Sep 29, 2026 City Commission

[CALL TO ORDER ]

[00:00:07]

MORNING. IF IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME THE PRIVILEGE TO START THE MEETING. I WOULD FIRST OFF LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT'S TRULY AN HONOR. TODAY IS THE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH MEETING FOR THE COMMISSION. WE HAVE MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, AND WE ARE. WE'RE BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO THE CITY. AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY MEETING, I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR JOINING US. THERE'S MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN THE COMMISSION MEETING. YOU CAN EITHER JOIN US VIA ZOOM, YOU CAN WRITE US AN EMAIL. YOU CAN SPEAK IN PERSON.

REMEMBER, THE QUORUM IS REQUIRED HERE IN THE CITY. IF YOU SPEAK ON AN ISSUE, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THAT SAME ISSUE FORTHCOMING AT THE END OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COMMISSION MEETING. IF YOU CANNOT BE HERE, IF YOU CANNOT WRITE US AN EMAIL, IF YOU CANNOT JOIN US BY ZOOM, WE ACCEPT CARRIER PIGEON, WE ACCEPT SMOKE SIGNAL. WE ACCEPT NOTES LIKE WE USED TO DO IN HIGH SCHOOL. LITTLE NOTES THAT YOU PASS ON. WE JUST WANT YOU TO BE ENGAGED AND BE INVOLVED. LIKE WE TRY TO DO EVERY SINGLE TIME WE HAVE A COMMISSION MEETING OR OPEN OFFICE HOURS, OR LIKE THE TOWN HALL THAT WE HAD THIS WEEK, WHICH HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR THE ONES THAT CAME TODAY TO COMMENCE THE DAY. I HAVE A REAL PLEASURE PERSON WHO NOT ONLY DO I CONSIDER THIS INDIVIDUAL ONE OF THE MOST THOUGHTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, KIND HEARTED AND COMMITTED INDIVIDUALS HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. MOST IMPORTANTLY, I CONSIDER HIM A FRIEND AND A PERSON THAT I LEAN ON IN TOUGH MOMENTS. A PERSON WHO HAS NEVER SAID NO TO ME, PERSON WHO WAS ALWAYS THERE TO LISTEN, AND A PERSON WHO WAS ALWAYS THERE TO GIVE ADVICE. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND I SEE OUR CHAIRWOMAN HERE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD. SHE'LL SHE'LL RESONATE WITH THIS. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO HEAR THINGS. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHY WE'RE FRIENDS. SO IT'S AN HONOR TO INVITE RABBI JONATHAN FISH FROM TEMPLE JUDEA TO JOIN US HERE AND GIVE THE INVOCATION. MY BROTHER, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU. PASTOR. GOOD MORNING.

I AM TRULY HONORED TO BE HERE. MAYOR. VICE MAYOR. COMMISSIONER. CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE'VE. WE'VE ADVANCED. RABBI. WHAT A GIFT. WHAT A GIFT. STOPS DOING A GREAT JOB. WE'LL JUST REPEAT THAT. SORRY THAT MY BACK IS TURNED. FRIENDS. IT IS. IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR TO BE AMONG INDIVIDUALS WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THIS CITY AND TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GRATEFUL TO EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN MAKING CORAL GABLES TRULY BEAUTIFUL ON THE OUTSIDE AND SACRED ON THE INSIDE. OURS IS A DIVERSE CITY, MANY LANGUAGES, MANY FAITHS, AND MORE THAN A FEW RIVAL SPORTS TEAMS. AND CORAL GABLES KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL HOME. LUSH LANDSCAPING, MANICURED LAWNS, AND NEIGHBORS WHO STILL WAVE TO EACH OTHER AND KNOW NOT ONLY THEIR NAMES, BUT ALSO THE NAMES OF THE DOGS THAT THEY WALK. SO THIS WEEK, JEWISH FAMILIES ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT MIGHT SEEM A LITTLE BIT STRANGE IN A CITY FILLED WITH GORGEOUS HOMES FOR SEVEN DAYS, WE STEP OUTSIDE OUR HOUSES AND INTO WHAT WE CALL A SUKKAH, A TEMPORARY HUT WITH A ROOF MADE OF BRANCHES. WE EAT THERE, PLAY GAMES THERE, AND WE SIT WITH PEOPLE WE KNOW AND LOVE. IT'S FRAGILE ON PURPOSE. IT'S OPEN ON PURPOSE. ITS ROOF LETS IN RAIN AND SUN AND STARS ON PURPOSE. THE TORAH TELLS US TO REJOICE ON THIS HOLIDAY TOGETHER WITH THE STRANGER, THE ORPHAN, AND WITH THE WIDOW AMONG YOU. OUR SAGES TAUGHT THAT IN THE ANCIENT TEMPLE, OFFERINGS WERE BROUGHT DURING SUKKOT FOR ALL 70 NATIONS OF THE WORLD. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THIS WAS A HOLIDAY FOR ALL PEOPLE. AND I'VE LEARNED THAT LESSON FIRSTHAND. IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT HONORS OF MY LIFE TO SERVE AS A CHAPLAIN FOR BOTH THE CORAL GABLES POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND HOSPITAL HALLWAYS AND SWEARING INS AND MEMORIALS, AND MOST RECENTLY, OUTSIDE. WHEN WE GOT TO CHRISTEN THE BOAT TOGETHER, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A RABBI CHRISTENING A BOAT, AND I GOT TO DO IT. IT'S GREAT. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT ONE FAITH OVER ANOTHER. IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE SHOWING UP FOR PEOPLE. THE

[00:05:07]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. YOU'RE A STEADFAST PRESENCE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. AND AS A CATHOLIC, I'M HONORED TO CALL YOU MY BROTHER. WE STAND SIDE BY SIDE, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE HOLY SEASON NOW, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE A VERY SPECIAL

[A.-2. 26-2154 Presentation of a Resolution of Condolence to the bereaved family of Yvette Diaz.]

FOR ME PERSONALLY, AFTER 15 YEARS, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT

[00:10:05]

AND FOR THAT, THANK YOU ALL. FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS. WE ARE DEEPLY HAPPY THAT YOU.

SHE WAS HERE WITH YOU GUYS. I KNOW THAT HAD SHE BEEN ALIVE, SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT HERE UNTIL SHE RETIRED. AND THAT WAS HER HOPE. SO THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU ALL FOR HELPING HER.

AND AGAIN, THANKS FROM THE BOYS AND I THANK YOU FOR THE MAYOR. MR. FELICIANO. MR. DIAZ. YVETTE NEVER MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY. WHEN I WAS AT CITY HALL TO COME INTO MY OFFICE, OPEN THE DOOR, SMILE, AND SAY I'M PRAYING FOR YOU. SHE WORE HER FAITH ON HER SLEEVE, AND IT'S A MODEL THAT WE SHOULD ALL FOLLOW. YOU KNOW, RABBI WAS TALKING ABOUT CORAL GABLES, AN AREA OF MANY FAITHS.

I CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU, I NEVER ASKED YVETTE WHAT CHURCH SHE WENT TO, BUT JUST KNOWING THAT SHE WAS PRAYING FOR ME MADE A DIFFERENCE. EVERY TIME THAT I WAS AT CITY HALL. I WAS PART OF A GROUP CALLED ENCUENTRO JUVENILES. IT WAS A GROUP OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF MIAMI WHERE WE FORMED CHRISTIAN LEADERS. AND IN THE GROUP, WE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WERE CHRIST IN OUR LIFE. YOUR DAUGHTER WAS CHRIST IN MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR SHARING HER WITH US. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS TO THE BROTHERS, PLEASE? THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. I KNOW THIS IS A VERY TOUGH AND DIFFICULT MOMENT.

THANK YOU. IT'S. I COULD BE 100 YEARS OLD AND I STILL WOULDN'T BE PREPARED FOR THIS, BUT I THANK EVERYBODY FOR FOR FOR KEEPING HER IN MIND. SHE'S THE ONE THAT'S GIVING ME THE STRENGTH TO SPEAK DURING THIS MOMENT. THERE ARE NO WORDS TO EXPRESS THE QUALITY OF A MOTHER, OF A, OF A PERSON, OF A BEST FRIEND THAT SHE WAS. AS YOU CAN ALL SEE, SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS OUTSIDE AND INSIDE. AND AGAIN, I COULD BE IN, I COULD BE 90 YEARS OLD AND I'LL STILL FEEL THE SAME WAY. BUT WE LOST HER VERY SOON. BUT AS ARIEL SAID, SHE'S, SHE'S ALWAYS GIVEN HER LIFE TO GOD. AND SHE EVEN TOLD ME, HONEY, I LOVE YOU, BUT I PUT GOD FIRST. AND I TOLD HER, I KNOW YOU DO, MOM. AND SO IT'S HER STRENGTH AS TO WHY I'M SAYING THESE WORDS. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND SUPPORTING HER. WE'LL MISS HER UNTIL MY TIME COMES. BUT THAT'S AS STRONG AS I CAN BE TO JUST SAY A FEW WORDS. BUT THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. I'M NOT AS STRONG AS HER TO SAY MORE. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL AND WHAT YOU JUST SHARED WITH US RIGHT NOW, THE COMMENTS THAT YOUR MOTHER GAVE TO YOU. IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME BECAUSE I HAD MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEND TIME WITH HER OVER THE LAST 13 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN AND I'VE HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. AND SHE WAS FRONT AND CENTER, VERY VOCAL ABOUT HER FAITH. AND SHE WAS A PILLAR OF SUPPORT FOR ANYONE THAT NEEDED IT. SO I YOU'RE A VERY LUCKY MAN, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO SHARE THOSE MOMENTS WITH HER.

YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS LOST A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE AND JUST KNOW THAT SHE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. AND IF YOU LOOK BEHIND YOU, YOU SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HERE.

THEY'RE ALL HERE TO REMEMBER YOUR AMAZING MOTHER. SHE WAS AN AMAZING PERSON. WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? ANY OF OUR STAFF OR ANYBODY WHO'S HERE, YOU KNOW? YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. KNOW, PLEASE. IT'S A PRIVILEGE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR.

COMMISSIONERS, EVERYONE. I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH YVETTE, AND I SAW HER ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, WALKED INTO A PLACE WHERE I WAS GOING TO HAVE BREAKFAST. AND I LOOKED AT HER. SHE LOOKED AT ME, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, DID YOU GO TO SOUTHWEST? SOUTHWEST? WE WERE TALKING AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S FUNNY, ABOUT A YEAR LATER, AFTER THAT, I HAD AN ISSUE WITH PAY. I WENT UP THERE,

[00:15:04]

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR? I'LL JUST YES, I THINK SHE'S TOUCHED EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE CITY TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US THAT SHE WAS PRAYING FOR US AND HOPING THAT THIS COMMISSION AS WELL, OF ALL THE EMPLOYEES, COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER AND LOVE EACH OTHER AND LOOK AT FOR WHAT'S THE GOOD IN EVERYBODY, BECAUSE THERE IS FAR MORE GOOD OUT THERE THAN ANYTHING THAT'S BAD IN THE WORLD. AND WE NEED TO APPRECIATE THAT EVERY DAY SHE WILL BE MISSED. THANK YOU. SO BEFORE I READ ITEM EIGHT TWO INTO THE RECORD THE RESOLUTION, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE GIVE ME A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU.

SO HERE WE HAVE A RESOLUTION. RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCES, IF YOU'D ALLOW ME. WHEREAS THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES MOURNS THE PASSING OF YVETTE DIAZ, A VALUED MEMBER OF OUR CITY FAMILY, FOR OVER 22 YEARS. AND WHEREAS YVETTE DEDICATED HER CAREER TO CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SERVING MOST RECENTLY AS SENIOR PAYROLL SPECIALIST AND NEARLY A DECADE BEFORE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. AND WHEREAS YVETTE'S PRESENCE, KINDNESS AND CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED BY ALL WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING AND WORKING ALONGSIDE HER. WHEREAS, YVETTE WILL BE REMEMBERED NOT ONLY AS A CHERISHED COWORKER, BUT ALSO AS A BELOVED MOTHER, DAUGHTER AND SISTER WHOSE WARMTH AND FAITH TOUCHED EVERYONE IN HER PATH. AND WHEREAS YVETTE IS SURVIVED BY HER FATHER, AGUEDO FELICIANO, AND HER SONS VINCENT AND STEVEN DIAZ, WHO ALONG WITH HER EXTENDED FAMILY AND FRIENDS CARRY HER MEMORY FORWARD. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, THAT DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME, WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO YVETTE'S FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES AND ASK THAT OUR COMMUNITY KEEP THEM IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AS THEY NAVIGATE THIS LOSS, HOLDING FAST TO THE MEMORY OF A LIFE SO GENEROUSLY SHARED. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY WE TAKE A BIG. WE TAKE A PHOTO TOGETHER.

MAY I GIVE YOU THIS RESOLUTION, PLEASE? IF I IF I MAY JUST REALLY QUICKLY, MISTER MANAGER, THERE'S NOT MANY INSTANCES THAT

[00:20:01]

I'D LIKE TO SHARE HER STORY, WHO SHE WAS, AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER. AND MAYBE THE FAMILY CAN PEN A LETTER, MAYBE THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, HER FRIENDS. I DON'T WANT IT TO COME FROM THE CITY. I WANT IT TO COME FROM PEOPLE WHO WE KNEW HER. BUT I WANT PEOPLE WHO HAD THE MOST VESTED INTEREST AND UNDERSTAND WHO SHE WAS AND HOW MUCH SHE DID FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR HER, FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT SHE PUT IN OVER THE LAST 22 YEARS. SO IF WE COULD, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSION, I THE FAMILY SAID IT WAS OKAY. I ASKED THEM, I WOULD ASK YOU TO PLEASE NOT ASK HIM FOR US TO PUT THIS PICTURE UP. I'M ASKING YOU TO PUT A PICTURE OF HER AND JUST EXPLAIN AND TALK ABOUT WHO SHE IS, BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THAT WE LOST AN EMPLOYEE WHO WAS WORKING HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. MISTER MANAGER. YES. HAPPY TO MAYOR. THANK YOU. IS THE COMMISSION FINE WITH THAT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.

ABSOLUTELY, MISTER MAYOR. OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE CORPORAL CHARLES SACHS WITH US TODAY TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. CORPORAL SACHS IS A PROUD CORAL GABLES RESIDENT AND UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN WHO SERVED IN THE MARINE CORPS FROM 1981 TO 1985, ATTAINING THE RANK OF CORPORAL.

DURING HIS SERVICE, HE SPENT APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION, ALAMEDA IN CALIFORNIA AS AN AVIONICS TECHNICIAN, HELPING MAINTAIN AND SUPPORT THE MARINE CORPS.

HEAVY LIFTING HELICOPTERS, THE VERY HELICOPTERS HE WOULD ALSO SERVE ABOARD AS PART OF THEIR FLIGHT CREW PERFORMING IN-FLIGHT AVIONICS TESTING. TODAY, CORPORAL SACHS IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF OUR CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN CIVIC AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT SOUTH FLORIDA. SIR, WE ARE GRATEFUL. WE'RE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE YEARS YOU'VE DEDICATED TO SERVING OUR GREAT COUNTRY AND FOR THE COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY YOU BROUGHT TO THAT SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION AND FOR ALL YOU'VE CONTINUED TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY. IT IS. IT IS OUR HONOR TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY. AND I ASK YOU BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, JUST PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS. SURE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU SIR. THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. WE'VE LIVED IN CORAL GABLES HERE FOR ABOUT 26 YEARS. REALLY ENJOY THE CITY AND EVERYTHING TO OFFER. WE PROBABLY ARE ONE OF THE CLOSEST PEOPLE TO THIS BUILDING RIGHT NOW. JUST DOWN THE STREET, ABOUT A HALF A MILE AWAY, AND COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. THANK YOU. IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU. AND PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. ALL RIGHT. I, 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, SIR. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT

[AMERICA'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT]

WE HAVE A WE HAVE A YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST NOT IT'S COMMON WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CHAIRWOMAN ROLL HOUSE BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS COMES IN IN THE CLUTCH AND IS OUT OF THE BULLPEN. I LIKE BASEBALL OUT OF THE BULLPEN. SHE'S WILLING TO STEP IN AT A VERY SHORT NOTICE. SO, CHAIRWOMAN, WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN US AS PART OF OUR CELEBRATION OF AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY? WE HAVE PRO WE HAVE PROUDLY PRESENTED A SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT AT EACH OF THE COMMISSION MEETINGS SINCE MAY, REFLECTING ON THE PEOPLE, THE PRINCIPLES AND EVENTS THAT SHAPED OUR NATION TODAY, IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO WELCOME OUR DEAR FRIEND AND THE LEADER OF THE MIAMI DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. MADAM CHAIR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING, MADAM VICE CHAIR, COMMISSIONERS AND ALL OF THE AMAZING MEMBERS OF THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL, WHICH I HAPPEN TO BE A RESIDENT OF FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO STEP IN TODAY TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL COMMENCEMENT MOMENT. THANKS TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AGAIN FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK TODAY AND SHARING A SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT. IT IS A GREAT INITIATIVE TO BRING THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION TO LIGHT. TODAY, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON ONE OF THE GREATEST ACTS OF LEADERSHIP IN AMERICAN HISTORY. ON JULY 4TH, 1776, THE 56 MEN WHO

[00:25:05]

OKAY. I'D LIKE TO GO A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER AND TAKE UP ITEM A5. IT IS A PLEASURE TO

[A.-5. 26-2131 Introduction of Rafael Villalobos - Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent.]

[00:30:04]

WE WANTED TO SELECT THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD THE THIRD LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY, A RATED FOR SEVEN YEARS. GRADUATION RATES, AGAIN, OVER 95% NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

MORE CHOICE OPTIONS THAN ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. AND WITH ADMINISTRATORS LIKE THE PRINCIPALS AND THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, AND THE ENTIRE SCHOOL FAMILIES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE EACH AND EVERY DAY SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SHINE. THIS GENTLEMAN IS HOMEGROWN. I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT HE ATTENDED THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND BY THE WAY, TO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NOT COBRA, SORRY, BUT THIS IS A COBRA WENT TO SOUTH MIAMI SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN IN OUR SYSTEM FOREVER IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, HAS SERVED IN THE CAPACITY OF TEACHER, ASSISTANT, PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPAL. HE HAS BEEN AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL ALSO, BY THE WAY, HAS EXPERIENCE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD AND BRINGS SUCH SUCH TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE AND A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE TO MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO IT IS TRULY AN HONOR, AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU TO INTRODUCE OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, MR. RAFAEL VILLALOBOS. AND I THINK YOU'LL JOIN ME BY SAYING WE HIT IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK. DO YOU AGREE? BY THE WAY, MR. SUPERINTENDENT, CONGRATULATIONS ON BRINGING THE COBRA BACK. ABSOLUTELY. THAT WAS REALLY SPECIAL. THAT WAS A BIG DEAL LAST NIGHT, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON THAT. WELL, ALONG WITH ALONG WITH THE CHAIRWOMAN ALSO, WHO PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL INTRODUCTION. AND, YOU KNOW, AS SHE WOULD SAY, IT'S TEAMWORK THAT MAKES THE DREAM WORK. AND, YOU KNOW, BEING HERE AS PART OF THAT. SO, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HONORING ME HERE TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU AND IN FRONT OF ALL THE RESIDENTS IN CORAL GABLES. YOU KNOW, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING A STRONG PARTNERSHIP. I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE OUR SCHOOLS AND KNOW THE GREAT WORK THAT WE DO FOR CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THE AMAZING TEACHERS AND EMPLOYEES THAT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AFFECT THOSE CHILDREN AND THE LIVES OF THOSE CHILDREN. AND AS MADAM CHAIR DISCUSSED, WE HAVE HAD AMAZING, AMAZING RESULTS FOR YEARS NOW, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE AMAZING RESULTS AS WE CONTINUE TO FORTIFY PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND SO MANY OTHERS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT, AS YOU KNOW, WE CHANGE AND EVOLVE AS BUSINESSES CHANGE AND EVOLVE, OUR WORKFORCE MAY HAVE TO CHANGE AND EVOLVE. SO, SO SHOULD OUR CURRICULUM. SO SHOULD OUR EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES AS WELL. SO AS WE CONTINUE TO SEE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE OF THAT WORKFORCE AND OUR COMMUNITIES, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY IS AT THE READY, MAKING SURE THAT WE ALSO WILL HAVE A LIVING, BREATHING CURRICULUM THAT CHANGES ALONG WITH THE TIMES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AHEAD OF IT. AND AS WE KNOW, TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING SO QUICKLY AND SO RAPIDLY. SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT AS WELL. BUT IT IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY. AND AS THE MADAM CHAIR TALKED ABOUT, SEVEN YEARS, A DISTRICT, 95% GRADUATION RATE AND AMAZING PROGRAMS RENOWNED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND YOU KNOW THAT MIAMI HAS BECOME THE EPICENTER OF THE WORLD. EVERYBODY WANTS TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY HERE AND BRING THEIR BUSINESSES HERE. SO IS OUR EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION. AND SO IT SHOULD BE. OUR EDUCATION ORGANIZATION IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE PREMIER EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THIS COUNTRY. AND IT IS OUR GOAL TO CONTINUE IN THAT DIRECTION. BUT WHAT HOLDS IT, WHAT'S THE GLUE THAT HOLDS ALL THAT TOGETHER? THAT GLUE IS BASED ON TWO FACTORS. NUMBER ONE, STRONG EDUCATORS, HIGHLY MOTIVATED, HIGHLY COMPASSIONATE, LOVE THEIR PROFESSION, BUT ARE ALSO HIGHLY TRAINED AND

[00:35:04]

SO THOSE STUDENTS CAN ALSO BE SUCCESSFUL. BUT I'LL END WITH THIS. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND THAT BEYOND THE TEACHER SALARY AND BEYOND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE COMPENSATED AT A RATE THAT, YOU KNOW, MEETS THE DEMANDS OF TODAY'S, YOU KNOW, COST OF LIVING. AND WE KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO LIVE IN MIAMI. SO ARE OUR POLICE OFFICERS, 500 SWORN MEN AND WOMEN, THE LARGEST POLICE DEPARTMENT, SCHOOL, POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS DEDICATED SOLELY TO PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR STAFF. BUT THEN IT'S AN ADDITIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALSO IN THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE LIGHTHOUSE OF THAT COMMUNITY. TO HAVE A POLICE OFFICER IN FRONT OF THAT SCHOOL ALSO SENDS A MESSAGE THAT THERE IS LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE AREA. SO I WOULD URGE EVERYONE LISTENING TO ELEVATE YOUR VOICES TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING REFERENDUM 268, KNOWING THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AMAZING RESULTS, AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE LEADING PRODUCER OF HUMAN BEINGS, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THAT ARE GOING TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND A VARIETY OF WORKFORCE. WORKFORCE PROGRAMS AND AND EMPLOYEES. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS MORNING. IT'S TRULY A PLEASURE. AND REMEMBER, SECURE OUR FUTURE. 268 THANK YOU, MAYOR LARGO. WELL, THANK YOU, MR. SUPERINTENDENT. MADAM CHAIR, I ABSOLUTELY ECHO EVERYTHING HE HAS JUST SAID. AS A FORMER TEACHER MYSELF, I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THOSE SCHOOLS. AS A FORMER ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPAL, REGION DIRECTOR, I KNOW WHAT THEY DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. IT IS IMPERATIVE. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THIS REFERENDUM TO PASS. WE

[00:40:02]

SO I THINK WE'VE COVERED THAT SUFFICIENTLY. AND BY THE WAY, I WANT TO ADD, JUST FOR THE RECORD, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD, OUR CHAIRWOMAN REMEMBERS VERY CLEARLY THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WAS NOT THE FIRST. I SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION, POTENTIALLY MAYBE THE SECOND, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE WERE RIGHT THERE WHEN WE HAD ISSUES IN THE SCHOOLS. WE PUT OUR OWN POLICE OFFICERS IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL, AND WE STEPPED UP IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECTED OUR CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND THAT WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THE THE BATON WAS PASSED OFF A YEAR LATER AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD, YOU KNOW, TOOK UP THE ROLE, GOT THE MANPOWER AND DID EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT NOW WE'RE IN THE POSITION WE'RE IN TODAY. SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YOU SURE DID. NOT ONLY DID YOU DO IT AT THAT POINT, BUT YOU STILL DO IT TODAY. BECAUSE WHEN WE NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL. AND ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS, YOU ARE THERE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT HELPING US WITH THE TRAFFIC THERE ON A REGULAR AND ONGOING BASIS. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR INVESTING IN EDUCATION, BECAUSE THERE IS NO GREATER RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAN INVESTING IN THE FUTURE. OUR CHILDREN, OUR LEADERS THROUGH THE MAYOR. AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS NOW WE HAVE ITEM A6. YES, WHICH IS GOING TO BE PERFECT BECAUSE YOU'RE BOTH HERE AND THIS IS A TREAT, COMMISSIONER, SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY BRIEFLY. THANK YOU. NO, NO, I SPOKE OVER YOU. I WANTED TO ALSO THANK THESE TWO MOST IMPRESSIVE LEADERS, ROJAS. AND AND CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME, SUPERINTENDENT VILLALOBOS. YOU SPOKE BEAUTIFULLY. I ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS AS WELL. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CHECK OUT THE THE COBRA. I UNDERSTAND IT'S QUITE A THING TO SEE. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE SUPERINTENDENT SWING BY AT NIGHT. THERE'S A TREAT BECAUSE THE LIGHTS IN THE EYES WILL BE ON. SO I WANT TO CHECK THAT OUT. PROUD GRADUATE OF CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I'M A PROUD CAVALIER. WE ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATE HERE IN OUR CITY MANAGER. RIGHT. WHO'S MIAMI HIGH. ALL RIGHT. STINGRAY. AND HE'S SO I, I WANTED TO TELL EVERYBODY THAT I, I FULLY SUPPORT AND I HOPE THAT YOU GET ALL THE SUPPORT THAT IT DESERVES. REFERENDUM 268 YOU KNOW, TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN MY LIFE NEXT TO MY PARENTS WERE MY TWO TEACHERS AT CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, WHO I WILL EMBARRASS FOR THE ONE MILLIONTH TIME. JENNIFER KRUGMAN AND BRENDA FELDMAN WERE VERY MUCH INSPIRATIONAL TO ME, AND THEY ARE THE TYPES OF PEOPLE YOU'RE REFERRING TO, PROFESSIONALS AND PEOPLE WHO, FROM THE HEART CARE SO VERY DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND GIVE SO MUCH TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT THEY GET A REASONABLE RECOGNITION AND COMPENSATION FOR WHAT THEY OVER DELIVER. EVERY SINGLE DAY. THEY COME TO THE SCHOOLS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN. SO SUPPORT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. I GIVE YOU ALL MY SUPPORT AND I'M WISHING YOU THE VERY BEST OF LUCK. SUPERINTENDENT, IN FILLING THOSE VERY, VERY BIG SHOES THAT YOU HAVE STEPPED INTO. BUT I GUARANTEE YOU'RE GOING TO DO VERY, VERY WELL AND DO US ALL VERY PROUD. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SO LIKE I TOLD YOU WHEN WE MET OUTSIDE, I'M VERY MOVED BY THE FACT THAT YOU'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE, MADE, WHAT'S WORKING, WHAT'S NOT WORKING, BECAUSE THAT IS THE PART OF LEADERSHIP THAT SOMETIMES WE FAIL TO SEE. AND YOU'VE BEEN HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING SINCE DAY ONE. YOU'VE BEEN OUT THERE. OUR SCRC HAS

[00:45:05]

AND MY FATHER, WHEN HE CAME IN, WENT TO ONE OF THE TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. THE THE BAKER, BAKER AVIATION BAKER IN AND LEARN BECOME AN AIRLINE MECHANIC. BACK IN THE 60S, ONE OF THE AREAS OF EMPHASIS OF ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MEMBERS IS THE TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. AND THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION HERE OF A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL SCHOOLS. I'M JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT, SINCE WE HAVE A CANINE COMPANION HERE TRAINED TODAY, VETERINARY ASSISTANT IS INCLUDED AS ONE OF THOSE VARIOUS PROFESSIONS. AND THERE'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, HEALTHCARE OCCUPATIONS, IT, CHILDCARE, PERSONAL SERVICES, MANUFACTURING AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. A BIG LONG LIST HERE FOR BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY REALLY WANTS TO BE A LAWYER. MY DAUGHTER WASN'T INTERESTED IN IT. NEITHER ONE OF THEM WERE. ONE BECAME AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER. THAT'S ANOTHER PROFESSION THAT HAS A HIGH BURNOUT RATE, OVERWORKED, MANDATORY OVERTIME. MY SECOND GIRL WAS CONSIDERING BECOMING A TEACHER. WHAT DETERRED HER FROM DOING IT? THE POOR PAY. THE POOR PAY WAS THE REASON. AND SHE IS A LOVELY PERSON WITH CHILDREN AND WORKED AT OUR LOCAL CHURCH WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN, AND SHE WOULD HAVE MADE A FABULOUS EDUCATOR. BUT IT WAS THE LOW PAY. SO WITH THAT, I OFFER MY SUPPORT FOR THIS REFERENDUM ITEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM VICE MAYOR. AND JUST TO ADD, WE DO HAVE SEVEN TECHNICAL COLLEGES THAT ADDRESS THAT VERY NEED FOR THE WORKFORCE AND A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AREAS, FROM AVIATION TO COSMETOLOGY. I MEAN, THE GAMUT FROM CONSTRUCTION MECHANICS, HVAC MECHANICS. I MEAN, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON. SO WE DO ALSO SERVICE THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST THE K-12 PROGRAMS. AND THOSE TEACHERS ALSO BENEFIT FROM THIS.

AND TO ADD TO THAT, I'M SORRY, THE PRE-K PROGRAMS AND OUR THREE YEAR OLDS, NOW THAT WE HAVE THE SPROUTS PROGRAMS, EARLY EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS. SO BY THE TIME THOSE STUDENTS GET TO THIRD GRADE, THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. IT'S LIKE A HOME.

IF YOU A HOUSE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT FOUNDATION, IT CRUMBLES. SAME THING HAPPENS HERE. BY THE TIME THEY GET TO THIRD GRADE, IF WE DON'T START UNTIL MUCH LATER, IT'S TOO LATE.

AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF AMAZING PROGRAMS FOR THE EARLY YEARS AS WELL. ONE LAST HIGHLIGHT NO STUDENT LOANS TO REPAY. SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND. FINANCIAL AID AND VETERANS EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS. DAY AND EVENING CLASSES. YOU'VE COVERED THE GAMUT. YOU'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ONE LAST THING BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX.

MR. MANAGER, WILL YOU SPEAK WITH THE CHAIRWOMAN AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH PRINCIPAL, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN OUR NEWSLETTER THAT ARE AMAZING, ESPECIALLY FOR OLDER ADULTS THAT WANT TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION, WANT TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE, A NEW TECHNICAL SKILL, WANT TO DO

[00:50:05]

[A.-6. 26-2140 Introduction of the Coral Gables Principals in honor of National Principals Month.]

WE'RE STARTING A FRESH YEAR. LET'S KICK IT OFF. LET'S GET THE STUDENTS EXCITED. LET'S GET THE TEACHERS EXCITED. LET'S GET THE STAFF EXCITED. SO IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING. AND I AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING THEM THE RESOURCES NECESSARY AND THE PRINCIPALS FOR GOING THAT EXTRA MILE, BECAUSE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT WE DO A LOT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. BUT TO SEE IT IN THE SCHOOL BOARD, IT WAS REALLY NICE. AND IT WAS HELD HERE, OBVIOUSLY IN CORAL GABLES. SO IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA LET'S WE'RE GONNA READ THEM OUT. OKAY. YOU'RE GOING TO READ THEM.

ALRIGHTY. AND BY THE WAY, OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH. AND EVERY YEAR I PROFFER A BOARD ITEM TO HIGHLIGHT OUR INCREDIBLE PRINCIPALS THAT WE HAVE HERE. I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM ALL JUST FOR A MOMENT, MR. MAYOR. IF YOU ALLOW ME TO JUST HAVE THEM STAND UP TO BE RECOGNIZED BECAUSE THEIR DEDICATION, THEIR PASSION, THEIR COMPASSION, THEIR COMMITMENT IS SECOND TO NONE. SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND WE WILL BEGIN. THE FIRST ONE IS JEANETTE SIERRA, OUR PRINCIPAL FROM CORAL GABLES. UPPER AND LOWER ACADEMY. OKAY, LET'S TAKE A PICTURE FIRST. OKAY. OKAY.

