Oct 13, 2026 Commission Meeting

[CALL TO ORDER ]

[00:00:05]

RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. MORNING. I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S HERE. WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE. AMAZING. WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 13TH, 2026 COMMISSION MEETING. WE HAVE A LOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY, BUT AS ALWAYS, IT'S TRULY A PLEASURE TO HAVE SO MANY OF YOU HERE. I WANT TO REMIND YOU, ALL OF YOU, THAT AGAIN, YOU WILL HAVE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE US WITH GUIDANCE AND YOUR INSIGHT. YOU CAN EITHER CALL IN, YOU CAN EITHER JOIN US VIA ZOOM. YOU CAN BE IN PERSON. I ASK YOU TO PLEASE DO US A FAVOR. REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HAVE DECORUM. YOU WILL BE PROVIDED WITH SUFFICIENT TIME TO SPEAK. IF YOU SPEAK ON AN ITEM AND THAT ITEM HAS NOT BEEN HEARD, BUT YOU'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OBVIOUSLY OUR OPEN TIME TO SPEAK. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THAT SAME ITEM ONCE AGAIN. SO IF YOU SPEAK NOW, MAYBE LATER YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK WHEN THAT ITEM COMES UP. BUT I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. IT'S TRULY A PRIVILEGE, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE HONOR TO SERVE YOU. SO NOW FOR THE INVOCATION. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CALLING UP A GOOD FRIEND OF OURS, PASTOR JEFF SULLIVAN. IF YOU DON'T KNOW PASTOR JEFF SULLIVAN, YOU SHOULD GET TO KNOW HIM. HE'S WITH GRANADA CHURCH. HE IS ENGAGED WITH THE CITY THROUGH AND THROUGH, NOT ONLY NOT ONLY AS A PASTOR AND WITH HIS AMAZING COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO WITH OUR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST, NOT ONLY FOR BEING HERE, BUT ALWAYS BEING PRESENT AND ALWAYS STOPPING BY OFFICE HOURS, OFFERING A VOICE OF HOPE, REASON, AND GRATITUDE. AND IT'S TRULY A PRIVILEGE TO CALL YOU A FRIEND. THANK YOU PASTOR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY. AND, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. I KNOW THE ROLE THAT YOU HAVE. YOU SACRIFICE A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF PEACE OF MIND AND A LOT OF YOUR PRIVACY TO DO WHAT YOU DO. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THAT AND IT'S INTERESTING, OUR CHURCH RIGHT NOW IS TEACHING THROUGH THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. AND WHEN MOSES WENT UP TO RECEIVE THOSE FROM THE LORD BEFORE HE EVEN CAME DOWN, THE PEOPLE WERE IN CHAOS AND HE ACTUALLY THREW THEM ON THE GROUND AND BUSTED THEM THE FIRST TIME. AND I THINK THAT'S A LESSON TO US, THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY HARD TO LEAD, THAT WE, ALL OF US HAVE THE PROPENSITY FOR GOOD AND FOR EVIL. THERE'S A GREAT SAYING SOMOS SANTOS Y PECADORES. WE ARE BOTH SINNERS AND SAINTS. AND SO WITHIN US, SOMETIMES WE SEE THOSE. WE SEE BOTH. WE'RE ALL KIND AND ALSO MEAN. WE'RE LOVABLE AS WELL AS ANNOYING. AND SO EACH PERSON DESERVES PATIENCE AND DIGNITY. AND EACH ARGUMENT WE HAVE, WE SHOULD HAVE IT WITH A DEDICATION AND RESOLVE FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE, AND ALSO A CIVILITY FOR EACH OTHER. BECAUSE AFTER ALL THIS DECIDED WHATEVER CHOICES ARE MADE, WE'RE ALL STILL NEIGHBORS AND WE ALL ARE COMMUNITY KNIT TOGETHER BY GOD. AND SO I LEAVE THIS VERY SHORT PRAYER THAT COMES FROM PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER ONE, AND SO RECEIVE THIS PRAYER. I PRAY THIS, THAT YOUR LOVE MAY ABOUND EVEN MORE AND MORE IN KNOWLEDGE AND EVERY KIND OF INSIGHT, SO THAT YOU CAN DECIDE WHAT IS BEST AND THUS BE SINCERE AND BLAMELESS FOR THE DAY OF CHRIST, FILLED WITH THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT COMES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, ALL TO THE GLORY AND PRAISE OF GOD. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU GOD. THANK YOU. AND OBVIOUSLY, AS ALWAYS, PLEASE SEND YOUR CONGREGATION OUR BEST WISHES AND COME BY OFFICE HOURS. I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN ABOUT A MONTH. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT WE WILL HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I'D LIKE TO INVITE DOUGLAS RAMIREZ TO JOIN US HERE AS OUR ACTING DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO HAVE DOUGLAS RAMIREZ HERE WITH US TODAY TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, WHERE WATER IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LIVES. WE HAVE A PARTICULAR APPRECIATION FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD. WE SEE THE COAST GUARD PROTECTING OUR WATERWAYS, RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES, AND KEEPING BOATERS SAFE. BUT IT IS. BUT IT IS. MISSIONS MISSION EXTENDS FAR BEYOND OUR SHORES, PROTECTING OUR BORDERS, ENFORCING OUR LAWS, AND HELPING SAFEGUARD OUR NATION. MR. RAMIREZ UNDERSTANDS THAT MISSION FIRSTHAND. HE ENLISTED IN THE COAST GUARD AT JUST 18 YEARS OLD AND SERVED FROM NOVEMBER 1993 TO NOVEMBER 1997, INCLUDING MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF OF SEA DUTY. HIS SERVICE TOOK HIM FROM BASIC TRAINING IN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY, TO DUTY ABROAD ABOARD THE US COAST GUARD CUTTER CHOKE BERRY IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY, WHERE HE HELPED MAINTAIN FEDERAL AIDS TO NAVIGATION. HE LATER TRAINED AS A AS A MACHINERY TECHNICIAN BEFORE BEING ASSIGNED TO TACTICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM SOUTH HERE IN MIAMI. AS A MEMBER OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT

[00:05:01]

HE PARTICIPATED IN COUNTER-NARCOTICS PATROLS THROUGHOUT SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE CARIBBEAN, BOATING SAFETY PATROLS AND U.S. CUSTOMS BORDER INSPECTIONS, AND DEPLOYED ABROAD. U.S. NAVY AND BRITISH FLAG VESSELS. IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU WITH US TODAY. PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS GENTLEMAN, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE OF DEALING WITH HIM, HE ALWAYS HAS A SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE'S ALWAYS HAPPY AND HE'S ALWAYS INTERFACING WITH RESIDENTS. AND HE NEVER SAYS NO. USUALLY DURING OFFICE HOURS, I USUALLY SEND HIM 1 OR 2, MAYBE HALF DOZEN RESIDENTS. HE ALWAYS FINDS A SOLUTION, EVEN IF, AGAIN, WE MEET HALFWAY. BUT MR. RAMIREZ IS TRULY A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU HERE IN THE CITY. YOU MAKE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.

AMAZING. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS GREAT COUNTRY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE FACE THE FLAG AND PLACE THEIR RIGHT HAND OVER THEIR HEART AND RECITE WITH ME, 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. YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN SERVICE. MR. MAYOR, IT WAS AN HONOR TO SERVE OUR GREAT NATION, JUST AS IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY. NOW, ALTHOUGH THE MISSION WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE DANGEROUS THEN, IT'S JUST AS EXCITING NOW. THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. COME ON. OH, OKAY.

[A.-1. 26-2190 Presentation of a Resolution of Condolence to the bereaved family of Ellen Uguccioni.]

SUPERVISOR GARCIA UNDERSTANDS THAT PUBLIC TRUST IS FUNDAMENTAL TO EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT. IN HER ROLE AS SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT EVERY ELIGIBLE VOTER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE, SECURE, AND CONDUCTED WITH INTEGRITY. I AM GRATEFUL FOR HER FRIENDSHIP, HER SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND HER COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT RIGHTS AS AMERICANS. THE RIGHT TO VOTE. SUPERVISOR GARCIA IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY TO PRESENT THIS VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT ON THE POWER OF VOTING. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY, AND SHE'LL TOUCH UPON IT FOR SURE, AS SHE ALWAYS DOES. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF VISITING THE THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IT'S AMAZING WHAT SHE HAS DONE ALONG WITH HER TEAM IS REVOLUTIONIZED, SIMILAR TO WHAT THE TAX COLLECTOR HAS DONE, WHO WILL BE HERE TODAY AT 10:00, HAS TAKEN THINGS TO A NEW LEVEL. THE LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS. AND I WANT TO PUT THIS ON THE RECORD SO YOU GET AN IDEA. CERTAIN OTHER STAKES STATES TAKE DAYS, IF NOT WEEKS, TO COUNT THEIR VOTES. AND BY THE WAY, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE'RE THE SECOND LARGEST STATE IN THE UNION. OR THIRD, I THINK SECOND, I THINK WE'RE THE SECOND LARGEST STATE IN THE UNION. AND IF YOU LOOK IF YOU LOOK, WE'RE ABLE TO WE'RE ABLE TO HANDLE ELECTIONS IN A MERE HOURS. THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK OF YOURSELF, THE GOVERNOR, AND OUR

[00:10:04]

PLEASE VOTE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S YOUR CIVIC DUTY AND IT'S THE WAY TO KEEP OUR DEMOCRACY HEALTHY. SO GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. MADAM SUPERVISOR. ELECTION. WE HAVE A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION, BOTH A CHALLENGE COIN FROM THE CITY AND A PIN THAT I HOPE THAT YOU WEAR WITH PRIDE. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO OF.

[00:16:32]

I'M GOING TO EMBARRASS THEM THOROUGHLY TODAY. SO I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO SHOW UP TODAY, BUT THEY DID. THESE ARE TWO STUDENTS IN MY MY FELLOW PROGRAM THAT I'M TEACHING AT FIU, AND THEY SURPRISED ME. ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS, I MAKE THEM WEAR A SUIT AND TIE TO OUR CLASS. SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO TEACH A CLASS IN ANY UNIVERSITY. AND I'VE BEEN TEACHING IT THIS MONTH. AND THESE TWO GENTLEMEN, I REMEMBER, TOLD ME THEY WANTED TO START ATTENDING SOME OF THE COMMISSION MEETINGS. THEY'RE INTERESTED IN POLITICS, THEY'RE INTERESTED IN GOVERNANCE. SO THEY SURPRISED ME BY SHOWING UP TO THE FIRST COMMISSION MEETING. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY REMEMBERED, GENTLEMEN. SO. AND YOU LOOK VERY SHARP, AS I TELL YOU AT EVERY CLASS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO THE FIRST BUSINESS AT HAND. TODAY WE HAVE ITEM A1, A PRESENTATION OF A RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY OF ELLEN CONEY. I HAVE A RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCES. WILL OUR FRIENDS JOIN US WHO ARE HERE TODAY? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE FROM THE FAMILY? OH, YES. PLEASE JOIN US. NO, NO. COME UP HERE. SO I'M GOING TO READ THE RESOLUTION FIRST INTO THE RECORD AND I APOLOGIZE. IT'S A SMALL PRINT, SO. WHEREAS ELLEN JANE WAS A PIONEERING PRESERVATIONIST WHOSE VISION, DETERMINATION AND LIFELONG ADVOCACY HELPED PROTECT THE ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORIC CHARACTER OF CORAL GABLES. AND WHEREAS ELLEN BEGAN HER SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IN 1983 AS ITS HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER AND LATER BECAME THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE CITY'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT, HELPING ESTABLISH PRESERVATIONISM PRESERVATION AS AN ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. AND WHEREAS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH MAYOR DOROTHY THOMPSON, ELLEN PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN SAVING AND RESTORING THE HISTORIC BILTMORE HOTEL, ENSURING THAT ONE OF CORAL GABLES MOST TREASURED LANDMARKS WOULD ENDURE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS ELLEN WAS A FOUNDER OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OF CORAL GABLES, A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE VILLAGERS, A LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, AND A RESPECTED AUTHOR WHOSE WORKS INCLUDED THE BILTMORE HOTEL AND ENDURING LEGACY AND CORAL GABLES MIAMI RIVIERA, AN ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE. AND WHEREAS ELLEN'S INFLUENCE EXTENDED THROUGHOUT FLORIDA THROUGH HER 12 YEARS OF SERVICE AS A FLORIDA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AND HER LEADERSHIP WITH THE FLORIDA TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, WHICH HONORED HER WITH ITS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AND NAMED HER A TRUSTEE EMERITUS. AND WHEREAS ELLEN HAS SERVED HER COUNTRY WITH DISTINCTION FOR 21 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, PRIMARILY AS A RESERVE OFFICER, RETIRING WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL. AND WHEREAS, ELLEN JANE PASSED AWAY SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2026 AT THE AGE OF 75, LEAVING BEHIND AN ENDURING LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE, SCHOLARSHIP AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING THE PLACES THAT TELL THE STORY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA. THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES EXTENDS ITS DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO ELLEN'S FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AND EXPRESSES HIS PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE. THE CITY BEAUTIFUL IS FOREVER ENRICHED BY HER VISION AND DEDICATION, AND HER CONTRIBUTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE AND BENEFIT GENERATIONS TO COME. SIR. GOOD MORNING, MR.

[00:20:05]

IN THAT 1985, SHE BECAME THE CITY'S FIRST HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER, NOW KNOWN AS HISTORIC RESOURCES OFFICER, AND I WAS ELECTED THE CITY'S FIRST FEMALE MAYOR. ELLEN WAS ASSIGNED THE FORMIDABLE TASK OF OVERSEEING, RESUSCITATING AND RENOVATING THE ICONIC BILTMORE HOTEL, WHICH AT THAT POINT IN HISTORY WAS ABANDONED AND IN SHAMBLES DURING THE 18 YEARS FOLLOWING THE VETERANS HOSPITAL VACATING THE PREMISES IN 1967, AMONG THE INHABITANTS STILL LIVING, THERE WERE FOXES, RODENTS AND PIGEONS. WHEN RENOVATIONS BEGAN IN 1985, FOXES SEEM TO HAVE HAD A LONGER STAYING POWER, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT. ELLEN'S BACKGROUND AS A FORMER LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SERVED THE CITY WELL IN HER NEW CAPACITY, WITH HER TRAINED PRECISION AND ABILITY TO LEAD AND COMMAND WHERE NEEDED, AS SHE UNDERTOOK THIS FORMIDABLE CHALLENGE OF COORDINATING AND CONFRONTING WHATEVER OBSTACLE IN ORDER TO ADHERE TO THE CITY'S GOAL OF RENOVATION COMPLETION IN ONE YEAR'S TIME, AND TO BE HISTORICALLY ACCURATE AS THE ORIGINAL 1926 BUILDING HAD BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN THAT SAME TIME FRAME. TEN MONTHS, ACTUALLY, AND BECAUSE OF ELLEN'S DOGGED PURSUIT FOR PERFECTION OF THE RENOVATION, WE CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THIS BUILDING INTO THE NEXT CENTURY OF ITS EXISTENCE. I WAS PRIVILEGED TO HAVE HAD HER CAMARADERIE AND ENDURING FRIENDSHIP. THE WORD ENDURING IN KEEPING WITH THE MAGNIFICENT BOOK OF THE BILTMORE THAT SHE COAUTHORED ENTITLED THE BILTMORE HOTEL AN ENDURING LEGACY, HER FRIEND, FORMER MAYOR OF CORAL GABLES, DOROTHY THOMPSON. ONE OTHER POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT BACK IN 1994 AND THROUGH 96, BEFORE THE ACTUAL NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THE BILTMORE HOTEL, I REMEMBER SEEING HER IN WASHINGTON, HER AND MY FATHER TOGETHER, AND SHE WAS WORKING THE HALLS, AS YOU COULD IMAGINE, POINTING OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING THE LANDMARK. AND SHE TURNED TO ME. I REMEMBER AND SAID, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT THERE NOW, JUST KEEP IN MIND ALL OF US, INCLUDING YOURSELF, HAVE A PART IN THAT. SO WITH THE EARLIER INVOCATION OF, YOU KNOW, SINNERS AND SAINTS, WE HOPE THAT WE MORE APPLY TO THE SAINTS ASPECT. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND ALLOW ME TO TURN IT OVER SO THAT YOU MAY MAKE SOME REMARKS. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR. VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I'LL I'M NOT PREPARED, BUT I WILL SAY A FEW THINGS ON MY WAY HERE THIS MORNING. THE ROUTE TOOK ME PAST THE BILTMORE HOTEL, THE VENETIAN POOL, THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE CORAL GABLES ICONIC. AND ALONG THE WAY I WAS CHUCKLING AND THINKING, HERE WE GO, ELLEN, YOU MADE THIS HAPPEN. IT WAS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR ME. I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND HER FUNERAL. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, SHE WAS LAID TO REST. IN THE VETERANS CEMETERY IN MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS. AS WAS BEFITTING. I MET ELLEN 33 YEARS AGO AS A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, AND I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT HISTORIC PRESERVATION, BUT SHE AWAKENED IN ME THIS THIS PASSION THAT HASN'T DIED. IF YOU HUNG OUT WITH ELLEN, IT. A BUILDING WASN'T JUST A BOX WITH WINDOWS AND DOORS. IT HAD PEDIMENTS. IT HAD, YOU KNOW, EVERY. SHE BROKE THE BUILDING DOWN INTO ALL ITS PIECES. AND SHE SPOKE ABOUT CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. SHE. GOSH, SHE MADE US ALL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THE OLD WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD AGAINST THE ODDS TO KEEP THINGS OR OLD THAT WERE OLD AND NOT JUST TO SWEEP THEM AWAY AND START ALL OVER. WE NEEDED TO KNOW WHERE WE CAME FROM. THE VERY LAST THING SHE DID HERE BEFORE SHE LEFT, THREE YEARS AGO, ALMOST TO THE DAY, WAS THIS CORAL GABLES TROLLEY RIDE.

AND YOU SAW A PHOTO OF IT UP THERE. AND VICE MAYOR ANDERSON ACCOMPANIED US ON THAT. IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE A TWO HOUR TROLLEY RIDE, AND WE ALL PARKED AT THE OLD CITY HALL. WELL, SHE'S UNDERGOING RENOVATIONS, RESTORATIONS, BUT WE WENT TO THE TOP OF THE GABLES, TO THE

[00:25:06]

SHE HAD BEEN GIVEN TWO YEARS TO LIVE, BUT KNOWING ELLEN, SHE PUSHED THAT ANOTHER 18 MONTHS UNTIL SHE JUST GOT TOO TIRED TO KEEP GOING. AND SHE SENT TO SAY THAT SHE WAS GOING INTO HOSPICE AND THAT THAT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. ELLEN LIVED IN A RETIREMENT CAMPUS CALLED STONERIDGE. YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK IT OUT. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S LIKE A LUXURY HOTEL. AND.

SHE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS THERE. AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, SHE JUST THREW HERSELF INTO ALL THESE ACTIVITIES. SHE JOINED ALL THESE COMMITTEES. SHE SANG, SHE BOUGHT HER PIANO, SHE PLAYED.

DURING COVID. WE WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, GAME NIGHTS. WE WOULD MEET FOR LUNCH ON ZOOM. WE DID SO MANY THINGS ON ZOOM. AND ELLEN'S NIGHT WAS CONCERT NIGHT. SHE WAS A CLASSICAL PIANIST. I DON'T KNOW WHEN SHE FOUND TIME TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS, BUT IT WAS VERY WARM. I FELT IT, FELT IT DEEPLY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO TURNED OUT TO HER FUNERAL UP THERE, AND IT SPOKE A LOT ABOUT HER PERSONALITY AND HER OPENNESS. SHE HAD A CRAZY LAUGH, A WICKED SENSE OF HUMOR.

I WISH YOU'D ALL KNOWN HER, BUT I THINK I'LL WRAP UP RIGHT NOW. AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH ONCE AGAIN, FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF MY DEAR FRIEND, MY MENTOR. THERE'S A HOLE IN MY HEART. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US, EVERYONE. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU GOTTA BLAME ELLEN FOR ME BEING HERE AND HEADING HPACG BECAUSE IT WAS THROUGH ELLEN. SHE. I MET HER AT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE EVENTS ACTUALLY AT THE CHINESE VILLAGE. AND SHE JUST GRABBED MY HAND AND SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DO. AND AT THAT TIME I WAS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, IN, IN BETWEEN PROFESSIONS. AND SHE SAID, YOU HAVE TO JOIN HPACG WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU. SO HERE I AM, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY YEARS LATER. SO IT WAS REALLY ELLEN WHO BROUGHT ME UP TO THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.

AND I JUST WANT TO READ JUST A LITTLE TRIBUTE FROM HPACG AND, AND AND BASICALLY ELLEN HAD HER HAND AND HER REALLY PEN IN SO MANY PRESERVATION PROJECTS FROM THE MIAMI MARINE STADIUM TO TO THE PLAYHOUSE, THE COCONUT GROVE PLAYHOUSE, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, SO MANY OTHERS. BUT, BUT HERE IS OUR STATEMENT. IN ADDITION TO BEING THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES HISTORIC PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT, ELLEN WAS ALSO A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE VILLAGERS.

SHE SERVED ON THE FLORIDA HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION IN TALLAHASSEE FOR 12 YEARS, SERVING AS THE ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN MEMBER APPOINTED BY BOTH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE GOVERNOR. ELLEN WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION OF CORAL GABLES AND SERVED AS HONORARY BOARD MEMBER UNTIL HER PASSING. SHE WAS A LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND A MEMBER OF HISTORYMIAMI.

SHE WAS NAMED A TRUSTEE EMERITA BY THE FLORIDA TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND SHE WAS AWARDED ITS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. WE'VE HEARD THAT ELLEN HAS AUTHORED NUMEROUS BOOKS, NUMEROUS BOOKS, INCLUDING THE LEGENDARY THE BILTMORE HOTEL, AN ENDURING LEGACY. AND THOUGH SHE RETIRED TO MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT A FEW YEARS AGO, ELLEN DIDN'T VEER FROM HER MISSION. SHE SERVED ON THE LONDON LANDMARKS ON THE LONDON LANDMARKS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CARRYING THE PRESERVATION EXCUSE ME BANNER IN HER COMMUNITY. KNOWING THE

[00:30:02]

IT'S A TREASURE THAT I HOLD DEAR AND CLOSE TO MY HEART, AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE CORAL

[00:35:01]

SO WE WILL MISS HER DEARLY. I WILL PRESERVE THIS AND PROVIDE IT TO THE CLERK TO SO THAT WE HAVE A RECORD OF THE 22 STOPS AND HOW SHE CONTINUED TO GIVE OF HERSELF BECAUSE SHE ALSO DID A PRESENTATION AT THE MERRICK HOUSE. AND THERE WAS A THIRD EVENT AS WELL THAT SHE PARTICIPATED IN. YEAH. DID YOU WANT TO FILL IN WHERE I FORGOT HELP? MY MEMORY? SURE. WE DID.

THE VENETIAN POOL WHERE THEY TURNED ON ALL THE LIGHTS AND THE FOUNTAIN. WE WENT TO THE BILTMORE HOTEL WHERE WE GOT TREATED TO SOME DRINKS RIGHT NEXT TO THAT FIREPLACE. WE ALSO WENT TO FAIRCHILD WHERE THEY'D GIVE US A LECTURE. YEAH, FOR THE RECORD. WE VISITED DIFFERENT ENTRANCES. WE PASSED BY THE FRENCH NORMANDY VILLAGE. WE WERE JUST EVERYWHERE. AND YOU REMEMBER 22 STOPS? WELL, LISTEN, I HAD I HAD A CRIB SHEET HERE. THIS WAS THE ITINERARY. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TO HONOR HER. I THINK IT'S TIME NOW FOR OUR OUR PHOTO. THANK YOU.

[A.-2. 26-2178 Congratulations to Torre Companies on receiving the "Keep Coral Gables Beautiful 2026 Commercial Beautification Award."]

VOTES ON THE NOMINEES AND ENDS UP AWARDING THE COMPANIES SO TORY COMPANIES. LOCATED AT 208 ANDALUSIA, THEY ARE ONE OF FOUR 2026 RECIPIENTS, AND WHAT WAS NOTED IN THEIR NOMINATION WAS THEY ALWAYS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND IN PRESSURE CLEANING, WINDOW CLEANING, AND THEY TASTEFULLY DECORATE THEIR STOREFRONT. I KNOW THAT CABLE TV HAS PHOTOS, AS YOU CAN SEE UP ON THE SCREEN.

SO THEY DO THIS AND THEY ALSO DO IT DURING THE HOLIDAYS. SO I WANT TO INVITE MR. VINNY TORY TO COME UP. IF HE WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND CONGRATULATE HIM FOR IN HIS COMPANY FOR WINNING THIS AWARD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THIS WAS UNEXPECTED AND I APPRECIATE IT. I KNOW THIS IS A BIG DEAL FOR THE MAYOR. HE'S BEEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR DOWNTOWN SPOTLESS AND WE DO OUR BEST. THIS IS REALLY A BIG YOU DO MORE THAN YOUR BEST. BY THE WAY. I THANK YOU A LOT MORE. THIS IS REALLY ABOUT CULTURE AND ARTS, AND WE REALLY PROMOTE THIS IN OUR DOWNTOWN, AND WE WISH A LOT MORE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING.

OUR OUR OFFICE, MY FAMILY AND MYSELF REALLY ARE INTO PROMOTING THIS TYPE OF, OF CULTURE AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THIS. SO WE FEEL REALLY PROUD AND THIS WAS UNEXPECTED, BUT WE

[00:40:05]

AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOU BECAUSE YOU. YOU GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU, BESIDES ALL THE PHILANTHROPY, BESIDES ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND I'M A COMPETITOR OF YOURS. OKAY, SO YOU RAISE THE BAR AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT, BECAUSE YOU MAKE THE CITY A MUCH BETTER PLACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS. NO, IT'S THE TRUTH, SIR. THE MAYOR, I JUST I'M GOING TO EXPAND BEYOND DOWNTOWN A LITTLE BIT. WE ALL HEAR ABOUT CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT SITES, YOU KNOW, TRASH, UGLINESS, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN THINGS GOING ON. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SINGLE COMPLAINT ABOUT ANY OF YOUR SITES.

THEY'RE CLEAN. THERE'S NO FOOD LEFT OUT. THERE'S NO RECYCLABLES ALONG THE THE SWALES. YOU STRIVE VERY HARD TO SAVE EVERY HEALTHY TREE THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WORKING THROUGH YOUR PROJECTS. AND IT'S YOU SET THE BAR HIGH AND I HOPE OTHERS REACH FOR THAT BAR AS WELL. AND THAT WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY A MUCH BETTER PLACE TO LOOK AT. AND WE KEEP THE CITY VERY BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. IF I MAY JUST WANT TO ADD ONE THING, MR. MANAGER, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE OUTSIDE CONSULTING FIRM WHO'S HELPING US PUT TOGETHER THE PACKAGE FOR THE DOWNTOWN, BOTH SIDEWALKS, EXTERIORS, LANDSCAPING, YOU KNOW, THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO UNDERTAKE AFTER WRITING LEGISLATION THAT HAD THE THE BUSINESS OWNERS UNDERTAKING THE SIDEWALKS. THIS IS ONE OF I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GIVE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES AS EXAMPLES.

THIS IS ONE OF THEM. THE OTHER ONE IS OBVIOUSLY THE PLAZA, WHICH I MEAN, THEY HAVE A THEY HAVE A ZAMBONI OUT THERE CLEANING THE STREETS EVERY DAY. THEY HAND CLEAN ALL THE LIGHT POLES. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REALLY GOING THE EXTRA MILE. AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE GETTING THIS.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE GETTING THE PRICES THEY'RE GETTING AT THAT BUILDING IN REGARDS TO THE SQUARE FOOT PRICES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET THROUGH AND THROUGH. MAYBE THE MAYBE THE CHAMBER CAN GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES OF OTHER PROPERTIES. WE HAVE VENICE, WE HAVE THE PLAZA. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE ALAN MORRIS, ALAN MOORE'S PROPERTY, WHICH IS SPECTACULAR. IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN EAT OFF THE GROUND. MERCEDES BENZ THE NEW MERCEDES BENZ BUILDING LOOKS IMMACULATE. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THEM. I WANT TO I WANT TO REWARD THEM AND USE THEM AS EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE EXPECT IN OUR CITY. BECAUSE IF THEY CAN DO IT AND THEY CAN TAKE THAT CARE, I KNOW THAT EVERYONE ELSE CAN. AND IT'S JUST ABOUT RAISING PROPERTY VALUES. IT'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INCREASING QUALITY OF LIFE. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WALKED PAST YOUR BUSINESS QUITE A BIT, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE MAYOR'S SPOT ON. YOU TAKE A PRIDE IN NOT JUST BEYOND YOUR INSIDE YOUR WALLS, BUT YOU TAKE A PRIDE OUTSIDE YOUR WALLS AND MAKING SURE THAT IT LOOKS GREAT. AND THE SAME WITH YOUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THEY'RE ALWAYS NEAT.

THEY'RE ALWAYS PICKED UP. YOU TAKE A PRIDE IN ENSURING THAT THE LOOK OF THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND WE NEED MORE OF THAT. YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AND WHERE THE CITY IS GOING. YOU'VE ALWAYS WORKED TO ELEVATE THE CITY AND BRING THE CITY MORE TOWARDS ITS HISTORY AND TOWARDS WHAT THE ORIGINAL INTENT AND DESIGN WAS.

[00:45:01]

LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. TWICE. THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT HE HAS.

WE HAVE TWO MINUTES BEFORE OUR TIME STARTING AT 10:00. PRESENTATION OF A CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO ARCHITECT ALBERTO A WEEK. YOU WANT TO? I NEED MORE THAN TWO MINUTES. ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM 83. SO JOSE RODRIGUEZ, ASSISTANT HR DIRECTOR. IT'S A PROCLAMATION FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING AN EQUITABLE, ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY FOR ALL. IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH, WHICH CELEBRATES THE TALENT CONTRIBUTIONS VALUE THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY BRING TO THE WORKPLACE AND TO OUR ECONOMY. THROUGH THIS PROCLAMATION AND RESOLUTION H1, THE ARTICLES OF INCLUSION, THE CITY, TOGETHER WITH THE CORAL GABLES ADVISORY BOARD, ENCOURAGES OUR RESIDENTS TO JOIN THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO RECOGNIZE THE SUPPORT, THE RIGHTS, THE NEEDS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES BRING TO THE WORKPLACE AND THROUGH ALL ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY LIFE. EACH YEAR, THE DISABILITY BOARD NOMINATES A BUSINESS OR A AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS BROUGHT FORWARD OR MOVED FORWARD THAT MOVEMENT. BUT THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. WE'RE ACTUALLY RECOGNIZING THE BOARD ITSELF. I WOULD LIKE, OH, I SEE TV IS ALREADY SHARING THE PICTURES, BUT THROUGH THE BOARD, THEY ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY TO ADVOCATE AND CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE ADVENTURE DAY. ADVENTURE DAY IS AN ANNUAL STREET MARKET FESTIVAL WHICH CELEBRATES DISABILITY ACCEPTANCE, INCLUSION, AND THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE FOR PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES. THE BOARD ALSO HELPED BRING PROJECT VICTORY TO THE CITY. PROJECT VICTORY PROVIDES VOCATIONAL AND CAREER TRAINING FOR CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH MILD TO MODERATE COGNITIVE DISABILITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY HOSTS AN ANNUAL AUTISM ACCEPTANCE FLAG RAISING CEREMONY, WHICH PROMOTES ACCEPTANCE, CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES, AND REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT TO CELEBRATING A MORE INCLUSIVE, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. AND JUST LAST WEEK, THE DISABILITY BOARD ACTUALLY HOSTED A TRAINING FOR THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHERE WE SPOKE ABOUT INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE AND THE, THE, THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DIVERSE MIXED WORKFORCE. SO THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE MEANINGFUL WORK THAT THE DISABILITY AFFAIRS BOARD DOES TO THE MEMBERS OF DISABILITY FAIR BOARD. THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING CORAL GABLES A MORE INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY FOR ALL. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UP THE DISABILITY BOARD TO BE RECOGNIZED. AND SPECIFICALLY THE CHAIR. JUSTINE HAS PREPARED SOME REMARKS. WELCOME BACK. WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. SO, MR. CLARK, JUST FOR CLARITY,

[Agenda Items A-4 and H-1 are related]

COME ON UP. COME ON. COME ON UP. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR. VICE

[00:50:01]

I WAS ALSO MOVED BY MARTY PALACIOS OPENING SPEECH OF HOW WE ARE ALL LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER. DIFFERENT ABILITIES, DIFFERENT FAMILIES, DIFFERENT CONTRIBUTIONS, ALL COMING TOGETHER, LISTENING AND TAKING ACTION FOR THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU MARTY. SHE ACTUALLY MADE ME CRY BEFORE I STARTED THE TRAINING, SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, INCLUSION ISN'T JUST ABOUT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS STRONGER WHEN EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH US. WE'RE TRULY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE MIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR CITY, FOR INCLUSION, FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR BEING CHAMPIONS. I MEAN, WE ARE VERY PROUD TO BE IN CORAL GABLES BECAUSE CORAL GABLES HAS BEEN IN THE THE FIRST FRONT OF, OF ALL THE OTHER CITIES AND OTHER CITIES ARE LOOKING AT US. AND I LOOK FORWARD FOR OUR CITY TO HOST THE NEXT SUMMIT THAT WILL ENCOMPASS ALL THE DISABILITY BOARDS ACROSS OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. AND YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT CHAIR. SO THERE'S A LOT TO DO AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU.

