST SPEAKER IS JACKSON HOLMES. UH, YES SIR. GREAT. SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. OKAY, SO, UM, THE, THE BEST MOMENT I HAD IN THE LAST THING THAT WE DID ON THIS WAS, I GOTTA LAUGH OUTTA YOU ALL ABOUT A, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DOG IN THE WORLD. UH, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN BRING UP THAT PICTURE. 'CAUSE THIS DOG THAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE LIVES IN CORAL GABLES ON CORDOVA STREET, AND I'LL SEE IF ANYONE CAN REMEMBER WHAT TYPE OF DOG IT IS. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DOG IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. IT'S A TYPE OF DOG. OH, YOU GOT IT? OH YEAH. OKAY, SO CAN Y'ALL, Y'ALL LOOK AT THAT ONE? YOU MAY REMEMBER, UH, MR. NO, I DON'T. OKAY, SO YOU, YOU SEE, THIS IS A DOG RIGHT HERE ON KABA, UH, WHATEVER STREET IT IS THERE. OLA. HIS NAME IS JUSTIN AND THAT'S A BLUE MERLE COLLEGE. AND THIS IS WHY AMONG A THOUSAND REASONS, UH, MS. ANDERSON, I SUPPORT THE DOG PARK BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET OUT TO SOUTH BEACH AND YOU SEE THESE BEAUTIFUL DOGS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AN ELEVATING EXPERIENCE. WE, WE THINK, YOU KNOW, WELL, I, I SHOULDN'T MAKE THIS JOKE, BUT I'M, I, I TALKED TO MY, YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN ON SOUTH BEACH WALKING BEAUTIFUL DOGS AND THEN AT SOME POINT YOU SAY, WELL, WHICH IS BETTER? NOT REALLY, BUT, BUT THE THING IS, IT'S UPLIFTING AND IF WE HAVE A DOG PART, WHICH LIKE THEY HAVE ON SOUTH BEACH, YOU SEE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DOGS IN THE WORLD, RIGHT? FORGET THE WOMEN. I'M JUST THINKING OF THE DOG. NO, I'M JOKING. AND ANYWAY, SO WITH THAT I, I WANT TO JUST SAY AS I DID BEFORE I SUPPORT THIS DOG PARK. UM, ONE FINAL THOUGHT. UH, I THINK THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT DOGS ARE MEN'S BEST FRIEND, UH, BUT I WONDER SOMETIMES IF MEN IS DOG'S BEST FRIEND, LET'S PROVE THAT MEN AND WOMEN ARE A DOG'S BEST FRIEND. LET'S HAVE THIS DOG PARK. THANK YOU SIR. MR. CLERK ROSE BAUER. ROSE BAUER. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS ROSE BAUER. I LIVE AT 37 16 SEGOVIA STREET. I'M A GABLES RESIDENT SPECIALIST REAL ESTATE BROKER WITH 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON MY CONCERN. THE COMMISSION'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS SAFETY. THIS LOCATION IS ON A HEAVILY TRAVELED ROADWAY WITH FAST MOVING TRAFFIC FOR SAFE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, SENIORS AND DOG OWNERS WOULD BE EXPECTED TO CROSS THE STREET TO REACH THE PARK. CHILDREN COULD ACT IMPULSIVELY. OFTEN DOGS CAN UNEXPECTEDLY PULL AWAY FROM THEIR OWNERS. AND FACT, MY OWN CAT WAS RUN OVER AND KILLED ON UNIVERSITY DRIVE A FEW YEARS AGO. THIS PROPOSAL CREATES AN UNNECESSARY AND FORESEEABLE HIGH RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO BOTH PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER THIS LOCATION MEETS THAT STANDARD. I ALSO BELIEVE THE COMMISSION SHOULD CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL EFFECT ON THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY. BUYERS EVALUATE THE NOISE LEVELS, TRAFFIC PATTERNS, PARKING ISSUES, AND THE QUALITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. RESIDENTS HAVE INVESTED SIGNIFICANTLY FOR THEIR HOMES WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT SURROUNDING LAND USES WILL REMAIN COMPATIBLE WITH THE RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. A DOG PARK GENERATES HOMELESS TRAFFIC, SECURITY CONCERNS, PARKING CONGESTION AND BARKING IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO HOMES WILL LIKELY MAKE ALL NEARBY PROPERTIES LOSE VALUE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSION TO PLACE PUBLIC SAFETY, NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY, AND THE LONG-TERM WELFARE OF THIS COMMUNITY AT THE FOREFRONT OF ITS DECISION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SYLVIA KING. [08:05:10] MY NAME IS SYLVIA KING, I LIVE AT 36 17 HARLAN STREET AND I'M AN ATTORNEY ASSISTING THE UNIVERSITY GREEN CASE AGAINST THE CITY. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I RENEW MY MOTION FOR VICE MAYOR ANDERSON TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON THIS AND ALL ISSUES RELATED TO THE PROPOSED BARK PARK AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY. I INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE MY PREVIOUS MOTION AND THE ONE FILED WITH THE CLERK AND CITY ATTORNEY LAST WEEK AND ASKED THAT BOTH BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD. WHEN I FIRST RAISED THIS ISSUE, THE CITY ATTORNEY ADVISED THAT RECUSAL IS THE VICE MAYOR'S OWN DECISION. WHETHER SHE BELIEVES SHE CAN BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL WITH RESPECT, THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER SHE SUBJECTIVELY BELIEVES SHE IS UNBIASED, BUT WHETHER THE ASSOCIATION HAS A REASONABLE WELL-FOUNDED FEAR THAT SHE IS PREJUDICED THAT IS AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD UNDER EITHER STANDARD. ONE THING IS CLEAR, THE VICE MAYOR'S MIND WAS MADE UP LONG BEFORE THIS APPLICATION TO AMEND ORDINANCE 1952. FIRST, SHE HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR A DOG PARK ON THE LOT ADJACENT TO THE LIBRARY IRRESPECTIVE OF THE RESIDENT'S WISHES SINCE AT LEAST OCTOBER 11TH, 2022. AT THAT MEETING, SHE FORCEFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THIS LOCATION WITHOUT NOTICE TO THE AFFECTED NEIGHBORS. THAT IS NOT THE POSTURE OF A NEUTRAL DECISION MAKER THAT IS AN ADVOCATE WHO HAS ALREADY CHOSEN AN OUTCOME. SECOND, AT THE SECOND AT THE JULY 2ND READING, SHE REMOVED ANY DOUBT HERSELF ACKNOWLEDGING ON THE RECORD THAT SHE WAS VOTING FOR THE MAJORITY WHO WANTED A DOG PARK NOT ON THE MERITS OF THIS APPLICATION THAT IS VOTE COUNTING NOT ADJU ADJUDICATING. AND THIRD, BEFORE THAT READING, SHE WAS SEATED IN THE GALLERY ALONGSIDE THE DARK PARKS PROPONENTS. I'VE ATTACHED A PHOTO TO MY MOTION WHERE A DECISION MAKER SITS AND WITH WHOM BEFORE HEARING A WORD OF TESTIMONY SPEAKS VOLUMES. SHE PRE-JUDGED THIS FOUR YEARS AGO AND HER ACTIONS SINCE CONFIRMED SHE'S NOT IMPARTIAL. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON SHOULD RECUSE HERSELF. IF THE COMMISSION DENIES THIS MOTION AND PROCEEDS WITH THE VICE MAYOR VOTING, WE ASK IN THE ALTERNATIVE THAT THIS MATTER BE CONTINUED. JUST YESTERDAY IN OPEN COURT, THE CITY ADMITTED THERE ARE NO FUNDS AND NO DONORS FOR THIS PROJECT AND REPRESENTED IT WOULD BE AT LEAST THREE YEARS BEFORE IT COULD MOVE FORWARD GIVEN THAT THE CITY SHOULD NOT SINGLE OUT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY FROM THE OTHER PARCELS IN ORDINANCE 1952 AND HASTILY ADVANCE A PROJECT WITH NO FUNDING AND NO PRIVATE SPONSOR. FINALLY, SHOULD THE COMMISSION APPROVE THIS MATTER TODAY WE ASK THAT IMPLEMENTATION BE STAYED PENDING. CARY REVIEW THE ISSUES IN WE INTEND TO RAISE, INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WHETHER ADEQUATE NOTICE WAS GIVEN TO ALL AFFECTED PARCELS, WHETHER FIVE 20 CAN LAWFULLY BE TREATED SEPARATELY FROM THE REST OF ORDINANCE 1952. WHETHER THE CITY'S ACTION IS ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS AND WHETHER VICE MARY ANDERSON SHOULD HAVE RECUSED HERSELF, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK IN THE ORDER PRESENTED RECUSAL FIRST A CONTINUANCE IN THE ALTERNATIVE AND A STAY PENDING REVIEW IF ALL ELSE FAILS IN ADDITION TO MORE PARKING PHOTOS AND UM, UM, PETITIONS TO NOT HAVE A DOG PARK. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO EXHIBIT, UH, TO SUBMIT EX, EXCUSE ME, EXHIBITS FROM OUR CASE THAT SUPPORT RECUSAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LYNN WAR PARDO. THERE'S A POWERPOINT THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS. THANK YOU. AND THE CLICKER SHOULD BE THERE WITH YOU. THEY TOLD ME ALL I HAD TO DO WAS SAY NEXT, BUT YOU COULD DO THAT AS WELL. IT'S THE CENTER ONE. YES. THANK YOU. GOOD AF. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LYNN GO PARDO. I LIVE AT 4 21 KADIMA AVENUE. I'VE LIVED THERE FOR OVER 36 YEARS AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE UH, UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION WHICH OFFERS A TRULY LEGAL AND COMPATIBLE OPTION TO THE DESTRUCTION OF FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY TRIANGLE AS IT EXISTS TODAY. THE TRIANGLE IS OPEN TO MANY DOGS WHO ENJOY IT EVERY DAY, BUT SOME DOGS, AS YOU CAN SEE ARE NOT CANDIDATES FOR DOG PARKS AND THEY WILL NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO BE ABLE [08:10:01] TO WALK THE TRIANGLE DAILY. WE HAVE A SOLUTION OR SUGGESTION FOR A BETTER LOCATION, WHICH IS CLOSER TO HOME AND IT MOVES THE DOG PARK CLOSER TO THE SUPPORTERS WHO SIGNED THE ORIGINAL PETITION. THAT WOULD BE THE YOUTH CENTER'S WEST PARKING LOT. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE THAT WEST PARKING LOT IS UH, AN AREA THAT WE FEEL WE HAVE 20 REASONS WHY THIS NEW LOCATION WORKS. THIS LOCATION COMPLIES WITH CITY AND COUNTY CODES. DOG PARKS IN MIAMI-DADE ARE ALLOWED ONLY AS A MINOR USE WITHIN A LARGER PARK. THIS LOCATION DOES NOT SHARE A PROPERTY LINE WITH SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES. IT ALSO WOULD NOT CHANGE THE PROPERTY FROM PASSIVE GREEN SPACE TO A DOG PARK. THIS LOCATION IS ZONED FOR PARK USE. REALLY, IT REALLY IS NOT, UH, UNLIKE UNIVERSITY FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY WHERE THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS, THIS HAS NO RESTRICTION THAT WOULD PREVENT A PARK USE. THIS LOCATION FALLS WITHIN THE CITY'S PREFERRED GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF BIRD ROAD TO CORAL WAY AND LAJUNE TO GRANADA. AND THIS LOCATION IS LOCATED CLOSER TO MANY OF THE PRO DOG PARK PETITION SIGNERS, ENSURING AN EASY WALK FOR NEIGHBORHOOD DOG OWNERS AND THEIR POP PUPS. AS YOU SEE IN THIS GRAPHIC, THE BLACK DOTS ARE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THAT ORIGINAL PETITION. BY MOVING THIS DOG PARK TO THE WEST LOT OF THE YOUTH CENTER, IT'S CLOSER TO WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE BLACK DOTS EXIST. IN ADDITION, REPURPOSING THIS LOT WILL NOT IMPACT THE LIBRARY OR THE CHURCH OR THE SCHOOL PARKING. THIS LOT IS CURRENTLY RESERVED ONLY FOR YOUTH CENTER PATRONS AND STAFF. THIS LOT ALREADY HAS ACCESS TO WATER ELECTRIC AND DRAINAGE MAKING STARTUP AND MAINTENANCE COSTS MORE AFFORDABLE. THE LOT SIZE IS CONSISTENT WITH CUSTOMARY NEIGHBORHOOD DOG PARK DIMENSIONS. THE CITY COULD MEET WITH DOG OWNERS IN THE AREA TO PRIORITIZE AMENITIES. THE SITE COULD PROVIDE ONE ENTRANCE FROM RIVIERA AND ANOTHER ONE FROM ANASTASIA. SO SMALL AND DOG LARGE AND SMALL DOG PARK DOGS WOULD HAVE THEIR OWN SPACES TO RUN AND PLAY ON NATURAL GRASS. THERE'S ROOM FOR BENCHES TO WATCH PUPS AT PLAY AND NEIGHBORS TO CHAT AND INSTALLING BACKLESS BENCHES. EAST OF THE FENCING WOULD ALLOW TWO VIEWS. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE, THERE ARE TWO ACCESS POINTS TO THIS AREA. THE SITE CAN ACCOMMODATE TWO SEPARATE DOUBLE GATED ENTRANCES FOR LARGE AND SMALL DOGS. RIVIERA FROM THE SOUTH, ANASTASIA FROM THE NORTH. THIS LOT HAS A ROW OF MATURE SHADE TREES OFFERING SHADE AND SUNLIGHT. NO ARTIFICIAL TURF IS NEEDED AT THIS SITE UNLESS IT'S DESIRED. THIS LOT IS AWAY FROM THE LIBRARY, THE YOUTH CENTER AND CHURCH AND SCHOOL ENTRANCES. IT'S ALSO AWAY FROM UNIVERSITY DRIVE, MAKING IT A MUCH SAFER LOCATION. THIS LOT HAS LOW PARK USAGE. OVERFLOW PARKING IS ALSO AVAILABLE. IT'S THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND BIG BOX RECYCLING STATION IS JANUARY. THE LOCATION WILL NOT DISRUPT MICRO HABITATS OR SENSITIVE AREAS. IT IS NOT NEAR THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY MICRO HABITATS. REPLACING ASPHALT IN BUMPERS WITH NATURAL GRASS IS GOOD FOR THE PLANET. PERIMETER FENCES CAN BE DRILLED INTO THE INSIDE OF CURBS TO PREVENT DIGGING. AS YOU SEE IN THE PICTURE, THERE ALREADY EXISTS. SHADE FOR COOLER TEMPERATURES AND THERE'S ALSO SUN FOR NATURAL TURF. HAVING AN ONSITE YOUTH CENTER GROUNDS TEAM ENSURES CONVENIENT FREQUENT ATTENTION. MS. PARDO, WILL YOU DO ME THE PLEASURE? YOU'VE GONE OVER BY OVER TWO MINUTES. I HAVE FOUR MORE POINTS IF YOU DON'T MIND LETTING ME FINISH. NOT A PROBLEM. I'M JUST MAKING YOU'RE AWARE YOU'VE GONE OVER BY TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK. HAVING AN ONSITE YOUTH CENTER GROUNDS TEAM ENSURES CONVENIENT, FREQUENT ATTENTION. EXECUTIVE OVERSIGHT IS ALSO AVAILABLE. THE YOUTH CENTER STAFF CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE GATES DAILY EXCEPT WHEN THE CENTER IS CLOSED. COORDINATING WITH NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING WHEN THE YOUTH CENTER IS CLOSED WOULD HELP WITH THAT OPTION. MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONAL COSTS ARE [08:15:01] MORE SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE. THERE'S ALSO NO NEED TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN A 25 FOOT LANDSCAPE BUFFER. SEGOVIA STREET HAS LOWER TRAFFIC VOLUMES THAN UNIVERSITY DRIVE, MAKING IT SAFER FOR DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS, YOUTH CENTER AND LIBRARY PATRONS AND COMMUTERS. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THIS SITE PROVIDES A POWERFUL NAMING OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR MILITARY DOGS KILLED IN ACTION, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE WAR MEMORIAL YOUTH CENTER'S ORIGINAL AND CENTRAL PURPOSE. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD FOR THE DOGS, THE PEOPLE, AND THE PLACE. THIS PLAN HONORS THE WISH FOR A NEARBY DOG PARK. MAINTAINS THE FLEXIBILITY OF OVERFLOW PARKING FOR THE LIBRARY, PRESERVES THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PROTECTS THE MICRO HABITAT. WE ASK YOU THE COMMISSION TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO A FUTURE MEETING SO YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND STUDY THE BENEFITS OF THIS ALTERNATE SITE. I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA MINUTES. I HAVE WATCHED ALL OF THIS COMMISSION MEETING. I KNOW THAT OTHER, UM, COMMENTERS HAD EXTRA TIME ALSO. I APPRECIATE MINE. THANK YOU. WILLIAM RYEN BARK. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BILL RYEN BARK AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION, A 5 0 1 C FOUR. I LIVE AT 3 6 1 SIXO STREET AND I HAVE AN AMAZING RESCUE DOG WHO HAS GOT EXTREMELY STRONG BELIEFS OF HIS OWN. HE IS A BELGIAN MALANO NAMED MERRICK AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT HE DOES NOT WANT A DOG PARK TO BE AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN RIDDLED WITH INCONSISTENCIES, NONE OF WHICH MAKE A GOOD LOOK FOR YOU ALL I'M AFRAID TO SAY. ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 2025, AS THE CITY COMMISSION VOTED ON A RESOLUTION TO DEVELOP A DOG PARK AT FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON TOLD THE SUPPORTERS IN THE ROOM, THIS IS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO NEIGHBORS CAN WALK THEIR DOGS TO THE BAR DOG PARK. BUT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT WAS MISSING PEOPLE, RESIDENTS, HOMEOWNERS FROM THE ACTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD, INCLUDING THOSE LIKE ME THAT ALREADY WALKED THEIR DOG AROUND THE TRIANGLE. WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEARNED ABOUT THE VOTE AFTER THE FACT, WE WERE TOLD YOU SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THE AGENDA. ARE WE REALLY TO BELIEVE THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM ON NOVEMBER 18TH KNEW ABOUT THE MEETING BECAUSE THEY CHECKED THE AGENDA, AN ITEM THIS CONSEQUENTIAL TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PASSIVE GREEN SPACE AND THERE WAS NO POSTING, THERE WERE NO MAILED LETTERS, THERE WAS NO NOTIFICATION TO THE NEARBY RESIDENTS. COMMISSIONER LARO ON JANUARY 13TH. YOU SAID, I CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME KNOW WHY YOU DIDN'T KNOW, BUT I HAVE NO REASON TO DOUBT YOU, SIR. DID YOU EVER ASK STAFF IF THEY HAD REACHED OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT A DOG PARK ON THE PROPERTY BEFORE IT WAS PLACED ON THE AGENDA? FEEL FREE TO ASK THEM NOW, BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER WILL BE. AND IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE WHEN THERE WAS FINALLY AN AFTER THE FACT COMMUNITY MEETING ON THE DOG PARK, IT WAS WIDELY PUBLICIZED ON A CITYWIDE LEVEL YET NOTHING, EXCUSE ME, YET NOTHING FOR THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE DOG PARK ITSELF. THE PARKS DIRECTOR TOLD EU DOOR HANGERS WERE STANDARD FOR NEIGHBORHOOD NOTIFICATIONS, YET NOT ONLY OUR ENTIRE STREET, BUT OUR ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS SKIPPED. THE PARKS DIRECTOR SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT. YET WE HEARD NOTHING AND STILL HAVE NOT. SPEAKING OF HEARING NOTHING, A REPORT WAS GOING TO BE WRITTEN ABOUT THE MEETING AND PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION. THE PARKS DIRECTOR HAS REPORTED SEVERAL TIMES TO THE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD THAT THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON IT. THE CITY'S HANDLING OF PETITIONS IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPERTY WAS GREATLY FLAWED. IF GIVEN MORE TIME, IT WOULD BE EASY TO PROVE THE FLAWS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. WE SPOKE ABOUT THE NATIONAL CRITERIA FOR DOG PARKS. THIS INCLUDED DEVELOPING A DOG PARK MASTER PLAN RATHER THAN CREATING THEM PIECEMEAL. DON'T PICK A SITE WHERE THE NEIGHBORS DON'T WANT IT. DON'T LOCATE IT NEAR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. DON'T LOCATE, LOCATE IT ON HIGH TRAFFIC STREETS. LOCATE IT WHERE THERE IS AM PARKING. DON'T PICK A SITE THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE OR A SITE THAT HAS MEANING TO THE [08:20:01] NEIGHBORS DUE TO THE TIME I WILL JUMP, UH, TO SOMETHING HOPEFULLY MORE IMPORTANT THAT THAT IS QUITE NOTEWORTHY TO US. THE INFORMATION IS HELPFUL, UH, WELL-RESEARCHED FOR WHEN STUDYING WHERE TO PLACE A DOG PARK, BUT SEVERAL CITIES HAVE RULES WHERE THEY OUTRIGHT DISQUALIFY A SITE FROM CONSIDERATION. IF IT IS CLOSER THAN 200 FEET FROM A HOME, YET YOUR PROPOSED DOG PARK CALLS FOR A 25 FOOT LANDSCAPE BUFFER AND YOU TREAT IT AS IF IT'S LUSH AND GORGEOUS AND GENEROUS. TODAY YOU'RE VOTING ON, UH, ZONING CHANGE TO MAKE FIVE 20 A PARK. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN REPEATINGLY TOLD THAT THIS IS ALREADY A PARK. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ZONED AS A PARK FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY SITE HAS SPECIFIC RESTRICTIONS WHICH PRECLUDE IT FROM BEING A PARK. SO RATHER THAN ADMIT SOMEONE MADE A MISTAKE, YOU ARE SEEKING TO CHANGE THE ZONING SO IT CAN BE A PARK WORDSMITHING. AND RATIONALIZATION ASIDE, THIS PROCESS NOW REQUIRES A ZONING CHANGE. AND WHILE THE CITY HAS SAID YOU ARE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS, SHE FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE REQUIREMENTS LEADING UP TO TODAY'S VOTE AND HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWED IN THE LEAST. EXCUSE ME SIR. BEFORE GOING TO PLANNING AND ZONING FIVE, YOU'VE GONE OVER BY TWO MINUTES AND 15 SECONDS. WILL YOU BRING IT IN FOR A LANDING? THANK YOU SIR. YES SIR, I CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU. WHILE WE CAN DOCUMENT DOC, EXCUSE ME, DOCUMENT OVER 100 ERRORS AND FALSE STATEMENTS. I WOULD RATHER USE THIS TIME TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER A BETTER LOCATION AS OUTLINED IN THE POWERPOINT YOU JUST SAW. IT'S CLOSER TO SUPPORTERS COMPLIES WITH DADE COUNTY CODES AND IS SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS AND DOGS. THEY'RE ENVIRONMENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY MORE RESPONSIBLE. PLEASE TAKE THAT SUGGESTION SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU FOR THE EXTRA TIME. THANK YOU SIR. MR. CLERK JEAN ANN DAVIS. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JEAN ANN DAVIS AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. I'M A FULL-TIME RESIDENT AND OWNER OF 37 10 HAR LANO STREET. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE NEED TO PRESERVE THE MICRO HABITAT ORDERED BY UNIVERSITY RIVIERA AND KAMA. IT'S HOME TO BUTTERFLIES, BATS AND BIRDS. IT'S HOME TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUTTERFLIES. TO NAME A FEW THEY'RE MONARCHS, LARGE ORANGE, ORANGE SULFUR, AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, THE DAINTY SULFUR. RECENTLY THE MIAMI CHAPTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BUTTERFLY ASSOCIATION CONDUCTED A CENSUS ON THE PROPERTY. THEY NOTED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BUTTERFLIES ON THE LIBRARY SITE, WHICH HAS THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND THE SITE THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED. IN TODAY'S MEETING, THEY EXPRESSED THAT IRREPARABLE HARM WOULD BE CREATED TO THE MICRO HABITAT BY A FENCED OFF LEASH DOG PARK WITH ARTIFICIAL TURF. THERE IS TALK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE MAY WELL HAVE BATS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. NOCTURNAL SOUNDS HAVE BEEN HEARD AND OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES ARE UNDERWAY. THE FLORIDA BONDED BAT IS A PROTECTED SPECIES AND IT MAY BE MAKING ITSELF AT HOME IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS A MEMBER OF A GARDEN CLUB, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HEARING THE DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, JOANNA LOMBARD, PRESENT ON GARDENS, GREENS, AND SCHOOLS. AND HERE IS A MEMORABLE QUOTE FROM ONE OF HER. THE RESEARCH PAPERS IN NATURALIZED AREAS VERSUS AREAS CONSTRUCTED WITH PLAYGROUNDS. CHILDREN EXHIBIT MORE IMAGINATIVE ROLE PLAYING FANTASY AND EXPLORATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME WITH GREATER VARIETY AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLAY AND A REDUCTION IN CONFLICT BEHAVIOR. SO THIS AREA PROVIDES AN UNSTRUCTURED LOVE OF NATURE. THE PROPERTY UNDER REVIEW TODAY OFFERS A GREAT VARIETY OF BIRDS. WE SEE HAVE CARDINALS, BLUE JAYS, EVEN EASTERN SCREECH HOUSE. BUT [08:25:01] MY FAVORITE IS THE IBUS. THE IBUS OFTEN ARRIVE AFTER A RAIN AND THEY FEED IN THE GRASS. THE GRASS THAT THE CITY IS CONTEMPLATING PUTTING ARTIFICIAL TURF OVER. IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO ELIMINATE, ELIMINATE THE HABITAT OF THIS MAJESTIC BIRD. BESIDES, IT'S NOT NICE TO HURT SEBASTIAN, I STAND BEFORE YOU COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO REMIND YOU OF THE HIPPOCRATIC DICTUM. FIRST DO NO HARM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MARIA CRUZ, MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. SITTING HERE THINKING, AND I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE WHEN I SAY, HERE WE GO AGAIN. BUT THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HERE WE GO AGAIN. THERE IS A COURT DATE IN DECEMBER. WHY ARE WE PUSHING THIS TODAY? I KNOW THE ANSWER. THE SOONER WE PUSH IT, THE SOONER WE CAN START DOING WHAT THE NEIGHBORS DON'T WANT. AND THEN WE'LL CLAIM THAT WE'VE ALREADY SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY, SO WE MUST KEEP DOING IT. THAT'S ONE ANSWER. THE OTHER OTHER ANSWER IS, WHO CARES? WE DON'T CARE WHAT THE NEIGHBORS WANT, WE WANT THIS AND WE'RE GONNA DO IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. BUT I WAS SMILING AND LAUGHING WHEN I WHEN I WAS COMING UP BECAUSE TODAY WE HAD ANOTHER BIG PROJECT THAT HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES AND WE WERE IMPRESSED BECAUSE THERE WERE LOTS OF PEOPLE HERE THAT WEREN'T SUPPORTING THE PROJECT. WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE SUPPORTERS ARE NOW. I WONDER IF THEY MISS READING THE AGENDA BECAUSE THEY CERTAINLY DID NOT SHOW UP TONIGHT. EITHER THAT OR I GUESS THEY THINK THAT IT'S A DONE DEAL AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME AND TALK BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAS ASSURED THEM IS GOING TO HAPPEN REGARDLESS WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT, IT'S WHAT INDIVIDUALS WANT. YOU ARE GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO CONSIDER AN ALTERNATE SITE. IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE. WHAT'S THE PRESSURE TO GET THIS GOING WHEN THERE'S A POSSIBILITY IF YOU LOOK INTO IT, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A BETTER PLACE WITH HAPPIER PEOPLE AND IN REALITY PLEASING THOSE THAT ARE ASKING FOR IT, WHICH ARE NOT THE ONES THAT LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE RESIDENTS THAT WANT THAT PAY THE TAXES WANT AND NOT THE PEOPLE THAT ONLY WANT IT, BUT NOT NEXT TO THEIR HOUSE. MR. CLERK. THAT'S IT. MR. MAYOR, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, UH, MADAME CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE CLARIFY WHAT THE PURPOSE OF E ONE IS? YES, MAYOR. SO I'LL READ THE THE TITLE, BUT I THINK IF I MAY SUGGEST YES, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE THE PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR KIND OF YES. KIND OF, UH, REMIND US, UM, AS SHE DID LAST MEETING. WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THE SAME, UM, ACCOMPLISHED HERE BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THE SAME OVER, OVER AND OVER. SO MAYOR, JUST JUST TO KIND OF, UM, REVIEW THE TITLE. SO IT'S AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD AMEND ORDINANCE NUMBER 1952, WHICH CHANGED THE ZONING ON LOTS. 1, 2, 3, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, BLOCK ONE 20 AND LOTS ONE THROUGH FIVE BLOCK 1 31 COUNTRY CLUB SECTION SIX. SO IT'S THE ADDRESSES THAT WE KNOW AS 4 30, 4 44 50 AND FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE TO REMOVE CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR LOTS ONE THROUGH FIVE BLOCK 1 31, WHICH IS THE FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. AND THAT IS TO REMOVE THE CONDITIONS, ONE THAT LIMIT THE USE OF THE PROPERTY TO OVERFLOW PARKING. TWO THAT REVERT THE ZONING OF THE PROPERTY UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO SINGLE FAMILY ZONING AND, UM, MAINTAINING ALL THE OTHER CONDITIONS. MAD DIRECTOR. SO YES, BEFORE YOU, UH, TODAY IS AN AMENDMENT TO THAT ORDINANCE. IT'S NOT CHANGING THE ZONING. THE ZONINGS REMAIN TO BE SPECIAL USE ZONING. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE LOOKING AT PAGE TWO, YOU CAN SEE, BUT WE'RE SUGGESTING TO CHANGE IN THAT ORDINANCE, UM, ONLY APPLYING TO FIVE 20 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. WE'RE REMOVING THE CONDITION THAT HAS TO BE CLOSED FOR THOSE LOTS WHEN NOT USED FOR OVERFLOW [08:30:01] PARKING. AND TO ALLOW IT TO BE NOT ONLY OVERFLOW PARKING, BUT ALSO TO BE ALLOWED TO BE USED AS A PARK, NOT SPECIFICALLY ANY KIND OF PARK WITH ANY KIND OF SPECIFIC KIND OF AMENITY, BUT A PARK IN GENERAL FOR PUBLIC USE WITHOUT IT BEING GATED OR P****D OFF. AND, AND THEN ALSO REMOVING THE ER CLAUSE THAT IF IT'S NOT BEING USED FOR PARKING, THEN IT WOULD REVERT BACK TO SINGLE FAMILY REMOVING THAT ALTOGETHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER, AION? IF NOT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL JUST REITERATE THAT. UM, THIS TALKS ABOUT THE PROPERTY NOT BEING, YOU KNOW, USED FOR OFF STREET PARKING. IT SHALL NOT BE PAVED, WHICH WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH MAINTAINING, UM, THE PROPERTY FOR BIRDS AND, AND IVUS ALL THIS, THIS PARTICULAR, UM, ORDINANCE DOES. I'LL MOVE IT. YEP, WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. ANYONE? MR. CLERK? WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? NO. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. CONSISTENT WITH MY VOTE ON THE FIRST READING. UH, I BELIEVE IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT. NO. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. UM, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU ALSO GO, GO OVER. WILL YOU ALSO GO OVER, UH, TODAY'S COURT PROCEEDINGS? YES, MAYOR. SO, UM, IN THE LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED BY THE ASSOCIATION AND ONE INDIVIDUAL, UM, RESIDENT, WHICH ASSOCIATION WAS THAT? THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. MM-HMM . UM, AND THERE'S A, AN INDIVIDUALLY NAMED PLAINTIFF AS WELL. UM, WHO IS THAT? JOSE VAL COHEN. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE PUT IT ON THE RECORD. AND, UM, THERE WAS A, THE PLAINTIFFS FILED AN EMERGENCY MOTION SEEKING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, STOP THE SECOND READING OF THIS ORDINANCE. UM, THE COURT SCHEDULED AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING FOR YESTERDAY. THERE WAS SIX HOURS OF EVIDENTIARY HEARING YESTERDAY EVENING. UM, IT WAS CONCLUDED TODAY WITH, UM, CLOSING ARGUMENTS VIA ZOOM AND THE COURT RULED FROM THE BENCH AND DENIED THE MOTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. OKAY. THE EMERGENCY MOTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. OKAY. WHAT IS THE NEXT, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEPS MOVING FORWARD? SO THE LAWSUIT PROCEEDS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE TODAY'S, UM, SECOND READING AND, BUT THE LAWSUIT PROCEEDS, SO WE ARE, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY PROCEEDING WITH THE LAWSUIT. THERE'S BEEN NO, UM, FINAL DETERMINATION, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE PUT IT ON THE RECORD IS THE MEDIA ASKS, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION ON THE RECORD FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. ALRIGHT, MOVING ON THE MAYOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE MAYOR? YES. I HAVE A QUICK REQUEST FROM CITY MANAGER. WE RECEIVED TODAY, UM, AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION WHICH STAFF HAS NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT. I'D LIKE FOR STAFF TO LOOK AT THIS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THE MAYOR. YES. UH, UH, YES, VICE MAYOR WILL BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT IT AND, AND, AND GIVE FEEDBACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON [E.-3. 26-1783 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 54 - Solid Waste Article III - Collection and Disposal to amend Section 54-121 Roll Off Waste Contractors Franchise Agreements of the City Code; updating certain requirements and establishing requirements for the securing, removal, and emergency management of roll-off containers during tropical storm and hurricane events; providing for penalties, cost recovery, and nonrenewal of franchise agreements for noncompliance; providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date.] TO ITEM E THREE. E THREE IS AN ORDINANCE TO THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 54, SOLID WASTE ARTICLE THREE, COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL TO AMEND SECTION 52 DASH 1 21, ROLL OFF WASTE CONTRACTORS FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS TO THE CITY CODE, UPDATING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SECURING REMOVAL AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF ROLL OFF CONTAINERS DURING TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE EVENTS, PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES, COST RECOVERY, AND NON-RENEWAL FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS FOR NON-COMPLIANCE, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY REPEATED PROVISION CODIFICATION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MAYOR, IF YOU ALLOW ME, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO, YOU KNOW, INTRODUCE TO YOU ALL IN PERSON. OUR NEW ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, YESENIA, ALFONSO, UM, YESENIA, A YSO, UM, WAS ACTUALLY AN INTERN WITH OUR OFFICE BACK IN 2018 WHEN MIRIAM MUR RAMOS WAS CITY ATTORNEY. SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT SHE'S COME BACK TO THE CITY. SHE, UM, SPENT SOME TIME IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AT THE BROWARD COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL. AND SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT SHE'S NOT PART OF THE TEAM AND SHE'S HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. SO SHE'S THE ONE WHO DRAFTED THIS ORDINANCE THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY. WELCOME HOME. WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, GOOD EVENING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER. SO, LIKE CHRISTINA, UH, CITY ATTORNEY SAID THIS, UM, ITEM IS AN ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING. SO IT REQUIRES FRANCHISE TO REMOVE EMPTY AND OTHERWISE SECURE ROLL OFF CONTAINERS, UM, DURING A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE EVENT. THIS ITEM CAME UP DURING THE CITY'S EMERGENCY HURRICANE DRILL. UM, WE DO CURRENTLY REQUIRE THIS UNDER OUR EMERGENCY POWERS, HOWEVER, WE DID THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE A STRONGER REQUIREMENT IF WE INCLUDE IN OUR CITY CODE AS WELL. I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. UH, THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY YOU BROUGHT THIS UP BECAUSE I'VE BEEN MEANING TO SPEAK WITH A MANAGER ABOUT POTENTIALLY JUST EMBARKING ON A STUDY. IF, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE CITY [08:35:01] OF MIAMI, FOR EXAMPLE, ADJACENT TO MERRICK PARK WHERE ALL THE WAREHOUSES ARE, THAT'S THE CITY OF MIAMI. I GO TO THE GYM THERE WHEN I'M RUNNING THROUGH THAT AREA. YOU USED TO HAVE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE ROLL OFF DUMPSTERS IN THE ALLEYS. USED TO BE, IT WAS AN EPIC NIGHTMARE. YOU HAD ILLEGAL DUMPING, YOU HAD THE ROLL OFFS ALL THROUGH THE ALLEYS. SOMETHING INTERESTING THAT I NOTICED LAST MONTH THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THROUGH SOME SORT OF LEGISLATION OR WHAT IT WAS, WAS THAT NOW ALL THOSE ROLL OFF DUMPS, DUMPSTERS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY THE NEW PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE SEEING BUILT, BEING BUILT ARE REQUIRING THEM TO BE HOUSED INDOORS, AIR CONDITIONED, OBVIOUSLY TO CONTROL THE SMELL. BUT IF IT'S AN OLD BUILDING, THEY'RE OUTSIDE, THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEM. LIKE THE LITTLE CAR, CAR, CAR, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BODY SHOPS, THEY ALL HAVE THE DUMPSTERS IN THE BACK BASICALLY CLOGGING UP THE ALLEYS. IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH THOSE ALLEYS NOW, YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY BUILT, THEY PUSHED THE DUMPSTER ALL THE WAY AGAINST THE BACK WALL AND THEY BUILT AN ENCLOSURE, A VERY TIGHT ENCLOSURE WITH, WITH BASICALLY LIKE A, LIKE BARN DOORS. SOME OF 'EM ARE MADE OUT OF WOOD AND SOME OF THEM MADE OUT OF LIKE, UH, SOME SORT OF LIKE RE RECYCLED PLASTIC. SO IT'S AN ACTUAL FENCE STRUCTURE AROUND THEM. AGAIN, IT BEAUTIFIES IT AND IT CONTAINS THE DUMPSTERS INSIDE THERE AND IT PROBABLY STOPS A LOT OF THE ILLEGAL DUMPING. YEAH. CAN WE LOOK INTO THAT? CAN WE LOOK INTO, THAT COULD BE A POTENTIAL FOR WE FIND OUT WHAT CITY OF MIAMI DID. YES. YEAH. 'CAUSE THAT WAY YOU'LL KNOW WHERE THOSE DUMPSTERS HAVE TO BE AND THEY HAVE TO BE PLACED BACK IN THERE AND THOSE FENCES HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED. UM, I'LL TAKE SOME PICTURES OF IT IN THE MORNING, UH, WHEN I GO TO THE GYM, UM, AND, AND I'LL SEND YOU SOME PICTURES, BUT IF YOU GET A CHANCE JUST RIGHT BY, UH, THE DOUGLAS STATION IN THAT AREA WHERE THOSE WAREHOUSES ARE, YOU'LL SEE ALL, ALL THOSE WAREHOUSES NOW NO LONGER HAVE THEIR DUMPSTERS BASICALLY FREE AND CLEAR IN THE ALLEY ROAMING, THE ALLEY BEING ROLLED OUT. AND SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE 'EM IN DIFFERENT AREAS, UH, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY CLEAN THEM OUT, THEY DON'T PUT 'EM ALWAYS IN THE SAME SPOT. SO THEY BECOME MORE OF A NUISANCE. EVEN, FOR EXAMPLE, MY GYM, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY MADE THEM DO? THEY MADE THEM TAKE IT OUT OF THE ALLEY AND THEY MADE THEM USE ONE OF THEIR PARKING SPACES. AND I'LL TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT TOMORROW. AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE WANT THAT PARKING SPACE, AND I GET IT 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC. BUT GETTING THOSE ALLEYS CLEARED UP IS A VERY BIG DEAL CLEANER, MORE EFFICIENT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN DRIVE THROUGH THEM. SO I'M GONNA TAKE SOME PICTURES OF TOMORROW MORNING AND, UM, I'LL SEND THEM, I'LL SEND THEM YOUR WAY. UH, MAYOR, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT USING AIR CONDITIONING, UH, CONDITIONING COMPRESSED UNITS, UH, IN ALL THESE, IN ALL THESE STORES, IF WE'RE GONNA ACTIVATE OUR ALLEYS. YEP. SO I, WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT AND SEE, BUT IT'S AN INTERESTING WAY, IT'S AN INTERESTING WAY. I'LL, I'LL TAKE SOME PICTURES OF, OF, OF THE, UH, I'LL, I WILL DRIVE BY AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL FIND OUT WHAT CITY DID. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, MAYOR, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. ARE THOSE LOCKED? YEAH, THEY'RE LOCKED. OKAY. 'CAUSE LIKE ST. MARY'S IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THAT. A LOT OF ILLEGAL DUMPING. I MEAN, IF WASTE MANAGEMENT CAN WORK WITH BUSINESSES TO HAVE 'EM LOCKED, UNLOCKED, THAT'D BE, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU, I'M GONNA SOLUTION FOR THAT. I'M GONNA TAKE SOME PICTURES TOMORROW SO YOU CAN SEE THEM. SOME OF THEM ARE, SOME OF THEM, IF, IF THEY HAVE TO BE IN THE ALLEY, BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S A SMALL WAREHOUSE AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER CHOICE. THEY DON'T HAVE A PARK, THEY DON'T HAVE PARKING SPACES. THEY HAVE IT ALL THE WAY AGAINST THE BACK OF, OF THE WAREHOUSE WITH, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY ABOUT THIS MUCH STICKING OUTTA THE WALL. AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE SMALL, SMALLER CONTAINERS. THE BIGGER THE CONTAINER, OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGER THE ENCLOSURE. BUT AT MY GYM, WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY, IT'S A BIGGER, IT'S A BIGGER CONTAINER. SO WHAT THEY HAVE, THEY TOOK ONE ENTIRE SPOT. THEY REQUIRED 'EM TO PUT IT THERE AGAIN, IT IT'S GAME CHANGER. GAME CHANGER. AESTHETICALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR ILLEGAL DUMPING, JUST YOU WOULD SEE A BUNCH OF DUMPING AROUND BECAUSE YOU WOULD SEE PEOPLE THAT THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, UH, ACTUAL CONTAINERS WERE FULL. SO PEOPLE WOULD STOP THE CARS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ALLEY AND THEY WOULD DUMP ILLEGALLY, DUMP ADJACENT TO THE DUMPSTERS. THAT IS ELIMINATED COMPLETELY. SO I WANT, I'D BE MEANING TO BRING THAT UP TO YOU. I BETTER TAKE A LOOK AT IT'S GREAT. PLEASE SHARE IT. I'LL SHARE SOME PICTURES OF THAT. AND IF YOU WANT, IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, JUST DRIVE BY. IT'S LITERALLY I WILL NEXT TO MERRICK PARK. I KNOW EXACTLY. IN THAT WAREHOUSE DISTRICT. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. ON THE, WHERE KAGE IS, YES. WHERE BODY AND SOUL IS ON THE BACK OF KAGE, RIGHT THERE. YES. AROUND THAT AREA. OKAY. UM, THANK YOU BY THE WAY. I APPRECIATE THAT. SORRY, I TOOK OVER. I JUST, YOU, YOU BROUGHT SOMETHING UP TO MY MIND THAT I'VE BEEN MEANING TO TALK TO THE MANAGER ABOUT. NO, THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. YOU HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MR. CLERK? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. MOVING ON TO E FOUR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR, BEFORE YOU MOVE, UH, YES SIR. FORWARD AT THE REQUEST OF THE SPONSOR. MM-HMM . UH, WOULD LIKE TO RE DEFER AGENDA ITEMS E FIVE, F THREE AND F 10. SO E FIVE IS DEFERRED F THREE AND F 10. AND THROUGH THE MAYORS, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE MY ITEMS. TOMORROW WE HAVE AN EARLY, EARLY BUDGET HEARING AND I THINK THIS MEETING'S GONNA GO TO LIKE MIDNIGHT RIGHT NOW. SO IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO, FOR [08:40:01] ANY ITEMS, I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT IDEA. IS IT F THREE? YOU SAID E FIVE, F THREE, AND F 10. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, SO [E.-4. 26-1798 An Ordinance of the City Commission approving a purchase and sale agreement to include certain key terms with 475 Biltmore MOB, LLC for the purchase of an office building located at 475-495 Biltmore Way; waiving certain requirements pursuant to Section 2-1089 of Division 12 of the Procurement Code; authorizing an amendment to the FY 2025-2026 Budget to appropriate funds from the Building Reserve; providing for a severability clause, repealer provision, and providing for an effective date. Lobbyist: N/A] WE GO BACK TO E FOUR. THANK YOU. E FOUR IS IN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVING A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE CERTAIN KEY TERMS WITH 4 75 BILTMORE, M-O-B-L-L-C FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN OFFICE BUILDING LOCATED AT 4 75 TO 4 95 BILTMORE WAY, WAIVING CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 10 89 OF DIVISION 12 OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26 BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM THE BUILDING RESERVE, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, REPEATED PROVISION, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ADAM, DIRECTOR, GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, PAIGE PEREZ, ASSET MANAGER. THIS ORDINANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL WOULD AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH FOUR, WITH 4 75 M-O-B-L-L-C FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4 75 AND 4 95 BILTMORE WAY, BECAUSE THE PROPERTY IS UNIQUELY SITUATED, ADJACENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE PROPOSED PURCHASE WOULD SUPPORT THE CITY'S LONG-TERM GOAL OF CONSOLIDATING MULTIPLE MUNICIPAL FUNCTIONS INTO A SINGLE FACILITY, IMPROVING OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND ENHANCING SERVICE DELIVERY FOR RESIDENTS. THE KEY TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT INCLUDE A PURCHASE PRICE OF 24 MILLION EARNEST MONEY DEPOSIT IN THE AMOUNT OF 500,000 CLOSING ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 30TH, 2026, WITH A DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD OF 60 CALENDAR DAYS WITH ONE 15 DAY EXTENSION OPTION. WE HAVE OBTAINED APPRAISALS FOR THE PROPERTY. THIS IS AN ESTABLISHED PROPERTY WITH STABLE ANNUAL INCOME. ADEQUATE DATA WAS UTILIZED BY INTEGRA REALTY RESOURCES FOR PROPER EVALUATION UTILIZING THE DIRECT CAPITALIZATION METHOD. THEREFORE, WE FEEL THAT THEIR VALUATION WAS THE PREFERRED AND MOST JUSTIFIABLE CONCLUDING WITH THE VALUE OF 23.3 MILLION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD JOB. UM, MR. MANAGER, I WANT TO THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST. WE'VE BEEN CHASING THIS PROPERTY FOR A LONG TIME. AGAIN, IT'S ANOTHER TESTAMENT TO YOUR HARD WORK HERE IN THE CITY. I BROUGHT THIS PROPERTY, UH, WITH THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER WHO WAS HERE, AND WE DIDN'T PURCHASE IT, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A SHAME AT THAT POINT. UM, WE MADE SOME OTHER GREAT PURCHASES, BUT WE DIDN'T PURCHASE THIS PROPERTY. UH, BUT THIS AGAIN, UH, FINISHES CLOSING OUT THE LOOP IN THE ENTIRE BLOCK. WE CONTROL OUR DESTINY, UH, AT THE END OF THE DAY. AND, UH, AGAIN, THIS IS AN ASSET THAT CREATED IN THE BEST PLACE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. CORAL GABLES. UH, AND I CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR DILIGENTLY GOING AFTER THIS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND, UH, BRINGING THIS HOME. THANK YOU, MAYOR. DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL IDEA TO BUY IT, BUT KNOWING HOW MUCH TIME AND MONEY WAS SPENT GETTING THE 4 27 BUILDING READY, THE QUESTION IS, WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING TO REF FOR PURPOSE? IT TO REMODEL, TO GET IT READY, BECAUSE PRETTY SOON I KNOW THAT IT'S RENTED. NOW, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE RENT IS PAID BY THE CITY, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMEBODY THERE ALREADY. BUT THE OTHER PEOPLE, ONCE THEY KNOW THAT EVENTUALLY THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE, THEY'RE GONNA START PLANNING TO MOVE. SO THE RENT IS NOT GONNA BE THERE. OKAY. SO THIS IS MY CONCERN. I KNOW THAT WE CAN FIND THE MONEY. I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE NEED MONEY, WE FIND MONEY BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MONEY THAT WAS NOT USED THE PREVIOUS YEAR. AND ON THE SECOND YEAR, WE CAN USE IT FOR WHATEVER WE WANT. WE GONE THE ROAD BEFORE. I GUESS THAT'S, UH, HOW WE PAY FOR THINGS THAT WE WANT AND WE DON'T WANT TO GET PERMISSION FOR. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. PERFECT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. THANK [08:45:01] YOU. MOVING ON [F.-2. 26-1770 A Resolution of the City Commission directing City staff to extend the Resident Parking Rate Pilot Program through the date of the second City Commission Meeting in January 2027 to collect additional data in order to better determine the long-term feasibility of a resident parking rate. (Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)] TO ITEM F TWO. F TWO IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO EXTEND THE RESIDENT PARKING RATE PILOT PROGRAM THROUGH THE DATE OF THE SECOND CITY COMMISSION MEETING IN JANUARY, 2027 TO COLLECT ADDITIONAL DATA IN ORDER TO BETTER DETERMINE THE LONG-TERM FEASIBILITY OF A RESIDENT PARKING RATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM THE SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM. THE REASON WE PUT IT BACK UP HERE IS TO STILL, WE STILL NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME SINCE THERE'S, UM, THIS ONGOING TALLAHASSEE HOME SET EXEMPTION. UM, I THINK THE FISCAL IMPACT AS IT IS RIGHT NOW IS MINIMAL. HOWEVER, I THINK IT WOULD BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO KEEP ON EVALUATING THE FISCAL IMPACT. MONICA, GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING. RIGHT. UM, MONICA BELTRAN, UM, PARKING, SUSTAINABILITY AND MOBILITY SERVICES DIRECTOR JUST TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON, ON THIS PROGRAM. IT'S BEEN WELL RECEIVED CURRENTLY. AND, AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN OTHER, UH, MUNICIPALITIES OR, UM, CITIES WITH THESE PROGRAMS. THERE ARE 2,130 REGISTERED RESIDENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM TO DATE. SO I'M GONNA INCLUDE DATA FOR 14 MONTHS. WE HAVE WAIVED $25,000. HOWEVER, THE TOTAL REVENUE WAS 16 MILLION. SO THE IMPACT IS 0.16 OF A PERCENT. AND, UH, ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT IT'S, IT'S BEEN FOR THOSE RESIDENTS THAT USE 'EM, BY THE WAY, ARE ARE BRILLIANT STUDENTS TODAY CONCENTRATED ON PARKING. HEY, I FELT GOOD ABOUT THAT. . YEAH, THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL, BUT THEY, THEY ALSO PROPOSED SOME PARKING CUTS OF WHICH THIS IS THE LEAST IMPACTFUL AND WE WILL HAVE APPLE PAY. PERFECT. OKAY. THANK, THANK YOU MONICA. I'LL MOVE IT. I HAVE SOME, SOME QUESTIONS. WELL, LET'S, UM, BEFORE YOU MOVE IT, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MURPHY, MADAM VICE MAYOR, YOU HAD A QUESTION OR A STATEMENT OR SOMETHING? I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND, UH, WHILE THE DIRECTOR'S UP THERE, IT'S A APPROPRIATE TIME, UM, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE MOBILITY, UH, UPCOMING AND WE'RE BREAKING GROUND ON A PARTICULAR DATE. AND I WANTED TO HEAR YOUR, UM, EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT ON AVAILABILITY OF PARKING AND RECOMMENDATIONS. SO THANK YOU FOR ASKING. AND I'M FORMULATING A PROGRAM TO PRESENT TO MY BOSSES AND, UH, IT'S A MULTI-PRONG APPROACH. SO FIRST THING WE DID IS WE EVALUATED WHAT IS THE, THE IMPACT, RIGHT? WHAT IS THE TRUE DELTA BETWEEN ONE AND FOUR, WHEN CAN GARAGE FOUR ACCOMMODATE THE PARKING THAT WE'RE GONNA LOSE AT GARAGE ONE? AND WE DID THAT BY EVALUATING THE VACANCY OR, OR THE SPACE AVAILABILITY. AND FOUND, NOT SURPRISINGLY THAT WEEKENDS AT CERTAIN TIMES IT WOULD BE THE, THE, UM, SUPPLY OF PARKING WOULD EXCEED THE DEMAND. HOWEVER, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THE PRIVATE, UM, GARAGES, ONE IN PARTICULAR, SO THAT WE CAN REMOVE FROM G FOUR THE, UM, CITY VEHICLES THAT ARE PARKING THERE SO THAT WE CAN THEN MOVE THE PERMITTEES FROM G ONE TO G FOUR. SO THAT'S ONE MEASURE. UM, THE OTHER ONE IS WE'VE, WE'VE LOOKED AT VALET. THE, THE ISSUE HERE IS THAT WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THE STAFF, RIGHT? THE TRANSIENT USE. WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THE FOOD PICKUP AND DELIVERY, WHICH IS A BIG PART OF WHAT THEY DO. SO NOT ONE SOLUTION, BUT ON MULTIPLE CHOICES OF SOLUTIONS. AND REALLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT CERTAIN DAYS AT ABOUT TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON AND AS WELL AS WEEKENDS, FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS AT 7:00 PM THOSE ARE THE TIMES THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE EXCEEDING CAPACITY. SO I THINK THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION NEEDS TO, UM, ASK WHEN IS THE ACTUAL DAY WE'RE GONNA BE CLOSING DOWN GARAGE ONE FOR AVAILABLE PARKING THROUGH THE MA THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. THE, UH, PROBLEM THAT, THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT WE JUST RESOLVED WAS THAT THE, UH, THE, UH, POWER FROM FOR THE NORTH, FOR [08:50:02] THE, UH, SOUTH SIDE OF THE MILE, WHICH IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF, OF THE, OF GARAGE ONE. IT'S COMING FROM GARAGE ONE. WE HAD ALL KINDS OF ISSUES WITH THE EXISTING FACILITIES. WE'VE WORKED EVERY, IT IS BEEN, IT'S BEEN A NIGHTMARE BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE CANNOT ALLOW, UH, THOSE, THAT PART OF THE, THAT, THAT BLOCK OF, OF, OF THE MILE TO HAVE NO POWER. SO WE ARE, WE'VE, WE'VE CREATED A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE BUILDING TRANSFORMERS ON THE ALLEY TO ACTUALLY POWER THAT, THAT PART OF MIRACLE MILE AND THEN COME BACK AND DO A SWITCH WHEN WE DO THE ACTUAL MOBILITY HUB AND POWER IT BACK FROM THE TRANSFORMERS AT THE MOBILITY HUB. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE FOUND OUT, UM, WHEN WE, WHEN WE STARTED, WHEN WE STARTED DOING THE, UH, THE, UH, PROJECT. HIGHLY UNUSUAL TO HAVE A CITY FACILITY BE THE, UH, TRANSFORMER LOCATION FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY. BUT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE. UH, THESE, THESE PROJECTS WERE DONE IN THE, UH, FIFTIES AND THINGS WERE DONE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY. WE'D LIKE TO GET PROBABLY, UH, PROVIDE THAT AREA, UH, FIVE, UH, FIVE YEAR PERIOD, OR 10 YEAR PERIOD TO GO AHEAD AND SWITCH BACK TO HAVE THEIR OWN TRANSFORMER. AND MAYOR, WE'VE, WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT USING COMPACTORS AND, AND, AND FRI AND REFRIGERATED TRASH AREAS SO WE CAN ACTIVATE THE ALLEY. UH, AND, UH, SO, SO IT'S, WE, WE, WE HAVE A RESULT. WE FINALLY FIGURED EVERYTHING OUT. FPL ACTUALLY HAD ISSUES 'CAUSE THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT WAS THERE. SO WE HAD OUR OWN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER FIGURE THAT OUT. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THAT, THAT RESOLVED. UH, VICE MAYOR, WE HAVE THE NEW PARKING LOT. UH, THE GREEN AREA NOW IS BEING CONVERTED INTO, INTO PARKING LOTS AT THE DAVIDSON PROPERTY, WHICH IS A PROPERTY, UH, JUST, JUST NORTH OF SEASONS 52. THAT, THAT'S, THAT, THAT, THAT GREEN AREA. AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS GONNA ADD 130 CARS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE BEFORE. SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE 284 CARS IN GARAGE. ONE THAT TAKES CARE OF, OF ABOUT 130 OF THAT. SO WE HAVE ABOUT 150 CARS THAT, THAT ARE STILL PENDING. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT, THAT WE ARE WORKING, UH, WITH, WITH OUR PARKING DIRECTOR ON. BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, UH, MAYBE BRINGING BACK, UH, THE FREEBIE CIRCULATOR. THAT WAS VERY, VERY HELPFUL. UH, DURING DOING STREETSCAPE, RIGHT NOW, THAT CIRCULATOR SYSTEM IS, HAS, HAS, UM, A, UH, A PICK UP TIME OF ABOUT 20 MINUTES. IT JUST, OR, OR MORE, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. UH, WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE MAJOR PROJECTS IN, IN THE AREA. WE'VE GOT CITY HALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, PUBLIX UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND GARAGE, AND THE MOBILITY HUB UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT, AT THE SAME TIME. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT, AT SOME, AT A CIRCULATOR. THAT'S, THAT IS, UH, WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT TO THE, UH, UH, COMMISSION THAT JUST DEALS WITH THE DOWNTOWN AREA WHEN WE DID THAT, UH, FOR STREETSCAPE, OUR, OUR OUR TIME TO SIX, SIX MINUTES. SO THAT, THAT IS DOABLE, BUT PEOPLE CAN'T WAIT 25 MINUTES. UH, SO, SO WE ARE, WE WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THAT. SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF, A NUMBER OF ALTERNATIVES THAT, THAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING TO THE, UH, TO THE COMMISSION. BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT, AT THE DOWNTIME. WE'RE ALSO, UH, FIXING, UH, GARAGE, GARAGE FOUR. UH, IT'S, IT'S ASO IT'S, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE GARAGE. IT DOESN'T HAVE AN ELEVATOR, BUT I THINK PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE USING THE THIRD FLOOR. NOW. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO USE IT BECAUSE YOU, THERE'S NO ELEVATOR ACCESS. BUT WE HAVE A, UH, BUT I THINK, UH, GARAGE ONE WILL, EXCUSE ME, GARAGE FOUR WILL BE MORE HIGHLY USED NOW. AND WE ARE PROVIDING THE, UH, ALL, ALL THE WORK REQUIRED FOR THE 40 YEAR, 30 YEAR, UH, RECERTIFICATION OF, OF, OF THAT GARAGE. SO WE ARE WORKING, UH, WITH VARIOUS PLANS, INCLUDING LOOKING AT, AT CERTAIN OPTIONS IN THE PRIVATE, IN THE PRIVATE GARAGES TO SEE IF WE CAN ACCOMMODATE MORE VEHICLES THERE. AND SOME ARE JUST WHERE WE HAVE EXCESS. BUT WE ARE, WE, WE ARE WORKING WITH THIS DYNAMIC NOW. SO LET ME, LEMME SEE IF I CAN PUT MY CONCERNS IN, IN A NUTSHELL, UM, THIS PROPOSAL RUNS THE PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH WE'RE EVALUATING NUMBERS THROUGH JANUARY. AND HYPOTHETICALLY, LET'S SAY WE BREAK GROUND IN OCTOBER, SO IT'S GONNA SKEW THE RESULTS. SO REALLY THE ANALYSIS GETS ALTERED. AND FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, YOU'RE STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT PEOPLE. I'M SORRY, WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT PEOPLE. YOU'RE 150 CARS SHORT RIGHT? AT CERTAIN TIMES. BUT SO, SO MY SUGGESTION AT LEAST TO KEEP THIS MOVING FOR RIGHT NOW IS TO, INSTEAD OF PICK, PICKING JANUARY, UH, PICK A DATE BEFORE THE GROUNDBREAKING AND, AND BRING THIS BACK, UM, WHEN YOU'RE READY FOR YOUR REPORT AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW MUCH LONGER. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU RUN IT THROUGH JANUARY WITHOUT SKEWING THE NUMBERS? I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE BEFORE WE BREAK GROUND [08:55:01] AND LOCK THEM IN THERE AND THEN MOVE FORWARD ON IT. AND HOPEFULLY WE HAVE ENOUGH PARKING. SO DAVIDSON LOT, AS FAR AS I KNOW, IS A PRIVATE PARKING LOT FOR THE MAYOR. YES. SO THAT WOULDN'T, THAT WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE. YES. THANK YOU. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR. UH, WE HAVE ABOUT 2000, AND THAT'S ABOUT $13,000. OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER CASTRO HAVE, HAVE, HAVE BEEN THAT, FOR INSTANCE, IF THAT GOES TO 20,000, IT, IT WOULD BE $130,000, WHICH, WHICH, UH, DEPENDING ON, ON WHAT HAPPENS, UH, WITH W WITH THE STATE CAN BE, CAN BE SOMETHING THAT, UH, CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. SO, UH, SO, SO THAT'S THE IDEA ABOUT DEFERRING IT FOR SOME TIME TO LOOK TO SEE, UH, WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND, UH, AND, AND HOW MUCH JUICE IS THIS GOING TO ACTUALLY GET. RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT SIGNIFICANT, BUT IS WILL IT BE SIGNIFICANT A YEAR FROM NOW, UH, FOR THAT? SO, SO THAT, THAT'S OUR DISCUSSIONS, UH, WITH, WITH COMMISSIONER CASTRO. SO THAT'S WHY WE, WE ARE LOOKING AT, AT, AT EXTENDING IT. SO, SO GOING BACK TO MY QUESTION, DOES JANUARY 27TH, OKAY, AND WE'RE GONNA AESTHETICALLY BREAK GROUND IN OCTOBER, I'D LIKE TO GET A CLEAN SET OF NUMBERS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THIS IS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PARTICIPATING. THIS IS HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE WE'RE DRAWING DOWN, AND THIS IS HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO PARK. SO REALLY THE DISCOUNT IS RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE AS OPPOSED TO BEING IMPACTED BY THE FACT THAT WE'VE BROKEN GROUND ON A PARKING GARAGE. AND THEN WE CAN RESET THE STUDY AFTER THAT TO HAVE A CLEAN SET OF NUMBERS. THAT'S, THAT'S MY CONCERN THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. UM, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND SECOND MY MOTION, I'LL ACCEPT YOUR AMENDMENT. YEAH, NO, I'LL SECOND, I'LL SECOND A MOTION. BUT YOU UNDERSTAND. I'LL ACCEPT YOUR AMENDMENT. I MEAN, SO IS IT CORRECT TO SAY HYPOTHETICALLY THAT WE'RE GONNA BREAK GROUND IN OCTOBER SOME SOMETIME THIS YEAR? UH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT RIGHT NOW. UH, WE, UH, WE ARE WRAPPING UP THE, THE ISSUES WITH FPNL, THEY'VE BEEN A LOT MORE PROBLEMATIC. UH, QUITE PROBLEMATIC, BUT I THINK WE HAVE 'EM WRAPPED UP NOW. UH, F FP AND L IS, IS WORKING ON THAT, ON THAT, ON THAT DESIGN. SO I WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BETTER, BETTER NUMBER, UH, AS FAR AS AS, AS FAR AS THE, UH, START DATE. SO WHY DON'T WE FRAME THIS WAY, BUT FROM A DESIGN PERSPECTIVE, FROM, UH, WE, WE, WE HAVE ACTUAL PLANS. WE HAVE ACTUAL PLANS THAT ARE PERMITTED RIGHT NOW, AND WE CONSTRUCT CONSTRUCTION TOMORROW. ACTUALLY, IF WE HAD, IF IT WASN'T FOR, FOR THE FP AND L ISSUE, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO THEM THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT THAT IS, WE'RE HOLDING BACK OUR PROJECT, BY THE WAY. AND THEY'VE BEEN, THEY'VE BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE. IT'S JUST BEEN, UH, JUST BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A NIGHTMARE. UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, HAVE A, HAVE A PERMIT. THIS PROJECT WILL BE A REVISION TO THAT PERMIT AND THAT, SO WE ALREADY HAVE A PERMITS BECAUSE IT'S GONE THROUGH DERM. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS, IS IS HAVE A CONTRACTOR ACTUALLY PULL THE PERMIT ON, ON THE JOB. UH, OUR INTENT IS TO PULL THE PERMIT ON THE OLD SET OF DRAWINGS AND, AND THEN PROVIDE A REVISION FOR THE NEW SKIN AND THEN, AND THE NEW WORK AT THE, AT THE, AT THE, AT THE NINTH FLOOR. SO I'M GONNA SECOND THE MOTION. I THINK IT'S REAL IMPORTANT FOR THIS TO RUN, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOT SUMMIT MONTHS, IT MORE PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AND IT'LL JUST SET, EXTEND IT UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO BREAK THE MONTH BEFORE YOU'RE READY TO BREAK GROUND. WHETHER THAT'S THE END OF SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, IT'S, IT'S, THE LANGUAGE WOULD COVER IT JUST BY SAYING THE MONTH BEFORE YOU'RE READY TO BREAK GROUND, STOP THE PROGRAM THERE AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS WHAT TO DO WITH IT AFTER. ALRIGHT. SO BASICALLY WE WILL, THE PROGRAM WILL BE FROZEN AND STOPPED IN THREE MONTHS, RIGHT? JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER. UNLESS THERE'S ANOTHER MOTION. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM DIRECTOR. ALRIGHT, MOVING [F.-4. 26-1763 A Resolution of the City Commission calling a Special Election on the proposed ballot question and City Charter amendment to be held on November 3, 2026; providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking if the Charter should be amended to raise the value of public work projects that require formal solicitation and providing that the threshold value be amended consistent with Florida Statutes; providing for notice; providing for inclusion in the City Charter; providing for related matters; providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] ON TO ITEM F FOUR. F FOUR IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE PROPOSED BALLOT QUESTION IN CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026, PROVIDING FOR SUBMISSION TO THE ELECTORS FOR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF A VALID QUESTION, ASKING IF THE CHARTER SHOULD BE AMENDED TO RAISE THE VALUE OF PUBLIC WORK PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE FORMAL SOLICITATION AND PROVIDING THE THRESHOLD VALUE BE AMENDED CONSISTENT WITH FLORIDA STATUTES, PROVIDING FOR NOTICE, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CITY CHARTER, PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER STEPHANIE THROCKMORTON, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY. THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY THE MAYOR AND SETS FORTH [09:00:01] A BALLOT QUESTION TO BE HELD ON A SPECIAL NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 BALLOT. A QUESTION REGARDING THIS PUBLIC WORK THRESHOLD VALUE. MAYOR LESICK MENTIONED THIS WHEN HE MENTIONED THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THIS QUESTION WAS ONE SUGGESTED BY CITY STAFF AND THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE. AS MENTIONED, THE CURRENT $25,000 THRESHOLD IS RATHER LOW. AND WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS ALLOW THE CITY, IF APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, TO, UM, SOLICIT BIDS UNDER 300,000 WITHOUT FOLLOWING FORMAL SOLICITATION PROCEDURES. OBVIOUSLY, ANYTHING REQUIRING CITY COMMISSION APPROVAL WOULD STILL COME BEFORE YOU ALL, IT'S JUST THE MANNER OF SOLICITING. AND THE QUESTION PUT TO THE VOTERS WOULD BE, SHALL SECTION 24 OF THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO INCREASE THE THRESHOLD FOR PUBLIC WORK PROJECTS REQUIRING FORMAL SOLICITATION FROM 25,000 TO $300,000 WITH THAT AMOUNT ADJUSTED AS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 2 5 5 20 OF FLORIDA STATUTES AS MENTIONED BY, UM, MAYOR LESNIK DURING THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE SUMMARY, FLORIDA STATUTES PROVIDES THAT SAME $300,000 THRESHOLD AS IT, UM, ADJUSTED ANNUALLY BY THE ENGINEERING NEWS RECORD. SO THAT WOULD BE THE SAME FOR THE STATUTE HERE, I BELIEVE NOW THE 300,000 IS ALREADY AROUND 400. I'M GONNA, I'M NOT AN ENGINEER. UH, 400 SOME THOUSAND. SO THAT WAS, THAT'S WHAT, UM, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT WOULD BE, BUT IT WOULD BE ADJUSTED ANNUALLY BASED ON THAT RECORD. OKAY. PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY. MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE'LL TAKE A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. MOVE A SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAW? YES. MOVING [F.-5. 26-1762 A Resolution of the City Commission calling a Special Election on the proposed ballot question and City Charter amendment to be held on November 3, 2026; providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking if the Charter should be amended to require continuous residency immediately preceding the conclusion of the qualifying period for the offices of Mayor and City Commissioner; providing for notice; providing for inclusion in the City Charter; providing for related matters; providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] ON TO ITEM F FIVE. F FIVE IS A RESOLUTION OF CITY COMMISSION CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE PROPOSED BALLOT QUESTION AND CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026, PROVIDING FOR SUBMISSION TO THE ELECTORS FOR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF BALLOT. QUESTION ASKING OF THE CHARTER SHOULD BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE CONTINUANCE RESIDENCY IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDING THE CONCLUSION OF THE QUALIFYING PERIOD FOR THE OFFICES OF MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONER, PROVIDING FOR NOTICE, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CITY CHARTER, PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY THE MAYOR. AND THANK YOU TO MAYOR LESNIK FOR DOING MY PRESENTATION FOR ME. THIS IS ANOTHER, UM, SMALL CHANGE TO THE CITY WITH CHARTER, WHICH, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE IF ADOPTED BY THE VOTERS CONTINUOUS RESIDENCY IN THE CITY FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE YEAR IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDING IN THE END OF THAT QUALIFYING PERIOD. AS NOTED, NOW THAT ELECTIONS ARE IN NOVEMBER, THAT QUALIFYING PERIOD IS IN JUNE. SO, UM, BY THE END OF THE QUALIFYING PERIOD, ANY, UM, CANDIDATE FOR POSITION IN THE CITY WOULD NEED TO HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR A CONTINUOUS YEAR IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE END OF THAT. UM, THIS IS SIMILAR LANGUAGE TO QUESTIONS ADOPTED IN NEARBY MUNICIPALITIES AND WOULD BE ON THE NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 BALLOT. THANK YOU. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? MR. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. [F.-6. 26-1761 A Resolution of the City Commission calling a Special Election on the proposed ballot question and City Charter amendment to be held on November 3, 2026; providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking if the Charter should be amended to provide for the Mayor to be elected to serve a four (4) year term commencing with the November 2028 election without changing the associated mayoral term limit; providing for notice; providing for inclusion in the City Charter; providing for related matters; providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] UH, ITEM F SIX F SIX IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE PROPOSED BALLOT QUESTION IN CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026, PROVIDING FOR SUBMISSION TO THE ELECTORS FOR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF A VALID QUESTION ASKING IF THE CHARTER SHOULD BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAYOR TO BE ELECTED TO SERVE A FOUR YEAR TERM COMMENCING WITH THE NOVEMBER, 2028 ELECTION WITHOUT CHANGING THE ASSOCIATED MAYORAL TERM LIMIT, PROVIDING FOR NOTICE, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION OF THE CITY CHARTER, PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU. AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY THE MAYOR. AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY IN THIS MEETING, THERE HAS BEEN, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO VOTES IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OR SO ON THIS ITEM, BOTH OF WHICH WERE VERY CLOSE AS, UM, PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED BY MAYOR LESNIK AND THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE. THIS QUESTION WOULD BE PUT FORTH TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER 3RD, NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026. AND IT CALLS FOR CHANGING THE CHARTER TO REFLECT A MAYORAL TERM OF FOUR YEARS CONSISTENT WITH THAT COMMISSION TERM BEGINNING IN 2028. UM, IT'S NOTED HERE THAT OUR CURRENT MAYOR, IF REELECTED IN NOVEMBER, WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE IN NOVEMBER OF 2028, AND THE ASSOCIATED TERM LIMITS WOULD NOT BE CHANGED. OUR CURRENT TERM LIMITS ARE EIGHT CONTINUOUS YEARS AS MAYOR. SO RATHER THAN BEING FOUR, TWO YEAR TERMS IF ADOPTED, THIS WOULD BE TWO FOUR YEAR TERMS. SO THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGES TO THE ASSOCIATED MAY ORAL TERM LIMIT. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I HAVE, GIMME ONE, ONE SECOND. I'LL SECOND. UH, MR. CLERK? YES, MS. MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MS. MAYOR. THANK YOU. MARIA CRUZ. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE PAYING MARIA, MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5 3 2 3 2 1 5 4. NOW WE'RE PLAYING PING PONG. THE SHUTTER SAID THE ORIGINAL SHUTTER WAS TWO YEARS. SO SOMEBODY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF CHANGING IT TO FOUR, IT WAS VOTED TO FOUR, THEN WE CHANGE IT BACK TO TWO. [09:05:01] SO NOW WE'RE GONNA, UH, SUGGEST FOUR AGAIN AND THREE YEARS FROM THEN WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO TWO. BUT WHEN IT'S NOT BROKEN, WHY ARE WE TRYING TO CHANGE IT WHEN OBVIOUSLY WE CHANGED IT AND IT DIDN'T WORK? NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, I KNOW THERE ARE MANY RUMORS GOING AROUND, BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, NOBODY PRESENT OR NOT PRESENT HAS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR MAYOR IN 2028. BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. THERE MAY BE SOMEBODY IN THE WINGS WAITING AND WE MAY BE TRYING TO SET IT OFF TO THAT PERSON. BYE. HOLMES. GREETINGS. UH, I, I WASN'T EVEN PLANNING ON COMMENTING HERE, BUT THEN I STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT. UM, I, I CAN APPRECIATE, UH, THAT FOR ANY MAYOR HAVING TO RUN EVERY TWO YEARS IS, UM, SHALL WE SAY, BE AGGRAVATING, RIGHT? UH, AND I, I, I DON'T CONTEST THAT, BUT WHAT, WHAT STRIKES ME IS THAT I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT OUR HAVING THREE PEOPLE ON THE BALLOT EVERY TIME. BECAUSE IF THERE IS, UM, AN UP SWELLING OF PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT IF YOU HAVE A, SHALL WE CALL IT A CHANGE ELECTION? UM, FOR SOME REASON I'M THINKING OF THE ELECTION IN 2001. UM, SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT. I'M NOT TRYING TO GET BACK TO THAT ISSUE. BUT WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY? WITH, WHEN YOU HAVE IT EVERY TWO YEARS, THEN IF THE PUBLIC IS REALLY UPSET ABOUT SOMETHING, THEY CAN, THEY CAN SAY, OKAY, WE'RE ELECTING THREE PEOPLE WHO WILL ACTUALLY CHANGE IT. WHEREAS IF THE MAYOR'S TERM IS FOUR YEARS, THEN MAYBE THE PUBLIC CAN ONLY EXPRESS THEIR, LET'S JUST, FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, CALL IT OUTRAGE. AND, BUT THEY CAN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. SO THAT, THAT'S WHY I PREFER TO KEEP IT TWO YEARS. I'M, I'M NOT CONTESTING THAT. IT'S, IT'S GOTTA BE AGGRAVATING FOR ANY MAYOR. YOU HAVE TO RUN EVERY TWO YEARS. I, I AGREE THAT THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR ON A MAYOR. IT'S JUST THAT I THINK IT'S BETTER TO HAVE THE PUBLIC ABLE TO, IN ANY SINGLE ELECTION SAY, OKAY, WE'VE HAD ENOUGH, WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THINGS AND THEN THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET IT DONE. BECAUSE AGAIN, ELECT THREE PEOPLE TO CHANGE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. I DISAGREE WITH CHANGING IT TO, TO FOUR YEARS, BUT I DO AGREE WITH PUTTING IT OUT FOR, ON A REFERENDUM FOR HAVING THE PEOPLE VOTE. SO YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. I'M MOVING ON [F.-7. 