Aug 25, 2026 Commission Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER ]

[00:00:05]

RECORDING IN PROGRESS. GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. TO THE AUGUST 25TH, 2026 COMMISSION MEETING. AS I'VE STATED AT EVERY COMMISSION MEETING THAT WE'RE BLESSED TO BE HERE AT, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT ONLY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS, BUT FOR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. WE WE APPRECIATE YOUR GUIDANCE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. THERE'S MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK EITHER IN PERSON, EITHER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COMMISSION MEETING, DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, OR AS EVERY ITEM CONTINUES FORWARD. I REMEMBER ONCE YOU SPEAK ON AN ITEM, WHETHER IT'S IN PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THAT ITEM AGAIN. NUMBER TWO, IF YOU CANNOT BE HERE IN PERSON, WE HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK VIA ZOOM, OR YOU COULD EVEN SEND AN EMAIL, OR YOU COULD SPEAK VIA A SIMPLE PHONE CALL. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M BEYOND THANKFUL TO BE YOUR MAYOR AND TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU. WELCOME TO THE COMMISSION MEETING. AS WE START OFF THIS MORNING, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON WHO SERVES THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT DOES IT SELFLESSLY WITH INCREDIBLE GRACE. OUR CHAIRWOMAN. WOMAN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD. WHO'S HERE. ROJAS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS ENGAGING WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES ALWAYS BEING PRESENT. THANK YOU, MR. CLARK.

YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, A STATEMENT BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE COMMISSION MEETING.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO LET THE COMMISSION KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ REACHED OUT THIS MORNING, AND HE INFORMED THAT HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE IN ATTENDANCE AT TODAY'S MEETING. HE IS OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR WORK REASONS, BUT HE APOLOGIZES FOR NOT BEING HERE. WILL HE BE ATTENDING VIA ZOOM OR HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND VIA ZOOM, MR. MAYOR? OKAY, MOVING ON, TO START OFF THIS OFF, THIS MORNING, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL INVOCATION. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR ASSISTANT, FIRE CHIEF XAVIER JONES. GOOD MORNING, SIR.

WELCOME TO THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. NOT THAT YOU NEED TO BE WELCOMED, BUT I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE YOU ONCE AGAIN IN A VERY DIFFERENT ROLE THAT MAYBE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. I KNOW ABOUT THIS ROLE, RIGHT? IF I DON'T IF PEOPLE DON'T FOLLOW YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO. IT'S TRULY A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH THE INVOCATION. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I WAS JUST LOOKING OVER MY PRAYER THIS MORNING, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT DOWN FROM 1 HOUR TO 10 MINUTES, SO, YOU KNOW. NOW LET US PRAY. FATHER, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE SOVEREIGN AND ALL YOUR WAY. THANK YOU, FATHER, THAT YOU WOULD MEET US IN THIS MEETING TODAY, THAT EVERYTHING BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER. YOUR WORD DECLARES THAT MANY ARE THE PLANS OF MAN, BUT IT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE LORD THAT WILL PREVAIL. LET YOUR WISDOM PREVAIL, LORD. WALK FROM ITEM A TO ITEM H AND LET WISDOM PREVAIL. LET YOUR WORD BE CLEAR.

LET INNOVATION FLOW. GIVE US SOUNDNESS OF MIND, CLARITY OF SPEECH, AND WILL FOREVER GIVE YOU PRAISE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR GREAT RESULTS. IT'S IN YOUR NAME THAT WE PRAY. AMEN.

THANK YOU, CHIEF ASSISTANT CHIEF. IT'S ALWAYS HONOR AND HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE IN A DIFFERENT ROLE TODAY MOVING FORWARD. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, HAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE'RE GOING TO BE, AGAIN, MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I'D LIKE TO REPRESENT OUR SERGEANT MARCOS DE ROSA TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE MARCOS MARCOS DE ROSA WITH US TODAY TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. SERGEANT MARCOS DE ROSA'S UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS COMBAT VETERAN WHO SERVED FOR 12 YEARS. THANK YOU, SIR. INCLUDING DURING OPERATION DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM.

HE WENT ON TO SERVE 30 YEARS WITH THE MIAMI DADE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE HE SERVED IN A VARIETY OF ASSIGNMENTS. I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME THAT OUR CHIEF MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE JOINING THE FORCE. HE MENTIONED NOT ONLY YOUR CAPABILITIES AS AN OFFICER, BUT HE ALSO MENTIONED YOUR TRUE CAPABILITIES, WHICH YOU SHOWCASE IN REGARDS TO PROCEDURAL MANNERS AT EVENTS, OBVIOUSLY CELEBRATING, YOU KNOW, OUR COLOR GUARD AND CELEBRATING OUR GREAT COUNTRY. YOU MAKE US LOOK INCREDIBLE. BY THE WAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. TODAY.

WE'RE ESPECIALLY PROUD TO HAVE HIM SERVING OUR CORAL GABLES POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE HE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT AND TRAIN OUR HONOR GUARD. AS I MENTIONED, HE IS ALSO THE FOUNDER OF VETERANS LAST CALL, A NON-FOR-PROFIT DEDICATED TO HONORING AND ASSISTING VETERANS.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY AND TO HAVE YOU ON THE FORCE. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE FACE THE AMERICAN FLAG. PUT YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER YOUR HEART AND FOLLOW ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU MAY TAKE YOUR SEATS.

[AMERICA'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT]

[00:05:06]

IF I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE SMALL THE SMALL COIN, IF I MAY STEP UP, FELLOW COLLEAGUES, PLEASE JOIN US.

I MAY HAVE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HEARTBREAKING LOSS OF FOUR PEOPLE WITH DEEP TIES TO THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY. ADAM CAVALETTI, HENRY PATA, ROGER DUARTE, WHO WERE CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS, AND JOSE ALBERTO SUAREZ, WHO GREW UP HERE. THEY WERE AMONG THOSE WHO TRAGICALLY LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE HELICOPTER CRASH IN KENYA LAST WEEK. EACH OF THEM MADE THEIR OWN IMPACT, AND TODAY I WANT TO REMEMBER THE LIVES THEY LIVED AND THE MANY WAYS THEY CONTRIBUTED TO AND ENRICHED OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY. ADAM AND HENRY WERE CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS AND LIFE PARTNERS WHO WERE MARRIED RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY AT THE HISTORIC BILTMORE HOTEL AND BUILT THEIR LIVES TOGETHER. ADAM WAS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM, WHICH I SERVE ON THE SAME BOARD. WHEN HE SERVED ON THE BOARD, HENRY WAS A U.S.

NAVY VETERAN AND AN AVIATION SOFTWARE ENTREPRENEUR WHO CO-FOUNDED TRACS USA, A CORAL GABLES BASED COMPANY. FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES. HE HELPED BUILD A BUSINESS ROOTED RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHILE ALSO GIVING BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS AROUND HIM.

THEY WERE CORAL GABLES THROUGH AND THROUGH. ROGER DUARTE WAS A CORAL GABLES RESIDENT, HUSBAND AND FATHER OF A YOUNG SON. HE AND HIS WIFE, NICOLE VALLS DUARTE, WERE BUILDING THEIR LIFE TOGETHER HERE IN THE CITY OF BEAUTIFUL, A PROUD GULLIVER PREP GRADUATE LIKE MYSELF, ROGER WENT ON TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR IN MIAMI'S HOSPITALITY AND FOOD INDUSTRY, FOUNDING GEORGE STONE CRAB AND CO-FOUNDING MY CEVICHE. BUT BEYOND HIS PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ROGER WAS KNOWN FOR HIS WARMTH, GENEROSITY, AND THE MANY FRIENDSHIPS HE FORMED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE. HE WAS A VALUED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY OF CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY AND TOUCHED THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE HERE AND THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY. HE CALLED HOME. JOSE ALBERTO SUAREZ GREW UP RIGHT HERE IN CORAL GABLES AND WAS A GRADUATE OF CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. HE WENT ON TO BUILD A REMARKABLE CAREER IN JOURNALISM, EVENTUALLY BECOMING A PRESIDENT, BECOMING A PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF TELEMUNDO STATIONS ACROSS FLORIDA. BUT PERHAPS ONE OF THE GREATEST PARTS OF HIS LEGACY WAS THE PEOPLE HE HELPED ALONG THE WAY. ALSO WAS A MENTOR TO MANY IN THE TELEVISION INDUSTRY, SOMEONE WHO SAW POTENTIAL IN OTHERS AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO PURSUE IT. HE CARED DEEPLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE HE WORKED WITH AND THE COMMUNITIES HE SERVED.

[00:10:03]

[A.-1. 26-1844 Presentation of a Proclamation declaring September 2026 as "Hunger Action Month" in Coral Gables.]

WE SERVE OVER 1.7 MILLION INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY LOCALLY HERE IN MIAMI DADE. WE PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND CRITICAL RESOURCES FOR OVER 553,000 HOUSEHOLDS ANNUALLY THROUGH A NETWORK OF DIRECT PROGRAMS AND PARTNER AGENCIES. OUR WORK GOES BEYOND FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRIES AND MOBILE PANTRIES. WE ENSURE FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH, NUTRITIOUS GROCERIES, OUR SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM, AND SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS. MAKE SURE CHILDREN DON'T GO HUNGRY IN OR OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. FOR OLDER ADULTS, WE PROVIDE HOME DELIVERED MEALS WHILE OUR BENEFITS OUTREACH FAMILIES ACCESS PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP STRETCH THEIR BUDGETS. WE ALSO INVEST IN LONG TERM STABILITY WITH WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE INDIVIDUALS FOR CAREERS IN CULINARY ARTS, WAREHOUSING AND LOGISTICS. TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT NOT TO JUST FEEDING FAMILIES TODAY, BUT ALSO TO BUILDING A STRONGER, HUNGER FREE SOUTH FLORIDA TOMORROW. WE'RE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR YOUR ONGOING PARTNERSHIP IN RAISING AWARENESS, INSPIRING ACTION, AND HELPING US MOVE CLOSER TO A COMMUNITY WHERE NO ONE HAS TO WONDER WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WILL BE COME FROM. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON BEHALF OF THE MOST NEEDY IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU HERE EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TAKE A PHOTO. YEAH, TAKE

[00:15:04]

SERGEANT, I APOLOGIZE. PLEASE JOIN US ONCE AGAIN, SERGEANT DE ROSA.

GOOD MORNING AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A VERY SPECIAL MESSAGE THAT IS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR SOLDIERS THAT PROTECT OUR FREEDOM. AS WE COMMEMORATE AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY, IT IS FITTING TO REFLECT ON THE TRADITION OF THE HONOR GUARD AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS. FOR GENERATIONS, THE HONOR GUARD HAS SERVED AS A SYMBOL OF RESPECT, SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE. THEY REPRESENT OUR NATION. COLORS AT CEREMONIES, HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED AND PAY SOLEMN TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. THE TRADITION IS ROOTED IN CUSTOMS OF THE MILITARY OR DESIGNATED HONOR GUARDS PROTECTED AND CARRIED THEIR UNIT FLAGS ON THE BATTLEFIELD. COLORS ARE REPRESENTED AND THEY IDENTIFY WITH UNITY, SPIRIT AND THOSE SERVING TOGETHER. TO CARRY THEM IS BOTH A PRIVILEGE AND A PROFOUND RESPONSIBILITY. OVER TIME, POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS FORMED THEIR OWN HONOR GUARDS, CARRYING THIS TRADITION INTO PUBLIC SAFETY AND CIVIC LIFE. TODAY, THEY SERVE AT A MEMORIALS, FUNERALS, OFFICIAL CEREMONIES, PARADES AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. THROUGH PRECISION, DISCIPLINE AND DIGNITY, THEY DEMONSTRATE RESPECT TO OUR FLAG, OUR NATION, AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE DEVOTED THEIR LIVES SERVING OTHERS HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF CORAL GABLES. OUR POLICE AND FIRE HONOR GUARDS CARRY ON THIS PROUD TRADITION.

THEIR PRESENCE AT IMPORTANT CIVIC EVENTS REMINDS US THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS BUILT UPON VALUES THAT HAVE ENDURED THROUGHOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY DUTY, COURAGE, INTEGRITY, AND SACRIFICE. THOSE VALUES ARE ALSO REFLECTED IN THE EVERYDAY WORK OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS. POLICE OFFICERS ARE ENTRUSTED WITH PROTECTING LIFE, PROPERTY AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY AND RESPONDING. WHEN MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY NEED HELP THE MOST, FIREFIGHTERS PROTECT US FROM FIRES, MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, NATURAL DISASTERS AND COUNTLESS COUNTLESS OTHER DANGERS. BOTH PROFESSIONS REQUIRE EXTENSIVE TRAINING, SOUND JUDGMENT AND WILLINGNESS. WILLINGNESS TO PLACE THE SAFETY OF OTHERS BEFORE THEIR OWN. MUCH OF THEIR WORK TAKES PLACE AWAY FROM CEREMONIES AND PUBLIC RECOGNITION. IT HAPPENS AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT, OFTEN DURING THE MOST DIFFICULT MOMENTS IN ONE PERSON'S LIFE.

THEIR SERVICE HELPS PROVIDE THE SAFETY AND STABILITY THAT ALLOWS OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR DEMOCRACY TO THRIVE. AS WE REFLECT ON THIS 250 YEARS OF AMERICAN HISTORY, THE HONOR GUARD REMINDS US THAT PATRIOTISM IS MORE THAN A CEREMONY. THE FLAG THEY CARRY REPRESENTS FREEDOM, PRESERVES THROUGH THE SERVICES AND SACRIFICES OF GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS. IT ALSO REPRESENTS A CONTINUITY OF RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, AND UPHOLD THE IDEALS OF WHICH THIS NATION WAS FOUNDED. TWO OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HONOR GUARD AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN OF CORAL GABLES POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE

[00:20:01]

[A.-2. 26-1662 Congratulations to Firefighter Wilfredo Gonzalez, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Firefighter of the Month Award,” for the month of August 2026.]

CHIEF. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMISSION. SO AS WE PREPARE TO PRESENT OUR FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH, IF YOU ALL RECALL AN ICONIC MOVIE, A FIRE BASE THAT'S CALLED BACKDRAFT AND DENNIS SULLIVAN OR DANIEL SULLIVAN HAD A A LINE IN THAT MOVIE. AND HE SAID, FUNNY THING ABOUT FIREMEN IS THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS FIREFIGHTERS. AND I THINK THAT LINE IS VERY EMBLEMATIC OF OUR FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH. FIRST AND FOREMOST, HE IS A INSTRUMENTAL MEMBER OF OUR SRT TEAM, AND HE'S COMPETED AND REPRESENTED OUR DEPARTMENT AND HAS TRAINED OUR DEPARTMENT THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE CAREER. WITH WHAT BRINGS HIM HERE TODAY IS THAT IN LATE MAY, HE WAS DINING IN A RESTAURANT IN THE KEYS WHEN A PATRON NEXT TO HIM BEGAN TO CHOKE. HE QUICKLY TOOK ACTION, DID THE HEIMLICH, AND CERTAINLY PREVENTED WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE A SIGNIFICANT TRAGEDY.

SO FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF ALL RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. WILFREDO WILLIE GONZALEZ IS OUR FIREFIGHTER OF THE MONTH. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. I WANT TO THANK ALL MY CHIEFS, CAPTAINS AND LIEUTENANTS, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY WIFE AND FAMILY FOR THEIR SUPPORT. GOOD JOB, WELL DONE, WELL DONE, WELL DONE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN. EVEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES HELPING OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, YOU'RE SETTING THE EXAMPLE AGAIN. THANK YOU. BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU AT THAT MOMENT, WHO KNOWS IF THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY. SO THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING US WITH CLASS AND DIGNITY AS ALWAYS. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO.

[00:25:11]

[A.-3. 26-1854 Congratulations to Detective Natalie Rivera, recipient of the City of Coral Gables “Detective of the 2nd Quarter Award.]

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO HAVE BE JOINED WITH DETECTIVE NATALIE RIVERA, PLEASE. SO, NATALIE, RECENTLY ASSIGNED TO OUR YOUTH RESOURCE UNIT AS A DETECTIVE OF THE SECOND QUARTER HERE IN THE CORAL GABLES POLICE DEPARTMENT. OUR YOUTH RESOURCE UNIT RUNS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION AND IS REALLY PARTNERS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, POLICE AND TAKES CARE OF THE LIFE, FAMILIES, TRAFFIC, WHATNOT WITH OUR STUDENTS. ON MAY 31ST, 2026, A PARENT CAME TO THE STATION TO REPORT THAT HIS SON WAS BEING EXTORTED FOR MONEY. HIS SON, WHO HAS CEREBRAL PALSY, WAS BEING BULLIED INTO PAYING MONEY INTO TWO CLASSMATES. THE SUBJECTS WOULD CALL THE VICTIM NAMES AND EXTREMELY VIOLENT VIDEOS THREATENING VIOLENCE AT THE VICTIM DID NOT PAY HIM OVER $900. DETECTIVE RIVERA WORKED FEVERISHLY AND QUICKLY TO STOP THE BULLYING AND QUICKLY IDENTIFIED THE TWO SUBJECTS. SHE WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST THE TWO SUBJECTS, IDENTIFYING THE HOME RESIDENTS AND APPREHEND BOTH SUBJECTS WITHIN TWO WEEKS. AGAIN, BULLYING IN OUR SCHOOLS IS NOT TOLERATED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD, NOT TOLERATED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD, POLICE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE REASON WHY I GOT INTO THIS JOB WAS BECAUSE I REALLY CAN'T STAND BULLIES. THE BOTTOM LINE IS BECAUSE OF HER WORK, BECAUSE OF HER QUICK ACTION, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT SHE BROUGHT HER MOTHERLY INSTINCT TO WHAT THIS INVESTIGATION DID TO INDIVIDUALS LIVES, HOPEFULLY WERE INTERCEDED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT ALSO CHANGED AND BETTERED THE LIFE OF THIS CHILD WHO WAS GOING TO SCHOOL AND HOPEFULLY WILL BECOME LESS AFFECTED BY WHAT THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS DID. FOR THESE REASONS, SHE WAS NOMINATED AND ELECTED AS THE DETECTIVE OF THE SECOND QUARTER 2026. GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING. MORNING, EVERYONE.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AS WELL AS CHIEF HUDAK AND DEPUTY CHIEF HANLON. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE AWARDS SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR CHOOSING ME FOR THIS RECOGNITION, AND SERGEANT ESCOBAR FOR TAKING THE TIME TO NOMINATE ME. I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY UNIT. I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF SUCH A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE AND TO WORK ALONGSIDE THEM EVERY DAY. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE IN THE UNIT THAT I'M IN AND I'M. I GENUINELY ENJOY COMING TO WORK AND DOING WHAT I DO EVERY DAY. IT MEANS A LOT TO HAVE THAT WORK RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE TO CALL AN ALIBI. I KNOW MOST OF US. WHEN OUR OFFICERS OF THE MONTH AND DETECTIVES OF THE QUARTER COME UP, THEY RECOGNIZE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. HER HUSBAND HAPPENS TO BE THE SERGEANT OF OUR TRAFFIC HOMICIDE UNIT, SO I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE HIM AS WELL, SINCE I KNOW YOU FORGOT HIM. BUT IT'S GOT TO BE FAIR. THERE'S GOT TO BE FAIR, SERGEANT RIVERA, IF HE WANTS TO STEP UP AS WELL. HER SERGEANT. SO AS I'VE SAID ALWAYS CORAL GABLES CITY IS A FAMILY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S A BIGGER FAMILY. AND THIS IS ONE OF OUR MOST PRODUCTIVE COUPLES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO WE'RE EXTREMELY HAPPY FOR BOTH OF THEM. THERE YOU GO. OH, WAIT. THAT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME. YOU RECOGNIZE.

[00:30:19]

[C. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. (305) 323-2154. THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. I THINK MOST PEOPLE WILL AGREE THAT EVERYTHING SLOWS DOWN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS IN OUR CITY IS VACATION TIME FOR A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS.

SOME ARE DIVORCED, EVEN CANCEL THEIR MEETINGS. EVEN OUR COMMISSION WENT BACK TO ONE MEETING A MONTH. YET FOR SOME REASON, THOSE IN CHARGE ARE NOT CONCERNED. IMPORTANT DECISIONS ARE GOING TO BE MADE TODAY. THIS AGENDA IS PACKED WITH ITEMS THAT WILL IMPACT OUR WAY OF LIFE THAT WILL FOREVER CHANGE THE CITY THAT WE LOVE. WHY? WHAT IS THE REASON FOR GETTING ALL THIS DONE? WHEN SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE STILL GETTING BACK TO NORMALCY, TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH WHAT TOOK PLACE WHILE THEY WERE AWAY? IS THIS WHAT SOME OF YOU CALLED TRANSPARENCY, DESIRE TO GET MORE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, OR IS IT TO PUSH THEM THROUGH BEFORE RESIDENTS HAVE TIME TO LEARN ALL ABOUT THEM? WHAT ARE WE AFRAID OF? LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. CLARK. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS TIME CERTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT. OH, PUBLIC COMMENT. JACKSON HOLMES.

AND WE PLEASE CLOSE THE AGENDA FOR A SECOND TIME. YES. THANK YOU. GREETINGS. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, INCLUDING PEOPLE AT HOME. I OPPOSE THE PROSPECTIVE NOMINATION OF JOSE GOMEZ TO BE CITY MANAGER. I FIND HIM TO BE SURPRISINGLY DISHONEST AND UNETHICAL IN THE FOLLOWING RESPECT. MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN PURSUING STRONG REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS FREE ENERGY, AND IN FACT, THAT THERE'S A 60 MINUTES VIDEO QUOTING THE US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SAYING THAT THERE IS FREE ENERGY. NOW WE HAVE THE US GOVERNMENT ON OUR SIDE SAYING THERE IS FREE ENERGY. MR. GOMEZ, MAYBE A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS AGO PROMISED ME THAT HE WOULD WATCH THIS VIDEO. I'VE SENT IT TO HIM COUNTLESS TIMES BY EMAIL. FINALLY, THAT WE HAD THE PROBLEM IN THE PERSIAN GULF, THE CLOSURE OF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. I ASKED FOR A MEETING.

HE GAVE ME ONE, BUT HE TOLD ME HE NEVER WATCHED THE VIDEO, SO HE WAS DISHONEST. THEN HE PROCEEDED TO TEAR INTO ME AND TRY AND MALIGN AND DEFAME THE EVIDENCE OF FREE ENERGY. AND WHEN I TRY TO POINT OUT HIS FALLACY, HE HUNG UP ON ME. SO I HAD TO CALL HIM BACK, BEGGING HIM TO REWATCH THE VIDEO BECAUSE HE WAS TRASHING HE LOOK, HOW CAN HE BE FIT? HE'S AN ENGINEER AND IN VIOLATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF HIS LICENSURE AS AN ENGINEER, HE'S DEFAMING A POTENTIAL RESCUE FOR CORAL GABLES FROM SEA LEVEL, RISE FROM CLIMATE CHANGE, EVEN FROM THESE MONSTER HURRICANES CREATED THERE FROM THE FROM THE FROM THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE WARM WATERS OVER THE OCEANS. AND IT DAWNED ON ME WHEN I FINALLY LEARNED THAT THAT HE'S BEING NOMINATED FOR CITY MANAGER. THIS ACTUALLY MAY HAVE BEEN A PURPOSEFUL ON HIS PART,

[00:35:04]

AND I ASK OF YOU ALL, THIS IS NOT A MAN FIT TO TO BE THE CITY MANAGER OF CORAL GABLES. HE'S THROWING SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE. HE'S LYING, NUMBER ONE, LYING. AND THEN HE'S THROWING SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE UNDER THE BUS SO HE CAN ADVANCE HIS CAREER. WE CAN DO BETTER.

THIS NEEDS TO GO TO A NATIONAL CHURCH SEARCH. IT'LL TAINT YOU, MAYOR LAGO, IF YOU IF YOU PUSH ON WITH US. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU.

[F.-1. 26-1960 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing a Joint Use Agreement with Miami-Dade County Public Schools regarding Coral Gables Preparatory Academy's non-exclusive use of Phillips Park during certain time periods for five school years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and continuing through the 2030-2031 school year with a renewal option of one additional five-year term. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CHELSEA GRINNELL AND I'M THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR. THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU AUTHORIZES A JOINT USE AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CORAL GABLES PREPARATORY ACADEMY, THEY'RE NON-EXCLUSIVE USE OF PHILLIPS PARK. THIS AGREEMENT CONTINUES A LONG STANDING AND VALUED PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS UNDER THE EDUCATION COMPACT, WHICH WAS ACCEPTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION THROUGH A RESOLUTION IN 2006. AS PART OF THAT PARTNERSHIP, CORAL GABLES ACADEMY HAS HISTORICALLY USED PHILLIPS PARK FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND OTHER STUDENT ACTIVITIES DURING THE DAY. SINCE 2019, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FORMAL JOINT USE AGREEMENT IN PLACE. BRINGING THIS FORWARD NOW IS ESPECIALLY TIMELY. FOLLOWING THE RECENT RENOVATIONS TO PHILLIPS PARK AND THE CITY'S $6 MILLION INVESTMENT OF THE PARK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS AGREEMENT WILL ALSO ALLOW PARK USERS TO ACCESS A SCHOOL PARKING LOT AFTER HOURS AND ON WEEKENDS, WHEN THE NEED FOR PARKING IS OFTEN THE GREATEST. WE ARE VERY PLEASED TODAY TO HAVE SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR MARIO ROJAS, WHO IS AN INCREDIBLE ADVOCATE FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE HAVE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TONY ULIBARRI, WHO IS FORMERLY THE PRINCIPAL OF CORAL GABLES HIGH SCHOOL AND CORAL GABLES PREP ACADEMY PRINCIPAL JEANETTE SIERRA. WITH US TODAY. WE'RE SINCERELY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR TIME AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP. THEIR COLLABORATION HAS REALLY BROUGHT THIS PROCESS FORWARD. IT IS ALSO A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A POSITIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT WE WORKED WE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH ALL DEPARTMENTS THE INTER-GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICE OVER AT THE DISTRICT, AND THE PRINCIPAL AND THE PTA OF OF CORAL GABLES PREP. AND WE WANT TO REALLY THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED WHO IS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD. FOR THOSE REASONS, I. I WOULD RECOMMEND THE COMMISSION TO, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU ALLOWING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A NEGOTIATION TO EXECUTE THE JOINT USE AGREEMENT. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE SCHOOL BOARD OR THE CHAIR RATHER WANTS TO SAY ANY WORDS OR THE PRINCIPAL, BUT I'M SURE SHE DOES. THANK YOU, MADAM DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS. MADAM CHAIR, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE YOU. AS I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING, IT'S TRULY A PLEASURE. YOU ALWAYS NOT ONLY ANSWER MY CALLS, BUT YOU ANSWER EVERYONE'S CALL, AND YOU'RE FRONT AND CENTER IN ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE BEST. WE HAVE THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE BEST SCHOOL SYSTEM IN SOUTH FLORIDA BY FAR, HEAD AND SHOULDERS. AND I WANTED TO COMMEND YOU ALSO. I SPENT SOME TIME WITH THE PRINCIPAL AT CARVER THE OTHER DAY. PATRICIA FAIRCLOTH. EXCUSE ME. I APOLOGIZE. A LONG TIME FRIEND WHO ALSO WAS THE VICE MAYOR IN HOMESTEAD. AMAZING. AN AMAZING JOB AND HAS TAKEN THAT SCHOOL ALONG WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP TO NEW HEIGHTS. WE'RE. I THINK WE'RE AT ALL EIGHT SCHOOLS NOW IN IN THE CITY ALMOST. I THINK WE MAY HAVE ONE. THAT'S A B PLUS. CLOSE, CLOSE RIGHT THERE. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN WHEN I STARTED HERE 14 YEARS AGO AND BEFORE YOU TOOK OVER. SO A LOT OF THIS, A LOT OF THIS ALL OF THIS, AGAIN, HARD WORK IS AND THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE BECAUSE OF

[00:40:04]

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US TOGETHER AS A TEAM. AS I ALWAYS SAY, TEAMWORK IS WHAT MAKES THE DREAM WORK. WE CAN NEVER DO IT ALONE, AND I'D BE REMISS IF, BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING ELSE, I DID NOT RECOGNIZE MR. IGLESIAS. IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE, SIR, WORKING WITH YOU, CHELSEA. CATALINA, I DON'T KNOW. THERE, THERE'S CHELSEA. IT'S JUST A GREAT TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. THEY HAVE THEIR HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE, AND THERE IS NO BETTER INVESTMENT THAN INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN. THEY ARE THE FUTURE OF TOMORROW. SO I THANK THE ENTIRE COMMISSION BECAUSE I AM TELLING YOU YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT ALSO TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A REGION DIRECTOR WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH US, AND THAT'S MR. ALEJANDRO PEREZ. HE JOINED US AS WELL. AND OUR ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCIPAL FROM CORAL GABLES PREPARATORY UPPER AND LOWER ACADEMY, MISS JEANETTE SIERRA, WHO'S ALSO BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH. THIS PARTNERSHIP IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL BECAUSE IT DIRECTLY BENEFITS OUR STUDENTS, AND THIS IS THROUGH THE AGREEMENT THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS THAT ARE ATTENDING OUR CORAL GABLES PREPARATORY UPPER ACADEMY WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO PHILLIPS PARK, AND THIS IS SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE HAVING THEIR REQUIRED PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES. AND FOR OTHER EVENTS THAT MAY COME UP, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR OUR PRINCIPAL, AND FOR OUR PARENTS. I WANT TO AGAIN, THANK EVERY SINGLE MEMBER HERE FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR GUIDANCE IN THIS PROCESS, AND FOR YOUR AGREEMENT THAT HOPEFULLY WILL TAKE PLACE TODAY. THE LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP THAT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS WITH THE CITY BEAUTIFUL IS BEYOND AMAZING. I AM SO VERY PROUD BECAUSE THIS IS TRULY AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND AGAIN, THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN WE HAVE A COMMON PURPOSE AND THAT IS GIVING OUR STUDENTS THE WORLD SO THAT TOMORROW THEY CAN LEAD OUR COUNTRY IN AN EXEMPLARY MANNER. SO I JUST SIMPLY WANT TO END ONCE MORE BY LETTING YOU ALL KNOW HOW PROUD I AM, HOW BLESSED I AM TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT I HAVE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. ON BEHALF OF MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD, OUR CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, DOCTOR JOSE EL DAUGHTERS, OUR SUPERINTENDENT ELECT, MR. RAFAEL VILLALOBOS, WHO WILL SOON BE COMING ON BOARD AS WELL, AND THE ENTIRE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL BE COMING IN THE NEAR

[00:45:02]

AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE, IF I KNOW YOU HAVE A PREPARED COMMENTS THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT PHILLIPS PARK AND OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, LIKE THE DIRECTOR MENTIONED BEFORE. BUT I WANT YOU TO ALSO TALK, TALK, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE SCHOOL.

WE DON'T TOUT ENOUGH, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I SPONSORED THIS ITEM, BECAUSE WHEN I FOUND OUT FROM STAFF THAT THIS HAD NOT BEEN AROUND SINCE 2019, AND WE WERE ABOUT TO MAKE THIS SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN PHILLIPS PARK AND ITS ADJACENT TO THE SCHOOL, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, NOT ONLY DOES THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESS OWNERS BENEFIT FROM AN AMAZING PARK, THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE DO THE BEST PARKS IN SOUTH FLORIDA ALONG WITH MANY OTHER THINGS. BUT THE THE KIDS, THE KIDS REALLY SHOULD ENJOY IT. AND ALSO FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE ACTUAL PARKING THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHAIRWOMAN, OUR DIRECTOR, THE MANAGER, D C, MACM AND EVERYONE INVOLVED ON YOUR SIDE. BUT I WANT I MEAN, THE DEAL IS THE DEAL. THE DEAL IS A GOOD DEAL FOR BOTH FOR BOTH PARTIES. I WANT YOU TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT, IF YOU MAY, AFTER YOUR PREPARED COMMENTS, HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS YOU'RE DOING AT THE SCHOOL. TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOL.

TALK ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. BECAUSE THAT'S WHY IF YOU NOTICE, WHEN I STARTED, I SAID, LOOK AT THE GREAT THINGS. WE'RE IN A SCHOOL EVERYWHERE, PEOPLE. WE'RE THE ENVY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. THERE'S A LOT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT, AND WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME COMPLAINING BECAUSE IT'S EASY AND TAKING SHOTS AT PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S MUCH EASIER. BUT TO DO THE HARD WORK, TO BE HERE IN THIS COMMISSION AND DO THE HARD WORK, AND TO BE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND TO BE THE PRINCIPAL AND TO BE, YOU KNOW, THE THE MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE, BY THE WAY, CAN THE EMPLOYEES CAN THE EMPLOYEES FROM SCHOOL PLEASE STAND UP FOR A SECOND? PLEASE STAND UP TO BE RECOGNIZED. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THESE ARE THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO ARE MAKING. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD? YES. SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, STAND UP.

THESE ARE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE JUST. I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE BOTH OF YOU. COME ON UP HERE.

I'VE KNOWN THIS GENTLEMAN SINCE WE WERE, LIKE, FIVE YEARS OLD, JUST SO YOU KNOW. OKAY. AND HE'S CLIMBED THE LADDER AT THE SCHOOL BOARD, MUCH TO. I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD, BUT MUCH TO NOT MY LIKING BECAUSE WE LOST HIM HERE AT CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH WHEN HE WAS HERE AND HE WAS DOING AN AMAZING JOB. BUT I GUESS HE'S GOT TO MOVE UP BECAUSE HE'S DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB. BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB. THE PROOF IS IN THE GRADES. THE PROOF IS IN THE KIDS THAT WE'RE PRODUCING. SO DON'T BE, YOU KNOW, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T NOT WANT TO BOAST. I WANT TO HEAR YOU BOAST ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOL BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS. I THINK SOMETHING THAT THE VICE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, I THINK IT WAS THE VICE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT.

LET'S INCLUDE THE FACTS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THERE.

SO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL, IF YOU MAY, PLEASE. SO MY PREPARED COMMENTS. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JANETTE SIERRA, VERY PROUD PRINCIPAL OF CORAL GABLES PREPARATORY ACADEMY, THE FORMER CORAL GABLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHO CELEBRATES ITS 103RD ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR. I AM HONORED TO SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE OVER 700 STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR CORAL GABLES PREPARATORY ACADEMY TO CONTINUE OUR LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WITH YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM, THE JOINT USE AGREEMENT FOR PHILLIPS PARK, OUR PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES AND MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS PROGRAM WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE PARK AND ITS FACILITIES TO OFFER A FULLY COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM. CORAL GABLES PREPARATORY ACADEMY IS MORE THAN A PLACE OF LEARNING. IT IS A CENTER OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER RIGOROUS ACADEMICS, ARTS, ATHLETICS AND PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS. SO ON BEHALF OF OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF, OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, I THANK THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION FOR YOUR LONG STANDING SUPPORT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM. NOW OFF MY PREPARED COMMENTS.

THAT'S A NICE THAT'S A NICE PITCH, BUT WE. THIS IS A GOOD DEAL FOR EVERYBODY. TELL ME.

TELL EVERYBODY OUT THERE. PREPARATORY ACADEMY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN A SCHOOL. IT IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. THE BEST OF THE BEST ARE COMING HERE IN OUR CITY. WHETHER YOU WANT TO SEND YOUR KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOL, TO CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL, IT'S JUST AS GOOD, IF NOT BETTER, OF AN OPTION FOR AN EDUCATION. AND ONE OF THE LAST COMMENTS THAT I WANT THAT I WANT TO MAKE, AND I MAKE THIS EVERY TIME WHEN I SPOKE IN FRONT OF THE TEACHERS THE OTHER DAY AT CARVER WHEN THEY WERE DOING THEIR RETREAT, WHICH WAS AN AMAZING EVENT. BY THE WAY, THANK YOU, SCHOOL BOARD, FOR DOING THAT FOR THE TEACHERS IN PREPARATION FOR AN AMAZING SCHOOL YEAR. I TOLD THEM, TEACHERS SPEND MORE TIME THAN WE DO WITH OUR KIDS. LITERALLY MAY NOT BE ONE TEACHER BECAUSE THERE'S

[00:50:05]

CORAL GABLES PREP IS AN AMAZING INSTITUTION AND ANOTHER LITTLE POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, RIGHT? I ALWAYS WILL TAKE MY ADVANTAGE WHEN WHEN AFFORDED TO STATE THAT ONCE AGAIN, I'M A VERY PROUD GRADUATE OF CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. I AM A PROUD PUBLIC SCHOOL KID. AND AND I'LL REPEAT IT AT THE END OF THE MEETING THAT THERE'S A 40TH ANNIVERSARY COMING UP FOR CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, SEPTEMBER 19TH, RIGHT HERE AT BAY 13 IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. SO COME ONE, COME ALL FOR A BEAUTIFUL EVENING REMINISCING WHAT IT WAS LIKE BACK IN THE 80S. BUT AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH TODAY. AND I WILL SECOND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR. OKAY. MARIA CRUZ.

MISSUS MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD, (305) 323-2154. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN LONG, LONG IN COMING. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY IT'S TAKING THIS LONG TO DO THIS. I AM SUGGESTING IF THERE IS A WAY TO DO IT, THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A FIVE YEAR WITH A FIVE YEAR OPTION. WE DO AGREEMENTS FOR 30 YEARS FOR LIFE, FOR 99. THIS SHOULD BE A

[00:55:02]

I THINK THIS SHOULD BE 20 PLUS. OKAY, NOW THERE'S A CAVEAT. THERE'S A CAVEAT. I GOT A PHONE CALL. THAT'S WHY I STEPPED OUT BECAUSE THERE ARE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THIS CITY THAT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY. OUR RESIDENTS, OUR RESIDENTS, IF THEY COULD VOTE ON THIS, YOU WOULD HAVE IF THERE WAS SUCH A THING AS A 500%. OUR RESIDENTS ARE ALL BEHIND WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TODAY, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT OPEN THE DOOR BECAUSE THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO USE THE YOUTH CENTER, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A LEGAL AGREEMENT NOT TO. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU REMEMBER, REMEMBER THAT THIS IS FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS, THE PEOPLE THAT THE KIDS DO NOT HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE BEST EDUCATION. AND I AM A COMMISSIONER. I'M A PROUD RED RETIRED TEACHER FROM MIAMI DADE COUNTY SCHOOLS. ALL MY KIDS WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MY GRANDKIDS ARE GOING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL SO I CAN TALK. THIS IS THE BEST AND VERY SORRY THAT SOME PEOPLE DO NOT THINK THAT IT'S THE BEST, AND THEY HAVE TO DO OTHER THINGS. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY CHILD IN THIS CITY OR ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY, THAT WOULD NOT GET THE BEST EDUCATION BY GOING TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL. THANK YOU, MR. CLARK. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND VICE VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES, COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THANK YOU. TO OUR TEAM, TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING SINCE 2019. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE AGREEMENT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO DELIVER A WORLD CLASS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE KIDS AND ALSO FOR THE RESIDENTS HERE. THANK YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR CONSENT AGENDA, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND.

IS THERE ANYTHING, MR. MAYOR, BEFORE THE COMMISSION VOTES ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT AGENDA ITEM D 12 HAS BEEN DEFERRED. OKAY. OKAY, OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT ITEM ON THE ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM F FOUR. BEFORE WE MOVE ON THAT WE'LL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK. BATHROOM BREAK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND TO MAKE SU RECORDING IN PROGRESS. WELCOME BACK. TRIED TO MAKE THAT BATHROOM BREAK AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU TO IT. THANK YOU TO IT FOR CLEARING UP THE MICROPHONE ISSUES AND THE TIMER ISSUE. WE GOT IT BACK ON. THAT'S WHY YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS. THANK YOU.

