[00:00:02] MAYOR. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. WE LIVE. GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE CITY [CALL TO ORDER ] OF CORAL GABLES COMMISSION MEETING FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27TH. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THERE ARE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO ENGAGE THROUGHOUT THE COMMISSION MEETING. EITHER YOU CAN BE HERE IN PERSON LIKE MANY OF YOU ARE. I'D LIKE TO SEE A PACKED HOUSE. IT'S ALWAYS REFRESHING. YOU CAN EITHER JOIN US VIA ZOOM, OR YOU CAN EITHER JOIN US THROUGH A PHONE CALL AND EMAIL. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE EVEN ACCEPT CARRIER PIGEON. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE WHOLE POINT IS TO GET PEOPLE ENGAGED HERE. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE LAST WEEK, TWO WEEKS AGO, WE HAD TWO OF MY STUDENTS IN MY FIU CLASS. TODAY WE HAVE FOUR OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE, FIVE FIVE OF THE STUDENTS. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU. I CAN TELL YOU, YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN TO BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. YOU DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ON THURSDAY. HOPEFULLY THIS WEEK'S CLASS WILL BE AS REFRESHING AND AS ENTICING AS YOU BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL, YOU KNOW, PRESENT YOURSELVES DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION. NOW IT'S ALWAYS MY FAVORITE TIME. WE HAVE FATHER ADAM THOMAS FROM SAINT AUGUSTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH. FATHER, PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE INVOCATION. AND I APOLOGIZE. FATHER ADAM TAKAHASHI, I APOLOGIZE MY I'M NOT WEARING MY GLASSES. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE INVOCATION. TODAY. I'M FATHER ADAM AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AT SAINT AUGUSTINE PARISH AND UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AS CHAPLAIN THERE. I KNOW IT'S A SIN TO BE PRIDEFUL, BUT WE'RE NUMBER ONE, BABY GO CANES. I'M ALSO PERUVIAN, AND IN PERU WE'RE CELEBRATING TOMORROW, A BIG DAY. IT'S CALLED THE LORD OF THE MIRACLES. SO TODAY I WANT TO LEAD AN INVOCATION. WITH THAT IN MIND, PRAYING FOR MIRACLES THAT WE ALL NEED. AND ALSO IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THIS WEEKEND IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S CALLED THE THE AUTUMN TREATY. SO WE DON'T HAVE THE REGULAR EASTER, BUT THE AUTUMN TRITIUM IS ALL HALLOWS EVE, ALL SAINTS DAY, AND THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED. SO IN A SPECIAL WAY, I WANT TO PRAY AS WELL FOR ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FAMILY OF TRACY BOWEN, AN OPERATOR WHO PASSED AWAY NOT TOO LONG AGO. AND WITH THAT, LET US BEGIN. THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. LORD JESUS, WE COME TO YOU, BEGGING YOU FOR GRACE AND MERCY, ESPECIALLY HAVING IN MIND THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY OUR LOVED ONES, FAMILY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES TO SERVE YOUR PEOPLE. I PRAY FOR ALL THOSE COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMEN WHO GIVE THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY IN SERVICE. I PRAY ALSO FOR ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE IN CORAL GABLES, MIAMI, THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. WE COME TO YOU, LORD. YOU ARE THE LORD OF MIRACLES, BUT WE LOVE YOU NOT BECAUSE OF THE MIRACLES, BUT BECAUSE YOU'RE SO GOOD. LORD JESUS, WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT YOU? BUT LORD, BECAUSE OUR FAITH IS SMALL AND FRAGILE, WE COME TO YOU BEGGING FOR MORE MIRACLES. YOU KNOW ALL OUR NEEDS IN OUR OWN FAMILIES. YOU KNOW WHO'S STRUGGLING. YOU KNOW THOSE WHO ARE SICK, YOU KNOW WHO ARE IN DESPERATE NEED. AND OUR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES IN THE WHOLE WORLD. LORD JESUS, COME TO OUR RESCUE, SAVE US, AND GIVE US THE MIRACLES THAT WE ARE MOST IN NEED TODAY. AND I PRAY FOR THE MIRACLE OF EVEN GREATER WISDOM FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN CHARGE OF LEADING CITIES, COUNTIES, NATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN SECURITY. CITY OF CORAL GABLES. LORD, POUR OUT YOUR HOLY SPIRIT UPON THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED. THIS GREAT CITY. PROTECT THEM, [00:05:01] GUIDE THEM, STRENGTHEN THEM, SO THAT THEY MAY USE ALL THEIR GIFTS AND TALENTS FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE. IN YOUR MOST HOLY NAME WE PRAY, LORD JESUS, AMEN. AMEN. HOLY SPIRIT, FATHER ADAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. PLEASE SEND OUR BEST TO OUR CONGREGATION. AS A MEMBER OF SAINT AUGUSTINE. IT'S TRULY A PLEASURE AND A PRIVILEGE, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE YOU, ALONG WITH FATHER VIGOA AND THE REST OF THE OF THE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMUNITY GUIDING US SPIRITUALLY AND OUR COMMUNITY. MAY I TAKE A PHOTO WITH YOU? OF COURSE. YES. THANK YOU VERY. AND BY THE WAY, AS I SHOW UP, I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE. NOW, WE HAVE SIX MEMBERS OF OUR CLASS HERE JUST CONTINUES TO GROW. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU. MOVING ON, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ONE OF OUR RESPECTED INDIVIDUALS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WILFREDO WILLIE JAUREGI, A UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN. HE WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. HE SERVED FROM 1977 TO 1980 AND CONTINUES HIS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES ADVISORY BOARD ON OUR DISABILITY AFFAIRS. SIR, THANK YOU FOR LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE, AND I KNOW THAT A COMMISSIONER A LOT OF THEM WILL HAVE A FEW WORDS ALSO. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, SIR. THANK YOU. MR. PLEASE RISE. PLEASE. 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, FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. COMMISSIONER LATTA, THANK YOU, MAYOR, SO I WOULDN'T IT'S [AMERICA'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT] ABSOLUTELY MY PRIVILEGE AND MY PLEASURE AND MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE MY FRIEND WHO I'VE KNOWN FOR OVER 30 YEARS. WILLIE, YOU SHOULD STAY AT THE PODIUM BECAUSE THIS IS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU WITH US HERE IN THE CITY. AS I SAID, IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE CORPORAL WITH WILLIE JAUREGI, A UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS VETERAN WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. IN 1977, WILLIE ENLISTED IN THE MARINES AND COMPLETED HIS RECRUIT TRAINING AT PARRIS ISLAND. DURING HIS THREE YEARS OF SERVICE, HE EARNED THREE MERITORIOUS PROMOTIONS, ULTIMATELY ATTAINING THE RANK OF CORPORAL. HIS MILITARY SERVICE TOOK HIM ACROSS THE WORLD, INCLUDING A NATO EXERCISE IN NORWAY, TRAINING IN THE MOJAVE DESERT AND THE JUNGLES OF PANAMA, AND SERVICE ABROAD ON THE USS HERMITAGE. HE ALSO DEPLOYED TO THE GULF OF OMAN DURING A PERIOD OF GROWING TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AROUND THE TIME OF THE 1979 IRANIAN REVOLUTION AND THE SEIZURE OF THE U.S. EMBASSY IN TEHRAN. HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE EARNED HIM TWO MERITORIOUS MASTS, AND HE QUALIFIED AS AN EXPERT MARKSMAN WITH BOTH RIFLE AND PISTOL. WILLIE'S MILITARY CAREER CAME TO AN END FOLLOWING A DIAGNOSIS OF RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA, A CONDITION THAT AFFECTS HIS VISION. BUT WHILE HIS TIME IN UNIFORM ENDED, HIS COMMITMENT TO SERVICE DID NOT. TODAY, WILLIE CONTINUES TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES ADVISORY BOARD ON DISABILITY AFFAIRS, WHERE HE BRINGS A VALUABLE PERSPECTIVE AND ADVOCATES FOR A MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. WILLIE'S STORY REMINDS US THAT SERVICE TO ONE'S COUNTRY DOES NOT NECESSARILY END WHEN THE UNIFORM COMES OFF. THE SAME DEDICATION, COURAGE, AND SENSE OF DUTY THAT INSPIRES SOMEONE TO SERVE IN OUR ARMED FORCES CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR DECADES. WILLIE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION AND FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE TO THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU NOT ONLY LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE THIS MORNING, BUT AFTERWARDS TO SHARE IN OUR SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL MOMENT, REFLECTING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR VETERANS AND THE ARMED FORCES THROUGHOUT OUR NATION'S HISTORY. SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING CORPORAL WILFREDO WILLIE JAUREGI. GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING GUS. MISTER MAYOR, DISTINGUISHED COMMISSIONERS, AS VETERANS DAY APPROACHES, IT IS FITTING THAT TODAY'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL [00:10:03] MOMENT RECOGNIZED THE GENERATION OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN OUR NATION'S ARMED FORCES. THE TRADITION OF AMERICAN MILITARY SERVICE BEGAN EVEN BEFORE THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON 14TH JUNE 1775. THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ESTABLISHED THE CONTINENTAL ARMY. UPLIFTING SOLDIERS FROM THE COLONIES UNDER THE COMMAND OF GEORGE WASHINGTON. THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND HAS ENDURED FOR MORE THAN 250 YEARS. FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT. AMERICANS HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO DEFEND OUR NATION, PROTECT OUR FREEDOM, AND SERVE AS A CAUSE GREATER THAN THEMSELVES. THEY HAVE SERVED DURING TIMES OF WAR AND PEACE, OFTEN FAR FROM THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES, ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITIES AND RISKS. MOST OF US WILL NEVER FULLY KNOW. VETERANS DAY TRACES ITS ORIGINS TO THE END OF WORLD WAR ONE. FIGHTING CEASED ON THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH. IN 1918. WHAT BEGAN AS ARMISTICE DAY LATER BECAME VETERANS DAY, A NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF HONORING ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. VETERANS DAY IS NOT ONLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER HISTORY, IT IS A REMINDER THAT THE FREEDOMS WE EXERCISE EACH DAY HAVE PROTECTED THROUGH THE COURAGE, SACRIFICE, COMMITMENT OF MILLIONS OF SERVICE MEMBERS. WE HONOR THOSE WHO LEFT THEIR FAMILIES, PLACED THEIR LIVES ON HOLD, ACCEPTED THE OBLIGATION TO SERVE WHEREVER THEY WERE NEEDED. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE MILITARY FAMILIES WHO STRENGTHENED SACRIFICES, SUPPORTED THEM THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE. HERE IN CORAL GABLES, VETERANS REMAIN AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. THEY'RE OUR NEIGHBORS, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THEIR SERVICE DID NOT ALWAYS END WHEN THEY RETURNED HOME. MANY CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE, CIVIC INVOLVEMENT, AND LEADERSHIP. AS WE COMMEMORATE AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY, WE REMEMBER THE STORY OF OUR NATION CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM THOSE WHO DEFENDED IT, FROM THE CITIZEN SOLDIERS OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY TO THE VETERANS AMONG US TODAY, EACH GENERATION HAS HELPED PRESERVE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, EXPERIMENT FOR THE ONE THAT FOLLOWED. THIS VETERANS DAY, LET'S PAUSE AND EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE NOT ONLY FOR THE SACRIFICES MADE IN THE PAST, BUT ALSO FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT THEIR SERVICE ALLOWS US TO ENJOY TODAY. TO ALL OF WHO HAVE WORN THE UNIFORM OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE, YOUR SACRIFICE, YOUR SERVICE TO OUR NATION. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THIS SEMI CONSENSUAL MOMENT. SEMPER FI. THROUGH THE MAYOR. SO, WILLIE, YOU'RE NOT YOU'RE NOT YET DISMISSED. AND YOU'RE CERTAINLY NOT AT EASE. SO STAND AT THE PODIUM. SIR. I, I, I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHAT A REAL PRIVILEGE AND HONOR AGAIN IT IS TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY. I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND YOUR RESUME STANDS ON ITS OWN. IT'S A TESTAMENT TO YOUR SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE FACT THAT YOU VOLUNTEERED TO BE ON THE DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD IS A TESTAMENT TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO SERVE YOUR CITY, THE CITY YOU LIVE IN AND THAT YOU LOVE. I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WILLIE GETTING ON THE DISABILITY ADVISORY BOARD, HE HE ASKED ME AGAIN, IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING A GOOD SOLDIER, HE SAID, COMMISSIONER, SORRY, COMMISSIONER. MARINE. OH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT. VERY, VERY GOOD A MARINE. AND IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING A GREAT MARINE, HE ASKED ME, WELL, EXACTLY HOW WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DISCHARGE THIS DUTY? DO YOU WANT ME TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, LOOK AND SEE HOW THE LAY OF THE LAND IS? DO YOU WANT ME TO WAIT FOR INSTRUCTION? I SAID, NO, WILLIE, I NEED YOU TO BE YOU. AND HE GOES, OKAY, SO I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD BACK, RIGHT? I'M GOING TO BE UNFILTERED. WILLIE. I'M LIKE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED ON THE BOARD. AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE CONVERSATION WE HAD. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I CAN TESTIFY AND SAY TODAY THAT DESPITE AND IN SPITE ALL THE AMAZING THINGS YOU'VE DONE AND THE THINGS YOU STILL ARE GOING TO BE DOING IN YOUR STORIED CAREER, I CAN, I CAN SAY WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF CONTRADICTION, YOU'RE A MAN OF AMAZING CHARACTER. SO, WILLIE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. AND IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME, WE HAVE A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION. I HAVE A SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE CHALLENGE COIN TO GIVE YOU, AS WELL AS A 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE COUNTRY. PIN AS WE TAKE A PHOTO, MISTER MAYOR, IF WE CAN. I JUST WANT TO ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS, MAUREEN. IT'S TRULY A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU HERE AGAIN, FAMILY FRIEND. NOT ONLY ARE YOU WELL RESPECTED VETERAN, BUT YOU'RE A WELL RESPECTED PROFESSIONAL AND MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR GIVING UP YOUR TIME. I KNOW YOU HAVE A VERY BUSY SCHEDULE, BUT THE EXPERTISE THAT YOU BRING TO YOUR TO THIS, TO THE SERVICE, TO THIS COUNTRY IS REALLY WELL RECEIVED AND RESPECTED IN OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY ON THE DISABILITY SERVICES BOARD. SO I [00:15:02] WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING UP OF YOUR TIME, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS WHO SIT ON THE 30 PLUS BOARDS THAT WE HAVE HERE. THIS IS WHAT MAKES CORAL GABLES SPECIAL. ONE OF THE MANY LAYERS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR CITY TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE THE BEST OF THE BEST. AND THAT'S WHAT THE MARINES ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY. IT'S TRULY A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S EXCITING TO SEE A PERSON LIKE YOU UP HERE SPEAKING, A RESIDENT WHO TAKES THAT MUCH PRIDE AND LOVE TO BE AN AMERICAN. YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. AND I SAY IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND I TELL MY STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY WHEN WE HAVE CLASS 5 OR 6 TIMES A DAY, THIS IS WHAT AMERICA IS MADE ON. THIS IS THE FABRIC OF WHAT AMERICA IS RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU. YOU KNOW, AN IMMIGRANT WHO COMES TO THIS COUNTRY, A PERSON WHO DELIVERS EXCELLENCE, EMBRACES THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE. AND THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE DISCUSS IN CLASS. EVERY TIME THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU, YOU'RE SEEING IT FRONT AND CENTER, NOT FROM ME. YOU'RE SEEING IT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S A SUCCESS STORY, AN AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, MARINE, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. GOD BLESS YOU. AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, SIR. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK FIVE MINUTE BREAK. AND DURING THOSE FIVE MINUTES, WE'RE GOING TO JUDGE THE ANNUAL GREAT PUMPKIN CHALLENGE FROM MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO SEE WHICH IS THE BEST PUMPKIN FOR THIS YEAR'S HALLOWEEN CONTEST. IF YOU GET A CHANCE WITHOUT TOO MUCH TURMOIL, WE'LL MAKE IT TEN MINUTES SO EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY IT. THE COMMISSIONERS ARE GOING TO VOTE, BUT OBVIOUSLY AT THE END, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AND TELL US WHICH IS THEIR FAVORITE PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN, OR THEY'RE DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY THAT WE VOTED, IT'S PERFECTLY FINE. IT'S PAR FOR THE COURSE WITH BEING UP HERE. SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK. DO THE MAYOR JUST ONE QUICK. YOUR STUDENTS ARE HERE WHILE WE'RE AWAY, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOUR STUDENTS TO SIT UP HERE IN THE DAIS AND TAKE A PHOTO I LOVE? I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I LOVE, THAT IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THEM HERE. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THEM SITTING UP HERE. PERFECT. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE 935, WE'LL BE BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS QUICK VOTE. AND THEN THE STUDENTS CAN COME UP HERE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN TAKE A FEW MR.E THE RESULTS FROM THE JUDGING OR ARE WE STILL WORKING ON THAT? I DO NOT HAVE THE RESULTS. JUST [A.-1. 26-2271 Presentation of a Proclamation celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Coral Gables.] RECEIVED THE LAST BATCH. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM A1 AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT ONE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. BIENVENIDA A LA SE ENCUENTRA AQUI CON NOSOTROS DE MÉXICO. COLOMBIA, PERU. BIENVENIDOS A CUANDO ESTAMOS CELEBRANDO EL DIA DE LA HISPANIDAD ES UN PLACER TENERLO AQUI EN LA CIUDAD DE CORAL GABLES. LA CIUDAD Q USTEDES TAMBIÉN LLAMAN SU HOGAR. ASI GRACIAS POR ESTAR POR AQUI. I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION INTO THE RECORD. WHEREAS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS OBSERVED ANNUALLY FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH TO HONOR THE HISTORIES, CULTURES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC AND LATINO AMERICANS WHOSE SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, CREATIVITY AND ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE HELPED SHAPE OUR NATION. AND WHEREAS THE 2026 THEME UNIDOS SOMOS MAS, TOGETHER WE ARE MORE CELEBRATES THE STRENGTH OF COMMUNITY AND THE SHARED CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE WHOSE DIVERSE [00:20:02] BACKGROUNDS, TRADITIONS, AND EXPERIENCES ENRICH OUR COUNTRY AND OUR CITY. BEAUTIFUL. AND WHEREAS CORAL GABLES HAS CONCEIVED BY WAS CONCEIVED BY ITS FOUNDER, GEORGE MERRICK, AS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY, A VISION REFLECTED TODAY IN ITS ENDURING CULTURAL CONNECTIONS, INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, AND THE MANY CONSULATES AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OFFICES THAT CALL OUR CITY HOME. AND WHEREAS HISPANIC AND LATINO RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, EDUCATORS, ARTISTS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY, CONTRIBUTING TO ITS PROSPERITY, PRESERVING ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE AND HELPING SHAPE ITS FUTURE. AND WHEREAS, THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO, PERU AND COLOMBIA, EACH BASED IN CORAL GABLES, STRENGTHEN OUR CITY'S CULTURAL AND BUSINESS TIES WITH THESE THREE NATIONS, PROMOTING CULTURAL EXCHANGE, TRADE, INVESTMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION WHILE SERVING THEIR CITIZENS AND DEEPENING THE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITIES. WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES IS HONORED TO WELCOME THE CONSULS GENERAL OF MEXICO, PERU AND COLOMBIA AS WE COMMEMORATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND RECOGNIZE HOW THESE RELATIONSHIPS GIVE MEANING TO THE THEME. TOGETHER, WE ARE MORE CONNECTING OUR CITY TO THE PEOPLE, TRADITIONS, AND ASPIRATIONS OF OUR NEIGHBORS THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS. AND WHEREAS, ALTHOUGH THE NATIONAL OBSERVANCE CONCLUDED ON OCTOBER 15TH, OUR APPRECIATION FOR HISPANIC AND LATINO HERITAGE AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE COMMUNITIES EXTENDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. NOW THEREFORE, I, VINCE LAGO AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15TH TO OCTOBER 15TH AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. LA BIENVENIDA A SI QUIEREN DECIR ALGUNAS PALABRAS ESTAN BIENVENIDOS A ACOMPANARNOS ACCA. WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE COUNCIL TO JOIN US, PLEASE LEVANTO CON NOSOTROS, POR FAVOR. UN UNAS PALABRAS TAMBIÉN. TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE HISPANIC HERITAGE WHICH IS WOVEN INTO OUR HISTORY, OUR CHARACTER AND DAILY LIFE OF CORAL GABLES. WE ARE PROUD THAT THE CONSULATES GENERAL OF SPAIN, COLOMBIA, MEXICO, PARAGUAY, PERU AND GUATEMALA CALL OUR CITY HOME TO OUR CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES. JOINING US TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, SWAMI, TO SU SERVICIO AND THE CONNECTIONS YOU HELPED BUILD BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS OBSERVED FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH. ALTHOUGH ALTHOUGH THE OBSERVANCE HAS CONCLUDED, THE CONTRIBUTIONS WE RECOGNIZE EXTEND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THEY ARE REFLECTED IN OUR RESIDENTS, OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR CULTURE, INSTITUTIONS, AND THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE HELPED MAKE CORAL GABLES THE COMMUNITIES TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR CONNECTION TO SPAIN IS VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. GEORGE MERRICK DREW INSPIRATION FROM SPANISH AND MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTURE, GIVING US LANDMARKS, PUBLIC SPACES AND STREET NAMES THAT REMAIN CENTRAL TO OUR IDENTITY OVER THE GENERATIONS. PEOPLE PEOPLE WITH ROOTS ACROSS LATIN AMERICA HAVE ADDED THEIR OWN TRADITIONS, TALENTS AND ASPIRATIONS TO THAT VISION. THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION, BUSINESS, PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE ARTS CONTINUE TO SHAPE OUR CITY. OUR CONSULAR COMMUNITY HELPS STRENGTHEN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. YOUR WORK CONNECTS PEOPLE, ENCOURAGES CULTURAL EXCHANGE, AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION. YOU ALSO PROVIDE IMPORTANT SUPPORT TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR OF YOUR COUNTRIES WHO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR REGION. WE VALUE YOUR PRESENCE HERE AND WANT TO BUILD ON THESE PARTNERSHIPS. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, I WELCOME YOUR IDEAS AND PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING NEXT YEAR'S HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH OBSERVANCE, SO THAT WE CAN SHARE MORE OF THESE STORIES WITH OUR COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CITY. WE ARE HONORED TO CELEBRATE THIS SHARED HERITAGE AND OUR ENDURING FRIENDSHIP. DE CORAZON, HONORABLE ALCALDE DE CORAL GABLES. VINCENT LAGO DISTINGUIDOS MIEMBROS DE LA CIUDAD AUTORIDADES PRESENTES INVITADOS ESPECIALES SENORAS Y SENORES. MUY BUENOS DIAS. QUÉ ALEGRIA HOY ESTAR AQUI CELEBRANDO ALGO Q NOS AUN PROFUNDAMENTE EL ORGULLO DE SER HISPANOS. MI AGRADECIMIENTO ESPECIAL A LA CIUDAD DE CORAL GABLES. AL ALCALDE VINCENT LLEGO A SU COMMISSION POR ESTE INVITATION POR LAS PUERTAS Y [00:25:06] POR RECONOCER EL INMENSO VALOR DE NUESTRA COMUNIDAD HISPANA NUESTRA HERENCIA ES MAS Q EL IDIOMA ES MUSICA ES TRADITIONS ES NUESTRA ESSENCIA ES NUESTRA HISTORIA Y ES AMOR PROFUNDO POR NUESTRAS RACES Q LLEVAMOS DONDE QUIERA Q VAYAMOS HOY QUIERO RENDIR HOMENAJE A TANTOS HOMBRES Y MUJERES Q LLEGARON A ESTA TIERRA CARGADOS DE SUENOS DEJANDO ATRAS SU FAMILIA RECUERDOS AFECTOS, PERO HAMAS PERDIENDO LA ESPERANZA COMO CONSUL GENERAL CENTRAL DE COLOMBIA EN MIAMI. ME SIENTO PROFUNDAMENTE ORGULLOSA DE NUESTROS COLOMBIANOS DE NUESTROS CON NACIONALES DE SU TALENTO DE SU TRABAJO Y DE TODO LO CAPERTON A ESTA GRANDE NATION. CREO FIRMEMENTE NUESTRO CONSULADO ES UN CONSULADO DE PUERTAS ABIERTAS Y LO ESTAMOS CONSTRUYENDO MAS CERCANO MAS HUMANO Y MAS AL SERVICIO DE NUESTROS NACIONALES ALCALDE, LARGO CUENTA CON NOSOTROS CUENTA CON ESTE CONSULADO Y CON LOS COLOMBIANOS PARA SEGUIR CONSTRUYENDO PUENTES DE AMISTAD DE TRABAJO DE CULTURA Y DE OPORTUNIDADES ENTRE COLOMBIA Y CORAL GABLES. QUIERO TERMINAR CON UNA CONVICTION Q LLEVA EN MI CORAZON. NUESTRAS RAICES NOS DAN IDENTIDAD NUESTROS SUENOS NOS DAN A LAS Y NUESTRA UNION NOS HACE MAS GRANDES QUÉ VIVA COLOMBIA, NUESTRA PATRIA MILAGRO DEL PRESIDENTE ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA QUÉ VIVA NUESTRA COMUNIDAD HISPANA Y QUÉ DIOS BENDIGA ESTA GRANDE NATION? MUCHAS GRACIAS. PALABRAS. GRACIAS POR VENGA. VENGA PAGAR POR FAVOR. BUENO NO HAY PREPARAR UNAS PALABRAS. PERO ES LA MEJOR MANERA SIMPLEMENTE QUISIERA COMO CONSUL GENERAL DEL PERU EN MIAMI. AGRADECERLES POR ESTA INVITACION PARA ESTA CONMEMORACION DEL MES DE LA HISPANIDAD AGRADECIDO SIEMPRE EL SOPORTE Q TENEMOS DE PARTE DE LA CIUDAD DE CORAL GABLES, DONDE TENEMOS EL HONOR EL PRIVILEGIO DE ESTAR REALMENTE ES UNA CIUDAD MUY APROPIADA PARA TENER UN CONSULADO Y DE HECHO EL EDIFICIO Q TENEMOS LA TIENDA CON EXCELENCIA Q ES EL OBJETIVO DE NUESTRA LLEGADA A LA CIUDAD DE MIAMI. SOMOS EL CONSULADO DEL PERU MAS GRANDE EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS Y EL MEJOR INFRAESTRUCTURA TIENE Y ESO QUIERO AGRADECERLES SINHA ALCALDE LLEGO TAMBIÉN REITERALM NUESTRA PLENA DISPOSICION PARA SEGUIR TRABAJANDO JUNTOS PARA HACER MAS ACTIVIDADES PARA SEGUIR CONSTRUYENDO ESTA MITAD DE PERU Y CORAL GABLES. MUCHAS GRACIAS. GRACIAS. HABLAR PORQUE EL TIEMPO ERA CORTO Y AHI Q APROVECHAR. SIN EMBARGO, SI YA ES COMPANERAS MIS COMPANERAS HICIERON USO DE LA PALABRA. TAMBIÉN EL REITERO EN ESTA BONITA MANANA EL AGRADECIMIENTO A LAS AUTORIDADES AL ALCALDE LARGO DE LOS REPRESENTANTES LOS COMISIONADO Y A TODOS SE DISTINGUE A LOS HISPANOS EN ESTE DIA TAN IMPORTANT LO CUAL LOS HISPANOS SIEMPRE HACE Q SOBRE SALGAN ES SOBRE TODO SU CULTURA. EL TRABAJO SOMOS RESPONSABLES Y AGRADECEMOS MUCHO A LA CIUDAD DE CORAL GABLES A LA UNION AMERICANA. Q SIEMPRE SON ENTRE LOS LATINOS, LOS HISPANOS Y LOS HABITANTES DE ESTE GRAN PAIS, EL PUEBLO ENTRE LOS PUEBLOS. SOMOS HERMANOS Y ESO ES POSIBLE Q TAMBIÉN TENGAMOS MAYOR FORTALEZA. POR ESO AMIGAS Y AMIGOS HOY QUIERO HACER PATENT LA AGRADECIMIENTO A LAS AUTORIDADES DE CORAL GABLES OR ESTA DISTINCION TAN IMPORTANTE. QUEREMOS DECIRLES Q VAMOS A RESPONDER SIEMPRE A USTEDES Y Q [00:30:08] LA MISION DE LOS CONSULADOS DEL MUNDO Y DE LAS EMBAJADA ES SOBRE TODO ATENDER A SU PUEBLO ES A HEROINAS ESOS HÉROES Q LLEGAN Y HABITAN TERRITORIOS PARA SER LOS MAS PROSPEROS Y MAS GRANDES MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS. BEFORE WE TAKE A PHOTO AND WE HAVE SOME SMALL GIFTS FOR YOU, REGALO. GRACIAS. AND I WANT TO JUST MENTION IT WAS TRULY A PLEASURE TO MEET WITH OUR NEW CONSULATE FROM COLOMBIA THIS PAST WEEK. IT WAS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AND YOU ARE AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN. WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION. AHORA CON SU EQUIPO DE LAS GRACIAS. SIEMPRE USTEDES ESCOGIDO LA CIUDAD DE CORAL GABLES. TENEMOS UN EVENTO JUNTOS SE LLAMA PARA BARRANQUILLA CELEBRANDO BARRANQUILLA Y LAS GRACIAS POR LA CIUDAD DE CORAL GABLES Y LO ESTAN HACIENDO Y LOS CAMBIOS PARA COLOMBIA TAMBIÉN MUY IMPORTANTE IMPORTANTE PARA COLOMBIA. PERO PARA TODOS UNIDOS Y PARA HACER SU ALCALDE. TAMBIÉN LAS GRACIAS A NUESTRO CONSUL DE MÉXICO. TENEMOS ESTA SEMANA. EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS A BELKIS HA HECHO UN LABOR INCREIBLE CON SU EQUIPO A SI CRECIENDO MILES Y MILES DE PERSONAS VIENEN A CELEBRAR LA CULTURA DE MÉXICO Y PARA CELEBRAR POR LO HACE NOSOTROS NOSOTROS ENTRE MÉXICO Y LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. GRACIAS Y AHORA NUESTROS AMIGOS DE PERU. QUÉ SE PUEDE DECIR DE PERU SIEMPRE SIEMPRE ESTAN APOYANDO A LA CIUDAD CORAL GABLES. SIEMPRE VAN A TODOS LOS EVENTOS TIENEN LOS MEJORES RESTAURANTES DE CORAL GABLES. TE DIGO DIGO SINCERAMENTE. TODO ESTAMOS TRABAJANDO JUNTOS PARA VER SI HACEMOS UNO DE ESTOS EVENTOS CULTURALES JUNTOS. YO CREO SERIA UN BUEN PUNTO PARA LAS PERSONAS DE PERU. ESTE GRAN PARIS DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS PUEDEN VENIR A DISFRUTAR EN FAMILIA PORQUE LO MAS IMPORTANTE. ESTO ES PARA CELEBRAR LA CULTURA, PERO TAMBIÉN PARA CELEBRAR LO HACE NOSOTROS AMERICANOS JUNTOS. LAS GRACIAS TOMAMOS UNA FOTO. SEGURO HABLAR SOBRE POR FAVOR CON SUS SI PUEDO EXPLICA UN POCO SOBRE EL EVENTO A USTEDES ESTAN HACIENDO CON LA CIUDAD CORAL GABLES Y INVITAR A TODA LA COMUNIDAD, POR FAVOR. ESTAMOS ABIERTO GRACIAS SOLAMENTE PARA INVITAR EL DIA 30. UNO VAMOS A CELEBRAR EL DIA DE MUERTOS AQUI EN LA PLAZA EN ESTA BELLISSIMA CIUDAD DE CORAL GABLES. Y PUES ESTAN INVITADOS TODAS Y TODOS, POR FAVOR. ACOMPANARNOS ES DE LAS CUATRO DE LA TARDE A LAS NUEVE DE LA NOCHE CON Y VOY A HACER UN HONOR CONTAR COMO SIEMPRE CON LA PRESENCIA DE NUESTRO DE NUESTRO ALCALDE. MILAGRO. GRACIAS. MUCHAS GRACIAS, COMMISSIONER. BUENOS DIAS. PRIMERO MUCHISIMAS. GRACIAS POR ESTAR AQUI PRESENT Y POR SER PARTE DE UN DIA TAN ESPECIAL TAMBIÉN EL ULTIMO ANO EL ANO PASADO. YO UN EVENTO EL MES DE LA HISPANIDAD DONDE MUCHOS USTEDES PARTICIPARON Y LES QUIERO AGRADECER. ESO TAMBIÉN PORQUE OBVIAMENTE LOS LATINOS TENEMOS UN LUGAR MUY ESPECIAL IN CORAL GABLES, CORAL GABLES. PERO IN MIAMI, MIAMI SE HACE DE ESTOS PAISES LATINOS TAMBIÉN LES QUIERO DECIR Q ESTOY MUY HONRADA. Q ESE ES AQUI REPRESENTANDO A COLOMBIA Y TAMBIÉN Q YO SOY LA PRIMERA COLOMBIANA EN LOS ULTIMOS CIEN ANOS EN ESTA CONDICION TAMBIÉN ES UN HONOR GIGANTESCO. QUÉ MUCHISIMAS. GRACIAS POR ESTAR AQUI SIGAMOS CELEBRANDO TODO ESTE MES. PUEDO. [00:36:43] I HAVE. A LITTLE. PROBLEM. NOS VEMOS. MUCHAS GRACIAS. MUCHAS GRACIAS. NO. ESTAMOS TENEMOS. OF COURSE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WELL, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO ITEM EIGHT TWO. I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THE [JUDGING OF THE ANNUAL GREAT PUMPKIN CHALLENGE] WINNERS OF THE PUMPKIN CONTEST. I THINK THIS IS THE LARGEST TURNOUT WE'VE EVER HAD. NINE PUMPKINS. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. VERY INGENIOUS. THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME. ALL DESERVE TO WIN. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE EMPLOYEES IN THIRD PLACE. PUBLIC WORKS, GREEN SPACE. WELL DONE. IN SECOND PLACE, COMMUNITY RECREATION. BY THE WAY, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO KNOW, THIRD PLACE IS NUMBER SEVEN. SECOND PLACE IS NUMBER SIX. AND IN FIRST PLACE, NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC WORKS. WELL DONE. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL. AND HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WE'LL BREAK THE DOUBLE DIGITS AND WE'LL GET TO TEN OR MORE PARTICIPANTS. SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR [A.-2. 26-2280 Official Welcome of the Berlin Police Department Command Staff.] PARTICIPATING. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ITEM EIGHT TWO OFFICIAL WELCOME OF THE BERLIN POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMAND STAFF. CHIEF. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU ALL. PART OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO ARE PEOPLE [00:40:05] THAT HAVE COME FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OCEAN IN BERLIN. THEY ARE IN A MASTER'S POLICE PROGRAM, WHICH IS PART OF THEIR STRUCTURE. THEY ARE HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS WITHIN THE BERLIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE ASKED THEM SO BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO USE GOOGLE TRANSLATE TO SPEAK IN ENGLISH, SINCE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING FOR THE LAST 20 MINUTES EXCEPT FOR THE FOOD PART. BUT WE. WE HAVE ALREADY TOLD THEM THAT THEY ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO BE IN FRITZ AND FRANZ FOR 15 MINUTES. SO WE DON'T LOSE THEM. BUT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TO HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU ALL AS WELL. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS CAPTAIN VINCENT SMITH FROM THE BERLIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE. WE'RE WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS FOR ALL. GABLES POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS GIVEN US A GREAT EXPERIENCE YESTERDAY. THEY'RE CONTINUING TO GIVE US A GREAT TOUR. AND WHATEVER THEY DO THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE TO BE HERE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAME WITH ME, MY COLLEAGUES, FIRST OF ALL, CAPTAIN THILO TESKA, ALSO FROM BERLIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CAPTAIN ISMAEL ZUMA FROM THE FEDERAL OR THE STATE POLICE OF THE STATE OF BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG. AS THE CHIEF SAID, IT'S PART OF OUR TRAINING PROGRAM AS TO GO UP IN RANKS AND BECOME GET A MASTER'S DEGREE TO DO A ABROAD. TO LOOK AT FOREIGN POLICE SYSTEMS AND. WE WERE THANKFUL TO GET AN INVITATION FROM CORAL GABLES POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ACTUALLY COME HERE. AND IT'S BEEN OUR SHORT BUT INTENSIVE TIME HERE. AND YEAH, TAKE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE VERY UNBELIEVABLE HERE. MAYBE TAKE THEM BACK HOME, PROPOSE THEM TO OUR COMMANDERS IN CHIEF, WHICH HOPEFULLY THEY WILL TAKE A LITTLE HINT, BUT WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT. AND YEAH, WE'RE JUST VERY THANKFUL TO BE HERE. WE'RE THANKFUL THAT THE CORAL GABLES POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HOSTING US IN THE WAY THEY ARE, AND THEY ARE JUST YEAH, KIND OF A BIG POLICE FAMILY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. AND SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. IT'S TRULY A PRIVILEGE. AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE AN INTERCHANGE EXCHANGE AMONGST YOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND I KNOW YOU DO SO ALSO. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN BE A RESOURCE. AND THIS DOESN'T END JUST HERE, THAT THIS CONTINUES BECAUSE AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN USE OR DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES THAT YOU'RE LEARNING ACROSS THE POND, LET'S SAY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ENGAGE AND WE CONTINUE FOSTERING THESE RELATIONSHIPS. SO COUNT ON US AS A RESOURCE. COUNT ON US AS SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTS YOU. WE SUPPORT LAW AND ORDER HERE UNEQUIVOCALLY. THERE IS NO QUESTION. THERE IS NO DISCUSSION HERE ABOUT DEFUNDING THE POLICE. WE ARE CELEBRATING SOME OF THE LOWEST CRIME RATES IN THE CITY'S HISTORY AS A RESULT OF THE HARD WORK OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT YOU SEE HERE WHO HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT IN THE SAME COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE WHO AND A COMMUNITY WHO SUPPORTS LAW AND ORDER AND SUPPORTS YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. TO THE MAYOR. YES. I WANTED TO WELCOME YOU ALL. ACTUALLY, A YEAR AGO LAST WEEK, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF VISITING, NOT BERLIN, BUT I DID GET TO VISIT AACHEN AND THE RELICS OF CHARLEMAGNE. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE, AND I DID HAVE AN INTERACTION WITH A FEW POLICE OFFICERS THERE. I COULDN'T FIND PARKING ANYWHERE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GUIDE ME TO PARKING AND IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE. YOU HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY. THE PEOPLE ARE SO HOSPITABLE. EVEN WHEN WE DID NOT SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE, WE. THEY MADE AN EFFORT TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND ME AND FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND THEM, AND IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. UNFORTUNATELY, I ONLY GOT TO SPEND 30 MINUTES IN GERMANY. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH TO BRUSSELS AND I STOPPED IN, IN AACHEN JUST TO, TO MAKE A QUICK STOP. BUT A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND I HOPE I GET TO GO TO BERLIN SOON AND, AND EXPERIENCE THAT AS WELL. SO WELCOME TO CORAL GABLES. AND WE HOPE THAT GOING FORWARD, WE CONTINUE TO DO THINGS WITH WITH YOUR COUNTRY, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT IN COMMON BETWEEN SOME OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IN IN GERMANY AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND WE'D LIKE TO KEEP THAT DOOR OPEN AS POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR FUTURE COMMISSIONS. THIS IS MY LAST COMMISSION MEETING, BUT I HOPE THAT OUR CITY CONTINUES TO WORK WITH WITH YOURS THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. SO AND I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS, CAPTAIN, I GOT TO SAY, YOUR ENGLISH IS AMAZING. YOU MUST HAVE SOMEBODY FROM TENNESSEE OR OHIO AND YOUR FAMILY, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY GOOD, YOU KNOW, OR MICHIGAN. RIGHT. AND WELCOME TO YOU ALL, WILLKOMMEN TO IN CORAL GABLES, RIGHT. I, I'VE TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY THROUGH GERMANY. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE COUNTRIES. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO WISMAR IN THE FORMER EAST GERMANY, BUT NO. OKAY. THAT'S OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, VERY COOL. AND I THINK I, I WANT TO THANK THE CHIEF, YOU KNOW, CHIEF HUDAK, BECAUSE I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HOSTING THESE MEN [00:45:06] FROM BERLIN AND ALSO ELSEWHERE IN GERMANY, BECAUSE IT'S A REMINDER TO US ALL THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL POLICE ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE SO WE CAN RAISE OUR FAMILIES AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, COMMUNE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AND JUST ENJOY LIFE, RIGHT? AND SO TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE COUNTERPARTS LIKE THESE MEN, IT'S A REMINDER THAT WE ALL SHARE THE SAME VALUES AND RIGHTS AND DESIRES. NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, WE ALL WANT TO BE SAFE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL POLICE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR HOME COUNTRIES. SO AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG YOU'RE HERE, BUT WILLKOMMEN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. YEAH. WELL THE MANAGER DOESN'T KNOW IS I ALREADY PUT MY TRAVEL REQUEST TO GO BACK WITH THEM TO BERLIN. SO THERE IS A PRESENTATION, MAYOR, THAT THEY HAVE. AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT INTERESTING. I MEAN, WE CAN DO THE PICTURE. THIS WASN'T BOUGHT. THE INDIVIDUAL CAPTAIN MADE THAT HIMSELF AND BROUGHT IT FOR THE COMMISSIONER. SO THAT'S THE PRESENTATION TO THE. SO WE CAN DO THE PHOTO NOW IF YOU WANT. YEAH. OKAY. THANK. I WAS TRYING TO GET THE PERMISSION. SUBTITLES ON IT COULD HAVE DONE THAT. GOOGLE TRANSLATE. WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM A3, A [A.-3. 26-2268 Presentation of a Resolution of Condolence to the bereaved family of Operator Tracy Bowen.] PRESENTATION OF A RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY OF OPERATOR TRACY BOWEN, CHIEF. COMMISSIONER, MAYOR. AGAIN, IT'S YOU. WE ARE A FAMILY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS. AND AS WE SIT HERE AND DO THE BUSINESS OF THE DAY AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THE CIRCLE OF LIFE HITS HOME AND OUR FAMILY. TODAY WE'RE REMEMBERING ONE OF OUR OWN WHO TOUCHED SO MANY PEOPLE WITHIN THIS DEPARTMENT, FROM WHEN SHE GOT HERE IN 1991 THROUGH 2021 AND CAME BACK AGAIN. TRACY'S INDOMITABLE ENGLISH BROGUE WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD LISTEN TO MELODICALLY AT NIGHT ON THE RADIO, AND SHE HANDLED SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT SHE NEVER MET. BUT SHE TOUCHED. SHE WAS A REMARKABLE FRIEND, AUNT, PARTNER TO SO MANY PEOPLE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. SHE REALLY WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT THAT KEEPS THE LIFEBLOOD GOING. I KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE ALL GOING TO MISS HER, AND THERE'S A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT SHE HAS TOUCHED IN SO MANY WAYS, AND HER PARTNERS, AND THEY'VE ASKED ME TO SAY A FEW THINGS ON THEIR BEHALF OF WHAT THEIR REMEMBRANCE WAS OF TRACY. SO IF YOU WOULD INDULGE ME, MAYOR, JUST TO TALK ON BEHALF OF SOME OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS. LISA PLACENTIA, ANOTHER STALWART, SAID, TRACY MICHELLE BOWEN, I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE NO LONGER HERE. TRACY WAS SOMEONE I DEEPLY LOVED. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING HER FOR 35 YEARS, AND SHE WAS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS. THROUGHOUT ALL THE YEARS. I NEVER HEARD TRACY COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING, WHETHER IN HER LIFE, WORK, OR PERSONAL LIFE. SHE REMAINED TRUE TO HERSELF AND OTHERS DURING HER BATTLE. SHE WAS STEADFAST WITH THE SAME STRENGTH, FORTITUDE, AND DIGNITY SHE ALWAYS DISPLAYED. INSTEAD, SHE NEVER ALLOWED DIFFICULT TIMES TO CHANGE WHO SHE WAS. SHE FACED EVERYTHING WITH POSITIVITY AND ALWAYS [00:50:05] FOUND A WAY TO MAKE THE PEOPLE AROUND HER FEEL BETTER. THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL ALWAYS ADMIRE ABOUT HER. AFTER GETTING TO KNOW HER MOTHER, PHYLLIS, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY BUT IS WATCHING, I CAN SEE WHERE TRACY GOT SO MUCH OF HER KINDNESS, HER STRENGTH, HER MOTHER, SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PERSON. I FEEL COMFORTED TO KNOW THAT TRACY IS COMPLETELY LOVED BY HER STRONG, POSITIVE, KIND, FUNNY, WITTY, AND SHARP AS A WHIP. THAT WAS TRACY, ALWAYS THERE WHEN I NEEDED HER AND NEVER ASKED ANYTHING IN RETURN. THANK YOU FOR LOVING MY CHILDREN AND FOR NEVER FORGETTING THEM. THEY TRULY MISS YOU. YOUR FRIENDSHIP WAS A GIFT ON THAT I WILL CARRY WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. YOU'RE INCREDIBLY MISSED. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME WHAT FRIENDSHIP REALLY MEANS. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART. SOAR WITH THE ANGELS. MY FRIEND LISA. MONICA DINESCU ANOTHER PERSON THAT WORKED ALONGSIDE OF HER. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING ALONGSIDE TRACY SINCE 2017 UNTIL HER RETIREMENT IN 2021, AND THEN AGAIN WHEN SHE CAME BACK PART TIME FROM 2022 TO 2026. TRACY WAS TRULY A SPECIAL PERSON. SHE WAS VIBRANT, KIND, RESPECTFUL AND ALWAYS PUTTING OTHERS BEFORE HERSELF NO MATTER WHAT SHE HAD BEEN GOING THROUGH PERSONALLY, SHE ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE A SMILE ON HER FACE AND KEEP HER SPIRITS HIGH. A TRUE REFLECTION ON WHAT IT MEANS TO TAKE THE HEART AND THE DESERTS AND THE GARDEN DESERTS AND THE GARDENS AND DISPATCH. SHE'LL BE FOREVER REMEMBERED FOR SAYING THE WORD OR DESCRIBING THE WORD GARAGE, BECAUSE SHE SAID IT IN A WAY THAT TO THIS DAY, ALL I CAN HEAR IS THE GARAGE. AND YOU SAY IT ON THE RADIO AND YOU TRY AND CORRECT IT. DO YOU MEAN THE GARAGE? NO, I MEAN THE GARAGE. I WAS A VICTIM OF THAT A FEW TIMES THROUGHOUT MY CAREER AS WELL. SHE WAS PERMANENTLY DRILLED INTO MY BRAIN AND THAT WAS DRILLED INTO A LOT OF OUR BRAINS. TRACY ALSO HAD THE TRADITION OF BRINGING BACK BAGS FULL OF BRITISH SNACKS AND CANDY WHEREVER SHE VISITED THE UK. SHE NEVER FORGOT THE FAVORITE SHERBET LEMONS FOR MONICA. ONE HALLOWEEN, SHE WENT OUT OF HER WAY TO BUY HER OWN VEGAN CHOCOLATES, SO I WOULD ENJOY THE HOLIDAY WITH EVERYONE ELSE ON THE SHIFT. THOSE CHOCOLATES ARE STILL MY FAVORITE TO THIS DAY. THESE MAY SEEM LIKE SMALL GESTURES TO SOME, BUT IT SAYS SO MUCH ABOUT TRACY. SHE WAS THOUGHTFUL, GENEROUS, AND SHE MADE PEOPLE FEEL INCLUDED AND CARED FOR. AUDREY MIRANDA, ONE OF HER LONGTIME FRIENDS. ONE OF THE NICKNAMES THAT TRACY HAD WAS BRACEY. BRACEY WAS OUR ROCK, THE KIND OF PERSON WHO ALWAYS HONEST AND KIND. SHE WAS THE ONE WHO WOULD ALWAYS DEPEND ON THE ONE WHO WOULD COVER YOU AND THE PD IF YOU WERE ON A SECOND SHIFT. THE KIND OF PERSON ALWAYS REMEMBERED YOUR BIRTHDAY AND THE AND YOUR KIDS BIRTHDAYS TOO. HER FRIENDSHIP WAS 100% GENUINE, AND SHE WAS UNAPOLOGETIC IN THE BEST WAY. SHE WORKED HARD, BUT SHE ALSO PLAYED HARD TRAVELING GAMBLING AT HARD ROCK. AND LET'S NOT FORGET, SHE LOVED BINGO. SHE WILL ALWAYS BE. SHE. SHE WILL MISS THE JOY OF BEING AROUND HALLOWEEN, CHRISTMAS, AND HOW SHE WOULD ALWAYS DECORATE THE CENTER FOR US TO ENJOY. MOST OF ALL THE LOVE OF PIGS STITCH ANYTHING DISNEY NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND THE SOFT SPOT OF ORANGE FLAVORED CHOCOLATE GREETING HER TO ME. HER GREETING TO ME EVERY DAY WAS HOW YOU DOING, BABY GIRL? AND RIGHT NOW, BRACEY, I'M MISSING YOU DEARLY. I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER YOU IN MY HEART AND MY LOVE. AUDREY. AND FINALLY FROM AMY AVILA. IF THERE IS ONE THING ABOUT TRACY, IT WAS THAT SHE WAS UNAPOLOGETICALLY HERSELF. SHE HAD THIS EFFORTLESSLY COOL AND LAID BACK PERSONALITY AND THE CONFIDENCE ABOUT HER THAT I ALWAYS ADMIRED. REMEMBER HER BEING A TRAINEE AND LISTENING TO THE WAY THAT SHE COMMUNICATED WITH OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS. SHE WAS SO STRAIGHTFORWARD AND HAD A WAY OF GETTING HER FROM THE POINT ACROSS, WAY OF GETTING HER POINT ACROSS. THAT WOULD LEAVE ME TRYING NOT TO LAUGH. LITTLE DID SHE KNOW, I WAS TAKING MENTAL NOTES AND I WOULD THINK ABOUT TRACY AND IT RUBBED OFF ON ME. OUR FRIENDSHIP SPARKED OVER SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS BEING FROM BRITAIN AND MY LOVE FOR HARRY POTTER. WHAT STARTED AS A SHARED CONVERSATION TURNED INTO A FRIENDSHIP I'LL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR. TRACY WAS SOMEONE I COULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING. CONVERSATIONS WITH HER CAME NATURALLY. EVERY SHIFT WE WORKED TOGETHER, SHE FILLED WITH LAUGHTER. THERE WAS TRULY [00:55:01] A NEVER A DULL MOMENT. OUR BIRTHDAYS WERE EXACTLY NINE DAYS APART, AND EVERY YEAR, WITHOUT FAIL, TRACY WOULD FIND A WAY TO INCORPORATE A LITTLE HARRY POTTER MAGIC INTO MY BIRTHDAY. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THOUGHTFUL GESTURES THAT SHOWED HOW MUCH SHE PAID ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE THINGS. THOSE GIFTS WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART, AND NOT BECAUSE OF WHO THEY WERE, BUT BECAUSE OF WHO THEY CAME FROM. I WILL EVER CHERISH OUR CONVERSATIONS, ENDLESS LAUGHTER, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR FRIENDSHIP. TO HAVE KNOWN TRACY AS TRULY A GIFT. AND WHILE WE ARE DEEPLY MISSED, I WILL ALWAYS CARRY A PEACE IN MY HEART. I THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR ALLOWING ME TO READ THOSE. AND I WANTED TO DO THIS FOR FOR ONE REASON. TRACY WAS ONE OF THOSE INDOMITABLE FORCES. SHE WAS THAT VOICE ON THE OTHER END OF THE 911 CALL, AND SHE WAS THE VOICE ON THE OTHER END OF THE RADIO THAT KEPT US GOING AND GETTING US THE INFORMATION. TRACY AND I SPENT A LOT OF HOURS WITH HER, BECAUSE IF THE MANAGER REMEMBERS WHEN WE FIRST CREATED THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER AND WE CONSOLIDATED BOTH POLICE AND FIRE DISPATCH, THERE WERE NO CALL TAKERS. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF US THAT WERE ANSWERING CALL TAKERS. SO AS A I CAN'T SAY YOUNG DETECTIVE, I WOULD ACTUALLY WORK THE MIDNIGHT SHIFT WITH WITH TRACY AND THE REST OF THE INDIVIDUALS ANSWERING CALLS. THESE WOMEN THAT WORK TOGETHER SPEAK FOR A LIVING. AND THEY WANTED ME TO READ THESE TO YOU BECAUSE THEY WANTED YOU TO KNOW THE TRUE ESSENCE OF THE VOICE ON THE OTHER END OF THAT PHONE. AND SHE WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED MOUNTAINS AND HELPED PEOPLE UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM. NOW I KNOW GOD SMILES ON TRACY. WELL, I HAVE TO ADMIT, AS CHIEF, WHEN HALLOWEEN CAME AROUND AND SHE WAS IN A COSTUME, I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS. I WILL TELL YOU THAT I. I KNOW GOD'S WATCHING OVER HER BECAUSE ONE DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I'M NOT A REAL BIG SOCIAL MEDIA PERSON, I GOT A A DIRECT MESSAGE FROM SOMEBODY ASKING ME IF I WAS THE CHIEF OF POLICE. AND IN ENGLAND ON VACATION, SHE LOST HER WALLET. SHE HAD RETIRED, LOST HER WALLET IN ENGLAND, THE INDIVIDUAL SAW THE ID CARD THOUGHT TO REACH OUT TO ME. SHE WAS STILL IN ENGLAND. I CONTACTED HER THROUGH FACEBOOK AND I SAID, HEY, YOU'RE MISSING YOUR WALLET AND YOUR MONEY. SHE GOT EVERYTHING BACK AND SHE ATTRIBUTED IT ALL TO GOD. AND FOR AS MUCH AS YOU THINK TRACY WAS JUST THIS EFFERVESCENT FORCE, SHE HAD A TOUCH WITH ALL OF US AND GOD, AND SHE GOT TO KEEP HER QUID OR POUNDS OR WHATEVER'S IN THE WALLET. SO WE WE LOVED TRACY, AND WE THANK. AND WE KNOW HER MOTHER AND SISTERS ARE IN VERY DIFFICULT TIMES NOW LOSING HER. BUT SHE FOUGHT THE CANCER THE SAME WAY. SHE FOUGHT FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, EVERYBODY IN THIS CITY THAT'S EVER CALLED OVER HER CAREER. SO THE CIRCLE OF LIFE HAS COME FULL CIRCLE IN CORAL GABLES AGAIN, AS OUR FAMILY. AND WE'VE LOST A FEW. YOU KNOW, WE WERE HERE JUST THE OTHER DAY TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON. GOD DOES TAKE THE NICE ONES LIKE TO EARLY, IN MY OPINION. AND TRACY WAS ONE OF THEM, SO I. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CONDOLENCES AND ALLOWING US TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF ONE OF THOSE SILENT QUEENS THAT HAVE MADE US ALL STRAIGHT SO FAR. THANK YOU. CHIEF. I'D LIKE TO READ ONTO THE RECORD A QUICK RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. TRACY BOWEN DEVOTED NEARLY FOUR DECADES OF HER LIFE TO PUBLIC SAFETY, BEGINNING HER CAREER AS A POLICE DISPATCHER WITH FLORIDA CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 1987 BEFORE JOINING THE CITY BEAUTIFUL IN 1991. AND WHEREAS TRACY SERVED THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES AND AFTER RETIRING IN 2021, RETURNED IN MARCH OF 2022 AS A PART TIME POLICE AND FIRE DISPATCHER, CONTINUING HER DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY UNTIL HER PASSING. AND WHEREAS EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS SERVE AS THE CRITICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN PEOPLE EXPERIENCING EMERGENCIES AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS COMING TO THEIR AID PERFORMING WORK IN WHICH A CALM VOICE, SOUND JUDGMENT AND THE CAREFUL HANDLING OF A CALL CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. WHEREAS TRACY HANDLED COUNTLESS HIGH PRIORITY INCIDENTS WITH CARE, PROFESSIONALISM AND COMPOSURE, PROVIDING REASSURANCE TO RESIDENTS WHILE HELPING PROTECT THE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS WHO RELIED UPON HER GUIDANCE. AND WHEREAS TRACY'S EXCELLENCE AND COMMITMENT WERE RECOGNIZED IN 2016, WHERE SHE WAS SELECTED AS CITY'S OPERATOR OF THE YEAR, AND WHEREAS, TRACY WILL ALSO BE REMEMBERED FOR HER UNMISTAKABLE BRITISH ACCENT, GENEROSITY, SENSE OF HUMOR, AND DEVOTION TO HER EXTENDED WORK FAMILY, INCLUDING HER WILLINGNESS TO WORK LONG SHIFTS AND HOLIDAYS SO HER COLLEAGUES COULD SPEND [01:00:02] TIME WITH HER LOVED ONES. AND WHEREAS TRACY BOWEN LEAVES AN ENDURING LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE, FRIENDSHIP AND COMPASSION THAT WILL REMAIN WITH HER COLLEAGUES AND THE COMMUNITY SHE FAITHFULLY SERVED. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY COMMISSION OF THE BY DECREE OF THE COMMISSION OF CITY, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, THAT THE CITY COMMISSION OF CORAL GABLES EXTENDS ITS DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO TRACY'S FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AND EXPRESSES PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY. SO, CHIEF, JUST VERY BRIEF, I WE WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH ON EMAIL, ON PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA, AND I ASKED THE MANAGER TO HIGHLIGHT THIS YOUNG LADY'S LIFE IN OUR IN OUR NEWSLETTER. BECAUSE UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN BEHIND THE RECEIVING END OF ONE OF THESE CALLS, LIKE I HAVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THAT WAS 13 YEARS AGO, YOU REALLY YOU REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE. DISPATCHERS GO THROUGH. EVERYBODY GIVES. AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO OUR OFFICERS, I. I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH HOW MUCH I RESPECT AND HOW MUCH THIS COMMISSION BACKS THE BLUE AND THE CITY BACKS THE BLUE. BUT A LOT OF THE DISPATCHERS DON'T GET THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE. THEY DON'T. YOU MAKE THAT CALL ON THAT PHONE CALL IS ALWAYS PICKED UP. AND IN MY CASE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I HAD AN INTRUDER AT THE FRONT DOOR TRYING TO BREAK IN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. THE POLICE WAS THERE WITHIN 30S, BUT IT FELT LIKE 30 MINUTES. THE PERSON THAT KEPT ME CALM WAS A CITY OF CORAL GABLES. DISPATCHER THERE IS NO I'M SICK. I CAN'T COME IN. THERE IS NO A. I'M GOING TO TAKE A VACATION. YOU GOTTA WORK, YOU GOTTA WORK. AND I'VE BEEN HERE. AND THANK GOD THAT MY COLLEAGUES, MY COLLEAGUES NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH IT. BUT THE CHIEF. OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CLERK, THEY REMEMBER THE DAYS WHERE WE HAD SERIOUS ISSUES WITH DISPATCHERS AND WE HAD ISSUES WITH SERIOUS ISSUES WITH WITH GETTING PEOPLE HERE TO TAKE THIS JOB. IT'S A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT JOB, AND IT'S A JOB THAT DOES NOT GET THE NECESSARY ATTENTION. SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY, YOU KNOW, PUT A NAME TO A FACE, YOU'RE PUTTING A NAME TO A VOICE BECAUSE NOBODY WILL PROBABLY EVER MEET ANY OF THESE DISPATCHERS. DON'T MEET A POLICE OFFICER ON THE STREET, PULL YOU OVER FOR A TICKET, YOU CALL HIM IN DISTRESS, YOU RUN INTO HIM AT A COFFEE SHOP. YOU SEE THE UNIFORM. YOU KNOW ALL THE YOUNG KIDS, THEY RUN TO THE POLICE OFFICERS. YOU KNOW, YOU BUY THEM A CUP OF COFFEE. YOU TELL THE POLICE OFFICERS HERE AND EVEN THE FIREFIGHTERS, EVERYWHERE THEY GO, PEOPLE ARE BUYING THEM COFFEE OR BREAKFAST OR JUST SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. BUT THE DISPATCHERS DON'T GIVE THE CREDIT. THEY DON'T GET THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE. SO, YOU KNOW, REMEMBERING HER LIFE AND REMEMBERING HER FOR DECADES, FOR DECADES OF COMMITMENT TO THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL AND TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, SHE NEVER WAVERED. AND IT'S AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEING, AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEING THAT DESERVES A LOT MORE RECOGNITION THAN WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE. WITH A SIMPLE RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCES, OR BY SPENDING SOME TIME AT A COMMISSION MEETING TO REALLY REMEMBER HER AND HER DEDICATION TO THIS COMMUNITY. BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, GOD FORBID, GOD FORBID YOU EVER GOT TO MAKE A PHONE CALL. AND IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD. I MEAN, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, I'VE MENTIONED IT BEFORE HERE. GOD FORBID YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT PHONE CALL. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PHONE CALLS YOU EVER HAVE TO MAKE IN YOUR LIFE. AS YOU WAIT FOR SOMEBODY TO COME AND POTENTIALLY SAVE YOUR LIFE. AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY FALLS UPON THE DISPATCHER WHO PICKS UP THAT PHONE CALL. BY THE WAY, THERE'S NO BATHROOM BREAKS. THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING TO TAKE AN HOUR LUNCH. I'LL COME BACK. OH, IT'S. AND TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, AND THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THE EXCELLENT. NOT THAT IT WASN'T BEFORE THAT WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF HAVING AN ACCREDITATION FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION. AND EVERYTHING THAT WE WENT THROUGH WITH THE MANAGER WAS BECAUSE OF. AND A LARGE PART OF THAT WAS WHAT TRACY BROUGHT, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR MANAGER DIAZ AND EVERYBODY ELSE. AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE AT ZERO VACANCIES, THAT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN AT ZERO VACANCIES AS I'VE BEEN A COP HERE. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SOME OF THE WORK THAT SHE DID AND THE SHIFTS THAT SHE HANDLED. AND YOU JUST I JUST WANT YOU TO TOUCH UPON IT REALLY QUICKLY. AND THE WORK THAT YOU AND THE MANAGER DID TO GET TO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE HERE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE HAD SERIOUS ISSUES WITH WITH DISPATCHERS HIRING DISPATCHERS. WELL, IT GOES BACK TO WHEN I TELL YOU WHAT TRACY WENT THROUGH WHEN WE WENT FROM THE POLICE AND FIRE HAD THEIR OWN DISPATCHERS. AND THEN WHEN WE COMBINED IT AT THE OLD STATION, WHEN WE COMBINED THAT THE COMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE STAFFING AND THIS IS BACK IN 1993, 94, THE THE MEN AND WOMEN WORKING IN COMMUNICATION WORKED 12 HOUR SHIFTS, SIX DAYS A WEEK FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS BECAUSE WE [01:05:04] COULDN'T HIRE PEOPLE. WE WERE WE BROUGHT IN CHILD CARE ISSUES, WHATEVER WE COULD DO. SOME OF US THAT COULD ANSWER THE PHONES WOULD. ONCE WE WENT THROUGH ALL THAT, WHEN THE MANAGER AND I KIND OF LOOKING AT IT, WE HAD OTHER NOT THE MANAGERS DECISIONS. THERE WERE SOME CUTS AND SOME OF OUR STAR WARS GOT LET OUT OF THE BUDGET BY FINANCIAL DECISIONS. SO WE WERE UNDERSTAFFED FOR THE BETTER PART OF 14 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN OR I'M SORRY, SINCE 2014 WHEN I WAS THE CHIEF, WE HAVE FINALLY, WITH THE DIRECTOR AND THE WORK OF THE OF THE WOMEN AND MEN THAT WE HAVE NOW. I MEAN, WE ARE AT ZERO VACANCIES AND WE STILL CAN'T GIVE PEOPLE TIME OFF. SO WE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE PEOPLE. AND TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS, THE ORIGINAL INFLUENCERS OR COPS, THE TRUE PEOPLE. AND YOU, YOU'VE YOU'VE TOUCHED IT SO ELOQUENTLY. THAT VOICE ON THE PHONE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER FOREVER AND THE WAY THEY HANDLED IT. NOW I CAN PLAY THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST OF SOME OF THE PHONE CALLS THEY DO HAVE TO LISTEN TO FROM SOME OF OUR MORE EXCITABLE RESIDENTS. THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD IT'S RECORDED, AND WE'VE GOTTEN MORE APOLOGIES THAN WE'VE HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT SIT UP ALL NIGHT WAITING FOR THAT CALL, AND IT IS MORE STRESSFUL THAN WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE OFFICERS. WE GET A CALL. WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WHEN WE'RE DRIVING THERE. WE RELY ON OUR COMMUNICATIONS PEOPLE. AND I TELL THIS ALL THE TIME, EVERY TIME ONE OF OUR OPERATORS, OUR EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS, PUSHES THAT BUTTON AND ANSWERS THE CALL, THEY DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A MOTHER TRYING TO SAVE A CHILD OR SOMEBODY COMPLAINING BECAUSE SOMEBODY THREW SOMETHING AND THEIR SWALE. AND THE MOMENT THEY UNHOOK AND THEY CALL AGAIN, THEY'VE GOT TO PUT EVERYTHING OFF AND ANSWER IT AGAIN. IT IS SOMETHING I WILL TELL YOU HONESTLY, I'VE DONE IT. I COULDN'T DO THAT EVERY DAY. SO YES, THEY ARE TRULY OUR HEROINES AND HEROES THAT GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE. AND THEY ARE THE POLICE OFFICERS LIFELINES ON THE RADIO. SO THANK YOU SIR. JUST SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AS YOU WERE TALKING. CHIEF. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ACTIVITIES FOR ADULT ACTIVITY CENTER. MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A TRACY BOWEN BINGO TOURNAMENT AT THE ADULT ACTIVITY CENTER TO HONOR HER. I DON'T HAVE TO TURN AROUND BECAUSE I CAN SEE A BUNCH OF WOMEN. I CAN SEE THEM. I CAN SEE SMILING ABOUT THAT AS WELL. BUT I THINK THAT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN HONOR HER. YEAH, I THINK WE CAN DO THAT. GOOD. ALL RIGHT. THE MAYOR? YES. JUST JUST ONE MORE COMMENT. IT GETS DOWN TO THE WORDS THAT YOU SPEAK TO EVERYONE GETTING SWORN INTO AS A POLICE OFFICER OR A DISPATCHER. IT'S HOW WE MAKE YOU FEEL. HOW DO YOU MAKE THE RESIDENTS FEEL? AND YOUR DEPARTMENT. MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU. YOU'RE THERE, YOU LISTEN, YOU'RE PATIENT. YOU GET THE INFORMATION FROM A PERSON WHO IS IN AN ANXIETY ATTACK, GOING THROUGH A STRESSFUL MOMENT, AND YOU GET IT TO THE OFFICERS. MY HAT'S OFF TO YOU. YOU MAKE PEOPLE FEEL MUCH BETTER AND THE IMPACT YOU MAKE IS TREMENDOUS. SO TO THE FAMILY, MY DEEP CONDOLENCES AND THANK YOU FOR LENDING TRACY TO US. THANK YOU. TAKE A PHOTO TO PRESENT IT TO THE MANAGER AND HER STAFF. THEY WOULD PLEASE. YES, PLEASE. [01:10:11] I'LL JUST TURN THE MIC ON. ARE WE READY FOR A FOR. WE'LL CALL A [A.-4. 26-2185 Congratulations to Coral Gables Dentistry on receiving the Keep Coral Gables Beautiful 2026 Commercial Beautification Award.] FOR. CONGRATULATIONS TO CORAL GABLES DENTISTRY ON RECEIVING THE KEEP CORAL GABLES BEAUTIFUL 2026 COMMERCIAL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD. GOOD MORNING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. SO WE'RE HERE AGAIN TO PRESENT OUR SECOND WINNER OF OUR 2026 COMMERCIAL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD TO CORAL GABLES DENTISTRY. AND I WANT TO WELCOME DOCTOR LAURA DAVILA AND DOCTOR CRISTINA OSORIO FOR JOINING US TODAY AND CONGRATULATING THEM ON RECEIVING THE COMMERCIAL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD. THEY WERE ACTUALLY NOMINATED BY A RESIDENT WHO HIGHLIGHTED THEIR BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED GARDEN AROUND THEIR PROPERTY, THEIR CLEAN SIDEWALKS AND THEIR PARKING AREA. YOU COULD SEE THE PHOTOS ON THE SCREEN OF THE FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESS. THEY'RE LOCATED AT 3326 PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD, AND THEY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PARKING AREA OF BEAUTIFYING THEIR SPACE. AND I THINK IS A REAL EXAMPLE OF HOW WE IN THE CITY, BEAUTIFUL, LIKE OUR BUSINESSES WANT TO PROMOTE THE BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED AREA. SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THEM TO SAY A FEW WORDS. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN FOR WINNING THE COMMERCIAL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD. YEAH, THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE. WE'RE TOTALLY HONORED. AND US AT CORAL GABLES DENTISTRY, WE BELIEVE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE SET OUT TO PROVIDE IS REALLY A REFLECTION OF THE CARE WE PROVIDE TO OUR OWN PATIENTS. WE REALLY AIM TO PUT PATIENTS AT EASE. WE PROVIDE A VERY COMFORTABLE KIND OF ENVIRONMENT, AND IT REALLY JUST DOES REFLECT, LIKE EVERYTHING WE'VE SEEN HERE TODAY, CORAL GABLES REALLY IS BEAUTIFUL. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CHARM, IT'S REALLY THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE. SO WE'RE HONORED. WE TOGETHER, DOCTOR OSORIO AND I MAKE SMALL STRIDES IN PROVIDING THIS BEAUTIFUL ATMOSPHERE. AND WE THANK YOU ALL. AND WE THANK YOU. WE'RE PROUD BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS OF THIS GREAT CITY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU GUYS DO. WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. DO WE HAVE A. COMMISSION? WE HAVE A WE CAN PRESENT THEM WITH THE PLAQUE THAT YOU HAVE THE PLAQUE. OKAY. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE JOE UP FROM OUR SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR MEMBERS OF OUR SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CODE, WHO ALL PLAY A ROLE IN RECOGNIZING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND WITH COMMERCIAL BEAUTIFICATION. MR. FIDEL? YES. HI. HOW YOU GUYS DOING? I'M NOT HERE TO PROMOTE THEM, BUT THIS THIS PRACTICE IS FAR AND BEYOND, YOU KNOW, EXPERTISE AND THE DESIGN OF THE OF THE OF THE OFFICE IS SPECTACULAR. IT'S THE SHARPEST, COOLEST OFFICE I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. YOU GET AN IPOD. WHEN YOU SIT DOWN, YOU HAVE A VIEW OF OF AN ISLAND ABOVE YOUR HEAD. THE COLORS OF THE OF THE WALL, THE DRAPES, THE THESE BEAUTIFUL ORCHIDS ALL AROUND THE PROPERTY. IT'S IT'S A MARVELOUS EXPERIENCE. SO THAT'S. OH, AND I HOPE YOU GUYS DON'T MIND. GORDON SOKOLOV IS THE ONE WHO ORIGINATED THIS PRACTICE, BY THE WAY. OKAY, A GOOD PIECE OF HISTORY. SO WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT IT AND TAKE A PHOTO. YES. RIGHT. YOU APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU DOCTORS. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU. IT'S BEEN SOME TIME. THE BUILDING LOOKS BETTER THAN EVER. BETTER THAN EVER. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SHINING A POSITIVE LIGHT ON THE CITY. OUR PLEASURE. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DESERVED. ALL THAT GREAT. [01:15:04] ONE OF THEM HAD TO COME UP GOOD. MOVING ON TO ITEM A FIVE [A.-5. 26-2243 Presentation of a Proclamation declaring October 19-25, 2026 as "Florida City Government Week" in Coral Gables.] PRESENTATION OR PROCLAMATION DECLARING OCTOBER 19TH THROUGH THE 25TH 2026 AS FLORIDA CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK IN CORAL GABLES. GOOD MORNING MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING ALL. MY NAME IS LINA SANTIAGO, CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE CITY MANAGER. LAST WEEK, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE WE PLAY IN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHILE WE'RE HAPPY TO CELEBRATE WITH AN ICE CREAM SOCIAL, WE KNOW THAT WHAT TRULY MAKES OUR CITY GREAT IS OUR TEAM MEMBERS. IT'S THE DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM AND HARD WORK OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY COMMITTED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS, FROM THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO THE PROJECTS WE COMPLETE. IT TAKES A TEAM WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR CITY MOVING FORWARD. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY MANAGER AND OUR ENTIRE TEAM, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WORK. WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE EMPLOYEES WHO MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO READ A PROCLAMATION AND TO THANK YOU, LENA, AND THE REST OF THE TEAM, OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK TO MAKE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL, SO AMAZING. AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND, HAVING BECOME AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, VERY PROUD TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT A TOP NOTCH, EXEMPLARY GROUP OF PEOPLE AMAZING, TALENTED, COMMITTED, WORKING FOR US. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE BLESSING, AND I'M VERY HONORED TO WORK ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU. WHEREAS CITY GOVERNMENT IS THE GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO MOST OF ITS CITIZENS AND THE ONE WITH THE MOST DIRECT, DAILY IMPACT UPON ITS RESIDENTS. AND WHEREAS, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ITS CITIZENRY, MAKING THEIR CITY THEIR HOME. AND WHEREAS CITY GOVERNMENT IS ADMINISTERED FOR AND BY ITS CITIZENS AND IS DEPENDENT UPON PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO AND UNDERSTANDING OF ITS MANY RESPONSIBILITIES. AND WHEREAS, FLORIDA CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK OFFERS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY STAFF TO SPREAD THE WORD TO ALL CITIZENS OF FLORIDA THAT THEY CAN SHAPE AND INFLUENCE THIS BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. AND WHEREAS, THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND ITS MEMBER CITIES HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO TEACH OUR CITIZENS ABOUT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES. NOW, THEREFORE, I. VINCE LARGO, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 19TH THROUGH 25, 2026 AS FLORIDA CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK IN CORAL GABLES. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. [A.-6. 26-2267 Presentation of a Proclamation declaring November 15, 2026 as "America Recycles Day" in Coral Gables.] I KNOW I'M MOVING ON TO ITEM A6 PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION DECLARING NOVEMBER 15TH, 2026 AS AMERICA RECYCLES DAY IN CORAL GABLES. MADAM VICE MAYOR. I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THE RECORD, AND I KNOW HOW NEAR AND DEAR RECYCLING IS TO YOUR DEPARTMENT'S HEART, AS WELL AS TO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE PRESENT HERE TODAY. WHEREAS AMERICA RECYCLES DAY IS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY ON NOVEMBER 15TH TO HELP INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RECYCLING AND CONSERVATION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. AND WHEREAS, ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER, OR INCOME, HAVE THE RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES CONTINUES TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AIMED AT REDUCING LITTER AND INCREASING RECYCLING THROUGH THE KEEP CORAL GABLES BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM, WHICH OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS HAS HOSTED MORE THAN 335 EVENTS WITH OVER 40,000 PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS, RESULTING IN A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 1.1 MILLION POUNDS OF LITTER. [01:20:05] WHEREAS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD, KEEP CORAL GABLES BEAUTIFUL HAS HOSTED BIANNUAL RECYCLING DRIVE THROUGH EVENTS SINCE 2016, HELD EACH APRIL IN NOVEMBER, DIVERTING MORE THAN 735 POUNDS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE. E-WASTE PAPER, PLASTIC BAGS AND CLOTHING FROM LANDFILLS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. AND WHEREAS IN 2022, THE CITY ALSO LAUNCHED THE BUSINESS RECYCLING DRIVE THROUGH TO PROVIDE LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH A CONVENIENT OPPORTUNITY TO RECYCLE PROPERLY, COLLECTING MORE THAN 9,000 POUNDS OF E-WASTE AND 12,000 POUNDS OF PAPER WITHIN THREE YEARS, AND ADVANCING SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS AMONG CORAL GABLES BUSINESSES. WHEREAS, IN 2021, THE CITY LAUNCHED YEAR ROUND BATTERY RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS, WHICH TO DATE HAS COLLECTED MORE THAN 5,900 POUNDS OF BATTERIES FOR PROPER RECYCLING. AND WHEREAS THROUGH NEXT TREKS PLASTIC FILM RECYCLING PROGRAM, THE CITY HAS EARNED TWO HONORARY RECYCLED MATERIAL BENCHES FOR SUCCESSFULLY RECYCLING OVER 2,000 POUNDS OF PLASTIC BAGS AND FILM. AND WHEREAS THE CITY CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN CONTAMINATION RATE BELOW 8% IN ITS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL RECYCLING PROGRAM, THROUGH ONGOING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. WHEREAS, THE CITY BEGAN COMPOSTING IN APRIL 2026 TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, ALREADY COLLECTING 10,000 POUNDS OF FOOD WASTE AND HOSTING A COMMUNITY WORKSHOP TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPOSTING. AND NOW, THEREFORE, IVENS LAGO AS MAYOR OF CITY OF CORAL GABLES, ALONG WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 15TH, 2026 AS AMERICA RECYCLES DAY IN CORAL GABLES. SO I'M GOING TO ADD TO THAT. YOU KNOW, THE SAVINGS, THE MONETARY SAVINGS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR OUR GARBAGE FEES, BECAUSE 24 TO 25% OF WHAT GOES IN YOUR GARBAGE BAG IS FOOD WASTE. AND WE CAN DECREASE OUR GARBAGE FEES BY RECYCLING MORE OF THIS FOOD WASTE INTO PRODUCTIVE SOIL, WHICH THERE'S A SHORTAGE OF. SAME IS TRUE WITH THE PLASTICS AND GLASS AND OTHER THINGS. THE LESS WE DUMP IN A LANDFILL, THE LESS WE HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR GARBAGE FEES. SO ENCOURAGE THAT AS WELL. AND I WANTED TO ADD TO THAT WE WERE ALSO RECYCLING POLITICAL SIGNS. AND MR. ANDERSON, I'D ASK YOU TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THAT AND YOUR STATEMENTS NOW. AND ALSO WE DO IT WITH COMMUNICATIONS. SURE. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS MATT ANDERSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MOBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY AND THE CITY'S CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HONORING AND PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION FOR AMERICA RECYCLES DAY. IT IT'S A GREAT WAY TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE CREATED IN THE CITY. AND I THINK IT'S REALLY WHAT SETS US APART IN CREATING THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, DIVERT THAT WASTE FROM GOING TO THE LANDFILL. AND IT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE IDEAS HAVE COME TO US FROM RESIDENTS, WHICH HAS BEEN WHICH HAS BEEN GREAT, AND THEY'VE BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED. AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUCCESS BEHIND A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING COMPOSTING, WHICH WE JUST HIT 10,000 POUNDS LAST WEEK SINCE WE STARTED IN APRIL. SO AGAIN, JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO OUR CITY AND PARTICIPATING IN THESE PROGRAMS. AND VICE MAYOR, TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO BE ACCEPTING THE POLITICAL SIGNS AT OUR NEXT RECYCLING DRIVE THROUGH ON NOVEMBER 14TH. SO RESIDENTS THAT COME OUT TO THOSE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO BRING THOSE. WE ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, REUSING THEM. YOU CAN USE THEM FOR ART PIECES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. THERE'S A LOT OF CREATIVE WAYS TO BE ABLE TO REUSE THE POLITICAL SIGNS, BUT IF NOT, YOU CAN BRING THEM OUT TO OUR RECYCLING DRIVE THROUGH. I'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO WASTE MANAGEMENT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND IF WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT THEM, WE CAN TAKE THEM. IT NEEDS TO BE A SPECIALIZED RECYCLING, SO I NEED TO LET THEM KNOW WHEN WE'RE ON OUR WAY. BUT WE WILL BE BRINGING THEM UP TO WASTE MANAGEMENT TO GET PROCESSED. SO YES, HIGHLY ENCOURAGE OUR RESIDENTS THAT HAVE THE POLITICAL SIGNS TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM TO OUR RECYCLING DRIVE THROUGH ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14TH FROM 9 TO 12 IN THE CITY HALL PARKING LOT. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR, AS ALWAYS, GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND YOUR TEAM. AGAIN, WE SEE THE DIVIDENDS OF IT AND THE EFFORTS THAT ARE MADE BY THE RESIDENTS HERE SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE RECYCLING THAT THEY PUT INTO THE RECYCLING BINS ARE CLEAN. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE, LIKE THE VICE MAYOR SAID, ONE OF THE LOWEST CONTAMINATE. I THINK WE HAVE THE LOWEST CONTAMINATION RATE OF ANY CITY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. SO AGAIN, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS EFFORTS AND BELIEVING IN SUSTAINABILITY AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF RECYCLING. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LET'S TAKE A PHOTO. [A.-7. 26-2250 Recognition of the Fire Department's Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) Accreditation.] [01:25:57] MOVING ON TO ITEM A7, RECOGNITION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES, THE CAS ACCREDITATION A7. CHIEF. GOOD MORNING. MORNING, MAYOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE COMMISSION. SO AS I'VE STATED ON SEVERAL INSTANCES IN WHICH I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU, IS THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY STRIVING TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE SERVICE EXCELLENCE, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S BEING MEASURED. WHAT WE KNOW WE'RE DOING EVERY DAY IN THE STREETS OF CORAL GABLES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF OUR SYSTEMS AND OUR SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE. SO, AS YOU KNOW, THIS PAST SPRING, WE RECEIVED OUR FIRE ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE CFA OR COMMISSION ON FIRE ACCREDITATION INTERNATIONAL FOR THIS WILL BE NOW OUR 20TH YEAR. FOR 35 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN AN ISO CLASS ONE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THEN MOST RECENTLY NOW WE'VE ACHIEVED COMMISSION ON AMBULANCE ACCREDITATION. SO IF YOU LOOK AT ALL THREE EVALUATION TOOLS, CFA IS A 3000 FOOT VIEW OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CITY'S FUNCTIONS, ITS BUDGET, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. ISO CLASS ONE IS THE GOLD STANDARD OF FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS. AND WHAT WE DO AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CAST ACCREDITATION IS THE GOLD STANDARD IN EMS. I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE WITH THIS ACHIEVEMENT, WE ARE ON SOME RAREFIED AIR. THERE'S ONLY 17 FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE NATION'S 30,000 FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE A TRIPLE ACCREDITATION. AND THAT'S NOT TO MENTION, AS CHIEF HUDAK SAID, THAT WE'RE STRIVING FOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS ACCREDITATION AS WELL. SO WITH THAT, I INVITE DIVISION CHIEF FLETCH TO BRING UP AND TALK TO HIM ABOUT ACCREDITATION. CHIEF FLETCHER, GOOD MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M ANDREW FLETCHER, THE DIVISION CHIEF OF EMS. I STAND HERE THIS MORNING EXCITED AND PROUD. TODAY WE CELEBRATE A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE FOR GABLES. FIRE RESCUE HAS BECOME THE FIRST FIRE DEPARTMENT BASED EMS AGENCY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO AN ACCREDITATION FROM THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES, KNOWN AS CASS. CASS ACCREDITATION IS RECOGNIZED AS THE NATIONAL GOLD STANDARD FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES, WHERE LESS THAN 2% OF EMS AGENCIES NATIONWIDE REACH CASS ACCREDITATION. OF THOSE, THERE ARE LESS THAN 40 FIRE BASED EMS AGENCIES THAT HAVE REACHED THIS ACCREDITATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS ACHIEVEMENT CARRIES A VERY PERSONAL MEANING. WHEN SOMEONE CALLS 911, THEY MAY BE FACING THE MOST FRIGHTENING MOMENT OF THEIR LIFE. THEY TRUST THAT THE FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS ARRIVING AT THEIR DOOR WILL BE PREPARED, CAPABLE AND COMPASSIONATE. THIS ACCREDITATION REINFORCES THAT TRUST BY DEMONSTRATING THAT OUR DEPARTMENT MEETS RIGOROUS NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE, EVALUATED BY AN INTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF FOUR PRIMARY AREAS AND 147 STANDARDS, SUCH AS CLINICAL CARE, MEDICAL OVERSIGHT, SPECIALIZED TRAINING EQUIPMENT, RIGOROUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, AND VALIDATED BY OUTSIDE PROFESSIONALS WHO INTERVIEW OUR CREWS. EARNING THIS RECOGNITION REQUIRED THE DEDICATION ACROSS OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION, IT REFLECTS. IT REFLECTS THE PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS, THE GUIDANCE OF OUR FIRE CHIEF AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR, THE HARD WORK OF OUR OFFICERS AND SUPPORT STAFF, AND EVERY PERSON WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EFFORT SHOULD TAKE PRIDE IN THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT. BEING THE FIRST FIRE DEPARTMENT EMS AGENCY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO EARN CASS ACCREDITATION IS AN HONOR AND A RESPONSIBILITY. WE MUST CONTINUE IMPROVING, HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, DELIVERING THE CARE OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES. TODAY, WE CELEBRATE THAT WORK THAT BROUGHT US HERE. RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO EVERY RESIDENT AND VISITOR WHO DEPENDS ON CALLS. FIRE RESCUE OUR PIO HAS [01:30:04] PREPARED A VIDEO ON CASS TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ACHIEVEMENT. PLEASE PLAY THAT. THANK YOU. EVERY DAY, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT ANSWER THE CALL TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN SECONDS MATTER, OUR RESIDENTS DEPEND ON PROFESSIONAL, COMPASSIONATE, AND LIFE SAVING EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE. TODAY, THAT COMMITMENT HAS EARNED NATIONAL RECOGNITION. THE CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS ACHIEVED ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES, KNOWN AS CAS. CAST. ACCREDITATION IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. IT INVOLVES A COMPREHENSIVE, INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF PATIENT CARE, PERSONAL TRAINING, OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES, SAFETY AND CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THIS RECOGNITION REPRESENTS CONFIDENCE IN THE CARE THEY RECEIVE DURING THEIR MOST CRITICAL MOMENTS. FROM A CARDIAC EMERGENCIES TO TRAUMATIC INJURIES. OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS ARE TRAINED, EQUIPPED AND PREPARED TO DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL CARE. THIS MILESTONE IS A REFLECTION OF THE DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM AND TEAMWORK OF EVERY MEMBER OF OUR DEPARTMENT. IT IS A COMMITMENT THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND ANY SINGLE EMERGENCY RESPONSE. WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE THE FIRST CAS ACCREDITED EMS AGENCY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. THIS IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S EMBLEMATIC OF THE COMMITMENT, DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS MORE THAN AN ACCREDITATION. IT'S OUR PROMISE TO THE COMMUNITY, A PROMISE OF EXCELLENCE, DEDICATION AND COMPASSION AND CARE. CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE. EVERY CALL, EVERY DAY. CHIEF. SO JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT, OUR CITY, AND ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND DEDICATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PROPER TOOLS AND THE SUPPORT TO DO THE JOB THAT WE DO EVERY DAY. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU. WELL DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN. YOU ALWAYS SHINE A BRIGHT LIGHT ON THE CITY AND IT'S A POSITIVE ONE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD [A.-8. 26-2254 Recognition of Engine 1 and Rescue 1 for their response to an electrocution call.] WORK AND CONTINUING TO AGAIN, ONLY REFINE YOUR APPROACH AND GET BETTER. CHIEF, YOU WANT TO DO ITEM EIGHT AND THEN WE'LL. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE. SURE. SO FOR TO PRESENT ITEM EIGHT, I ASK ASSISTANT CHIEF JONES TO GO AHEAD AND TELL US ABOUT ITEM EIGHT EIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. AS WE LOOK AT THIS CAST ACCREDITATION, I BELIEVE SOMETIMES WHEN WE SEE THAT ACCREDITATIONS, IT CAN LOOK LIKE A STICKER ONLY. BUT TODAY I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU A LIFE SAVING AWARD FOR CREW THAT RESPONDED TO AN ELECTROCUTION CALL THAT CAST ACCREDITATION BRINGS IT TO LIFE. IT QUANTIFIES AND QUALIFY HOW WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT WAS CUTTING A TREE IN A BACKYARD, AND WHILE CUTTING A TREE, HE HIT A A ELECTRIC LINE, AND HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ELECTROCUTED. OUR CREWS ARRIVED WITHIN THREE MINUTES, AND WITHIN THOSE THREE MINUTES BEING ON SCENE, THEY FOUND THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS PULSELESS AND APNEIC. THEY WERE ABLE TO DO CPR, ADMINISTER A QUICK ELECTRIC SHOCK. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HIM BACK. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO WRITE A TRAUMA CENTER AND SUBSEQUENTLY WALKED OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. IT IS BECAUSE OF THE COURAGEOUS EFFORTS OF THIS CREW THAT THESE. THIS INDIVIDUAL IS PROBABLY ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THANKSGIVING THIS YEAR. CELEBRATE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS WITH HIS FAMILY AND. AND THIS IS THE WORK THAT IS DONE EVERY SINGLE DAY BY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THIS LIFESAVING AWARD, CAPTAIN KYLE DURHAM DRIVER. ENGINEER. NICO FERNANDEZ. FIREFIGHTER. GONZALEZ. FIREFIGHTER. FRANCINA. ACTING. LIEUTENANT. OBREGON. FIREFIGHTER. LEDESMA AND FIREFIGHTER. CORONADO. AND WE WILL HAVE SOME WORDS BY CAPTAIN DURHAM. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS. CITY MANAGER. ATTENDEES. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT, JUST STILL TO TWO MINUTES OF YOUR TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS STORY, BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE. SO I'VE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS. I'VE SERVED IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS AND GOT NUMEROUS AWARDS AT THIS PODIUM. AND I FEEL VERY BLESSED. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS AWARD IS THE BEST ONE BECAUSE THIS ISN'T ABOUT ME. THIS IS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT. SO WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS BASICALLY, I SPEND 30 [01:35:05] MINUTES EACH DAY WITH MY GUYS TRAINING, TRYING TO PERFECT OUR CRAFT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE AS I GET OLDER, I REALIZE I CARE ABOUT THE STATE THIS DEPARTMENT IS IN, AND WHEN I LEAVE, I LEAVE IT IN A BETTER PLACE. SO I SPEND ONE TIME A DAY FOR 30 MINUTES TRYING TO PERFECT MY CRAFT. THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THIS STORY IS THESE GUYS THAT STAND BEFORE ME, THESE ARE NOT THE GUYS I WORK WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS. THESE ARE GUYS I SHARE A CUP OF COFFEE WITH IN THE MORNING, AN OFF GOING ROLL CALL, AND YET THE CALLS STILL GO OUT. THIS WASN'T MY SHIFT TODAY, BUT I TOOK IT AND ELECTROCUTION CALL CAME OUT FOR A RESCUE. WE WERE IN THE ENGINE COMPANY. WE GRABBED IT AS WELL, KNOWING THAT WE WERE CLOSER THAN THE RESCUE WAS. MY DRIVER GOT ME THERE WITHIN THREE MINUTES. THE GUYS ON THE BACK OF MY TAILBOARD NAVIGATED RUGGED TERRAIN IN THE BACK OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE THROUGH REBAR CONSTRUCTION DITCHES AND A DOWNED POWER LINE TO FIND A MAN LAYING LIFELESS ON THE GROUND. THEY GRABBED HIM, MOVED HIM TO A SAFE AREA, RIPPED HIS SHIRT OPEN AND PLACED DEFIBRILLATION PADS ON THE PATIENT WITHIN ONE MINUTE. IT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE. PATIENT WAS IN VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION, WHICH IS PULSELESS. I GRABBED THE MEDICATION BOX JUST BECAUSE I REALIZED HOW MUCH WAS GOING TO ENTAIL TO GET THIS PERSON BACK. AND BY THE TIME I OPENED UP THE MEDICATION BOX, MY CREW HAD ALREADY SAVED HIS LIFE BY GIVING A LIFE SAVING SHOCK AND DEFIBRILLATING HIM INTO A PULSE. RESCUERS SHOWED UP SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, STABILIZING THE PATIENT, TAKING HIM THROUGH THE REBAR CONSTRUCTION BACK TERRAIN AND EXPEDIENTLY TAKING HIM TO THE HOSPITAL TRAUMA ALERTING HIM, SAVING HIS LIFE. I TELL YOU THIS ALL, JUST BECAUSE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE STRUCK BY A PRIMARY POWER LINE FALL 15FT INTO REBAR AND CONSTRUCTION IN A DITCH AND WALK OUT IN A COUPLE DAYS LATER IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY. SO I WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS, MAYOR, COMMISSIONER, CITY MANAGER, AND ATTENDEES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE FAITH IN YOUR CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT. YOU'RE DOING LIFE SAVING AMAZING THINGS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THAT'S IT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. SO THE MAYOR AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT. CHIEF. I KNOW THAT I'M INTERRUPTING A FEW WORDS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SAY, BUT I'VE ALWAYS SAID, RIGHT, THAT YOU KNOW CORAL GABLES BRAVEST, RIGHT? IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. YOU'RE PROVING YOU'VE EARNED THAT NAME, YOU'VE EARNED THAT DESCRIPTION. BUT BASED ON THESE ACCREDITATIONS, INCLUDING THE THIRD ONE YOU'VE ASKED, YOU'VE ADDED TO YOUR MANY OTHER HONORS, MAKES IT CLEAR CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THE BEST OF THE BEST. SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR US. THANK YOU SIR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE GIRLFRIENDS AND WIVES THAT WERE HERE AND SOME OF THE MOST WELL BEHAVED BOYS I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE, BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T EVEN HEARD FROM THEM THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE DAY. [B.-1. 26-2240 Regular City Commission Meeting of September 29, 2026.] MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM B-1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2026. I'LL MOVE IT. WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL IN [B.-2. 26-2287 Regular City Commission Meeting of October 13, 2026.] FAVOR? AYE. MOVING ON TO ITEM B-2 REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS OCTOBER 13TH, 2026. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE IT. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. YES. MR. MAYOR. MAYOR, BEFORE WE START THAT, I'D LIKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE HERE. OF COURSE, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, AS YOU CAN CONCLUDE, YOUR SERVICE FOR THE CITY COMMISSION. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE TIME COMMITMENT YOU'VE MADE TO CORAL [01:40:01] GABLES. REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE HAVE STOOD ON ISSUES, AND WE'VE HAD SOME STRONG DIFFERENCES, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT PUBLIC SERVICE MEANS TIME AWAY FROM FAMILY WORK AND PERSONAL COMMITMENTS. WE THANK YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT COME WITH SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION, WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A CERAMIC REPLICA OF CITY HALL, A REMINDER OF YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF CORAL GABLES. COMMISSIONER. I'M TOUCHED. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PREPARE TO SAY, AND I AM CAUGHT OFF GUARD. BUT YOU KNOW, I CAN HELP YOU OUT WITH THAT. YOU HAVE SOME REMARKS YOU CAN GIVE ME. WHERE'S MARTHA? WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A VIDEO RECORDED FOR THE CITY'S CENTENNIAL, IN WHICH COMMISSIONER FRAN FERNANDEZ REFLECTS ON PUBLIC SERVICE IN HIS OWN WORDS. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT. NOW YOU GET TO SEE IT. MY NAME IS COMMISSIONER ARIEL FERNANDEZ. I WAS ELECTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION ON APRIL 11TH, 2023. I HAVE LIVED IN THE CITY SINCE 2010 AND BEEN A PART OF THIS CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS. SO AS A CHILD, I REMEMBER COMING TO VISIT MY GREAT AUNT IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SHE USED TO LIVE IN THE GABLES AND ALWAYS LOVED THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AS I STARTED WORKING WITH CONGRESSWOMAN ROS-LEHTINEN, WE REPRESENTED THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND I WAS HERE FOR MANY EVENTS AND MANY MEETINGS AND REALLY ENJOYED BEING HERE. WHEN MY WIFE AND I GOT MARRIED IN 2010, THIS WAS ALWAYS A DREAM TO COME AND LIVE HERE, SOMETHING WE NEVER THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE. AND WE WERE BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUR STARTER HOME IN THIS CITY AND START OUR FAMILY HERE IN THE BEST CITY IN ALL OF FLORIDA. I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO GET INVOLVED, SO I STARTED. GABLES INSIDER BECAME A LARGE PUBLICATION IN THE CITY, GIVING INFORMATION BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT I FELT THAT I NEEDED TO GIVE BACK MORE, AND THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE CITY COMMISSION. AND THE ADJUSTMENT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. IT'S A VERY TIME CONSUMING, BUT IT'S ALSO VERY GRATIFYING BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO SEE THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN AND HOW IT'S AFFECTING MY NEIGHBORS, MY COMMUNITY, AND HOW IT'S HELPING THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. BEING A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION IS A VERY GRATIFYING THING. YOU RUN INTO RESIDENTS ALL THE TIME WHO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU FOR THE INITIATIVES THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PASS, OR A LARGE COMMUNITY, 50,000 RESIDENTS. BUT WE'RE ALSO A VERY SMALL TOWN. WE HAVE THAT SMALL TOWN FEEL PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. PEOPLE ARE INFORMED, AND THEY'RE ALSO GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, RIGHT? THEY ALSO TELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOING THINGS WRONG AND THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM DOING THAT. AND I THINK I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT MAKES US BETTER ELECTED OFFICIALS. WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC BETTER WHEN WE FIND OUT NOT JUST THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, BUT THE BAD THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE ON THEM. AND RESIDENTS ARE VERY INVOLVED. THEY TELL US OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE ABLE TO TACKLE THOSE ISSUES. IT'S A BLESSING TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS COMMUNITY. BECAUSE OF THAT. WE ARE A CITY THAT'S CELEBRATING 100 YEARS. MANY CITIES THROUGHOUT EUROPE OR THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ARE CELEBRATING MANY MORE YEARS. BUT CORAL GABLES IS UNIQUE HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. NOT ANY OTHER CITY CAN SAY THAT. THEY CELEBRATE THE TYPE OF HISTORY THAT WE CELEBRATE. WE HAVE EMBRACED THE HISTORY, THE VISION OF GEORGE MERRICK FROM BACK 100 YEARS AGO, AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO BUILD ON IT. WE STILL HAVE SOME OF THE HISTORIC HOMES, SOME OF THE HISTORIC FEATURES OF OUR CITY. WE'VE EMBRACED OUR HISTORIC PLAN TO TRY TO PRESERVE THE LOOK OF CORAL GABLES AND THE FEEL OF CORAL GABLES, OF GEORGE MERRICK. AND OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT PERIODS AND DIFFERENT VISIONS THAT HAVE COME INTO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO EMBRACE THOSE AS WELL. WE'RE NOT A CITY THAT JUST HAS THE HISTORY OF 1925. WE HAVE HISTORY THAT HAS BEEN BUILT UPON HISTORY UPON HISTORY, WHICH HAS MADE CORAL GABLES THE BEAUTIFUL CITY THAT IT IS TODAY. THROUGH THE MAYOR. COMMISSIONER LAURA AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT A LITTLE WHILE AGO. AND, YOU KNOW, AM I SOAKING THIS MOMENT IN? AND I REALLY AM. I THINK THAT VIDEO HAS REALLY CAPTURED WHAT THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS HAVE BEEN FOR ME. AND LIKE YOU WERE SAYING A LOT MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T START IN THE CITY COMMISSION THE DAY YOU SWEAR IN. YOU START WHEN YOU START RUNNING FOR OFFICE, WHEN YOU START GETTING INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, SERVING ON THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE, SERVING ON THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BOARD WAY BACK IN THE DAY, RUNNING FOR OFFICE NOW. I GUESS IT WAS 11 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST RAN FOR THE CITY COMMISSION, SERVING ON DIFFERENT BOARDS THROUGH THE MAYOR, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON'S CAMPAIGN. SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE AS A [01:45:03] AS A GROUP, YOU KNOW, AND THE VICE MAYOR IS CORRECT. WE HAVE VEHEMENTLY DISAGREED ON THINGS, BUT WE HAVE STILL ACCOMPLISHED A GREAT DEAL OF THINGS FOR THIS CITY AND FOR THE RESIDENTS AND THE LITTLE PIECE OF OF HISTORY THAT WE HAVE PLAYED OVER THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS. YOU THINK OF CORAL GABLES HISTORY. I'VE SAT HERE FOR CLOSE TO FOUR YEARS. IT'S REALLY A SMALL PART OF WHAT CORAL GABLES IS, YET IT HAS TAKEN A BIG PART OF MY HEART. IT HAS BEEN A HUGE SACRIFICE. AS YOU SAID, VICE MAYOR, IT HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY PROCESS. IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE. I WAS TALKING TO GONZALO SANABRIA THIS WEEKEND AND TELLING HIM ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THIS POSITION ACTUALLY TAKES, AND HE SAYS, I DON'T KNOW IF I WISH THAT YOU GIVE ME LUCK OR NOT LUCK FOR WINNING THE ELECTION BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME. BUT IT'S A LIFE OF SACRIFICE. BUT IT'S A LIFE OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION. I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SERVICE OF OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, OF A PUBLIC SERVANT, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THINK, WELL, YOU'RE ONE OF THE LEADERS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ANSWER TO YOU, THE RESIDENTS. WE ANSWER TO THE 50,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR CITY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO WORK ON ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS. AND I THINK IN A GAME OF GIVE AND TAKE, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY WE'VE DONE THAT AS A GROUP. AND I HAVE TO START BY THANKING STAFF. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, DESTROYING AND FIRING EVERYBODY ON STAFF. YET IF YOU GO BACK, MOST PEOPLE ARE HERE AND SOME OF THEM ARE EVEN BACK. AND WE'VE WORKED ON A RELATIONSHIP. AND I HAVE TO THANK YOU, MISTER MANAGER, BECAUSE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN BACK, WE'VE WORKED THROUGH OUR DIFFERENCES AND WE HAVE FOUND SOLUTIONS. WE HAVE WORKED FOR RESIDENTS. AND I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO YOU BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I MADE THE MOTION TO REMOVE YOU TWICE, TWO DIFFERENT COMMISSION MEETINGS, IT WAS NOT EASY FOR YOU. IT WAS NOT EASY FOR YOUR FAMILY. IT WAS A DECISION THAT I THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE MADE AT THE TIME. BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THAT. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF OUR RESIDENTS, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DO THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. YOU KNOW, OUR DIRECTORS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE NEVER TAKEN A NOT TAKEN ONE OF MY CALLS, NEVER NOT TRIED TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE. AND I HAVE SEEN THE LOVE AND THE PASSION THAT YOU HAVE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND FOR OUR CITY. BEAUTIFUL. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, ALL 900 AND SOME ODD EMPLOYEES NEVER HAD I. HAVE I BEEN ABLE TO SAY THAT PERSON IS NO GOOD FOR OUR CITY BECAUSE OF THE DEDICATION EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU PUTS IN EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY DEPARTMENT. MR. CLERK, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH BOTH OF YOU. WE'VE SHARED JOKES, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUR FAMILIES. WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER. WE'VE FOUND WAYS TO GET THINGS DONE WHEN SOMETIMES IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT. BUT I APPRECIATE THE RESPECT AND, YOU KNOW, THE DEDICATION THAT THE TWO OF YOU HAVE ALWAYS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE. WHEN WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. TO MY COLLEAGUES, COMMISSIONER CASTRO, YOU AND I WERE ELECTED TOGETHER. IT WAS AN HONOR TO SHARE THAT CAMPAIGN. AND IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN THINGS DONE. MADAM VICE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR FIRST DAYS, YOU ALWAYS OPEN YOUR ARMS AND SAID, LET'S GET THINGS DONE. YOU AND I SHARED A LOT OF THE SAME VISION FOR FOR MANY OF THE ISSUES IN OUR CITY. AND IT WAS REALLY AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU ON GETTING, YOU KNOW, EVEN WORKING A FEW INCHES BECAUSE CITY GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WORK VERY QUICKLY, AS MANY PEOPLE HOPE IT WOULD, BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE SHARED. COMMISSIONER LARA, THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, YOU'VE BEEN UP HERE, YOU KNOW, KIRK MENENDEZ SAT THERE FOR MANY YEARS CRACKING JOKES. BUT YOU STILL CRACK THOSE TOO, YOU KNOW, AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF ME FOR WELCOMING OUR FOREIGN DIGNITARIES AND FOREIGN VISITORS IN THEIR NATIVE TONGUE. I APPRECIATE SEEING YOU TAKE THAT THAT BATON TODAY. AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO DO IT. AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO PUSH FORWARD A LOT OF THE SAME VISION THAT WE HAVE FOR ISSUES LIKE EDUCATION AND OUR PARKS THAT I THINK WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK ON TOGETHER. AND, MR. MAYOR, I MEAN, YOU AND I PROBABLY HAVE THE LONGEST HISTORY HERE IN THIS CITY FROM OUR DAYS SITTING IN YOUR DINING ROOM TABLE EVERY MONDAY BEFORE A COMMISSION MEETING, WORKING ON MANY THINGS, WE'VE DISAGREED. IT HAS NOT BEEN, I GUESS, AN EASY RELATIONSHIP THE LAST THREE, THREE YEARS, BUT NOBODY CAN EVER TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR [01:50:04] CORAL GABLES AND THAT YOU HAVE A REAL LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. WHETHER WE'VE AGREED ON THE ISSUES OR DISAGREED ON THE ISSUES, CORAL GABLES HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR MIND. YOU HAVE WANTED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE WANTED TO TRANSFORM THIS COMMUNITY, AND I THINK YOU HAVE CONTINUED TO WORK ON THAT VISION. AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT. LIKE I TOLD YOU A FEW DAYS AFTER MY ELECTION, WHEN YOU CALLED ME, WE HAD ALWAYS LOOKED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER ON THIS DAIS. WE HAVE DONE THAT FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS, AND I THANK GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'VE HAD. I THINK OUR CITY HAS LIVED A HUNDRED YEARS THROUGH MANY TRANSFORMATIVE TIMES. MANY THINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE, YOU KNOW, DIVISIONS AND AGREEMENTS. BUT THERE'S ONE THING THAT REMAINS, AND THAT IS THE CITY BEAUTIFUL CONTINUES TO LEAD THE WAY OF MUNICIPALITIES, NOT JUST HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, BUT THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE STATE AND OUR COUNTRY. AND I AM PROUDER TODAY THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN TO BE A PART OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO JUST BEING A RESIDENT AND CALLING ALL OF YOU WHENEVER I HAVE ISSUES AS WELL. AND I WISH ALL OF YOU THE BEST, BECAUSE THE SUCCESS OF THE COMMISSION, REGARDLESS OF WHO SITS UP HERE, IS THE SUCCESS OF OUR CITY. AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF DEMOCRACY. AND IT'S IT'S BEEN AN HONOR. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T HAVE REMARKS PREPARED. I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BETTER. BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL. THANK TO THE RESIDENTS FOR THE TRUST THAT YOU BESTOWED UPON ME IN APRIL OF 2023, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO RUNNING INTO ALL OF YOU OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THROUGH THE MAYOR, JUST A COUPLE OF PARTING COMMENTS. RIGHT. SO, ARIEL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND ON BEHALF OF MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES, FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CITY AND FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AS A COMMISSIONER, PUBLIC SERVICE, YOU AND I. AND I KNOW THAT THE VICE MAYOR HAS SAID IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY. THIS IS PROBABLY A LOT MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK THOSE STEPS CAMPAIGNING. IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A LOT MORE THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE. BUT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN UP TO THE CHALLENGE. AND EVEN THOUGH YOU AND I HAVEN'T ALWAYS AGREED ON EVERYTHING, THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE DO SEE AS A COMMON VISION. I ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS, AND WHAT NOBODY CAN SAY IS, IS, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR DEDICATION. I WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS. I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAPPINESS AND GOOD LUCK IN ALL YOUR FUTURE VENTURES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. ARIEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVE FORWARD TO CONSENT. YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING OR. NO, NO, I MEAN, WE I THINK WE'RE UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT. [C. PUBLIC COMMENTS] OKAY. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. PUBLIC COMMENT, FIRST SPEAKER. MR. MAYOR, BONNIE BOLTON. GOOD MORNING. TODAY, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE MY DISCUSSION OF THE GARDEN OF OUR LORD. AND I'M SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, THE FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK OF ARTICLE 14 OF THE CITY CODE DICTATES THAT ALL ZONING DECISIONS AT A QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING MUST BE BASED STRICTLY ON COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. THE ZONING CODE STRUCTURES THE HEARING. SO THAT SWORN PUBLIC COMMENT AND TESTIMONY FROM A AFFECTED NEIGHBORS, NEIGHBORHOOD, ASSOCIATIONS AND CITIZENS ARE ENTERED DIRECTLY INTO THE OFFICIAL CITY RECORD. THIS MEANS THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NOT TREATED AS MERE SUGGESTIONS. THEY FORM PART OF THE LEGAL EVIDENTIARY RECORD THAT THE BOARD MUST WEIGH WHEN MAKING ITS FINDINGS OF FACT TO SUPPORT AN APPROVAL OR DENIAL. AND NOW I'M GOING TO READ SOMETHING THAT MY ATTORNEY, DAVID WINKER, WROTE ABOUT COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, AND HE ADDRESSES IT TO MAYOR LARGO AND TO CHRISTINA SUAREZ. HE SAYS THAT MAYOR LARGO KEEPS DOUBLING DOWN ON THIS ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH THE LAW IS LONG STANDING AND WELL SETTLED. IT [01:55:07] SEEMS LIKE AN EFFORT TO DISCOURAGE RESIDENT PARTICIPATION IN ZONING MATTERS AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE THE LAW IS SO VERY CLEAR. CITIZEN TESTIMONY IN A ZONING MATTER IS PERFECTLY PERMISSIBLE AND CONSTITUTES COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, SO LONG AS IT IS FACT BASED. AND THAT IS FROM CASE LAW, FROM THE CASE METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY VERSUS BLUMENTHAL. ADDITIONALLY, MY ATTORNEY CITES TWO OTHER CASES, METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY VERSUS SECTION 11 PROPERTY CORP. THE COURT UPHELD A ZONING DENIAL BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORS FACT BASED TESTIMONY REGARDING ESTHETIC INCOMPATIBILITY WAS SUPPORTED BY PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. AND MY ATTORNEY ALSO CITES MIAMI DADE COUNTY VERSUS WAHLBERG, AND IT REAFFIRMED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD TESTIMONY COMBINED WITH LOCALIZED MAPS DETAILING SURROUNDING USES, CONSTITUTES COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE REGARDING COMPATIBILITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CLARK. MR. MAYOR, I HAD RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM MARIA CRUZ TO SPEAK. HOWEVER, I DON'T SEE HER ON ZOOM. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PERSON. I DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM MR. GONZALEZ-SANABRIA THAT HE ASKED THAT IT BE READ INTO THE RECORD. IT SAID, HELLO EVERYONE. I AM GONZALEZ-SANABRIA OF 944 SAN PEDRO AVENUE IN BEAUTIFUL GABLES BY THE SEA. FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS. THESE COMMENTS ARE DIRECTED TO COMMISSIONER ARIEL FERNANDEZ IN RECOGNITION OF HIS FOUR YEARS OF ENGAGED PUBLIC SERVICE. WE HAVE HAD OUR DIFFERENCES, BUT IT'S IN THE PAST AND WE BOTH HAVE AGREED TO MAKE AMENDS IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER TOWARDS EACH OTHER. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ OR SANABRIA FAMILY WISHES YOU A HAPPY TRANSITION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAINTAINING A RENEWED FRIENDSHIP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, GONZALO SANABRIA. MR. CLERK, ANYONE ELSE? NO. MR. MAYOR, I DON'T SEE MISS CRUZ ON. SO WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM ITSELF, BUT MR. JOE FARRELL. OKAY, JOE, I JUST THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM. NO, NO, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT. I'M JUST TAKING. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS DO IT. I JUST MUCH TOO LONG. TOO MANY PHOTOGRAPHS. JOE FIDEL, 504 MINORCA AVENUE. I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEAS. SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE SWALE, WHICH I WAS HERE LAST TIME. I KNOW THAT YOU, MAYOR LAGO, FIND THIS ITEM IMPORTANT VERY MUCH, AS MUCH AS I DO. AND I'M BRINGING I'M BRINGING AN OPTION. AND I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. I'M BRINGING AN OPTION FORWARD THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS HERE IN PUBLIC. AND MAYBE YOU CAN COME BACK OR AT LEAST WATCH IT LATER AND GIVE ME YOUR OPINION ON IT. YEAH. SOME OF THE STAFF, I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE STAFF'S COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO THAT. IT TAKES AWAY FROM THE THE IMPORTANCE AND THE VIBRANCY. SO IT COULD BE LESS OF A DETERRENT WHEN SOMEONE'S GOING POTENTIALLY GOING TO HIT A TREE. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL TALK ABOUT ON THE RECORD. I WANT YOU TO STUDY IT. I DO THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. BECAUSE YOU DRIVE AROUND NORTH GABLES AND IT LOOKS SOME AREAS LOOK LIKE A LIKE A DUMP. ALL RIGHT, LET ME GET TO WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY HERE. I THINK THAT ANY PUNITIVE ACTION SHOULD BE TEMPERED WITH ALSO SOME KIND OF EDUCATIONAL PROMOTIONAL DRIVE. THE CITY WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. I THINK IT WAS THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT THAT WHEN IT CAME TO CARDBOARD BOXES, YOU YOU PUT TOGETHER A VERY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ON CITY EMAILS CALLED BREAK THE BOX. AND THAT, IN FACT, HELPED HOMEOWNERS CHANGE THEIR PRACTICES RATHER THAN JUST DUMP THE BOXES ON THE, ON THE, ON THE, ON THE DUMP. AND ALSO, I THINK THAT THESE CAMPAIGNS SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO HOMEOWNERS. IT'S NOT SIMPLY A MATTER OF PUTTING SOD ON THE SWALE, BUT THAT THEY HAVE OTHER OPTIONS, LIKE THE SWALE PACKAGE THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING FURTHER, WHICH ACTUALLY, WHILE THEY ARE MORE EXPENSIVE OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHORT TERM, IN THE LONG TERM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT MAINTENANCE OF SOD, THESE DECORATIVE STONES ARE VERY ATTRACTIVE. I ALSO THINK THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY AIDS CAN BE BETTER USED TO SUPPLEMENT THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER EFFORTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE POLICE PEOPLE, BUT THEY'RE THERE EVERY DAY GOING AROUND [02:00:01] LOOKING AT ALL THE PROPERTIES. AND I, I TRUST THAT THE COMMISSION IS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MR. CLARK. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE MRS. CRUZ ON ZOOM, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ASK HER TO UNMUTE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MA'AM, YOUR HONOR. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. BILLY PLAYED THE VIDEO. CABLE TV COULD PLEASE PLAY THE VIDEO COVERING THE OPERATION WAS ONLY HALF THE STORY. THE OTHER HALF WAS WHAT HAPPENED ONCE THE EVIDENCE WAS PLACED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF CORAL GABLES OFFICIALS. HOW DID MAYOR VINCE LAGO RESPOND? AT FIRST, LAGO TURNED AWAY, BARELY WATCHING THE PRESENTATION. AS IT CONTINUED. HE LEFT HIS SEAT, MOVED AROUND THE ROOM AND EVENTUALLY SETTLED NEAR THE WINDOW, WHISPERING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY. AND THEN HE WENT A STEP FURTHER. LAGO ATTEMPTED TO STOP DAVID WINKER'S PRESENTATION ALTOGETHER. MR. WINKER. ZAMORA, MR. WINKER YES, WE GET THE POINT. I THINK WE HAVE A RIGHT TO FINISH. IF THIS IS VITAL INFORMATION, WE GET THE POINT. YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD FOR THE RECORD? YES. SO THERE IT CONTINUES. LET US FINISH. THERE'S MORE. IT'S. AND SO I'D LIKE TO DO. I'M GOING TO. AFTER WINKER WAS FORCED TO ABRUPTLY CUT HIS PRESENTATION SHORT, LARGO TURNED ON WINKER HIMSELF, BERATING HIM AND SAYING THAT ANYONE CAN COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION AND MAKE WHATEVER CLAIMS THEY WANT. NOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU KNOW IT VERY WELL THAT THAT IS NOT COMPETENT, SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT ANYONE CAN COME HERE AND SAY WHATEVER THEY LIKE. THE BODY HAS TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE EVIDENCE, NOT ON 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 100, 200 PEOPLE SHOWING UP HERE. AFTER EVERYTHING RESIDENTS HAD BROUGHT FORWARD, THE MESSAGE SEEMED CLEAR. THEIR VOICES, THEIR EVIDENCE AND THEIR CONCERNS DIDN'T MATTER. YET AT NO POINT DID LAGO TURN TO FIFIELD'S TEAM AND ASK WHAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PEOPLE APPEARING AT PUBLIC MEETINGS, PROVIDING FALSE ADDRESSES, MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS UNDER OATH, AND SUBMITTING FRAUDULENT PETITIONS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR PROJECT. INSTEAD OF QUESTIONING THOSE WHO BENEFITED FROM THIS MANUFACTURED SUPPORT, THE SCRUTINY WAS DIRECTED AT THE PERSON EXPOSING IT, WHICH RAISES AN OBVIOUS QUESTION WHY WAS THE MAYOR SO QUICK TO DISMISS THE CONCERNS OF HIS OWN RESIDENTS, YET SO FORCEFUL IN HIS SUPPORT OF AN OUT-OF-TOWN DEVELOPER WHOSE PROJECT HAD JUST BEEN CONNECTED TO A MAJOR ASTROTURFING SCHEME? LET'S FOLLOW THE MONEY OVER JUST A FOUR DAY PERIOD FROM JUNE 25TH THROUGH JUNE 28TH, WITH MOST OF THE MONEY ARRIVING WITHIN A 48 HOUR WINDOW. PEOPLE AND FIRMS CONNECTED IN VARIOUS WAYS TO CRYSTAL RESIDENCES CONTRIBUTED A COMBINED $16,500 TO A PAC TIED TO MAYOR LAGO. 9 TO 12 DAYS LATER. THE FIRST VOTE TOOK PLACE ON JULY 7TH, LAGO VOTED TO MOVE CRYSTAL RESIDENCES FORWARD. THEN CAME AUGUST 25TH, THE FINAL VOTE. BY THAT POINT, DAVID WINKER HAD ALREADY LAID OUT EXTENSIVE EVIDENCE OF FRAUD AND MANUFACTURED SUPPORT, AND LAGO VOTED YES AGAIN. DESPITE THE OUTCRY FROM RESIDENTS. DESPITE EVERYTHING THAT HAD BEEN UNCOVERED. CABLE TV CAN TAKE DOWN THE VIDEO. ETHICAL QUESTION. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYTHING ELSE FROM PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR, BY THE WAY, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE. EXCUSE ME ONE SECOND. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, I WOULD VOTE AGAIN, BECAUSE WE MADE SURE THAT AUTISTIC CHILDREN WHO ARE SEVERELY AUTISTIC IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN STAY IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I'M VERY PROUD OF MY VOTE. I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT IN REGARDS TO CRYSTAL ACADEMY. IT TAKES POLITICAL COURAGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AND I WILL NOT BEND THE KNEE TO ANYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO CRYSTAL ACADEMY OR WHAT OR WHAT I BELIEVE IS RIGHT IN THIS COMMUNITY. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO VOTE FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE YOU FEEL THAT A BUILDING IS TWO STORIES TOO TALL, THAT'S PERFECTLY WITHIN YOUR RIGHT. BUT ME, AS A MAYOR, I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THOSE WHO HAVE NO VOICES AND THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE FAMILY'S LIFE. TO HAVE THIS SCHOOL IN OUR COMMUNITY GIVES ME THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE VOTED FOR THIS PROJECT, AND THOSE CHILDREN. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN TRY TO PIN THIS ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT. BUT THIS IS ABOUT AUTISTIC CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT OTHER PROJECTS THAT [02:05:04] ARE IMPORTANT, THAT ARE TRULY HISTORIC IN NATURE. I'M PROUD OF MY VOTE TO STOP THE MIRACLE MILE DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASING IT FROM THREE STORIES TO TEN. I'M PROUD OF MY VOTE IN REGARDS TO GABLE STATION, WHERE I VOTED NO. I'M PROUD OF MY VOTE. WHEN I STOPPED THE PARKING GARAGE IN ANDALUSIA, WHICH WERE OUT OF SCALE. I'M PART OF MY NO VOTE IN REGARDS TO THE PLAZA HEIGHT, WHICH WAS OUT OF SCALE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I HAVE A RECORD OF VOTING NO ON PROJECTS. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PROJECT AND IT'S AN ADDITIONAL TWO FLOORS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN VOTE NO. SO, MR. CLARK, MOVING ON. NEXT ITEM, CONSENT [D. CONSENT AGENDA] AGENDA FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA IS TAKEN. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION OR REVIEW OF ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES. ITEM D ONE PLEASE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF D ONE, MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND THANK YOU, MR. CLARK. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE HEAR ITEM H TWO, CAN WE HEAR ITEM D ONE. [D.-1. 26-2242 A Resolution of the City Commission granting permission to the Coral Gables Firefighter Benevolent Association to sell Christmas trees, install a temporary chain-link fence, and display an inflatable Santa Claus on the Coral Gables Baptist Church property, located at 5501 Granada Boulevard, from November 21, 2026 through December 24, 2026.] FIRST D ONE IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION GRANTING PERMISSION TO THE CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTER BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CHRISTMAS TREES TO INSTALL A TEMPORARY CHAIN LINK FENCE AND DISPLAY AN INFLATABLE SANTA CLAUS ON THE CORAL GABLES BAPTIST CHURCH PROPERTY LOCATED AT 5501 GRANADA BOULEVARD, FROM NOVEMBER 21ST, 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 24TH, 2026. OKAY, SO I JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T NEED TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD. IN MY HOME, WE HAVE A FAUX CHRISTMAS TREE. WE'VE HAD A FULL CHRISTMAS TREE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS, I BELIEVE IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE, IN MY OPINION, TO BUY A CHRISTMAS TREE, BUT YOU'RE WITHIN YOUR RIGHT TO BUY A CHRISTMAS TREE. AND BY THE WAY, CHRISTMAS IS MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY IN MY HOUSE. WE START CELEBRATING IT WAY BEFORE EVEN BEFORE THANKSGIVING. SO I WELCOME EVERYONE TO PLEASE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS OR CELEBRATE WHATEVER TYPE OF RELIGION THEY HAVE. IF IT'S IF YOU'RE JEWISH, IF YOU'RE MUSLIM, BUT CELEBRATE SOMETHING SPECIAL, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS BECAUSE IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. IN MY OPINION, IT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. YESTERDAY, IN MY MY PRE AGENDA MEETING, I ASKED VERY SIMPLE QUESTIONS, AS WE ALL DO AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN REGARDS TO EVERY ITEM. STAFF THROUGH THE MANAGER WAS INCREDIBLY PREPARED. I HAVE TO COMMEND THEM AS ALWAYS, THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB, BUT I WAS A LITTLE BIT DISTURBED IN REGARDS TO THIS ITEM. AND THIS IS WHY I'M PULLING THIS ITEM. THE REASON WHY I'M PULLING THIS ITEM IS BECAUSE FIRST AND FOREMOST, I REVIEWED I ASKED FOR THE LIST OF CHARITIES THAT BENEFIT FROM THE COMMISSION APPROVING THIS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE LIST IS RIGHT HERE. IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD. I ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE REVIEW IT SO YOU CAN SEE IT. I WOULD SAY OVER 60% OF THESE CHARITIES DON'T EVEN ARE NOT EVEN IN THE CORAL GABLES. MAYBE, MAYBE 70% OF THEM THAT ARE IN CORAL GABLES. OKAY. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO. THIS WAS PROVIDED WITH A LETTER THAT SAYS CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTERS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION HERE, RIGHT HERE IN THE BOTTOM. THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS. OKAY. THEY HAVE PROVIDED THEIR SEAL AND THEIR APPROVAL IN REGARDS TO THIS PROJECT. THEY'RE ASKING FOR US TO APPROVE AND GIVE CERTAIN BENEFITS SO THEY CAN SELL THESE CHRISTMAS TREES HERE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 30 YEARS HERE IN THE CITY. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT NUMBER ONE, THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES FIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS BEING PAID TO PROVIDE THIS APPROVAL. THEY GET A FLAT FEE AND THEN THEY THEN THIS ENTITY HERE SELLS THE TREES AND SUPPOSEDLY GIVES THE MONEY TO CHARITY. WE FOUND OUT THERE'S NO MONEY FOR CHARITY. IT IS CHRISTMAS TREES THAT ARE GIVEN TO CHARITY. NOW, TO ME THAT'S NOT THE WAY THAT I WAS SOLD THIS. IF WE'RE RAISING MONEY FOR CHARITY AND WE'RE USING THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND THE FIRE UNION IS INVOLVED, IT SHOULD BE MONEY FOR CHARITY. NUMBER TWO. DO ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE BUY CHRISTMAS TREES FROM THIS LOT? YES. HAS ANYBODY HERE BEEN GIVEN A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR FREE FROM THIS LOT? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I HAVEN'T, OKAY. BECAUSE I HEARD THAT CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION GET FREE CHRISTMAS TREES FROM FROM THIS LOT. AND IT WAS TOLD TO ME BY THE GENTLEMAN, IT WAS TOLD TO STAFF BY THE GENTLEMAN WHO'S SITTING THERE WITH A RED SHIRT, WHO ACTUALLY RUNS A LOT, WHO WILL COME UP NOW AND BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE. NO, I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A CHRISTMAS TREE AS A GIFT. OKAY, GOOD OR OTHERWISE. OKAY. SO MY POINT IS THAT TO ME, IF WE'RE GOING TO LEND OUR NAME FOR ANYTHING IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, ANYTHING AT ALL CITY OF CORAL GABLES, UNLESS YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT YOURSELF. LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE INVITED ALL OF YOU TO ATTEND THE, THE FINALLY, WE'RE INSTALLING AT THE AT THE WOMAN'S CLUB. IT'S ALREADY INSTALLED. THE FLAGPOLE. YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME. I PAY THAT PERSONALLY OUT OF MY OWN MONEY, BUT IT'S A IT'S A CHARITY INSIDE CORAL GABLES. WHY ARE WE AS A CITY, GETTING BEHIND ANYTHING THAT BENEFITS OTHER MUNICIPALITIES OR OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS? WE [02:10:05] HAVE ENOUGH NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE MONEY AND THE RESOURCES SHOULD BE SPENT HERE. THIS IS THE KIND OF SITUATION VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE GOLF, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAD WITH THE THE COUNTRY CLUB. BUT WHEN YOU DIG JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER THE SURFACE, YOU START REALIZING THAT WE'VE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THERE IS NO CHARITY, THERE IS NO MONEY. THEY'RE GIVING AWAY CHRISTMAS TREES TO, YOU KNOW, CHARLIE'S HOMES, WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE, THE SAME ORGANIZATION THAT WAS BEING IN THE GOLF GOLF ORGANIZATION. CHARLIE HOUSE, GLADSTONE CENTER, THE CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY, CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, CHILDREN'S COMMUNITY GROUP, CITY OF MIAMI, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, CITY OF MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT, CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY CELEBRATION, DADE COUNTY SCHOOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. DADE COUNTY. JOSEPH. CALEB. CENTER. DADE COUNTY SCHOOL. CHRISTMAS. AROUND THE WORLD. GEORGE. WASHINGTON CARVER. YES. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, JR. OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL NOT LOCATED IN CORAL GABLES. LEE PARK COOPERATIVE, MARTIN LUTHER KING ECONOMIC GROUP, MERRICK EDUCATIONAL CENTER, MIAMI BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER, MIAMI SPRINGS SENIOR HIGH NEIGHBORS FOR NEIGHBORS PROGRAM. PONCE DE LEON MIDDLE GOOD FRIEND, COURT SERVICE CORP, SOUTH FLORIDA. FOOD. RECOVERY PROGRAM. SUNRISE. OPPORTUNITY. RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM, THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE. SCHOOL, BARRIE. UNIVERSITY. INTER. CULTURAL. CENTER, UNITED. WAY. FAMILIES. UNIVERSAL. LIFE. CHURCH, WHOLE WORLD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY. SO MY POINT IS THIS WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO DO THESE THINGS THE WAY THEY'RE DOING THEM RIGHT NOW. WE'VE GOT TO DIG INTO THESE THINGS AND FIND OUT WHY THESE TYPE OF CHARITIES ARE USING OUR NAME. WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR BRAND. OUR BRAND IS CRITICAL TO WHO WE ARE. AND IF THE FIRE UNION IS GOING TO GET INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING, MAKE SURE IT'S CORAL GABLES THROUGH AND THROUGH, NOT ONLY BENEFITING OTHER, NOT ONLY, NOT ONLY, NOT ALSO BENEFITING MORE OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS THAT IT BENEFITS THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS TODAY IF WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE, MR. MANAGER, IF I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS THE PROPER WAY. MAYBE WE DO AN RFQ, MAYBE WE OPEN IT UP FOR OTHER, OTHER OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE DOING SIMILAR THINGS THROUGHOUT SOUTH FLORIDA, WHERE THIS IS A ORGANIZATION TO MAKE MONEY. THIS IS NOT A 501 C3. THIS IS A FOR PROFIT ENTITY THAT'S USING THE COMMISSION, THAT'S NOT GOING THROUGH AN RFP, RFQ PROCESS, AND THAT IS BENEFITING FROM OUR BRAND, BOTH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. SO AGAIN, TO ME, THAT'S WHERE YOU LOST ME, SAME AS THE GOLF COURSE, SAME AS A COUNTRY CLUB WHERE, BY THE WAY, THE ACM WILL TELL YOU, THE DCM WILL TELL YOU, WHEN WE DUG A LITTLE BIT, WE FOUND OUT THAT. AND BY THE WAY, WE HAD RESIDENTS HERE. I COULD GIVE YOU THEIR NAMES HERE WHO CAME DURING THE YOUTH CENTER SCREAMING AT US BECAUSE HOW COULD YOU TAKE IT AWAY FROM THESE PEOPLE? WE DUG A LITTLE BIT. GUESS WHAT WE FOUND OUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR WERE BEING TAKEN FROM THE CITY. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WHY? BECAUSE THEY HAD SHADOW ORGANIZATIONS SUBLEASED TO A SUBLEASE. THAT'S THE WAY THE GYM WAS WORKING. YOU HAD A THEY WERE PAYING US A FLAT RATE. THEN WE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A SUBLEASE TO A SUBLEASE, WHERE OVER $1 MILLION A YEAR WAS NOT SHOWING ON THE BOOKS. SO THIS IS THE SAME SITUATION IN A MUCH SMALLER SCALE, BUT THE SAME SITUATION. WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR BRAND. AND I WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION ON THE RECORD, BECAUSE WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY AND WE JUST DUG A LITTLE BIT, YOU START FINDING OUT THINGS THAT TO ME, I GOT TO BRING TO LIGHT. YES, THE MAYOR. SO I DO NOT PROFESS TO HAVE A DEEP WELL OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING THIS ORGANIZATION. A LOT OF WHAT YOU'RE JUST SAYING, YOU'RE BRINGING IT TO MY ATTENTION FOR THE FIRST TIME. BUT I WOULD SAY THAT MYSELF AND MAYBE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE DRIVING BY, IF THEY HAPPEN TO SEE A SIGN THAT SAYS CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTER BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION SELLING CHRISTMAS TREES, WALKS AWAY WITH A SENSE THAT THE MONEY THAT'S BEING RAISED NOT ONLY GOES TO A CHARITY, BUT IT GOES MAYBE SPECIFICALLY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE FIREFIGHTERS OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, MAYBE WHO ARE IN NEED. MAYBE THEY'VE HAD DISABILITIES, OR IT IT HELPS CONTRIBUTE TO ANOTHER LADDER OR SOME NEW TIRES ON THE FIRE TRUCK. ARE YOU ARE YOU SAYING THAT THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE, THAT THIS IS, FIRST OF ALL, NOT A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION, A 501 C AND NUMBER TWO, THAT THE MONIES THAT ARE BEING RAISED ARE NOT DIRECTED NECESSARILY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTERS. AND IT'S GOING ELSEWHERE. IT'S IT'S GOING OUTSIDE THE CITY. YES. SO, MADAM ACM, THROUGH THE MANAGER, IF I MAY, I ASKED THE MANAGER TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION AFTER OUR BRIEFING, AND THE ACM HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE PURVEYOR OF OF THIS EVENT. AND SHE CAN GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION. THE GENTLEMAN'S HERE IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE RECORD. HE'S MORE THAN WILLING TO SPEAK ON THE RECORD, BUT HE WAS VERY CLEAR AND HE HE DIVULGED A LOT OF INFORMATION. THIS IS NOT A 501 C THREE. IT'S NOT FOR [02:15:03] CHARITY. THIS IS FOR PROFIT. AND YOU HAVE THE LIST HERE. AND I'M 70% OF THE CHARITIES ON THIS LIST ARE OUTSIDE OF CORAL GABLES. SO AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GIVING TO CHARITIES. I RAISE MONEY FOR CANCER. WE'RE JUST NOT IN CORAL GABLES AND I'M VERY PROUD TO DO THAT. BUT I'M NOT USING CITY FUNDS TO BENEFIT LA LIGA OR COMING TO THE COMMISSION ASKING FOR AN APPROVAL. I'M NOT DOING THAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS THE TAXPAYERS ARE APPROVING THIS. THEY'RE ASKING FOR WAIVERS, THEY'RE ASKING FOR APPROVALS. THEY'RE ASKING FOR DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE ON THE TAXPAYER DIME. AND I THINK THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. JUST LIKE WHAT WE ENCOUNTERED WITH THE GOLF MEMBERSHIPS, JUST LIKE WE ENCOUNTER WITH THE COUNTRY CLUB AND SO ON AND SO ON AND SO ON. THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO STAMP OUT IN OUR CITY THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE, THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO, IF WE'RE GOING TO USE OUR CITY RESOURCES FOR ANYTHING, LET IT BE FOR A CHARITY, THE GARDEN CLUB, LET IT BE FOR BE FOR THE WOMAN'S CLUB. LET IT BE FOR THE THEATER. LET IT BE FOR THE CINEMA, FOR THINGS THAT ARE INSIDE THE CITY, INSIDE THE CITY, AND BENEFIT RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, WE ARE THE MOST GENEROUS COMMUNITY IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND I SAY THAT WITH 100% CERTAINTY. WHEN YOU SPEAK TO CORAL GABLES RESIDENCY AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE RAISING MONEY FOR X AND Y, Z, CAUSE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY STEP UP AND THEY'RE VERY GENEROUS. SO WHEN YOU DRIVE BY AND YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT SAYS, HEY, THIS BENEFITS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THIS BENEFITS A CERTAIN CHARITY, PEOPLE BUY IN AND THEY TRUST BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU EXPECT. MADAM. CM SO JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND, MY NAME IS CAROLINA VESTER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. THIS ORGANIZATION IS A FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION. THEY'VE REPRESENTED THEMSELVES IN THAT FASHION IN THE APPLICATION. AND THE SALES DO HAPPEN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. BUT THERE IS A PROVISION IN THE CODE, SECTION 3-6 HUNDRED THREE, WHICH ADDRESSES THE OPEN LAW CHRISTMAS TREE SALES PROVISION. THE REASON THIS HAS COME IN THE PAST THROUGH THE COMMISSION, THE CODE DOES ALLOW THE MANAGER TO APPROVE THIS, BUT IT COMES TO THE COMMISSION BECAUSE OF TWO SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. AND THERE'S MULTIPLE PROVISIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE APPLICATION, AN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, IN THIS CASE BAPTIST CHURCH AS WELL AS INSURANCE. ET CETERA. ET CETERA. BUT THE TWO SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS ARE THE REASONS THAT WE TAKE IT TO THE COMMISSION IS A REQUIREMENT. A THE SALE OF SUCH CHRISTMAS TREES SHALL BE CONDUCTED ONLY UPON PROPERTY IN A MIXED USE DISTRICT. SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WAIVERS. THAT'S WHY IT COMES TO THE COMMISSION AS WELL AS ITEM G, WHICH DELINEATES THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH. CHRISTMAS TREE SALES SHALL BE USED FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES. IN REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION, WE DID RECEIVE THE LIST OF CHARITIES, AND IT WAS A LITTLE DISTURBING TO SEE THAT THERE'S A DOLLAR VALUE ASSOCIATED WITH 20,000 AND CHANGE ATTRIBUTED TO THOSE CHARITIES. AND WHEN WE DID MAKE THE REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION BASED ON THE CODE THAT WE WERE SHARED BY THE ORGANIZER, THAT THE PROCEEDS ARE NOT CASH PROCEEDS, BUT IN-KIND IN THE VALUE OF TREES. SO, SO MY POINT IS THAT I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER THAN THAT. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIREFIGHTERS, I HAVE A GREAT IDEA, THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE POLICE OFFICERS WOULD LIKE TO RUN THEIR OWN HOLIDAY MARKET, LET'S SAY, FOR CHARITY, AND THEY RAISE THE MONEY. AND IT ALL GOES TO HELP POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED ACCIDENTS OR HAVE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY SERVING OUR GREAT CITY. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. THEY WANT TO DONATE A PORTION OF THAT MONEY TO CHARITIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE CITY OF GABLES. I'M ALL FOR IT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CITY RESOURCES AND YOU'RE PUTTING THE CITY SEAL OR CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT OR FIRE DEPARTMENT OR A PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THESE ORGANIZATIONS HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT, AND THAT'S WHY I'M I CANNOT VOTE FOR THIS. JUST LIKE I COULD NOT VOTE FOR CONTINUING THE LEASE FOR THE COUNTRY CLUB, WHICH WAS IF YOU REMEMBER, DURING COVID, MANY OF YOU WERE NOT HERE. BUT THAT WAS A BATTLE HERE ON THIS ON THIS COMMISSION FLOOR, ALONG WITH THE SAME THING WITH THE GOLF. THE GOLF WAS A BATTLE HERE. AND ALL OF YOU WERE HERE DURING THAT DECISION. IT WAS A VERY TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE, BUT WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION. AND GUESS WHAT? HAVE WE HEARD ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE GOLF ISSUE BEFORE? NO, BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND PEOPLE KNEW THAT YOU WERE PAYING $4 A POUND, AND THAT THAT WAS UNSUSTAINABLE FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND WE HAD TO DO BETTER THAN THAT. SO I'M JUST BRINGING THIS TO LIGHT TO MY COLLEAGUES. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT. I THINK THE ACM HAS MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR OF WHERE WHERE THIS IS, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL AND VERY CAREFUL WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES BRAND. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT THE CONTRACT. SO THE PACKAGE INCLUDES ALL THESE DOCUMENTS. WHAT WE HAD NEVER RECEIVED AS PART OF THE APPLICATION OF THIS ITEM WAS A CONTRACT WITH THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. SO THAT WAS [02:20:02] REQUESTED BY OUR OFFICE YESTERDAY. AND THEY DID SHARE THAT CONTRACT THAT ALLOWS FOR THE THE FLAT FEE, THE USE OF THEIR NAME. OKAY. TO THE MAYOR? YES. CATALINA, I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE I'M HERE LOOKING AT THE COVER MEMO, AND IT'S TELLING ME THAT THE FISCAL IMPACT IS $0. SO IN ACTUALITY, WHAT WE'RE REALLY GIVING THEM IS THE PERMISSION TO PUT A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND TO ITS PRIVATE PROPERTY. CORRECT? RIGHT. AND TO GO AHEAD AND INFLATE A SANTA CLAUS. RIGHT. WELL, THERE'S A CODE PROVISION, RIGHT? SO THE TYPE OF ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENING THERE IS A SALE OF CHRISTMAS TREE THAT'S REFERENCED IN THE CODE. THAT'S WHY IT COMES TO YOU. THANK YOU. BUT WHAT IS OUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AS FAR AS WHAT IS WHAT ARE TAXPAYERS FUNDING MONETARILY IN APPROVING THIS? THIS IS NOT AN ITEM ABOUT THE FISCAL IMPACT. OKAY. SO THE RE THE REASON WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR THIS AND NOT EVEN PAYING FOR THIS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY, IS THAT WE JUST DON'T WANT TO APPROVE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BENEFITING 100% CORAL GABLES. NO, THAT'S NOT WHY, LIKE I READ FROM THE THE CODE PROVISION, THE PROCESS REQUIRES THAT THOSE, IF APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION OR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, THAT THE PROCEEDS GO TO CHARITABLE PURPOSES. THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. AND THE ORGANIZER SHARED WITH US THAT THAT IS NOT HIS BUSINESS. HE'S A FOR PROFIT BUSINESS. HE RUNS HIS BUSINESS LEGITIMATELY. AND HE SAYS THAT HE, YOU KNOW, HE HAS COMMITMENTS HE HAS TO MAKE IN THE ACQUISITION OF THOSE TREES. AND HE'S RUNNING A BUSINESS THERE. IT'S NOT GOING TO CHARITY. OKAY. SO THIS BUSINESS HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS, RIGHT? AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE DECIDING TO DISCONTINUE APPROVING THEM, PUTTING UP A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND BLOWING UP A SANTA CLAUSE, WHICH WOULD PREVENT THEM TO CONTINUE DOING BUSINESS IN THIS AREA. CORRECT? YES. IT WOULD FAIL TO MEET THE CODE PROVISION. OKAY. BUT WE'VE APPROVED IT FOR 30 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN MISREPRESENTED. OKAY. THAT'S THAT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL WORDS. I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT GIVING AN ELECTION PERIOD WHERE THE UNION DID NOT ENDORSE THE MAYOR. NOW THIS IS COMING UP TO NOT LET HIM PUT CHRISTMAS TREES UP. THE OTHER THING I FIND INTERESTING IS DON'T WE GIVE CHRISTMAS TREES TO THE MCFARLAND AREA? WE HAVE IN THE PAST THAT HE WOULD DONATE AND HE SHARED WITH US SEVERAL TREES. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. WE HAVEN'T DONE THE DONATION OF TREES. IT WASN'T REQUESTED BY THE COMMUNITY. AND I THINK FROM IF I MIGHT HAVE INCORRECT INFORMATION, BUT FROM THE PAST IT WAS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION THAT WE. WE GAVE THOSE TREES OUT SIMILAR TO THE. THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO I WILL JUST TO CLARIFY, THE REASON THIS CAME UP WHEN WE STARTED DIGGING A LITTLE BIT DEEPER IS WE HAD AN APPLICANT, A SEPARATE NEW APPLICANT WHO WAS LOOKING TO SELL CHRISTMAS TREES RIGHT IN FRONT OF CARVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THAT OPEN LOT. AND IN OUR REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION, WE REFERRED TO THE CODE AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE THEY WERE COMING IN AS A BUSINESS. THEY PREVIOUSLY WERE LOCATED AT A PROPERTY WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB THAT NO LONGER WAS AVAILABLE TO THEM. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A NEW PROPERTY. THAT'S WHY THIS ORIGINALLY CAME UP THAT WE ORIGINALLY HELD THIS ITEM. AS WE WERE LOOKING INTO VALIDATING SOME OF THE CHARITIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I WHEN WHEN I THINK THAT THINGS CANNOT GET ANY WORSE, THEY DO. AND I AM COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED IN THE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THIS CITY AT THIS POINT IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PERSON SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO ME. THIS IS A FIRE RELATED PLACE. YES. ARE THEY FOR PROFIT? YES. HAVE THEY BEEN WORKING FOR 30 YEARS? YES. BUT FOR US TO JUST GO AHEAD AND FIND EXCUSES, LEGAL EXCUSES OR LOOPHOLES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEM DISCONTINUE IN A BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY OCCASION? SELLING TREES IS OUT OF THIS WORLD, AND I AM I AM ASHAMED THAT THIS IS EVEN HAPPENING. I'VE BEEN PURCHASING TREES HERE FOR MAYBE 15 YEARS OR MORE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TERRIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY. THEY RUN A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION. WE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING BUSINESSES, BUT FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE'RE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR BUSINESSES TO SURVIVE. HERE IN CORAL GABLES. MY VOTE IS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY NOT THROUGH THE MAYOR. IF I MAY, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS FROM THE GENTLEMAN WHO'S IN THE BACK WHO TALKED TO THE ACM, YOU DON'T PURCHASE TREES. THEY'RE GIVEN TO YOU FOR FREE. WELL, WAIT. STOP. DON'T INTERRUPT ME. INTERRUPT YOU, BUT DON'T DO IT. OKAY? THAT'S NUMBER ONE. THAT'S A FACT. THE GENTLEMAN DIVULGE THAT INFORMATION TO THE ACM. THAT'S A FACT. SO DON'T DON'T, DON'T. REMEMBER, YOU'RE YOU'RE YOU'RE YOU'RE IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION. YOU'RE IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION. SO DON'T REMEMBER DON'T JUST I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SAY NO, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE GENTLEMAN SAID WHEN HE CAME IN HERE. HE SAID, HE'S THE ONE THAT DIVULGED ALL THIS INFORMATION. HE CAME TO THE ACM AND SAID, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT. OKAY, LOOK, LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU, I LOVE [02:25:02] CHRISTMAS. REMEMBER, I'M THE ONE THAT BOUGHT THE NATIVITY SCENE WITH MY OWN MONEY THAT'S IN FRONT OF CITY HALL. I LOVE CHRISTMAS, I WANT I'M CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS ALREADY. OKAY, DON'T, DON'T. NOW I KNOW THE NEXT ARTICLE IS GOING TO COME OUT IN THE GAZETTE BY BY, YOU KNOW, BY OUR DEAR FRIENDS, THE PARDO'S IS GOING TO BE THAT, YOU KNOW THAT THAT VINCE LAGO'S ANTI-CHRISTMAS. THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S LEFT IN THIS ELECTION. OKAY, LET ME TELL YOU WHY THIS IS BEING BROUGHT UP HERE. OKAY? THIS IS BEING BROUGHT UP HERE BECAUSE WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE. AND LIKE THE ACM, WHICH YOU FAILED TO PICK IT UP BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO NOT PICK IT UP. YOU SAID, OH, THAT'S AN INTERESTING USE OF WORDS. IT'S NOT AN INTERESTING USE OF WORDS. SHE SAID MISREPRESENTATION. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS. I'M LAUGHING BECAUSE YOU'RE LITERALLY WANT TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO SOMEBODY WHO'S SELLING YOU A LIE AND TELLING YOU THAT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND THEY'RE GIVING TO CHARITY WHEN THEY'RE NOT GIVING TO CHARITY. WHEN YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THEY'RE BENEFITING THE COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT. BY THE WAY, MR. MANAGER, HOW ABOUT THE CITY? HOW ABOUT THE CITY? TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME? WE PICK UP THE TREES AND WE SELL THE TREES IN ONE OF OUR PARKS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY AT A MUCH DEEPER DISCOUNT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET EVERYBODY THE TREES THAT THEY NEED. OR HOW ABOUT IF WE COORDINATE? IT'S OCTOBER, WE HAVE ALL OF OCTOBER AND ALL OF NOVEMBER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DELIVER TREES BEFORE DECEMBER 25TH. OKAY, SO WE HAVE WE HAVE TWO AND A HALF MONTHS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN BRING THIS TO FRUITION. BUT I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S BEEN 30 DAYS OR 30 MINUTES. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M SITTING DOWN WITH MY STAFF AND I'M SORRY YOU DON'T ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASK, BUT I ASK VERY IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION. WE I HAVE A VERY IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION WITH MY TEAM AND I ASK DETAILED QUESTIONS. WHERE IS THIS? WHERE IS THAT? WHERE'S THIS? THEY WENT. THEY GOT MORE INFORMATION. AND WHEN YOU SEE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA TAKE ACTION. JUST LIKE WE TOOK ACTION WITH THE GOLF COURSE, WHICH YOU WERE AGAINST ALSO. AND AT THE END OF DAY, WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS, JUST LIKE WE TOOK ACTION WITH WITH A COUNTRY CLUB. AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE WHEN WE WHEN WE TOOK ACTION, WE DUG A LITTLE BIT MORE AND WE FOUND OUT THEY WERE TAKING OVER $1 MILLION. AND YOU KNOW WHY THEY HAVEN'T SUED ME OR SUED THE CITY. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY SUE THE CITY OR THEY COME AND SUE ME, THEY'RE GONNA OPEN UP PANDORA'S BOX, AND ONCE THEY END UP HAPPENING, IS GONNA BE A DISASTER ON THEIR PART BECAUSE THEY STOLE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THE CITY. SO MY POINT IS THIS. I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THIS MAN. I'VE NEVER MET THIS MAN IN MY LIFE. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST THE FIREFIGHTERS. AND BY THE WAY, IN REGARDS TO AN ENDORSEMENT, I DIDN'T SEEK AN ENDORSEMENT. NEITHER WITH THEM OR THE POLICE. I HAVEN'T SEEKED AN ENDORSEMENT IN OVER A DECADE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY ENDORSEMENT IS THE RESIDENCE ON NOVEMBER 3RD. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS VERY, VERY SIMPLE. WE HAVE TO STAMP OUT THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR BECAUSE YOU CANNOT ALLOW THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES TO BE USED. OUR BRAND IS PRECIOUS, OUR BRAND IS PRECIOUS. AND IF YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU'RE GIVING TO CHARITIES, AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE CHARITIES, AND 70% OF THE CHARITIES ARE NOT EVEN FROM CORAL GABLES, AND THEN YOU FIND OUT YOU'RE NOT EVEN GIVING MONEY, BUT YOU'RE GIVING TREES. THE ONLY PEOPLE GETTING MONEY ARE THE FIRE, THE FIRE UNION. WAIT, HOLD ON A MINUTE. HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY? HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES SO WE CAN DO THE SAME THING? SOME THERE COULD BE SOMEBODY ELSE, OR WE CAN DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, DON'T TELL US YOU'RE GIVING TO CHARITY WHEN YOU'RE NOT GIVING TO CHARITY. NUMBER ONE, THAT'S NOT THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO DO THINGS. JUST SAY YOU'RE DOING IT FOR PURE PROFIT. YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT FOR PURE PROFIT. THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT EITHER. I THINK IT'S A GREAT THING. THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. SO AS A RESIDENT DRIVING THROUGH AND YOU SEE THE SIGN OF CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTERS, IMMEDIATELY YOU FEEL THAT THAT THE THE PROFITS GO TOWARDS SOME BENEFICIAL CAUSE AND I MEAN MONETARY PROFITS TOWARDS THE FIREFIGHTERS, FAMILIES, SOMEONE THAT'S LOST EARLY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT THINGS LIKE THAT THAT I WOULD EXPECT OR MONETARY BENEFITS HELP SUPPORT THE DENTAL CLINIC AT THE WOMEN'S CLUB HELPS SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, GIVING OUT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PROMISING YOUNG FUTURES, HELP SUPPORT THE TUITION FOR YOUNG CADETS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT'S THE IMPRESSION THE BRANDING BRINGS WHEN YOU BRING CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTERS BRANDING ON THAT, I THINK IT'S A MISREPRESENTATION. AS THE ACM STATED VERY SUCCINCTLY, TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF BRANDING AND YET NOT PRODUCE THE MONETARY BENEFITS THAT PEOPLE EXPECT TO BE YIELDED FROM, FROM THOSE TREES, BECAUSE A TREE IS NOT GOING TO BUY TUITION, IT'S NOT GOING TO FIX THE TEETH, OKAY? IT'S NOT GOING TO PAY THE MEDICAL BILLS FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT. SO I'M DISTURBED BY THAT. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS A MONETARY. GIFT OR DONATION TO GOOD CAUSES, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO FEED THE [02:30:08] HUNGRY. IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP THOSE FOLKS OUT. SO THE LIST LOOKS IMPRESSIVE OF WHERE, YOU KNOW, BENEFITS ARE ARE GIVEN, BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY BENEFITS. IT'S A TREE THAT'S GOING TO DIE. IT'S GOING TO GO IN A LANDFILL OR HOPEFULLY GET RECYCLED FOR MULCH. SO I UNFORTUNATELY AGREE AT THIS JUNCTURE THAT THE MISREPRESENTATION CANNOT BE APPROVED. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LATTA. RIGHT. SO AS I SAID AT THE AT THE START, RIGHT. I'M JUST AS SURPRISED AND I FEEL DUPED, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I KIND OF THOUGHT IT WAS WHEN I WOULD DRIVE BY THAT THIS GOES TO THE FIRE FIREFIGHTERS, RIGHT. AND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE ARE CLUTCHING THEIR PEARLS OR THEY'RE SOUNDING LIKE THEY'RE AGHAST THAT THIS IS SHOCKING TO THEM. WELL, I AGREE, BUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, I AGREE THAT I FEEL DUPED. RIGHT. SO CAROLINA, THE AS YOU SAID, I THINK RIGHT, JUST TO BREAK IT DOWN FOR PROFIT ENTITY, CORRECT. SELLING TREES. BUT THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALES DO NOT GO TO CHARITIES. CORRECT? CORRECT. THE STATUTE IS CLEAR THAT THEY MUST COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION IN ORDER TO CONDUCT THIS FOR PROFIT ACTIVITY AT THE SITE RIGHT ON GRANADA. AND SO THEY'RE COMING TO US TO BE ABLE TO CREATE A PROFIT. BUT THERE'S SOMETHING YOU SAID AS WELL. I THOUGHT WHAT A LITTLE SURPRISED. DID YOU SAY THAT A FEE WAS PAID TO THE UNION, THE CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTER UNION, THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION? WELL, I'M I WAS GOING TO STATE IT. THE CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTER BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. SO A FEE IS PAID TO THAT ORGANIZATION FOR THE USE OF THEIR NAME FOR THIS FOR PROFIT ENTERPRISE. CORRECT. SO IT'S NOT EVEN THE CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTER BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION CONDUCTING THE SALES, AM I RIGHT? CORRECT. OH, OKAY. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYBODY WOULD BE SHOCKED. I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYBODY WOULD FEEL THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING TO, YOU KNOW, STORM THE THE GATES AT THE NORTH POLE, RIGHT WHERE THE TOYS ARE BEING MADE. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER BUSINESS AND NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK, RIGHT? BUT IN ORDER TO DO IT WHERE THEY WANT TO DO IT, AND WHEN THEY WANT TO DO IT, THEY HAVE TO COME BEFORE US AND COMPLY WITH THE STATUTES. I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF GIVING THEM A PASS OF WHAT THE STATUTES REQUIRE. BASED ON WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD TODAY WITH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. SO, YOU KNOW, IN THREE AND A HALF YEARS, I ALWAYS MENTIONED THE FACT THAT THINGS COME TO THE COMMISSION WAY TOO LATE. AND THIS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE. HERE WE ARE. IT'S THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING WHEN WE CAN POSSIBLY DISCUSS THIS. THE MAYOR HAD SOME IDEAS, SOME SUGGESTIONS. WE DON'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE POSSIBLE. I CAN TELL YOU I'VE WORKED IN A NONPROFIT WHERE WE TRY TO SET UP A CHRISTMAS TREE DRIVE IN JULY, AND BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE TO PURCHASE CHRISTMAS TREES BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THEM AT LEAST A YEAR IN ADVANCE. YOU HAVE TO PUT IN YOUR ORDER AT LEAST A YEAR IN ADVANCE. SO I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE LOT. I HAVE A 12 FOOT TREE THAT WE PUT UP IN OUR HOUSE AND BE TOTALLY UNAFFORDABLE TO BUY ONE EVERY YEAR. BUT I DO KNOW A LOT OF RESIDENTS WHO DO. AND I'LL TELL YOU, I DO KNOW A LOT OF RESIDENTS WHO ACTUALLY ARE UPSET WHEN THEY GET THERE AND THEY'RE ALREADY OUT OF TREES AND THEY HAVE TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE. SO AS MUCH AS I HAVE SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS, I THINK WE ARE NOW, IF WE DO NOT APPROVE THIS RIGHT NOW, WE ARE PUTTING OUR RESIDENTS AT A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE PUBLIX IS ALREADY SETTING UP. I WAS AT PUBLIX YESTERDAY. THE TENT IS UP THERE READY TO START SELLING THEIR CHRISTMAS TREES BECAUSE EVERY YEAR, AS THE MAYOR SAID, PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO PUT UP CHRISTMAS EARLIER, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING THANKSGIVING WITH THEIR CHRISTMAS TREES UP. AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DO IT. YOU KNOW, HALLMARK MOVIES STARTED ON OCTOBER 14TH AND THERE'S SOME GOOD ONES OUT THERE. I'VE ALREADY STARTED WATCHING THOSE. BUT WE HAVE NOW A SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND ALL THE PARAMETERS. FOR ME, I THINK WE REALLY HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE WOULD REALLY PUT OUR RESIDENTS OUT BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO BUY A TREE. IF NOT, YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE THE CITY. MY SUGGESTION THESE PARAMETERS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. I THINK WE'VE HEARD THAT FROM THE COMMISSION. WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO CHANGE THEM FOR THIS YEAR. WE CAN SAY THIS IS THE FINAL YEAR THAT THIS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS THE TERMS OR CHANGE GOING FORWARD, [02:35:01] TO ENSURE THAT THE FUNDS ARE GOING TO A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION AND THAT HAS TO BE PROVIDED AHEAD OF TIME. AND I WOULD SAY, MR. MANAGER, I THINK YOU KNOW, AND. MR. MR. DKM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED STARTING IN JANUARY, SO THAT BY THE TIME THE COMMISSION, THE NEXT COMMISSION HAS TO APPROVE THIS. THIS IS DONE WAY IN ADVANCE. AND I WOULD SAY AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS MANY TIMES, THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING, EVENTS THAT ARE COMING, QUESTIONS THAT ARE COMING. WE SHOULD NOT BE LESS THAN SIX MONTHS OUT WHEN WE'RE STARTING TO APPROVE THESE THINGS. AND I UNDERSTAND MAYBE WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE APPLICATION PARAMETERS SO THAT THE APPLICATION HAS TO BE SUBMITTED EARLIER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE A NOVEMBER MEETING. WE WON'T HAVE ONE THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION. SO THE COMMISSION IS REALLY PUT IN A TOUGH SPOT WHERE WE CAN EITHER TAKE AWAY THE CHRISTMAS TREES FROM OUR RESIDENTS, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GOTTEN. OR TWO, WE CAN BASICALLY HAVE TO AGREE TO THIS NOW WITH A CHANGE FOR THE 2027 CHRISTMAS SEASON. THAT'S THE WAY THAT I SEE IT, THROUGH THE MAYOR, THROUGH THE MAYOR, IF I MAY, VICE MAYOR, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THEN WE'LL GO TO COMMISSIONER. LADIES FIRST. SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A SUGGESTION. OKAY. THAT WE DEFER THIS ITEM. TAKE A BREAK. SEE IF THE TERMS CAN BE ADJUSTED TO QUALIFY. AND THEN WE VOTE ON IT LATER. COMMISSIONER LATTA, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, TO ME, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE SAID THIS NOT ONLY NOW, BUT YOU SAID IT BEFORE, THINGS COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION TOO LATE, AND IT MAKES IT MORE FRUSTRATING TO TRY AND ACCOMMODATE AND AND I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHY THIS ITEM COMES UP JUST NOW, BUT FOR ME, AND I'LL JUST BE BRIEF AND REPEAT. THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING A. DISCRETIONARY VOTE, AN APPROVAL FROM THE COMMISSION TO NOT BE HELD TO WHAT THE STATUTE REQUIRES. AND FOR ME, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THIS IS THAT THE STATUTE REQUIRES THAT WHEN YOU'RE SELLING THESE CHRISTMAS TREES, THE PROCEEDS MUST GO TO CHARITY, NOT $1 OF THE PROCEEDS EARNED IN THIS FOR PROFIT ENTERPRISE GOES TO A CHARITY, CORRECT? OKAY. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN THE END IS IT MIGHT BE A BIT MORE OF A DIFFICULTY IF RESIDENTS WOULD GO TO THIS PARTICULAR SITE, BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE IT FOR YEARS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER SITE. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WHEN THE CRUX OF IT IS, IS NOT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SHUT DOWN A CHRISTMAS TREE OPERATION THAT OTHERWISE COMPLIES WITH THE STATUTE. WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE I'M NOT AT LEAST SUPPORTIVE OF THE SALE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREES, NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATUTE THAT REQUIRES SOMETHING AS BASIC AS THE PROCEEDS ARE TO GO TO CHARITY. I, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF GIVING SOMEONE, NO MATTER WHETHER IT'S EARLY OR LATE IN THE GAME, TO, TO ASK FOR SOMETHING SO FUNDAMENTAL AND GOES TO THE HEART OF WHY THE STATUTE EXISTS. SO I THINK THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT ARE IN FACT, COMPLYING WITH THE STATUTE. AND I HAVEN'T BEEN PROVIDED A COMPELLING REASON TO GIVE THIS ENTITY. A PASS ON WHAT THE STATUTE REQUIRES. SO IF I MAY, I AGREE WITH THE VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER LATTA. SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DEFER AND MY DEFERRAL FOR A FEW HOURS. WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME WE CAN TAKE IT AT THE END OF THE MEETING IS FOR STAFF TO FIGURE IT OUT. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT WITH THIS APPLICANT, I'M TALKING ABOUT FIGURE IT OUT ON ONE OF OUR MANY, LOTS OR MANY GREEN SPACES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND A PARTNER AND TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, THE BIG ISSUE HERE IS TRUST. TRUST. THE TRUST IS BROKEN, JUST LIKE THE TRUST WAS BROKEN AT THE COUNTRY CLUB WHEN WE STARTED DOING A LITTLE BIT OF HOMEWORK AND FINDING OUT THIS IS NOT THE FAULT OF STAFF, THIS IS NOT THE FAULT OF STAFF AT ALL, RIGHT? BECAUSE WHEN WE ASK STAFF TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, THEY DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE. I ASK FOR A SIMPLE DOCUMENT. EVERYTHING WAS PROVIDED TO ME AT MY PRE AGENDA MEETING AND THAT WAS I ASKED THE MANAGER, MISTER MANAGER SAYS CHARITIES, WHAT CHARITIES? WHAT CHARITIES DOES THIS GO TO? THE ACM CAME UP TO ME AND SAYS, THESE ARE THE CHARITIES. THEY HAD THE DOCUMENT. ANYBODY WHO LOOK AT THIS DOCUMENT HERE WOULD IMMEDIATELY QUESTION, WHY ARE WE PUTTING OUR BRAND AND TO HELP ALL THESE. THEY COULD BE WONDERFUL CHARITIES, BUT THEY'RE NOT. IN CORAL GABLES. [02:40:03] OUR FIRST AND ONLY PRIORITY SHOULD BE CORAL GABLES. SO THIS BETRAYS THE TRUST OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND THE FACT THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LENDS ITSELF TO DOING THIS ALSO BOTHERS ME, BECAUSE WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AT THIS LOCATION? WHAT IF WHAT HAPPENED HAPPENS TODAY? WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT FOR 30 YEARS THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING THE SAME THING, LIKE WHAT HAPPENED AT THE COUNTRY CLUB WITH THE GYM. REMEMBER? OKAY. AND THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED WITH THE GOLF. REMEMBER WITH THE GOLF MEMBERSHIPS. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY. THIS IS ABOUT TRUST. THIS IS ABOUT WHO WE ARE, OUR IDENTITY, AND THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING OUR BRAND. SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM DEFERRING THIS TILL LATER AND ADDRESSING IT LATER, BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WE HAVE THE AMAZING, COMPETENT STAFF THAT CAN FIGURE OUT A PLACE TO BE ABLE TO, IF IT'S NOT THERE, HOST IT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND FIND A PARTNER WITHIN TWO AND A HALF MONTHS TO DO TO DO IT. I'M PRETTY SURE ABOUT THAT. SO, MR. MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? YES, MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. IT'S NOT THAT WE TOOK TIME. IT'S THAT THIS IS THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. AND WE THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A FORMALITY. YOU THOUGHT IT WAS FOR CHARITY, MR. MANAGER, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR CHARITY. IF YOU IF YOU LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS PROVIDED, THEY HAVE THE LOGO OF THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. AND WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A PART OF THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FORMALITY TO GET THIS THIS LOT, THIS LOT GOING EVEN. AND MAYOR, EVEN IF THE CHARITIES WEREN'T THE ONES THAT WE WANTED, THERE'S STILL CHARITIES. IF IF THAT WERE TRUE, WE COULD OF COURSE REARRANGE THAT, THAT WE THAT THE THERE THAT THEY WERE USING THE ASSOCIATION'S TITLE BLOCK LETTERHEAD ON THAT IS IS IS IS INTERESTING. WE THOUGHT IT WAS ALWAYS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION WHEN THE FIRE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION WHERE, WHERE THEY USED IT FOR FOR CHARITIES. NOW MAYOR, THERE'S A LOT OF CHARITIES AND WE COULD TAKE CARE OF THAT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT TO DO THIS, IT MUST GO 100% TO A CHARITY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE THOUGHT. THE BENEVOLENT THE FIRE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION WAS WAS DOING. SO JUST JUST THIS IS A THIS IS A CAUGHT US OFF GUARD. IT'S IT'S IT'S IT'S IT'S VERY INTERESTING. WE IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE LETTERS, MAYOR, THEY ALL HAVE THE TITLE BLOCK, THE I'M SORRY, THE TITLE BLOCK, BUT I'M USED TO I'M USED TO THE DRAWINGS. EXCUSE ME. THE LETTERHEAD OF OF THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS THAT WAS WHERE THIS MONEY WAS GOING AND IT WAS GOING TO TO. BUT IT'S IF I MAY, MR. MAYOR, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU. IT'S NOT THAT. IT'S ONLY AT THE BOTTOM. IT'S PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED AT THE TOP RIGHT HERE. IT'S A LETTERHEAD. IT'S A LETTERHEAD. THE LETTERHEAD. AND THAT IS DISTURBING. AND BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU SEND A LETTER FROM MY OFFICE AND IT SAYS THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, IT'S FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. IT'S NOT FROM A FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION. YOU UNDERSTAND. SO THIS IS THE PROBLEM JUST FROM THE GET GO. THE LETTER ALONE IS MISLEADING. AND IT TELLS YOU I IF I SAW THIS, IF I SAW THE FIREFIGHTER LETTERHEAD, I SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR THIS IS A TRUSTED BRAND. THIS IS AN ENTITY THAT SAVES PEOPLE'S LIVES. THAT'S WHAT WE THOUGHT, MAYOR. AND THIS IS GOING TO BENEFIT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE CHARITIES THAT THEY'RE ASSOCIATED WITH. BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE BECAUSE IF YOU SEE IT VERY CLEARLY HERE DISPLAYED, THIS IS AGAIN, THE ACM PUT IT PERFECTLY, HE SAID. IT'S A MISREPRESENTATION. AND THIS IS NOT A MISTAKE. THIS IS INTENTIONAL. AND THAT IS WHAT I CAN'T ALLOW. WE CAN VOTE IN FAVOR OF. IT'S FINE AFTER WE COME BACK IF THE TEAM CAN PUT IT TOGETHER, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSION WANTS. BUT I'M A NO VOTE BECAUSE THIS RIGHT HERE TO ME TELLS ME THAT CHARITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE GOING TO BE BENEFITING FROM THIS TREE SALES. AND WHEN SOMEONE GOES AND BUYS A TREE, THEY'RE NOT THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR MONEY IS GOING. AND I THINK PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT. THROUGH THE MAYOR. THEN CAN I HAVE THE MANAGER FINISH? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THIS DID NOT HAVE TO COME TO THE COMMISSION. THE REASON IT CAME TO THE COMMISSION IS BECAUSE OF THE USE OF THE LAND. IT NEEDS TO BE MIXED. USE THE. IF NOT, IT CAN BE APPROVED THROUGH THROUGH MY OFFICE. IF IT'S. IF IT'S MIXED USE AND IT'S GOING 100% TO CHARITY, WE DIDN'T BRING IT BECAUSE OF 100% CHARITY. WE THOUGHT THAT WHEN THIS ITEM WAS WAS ON, WE THOUGHT IT WAS 100% CHARITY. WE JUST WAS NOT MIXED USE. IT'S IT'S IT'S IT'S USE. IT BELONGS TO THE LAND BELONGS TO THE CHURCH. SO AND, AND AS I, AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE TITLE BLOCK, THE I'M SORRY, THE LETTERHEAD HAS THE THE THE FIRE EMBLEM ASSOCIATION ON IT. SO SO THIS, THIS IS NOT THIS, [02:45:07] COMMISSIONER. THIS IS NOT THIS IS NOT COME HERE BECAUSE OF THE OF THE CHARITY ISSUE. HE CAME HERE BECAUSE OF THE ZONING ISSUE. IF NOT, I COULD I COULD HAVE APPROVED IT. SO IF ANYBODY, IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO DO THIS KIND OF THING IN A, IN A, IN A MIXED USE DISTRICT, IN A MIXED USE A DISTRICT, THEN THEY WOULD THEY WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE 100% TO CHARITY. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT. AND, AND WE WOULD LOOK AT THE CHARITIES THAT, THAT WERE INVOLVED. AND CERTAINLY THAT WOULD BE FOR A GREAT CAUSE. THROUGH THE MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS. WHEN I HAD MY AGENDA REVIEW YESTERDAY, I SPECIFICALLY ASKED, AS I DO EVERY MEETING AT THE END OF THE MEETING, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW? THIS NEVER CAME UP. SO IF THIS WAS ALREADY A CONCERN YESTERDAY, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS WAS A CONCERN. I HAVE YET TO SEE THE LIST. THE MAYOR IS THE ONLY ONE WITH A COPY OF THE LIST. I LOOKED THROUGH OUR AGENDA AND NOTHING IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA. IT'S ATTACHED TO THE APPLICATION, TO THE. THE APPLICATION IS NOT I. IF YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA, THE APPLICATION IS NOT ATTACHED. SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT WE RELY ON FOR INFORMATION ON THE FUNDING. AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN. THE FACT THAT TREES ARE BEING DONATED, EVEN IN IRS, THAT'S STILL ACCEPTABLE AS A DONATION THAT IS STILL CONSIDERED A FINANCIAL DONATION BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THOSE TREES, WHETHER IT WAS IT WAS A MONETARY OR A TREE DONATION, IT'S STILL CONSIDERED THE SAME THING. ANYBODY WHO HAS A BUSINESS CAN TELL YOU THAT. SO THE AMOUNT IS, I THINK, THE BIGGEST CONCERN THAT WE ALL HAVE, HOW MUCH IS ACTUALLY GOING TOWARDS THE CHARITIES. BUT WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHY WEREN'T THEY INVITED TO BE HERE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS? YOU KNOW, WHY WAS THIS ITEM ON CONSENT? IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER THE CITY MANAGER ITEMS IF THERE WERE ALREADY CONCERNED ABOUT IT. THE ONLY THING WE WERE NOT AWARE OF, BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATION PACKAGE, WAS THIS CONTRACT WITH THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. THAT'S WHAT MADE US QUESTION. WE DID REACH OUT TO THEM YESTERDAY. THEY SHARED WITH US THE CONTRACT AND AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD THIS IN ONE OF THEIR PROVISIONS IN THE CONTRACT, THEY ACTUALLY HAD A CLAUSE IN THERE THAT REQUIRED THOSE CHARITABLE TREES TO GO WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. OKAY. SO THAT'S WITHIN THEIR AGREEMENT WITH THE ORGANIZATION. AND IN REGARDS TO YOUR COMMENT, WHY WAS THIS NOT ON THE CITY MANAGER WAS BECAUSE THIS HAD ALREADY GONE TO PRINT. AND THE MOMENT THAT I BROUGHT IT UP WAS DURING MY PRE AGENDA AT 9:00. SO THIS WAS YOUR PRE AGENDA IS WHERE THE CONCERNS CAME UP? NO, NO, I JUST I JUST, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHERE, HOW, HOW WE GOT TO HERE. NO, MY, MY, I'M GOING TO ANSWER YOU. SO MY POINT WAS THAT IN THE PRE AGENDA WE WERE GOING OVER THE ITEMS AND I ASKED AS THE DCM RUNS POINT ON ON THE PRE AGENDA, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I, I GO, OKAY, WE WENT OVER EVERY SINGLE ITEM AND I ASKED A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION. I WANT TO REVIEW THIS. EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THIS WORKS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW. AND EVERYBODY LOOKED AT ME KIND OF THEY'VE NEVER ASKED THAT QUESTION. IT'S FOR CHARITY. AND I SAID, WELL, LET ME LOOK AT THE CHARITY LIST. SO WHEN THEY GAVE ME THE CHARITY LIST, WHICH THEY HAD, EVERYBODY HAD THIS. THIS WASN'T PROVIDED FOR ME, PROVIDED FOR ME, BECAUSE THE ACM PULLED IT OUT RIGHT THERE AND SAID, LOOK, HERE YOU GO. REVIEW THE CHARITY LIST. I REVIEWED THE CHARITY LIST AND SAID, WHY ARE OVER 70% OF THE CHARITIES OUTSIDE OF CORAL GABLES? AND THEN AT THAT MOMENT, SHE STARTED REVIEWING AND ASKED FOR THE CONTRACT FROM THE VENDOR, AND THEN THEY STARTED GETTING MORE INFORMATION. THE REASON WHY YOU CAN'T PUT THIS AS A CITY MANAGER ITEM IS BECAUSE YOU KNOW THIS. YOU'VE BEEN HERE THREE AND A HALF YEARS. WE HAD ALREADY GONE TO PRINT ON THE AGENDA AND IT WAS ALREADY IN CONSENT. YOU CAN'T JUST START MOVING THINGS AROUND ON THE AGENDA. WE ALL KNOW THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHY THEY SAY THAT YOU HAVE A DEADLINE TILL THURSDAY. THAT HASN'T CHANGED IN DECADES. AND YOU KNOW THAT. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, STAFF DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. I WAS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT IT UP. I STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS. AND I ALSO CAN'T VIOLATE THE SUNSHINE LAW. AND THEY ALSO CAN'T TELL YOU HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE OR WHAT I'M GOING TO DO, BECAUSE THEN THAT WOULD BE, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, VIOLATION OF THE SUNSHINE? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, THAT WOULD BE A CONDUIT. I KNOW IT'S A VIOLATION. IT'LL BE A CONDUIT. SO THE ACM CAN'T SAY OR THE DCM OR THE MANAGER CAN'T SAY, HEY, BY THE WAY, LARGO'S DOING THIS OR LARGO'S BRINGING THIS UP, SO BE CAREFUL. THAT WOULD BE A CONDUIT. SO YOU HAVE VERY, VERY BY THE WAY, OTHER CITIES DON'T HAVE THE SUNSHINE LIKE WE DO. TALLAHASSEE DOESN'T HAVE IT AND THEY'RE A LOT MORE EFFECTIVE IN CERTAIN THINGS. SO YOU SEE THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU WHERE YOU CAN'T SAY THAT VINCE LARGO'S GOING TO BRING THIS UP, BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE A CONDUIT AND YOU BREAK THE SUNSHINE LAW. WHEN AT THAT MOMENT, IF WE WERE ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO EACH OTHER, THE MANAGER COULD TELL YOU, HEY, BY THE WAY, VINCE BROUGHT THIS UP. JUST SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR OPINION IS ON THIS MATTER, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE HE'S GOING TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE HE'S ASKING FOR IT. NO, I LOOK, MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT THAT IF THERE WAS A STAFF CONCERN ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED KNOWING BEFOREHAND BECAUSE I COULD HAVE MADE SOME CALLS, MAYBE TRYING TO GET SOME INFORMATION, SOME [02:50:02] BACKGROUND MYSELF, RATHER THAN JUST COMING HERE NOT KNOWING THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS. THE LAST POINT THAT I'LL MAKE ON THIS CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT TRADITION. AND YOU HAVE MANY FAMILIES THAT THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE GONE TO PURCHASE THEIR TREES. WE DO HAVE PRECEDENT. AND THE MAYOR WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS ON THIS ISSUE IN THE PAST WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY'S GRANT PROGRAM AND THE GRANT PROGRAM, THERE WAS ONE YEAR WHERE THE COMMISSION SAID, THIS IS THE LAST YEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BLANKET, BLANKET APPROVING ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE THE CITY. WE WANT THE FUNDS MOVED TOWARDS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY. AGAIN, THAT WAS AT THE LAST MINUTE. THE CONCERN CAME UP AND THE THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE COMMISSION HAD ALREADY CHANGED THE PROGRAM. I THINK WE'RE IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, UNLESS SOMETHING CAN BE WORKED OUT BY THE END OF THIS MEETING THAT I DON'T THINK, I THINK WE'RE REALLY PUTTING OUR RESIDENTS AT A DISADVANTAGE IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. THAT'S MY OPINION THROUGH THE MAYOR, BRIEFLY, BECAUSE I PREFER THE PROVERBIAL DEAD HORSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN BEATEN HERE AT THIS POINT. ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF DIRECT THIS TO YOU, COMMISSIONER CASTRO. I KNOW THAT YOU WERE VERY UPSET, OR AT LEAST YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT OR YOU EXPRESSED SHOCK BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE AT ONE POINT YOU WERE RAISING THE ISSUE. THIS WAS SOMETHING BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND THE APPROVAL OF A OF AN ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS. CAN WE AGREE, BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE ACM AND THE REST OF US ON THIS DAIS, THAT THE CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTER BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION IS, IN FACT, NOT RUNNING OR ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BECAUSE THEY AS WELL, FOR THEIR FINANCIAL INTEREST, SOLD THEIR NAME, THE USE OF THEIR NAME TO THIS FOR PROFIT ENTITY SO THAT THEY CAN THEN HOPEFULLY SELL MORE TREES. AND THE RESULTING PROCEEDS FROM THOSE SALES WILL BE GOING SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN TO A CHARITY. SO NOW THAT YOU KNOW THIS, I HOPE THAT YOU'RE LESS CONCERNED ABOUT WHY THEY SHOULDN'T BE GIVEN A PASS ON THE STATUTE TODAY THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, YES. I'M NOT GOING TO GO AHEAD AND RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION UNTIL I HEAR FROM THE ACTUAL APPLICANT. I WANT TO HEAR HIS VERSION AND HOW THEY ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE THE THE CHARITY. AND THEN THE OTHER THING I DO WANT TO CLEAR UP IS THAT THE MAYOR HERE SAID THAT I GET A FREE TREE. I ACTUALLY WANT TO PUT SOMEBODY ON THE LINE THAT HIS NAME IS ANDREW PEACH WENT TO GO GET THE TREE WITH ME. OKAY. THAT'S BECAUSE. BECAUSE HEY, I'M SORRY. I'M LIVE IN A COMMISSION MEETING. AND JUST FULL DISCLOSURE, YOU'RE ON SPEAKER. OKAY. WHEN WE WENT TO GO GET THE TREE, HOW MUCH? HOW MUCH DID WE TIP FOR THIS TREE? I REMEMBER WE GOT THE TREE AND MET THAT REALTOR AND I TIPPED IT REALLY WELL. I THINK I WAS $150. I CAN GO BACK TO MY CREDIT CARD AND CHECK, BUT IT WAS IT WAS A NICE TIP. I REMEMBER THAT AND THEY WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU. THAT THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU. AND I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM. YEAH. BUT BUT LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU SOMETHING. A TIP IS NOT A PAYMENT FOR A TREE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY AND THE GENTLEMAN RIGHT BEHIND YOU RIGHT THERE, HE'S THE ONE THAT SAID VERY CLEARLY THAT HE GIVES YOU FREE TREES. SO WE CAN GO ALL OVER THIS, AND YOU CAN TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO SKIN THE LIE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE. SO LET'S DO THIS. OKAY, LOOK, LET'S DO THIS, LET'S TABLE THIS. LET'S STAFF DO THEIR JOB THROUGH THE MANAGER. WE'LL COME BACK AT THE END OF THE MEETING AND WE'LL TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT. OKAY. TO SEE HOW BECAUSE BY THE WAY, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ 110%. THERE'S NOBODY AND I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS. THERE'S NOBODY HERE ON THIS COMMISSION THAT LOVES CHRISTMAS MORE THAN ME. NO, IMPOSSIBLE, IMPOSSIBLE. NOBODY LOVES CHRISTMAS MORE THAN I DO. WE HAVE A DECORATING COMPETITION. LET'S GO, I DON'T CARE. MY POINT IS, CHRISTMAS IS THE BEST SEASON OF THE YEAR. IT'S THE MOMENT THAT IT BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE. IT'S EVERYTHING THAT'S RIGHT. WITH THIS COMMUNITY. EVERYTHING. IT'S A SEASON OF GIVING. SO THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS SEE ANYBODY. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO DO. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY CLEAR WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. AND THERE CAN'T BE TRANSPARENCY ISSUES HERE AND OPTICS. SO I ASKED THROUGH THE MANAGER, AS ALWAYS, PLEASE, THAT YOUR TEAM WORK AND WE GIVE YOU THE TIME TO SEE HOW WE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT. EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE. FROM ORDERING YOUR OWN TREES TO SETTING UP A LOT, TO JOINT VENTURE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI, TO JOINT VENTURING WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY NEXT DOOR TO THE GRANADA, TO JOINT VENTURE WITH GRANADA. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD BE. FIGURE IT OUT. IF WE'RE ABLE TO PULL OFF, IF WE'RE ABLE TO PULL OFF A [02:55:01] FARMER'S MARKET HERE THAT IS INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL IN THE ENVY OF EVERY COMMUNITY IN SOUTH FLORIDA, I THINK WE CAN SELL TREES. AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT JUST LIKE WE WERE COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY TAKEN ABACK, MADAM ACM, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. YOU RUN PARKS FOR 20 YEARS IN THE CITY. WHEN WE OPEN THE BOOKS AND WE FOUND OUT THE REAL BOOKS FOR THE COUNTRY CLUB, YOU WERE TAKEN ABACK, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH. HOW MANY HOW MUCH MONEY WAS THE CITY LOSING A YEAR? WELL, NOW WE WE GROSSED 1.3 MILLION FOR THE ATHLETIC CLUB. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S COSTS ASSOCIATED, BUT HOW MUCH WILL WE GROW? HOW MUCH ARE WE GETTING A CHECK FOR BEFORE $50,000, $50,000 A YEAR? ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE MAKING 1.3 MILLION. BY THE WAY, THIS IS NOT ONE YEAR. THIS IS YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, DECADE, DECADE. THAT'S WHY THEY HELD ON TO IT SO HARD. THAT'S WHY THE RESIDENTS WHO WERE GETTING BENEFITS FROM THEM CAME HERE AND FOUGHT US SO MUCH FOR IT. OKAY. SO MY POINT IS THIS. I DON'T WANT A DOLLAR TO COME TO THE CITY. I WANT OUR COSTS TO BE PAID, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THEN I WANT THERE TO BE A TRUE PUBLIC BENEFIT. IF IT'S A CINEMA WHICH HAPPENS TO BE HERE TODAY AND THEY ARE ABLE TO GET A DONATION, THE THEATER. THE WOMEN'S CLUB, THE GARDEN CLUB, I CAN KEEP GOING. IT'S A LOT OF GREAT CHARITIES. LOCATED IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES WATERKEEPER, BELLA PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR ORGANIZATIONS HERE THAT WE CAN TRACK, AND IT CAN BE A SUBSIDY TO THE ADDITIONAL GRANTS THAT WE GIVE. I'M ALL FOR IT. THE BEAUTIFUL PLACE ACROSS THE STREET FROM CITY HALL, THE THE DANCE, THE DANCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT'S THERE. SANCTUARY FOR THE ARTS. I'M JUST COMING UP WITH NAMES AS THEY COME TO ME. THE MUSEUM. OKAY. WHY NOT? WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS. AND THE POLICE AND THE FIRE SHOULD BOTH PUT THEIR NAMES ON IT, ALONG WITH THE GENERAL EMPLOYEES. AS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOSTING THIS. AND WE CAN GET VOLUNTEERS SO PEOPLE CAN GET SCHOOL HOURS AND THEY CAN COME AND VOLUNTEER. AND IT CAN BE A TRUE COMMUNITY EVENT, NOT PUTTING THE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION'S NAME ON IT. AND THEN PEOPLE ARE MISLED THINKING THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THAT ARE BENEFITING FROM THIS. SO LET'S BUY OUR TREE THERE. INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE GROVE OR TOWARDS A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN US ONE, OR GO TO SOUTH MIAMI OR GO TO PUBLIX OR GO TO HOMESTEAD. LET'S BUY IT FROM THESE GENTLEMEN FOR A LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY BECAUSE IT BENEFITS THEM. THAT'S WHAT BOTHERS ME. OKAY. SO THROUGH THE MANAGER, IF WE MAY, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU MORE WORK THAN YOU ALREADY HAVE TO DO. I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT ON YOUR PLATE, BUT IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO SOMETHING. IF NOT, WE'LL HAVE A THINK ABOUT TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION. WE WILL ATTEMPT. MAYOR. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CLERK. WE'RE GOING TO DEFER THIS TO THE END OF THE MEETING ITEM D1. OKAY. YES, SIR. MAYOR, ARE WE NOT GOING TO LET HIM, THE APPLICANT SPEAK ON CONSENT AGENDA? MR. MR. CLERK, WOULD YOU ADVISE THE COMMISSIONER IN REGARDS TO CONSENT AGENDA AND PUBLIC SPEAKING? IT'S BEEN PULLED SO THERE CAN BE PUBLIC SPEAKING? WELL, WE CAN SPEAK NOW OR LATER. UP TO YOU, MR. MAYOR. WOULD YOU LIKE FOR HIM TO SPEAK AFTER WE MAKE A DECISION? BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK TWICE ON THIS, AS YOU KNOW. CORRECT. YOU SPEAK ON THE ITEM ONCE YOU SPEAK ON THE ITEM TWICE. CORRECT. HOW DO YOU SPEAK? CAN ONLY SPEAK ONCE. ONCE. SO WHY DON'T YOU WAIT TILL WE FINISH IT? WE MAKE OUR DECISION SO THE GENTLEMAN CAN SPEAK. CAN SPEAK ON THE ITEM THAT WE FIND OUT THROUGH THE MAYOR? YES. YOU DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA THAT WE HAVE ALL THE FACTS BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION? AT THE END OF THE DAY? BUT I THINK WHAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE? I THINK I HAVE PRETTY GOOD FACTS FROM STAFF. AND HE'S GOING TO HAVE EVERY ABILITY. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S LEAVE IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE GENTLEMAN NOW OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR AFTER WHEN STAFF HAS A LITTLE MORE TIME TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION, WHAT WOULD YOU PREFER? I SAY LEAVE IT UP TO THE GENTLEMAN. HE WAS THE ONE THAT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. AND VICE MAYOR, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO? MY PREFERENCE IS THAT HE MEET WITH STAFF FIRST AND MAKE A DECISION HOW HE WANTS TO PROCEED. MR. MR. COMMISSIONER, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO. COMMISSIONER LATTA I'M WITH COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ BECAUSE YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO GET ONE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY. WHY DON'T YOU CAN YOU CAN SPEAK NOW OR YOU CAN SPEAK LATER. IT'S UP TO YOU, SIR. OKAY. HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES. BUT YOUR CHOICE, IF YOU WANT TO DO IT NOW OR YOU WANT TO DO IT LATER. I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO LATER WANT TO BE SPEAK AFTER WE COME UP HERE AND THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SPEAK AGAIN. I JUST WANT TO RESPECT THAT TIME. OKAY. GO AHEAD. COME ON UP THEN. PERFECT. SORRY. NO WORRIES. THAT'S WHY I'M WALKING FUNNY. ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS PAUL BOUTIN, RETIRED CAPTAIN FROM THE CORAL GABLES FIRE DEPARTMENT. 33 YEARS OF SERVICE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT MY PRIVATELY OWNED BUSINESS. FIREFIGHTERS, CHRISTMAS TREES INCORPORATED. WE HAVE OPERATED IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES FOR 34 YEARS. WE CONTRACT WITH THE CORAL GABLES FIRE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION AND WITH THE CORAL GABLES BAPTIST [03:00:02] CHURCH. FIREFIGHTERS. CHRISTMAS TREES DONATES CHRISTMAS TREES TO ALL AND EVERY CITY ORGANIZATION THAT COMES TO US AND YOU KNOW. LAST YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER DIDN'T WANT ANY TREES. THEY COME. THEY SAY WE WANT 40 TREES, WHICH STANDS. BOOM. YOU GOT IT RIGHT AWAY. THERE'S NEVER A QUESTION ASKED. WE ALSO GIVE DISCOUNTS TO ALL CITY EMPLOYEES, FIREFIGHTERS. CHRISTMAS TREES PROVIDE THE COMMISSION WITH A LIST OF DONATIONS VALUED AT OVER $20,000 TO MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING IT'S OUT OF THE CITY. IF ANYBODY COMES TO US FROM THE CITY, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT. THAT'S JUST THE POLICY. WE HAVE NEVER AND WILL NEVER VIOLATE ANY LAWS OR ORDINANCES IN OUR WONDERFUL CITY. I'M ASKING WHY SOME MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION WANT TO STOP THIS 34 YEAR OLD GOODWILL BUSINESS. I AM ASKING YOU, TO THE VERY LEAST, TO VOTE TO ALLOW US TO OPERATE ONE MORE TIME IN 2026. WE HAVE ALREADY MADE NONREFUNDABLE DEPOSITS TO SUPPLIERS, AND OVER OF OVER $130,000. SO THERE'S WE DON'T USE THE NAME BENEVOLENT ON ANY ADVERTISING. WE REPRESENT OURSELVES TO THE CUSTOMERS AS A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION NAMED FIREFIGHTERS CHRISTMAS TREES. AND LIKE I SAID, I WAS WITH THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER YESTERDAY AND WE SPOKE ABOUT IT BRIEFLY AND WE LOOKED IT UP. AND WE'VE BEEN SINCE 1991. YOU CAN LOOK US UP ON IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ON THE WHERE YOU GET THE LICENSES. WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS WITH ANYBODY, AND WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THE CUSTOMERS. WE GIVE SO MUCH STUFF AWAY TO THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT AND SO ON, YOU KNOW? SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE MOVING ON. [H.-2. 26-2278 A Resolution of the City Commission approving the Fourth Amendment to the amended and restated lease between the City of Coral Gables and the Coral Gables Cinemateque, Inc. for the expansion of the Coral Gables Art Cinema at City-owned property located at 240-260 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida, subject to certain conditions.] WE HAVE ITEM H TWO TIME CERTAIN. 11 A.M. I APOLOGIZE TO ITEM H TWO. WE ARE AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES LATE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. H TWO IS RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVING THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LEASE BETWEEN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND THE CORAL GABLES CINEMATHEQUE, INC. FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE CORAL GABLES ART CINEMA AT CITY OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 240 TO 260 ARAGON AVENUE, CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA. SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS. MADAM DIRECTOR, GOOD AFTERNOON. I WISH I COULD SAY GOOD MORNING, BUT NO. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS SPEECH FOR US AS A MANAGER, THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW THE ART CINEMA TO EXPAND ITS OPERATIONS INTO THE ADJACENT CITY OWNED PREMISES LOCATED AT 240 ARAGON AVENUE. IN ADDITION, THE MAIN PROVISIONS INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL FIVE YEAR TERM COMMENCING ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2030 AND EXPIRING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2035, WITH ANNUAL RENT ESCALATIONS OF 3% AND ONE ADDITIONAL FIVE YEAR RENEWAL OPTION. ANNUAL BASE RENT OF $29,870 FOR THE EXPANSION SPACE COMMENCING ON THE EARLIEST OF THE DATE, THE TENANT BEGINS CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN ANY PORTION OF THE EXPANSION SPACE OR SIX MONTHS AFTER THE DATE THE LANDLORD'S WORK IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED OR WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED WITHOUT TENANT COST DELAYS. THE TENANT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE BUILDING'S INSURANCE COSTS, SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENTS, REFLECTING ANY INCREASES OR DECREASES IN THE RENTABLE SQUARE FEET OR OCCUPANCY OF THE BUILDING. THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE ESTIMATED AT $1,425,885, INCLUDING A 515% CONTINGENCY. THE LANDLORD'S CONSTRUCTION CONTRIBUTION IS CAPPED AT 450,000, WITH THE TENANT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REMAINING $975,885. THE TENANTS PORTION MUST BE REMITTED UPON EXECUTION OF THE AMENDMENT, AND THE LANDLORD'S FUNDS WILL BE APPLIED AFTER THE TENANT'S PAYMENT IS RECEIVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME COMING. I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR FRIENDS FROM THE CINEMA IF THEY'D LIKE TO COME UP, PLEASE JOIN US. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF. IT'S AN INSTITUTION HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES THAT IS A HUGE ECONOMIC DRIVER, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TOUCH UPON SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO, NOT ONLY JUST WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COMES TO THE PARKING GARAGE ON OFF DAYS, ON OFF DAYS THAT ARE NOT BEING USED, BUT ALSO THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT THEY BRING TO, TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND ALSO, BY THE WAY, IT'S A SENSE OF PRIDE. BECAUSE THE CINEMA IS ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED CINEMAS, NOT ONLY IN SOUTH FLORIDA. THEY ARE THE MOST RESPECTED CINEMA IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. THEY RECEIVE EVERY AWARD. BUT I WANT THEM TO TALK BECAUSE THEY CAN DO A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN I CAN. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE MOVIES AND SHORT FILMS AND [03:05:01] DOCUMENTARIES THAT YOU GET THAT NO OTHER, NO OTHER CINEMA IN THE UNITED STATES GETS. NUMBER ONE. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO FOR FREE, FOR FREE ON BEHALF OF THE ELDERLY IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE SCHOOLS, HOW YOU INVITE THEM, THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND HOW YOU'RE REALLY EFFECTUATING CHANGE STARTING AT THE BOTTOM. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, SOCIAL ISSUES, THINGS THAT ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, BUT ALWAYS WITH A REFINED TOUCH AND ALWAYS UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE TO PUT THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES FIRST. SO WELCOME TO THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL AS ALWAYS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT AFTER. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS ALREADY? THE DAY THAT I STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2017, STEPHEN GRAHAM'S TOLD ME THAT WE WERE GOING TO BUILD A SECOND LOCATION. AND SO WE'VE BEEN HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. THE FLOOR IS YOURS ALMOST TEN YEARS. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MAYOR. AND WHAT YOU'RE TOUCHING ON IS THE EXCEPTIONAL REPUTATION THAT CORAL GABLES ART CINEMA HAS BUILT, NOT ONLY IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, THE STATE OF FLORIDA, BUT ACROSS THE NATION. WE ARE TRACKED FOR THE PERFORMANCE THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR DISTRIBUTORS. WE ARE JUST CLOSING OUT THE PALME D'OR WINNER FROM CANNES FILM FESTIVAL. WE OPENED THAT FILM IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. BEFORE ANY OTHER CINEMA. WE WILL HAVE A FIRST WEEK EXCLUSIVE ON PEDRO ALMODOVAR'S NEW FILM IN NOVEMBER, AND THAT'S IN CORAL GABLES. THAT'S IN OUR BACKYARD. SO THE ACCESS THAT WE GET TO THESE INCREDIBLE FILMS IS DUE TO OUR PERFORMANCE AND. THE INVESTMENT THAT WE MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR MISSION DRIVEN WORK. PAY WHAT YOU CAN, TICKET PRICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILY DAY. NOT ONLY DO WE ACTUALLY WANT YOU NOT TO PAY FOR YOUR TICKET, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU FREE POPCORN. WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY ADULT ACTIVITY CENTER. THEY USE THE CINEMA THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH FOR THEIR SENIOR FREE SENIOR MOVIES. WE DON'T CHARGE THE CITY A VENUE RENTAL FEE. WE ONLY EXTEND THE COST OF THE FILM TO THEM. WE RUN THE VENUE, WE ABSORB THOSE COSTS. WE PROVIDE FREE POPCORN. THAT'S ALL PART OF OUR AGREEMENT AND THE SENIOR PROGRAMING THAT WE FOCUS ON. WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS AND WE WANT TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE CINEMA TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE TOGETHER IN A SPACE THAT IS AFFORDABLE AND WELCOMING TO ALL PEOPLE. AND I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT MY TEAM HAS DONE. I'M PROUD OF OUR BOARD AND HOW MUCH THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SUCCESS. OUR BOARD CHAIR IS REGRETS THAT SHE CAN'T BE HERE, BUT WE THE WORK THAT WE DO AND THE INVESTMENT THAT WE PUT INTO THE CITY ISN'T JUST WORDS. WE BRING 60,000 PEOPLE THROUGH OUR DOORS, THE PARKING REVENUE, THE REVENUE THAT GOES TO OUR NEIGHBORS, JUST THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT'S AFFORDABLE, ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES WHEN IT CAN BE EXPENSIVE. THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE DO, AND THAT'S WHAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE CAN ONLY DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS EXCEPTIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE ON THE BOARD? SIR? HOW ARE YOU? I'M JUST FINE. STEVEN KRANZ. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND THE FOUNDER OF THE THEATER. THE HISTORY OF THE THEATER GOES BACK TO 2005, FROM 2005 UNTIL TEN, WE WORKED TO GET THE CINEMA OPEN, AND ON THE DAY THAT WE OPENED IT, WE INFORMED THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED WITH THE THEATER THAT IT WAS TIME TO BUILD ANOTHER THEATER. SO IT REALLY DOESN'T GO BACK TO 2017. IT GOES BACK TO 2010 THAT WE KNEW WE HAD TO BUILD ANOTHER THEATER. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COMMISSION, THE CITY COMMISSION, AND PREVIOUS FOR CITY COMMISSIONS FOR SUPPORTING ALL OF OUR EFFORTS OVER THE YEARS. AND THIS PARTICULAR COMMISSION ALSO ADDING AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 TO THE AMOUNT THAT WAS PLEDGED ORIGINALLY OF 350 TO DO THE JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT OUR PARTNER DOES FOR US, AND WE WILL WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN TO DO OUR BEST FOR YOU. SIR. I'LL JUST ADD MY NAME IS DAVID [03:10:05] DUCKENFIELD. I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE CINEMA. I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR A LONG TIME. PRETTY MUCH THAT WHOLE TIME YOU TALKED ABOUT AND HAVE BEEN HAVE WATCHED IT GROW AND THRIVE IN CORAL GABLES. AND THE OUTREACH IS DONE TO TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES LIKE THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT MOVIES THAT WE HAVE EVERY, EVERY SATURDAY AND REALLY WATCH THE, THE BASE, THE GROW IN TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP TO HOW MANY THOUSAND DO WE HAVE NOW? WE'RE AT 26, 2600. AND IT'S REALLY BLOSSOMED. AND, AND I'VE LISTENING TO YOU, MR. MAYOR, TALK ABOUT THE BRAND OF CORAL GABLES AND SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE PR AND MARKETING WORLD, THE WHAT THE, WHAT THIS DOES FOR THE BRAND CORAL GABLES, NOT JUST IN MIAMI, BUT THE STATE AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IS UNBELIEVABLE BECAUSE SHE'S SAYING, WE'RE GETTING THE FIRST PREMIERE OF MOVIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE BUSINESS AS LIKE THE BEST PERFORMING THEATER IN THIS SPACE IN THE COUNTRY, REALLY. AND SO WHEN YOU GO AROUND THE COUNTRY AND TALK ABOUT MOVIES AND CINEMAS, WE'RE LOOKED AT AS A PLACE THAT IS REALLY THRIVING IN A VERY DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT. AND THAT'S A KUDOS TO BRENDA AND STEVE AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT THEY BROUGHT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. AND WITH EXTENSIVE EXPANSION OF THIS CINEMA, WILL EVEN TAKE IT TO GREATER HEIGHTS. SO THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS ITEM. SO THERE'S A REASON WHY YOU HAVE YOUR OFFICES HERE IN CORAL GABLES. THERE'S A REASON WHY YOU SPEND MORE TIME HERE IN CORAL GABLES THAN ANY OTHER PLACE, RIGHT? THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, SPEND TIME, QUALITY OF LIFE. THIS IS THE PREMIER LOCATION IN SOUTH FLORIDA. AND IT MAKES SENSE TO OBVIOUSLY HAVE THIS THEATER HERE AND TO SEE THE THEATER EXPAND. AND THE THEATER IS THRIVING. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE REST OF THE BOARD AND MAKE SURE YOU SEND A MESSAGE, PLEASE, BECAUSE I WENT, I WENT, AND I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE ABOUT IT REALLY QUICKLY. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS CINEMA DOES. OKAY. AND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, I'VE SAID VERY PROUDLY BEFORE THAT I HAVE DYSLEXIA. I WENT TO A SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR IT. I'M VERY PROUD OF IT. I HAVE ALSO ADD, IT'S PART OF WHO I AM AND IT DEFINES A LOT ABOUT ME. AND I THINK IT'S HELPED ME A LOT AND BE THE PERSON THAT I AM TODAY. THE CINEMA DID NOT HAVE TO DO WHAT IT DID THE OTHER DAY. THEY HAD AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE MOVIE THAT TALKED ABOUT DYSLEXIA, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING AND SPEAKING VERY BRIEFLY IN FRONT OF PACKED HOUSE THAT WAS THEIR FAMILIES, YOUNG KIDS, PEOPLE WHO CAME TO ENJOY THIS, THIS MOVIE I'M GOING TO SPEAK WITHOUT KNOWING, BUT I'M GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. YOU DIDN'T MAKE ANY MONEY OFF THERE. NOT MANY PEOPLE WANT TO SEE A MOVIE ABOUT DYSLEXIA. OKAY. YEAH. NO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A HUGELY ENTERTAINING MOVIE. AND I DON'T THINK IT DRIVES THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE HERE IN THE CITY OR FOR YOU. YEAH, THAT I FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY HOW MEANINGFUL YOUR PRESENCE WAS AT THAT EVENT. IT WAS MEANINGFUL TO US AND TO OUR PARTNERS. THAT EVENT SPECIFICALLY WAS A PARTNER ORGANIZATION THAT CAME TO US AND SAID, WE REALLY NEED TO SHOW THIS MOVIE. WE NEED TO BRING OUR AUDIENCE AND OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER. WE HAD A FIRST RUN MOVIE. WE HAD A NEW MOVIE THAT WE WERE SHOWING. WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT A SCREENING AND WE STILL PAY THE DISTRIBUTOR EVEN IF WE DON'T SHOW IT. AND WE GAVE THAT ORGANIZATION THAT TIME SPACE AT A STEEP DISCOUNT, AND WE WORKED WITH THEM, AND IT WAS JUST REALLY A BEAUTIFUL EVENT. AND KUDOS TO THE ORGANIZERS FOR WHAT THEY PUT TOGETHER. SO SHE BASICALLY STOLE IT. I WAS GOING TO SAY, NOT A MONEY MAKING SITUATION. IT'S ABOUT BEING A COMMUNITY PARTNER. AND WHEN I WENT TO THAT EVENT JUST HIGHLIGHTED WHAT THE CINEMA IS DOING. THEY CAN MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY BY SHOWING ONE OF THE TOP FILMS THAT ONLY THEY GET, AND THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE A LOT OF THESE FOREIGN FILMS THAT COME TO THE CINEMA. BUT WHAT THEY DECIDED TO DO THAT NIGHT WAS TO REALLY BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER. A LOT OF YOUNG KIDS THERE AND TALK ABOUT DYSLEXIA, TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES ARE ASHAMED TO TALK ABOUT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S A THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE CINEMA, THE BOARD AND TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING. SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. THE BOARD MEMBERS REALLY DESERVE THE CREDIT, ALL THE EMPLOYEES. IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE. AND I THINK THAT FINALLY WE'RE THERE, WE'RE DONE. I THINK THIS IS THE LAST PIECE, RIGHT? YEAH. THIS IS THE LAST PIECE. AND THE MANAGER TAKES IT FROM HERE AND WE MOVE FORWARD. THE MANAGER TO THE MAYOR. WE ALSO HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT COMING UP LATER. YEP. OKAY. SO YES. SO I AGAIN WOULD ALSO WANT TO APPLAUD ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND RECOGNIZE [03:15:06] EVEN BEYOND THE DYSLEXIA, YOU'VE ALWAYS OPENED THEIR DOORS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM, INDIVIDUALS WITH OTHER IMPAIRMENTS THAT MAKE IT MAKE THEM DIFFERENT. OKAY. I PARTICIPATED ON MONDAY WITH THE OPENING SESSION OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA COGNITIVE COGNITIVE CARE ZONE, AND IT'S ABOUT TRAINING. BUSINESSES AND GETTING THEM CERTIFIED. SO THEY BECOME ANOTHER DOT ON THE MAP WHERE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY'RE WELCOME AND FRIENDLY. I KNOW YOU ALL WILL QUALIFY. YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO THROUGH THE TEST. BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND SO THAT WE CAN MOVE THINGS FORWARD. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THIS. I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MR. CLARK, YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES, COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER LATTA. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. ONE STEP CLOSER. ONE STEP CLOSER. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [E.-1. 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)] MOVING ON TO ITEM E ONE ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING. E ONE IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION PROVIDING FOR TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES OFFICIAL ZONING CODE BY AMENDING ARTICLE FIVE ARCHITECTURE, SECTION 5-203 CORAL GABLES MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTURAL ARCHITECTURE DESIGN TO AMEND THE HEIGHT EXCLUSION REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE ENCLOSED AREAS AS ACCESSORY USES AND PROVIDING FOR REPEATED PROVISIONS. SEVERABILITY, CLAUSE CODIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MADAM DIRECTOR, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD MORNING, CITY PLANNER. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND. MR. CLERK, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER CASTRO. YES, COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. MAYOR [E.-2. 26-2042 An Ordinance of the City Commission providing for text amendments 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)] LARGO. YES. MOVING ON TO ITEM E2. E2 IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION PROVIDING FOR TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. OFFICIAL ZONING CODE BY AMENDING APPENDIX A SITE SPECIFIC ZONING REGULATIONS. SECTION 8-36 CRAFT SECTION. BY REVISING THE HEIGHT RESTRICTION TO NOT ALLOW ADDITIONAL STORIES FOR HEIGHT. AVAILABLE FOR ARCHITECTURAL INCENTIVES FOR BLOCK 36 CRAFT SECTION. CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MR. CLARK, IF YOU CAN, PLEASE SWEAR IN ALL INDIVIDUALS WILL BE TESTIFYING TODAY. THOSE WILL BE TESTIFYING ON THIS ITEM. PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. DO YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE TESTIMONY YOU'LL PROVIDE TODAY WILL BE THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? THANK YOU. MADAM DIRECTOR. AGAIN, CITY PLANNER. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. APPLICANT. MR. MAYOR, THEY'RE NOT AN APPLICANT. JUST. IT'S REALLY PUBLIC COMMENTS. PUBLIC COMMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M JUST SO USED TO SEE I DON'T SEE HIM AS A RESIDENT EVEN THOUGH HE IS A RESIDENT. I SEE HIM AS A LAWYER, AS A LAWYER REPRESENTING AN APPLICANT. SO MY BAD. I'M SORRY. AND VERY PROUDLY. YES YOU ARE. YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON? IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY SO FAR. JOHN LUCAS OFFICES AT 2655 SOUTH LEJEUNE ROAD, CORAL GABLES, NOT TOO FAR FROM OUR CITY HALL. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER, MALAGA 300, LLC. AND SIMPLY TO REITERATE THE CONCERNS THAT WERE EXPRESSED AT THE FIRST READING BACK ON OCTOBER 13TH. THE OWNER OBJECTS TO ITEM E TWO TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS APPLIED TO OR CONSTRUED TO IMPAIR, REDUCE, CONDITION OR OTHERWISE HALT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTS. IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT ON AUGUST 13TH OF 2026, INCLUDING THE APPROVED HEIGHT, THE NUMBER OF STORIES, THE ROOFTOP AMENITY LEVEL, MEDITERRANEAN ARCHITECTURAL BONUS AND RESULTING FLOOR AREA RATIOS, SETBACKS, SETBACKS AND THE LIKE. TOGETHER WITH THE ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE COMMENTS, WHICH WE ALL VIEW GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT HAS RECEIVED THE BOARD OF ARCHITECT APPROVAL AS A DEVELOPMENT, HAVING A VESTED DEVELOPMENT, RIGHT. THE CONCERNS THAT WE EXPRESSED AT THE VERY LAST MEETING IS THAT THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE DOES NOT HAVE A GRANDFATHERING AND OR A SAVINGS PROVISION ITSELF. WE THEREFORE, WOULD RESPECTFULLY RENEW OUR REQUEST THAT THE ORDINANCE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDE LOTS TEN THROUGH 15, OR INCLUDE A SAVINGS CLAUSE THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY PROTECT THE DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL UNDER THE EXISTING ZONING ITSELF. IT'S OUR INTENTION FOR THE OWNER'S INTENTION TO PROCEED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY. THE WAY THE ORDINANCE OR TEXT [03:20:03] AMENDMENT IS BEING PROPOSED, IT ENVELOPS THE ENTIRETY OF BLOCK 36. THAT LENDS ITSELF TO POTENTIALLY AN INTERPRETATION BY OTHERS BEYOND OUR CITY AND COMMISSIONERS RIGHT NOW, THAT MAY VERY WELL IMPACT THE ABILITY TO GO FORWARD WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS. WE NEED CLARIFICATION FOR THAT. THE SAVINGS CLAUSE FOR SOME TYPE OF A GRANDFATHERING OR A CARVE OUT, IF YOU WILL, OF LOTS TEN THROUGH 15, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THE ENTIRETY OF THE BLOCK ENVELOPED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS PARTICULAR TEXT AMENDMENT WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN GIVING THE OWNERS THE ASSURANCES THAT WE, AS DEVELOPERS, AS WELL AS THE COMMISSION, ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. WE DO HAVE A DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL. WE ARE GOING FORWARD. THE TEXT AMENDMENT ITSELF, NOTWITHSTANDING THAT IT IS ENVELOPED OR I SHOULD SAY, COMPRISES THE ENTIRETY OF THE LOT ITSELF, IS NOT GOING TO BE VIEWED AS AN ENCUMBRANCE OR IN ANY WAY OTHERWISE AFFECT AND OR IMPAIR OUR ABILITY TO GO FORWARD. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU SIR. YES, SIR. MR. MAYOR, I WANT TO GO TO ZOOM NEXT. MARIA CRUZ. HELLO. YES. OKAY. ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS ITEM BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A CODE REVISION. WE PAID BIG MONEY FOR IT. THE ADMINISTRATION WENT THROUGH IT, THE COMMISSION VOTED. AND NOW WE KEEP HEARING THAT THERE'S AN ERROR. WELL, WE HAD AN ATTORNEY, WE HAD A COMMISSION, WE HAD ADMINISTRATION. SO NOW WE FIND ERRORS. OKAY. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT KEEP US FROM THINKING THAT MORE ERRORS WILL BE FOUND? I DON'T AGREE WITH ANY SPECIFIC SITE CHANGES. IF THIS IS AN ERROR, THEN I GUESS MOST PEOPLE WILL SAY THE CITY HAS TO EAT IT. WE PAID FOR IT AND NOW WE HAVE TO STOP MAKING OUR SITE SPECIFIC CHANGES BECAUSE THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO MANY SITE SPECIFIC CHANGES. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? WE'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. YES, I'LL MOVE IT. OKAY. I'LL SECOND. MR. CLERK. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. YES, COMMISSIONER. LARA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ITEM E3. E3 IS AN [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)] ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION PROVIDING FOR TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY. CORAL GABLES OFFICIAL ZONING CODE BY AMENDING ARTICLE TWO ZONING DISTRICTS AND ARTICLE THREE USES TO SPECIFY A DRIVEWAY SIDE SETBACK. SIDE SETBACK, ALLOW MOTOR COURTS ON CORNER LOTS AND ADJUST THE REAR INSIDE SETBACKS FOR CERTAIN MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, PROVIDING REPEATED PROVISIONS, SEVERABILITY, CLAUSE CODIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MADAM DIRECTOR, AGAIN, OUR CITY PLANNER. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES SINCE FIRST READING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MR. CLARK. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MR. MAYOR, I HAVE A MOTION. I'LL MOVE IT. I HAVE A SECOND. MR. CLARK. COMMISSIONER. LARA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. MAYOR LARGO. YES. ALL RIGHT. [E.-4. 26-2279 An Ordinance of the City Commission amending Chapter 22 "Emergency Services" to amend Article II "Burglary, Fire and Robbery Alarms" of the City Code; updating definitions and requirements for alarm systems and providing for an alternative representative to perform certain requirements on behalf of the City's Finance Department; providing for a severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective date.] WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM E4. E4 IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER 22 EMERGENCY SERVICES TO AMEND ARTICLE TWO BURGLARY, FIRE AND ROBBERY ALARMS AS THE CITY CODE, UPDATING DEFINITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ALARM SYSTEMS AND PROVIDING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE REPRESENTATIVE TO PERFORM CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, REPEATED PROVISIONS, CODIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MADAM FINANCE DIRECTOR, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON, DIANA GOMEZ, FINANCE DIRECTOR SO THIS IS AN ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING TO UPDATE CERTAIN DEFINITIONS, UPDATE AND CLARIFY REQUIREMENTS OF THE REGISTRATION OF THE FALSE ALARM PROCESSES AND CLARIFY THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE USER CERTIFICATES MUST BE RENEWED ANNUALLY. AND IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR AN ALTERNATIVE REPRESENTATIVE TO PERFORM BILLING COLLECTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. SEEMS PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY, MADAM VICE MAYOR. I'LL MOVE IT. I'LL SECOND, MR. CLARK, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. MR. MAYOR. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER. LADA. YES. MAYOR. LAGO. YES. WE WILL NOW GO TO LUNCH. IS AN HOUR GOOD ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY? Y [F.-1. 26-2283 A Resolution of the City Commission directing the City Manager to review and address traffic patterns, valet staging, and parking issues along Caballero Boulevard and Madruga Avenue associated with the Paseo de la Riviera development located at 1350 South Dixie Highway and work with the property owner and operator to resolve the issues; providing for an effective date. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)] [F.-2. 26-2286 A Resolution of the City Commission directing staff to amend the International Cultural Events Program and its guidelines to include a "City Beautiful Nights" component where the same eligible foreign government agencies may receive in-kind City support or reimbursement for direct event expenses to encourage smaller-scale cultural events in the downtown Coral Gables. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] [F.-3. 26-2270 Presentation of the swale planting package and permit process. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] [04:23:19] BETTER THAN THAT. DON'T ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE INTIMIDATED EITHER STAFF OR THE [04:23:24] COMMISSIONERS. WE CAN DO. WE CAN DO A LOT TOGETHER. WE CAN DO A LOT TOGETHER. THANK YOU, [F.-4. 26-2275 Discussion regarding a permitting roundtable with industry leaders. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] [04:23:29] MR. MR. DCM. FOR DISCUSSION REGARDING A PERMITTING ROUNDTABLE WITH INDUSTRY [04:23:37] LEADERS. I'M BRINGING THIS BACK UP BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT IN REGARDS TO THE [04:23:43] PROCESS. I WANT THIS TO GO THROUGH THE MANAGER. I'D LIKE FOR THE COMMISSION TO SELECT [04:23:48] ONE INDIVIDUAL PER COMMISSIONER, AND FOR THAT PERSON TO BE A PROFESSIONAL IN REGARDS TO [04:23:55] EITHER CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN, PERMIT, EXPEDITING ENGINEERING, AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO BE [04:24:02] HOPEFULLY SUBMITTED BY THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING SO THAT WE CAN START HAVING THIS [04:24:05] CONVERSATION. SO AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE MANAGER TO HAVE A SELECTION THE CITY ARCHITECT [04:24:11] SHOULD HAVE. YOU KNOW, WE IT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THIS IS A TWICE A YEAR GROUP THAT MEETS [04:24:18] TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS OR MAYBE A QUARTERLY TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF OUR PERMITTING [04:24:24] PROCESS AND ALL PROCESSES. WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER? IF YOU TELL ME THAT OUR CITY ARCHITECT IS GOING TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT OUR ZONING DIRECTOR IS GOING TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. IF WE HAVE TEN PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD, FIVE MEMBERS FROM THE COMMISSION, ONE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY, ONE FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, MAYBE TWO FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. I'M NOT THIS IS NOT LIKE THE BOA WHERE THEY HAVE LIKE, IT'S QUASI JUDICIAL. THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE. I WANT PEOPLE TO USE THEIR EXPERTISE TO TELL ME HOW WE CAN BE BETTER. AND WHAT ARE THEY SEEING THAT WHERE ARE WE FALLING SHORT? HEY, VINCE, BY THE WAY, YOU'RE YOU'RE, YOUR SYSTEM FALLS A LITTLE BIT SHORT ON THIS ISSUE. NOT BECAUSE [04:25:04] YOU'RE DOING IT INTENTIONALLY, BUT DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A TWEAK THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY DO? OR WHAT IF YOU WHAT IF YOU ON A FEE ON A FEE SCHEDULE, FOR EXAMPLE. SO I WOULD LIKE FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO GIVE ME THEIR FEEDBACK. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? DO YOU THINK DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS? DO YOU THINK IT'S A WASTE OF TIME? ARE YOU WILLING TO TO PUT SOMEBODY ON THIS BOARD SO THAT WE CAN GET MORE FEEDBACK AND JUST KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE DOING? LOOK, LOOK, LOOK AT THE DAILY PERMITTING, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONER LARA, YOU CAME UP WITH THAT IDEA. YOU FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THAT IDEA. AND NOW WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THAT. BUT IT TOOK WORK. IT TOOK TWEAKING, IT TOOK OBVIOUSLY FINDING, FINDING A SECTION OF THE PERMITS THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO INCLUDE INTO THAT ONE DAY PERMITTING. AND NOW IT'S BEEN A SUCCESS. SO THE MAYOR YEAH, SO I, I AGREE WITH YOU. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE, RIGHT? PERMITTING HAPPENS TO BE PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST, IF NOT THE MOST FREQUENTLY CITED CONCERNS. THE RESIDENTS HAVE. FORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT PUBLIC SAFETY. RIGHT. BUT THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST ONE IF THAT SLIPPED. RIGHT. IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE TRASH PICKUP. RIGHT. BUT THEN WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE PERMITTING. THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM. AND, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE. RIGHT. SO ONE SMALL STEP IN THAT DIRECTION, RIGHT? THE SAME DAY PERMITTING. AND I THINK THAT IF WE PUT TOGETHER, AS YOU'RE SUGGESTING, A ROUND TABLE OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS WHO CAN TELL YOU IN REAL WORLD TIME WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING AND HOW THEY CAN MAKE IT WORK, I THINK THAT IT'S WHAT A CLICHE TO SAY, A NO BRAINER, BUT IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A NO BRAINER. AND NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE'RE TACKLING A PROBLEM, BUT IT HAPPENS TO BE A VERY BIG ONE, ONE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE BRING UP TO ME ON A REPEAT BASIS. SO THE LAST THING I'LL SAY ON THAT POINT IS EACH OF US, IF WE GO THIS ROUTE AND AND SELECT SOME INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE, WE'LL BE DOING SO BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT THE CITY, THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR INDUSTRY, AND THEY CARE ABOUT MAKING THINGS BETTER. SO I THINK YOU WILL TYPICALLY FIND IS THE PERSON WHO'S APPOINTED REALLY DOES HAVE THE BEST INTENTIONS AT HEART AND WILL BE DOING SO WITH WITH A REAL PASSION. IT'S MY, MY HOPE AND MY BELIEF TO THE MAYOR. YES, YES, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. HOWEVER, I THINK WE NEED TO INCORPORATE A PERCENTAGE OF THEM BEING AT LEAST CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS. I THINK OUR CITY IS VERY UNIQUE. AND YES, YOU COULD BE AN EXPERT IN THIS FIELD, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE AN EXPERT IN THE CHARACTER OF CORAL GABLES AND WHAT MAKES CORAL GABLES SPECIAL. SO I THINK WE NEED TO AT LEAST KEEP A PERCENTAGE OF THOSE EXPERTS AS RESIDENTS. I'M GOING TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER. NOT ONLY DO I AGREE WITH HER, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE A HOMEOWNER, NOT JUST A RENTER. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS A HOMEOWNER, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME, AS A HOMEOWNER, YOU HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME. WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS UP HERE AS A RENTER, YOU DON'T HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME. YOU'RE NOT PAYING TAXES. SO IMAGINE YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVING, YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVING ADVICE FROM A BOARD TO THE MANAGER TO TAKE ACTION IN REGARDS TO SOMETHING AS SENSITIVE AS PERMITS AND NOT BE A HOMEOWNER HERE. I THINK THAT THAT, THAT THAT IS APPROPRIATE. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE I THINK THERE SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A MAJORITY, LET'S SAY 75% SHOULD BE CORAL GABLES RESIDENTS WHO ARE HOMEOWNERS HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. MAYBE THE OTHER 25% CAN BE PROFESSIONALS OR, OR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. BUT I, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THIS BOARD THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES SHOULD BE HOMEOWNERS, NOT JUST BUSINESS OWNERS. I'M, I'M A HOMEOWNER AND I'M A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN THE CITY. SO THAT'S WHAT I THINK IS I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE. I THINK YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MORE SKIN IN THE GAME, AND YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL WHEN YOU MAKE DECISIONS THAT COULD ENCUMBER THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, NOT FOR ONE DAY, ONE MONTH, ONE YEAR, BUT SOMETIMES EVEN FOR A DECADE COULD ENCUMBER THE CITY VICE MAYOR. SO I HAVE SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR YOU ON ON THE BOARD ITSELF, BECAUSE WE HAVE BASICALLY THREE CATEGORIES OF PROJECTS WHERE WE ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS. YOU HAVE YOUR RESIDENTIAL PERMITTING, YOU HAVE YOUR COMMERCIAL PERMITTING, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECTS. EACH ONE OF THOSE ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW DIFFERENT PROCESSES. AND MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT DO COMMERCIAL DON'T DO THE RESIDENTIAL. SO I'D LIKE TO. CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE COME BACK WITH SOME SOME SUGGESTIONS. SHOULD IT BE SEPARATE BOARDS? IS THERE AN OVERLAP? BECAUSE I DO I DO THINK THAT THERE'S SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES THERE. AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF IT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY, AND I'VE SPOKEN TO A FEW DEVELOPERS, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE ROUTES, WHETHER IT BE COUNTY RTC OR LIVE LOCAL ACT, IS BECAUSE OF THE SLOWNESS OF THE [04:30:01] PERMITTING PROCESS IN THIS CITY, THE APPROVAL PROCESS, THE BOARD REVIEWS ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AND. HISTORIC PRESERVATION HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY TROUBLING, YOU KNOW, AND WHERE CAN WE MAKE IMPROVEMENTS? I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN COPIED ON THE EMAILS THAT I'VE FORWARDED TO YOU WITH CONCERNS AND THE PROCESS AND THE TIME, AND I'D LIKE FOR STAFF TO ALSO GET SOME SOME FEEDBACK THERE. SO HOW DO WE WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND ALL THREE OF THOSE DISCIPLINES AND PUT TOGETHER A BOARD THAT CAN COVER ALL THREE? OR SHOULD WE HAVE SUBGROUPS, SEPARATE SPECIALISTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT DO JUST HISTORIC PRESERVATION. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT JUST DO COMMERCIAL AND OTHERS THAT DO RESIDENTIAL. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, IF I MAY, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSION, MR. CLERK, I'D LIKE TO PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING THAT EACH ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS SUBMIT, SUBMIT THEIR PERSON OR PERSON WHO THEY WANT TO JOIN THIS THIS BOARD, WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY POWER. IT'S NOT GOING TO IT'S NOT GOING TO GIVE ANY. IT'S JUST GOING TO GIVE A. THEY'RE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A DOCUMENT THAT'S IN. THE MANAGER IS GOING TO PUT PUT ON, ON, ON THE WEBSITE. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE INCUMBENT ON US ON MAKING SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH. I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR THE CLERK, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY TO HAVE REPRESENTATION. CITY MANAGER, I THINK SHOULD HAVE TWO, TWO MEMBERS BECAUSE AGAIN, THE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE KNOW WHO ARE PROFESSIONALS, I THINK IT'S BETTER HISTORIC CAN HAVE A PERSON ON THE BOARD. I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT. I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE I CAN THINK OF. PUBLIC WORKS MAYBE HAVE SOMEBODY WE CAN HAVE LIKE TEN PEOPLE ON THAT BOARD. I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY NICE. THE MORE THE MERRIER TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WHICH IS AGAIN, FRUITFUL, A FRUITFUL CONVERSATION. YES. MR. MANAGER, MAYOR, IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT EXPEDITING, WE SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT PROCESS. EXACTLY. I USE YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE CORRECT. I USE THE WORD EXPEDITING BY MISTAKE. I SHOULDN'T USE THE WORD EXPEDITING. IT SHOULD BE PROCESS ACROSS THE BOARD. THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD BE. AND THANK YOU FOR THROUGH THE MAYOR. EXACTLY. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT. AND I ALSO THINK THAT WITH THE ADDITIONAL SHORING UP, BEEFING UP OR EXPANSION THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE WE'VE HAD THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THROUGH THE ENTERPRISE FUND GOING INTO PERMITTING, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO FIND THE WAY TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE IT QUICKER, MORE EFFICIENTLY AND THROUGH PROPER PROCESS, BUT WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE SEEKING A WAY TO PROVIDE THIS AS A, AS A, A SOLUTION AND A BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENTS WITHOUT INCREASING OR ADDING ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR DOING SO. AND ALSO ANOTHER REQUEST. MR. MR. CLARK, FOR THE RECORD, IS I WANT THESE MEETINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AS ALWAYS, ANYBODY CAN COME AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPEN, OPEN MIC AND THEY CAN SAY, THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE. THIS IS WHAT I RECOMMEND. MR. MR. MAYOR, ON THAT NOTE. SO I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE SOME GUIDANCE AS TO THE PARAMETERS. SO IS THIS INTENDED TO BE A PERMANENT BOARD THAT WOULD BE ONGOING OR SHORT TERM, SHORT TERM SHORT TERM LIKE A LIKE A FOR THE NEXT YEAR, LET'S SAY ONE YEAR. OKAY. AND IS IT SO I HEARD THINGS ABOUT I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANY DECISIONS, BUT IF IT'S A RECOMMENDING BOARD, THEN IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SUNSHINE, WHICH IS FINE FOR PURPOSES OF BEING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. BUT THEN THAT MEANS THAT BOARD MEMBERS CANNOT TALK TO EACH OTHER OUTSIDE OF THE MEETING. SO IF IT'S NOT A RECOMMENDING BOARD, IT'S MORE LIKE A FACT FINDING COMMITTEE THAN THEN THAT'S DIFFERENT. SO SO I'M UNDERSTANDING IT'D BE A SHORT TERM, YOU KNOW, LIKE A ONE YEAR, ONE YEAR, MAKING ME THREE TIMES ONCE EVERY FOUR MONTHS. AND THEY CAN, THEY CAN PRODUCE A MEMO, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE, AT THE END, THEY CAN PRODUCE A MEMO OR THEY CAN GIVE IT THE INFORMATION TO STAFF WITH THEIR FINDINGS, WITH THEIR FINDINGS. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE INTENT IS JUST VERY SIMPLE. IT'S JUST TO PUT ALL THIS INFORMATION, ALL THIS INFORMATION INTO ONE DOCUMENT, WHICH CAN BE SHOWCASED ON OUR WEBSITE. AND IT'S POSITIVE. I MEAN, IF YOU COME TO THIS MEETING, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY, LET'S SAY MY APPOINTMENT, MY APPOINTMENT, WHOEVER THAT MAY BE, SAYS MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT PERMITS BE FREE. YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO BE AS ABSURD AS POSSIBLE. YOU KNOW, MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT PERMITS TAKE 24 HOURS FOR FULL BUILDINGS. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. I MEAN, YOU HAVE DERM, YOU HAVE WASA. IT'S JUST YOU CAN'T YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE IT DOESN'T. I'M TRYING TO BE AS ABSURD AS POSSIBLE. YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THE INTENT OF THIS. THE INTENT IS TO BE TO DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY. BE ASPIRATIONAL, BUT BE BE CONSCIENTIOUS OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LIMITS. WE HAVE LIMITS. AND AI ISN'T THE ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING. OKAY? BECAUSE AI DOESN'T RESOLVE THE BOA AI DOESN'T RESOLVE HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THOSE ARE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE BY HUMAN BEINGS. BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE YOU USE AI WITH MY HOUSE, HISTORIC OR POTENTIALLY HISTORIC, DON'T TAKE THAT IN YOUR CLOSING. DON'T TAKE THAT. DON'T DON'T TAKE THAT AS A TO BUY YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE IT BE A I TOLD YOU NOT TO. OKAY, MAKE SURE YOU GET HISTORIC [04:35:04] DESIGNATION LETTER, OKAY. AND MAKE SURE YOU TALK TO YOUR B AND MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THAT PROPERTY TO THE BOA BECAUSE TO MAKE SURE 110% THAT IT COMPLIES WITH HISTORIC PRESERVATION OR, OR A CERTAIN DESIGN THAT YOU'RE GOING AFTER. SO MY POINT IS, IT'S, IT'S SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR. I DON'T WANT IT TO BE ANYTHING THAT. HAS TO BE 100%, YOU KNOW, IT PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSION. AND THEN THE COMMISSION WILL SAY, MR. MANAGER, LET'S GO OVER THIS DOCUMENT. LET'S SEE WHAT CAN BE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED. WHERE DO WE STAND? THEN WE CAN HAVE A SUNSHINE MEETING OURSELVES, SIT DOWN, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY, LOOK, WE GOT THIS A GREAT MEMO, KIND OF. DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU REMEMBER WHEN I HAD THREE EXPEDITERS PROVIDE US WITH MEMOS? SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WERE ALREADY ON THE WORKS BY THE MANAGER. AND GUESS WHAT? THEY'VE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE I'VE HEARD, FOR EXAMPLE, I HEARD FROM LUCY LAST WEEK AND SHE TOLD ME, VINCE, SOME OF THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND THEY'RE BEING VERY SUCCESSFUL. SO THANK YOU. SHE JUST CALLED ME TO THANK ME. I SAID, DON'T THANK ME, THANK THE MANAGER. SO MY POINT IS THAT THIS IS JUST BECAUSE YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY, YOU DON'T LISTEN, PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN. I HAVE A LITTLE IDEAS. I GO, OKAY, WELL, LET'S LET'S BRING THEM FORWARD, BRING THEM FORWARD, GET INVOLVED. COMMISSIONER. AND WOULD YOU BRING UP IS EXACTLY RIGHT, BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THAT WE GET THE IDEA AND WITHIN 24 HOURS, WE CAN TURN THAT AROUND TO A SOLUTION THAT WORKS. BUT THERE'S PROCESS IN PLACE. THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE. BUT SOMETHING THAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT AI, IT MAY BE A GOOD PLACE TO ALSO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE CIO'S OFFICE. PERFECT, BECAUSE THE CIO'S OFFICE HAS HAD TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF OUR HINDRANCES IN OUR SOFTWARE, AND THEY MAY QUICKLY BE ABLE TO TURN AROUND A SOLUTION THAT THAT COULD BE A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT COMES UP IN THE DISCUSSION, OR BE ABLE TO SOURCE SOMETHING BY THE TIME IT COMES TO COMMISSION, YOU CAN REALLY HAVE CONCRETE IDEAS THAT YOU CAN ALREADY ACT UPON AT THAT POINT. AND I THINK IT WOULD IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL. WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST CIOS IN THE COUNTRY, THE BEST. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE SOMETIMES WE COULD PROBABLY FIND BETTER WAYS TO USE THAT OFFICE THAT CAN HELP STREAMLINE THINGS IN THE CITY BECAUSE THEY'RE CUTTING EDGE AND THEY CAN REALLY COME UP WITH SOME REALLY GOOD IDEAS. IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME 13 YEARS AGO WHEN I STARTED HERE, THAT WE WOULD HAVE CARS THAT ARE AUTONOMOUS AND NOT LITERALLY YOU SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW, AND THAT WE WILL BE THE FIRST CITY IN THE STATE AND POTENTIALLY IN THE COUNTRY TO STORE OUR TECHNOLOGY IN ON THE MOON. I WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT. OKAY, SO THIS IS MOVING AT A LIGHTNING SPEED. SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE CIO THERE TO, TO BE ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL IN THE ROOM WHO CAN HELP US OUT. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. MAYOR, WE'RE MOVING VERY QUICKLY ON THE TECHNOLOGY FRONT. THAT'S WHY I SAID THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PROCESS FROM BEGINNING TO END, INCLUDING COMMISSION, BECAUSE CARRYING COSTS, MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, ARE WHAT ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND WHAT'S CAUSING THIS RTC, LIVE LOCAL AND ALL THESE ISSUES. AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND GET THE MOST BANG, THEN LET'S LOOK AT IT FROM BEGINNING TO END. OKAY. AND LOOK AT THAT PROCESS AND SEE HOW, HOW WE CAN STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AND REALLY MAINTAIN WHAT CORAL GABLES IS, IS ABOUT. I THINK IT CAN BE DONE, BUT IT'S EITHER GOING TO BE DONE OR WE'RE GOING TO OR, OR THE STATE AND COUNTY ARE GOING TO DO IT FOR US. THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW. SO MOVING FORWARD AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING, MR. CLARK, LET'S HAVE AN ITEM THAT WE EACH COMMISSIONER, THE MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, PUBLIC WORKS, WHOEVER THE MANAGER DEEMS APPROPRIATE, AND HIS TEAM TO HAVE A POSITION. WE CAN HAVE 10 OR 12 PEOPLE IN A ROOM. WE MEET, LET'S SAY THREE TIMES IN A YEAR, TWICE IN A YEAR, WHATEVER THE MANAGER DEEMS APPROPRIATE. AND THEN WE WILL PRESENT A MEMO THAT WILL PRESENT IT IN A PUBLIC FORUM. AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN IMPLEMENT WHAT WE HAVE IN THAT MEMO TO SOME CAPACITY. OKAY, PERFECT. ALL RIGHT. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SELECTIONS. AT FIVE DISCUSSION REGARDING ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS [F.-5. 26-2276 Discussion regarding alternative materials for tree protection structures. (Sponsored by Mayor Lago)] FOR TREE PROTECTION STRUCTURES. AGAIN, I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS. THIS IS A RESIDENT THAT BROUGHT THIS IDEA TO ME. AND I LIKE TO SHOW YOU A SLIDE IF POSSIBLE. THEN WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE DCM. MR. CLARK. CABLE TV COULD PUT UP THE SLIDE FOR FIVE. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS A THIS IS AN EXAMPLE. OBVIOUSLY CURRENT FENCING. BRIGHT ORANGE FENCING PROVIDES PROTECTION BUT IS UNPLEASANT ESTHETICALLY. SOME DON'T MIND IT, SOME DO. I THINK IT KIND OF BOTHERS ME NOW. THIS IS WHAT THE RESIDENT BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. PROPOSED FENCING. [04:40:02] GREEN FENCING STILL PROVIDES PROTECTION BUT IS MORE HARMONIOUS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. THIS WAS PUT TOGETHER BY LAURA, MY OFFICE WHO DID AN AMAZING JOB. I REALLY LIKE IT. BUT THEN THE DCM RAINED ON MY PARADE. OKAY, AND THAT'S OKAY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S OKAY. I LIKE FOR THE DCM AND THE MANAGER TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ABOUT THEIR OPINIONS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY, BUT WE CAN JUST TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, I WOULDN'T WANT TO PENALIZE ANYBODY WHO HAS IF WE DO DECIDE TO GO WITH A RIGHT. IF YOU HAVE THE ORANGE, FINISH YOUR PROJECT, IF YOU HAVE TO REPLACE IT, WE WOULD REPLACE IT WITH A GREEN. BUT IF YOU'RE STARTING A NEW PROJECT, WE WOULD MOVE TO THE GREEN. BUT I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE DOING THAT. I'M JUST SAYING WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION. MR. DCM SO THANK THANK YOU MAYOR. SO AS WHEN WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS AND YOU BROUGHT THE THE EXAMPLE, THE CONCERN THAT I, I RAISED IS THAT A TREE PROTECTION, THE NAME PROTECTION MEANS TO PROTECT THE TREE. THE REASON FOR THE ORANGE MESH IS BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH VISIBILITY. SO THE INTENT IS FOR THE TREE TO BE PROTECTED. SO YOU CAN SEE IT TO MAKE SURE THAT VEHICLE DOESN'T BACK INTO A TREE. IT'S IT'S VISIBLE OUT THERE. SO THE GREEN MESH AND I, I WAS THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT I AGREE. THE GREEN MESH LOOKS A LOT NICER THAN THE ORANGE. HOWEVER, IT DOES BLEND, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THAT PHOTOGRAPH RIGHT THERE THAT LAURA PROVIDED, IT BLENDS WITH THE GRASS. SO IF YOU HAVE THIS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S HIGH TRAFFIC, I THINK IT WILL DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE TREE. I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY FIND A BALANCE HERE WHERE IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS YOU CAN HAVE MORE ESTHETICALLY PLEASING. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ONE HERE LOOKS LIKE IT'S INSIDE THE PROPERTY THERE. YOU KNOW IT. IT'S NOT IN THE THRUWAY. HOWEVER, I WOULD BE VERY REMISS TO RECOMMEND USING THAT GREEN MESH IN IN ROADS THAT HAVE HIGH TRAFFIC WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF VOLUME BECAUSE THE CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, FOR THE MOST PART, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OCCASIONS AND YOU CAN SEE THE TREE BATTERS OUT THERE, A LOT OF THEM GET HIT. AND EVEN WITH THE ORANGE MESH. SO IMAGINE IF WE GO WITH THE GREEN MESH, I THINK IT'LL DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF IT. SO THAT WAS MY CONCERN THAT I RAISED TO YOU. OKAY, SO I BROUGHT UP THE DIRECTOR BECAUSE I IMAGINED THAT SHE WANTED TO PROBABLY AGREE WITH YOU. I'M PRETTY SURE SHE WANTS TO AGREE, BUT THAT'S OKAY. GO AHEAD. THE MORE THE BETTER. WHAT HE SAID. LET'S THINK ABOUT THE ORANGE. IT'S SO BAD. IT'S SO BAD. ON THE VERY EDGE OF ROADS, WE HAVE A LOT OF TREES THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED IN THE SWALES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SWALE PROTECTION TODAY. SOME OF THESE FENCES ARE TWO FEET OFF THE EDGE OF ROAD, AND MY CONCERN IS AT NIGHT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE GREEN. YOU SEE THE ORANGE. I'M AFRAID SOMEONE MIGHT HIT THE WOOD. YEAH. OKAY. ONE THING I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD BEFORE COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ SPEAKS. IF WE COULD AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO GET UPSET, PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, I MAY GET I MAY GET THE BLOGS TALKING ABOUT ME TOMORROW, BUT IT'S OKAY. IT IS WHAT IT IS. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE AN INSPECTION ON THEIR PROPERTY. AGAIN, THIS IS MY INDUSTRY. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE AN INSPECTION ON THEIR PROPERTY. IF THEIR TREE PROTECTION IS NOT UP TO STANDARD. WE'VE DONE A LOT BETTER. WE'VE DONE A LOT BETTER. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE TURNING PEOPLE IN. WE'RE TURNING PEOPLE IN BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THE TREE. SO IT'S A CATCH 22 TO YOU TRY TO WIN VOTES OR DO YOU TRY TO SAVE TREES? MAYOR, TO THAT POINT, WE MODIFIED THE TREE PROTECTION DETAIL A FEW MONTHS AGO BASED ON THE DISCUSSION WE HAD WITH YOU ABOUT THE CONDITION OF AND WE WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT GOING OUT THERE. SO WE WENT AHEAD AND MODIFIED THE TREE PROTECTION DETAIL. SO IT'S A LOT MORE REINFORCED NOW IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO TO, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF THOSE CASES OUT THERE WHERE YOU'LL SEE THAT THE TREE BATTERIES, THE PROTECTION IS DOWN AND IT'S ON AN ANGLE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT USING THE RIGHT PROPER WOOD OR THE THE RIGHT BRACING. SO WE'VE TAKEN STEPS TOWARDS THAT DIRECTION. MY POINT THERE ON THAT IS THAT IF YOU HAVE AN INSPECTOR ON SITE TO OBVIOUSLY DO AN INSPECTION, TO DO AN INSPECTION FOR FOR A PROJECT, RIGHT, IT'S PERFECTLY FINE. LET THAT INSPECTION HAPPEN. BUT NOTE, YOU KNOW, HALT INSPECTIONS UNTIL THE TREE PROTECTION IS COMPLETED. I DON'T KNOW HOW MY COLLEAGUES FEEL ABOUT THAT. AGAIN, IT'S GOING AGAINST MY OWN INDUSTRY. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN SAVE JUST ONE OAK TREE, ONE, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY BEAUTIFUL SPECIMEN TREE BECAUSE WE CORRECT THAT. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S WORTH IT. AND BY THE WAY, HOW HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO CORRECT IT FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT? IT'S WOOD. IT'S WOOD. I MEAN, YOU CAN HAVE A CAR, YOU HAVE CARPENTERS ON SITE. I MEAN, ANYBODY CAN DO IT JUST WITH A FEW NAILS. YOU CAN FIX. YOU CAN FIX IT AND HAVE THAT ORANGE [04:45:04] FENCE. I HAVE TO FIX THE IRON FENCE IN MY HOUSE. I HAVE A TEAR ON IT. SO I GOT TO FIX IT. BUT MY POINT IS THAT IS THAT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE FIXED. AND I, AND I THINK THAT WE WE WANT TO PROTECT THE SITE. AND IT'S ALSO PROTECTION NOT ONLY FOR THE TREES, BUT IT'S ALSO PROTECTION FOR THE BUILDING AREA. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WALKING BY, THEY DON'T GET IMPALED BY IT AT NIGHT. YOU SEE PEOPLE WALKING IN NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY MAY NOT SEE THE WOOD ON THE GROUND. SO IT'S JUST A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. SO I, I ACTUALLY LIKE THIS CONCEPT JUST BECAUSE I DRIVE THROUGH GRANADA EVERY DAY. AND RIGHT NOW ON GRANADA, PRETTY MUCH FROM GREENWAY ALL THE WAY TO SOUTHWEST EIGHTH STREET, EVERY TREE HAS ONE OF THESE ORANGE TREE PROTECTION ZONES, AND IT'S REALLY DETRACTING FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU KNOW, IF IF WE ARE GOING TO IF WE ARE CORAL GABLES, WE SHOULD BE AT A HIGHER STANDARD. AND THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY CONSTRUCTION AT NIGHT. SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES DRIVING AROUND THE TREES AT NIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST NOT ALLOWED. AND THE TREE PROTECTION ZONE, AS LARGE AS IT IS, IT'S REALLY NOT THAT FAR AWAY FROM THE BASE OF THE TREE. THERE SHOULDN'T BE VEHICLES DRIVING IN THAT AREA. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST VEHICLES THAT ARE DRIVING ON THE ON THE STREET AT NIGHT OR COMING CLOSE. THE OTHER THING IS ON ENFORCEMENT. YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES YOU GO BY THERE AND THEY'RE JUST USING BARRICADES, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE BOB'S BARRICADES, OR YOU SEE THOSE PLASTIC BARRICADES THAT YOU USE TO BLOCK ROADS. AND THAT'S WHAT THE UNDERLINE HAS BEEN. THE UNDERGROUNDING HAS BEEN USING FOR THE MOST PART. AND, YOU KNOW, THE DCM HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE ON THAT. ANYTIME THAT I'VE CALLED IT IN, HE'S HAD SOMEBODY COME OUT BECAUSE ALL THEY DO IS THEY JUST LAY THEM AGAINST THE TREE, WHICH IS COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. AND THEN, I MEAN, I THINK NOW THEY'VE GONE THE OPPOSITE EXTREME, BECAUSE IF YOU GO DOWN GRANADA, I THINK THEY HAVE LIKE A TRIPLE TREE PROTECTION ZONE AROUND SOME OF THESE TREES BECAUSE IT'S HUGE. YOU PROBABLY HAVE A TREE PROTECTION ZONE THAT'S 10 OR 15FT IN DIAMETER. BUT I THINK AS FAR AS ESTHETIC AND LOOK, AND MAYBE WE CAN DO IT ON THE SMALLER STREETS, LIKE THE MAYOR WAS SAYING, AND IN RESIDENTIAL STREETS, MAYBE WE CAN USE THE GREEN SO THAT IT DOESN'T DETRACT AS MUCH FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WILL TAKE A YEAR. AND, YOU KNOW, AS A NEIGHBOR, YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH HERE, YOU LIVE IN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PAYING A CORAL GABLES MORTGAGE, YOU LIVE IN CORAL GABLES HOME, YOU WANT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO LOOK CORAL GABLES. AND THE TREE PROTECTION ZONE IS NECESSARY. BUT THESE ORANGE TAPES, THEY'RE HORRIBLE. THERE'S A HOUSE ON. I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT'S MARIANA OR VENETIA. THAT TREE PROTECTION ZONE HAS BEEN THERE FOR THREE YEARS, AND THEY'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S TORN. YOU KNOW, THE WOOD IS FALLING APART. IT'S ROTTED. THAT'S I DON'T KNOW. I THINK AS FAR AS ESTHETICS AND LOOK, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE MORE. SOMETHING THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE THE ACTUAL AREA WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER. AND I THINK THE GREEN WILL DO IT. AND IF THEY'RE NOT USING OLD WOOD, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS IT DOESN'T BLEND IN AS MUCH LIKE, LIKE IN THIS PHOTO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NEW WOOD THAT WAS USED ON THE GREEN ONE. SO IT DOESN'T LOOK AS BAD. OBVIOUSLY THE ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE, THAT'S OLDER WOOD. SO IT KIND OF LOOKS FADED AND BLENDS IN WITH THE WITH THE BACKGROUND. SO THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTION AND BLAZE ORANGE IS AN INTERNATIONAL COLOR FOR CAUTION, INTERNATIONAL COLOR FOR CAUTION. IT'S STILL HORRIFICALLY UGLY, EVEN THOUGH EVEN THOUGH THE COLOR OF CORAL GABLES IS ORANGE, IT'S NOT THAT TYPE OF ORANGE. AND AT LEAST TAPE IS A HURRICANE FAN. AND IT'S ORANGE. THE IDEA OR THE SUNSHINE STATE AND IT'S ORANGE. BUT THIS IS LIKE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S LIKE A, IT'S LIKE AN EYESORE. AND IT'S, IT'S DOING ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. IT'S ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO, TO THAT. THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE ISSUE OF BLAZE ORANGE. AND, AND SO IF, IF WE'RE LOOKING, WHAT ARE THE CONSTRUCTION BLAZERS USE OF BLAZE ORANGE? WHAT ARE WHAT ARE BARRICADES BLAZE ORANGE. SO YOU'RE MAKING TOO MUCH SENSE. OKAY, WE GET IT, WE GET IT, WE GET IT. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU BRING UP A POINT THAT I THINK WE USE PROTECTION ZONES AROUND CONSTRUCTION SITES. AND MANY OF THOSE WE HAVE SOME SORT OF GRAPHIC. WHAT IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING HERE WHERE THE CITY CAN CREATE IT, AND THEY CAN BUY IT OFF OF THE CITY, WHERE IT HAS A GRAPHIC THAT CAN LOOK LIKE A SWALE PACKAGE. IT'LL LOOK DIFFERENT, BUT IT CAN BE PUT AROUND THERE. IT IS STILL PROTECTION. MAYBE WE CAN HAVE SOME ORANGE STRIPING ON THE TOP OR ON THE BOTTOM SO THAT IT HIGHLIGHTS IT, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK AS BAD BECAUSE THE REASON THAT WE'RE PUTTING THE CONSTRUCTION FENCING, WE ALLOW THE THE CITY HALL, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT SOMETHING NICE AROUND IT SO THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK AS BAD. THIS IS LITERALLY IN FRONT OF PEOPLE'S HOMES AND SOMETIMES FOR YEARS. SO IT'S SOMETHING SMALL THAT CAN BE DONE. AND [04:50:05] MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT JUST LOOKS LIKE A NICE SWALE PACKAGE, MAYBE WITH SOME ORANGE STRIPING AROUND IT AND PUT IT ON THERE FOR YOUR ALSO FOR YOUR ARGUMENT, JUST, JUST TO GIVE YOU MORE CREDENCE TO YOUR ARGUMENT, CROSSING GUARDS ARE ORANGE TO I CAN KEEP GOING INTERNATIONAL COLOR MAYOR THROUGH THE MAYOR. SO TO COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ'S SUGGESTION, I MEAN, YOU ARE CLEARLY LEADING THE WAY. THE MAYOR IS LEADING TO MAKING IT LESS STAND OUT, RIGHT? LIKE ULTIMATELY WE CAN MAKE IT A CAMO MOTIF, RIGHT? AND THEN MAKE IT MAKE IT ABSOLUTELY INVISIBLE. RIGHT. BUT AND IT WOULD LOOK BETTER BECAUSE IT WOULD BLEND IN. SWALE PACKAGE MIGHT ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT INADVERTENTLY, RIGHT? IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT THE SWALE WOULD LOOK LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT OKAY, SO WHICH ARE OTHER INTERNATIONAL BESIDES BLAZE ORANGE SAFETY COLORS? IS IT LIKE LIME GREEN? LIME GREEN. SO, MAYOR, WOULD YOU THINK LIME GREEN WOULD BE LESS OFFENSIVE THAN BLAZE ORANGE? ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT CONSTRUCTION VESTS, THE TWO COLORS THAT ARE THE LIME GREEN OR THE ORANGE, THOSE ARE THE SAME. SAME AS CROSSING GUARDS. YES, SAME AS WHEN YOU'RE A HUNTER. YOU'RE IN THE WOODS. YOU'RE YOU'RE IN ORANGE. SO LISTEN, MY POINT IS, I THINK WE'VE I THINK WE'VE KILLED THIS. I THINK IT'S DEAD RIGHT. I GET IT, I GET IT, I GET IT, MAYOR. YES. I'M GOING TO ADD TWO. YOU'RE KILLING. I MEAN, IT MAY BE DIFFERENT IN SOME STREETS WHERE YOU HAVE 25 MILES AN HOUR VERSUS STREETS THAT ARE OVER 25 MILES AN HOUR. WE COULD DRAW A DISTINCTION THERE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, WITHOUT THE TREE PROTECTION, AND YOU GET SOME OF THESE CREWS OUT THAT ARE WORKING FOR FPL THAT COME FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IF THERE'S NOT TREE PROTECTION AROUND IT, THEY THINK IT'S A LICENSE TO KILL THE TREE. LITERALLY. THEY'LL BORE RIGHT THROUGH THE, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL ROOT ZONE, STABILITY, ROOT ZONE. AND I ASKED A GENTLEMAN ONE TIME, I SAID, YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE A PERMIT FOR THAT? WELL, WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY. YOU GUYS DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THESE TREES BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE TREE PROTECTION AROUND THEM. WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT TREE PROTECTION AROUND EVERY, EVERY SINGLE TREE IN OUR STREET. BUT MAYBE LOOK AT THE MILE PER HOUR ISSUE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT BLAZING ORANGE NEEDS TO BE USED, AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE A BLEND, MAYBE WITH SOME GREEN AND MAYBE AN ORANGE STRIPE. GO GO CANES. SO YES, I DON'T KNOW, JUST JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I'LL CHALK THAT UP AS A LOSS. GOOD SPORT. THE CANES AT THE SAME TIME. YOU KNOW, I GUESS YOU GUYS DIDN'T GET THE MEMO. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO AGREE WITH ME ON EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKED AROUND HERE, BUT I GUESS NOT. YEAH, BUT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO AGREE WITH ME ON EVERYTHING LIKE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER. I, I DO, I, I, THEY'RE REQUIRED, I OWN THEM, THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER, THEY'RE, I'M THEIR BOSS. SO THEY HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING I SAY, AT LEAST [F.-6. 26-2282 Discussion regarding vehicles stopping on primary emergency thoroughfares. (Sponsored by Vice Mayor Anderson)] THAT'S WHAT THE BLOGS SAY. RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO F6. MAYBE WE'LL HAVE BETTER LUCK ON THAT ONE, MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE TWO CHIEFS FOR SOME TIME, AND I WANTED TO BRING THIS FORWARD ABOUT DISCUSSION REGARDING VEHICLE STOPPING ON PERRY PRIMARY EMERGENCY THOROUGHFARES. THE MAIN THING I'M THINKING ABOUT, I HAVE A LIST HERE OF TEN AREAS TO LOOK AT. TAKE ONE AND PASS THIS DOWN. ARE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE EMT VEHICLES. THEY NEED TO GET THROUGH THE STREETS. AND IF WE HAVE LAWN TRUCKS BLOCKING THE WAY, IT'S GOING TO SLOW DOWN SERVICE. GRANADA IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. YOU HAVE A LARGE SWALE. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO EITHER PULL IN ON THE SWALE VERSUS BLOCKING GRANADA ROAD UP AND DOWN. I'VE LISTED IN ADDITION TO GRANADA, RIVIERA, ALHAMBRA CIRCLE AND SOUTH ALHAMBRA MONADA UNIVERSITY DRIVE, WHERE THERE'S LESS THAN TWO LANES TRAVELING IN ONE DIRECTION LEJEUNE ROAD, DOUGLAS ROAD, KENDALL DRIVE, RED ROAD AND BYRD ROAD. SO. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL ONES, BUT OUR EMT SERVICES AND DRIVERS AND FIRE TRUCK DRIVERS CAN LOOK AT THIS MORE CAREFULLY TO SEE WHERE IT IS THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LAWN TRUCKS PARKING FOR HOURS WHILE THEY SERVICE LAWNS. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A FIVE MINUTE STOP TO DROP OFF A PACKAGE FROM [04:55:01] UPS OR AMAZON, BUT AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THESE VEHICLES ARE STOPPED BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO RECTIFY WITH RESIDENTS TO GET TICKETS FOR STOPPING AND STANDING AND ROADS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PARKING LOT YET. LAWN TRUCKS ARE GIVEN LIKE A GOLDEN PASS AND ALLOWED TO PARK FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, EVEN ALL DAY, SOMETIMES IMPEDING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. SO THAT'S THE THOUGHT AND IDEA. I'D LIKE STAFF TO LOOK AT THIS, COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE NEXT MEETING, SO THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER. IT'S UP TO THE CITY ATTORNEY WHETHER WE NEED A RESOLUTION, AN ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE STOPPING AND STANDING ON THOSE STREETS. PULL AROUND THE CORNER, PULL OFF INTO THE SWALE, PULL INTO THE CIRCULAR DRIVE. SO MANY TIMES I'VE SEEN CIRCULAR DRIVES EMPTY. BUT YET WE HAVE THE LAWN TRUCKS OUT THERE. STOP FOR A MOMENT, UNLOAD IF YOU NEED, AND THEN PULL AROUND THE CORNER OR OR PULL SOMEWHERE ELSE. IF YOU HAVE NO PLACE TO GO AND YOU CAN PARK IN THE SWALE, JUST MOVE THE VEHICLE TO MOW UNDERNEATH. YOU CAN. IT CAN. IT CAN WORK. IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE EFFORT, BUT IT MAY SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE IN THE MEANTIME, THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT CAME TO MIND. YOU HAVE A LOT OF OF THE NARROW STREETS WHERE YOU HAVE LANDSCAPERS WHO YOU HAVE TWO TRUCKS THAT COME ON THE SAME DAY, AND THEN THEY BLOCK EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. SO SOMETHING IF WE'RE ALREADY CONSIDERING THIS TO CONSIDER MAYBE ONLY ALLOWING PARKING ON EAST OR WEST, NORTH OR SOUTH SIDE OF A ROAD. THAT WAY, IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE TRUCKS, THEY CAN'T BLOCK THE FULL FLOW OF TRAFFIC. BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ON ROADS WHERE YOU JUST HAVE BARELY ENOUGH ROOM TO GET BETWEEN THE TWO TRUCKS TO MANEUVER AROUND, AND WHEN THEY HAVE THE BED OPEN OF THE OF THE TRAILER, YOU MEAN IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY BACK OUT WITH THEIR LAWNMOWERS AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN LOOKING RIGHT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT STAFF CAN LOOK AT AND GET BACK TO US. I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY PASSED AT LEAST ONE RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE DEALING WITH WHICH SIDE OF THE ROAD THEY HAVE TO PARK, BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THIS. AND IF SOMEONE'S PARKED ON MY SIDE OF THE STREET BLOCKING MY AREA, BUT THEY'RE SERVICING SOMEBODY ACROSS THE STREET, THAT CAUSES A PROBLEM TOO. SO I'D LIKE STAFF TO COME BACK TO US IN DECEMBER WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. ANYTHING ELSE, MADAM VICE MAYOR? NO. THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL [H.-1. 26-2269 A Resolution of the City Commission accepting the recommendation of the Chief Procurement Officer to award the Art Cinema Expansion Project to Hycon Investments, LLC, the most responsive and responsible bidder, in an estimated total amount of $1,239,900.00 pursuant to Invitation for Bids (IFB) 2026-021 and Section 2-763 of the Procurement Code entitled "Contract Award." Lobbyist: N/A] MOVE ON TO PLAY WITH IN DECEMBER. CITY MANAGER ITEMS WHICH ARE ITEM H1H1 IS RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER TO AWARD THE ART CINEMA EXPANSION PROJECT TO ICON INVESTMENTS, LLC, THE MOST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, AND AN ESTIMATED TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,239,900 PURSUANT TO INVITATION FOR BIDS 2026 021 AND SECTION 2-763 OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE ENTITLED CONTRACT AWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON. CELESTE WALKER HARMON, CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER. THIS IS AN AWARD TO THE MOST RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. THIS IS FOR THE RENOVATIONS FOR THE ART CINEMA, AS STATED. AND WE'RE ASKING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS BIDDER. QUICK QUESTION. THANK YOU. BY THE WAY. GREAT WORK, MR. MANAGER. I REVIEWED I REVIEWED THE THREE BIDDER, THE THREE FINALISTS 1231.35. EXCUSE ME. THE TOP THREE BETTER SAID. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS I AM ONLY FAMILIAR WITH WEST CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT DID THE. THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB IN REGARDS TO FIRE STATION FOUR. I THINK THEY. I THINK WE HAD A COST SAVINGS THERE. THERE WASN'T REALLY THAT MANY CHANGE ORDERS. THEY WERE ON TIME. A LOT OF THE CONTINGENCY WAS RETURNED. TELL ME IF I'M CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. MAYOR. OKAY. I'M NOT I'M NOT PRIVY TO I DON'T KNOW, WEST CONSTRUCTION PERSONALLY. I'VE NEVER MET THEM, BUT I'VE SEEN THEIR WORK HERE IN THE CITY. I'M NOT REALLY PRIVY TO, TO THE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME IN FIRST PLACE. AND THE DIFFERENCE WAS, I THINK $5,000, $6,000, $6,000. OKAY, THIS CINEMA EXPANSION, THIS ART CINEMA EXPANSION IS A CRITICAL PROJECT THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT GETS DELIVERED ON TIME WITHIN BUDGET. I NEED TO WE NEED TO REALLY FOCUS ON THAT. AND WE HAVE A LOT ON OUR PLATE ALREADY, FROM CITY HALL TO THE MOBILITY HUB, WHICH IS SOMETHING I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE WHILE TO TO THE GONDOLA BUILDING, TO THE WATER TOWER, TO INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE DOING HERE ALL THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW, A DOWNTOWN. HOW DOES STAFF I KNOW PROCUREMENT DID THEIR JOB. THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB. HOW HOW DOES YOUR STAFF FEEL ABOUT IF WE'RE BETWEEN ONE, TWO AND THREE, I THINK THANK YOU. MAYOR. [05:00:04] PROCUREMENT DID A VERY GOOD JOB. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THEY DID THEIR JOB. THEY DID THEIR JOB, AND THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB. THE WHAT WE HAVE WITH WEST CONSTRUCTION IS, IS A KNOWN ENTITY. IT DID DO A VERY GOOD JOB ON FIREHOUSE FOUR. WE DID NOT USE ALL THE CONTINGENCY. AND THIS IS A JOB THAT WE'LL BE MANAGING. AS YOU KNOW, WE PROVIDED THE CINEMA WITH $450,000 WITH. WE DID THE PROCUREMENT AND NOW WE'RE DOING THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ALSO. AND OF COURSE, THERE'S NO THERE'S NO CHARGE FOR THAT. SO IT'S A $6,000 DIFFERENCE IN A MILLION PLUS DOLLAR JOB. SO WE HAVE WE HAVE A VERY GOOD RAPPORT. AND WITH WEST CONSTRUCTION. AND I THINK IT WOULD CERTAINLY MAKE THE, THE MANAGEMENT OF, OF, OF THE JOB EASIER FROM, FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE THEY'RE A KNOWN ENTITY AS THAT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB. OKAY. WHAT'S THE WILL OF THE COMMISSION? DO THEY WANT TO GO WITH THE FIRST PLACE FINISHER, OR WOULD THEY LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION POTENTIALLY GOING WITH THE SECOND PLACE FINISHER AND ASKING FOR A REDUCTION IN PRICE? YES, MR. MANAGER, THE MAYOR, THE SECOND PLACE FINISHER WILL MATCH OR OR SLIGHTLY REDUCE THEIR PRICE OVER, OVER NUMBER ONE. OKAY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY I HAVE I HAVE MY OPINION. I WANT TO MAKE IT AS COMFORTABLE FOR STAFF. WE HAVE A LOT ON THE PLATE. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING. SO IF THEY'RE WILLING TO MATCH IT AND PREFERABLY BEAT IT, WE NEED TO SAVE AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE. YES, MAYOR, I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT BEING OVER BUDGET, BEING BEYOND TIME. AND I THINK FIREHOUSE FOUR WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW, YOU KNOW, THE CONTRACTOR WAS ABLE TO STAY ON TASK, GET IT DONE, DELIVERED ON A TIMETABLE IF THEY'RE WILLING TO IMPROVE ON THE ON THE TOP BIDDER, I'D BE HAPPY TO MOVE TO ACCEPT THEM AS AND AWARD THEM THE CONTRACT. I'LL SECOND MADAM VICE MAYOR. YEAH. AND I WAS GOING TO MIRROR THAT THAT COMMENT. MR. CLARK, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR MARIA CRUZ. MINE IS A SIMPLE COMMENT. MRS. MARIA CRUZ, 1447 MILLER ROAD. I'M SO GLAD THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT, BUT IT CAME TO MIND SINCE I HEARD THE THE MAJOR BRINGING UP THE PAST ELECTION, IT CAME TO MIND HOW A SIMPLE $41,000 WAS REQUESTED BY MIRACLE THEATER TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE SECOND FLOOR, I BELIEVE. AND IT WAS SO DIFFICULT TO HEAR THIS USED AS A CAMPAIGN FODDER BECAUSE GOD FORBID, WE SPEND $41,000 SO PEOPLE COULD GO TO A SECOND FLOOR EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD TO USE A WHEELCHAIR. AND NOW EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOOD TO EXPAND TO HAVE MORE PROGRAMING. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS OBVIOUSLY IS NOT GOING TO BE CAMPAIGN FODDER BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROPOSING IT ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT. BUT $41,000 WAS REAL, A REAL ISSUE AT CAMPAIGN TIME. AND SOME OF YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU WERE PART OF IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. MAYOR, I YEAH, GO AHEAD SIR. NO. SO. RIGHT. SO I RECALL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MIRACLE THEATER. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, RIGHT. I BELIEVE, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, WE HAD A PERFECTLY FUNCTIONING CHAIRLIFT. AND IN ANY EVENT, I THINK THAT IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK $41,000 IS SMALL CHANGE, THEN I THINK YOU DON'T HAVE A REAL GOOD GRASP ON REALITY. YOU KNOW, THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY, $41,000. CELESTE, WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS PARTICULAR AWARD AS PRESENTED? WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MOST RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. I FOLLOWED THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN RECOMMEND ON OUR BEHALF OUT OF FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY AND THE FACT THAT WE LAID OUT THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, AND THIS IS WHAT YIELDED AS FAR AS THE RESULTS ARE CONCERNED. SO AND WHEN WE DO CONSTRUCTION, IT'S BASED OFF OF PRICING, NOT ON QUALIFICATIONS BUT PRICING. SO WE DON'T NORMALLY NEGOTIATE. SO OUR POSITION WAS THAT WE WOULDN'T NEGOTIATE WITH ANY OF THE BIDDERS. AS FAR AS THE PRICING IS CONCERNED. AND ADD SOME COLOR TO JUST A FEW THINGS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE WHAT WHAT THE DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT THE MIRACLE THEATER, ABOUT $41,000 [05:05:01] THAT WAS DONE WITHOUT A PROCUREMENT PROCESS, CORRECT? CORRECT. THIS IS A PROCUREMENT PROCESS. WHAT WE'RE DECIDING RIGHT NOW IS WHETHER WE GO WITH NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO. IF WE GO WITH NUMBER TWO, I DON'T THINK MAYBE SHE DIDN'T HEAR WHAT WE SAID. I'M HOPING SHE DIDN'T HEAR THAT WAS THE CASE. AND SHE'S JUST TRYING TO CONFUSE PEOPLE AT HOME. THEY'RE GOING TO MATCH OR GIVE US A BETTER PRICE THAN THE PEOPLE IN FIRST PLACE. WE'RE GOING TO NEGOTIATE. SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET A BETTER PRICE. THE $41,000 WAS NOT DONE WITH A PROCUREMENT PROCESS. ZERO. SO I, I BRINGING THAT UP, THE ONLY THING YOU'RE DOING IS JUST GIVING, GIVING US MORE CREDENCE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY SAVING THE CITY MONEY AND NOT SPENDING MONEY. IF THE PROCESS WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH A PROCUREMENT PROCESS, THEN WE COULD HAVE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT IN A PROPER WAY, IN MY OPINION. BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A PROCUREMENT PROCESS, SO THERE'S REALLY NO REASON TO BRING THAT UP EXCEPT FOR, I GUESS, TO EMBARRASS YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT REALLY FOLLOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN THE CONVERSATION. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH GOING WITH THE SECOND PLACE AS LONG AS NOT ONLY THEY BEAT IT, BUT THEY ACTUALLY DO BETTER BECAUSE THEY DID SUCH A GOOD JOB ALREADY FOR THE CITY. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? COMMISSIONER? YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE? NO. I THINK YOU COVERED IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ACCEPT THE SECOND PLACE. AS LONG AS THEY BEAT THE PRICE OF THE FIRST PLACE. VICE MAYOR LARA. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER LARA. YES. VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER. CASTRO. YES. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDES. YES. MAYOR LAGO. YES. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ONE ITEM LEFT. ITEM A3. THANK YOU, MADAM DIRECTOR. GREAT WORK. JUST ONE POINT OF CLARITY. YES, SIR. SO IF IF THE SECOND PLACE DOES NOT BEAT THE FIRST PLACE, DO WE ALSO, BY VIRTUE OF HAVING VOTED ON THIS, AUTHORIZE FIRST PLACE? YES, SIR. OKAY. WELL, SO THAT'S A CLARIFICATION THEN. I GUESS THAT'S THE INTENT OF THE MOTION. YES, YES, ALL EVERYONE AGREES. AND I THINK THAT ALSO GIVES THE MANAGER MORE POWER TO COME, TO COME TO A TO GOOD OUTCOME. YOU SAID YOU WANT TO TAKE A VOTE ON THAT. YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? I THINK WE'RE FINE. OKAY. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S CONSENSUS ON THAT. THERE IS CONSENSUS. ALL RIGHT, ITEM H3H3 [H.-3. 26-2209 A Resolution of the City Commission authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Tresart, Inc. for acquisition of the artwork "Fin" by Richard Serra (recommendation to deny by the Cultural Development Board approval/denial vote: 4 to 2); and authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 amended budgets to recognize as revenue a transfer from the Art in Public Places reserve, and appropriating such funds to put toward the cost of acquisition, installation, and related expenses regarding the artwork.] IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH TRACE ART, INC. FOR ACQUISITION OF THE ARTWORK FIN BY RICHARD SERRA AND AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE FISCAL YEARS 2025 TO 2026 AND 2026 TO 2027 AMENDED BUDGETS TO RECOGNIZE THIS REVENUE, A TRANSFER FROM THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES RESERVE, AND APPROPRIATING SUCH FUNDS TO PUT TOWARD THE COST OF ACQUISITION, INSTALLATION AND RELATED EXPENSES REGARDING THE ARTWORK, MADAM, GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER CAROLINA VESTER AND JOINED BY CATHERINE CATHERS, OUR ARTS AND CULTURE COORDINATOR, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, THIS ITEM PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE FIN, A 1989 SCULPTURE BY RICHARD SERRA FOR THE CITY'S PERMANENT PUBLIC ART COLLECTION. IF APPROVED, IT WOULD. IT WOULD REPRESENT TO THE CITY THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL ART ACQUISITION IN CORAL GABLES HISTORY. THIS ACQUISITION WOULD BRING A SIGNIFICANT WORK BY AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AMERICAN ARTIST INTO THE PUBLIC TRUST, MAKING IT ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS IN A PROMINENT PARK SETTING THAT WOULD CREATE AN ART ROW IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND, IN TURN, STRENGTHEN OUR CITY'S CULTURAL LEGACY. TODAY'S REQUEST IS TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN ACQUISITION AGREEMENT WITH ART, SUBJECT TO AN IN-PERSON INSPECTION BY CITY STAFF. SATISFACTORY DOCUMENTATION OF THE ARTWORK'S PROVENANCE AND CLEAR TITLE AND OTHER PROTECTIONS OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION. I'LL GO AHEAD AND TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO CATHERINE. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS CATHERINE CATHERS, ARTS AND CULTURE COORDINATOR WITH THE CITY. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE MARILYN BATTISTA WITH TRACE ARTS, WHO IS REPRESENTING THE SELLER AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AFTER THE PRESENTATION. IF WE CAN HAVE THE PRESENTATION UP, PLEASE. SO WE'D JUST LIKE TO ALWAYS START OUT BY GOING OVER WHAT OUR DIFFERENT OPTIONS ARE FOR ACQUIRING PUBLIC ART IN CORAL GABLES, WE MAY HAVE AN OPEN COMPETITION ALLOWING ARTISTS WHO MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY. WE MAY HAVE A LIMITED COMPETITION CONTACTING A SHORT LIST OF QUALIFIED ARTISTS, A DIRECTIONAL SELECTION OF AN ARTIST, OR DEVELOPING A PRE-QUALIFIED ROSTER OF ARTISTS FOR A LIMITED COMPETITION OR DIRECT SELECTION. SO IN THIS CASE, WE ARE CHOOSING THE OPTION OF DIRECT SELECTION OF AN ARTIST. AND HERE'S A QUICK IMAGE, AND YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN A FEW OF THESE SLIDES BEFORE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO POP A FEW OF THEM IN HERE AND THERE. JUST TO REMIND YOU OF THIS AMAZING PIECE. SO IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMISSION'S INTEREST IN ACQUIRING SIGNIFICANT WORKS [05:10:01] CREATED BY PROMINENT INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS, STAFF RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT THE AVAILABLE ARTWORK FIN BY ARTIST RICHARD SERRA. ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, THE CITY COMMISSION PASSED RESOLUTION 2026-270, SPONSORED BY MAYOR LAGO, APPROVING A PROPOSAL TO BE BROUGHT THROUGH THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES PROCESS, PER ART AND PUBLIC PLACES PROCESS. STAFF HAD THE ARTWORK APPRAISED. THE ARTS ADVISORY PANEL REVIEWED THE PROPOSAL AND DEFERRED THE ITEM PRIOR TO REVIEW BY THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD. THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD MADE A MOTION RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF ACQUIRING THE PIECE TO THE CITY COMMISSION, AND BOTH THE PANEL AND THE BOARD RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTIST AND QUALITY OF THE ARTWORK, WHILE RAISING QUESTIONS REGARDING FUNDING, LOCATION AND INSTALLATION COSTS, WHICH WILL BE ADDRESSED TOWARDS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF REVIEW ABOUT THE ARTIST HIMSELF, RICHARD SERRA, WHO IS A PROMINENT AMERICAN ARTIST, HAD EARLY WORKED IN THE STEEL MILL AND ALSO WITH HIS FAMILY, HAD THAT BACKGROUND. HE'S WELL KNOWN AND BEST KNOWN FOR VERY LARGE SCALE ABSTRACT STEEL SCULPTURES THAT USE ARCS, SPIRALS, ELLIPSES, AND LARGE RECTANGLES AS REGULAR MOTIFS. HE HAS EXHIBITED IN DOCUMENTA, THE VENICE BIENNALE, THE WHITNEY BIENNIAL, AMONG MANY OTHERS, AND HIS WORKS HAVE BEEN EXHIBITED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, ARE IN PROMINENT COLLECTIONS, INCLUDING MOMA, THE MET, WHITNEY MUSEUM OF ART, THE GUGGENHEIM, AND MANY MORE. AGAIN, A COUPLE MORE IMAGES OF THE ARTWORK AT ITS PREVIOUS LOCATION. SO THIS IS A PIECE FROM 1989. IT IS CONSTRUCTED OF HOT ROLLED STEEL. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 14FT HIGH AND 18FT WIDE BY ABOUT THREE INCHES DEEP, WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 18 TONS AND IS AN ORIGINAL, UNIQUE WORK OF ART. IT WAS ORIGINALLY COMMISSIONED BY SWISS BANK FOR THE INTERIOR LOBBY, WHERE YOU SAW THE PREVIOUS IMAGES AT 623 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK CITY, AND THE PIECE REALLY FOLLOWS THE ARTIST'S ESTABLISHED BODY OF WORK, KNOWN FOR ITS BOLD, TOWERING FORMALITY AND INTENTIONAL COMMAND OF SPACE, THE PIECE CONVEYS A SENSE OF IMPORTANCE, RESERVE AND GRACE. WITH AN ELEGANT CURVE AND TILT BACKWARDS. IT IS ONE OF RICHARD SERRA'S FIRST WORKS TO FEATURE THE SLOPED SIDES, A MAJOR TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENT IN HIS WORK, AND HAS SINCE USED CURVED STEEL FOR MANY OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT WORKS, INCLUDING THE TALK TO LIPS WORKS OF THE 1990S. AND WHILE THE WORK WAS COMMISSIONED FOR INDOORS, THE MATERIAL SUGGESTS THAT PROPER TREATMENT WILL ALLOW FOR TRANSITION TO AN OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT. SO WE DID WANT TO GO OVER SOME IMAGES OF THE CURRENT CONDITION. AGAIN, THESE WERE TAKEN WHILE IT WAS STILL IN ITS PREVIOUS LOCATION. THESE ARE SOME WIDE SHOTS. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME DETAILS. YOU CAN SEE HERE IT'S AT THE START OF THE INSTALLATION. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MATERIAL HAS REALLY AGED IN A WAY THAT IS VERY SPECIFIC TO RICHARD SERRA'S WORK, AND WE HAD SOME REALLY AMAZING IMAGES OF THE INSTALLATION. SO IT HAS BEEN REINSTALLED. SO AGAIN, THIS WAS ON THE 11TH STORY OF A NEW YORK CITY HIGH RISE. AND YOU CAN SEE THE WINDOW HAD TO BE REMOVED. AND THEN IT WAS, I WOULD SAY GENTLY. HOVERING OVER THE STREETSCAPE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY DOWN BELOW. BUT YEAH, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING. SO WE DID TALK ABOUT PROPOSED LOCATIONS. WE JUST WANT TO DO A QUICK MAP THAT WAS SHOWING SOME OF THE LOCATIONS THAT WERE DISCUSSED, BOTH BY THE CITY COMMISSION AND ALSO THROUGH OUR, OUR BOTH OF OUR BOARDS. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THE PIECE BE LOCATED AND INCLUDED IN THE DESIGN OF A NEW DOWNTOWN PARK THAT WILL BE AT THE CORNER OF SALCEDO STREET AND ELM AVENUE. THE PIECE WOULD COMPLEMENT THE EXCEPTIONAL ARTWORKS INSTALLED IN SITES NEAR THE AREA AND FURTHER ESTABLISHED CORAL GABLES AS A LEADER IN THE ARTS AND AS DESTINATION. TO VIEW THESE SIGNIFICANT WORKS, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT ALSO REGENCY PARK, WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET, IS ESPECIALLY EXCITED AND SUPPORTIVE ABOUT THIS PIECE, AND THAT WILL BE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ITS OWN COLLECTION, IS ALSO IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE PLAZA ARTWORKS AND THE ALEXA CRAFTS NEW PIECE. SO IT'S REALLY BECOMING A CORRIDOR FOR PROMINENT PIECES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. IT'S JUST A CLOSE UP, AND WE ARE EXPECTING THAT THE PARK, IF THIS MOVES FORWARD, WOULD BE REDESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO ACCEPT THIS WORK. ONE MORE PIECE, A SHOT OF IT, AND THEN JUST TO MENTION THAT FUNDING FOR THE PROPOSED ARTWORK AND RELATED ITEMS IS RECOMMENDED THROUGH THE ART FUND, WHICH HAS A REMINDERS GENERATED THROUGH THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM, INCLUDING PRIVATE [05:15:03] DEVELOPMENT FEES. AND I BELIEVE THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WILL SPEAK AGAIN ABOUT SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY RAISED AND DISCUSSED. BUDGET. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO IN CLOSING, THE. THIS ACQUISITION REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE CORAL GABLES PERMANENT PUBLIC ART COLLECTION THROUGH THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL ART ACQUISITION IN OUR HISTORY. THE PROPOSED 5 MILLION PURCHASE PRICE INCLUDES THE INSTALLATION AND DELIVERY TO MIAMI, WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT $1 MILLION AND IS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE PURCHASE PRICE. IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS. IT IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL THAT THE DEPARTMENT WENT OUT TO ACQUIRE, THAT THE APPRAISAL IS VALUED AT $5.775 MILLION FOR THE ARTWORK, NOT INCLUSIVE OF THE INSTALLATION AND TRANSIT COSTS. FUNDING IS PROPOSED, JUST LIKE THE DIRECTOR MENTIONED THROUGH THE UNENCUMBERED ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FUND, INCLUSIVE OF INTEREST EARNED AND ANTICIPATED EIP FUNDING FROM THE CITY HALL RESTORATION PROJECT, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS ACQUISITION WILL NOT DEPLETE THE CURRENT APE FUNDS, AS OVER 3.6 MILLION REMAIN ENCUMBERED FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY PRIORITIZED BY STAFF AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION. AS PER THE LAST BUDGET AS PRESENTED, THE PREFERRED LOCATION IS THE PROPOSED DOWNTOWN PARK AT SALCEDO STREET AND ELMIRA AVENUE, REFERRED TO AS REGENCY PARK, WHERE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS COULD EXPERIENCE THE SCULPTURE IN A PUBLIC SETTING. THE ACQUISITION WOULD ADD A THIRD PROMINENT PUBLIC ART PIECE TO OUR GROWING DOWNTOWN, WHICH WE ARE NOW REFERRING TO AS ART ROW ON SALCEDO STREET, WITH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANOTHER PROMINENT ACQUISITION AT THE FUTURE PUBLIC'S DOWNTOWN PARK. THE SELECTION OF THIS LOCATION WOULD ALSO ALLOW STAFF TO INCLUDE THE NECESSARY FOUNDATION WORK, AS THE PARK DESIGN IS BEING FINALIZED AND SAVE ON STORAGE COSTS. WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK BEING IMMINENT, THE DECISION BEFORE YOU BALANCES SUBSTANTIAL CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ACQUIRING, INSTALLING AND CARING FOR THIS ARTWORK. IF AUTHORIZED, THE CITY MANAGER WILL PROCEED WITH THE PROTECTIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE RESOLUTION AND MAY DISCONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS IF THE REQUIRED TERMS CANNOT BE SECURED. ULTIMATELY, THIS ACQUISITION OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING AN IMPORTANT WORK INTO THE PUBLIC TRUST, CREATING A LASTING CULTURAL ASSET THAT RESIDENTS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN EXPERIENCE AS PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE IN CORAL GABLES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE BEFORE YOU IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ANOTHER WORLD CLASS ARTIST TO THE CITY. NOW THAT YOU HAVE FRANK STELLA AND THE ACM WILL SHOW YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE THROUGH THE MANAGER POTENTIALLY COMING HERRERA SCULPTURE THAT'S FORTHCOMING TO THE CITY, WHICH IS AGAIN WOULD BE ANOTHER AMAZING ACQUISITION THAT IS COMING THROUGH A PROJECT THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED HERE IN THE CITY. BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, AGAIN, TO BE IN THE SAME REALM AS, FOR EXAMPLE, AS NEW YORK, AS THOSE MAJOR CITIES THAT HAVE AMAZING PUBLIC ART. A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD, BY THE WAY, I'VE RECEIVED EMAILS, POSITIVE EMAILS, I'VE RECEIVED PHONE CALLS AGAIN FROM THE BLOGS. YOU, YOU KNOW, I GET THESE SCREENSHOTS, I DON'T READ THEM, BUT I GET THE SCREENSHOTS OF PEOPLE WHO SEND ME THIS. JUST THE LEVEL OF MISINFORMATION IS AGAIN, IT'S JUST SHAMEFUL. ALL IN AN EFFORT JUST TO PAINT, PAINT AND LIGHT SOMETHING NEGATIVE. NUMBER ONE, THIS IS NOT DEPLETING THE FUND. THERE'S STILL SIGNIFICANT MONEY IN THERE. BUT I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN QUALITY OVER QUANTITY, QUALITY OVER QUANTITY, WORLD CLASS ART. INSTEAD OF HAVING TEN WORKS, I WOULD RATHER HAVE ONE WORLD CLASS WORK, WHICH AGAIN WILL RESULT IN LESS MAINTENANCE. AND BY THE WAY, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT'S CONSIDERING HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA HAVING AN EXTERIOR RICHARD SERRA WORK. WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT THE CITY OF MIAMI RIGHT NOW WILL BE PUTTING A MAJOR RICHARD SERRA WORK IN THE PALM. THAT HIS OWN THAT'S IN PRIVATE HANDS THAT WILL BE PUT ON EXHIBITION FOR A FEW YEARS. THAT WILL POTENTIALLY BE DONE IN THE PARK. AND IT'S RIGHT NOW UNDER DESIGN. SO I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY TO PUT IN A GREAT A GREAT FIRST CLASS WORK THAT'S GOING TO DRAW A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. AND I THINK THAT PUTTING IT IN THE DOWNTOWN IS A SPECTACULAR IDEA. AND I THINK IT'LL DRAW A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO SEE SOME OF THE GREAT WORKS. JUST LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU GO TO CHICAGO, YOU SEE THE ANISH KAPOOR WORK, YOU GO TO BILBAO, YOU SEE THE RICHARD SERRA WORK, THERE'S RICHARD SERRA WORK ALL OVER NEW YORK THAT YOU CAN ENCOUNTER DEPENDING ON WHAT BUILDINGS YOU GO TO OR MUSEUMS. THIS IS A THIS IS IN LINE WITH THAT TYPE OF SIGNIFICANT ARTWORK. SO I THINK IT'S AGAIN, IT'S NOT DEPLETING THE FUND. AND IT'S A SIGNIFICANT MAJOR FORM OF WORK. AND IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT IMPROVING THE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE, BUT IT'S ALSO, IN MY OPINION, WHICH WILL NEVER SELL, GOD WILLING. BUT I THINK IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND HAVING [05:20:04] PEOPLE COME HERE, WALK ALL THE ART THAT WE HAVE IN THE DOWNTOWN, THEN HAVE LUNCH, HAVE DINNER, CATCH A DRINK, MAYBE HAVE A GLASS OF WINE. TO ME, THAT'S WHAT I THINK THAT THESE TYPE OF ART INSTALLATIONS, ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH PONCE PARK AND THE SEVEN NEIGHBORING PARKS IN THE DOWNTOWN, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DRAW. MADAM VICE MAYOR. SO I'M JUST GOING TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF STAFF, BECAUSE I'D BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS FOR FOR THE RESIDENTS OF POSE THEM. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALL THE WAY THROUGH DELIVERY COSTS COVERED THE INSTALLATION COSTS, SO THE FOUNDATION AND SO FORTH. WHAT IS THE PROPOSED PLANS THERE? WE HAVE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES. WE'RE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE READY TO SHARE BECAUSE WE'RE STILL NEGOTIATING. AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE ALSO GOING TO WORK WITH THE OWNERS OF REGENCY PARK THAT WILL BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE CITY. NOW'S THE TIME TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, GET THAT GOING WITH THE DESIGN WORK AND HOPEFULLY INCLUDE AT LEAST THE FOUNDATION WORK. IT IS ULTIMATELY THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION. OKAY, SO WOULD THOSE FUNDS ALSO COME FROM FUTURE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FUNDS? YES. OKAY. SO IT WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND? NO. OKAY. I MEAN, I DID SPEAK TO THE MANAGER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FOUNDATION, LIKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THE FOUNDATION CAN BE BELOW GRADE SO THAT THERE'S NOT I MEAN, IT IS STILL, I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A COATING ON IT TO PROTECT IT, BUT JUST SO THAT YOU HAVE A BETTER APPEARANCE AND YOU COULD PUT SOME DINA CAN DO HER BEAUTIFICATION TREATMENT BELOW IT AND PUT SOMETHING IN. IT DOESN'T REQUIRE TRIMMING LIKE FLOWERS AND STUFF THAT COULD BE CHANGED OUT FROM TIME TO TIME. I'M ALSO MINDFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION ABOUT ART. I REMEMBER WRITING A PAPER WHEN I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL FOR MY MY THESIS ABOUT WHAT IS ART. AND I DID CONTRASTING, VERY CONTRASTING VIEWS OF DIFFERENT ART. I HAVE MY FAVORITES. YOU KNOW, MINA IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE. I LIKE THE LOOK OF OF MINA, BUT I'M ALSO REALISTIC THAT WE CAN'T JUST HAVE A CITY FULL OF MINA'S ALL OVER. OTHERWISE YOU LOSE THE. THE QUALITY OF THAT PIECE IS DILUTED THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO FUNDING WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR QUESTIONS. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS ABOUT CHILDREN CLIMBING IT. I THINK KIDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO KILL TO CLIMB A BUILDING THAN THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CLIMB THIS. THERE'S NOTHING TO GRIP ON TO. SO. AND THAT WAS THE MAJOR CONCERNS. LOCATION WHICH WE HAVE THE REGENCY PARK AGREEABLE TO INCLUDE INCORPORATE THE FOUNDATION. IS THAT CORRECT? YES. SO WE'RE NEGOTIATING THAT THIS IS NOW IS THE TIME SINCE THE PARK DESIGN IS IN MOTION. MANAGER, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO THROUGH THE MAYOR. WE ARE WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT NOW. THE THE INSTALLATION IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE IN IN THE COST. AS YOU SAID, VICE MAYOR, THIS IS ALL FROM IP AND P FUNDS ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, FUNDS. NOTHING IS FROM THE GENERAL FUND, INCLUDING THE THE FOUNDATION. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WORKING THIS OUT WITH WITH THE PARK. WELL, IT'S NOT THE OWNER. WE ARE THE OWNER NOW OF THAT OF THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THAT THE MAYOR WAS INVOLVED WITH. MAYOR, IF YOU RECALL, IT'S RATED AT 10,000 SQUARE FOOT PARK INSIDE OF DOWNTOWN. AND WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH, WITH THE, THE DEVELOPER TO, TO CONSTRUCT THE PARK. SO IT'S AN IDEAL TIME TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT WILL MINIMIZE THE, THE, THE DOWNTIME OF THE, OF THE SCULPTURE. RIGHT. AND, AND THAT WAS ONE OF ONE OF THE MAJOR PIECES OF CONFUSION FOR FOLKS WAS THEY FELT THAT THE CITY WAS SPENDING MONEY IRRESPONSIBLY. WHEN WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, SEPTIC TO SEWER. AND MY RESPONSE PRETTY UNIFORMLY ACROSS THE BOARD WAS, I WISH WE COULD USE IT FOR SEPTIC TO SEWER. MAYOR, I'M SORRY, BUT ALL GOOD. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I MENTIONED THE BLOGS. THE BLOGS INSINUATE THEY INTIMATED THAT. AND OBVIOUSLY IT WAS AN EFFORT TO CONFUSE PEOPLE AS MUCH AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES, SIR. YES. YES. VICE MAYOR. THIS IS ALL FROM ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. FEE. FEES THAT WE HAVE TO USE FOR ART. AND SOMETIMES THE RESIDENTS DON'T REALIZE THAT ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS, IF WE DON'T. IF WE DON'T PAY FOR IT OURSELVES FOR ART, THE COUNTY TAKES THE MONEY. SO WE'D RATHER HAVE THE MONEY IN CORAL GABLES THAN DADE COUNTY. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY QUESTIONS FOR THE BEER. YES. YEAH. SO I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING WITH A LOT OF RESIDENTS THIS PAST WEEK. AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE MAYOR, I THINK, [05:25:03] YEAH, QUALITY IS BETTER THAN QUANTITY. HOWEVER, THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE GOTTEN, AND I'VE CLEARED IT UP TO THEM THAT THIS IS STRICTLY COMING FROM THE ART FUNDS. I DON'T THINK THEY'RE VERY FOND OF THE PIECE, ESPECIALLY FOR $5 MILLION. AND I DIDN'T EVEN SPEAK ABOUT INSTALLATION WHERE IT WAS GOING TO COME THROUGH, BECAUSE HONESTLY, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT WAS GOING TO COME FROM. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GOING TO COME FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR FROM THE ART FUND. SO UNFORTUNATELY FOR THIS PIECE IN PARTICULAR, I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? ALL RIGHT. BEEN PRETTY CLEAR, BY THE WAY. SINCE WHEN? SINCE WHEN? BECAUSE THE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PUT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONER SAID SHE WAS CONFUSED ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS COMING FROM ART IN PUBLIC PLACES OR THE GENERAL FUND. SINCE WHEN HAVE WE HAD THIS PROGRAM ON THE BOOKS INSTALLATION? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. YEAH, IT'S BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 2010. YEAH. SINCE WHEN? HAVE SINCE WHEN? SINCE WHEN HAVE WE USED MONEY FOR INSTALLATION FROM ART IN PUBLIC PLACES? I'M NOT WE'RE AWARE THAT WE HAVE. BUT ANYTHING IN RELATION TO TO AN ARTWORK HAS TO COME FROM ART PLACES. FOR EXAMPLE, A STAND. WHAT WE DID FOR THE. CELIA SANCHEZ. SO THIS IS NOTHING NEW. IT'S THE PROBLEM. YOU GOT TO COME PREPARED TO THESE MEETINGS. YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE WAY THINGS WORK AND THE EXCUSES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR FOUR DAYS, FOUR WEEKS OR FOUR MONTHS CAN NO LONGER BE USED. PEOPLE ON THIS COMMISSION HAVE BEEN HERE FOR FOUR YEARS. AND WHEN YOU MEET WITH RESIDENTS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ANSWERS. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY YOU PERPETUATE THE CONFUSION EVEN MORE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE FEEDING A LOT OF THIS STUFF TO THE BLOGS. SO AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE MET AND WE TALK ABOUT BILBAO AND WE TALK ABOUT THE GUGGENHEIM, AND WE TALK ABOUT THE MOMA, AND BY THE WAY, WE TALK ABOUT THE BRAHMANS, WHO THE BRAHMANS HAVE THIS VERY SIMILAR SCULPTURE IN THEIR FRONT YARD. AS YOU GO OVER BAR HARBOR ON THE WAY TO BAR HARBOR, YOU'LL SEE THE SCULPTURE THERE. IF THE BRAHMANS, WHO ARE WORLD CLASS COLLECTORS, PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT COLLECTORS IN SOUTH FLORIDA, POTENTIALLY IN THE UNITED STATES, WERE THE MAIN DONORS FOR THE ICA HAVE THIS WORK. I THINK IT PROVIDES IT SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT PEDIGREE THAT RICHARD SERRA IS ONE OF THE BEST ARTISTS THAT WE COULD EVER PURCHASE. ART. ART IS IN. ART IS SUBJECTIVE. IT'S IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME ART THAT PEOPLE THINK IS BEAUTIFUL. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. I VOTED NO ON THE ARTWORK, FOR EXAMPLE. THAT WAS HALF $1 MILLION THAT IS LOCATED ON PONCE, I THINK IT'S 11TH AND PONCE AND IT LOOKS LIKE FLOWERS. SOME PEOPLE LOVE THAT WORK THAT THAT ARTIST HAS ZERO. AND I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING. I DIDN'T SAY THAT DAY HAS ZERO PEDIGREE, ZERO PEDIGREE. IT'S NOT REPRESENTED BY A MUSEUM. IT'S NOT REPRESENTED BY A GALLERY. AND WE SPEND HALF $1 MILLION ON THAT WORK. I VOTED NO, THAT RIGHT THERE HAS NO INTRINSIC VALUE. THAT ARTWORK ZERO. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RICHARD SERRA, FRANK STELLA, WORLD CLASS AMERICAN ARTISTS WHO WHEN YOU OPEN UP AN ART HISTORY BOOK, THEY'RE IN THE ART HISTORY BOOKS, THEY'RE IN THE MAJOR ART FAIRS. BUT WHEN YOU WALK INTO A MAJOR MUSEUM, LIKE THE ONES THAT I MENTIONED, THEY'RE PROMINENTLY IN DISPLAY SHOWCASING THEIR WORK. THAT'S WHAT I WANT FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. I WANT TO HAVE A TO HAVE IF WE HAVE TO BUY ART BECAUSE OF WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM. IF YOU HAVE TO BUY ART, I WANT IT TO BE THE BEST. I WANT IT TO BE THE BEST. AND THIS IS TRULY THE BEST WORK YOU COULD BUY IN REGARDS TO QUALITY. AND IN MANY CASES, LESS IS MORE. COMMISSIONER LADO. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO SAY BRIEFLY THAT I'VE GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT, AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF A LOT OF RESIDENTS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. SO I'VE GIVEN THIS A LOT OF THOUGHT. AND IN THE END, ESPECIALLY GOING THROUGH THE PRE AGENDA, MEETING, THE CONCEPT OF CREATING, AS YOU SAID, CATHERINE, SORT OF LIKE A, AN ART ROW OR EVEN AN ART DISTRICT, RIGHT? DEPENDING ON HOW THE BROAD THE PARAMETERS GO. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S VERY, VERY APPEALING TO ME, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SORT OF BATTLING AND BATTLING HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO DRIVE MORE FOOT TRAFFIC, HELP PROMOTE A SUSTAINABLE ENGINE FOR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT THE THE SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND PEOPLE WILL COME FROM ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE TO, TO SEE WORLD CLASS PIECES OF ART, WORLD CLASS. RIGHT. AND I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY TRANSFORMATIVE FOR A TOWN LIKE SAINT PETERSBURG, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE KNOWN AS, YOU KNOW, AMONG OF THE MOST PROMINENT LOCATIONS FOR DIVERSE WORLD CLASS ART PIECES AND MUSEUMS. RIGHT? SO I, I THINK THAT BECAUSE ART IS IN THE EYE [05:30:07] OF THE, OF THE, OR THE APPRECIATION OF A PARTICULAR PIECE IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. AND THERE'S A DIVERSITY OF ART APPRECIATION FROM TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE. AS LONG AS WE CAN ALL AGREE. AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE IS GOING TO SAY THAT IT ISN'T A WORLD CLASS ART PIECE FROM A WORLD RENOWNED ARTIST THAT WE'RE WE'RE NOT MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BY ACQUIRING IT. SO I WOULD BE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. THE MAYOR? YES, SIR. NO, I, I WASN'T SURE HOW I WAS GOING TO VOTE WHEN I CAME IN HERE TODAY ON THIS ITEM. I HAD RECEIVED CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT VOTING ON THIS PIECE. BUT LISTENING TO MY COLLEAGUES AND THE CONVERSATION FROM STAFF, I THINK VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS IS THE WAY TO GO. TWO THOUGHTS ON THAT. MAYOR MENTIONED THE VALUE OF THE ART AND THE LONGEVITY OF THE VALUE OF THIS. ART IS AN ART PIECE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE VERSUS DEPRECIATE. WE ALSO HAVE THE MONEY CURRENTLY SITTING IN A BANK ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO PURCHASE ART. INFLATION IS EATING UP THAT MONEY. SO JUST FROM AN INVESTMENT POINT OF VIEW, I THINK SUPPORTING THIS ART PIECE IS THE PROPER WAY TO INVEST THAT FUNDING AND GIVE RESIDENTS SOMETHING TO ADMIRE AND TO, AND THE ABILITY TO BRING AND ATTRACT PEOPLE INTO OUR CITY. SO I WASN'T SURE HOW TO VOTE FOR, BUT I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE FRUITFUL DISCUSSION. AND I'LL BE VOTING IN FAVOR. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, MR. MAYOR, YOUR CREWS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, MRS. MARIA CRUZ. SO I'M NOT ACCUSED OF NOT PAYING ATTENTION OR GETTING CONFUSED ON PAGE TWO OF THE CITY COMMISSION HISTORY, IT SAYS TWO THINGS CALL MY ATTENTION. THE FIRST ONE IS NOT A BIG DEAL, JUST THAT THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD VOTED AGAINST RECOMMENDING THIS. NO BIG DEAL. I KNOW BOARDS RECOMMEND DO NOT TELL US WHAT TO DO, BUT THE OTHER ONE THAT NONE OF YOU SEEM TO PICK UP ON IS THE IS THE COST OF ANNUAL MAINTENANCE WILL BE ASSESSED BY A PROFESSIONAL CONSERVATION TEAM. ONCE THE ARTWORK IS INSTALLED. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS? I REMEMBER THREE ITEMS WHERE WE GOT HIT BIG TIME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE MAINTENANCE WAS GOING TO BE, AND WE AGREED TO DO THIS STUFF WITHOUT THINKING OF THE MAINTENANCE. THE THE NEWEST ONE IS THE UNDERLYING. WE DID NOT THINK WE HAD TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE. WE ENDED UP ALREADY HALF A MILLION MORE TO COME. BUT THAT'S NOT THE BIG ONE. THERE ARE TWO MORE BIG ONES. THE FLOWERS. THE FLOWERS THAT WE BOUGHT THAT NOBODY LIKES. AND WE CAN'T GET RID OF THEM BECAUSE WE SIGNED A CONTRACT. THE FLOWERS LOOK AWFUL. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN MAINTAINED. IF WE WANT TO MAINTAIN, THE ARTIST HAS TO MAINTAIN THEM. AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE THE FAMOUS CROSSWALK NEXT TO CITY HALL THAT WE HAD TO PAY THE ARTIST TO COME AND PAINT WHAT KIDS COULD PAINT FOR A LITTLE AMOUNT CLOSE TO $1 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I MAY BE WRONG ON THE AMOUNT, BUT IT WAS A SIZABLE AMOUNT FOR SOMEBODY TO COME AND PAINT WHAT ANY HIGH SCHOOL KID, ANY KID IN SCHOOL COULD HAVE PAINTED. AND WE ENDED UP DOING IT BECAUSE WE DID NOT WORRY ABOUT MAINTENANCE UNTIL AFTER THE FACT. AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS. I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT ART. I'M NOT LIKE THE MAYOR, AN ART EXPERT. YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, THERE ARE SOME THINGS I LIKE, SOME THINGS I DON'T LIKE. IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL TO ME, BUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE AGREEING TO BUY, WORRY ABOUT INSTALLATION, WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE, AND WE STILL DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH IS IT GOING IS GOING TO COST US TO MAINTAIN IT. THAT IS THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. JUST TO ANSWER A FEW OF THE VERY INCREDIBLY MISLEADING COMMENTS THAT ARE JUST SO WRONG THAT, AGAIN, I'M NEVER I'M NEVER SURPRISED. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE CROSSWALK BY CRUZ DIAZ WAS NOT $1 MILLION TO PAINT. MADAM DIRECTOR, WILL YOU [05:35:05] TELL US WHAT IT WAS? AND WE HAVEN'T. I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE IT IN 3 OR 4 YEARS, SO. YEAH, I KNOW. AND IT WAS REMOVED BY THE STATE, OBVIOUSLY. YES. THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE. YES. NO. WHAT WAS WHEN IT WAS PAINTED. WHAT WAS THE COST. SO WE CAN CORRECT IT BECAUSE IF NOT, YOU KNOW, IT BECOMES GOSPEL WHEN IT'S SAID HERE. SURE. SO THAT WAS ALSO MOVED AS SOMETHING AS AN EXTRAORDINARY MAINTENANCE WHICH WOULD COME OUT OF THE ART FUND AND IT COSTS. THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION. YEAH, BUT BUT HOW MUCH WAS IT? IT WAS ABOUT 18,000. OKAY. SO DO YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND 18,000? SEE WHY YOU CAN'T TRUST THIS MADNESS HERE? SEE HOW RIDICULOUS IT SOUNDS? THIS IS HOW RIDICULOUS IT SOUNDS. ABSURD. OKAY, NUMBER TWO, CAN YOU PLEASE DISCUSS? I THINK MIKE MINA, VICE MAYOR MINA WAS THE ONE THAT CHANGED THE THE LAW. WHERE NOW WE CAN USE A PORTION. WAS IT MIKE OR WAS IT MYSELF? I'M NOT SURE WHO IT WAS. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS. LOOK IT UP. THAT CHANGED THE LAW. THAT ALLOWS US TO USE ART IN PUBLIC PLACES. FUNDS FOR MAINTENANCE. WHAT IS? YEAH, IT WAS AN AMENDMENT, I BELIEVE, THROUGH VICE MAYOR. VICE MAYOR. THERE YOU GO, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YEAH. GOOD, GOOD, GOOD. I CAN'T REMEMBER YOUR CURRENT THORN IN YOUR SIDE. GOOD, GOOD. I LOVE EXTRAORDINARY MAINTENANCE. YES. SO ANYTHING THAT'S DEEMED EXTRAORDINARY MAINTENANCE COMES OUT OF THE ART FUND. YEAH. SO? SO IT DOESN'T COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. SO YOU JUST SAW TWO BLATANT MISLEADING COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE THERE IN HOPES OF MISLEADING PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT. REMEMBER WHO IS SPEAKING AT THESE COMMISSION MEETINGS OVER AND OVER AND OVER? WHAT IS THEIR AGENDA? AND EITHER CREATE OR DO ANYTHING GOOD. ALL THEY DO IS BASH, TRASH AND MISLEAD. AS I SAID, IT WAS $1 MILLION TO PAINT THAT. IT WAS $18,000. WE HAVEN'T DONE IT. IN HOW MANY YEARS WOULD YOU SAY? IT'S PROBABLY BEEN 2 OR 3 YEARS. OKAY, I SAID FOUR. YEAH, OKAY. 2 OR 3 THROUGH THE MAYOR. YOU DID IT. IT WAS DONE ONCE. SINCE. SINCE I WAS ELECTED. OKAY. DONE. ONE TIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT. I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. MR. CLERK, VICE MAYOR ANDERSON. YES. COMMISSIONER CASTRO. NO. COMMISSIONER. FERNANDEZ. YES. COMMISSIONER. LADA. MAYOR. YES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I COVERED EVERYTHING IN THE IN THE AGENDA. ONE, THERE'S SOMETHING YOU SEE THE TABLE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU SEE, LET'S TAKE CAN WE TAKE A JUST A QUICK TEN MINUTE BREAK, GO TO THE BATHROOM AND THEN WE'LL DO A D ONE AND OUR LAST ITEMS. THANK YOU VERY OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CLARK. MOVING ON TO ITEM. IT WAS DD1, MADAM HCM MR. DCM MR. MANAGER, WILL YOU PLEASE PROCEED? MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL. THE APPLICANT HAS RETRACTED HIS APPLICATION. DID HE GIVE ANY REASON WHY HE WOULD NOT BE BE MOVING FORWARD? WHAT? CAN YOU GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR IN REGARDS TO WHAT WE OFFERED OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE APPLICANT? I WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD. WE TRIED TO HELP HIM, GIVEN THE FACT THAT HE SAID HE HAD ALREADY MADE COMMITMENTS FOR DEPOSITS AND DOWN PAYMENTS ON THE TREES, WE ASKED HIM IF HE'D LIKE TO PROFFER SOMETHING THAT INCLUDED A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION WITHIN THE CITY AND, YOU KNOW, PROCEEDS IN CASH, CERTAIN PERCENTAGE THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO PROFFER TO THE COMMISSION, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WHATEVER SIGNAGE IS BEING USED IS HONEST AND MAKES SURE THAT IDENTIFIES WHERE THE PROCEEDS GO AND WHO IS THE ORGANIZER. SO I TOLD HIM HE'D HAVE TO 5:00 TO GIVE US A CALL BACK. HE DID CALL AND SAID HE WAS NO LONGER INTERESTED. OKAY, PERFECT. AGAIN, WE'VE HAD VERY SIMILAR SCENARIOS. I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A FEW NAMES. DESPITE WHEN YOU SCRAPE OFF THE TOP JUST A LITTLE BIT, FOR SOME REASON. PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE SAME DEAL, WHICH IS A VERY, VERY GOOD DEAL THAT THE CITY WASN'T AWARE OF. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE THEN GET UPSET, YOU KNOW, A FEW OF THEM. FRITZ AND FRANZ GIVES, COMES RINGS THE BELL, OUR THE THE GOLF, THE GOLF CLUB MEMBERSHIPS, THE COUNTRY CLUB LEASE AGREEMENT, ALL THINGS THAT COME CRUMBLING DOWN WHEN YOU IMMEDIATELY JUST JUST SCRAPE THE SURFACE AND GET A LITTLE BIT OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE OF THE EXISTING CONTRACT AND WHAT IS THE INTENT. I PERSONALLY [05:40:04] WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I'D LIKE TO SEE, AND I DON'T WANT TO HEAP MORE WORK ON THE MANAGER AND THE TEAM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US OFFER CHRISTMAS TREES ON THIS LOT OR AN ADJACENT LOT. THAT MAKES SENSE. AND HAVE THOSE MONIES BE GIVEN TO LOCAL CHARITIES IN CORAL GABLES. MR. MANAGER, WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO BRING THAT TO FRUITION? I KNOW IT'S TIGHT. I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT. I UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT, MAYOR, BECAUSE I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH CHRISTMAS TREE WITH CHRISTMAS TREE BUSINESS. SO I DON'T KNOW THE THE, WHAT WE HAVE IN THE ORDINANCE FOR THIS IS THAT IS THAT PROFITS GO TO, TO TWO NONPROFIT, NONPROFIT AGENCIES OR. BUT I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT. MAYOR. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE'S IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME, I DON'T KNOW HOW. YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THEY HAD TO BE HAVE BEEN BOOKED MONTHS, MONTHS BEFORE, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE GETTING VERY, VERY, VERY CLOSE. WE'RE NOW ALMOST IN NOVEMBER. AND SO WE'RE WITHIN SEVEN WEEKS OF CHRISTMAS, 7 OR 8 WEEKS OF, OKAY, SO DO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS OR DO WE JUST MOVE FORWARD? DO THE MAYOR. YES. I DON'T THINK WE'VE BEEN GIVEN ANY OPTION HERE, REALLY. THEY WITHDREW THEIR APPLICATION. I THINK WE OFFERED TO WORK WITH THEM. WE I DON'T THINK THERE WERE A WHOLE LOT OF STRINGS ATTACHED TO THE REQUEST THAT WAS MADE. IT WAS ABOUT PROFFERING SOME OF THE PROCEEDS TO A CHARITY IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES, AND THEY WITHDREW THE APPLICATION. THAT'S NOT ON US. I, I THINK IT WOULD REALLY BE A BURDEN TO PUT THAT ON THE MANAGER AT THIS POINT IN THE GAME. PEOPLE BUYING CHRISTMAS TREES IN THE NEXT 2 OR 3 WEEKS, AND I THINK MAYBE GOING FORWARD, MAYBE WE CAN TRY TO FIND A PARTNER THAT WE CAN WORK WITH BEGINNING IN THE 2027 YEAR. AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE A PRIVATE CITIZEN, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO VOLUNTEER MY TIME TO HELP THE CITY AND TRY TO FIND A PARTNER. LISTEN, I AGREE WITH YOU. THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS BURDEN. YOU HAVE ENOUGH ON YOUR PLATE. BUT LISTEN, YOU YOU'RE SUPERMAN. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE SO MANY THINGS. SO I NEVER PUT IT PAST YOU TO TELL ME, HEY, I HAVE A GUY WHO I KNOW. YOU NEVER KNOW. I WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME, MR. MANAGER. HUNTING TRIP. HE FOUND THE NEVER KNOW. YOU NEVER KNOW. I'M IN VERMONT, SO I'M ALL FOR IT TO LOOK AT SOMETHING IN 2027 AND FINDING A SOLUTION. BUT MAYBE THROUGH THE MAYOR, MAYBE WE CAN FIND SOMEBODY THAT THAT THAT IS ABLE TO DO THIS, AT THIS, AT THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY. I'M NOT SURE IF THE CITY CAN DO IT ON, ON ITS OWN, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T, WE REALLY HAVEN'T. I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT'S PROBABLY LATE TO BUY CHRISTMAS TREES, BUT I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC PROPERTY. ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO IS ALSO LOOK AT THE LEGISLATION THAT CREATED THIS, AND MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE, MORE EASY TO DO. AND AND FOR INSTANCE, WHERE ALL THE ALL THE PROFITS DON'T GO TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THERE, I THINK WE CAN DO SOMETHING HERE THAT, THAT THAT CAN BE THAT THAT CAN BE A GREAT BENEFIT TO, TO ALL. LET US LOOK TO SEE IF WE HAVE IF WE HAVE SOMEONE. DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO DO A CONTRACT WITH. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY? CAN THE COMMISSION ALLOW US TO DO SOME TYPE OF CONTRACT FOR THAT SITE? SO THAT WOULD. WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THE COMMISSION CAN GIVE YOU AUTHORITY, BUT. AUTHORITY. AUTHORITY REQUIRE AGREEMENT FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER WITH THE PROPERTY. YES, YES. SO WE WE CAN WORK WORK WITH THE CHURCH TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A, A REPLACEMENT VENDOR THROUGH THE MAYOR. YES. I TOOK A BIKE TOUR OUT WEST ONE TIME RIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS. SAW A LOT OF UNSOLD TREES. SO I'M SURE THAT THERE'S A VENDOR OUT THERE SOMEWHERE THAT WOULDN'T MIND HAVING THEIR THEIR WARES A LITTLE MORE SPREAD OUT, A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE CENTER OF TOWN WHERE A LOT OF THOSE TREES COULD COULD GET SOLD. SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A THOUGHT. AND YOU KNOW, IF THE MANAGER, YOU KNOW, WANTS TO TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION, BY ALL MEANS, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. AND WE'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO ALLOW THE THE MANAGER, THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE A DECISION ON THIS ONE. AND AND JUST TO CLARIFY ONE PARAMETER, WHAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED IS THAT ALL PROCEEDS CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISION OF THE ZONING CODE, ALL PROCEEDS WOULD GO FOR A CHARITABLE PURPOSE OR. WELL, THAT'S THE PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITY. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. I THINK MAYBE WE CAN HAVE IT SO THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE PROCEEDS GO TO, TO CHARITY. I THINK IF WE HAVE ALL PROCEEDS GO TO CHARITY, IT'LL BE VERY, QUITE DIFFICULT TO FIND SOMEONE THAT WILL DO IT FOR NOTHING. IF [05:45:04] IF I MAY JUST ADD SOMETHING ON THAT POINT AGAIN FOR THE COMMISSION TO DECIDE. DCM MANAGER, ACM. I DON'T WANT THE CITY TO MAKE A DOLLAR. I WANT TO COVER OUR COSTS, AND WE HAVE A PARTNER THAT COMES IN. WE HAVE TO OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO MAKE MONEY. WE CAN'T DO THIS FOR FREE, YOU KNOW, BUT IF IT'S IF IT'S SELECT, MAYBE, MAYBE EACH COMMISSIONER SELECTS A CHARITY. YOU KNOW, TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF STAFF. AND BECAUSE YOU HAVE 50 CHARITIES, YOU KNOW, AND WE COULD DO SOMETHING ROTATION, WE COULD DO SOMETHING AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A BILLBOARD THAT SAYS, HEY, LISTEN, THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR WE GAVE, YOU KNOW, $20,000 TO THE MUSEUM, $15,000 TO THE CINEMA, YOU KNOW, 10,000, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. AND WE SHOW WHAT WE GAVE LAST YEAR IN A VERY TRANSPARENT WAY SO THAT PEOPLE WHO AND THIS IS A CHARITY THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THIS YEAR, IF THE COMMISSIONER WANTS TO GIVE AGAIN, TO THE SAME CHARITY, THAT'S THEIR CHOICE. I JUST THINK IT'S GONNA BE VERY DIFFICULT. I LEAVE IT UP TO THE MANAGER, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE VICE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER FRANCIS SAYS, I LEAVE IT UP TO YOU. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE AT ALL. I THINK IT'S GONNA BE PERFECTLY FINE. AND I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEXT YEAR LOOK BACK ON THIS LIKE WE DID WITH PRESIDENT FRANZ WHEN WE HAD THE EVENT, LIKE WE DID WITH THE, THE THE GOLF COURSE SCENARIO, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DON'T I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ONE EMAIL FROM ANYBODY COMPLAINING. HAVE YOU GOT COMPLAINTS FROM EMAILS, GOLFERS? I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY EMAILS. AND ALSO IN REGARDS TO THE USE IN REGARDS TO THE THE COUNTRY CLUB, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY EMAILS EXCEPT FOR POSITIVE EMAILS SAYING HOW GREAT THE PLACE LOOKS NOW, AFTER WE'VE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BRINGING IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE AND MAKING IT LOOK REALLY NICE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I LEAVE IT UP TO THE MANAGER. LET'S PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR 2027 THAT MAKES SENSE. THAT SHINES A POSITIVE LIGHT ON THE CITY. GO THROUGH POLICE. WE CAN GO THROUGH FIRE, WHATEVER, WHATEVER YOU DEEM APPROPRIATE. BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE MAYBE A FEW CHARITIES GET ALL OUR PROFITS. I DON'T THE CITY DOESN'T NEED TO MAKE MONEY OFF THIS. WE CAN EVEN OFFER OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE, FOR RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE CITY. FOR EXAMPLE, MY TWO GIRLS, THEY NEED TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS. MY MY OLDEST ONE IS PART OF SOMETHING CALLED 20 WORKING GIRLS. A VERY LONG TIME STANDING CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION. SHE WAS DOING IT THIS WEEKEND AT A JEWISH AT A JEWISH SYNAGOGUE. THEY WERE MAKING OVER 400 MEALS. I PICKED HER UP ON SATURDAY. THAT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION. FOR EXAMPLE, DAUGHTERS ALSO INVOLVED IN THAT. THEY WOULD LOVE TO COME AND, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE. YOU KNOW, VOLUNTEER HOURS, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS FOR COLLEGE. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL? SO I HAVE A, I THINK WE'LL, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO WANT TO GET ENGAGED. AND I THINK WE'LL SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNG KIDS FROM CORAL GABLES INVOLVED, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO BUY CHRISTMAS TREES THERE BECAUSE THEIR KIDS ARE INVOLVED, YOU KNOW? AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE IT TURNS INTO SOMETHING LIKE A LITTLE MARKET OR SOMETHING THAT THAT DEALS WITH MORE HOLIDAY PRODUCTS. YOU COULD DO SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING, JUST GIVING OUT SOME IDEAS THROUGH THE MAYOR COMMISSIONER LADDER. RIGHT. SO I APPRECIATE WE'RE ALL HERE TRYING TO FIND A WAY FORWARD AND TRY TO MAKE BEST OF A DIFFICULT SITUATION. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT I'LL JUST TAKE ONE SECOND TO CLARIFY, HAVING JUST READ THE MATERIALS THAT WERE LEFT ON THE DAIS SOMETIME DURING OUR BREAK. AND AND IT DISTURBS ME. IT DISTURBS ME A GREAT DEAL. SO JUST BY WAY OF REFERENCE, ON NOVEMBER 2ND, 2025, I'VE BEEN PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF A LEASE BETWEEN THE FIREFIGHTERS CHRISTMAS TREES INC THAT'S THE FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT MR. PAUL BOUTIN IS THE PRESIDENT. AND BETWEEN THE CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTERS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. SO BY JUST LOOKING AT THIS DOCUMENT, YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES. AND WITH MR. PUTIN SIGNING ON BEHALF OF FAFCT AND MR. BARRERA SIGNING ON BEHALF OF THE FIREFIGHTERS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. BUT THE LETTER THAT THE CITY MANAGER RECEIVED ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026, AND IT STARTS BY REFERRING TO ITSELF AS THE MEMBERS OF THAT ORGANIZATION, RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING PERMISSION TO SELL THE TREES, CHRISTMAS TREES IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. THEY GO ON TO SAY THAT THEY'VE HAD THIS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE SALE IN THE GABLES SINCE 1957. THIS LETTER, WHEN READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LEASE, IS. IT RISES, I BELIEVE, TO THE LEVEL OF ATTEMPTING A FRAUD ON THE CITY BECAUSE THEY'RE REPRESENTING THEMSELVES TO BE AN ORGANIZATION THAT THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE LEASE IT FOR A CASH PAYMENT OF $6,000 A YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS. THEY ARE SELLING THE CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTERS BENEVOLENT [05:50:05] ASSOCIATION, THE USE OF THEIR NAME DURING THE SALE PERIOD OF THE CHRISTMAS TREES. BUT THIS LETTER PURPORTS TO REPRESENT THE ACTUAL BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS, WORDS AND POSITION, NOT JUST THE NAME. SO ANYONE REASONABLY RECEIVING JUST THIS LETTER THINKS THEY'RE DEALING DIRECTLY WITH THE CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTERS BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION. SO IF IT'S NOT A LIE, IT'S A LIE BY OMISSION. EITHER WAY, I THINK IT RISES TO THE LEVEL OF A FRAUD. SO WHEN AND IF THE REPORTING OF THIS MATTER TODAY WOULD WERE TO BE ATTEMPTING TO CONSTRUE THIS AS THE COMMISSION BEING DIFFICULT, OR THE COMMISSION TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE THE FIREFIGHTERS ABILITY TO SELL CHRISTMAS TREES, THAT WOULD ALSO BE A FURTHER FALSEHOOD. OKAY. THEY TRY TO PERPETRATE A FRAUD. WHEN THEY APPLIED FOR THIS, THEY CAME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION ASKING FOR AN EXCUSE FROM HAVING TO BE HELD TO THE STRICT REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATUTE, THE ORDINANCE AND. AND IN THE END, THE THE ONE PART THAT THEY WERE NOT FALSIFYING IS THAT THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANY OF THE OF THE PROCEEDS A DONATION TO ANY CHARITIES, RIGHT. IT'S FOR PROFIT. THEY'RE USING THIS NAME TO BE ABLE TO JURY UP SOME MORE SALES. RIGHT. WHICH IS PERFECTLY FINE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE CORAL GABLES BAPTIST CHURCH PROPERTY, RIGHT, WHERE IT WOULD BE OTHERWISE COMPLIANT WITH THE STATUTE. THIS WOULD NOT BE I CAN GO ON AND ON. ACTUALLY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THE THE APPLICATION LETTER FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026, IT PURPORTS TO LIST THE I'M SORRY, THE. YEAH. IT PURPORTS TO LIST. SOME OF THE PHILANTHROPIC ACTIVITIES THAT THE CORAL GABLES FIREFIGHTERS, BENEVOLENT MEMBERS HAVE PROUDLY PARTICIPATED IN IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. BUT THEY WOULD HAVE YOU SAY OR BELIEVE THAT BY ATTACHING IT, THE CHRISTMAS TREE FIREFIGHTERS INC. IS THE ONE MAKING THESE DONATIONS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THEY HAVEN'T MADE A SINGLE DONATION, CERTAINLY NOT OF ANY PROCEEDS OF THE SALES THAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO ENGAGE IN. SO ALL WE HAVE HERE IS PROPER DILIGENCE, PROPER OVERSIGHT, ADHERENCE TO THE TO THE LAW AND A, A PROPER OUTING OF SOMEBODY TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH ONE IN THE CITY. SO IN SPITE AND DESPITE THAT, THE CITY STILL OFFERED A WAY OUT BY SIMPLY SAYING OF THE PROCEEDS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ON THE SALE, HOW ABOUT YOU DONATE SOME OF THAT TO CHARITIES? I THINK WE DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER OTHER THAN THEIR UNILATERAL WITHDRAWAL OF THEIR APPLICATION. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. SO WE'RE CLEAR. WE'RE CLEAR. WE GIVE AND WE GIVE AND WE TRY AND WE TRY, YOU KNOW, BUT WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. BY THE WAY, ON THAT POINT, YOU REMEMBER WHEN HE STOOD UP THERE, HE SAID, I'VE ALREADY ORDERED ALL THE TREES. LET'S STRIKE A DEAL. I HATE TO DO THIS BECAUSE BY THE WAY, NONE OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS COMPLETELY FACTUAL AS AN ATTORNEY. AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT ON THE RECORD. I KNOW THAT THE VICE MAYOR PROBABLY WANTS TO ADD NOW ALSO, BUT NONE OF THAT WILL MAKE THE BLOGS TOMORROW. WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE BLOGS IS TOMORROW IS THE FACT THAT WE DID THE SAME THING TO THIS GENTLEMAN, THAT WHAT WE DID TO BRITAIN, FRANCE. SAME THING BY THE HERALD. BY THE WAY, THE HERALD STANDARD DID NOT DO THE BEST JOB IN COVERING THAT EITHER. AND I'M SORRY. AND SEAN KNOWS THAT I'M VERY UPFRONT WITH HER. WE GAVE HIM EVERY OPPORTUNITY, EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLY AND PAY THE PERMITS. WE WERE NOT GOING TO GIVE HIM A SWEETHEART DEAL LIKE HE WANTED. THREATEN US. I'M DONE. BY THE WAY, HE'S STILL TRYING TO SELL THE PROPERTY, THE LEASE FOR $3 MILLION. IT'S PUBLIC RECORD. YOU CAN SEE IT. JUST GO TO LOOPNET. IT'S ON THE LOOPNET. IT'S BEEN SENT TO ME BY A BUNCH OF REALTORS. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, BY THE WAY, NO MORE BAD DEALS, MR. MANAGER. NO MORE DEALS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO SELL YOUR LEASES, YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. AND WE HAVE THE FINAL SAY. WE'RE LEASES GET APPROVED. SO DCM, ACM, REMEMBER THAT. OKAY, SO THIS IS THE SAME SITUATION AGAIN. CHRISTMAS TREES, FRITZ AND FRANZ, THE GOLF MEMBERSHIPS, THE COUNTRY CLUB. I CAN KEEP GOING. ALL THINGS THAT WE HAVE ERADICATED BECAUSE THEY WERE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND OUR GENEROSITY BECAUSE WE TRUST PEOPLE. MY STUDENTS CAN'T EVEN SEE IT HERE. THEY'RE ALL SHAKING THEIR HEAD. IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING ON THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT OR BEING PRO OR AGAINST. IT'S JUST SIMPLE LIKE RESPECT FOR THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. YOU'RE IN A [05:55:06] PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. PROTECT THAT PARTNERSHIP AT ALL COSTS. SO CONTINUE TO BEAR FRUIT. RIGHT? SO I'M DISAPPOINTED. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY, BUT WHEN I HEAR WHEN I HEAR COMMISSIONER LARA SPEAK THAT WAY TO ME, IT'S LIKE NOW IT GIVES ME A EVEN MORE CONCERNS BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT. WE COULD DO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT. MADAM VICE MAYOR. I MEAN, I COULD GO ON AND ON. I FELT VERY DECEIVED. OKAY. WHEN YOU SUBMIT SOMETHING AND YOU SPEAK IN PUBLIC, IT'S UNDER OATH. OKAY. SO IT WAS A FRAUDULENT MISSTATEMENT OF FACT. WHEN YOU SIGN OFF ON LETTERHEAD THAT BELONGS TO THE PBA AND YOU'RE NOT A CURRENT FIREFIGHTER AND YOU'RE REALLY REPRESENTING A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION, IT DECEIVES THE PUBLIC. SO I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO. END UP WITH A RESULT. I WAS HOPING DURING THE DEFERRAL PERIOD THAT THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING OFFERED IN THE WAY OF MONETARY BENEFITS TO A CORAL GABLES CHARITY OR ANY CHARITY. MONETARY BENEFITS MEAN A LOT MORE THAN A THAN JUST A TREE. OKAY, SO. AND BY THE WAY, ON THAT POINT, AND BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, UNLESS THE MANAGER. YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? THE VICE MAYOR MADE A VERY GOOD POINT. DECEIT. IF YOU NOTICE, TODAY THERE'S BEEN TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT HAVE ENDED UP IN THE CITY BEING DECEIVED. NUMBER ONE, I BROUGHT ONE OF THEM UP RIGHT NOW IN REGARDS TO DAVID PEREZ AND THE FIRE UNION, TRYING TO DECEIVE THE RESIDENTS, TO THINK THAT THEY'RE GETTING A CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATION IN AN EFFORT TO TURN AN ELECTION AGAINST ME. AND NOW YOU SEE THE FIRE UNION AGAIN, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AGAIN IN A PARTNERSHIP, THEY'RE GETTING PAID, WHICH AT THE END OF THE DAY, DOES NOT TURN OUT TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES. IT'S DECEIVING THE COMMUNITY. IT'S LIKE THE STATEMENT THAT WE HEARD THE OTHER DAY AT THE RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING. REMEMBER THAT WHEN I ASKED ONE OF THE FIRE, FIRE, FIRE EMPLOYEES, PART OF THE UNION, WHY DID YOU LEND YOUR GOLF CART TO TRY TO DECEIVE THE RESIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF CORAL GABLES AND HAND OUT THESE FAKE CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS? THIS IS ON PUBLIC RECORD, BY THE WAY, SO I'M NOT TO BLAME. AND I SAID, LISTEN, LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. IF YOU LEND YOUR CAR TO COMMIT A ROBBERY, BANK ROBBERY, YOU'RE AN ACCOMPLICE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOT ONLY IS IT DECEIT LIKE THE VICE MAYOR SAID, IT'S JUST DISAPPOINTMENT. SO, MAYOR, THE ONLY THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS A MEMBER OF THE PBA DID NOT SIGN OFF ON THIS PBA LETTERHEAD. WHETHER IT WAS USED WITH HER AUTHORIZATION OR NOT IS NOT CLEAR. BUT I JUST WANT TO NOT THROW THE PEN WITH A BROAD STROKE WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING THE FACTS BEHIND IT. BUT THE THE APPLICATIONS WITHDRAWN, SO IT'S NO LONGER OF A MOMENT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM VICE MAYOR. AND TO CLOSE THE MEETING [K. DISCUSSION ITEMS] OFF, ANY FINAL WORDS TO TWO THINGS. MONDAY, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE OPENING EVENT FOR THE SOUTH FLORIDA COGNITIVE CARE ZONE. IT WAS CONDUCTED AT THE LOEWS. THE LOEWS DESERVES KUDOS FOR HAVING OBTAINED A CERTIFICATION SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO. ADDRESS PATRONS BETTER THAT ARE ON THE SPECTRUM, HAVE AUTISM, HAVE ALZHEIMER'S, HAVE DEMENTIA, OR ARE SUFFERING FROM OTHER BRAIN INJURY TYPE MATTERS, AND HAVE THE PATIENCE AND TIME TO GO FORWARD. I'D LIKE OUR STAFF TO. ADVERTISE THIS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO DO THE SAME. WE HAVE MANY HOTELS, WE HAVE MANY BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY AND THIS TRAINING IS EXCELLENT. YOU KNOW, YOU'LL ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, A PORTION OF WHAT PEOPLE DEAL WITH EVERY DAY, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW ALL OF WHAT THEY DEAL WITH EVERY DAY AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT. THE SECOND THING IS WE HAVE THE RECYCLING EVENT COMING UP ON NOVEMBER 14TH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE DOING USE USE CLOTHES OR GENTLY USED CLOTHES AND SHOES THIS YEAR OR NOT, BUT WE NEED TO DO A GOOD JOB OF ADVERTISING IT OUT SO PEOPLE CAN START, INSTEAD OF PUTTING THOSE TELEVISIONS IN THEIR TRASH PILES, JUST HANG ON TO IT FOR A LITTLE LONGER. YOUR COMPUTERS, YOUR ELECTRONICS, YOUR CHEMICALS, YOUR PAINT, [06:00:04] ETC. AND BRING IT ON DOWN. ON NOVEMBER 14TH BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND NOON. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. HAPPY THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU. WELL, JUST TWO THINGS. ONE IS JUST TO REITERATE THE AMAZING NEWS FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. HAVING RECEIVED THE TRIPLE CERTIFICATION RIGHT NOW, PLACING THEM IN THE RAREST OF ALL CATEGORIES. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS, BUT I THINK IT'S ONLY LIKE 17 IN THE COUNTRY HAVE ACHIEVED THAT AMAZING LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE. SO THAT DESERVES ONE MORE ROUND OF RECOGNITION. AND, AND THE ONLY OTHER TWO ITEMS, ONE, PLEASE VOTE. WE HAVE NOVEMBER 3RD IS ELECTION DAY. IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY VOTED, AND IT'S THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING THAT I WILL HAVE THE MIC TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THE FACT THAT THERE'S A PRETTY BIG ELECTION ON A BIG SCALE. AND IT'S IT'S A HISTORIC ONE, BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE CITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A COMMISSION RACE DECIDED IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, WHICH MYSELF AND THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE DAIS WERE VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE VOTE OF THE RESIDENTS AND THE REFERENDUM CONFIRMED THAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE A NOVEMBER ELECTION. AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS, ONCE AGAIN, WISHING YOU VERY WELL, AERIAL ON THIS, YOUR YOUR LAST DAY ON THE COMMISSION, YOUR FAMILY HEALTH AND HAPPINESS AND MUCH, MUCH SUCCESS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. SO PIGGYBACKING ON COMMISSIONER LAURA, EARLY VOTING IS ALREADY OPEN. SO YOU CAN VOTE EARLY BETWEEN 7 A.M. AND 7 P.M. ALL THE WAY UNTIL SUNDAY. AND THEN ELECTION DAY IS THIS COMING TUESDAY. SO PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE. THERE ARE 28 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, INCLUDING CORAL GABLES BRANCH LIBRARY, SO THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO COME OUT TO VOTE. HALLOWEEN ON THE MILE AND DIA DE MUERTOS THIS WEEKEND. I HOPE YOU ALL CAN BRING YOUR FAMILIES OUT AND ENJOY THE EVENT. FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN SEEING IN THE FORECAST, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GOOD WEATHER, SO IT'LL BE A GREAT TIME TO ENJOY WITH YOUR FAMILIES. AND AS MY LAST TIME HERE, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO MY COLLEAGUES, TO OUR GREAT STAFF AND TO THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL AROUND TOWN THROUGH THE MAYOR. I WAS REMISS, REMISS IN NOT MENTIONING IF I CAN JUST TAKE THE MIC BACK FOR ONE MOMENT. OF COURSE, ONE MORE POINT OF NOTE. ON NOVEMBER 11TH AT GIRALDA PLAZA AT 9 A.M. WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THE INAUGURAL VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION IN THE CITY HERE OF CORAL GABLES. IT IS A HISTORIC ON A NUMBER OF BASES. NOT ONLY IS IT THE FIRST TIME WE'RE CELEBRATING VETERANS DAY IN THE CITY. BEAUTIFUL. BY THE WAY, AN ITEM THAT I SPONSORED WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND I APPRECIATE THEM FOR THAT. BUT IT'S ALSO THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF OUR OF OUR COUNTRY. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY SPECIAL DAY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DIGNITARIES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL THE ARMED FORCES, HOPEFULLY SPACE FORCE AS WELL. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE HAVING MUSIC, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING EVENTS FOR THE KIDS AND FOR THE FAMILIES, AND IT'S GOING TO BE, I GUARANTEE THE WEATHER'S GOING TO BE SPECTACULAR BECAUSE IT'S JUST GUARANTEED. AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. 9:00 ON THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH, WHICH IS SYMBOLIC BECAUSE AS YOU HEARD EARLIER TODAY AT THE 11TH HOUR, IS WHEN WE SIGNED IN 1918 ARMISTICE ENDING WORLD WAR ONE. SO IT'S A DAY OF CELEBRATION TO CELEBRATE ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES. SO I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU THERE AT GIRALDA PLAZA ON NOVEMBER 11TH AT 9 A.M. THANKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO MY FOUR STUDENTS THAT ARE HERE. YOU GUYS ARE. YOU GUYS ARE TOUGH GUYS. COME ON UP, ALL OF YOU. I GOT A FEW THINGS TO GO OVER, AND I WANT YOU TO JUST GET A MOMENT AT THE PODIUM AND TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE TODAY REALLY QUICKLY. WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER ON THURSDAY IN CLASS, BUT THE FLOOR IS YOURS. MAKE IT COUNT. WELL THANK YOU, MAYOR AND DISTINGUISHED COMMISSION. CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ, ON THIS AMAZING CAREER. AND MY NAME IS VICTOR MARCEAU. I'M AN ECONOMICS MAJOR IN FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY AND A STUDENT WITH THE MAYOR. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE AND LEARN. IT'S REALLY DEEP IN MY INTEREST INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR SPECIFICALLY FOR TAKING HIS TIME IN THESE SESSIONS. THEY HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY INSIGHTFUL, AND I KNOW ME AND THE OTHER [06:05:05] STUDENTS HERE APPRECIATE A LOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. YOU MET ME LAST TIME, BUT MY NAME IS TROY GRESHAM. I'M AN ECONOMICS STUDENT AT FIU. TAKING MAYOR LARGO'S CLASS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE, AND MY FAVORITE PART OF COMING TO THESE MEETINGS IS SEEING ALL OF THAT IN ACTION, DOING A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AT HOME. WHAT YOU MENTIONED WITH THE ISO CLASS ONE RATING. I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE MAYOR LARGO TALKS ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ALL THAT SPENDING, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S HARD WORK TRANSLATES DIRECTLY INTO THE RESIDENTS POCKETS THROUGH LOWER PREMIUMS FOR THE PROPERTY COVERAGE. AND THAT'S THAT'S COOL. I THINK SEEING THAT IN ACTION. AND SO LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. DO YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN BEING IN PUBLIC GOVERNMENT OR ARE YOU TURNED OFF BY THE WAY THE SAUSAGE IS MADE? DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. THE SAUSAGE IS MADE. LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU. HOLD ON. LISTEN. OKAY, LISTEN. OKAY, SO LISTEN ONE SECOND, OKAY? YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. WOULD YOU SAY HERE. I PROMISE THE PARTIES ARE GOING TO TAKE IT EASY ON YOU, THE GAZETTE. OKAY, I KNOW THE FIRST ARTICLE THEY WROTE WAS TOUGH, BUT THIS TIME THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE IT EASY ON YOU. NEXT TIME, PLEASE PUT MY NAME IN THE YEAH, I KNOW, PLEASE. SO JUST YOU GOT TO SPEAK TO HIS WIFE. YOU GOT TO SPEAK TO HIS WIFE. SHE'S THE ONE THAT RUNS THE GAZETTE. OKAY, SO? SO MAYBE YOU CAN WRITE HER ON IT AND SHE'LL INCLUDE YOU. SO GO AHEAD. SO TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR POLITICAL FUTURE. WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT? LIKE I TOLD YOU, I THINK I HAD A LITTLE MEETING IN YOUR OFFICE. AT FIRST, I WOULD WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS. AND LIKE I TOLD MY TEACHER, DOCTOR SHARMA, WHO IS MY MACROECONOMICS TEACHER AT SCHOOL, AND LIKE HOW YOU TAUGHT US IN CLASS, I WOULD WANT TO DO SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT WITH MY PRIVATE LIFE BEFORE I COME AND GIVE MY PUBLIC LIFE TO THE PUBLIC AND DO ANY TYPE OF SERVICE. WHAT WAS MY ADVICE TO YOU IN REGARDS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR? WHAT DID I TELL YOU IN REGARDS TO BEFORE YOU ENGAGE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, WHAT SHOULD YOU BE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR? YOU SHOULD BE IN BUSINESS. YOU SHOULD RUN A BUSINESS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO AND CONTROL THE PUBLIC'S MONEY AND HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR MONEY AND SPEND THEIR MONEY ALL WILLY NILLY, YOU SHOULD HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND SEE HOW THAT AFFECTS YOUR OWN LIFE BEFORE YOU TAKE OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY AND SPEND IT RIDICULOUSLY. YES, SIR. WHICH IS WHAT WE LEARN IN CLASS. AND THIS, THE WAY THE SAUSAGE IS MADE SOMETIMES ISN'T PRETTY, BUT THE SAUSAGE STILL HAS TO GET MADE SO PEOPLE CAN EAT SAUSAGE. SO. WELL SAID MY FRIEND. WELL SAID, WELL SAID MY FRIEND. COME ON UP. HELLO. MY NAME IS NOAH MELNICK. I'M A CLASSICS IN POLITICS AND LAW MINOR AT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE EXPERIENCE. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW CITY BUDGETS ARE MANAGED. I HAVE AN INTEREST IN PUBLIC LIFE AND I. I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND HOW LITTLE I ACTUALLY KNEW FOR JUST STUDYING THESE THINGS IN THEORY AND SEEING THE ACTUAL PRACTICAL REALITY OF DAY TO DAY LIFE AND HOW THINGS ARE MANAGED HAS GIVEN ME A NEW PERSPECTIVE, I SUPPOSE, ON JUST LIKE HOW THE CITY'S ECONOMY WORKS AND HOW THAT'S MANAGED THROUGH A LOT OF MESSY THINGS. BUT I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT DESPITE ALL OF THESE CONFLICTS THAT SEEM TO GO ON, THE CITY IS DOING AMAZING. SO IT'S COOL TO SEE HOW EVERYONE'S ABLE TO MANAGE ALL THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF DEMOCRACY AND END WITH SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, A SAUSAGE THAT'S EDIBLE. YES. MR. MELNICK, CAN YOU CAN YOU WILL YOU WILL YOU TELL US YOUR FATHER IS SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE PEDIGREE THAT YOU COME FROM? MY MY DAD. YES, SIR. AL MELNICK. YEAH. WHO IS AL MELNICK? WELL, HE WAS ORIGINALLY AN ATTORNEY, AND THEN HE. HE OWNED A LOT OF BUSINESSES AROUND MIAMI. A BIG PLAYER IN MIAMI A FEW DECADES AGO. STILL TODAY, HE OWNED THE FORGE. YES. SO A PERSON WHO HAS A LONG, LONG HISTORY OF ENGAGEMENT ON A VERY POSITIVE FRONT. HE'S DONE A LOT OF PHILANTHROPY. HE'S BEEN. YOU HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL, MY FRIEND. YOU FILL HIM, YOU'RE GONNA FILL HIM. YEAH, WE CAN HOPE THAT. YEAH, RIGHT. YOU'LL FILL HIM. YOU'LL FILL HIM. THAT'S ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE AMONGST AMONGST THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. ONE OF THEIR BIG CONCERNS IS OBVIOUSLY LIVING UP TO THE PAST. AND I TELL YOU, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I STRUGGLE WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY. STRUGGLE WITH EVERY DAY. SIR. YOU'RE NEW. COME ON IN. NOT NEW TO THE CLASS, BUT YOU'RE NEW TODAY, SO TELL YOUR NAME. WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING? TELL US A LITTLE BIT. OF COURSE. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I'M ADONIS ALEXANDER. I'M CURRENTLY DOUBLE MAJORING AND PROFESSIONAL MBA AS WELL AS I'M ALIGNED WITH THE PROGRAM AT THE REAL MADRID AND FOLLOWING A SPORT MANAGEMENT PATH. BESIDES THAT, DEFINITELY WANT TO APPRECIATE AND SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE I'M AS WELL AS YOU GUYS CAN TELL, I'M ONE OF THE STUDENTS HERE FROM THE FEW. AND WE HAVE THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MR. LAGOS PROVIDING NOT ONLY HANDS ON EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO SHARING [06:10:04] HIS EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE WITH, YOU KNOW, HOW THE MAGIC HERE IS HAPPENING AND AS YOU CALL IT, MAGIC, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MAGIC. HEY, IT'S MORE LIKE IT'S MORE LIKE LIKE, LIKE MUD WRESTLING, BUT IT'S OKAY. WE'LL CALL IT, OH, THAT'S GONNA MAKE IT. THAT'S GONNA MAKE THE VLOGS TOMORROW. IT'S OKAY. KEEP GOING. WHAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF IS THE RESULT. YES, SIR. IT DOES. AND AT THE SAME TIME, I DO WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO APPRECIATE EACH ONE OF YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE AND PROVIDING THE SPACE FOR. NOT ONLY FOR THE MEDIA, THE PUBLIC, THE PEOPLE IN SERVICE, SERVING THE COMMUNITY TO BE IN THE SAME SPACE AND COMMUNICATING WITH YOU GUYS AND EVEN ADAPTING TECHNOLOGY, PROVIDING, YOU KNOW, SOON, WHICH IS GREAT FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT BE HERE IN PERSON. SO THANK YOU. SO WE STARTED DOING THAT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND I THINK IT WAS COMMISSIONER FORCE THAT STARTED THAT. AN ATTORNEY WHO HAS HIS OFFICES HERE IN DOWNTOWN, MAYBE ABOUT TWO MINUTES AWAY, HE CAME UP WITH THAT IDEA, AND IT'S REALLY BLOSSOMED INTO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO, AGAIN, TO BE ABLE TO JUST PROVIDE THEIR GUIDANCE, GET GUIDANCE, GIVE THEIR INPUT. THE MORE WAYS THAT WE CAN ENGAGE PEOPLE INTO HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE, TO ME, I THINK IS A BENEFIT, EVEN IF IT'S AN OPPOSITION, BECAUSE SOME OF THE BEST DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE HERE HAVE COME FROM, AGAIN, PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE BROUGHT THE IDEAS. LOOK, I BROUGHT AN IDEA TODAY. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. I BROUGHT AN IDEA THAT WAS BROUGHT TO ME BY A RESIDENT, WHICH I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH. IT'S THE GREEN FENCING. SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS NOT GROUNDBREAKING. IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT TOOK TEN YEARS, LIKE THE UNDERLINE OR LIKE LEE LINCOLN OR LIKE FPL UNDERGROUNDING. THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR TEN YEARS THAT WE BROUGHT TO FRUITION WITH THE MANAGER. I WORKED ON THAT WITH THE MANAGER, AND I WORKED ON THOSE FOR YEARS. RIGHT. WITH HIS GUIDANCE, A SIMPLE LITTLE WOODEN FENCE AROUND A TREE IN GREEN. NOW, MY COLLEAGUES WERE LIKE, NO, THAT'S THE DUMBEST IDEA I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE. VINCE, DON'T, DON'T DON'T DON'T GUESS. SOMETIMES YOU WIN, SOMETIMES YOU LOSE AND YOU SEE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND YOU SEE DIFFERENT ANGLES AND YOU SEE WHY MAYBE THINGS DON'T WORK. BUT THE IDEA IS THAT YOU GOT TO BE WILLING TO LISTEN, AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE I TELL YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY IN CLASS, AND THAT'S DISCIPLINE. AND IF YOU BELIEVE IN SOMETHING, TRULY BELIEVE IN SOMETHING, YOU GOTTA STICK TO YOUR GUNS. AND EVEN IF IT TAKES TEN YEARS, YOU GOTTA WORK ON IT. YOU GOTTA WORK ON IT TO BRING IT TO FRUITION. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE ALL DAY. YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY? MALIK. YEAH. THIS IS ACTUALLY A QUESTION ABOUT THE FENCES AND LIKE COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO ANYTHING ELSE. BUT I WAS THINKING WHAT I WAS WATCHING THIS AND THIS COULD ALSO BE A STUPID IDEA, BUT I THOUGHT I'D MENTION IT BECAUSE YOU SAID IT WAS FINE. MAYBE WHITE WOULD BE A GOOD COLOR BECAUSE IT WOULD BE LESS OFFENSIVE THAN THE ORANGE, BUT IT WOULD DEFINITELY STAND OUT IN THE ENVIRONMENT. BUT I'M NOT SURE LIKE WHAT THE COLOR SIGNAL. BUT I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD ALTERNATIVE. IT'S A LOT LESS OFFENSIVE COLOR, YOU KNOW, SO MIDDLE GROUND THINGS HERE, THINGS HERE IN CORAL GABLES, WHEN IT COMES TO ESTHETICS, WE MOVE VERY SLOW LIKE LIKE MOLASSES. YEAH, THAT'S OKAY. AND THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT RUSHED TO MAKE TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE CITY. FOR EXAMPLE, I WORKED ON METAL METAL ROOFS FOR, I THINK LIKE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS UNTIL I FINALLY CAME TO FRUITION. AND IT CAME TO FRUITION JUST IN A REAL SUBSECT OF NON-HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY. THAT MADE SENSE. SO AGAIN, SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. THURSDAY WE HAVE A NICE CLASS. I'M PREPARING THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION NOW WITH LAURA. I THINK YOU GUYS ARE GONNA REALLY ENJOY IT. IT'S GONNA BE FUN. AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS CAME HERE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU GUYS ENGAGING MORE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MAYOR. YES, WORD OF ADVICE IS NEVER A BAD QUESTION. NEVER A BAD IDEA. IN FACT, WHAT I TELL THE BIKE RIDERS, YOU'LL STAND OUT MORE IF YOU'RE WEARING WHITE THAN THE FLUORESCENT COLORS YOU DO. AND BY THE WAY, I'M THE VICE MAYOR. CAME TO THE CLASS. SHE LOVED IT. RIGHT? MADAM VICE MAYOR? NO, NO, IT WAS IT WAS A VERY, VERY INTERACTIVE. HE JUMPED IN. SHE ENGAGED. SHE WAS INVOLVED. YOU KNOW, I INVITE ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE WILLING TO MAKE IT. I KNOW THEY'RE VERY BUSY, BUT IF YOU'RE THE MANAGER OR THE DCM OR THE ACM OR ANYONE ELSE. I'D LIKE TO JOIN US. THE CLERK, THE CITY ATTORNEY. IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. BY THE WAY, AS YOU KNOW, WE SPEND THE CLASS LEARNING, BUT I ALSO ENCOURAGE THE STUDENTS TO ASK ME AS MANY QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE. I DON'T CARE, ASK ME ABOUT ANYTHING. THAT'S THE INTENT IS TO HAVE A DIALOG, AND I WANT THEM TO BE COMFORTABLE HAVING THAT DIALOG, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY I THINK YOU REFINE WHO YOU ARE. THAT'S WHY I INVITE YOU HERE. THAT'S WHY WE WE HAVE OPEN OFFICE HOURS AN HOUR BEFORE CLASS. THAT'S WHY WE GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE. THAT'S WHY WE SIT DOWN AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP. ALL RIGHT, GUYS, SIT DOWN. LET ME FINISH UP WITH MY POINTS. THANK YOU. NO, PLEASE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, I THINK I MENTIONED THE BLOGS A FEW TIMES. THE BLOGS STATED THAT THE MOBILITY HUB NOW POTENTIALLY IS NOW DELAYED TILL APRIL. MR. MANAGER WILL YOU PLEASE ADDRESS ADDRESS MRS. [06:15:04] PARDO'S RIDICULOUSNESS? YES, MA'AM. YES, MAYOR. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH SUFFOLK TO GET THE THE COST OF THAT PROJECT IN LINE. WE EXPECT WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE DECEMBER MEETING. I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH GMP PRICE FOR FOR THE DECEMBER MEETING. BUT EVEN IF WE DON'T, WE'RE LOOKING AT STARTING PROBABLY SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY. SO WE EITHER GOING TO BE STARTING IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, NOT STARTING IN APRIL. OKAY. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S NOT SCARE PEOPLE. LET'S, WE, WE HAVE THE MONEY ALREADY IN PLACE FINANCIALLY. WE'RE SET, READY TO GO. WE'RE WORKING ON THE FPNL VAULT RIGHT NOW. SO ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTION HAS ALREADY STARTED. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE NEXT STEP IS DEMOLITION. BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T START DEMOLITION UNTIL THE VAULT IS COMPLETED THE RELOCATION. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE WITH THE MANAGER, THE DCM AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, THE MAYOR, THE FPL VAULT IS DONE. WE'RE WAITING FOR FPL TO PUT THE CONDUCTORS IN. WORK HAS ALREADY COMMENCED, SO CONSTRUCTION IS NOT STARTING IN APRIL BECAUSE IT ALREADY STARTED. ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT THAT THAT ADDRESSED DE LOS MUERTOS IS FORTHCOMING THIS WEEKEND. I ASKED EVERYONE TO PLEASE COME ENJOY. THERE'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOOD, GREAT ENTERTAINMENT. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT CULTURE. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN, IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A DIFFERENT CULTURE THAT MAYBE YOU'RE USED TO. NUMBER THREE, I TOLD YOU SO. I KNOW THE MANAGER DON'T LIKE TO HEAR THAT THE CROSSWALKS, A MIRACLE MILE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO. THERE'S NO CHOICE. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING TO MAINTAIN THEM IS OVER THE TOP. WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. I KNOW THAT I WANT TO KEEP THEM, YOU WANT TO KEEP THEM, BUT IT'S JUST I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO AFFORD IT. SO PUT IT ON THE RADAR. LET'S THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT. AND THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT I CAN'T SPEAK ON THE RECORD BECAUSE THE CITY ATTORNEY IS CRINGING RIGHT NOW. BUT THERE'S THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TALK AMONGST THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE AND THE AND THE AND THE MANAGER. I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF THOSE CROSSWALKS, BUT THE COST TO MAINTAIN THEM AND SOME OTHER CERTAIN THINGS THAT I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT HERE IN THE PUBLIC ARE GOING TO BE MAKING ARE MAKING IT VERY COST PROHIBITIVE. SO, MR. MANAGER, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE ALMOST EVERYTHING HERE IN THE CITY. CAN WE FIND A WAY TO SOLVE THIS? I KNOW WE'VE BEEN AT IT. I KNOW WE HAVE DIFFERENT FOUNDATIONS. WE PUT A CONCRETE SLAB. WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING TO TRY TO FIGURE THIS OUT. I KNOW IT'S THE FAULT OF NOT THE DESIGN, BUT OF THE FAULT OF THE PAVERS. WHEN YOU HAVE DUMP TRUCKS DRIVING OVER THEM AND GARBAGE TRUCKS AND HEAVY MACHINERY. I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS, BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO COST THE CITY SO MUCH MONEY. WHAT DO YOU THINK WE HAVE? WE HAVE NOW WE THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF OF THE MATERIAL WHICH CAUSED THE THE PROBLEM. NOW. NOW IT'S NOT. WE HAVE ADDITIONAL MATERIALS BEING STORED AT 72ND AVENUE. AND SO WE ARE. WE ARE PROVIDING MAINTENANCE MUCH QUICKER NOW AND. BUT IT IS IT IS A MATERIAL ISSUE. IT'S IT'S IT'S QUARTZITE. IT WORKS. IT WORKS ON MIRACLE MILE, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. THE IT'S AN IMPACT ISSUE. AND IT'S QUARTZITE. IT'S VERY BRITTLE, BUT IT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL. AND, AND. I KNOW MAINTENANCE IS A PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM, MAYOR, AS YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THAT WOULD THAT WOULD IMPACT THE LOOK OF, OF MIRACLE MILE. BUT NOW WE HAVE THE ACTUAL MATERIAL WHICH ARE THICKER PAVERS STORED, STORED AT 72ND AVENUE. SO MAYBE WE CAN GIVE IT ONE LAST SHOT AND SEE AND SEE HOW THIS WORKS. BUT IT IS QUARTZITE. IT IS A BRITTLE MATERIAL. THE REASON IT'S NOT FAILING ON US IN THE SIDEWALK AND ON THE PARKING IS BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THAT IMPACT ISSUE. YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CONTINUOUS IMPACT ISSUE. AND IT'S WE, WE'VE TRIED, WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE IT AS AS STIFF AS POSSIBLE AND MINIMIZE FLEXURE AND ALL KINDS OF ISSUES LIKE THAT. AND, AND, BUT IT'S, IT'S A MATERIAL PROPERTY. YES, IT IS. IT'S A MATERIAL ISSUE AND IMPACT ISSUE. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S SEE IF WE GET ONE MORE SHOT TO TRY TO BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL, IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S JUST DIFFICULT. I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A A HAPPY HALLOWEEN. OBVIOUSLY, LEADING UP INTO MY FAVORITE SEASON, THE HOLIDAY SEASON, THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, IT'S OKAY TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS. YOU KNOW, WHATEVER YOU CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE SOMETHING AT THE END OF THE DAY, CELEBRATE WITH YOUR FAMILY, WITH YOUR FRIENDS. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TIME OF THE YEAR. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN OFFICE HOURS. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS ALLOWING ME THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU. COMMISSIONER FERNANDEZ. WISHING YOU THE VERY BEST. GODSPEED AND [06:20:02] WE'RE ALWAYS HERE. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU AND SEE YOU THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. AND THANK YOU TO STAFF, ESPECIALLY FOR ALWAYS BEING SO PRESENT AND FOR DELIVERING ON EXCELLENCE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. MOTION TO ADJOURN. I'LL MOVE IT. SECOND, MEETING ADJOURNED. RECORDING STOPPED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.