I'M GOING TO READ. THANK YOU. PATRICIA. PATRICIA FAIRCLOUGH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PUT YOU TO WORK HERE. I DON'T I'M SORRY.

[00:55:03]

DOCTOR. MICHELLE SANCHEZ-PEREZ.

ILEANA.

ANGELA GONZALEZ.

DOCTOR. ALINA. DIAZ. BLANCO.

ANTHONY. BALBOA.

[01:00:17]

THAT'S WHAT SETS US AS A CIVILIZED SOCIETY APART FROM EVERY OTHER COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT HAVE THOSE BEAUTIFUL MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO KEEP US SAFE AND TO EDUCATE. SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE CHAIRWOMAN HERE WITH US TODAY. SHE'S AMAZING.

SHE'S CONSTANTLY AT ONE PHONE CALL AWAY. AND I WANT TO THANK THE PRINCIPALS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK. MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN ANYTHING ELSE, THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. IT GOES UNNOTICED AND I HOPE, I HOPE THAT A LITTLE SIMPLE PAPER TODAY WITH AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT IT WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PAY THE AMOUNT OF WORK BACK THAT YOU DO. BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR MANAGER AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY CLERK AND THIS COMMISSION STAND BEHIND YOU 110%. WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. AND CONGRATULATIONS, BECAUSE AGAIN, I CAN SAY THIS THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES HAS THE HIGHEST AND THE BEST SCORED SCHOOLS IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND THERE'S A REASON WHY. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF ALL THE HARD WORK OF THE TEACHERS, THE PRINCIPALS, AND OUR CHAIRWOMAN AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT. SO THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR. AND IF I MAY JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE ABOUT THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, THIS HAS TO DO WITH PHILLIPS PARK THAT BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU, IT'S A WIN WIN FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND FOR THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL.

AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A VERY SPECIAL EVENT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE ON OCTOBER 6TH.

AND I'M GOING TO PROMOTE THAT TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND. AND, MR. MAYOR, THERE IS TIME FOR ALL OF THE DADS HERE ALSO TO CONTINUE TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. I PROFFERED A BOARD ITEM TO HAVE FATHERS INVOLVED BECAUSE IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE OF THEIR CHILDREN, THEIR BEHAVIOR, THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, SO ON AND SO FORTH. WE LOVE THE MOMS AND MOMS ARE GREAT AND THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE. BUT LET'S GET THE DADS OUT THERE. AND I CLOSE BY SAYING, I AM SO BLESSED TO SERVE NOT ONLY AS A CHAIR OF THE DISTRICT, BUT AS A DISTRICT SIX REPRESENTATIVE WITH SUCH AMAZING MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE LEADING MIAMI DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE IN THE CLASSROOMS AND THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE, AND ESPECIALLY WITH OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, WHO IS GOING TO DO A SUPERB JOB. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL DAY. GOD BLESS. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE

[A.-3. 26-2076 Presentation of a Proclamation declaring September 2026 as "Service Dog Awareness Month" in Coral Gables.]

SO WE HAVE SOMEBODY HERE TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION. I HEARD I HEARD A SPECIAL VOICE IN IN THE BACK. CAN WE BRING THAT SPECIAL FOUR LEGGED FRIEND UP, FORWARD? NO. EVERYBODY'S.

[01:05:15]

WHEREAS WE BELIEVE IN THE JOYFUL, TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF HUMAN CANINE BOND AND INCLUSIVITY OF ALL CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES, FOR MORE THAN 70 MILLION ADULTS AND CHILDREN HAVE A DISABILITY AND ONLY 16000 SERVICE DOGS FROM ACCREDITED TRAINING PROGRAMS EXIST NATIONWIDE, AND THE NEED IS GROWING. AND WHEREAS CANINE COMPANIONS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ENHANCES THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING EXPERTLY TRAINED SERVICE DOGS AND ONGOING SUPPORT TO ENSURE QUALITY PARTNERSHIPS. AND WHEREAS, CANINE COMPANIONS AND THEIR SERVICE DOGS EMPOWER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LEAD LIFE WITH GREATER INDEPENDENCE BY PROVIDING BEST IN CLASS TRAINING, ONGOING FOLLOW UP SERVICES, AND DEEPLY COMMITTED COMMUNITY SUPPORT. AND WHEREAS, NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH AIMS TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SERVICE DOGS AND THE LAWS PROTECTING THEM. AND WHEREAS, IN THE 250TH YEAR OF OUR NATION, THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES CONTINUES TO WORK TOWARDS BECOMING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY IN WHICH ALL CITIZENS AND THEIR TRAINED SERVICE DOGS ARE EMBRACED. AND NOW, THEREFORE, IVAN SLIGO AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 2026 AS NATIONAL SERVICE DOG MONTH IN CORAL GABLES. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC THE WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES THAT SERVICE DOGS PROVIDE. YOU'RE BETTER. YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF THEM, BUT I THINK YOU'RE EVEN BETTER EQUIPPED TO EXPLAIN IT TO THE PUBLIC. AND AND WE NEED THE NAME OF YOUR YOUR SPECIAL FRIEND. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS TERRY O'CONNELL. I'M A PUPPY RAISER FOR CANINE COMPANIONS. THIS IS HEIDI ACUNA. SHE IS THE MOTHER OF A PUPPY RAISER WHO HAPPENS TO BE AT SCHOOL AT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI RIGHT NOW. THIS RIGHT HERE. THIS IS JIM.

JIM IS THREE AND A HALF MONTHS OLD. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A FUTURE SERVICE DOG.

WE START OUR PUPPIES OFF AS A PUPPY RAISER. I WILL GET THEM AT EIGHT WEEKS OF AGE, AND WE WORK WITH THEM TO THEIR 1618 MONTHS OF AGE WHERE THEY ARE TURNED INTO OUR REGION, WHICH IS IN ORLANDO. WE HAVE SIX REGIONS NATIONWIDE AND THEY WILL SPEND ANOTHER 6 TO 9 MONTHS THERE WITH PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS LEARNING THE FINER DETAILS OF WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

WE WORK WITH PEOPLE. OUR DOGS ARE HIGHLY TRAINED FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, HEARING IMPAIRMENT AND OUR VETERANS, OUR CANINE COMPANIONS STARTED BACK IN 1975 WITH THE HELP OF JEAN AND CHARLES SCHULZ OF THE PEANUTS CARTOON OR COMIC STRIP PEOPLE, AND THEY HAVE BEEN HELPING US ALL ALONG. JEANNIE SCHULZ IS STILL VERY ACTIVE WITH CANINE COMPANIONS, AND SO OUR DOGS ARE RAISED AND THEY ARE GIVEN TO OUR RECIPIENTS AT NO COST. WE WORK WITH. REALLY JUST ABOUT ANYBODY WHO HAS WHO APPLIES AND GETS ACCEPTED TO RECEIVE ONE OF OUR DOGS. SO I'M JUST GOING TO ADD, I'VE WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL TYPES, AND THESE ANIMALS ALLOW THEM TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ENJOY LIFE OUTSIDE OF THEIR HOME.

DEFINITELY. THEY MAKE THEM MORE INDEPENDENT, MAKE THEM MORE INDEPENDENT. AND FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY VETERANS WHO DON'T HAVE A PHYSICAL DISABILITY BUT HAVE THE TRAUMA FROM GOING THROUGH VERY DIFFICULT TIMES, THESE ANIMALS DO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO, YES, THAT MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THIS CUTIE PIE TO SHOW PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY.

AND WE. WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO. YEAH, I JUST I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M CONCENTRATING ON THE DOG. I'M SORRY YOU CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD. IT'S ADORABLE. OKAY. NO PROBLEM.

WELL, JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, VERY. AND A GREAT. I KNOW, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SAY.

YEAH, IT HELPS WITH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE HOUSEHOLD. MAYBE MAYBE

[01:10:05]

YES. AND THE PTSD AND, AND OBVIOUSLY, AFTER SERVING WITH HONOR AND DIGNITY IN ONE OF THE WORST WARS THIS COUNTRY HAS SEEN IN A LONG TIME, IRAQ. AND I THINK IT WAS IRAQ. YEAH.

CORRECT. YEAH. IT WAS IRAQ. AND THERE WERE THEY WERE SHOWING HOW THE DOCTOR COULD SEND EXCUSE ME, THE DOG COULD SENSE THE ANXIETY BEFORE IT WAS BUILDING UP AND THE NIGHT TERROR AND THE DOG, THE DOG WOULD SIT ON THE INDIVIDUAL. YEAH. IT'S CALLED A COVER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. LIKE A LIKE A HEAVY BLANKET. IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE AND HOW. AND THE INDIVIDUAL TALKS ABOUT HOW THE DOG HAS CHANGED. HIS OUTLOOK ON LIFE HAS REALLY HELPED WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. AND SO IT'S VERY INTERESTING HOW THESE DOGS ARE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HELP JUST SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT SECTORS OR AREAS, FROM CHILDREN TO VETERANS TO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM A LITANY OF DIFFERENT ISSUES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE HOSPITAL. SO IT'S A PRETTY INCREDIBLE YOU'RE DOING GOD'S WORK AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. SO I WANTED TO COMMEND YOU AND ANY WAY WE CAN HELP YOU, MAYBE YOU CAN GIVE US INFORMATION AND WE CAN POST IT WHERE WE CAN MAKE DONATIONS AND HAVE RESIDENTS ENGAGE. THE VICE MAYOR IS HUGE DOG ADVOCATE IS ALWAYS ADVOCATING, ALWAYS BRINGING HER DOGS AROUND PEOPLE AND ALWAYS SHOWCASING THE FACT THAT THIS IS MAN'S BEST FRIEND. AT THE END OF THE DAY. YES, YES. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION FOR THE MANAGER THROUGH THROUGH THE VICE MAYOR. AND THEN WE CAN HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, SPREAD INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION. IF PEOPLE WANT TO VOLUNTEER, IF PEOPLE WANT TO DONATE, I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. DEFINITELY. WE WOULD LOVE TO GET MORE PUPPY RAISERS. YEAH. YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DO HAVE TO GIVE THEM UP, BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW OUR WAIT FOR SERVICE DOGS IS ABOUT 2 TO 3 YEARS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PUPPIES GETTING GRADUATED. SO IF WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE DOING PUPPY RAISING, IT COULD BE A COMMUNITY THING. CO RAISING WITH ANOTHER FAMILY. WE DO IT WITH THE COLLEGE KIDS.

A LOT OF THE COLLEGES AROUND THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE PROGRAMS FOR PUPPY RAISING. AND IT'S IT'S WONDERFUL. IT HELPS THEM, HELPS EVERYBODY OUT. PERFECT. SO ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. OKAY.

[A.-1. 26-2075 Presentation by Glory House. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

[01:15:14]

SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND. I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE ABOUT GLORIA HOUSE. THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN. PROBABLY GOT TO BE OVER FIVE YEARS NOW. YEAH, DEFINITELY. I'VE HELD FUNDRAISERS FOR GLORY HOUSE PERSONALLY AT MY HOUSE. I HAVE ATTENDED THEIR GALA. I HAVE PERSONALLY DONATED. THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION WHICH IS DOING GOD'S WORK AND IS REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE. SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT GLORIA HOUSE DOES AND WHY I WANTED THEM TO BE HERE, BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS AN AMAZING CHARITY AND WHY THIS IS TRULY SAVING LIVES, AND WHY I WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN THIS CHARITY. AND THEY'VE TAKEN AMAZING STRIDES FORWARD IN REGARDS TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND SHE'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON WHERE GLORIA HOUSE IS. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, YOU'VE BEEN VERY FAITHFUL TO HELP US, AND YOU'VE HELPED US A LOT. SO BACK IN 2011, WE WERE VISITING THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND BACK THEN, KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW THERE'S NO RESIDENTIAL FACILITY FOR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SO WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT AND WE SAID, WELL, WHY DON'T WE START AND OPEN A FAITH BASED HOME? WE ARE A FAITH BASED ORGANIZATION.

AND WE STARTED JUST REALLY HELPING WOMEN THAT NEEDED SERVICES. SO WE STARTED WITH NONRESIDENTIAL SURVIVORS. WE OFFER THEM ABOUT 25 SERVICES FROM TRAUMA CARE TO EDUCATION TO HELPING THEM WITH THEIR PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE. AND OF COURSE, IF WE DON'T PROVIDE IT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE, WE REFER THEM TO PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THROUGHOUT THE 15 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN AROUND.

IN 2014, WE OPENED THE FIRST RESIDENTIAL HOME, FAITH BASED HOME. AND UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER COVID, WE HAD TO CLOSE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL FACILITY. WHEN THEY COME, THE LADIES ARE HAVE TO BE ADULTS. THEY HAVE TO BE 18 AND OVER. WE DO NOT DEAL WITH CHILDREN, EVEN THOUGH WE DO HELP SURVIVORS THAT HAVE CHILDREN AND THEY LIVE ON THEIR OWN AND THEY WILL STAY WITH US FOR A WHOLE YEAR. IT TAKES A VERY, VERY LONG TIME TO SEE A SURVIVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING HEAL FROM ALL THE TRAUMA THAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH. THEY'VE BEEN BEATEN, THEY'VE BEEN THEY'RE GUN POINTING AT THEIR HEADS. THEY'VE BEEN ABUSED. THEY'VE BEEN RAPED. THEY HAVE BEEN USED FIVE TIMES A DAY FOR BY MEN. SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE TYPE OF TRAUMA THAT THEY GO THROUGH. AND WE'RE JUST A VERY SMALL PIECE OF THE JOURNEY OF THAT SURVIVOR. THEY USUALLY HAVE TO GO TO A DETOX PLACE BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM, THEY GET ADDICTED TO DRUGS BECAUSE THEIR PIMP MAKES THEM ADDICTED TO DRUGS SO THAT THEY'RE DEPENDENT ON THEM. THEN THEY'LL GO TO A 30, 60, 90 DAY PROGRAM, AND THAT'S DEFINITELY NOT US. BUT THEN THEY COME TO A JOURNEY WHERE THEY STAY WITH US FOR A WHOLE YEAR, AND WE HELP THEM REALLY BECOME INDEPENDENT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. WE DON'T WANT THEM DEPENDENT. AND THEN FROM THERE, THEN THEY WILL GO TO INDEPENDENT LIVING AND WE HELP THEM TO GET, YOU KNOW, A PLACE TO LIVE CARS. WE'VE GIVEN CARS, WE'VE WE'VE REALLY HELPED THEM WITH EVERYTHING. IT'S LIKE TAKING A, I, I COMPARE IT TO TAKING A CHILD REALLY AND STARTING LIFE ALL OVER AGAIN.

SO IT'S, IT'S HARD WORK, BUT IT'S VERY REWARDING. WE HAVE WONDERFUL TESTIMONIES. I HAVE WE HAVE OUR GALA THIS COMING SATURDAY, AND WE HAVE A SURVIVOR THAT IS COMING TO GIVE HER TESTIMONY. SHE'S A NURSE, SHE'S MARRIED, SHE HAS THREE CHILDREN, AND SHE IS LIVING A FULL LIFE. AND SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S WORTH ALL THE HEADACHES AND TROUBLES THAT WE GO THROUGH.

AND SO NOW WE REOPENED A HOME AND MAYOR LARGO HAS BEEN THERE. IT'S UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. OF COURSE, WE'RE VERY WE'RE VERY, VERY CAREFUL WHERE WE SAY WE'RE. THE HOME IS BECAUSE WE HAVE.

THEY NEED PROTECTION AND THEY NEED TRUST, RIGHT? THEY NEED A PLACE TO WHERE THEY CAN BE SAFE.

AND SO WE CONTINUE TO HELP NONRESIDENTIAL SURVIVORS AND RESIDENTIAL. SO THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM. I'M SURE YOU KNOW THAT IN FLORIDA, WE ARE ONE OF THE TOP STATES WHERE HUMAN

[01:20:01]

IT'S NIGHT AND DAY. IT'S NIGHT AND DAY, AND IT'LL IT'LL CHANGE YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU MEET THESE PEOPLE. AND IT'LL, IT'LL GIVE YOU GRATITUDE. IT'LL GIVE YOU AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW BLESSED WE ARE. AND I WANTED TO BRING YOU HERE TODAY BECAUSE AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU, BOTH OF YOU, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND NO ONE HEARS ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, NO ONE HEARS ABOUT IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE SEXIEST TOPIC. IT'S IT'S AN UGLY TOPIC. YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO OUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND YOU FACE THIS FRONT AND CENTER, OR YOU MEET THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN ABUSED FOR YEARS, AND YOU'RE TAKING THEM OFF THE STREETS, TAKING THEM AWAY FROM PIMPS AND DRUG DEALERS. AGAIN, THIS IS GOD'S WORK AND THIS IS REAL HARD WORK AND THIS IS WHAT CHANGES COMMUNITIES. SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITTEE. AND ALSO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. REALLY, IT REALLY MEANS A LOT TO US. IT IS HARD WORK. SO SUPPORT IS ALWAYS

[01:25:06]

[A.-8. 26-2036 Presentation regarding the overview of Venezuelan earthquake response by Fire Division Chief Louie Fajardo.]

AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ME TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE TO DEPLOYMENT TO THE VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKES. WE HAVE A QUICK LITTLE VIDEO OR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. SO AS CHIEF MENTIONED, I'M PART OF TASK FORCE TWO. I'M ONE OF THE FOUR MEMBERS IN THE CORAL GABLES THAT WE REPRESENT. TASK FORCE TWO, SPEARHEADED BY CITY OF MIAMI AND ALL OF BROWARD DOWN OTHER TEAMS OTHER THAN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, THEIR TASK FORCE ONE, WE DEPLOYED TO VENEZUELA TO THE TWIN EARTHQUAKES THEY EXPERIENCED IN JUNE. IT WAS. THIS WAS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THE INTERNATIONAL DEPLOYMENT FOR US.

US AS TASK FORCE TWO. WE ARE NOT AN INTERNATIONAL TEAM BECAUSE OF THE STATE LEGISLATION. THEY ALLOWED US TO GO. WE HAD TO GET ALL OUR CASH, WHICH ARE USED TO TRAVELING VIA SEMI TRUCK OR ON THE ROAD. WE HAD TO GET ALL OUR CASH AND MAKE IT FLIGHT READY OR AIR READY. WE DEPLOYED AT A HOMESTEAD AIR FORCE BASE ON A C-17. AGAIN, THAT IN ITSELF WAS A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE. PREPPING FOR THAT, WE SENT 80 MEMBERS OVER THERE WITH AGAIN WITH LIMITED CASH TO PERFORM THOSE RESCUES. SET IT UP JUST LIKE THE MILITARY WOULD PALLETIZED THEM, DID IT OURSELVES. GOT EVERYTHING READY, PICKING AND CHOOSING WHAT EQUIPMENT WE THOUGHT WE MAY HAVE NEEDED WITH THE LITTLE INFORMATION WE HAD ON THE DEVASTATION UPON ARRIVAL, WE EXPERIENCED THIS NOTHING. VENEZUELA PROVIDED NOTHING FOR US. THIS IS THAT SCENE RIGHT THERE. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS WHAT I TRULY I DON'T WANT TO SAY I TOOK IT FOR GRANTED, BUT THE. I EXPERIENCED THE VALUE OF WHAT OUR EOC CAN PROVIDE. THERE WAS NOTHING PROVIDED FOR US. WE HAD NO VEHICLES, NO FUEL BECAUSE EXCUSE ME, BECAUSE WE HAD TO FLY VIA AIR. WE COULDN'T TRAVEL WITH FUEL. SO OUR GENERATORS. NO FUEL COULDN'T POWER THEM UP. NO GENERATORS, NO STARLINKS, NO STARLINKS COULDN'T EVEN TALK TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT HERE BACK HOME. COULD NOT EVEN DEPLOY ON A CALL. WE WERE GETTING HEADS UP OF VICTIMS TRAPS, AREAS OF DEVASTATION WITH MULTIPLE VICTIMS TRAPPED, CONFIRMED AND ALLEGEDLY CONFIRMED. AND WE COULDN'T EVEN DEPLOY. SO AS WE WERE FIREMEN TASK FORCE TWO, WE STARTED DOING WHAT WE CAN. WE ENDED UP FINDING OR BORROWING OR LET'S CALL IT OUR EXTENDED DRIVE TEST VEHICLES NEARBY. THIS WAS JUST TO GET BACK TO THE AIRPORT THAT WAS A FEW MILES AWAY TO GET OUR EQUIPMENT BACK TO BASE. AS YOU SAW THE BASE THERE, WE, WE, WE ESTABLISHED WE WENT IN TENTS AT THAT POINT, ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO SIPHON FUEL OUT OF THOSE VEHICLES, WE GOT OUR GENERATOR STARTED. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE EMAILS UP TO START GETTING THE PLAN OF ACTION. THAT WAS THEY GIVE US BASICALLY A ZONE, WHICH AGAIN, LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE, YOU KNOW, JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS, TRYING TO GET, TRYING TO GET WORK, HAVING THE AND I'M JUMPING BACK AND FORTH BACK UP TO THE FIFTH FLOOR. I CAN JUST PICTURE US DURING A HURRICANE DEPLOYMENT WHERE WE HAVE ALL DIRECTORS, ALL IN ONE ROOM. LOGISTICS CAN BE HANDLED

[01:30:04]

MANAGER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT UP TO OUR CODE HERE. THOSE BUILDINGS COLLAPSED LIKE A DECK OF CARDS. WE SAW EVERY TYPE OF COLLAPSE IN THE BOOK. PANCAKE COLLAPSE V FOR WHATEVER YOU CAN THINK OF. WE WITNESSED IT OVER THERE. UNFORTUNATELY WITNESSED A LOT OF HUMAN REMAINS, A LOT OF VICTIMS THAT WERE UNSALVAGEABLE. WITH THAT SAID, NOTHING STOPPED US FROM CONTINUING TO WORK. CONTINUE TO SEARCH. HAVING ALL THE CAPABILITIES OF THOSE TEAMS IS REALLY LED US TO THE RESCUE THAT I WANT TO GET INTO. IF YOU GUYS NOTICE THAT PICTURE ON THE TOP RIGHT. SO THAT BUILDING WAS SEVERELY LEADING. WE HAD LASERS ON IT. WE HAVE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS ON THE TEAM. THEY POINTED LASERS ON THAT BUILDING, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY MOVING EVERY FEW HOURS AS WE WERE CREATING THE RESCUE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, WHICH IS THE BUILDING ON THE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE THAT KIND OF BRICK VENEER BUILDING. THAT'S WHERE HE WAS.

THIS WAS JUST PHOTOS. THESE WERE PROBABLY THE BUILDINGS THAT WERE MADE UP TO CODE. THIS IS THE DEVASTATION. THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THESE WERE IN VENEZUELA OVER THERE WHERE THE EXPERIENCE IS. A LOT OF THOSE BUILDINGS HAD UNDERGROUND PARKING, EVEN UP TO THREE FLOORS, AND A LOT OF THESE BUILDINGS COLLAPSED TO THE BASEMENT LEVEL, AND THEY STAYED STRUCTURALLY INTACT. THERE YOU SEE SOME MORE WHERE IT WAS ALL JUST FACADE ON THE SIDE OF THE BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING COLLAPSED. EVERYTHING THERE WAS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE. THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE PICTURE BECAUSE THAT BOARD THERE WAS THE PA BOARD OR THE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD OF WHO MADE IT TO THAT SCENE. THAT BUILDING THAT I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU NEXT IS WHO RESPONDED TO THE SCENE WHERE THERE WAS A CONFIRMED VICTIM. WE GOT A CONFIRMED HIT WITH OUR OUR LIVE VICTIM DOGS. SO WE CONFIRMED THERE WAS SOMEBODY THERE. WE GOT A VERBAL CONFIRMATION HE WAS TRAPPED. AND AS YOU NOTICED, CHILE WAS FIRST ON SCENE. THEY HAD THAT AREA BEFORE US, FIRST ON SCENE. THEY NEVERTHELESS LOOK AT THE LIST OF NAMES OR COUNTRIES AND TEAMS THAT SHOWED UP THERE AND EITHER LEFT BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A DEATH TRAP, OR THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY AND THE CAPABILITY WITH EQUIPMENT. THAT LAST TEAM YOU SEE THERE, USA 11 WAS US TASK FORCE TWO, WHERE WE CHECKED IN ON JUNE 8TH AND CHECKED OUT ON JULY 2ND. THIS WAS THE ACTUAL RESCUE ITSELF. IN A NUTSHELL. THIS WAS A SECURITY GUARD AT GROUND LEVEL. IMAGINE OUR ENTRANCE TO OUR PARKING GARAGE. GROUND LEVEL. HE CHECKED IN EVERYBODY THAT WENT INTO THAT BUILDING. IT WAS A STRUCTURE WAS EIGHT STORIES ABOVE HIM.

BELOW HIM WAS ANOTHER TWO FLOORS OF PARKING GARAGE. THE BUILDING WAS. THE COLLAPSE WAS A PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF THE STRUCTURE, WHERE HE WAS INSIDE HIS SECURITY BOOTH AND RODE THE COLLAPSE DOWN THREE FLOORS. SO FOR US JUST TO BEGIN TUNNELING AND BEGIN DIGGING TO GET TO HIM, WE HAD TO WALK DOWN THREE FLOORS DOWN AND IMAGINE ACROSS THIS ENTIRE BUILDING HERE THAT WE'RE STANDING IN. SO IT WAS A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF COMMUNICATION DAY IN AND DAY OUT AROUND THE CLOCK. WE WORK 12 HOUR SHIFTS, AS I MENTIONED, 40 AT A TIME, US AND CHILE HAND IN HAND, WE'RE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE RESCUE. THE INITIAL. THIS WAS SO HE WAS TRAPPED FOR EIGHT DAYS ON. DAY FIVE IS WHEN WE MADE IT TO HIM. BUT WHAT I MEAN BY MADE IT TO HIM IS WE DRILLED THROUGH THE CONCRETE AND WERE ABLE TO JUST KIND OF SEE HIM WITH A CAMERA. SO WE WERE STILL AT LEAST SIX FEET AWAY. WE INITIALLY STARTED A TUNNEL ON THE LEFT SIDE. WE HAD TO CONSTRUCT THOSE SHORES, THOSE STRUCTURAL SHORES, IN ORDER FOR US TO PROGRESS THE RESCUE. WE HAD TO DO THAT ON THE FLY. WE BASICALLY OPENED UP A A SHELL LUMBER CARPENTRY SHOP RIGHT THERE IN THE BASEMENT OF A BUILDING. EVENTUALLY, WE FINALLY MADE THE TUNNEL. LIKE I SAID, DAY FIVE, WE GOT TO HIM AND WE ENCOUNTERED A 48 INCH STRUCTURAL PILING OR COLUMN OF THE STRUCTURE THAT WE COULD NOT GET THROUGH. WE HAD TO CHANGE THE PLAN AND GO, WHAT YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT, MOVING A LOT OF RUBBLE. HERE'S WHERE WE DID ENCOUNTER A LOT OF OF LIFE OR I'M SORRY, HUMAN REMAINS. AS WE GOT TO HIM THIS SITE, I, I'LL, I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS. THIS WAS I WAS ACTUALLY THE ONE WITH THE CAMERA RIGHT BEHIND MY PARTNER THERE. THAT'S, THAT'S

[01:35:05]

AND IT WAS IT TOOK US THREE AND A HALF DAYS TO TO GET TO HIM JUST WHETHER MOVING SMALL PIECES OF RUBBLE OR CHIPPING CONCRETE. YOU NOTICE A REBAR ABOVE US. WE HAD TO SKIN THE WHOLE ENTIRE BUILDING OR THAT ENTIRE TUNNEL TO GET TO HIM. SO THAT WAS A RESCUE. LET ME GO.

GO BACK. SORRY. AND WHAT I WANT TO TIE THIS INTO IS WE WERE WE WERE OBVIOUSLY HONORED TO BE THERE. I THINK GOD PUT US IN THAT PLACE, PUT OUR TEAM IN THAT PLACE. WE'RE THE ONLY ONES CAPABLE OF CREATING THAT RESCUE. IF YOU NOTICE HOW MANY TEAMS SAW IT AND JUST WALKED AWAY, AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT A I'M NOT IT'S NOT AGAINST ANYTHING TODAY. IT'S JUST THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPABILITIES. AND I WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT IT'S VERY REASSURING. AND IT'S, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE PART OF CORAL GABLES, TO BE PART OF AND TO HAVE THE CAPABILITIES. WE HONESTLY HAD THOSE EXACT SAME CAPABILITIES HERE WITH OUR TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM. A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS THIS THE CALL WE HAD WITH THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE THE STRUCTURE. THIS WAS AND YOU GUYS COULD PLAY THAT FOR ME. I CAN'T PLAY HERE. THIS WAS A UNIQUE CALL WHERE WE HAD A PEDESTRIAN DRIVE OFF THE PARKING GARAGE FLOOR. THANK GOD FOR THAT TREE. THAT'S REALLY WHAT SAVED HER. AND WE WERE JUST ADJUNCTS TO THAT RESCUE. WE'RE GOING TO THIS WAS A VERY UNIQUE CALL WHERE A LADDER TRUCK COULDN'T MAKE IT IN PLACE, AND IT WAS VERY UNSTABLE AND VERY DANGEROUS TO WORK UNDER THAT, THAT THAT VEHICLE. WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE A HIGH POINT WITH A ROPE RESCUE SYSTEM, COME DOWN TO HER AND PICK HER OUT OF HER VEHICLE TO SAFELY BRING HER INTO THE THE FLOOR ABOVE US. AGAIN. WE WE TRAIN HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS FOR THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR SCENARIOS LIKE THIS, THAT TRIP TO VENEZUELA OR THAT DEPLOYMENT TO VENEZUELA REALLY OPENED UP MY EYES TO OUR CAPABILITIES HERE IN CORAL GABLES. SO I'M VERY, VERY PROUD, AS YOU ALL SHOULD BE. THERE'S ONE MORE THING I WANT TO LEAVE OFF HERE.

AND IT'S VERY UNIQUE AND IT'S KIND OF THE WHY WE DO THIS, THE WHY. THERE'S MORE PICTURES OF IT. BUT HERE'S THE WHY. THIS BY IRONICALLY, CHIEF DE ROSA RECEIVED THIS, THIS TEXT LAST WEEK, AND THIS WAS FROM THAT PATIENT WE RESCUED FROM THE ROPE, FROM THE VEHICLE. SO VERY SPECIAL. GUY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, TALK ABOUT IT. WELL DONE. AND CONGRATULATIONS.

[B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

YES. FOR ITEM B ONE, B ONE. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. I ITEM B TWO FIRST BUDGET HEARING OF SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2026. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE.

[C. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

[01:40:02]

MRS. MARIA CRUZ 1447 MILLER ROAD (305) 323-2154. THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE. LET US BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN IT. IN VERY RECENT TIMES I HAVE BEEN HAPPILY SURPRISED. WOW. TODAY IS ONE OF THEM. I KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO CHANGE HIS OPINIONS, BUT IT'S VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WHO WAS SO AGAINST SUPPORTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OUR CITY, AND WHO PUBLICLY OBJECTED BY REMINDING ALL OF US THAT OUR TAXPAYERS PAY A LARGE AMOUNT IN TAXES TO SCHOOL SYSTEM, EVEN THOUGH MOST OF OUR CHILDREN ATTEND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

WELL, TODAY I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT SOMEHOW A MIRACLE HAPPENED, AND NOW OUR MAYOR IS COMPLETELY IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ALSO, WE HEARD MAYBE THE RUMOR ABOUT HIGHER POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS IS TRUE AFTER ALL. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN WE LOOK FORWARD AND WE WANT TO DO THINGS, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE SAID IS NOT WHAT WE MEANT, EVEN THOUGH THE RECORDS SHOW. THANK YOU, JACKSON HOLMES. THANK YOU. JACKSON HOLMES, 35, SIDONIA, CORAL GABLES. I HAVE TWO SUBJECTS OF MY LITTLE THREE MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT. THE SHORTER ONE IS ON I AND THEIR. IN MY OPINION, CRIMES. I THINK WE AT THE TIME HAS COME TO END OUR COOPERATION WITH ICE. THE BREAKING POINT FOR ME WAS WHEN US CITIZENS. RENE. GOOD. ALEX.