[F.-4. 26-1885 A Resolution of the City Commission appointing Joe L. Gomez as City Manager of the City of Coral Gables, effective January 8, 2027, and approving a salary and benefits package. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

[01:00:06]

CIRCLE PARK, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING. FIRE STATION FOUR, THE MINORCA PARKING GARAGE, THE MOBILITY HUB, CITY HALL, PHILLIPS PARK, VENETIAN POOL, GRANADA GOLF COURSE, THE COUNTRY CLUB, OUR TROLLEY SYSTEM. REVAMPING THE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT, TRAFFIC CALMING AND INVESTMENTS IN POLICE AND FIRE. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON. I CHOSE THOSE BECAUSE THOSE ARE TRULY THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SOME OF THE MOST LOUD OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLAIN.

I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL THAT PETER HAS AGREED TO STAY WITH US THROUGH JANUARY 8TH. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OCTOBER. HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. AND I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHO HE IS AND HOW MUCH HE CARES ABOUT THE CITY, HIS WILLINGNESS TO STAY AND HELP US THROUGH THIS TRANSITION IS JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF THE COMMITMENT HE HAS SHOWN TO CORAL GABLES THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER. AS A 50 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. IF YOU'RE EVER UP TO ME. AND TRUST ME, IT'S NOT. PETER WILL BE OUR MANAGER INDEFINITELY. I AM GENUINELY SAD TO SEE HIM GO. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, MORE THAN ANYTHING, I AM GRATEFUL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS COUNSEL, HIS FRIENDSHIP, AND THE MANY YEARS HE HAS GIVEN TO THIS COMMUNITY.

CORAL GABLES IS A BETTER CITY BECAUSE OF PETER IGLESIAS, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S A GREATER LEGACY THAN THAT, MR. MANAGER. IT'S BEEN THE HONOR OF A LIFETIME NOT ONLY TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY, BUT TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU. AND WE GET CAUGHT UP A LOT IN THE POLITICS BECAUSE PEOPLE TRY TO MAKE STATEMENTS. AND THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT IT WAS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD PIT US AGAINST EACH OTHER. MR. MANAGER, I WALK IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS. I WALKED IN THEM WHEN I WENT TO SEE YOU, WHEN YOU WERE THE BUILDING OFFICIAL IN THE CITY OF MIAMI, AND YOU TOLD ME NO, OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OR THERE WAS NO WAY IT COULD BE DONE AS PER THE CODE.

YOU GOT THE JOB AS CITY MANAGER HERE, AND BEFORE THAT, AS BUILDING OFFICIAL BECAUSE OF YOUR INTELLIGENCE, YOUR HARD WORK, YOUR DILIGENCE, YOUR ETHICS, BECAUSE YOU'RE A MAN WHO PUTS THE CITY FIRST. AND AS YOU MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PHASE IN YOUR CAREER. TRAVELING THE WORLD, HOPEFULLY YOUR GRANDFATHER SOON ARE WILLING. I HOPE THAT YOU GIVE THE CITY THE WHAT IT NEEDS. I HOPE YOU ENGAGE IN DIFFERENT FORMS, BECAUSE A PERSON OF YOUR CAPABILITIES, OF YOUR INTELLECT AND OF YOUR INTEGRITY SHOULD NOT RETIRE. YOU'RE NOT. AND IT'S THE SAME THING I TELL MY FATHER. AND IF THERE'S ONE MAN THAT I CAN COMPARE MY FATHER TO IS YOU. AND IF YOU KNOW MY FATHER, WHICH YOU DO, AND HOW HIGHLY I SPEAK ABOUT MY FATHER, THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN HOLD A CANDLE TO MY FATHER. SO. I WANT TO MOVE ON A LITTLE BIT NOW TO TALK ABOUT JOE GOMEZ. MR. GOMEZ, WILL YOU PLEASE STEP UP? I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEONE OF JOE GOMEZ'S CALIBER ALREADY HERE AND READY TO LEAD.

JOE KNOWS CORAL GABLES. HE KNOWS OUR TEAM. HE KNOWS THE PROJECTS UNDERWAY. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE UNDERSTANDS THIS COMMUNITY AND THE HIGH STANDARDS OUR RESIDENTS EXPECT.

I WILL ALWAYS SAY THAT WHEN I FIRST MET THE DCM, JOE, I WAS SKEPTICAL. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING HIS HIRING, I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT. BUT HE QUICKLY EARNED

[01:05:07]

WHY? WHY NOT HAVE A LITTLE FUN? I THINK THAT'S ONLY HALF OF IT. NO, I CAN KEEP GOING. LET'S JUST KEEP GOING. BY THE WAY, IT DOESN'T END, MR. MAYOR. YES, IT'S A LONG AGENDA, SIR. I KNOW, I KNOW, THANK YOU. BILLY. THIS IS WORTH. THIS IS WORTH. THIS IS WORTH. THIS IS WORTH THE WAIT. REMEMBER, DON'T FORGET THIS. THIS IS THE PUBLIC RECORD THAT WAS USED LAST TIME IN THE IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST ME. AND OBVIOUSLY IT FAILED MISERABLY BECAUSE WE WON BY 19%. THIS IS WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS ALL ABOUT. THIS IS RESIDENTS CONTACTING ME THAT ME CONTACTING THE DCM. WHAT ARE THESE SIMPLE ISSUES? MY GARBAGE WASN'T PICKED UP. I HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE. SOMEBODY PARKED ON MY YARD. YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH TRAFFIC. I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A POTHOLE. I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH X, Y, AND Z ISSUE. THIS IS THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER TAKING IT UPON HIMSELF TO RELIEVE THE MANAGER FROM THE CRAZY WORK SCHEDULE. LET ME HELP THE MANAGER A LITTLE BIT AND I'LL TAKE IT ON, BECAUSE I USED TO DO THIS WITH THE MANAGER AND I TOOK IT. I CAN KEEP GOING, BUT I'M GOING TO SPARE YOU BECAUSE I THINK THAT, AGAIN, IT'S APPROPRIATE NOT TO DO THIS FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING, BUT THIS IS NONSTOP.

THIS KEEPS GOING. AND WHILE I DO IT TO, YOU KNOW, BRING A LITTLE LEVITY TO THE SITUATION, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND I DO THIS BECAUSE IT REALLY TEACHES YOU, AND IT REALLY SHOWS THE WORK ETHIC OF THIS MAN AND HOW HE PUTS THE RESIDENTS FIRST. I'M GOING TO STOP NOW. THANK YOU, SIR, BUT MAYBE I WON'T STOP. MAYBE WE'LL KEEP GOING FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER. IT'S ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THAT IS CALLED WORK ETHIC. THAT IS CALLED DETERMINATION. AND THAT IS CALLED PUTTING THE JOB FIRST, PUTTING THE RESIDENTS FIRST. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY, WHETHER IT'S A WEEKEND OR HOLIDAY. LIKE I SAID, IF I TEXT YOUR EMAIL, JOE, I HEAR BACK FROM HIM IMMEDIATELY. HE IS INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE. HE WORKS HARD AND HE TAKES OWNERSHIP. EVEN IF IT WASN'T OUR FAULT, WE TAKE OWNERSHIP. THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT IS SOMETHING I VALUE TREMENDOUSLY, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DEFINED MY CAREER. 14 YEARS HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, JOE BRINGS NEARLY FIVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN ENGINEERING, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION, CONSTRUCTION, AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE. HIS CAREER INCLUDES SENIOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. IN ADDITION TO HIS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THAT LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE IS DIFFICULT TO MATCH. AT FDOT, JOE LED AN OPERATION OF APPROXIMATELY 650 EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND TRAFFIC OPERATIONS ACROSS MIAMI-DADE AND MONROE COUNTIES.

[01:10:04]

I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT JOE GOMEZ AS THE NEXT CITY MANAGER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE HIM. THANK YOU MAYOR. MR. GOMEZ, MR. DXM, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE GIVE US A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CONFIDENCE YOU HAVE PLACED IN ME FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS THE NEXT CITY MANAGER OF CORAL GABLES. I ACCEPT THIS RESPONSIBILITY WITH HUMILITY AND A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD AN ORGANIZATION OF THIS CALIBER.

WORKING FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES HAS BEEN A HIGHLIGHT OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER. THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY, AND I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK ALONGSIDE TALENTED PROFESSIONALS WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. I WANT TO THANK CITY MANAGER PETER IGLESIAS FOR HIS CONFIDENCE, MENTORSHIP AND ABOVE ALL, HIS FRIENDSHIP. I HAVE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL FROM HIM, AND I APPRECIATE HIS COMMITMENT TO ENSURING A THOUGHTFUL AND ORDERLY TRANSITION. THANK YOU PETER, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE. THE STRENGTH OF CORAL GABLES COMES FROM THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. EACH DAY, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, KNOWLEDGE, AND DEDICATION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR WORK TOGETHER AS CITY MANAGER. I WILL ALWAYS LEAD WITH INTEGRITY, PASSION, AND A STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO OUR TEAM IN THIS COMMUNITY. I WILL LISTEN, COMMUNICATE OPENLY AND APPROACH EVERY DECISION WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF CORAL GABLES IN MIND. I RECOGNIZE BOTH THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE CHALLENGES AHEAD. I'M READY TO BUILD UPON THE CITY'S STRONG FOUNDATION, MAINTAIN MOMENTUM OF THE IMPORTANT WORK ALREADY UNDERWAY, AND ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE DELIVERING THE HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES EXPECT. BEFORE I CLOSE, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY FAMILY BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, I WOULD NOT BE HERE. MY WIFE MAGGIE, WHOSE LOVE AND SUPPORT IS IMMEASURABLE. THANK YOU MY LOVE.

OUR CHILDREN MELISSA, GISELLE, MELISSA, NANCY AND ALFRED AND OUR PRIDE AND JOY. OUR GRANDSONS GRAYSON AND HUDSON. I HOPE THEY WILL ALWAYS KNOW THAT THEIR. POP WAS A DEVOTED PUBLIC SERVANT WHO CARED DEEPLY FOR HIS COMMUNITY. A YEAR AGO, ON AUGUST 24TH, MY MOTHER, CLARA, PASSED AWAY. IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT NEAR THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER PASSING, I AM ACCEPTING THE MOST IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT OF MY CAREER. SHE WAS ALWAYS EXTREMELY PROUD OF HER SON, THE CIVIL ENGINEER INGENIERO CIVIL. I'M GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS IN SPANISH, MAYOR, IF YOU INDULGE ME. VIEJA. GRACIAS POR SER ME MAMA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE CORAL GABLES, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU AS WE MOVE THE CITY FORWARD TOGETHER. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND MAY GOD BLESS THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DXM. THANK YOU. MR. CLARK. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR. FIRST SPEAKER, VICKI RUSSO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM. GOOD MORNING.

[01:15:10]

FULL DISCLOSURE, HE'S, IN FACT, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS. BUT I AM ALSO AN EXPERT IN JOE GOMEZ CHARACTER, YOU SEE, COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR, I FIRST WORKED WITH JOE GOMEZ IN EARLY 1981. THAT WAS BEFORE MTV. SINCE THEN, WE'VE REMAINED IN TOUCH, WORKED IN COLLABORATION, BUT ALSO I WAS THERE WITH HIM, WORKING VERY, VERY CLOSE WHILE HE WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. I HONESTLY NOT HERE TO ARGUE WITH ANY POLICY.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT YOU GET ELECTED TO, TO, TO DO THESE THINGS. I ONLY GOT UP BECAUSE, FRANKLY. FIRST SPEAKER ATTACK ON JOE'S CHARACTER IS JUST REALLY HURTFUL. AND I FEEL

[01:20:09]

AT LEAST MINE IS NOT. I HAVE NO OPPOSITION NOR CONCERNS ABOUT JOE. I CAN TELL YOU HE'S NOT PERFECT. I'M STILL WAITING FOR AN EMAIL FROM HIM, BUT THAT'S OKAY. PEOPLE ARE BUSY. THIS HAS TO DO WITH PEOPLE. I GUESS WE EXPECT OUR POLITICIANS TO DO THE SAME. THAT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, TOLD THIS COMMUNITY THAT WHAT WAS WRONG WE HAD BEEN DONE BEFORE WAS THAT THEY DARED HIRE SOMEONE WITHOUT HAVING A NATIONAL SEARCH. THEY CAMPAIGNED WITH IT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY LOOKED THROUGH CAMPAIGN MATERIALS AND I WATCHED VIDEO IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, AND I FOUND THAT SEVERAL TIMES, EVEN SINCE THEY WERE ELECTED, WHAT,

[01:25:08]

COMMISSIONERS, VICE MAYOR AND PETER IGLESIAS. I MUST PAY TRIBUTE TO YOU, PETER IGLESIAS, BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST MET YOU, IT WAS IN THE LATE 1990S. AND I WAS WALKING THROUGH BLUEPRINTS TO MODIFY MY HOME. AND YOU WERE IN THE BASEMENT OF CITY HALL, AND NEXT TO YOUR DESK, YOU HAD RED CRAYONS. AND I REMEMBER GOING WITH MY BLUEPRINT MODESTLY ASKING FOR YOU TO REVIEW IT. AND GOD FORBID THAT GREG CAN COME. AND GRAHAM CAME OUT AND YOU MADE A FEW MARKS OF THINGS THAT I HAD TO CHANGE. AND I WAS PERPLEXED ABOUT THAT. AND THEN I CAME BACK TO MY GENERAL CONTRACTOR AND SHOWED, LOOK WHAT THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER IN CORAL GABLES DID.

THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR LOOKED AT IT AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT GENTLEMAN WAS COMPLETELY RIGHT, AND YOU'VE BEEN RIGHT EVER SINCE. PETER IGLESIAS, YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY IS COMMENDABLE. I HATE TO SEE YOU GO. AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. BUT YOU'VE BEEN A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL. AND I WAS VERY IRKED, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, WHEN YOU WERE FIRED AND AN INEPT PERSON WAS HIRED. AND I FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST THAT, AS YOU ALL KNOW. AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M CONTINUING TO TRY TO BE A SERVICE TO CORAL GABLES. NOW, THERE'S ONE THING THAT ALSO HAS TO BE MENTIONED ABOUT JOE GOMEZ. JOE GOMEZ SURVIVED TEN YEARS UNDER MR. ALVARADO. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I KNOW JOSE ALVARADO, I LOVE HIM, BUT MAN, IS HE A TOUGH GUY TOO. SO IF HE PASSED THAT SCHOOL, THE SCHOOL, HE DESERVES EVERY COMMENDATION YOU CAN.

AWKWARDLY, THIS IS SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING. THEY'RE BOTH SELF DEFENSE ARTISTS. MR. IGLESIAS IS A JIU JITSU BLACK BELT AND TEACHER, AND MR. GOMEZ IS KARATE MAN, SO WE CAN BE SAFE ONCE WE'RE ON THE DAIS. IF ANYBODY COMES AT US, THESE PEOPLE WILL COME AT US AND STAND IN FRONT OF THEM. SO, BY THE WAY, MR. MAYOR, WHEN YOU SCROLL THOSE TESTS AND THEY WERE LIKE THOUSANDS OF TESTS MULTIPLIED TIMES FIVE, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH CITY MANAGERS IN THE PAST. SO IT'S COMMENDABLE OF THE SERVICE THAT YOU ALL RENDER THE CITY. I FULLY SUPPORT JOE GOMEZ AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SIR. MARGARITA DELGADO, GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. MADAM VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, MARGARITA DELGADO,

[01:30:05]

PERFECT. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. AND SECOND, I'LL SECOND, MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO I DO HAVE A FEW COMMENTS LIKE YOU MAY OR I TRIED TO CONVINCE PETER IGLESIAS TO STAY A LITTLE LONGER. AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE JOE GOMEZ IS NOT QUALIFIED. BUT AS I REFERRED TO THE THREE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WORKING TOGETHER, WE HAD THE A TEAM. WE HAD SEAMLESS, COHESIVE PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER, HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND HIGHLY RESPONSIVE. AND SO MANY TIMES WHEN I REACHED OUT TO GET SOMETHING DONE AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BOTHER THE CITY MANAGER WHO WAS HANDLING THE BUDGET AND MUCH, YOU KNOW, DEEPER PROJECTS THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH. I REACHED OUT TO JOE AND PEOPLE ASKED ME, WELL, HOW DID YOU GET THAT DONE? YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THIS PERSON OR THAT PERSON OR FPNL FOR THE PAST YEAR. SOMEBODY SHOWED UP TO MY HOUSE YESTERDAY, AND YOU JUST. I JUST TOLD YOU ABOUT IT YESTERDAY. I MEAN, THE DAY BEFORE, MY SECRET WEAPON WAS WAS JOE. WHEN I TRIED TO CONVINCE THE CITY MANAGER TO STAY A LITTLE LONGER. IS BECAUSE. NOT BECAUSE JOE WAS NOT QUALIFIED. BECAUSE I WANTED A FEW MORE POSITIONS FILLED. WELL, MR. IGLESIAS STILL HAD THE BATON IN HIS HAND. BUT DURING THIS PAST YEAR WHILE YOU'VE BEEN HERE, CITY MANAGER, IT HAS BEEN REMARKABLE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAD BEEN BACKLOGGED THAT YOU GOT MOVED FORWARD. THE TEAM WORKED SEAMLESSLY, AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF A TEAM, NOT ONLY TO HAVE CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY, BUT TO HAVE THAT COHESIVE TEAM THAT CAN WORK WELL TOGETHER. AND ALL THREE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, AND PETER IGLESIAS WORKED TOGETHER AS A SOLID TEAM. WHEN YOU BRING IN SOMEBODY FROM OUTSIDE, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET THAT COHESIVE CHARACTER, THAT INTEGRITY THAT YOU WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE. SO WHEN I PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR UTILIZING AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH TEAM, IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT DAY. MY POSITION WAS BASED ON A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE.

CORAL GABLES SHOULD CONDUCT A THOUGHTFUL AND THOROUGH PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT ITS NEXT CITY MANAGER HAS THE EXPERIENCE, JUDGMENT, AND QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO LEAD THIS ORGANIZATION. I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THAT PRINCIPLE. WHAT HAS CHANGED IS MY ASSESSMENT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE US. WE HAVE A VERY STRONG INDIVIDUAL WITH WHOM THE CITY MANAGER HAS HELD THE BATON AND CAN CONTINUE THE JOURNEY WITHOUT HAVING A HICCUP IN IT. THE PURPOSE OF A SEARCH IS TO IDENTIFY HIGHLY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL WHO UNDERSTANDS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT AND MANAGE COMPLEX ORGANIZATION, CAN LEAD IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO PREPARE TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. INCREASINGLY, I BELIEVE THAT CANDIDATE WHO FORTUNATELY IS WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS VERY CHALLENGING POSITION IS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION. DEPUTY CITY MANAGER JOE GOMEZ, SINCE JOINING CORAL GABLES IN 2024,

[01:35:04]

FAITHFULLY FOLLOW THE CITY CHARTER. THE STANDARDS I TAKE SERIOUSLY WHEN CONSIDERING WHO SHOULD LEAD OUR ADMINISTRATION. I'M ALSO PLEASED TO HEAR THAT CITY MANAGER IGLESIAS INTENDS TO REMAIN WITH THE CITY THROUGH THE END OF 2026. ALTHOUGH I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP YOU FOREVER, I KNOW THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE FOR ANY ONE OF US. THIS PROVIDES IMPORTANT AND IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR CONTINUITY IN AN ORDERLY TRANSITION. GOOD ORGANIZATIONS PLAN FOR SUCCESSION. THEY DEVELOP CAPABLE PEOPLE, PRESERVE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, AND ENSURE THAT LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS DO NOT INTERRUPT THE WORK RESIDENTS EXPECT US TO ACCOMPLISH. JOE HAS COMPLETED THE BACKGROUND SCREENING PROCESS AS PART OF THE CITY'S CUSTOMARY HUMAN RESOURCE PROCEDURES, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF DUE DILIGENCE THAT WE CONSIDER IN THE DECISION AND HAS PASSED THE MUSTER OF ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ABOUT THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE THAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE, I DO NOT BELIEVE GOVERNMENT SHOULD UNDERTAKE A PROCESS SIMPLY FOR THE SAKE OF BEING ABLE TO SAY THAT A PROCESS WAS TAKEN. THE QUESTION IS SHOULD ALWAYS BE WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? IF THE OBJECTIVE OF AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH IS A QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED MUNICIPAL PROFESSIONAL WHO CAN LEAD. THIS ORGANIZATION UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US AND IS PREPARED TO STEP INTO THAT POSITION WITH CONTINUITY AND COMPETENCE. THEN WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO RECOGNIZE WHEN THAT INDIVIDUAL MAY BE ALREADY HERE. BASED ON WHAT I'VE OBSERVED AND LEARNED, I BELIEVE JOE GOMEZ DESERVES THAT CONSIDERATION. PROMOTING

[01:40:01]

WOW, THAT'S PRETTY LOUD. THE MICROPHONE. THIS IS AN INTERESTING RESOLUTION. AND IT'S REALLY A SHAME THAT THE MAYOR COULDN'T GRANT ME THE RESPECT TO GO AHEAD AND CALL MY ITEM BEFORE THIS ONE. MY ITEM WAS AN ITEM TO EXECUTE A NATIONAL SEARCH. BUT GETTING BACK TO JAIL, JOE GOMEZ WAS HIRED BY THE. ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR, UNQUALIFIED CANDIDATE, CITY MANAGER AMOS ROJAS AND ALBERTO BARAJAS. I THINK THEY MADE A GREAT DECISION BECAUSE, AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, JOE GOMEZ HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH, NOT ONLY WITH THEM BUT WITH ME. BUT THIS VOTE RIGHT HERE IS NOT A VOTE FOR JOE GOMEZ. THIS IS REALLY A PROMISE THAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE PROMISED TO GO THROUGH WITH THE NATIONAL SEARCH. IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT DUE PROCESS. SO I AM REALLY I YOU HAVE THE VOTES. YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE NEXT CITY MANAGER. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THAT. YOU VERY WELL DESERVE IT FROM ANYBODY HERE IN THE CITY. I DON'T WANT TO I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT FROM MY PART. OKAY.

THIS IS MORE ABOUT DUE PROCESS, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO A PHENOMENAL JOB.

AND WE'VE ALWAYS WORKED VERY GOOD TOGETHER. BUT THERE'S CLEARLY A BIG DOUBLE STANDARD HERE. LET ME TAKE YOU THROUGH HISTORY JUST A LITTLE BIT, AMOS, AND I QUOTE FROM THE MAYOR, VINCE LAGO. THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THINGS. THEN IN ANOTHER COMMISSION MEETING, GO THROUGH A PROCESS. AND WHEN ALBERTO VARGAS WAS ALSO APPOINTED AS CITY MANAGER, AND I QUOTE, THIS IS WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, GOING OUT AND TESTING THE WATERS IS NOT A BAD THING. IT'S A GOOD THING. THOSE QUOTE N W ARE CAREFULLY VETTED IN A HASTILY CHOSEN QUOTE FROM THE MAYOR IN THE 2025 GABLES GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE, THE MAYOR QUOTED OPEN QUOTE, I WILL PURSUE A NATIONAL SEARCH FOR OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER, ONE THAT ALLOWS THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST TO APPLY TO INCLUDE SOME OF OUR OWN SENIOR STAFF, THEN COME TO MAY 2025. PETER IGLESIAS RETURNS. MAYOR CONTINUED TO PUBLICLY ADVOCATE FOR A FUTURE SELECTION PROCESS, EVEN AFTER HE HIRED IGLESIAS WITHOUT A NATIONAL SEARCH. NOW, THE CITY IS NOT FACING A IMMEDIATE VACANCY FOR CITY MANAGER. I AGREE THAT JOE IS RIGHT NOW THE BEST SUITED FOR THIS POSITION. BUT WE HAVE FOUR MONTHS TO DECIDE. WE HAVE TIME. THE PRIOR CITY MANAGERS, THEY WERE INSTANTANEOUSLY. WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME. WE HAD TO CHOOSE HIM FAST.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A CITY MANAGER. NOW WE HAVE TIME TO ACTUALLY CONDUCT A NATIONAL SEARCH. AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT MAYBE JOE GOMEZ WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE MOST QUALIFIED TO CONTINUE LEADING OUR CITY. BUT WHY NOT ENGAGE IN A NATIONAL SEARCH? THAT IS IT, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER. EXCUSE ME. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, BUT I NEED TO CORRECT YOU. DUE PROCESS IS WHAT YOU SAID THIS VOTE IS ABOUT. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT ABOUT DUE PROCESS. LET'S BE CLEAR. DUE PROCESS IS THE LEGAL PRINCIPLE THAT A

[01:45:01]

I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR AGREEING TO REMAIN WITH THE CITY THROUGH JANUARY 8TH. I BELIEVE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS ORGANIZATION, BECAUSE IT DOES GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO AN ORDERLY TRANSITION, MAINTAIN CONTINUITY OF THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN STARTED, STARTED BY YOU, BY THE WAY, YEARS AGO, BEFORE YOU HAD TO INVOLUNTARILY BE PUT ON PAUSE AND THEN BE BROUGHT BACK INTO THE GAME. YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HANDOFF TO JOE GOMEZ IS GOING TO BE AS SMOOTH AS I KNOW IT WILL BE, SO WE CAN JUST CONTINUE WITH THE MOMENTUM THAT YOU'VE YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION, AND IN ENSURING THAT JOE IS POSITIONED TO SUCCEED FROM DAY ONE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT. I KNOW, THOUGH, THAT JOE IS THE RIGHT PERSON. JOE GOMEZ IS THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE CITY MANAGER POSITION. JOE, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH YOU AS THE DCM FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, AND IN EVERY SINGLE INTERACTION, YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL. YOU'RE KNOWLEDGEABLE, YOU'RE PREPARED, YOU ARE MEASURED, AND YOU ARE, ABOVE ALL ELSE, RESPONSIVE. I AM NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH MY TEXTS. THE MAYOR HAS ALREADY STOLEN THAT THUNDER MINOR AND AS LONG AS HIS TEXT. BUT BELIEVE ME, IT'S LIKE THE LIKE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID, IT'S LIKE TIMES FIVE. OH, IT WAS GONZALEZ-SANABRIA BECAUSE EVERYONE REACHES OUT TO JOE. YOU UNDERSTAND ORGANIZATION, JOE, AND YOU UNDERSTAND HOW IT FUNCTIONS VERY, VERY WELL. YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE THE ISSUES BEFORE US, AND YOU'VE ALREADY SHOWN US FOR SOME TIME NOW THAT YOU CAN LEAD. I ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY, BY THE WAY, TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT AND WATCH THE DISCUSSION THAT THE COMMISSION HAD BACK IN JANUARY OF 2025 REGARDING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS. AND AT ONE POINT THAT WAS MADE BY MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, IT STOOD OUT TO ME MANY OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL APPOINTMENTS TO THOSE POSITIONS HAVE COME FROM WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN THAT, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, VERY IMPORTANT. AN ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE TALENT FROM WITHIN THE. IT'S VERY RANKS. WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO DO THE JOB, UNDERSTANDS THE CULTURE AND UNDERSTANDS THE OPERATIONS, WHO HAS EARNED THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE WORKS WITH. WE SHOULDN'T OVERLOOK THAT SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE OPTION OF LOOKING ELSEWHERE. IT'S ALSO A PRACTICAL BENEFIT.

[01:50:04]

YOU CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. I'VE SEEN YOU DO IT, JOE. AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU COULD RUN A NATIONAL SEARCH THAT DOESN'T REPLACE WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT, WHETHER THIS COMMISSION HAS COMPETENT AND SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FROM DAY ONE, RIGHT HERE WITHIN OUR RANKS, TO ACT OTHERWISE IS TO PUT FORM OVER SUBSTANCE AND AND TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY. SUCH AN AMAZING ONE, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED. NOT WITH ONE, NOT WITH TWO. BUT I'M LOOKING AT YOU. CAROLINA VESTOR THREE THREE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS RUNNING THE MANAGER'S OFFICE. AND SO ALTHOUGH I CANNOT KEEP MR. IGLESIAS AS MUCH AS I WANT FOREVER WITH US, JOE, YOU ARE THE MAN. JUST FOR THESE REASONS, I BELIEVE THAT JOE GOMEZ HAS EARNED THIS OPPORTUNITY. I AM CONFIDENT IN APPOINTING HIM TO BE THE NEXT CITY MANAGER. IT'S THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND THE VERY BEST DECISION FOR THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SIR. MR. MANAGER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW COMMENTS WITH US? BECAUSE I THINK THAT ANYBODY'S QUALIFIED TO TALK ABOUT THE DCM.

IT'S A PERSON WHO HAS SPENT EVERY SINGLE DAY WORKING NEXT DOOR TO THEM AS YOUR OFFICES SHARE ONE WALL. AND I ALSO WANT YOU. I KNOW THAT TODAY IS NOT YOUR LAST DAY. AND IF IT WAS UP TO ME, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T READ WHAT YOU READ, WHAT YOU SEE ON THE BLOGS. I WANT YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR TIME HERE IN THE CITY. MAYBE IF YOU WANT TO SHARE IT OR SAVE IT FOR YOUR LAST DAY, THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE. BUT I WANT TO HEAR, I WANT TO HEAR YOUR WORDS, IF YOU MAY, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLY KIND COMMENTS. AND IT'S NOT JUST IT'S NOT IT'S THE TRUTH FOR THE TRUST YOU'VE PLACED IN ME. AND IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE WORKING WITH YOU. I'M PRIVILEGED TO BE MINE. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH DCM JOE JOE GOMEZ FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF NOW, AND WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY, I. I KNEW CAROLINA BEST, BUT I DID NOT KNOW JOE GOMEZ.

BUT I'VE HEARD OF ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE HEARD HERE. I'VE HEARD. I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE.

AND THEY'RE ALL TRUE. WE'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE RELATIONSHIP. I THINK WE CAN CALL EACH OTHER FRIENDS. AND I THINK HE'S DEMONSTRATED THAT HE'S READY TO TAKE ON THIS CHALLENGE. I THINK HIS PROFESSIONAL, HIS JUDGMENT, HIS LEADERSHIP, HIS COMMITMENT, EVERYTHING IS THERE TO LEAD THIS, THIS TEAM. I THINK THE TEAM BELIEVES IN HIM. I BELIEVE IN HIM. AND I THINK THE I THINK THE CITY IS IN VERY CAPABLE HANDS. I, I THINK THAT HAVING A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND IS IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE. WE WE WE HAVE A SMOOTH TRANSITION. WE'VE ALREADY DEVELOPED OUR RELATIONSHIP AND WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER ON SO MANY PROJECTS AND SO MANY THINGS RIGHT NOW. WHEN I CAME BACK, I WANTED TO WAS NOT GOING TO BE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, BUT I DID WANT TO TAKE CARE OF SOME THINGS. I HAD STARTED. AND, AND I THINK THAT I THINK THAT THE CITY IS BACK. I THINK OUR OUR TEAM IS, IS EXTREMELY CAPABLE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT I MOST CARE ABOUT IS LEAVING SUCH AN INCREDIBLE TEAM HERE. AS A 50 YEAR RESIDENT OF CORAL GABLES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I LOVE THE CITY AND THIS THIS I THINK JOE IS VERY CAPABLE OF, OF, OF LEADING THIS TEAM AND THE TEAM BELIEVES IN HIM. SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND JOE GOMEZ AS AS CITY MANAGER, I THINK THAT A NATIONAL SEARCH IS NOT NECESSARY. I THINK TWO YEAR INTERVIEW IS BETTER THAN A ONE HOUR INTERVIEW. AND, AND SO WE,

[01:55:03]

COMMISSIONER LAURA. SOME POINTS WERE MADE EARLIER ABOUT THAT. THERE WERE EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAUSED SOMEONE. WELL, THREE FORMER COMMISSIONERS, ONE FORMER TWO CURRENTLY TO VOTE WITHOUT CONDUCTING A NATIONAL SEARCH, CLAIMING THAT IT WAS DUE TO EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES. WELL, I BELIEVE THAT AND I BELIEVE NOW THAT THE FIRING OF JOE, THE FIRING OF PETER IGLESIAS WAS NOT ONLY UNCALLED FOR, WRONGFUL, IT WAS ALSO AN EMERGENCY CREATED ENTIRELY BY A MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION WITH NO SUPPORT FOR SAME. SO YOU CAN'T CREATE THE THE URGENCIES AND THEN CLAIM THAT. THAT'S THE REASON WHY YOU HAD TO HIRE A. A FORMER U.S. MARSHAL WITH NOT ONE DAY OF PUBLIC WORKS EXPERIENCE TO BE LEADING THIS CITY, SO I'D RATHER NOT GET INTO THE WEEDS. I HAD HOPED THAT WE WOULD HAVE A UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR THE CLEAR AND OBVIOUS CANDIDATE FOR SERVING AS THE NEXT CITY MANAGER. THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. IT IS NOT A VOTE FOR A SEARCH. IT IS A VOTE FOR APPOINTING JOE GOMEZ AS THE NEXT CITY MANAGER. TO BE CLEAR, TO BE CONSISTENT, MY VOTE IS YES, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. MY BELIEF IS MY ROLE HERE IS TO DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CITY, AND UNEQUIVOCALLY SELECTING JOE GOMEZ AS OUR NEXT CITY MANAGER IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS. SO MY VOTE IS, YES, MAYOR LAGO. I WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY COULD TO AVOID AN INSTAGRAM REEL. BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON, I SEEM TO BE THE PERSON THAT EVERYBODY'S RUNNING AGAINST FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. I PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT LAURA AND I WORKED ON FOR SOME TIME. SPEECH THAT TALKS ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THAT THE MANAGER HAS DONE HERE, ALONG WITH THE AMAZING WORK THAT THE DCM, AND WHY WE HAVE A COMPETENT PERSON WHO'S GOING TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. BUT FOR SOME REASON, POLITICALLY NOW IT GETS CAUGHT UP IN ALL THESE. RIDICULOUS NOVEMBER ELECTION GRANDSTANDING. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY HOW WE GOT HERE, MR. CLARK, PLEASE DO THE TAPE. IF CABLE TV CAN SHARE THE CLIP, PLEASE. HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY BEFORE I BEFORE I SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING. ACTUALLY, WHAT A SURPRISE. I'VE NEVER MET YOU, BUT I WAS LOOKING YOU UP, AND I SAW THAT THE PICTURE THAT I WAS LOOKING AT WAS THE PERSON COMING IN THROUGH THE DOOR. SO WHAT A SURPRISE. I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAUGHT THIS, BUT I SECOND THAT MOTION. I'LL PUT ON THE RECORD. I'VE NEVER SPOKEN TO YOU. I'VE NEVER MET YOU. I'M LOOKING HERE AT YOUR LINKEDIN AND IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.

RETIRED FDLE SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, MIAMI REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER, SOUTH FLORIDA MONEY LAUNDERING AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR. VERY IMPRESSIVE. ALL QUALITIES THAT I WOULD LIKE THE NEW CITY MANAGER TO POSSESS AND TO HAVE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE IN. I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY BEFORE I BEFORE I

[02:00:03]

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE AND BEING PART OF THIS WONDERFUL CITY. THANK YOU. TO LAUNCH, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. GOOD MORNING MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. SOLANGE LOPEZ, BUSINESS COMMUNITY MANAGER WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. WE ARE HERE TODAY FOR ITEM H ONE, WHICH IS REGARDING THE TEMPORARY POP UP RETAIL SPACE AT 290 MIRACLE MILE. IF WE CAN GET THE POWERPOINT. THANK YOU. I'LL BE BRIEF, BUT THE POP UP PROGRAM AT 290 REALLY AIMS TO ACTIVATE VACANT STOREFRONTS ON MIRACLE MILE AND ENERGIZE THE SURROUNDING BLOCK. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT ACTS AS A CHANCE TO BRING IN NEW CONCEPTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO TASTE TEST THE MARKET HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES FOR POTENTIAL LONG TERM LEASES LATER ON. AND IT GIVES NEW BUSINESSES A CHANCE TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN THE MARKET. BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THIS NEW INCOMING TENANT THAT WE'RE HOPING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, WE HAVE GABRIELA MARTINEZ FROM PEREDO ART, WHO THEY WERE THE TENANT THAT JUST ENDED THEIR TERM CYCLE EARLIER IN AUGUST AND HAD THE GALLERY SPACE AT 290, SO THAT SHE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROGRAM AND THE YEAR THAT THEY WERE AT 290 MIRACLE MILE. HI. WELCOME TO THE CITY OF BEAUTIFUL. HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU GUYS? MY NAME IS GABRIELA. I'M THE MANAGER AND ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF PEREDO ART GALLERY. AND I WANTED TO FIRST OFF, THANK SOLANGE, BELKYS AND PAGE, WHO HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE THE WHOLE YEAR LONG PROGRAM. THIS, FOR US WAS AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUR BUSINESS, OUR PROJECT, OUR VISION OUT INTO THE CITY AND BEYOND. SO FOR US, IT REALLY WAS A PLEASURE. AND I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON SOME GREAT THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO. WE HOSTED VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS OF EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED ARTISTS ALL YEAR LONG, INCLUDING SOME LOCAL ARTISTS LIKE ANTONIO PEREZ MELERO, WHO IS AN ESTABLISHED ARTIST HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. HE'S ALMOST 90 YEARS OLD, SO IT WAS A PLEASURE.

MARIO ALMAGUER, WHO WAS AN ESTABLISHED SCULPTOR AND THE MASTER OF VENTURA GONZALEZ. SO AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, ALEJANDRO PEREDO, WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE VARIOUS WORKS OF ART IN THIS SPACE. TWO NEWEST SERIES THAT HE DID, WHICH IS CUERPO MUSICALE AND ASPERGILLUS, WHICH WERE VERY POPULAR. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE GAVE A PERCENTAGE OF OUR SALES ONE EXHIBITION TO THE PELICAN HARBOR SEABIRD STATION.

SO WE DID A WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN, FREE WORKSHOPS, A LOT OF EVENTS. WE ALWAYS PARTICIPATED IN GALLERY NIGHTS. YOU KNOW, FOR US, IT WAS A PLEASURE TO CONNECT WITH THE CITY. AND OF COURSE, PEOPLE THAT COME FROM OUT OF STATE, PEOPLE THAT COME INTERNATIONALLY. WE EXHIBITED INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AS WELL AS LOCAL ARTISTS, AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL VENDORS AND BUSINESSES LIKE FRANCESCO'S. WE WORKED WITH ARMSTRONG JAZZ HOUSE. WE WORKED WITH THE THEATER ON THE MILE. WE HAVE WORK NOW AT LINEN DRAMA EXHIBITING. AND. AND IT'S REALLY BEEN AMAZING TO BRING OUR VISION AND OUR ARTWORK TO THE CITY AND BEYOND. WE GOT PRESENTED IN THE CORAL GABLES MAGAZINE AND THERE ARTWORK EDITION. SO IT REALLY WAS AMAZING FOR US TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE JUST WISH MAYBE IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT WE ALSO KNOW WE HAVE TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OTHER BUSINESSES AND GIVE THEM THE SAME CHANCE THAT WE HAD, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ART AS THEY LOOK FOR PERMANENT LOCATIONS IN DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES. SO WE'LL STAY IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND WE'LL HOPEFULLY BE AT A RIBBON CUTTING SOON, I LOVE IT. DO WE

[02:05:04]

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT WORK. SOMETHING EXCITING. I'M HAPPY THE CHAMBER IS COLLABORATING FRONT AND CENTER. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING TEAM AT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. BELK IS YOUR TEAM AGAIN, ALWAYS DOES A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING FRONT AND CENTER ON ALL THIS.

SO THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT. NONE. MR. MAYOR, CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. COMMISSIONER LATTA. SO MY DAUGHTER WAS JUST COMMENTING THAT SHE WISHES THERE WERE SOME MORE WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES IN OR AROUND THE HOTEL AREA. SO I'M THINKING, HEY, THIS IS PERFECT TIMING POP UP. SO AGAIN, WHEN IS IT OPEN? SO ONCE THIS ITEM IS APPROVED HERE, WE'LL WORK THIS WEEK TO GET THE LICENSING AGREEMENT FINALIZED. AND WE'RE HOPING FOR AN EARLY SEPTEMBER OPENING DATE. THANK YOU. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES.

