Test.
test. >>
test. >> mayor: lengths get the
meeting started.
meeting started. Good morning, I would like to
good morning, I would like to welcome everyone to the june 11,
2024, commission meeting.
I'll reiterate.
I'll reiterate. We're blessed to have you here
we're blessed to have you here today.
today.
today. We
today. We hope if you have any
we hope if you have any questioners, concerns or ideas
you can voice them here at the
commission.
commission. We have multiple opportunities
we have multiple opportunities for that to happen.
If you're not here, we hope to
if you're not here, we hope to hear from out on zoom or through
the phone.
the phone. Please feel free to call and
please feel free to call and we'll more than welcome to have
you.
you.
you. We
you. We would like to get started by
we would like to get started by welcoming this morning chaplain
jerry beverly from the
fellowship of christian athletes
at the university of miami.
Join us.
join us.
join us. This is the first time that you
this is the first time that you and I have the pleasure of
meeting each other.
>> it's a blessing.
Thank you.
thank you. Can I help us in prayer?
can I help us in prayer? >> mayor: yes,
can I help us in prayer? >> mayor: yes, sir.
>>
>> mayor: yes, sir. >> okay.
>> okay.
>> okay. Okay, let us pray.
okay, let us pray. Oh god, we come before you with
oh god, we come before you with gratitude this morning.
We thank you for being a god who
we thank you for being a god who loves us.
loves us.
loves us. Thank you for everyone that's in
thank you for everyone that's in this room right now.
Thank you that you never leave
thank you that you never leave us or forsake us, lord.
Your grace has brought us thus
your grace has brought us thus far and your grace will bring us
home.
home.
home. We
home. We thank you for calling us here
we thank you for calling us here in these positions to be good
stewards of your creation and to
love our neighbors as ourselves.
I thank you this morning, god,
for these, your servants, our
mere, our city managers, our
city staff, our city council
members.
members.
members. Help us, lord, to entries you
help us, lord, to entries you more each day.
May we learn to lien on your
may we learn to lien on your ever kansas city lasting
may we learn to lien on your ever kansas city laslasting arm.
We pray your kingdom will come
we pray your kingdom will come in coral gables.
We pray for wisdom, for
we pray for wisdom, for strength, for courage to do what
is right and good for all of our
citizens.
citizens.
citizens. We may put the interest of
we may put the interest of others above our own, we may act
with love for our common good.
May we be good neighbors,
may we be good neighbors, recognizing your image in every
percent.
percent.
percent. We thank you again for this
we thank you again for this council, our mayor, our city
staff, our first responders, our
hospital staff and all those who
work to make this place coral
gables, we call home such a
wonderful city.
wonderful city. In the name of the father, the
in the name of the father, the son, the holy spirt, who
perfectly loves us and sets us
free from all our fears.
Amen.
amen.
amen. >>
amen. >> mayor: amen.
Chaplain, thank you for being
chaplain, thank you for being here with us.
We extend our best wishes to
we extend our best wishes to your congregation and look
forward to have you again.
>> god bless.
>> mayor: now the pledge.
Commissioner castro, will you
commissioner castro, will you please do us the honor.
[pledge of
please do us the honor. [pledge of allegiance]
>> mayor: moving on to
presentations and protocols.
A1, congratulations to the fire
a1, congratulations to the fire department special response
team.
team.
team. >>
team. >> good morning, sir.
>> mayor: thank you for being
here.
here.
here. >>
here. >> good morning.
Good morning.
good morning. >>
good morning. >> good
good morning. >> good morning.
This morning, I'm very proud to
this morning, I'm very proud to recognize our special response
team.
team.
team. They're also known as the
they're also known as the vehicle extradition team.
We competed in a competition
we competed in a competition hosted by palm beach county,
palm beach county f
fire-rescue.
fire-rescue. There were teams represented
there were teams represented from all over the state of
florida, some as far as canada
came to the competition.
The team placed and performed
the team placed and performed exceptionally well.
exceptionally well. This team is known for
this team is known for performing well at the highest
levels.
levels.
levels. They're recognized around the
they're recognized around the world as one of the best teams
in vehicle extraction.
I want to welcome the members
here and some of the past
members supporting them.
We have driver engineer nick --
we have driver engineer nick -- the team coordinator.
[speaker off mic] driver
engineer hill.
engineer hill. We have miguel fernandez who
we have miguel fernandez who serves as the team paramedic,
and the incident commander of
the team and team lead ser on
vacation, but that's captain
chris.
chris.
chris. He
chris. He wishes he could be here
he wishes he could be here today.
today.
today. The scenarios in these
the scenarios in these competitions are broken into
three different scenarios.
One is called unlimited.
one is called unlimited. That means that the team can use
that means that the team can use all of the equipment at their
disposal, including heavy
hydraulic equipment which is
known as the jaws of life.
The limited scenario is they
the limited scenario is they can't use the jaws of life, they
have to use other types of hand
tools and what not.
In the rapid scenario, where
in the rapid scenario, where they have to get a patient out
that is decompromising really
fast and have to get him out in
10 minutes n this competition,
they came in first place, first
place in the limited scenario,
third in the limented scenario,
and third in the rap tied
scenario.
scenario.
scenario. We also had the best paramedic
we also had the best paramedic in the competing, which is niko
fernandez, and the best incident
commander, which is the captain
chris.
chris.
chris. These are the situations they
these are the situations they deal with.
deal with. These aren't normal fender
these aren't normal fender benders that you see.
We respond to car accidents
we respond to car accidents every day.
every day. You might see this, say it won't
you might see this, say it won't happen, but scenarios like this
happen in the real
happen, but scenarios like this happen in the real world.
If you're unfortunate enough to
if you're unfortunate enough to get into a car accident, the
place to have it is in the city
of coral gables because these
gentlemen perform at the highest
level awrmdz.
level awrmdz. We've been doing it a long
we've been doing it a long time.
time.
time. We've been in the business of
we've been in the business of competing since the early '90's,
so when it manies could to the
best teams in the world, coral
gables is in that
best teams in the world, coral gables is in that conversation.
With that, I wanted to recognize
with that, I wanted to recognize their team and a round of
applause for their great
performance in palm beach
county.
county.
county. >> mayor: congratulations.
Thank you for always shining a
thank you for always shining a great light on the city of coral
gables.
gables.
gables. If anybody would like to say a
if anybody would like to say a few words, you're more than
welcome.
welcome.
welcome. If not, let's take a
item
item a2,
item a2, congratulations to firefighter richard fernandez
recipient of the city of coral
gables firefighter of the month
award for may 2024.
>> now we're recognizing driver
engineer richards, ricky
fernandez, another firefighter
of the month for the month of
may.
may.
may. Ricky has been with the fire
ricky has been with the fire department now for 32 years and
sadly for us and our residents,
ricky is set to retire next
month, so he only has a handful
of shifts left.
We wanted to make sure he was
we wanted to make sure he was recognized before he departed
the city next month.
.
.
. Ricky
. Ricky has excelled in his career
ricky has excelled in his career throughout the fire service.
He's knowledgeable, dedicated,
he's knowledgeable, dedicated, organized, hard working, these
are
organized, hard working, these are words recognize.
He's only made the department
he's only made the department better.
better.
better. He's a student of the fire
he's a student of the fire service.
service.
service. He's taught at the fire academy
he's taught at the fire academy for many, many years.
He's sought after around the
he's sought after around the world as a subject matter
experts in topics like vehicle
extraction, swift water rescue,
incident command, and a whole
menu of other disciplines that
he's an expert at.
He's one of the original members
he's one of the original members of the extraction team and one
of the reasons the team has
performed at the highest level
that they do.
With that, I'm going to miss
with that, I'm going to miss you, rick, next month, and I
want to give you the firefighter
of the month for may.
of the month for may. [applause]
[applause] >> mayor: good morning,
congratulations.
congratulations. >> good morning.
Thank you, mayor, thank you,
thank you, mayor, thank you, commissioners.
commissioners. Thank you, chief, kind, kind
thank you, chief, kind, kind words.
words.
words. It's going to be sad to leave,
it's going to be sad to leave, but I'm very happy with what
I've accomplished in the city.
You're only as good as your
you're only as good as your coworkers, and we wouldn't be so
good.
good.
good. So
good. So I appreciate the award.
so I appreciate the award. It's nice, I received it when I
it's nice, I received it when I first started my career in the
early '90s for the work I did
with ems and it's nice to get it
as I'm leaving, retiring.
Thank you very much.
thank you very much. >> mayor: congratulations.
I hope you enjoy your
retirement, well-deserved.
retirement, well-deserved. >> thank you very much.