PRETTY IN MINNEAPOLIS WERE DEPENDING ON YOUR POINT OF VIEW, MURDERED BY OUR OWN GOVERNMENT ICE AND COVERED UP BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. WE DON'T NEED THIS KIND OF POLICING. IT'S HURTING OUR LATIN COMMUNITY. IT'S DEVASTATING OUR LATIN COMMUNITY. I THINK WE SHOULD END THAT AGREEMENT. SECONDLY, I WANT TO SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF AMENDMENT THREE. I BELIEVE THAT IT'S TIME TO LOOK OUT FOR THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, OUR RESIDENTS, OUR TAXPAYERS. NOBODY REALLY WORRIES ABOUT THEM GETTING THEIR CALLS. NOBODY WORRIES ABOUT WHETHER THEY GET TO SURVIVE IN THIS HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE'RE LIVING IN. BY MY CALCULATIONS, AMENDMENT THREE ACTUALLY, IN THE END, ONLY REDUCES TAXES BY 10%, ONLY REDUCES THE BUDGET INCOME BY 10%. AND I WANT TO FOCUS NOW ON THE COUNTY. A LOT OF US FOLLOW THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. AND STRANGELY, MAYOR LARGO AND I HAVE BOTH SAID THAT THE PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN WE HAD THE HALF PENNY SALES TAX, IT WAS RATED, IT WAS STOLEN, WHATEVER VERB YOU WANT TO ASSIGN TO IT. BUT $32 MILLION THAT WERE SAVED AND DEDICATED FOR SUPPOSEDLY JUST FOR RAPID TRANSIT, 28 OF THE 32 WAS WAS TAKEN AWAY DURING THE GREAT RECESSION. I HAVE PROPOSED, ALONG WITH MAYOR PENELAS, WHO ORIGINATED THE HALF PENNY SALES TAX, A SOLUTION AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH THE BEST IN TRANSPORTATION, AND WE'RE PROPOSING THAT TO PREVENT ANOTHER RATING OR THEFT OF THE PENNY SALES TAX. AND THE SOLUTION, BY THE WAY, IS RAPID TRANSIT BUSSES. THERE IS A SOLUTION. IT'S RAPID TRANSIT BUSSES. IT'S PRETTY EXPENSIVE, BUT IT ENDS THE PROBLEM BY REDUCING TRAFFIC BY A THIRD.

BUT MY, MY, WE'RE RUNNING INTO A WALL BECAUSE OUR PROPOSAL IS TO PUT IT IN AN IRREVOCABLE TRUST. IF YOU THINK OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST, OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CAN'T READ OUR SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. WE NEED TO DO THAT WITH THE LOCAL LEVEL AND THE. GIVE ME JUST TEN MORE SECONDS OR SOMETHING. THE MAYOR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA, IS BLOCKING THIS. THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THE RIGHT TO STEAL THE MONEY TO SOLVE OUR TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. AND SO WHY ARE WE PAYING MORE TAXES? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TOM WELLS.

[01:45:20]

LARGO DID NOT VOTE FOR THOSE BENEFITS, BUT HE DID MEET WITH KAPOOR AND CITY MANAGER IGLESIAS AT SUCH DEVELOPMENT, AND HE DID VOTE IN FAVOR FOR BENEFITS FOR FIVE FIELDS DEVELOPMENT AFTER IT GAVE $10,000 TO LAGOS PACK AND UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AFTER $25,000 WAS GIVEN TO LARGO'S PACK BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR AND HIS COMPANIES. CITY MANAGER. IGLESIAS STATED IN MARCH 2023 THAT THE YOUTH CENTER IS NOT FOR RENT. THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE 2007 ORDINANCE PROHIBITING RENT OF THE YOUTH CENTER'S ATHLETIC FIELDS IN 2012 AND LAND USE ORDINANCE THAT FOLLOWED THE LAWSUIT. SETTLEMENT BETWEEN SOMERSET ACADEMY AND ITS NEIGHBORS.

FOLLOWING A MEETING WITH LARGO AND A SOMERSET PARENT IN JULY 2023, THE PARENT THANKED LARGO FOR HIS SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE FOR SOMERSET'S REQUEST AND LAGOS IN AN EMAIL TO IGLESIAS FOR AN EARLY AUGUST MEETING, FRANK CASTILLO INDICATED IN AN EMAIL THREE DAYS LATER THAT SOMERSET WANTED TO USE YOUTH CENTER FOR THEIR SPORTS TEAMS AFTER SCHOOL HOURS. ON AUGUST 8TH, CASTILLO SENT AN EMAIL ABOUT LARGO AND IGLESIAS REQUEST FOR AN INCREMENTAL USE AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS SOMERSET TO RENT THE YOUTH CENTER OUTSIDE PE CLASSES, INCLUDING HOLIDAYS, AND THAT THERE WAS NO COMMISSION APPROVAL NEEDED. DESPITE THE 2007 2012 ORDINANCES FOR SOMERSET SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH NEIGHBORS. I BELIEVE THAT VIOLATES THE REVERTER CLAUSE, JUST LIKE THE YOUTH CENTER'S LEASE TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VIOLATE THE CLAUSE IN 1968, EVEN WITHOUT VOTING, LARGO VIOLATED SECTION 112.313 IF HE RECEIVED ANYTHING FOR VALUE FOR HIS SOMERSET SUPPORT. AFTER I FINISHED SPEAKING AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, MAYOR LARGO DEFAMED ME, CALLING ME A STALKER. HE ALSO VIOLATED MY FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH. I SENT A LETTER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. ASKING THAT LARGO CEASE AND DESIST FROM DEFAMING ME AND ISSUED AN APOLOGY. HE AND THE CITY ATTORNEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. WHEN I FINISHED SPEAKING TODAY, HOPEFULLY HE WILL NOT AGAIN ATTACK ME, BUT RATHER ADDRESS THE ISSUES. THE POOR RELATIONSHIP WAS DISCLOSED BY THE MIAMI HERALD ON AUGUST 16TH, 2023. AT THE SAME TIME, THE MAYOR WAS HELPING SOMERSET AND PROPERLY USE THE YOUTH CENTER. I DIDN'T MAKE THIS UP. I JUST READ THIS IN A NEWSPAPER. MAYBE THERE'S A REASON WHY HE AND HIS SUPPORTERS ON THE COMMISSION WANT THE VERDICT CLAUSE ELIMINATED. POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT, AND ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY. I AM HOPEFUL THAT LARGO CAN DO BETTER. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. OKAY, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, FIRST AND FOREMOST, BECAUSE AS USUAL, OUR DEAR FRIEND TOM WELLS FAILS TO TELL THE WHOLE STORY. MR. MANAGER, DID SOMERSET EVER GET APPROVAL TO USE THE FACILITY? NO, THEY DID NOT. MAYOR. OKAY. BY THE WAY, THERE'S TWO EXISTING SCHOOLS. WELL, ONE EXISTING THAT I'M AWARE OF RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST WHERE THERE'S A PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT'S CURRENTLY GOING TO BE USING PHILLIPS PARK. THAT CAME BEFORE THE COMMISSION WEEKS AGO, AND IT WAS APPROVED BY THIS COMMISSION FIVE ZERO. CORRECT. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME.

THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR. AND IT HAD BEEN HAPPENING FOR FOR DECADES. IT'S HAPPENING FOR DECADES. AND WE'VE ALSO HAD IN THE PAST WHERE PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE USED OUR PARKS BEFORE IT HAPPENED WITH KURT PARK. MY UNDERSTANDING, AND IT IS NOTHING NEW. AND IN THIS INSTANCE, NOTHING HAPPENED. AT THE END OF THE DAY. DID WE SEEK OUT? DID WE SEEK OUT THOSE RESIDENTS WHO REACHED OUT TO US, OR DID THEY REACH OUT TO US ON THEIR OWN? MAYOR? THEY REACHED OUT TO US THERE. THERE WERE RESIDENTS, HAD STUDENTS THERE, AND THEY REACHED OUT TO US. AND WHAT MR. WELLS IS DOING AGAIN, AS USUAL, AND I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER LATER, HE TRIES TO MISLEAD. OUR CITY IS A STRONG MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT. IF I RECEIVE AN EMAIL IN REGARDS TO AN ACTION THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN, YOU PASS IT ON TO THE MANAGER. WE HAVE A DISCUSSION. WE SIT DOWN, WE TALK ABOUT IT, BRINGS IT BEFORE THE COMMISSION, LIKE WE DID WITH PHILLIPS PARK. IF IT'S RATIFIED, IT'S RATIFIED. IF IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT. IT'S NEVER MADE IT TO COMMISSION DISCUSSION, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. IN REFERENCE TO THE DISCUSSION AND WHAT I MENTIONED ABOUT MR. WELLS BEING A STALKER, HE IS ABSOLUTELY STALKING ME AND MY FAMILY. IT IS IT IS PAINFUL. IT'S PAINFUL THAT HE'S DOING THIS. MR. CLARK, WILL YOU PLEASE ROLL THE TAPE AND CABLE TV? PUT UP THE MAYOR'S. THIS GENTLEMAN. AND BY

[01:50:06]

WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE STATEMENTS THAT AGAIN ATTACK ME USING RACIAL SLURS THAT SHOULD NOT BE USED IN THIS COMMUNITY. YOU'RE BIGGER THAN THAT, AND WE CAN HAVE A DISAGREEMENT WITHOUT TAKING IT TO THAT LEVEL. AND THAT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT ABOUT YOU IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I'M PUTTING IT ON THE RECORD. MOVING ON. MR. CLARK, SIR. ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. WE WILL MOVE

[D. CONSENT AGENDA]

[D.-3. 26-2133 A Resolution of the City Commission approving the cost difference of site work and construction for the installation of three sculptures: Julio Larraz's “Mars”, Agustin Cardenas’ “Le Couple” and “Untitled”; authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 amended budget to transfer AIPP Funds in the amount of $90,000 from the Miracle Mile Streetscape project to be used toward the cost of installation for the sculptures.]

THINGS TAKE TIME. YOU HAVE TO, NUMBER ONE, PROCURE THE ENGINEER, THEN HIRE THE ENGINEER, THEN HAVE THEM COMMENCE WORKING ON THE PROJECT. IT'S NOT ONE, BUT IT'S THREE.

THEN THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH PERMITTING, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE WE HAVE A FOUNDATION WORK, EVEN THOUGH EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A CITY, WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH PERMITTING OURSELVES AND GO THROUGH A PROCESS. AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AS A CITY MANAGER, HE STILL HAS TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL AND METHODICAL TO FOLLOW EVERY SINGLE RULE TO ENSURE THAT NOTHING IS COMPROMISED HERE AND THAT WE FOLLOW ALL THE PROCEDURES JUST LIKE A RESIDENT WOULD HAVE TO. MR. MANAGER. YES, THANK YOU MAYOR. BY THE WAY, THIS IS NOTHING NEW. EVERYONE KNOWS THIS. EVERYONE HERE ON THIS DAIS KNOWS THIS. EVERYONE THIS HAS BEEN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL THREE SCULPTURES MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. I'VE BEEN PUSHING AND PUSHING AND PUSHING AND PUSHING. AND YOU'VE BEEN TELLING ME WE CAN'T GO ANY FASTER. WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE PROCESS. WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO PROCUREMENT. WE HAVE TO HIRE PEOPLE. WE HAVE TO VET THEIR INSURANCE. WE HAVE TO NOW DESIGN VINCE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO BE FASTER. HOW MANY TIMES? I'M SORRY, MR. MAYOR. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I.

YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I THINK EVERY TWO WEEKS WE HAVE A MEETING KIND OF SEE WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT. WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF OUR BASEL AT THE LOCATION NEXT TO CITY HALL IN 427, WHERE THE TWO CARDENAS PIECES ARE GOING TO BE INSTALLED. SO WE'VE COMMITTED TO THAT AND WE NEED TO GET THEM IN. MR. MANAGER, I APOLOGIZE. I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THE ART HAS TO BE THE ART HAS TO BE DESIGNED.

PRODUCED. WE HAVE TO GET INFORMATION FOR THE ART. WE HAVE TO GET A CONSULTANT TO DO

[01:55:02]

AND SO THERE WAS SOME SOME ADDITIONAL MONIES LEFT OVER AND WE TRANSFERRED AND WE WERE USING THIS, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER THOSE FOR THIS, FOR THIS, FOR THIS WORK AND THIS EVENT. OKAY. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. WE HAVE A POWER PACKED, VERY LONG AGENDA TODAY.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST TO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMISSION THAT THE KIND OF QUESTION THAT'S BEING ASKED RIGHT NOW COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN ASKED DURING ANY TIME DURING THE AGENDA REVIEW THAT WE TAKE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, EVERYONE IS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. I DON'T PERSONALLY SEE THE NEED TO ASK THESE TYPE OF QUESTIONS DURING THE COMMISSION MEETING. THE. IF TRULY YOU WANT THE ANSWER TO A QUESTION THAT A A RESIDENT ASKED, YOU COULD HAVE RIGHT READILY GOTTEN THAT ANSWER DURING THE AGENDA MEETING PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING. SO IN THE INTEREST OF MOVING THINGS ALONG, I WOULD SUGGEST WE TAKE THAT TIME AND USE IT WISELY. I HAVE A MOTION THROUGH THE MAYOR AND I'LL MOVE IT. AND THE OTHER THING IS, IF EVEN AFTER THE AGENDA REVIEW, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, I'VE NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OR TIME IN WHICH I HAVE CALLED THE MANAGER AND HE HAS NOT CALLED ME BACK EVEN WHEN HE WAS NOT AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PROMOTES BUSINESSES FOR DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES. IT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD SUPPORT FOR DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES ON THAT, I'LL MOVE THIS ITEM. WELL, CAN WE HAVE A SECOND, PLEASE? SECOND, MR. CLERK, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MR. MAYOR, I HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. OKAY. AND JUST MR. MAYOR, FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS ON D THREE.

YES. WHEN WE'RE CONSIDERING FIRST WE CONSOLIDATE ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT D3, D4 AND D5.

YEAH THAT'S FINE. OKAY. WE'LL CONSOLIDATE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE THREE ITEMS. MAYOR, CAN

[02:00:01]

AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2020 526 AMENDED BUDGET TO TRANSFER ARP FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 90,000 FROM THE MIRACLE MILE STREETSCAPE PROJECT TO BE USED TOWARD THE

[D.-4. 26-2136 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing emergency installation of two (2) Carrara marble sculptures within the courtyard of the 427 Biltmore Way building, pursuant to Section 2-690 Emergency Procurement, in the estimated amount of $53,500.]

[D.-5. 26-2137 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing emergency installation of one (1) “Mars” sculpture within the plaza of Parking Garage #6, 60 Merrick Way, pursuant to Section 2-690 Emergency Procurement, in the estimated amount of $92,027.]

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

MISTER MANAGER, THE DEFIBRILLATORS. CAN YOU PLEASE EXPAND ON THAT? BECAUSE AGAIN, IN AN EFFORT TO CONFUSE AND SCARE THE COMMUNITY. LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT HERE BEFORE.

MR. MAYOR, THIS DOES NOT AFFECT THE DEFIBRILLATOR ISSUE. THIS IS ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT AFFECT OUR GENERAL FUND. AND WE ARE TRYING TO TO PUT AS MANY AS

[02:05:05]

WE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT VERY, VERY CAREFULLY, ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THE AREAS ALONG THE MILE. BUT WE ARE WE ARE CERTAINLY WORKING WITH LEJEUNE ROAD AND, AND SOME OF THE MAJOR CROSSWALKS THROUGH THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THAT. NOTHING. NOTHING IS. WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT YOU DON'T CAUSE ANOTHER ISSUE. AND WE'RE WE'RE CERTAINLY LOOKING AT AT THOSE AREAS WHERE, WHERE THEY CAN BE PLACED THE MOST EFFECTIVELY AND WHERE WE FEEL THAT THERE'S THAT THERE'S AN ADEQUATE NEED FOR THAT. AND BOTH WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING. I KNOW THAT THE VICE MAYOR WAS WORKING ON THIS ISSUE WE'RE WORKING ON WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY STAFF, JUST LIKE I HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS YESTERDAY WITH COUNTY STAFF. ROY COLEY, I WAS IN A MEETING WITH TO DISCUSS THE ON THE LINE. WE WERE IN A MEETING A FEW DAYS AGO TO DISCUSS THE LIGHTING ON THE ROAD, WHICH I'LL HAVE THE ITEM ON COMMISSION. THESE ARE ISSUES THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED, BUT THEY TAKE TIME AS A RESULT OF THE COUNTY HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THESE ISSUES. AM I CORRECT OR AM I WRONG? THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. YES, MAYOR. THE THE ONE OF THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY HANDLES FOR WHAT THE 30% THAT THEY TAKE FROM OUR FROM OUR REAL ESTATE TAXES IS, IS SIGNALIZATION. AND, AND THE SIGNALIZATION IS ALL PART OF THE COUNTY. AND UPGRADING THAT SYSTEM CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE. AND, AND THAT'S A COUNTY FUNCTION THAT THEY DO FOR OUR CITY, INCLUDING STRIPING, STOP SIGNS, TRAFFIC CONTROL AND, AND WHICH BY THE WAY, YOUR TEAM WAS IN A MEETING THE OTHER DAY THAT WE HAD IN MY OFFICE IN REGARDS TO TRAFFIC CONTROLLING ON MIRACLE MILE FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE BOXES THAT ARE LOCATED ON THE CORNER OF. THAT IS CORRECT, MAYOR. AND LOOKING AT THE TIMING, WE'RE WORKING ON THE TIMING AND SO FORTH. YES, MA'AM. MADAM VICE MAYOR, THANK YOU, MISTER MANAGER. SO JUST TO PROVIDE SOME SOME CONTEXT, THE THE WORK THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE TOGETHER WITH SOME, YOU KNOW, SENATOR GARCIA AND WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH FOLKS FROM THE UNDERLYING. BUT I STARTED TWO YEARS AGO MEETING WITH DISTRICT SIX, F SIX, DISTRICT SIX, FDOT DIRECTOR. PRIOR TO DANNY IGLESIAS. DANIEL IGLESIAS WAS APPOINTED. AND WE HAD A PLAN TO DO ALL OF LEJEUNE ROAD FROM US, ONE ALL THE WAY TO SOUTHWEST EIGHTH STREET. AND YOU DON'T TACKLE IT ALL IN ONE YEAR. IT TAKES A COUPLE OF YEARS. THE FIRST SECTION BEING DONE IS FROM US ONE TO BIRD ROAD. THE NEXT SECTION WILL BEGIN IN 2027, WHICH IS AROUND THE CORNER NOW WILL BE FROM BIRD ROAD TO EIGHTH STREET. IT'S A LONG STRETCH AND IT WILL INCLUDE THE SIGNALIZATION ISSUES, THE CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENTS, THE DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX. ALL THESE SAFETY ISSUES WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL AS NO LEFT TURN. LEFT HAND TURNS ON INTERSECTIONS WHERE IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO DO SO. THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORK FOR TWO YEARS. IT TAKES TIME.

NORMALLY, FDOT DOES FIVE YEAR PLANS. WE'VE MOVED IT FORWARD IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. AGAIN, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE EXPLANATION OR THE TRUTH. IT'S ABOUT MISLEADING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HEARD BEFORE AT THE AT THE PODIUM. MOVING ON. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, MR. CLERK. YES, MR. MAYOR, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN AGENDA ITEM. D3 YES. AND THEN WE'LL VOTE ON D4 AND D5. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON.

YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, FROM THE BEGINNING, WHEN I PUT THESE ITEMS, I SAID I WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR THESE ITEMS. NOW, WHEN I HAVE RESIDENTS APPROACH ME ASKING ME QUESTIONS, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GO AHEAD AND PUT THESE THINGS ON THE RECORD. THERE WAS QUESTIONS I COULDN'T ANSWER DIRECTLY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT STAFF WENT UP THERE TO ANSWER THEM. BUT ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS TO COMMISSIONER LATTA, THIS IS TO THE MAYOR LAGO, AND THIS IS THE TO VICE MAYOR RHONDA ANDERSON, I NEED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE AND I HAVE TO MAKE THEM FEEL HEARD, THAT I AM ADDRESSING THEIR QUESTIONS. SO PLEASE, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT MY COLLEAGUES DON'T QUESTION ME WHAT QUESTIONS I'M PUTTING ON THE RECORD THROUGH THE MAYOR. THAT WAS A YES THROUGH THE MAYOR MOTION TO END THE DEBATE. I'M MOVING. I WAS I WAS GOING TO COVER THAT A FEW SECONDS AFTER THIS, BUT I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY. MR. CLERK, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MOTION. WE HAVE A WE HAVE TWO VOTES, AND WE HAVE A MOTION THAT WAS JUST MADE RIGHT NOW TO END DEBATE. OKAY. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEBATE HAS ENDED. YES, WE'RE IN

[02:10:04]

COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ? YES, COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, WILL YOU DO ME A FAVOR AND PLEASE PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO THE COMMISSIONER CASTRO SO SHE UNDERSTANDS THE PROPER PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS SO THAT WE CAN ALL ABIDE BY THEM, PLEASE? YES, MAYOR. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY TRYING TO IMPROVE PROCEDURE TO ENSURE MORE EFFICIENT MEETINGS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THE RULES. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SENT YOU ALL A REMINDER ABOUT YESTERDAY WAS THAT DURING THE ROLL CALL, THERE SHOULD BE NO DISCUSSION DURING ROLL CALL. THERE SHOULD BE A VOTE OF YES OR A NO. OKAY.

THIS IS THIS IS VERY SIMPLE. EVERY PERSON ON THIS COMMISSION WAS SENT AN EMAIL YESTERDAY EXPLAINING NOT BY ME, BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND HOW WE NEED TO CONDUCT OURSELVES AGAIN. ONE COMMISSIONER BREAKS THE RULES AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE DONE. THEY SHOULD BE HANDLED ACCORDINGLY. YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME UP HERE WHO HAVE TRIED TO MISLEAD AND SAY OUTLANDISH THINGS THAT ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BOOKS. COMMISSIONER LADA IS 110% CORRECT. WE HAVE PRE AGENDA MEETINGS THAT ARE HOURS LONG. IF YOU NEED THEM TO BE, YOU CAN RESPOND BACK TO A RESIDENT LIKE I DO. YOU CAN SEE THEM AT A TOWN HALL. YOU CAN SEE THEM ON AN OPEN DOOR FRIDAYS AND RESPOND AND SAY, LOOK, THIS IS THE ISSUE WITH CLARITY. OR IF YOU WANT EVEN MORE FURTHER CLARITY AND MORE CONTEXT, YOU CAN SEND IT TO THE MANAGER, TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND THEY CAN RESPOND TO THE RESIDENT AND THEY CAN COPY YOU.

SO THAT JUST IN CASE THAT RESIDENT FEELS THAT MAYBE STAFF HASN'T PROVIDED ALL THE INFORMATION AND A DIALOG CAN BE HAD, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO DO GOTCHA MOMENTS HERE. YOU KNOW, IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE CITY, TO SHOWCASE THE CITY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, COMMISSIONER. EXCUSE ME, MR. CLERK. ITEM D4. YES, SIR. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND COMMISSIONER CASTRO, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES, COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. ITEM D5. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON.

YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN. NOW, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND WE CAN JUST FOR THE BATHROOM, IF YOU INDULGE ME.

YOU'RE READY, MR. CLERK. MR. MANAGER, MR. BASS ALL RIGHT. STARTING OFF WITH ITEM

[E.-3. 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.-4. 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]

SECTION 14 SECOND REVISED PLAT CORAL GABLES, PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISIONS OF ABILITY

[E.-5. 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]

ARTICLE 14, SECTION 14-212 ZONING CODE TEXT MAP AMENDMENTS BY ONE. AMENDING ARTICLE 16 DEFINITIONS TO CLARIFY HEALTH CENTER AND RELOCATE THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS FRONTAGE DEFINITIONS TO APPENDIX D UNIVERSITY CAMPUS DISTRICT TWO AMENDING APPENDIX A SITE SPECIFIC ZONING REGULATIONS. SECTION 8-89 TO REMOVE THE INCONSISTENT SITE SPECIFICS FOR THE PROPERTIES OWNED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. THREE AMENDING APPENDIX D UNIVERSITY CAMPUS DISTRICT TO UPDATE AND INCREASE THE PERMITTED SQUARE FEET TO FLOOR AREA RATIO OF 1.0 WITH AN FA 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 SUBAREAS TABLE AND UPDATE OTHER REQUIREMENTS PROVIDING FOR PROVISIONS, SEVERABILITY, CLAUSE, CODIFICATION AND

[E.-6. 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]

BLOCK 192 RIVIERA. SECTION 14 SECOND REVISED PLAT CORAL GABLES TO END 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 PIERCING PARKING GARAGE, EXCLUDING PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT OWNED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF

[E.-7. 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]

[02:15:02]

E SEVEN IS THE NORTH OF 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 AGREEMENTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CORAL GABLES CAMPUS, PROVIDING THREE PROVISIONS

[E.-8. 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 IS A. THESE ARE. SOME OF THESE INVOLVE QUASI JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS. MAYOR, WE ARE GOING TO CONSOLIDATE THE ITEMS FOR PURPOSES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND I WOULD ASK THE CLERK TO SWEAR IN ANY INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE TESTIFYING TODAY. THOSE WHO WILL BE SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL PROVIDE TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? THANK YOU. MR. BASS. WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. MY APOLOGIES. I JUMPED THE GUN. I APOLOGIZE, MR. MAYOR. SINCE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ WAS NOT HERE DURING FIRST READING WHEN THE FULL PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE, I KNOW THAT HE WANTED TO CONFIRM ON THE RECORD THAT HE HAD REVIEWED THE VIDEOS AND AND WATCHED THE PRESENTATIONS. THAT IS CORRECT. I DID WATCH THE VIDEO AND SAW THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. MR. BASS. TAKE TWO. YOU CAN SEE I LOOK MUCH YOUNGER IN PERSON. MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, JEFFREY BASS IS MY NAME. 1515 SUNSET DRIVE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS MY ADDRESS. IT'S MY GREAT PRIVILEGE TODAY TO BE REPRESENTING MY ALMA MATER, THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, ON WHAT I WILL CALL THE HISTORIC APPLICATIONS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU. TODAY, I'M JOINED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MR. MANNY CORDRAY, MR. RUDY FERNANDEZ, THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT, JESSICA BROMLEY, ROBERT VAIL, AND TWO PEOPLE WITHOUT WHOM NONE OF THIS COULD BE POSSIBLE. ALICIA CORRAL AND RICARDO HERON.

I WILL BE BRIEF. I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME HOUSEKEEPING. FIRST, I NEED TO THANK YOUR STAFF AND YOUR MANAGER FOR THE INCREDIBLY THOROUGH, RIGOROUS AND THOUGHTFUL REVIEW THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU AND YOUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH RECOMMEND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVAL OR OF OF OUR APPLICATIONS. IT'S NOT FREQUENTLY THE CASE THAT I STAND BEFORE A GOVERNMENT THAT HAS A STAFF REPORT THAT IS AS THOROUGH AND WELL-REASONED AS THE ONE THAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY. AND I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THE TIME THAT THEY HAVE TAKEN WORKING WITH OUR TEAM TO REVIEW OUR VERY TECHNICAL SUITE OF APPLICATIONS ON THEIR MERITS. SECOND, I'D LIKE TO INCORPORATE THE FULL RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THIS BODY ON FIRST READING, AS WELL AS THE FULL RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD INTO THE RECORD OF THIS PROCEEDING. BY DOING SO, I WILL BE ABLE TO BE BRIEF. THIRD, I'D LIKE TO RESERVE JUST A FEW MINUTES FOR REBUTTAL, IF SUCH SHOULD BE NECESSARY. SO LET ME TRANSITION INTO THE HEARING. THIS WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE LAST TIME I WAS BEFORE YOU. I'M GOING TO START WITH WHERE I'M GOING TO END, WHICH IS TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATIONS THAT'S BEFORE THAT ARE BEFORE YOU IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF. WE TOOK THE VERY IMPORTANT TIME ON FIRST READING TO WALK THIS BODY AND THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE ORIGIN STORY OF THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THROUGH THE ANIMATING URBAN PRINCIPLES OF THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS DISTRICT THAT WAS DESIGNED AND USHERED INTO YOUR ZONING CODE, TOGETHER WITH THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WE EXPLAINED THE ORGANIZING PRINCIPLES THAT DIVIDE THE CAMPUS INTO THREE DISTRICTS A CORE, A TRANSITION AREA, AND A PERIMETER. I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT THAT HERE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT THESE ANIMATING PRINCIPLES YOU WILL SEE THROUGHOUT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALL APPROVE OUR APPLICATIONS TODAY. THE FIDELITY THAT WE SHOW IN THESE AMENDMENTS TO THE TO THE ORGANIZING PRINCIPLES THAT ARE BEFORE YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH AND JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WERE BEFORE YOU PREVIOUSLY, BUT I WANTED TO UNPACK THEM A LITTLE BIT HERE TODAY AND LET ME FOCUS ON THE EVER VITALLY IMPORTANT CONCEPT OF OUTREACH AND NOTICE. LET ME START WITH THE PUNCHLINE. WE SENT OUT 9384 PUBLIC NOTICES IN TOTAL IN FOUR SEPARATE MAILINGS, WE SENT OUT 2346 NOTICES FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING THAT OCCURRED BACK IN FEBRUARY. THAT WAS A WHILE AGO. WE WERE OUT IN THE PUBLIC ON

[02:20:08]

THERE. I ESTIMATED THERE ABOUT 15 TO 20. I WAS PRETTY CLOSE. I THINK IT WAS 14. BUT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU WE PLOTTED THE ADDRESSES OF THOSE WHO SHOWED UP AT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING BACK IN FEBRUARY, AND YOU COULD SEE THEM BEFORE YOU. SO WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, WE SENT OUT 9384 NOTICES, AND I PUT AN ASTERISK NEXT TO THE WORD OBJECTOR, BECAUSE WE'VE RECEIVED THREE COMMENTS THAT I WOULD JUST SAY WERE NOT UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THEM WERE NOT REALLY OBJECTIONS EITHER, BUT JUST ROUNDING IT UP. OF ALL OF THE NOTICES OF ALL OF THE MEETINGS, WE HAD THREE PEOPLE SEND COMMENTS THAT WERE NOT ABSOLUTELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY IN SUPPORT. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY DAMN GOOD. SOME VERY BRIEF BUT VERY IMPORTANT CONTEXT. ONE OF THE CENTRAL ISSUES BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE FAR INCREASE THAT WE'RE SEEKING. AND I JUST AGAIN, WANTED TO PLACE THAT IN CONTEXT FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WASN'T HERE DURING FIRST READING, THAT WHEN YOU LINE UP THE FAR THAT WE'RE SEEKING FOR THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS DISTRICT, IT IS THE LOWEST FAR IN ANY OF YOUR MULTIFAMILY DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST PROPERTIES. AGAIN, SO PROUD. I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT IT AGAIN. BUT, YOU KNOW, AS EVIDENCE OF THE GREAT SUCCESS OF THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ICONIC ARCHITECTURE THAT WE'VE BUILT THAT MUCH OF THE PUBLIC HAS NEVER SEEN, BECAUSE THEIR INTERIOR TO THE CORE OF OUR CAMPUS AND NOT EXPERIENCE FROM THE PUBLIC REALM, WHICH AGAIN, WAS THE ANIMATING PRINCIPLE BEHIND THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WE CARRY THROUGH WITH YOU TODAY. WE HAVE THE SHALALA CENTER. WE HAVE LAKESIDE STUDENT HOUSING, THE INCREDIBLE MURPHY DESIGN STUDIO.

WE HAVE OUR INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITY. WE HAVE THE FROST INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR MOLECULAR SCIENCE. AND YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE THE LITTLE LEGEND THAT SHOWS YOU WHERE THEY ARE AND HOW INTERIOR THEY ARE. WE HAVE THE KNIGHT CENTER, WE HAVE THE NEW PLAYWRIGHT THEATER ARTS BUILDING. WE HAVE CENTENNIAL VILLAGE, WHICH JUST OPENED. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, IT'S NOT ONLY ARE THE BUILDINGS EXTRAORDINARY, BUT THE WAY THAT THE BUILDINGS INTERACT WITH THE INTRAMURAL FIELDS AND THE WAY THAT THE SEATING AREAS WITHIN THEM OPERATES IT, IT'S ABSOLUTELY A MASTERSTROKE OF, OF, OF DESIGN AND OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. I'D LIKE TO SAY. AND AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE, WITH THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO USHER IN A NEW REGIME IN ACADEMIC MEDICINE WITHIN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND IT WAS THROUGH THE ZONING CODE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PART AND PARCEL OF THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO BRING THE LENNAR FOUNDATION MEDICAL CENTER TO THE CITY, WHERE WE COULD HAVE OUR WONDERFUL DOCTORS PROVIDING ACADEMIC MEDICAL SERVICES WITH GREAT CONVENIENCE TO THE RESIDENTS WITHOUT HAVING TO DRIVE TO OUR MEDICAL CAMPUS. I THINK TO BOIL IT ALL DOWN, YOU HAVE A THOROUGH ALMOST 30 PAGES OF STAFF REPORT ANALYSIS, AND YOUR STAFF HAS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF ALL OF OUR APPLICATIONS.