COMMISSIONER LAGO, YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T MEAN TO GIVE YOU THE MOTION. I LITERALLY CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD THERE. NO WORRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT JOB

[E.-14. 26-1955 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Ordinance No. 2022-26, which granted approval of a Planned Area Development (PAD) for the multi-family project referred to as “301-341 Madeira” on the property legally described as Lots 4 thru 24, Block 1 of Revised Plat of Coral Gables Section K (341, 335, 331, 325, 321, 317, 301 Madeira Avenue), Coral Gables, Florida, to modify Condition relating to underground utilities by replacing the undergrounding requirement with an obligation to contribute $300,000 to the City; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. Lobbyist: Mario Garcia-Serra]

[E.-19. 26-1957 A Resolution of the City Commission amending Resolution No. 2022-126, which granted conditional use approval pursuant to Zoning Code Section 2-400, “District Overlays,” Section 2-405, “Residential Infill Regulations (RIR),” for the multi-family project referred to as “301-341 Madeira” located on property zoned Multi-Family 2 (MF2), legally described as Lots 4 thru 24, Block 1 of Revised Plat of Coral Gables Section K (341, 335, 331, 325, 321, 317, 301 Madeira Avenue), Coral Gables, Florida, to modify Condition 4(b) relating to underground; providing for an effective date. Lobbyist: Mario Garcia-Serra (This Resolution is not for consideration at this time and will be included with the above ordinances on Second Reading if approved on First Reading.)]

[02:10:01]

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ONE OF THOSE AREAS. SO WE WE AGREE THAT THAT THIS IS BETTER SERVED BY HAVING THE PROFFER OF $300,000 BY THE DEVELOPER THAT WE CAN USE IN OTHER AREAS TO, TO FURTHER ANY CITY PROJECTS. PERFECT. MAYOR. YES. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THIS AND I AND HAVE THE MONEY DIRECTED FOR THE NORTH FLAGLER DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE STREETSCAPE THERE.

THAT'S AN AREA THAT WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED YET. WE'VE DONE WORKING ON PONCE PHASE THREE.

WE NEED THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PONCE PHASE FOUR. AND BEING THAT THIS IS A FEEDER LINE, I'LL JUST MAKE A NOTE THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MAY NEED TO DISCUSS AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE THE SIZE OF THE POLES THAT HAVE TO GO IN ON FEEDER LINES ARE MUCH LARGER THAN THE ONES YOU TYPICALLY SEE. AND I'VE SEEN ONE OR ACTUALLY TWO NOW PUT ON ANOTHER SET OF FEEDER LINES IN THE NEIGHBORS HAVE NICKNAMED IT THE SEQUOIAS. IT'S MASSIVE. SO ALTHOUGH WE DO THIS FOR BEAUTIFICATION, WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN ON FEEDER LINES AND COME WITH A BETTER SOLUTION AND PLANT APPROPRIATE TREES UNDERNEATH THERE THAT WE LIKE THE BRIDAL VEILS. YOU DON'T SEE WHAT'S ABOVE ON THE FEEDER LINE. SO WITH THAT I MOVE THIS. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND OFFERING TO PROVIDE A BENEFIT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND LIEU OF THAT, THANK YOU. SECOND, OKAY, I HAVE JUST ONE COMMENT ON THAT FRONT. CURRENTLY, THIS PROJECT IS USING. A SITE DOWN THE STREET AS A STAGING AREA. I WANTED TO FIND OUT THAT THAT STAGING AREA IS OWNED BY THE CITY. CORRECT. THAT LOT. ARE YOU REFERRING TO 301 MAJORCA? MAYBE. IS THAT WHAT WE'RE USING FOR STAGING? I'M NOT FAMILIAR WHERE I THINK THERE'S AN EMPTY LOT THAT I'VE SEEN WHEN I'VE DRIVEN BY. THERE'S AN EMPTY LOT DOWN THE STREET, MR. MANAGER.

I'M NOT SURE. OH, MAYOR, I WILL. I WILL LOOK INTO THAT. OKAY. JUST TO FIND OUT, BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE, OBVIOUSLY, WHEN THE PROJECT IS DONE, I WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DEVELOPER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LEAVE THAT SITE. AND OF COURSE, IMPECCABLE. I THINK IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S AN EMPTY SITE THAT WE GOT ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY FROM, FROM ASSURE THAT WE HAVE ON THAT SAME STREET. OH, MAYOR, ANY, ANY SITE THAT'S USED BY ANY DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO BE NOT ONLY LEFT, LEFT, BUT IMPROVED PRIOR, PRIOR TO THE, TO THE END OF THE PROJECT. PERFECT. OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. MR. MAYOR MARIA CRUZ. IT'S A GOOD MORNING. YEAH. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. I HAVE TWO COMMENTS. NUMBER ONE, I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THIS DEVELOPMENT ARE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM WHAT THEY'RE NOT DOING. I THINK, ONCE AGAIN, THE CITY OFFICIALS KNOW WHAT'S BEST AND NOT THE PEOPLE THAT

[02:15:08]

SARAH, JUST FOR YOUR URGE TO CLEAR THE RECORDS, I GET DRAGGED INTO EVERYTHING. I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS BEING DRAGGED INTO THE CONVERSATION. I GUESS IT'S ELECTION SEASON.

THE MONEY DIDN'T CHANGE HERE, RIGHT? THE MONEY DIDN'T CHANGE. WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE SCOPE INCREASED, CORRECT? DRAMATICALLY. DRAMATICALLY. AND IT WAS NOT CAUSED BY THE DEVELOPER OR THE CITY. IT'S FPL REQUIREMENTS. YEAH. SO I KNOW THERE'S A CONSTANT EFFORT HERE TO. CONFUSE RESIDENTS AND TO BLAME OTHER PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY AS ELECTION SEASON COMES IN A DESPERATE THE DESPERATION THAT WE SEE HERE RIGHT NOW. SO I JUST WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY DESERVE BETTER, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE NOT WHO ARE NOT HERE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES WHEN THEY'RE SLANDERED BY SOMEBODY ELSE, OR THEY OR PEOPLE JUST PLAINLY LIE ON THE DAIS. I THINK IT'S MORE INCOMPETENCE THAN ACTUALLY LYING. BUT AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU JUST CAN'T SAY YOU'RE INCOMPETENT AND THEN LIE ON THE RECORD, YOU KNOW? SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE I JUST THINK IT'S HARMFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE SOMEBODY DO THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN HERE IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE IT TO MAKE A RIDICULOUS POINT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, MR. CLERK, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES, COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR LOGAN.

YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. SIR. E 19 CORRECT. WE'RE NOT VOTING ON THAT ONE TODAY.

IT'S WHEN IT COMES BACK ON SECOND. PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GO ON NOW TO 11:00 TIME. CERTAIN WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TWO MINUTE BREAK. TWO MINUTE BREAK.

EVERYONE CAN USE THE BATHROOM RECORDING IN PROGRESS. BACK. NOW WE MOVE ON TO ITEMS E THREE,

[E.-3. 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.-4. 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.-5. 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.-17. 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]

ARTICLE 14, SECTION 14-212 ZONING CODE TEXT MAP AMENDMENTS FROM ONE ONE FROM SPECIAL USE TO MIXED USE TWO AND TWO TO INCLUDE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE NORTH PONCE MIXED USE DISTRICT OVERLAY BLOCK 21 REVISED PLAT OF CORAL GABLES DOUGLAS SECTION, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

E FIVE IS AN ORDER TO THE CITY COMMISSION GRANTING APPROVAL OF A PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT PURSUANT TO ZONING CODE, ARTICLE 14, SECTION 14-206 GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT FOR MIXED USE PROJECT REFERRED TO AS CRYSTAL RESIDENCES, INCLUDING A PRIVATE

[02:20:01]

YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THOSE WHO WILL BE TESTIFYING ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU WILL PROVIDE TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? THANK YOU. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. SO THE APPLICANT. I'M WAITING FOR THE APPLICANT. YOU READY? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR.

COMMISSIONERS JORGE NAVARRO WITH OFFICES AT 333 SOUTHEAST SECOND AVENUE. WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE. BACK BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR WHAT WE HOPE ARE THE FINAL APPROVALS FOR THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT IN YOUR NORTH PONCE AREA. IT'S A PROJECT THAT WILL NOT ONLY DELIVER NEW HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND HELP ACTIVATE THE NORTH PONCE AREA, AS WE DISCUSSED AT OUR LAST HEARING.

BUT ALSO IT'S A PROJECT THAT HELPS SECURE THE FUTURE OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY, A VITAL NONPROFIT INSTITUTION IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT SERVES MANY FAMILIES AND MANY CHILDREN. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY REVIEWED SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED IN 2021. IT'S RECEIVED FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATIONS AT ALL LEVELS OF REVIEW THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, INCLUDING FROM YOUR CITY STAFF WHO'S RECOMMENDING APPROVAL FROM YOUR CITY PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD, WHO ALSO RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. AND FROM THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS WHO APPROVED THIS PROJECT. BUT THIS PROJECT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. TODAY WE HAD SOME PHOTOS TO SHOW YOU. WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM UP ON THE SCREEN. BUT IN RECENT WEEKS, THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY BUILDING HAS EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL ISSUES. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ROOF, WHICH IS LEAKING AND HAS HAD TO BE TARPED. ALSO, THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT WATER DAMAGE WITH WITHIN THE BUILDING AND THE FLOORING, WHICH IS COLLAPSING. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CRYSTAL ACADEMY TO TRY TO REPAIR THOSE, BUT THIS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE YOUR APPROVAL HERE TODAY SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND REALLY, TRULY CREATE A TRUE PERMANENT HOME, ONE THAT IS UP TO THE QUALITY AND THE STANDARDS THAT'S NEEDED FOR AN INSTITUTION OF THIS NATURE. AT OUR LAST MEETING, THE COMMISSION ASKED US TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC FEEDBACK AND ADDRESS SEVERAL ITEMS BEFORE COMING BACK, AND OUR TEAM HAS WORKED HARD TO ENSURE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE ITEMS THAT YOU REQUESTED HAS BEEN ADDRESSED, AND I'D LIKE TO GO OVER THEM ONE BY ONE TO SHOW YOU HOW WE'VE RESPONDED TO YOUR QUESTIONS. FIRST, AS REQUESTED BY THE MAYOR, WE'VE REVISED OUR PUBLIC BENEFIT COMMITTEE COMMITMENT TO NOT ONLY INCLUDE THE EXTERIOR BUILDOUT OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY, BUT ALSO TO INCLUDE THE FULL INTERNAL BUILDOUT OF THE SCHOOL AS WELL. SO THAT PUBLIC BENEFIT CONTRIBUTION COVENANT HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE ALL THE INTERIOR WORK FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY AS WELL. SO QUICK QUESTION RIGHT NOW, WHERE DO WE STAND IN REGARDS TO THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE INTERIOR OF THE SCHOOL? SO THAT IS THE SECOND ITEM THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS. MISTER MAYOR, WE HAVE INCREASED THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE SCHOOL BY 35%. WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WILL SHOW YOU, BUT WE HAVE INCREASED THE SQUARE FOOTAGE FROM 5000FT■!S TO 6700F, WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THE INTERNAL PICKUP AND DROP OFF. THAT WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE WORKED WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON OUTSIDE OF THE. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION FROM VANILLA SHELL, OBVIOUSLY TO A FINISHED PRODUCT. CORRECT. YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE CABINETS, ALL THE BATHROOMS, ALL THE INTERNAL WALLS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF. AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ULTRA LUXURY, BUT WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT PRODUCTS THAT AGAIN, CAN WITHSTAND THE WEAR AND TEAR OF AN EDUCATIONAL FACILITY. AND ALSO, LET'S BE LET'S TALK CANDIDLY HERE IN EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. SO IT HAS TO HANDLE BE ABLE TO HANDLE CERTAIN THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY. YEAH. WE ARE GOING TO WORK OUR, OUR DESIGN TEAM IS GOING TO WORK WITH, WITH MARY PALACIO FROM CRYSTAL ACADEMY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL HER NEEDS

[02:25:04]

WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS JUST THE DURABILITY, THE DURABILITY. AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED. BECAUSE THIS TO ME, IN MY OPINION AND THE OPINION OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ASSET HERE IN THE CITY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TREAT IT, TREAT IT LIKE THAT. SO BUT I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE, MISTER MANAGER. WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND, MR. MAYOR? I THINK THAT THE THERE THE ESTIMATES ABOUT $150 A SQUARE FOOT, WHICH IS NOT. WHICH IS WHICH IS A, I THINK, APPROPRIATE ESTIMATE FOR HIGH LEVEL CONSTRUCTION FROM A DURABILITY POINT OF VIEW AND WHICH IS WHAT I BELIEVE. WHAT WHAT YOU WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THAT THAT SCHOOL HAS TO BE DURABLE. AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GOLD PLATED FIXTURES. IT'S DURABLE FIXTURES AND DURABLE CONSTRUCTION AND REINFORCEMENT OF DRYWALL AND, AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. I THINK $1 MILLION WOULD PROBABLY BE ABOUT $150 A SQUARE FOOT, WHICH IS IS RIGHT ABOUT ABOUT THERE. THANK YOU, MISTER MANAGER. IF YOU'RE IF YOUR TEAM, AGAIN, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS TODAY, COULD WORK HAND IN HAND, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE MANAGER ON THAT INTERIOR. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE REST OF THE PROJECT.

I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT JUST THAT PIECE OF THE PROJECT FOR ME IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL AT AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOT ONLY AM I PROUD OF AND THE CITY'S PROUD OF, BUT THAT YOU'RE PROUD OF. THANK YOU. AND MISTER MAYOR, WE'LL WORK WITH THE, WITH WITH YOUR CITY MANAGER. ONCE WE HAVE AN INTERNAL PLAN DESIGNED AND THE FINISH IS SELECTED, WE CAN WORK WITH THE MANAGER TO REVIEW THOSE PRIOR TO SUBMITTING FOR BUILDING PERMIT. PERFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE THIRD ITEM WERE SOME REQUESTS BY THE VICE MAYOR REGARDING TREE PRESERVATION AND LANDSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY COMMITTED TO RELOCATING THE LARGE OAK TO THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY ALONG EAST PONCE. BUT AS REQUESTED BY THE VICE MAYOR, WE HAVE FURTHER COMMITTED TO RELOCATE AN ADDITIONAL ON SITE OAK ONTO EAST PONCE. WE'VE CREATED A BUMP OUT WHERE THAT TREE CAN BE ACCOMMODATED. WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN ROOT PRUNING FOR THAT TREE PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION, HOPEFULLY VERY SOON, SO WE COULD HAVE BOTH TREES READY TO RELOCATE. AND I THINK, MADAM VICE MAYOR, WITH THE ADDITIONAL BUILDING SETBACK THAT YOU REQUESTED ON EAST PONCE AND THE ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING, THIS NEW TREE SPECIMEN THERE WILL REALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE. CREATING A NICE GREEN CANOPY ALONG EAST PONCE, WHICH I THINK WAS YOUR INTENT. YES. THANK YOU. WE'VE ALSO COMMITTED TO PLANT ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF PHOENICIA AVENUE. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE WOMEN'S CLUB TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET ARE ARE TREATED THE SAME FROM A LANDSCAPE PERSPECTIVE. AND FINALLY, IN RESPONSE TO COMMENTS FROM AREA RESIDENTS AND AT YOUR DIRECTION, MADAM VICE MAYOR, WE'VE COMMITTED TO PERFORM AN ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC STUDY AND TO IMPLEMENT ANY TRAFFIC CALMING OR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS ALONG PHOENICIA. AT THE CORNERS, WE HAVE AN EXHIBIT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING CROSSWALKS THERE AT THOSE TWO INTERSECTIONS. NOW ACROSS FROM THE SCHOOL ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROPERTY. SO I THINK YOU CAN SEE WE'VE ADDRESSED EACH OF THE ITEMS THAT THIS COMMISSION DIRECTED US TO, TO STUDY FURTHER. THIS PROJECT CANNOT BE COMING AT A BETTER TIME FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY. OUR ENTIRE TEAM IS DEDICATED TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROJECT GETS DONE, AND THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS PRESERVED HERE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF CHANGES TO THIS PROJECT SINCE THE TIME OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN REFINED. IT'S BEEN REVIEWED BY ALL YOUR DEPARTMENTS, BY ALL YOUR BOARDS, BY CITY STAFF WHO ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. AND WE ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THE PROJECT WITH THE REVISED COMMITMENTS THAT WE MADE TODAY SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. THANK

[02:30:03]

WHATEVER YOU LIKE. I'M JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES. THROUGH THE MAYOR.

WELL, THEN IF WE'RE GOING TO IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT'S THAT'S NOT THE VICE MAYOR GO FIRST STATEMENT. SO I DID I DID HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. SO. MAYBE THIS WILL HELP RESOLVE SOME SOME ISSUES. WE DID TALK ABOUT RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS.

WERE YOU ABLE TO INCLUDE THAT WITH ICON UNTIL YOU HAVE A HISTORIC BUILDING THERE? RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT SIGNS WOULD BE HELPFUL. IT'S CURRENTLY NOT A CONDITION, BUT WE HAVE NO OBJECTIONS TO PROVIDING FOR THAT ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL PARKING. WE'RE FULLY PARKED INTERNALLY AND ARE NOT PLANNING ON USING ANY OF THAT ON STREET PARKING. WE COULD HAVE THAT AS AN ADDITIONAL CONDITION OF APPROVAL. I KNOW SOME OF THE RESIDENTS AT THE LAST MEETING AND AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, ASKED TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PERMIT PARKING THERE. YOU'RE RIGHT. YEAH, I'M IN PARTICULAR, THESE HISTORIC BUILDINGS HAVE NO PLACE ELSE TO PARK BUT THE STREET, SO I'D APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THAT UP AND HELP ALLEVIATE AN ISSUE THERE. AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO TAKE CARE OF THE HARDWOOD TREES. I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT FOR THE RECORD, TOO, THAT OUR STAFF HAS DESIGNATED ADDITIONAL TREES ON THE PHOENICIA SIDE TO BE MOVED INTO THE PUBLIC REALM. I KNOW YOU HAVE IT COVERED, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT THE HEALTHY GUMBO LIMBOS ARE ITEMS THAT THE.

OUR STAFF HAS REQUESTED TO BE MOVED INTO THE PUBLIC AREA AND PRESERVE THOSE AS WELL. AND AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE, BECAUSE I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH SENATOR THAT WE TOURED THE FACILITY AND I USED THIS AS AN EXAMPLE, THIS PROJECT, AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY USING OUR CITY ZONING CODE IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY, INSTEAD OF TALLAHASSEE PREEMPTING US, BECAUSE WE GET TO DO THESE WONDERFUL THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND HAVE COMMUNITY BENEFIT. WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY WITH LOCAL PROJECTS, AND IT'S TRULY A BLESSING THAT PROJECTS AND DEVELOPERS LIKE US COME FORWARD, WILLING TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR CITY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE FUTURE IS MOMENT. THE COMMENT I GOT BACK WAS, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT EVERY CITY IS CORAL GABLES. SO THANK YOU FOR FOR THIS. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, SINCE THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL ITEM, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND CITY ATTORNEY PUT ON THE RECORD THAT THERE HAS BEEN EX PARTY COMMUNICATIONS. OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD ABOUT THAT OR JUST. NO, NO, I MEAN, EVERYTHING'S A PUBLIC RECORD. IT'S BEEN MOSTLY EMAILS. OKAY. AND SO AS LONG AS YOU ARE ABLE TO REMAIN ABSOLUTELY IMPARTIAL AND FREE FROM BIAS, YOU CAN CONTINUE. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OUR ZONING DIRECTOR, PLEASE. OH I'M SORRY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MORNING. JENNIFER GARCIA, PLANNING ZONING DIRECTOR. IF I COULD HAVE THE POWERPOINT, PLEASE. WE CAN SHOW A SITE PLAN AND SHOW THE CHANGES AND BE ABLE TO VISUALIZE THAT. DO I HAVE A POWERPOINT? OKAY. AND THE CHANGES ARE LAID OUT FOR YOU IN THE MEMO OF THE COMMISSION ON PAGE TWO. WE WENT OVER THEM.

PERFECT. THANK YOU. THE LOCATION IS BLOCK 21 DOUGLAS SECTION, AND THAT'S THE AERIAL.

THERE ARE FOUR REQUESTS THAT YOU'LL BE VOTING ON TODAY. THE CHANGE OF LAND USE ZONING CODE, A MAP AMENDMENT, AS WELL AS PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT AND CONDITIONAL USE. WE ALL KNOW THAT CODE DEVIATIONS ARE NINE STORIES INSTEAD OF EIGHT STORIES, AND THEN A SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE TRANSPARENCY. AND IF ANYTHING, IT WOULD BE 6700FT■!S FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY. O COST FOR 99 YEARS. THE PARK IN THE CORNER FOR PUBLIC USE AFTER HOURS, AS WELL AS A PUBLIC PEDESTRIAN PASS THROUGH, AS WELL AS A COURTYARD AND THEIR PROPERTY. AND THEN THE INTERSECTION TRAFFIC CALMING. WE TALKED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC CIRCLES AND CROSSWALKS. IS THE SITE PLAN THAT'S BEEN UPDATED SINCE YOU SAW IT LAST. YOU'VE SEEN A PARK IN THE CORNER, THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY. THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN ENLARGED TO BE 100FT■!S. THE DRP OFF IS STILL INTERIORLY LOCATED. THE WORKS ARE WRAPPING AROUND THE ENTIRE BUILDING, AND I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. SO THE CHANGES FROM FIRST READING WERE THE

[02:35:02]

THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE SAW LAST TIME THE LANDSCAPE ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF PHOENICIA, WHICH WAS REQUESTED, BUT ALSO PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS AND TRAFFIC CIRCLES.

STAFF HAD GOTTEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT CRASHES AND TRAFFIC ISSUES, NEEDS TRAFFIC CALMING ALONG PHOENICIA AND ANTHEA, THE WAY IT'S DRAFTED TODAY IN THE ORDINANCE, AFTER DISCUSSING WITH THE APPLICANT, WE WANT TO REVISE THAT SO THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PERSUADE THE THE COUNTY TO HAVE A FOUR WAY STOP EITHER AT THE EAST PONCE AND PHOENICIA OR EAST PONCE AND ANTHEA. SO THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE THE RAISED CROSSWALK AS PROPOSED IN THE ORDINANCE. IF THEY'RE ABLE TO GET ONE OF THOSE INTERSECTIONS TO BE A FOUR WAY STOP, WHICH WOULD BE MORE PREFERABLE FOR STAFF AS FAR AS CONTROLLING THE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA. I THINK THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. DAVID WINKER, 4720 SOUTH LEJEUNE AVENUE. I'D LIKE TO IF I WAS OKAY WITH YOU, I'D LIKE TO GO AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT. YOU GUYS. OKAY. THANK YOU. MR. CLERK. MR. MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO START PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. FIRST SPEAKER MARIA CRUZ.

I GUESS IT'S GOOD AFTERNOON. AT THIS TIME, MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. HERE WE GO AGAIN AND AGAIN. FOR SOME REASON, WE TRUST. WE TRUST WHAT THE DEVELOPERS PROMISE BECAUSE THEY CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND CHANGE IT. I AM ALWAYS IMPRESSED WHEN OUR OUR LEADER ASKED FOR SOME STUFF AT THE LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS JULY 7TH. TODAY IS AUGUST 25TH AND IT WAS A SIMPLE IN MY MIND, START WORKING ON INTERNAL PLANNING DESIGN. WELL TODAY WE HEARD THAT AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK THEY'RE GOING TO START WORKING ON THAT. SO LOOK AT ALL THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TOOK. BUT NOW THEY'RE THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT. AND WE TRUST THAT THEY WILL DO IT BECAUSE IF NOT, THEY'LL HAVE SOME EXCUSE WHY THEY COULDN'T DO IT. I'M ALSO VERY INTERESTING. SEE I'M GOING TO WHAT WAS SAID TODAY. NOW WE'RE GOING TO SAVE A TREE, BUT OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO BUMP OUT SO WE CAN USE THE CITY PROPERTY THAT WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN PARKING TO HAVE THE TREE OFF THEIR PROPERTY. THAT'S THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. I WONDER HOW MANY NEIGHBORS, HOW MANY RESIDENTS CAN DO THAT MOVE WHATEVER THEY DON'T WANT TO THE CITY SIDE. OKAY. SOMETHING IS WRONG. THERE'S A LITTLE SAYING WHEN SOMETHING SMELLS, THERE IS SOMETHING WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT. THE ACADEMY. THIS BUILDING IS NOT FOR CRYSTAL ACADEMY. THIS BUILDING IS A DEVELOPMENT, A DEVELOPER THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS PROPERTY AND TO PULL ON OUR HEARTSTRINGS WHILE, IF WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT CRYSTAL PROJECT, THE CRYSTAL

[02:40:04]

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF UNFAMILIAR PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT AROUND THAT AREA THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE NORMALLY. IT'S A VERY QUIET AREA. PEOPLE WALK THEIR DOGS. YOU SEE PEOPLE WITH THEIR BABIES, WITH THEIR STROLLERS, A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT FEELING. ADDITIONALLY, THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THE LIVE WORK PART IS THAT THIS IS A SCHOOL FOR AUTISTIC KIDS. I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE SCHOOL THAT SCHOOL STUDENTS THEMSELVES. IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF UNFAMILIAR PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT OF THE SURROUNDING AREA OF THE BUILDING. SO IF THIS IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE CRYSTAL RESIDENCES, I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL ELIMINATE THE LIVE WORK PART.

AND THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MANUEL SANTA MARIA. GOOD AFTERNOON SIR. GOOD MORNING. I LIVE AT 111 SALAMANCA AVENUE. I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF OUR CITY.

BEAUTIFUL. AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF OPPOSITION POINTS THAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE. AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN SAID BEFORE. IT'S NOT TO BE REPEATING. IT'S TO MAKE CLEAR THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AND THE MAIN ONE IS THAT DEVELOPERS ARE LEVERAGING THE NOVEL WORK OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY TO APPEAL TO MOTION RATHER THAN SOUND URBAN PLANNING. AND THEY SAY THAT THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO SECURE FOR THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY, BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY WILL BE THERE FOR ALL THIS TIME. EVEN THE DEVELOPERS HAVE SAID THAT IF THEY LEAVE,

[02:45:06]

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M TOM WELLS. I LIVE AT 1310 CORAL WAY. MY LAW FIRM IS ALSO LOCATED AT 901 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST THE COMMISSION GIVING ZONING CODE EXCEPTIONS TO CRYSTAL RESIDENCES FOR A LOCAL DEVELOPER WHO CONTRIBUTED OVER $20,000 TO MAYOR LARGO'S CAMPAIGN IN 21 THROUGH 24, AND CHICAGO DEVELOPER WHO CONTRIBUTED $10,000 TO A PAC THAT ONLY SUPPORTS MAYOR LARGO AND TWO OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO FOLLOWED MAYOR LARGO'S VOTE PERSONALLY ATTACKS ANYBODY WHO DISSENTS. LOCAL DEVELOPER GAVE COMMISSIONER LARA $3,000 ON A RUNOFF ELECTION. ALSO, THE PAC CONTRIBUTION WAS MADE 12 DAYS BEFORE MAYOR LARGO'S MAJORITY VOTE ON THE ZONING CODE EXCEPTION FOR COMMERCIAL RESIDENCES. BY REQUIRING ZONING CODE EXCEPTION. THIS DEVELOPMENT IS PER SE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE ZONING CODE WITH ITS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENT, AND HOUSING VISION STATEMENT, REQUIRES THE PRESERVATION OF THE BASIC, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND LAYOUT OF THE CITY BY GEORGE MERRICK TO PROTECT THE DISTINCTIVE HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER OF THE CITY FOR THE SAFETY, HEALTH, COMFORT, MORALS, CONVENIENCE, PEACE, PROSPERITY, APPEARANCE AND GENERAL WELFARE FOR THE CITY RESIDENTS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS COMMISSIONER LAIRD TALKED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT DUE PROCESS, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO GRANT THE REQUESTED ZONING EXCEPTION. TODAY, THE TRAFFIC STUDY ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA WAS PREPARED IN 2022. IT DOES NOT DISCUSS THE THE AURELIAN, A 12 STORY APARTMENT BUILDING LOCATED AT 114 CULEBRA WITH 161 RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND 248 CAR PARKING GARAGE. IT ALSO DOES NOT DISCUSS PONCE EIGHT, AS PREVIOUSLY REFERENCED, A 16 STORY LIVE LOCAL APARTMENT BUILDING WITH 201 RESIDENTIAL UNITS. BY MAKING PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, ONE LANE SOUTH OF EIGHTH STREET. TRAFFIC DEPARTING FROM THE OFFICE BUILDINGS ON THE EAST SIDE, LIKE MY BUILDING OF PONDS, ARE FORCED INTO THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS WHERE CRYSTAL RESIDENCE IS PROPOSED TO BE LOCATED. YOUR JOB IS TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF RESIDENTS BASED ON CURRENT FACTS. BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC STUDY IS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE AND OUTDATED, YOU CANNOT, CANNOT MAKE THAT INFORMED DECISION. TODAY, AS WE HEARD, THE LOBBYIST IS GOING TO REDO THE TRAFFIC STUDY, SO YOU SHOULDN'T MAKE THIS DECISION UNTIL YOU'RE INFORMED AS TO THE TRAFFIC STUDY AS TO MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS. YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE AN INDEPENDENT

[02:50:02]

ANTHONY ATWOOD WOULD BE NEXT. MR. ATWOOD, SIR, GOOD MORNING. AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MR. MAYOR, MADAM VICE MAYOR, DAMAS CABALLEROS, I AM NOT A RESIDENT OF CORAL GABLES. I LIVE AT 9337 SOUTHWEST 37TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA, THE GREAT STATE OF WESTCHESTER. I WAS BORN, THOUGH, IN CORAL GABLES DOCTORS HOSPITAL. I AM A A HURRICANE. MY GREAT UNCLE WAS THE FIRE MARSHAL OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS PROJECT. I'VE BEEN ASKED TO. I AM A LECTURER IN NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES AT THE UNIVERSITY, AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE MIAMI DADE MILITARY MUSEUM. WE'RE LOCATED AT AT THE ZOO, WHICH WAS ONCE A VERY LARGE MILITARY BASE. ABOUT THIS PROJECT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT JUST JUMP RIGHT UP. NUMBER ONE, THE PROJECT VIOLATES THE NORTH PONCE NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION OVERLAY DISTRICT. NUMBER TWO, IT VIOLATES THE HISTORIC CITY PLAN UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THIS COMMISSION. NUMBER THREE, IT VIOLATES ZONING CODE SECTION 1-103. THE COMPATIBILITY REQUIREMENT. NUMBER FOUR, IT CONTRADICTS THE CITY'S OWN NORTH PONCE PLANNING PROCESS. NUMBER FIVE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE CANNOT SUPPORT IT. IT'S FOR A. NUMBER SIX, THE PLANNED AREA DEVELOPMENT BENEFIT CLAIM IS, YOU MIGHT SAY, HOLLOW. THERE'S ALSO A. AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THAT PERHAPS NO ONE HAS EVEN MENTIONED. THE GARDEN OF THE LORD WAS BUILT BY VETERANS OF WORLD WAR TWO AND KOREA. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS. MEMORIALS, PLAQUES, BRASS PLAQUES TO THOSE PEOPLE. THEY CANNOT SPEAK HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL DEAD NOW. AND WE, THE LIVING. MUST CARRY ON IN SOME WAY UNTIL THE BALLOON GOES UP ONCE AGAIN, AND YOU MAY REST ASSURED IT WILL. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MILITARY MIND IT'S COMING. AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL NEED OUR HEROES AND OUR HEROINES ONCE AGAIN, SO I. I KNOW THAT WHAT I'VE SAID IS PROBABLY OFF THE BEAM. I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE TO YOU, BUT I. I HOPE YOU WILL RESPECTFULLY REMEMBER WHY THE CITY STANDS, WHAT IT STANDS FOR, AND THE HUMANS WHO BUILT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I, SIR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. ONCE AGAIN. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOU, NOEL HUB. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS NOEL. I'M FROM 1201 EAST PONCE. I

[02:55:06]

THE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT ON PONCE DE LEON WAS DONE AFTER THE TRAFFIC SURVEY, WHICH YOU DID, SO IT'S NOT RELEVANT ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU'VE CLOSED PONCE ALL OVER THE PLACE, GOTTEN RID OF PARKING SPACES TO DO THESE BUMP OUTS. YOU'RE FUNNELING PEOPLE ONTO OUR STREETS. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS GO BY MY BUILDING EVERY DAY, BETWEEN DUMP TRUCKS AND CONCRETE TRUCKS TO GET TO THE OTHER PROJECT DOWN THE STREET. WE HAVE NOWHERE TO PARK. IT'S IT'S IT'S NUTS. YOU'RE GETTING RID OF OUR TREES. YOU'RE PUTTING THIS MASSIVE PROJECT RIGHT ON OUR STREETS. YOU'RE DESTROYING OUR COMMUNITY. MY FAMILY'S BEEN HERE SINCE 52. WE OWNED A PROPERTY FOR 64 YEARS. OKAY, WE. AND IT'S A HISTORIC PROPERTY, SO I KNOW THE HISTORIC RULES AND EVERYTHING. MY MOTHER DID BATTLE WITH YOU GUYS. SHE ACTUALLY WON. BUT YOU'RE NOT SAVING ANYTHING. YOU'RE DESTROYING THIS CITY. AND I'M SORRY TO SEE IT GO. THANK YOU. LYNN BLUESTEIN. OKAY. MARIA DE LEON FLEITAS. HI. LYNN BLUESTEIN, 4330 SOUTHWEST 15TH STREET. I AM HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT SOMEONE I CONSIDER TO BE A LOCAL HERO. AND THAT IS BONNIE BOLTON. SERGIO PINO PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN NOVEMBER 2021. THE ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, NOT PRESERVATION OF THE GARDEN OR CHURCH, THE GARDEN AND HISTORIC TREES WEREN'T PART OF THE PLAN. THE PROPERTY WAS BOUGHT PURELY AS A DEVELOPMENTAL SITE, WITH THE EXISTING RELIGIOUS AND GARDEN USE SEEN AS SOMETHING TO BE CLEARED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS. HIS WIFE FILED FOR DIVORCE AND HE WAS INVOLVED IN A MURDER FOR HIRE PLOT TO HAVE HER KILLED, AS AGENTS WERE CLOSING IN TO ARREST HIM AT HIS CORAL GABLES HOME, PINO FATALLY SHOT HIMSELF ON JULY 16TH, 2024. THIS WHOLE SORDID STORY REMINDS ME OF ALL THE INDIANA JONES MOVIES PUT TOGETHER WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO SAVE SACRED SPACES AND RELICS AND ANTIQUITIES. THERE WERE ALWAYS DARK FORCES TRYING TO STEAL THEM AND DESTROY THEM. IT DIDN'T END WELL FOR THE ADVERSARIES. I THINK THIS IS A STORY AS OLD AS TIME. I INVITE YOU TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT AND THINK BACK IN YOUR LIFE OF THE TIME OR TIMES WHEN YOUR HEART HAS BEEN BROKEN BY SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. IF YOU ARE HUMAN, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO YOU. AND NOW I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE AWARE THAT YOU ARE BREAKING THE HEARTS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD URGE YOU NOT TO DESECRATE AND DESTROY THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE DESTRUCTION AND DESECRATION OF THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO WHATEVER YOUR FUTURE MAY BRING. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS PERFECTLY OKAY TO CHANGE YOUR MIND AND CHANGE YOUR VOTE AT THIS TIME. THINK ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND AND I'LL SIGN OFF WITH ONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS. JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD. THANK YOU. MARIA DE LEON.

FLIGHTS. HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY PRESENTATION? WELL, ABSOLUTELY. CHERYL ACKERMAN.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHERYL ACKERMAN. I LIVE AT 816 SOROLLA AVENUE, CORAL GABLES, THAT'S NORTH GABLES. I AM OPPOSED TO THE. ZONING CHANGES, AND I'VE BEEN

[03:00:01]

PLEASE PRESERVE THE CHARACTER AND SCALE OF THIS HISTORIC CORAL GABLES NEIGHBORHOOD BY DENYING THIS UPZONING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MARIA DE LEON FLIGHTS. GOOD MORNING. IF WE COULD HAVE THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, PLEASE. MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MARIA DE LEON FLATS, AND I LIVE AT 825 MESSINA AVENUE AND HAVE BEEN A CORAL GABLES RESIDENT FOR 43 YEARS. I SPEAK AS AN ARCHITECT, AN ADJUNCT FACULTY MEMBER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, AND A NEIGHBOR WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE LOSS OF THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD MEDITATION GARDEN, A CHERISHED SANCTUARY OF REFLECTION, BEAUTY AND COMMUNITY, CONNECTION WITH CITY STEWARDSHIP. IT COULD ONCE AGAIN BECOME AN OPEN PUBLIC GARDEN. DESTROYING IT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE AN IRREVERSIBLE CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL LOSS. SECOND, THE PROPOSED NINE STORY HEIGHT IS FUNDAMENTALLY INCOMPATIBLE WITH ITS SURROUNDINGS. THE ZONING HERE ALLOWS FOR STORIES. A JUMP FROM 4 TO 9 STORIES IS NOT A MINOR ADJUSTMENT. IT DRAMATICALLY CHANGES THE SCALE, SHADOWS, AND CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THERE HAS BEEN CONFUSION ABOUT NEARBY TALLER BUILDINGS. THOSE BUILDINGS ARE LOCATED ALONG PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, DOUGLAS ROAD AND WITHIN THE DOUGLAS ENTRANCE CAMPUS AREAS INTENTIONALLY PLANNED FOR GREATER DENSITY.

THE STREETS SURROUNDING THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING ANTILLA AND PHOENICIA, REMAIN RESIDENTIAL IN CHARACTER AND WERE NEVER INTENDED TO ABSORB A NINE STORY TOWER OR A 12 STORY TOWER THAT'S GOING UP ON THE OTHER BLOCK SHOWING, HERE IS AN AERIAL GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATING ALL THE BUILDINGS TALLER THAN FOUR STORIES WITHIN A FIVE MINUTE WALK, WHICH IS A TYPICAL NEIGHBORHOOD, IS A FIVE MINUTE WALK. IT CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THE TALLER BUILDINGS ARE CONCENTRATED ALONG THOSE MAJOR CORRIDORS THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE. WHILE THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD REMAINS PREDOMINANTLY FOUR STORIES OR LESS, EVERYTHING THAT IS GREEN IS FOUR STORIES OR LESS, AND ONLY THE BUILDINGS WITHIN THE COLORED AREAS ARE TALLER THAN THAT. ALTHOUGH I OPPOSE THE HEIGHT, MY PRIMARY MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO SAVE THE GARDEN.

TO THAT END, I DEVELOPED A 12 STORY STUDY THAT PRESERVES THE SAME NUMBER OF UNITS AND REQUIRED PARKING, WHILE PROTECTING BOTH THE GARDEN AND THE 200 YEAR OLD OAK TREE.

WHILE THE CURRENT PROPOSAL WOULD RELOCATE THE TREE, TRANSPLANTING A SPECIMEN OF THAT AGE CARRIES SIGNIFICANT RISK AND WOULD REMOVE IT FROM THE HISTORIC SETTING WHERE IT HAS STOOD FOR GENERATIONS, THE MAYOR TOLD ME HE WAS 110% BEHIND THE IDEA IF THE DEVELOPER ACCEPTED IT. WE MET WITH THE DEVELOPER LAST WEEK AND HE DECLINED TO CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE. IT MADE ONE FACT CLEAR PRESERVATION WAS POSSIBLE, BUT THE DEVELOPER REJECTED THE

[03:05:05]

SUPPORTERS CITE THAT THERE WILL BE BENEFITS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THESE BENEFITS ESCAPE ME.

THE SCALE OF THE STRUCTURE IS NOT BENEFICIAL. THE LOSS OF THE GARDEN AND ITS ARTIFACTS HAS NOT BENEFICIAL. AGAIN, I WALKED THIS NEIGHBORHOOD REGULARLY. THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS HEALTHY.