WE'RE WORKING HARD FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT'S FOR SURE. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ADD TO INVITE YOU ALL ON OCTOBER 23RD. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A. ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS COME IN, INCLUDING THE COD, FIU, EMBRACE, THE DES MOINES FOUNDATION, EASTERSEALS, AND MORE TO THIS ROOM FROM 9 TO 12 TO HAVE THEM MEET WITH HR DEPARTMENTS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT. AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU ALL TO JOIN US. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. MADAM CHAIR, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SERVICE.

IT'S TRULY AN HONOR, TRULY BEEN AN HONOR. AND YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT I THAT SAID THAT THAT WE GAVE YOU A VOICE. I THINK YOU GOT TO CORRECT THAT, AND I APOLOGIZE. YOU GAVE US A VOICE AS I'M VERY PROUD. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, I, I HAVE DYSLEXIA AND ADD. AND TO ME, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SAY THAT OUT IN PUBLIC. I. LAST WEEK I HAD THE HONOR OF WELCOMING. AND I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO SEE IT BECAUSE IT'S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL FILM. AT THE THEATER THERE WAS. THERE'S A MOVIE ON DYSLEXIA, AND IT SHINES A REALLY INCREDIBLE LIGHT ON WHAT IS IT TO HAVE DYSLEXIA? WHAT IS IT TO BE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY? AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, THE WORK INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, THE WORK THAT THE BOARD IS DOING, YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING. YOU'RE LEADING BY EXAMPLE. EVERYWHERE I GO, EVERYWHERE I GO AND SOMEONE MENTIONS, YOU KNOW, DISABILITY SERVICES. ADA, THEY TALK ABOUT THE VICE MAYOR, THEY TALK ABOUT YOUR BOARD. THEY TALK ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU SEE HERE ARE DOING. WE'RE LEADING, WE'RE LEADING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES WHO

[00:55:03]

HEY JEN, HOW ARE YOU? VERY GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I WILL BE VERY BRIEF. AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, I HAVE THREE NONVERBAL CHILDREN, ALL WITH AUTISM. AND I'M A PUBLIC I WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL KID. I WAS A PROUD PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I WANTED ALL OF MY CHILDREN TO GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CORAL GABLES. I CAME TO YOU A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ASKING FOR THE COMMISSION TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND YOU DID. AND NOW WE HAVE A PROGRAM OPEN AT DAVID FAIRCHILD. AND NOW I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT FINALLY, FINALLY, ONE OF MY CHILDREN CAN GO TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN CORAL GABLES BECAUSE HE'S AT PONCE DE LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THAT PROGRAM IS THRIVING. YOU KNOW, ENROLLMENT'S DOWN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BUT THE ENROLLMENT IN THE AUTISM PROGRAM AT PONCE DE LEON IS UP. SO DO YOU REMEMBER DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE STARTED WORKING ON THAT AS A CITY? YES.

YEAH, I REMEMBER I WAS WITH ARIEL ON THE SCR, AND THEN MARI WAS THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS BOARD, AND WE ALL GOT TOGETHER FOUR YEARS AGO. I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT ALSO TO MARITA ROJAS AND THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR THEIR HARD WORK. OH YEAH. OF COURSE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. OF COURSE. THANK YOU. THAT'S GREAT NEWS. THAT'S GREAT NEWS. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU, IF YOU VISIT PONCE DE LEON OR DAVID FAIRCHILD, GO AND VISIT THESE CLASSROOMS. THEY'RE AMAZING. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. I THINK WE HAVE A STELLAR TEAM HERE. EACH ONE OF YOU CONTRIBUTES IN YOUR OWN LIVES, AND YOU'RE TAKING TIME ADDITIONALLY TO HELP US HERE IN THE CITY. AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU ALL BRING IN AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY, BRINGING THINGS TO OUR ATTENTION, THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE OUR CITY, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING. SO

[01:00:02]

I DON'T THINK YOU GUYS EVER MISS A MEETING. WE DON'T. YOU'RE MAKING YOU'RE MAKING BRINGING REAL CHANGE TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND I WANTED TO WHOLEHEARTEDLY THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'RE COMMITTING TO OUR CITY, FOR MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE AND ALLOWING CORAL GABLES TO LEAD SO THAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN THE AREA CAN ALSO IMPROVE AND MAKE THIS A BETTER COMMUNITY FOR EVERYBODY. VICE MAYOR.

BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS. HAVING HAD A COUPLE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, IT WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD 20 YEARS AGO. 1992 WAS THE YEAR THAT THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS PASSED THE LAW FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, AND BEFORE THEN, THE CITY HAD TAKEN STEPS FORWARD. BUT IT TOOK A LONG TIME. I DID A NUMBER OF ADA CASES, AND REMARKABLY, SOME OF THOSE WERE AGAINST HOSPITALS. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BATHROOM THAT SOMEBODY COULD USE. IF YOU HAD A DISABILITY. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED, BECAUSE I'VE HAD A LOT OF DEEP REFLECTION AND DISCUSSIONS WITH MY HUSBAND AND MY SISTER AND, AND IT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, WHY ME? WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME? I FEEL LIKE SUCH A BURDEN BECAUSE WITH THE PHYSICAL DISABILITY ALSO COMES THE EMOTIONAL STRAIN THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE TO, TO ENDURE. AND THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS IT'S A TEST OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. ARE WE GOING TO OPEN OUR HEART? ARE WE GOING TO SHUN SOMEBODY AWAY? ARE WE GOING TO WELCOME THEM? ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THEM FEEL AS MUCH OF A HUMAN AS EVERYBODY ELSE? AND, YOU KNOW, I LOOK TO THAT AS A TEST OF THE LORD GOD AS TO HOW WE TREAT OTHERS IN OUR LIVES AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS, WE SHOULD AND REMEMBER. BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, THAT COULD BE US. SO WITH THAT, I'LL READ. I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION THEN.

WHEREAS NATIONAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH, ORIGINALLY ENACTED IN CONGRESS IN 1945, IS RECOGNIZED IN OCTOBER TO COMMEMORATE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN AMERICA'S WORKPLACES AND ECONOMY. AND WHEREAS, THE THEME FOR NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH FOR 2026 IS CELEBRATING VALUE AND TALENT TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE AND TALENT OF AMERICAN WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES AT THE DISABILITIES, ADD TO OUR WORKPLACES AND ECONOMY, AND HIGHLIGHT THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS BOTH PAST AND PRESENT. WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES EMBRACES DIVERSITY, CULTURE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND EMPLOYMENT AND ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF CITY LIFE, AND STRIVES TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY ADOPTING LEGISLATION AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES THAT ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUSION, AND EQUITY. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO BECOME AN INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE AND ACCESSIBLE CITY AND A MODEL FOR ALL OTHERS IN EMPLOYMENT AND ALL ASPECTS OF CITY LIFE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY, TOGETHER WITH CORAL GABLES ADVISORY BOARD ON DISABILITY AFFAIRS, URGES RESIDENTS TO JOIN THEM IN ITS ANNUAL NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN TO RECOGNIZE THE NEEDS AND RIGHTS OF ALL INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYMENT IN ALL ASPECTS OF CITY LIFE. NOW. THANK YOU. AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, VINCE LARGO AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COMMISSION AND CITIZENS TO EXPAND THE COMMITMENT OF RAISING AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES BEYOND THE AREA OF EMPLOYMENT TO ALL ASPECTS OF CITY LIFE. DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2026 AS DISABILITY ACCEPTANCE MONTH IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND WHAT YOU DO TO BRING AWARENESS TO EVERYBODY AND ENHANCE OUR LIVES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR PICTURES RIGHT BEFORE WE BEFORE WE WE TAKE A PHOTO. CAN I HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM H ONE. I'LL MOVE IT TO THE RECORD PLEASE.

YES. SO H ONE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION DECLARING PRINCIPLES OF INCLUSION FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND URGING ACTION BY NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES CONSISTENT WITH THESE PRINCIPLES. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL. SECOND. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES.

COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. GREAT.

[01:06:46]

[A.-3. 26-2231 Presentation of a Certificate of Recognition to Architect Albert J. Socol.]

BEAUTIFUL. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. CONGRATULATIONS. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU, SIR, AND THANK YOU, MEMBERS. IT'S A TREMENDOUS HONOR FOR ME TO HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION. FIRST OF ALL, 1972. I STARTED AS AN ARCHITECT AND I WAS AN ARCHITECT FOR BACK THEN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS IN FLORIDA, FERRANDINO, GRAFTON, SPEARS,

[01:10:01]

FIRST OF ALL, HE'S THE CITY ATTORNEY, WAS THIS MAN THAT EVERYBODY WAS AFRAID OF. THIS GUY WILL TAKE THE ATTORNEYS AND TELL THEM, YOU COME HERE TO CHANGE ANYTHING, WE'LL SUE YOU.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE IN COURT AND WE ARE TOUGH. AND HE WAS RIGHT. SO ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT WAS GIVING US ADVICE SAID, THERE'S TWO WAYS TO GO. YOU GO WITH THEM. YOU'RE VERY HUMBLE. YOU SPEAK WITH SOME KIND OF A HALF ITALIAN ACCENT THAT YOU LEARN, AND THEN GO THERE AND ASK THEM WHAT THEY WANT. SO I SAT DOWN WITH MITAZONO AND SAID, MITAZONO, I'M A DEVELOPER. I'M A HUMBLE ARCHITECT. TELL ME WHAT I GOT TO DO TO SATISFY YOU. HE SAID, VERY SIMPLE. DON'T FIGHT WITH US. DO WHAT THE FIRE MARSHAL TELLS YOU. DON'T ASK FOR FOR MORE HEIGHT AND DO A BUILDING YOU CAN BE PROUD OF. I FOLLOW ALL OF THOSE AND WE BUILT IN CORAL GABLES, PROBABLY THE MOST BIGGEST BUILDINGS AT THAT POINT, AND THEY WERE ALL SUCCESSFUL.

AND WHEN I MOVED FROM THE GABLES, BECAUSE OF THE FACT OF OUR LENDER, SOUTHEAST BANK WAS TAKEN OVER BY THE GOVERNMENT AND WE COULDN'T FIND ANY MORE FINANCING, I WENT TO HIM AND ASKED HIM FOR A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. I HAVE IT, AND THE LETTER STATED THAT I WAS.

THOSE THAT THEY SHOULD FOLLOW WERE. THESE GENTLEMEN DID, AND THAT I HAVE IN MY OFFICE FRAMED.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. WE ARE VERY, VERY, VERY PROUD OF OUR BACKGROUND IN THE GABLES. MY WIFE ALSO, WHICH I MET HERE, BY THE WAY, IN THE GABLES. SHE ALSO PRESERVED ONE OF THE IMPORTANT BUILDINGS IN THE GABLES, THE CHINESE VILLAGE. SHE WON AN AWARD FROM ELLEN ACTUALLY, AND SHE IS UNBELIEVABLE. NOW IN OUR NEW LIFE, SHE IS PART OF THE BUSINESS. ACTUALLY. SHE RUNS THE BUSINESS WITH MORE EFFICIENT THAN I DO. THANK YOU AGAIN. I FORGOT THE DOCTOR IS AN UNBELIEVABLE PERSON. SHE'S NOT AN ARCHITECT, BUT BOY, SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING. SHE HAS AN EYE TO UNDERSTAND BUILDINGS. SHE HAS AN EYE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PAST SHOULDN'T BE COPIED, SHOULD BE PRESERVED AND SHOULD BE RESPECTED. THAT'S

[01:15:02]

[F.-1. 26-2213 Update by Tax Collector, Dariel Fernandez, regarding Commission Fee Waiver and Mobile Office Events. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

EXCUSE ME. THIS ITEM ON THE COMMISSION AS I MET WITH THE TAX COLLECTOR LAST WEEK AND WE WERE GOING OVER A FEW ITEMS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SPEAK ABOUT IT AS A COMMISSION, ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK THAT HE'S DOING, AND SHED A LITTLE LIGHT AND CLARITY IN REGARDS TO CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE THAT HAVE NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, EVER. GROUNDBREAKING WORK, NOT ONLY IN EFFICIENCIES, TRANSPARENCY, BUT ALSO IN GIVING BACK SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONIES THAT YOU COULD HAVE CHARGED IN FEES AND TAXES. MR. TAX COLLECTOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. ONCE AGAIN, YOU'RE HERE PROBABLY ONCE A WEEK MEETING WITH RESIDENTS AND THE CITY. SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU. MAYOR. FIRST, I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I WANTED TO SAY THAT I WAS WAS THE FIRST ONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF TAX COLLECTOR TO OPEN A NEW FACILITY HERE IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY. THIS WAS BACK ON LAST YEAR ON APRIL. FROM THE OPENING OF THE OFFICE LAST YEAR. WE ARE ALREADY TAKING CARE OF MORE OR LESS 51,000 PEOPLE. THIS IS ABOUT 60,000 TRANSACTIONS. SO THE RESIDENT OF CORAL GABLES ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE. NOW, THEY DON'T NEED TO GO TO THE DOWNTOWN IF THEY NEED TO RENEW THE CAR REGISTRATION, IF THEY NEED TO RENEW THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE ID BEFORE OUR TIME. PEOPLE WAITING MORE OR LESS EIGHT MONTHS. SEVEN MONTHS.

SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO PAY FOR RENEW THE DRIVER'S LICENSE BETWEEN 250 TO $550. NOW THE WAITING TIME IS 20 MINUTES. SO THAT IS THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND MIAMI DADE COUNTY. AND I WANT TO ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR PARKING DEPARTMENTS ALSO FOR THE PARTNERSHIP. BACK LAST YEAR, WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE HANDICAPPED PARKING PERMIT, AND WE FOUND OUT A LOT OF FRAUD IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND YOU GUYS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CITY MUNICIPALITY TO PARTNERSHIP WITH US. AT THIS POINT, WE ALREADY CREATE A NEW WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN APPLY FOR THIS HANDICAPPED PARKING PERMIT. THE THE SYSTEM CONNECT A PATIENT WITH THE DOCTORS. AT THIS POINT, WE ALREADY CANCELED MORE OR LESS 7000 OF THESE APPLICATIONS.

AND WE CONTINUE TO PUT THESE PEOPLE FIRST. THE RESIDENT OF MIAMI BAY FIRST. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS BACK, WE, WITH THE HELP OF THE SHERIFF OF THE OF THE COUNTY, WE ARREST 14

[01:20:06]

THANK YOU TO THE AMAZING TEAM OF THE PARKING THAT YOU HAVE HERE AND YOU GUYS HAVE HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE COLLABORATE TOGETHER. AND THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO CRACKING DOWN FRAUD IN THIS SENSE OF MIAMI DADE COUNTY. ALSO, I WANTED TO MENTION LAST YEAR WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE 2% COMMISSION FEE. I WANTED TO TELL YOU THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BY LAW, WE CAN CHARGE. IF WE BECAUSE THE, THE, THE LAW ALLOW US TO DO THAT. AND IT'S CLEAR. THE LAW IS CLEAR. IT'S THERE. IT'S A ONE NIGHT TWO THAT 091 THAT GIVE US, IF WE NEED IT TO CHARGE A 2% COMMISSION EVERY TIME THAT WE COLLECT, PUT THE MONEY BACK TO ANY MUNICIPALITY AND THE COUNTY. WE DECIDE NOT TO DO THAT THIS YEAR AGAIN. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A SAVING MORE OR LESS ABOUT NEAR TO $3 MILLION JUST FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES.

WE ALSO DO THAT. AND ON UNINCORPORATED AREA IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY AND IN THE ENTIRE MUNICIPALITY. 34 MUNICIPALITY IN MIAMI. THEY. THEY. COUNTY. SO WE BELIEVE THAT THIS MONEY GOING TO HELP A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES, ESPECIALLY CORAL GABLES. ALSO, WE ALREADY PUT. SOMETIMES WHEN THE PEOPLE NEED TO APPLY FOR THE LOCAL BUSINESS TAX, THEY NEED TO COME TO OUR OFFICE BEFORE OUR TIMES. THEY NEED TO DISPLAY THIS RECEIPT IN THE WALL. SO WE ARE READY TO ELIMINATE THAT SAVING A LOT OF ANOTHER $30,000. SO BECAUSE NOW WITH THE KNOWLEDGE YOU DO NOT NEED IT TO TO USE MORE PAPER, YOU DON'T NEED IT TO PUT THIS IN THE WALL. SO AT THE END, RIGHT NOW, WHEN BUSINESS COME INTO OUR OFFICE, THEY SPEND LESS TIME LIKE 30 MINUTES JUST TO APPLY FOR THE LOCAL BUSINESS TAX. WE BELIEVE IN A SMALL BUSINESS. WE BELIEVE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP. A SMALL BUSINESS ARE THE ONES THAT CREATE JOBS, CREATE OPPORTUNITY, AND WE NEED TO BE THERE FOR THEM AGAIN. WE ARE HERE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE.

THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR ALWAYS BE THERE FOR US FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. COLLABORATE TOGETHER. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. I HAVE BETTER FUTURE IN MIAMI DADE COUNTY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. TAX COLLECTOR. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOUR DEPARTMENT, ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE BEHIND YOU, YOU KNOW, PLEASE COME FORWARD. YES. I'M SORRY. I WANTED TO MENTION JERRY, MY DEPUTY ANGEL THAT IS HERE TOO, IS THE DIRECTOR OF CONSTITUENT SERVICE MOBILE OFFICE. YOU MENTIONED THAT I FORGOT. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT NOW. YES. SO DAMIAN IS HERE ALSO. AND ALBERTO, THIS IS A TEAM. PEOPLE SEE MY FACE. BUT I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THEM. THANK YOU TO EVERY PEOPLE, EVERY PERSON THAT WORK IN THE OFFICE OF THE TAX COLLECTOR. SO BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT MOBILE SERVICE, I WANTED TO HIT ON THESE POINTS. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE REVOLUTIONIZED THE WAY THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE WORKS. AND ALL OF YOU KNOW, BEFORE THERE WAS A LOT OF PAPERWORK, THERE WAS HOURS OF WAIT TO GET YOUR LICENSE TO RENEW YOUR TAG THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE. I GOT MY LICENSE RENEWED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AT A MOBILE AT A MOBILE APP, EXCUSE ME, A MOBILE LICENSE OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS HELD AT AN EVENT. THEY HAD THE CAR THERE, I WENT IN, I WAS IN AND OUT WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. VERY PROFESSIONAL, AIR CONDITIONED. AND AGAIN, IT WAS JUST A TIME SAVER FOR EVERYONE. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU'RE NOT CHARGING IN REGARDS TO THESE FEES, WHICH THERE WAS SOME MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHETHER IT WAS ALLOWED OR NOT ALLOWED, IT IS 100% ALLOWED. YOU'RE NOT CHARGING THEM FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. THAT IS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE POCKETS OF RESIDENTS HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY. I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. IN A TIME WHEN, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO SPEND, SPEND, SPEND, SPEND, SPEND, YOU'VE SAID, I'M NOT GOING TO CHARGE THESE TAXES WHEN I'M LEGALLY ABLE TO, AND I'M GOING TO RETURN THAT MONEY TO THE RESIDENTS THROUGH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THAT IS TO BE COMMENDED. BOTTOM LINE, TO BE COMMENDED. NUMBER TWO, WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IN REGARDS TO THE TIMES WHERE PEOPLE ARE WAITING. WHEN YOU AND I COLLABORATED, WE WROTE THE LEGISLATION AND WE OPENED THE FIRST OFFICE IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HERE, LOCAL OFFICE IN THE CITIES. I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT IS. I'VE HAD MY PARENTS GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND AS YOU KNOW, MY MOTHER, MY MOTHER HAS A DISABILITY. SHE'S GETTING OLDER, AND IT WAS SUCH ■AN EASY PROCESS. THAT'S NUMBER TWO. NUMBER THREE. YOU AND I ALSO COLLABORATED ON STAMPING OUT FRAUD IN REGARDS TO THE DISABILITY TAX THAT WERE BEING USED BY PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE CURRENTLY STILL BEING USED BY PEOPLE WHO DISGRACEFULLY GO OUT THERE AND PARK IN HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACES WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU SAW SOME INDIVIDUALS HERE TODAY FROM OUR DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD. THOSE ARE THE ONLY

[01:25:03]

LET'S WORK WITH THE MANAGER WHO WILL THEN WILL WORK WITH THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. I THOUGHT ABOUT DIFFERENT AREAS. FAIRCHILD GARDENS WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT'S NORTH. EXCUSE ME, IT'S SOUTH. I APOLOGIZE, REALLY HITTING A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS IN OAK COLOR ON THE SOUTH SIDE ALL THE WAY TO DEERING BAY. THEY CAN COME AND RENEW THEIR LICENSE ON A SATURDAY. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO DOWNTOWN. THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME INTO THE DOWNTOWN. THEY CAN GET IT DONE ON A SATURDAY. FIVE MINUTES IS WHAT IT TAKES. I ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. A LOT OF STUDENTS, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT AREA. YOU CAN YOU CAN RUN PARALLEL MEDIA WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, GET IT OUT THERE AND HAVE PEOPLE RENEW THEIR LICENSES. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A SIMPLE OPPORTUNITY. I ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT THE PALACE AND THE ADULT ACTIVITY CENTER. THEN AGAIN, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE. THEY CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE AND ANY OTHER AREAS THAT YOU MAY THINK, WHETHER IT'S, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE, WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE AT THE, AT THE, AT THE FARMERS MARKET. IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL. I MEAN, THERE WAS LITERALLY 30 PEOPLE THERE GETTING THEIR LICENSE, THEIR LICENSES RENEWED AND GETTING ALL THEIR DOCUMENTATION TAKEN CARE OF. SO I WANTED TO BRING IT BEFORE THE COMMISSION BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE BRAINSTORMING. BUT AGAIN, MORE PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT THINGS COMES UP WITH EVEN A BETTER IDEA. YOU KNOW, WHEN WHEN WE SPOKE LAST WEEK, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT EVERY MONTH WE'RE COMING HERE TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, TO THE PALACE. SO AND THIS SERVICE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE BRING THE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU AND OUR MOBILE OFFICE. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING. YOU CAN RENEW YOUR CAR REGISTRATION, YOU CAN RENEW YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, YOU GET A YOU CAN GET AN ID FOR YOUR CHILDREN. YOU CAN APPLY FOR LOCAL BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT. YOU CAN HAVE ANY QUESTION OR PAY YOUR PROPERTY TAXES, A PERMIT TO FISHING, HUNTING, DIFFERENT THINGS. SO THE OTHER SERVICE THAT I MENTIONED TO YOU LAST WEEK IS, AND IF ANY RESIDENT IS WATCHING US TODAY AND THEY NEED THIS, YOU CAN CALL TO OUR OFFICE AND WE GOING TO YOUR HOME. IF YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF DISABILITY, YOU CANNOT WORK. WE GOING OVER THERE TO YOUR TO YOUR HOME, TO YOUR APARTMENTS AND YOU KNOW, BRING THE IDEA AND GIVE YOU AN IDEA RIGHT AWAY OVER THERE BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING THE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE THE ONLY, I THINK, THE ONLY TAX COLLECTOR IN THE ENTIRE STATE THAT DO THAT. WE HAVE DIFFERENT FIVE MOBILE OFFICE AND DIFFERENT LOCATION TODAY. SO OUR, YOU KNOW, THING IS A SPECIALIZED IN, IN HELPING PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND YOUR HOME IS WE NEED IT. I WANT TO GIVE YOU ONE LAST POINT. SO I HAVE A, I HAVE A OLDER LADY, SHE'S 90, WHO CALLED ME. SHE'S NOT A RESIDENT OF CORAL GABLES. SHE CALLED ME ABOUT THE FACT THAT SHE HADN'T DRIVEN IN FIVE YEARS, BUT SHE WAS GOING TO GIVE HER CAR TO HER NIECE, AND SHE COULDN'T FIND THE REGISTRATION. SO I CALLED THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. I SAID, LOOK, THIS THIS NICE LADY IS NOT A RESIDENT, BUT SHE HAS A CAR SHE HASN'T DRIVEN IN FIVE YEARS. SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY, SHE MISPLACED, YOU KNOW, IN HER IN HER OLDER YEARS. SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHEN SHE PUT THE REGISTRATION, THEY WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THIS OLDER LADY WHO WAS AGAIN, IN PANIC BECAUSE OF SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS NOT HAVING YOUR REGISTRATION, AND SHE WANTED TO GIVE IT TO HER NIECE, AND THEY RESOLVED THAT ISSUE. THEY WENT TO THEIR TO HER HOUSE, THEY ADDRESSED IT, YOU KNOW, AND THEY TOOK CARE OF IT FOR HER. THAT'S PEACE OF MIND, ESPECIALLY FOR A PERSON WHO'S 90 YEARS OLD. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU AND I, ESPECIALLY ON THIS COMMISSION, WE TAKE FOR GRANTED BECAUSE WE CAN WALK OVER AND GET SOMETHING TAKEN CARE OF AND WE CAN HANDLE THE INTERNET WITH A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND EASE. SHE'S NOT ABLE TO DO THAT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU. WE ARE WORKING TO

[01:30:03]

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $40 MILLION. SO NORTH CAROLINA ALREADY PASSED THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO PUSH THAT AGAIN NEXT YEAR. SO IF I WANT TO JUST LEAVE YOU ONE POINT BEFORE THE COMMISSION THAT THEY HAVE COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE TWO INITIATIVES AND HAVE THE COMMISSION SIGN IT AND YOU CAN USE IT. AND HOPEFULLY. THANK YOU. HOPEFULLY OTHER OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WILL FOLLOW SUIT BECAUSE AGAIN, THESE ARE YOU'RE PUTTING MONEY BACK IN THE RESIDENTS POCKETS, YOU'RE MAKING IT EASIER. AND AGAIN, LIKE THAT 90 YEAR OLD LADY WHO DIDN'T HAVE A REGISTRATION, SHE COULD HAVE IT DIGITALLY SAVED IN AN EMAIL, OR SHE COULD HAVE DIGITALLY SAVED ON HER PHONE LIKE YOU. NOW EVERYTHING IS ON THE PHONE FROM FROM TICKETS. LIKE YOU SAID, YOUR YOUR LICENSE CAN EVEN BE ON YOUR PHONE IN CERTAIN STATES. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK THESE ARE GREAT IDEAS THAT AGAIN, WE SHOULD GET AWAY FROM EVEN SPENDING PAPER, WHICH IS NOT REALLY SUSTAINABLE. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON THOSE EFFORTS AND COUNT ON US FOR TO SUPPORT YOU AS YOU TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THE TWO NEXT GOALS. THANK YOU. YES. SO I GOTTA COMMEND YOU. YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND ABOUT IMPROVING TECHNOLOGY, EVEN FROM, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE DAY WITH DIGITAL IMAGE ADVERTISING AND PONEMOS. BUT YOU'VE REALLY BROUGHT THAT TO THE PUBLIC SPACE AND YOU'VE REVOLUTIONIZED THE WAY THAT GOVERNMENT IS WORKING. AND I THINK MANY OTHER AGENCIES SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN YOUR DEPARTMENT AND SEE HOW THEY CAN REPLICATE THAT AND IMPROVE THEMSELVES. AND THAT EVEN GOES FOR US HERE IN THE CITY, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO FACILITATE A SMOOTHER PROCESS FOR RESIDENTS. I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE PART OF THE PROCESS TODAY FOR SENIORS. AFTER A CERTAIN AGE, YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT A VISION TEST EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS IN ORDER TO RENEW YOUR LICENSE. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE CAN BE MOVED TO A DIGITAL FORMAT WHERE YOUR DOCTOR CAN SUBMIT IT AND YOU CAN YOU CAN DO IT THAT WAY. BUT ADULT ACTIVITY CENTER IS A PLACE THAT MAYBE WE CAN HAVE ON A ROUTINE BASIS, HAVE THE TRUCK OUTSIDE SO THAT THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE COMING TO THE ADULT ACTIVITY CENTER, THE PALACE IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. THEY'RE ABLE TO RECEIVE THAT SERVICE. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THE CITY HOLDS A LOT OF EVENTS, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE DE LOS MUERTOS IS ABOUT TO COME UP, AND MAYBE THAT'S A PLACE THAT WE CAN HAVE IT AND OFFER THAT SERVICE TO, TO THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE COMING OUT. IT'S A QUICK PROCESS. SO IF SOMEBODY HAS A DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT'S COMING UP, THEY CAN JUST SHOW UP, GET THAT DONE, GO AND ENJOY THEIR EVENT, AND THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO DO IT. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE ALSO REALLY CHANGED BECAUSE YOU'RE BRINGING THAT GOVERNMENT SERVICE DIRECTLY TO WHERE PEOPLE ARE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME TO DOWNTOWN AND GET IT DONE. THEY'RE ABLE TO DO IT WHERE THEY NEED TO. SO I COMMEND YOU ON THAT. AND I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. I'D BE HAPPY TO TO COSIGN THAT AND SUPPORT THAT. ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR RESIDENTS, COUNT ON MY SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, VICE MAYOR, ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER, I WANT TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH YOU GENTLEMEN. I KNOW I, I, AND I COMMEND YOU BECAUSE GOING TO LOCATIONS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES NOT HAVE TO GET IN A CAR AND DRIVE AND PARK AND WHEEL THEIR WAY OR WALK THEIR WAY WHEN IT'S DIFFICULT TO WALK TO. A PHYSICAL BUILDING IS HUGE. IT JUST TAKES A LOT OF STRESS, A LOT OF ANXIETY OUT OF THEIR DAY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BEFORE WE TAKE A PHOTO, I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TEAM DOES A GREAT JOB. WE STARTED DOING IN-HOME PERMITTING SEVEN MONTHS AGO, SEVEN YEARS AGO, I THINK 7 OR 8 YEARS AGO, I SPONSORED THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION. IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME BY AN EMPLOYEE HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES DURING OFFICE HOURS. SO WE'VE BEEN LEADING, WE'VE BEEN LEADING.

BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE LIGHT YEARS AHEAD IN REGARDS TO TECHNOLOGY. SO LIKE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SAYS, LET'S COLLABORATE, LET'S FIND WAYS. AND I'VE ALREADY GIVEN YOU A FEW IDEAS. I WAIT FOR MY COMMISSIONERS TO SPEAK WITH THE MANAGER, HCM OR DCM TO SEE HOW WE CAN REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MOBILE OF THE MOBILE RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE. OKAY. THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. ALL THE WONDERFUL.

[01:35:37]

[A.-5. 26-2027 Congratulations to Lieutenant Eldad Simovitch, recipient of the City of Coral Gables "Firefighter of the Month Award," for the month of October 2026.]

HE'LL BE BACK ON WEDNESDAY. AND HE'S HE'S BEEN A BIG ASSET THERE IN HELPING THOSE FOLKS RECOVER. WE'RE IN GOOD HANDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO.

[A.-6. 26-2198 Congratulations to Officer Ariel Garcia and Officer Reynaldo Abeja-Cortes, recipients of the City of Coral Gables "Officer of the Month Award," for the month of August 2026.]