>> mayor: thank you for your
moving
moving on
moving on to item a3, congratulations of captain
gregory atwood recipient of the
city of coral gables
firefightern't month award for
june 2024.
june 2024. >> recognize captain greg atwood
another firefighter of the month
for the month of june.
On mother's day, he was
on mother's day, he was celebrating with his family at a
local restaurant and he noticed
a commotion at the restaurant,
and he noticed that there was an
elderly woman choking at the
restaurant.
restaurant. Captain atwood jumped into
captain atwood jumped into action, he went and assisted
with performing abdominal
thrust, also known as the
heimlich maneuver.
heimlich maneuver. At first, it wasn't working and
at first, it wasn't working and the patient collapsed and went
into cardiac arrest.
He started cpr, it helps to
he started cpr, it helps to relief the obstruction that
started this whole mess in the
first place, so he began cpr
until miami-dade fire-rescue
arrived at the scene.
He continued patient care,
he continued patient care, assisting miami-dade rescue,
which was successful and the
patient did regain a pulse and
was transported to the
hospital.
hospital.
hospital. I don't know what the final
outcome of the patient was, she
was transported to a hospital
out of our jurisdiction, but she
left with a pulse and a a
fighting chance.
fighting chance. We were informed by a police
we were informed by a police officer on the scene and he was
really impacted by the
performance that captain atwood
displayed that afternoon.
It was officer reyes, he came to
it was officer reyes, he came to the fire station on hiss own
time to speak to a supervisor to
make sure he was properly
commended and the supervisor on
duty was commander atwood.
The he got ahold of the
the he got ahold of the battalion and I nominated him
for this.
for this.
for this. Police officer's words were he
police officer's words were he played a direct role in the
survival of this patient.
Without his intervention, she
without his intervention, she probably would not have survived
so with that, we honor captain
atwood today.
atwood today.
atwood today. [applause]
[applause] >> thank you, sir.
Thank you to chief.
thank you to chief. Thank you, commission.
thank you, commission. Just want to say thank you very
just want to say thank you very much.
much.
much. I'm
much. I'm honored, I'm humbled.
Like my chief, chief hernandez
like my chief, chief hernandez said, I hope the outcome was a
positive one.
positive one. Thank you v very much.
thank you v very much. >> mayor: thank you, sir.
>>
>> mayor:
>> mayor: moving on to the next item, a4, congratulations to
officer julio gonzalez,
recipient for the city of coral
gables officer of the month for
february 2024.
february 2024. Chief, good morning.
chief, good morning. >>
chief, good morning. >> good
chief, good morning. >> good morning.
>> rowdy bunch out
>> good morning. >> rowdy bunch out there
>> good morning. >> rowdy bunch out there today.
>> good morning, everybody.
Again, these are to be able to
again, these are to be able to celebrate the work of what our
officers do every day, I take
great pride in that, always have
for the 40 years I've been in
law enforcement.
law enforcement. Today, we're here to honor
today, we're here to honor officer julio gonzalez as the
officer of the month for
february 2024.
february 2024. Back in february, approximately
back in february, approximately 12:10 in the morning willing,
12:10 in the morning willing, , when everybody's sleeping,
officer gonzalez observed two
males walking in the 3900 block
of lejeune road.
They became very suspicious as
they became very suspicious as he was going through his patrol,
as we had some break-ins at
different houses or caster,
which was the bigger issue.
He continued to follow them in
he continued to follow them in his marked car.
They started to conceal
they started to conceal themselves blind a tree.
He investigated a little bit
he investigated a little bit further.
further.
further. Eventually stopped the two
eventually stopped the two individuals, they were two
juveniles.
juveniles. Turned out, they were from a
turned out, they were from a previous case that we had in the
city where they were involved in
a stolen car with two other
people.
people.
people. In fact, the one kid was on
in fact, the one kid was on probation for two other auto
theft cases that he had, so what
this show assist an example.
It's not only we go out there
it's not only we go out there and handle calls that we're
dispatched to, it's the
proactive work which is
phenomenal and I think officer
gonzalez showed his great work
that day, and it help is the
residents of coral gables that
he was officers that are so
dedicated to what they do.
A little side note, not that I
a little side note, not that I remind everybody about the
dangers of police work, officer
gonzalez a week ago when we had
the fatality accident involving
a homeless person on the highway
was working a traffic post and
as he got out of the car,
somebody drove through the area
and struck him with that car.
Thank goodness he was not hurt.
thank goodness he was not hurt. The minor things we do can be
the minor things we do can be very dangerous for an officer
out there, so thank you very
much for your work.
Congratulations for being
congratulations for being officer of the month.
>> thank you.
>> thank you. [applause]
[applause] >> mayor:
[applause] >> mayor: fi
>> first off, thank you for the
commission for having me here,
thank you for everything you
do.
do.
do. Thank
do. Thank you for the commander for
thank you for the commander for hiring me and giving me an
opportunity to be here.
This is the first department
this is the first department that I've been here and I love
being here.
being here. I appreciate everything that you
guys do and always looking out
for me.
for me.
for me. I
for me. I appreciate all of my
sergeants, all of my
lieutenants, that day in and day
out, they check in on me and
give me the confidence to dot
work thai do now.
My peers, it's not just me, it's
my peers, it's not just me, it's my peers that were working with
me, they all helped me out on
that call.
that call. They were always there.
they were always there. We do a great job of responding
we do a great job of responding to calls and getting to each
other very quick.
Something with that call, irm
something with that call, irm when I was stepping out of the
car and I called it out, I
didn't know where my peers were
out, but they were at me in
seconds, so it's something that
we take pride in responding to
calls quick and helping each
other out.
other out. It's not just me, but it's
it's not just me, but it's everybody else that I work
with.
with.
with. My
with. My sergeant on midnight I was
my sergeant on midnight I was with, my ftos prior to that
that give me the confidence and
showed me the way.
Officer danny smith that
officer danny smith that retired, he was a great officer,
officer clue and officer becker,
all three were my fto, and I
appreciate everything and what
they taught me.
Me for who I'm being becoming
me for who I'm being becoming now and into the future.
I thank you for all you've
done.
done.
done. [applause]
[applause] >> mayor: officer, thank you for
everything you do.
How long have you been with the
how long have you been with the force now?
force now? >> two and a half years.
>> mayor: well-deserved.
You're setting the benchmark
you're setting the benchmark very high and setting an example
for those stepping into your
shoes as a police officer.
Thank you for your work.
thank you for your work. It's a very difficult job, but
it's a very difficult job, but you're doing an incredible job
of following in the footsteps of
all of these officers we have
behind us.
behind us. Thank you again for your hard
thank you again for your hard work.
work.
work. I
work. I want you to be aware,
sometimes in those mem
moments where you think people
do not notice or are
appreciative, this city and this
commission is grateful for your
hard work.
hard work. >> thank you for those
>>
>> mayor:
>> mayor: moving on to the approval of minutes for the
regular commission meeting
schedule may 7, 2024.
>> move it.
>> I'll second.
>> all in favor?
[chorus of ayes]
>> thank you.
>> mayor: regular city
commission meeting may 21,
2024.
2024.
2024. >>
2024. >> I'll move it.
>> second.
>> second. >> all in favor?
[chorus of ayes]
>> thank you.
>> mayor: moving on to public
comment.
comment.
comment. >> first speaker today, mr.
Mayor, mrs. Mary
>> first speaker today, mr. Mayor, mrs. Mary cruz.
mayor, mrs. Mary cruz. >> mayor: really quickly, I want
to take care of one issue.
Item h4 is being deferred at the
item h4 is being deferred at the request of staff.
>> thank you, sir.
>> mayor:
>> thank you, sir. >> mayor: good morning.
>> gogood morning, mrs. Maria
cruz, 1447 miller road since
1976.
1976.
1976. It's a beautiful day in the city
it's a beautiful day in the city of coral gables and let me
remind you that this is the day
the lord has made, let us
rejoice and be glad in it.
Have a wonderful day.
have a wonderful day. >> mayor: mr. Clerk?
>>
>> mayor: mr. Clerk? >> roberta
>> mayor: mr. Clerk? >> roberta newway.
>>
>> roberta newway. >> I'm roberta, 1236 south
alhambra circle, 33416.
I'm here to talk in support of
resolution f4, which is bike
lanes down alhambra and in
support of complete streets in
general.
general.
general. I know all of you are committed
to vision zero, public health,
physical and emotional,
lessening traffic whenever
possible, and to quality.
Complete streets addresses all
complete streets addresses all of these goals.
I went door-to-door along
several blocks of alhambra last
sunday and the support for bike
lanes was overwhelming.
It was really very, very
it was really very, very positive, and one thing I
noticed was the younger the
person, the hire the
enthusiasm.
enthusiasm. I thought that that's great
because young people are the
future, and that got me to
thinking, I would like to close
with a quote from enrique key,
the ex-mayor of bow ga ta.