THERE IS CONSIDERABLE PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY AND EVERYONE IS FRIENDLY. IF THIS PROJECT IS TO BE A BENEFIT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, OPEN THE GARDEN TO THE PUBLIC AND RESTRICT THE SCALE OF THE STRUCTURE. I BELIEVE IN THE GOAL. I BELIEVE IN THE GOAL OF CITY LEADERSHIP TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF ITS RESIDENTS. YOU CAN DO SO BY KEEPING THE GARDEN AND LIMITING THE SCALE OF THE STRUCTURES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. BONNIE BOLTON. AND YOU CAN REQUEST YOUR PRESENTATION. MA'AM, IT'S READY FOR YOU. OKAY, OKAY. PUT IT UP, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. FIRST, IT'S WHERE'S MY PRESENTATION? AND I NEED THE CLICKER. OKAY.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, MA'AM, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD? I'M SORRY? BONNIE BOLTON, 42 PHOENICIA AVENUE HERE IN CORAL GABLES. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I MUST MENTION THAT THE PETITION FORM LETTERS PRESENTED BY THE DEVELOPER DO NOT MENTION THAT THE PROJECT INCLUDES DEMOLITION OF THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD, MOVING THE 200 YEAR OLD TREE, AND CHOPPING DOWN OLD GROWTH SPECIMEN TREES ON THE SWALE ON EAST PONCE AND ON 90. AND I WANT TO THANK NICOLAS CABRERA FOR SERVING AS THE MOTIVATION TO INVESTIGATE THE PETITION FORM LETTER FRAUD. I COUNTED EACH FORM LETTER TWICE. IT IS FLAGRANTLY OBVIOUS APPROXIMATELY 318 CAME FROM THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND APPROXIMATELY 173 CAME FROM THE CITY OF MIAMI. THEY WERE SUBMITTED BY DAVID BUTLER OF GREENBERG TRAURIG. JORGE NAVARRO BOASTED ABOUT THOSE PETITION LETTERS AT THE SPECIAL MASTERS, AND AT EVERY SUBSEQUENT HEARING HE STATED, THEY CAME FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHEN IN FACT A MAJORITY DID NOT.

WE HAD SEPARATE LETTERS FOR THE SPECIAL MASTERS AND THE ZONING BOARD. WE HAD OVER 170 LETTERS FOR THE. ZONING BOARD HEARING AND FOR THE SPECIAL MASTERS. WE HAD AN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT. AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING. IGNACIO ALVAREZ, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, STATES, THIS BURIAL SITE KEEPS COMING UP. IS THIS A CEMETERY? AND JORGE NAVARRO STATES, QUOTE, I JUST WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. NO, IT. THIS SITE WAS ALLEGED TO BE A CEMETERY FOR YEARS AGO, THE STATE OF FLORIDA CAME AND CERTIFIED THAT IT IS NOT A CEMETERY. I RECEIVED A

[03:10:07]

AND THERE IS THE FORM SENT BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA YESTERDAY. THAT'S FRAUD. MR. NAVARRO. AND I WANT TO MENTION THAT QUASI JUDICIAL DECISIONS MUST BE BASED STRICTLY ON COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL AND TRUTHFUL EVIDENCE. IF AN APPLICANT'S ATTORNEY LIES DURING A QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING, THEIR DECEPTIVE STATEMENTS CAN INVALIDATE THE ENTIRE APPLICATION AND SUBJECT THE ATTORNEY TO IMMEDIATE ETHICS INVESTIGATIONS, MR. NAVARRO STATED. THE STATE HAD SAID THAT IT WAS CERTIFIED NOT TO BE A CEMETERY. I PROVIDED PROOF TO THE CONTRARY. I'M ALSO SUBMITTING AN ARBORIST REPORT, WHICH STATES THAT THE TREE IS AT LEAST 163 YEARS OLD AND CANNOT BE MOVED BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO ITS ROOTS. ALSO, I AM SUBMITTING ARTICLES WHICH STATE THAT SOME OF THE TREES AND BUSHES IN THE GARDEN TODAY CAME AS SEEDS FROM GETHSEMANE. I AM SUBMITTING ARTICLES ALSO STATING THAT THE GARDEN WAS ALWAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IT CHANGED AFTER I HAD THE HERALD WRITE AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE GARDEN, AND I AM SUBMITTING AN AFFIDAVIT WHICH DETAILS ADDITIONAL PROPOSED BY MR. NAVARRO, AND I NEED TO MENTION THE $10,000 DONATION TO THE MAYOR FROM STEVE FIFIELD. DAYS BEFORE THE COMMISSION VOTE FOR THE FIRST READING OF THE ZONING CHANGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS A VIOLATION OF MY DUE PROCESS, WHAT JORGE NAVARRO HAS DONE. OKAY, JUST FOR THE RECORD, ONE ADDITIONAL MINUTE FROM THE THREE MINUTES, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT VIOLATION OF DUE PROCESS THAT WAS MY LINE. WE'LL MOVE FORWARD BY LYING THAT THE STATE CERTIFIED IT TO BE A NOT A CEMETERY. I PROVIDED THE PROOF. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE SIT DOWN. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CAROL CARBONELL. GOOD AFTERNOON. HELLO, EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON. AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN. MANY YEARS NOW FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT. ON BEHALF OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OF CORAL GABLES, PLEASE ACCEPT THESE REMARKS IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT AS PRESENTED. PLEASE CONSIDER THE PROJECT. 110 PHOENICIA AVENUE IN CONTEXT WITH THE AREA. THE AREA WAS DESIGNED AS A LOW SCALE GARDEN APARTMENT DISTRICT. THE ENCLAVE WAS PLANNED BY CITY FOUNDER GEORGE MERRICK AS PART OF HIS GARDEN CITY PRECEPT, THE PROPOSED PROJECT, SCHEDULED TO BE BUILT ON THE SITE WHERE THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD SAINT JAMES LUTHERAN CHURCH AND CRYSTAL ACADEMY NOW STAND, DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE PRESENT ZONING CODE, AND IT VIOLATES SEVERAL CITY ORDINANCES. SO HERE ARE MY TOP TEN REASONS IN OPPOSITION. NUMBER ONE, THERE'S A ZONING VIOLATION. AS YOU'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER, THE BLOCK IS ZONED SPECIAL USE RELIGIOUS WITH A FOUR STORY MAX HEIGHT. NUMBER TWO, IT'S INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SURROUNDING STRUCTURES ARE 1 TO 4 STORIES TALL, AND THERE'S ALSO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THAT WILL BE DIRECTLY THAT ARE DIRECTLY ADJACENT. NUMBER THREE, THERE'S HISTORIC SENSITIVITY. SIX HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED STRUCTURES ON PHOENICIA AVENUE AND ANTEA AVENUE. AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEING STUDIED FOR A HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION. AS A MATTER OF FACT, JUST RECENTLY, THE FINAL DRAFT OF THIS SURVEY WAS SUBMITTED, AND IT HAS THE SURVEY HAS INVENTORIED 556 HISTORIC RESOURCES AND OUTLINES A FRAMEWORK FOR PRESERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER. NUMBER FOUR. THERE'S ALSO THE TWO ADDITIONAL LANDMARKS, WHICH IS THE CORAL GABLES WOMAN'S CLUB AND THE DOUGLAS ENTRANCE NUMBER FIVE. IT VIOLATES SECTION 1-103,

[03:15:09]

[03:20:05]

YOU KNOW, THAT WE SUPPORT THE, THE KIDS WITH ALL THINGS THAT THERE IS A FEW POPULATION, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME MINORS THAT THEY CANNOT GO TO REGULAR SCHOOLS. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT EVEN IF THEY BELONG TO THE CITY OR IT CAME FROM OTHER COUNTIES. THAT'S A SERVICE THAT THE CITY IS OPEN TO DO, EVEN TO THE WHOLE MIAMI DADE AND APPRECIATE IF YOU AGREE OR SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. OMAR PACKARD. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, OMAR PACKARD. I RESIDE AT 911 EAST PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD. I'VE LIVED IN CORAL GABLES FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS. I NEVER EXPECTED I WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION THIS MANY TIMES TO DEFEND THE NEIGHBORHOOD I CALL HOME. WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS PROJECT FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. AT THIS POINT, I THINK THE ISSUE IS VERY SIMPLE. THE COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT THIS PROJECT IN ITS CURRENT FORM, AND THE DEVELOPER HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO FIND COMPROMISE, TO FIND A COMPROMISE OR WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY. INSTEAD, WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT CRYSTAL ACADEMY. AS IF OPPOSING THIS DEVELOPMENT MEANS OPPOSING THE SCHOOL OR ITS STUDENTS. IT DOESN'T. CRYSTAL ACADEMY EXISTS TODAY. IT SERVES ITS STUDENTS TODAY.

DENYING THIS DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT MEAN DENYING THESE CHILDREN AN EDUCATION. THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD HAS BEEN PART OF THIS FOR MORE THAN 75 YEARS. THERE IS A WAY TO PROTECT IT, PRESERVE CRYSTAL ACADEMY AND STILL ALLOW DEVELOPMENT. WE NEARLY REACHED THAT POINT THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ZONING PROCESS. WHAT IS MISSING IS THE WILLINGNESS FROM THE DEVELOPER TO COMPROMISE.

AND THERE'S STILL SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUPPOSED PUBLIC BENEFIT AND TRAFFIC IMPACT. THIS COMMISSION HAS A CHOICE. YOU CAN CONTINUE TO BEND THE RULES TO ACCOMMODATE A WEALTHY DEVELOPER FROM CHICAGO, OR YOU CAN STAND UP FOR THE RESIDENTS WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE. PROTECT THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD. PROTECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. PLEASE VOTE NO. THANK YOU.

JUDITH PACKARD. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JUDITH PACKARD. I LIVE AT 911 EAST PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD. I LIVED IN THE NORTH PONDS FOR MORE THAN 43 YEARS. AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY BECAUSE I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO THE CORAL GABLES WE LEAVE BEHIND. THE GARDEN OF THE LORD IS NOT JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY.

[03:25:06]

THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL SUPPORT IT AS WELL. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

THANKS. WALTER FONTIVEROS. GOOD AFTERNOON. HELLO, MY NAME IS WALTER FONTIVEROS. ELEPHANT 1201 SOUTHWEST 42 AVENUE. OKAY, I BELIEVE CORAL GABLES TAKE AN IMPORTANT DECISION. SERIOUSLY.

THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN STUDIED. DEBATE, REDESIGN, REVIEW AND REVIEW. AGAIN. AT SOME POINT, THE PROCESS HAS TO MEET SOMETHING WE TRUST OUR PLANNERS, EXPERTS, BOARDS AND COURTS TO REVIEW THESE ISSUES AND WE SHOULD RESPECT THE OUTCOME. A NEW DESIGN INTRODUCED FIVE YEARS LATER FEELS LIKE A STALL TACTIC TO ME. THIS ONE WORKS ARE RECOMMENDATION. SAY I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOTE YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. ANNA HOLMAN. HELLO. TWO, THREE FIVE AND T AVENUE, APARTMENT TWO. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY PROJECT. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG, ONGOING THING FOR FIVE YEARS. I THINK THE LONGER THEY PROLONG IT, THE LONGER IT WILL TAKE FOR THESE STUDENTS. TO THESE KIDS, AUTISTIC KIDS TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO. THE SOONER IT IS APPROVED, THE SOONER IT CAN START GETTING BUILT ON. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED, REBUILT, HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, AND I THINK IT'S TIME FOR IT TO MOVE FORWARD, TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN A BETTER WAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

[03:30:05]

[03:35:04]

OWNER HAS SPENT YEARS GOING THROUGH THE CITY'S REQUIRED REVIEWS AND LEGAL PROCESS. IF THE COMMUNITY BELIEVES THIS PROPERTY MUST REMAIN EXACTLY AS IT IS FOREVER, THE FIRST SOLUTION IS TO ACQUIRE AND PRESERVE IT, NOT PREVENT A PRIVATE OWNER FROM USING IT INDEFINITELY. CARING ABOUT THE PLACE DOESN'T MAKE IT PUBLIC PROPERTY AND STOP POSITIVE PROGRESS. BY THE WAY, THIS SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT NEIGHBOR VERSUS NEIGHBOR. IT SHOULD BE ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG. THIS ONE IS RIGHT. PLEASE VOTE YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GIANCARLO VERGARA. GOOD AFTERNOON SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GIANCARLO VERGARA. I LIVE IN A TWO THREE, FIVE AVENUE APARTMENT SEVEN. I'VE HEARD THIS NEIGHBORHOOD SHOULD STAY EXACTLY AS IT AS IT IS, BUT CITIES CHANGE. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THAT CHANGE IS THOUGHTFUL. THIS PROJECT HAS HOUSING IMPROVE AN AGING PROPERTY AND SECURE CRYSTALS ACADEMY FUTURE. TO ME, THAT'S A THOUGHTFUL GROWTH. AND THIRD, TO BE APPROVED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. MARIA. GRACIAS. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MARIA GRACIA. MY ADDRESS IS $800, ROUTE 60833134. I ASKED MYSELF ONE SIMPLE QUESTION, WILL THIS PROPERTY CONTRIBUTE MORE TO CORAL GABLES TEN YEARS FROM NOW THAN IT DOES TODAY? FOR ME, THE ANSWER IS CLEARLY YES. LET'S FOCUS ON THE BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL, THE IMPORTANT WORK IT DOES, THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS AND THE TRIUMPHAL REVIEW THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS PROJECT. WE MAY NOT AGREE ON EVERY DETAIL, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A POSITIVE STEP FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE RIGHT THINGS FOR CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KAREN ALTMAN. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, KAREN ALTMAN AT 291 NAVARRE AVENUE. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I WALK MY DOG THROUGH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ALMOST EVERY DAY. WHAT MATTERS TO ME IS WHAT THIS PROJECT FEELS LIKE AT STREET LEVEL. IT ADDS WIDER SIDEWALKS, LANDSCAPING, PUBLIC PLAZA, OUTDOOR SEATING AND GATHERING SPACES. THIS IS. IMPROVEMENTS MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD BETTER FOR PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE IT EVERY DAY. IN MY OPINION. WHILE I RESPECT THE OPPOSITION'S CONCERNS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO SUPPORT THE PLAN. WE KEEP SHOWING UP JUST LIKE THEY DO. I SUPPORT IT, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SARAH. I'M GOING TO GO TO ZOOM NEXT. FIRST SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE JOSEPH FIDEL. MR. FIDEL. MR. FIDEL, IF YOU COULD PLEASE UNMUTE. MR. CLERK, YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO. THOMAS MOONEY WOULD BE NEXT. MR. MOONEY, GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. I WANTED TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND EFFORT WITH THIS PROCESS IN THE PROJECT. MISS MOONEY. YES. CAN WE ASK HIM TO PLEASE TURN ON HIS VIDEO? OH, SURE. AND ALSO PROVIDE US WITH YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE. IT SAYS THAT THE VIDEO IS DISABLED BY THE HOST, PAULSON. AND. OKAY, OKAY. WE HAD YOU THERE FOR A SECOND.

[03:40:14]

SIR, I DO THANK YOU. AND FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS THOMAS MOONEY. I RESIDE AT 601 NAVARRE AVENUE. I'M A 26 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I HAVE SPOKEN ON THIS MATTER BASICALLY AT ALL THE LEVELS OF THE REVIEW, SO I WON'T TAKE A LOT OF TIME. I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT. IT'S A VERY GOOD PROJECT FROM BOTH AN URBAN PLANNING STANDPOINT. FROM AN ADAPTIVE REUSE STANDPOINT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FROM ITS ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE A MAJOR CULTURAL INSTITUTION, THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY, FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES. MY SON DID ATTEND THE CRYSTAL ACADEMY FOR BOTH THERAPY AND SCHOOL FROM 2010 THROUGH JUNE OF THIS YEAR, AND HE HAS SINCE MOVED ON TO A NEW OPPORTUNITY AT THE MIAMI LEARNING EXPERIENCE. BUT MYSELF AND MY WIFE WILL ALWAYS BE MEMBERS OF THE CRYSTAL FAMILY. ONE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION, IN ADDITION TO OUR SUPPORT, OUR STRONG SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT IS THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE LOST ON EVERYBODY. THAT CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS STILL GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY, THE UPKEEP OF THE FACILITY. THERE STILL WILL BE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ON THE PART OF CRYSTAL, AND THEIR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ARE NOT JUST WITH THE EXISTING FACILITY, WHICH IS VERY CHALLENGING, BUT EVEN WITH THE NEW FACILITY, THEY WILL STILL HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY.

SO WITH THAT, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER FOR THEIR THEIR TIME ON THIS AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO FINALIZE THE APPROVAL TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LUIS ORTIZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR. WE CAN HEAR YOU. IF YOU COULD PLEASE TURN ON YOUR VIDEO. YEP. I'M DOING THAT.

YOU WANT TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PERSON. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE. YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO MR. FIDEL? OKAY. MR. FIDEL? YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR. MY NAME IS JOSEPH. FIDEL. GOOD AFTERNOON. CONTINUE. WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE TURN ON YOUR VIDEO. YOU CANNOT START YOUR VIDEO BECAUSE IT IS DISABLED BY THE HOST. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU NEED TO DO OR SOMETHING I NEED TO DO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN HEAR YOU, SIR. JUST GIVE US ONE SECOND.

OKAY? SO, MR. MAYOR, THEY CAN SPEAK, BUT IT WON'T BE CONSIDERED TESTIMONY FOR THE MEETING. LET'S MOVE FORWARD. THERE WE GO. OKAY, THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT.

HI, GUYS. HELLO. CAN YOU PLEASE. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOE FIDEL. I RESIDE AT FIVE. CAN YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND? OH, THERE YOU GO. DO YOU SWEAR FROM THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL PROVIDE TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? I HOPE SO, THANK YOU. I RESIDE AT 504 MINORCA AVENUE, AND I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF CORAL GABLES FOR MORE THAN 47 YEARS.

HONORABLE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. AS A LONGTIME FORMER RESIDENT OF THIS NORTH PONCE NEIGHBORHOOD, I LIVED THERE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. I STRONGLY OPPOSE THE PROPOSED CRYSTAL RESIDENCES DEVELOPMENT. THIS COMMISSION HOLDS A SOLEMN OBLIGATION TO DEFEND THE MASTER PLAN, ZONING STANDARDS AND HISTORICAL LEGACY OF CORAL GABLES. APPROVING A MASSIVE NINE STORY COMPLEX ON THIS SITE COMPLETELY UNDERMINES THOSE

[03:45:03]

THREE DISREGARD FOR PLANNING THIS PROPOSAL COMPLETELY IGNORES THE COMMUNITY VISION WORKSHOP CONSENSUS, WHERE RESIDENTS WHO MANY OF WHOM HAVE SPOKEN ALREADY STRICTLY CALLED FOR A 2 TO 4 STORY HEIGHT LIMIT AND THE PRESERVATION OF PARK SPACE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE STRAIN.

RELYING ON AN OUTDATED 2022 TRAFFIC STUDY FAILS TO ACCOUNT FOR CURRENT NEIGHBORHOOD GRIDLOCK ON OUR NARROW, HISTORIC STREETS. FINALLY, HOLLOW HAD BENEFITS. THIS PROJECT FALLS SHORT OF THE REQUIRED 20% OPEN GREEN SPACE REQUIREMENT, RESTRICTING PUBLIC ACCESS TO A PRIVATE SCHOOLS PLAYGROUND ON WEEKDAYS IS NOT A GENUINE COMMUNITY BENEFIT. IN CONCLUSION, THE CHOICE BEFORE THIS COMMISSION IS STARK. THIS DEVELOPER ASKS THE CITY TO SACRIFICE ITS STRICT HEIGHT LIMITS AND ZONING INTEGRITY IN EXCHANGE FOR A PRIVATE SCHOOLS RESTRICTED PLAYGROUND THAT IS A POOR TRADE FOR THE PEOPLE OF CORAL GABLES. PLEASE DENY THIS APPLICATION. SINCERELY, JOSEPH. FIDEL. THANK YOU SIR. MR. MAYOR, WE'RE GOING TO TRY ONE MORE TIME WITH MR. LUIS ORTIZ. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHAT IS YOUR ADDRESS, SIR? WE'RE ASKING HIM TO, SIR. YES, SO WE CAN SEE YOU. JUST GO AHEAD 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, SIR. OKAY. MY APOLOGIES FOR EARLIER, BUT I GUESS THAT'S MURPHY'S LAW AT WORK. IN ANY CASE, I AM AT 32 COLUMBIA AVENUE AND JUST A COUPLE OF BLOCKS NORTH OF WHERE THIS PROJECT IS PROPOSED. AND HEARING BOTH SIDES, I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN ONLINE FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE MEETING. ONE CAN ARGUE THIS PROJECT. EITHER WAY, THERE ARE BENEFITS AND DETRACTIONS TO IT, BUT ONE OF THE MAJOR ONES I FIND ARE IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE OF THE DEVELOPERS ATTORNEY WHEN HE SHOWED THE FLOOR PLAN. AND IT BASICALLY TAKES WHAT IS NOW A GARDEN, AND THERE WAS TESTIMONY TO IT BEING SACRED OR NOT, BUT TAKING A GARDEN AND INTERNALIZING IT, I THINK THE, THE, THE, IT BECOMES A BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEING PRESENTED AS AN AMENITY OR AS AN AMENITY TO THE COMMUNITY. I ALSO BELIEVE AND AGREE WITH THE PERSON WHO STATED THAT OAK TREES ARE VERY DELICATE, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT IS THIS OLD. SO IT IT JUST MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MOVE A TREE SUCH AS THE ONE THAT'S IN QUESTION IN MY SYNOPSIS OF THIS IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT WRONG FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER AN ALTERNATIVE AND ASK THE DEVELOPER TO PRESERVE THE GARDEN, MAKE IT, MAKE IT PART OF THE PUBLIC REALM, THEREBY GIVING SOMETHING TO THE CITY RATHER THAN DETRACTING IT. AND WHAT I MEAN, THE CITY, NOT ONLY THE CITY AT LARGE, BUT ALSO THE RESIDENTS, BECAUSE I'VE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT THE DENSITY AND THE HEIGHT OF THE

[03:50:05]

PLEASE TURN ON YOUR VIDEO. OKAY. VIDEO. ALL RIGHT. OH, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL PROVIDE TODAY WILL BE THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? I DO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR AFFORDING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS JULIE PARDUE. I RESIDE, I'VE RESIDED AT 49 CAMPINA COURT WITH MY FAMILY FOR OVER 45 YEARS. I LIVE JUST NORTH OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT. SO TO REITERATE WHAT MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS FROM IN EMAILS, EVEN THOUGH THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, CRYSTAL RESIDENCES HAS POSITIVELY EVOLVED TOWARDS A MORE RESIDENTIAL APPEAL, THE DESIGN CONTINUES TO LACK ADEQUATE SCHOOL AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE AMENITIES. RESOURCES THAT PROVIDE COMMUNITY WELL-BEING, CONVENIENCE, AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. THERE EXISTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER PROMOTE CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT THAT PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL BENEFIT, SPECIFICALLY THE INTERNAL COURTYARD. THE PROJECT'S INTERNAL COURTYARD IS A DESIGN REQUIREMENT AND SHOULD NOT BE CHARACTERIZED AS A SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC BENEFIT. THE COURTYARD IS HIDDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX AND MAY ONLY BE ACCESSED FROM A COVERED PASEO LOST TO NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS, WHO ARE EITHER NOT AWARE OF ITS EXISTENCE OR SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW IT'S A PUBLIC AMENITY. RATHER, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXISTING LUSH CANOPY IN THE NORTHWEST PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TO CREATE A STREET ACCESSIBLE, PASSIVE GREEN SPACE PARK OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. THE PARK WOULD PROVIDE CONTINUITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER AND HELP SOFTEN THE PROJECT'S INTENSITY. SECONDLY, SCHOOL PUBLIC GREEN SPACE A TIME SHARED GREEN SPACE DISADVANTAGES THE SCHOOL WITHOUT PROVIDING A TRUE PUBLIC AMENITY. THE ARRANGEMENT COMPROMISES THE SCHOOL'S NEEDS. FOR EXAMPLE, OUTDOOR LEARNING, FACILITY MAINTENANCE, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WITHOUT ACTUALLY DELIVERING A HIGH QUALITY, FULLY ACCESSIBLE GREEN SPACE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SCHOOLS. YARDS ARE DESIGNED FOR STUDENTS, NOT THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THAT DESIGN CAN PROVIDE DEDICATED GREEN SPACES FOR BOTH THE SCHOOL AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. BECAUSE THE PROJECT WILL NOT BREAK GROUND UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 2027. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS A VITAL WINDOW TO ADMINISTRATIVELY GUIDE A DESIGN WORTHY OF BOTH CRYSTAL ACADEMY AND THE COMMUNITY.

URBAN GROWTH NEED NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF INSPIRED, ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS DESIGN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, IGLESIAS, AND COMMISSIONERS, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. WINKER.

THANK YOU. DAVID WINKER, LAW OFFICES AT 4007 20 SOUTH LEJEUNE AVENUE. I HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. YOU COULD PLEASE PUT UP MR. WINKLER'S PRESENTATION. I'VE COME HERE MANY TIMES AND SPOKEN ABOUT MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH THIS UP ZONING FROM ITS VIOLATION OF THE CITY PLAN, ITS INCOMPATIBILITY WITH THE SURROUNDING GARDEN APARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD TO THE MISUSE OF THE PAD. TODAY I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS. AND THAT TOPIC IS FRAUD. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE DEVELOPER, FIFIELD, CAME INTO

[03:55:05]

[04:00:01]

ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE CORAL GABLES IS BECAUSE IT'S NEVER BEEN A CITY AFRAID TO DREAM A LITTLE BIT BIGGER. HERE'S WHO ACTUALLY LIVES AT 235 UNTIL AVENUE APARTMENT SEVEN. HI THERE. MY NAME IS BENJAMIN ATTIA. JUST RECENTLY WAS INFORMED THAT SOMEONE IS USING THIS ADDRESS WHERE I LIVE TWO, THREE, FIVE, AND TIA, APARTMENT SEVEN. HE'S. HIS NAME IS JOHN CARLOS VERGARA AND I DO NOT RECOGNIZE HIM AT ALL. SO. KAREN LOPEZ AGAIN SPOKE TODAY. MY NAME IS KAREN LOPEZ. I LIVE AT 291 NEVADA AVENUE HERE IN THE GABLES. I'VE WATCHED DOWNTOWN GABLES EVOLVE OVER THE YEARS. THE ADDRESS PROVIDED BY MR. LOPEZ DID NOT INCLUDE A UNIT NUMBER. HOWEVER, THIS BUILDING CONTAINS FOUR UNITS. WE MADE CONTACT WITH THE OCCUPANTS, ALL OF WHOM SAID MISS LOPEZ DOES NOT LIVE THERE. ONE OCCUPANT AGREED TO PROVIDE A WITNESS STATEMENT. MY NAME IS NOELLE SALCEDO. I LIVE IN 291 NAVARETTE AVENUE, FLORIDA.

MIAMI, FLORIDA. 33134. AND I NEVER SEE LAURA LOPEZ. NEXT. KEVIN. CARLOS. MY NAME IS KEVIN KELLY. I RESIDE AT 1208 SALAZAR STREET, APARTMENT 1833134. IN THIS INSTANCE, WE MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANAGER OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, WHO CONFIRMED SHE HAD NEVER SEEN MR. CARLOS AND HAD. AND THAT JUST SOY DEL EDIFICIO ZORAYDA PEREZ. WE. ESA NEVER. KEVIN.

CARLOS NUNCA VIVIDO AQUI NUNCA ANDRES ES DOSE ZERO OCHO SALCEDO ES THREE. CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA 3334. NEXT. MR. MR. WINKER YES, WE GET THE POINT. WE JUST THINK WE HAVE A RIGHT TO FINISH IT. THIS IS VITAL INFORMATION. OKAY, WE GET THE POINT. YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD FOR THE RECORD? YES. SO THERE IT CONTINUES. LET US FINISH.

THERE'S MORE. IT'S. AND SO I'D LIKE TO DO I'M GOING TO DO. MY NAME IS DORIS. ONE MORE AND THEN I'LL BRING IT TO A CLOSE. ALEXIS SANTOS THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE. AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE. YOU'LL PROBABLY RECOGNIZE HER. SHE'S BEEN A COUNTLESS MEETINGS SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT. NOT ONLY DOES SHE FALSIFY HER RESIDENCY IN CORAL GABLES,

[04:05:03]

LETTERS THAT HAVE BEEN PROUDLY DISPLAYED DISPLAYED BY FIVE FIELDS LEGAL TEAM AT EVERY MEETING AND FLAUNTED ON THE NEWS. IN THE FOLLOWING CLIP, YOU'LL HEAR MISS SANTOS SAY THAT SHE AND HER FRIENDS EACH SIGNED ONE OF THESE LETTERS. THAT FRIEND IS MARIA S WANGER, WHO YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN IS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO PROVIDED FAKE ADDRESSES ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS DURING COMMISSION MEETINGS. I FIND IT DEEPLY PROBLEMATIC THAT SOMEONE WHO IS OPENLY MISLEADS THE PUBLIC, PROVIDING A FRAUDULENT ADDRESS THAT'S COLLECTING LETTERS TO SUPPORT. BECAUSE OF THIS, I BELIEVE THE AUTHENTICITY OF THESE 500 LETTERS HAS BEEN CALLED INTO QUESTION. HI, HOW ARE YOU GUYS? MY NAME IS ALEXIS SANTOS AND MY ADDRESS IS 1300 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, APARTMENT 308. YOU MAY REMEMBER ME FROM COMING HERE AND READING A LETTER FROM MY FRIEND. I HELPED COLLECT APPROXIMATELY 500 SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT AS WELL. WELL, NOW I HAVE RECENTLY MOVED HERE. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER PLACE TO BE. AND BEING HERE TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AS A NEIGHBOR OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY IS JUST PRICELESS. SO I'M HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT I AM NOT ONLY COLLECTED 500 SIGNATURES, NOW I CAN SIGN MY OWN AND I HAVE IT HERE. AND I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND OF MINE THAT SIGNED HERS TODAY AS WELL. THANK YOU TO. NAME. SO WHO IS ALEXIS SANTOS? IN LOOKING INTO THIS, WE CAN SEE THE CONNECTION WITH ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF THIS RING THAT ARE COMING IN AND FALSELY PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION AND PERJURING THEMSELVES. I MEAN, IT'S A CRIME. BUT WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT IS I DON'T THINK THESE PEOPLE HAVE SHOWN UP TO PERJURE THEMSELVES ON THEIR OWN. I THINK SOMEONE'S PAID THEM TO BE HERE. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONNECTIONS OF EVERYONE THROUGH THE FACEBOOK PAGE AS PART OF THIS, I WAS INVOLVED IN A PROJECT INVOLVING THE CALUSA INFILL PROJECT IN KENDALL, AND I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE VIDEO WHERE THIS SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE COMES IN SUPPORT OF THAT. JUST TAKE A SECOND. THANK YOU, DAVID, SIR. TO YOUR RIGHT, MICHAEL MARINO, MICHAEL MARINO WAVING IN SUPPORT THE MAN, THE YOUNG LADY IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU SAID LISSETTE ARANGO WAVING IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. YOU BOTH SHOULD COULD SIT DOWN AND THE GENTLEMAN BEHIND YOU, YOU COULD SIT DOWN, SIR CARLO GIANCARLO VERGARA WAITING WAVING IN SUPPORT. YES. THANK YOU. YOU CAN SIT DOWN. NATALIA VOLODKIN NATALIA IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. AND I SUPPORT IN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. VANESSA SALAS SUPPORT AND WAVE. THANK YOU VANESSA AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. SO SUPPORT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH MARIA. SUPPORT. MARIA THANK YOU SO MUCH MARIA. SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT.

GERMAN SUPPORT. THANK YOU SIR. CHRISTINA MARINO SUPPORT THANK YOU MA'AM. ALEXIS SANTOS SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. JAVIER. SUPPORT THANK YOU SIR MATTHEW STOCK WAVE AND SUPPORT.

WHY I DON'T KNOW. AGAIN I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE PEOPLE. BUT HERE THEY WERE. THEY WERE HERE AGAIN TODAY. HERE'S THEM FROM THE LAST MEETINGS. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT. WHAT'S THE COMMONALITY TO THIS BESIDES BEING A COMPLETELY UNRELATED PROJECT WITH THE EXACT SAME PEOPLE, THE COMMONALITY IS THIS INDIVIDUAL RIGHT HERE, TIM HYMAN, WHO YOU'VE SEEN AT MOST OF THESE MEETINGS. I DON'T SEE HIM HERE TODAY. HE'S BEEN AT EVERY MEETING, EVERY COMMUNITY MEETING, AND I BELIEVE HE'S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS. HE'S NOT REGISTERED AS A LOBBYIST. BUT IT BRINGS ME TO MY CONCLUSION. I BELIEVE THAT.

PATTERN IS CLEAR. THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A COORDINATED EFFORT TO FRAUDULENTLY FAKE ORGANIC CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS SUPPORT FOR THIS PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT SIMPLY DOES NOT EXIST. HOW CAN WE TRUST THAT THIS PROJECT, WHEN WE ALREADY SEE SUCH A LACK OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY CONNECTED TO THIS? IS THIS COMMISSION GOING TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, OR WE CONTINUE TO REWARD A PROJECT BUILT ON LIES? WE ASK THAT THE COMMISSION, IN LIGHT OF THIS WIDESPREAD FRAUD, DEFER VOTING ON THIS MATTER UNTIL SUCH TIME AS AN INVESTIGATION CAN BE COMPLETED.

WE ASK THAT THE MATTER BE REFERRED TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THESE PEOPLE, AGAIN, DID NOT SHOW UP AND LIE ABOUT WHERE

[04:10:01]

YAY! OKAY, MR. WINKER, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I DON'T WANT TO DO THE APPLICANT'S JOB FOR HIM.

BUT YOU DO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. ANYBODY, ANYBODY CAN COME HERE AND SAY WHAT THEY LIKE OR THAT WE SUBSTANTIATED. AGAIN, IT DESERVES AN INVESTIGATION. VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY. IT DESERVES TO BE INVESTIGATED. I'LL LET YOU FINISH WHEN YOU'RE READY TO FINISH AND YOU PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RESPECT HERE, THEN I'LL KEEP MOVING FORWARD. BUT THERE HAS TO BE ORDER IN THE COURTROOM. IN THE ROOM. I KNOW YOU WANT TO HAVE A FREE FOR ALL. THAT'S WHAT WE HAD IN THE PAST, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE NOW.

EVERYBODY HAS A VOICE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND I'VE GIVEN EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY.

I JUST ASK YOU TO GIVE ME THE SAME RESPECT. NOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU KNOW IT VERY WELL THAT THAT IS NOT COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. AT THE END, ANYONE CAN COME HERE AND SAY WHATEVER THEY LIKE. THE BODY HAS TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE EVIDENCE, NOT ON 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 100, 200 PEOPLE SHOWING UP HERE, EITHER ON THE SIDE THAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF OR THE SIDE WE'RE GOING TO VOTE AGAINST. AGAIN, YOU KNOW THAT VERY, VERY WELL. THE DECISION HERE HAS TO BE MADE BASED ON THE FACTS. MOVING FORWARD, MR. NAVARRO. SO IF I REPLY TO THAT. BUT JUST TO PUT ON THE RECORD. BUT BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH YOU, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR, BECAUSE THOSE ARE FACTS. AND YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS YOU'RE DOING IT AND YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB ON BEHALF OF YOUR CLIENT. BUT THESE ARE FACTS. I GOT A PERSON'S OPINION COMING UP HERE. WHETHER THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF A PROJECT OR THEY'RE AGAINST A PROJECT IS NOT COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. IT'S NOT YOU AS A LAWYER KNOW THAT AND YOU CANNOT ARGUE ON THAT HERE. I'M NOT A LAWYER. WE HAVE TWO LAWYERS ON THIS PANEL ALONG WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY.

AND YOU KNOW THAT VERY WELL, BECAUSE YOU'VE USED THAT ARGUMENT IN THE PAST WHEN YOU'VE BEEN UP HERE AND YOU'VE SAID THAT THINGS ARE NOT COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

AND YOU SAID IT VERY CLEARLY, AND I WISH I HAD THAT CLIP WITH THE TO PLAY IT BACK. YEP. NO, AND I DISAGREE. THE LAW IS CLEAR. RESIDENT TESTIMONY IS RELEVANT EVIDENCE. THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT. TWO, WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION. YOU HAVE PEOPLE TAKING AN OATH AND LYING ABOUT WHERE THEY LIVE. THEY DIDN'T DO IT ON THEIR OWN. WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. WHY IS THIS FRAUD HAPPENING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY? AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE'RE WE I FEEL LIKE IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AGAIN, ON ITS FACE, IT'S A CRIME. THEY PERJURED THEMSELVES. BUT WE NEED TO GO A STEP FURTHER. THIS IS A REASON THEY DID IT. AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU GUYS CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF WHO PAID THEM TO BE HERE. THANK YOU, MR. WINKER. ON POINT NUMBER ONE. YOU'RE INCORRECT. ON POINT NUMBER TWO. I WILL PERSONALLY LIKE I'VE DONE BEFORE HERE WHEN WE'VE HAD ISSUES WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, ON MY RECALL WHERE HUNDREDS, HUNDREDS OF SIGNATURES WERE INCORRECT, WERE FALSE AND WERE FALSIFIED. THAT'S WHY THE RECALL WAS THROWN OUT. I PERSONALLY WILL GO THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMISSION TO SUPPORT ME, WHICH THEY WILL TO CALL FOR THAT INVESTIGATION. BUT ONE THING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER. OKAY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO, YOU KNOW, QUASI JUDICIAL HEARINGS SUCH AS THIS ARE BASED ON A SET OF STANDARDS IN YOUR CODE. THERE'S A SPECIFIC CRITERIA THAT'S PROVIDED IN YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND IN YOUR ZONING CODE. YOUR BOARD OF ARCHITECTS HAS REVIEWED THAT CODE. YOU ARE PLANNING, AND ZONING BOARD HAS REVIEWED THAT CODE. THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE HAS REVIEWED THIS PROJECT. UNDER THAT CODE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD HAS REVIEWED THIS. YOUR PROFESSIONAL PLANNING STAFF, WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD AND WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH APPLYING THIS CRITERIA ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS, HAS REVIEWED THIS PROJECT AND FOUND THAT IT MEETS EVERY SINGLE CRITERIA AND REGULATION IN YOUR CODE FOR APPROVAL. I COULD TELL YOU TWO FACTORS THAT ARE NOT PART OF THOSE CRITERIA.

ONE OF THEM IS WHETHER THIS PROPERTY IS IN FACT A CEMETERY, WHICH I NORMALLY WOULD NOT EVEN ENTERTAIN. BUT I FEEL THAT BASED ON THE HISTORY OF THINGS BEING SAID, THAT CONFLICT WITH FACTS. I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT IN 2021, WHEN THIS PROPERTY WENT THROUGH A VERY, VERY DETAILED REVIEW PROCESS FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION, WE HAD OUR EXPERT AT THE TIME CONTACT THE. GIVE ME A SECOND. I NEED TO PUT THIS ON THE RECORD. SORRY, I NORMALLY WOULD NOT DO THIS. DEPARTMENT, FUNERAL, CEMETERY AND CONSUMER SERVICES FOR THE STATE OF

[04:15:02]

PLEASE BE ADVISED THERE'S NO RECORD OR DOCUMENTATION IN REGARD TO THE CEMETERY. SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE. IT'S NOT RELEVANT TO THESE PROCEEDINGS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, AS THAT WAS PART OF A HISTORIC PROCESS THAT WAS REVIEWED REGARDING THE PETITIONS AND THE TESTIMONY. THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL COMPETENT EVIDENCE, PART OF THIS RECORD THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY OUR EXPERTS, BY YOUR EXPERTS, IN TERMS OF YOUR CITY STAFF THAT SHOW THAT WE MEET ALL OF THE CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL. ONE OF THOSE NOT BEING WHETHER RESIDENTS ARE IN SUPPORT OR IN FAVOR. THIS IS NOT A POPULARITY CONTEST IN FLORIDA. LAW IS VERY CLEAR ON THAT. AS MR. WINKER KNOWS. THE BOARDS THAT DO REVIEW THESE APPLICATIONS HAVE ALL FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMPATIBLE PROJECT. IT'S A GOOD PROJECT. THE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED ARE SUBSTANTIAL. AND IF YOU RECALL, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS PROCESS IN 2021, THE ROOM WAS PACKED WITH PEOPLE IN FAVOR AND OPPOSITION. AND HERE WE ARE FIVE YEARS LATER, AND THE APPELLANTS ARE CONTINUING TO COME OUT AND DELAY THIS PROCESS.

BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AGAINST THIS PROJECT, THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT EVEN THAT THERE IS NO SUBSTANTIAL COMPETENT EVIDENCE TO MEET TO SAY THAT WE DON'T MEET ANY OF THESE STANDARDS. SO I SAY THIS TO SAY THE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE COME OUT HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY THAT ARE WHO THIS PROJECT BENEFITS HAVE COME OUT HERE AND SPOKEN.

YOU'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THE AREA AND WE KNOW LIVE IN THE AREA BECAUSE WE KNOW THEM, THAT HAVE COME AND SPOKEN IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT. WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THIS COMMISSION HAS ASKED. THIS PROJECT STANDS ON ITS MERITS AND WARRANTS YOUR APPROVAL BASED ON THE CRITERIA OF YOUR CODE. THE APPELLANTS HAVE TRIED TO FIND EVERY WAY POSSIBLE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO DELAY AND DELAY THIS APPLICATION, AND WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE GIVE CERTAINTY TO CRYSTAL ACADEMY, GIVE CERTAINTY TO THEIR FUTURE, AND MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD WITHOUT FURTHER DISTRACTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AS WE MOVE ON NOW TO THE CONVERSATION AMONGST THE COMMISSION. BEFORE WE DO THAT, CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, IF I MAY, JUST TO CLARIFY, THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. I'M GOING TO ASSUME IT'S ON THE FIRST ITEM THAT WE HAVE ON ITEM E THREE. AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU CONSOLIDATE YOUR DISCUSSION ON ALL THE ITEMS. YES, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO I CONCUR WITH THE MAYOR THAT JUST LIKE WHEN YOU HAD FALSE SIGNATURES ON ANY PETITION, THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MUST BE LOOKED INTO. BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I AM GOING TO IGNORE ANY STATEMENTS FROM ANYBODY THAT FALSIFIED THEIR INFORMATION. BUT WHAT DOES NEED TO BE KNOWN HERE IS WHAT HAS BEEN IGNORED. HEARD A LOT OF STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BUILDING BEING INCOMPATIBLE, YET WE HAD A PROPOSAL FOR 12 STORY BUILDING BEING BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE OPPONENTS THAT WOULD BE INCOMPATIBLE. THAT WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO BE ON PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD. AND IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE CORNER OF GALIANO AND CEDONIA ONE BLOCK AWAY, YOU HAVE AN EIGHT STORY BUILDING. THAT EIGHT STORY BUILDING SITS IDENTICALLY IN A SAME STREET. GALIANO THAT THE CRYSTAL PROJECT. THE SCHOOL SIDE WILL. AND ON THAT SIDE OF THE BUILDING, AND I'M SURE THAT I'LL BE CORRECTED IF I'M WRONG. IT'S ALSO EIGHT STORIES AND IT GOES UP TO NINE AS IT GETS CLOSER TO PONCE. HEIGHT WISE, INCOMPATIBILITY IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE. WE CANNOT GO BACK TO THE DAYS OF GEORGE MERRICK TO DETERMINE WHAT THE HEIGHT IS THERE. WE HAVE TO TAKE THE ZONING AS IT IS CURRENTLY, NOT WHAT IT WAS BACK IN 1925, BUT WHAT IT CHANGED TO BE BEFORE I CAME ON THIS DAIS. I ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NEW REALITY OF WHAT'S HAPPENED AFTER I WAS ELECTED. WE HAVE ITEMS SUCH AS THE RTC ZONE THAT HAS BEEN EXPANDED BEFORE AND BECAUSE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT'S AVAILABLE, CAN BE EXPANDED HERE. THAT WOULD OVERRIDE OUR ZONING CODE, WOULD END UP WITH NARROW SIDEWALKS, WOULD END UP WITH NO COMMUNITY BENEFIT. SAME TRUE WITH THE LIVE LOCAL ACT PROJECT, SUCH AS ONE WE HAVE DONE ON EIGHTH STREET, ZERO CONTROL FROM THIS COMMISSION CAN BE HAD ON PROVIDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS

[04:20:05]

THERE'S A PLAN TO PROPERLY MOVE THE TREES. WE HAVE EXAMPLES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY OF OTHER TREES BEING MOVED, AND THE FACT THAT BEING MOVED OUT INTO THE PUBLIC REALM MAKES IT ALSO A COMMUNITY BENEFIT, BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE WHAT WAS IN THE GARDEN STYLE PLAN, A GREENWAY OF SHADE TREES BEING PRESERVED FOR THE FUTURE, TO SUGGEST THAT TOWNHOMES COULD BE BUILT ON THIS PROPERTY IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ZONED FOR, NOT ADJACENT, NOT ACROSS THE STREET. SO SOMEONE CAME AND SPOKE ABOUT PARKING. THE PERSON LIVES DOWN ON NORRIS MINORITIES HAS FOUR HISTORIC BUILDINGS, 102114118 AND 122. EACH ONE OF THOSE BUILDINGS CREATES TREMENDOUS PRESSURE ON THAT STREET, AND SO DOES PHILIP PARKS. YOU CANNOT COMPARE THAT TO INDIA, WHERE YOU HAVE ONE HISTORIC BUILDING ON INDIA, ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME ON INDIA.

AND WITH THE RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM THAT THIS DEVELOPER IS WILLING TO TO PUT IN FOR THESE RESIDENTS, THEY WILL HAVE SECURED PARKING. SO INSTEAD OF CRYSTAL STAFF HAVING A PARK IN THE STREET AND THE CUSTOMERS HAVING A STREET, THEY NOW WILL HAVE THEIR OWN PARKING LOT AREA. I CANNOT TURN BACK TIME. I HAVE TO TAKE THE FACTS AS IT'S CURRENTLY LAID OUT. WE CANNOT GO BACK FIVE YEARS AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT TALLAHASSEE WANTS TO SEE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD. THIS PROJECT HAD HAD FIVE YEARS. THERE'S BEEN EXTENSIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND THE DEVELOPER. THAT IS WHY YOU'VE NOW MOVED FROM A SETBACK OF A BUILDING TO AN MF BUILDING WITH SUBSTANTIAL GREEN SPACE AROUND IT THAT OTHERWISE WOULDN'T EXIST. THESE ARE THE REASONS WHY THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE PROJECT. AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU GET A TREMENDOUS COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT YOU'D NEVER EVER GET. AND ARTS PROJECT OR LIVE LOCAL PROJECT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. YEAH, THERE IS SEPARATE A LOT OF DIFFERENT POINTS I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND RAISE, BUT BEFORE I DO, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND I WANT TO CALL CHIEF HUDAK TO THE PODIUM BECAUSE I HAVE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION REGARDING THE TESTIMONY OF ATTORNEY DAVID WINKER. I BELIEVE NOT I BELIEVE, DURING THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING WHEN THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED, ALL OF THESE, BECAUSE THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL ITEM, WERE SWORN UNDER OATH, AM I CORRECT? AM I CORRECT? CITY ATTORNEY YES. WE ASK THAT ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE TESTIFYING TO BE SWORN IN. SO THEY WERE SWORN IN.

OKAY. SO GIVEN THOSE FACTS, IS THIS A CRIME? POTENTIALLY? I WOULD SAY IT COULD BE CONSTRUED AS A CRIME IN A PUBLIC SETTING. THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PERJURY THAT ARE INVESTIGATED DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S IN A COURT OF LAW OR OPEN SERIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE ISSUES THAT WOULD HAVE TO GET DRILLED DOWN INTO WOULD BE WHAT THAT PERSON WAS TESTIFYING ABOUT.

FOR MOST OF THE ONES THAT I HAVE BEEN A PART OF, THAT I'VE SEEN, IT'S BEEN SOMEONE'S OPINION TO THE BOARD ABOUT WHETHER THIS SHOULD BE BUILT OR NOT BE BUILT. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY. AND WE WOULD HAVE TO GO OVER ALL OF THE STATEMENTS THAT WOULD CONFLICT THAT WERE PRESENTED TODAY TO SEE IF THERE WAS A FACTUAL MISNOMER, IF YOU WILL, THAT THAT PERSON TESTIFIED TO. IN OTHER WORDS, IT WASN'T AN SOMEBODY FROM THE STATE, IT WASN'T SOMEBODY THAT PROTECTED OR PRETENDED TO BE SOMEONE WHO WAS GIVING A FACTUAL BASIS FOR THIS BOARD TO DECIDE ON. SO IT WOULD BE A LONG, DRAWN OUT INVESTIGATION, NOT A VERY HIGH PRIORITY, BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT HANDLE THAT AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST. IT WOULD GET REFERRED TO TALLAHASSEE AND WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THOSE. IT'S IT'S A IT'S AKIN TO SOMEBODY

[04:25:05]

AFTER I WENT AHEAD AND I SAW THE TESTIMONY OF ATTORNEY WANKER IS NUMBER ONE. I WAS IN DISBELIEF OF WHAT I WAS WATCHING. I ESPECIALLY DON'T THINK THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN CORAL GABLES, BUT TO STAND BEFORE A COMMISSION, RAISE YOUR HAND, SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, AND THEN PROVIDE FALSE. THAT IS NOT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. THAT IS A DIRECT ATTACK ON THE INTEGRITY OF THIS PROCESS. YOU CANNOT SWEAR TO TELL THE CITY THE TRUTH AND THEN GIVE THIS FALSE INFORMATION AND THEN EXPECT US TO PRETEND, HEY, IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT'S OKAY.

YOU'RE HERE TRYING TO INFLUENCE US, INFLUENCE OUR VOTE. BUT IT'S OKAY. IT'S IT'S IT'S NOT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. BEFORE WE CHANGE THE ZONING OF AN ENTIRE BLOCK, THE RECORD NEEDS TO BE CLEAN, CREDIBLE, AND TRUTHFUL. TODAY. I CANNOT SAY THAT. IS IT? RIGHT NOW I'M GOING TO JUST WITHHOLD ON THE REST OF MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. WELL, I THINK THAT THE VICE MAYOR REALLY PUT EVERYTHING QUITE WELL AND WON'T REPEAT ALL THE VERY WELL LAID OUT BASES THAT SHE LAID OUT AND THE AND THE SOMEWHAT TORTURED JOURNEY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO GET THIS DEVELOPMENT TO WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW. BUT I WILL JUST ADDRESS THAT. IF THERE WAS FALSE TESTIMONY GIVEN, THERE ARE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD LOOK INTO THAT. I'M CERTAINLY NOT CONDONING CONDONING ANYBODY COMING HERE AND SAYING, I YOU KNOW, I DYE MY HAIR, YOU KNOW, OR I HAD SOME WORK DONE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WHEN IN FACT THEY DIDN'T OR VICE VERSA. BUT IF SOMEBODY COMES HERE AND SAYS, I'M FOR THE PROJECT AND ANOTHER PERSON SHOWS UP AND SAYS, AND I'M AGAINST THE PROJECT, AND YET NONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE ACTUALLY WHAT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE REQUISITES FOR THE APPROVAL PROCESS THROUGH THE VARIOUS AGENCIES, BOARDS, PLANNING EXPERTS, ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE VOTE THAT WE'RE GOING TO CAST TODAY. THEN, FOR PURPOSES OF WHETHER OR NOT THESE ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE PASSED, THEY'RE IRRELEVANT TO ME. THEY REALLY ARE, IN THE END, IRRELEVANT. IRRELEVANT. IF SOMEBODY IS SAYING SOMETHING THAT ISN'T TRUE. SO MY, MY VIEW ON THIS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SHOULD COME HERE AND SAY THE TRUTH. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF SOMEBODY COMING HERE AND TRYING TO DECEIVE, BUT IN THE END, TO SAY OR MAKE A SWEEPING GENERALIZATION AND SAY THAT THE RECORD IS NOT CLEAR AND THAT WE SHOULD HOLD UP VOTING ON THIS UNTIL THE RECORD IS CLEAR, SPECIOUS. IT'S IT'S IT RINGS HOLLOW TO ME. WHAT WHAT DOES MATTER TO ME IS THE COMPETENT EVIDENCE THAT IS SUBSTANTIAL, THAT OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORTH AND THE SUBSTANTIAL WORK THAT HAD TO BE ACCOMPLISHED TO TAKE WHAT WAS INITIALLY BEING SOUGHT FOR APPROVAL AND WHERE WE END UP HERE TODAY. I'LL FINISH BY SAYING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IS TO KEEP A VERY VIGILANT EYE ON THE EVER PRESENT ENCROACHING COMING FROM TALLAHASSEE AND THE LIVE LOCAL AND LAW IS A IS SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNING TO ALL OF US HERE IN CORAL GABLES, WHAT WE TRY AND ACHIEVE HERE, WHICH IS TO MANIFEST AND SPEAK TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT WHEN WE WERE ELECTED, IS BEING SUBVERTED. AT LEAST THAT'S HOW I SEE IT FROM A LEGISLATURE UP IN TALLAHASSEE, SO I CAN SEE NO BETTER WAY, NO MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO TO DEAL WITH THAT PARTICULAR STATUTE

[04:30:03]

NUMBER TWO, FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE IT WAS MR. WINKER WAS VERY CUTE IN THE WAY THAT HE USED WORDS. HE DIDN'T USE COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. IS A PERSON'S TESTIMONY COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE? YES OR NO? SO, MAYOR AND A LAYPERSON'S OPINION TESTIMONY SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. SO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO SAYS, I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. I OPPOSE THIS PROJECT. THAT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSION. HOWEVER, IF THERE IS FACTUAL TESTIMONY BY BY A RESIDENT OR ANYONE ELSE, FACTUAL TESTIMONY THAT ADDRESSES THE THE CRITERIA, THE ISSUES THAT ARE TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSION. CERTAINLY THAT CAN BE COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. OKAY.

MOVING FORWARD ON THAT FRONT. OKAY. THAT'S BEEN ANSWERED AND CLEARED UP. LET ME TELL YOU WHY I'M IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT. I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT BECAUSE TWO REASONS I SUPPORT CRYSTAL ACADEMY. AND NUMBER TWO, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAME TO SEE ME WERE WILLING TO HAVE A 12 STORY BUILDING BE BUILT THERE, INSTEAD OF THE NINE STORY THAT'S BEING PROPOSED NOW IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE A PRIVATE PIECE OF PROPERTY. IT'S A PRIVATE PIECE OF PROPERTY. IT'S NOT A PARK. WHILE I WOULD LOVE TO SAVE THAT GREEN SPACE, I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE HAVE AN ATTACHMENT TO THAT, AND PEOPLE HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THEIR PROPERTY RIGHTS. BUT MOVING FORWARD, AFTER FIVE YEARS, WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT CRYSTAL ACADEMY. WE SHOULD SUPPORT AN INSTITUTION THAT IS HELPING THE MOST NEEDY IN THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S HELPING FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN AN OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT CRYSTAL ACADEMY, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. IT IS A PLACE THAT I HOLD IN THE HIGHEST REGARD AND I VISIT OFTEN. IT IS A PLACE THAT IS. THOSE CHILDREN ARE ANGELS ON PLANET EARTH. THEY'RE MUCH BETTER THAN MANY OF US. THEY ARE TRULY DEVOID OF ANY TRUE MALICE. SO YOU MAY SAY, WELL, VINCE, WE'RE. UPLOADING A PIECE OF PROPERTY, I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND THERE'S CERTAIN INSTANCES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND DO IT FOR A PARK OR DO IT FOR COMMUNITY BENEFITS. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMUNITY BENEFITS I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE IN THE LAST 14 YEARS. SO I THINK THAT THE CITY SHOULD HOLD THEIR HEAD HIGH. AND I THINK THAT IN 5 OR 10 YEARS, WE'LL LOOK BACK AND WE'LL SAY, WE'RE HAPPY THAT WE SAVED SUCH AN INCREDIBLE SCHOOL. THAT TRULY CHANGES THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS AND OF NONRESIDENTS ALSO. AND LIKE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID IN THE COMMISSION, IT IS ATROCIOUS THAT ANYBODY WOULD COME HERE AND LIE THAT THEY SUPPORT OR THEY DON'T SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. IT'S EMBARRASSING AND IT'S SHAMEFUL. AND THAT WILL BE REFERRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS VOTE. IT WILL BE REFERRED TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES. WITH THAT BEING SAID, MR. CLERK, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST THIS IS THE MOTION IS ON E THREE, WHICH IS THE COMP PLAN CHANGE, COMMISSIONER CASTRO. I THINK AN IMPORTANT POINT HERE IS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT DEVELOPMENT CAN BE REBUILT, BUT HISTORY CANNOT. FIRST, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTED $10,000 TO THE MAYOR'S PAC 12 DAYS BEFORE THE VOTE. NOW THE MAYOR IS BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON THAT DEVELOPER'S PROJECT TO ASK WHAT IS THE ASK? CHANGE THE ZONING MORE THAN DOUBLE THE ALLOWED HEIGHT. DEMOLISH THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD AND TRANSFORM A PROPERTY OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE. SOME VOTES APPROVE BUILDINGS. OTHERS

[04:35:04]

COMMISSIONER. LAURA? YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. THE DEVELOPER HASN'T GIVEN OR DONATED ANY MONEY TOWARD MY CAMPAIGN IN THE PAST. SO MY VOTE IS NOT AS YOU'RE TRYING TO INTIMATE, INFLUENCED BY DONATIONS. MAYOR LARGO. YES. ON ANOTHER NOTE, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE ISSUE OF THE REFERRAL. GIVE ME ONE SECOND. I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT TILL THE END. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT NOW BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT COMES FROM ME. OKAY. SO I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. SO YOU'RE PASSING THE GAVEL. YES, I AM FOR THIS ONE ITEM. I'M PASSING THE GAVEL. I'VE BEEN HERE 14 YEARS. OKAY, I'M PASSING THE GAVEL. AND THAT IS THE MOTION IS THAT I ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER TO WORK IN TANDEM TO ENSURE THAT THIS ISSUE IS REFERRED. THE FACT THAT WE HAD INDIVIDUALS THAT SHOWED UP HERE, AND NOT ONLY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, SHOWED UP HERE AND LIED TO THE COMMISSION THAT THEY WERE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT GETS REFERRED TO THE NECESSARY AUTHORITIES, WHETHER IT'S KATHY FERNANDEZ RUNDLE, WHETHER IT'S THE ETHICS COMMISSION LOCALLY AND AT THE STATE, WHATEVER NEEDS, WHATEVER ENTITIES NEED TO BE ADDRESSED OR MULTIPLE ENTITIES NEED TO BE REFERRED TO, PLEASE AND THEN COME BACK WITH US, COME BACK AND PROVIDE US WITH A MEMO THAT ADDRESSES NOT ONLY THE OUTCOME, BUT THE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN. OKAY. SO SO MAYOR, IF I UNDERSTOOD THE MOTION, I THINK IT WOULD BE. AND AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, IT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, I'LL WORK WITH THE MANAGER, BUT IT'LL BE THE MANAGER TO MAKE SURE THAT THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IT'S REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY. YES. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT. OKAY. COMMISSIONER. LAURA? YES.

VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. YES. MOVING ON TO ITEM E FOUR. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND MR. CLARK. COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND OVERDEVELOPMENT. KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE IS A REALLY BIG PART OF THIS BODY.

NO. YES. MOVING ON TO ITEM E FIVE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. MAY HAVE A SECOND. MR. CLARK. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, NO. COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR LAGO.

YES. FINAL ITEM E 17. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, WE CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT PRESERVING THE HISTORY AND THE CHARACTER OF CORAL GABLES. WITH THIS VOTE. WE'RE TALKING OUR WALK OR WE'RE WALKING OUR TALK. KNOW COMMISSIONER LAURA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES, MAYOR.

[E.-8. 26-1859 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending the Comprehensive Plan of the City of Coral Gables, pursuant to expedited state review Procedures in Section 163.3184, Florida Statutes and Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-213, “Comprehensive Plan Text and Map Amendments,” 1) to increase the maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for the “University Campus” land use category; 2) to include hospital use and increase retail use within the Multi-Use Zone; and 3) to modify the boundaries of the “University Campus Multi-Use Area” to include the Central Energy Plant building and extend southwest to Red Road and northeast to the Mahoney-Pearson Parking Garage, excluding properties that are not owned by the University of Miami; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and an effective date. (LEGAL DESCRIPTION ON FILE) (08 12 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 6-1) Lobbyist: Jeff Bass]

[E.-9. 26-1860 An Ordinance of the City Commission requesting amendments to the Future Land Use 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), to change from “Commercial Low-Rise Intensity” to “University Use” for Lot 3, less the southwest one-half, Lots 4 and 5, and Lots 14 through 17, Block 192, Riviera Section 14, Second Revised Plat, Coral Gables (1530 Levante Avenue, 5827 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, and 5855 Ponce de Leon Boulevard); providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and an effective date. (LEGAL DESCRIPTION ON FILE) (08 12 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 6-1) Lobbyist: Jeff Bass]

[E.-10. 26-1861 An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for a Text Amendment to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-212, “Zoning Code Text and Map Amendments,” by 1) amending Article 16, “Definitions,” to clarify Health Center and relocate the University Campus Frontage definitions to Appendix D, “University Campus District (UCD);” 2) amending Appendix A, “Site Specific Zoning Regulations,” Section A-89 to remove inconsistent Site Specifics for the properties owned by the University of Miami; 3) amending Appendix D, “University Campus District (UCD)” to update and increase the permitted square feet to Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.0 with a FAR definition; to redefine the University Campus Frontages and revise the associated performance standards; to include hospital use and revise the other allowed uses with related requirements to the Campus Sub-Areas Table; and update other requirements; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (08 12 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 6-1) Lobbyist: Jeff Bass]

[E.-11. 26-1862 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,” from “Mixed-Use 1 (MX1)” to “University Campus District (UCD)” for Lot 3, less the southwest one-half, Lots 4 and 5, and Lots 14 through 17, Block 192, Riviera Section 14, Second Revised Plat, Coral Gables (1530 Levante Avenue, 5827 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, and 5855 Ponce de Leon Boulevard), and to modify the boundaries of the “University Campus Multi-Use Area Overlay District” to include the Central Energy Plant building and extend southwest to Red Road and northeast to the Mahoney-Pearson Parking Garage, excluding properties that are not owned by the University of Miami; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (LEGAL DESCRIPTION ON FILE) (08 12 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 6-1) Lobbyist: Jeff Bass]

[E.-12. 26-1863 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending and restating the City of Coral Gables and University of Miami Development Agreement, adopted by Ordinance No. 2010-31 on 09.28.10, pursuant to Zoning Code Article 14, Section 14-217, “Development Agreements,” for the University of Miami Coral Gables Campus; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (LEGAL DESCRIPTION ON FILE) (08 12 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 6-1) Lobbyist: Jeff Bass]

[E.-16. 26-1864 A Resolution of the City Commission requesting Conditional Review pursuant to Article 14, “Process” Section 14-203, “Conditional Uses,” and Appendix D, “University Campus District (UCD),” for the University of Miami Campus Master Plan to reflect Comprehensive Plan and Zoning amendments; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (LEGAL DESCRIPTION ON FILE) (08 12 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote: 6-1) Lobbyist: Jeff Bass (This Resolution is not for consideration at this time and will be included with the above ordinances on Second Reading if approved on First Reading.)]

AND THAT IS E8E9E 1011, E 12 AND E 16. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. YES. SO E EIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES PURSUANT TO EXPEDITED STATE REVIEW PROCEDURES IN SECTION ONE, 63.3184 FLORIDA STATUTES AND ZONING CODE, ARTICLE 14, SECTION 14. 213 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENTS ONE. TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM FLOOR AREA RATIO FOR THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS LAND USE CATEGORY TWO TO INCLUDE HOSPITAL USE AND INCREASED RETAIL USE WITHIN THE MULTI-USE ZONE, AND THREE TO MODIFY THE BOUNDARIES OF THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS MULTI-USE AREA TO INCLUDE THE CENTRAL ENERGY PLANT BUILDING AND EXTEND SOUTHWEST TO RED ROAD AND NORTHEAST TO THE MAHONEY PEARSON PARKING GARAGE, EXCLUDING PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT OWNED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, PROVIDING FOR REPEAL PROVISIONS. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE.

THE AUDIO. SO WE'RE BACK. OKAY, SO PROVIDING FOR PROVISIONS, SEVERABILITY CLAUSE CODIFICATION AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. E NINE IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION REQUESTING AMENDMENTS TO THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PURSUANT TO ZONING CODE. ARTICLE 14, SECTION 14-213 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP AMENDMENTS AND SMALL SCALE AMENDMENT PROCEDURES TO CHANGE FROM COMMERCIAL LOW INTENSITY

[04:40:03]

EXCLUDING PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT OWNED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, E 12 IS IN ORDER TO THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING AND RESTATING THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE NUMBER 2010 DASH 31 ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2010, PURSUANT TO ZONING CODE ARTICLE 14, SECTION 14-217 DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, CORAL GABLES CAMPUS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. AND THEN E 16 IS ONLY ON. FOR YOUR INFORMATION, IT WILL NOT BE VOTED ON TODAY, BUT IT'S A RESOLUTION REQUESTING CONDITIONAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 14 PROCESS. SECTION 14-203 CONDITIONAL USES AND APPENDIX D UNIVERSITY CAMPUS DISTRICT FOR UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CAMPUS MASTER PLAN TO REFLECT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND ZONING AMENDMENTS PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THESE. A NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS ARE QUASI JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS, SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M GOING TO ASK THE CITY CLERK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE WILL BE TESTIFYING TODAY IS SWORN IN, AND WE WILL CONSOLIDATE FOR PURPOSES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, 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. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. BASS. I NOTICED YOU'RE AT THE PODIUM, SO THAT MEANS YOU'RE READY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE ANY TIME AT ALL. IT IS MY GREAT PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, THE APPLICANT, ON A SUITE OF APPLICATIONS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU. TODAY. I'M JOINED THIS THIS AFTERNOON BY SO MANY MEMBERS, TOO MANY MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY TEAM TO INTRODUCE EVERYBODY INDIVIDUALLY. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CERTAIN MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO ARE HERE, MR. MANNY KHADER, MR. WILLIAMSON, MR. JOSE MA. I'M ALSO JOINED BY SENIOR LEADERSHIP, MR. RUDY FERNANDEZ, WHO I BELIEVE SOME OF YOU KNOW, AND THEN MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK FULL TIME BEHIND THE SCENES TO KEEP THIS CAMPUS AS SPECIAL AS IT IS. BY WAY OF BRIEF BACKGROUND, I REPRESENTED THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IN 2010 IN THE NEGOTIATION AND ADOPTION OF THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH EFFECTIVELY RENDERED ME THE MAYTAG REPAIRMAN OF LAND USE LAWYERS BECAUSE IT HAS WORKED SO WELL THAT I HAVE NOT APPEARED IN FRONT OF ANY ONE OF YOU DURING YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY, AND WITH HOPEFUL THE HOPEFUL ADOPTION OF WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU. YOU WON'T SEE ME AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS ONCE WE GET THROUGH SECOND READING, BUT IT IS MY. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MOMENT. IN FACT, IT'S A HISTORIC MOMENT, AND IT IS MY HOPE TODAY WITH THIS PRESENTATION, TO PLACE THIS VITALLY IMPORTANT HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THOSE OTHER VITALLY HISTORIC MOMENTS THAT HAVE BROUGHT THIS COMMUNITY TO WHERE WE ARE AND WHICH PLOT THE COURSE FOR WHERE WE ARE GOING. OUR PRESENTATION IS DIVIDED INTO THREE AREAS. LET ME JUST BRIEFLY PREVIEW THEM FOR YOU TO HELP YOU FOLLOW ALONG. FIRST, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE HISTORIC AND LEGAL CONTEXT FOR A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH IS A STATUTORY CONTRACT AUTHORIZED BY THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE PRECISE PURPOSES THAT WE BRING. THE AMENDMENT BEFORE YOU TODAY. NEXT, I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT

[04:45:01]

WE'LL SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THAT TO BE NAMED THE CENTENNIAL PARK CARRYING FORWARD THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM, AN ANNUAL PAYMENT. AND THEN ON THE MECHANICAL SIDE OF THIS, WE HAVE AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE ZONING CODE TO STUDENT ENROLLMENT MITIGATION THRESHOLDS. WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN UP SOME PARKING SPACES AND TRANSFER THEM TO THE UNIVERSITY TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THEM. AND WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. BEFORE I DIVE INTO THE MEAT OF THE PRESENTATION, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYBODY, BECAUSE IT REALLY PUTS THIS IMPORTANT MOMENT WITHIN CONTEXT OF SOME GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER. I'D LIKE TO FEATURE SOME OF THE INVISIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE ALL WITNESS EVERY DAY. AS PART OF

[04:50:04]

HERE'S WHERE IT GETS REALLY INTERESTING. NIXON WINS IN A LANDSLIDE IN 1972. BUT WHAT ELSE HAPPENED ON THAT DAY? THE ELECTORS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY CAME TOGETHER AND VOTED TO APPROVE ONE OF THE LARGEST BOND ISSUES IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY. IT'S CALLED THE DECADE OF PROGRESS BONDS. AND WHAT DID THEY DO? THEY FUNDED VITALLY IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING TRANSIT. THE IDEA OF A RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM WAS BORN WITH THE PASSAGE OF THESE BONDS IN 1972. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WORK BEGAN TO PLAN WHAT WOULD BECOME THE TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND THE VERY FIRST STATION BUILT IN THE SYSTEM WE NOW CALL METRORAIL WAS THE UNIVERSITY STATION, AND THAT WAS BUILT IN 1979. HERE'S THE GROUNDBREAKING. GOVERNOR GRAHAM WAS HERE FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING. THE METRORAIL REPRESENTS OUR SINGLE GREATEST INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CAMPUS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT GEOGRAPHIC ENDOWMENT. WHEN WE WERE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO REGULATE THE CAMPUS, WE CAME UP INITIALLY IN THE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE 2010 DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH A VERY SIMPLE PRINCIPLE, WE WOULD FOCUS THE CAMPUS AND ITS INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT, WHERE THE URBAN PLANNERS WANTED IT TO BE, NEXT TO THE METRORAIL STATION, THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY ALL JUST CAME TOGETHER TO FUND. BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS THE SELF-EVIDENT TRUTH. IF YOU HAVE TO GET IN YOUR CAR TO DRIVE TO

[04:55:05]

THESE ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST DESIGNERS IN THE WORLD THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER TO BUILD THESE TREASURES, AND THEY SERVE A VITAL PART OF THE CAMPUS MISSION. ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT PRESIDENT SHALALA KNEW WELL WAS WE HAD TO TRANSITION FROM A COMMUTER SCHOOL TO A CAMPUS BASED SCHOOL. IF WE WERE GOING TO DISTINGUISH OURSELVES AND KEEP THE COMPANY, THE ACADEMIC COMPANY THAT WE WANTED TO KEEP. AND PRESIDENT SHALALA KNEW IF WE WERE GOING TO WANT THE KIDS TO LIVE ON CAMPUS, WE HAD TO HAVE NEW, MODERN, COMPETITIVE HOUSING FOR THEM AND FACILITIES TO SUPPORT THEM AND KEEP THEM ON CAMPUS. AND THE BUILDINGS THAT I HIGHLIGHTED ALL DO JUST THAT, IN ADDITION TO WHAT I JUST HIGHLIGHTED IN TERMS OF THE BUILDINGS, THE PURELY ACADEMIC BUILDINGS WITHIN THE CORE, WE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING ELSE EXTRAORDINARY AND HISTORIC WITH THE CAMPUS DISTRICT. WE CREATED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE LENNAR MEDICAL FOUNDATION BUILDING AND BRING ALL OF OUR AREAS OF ACADEMIC MEDICINE AND OUR ACADEMIC MEDICAL EXPERTS TO CORAL GABLES SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THESE DOCTORS AS OUR DOCTORS WITHOUT HAVING TO DRIVE TO DOWNTOWN. AND AND I HAVE TO SAY OF, OF ALL THE BUILDINGS, IT'S, IT'S AS GORGEOUS NOW AS WHEN IT WHEN IT WHEN IT OPENED AGAIN, REALLY JUST A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE. SO WHAT ELSE HAPPENED? WE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE A, A AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS, AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT THAT CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. WE ARE NOW AMONG THE COMPANY OF THE FINEST UNIVERSITIES IN THE LAND. AGAIN, ALL OF THIS ACCOMPLISHED. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, BUT THE PROGRESS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ENABLED IS THE PROGRESS THAT LED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE BUILDINGS AND THESE FACILITIES, WHICH I BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED IN A MATERIAL WAY TO THIS ACHIEVEMENT, ABOUT WHICH WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD. NOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT A PART OF THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT INCLUDES THE TRANSFER OF A PROPERTY THAT WE'VE CALLED THE LINCOLN, WHICH WILL BE NAMED AS CENTENNIAL PARK. IT WILL COMMEMORATE THE 100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OUR TWO

[05:00:08]

[05:05:02]

HOPEFULLY WE'LL ADD SOME ORDER THERE AND MAKE THAT MUCH MORE LOVELY. AND BEFORE I END, I DO HAVE SOMETHING ELSE VERY IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT INDUSTRY. WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN, YOU CAN SEE FROM THE FIRST VISION OF WHAT THIS CITY WOULD LOOK LIKE. THE UNIVERSITY ALMOST. IT LOOKS LIKE A HEART. THE SHAPE OF IT LOOKS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A HEART. IT. IT WAS AT THE CORE OF MERRICK'S VISION FOR THE CITY, AND MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ARVA PARKS BOOK ON MERRICK, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO DO SO. I DID SO TO PREPARE FOR THIS HEARING, AND I WAS SO MOVED BY THIS SPEECH THAT MERRICK GAVE AT THE STONE, LAYING FOR THE FIRST BUILDING ON THE CAMPUS, THAT I INCLUDED IT HERE SO THAT YOU ALL CAN HAVE IT. AND I'M GOING TO CLOSE BY READING IT TO YOU. THIS IS MERRICK'S SPEECH ON FEBRUARY 4TH, 1926, AND IT'S NO LESS IMPORTANT TODAY THAN IT WAS WHEN HE GAVE IT SOME DAYS AGO AT THE OPENING OF THE MIAMI BILTMORE HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB. I SAID THAT THAT WAS THE BIGGEST AND PROUDEST MOMENT FOR ME IN THE HISTORY OF CORAL GABLES. THIS MOMENT IS FAR GREATER AND MEANS VASTLY MORE. FOR TODAY, WE ARE ENTERING UPON THE REALEST THING THAT MIAMI CAN ACHIEVE. HOTELS, CLUBS, AND ALL OTHER GREAT MATERIAL THINGS THAT MIAMI HAS ACCOMPLISHED.

BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, GLORIOUS THOUGH THEY BE, ARE BUT OF EPHEMERAL SIGNIFICANCE. BESIDES THIS GREAT ENTERPRISE OF PERMANENTLY REAL AND VITAL INFLUENCES UPON THE LIVES AND HEARTS OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE. MIAMI THAT WE ARE HERE BEGINNING. WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY, RESONATES IN PERFECT HARMONY WITH THE WORDS OF MERRICK IN 26. AND WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE TODAY, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR YOUR UNANIMOUS APPROVAL TODAY TO HELP US TAKE ONE MORE GIANT STEP FORWARD TO MAKING MR. MERRICK'S VISION OUR REALITY FOR OUR SHARED FUTURE TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. THANK YOU SIR. WE DO HAVE SOME SPEAKERS, BUT I'LL LET. I'LL LET THEM SPEAK AT. AFTER YOUR STAFF THROUGH THE MAYOR. WE'LL CALL.

WE'LL CALL FOR PUBLIC SPEAKERS. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. MADAM DIRECTOR. GOOD AFTERNOON.

JENNIFER GARCIA, PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR. I HAVE MY POWERPOINT, PLEASE. YOU HAVE VERY THOROUGH EXPLANATION OF ALL THE CHANGES THAT YOU'RE SEEING TODAY IN YOUR MEMO.

[05:10:02]

THERE ARE A LOT OF REQUESTS THERE TO CHANGE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD BE SENT TO THE STATE AFTER APPROVAL OF TODAY'S FIRST READING. THERE'S ALSO COMPREHENSIVE PLANS, SMALL SCALE MAP AMENDMENTS THAT WE CAN HANDLE HERE LOCALLY ZONING CODE, TEXT MAP AMENDMENTS, THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND ALSO A CONDITIONAL USE THAT YOU'LL BE VOTING ON IN SECOND READING. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TEXT AMENDMENTS ARE PRETTY SIMPLE.

IT'S INCREASING THE MAXIMUM F.A.R TODAY IS 0.1 F.A.R TO INCREASE IT TO 1.0 FAR, AND THEN ALSO TO INCLUDE HOSPITAL USE WITHIN THE MULTI-USE ZONE AND TO INCREASE THE RETAIL USE FROM 15% TO 20%. ALSO, ONLY WITHIN THE MULTI-USE AREA, THE MULTI-USE AREA IS EXPLAINED IS AN AREA THAT'S ALONG PONCE DE LEON, FACING RIGHT NOW DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE UNIVERSITY METRORAIL STATION. THE CAMPUS SORRY, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MAP AMENDMENTS WOULD INCLUDE A SMALL SCALE MAP AMENDMENTS TO CHANGE THE. THE. THE LAND USE FROM COMMERCIAL LOW RISE INTENSITY TO UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. AND OUR FUTURE LAND USE MAP WOULD BE THE SMALL SCALE MAP AMENDMENT AND ALSO TO EXPAND THE MULTI-USE AREA TO INCLUDE ALL THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE FACING PONCE LEON, JUST SOUTH OF THE MAHONEY PEARSON GARAGE, ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO REDWOOD.

THE ZONING CODE. TEXT AMENDMENTS INCLUDE THE CHANGE OF THE CURRENT SIX POINT 8,000,000FT■!S OF ALLOWABLE DEVELOPMENT AREA TO TO TO UPDATE THAT TO BE FAR 1.0. IT'S APPROXIMATELY TEN POINT 5,000,000FT■!S. INCREASE THE RETAIL USE FROM 15% TO 20%, WHICH WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CHANGES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. ALSO ADDING HOSPITAL USES THAT ALLOW USE WITHIN THE CAMPUS. THE CAMPUS SUBZONE TABLE AND ZONING CODE.