26-1760 A Resolution of the City Commission calling a Special Election on the proposed ballot question and City Charter amendment to be held on November 3, 2026; providing for submission to the electors for approval or disapproval of a ballot question asking if the City Charter should be amended to require a vote of the electors prior to the sale of certain city-owned properties; providing for notice; providing for inclusion in the City Charter; providing for related matters; providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] TO ITEM F SEVEN. F SEVEN IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE PROPOSED BALLOT QUESTION AND CITY CHARTER AMENDMENT TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026, PROVIDING FOR SUBMISSION TO THE ELECTORS FOR APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF A VALID QUESTION, ASKING IF THE CITY CHARTER SHOULD BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE A VOTE OF THE ELECTORS PRIOR TO THE SALE OF CERTAIN CITY OWNED PROPERTIES. PROVIDING FOR NOTICE, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CITY CHARTER, PROVIDING FOR RELATED MATTERS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THANK YOU. AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS SPONSORED BY THE MAYOR AS MENTIONED, UM, PREVIOUSLY IN THIS MEETING, THIS QUESTION, UM, CAME UP IN DISCUSSION WITH THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE AND THE MAYOR HAS PUT FORTH THIS BALLOT QUESTION. SO THE QUESTION WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT THE SALE OF A CITY OWNED PARK, RECREATIONAL FACILITY, GOLF COURSE, OR OPEN PARK SPACE, BE APPROVED BY THE CITY'S ELECTORS WITH THIS REQUIREMENT TO BE FURTHER OUTLINED IN AN ORDINANCE ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION, WHERE THOSE DEFINITIONS OF SALE PARK OPEN SPACE COULD BE BETTER FLESHED OUT. UM, THIS QUESTION, UM, AROSE AFTER DISCUSSION AT THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE BASED ON SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES HAVING SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS, THOUGH, AS MENTIONED BY THE, UM, CHAIR LESNIK. THAT WAS A FOUR FIFTH VOTE. THIS PROPOSAL IS FOR A VOTE OF THE ELECTORS RATHER THAN A VOTE OF THE COMMISSION. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, AND I'M, THIS IS A MESSAGE TO MY COLLEAGUES AND, UH, ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR WHO'S HERE. UM, WHAT WE HAVE DONE HERE, AND I'M HAPPY THAT HAROLD IS LISTENING TO THIS. WELL, WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IS WE'VE WEAPONIZED SOCIAL MEDIA AS A COMMUNITY, BUT WE HAVE BLOGS HERE. AND WHAT WE DO, CERTAIN PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION AND CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM IS THEY LEAK FALSE INFORMATION TO THESE BLOGS. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. AND THEN THEY RUN WITH IT. THEY RUN WITH IT. AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT SNOWBALLS AND YOU'RE KNOCKING ON SOMEONE'S DOOR AND THEY'RE SAYING, LISTEN, I CAN'T SUPPORT YOU BECAUSE I HEAR THAT YOU'RE GONNA SELL OFF GRANADA GOLF COURSE. FIRST [09:10:01] AND FOREMOST, GRANADA GOLF COURSE IS A HISTORIC GOLF COURSE. OKAY? YOU, YOU CAN'T REDEVELOP GRANADA GOLF COURSE EVEN IF WE WANTED TO. OKAY? THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, THE LATEST JOKE THAT WAS BEING TOLD HERE IN THIS TOWN WAS, AH, THE REASON WHY YOU WANNA OVERTURN THE REVERTER, I THINK EVEN THE HAROLD MENTIONED IT, IS BECAUSE YOU WANNA REDEVELOP AND SELL A PORTION OF THE YOUTH CENTER OFF. THINK ABOUT HOW RIDICULOUS THAT SOUNDS. THINK ABOUT HOW PEOPLE GET INTO THESE LITTLE ECHO CHAMBERS AND THEY BELIEVE THIS INSANITY. I CAN SAY THIS ON THE RECORD, I'M THE ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER. THEY'RE BEING ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT BROUGHT MORE GREEN SPACE TO THIS COMMUNITY THAN ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL. I GIVE, NAME ME ONE MORE ELECTED OFFICIAL. YEAH, THAT'S IT. HE NEVER WAS MAYOR. NO, NO, BUT ELECTED OFFICIAL. OKAY, GEORGE MERRICK. I'M FINE, I'M BEING, I'M FINE BEING SECOND TO GEORGE MERRICK FROM COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. IT'S OKAY. JUST THIS YEAR ALONE, IT'S 30 ACRES I MANY ACRES HAVE WE BROUGHT TO THE DOWNTOWN. HOW MANY ACRES HAVE WE BROUGHT TO THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH LEGISLATION THAT I'VE WRITTEN? AND IT'S THE CONSTANT, YOU KNOW, BS, LIES, INNUENDOS, SCARE TACTICS THAT ARE USED TO GET PEOPLE, OH, THEY'RE GONNA SCARE, THEY'RE GONNA, THE REASON WHY THEY WANT TO DO THE THINGS THAT GO ON A GOLF COURSE IS 'CAUSE THEY WANNA SELL IT. SO, YOU KNOW WHAT I DID? LET'S TAKE IT TO AN EXTREME. LET'S TAKE IT TO AN EXTREME. AND HERE'S YOUR EXTREME. THE VOTERS WILL DECIDE, NOW, BY THE WAY, GREEN SPACE GOLF COURSES AND YOUTH CENTER. SO WHAT'S THE POINT OF A REVERTER? WHAT'S THE POINT OF A REVERTER IF YOU HAVE NOW AN IRON CLAD, IF THE RESIDENTS VOTE BY OVER 60% TO SELL THE YOUTH CENTER, WHICH WILL NEVER HAPPEN, NEVER HAPPEN TO SELL THE GRANADA GOLF COURSE. I MEAN, I'VE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THAT I'M GONNA MAKE THE GRAN GRANADA GOLF COURSE INTO A PARK. THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T VOTE FOR ME. BECAUSE I WAS TOLD YOU'RE GONNA MAKE THE GRANADA GOLF COURSE A PARK, THAT IT'S A HISTORIC GOLF COURSE. YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN'T MAKE IT INTO A PARK, BUT PEOPLE BELIEVE IT BECAUSE IT'S ON THE BLOGS OR THEY HEAR FROM SOMEBODY. AND THAT'S THE ASSUMPTION THEY MAKE. TRUE. SO THIS, I DON'T WANNA PUT THIS FORWARD, I DON'T WANT TO TIE THE HANDS BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT'S THE POINT OF BEING HAVING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL? I TALK TO THE MANAGER, THE MANAGER ASKED ME, VINCE, WHAT'S THE POINT OF BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL? WELL, YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. YOU HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL IMPLICATE YOU IN THINGS LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, RAISING YOUR SALARY. I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WILL RAISE THEIR OWN SALARY. WE DID IT HERE. WE DID IT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUDGET HEARING. SO WHAT DO I DO NOW? RESIDENTS ARE THE ONES THAT WILL MAKE THE DECISION, BY THE WAY. AND I, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RAISE OUR OWN SALARY IN A WAY THAT IS TRANSPARENT IN A WAY THAT I TRIED AND SAID, LET'S HAVE A PUBLIC DISCOURSE. LET'S HAVE A, A CONVERSATION. BY THE WAY, I THINK WE SHOULD, NOT IN THIS AGENDA, BUT MAYBE IN THE NEXT ELECTION WE SHOULD PUT FORTH A PLAN OF ACTION. I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES TO RAISE YOUR SALARIES. AND BY THE WAY, JUST FOR THE RECORD, IT WON'T BE DURING MY TIME HERE. OKAY? I THINK ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD MAKE MORE MONEY HERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE DEDICATING THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU ARE. BUT NOW WE'VE LEFT IT UP TO THE RESIDENTS. SO I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO PRESENT THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION TO PROTECT NOT ONLY MY INTEGRITY AND MY REPUTATION, BUT THE IDEA AND THE CONCEPT OF THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL DO ACTUAL DAMAGE AND HARM AND SELL THE YOUTH CENTER. THEY'RE GONNA SELL THE YOUTH CENTER. NO, LEMME TELL YOU WHY I WANT THE REVERTER CLAUSE REMOVED. BECAUSE A GROUP THAT FOR FIVE YEARS DOESN'T FILE THEIR 5 0 1 C3 DOCUMENTS. YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE IN THE BANK ACCOUNT. YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY FILE THEIR TAXES. HAVE THEY NOT FILED THEIR TAXES? ARE THEY FOLLOWED THE RULES? BUT THE MOST EGREGIOUS OF IT IS HOW IS THE MAKEUP OF THEIR BOARD, THE COMPOST, THE COMPOSITION OF THEIR BOARD DECIDED, WE'RE DECIDED HERE IN AN ELECTION THAT HAPPENS EVERY TWO YEARS OR FOUR WE'RE VOTED ON BY THE RESIDENTS. BUT YOU HAVE A BOARD THAT HAS POWER OVER THE YOUTH CENTER THAT CAN SAY, WELL, MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER, MY FRIEND IS ON THIS BOARD. IF PEOPLE DON'T VOTE MY WAY, I'LL JUST REMOVE THEM. THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT IN MY EYES, WE SHOULD ALLOW ANY PUBLIC ASSET THAT'S WORTH OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS BE TRANSACTED. THAT TO ME IS A FACT. AND NOW YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE REVERTERS YOU WANT, THEY'RE MEANINGLESS. YOU WANNA KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS WILL MAKE THE DECISION. SO THAT'S WHY I [09:15:01] HAVE THIS HERE BEFORE, BEFORE, UH, THE COMMUNITY AND BEFORE THE COMMISSION, BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY TO TRULY PUT THIS TO REST. IT'S OVER THE CONVERSATION. CEASES TO EXIST JUST LIKE WE'VE HAD WITH THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, JUST LIKE WE'VE HAD WITH, WITH THE RAISES AND A LITANY OF OTHER THINGS THAT THE RESIDENTS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED. WHEN MANY ON THIS COMMISSION, FOR EXAMPLE, THE IG WOULD NOT SUPPORT. AND NOW WE ARE GONNA HAVE AN IG. SO THAT'S WHY I'M PUTTING IT FORWARD AND I ASK FOR EVERY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS COMMISSION TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. MADAM VICE MAYOR, I BELIEVE I FULLY SUPPORT IT. AND HE GIVES ME PEACE TO KNOW THAT WHEN I FINISH MY TIME HERE, THAT THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY THIS COMMISSION TO SECURE THESE PROPERTIES IS NOT GONNA BE UNRAVELED BY A FUTURE COMMISSION. OKAY, WELL SAID. OR BY A BOARD WITH A REVERTER CLAUSE THAT DECIDES TO HAVE A LITIGATION CASE AND SPEND A LOT OF TAXPAYER MONEY IN COURT WITH WHETHER OR NOT PARTICULAR ACTIONS DO OR DO NOT VIOLATE THE REVERTER. SO I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND IT. SO THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES. UM, I WOULD ACTUALLY ASK, I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION. I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR. I THINK THAT FOR MANY YEARS, COMMISSIONS OUR COMMISSION, COMMISSION BEFORE COMMISSIONS BEFORE THAT HAVE WORKED TO BUILD ON THE NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS THAT WE HAVE ON PARKS IN THE DOWNTOWN. UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CITY TO WHERE IT IS TODAY. AND I THINK WE NEED TO SET THAT PROTECTION GOING FORWARD. UH, FOR, FOR THE CITY, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO ADD AN EXTRA WORD OR TWO ACTUALLY, WHICH IS SALE OR TRANSFER BECAUSE COMMISSIONS COULD GET CREATIVE AND TRANSFER IT TO ANOTHER ENTITY AND DO IT THAT WAY. I THINK THE PROTECTION SHOULD EXIST FOR RESIDENTS SO THAT THERE IS NO SALE OR TRANSFER OF, OF PARKLAND THROUGH THE MAYOR THROUGH, IF I MAY, I DID COVER THAT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND ABOUT TRANSFERS AND LAND SWAPS AND ALL THAT AND KNOW IT'S COVERED. YEAH, IT'S COVERED. PERFECT. I I DID THAT ALSO. I DID THAT ALSO. LOOK, MY POINT IS THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH ABOUT SIMPLE WORDS HERE, BUT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO, NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COMMISSION. THIS HAS TO DO WITH STOPPING THE ABUSE ON INDIVIDUALS REPUTATIONS IN THIS TOWN. AND IT'S ENOUGH BECAUSE I TIRED OF HEARING THE ASSAULT THAT HAPPENS ON PEOPLE'S REPUTATIONS HERE ON BLOGS AND ANONYMOUS PEOPLE WHO, I DON'T READ ANY OF THAT STUFF. THEY SEND ME SCREENSHOTS. THEY STOP SENDING ME THIS STUFF. I DON'T CARE WHAT ANY OF THESE PEOPLE SAY. PUT YOUR NAME FRONT AND CENTER. DON'T BE ANONYMOUS, FRONT AND CENTER. SO MY POINT IS THAT I READ IT WHEN THEY SEND ME THE GAZETTE AND THEY SEND ME THE OTHER, UH, UH, GARBAGE THAT'S OUT THERE, IT POLITICAL CORTO OR, OR THE GAZETTE, WHICH IS NOW USED TO BE GABLE'S INSIDER. WHEN THEY SEND THAT ALL THAT STUFF TO ME AND IT SAYS THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND YOU READ IT IN THE COMMENT SECTION, THEY SEND IT TO ME, VINCE SAYING THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT SELLING THE YOUTH CENTER AND THAT'S WHY YOU WANNA GET RID OF VERDER. IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S INFURIATING TO EVEN THINK THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO THAT POINT IN THIS COMMUNITY. WELL, YOU'LL SCARE PEOPLE. WE'LL SCARE PEOPLE THAT THIS COMMISSION WHICH HAS WORKED MYSELF, WHICH I HAVE WORKED 13 YEARS OF MY LIFE, THE RIGHT LEGISLATION. SO THE CITY HAS MONEY THROUGH PERMIT FEES TO BUY PARKS LIKE THE DOROTHY THOMPSON PARK, LIKE THE ONE AGAINST TO, UH, SALVADOR PARK. EXCUSE ME, I CAN GO ON MA NAMING PARKS. I DON ONE IN GRANADA. I DON'T WANT THE ONE OF YOU. MANY OF YOU HAVE GONE TO RIBBON CUTTINGS THERE AND ENJOYED THOSE RIBBON CUTTINGS. ALL THOSE PARKS HAVE BEEN BOUGHT, HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH MONEY THROUGH LEGISLATION THAT I'VE RIDDEN OR THROUGH PROPERTIES THAT I HAVE FOUND MYSELF IN BRONX. AND GO BACK, I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN PROPERTY ADVISORY BOARD, UH, WAY BACK IN THE DAY, THE CITY PURCHASED SIX PROPERTIES IN ONE YEAR. YEAH. WHICH WAS VENETIA PARK. UH, THE ONE ON, UH, ALHAMBRA. UM, I THINK LISBON WAS ON THAT, UH, ON THAT LIST AS WELL. THE PRODUCT, THE PRODUCT THAT, THE PRODUCT THAT WAS SPLIT BECAUSE NIE TORY, UH, REDEVELOPED THE, THE, IT HE, HE, HE BEAUTIFIED THIS EXCEPTIONAL HISTORIC HOME AND HE SPLIT THE LOT. HE WAS GONNA SELL IT. AND WE BOUGHT IT. WE BOUGHT THAT LOT. WE BOUGHT THE ONE ON 37TH AVENUE IN ALHAMBRA. WE BOUGHT THE ONE ON GRANADA ADJACENT TO THE CORAL GAVIS COUNTRY CLUB. WE BOUGHT THE, THE BIG, THE BIG PIECE ON SALVADOR. WE BOUGHT DOROTHY THOMPSON PARK NORTH PONDS. WE BOUGHT THE [09:20:01] NORTH PONDS. I MEAN, AND THEN, AND THEN GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND ON. BUT THIS RIGHT HERE SHOULD NEVER, YOU SHOULD HAVE FAITH AND TRUST ON YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. BUT WHEN PEOPLE START WITH THAT RHETORIC AND THEY START USING THAT IN CAMPAIGN MATERIAL THAT WE'RE GONNA SELL GRANADA GRANADA GOLF COURSE, AND WE'RE GONNA SELL THE CORAL GABLES, UH, YOUTH CENTER. I MEAN IT'S, IT'S, IT'S RIDICULOUS. IT'S INSULTING TO A PERSON'S COMMITMENT TO COME AND RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. AND YOU'RE GONNA START SELLING PUBLIC ASSETS. I MEAN, AGAIN, IN A, IN A, IN HOW MANY WEEKS, MR. MANAGER, THROUGH YOUR EFFORT AND MY EFFORT, WE'VE BEEN DEALING FOR 10 PLUS YEARS, WE'RE GONNA BRING IN THE LARGEST PARK INTO THE CITY'S HANDS. AND IT DIDN'T COST THE CITY A DOLLAR. WHAT DO WE DO? WE PUT A COVENANT ON IT. RIGHT? YOU'RE LAUGHING BECAUSE WE PUT A COVENANT THAT RESTRICTED OUR ABILITY TO EVEN DEVELOP IT. YOU KNOW, THE FIRST THING I HEARD, AND IF YOU READ IT, 'CAUSE I, 'CAUSE IT WAS PUT ONLINE, I HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THEY, THEY MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT THE HAROLD PRINTED THAT SAID THAT A PORTION OF IT. I'D LIKE TO RETURN IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL OLD FLORIDA SPLENDOR WITH PINE TREES AND, YOU KNOW, PINE ROCK LANDS AND YOU KNOW, LOW LYING AREAS WHERE, WHERE YOU CAN HAVE, UH, PALMETTO, PALMETTO BRUSH AND THAT AND THAT KIND OF STUFF. MAYBE SOME LAND ORCHIDS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE, MAYBE THE VICE MAYOR CAN HELP ME WITH THAT. AND THEY THOUGHT, OH, WELL THEY'RE JUST GONNA TAKE A LITTLE PORTION OF IT. THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE GONNA BRING IT BACK TO HIS OLD SPLENDA, MAYBE ABOUT 10,000 SQUARE FEET. AND THE REST OF THEY'RE GONNA DEVELOP IT. I LITERALLY TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE AND THEY'RE LIKE, OH, YOU'RE A LIAR. 'CAUSE YOU'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S USELESS. IT'S USELESS TO EVEN TRY TO EXPLAIN. NOT THE HAROLD'S FAULT, THEY JUST QUOTED ME AND THE QUOTE WAS TAKEN AS A SMALL PORTION. YEAH, A SMALL PORTION, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE REST OF IT SHOULD BE KEPT AS A GREEN SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN ENJOY. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR TAKING YOU MORE TIME THAN I SHOULD, MR. MANAGER. GO AHEAD. SO THE MAYOR, WE HAD A, A PERPETUAL EASEMENT AND A TITLE RESTRICTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE CAN WE, THE CHANCE IS, AND NOW WE HAVE THIS AND NOW WE HAVE THIS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE COULD DO. AND NOW WE HAVE THIS, I MEAN, OUTSIDE OF, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE COULD DO. YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR CELESTE WAS HERE. HE IS LIKE, LISTEN, DON'T, HE WASN'T SAYING IT, BUT HE WAS KIND OF SAYING, HEY, YOU CAN DO A FOUR FIFTH VOTE. NO, NO. WE'RE TAKING IT EVEN FURTHER. TAKING IT EVEN FURTHER. I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT GETS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE COULD DO. SO, UM, OUR INTENT, AND I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLEAR FOR THE YOUTH CENTER, FOR THE GRANADA GOLF COURSE AND FOR ALL OUR GREEN SPACES, FOR THE YOUTH CENTER, FOR GRANADA, FOR THE GOLF COURSES AND FOR ALL OUR GREEN SPACES, IS TO NEVER ALLOW 'EM TO BE DEVELOPED. NEVER. 'CAUSE THAT IS THE ASSET THAT DEFINES, ALONG WITH OUR CANOPY, DEFINES THE CITY BEAUTIFUL. THAT DEFINES WHO WE ARE. AND BY THE WAY, I GOTTA GIVE CREDIT WHAT CREDIT IS DUE BECAUSE I ALWAYS LIKE TO DO THAT. VICE MAYOR MANNA WAS A CHAMPION FOR PARKS. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF, OF SLO PARK. SALVADOR. SALVADOR PARKS, EXCUSE ME, SALVADOR. CORRECT? YES. SALVADOR. SALVADOR. SALVADOR. YEAH. SALVADOR. AND HE WAS ALWAYS ADVOCATING ON BEHALF. AND HE WAS THE ONE THAT BASICALLY ASKED ME TO CHANGE MY LEGISLATION FROM A HUNDRED PERCENT GOING TO ACQUISITION TO 65. 35 OR 35% OF IT WENT INTO RENOVATION OF EXISTING PARKS AND 65 WENT TO ACQUIRING NEW PARKS. SO JUST WANT TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE SHOUT OUT THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. OKAY. YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO TAKE THIS TO AN EXTREME MM-HMM . AND I HAVE AN IDEA. I THINK THE REASON YOU REALLY BROUGHT THIS UP IS TO PROTECT YOUR REPUTATION REGARDING THE GOLF COURSE AND THE YOUTH CENTER. UM, THE REVERTER CLAUSE IS HERE TO PROTECT THE YOUTH CENTER EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE YOUTH. AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, BUT I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO KEEP INTO CONSIDERATION. AND NOT ONLY THE SALE OF A PROPERTY IS GONNA PROTECT THESE PROPERTIES BECAUSE WE CAN LEASE IT, FOR EXAMPLE, 99 YEAR LEASE. RIGHT. ALSO, WE CAN CHANGE THE LAND USE OF THESE PROPERTIES AS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST. AND THE CITY CAN ABSOLUTELY DO SOMETHING ELSE THAT EXISTS. THERE ARE A LOT OF CITY PRO, THERE ARE A LOT OF CITY OWNED PROPERTIES THAT ARE LEASED IN CORAL GABLES THAT ARE ARTISTS. SO IF YOU REALLY, REALLY WANNA TAKE THIS TO AN EXTREME, GO AHEAD AND ADD THAT LANGUAGE. LET ME CORRECT YOU. OKAY. NUMBER ONE, UH, I ALREADY TALKED TO THIS WITH THE, WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. UM, 99 YEAR LEASES. WE DON'T 99 LEE EAST PARKS AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY PARKS THAT ARE LEASED HERE IN THE CITY. SO LET'S, LET'S BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THE THINGS THAT WE SAY. 'CAUSE AGAIN, THEY'RE MISLEADING AND PEOPLE BELIEVE THEM. JUST LIKE WE'RE GONNA REDEVELOP, UH, THE YOUTH CENTER AND WE'RE GONNA REDEVELOP, UH, THE GOLF COURSE. SO THIS IS AS EXTREME AS IT GETS. THERE'S NOTHING, YOU'RE NOT, THERE'S NO SALES, THERE'S NO LEASES, THERE'S NO RENTS, THERE'S NO NOTHING. IT'S, YOU CANNOT SELL A CITY OWNED PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS A GREEN SPACE, A PARK OR THE YOUTH CENTER. IT'S CLEAR AS DAY. I KNOW YOU WANT TO LIKE, FIND A WAY TO TWEAK IT IN A SENSE OF, TO FIND SOME WEAK POINT ON IT. BUT THIS IS AS STRONG AS IT GETS. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, CAN I MAKE THIS ANY [09:25:01] STRONGER THERE? I MEAN, THIS IS PRETTY STRONG. IT WOULD REQUIRE, LIKE WE SAID, A A THE LAWSUIT AGAIN. GO AHEAD. IT WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL BY A MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS. SO, SO THAT, THAT IS PRETTY STRONG. IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE, THERE'S ALWAYS DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE HERE. TELL ME, GO AHEAD. YOU COULD MAKE IT A SUPER MAJORITY REQUIREMENT FOR SUPER MAJORITY. ADD IT. GO AHEAD. SO WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE? TELL ME. GO AHEAD. I, I IT'S UP TO YOU ALL. IT'S NOT MY SUPER. I'M NOT THE POLICYMAKER MAYOR. SUPER MAJORITY. SUPER MAJORITY. LET'S GO, LET'S ADD IT. LET'S ADD IT. LET SUPER MAJORITY. HOW ABOUT THAT? ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO THANK YOU. OKAY, SO MY POINT IS THIS, WHETHER IT'S A SALE LEASE, RENT, NO GREEN SPACE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WILL BE SOLD NONE NOW. IT WILL BE, NOW IT'LL BE A GOLF COURSE OR THE YOUTH CENTER. THAT'S WHAT I'M PROPOSING THROUGH THE MAYOR. THE LANGUAGE ON THIS LEGISLATION SPECIFICALLY STATES, CITY OWNED PROPERTIES DOESN'T ONLY STATE PARKS OR GOLF COURSES. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU PLEASE CORRECT, COMMISSIONER, I'M GONNA ASK THE DEPUTY CENTER TO PLEASE READ THE, THE EXACT QUESTION. IF YOU DON'T MIND. I'LL READ THE QUESTION. AND I THINK, AND UM, THE LAST LINE IS AN IMPORTANT, UH, ONE HERE TOO. YEAH. SO THE TITLE, THE TITLE OF THE QUESTION WOULD BE SALE OF CERTAIN CITY OWNED PROPERTY. AND THE QUESTION IS, SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT THE SALE OF A CITY OWNED PARK, RECREATIONAL FACILITY, GOLF COURSE, OR OPEN PARK SPACE BE APPROVED BY THE CITY CITY'S ELECTORS? WOULD THIS REQUIREMENT TO BE FURTHER OUTLINED IN AN ORDINANCE ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION? IT'S CLEAR WITH THAT IN MIND, THE INTENTION OF THE SPONSOR WAS THAT THERE BE AN ORDINANCE THAT SPELLS OUT EXACTLY WHAT SALE WOULD BE EXACTLY WHAT WE MEAN BY THOSE OPEN PARK SPACES, ET CETERA. JUST TO, IT SAYS FURTHER CLARIFY AS DAY, CLEAR AS DAY. LET'S STOP, LET'S STOP PLAYING AROUND WITH SEMANTICS HERE. UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION. YOU HAVE. OKAY. YOU SECOND, I A SECOND DO HAVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, SIR, WE DO. OKAY. ALL COMMENT. THANK YOU. MARIA CRUZ, MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, 3 0 5, 3 2 3 2 1, 5 4. I UNDERSTAND HOW WE TRY TO PRESERVE OUR IMAGE, OUR LEGACY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. THE PROBLEM IS THAT SOME OF US THAT LISTEN CAREFULLY KNOW THAT SOMETIMES WE DO NOT MEAN WHAT WE SAY OR WE SAY WHAT WE DON'T MEAN. WHATEVER IT IS. I THINK THIS DISCUSSION HAS MADE ME THINK, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT IT SAYS, THE SALE OF CERTAIN PROPERTIES WE COULD SELL ON A BUILDING, I GUESS BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PARK OR A RECREATIONAL FACILITY. AND IT DOESN'T SAY, AND I'M SORRY, BUT LISTEN, WE'RE KNOWN FOR BREAKING COVENANTS, AGREEMENTS, SETTLEMENTS, ANYTIME, ANYTHING. UM, CASE IN POINT, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, EVERY TIME THEY COME, THEY GET SOMETHING CHANGED OR, OR TAKEN OFF. SO I'M SORRY, IS NOT WHAT IS WRITTEN IS HOW WE HAVE LEARNED NOT TO TRUST BECAUSE WE SAY ONE THING TODAY AND TOMORROW. THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT, OR THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID. AND THAT IS THE ISSUE. I THINK THIS WILL BE A VERY VALID, UH, THING TO, TO, I, I KNOW THAT, UH, THE ATTORNEY ALREADY SAYS, OH, IT'S AS STRONG AS IT CAN BE. I IT SAYS NOT TO SELL. IT DOES NOT SAY I CANNOT LEASE IT FOR 99 YEARS. IT DOESN'T SAY THAT I CANNOT TRANSFER IT TO ANOTHER ENTITY. THERE'S MANY OPENING QUESTIONS HERE, AND I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE DO NOT WANNA ACCEPT THAT. BUT YES, WE HAVE BEEN BURNED BEFORE AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT IT TO BE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY WHAT IT MEANS. IF WE OWN A PARK, IT'LL BE HOURS. UNLESS SOMEBODY PUTS IT ON A REFERENDUM AND THE PEOPLE SAY, GET RID OF IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHETHER I WANNA TRANSFER IT, UH, LEASE IT. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER WORDS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE TOO MANY ATTORNEYS IN THE POD AND WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING CREATIVE WHEN [09:30:01] WE WANT TO. AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM, MR. CLERK JACKSON HOLMES. SO, UH, IT'S TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY, AND I THINK PEOPLE'S NERVES ARE A LITTLE BIT FRAYED. UM, HOWEVER, UH, I AM PERSONALLY VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS. UM, TALK ABOUT SUING THE, THE YOUTH CENTER AND TRYING TO, UH, NULLIFY THE REVERTER CLAUSE. I I FIND THAT, UH, MAYBE MY NERVES ARE AFRAID, I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S AN, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THAT'S AN ATTACK ON CHILDREN. UH, WE'VE SEEN DEVELOPERS DO THINGS THAT WE NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. UM, COMMISSIONER MINNA, YOUR PRAISING THAT HE, HE DID PARKS, BUT HE ALSO WAS, UH, CALLED OUT BY THE FORMER UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, LEON KELNER AS BEING, UH, CRIMINALLY INDICTABLE, I GUESS, OVER THE GRECO PARKING. UM, UH, AS MARIA CRUZ SAYS, WE'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE. WE HAVE BEEN BURNED. WE GOT SO MANY BURNS, UH, THAT WE CAN'T COUNT THEM. AND SO WHETHER THIS THING GOES ON THE BALLOT IS, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T NEED, THERE'S NO REASON TO BE GOING AFTER THE REVERTER AT THE USE. AND I THINK THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. YOU WANNA SOLVE THAT FALSE ACCUSATION THEN STOP THAT. TALK ABOUT THE LAWSUIT TALK. STOP TALKING ABOUT A REVERTER. THAT'LL, THAT'LL PUT THE, THE ISSUE TO THE END. MR. MAYOR. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND. MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO I'M JUST, SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN A LITTLE OFF THE RAILS ON WHAT THE ACTUAL BALLOT LANGUAGE IS, I'M GONNA READ IT OUT INTO THE RECORD. SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THE SALE OF CITY OWNED PARK RECREATIONAL FACILITY GOLF COURSE, OR OPEN SPA PARK SPACE BE APPROVED BY THE CITY ELECTORS, WHICH MEANS OUR VOTERS WITH A REQUIREMENT TO BE FURTHER OUTLINED IN AN ORDINANCE ADOPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION? THE WORD SALE MEANS ACTUAL TRANSACTION OR TRANSFER OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY. THIS IS SOMETHING I DISCUSSED WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AHEAD OF TIME. SO NO LAND SWAPS, NO OTHER TYPES OF MEANS OF SALE COULD OCCUR. VICE MAYOR, AS WE DISCUSSED, THAT CAN BE FLESHED OUT AS MUCH AS YOU ALL WOULD LIKE IN THE ORDINANCE, SPECIFYING WHAT SALE MEANS. RIGHT. AND WE'RE LIMITED TO 75 WORDS ON BALLOT LANGUAGE. CORRECT. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK ON OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. SO, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE, THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION FITS WITHIN THE, THE BOX COVERS THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT OTHER PEOPLE WANNA PUT ANOTHER YEAH. ITEM ON THE BALLOT FOR, WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING. AGAIN, I WOULD HOPE, I WOULD HOPE THAT MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, WHILE MEMBERS OF THE OF, OF, UM, WHO HERE, OF THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE ECSTATIC ABOUT THIS, WOULD NOT BE FI FINDING WAYS TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE SHOTS AT IT. THAT JUST GOES TO PROVE MY POINT, THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE LEGISLATION, WE'RE ACTUALLY STOPPING THE CONSTANT ATTACKS. IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW WHAT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, LET'S CONTINUE IT. LET'S CONTINUE IT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROLIFERATE THE LIES AND ALL THE, YOU KNOW, ACCUSATIONS ABOUT THAT ARE RIDICULOUS IN NATURE ABOUT THE YOUTH CENTER AND ABOUT THE GOLF COURSES. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, MR. CLERK. LET'S, LET'S PUT THIS ON THE, FOR THE VOTERS VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND CLARIFY THE MOTION, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE MAYOR SAID THE FOURTH FIFTH VOTE. SO WHAT IS THE MOTION EXACTLY AT THIS POINT? MY UNDERSTANDING, I NEVER SAID, I NEVER SAID THE FOURTH FIFTH VOTE. THE MOTION WAS VERY, WAS CLARIFIED. IT WAS CLARIFIED BY THE VICE MAYOR. LET'S STOP WASTING TIME. LET'S VOTE ALREADY AS I READ IT HERE. IT'S RIGHT. YOU CAN READ IT AGAIN. I KNOW, BUT THE MAYOR TO ME, AFTER I SPOKE, SAID, THAT'S WHAT I SAID. RIGHT. BUT SHE DIDN'T, SHE DIDN'T READ IT INTO THE RECORD. SUPER MAJORITY WAS THE WORD THAT HE ASKED TO AMEND IT. THAT'S THE ONLY THING. YEAH, THAT'S THE WORD. HE, SO, MR. MAYOR, WE'RE HAPPY TO AMEND THAT QUESTION. IF YOU WANNA SAY 60% OR 75%. PROBABLY 60%. 60% WITH A VOTE, WITH THE, SO WE WOULD CHANGE THE QUESTION TO BE, TO BE APPROVED BY OVER 60% OF THE CITY'S ELECTORS, OR WE CAN TWEAK THAT LANGUAGE. EXACTLY. EXACTLY. IS IT GONNA BE OVER 60% OR 60? WE, WE NEED TO, OR 60% PLUS. AND IF THAT'S PART OF THE MOTION, RIGHT? 60 PLUS ONE. THE APPROVAL OF 60% OF THE ELECTORS. AGAIN, REMEMBER, ACCEPT THE AMENDMENT TO, TO MY COLLEAGUES. REMEMBER, PLEASE, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT OPPOSE THE IG, FOR THOSE THAT OPPOSED, SENDING US TO THE, SENDING THE RAISES TO THE RESIDENTS FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT OPPOSE NOVEMBER TO MY LEFT AND TO MY RIGHT. UM, AGAIN, [09:35:01] JOIN IN ON THIS, STOP TRYING TO NIP AT THE HEELS OF THINGS. JOIN IN AND LET'S DO SOMETHING GOOD TOGETHER. I HAVE THE VOTES ANYWAYS, BECAUSE THIS IS COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION. AGAIN, DON'T BE ON THE RECORD OPPOSING THIS. ALRIGHT. SO WE, I THINK WE'RE CLEARED. ALL RIGHT. SUPER MAJORITY, 60 PLUS ONE. THE VICE MAYOR HAS ACCEPTED THE AMENDMENT. OKAY. WE WILL AMEND THE QUESTION AND THE, UM, STRIKE THROUGH TO THE CHARTER TO REFLECT THE 60% OF THE VOTERS VOTING IN THAT ELECTION IS REQUIRED. THE APPROVAL OF 60%. OKAY, PERFECT. IN, IN ANY WAY THAT I, WHATEVER WAY I VOTE, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME ACCEPTING THE REVERTER CLAUSE FOR THE YOUTH CENTER. ONCE AGAIN, THAT REVERTER CLAUSE THERE IS TO PROTECT THE YOUTH CENTER STRICTLY FOR THE YOUTH. AND THE OTHER THING I WANNA GO AHEAD AND PUT ON THE RECORD, ONCE AGAIN, THIS COULD STILL BE LEASED TO SOMEBODY ELSE, AND YOU CAN STILL CHANGE THE LAND USE. SO THIS IS ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS, BUT I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND VOTE YES. YES TO NO SELLING PARKS OR RECREATIONS AS, AS IT'S STATED IN THE RESOLUTION. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, I, UH, MR. MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GOT THE IDEA THAT I WAS NOT IN SUPPORT OF IT. I WAS IN SUPPORT OF IT FROM THE BEGINNING AND I MENTIONED IT IN MY COMMENTS. SO MY VOTE IS YES, I THINK THIS IS A NECESSARY PROTECTION THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR CITY'S PARKLAND COMMISSIONER LARA. RIGHT. SO IF THIS WAS ANYTHING OTHER THAN, UM, TAKING IT TO THE VOTERS, IF IT HAD TO DO WITH JUST THE, UH, DISPOSITION OF ANY PROPERTY, I WOULD VOTE NO. BUT SINCE THIS IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO, WELL, WHAT IT CALLS FOR RIGHT? PARKS, GREEN SPACE GOLF COURSES. YEAH. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S AS CLOSE TO A NO BRAINER AS I CAN IMAGINE. RIGHT. UM, WE KILLED OURSELVES TO TRY AND ADD TO THE GREEN SPACE TO ADD TO PARKS, TO ADD, UM, WHAT'S SO PRECIOUS AND SO LIMITED. UM, SO I WOULD'VE ASSUMED AN HOUR AGO WE ALL WOULD'VE JUST BEEN UNANIMOUS. SO MY VOTES, YES. MAYOR LAGO. OKAY. UM, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WE NEED TO CLARIFY A FEW THINGS. AGAIN, IN AN EFFORT TO, TO CLOUD THE WATERS HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESS MAKE COMMENTS FOR THE BLOGS WE JUST HEARD RIGHT NOW. CAN WE CHANGE THE LAND USE OF A P? CAN WE CHANGE THE LAND USE OF A PARK IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID THIS, THIS TYPE OF, THIS TYPE OF SITUATION? TELL ME, I'D LIKE TO KNOW. SO CHANGING THE LAND USE IS A PROCESS THAT REQUIRES PUBLIC HEARINGS, ET CETERA. SO THAT PROCESS, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY COULD, COULD OCCUR. UM, I DON'T THINK THAT THIS PROHIBITS THAT PROCESS. LET'S PROHIBIT IT ADDED TO IT. I WANT TO PROHIBIT IT. WE MAY BE, SO, MAYOR, IF YOU WANNA SAY THE SALE OR CHANGE SALE OR CHANGE OF ZONING OR CHANGE OF USE OR CHANGE OF RIGHT. LAND USE DESIGNATION OR, UH, OR ALL OF THE ABOVE. UM, IF SO, WE WOULD ASK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THE QUESTION BE VERY CLEAR AND, AND GET SOME VERY CLEAR DIRECTION FROM YOU ALL ABOUT, UM, EXACTLY WHAT CHANGES. SO LEMME ASK YOU A QUESTION BECAUSE I ASKED BOTH OF YOU IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS MM-HMM . WHAT'S THE POINT? WHAT'S THE POINT OF, OF FINDING AN END AROUND ON, OF HAVING THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION GO TO THE VOTERS AND THEN FINDING AN END AROUND ON, ON LAND USE? YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS ABOUT ANY CHANGE THAT NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M, THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED. YEAH. I'M SORRY. I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. YEAH. AND I'LL, I'LL CLARIFY FOR YOU. LET'S USE, LET'S USE, UM, LET'S USE THE BLUE ROAD OPEN SPACE, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NEXT TO MY HOUSE. SO THIS COMMISSION, THIS LEGISLATION HAS BEEN ENACTED FOR YEARS. UH, WE WANT TO SELL THAT PROPERTY, THE PARK, DESIGNATED PARK. WE WANNA SELL IT. SO I WOULD PUT IT ON THE AGENDA TO DO A LAND USE CHANGE ON THAT PROPERTY, CHANGE THE LAND USE IN TWO READINGS, AND THEN IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS FOR APPROVAL. CORRECT? CORRECT. AS AS WRITTEN, IT'S JUST THE SALE, THOUGH. THE CITY COULD ALWAYS CONVERT IT BACK TO A PARK. I THINK THE PERMANENT NATURE OF A SALE IS, UM, WHAT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE CHANGE OF USE OR CHANGE OF ZONING. THAT CAN ALWAYS BE REZONED OR RECHANGED OR THE USE COULD BE RECONSIDERED IN BOTH WAYS. RIGHT. BUT IF YOU CHANGE THE ZONING OF A PARK, OF AN EXISTING PARK, YOU CHANGE THE ZONING AND YOU SELL IT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO FACE THE 60 PLUS ONE VOTERS. CORRECT. AS WRITTEN. THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. MM-HMM. SO I ASKED YOU WHEN I, I WANTED SOMETHING IRONCLAD. THAT'S WHY I'M TAKING IT TO THE VOTERS. VERY SIMPLE. I WANT ON THE NEXT AGENDA, OBVIOUSLY THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE HAVE A DEADLINE. YEAH. AND SO I'M NOT SURE WE WOULD MEET THE, THE NO. BUT ELECTION DEADLINES NO. I, I WANT, BUT I, I, WE CAN DO IT. WE CAN DO IT. WE'LL CALL A SPECIAL MEETING. OKAY, MS. MAYOR, THE DEADLINE IS JULY 24TH. NOT A PROBLEM. I'LL CALL A SPECIAL MEETING, WHICH I KNOW THAT I'LL, HOPEFULLY MY COLLEAGUES WILL [09:40:01] SUPPORT. IF YOU WANNA PROTECT GREEN SPACE, IT WILL TAKE, IT'LL BE 15 MINUTES. I WOULD SUPPORT IT. LAWSUIT. SO, UNDERSTOOD. MAYOR, WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE THE DIRECTION AND WE WILL DRAFT THE QUESTION TO ADDRESS THE SALE REZONING, UM, REUSE. I, I JUST WANNA GET SOME CLEAR DIRECTION. THE USE, AGAIN, MY INTENTION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE CAN NEVER BE A DISCUSSION EVER AGAIN ABOUT A PARK, A GOLF COURSE, OR THE YOUTH CENTER BEING USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE THAN WHAT IT'S INTENDED FOR. UNDERSTOOD. WHICH IS A PARK, A YOUTH CENTER, OR A GOLF COURSE. VERY SIMPLE. IF YOU WANNA MAKE IT EVEN, WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. MAYBE THAT'S JUST, JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT IRONCLAD REALLY COULD LOOK LIKE. YEAH. SO BEFORE IT COULD, I'M JUST TALKING OUT LOUD BEFORE, IT COULD BE PROPOSED ON A BALLOT. IF YOU WANTED TO SELL A GREEN SPACE, THEN YOU WOULD NEED A FOUR FIFTHS VOTE BEFORE IT COULD BE EVEN CONSIDERED FOR BEING ON THE BALLOT. WOULD THAT MAKE IT MORE, WOULD THAT MAKE IT EVEN MORE STRICT? ANYTHING REQUIRING A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE IS ALWAYS A, A STRICTER PROCESS. YEAH. IT'S JUST A FRIENDLY SUGGESTION THERE. I, I ACCEPT ANYTHING THAT, AGAIN, MAKES IT EVEN HARDER. YES. COMMISSIONER THROUGH THE, UH, THROUGH THE MAYOR, UM, WHAT IF WE JUST CHANGE THE WORDING SO THAT IT'S ANY PROPERTY THAT HAS EVER BEEN USED AS A PARK, BECAUSE THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER. YOU CAN CHANGE THE LAND USE AND YOU STILL CAN'T SELL IT BECAUSE IT'S TIED TO THE PROPERTY'S USE IN HISTORY. WOULD THAT, AND I THINK THAT WAS THE INTENT OF SAYING THE, THE, THAT THOSE DETAILS WOULD BE FLESHED OUT IN THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE COULD DEFINE IT AS PARKS IN OUR PARK'S INVENTORY YEP. ET CETERA, AND SO FORTH. YEAH. SO THAT WAS THE INTENT OF DEFINING THAT VIA ORDINANCE. OKAY. AS THE VICE MAYOR MENTIONED, 75 WORDS IS REALLY DIFFICULT. MM-HMM . TO ENCOMPASS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY, UM, LARGE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE FLESHED OUT AND ALL THOSE DETAILS RIGHT AWAY, EASEMENTS, VACATION UTILITY EASEMENTS, THAT WOULD ALL NEED TO BE FLESHED OUT IN AN ORDINANCE, AS WOULD OPEN PARK SPACES IS A TERM WE USE IN OUR COMP PLAN. WE HAVE OPEN PARK SPACES THAT ARE NOT ON OUR PARK INVENTORY, SOME THAT ARE, SOME THAT AREN'T. AND SO TO, TO FLESH THAT OUT AT, AT, YOU KNOW, AT, AT THE MAYOR'S DIRECTION. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE HAPPY TO FLESH THAT OUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN 75 WORDS IN A CHARTER. AGAIN, I LEFT A SAFETY VALVE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT OUR RESERVES, WHICH WAS AT THE MANAGER'S DISCRETION FOR EMERGENCIES. RIGHT. YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, YOU, YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ELECTION. I WANNA MAKE THIS IRON CLAP. SO, BUT I WANNA MAKE THIS ELECTION, SO, SO I'M GONNA MAKE VICE, I'M GONNA MAKE A SUGGESTION PASS THIS NOW. OKAY. IF WE CAN FIND THAT, WE CAN ADD MORE TO IT WITHIN 75 WORDS, FINE. BUT IT MIGHT BE CLEAR IF WE BREAK IT DOWN INTO MORE THAN ONE QUESTION. THAT'S WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DONE. THEY HAVE SEPARATE QUESTIONS ABOUT LONG-TERM LEASES OR, UM, OTHER TRANSFERS IS JUST D DIFFICULT TO FIT IN. ONE QUESTION, AND IT WOULD BE LESS CONFUSING FOR THE VOTERS. TRUE. AND THINK ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD CALL VOTERS ELECTORS OR VOTERS. I'VE HAD THOSE QUESTIONS. WHAT ARE ELECTORS? I WOULD SAY VOTERS. OKAY. WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE THAT, THAT EDIT. AND, UM, I THINK WE CAN CLARIFY AS, AS MENTIONED, MAYOR, THAT IT WOULD BE 60%, THE APPROVAL OF 60% OF THE VOTERS VOTING IN THAT ELECTION. YES. WHICH IS THE CASE. AND I WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR, I WANT TO TAKE THE, THE COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, LA'S COMMENTS ABOUT FOUR FIFTHS, SUPER MAJORITY IF POTENTIALLY, IF WE CAN ADD IT INTO THE MIX. I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT. AND ALSO THE VICE MAYOR'S COMMENTS ABOUT LET'S MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. BUT IN THE NEXT WEEK, IF WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SECOND QUESTION OR THIRD QUESTION, SO MAKE IT IRONCLAD. I HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THAT. I WILL CALL A SPECIAL MEETING. IT WILL TAKE 15 MINUTES AND WE CAN PASS IT. IT'S FINE. BUT I IS THAT FINE? IT'S FINE. YOU WANT ME TO, SO SOMETHING SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE MM-HMM . AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING SIMPLE. UNDERSTOOD. SO THIS, THE ITEM, AND I KNOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF CALLING ROLE, BUT, SO JUST TO CLARIFY, THE ITEM BEING VOTED ON WOULD STILL INCLUDE THAT LANGUAGE ABOUT 60% OF THE VOTERS VOTING IN THAT ELECTION. YES. AND WE CAN DISCUSS IN THE MEANTIME, IF WE WANNA MAKE ANY FUTURE CHANGES BEFORE THE DEADLINE. BUT IF NOT, STUFF LIKE THE FOUR FIFTHS AND DEFINITIONS COULD BE FLESHED OUT IN THE ORDINANCE. BECAUSE IF I MAY JUST ONE MORE LAST THING, BECAUSE WE CAN SAY ALL THE RIDICULOUSLY INSANE, YOU KNOW, UH, ASSUMPTIONS, LEASES AND PROPERTY AND TRANSFERS. SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, AND I'VE LIVED IN THE CITY MOST OF MY ENTIRE LIFE, UM, I, I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER LEASED, LEASED A PARK. I KNOW WE'VE LEASED A PARKING LOT. LEASED A PARKING LOT. AND BY THE WAY, THE FUNNY PART ABOUT, IT'S WHEN WE SOLD THAT PARKING LOT, I'M THE ONE ON THE RECORD THAT, WHAT DID I TELL HIM? MAKE THEM DO IT, MR. MANAGER. YES. WHEN WE SOLD THE, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE PROCEEDS? UH, [09:45:01] BUY PARKLAND. WE HAD TO BUY PARKLAND. SO I MADE IT ON THE RECORD. YOU'RE GONNA SELL THE, YOU'RE GONNA SELL THE PARKING LOT. WELL, GUESS WHAT? THE MONEY HAS TO BE USED TO BUY MORE PARKS. 65%. 65% OF IT. SO EVEN WHEN WE GOT MONEY FROM PROPERTIES THAT WE SOLD, WHICH IS I THINK THE ONLY ONE THAT I'VE EVER SEEN IS THAT ONE THAT I, THAT WE SOLD. AND IT MADE SENSE BECAUSE WE GOT WHAT WE WERE GONNA MAKE IN I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DECADES UP FRONT. AND WE ENDED UP BUYING A BUNCH OF PARKS WITH IT. IT WAS AROUND $3 MILLION. AND WE ALSO GOT ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS AROUND DOCTOR'S HOSPITAL, THE DRAINAGE, THE SIDEWALKS. I PUT THAT IN AS PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE COMMISSION FLOOR. $100,000 MILLION IN SIDEWALK. YEAH. PLUS, PLUS THE DRAINAGE. PLUS THE DRAINAGE. SO MY POINT IS THAT I, I CAN'T MAKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE THIS ANYMORE IRON CLAD. I LEAVE IT UP TO THE ATTORNEYS. I'M MORE THAN WILLING WORK WITH THE MANAGER, WORK WITH MY, MY COLLEAGUES, AND IF WE NEED ANOTHER MEETING, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING TO DO IT. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, I DON'T THINK THE CONCERN IS ANY OF THE FIVE PEOPLE UP HERE. I THINK OUR INTENT IS NEVER TO, TO DO ANY OF THAT. I THINK THE CONCERN IS WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA BE UP HERE 20 OR 30 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AFTER, AS COMMISSIONER LARA SAID, WE'VE PUT ALL THIS EFFORT TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. UM, THE QUESTION THAT I HAD IS, WOULD YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO FLUSH THIS OUT BY TOMORROW AT THE END OF OUR BUDGET HEARING, WHERE WE CAN MAYBE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING AT THE END OF OUR BUDGET HEARING? WE HAVE. WE HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO FORMALLY NOTICE IT. YEAH. I THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE, IS THE NOTICING OF A SPECIAL MEETING. NOT IF WE DON'T, IF WE DEFER THIS ITEM, IS IT A MEETING OR A WORKSHOP? TOMORROW'S A MEETING BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE WILL BE ACTION. UM, I GUESS WE COULD CONTINUE THIS TOMORROW COMMISSION MEETING. WE DON'T ADJOURN THE COMMISSION MEETING AND WE CONTINUE IT TO TOMORROW. BUT OUTTA RESPECT FOR YOU, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM DOING THAT. BUT OUTTA RESPECT TO YOUR STAFF, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME? WE COULD CERTAINLY GET SOMETHING TOGETHER, FLESH OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE TOMORROW. I THINK THIS DIRECTION HAS BEEN HELPFUL. AND TO THE EXTENT YOU WANNA GIVE US EVEN MORE EXPLICIT ABOUT IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT 99 YEAR LEASES AND EASEMENTS AND ALL OF THAT STUFF, WE CAN ADDRESS EVERYTHING IN ONE. I DON'T WANT, OKAY. AGAIN, MY INTENT WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP, MY INTENT WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP IS I DON'T WANT ANY TRANSFERS, LEASES, 99 YEAR LEASES, UH, SALES. I DON'T WANT ANY OF THAT. ZERO ZERO WHEN IT COMES TO PARKS, YOUTH CENTER AND GOLF COURSES. I DON'T WANT ANY SALES. ZERO LEASES. UM, YOU KNOW, ANY TRADING, YOU KNOW HOW YOU TRADE, USED TO TRADE BASEBALL CARDS. I HAVE NO TRADING, NO BASEBALL CARDS. UH, NO, NO, NO. LIKE YOU, SO MAYOR, JUST I WANNA BE CLEAR, ARE YOU EXPLICIT ABOUT THE YOUTH CENTER? BECAUSE WE HAVE IN THE PAST HAD OTHER RECREATIONAL FACILITIES LIKE THE TENNIS CENTER OR THE CORAL GABLES COUNTRY CLUB, WHERE WE HAVE HAD RECREATIONAL FACILITY LEASES. SO THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE, BUT LEASES IS DIFFERENT AND THEY'RE NOT LEASING THE WHOLE FACILITY. OP OPERATING AGREEMENTS AND LEASES WE'VE HAD. SO I JUST THINK, WELL, WE DON'T LEASE A FACILITY AS A WHOLE FOR X AMOUNT OF TIME. THE USE CENTER HAS DIFFERENT LEASES. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A LEASE, WE HAVE A LEASE WITH A GYMNASTICS ORGANIZATION. SURE. I'M THINKING MORE OF THE COUNTRY CLUB, FOR INSTANCE. THAT'S A RECREATIONAL FACILITY WHERE WE HAD A, A FAIRLY LONG-TERM LEASE WITH SOMEBODY IN, IN MIND. AND AGAIN, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY AND ALL DIRECTION THAT DOESN'T HAVE GREEN SPACE. HOW ABOUT GREEN SPACE? SO IF YOU WANNA REMOVE RECREATIONAL FACILITY OR JUST BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHICH FACILITIES WE COULD BE MORE SPECIFIC, RIGHT? YEAH. I WANT TO WORK, WE, WE, OUR INTENTION WAS THAT THAT WOULD COVER FACILITIES SUCH AS THE COUNTRY CLUB OR THE ADULT ACTIVITY CENTER. MM-HMM . OR WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE? TENNIS CENTER AGAIN. BUT ADULT ACTIVITY CENTER IS PART OF A BUILDING THAT HAS A 99 YEAR LEASE. WITH THAT, WE OWN THE LAND. SO IT GETS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED. MM-HMM . THAT'S WHY I SAID GREEN SPACES. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS PINNING GREEN SPACES, WHICH IS A USE CENTER. OKAY. OKAY. SO YEAH, I, I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF, IF WE FEEL IT'S APPROPRIATE TO CONTINUE THIS MEETING TILL TOMORROW, PERHAPS WE CAN, UM, SPEAK WITH YOU AS SPONSOR PROPERTY. ANY PROPERTY THAT HAS GREEN SPACE, I DON'T WANNA LOSE IT. UNDERSTOOD. ANY PROPERTY. JUST THINK ABOUT IT. IT'S SIMPLE. ANYTHING THAT HAS GREEN SPACE, THAT'S IT. THROUGH THE MAYOR. I MEAN, WE HAVE A COUNTRY CLUB PRADA, WE HAVE LOTS OF GREEN SPACE MM-HMM . THAT MAKES THIS CITY SPECIAL. MM-HMM . AND NO, I DON'T WANNA HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I LEAVE. MM-HMM . SO, MADAM STATE ATTORNEY, DO I, DO I VOTE ON THIS ISSUE OR NO? DO I VOTE ON THIS ISSUE? SO THE COMMISSION TOOK A VOTE. I HAVEN'T GIVEN MY FINAL VOTES. WE STOPPED MID VOTE. SO . OKAY. SO JUST WANNA BE CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO THE DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY HAD ANOTHER SUGGESTION IF YOU ALL WANNA HEAR, UM, HER ADDITIONAL SUGGESTION. SO SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT LIKE WHAT YOU WERE SUGGESTING IS A COVENANT THAT BE EXECUTED FOR EACH OF THESE FACILITIES THAT THEY MUST REMAIN THEY FACILITIES IN PARK SPACES, PARKS, AND SPACES. SO THAT A PARK REMAINS A PARK AND OPEN SPACE REMAINS AN OPEN SPACE, ET CETERA. AND THAT THOSE COVENANTS CAN ONLY BE RELEASED AFTER A VOTE OF THE ELECTORS. AGAIN, [09:50:02] WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE TO DO, IT'S FINE WITH ME AS LONG AS IT GOES BEFORE, AS LONG AS THESE DECISIONS ARE YOURS TO MAKE. WE'LL, AGAIN, AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BRING IT, YOU KNOW, IT GETS MORE AND MORE COMPLICATED THE MORE LAWYERS THAT GET INVOLVED. OKAY. SO IT'S OUR JOB, MAYOR. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IT'S ALSO, THAT'S WHY YOU GUYS MAKE SO MUCH MONEY BECAUSE YOU DRAGGED THE PROCESS ON IT. TRUST ME, I HAVE A LOT OF YOU ON PAYROLL. UM, SO MY POINT IS THIS. I WANNA MAKE SURE VERY CLEAR, OKAY, I HAVEN'T VOTED YET. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT NO GREEN SPACE IN THE CITY PARKS, PLAZAS, COUNTRY CLUB PLOT, PRADO, THE USE CENTER AND OUR HISTORIC GOLF COURSE, AND NOT BE SOLD WHEN YOU SELL SOMETHING. THERE'S MULTIPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SALES. A 99 YEAR LEASE TRADE, A TRANSFER. YOU KNOW, MY DAUGHTERS ARE TRADING THOSE, THOSE FIFA CARDS NOW EVERYWHERE THEY CAN. NO, NO TRADING. NO TRADING. ANY GREEN SPACE FOR FIFA CARDS. NONE. SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY VALUABLE. I KNOW, BUT, BUT I, BUT IN TWO WEEKS IT'LL BE NOT VALUABLE. . SO MY POINT IS THAT I DON'T CARE. NO TRADING, NO BULLYING, NO TRANSFERS, NO BITCOIN, NONE OF THAT STUFF. OKAY. AND CERTAINLY NOT APPLE PAY . YEAH, NO. AND NO APPLE PAY EITHER. OKAY. SO MAYOR, IF, IF YOU ALL WITHDRAW THAT MOTION AND WE CONTINUE THE ITEM, WE WILL COME BACK MOTION WITH ANOTHER. I WE'LL COME BACK WITH, WITH ANOTHER VERSION. I WOULD WITHDRAW THE MOTION. HERE YOU GO. OKAY. ALRIGHT. WE'LL, WE'LL ENJOY, UM, BUDGET TOMORROW MORNING, BRIGHTON. EARLY AT NINE O'CLOCK. OKAY. YES. MAYBE AFTER THE BUDGET HEARING, WE HEAR THIS, BUT WE'LL BE READY. YEAH, WE MAY WE WAIT MAYBE AT THE END OF THE MEETING. WE WANNA, BECAUSE ALSO WE HAVE THE PROHIBITION IN OUR CODE, UM, FROM CONTINUING A MEETING BEYOND 9:00 PM WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE, OF THE COMMISSION. SO PERHAPS AT THE END OF THE MEETING TODAY, WE DECIDE, I THINK WE CAN, WE'RE EXTENDING THIS MEETING RIGHT. TO A CERTAIN TIME. . BUT WE CAN, BUT WE CAN GET THROUGH IT. WE MOVE, WE MOVE QUICKLY. NO, NO, NO. BUT I'M SAYING IF WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TODAY'S COMMISSION MEETING TILL TOMORROW, YES. UNTIL AFTER THE BUDGET MEETING, WE SHOULD ADDRESS THAT AT THE END OF TODAY'S MEETING TO THE MAYOR. YES. SORRY TO BE THE CONTRARIAN, BUT I I I, I THINK THE BETTER COURSE WOULD BE THAT WE VOTE, WHY CAN'T WE TAKE CARE OF THE DETAILS IN THE ORDINANCE? THAT WAS THE INTENTION. MM-HMM . BUT I'M, I THINK IF YOU GIVE ME 10 MINUTES, I THINK I COULD WORK ON A QUESTION AND RETURN WHILE YOU GUYS KEEP ADDRESSING THIS. AND MAYBE WE COULD GET IT DONE TODAY. I WOULD PREFER TWO TODAY. OKAY. OR TWO NIGHT, OR JUST BRING A COT JUST BEFORE BEDTIME. COMMISSIONER, I, I, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU, BUT THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I MADE THE COMMENTS THAT I MADE. NO MATTER WHAT YOU VOTE ON, THEY'LL SAY, AH, YOU KNOW WHAT? ONE OF THE COMMENTS WAS MADE UP HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT, BUT, BUT THAT'S, IT'LL, IT'LL BE SOMEHOW, SOME WAY THEY'LL PAPER ROCK SCISSOR AND THEY'LL, THEY'LL, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL, THEY'LL SELL, THEY'LL SELL THE FACILITY. YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING INSANE. THEY COME UP WITH A RIDICULOUS IDEA. BUT MR. MR. SO BASICALLY UNDERMINE THE COMMISSION. MR. MAYOR, I'M GONNA STOP THAT. YOUR YOUR, YOUR RECORD IS CLEAR. I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY HAS EVER SOLD A PARK TO ANYONE. I I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. THERE'S NO BASIS IF WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING ACCUSATIONS THAT HAVE ANY SORT OF BASIS TO THEM. THERE, THERE IS NO BASIS TO IT. AND ALL THE EFFORT YOU'VE JUST SPENT AND THIS COMMISSION HAS SPENT DEBATING HOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS AS OUR IRON CLOUD IS. IRON CLOUD IS PRACTICAL. RIGHT? IS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH PROOF, RIGHT. AGAINST ANYONE. AND I JUST PERSONALLY, I DON'T GIVE POWER TO PEOPLE. NO, I DON'T GIVE POWER. BUT MAY I GIVE YOU, MAY I GIVE YOU, JUST WITH DUE ALL DUE RESPECT, MAY I GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE? MULTIPLE EXAMPLES. DID YOU EVER BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY WOULD VOTE AGAINST AN IG? DID YOU EVER BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY WOULD RAISE THEIR OWN SALARY AND VOTE AGAINST GIVING RESIDENTS, UH, THE ABILITY TO CONTROL, TO CONTROL SALARIES? DID YOU BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WOULD VOTE AGAINST A NOVEMBER ELECTION? DID YOU BELIEVE THAT? NO, I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT. I DIDN'T THINK IT, I DIDN'T THINK IN MY LIFETIME. I WOULD SEE AFTER BEING UP HERE 13 YEARS TO SEE SOMEBODY RAISE THEIR SALARY THE WAY THAT I SAW IT HAPPEN HERE. A HUNDRED, 1%. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WOULD HAPPEN HERE. AND IT HAPPENED. I NEVER BELIEVED THAT SOMEBODY WOULD SAY, HEY, UP HERE, YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S, LET'S DIP INTO OUR RESERVES. AFTER, WHEN I GOT HERE, WE HAD $15 MILLION IN CASH AND WE LEFT. AND NOW WE HAVE OVER 60 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS. I NEVER BELIEVED SOMEBODY WOULD SAY THAT AFTER. IT TOOK US 13 YEARS TO GO FROM A DOUBLE A TO A THIR TO A TRIPLE A. SO, I MEAN, I'VE SEEN, I'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY WILD THINGS HAPPEN UP HERE. YOUR POINT IS VERY, VERY WELL TAKEN. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT, UM, OUR ATTORNEYS CRAFT AWAY. WHILE WE CAN FINISH OUT THE AGENDA AS MUCH AS WE CAN RIGHT NOW, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT. YEAH. I THINK WE HAVE WHAT, TWO OTHER ITEMS LEFT. LET'S DO IT MORE THAN THAT. I WOULD, LET'S, NO, WE'RE GOOD. WE'RE ALMOST THERE. THE CITY MANAGER. ADAMS WILL BE QUICK, HE TOLD ME. ALRIGHT, WE, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL, LIKE, GOOD TO WORK VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CITY. A TEAM, CITY ATTORNEY TEAM. UM, F NINE. [F.-9. 26-1801 A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Manager to develop and implement a Same-Day Permit Program for certain small-scale residential work; providing for flexibility in program design, eligible permit types, reviewing disciplines, and administrative procedures; and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Commissioner Lara)] F NINE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SAME DAY PERMIT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN SMALL SCALE RESIDENTIAL WORK, PROVIDING FOR FLEXIBILITY AND PROGRAM DESIGN, ELIGIBLE PERMIT TYPES, REVIEWING DISCIPLINES AND ADMINISTRATIVE [09:55:01] PROCEDURES, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. SO, UH, AS THE SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM, I THINK THAT, UM, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THAT I DON'T THINK IS PARTICULARLY COMPLICATED. IT'S ONE THAT I EXPERIENCED WHEN I KNOCKED ON DOORS DURING THE CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR THAT CAME UP OFTEN OF HOW WE COULD, UM, TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TO TRY AND SIMPLIFY THE PERMITTING FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE, UH, SIMPLER THAN A COMPLICATED STRUCTURAL RENOVATION OR IMPROVEMENT TO ONE'S HOME. SO, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, UM, IS ASK THE, UH, CITY STAFF TO EVALUATE AND BRING BACK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A SAME DAY. OR AN EXPEDITED, UM, PERMITTING PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS HERE IN CORAL GABLES. 'CAUSE THIS IS THE TYPE OF PRACTICAL, UH, RESIDENT FOCUSED INITIATIVE THAT CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE FOR MANY PEOPLE IN A COMMUNITY. OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DO THIS, RIGHT? SO CITY OF MIAMI BEACH DOES THIS. SO DOES, UM, THE CITY OF MIAMI. YOU JUST WANNA HELP THE RESIDENTS MOVE THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS MORE EFFICIENTLY FOR CERTAIN ELIGIBLE PRO UH, PROJECTS. UM, FOR HOMEOWNERS, UH, PERMITTING IS NOT A, UM, UH, A DELAY THAT'S ABSTRACT. THEY, THEY FEEL IT, UH, EVERY SINGLE TIME. UH, IT AFFECTS A FAMILY'S ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MINOR REPLACEMENTS OF DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BATHROOM OR TO THE KITCHEN, REPAIR A DRIVEWAY OR COMPLETE OTHER WORK. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEIR HOME AND THEIR DAILY LIFE. I THINK EVERY ONE OF US HERE WHO ARE, UM, HOMEOWNERS HAVE OBVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THIS IN ONE RESPECT OR ANOTHER. SO WE HAVE VERY HIGH STANDARDS HERE IN CORAL GABLES. THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. AND THOSE STANDARDS SHOULD NEVER BE COMPROMISED. BUT WHERE THE WORK IS LIMITED IN SCOPE, IT'S NON-STRUCTURAL IN NATURE. OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE FOR EXPEDITED REVIEW. UM, WE SHOULD LOOK FOR WAYS TO MAKE THAT PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT, MORE PREDICTABLE, AND MORE RESPONSIVE. I'M NOT ASKING THAT WE REMOVE SAFEGUARDS TO THE CONTRARY. ANY PROGRAM THAT WE COME UP WITH NEEDS TO BE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE CITY'S STANDARDS. IT SHOULD ADDRESS HISTORIC PRESERVATION WHERE IT'S APPLICABLE, OF COURSE, AND ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT'S REQUIRING MORE DETAILED REVIEW CONTINUE TO RECEIVE IT. BUT FOR THE RIGHT TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL PERMITS, IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO CREATE, CREATE A PROCESS, MOVES THIS ALONG THAT RESPECTS THE RESIDENTS TIME AND HELPS THEM TO MOVE FORWARD MORE EFFICIENTLY. SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. AND I, IT'S JUST REALLY A DIRECTION TO THE ADMINISTRATION. UH, WE HAVE DOUG HERE TO HELP GIVE ME HIS THOUGHTS ON THIS. UM, TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE THE SUFFICIENT STAFFING AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS, UH, SO THAT WE CAN DO THIS AND MAYBE COME BACK WITH MY COLLEAGUE SUPPORT, UM, AND SEE SOME ORDINANCE ALONG THOSE LINES. THE MAYOR, MR. MANAGER, I THINK WE, WE CAN DO THIS. UH, WE CAN, WE LOOK AT VARIOUS, UH, AT THE, AT THE PERMITS THAT DON'T HAVE A STRUCTURAL ISSUE AND THINGS LIKE THIS. AND I THINK WE HAVE, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL STAFFING THAT, THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE, UM, HIRED. SO WE'LL BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THIS AND, AND HAVE A WHOLE, A SERIES OF, OF ONE DAY PERMITS. UH, AND, UH, I THINK WE CAN DO THIS AND I THINK WE CAN DO IT EFFECTIVELY. THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR MEAN. I, I CAN ALMOST HEAR THE PEELS OF HALLELUJAH FROM THE HILLS OF CO CABLES. YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET THIS THING THROUGH. MAY, MAY, SOMETHING. COMMISSIONER FIRST. I, I LOVE THE IDEA. THANK YOU. AND MR. MANAGER, THANK YOU FOR BEING SO QUICK ON THE DRAW THERE. UM, I'M ALL IN. BUT LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT PROJECTS? LIKE FOR A SIMPLE PROJECT? FOR EXAMPLE, A REROOFING 30 90. 30 90 WITH A TILE, ALL THESE TILES HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE BO OA OR THE CITY ARCHITECT. MAYBE WE CAN STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AND SAY, IF YOU PICK FROM THIS BOARD AND YOU JUST SAY, LISTEN, THIS IS WHAT I'M DOING ON THE PERMIT, IT CAN BE PART OF THE PROCESS THROUGH THE MAYOR. YEAH. IF THE COLOR IS, IS ONE OF THE COLORS THAT'S SELECTED, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO THE BOARD. IT'S, IT CAN BE A ONE DAY PERMIT. AWESOME. OKAY. GOOD. PERFECT. A BIG DEAL. ESPECIALLY DURING THE RAINY, THE RAINY THE RAINY MONTHS. EXCUSE ME. RIGHT. THAT'S A SIMPLE ONE. IF YOU CAN GET THOSE OUT OF THE WAY, IT OPENS UP THE SYSTEM. THE MAYOR. YES, I AGREE. IT'S A NO-BRAINER. YOU WANT TO MOVE IT ON SECOND? LET'S GO . OKAY. I SO MOVE A SECOND. MR. CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A SEC. WE HAVE A SEC MOVER AND A SECOND. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. UM, [F.-11. 26-1815 A Resolution of the City Commission supporting an economic development partnership between the City of Coral Gables and the Town of Bal Harbour to encourage reciprocal promotion of each municipality's respective business districts, restaurants, cultural institutions, retail destinations, and community events. (Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)] DO WE HAVE F 11 NEXT? OR WAS THAT, WAS THAT, THAT MOVED? F 11. F 11 IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION SUPPORTING AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND THE TOWN OF BALL HARBOR TO ENCOURAGE RECIPROCAL PROMOTION OF EACH MUNICIPALITY'S RESPECTIVE BUSINESS DISTRICTS, RESTAURANTS, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, RETAIL DESTINATIONS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. YES, I, I'M THE SPONSOR OF THE SIDE. I WENT AHEAD AND I WROTE A MEMO TO THE COMMISSION. UM, THIS CAME ABOUT BECAUSE COMMISSIONER LEVY REACHED OUT TO ME ACTUALLY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. HE, UM, HE SPOKE TO HIS ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS FROM TOWN OF BALL HARBOR, AND THEY WOULD LOVE TO PARTNER WITH US NOT SPENDING ANY TAXPAYER FUNDS AND USING THE ACTUAL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, [10:00:01] ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THEIR CONSTITUENTS COME TO OUR CITY. AND OUR, OUR CONSTITUENTS GO TO THEIR CITY ON JULY 14TH. UM, TOWN OF BAY HARBOR WILL BE PRESENTING THIS IN THEIR CITY COMMISSION AS WELL. AND WE WILL HEAR, UM, IT'S, IT'S NOT A SPECIFIC IDEA. THE IDEA HERE IS THAT CITY STAFF FROM TOWN OF VAL HARBOR GETS TOGETHER WITH CITY STAFF HERE, AND THEY COME UP WITH THE BEST MARKETING OR WHATEVER RESOLUTION TO HELP US SAY COMMISSION. DOES ANYBODY LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE I SPEAK? UM, OKAY. SO I WAS WONDERING IF WE HAD ANY STAFF INPUT. YEAH, SO I, I, TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, HAS OUR STAFF REVIEWED IT? MR. MANAGER? NO. MAYOR. WE HAVE NOT. OKAY. SO NUMBER ONE IS THAT, NUMBER TWO, UH, I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE I, I'M SOUNDING SELFISH, BUT OUR RESOURCES, OUR RESOURCES ARE OUR RESOURCES. I WANT OUR STAFF WORKING TO MARKET OUR RESTAURANTS, TO MARKET OUR BUSINESSES, TO MARKET OUR STORES. WHY WOULD I WANT OUR RESOURCES TO MARKET OUR HARBOR BAR HARBOR? HOW BIG IS BAR HARBOR? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? AS A CITY, IT'S 12 TO 13 MILES AWAY. IT'S NOT RIGHT. BUT HOW, BUT HOW BIG IS THE CITY THOUGH? HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN BAR HARBOR? DOES ANYBODY KNOW? YOU WANT ME TO LOOK IT UP? ACCORDING TO A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH, IT'S ABOUT 3000. OKAY. 3000 PLUS. SO WE HAVE A CITY THAT WE'RE GONNA DO AN AGREEMENT WITH TO MARKET THEIR CITY AND THEIR SHOPPING CENTER WITH 3000 PEOPLE. BUT THEY'RE GONNA BENEFIT OF THE FACT THAT THE CITY CORAL GAVES HAS 51,000 RESIDENTS THAT WE'RE GONNA TELL 'EM TO GO TO BAR HARBOR INSTEAD OF COME TO THE CITY. CORAL GABLES. I AM, I'M KIND OF WONDERING WHETHER PEOPLE ARE JUST FIGURING OUT WHERE BAR HARBOR IS AND WHERE THE BAR HARBOR SHOPS ARE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, UM, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE OUR RESOURCES SHOULD BE SPENT HERE IN THE, IN THE CITY, UH, PROMOTING RESTAURANTS. WE JUST SAW KIDS THAT CAME UP HERE AND THAT SHOWED PICTURES OF MIRACLE MILE STOREFRONTS, UH, THAT NEED MARKETING, THAT NEED PROMOTION. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'D RATHER SPEND THAT EFFORT AND OUR, AND OUR STAFF RESOURCES, UM, AND OUR MARKETING EFFORTS. AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD MARKET THEM. WE PUT THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WE, WE GIVE THEM OUR, OUR OUR, UM, OUR EMAIL LIST. UH, WHAT WOULD OUR PLAN BE TO, TO HELP OUT BAR HARBOR? UH, MY GOAL, AND THE REASON WHY I WAS ELECTED AS MAYOR OF THE CITY, CORAL GABLES AND COMMISSIONER, AND THEN VICE MAYOR, UH, WAS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT OUR CITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SPEND OUR HARD EARNED MONIES. AND WHEN I MEAN MONIES, OUR RESOURCES, OUR STAFF, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. SO, UM, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A REASON WHY WE WANT TO PROMOTE A 3000 PERSON CITY, AND THEN ARE THEY GONNA PROVIDE THE RESOURCES? AND BESIDES THE FACT THAT STAFF HASN'T REVIEWED THIS, THERE ISN'T A PLAN ATTACHED TO IT. UM, I, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS TO THE MAYOR. ONE SECOND. ANYONE ELSE BEFORE, UH, MY, MY COMMENT SAYS, WELL, IS, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF HASN'T LOOKED AT IT. I DON'T, THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. IT'S 12 OR 13 MILES AWAY. IT'S NOT ADJACENT. AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM SOUTH MIAMI THAT COME IN HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHICH IS WHY WITH STAFF, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON DEVELOPING A PLAN TO HAVE TROLLEY SERVICE. EVENTUALLY THAT'LL FACILITATE PEOPLE MOVING TO AND FROM SOUTH MIAMI TO DECREASE TRAFFIC AND MAKE IT MUCH EASIER FOR, UM, STUDENTS TO COME HERE AND DOWNTOWN AND PATRONIZE OUR STORES. ANYONE ELSE? YEAH, I, UM, I GOTTA SAY THAT I'M, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AND IT'S KIND OF BEWILDERING TO ME. WHY, WHY IN PARTICULAR, COMMISSIONER KESSER, WHY ARE WE, WHY ARE YOU SELECTING BE HARBOR? DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR CONNECTION TO BELL HARBOR OR, OR HAVE ANY, ANY PARTICULAR INSIGHT INTO BELL HARBOR? YOU KNOW, PERHAPS IN YOUR, YOUR, YOUR PERMITTING DAYS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU USED TO BE A, A PERMIT EXPEDITOR, IS ANY CONNECTION TO BELL HARBOR THAT, THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF? OF COURSE. FULL DISCLOSURE, MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO OR MORE. THEY BE HAR SHOPS AT BELL HARBOR WERE MY CLIENTS. THEY'RE NOT MY CLIENTS ANYMORE. THAT WAS BEFORE I WAS COMMISSIONER. SO THERE'S NO TIES TO ACTUALLY, THERE'S NO BENEFITING TO IT. I THOUGHT THAT QUESTION WAS GOING TO COME UP. AND, UM, WHAT THE MAYOR SAID THAT HOW DO WE BENEFIT, WE'RE MUTUALLY GOING TO BENEFIT BECAUSE STAFF IS GOING TO GET TOGETHER WITH THEIR STAFF. AND THERE'S NO TAXPAYER FUNDS REALLY BEING USED FOR THIS. THIS IS A BENEFIT TO OUR CITY AT THE SAME LEVEL. WE'RE NOT GIVING MORE TO THEM THAN THEY ARE GIVING TO [10:05:01] US. AND THE OTHER THING IS, THIS IS REALLY EMBARRASSING. THIS IS THE CITY OF TOWN, THE TOWN OF BAY HARBOR THAT ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO US, CITY OF CORAL GABLES, FOR US TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO WORK WITH THEM. AND WHAT THIS COMMISSION IS SAYING RIGHT HERE, I'M EMBARRASSED THAT THEY WOULD EVEN HEAR IT. THIS IS ALREADY ON THEIR AGENDA. COMMISSIONER. WELL, I YOU SAID BAY HARBOR OR BA HARBOR? BA HARBOR. I'M SORRY. OKAY. IF I CAN FINISH ANSWERING OR PROVIDING MY COMMENTS, THEN, UM, MAYOR, THE, UM, THE, I AGREE WITH YOU, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY I WAS RUNNING, IS TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN AND TAKE ALL AVAILABLE TIME, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT THAT THE CITY HAS AND DIRECT IT TO THE, THE PROMOTION OF THE CITY ONLY. I MEAN, THIS IS ALMOST AKIN TO WANTING TO FIND A WAY TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I WOULDN'T SPEND ONE MINUTE DOING THAT AS A COMMISSIONER, MAYBE IN MY PRIVATE LIFE, YOU KNOW, BUT NOT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WITH, UH, FINITE TIME ON THIS DAIS AND, UH, AND CHARGED WITH THE SINGULAR, THE SINGULAR, UH, RESPONSIBILITY TO PROMOTE THE, THE, THE, THE HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO I SEE NOTHING IN WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO WANT TO DEVOTE, DEVOTE TIME, RESOURCES, OR SUPPORT TO, TO, IN ESSENCE ASSIST SOMEBODY OR, OR AN ENTITY THAT DIRECTLY COMPETES WITH OUR OWN AFFLUENT SHOPPERS, DINERS AND PEOPLE SEEKING ENTERTAINMENT. UH, I DON'T SEE THE DISTINCTION. UM, YOU KNOW, UH, IN ANY WAY IT'S, WE, WE WOULD BE DEVOTING TIME, EFFORT, AND RESOURCES TO PROMOTE SOMEONE ELSE THAT'S DOING, I'M SURE WITH THEIR OWN COMMISSIONERS AND COUNCILMEN. SAME THING, TRYING TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN CITY. SO I, I, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT THERE THAT'S MISSING. AND, UM, AND, UH, AND I, AND I'M STILL A LITTLE BEWILDERED, WHY, YOU KNOW, OR WHAT IT WAS THAT BOW HARBOR SAID TO YOU WHEN THEY REACHED OUT TO YOU THAT MADE YOU FEEL THAT THERE'S A METRIC YOU CAN POINT TO OR SOME MEASURABLE, UM, UH, DENOMINATOR RIGHT. THAT WILL SHOW HOW THIS WOULD IMPROVE CORAL GABLES THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DISCUSSED WAS MAYBE LIKE ONE DAY THE CONSTITUENTS OF BA HARBOR CAN VISIT CORAL GABLES AND WE CAN GIVE THEM A DISCOUNT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR RESTAURANTS ARE PRIVATELY OWNED AND THAT I WOULD FIND THAT TO BE DIFFICULT, BUT THAT I WOULD LEAVE IT UP TO STAFF TO DECIDE WHAT IS THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH EACH OTHER. UM, IF I CAN GIVE YOU A BIT OF ADVICE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO DO SOMETHING, CAN I, IF YOU'D TO DO, CAN, CAN I FINISH REALLY QUICK? I THOUGHT YOU HAD FINISHED, BUT LEMME JUST ADD SOMETHING TO THAT. IF YOU, IF YOU, IF YOU'D LIKE, WHY DON'T YOU WORK WITH THE CHAMBER SO YOU CAN CONNECT ABOUT HARBOR CHAMBER WITH THE CORAL GABLES CHAMBER AND CONNECT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL DRIVE, DRIVE SOME SYNERGIES BETWEEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. UM, I, I JUST, I, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO AND, AND TO PROMOTE OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IF THERE'S JUST SUCH A FINITE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES HERE IN THE CITY, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO CONCENTRATE ON, ON THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, FIRST AND FOREMOST, NOT ANOTHER COMMUNITY. OKAY. IF I CAN GO AHEAD AND FINISH MY COMMENTS. NO, GO AHEAD. UM, ONE OF THE REASONS HERE WAS TO GO AHEAD AND BRING CONSTITUENTS OR VISITORS OF BALL HARBOR. THEY HAVE A LOT OF VISITORS THAT NORMALLY DO NOT VISIT CORAL GABLES. AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE POINTS TO BRING DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN INTO CORAL GABLES. AND MAYBE WE CAN USE THE SAME STRATEGY TO DO THE SAME, BUT AT THE SAME LEVEL, IT'S NOT THAT THEY'RE GONNA BENEFIT MORE THAN US OR WE'RE GONNA BENEFIT MORE THAN THEM. IT'S A MUTUAL AGREEMENT TO BENEFIT BOTH. AND I WASN'T PROPOSING NOTHING CRAZY. MAYBE PUTTING IT ON OUR CALENDAR OR OUR SOCIAL MEDIA. THAT'S MINIMUM. I I REALLY DO NOT SEE WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO CORAL GABLES. THAT I THINK WE HAVE SIMILAR CONSTITUENTS IN BOTH. NOT AN AMOUNT, BUT IN THINGS THAT THEY LIKE OR THE RESTAURANTS THEY LIKE TO DIE IN. OKAY. UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE A MOTION? I WILL MOVE IT. YOU SUBSTITUTE, YOU SAID I WOULD MOVE IT. YOU MOVE IT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? THE MAYOR? GO AHEAD, SIR. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A VOTE ON AN ITEM THAT IS GONNA PIN US AGAINST ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY. UM, COMMISSIONER, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, IF I WAS, IF I WAS, IF I WAS PUTTING ON THIS AGENDA, I WOULD DEFER IT, BRING IT BACK, UH, AFTER [10:10:01] TALKING TO MAYBE BELKA AND TRYING TO SEE IF THERE'S A PLAN THAT WOULD MAKE THE REST OF THE, OF OUR COLLEAGUES COMFORTABLE. 'CAUSE I THINK HAVING A VOTE UP HERE, THAT'S NOT GONNA GO A POSITIVE WAY. IT'S JUST NOT GONNA LOOK GOOD WITH ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY AGAIN. UH, IF I MAY, I'M NOT, I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU, BUT MY JOB AS THE, AS THE MAYOR AND THE PERSON WHO RUNS THE MEETING, I GOTTA CALL A VOTE WHEN IT'S A RESOLUTION. I, I HEAR YOU. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, OKAY, COMMISSIONER, I'LL SECOND FOR A VOTE. OKAY. UH, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? PERFECT. WE'LL CLOSE THE, SO WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? NO. COMMISSIONER LARA? NOPE. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? NO. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. MAYOR LAGO, YOU WANNA MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE, UH, MY COMMENT WAS, UH, GOING THROUGH THE CHAMBERS I THINK IS THE APPROPRIATE ROUTE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO VOTE NO. UH, MOVING [F.-14. 