THAT'S YOUR INDEPENDENT STAFF. KI I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T EMPHASIZE IT AGAIN, VERY BRIEFLY, IS THIS EXTRAORDINARY HISTORICAL MOMENT WHERE, AS PART AND PARCEL OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, WE WILL CONVEY TO, WE THE UNIVERSITY, WILL CONVEY TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES CENTENNIAL PARK TO BE A PASSIVE GREEN OPEN SPACE. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BRIEFLY, BUT IT DOES MERIT MENTION. THIS IS NOT A SMALL AREA AND. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S WEBSITE, YOU WILL SEE ITS SIZE IN RELATION TO THE ROOFTOPS ALL AROUND, BUT I THINK EVEN OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE. YOU WILL SEE THE ELEGANT AND EXTENSIVE EXPANSIVE BUFFER THAT IT SERVES BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO ITS EDGE. WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, IT WILL BE THE LARGEST PARK IN THE CITY'S INVENTORY OF PUBLIC PARKS. PUTTING ASIDE THE THE GOLF COURSES AND THE YOUTH CENTER. AND I'D LIKE TO CLOSE AGAIN. I SAID THIS LAST TIME, BUT IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT.

TODAY IS A HISTORIC DAY. IT IS ABSOLUTELY A HISTORIC DAY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT GEORGE MERRICK'S ORIGINAL PLAN AND YOU THINK 100 YEARS LATER AND YOU HOLD UP WHAT WE HAVE TODAY VERSUS WHAT WAS ENVISIONED THEN, AND YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE. AND I SHARE THIS LAST TIME, AND I

[02:25:05]

YES, MR. MAYOR, FIRST SPEAKER IS JACKSON HOLMES. GREETINGS. JACKSON HOLMES, 35 SEDONIA AVENUE. I THINK THERE'S LAWS BEING BROKEN BY THE MAYOR IN RELATION TO THIS AGREEMENT. THE MAYOR ADMITTED IN A PUBLIC FORUM ABOUT 10 OR 14 DAYS AGO THAT HE IS MAKING MONEY OFF OF THIS DEAL. HE WORKS FOR HAMMER CONSTRUCTION. IN FACT, APPARENTLY HE'S A PRINCIPAL IN HAMMER CONSTRUCTION. IN HIS WORDS, HE'S A PARTNER. AND HE ADMITTED HE'S MAKING MONEY OFF OF THIS. HAS THAT EVER BEEN DISCLOSED IN THESE WHOLE PROCEEDINGS? AND UNDER THE ETHICS LAWS, I DID A OF A GOOGLE SEARCH ON WHAT ETHICS AND CRIMINAL LAWS MAY BE BEING VIOLATED BY THE MAYOR WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT. FROM WHAT I GATHER FROM MY READING OF THE GOOGLE SEARCH, WHICH WILL BE POSTING SHORTLY, HE'S VIOLATED THE ETHICS LAWS. EVEN A RULING BY THE CITY ATTORNEY IN 2018 THAT HE HAS TO RECUSE HIMSELF. HE SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN VOTED ON THIS. BUT SECONDLY, WHERE HE'S MAKING MONEY OFF OF THIS DEAL OR ANY DEAL LIKE THIS, THERE'S AN OBLIGATION TO DISCLOSE AT THE BEGINNING WHAT HIS FINANCIAL BENEFIT IS, AND HE HASN'T DONE THAT. SO HE'S VIOLATED THE ETHICS LAWS. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL. I RAN FOR OFFICE. I HAD TO BRIEF MYSELF. I TALKED WITH THE ETHICS DIRECTOR BACK WHEN ROBERT MEYER, AND HE TOLD ME, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ON MIRACLE MILE, LIKE A DEPARTMENT STORE IN A CITY PARKING GARAGE, IF THAT'S YOUR GOAL, YOU CAN'T VOTE ON IT. OKAY, SO IT'S SIMPLE. EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO OBEY THESE LAWS. WHY NOT HIM THEN? WHEN WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT THIS AND YOU SAY, WELL, WHO'S ACTUALLY BENEFITING FROM THIS DEAL? MAYBE IN MY OPINION, THERE'S TOO MUCH DEVELOPMENT IN THIS DEAL. THE REAL BENEFICIARY IS VINCE LAGO. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S ILLEGAL. THAT'S A VIOLATION. SO CAN YOU PLEASE PUT THE SLIDES UP THAT I THAT I ASKED FOR? YES, SIR. OKAY. SO MY QUESTION TO THE GOOGLE SEARCH IS, IS IT AGAINST FLORIDA CRIMINAL STATUTES FOR MAYOR WHO HELPED NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY, GIVING THE UNIVERSITY FAVORABLE TERMS WITHOUT DISCLOSING THE MAYOR'S CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WILL BE HIRED FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE WORK. AND THEN WE GO TO THE NEXT PAGE. ALL RIGHT. SO IT SAYS YES. AND AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STATUTES THERE. AND. THEY RULED

[02:30:01]

MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD (305) 323-2154. ONCE AGAIN COMBINING ITEMS, YOU TAKE AWAY TIME FROM PUBLIC SPEAKERS AND SINCE I WAS SWORN IN I WAS GOING TO GIVE A WRONG ADDRESS, BUT I FIGURED THEY MAY GO AFTER ME IF I GIVE A WRONG ADDRESS TODAY. UNLIKE OTHER PEOPLE, WHY WOULD ANYONE TAKE TIME TO APPEAR HERE WHEN THEY KNOW THAT IT'S A DONE DEAL? THERE'S NO REASON FOR ANY ANYBODY EXCEPT MARIA CRUZ. BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M NOT AFRAID OF CONSEQUENCES. I'M NOT AFRAID OF CODE ENFORCEMENT COMING TO MY HOUSE LIKE IT HAS. I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE THREATS. I'M HERE BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? DONATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, RECEIVED, AND PROMPTLY DEPOSITED. IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THIS ITEM IS READY TO BE SEALED AND DELIVERED. AFTER ALL, WE HAVE HEARD THE MAJOR SAY THAT HE HAS WORKED ON IT FOR YEARS. WE ALSO HEARD HE HAS WORKED ON PROJECTS FOR YEARS. I ONLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE ONLY THING I'M GOING TO BRING UP TODAY IS THAT THE MAYOR KEEPS CALLING THIS A GIFT.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IS GIVING THE REST OF THE CITY A GIFT. WHEN WE HEAR THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS GIVING THE GREEN SPACE AS A GIFT, WE CERTAINLY DO NOT EXPECT TO HAVE TO GIVE UP ALL THE PARKING AROUND THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO BENEFIT FROM, FROM THE FEES.

WE CERTAINLY DO NOT EXPECT TO AGREE TO MORE STUDENTS, TO A HOSPITAL, TO MORE BUILDINGS.

ACTUALLY, WHEN SOMEBODY GIVES A GIFT, YOU DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE TO GIVE ANYTHING BACK. BUT WE DO, BECAUSE WHAT THIS MEANS IS EITHER WE'RE EXCHANGING STUFF FROM THE CITY AND WE'RE EXCHANGING, WE'RE CHANGING STUFF FOR THE UNIVERSITY, WE'RE DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT.

BECAUSE IN FACT, IF YOU READ THE DOCUMENT CAREFULLY, IT'S VERY CLEAR, VERY CLEAR. EITHER YOU ACCEPT EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR OR THE DEAL IS OFF. THAT IS NOT A GIFT IN IN IN GENERAL SENSE, IN NORMAL PEOPLE LANGUAGE, IT MEANS BLACKMAIL. YOU EITHER DO IT MY WAY OR YOU GET NOTHING. AND GOD FORBID, YOU KNOW, WE COULD BUILD SOMETHING THERE. THAT AREA HAS BEEN GREEN SPACE FREE TO THE PEOPLE FOR A LONG TIME. BUT NOW WE HAVE. WE HAVE TO WORRY BECAUSE THE THE BATMAN, YOU KNOW, THE THE THE THE EVIL SPIRIT IS GOING TO COME AND TAKE IT AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTS. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BIGGEST PROPERTY, YEAH, THE BIGGEST PROPERTY THAT DOES NOT PAY REAL ESTATE TAXES LIKE THE REST OF US DO. BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT THE REAL THE UNIVERSITY DOES NOT PAY THE TAXES THAT WE DO. THANK YOU, MR. CLARK.

VINCENT CHEN. GOOD MORNING SIR. MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I'M VINCENT CHEN. I'M PROPERTY OWNER AT 5955 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD IN CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA. WE'RE DIRECTLY INSIDE THAT ZONE REGARDING THIS AMENDMENT. AND WE'RE WE'RE WE PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THIS, FOR THIS FOR THIS AMENDMENT. AND WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT, GREAT BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE'RE ASKING FOR UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. I THINK THAT IT WILL INCREASE THE REVENUE, OF COURSE, TO THE CITY. IT WILL PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE. IT WILL PROVIDE JOBS FOR FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IT WILL HELP INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND I WANTED TO ADD AS A SECOND NOTE, IS THAT I'VE ATTENDED NUMEROUS MEETINGS, CORPORATE MEETINGS, AND I'M I'M THE PRESIDENT OF MIAMI MENSA, SO I ALSO I ALSO RUN MEETINGS EVERY MONTH. AND I THINK THE MAYORS AND, AND THE, AND THE, AND THE COMMISSION IS DOING A GREAT JOB AT RUNNING THIS MEETING. AND, AND I WANTED TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT IN THAT AS WELL, TOO. THANK YOU.

AND I ASK FOR UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF THIS AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR, MR. CLARK. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. MAY I HAVE A

[02:35:05]

SO THAT SAID, WE WE WE WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AND WE ASK FOR YOUR VOTE OF APPROVAL. CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR, SIR? SURE. YOU'D BE SO KIND. JUST BEFORE WE TAKE THAT VOTE, CAN WE PUT UP THAT SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE FAR? BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MEMORIALIZE THAT. I THINK IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SLIDE SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT IS OVER THIS IS THIS PROPERTY IS 700 ACRES THAT WAS GIVEN BY GEORGE MERRICK TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY OF MIAMI HAD WAS ON SOLID FOOTING WITH AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION AT ITS BASE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THIS FAR, I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE GET LOST IN ALL THE NOISE AND ALL THE SCREAMS THAT YOU SEE HERE. LOOK AT THIS INFORMATION. OKAY, THIS IS IMPORTANT. SO YOU UNDERSTAND, OKAY, WHERE THE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI STANDS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF OUR ZONING CODE, LOOK HOW SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE FAR IS. IN CERTAIN CASES, IT'S HALF. OR LESS OR EVEN LESS. 50% OF WHAT MULTI-FAMILY FOR MIXED USE IS VERY CLEAR. IT IS BY FAR THE SMALLEST. LOOK AT THE MED BONUS ZERO AND MED BONUS TWO ZERO. IT'S VERY CLEAR. AND AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE, AND I PUT IT ON THE RECORD AGAIN, NOBODY IN THIS ROOM, NOBODY IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES LIVES CLOSER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI THAN I DO. I LIVE WITHIN 20FT OF IT. I FEEL THE IMPACTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, AND IT IS A TRULY A PLEASURE. AFTER ALL THE ADDITIONAL WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE AT THE UNIVERSITY, WHETHER IT'S LANDSCAPING, WHETHER IT'S TRAFFIC CALMING, WHETHER IT'S REMOVING STUDENTS FROM DRIVING. I LOVE LIVING IN FRONT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. I LOVE GOING TO THE ARBORETUM. I LOVE WALKING THROUGH THE CAMPUS. IT IS TRULY A PLEASURE. I REMEMBER VERY CLEARLY WHEN WE WHEN WE FIRST VOTED, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS HERE ON THE COMMISSION ON LENNAR. THE SKY WAS FALLING. IT WAS GOING TO BE THE END OF THE WORLD. YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO DRIVE ON PONCE. IT'S GOING TO BE A DISASTER OF EPIC PROPORTION. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE. THE WORLD'S GOING TO COME TO AN END. YOU KNOW WHO NEEDS LENNAR? WHO NEEDS THAT TYPE OF WORLD CLASS SERVICE THERE? LET PEOPLE GO TO JACKSON IN DOWNTOWN. WE PASSED IT. THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE ROOM SCREAMING AGAINST IT ARE HERE TODAY. WE PASSED IT AND IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SUCCESS. IT HAS INTERNAL INTERNAL QUEUING FOR PARKING AND FOR THE VALET. YOU HAVE WORLD CLASS CARE AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER AMENITY. AND IF YOU'VE HAD TO TAKE A LOVED ONE TO THAT FACILITY, YOU UNDERSTAND WHY HAVING THAT FACILITY WITHIN BLOCKS OF YOUR HOME OR YOUR BUSINESS IS SUCH A GAME CHANGER.

SO I HAVE A BUNCH MORE TO, TO DISCUSS PERSONALLY ON THAT MATTER, BUT I WANTED TO JUST CLARIFY A FEW COMMENTS THAT ARE MADE HERE THAT ARE JUST, THEY'RE NOT EVEN, THEY'RE NOT EVEN RIDICULOUS. IT'S INFLAMMATORY. THEY'RE OUTRIGHT LIES. AND TO ME, IT'S A SHAME THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY PARTNER THAT WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS AGREED UPON. BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE HAVE THE BEST RELATIONSHIP AND WE'VE NEGOTIATED THIS DEAL I'VE BEEN IN. HOW MANY MEETINGS, MR. MANAGER? THERE ARE 10 OR 12, A DOZEN. HOW MANY MEETINGS HAVE YOU HAD ALONE WITH THE ACM, THE DCM, YOU KNOW, ALL YOUR STAFF THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE. I'VE LOST COUNT, MAYOR. OKAY, SO THIS IS NOT LIKE JUST SAY THAT WHETHER YOU TAKE THIS OR NOT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LEVERAGE ON YOU. THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE PARTNERSHIPS WORK. AND IN REGARDS TO THE PROPERTY, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO CLARIFY. THIS IS A PRIVATE PIECE OF PROPERTY. JUST BECAUSE YOU PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USING IT TO PITCH OR THROW A BALL OR FRISBEE OR TO BRING THEIR DOGS, DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT'S NOT A PRIVATE PIECE OF PROPERTY, SIMILAR TO WHAT OCCURRED IN FRONT OF NORDSTROM'S, WHERE THERE WAS A GREEN SPACE FOR THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS, AND SOMEBODY CAME AND BOUGHT IT FROM NORDSTROM'S, FROM, EXCUSE ME, FROM FROM MERRICK PARK. AND THEY DEVELOPED A BUILDING ON IT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A PARK. I WORKED WITH A DEVELOPER TO PUT A PARK THERE, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A NICE SCULPTURE OF ART, AND IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

[02:40:04]

WHAT DOES STANFORD MEAN? WHAT DOES YALE MAKE? WHAT DOES DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN REGARDS TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS? AND WE DECIDED THAT WE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST TO PUT INTO THE TO THE CITY'S PORTFOLIO, THE LARGEST PARK IN THE CITY'S HISTORY, WHICH WILL ONLY INCREASE IN VALUE AS OUR CITY GROWS AND AS THIS COMMUNITY GROWS, AND AS PROPERTIES OF THIS MAGNITUDE BECOME MORE AND MORE SCARCE. SO WE TOOK THE PROPERTY OVER, TAKING THE MONEY EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS. THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT. COULD WE HAVE INCREASED THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BY THREE, 4 OR $5 MILLION AND THEY WOULD HAVE KEPT THAT PROPERTY. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. AM I WRONG OR NO. YOU'RE CORRECT, MAYOR. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS WHEN WE SAT DOWN. BUT IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT I THINK AND I THINK THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS PROPERTY A PARK FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY. WHAT IF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI DECIDED TOMORROW TO MAKE TO FOLLOW THE RTC AND BUILD A FEW HUNDRED UNITS LIKE IT'S BEING BUILT ON US? ONE, IT'S WITHIN THEIR RIGHT. THEY WANTED TO DO THAT, BUT THE IDEA THAT IT'S A PRIVATE PROPERTY, IT'S A IT'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT PEOPLE HAVE USED IN THE PAST FOR YEARS.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HAS TO RESPECT THAT. THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE REAL WORLD WORKS. AND JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY IT DOESN'T MAKE IT THE REAL WORLD, IT DOESN'T MAKE IT FACT THEY HAVE PROPERTY RIGHTS. SO I DON'T WANT TO TAKE I WANT TO TAKE THE ADVANTAGE OF THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY AND THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. WE WORK TOGETHER COLLEGIALLY TO STRIKE THE BEST DEAL, AND I AM 110% IN FAVOR OF HAVING A HOSPITAL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. AS A SON OF A PHYSICIAN WHO GOES TO DOCTORS HOSPITAL, WHO I LIVE TWO BLOCKS, THREE BLOCKS TO STAY AWAY FROM DOCTORS HOSPITAL. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO DOCTORS HOSPITAL IN A MATTER OF A RUSH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FOR A LOVED ONE, THEN I'M SORRY YOU'RE BLESSED, BUT I HAVE. I'VE BEEN THERE. I'VE BEEN THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. AND GOD WILLING, WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE FACILITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR LOVED ONES HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT THINGS, BUT LET'S STOP THE POLITICS AND LET'S GET TO THE FACTS. AND THE FACTS ARE, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR NOT, THIS IS A GOOD DEAL. WHEN YOU SAY WE'RE GIVING AWAY THE PARKING, WE'RE NOT GIVING AWAY THE PARKING. THAT'S JUST, AGAIN, SCARE TACTICS TO TELL PEOPLE WE'RE GIVING IT AWAY. WE'RE NOT. THIS IS PART OF THE NEGOTIATION THAT WE HAD. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT WE JUST PUT UP THERE IN THE FAR, THEY DON'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE ZONING OF THE CITY. I WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD, BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER AND ALSO RESPECT FOR OUR PARTNERS IN THESE INSTANCES, BECAUSE YOU SAY THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEN THEY GO ON INSTAGRAM, YOU KNOW, OR THEY GO ON SOME SORT OF BLOG AND THEY JUST TARNISH PEOPLE'S REPUTATIONS, ESPECIALLY OUR PARTNERSHIP. AND THOSE ARE THE KIND OF WEDGES THAT, IN MY OPINION, IN THE LONG RUN, HURT RELATIONSHIPS. AND THAT'S THE LAST THING THAT I WANT WITH UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. AND I WILL STAND HERE AND SPEAK CORRECTLY IN REGARDS TO HOW MUCH WE'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING ON THIS PROPERTY AND HOW LONG WE'VE WORKED. AND BY THE WAY, THEY WERE VERY TOUGH NEGOTIATIONS.

THEY WERE NEGOTIATIONS WHERE THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI STOOD UP AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES STOOD UP FROM THE TABLE AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'LL MEET ANOTHER DAY. BUT RIGHT NOW WE CAN'T COME TO AN AGREEMENT. AND THAT'S WHAT NEGOTIATIONS ARE. BUT WE FINALLY CAME TO TERMS. YES. DO THE MAYOR. MR. MAYOR, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT. OH, I NEED A MOTION. I MAY HAVE A MOTION. IF WE'RE GOING TO START DEBATE. WE NEED A MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT.

I'LL SECOND. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, MR. MAYOR, WE SHOULD BEGIN WITH ON ON E7E7, WHICH IS THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, SINCE IT SETS THE FRAMEWORK FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE. THAT WILL WORK IT BACK TO E THREE. EXACTLY. AND I WOULD ADD THAT THAT IT WOULD BE AN APPROVAL OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND SUBSTANTIALLY THE FORM ATTACHED AS AS USUAL, WITH ANY TECHNICAL MODIFICATIONS OR ADDITIONAL MODIFICATIONS NECESSARY, APPROVED BY CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE APPROVAL. AND IF I MAY, I JUST WANT TO TO PREPARE THE CITY ATTORNEY. THE ONLY COMMENTS THAT I WOULD MAKE ANY FURTHER TO THIS, AND I APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T MAKE THE MOTION FIRST BEFORE I MADE MY COMMENTS. IT'S JUST ASK FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY TO EXPLAIN THE DEED AND THE RESTRICTIONS, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'VE HEARD INSANE FALSE COMMENTARY THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THE SIX, ALMOST SIX ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE'RE GOING TO SELL IT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING CRAZY WITH IT. SO I'M GOING TO ASK THE AGAIN, I KNOW IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE IT'LL NEVER GO ON THE BLOGS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WOULD JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MEMORIALIZE IT AND PEOPLE CAN COME BACK TO THIS

[02:45:03]

COMMISSIONER LATTA, YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND I APOLOGIZE. NO, NO, NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE. I JUST WANT TO BE VERY BRIEF, YOU KNOW, TO TRY AND BE ECONOMICAL WITH THE TIME YOU WANT TO READ SOMETHING ELSE OR NO, IF YOU WANT ME TO READ THE DEED LANGUAGE, BUT I WANT, I WANT, I WANT A COMMISSIONER TO GO FIRST. THAT IS FINE. PERFECT. YES. I'M GOING TO TRY AND BE EVEN MORE ECONOMICAL AND CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE. THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IS A WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITY. THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS A WORLD CLASS CITY. THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY THAT, DESPITE THE NEGOTIATIONS HAVING BEEN CONDUCTED AND THEY WERE VERY DIFFICULT. WE ARE, I BELIEVE THE CITY AND ALL THE RESIDENTS ARE THE REAL BENEFICIARIES OF THE OF THE DEAL THAT'S BEING STRUCK, BECAUSE THIS PROPERTY CAN'T BE DUPLICATED. IT'S GOING TO BE THE LARGEST PARK THE CITY HAS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A WELCOME AND PERPETUAL ADDITION TO THE CITY'S THE CITY BEAUTIFUL IN A PERFECT, REALLY WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, EMERGING MY COLLEAGUES, TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE THIS IS A NO BRAINER. MADAM VICE MAYOR, I'M GOING TO ECHO MR. BASS'S COMMENTS. THIS IS INDEED A HISTORIC DAY. I MEAN, THE AMOUNT OF BENEFIT THAT WE GAIN AS A CITY. ABOUT THAT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IS TREMENDOUS. IT'S AN THE AMOUNT OF GREEN SPACE THAT THIS UNIVERSITY IS IS PROVIDING OUR CITY AND NEVER TOLD OUR RESIDENTS THAT THEY COULDN'T USE IT FOR GOLFING OR OTHER THINGS THAT THEY DID IS A TREMENDOUS ASSET. THE RIGHTS THAT THEY HAD TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED AS BEING INSIGNIFICANT, BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WILL ADD VALUE TO OUR CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. I FULLY SUPPORT THIS, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PERSEVERE THROUGH THIS VERY LONG AND DIFFICULT NEGOTIATION. AND I'M AWARE OF THE NUMBER OF MONTHS AND EFFORTS THAT WERE MADE, MOMENTS WHERE THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT TO DISAGREE, BUT YET YOU CAME BACK TO THE TABLE AND IRONED OUT THE DETAILS. AND I THINK WE HAVE THE PERFECT RESOLUTION FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. ANYTHING ELSE FROM MY COLLEAGUES? THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, YES. SO DURING MY FIRST READING, I PUT SOME CONDITIONS SAYING, OKAY, WHEN WE GO TO SECOND READING, THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT I WANTED TO FLESH OUT, SOME CONCERNS OF AN EMAIL AND MEETING I HAD WITH MR. RUDY FERNANDEZ AND MR. MANICOTTI, I.

I PULLED MONEY, GOT IT, AND RUDY FERNANDEZ TO THE SIDE, AND WE HAD A VERY FRUITFUL CONVERSATION REGARDING THE THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO ME. AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THOSE THINGS WILL BE ADDRESSED. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO ME WAS THE BENEFIT TO OUR RESIDENTS. AND MR. RUDY FERNANDEZ WENT AHEAD AND GUARANTEED TO ME THAT HE'S ALWAYS FOCUSED ON ON THAT. THE OTHER THING IS PROVIDING A BENEFIT TO OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. THAT SPECIFICALLY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. EVERY YEAR WE HAVE A MEETING REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH. SO I WAS PRETTY SATISFIED WITH THAT RESPONSE. THEY ALSO WENT AHEAD AND THEY WORKED ON TIGHTENING THE LANGUAGE WHEN IT CAME TO THE PARK, WHICH I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF MY MAJOR CONCERNS, GIVEN THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD IN PRIVATE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, I FEEL COMFORTABLE VOTING YES ON THIS ITEM. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, THE MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING BEEN HERE IN FIRST READING. I HAD BEEN INVITED TO A CONFERENCE WITH THE HOLY FATHER IN ROME ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND I WAS THERE AT THE TIME. I WANT TO ALSO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM FOR TAKING THE TIME. LATE NIGHT CONFERENCE CALL, THAT WE HAD TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS

[02:50:03]

YOU MENTIONED THAT THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES DON'T GET TO SEE THE CAMPUS, DON'T GET TO SEE THE UNIVERSITY. SOMETHING THAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS MAYBE THERE CAN BE AN OPEN HOUSE, MAYBE ANNUALLY OR BIANNUALLY, WHERE THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES CAN BE INVITED ONTO THE CAMPUS SO THAT THEY CAN SEE WHAT THE CAMPUS IS TODAY AND HOW IT'S CHANGED. I'M SURE A LOT OF THEM ARE FORMER ALUMNI OR HAVE VISITED THE CAMPUS AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER.

THEY'D REALLY BE SHOCKED. WHEN THEY GO ON CAMPUS, THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE CAMPUS IS TODAY, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. AND I THINK THE MAYOR PHRASED IT WELL EARLIER THIS OR MIGHT HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONER LARA. THIS WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL VISION OF GEORGE MERRICK. GEORGE MERRICK'S VISION WASN'T JUST TO HAVE THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, BUT TO HAVE A CITY WHERE RESIDENTS DIDN'T REALLY NEED TO LEAVE. THEY HAD EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEEDED RIGHT HERE, AND A WORLD CLASS UNIVERSITY THAT HAS BECOME STELLAR, NOT JUST IN ACADEMICS, BUT ALSO IN ATHLETICS, AND IS REALLY MAKING US PROUD EVERY DAY. I APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD WITH THE CITY. I KNOW AT TIMES I'VE HEARD THE STORIES WHERE THAD FOOT WOULD JUST SIT OUTSIDE THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, NOT THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME FOR 8 OR 9 HOURS, WAITING TO BE SEEN BECAUSE OF HOW BAD THE RELATIONSHIP WAS. AND IT'S REALLY BEEN A LABOR BETWEEN BOTH SIDES TO WORK OUT ANY DIFFERENCES THAT WE'VE HAD AND FIGURE OUT A PATH FORWARD. AND, MR. MAYOR, I KNOW YOU HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET TO THIS MOMENT, BECAUSE I REMEMBER FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT THIS WAS PROBABLY 8 OR 9 YEARS AGO IN YOUR DINING ROOM TABLE WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU WORKING ON THIS AND TRYING TO LAND THIS, THIS DEAL FOR THE CITY. AND I HAVE TO COMMEND YOU BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE. AND YES, IT'S BEEN A NEGOTIATION WHERE IT'S BEEN A GIVE AND TAKE ON BOTH SIDES TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. BUT I THINK WE'RE SETTING UP THE CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS, ENSURING THERE'S NO DEVELOPMENT ON THIS PROPERTY, THIS PARK. YOU KNOW, I HAVE A MEMORY OF I THINK IT WAS THE FOURTH MONTH AFTER THE COVID SHUTDOWN WHERE THE AIR FORCE DECIDED TO DO A FLYOVER, AND THIS PARK WAS WHERE MANY CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS WENT OUT TO WATCH THIS FLYOVER, EVERYBODY KEEPING THEIR DISTANCE. BUT WE WERE ALL THERE. I WAS THERE PROBABLY WITH 5 OR 600 RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WHO WERE LEAVING THEIR HOMES JUST TO WATCH THE FLYOVER, JUST TRYING TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY. SO IT'S ALREADY BEEN A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE. THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS REGARDING LAST COMMISSION MEETING, WE DISCUSSED THE POTENTIAL OF BRINGING AN ART PIECE TO THAT LOCATION. THE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO THAT. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE YOU ARE OPEN AND OPEN TO THAT GOING FORWARD, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BRING AN ART PIECE, WHICH WOULD BE A FOCAL POINT OF, I GUESS, THE ENTRANCE TO CORAL GABLES AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AT THAT LOCATION. I THINK IT WOULD REALLY BE SOMETHING THAT CAN ACCENTUATE THAT PARK AND HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP OF CORAL GABLES AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. I HAVE THREE QUICK RESPONSES, TWO RESPONSES, AND THEN A COMMENT. NUMBER ONE, THE UNIVERSITY IS OPEN FOR MEMBERS OF THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY TO WANDER THROUGH AND LOOK AT THE ARCHITECTURE. THEY JUST WOULDN'T KNOW TO DO THAT BECAUSE SO FEW EVER HAVE. AND EVEN IF THEY DID A FEW YEARS AGO, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN SO MANY OF THESE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS THAT HAVE COME UP.

NUMBER TWO, WE'D BE DELIGHTED TO WORK WITH YOU ALL ON DESIGNS FOR THE PARK AND THE PLACEMENTS FOR THE PARK. RECOGNIZING THE THE EMPHASIS HAS BEEN ON A PASSIVE PARK BEREFT OF STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD ANY WAY GET IN THE WAY OF OF PEOPLE USING THE PARK, BUT WE'D BE QUITE PLEASED. THE ENTRANCE SHOULD BE CELEBRATED IN IN A BEFITTING WAY. WE'D BE QUITE PLEASED TO DO THAT. THIRD, WHEN I STOOD BEFORE THIS BODY, THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, I MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IT AGAIN, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN PEACHY, AND THE. THE 2010 RELATIONSHIP, THE 2010 DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT REALLY WAS A HARD RESET. AND I STOOD BEFORE THIS BODY AND I SAID THE FOLLOWING. WE'RE MARRIED. WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN MARRIED. WE'LL ALWAYS BE MARRIED. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO RENEW OUR VOWS. AND THAT'S THE SAME SPIRIT THAT WE COME BEFORE YOU, SEEKING TO EXTEND THIS AGREEMENT FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON A FEW POINTS BEFORE HOPEFULLY WE BRING THIS IN FOR A LANDING. I THINK A LOT OF CREDIT HAS TO BE GIVEN TO THE MANAGER. I STARTED WORKING ON THIS 8 OR 9 YEARS AGO, AND MY FIRST CONVERSATIONS WITH UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI WAS THAT THERE WAS INTEREST, BUT THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ASSET. THEN, YOU KNOW, RUDY AND HAVING THE BLESSING OF HAVING MANNY ON

[02:55:06]

THERE HAS TO BE A GIVE AND TAKE. IF YOU WANT $6 MILLION A YEAR AND YOU WANT TO INCREASE IT FROM 1 MILLION TO $6 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THE PROPERTY. WHAT IRKS ME THE MOST, AND WHAT REALLY BOTHERS ME IS JUST WHAT WE WHAT WE HAVE ALLOWED OURSELVES IN THIS COMMUNITY TO BECOME. AND WITH THAT, HAVE A BEHAVIOR IS A COLLATERAL DAMAGE. AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE HURT. YOU OPENLY SAY THINGS THAT ARE MISLEADING TO INFLUENCE ELECTIONS AND TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE'S OPINIONS ON OTHERS.