AND THEN TO HAVE A TRIGGER OF ANYTHING THAT'S MORE THAN 100 BEDS, THE HOSPITAL WOULD REQUIRE A CONDITIONAL USE, REVIEW AND APPROVAL, AND THEN TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS FRONTAGES. RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE MANY FRONTAGES THAT THAT HAVE CERTAIN SETBACKS AND HEIGHTS AND SETBACKS AS WELL. THIS WOULD BE TO REVISE THEM TO ONLY HAVE THREE FRONTAGES. THE FRONTAGE A, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM SINGLE FAMILY, WOULD NOT BE CHANGED. THIS WOULD BE INCLUDING THE FRONTAGE ALONG PONCE DE LEON, WHICH WOULD BE 20FT TO BE CONSISTENT WITH U.S. ONE, AND ALSO TO CHANGE THE FRONTAGE ALONG RED ROAD TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM SOUTH MIAMI, AND THEN ALSO TO CHANGE THE ANTENNA HEIGHT TO TO ALLOW EXCEEDING TEN FEET. THIS WOULD NOT SUPERSEDE OUR UNDERLYING ZONING REQUIREMENTS OF 120FT FROM GROUND TO THE TOP OF THE ANTENNA THAT WOULD STILL BE IN PLAY, AS WELL AS 200FT FROM FROM GROUND TO THE TOP OF THE ANTENNA. SO THAT WOULD STILL SUPERSEDE THAT. AND THEN ALSO THE DESIGN MANUAL TO UPDATE THAT, BECAUSE THE ONE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ON FILE IS VERY OUTDATED. SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH CITY ARCHITECT AND THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS BASED ON ALSO MOVING TO DEFINITIONS THAT RIGHT NOW SHOULD BE IN THE CAMPUS FRONTAGE DEFINITIONS OF APPENDIX D, MEANING THAT OVER ALL THE ALL THE REQUIREMENTS ARE. AND THEN CHANGING THE SITE SPECIFICS AND REMOVING SOME OUTDATED LANGUAGE ABOUT THE, I THINK METHODIST CHURCH AND THEN THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS TO CHANGE THE UNIVERSITY OWNED PROPERTIES ON PONCE TO BE FROM RM ONE TO BE A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS DISTRICT. AND ALSO EXPANDING THE MULTI-USE AREA AGAIN ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF PONCE LEON THAT'S OWNED BY THE UNIVERSITY JUST SOUTH OF MAHONEY PEARSON PARKING GARAGE. AND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AS. AS MR. BASSETT GONE THROUGH AT LENGTH, ALL THE LECTURE SERIES, CONCERT SERIES, LECTURES, FOOTBALL GAMES, OTHER SPORTS THAT WOULD STILL BE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

WHAT'S CHANGING IS THE INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT FROM 13,000 TO 17,000 500,000 STUDENTS, AS WELL AS THE CONVEYANCE OF THE LINCOLN PARK WITH 5.5 ACRE PARK TO THE CITY AND THEN UPDATING THE FLOOR AREA RATIO TO ALLOW FOR 1.0. AN ANNUAL INCREASE OF THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE OF 4%, AND THEN TRANSFERRING THOSE CITY MANAGER METERED PARKING SPACES TO THEN BE MANAGED BY THE UNIVERSITY. THIS IS A. A PLAN SHOWING THE DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE CAMPUS MASTER PLAN. AS PART

[05:15:07]

THIS WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO THE STATE AFTER THIS HEARING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. CLARK. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. MR. MAYOR, I UNDERSTAND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE ALSO HERE THAT WANTED TO SPEAK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. FIRST SPEAKER MARIA CRUZ.

MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD SINCE 1976. (305) 323-2154. I HAVE SEVERAL COMMENTS AND SOME OF THEM HAD TO DO WITH THE ANNUAL REPORT BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT SEVERAL TIMES. WE MEET EVERY YEAR. WELL, IN 2025, THERE WAS NO ANNUAL MEETING. HOW DO I KNOW? BECAUSE THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2425 WAS PRESENTED TO THIS COMMISSION JULY 7TH, 2026. AND I MENTION IT BECAUSE IT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IN THAT REPORT, THEY TALK ABOUT THE BASELINE ENROLLMENT IS TEN 000. THIS IS 2425. AND THEN IT TALKS ABOUT WHEN IT GOES OVER 12,000, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE A REPORT. THERE WAS NO ATTACHMENT TO THIS THING. AND THEN IF IT'S 13,000 THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT MUST BE DONE. IT WAS NOT DONE. BUT NOW WE USE THE 13000 FIGURE ASKING FOR MORE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THAT IT WENT FROM TEN TO 12 TO 13. THERE'S NO ATTACHMENTS IN THIS REPORT THAT WAS PRESENTED A FEW WEEKS AGO. AND YET ON THE NEW DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WE TALK ABOUT MOVING FROM 13 TO 17 SOMETHING. OKAY. NO EXPLANATION.

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. OKAY. ALSO IN THIS REPORT THAT JUST WE JUST GOT IN JULY, IT TALKS ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTION, THE PAY CONSIDERATION, A MILLION, 25,000. THAT WAS WHAT WAS AGREED IN 2010, I BELIEVE IT WAS PAID ACCORDING TO THIS NOVEMBER 24TH. IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PAYING IN 25. SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS PAID OR NOT. MAYBE IT HASN'T

[05:20:06]

THEY DON'T WANT ANY CONSTRUCTION. THEY WANT US. IT'S LIKE IT WAS PRESENTED TODAY. I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT AS HIS NO FENCES, NO STRUCTURES. JUST COME AND PLAY, DO WHATEVER YOU WANT AND KEEP GOING. IT IS THE INVISIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE MOBILITY PLAN, THE HURRICANE SHUTTLE. IT WAS VERY GOOD WHEN IT WAS A SMALL VEHICLE. IT WAS LIKE A TROLLEY.

NOW WE HAVE THIS HUMONGOUS TOURIST BUS THAT BARELY CAN MAKE THE CIRCLE. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED. WE ALSO TALK. WE ALSO HEARD THE WONDERFUL PARKING PLAN. WELL, SOMEBODY HASN'T DRIVEN AROUND MILLER TRIO ALL THAT AREA BECAUSE WE HAVE MRS. CRUZ. PLENTY OF PARKING. I'M SORRY, BUT I HAVE HE PRESENTED. AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH HE PRESENTED. I'M SORRY YOU'VE GONE. BUT YOU, YOU AND THE PREVIOUS PEOPLE YOU LET THEM TALK TO. SO I'M ENTITLED TO. SO WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT PARKING IT'S VERY GOOD. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WHEN THE UNIVERSITY IS OFF, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH PARKING. AS SOON AS THE KIDS COME BACK, WE HAVE FREE PARKING. SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT IT IS. AND THE LAST COMMENT I HAVE IS ENCROACHMENT INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I HEARD TODAY AND THE OTHER DAY TOO, THAT THERE'S THREE PROPERTIES THAT THE UNIVERSITY OWNS THAT NOW THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE THEIR ZONING FOR IT. WONDERFUL.

BUT THE UNIVERSITY DIDN'T SAY THAT THEY HAVE OTHER PROPERTIES. SO HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN BOUGHT, HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN BOUGHT, THAT ARE ENCROACHING INTO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT IS A PROBLEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VINCENT CHEN. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON. I REPRESENT THE PROPERTY OWNER AT 5955 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD.

WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR SINCE ALMOST 30 YEARS. PEDIATRIC MEDICAL SERVICES.

IT'S OUR ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. IT'S OUR OFFICES RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLUMMER BUILDING, AND ITS ADJACENT TO THE CHURCH. AND SO I'M THERE EVERY DAY AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE THERE. AND, AND WE, WE FULLY SUPPORT THIS, THIS, THESE AMENDMENTS. BUT BUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, THEY'RE A GOOD PARTNER. AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE RED ROAD AREA. WE. AND WE THINK WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AND BEING A GOOD PARTNER AS WELL. AND WE THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT AND, OR A GREAT, GREAT CHANGES AND, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE UNIVERSITY. WE THINK IT WILL INCREASE. OF COURSE, IT WILL INCREASE REVENUE FOR THE FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, IT WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE. OUR OFFICE PROVIDES PEDIATRIC MEDICAL SERVICES. AND WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 30 YEARS. AND WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS AND ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE. AND I THINK IT WILL PROVIDE THE. THE HOSPITAL AT LEAST COMPONENT WILL PROVIDE MANY NEW JOBS IN THE CITY AND WILL HELP THE LOCAL BUSINESSES SUCH AS OURS AS WELL. AND WE THINK IT WILL INCREASE IT WILL INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES BY, YOU KNOW, ENHANCING THE UNIVERSITY AND THE AND THE CAMPUS THERE. AND WE BELIEVE IT WILL INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS AND FOR THE AS WELL FOR THE PROPERTY, PROPERTY OWNERS. AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE IN FULL SUPPORT. AND WE REALLY, WE'RE IN GREAT SUPPORT OF IT.

AND WE'RE HAPPY TO WE, WE, WE ASK FOR UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SIR. ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND I'D LIKE TO. BUT I THINK WE HAVE A. I'M GOING TO GET THERE. OKAY. WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

TRUST ME, I PROMISE YOU. WE'VE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THIS, SO I'D LIKE I'D LIKE TO CALL UP MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I DON'T KNOW IF THE CHAIRMAN WOULD LIKE TO COME COME UP FIRST, OR HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIS FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS GIVING YOU THE OPTION. MR. TOVAR, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO IT? GO FOR A MINUTE. I'M I'M I'M JUST HERE IN MY ROLE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE

[05:25:04]

IT'S BEEN A LONG NEGOTIATION WITH THE CITY. I THINK THE MANAGER HAS REPRESENTED THE CITY WELL, AS HE SHOULD, BUT THIS ENSURES THAT THE UNIVERSITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE GREAT. NOT ONLY HEALTH CARE, BUT RESEARCH INSTITUTES IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO I TAKE GREAT PRIDE THAT WE'RE HERE. I THINK THE CITY SHOULD TAKE EQUALLY GREAT PRIDE THAT WE'RE HERE AND THAT WE'RE A GREAT PARTNER. SO I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANY OF YOU MAY HAVE, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET YOUR UNANIMOUS APPROVAL TODAY. I'M DISAPPOINTED COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ IS NOT HERE, BUT I'M HAPPY TO TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS ANYONE MAY HAVE. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD. YES, MR. KADRI, I DO HAVE SOME, SOME SOME QUESTIONS. I HAD WRITTEN AN EMAIL TO YOU REGARDING SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT I HAD. I KNOW THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE. I DID RECEIVE YOUR EMAIL LAST NIGHT.

I KNOW IT WAS VERY LATE NOTICE. YEAH. YES. AND I THINK ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS IN THE EMAIL HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL FOR ME TO RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM A COMMISSIONER WHEN A MANAGER HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO NEGOTIATE, BUT I'M HAPPY TO TO CONSIDER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE TO THE EXTENT THAT I CAN ANSWER THEM, I WILL. IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL FOR ME. YEAH.

AND I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM BETWEEN READINGS IF YOU FEEL BETTER THAT WAY. BUT I THINK THE MANAGER HAS DONE A VERY ABLE JOB ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. BUT AFTER THE MEETING THAT WE HAD, YOU DID OPEN ME UP TO, TO TO QUESTIONS AND I WAS HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR. AND I WENT AHEAD AND I TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH YOU PERSONALLY. SO NO DISRESPECT TO THE CITY MANAGER, BUT THAT WAS AN AGREEMENT YOU AND I HAD. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU. HOPEFULLY YOU FIND YOU'LL FIND YOUR WAY TO SUPPORT THE AGREEMENT. LISTEN, ALL I WANT TO DO IS SUPPORT THE AGREEMENT, OKAY? IN GOOD FAITH, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO THIS COMMUNITY ARE ADDRESSED PROPERLY. AND I WAS SEEING THAT SOME WERE ADDRESSED AND SOME I'M QUESTIONABLE ABOUT. I WANT TO VOTE YES. OKAY, I WANT THAT. I MEAN, I CANNOT BE MORE PROUD FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI TO BE IN CORAL GABLES, EVEN THOUGH IT'S UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. BUT BETWEEN THIS READING AND NEXT READING, LET'S GO AHEAD AND FLUSH. I THERE WAS THREE POINTS THERE. LET'S GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT SPECIFICALLY SOME OF THE ONES MAYBE NOT HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT MAYBE WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY. SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I SPOKE ABOUT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. PERFECT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I DIDN'T HEAR ANY QUESTIONS BE ASKED OR ANSWERED. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER, I GUESS. MR. TOVAR, OR AS A BUSINESS OWNER, AS A RESIDENT, I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE BEING HERE, AND I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK REGARDING THIS. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR LAGO.

VICE MAYOR ANDERSON, COMMISSIONER CASTRO AND COMMISSIONER LARA, AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS ROGER TOVAR, AND I HAVE LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AND THE PROPOSAL BEFORE EACH OF YOU TODAY. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR AT THE OUTSET THAT I HAVE NO FINANCIAL, PROFESSIONAL, OR INSTITUTIONAL INTEREST IN THIS MATTER. I HAVE NO DOG IN THIS FIGHT OTHER THAN WANTING WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE BEST FOR CORAL GABLES AND FOR GREATER MIAMI COMMUNITY THAT MY FAMILY AND I CALL HOME. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT SOME RESIDENTS

[05:30:05]

WE HAVE MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF HISTORY BY WHICH TO JUDGE THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AND HIS GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOUTH FLORIDA. MIAMI HAS GROWN INTO ONE OF THE AMERICA'S GREAT METROPOLITAN AREAS. YET COMPARED WITH MANY METROPOLITAN AREAS OF OUR SIZE AND IMPORTANCE, WE HAVE RELATIVELY FEW RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES. WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING REASONABLY POSSIBLE TO HELP INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AND FIU BECOME STRONGER, NOT PLACING UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF THEIR PROGRESS. I DRIVE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI ALMOST EVERY DAY, AND I'VE WATCHED WHAT HAS HAPPENED ON THE CAMPUS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I SEE THE LENNAR FOUNDATION MEDICAL CENTER SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. I SEE NEW ACADEMIC FACILITIES AND STUDENT HOUSING, AND I SEE THE EXTRAORDINARY ATTENTION THAT HAS BEEN PAID TO THE ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPING AND THE OVERALL CHARACTER OF THE CAMPUS. THE UNIVERSITY HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT GROWTH DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN SACRIFICING QUALITY OR CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN MOST RESPECTS. IT HAS ENHANCED IT. WILL CONTINUED GROWTH CREATE CHALLENGES? OF COURSE, TRAFFIC MUST BE ADDRESSED. DENSITY MUST BE THOUGHTFULLY PLANNED. THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS MUST BE RESPECTED, AND I FULLY EXPECT THE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES RESPONSIBLY. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP THOSE CONCERNS IN PERSPECTIVE. WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE INCONVENIENCES THAT INEVITABLY ACCOMPANY RESPONSIBLE GROWTH TO OUTWEIGH THE ENORMOUS AND LASTING BENEFITS OF EDUCATING MORE STUDENTS, EXPANDING RESEARCH, CONTINUING TO GROW A TEACHING HOSPITAL, IMPROVING ACCESS TO WORLD CLASS HEALTH CARE, AND STRENGTHENING AN INSTITUTION THAT WILL SERVE THIS COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS. AND WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THIS PROPOSAL ALSO GIVES CORAL GABLES SOMETHING INCREASINGLY PRECIOUS, A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LAND THAT CAN BECOME A PERMANENT PUBLIC PARK FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. CITIES DO NOT REMAIN GREAT BY STANDING STILL.

[05:35:02]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE BOARD OR FROM UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? OKAY, PERFECT. BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO THE COMMISSION, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND IF POSSIBLE. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. SO, MAYOR. JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS WOULD BE A MOTION ON E8, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY BE DISCUSSING ALL THE ITEMS. YES. CONSOLIDATED DISCUSSION. YES, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM VICE MAYOR, THANK YOU. MAYOR, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DAY FOR THE FUTURE OF CORAL GABLES, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE CENTENNIAL PARK, WHICH I WOULD EQUATE TO AN EQUIVALENT OF OUR COUNTRY CLUB, PRATO, THAT HAD DEEP VISION. BUT A 30 YEAR AGREEMENT THAT WILL TAKE THIS UNIVERSITY TO THE NEXT LEVEL. RESIDENTS THAT I SPEAK TO ABOUT THE GROWTH OF THE UNIVERSITY ARE PLEASED THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS GROWING WITHIN, NOT BURDENING THE RESIDENTS BEHIND IT, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS BOARD HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CONTEND. I REACHED OUT REGARDING TRANSPORTATION ISSUES. YOU PUT YOUR HANDS UP AND YOU SAID WE WILL PARTICIPATE. NOT ONLY HAVE YOU PARTICIPATED, BUT YOU'VE IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AROUND THE CAMPUS AND YOU CONTINUE AND HAVE NOW TAKEN OVER HOSTING THE MEETINGS AT THE TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION THAT WE HOPE THAT WE WILL DEVELOP BETWEEN SOUTH MIAMI, CORAL GABLES AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE CLOSE TO HALF A MILLION STUDENTS ALREADY TRAINED TO USE MASS TRANSIT, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OF TAKING CARS OFF THE ROAD IN THIS AREA IS TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUT OUR TROLLEY SERVICES INTO THE FUTURE. AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEADERSHIP POSITION ON THAT. SO I'M VERY PLEASED TO MOVE THIS ITEM. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY EARLY ON. IT WAS 1978. I WAS VISITING THE LIBRARY. THAT WAS A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT WORLD. THERE WAS NO INTERNAL ROADS, THERE WAS NO LANDSCAPING. IT WAS PITIFUL BY COMPARISON. I'M SORRY TO USE THAT WORD, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, YOU KNOW, AND I WAS BOTH A COMMUTER STUDENT AND I BOTH LIVED IN A CAMPUS, TOO. IT'S BEEN A DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT. I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE DRIVING AROUND LOOKING FOR PARKING AND DOING WHATEVER I COULD TO BE ABLE TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK OR DOUBLE PARK LEGALLY, PARK, WHATEVER, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T SUFFICIENT PARKING AT THE TIME.

BUT NOW YOU'VE TAKEN IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. AND THANK YOU FOR THE VISION OF BRINGING THIS, THIS UNIVERSITY FORWARD. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MR. CASTRO. YES, I'LL GO AHEAD AND REITERATE SOME OF THE REQUESTS THAT I HAD JUST ON TOP SURFACE SURFACE WISE, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WAS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE WAS THE CENTENNIAL PARK, AND THAT THE LANGUAGE IS AIR TIGHT, THAT IT'S A PASSIVE PARK. THIS IS NOT CENTRAL PARK. THIS IS NOT PONCE PARK, THIS IS BENCHES. ANYTHING THAT IS TO MAINTAIN THE PARK AS PASSIVE, YOU KNOW, WALKWAYS, MAYBE NOTHING MORE TREES. I PUT THE LANGUAGE THERE. I DRAFTED SOME LANGUAGE, BUT I THINK THE EXPERTISE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, IF THAT IS OKAY WITH YOU, WE CAN FLUSH THAT OUT A

[05:40:03]

AND I FLUSHED OUT OUT IN THE EMAIL THAT I SENT, BUT MY VOTE IS GOING TO BE YES, LET'S JUST WORK THROUGH THOSE LITTLE THINGS. BETWEEN FIRST READING AND SECOND. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO JEFF BASS FOR NOT ONLY A COMPREHENSIVE AND EDUCATIONAL, BUT VERY ENTERTAINING PRESENTATION. I, I MUST SAY, YOU KNOW, JEFF AND I GO BACK A LITTLE WAYS. WE BOTH SERVED ON THE JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION WITH THE THIRD DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL MANY YEARS AGO. THAT'S WHY I WAS FIRST WOWED BY MR. BASS AND HIS COMMAND OF THE LANGUAGE, BECAUSE HE'S A VERY ERUDITE GUY AND HE'S VERY, VERY STUDIED, STUDIED AND VERY STUDIOUS PERSON. BUT HE HAS A FLAIR ALL TO HIS OWN. AND SO WHAT YOU DID FOR THE UNIVERSITY TODAY WAS COMMENDABLE, TO BE SURE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY MANAGER. PETER IGLESIAS HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB. THIS, THIS THIS IS A MASSIVE COUP. BUT BUT IT'S A WIN WIN, RIGHT? SO WHILE I THINK, YOU KNOW, VERY SELFISHLY, I SUPPOSE YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CORAL GABLES IS TYPICALLY JUST IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF CORAL GABLES. BUT THIS IS ALSO VERY MUCH IN THE INTEREST OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IS PART OF THE DNA OF CORAL GABLES. AND SO THIS IS FAR MORE THAN JUST SOME SORT OF A, YOU KNOW, A LAND TRANSACTION, WHICH IS, TO BE SURE, MONUMENTAL. BUT CORAL GABLES PROVIDES, ON THE ONE HAND, THE UNIVERSITY WITH MUCH GREATER CERTAINTY AND CAPACITY FOR FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH, LONG TERM GROWTH. WHILE THE CITY RECEIVES PERMANENT PARKLAND, SUBSTANTIAL RECURRING REVENUE, NEGOTIATED PROTECTIONS, AND A GREATER CERTAINTY ABOUT HOW THAT GROWTH WILL OCCUR AND REPRESENTED TODAY, THE UNIVERSITY HAS SOME OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND CIVIC MINDED LEADERS ASSEMBLED THAT I'VE SEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS COMMISSION, SO THAT IS QUITE A TESTAMENT TO THE UNIVERSITY AND TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS TRANSACTION THAT I HOPE WILL GET THE UNANIMOUS, AND I WILL PREDICT WITH SOME CERTAINTY IT WILL APPROVAL. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS. MY VOTE IS YES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, I'M NOT GOING TO BE AS BRIEF. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR TEN YEARS. LET'S START WITH A LITTLE PROJECT CALLED LENNAR. I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS HERE.

I REMEMBER A YOUNG LADY IN THE BACK SAYING, LENNAR IS GOING TO BE WHAT DESTROYS THIS COMMUNITY.

I REMEMBER MAKING THAT VOTE AGAINST THE PRESSURING OF ONE COMMUNITY MEMBER. IT'S GOING TO BE A TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE. OH, I DRIVE BY LENNAR EVERY MORNING AT 430 IN THE MORNING ON THE WAY TO THE GYM. COME BACK 6:00, DRIVE. ON THE WAY HOME I DRIVE TO TAKE MY GIRLS TO SOCCER.

IT'S A TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE BECAUSE MIAMI IS A TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE. BUT LENNAR HAS INTERNAL CUEING. LENNAR HAS. IS IT. THE PARKING IS ATTACHED TO THE BUILDING. BASICALLY, YOU CAN DRIVE THROUGH AS VALET. IT IS A PLEASURE TO GO TO LENNAR. A TRUE PLEASURE AND THAT'S ALL I HEAR FROM RESIDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO MY HISTORY, MY HISTORY IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES GOES BACK. I DIDN'T JUST GET HERE 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO. I'VE BEEN HERE IN MY HOME FOR 15 YEARS, AND BEFORE THAT I LIVED ON SANTA MARTA. WHEN MY PARENTS WERE ABLE TO AFFORD THEIR SECOND HOME IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, FIRST HOME WAS ON MINORCA. THEY GAVE IT TO MY GRANDPARENTS AND THE SECOND ONE WAS IN SANTA MARU. I MOVED TO SANTA MARTA BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE NEXT TO UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE NEXT TO LINCOLN, BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE NEXT TO THAT PINE ROCKLANDS ADJACENT TO SANTA MARTA. THAT'S WHERE MY GRANDFATHER USED TO TAKE ME EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL. WE USED TO GO WHERE THE ARBORETUM IS. WE USED TO GO

[05:45:03]

GIVE THE MARK. SOLD FOR $80 MILLION FIVE ACRES FIVE YEARS AGO, AND UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI JUST RECENTLY SOLD A PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE MARK, WHICH IS THREE ACRES HALF THE SIZE OF THIS FOR 90. AND I KNOW THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HAS GOTTEN MULTIPLE DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE COME AND ASKED FOR THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE, AGAIN, ARTES AND THE OPPORTUNITY OF POTENTIALLY DEVELOPING IT. BUT THEY STOOD FIRM AND THEY SAID, WE WON'T DO THAT TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AT THE RIGHT TIME, WHEN WE COULD MUTUALLY COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL BENEFIT BOTH PARTIES. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE DEED RESTRICTIONS, I SPEAK FOR THE COMMISSION. OKAY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'VE SAID IT FROM THE BEGINNING.

IT'S NOTHING NEW. YOU CAN YOU CAN. JESSICA ROMNEY WILL TELL YOU, MR. COWDREY WILL TELL YOU, RUDY WILL TELL YOU THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN INTEREST IN DEVELOPING THIS PROPERTY, AND THERE NEVER WILL BE AN INTEREST IN DEVELOPING THIS PROPERTY. WHAT COMMISSIONER CASTRO IS REQUESTING WAS ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR NEGOTIATIONS, BECAUSE IT WAS A REQUIREMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AND MYSELF. CORRECT, MR. MANAGER? THAT IS CORRECT, MAYOR. THAT'S NOTHING NEW. IT'S NOT BEING DISCUSSED OR BROUGHT TO THE TABLE NOW. THERE WILL BE NO DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK. THERE WILL BE DEED RESTRICTIONS WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN LAID OUT. THE PROPERTY SHALL BE PERPETUALLY USED AND MAINTAINED FOR PUBLIC PARK PURPOSES ONLY.

THE PROJECT SHALL NOT BE SOLD. BY THE WAY, I HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S COMING BEFORE THE BOARDS RIGHT NOW THAT'LL BE COMING BEFORE THE NEXT COMMISSION THAT SAYS UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT ANY GREEN SPACE, ANY PARK, CAN NEVER BE SOLD UNLESS IT GOES BEFORE THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH A REFERENDUM. AND THE RESIDENTS APPROVED THE SALE OF THAT PROPERTY. THAT PUTS THE ULTIMATE SHACKLE NOT ONLY ON THIS PROPERTY, BUT ON EVERY PIECE OF GREEN SPACE IN THIS COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE YOUTH CENTER. THE PROPERTY SHOULD NOT BE SOLD, LEASED, USED OR OCCUPIED FOR ANY COMMERCIAL, MEDICAL OR OTHER NON PARK USE.

THERE WILL BE NO SIX FLAGS. THERE WILL BE NO MASSIVE PLAYGROUND SETS OR WATER FEATURES. IT WILL BE A GREEN SPACE. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'D MAYBE LIKE TO ADD A LOT MORE TREES. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. AND THANK YOU FOR PLANNING ALL THOSE OAKS RECENTLY. THEY LOOK AMAZING. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I FIND COMICAL THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT IS HOSPITALS. AS THE SON OF A DOCTOR. WHO HAPPENS TO LIVE TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. ALSO MY FATHER. THE IDEA THAT WE DON'T NEED MORE HOSPITALS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS. RIDICULOUS. THE IDEA OF MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY BEING ABLE TO GET THE BEST CARE, WHICH IS OFFERED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IN OUR OWN BACKYARD, AND NOT HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO DOWNTOWN, IS WHY WE'RE IN PUBLIC OFFICE TO BRING THESE TYPE OF OPPORTUNITIES. TO THE RESIDENTS. IF THIS BENEFITS THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, I LOVE IT. I THINK IT'S GREAT. IT SHOULD BENEFIT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. THERE ARE PARTNER. WE HAVE RESTRICTED IT TO 100 BEDS TO PUT INTO CONTEXT, WHICH I KNOW IT WON'T BE PUBLISHED IN THE BLOGS, BUT TO PUT IT INTO CONTEXT, DOCTOR'S HOSPITAL, WHICH MY FATHER IS A PHYSICIAN AT, HAS 284 BEDS. A FUTURE COMMISSION WILL DECIDE WHETHER IT HAS 100 OR 101 OR 150 OR 200, BUT

[05:50:09]

CPI INCREASE. THE DECISION WAS VERY SIMPLE. SAID, WE'LL PAY YOU MORE, BUT THEN WE WE'RE GIVING YOU A MASSIVE, VERY VALUABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY. THERE HAS TO BE A HAPPY MEDIUM.

AND WE WORKED HARD WITH OUR TEAM AND WE CAME TO THE UNDERSTANDING IT'LL GROW OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. BUT I WANTED THAT PROPERTY. WHY DID I WANT THAT PROPERTY? BECAUSE NAME ME A SIX ACRE PARCEL OF LAND THAT YOU CAN FIND RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF GABLES, MAYBE A SIX ACRE PARCEL OF LAND WHERE YOU CAN FIND ON MAIN AND MAIN IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY.

LET'S PRESERVE THIS PROPERTY IN PERPETUITY. LET'S PRESERVE THE TREES. LET'S PRESERVE THE GREEN SPACE. LET'S, LET'S PLANT SOME FLORIDA NATIVE PLANTS, SOME PINE TREES, AND MAKE IT SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL THAT WE'RE PROUD OF. THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T SEE A MUCH HIGHER ANNUAL PAYMENT LIKE MAYBE YOU SEE IN OTHER UNIVERSITIES, BECAUSE THIS IS A PROPERTY THAT IN TEN, 15, 20 YEARS, I THINK WILL DOUBLE IN PRICE, POTENTIALLY TRIPLE IN PRICE. WE'RE LUCKY TO GET IT TODAY. I KNOW WE CAN'T GET IT IN TEN YEARS. FOR THE FIRST TIME. LIKE I MENTIONED, THE ANNUAL PAYMENT WILL HAVE AN INCREASE OF 4%, CREATING ADDITIONAL REVENUE. THAT WAS NOT IN THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MANATEE COUNTY. THANK YOU RUDY. THANK YOU JESSICA. THANK YOU. THE UNIVERSITY HAS NEVER LOOKED BETTER. AND I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO TAKE SWIPES AT PEOPLE ORGANIZATIONS. IT'S EASY. HEAVY IS THE CROWN, RIGHT? I LIVE IN FRONT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. NOBODY IN THIS ROOM LIVES ANYWHERE NEAR CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE. NOT EVEN THE YOUNG LADY IN THE BACK. I LIVE WITHIN 30FT OF THE UNIVERSITY ON 5200 SANTA MARTA DRIVE. EVERY DAY. WHEN I GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, I GET IN THE CAR. I SEE EVERYBODY RUNNING AND USING THE SIDEWALKS. I SEE ALL THE CARS. RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB, SAINT AUGUSTINE, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, LENNAR DOCTORS HOSPITAL AND RIVIERA COUNTRY CLUB. WE ARE SURROUNDED, BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. THAT'S WHY I MOVED INTO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT LET ME GO BACK TO 15 YEARS AGO WHEN I BOUGHT THAT PROPERTY. WE HAD PEOPLE PARKING IN THE SIDE YARDS ON RUBINO. WE HAD ISSUES WITH STUDENT PARKING. ALL THAT HAS BEEN CORRECTED, I CAN'T REMEMBER. IT HASN'T BEEN YEARS WHERE I'VE HAD SOMEBODY PARK ON MY LAWN, EVEN DURING A SERIOUS EVENT. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOOTBALL PRACTICES THAT WERE RECENTLY HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AND THE SPRING GAME THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY, WE HAVE NOT HAD ISSUES AT ALL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I LIVE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. THE STRIDES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, LIKE MR. BASS MENTIONED IN REGARDS TO ON CAMPUS TRANSPORTATION, HAVE BEEN FELT IN A POSITIVE WAY BY ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

IT'S CALLED A SPADE, A SPADE. SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT DEALS. BUT THIS IS A DEAL THAT TODAY I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION. AND I PROMISE THAT IN 15 YEARS WHEN THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS MEETING THAT WE HAD TODAY, SOMEBODY WILL MAYBE REMEMBER AND SAY, THANK GOD THESE INDIVIDUALS DIDN'T TAKE THE MONEY AND THEY TOOK THE LAND BECAUSE YOU WILL

[05:55:02]

AND I AM EXCITED. AND BY THE WAY, THIS IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO RENEGOTIATE, LIKE IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, FOR A FIVE YEAR WINDOW, THIS IS A 30 YEAR AGREEMENT. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO RENEGOTIATING, THERE'S NO FIVE YEAR WINDOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND, AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, DO THIS. THERE IS ALREADY PROVISIONS THAT THE MANAGER AND I DETAILED WITH JESSICA BROMLEY, WITH RUDY AND WITH MANNY AND THE REST OF THE BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO OUT CLAUSE, BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER ALLOW IT. I'M BRINGING SIX PARKS TO THE DOWNTOWN. I BROUGHT OVER 15 PARKS TO THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

THAT'S ONE OF MY LEGACIES. I WOULD NEVER ALLOW, AND I WOULD NEVER I WOULD NEVER, EVER WANT ANYTHING BUILT ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY. SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DECIDED HERE TODAY. IT'S ALREADY BEEN DECIDED. AND IT WAS DECIDED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AT THEIR REQUEST AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES OVER A YEAR AGO, OVER TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED THIS PROJECT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. MR. CLARK.

YES, MR. MAYOR, LET'S FINISH THIS UP. IS ON E. YES, SIR. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER. LATA. YES.

VICE MAYOR ANDERSON, YES. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. THE BOARD MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE MAYOR. THIS WILL BE A LASTING LEGACY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. MAY I JUST AS A MOMENT OF CLARIFICATION, THE MOTION WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LOGAN? YES.

MOVING ON TO E NINE. MOVE IT. SECOND, MR. COMMISSIONER. LATA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES.

COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. MAYOR. YES. MOVING ON TO E TEN. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. LATA. YES. MAYOR.

YES. MOVING ON TO E 11. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. LATA.

YES. VICE MAYOR. ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES E 12 I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. COMMISSIONER. LATA.

YES. VICE MAYOR. ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. YES. MOVING ON TO ITEM E 16. I'LL MOVE IT SECOND. OH, THAT'S THE NEXT ONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SEE YOU ON THE SECOND READING. WE HAVE NOT HAD LUNCH YET. IT IS 330. YES. LET'S GO HAVE LUNCH. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME BRIEF HEARING. YES, LET'S GO HAVE LUNCH FOR 20 MINUTES. SO WE GOT A LONG AGENDA HERE. AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO DEFER SOME ITEMS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PEOPLE HERE PROBABLY WANT TO WANT TO MOVE QUICKLY. I'M GOING TO DEFER ITEM E SEVEN, WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE OF MINE ON ON FIRST READING. LET ME SEE WHAT ELSE I'LL LOOK AT MINE DURING WHILE I REFUEL. THAT'S IT. ONE SECOND.

I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRETTY SIMPLE. ALL RIGHT, BE BACK IN 20 MINUTES. SO

[2.-1. 26-1876 A Resolution of the Library Advisory Board requesting that the City Commission consider allocating funds for the application and installation of a Florida Historical Marker at the Coral Gables Library.]

[06:00:10]

GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER LAURA PAGE PEREZ, ASSET MANAGER AND LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD LIAISON. JOINING US TODAY WE HAVE VICE VICE CHAIR RUTH MARTINEZ AND BOARD MEMBERS GINGER YOAKAM, JULIE PARDO AND MELANIE ZARGHAM. CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY. THANK YOU ALL. I'M MELANIE ZARGHAM, I'M THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD. I'M HERE TO ASK THE CITY'S SUPPORT IN SETTING ASIDE FUNDING FOR THE FLORIDA HISTORICAL MARKER AT THE CORAL GABLES LIBRARY. THE STORY OF THE LIBRARY GOES BACK TO 1927, WHEN CORAL GABLES WOMAN'S CLUB ESTABLISHED THE FIRST FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE CATHEDRAL ROOM AT THE DOUGLAS ENTRANCE, WHERE TODAY. TEN YEARS LATER, IN 1937, CORAL GABLES BUILT A BUILDING AT 1001 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD. THROUGH THE WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION. THAT BUILDING WAS OUR NEXT LIBRARY AND ALSO THE HOME TO THE WOMAN'S CLUB. THEN, IN 1969, OUR CURRENT LIBRARY BUILDING WAS COMPLETED AND THE LIBRARY HAS REMAINED IN THAT LOCATION EVER SINCE. FOR NEARLY A CENTURY, THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE THAT HISTORY DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY FOR THE GENERATIONS WHO HAVE ENJOYED THE LIBRARY OVER THE YEARS, BUT ALSO FOR THE GENERATION, THE FUTURE GENERATIONS, WHO MAY NOW NOT REALIZE HOW DEEPLY THE LIBRARY IS CONNECTED TO OUR CITY'S HISTORY. AN HISTORICAL MARKER WOULD BE A SIMPLE BUT MEANINGFUL WAY TO TELL THAT STORY AND MAKE OUR HISTORY VISIBLE TO EVERYONE WHO VISITS THE LIBRARY. ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSION TO SET ASIDE FUNDING NEEDED FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PURSUING THIS MARKER. WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL WAY TO HONOR THE LIBRARY, THE PEOPLE WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE, AND NEARLY A CENTURY OF SERVICE TO THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I LOVE THE IDEA MORE THAN ANYTHING. WHAT I LOVE IS THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND THE ENGAGEMENT. ALL OF YOUR INCREDIBLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE INVOLVED IN NOT ONLY JUST ONE ASPECT OF THE CITY, BUT ON MULTIPLE LEVELS, MULTIPLE TIERS. AND I HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU ON A WEEKLY BASIS, WHICH IS GREAT, BY THE WAY. IT'S A GOOD THING. IT'S A GOOD THING. NO, NO, ALL, ALL OF YOU. AND I THINK IT'S GREAT. AND I KNOW THE REST OF THE COMMISSION IS THE SAME WAY. SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, FOR MAKING THE COMMITMENT TO GET THIS DONE. AND AGAIN, JUST IMPRESSIVE AS, AS ALWAYS, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WOMEN'S CLUB.

I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING HERE ON THE RECORD. AND I AND I WANT TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES SINCE WE'RE WE CAN SUNSHINE IT NOW. THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP, ONE DAY WE HAD A CONVERSATION THAT THE FACT THAT THE WOMEN'S CLUB WAS MISSING THE FLAGPOLE AFTER YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS HAD BEEN DECADES SINCE THAT FLAGPOLE HAD GONE MISSING. WE FOUND A PHOTO OF THE ORIGINAL LOCATION OF FLAGPOLE. THROUGH THE HELP OF THE MANAGER. I PERSONALLY, THROUGH MY PERSONAL FUNDS, I BOUGHT A NEW FLAGPOLE PROFESSIONAL FLAGPOLE, AND I PROFESSIONALLY HAD IT INSTALLED.

I PAID FOR THE PERMIT AND MY COMPANY INSTALLED IT. SO YOU BROUGHT THAT TO ME? YOU BROUGHT THAT IDEA. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A YEAR. IT'S UP. BASICALLY DONE WITH JUST FINALLY DOING SOME FINAL TWEAKS. WE GOT TO ADD A LIGHT TO IT, I THINK IS WHERE MY TEAM WAS TELLING ME THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF LOCATING THAT LIGHT. BECAUSE AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE A FLAG UP AT NIGHT, YOU NEED TO HAVE A LIGHT ON IT, A LIGHT, IT'S THE CORRECT PROTOCOL. SO WHAT I'M, WHAT I, THE REASON WHY I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ALL MY COLLEAGUES THERE. WHEN WE FINALLY INAUGURATE THE FLAGPOLE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID, I WROTE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW WITH THE ACM AND THE MANAGER. AND DCM IS BUDGETING THAT EVERY PARK, EVERY MAJOR PARK SHOULD HAVE A FLAGPOLE. I THINK THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW AND GETTING THAT DONE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GAVE YOU CREDIT IN PUBLIC FOR BRINGING THIS IDEA TO ME. YOU PUSHED ME TO GET IT DONE. YOU WERE ON ME, WHICH IS AMAZING. NONSTOP. YOU CALLED OUR OFFICE AND WE GOT IT DONE USING PRIVATE FUNDS, WHICH I'M VERY PROUD OF. SO I WOULD INVITE MY COLLEAGUES WHO WILL BE PROBABLY.

I THINK WE'RE COORDINATING RIGHT NOW WITH LAURA TO, TO SCHEDULE THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THAT. SO QUITE THE CONTRARY. MAYOR WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US AND DOING

[06:05:03]

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR HARD WORK. DO WE NEED A, WE NEED A MOTION ON THIS. YES, WE NEED A MOTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER LATTA, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING SO ENGAGED. I ECHO THE MAYOR'S SENTIMENTS, AND YOU CAN COUNT, MR. MAYOR, ON MY SUPPORT WHEN WE FINALLY GET IT ALL GOING. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU. YES. MY VOTE, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES, MAYOR. YES. THANK YOU. LADIES, AS ALWAYS, I APPRECIATE YOU YOU LEADING THE WAY. AND THANK YOU TO STAFF ON THIS. I APPRECIATE

[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.-18. 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]

IS THE LAST ONE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2022-81, AS AMENDED BY RESOLUTION NUMBER 2025-468, WHICH APPROVED THE MIXED USE SITE PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOTS 5 TO 27 BLOCK 28 CORAL GABLES CRAFT SECTION, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA TO ALLOW FOR COMPLETION OF THE PUBLIC PARK FOLLOWING ISSUANCE OF OCCUPANCY, SUBJECT TO POSTING OF A PERFORMANCE BOND FOR SUCH WORK. REQUIRE THE PUBLIC PARK BE DEDICATED TO THE CITY WITH A DEED FOR THE PUBLIC PARK TO BE EXECUTED AND HELD IN ESCROW WITH THE CITY TO APPROVE THE ENCROACHMENT PLAN REQUIRED BY RESOLUTION NUMBER 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.