Children are kind indicator
children are kind indicator species.
species.
species. If we can build a successful
if we can build a successful city for children, we will have
a successful city for everyone.
Complete streets can do this.
complete streets can do this. Thank you for your time and have
thank you for your time and have a great day, and stay dry.
>> mayor: thank you very much.
>> thank you for doing that.
>> jack con holmes.
>> mayor: good
>> jack con holmes. >> mayor: good morning,
>> jack con holmes. >> mayor: good morning, sir.
>> depletings.
>> depletings. Let me see if I can give you
let me see if I can give you something to ponder as a
solution.
solution.
solution. We have a police and union
we have a police and union agreement today.
agreement today. I'm going to let it speak for
itself, but I'm sure that all of
you are aware and even the
people at home, that the
underlying problem is lack of
police applicants, that is young
people maybe don't want to be
police or something.
We're not getting enough
we're not getting enough applicants and it turns out that
this is a nationwide problem.
I googled it, be nbc has
reported on it, a number of
quasi police agencies have
reported on it.
It's a national problem.
it's a national problem. I started thinking, why are.
What happened nationally that
what happened nationally that discouraged people wanting from
being police officers, and you
think of george floyd.
So when you look at that
so when you look at that incident four years ago where
you had the police officer
choking out an innocent man --
can we get the slide up?
>> cable tv will put up the
video for you, sir.
>> can you believe this?
I think I can convince you right
now and the people watching on
tv, we may come up with an
answer for this nationwide
problem.
problem.
problem. They arrested the wrong police
they arrested the wrong police officer and the wrong police
officer as to who choked out
george floyd is in prison.
So if you look at this slide,
so if you look at this slide, you see the guy we saw in the
video, he has an elongated
face.
face.
face. Then, if you look at the one on
then, if you look at the one on the right of that slide, that's
the guy who was arrested and who
is in prison.
These are not the same people.
these are not the same people. If you remember in that video,
if you remember in that video, it's the guy on the left so why
isn't he under arrest?
He's the one who choked out
he's the one who choked out george floyd.
george floyd. Why is the guy on the right,
why is the guy on the right, supposedly of the same name, the
one who got arrested and is in
prison?
prison?
prison? Something strange here.
something strange here. Can we go to the
something strange here. Can we go to the video?
can we go to the video? It doesn't add up.
it doesn't add up. Maybe we'll get more police and
maybe we'll get more police and applicants.
applicants. Trying to get the video going.
trying to get the video going. >> okay, we're all familiar with
the george floyd -- [audio
difficulties]
difficulties] >> okay, we're all familiar with
the george floyd -- [audio
difficulties]
difficulties] >> okay, we're all familiar with
the george -- [audio
the george -- [audio difficulties]
difficulties] okay, we're all familiar with
the --
the --
the -- >>
the -- >> stop playing it, sir.
>> mayor: I think we're having a
issue with the video, is
mr. Clerk.
mr. Clerk. >> it's not playing.
Seems to be an issue with the
seems to be an issue with the video.
video.
video. >>
video. >> should I come back and finish
up?
up?
up? The
up? The video
up? The video is important.
the video is important. >> mayor: perfect.
Mr. Clerk?
mr. Clerk? >> jessica keller.
>> good morning.
I'm out of breath.
My name is jessica keller, I've
my name is jessica keller, I've been a member of this community
for more than 12 years now.
I came to speak today regarding
the legislation sponsored by
kirk
the legislation sponsored by kirk menendez, rhonda anderson
and ariel fernandez.
I ran up the steps.
I was happy to see this
legislation for city staff.
Four items I think needs to be
four items I think needs to be addressed.
addressed. The trial board needs to be
the trial board needs to be addressed in order for this
legislation to have any teeth.
Number one, specific procedures
number one, specific procedures need to be outlined in the
charter for the trial board.
No one knew what to do when I
no one knew what to do when I personally participated.
personally participated. The trial board members were not
the trial board members were not aware of the limits, if any, of
their four.
their four. Two, appoint trial board members
two, appoint trial board members like any other board, not when
needed.
needed.
needed. This eliminates stacking the
this eliminates stacking the board against employees.
Three, develop and administer
three, develop and administer training for employees so that
know what to do if they find
themselves in a position and
need protection.
need protection. Four, elected officials --
four, elected officials -- >> mayor: sorry to interrupt
you.
you.
you. Can
you. Can you repeat number three?
can you repeat number three? I didn't catch it.
Take your time.
take your time. I don't want to rush you.
.
.
. I
. I let
. I let people speak as long as
they want to.
>> I have to run out of here
gone to my job.
Number three, develop and
number three, develop and administer training for
employees so they know what to
do if they find themselves in a
position and need protection.
Four, elected officials should
four, elected officials should not be permitted to communicate
with the trial court members to
avoid tampering.
avoid tampering. Thank you.
thank you. >> mayor: mr. Clerk, will you do
me a favor, please?
Will you take those minutes and
will you take those minutes and hopefully when this item comes
up, we can include those minutes
in the item?
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. We'll go to zoom next, the first
we'll go to zoom next, the first speaker is mark troabridge.
>> mayor: mr. Troabridge, good
>> mayor: mr. Troabridge, good morning.
morning.
morning. Mr. Trowbridge?
mr. Trowbridge? >> he's on.
>> good morning, everybody.
Thank you fots opportunity to be
thank you fots opportunity to be with you today and to share with
you a little bit about potential
opportunity for the city of
coral gables.
coral gables. I'm mark troa goods bridge with
thed coral gables chamber of
commerce.
commerce.
commerce. The company I want to talk about
the company I want to talk about is jolt, some of you may have
heard of them before.
Thety has been looking at this
thety has been looking at this opportunity but they've become
active with our chamber.
With opportunities like this, we
with opportunities like this, we like
with opportunities like this, we like to promote.
They are operated and maintained
they are operated and maintained at I highest level with no cost
to the city.
As a matter of fact, they can be
as a matter of fact, they can be additional resource to the city
with support.
with support. Each day, they give seven
each day, they give seven kilowatt charging of every user
who will utilize their
services.
services.
services. The free energy encourages ev
the free energy encourages ev owners to visit coral gables,
which is good for our restaurant
and retail businesses,
especially during that time of
charging when they may want to
run an errand and get a coffee,
et cetera.
et cetera. Jolt establishes and exclusively
jolt establishes and exclusively installs these fast chargers.
They take about 31 minutes,
they take about 31 minutes, which aligns with the retail
opportunities in getting that
great cup of joe.
About 73% of their users
about 73% of their users responded that they will run an
errand during that time frame,
supports all of our local
businesses downtown.
businesses downtown. We have also found, they have
we have also found, they have found that a single charger can
generate up to almost $90,000 in
incremental local business
revenue over the course of a
year, and they do partner with
local businesses to advertise on
the chargers themselves, via
their ios or android app.
They'll be offering interactive
they'll be offering interactive wayfinding, allowing users and
pedestrians to locate and visit
those local businesses.
The chamber operates the city's
the chamber operates the city's welcome center, so we see that
as a great partnership with the
work that jolt will be doing.
They use a in-house mark
they use a in-house mark marketing team to support local
businesses and they give back
about 5% of their screen time to
the city to advertise community
events, businesses or other city
messaging that would be of
importance and timeliness,
including emergency issues, so
with that, I just wanted to
recommend that as you talk about
that today, you understand the
residual affects of having a
company like jolt involved.
We look forward to hearing your
we look forward to hearing your discussion on that.
Thank you very much from our
thank you very much from our chamber.
chamber.
chamber. >> mayor: thank you very much.
Mr. Clerk?
mr. Clerk? >> next feeker, mr. Mayor, is
akey fernandez.
akey fernandez. >> good morning.
Can you hear me?
can you hear me? >> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> okay.
>> okay.
>> okay. Good morning, commissioners.
good morning, commissioners. My name is akey fernandez, 1542
my name is akey fernandez, 1542 mendave avenue.
mendave avenue. I'm speaking because I wanted to
request that item d3, the
appointment to the historic
preservation board be pulled
from the consent agenda for
discussion.
discussion. The reason I'm doing so is
the reason I'm doing so is because while I do not know him
personally, I do know that this
individual is editor-in-chief of
the political activist insight.
My fear assist that it will
my fear assist that it will politicize the board that has
the authority to infringe on
people's property rights.
This should be based on merits,
this should be based on merits, not politics or personal
relationships.
relationships. I would ask commissioner
fernandez to make his case to
the voters and to the rest of
the commission why in his view
he's the best choice.