[01:40:16]

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH IN PATROL, WHERE THE OFFICERS FOCUS ON DIFFERENT ZONES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, LOOKING FOR SUSPICIOUS INDIVIDUALS AND OBVIOUSLY, IDEALLY, TO THWART CRIME. DURING THE SATURATION DETAIL, BOTH THE OFFICERS OBSERVED TWO MALES IN THESE EXCUSE ME, 100 BLOCK OF MANTILLA AVENUE, RIGHT OUTSIDE THE AREA OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY. ONE OF THE MALES WAS DRESSED ENTIRELY IN BLACK, WHILE THE OTHER ONE WAS WEARING A WHITE SHIRT AND BLACK PANTS. THIS BECOMES IMPORTANT LATER ON IN THE STORY. AS THE OFFICERS STARTED TO APPROACH THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS STANDING OUTSIDE AN INFINITI, THE INDIVIDUAL STARTED TO WALK AWAY AND THEN RAN AWAY. AS YOU CAN TELL FROM OUR FIT OFFICERS, THEY DIDN'T GET VERY FAR. THEY ACTUALLY THEY WOULD HAVE GOT AWAY FROM ME, BUT THEY DIDN'T GET AWAY FROM THEM. WE WOULD HAVE CALLED IN THE HORSE. AT THAT POINT. I WOULD HAVE PUT THE COWBOY HAT ON. NO, I'M NOT WEARING A COWBOY HAT AGAIN. ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE AREA OF CRYSTAL ACADEMY. IT WAS SCHOOL WASN'T OPEN AT THE TIME, BUT OBVIOUSLY HIT IN THAT AREA. THE REST OF THE OFFICERS RESPONDING TO THE AREA CREATED WHAT WE CALL A PERIMETER SURROUNDED THE AREA. THE INDIVIDUAL ONCE AGAIN TOOK OFF, RUNNING THROUGH THE PERIMETER ONCE AGAIN TRYING TO OUTRUN OFFICERS CORTEZ AND GARCIA TO NO AVAIL. THE INDIVIDUAL WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY RIGHT OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER AFTER A CANVASS OF THE SCHOOL GROUNDS AND CONDUCTED. THEY BOTH FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE. THEY FOUND VEHICLE LUG NUTS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA WHERE THE SUBJECT WAS LAST SEEN HIDING. ADDITIONALLY, THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASS REVEALED A VEHICLE RESTING ON CONCRETE BLOCKS, MISSING TWO TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND TWO TIRES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE VEHICLE, THE MISSING LUG NUTS WHERE THEY CAME FROM. IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR CONSTANT DILIGENT PATROLLING TECHNIQUES, AND ALSO THE KEEN SENSE OF WHAT WAS SUSPICIOUS AND OUT OF PLACE AT THAT TIME AND THAT PLACE.

BOTH OFFICER GARCIA AND OFFICER CORTEZ WERE AWARDED THE OFFICER OF THE MONTH FOR AUGUST 2026.

CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD MORNING GENTLEMEN. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CHIEF, THE DEPUTY CHIEF, THE COMMAND STAFF, THE AWARD SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR HAVING ME. WITHOUT MY PARTNER, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING. WE SET UP A PERIMETER AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE, AND WE WORK QUICK TOGETHER. SO I'LL GIVE IT TO HIM NOW. MORNING.

GOOD MORNING SIR. LIKE MY PARTNER SAID, JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU GUYS IN ATTENDANCE. CHIEF, DEPUTY CHIEF, THE AWARD SELECTION COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES. AGAIN, WE WE COME IN EVERY NIGHT, DAY PATROLLING, JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL, SAFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND I'M JUST THANKFUL FOR RECEIVING THIS AWARD AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE SERVING THE CITY. HOW LONG YOU TWO GENTLEMEN BEEN ON THE FORCE? I'VE BEEN ON FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF NOW. A YEAR, A YEAR, YEAH. SO YOU'RE THE NEW BLOOD. SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND GOING THAT EXTRA MILE AND REALLY TAKING THIS JOB SERIOUSLY. AGAIN, LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD ME SAY IT WHEN YOU WERE INDUCTED HERE INTO THE CITY AND BROUGHT IN AGAIN, THERE IS NO CIVIL SOCIETY WITHOUT POLICE AND LAW AND ORDER. AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE THAT THIN BLUE LINE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DEPEND ON AND WE REQUIRE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE THE LIVES THAT WE LIVE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE RESPECTED BEYOND MEASURE IN THIS CITY, IN THIS CITY, WE RESPECT LAW AND ORDER. WE WILL ALWAYS ABIDE BY THE LAW. WE WILL RESPECT THE POLICE AND GIVE YOU ALL THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT YOU CAN DO YOUR JOB, IN TURN, PROTECTING THIS GREAT COMMUNITY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU. WE WISH YOU INCREDIBLY LONG CAREERS HERE IN THE CITY AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE APPRECIATED. IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING, YOU CAN COME AND

[01:45:04]

PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME IN OUR CITY. PEOPLE CAN WALK AROUND AT NIGHT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES. THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE. AND IT STARTS AND ENDS WITH LAW AND ORDER. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO.

[A.-7. 26-1322 Congratulations to Noel Polo, Public Works Department, recipient of the "Employee of the Month Award," for the month of July 2026.]

HOWEVER, I'M VERY HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE. THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM THAT SEE TO SUPPORT YOU IS VERY HAPPY THAT YOU'RE HERE. NOEL IS TRULY A TIRELESS EMPLOYEE, AND HE ENCOMPASSES WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE PROBABLY THE UNOFFICIAL MOTTO OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW, WE KEEP IT FLOWING, RIGHT? KEEP IT. MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHAT IT TAKES TO MAINTAIN A SEWER AND A STORMWATER UTILITY. IT'S. OR DAY OR NIGHT, RAIN OR CLEAR. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE THERE, IT'S USUALLY THE FIRST ONE TO RESPOND. AND THIS IS WELL-DESERVED. LONG TIME COMING. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU GUYS. YEAH. IT FEELS

[01:50:07]

GIVE US A LITTLE MORE. COME ON. YOU'VE SEEN IT ALL. YOU'VE SEEN MIRACLE MILE. YOU'VE SEEN GIRALDA, YOU'VE SEEN, YOU'VE TRANSFORMED. KNOW IT FEELS GOOD. I MEAN, REALLY GOOD. WHEN YOU'RE IN AN EVENT CITY EVENT AND SOMEBODY ASKS YOU, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THE CITY? AND SOMEBODY BEHIND YOU SAY EVERYTHING. YOU TURN AROUND. IT WASN'T. THANK YOU. LET'S, LET'S LET'S HEAR THEM ALL. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE ONE BY ONE. WE HAVE ONE MORE. NO, WE HAVE ONE MORE FOR PUBLIC WORKS OR NO, I'M. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. CLIFF FRIEDMAN, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT. I'M DOING AN UNO REVERSE HERE ON THIS ONE BECAUSE I HAVE THE PLEASURE FOR ITEM EIGHT OF CALLING UP CESAR ECHEVARRIA.

COME ON UP. JOSE HAS PUT TOGETHER SOME NICE WORDS THAT HE'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE

[A.-8. 26-2184 Congratulations to Cesar Hechavarria, Human Resources and Risk Management Department, recipient of the "Employee of the Month Award," for the month of August 2026.]

I HIRED CESAR MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. HE'S ONE OF THE BEST EMPLOYEES I'VE EVER HIRED. HE JOINED US IN 2019 AS A PERSONAL SPECIALIST WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF RECRUITING AND FILLING POSITIONS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION. IN 2022, HE WAS PROMOTED TO RECRUITMENT MANAGER, WHERE HE NOW LEADS A TEAM OF FOUR RECRUITERS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS MAINTAIN STAFFING LEVELS NECESSARY TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

THROUGH HIS OWN RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AND THROUGH THE WORK OF HIS TEAM, CESAR IS HIRED HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES ON A ON A YEARLY BASIS. I ACTUALLY TRIED TO CALCULATE IT, BUT IT WAS TOO HARD. IT'S WE'RE NEARING 1000. SO EVERY YEAR, EVERY SUMMER CAMP HIRES 100, 120 EMPLOYEES.

AND JUST THROUGH HIS PERSONAL RECRUITMENTS OR THE TEAM, IT'S COUNTLESS. WE'RE APPROACHING THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES, AS CESAR HAS HIRED FOR THE CITY. IT'S OFTEN SAID THAT AN ORGANIZATION'S MOST VALUABLE ASSET IS ITS PEOPLE, AND CESAR PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ENSURING THAT THE CITY MAINTAINS A STRONG AND CONSISTENT PIPELINE OF TALENTED, QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE EMPLOYEES. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, THE RECRUITMENT TEAM HAS STREAMLINED THE HIRING PROCESS, IMPROVED TIME TO HIRE AND MAINTAIN RECORD LOW VACANCY NUMBERS. CESAR IS ALSO TAKEN THE CHALLENGE OF RECRUITING SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TECHNICAL, DEMANDING POSITIONS FOR THE CITY. HIS ABILITY TO IDENTIFY AND ATTRACT QUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR SPECIFIC, SPECIALIZED ROLES HAS HELPED US ENSURE THAT EVEN OUR MOST CRITICAL POSITIONS OUR STAFF WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO POSSESS THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO SUCCEED. AS ONE OF THE PRIMARY AMBASSADORS FOR THE CITY, CESAR ALSO REGULARLY ATTENDS CAREER FAIRS, SOCIAL GATHERINGS, NETWORKING EVENTS, REPRESENTING THE CITY, AND SELLING THE CITY. CESAR'S LIKE MY SALESMAN. WHEN I GOT A HARD CLIENT, A CANDIDATE UNTIL CESAR CLOSED THE DEAL. HE NEGOTIATES THE SALARIES, THE BENEFITS. HE'S MY CLOSER. YOU MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST OF THE BEST HERE AT THE CITY. SO CESAR IS A TRUE PROFESSIONAL, A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT, AND A VALUED MEMBER OF THE HR TEAM. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND THANK YOU. AND CONGRATS ON BEING EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO TOP THAT. THAT WAS A GREAT INTRO FROM JOSE. I APPRECIATE IT. VERY KIND WORDS.

AND I GUESS I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL TO BE RECOGNIZED. AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I GET TO BE IN THIS ROLE. I ENJOY THE WORK THAT I DO. I FEEL LIKE I WORK FOR ONE OF THE BEST CITIES, IF NOT THE BEST, PROBABLY THE BEST. AND THEN JUST TO KEEP IT SHORT, I WOULD LIKE TO, OF COURSE ACKNOWLEDGE MY HR TEAM. THEY'RE AN AMAZING GROUP AND THEY MAKE COMING TO WORK EVERY DAY ENJOYABLE AND REWARDING. SO THANK YOU TO MY TEAM AND THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT. SO ITEM 89 IS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR

[A.-9. 26-2182 Congratulations to Odalys Ferreiro, Finance Department, recipient of the "Employee of the Month Award," for the month of September 2026.]

[01:55:03]

THERE WERE A LOT OF MOVING PIECES, AND SHE DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF KEEPING EVERYTHING ORGANIZED, FOLLOWING UP ON THE DETAILS AND HELPING MAKE THE TRANSITION AS SMOOTH AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE FOR THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. DALLAS IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP AND STEP IN TO SOMETHING WHEN SOMETHING NEEDS TO GET DONE. SHE PROVIDES SUPPORT NOT ONLY TO ME, BUT TO THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT SHE PUTS IN TO HELP KEEPING THINGS RUNNING DAY TO DAY. SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE HER RECOGNIZED FOR THIS WORK AND HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING. ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION. I AM INCREDIBLY HONORED TO HAVE RECEIVED THIS NOMINATION FROM MY AMAZING FINANCE DIRECTOR, DIANA GOMEZ. SHE HAS PROVIDED SUCH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE REALM OF FINANCE, AND SHE'S GUIDED ME THROUGH IN THE PAST ALMOST FOUR YEARS. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY AMAZING FINANCE TEAM, WORKING WITH THEM IN ALL OF THEIR DIVISIONS. THEY'VE TAUGHT ME SO MUCH, AND I'M INCREDIBLY THANKFUL TO BE PART OF SUCH A DEDICATED TEAM FOR THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COME ON FOLKS.

CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. OH.

[02:01:01]

FOR 24.

THIS IS THE MOMENT. THIS IS THE DAY WHEN I SEND ALL MY DOUBTS AND DEMONS ON THEIR WAY. EVERY ENDEAVOR I HAVE MADE EVER. IS COMING INTO PLAY. IS HERE AND NOW, TODAY. THIS IS THE MOMENT. THIS IS THE TIME. WHEN THE MOMENTUM AND THE MOMENT OF IN RIGHT. GIVE ME THIS MOMENT, THIS PRECIOUS CHILD. I'LL GATHER UP MY PAST AND MAKE SOME SENSE AT LAST. THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN ALL I'VE DONE. ALL OF THE DREAMING, SCHEMING AND SCREAMING BECOME ONE. THIS IS THE DAY. SEE IT SPARKLE AND SHINE. WHEN ALL I'VE LIVED FOR BECOMES MY. FOR ALL THESE YEARS I FACE THE WORLD ALONE. AND NOW THE TIME HAS COME. TO PROVE TO THEM I MADE IT ON MY OWN. THIS IS THE MOMENT. MY FINAL TEST. THE DESTINY BECKONED. I NEVER RECKONED SECOND BEST. I WON'T LOOK DOWN. I MUST NOT FALL. THIS IS THE MOMENT. THE SWEETEST MOMENT OF THEM ALL. THIS IS THE MOMENT. DAMN. ALL THE ALL. THIS DAY OR NEVER.

I'LL SIT FOREVER WITH THE GOD. WHEN I LOOK BACK, I WILL ALWAYS RECALL. MOMENT FOR MOMENT. THIS IS THE MOMENT. GREATEST MOMENT OF THEM ALL.

[A.-11. 26-2212 Presentation of a Proclamation declaring October 2026 as "National Arts and Humanities Month" in Coral Gables.]

[02:05:22]

IT WAS A 30% INCREASE IN APPLICANTS. WE HAVE 1300 PLUS CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT ARE FREE. WE HAVE 30 VENUES THAT ARE BEING USED, AND WE ESTIMATE A $20 MILLION EXPENDITURE BY THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE AUDIENCES. WE ARE VERY PROUD, AND NONE OF THIS COULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COMMITMENT OF YOU ALL, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REMARKABLE, AND I CONGRATULATE YOU ALL AS A COMMISSION AND GUIDING US. AND WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO BRING IN MORE ARTS INTO CORAL GABLES. AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL. I ALSO THINK THE QUALITY OF THE ART THAT'S COMING IN HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL. WE HAVE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT. AND BY THE GUIDANCE OF, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACQUIRE SOME MAGNIFICENT PIECES, WHICH HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE AND IN TIME WILL PUT US AS ONE OF THE MAJOR ART CITIES IN THE COUNTRY. SO WE THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR MANY OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, CHAIRMAN VALDEZ IS A RECOGNIZED, SIGNIFICANT ART COLLECTOR IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED IN PHILANTHROPY FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE DOING THIS. YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE ARTS. AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.

YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME YOU AND YOUR PARTNER SPEND A HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME DEDICATED TO THE ARTS, TO PHILANTHROPY, AND TO GIVING BACK. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, FOR, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO NOT NOW, BUT THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR MANY DECADES. I ALSO WANT TO SEND ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION A THANK YOU TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE. RECORD BREAKING NUMBERS THIS YEAR, AGAIN, IN REGARDS TO THE AMOUNT OF GRANTS THAT WERE PROVIDED. HOPEFULLY, DEPENDING ON BUDGETS, WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE INVEST IN THE ARTS BECAUSE THERE'S A HUGE DIVIDEND, SIGNIFICANT DIVIDEND.

WHEN YOU INVEST MONEY IN THE ARTS, AS A COLLECTOR, AS A BELIEVER, YOU KNOW, IN THE ARTS, I THINK THAT IT ONLY ELEVATES THE WAY THAT OUR CITY IS PERCEIVED AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. SO I'M ALL IN. AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO CONTINUE HELPING YOU DELIVER EXCELLENCE, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU AS A COMMISSION. THANK YOU.

WELL, WE'RE VERY PROUD AND I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF IT BECAUSE WITH A COMMITMENT THAT WE GET FROM YOU ALL, IT'S REMARKABLE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM DIRECTOR.

SO THIS YEAR, WE ASKED ACTORS PLAYHOUSE TO PRESENT A MOMENT FROM THEIR CURRENT PRODUCTION.

AND I INVITE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARBARA STEIN AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DAVID OROZCO TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE THIS MORNING'S PERFORMER AND TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY'S CULTURAL GRANTEES AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO ALL PROVIDE MEANINGFUL STORIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT UNITE US IN CORAL GABLES. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO YOU, TO THIS YEAR'S THEME FOR NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES MONTH IS STORIES THAT UNITE US AND ALL OF THIS MORNING'S PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS AND THE OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH FOR THE LAST QUARTER. ALL I THINK REALLY EMBRACE AND AND, AND EXEMPLIFY THAT. SO THAT WAS REALLY FUN TO TO HAVE THAT FIRST MORNING OF THE COMMISSION MEETING. AND NOW I TURN IT OVER TO ACTORS PLAYHOUSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. MADAM VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M DAVE VARISCO, I'M THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, BUT I WANTED TO INTRODUCE LOVELL ROSE, OUR SINGER. HOW ABOUT THAT? LOVELL ROSE, WHO'S IN JEKYLL AND HYDE.

[02:10:05]

HE'S FROM MARYLAND, BUT HE WENT TO UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AND HE STUDIED OPERA. YEAH, HE'S A HARD THING. AND AND WE JUST AUDITIONED HIM THIS YEAR AND HE DID OUR WIZARD OF OZ THIS SUMMER, AND NOW HE'S IN JEKYLL AND HYDE. HE'S NOT OUR JEKYLL. HE'S THE UNDERSTUDY. AND HE AGREED TO COME THIS MORNING AND SING THE SONG FROM THE SHOW. AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING WAS WHEN PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT GOOD AND EVIL AND ALL OF THAT, BECAUSE JEKYLL AND HYDE REALLY, REALLY HANDLES THAT SITUATION. AS FAR AS SOMEONE WHO'S REALLY TRYING TO BRING THE BEST OUT OF MEN AND BRINGS THE WORST, AND IT'S REALLY A BEAUTIFUL SHOW WITH GORGEOUS MUSIC, AND THIS WOMAN RIGHT HERE MAKES A LOT OF IT HAPPEN FOR ALL THE ARTS, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR THE MIRACLE THEATER. BARBARA STEIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSION, ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, MR. CITY MANAGER, AND CATHERINE AND MR. CHAIRMAN, BACK THERE, I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW PRIVILEGED I AM TO REPRESENT THE OUTSTANDING ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE RESIDENTIAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT COME IN FROM DIFFERENT CULTURAL GROUPS.

WE'RE SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE MIRACLE THEATER VENUE AVAILABLE TO MANY OF THEM AS WELL. THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS INDEED FORTUNATE. I THINK WE'RE THE ONLY CITY IN THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY THAT HAS SUCH A COLLECTIVE OF EXCELLENCE IN ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, CULTURAL, AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. AND THAT'S WHAT THE ARTS DO IS WE ALL, AS WE ALL KNOW IT TELLS STORIES, IN PARTICULAR IN THE PERFORMING ARTS OR THE VISUAL ARTS. HOWEVER YOU LOOK AT IT, IT TELLS A STORY THAT MAKES YOU THINK MORE INDEPENDENTLY, THINK MORE REALISTICALLY, UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU. YOUR COMMUNITY MAKES YOU A BETTER PERSON. THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE IN. THAT'S WHY WE LOVE AND PASSIONATELY WHAT WE DO. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I WANT TO TELL YOU, I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY LISTENING TO ALL THE FINE ACTIVITIES AND INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING WITHIN THE CITY THAT BRING US, BRING US ALL TOGETHER. IT WAS TRULY IMPRESSIVE. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE ALSO ARE VERY INCLUSIVE AT THE THEATER, DOING WORK WITH AUTISM, SPECIAL PRODUCTIONS, SPECIAL CLASSES, AND ALSO BRINGING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES INTO OUR REGULAR PROGRAM BECAUSE ALL KIDS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE SAME. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT PART. WE EVEN WORK WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI TO DEVELOP THEIR CHALLENGE INDIVIDUALS AND BUILD WITH OUR OWN YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT GO OVER TO THE CITY AND PRESENT SPECIAL PRODUCTIONS. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US. I ALSO WANT TO ADD AN ADDENDUM THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED TODAY, BUT WE ALSO ARE VERY SAD TO LEARN JUST TODAY OF ELLEN YUKON'S PASSING. ELLEN WAS EXTREMELY INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE RENOVATION OF THE MIRACLE THEATER. SHE WAS PART, I'M SURE, OF THE DECISION OF THE COMMISSION AT THAT TIME AND WORKING WITH US THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OF HER TENURE HERE AND EVEN BEYOND TO GIVE US GOOD ADVICE, TO RETAIN ALL THE RELEVANCE AND HISTORIC INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING, AND TO LOOK AT WHAT HAD TO BE REVIEWED FOR THE PROGRESSION OF THE BUILDING TO BE A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. SO NOW CORAL GABLES HAS A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, A THREE STAGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT'S EMBARKING UPON IN 2027 TO PARTNER WITH BROADWAY PRODUCERS TO DO A PRE-BROADWAY SHOW HERE, WHERE THE BROADWAY PRODUCERS ARE GOING TO BE EVEN ENHANCING OUR OWN BUDGET FOR LARGE MUSICALS BY OVER $1 MILLION. SO WE'RE ALL GROWING IN THIS CITY, IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, GROWING NEW BUSINESSES, GROWING NEW PLACES FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CINEMA AND AND THE BOOKS AND BOOKS AND BARNES AND NOBLES, EVERYBODY'S THRIVING BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOUR HELP AND YOUR COMMITMENT. IT'S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR OF YOUR COMMITMENT TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE AND WORK VERY HARD, SOMETIMES AGAINST ALL ODDS, TO PRESENT THE ARTS IN A COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND CATHERINE, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO REPRESENT ALL THE GREAT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS MY COLLEAGUES IN THE CITY. THANK YOU. COMMISSION. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, YES. SO NUMBER ONE, BARBARA DAVID, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS WONDERFUL TALENT. AND YOU DID AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB. SO YOU SHOULD BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOURSELF. THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE THEATER IS A PLACE THAT IS SO CLOSE TO MY HEART. I STARTED COMING TO THIS THEATER ABOUT LIKE BEFORE COLLEGE, AND EVERY TIME I'M IN MY 40S. SO THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. AND

[02:15:07]

AND WHEREAS YEARS OF PUBLIC SUPPORT HAS HAD AN ECONOMIC GENERATOR HAS BEEN AN ECONOMIC GENERATOR, STIMULATING A HEALTHY, VIBRANT AND GROWING NONPROFIT ARTS ECONOMY NATIONALLY, EMPLOYING 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN FULL TIME JOBS, RETURNING $3.4 BILLION IN FEDERAL INCOME TAXES, $1.2 BILLION IN STATE AND $790 MILLION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT REVENUE, WITH AN OVERALL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $137 BILLION. WOW. AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS ACKNOWLEDGES, RECOGNIZES, AND INSPIRES A GROWING NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO PARTICIPATE IN A BOOMING CULTURAL INDUSTRY, WHO GIVE VOICE TO OUR CULTURE AND WHO GENEROUSLY OFFER THEIR TALENTS IN YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE. AND WHEREAS THE INSTITUTIONS WHICH FOSTER AND MAKE ACCESSIBLE THE WORK OF ARTISTS ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF OUR CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN A MORE CIVIL SOCIETY, UNITING US IN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING OUR DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND EMPOWERING US TO IMAGINE AND CREATE A SHARED VISION FOR THE FUTURE. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND OUR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD RECOGNIZED THE ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS BELOW FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PARTICIPATION IN THE ARTS IN CORAL GABLES, INCLUDING THE 2026 2027 CULTURAL GRANT RECIPIENTS, ACTORS PLAYHOUSE, CORAL GABLES, CINEMATHEQUE, CORAL GABLES MUSEUM, GABLES STAGE AT THE BILTMORE, MONTGOMERY BOTANICAL CENTER, LOWE ART MUSEUM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, SANCTUARY OF THE ARTS. THE ALHAMBRA ORCHESTRA AREA STAGE COMPANY, OUR ARTS ARTS BALLET, THEATER OF FLORIDA, BEAUX ARTS, THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF JEWISH EDUCATION, CHOPIN FOUNDATION COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAM AT CGSC DIMENSIONS DANCE THEATER, FIBER ARTISTS, MIAMI ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION, HIJOS DE LA GUAJIRA, THE DAVE AND MARY ALPERT JCC FRIENDS OF MIAMI DADE PUBLIC LIBRARY, G.W. CARVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PTA, GREATER MIAMI SYMPHONIC BAND, HAND TO HAND, IMAGO, PAULUS ARTS, LA ZARZUELA. DE DECIR FOUNDATION, MIAMI CHILDREN'S CHORUS, THE MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, MIAMI MUSIC PROJECT, THE MIAMI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, THE MOODY FOUNDATION, THE MURRAY DRANOFF FOUNDATION, MIAMI PARA. PATRONS OF EXCEPTIONAL ARTISTS, PETER LONDON GLOBAL DANCE COMPANY, OCTO FL FOUNDATION, SERAPHIC FIRE, SOUTH BEACH CHAMBER ENSEMBLE, SOUTH FLORIDA, FRIENDS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC, SOUTH FLORIDA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, SOUTH FLORIDA YOUTH SYMPHONY, THE DANCE NOW ENSEMBLE, THE LAST HUNDRED, THE OPERA ATELIER, WE ART FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS THE ARTS AND BUSINESS COUNCIL OF MIAMI. BOOKS AND BOOKS. CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CORAL. GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, FAIRCHILD. TROPICAL TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN, ROYAL POINCIANA, DISTRICT OF FLORIDA. FEDERATION OF MUSIC CLUBS, STEINWAY PIANO

[02:20:06]

IT WAS NOTED THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT DOES DO THIS CULTURAL GRANT PROGRAM, AND WE SHOULD BE VERY, VERY PROUD BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY JUST THE DOLLARS IT GENERATES, IT'S ALSO THE OFFERINGS THAT ARE GIVEN FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD AND ARE ACROSS THE BOARD. EACH ONE OF THESE INSTITUTIONS DO OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE TICKET TO COME OUT AND EXPERIENCE, AND IT'S HOW WE MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL WELCOMED TO OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. TOTAL TIME.

[H.-2. 26-2228 Art in Public Places "Intervals" and Art Week Update.]

BUT THOSE TWO PIECES WILL BE AT OUR GARDEN PASEO AT 427 BILTMORE WAY, JULIO LARA'S MARS SCULPTURE THAT WILL BE ON THE ARAGON PLAZA. AND THEN WE HAVE THREE PRIVATE PIECES THAT ARE ALSO ALREADY OUT AND ABOUT THE PLAZA MINA, THE LYNDA BENGLIS POWER TOWER. AND FORGIVE ME, THE BOND DOESN'T HAVE THE TITLE THERE. IF I THINK OF IT, I'LL I'LL STATE IT, BUT IT IS ALSO INSTALLED AND YOU'LL SEE A QUICK IMAGE OF IT. SO THESE ARE WHERE THE NEW ARTWORKS ARE. SO WE HAVE THE TWO OF BILTMORE WAY, LIKE I SAID, THE ONE BY ALEX AND CRAFTS, THE LYNDA BENGLIS AT REGENCY PARK. THE PLAZA IS A TEMPORARY INSTALLATION AT THE MUSEUM PLAZA, AND THEN THE JULIO LARA'S PIECE WILL BE AT ARAGON. AND THEN JUST A REMINDER OF WHAT THESE PIECES LOOK LIKE, A COUPLE. UNTITLED. THE MARS SCULPTURE BY JULIO LARA'S MINA AND THE LYNDA BENGLIS POWER TOWER AND VENUS VAN ARK OF PIECE. THERE WE GO. SO THOSE ARE ALL OUT AND ABOUT.

AND THEN AN UPDATE ON THE INTERVALS PROJECTS. AGAIN, JUST AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE FIVE ARTISTS AND FIVE PUBLIC SPACES. THEY ARE ALL SITE RESPONSIVE AND OPEN AND PUBLICLY

[02:25:03]

ALEXIS NOVOA, ALEXANDER ORTEGA, VICKY PIERRE, EMMETT MOORE AND MILK. SO THIS IS THE FIRST PIECE AT 370 MIRACLE MILE. THE. THIS IS WHERE ALEXIS NOVO PIECE WILL BE. IT WILL BE ON THAT WHITE WALL AND YOU'LL SEE HIS ARTWORK. THIS IS NOT THE PIECE, BUT IT WILL BE REMINISCENT. HE DOES VERY FINE DRAWINGS ON TRAVERTINE. AND SO YOU'LL NOTICE IT WILL KIND OF COMPLEMENT THAT BACK WALL IN THE ELEVATOR PLAZA. THE NEXT ONE WILL BE IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW, TENTATIVELY IN FRONT OF MIRACLE AND IN FRONT OF BARNES AND NOBLE ON MIRACLE MILE. I ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING WITH THE ARTISTS THIS AFTERNOON, AND WE'LL FINALIZE THE LOCATION, BUT IT WILL BE ON THE RIGHT OF WAY. THIS IS THE ALEXANDRE ARRECHEA PIECE, AND THIS IS A PIECE ABOUT SELF-CARE. WE'LL BE ABOUT TEN FEET TALL AT THE 107 MIRACLE MILE PASEO. IT'S A VERY, VERY NARROW PASEO. AND THE THE ARTIST HERE, EMMETT MOORE, WAS VERY CAPTIVATED, CAPTIVATED BY THIS SORT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SURPRISE AS ONE IS WALKING PAST IT. AND THEN AT THE 100 MIRACLE MILE LOCATION, THIS IS AN INDOOR ELEVATOR LOBBY. BUT YOU'LL SEE WITH THAT LIGHT THAT'S SHINING INTO IT IS ALSO GOING TO BE VERY VISIBLE IN THE EVENING. THIS WILL BE ARTWORK BY THE ARTIST VICKI PIERRE. THE PAINTING ON THE LEFT. IT MAY BE THAT ONE OR SOMETHING SIMILAR, ALONG WITH AN INSTALLATION OF OTHER THREE DIMENSIONAL PIECES THAT SHE DOES THAT ARE REMINISCENT OF CHANDELIERS AND AND OBJECTS. AND THEN AT THE HOTEL COLONNADE, THE CHAGOURY GALLERY WANTED TO USE THE SAME LOCATION THEY USED LAST YEAR, WHICH IS THAT LARGE PANEL WALL.

AND THIS IS A PIECE THAT WILL BE DISPLAYED. IT'S A VERY LARGE SCALE WATERCOLOR PIECE BY RADENKO MILAK, WHO IS ALSO THEIR ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AND WILL BE AT ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH. AND SO, SO THIS YEAR FOR OUR VIP RECEPTION WITH ART BASEL, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THESE PERMANENT PIECES AND THE INTERVALS PROJECT, AND WE WILL BE HOLDING THAT IN THE GARDEN FOR SALE AT 427 BILTMORE WAY. SO I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL BE THERE WITH US. ONE QUICK REQUEST, IF POSSIBLE THROUGH THE MANAGER, COULD YOU REACH OUT TO THE GARDENERS FOUNDATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PRESENT OR AT LEAST AWARE OF THE EVENT? ABSOLUTELY. I THINK IT WOULD BE SOMETHING NICE. YEAH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF SCULPTURES IN EUROPE. BUT I KNOW THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST SCULPTURES HERE LOCALLY IN PUBLIC VIEW, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO INVITE THEM. GREAT. WE'LL DO. AND BY THE WAY, THESE ARE GREAT ARTISTS, LOCAL ARTISTS, YOU KNOW, AMAZING ARTISTS THAT HAVE GALLERY REPRESENTATION THERE IN ART FAIRS. SO I CONGRATULATE THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR SELECTING SOME REALLY INTERESTING ARTISTS.