SO FINALLY, WE'RE DONE. THIS IS HERE. WE'RE AT THE CONCLUSION OF A LONG JOURNEY. OKAY. A LONG INITIATIVE FOR THE RECORD OF OUR OFFICE AT THREE, THREE, THREE SOUTHEAST SECOND AVENUE.

MR. MAYOR, AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS CONCLUDES LONG INITIATIVE THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH US ON, WHICH IS THE DEDICATION OF THE CRAFTS PARK. I ACTUALLY HAVE A PHOTO OF THE PARK WITH THE VON SPAWN ARTWORK INSTALLED, IF WE COULD SHOW IT. I KNOW YOU ASKED ME FOR A PHOTO AT THE LAST MEETING. WE ARE CLOSE TO COMPLETION AND WE ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH YOUR CITY ATTORNEY ON THE PARK DEED, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE AND CONVEY TO THE CITY. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE MANAGER. THAT'S WHO. WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT MAKING IT HAPPEN. HE MADE IT HAPPEN. A VERY COMPLICATED FEW ISSUES. AGAIN, IT WAS A STRAGGLER IN REGARDS TO THE MANY, THE NEW SIX PARKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN THE DOWNTOWN. THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

BUT AGAIN, WE JUST WE WE MISSED WE MISSED ONE ISSUE. BUT LOOK HOW PRETTY. LOOK HOW PRETTY THAT THAT OPEN SPACES AGAIN, THAT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT YOU CAN DO OUR CITY, OUR CITY WAS LACKING THESE GREEN SPACES. AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM IN THE DOWNTOWN. WHEN YOU INCLUDE POND CIRCLE PARK, THERE'S GOING TO BE ABOUT SEVEN OF THEM IN THE DOWNTOWN. AND AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR OUR DOWNTOWN. AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE WORKED ON THIS.

AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE VICE MAYOR FOR GETTING THESE THESE THESE ARE ONCE IN A LIFETIME TREES. AGAIN, THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, TRULY EXCEPTIONAL SPECIMENS THAT THE DEVELOPER WAS THOUGHTFUL ENOUGH TO WORK AND WORK VERY HARD WITH THE VICE MAYOR. I WAS THERE, I'M THE VICE MAYOR INVITED ME TO GO SEE THOSE ACTUAL TREES BE MOVED INTO LOCATION. AND THESE WERE MASSIVE, MASSIVE SPECIMEN TREES. SO AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT DEFINES WHO WE ARE AS A CITY.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK THE DEVELOPER. I WANT TO AND I WANT TO THANK THE VICE MAYOR AND THE MANAGER FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND EVERYBODY WHO HAD A HAND IN BRINGING THIS TO FRUITION. I KNOW THE VICE MAYOR WAS OUT THERE ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND WATERING THE TREES.

YEAH, CHECKING ON THE PLANTS, MAKING SURE THEY WERE DOING WELL. BUT THE TREES, THAT WAS AN ENORMOUS PROJECT, AN UNDERTAKING. BUT IT REALLY HAS TRANSFORMED THAT CORNER. AND WE'RE HAPPY THAT YOU PUSHED US IN THAT DIRECTION. IT REALLY, REALLY MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT BETWEEN POND CIRCLE PARK, BETWEEN THIS PARK, BETWEEN PUBLIX AND BETWEEN THE ARMANDO CADENA SITE, WHICH IS ON THE CORNER OF ALMERIA, YOU

[06:10:07]

DOWNTOWN NEEDED PARKS, AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT INITIATIVE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO BE ABLE TO GET ALL THOSE DONE. WE COMMEND YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU AND THE TEAM BEHIND THIS PROJECT FOR HAVING THE FORESIGHT TO TO MOVE THESE SPECIMEN TREES. I REMEMBER BEING ASKED THE QUESTION, WILL THE CITY ALLOW IT TO HANG OVER THE SIDEWALK? AND I SAID, ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING TO SHADE, PROVIDE SHADE FOR PEDESTRIANS WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK. AND IT'S BECOME A MONUMENTAL THING. AND YOU ALSO RECEIVED A TREE OFF OF ANOTHER SITE WHERE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOCATION. SO ALL TOGETHER, A TREE ALTOGETHER. YOU SAVED TWO SPECIMEN TREES ON ONE ON THIS ONE SITE BECAUSE ONE'S DOWN ON CATALONIA AND YOU HAVE THE SAUSAGE TREE, WHICH IS QUITE A CHARACTER OF A TREE TO HAVE ON THAT SITE. SO THANK YOU. WE NEED A MOTION ON THIS TOO, RIGHT? YES. SO I'LL MOVE IT. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? THE FIRST ONE. FIRST ONE. YES. MR. MAYOR, WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. MARIA CRUZ.

MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD (305) 323-2154. ALSO KNOWN AS THE YOUNG LADY IN THE BACK. I HAVE A SIMPLE COMMENT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE CONTINUE AMENDING STUFF SO THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WHY DON'T WE DO IT FROM THE BEGINNING, THE RIGHT WAY, AND NOT HAVE TO DO SO MANY AMENDMENTS? YOU KNOW? THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. MOVING ON. A WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. YES, SIR. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON.

YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. SO NOW WE AS A CITY OWN THIS PARK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. E 18. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES, COMMISSIONER. LAURA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS AREA, I WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD. I THINK IT'S NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE WE HAVE THE ADJACENT BLOCK THAT'S FORTHCOMING TO THE CITY.

IT'S GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW, AND I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH WHY I'M SPONSORING THAT ITEM. AND IT'S THE ADJACENT BLOCK TO THE SOUTH.

SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT MY REQUESTS ARE AND WHAT THE PROCESS IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, AND WHY I AM ASKING FOR THIS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION.

JUST GIVING YOU A LITTLE HEADS UP, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BLOCK TO THE NORTH. AND I WANT I WANT THE MANAGER. THANK YOU TO THE MANAGER FOR CATCHING SOMETHING ALONG WITH ALONG WITH STAFF. AND WE'RE TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTION. FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT WAS JUST MENTIONED BEFORE IN TYPICAL FASHION, TAKING A SLIGHT AT THE CITY. THE REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THIS RIGHT NOW IS TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR SOMETHING THAT WE MISSED.

AND THE DEVELOPER WAS NICE ENOUGH THAT EVEN AFTER THEY GOT THERE, THEY GOT THEIR PROJECT APPROVED. THEY SAID TO US THE INTENT WAS FOR THE CITY. I WORKED WITH THEM. I WORKED WITH THE DEVELOPER FIVE YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE WANTED A POCKET PARK THERE. THERE WAS AN ERROR WHEN WE DID THE LEGISLATION AND NOW WE'RE COMING BACK AND THE DEVELOPER WAS WAS WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH US TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THE PIECE OF PROPERTY COULD BE DEEDED OVER TO THE CITY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. WE'RE TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTION TO CORRECT SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, WAS A SIMPLE MISTAKE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOW WE'RE TAKING CORRECTION ACTION. THANK YOU TO TO THE DEVELOPER AND THE ATTORNEY FOR WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN TODAY. SAME THING WILL BE COMING BEFORE YOU IN THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, AND I'LL BE THE SPONSOR OF THE ITEM SAID A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROPERTY. THIS PROPERTY IS DONE. PARK IS IN OUR HANDS NOW. WE OWN IT. THANK

[G.-1. 26-1849 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting a donation from Friends of The Underline for a proposed artwork by artist Daniel Marosi (unanimously recommended by the Arts Advisory Panel, approval/denial vote: 7 to 0, and the Cultural Development Board approval/denial vote: 5 to 0) and authorizing the City Manager and City Attorney to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with The Friends of The Underline in order to effectuate the donation.]

[06:15:04]

APOLOGIES.

YEAH, WE CAN POSSIBLY JUST HAVE THEM PROCEED THROUGH IT. OKAY. SO JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS OF IT. THE COMMISSION DOES HAVE A DONATION POLICY IN PLACE THAT ESTABLISHES A PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION BY THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF NON-MONETARY ART AND CULTURAL DONATIONS. SO THE UNDERLYING IS IN LINEAR PARK, AS YOU KNOW, IN URBAN TRAIL BENEATH THE METRO LINE AND FUNCTIONS AS AN OPEN AIR FREE MUSEUM FEATURING ROTATING AND PERMANENT PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS. FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING WISHES TO DONATE ARTWORK BY DANIEL MOROSI FOR INSTALLATION WITHIN THE CORAL GABLES SECTION OF THE UNDERLYING. AND TODAY WE HAVE JAKE MOSKOWITZ, WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS DONATION JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT OF REVIEW OF THE DATES OF THAT REVIEW PROCESS. ON JULY 29TH, THE ARTS ADVISORY PANEL REVIEWED AND THE PROPOSED CONCEPT AND RECOMMENDED ACCEPTANCE. AND ON AUGUST 12TH, THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD REVIEWED IT AND IS RECOMMENDING IT TODAY TO THE CITY COMMISSION. THANK YOU.

CATHERINE. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON, ESTEEMED COMMISSIONERS, I'M JAKE MOSKOWITZ, I'M THE CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER FOR THE UNDERLYING. I'M VERY EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THIS AMAZING ARTWORK. IT IS CALLED THE BERNIE WOLFSON BENCH, DONATED BY JESSIE WOLFSON. IT IS A. IT IS A POWDER MATTE ALUMINUM BENCH. IT IS A 29 FOOT BENCH THAT MERGES THE DESIGN OF ART DECO ELEMENTS AND ORGANIC FORMS INSPIRED BY SOUTH FLORIDA'S NATURAL LANDSCAPE. YOU CAN SEE HERE THE PROPOSED ARTWORK. IT IS AN EXTREMELY INVITING AND FUNCTIONAL PIECE. IT IS AROUND 18FT. PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY SIT ON THIS BENCH COMFORTABLY AT THE SAME TIME. IT'S 29FT WIDE, IT'S NINE FEET HIGH, AND IT'S FLANKED BY THESE SYMMETRICAL WINGS. IT'S ALSO INSPIRED BY OCEANIC ELEMENTS, AS WELL AS THE ART DECO. ARCHITECTURE THAT WE SEE THROUGHOUT MIAMI DADE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, YOU CAN SEE THE PROPOSED LOCATION. IT IS AT THE UNDERLYING WILDE'S DESTINATION, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE THE EVERGLADES IN THE MIDDLE OF CORAL GABLES. SO THE FACT THAT THIS IS INSPIRED BY NATURE, IT'S THE LOGICAL PLACE TO PUT IT IN BETWEEN SESTINA AVENUE AND GRANADA ON IN BETWEEN PONCE AND US ONE, I LOVE IT. I DRIVE BY IT EVERY SINGLE DAY, 5 OR 6 TIMES. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA AND I LOVE THE DESIGN. I LOVE THE BENCH AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART. SO AGAIN, I THINK IT'S GOING TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION IN THAT AREA IS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER EVERY DAY. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT.

AND ALSO THE WOLFSON FAMILY. AGAIN, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE WOLFSON FAMILY. SO IT'S A GREAT IT'S A GREAT ADDITION JUST TO HAVE THEIR NAME INVOLVED. AND WE LOVE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED HERE IN THE CITY OF BEAUTIFUL AND NOT IN THE CITY OF MIAMI. THEY'VE DONE A LOT FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND THEY DESERVE THIS TYPE OF RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. AND WE'RE MORE THAN HONORED TO EXPAND AND CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MY FRIEND. WE NEED A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. SPECTACULAR PIECE, BY THE WAY.

IT'S COOL RIGHT, I LIKE IT. IT'S AMAZING. YEAH. WE HAVE A MOTION. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLERK, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. WOW. COMMISSIONER. LAURA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES.

[06:20:07]

[H.-2. 26-1821 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the retroactive acceptance of Grant Agreement No. HID1226G0891-00 in the amount of $1,028,204 on behalf of the Coral Gables Police Department as part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program Initiative; and authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 annual budget to recognize the grant as revenue and to appropriate such funds toward the cost of the program.]

[H.-3. 26-1847 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Budget to recognize a transfer of $6,853,370 from the Parking Fund reserves and appropriate the funds for cost for the Mobility Hub capital project.]

CASTRO. NO. COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR. YES. SO THIS IS THE FINAL PIECE IN REGARDS TO MOVING FORWARD WITH, OBVIOUSLY, THE MOBILITY HUB. CORRECT? OKAY. I THINK YOUR MIC IS OFF. EXCUSE ME MA'AM. EXCUSE ME. THIS IS IN CASE WE ARE ABLE TO START GETTING ALL THE CONTRACTS DONE BY BY OCTOBER. WE CAN START DEMOLITION WORK ON THAT. EVEN IF FPNL IS NOT DONE, WE WILL BE STARTING EAST TO WEST. PERFECT. EXCITING, EXCITING, EXCITING. GREAT WORK, MR. MANAGER. THANK

[H.-4. 26-1856 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award the Biltmore Way Streetscape Improvement Project to HG Construction Development & Investment, Inc., the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in the estimated amount of $1,119,214.41 and not to exceed budgeted funds, pursuant to Section 2-763 of the Procurement Code entitled “Contract Award” and Invitation for Bids (IFB) 2026-017. Lobbyist: N/A]

CONSTRUCTION, DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT, INC. THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER IN THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $1,119,214.41 AND NOT TO EXCEED THE BUDGET NOT TO EXCEED BUDGETED FUNDS. PURSUANT TO SECTION 2-763 OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE ENTITLED CONTRACT AWARD AND INVITATION FOR BIDS 2026-017. LONG TIME COMING, LONG TIME COMING. AND I WANT TO THANK THE VICE MAYOR. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD TO SEE SOMETHING MOVING FORWARD, MADAM VICE MAYOR. NO, IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN YEARS. AND I KNOW THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT STAFF HAD DONE ADEQUATE PRESENTATION. SO I JUST WANT TO, FOR THE RECORD, JUST SHOW THE SOME OF THE BOARDS THAT DURING THE PRESENTATION UNTO. IT'S BEEN IT'S IT'S QUICKLY, QUICKLY BECAUSE I MAINTAIN THE BOARDS BECAUSE I WAS AT THE AT THE PRESENTATION WHERE. STAFF COVERED EVERYTHING. UPSIDE DOWN DOESN'T HELP. THE COMMISSIONER. I KNOW YOU YOU QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THERE HAD BEEN A PRESENTATION, I WAS PRESENT, THE ROOM WAS FULL AND STAFF PRESENTED WHERE TREES COULD BE PLANTED, WHERE TREES COULD BE PLANTED, THE TYPES OF TREES, AND GAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO MAKE COMMENT. AND THEY DID. AND VICE MAYOR, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE BEEN WORKING ON THIS? PROBABLY CLOSE TO 18 TO 20, BUT JUST STAFF OUTLINED WHERE TREES COULD GO. I'M SORRY.

STAFF PROVIDED TREE OPTIONS. THERE'S LANDSCAPING OPTIONS BEHIND THIS. THESE ARE IN MY OFFICE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION ABOUT THEM. ULTIMATELY, THE RESIDENTS CHOSE TO HAVE OUR HIGHLY QUALIFIED LANDSCAPE DESIGNER CHOOSE THE TREES AND DESIGN IT IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER. WE ARE FINALLY AT THE POINT WHERE THIS PROJECT CAN BE DONE, AND I'D LIKE TO MOVE IT FORWARD. SO ON THAT, I'LL MOVE THIS ITEM. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US. A SECOND. MR. CLERK.

YES, MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM, MR. MAYOR.

OH, YOU HAVE ITEMS. OKAY, PERFECT, I LOVE IT. FIRST SPEAKER MARIA CRUZ. OH, SHE'S TALKING TO YOU THROUGH TEXT. INTERESTING. SHE SAYS SHE SENT YOU A TEXT. ME DON'T SEE ONE, BUT OKAY. OH, WELL, THAT'S. GO AHEAD. ANYBODY ELSE? YES. MR. MAYOR, MISS CHERYL GOULD HAD

[06:25:05]

OF COURSE, IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT SUBSTITUTES MAY BE NECESSARY IF THE PREFERRED TREES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE TIME OF PLANTING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A TWO WAY PROCESS, INFORMING, CONSULTING AND INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, WORKSHOPS, HEARINGS AND PROJECT UPDATES. THAT HASN'T HAPPENED HERE. THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE CITY'S PATTERN OF LIMITED TRANSPARENCY AND DISMISSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH RESIDENTS IS WELL KNOWN. I AM NOT THE ONLY RESIDENT CONCERNED BY RHONDA ANDERSON ADVANCING HER OWN PREFERENCES. AS WITH THE TREE SPECIES ON THIS PROJECT, FOR YEARS, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ASKED FOR LARGE CANOPY TREES. THE WIDE STREET NEEDS THEM TO SCALE DOWN THE OPEN SPACE, PROVIDE SHADE AND PROTECTION FOR PEDESTRIANS, MITIGATE AGAINST URBAN URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS, CALM TRAFFIC, LOWER ENERGY COSTS, AND CAPTURE STORMWATER, MEDIUM AND SMALL TREES. GET LOST AGAINST THE HIGH RISES AND DON'T DELIVER THE SAME BENEFITS.

AFTER CONSULTING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, THE EXISTING SIDEWALKS PROVIDE AMPLE SPACE FOR LARGE CANOPY TREES WITH SILVER CELLS. THE THREE TREES RECENTLY PLANTED AT SEGOVIA CIRCLE SHOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH PIECEMEAL DECISIONS AND THE WRONG TREE SELECTIONS. RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE IS BASIC URBAN FORESTRY PRACTICE. SECRETIVE DECISIONS UNDERMINE PUBLIC TRUST. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSION NOT TO APPROVE THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT UNTIL THE FINAL STREETSCAPE PLAN HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE BILTMORE WAY RESIDENTS. THE MATERIAL DESIGN AND THE TREE SELECTIONS HAVE BEEN CLEARLY IDENTIFIED, AND RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, SIR. DO WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND YES, MR. MAYOR. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, YES, I HAVE A QUESTION. WAS THIS FINAL CONCLUSION PRESENTED TO THE RESIDENTS OF BILTMORE WAY? THROUGH THE DIRECTOR? SO WHAT THE WHAT THE RESIDENTS WERE PRESENTED WAS THE PALETTE OF OPTIONS THAT REPRESENTED HERE. AND THIS SPECIFIC SPECIES WERE ONE OF THOSE VERY SAME OPTIONS. AND AT THAT MEETING, WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT POTENTIALLY EVEN BALLOTING. AND THERE WAS ALSO DISCUSSIONS AND THE CONSENSUS AT THE TIME, AND IT'S ACTUALLY ON VIDEO WHERE SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT WE'RE NOT QUALIFIED TO MAKE THE DECISION. WE WILL LET THE CITY STAFF, ESPECIALLY DINA'S TEAM, TO, TO MAKE THE DECISION AS TO WHAT TO PLANT OUT THERE. AND EVERYTHING THAT IS ON THOSE PLANS IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE PALETTE OF OPTIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE RESIDENTS. SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS IS ON THE RECORD, RIGHT? BECAUSE I'VE HAD SEVERAL RESIDENTS COME TO ME. THERE IS A VIDEO OF THAT MEETING, CORRECT? IT'S TOWARDS THE END. OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS, YEAH, THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY NEVER AGREED FOR STAFF TO GO AHEAD AND PICK THE TREES.

THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE SAYING. I'M I'M NOT AWARE OF. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T. THESE RESIDENTS ARE SAYING THAT THEY NEVER AGREED FOR THE CITY TO GO AHEAD AND PICK OUT THE TREES. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ON THE RECORD. THEY DID THEIR. WELL I MEAN, THERE'S PEOPLE WHO SPOKE RIGHT.

I MEAN, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON. I MEAN, I IMAGINE THAT, BUT YEAH, THE CONSENSUS, THE WHOLE CONVERSATION TOWARDS THE MEETING WAS PRECISELY ABOUT TELLING CITY STAFF TO CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE MATERIAL, OBVIOUSLY, WITHIN THE PALETTE THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED. SO WHAT WE, WHAT THESE PLANS CONTAIN IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT FROM WHATEVER WAS SUBMITTED TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS. AND THE ISSUE ABOUT MEDIUM TREES. MR. LARGE TREES. YOU ALSO HAVE ELECTRICAL CABLES ON TOP. YOU HAVE THE THE LIGHTS FOR THE THE POWER LINES FOR THE STREETLIGHTS ARE THERE TOO. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT WAS THE WHEN WAS THE DATE THAT THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE BILTMORE WAY RESIDENTS. I WANT TO SAY THE

[06:30:03]

WE'VE HAD A GOOD MEETING, COMMISSIONER. RELAX. OKAY, LET ME FINISH MY. LET ME LET ME HELP YOU. THEN YOU CAN LET ME HELP YOU. LOOK, I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP, BUT LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE. LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE VIBE AFTER I'M DONE. NO, NO. BUT LISTEN, WHEN IT COMES TO THE MEETING, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING THAT DEALT WITH AND THE AGREEMENT, I WENT AND I LISTENED TO THE MEETING AND THEN I TOOK NOTES. WHAT DID MARIA CRUZ SAY? WHAT DID FELIX SAY? WHAT DID ROBERT BAER SAY? WHAT DID HE SAY? WHAT DID ALEX BARCELLO SAY? WHAT WAS THE VOTE? AND IT HAD ALL THE POINTS. MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU IS A SIMPLE ONE. THIS IS I'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE BILTMORE WAY RESIDENTS FOR ALMOST A DECADE, AND THE VICE MAYOR HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN THIS CONVERSATION. THERE HAS BEEN ALWAYS DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS ON THE MATTER. WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE STAFF THAT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WE HAD A MEETING. WE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS. AS WE JUST SHOWED YOU WITH THE PRESENTATIONS THAT THE VICE MAYOR BROUGHT. YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED THE MEETING FROM 2025. YOU WERE ELECTED IN OFFICE. YOU COULD HAVE WATCHED THE MEETING.

YOU COULD HAVE. YOU COULD HAVE SEEN WHAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT WAS THE CONSENSUS FROM THAT MEETING. WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR TEN YEARS, JUST LIKE WE WERE. WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE MOBILITY HUB. WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD ON CITY HALL. WE WILL NEVER GOING TO BE PERFECT. LET'S NOT ALLOW, YOU KNOW, PERFECT TO BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD. OKAY? WE CAN BE GOOD, BUT TO BE PERFECT, WE'VE HAD SOME RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO PUT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PROJECT THAT WE CAN AFFORD. RIGHT.

MADAM VICE MAYOR? WE LOOKED AT SOME PROJECTS. THEY WERE TALKING. THE BUDGETS WERE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WE COULDN'T AFFORD THAT. SO WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS.

STAFF HAS DONE A GOOD JOB. IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, HAVE FAITH IN OUR STAFF THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY'RE MAKING ARE GOING TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY. SO I I'M NOT I'M NOT EVEN DONE. BUT NO, I UNDERSTAND, BUT I BEEN INTERRUPTED SINCE YOU SINCE YOU WERE PROVIDED SOME FALSE INFORMATION. I HAVE TO CLARIFY IT. I DIDN'T CHOOSE THE TREES. THE CONSENSUS IS OF EVERYBODY EXCEPT MISS GOLD. AND IF WE HAD 99 PEOPLE, THERE WAS ONE DISSENTER, AND THAT WAS MISS GOLD. THAT STAFF WAS MORE QUALIFIED THAN THEY WERE. THE SELECTED TREE SPECIES. AND IT WAS UNANIMOUS THAT THE LARGE TREES COULD NOT GO ON THE SIDEWALK BECAUSE OF NUMBER ONE WIRES AND OTHER ISSUES IN BETWEEN. BUT IF YOU WANT LARGE TREES, THAT CAN BE ALSO BE DONE, BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP SOME PARKING SPACES IN ORDER TO DO THAT. THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT. SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE PARKING SPACES, SO I DIDN'T BRING THE LARGE TREE BOARD BECAUSE IT WAS A SMALL TREE THING FOR IN THE SIDEWALKS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS THERE WANTED. THE SMALL TREES ON THE SIDEWALK. WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH LARGER TREES IN THE FUTURE, WHEN AND IF THEY'RE READY FOR THAT. AND THIS IS JUST ONE PHASE OF THAT CORRIDOR. WE ACTUALLY HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING A FEW MONTHS AGO ABOUT A POTENTIAL TRAFFIC CIRCLE ON ANDERSON AND AND BILTMORE WAY AS WELL. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE THAT REQUIRES TO THE COUNTY. IT'S A WHOLE PROCESS.

SO THIS IS JUST A ONE PHASE OF WHAT EVENTUALLY IS GOING TO BE A REIMAGINED CORRIDOR. SO REMEMBER REMEMBER THIS, MR. DIRECTOR. WE HAD THESE CONVERSATIONS, MR. MANAGER. WE HAD LITANY OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A CERTAIN AREA IN THE BILTMORE WAY WHERE RESIDENTS WANTED LARGE TREES, REMEMBER? AND WHY COULDN'T WE PROVIDE LARGE TREES? BECAUSE WHEN WE DID OUR EXPLORATORY WORK, WE FOUND OUT THAT OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE THE UNDER UNDER PARKING GARAGE. SO PEOPLE, WHEN THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THE RESIDENT SAYS, OH, WOW, THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. WE DON'T WANT TO PLANT A HUGE TREE OR PUT A PLANT, A MASSIVE CANOPY IN THAT AREA WHERE IT COULD COMPROMISE OUR UNDERGROUND PARKING. SO THIS HAS BEEN CONVERSATIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS. MISS GOLD HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED. I PULL UP ALL THE RECORDS REQUESTS. SHE'S WRITTEN HUNDREDS OF EMAILS TO THE CITY. BUT THIS IS SIMPLE. WHAT I RECOMMEND IS THAT JUST LIKE I WATCHED THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI BOARD MEETING THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING, AND I

[06:35:03]

AND THE TREES THAT WERE CHOSEN FINALLY WAS BASICALLY THREE TREES OUT OF MAYBE 5 OR 6 THAT WERE PART OF THE PRESENTATION. AND THE SAME THING FOR THE GROUND COVER. SO IT WAS CERTAINLY INCLUDED INTO WHAT WE PRESENTED TO THE TO THE RESIDENTS. YOU KNOW, DINA AND HER TEAM WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANT, THEY, THEY PUT TOGETHER WHATEVER THE THE FINAL, THE FINAL PLANS THAT ARE THE FINAL TREES THAT ARE ON THE ON THE PLANS. NOW AS I. ASSISTANT DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, MR. GOMEZ SAID, YOU KNOW, THE TREES ARE YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY DYNAMIC, RIGHT. YOU MAY REALIZE THAT MAYBE THE QUALITY OF THE SIZE OF CERTAIN TREES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. WE MAY ACTUALLY NEED TO GO BACK TO THAT PALETTE, MAYBE CHOOSE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY. THAT HAPPENS TO BE THE CASE. BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT'S ON THE PLANS IS ORIENTATION TO PLAN. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH THE MANAGER AND WITH MISS BELL. I WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO MAKE THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WROTE US AN EMAIL HAPPY. BUT WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS UNDERGROUND PARKING IN THAT AREA, WE HAD TO SCRAP THAT IDEA. WE COULDN'T. I MEAN, MR. MANAGER, TELL ME IF I'M WRONG. I MEAN, YOU TELL ME. I WAS I LISTENED TO THESE MEETINGS.

I'VE BEEN TO THESE MEETINGS. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS DONE FOR TEN YEARS. TELL ME YOUR TELL ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, BUT YOU HAVE TO PUT. YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR KEEPS ON TURNING OFF THE UNDERGROUND PARKING GOES TO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND FOR FOR THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING. SO WE. WE CANNOT PUT LARGE TREES BECAUSE WE CAN'T PERFORATE THE SLAB BELOW. AND WE OVERLOAD THE SLAB ALSO. SO IN CLOSING, IT'S NOT WHETHER YOU'RE MY DAUGHTER OR MY EMPLOYEE WITH MY OWN DAUGHTERS, I TELL THEM, JUST BE PREPARED. WHEN YOU GO TO AN EVENT OR BEFORE YOU SPEAK, BECAUSE THE END OF THE DAY, NOT ONLY DO YOU EMBARRASS YOURSELF, YOU'RE EMBARRASS EVERYONE AROUND YOU. SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. LAURA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LARGO, YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FINALLY, AFTER HOW MANY YEARS HAVE WE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS? OH, WOW. OH, WOW. FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE CITY, HOW MANY YEARS IS THAT? HOW MANY YEARS? EIGHT YEARS. SO IT'S A GOOD THING. PROBABLY BEFORE WE FINALLY GOT IT DONE. DO ME A FAVOR, PLEASE, SO THAT THE ENTIRE COMMISSION, WHEN YOU THROUGH THE MANAGER, SEND THE VIDEO OR THE VIDEO OF THAT MEETING, PLEASE. I THINK IT'S

[H.-5. 26-1857 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award the Park Improvement Project - Cooper Park to Chopper’s Construction Corp., the most responsive and responsible bidder in the estimated amount of $933,000.00, pursuant to Section 2-763 of the Procurement Code entitled “Contract Award” and Invitation for Bid (IFB) 2026-018.]

MR. BURKE, MAY WE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT SECOND. SECOND. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES.

[H.-6. 26-1867 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award the Rotary Park Renovation contract in the estimated amount of $786,985.00 to Chopper’s Construction, Corp., the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, pursuant to Invitation for Bids (IFB) 2026-019 and section 2-763 of the City’s Procurement Code entitled “contract award”.]

[06:40:02]

THANK YOU TO PROCUREMENT. THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS, TO THE MANAGER. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR. IT'S GOT TO BE OVER FIVE YEARS NOW, ESPECIALLY ROTARY PARK AND COOPER COOPER PARK. WELL DESERVED AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN DYING FOR RENOVATION OF THESE

[H.-7. 26-1935 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation to waive the competitive bid process of the Procurement Code and contract with Structural Preservation Systems for Parking Garage 4 structural repairs, located at 385 Andalusia Avenue, in an estimated amount of $789,741 or not to exceed the available budget, pursuant to Section 2-691 of the Procurement Code, titled "Special Procurements/Bid Waiver."]

[H.-8. 26-1940 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing a contract modification to GPE Engineering & General Contractor Corp.’s Citywide Right of Way Improvements Project’s contract, No. IFB 2021-004, pursuant to Section 2-764 of the Procurement Code entitled “Approval of Change Orders and Contract Modifications,” to allow for a six (6) month contract extension until March 15, 2027, for completion of on-going right-of way projects.]

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES.

COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LARGO YES. H9H9 IS A RESOLUTION

[H.-9. 26-1962 A Resolution of the City Commission amending the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 annual budget to recognize impact fee receipts collected through July 31, 2026, and to appropriate such funds towards the cost of capital infrastructure projects and to reallocate general capital funding from Fire House Four to the Parking Garage Four and City Hall renovation projects.]

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. I CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. MARIA CRUZ.

OKAY.

MARIA CRUZ, A K A, THE YOUNG LADY IN THE BACK, BECAUSE HE CANNOT FIND A WAY TO CALL ME MRS. CRUZ. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MRS. PERIOD, BUT I HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT NOW I'M THE YOUNG LADY IN THE BACK. IT'S FUNNY. REMINDS ME OF THIRD GRADERS PLAYING. I HAD A QUESTION AND I GUESS BECAUSE PAULA AND DIANA ARE HERE, MAYBE THEY KNOW THE ANSWER. THIS ITEM TALKS ABOUT THE IMPACT FEE RECEIPTS. DOES THAT MEAN AFTER WE TAKE OUT THE THE IMPACT FROM THE IMPACT FEES WILL WE PUT FOR FOR PARKS OR OPEN SPACE OR WHATEVER? ISN'T THAT WHAT THE OPEN SPACE MONEY COMES IN? FINISH YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE. I'M JUST WAITING TO SEE IF THEY CAN TELL ME. WE'LL ANSWER AFTER YOU FINISH YOUR COMMENTS. OH, OKAY. I'M GLAD THAT YOU DIDN'T INTERRUPT ME BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, I'M NOT YOUR DAUGHTER OR YOUR EMPLOYEE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, CAN WE GO AHEAD AND ANSWER MARIA CRUZ'S QUESTION, PLEASE? YES. THESE ARE SOME IMPACT FEES THAT WERE NOT UTILIZED. AND WE HAVE SOME SOME LEFTOVER CONTINGENCIES THAT WE ARE MOVING FOR THE RECERTIFICATION OF GARAGE FOR DO NOT AFFECT PARKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES. MAYOR LAGO YES.

AS EVERYONE IS AWARE, WE HAVE AGENDA MEETINGS. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A SIMPLE THIS IS STANDARD POLICY. IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND

[H.-10. 26-1964 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the acceptance of a grant agreement with the Greater Miami Sports Commission d/b/a/ FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee in the amount of $558,625 to support safety and security operations associated with the FIFA World Cup; authorizing the City Manager to execute the grant agreement; and authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Annual Budget to recognize the $558,625 as revenue and to appropriating such funds to support the cost of the program.]

[06:45:04]

THE $558,625 IN REVENUE, AND TO APPROPRIATE SUCH FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE COST OF THE PROGRAM.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. CHIEF, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WALK AWAY. YOU'RE OUT. YOU'RE ON THE PODIUM. YOU GOT TO GIVE A PRESENTATION. IT WASN'T A LONG TRIP. THIS IS BIG MONEY. IT IS BIG MONEY, SIR. THIS IS THE MONIES AND FUNDS THAT WERE EXPENDED IN OVERTIME FOR BOTH POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL THAT ASSIST US FOR OUR FIELD FORCE ACTIVITIES. IT IS REIMBURSABLE TO THE CITY FOR BACKFILLING AS WELL AS ACTUAL WORK. SO IF WE HAD TO STAFF IT, THAT PERSON ON OVERTIME WAS ALSO PAID. IT'S PART OF THE LARGER FIFA HOST COMMITTEE CONSORTIUM MONIES THAT WERE GOING IN FOR. IF YOU WOULD DO ME THE FAVOR, PLEASE THANK YOUR WIFE FOR ALL HER HARD WORK. SHE DID A WONDERFUL JOB. SORRY. SHE DID A VERY GOOD JOB DURING THE DURING THE FIFA, FIFA FESTIVITIES AND THE BUILD UP. AND AGAIN, IT WAS A TESTAMENT TO HER KNOWLEDGE AND HER EXPERTISE AS A CITY MANAGER, AS A PERSON WHO'S BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR OVER 30 YEARS. SO AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE YOU MAKE IT LOOK EASY DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU SHOULDN'T STILL BE BE THANKED. THANK YOU. I'LL LET HER KNOW. THAT'S MY SERGEANT OF ARMS DUTY.

ALL FOR THE LAST FIVE WEEKS. SO LISTEN, IT WORKED OUT. IT WORKED. IT WORKED OUT. I KNOW MORE ABOUT SOCCER THAN I'VE KNOWN FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE. YES. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO AGE 11, MR. MAYOR. LET ME CALL THE ROLL ON THIS ONE. SORRY. YEAH. I'M SORRY WE DIDN'T VOTE, I APOLOGIZE. CAN WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION A SECOND, MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR. YES. H11H11 IS A RESOLUTION OF

[H.-11. 26-1936 A Resolution of the City Commission amending Ordinance No. 2015-17, as amended, Resolution No. 2016-148, as amended, Resolution No. 2017-167, and Resolution No. 2018-219, as amended, to adjust sanitary sewer service charges; establishing sanitary sewer rates for Fiscal Years 2027 through 2031; providing for severability; and providing for an effective date.]

OUR CURRENT ESTIMATED WASTEWATER DISPOSAL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 IS ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $7 MILLION. THAT'S WHAT WE PAY THE COUNTY TO TAKE OUR WATER, TRANSMIT IT TO THE TREATMENT PLAN, AND TO TREAT AND DISPOSE THE CITY'S WASTEWATER DISCHARGE INTO THEIR SYSTEM THROUGH A ONE METER THAT IS CURRENTLY LOCATED AT DOUGLAS ROAD AND SOUTHWEST 28TH STREET, JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS. ON JULY OF 2026, MIAMI DADE COUNTY SCHOOL DEPARTMENT PRESENTED WHAT IS CALLED THE TRUE RESULTS OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2425 AND THEIR PRELIMINARY PROPOSED WHOLESALE CUSTOMER RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 AND 27. THE ANNUAL DROP ADJUSTMENT IS A DEBIT OR CREDIT IMPOSED IN THE YEAR FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE DEPARTMENTS FISCAL REPORT. THE DROP IS BASED ON VARIANCES IN THE DEPARTMENT'S PROJECTED WHOLESALE EXPENSES AND ACTUAL ORDERED FISCAL REPORT, BASICALLY, EXPENDITURES VERSUS REVENUE. SO BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 18 AND 23, THE TRUE ADJUSTMENT FROM THE COUNTY ACTUALLY RESULTED IN APPROXIMATELY $685,000 CREDIT TOWARDS A WASTEWATER ACCOUNT. HOWEVER, BETWEEN 24 AND 26, WE ENDED UP WITH AN ADDITIONAL 682,000 AND A LITTLE MORE ADDITIONAL CHARGES TOWARDS THE CITY ACCOUNT. THE TRUE ADJUSTMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027 FROM THE COUNTY CAME UP AT $1,360,000. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY FORECASTED A RATE INCREASE OF 15% FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.

HOWEVER, THEY DECIDED TO SMOOTH THE INCREASE OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD, SO IT DOESN'T COME ALL AT ONCE. HOWEVER, THIS IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN HIGHER THAN TYPICAL INCREASES FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 AND 29. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S GOING TO COME INTO RESULT OF IN THE IN THE WAYS OF A TRUE ADJUSTMENT OR A LARGER AMOUNT, A MORE SPECIFICALLY, A THE ACTUAL

[06:50:03]

THAT'S THE WAY THAT THE BILL ACTUALLY READS. THE CURRENT BILL IS APPROXIMATELY $77.88.

THAT'S MONTHLY IN FISCAL YEAR 27, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE SETTING TODAY. IF THIS GETS APPROVED, IS $94.65. AND THEN WHAT FOLLOWS IS A PROJECTION BASED ON ESTIMATES $101 IN FISCAL YEAR 28, $105 IN FISCAL YEAR 29, 107.4 IN 2030, AND 110.6 IN 2031. HOWEVER, THE ONLY THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY TO YOU IS IF FISCAL YEAR 2027, AND FOR US TO BE ALLOWED TO CHARGE WHATEVER THE COUNTY PASSES ON TO US FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS, WHETHER IT'S UP OR DOWN. AND THAT IS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. IF I MAY JUST VERY QUICKLY.

IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THE MASSIVE INCREASES THAT ARE FORTHCOMING AGAIN. AGAIN, THAT'S GOES TO SHOW YOU THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. WE'RE PLANNING AND BUDGETING FOR THE FUTURE. WE'RE WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE IMPACTS, CASE IN POINT, LIKE WE'VE DONE WITH THE PENSIONS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE HOW WE'VE REPLACED OUR FLEET, HOW WE'RE WORKING ON ALWAYS ENSURING THAT OUR BUILDINGS ARE MAINTAINED, THAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS MAINTAINED.