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES HAS. THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP, AND IT'S FRAGILE. IT'S FRAGILE. AND WE HAVE TO ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THAT. THAT'S THE REASON WHY THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT CLEARLY STATES THAT WE MEET EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION, TO HAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IN THE IN CORAL GABLES IS TRULY A TREASURE. AND IF YOU HAVE NOT WALKED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY AND WITNESSED THE UNIVERSITY, YOU'RE MISSING OUT. WHETHER IT'S THE LOWE ART MUSEUM OR IT'S WATCHING A BASEBALL GAME FOR $510 AND HAVING A MILKSHAKE IS TO GO TO THOSE GAMES WITH MY DAD. WHEN I WAS A KID. THE GAME IS FULL FOR FSU. IT'S A 2001 SEASON. YOU CAN'T GET IN. YOU WATCH IT FROM THE PARK, THE DRIVEWAY AS EVERYBODY STANDS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S PINNED AGAINST THE FENCE BECAUSE YOU'RE WATCHING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD. LITERALLY A TEAM THAT IS GOING TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, OR WHETHER IT'S GOING TO A BASKETBALL GAME OR WHETHER IT'S GOING TO THE LIBRARY TO STUDY OR TO VISIT THE CUBAN COLLECTION THERE, OR IT'S WALKING AND WITNESSING PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST ART COLLECTIONS IN SOUTH FLORIDA THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SCULPTURE GARDENS, OR IT'S GOING AROUND LAKE OSCEOLA AND NOT SAYING I EVER FISHED THERE, BUT I'M NOT SAYING THAT I DIDN'T FISH THERE. THERE'S A LOT OF AMAZING THINGS TO WITNESS, AND THIS IS A TRULY, TRULY INCREDIBLE AMENITY IN OUR BACKYARD. YOU CAN WALK THROUGH THAT CAMPUS AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY, AND I'VE DONE IT WHEN I WANT TO CATCH MY BREATH, WHEN I WANT TO WORK OUT, WHEN I WANT SOME TIME ALONE, WHEN I WANT TO SMOKE A CIGAR, I WALK THROUGH THAT COMMUNITY. I ENJOY MYSELF, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SMOKE A CIGAR. I'M NOT SAYING THAT I HAVE. OKAY, BUT IT'S A MOMENT OF SOLITUDE. IT'S A MOMENT OF RELAXATION. YOU CAN WALK IN THAT SCHOOL AND ENJOY YOURSELF AND SEE SOMETHING THAT TO ME, BRINGS ME GREAT JOY, AND THAT IS TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WORKING OUT, YOU KNOW, ENJOYING HIGHER LEARNING, EXPANDING WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THEM GROWING IN THEIR FUTURE. SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE BRING POLITICS INTO THIS KIND OF SITUATION, WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S SO MONUMENTAL THAT IN TEN YEARS WHEN NONE OF US ARE HERE SERVING AND THERE'S A NEW CROP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, OR IN 20 YEARS WHEN THEY REMEMBER THAT WE'RE THE ONES THAT GOT LINCOLN, OR THAT WE DID THE PUBLIX PARK, OR THAT WE DID THE LITTLE PARK IN FRONT OF NORDSTROM'S, OR WE DID THE LITTLE PARK UP NEXT TO ARMANDO AND MANNY'S BUILDING. PROBABLY NOT. PROBABLY NOT. BUT WE DID IT THOUGH. BUT WE DID IT. AND WE BROUGHT THOSE PARKS WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE PARK IN THE DOWNTOWN, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SEVEN. AND WE GOT THE LARGEST PARK IN THE CITY'S HISTORY, AND WE BROUGHT A HOSPITAL. AND SO WHEN SOMEBODY'S LIFE IS SAVED BECAUSE THEY WENT, THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THAT HOSPITAL INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO TO JACKSON OR SOME OTHER REASON OR SOME OTHER HOSPITAL FOR LIFE, BECAUSE THEIR LIFE WAS, YOU KNOW, ON THEIR THREAT, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE OUTCOME IS ON THAT HOSPITAL. OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TEN, 15 YEARS POTENTIALLY TO BUILD. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET CREDIT FOR SAVING THAT LIFE AT THE END OF THE DAY. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I, I AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS COMMISSION KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TODAY. SO I WANT TO THANK THE

[03:00:02]

THERE'S MANY ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPEN ON UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CAMPUS. WE HAVE THE ARTS FESTIVAL THAT OCCURS IN JANUARY. THERE WERE TWO BIKE LOCK TOURS, ONE ON THE ART AND ANOTHER ON THE ARCHITECTURE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN. SO IF YOU LOOK FOR ACTIVITIES THAT GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CAMPUS, THERE ARE THERE'S IT'S NOT A GATED COMMUNITY. YOU CAN GO RIGHT ON IN. YOU CAN RIDE YOUR BIKE. YOU CAN TAKE A STROLL. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD. AND IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT ARCHITECTURE THAT I'VE LEARNED AND ABOUT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE THAT I'VE LEARNED IS ABOUT HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL. AND THIS CAMPUS IS GORGEOUS. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, MR. MANAGER. ANY OTHER WORDS? MAYOR, I THINK THAT GEORGE MERRICK REALIZED THAT A GREAT CITY NEEDS A GREAT UNIVERSITY, AND A GREAT UNIVERSITY NEEDS A GREAT CITY.

I THINK THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL AGREEMENT. AND WE WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT THAT THIS IS VOTED POSITIVE. SO TWO LAST POINTS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD AND WE VOTE. NOW THIS WENT BEFORE ALL THE BOARDS. CORRECT. I WAS REQUIRED TO CORRECT. YES. MAYOR WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS. I WENT TO DRC, I WENT TO PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. YES. AND IT RECEIVED POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. CORRECT. ZONING BOARD? YES. OKAY.

PERFECT. QUICK QUESTION. CAN YOU GO OVER THE DEED? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT WON'T BE COVERED.

IT WON'T BE COVERED IN THE BLOGS, BUT I AT LEAST WANT TO PUT IT HERE THAT WE'RE NOT PLANNING ON SELLING ANYTHING BECAUSE WE CAN'T AND THERE'S NO INTEREST IN SELLING ANY PROPERTY. THE THE LANGUAGE IN THE DEED TO THE THE PARK PROPERTY PROVIDES THAT. THIS CONVEYANCE IS MADE UPON THE EXPRESS CONDITION, THAT THE PROPERTY SHALL BE PERPETUALLY USED AND MAINTAINED FOR PUBLIC PARK PURPOSES ONLY. GRANTEE, WHICH IS THE CITY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THAT THE PROPERTY SHALL NOT BE SOLD, LEASED, USED OR OCCUPIED FOR ANY COMMERCIAL, MEDICAL OR OTHER NON PARK USE. IN ADDITION TO THAT MAYOR, SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE THE, THE, THE DEED AND THE THE CONVEYANCE OF THE PROPERTY, THERE'LL BE AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WILL GRANT THE UNIVERSITY A NON-EXCLUSIVE PERPETUAL EASEMENT TO USE THE PROPERTY FOR THE PUBLIC PARK AND PASSIVE RECREATION PURPOSES. IN ADDITION, AS A TEMPORARY STAGING AREA IN CASE OF A HURRICANE FOR STORM REMOVAL. AND OF COURSE, THE UNIVERSITY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RESTORING THE SITE IF THAT EVER BECOMES NECESSARY. THERE ARE USE RESTRICTIONS AS WELL IN THE EASEMENT, WHICH IS THAT THE PARK SHALL BE NAMED. CENTENNIAL PARK WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO PUBLIC PARK AND PASSIVE RECREATION PURPOSES. SIGNAGE WOULD BE LIMITED TO CENTENNIAL PARK NAME WAYFINDING, PARKING RELATED SIGNAGE ONLY, AND THE CITY AGREES THAT THE PROPERTY SHALL NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSES OTHER THAN THOSE THAT ARE THE PERMITTED USE SET FORTH HEREIN, AND PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS WOULD REQUIRE THE UNIVERSITY'S APPROVAL AS WELL.

AND FINALLY, NO SPECIAL EVENTS OTHER THAN CITY SPECIAL EVENTS WITH THE CONSENT OF THE UNIVERSITY. I DON'T THINK IT GETS ANY MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THAT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I ALSO ASKED MY COLLEAGUES AND I ALSO ASKED EVERY RESIDENT WHO LIVES HERE TO PLEASE VOTE YES IN FAVOR OF THE REFERENDUM THAT I HAVE PROFFERED THAT ANY PIECE OF GREEN SPACE, WHETHER IT BE THE YOUTH CENTER, WHETHER IT BE A PARK OR WHETHER IT BE A GOLF COURSE, IF FOR SOME REASON THE CITY WOULD WANT TO SELL THOSE PROPERTIES, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THAT. SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED, I'VE BROUGHT OVER 15 PARKS TO THE CITY. I'VE ONLY COLLECTED PIECES OF

[03:05:04]

YES, COMMISSIONER LATTA, ON THIS A HISTORIC DAY. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON YES.

COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LARGO, YES. MOVING ON TO ITEM E THREE. MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON.

YES, COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER. LATTA. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. MOVING ON TO E FOUR. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL. SECOND. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES.

COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER. LATTA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. MOVING ON TO E FIVE. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL. SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. MOVING ON TO ITEM E SIX. I'LL MOVE IT A SECOND. COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES.

MAYOR LARGO. YES. FINAL MOVING. MOVING ON TO ITEM E EIGHT. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL. SECOND VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES, COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES.

COMMISSIONER. LATTA. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A WONDERFUL DAY. TEN YEARS IN THE MAKING. THANK YOU TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. THANK YOU TO THE MANAGER. AND THANK YOU TO OUR WONDERFUL STAFF HERE IN THE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO TAKE A PHOTO? TAKE A PHOTO? YES. AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO TIME CERTAIN ITEM 2-1 BEFORE WE TAKE A LUNCH BREAK. FOR THE PICTURE. GOOD LUCK.

YES. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I CAN DO EVERYTHING. YEAH. I LOVE THAT. GREAT.

[2.-1. 26-1826 A Resolution of the Historic Preservation Board requesting that the City Commission adopt a Resolution authorizing Ad Valorem tax relief for the property located at 720 Madeira Avenue, a Local Historic Landmark, legally described as Lot 7, Block 7, Coral Estates Section, according to the Plat thereof, as recorded in Plat Book 19, at Page 7 of the Public Records of Miami-Dade County, Florida. (Historic Preservation Board Meeting of July 16, 2026, Vote: 6-0, three members absent).]

TWO ONE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD REQUESTING THAT THE CITY

[03:10:01]

SO THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING AD VALOREM TAX RELIEF. SWITCH THESE OUT FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE HISTORIC STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITION AND ALTERATIONS TO THE RESIDENCE.

I'LL BE BRIEF, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU A BIT ABOUT THE AD VALOREM TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM.

IT'S A GREAT FINANCIAL INCENTIVE THAT WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

THE SHORT VERSION OF THE PROGRAM IS TO BE ELIGIBLE, PROPERTIES MUST BE DESIGNATED AS LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS OR CONTRIBUTING WITHIN A HISTORIC DISTRICT. IT PROVIDES A TEN YEAR CITY AND COUNTY TAX EXEMPTION ON THE VALUE ADDED TO THE PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THE RESTORATION WORK. NOW ABOUT THIS PROPERTY. IF YOU CAN PUT UP THE POWERPOINT PLEASE. THIS IS THE LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION. IT'S AT 720 MADERA AVENUE. IT WAS BUILT IN EARLY 1937. IT'S A GREAT REMINDER THAT WE DON'T JUST DESIGNATE PROPERTIES FROM THE 1920S OR THAT ARE REVIVAL STYLE. THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CORAL GABLES FIRM OF PACE AND STEWARD. THIS IS A CIRCA 1940S PHOTO OF THE HOUSE IT WAS DESIGNED THE MINIMAL TRADITIONAL STYLE WITH SIMPLER AND RESTRAINED ARCHITECTURE THAT RESPONDED TO THE ECONOMICS AND ESTHETICS OF THE TIMES. IN FACT, THE HOUSE WAS BUILT WITH A FHA INSURED LOANS THAT WERE CREATED TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AFTER THE DEPRESSION YEARS. DESIGNATED AS A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK IN DECEMBER OF 2024. SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME BEFORE AND AFTERS, BUT THE OWNER UNDERTOOK SOME VERY THOUGHTFUL INTERVENTIONS AND A VERY SMALL ADDITION AND TRANSFORMED THIS HISTORIC PROPERTY. AS I SCROLL THROUGH, I'LL JUST READ OVER THEIR LIST OF IMPROVEMENTS. SO THIS IS THE AERIAL VIEW OBVIOUSLY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE EITHER LISTED BEFORE AND AFTER OR SEPARATE SLIDES. SO YOU'LL YOU'LL GET IT. NEW IMPACT RESISTANT CASEMENT WINDOWS AND DOORS TO MATCH THE EXISTING ON THE HOME REMOVAL OF ALUMINUM AWNINGS AND INSTALLATION OF FABRIC AWNINGS, RESTORATION OF FRONT DOOR AND HARDWARE, A NEW WHITE TILE ROOF PAINTING OF THE HOUSE REMOVAL AND OR STUCCOING OF NON-ORIGINAL BRICK PLANTERS.

RESTORATION OF THE ARCHED BRICK FRAME PORTICO SHARE AS AN OPEN AIR CARPORT. CLEANING OF THE EXISTING STONEWORK, IRON RESTORATION, STUCCO REPAIR, FULL INTERIOR REMODELING AND RENOVATION OF THE HOME AND AUXILIARY STRUCTURE. RESTORATION OF THE ORIGINAL WOOD CEILINGS AND BEAMS, WOOD TILES AND FLOORS. NEW MECHANICAL ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING.

THERE IS A ONE STORY ADDITION THAT YOU SEE ON THE LEFT OF THIS PICTURE WITH LIKE THE PARAPET, WITH THE WITH THE BALLS ON THE TOP. THAT'S THE SMALL ADDITION THAT CONNECTS THE AUXILIARY STRUCTURE AND THE MAIN HOUSE. IT'S APPROXIMATELY 285FT■!S. A NEW REAR DECK WITH CASCADING STEPS, NEW WING WALL, ALUMINUM GATES, NEW PRIVACY WALLS, INSTALLATION OF PAVER WALKWAYS AND DRIVEWAY, SWIMMING POOL DECK AND LANDSCAPING. THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THIS APPLICATION. IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO I HAVE A MOTION? A SECOND? DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK. WE WILL TAKE A 30 MINUTE BREAK FOR LUNCH, MR. CLARK. YES. MR. MAYOR, WE COULD.

[H.-4. 26-2170 Discussion regarding an initial funding commitment for the operations and maintenance of the Underline within the City of Coral Gables, and direction to staff on next steps for a potential agreement with the Underline Management Organization, Inc., d/b/a the Underline Conservancy.]

ITEM H FOUR.

YES. THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU H FOUR IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE INITIAL FUNDING COMMITMENT AND THE OPERATIONS OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE UNDERLYING.

WITHIN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WE HAD A VERY FRUITFUL MEETING LAST WEEK WITH ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE CITY, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM TMU AND THE CONSERVANCY, TO DISCUSS SOME OF OUR INITIAL CONCERNS. WE'VE ADDRESSED CONCERNS WITH THE MOU. WE'VE EXCHANGED RED LINES. WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT ALL OF OUR COMMENTS HAVE BEEN WELL RECEIVED. WE ARE ALSO STILL IN THE. IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE COMMENTED.

WE'RE GOING TO BE COMPILING THOSE AND SENDING THEM BACK. BUT AGAIN, WE ARE WE'RE HAPPY

[03:15:02]

I'M I'M READY TO COMMIT TO FOR FOR IT MAY NOT BE THE AMOUNT THAT THEY WANT THE FULL COMMITMENT, BUT IT'S MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO RIGHT NOW. AND I THINK THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE WHEN WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO CUT FROM, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THERE'S NO EXTRA MONEY WE'RE GOING TO CUT FROM CIP. I'M NOT RAISING TAXES, SO I'M WILLING TO RAISE TAXES. I HAVE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TO AGREE WITH ME ON THAT, AND I THINK THEY DO. YOU KNOW, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT FROM SOMEWHERE. CIP, SOMETHING IN OUR BUDGET, THE THE EXTRA PAYMENT TO THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY. WE'VE ALREADY CUT THAT ONE TIME WHEN WE ACCEPTED THE COLA. AND NOW I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CUT FROM THAT AGAIN.

SO WHERE ARE WE GOING TO CUT FROM? YOU CUT FROM PROJECTS THEN YOU'RE NOT DOING PROJECTS THAT THE RESIDENTS WANT. SO IT'S A KIND OF GIVE AND TAKE. AND I'M NOT GOING TO BELABOR THE POINT OF HOW WE GOT HERE. EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW WE GOT HERE. I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT SINCE I WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE LEGISLATION IN TEN YEARS AGO OR NINE YEARS AGO, WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND I STICK TO MY GUNS, THAT I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE AND OVERHEAD, NEVER VERY CLEAR. BUT THAT'S WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.

NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE SINCE THE COUNTY WON'T DEAL WITH THE ISSUE NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE. ON ANOTHER NOTE, I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO SENATOR AVILA, AND I'VE ALREADY REQUESTED THAT NEXT YEAR I WILL BE ADVOCATING, AND HOPEFULLY MY COLLEAGUES WILL SUPPORT ME, THAT JUST LIKE THE COUNTY CHANGED THE LAWS IN TALLAHASSEE TO BE ABLE TO USE BED TAX MONEY, WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS OUR BED TAX MONEY. SO IMAGINE THEY'RE USING OUR MONEY.

LET ME PUT THIS ON THE RECORD AND MAYBE HOPEFULLY THE HERALD WILL PICK THIS UP. CROSSING MY FINGERS. IMAGINE. THE COUNTY IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE UNDERLYING. THE COUNTY IS USING BED TAX MONEY. AND I SPOKE TO ROY COLEY ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY WHEN I MET WITH HIM ONLINE. HE'S USING BED TAX MONEY THAT WAS PICKED UP AT THE CITY, WHICH WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO USE, AND IT GOES TO THE COUNTY TO PAY FOR THE UNDERLYING, WHICH IS IN THE COUNTY, IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. BUT THEY'RE PAYING THEIR PORTION OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, THE DELTA. THEY'RE PAYING IT WITH BED TAX MONEY. IF THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, THEN I WANT TO USE MY BED TAX MONEY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT IT NEXT YEAR. IF THE STATE ALLOWS ME TO DO THE SAME THING, I WANT TO GIVE IT AS A CONTINUING REVENUE SOURCE TO THE UNDERLYING. I THINK IT'S AN APPROPRIATE REVENUE SOURCE. AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER REVENUE SOURCES THAT WE COULD USE FOR MAINTENANCE OF PARKS. YOU KNOW, WHATEVER ELSE THE DELTA IS FROM WHAT THE CITY AND THE UNDERLYING COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BE ABLE TO USE IT. SO I WILL BE LOBBYING. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT'S WHAT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED THE MANAGER TO MAKE SURE SHE TALKED TO CHELSEA ABOUT AND THE ACM AND THE DCM TO INCLUDE THAT IN OUR OVERALL PLAN IN REGARDS TO APPROPRIATIONS AND OUR LOBBYING EFFORTS, BECAUSE IF THE COUNTY CAN DO IT, WHY CAN'T WE DO IT WHEN THE MONEY IS RAISED IN THE CITIES? JUST COMMON SENSE, BASICALLY LIKE DOUBLE TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. SO THAT'S AGAINST THE FOUNDING

[03:20:04]

BUT IF I MAY, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, MR. MANAGER. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IN THIS COMMISSION. I WANT TO SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES. THEY CAN ADD THEIR OWN POINTS. I DON'T THINK THIS COMMISSION WILL VOTE TO APPROVE THE UNDERLYING FUNDING. IF WE DON'T HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. WE ARE. WE WE WE ARE. I KNOW WE'RE NOT VOTING. WE ARE ASSUMING THAT WE HAVE ONE SEAT ON THE TABLE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I WANT TO MAKE SURE, YES, IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED.

THERE ARE FOUR SEATS FOR THE COUNTY, FIVE SEATS FOR THE UNDERLYING. AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE SEATS AS FAR AS AS AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED, WE HAVE THREE MILES GOING THROUGH OUR CITY. AND I THINK I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO TO HAVE A SEAT SINCE AND SINCE WE'RE PROVIDING SEVEN FIGURES FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND WE PROVIDE $7 MILLION FOR FOR THE UNDERLYING ITSELF. OKAY. THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. SO ON YOUR ON YOUR POINT ON THE BED TAX, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THERE IS AN APPETITE AT THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES BY MANY MUNICIPALITIES TO PUSH FOR THAT AS WELL. I KNOW WHEN I SAT IN THE FINANCE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE, THAT ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE CITY OF MIAMI SPRINGS, BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE A LOT OF HOTELS WITHIN THEIR MUNICIPALITY, AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE SOME OF THAT REVENUE. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH WITH THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES TO GET OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ON BOARD AS WELL, TO DO THEIR PUSHING FOR TO, TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT AS WELL. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A NO BRAINER. THE COUNTIES ARE ALL BENEFITING FROM THIS TAX MONEY, BUT THE MUNICIPALITIES, WHICH ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES, ARE NOT. AND WE NEED TO BRING THAT MONEY BACK. VICE MAYOR, THE MAYOR. NO, I, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE BED TAX THAT THIS COMMUNITY GENERATES SHOULD COME BACK INTO THIS COMMUNITY AND BE USED AS WELL. I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXPLORE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL, ADDRESSING IMPACT FEES, WHICH CAN ONLY BE USED FOR BUILDING NEW PARKS, BECAUSE LOGICALLY SPEAKING, IT MAKES NO SENSE TO BUILD A NEW PARK, LET IT RUN DOWN AND AT THE POINT IT'S COMPLETELY RUN DOWN. NOW YOU CAN USE THE MONEY TO BUILD THE PARK AGAIN.

MAINTAINING THE PARKS IS EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT AND GIVE THE CITIES FLEXIBILITY TO DETERMINE THE PRIORITIES. SO. SO UNLESS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD, I THINK WE'RE PRETTY MUCH IN CONSENSUS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FUNDING NOW IN THE BUDGET.

WE'RE GOING TO WAIT TILL 5:00 UNTIL 501, OBVIOUSLY, TO MAKE THE FINAL THE FINAL AMOUNT KNOWN. IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE OUTLINED OR IRONED OUT, MAYBE A BETTER TERM. IT'S 117. WE HAVE ALMOST FOUR HOURS TO SIT DOWN WITH THE UNDERLINE WHO'S HERE AND GET THOSE FINAL THINGS DONE. I REALLY WANT TO HAVE THOSE THINGS DONE, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO MAKE ANOTHER COMMITMENT, LIKE I DID NINE YEARS AGO. I WANT TO MAKE SURE, AND THIS TIME I'M NOT GOING TO BE THIS TIME. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE WAY IT WAS NINE YEARS AGO, WHERE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS THAT O&M WAS ADDRESSED. THAT WAS MY MISTAKE. I OWN UP TO IT. I BELIEVE IN THE UNDERLINE. I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROJECT. I WILL ALWAYS STICK WITH THE UNDERLINE. I, I THINK MEG HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB. SO HAS THE BOARD. BUT THERE'S THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BUSINESS AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE CITY. AND THE COUNTY IS TALKING ABOUT A LITANY OF DIFFERENT THINGS. IF YOU NOTICE THE COUNTY IS TALKING ABOUT NOW, THEY WON'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR LIBRARIES. THEY WON'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR

[03:25:03]

SO I THINK ALL YOUR STAKEHOLDERS ARE IN THE ROOM. THEY'RE ABLE TO TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND REALLY FIGURE THIS OUT BY 5 P.M. THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION. AGREE, COMMISSIONER.

YES. SO WHEN THIS ITEM FIRST CAME BEFORE ME, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A JUST PROPOSITION FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. NOW, AS I'VE BEEN CANVASING AND I'VE BEEN KNOCKING ON DOORS, THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THE UNDERLINE IS OFFERING MY CONSTITUENTS GOES BEYOND THE PROPOSITION THAT YOU GUYS HAVE RENDERED TO US. SO I'VE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART. BIG ONE. AND I IF I MEAN, IF WHATEVER HAPPENS AFTER 5:00, YOU GUYS HAVE MY SUPPORT. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE TO GO TO THE ORDER? NO, I JUST I SUGGEST THAT WE CALL THIS THEN LAST, GIVE STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY CONDITION THE APPROVAL UPON HAVING THE SEAT AT THE TABLE.

THAT I THINK WILL MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER FOR THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE THAT SEAT. OKAY. FOR THE I'M SORRY, THROUGH THE MAYOR, FOR THE SAKE OF. BEING COMPREHENSIVE. RIGHT. AND AND TO THE EXTENT THAT I'VE HEARD FROM ALL OF THE COLLEAGUES ON THE DAIS, RIGHT. LET'S GET THIS HAMMERED OUT TODAY, THAT THAT THAT IS WHAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE AND WILL BE DONE TODAY FOR ALL THE FOR ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE HERE AND FOR THE CITY. THANKS, IF I MAY. THERE ARE SO WE CAN PUT IT ON THE RECORD, THE ITEMS THAT WE REQUESTED THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED ARE THE TUMO CONSERVANCY'S CURRENT ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS. AS PART OF OUR DISCUSSION, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, US AS OUR GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AS A MUNICIPALITY, WE ARE SUBJECT TO PUBLIC RECORDS. SO WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION AND WE'VE BEEN PROVIDED WITH ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS. WE ASKED FOR A CURRENT LIST OF TWO VENDORS THAT THE TUMO CURRENTLY HAS HIRED TO MAINTAIN SERVICES. AT THE UNDERLINE, WE ASKED FOR THE TWO MOST PROCUREMENT PROCESS, WHICH THEY'VE SHARED WITH US, THAT THEY FOLLOW THE COUNTY'S PROCESS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S INDEPENDENT FROM THE COUNTY.

WE'VE ASKED FOR DOCUMENTATION OF THE CURRENT INSURANCE COVERAGE REQUIRED UNDER THE AGREEMENT WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. WE HAVE ALSO SHARED WITH THEM, WHICH IS INTERESTING, THAT IT WAS NEVER SHARED WITH THEM BY THE COUNTY. OUR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND THE COUNTY, WHICH CLEARED UP A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS. SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE COUNTY NEVER SHARED THAT AGREEMENT WITH TUBO. AND THEN LAST, OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS PLAN, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE ARE STILL WORKING THAT OUT. THAT CAN ALWAYS BE WORKED OUT AFTER. BUT VERY IMPORTANT IS THAT THE THAT AGREEMENT AND THAT MOU WILL INCLUDE AS AN EXHIBIT, AS PART OF THAT AGREEMENT, THAT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONAL PLAN ONCE IT'S EXECUTED. OKAY. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE, OBVIOUSLY, THAT WE HAVE ON RECORD A YEAR TO YEAR PROCESS CURRENTLY. CORRECT. IT'S ONLY FOR ONE YEAR RIGHT NOW IS THE THE DRAFT MOU. AND WE ALSO MADE SURE THAT THAT SEAT IS INCLUDED. AND THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, IT'S FROM ONE OF THE SEATS OF THE UNDERLINE, WHICH IS APPOINTED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE

[03:30:04]

WE'RE GOING TO COME THROUGH WHEN THE COUNTY IS NOT GOING TO COME THROUGH, WE'RE GOING TO COME THROUGH FOR THE COUNTY. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IRONED OUT TODAY.

LIKE COMMISSIONER FRANCIS, I DON'T WANT TO GO TOMORROW. I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE UNDERLINING ALREADY A MORE PRECARIOUS POSITION, BECAUSE THEY DEPEND ON US TO GO AND GET OTHER FUNDING AND TO GET MATCHING FUNDING. I WANT THEM TO BE READY TO GO. UNDERSTOOD.

MR. MAYOR. STEPHANIE THROCKMORTON, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY, JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS. AS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, WE'VE HAD A PRODUCTIVE LAST WEEK OF MEETINGS. WE HAVE A DRAFT MOU THAT'S EXCHANGED RED LINES. AND I THINK MANY OF THE KEY TERMS YOU ALL HAVE MENTIONED HERE HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED IN THAT DRAFT. IF YOU WANT TO, WE CAN SUMMARIZE THOSE. BUT IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US DIRECTION ABOUT WHICH KEY TERMS TO BE INCLUDED IN ANY FINAL ONE, I THINK IF WE GET THAT DIRECTION FROM YOU ALL AND AN AMOUNT, WHETHER THAT BE AT 5:00 TODAY OR NOW, WE CAN IRON THAT OUT IF WE HAVE YOUR APPROVAL. AND I THINK THOSE KEY TERMS HAVE MAINLY ALREADY BEEN AGREED TO AND EXCHANGED IN OUR DRAFTS. BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER DIRECTION THAT YOU WANT US TO LOOK BACK AT BETWEEN NOW AND LATER IN THIS MEETING, RATHER THAN THE BUDGET, WE'RE HAPPY TO. BUT FROM WHAT YOU'VE MENTIONED ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE SEAT, THE AUDITED FINANCIALS, REVIEW OF OPERATIONS AND GOVERNANCE PLAN, I THINK WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE WE'RE IN A PRETTY GOOD PLACE WITH THOSE TERMS AND THE DRAFT. AND I'M AGAIN, I LEAVE IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I FEEL COMFORTABLE FUNDING BETWEEN 500 TO $1 MILLION. I THINK THAT $1 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY TO ASK ON THE FIRST RIB, ESPECIALLY PICKING UP, PICKING UP THE PIECES FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, BECAUSE THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AGAIN, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS VERY, VERY CLEARLY. I MEAN, I'M NOT MAKING MANY FRIENDS RIGHT BEFORE ELECTION SEASON, BUT. IT'S VERY EASY WHEN YOU TIGHTEN YOUR BELT 13 YEARS AGO AND YOU START PUTTING MONEY AWAY IN THE RESERVES, YOU START PAYING DOWN THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES. WHEN YOU BRING DOWN YOUR DEBT, WHEN YOU'RE CAREFUL, METHODICAL, UNLIKE THE COUNTY HAS BEEN, YOU HAVE MONEY. AND THEN WE JUST CAN'T BE THE BACKSTOP FOR EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW? SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COUNTY DOESN'T WANT TO FIX THEIR GARBAGE ISSUES. SO WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY JUST RAISE THE GARBAGE FEE AND THEY PASS IT ON TO THE RESIDENTS. THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX THEIR WATER ISSUE. SO WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY PASS A WATER INCREASE. THEY DON'T WANT TO THEY DON'T WANT TO ADDRESS ISSUES WITH TRANSPORTATION. WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU JUST CUT TRANSPORTATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. SO THEN PEOPLE THEN, YOU KNOW, CAN'T GET TO WORK, BUT YOU HAVE A BUDGET ISSUE. YOU HAVE AN ISSUE AT THE PORT, YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH COVANTA, YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, A LITANY OF ISSUES. YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH ISSUES JUST LIKE YOU CANNOT BRING IN 40, 50 PEOPLE IN ONE YEAR AND HIRE 40, 50 PEOPLE. YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THE CONSEQUENCES FOR IT. THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN SO METHODICAL ON IT. WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY

[03:35:02]

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'VE DONE THE HEAVY LIFTING FOR TEN YEARS ALONG WITH MEG TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GETS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE. AND I'M NOT GOING TO ABANDON THE UNDERLYING. MY ISSUE IS WE GOT TO GET THIS CORRECTED. IT JUST CANNOT BE.

EVERY YEAR COMING TO THE COMMISSION ASKING FOR A MILLION, 2 MILLION, 3 MILLION, BECAUSE IT'S JUST UNFEASIBLE. IF AMENDMENT THREE PASSES, WHICH I HOPE EVERYONE SUPPORTS, AND INSURANCE GOES UP ANOTHER 25% NEXT YEAR LIKE I DID THIS YEAR, AND PROPERTY INSURANCES GO UP AGAIN. WE HAVE A POLICE AND WE HAVE FIRE NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.

MONEY. MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON HOW HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH A BALANCED BUDGET, AND YOU JUST START TAKING AWAY FROM CIP, YOU START TAKING AWAY FROM CIP. EVENTUALLY, YOU HAVE NO MONEY FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. WE COULD, IF WE WANTED TO, JUST VERY SIMPLY JUST SAY LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE I GOT HERE TO SAY ABANDON, YOU KNOW, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND JUST PUT THE CITY BACK INTO 50% UNFUNDED AND WE'LL SPEND ALL THE MONEY RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL GET EVERYTHING WE WANT. BUT THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE. THAT'S NOT WHAT RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE DO. SO I'M READY, I'M READY. I GIVE YOU MY NUMBERS. BETWEEN 500 TO $1 MILLION IS WHAT I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. OBVIOUSLY, $1 MILLION IS PAINFUL. AND I THINK THAT THE CITY STEPPING UP LIKE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS TO BE COMMENDED. IT'S TO BE COMMENDED. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW THE COMMISSION WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO, AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMISSION ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AND FACE THOSE RESIDENTS AND SAY, YOUR PROJECT GOT CUT OR YOUR PROJECT GOT PUSHED BACK TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS OR FOUR.