I would welcome discussion from
the rest of the commission on
this matter.
this matter. Also, I wanted to ek toe the
also, I wanted to ek toe the sentiments of ms. Kneeway
regarding f4 in anything that
provides more transit options.
I think it's a win for the
city.
city.
city. Thank
city. Thank you
thank you
thank you >> mayor: thank you.
Mr. Clerk?
mr. Clerk? >> cable tv is ready for the
video with mr. Holmes.
>> mayor: mr. Holmes, welcome
back.
back.
back. We're
back. Wel.
wel.
wel. >>
wel. >> okay, we're all familiar with
the george floyd video and
murder case in the video, it
shows him choking mr. Floyd to
death and it's very shockining.
However, it turns out that there
however, it turns out that there appear to be some very startling
disprap pan sees in the case.
First of all, we know that this
first of all, we know that this is the officer we saw in in the
video choking out mr. Floyd,
derek chauvin of
video choking out mr. Floyd, derek chauvin of minneapolis.
The smoking thing, the person
the smoking thing, the person under arrest appears to be this
person.
person.
person. They show derek chauvin's first
they show derek chauvin's first court appearance.
court appearance. These two people don't
these two people don't lookalike, do they.
This fellow has an elongated
this fellow has an elongated face.
face.
face. Are, that's the one we saw in
are, that's the one we saw in the video.
the video. His is more of a round face.
his is more of a round face. These are not the same person.
these are not the same person. So this is a cnn video.
so this is a cnn video. You can see derek chauvin
you can see derek chauvin charged with third degree murd,
the same as the guy below.
This also, abc news, same as the
this also, abc news, same as the second guy below.
The person in custody, the
the person in custody, the police officer charges with
george floyd murder, they're
both derek chauvin, right, but
the they're not the guy we
saw in the video, so something
is very strange.
Strange.
strange.
strange. I would submit to you,
presumably you saw the same
video that I did, that this is
the fellow who should be facing
life in person.
He's also called derek chauvin.
he's also called derek chauvin. We saw him choke him out and
we saw him choke him out and this is not.
Why is this so called derek
why is this so called derek chauvin and not this one locked
up and facing life in prison?
Now, as you get further into it,
now, as you get further into it, it turns out that this fellow
looks like -- do you remember
the tv show cash cab?
?
?
? What
? What do
? What do you think, you're the
what do you think, you're the judge here?
judge here? Do
judge here? Do they
judge here? Do they lookalike?
do they lookalike? And that fellow's name is ben
and that fellow's name is ben bailey and there's speculation
that they might be the same
person.
person.
person. You be
person. You be the judge, in which case
you be the judge, in which case then, we have doubts thrown in
about the authenticity of the
video that presumably upset all
of us where we're watching a
police officer choke someone to
death, no matter what his
background.
background. You know, justice does not
you know, justice does not involved being choked to death
without a trial and all of
without a trial and all of that.
that.
that. However, we have this terrible
however, we have this terrible discrepancy now.
discrepancy now. He's the one in jail now, not
he's the one in jail now, not him.
him.
him. You
him. You be the judge and actor --
you be the judge and actor -- >> mayor: mr. Holmes, if I may.
>> the tv show cash cab.
>> mayor: we keep going in
circles.
circles.
circles. >> okay, yeah, so look.
Unfortunately, the problem of
unfortunately, the problem of the lack of police officer
the lack of police officer applicants cont continues.
It's a national problem, maybe
it's a national problem, maybe solve a national problem.
If any city, it's us.
if any city, it's us. What I'm hoping is with the
what I'm hoping is with the various police officials and so
on, we can push the media to
raise these questions.
I mean, what's the bottom line
here ? ?
here ? ?
here ? ? The guy who presumably murdered
the guy who presumably murdered george floyd got away with it
and the wrong person is in
prison.
prison.
prison. The whole case is suspect.
the whole case is suspect. .
.
. .
.
. Young
. Young people thinking about
young people thinking about being police officers, say oh
well, let's see, that george
floyd thing maybe didn't happen
the way it's supposed to.
There's something wrong here.
there's something wrong here. Maybe they say, maybe I will
maybe they say, maybe I will become a police officer.
Thank you.
thank you. >> mayor: thank you, sir.
Just to put it on the record.
just to put it on the record. Last week, the commission had
last week, the commission had the pleasure of attending the
inauguration of three new
officers that are joining our
ranks and hopefully today we'll
be ratifying an agreement with
the police department, which
will provide additional benefits
to our police officers.
Much I know the po police
much I know the po police department is moving in the
right direction and we're doing
everything in our power to make
sure we bring in the best.
We have standards, we have the
we have standards, we have the highest standards and we'll
continue to find officers that,
again, suit our needs, who want
to work in the city of coral
gables and who are excited to
make this a career 20, 25, 30
years.
years.
years. Thank you for being here as
thank you for being here as always.
always.
always. Mr. Clerk?
mr. Clerk? >> that's it, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: moving on to consent
agenda.
agenda.
agenda. >> before the vote is taken;
there anyone who wishes
additional discussion or review
of any item on the consent
agenda?
agenda?
agenda? >> we had a request for one item
to be pulled.
>> it was pulled.
>> was it pulled?
>> if it's a resident request,
normally it's pulled.
>> I'm just clarifying.
I'll move it.
>> second.
>> second. >> all in favor?
[chorus of ayes].
>> agenda item
[chorus of ayes]. >> agenda item d3.
>> mayor: as a sponsor of the
item, would you like to?
>> sure.
>> sure.
>> sure. Mr. Banos is happy with serving
mr. Banos is happy with serving in the board of adjustment where
he's serving, where I had
appointed him to.
His name came up as a
his name came up as a recommendation by my prior
appointee to this ?
recommendation by my prior appointee to this ?board,
mr. Brett gillis, who has moved
out of coral gables and could no
longer serve because of the
residency requirement and he
recommended mr. Banos.
Additionally, ms. Carbon of the
additionally, ms. Carbon of the historic preservation
historic preservation association spoke very highly of
mr. Banos qualifications to sit
on this board.
As far as I know right now, the
as far as I know right now, the only vacant
as far as I know right now, the only vaca vacancy can be
served by any resident of the
city of coral gables.
There's no specific
there's no specific requirements.
requirements. There's requirements that we
there's requirements that we have architects, attorneys and
different requirements, all of
those is satisfied at the
moment.
moment.
moment. Mr. Banos is an attorney so he
mr. Banos is an attorney so he would qualify additionally under
that category and for that
reason, I'm bringing his name
up.
up.
up. >>
up. >> I
up. >> I do have a question for
you.
you.
you. The
you. The other thing that mr., I
the other thing that mr., I think his last name was
fernandez brought up, the fact
that he's with the gable insider
and political influence in that
way.
way.
way. Do
way. Do you have any comments on
do you have any comments on that?
that?
that? >>
that? >> I don't think there's any
influence by any publication in
the city.
the city.
the city. We have many coral gables
we have many coral gables insider, appointees.
insider, appointees. I was your appointee as editor
and I served on the school
relations committee and it never
affected any of the writing I
did on gables insider.
I trust mr. Banos judgment when
it comes to this.
He's never taken advantage of
he's never taken advantage of his position of the board
adjustment, which is another
quasi-judicial board in this
city.
city.
city. I
city. I don't see this as an issue.
>> no, I just felt we needed to
respond to the resident.
>> agreed.
>> agreed. I appreciate mr. Fernandez
bringing up the concerns.
I know I've heard the rumblings
in the community about this
appointment, but I think he's a
qualified individual who can
serve this city in this
capacity.
capacity.
capacity. It is
capacity. It is an extremely important
it is an extremely important board in our city, as is thes
planning and zoning board, as is
all of the boards for this
commission.
commission. He was happy serving with the
he was happy serving with the board of adjustment.
I asked him to move over because
I thought if this is the
recommendation from my current
appointee and the folks in
historic preservation believe he
would be a fair judge on this
board, have no problem moving
him forward.
him forward. >> I just wanted to make sure we
get these issues of the
residents, I should say the
concerns.
concerns.
concerns. When I recommended ms. Anne
when I recommended ms. Anne alvarez, I also consulted with
other individuals that had been
serving on the boards because
I'm not an architect.
Although, I appreciate good
although, I appreciate good architecture and it is a very
powerful board.
powerful board. In fact, it's probably more
in fact, it's probably more powerful than any other board in
this city because they can do
things with the zoning on
properties that the planning and
zoning board can't even do, as
far as giving rights on zoning.
>> I just have a question for
the city attorney.
I know when item from the
historic preservation board
comes to tsunami, usually on
appeal, we sit as a
quasi-judicial body, right?
>> right.
>> right.
>> right. >> but the historic preservation
board, do they sit also as
quasi-judicial?
quasi-judicial? >> that is correct.