THANK YOU. AND ANOTHER THING TOO IS CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT ALLEYWAY WHERE THAT SCULPTURE IS GOING TO BE INSTALLED, THE PASEO, CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT ALLEY IS AN IMPECCABLE CONDITION? YES, IT IS A A LITTLE YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THE ASPHALT IS A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, SPOTTY. WE HAVE WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM AT PUBLIC WORKS. MAYBE THEY CAN GO IN THERE AND JUST PATCH IT UP JUST TO MAKE SURE IT LOOKS GOOD AND MAYBE JUST PAINT THE ASPHALT, PAINT THE ASPHALT. THERE'S A MATERIAL THAT YOU CAN DO JUST TO PAINT THE ENTIRE PASEO, OR WE CAN LOOK AT WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. MAYBE IT'S TIME THAT THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNER, UNLESS THE CITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PASEO, DEPENDING ON THE COVENANT, HAS TO DO THAT. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THAT I WANTED TO ASK THE MANAGER. THERE'S A LOT OF PASEOS HERE AND THERE THAT ARE NOT UPKEPT, AND THAT WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHO IS THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY FOR THOSE, WHETHER IT'S THE CITY OR THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THOSE UP. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISTER MANAGER. GREAT WORK. ALL

[A.-10. 26-2202 Recognition of the Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department for achieving reaccreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), awarded on September 30, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.]

[02:30:01]

ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? NO. DON'T BE SO SHY. COME ON. LISTEN, AS ALWAYS, YOUR ENTIRE TEAM DOES AN AMAZING JOB EVERY TIME WE HAVE A PARK OPENING, EVERY TIME WE HAVE AN EVENT, WHETHER IT'S TENNIS, WHATEVER THE EVENT MAY BE. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU BECAUSE FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP, YOU GUYS ARE SEEING THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS PICKED UP, THAT EVERYTHING IS PREPARED, THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME, THAT IT'S INCLUSIVE FOR EVERYONE. YOUR TEAM DOES AN AMAZING, AMAZING JOB. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO. THAT'S WHY WE'RE THE ENVY OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, POTENTIALLY THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN REGARDS TO OUR PARKS. EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE PARKS LIKE THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THAT'S ALL THEY SAY. AND WITH ALL THE NEW ADDITIONS LATELY IN REGARDS TO OUR PARKS AND WHAT'S FORTHCOMING IN OUR DOWNTOWN, AGAIN, I MAY NOT BE HERE TO SEE IT WHEN WE DELIVER ON ALL THOSE PARKS IN THE DOWNTOWN, BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TOGETHER, AND IT'S SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL, AND EVERYBODY SHOULD BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF IT. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DONE. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO.

[B.-1. 26-2188 Regular Commission Meeting of September 15, 2026.]

[C. PUBLIC COMMENTS]

[02:35:07]

FINALLY, LACK OF ENFORCEMENT WHILE MANY RESIDENTS TAKE PRIDE IN SODDING AND MAINTAINING SWALES IN IDEAL, PRISTINE CONDITIONS, INSTALLING COSTLY TURFGRASS OR DECORATIVE STONES, OTHER RESIDENTS ARE EITHER NEGLECTING SWALES ENTIRELY OR ILLEGALLY, PAVING THEM WITH EDGE TO EDGE GRAVEL, CONSTRUCTION, ROCK OR MULCH. OF COURSE, THIS IS DONE WITHOUT PUBLIC WORK PERMIT OR RECORDED RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. JUDGING FROM THESE RECENT PHOTOGRAPHS, CODE ENFORCEMENT SEEMS TO BE ABSENT ON THE ISSUE BECAUSE NO CITATIONS OR CORRECTION NOTICES SEEM TO BE ISSUED. THE NEGLECT SPREADS FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE. PERHAPS THE REASON IS A LACK OF MANPOWER IN THE DEPARTMENT. I ONLY HAVE ONE. PERHAPS THE REASON IS LACK OF MANPOWER IN THAT DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS ALREADY IS BURDENED WITH WORK BEING REALIZED WITHOUT A PERMIT.

JUST REVIEW THE AGENDA. EVERYBODY'S WORKING WITHOUT A PERMIT IN THE CITY. IN THE CITY.

BEAUTIFUL. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON HIGH STANDARDS. I URGE THE COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A PROACTIVE SWEEP OF PUBLIC SWALES MANDATE, RESTARTING ON ALL EXPOSED DIRT, AND REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF UNPERMITTED STONE. SUCH SWEEPS ARE NOT NEW, AND THEY WERE MADE IN THE PAST WITH REGARDS TO OTHER VIOLATIONS, SUCH AS DIRTY ROOFS. THANK YOU. SO, MR. FIDEL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT HERE TO OUR ATTENTION. THE LEGISLATION THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO GROUND COVER AND WHETHER IT BE, FOR EXAMPLE, AFRICAN CONGO FERNS OR CRUSHED GRAVEL, I WROTE THAT LEGISLATION AND YOU LED YOU LED THAT. SO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THE INTENT WAS THE INTENT WAS, AND I USE IT IN MY OWN HOUSE. THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE SWALES THAT THE RESIDENT HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED IN FINDING A SOLUTION FOR THE

[02:40:01]

WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY WENT TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE HOMES, AND THEY PUT A PHOTO OF ME SAYING, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I HAVE THE PICTURES OF IT. VINCE. VINCE. VINCE LAGO CALLED CODE ENFORCEMENT ON YOU. THEY WENT TO HUNDREDS OF HOMES AND THEY DID IT. AND. MR. MR. CLARK, IS THAT CORRECT? YES OR NO? THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. SO THE PROBLEM SO THEY DID THAT TO INTIMIDATE ME AND TO TRY TO MAKE ME LOSE THE LAST ELECTION. HOLD ON, HOLD ON A MINUTE. HOW MUCH WASTED ENERGY ON ALL THESE PETTY INSTEAD OF INSTEAD OF CONCENTRATING ON MAKING OUR CITY BEAUTIFUL, IT WAS AN INTENT TO HURT. SO LET ME TELL YOU, I SUPPORT YOU 110%. USING CODE ENFORCEMENT TO KEEP OUR STANDARDS HIGH BECAUSE WE CANNOT WATER DOWN WHO WE ARE, WHETHER IT'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION, WHETHER IT'S CODE ENFORCEMENT, WHETHER IT'S OUR STREETS, WHETHER IT'S TRAFFIC CALMING, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT STANDARD HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THOSE STANDARDS. AND IF SOMEBODY BREAKS THE RULES, YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

SO I AM 110%, AND I CALL ON MY COLLEAGUES HERE TO ALSO URGE THE MANAGER AND THE DCM, AND I'M WILLING TO MAKE A RESOLUTION. I'M MAKING. I'M. I'M WILLING TO. IT'S LIKE YOU CAN PUT ARTIFICIAL TURF NOW IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE. YOU CAN HAVE A PICKUP TRUCK IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE. YOU CAN HAVE GRASS THAT'S OVERGROWN IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE. AND YOU CAN. IF THE SWALE CAN GO TO HELL, I'M MAKING I'M MAKING YOUR POINT. AND I AND AGAIN, THOSE WERE ALSO THE ISSUE WITH THE GRASS. THE ARTIFICIAL GRASS IS A PREEMPTION BY THE STATE. NONE OF US KNOW. I KNOW, BUT I MEAN, IT'S JUST I TRIED TO STOP ARTIFICIAL GRASS IN YOUR PARK, IN YOUR, IN YOUR IN YOUR IN YOUR DRIVEWAYS. BUT I WAS VOTED 3 TO 2 HERE ON THE COMMISSION AGAINST. SO MY POINT IS THAT MY POINT IS THIS. I'M IN FAVOR OF USING CODE ENFORCEMENT TO EDUCATE AND TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE THAT. ADDRESS YOUR SWALE. ADDRESS YOUR SWALE. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO ADDRESS THE SWALE AND FOLLOW THE RULES. I'M NOT ASKING AGAIN BECAUSE THE NEXT THING THAT'LL COME OUT IS, YOU KNOW THAT I'M. I WANT TO FILL IN PEOPLE'S TRASH PITS. I ALREADY FILLED IN MY TRASH PIT. IT WAS THE BEST DECISION EVER. THAT'S ANOTHER THING. MY NEIGHBOR'S TRASH IS THIS HUGE HOLE IN THE GROUND. AND IT DAMAGES THE TREES BECAUSE TRASH SHOULD NOT BE ADJACENT TO TO TREES AND IT DAMAGES THE ROOTS. SO I'M IN FAVOR OF OF REQUESTING FROM THE MANAGER, PLEASE, THAT HE USE CODE ENFORCEMENT TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY IN REGARDS TO WHAT ARE THE APPROPRIATE SWALE OPTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE MUD PITS. AND IF PEOPLE ARE NOT USING THE SWALE PACKAGE LEGISLATION THAT I WROTE, THEY HAVE TO ABIDE BY CODE ENFORCEMENT. SO I WILL HAVE. MR. FIDEL. SO YOU CAN SEE I HAVE THE PICTURES OF WHAT WAS DROPPED OFF AT EVERYONE'S HOME IN AN EFFORT TO STOP ME FROM USING CODE ENFORCEMENT TO MAINTAIN OUR LEVELS HERE. IF NOT, YOU CAN ASK FOR A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FROM THE CLERK AND HE CAN GIVE IT TO YOU. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON, AND THE DCM WILL TELL YOU, BECAUSE I RECEIVED A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST TWO WEEKS AGO ON THE SAME MATTER IN MY OFFICE, ASKING FOR MY TEXT MESSAGES WITH THE DCM IN REGARDS TO CODE ENFORCEMENT. I'M NOT GOING TO BE INTIMIDATED. I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT I THINK IS RIGHT BY THE CITY TO UPHOLD OUR STANDARDS. SO I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS. I'M ASKING THE MANAGER IF, AND I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO DO THIS AS A UNIFIED FRONT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO UPKEEP OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT AND OUR SWALES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY. YOU SAW THE PHOTOGRAPHS. I MEAN, I'M NOT HERE. I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY. IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE THE WAY THAT THE SWALES LOOK. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO DO

[02:45:04]

[02:50:05]

BUT LIKE WE'RE NOW GOING TO MAKE THIS A PART OF A OVERALL CHARGE DOWNTOWN OVERLAY, KIND OF LIKE KIND OF LIKE A RIGHT. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING WORTH THINKING ABOUT, SINCE IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS TO, TO MAINTAIN THE SWALES, MIGHT THERE BE AN OPTION WHERE THEY COULD SAY, WELL, I WANT TO USE THE SCALE OF THE CITY'S RESOURCES AND PAY INTO IT AND MAYBE HAVE CITIES, THE CITY PROVIDE THE SERVICE OF MAINTAINING, WHETHER IT'S GRAVEL OR OR MAINTAIN SWALES, JUST THINKING OUT LOUD, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT LATER WHERE IF YOU HAVE A. THE SCALES OF ECONOMY AT WORK WHERE IF THERE COULD BE MORE UNIFORMITY, THERE COULD BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAY OF MAINTAINING A STREET BY SOMEBODY MAYBE SIGNING IN TO PAYING THE CITY FOR IT. SOMETHING TO CONSIDER WHILE WE CONSIDER THE LEGISLATION. MISTER MANAGER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THE CITY DID MAINTAIN THE SOILS AND SIDEWALK, AND THAT WAS CHANGED A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED COST THAT THAT IT WOULD BE TO MAINTAIN THAT, COMMISSIONER. AND IT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL CREWS, ADDITIONAL COSTS. AND SO AND SO TO A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, I BELIEVE, IS WHEN VICE MAYOR CRADDOCK WAS WAS ON THE COMMISSION, THAT THAT WAS CHANGED TO THE TO THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS TO ACTUALLY TAKE CARE OF THAT, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST GETTING INCREASINGLY INCREASINGLY COSTLY AND, AND PROHIBITIVE. THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. I THINK WE CAN WE CAN LOOK AT EVERYTHING. WE CAN ANALYZE EVERYTHING. AND THAT'S WHY. THAT'S WHY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHY WHEN I BROUGHT FORWARD THE SWALE PACKAGE, WE WERE FINDING PEOPLE FOR PLANTING UNDER SWALE.

SO IT WAS LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, WE GOTTA FIND WE GOTTA FIND A SOLUTION HERE. SO YOUR SWALE LOOKS TERRIBLE, BUT THEN YOU DON'T OFFER A SOLUTION FOR IT. SO WE BROUGHT IT UP AGAIN. WHEN YOU FOLLOW THE RULES, IT LOOKS GREAT. LIKE YOU CAN SEE A BUNCH OF PROPERTIES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I DRIVE BY MY NEIGHBORHOOD EVERY DAY THAT YOU SEE THAT HAVE DONE AFRICAN CONGO, THAT HAVE DONE FERNS, THAT HAVE DONE THE THE CRUSHED GRAVEL IN THE APPROPRIATE WAY.

I THINK WHEN YOU WHEN YOU LISTEN TO DEENA, MISS BELLE, EXCUSE ME, COME UP HERE AND EXPLAIN IT. SHE'LL TELL YOU HOW SHE ANALYZES CERTAIN TREE CANOPIES, CERTAIN AREAS.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY, BUT SHE'LL EXPLAIN TO YOU IS LIKE, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH TREE ROOTS? HOW DO YOU PARK ON TREE ROOTS? HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ACCOMMODATE THE TREE ROOTS? HOW DO YOU NOT DAMAGE THE TREE ROOTS? SO IT'S A VERY, VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE. BUT WHAT MR. FIDEL SAID IS THE FACTS. THERE'S A ROADMAP TO BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS YOUR ISSUES ON YOUR SWALES. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES, DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES, AND THE DCM DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. THE DCM WILL TELL YOU I HAVE IT THERE. HE HAS IT ON HIS TEXT MESSAGES. I TOOK IT OFF THE MANAGER'S HANDS BECAUSE THE MANAGER IS WAY TOO BUSY AND THE DCM WAS LIKE, SEND IT TO ME, I'M GOING TO START ADDRESSING IT. AND ABOUT WHAT, A YEAR AGO. MR. DCM, WHAT DID YOU SAY A YEAR AGO? AND IT WAS POLITICIZED. SO YOU TRY TO DO YOUR JOB AND THEY POLITICIZE IT DURING A CAMPAIGN TO HURT YOU, SO YOU CAN'T DO YOUR JOB. AND THEY MADE ME LOOK LIKE I WAS A PERSON THAT WAS WEAPONIZING CODE ENFORCEMENT. WHEN I'M NOT WEAPONIZING CODE ENFORCEMENT, I HAVE RESIDENTS WHO CALL ME AND I SEE THINGS THAT ARE WRONG THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE CITY. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S THE WAY OF PROTECTING OUR CITY. AND I WISH MY COLLEAGUES AND RESIDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY WOULD DO IT THEMSELVES. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS WHAT SETS A CITY BEAUTIFUL APART. LOOK AT THE LOOK AT THE WAY THAT WE KEEP OUR CITY. OUR ENTRANCE FEATURES, OUR BUILDINGS. LOOK AT THE WAY THAT OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR SPEED HUMPS ARE NOT LIKE ANY OTHER SPEED HUMPS. YOU GO TO OTHER CITIES.

OUR SPEED HUMPS ARE THESE BEAUTIFUL SPEED HUMPS ARE ARE CIRCLES, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE. YOU'VE NEVER TAKEN THE TIME, BUT REALLY LOOK AT HOW HOW WELL DONE THE TRAFFIC, THE ENGINEERING IN FRONT OF BOOKS AND BOOKS IS THE LANDSCAPING ON

[02:55:05]

SO EVERY TIME THAT I, FOR EXAMPLE, MY HOUSE THAT I HAVE TO CALL TWICE A YEAR FOR THEM TO COME IN AND PRUNE THE INTERIOR OF THE TREES, WHY? SO SUN CAN GET INTO MY GRASS IF I DON'T DO IT FOR A YEAR, WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE IT FOR A YEAR NOW. MY GRASS STARTS DYING THE MOMENT I PRUNE THE TREES AS PER THE PERMISSIBLE AMOUNT. ENOUGH LIGHT GETS IN AND OBVIOUSLY THE GRASS GROWS. SO IT'S JUST SIMPLE, YOU KNOW, COMMON SENSE BEHAVIOR THAT WE HAVE TO DO HERE IN THE CITY TO MAINTAIN THE CITY. MR. MANAGER, MAYOR, AND YOU ARE CORRECT. THE PROBLEM IS THE THE CANOPY PROBLEM IS ALSO PARKING. THE SMALLER LOTS HAVE A LOT OF PARKING IN THOSE AREAS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GET LIKE THAT UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A VEHICLE ON THERE. SO WE WE DID TAKE CARE OF IT WITH THE SWALE PACKAGE, WHICH IS, WHICH IS, IS A COST FREE PERMIT. AND I AGREE WITH YOU, MAYOR. I THINK THE BEST THING IS, IS GRANT IT BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL. IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL. AND, AND, AND, AND IT'S VERY SUSTAINABLE. BUT YOU, YOU, YOU REALLY CAN'T HAVE A CANOPY. AND THEN, AND THEN IT RAINS AND YOU PARK ON IT AND YOU CREATE A MUD BATH. AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE THAT SWALE PACKAGE THAT WE CAN START ENFORCING BECAUSE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S TRULY THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET AROUND IT. THE CANOPY IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT ALSO CAUSES A NUMBER OF ISSUES. AND, AND THEN ON THE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE GABLES, THE LAWS TEND TO BE SMALLER. THE PEOPLE PARK MORE ON, ON THE RIGHT OF WAY. AND, AND THAT MEANS THE SWALE AND, AND IF YOU'VE GOT WET GRASS AND AND YOU'VE GOT A CAR, YOU'VE GOT A MUD BATH. RIGHT. OKAY. SO THE MAYOR WAS DRIVING THROUGH, I GUESS IT'S UNINCORPORATED MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND AREAS OF THE STATE. AND IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT YOU HAVE GRASS THAT'S OVER A FOOT TALL SIDEWALK ON JUST ON THE ON THE MEDIAN, ON THE EXIT RAMPS OF THE HIGHWAY. 1330 I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. 37TH AVENUE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 37TH AVENUE. THERE THE GRASS AND I. BY THE WAY, I MENTIONED IT TO THE MANAGER OF THE DCM. THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT BECAUSE THE US POST OFFICE IS NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT. OUR OWN US POST OFFICE HAS A PATCH, THIS BIG OF GRASS GROWING ON THE SIDEWALK. I KNOW YOU THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUS, BUT IT'S NOT. THIS IS LIKE WHAT? WE'RE NOT THAT TYPE OF CITY. GO TO 37TH AVENUE, GO TODAY AND GO FROM EIGHTH STREET TO BIRD ROAD. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALKS IN AREA. YOU. THEY'RE JUST WEEDS.

THEY'RE THREE FOOT WEEDS. THAT'S NOT OUR CITY. OUR CITY WILL MAINTAIN IT. BUT I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. I KNOW, BUT BUT BUT IT DRIVES ME CRAZY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND, I IT'S THAT SHOULD BE LIKE I THINK ABOUT IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. I PUT MYSELF IN THE POSITION OF A TOURIST COMING TO SEE MIAMI DADE COUNTY, AND I GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND I'M ENCOUNTERING FOOT AND A HALF TALL GRASS, WHICH TO ME IS INSANE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE OUR COUNTY. WE'LL USE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO, I MEAN, A TOURIST DOLLARS TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY MAKING OUR OUR AREA LOOK BAD. WHAT IF YOU'RE DISABLED? WHAT IF YOU'RE A MOTHER AND A BABY CARRIAGE? WELL, YOU'RE AN ELDERLY PERSON WALKING THE NUMBER OF SIDEWALKS THAT HAVE OBSTRUCTIONS ON THEM. I MEAN, IF YOU. EIGHTH STREET, WE HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT'S CURRENTLY GOING ON, THE SIGN THAT THE STATE HAS PUT ON THE ROAD IS ON THE SIDEWALK BLOCKING THE PASSAGE ON THE SIDEWALK. SO YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO GET NOT NOT A WHEELCHAIR. YOU CAN'T EVEN GET A PERSON THROUGH THERE WITHOUT HAVING TO WALK ON THE STREET. YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU LIVE IN CORAL GABLES, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE HOW GREAT IT IS TO LIVE IN THIS CITY BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A COMMISSION, YOU HAVE A CITY, YOU HAVE STAFF THAT IS LOOKING AT ALL THIS AND TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS WHERE YOU DRIVE LITERALLY ACROSS THE STREET, AND IT'S HORRIBLE. IT'S HORRIBLE. YEAH, THE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR. SO. AM I MEANT TO SEND

[03:00:02]

WE'LL PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT, MR. MAYOR. NEXT SPEAKER. GONZALEZ-SANABRIA.

GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING. GONZALO SANABRIA, 944 SAN PEDRO AVENUE IN BEAUTIFUL GABLES BY THE SEA. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM D FOUR, WHICH IS A CONSENT ITEM. IN CASE YOU DON'T HAVE IT HANDY, LOOK AT IT, PLEASE. IT'S A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING AN AMOUNT OF MONEY. NOT A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY, BUT A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM MIAMI DADE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION FOR A PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE PATH MASTER PLAN IN CORAL GABLES. I WANT TO KNOW WHERE HAVE WE BEEN ON THIS? BECAUSE IF THIS IS BASICALLY A START, OR IS THIS GOING TO BE BLENDING WITH AN ONGOING PLAN? PLUS, WHAT ABOUT CROSSWALKS? WHAT ABOUT SAFETY CROSSWALKS? WHAT ABOUT EMPHASIZING GOLF CART USE LIKE OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE? WE HAVE OTHER COMMUNITIES NEAR US PINECREST, CUTLER BAY, KEY BISCAYNE, THAT EMPHASIZED GOLF CART TRANSPORTATION. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING REGARDING GOLF CARTS AT ALL, BUT WE ENTHUSIASTICALLY PROMOTED AND FUNDED THE UNDERLYING $500,000 FOR NEXT BUDGET YEAR. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY'RE DOING PODCASTS EMPHASIZING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WANT TO BRING IS THE EVERGLADES HABITAT TO A THREE MILE EVERGLADES HABITAT, TO A THREE MILES, WHICH IS BASICALLY JUST GROWING WEEDS AND LETTING THE WATER RETAIN IN SOME SORT OF POND. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THIS, THE NUMBER ONE KILLER, THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF MAN, IS MOSQUITOES. SO WHAT IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN? NOW WE HAVE EVERGLADES HABITAT RIGHT IN OUR SOUTHERN BORDER BY DIXIE HIGHWAY. AND IT'S A HABITAT FOR MOSQUITOES. AND MOSQUITOES ARE THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF HUMANS.

SO HOW MUCH HAVE YOU REALLY DEDICATED MONEY VERSUS A 500,000 TO THE UNDERLYING TO THIS KIND OF PLAN, THIS KIND OF PLAN THAT APPLIES TO US IN THE GABLES, PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY, CROSSWALKS AND GOLF CARTS. HOW MUCH AND WHEN? I'M UNAWARE OF ANY OF IT. PLEASE LET US KNOW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO GO TO ZOOM NEXT. SPEAKERS MARIA CRUZ. DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. MARIA CRUZ, MRS. MARIA CRUZ. I KNOW THAT MY NAME WAS ALREADY CALLED AND IT WAS NOT MRS. MARIA CRUZ. I'M STILL MRS. MARIA CRUZ. 1447 MILLER ROAD. I HAVE TWO THINGS TO DISCUSS. I'M SORRY THAT I CANNOT BE THERE TODAY. I'M SO. I'M SURE THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE HAPPY NOT TO SEE ME, BUT I'M HERE, AND I HAVE. THE FIRST ITEM IS GOING TO BE. I BELIEVE IT'S THE TWO TALKING ABOUT SPENDING MONEY TO FIX OR REDO OR REMODEL OR WHATEVER. THE. 427 BUILDING, THE 427 BUILDING WAS FINISHED ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO,

[03:05:07]

EVERYTHING WAS VERY WELL DONE. AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE TO SPEND OVER $300,000 TO REDO WALLS, TEAR DOWN STUFF, ETC. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHEN WE HAVE A NEW BUILDING THAT WE HAVE ACQUIRED THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE ALL THE STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THERE. NOW WE'RE GOING TO UNDO WHAT CABRERA DID. I'M SORRY THAT SHE'S NOT BACK. LIKE THE RUMOR HAS IT THAT SHE'S COMING BACK BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN SHE SEES EVERYTHING THAT SHE DID UNDONE. AT THE COST OF $300,000 PLUS. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. AND THE SECOND ITEM IS SEPTEMBER 15TH TO OCTOBER 15TH IS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN THE COUNTY, BUT NOT IN NOT IN CORAL GABLES. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PROCLAMATIONS THE LAST FEW MEETINGS. I MEAN, EVEN TODAY, MORE IMPORTANT. I'M SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE IS GOOD. I'M SURE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THEM. BUT UNLESS THERE'S A POCKET ITEM COMING UP TODAY FROM THE MAYOR ABOUT HISPANIC HERITAGE, THAT WHEN ON CELEBRATED AND THAT IS WRONG. AND YOU KNOW WHAT I KEEP I'M HERE. I'LL BE TALKING NEXT TIME. AND I'M GLAD THAT I DIDN'T GO OVER THE LIMIT, EVEN THOUGH SOME OTHER PEOPLE WENT OVER THE LIMIT AND THE MAYOR DID NOT STOP THEM BECAUSE IT FIT HIS NARRATIVE. ALL RIGHT. AND BY THE WAY, ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS MRS. MARIA CRUZ. IF HE CHOOSES TO TALK ABOUT ME, HE NEEDS TO USE MY REAL NAME, NOT WHAT HE CHOOSES TO CALL ME.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. I'LL BE BACK. MR. MAYOR. OKAY, PERFECT. ALL RIGHT. CONSENT AGENDA.

[D. CONSENT AGENDA]

[D.-5. 26-2234 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the appointment of Commissioner Melissa Castro to the Florida League of Cities' 2026-2027 Advocacy Committee and 2026-2027 Florida Action Strike Team and authorizing Commissioner Castro to advocate consistent with the City's legislative priorities.]

THESE ARE THEIR APPOINTMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE. DURING LAST COMMISSION MEETING.

ME BEING THE ONLY COMMISSIONER THAT HAD TO TRAVEL TO TO TO ORLANDO, WHICH THIS COMMISSION SHOULD BE VERY HONORED BECAUSE I HOLD A VERY STRONG LEADERSHIP POSITION. I CHAIR THE DEVELOPMENT CODE, COMPLIANCE AND REDEVELOPMENT BOARD DECIDED TO FREEZE MY FUNDS IN AN ATTEMPT FOR ME NOT TO GO AND CHAIR THIS COMMITTEE THAT REPRESENTS 411 MUNICIPALITIES.

I PAID IT FROM MY OWN POCKET, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO PAY IT FOR MY OWN POCKET. I DON'T NEED YOUR PERSONAL APPROVAL TO REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS WHO ELECTED ME, AND I WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT. SO WHETHER YOU AGREE OR YOU DON'T AGREE, WHETHER I GET ELECTED OR NOT, AFTER SPEAKING TO THE LEAGUE, I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THESE BOARDS THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. I'M. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHY IT'S BECOME ALMOST A PERSONAL AT THIS POINT. ALL I'VE HEARD IS THAT THE VICE MAYOR BELIEVES IT'S PRUDENT TO PUT OFF THIS RESOLUTION UNTIL SOMETIME AFTER THE UPCOMING ELECTION. I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S JUST LOGICAL, RIGHT? AND,

[03:10:03]

SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN UPCOMING ELECTION AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE VOTERS RESULTS ON THAT ELECTION. I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT SEAT IS CURRENTLY A SEAT THAT HAS BEEN HAS BEEN SHE HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO. AND HAVING THE CITY HAVE A PLACE AT THE TABLE WHERE THESE ISSUES ARE BEING PUSHED FORWARD. AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE SUPPORT OF OVER 400 MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE TO HELP PUSH THE AGENDA THAT THE CITY HAS AS WELL, IS SOMETHING THAT'S BENEFICIAL. SO IF I MAY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS THIS YEAR'S, THIS FORTHCOMING. AGENDA WILL COMMENCE IN MARCH, NOT COMMENCING IN JANUARY, IS MY UNDERSTANDING. BUT I'M HEARING. SO I THINK THAT, AGAIN, IT'S NOT STARTING IN JANUARY.

IT'LL BE STARTING IN MARCH. THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE, AGAIN, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S GOING TO BE SELECTED, WHETHER IT'S THE COMMISSIONER OR SOMEBODY ELSE. THIS IS SOMETHING, AGAIN, THAT THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE HOTLY DEBATED. IN THE PAST. IN THE PAST, WE'VE DEFERRED ITEMS UNTIL THE COMMISSION DEEMED IT APPROPRIATE. AND AGAIN, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A LONG AGENDA AND WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. I THINK THAT'S WORTH NOTING. MOVE TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE DO HAVE A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR. WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTIVELY WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR AND TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE AS TO WHAT OUR CITY COMMISSION'S PRIORITIES ARE AS ON A COHESIVE BASIS. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS AGENDA TODAY. WE HAVE A MOTION. JUST ONE SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND, WE HAVE A SECOND. MAYOR, WHAT IS THE MOTION ON? I'M SORRY TO DEFER. OKAY. SO AFTER OBVIOUSLY THE ELECTIONS FOR THE MAYOR. YES. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE THING CLEAR. THIS RIGHT HERE IS SO THAT I'M ABLE TO PUSH THE CITY'S PRIORITIES. I'M NOT ONLY REPRESENTING FLORIDA. I'M NOT ONLY REPRESENTING CORAL GABLES. I'M REPRESENTING ALL THE OTHER 411 MUNICIPALITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPMENT CODE, COMPLIANCE AND REDEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S WHAT I AM SPEARHEADING RIGHT NOW. AND MY FIRST MEETING WAS LAST WEEK. AND IF YOU GUYS ONLY IMAGINED THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING FOR NEXT SESSION, YOU WOULD HAVE YOUR MOUTH OPEN. SO IF YOU GUYS DON'T WANT ME TO GO AHEAD AND REPRESENT CORAL GABLES, THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE, BUT I'LL BE REPRESENTING THE OTHER 410 MUNICIPALITIES. IF I COULD RESPOND TO THAT, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I DON'T WANT ANYBODY REPRESENTING US WHO WHO IS IN FAVOR OF LOCAL OR WHO WRITES LEGISLATION IN FAVOR OF LIVE LOCAL. I DON'T THINK THE OTHER 400 PLUS COMMUNITIES WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF LIVE LOCAL EITHER. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE

[03:15:05]

COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES, MAYOR. YES. AND I WILL NOT RESPOND BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE AS PER WHAT OUR CITY ATTORNEY HAS TOLD US BEFORE, AND HOW WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES IN REGARDS TO THE LEGISLATION AND WHAT WE'RE VOTING. THAT'S NOT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO HAVE DEBATE. MOVING ON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHICH ONE? 11. YEAH, THANK YOU

[F.-2. 26-2193 Discussion regarding Miami-Dade County feral cat neutering/spaying assistance. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)]

MY NAME IS BERNARDO ALFONSO. I'M HERE REPRESENTING MIAMI-DADE ANIMAL SERVICES.