REMEMBER YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY WAS TALKING OUT HERE BEFORE ABOUT DEFIBRILLATORS.

ARE WE GOING TO CUT THAT PROJECT? SURE HOPE NOT. WE'VE BEEN WAITING THREE YEARS FOR IT.

ARE WE GOING TO CUT A RENOVATION ON A PROJECT OF A CITY PROJECT OF A CITY PARK? YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT, AGAIN, WE GOT TO CUT FROM SOMEWHERE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FACE SOMEBODY AND SAY, WE CAN'T FUND YOUR PROJECT. SO I'M JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE.

I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL SUPPORT SUPPORT THIS. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING THIS FINALLY IN FOR A LANDING SO WE CAN, AT LEAST FOR THIS YEAR, GET IT DONE WITH AND MOVE FORWARD. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION? GOOD. SO, MR. MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE US TO RETURN BEFORE THE END OF THIS COMMISSION MEETING WITH JUST A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THOSE KEY TERMS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED IN THE MOU, OR WHAT'S THE WHAT I HOPE WHAT I HOPE, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY IS I HOPE THAT WE CAN FINISH THE MEETING EARLY, MAYBE 30 MINUTES EARLY.

I THINK IT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE COMMISSION MEETING IN THE SENSE OF WHAT'S LEFT. WE FINISHED THE MEETING AND WE AND YOU CAN SIT DOWN WITH EVERY EVERY COMMISSIONER AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IN PREPARATION FOR THE 501 BUDGET. THAT'S MY GOAL. SO, MR. MAYOR, I THINK IF WE ARE GOING TO GIVE DIRECTION ABOUT APPROVING AN MOU THAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN DURING THIS COMMISSION MEETING RATHER THAN THE BUDGET MEETING, WELL, WE'VE GIVEN YOU WE'VE GIVEN YOU DIRECTION. YOU JUST NEED TO VOTE. YEAH. THAT'S IT. OKAY. SO THE KEY TERMS THAT WE HAVE TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT WITH THE AMOUNT TO BE DETERMINED ARE THE SEAT, THE AUDITED FINANCIALS, APPROVAL OF THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING FOR OUR SEAT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PLANS, WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE REGARDING BUDGET TO ACTUALS DURING THE YEAR, AND PERHAPS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT COORDINATION OF SPECIAL EVENTS WITH CITY STAFF, ALONG WITH DEMONSTRATION OF THAT INSURANCE COVERAGE, A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT, AND THEN THE AMOUNT TO ONE YEAR WITH NO EXTENSIONS. IT HAS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION. THAT'S THE WAY IT'S DRAFTED, CORRECT. WHAT'S YOUR MANAGER, MAYOR? I THINK I THINK I THINK WE HAVE A PLAN TO I WILL DISCUSS TO PRESENT TO THE COMMISSION. OKAY. AND I THINK FOR NOW, FOR THIS FOR THIS DIRECTION THAT THE COMMISSION WILL GIVE, IT COULD BE THE AMOUNT TO BE DETERMINED DURING THE BUDGET HEARING. PERFECT.

THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. I ALSO THINK THAT A ONE YEAR CONTRACT, YOU NEED TO GIVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE NEGOTIATION OF WHATEVER COMES NEXT. EXACTLY. SO I THINK IT WOULD NEED TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION IN THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR, NOT WAIT UNTIL AFTER SUMMER, WHEN THEN YOU'RE RUSHING TO GET SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED. ABSOLUTELY. SO IT GIVES PLENTY OF TIME. IT GIVES THAT SUMMER LAG THAT YOU DON'T HAVE AS MANY MEETINGS. YOU CAN ADDRESS IT BEFORE YOU EVEN GET TO THAT FIRST BUDGET HEARING. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO? I'M GONNA TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER

[03:40:04]

COMMISSIONER FERNANDES CAME UP WITH AN IDEA THAT WE NEED TO MEET IN THE SPRING. IT'S A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. IT'S WHAT IT IS. WE HAVE TO MEET AND WE HAVE TO, AT THAT MOMENT, SIT DOWN. ALL PARTIES IN A ROOM, MAKE IT A PUBLIC, MAKE IT A PUBLIC MEETING. PEOPLE CAN SIT THERE AND WE WERE GOING TO NEGOTIATE, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AS A CITY FINANCIALLY AND WHERE THEY ARE AND THE EFFORTS THAT THEY'VE MADE IN REGARDS TO ENDOWMENTS, GRANTS AND WILL HELP THEM WITH GRANTS AND ENDOWMENTS. WE HAVE THE TEAM. WE'LL GO TO TALLAHASSEE, WE'LL GO TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE OBVIOUSLY THE CAPITAL, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO BE A GOOD PARTNER ON THIS DEAL. AND I THINK THE IDEA OF NOT WAITING TILL THE LAST MINUTE WHEN IT'S A BUDGET CYCLE. AND LITERALLY, I THINK WE'VE HAD PROBABLY SIX MEETINGS IN THE LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS. JUST PERFECTLY FINE. IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL. WE'LL HAVE TEN MEETINGS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR THE UNDERLYING. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR FOR THE CITY. UNDERSTOOD. WELL, WE'LL COORDINATE WITH BUDGET STAFF AT THE PROPER TIMING OF THAT MEETING IN THE SPRING BEFORE WE WE GET TOO FAR INTO OUR BUDGET SEASON AND MAKE SURE THAT'S PART OF THAT. I WANT TO DEVELOP TERM DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. YOU WANT A TERM DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, MR. MANAGER? YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU.

THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THAT HAVING A SEAT ON THE GOVERNANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IT WILL KEEP US UP TO DATE THROUGHOUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR. AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT'S HANDLED TWO WEEKS BEFORE A BUDGET MEETING. WE SHOULD BE HANDLING IT. WE STARTED IN APRIL AND WE'RE NOW IN SEPTEMBER. AND, AND WE NEED TO WE NEED TO DO BETTER THAN THAT NEXT YEAR. AND I, AND I DO THINK THAT THAT AN AGREEMENT AND ALSO SOMEONE ON THE ON THE GOVERNANCE BOARD WILL, WILL, WILL HELP FACILITATE THAT. OKAY. MR. CLARK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES. MR. MAYOR, GO AHEAD. FIRST SPEAKER I HAVE IS ROBERTA. GOOD AFTERNOON, ROBERTA, HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD. AS YOU WANT ME TO GIVE. 1236. CORAL GABLES. 33146. OKAY. WHAT MAKES A WORLD CLASS CITY? I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT A WORLD CLASS CITY PROVIDES SAFETY FROM CRIME AND TRAFFIC DRIVES FOR SUSTAINABILITY, AND PROVIDES BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING PUBLIC SPACES AS IN STREETS, PLAZAS, AND PARKS THAT ALL CAN ENJOY. IN SHORT, THE BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD ARE THOSE THAT VALUE AND PRIORITIZE THE PUBLIC REALM. THEY THINK ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE HAVE WITHIN THEIR CITY. IS IT COMFORTABLE? IS IT BEAUTIFUL? IS IT INTERESTING? IS IT SAFE? I KNOW ALL OF YOU WANT CORAL GABLES TO BE A SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND BEAUTIFUL AS POSSIBLE. AND I KNOW THIS REQUIRES POLITICAL WILL AND MOREOVER, FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.

AND I KNOW THESE DECISIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS EASY. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE COMMIT TO MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF THE UNDERLYING BY FUNDING, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AS REQUESTED. IT CAN AND WILL PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN INCREASING OUR SAFETY, OUR SUSTAINABILITY, AND OUR ENJOYMENT OF OUR CITY. TO ME, THE UNDERLYING IS PROBABLY THE BEST PROJECT TO EVER TAKE PLACE WITHIN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO HAVE THREE MILES OF IT IN CORAL GABLES. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SUPPORT IT TO THE FULL EXTENT POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SILVANA ORENGO. GERALDINE ORDONEZ. AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING IN THIS SPACE. SO MY NAME IS GERALDINE ORDONEZ. I RESIDE ON THE BORDERLINE OF THE GABLES AT 4298 SOUTHWEST FIVE TERRACE, MIAMI. 33134. BUT I AM AN AVID USER AND A LOCAL SUPPORTER OF LOCAL BUSINESSES OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CORAL GABLES LIBRARY AND OTHER GREEN SPACES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE GABLES, AND FOR WHICH I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR. I AM HERE TO TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR FUNDING OF THE UNDERLYING. I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU HAVE MANY IMPORTANT PRIORITIES TO BALANCE, AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSION'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO MAKING CORAL GABLES A VIBRANT, ATTRACTIVE AND A WORLD CLASS COMMUNITY. AS CORAL GABLES CONTINUES TO GROW AND ATTRACT INVESTMENT, THE UNDERLYING IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS THAT VISION ALONG US. ONE, IT TRANSFORMED AN UNDERUTILIZED CORRIDOR BENEATH METRORAIL INTO A BEAUTIFUL, CONNECTED PUBLIC

[03:45:05]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WELCOME. MAURICIO MARTINEZ. BETSY. BETSY.

GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME BACK. APPRECIATE BEING HERE. MY NAME IS PETE SEEGER. I'M A LIFETIME CORAL GABLES RESIDENT, AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD. EXCUSE MY VOICE OF WHAT THE UNDERLYING IS BRINGING TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I ACTUALLY THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE WONDER LINE. IT'S AMAZING. THEY TOOK A NEGLECTED WEED AND LITTER COVERED AREA AND TURNED IT INTO A BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED LINEAR PARK, WHICH IS A JOY FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. IT'S USED BY EVERYBODY, MANY. IT'S SUPPORTED BY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALLY, BUSINESSES, CORPORATIONS, BANKS, EVERYBODY SUPPORTS IT. IT'S A WONDER. IT IS A WONDER LINE.

THERE'S A DOG PARK, BASKETBALL AND PADEL COURTS, BIKE RENTALS, MICRO FORESTS, RETENTION PONDS.

IT'S AN AMAZING DEVELOPMENT TO DENY SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING THIS TREASURE IS LIKE SOMEONE WHO WINS A MAGNIFICENT CAR IN THE LOTTERY, AND THEN DOESN'T WANT TO BUY THE INSURANCE TO DRIVE IT. THIS IS YOUR INSURANCE TO MAINTAIN THE UNDERLYING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MR. MAYOR. I'M GOING TO GO TO ZOOM NEXT. FIRST SPEAKER, CATHY DOS SANTOS.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. CATHY DOS SANTOS, 4100 SOUTH STREET, APARTMENT 409, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, 33146. I WILL, AS UNDOUBTEDLY SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS ZOOM AND IN PERSON, SING THE PRAISES TO THE UNDERLYING NO END. I AM A CORAL GABLES RESIDENT. I USE IT ON A DAILY BASIS. I THINK IT IS MY DOG'S FAVORITE PLACE IN THIS ENTIRE COUNTY. AND THERE HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY A LOT OF THINGS MENTIONED TODAY THAT HAVE REMINDED ME OF HOW IMPORTANT FUNDING PLACES LIKE THE UNDERLINE IS. I THINK RABBI THIS MORNING MENTIONED SMILING NEIGHBORS AND WAVING NEIGHBORS. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS A NEWER RESIDENT, I'VE MADE OFF MY CORAL GABLES FELLOW NEIGHBOR FRIENDS IN THE UNDERLINE AT THE DOG PARK. SPECIFICALLY, I WILL SAY I AM ALSO SPEAKING TODAY, ACTUALLY MOSTLY ON BEHALF OF MY PARENTS WHO HAVE NEVER BEFORE IN MIAMI-DADE LIVED SOMEWHERE WALKABLE WHERE THEY CAN ACTUALLY STROLL INTO A PARK.

AND FOR MY 84 YEAR OLD FATHER, WHO USES IT FOR HIS DAILY WALKS, HE'S ACTUALLY QUITE THE AVID WALKER. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO HAVE SUCH A FACILITY AT HIS FINGERTIPS. THE FINAL PIECE I WILL SAY, BECAUSE I AM SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE CITY OVER THE YEARS HAS TAKEN THE CARE TO BE FINANCIALLY SOLVENT AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A LOT IN RESERVES. IS THAT AS SOMEONE WHO DEEPLY, DEEPLY CARES ABOUT THIS TYPE OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT BEING FUNDED AND THAT OUR PARKS AND OUR LIBRARIES ARE FULLY STAFFED AND ABLE TO PROVIDE AWESOME PROGRAMING, IS THAT I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO KNOW WHAT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE ON MY BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, LIKE AMENDMENT THREE, IS GOING TO MEAN FOR OUR CITY'S SERVICES FIVE YEARS DOWN THE LINE.

BECAUSE TO MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S ABOUT ALMOST $23 MILLION THAT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WOULD LOSE BY FISCAL YEAR 30, 2031 IN 2032. AND I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR US, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING IS THAT WE LOVE WHAT WE HAVE AND WE WANT TO PROTECT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IN REGARDS TO TO WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT AMENDMENT THREE, THE FIRST YEAR WILL BE ABOUT 5.7 MILLION. THE SECOND YEAR WOULD BE AROUND 11 AND CHANGE, AND THAT WOULD BE ABOUT THE AVERAGE. YOU WOULD LOSE EVERY SINGLE YEAR. I HAD A TOWN HALL THAT WE SENT OUT TO ALL RESIDENTS. I PUT IT ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA. OUR CITY ATTORNEY, I TASKED HER AND ASKED HER TO PLEASE PRESENT THE FOUR REFERENDUMS THAT YOU WILL BE VOTING ON. ONE OF THEM IS IN REGARDS TO PARKS, WHICH I PROFFERED JUST LIKE THE OTHER ONES THAT I PROFFERED LAST YEAR THAT WERE AMAZING. THE SUPPORT WAS OVERWHELMING. THAT ONE IS FOR PARKS, WHICH DETAILS THAT ANY PIECE OF GREEN SPACE, WHETHER IT BE A PARK, WHETHER

[03:50:01]

IT'S ALREADY ONLINE AND YOU CAN WATCH IT FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME. THANK YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY. NEXT SPEAKER DANIEL BALMORI. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DANIEL BALMORI AND I LIVE AT 1109 ASTORIA AVENUE IN CORAL GABLES. AS MANY OF THE COMMISSION ALREADY KNOW, I'M AN ATTORNEY AT AN INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM, AND I BEGAN VOLUNTEERING WITH THE UNDERLYING MY LEGAL SERVICES ALL PRO BONO MORE THAN 12 YEARS AGO. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS FOR SUPPORTING A FUNDING INVESTMENT IN THE UNDERLYING PARK SPACE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER, MISS VESTER, AS WELL. MRS. THROCKMORTON STAFF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR ASSISTING WITH FINALIZING THE TERMS FOR OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND FOR THEIR ACKNOWLEDGMENT JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT THE UNDERLYING HAS PROVIDED EVERY ONE OF THE VARIOUS DOCUMENTS THAT WERE REQUESTED, INCLUDING GOVERNANCE DOCUMENTS, NAMES OF VENDORS, OUR FINANCIAL RECORDS, AND ALL WITHIN JUST HOURS OF THEIR REQUEST LAST LAST WEEK AND THE WEEK BEFORE. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THOSE WERE ALL ALREADY PUBLICLY AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSPARENCY WITH WHICH THE UNDERLYING CONSERVANCY ALREADY OPERATES. AND ON MY ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE, PERSONALLY, MY NEIGHBORS, AND MY THREE YEAR OLD GOLDEN RETRIEVER WHO ENJOYS THE UNDERLYING SPACE EVERY DAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TO CORAL GABLES CONTINUING ITS LEGACY AS A CHAMPION OF THE UNDERLYING. ACTIVELY SUPPORTING THE FULL AMOUNT REQUESTED AND THAT. SO THAT AS A CITY, WE CAN RECEIVE THE FULL BENEFIT OF THE GREEN SPACES, DOG PARKS, AND THE SAFETY OF THE SPACE. IF THEY DO SO, THE SPACE WILL BE A KEYSTONE TO CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY AND TO BRINGING ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE OF VALUE MORE THAN THE SMALL AMOUNT THAT IT'S INVESTING NOW. THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION FOR ITS WILLINGNESS TO BE A PARTNER AND AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN ESTABLISHING A WORLD CLASS SPACE THAT THE CITY DESERVES AND HELPING TO LEAD THE UNDERLYING IN CORAL GABLES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT SPEAKER, STEPHANIE PINEDA. HI, HOW ARE YOU? MY NAME IS STEPHANIE PINEDA. AND I BE WALKING WITH A PURPOSE, WHICH IS LIKE A HEALTH AND WELLNESS WALKING PROGRAM AT THE UNDERLYING. AND I PERSONALLY AM NOT A RESIDENT, BUT WE DO RECEIVE A TON OF RESIDENTS AND WE CAN PROVE IT BASED ON THE SURVEYS THAT WE TAKE AT THE END.

AND WE ASK EVERYONE THEIR ZIP CODE. SO WE DO RECEIVE A LOT OF CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS REGULARLY IN OUR WALKS, WHICH SHOWS THAT THE RESIDENTS DO VALUE ACCESSIBLE, LIKE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXERCISE, CONNECT WITH OTHERS AND IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL BEING OVERALL WELL-BEING. I PERSONALLY HAS VISITED SOME PARTS OF THE UNDERLYING IN CORAL GABLES, AND I SAY IT'S BEAUTIFUL, AND I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE JUST KNOWING THAT MIAMI IS SO HUGE ON WELLNESS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND EXERCISE. THIS IS AND I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE WALK UNDER THAT UNDERLINE AND HOW HAPPY THEY ARE. AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU GUYS LIKE REALLY SUPPORTED TO SUPPORT IT TO THE FULLEST BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S VALUABLE. I SEE THE VALUE IN THIS. AND, AND PEOPLE ARE ESPECIALLY MIAMI ARE VERY INTO HEALTH AND WELLNESS. AND, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BRING THE WALK CLUB TO CORAL GABLES AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA. SO THANK YOU. CARMEN. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU SEE ME? I'M TRYING TO WORK MY VIDEO. CAN YOU ALLOW MY VIDEO TO TO SHOW. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS CARMEN CARTAYA. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. MY ADDRESS IS 811 MALAGA AVENUE. I'VE LIVED HERE PRACTICALLY MY WHOLE LIFE. I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR, THE VICE MAYOR, THE CITY COMMISSIONERS, AND ALL THE CITY STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING IN SUPPORT OF THE UNDERLYING AND INTO HOPING TO GET THIS RIGHT.

[03:55:05]

[H.-1. 26-2134 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the award of a contract to the highest-ranked responsive, responsible proposer, CBIZ CPAs P.C. for Request for Proposal (RFP) 2026-013 for External Auditing Services as the proposer offering the most favorable contract price, pursuant to Section 2-763 of the Procurement Code entitled "Contract Award" and Request for Proposal (RFP) 2026-013.]

[04:00:06]

THEY HAD 445.5 POINTS. FYI, THEY GAINED APPROXIMATELY 16 POINTS JUST BECAUSE THEY HAD FAVORABLE PRICING. SO HAD THAT NOT BEEN THE CASE, WE WOULD HAVE HAD A, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE. SO I JUST REQUESTED WE, IN GOOD FAITH, RESUBMITTED OUR PROPOSED FEES. WE REDUCED OUR ORIGINAL FEES BY 24%. THEY REDUCED THEIR FEES BY 10%. NOW WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE STILL THE MOST QUALIFIED FIRM, AND THE PRICE DIFFERENTIAL IS $38,000 OVER A SIX YEAR PERIOD. THAT'S ABOUT $6,300 ANNUALLY. SO TO BE CLEAR, I REALLY DO RESPECT THE COMMITTEE AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY HAVE WITH CBS. ONCE AGAIN, HOWEVER, IT'S ALL BASED ON MY HUMBLE OPINION OF. IT'S REALLY AN IMMATERIAL ANNUAL COST SAVINGS TO THE TO THE CITY. AND IT'S REALLY NOT GOING WITH THE MORE QUALIFIED FIRM, WHICH IS CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. SO I WANT TO ADD A FEW INTANGIBLES THAT HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED. SO I WANT YOU GUYS ALL TO BE AWARE THAT SOME ADDITIONAL FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION. CITRIN COOPERMAN IS A CORAL GABLES HAS A CORAL GABLES OFFICE. AS YOU KNOW, IT'S COMPRISED OF TWO LOCAL CORAL GABLES FIRMS. APPLE, RUTH AND FERA, AND MY FIRM, SHARP, WITMER, KURTZ, JACKSON AND DIAZ. WE WERE MERGED ON MAY 1ST. WE WERE, WE WERE. WE WERE FOUNDED IN THE CITY 53 YEARS AGO OR ACTUALLY 75 YEARS AGO. SO YOU'RE REALLY GETTING A NATIONAL FIRM WITH THE FOUNDATION. ENTIRE HISTORY IN CORAL GABLES. MANY OF OUR FORMER PARTNERS HAVE GIVEN BACK TO THE CITY IN MANY WAYS AND SERVING COMMITTEES, CITIES, CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS, AND IN MANY WAYS, WE HAVE BEEN THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS. BY THE WAY, IF OUR GOOD FRIEND MARK TROWBRIDGE WAS STILL WITH US, HE'D BE HERE SUPPORTING US. AND I'VE BEEN PRACTICING 30 YEARS IN IN CORAL GABLES. I'M A RESIDENT OF CORAL GABLES. I'VE BEEN LIVING IN CORAL GABLES FOR 25 YEARS. AND SO I ASK THAT YOU HUMBLY CONSIDER ALL OF THIS WHEN MAKING YOUR DECISION AND DOING THE RESPONSIBLE THING BY CHOOSING TO AWARD THE WORK TO CITRIN COOPERMAN, WHICH IS A FIRM WITH THE MOST EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS AND A LONG HISTORY IN THE CITY. THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS TIME. THANK YOU.

MOISES ARIZA. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS MOISES ARIZA. I'M WITH THE FIRM OF CBIZ. I'M THE OFFICE MANAGING PARTNER FOR THE CORAL GABLES OFFICE AND ALSO THE FIRM'S NATIONAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE PRACTICE LEADER. WE'RE LOCATED AT 2811 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, SUITE 1100. AS. AS MENTIONED IN THE DOCUMENT, CBS

[04:05:07]

AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK NOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THORN CONSTRUCTION THAT'S COMING UP NEXT. AND I KNOW THAT I COMPETE WITH THEM A LOT. I MENTIONED IT BEFORE. THEY'VE BEATEN ME A LOT OF TIMES. I THINK THEY THEY'RE GREAT CONTRACTORS, BUT I BRING THEM UP BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE MANAGER HAS TIGHTENED THEIR BELT AND THE MANAGER HAS WHIPPED EVERY CONTRACTOR INTO SHAPE. SO NO ONE HERE IS IMMUNE TO THIS. OKAY. AND I'M NOT GLOATING ON IT. WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS THAT, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY TO GO AROUND HERE, AND EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR HAND OUT. SO WHAT IS THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION? WE'VE SEEN WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. ARE WE BASING THIS DECISION ON THE FINDINGS? ARE WE GOING WITH THE MOST QUALIFIED FIRM? ARE WE GOING WITH A FIRM THAT HAS THE HIGHEST SCORE? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE THE LOWEST RESPONDENT, AND I'M HAPPY THAT BOTH OF THEM TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS AND LOWER THE PRICE. WHAT IS THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION AND HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONDUCT THIS? THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. I THINK COMMISSIONER LARA WAS IN THE ROOM WHEN THIS DELIBERATION TOOK PLACE, AND I THINK HE COVERED FOR ME, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE CONTEXT THAT MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE. WELL, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE HAD A GROUP OF APPLICANTS FOR THE THE AUDITING CONTRACTOR WERE EXTREMELY QUALIFIED. AND IT WAS A VERY ARDUOUS, I MUST SAY, I'M NOT EXAGGERATING A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT, TIME CONSUMING AND NECESSARY PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAD TO REVIEW. I THINK THAT THE PROCESS IS ONE THAT'S DELIBERATE. IT WASN'T DESIGNED AT ALL. AND PROCUREMENT REALLY DID AN AMAZING JOB TO ENSURE THAT WHAT WE WERE DOING WAS PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT. AND IT'S A PROCESS THAT'S GEARED TO, I BELIEVE, FIND THE PROPER INTERSECTION BETWEEN PRICE AND QUALITY SO THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT ONE PARTICULAR PROGRAM CRITERION OVERTAKES THE OTHER ONE. BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, IT WAS A VERY CLOSE ASSESSMENT. YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO IT.

SO PRICING WAS A BIG ONE IN TERMS OF WHAT CARRIED THE DAY FOR WHO WAS THE FIRST RANKED.

CBS DID COME OUT AHEAD IN THAT REGARD. AND THROUGH WHAT'S OCCURRED OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS WITH RESPECT TO LOOKING AT IT ONE MORE TIME AS PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT OCCURRED.

WELL, THE CITY WINS, I GUESS, ONE MORE TIME, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE PRICING BECAME EVEN MORE FAVORABLE, THERE WAS VALUE ADDED SO THAT EVEN THE LOWEST ECONOMIC BID, IT GOT EVEN LOWER DURING THE COURSE OF THIS PROCESS. SO IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT'S VERY, VERY HARD TO SAY THAT SOMEBODY IS CLEARLY THE BETTER OR THE MORE QUALIFIED. I THINK THAT WE HAVE

[04:10:05]

MADAM VICE MAYOR, I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ANALYZED THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR EACH ONE OF THESE FIRMS, AND FOR ME TO SIT HERE AND DISMISS THEIR IN-DEPTH AND VALUED ANALYSIS IN THE TIME, COMMISSIONER, THAT YOU ALSO PUT IN PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROCESS. I'M NOT PREPARED TO DO. I AM PREPARED TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR STAFF FOR CBS TO BE THE AUDITING FIRM, AND I'LL ALSO MOVE. WE HAVE A SECOND. I'LL SECOND, MR. CLARK, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. YES, MR. MAYOR. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES, COMMISSIONER.

LAURA. NO. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. MAYOR LAGO. NO. YOU'RE THE MAYOR. YES. I WOULD LIKE CLARIFICATION ON WHY YOU VOTED. NO, BECAUSE I, I IT REALLY WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR ME, AND I WAS BASING IT ON YOUR ASSESSMENT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ROOM. SO IF I'M NOT 100% ON BOARD ON THIS, JUST BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT ON ALL THE OTHER QUALIFICATIONS, NUMBER TWO CAME IN AS NUMBER ONE. SO IF WE'RE BASING IT SOLELY ON PRICE, WE MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE GETTING THE BEST CANDIDATE. SO I MAY BE INTERESTED IN CHANGING MY VOTE.

IF, IF THAT'S THE SAME MINDSET THAT YOU HAVE, OR IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN SHARE. WELL, I THINK THAT TO THE TIME FOR THE DEBATE HAS ALREADY COME AND GONE, BUT I'LL JUST OFFER THAT THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR NUMBERS ONE AND TWO IN TERMS OF HOW THE VOTES CAME DOWN, WERE EXTREMELY CLOSE. AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT ONE OVER THE OTHER.

I THINK THERE'S SOME COMPELLING REASONS THAT WERE OFFERED BY CITIZEN COOPER TO TO OFFER. THE CITY. BUT IN SAYING NO TO THIS, I'M NOT SAYING IN ANY WAY THAT I'M NOT FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROCESS AND THE AMAZING WORK DONE BY THE PROCUREMENT TEAM. SO I WILL MOVE TO RECONSIDER.

OKAY. SO DO YOU IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, BE, CONSIDER OR DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE? AM I ALLOWED TO CHANGE MY VOTE? YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR VOTE. YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR VOTE. MOVED ON TO THE NEXT ITEM BEFORE THE NEXT ITEM IS CALLED. YOU CAN CHANGE. MY VOTE IS NO. OKAY, AND I WILL MAKE A SUBSEQUENT MOTION TO ACCEPT THE NUMBER TWO AS OR AWARD THE CONTRACT TO NUMBER TWO. I'LL SECOND WITH AN AMENDMENT. IF YOU'LL SO ACCEPT IT, THAT THE NUMBER TWO HAS TO ACCEPT THE LOWER PRICE. I ACCEPT THAT AMENDMENT. SECOND, AGAIN. COMMISSIONER LAURA. YES.

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

MAYOR LARGO. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION. YES. SO YOU MADE THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU WOULD MOVE TO THE SECOND RANKED PROPOSER IF THEY ACCEPT THE PRICE OF THE NUMBER ONE. SO DO YOU WANT THAT ON RECORD? WELL, I WANT I WANT, IF I MAY, IF I IF I MAY. IT'S NOT ONLY ACCEPTING, IT'S NOT MATCHING. IT HAS TO BE BELOW. WELL THAT WAS ACTUALLY THAT WAS THAT LONG HESITATION I HAD. I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED THAT IT BEATS IT. IT BEATS IT. AND IF THEY DON'T. WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A FIVE MINUTE, FIVE MINUTE CONVERSATION WITH WITH THE WITH

[04:15:09]

WE CAN GO TO WE HAVE ITEMS ON SECOND READING TONIGHT THAT WE COULD HAVE GONE OVER RIGHT NOW.

IT SHOULD BE LOADING UP SHORTLY. GIVE ME ONE SECOND. OKAY. CAN WE HAVE IS THERE ANYTHING ON ITEM E? ONE IS MY I MY ITEM. IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. YOU WANT TO JUMP OVER TO THAT ONE REALLY QUICKLY WHILE WE JUST GIVE THE ACM SOME TIME SO THERE'S NO HURRY. THANK

[E.-1. 26-1922 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 2, “Administration,” Article III, “Boards, Commissions, Committees,” to create Division 13, “Coral Gables Youth Leadership Council,” and amending Chapter 42, “Community Recreation,” to remove Article III, “Parks and Recreation Youth Advisory Board”; and to transition the members from the Parks and Recreation Youth Advisory Board to the Coral Gables Youth Leadership Council; providing for repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

THAT'S THE WHOLE INTENT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SECOND, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, MAY I HAVE A VOTE? VICE MAYOR ANDERSON? YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER.

[E.-2. 26-2028 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Coral Gables by amending Chapter 6, Section 6-3, “Retail beverage store and retail liquor store licenses issued to bona fide restaurants” to allow restaurants of 120 seats or over to serve alcoholic beverages or intoxicating liquors from bars; providing for repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date.]

COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT WORK.

BY THE WAY. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ALSO ON THE NEW POP UP ON MIRACLE MILE. YOUR TEAM HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB. I WENT TO THE RIBBON CUTTING. IT'S REALLY WELL DONE. IT'S REALLY CLASSY.

IT'S A STORE THAT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT EVERYONE GO SEE NEXT TO HAAGEN-DAZS. IT'S CALLED CABANA CHIC. I REMEMBERED IT WAS VERY NICE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. WHAT? YOU READY? YES. IF I CAN HAVE CCTV TRANSFER OVER TO MY LAPTOP, PLEASE. AND THE FOLLOWING TERMS. WE DID GO OUTSIDE. WE MET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CONSERVANCY AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO ALL THE TERMS. AND WE'VE SPELLED THEM OUT HERE IN THIS PRESENTATION. SO THESE WOULD BE THE KEY TERMS IN OUR MOU BETWEEN THE UNDERLYING AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND JUST FOR REFERENCE, AGAIN, HERE'S THE LINEAR MILES OF THE UNDERLYING OF ABOUT TEN MILES WITH THREE MILES OF THOSE DISSECTING THROUGH OUR CITY. SO FIRST, AS DISCUSSED GOVERNANCE, THERE WILL BE ONE BOARD SEAT APPOINTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION AS A COMMISSION, AS A WHOLE SEAT REPRESENTING THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, SUBJECT TO THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING APPROVAL OF THAT MEMBER, A ONE YEAR TERM FOR THIS AGREEMENT WHICH WOULD GO FROM FY 20. CAN WE STOP THIS? OKAY, SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT THEY HAVE TO ACCEPT WHO WE PUT, WHY.