The hearings before them are
the hearings before them are quasi-judicial hearings.
quasi-judicial hearings. >> so I guess the same rule
would comply, not to make
would comply, not to make comments
would comply, not to make comments publicly.
comments publicly. >> they should remain unbiased
and they have to make that
discovery at every case and make
any ex-parte communications.
>> based on that, I'm confident
that mr. Banos understands that
the rules that applies to us
applies to every board members.
If we and the board members
if we and the board members comply, I understand that he
will, too.
will, too. Since it's quasi-judicial, it
since it's quasi-judicial, it would be easier to follow and
monitor, so I'm comfortable with
it.
it.
it. >>
it. >> mayor: anything else?
I would like to add my few
comments to the issue.
I want to address an important
agenda item concerning the
appointment of mr. Banos to my
board in the city.
I have significance concerns
about this appointment and I
believe it's crucial to discuss
these openly.
these openly. I've received two e-mails and
multiple, mull phone calls from
residents who were nervous about
sending an e-mail, which would
be a public record due to
retaliation.
retaliation. I know that these residents who
called me also made it very
clear that they had spoken to
some of the colleagues of ours
on the commission in regards to
the fact that they were veri
nervous about retaliation on
gables insider.
gables insider. While being an attorney does not
while being an attorney does not express the relevant experience
for this board's position.
Of the gentleman you had before
of the gentleman you had before had extensive background in
regards to historic
preservation.
preservation. Our boardses are more effective
our boardses are more effective with the necessary backgrounds
and expertise in this field.
Mr. Ban knows does not meet
mr. Ban knows does not meet this.
this.
this. Mr.
this. Mr. Banos has a clear political
mr. Banos has a clear political agenda.
agenda.
agenda. This raises serious concerns
this raises serious concerns about his capacity to remain
impartial during board
discussions and decisions t is
vital that our board member as
proven their roles without
political bias, ensuring fair
and balance outcomes that serves
the best interest of our
community.
community. Let me give you an example n an
let me give you an example n an article I was reading yesterday
about a supposed incident that
occurred here in city hall,
mr. Banos gaibilities insider
fails to mention in his article
and it's pointed out by
multiple, multiple, multiple,
multiple residents and
individuals who made comments
that he failed to mention that
the assistant city manager was
also in that meeting.
It's the continued narrative and
it's the continued narrative and innuendo that is disturbing and
leaching out pertinent
information which can help make
up people's minds.
Very combative behavior.
very combative behavior. Mr. Banos previous tenure on the
mr. Banos previous tenure on the pension board was marked by
behavior.
behavior.
behavior. His interactions were so
his interactions were so contentious that his colleagues
were willing to resign if it
remained.
remained.
remained. This behavior is detrimental to
this behavior is detrimental to the collaborative behavior we
try to maintain on our boards.
He has a conflict of interest in
he has a conflict of interest in my opinion.
my opinion. A community blog that often
a community blog that often publishes one-sided pieces fildz
with unfounded pieces and
misallegations, basically
misallegations, basically covering himself by saying this
is a rumor, this is what I
heard, but there's no facts.
This role presents a significant
this role presents a significant conflict of interest.
Can we trust mr. Banos to make
can we trust mr. Banos to make impartial decisions on matters
that could have a financial
impact on a property owner's
rights?
rights?
rights? His position with the gable
his position with the gable insider cast doubts on his
ability to be an unbiased board
member.
member.
member. Censorship concerns.
censorship concerns. Lastly, there's concerns about
lastly, there's concerns about censorship on the gables insider
blog.
blog.
blog. Multiple residents have spoken
multiple residents have spoken that the comments that go not
align with the agenda are often
moderated or censored.
Many individuals have told me
many individuals have told me that's their personal experience
in ready rahs to the blog.
This raises questions about his
this raises questions about his dialogue, which is essential for
effective board functioning.
In collective bargaining, by
in collective bargaining, by appointing mr. Banos to this
board would be a mistake for the
reasons out liefned, lack of
experience, history of combative
behavior, and conflict -- these
points carefully before making a
points carefully before making a decision.
decision.
decision. I think brett did a good job
because he had a skill set and
knowledge of historic
preservation and emersed in it
for decades.
for decades. I think we should be very
thoughtful and very careful.
The vice-mayor had an pop to the
the vice-mayor had an pop to the advisory board, who was not
appointed, and was disabled.
That person was denied entrance
that person was denied entrance by fellow members of my
colleagues open this commission
and the individual was approved
after she came here and had to
walk up and speak and give her
take in regards to her
experience.
experience. So my only concern is at the end
so my only concern is at the end of the day, this is a very
important board, and I think we
need to be very thoughtful and
careful in regards to the
appointment.
appointment. Thank you very much.
thank you very much. >> I appreciate your comments
smg I think the points you
brought up could apply to other
board members appointed to other
boards by yourself, even legal
issues.
issues.
issues. I
issues. I stand by my appointment and I
move to appointed javier banos
to the historic preservation
board.
board.
board. >>
board. >> I'll
board. >> I'll second that.
>> mr. Mayor, I have members of
the public who has signed up to
speak on the item.
First speaker is mr. Jackson
first speaker is mr. Jackson holmes.
holmes.
holmes. >> mayor: mr. Holmes, welcome.
>> thank you for squeezing me
in.
in.
in. I
in. I disagree with your take on the
situation.
situation. We
situation. We have a democracy problem in
we have a democracy problem in coral gables.
coral gables. Mr. Banos, games insider, are
mr. Banos, games insider, are trying to restore democracy and
there's nothing improper about
that.
that.
that. Thank you.
thank you. >> mayor: thank you, sir.
>> ms. Maria
>> mayor: thank you, sir. >> ms. Maria cruz.
>> gogood morning again.
Maria cruz.
maria cruz. I thought today was going to be
a wonderful day because the lord
blessed us with rain this
morning and I was very happy to
watch the awards and the stuff
that happened before now that
was not politically inclined,
but I have no choice but to
stand up and question why we are
allowing politics to interfere
when we've had commissioners
remove members of boards and
bring other choices to the
board, and this commission has
been vehicle extraction
agreeable to going alone of the
pointer to the board, that's
number one.
number one.
number one. Number two, number two,
number two, number two,
number two, number two, attacking a publication seems to
be a little hypocritical because
we send flyers, we attack
people.
people.
people. We used to put ads in magazine
we used to put ads in magazine to attack people and we didn't
have any problems doing that.
And the third one is, in case
and the third one is, in case you all didn't remember, not
everybody who sits or does
anything for historic
preservation has been so
dedicated to the historic
dedicated to the historic preservation.
preservation. .
.
. He
. He has
. He has gone through the city to
he has gone through the city to make sure that everything that
happens in that house is by
historically approved
historically approved procedures, and I think we have
really gone down to the cesspool
today by making this appointment
a political appointment.
Javier banos deserves to be on
javier banos deserves to be on this board.
this board. Javier banos nows about
javier banos nows about historical preservation, and he
puts his money where his mouth
is because he does live in
historic property and he does
preserve that house as a jewel.
Thank you.
thank you. >>
thank you. >> robert romano.
>> mayor: mr. Romano.
>> yes, you can hear me?
>> yes, sir.
>> hi, good morning.
I wasn't going to speak on the
subject and obviously I'm in my
car, I haven't planning to be
there, but I did just want to
mention something that I heard.
I don't know mr. Banos, I've
never met him.
I read his publication from time
to time, but let's be honest.
It's a blog.
it's a blog. It's not journalism.
it's not journalism. .
.
. With
. With all due respect to
with all due respect to mr. Fernandez, to ariel
fernandez, really, it's been a
blog.
blog.
blog. It
blog. It isn't strict journalism.
it isn't strict journalism. I'm upset that the mayor makes
it about himself and about him
being on there because when
mr. Fernandez, as he even said,
when ariel fernandez was on
other boards and very aligned
with the mayor, even working on
his campaigns, nobody had an
issue with it and the mayor
certainly didn't have an issue,
the vice-mayor at the time.
So just let it go.
so just let it go. I mean, if brett gillis and
ms. Carbon is saying this is a
good choice and the gentleman
lives in a historic home, I
trust him, and so I would say
support this and let's not make
it about, you know, personal
politics.
politics.
politics. Thank you.
thank you. >> mayor: thank you.
>> next speak ser jer is
jessica keller.
jessica keller. >> good morning, again.
This is very short.
this is very short. I agree with a lot of the things
that the mayor said, and I would
suggest that if we moved down a
path of limiting the
appointments to the boards, we
should apply the same logic for
all of the boards.
We can make an argument about
we can make an argument about each board about the board
appointments.
appointments. Thank you.
thank you. >> that's it, mr. Banos.