NOW YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS IS GOING TO BECOME COMMONPLACE AS PEOPLE ARE HITTING, HITTING HARD TIMES. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN REGARDS TO ALL THESE FEES, ISSUES WITH COVANTA AND THE WASTE DISPOSAL ISSUES WITH WATER DISPOSAL, WASTE DISPOSAL AS A LITANY OF CONSENT DECREES HAVE ALREADY COME DOWN ON MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, TRAFFIC ISSUES. AGAIN, WE CAN DO MUCH BETTER IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE JUST HAVE TO BE SMART IN REGARDS TO HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY. WE CAN'T LIVE FOR THE MOMENT. WE HAVE TO LIVE FOR THE NEXT DECADE OR MULTIPLE DECADES. SO TO ME, WE HAVE TO BE VERY PRUDENT. AND WE ARE SHOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR FISCAL STEWARDSHIP AND BELT TIGHTENING IS THE ONLY WAY TO CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR WAY OF LIFE VIABLE HERE. IF NOT, QUALITY IS GOING TO SUFFER AND THE COUNTY IS NOT GOING TO ABSORB THAT. LIKE WE ABSORB THE GARBAGE FEES. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ABSORB IT. THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PASS IT ON TO CITIES AND PASS IT ON TO RESIDENTS. SO IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT. VERY DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE LOOK AT THE JUMP FROM THIS YEAR. I THINK IT WAS $77. MY EYESIGHT'S NOT THAT GOOD. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN FISCAL YEAR 31, THE NUMBERS ARE 101 HUNDRED. I THINK IT WAS $110. RIGHT. WHAT WAS THE NUMBER $110? $110? IT'S A MASSIVE THAT'S A MASSIVE JUMP IN PERCENTAGES. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S AGAIN, IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THAT. AND IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH POOR PLANNING AND POOR EXECUTION. I KNOW NOBODY WANTS TO HIT THE COUNTY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THOSE ARE THE FACTS. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, NONE OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO FUND OUR OPERATIONS EXCLUSIVELY WHILE WE'RE PAYING THE COUNTY FOR DISPOSAL. AGAIN, SAME THING WITH THE ISSUE OF BURNING DOWN COVANTA. IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED FOR YEARS NOW, AND IT'S ONLY GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE. OUR LANDFILL IS GOING TO BE FULL IN A HANDFUL OF YEARS. HOW ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO DO? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO DUMP THE WASTE? OH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHIPPING AND TRAINS OUT OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER. WE NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS. THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS LEADING. WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT REMEMBER THIS MISTER DIRECTOR AND MISTER MANAGER SINCE 2017. WE TALKED ABOUT DISPOSING OF OUR OWN GREEN MATTER, USING THE SYSTEM THAT IS APPROVED BY THE EPA THAT WE'RE GOING TO START USING NOW. FINALLY, IT'S COMING TO FRUITION AGAIN. THAT SETS OUR

[06:55:03]

COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ONE. E ONE IS AN ORDINANCE OF

[E.-1. 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]

[07:00:03]

OKAY, ANY FURTHER COMMENT? MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, A K A, THE YOUNG LADY IN THE BACK, 1447 MILLER ROAD, P 0053232154. I HAVE A SIMPLE COMMENT. I THINK I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, BUT JUST SO WE THINK WE'RE BUYING A BUILDING. IT'S NOT A BRAND NEW BUILDING, BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE THIS BUILDING IS BRAND NEW AND STILL HAS ISSUES, BUT IT'S NOT A BRAND NEW BUILDING.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND MONEY. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU CALL IT? YOU KNOW, FIXING THE INSIDE FOR WHATEVER PURPOSES WE'RE GOING TO USE IT. AND I KEEP SAYING IT'S A GOOD BUY. WE NEED IT. BUT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BUDGET HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY. BECAUSE IT'S THE 427 BUILDING IS AN EXAMPLE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LOTS OF MONEY TO PAY TO FIX IT. AND WHAT IS IT? BUILD OUT? WHATEVER YOU CALL IT. I'M NOT A CONSTRUCTION. I DON'T HAVE A MANAGEMENT DEGREE IN CONSTRUCTION. I DON'T KNOW THE WORDING. SO WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS GOING TO REQUIRE MONEY. AND WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ON THAT. ALL RIGHT, MR. CLARK. YES. MR. MAYOR. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? NO.

MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES, COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR. YES. MOVING ON TO E TWO. E TWO IS AN

[E.-2. 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.]

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. CLARK. COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES.

COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. DID WE DO E 13? WE HAVE I DON'T THINK I MISS IT.

[E.-13. 26-1865 An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for text amendments to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code by amending Article 14, “Process,” Section 14-217, “Development Agreements,” to amend the maximum duration of Development Agreements and certain requirements to ensure consistency with State Statutes; and providing for repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (0812 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote 6-0)]

WE HAVE A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. MR. CLARK, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. MAYOR? COMMISSIONER. LANA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES.

[E.-15. 26-1958 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation to waive the competitive process of the Procurement Code and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Medicus Asset Management, LLC a Delaware limited liability company for the continued management and seamless operation of the property located at 475-495 Biltmore Way, effective upon the City’s acquisition, for an initial one (1) year term. Lobbyist: N/A]

MR. CLARK, YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. MR. MAYOR MARIA CRUZ. MRS. MARIA CRUZ. AYE AYE AYE. THE LADY. THE YOUNG LADY IN THE BACK. 1447 MILLER ROAD (305) 323-2154. I HAVE A SIMPLE COMMENT. WE KNOW WINTER IS COMING. WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ISSUES WITH FINANCES. IF THE AMENDMENT PASSES AND WE HAVE AN ASSET MANAGER, IT TAKES ONE YEAR FOR TO HANDLE THIS. I THINK IT SHOULD BE AS SHORT AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN MANAGE

[07:05:03]

[F.-2. 26-1888 A Resolution of the City Commission amending Resolution No. 27825 to add two additional members to the Budget Audit Advisory Board and amending the resolution to reflect the current term start and end dates. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

AND IT ALSO AMENDS THE RESOLUTION TO CONFORM THE TERMS TO OUR CURRENT START AND END DATES OF BOARD TERMS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES, COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES.

[F.-3. 26-1928 A Resolution of the City Commission directing City staff to establish a permit expediting incentive program to encourage the installation of living seawalls for qualifying projects. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)]

OKAY. THIS IS PAIRED TOGETHER WITH THE FEE REDUCTION FOR LIVING SEA WELLS. OKAY. STAFF HAS STUDIED AND PRESENTED A EXPEDITING PROCESS FOR THE LIVING SEA WELLS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THOSE. SO I BRING THIS TO THE COMMISSION FOR THAT. AND I'M GOING TO ADD ONE MORE THING. THERE IS A TOUR OF THE FACILITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN OBSERVE THE FACILITY ITSELF, WHERE THESE ARE MADE. THIS IS A GRADUATE WHO STUDIED LAW, BY THE WAY, AND WENT INTO 3D PRINTED WALLS, SEA WALLS. I'M A LITTLE JEALOUS. IT'S ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2026 FROM NOON TO 2 P.M. AND THE ADDRESS IS 3007 NORTHWEST SOUTH RIVER DRIVE. I WILL SHARE THIS WITH COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT SO THAT THEY CAN RESHARE IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC. SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND SEE THE MIRACULOUS WAY THAT THEY DO THIS, AND THE FACT THAT YOU'LL LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHANNEL TEN PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW THIS WILL HELP IMPROVE OUR WATER QUALITY ALONG THE WATERWAY. SO I'LL MOVE IT. PERFECT. I'LL SECOND, MR. CLERK, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR, ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND COMMISSIONER LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LOGAN. YES. WE ON TO ITEM F FIVE. ITEM FIVE IS MINE. IF I COULD FIND IT RIGHT NOW. MAYOR. YEAH. THERE'S ALREADY BEEN

[F.-5. 26-1959 A Resolution of the City Commission directing the initiation of a formal national executive search for next permanent City Manager. (Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)]

YEAH. SO SO I MEAN ONE QUICK QUESTION HERE. HOW COME YOU WOULDN'T CALL THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU CALLED THE OTHER ONE? AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY ITEM WAS TIME CERTAIN. AND IT WAS MY AS THE PERSON WHO RUNS THE MEETING, I'M I HAVE IT WITHIN MY RIGHT TO CALL WHAT I THINK IS APPROPRIATE IN AND OUT OF ORDER AS REQUIRED. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I RAN TO THE QUESTION I'M GIVING YOU THE. I'M GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOUR ISSUE RIGHT NOW. IF YOU'D LIKE.

YOUR ITEM IS AT FIVE. YOU CAN BRING IT UP. BUT YOU KNEW VERY WELL THAT IF YOU CALLED YOUR ITEM FIRST, MINE WOULD BE INVALID AND YOU'RE RUNNING THE MEETING, RIGHT? WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO CALL THIS ITEM? WOULD IT BE WOULD IT NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF CORAL GABLES? RECALL THE ITEM FIRST BEFORE MAKING MINE BASICALLY EXTINCT. ARE YOU DONE? I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MORE. ANYTHING ELSE MORE TO TALK ABOUT, I, I WROTE EVERYTHING IN A MEMO I, I FIND THAT TO BE VERY DISRESPECTFUL. THAT'S IT. I FIND IT, AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO THAT I POSTED BEFORE, TO HIRE SOMEBODY WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING WHO THEY ARE TO RUN THE MOST IMPORTANT CITY IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY. NOT ONLY DISRESPECTFUL, BUT I FIND IT ABSOLUTELY INSANE THAT FOR ONE YEAR WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU HIRED BASICALLY BASED OUT OF LINKEDIN. BUT AGAIN, THAT'S EVERYONE'S PREROGATIVE TO DO. BUT THANK GOD THOSE DAYS ARE BEHIND US. MR. CLARK. NEXT

[F.-7. 26-1925 Discussion regarding the streetlights on Bird Road. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

[07:10:04]

THIS IS IMPORTANT. THIS IS YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND MONITORING THE STREET LIGHTS THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND THE ONES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL. I'VE BEEN WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE STREETLIGHTS REPLACED. AND HERE'S, YOU KNOW, TWO PAGES. YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE STREET LIGHTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL. AND THE FACT THAT THEY REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT MAINTENANCE AND OVERHAULING.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MY COLLEAGUES ENGAGED IN THIS. WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE TEAM WORKING ON THIS, ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM. THIS IS WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD. ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON, I THINK THAT THIS, AGAIN, IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A QUIET LIFE ISSUE, AND I THINK WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE PAY, THE MIAMI DADE COUNTY, AND I WAS VERY CLEAR AS THE DCM AND THE CM WILL TELL YOU AND THE MANAGER, I WAS EXPLICITLY CLEAR. I SAID, THIS IS DISRESPECTFUL. YOU KNOW, WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY, WE GIVE A LOT OF MONEY TO THE COUNTY AND WE DESERVE BETTER TREATMENT. SO I WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE, JUST IN CASE YOU RAN INTO OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHO WAS IN COMPLETE AGREEANCE. WE NEED TO. STACY MILLER, THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, WAS THERE. WE NEED TO STEP UP. WE NEED TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY CALL THESE ISSUES IN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THIS ON THE RADAR OF THE COUNTY SO THAT WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE POLICE ARE WORKING AT NIGHT AND THEY'RE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, WE MAKE, WE NEED TO MAKE THEIR JOB EASIER AND SAFER. WHY? BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE LIGHT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IF SOMEONE'S WALKING THEIR DOG, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S NO LIGHT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR WALKING THEIR CHILD, YOU COULD HAVE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF DIMLY LIT STREET.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT, AGAIN, THAT WE MAY TAKE FOR GRANTED. BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO QUALITY OF LIFE. WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE SAME MEETING TO TALK ABOUT REPLACING LARGE SCALE TRAFFIC CABINETS WITH SMALLER, LESS INTRUSIVE CABINETS ON MIRACLE MILE. IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW. STAFF IS GOING TO BE COMING BACK WITH MORE INFORMATION. THIS COULD BE POSSIBLY VERY EXPENSIVE. WE'RE TRYING TO SEE IF IT'S EVEN WORTH IT, BUT I'M TRYING TO DO AS, FOR EXAMPLE, GET RID OF THE CABINETS THAT YOU SEE ON MIRACLE MILE THAT ARE GIANT BOXES THAT CONTROL THE THE SIGNALS. SO THESE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I'M WORKING ON THAT DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION AND LIGHTING AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS. AND I'D LOVE FOR YOUR INPUT AND YOUR GUIDANCE AND HOPEFULLY YOUR ENGAGEMENT, MADAM VICE MAYOR, SO I'M GOING TO TAG IN ON THAT AT FDOT IS PUTTING A SIDEWALK SOUTH SIDE OF BIRD ROAD. AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER IS ALSO WORKED WITH THE COUNTY AND FDOT TO PUT A BENCH WHERE THE BUS BENCH IS. SO PERHAPS WE COULD GET AN UPDATE ON ALL THESE ITEMS ON BIRD ROAD, IF YOU COULD, FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING TO SEE WHAT THE TIMELINE IS, BECAUSE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN EIGHT FOOT SIDEWALK, THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A CROSSWALK OVER TO USE THE BRIDGE. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANTING TO GET TO THE HIGH SCHOOL CAN CAREFULLY THEN CROSS IT BACK AND GET TO THE HIGH SCHOOL. A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS, BUT BE NICE SINCE IT'S BEEN, AGAIN, MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING. IT'S BEEN OVER FIVE YEARS TO KNOW WHEN THE DAY IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BREAK GROUND ON THESE PROJECTS. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. SO, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON IT, I'D LOVE, LOVE TO HAVE YOUR GUIDANCE ON THIS

[F.-8. 26-1976 Update and Presentation of Green Corridor Septic to Sewer Co-op Program Sample Brochure. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)]

[07:15:01]

THAT'S JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT UPDATE. I'M WORKING WITH MARTHA PANTIN TO GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION AND IMPROVE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I HAVE TWO BEFORE WE I THINK

[H.-12. 26-1880 520 University Dog Park Concept Design community input presentation results.]

QUICKLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW WE SET UP THE SERVICE AREAS AND WE'LL GO INTO THAT IN A SECOND, WE IT LINES UP THE TOP HALF OF THE CITY WITH. THIS NEW PARK WOULD KIND OF COVER A LOT OF IT.

STILL NEED ONE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO THE WEST. AND THEN WE DO HAVE CHAPMAN ALL THE WAY ON THE SOUTH. SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR INVENTORY AT THIS MOMENT. AND THE DOTTED LINE. THAT WOULD BE A PROPOSED IN TERMS OF THE INVENTORY. SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH A DOG PARK, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THAN A REGULAR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. IT'S IT'S A FEATURE. AND WHEN WE WOULD LOOK AT THAT, WE'D LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF ACCESSIBILITY, WHAT THE FACILITY SIZE IS, AMENITIES. THIS PROPOSED PARK WOULD NOT BE A FIVE ACRE TYPE DOG PARK THAT WOULD BRING PEOPLE FROM FIVE, TEN, 15 MILES AWAY. BUT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT A WALKABLE SERVICE AREA THAT WOULD GIVE YOU, YOU KNOW, A 15 MINUTE WALK. YOU'RE LOOKING AT 0.75 TO A MILE, WHICH WE'VE SEEN OTHER PARKS USE WHEN THEY'VE LOOKED AT A DOG PARKS THAT ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, 5000 SQUARE FOOT DOG PARKS, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU HAVE IN CONDOMINIUMS OR SOMETHING WHERE THERE ARE COMMUNITY DOG PARKS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT. WE THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPACE, IT'S THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE SHOWED TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE DID OUR COMMUNITY INPUT. THERE IS IT'S A 39000 PLUS SQUARE FOOT SPACE. THOSE ARE THE VIEWS FROM THE DIFFERENT AREAS. AND THIS WAS A DESIGN THAT WAS DONE THROUGH THE CITY, THROUGH DINA BELL. AND IT KIND OF SHOWS THE DOG, THE LARGE DOG DOG AREA WOULD BE MORE TO THE EAST, THE SMALL DOG AREA, WHICH WOULD BE ARTIFICIAL TURF OVER TO THE WESTERN SIDE. AND IT KIND OF SHOWS SORRY. AND THEN IT SHOWS THE THE BUFFERS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD ALL THE TREES. AND THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE SHOWED THE COMMUNITY IN A SNAPSHOT. THIS WAS A RENDERING, AN ILLUSTRATION OF WHAT YOU WOULD SEE FROM THE GROUND LEVEL. SO HOW WE GOT HERE, WE STARTED WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS INITIATING A DESIRE FOR A DOG PARK PROJECT, AND IT WAS BROUGHT IN THE FORM OF A PETITION, AND IT WAS PRESENTED AT THE CITY COMMISSION. THERE WAS A RESOLUTION PASSED TO LOOK AT THE PROCESS FOR FOR THIS CONCEPT. AND THEN THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS THAT STARTED TO BE HAD. WE BROUGHT THE DISCUSSIONS WERE BROUGHT BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION REGARDING THE PROPOSED PARK ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT MEETINGS IN JANUARY, THE COMMISSION PASSED A RESOLUTION DIRECTING CITY STAFF TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF GATHERING PUBLIC INPUT. WE HELD A MEETING IN FEBRUARY. ATTENDEES WERE ABLE TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING AND PROVIDE INPUT, AND SIGNED IN TO CONFIRM THEIR ATTENDANCE. COMMUNITY WAS ALSO GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE WRITTEN INPUT THROUGH CITY EMAIL FOR A SPAN OF 30 DAYS. THE WAY WE COLLECTED OUR INPUT AND WE LOOKED AT THE INFORMATION IN THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, IT WAS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY INPUT, MEETING EMAILS, AND WE DID HAVE TWO PETITIONS, ONE IN FAVOR AND ONE IN OPPOSITION OPPOSITION TO THE DOG PARK, WHICH WE RECEIVED THOSE RECORDS FROM THE CITY CLERK. AND THAT'S HOW WE LOOKED AT THE INPUT. AND IT WAS EITHER IN SUPPORT OF THE PARK IN OPPOSITION TO THE PARK OR NEUTRAL. WE HAD 355 CITIZEN RESPONSES THAT WERE COLLECTED.

[07:20:06]

SPEAKING AT THE MEETING, EVERYONE WAS COUNTED ONLY ONCE, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY DIFFERENT FORMATS I RESPONDED IN. 37 EMAILS WERE COLLECTED, 317 CITIZENS WERE COUNTED IN THOSE PETITIONS. 17 CITIZENS PROVIDED COMMENTS AT THE MEETING, AND 20 CITIZENS ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY MEETING WITHOUT COMMENT. WHAT WE FOUND 249 EXPRESSED SUPPORT OF THE PARK, 101 EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE PARK. FIVE PREFERRED TO REMAIN NEUTRAL. 17 OF THE MEETING ATTENDEES DID NOT RESPOND TO INQUIRIES ON THEIR POSITION. WE. WE TABULATED ALL THE RESPONSES AND WE DID FIND WITHIN THE WHOLE RECORD THAT 11 OF THE. THE ONES EXPRESSING THEIR OPINIONS WERE NONRESIDENTS. HERE'S A. AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE MAPPING WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE GREEN IS IN FAVOR. WHEREAS IN OPPOSITION AND HOW IT FELL WITHIN THE CITY MAP. SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY ACTION. WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING ANY ACTION. WE ARE PLANNING TO RETURN TO THE CITY COMMISSION. WE DID RECEIVE DIRECTION FROM THE COMMISSION THROUGH THE MANAGER, TO LOOK AT THE FEASIBILITY OF A PROPOSED ALTERNATE SITE, WHICH IS IN THE YOUTH CENTER PARKING LOT. SO WE'RE GOING TO START DOING WE'RE LOOKING AT A PARKING STUDY AND WE'LL DO A FEASIBILITY. SO WE HOPE TO COME BACK EITHER AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER, TO LOOK AT HOW THAT FEASIBILITY WOULD WORK. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE. I THINK IT'S MORE OF A STATUS. AND THEN WE'LL RETURN AT A FUTURE DATE TO LOOK AT DIRECTION FROM THE COMMISSION ON WHAT THE NEXT STEPS. ONCE YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION ON THE FEASIBILITY. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION? OKAY. MR. PUBLIC COMMENT I DO, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

WE'LL CLOSE.

MRS. MARIA CRUZ, A K A THE YOUNG LADY IN THE BACK, 1447 MILLER ROAD, (305) 323-2154. LET ME TELL YOU, SO MANY THINGS CAME TO MIND. TO SEE WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. WE LOVE TO SPEND MONEY. WE LOVE TO FIGHT LOSING BATTLES. I WAS THINKING OF HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPEND FIGHTING THE PLASTIC BAGS. AND THEN WE LOST. AND THEN I REMEMBER, AND I DON'T KNOW, PETER IGLESIAS WAS HERE. THEN WHEN NOBODY HAD AN IDEA OF BUILDING SOMETHING NEXT TO CITY HALL. WERE YOU HERE AT THAT TIME? I DON'T KNOW, AND THEY SPENT MONEY. THEY DESIGN. THEY DID EVERYTHING AT THE END. IT WAS IT WAS NOT TO BE. AND ALL THAT MONEY WAS WASTED. AND I THINK I KNOW IN EVERYTHING WE'VE HEARD SO FAR ABOUT THE DOG PARK, I GUESS WE WE FORGOT THAT THERE'S SOME LEGAL MANEUVERS GOING ON AND THAT WE'RE PAYING OUTSIDE COUNSEL AND THAT WE'RE WASTING MONEY AND WE CONTINUE. WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. WE HAVE TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY IN CASE. WHAT A WASTE. AND WINTER IS COMING, AS YOU ALL KNOW. OKAY.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? YES. WILLIAM RIVENBARK. JOSE ANTONIO. ANYONE ELSE? YES. LYNNE.

MACHADO. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LYNN. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION. A 501 C FOUR. I LIVE AT 421 KADIMA, APPROXIMATELY 998FT AWAY FROM THE PROPOSED DOG PARK AT 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE. BEFORE I SPEAK ON ITEM FIVE, AGE 12, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE COURT HAS REVIEWED OUR RECENT CERT PETITION AND THE 350 PAGE APPENDIX, AND HAS ORDERED THE CITY TO RESPOND IN 30 DAYS NOW 25 DAYS, AS TO WHY THE COURT

[07:25:02]

IN NOVEMBER 2025, THE COMMISSION PASSED A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DOG PARK AT 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, WITH NO NOTICE TO ADJACENT PROPERTIES OWNERS NOR THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. THE RESOLUTION STIPULATED A 30 TO 50 FOOT LANDSCAPE BUFFER FROM THE ABUTTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, ALTHOUGH THE CITY PLANS ONLY SHOW A 25 FOOT BUFFER. THE RESOLUTION ALSO NOTED THE DOG PARK WOULD BE FUNDED ENTIRELY THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS. DURING THE JULY 6TH COURT PROCEEDINGS, CITY STAFF TESTIFYING UNDER OATH DISCLOSED NO DONATIONS HAD BEEN RECEIVED, NO MONIES HAD BEEN BUDGETED AND THE PROJECT WAS AT LEAST THREE YEARS AWAY. YET THE CITY PUSHED FORWARD WITH ZONING CHANGES TO ALLOW THE DOG PARK. GIVEN THE TIME DELAYS, FUNDING UNCERTAINTY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD LAWSUITS, SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED DOG PARK SHOULD BE REASSESSED. PEOPLE RELIED ON THE CITY'S REPRESENTATIONS, AND THOSE REPRESENTATIONS HAVE CHANGED.

IN LATE JANUARY, THE COMMISSION PASSED A RESOLUTION DIRECTING STAFF TO CONDUCT A COMMUNITY MEETING TO OBTAIN PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE PROPOSED DOG PARK AND PREPARE A WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION. THE PURPOSE OF H12 IS TO PRESENT THAT SUMMARY. 17 PEOPLE SPOKE AT THE MEETING, EITHER IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM, THE FIRST SPEAKER SAID. CORAL GABLES CURRENTLY HAS 4 OR 5 DOG PARKS, WHICH EXCEEDS THE CITY'S PER CAPITA GOAL. DESPITE LOW UTILIZATION AND HIGH OPERATIONAL COSTS. TEN SPEAKERS WERE FROM THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION, WHO EXPRESSED CONCERNS REGARDING THE ABSENCE OF A CITYWIDE MASTER PLAN FOR DOG PARKS AND THE FAILURE TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHED BEST PRACTICES FOR SITING DOG PARKS, INCLUDING NOT LOCATING DOG PARKS ADJACENT TO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, NOT SITUATING DOG PARKS ALONG HIGH TRAFFIC CORRIDORS, NOT PLACING DOG PARKS IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS, NOT PUTTING DOG PARKS IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT DON'T WANT THEM, AND ENSURING THAT ANY DOG PARK COMPLY WITH CITY AND COUNTY CODES AND ADA REGULATIONS. THE MEMBERS ALSO FEARED THE FLEXIBLE LIBRARY OVERFLOW PARKING WOULD BE ELIMINATED. A LIBRARY WITH THE SECOND OR THIRD HIGHEST ATTENDANCE OF ALL 50 COUNTY BRANCHES, 15,000 SPECIAL EVENT ATTENDEES AND ONE OF THE TOP FIVE LOCATIONS FOR COUNTYWIDE EARLY VOTING. TWO SPEAKERS SAID THEY WERE NEITHER FOR NOR AGAINST THIS SPECIFIC LOCATION, BUT THEY WERE GENERALLY IN FAVOR OF DOG PARKS AS GOOD CIVIC COMMUNITY AMENITIES. ALTHOUGH ONE DID NOT HAVE A PARK AND DOUBTED THEY EVER WOULD HAVE ONE, TWO OTHERS SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE 520 UNIVERSITY DRIVE LOCATION BECAUSE OF THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE USE OF SAND AND OTHER OPERATIONAL ISSUES AT THE SALVADOR DOG PARK DOG RUN, EVEN THOUGH ONE LIVED CLOSER TO SALVADOR, ANOTHER SPEAKER ASKED FOR A DRINKING FOUNTAIN THAT COULD SERVE DOGS AT GROUND LEVEL AND HUMANS AT WAIST LEVEL, BUT NOTED THEY DON'T GENERALLY TAKE THEIR DOGS TO DOG PARKS. BUT IN QUOTES, THAT IS JUST A PERSONAL THING. AND THE LAST SPEAKER ASKED IF A DOG PARK AT 520 UNIVERSITY WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DOGS RUNNING OFF LEASH ON THE YOUTH CENTER FIELDS. MISS, LAST, IF YOU WOULD DO ME A FAVOR, I'M THE ONLY SPEAKER FOR OUR GROUP.

I UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU'RE STILL OVER. ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LAST WEDNESDAY WE LEARNED THIS ITEM WAS GOING TO BE ON TODAY'S AGENDA. WE FILED A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST TO REVIEW THE REPORT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY ON AN ALTERNATE SITE, WHETHER AT THE UNIVERSITY CENTER, AT THE YOUTH CENTER'S WEST LOT BY SEGOVIA OR ELSEWHERE. ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY GREEN NEIGHBOR ASSOCIATION. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I PERSONALLY HAVE A COMMENT WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOUR COMMUNITY INPUT, YOUR ONE MINUTE AND 30S OVER AGAIN. THE ONLY PERSON SPEAKING ON THIS, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE STILL HAVE RULES. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS. THAT IS FUNNY CONSIDERING WHAT I WATCHED EARLIER TODAY WITH THE RULES THAT WERE NOT FOLLOWED. I WILL KEEP MY COMMENTS TO MYSELF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS PARDO. SO MY BEST TO YOUR HUSBAND. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON. MADAM ACM, CAN WE DISCUSS A POCKET ITEM THAT I HAVE TODAY AND I APOLOGIZE. WE WERE WAITING FOR A FINAL APPROVAL NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH THE THROUGH THE MAYOR STILL ON THE PRIOR ITEM. AGAIN, WE'RE NOT VOTING ON ITEM. I HAVE A COMMENT. OKAY. YOU HAVE ITEMS. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. I WANT SOME TRANSPARENCY ON THIS LAST ITEM OF THE PRESENTATION. THERE'S A REVERTER CLAUSE ON THE YOUTH CENTER. AND HAVE WE LOOKED INTO THE ACTUAL LEGALITY OF ACTUALLY HAVING THEM THINK THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A DOG PARK THERE? CAN YOU CAN WE DO YOU UNDERSTAND HER

[07:30:05]

ATTENDANCE IS PROJECTED UP TO 7500 PEOPLE. LOAD IN WOULD COMMENCE AT MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT BEFORE, AND LOADOUT WOULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS THE EVENT COMPLETES ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. BACK TO NORMAL. THAT MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY. IT'S MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY, SO IT IS A LONG WEEKEND. SIDEWALKS WOULD REMAIN ACCESSIBLE FOR ATTENDEES SO THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO VISIT THE MIRACLE MILE BUSINESSES, AND WE WOULD HAVE A LIMITED IMPACT TO THE BUSINESS CORRIDOR. AND THEN THE APPLICANT HAS COMMITTED $70,000 TO COVER THE CITY ASSOCIATED EVENT COSTS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT. THAT'S WHAT WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE TO THE MANAGER, THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED, A CITY SUBSIDY. AND I SAID THAT UNDER NO. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN WE AS A CITY AFFORD TO DO THAT, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT WOULD BE A PRECEDENT.

THEY. AFTER MULTIPLE NEGOTIATIONS, WE WERE ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT THEY WOULD PAY PAY THE BILL, AND INITIALLY THEY CAME AS A THREE DAY EVENT. WE'VE WHITTLED THAT DOWN TO MAKE THE BUDGET. THEY ARE STILL GOING TO DO THREE DAYS WORTH OF ACTIVATIONS LOOKING AT A VIP EVENT WHERE THEY WOULD DO THAT AT A RESTAURANT ON THE MILE TO GIVE BACK TO ONE OF THE BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS THERE, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT A GALA EVENT POTENTIALLY AT THE LOEWS OR ANOTHER ENTITY HERE IN CORAL GABLES. EVERYTHING WOULD BE FOCUSED ON CORAL GABLES, AND THERE IS AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT BACK TO BUSINESSES, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, ETC. FOR THIS EVENT. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE GROUP. THE APPLICANT IS PORT MIAMI, LLC. THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE DUPONT REGISTRY GROUP, WHICH PRODUCES LUXURY AUTOMOTIVE EVENTS NATIONALLY, INCLUDES THE INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHED CARS ON FIFTH EVENT, WHICH NORMALLY TAKES PLACE IN NAPLES. THIS EVENT IS INTENDED TO ATTRACT VISITORS TO CORAL GABLES, SHOWCASE MIRACLE MILE AND GENERATE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY TO NEARBY RESTAURANTS, RETAILERS, HOTELS, ETC. LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE. SO ABOUT CARS ON FIFTH.

IT IS, LIKE I MENTIONED, MODELED ON CARS ON FIFTH. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMPANY HAS WORKED ON IN THE PAST. IT'S A LONG STANDING AUTOMOTIVE EVENT HELD IN DOWNTOWN NAPLES. ACCORDING TO THE APPLICANT, THAT EVENT COMBINES A CURATED VEHICLE EXHIBITION WITH LOCAL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION, CHARITABLE FUNDRAISING, HOSPITALITY AND, OF COURSE, INTENDED TO BE A WALKABLE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THE APPLICANT'S GOAL IS TO ADOPT THIS ESTABLISHED EVENT MODEL TO CORAL GABLES BY FOCUSING SPECIFICALLY ON PORSCHE VEHICLES AND OWNERS, AND THE CONCEPT SEEKS TO COMBINE THE CHARACTER AND WALKABILITY OF MIRACLE MILE WITH A HIGH QUALITY AUTOMOTIVE AND LIFESTYLE EVENT. AND REALLY, THEY WANT TO CAPITALIZE ON THE BRAND OF MIRACLE MILE AND BRING THAT BRAND TO CORAL GABLES. THE FOLLOWING JUST ARE A LIST OF SIMILAR AUTOMOTIVE EVENTS HELD IN OTHER MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREAS, INCLUDING NAPLES, MIAMI'S DESIGN DISTRICT, BEVERLY HILLS, AND DETROIT. FOR THE FIRST CORAL GABLES EVENT, THE MORE MODEST ATTENDANCE GOAL

[07:35:06]

MAYBE THEY'LL COME DOWN AND VISIT ME, SO IT'LL BE FUN. TO THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. YES. SO THIS IS THE KIND OF EVENT GREAT IDEA THAT WILL BRING. WHAT I THINK WE NEED IS LIKE A WOW FACTOR. WE NEED A FEW WOW FACTORS TO DRIVE SOME TRAFFIC. FOOT TRAFFIC, NO PUN INTENDED TO MIRACLE MILE. I THINK THE WEATHER'S GOING TO BE GREAT. I'M SURE I CAN PREDICT IT. AND IT'S GOING TO BECOME SOMETHING THAT I HAVE A FEELING IS GOING TO BE AN ANNUAL EVENT. SO GREAT IDEA. I THINK IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG HIT. SHOULD WE TAKE A VOTE? MISTER MANAGER? WE NEED A VOTE. YES. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE NEXT STEPS WERE LAID OUT BY THE CITY MANAGER. SO THAT'LL GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS. BUT WE SHOULD CAN WE TAKE A VOTE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMISSION? SURE. I'LL MOVE IT TO THE COMMISSION. WE HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND, MR. CLARK, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT. HAVE ANOTHER ITEM THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT. ANOTHER ITEM THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING UP WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE MANAGER OR THE DCM. SO I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOU'VE DEDICATED YOURSELF FOR SO MANY YEARS TO PUBLIC SERVICE IN THIS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AS A 50 YEAR RESIDENT, THAT I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE AND MUCH WELL DESERVED. IF THIS COMMISSION WOULD HONOR YOU BY NAMING A PARK AFTER YOUR SERVICE HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND I THINK THE APPROPRIATE PARK THAT SHOULD BE NAMED AFTER PETER IGLESIAS SHOULD BE THE PUBLIC'S PARK RIGHT THERE IN THE CENTER OF DOWNTOWN. AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SAY NO, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE VERY QUIET AND RESERVED INDIVIDUAL, BUT I THINK A PERSON OF YOUR CALIBER SHOULD SHOULD HAVE A PARK NAMED AFTER THEM. AND REMEMBER, I'M THE ONE THAT PUSHED YOU OUT, BUT I'M NAMING A PARK AFTER YOU BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY, I SEE YOUR NAME AND REMEMBERED OF ALL THE HARD WORK AND ALL THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU ACHIEVED AND THAT YOU ALLOWED US TO ACHIEVE THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP TO MY COLLEAGUES, TO THE COMMISSION, AND I HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE A UNANIMOUS VOTE IN FAVOR OF THAT. MISTER MANAGER, IS THERE ANYTHING ANYONE ELSE? IT'S WELL, VERY WELL DESERVED. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. THERE'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE WORKING WITH YOU.

[07:40:01]

SO I'M HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE YOU'VE EARNED IT. PETER. I HOPING FOR THE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT ALSO OF OUR COMMISSION. I'LL MOVE THE ITEM. CAN WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

MR. CLERK, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, I FIND THAT TO BE A BEAUTIFUL GESTURE FROM THE MAYOR TO YOU. HOWEVER, MY VOTE IS GOING TO BE. NO. I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THESE PARKS ARE NAMED AFTER PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DECEASED. AND YOU HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO STILL. BUT I'M SORRY. NO, COMMISSIONER. LAURA. WELL, WHEN WHEN WE WHEN WE, THE COMMISSION HAVE VOTED TO NAME PARK NAME PARKS IN THE CITY AFTER THOSE STILL WITH US, YOU KNOW, THE YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY DAVID LAWRENCE, RIGHT. AND DOROTHY THOMPSON, RIGHT. BILL KERDYK.

RIGHT. THESE ARE THE MOST DESERVING FOLKS. AND AND, AND IT'S NOT WITHOUT PRECEDENT. AND I, I DEFINITELY THINK YOU BELONG IN THOSE RANKS AS WELL. SO MY VOTE IS, YES. MAYOR LAGO, OF COURSE. YES. DON'T FORGET THE CHORUS FAMILY WHO LIVES A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY HOUSE.

YOU HAVE DAVID LAWRENCE, OBVIOUSLY HEARD THE CHORUS FAMILY, MARY THOMPSON, MARY THOMPSON, DAVID LAWRENCE, WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO ARE PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY. YOU DESERVE TO BE IN THAT SAME BREATH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, IT'S APPROVED.

YES, SIR. I'M EXTREMELY HONORED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT THAT? DON'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ ON THE BLOGS, OKAY? DON'T BELIEVE IT.

MADAM VICE MAYOR, JUST A COUPLE QUICK THINGS. WE THIS THURSDAY AT THE JUNIOR ORANGE BOWL KICKOFF AT 4:00 AT FIVE IRON GOLF INTO PLAZA. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BY FIVE IRON GOLF, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER THIS SATURDAY EARLY IN THE MORNING, I THINK IT STARTS AT NINE. WE HAVE THE POLLINATOR PALOOZA. BRING OUT YOUR LITTLE ONES, LET THEM GET DIRTY. HAVING FUN, PUTTING SOME PLANTS IN THE GROUND AND IT'S ADORABLE. TIME TO TAKE PICTURES. AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT IN ADVANCE, BUT WE HAVE A WINE AND FRIES EVENT.

FOR SOME OF YOU WINE CONNOISSEURS, IT'S THE RED SHOE SOCIETY THAT HELPS SUPPORT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES. GOOD, CAUSE IT'S OCTOBER 2ND. THE REASON I'M MENTIONING IT NOW IS THERE'S A LIMITED CAP ON NUMBER OF TICKETS YOU CAN BUY. YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ANY RED SHOE SOCIETY MEMBER, I HAVE IT, I CAN FORWARD THE INVITATION TO YOU AND YOU CAN PURCHASE A TICKET AND TASTE SOME SOME WINE WHILE TASTING SOME FRESH FRIES. KIND OF AN INTERESTING EVENT.

COMMISSIONER CASTRO, THIS IS I DON'T HAVE ANY EVENTS TO REALLY PUT OUT THERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THIS TO MAYOR. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU RESPECTFULLY, PLEASE DON'T TELL ME I COME UNPREPARED TO THIS MEETING. I PRIORITIZE THIS CITY ABOVE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I DO, THE ITEMS AND THE AGENDA. AND I SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS REPRESENTING AND SERVING THIS CITY. I ALSO RUN A BUSINESS AND I'M RAISING TWO CHILDREN. AND FOR SOME REASON, I STILL PRIORITIZE SOMETIMES ABOVE MY BUSINESS AND MY CHILDREN THIS CITY. SO PLEASE RESERVE YOUR COMMENTS WHEN YOU TELL ME I DON'T COME PREPARED. I BARELY SLEEP. THAT IS IT. OKAY, COMMISSIONER? YES. SO I MENTIONED IT BRIEFLY DURING THE MEETING EARLIER TODAY, AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO HARP ON IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY SPECIAL AND I THINK IT'LL BE A LOT OF FUN. SO FOR ALL OF YOU, CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADS WHO EITHER GRADUATED WITH

[07:45:04]

I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE, AYE. THANK YOU. AS WE OPEN THE MEETING. YES. SO THIS WOULD BE THE MEETING OF THE ANDALUSIA GARAGE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION INC.

AND THERE IS ONE ITEM A ONE. IT'S A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION SITTING IN ITS CAPACITY AS A AS THE ANDALUSIA GARAGE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, RATIFYING ALL PREVIOUS ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BY THE CITY, APPROVING THE USE OF OPERATING EXPENSES THROUGH THE CITY BUDGET AND ELECTING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM. SO WE NEED TO ADJOURN. ADJOURN. MOVE! MOVE TO ADJOURN.

REOPEN. SO NOW WE'RE OPENING THE MEETING OF THE 250 ARAGON CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC.

WE HAVE ONE ITEM, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION SITTING IN ITS CAPACITY AS A 250 ARAGON CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, RATIFYING ALL PREVIOUS ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BY THE CITY, APPROVING THE USE OF OPERATING EXPENSES TO THE CITY BUDGET AND ELECTING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOVE TO ADJOURN. MOVING FOR THE NEXT ONE. SO NOW WE'LL OPEN THE MEETING OF THE GIRALDA GARAGE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION SITTING IN ITS CAPACITY AS GIRALDA GARAGE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, RATIFYING ALL PREVIOUS ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BY THE CITY, APPROVING THE USE OF OPERATING EXPENSES TO THE CITY BUDGET AND ELECTING A BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU. MOVE TO ADJOURN.

NEXT ONE. THAT'S IT. IT'S JUST THREE NOW. OKAY. SO ARE WE STILL. ARE WE STILL ON, OR. NO.

WE'RE DONE. WE'RE DONE. WE ADJOURNED. YES. OKAY. PERFECT. FOR THE NEXT MEETING, I HAD AN ITEM THAT I WANTED TO SHOW. NOW I'LL SHOWCASE IT AFTER THE VIDEOS THAT WE SENT YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.