SO THEY HAVE IN THEIR BYLAWS, THEY JUST HAVE A REVIEW OF THE APPLICANT, RIGHT? SO THEY'RE IT'S BASICALLY THE CONSERVANCY, WHICH IS THE BOARD, BUT THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING APPROVED THAT SEAT. SO WE DO HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE THAT MEMBER AS A WHOLE THAT YOU GUYS

[04:20:03]

SO WE'RE SCRAPPING OUR COMMISSION TO BE AT THE MERCY OF THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING FOR THIS PROCESS. I THINK TO ME, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST STICKING POINTS. WE NEED TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND THIS COMMISSION OR THE NEXT COMMISSION, WHOEVER, WHATEVER COMMISSION IS UP HERE, SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHO SITS ON THAT BOARD, WHETHER THE UNDERLYING APPROVES OR DOESN'T APPROVE THE MAYOR. YES. IT'S NOT AN ANOTHER BOARD THAT WE HAVE A LIAISON ON THAT EVER HAS A SAY ON WHO WE SELECT. I SERVE ON THE WIGAN BOARD. I SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BOARD. NEITHER ONE OF THOSE BOARDS HAVE A SAY ON WHO THIS COMMISSION PICKS TO SERVE. OKAY. I MEAN, I'M JUST WE'RE OPERATING WITHIN OUR CURRENT BYLAWS. SO WITHIN THE CURRENT BYLAWS STRUCTURE, THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING SEAT IS AN APPOINTEE FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING. THE OTHER OPTION WOULD WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION IF WE CREATE A SEPARATE SEAT THROUGH THE UNDERLYING CONSERVANCY? SO I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE WILLING TO AMEND THE BYLAWS, OUR BYLAWS, BUT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT BACK TO MY BOARD, WHICH I COULD HAVE AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE QUICKLY, BUT IT CAN'T DO IT TODAY. I'M THE BOARD CHAIR.

RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND I HAVE ONE VOTE. I DON'T HAVE 29. I KNOW THAT'S WHY THERE WAS THE THIS WAS A CONDITIONAL APPROVAL BASED UPON THAT. IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S NOT APPROVED. IF IF IF THE BOARD REJECTS REJECTS THIS CONCEPT OF THIS COMMISSION GETS TO SELECT ITS REPRESENTATIVE, THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. MAYOR, THIS IS A ONE YEAR APPROVAL. IF THIS DOES NOT WORK OUT, THEN THERE IS NO SECOND YEAR. THE MAYOR YES, I THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW. WE DISCUSSED THIS TWO WEEKS AGO. FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING COULD HAVE HAD A MEETING AND SAID, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE OKAY WITH. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE NOT OKAY WITH. AND WE WOULDN'T BE IN THE SITUATION TODAY WHERE NOW WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE WORD A FRIEND OF THE UNDERLYING, WHICH TO US BEFORE HAS BEEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH WITH MAINTENANCE. IT'S BEING TAKEN CARE OF. SO. WE'RE IN A SITUATION NOW WHERE WE CAN'T 100% TRUST THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN TOLD BEFORE SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND NOW WE'RE HAVING TO COME UP WITH $1 MILLION TO ADDRESS IT.

SO TO ME, IF WE DON'T HAVE SOME SORT OF ASSURANCE BY 5 P.M. THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. AND THE CITY COMMISSION, WHO REPRESENTS THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND THE INTEREST OF THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES, DO NOT HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE BY 5 P.M. I'M NOT WILLING TO BUDGET A PENNY TOWARDS THE. THE UNDERLYING. THAT'S THAT'S MY STANCE. MY

[04:25:02]

LET'S JUST TAKE A STEP FORWARD. AND THE STEP FORWARD IS SIMPLE. WE'RE WILLING TO APPROVE THIS TODAY. YOU'RE GOING TO FINISH GOING THROUGH IT, BUT IT HAS TO BE WITH WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN REGARDS TO HAVING A BOARD SEAT. THAT'S THE WAY I'M GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT.

NOT THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO NOMINATE SOMEONE AND THEN IT'S GOING TO GO TO ANOTHER BOARD AND THEY'RE GOING TO APPROVE IT, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO ME AND THEY'RE GOING TO TELL ME, NO, IT'S A BOARD ON THE TPO IN THE COUNTY. WE'RE DEALING WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TRANSPORTATION, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE TPO DESIGNEE. IF I CAN'T MAKE A MEETING. LOOK, LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. I WAS DESIGNATED TO DISCUSS TO DISCUSS THE THE THE RFQ THAT WE JUST SAW BEFORE. I COULDN'T MAKE IT. WE HAD A SECONDARY PERSON. IT WAS COMMISSIONER LATA DID AN AMAZING JOB. SO I MEAN, THIS IS THE COMMONPLACE. IT'S A COMMONPLACE. WE'RE HERE TO BE A PARTNER. TREAT US LIKE A PARTNER. YOU JUST TREAT US WITH, YOU KNOW, TREAT US WITH THE A LITTLE BIT OF DIGNITY SO THAT WE CAN SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND BE YOUR PARTNER, YOU KNOW, HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. NOT NOT BE SAID, OH, THAT PERSON CAN'T COME OR THAT PERSON CAN COME. LOOK, I'VE BEEN SITTING IN THE SEAT HERE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND I'VE BEEN PUT IN POSITIONS WHERE CERTAIN PEOPLE GOT PUT ON BOARDS THAT I WASN'T HAPPY ABOUT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I HAD TO GRIN AND BEAR IT.

I HAD TO DEAL WITH IT THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. IF THERE'S A WAY FOR THE BOARD TO CONVENE IN THE NEXT 2.5 HOURS, I'VE DONE LESS THAN THAT. IN LESS THAN THAT, QUITE A BIT MORE.

ALTERNATIVELY, WHERE I MIGHT BE SUPPORTIVE IS, AS THE CITY MANAGER WAS ALLUDING, SUPPORTIVE OF ONE YEAR, BUT THAT DURING THE TIME FROM TODAY ON TO THE FIRST PRACTICAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BOARD TO MEET, TO ASSURE THAT WE'VE GOT A SEAT, THAT THE CITY HAS A SEAT NOT SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE REVIEWS OF DIFFERENT BOARDS, THEN I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE AS THE FALLBACK POSITION. AND IF THAT DOESN'T COME TO PASS, THEN ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY, YOU KNOW I WON'T BE SUPPORTIVE OF ANY FURTHER FUNDING, RIGHT? SO WHAT I SUGGEST IS THAT I CALL AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING. I HAVE BOARD MEMBERS TRAVELING RIGHT NOW, SO I CAN'T DO THAT BY 5:00. AND I COULD PROBABLY CALL IT WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. AND I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM, BUT I'M ONE PERSON AND I'M THE CHAIR AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR HOW THE VOTE WILL COME. I FEEL VERY FAVORABLE ABOUT IT. BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF ATTORNEYS HERE. YOU DO ALL UNDERSTAND THAT BYLAWS GOVERN OUR ORGANIZATION, SO I'M HAPPY TO BRING IT FORWARD. AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EXPEDITING THE PROCESS, AND I HOPE THAT MAKES YOU ALL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE. IF I MAY, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT I THINK WE'RE USING THE TERM. WE WERE TOLD SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, I DON'T REMEMBER EVER SAYING THAT THERE WOULD NEVER BE A REQUEST THAT THE FUNDING WOULD BE FULLY COVERED BY THE COUNTY OR ANYTHING ELSE. I THINK THAT I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THINGS SAID HERE, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL ACTING AND MOVING FORWARD. AND AND I WANT TO THANK, WHILE I HAVE A MOMENT TO COMMEND OUR TEAM, AS WELL AS YOUR ADMINISTRATION, YOUR STAFF HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB WORKING OUT A LOT OF DETAILS TO GET TO THIS MOMENT. SO I REALLY DO HOPE WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. OKAY. FOR THE MAYOR? YES. I TALKED ABOUT A CONDITIONAL APPROVAL ON THIS. I KNOW IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THESE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. I'M GOING TO ASK CITY ATTORNEY, CAN WE DO A CONDITIONAL APPROVAL? WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND THEN THE FUND, THE FUNDING CAN BE RELEASED AFTER THAT. CAN WE DO THAT? THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT OR WE CAN DO IT THAT THAT ONCE THE SEAT THE APPOINTEE APPROVED BY THIS COMMISSION IS APPROVED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING, THAT'S WHEN THE FUNDING WILL BE RELEASED. THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M I'LL MOVE THAT THAT PARTICULAR AMENDMENT.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO MOVED FIRST. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A MOTION. I THINK I WAS GOING THROUGH THE KEY TERMS. OKAY. WELL, SO I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A MOTION RIGHT NOW. ARE YOU OKAY IF I FINISH THE. YES, YES. I'M SORRY, I GOT I GOT LOST SOMEWHERE IN THERE. ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT. SO A ONE YEAR TERM AS DISCUSSED. SO THIS WOULD BE FOR THE NEXT NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.

THAT WOULD NOT INCLUDE AN AUTO RENEWAL OPTION. AS MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY ON AN ANNUAL AUDIT FINANCIALS QUARTERLY UNAUDITED BUDGET TO ACTUAL REPORTS, CONTINUED REVIEW OF OUR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PLAN WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE UNDERLYING TEAM INSURANCE COVERAGE AS REQUIRED BY THE COUNTY AGREEMENT. AND THEN SEPARATELY, ALL SPECIAL

[04:30:01]

OKAY. WE HAVE TO. IT'S GOTTA BE, IT'S GOTTA BE. YOU GOTTA HELP US OUT. YOU GOTTA HELP US OUT.

WE NEED TO PROTECT THE CITY. WE NEED TO PROTECT WHAT HAS MADE CORAL GABLES SPECIAL. WHY ARE WE WHY ARE WE THE LEADERS? WHY ARE WE. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. WHY ARE WE SELECTING SIX ACRES OF LAND OVER AN ADDITIONAL 5 OR $6 MILLION A YEAR ON OUR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT? BECAUSE WE SEE THE VALUE IN THE LAND, WE SEE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE FAMILIES, JUST LIKE I SEE IN THE UNDERLINE. BUT I CANNOT ALLOW, I CANNOT ALLOW BECAUSE IF YOU ASK ME FOR A MILLION THIS YEAR, YOU'RE GONNA ASK ME FOR 2 MILLION NEXT YEAR AND 3,000,004 MILLION AND 5 MILLION. AND I'M GOING TO BE AT A POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, I, I'M GOING TO HAVE DEPLETING MY CAPITAL. I'M GOING TO BE DEPLETING OTHER FORMS OF REVENUE THAT ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO PAY DOWN DEBT, TO ADDRESS ISSUES SO WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR TAX TAX BASE AS LOW, NOT TAX BASE, EXCUSE ME. OUR TAX RATE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I CAN'T RAISE TAXES ON PEOPLE, SO I'M WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD. BUT I NEED AN ANSWER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANIZATION SAYING THAT THE BOARD APPROVED APPROVED THE SIMPLE FACT, WHICH IS I'M NOT ASKING ANYTHING OUT OF THE NORM. I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING OUT OF THE NORM AT ALL. JUST LIKE I DO IT IN A TPO, JUST LIKE THE VICE MAYOR DOES. IT DOES IT AT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, JUST LIKE SHE DOES IT ON THE THE GREEN CORRIDOR. WHEN YOU'RE A MEMBER OF A BOARD AND YOU HAVE A SEAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHAMBER HAS A SEAT. THE CITY HAS A SEAT ON THE CHAMBER BOARD. IT OBVIOUSLY HAS TO BE ONE OF FIVE OF US, AND WE WILL MAKE THE DECISION AS A COMMISSION ON WHO'S ON THAT, WHO'S APPOINTED THAT. IF WE SELECT SOMEBODY THAT MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE A BUSINESS ACUMEN OR THAT MAYBE DOESN'T SUIT THE CHAMBER, WELL, GUESS WHAT? THAT PERSON'S GONNA SIT ON THAT BOARD. CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO LET'S WORK TOGETHER, PLEASE. AND I UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ CONCERNS. HE'S A WHOLEHEARTEDLY CORRECT, BUT I NEED TO HAVE THAT SEAT DONE APPROPRIATELY. OKAY. I THINK IT'S A SHOW OF FAITH AND GOOD AND TRUST IN THE CITY. WHO IS STEPPING UP ONCE AGAIN? YES.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST TO TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR, WE ARE ALL AGREEING TO THE MOU THAT WE JUST TO THE ITEMS THAT WE JUST WE JUST SAW, EXCEPT FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE. YES. NUMBER ONE HAS TO BE A SEAT THAT THAT IS PROVIDED, THAT IS SELECTED BY BY THE COMMISSION AND ONLY BY THE COMMISSION. AND DOES THE UNDERLYING AGREE TO TO THOSE CONDITIONS. OF THE MOU. YES.

YOU'LL LIKELY SEE ALL DOWN THE LINE. YES WE DO. CITY MANAGER, WE AGREE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MR. MAYOR, WE DO NEED A MOTION. YES. I'LL MOVE IT WITH A CONDITION THAT WAS STATED BEFORE THAT WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE THAT IS APPROVED BY THIS COMMISSION. SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE I THINK WE HAD TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT BEFORE, SO THAT WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE THE MOU IS SUBJECT TO THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING APPROVING THAT THE CITY CAN APPOINT THE APPOINTEE THAT WILL THEN BE APPOINTED BY THEM TO TO THE BOARD, BECAUSE ALTERNATIVELY WOULD BE A WE COULD JUST TIME THE FUNDING DIFFERENTLY, RIGHT.

SO EACH THIS IS A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT, BUT BEFORE IT'S FUNDED THAT THEY WILL HAVE

[04:35:04]

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. CONFIRMATION. UNDERSTOOD. I THINK SO IT'S NOT ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE FUNDING. IT'S ABOUT CONFIRMATION THAT THAT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WILL HAVE A SEAT ON THE BOARD, THAT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES SELECTS AND CHOOSES WHO? THAT WHO FILLS THAT SEAT. RIGHT. IT'S OUR CHOICE. THAT'S THE MOTION. YES. I'LL SECOND THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. AND THE FUNDING WILL BE SUBJECT TO THAT. TO THAT UNDERSTANDING, 110%. CLEAR? YES. FOR THE AMOUNT IS TO BE DETERMINED DURING THE BUDGET HEARING. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. SO IS THERE DO WE HAVE CLARITY ON THE TIMING? SO BY WHEN DO WE NEED TO KNOW BY WHICH POINT IS THE FUNDING WITHHELD IF WE DON'T GET AFFIRMATIVE? I MEAN, THE COMMISSION CAN DECIDE TO PUT SOME TIMING IN THERE OR IT JUST IF IT'S NOT, WE DON'T HAVE THAT CONFIRMATION, COMMISSIONER, AS I UNDERSTOOD THE MOTION. AND PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, VICE MAYOR, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO EXECUTE ANY AGREEMENT UNLESS AND UNTIL WE HAVE A ASSURANCE FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING THAT THAT SEAT REMAINS OURS, SUBJECT ONLY TO THIS COMMISSION'S APPROVAL. AND I THINK THE MANAGER INDICATED WE WON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT MOU OR ANY ASSOCIATED FUNDING IF THAT'S NOT THE CASE. EXACTLY.

OKAY. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE THAT COMMISSIONER. YES. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT MEG WAS SAYING IT'LL TAKE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF WEEKS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING REASONABLE LIKE THAT. BUT LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT NOT IN PERPETUITY. AND I, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD NEED THE FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLYING TO SIGN ON TO THAT MOU CONFIRMING THAT THE CITY WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPOINT THAT INDIVIDUAL TO THE BOARD, TO THE MAYOR. AND BY THE WAY, I'M SORRY, YOU CAN YOU CAN GIVE THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE CREDENCE. THIS THIS THE MAJOR CHECK IS GOING TO BE GIVEN NEXT YEAR. I SAID WE'RE NOT FUNDING IT TODAY. SO AGAIN, NEXT YEAR BEGINS ON FRIDAY. I KNOW, BUT I MEAN IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CUTTING A CHECK ON FRIDAY. I'M PRETTY SURE THEY'RE NOT CUTTING A CHECK ON FRIDAY UNTIL AGAIN IT'S IN THE MORE EXPEDIENT THEY ARE, THE BETTER FOR THEM. AGAIN, IF THEY DON'T IF THEY DON'T RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, THEY DON'T GET THE MONEY. BUT THROUGH THE MAYOR, THEY COULD WAIT SIX MONTHS AND THEN THEY GET $1 MILLION. IF WE AGREE, IF WE AGREE TO $1 MILLION. SO IT MAY WE MAY JUST NEED TO MAKE CONTINGENT ON IT'S $1 MILLION AS OF DAY ONE. IF WE IF THAT THAT DEAL IS AGREED TO, AND THEN IT STARTS REDUCING DAILY PRORATED PER DAY SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT WAITING SIX MONTHS TO GET A SEAT AT THE TABLE. THEN WE GET THE SEAT AT THE TABLE AFTER DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. AND I AGREE WITH GETTING A FULL CHECK. SO IT SHOULD BE PRORATED. IF IF THAT'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT YOU WOULD ACCEPT. YES, 100%. I DIDN'T I DIDN'T MAKE THE MOTION. THE VICE MAYOR DID.

BUT I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE ACCEPTED. OKAY, OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. AND A SECOND COMMISSIONER FERNANDES. YES. COMMISSIONER LATTA YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR. YES. OKAY. MOVING ON TO ITEM.

[H.-2. 26-2146 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Public Works Department authorizing the City to negotiate and execute a Construction Management at Risk (CMR) Agreement with Thornton Construction for the construction phase of the City Hall Renovation & Restoration Project (Project), pursuant to (RFQ) 2025-031, in an amount not to exceed $39,977,989 or the budgeted amount.]

WE WE WE, WHAT WE HAVE IS A, WE HAVE A FORMALIZED GMP. WE ARE, WE ARE SET TO TO AWARDED TO CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO START START OFFICIALLY CONSTRUCTION IN OCTOBER FOR, FOR CITY HALL. I THINK WE'VE WE'VE LOOKED AT WE'VE DONE, I THINK, A VERY EXTENSIVE JOB IN LOOKING AT ALL THE COSTS AND, AND, AND ALL POTENTIAL SAVINGS. AND I THINK THAT WE ARE WE ARE GOING FOR A BOND OF $40 MILLION WITH, WITH, WITH CASH AT HAND. SO I THINK THAT WE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION TO REMODEL CITY HALL WITH, WITH, WITH, WITH THE BOND AND THE CASH AT HAND. OKAY. CITY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MA'AM. OKAY, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. YOU WANT TO YOU WANT TO CALL THE ROLL NOW? SO THE MAYOR'S

[04:40:12]

VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. YES. VICE MAYOR. VICE MAYOR, YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION? NO, MA'AM.

MY NAME IS DAGOBERTO DIAZ. I'M FROM TORRENT CONSTRUCTION, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY. ON BEHALF OF OUR COMPANY, WE REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESTORATION OF THE CITY HALL. WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. AND I WISH THE MAYOR WAS HERE. AND HE IS RIGHT. CITY MANAGER DID SQUEEZE QUITE A LOT, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL AT HAND. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD. THANK YOU. WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE THE CITY MANAGER WHO HAS THE INCREDIBLE ABILITY TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE DOLLAR, AND HE HAS A SECOND IN COMMAND THAT IS VERY WELL TRAINED AS WELL. SO DON'T UNDERESTIMATE HIM EITHER. SO. I'M SURE YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY. THE VICE MAYOR. YES. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THORNTON IS, IS, IS A COMPANY THAT CONSTRUCTED THE MINORCA GARAGE. ALSO, WE HAD WE HAD A VERY GOOD CONSTRUCTION RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AT THAT TIME. AND WE EXPECT TO SEE NOTHING DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

[E.-9. 26-2125 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the Police Department's 2025-2026 Red Light Camera survey responses and written summary after a public hearing and presentation at the September 29, 2026 City Commission Meeting in accordance with Florida Statutes § 316.0083(4).]

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WITH THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE, BESIDES THE FUNDING RECEIVED, WE'VE HAD 26% REDUCTION AT US ONE IN GRANADA, WHICH IS PRETTY TREMENDOUS FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS OCCURRING IN THAT LOCATION. WE ALSO HAD US ONE IN RIVIERA, 29% REDUCTION, AND BIRD ROAD AND LEJEUNE AT 62% REDUCTION. SO IT SHOWS THAT THIS INITIATIVE THAT WE'VE HAD GOING SINCE 2015 OF THE RED LIGHT CAMERA IS WORKING AND WE'RE HAVING SOME POSITIVE RESULTS. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? NO, MA'AM. DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ.

YES, COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. NEXT ITEM WE'LL CALL. THANK YOU.

[H.-3. 26-2144 Innovation and Technology Department update on public Wi-Fi.]

[04:45:14]

WE ARE BUILDING WITH FIBER. AND AFTER THAT WE WILL START WORK PLANNING AND WORKING ON THE NORTH PONCE CORRIDOR THAT YOU SEE TO THE NORTH, CONNECTING TO WHITE STREET AND TO FLIER. SO CITY CONNECTED, CITY OWNED FIBER IS THE PRIMARY HIGH SPEED, SECURE AND RESILIENT COMMUNICATION FOUNDATION. SO IT'S UNDERGROUND AND IT HAS THE RESILIENCE AND THE CAPABILITY TO SURVIVE HIGH SPEED WINDS AND OTHER CONDITIONS. SO WHY IT MATTERS? SO BASICALLY, WE PROVIDE FREE INTERNET ACCESS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY DURING EMERGENCIES.

SO WE KNOW IN THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANES YOU HAVE THE COMMUNITY GOING TO PUBLIC AREAS, PUBLIC PARKS, AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONNECT WHEN THEY LOSE COMMERCIAL INTERNET ACCESS.

WE KNOW THAT HAPPENED DURING, FOR EXAMPLE, HURRICANE IRMA. WE HAD THAT SITUATION. ALSO, BUSINESSES. SOMETIMES WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT THEY USE RIGHT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE HURRICANE, WHEN THEY HAVE LOST THE COMMERCIAL INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS, THEY USED A PUBLIC CITY WI-FI TO CONNECT THEIR POINT OF SALE AND OPEN THE DOORS AND PUBLIC WIFI. IN SOME CASES AS WELL. AND SUPPORT FOR CITY SERVICES FOR EVENTS. LOCAL BUSINESSES. I INCLUDED A PICTURE OF THE LITERACY FEST TO SEE THAT WE PROVIDE PUBLIC WIFI DURING THE. DURING THE FESTIVAL AND MANY OTHER EVENTS. CARNIVAL ON THE MILE AND OTHERS. SO. AND HOW TO CONNECT BASICALLY ANYWHERE WHERE WE HAVE COVERAGE AND YOU USING YOUR CELL PHONE

[04:50:02]

SOMETIMES A VISITOR THAT IS USING ROAMING SERVICES, THEY CAN USE WI-FI AND THEY SAVE MONEY AND COST SO MANY DIFFERENT BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED WITH PUBLIC WI-FI AND DIGITAL INCLUSION. SO THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, I JUST HAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE CONTEXT FOR FOLKS THAT DURING THE LITERACY FESTIVAL, THE ROTARY CLUB HAD AN EYE, A READING PROGRAM THAT THEY HAD PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO TEST OUT THAT IT WAS ON A COMPUTER AND IT WAS DUE TO OUR MAGNIFICENT IT STAFF THAT THEY MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE FOLKS, THE ROTARY CLUB, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT TO DEMONSTRATE FOR FOLKS.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE FEEL A LOT SAFER USING OUR PUBLIC WI-FI AS OPPOSED TO LIKE WI-FI AND AIRPORT AND OTHER LOCATIONS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE CHAIR. YES, DIRECTOR. QUESTION FOR YOU. YOU BROUGHT UP DURING TIMES OF STORMS, DO WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF EXPANDING DURING TIMES OF STORMS WITH MAYBE MOBILE UNITS THAT WE CAN PUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY? YEAH, WE ACTUALLY DO IT. WE HAVE MOBILE DEPLOYMENTS THAT WE POWER SOMETIMES WITH SATELLITE TECHNOLOGIES LIKE STARLINK AND ALSO WHAT WE CALL THE CRADLE POINTS. WHEN YOU BRING MULTIPLE CELLULAR CONNECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT CARRIERS INTO ONE SINGLE DEVICE, AND IT PROVIDES LIKE A MOBILE HOTSPOT. SO WE DO, WE DO THAT A LOT DURING HURRICANE AND SPECIAL EVENTS OR EMERGENCIES. WE DEPLOY A LOT OF COMMUNICATION CAPACITY FROM A CELLULAR OR FROM SATELLITE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC HOTSPOT, AND ALSO FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. DURING OUR LUNCH BREAK, I BECAME AWARE THAT, YOU KNOW, EXPENSE FORMS THAT YOU HAD SUBMITTED TO OUR CITY HAD OVERCHARGED DURING YOUR PERIOD OF TIME THAT YOU WERE IN TALLAHASSEE FOR THE LEAGUE OF CITIES EVENTS, YOUR APPROVAL AHEAD OF TIME WAS FOR $1,000, ROUGHLY LESS THAN WHAT YOU HAD ORIGINALLY CHARGED. ROOM RATES WERE HIGHER WHEN YOU SUBMITTED IT BACK. YOU HAD ADDITIONAL UBER RECEIPT IN THERE FOR I DON'T KNOW WHAT FOR. I GUESS A THIRD PARTY THAT WAS WITH YOU. THOSE TYPES OF CHARGES ARE NOT APPROPRIATE. AND I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECTIFY THAT RATHER THAN MAKE OUR TAXPAYERS PAY FOR YOUR PERSONAL TRAVEL.

WHEN YOU NEEDED TO GO UP THERE FOR AN ETHICS HEARING AND STAY IN HOTELS ADDITIONAL DAYS AND, AND MAKE THE ELECTION TO GO FROM A ROOM RATE THAT WAS $400 A NIGHT TO $700 A NIGHT CHARGE FOR FOOD THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, JUST INAPPROPRIATE IRS RULES, RULES THAT EXIST IN THE CITY ON CHARGES THAT ARE ALLOWABLE FOR CITY EVENTS.

WE'RE NOT WE'RE JUST VIOLATED. YOU KNOW, I'VE GONE ON BUSINESS TRIPS MANY TIMES AND I DON'T CHARGE MY CLIENTS FOR OR WHEN I'M COURT APPOINTED ON THINGS, THE GOVERNMENT FOR THINGS THAT I SHOULD NOT DO, NOR THAT I TRY TO TAKE A TAX WRITE OFF FOR THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BE TAKING A TAX WRITE OFF ON. YOU HAVE CERTAIN APPROVED RATES. SO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY, DO THE RIGHT THING AND REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR THE OVERCHARGES TO THE MAYOR. NUMBER ONE, I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU'RE GETTING THIS INFORMATION FROM. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT IT, AND I'M REALLY HOPING YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT FROM AN ANONYMOUS BLOG THAT DOESN'T

[04:55:01]

I'VE GONE TO THE LEAGUE OF CITIES THINGS, AND I. I ABIDED BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT THE CITY HAS SO THAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE NOT IMPROPERLY USED. WHEN I BOUGHT FOOD OVER AND ABOVE, IT WAS ON MY DIME AND I. BUT IF I, IF I, IF I MAY. SO I ALSO SAW THE ARTICLE I WAS SENT TO ME. I THINK IT WAS SENT TO EVERYBODY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE, IT HAS ALL THE RECEIPTS, IT HAS YOUR RECEIPTS, IT HAS YOUR REIMBURSEMENTS, IT HAS YOUR TICKETS, IT HAS EVERYTHING THERE. AND THE WAY IT WAS VERY SIMPLE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE PEOPLE HERE. ANYBODY CAN READ IT ON AESOP'S. IT SAYS THE LEAGUE OF CITIES EVENT WAS ON MONDAY AFTERNOON. YOU GOT TO TALLAHASSEE ON FRIDAY. THE CITY PAID FOR THAT FLIGHT. THE REASON WHY YOU GOT THERE ON FRIDAY WAS BECAUSE, VERY SIMPLY, YOU HAD AN ETHICS HEARING WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA ETHICS HEARING, OR EXCUSE ME, WHICH YOU HAD MISSED, AND THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU 7 OR 8 TIMES. IT'S AN INVESTIGATION THAT YOU'RE UNDER. AND THEY FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE. SO THE CITY PAID FOR YOUR FLIGHT FOR THAT HEARING. THEY ALSO PAID FOR YOUR UBERS. AND FOR SOME REASON THERE'S AN UBER, AN UBER ON A TUESDAY. BUT YOU LEFT ON A WEDNESDAY AND THE UBER ON A TUESDAY TO, TO TO THE AIRPORT, PLUS ALL THE MEALS AND THE HOTELS. SO IF YOU HAD YOUR ETHICS EVENT, IF YOU HAD YOUR ETHICS ISSUE ON FRIDAY AND YOU HAD YOUR LEAGUE OF CITIES EVENT ON A MONDAY, WHY DON'T YOU JUST FLY TO TALLAHASSEE ON MONDAY MORNING OR ON A SUNDAY NIGHT IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR MEETING? BUT DON'T DON'T YOU KNOW EXACTLY, YOU KNOW EXACTLY, VERY CLEARLY. IT'S ALL THERE, ALL THE RECEIPTS. IT'S IT WAS ALL HANDLED, AS IS CLEARLY STATED THROUGH PUBLIC RECORDS WITH THE CITY, AND IT'S DENOTED THERE. WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS THIS. THIS IS SIMPLE. I'M GIVING YOU A LIFELINE. OKAY. I KNOW IT'S ELECTION SEASON. AND AGAIN, I DIDN'T BRING THIS UP, BUT JUST PAY THE CITY BACK THE MONEY AND THAT'S IT. YOU HAVE ENOUGH ISSUES WITH THE ETHICS COMMISSION AND A PROBABLE CAUSE FINDING THAT WILL BE RENDERED SOON ENOUGH. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY JUST TO MOVE ON. MOVE ON. AND YOU CAN DEAL WITH THE ISSUE AND CONCENTRATE ON FIGURING OUT THAT OTHER ETHICS ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE AND AVOID ANY FURTHER ISSUES. I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SHOW GOOD FAITH AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND MOVE ON TO THE MAYOR. YES. SO, NUMBER ONE, I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY OF THIS, AND I SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSING MY PERSONAL MATTERS, BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND REQUEST, SINCE I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING OF WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT, TO PUT ON THE NEXT AGENDA, AN ITEM WHERE I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DISPLAY EXACTLY WHAT I WAS DOING IN TALLAHASSEE, WHAT WAS CHARGED AND WHAT WASN'T CHARGED. INITIALLY, I, I WASN'T EVEN IN TALLAHASSEE WHEN I FLEW THERE.

I WAS THERE FOR A COUPLE HOURS. THEN I DROVE DOWN, I RENTED A CAR AND I DROVE DOWN TO DESTIN.

THAT'S WHERE I WAS STAYING. THAT WAS NOT PAID BY THE CITY. AND IN FACT, JUST SO YOU KNOW, CHANGING MY FLIGHT TO A FRIDAY ACTUALLY SAVED THE MONEY, SAVED THE CITY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAN ME FLYING IN ON SUNDAY OR MONDAY. OKAY. SO THAT WAS A BENEFIT TO THE CITY.

SECOND, THAT I COULD REMEMBER, THE CITY DID NOT REIMBURSE ME. AND THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING

[05:00:02]

AND IF YOU GUYS NEED TO KNOW WHERE I WAS, WHICH WASN'T EVEN TALLAHASSEE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT JUST TO GIVE SOME CLEAR MIND TO THE TO THE COMMISSIONER, TO THE PEOPLE WATCHING, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS IS POLITICAL STUNT. BASICALLY. YOU DON'T. OKAY, LET ME JUST YOU UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU'RE BACK PEDALING AS HARD AS YOU CAN. YOU FLEW INTO TALLAHASSEE ON FRIDAY, WHETHER YOU TOOK A CAR OR WHATEVER YOU DID. THAT WAS THE DAY OF YOUR ETHICS HEARING BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE. IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD.

OKAY, SO YOU WENT TO TALLAHASSEE FOR YOUR ETHICS. HEARING. YOUR FLIGHT BACK WAS ON WEDNESDAY BECAUSE YOU HAD A LEAGUE OF CITIES EVENT ON MONDAY AND SUPPOSEDLY TUESDAY, WHICH YOU SAID IN YOUR MEMO THAT YOU WERE ATTENDING AN ETHICS HEARING, YOU DIDN'T PAY THE ADDITIONAL $50 TO GO TO THE ETHICS HEARING. SO YOU DIDN'T EVEN GO TO THAT. YOU PUT OUT A MEMO THAT IT WAS LIKE THE MOST RIDICULOUS MEMO I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. FIVE PAGE CHATGPT MEMO EXPLAINING WHY YOU'RE GOING EARLY TO TALLAHASSEE, THE REASON WHY YOU WENT TO TALLAHASSEE EARLY, AND IT'S VERY CLEARLY DELINEATED THERE IS BECAUSE YOU WERE FACING AN ETHICS HEARING AT THE STATE ON FRIDAY. IF YOU WENT TO DESTIN ON SATURDAY. PERFECT.