26-1746 Discussion regarding Code Enforcement and the Coral Gables Waterway. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. UH, F 14. I'M GOING TO DEFER. IT'S A LONGER CONVERSATION. THIS ARE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND IT'S A SIMPLE ONE. UM, I JUST WANT MY COLLEAGUES, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M NOT GONNA DEFER. I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU REALLY QUICKLY. OKAY. I'M JUST GONNA TELL YOU. JUST GET OUTTA THE WAY. JUST GET OUTTA THE WAY. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. I WOULD LOVE MY COLLEAGUES. DON'T WORRY. I WOULD LOVE MY COLLEAGUES JUST TO, NOT THAT THEY'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION, THEY HAVE THEIR EYES AND EARS ON EVERYTHING, BUT JUST TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WATERFRONT, I'M GONNA BRING IT TO THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. I'M GONNA BRING THIS OUT TO THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. I'M GETTING CALLS FROM RESIDENTS AND EMAILS. THEY'VE GOTTEN TWO EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. LAURA WILL HAVE TO REMIND ME WHERE THEY'RE SAYING THERE'S A LOT OF CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES ON THE WATERWAYS. IT GETS OVERLOOKED. AGAIN, WE'RE, IT'S, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB IN THE FRONT FACING PROPERTIES, BUT, AND ON THE SIDES, 'CAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT FOR CANOPIES WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE CANOPIES ON THE SIDE. SO THAT I'VE INSTALLED ILLEGAL CANOPIES, BUT THE BACK, THEY'RE HAVING SOME CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES. AND I'D LIKE TO SEE MR. MANAGER IF WE CAN GET SOME INPUT FROM THE COMMISSION AND FROM YOUR TEAM TO BASICALLY JUST, I DUNNO HOW WE CAN DO IT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S, I KNOW OUR POLICE HAVE A, HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT HAVE A HAD OF, EXCUSE ME, HAVE A, HAVE BOATS. BUT DO OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM HAVE BOATS ON THE WATER? MICROPHONE, MICRO YOUR MIC. UH, MAYOR, I THINK WHAT WE CAN DO IS TEAM UP WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND RIDE THE WATERWAY WITH THEM. GREAT IDEA. AND, AND HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT RIDE ALONG WITH, WITH A WATERWAY PATROL. AND, AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE, THAT WE, UH, A LOT OF TIMES IT GETS OVERLOOKED BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE BACK. YEAH, THAT'S REALLY THE BACK OF HOUSE. BUT IT'S NOT REALLY BACK OF HOUSE WHEN YOU HAVE, WHEN YOU HAVE A WATERWAY. SO, SO WE CAN RIDE WITH A, WITH A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE CODE RIDE AND UH, AND, AND, AND TAKE CARE OF THAT ISSUE. AND ALSO MAYBE WE CAN HAVE SOMEONE FROM GREEN SPACE VEGETATION LOOK AT THE OVERGROWTH IN CERTAIN AREAS. 'CAUSE YOU HAVE CERTAIN AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, ON BLUE ROAD THAT I'VE SEEN SOME VERY LARGE INVASIVE SPECIES THAT ARE ON PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY HOPEFULLY TO REMOVE THEM. LIKE THOSE, UH, PINES, THOSE LARGE PINES, AUSTRALIAN PINES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. HAPPY TOO. WE CAN HAVE GREEN SPACE AND CODE. YEAH. RIGHT. CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE COMMISSION MEETING? YES, MA'AM. YOU READ A LITTLE BIT MORE SMART AFTER YOU'VE TALKED TO, TO YOUR STAFF. YES, MA'AM. MR. CLERK. WE'LL, WE'LL DEFER THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. OKAY. UM, [F.-15. 26-1747 Discussion regarding the cost of the April Referendum Election. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] F 15, UM, MR. CLERK, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT DISCUSSES THE COST OF APRIL REFERENDUMS. I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO BRIEFLY, UH, GIVE US AN OVERVIEW AND, UM, ABSOLUTELY, MR. MAYOR, BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S BEEN, AGAIN, A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. JUST WANTED TO, UH, BRIEF THE COMMISSION LEADING UP TO THE APRIL VOTE BY MAIL REFERENDUM ELECTION. THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THE COST OF THE ELECTION WOULD BE. THE COMMISSION REQUESTED OF THE CITY REQUESTED FROM THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THE ELECTION WOULD COST. THE NUMBER THAT THE CITY SAID THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS $82,000. THAT WAS THE ESTIMATE THAT WE RECEIVED FROM SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MAYOR. THE CITY FINALLY RECEIVED THE INVOICE FROM THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. IT WAS 81,600. OKAY. YOU, YOU CAN TAKE CREDIT. IT'S OKAY. PROBLEM. SO IT'S NOT ABOUT SAVING $350 OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S OKAY. I GOT IT. I GOT IT. IT WAS ABOUT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE. WE STUCK TO THAT ESTIMATE. AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE, WHEN THE FINAL INVOICE CAME, IT WAS BELOW THE ESTIMATE, UH, PROJECTING AT THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. THE ESTIMATE IS SUPPOSED TO BE LESS THAN $15,000. SO IF YOU COMBINE THE COST OF THE SPECIAL VOTE BY MAIL REFERENDUM ELECTION, WE HAD IN APRIL, THE COST OF MOVING. NOW HAVING A SECOND ELECTION IN NOVEMBER OF 2026, THOSE TWO ELECTIONS WOULD STILL BE CHEAPER THAN HAVING AN ELECTION NEXT TO GABLES. IT MAY NOT BE A LOT, BUT WE'RE A SMALL DEPARTMENT. AND WHEN YOU MOVE THOSE ELECTIONS FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER, OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE'RE TALKING OVER $600,000. AND WE HAVE A SLIDE. THERE'S A SLIDE HERE. YES, THERE IS, SIR. AND BY THE WAY, I, I'D LIKE TO, UH, GIVE CREDIT, UH, TO SOMEBODY WHO'S WATCHING A RESIDENT, UH, BY THE NAME OF TOM WELLS. UM, I DID THIS, I DID ALL THIS WORK [10:15:01] TO JUST TO SHOWCASE, UH, THE ACTUAL SAVINGS BECAUSE HE CAME TO MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND REFUTED THE ACTUAL SAVINGS OVER THE LONG RUN. SO THIS IS ESPECIALLY FOR, FOR THAT RESIDENT SO THAT HE CAN SEE VERY CLEARLY WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE AND, UM, THAT HE, AND THIS WE DO THE RIGHT THING. I APOLOGIZE, MS. MAYOR. AND THIS SAVINGS WOULD ONLY BE FOR THE REGULAR ELECTION. IF THERE IS NO RUNOFF ELECTION, THEN THE SAVINGS WILL BE DOUBLED. YEP. SO LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS. LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE SAID FOR A LONG TIME, FOR, FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHEN I WAS HARPING ABOUT MOVING ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER. AND I REMEMBER I GOT PUMMELED, PUMMELED FOR THIS, BUT HERE IT IS. THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. THANK YOU, MS. WARE. NO, THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. AND I'M VERY, VERY PROUD TO PUT THAT UP THERE. SO I HOPE EVERYBODY SEES THE FACTS OF THE FACTS. ALRIGHT, MOVING [F.-16. 26-1799 Recap of the Ponce Circle Park soccer watch party. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] ON. F 16, THIS ONE I'M VERY PROUD OF. UM, ASKED THE SPONSOR OF THE FIFA SOCCER WATCH PARTY WITH THE AMAZING WORK OF STAFF. STAFF DESERVES ALL THE CREDIT. A-C-M-D-C-M MANAGER, THE DIRECTORS, ALL OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, OUR POLICE, OUR FIREFIGHTERS IN THE BACK, ALL OUR IT, PUBLIC WORKS PARKS. MR. DIRECTOR, YOU GUYS DESERVE ALL THE CREDIT. CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK RECAP WITH SOME PHOTOS TO SHOW HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT IS AND TELL US WHAT ARE THE NEXT WATCH EVENTS YEP. THAT ARE FORTHCOMING. THANK YOU. SO HERE IS SOME OF OUR TEAM THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE. UM, BEFORE THE GAME. GOT A FIRE CHIEF THERE. ALRIGHT, THAT'S GREAT. A CM. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF YELLOW SHIRTS, A LOT, A LOT. THERE WAS A LOT OF COLUMBIA VERSUS PORTUGAL. THEY DID FAIR SO WELL TODAY. RIGHT. THEY LOST US AGAINST SWITZERLAND. THEY JUST LOST PENALTY KICKS PENALTY. BRUTAL PENALTY KICKS. BRUTAL. NO, IT WAS PENALTY KICKS. FOUR TO THREE. BRUTAL. YEAH. FOUR TO THREE PENALTY KICKS. SO WE DID GET A, THERE WAS A LOT OF SPIRIT. UM, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS KIND OF THE, YOU KNOW WHAT, AWESOME. THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM. YOU KNOW WHAT WAS AWESOME ABOUT THIS? AND WE TOOK THIS EARLY. THIS PLACE WAS PACKED. THAT'S WHAT I'M, THIS IS THE CALL THE I SHOW THE NIGHT, THE NIGHT PHOTOS. YES. YOU KNOW WHAT WAS AMAZING ABOUT THIS MR. DIRECTOR? THE AMOUNT OF FAMILIES, KIDS THAT WERE OUT THERE. YES. AND EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE IN FULL FORCE. LOOK AT THIS, IT WAS A GREAT ENVIRONMENT. WE HAD SOME ITEMS FOR THE CHILDREN, BOUNCE HOUSES. BUT IT GOT TO THAT POINT. WE STARTED HAVING TO GET RID OF THE BOUNCE HOUSES. YEAH. WE WERE RUNNING OUTTA SPACE. WE HAD OUR STAFF SITTING ON IT TRYING TO GET THE AIR OUT. BUT, UH, IT WAS GREAT. WE WERE ABLE TO, WE HAD OUR VENDORS, OUR VENDORS WERE GREAT. THEY, UH, FOLLOWED ALL THE FIFA RULES OF NO BRANDING. UM, AND THEY WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND THEY WERE VERY HAPPY. UM, THEY CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE. I WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT AND I FORGOT TO MENTION, UH, THE PLAZA. THE PLAZA WHO HELPED US SPONSOR, UH, THIS EVENT, UH, ALONG WITH EVERYONE AT THE CITY. LOOK AT THIS AT NIGHT. LOOK HOW THIS WAS MM-HMM . IT, IT WAS PACKED. YEP. IT WAS AN ENERGY THERE. PEOPLE WERE ENJOYING THE GAME. PEOPLE WERE GOING TO THE PLAZA. THEY WERE BUYING FOOD. THEY WERE HAVING DRINKS AT THE PLAZA. THEY WERE COMING BACK. SO THESE ARE THE TYPE OF EVENTS THAT AGAIN, IN MY OPINION ARE WHEN WE'VE DONE THESE EVENTS IN THE DOWNTOWN, THEY ENERGIZE THE DOWNTOWN. THESE PEOPLE LEAVE HERE EIGHT O'CLOCK, NINE 30, THEY GO HAVE DINNER. PEOPLE ARE WALKING ALL OVER THE DOWNTOWN WITH THE COLUMBIA JERSEYS ON HAVING DINNER, GOING TO BARS, YOU KNOW, GOING TO BOOKS AND BOOKS. UH, LOOK AT THAT. I MEAN, THAT'S AMAZING. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE THERE HAVING A GREAT TIME. FAMILIES. SO GREAT JOB. YEAH. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. SO WE DO HAVE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME MORE. UM, SO THE THIRD PLACE GAME, WHICH IS ON THAT SATURDAY OF THE 18TH. AND THE FINAL, WHICH IS THE 19TH. WE'RE GONNA HAVE WATCH PARTIES THERE AS WELL. SO THERE'LL BE TWO MORE COMING OUR WAY. SO MR. DIRECTOR? YES. I WANT TO TALK TO THE MANAGER AND THROUGH THE MANAGER, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN PROMOTE IT AGAIN AS HEAVILY AS POSSIBLE. START NOW. YES. PUT IT ON OUR NEWSLETTER. UH, MARTHA DOES A GREAT JOB. MM-HMM . YOU KNOW, START PUTTING IT ON EMAIL. START GETTING PEOPLE OUT THERE. I MEAN, WE DID THIS ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE. THE A CM CRUSHED IT. YEP. THE DCM CRUSHED IT. I MEAN, IT WAS INCREDIBLE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DID ALONG WITH YOUR TEAM. ALL THE PUBLIC WORKS, THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM WAS OUT THERE IN FULL FORCE. THOSE GUYS WERE AMAZING. THEY WERE GREAT, AMAZING FIREFIGHTERS. POLICE. THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A HUGE PRESENCE. EVERYBODY FELT SAFE. AND WE DID THAT IN HOW MANY DAYS WOULD YOU SAY? EIGHT, NINE DAYS MAYBE. YEAH. IT WAS QUICK. IT WAS A VERY MUCH MEDIA. HOW MUCH MEDIA DID WE, HOW MUCH SOCIAL MEDIA TIME DID WE DO? UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME. WE, WE, UH, WE HAD MARTHA'S HELP, WE HAD ALL THE PARK SITES. WE DID AS MUCH AS WE COULD, BUT IT WAS QUICK. AND WE STILL GOT REALLY GOOD TURNOUT. I MEAN, WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE. YEAH. SO THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. BUT IT SEEMS TO ME FROM LOOKING AT THIS, THAT, UM, AND LIKE YOU SAID THIS, THAT NIGHT, IT WAS SUPER EXPLOSIVE WITH THE, THE TURNOUT THAT FAR MORE, UH, FAMILIES, VISITORS, AND SEEMS LIKE A FAR MORE INCLUSIVE [10:20:01] EVENT WAS HELD ON, UH, AT THE POND CIRCLE THEN. THEN ONE WOULD IMAGINE WOULD BE HELD IN ONE SINGLE PRIVATE ESTABLISHMENT, YOU KNOW? BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS INCREDIBLE. THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO GO HAVE A, LET'S SAY, LET'S SAY HAVE AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE. THEY WALKED OVER AND THEY HAD IT AT THE PLAZA AND THEY WALKED BACK. THEY HAD MULTIPLE DIFFERENT BARS OPEN AT THE LOWE'S. THEY HAD THE OSA BAR OPEN. THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE DRINKS THERE. IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE, IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO EAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOOD THAT WAS IN POCO PARK, YOU WALKED OVER TO SAN SANDWICH OR YOU WALKED OVER TO JOE AND THE JUICE, OR YOU WALKED OVER TO, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THE CHOW OR, OR YOU WALKED OVER. SO IT WAS MORE INCLUSIVE FOR ANYONE OF PEOPLE WANT ALCOHOL. SOMEBODY WHO HAVE KIDS. YOU, YOU, EVERYBODY HAS HAD SOMETHING FOR. AND THEN IT, IT BENEFITED A FAR LARGER GROUP OF, UH, OF BUSINESSES AS WELL. AND BY THE WAY, THE PARKING WAS AMAZING. NO, I DIDN'T HEAR ONE COMPLAINT ABOUT PARKING. PEOPLE GOT THERE. EVERYBODY WAS, IT WAS A CONTROLLED CROWD. PEOPLE WERE EXCITED. THIS IS THE TYPE OF EVENT THAT IS ONLY GONNA GROW EXPONENTIALLY ONCE WE DELIVER ON POND CIRCLE PARK. THIS IS WHAT I FORESEE PON CIRCLE PARK BEING AT, AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. IT COULD BE SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL, REALLY SPECIAL THROUGH THE MAYOR. YEAH. UM, IS THERE A WAY, 'CAUSE YOU, YOU'RE SAYING YOU HAD TO GET RID OF THE BOUNCE HOUSES. YEAH. DO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO CLOSE DOWN THE STREET AS WE DO FOR THE PUMPKIN PATCH IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM RUNNING AND HAVE THAT AREA FOR THE KIDS? OR MAYBE MOVE THE VENDORS OUT THERE SO THAT WE HAVE MORE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO, TO BE IN THE, IN THE PARK? I THINK IT'S MORE RESOURCES IN TERMS OF POLICE. UM, FOR US, I THINK FROM A PRACTITIONER'S STANDPOINT, I'M NOT SO SURE WE NEEDED THE, ALL THE BOUNCE OUTS, THE LITTLE KITTY PLAY AREA, WHICH WAS THE SMALL ONE THAT DOESN'T TAKE UP ENOUGH SPACE. UM, AND YOU CAN ALWAYS DO LIKE A BOUNCE OUT, NOT AN OBSTACLE COURSE. SO WE WERE LOOKING AT, AT HOW WE CAN MINIMIZE THAT FOOTPRINT, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF KID ACTIVITIES AND NOT TAKE UP TOO MUCH SPACE. OKAY. CAN I ADD, LET ME, LET ME ADD SOMETHING TO THAT. YEAH. BECAUSE MAYBE IT'S NOT THE BOUNCE HOUSES, BUT LOOK AT THE TURNOUT THAT WE HAD. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TIME TO REALLY PROMOTE THIS. CORRECT. IF WE'RE GONNA START PROMOTING NOW FOR THE 18TH. YEAH. YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 11 DAYS AWAY. YEAH. PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCE THIS, THEY'RE COMING BACK. WHETHER YOU'RE COLOMBIAN OR YOU'RE YOU'RE AMERICAN OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU ARE, YOU WANNA ENJOY THE WORLD CUP. AND THEY'RE GONNA SAY, WE'RE COMING BACK HERE. LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAD. THE WEATHER'S GONNA BE BETTER. YOU KNOW, THE ATMOSPHERE IS GONNA BE LIVELIER. IT'S GONNA BE THE WORLD CUP FINAL. IT'S GONNA BE THE THIRD PLACE GAME. YEP. SO MAYBE WE CLOSE OFF THAT STREET. IF IT WORKS OUT. I'M JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE. IT'S UP TO I'LL LEAVE IT TO THE MANAGER. YEP. WE CLOSE OUT THE STREET AND WE PUT OUR VENDORS THERE SO WE COULD FIT MORE PEOPLE IN, IN THE ACTUAL PARK ITSELF, SO THEY CAN HAVE MORE SEATING. NOBODY COMPLAINED ABOUT THEIR RENAL SEATS. EVERYBODY BROUGHT THEIR OWN SEATING. EVERYBODY BROUGHT THEIR OWN, LIKE YOU SAW THAT YOUNG BABY OUT. YEAH. BABY. ON A, ON A, ON A BEAUTIFUL BLANKET ENJOYING THEMSELVES. SO MAYBE WE CLOSE AND WE RE AND WE PUSH THE TRAFFIC AWAY FROM, FROM ONE SIDE OF POND CIRCLE PARK, OR WE CLOSED BOTH SIDES OF POND CIRCLE PARK AND WE NEVER TRAFFIC. I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT. I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT. WE PUSH TRAFFIC. BUT YEAH, IT'S JUST RESOURCES. WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK AT IT AND SEE IT ALLOW PEOPLE TO, IT'LL ALLOW PEOPLE TO WALK FROM THE PLAZA ON ONE SIDE EASIER. AND WE CAN PUT VENDORS ON THE OTHER SIDE OR CLOSE THAT SIDE, OR BOTH SIDES OR REGIONS ON REGIONS ON THE REGIONS BANK SIDE. AND WE JUST CLOSE IT OFF AND WE PUSH PEOPLE, UM, TOWARDS LAJEUNE AND WE PUSH PEOPLE TOWARDS 37TH AVENUE AND WE PUT UP THOSE SIGNS. I'M JUST GIVING YOU IDEAS THAT, BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING THAT IT WAS SO SUCCESSFUL AND PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE HERE JUST LIKE FOR THE JULY, HOW MANY MORE IT IS THE SECOND TIME IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL. AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT 4TH OF JULY, I HEARD 4TH OF JULY WAS PACKED. ALL I RECEIVED WAS PHONE CALLS OF PEOPLE TELLING ME I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE HERE. SO IF THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL, IMAGINE AFTER WE HAD THIS EVENT, WHAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE COMING TO. YEAH. AND, UH, A COUPLE OF 'EM IMPORTANT POINTS. FAN FEST IS CLOSING UP. SO NOW THERE'S GOING GONNA BE, NEED TO BE MORE OUTLETS FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH THE GAMES THAT THEY WANNA WATCH IN THIS KIND OF ATMOSPHERE. UM, ONE THING I DID WANNA MENTION, 'CAUSE YOU MENTIONED THE DESIGN OF THE PARK. UM, MARIA DE LAGUARDIA WAS ACTUALLY THERE. UM, THE DESIGNER OF THE PARK. SO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE HOW, HOW WE DO EVENTS THERE. SO AS WE WORK THROUGH THE DESIGN AND EVERYTHING, UM, SHE'S ABLE TO SEE WHAT A, WHAT AN EVENT LOOKS LIKE THERE WITH PLACEMENTS OF TENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO THAT WAS GOOD TOO. OKAY. YEP. SO WE'LL GET STARTED. WE GOT AMAZING JOB. AMAZING JOB. GOOD. UH, [F.-17. 26-1800 Recap of the 4th of July festivities. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] MOVING ON TO, UH, ITEM F 17, THE RECAP OF FURTHER JULY FESTIVITIES. ALL I GOT WAS PHONE CALLS AND PHOTOS FROM PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT, UH, THE DRONES. I'D LIKE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE VICE MAYOR. UH, SHE CAME UP WITH THAT IDEA A FEW YEARS AGO MM-HMM . AND, UH, SHE BROUGHT IT TO FRUITION. AMAZING. I I CAN SHOW YOU A TEXT MESSAGE. PEOPLE WRITING ME. THEY WERE MAKING BETS. THEY WERE MAKING BETS. HOW MANY DRONES THERE WERE . AND I SAID, AND I 350 DRONES BECAUSE I WROTE, I WROTE STAFF AND I SAID, HOW MANY DRONES DO WE HAVE OUT THERE? AND IT WAS 350 [10:25:01] DRONES IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME. THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK WERE THERE? WE THINK AT LEAST OVER 30,000, MAYBE MORE LARGEST EVER COULD BE CLOSE. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE WHEN WE GET IT. WE, WE DON'T HAVE 'EM YET. UM, BUT YEAH, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, AT FIVE O'CLOCK WE WERE LIKE, UH, IT'S A LITTLE, AND THEN BY SEVEN WE WERE LIKE, IT WAS, IT WAS, IT WAS QUITE PACKED. YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAD PEOPLE, I HAD TWO, TWO, UH, OWNERS ON, ON THE GOLF COURSE CALL ME AND SAY, NEXT YEAR WE NEED THE DRONES TO BE HIGHER AND THE MUSIC TO BE LOUDER. I SAID, YOU'VE LOST YOUR MIND. YEAH. YEAH. YOU'VE, I TOLD IT TO THE MANAGER. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN CONNECT SPEAKERS ALL THE WAY ON THE BACK. I KNOW, BUT THEY, BUT THEY SAID WE WANNA HEAR THE ORCHESTRA THROUGH THE MAYOR. YEAH. AND ACTUALLY THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT EVERY YEAR BECAUSE THE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT IN FRONT OF THE STAGE CANNOT HEAR ANY OF THE MUSIC. SO IF YOU'RE ON THE, UH, WHERE THE FOOD TRUCKS ARE, THERE WAS IN THE PAST, THERE WAS NO SOUND. THE OTHER COMPLAINT THAT I GOT WAS NOT ENOUGH. UH, DRINK STATIONS TO PURCHASE DRINKS. YEAH. UH, WE HAD A FAMILY, UH, FROM CHURCH. THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE IN LINE FOR 45 MINUTES TO BUY DRINKS. YEAH, I WILL. SO WE, WE MAY NEED TO LOOK TO EXPAND THAT. YEAH. BUT, UH, MR. MAYOR, AT FIVE O'CLOCK, FRED AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, IT LOOKED EMPTY AND BY THE TIME THE FIREWORK SHOW STARTED, BUT PEOPLE WAITED UNTIL THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. 'CAUSE AT, AT ONE POINT WE WERE EXPECTING THUNDERSTORMS. IT NEVER HAPPENED, NEVER MATERIALIZED. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE AT THE AIRPORT AND PEOPLE JUST CAME OUT. YEAH, WELL, IT WAS, IT WAS THAT AND THE HEAT. YEAH. SO, I MEAN, IT, IT TURNED OUT FANTASTIC. UM, MY, MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU, FRED. THANK YOU. YEAH. EVERY YEAR YOU SEEM TO DO BETTER AND STEP IT UP. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET A REPEATER ON, UH, YEAH, I'LL TALK TO IT. WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT THE SPEAKERS. SO, UH, AND I DID TALK TO, UH, CITY MANAGER ABOUT TAKING OUT THE HALF DEAD, UH, PINE TREES THAT BLOCK THE VIEW OF THE, THE DRUMS. YEAH. I I UNDERSTAND. THEY MAKE REALLY GOOD BARBECUE WOOD AND THEY'RE INVASIVE ANYWAY, SO. WELL, I DO WANT TO SAY WE GOT GREAT SUPPORT. I MEAN, MY STAFF, SUSAN AND THE, AND HER CREW WERE GREAT. BUT, UH, PUB PUBLIC WORKS, UM, REALLY HELPED US OUT A LOT. WE HAD SOME DIFFICULTIES BEHIND THE SCENES THAT, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS GREAT. WE WERE LIKE DUCKS ON A POND. LIKE I TELL ALL MY STAFF FEET WERE GOING CRAZY, BUT NOBODY SAW IT, WHICH IS GREAT. UM, POLICE, FIRE, EVERYONE HELPED US. SO WE, UM, IT'S TRULY A CITY TEAM EFFORT. UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH THE VIP PARTY WAS GREAT. SO WE, WE, UH, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH HOW IT TURNED OUT. ALL I HEARD WAS GOOD THINGS. GREAT WORK, AMAZING WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER. UH, MOVING ON [H.-1. 26-1737 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation to waive the competitive Bid Process of the Procurement Code and Contract with John Bell Construction for the Coral Gables Country Club pool repairs and renovation project, located at 997 N. Greenway Drive, in an estimated amount of $1,591,988 or not to exceed the available budget, pursuant to Section 2-691 of the Procurement Code, titled "Special Procurement/Bid Waiver". Lobbyist: Leslie Pantin] TO ITEM H ONE CITY MANAGER. ITEMS H ONE IS RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION TO WAIVE THE COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE AND CONTRACT WITH JOHN BELL CONSTRUCTION FOR THE CORAL GABLES COUNTRY CLUB POOL REPAIRS AND RENOVATION PROJECT LOCATED IN 9 97 NORTH GREENWAY DRIVE, AND AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $1,591,988 OR NOT TO EXCEED THE AVAILABLE BUDGET PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 6 91 OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE TITLED SPECIAL PROCUREMENT BID WAIVER. MR. CLEAR, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, I'M MOVE. DO I HAVE A MOTION? HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. COMMISSIONER LADA, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. UH, BY THE WAY, I'M A BIG FAN OF JOHN BELL. I'VE USED THEM PERSONALLY. THEY DO GREAT WORK. UM, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'RE HUNGRY AND THEY'VE DONE REALLY GOOD WORK AT THE VENETIAN POOL AND OTHER PROJECTS. SO HAPPY THAT THEY'RE DOING THIS JOB. MAYOR, THIS WILL BE A TOUGH, AND I KNOW THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER. TOUGH JOB. NO, NO. I THINK YOU'RE BEING, I THINK YOU'RE BEING KIND AND I, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE NIGHTMARE THAT THIS JOB IS AND THE STRUCTURE OF INTEGRITY OF THIS POOL, THE SHAPE IT'S IN, AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS A NIGHTMARE OF A JOB. AND THE FACT THAT THE PREVIOUS LEASE HOLDERS OF THE CORAL GABLES COUNTRY CLUB DESTROYED THIS POOL, DESTROYED THIS POOL. AM I INCORRECT? UH, YOU'RE CORRECT. MAYOR. THERE WAS CHLOR CHLORINE AND THE, AND NO EVAC SYSTEM. YEP. SO IMAGINE IT JUST DESTROYED EVERYTHING. IT DESTROYED ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE POOL. IT'S FULLY DESTROY RIGHT NOW, MAYOR. I'VE SEEN IT MYSELF. SO THIS IS A, THIS IS A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AND A MAJOR INVESTMENT THAT WE DIDN'T EXPECT WE HAD TO MAKE. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HANDLING THIS SITUATION. THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY OF THE, MANY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF SOLVE AND THAT YOU DON'T GET CREDIT FOR. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. MR. CLERK. WE VOTE ALREADY. WE'RE DONE. WE DID, SIR. YES. MS. MAYOR, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UM, ADAM, [H.-2. 26-1757 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award the Granada Golf Course Rain Shelter Construction to PF Management and Construction, LLC, the most responsive and responsible bidder in the estimated amount of $541,841.21 and not to exceed budgeted funds, pursuant to Section 2-763 of the Procurement Code entitled “Contract Award” and Invitation for Bid (IFB) 2026-008. Lobbyist: N/A] H TWO, H TWO IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO AWARD THE GRANADA GOLF COURSE RANGE SHELTER CONSTRUCTION TO PF MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION, LLC, THE MOST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER IN THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $541,841 AND 21 CENTS, AND NOT TO EXCEED BUDGETED FUNDS PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 7 63 OF THE PROCUREMENT [10:30:01] CODE TITLED CONTRACT AWARD INVITATION FOR BID 2026 DASH ZERO EIGHT. MOVE IT SECOND. MR. PARKER, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA I'M GONNA BE WORKING ON FOR SOME TIME. MR. ALEXANDER WILL BE VERY HAPPY. HE'S THE ONE THAT PUSHED US FORWARD, UH, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. CLERK VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LADA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. [H.-3. 26-1767 A Resolution of the City Commission amending Resolution No. 2026-156 and accepting the recommendation of the Community Recreation Department to waive the competitive bid process of the Procurement Code as a "Special Procurement/Bid Waiver" with Joy By, LLC. for Holiday Park; authorizing a five (5) year contract with two (2) optional two-year renewal terms pursuant to Section 2-691 of the City's Procurement Code. Lobbyist: N/A] H THREE H THREE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSIONER AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2026 DASH 1 56 AND ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMUNITY RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO WAIVE THE COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE AS A SPECIAL PROCUREMENT BID WAIVER WITH JOY BY LLC FOR HOLIDAY PARK, AUTHORIZING A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT WITH TWO OPTIONAL TWO YEAR RENEWAL TERMS PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO DASH 6 91 OF THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT CODE. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. A VOTE. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. [H.-4. 26-1691 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $70,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2026C and taxable Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2026D to finance the costs of the construction of certain capital improvements with regards to the Coral Gables Mobility Hub and to pay associated costs of issuance; providing that such Series 2026 bonds shall be a limited obligation of the issuer payable solely from non-ad valorem revenues budgeted and appropriated as provided herein; making certain provisions and delegating certain responsibilities with respect to the notice, bidding and sale of the Series 2026 bonds to the Mayor and Finance Director; appointing a municipal advisor, paying agent and registrar for the Series 2026 bonds; approving the forms of the summary notices of sale and official notices of sale with respect to such Series 2026 bonds; authorizing the preparation and use of a preliminary official statement and authorizing the execution and delivery of a final official statement, paying agent and registrar agreement and continuing disclosure certificate; providing for compliance with certain continuing disclosure requirements; providing for the rights, securities and remedies for the holder of such Series 2026 bonds; making certain covenants and agreements in connection therewith; and providing an effective date.] H FOUR H FOUR IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $70 MILLION IN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE BONDS SERIES 2026 C AND TAXABLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REVENUE BONDS SERIES 2026 TO FINANCE THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WITH REGARDS TO THE CORAL GABLES MOBILITY HUB AND TO PAY ASSOCIATED COST OF ISSUANCE. PROVIDING THAT SUCH SERIES 2026 BONDS SHALL BE A LIMITED OBLIGATION OF THE ISSUER PAYABLE SOLELY FROM NON AVALOR AND REVENUES BUDGETED AND APPROPRIATED AS PROVIDED HEREIN, MAKING CERTAIN PROVISIONS AND DELEGATING CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTICE BIDDING AND SALE OF THE SERIES 2026 BONDS TO THE MAYOR AND FINANCE DIRECTOR APPOINTING A MUNICIPAL ADVISOR, PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR FOR THE SERIES 2026 BONDS APPROVING THE FORMS OF THE SUMMARY, NOTICES OF SALE AND OFFICIAL NOTICES OF SALE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SERIES 2026 BONDS AUTHORIZING THE PREPARATION AND USE OF A PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A FINAL OFFICIAL STATEMENT, PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR AGREEMENT AND CONTINUING DISCLOSURE CERTIFICATE PROVIDING FOR COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN CONTINUING DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDING FOR THE RIGHT SECURITIES AND REMEDIES FOR THE HOLDER OF SUCH SERIES 2026 BONDS, MAKING CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS IN CONNECTION THERE WITH AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. I MOVE IT SECOND. ANYONE A SECOND? MR. ER, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR? OKAY. CAN WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT? WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE, IT'S 8 54, SO I DUNNO IF WE WANNA MAYBE HAVE A MOTION TO CONTINUE BEYOND NINE. OKAY. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I HAVE A SECOND. A SECOND. WE NEED A A TO A TIME CERTAIN WE HAVE TO GIVE A CERTAIN EXTENT. 9 2, 9 29 30, WHATEVER, NINE 30 TO BE SAFE. OKAY. NINE 30. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. PUBLIC COMMENT. OBJECTION HOLMES. PRAISE GOD. AND MR. IGL. YES, SIR. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING. AND MAYOR LAGO. UH, BUT I I, THIS TIME I WANT TO, UM, MAKE UP, UH, SOMETHING I OMITTED THE LAST TIME. UH, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT THE FINAL SOLUTION ON PARKING. UM, SOMEBODY MENTIONED TO ME TODAY, WE, WE LIVE IN A DEVELOPER OCRACY AND DEVELOPERS WE KNOW, MAYOR LOGGER, YOU, YOU FOUGHT TO KEEP THIS, THESE GARAGES IN OUR HANDS BECAUSE DEVELOPERS HAVE OTHER PLANS LIKE MAYBE RAIDING THIS GARAGE WHILE THEY DON'T BUILD, UH, PARKING ELSEWHERE. I THINK WE NEED AS A MEANS OF PRESERVING OUR CITY TAX BASE TO USE THE 3 45 AND ILLUSIA PARKING GARAGE. I, I DON'T THINK WE CAN FARM THAT OUT TO A PARK, TO A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY, OR I THINK WE NEED TO PRE I I, I KNOW IN MY BONES IF IF THERE'S NO PARKING, THERE'S NO INCOME. AND I, I HATE TO USE A TIRED REFERENCE ON THIS, BUT MY OWN RETAIL TENANT, WHEN I TOLD 'EM THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS WITH PARKING, THEY SAID, OKAY, WELL HERE'S THE DEAL. UNLESS YOU FI FIGURE THOSE PROBLEMS OUT, WE'RE NOT RENEWING THE LEASE. UM, SO I, I DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD EMERGENCY, BUT I'M GOING TO, UM, THE CITY'S TAX REVENUE IS DEPENDENT ON INCOME FROM MANY AREAS, BUT A LOT FROM THE MIRACLE MILE AREA. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE PARKING, THAT'S GOING TO HURT OUR INCOME. SO PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU, LET'S KEEP THE PARKING GARAGE AT 3 45 AND DELUCIA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S [10:35:01] IT MS. WARE. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. WE DO. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, WHEN I RAN, I COMMITTED TO NOT SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT. UH, I KNOW THAT, UM, SUPPORT IS THERE FOR IT NOW, BUT, UH, I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? NO. MAYOR LAGO? YES. MOVING ON TO H [H.-5. 26-1741 A Resolution of the City Commission establishing its intent to reimburse certain costs incurred with respect to the renovation and restoration of the current City Hall with proceeds of future tax-exempt financings; providing certain other matters in connection therewith;] FIVE. H FIVE IS RESOLUTION, RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ESTABLISHING ITS INTENT TO REIMBURSE CERTAIN COSTS INCURRED WITH RESPECT TO THE RENOVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE CURRENT CITY HALL WITH PROCEEDS OF FUTURE TAX EXEMPT FINANCINGS PROVIDING CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION. THEREWITH? I'M DIRECTOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. DIANA GOMEZ, FINANCE DIRECTOR. THIS INTENDS RESOLUTION PRESERVES THE CITY'S ABILITIES TO REIMBURSE ITSELF WITH, UM, REIMBURSE ELIGIBLE COSTS FROM FUTURE TAX EXEMPT BOND PROCEEDS FOR THE RESTORATION OF CITY HALL. UM, THE, UM, THE $25 MILLION AMOUNT IS NOT THE FINAL PROJECT BUDGET OR THE FINAL BOND SIZE. IT SIMPLY CREATES A IRS REQUIRED REIMBURSEMENT FRAMEWORK SO THAT THE WORK CAN BEGIN WHILE THE FINAL CONSTRUCTION PRICING AND BOND FINANCING IS, UH, COMPLETED. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. MAYOR LAGO? [H.-6. 26-1812 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the execution of a Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) between Miami-Dade County and the City of Coral Gables for the disbursement of Mobility Impact Fee Funds in the amount of $1,950,000 to the City for the design and construction of sidewalks along Granada Boulevard starting at the intersection of Ponce de Leon Boulevard to SR 976/SW 40 Street/Bird Road.] YES. MOVING ON TO H SIX. H SIX IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A JOINT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF MOBILITY IMPACT DE FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,950,000 TO THE CITY FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALKS ALONG GRANADA BOULEVARD, STARTING AT THE INTERSECTION OF ILLA BOULEVARD TWO SR. 9 76 SOUTHWEST 40TH STREET, BIRD ROAD. I'LL MOVE IT SECOND. MR. GREG, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. MAYOR LAGO? YES. MR. CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PENDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA? NO. MR. MAYOR. RIGHT. LET'S, UH, GO BACK TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY. SO THIS, WE'RE GOING BACK THEN DISCUSSING MY FINAL ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE'RE GOING BACK THEN MAYOR TO, UM, F SEVEN AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE PROVIDED EACH OF YOU WITH AN UPDATED DRAFT. THE ONE I GAVE YOU, IT'S BEEN FURTHER UPDATED. IT'S THE ONE STEPHANIE JUST HANDED OUT RIGHT NOW. UM, SO IT'S THE LAND USE AND ZONING DESIGNATION IS NOT WHAT MAKES A PROPERTY APART. SO WE THINK THAT THIS VERSION WOULD ADDRESS, I THINK, THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE COMMISSION TODAY. AND SO, UM, THE LANGUAGE YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU WOULD BE, UM, SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE THAT THE SALE EXCHANGE CONVEYANCE OR LEASE OF 10 YEARS OR LONGER OF ANY CITY OWNED PROPERTY USED AS A PARK RECREATIONAL FACILITY GOLF COURSE, OR OPEN SPACE AS OF NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 OR LATER REQUIRED FOR SUCH USE BE APPROVED BY 60% OF THE CITY'S VOTERS IN A CITYWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION. SO WE THINK THIS WOULD CAPTURE AS OF THE DATE OF THE ELECTION, ANY PARK, UM, OPEN SPACE, UM, I'M SORRY, UM, OPEN PARK SPACE, RECREATIONAL FACILITY AND GOLF COURSE. AND THEN ANY FUTURE ACQUISITIONS THAT ARE ACQUIRED FOR SUCH USES WOULD ALSO BE ENCOMPASSED. PERFECT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY, OH, SORRY. I'M SORRY. NO, GO AHEAD. AHEAD. JUST THE 10 YEARS, JUST SO YOU KNOW WHERE THAT COMES FROM. OUR CITY CODE DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN LEASES THAT ARE 10 YEARS AND LONGER AND THOSE THAT ARE NOT. SO WE THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS AN APPROPRIATE DELINEATOR SINCE WE ALREADY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PROCESS FOR 10 YEARS. BUT HAPPY TO TAKE ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. JUST A QUESTION. UM, STEPHANIE, AT THE END OF THIS PROPOSED LANGUAGE, IT SAYS, UH, APPROVED BY 60% OF THE CITY VOTERS IN A CITYWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION. IS IT, UM, LIMITING TO SAY IN A SPECIAL ELECTION VERSUS BY WAY OF REFERENDUM? WE'RE HAPPY TO CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE? NO, NO. JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT BOXING. YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY MIGHT SAY NO. SO A SPECIAL, IT'S ALWAYS A SPECIAL, SORRY. IT'S ALWAYS A SPECIAL ELECTION BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE, THE, THE GENERAL ELECTION THAT'S FOR THE FIVE ELECTED OFFICIALS. OKAY. IS THAT, AND REFERENDUM IMPLIES, UM, RECONSIDERATION OF A COMMISSION ACTION. SO WE DIDN'T WANNA IMPLY THAT MM-HMM . EVEN THOUGH THAT'S THE WORD WE USE REFERENDUM. BUT, AND TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS RESOLUTION, IF, IF YOU ALL ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION, PUTTING THIS QUESTION ON THE BALLOT, WE WILL, BEFORE IT'S SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, WE WILL REVIEW IT AGAIN AND IF THERE'S ANY TWEAKS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S STILL CONSISTENT WITH THIS LANGUAGE. BUT ANY NECESSARY TWEAKS, WE WILL, WE, WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND THE RESOLUTION, MEANING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS THE AUTHORITY AND THE RESOLUTION TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES. JUST FOR POINT OF MY UNDERSTANDING. SO AN, AN ELECTION LIKE SAY IN NOVEMBER RIGHT. THAT'S CONSIDERED A SPECIAL ELECTION. IF WE WERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THESE, WE HAVE NOW AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS. RIGHT, RIGHT. WE ALSO ARE PUTTING THESE QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT, WHICH MAKES THEM A SPECIAL ELECTION. EACH OF THESE RESOLUTIONS [10:40:01] CAUSE FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR CONSIDERATION OF THOSE QUESTIONS IS SPECIAL. YEAH. ALRIGHT. THROUGH THE MAYOR IS, YES, SIR. UH, MAYOR, I THINK THIS, THIS ADDRESSES THE ISSUE BECAUSE ZONING AND USE DON'T DETERMINE A PARK. YOU COULD HAVE A RESIDENTIAL ZONING AND COULD STILL BE A PARK. I BELIEVE THAT THIS, THIS CAPTURES THE, UH, INTENT. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, BECAUSE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BEFORE AND AGAIN, IT DIDN'T HAVE THE LEGS. THAT ARGUMENT DIDN'T HAVE LEGS. NO. AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL PUSHING US TO BE CLEAR. I THINK THIS IS, UM, UH, REFLECTS BETTER. MAYOR, YOUR INTENTION. OKAY. EXCELLENT. I'LL MOVE. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL SECOND WE A MOTION A SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER CASTRO? YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES. COMMISSIONER LARA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. MAYOR LAW. YES. UH, THANK YOU TO STAFF AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION FOR SUPPORTING MY ITEM. I THINK THIS IS, UH, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. UM, MADAM VICE MAYOR, ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? MR. MAYOR, SEE YOU TOMORROW MORNING. YES. SORRY. JUST SO WE HAVE NO ISSUES HERE. PROBLEM. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IF THERE WAS ANY PUBLIC COMMENT GIVEN THE AMENDED LANGUAGE ON THAT LAST ITEM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO OPEN? WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT. DO WE? WOULD ANYBODY? GO AHEAD. STAND UP, PUBLIC COMMENT. HEY, LET'S SEE. LET'S COVER OUR BASES, RIGHT? COVER OUR BASES. I MAY STAND UP AND GIVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENT. I'M A RESIDENT. MR. HOLMES, THE, THE MICROPHONE IS TURNED OFF. MR. HOL YOUR MICROPHONE. JUST USE THE OTHER ONE. USE THE OTHER ONE. DO YOU WANT ME TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL, IS IT ON NOW? YEAH. OKAY. YOU SURE? I'M GOOD. I I CAN BE HERE AS LONG AS YOU GUYS DON'T NEED ME TO BE. I'M GOOD. I FINE COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT ONE. GO AHEAD, SIR. FAR IS YOURS? UH, I'M, I THINK THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT TO, FOR YOU TO SAY THAT IT SHALL NOT BE LEASED OVER 10 YEARS. UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL, I'LL HAVE TO SIT BACK AND WEIGH THAT. UM, BUT, UH, UNTIL I WEIGH IT, UNTIL I EVALUATE IT, I MEAN, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY YOU EVER WENT AFTER THIS REVERTER CAUSE TO BEGIN WITH, I THINK THAT JANE WEIR, WHOSE MOTHER I'VE MET NOW AND BONDED WITH, UH, THEY'LL BE THE FINAL ARBITER. AND IF THEY DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO TAMPER WITH THE, I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, PERIOD. BUT THIS DOES AS SWAY SOME OF MY ALARM. THANK YOU. UH, AND I'D ALSO, WE, WE AS A COMMISSION, WE'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU REVIEW IT AND YOU GIVE YOUR, GIVE YOUR CLEARANCE AND IF A PASS MUSTER YOU GIVE YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. APPRECIATE IT. WORK, WORK IN TANDEM WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE ENTIRE OFFICE. MAYBE YOU CAN SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH HIM AND WE'D APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY. UM, ANYONE ELSE? SURE. NOW'S THE TIME. ALRIGHT. WE'LL SEE EACH OTHER TOMORROW MORNING. OKAY. BRIGHT AND EARLY AT NINE O'CLOCK. COMMISSIONER [K. DISCUSSION ITEMS] CASTRO, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. I HAVE NO MORE WORDS SET THIS TIME. OKAY. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, I HAVE, UH, I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW WHERE I THINK WE, WE HANG OUT UNTIL 9 29 JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T BELOW THE TIME THAT WE, WE BOUGHT . OKAY. VERY FUNNY. WE COULD TALK, YOU KNOW, MILITATE . SO, A FEW THINGS, FEW THINGS I WANNA TALK ABOUT. NUMBER ONE, UH, WE TOUCHED UPON THE VENEZUELA DONATION DRIVE. UH, WE STARTED WORKING ON THAT. IT WAS OUR, OUR POLICE AND FIRE. AND THE CITY MANAGER DID AN AMAZING JOB ALONG WITH OUR ENTIRE CITY. I WANT TO THANK THE RESIDENTS, UH, FOR ALL THE STUFF THEY'VE DONATED, BUT I WANT TO TELL PEOPLE THAT WE'RE STILL OPEN AND THAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEK. AND ANYBODY THAT HAS ANY CONTRIBUTIONS, YOU CAN GO AND DROP 'EM OFF AT OUR FOUR FIRE STATIONS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UH, THERE'S A LOT OF NEED OUT THERE AS YOU CAN SEE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO, UM, GIVE NOW'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW, UH, WHAT SETS CORAL GABLES APART. AND WE HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY TOMORROW'S A BUDGET WORKSHOP, UH, BEGINNING AT 9:00 AM AND MR. MANAGER, IF I MAY, UH, I WANNA GIVE KUDOS TO YOURSELF, TO YOUR STAFF, UH, TO THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS. UH, THE CITY SECURED 1.575 $1,575,000 IN STATE FUNDING. IT'S A GREAT JOB BY STAFF. I WANNA THANK REPRESENTATIVE SATA, SENATOR GARCIA, UM, THANK TO OUR VICE MAYOR WHO WORKED WITH SENATOR GARCIA AND OUR DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT, UH, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, UH, TO REALLY WORK HAND IN HAND, UH, TO ADDRESS THIS. MORE DETAILS WILL BE COMING IN OUR AUGUST COMMISSION AS PER YEAR REQUEST. AND YOUR STAFF'S REQUEST, UH, THESE ARE BIG NUMBERS. UH, WHAT DID WE GET LAST YEAR? THINK WE GOT $0, RIGHT? ZERO. AND THE YEAR BEFORE, I THINK WE GOT $0 TOO. SO THE YEAR BEFORE WE THAT $0, I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT 750 OR 950,000. THAT WAS WHEN I WENT, OKAY. BUT IT'S NOWHERE NEAR WHAT WE GOT THIS YEAR. SO, UH, MY POINT, MY, BUT IT'S, BUT IT'S NOT ZERO. BUT I REMEMBER SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, [10:45:01] THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME. WE GOT $0 BECAUSE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE UPSET ABOUT THE WAY THAT WE CONDUCTED OURSELVES IN REGARDS TO RAISING OUR SALARIES. THAT'S WHY WE GOT $0. SO, MOVING ON WITH THAT. SO THE PROJECTS WERE, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WE'LL BE GO OVER, WE'LL BE GOING OVER THOSE IN AUGUST. AND I WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR, UH, DELIVERING ON THAT. THAT'S A BIG DEAL. SO AGAIN, UH, WE WANNA INVITE EVERYONE TO THE WONDERFUL FESTIVITIES FOR THE THIRD PLACE. AND FOR THE FINAL, IT'S GONNA BE A FAMILY AFFAIR. IT'S GONNA BE THE PLACE TO BE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WELCOME TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND JOIN US. AND I'D LIKE FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO WORK WITH THE MANAGER, UH, TO COME UP WITH AS MANY IDEAS, UH, TO REALLY SHOWCASE THE CITY, UH, DURING THOSE TWO GAMES. BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE VENUE, THE VENUES, THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WE HAVE THE LOCATION, POND CIRCLE PARK. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF THE A CM AND THE DCM AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, UH, TO PUT FORTH A BEAUTIFUL LED SCREEN, UNLIKE ANY OTHER CITY. AND I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DOCUMENT IT FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END. UH, THAT WE REALLY SPEND THE TIME AND THE EFFORT, LIKE, LIKE OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM DOES, BECAUSE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE TO SHOWCASE AND GET IDEAS FOR PUNK CIRCLE PARK. WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A MAJOR INVESTMENT THAT'S GONNA LAST ANOTHER A HUNDRED YEARS. AND I WANT TO LEARN FROM THESE MOMENTS, YOU KNOW, CROWD CONTROL IN AND OUT ACCESS. WHAT CAN WE DO? WHERE CAN WE PUT CAMERAS? OR MAYBE WE CAN HAVE SECURITY MEASURES IN PLACE. SO, UM, I WANT TO THANK STAFF, UM, OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A, THEY HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE IN PREPARATION FOR THAT. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO WAS HERE WITH US TODAY AND GAVE, GAVE US THEIR OPINIONS, GAVE US THEIR GUIDANCE. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THANK YOU TO STAFF. UH, GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. AND I WISH YOU A HAPPY AND INCREDIBLE REST OF YOUR SUMMER. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YES. MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN. SECOND, GIVE EVERYBODY A SMILE. SECOND. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. GREAT. * 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.