WHERE ARE YOU, SIR? WELCOME TO THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. MY PLEASURE. AT MIAMI-DADE ANIMAL SERVICES, I AM WAS REFERRED TO AS ONE OF THE TNVR COORDINATORS. TNVR STANDS STANDS FOR TRAP, NEUTER, VACCINATE AND RETURN. IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, CATS ARE CONSIDERED FREE ROAMING ANIMALS AND IT IS MY PURPOSE HERE TODAY TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO EDUCATE THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THESE COMMUNITY CATS STERILIZED. IN ADDITION TO THAT, I ALSO ENCOURAGE THE EDUCATION OF PROPER FEEDING STATIONS OR PROPER FEEDING OF COMMUNITY CATS, BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE A KIND HEART, GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT DON'T NECESSARILY FEED COMMUNITY CATS THE PROPER WAY. IT TURNS OUT BEING LITTERING TURNS OUT

[03:20:03]

IT'S ALREADY BEEN STERILIZED. AND WHEN WE ARE OUT TRYING TO TRAP THOSE THAT ARE NOT, THAT'S ONE THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE FOCUSING ON. WE WOULD BE FOCUSING ON THE ONES THAT DO NOT HAVE THE INTENT TO. MISS. DIAZ, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? YES. I WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT THIS IS A FREE SERVICE THAT THE COUNTY DOES. YOU JUST HAVE TO. EITHER YOU BORROW A TRAP FROM SOMEONE OR THE COUNTY RENTS YOU ONE. EITHER RESIDENTS CAN COME AND EITHER BORROW FOR. SAY IT'S. I SAY BORROW BECAUSE THERE IS A DEPOSIT THAT'S REFUNDABLE ONCE IT'S RETURNED. BUT WE ALSO HAVE A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES SUCH AS MYSELF, WHO HAVE DEDICATED DRIVERS THAT GO OUT TO THESE AREAS AND TRAP THESE ANIMALS HUMANELY, TAKE THEM TO THE SHELTER, HAVE THEM STERILIZED, AND THEN ONCE THEY'VE BEEN STERILIZED, VACCINATED, THEY RETURN THEM SAFELY TO THE SAME LOCATION WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

BUT THE CREATING OF THE AWARENESS IS WHERE I'M TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN GO FOR IT, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD MANY, MANY TIMES FROM MANY, MANY RESIDENTS, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT EXISTED.

WHAT IS TNVR? THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF IT. I KNOW THERE'S RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY WEB PAGES, FOR INSTANCE, SOMETHING MORE DEDICATED TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, BECAUSE THE CORAL GABLES DOES DO THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. SEEING IT ALL OVER ALL THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE DAY, STARTING WITH THE SONG THAT ACTUALLY MADE MY DAY. I NEEDED THAT SONG THIS MORNING, SO THERE'S JUST SO MANY RESIDENTS, LIKE I MENTIONED, NOT JUST ABOUT STERILIZING RESIDENTS THAT FIND A LITTER OF KITTENS AND ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH THEM, RESIDENTS THAT DON'T WANT THE CATS IN THEIR YARD, THEY DON'T WANT THEM IN THEIR FRONT PORCH. THEY DON'T WANT THEM CLIMBING ALL OVER THEIR CARS. AND WE HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO EDUCATE ALL OF THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS OF CORAL GABLES ARE AWARE THAT THE RESOURCES DO EXIST. MY, MY MAIN GOAL. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE. MY PLEASURE. I'M SURE OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT CAN FIND A WAY TO HELP EDUCATE MORE RESIDENTS. AND THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT YOU HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICE FOR GETTING THE THE TRAP CATS TO THE TO THEIR FACILITY TO BRING THEM BACK AND FORTH, BECAUSE THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING PARTS THAT I HAD IS TAKING A TRAP CAT TO THE FACILITY. IT'S. WE OFFER WE OFFER THAT SERVICE FREE OF CHARGE. IT'S. WE. WE PICK UP THE CAT, TRAP IT, DO EVERYTHING IT NEEDS TO GET DONE. THE ONLY TIME THAT WE NEED COOPERATION PER SE IS FROM THE FEEDER. AND I'LL EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY THE FEEDER PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE, WHICH IN THIS CASE WOULD BE ONE OF THE RESIDENTS. THE FEEDER IS THE ONE THAT KEEPS THE CAT FROM EATING A DAY BEFORE IT GETS TRAPPED, BECAUSE A HUNGRY CAT WILL GO INTO A TRAP, BUT ONE THAT HAS BEEN RECENTLY FED

[03:25:03]

YOU'RE WELCOME. I, I HAVE A 52ND VIDEO THAT SHOWS HOW THE CAT GOES IN THE TRAP IF BILLY CAN. OH, YOU SHOWED IT ALREADY? YEP. OKAY, PERFECT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OH, I BELIEVE DOCTOR OLIVEIRA IS ON ZOOM. SHE WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE CLINICAL PART. OKAY. HI. MY NAME IS MARIO OLIVEIRA. I'M A DOCTOR IN VETERINARY MEDICINE AND MY CLINIC IS SOUTH MIAMI ANIMAL CLINIC, 6100 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY IN SOUTH MIAMI. I THINK THAT THE. THE THE IMPORTANCE OF SPAYING AND NEUTERING IS LOST IN MOST PEOPLE. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF TRANSMISSION OF DISEASES BETWEEN THE CATS. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT THEY CAN GET FIVE, WHICH IS A FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE AIDS. THEY CAN ALSO GET THE LEUKEMIA VIRUS THAT IS DEADLY. AND SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS LATELY ALSO IS THAT PANLEUKOPENIA THAT IS KILLING ANIMALS. SO THE MORE ANIMALS WE HAVE IN THE STREET, THE MORE CHANCES WE HAVE OF HAVING ANIMALS THAT ARE SICK. ALSO, EVERY TIME THAT YOU SPAY OR NEUTER ONE OF THESE CATS, WE ARE GOING TO VACCINATE THEM. SO WE ARE VACCINATING AGAINST RABIES, WHICH IS GOING TO IN ITSELF REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF RABIES WE SEE IN OUR COUNTY. OBVIOUSLY, ALSO, THE CATS ARE GOING TO BE MUCH HEALTHIER WHEN THEY ARE SPAYED AND NEUTERED. MANY PEOPLE THINK ONLY ABOUT THE FEMALES OR THEY'RE GIVING BIRTH TO TWO KITTENS. AND THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT BECAUSE KITTENS FROM MAMAS THAT ARE NOT WELL FED ARE USUALLY GOING TO DIE WITHIN DAYS. MOST OF THESE. MOTHER CATS, THESE QUEENS, THEY DO NOT HAVE EVEN MILK. SO WHEN THE BABIES ARE BORN, THEY CAN BE EATEN BY RATS BY BY THE BIRDS LIKE. I ALSO BY, BY, BY THE OH MY GOD, THE THE RACCOONS EAT THEM TOO. SO AND MANY OF THEM WILL JUST DIE. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE MOM NOT TO BE GIVING BIRTH. THEY CAN GIVE BIRTH FROM 4 TO 6 KITTENS EVERY FOUR MONTHS. SO THAT'S IS THAT IS JUST UNSUSTAINABLE FOR THE MAMA TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE FOOD. SO ALSO THE MALES, MANY PEOPLE THINK, WELL, THE FEMALE IS IMPORTANT TO, TO, TO SPAY, BUT THE MALES ARE IMPORTANT. BUT THE MALE WILL TRAVEL UP TO THREE, FOUR, FIVE MILES LOOKING FOR A FEMALE. SO HE WILL IMPREGNATE FEMALES ONE AND TWO. THEY THEY THEY FIGHT FOR THE FEMALE. I HAVE SEEN INNUMERABLE NUMBER OF CATS THAT HAVE MISSING SKIN. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE PATCH, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE NECK PART OF THE WHOLE BACK.

MISSING FROM FIGHTING OTHER CATS. ALSO, SOMETHING THAT WAS ALREADY MENTIONED, WHICH IS TRUE, IS THAT IT STABILIZES THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND. THEY, THEY MANY PEOPLE GET THE CATS, THEY MOVE THEM, THEY TAKE THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. THEY THROW THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND THEN NEW CATS COME AROUND. WHEN YOU SPAY AND NEUTER THESE CATS, THEY ARE VERY TERRITORIAL, SO THEY ARE GOING TO PREVENT OTHER CATS FROM COMING TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE FOR THE COMMUNITY IN ITSELF. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS MUCH BIGGER THAN JUST CORAL GABLES AT THE END. I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, STARTING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE FROM VERY YOUNG. SO IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT CONTROLLING CAT POPULATION, IT IS ALSO ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND ANIMAL WELFARE, REDUCING THE THE, THE, THE AMOUNT OF KITTENS AND CATS IN OUR SHELTERS, THE AMOUNT OF CATS THAT ARE THAT, THAT DIE AND THAT TRANSMIT DISEASE. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS A WAY IN WHICH WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THAT WE ARE COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY AND THAT WE DO CARE ABOUT CATS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU

[03:30:05]

THAT'S GOOD. OTHER THAN COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE MANAGER ADDRESSING SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC. PERFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. I APPRECIATE YOU, THANK YOU. AND BY THE WAY, CAN WE IN REGARDS TO THIS, WE CAN START WITH ON THE ONE ACRE GREEN SPACE THAT'S ACROSS FROM WHERE THE FLORIDA PINES ARE. IT HAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CAT POPULATION. SO MAYBE WE CAN START WITH SPAYING AND NEUTERING IN THAT AREA.

[E.-1. 26-2042 An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for a text amendment to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code by amending Appendix A, "Site Specific Zoning Regulations," Section A-36, "Crafts Section," by revising the height restriction to not allow additional stories or height available for architectural incentives for Block 36, Crafts Section, Coral Gables, Florida; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, and providing for an effective date. (09 16 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote 5-0) (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

MR. CLARK, PLEASE, SIR, IN INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE TESTIFYING TODAY, THOSE WILL BE TESTIFYING ON THIS ITEM. PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. THESE WERE AFFIRMED. TESTIMONY YOU'LL PROVIDE TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. I DO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK. THANKS. SO I HAVE A FEW SLIDES IF YOU WANT TO ORIENT YOURSELF AS FAR AS THE BLOCK, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE BLOCK AS YOU KNOW, IS JUST NORTH OF THE SAN SEBASTIAN APARTMENTS. IT'S BETWEEN LEJEUNE AND SALCEDO, SOUTH OF MALAGA AND NORTH OF SANTANDER. THERE'S TWO OF YOU ON THE COMMISSION THAT SHOULD REMEMBER THIS BLOCK VERY WELL.

FROM 2021, IT WAS CHANGED THE ZONING FROM SINGLE FAMILY TO MF TWO WITH WITH A CAP 45FT.

HOWEVER, AS WE REVIEWED THIS AGAIN, WE LEARNED THAT IT COULD BE INTERPRETED TO APPLY THE MEDITERRANEAN BONUS ON TOP OF THOSE SITE SPECIFICS. SO THIS IS CLARIFYING THAT THAT BLOCK BLOCK 36 WOULD JUST BE CAPPED AT 45FT, AND NO ADDITIONAL STORES OR HEIGHT WOULD BE APPLIED FOR THIS BLOCK IN A CROSS SECTION. PLANNING ZONING BOARD RECOMMENDED APPROVAL LAST MONTH FOR FIRST READING. THE MAIL NOTICE WENT OUT FOR THIS MEETING AND WE'LL GO OUT FOR THE SECOND READING AS WELL. THAT HAPPENED TWICE. PROPERTY WAS POSTED, WEBSITE WAS POSTED AND NEWSPAPER WAS ALSO ADVERTISED FOR PCB. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO WE HAVE ANYONE FROM FROM THE APPLICANT SIDE. GOOD AFTERNOON GENTLEMEN. HOW'S THIS WORK? OKAY. GOOD MORNING. WE'RE ACTUALLY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. SIR. VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, CITY MANAGER AND MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. MY NAME IS JOHN LUCAS. OFFICES AT 2655 LEJEUNE ROAD, FOUR GABLES, FLORIDA. I'M ALSO A PROUD CITIZEN OF THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL.

AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO MAKE OUR CITY WHAT IT IS. TODAY, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT. 300 MALAGA RATHER 300 LLC, TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUE MARIO GARCIA. SATUR. THE. ON AUGUST 13TH OF 2026, THE CITY'S BOARD OF ARCHITECTS GRANTED FINAL APPROVAL OF MALAGA 300. DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY AS A FOUR STORY BUILDING WITH A PARTIAL FIFTH LEVEL ENCLOSED AMENITY TYPE DECK FOLLOWING AWARD OF THE MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTURAL BONUS AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE, CLEARANCE OF THE BUILDING'S HEIGHT, NUMBER OF STORIES AND THE LIKE. THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY WOULD ESSENTIALLY AMEND THE ORDINANCE ITSELF AS TO ALL LOTS WITHIN BLOCK 36, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS.

GRANTED, WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY ITSELF, THE PROPERTY ITSELF ARE LOTS TEN THROUGH 15 OF BLOCK 36. THIS ORDINANCE, IF YOU READ IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS TEXT AMENDMENT, WOULD SUGGEST THAT IT'S GOING TO APPLY TO EVERYTHING. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT APPROVAL HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED AT THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD MEETING THAT WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, THE CITY SPECIAL COUNSEL, WHICH WAS CRAIG KOLLER AT THE TIME, CONFIRMED THAT THE THE TEXT AMENDMENT ITSELF DID NOT PROVIDE FOR ANY VESTING. FURTHER, THAT THERE WERE NO PROVISIONS FOR GRANDFATHERING PROJECTS ALREADY IN PROCESS. A COUPLE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THEMSELVES EXPRESSED THE VIEW

[03:35:02]

NOTWITHSTANDING, OF COURSE, THE THE BOARD NONETHELESS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL. THIS IS REALLY AN ISSUE OF VESTED RIGHTS. WHAT WE HANDED OUT TO YOU WAS A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS MYSELF. EXCUSE ME. HERE WE HAVE AT LEAST A RECITATION OF SOME OF THE CONTROLLING CASE LAW AS IT RELATES TO VESTED RIGHTS. AND THERE ARE MANY MORE CASES THAT SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF WHAT IS AND IS NOT A PROPERTY, RIGHT.

THAT BECOMES VESTED, PARTICULARLY WHERE YOU HAVE RELIANCE BY A PROPERTY OWNER ON APPROVALS THAT HAVE BEEN GRANTED BY THE CITY ITSELF, INCLUDING EXISTING ZONING. THIS PARTICULAR TEXT AMENDMENT COULD VERY WELL BE VIEWED AS A DOWN ZONING, IF YOU WILL, AFTER THE PROPERTY ADMITTED, ACQUIRED AFTER SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE, AFTER SUBSTANTIAL RELIANCE HAS BEEN PLACED NOT ONLY ON THE EXISTING ZONING, BUT ALSO ON THE APPROVALS THEMSELVES THAT HAVE BEEN GRANTED. WE HAVE PROVIDED IN OUR PACKET A COPY OF THE CITY ATTORNEY OPINION BACK IN 2015 BY THE ESTEEMED CITY ATTORNEY AT THE TIME, CRAIG LEON. I'M ONE OF MR. LEON'S BIGGEST FANS. HE'S DONE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND THIS PARTICULAR OPINION ACTUALLY ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH AN AMENDMENT TO AN ORDINANCE, WHEN THERE IS A PENDING MATTER THAT HAS ALREADY RECEIVED BOARD OF ARCHITECT APPROVAL. AND I'LL JUST READ WHAT HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED THERE. FOR THE RECORD, AS OF THE DATE OF THIS CITY ATTORNEY OPINION, THE GENERAL RULE FOR ALL AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CODE, ZONING CODE AND FEE SCHEDULE, UNLESS THE CITY COMMISSION EXPRESSLY DIRECTS OTHERWISE, IS THAT ANY SUCH AMENDMENT APPLIED TO ALL PENDING APPLICATIONS EXCEPT THE FOLLOWING SUBSECTION ONE APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE OBTAINED FINAL BOARD OF ARCHITECTS APPROVAL. THAT'S WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES TODAY.

THE ISSUE OF THE INTERPRETATION, OR ACTUALLY THIS PARTICULAR TEXT AMENDMENT ITSELF. IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT CAME FIRST, WE HAD THE FINAL BOARD OF ARCHITECTS APPROVAL ON LOTS TEN THROUGH 15, PROVIDING FOR THE FOUR STORIES, THE ELEVATION, THE AMENITY DECK ITSELF. ON AUGUST 13TH OF 2026, SEPTEMBER 16TH OF 2026 WAS THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD HEARING IN WHICH BOTH TEXT AMENDMENTS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY, E ONE AND TWO WERE ADDRESSED. AND HERE WE FIND OURSELVES TODAY WITH THE CITY PRESUMABLY HAVING FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROJECTS, BOTH A APPROVAL AS WELL AS THE OWNER'S RELIANCE UPON THAT AND BRINGING IT WHERE IT IS TODAY.

WE'VE ADDED AS WELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ THEM VERBATIM, BUT I'D LIKE FOR OUR CLERK TO MAKE THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION A PART OF THE OVERALL RECORD WE'VE PROVIDED FOR YOU. EXCERPTS FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD. TRANSCRIPT ITSELF, AND EXCERPTS FROM. ACTUALLY, BOTH OF THESE SLIDES WERE FOR PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD ITSELF. COMMENTS FROM STAFF WITH RESPECT TO THE PERMITTED HEIGHT OF THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS APPROVAL, WHAT WE WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST IS THAT THERE BE A CLARIFICATION IN TERMS OF THE FACT THAT THIS PARTICULAR TEXT AMENDMENT BEING CONSIDERED BY THIS BOARD OR COMMISSION, RATHER NOT ENVELOP LOTS TEN THROUGH 15 OR OTHERWISE COMPROMISE ITS ZONING ENTITLEMENTS AND THE BOA APPROVAL THAT HAS THUS BEEN RECEIVED. SO THEREFORE, THE REQUEST WOULD BE AS FOLLOWS. TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU AND PRIOR TO ADOPTION, OBVIOUSLY, TO INCLUDE A SAVINGS CLAUSE. WE'D LIKE FOR THAT SAVINGS CLAUSE TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING. THAT NOTHING IN THE ORDINANCE SHALL APPLY TO IMPAIR, REVOKE OR OTHERWISE AFFECT ANY DEVELOPMENT FOR WHICH THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS GRANTED APPROVAL PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE DEVELOPMENT APPROVED AS OF AUGUST 30TH OF 2026 FOR LOTS TEN THROUGH 15. BLOCK 36 CRAFT SECTION 300 MALAGA AVENUE. ANY SUCH DEVELOPMENT MAY PROCEED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ZONING AS UNAFFECTED BY THE TEXT AMENDMENT TO PERMITTING CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPANCY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVALS AND THE ZONING IN EFFECT AS OF THE DATE OF THAT APPROVAL, INCLUDING, OF COURSE, THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED, THE NUMBER OF STORIES, BUILDING HEIGHT, THE INCENTIVES THAT WERE GRANTED AS WELL. ALTERNATIVELY, WE WOULD ALSO SEEK THAT THE

[03:40:02]

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF OUR REQUEST, AND WE MAKE THIS PRESENTATION IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE RECORD. GIVEN THE FACT THAT THIS IS A FIRST READING, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL BE PRESENT AGAIN DURING THE SECOND READING. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BARRIO. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, JOHN. MR. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, IF I. JUST A MINUTE OR TWO. MARIO GARCIA, SARA WITH OFFICES AT 600 BRICKELL AVENUE AND AT 901 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD HERE, ALONG WITH JOHN TODAY REPRESENTING MALAGA 300, LLC.

I'M THE ATTORNEY THAT TOOK THAT PROJECT THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS. AND AS JOHN MENTIONED, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO RELY ON THE RULES AS WRITTEN. WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT'S APPROVED. WE FEEL THAT PROJECT IS VESTED. WE WOULD LIKE FOR THIS ORDINANCE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS PROJECT IS VESTED. IT'S BEEN CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND EXPENDITURE ON THE PART OF MY CLIENT, TO THE TUNE OF 3.7 MILLION SPENT ON PROJECT DEVELOPMENT. AND WE'RE JUST ASKING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE OUR PROJECT APPROVALS AND THE ZONING THAT HAS, AS IT EXISTS TODAY, PRESERVED AND RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY. YES, MAYOR, TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT. SO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WHO WERE NOT HERE, I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS HERE, CAN GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE GOT HERE. AND THEN I'M GOING TO ONCE YOU'RE DONE, I'M GOING TO SHOW A VIDEO, THE COMMISSION AND I'M. AND BEFORE BEFORE THE CITY ATTORNEY SPEAKS. RESPECT WHAT OUR. THE ATTORNEYS WHO ARE HERE SAYING OBVIOUSLY, AND I AGREE TO WITH THEM TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, BUT I ALSO WAS VERY CLEAR ON THE COMMISSION IN REGARDS TO WHAT MY POSITION WAS.

AND WE WERE VERY CLEAR, AND I WANT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SPEAK TO HOW WE GOT HERE, WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY, AND WHAT YOU VIEW AS A POSSIBLE LEGAL ROUTE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION, BUT LEGALLY, WHERE DO WE STAND AND WHAT FOOTING DO WE HAVE AND HOW DO WE END UP WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY? YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. SO, AS SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL, IN 2021, THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE THE THE CHANGES TO THIS PARTICULAR BLOCK, BLOCK 36. AND THE COMMISSION AT THAT TIME WAS, WAS, WAS CLEAR IN CHANGING THE ZONING TO MF ONE. AND IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THE HEIGHT REMAINED AT MF AT, I'M SORRY, AT 45FT. SO IT WAS A CHANGE FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND I'LL HAVE THE THE PLANNING DIRECTOR CONFIRM IF I, YOU KNOW, MADE A MISTAKE ON THAT. BUT IT'S CHANGING THE ZONING FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO MF ONE. BUT THE DISCUSSION WAS VERY CLEAR THAT IT WAS TO MAKE SURE THE HEIGHT REMAINED AT 45FT ON THIS PARTICULAR BLOCK. AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SINCE BEEN MADE AWARE THERE WAS APPARENTLY A DRAFTING OVERSIGHT OR AN ERROR THAT DIDN'T CARVE OUT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MEDITERRANEAN BONUS FOR THIS PARTICULAR BLOCK. SO THE DISCUSSION OVER AND OVER WAS 45FT. AND SO THIS ORDINANCE IS REALLY A CLARIFICATION OF THAT TO INDICATE THAT THE BONUS WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE FOR HEIGHT. BUT IT ALSO DOES ANOTHER THING. IT CHANGES THE ALLOWABLE STORIES FROM THREE STORIES TO FOUR STORIES. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE PUT ON THE RECORD THE VIDEO THAT I LIKE JUST TO KIND OF GET A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT OF WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE WERE AND THE INTENT AND CABLE TV PLAY. THE VIDEO REQUESTED BY THE MAYOR, EXCUSE ME. AND TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I HEARD YOU SAYING SOMETHING WHEN I WALKED IN, MY IDEA IS THAT THE ENTIRETY OF THE SOUTHERN BLOCK, NOT HALF A BLOCK THE ENTIRETY OF THE BLOCK, BE A LOWER DESIGNATION SO THAT IT'S MORE CONSISTENT WITH SAN SEBASTIAN. IT WOULD BE 45FT. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT I SPOKE AT LENGTH WITH STAFF ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY. ONE OPTION HAD BEEN MF THREE, WHICH IS 45FT. THERE'S SOME INHERENT ISSUES WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO BE MORE TOWNHOMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE'S SOME REQUIREMENTS ABOUT ALLEYS ETC. I'M SORRY IF YOU GUYS ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS WHILE I STEPPED OUT TO THE RESTROOM AND THE, AND THE, I THINK WHERE WE CIRCLED IN WAS ON AN MF TWO, BUT WITH A SITE SPECIFIC THAT CAPPED THE HEIGHT AT 45FT RESIDENTIAL ONLY, AND IT WOULD

[03:45:04]

SO I MISSPOKE. I SAID MF ONE IT'S MF TWO. SO JUST SINCE WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WITNESSING THE VICE MAYOR THERE, I MISSED THAT GUY A LOT. WHAT AN AMAZING. WHAT AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING.

IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHAT THE INTENT WAS OF THE COMMISSION. AN ERROR GOT US TO WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY. THE APPLICANT SAW THE OPPORTUNITY, KNEW KNEW WHAT THE INTENT WAS. BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO PUNISH THE APPLICANT. BUT I'M CAUGHT IN A LITTLE BIT OF A OF A KIND OF A CONUNDRUM HERE. I ALSO WANT TO RESPECT THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON THE BLOCK, BECAUSE WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM RESIDENTS WHO VISITED US. I VISITED ME AT LEAST IN OFFICE HOURS WHO HAVE CONCERNS OVER, YOU KNOW, THIS PROPERTY, BEING ABLE TO SEE ONTO THEIR PROPERTY. SO THIS IS NOT AN EASY DECISION TO MAKE. THIS IS WHY WE SIT ON THE COMMISSION. WE HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE GROUNDWORK OF HOW WE GOT HERE TO WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY. AND NOW THE DECISION IS IN THE COMMISSION'S HANDS MOVING FORWARD. AND I WANT TO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE TODAY ARE GOING TO AFFECT THE REST OF THE BLOCK OR ARE GOING TO AFFECT THE ENTIRE BLOCK. AT A MINIMUM. AT A MINIMUM, I BELIEVE THE REST OF THE BLOCK SHOULD BE 45FT LIKE WE INTENDED IN 2021 TO NOT GET ANY SPECIAL PRIVILEGES. SHOULD HAVE EVERYTHING THAT'S MENTIONED THERE, MINUS THE ERROR SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THE REST OF THE ENTIRE BLOCK. THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE. IT'S YOUR MANAGER. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I THINK A LITTLE HISTORY IS IN ORDER THAT THOSE FOUR BLOCKS WERE RESIDENTIAL. THEY WERE PART OF THE AGAVE PROPERTY, AND THEY WERE GOING TO THEY WERE GOING TO PROVIDE ABOUT $1.3 MILLION WORTH OF RIGHT OF WAY IMPROVEMENTS IN, IN, IN THOSE PROPERTIES DID NOT MAKE SENSE BECAUSE THOSE PROPERTIES REALLY WERE WITHIN A COMMERCIAL WITHIN MORE OF A COMMERCIAL AREA. SO IN LIEU OF, SO WE, WE, WE WENT FORWARD AND PROPOSED THAT, THAT THEY WOULD BE REZONED. THEY ORIGINALLY CAME WHERE MX ONE, MX ONE AND MF AND MF TWO WITH, WITH THE CONDITION THAT THAT $1.3 MILLION WOULD GO TO PONCE CIRCLE PARK, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL $1.3 MILLION NOW AT PINE CIRCLE PARK. IT WAS VERY CLEAR AT AT THE TIME THAT VICE MAYOR MANA, THE INTENT WAS TO LIMIT THIS TO 45FT IN THE MET BONUS PROVIDES DENSITY. OTHER ISSUES, BUT LIMITED TO 45FT. THE REASON WE ALLOWED THIS PROJECT TO GO FORWARD WAS IN IN TO THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS, WHICH I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND PLANNING AND ZONING. STOP IT AT THE VERY BEGINNING. FROM NOW ON WAS AS A AS A AS A GESTURE. IT'S A GOOD GESTURE TO THE DEVELOPER TO, TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THEY HAD AGREED TO DO 45FT. AND THEN WE ALSO AGREED TO DO THE SECOND THE SECOND ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE FOR 25FT FOR 25% OF, OF, OF THE ROOF FOR, FOR AN ACTIVATED ROOF. SO THE, THE FACT THAT THIS PROJECT MOVED TO THE, TO THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS WAS SOMETHING WAS A GOODWILL EFFORT TO, TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD WITH THE IDEA OF KEEPING IT AT 45FT WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE SECOND ORDINANCE, WHICH APPLIES CITY WIDE. SO CERTAINLY I WOULD RECOMMEND FROM NOW ON, STOPPING AT THE VERY BEGINNING AND NOT DOING THIS, SO I. I BELIEVE THAT THIS. IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT THE THAT THE ORIGINAL COMMISSION INTENT WAS TO APPLY IT TO THE ENTIRE BLOCK, NOT, NOT AND NOT EXCLUDE ANY OF THE PROPERTIES TO THE MAYOR. YES.

SO I, I REMEMBER WATCHING THAT MEETING, AND I REMEMBER SPEAKING TO VICE MAYOR MENA AFTER THE FACT AND THANKING HIM FOR STICKING TO HIS GUNS ON THAT. IT'S VERY HARD TO SIT HERE NOW AND SAY, YOU KNOW, NOBODY KNEW WHAT THE INTENT OF THE COMMISSION WAS BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND THESE MEETINGS ARE RECORDED. EVERYBODY HAS A VIDEO AND IS ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE INTENT OF THE COMMISSION WAS. MY QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY IS WHERE EXACTLY? BECAUSE I'VE BEEN READING WHAT WAS PROVIDED TO US. WHERE EXACTLY IN THE CODE DOES IT SAY THAT IT WOULD QUALIFY FOR MEDITERRANEAN BONUS? BECAUSE THE. I MEAN, THE STICKER FOR ME IS NO BUILDING OR STRUCTURE SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED OR ERECTED ON THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY TO EXCEED THREE STORIES OR 45FT IN HEIGHT, WHICHEVER IS LESS. I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY CLEAR STATEMENT WHERE I DON'T SEE

[03:50:05]

WHAT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES, YES. SO I FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO A GROCERY STORE AND THEY PUT THE WRONG PRICE ON AN ITEM, AND THE INTENT WAS AND THE REAL PRICE IS DIFFERENT, YOU GO TO THE REGISTER, MOST OF THE TIME THEY GO AND THEY GIVE YOU THE WRONG PRICE BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. IT WAS THEIR MISTAKE, EVEN THOUGH THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I THINK THAT IF WE GO AHEAD AND WE APPROVE F, IT'S F ONE, RIGHT? E ONE I'M SORRY. I THINK WE SHOULD GRANDFATHER THIS PROJECT IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE BOARD. AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE ALL THE EXPENSES THAT THIS YOUR CLIENT HAS ALREADY INCURRED. AND I WOULD HATE TO HAVE YOUR CLIENT GO AFTER THE CITY AND SUE US AND US COME INTO LITIGATION FOR SOMETHING. THAT WAS OUR ERROR.

NOW, DO WE WANT TO PUT EVERYTHING ELSE DOWN TO 45? I COULD I COULD AGREE WITH THAT, RIGHT. IF WE APPROVE E1, E1 AND E2, I DON'T THINK WE'LL I MEAN, IN THE FUTURE FOR OTHER RESIDENTS THAT LIVE AROUND, THERE'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY THAT THEY COULD COME BACK TO US.

BUT I THINK THAT'S THE RISK WE COULD BE WILLING TO, TO TAKE BECAUSE IT'S WHAT IF. RIGHT.

BUT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR IS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS. FOR F1. IF THE IF THE MAYOR ALLOWS ME, I WOULD MOVE IT WITH THE LITTLE AMENDMENT OF HAVING A

[03:55:08]

I'VE, I'VE LEARNED BY BEING CLOBBERED OVER THE HEAD, YOU KNOW. I TRUST. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS WAS A MISTAKE BY THE CITY. THEY FOUND THE PROPERTY, THEY UNDERSTOOD IT, THEY INTERPRETED IT, THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT. SO NOW IF WE CARVE THEM OUT, WHAT'S GOING TO STOP THEM FROM SAYING, HOLD ON A MINUTE, PUMP THE BRAKES, REDESIGN THE PROJECT, GO TO 77FT AND PRESENT IT. ARE WE THEN GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM THEM HERE ON THE COMMISSION FLOOR? HOW ARE WE GOING TO HOW ARE WE GOING TO HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? BECAUSE LET ME LET ME GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER CASTRO AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER FERNANDES. YEAH, YOU GET WHAT I'M SAYING, RIGHT? LIKE IT'S IT'S. JENNIFER, IS THERE ANY WAY TO RESTRICT FOR WHAT WAS ALREADY APPROVED AND NOTHING MORE THAN THAT. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT TODAY. TODAY YOU'RE LOOKING AT 45FT, WHICH IS WHAT THEY HAD PROPOSED AND PRELIMINARILY APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS. AND THEN WITH E2 TO ALLOW AMENITY ACTIVATED ROOFTOP DECK. OKAY. BUT CAN WE RESTRICT WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR JUST TO THAT SO THEY CAN NEVER GO UP TO 72FT? IT IS WHAT THEY APPLIED FOR. IT IS WHAT WAS APPROVED. CAN I, I JUST WANT TO HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER FERNANDES ONE SECOND. RIGHT. SO I GUESS. IT'S ALONG THE SAME LINES. IF WE ARE NOW CHANGING IT, THERE IS NOTHING TO STOP THEM FROM SELLING THE PROJECT. NOW THAT IT'S BEEN UP ZONED TO 77 POTENTIAL 77, THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A HIGHER PROFIT. THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BUILD IT. THEY CAN JUST SELL IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO NOW IS BUYING A PROPERTY. THEY CAN GO UP TO 77FT. AND NOW WE'VE CREATED AN EVEN LARGER PROBLEM FOR THE NEIGHBORS IN THAT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, WHEN THE INTENT, IN MY OPINION, AND I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, BUT IN MY OPINION IS EXTREMELY CLEAR, NO MORE THAN THREE STORIES OR 45FT, WHICHEVER IS LESS. I THINK THAT'S THAT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR WHETHER ANOTHER SECTION OF THE CODE SAYS YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR SOMETHING ELSE OR NOT. THIS IS PERFECTLY CLEAR. AND I THINK, I MEAN, YOU GO TO A COURT AND YOU HAVE A JURY. I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THIS SAYS. IT'S NOT LET'S INTERPRET SOMETHING ELSE, BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER SECTION OF THE CODE THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN FOR SITE SPECIFIC, YOU CAN QUALIFY FOR MEDITERRANEAN BONUS. I DON'T KNOW, I, I FIND IT VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE I REMEMBER THESE MEETINGS AND I MEAN, IT WAS PACKED ROOMS WITH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GOING BACK AND FORTH ON THEIR COMMENTS ON NOT UPZONING THIS AREA. AND TO HIS POINT, VICE MAYOR MINA WAS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR, NO MORE THAN 45FT. IF NOT, I AM NOT VOTING FOR THIS.