CONGRATULATIONS. YOU WENT TO DESTIN FRIDAY, BUT IT WAS ON FRIDAY OR FRIDAY, WHATEVER YOU WANT. BUT THE CITY PAID FOR YOUR HOTELS A DAY EARLY, TWO DAYS EARLY, WHEN YOU DIDN'T EVEN NEED TO BE IN TALLAHASSEE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S VERY. AND ALL THE HOTEL MEALS AND ALL THE UBERS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO THE POINT IS, THE POINT IS IT'S VERY, VERY CLEARLY DELINEATED AND EXPLAINED ON, ON THE OPS. YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN, YOU CAN PUT WHATEVER YOU WANT AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER. AT THE END OF THE DAY. I'M JUST TELLING YOU, JUST PAY BACK THE FLIGHT AND YOU AND YOU ABSOLVE YOURSELF OF THE ISSUE. THAT'S THOSE ARE THOSE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT THE END OF THE DAY. SO THE MAYOR LET ME GO AHEAD AND CORRECT YOU ONE MORE TIME. THOSE WERE NOT TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR A LOT OF PORTION OF WHAT WAS PAID. I PAID OUT OF POCKET. LIKE WE COULD GO AHEAD AND CONSULT THAT WITH FINANCE. I WILL TELL YOU, WHAT THEY GAVE ME BACK WAS A THOUSAND SOMETHING DOLLARS. ALL THE REMAINING I PAID FOR, WHICH ORIGINALLY WOULD HAVE BELONGED TO THE CITY. AND LET ME GO AHEAD AND CORRECT YOU ONE ONE POINT THERE TOO. ON TUESDAY, I TRIED TO DO MY BEST AND I GOT REALLY SICK IN THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, AND THAT'S WHY I CAUGHT AN EMERGENCY FLIGHT BACK ON TUESDAY AND I MISSED WEDNESDAY. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. COMMISSIONER. AGAIN, YOU CAN TRY AND SMOKESCREEN IT THE REASON WHY YOU DIDN'T GET MORE MONEY BACK. YOU TRIED TO GET EVERY DOLLAR BACK THAT YOU SPENT IN TALLAHASSEE WHEN YOU GOT THERE EARLY FOR THE ETHICS HEARING AND MAKE THE CITY PAY FOR IT. BUT YOU HAD ALREADY RAN OUT OF MONEY. YOU HAD USED UP ALL YOUR ENTIRE ALLOWANCE. AND THEN WHEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE ALLOWANCE, YOU ASKED FOR THE CITY TO TAKE MONEY FROM ANOTHER COMMISSIONER. WHO HADN'T USED ANY OF THEIR ALLOWANCE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU TRIED EVERYTHING YOU POSSIBLY COULD TO GET THE CITY TO PAY FOR EVERY LAST DROP OF THAT TRIP TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION AT THE STATE. BUT SINCE THE CITY SAID YOU CAN'T BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CAP, YOU HAVE USED UP YOUR ENTIRE CAP ON ALL YOUR TRIPS. SO THE PURPOSE WAS YOU USED THE YOU USED THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AS A REASON TO PAY FOR YOUR TRIP TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE, TO PAY FOR YOUR ETHICS COMMISSION HEARING AT THE STATE LEVEL. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. YOU CAN TRY TO PUT AS MUCH SMOKE UP AS YOU WANT AND YOU KNOW, AND CONFUSE PEOPLE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S JUST DISAPPOINTING. AND I'M AND I'M GIVING YOU A LIFELINE TO SAY, HEY, I'LL JUST PAY BACK THE FLIGHT AND GET OUT OF THE WAY. BUT YOU DON'T YOU, YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO INSIST TO DO THAT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S IT'S RIDICULOUS.

THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR YOU. THE LODGING RATE FOR THE TRAVEL REQUEST FORM AT THE TIME, AND IT WAS BOOKED BY THE CITY ON A CITY P CARD, WAS $481.51. THE ACTUAL AMOUNT THAT YOU REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR WAS $1,506.71, TRIPLE THE AMOUNT BECAUSE YOU CHOSE TO SPEND, YOU KNOW, USE A DIFFERENT HOTEL. WHY YOU DID IS IRRELEVANT IS IRRELEVANT. THE FACT THAT YOU CHOSE TO USE A DIFFERENT RATE, THE MAXIMUM

[05:05:01]

IT'S SIMPLE BLACK AND WHITE IN WRITING HERE TO BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT YOU REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR AND EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE ENTITLED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR. AND YOU ASKED FOR MORE THAN WHAT YOU WERE ENTITLED TO DO. THE MAYOR. WHY DON'T WE MOVE ON? OKAY, NO, THIS IS REALLY QUICK, SUPER QUICK. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND I DON'T HAVE THE FACTS IN FRONT OF ME OR WHAT THE VICE MAYOR IS SAYING. I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW WHAT SHE'S SAYING, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING FOR AN ITEM TO BE SPECIFICALLY ON THIS. AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THIS ITEM COME FROM. WAS THIS PART OF THE AGENDA OR WAS THIS A POCKET ITEM? IT'S A POCKET ITEM. OKAY. IT WAS WELL, TO MY SURPRISE, I WAS NOT PREPARED. I, I, NEITHER WAS I, SO NEITHER WAS I. THE ARTICLE WAS SENT OUT AT OR 1:00. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE MOVING ON. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NO RESOLUTION AND WE'VE OFFERED TO ASSIST AND LET THIS GO. BUT AGAIN, I GUESS WE WANT TO CONTINUE DENYING THE FACTS. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT TO THE NEXT ITEM AT HAND. LET'S START WITH E NINE. MAYOR. WE HANDLED THAT WHILE YOU OKAY.

YES. AND WE ALSO HANDLED H THREE. OKAY. CAN I PUT MY VOTE ON THE RECORD. IS THAT ALLOWED FOR H3H3 HAD NO VOTE? OH THERE WAS NONE. THAT WAS NOT THE ONE FOR THORNTON. NO. YOU VOTED FOR THORNTON. I THOUGHT I DID NOT VOTE FOR THORNTON, I DID. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY, SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO NOW CITY COMMISSION ITEMS, CORRECT? OH, SIR, YOU DID NOT. I'D LIKE TO MOVE. I LIKE TO VOTE YES. AND BY THE WAY, AND PUT THAT THORNTON IS A GREAT CONTRACTOR. I COMPETE AGAINST HIM ALL THE TIME. THEY BEAT ME PROBABLY 90% OF THE TIME. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY, VERY TOUGH PROJECT. WE'RE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF HELP IN REGARDS TO THIS PROJECT. MR. MANAGERS AND. AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT OVER THE LAST FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT YOU'RE BUILDING WITH A TOOTH, WITH A WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB, NOT A, NOT A BULLDOZER. SO TOOTHBRUSH, TOOTHBRUSH, WELL SAID. ALL

[F.-1. 26-2172 A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Attorney to seek, through all legally available and jurisdictionally appropriate mechanisms, an independent ethics review, opinion, guidance, or other determination regarding any potential voting, participation, employment, contractual, financial, or other conflict of interest arising from Mayor Vincent Lago's professional and financial relationships with Hammer Commercial Construction, LLC and/or Hammer Construction Corporation and any current or recent business, contractual, professional, client, contractor, or financial relationship between those entities and the University of Miami, in connection with the pending amended and restated University of Miami development agreement and related matters; requesting review of participation in negotiations, communications, discussions, deliberations, direction to staff, and voting; requesting determination of any applicable disclosure, abstention, recusal, or non-participation requirements; providing for the preservation and review of relevant records; providing for public disclosure of any resulting determination to the extent permitted by law; and providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)]

PROVIDING FOR PRESERVATION AND REVIEW OF RELEVANT RECORDS. PROVIDING FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF ANY RESULTS AND DETERMINATION TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. OKAY, SO I FIND IT VERY TROUBLING, NUMBER ONE, THAT THERE'S A POCKET ITEM RIGHT BEFORE WE READ THIS ITEM, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND IGNORE THAT. I ALSO FIND VERY TROUBLING THAT, RIGHT. I, I ASKED THE MAYOR, NOT DIRECTLY, BUT BY THE CITY CLERK TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THIS A TIME CERTAIN BEFORE THE 30 YEAR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WAS VOTED ON. WHY? BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CONFLICT, BUT IT IS NOT UP TO ME TO DECIDE IF THERE'S A CONFLICT. IT IS UP TO AN ETHICS COMMISSION TO GO AHEAD AND DECIDE THAT. SO LET ME JUST MAKE CLEAR, I'M NOT STATING ANYBODY IS GUILTY OR OR ALLEGING THAT ANYBODY IS GUILTY DURING THIS. BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO PUT I WANT TO PUT SOMETHING INTO PERSPECTIVE, AND I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE A MAY, A MAJOR NEGOTIATING A 30 YEAR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND ALSO GETTING COMPENSATED PRIVATELY FROM THE PARTY SITTING ACROSS THE TABLE. THAT BRINGS UP QUESTIONS. ARE YOU NEGOTIATING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME YOU ARE PRIVATELY BENEFITING FROM THAT SAME PERSON ON THE TABLE, ALREADY ON THE TABLE? YOU DON'T GET TO NEGOTIATE FOR THE PUBLIC AND LEAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS UNANSWERED.

THE MAYOR STATED THAT HE HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING THE PARK FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS. ACTUALLY IT'S TEN. OKAY, WELL THEN I'LL CORRECT THE RECORD. FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS, THE MAYOR ALSO

[05:10:04]

GOSSIP THAT JUST CONTINUES TO BE REGURGITATED AROUND THE CITY. WHEN RESIDENTS MOVE INTO CORAL GABLES, THEY MOVE INTO CORAL GABLES BECAUSE THEY EXPECT SOMETHING THAT'S ABOVE EVERY OTHER CITY THAT THEY MOVE INTO. THEY EXPECT A HIGHER STANDARD. AND, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY'S DOING BUSINESS WITH AN ENTITY, THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT'S ON THEIR CONSCIENCE, WHETHER THEY HAVE TO RECUSE THEMSELVES OR NOT. IN THIS CASE, I'M NOT HERE TO LITIGATE THIS, AND I DON'T THINK THAT AS A COMMISSION, WE SHOULD BE LITIGATING THIS. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE TAKING RECEIPTS FROM AN ANONYMOUS BLOG AND MAKING IT AN ITEM ON THE COMMISSION TO START DISCUSSING IT AND THROWING ACCUSATIONS AROUND. LET'S MOVE PAST THIS.

WE HAVE AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES BEFORE THE BUDGET HEARING, AND WE STILL HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS. LET'S MOVE FORWARD FRUITFULLY. LET'S MAKE THE REST OF THIS MEETING FRUITFUL. THERE'S IMPORTANT THINGS ON THIS AGENDA THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS, AND LET'S JUST STAY FOCUSED, VICE MAYOR. SO, COMMISSIONER, I AGREE WITH YOU. AND IT WASN'T A GOTCHA MOMENT.

THERE WAS A PUBLICATION. IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSIONER TO ADDRESS IT RATHER THAN HAVING CONTINUING BLOGS. THE PROCESS. AND I, I KNOW THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN EXPLAIN IT. IF SOMEONE HAS PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS SOME VIOLATION OF AN ETHICS CODE WITH THAT PROPER PROCESS IS. AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. YES. SO THE BOTH THE STATE AND THE LOCAL COMMISSION ON ETHICS, THEY DO TWO THINGS.

THEY ISSUE OPINIONS ON PROSPECTIVE CONDUCT, NOT ON PAST CONDUCT, OR THEY INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY ONLY INVESTIGATE ONCE THERE'S A SWORN COMPLAINT FILED BY SOMEONE WITH PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE. SO LET ME JUST YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN, COMMISSIONER. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU LIKE TO ADD? I AGREE WITH WHAT? BEFORE WE BRING THIS IN FOR A LANDING, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ STATED, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD A LOT TODAY, BUT I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS NOW OVER THE COURSE OF ALMOST A YEAR, THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED MORE ON THE BUSINESS OF THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES. WE NEED TO ACT MORE LIKE STATESMEN AND A HECK OF A LOT LESS LIKE POLITICAL PUNCH LINES. AND I'VE SEEN TOO MUCH OF THAT RECENTLY. I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN FAVOR OF F1 BECAUSE IT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH RESPECT TO US. TURNING INTO A POTENTIAL INVESTIGATIVE BODY, IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE WEAPONIZED FOR POLITICAL GAIN OR HARM, OR THE SAME THING, RIGHT. I'VE HEARD A COMMISSIONER ON THIS DAIS

[05:15:03]

SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T GET A SECOND FOR ME. I SUSPECT THAT'S WHY THERE WASN'T A SECOND OBTAINED BY ANYONE ELSE. BUT I DO AGREE. WE HAVE IMPORTANT BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF FOR THE CITY. WE ARE ALL CHARGED WITH A VERY IMPORTANT AND PRIVILEGED POSITION AS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY, AND WE SHOULD GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE AND PUT THIS IN THE IN THE VERY FURTHEST REACHES OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OF THE MAYOR. YES, YES. OKAY. SO I SEE THAT I DIDN'T GET A SECOND, BUT MAYBE I WILL GET A SECOND AFTER THEY GO AHEAD AND PRESENT THE THE VIDEO THAT I SENT TO YOU. IF CABLE TV COULD PLAY THE VIDEO FROM THE COMMISSIONER. ISN'T PUBLICIZED THAT YOU ARE NOW WORKING FOR HANALEI CONSTRUCTION. IN THAT WEBSITE, IT SAYS THAT THEY'RE DOING WORK FOR YOU. DO YOU WANT TO SHARE CLARIFICATIONS THAT. ARE YOU BEING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY COMPENSATED IN ANY WAY OR FORM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS? SO THIS IS THE FIRST HEARING THE CITY OF BOSTON DID. 13 NEVER HAD AN ELECTED OFFICIAL JOINING THE CONVERSATION IN ANY WAY. YOU CAN PUT THE VOLUME UP AGAIN. WE'D BE COVERING FOR A RENTER, A RENTER MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN REGARDS TO, IN REGARDS TO, IN REGARDS TO DECISIONS LIKE TAXES, LIKE WHETHER YOU SHOULD, WHETHER YOU SHOULD, YOU KNOW, COMPLICATE THIS AS THE FIRST CASE.

CONGRATULATIONS. MY POINT IS, MY POINT IS THAT I DO WORK. I WORK FOR 20 PLUS YEARS, JUST LIKE I WORK FOR FIU, JUST LIKE I WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY. I WORK FOR. I MEAN, IN COLLEGE, JUST LIKE I WORK FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, JUST LIKE ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, JUST LIKE I WORK FOR MIAMI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT I'M A CONSTRUCTION. IN THE EDUCATIONAL SPACE, VERY COMMON. I BUILD EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN. I BUILD, I BUILD CUSHMAN SCHOOL, I BUILD A LITANY OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, AND HOPEFULLY I GET MORE WORK AND SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS TOURNAMENT NEXT YEAR. AND I WOULD SHY AWAY FROM IT ALL. AND I AM VERY PROUD. I'M VERY PROUD OF MY 16 YEARS OF BEING AN OLDER CONSTRUCTION.

IT IS THE LONGEST STANDING GENERAL CONTRACTOR IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WITH THE LONGEST SINGLE LICENSE IN THE STATE OF THE WORLD, AND THAT'S WHY WE DO REPUTABLE WORK IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

WE THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO SO I'M SO SORRY I'M NOT DONE WITH THIS. SO THE PRESENTATION WASN'T OVER. NOW, WHEN I WENT AND I DRAFTED MY RESOLUTION, THE MAYOR WENT AHEAD AFTER STATING IN THE GABLES GOOD GOVERNMENT WAS, WHICH WAS SEPTEMBER 16TH AS AS YOU JUST HEARD. AND THERE WAS CAPTIONS. HE SAID HE WAS THE OWNER, ONE OF THE OWNERS OF HAMMER CONSTRUCTION, IN WHICH HAMMER CONSTRUCTION ADVERTISES THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AS ONE OF THEIR CLIENTS. NOW, IN 2018, THERE WAS AN OPINION RENDERED WHEN HE WAS WITH BDI I. IN THAT INSTANCE, HE WAS AN EMPLOYEE. IN THIS INSTANCE, IN THE WEBSITE HE IS A PRINCIPAL, BUT FROM HIS OWN WORDS. NOW HE IS ONE OF THE OWNERS OF HAMMER CONSTRUCTION. NOW THE QUESTION IS, IF YOU COULD GO, GO AHEAD AND PUT WHAT IT SAID IN HIS STATEMENT IN FLORIDA POLITICS.

THAT THAT WAS WHAT'S NEXT IN THE IN THE VIDEO THAT IT GOT TURNED OFF. RIGHT BEFORE THAT ONE, BEFORE THAT ONE. SINGLE LICENSE IN THE STATE OF REPUTABLE WORK IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO HERE WE LEAVE IT THERE, LEAVE IT THERE SO PEOPLE CAN READ HIS STATEMENT HERE. LONG SAID THAT HE IS A HAMMER EMPLOYEE WITH NO STOCK EQUITY OR OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN THE COMPANY. HE SAID HAMMER IS NOT A PARTY TO THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. PLAYED NO ROLE IN PREPARING IT. OKAY, BUT YOU JUST HEARD MOMENTS AGO, HE STATED WITH HIS OWN WORDS THAT HE WAS THE OWNER OF ONE OF THE OWNERS OF HAMMER CONSTRUCTION. NOW I ASKED MYSELF, WHICH ONE IS IT? IT IS NOT UP TO ME TO DECIDE WHAT THE TRUTH IS. IT IS UP TO A DIFFERENT GOVERNING BODY, AN ETHICS COMMISSION OR AN OPINION RENDERED TO GO AHEAD AND CLEAR THE FACTS. THIS IS THIS. I'M PUTTING THE FACTS ON THE TABLE.

YOU CAN THEN DECIDE WHERE YOU LAY. THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OKAY, SO THEN WHAT HE SAID THEN

[05:20:13]

THAT IS FOR AN ETHICS COMMISSION OR AN OPINION RENDERED BY OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO GO AHEAD AND DETERMINE ONCE SHE HAS ALL THE FACTS. THE NEXT SLIDE. OKAY. WHAT IS THE MAYOR'S FINANCIAL INTEREST IN HAMMER AND HAMMER CONSTRUCTION? I CAN EVEN READ THAT. SO THAT IS WAY TOO LITTLE. CAN YOU MAKE IT BIGGER? NO, IT'S A VIDEO. I'LL READ IT FROM MY PHONE.

OKAY. YOU PUBLICLY DESCRIBED YOURSELF AS AN OWNER. YOU HAVE ALSO STATED THAT YOU HAVE NO OWNERSHIP OR EQUITY. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR FINANCIAL INTEREST AND COMPENSATION? OKAY.

AND THE SECOND THING IS I'M GOING TO ASK YOU, WILL YOU MAKE THIS COMMITMENT? WILL YOU COMMIT THAT NEITHER YOU NOR ANY COMPANY FROM WHICH YOU RECEIVE A FINANCIAL BENEFIT WILL PARTICIPATE IN, PURSUE, BID ON OR RECEIVE WORK ARISING FROM THE CONSTRUCTION OR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS 30 YEAR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. BECAUSE LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU, AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THAT. LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY I BROUGHT UP PREVIOUS ORDINANCES THAT BASICALLY WERE DESCRIBING THE SAME THING HAPPENING HERE. A PROJECT COMES BEFORE US.

THERE IS A VERBAL AGREEMENT. I'M GOING TO VOTE YES ON THIS. AND THEN GUESS WHAT HAPPENS? THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE COMES, BUT THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE DOESN'T COME IMMEDIATELY. THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE COMES AFTER COMING THROUGH COMMISSION, THEN GOING THROUGH PERMITTING, AND THEN YOU HAVE A VERBAL AGREEMENT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE WORK FOR THE ITEM THAT YOU VOTED. YES. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO AVOID ANY OF THAT. AND TO ME, IF YOU MAKE THAT PLEDGE, I THINK WE'RE REALLY HERE. YOU HAVE A LOT. YOU DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME THE TIME. THROUGH THE MAYOR. THROUGH THE MAYOR. PLEASE DO THE MAYOR FOR THESE TYPES OF MATTERS. MAY I CALL UPON CHIEF HUDAK TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME GUIDANCE ON INVESTIGATING THESE MATTERS? CHIEF, WHILE HE'S APPROACHING, I'D JUST LIKE TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD, I LISTENED CAREFULLY IN YOUR TRANSCRIPT IS NOT ACCURATE BECAUSE THE PAST TENSE WAS USED ON MANY OF THE WORDS IN THE PAST TENSE IS NOT WHAT WAS DISPLAYED ON YOUR QUOTE UNQUOTE TRANSCRIPT. IT'S NOT A TRANSCRIPT. WE HAVE A COMMISSIONERS REQUEST. I'D LIKE TO ANSWER AFTER POSSIBLE IF I'M ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY. GO AHEAD SIR. OKAY. THIS IS ALL WONDERFUL. BUT BUT I'VE GOT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I MEAN, FROM OUR STANDPOINT, UNLESS THIS BODY INSTRUCTS THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY TO THE MANAGER TO DO AN INVESTIGATION, THEN WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT'S SAID 90% OF THE CASES THAT YOU ALL HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD. AND I'M TOTALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS. WE'VE HAD MAYBE 1 OR 2 CASES THAT HAVE COME FORWARD BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT'S SAID HERE IS IRRELEVANT, AND A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, UNLESS SOMEBODY GOES IN TO EITHER ETHICS OR THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND GIVES A SWORN AFFIDAVIT. SO, I MEAN, COMMISSIONER, I'M WATCHING WHAT WHAT WAS PUT UP THERE. WE WOULD HAVE TO GET SWORN STATEMENTS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT WITNESSED THAT. AND WE HAVE NEVER HAD THAT HAPPEN, WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT I REMEMBER OF WHEN THE DOOR TO DOOR, WHICH WAS A VIOLATION OF GETTING SWORN, EXCUSE ME, PETITIONS. RECALL, THAT WAS THE ONE CASE THAT CAME OUT. EVERYTHING OTHER THAN THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CURRENT CASE THAT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THIS

[05:25:04]

INVESTIGATIVELY BECAUSE ONE, WE DON'T DO IT, BUT TWO, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE STATEMENTS. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A SWORN AFFIDAVIT TO THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR TO THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS. AND THEN THEY COULD, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY ELOQUENTLY PUT, THEY CAN GIVE GUIDANCE. BUT ALL OF THOSE FORMS, AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS THAT WE HAVE TO SIGN AT ANY KIND OF DISCLOSURES IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO. IF THERE'S A VIOLATION OF THAT, THAT EITHER COMES FROM THE ETHICS COMMISSION OR FROM THE STATE. IF WE DON'T FILL THOSE OUT CORRECTLY, BECAUSE WE SWEAR TO THOSE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU, CHIEF. SO, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, I JUST I KNOW YOU WANT TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, BUT I WOULD I WOULD CAUTION THAT WE SHOULD JUST DROP THIS. I AGREE WITH THE CHIEF. THIS IS SILLY SEASON. IT'S HIGH SEASON FOR SILLY SEASON RIGHT NOW. IF SOMEONE'S GOT A LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT CONCERN, THERE ARE CHANNELS TO FOLLOW AND THERE ARE GATING ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE CROSSED FIRST, LIKE A SWORN AFFIDAVIT. ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT IS WASTING THE PEOPLE'S TIME. IT'S WASTING THIS COMMISSION'S TIME. IT'S WASTING MY TIME. OKAY. AND WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN LESS THAN TWO HOURS. WE'VE GOT A BUDGET MEETING. SO I, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, MAYOR, BUT I WOULD CAUTION YOU TO SAY AMEN IF I MOVE TO END THE DEBATE REGARDING A RESOLUTION THAT DIDN'T EVEN GET A SECOND. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR INTERJECTING. COMMISSIONER CASTRO, YOUR RESOLUTION AS EVERYTHING IS A POLITICAL STUNT AND EVERYONE ON THIS DAIS KNOWS IT. IT ALL COMES TO AN END IN NOVEMBER. FIVE WEEKS AGO, SHE VOTED YES IN REGARDS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. WITHOUT AN ISSUE. NOT A PROBLEM, NOT A STATEMENT. WHAT CHANGED IS ONLY THE CALENDAR AND OBVIOUSLY THE NERVOUSNESS ABOUT AN IMPENDING ELECTION. THE FACTS ARE SIMPLE. I WILL REPEAT IT AGAIN. I HOLD NO STOCK, NO EQUITY AND NO OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN HAMMER CONSTRUCTION. YOU FAIL TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK. LOOK AT THE DBR. HAMMER COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION IS A NEW COMPANY THAT WAS CREATED THIS YEAR TO BUILD WORKFORCE HOUSING OUTSIDE OF CORAL GABLES. BECAUSE THERE IS NO WORKFORCE HOUSING, YOU FAIL, AS ALWAYS, TO DO THE DETAILS BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. I HAVE WORKED IN EDUCATIONAL CONSTRUCTION MY ENTIRE LIFE, BUT I'M NO LONGER DOING THAT. I DID IT FOR BEADY EYE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS WHERE I WAS AN EMPLOYEE AND I LOVED IT. IT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST JOYS OF MY LIFE TO BUILD EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. AND IF I COULD AGAIN, I WOULD. THE CLAIM, THE CLAIM THAT HAMMER MIGHT SOMEHOW BENEFIT FROM A 30 YEAR AGREEMENT COVERING BUILDINGS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DESIGNED, FUNDED OR BID IS PURE SPECULATION AND UNDER FLORIDA LAW IS SPECULATIVE. BENEFIT IS NOT A CONFLICT. INDEPENDENT ETHICS COUNCIL HAS REVIEWED THIS AND CONFIRMED I HAVE NO OBLIGATIONS TO RECUSE MYSELF. ZERO. NONE OF THIS IS NEW. THE COMPANY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAS WORKED AT THE UNIVERSITY SINCE 2006, LONG BEFORE I JOINED THE ASSOCIATED COMPANY, AND EIGHT YEARS BEFORE I WAS EVER ELECTED. IN 2018, THE CITY ATTORNEY ISSUED A WRITTEN ORIGINAL OPINION, FINDING NO CONFLICT IN MY WORKING FOR A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY THAT DOES WORK FOR THE UNIVERSITY. NOW, WHAT I'M DOING ADVISING RECUSAL ONLY WHEN MY EMPLOYER HAS A PROJECT BEFORE THE COMMISSION MAKES NO SENSE. I HAVE FOLLOWED THAT GUIDANCE EVER SINCE.

HAMMER COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION HAS NO PROJECT BEFORE THE CITY OR THE UNIVERSITY. FOR 22 YEARS, I HAVE BUILT FOR UNIVERSITIES AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THIS COUNTY, AND NO ONE HAS EVER RAISED A CONCERN BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING TO RAISE. AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS IN HOPES THAT THE HERALD PICKS UP ANOTHER STORY. LIKE I PUNCHED A MANAGER, WHICH WAS FOUND TO BE

[05:30:06]

AND LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. THE AGREEMENT GIVES CORAL GABLES AN ALMOST SIX ACRE PARK WORTH TODAY, MAYBE 100 $150 DOLLARS, DEPENDING ON THE ARTS IS APPLIED TO IT. THE LARGEST PUBLICLY OWNED GREEN SPACE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND 30 YEARS OF PAYMENTS TO THE CITY, ALONG WITH A WORLD CLASS HOSPITAL. THE BIG SHAME THAT WE HAVE HERE IN. I CLOSE WITH THIS AND WE'LL MOVE ON. YOU SPENT FOUR YEARS IN PUBLIC OFFICE AND DIDN'T PASS ONE PIECE OF SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION WHILE YOU HAD COMPLETE POWER FOR TWO YEARS IN THIS COMMISSION. AND THAT'S THE SAD PART ABOUT IT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOT EVEN BAR HARBOR CAN SAVE YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM F2, THE MAYOR, WE'VE SPOKEN ENOUGH ABOUT THIS.

I ALLOWED YOU TO SPEAK. NOW WE'RE MOVING ON. THAT'S IT. F2 NO, NO, YOU ADDRESSED ME.

THERE'S NO ME PERSONALLY AND I CAN GO AHEAD AND REBUTTAL. OKAY. LET'S END. PLEASE. NO, I AM SORRY. OKAY. STAFF IS READY FOR WITH A PRESENTATION ON F2. YEP. OKAY DON'T I. YOU WENT AFTER ME AND I HAVE ALL MY RIGHT TO GO AHEAD AND REBUTTAL ON THE THINGS THAT YOU SAID TO ME.

OKAY, COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE NONSTOP ATTACKED ME FOR THINGS. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. I HAVE TWO THINGS TO SAY. THAT'S IT. MOVE ON. I'M NOT GOING TO MOVE ON. OKAY. I RESPONDED TO YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR MADNESS THAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR THE LAST 30 MINUTES. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. LET'S MOVE ON. OKAY? YOU COME AFTER ME, AND THEN YOU WANT ME NOT TO ANSWER BACK AND NOT ANSWERING BACK. ACTUALLY, COMMISSIONER MAKES ME AGREE TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WHICH IS ITEM F2 DISCUSSIONS REGARDING GO AHEAD AND TALK OVER YOU AND YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU DESIRE TO DO. I'M ASKING YOU FOR TIME.

BE RESPECTFUL. YOU CAME AFTER ME AND IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT I CAN REBUTTAL. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN POLITELY LET ME HAVE THE FLOOR. YOU KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO? I HAVE EVERY NIGHT. I HAVE ALL NIGHT HERE. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A ONE HOUR AND 30 MINUTE BREAK. WE'LL COME BACK FOR THE BUDGET AND WE'LL DO IT AFTER THE B WELCOME BACK. RECORDING IN PROGRESS. ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU BACK TO THE COMMISSION MEETING DATED SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2026. WE JUST FINISHED OUR BUDGET MEETING. IT IS CURRENTLY 8:03 P.M. AND WE'LL BE FINISHING OFF THE REST OF OUR COMMISSION MEETING, STARTING OFF WITH ITEM F2. MADAM VICE MAYOR, YOUR ITEM THROUGH THE MAYOR. I STILL HAVEN'T FINISHED. WHAT? YOU CUT THE MEETING OFF. AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU GAVE ME THE FLOOR. OKAY, WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM F2. ONCE AGAIN. NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. AGAIN, I YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SILENCE ME. I AM VERY SORRY. I AM, I AM. YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LET ME SPEAK. YOU WILL NOT ACCUSE ME. OKAY? AND SEE ALL THESE OBNOXIOUS AND RIDICULOUS STUFF AND THEN NOT LET ME TALK AND REBUTTAL. I'M SORRY COMMISSIONER. MOVING ON. WE'RE STARTING ON ITEM F2 THROUGH THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. NO, NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I WILL NOT STOP.

I'M TELLING YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ESCORT ME TO THE POLICE RIGHT NOW. YOU'RE GOING TO EITHER LET ME TALK OR YOU'RE GOING TO LET ME TALK, PERIOD. YOU WILL NOT SILENCE ME AGAIN.

LET'S HAVE DECORUM AND RESPECT. I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN INSTAGRAM MOMENT. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. I'M NOT HERE TO FIGHT WITH YOU. I KNOW INSTAGRAM, I KNOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN AN EFFORT TO GET REELECTED, BUT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THAT AT NAUSEAM. SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM F2. WE'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST 12 HOURS AND NOW IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD. AND I'M BLESSED. I'M BLESSED, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL TELL YOU, THAT WE'RE RUNNING THE MEETING AND WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM F2. MADAM, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ESCORT

[05:35:04]

HAVE SOME RESPECT. I RESPECTFULLY ASKED YOU FOR THE FLOOR. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY, I. I DID IT BEFORE YOU ASKED FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF. AND I'M DOING IT ONCE AGAIN. I DON'T THINK RESPECTFULLY. I'M ASKING YOU, TRYING TO SILENCE ME. WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE A MEETING AND SHOW SOME RESPECT AND BE KIND AND THOUGHTFUL. I'M ASKING YOU TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM. ITEM F2. I AM ASKING YOU, MADAM VICE MAYOR, WILL YOU? I AM TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU WILL HAVE TO ESCORT ME OUT OF HERE WITH POLICE. IF YOU DO NOT GIVE ME THE FLOOR. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER TWO HOURS BREAK. WE'LL COME

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.