>> mr. Mayor, if I may real
quick.
quick.
quick. As
quick. As long as I've been a member of
as long as I've been a member of the city commission and I recall
I recall before I was a member
of the city commission, there's
always been times when a member
of the commission makes an
appointment and sometimes it's
just a mundane appointment and
there's no discussions, there's
no debates.
no debates. There's orr times when we have a
there's orr times when we have a room full of people, divided
room of residents, some for and
some against, and those are
always difficult decisions
because you hear the voices of
the residents, the concerns.
At the same time, you balance
at the same time, you balance what you're hearing, but this
commission as far as I can
recall and what I've always
tried to do is defer to the
member of the commission making
the appointment.
the appointment. It's their appointment and I
it's their appointment and I think we go down a slippery
slope if we start challenging
our colleagues on their personal
appointments.
appointments. So we had a mater, I
appointments. So we had a mater,
so we had a mater, matter, I don't know, six months
ago, seven months ago regarding
the planning and zoning board,
to the planning and zoning board
and it was a divided room.
I did so because I believe it's
the proper policy to respect
each others appointments.
We can debate, we can discuss
we can debate, we can discuss and we can disagree, but at the
end of the day, it's my
appointment, the mere's pop,
appointment, the mere's pop, macer, appointment, my
appointment, going down.
That's it.
that's it. And.
and.
and. [roll
and. [roll called]
[roll called] >> mayor: moving on, we have a
time certain at 10:30, maybe we
can get a few things done before
then.
then.
then. Moving on to e 1.
moving on to e 1. >> amending the code offed city
coral gables, florida, chapter
6, entitled alcoholic beverages,
6-12, retail package store,
retail beverage stores, retail
liquor stores by changing the
hours of operation on sundays
provided for -- the deputy city
attorney will provide an
update.
update.
update. >> good morning, mayor,
vice-mayor, commissioners,
vice-mayor, commissioners, there's been no changing since
the first reading.
This just conforms sunday sales
this just conforms sunday sales to the rest of the week.
>> I wanted to thank you for
your work on this.
Thank you for putting it
thank you for putting it forward.
forward.
forward. >> just modernizing times.
I'll move it.
>> second.
>> second. [roll
>> second. [roll called]
[roll called] >> mr. Mayor, can we confirm
there were no public speak
seniors.
seniors.
seniors. >> no public speakers, ma'am.
>> sorry, I rushed.
>> mayor: moving on to item e
2.
2.
2. >>
2. >> ordinance of the city
commission approving the
purchase and sale agreement
between the city of coral
gables, and 4241, a florida
limited liability company for
the transfer development rights
as defined in it article 16 in
sections -- of the zoning code
from the coral gables museum
property, located at 285.
[unintelligible]
[unintelligible] be placed in the city's historic
building fund and providing for
a severabilities clause and
effective date.
effective date. This is a public hearing and ask
this is a public hearing and ask the manager to provide an
update.
update.
update. >> good morning, mayor and
commissioners.
commissioners. >> mayor: good morning, how are
you?
you?
you? >>
you? >> there's been no changes since
first and second reading, and if
you have any questions.
>> no questions. I'll move it.
>> second.
>> second. >> mr. Mayor, we have a member
of the public requesting to
speak on the item.
>> mayor: okay.
>> mrs.
>> mayor: okay. >> mrs. Maria
>> mayor: okay. >> mrs. Maria cruz.
>> mrs. Maria cruz, 1447 miller
road.
road.
road. I
road. I told you today was a good
day.
day.
day. I
day. I strongly support this.
I strongly support this. Thank you.
thank you. >> mayor: by the way, put on the
record, just want to give some
context in regards to how we got
here today.
here today. There's a resolution on this
there's a resolution on this that comes back from 2022 where
this was an item moved by
commissioner menendez and second
by anderson, which really set up
the framework for us to be able
to do this today.
It's an important to recognize
it's an important to recognize that because this is something
that is outside of the box and
it's something that has been
worked on for years, and to me,
I think it's important to give
credit where credit is due.
A few other previous
a few other previous commissioners that are not here
with us as they've gone on to
their own private lives played
an integral part in making sure
that this could be delivered
from vice-mayor mena allowing
commissioner george force, who
also assisted in the efforts on
items g3 and i5.
It's come of a lot of work that
it's come of a lot of work that was done in the forefront to be
able to have this vehicle to be
able to transfer these tdrs
and be able to address historic
preservation issues through the
city, so this financial vehicle,
through the previous commission,
the manager, has done a good job
to do this, so thank you.
[roll
to do this, so thank you. [roll called]
[roll called] >> mayor: moving on to item e
3.
3.
3. >>
3. >> an
3. >> an ordinance of the cities
amending the code of the city of
coral gables, chapter 2,
administration, article 3,
boards, commissions and
committees.
committees. Division three, trial board by
division three, trial board by creating section 2-124
procedures and amending chapter
2 entitled administration,
article
2 entitled administration, article --
article --
article -- [indiscernible]
[indiscernible] the deputy city attorney can
present the item.
>> mayor: if I may one second.
I see there's a bunch of people
cosponsoring this.
cosponsoring this. Commissioner menendez was the
commissioner menendez was the original sponsor of this item.
What I would like to do if
what I would like to do if possible, through his
acknowledgment, is take into
consideration the points that
are potentially missing from
this legislation and amend the
comments that were made from the
previous speaker, who I asked to
put on the record, and to see if
the sponsor will allow that to
be included.
be included. >> I'm happy to address those
points one by one.
Let me grab my note.
let me grab my note. >> we received an e-mail with
the details a moment ago, I
believe, from --
>> mayor: I know that, but the
issue included the legislation.
>> a few of them will be
addressed in an ordinance on
first reading or may be
addressed, but generally that
the rules of procedure, just to
be clear, the one change made
from first reading provides that
the rules of procedures shall
include mediation or arbitration
prior to a full hearing of the
trial board with cost shared by
all parties, that was added
since first reading.
This addition to the code
this addition to the code provides that the trial board
shall have the power to adopt
rules of procedure pertaining to
matters brought before it as the
trial board and as the employee
protection act board or that
version of the trial board.
That is a new addition to the
that is a new addition to the code so to the extent that it
addresses ms. Keller's concern
about the aibt of the board and
the requirement of the board to
adopt rules of procedures, I
believe that's addressed here.
The board has previously adopted
the board has previously adopted rules of procedures, it was
apart of the getting going of
the board, which is not
generally convened at the time.
The ordinance we have coming on
the ordinance we have coming on first reading I think will help
address that issue by setting
term dates, and we can talk
about it then or now, but
there's that item.
The other thing about training
the other thing about training of employees, we discussed with
the manager's office and hr, the
ability to train not only on the
employee protection actions, but
the trial board generally and
with he can work with the
manager's office and hr staff to
make sure that employees on
up-to-date open rights and
protections.
protections. We all ready have extensive
we all ready have extensive training, but we want specific
to the trial board, with he can
work with that.
Then as far as the communication
then as far as the communication with the board and elected
officials, as mentioned
previously, the trial board is a
quasi-judicial board so to the
extent that there's ex-parte
communication cost be avoided,
decisions should only be made on
the record presented before them
that would apply to the trial
board just the same.
There's not a sunshine violation
there's not a sunshine violation law issue there.
There's different boards between
there's different boards between elected officials and the trial
board, but like all of our
quasi-judicial boards, we expect
them to avoid eng ex-parte
communications and make share
decisions based solely on the
record.
record.
record. Whenever we get to the ordinance
whenever we get to the ordinance will address the terms and I
think making sure the board is
always in place, but the rules
of procedure and those other
issues to the extent that you
feel they're addressed,
commissioner menendez, I think
they're touched upon this
ordinance and the other.
>> in my discussions with the
city attorney and obviously the
deputy city attorney and staff,
and I actually had the
opportunity to speak with
jessica keller prior a couple of
weeks ago in this matter and
listening to her concerns.
I'm of the opinion the sooner we
can assemble a trial board so
that they can meet and focus on
what the rules of procedure are
or should be, I think that's
helpful instead of everything
happening all at once.
As we have all experienced,
as we have all experienced, there's so many rules and
procedures and guidelines that
we're used to hearing about what
quasi-judicial means, we're used
to it, but 90% of everyone else
is going about their daily
routine.
routine.
routine. I think we have to go above and
beyond to make them aware of
what they can or can't do, so I
think things in writing,
presentations, workshops because
there's just so much to handle,
that I think it's the
responsibility of the of the
commission, the administration
to make sure that our employees
truly know what they can and
can't do and what's available.