SO THE INTENT ON HIS VOTE ALONE WAS, AND I THINK THE MAYOR WAS WAS ON BOARD WITH HIM ON THAT WAS THEY WERE VOTING FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS BEING CAPPED AT 45FT. AND YET NOW HERE WE ARE.

[04:00:01]

SO THAT'S WHY THIS PROJECT WENT THROUGH THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS. WE COULD HAVE EASILY STOPPED IT RIGHT AFTER DRC. AND AND SO I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THE THE 45FT WAS VICE MAYOR. AND I ASKED WHAT WAS THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI BUILDING'S HEIGHT. AND IT WAS 35 TO 45 AND 45 WAS CHOSEN AT THE TOP AS A BUFFER FOR THE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ON TO THE SOUTH. SO YOU HAVE THE UN BUILDING AT 45, THE NEXT BLOCK AT 45, AND THEN THE TWO ONE BLOCKS WERE ALLOWED TO GO TO 77. AND THAT WAS. AND THAT WAS A CLEAR INTENT OF THE COMMISSION AT THAT TIME. OKAY. DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY? NO, NO. GO AHEAD. YES.

GO AHEAD. SO IF E1 AND E2 GET APPROVED, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT. I THINK IT'S RIGHT ON PAR WITH WITH WHAT I THINK IS FAIR. AND I'LL MOVE IT AS IT IS. SECOND MR. MAYOR, IF WE MAY.

YES OF COURSE. OKAY. ON THE ISSUE OF OF THE CODE AND HOW IT'S DRAFTED, IF YOU LOOK AT ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT WE PASSED OUT TO YOU, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH COMMENTS FROM CITY STAFF, YOUR CITY STAFF THEMSELVES WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE MET BONUS WAS APPLICABLE. SO IT'S COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE THAT YOU LOOK AT THE CODE, YOU LOOK AT HOW IT'S WRITTEN, AND YOU COME TO THE CONCLUSION BASED ON EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S THERE.

IT'S ON THE SLIDE THAT'S ENTITLED COMMENTS FROM STAFF PERMITTED HEIGHT OF PROJECT, THE HIGHLIGHTED AREA UNDER THAT. IT ALSO CITES THE CITY ATTORNEY OPINIONS THAT CONFIRM THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU HAVE SITE SPECIFIC HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS, YOU CAN UTILIZE MET BONUS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE IN GOOD FAITH TO TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED AT A CITY COMMISSION MEETING FIVE YEARS AGO. I THINK IS ASKING TOO MUCH OF ANY ONE PARTICULAR PROJECT. AGAIN, WE COME HERE ALSO IN THE SPIRIT OF TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS AND BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. WE ALSO HAVE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND SECOND READING, BUT I DO FEEL THAT WE HAVE A VESTED APPROVAL HERE. JOHN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT. I DID WANT TO SPEAK IN RESPONSE TO PARDON ME, VICE MAYOR, YOUR COMMENTS REGARDING CLARIFICATION, INTENT, KNOWLEDGE, ETC. THE THE OWNER MADE APPLICATION TO DEVELOP THIS PROPERTY. IT HAS GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS AS IT IS DESIGNED BY THE CITY ITSELF. IT OBTAINED ITS BOARD OF ARCHITECTS APPROVAL IN TERMS OF CLARIFYING WHAT YOU TODAY ARE NOW STATING WAS A MISTAKE SOME FIVE YEARS AGO. AND ALL WE'RE DOING IS CLARIFYING WHAT THE INTENT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.

YOU'RE YOU'RE SEEKING TO CHANGE AN ORDINANCE BASED UPON THE CONCEPT OF CLARIFICATION AFTER ONE'S VESTED RIGHTS HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED, THE RIGHTS OF THIS OWNER TO DEVELOP THIS PROPERTY WERE VESTED. AT THE TIME THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS APPROVAL WAS GIVEN. YOU ARE NOW SEEKING TO CLARIFY AN ORDINANCE AFTER THE VESTING OCCURRED, AS OPPOSED TO ANY TIME BEFORE THAT.

YOU'RE AFFECTING SUBSTANTIAL SUBSTANTIVE RIGHTS OF A PROPERTY OWNER IN DOING SO. AND THE CASE LAW, AND I'M CERTAIN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILL BE ABLE TO FURNISH YOU WITH THE APPLICABLE CASES, AND I'LL PROVIDE SOME CASE LAW AS WELL, DOES NOT ALLOW FOR YOU TO,

[04:05:03]

MAYOR. YES. SO, MR. LUCAS, MR. GARCIA. SARAH, I WANT TO HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU. THOUGH I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED. ARE YOU SUGGESTING, MR. LUCAS, RIGHT, THAT YOU, ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, ARE PROTESTING E1 AND E2 PASSING? TO THE EXTENT THAT IT COMPROMISES THE APPROVALS AND ZONING ENTITLEMENTS THAT THE OWNER HAD AT THE TIME OF ITS APPLICATION, I WOULD. YES, AND LET ME TRY TO ELABORATE ON THAT TO HELP A LITTLE BIT. IF HE WANTS ADOPTED ON ITS OWN, THE PROJECT THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IF HE WON AND E2 ARE BOTH ADOPTED. THE PROJECT, AS PROPOSED, WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. HOWEVER, WE ARE RELYING ON A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO ASSUME THAT BOTH ORDINANCES ARE GOING TO BE ADOPTED, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE FURTHER AMENDED IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE ADVOCATING FOR A VESTING OR GRANDFATHERING PROVISION. OKAY.

YEAH. SO THE WAY I SEE IT, RIGHT, YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON E1 AND E2, AND YOU'VE BOTH SAID IF PASSED, YOUR CLIENT, THE APPLICANT GETS WHAT THEY WANT, AM I CORRECT? AM I CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT IN THE SENSE THAT THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS APPROVED PLAN IS STILL CONSISTENT WITH WHAT'S WHAT'S WHAT THAT WHAT THOSE TWO AMENDMENTS WOULD ALLOW. BUT WE STILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR ONE TO BE ADOPTED AND THE OTHER ONE NOT TO BE OR, OR FOR ONE OF THEM TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY AMENDED OR REVOKED IN THE FUTURE. GENTLEMEN, I THINK THAT YOU'VE HEARD OF THE TERM GILDING THE LILY. OKAY. I THINK YOU'RE DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO GILDING THE LILY. E1 AND E2 HAVE BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED, AND IF PASSED, THE APPLICANT GETS THE RELIEF THAT THEY BELIEVE THEY'RE ENTITLED TO. I THINK THE ANSWER IN A NUTSHELL IS YES. WOULD YOU PREFER THAT WE BRING THIS UP IN A DIFFERENT FORM? IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE? IS THAT WE WE FURTHER GILD THE LILY AND AMEND THE ORDINANCES IN A WAY THAT MAY NOT GET YOU WHAT YOU'RE SEEKING. I'M. I'M CONFUSED. I'M HONESTLY CONFUSED. THE ARE YOU PROTESTING? E1 AND E2 PASSING TODAY? I THINK OUR POSITION IS. E1 NEEDS A VESTING PROVISION.

AND WITHOUT A VESTING PROVISION, IF E1 AND E2 ARE PASSED, DOES THE THE APPLICANT GET THE RELIEF THAT THEY'RE SEEKING HERE TODAY? WILL THE APPROVED PROJECT GO FORWARD? I CAN ANSWER THAT THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN. NO, BECAUSE YOU ARE APPLYING THE ORDINANCE TO THE ENTIRETY OF BLOCK 36, ALL OF BLOCK 36, WHICH MEANS IT'S GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO A POTENTIAL CLARIFICATION SOME LATER DATE, RIGHT. SO YOUR, YOUR, YOUR CONCERN, IF I UNDERSTAND IT NOW, IS ABOUT THE REST OF THE BLOCK, RIGHT? ARE YOU ADVOCATING FOR THE REST OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON THE BLOCK OR HERE JUST ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANT, ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER OF LOTS TEN THROUGH 15. RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. YOU WANT AN E1 AND E2 WERE ARE TOGETHER WILL APPROVE THIS PROJECT. THROUGH THE MAYOR. SO BACK TO THE

[04:10:08]

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. ANYTHING ELSE ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENT INPUT. YES, SIR. I AM IN FAVOR OF E1 AND E2. IF E2 WERE NOT TO PASS THEN I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF E1. OKAY? YES, YOU'RE THE MAYOR. I WILL COPY THOSE REMARKS SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FEARS THAT E2 IS NOT PART OF THE INTENT OF THIS COMMISSION. YEAH. YOUR PROJECT WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND THE THREATS TO SUE, I'M SURE, WILL BE WITHDRAWN. I THINK WE GOT IT PRETTY MUCH FIGURED OUT. ALL RIGHT. WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES.

COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. I'LL MOVE E TWO SO I SORRY, MR. MAYOR. GIVE ME ONE SECOND. I HAVEN'T READ E2 INTO

[E.-2. 26-2046 An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for text amendments to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code by amending Article 5, "Architecture," Section 5-203, "Coral Gables Mediterranean architecture design," to amend the height exclusion requirements to include enclosed areas as accessory uses; and providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (09 16 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote 5-0) (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)]

MADAM DIRECTOR SO TODAY, OUR MED BONUS ALLOWS FOR YOU TO GO ABOVE THAT MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR ZONING CODE TO ALLOW FOR ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES LIKE CUPOLAS OR TOWERS OR DOMES, AS WELL AS EQUIPMENT FOR ELEVATORS AND AND OTHER AIR CONDITIONING.

YES, BUT IT'S NOT USABLE SPACE. YES. IT'S MAX AT 25% OF THE ENTIRE ROOF. DOC. SO WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO DO TODAY IS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESSORY USES ABOVE THAT MAXIMUM HEIGHT. ONLY ACCESSORY USES, NOT LIVING UNITS, NOT OTHER THINGS, BUT CABANAS, RESTROOMS, ANY KIND OF AMENITY SPACE. YOU CAN HAVE STORAGE, STORAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A HURRICANE COMING, YOU HAVE SOME TABLES UP THERE AND YOU'RE ENJOYING, YOU KNOW, AN AMENITY LIKE A ROOFTOP. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA FOR THE DOWNTOWN. WE WANT TO SEE THAT. OR YOU'RE HAVING A COCKTAIL, HAVING A COCKTAIL PARTY UP THERE, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO GO DOWNSTAIRS TO USE THE BATHROOM. THEY CAN USE THE BATHROOM. IF A HURRICANE IS COMING OR A BAD WEATHER, YOU CAN BASICALLY PUT ALL THE TABLES AND CHAIRS INTO A LITTLE STORAGE AREA. THAT'S BASICALLY THE INTENT. YES. OKAY. PRETTY SIMPLE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS. THANK YOU. MADAM DIRECTOR, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, MARIA CRUZ. GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE CAN BARELY HEAR HER. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? VERY FAR AWAY. WELL, I'M IN A DIFFICULT PLACE, BUT I. I'LL TALK LOUD. OKAY. I THINK MARIA. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. I THINK IT'S INTERESTING HOW WE PAID YEARS AGO. WE REWROTE OUR COMPLETE CODE OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED. AND NOW WE FIND ERRORS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? MEDICAL CENTER WILL BE SURPRISED TO HEAR ME SAY WHEN WHEN SOME OF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO GO THROUGH, YOU USE THE PHRASE AS OF RIGHT. BUT NOW WHEN THE APPLICANT IS USING THE SAME ARGUMENT, THEN WE HAVE ISSUES.

[04:15:06]

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT, MOVE IT. THERE WAS WE WERE PREMATURE WHEN I SECONDED. NO WORRIES. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES.

COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

[E.-3. 26-2045 An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for text amendments to the City of Coral Gables Official Zoning Code by amending Article 2, "Zoning Districts," and Article 3, "Uses," to specify a driveway side setback, allow motor courts on corner lots, and adjust the rear and side setbacks for certain mechanical equipment; providing for a repealer provision, severability clause, codification, and providing for an effective date. (09 16 26 PZB recommended approval, Vote 5-0)]

[04:20:03]

MOTION A SECOND. I HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. MR. MAYOR. WHAT ARE YOUR CREWS? ONE SECOND.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. MEMORIES ARE VERY INTERESTING. I, I MRS. MARIA CRUZ. YES. WENT TO THE TO THE MEETINGS. IT WAS FOR A GAZEBO. NOW I UNDERSTAND IT'S FOR A CABANA. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. I DON'T THINK A GAZEBO CABANA ARE THE SAME. SO SOMEBODY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THE PLANS THAT WERE APPROVED, WHETHER IT WAS FOR GAZEBO OR A CABANA. AND I LOVE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE. WELL, I STILL REMEMBER THE PLAYHOUSE THAT WAS BUILT, AND THEN WE MOVED TO. EVERYBODY COULD HAVE A PLAYHOUSE. COME ON, MR. MAYOR.

YOU HAVE MEMORIES THAT FIT YOUR NARRATIVE. I REMEMBER, AND I HAVE IT IN WRITING. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT I'M IN A PLACE NOW THAT I DON'T HAVE MY DOCUMENTS. BUT YOUR REQUEST FOR WAS FOR A GAZEBO. GAZEBO? NOT CABANA. ALL RIGHT, LET ME CORRECT THE RECORD. I REQUESTED A GAZEBO INTERCHANGEABLE WITH A CABANA. IT DOESN'T HAVE A BATHROOM. IT STILL DOESN'T HAVE A BATHROOM. IT DOESN'T HAVE A LIVING QUARTER. IT'S A GAZEBO. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS WHAT YOU DEAL WITH HERE IN THE CITY. COURTESY OF OF NO RESTRAINT. AND IN REGARDS TO A PLAYHOUSE, YES, THE PLAYHOUSE WAS FOR MY DAUGHTERS. YES. I'M GUILTY. WE PUT A BEAUTIFUL PLAYHOUSE THAT MY DAUGHTERS ENJOYED AND PLAYED IN FOR YEARS, AND THEN IT WAS NOT LEGAL. SO I BROUGHT IT BEFORE THE COMMISSION. THE COMMISSION THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY TO PUT FORTH A LITTLE PLAYHOUSE. WHAT I THINK IS BEAUTIFUL IS THAT YOU SEE THE TARGETING THAT HAPPENS HERE IN THE COMMISSION BY A NEIGHBOR, AND SOME PEOPLE ON THIS COMMISSION SUPPORT THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. AND THE WHOLE POINT WAS, THESE ARE YOUNG CHILDREN YOU WENT AFTER YOUNG CHILDREN'S ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PLAY IN THIS COMMUNITY. THE PLAYHOUSE HAVE AIR CONDITIONING.

NO, IT DID NOT. DID IT HAVE RUNNING WATER? NO, IT DID NOT. DID IT HAVE ELECTRICITY? NO, IT DID NOT. IT WAS A PLAYHOUSE MADE OUT OF WOOD. IT WASN'T EVEN IN A TREE. IT WAS ON THE CORNER OF MY PROPERTY. AND I HAVE PICTURES OF IT, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. THE TARGETING IS RIDICULOUS. YOU'RE ONLY HURTING YOUNG CHILDREN. YOU'RE NOT HURTING ME. YES, MR. CLARK, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES.

COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR J ONE. J ONE IS A RESOLUTION OF

[J.-1. 26-2201 A Resolution of the City Commission appointing members of the Canvassing Board for the General Biennial Election run-off election on December 1, 2026: the Honorable Carlos Gamez, Circuit Court Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit; the Honorable Carlos Guzman, Circuit Court Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit; the Honorable Cristina Rivera Correa (alternate), Circuit Court Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit; and City Clerk Billy Y. Urquia, for the purpose of canvassing absentee and provisional ballots and precinct returns, further authorizing said Board to certify the results of said run-off election.]

[04:25:05]

WE HAVE A WE HAVE OUR MEETING IS AT 3:00. CORRECT? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS LEFT. DO YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THESE ITEMS? DO YOU WANT TO BREAK FOR LUNCH? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? I WOULD SAY GO THROUGH THEM. OKAY. I'LL GO THROUGH IF WE GO QUICK. ONE IS A PRESENTATION BY OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE LUNCH FIRST OR WOULD? YES, I'M FOR LUNCH. IF THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION IS. EVERYBODY IS FOR LUNCH. I'LL REVERSE. LET'S.

LET'S DO LUNCH. LET'S GO DO LUNCH. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BE BACK IN, SAY, 30 MINUTES. IS THAT FINE? DOES THAT GIVE US ENOUGH TIME, YOU THINK? YEAH. ALL IN PROGRESS. READY. SHOWTIME. ALL RIGHT. ITEM F THREE. DISCUSSION REGARDING BEAUTIFICATION OF

[F.-3. 26-2130 Discussion regarding beautification of North Gables. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)]

SORRY, WE WE HAVE A VENDOR THAT, AS THIS COMMISSION KNOWS, THAT WORKS ON RELOCATION HUMANELY OF CHICKENS AND ROOSTERS. IN THIS AREA IN PARTICULAR, WE WE GET A LOT OF CALLS. WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRASH PITS ARE BEING UTILIZED PROPERLY. AND WHILE WE'RE OUT THERE, OF COURSE, IF WE SEE SOMETHING THAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY CAN HANDLE, WE WANT TO GET AHEAD OF IT. IF WE CAN NOTIFY SOMEBODY, A PUBLIC WORKS SAY THERE'S SHOPPING CARTS HERE, THERE'S ILLEGAL DUMPING THERE, THESE RIGHT OF WAY TREES THAT ARE OURS NEED TO BE TRIMMED. WE

[04:30:03]

[04:35:07]

THAT'S JUST THE ONES THAT WERE VERY EASY FOR US TO IDENTIFY FROM THE WORK THAT WAS DONE. SO, SO UP TO DATE, THE, THE MOST COMMON THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN IS ILLEGAL DUMPING DIRTY SIDEWALKS, ILLEGALLY PLACED SIGNS, AMONG OTHER THINGS. WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, GRAFFITI SHOPPING CARTS, TRASH OUT EARLY CARDBOARD BOXES IN THE SWALE, DISABLED VEHICLES, TRASH ACCUMULATION HEDGES ENCROACHING INTO THE RIGHT OF WAY, OVERGROWN LOTS, THAT SORT OF THING ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN IDENTIFYING IN THOSE 122 ODD CASES THAT WE HAVE, AND WE CONTINUE TO GO OUT. WE'RE HOPING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND AS WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS TO EDUCATE. BUT OF COURSE, THERE ARE ALWAYS THOSE THAT DON'T WANT TO BE EDUCATED, AND THEN WE HAVE TO USE STRICTER MEASURES FOR THOSE THAT DON'T WANT TO BE EDUCATED. OUR GOAL IS COMPLIANCE. SO THIS IS THE ACTUAL MOST IMPORTANT SLIDE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. I THINK OF THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE RELY A LOT ON THE COMMUNITY. WE DO HAVE MANY OFFICERS. THEY PATROL THE CITY.

WE TRY TO BE PROACTIVE. WE TRY TO SEE THINGS, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE 24 OVER SEVEN. WE DO HAVE OFFICERS ON DUTY EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK. EVEN ON HOLIDAYS, WE HAVE PEOPLE ON DUTY, BUT WE CAN'T BE IN EVERY LOCATION AT EVERY TIME. SO WE DO RELY ON THE COMMUNITY. IF SOMEBODY SEES SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE GETTING A REPORT SO THAT WE CAN FOLLOW UP.

WE WE DO HAVE A CODE ENFORCEMENT EMAIL. WE HAVE THREE, ONE, ONE SYSTEM WHERE YOU COULD PUT YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS ONLINE AND WE CAN TRACK THEM THERE. AND OF COURSE, WE DO HAVE A PHONE NUMBER. SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR. DIRECTOR. VICE MAYOR. ANYTHING ELSE? NO. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE TASK FORCE, YOUR EFFORTS, AND PUTTING OUT THE CAMERAS. AND I AND WE HAVE SOME RESIDENTS HERE IN ATTENDANCE AND THEY ARE VERY, VERY HELPFUL, THEIR EYES AND EARS, BECAUSE SOME ARE REPORTING NOISE AS WELL TO MAKING THIS CITY A MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE. SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. THANK YOU FOR THE RESIDENTS.

YOUR EMAILS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH CODE ENFORCEMENT NO MATTER THE OUTSIDE FORCES THAT TRY TO STOP IT, I WILL CONTINUE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE AGAIN, IT UPHOLDS THE STANDARDS OF WHO WE ARE AS A CITY. AND NO INTIMIDATION BY THE UNIONS. NO FALSE NARRATIVES ARE GOING TO WORK IN AN EFFORT TO STOP THE EFFORTS OF THIS COMMISSION, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS CRITICAL. WE DIFFERENTIATE OURSELVES FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES BY OUR STANDARDS.

THE MOMENT WE WATER DOWN OUR STANDARDS IS THE MOMENT THAT WE JUST BECOME LIKE ANY OTHER CITY.

JUST YOU. YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T. AND IT PAINS ME TO HAVE TO USE CODE ENFORCEMENT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO, TO MAKING SURE THAT WE ELEVATE AND WE CONTINUE TO ELEVATE THE CITY. AND WE ASK PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DCM WILL TELL YOU, THE MANAGER WILL TELL YOU, I ALWAYS SAY EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE, AND SOMETIMES, LIKE YOU SAID BEFORE, EDUCATE WILL ONLY TAKE YOU SO FAR. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU,

[F.-4. 26-2168 Discussion regarding the ground-level businesses and ramp at the Mobility Hub. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)]

[04:40:04]

FOR CHILDREN'S AND TEENS, THIS COULD POTENTIALLY SUPPORT YOUTH PROGRAMS AND CAMPS, PROVIDING ANOTHER INDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY THAT IS ACTIVE, ENGAGING AND AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND FOR STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI NEARBY, IT COULD OFFER ANOTHER OPTION FOR FITNESS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. IT COULD CREATE AN AFTER WORK RECREATIONAL OPTION AND ANOTHER REASON TO SPEND TIME IN DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES. FOR EXISTING CLIMBERS, IT COULD PROVIDE A MORE CONVENIENT LOCAL OPTION, AND WITHIN OUR PRELIMINARY RESEARCH, WE FOUND RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF DEDICATED INDOOR CLIMBING FACILITIES WITHIN THE GREATER MIAMI AREA. SO THIS TYPE OF RECREATION IS STILL FAIRLY LIMITED LOCALLY. AND FINALLY, FOR BEGINNERS, THIS COULD BE AN INTRODUCTORY SPACE WHERE SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER CLIMBED CAN EXPERIENCE ACTIVITY IN A MORE APPROACHABLE AND FAMILY FRIENDLY SETTING. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS CONCEPT, THE OPPORTUNITY GOES BEYOND JUST CREATING A SPACE TO CLIMB. IT CREATES ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE OR DIFFERENT GROUPS TO COME INTO CORAL GABLES. AND ONCE THEY'RE HERE, THEY STAIN, THEY STAY, DINE AND SHOP AND ENJOY OUR DOWNTOWN. SO WHAT COULD THE CONCEPT LOOK LIKE? SO GIVEN THAT WE'RE STILL IN THE VERY PRELIMINARY STAGES, THIS IS NOT A FINAL DESIGN, AND THE EXACT COMPONENT COMPONENTS WILL DEPEND ON THE SPACE, FEASIBILITY AND OVERALL DIRECTION OF THE PROJECT. THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IS A FAMILY FRIENDLY CLIMBING AND RECREATION CENTER, RATHER THAN NECESSARILY A TRADITIONAL FULL SIZE CLIMBING GYM LIKE GABRIEL MENTIONED. SO DEPENDING ON WHAT SPACE CAN, WE CAN ACCOMMODATE, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY INCLUDE DIFFERENT CLIMBING EXPERIENCES SUCH AS BOULDERING, TENSION BOARDS, TOP ROPE, CLIMBING, SPEED WALL AND PRACTICE AREAS. SO BEYOND THE CLIMBING FEATURES THEMSELVES, THE FACILITY SUPPORTS PROGRAMING SUCH AS KIDS CLIMBING, YOUTH PROGRAMS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND OTHER EVENTS THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE OVERALL FAMILY FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE. AGAIN, THIS IS ALL VERY PRELIMINARY. THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS THAT WE NEED TO BE EVALUATED, AND AT THIS STAGE, WE JUST WANT TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT A CONCEPT LIKE THIS COULD POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE AND DIFFERENT WAYS THAT IT CAN BE UTILIZED. SO AFTER SPEAKING WITH A GENTLEMAN THAT CAME IN AND AND MET WITH US, WE WERE GIVEN SOME GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT NECESSARY STEPS WOULD BE TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

THEREFORE, THE MINIMUM SPACE SPACE NEEDED IS APPROXIMATELY 1000FT■!S WITH A MINIMUM HEIGHT

[04:45:03]

IMPETUS FOR THIS IDEA WAS NOT ONLY THE WAY I RAISED MY CHILDREN, BUT MY GRANDCHILDREN.

WHEN I GO TO MALLS AND FACILITIES AND I'M BEING SENT BACK PHOTOS, THEY HAVE BOULDERING AREAS. THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, BUNGEE CORD JUMPING AREAS, ETC. AND NOT TO HAVE SOMETHING BEHIND THE MILE THAT COMPETES WITH THE MILE, BUT IT CREATES A DRAW. THIS IS JUST ONE IDEA I'D ASKED FOR OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO EXPLORE THIS AND, AND FOR OUR TEAM TO EXPLORE IT FURTHER. SOME OF THE FACTS THAT ARE IN THERE REGARDING HEIGHT, YOU KNOW, ARE REALLY A FUNGIBLE ITEM BECAUSE THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN DESIGN THINGS TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME PURPOSE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE THAT FULL HEIGHT MEASUREMENT IN THERE. SO THAT'S, IT WAS JUST AN IDEA, JUST A CONCEPT TO, TO PRESENT BEFORE THE COMMISSION. AND MY ASK IS FOR OUR TEAM TO, TO EXPLORE IT FURTHER. THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR.

YES. I THINK THE CLOSEST ONE WE HAVE IS A DICK'S SPORTING GOODS DOWN IN DADELAND MALL. AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $20 FOR HALF AN HOUR FOR A CHILD TO, TO CLIMB. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL DEFINITELY ATTRACT KIDS TO THE GABLES. IT WILL ADD TO WHAT WE'RE ALREADY OFFERING. WE NOW HAVE A BOWLING ALLEY WITH SOCCER SIMULATOR AND GOLF SIMULATOR IN THERE. WE WILL HAVE THE PUBLIX PARK CLOSE TO THERE. THIS WILL KIND OF BE THAT MIDDLE POINT BETWEEN THOSE OFFERING SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE GABLES, A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, PARENTS ARE INTERESTED IN COMING, BUT THERE ISN'T NECESSARILY A DRAW FOR THE THE CHILD. THIS WILL DEFINITELY BE A DRAW FOR THE KIDS, WEAR THEM OUT BEFORE THEY GO SHOPPING. EXACTLY. OR DINING. OKAY, PERFECT. THANK FIVE. SOME RESIDENTS HAD

[F.-5. 26-2169 Discussion regarding the ingress and egress to the overflow parking of the lots located at 430, 440, and 450 University Drive. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)]

[04:50:06]

THAT'S IT. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND ASK YOU TO COME BACK WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS THERE. THANK YOU. F6. F6 IS MINE. THIS IS

[F.-6. 26-2197 Discussion regarding travel expenses. (Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)]

TALLAHASSEE. TRAVEL THE FACTS AND WHAT THE CITY ACTUALLY PAID. THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OR DO I MOVE IT OR. OKAY. I CHOSE FRIDAY TO SAVE THE CITY MONEY. THE ORIGINAL FLIGHT WAS 7 TO $800. ME LEAVING ON FRIDAY. AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND ASK. ANY LEGISLATOR IN THE STATE IS A LOT MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN LEAVING ON A SUNDAY. IT ALSO SAYS A FRIDAY DEPARTURE WAS A COST CONSCIOUS CHOICE. NERD WALLET AND EXPEDIA 2026 RESEARCH IDENTIFIED FRIDAY AS GENERALLY CHEAPER DOMESTIC DEPARTURE DATE THAN SUNDAY. MY PERSONAL DAYS. I PAID MY PERSONAL FRIDAY AND SATURDAY EXPENSES. IN FACT, I DIDN'T EVEN STAY IN TALLAHASSEE. I WAS IN DESTIN. OKAY. THE CITY DID NOT PAY FOR MY PERSONAL MEALS OR ACTIVITIES THOSE DAYS. THE NEXT SLIDE. THERE WAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOTEL. LET'S GO AHEAD AND VERIFY THOSE QUESTIONS AS WELL. THE HOTEL LOCATION MATTERED. THE CITY TOOK TIME TO GO AHEAD AND BOOK MY RESERVATION, AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO STAY WITH THE LEAGUE, AND I HAD TO STAY BY MYSELF. SO THE THE THE HOTEL THAT THE CITY WAS LOOKING AT WAS RESIDENCE INN. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT WAS VERY FAR FROM THE CAPITAL IN WHICH I WAS CONDUCTING ALL CITY BUSINESS. THE ONE THAT WAS CLOSEST TO THE CAPITOL IS FOUR POINTS, AND THAT'S THE ONLY ONE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE WAS SOLD OUT BECAUSE THE CITY BOOKED IT AS SUCH A LATE MATTER. THE CAPITAL WAS 0.9 MILES AWAY, WHILE THE THE. THE ORIGINAL HOTEL WAS 5.3. HAVE YOU BEEN TO TALLAHASSEE DURING THESE TIMES? YOU WOULD NOTICE. ALSO, UBER DOES NOT FUNCTION LIKE IN MIAMI. YOU ASK FOR AN UBER AND IT TAKES 30, 40, 50 MINUTES. AND I HAD OFFICIAL BUSINESS ALL THOSE DAYS IN THE CAPITAL. THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

[04:55:03]

1,667.66. IT DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT WAS PAID. OKAY, MY PERSONAL TIME. GO TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE. MY PERSONAL TIME DOES NOT EQUAL CITY FUNDED PERSONAL EXPENSES. OKAY, THE TRAVEL DATES AND THE REIMBURSEMENT RECORDS ANSWER DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT WERE FULLY PAID BY ME. THERE WAS A PERSONAL ETHICS HEARING. YES.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY. IN FACT, I DIDN'T STAY IN TALLAHASSEE. I WASN'T DESTIN.

THE CITY HAD NO PART IN THAT. NOR IS THE CITY BELONG, NOR DOES MY PERSONAL TIME BELONG TO THE CITY. OR DO I HAVE TO ACCOUNT AND CHECK IN WITH THE CITY WHEN I HAVE PERSONAL MATTERS? OKAY. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH. AGAIN PERSONAL TIME. NOTHING WAS BILLED TO THE CITY. THERE WAS NO EXPENSES TO THE CITY. OFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE WORK WAS DONE FROM JANUARY 26TH TO JANUARY 28TH. ON JANUARY 25TH, MY FIRST MEETING WAS AT NINE IN THE MORNING. IT IS CUSTOMARY THAT WHEN ALL OF US GO TO TALLAHASSEE OR GO TO ORLANDO, AND THERE IS AN EARLY MEETING AND THERE'S NOT AN EARLY FLIGHT THAT WE TRAVEL THE NIGHT BEFORE. SO THAT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION. THE NEXT THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THERE WAS ANSWERS. THERE WAS QUESTIONS BEING ASKED JUST OUT OF THE RANDOM. IT WAS A POCKET ITEM THAT I WAS VERY YOUNG, SURPRISED, ASTONISHED AT THIS POINT. BUT LET ME GO AHEAD AND ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

WHY FRIDAY? I SELECTED AN EARLIER FLIGHT AS IT WAS A COST CONSCIOUS OPTION. MY ACTUAL ROUND TRIP AIRFARE WAS $438.99. I ACTUALLY SAVED THE CITY MONEY. OKAY. WHY THE JANUARY 27TH AIRPORT? RIGHT. THE VICE MAYOR WENT TO WENT AHEAD AND SAID THAT THERE WAS AN UBER RIDE.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I GOT SICK, I GOT VERY SICK, AND I HAD TO LEAVE EARLIER. THAT'S WHY THERE WAS AN UBER RIDE. AND IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND RESEARCH THAT THERE WAS ALSO A FLIGHT CHANGE. I GOT BACK TO MIAMI. I WAS VERY SICK. DID THE CITY PAY THE $2,226.16? NO. THE CITY PAYMENT RECORDS TOTAL $1,667.66. WHY FOUR POINTS? THE LEAD GROUP HOTEL WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DOWNTOWN HOTEL WAS CLOSER TO THE CAPITAL AREA WORK. IT WAS THE MOST FEASIBLE THING TO DO, GIVEN THE WORK I HAD TO DO. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO SEE ALL MY SCHEDULE AND ALL THE MEETINGS I HAD TO ATTEND, I COULD ALSO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. THAT IS IT.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT BECAUSE WE HAVE A SUNSHINE MEETING, BUT I HOPE THIS CLEARED UP ALL THE ANSWER, ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU GUYS HAD TO THE MAYOR. YES. FIRST OFF, THERE WAS NO VOTE. THERE WAS NO POCKET ITEM OUT OF COURTESY TO YOU SINCE SOMETHING HAD PUBLISHED, JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE GAZETTE PUBLISHES STUFF. I WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF IT, GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY WHICH YOU COULD HAVE SIMPLY SAID IF THERE WAS ANY OVERPAYMENT OR OVERCHARGED ANYTHING, I'LL REIMBURSE IT. AND AND EXCUSE ME. I'LL START OVER. ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS SAY IF THERE WAS AN OVERCHARGE OR OVERPAYMENT, I'LL REIMBURSE IT. BUT THIS, OF COURSE, IS HOW TO BE TURNED INTO POLITICS. OKAY, CLEARLY, IT WAS IRREFUTABLE THAT THE ROOMMATES WERE EXCESSIVELY HIGH. INSTEAD OF USING A $400 CAP IN CHANGE, YOU WENT TO A $700 RATE.

THAT STOOD OUT TO ME. AND IT WAS. THIS WAS PUBLISHED DURING THE TIME THAT WE WERE HAVING LUNCH, AND I SAW IT POP UP RATHER THAN ALLOW THAT TO SIMMER AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD APPRECIATE, INSTEAD OF TURNING IT INTO A POLITICAL STUNT, THE FACT THAT YOU COULD SIMPLY SAY, IF I WAS, IF I OVERCHARGED, OKAY. AND IT WASN'T YOUR SIGNATURE ON THE FORM I OVERCHARGED OR I WAS OVER REIMBURSED, I WILL REIMBURSE IT. SO, CITY MANAGER, I KNOW YOU KNOW THESE FACTS OF WHAT THE CITY ALLOWS ON ROOM RATES AND THEN THE HOTEL TAXES MUCH BETTER THAN I DO. AND IF YOU COULD ENLIGHTEN US, I'D

[05:00:03]

THE CAP WAS RAISED FROM 1200 TO $3000, AND THE. THAT WAS DONE IN AN EFFORT TO ALLOW MAYBE TWO, MAYBE THREE TRIPS TO TALLAHASSEE. SO WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WE, WE TRY TO DO IN THE MANAGER'S OFFICE IS TRY TO IS TRY TO GET AS ECONOMICAL A RATE AS, AS AS POSSIBLE FOR THE PLANE AND, AND, AND FOR THE LODGING AND, AND THAT'S WHAT, AND THAT'S WHAT WAS DONE.

THAT'S WHY THE LODGING WAS ORIGINALLY $481 AND IT WENT TO 1506. AND BECAUSE THERE'S A $3,000 LIMIT AND WE TRIED TO TRY TO EXTEND THAT, THAT LIMIT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, OR FOR THE TRAVELING COMMISSIONERS. TO THE MAYOR, LET EVERYBODY RESPOND. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS. DOES ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE I BEFORE I ADD SOMETHING, OKAY. I DON'T EVEN THINK THIS IS EVEN WORTH DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW. I FEEL BEYOND CONFUSED. SO CONVOLUTED.

WHAT YOU JUST SAID RIGHT NOW WAS AN EFFORT TO CONFUSE PEOPLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. YOU WILL SAY ANYTHING AND DO ANYTHING ON THE COMMISSION FLOOR JUST TO CONFUSE PEOPLE. TWO COMMISSION MEETINGS AGO, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE TODAY ON ESOPS ARTICLE, AN ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT TODAY VERY CLEARLY, COMMISSIONER ALLADA ASKED YOU A QUESTION. ARE YOU STILL DOING BUSINESS AT BAR HARBOR? YOU SAID UNEQUIVOCALLY, I HAVE NO BUSINESS IN THREE YEARS. WELL, THE RECORDS OF BAR HARBOR SHOW THAT YOU'RE DOING BUSINESS THERE RIGHT NOW, THAT YOU HAD PULLED, THAT YOU HAD PULLED PERMITS THAT DAY. SO YOU WILL SAY ANYTHING. LET ME JUST SHOW YOU SOMETHING THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD WORK. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. AND THIS IS MY LAST COMMENT ABOUT THIS. I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS ANYMORE. MR. CLERK, PLEASE PUT PLEASE PUT PUT UP A MY MEMORANDUM. HEY, LOOK, THIS IS TWO EXAMPLES. I WROTE THIS LAW. I WROTE THIS LAW TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC RECORD IS CLEAR ON EXPENSES. OKAY, THIS IS TWO DOCUMENTS. THIS IS THE FIRST COMMISSION EXPENSE ACCOUNTS, WHICH IS $5,000. IF YOU IF YOU SEE HERE, I SPENT IN THE ENTIRE YEAR $3,166 WITH $0.88. AND IT BREAKS IT DOWN. WHAT THEY WERE CONSTANT CONTACT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DIGITAL PLATFORM IS $2,700. IT BASICALLY ATE UP ALMOST 80% OF WHAT I SPENT THAT YEAR.

WITHOUT THAT, I CAN'T CAN'T COMMUNICATE TO RESIDENTS. THEN WE HAD MARCH 9TH. WE HAD LIGHT FOOD AND SEPTEMBER LIGHT FOOD. WHAT WAS THAT FOR? THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT WE HAD TWICE IN ONE YEAR. GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE IT. THIS ONE HERE IS MY TRAVEL MY TRAVEL BUDGET ALLOCATION. AGAIN, I ALSO WROTE THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, TRANSPARENCY AT ITS FINEST. THE BUDGET ALLOCATION IS $4,500. I SPENT THIS YEAR $1,538.99. THE BALANCE IS $2,961. THAT WAS TO GET $1.6 MILLION IN MONEY FROM TALLAHASSEE. THAT'S WHAT I SPENT THE MONEY ON. NOT TO GO LOBBY OR GO TO SOME TO GO TO SOME EVENT IN TALLAHASSEE. THIS WAS TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE TO MEET WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS. ONE TIME, ONE TIME, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET $1.6 MILLION. THIS IS WHAT YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY ON. YOU INVEST IN. IF YOU GO TO THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, RESPECT THEM. YOU'RE NOT DEALING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS.

I GO TO TALLAHASSEE TO DEAL WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GET MONEY FOR THE CITY. MISTER MANAGER. THE LEFTOVER MONEY, THE BALANCES WHICH HERE ARE ALMOST $5,000. WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GO? MAYOR GOES BACK TO A GENERAL FUND. THE GENERAL FUND? THIS IS IT, GUYS. THIS IS NOT A PLACE TO SOCIALIZE. THIS IS NOT A PLACE TO MAKE MONEY OR TO DO BUSINESS. THIS IS A PLACE TO BRING BACK MONEY FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THIS IS MY POINT. I DON'T WANT TO EVEN TALK ABOUT HER ISSUES. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS SIMPLE. WE WORK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. IT'S ALL VERY CLEARLY WRITTEN OUT AND THE BACKUP IS AVAILABLE MADE TO THE MANAGER. THE BACKUP WAS GIVEN TO THE MANAGER ALONG AND PROVIDED IN THIS, IN THIS, IN THIS MEMORANDUM. THAT'S WHY I MADE THIS LAW AND REQUIRE EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES TO PROVIDE THESE DOCUMENTS ONCE A YEAR, BOTH YOUR OFFICE EXPENSE AND YOUR TRAVEL EXPENSE, TO SEE WHERE YOU SPENT THE MONEY. NOT EVEN GOING TO GET INTO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW SHE SPENT HER MONEY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WAS COVERED VERY METHODICALLY AND VERY DETAILED IN THE ARTICLE, AND IT EXPLAINS IT. I PERSONALLY AM NOT CONFUSED. I KNOW WHERE THE MONEY WENT ANYWHERE ELSE BEFORE WE MOVE ON. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER. OKAY, PERFECT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM

[F.-7. 26-2107 Update regarding the investigation into alleged false testimony provided during the August 25, 2026 City Commission Meeting. (Sponsored by Commissioner Castro)]

[05:05:02]

WE'RE STILL TAKING STATEMENTS FROM SOME OF THE WITNESSES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED IN THE PAST, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. ONCE THAT'S SUMMARIZED, IT'LL GO THROUGH ME, AND THEN WE WILL REFER THAT OVER TO THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THEIR REVIEW FOR ANY KIND OF CRIMINAL CHARGES. HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK WE HAVE LEFT? LIKE HOW MUCH MORE TIME, COMMISSIONER? I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. I MEAN, ALL THE OTHER CASES THAT WE HAVE, I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS WRAPPED UP IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS TO MAKE SURE. BUT INTERNAL AFFAIRS HAS GOT MANY OTHER CASES, NOT JUST THIS ONE. SO YOU THINK IN TWO MONTHS IS A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO GO AHEAD AND REQUIRE ANOTHER UPDATE? YEAH, I THINK YOU CAN PUT IT UP. I MEAN, WE CAN CIRCLE BACK IN DECEMBER. I CAN GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT IF YOU WANT IN DECEMBER. OKAY.

[K. DISCUSSION ITEMS]

OKAY. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT MIAMI HERALD ARTICLE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC OF THE TYPE OF TESTIMONY THAT IS RELEVANT IN QUASI JUDICIAL MATTERS. SWORN TESTIMONY BY EXPERTS ON THE FACTS ARE CONSIDERED SUBSTANTIAL COMPETENT EVIDENCE.

NOT ALL COMMENTS BY LAYPERSONS IS CONSIDERED COMPETENT. SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. IT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION. QUASI JUDICIAL DECISIONS ARE DECISIONS THAT, NUMBER ONE, HAVE AN IMPACT ON A LIMITED NUMBER OF PERSONS OR PROPERTY OWNERS. NUMBER TWO, WHEN THE DECISION IS CONTINGENT ON A SET OF FACTS, WHETHER NUMBER THREE, WHETHER DECISIONS CAN BE REVIEWED AS THE APPLICANT OF POLICY RATHER THAN SETTING POLICY WHEN HEARING A QUASI JUDICIAL MATTER, THE COMMISSION SITS AS A JUDGE. THIS IS WHERE IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WHERE THE HERALD FAILED IN THEIR. TO UNDERSTAND THIS, AND I EXPECT MORE FROM THE HERALD, CONSIDERING ONLY THE EVIDENCE THAT IS BEFORE THE COMMISSION. IN A PUBLIC HEARING. THESE DECISIONS SHOULD BE BASED ON COMPETENT AND SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT IS, IN THE RECORD, STAFF REPORTS AND SWORN TESTIMONY ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED SUBSTANTIAL COMPETENT EVIDENCE. THAT IS, TESTIMONY FROM EXPERTS OR THOSE WHO SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. THE CITY ALLOWS THE PUBLIC COMMENT DURING QUASI JUDICIAL MEETINGS. NOT ALL COMMENTS BY LAYPERSONS IS CONSIDERED COMPETENT. SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. MR. MANAGER, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO AMEND IF MY COLLEAGUES THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE, OUR WEBSITE, LIKE OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE, WE WERE NOT BE THE FIRST TO DO THIS. JUST YOU UNDERSTAND. I WOULD LIKE THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER FOR STAFF TO DRAFT LANGUAGE THAT CLARIFIES THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE PUBLIC, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. WHY AM I DOING THIS? IT IS CRITICAL. AND THE AND THE HERALD FAILED AND AND ADDED MORE GAS TO THE ALREADY ALREADY HOT FIRE IN REGARDS TO THIS MATTER. WHEN THEY FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS EXPLAINING ABOUT COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE AND WHY DECISIONS ARE MADE IN THIS COMMISSION CHAMBER BASED ON COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. I RECEIVED MULTIPLE EMAILS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EVEN ATTORNEYS AFTER THAT ARTICLE, AND THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED THAT THE HERALD MISSED THAT, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY WERE CONFUSING RESIDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY. ON WHY WE MOVED FORWARD AGAIN, AS THE PERSON WHO MOVED TO THE MANAGER AND TO THE CHIEF FOR AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER, I AM INVESTED IN ENSURING THAT WE PROTECT THE WAY THAT WE CONDUCT BUSINESS HERE. BUT I WILL ALSO NOT ALLOW RESIDENTS TO BE CONFUSED AND THINK THAT IF SOMEONE COMES HERE AND LIES ON THE RECORD THAT IT'S A CONTEST, I HAVE TO VOTE. OH, WELL, THERE'S FIVE DAYS AND THERE'S FOUR NO'S. I GOTTA VOTE FOR THE YAYS. I GOTTA VOTE FOR THE NOS. THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS. AND THE HERALD PROPAGATED THAT MISUNDERSTANDING. SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE CAREFUL IN REGARDS TO THE WAY THAT WE CONDUCT OURSELVES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SUBSTANTIVE, COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

IT'S CLEARLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE THAT DISTINCTION AND THAT WE EXPLAIN WHY CERTAIN THINGS, CERTAIN EVIDENCE IS TAKEN AS FACT, BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PROVIDING THAT EVIDENCE ARE CONSIDERED PROFESSIONALS OR EXPERTS SPECIALIZED IN THAT INFORMATION

[05:10:04]

IT SAYS, MAYBE YOU WANT TO ZOOM INTO IT A LITTLE BIT. IT SAYS, REVIEW THE LIST OF PEOPLE THAT LIED ABOUT THEIR RESIDENCES AGAINST A LIST OF VISITORS TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. OVER THE OVER THE NEXT OVER THE LAST 90 DAYS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE YOU WANT TO LOOK INTO THIS, OR MAYBE THE HERALD DOES, AND YOU WANT TO ASK FOR PUBLIC RECORDS BECAUSE EVERY VISITOR SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR. AND I SEE WHY THIS IS BEING BROUGHT UP NOW. BUT I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS SENT TO THE CITY AND IT'S ANONYMOUS. AND LIKE THIS I GET MORE LETTERS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. MR. CLARK, PLEASE PROVIDE THE REQUESTED PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST TO THE HERALD. AS PER MY COLLEAGUE, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE UNDER A CURRENT INVESTIGATION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'LL PUSH IT THROUGH. WE'LL PUSH IT. NO, WE SHOULD, WE SHOULD JUST LIKE. COMMISSIONER, WAIT. JUST GIVE ME ONE SECOND. LET US ALL REMEMBER. I'LL REMEMBER. I'M THE ONE THAT BROUGHT UP THE ECG HERE AND ONE OF THE ECG. AND MY COLLEAGUE TO THE RIGHT WAS ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO AN ECG. NOT ONLY WHEN WE FLIPPED THIS COMMISSION AND WE HAD COMMISSIONER, A LOT OF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ECG. THE ECG BECAME A REALITY HERE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I STICK WITH MY GUNS HERE. OKAY. STICK WITH MY GUNS HERE. THIS IS VERY SIMPLE. I AM THE ONE THAT REQUESTED THAT THIS INVESTIGATION TAKE PLACE. I AM THE ONE THAT PUSHED THIS FORWARD. JUST LIKE WITH THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. MY COMMENTS TO THE HERALD ARE VERY SIMPLE. IF THEY ARE THE PAPER ON RECORD, I HOPE THAT THEY CONDUCT THEMSELVES LIKE THE PAPER ON RECORD. AT THE END OF THE DAY, VERY SIMPLE. CONDUCT YOURSELF LIKE THE PAPER ON RECORD. THIS IS NOT A MICHELLE MARCHAND.

THIS IS AN OPINION BOARD WHICH SHOULD KNOW BETTER ON HOW TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES. CHIEF. YES, SIR, IF I MAY, COMMISSIONER, IF THAT IS IF THAT LETTER IS ABOUT THE CASE THAT YOU ASKED ME

[05:15:05]

[05:20:03]

I JUST SENT OUT MY NEWSLETTER THIS WEEK, AND THE FIRST ITEM THAT I TALKED ABOUT WAS IN-HOME PERMITTING. AND I GAVE CREDIT TO COMMISSIONER LATTA. AGAIN, WHEN YOU PRODUCE AN INITIATIVE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GIVE CREDIT TO THE PERSON THAT'S WORKED, WORKED ON IT FOR SOME TIME. YOU HEAR ME SAY THAT HERE IN THE COMMISSION, WHEN SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS AMAZING, I ALWAYS GIVE THEM CREDIT. PEOPLE SAY THAT I USE THE WORD I A LOT. I'M JUST PROUD OF THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE OVER THE LAST 14 YEARS. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. SO, COMMISSIONER, I ALSO DID GET THAT TEXT MESSAGE TODAY FROM COMMISSIONER CASTRO TAKING CREDIT FOR THE SAME DAY PERMITTING. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU DID A GREAT JOB. YOU REALLY WORKED ON THAT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL. IF ANYBODY'S WONDERING, IT'S RIGHT HERE IN REGARDS TO SAME DAY PERMITTING. YOU DESERVE ALL THE CREDIT FOR THAT HARD WORK, MY FRIEND. AMAZING. TRUE GENTLEMAN.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO. BEST WEEK IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL. UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AGAINST FLORIDA STATE. I AM A DIE HARD UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI FAN. LET'S PACK THE ROCK. LET'S SUPPORT THE BOYS. UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI IS ON A TEAR. WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE BACK FROM INJURY.

PROBABLY ABOUT 80% OF EVERYBODY'S HEALTHY. WE GOT A FEW GUYS THAT ARE MISSING, BUT LET'S SUPPORT THEM. IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THE GAME, GO OUT THERE AND TAILGATE. IF YOU CAN'T TAILGATE, GO VISIT THEM AT AT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AND JUST GO AND SUPPORT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, KICK THEM OFF WHEN THEY GET ON THAT BUS. WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT. WE'RE GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THE TEAM. WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT THERE. THIS IS A AGAIN, WE'RE BACK.

WE'RE PLAYING. WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. MALACHI. TONY'S AMAZING. MENSAH IS AMAZING. I CAN WILSON I CAN TALK ABOUT LIGHTFOOT. I CAN TALK ABOUT TORREY. I CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THE PLAYERS. THESE ARE GOOD KIDS GOOD KIDS. AND OUR COACH IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB. I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. AND AS A DIEHARD HURRICANE FAN, I'M TELLING YOU, DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY. I WAITED 25 YEARS SINCE 2001 WHEN WE WON OUR LAST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE RELEVANT AND WHAT OUR HEAD COACH AND MANNY KADRI AND THE PRESIDENT HAVE DONE, AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE UN FOOTBALL TEAM AND CHAIRMANS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE DONE IS TO BE COMMENDED. IT'S AMAZING. SO GO OUT THERE AND ENJOY IT. THIS IS MIAMI'S TEAM. THIS TEAM BELONGS TO EVERYBODY. SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT IN REGARDS TO HISPANIC HERITAGE. SO I WAS TALKING WITH THE MANAGER A FEW DAYS AGO ABOUT THAT. IN OUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, OBVIOUSLY, HISPANIC HERITAGE, AND WE WANT TO DO A FEW THINGS TO TO SHOW OUR PRIDE FOR ALL THE HISPANICS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON A FEW THINGS. I LOOK FORWARD TO OBVIOUSLY, BEING ABLE TO SHOWCASE THAT.

ANOTHER THING THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT WE'VE HAD A FEW MEETINGS ON, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO OVER, IS AN IDEA THAT I CAME UP WITH THAT I ASKED FOR MY COLLEAGUES AGAIN TO GIVE US YOUR INPUT. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE ESTABLISHING A ROUND TABLE WITH 10 TO 14 INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS TO DISCUSS WHAT IS WORKING AND WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE. WE WE HAVE INCREDIBLE TALENT HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND I WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR EXPERTISE. MAYBE WE CAN SIT DOWN TWICE A YEAR, HAVE AN OPEN CONVERSATION, AND DEVELOP IDEAS. SOME OF OUR BEST IDEAS HAVE COME FROM THE OUTSIDE. FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE MENTIONED IT BEFORE, INCLUDING MOBILE PERMITTING SERVICES. THAT WAS BROUGHT TO ME BY DARREN, WHO WORKED HERE IN THE CITY, AND HE BROUGHT IT TO ME DURING OFFICE

[05:25:04]

HE THOUGHT ABOUT VINCENT. THE SYSTEM IS WORKING BETTER THAN EVER. HE TOLD ME, IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU DESIGN IT APPROPRIATELY. IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU DESIGN IT APPROPRIATELY WITHIN TO CORAL GABLES STANDARDS. YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE THAT MANY REVIEWS. HE GOES, I DON'T EVEN USE A PERMIT EXPEDITER, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I KNOW HOW TO WORK THE SYSTEM, AND THE SYSTEM IS EASY. IT'S TRANSPARENT. WE HAVE MULTIPLE REVIEWS I WANT AT THE SAME TIME, FROM STRUCTURAL TO MEPS. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THAT LITTLE BIT OF LAG IS OBVIOUSLY THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO GO BACK AND, YOU KNOW, TWEAK IT. BUT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND I WANT TO KNOW MY COLLEAGUES OPINION ON THE MATTER. IF IT INTERESTS HIM IN DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE ONE BEFORE THE YEAR ENDS OR WE CAN HAVE ONE IN JANUARY, 1ST OF JANUARY.

I WOULD LOVE TO DO IT UNDER THE TENURE OF THE MANAGER, BECAUSE THE MANAGER CAN HELP US LEAD THAT EFFORT. YOU KNOW, MAYBE IN DECEMBER. I KNOW IT'S A HOLIDAYS, BUT WE CAN HAVE WE CAN HAVE AN OPEN CALL FOR PROFESSIONALS. AND BY THE WAY, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE CORAL GABLES PROFESSIONALS, YOU UNDERSTAND. THEY CAN BE PEOPLE WHO, WHO DO BUSINESS HERE, BUT MAYBE THEY DON'T LIVE HERE. FOR EXAMPLE, VINNY TORI WOULD BE A PRIME EXAMPLE, A GILL. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GILL DEVELOPMENT TOLD ME HE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN DOING IT. WE CAN HAVE SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE COMPANIES ENGAGE IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. SO THINK ABOUT IT. I'M GOING TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. MR. CLARK, FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, I WANT MY COLLEAGUES INPUT ON THIS. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY BENEFICIAL IF WE JUST GET THE INPUT AND THEN WE CAN HOPEFULLY MAYBE TWEAK CERTAIN THINGS AND MAKE THE PROCESS EVEN SMOOTHER.

ANY IDEAS ON THAT? YOU WANT TO JUST SAY FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING? GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD. NO, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON EVERYONE COMING UP WITH SOME IDEAS TO HELP FOCUS THAT BY THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. AND YES, I AGREE, IT SHOULD BE BEFORE THE CITY MANAGER'S DEPARTURE. ONE MORE THING FOR HIM TO DO.

UNLESS THE MANAGER WANTS TO STAY A FEW EXTRA MONTHS. I LEAVE THAT IN YOUR COURT. I KNOW THE DCM IS NOT GOING TO GET MAD ABOUT THAT. REMEMBER, I'M THE ONE THAT WANTED YOU OUT.

BUT I SEEM TO. HE WANTED TO BRING YOU BACK. I DON'T KNOW WHY. SEEMED KIND OF ODD. DON'T TRUST THE BLOGS. DON'T TRUST THE BLOGS. DON'T TRUST THE BLOGS. ALL RIGHT. LAST THING.

IT'S THIS YEAR HAS COME AGAIN, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO HELP CHILDREN WHO ARE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE. IN MANY CASES, THIS IS THE FIFTH YEAR. I THINK IT'S THE FIFTH YEAR THAT I DO THE WINE AUCTION. BESIDES THE GALLOP, LAST YEAR WE RAISED ALMOST $200,000. IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE IN PUBLIC OR WHO ARE HERE TO DONATE WINE TO THIS WINE AUCTION, IT'S THE EVENT OF THE YEAR. WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF DONATIONS TO WINE AUCTION. ALL THE MONEY GOES TOWARDS THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL EVENT. I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO MEET PEOPLE, TO NETWORK, TO DO BUSINESS, TO ENJOY GREAT WINE, GREAT FOOD. YOU CAN BUY TICKETS, BUT IF YOU DONATE WINE, WE ALSO PROVIDE WE ALSO PROVIDE TICKETS FOR YOU. SO THINK ABOUT IT. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT IT AT THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY

[05:30:04]

MAYOR. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS IS A WORKSHOP MEETING. IT WAS A NOTICE FOR PURPOSES OF THE SUNSHINE, OF COURSE. AND THE THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER, WHICH WAS RECENTLY APPROVED REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INSPECTOR GENERAL. RECORDING IN PROGRESS. WE SHOULD WAIT. WE GOTTA DO IT AGAIN. YEAH, YEAH.

START OVER. SHOULD WE START OVER, MAYOR? YES. OKAY. SO THANK YOU, MAYOR. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS IS A WORKSHOP MEETING AND OF COURSE WAS NOTICED FOR PURPOSES OF THE SUNSHINE. SO IT IS AN OPEN PUBLIC MEETING. AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO DISCUSS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CONCEPT. GIVEN THE RECENT AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER THAT WAS APPROVED.

SO TO TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMISSION, YOU'RE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TODAY. YOU'RE NOT VOTING. BUT WE DO NEED AND WILL NEED AN ORDINANCE THAT SETS FORTH, YOU KNOW, HOW THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WILL BE INVOKED IN ANY PARTICULAR MATTER. AND WE HAVE THE DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY WHO'S GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION AND KIND OF JUST RUN US THROUGH WHAT WHAT WE HOPE TO THE VARIOUS TOPICS ON WHICH WE HOPE TO GET SOME INPUT FROM YOU ALL.

SO THEN WE CAN BRING SOMETHING BACK AT A LATER DATE. ALL RIGHT. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MY BACKGROUND BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS. I WAS A SPONSOR ONCE AGAIN, I MENTIONED, BECAUSE I TAKE GREAT PRIVILEGE IN MENTIONING THAT I WAS A SPONSOR OF BRINGING THE IG, THE RESIDENTS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED AN INSPECTOR GENERAL. ALONG WITH MOVING ELECTIONS TO NOVEMBER, CONTROLLING SALARIES AND OBVIOUSLY CONTROLLING THE USE OF RESTRICTED RESERVES, THOSE FOR WHICH I SPONSORED, ALL FOUR OF THEM RECEIVED, YOU KNOW, HUGE SUPPORT, ALMOST 80%, FOR EXAMPLE, IN REGARDS TO THE SALARIES. THAT WAS A MAJOR STATEMENT BY THE RESIDENTS. AND I THINK THAT IT CLEARLY PROVIDES US GUIDANCE IN REGARDS TO WHERE WE SHOULD BE HEADED. I'M LOOKING FOR I'M LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE FROM MY ATTORNEYS.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THAT IN REGARDS TO A QUALIFICATIONS ON ON THE WAY THAT THINGS ARE DONE, I WANT TO SEE THINGS REVIEWED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. IF AN ITEM COMES UP, I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DIRECT STAFF, OR WE CAN DIRECT STAFF TODAY AS A COMMISSION TO WORK BACK AND BRING US A WORKING DOCUMENT ON FIRST READING. AND PART OF THE PART OF THAT DOCUMENT SHOULD INCLUDE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO REFER ANYTHING TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, IT HAS TO HAVE A 4/5 REQUIREMENT, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT AND SETS A STANDARD. OKAY. IF THE COLA CAN HAVE A FOUR FOOT STANDARD AND ENCUMBER THE CITY TO THE TUNE OF $20 MILLION FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHOULD HAVE. AND BY THE WAY, THESE TWO GENTLEMEN LEARNED ABOUT THE COLA AND THE $20 MILLION LAST WEEK IN CLASS, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD NOW THE RAMIFICATIONS OF HANDING OUT $20 MILLION. AND I ALSO BELIEVE IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE, I REVIEWED I REVIEWED THIS DOCUMENT. THIS IS THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL ANNUAL REPORT.

IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU REVIEW THIS. THIS IS PROVIDED EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND IT'S PART OF THEIR ONGOING WORKING DOCUMENT AND PART OF THEIR REQUIREMENT AS AN ORGANIZATION, AS PART OF THE COUNTY. I RECOMMEND THAT WE PUT OUT OUR OWN ANNUAL REPORT OUTLINING ANY FINDINGS OR WHAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED, AND WE MAKE IT A PUBLIC RECORD, AND THAT CAN BE ON OUR WEBSITE. SO THOSE ARE SOME SIMPLE AND VERY STREAMLINED IDEAS THAT I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER AS A COMMISSION. 4/5 REQUIREMENT, ANNUAL REPORT OUTLINING FINDINGS, AND THAT EVERY CASE BE REVIEWED BY THIS COMMISSION PRIOR TO, OBVIOUSLY SUBMISSION TO AN IG AND BE REVIEWED BY A CASE BY CASE STUDY TO THE MAYOR.

[05:35:03]

MY PRINCIPAL CONCERN HAS BEEN WITH AND I'VE STATED IT AT THE OTHER MEETINGS, RIGHT, IS THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL COULD BE USED FOR PURPOSES THAT ARE NOT INTENDED BY THIS BODY, RIGHT.

THAT IT WOULD BE USED FOR SOMETHING THAT'S MORE OF A POLITICAL WEAPONIZATION OR SOMETHING THAT'S MORE OF A DISTRACTION. AND IN ANY EVENT, EITHER ONE OF THOSE IS NOT ONLY IMPROPER AND INCORRECT, BUT IT'S ALSO COSTLY. YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE WASTE ITSELF. IN FACT, IRONICALLY, IF THAT'S WHAT YOUR INTENTION WAS, YOU WOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF AN IG REPORT INVESTIGATION TOO, RIGHT. SO YOUR SUGGESTION FOR CONSIDERATION OF 4/5 HELPS ME GO A LONG WAY TO PREVENTING THAT KIND OF THING. YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, YOU'D BE TOUGH TO GET ACROSS FOUR OUT OF FIVE OF US. SOMETHING THAT GETS SUBMITTED TO THE IG FOR AN INVESTIGATION.

IF THERE WAS SOME OTHER PURPOSE BEHIND IT OTHER THAN WHAT IT'S INTENDED TO BE. CONVERSELY, OR MAYBE NOT. CONVERSELY, IN LINE WITH THAT, IF WE FOLLOW THAT, THEN I THINK THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF US SENDING THINGS TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WILL BE INCREDIBLY LIMITED, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE OVERWORKING THAT OFFICE, BECAUSE THAT WOULD MEAN WE GOT A REAL BIGGER PROBLEM GOING ON THAN WE EVER IMAGINED. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THERE SHOULD BE A REPORT, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, ANNUALLY, EVEN JUST TO INDICATE THAT NOT MUCH HAS OCCURRED BECAUSE NOT MUCH HAS BEEN ALLEGED. RIGHT.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION THOUGH. AND AGAIN, ALL OF THIS THROUGH THE MAYOR FOR FOR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, DEPUTY, CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT IF THAT'S PART OF WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET INTO, WHAT WOULD BE IN DUE COURSE, THE TYPES OF MATTERS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR IG REFERRAL? SURE. IF THE MAYOR DOESN'T MIND, I HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION I THINK WILL GET US TO THOSE QUESTIONS. I WANTED TO LAY OUT SOME THINGS ON BEFORE I HAVE A PRESENTATION, SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF LAY THINGS OUT. SURE. JUST TO GO THROUGH THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE NOW IN OUR CHARTER AND SORT OF WE HAVE A FEW BUCKETS OF QUESTIONS THAT WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK ON. AND I THINK YOU'VE ALL TOUCHED ON SOME OF THOSE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES. SO AGAIN, STEPHANIE THROCKMORTON, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY, THIS WAS THE QUESTION THAT WAS PUT TO THE VOTERS IN APRIL OF 2026 IN OUR SPECIAL MAIL BALLOT ELECTION.

AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, IT WAS ADOPTED BY ALMOST 69% OF THE VOTERS. THIS IS THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE THAT NOW LIVES IN OUR CHARTER, SO THAT THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED, AS NEEDED, TO APPOINT, THROUGH CONTRACT WITH THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OR WITH A PRIVATE ENTITY THROUGH A PROCESS FURTHER ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL, THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO INVESTIGATE, AUDIT, REVIEW AND OVERSEE MUNICIPAL MATTERS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY EFFICIENCIES AND INVESTIGATE AND PREVENT FRAUD, WASTE, MISMANAGEMENT AND ABUSE OF POWER, AND SUBPOENA WITNESSES AND REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S APPOINTMENT, TERM FUNCTIONS, AUTHORITY AND POWERS SHALL BE FURTHER ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE AND IN AN EXECUTED AGREEMENT WITH THE MIAMI-DADE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OR A PRIVATE ENTITY THAT WE COMMISSION, SO THOSE BROAD TERMS ARE REQUIRED TO BE OUTLINED IN IN A IN AN ORDINANCE. THOSE ARE THE TERM APPOINTMENT FUNCTIONS, AUTHORITY AND POWERS. THOSE ARE SORT OF THE BUCKETS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE WILL DEFER TO YOU ALL ABOUT HOW DETAILED YOU WANT TO BE. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT LIKE QUALIFICATIONS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK AT APPOINTMENT WITH A BROAD STATEMENT LIKE A 4/5 OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO LOOK AT. BUT THOSE ARE THE SORT OF CATEGORIES THAT WE WILL NEED TO ADDRESS IN AN ORDINANCE, AS THE CHARTER REQUIRES THOSE BE ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE. AS YOU KNOW, WE UPDATED OUR CHARTER AND OUR CODE WITH ALL THE OTHER CHARTER AMENDMENTS THAT WERE ADOPTED IN APRIL.

THIS IS THE ONE OUTSTANDING ISSUE, WHICH IS THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. SO AS WE MENTIONED, WE NEED TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING HOW AN INSPECTOR GENERAL WILL BE SELECTED WHEN, FOR WHAT REASONS, WHAT FUNCTIONS, AUTHORITIES AND POWERS, AND WHEN AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE TERMINATED, EITHER THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THEMSELVES, THE ENTITY AND OR AN INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION. IF YOU ALL RECALL IN MAY, I SENT YOU ALL A PRETTY LENGTHY MEMO.

WELL, THE ATTACHMENTS WERE LENGTHY ABOUT DIFFERENT OFFICES OF INSPECTOR GENERALS. AS YOU KNOW, THE LANGUAGE IN OUR CHARTER THAT WE HAVE HERE IS AN AS NEEDED APPOINTED INSPECTOR GENERAL. MOST OFFICES OF INSPECTOR GENERALS THAT ARE LAID OUT IN CHARTERS AND CITY CODES ARE OFFICES OF INSPECTOR GENERALS. SO THEIR REMIT AND QUALIFICATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THIS BODY IS ANTICIPATING BASED ON THE LANGUAGE IN THE CHARTER. SO JUST BRIEFLY, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH AND SUMMARIZE WHAT WHAT THOSE ARE WHEN WE LOOK AT OTHER OFFICES OF INSPECTOR GENERAL. SO YOU ALL CAN HAVE THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU WANT TO DIRECT THIS OFFICE TO DRAFT SOMETHING. SO GENERALLY QUALIFICATIONS INSPECTORS GENERAL GENERALLY HAVE FOUR YEAR COLLEGE DEGREES, AT LEAST A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE IN EITHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, AS A AS A JUDGE, AS A GOVERNMENT ATTORNEY, OR A CPA OR INTERNAL AUDITOR. THOSE ARE SORT OF THE GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS. SOME ENTITIES PROVIDE THAT THE

[05:40:04]

THE LANGUAGE THAT'S IN OUR CHARTER IS IN LOCKSTEP WITH A LOT OF THESE INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICES OF FRAUD, MISMANAGEMENT, MISCONDUCT, WASTE, EFFICIENCIES, ALL OF THAT IS THE SAME. MOST PERMANENT INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICES CAN REQUIRE REPORTS FROM CERTAIN CITY DEPARTMENTS OR OFFICES. THEY CAN SUBPOENA WITNESSES AND REQUIRE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS. THAT POWER IS ALSO THERE IN OUR CHARTER FOR OUR INSPECTOR GENERAL AND INSPECTOR GENERAL GENERALLY CAN REPORT AND RECOMMEND ABOUT CERTAIN PROGRAMS OR CONTRACTS. THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO, SAY, TO TERMINATE A CONTRACT NECESSARILY, RIGHT. THAT WOULD STILL LIE WITH WHOEVER THE ENTITY IS, BUT THEY CAN CONDUCT CERTAIN AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS, AND THEY CAN NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHEN THEY'VE DETECTED CORRUPTION OR FRAUD. ONE THING I WANT TO BRING UP THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT THE FUNCTIONS, AUTHORITY AND POWERS IS THAT THE CITY HAS AVAILABLE TO IT INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY, A LOT OF PROCESSES ALREADY. AND SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF REMINDER OF WHAT THOSE ARE. WE HAVE AN INTERNAL AND AN EXTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION HERE IN THE CITY. SO WE HAVE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AT THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING, WE DISCUSSED OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS.

WE HAVE AN INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION. WE HAVE AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION TEAM AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND WE ALSO, AS ALWAYS, HAVE THE ABILITY THROUGH CERTAIN SWORN COMPLAINTS TO FORWARD THINGS TO THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS, STATE OR COUNTY. AND SOMETIMES THIS COMES UP DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS. THOSE GO TO THE RELEVANT BODIES THERE.

SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT IN NO WAY WOULD THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. HAVE TO COVER THOSE AREAS. WE HAVE THOSE ALREADY. THEY CERTAINLY COULD IF YOU WANT THEM TO, BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE TO US. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ON THOSE ROLES NECESSARILY.

REMOVAL AND TERM. MOST LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERMANENT INSPECTORS GENERAL ARE APPOINTED FOR FOUR YEAR TERMS, SOME RENEWABLE, SOME AUTOMATIC, SOME NOT. REMOVAL CAN GENERALLY BE BY A VOTE OF THE GOVERNING BODY, SOME IRREGULAR, SOME A SUPERMAJORITY, SOME ONLY AFTER FOR CAUSE WITH A PUBLIC HEARING. SO REALLY IT DEPENDS ON THE INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT INDEPENDENCE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS A HALLMARK OF INSPECTORS GENERAL, THAT YOU WILL SEE FROM THE INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDED EARLIER THIS YEAR. SO THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE THAT PUBLIC HEARING OR SUPERMAJORITY VOTE. SO THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE FOR YOU ALL TODAY, AND I KNOW WE GOT A PREVIEW ALREADY FROM SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS ARE IN WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES DID THE COMMISSION WANT TO INVOKE AN INSPECTOR GENERAL, IF NOT THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL? WHAT QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAVE? SHOULD IT BE DETERMINED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS? AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE HAD PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICES. I THINK THERE IS AN APPETITE TO WORK WITH US. IT'S REALLY A CAPACITY ISSUE WHETHER OR NOT AT THE TIME WE NEED AN INSPECTOR GENERAL IF THEY WILL HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO TO ASSIST US WITH THAT, DETERMINE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, MAYBE WE'RE REFERRING A FINANCIAL MATTER WHERE WE NEED A CPA VERSUS A MATTER WHERE A LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT. SO LEAVE THAT TO YOU ALL TO DETERMINE IF YOU WANT BLANKET QUALIFICATIONS OR CASE BY CASE BASIS. SAME THING. DO WE WANT AN INSPECTOR GENERAL TO ALWAYS BE ON CONTRACT? DO WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AN ISSUE COMES UP AND SELECT ONE? AGAIN? IT MAY BE A CASE BY CASE. YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT TYPE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL YOU NEED. WHO SELECTS IT. IS IT GOING TO BE THIS BODY? IS IT GOING TO BE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE? IS IT GOING TO BE A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE? AND THEN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF SORT OF WHAT COMPLAINTS OR AREAS. SO MAYBE WE DON'T WANT TO DUPLICATE INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTIONS IF WE ALREADY HAVE AN INTERNAL AUDITOR. IF WE HAVE A COMMISSION ON ETHICS AVAILABLE TO US, MAYBE WE DON'T WANT TO DUPLICATE THOSE SERVICES. SO JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. AND THEN AGAIN, AS MENTIONED, HOW SHOULD AN INSPECTOR GENERAL CONTRACT BE TERMINATED OR A PARTICULAR INVESTIGATION? MAYBE AN INVESTIGATION HAS GONE ON FOR A WHILE AND THERE'S A LARGE EXPENSE ASSOCIATED AND THE COMMISSION IS SATISFIED. HOW CAN THEY END THAT INVESTIGATION? SO THOSE ARE THE SORT OF GENERAL QUESTIONS WE HAVE FOR YOU. WE DON'T NEED AN ANSWER ON EVERYTHING TODAY. OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE HAPPY TO SPEND TIME TO WORK WITH THE SPONSOR OF AN ITEM OR DISCUSS WITH YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE, BUT WE'D LIKE TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE SO THAT WE KNOW WHERE TO SPEND OUR EFFORTS. DRAFTING AN ORDINANCE AS REQUIRED BY THE CHARTER. SO I JUMPED THE GUN, BUT I THINK I PUT SOME POINTS THERE THAT I THINK WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE IN REGARDS TO

[05:45:01]

THAT'S CERTAINLY ALWAYS AN OPTION UNDER OUR CHARTER, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO LIMIT THAT OPTION IN ANY WAY. IN THE ORDINANCE. WE COULD WE COULD EXPRESS A PREFERENCE FOR THE COUNTY. WE COULD EXPRESS, YOU KNOW, WE COULD LEAVE IT BLANK. IT'S CERTAINLY AN OPTION UNDER THE CHARTER, THROUGH THE. YES. SO I WON'T ADDRESS THE FIRST THREE POINTS YOU MADE BECAUSE I'M IN SUPPORT OF THEM. AND WE CAN HAVE MORE CONVERSATION REGARDING THAT. TO ME, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS LIKE, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT SELECTING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL? THAT'S ALMOST LIKE, LIKE SELECTING AN ARBITRATOR. MORE IMPORTANT THAN SELECTING A MEDIATOR. BUT THAT CAN BE VERY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SETTLE A CASE. AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T BE CHOOSING A JUDGE, RIGHT? THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. SELECTION IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD, I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE THERE'S A HUNDRED WAYS THAT THAT COULD GO. YOU COULD SAY, WELL, IT'S GOING TO GO LIKE THE SELECT FIVE PEOPLE AND MAKE IT A WHEEL. AND DEPENDING AS YOU NEED IT THERE, THE NEXT ONE UP OR YOU GO WITH WHO THE COUNTY ALREADY HAS. RIGHT? THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TOO. OR IT DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF THE THING THAT'S BEING INVESTIGATED.

OH, SOMEBODY WHO HAS MORE EXPERTISE IN THAT AREA VERSUS SOMEONE ELSE. BUT THEN INEVITABLY, OR MAYBE I SHOULD SAY HIGH DEGREE OF LIKELIHOOD THAT THAT WILL DEVOLVE INTO A VERY PROTRACTED PROCESS. YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN EVERYONE'S GOT AN OPINION ABOUT WHO THE PERSON SELECTED IS GOING TO BE SO THAT I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD WE SHOULD TALK IT OUT BECAUSE EVERYONE'S GOT AN OPINION. I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION EITHER ON THAT FRONT, BUT I THINK OBVIOUSLY, AND AGAIN, THIS IS OUTSIDE MY WHEELHOUSE. RFQ, OBVIOUSLY A THOUGHTFUL WAY OF DOING IT, PROVIDED OUT TO OBVIOUSLY SOME SORT OF PROCUREMENT PROCESS, SEE WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DONE OR THE COUNTIES HAVE DONE, AND HAVING RFQ, A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO'S QUALIFIED. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THAT'S THAT BODY OR THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE SELECTED OR OR ONE IS SELECTED OR MULTIPLE ARE SELECTED TO BE PART OF THAT WHEEL. BUT I'VE NEVER I'VE NEVER I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY DIFFERENT PROCUREMENT PROCESSES, BOTH IN THE PRIVATE AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR, BUT I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN INVOLVED IN ONE THAT DEALS WITH, OBVIOUSLY, AN INSPECTOR GENERAL. THAT'S WHY WHEN WE WERE FIRST HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AN INSPECTOR GENERAL TWO YEARS AGO, I WENT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I WAS LIKE, LET'S JUST USE THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, LET'S LET'S GO TO THE COUNTY. AND THEY WERE THEY WERE MORE THAN WILLING TO ENGAGE. SURE.

IN REGARDS TO. SO THAT'S THE CLEANEST WAY OF DOING IT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO FAVORITES THERE. NO ONE CAN SAY, OH, WELL, THEY SELECTED THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE THEY KNOW EACH OTHER OR THEY'RE IN THE GABLES. YOU KNOW, IT'S THE COUNTY'S INDIVIDUALS. THEY'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH A PROCUREMENT PROCESS. IT'S SET IN STONE. AND I THINK IT'S IT LIMITS OUR EXPOSURE. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THE COUNTY IS PROBABLY MAYBE WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HELP, YOU HAVE TO PAY US TO BE ABLE TO CERTAINLY. SO OUR DISCUSSION AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF OF THAT, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME SORT OF COST TO BEING ABLE TO ACTIVATE THAT, THAT INDIVIDUAL OR THAT ENTITY AT ONE POINT. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS BEEN IT WOULD STILL REQUIRE THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT AND APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. SO IT'S NOT A VERY FAST PROCESS EITHER TO INVOKE. EVEN IF THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY, THERE'S STILL A TIMING ISSUE THERE. IN THE PAST, WHEN WE'VE HAD ISSUES THAT THIS COMMISSION AND BODY HAS DIRECTED FOR INVESTIGATION, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS THE ABILITY TO SELECT OUTSIDE COUNSEL. SO I JUST BRING THAT UP AS A WE HAVE A MECHANISM FOR THE MANAGER TO SELECT CONSULTANTS UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF OF PROCUREMENT. AND THE CITY ATTORNEY ALSO HAS THE ABILITY TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL. SO I BRING THAT TO YOU ALL. IF IF WE DON'T COME UP WITH A A METHOD INITIALLY, I JUST. THERE ARE METHODS FOR YOU ALL TO DIRECT THE HIRING OF PEOPLE, EVEN IF IT'S NOT ESTABLISHED IN THIS ORDINANCE. THE MAYOR. SO I LIKE YOUR IDEA OF THE WHEEL BECAUSE I THINK THIS COULD COME UP AT A RANDOM TIME WHERE IT'LL BE DIFFICULT TO FIND SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE BANDWIDTH TO TAKE IT ON. AND MAYBE THAT WHEEL CAN INCLUDE THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL AS PART OF ONE OF THE OPTIONS. THE OTHER SUGGESTION I WAS MAKING WOULD MAKE IS WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER, A LARGE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY WHO LIVE IN THE

[05:50:01]

SO YOU MAY HAVE A YEAR THAT YOU HAVE 3 OR 4 ITEMS COME UP AT THAT POINT. I THINK WE CAN HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE WITH A WHEEL WHERE YOU'RE JUST FARMING OUT THE WORK AS IT COMES IN. IF YOU HAVE TWO QUESTIONS THAT COME UP, SOMEBODY IS A SPECIALIST IN IN FINANCES AND SOMEBODY IS A SPECIALIST IN ANOTHER AREA, THEY CAN BE FARMED OUT TO WHOEVER THEY ARE BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NEED SOMEBODY WHO'S A CPA BECAUSE IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT'S FISCAL AND FINANCIAL THAT HAS TO BE LOOKED INTO. AND YOUR STANDARD INSPECTOR GENERAL PERSON MAY NOT HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO DO THAT, AND IT WOULD COST US MORE FOR THEM TO GET OUTSIDE HELP TO DO IT AS WELL THROUGH THE MAYOR. SO FOLLOWING UP ON COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S POINT, RIGHT, I, I FAVOR THE, THE, THE WHEEL, BUT REALLY, I, I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF SAYING, LET'S GET A GROUP OF, YOU KNOW, OF EITHER FORMER OR CURRENT, EVEN, YOU KNOW, JUDGES WHO WANT TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME, BUT NOT, NOT NECESSARILY JUST LIMITED TO JUDGES, RIGHT? BECAUSE LIKE WE WERE JUST SAYING A SECOND AGO, IT MAY BE SOMETHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, RIGHT? THERE COULD BE A BLUE RIBBON OR REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT GETS SELECTED THE SAME WAY AS WE CREATE A PARTICULAR BOARD, RIGHT? AND JUST TALKING OUT LOUD, YOU GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER AND YOU SAY, OKAY, YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING DOING A WHEEL FOR A TIME, CERTAIN TO BE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, LET'S SAY, RIGHT? SO THAT WE HAVE THE ROSTER OF AVAILABLE PEOPLE, LET'S CALL IT PRE-APPROVED, YOU KNOW, READY TO GO. AND THEN THEY THE PARTICULAR ISSUE IS GOING TO TAKE A 4/5 VOTE TO FOR IT TO EVEN GO TO THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, IF WE GO THAT ROUTE. RIGHT. AND I AND I STILL THINK THAT THE SELECTION OF A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL AND EVEN ON A WHEEL MAY STILL COME DOWN TO A PARTICULAR VOTE, RATHER THAN JUST A RANDOM TURN OF THE WHEEL. I STILL THINK DETERMINING WHO IT IS. IF WE TOOK 4/5 TO GET THERE, WE SHOULD CONSIDER 4/5 TO SELECT THE INDIVIDUAL AS WELL. THEN THERE CAN BE REALLY, I THINK, NO, NO REAL DISPUTE THAT WE'VE KIND OF LIKE FILTERED OUT ANYONE SAYING THAT THIS ISN'T A ABOVE BOARD ARMS LENGTH TYPE DELIBERATION THAT'S GOING TO COME IN A REPORT. AND OF COURSE, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, I THINK YOU ALREADY DID SAY IT. THEN WHATEVER PROJECT THAT GETS PUT TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, IF WE GET THERE, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO BE SPENT ON A PARTICULAR INVESTIGATION. IT'S NOT JUST A FREE FOR ALL I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN IN, YOU KNOW, INTERNAL AUDITS, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO DO WITH THINGS OTHER THAN FINANCIAL. AND YOU'VE GOT TO SET THE PRICE, AS THEY SAY, NOT JUST SELECTING THE PERSON, BUT HOW MUCH MONEY THAT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO TAKE HAS TO BE A CEILING. YEAH. VICE MAYOR. SO. AS BEING ONE OF THE PERSONS THAT PUT SOME FINGERPRINTS ON THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ISSUE IN A LANGUAGE, I'M GOING TO REFLECT BACK ON WHY THAT LANGUAGE WAS CHOSEN AS FIRST. YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE BANDWIDTH. SO THE DEFAULT POSITION IS TO HAVE A PRIVATE INSPECTOR GENERAL. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE ENORMOUS EXPENSE OF HAVING ONE ON FULL TIME. NOW, LEANING ON NORMAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, THAT'S DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, LEGAL BUSINESS, WE HAVE TO SELECT MEDIATORS, ARBITRATORS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE PUT IT IN OUR CONTRACTS ALL THE TIME. THE PROCESS BY WHICH ONE CAN BE SELECTED AND COURT ORDERS AND FEDERAL COURT RIGHT NOW ALSO HAVE THAT PROCESS BY WHICH ONE CAN BE SELECTED. AND

[05:55:06]

I THINK I THINK THAT WE HAVE SOME CONSENSUS ON THAT. AND MAYOR, JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

YOU MENTIONED THE 4/5 VOTE TO INVOKE. I ASSUME THAT'S ALSO TO TERMINATE OR END AN INVESTIGATION. UNDERSTOOD. SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME SOME MARCHING ORDERS. I THINK WE HAVE THE FRAMEWORK TO HOPEFULLY PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER. WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU CAN COME BACK TO US? WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH IF YOU WANT TO BE THE SPONSOR WHENEVER YOU WOULD LIKE. I THINK WE HAVE TWO MEETINGS LEFT THIS CALENDAR YEAR. OKAY. PERFECT. WELL, OBVIOUSLY NOT THE NOT THIS MEETING, BUT THE NEXT ONE. GIVE YOU SOME TIME. I ALSO LIKE WHAT COMMISSIONER LATTA SAID ABOUT HAVING A WHEEL AND. USING SOME OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE JUDGES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. AGAIN, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A JUDGE. IT CAN BE SOMEBODY WHO'S WHO IS A REPUTABLE ACCOUNTANT, SOMEBODY WHO AGAIN, WE SHARED SOME OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THOSE AD HOC COMMITTEES, WHICH I THINK MAYBE WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR YOU ALL. IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE AGAIN AND SEE IF ANY OF THOSE CATEGORIES OF PERSONS MAKE SENSE TO YOU ALL.

THERE'S A LOT OF RETIRED JUDGES HERE. WE'VE USED THEM IN THE PAST FOR MEDIATION AND FOR OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD HERE IN THE CITY. WE'VE USED WE'VE HAD THEM HERE FOR BLUE RIBBON PANELS. I THINK IT WOULD BE THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PUT TOGETHER A BLUE RIBBON PANEL IN REGARDS TO EXERCISING THE SELECTION OF ONE, 2 OR 3 OR 4 OR 5, WHATEVER THE WHEEL SIZE IS OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE CITY. WONDERFUL. AGAIN, AN RFQ IS ALSO AN OPTION. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK FOR QUALIFICATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO. AND THAT'S WHAT. AND THAT'S WHAT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE IS GOING TO DO. THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND ASK FOR QUALIFICATIONS BECAUSE I WANT IT TO BE NOT JUST, OH, PEOPLE WHO I TRUST,

[06:00:03]

HE GOES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, AND HE CAME TO ME LAST CLASS. AND THAT'S WHAT MAYOR LARGO INVITED US. SO I INVITED THE ENTIRE CLASS TO JOIN US. THESE TWO GENTLEMEN WERE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TO COME HERE. WE'RE THE ONLY TWO. AND BY THE WAY, HAVE YOU NOTICED THEY'RE SUITED UP? BECAUSE THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS, I TOLD THEM, WELL, YOU. WHAT DID I SAY IN CLASS? I SAID, FIRST SUIT. AND WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT? FIRST IMPRESSIONS OR MOST IMPORTANT, IF YOU SHOW UP WEARING A SUIT, YOU SET THAT LINE AND YOU SET THE TONE. SO WE HAVE A REALLY IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF ABOUT 30 KIDS IN THE CLASS. VERY SMART. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME VERY, VERY COMPLEX ISSUES THAT THAT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME. IT'S ABOUT A TWO HOUR CLASS. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY COVER ALL THE ISSUES. BUT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE IN THE CITY, FROM CITY FINANCES, PENSIONS, NEGOTIATIONS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CORRUPTION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRIPLE A RATED BONDS, TRIPLE A RATED BONDS. AND THEN WE HAVE A CASE STUDY. WE HAVE A CASE STUDY. AFTER EVERY SINGLE REUNION, WE HAVE A CASE STUDY WHERE WE GO INTO ACTUAL LIVE LIVE ACTION IN REGARDS TO HOW WHAT WE'RE LEARNING IN THE CLASS WHERE WE'RE TEACHING IN THE CLASS ACTUALLY APPLIES TO EVERY SINGLE DAY HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. SOME OF, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE INSIGHTS THAT THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG WOMEN IN THE CLASS, THEY'RE AMAZING. THESE KIDS ARE 18, 19 YEARS OLD. THEY HAVE A, THEY HAVE A, THEIR, THEIR INSIGHT, THEIR, THEIR INTELLECT, THEIR HUNGER TO LEARN IS INCREDIBLE. AND I'M THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE STUDENTS IN THE CLASS. AND THEY, THEY, THEY PICK THINGS UP VERY, VERY, VERY QUICK, ESPECIALLY VERY COMPLEX ISSUES. LAST WEEK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PENSIONS AND HOW MUCH WE. WHAT IS OUR OBLIGATION? OUR CURRENT OBLIGATION IS ABOUT $6 MILLION. HOW MUCH ARE WE ACTUALLY PAYING? AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER 5 OR 6 YEARS ONCE WE'VE TIGHTENED THE BELT AND WE'VE MADE ALL THE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT SOMEBODY IN THE FUTURE, WHICH IT WON'T BE ME, SOME IN THE FUTURE WILL HAVE ABOUT 25, 26, $27 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL MONIES TO BE ABLE TO LOWER TAXES, TO PAY DOWN DEBT, TO CONCENTRATE ON INFRASTRUCTURE, SEA LEVEL RISE. AND THEY WERE REALLY INTRIGUED BY THAT. WE WANT TO ADD A LITTLE COLOR TO THAT. OR DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT? IT'S INTERESTING. I'M EXCITED TO LEARN MORE. AND ON BEHALF OF FIU, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING AND TEACHING US AND GIVING US INSIGHT AND. YEAH, THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT THE PENSION FUND, BUT I DO HAVE SOME CURIOSITY, AND I'M SURE THERE'S SOME SORT OF THING WRITTEN ABOUT THIS, BUT HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING CORRUPTION WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT? IS IT THROUGH REPORTS OF CITIZENS OR REPORTS OF OTHER COMMISSIONERS OBSERVING THINGS LIKE, HOW DOES ONE GO ABOUT THIS? AND WHAT EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY TO PROVE THAT? WELL, YOU'RE SEEING IT FIRSTHAND. YOU KNOW, ONE OF ONE OF THE MAIN ONE OF THE MAIN TOOLS THAT'S USED TO IDENTIFY CORRUPTION, OBVIOUSLY, BESIDES THE MEDIA IS, IS OBVIOUSLY AN INSPECTOR GENERAL. THIS IS GOING TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND TO THE RESIDENTS. AND OBVIOUSLY, THE COMMISSION, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT'S IDENTIFIED, IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION AND THEN THE COMMISSION WILL REFER IT OVER TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL. SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW,

[06:05:03]

YOU'RE WITNESSING THE WAY THAT THE SAUSAGE IS MADE. SOMETIMES IT'S PRETTY, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.

RIGHT. BUT WE'RE BLESSED. LIKE I SAY, WHAT DO I SAY IN CLASS? THAT WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, RIGHT? YES. AND THAT IS A TRUE PRIVILEGE. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHILE WE'RE NOT PERFECT, THERE ISN'T ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THROUGH THE MAYOR AND AMEN TO THAT. WELL, I SORT OF PUT YOU GUYS ON THE SPOT AND YOU REALLY DELIVERED. I MUST SAY IT SOUNDS FASCINATING IN THIS CLASS. MAYBE I NEED TO AUDIT THIS THING, COME IN AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND SEE. AND THIS IS THE ATTITUDE THAT I LIKE, RIGHT? BECAUSE AS A FATHER OF, OF YOUNG, WELL, I DON'T THINK MAYBE NOT AS YOUNG AS I LIKE TO THINK THEY ARE, BUT LIKE YOUNG, YOUNG LADIES, YOU KNOW, I, I SAY TO THEM OFTEN THAT IN THIS WORLD, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO LOOK SOMEONE IN THE EYE AND SHAKE THEIR HAND AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND ASK, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? YOU'RE MORE THAN HALFWAY ACROSS THE FINISH LINE COMPARED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I THINK YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE SORT OF A RESTRAINING BOLT, ONE THAT MIGHT BE SELF-IMPOSED, I DON'T KNOW THE REASON. RIGHT. BUT LIKE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PERSON A MILLION YEARS AGO, RIGHT, EVERYONE SEEMED TO BE DOING THE SAME KIND OF, LET'S CALL IT HUSTLE, RIGHT? THEY WANT TO BE SEEN. THEY WANT TO GET AHEAD.

THEY WANT TO BE NOTICED. RIGHT. BUT I HAD THAT HAPPENING TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT OF ME LIKE CRAZY WHEN I WAS A YOUNG GUY. I THINK YOU TWO ARE WHERE YOU NEED TO BE. AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE YOU'RE SHOWING AND LEADING THE WAY. RIGHT? JUST STANDING IN THERE AND, AND FACING WHATEVER COMES YOUR WAY HEAD ON. RIGHT? SO YEAH, AND I, I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH COMING HERE AND THIS IN OUR SECOND CLASS AS WELL. AND YOU SHOULD HAVE MET SOME OF THE STUDENTS IN THERE WHO ARE VERY, VERY WELL WITH THEIR INTRODUCTIONS. YEAH. SO WHAT I MADE IS I, I MADE ALL, I MADE ALL THE STUDENTS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND I TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU SAID RIGHT NOW, SHAKING HANDS, LOOKING AT SOMEBODY IN THE EYE, YOU KNOW, BEING A PERSON OF CHARACTER. AND I TALKED TO MY, YOU KNOW, MY GOAL IS AT THE END OF THE CLASS IS TO MAKE SURE IN DECEMBER AFTER THREE MONTHS, IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR SHELLS AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS. AND WHEN YOU LISTEN TO SOME OF THE MOST SHY PEOPLE IN THAT CLASSROOM AND YOU HEAR THEM AFTER THE THIRD CLASS, IT'S IMPRESSIVE. SOME SOME OF THE COMMENTARY IN THE BACK AND FORTH BANTER THAT WE'RE HAVING IN THE CLASS. BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT KIDS. I SAY, KIDS, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THEY'RE 18, 19 YEARS OLD AND MOST OF THEM ARE JUST A LITTLE BIT SHY, ESPECIALLY WALKING INTO A ROOM AND HAVING A REAL IN-DEPTH INTELLECTUAL CONVERSATION ABOUT GOVERNMENT. BUT THEY'RE SPONGES. I GIVE THEM WEBSITES TO READ PERIODICALS. THEY COME BACK, THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, I DID THIS.

TELL ME ABOUT THIS. WHAT? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS? HOW DID YOU COME UP, COME UP WITH THIS IDEA? SO IT'S A FUN TIME. AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO BEEN A FEW HOURS WITH ME OVER THE WEEK, I'D BRING YOU IN AS A, AS CO CO PROFESSOR AND MAYBE WE CAN TEACH THE CLASS TOGETHER. YEAH. I MEAN I'M, I'M AN AUDITOR ALSO. I'M TECHNICALLY NOT EVEN AT THE SCHOOL. GOTTA SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT. YEAH. A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES. BUT WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. I WILL SEE YOU ON THURSDAY. YEAH. YOU TOO. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT.

SO MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MARCHING ORDERS. I'LL WORK WITH THE SPONSOR. AND IF YOU KNOW, IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU ALL THINK OF ANY ITEMS THAT YOU WANT TO DISCUSS WITH US INDIVIDUALLY, WE CAN DO OUR FINAL TWEAKING WHEN WE HAVE FIRST READING. AND HERE'S SOME MORE ABOUT YOUR FEEDBACK FOR THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE. BUT THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND WE WILL BRING IT BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING. WE'LL BRING IT BACK AT THE FOLLOWING MEETING TO GIVE YOU TIME, ENOUGH TIME TO APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. KNOW, I KNOW YOU GOT ON YOUR PLATE. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER. ALL RIGHT, I MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. IT'S A WORKSHOP. NO, DON'T WANT IT. DON'T WANT THE BLOGS. DON'T WANT THE BLOGS TO HIT ME. YOU KNOW I'M A DICTATOR. ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND. LET'S

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.