>> to the extent that our board
and committee members attend our
biannual training, we have a
section on quasi-judicial
matters and so all of our board
members, including the trial
board will be invited to our
next training that we will do
and make sure to the extent that
there's any question bdz what
that means and for which board
it applies, we're happy to
answer those questions.
>> just add that for the
employees, you know, we all get
rusty on stuff and we have the
training for the board members,
but we don't have that, I don't
believe we have that frequency
of training for the employees to
remind them of what their rights
are.
are.
are. >>
are. >> we're certainly happy to
address that through the manager
and the hr department.
Those are trainings that hr does
those are trainings that hr does related to employment
protections and we can work with
them on that.
If you're referring to
if you're referring to quasi-judicial matters, the
staff that, woulds closely with
those boards works closely with
our office and attends those
trainings as well.
>> the rights for whistleblower
matters and the procedure, I
would like this to continue on
the agenda have a report back
from the city manager on what
the decision is.
I know you're going to confer,
but the rest of us needs to know
what's happening.
what's happening. >> >>: of course, we're happy to
facilitate however we can and
work with the manager's office.
>> I just want to commend your
office and staff and my
coll colleagues because I
think it started initially on
whistleblower and trial board
and how they work together, it
started as a very simple place,
but it's evolved based on
feedback from residents, ideas
that the commission has that we
share with you, and I think it's
really coming together in a
wonderful way, that's good I
think for our city at-large.
I just want to commend everybody
for working together on trying
to make something really special
come out of this.
>>
come out of this. >> thank you.
>> mayor: do we have a motion,
mr. Clerk?
mr. Clerk? Do we have any public comment?
do we have any public comment? >> no, sir.
>> I'll move it.
>> second.
>> second. [roll
>> second. [roll called]
[roll called] >> mayor: thank you very much.
Move og ton e 4.
move og ton e 4. >> an ordinance of the city
commission providing for tempt
amendments for the city of coral
gables zoning code, notices,
section 15-102, ntsz to require
door hangers as an additional
notification for required public
information meetings for
multifamily and mixed use
projects, providing for an
effective date, planning
official can present any
update.
update.
update. >> jessica gasser
update. >> jessica gass garcia,
planner.
planner.
planner. We have been able to organize
we have been able to organize with police and we have comment
from drc, we'll let them know
how to contact the city,
contacting police,
contacting police, communications, code enforcement
and myself to know when there's
going to be door hangers in a
certain area are.
certain area are. That's it.
that's it. >> mayor: any public comment?
>> yes, mr. Mayor.
Ms.
>> yes, mr. Mayor. Ms. Maria
>> yes, mr. Mayor. Ms. Maria cruz.
ms. Maria cruz. >> mrs. Maria cruz, 14 1447
>> mrs. Maria cruz, 14 1447 miller
>> mrs. Maria cruz, 14 1447 miller road.
miller road. >> mayor: I'm listening.
>> would you listen, please.
>> mayor: sorry.
>> like I said at the beginning,
it's a wonderful day.
It's a beautiful day in the city
it's a beautiful day in the city of coral gables and I'm very
happy to say this is a great
idea.
idea.
idea. Thank you.
thank you. >> thank you.
>> I just wanted to add a
comment.
comment.
comment. One of the concerns that was
one of the concerns that was brought up by former mayor
dorothy thompson, she asked to
make sure that her concern was
made to the commission was about
putting out the notices and
having them out.
I explained to her that we had a
48-hour requirement for them to
be taken down, but she just
wanted to make sure that
everyone was aware about the
concern that she had.
>> mayor: mr. Clerk, do you have
any public comment?
>> possibly the near future,
doing the same thing for parks
and recreation door hangers,
taking them off after a certain
period of time with the
notification, that was one of
her concerns as well.
I'll move it.
>>
I'll move it. >> I'll second.
[roll
>> I'll second. [roll called]
[roll called] >> mayor: moving on to item e5.
>> an ordinance of the city
commission approving the
vacation of a public
right-of-way pursuant to zoning
code, process section 14-211,
and city code chapter 62,
article 8, is vacation
abandonment and closure by
private owners and the city,
application process.
application process. Providing vacation of the built
providing vacation of the built more drive between lots --
[indiscernible]
[indiscernible] coral gables, florida, providing
for seven raibilityd clause and
providing an effective date.
The public works director can
the public works director can present.
present.
present. >> good morning.
>> mayor: good morning.
>> may I have the presentation,
please?
please?
please? >> mayor: are there any
changes?
changes?
changes? >> no.
>> no.
>> no. >>
>> no. >> mayor: same?
>> yep.
>> yep.
>> yep. >> mayor: do we have any public
comment?
comment?
comment? >> no, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: would you like to move
forward or see the presentation
again?
again?
again? >>
again? >> no, we're good.
>> I'll move it.
>>
>> I'll move it. >> second.
>> second. [roll
>> second. [roll called]
[roll called] >> mayor: moving on to e6.
>> ordinance of the city
commission amending the city of
coral gables code, chapter 2,
administration, south waterways
home owners associations
advisory board to rename to the
coral gables waterfront
communities home owners
association board, providing for
repealer provision, severability
clause, codification and
proifdzing an effective date.
We have a legal intern who will
we have a legal intern who will present this item.
>> good morning, mayor,
commissioners.
commissioners. I'm pleased to present elizabeth
duran, who is rising at
st. Thomas law school, she
worked hard on this ordinance
and I would like for her to
introduce the item to you.
>> mayor: thank you for being
with us.
with us.
with us. We're happy to have you.
we're happy to have you. >> good morning, mayor,
vice-mayor and commissioners.
This is a ordinance on first
this is a ordinance on first reading sponsored by vice-mayor
and commissioner lago.
They established the advisory
they established the advisory board in 2023 to facilitate
communication between the board
members and city staff and
commission regarding common
concerns, including security,
waterway use, traffic and
roadway use.
roadway use. The city code refers to the
the city code refers to the board as south waterways home
owners association board and the
boards requested it be changed
to coral gables waterfront
community home owners
association board to distinguish
itself from the water waist
airchedz boards.
airchedz boards. It amends the code to reflect
it amends the code to reflect the name change.
Thank you.
thank you. >> thank you very much for the
presentation.
presentation. You did an excellent job.
you did an excellent job. >> thank you.
>> mayor: madam vice-mayor,
quick two points.
Number one, great job.
number one, great job. Thank you for being here.
thank you for being here. We look forward to your great
we look forward to your great work on the summer.
The purpose of this association,
the purpose of this association, this new advisory board is to be
a vehicle, a conduit in between
areas of our city sometimes
feels they don't have a voice
with city hall, and I also want
be to thank for bringing this
idea a few years ago to myself
and to the commission, and
getting it implemented last
year.
year.
year. Thank you very much.
thank you very much. >> excellent.
>> excellent. Any other comments?
any other comments? I'll move it.
>> second.
>> second. [roll
>> second. [roll called]
[roll called] >> mayor: moving on to e 7.
>> ordinance of the city
commission amending the city of
coral gables code,
administration, boards and
committees, trial board to
amends the terms of trial bloard
members to align with general
city policy, providing for
repealer provision, severability
clause, cod fashion and
providing an effective date.
>> as I mentioned earlier, this
is a change -- there were most
other boards and committees
within the city, which is that
june 1st to may 31st 2-year
term.
term.
term. As
term. As it currently stands, some of
as it currently stands, some of the trial board members are
appointed for a 2-year term,
some for a 1-year term.
The mechanisms two selected by
the mechanisms two selected by the commission, two selected by
the employees, and one bip the
whole four.
whole four. That is not changing. What is
that is not changing. What is changing is aligning their terms
to all be two years, aligning
them with the june 1st date,
which would hopefully allow us
to get the trial board convened
just like all of our other
boards and committees around
that june 1st deadline.
We would set that.
we would set that. Trial board member dozen not
trial board member dozen not have term limit so to the extent
that we want to renew who we
have picked from term to term,
that might make things smoochter
and easier, but generally this
will assist the clerk's office
in making sure we get those
positions filled as smoothly as
possible.
possible.
possible. The only change is some terms
the only change is some terms extended from one to two and
adding in the dates of the
terms.
terms.
terms. >>
terms. >> I have a quick question.
We got an e-mail and probably --
we got an e-mail and probably -- maybe not related to this item
specifically but the trial board
in general.
in general. Those mention of employees would
those mention of employees would have to pay, make a payment to,
I'm not quite sure the details,
to be protected.
Is there any payment required of
is there any payment required of employees?
employees? >> I'm not aware offhand if
there's a fee for invoking the
trial board, but I'm not aware
that there's there is one.
The only mention of a fee is if
the only mention of a fee is if there's arbitration prior to a
full herring of the board, those
costs would be shared.
As you well know, there are
as you well know, there are costs associated with mediation
or arbitration and just nt
manner of fairness, the rules
can be amended by a board to
address that if needed.
>> and it would be optional in
any event.
any event. Mediation or arbitration would
mediation or arbitration would be optional.
be optional. >> because anything that we can
do to remove any deterrent,
financial or otherwise, I think
is something we should block at
look at and if there's an
opportunity to perhaps come up
with a better option I think for
the employees, not now.
>> there's no fee for invoking
the trial board.
>> all right.
>> commissioner, there is no
fee.
fee.
fee. However, could you hire your own
however, could you hire your own personal attorney.
personal attorney. >> yeah.
>> yeah.
>> yeah. >> there's no fee to invoke the
trial boards.
trial boards. It's not like an appellate
it's not like an appellate procedure where you might appeal
with a fee.
>> thank you.
>> mayor: any public comment?
>> no, sir.
>> mayor: any further comments
or a motion?
>> move
or a motion? >> move it.
>> second.
>> second. [roll called]
[roll called] >> thank you.
>> mayor: let's do e 10, we'll
skip e 8 and 9 to get one more
item.
item.
item. >>
item. >> a resolution of the city
commission authorizing an
amendment to the fiscal year
2023-2024 annual budget to
recognize revenue 2,645,000 for
the sale of historical facility,
transfer of development rights
and transfer 500 thousands to
the coral gables museum, 75,000
for the merrick house -- towards
the venetian pool, and toward
the alhambra water tower.
>> I just wanted to comment that
I think it's -- we've had over
the last couple of years,
opportunities to say sell tdrs
and move those funds to historic
preservation and what is a
fund.
fund.
fund. I
fund. I think for the community to see
actual dollars go to specific
historic landmarks, I think it's
a great part of the process in
educating the community as to
why this is a valuable and
important.
important. I think very happy to have this
legislation.
legislation. >> just a couple of
legislation. >> just a couple of comments.
The money we get to utilize heir
the money we get to utilize heir rights from development to now
preserve the historic assets and
very pleased to have been apart
of this.
of this.
of this. I know there's a long history to
when this started.
Mayor and commissioners before
mayor and commissioners before us started this process and
fortunately now we're going to
be able to reap its benefits for
many many of our other buildings
in our city.
Glad to move it.
glad to move it. >> I'll second.
>> mayor: before we take a roll
call; there any comments?
>> yes, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor:
>> yes, mr. Mayor. >> mayor: okay.
>> ms. Maria
>> mayor: okay. >> ms. Maria cruz.
>> mrs. Maria cruz, 1447 miller
road.
road.
road. I
road. I told you, it's a good day in
the city of coral gables.
Strongly support this one.
strongly support this one. >> one.
>> one.
>> one. [roll
>> one. [roll called]
[roll called] >> I had a few comments I wasn't
able to make.
>> mayor: very quickly.
Is this coming back for a
is this coming back for a second?
second?
second? >> no, this is a resolution,
this is it.
>> mayor: so number one, like I
mentioned, I wanted to repeat
again, so that the history is
very clear.
very clear. This was achieved in 2022 with a
this was achieved in 2022 with a prior commission.
prior commission. I think it's important to give
vice-mayor mena and vice-mayor
force along with my colleagues
the credit for finding a very
creative way in addressing
historic preservation that does
not affect the budget in any
form or anyway.
This had not been done in the
this had not been done in the city before that I'm aware of,
and we were able to craft
legislation that addresses these
concerns so I think it's very
important to put that on the
record.
record.
record. Number 23, this is the fruit,
number 23, this is the fruit, what you're seeing here is the
fruit of legislation that was
written in 2022.
My second point that I have a
my second point that I have a concern on is the issue of the
merrick house.
merrick house. I've been to the merrick house,
I was there this past week, I
know some of my colleagues were
there also.
there also. There's several issues that I
there's several issues that I think need to be address there'd
that falls short of the
$75,000.
$75,000.
$75,000. Since this is not coming out of
since this is not coming out of the general fund, I think we
need to take that as a budgetary
item potentially add it to
$150,000.
$150,000.
$150,000. I
I
I think
I think there's issues of interior drywall, issues of
paint, issues where the exterior
needs to be cleaned.
Probably bring in a professional
probably bring in a professional cleaning company with the
fragile exterior wood -- excuse
me, exterior coquina stone and
things that I think have to be
done in a professional manner
which obviously cost a lot more
money when you talk about
historic preservation.
historic preservation. Bringing this up, while 75,000
bringing this up, while 75,000 was a great number, I was never
consulted on that $75,000.
I think that it falls short,
especially when you see the
amount of work that has to be
done there.
done there. There are certain areas that
there are certain areas that have to be refinished, certain
entrance features that the wood
is exposed and need to be
painted, certain window sills
that need to be addressed
because of water intrusion.
I think that 75 is going to fall
short.
short.
short. If
short. If we have the money in the
if we have the money in the tdrs, I would request that my
colleagues consider moving that
to having a line item for
$150,000 at a minimum $125,000
to address this issue since it
is coming from tdrs.
>> I know, comforted has
something to say.
I have a question regarding the
tdrs, whoever can answer.
Can I amend the legislation to
can I amend the legislation to increase the dollars for the
merrick house and bump it up to
150?
150?
150? Are
150? Are those dollars available?
are those dollars available? >> you can certainly amend this
item.
item.
item. There is some information you'll
there is some information you'll get tomorrow and we have
discussed a little bit in our
preparation up to tomorrow's
capital budget discussion.
So currently, the merrick house
so currently, the merrick house does have some funding for some
repairs that they need interior.
In our proposal tomorrow for the
in our proposal tomorrow for the capital items we are proposing
$30,000 tweer the merrick house
to be used as assessment of the
facility.
facility.
facility. So the 75,000 was discussed to
so the 75,000 was discussed to put aside to address any damage
and any needs that come out of
that assessment.
that assessment. >> mayor: what I would
recommend, if I may -- and I
appreciate --
appreciate -- >> certainly.
>> certainly. >> mayor: I think, first off,
$30,000 for assessment is a
pretty significant amount of
money.
money.
money. I
money. I don't think we need to spend
$30,000 on an assessment.
>> we may not need all that.
>> mayor: finish.
>> we may not need it all.
That was the number.
that was the number. >> mayor: I know it's a budget
but I think you can do it a lot
less.
less.
less. You
less. You can bring in a certified --
you can bring in a certified -- you know, we have two incredible
architects who are specialists
when it comes to historic
preservation that their offices
are here in the city of coral
gables.
gables.
gables. I
gables. I have worked with them in the
past.
past.
past. They are renowned architects in
they are renowned architects in this community.
this community. I think they can probably come
in and do it for a significantly
less fee and simple report
telling us these are the areas
of concern.
of concern. I know there's been a lot of
renovations in the merrick house
over the last few years that are
long overdue.
long overdue. A lot of deferred maintenance
a lot of deferred maintenance done two years ago, three years
ago.
ago.
ago. I
ago. I think what we need to focus in
on is, for example, when you
walk in, there's glaring issues
that are just right in front of
your face.
your face. When you look at the chimney,
when you look at the chimney, the chimney has a hole that I
have been mentioning to the
previous city manager and the
current city manager for
probably a year now, eight
months now.
months now. It has to be taken care of.
it has to be taken care of. You can't just go in there and
you can't just go in there and repair that stucco.
You have to bring in a person
you have to bring in a person who is versed in that style of
stucco repair, drywall repair.
It's like a venetian plaster
it's like a venetian plaster finish so it matches properly.
You're not just going to do that
you're not just going to do that little hole.
little hole. You've probably got to repair
you've probably got to repair pretty significant portions so
it matches.
it matches. You have issues with window
you have issues with window sills that I have seen.
You have wood framing around
you have wood framing around entrance features that have to
be finished in a proper way.
I think the exterior of the
building needs to be cleaned,
especially the overhangs when
you're walking around the
facility.
facility.
facility. You know, this can't be done
you know, this can't be done just with a simple pressure
washer.
washer.
washer. It has to be done in a way that
it has to be done in a way that is thoughtful in regards to not
destroying the facilities.
There are wood beams and things
there are wood beams and things have to be done very, very
carefully.
carefully. I'm not a historic preservation
expert burr the cost is
significant in regards to
regular construction.
regular construction. For me I think $75,000 short and
for me I think $75,000 short and I would like to see a budget
item of 150 try to reduce that
30 to 10,000 if we can if not
less to swirk that money over.
If we are able to take away, you
if we are able to take away, you know -- even include that
10,000, for example, in the
review and put it into this 150,
to me, it would save money out
of the budget and we could use
the tdrs.
the tdrs.
the tdrs. Because I know we need every
because I know we need every single dollar in the budget.
That is my opinion and I hope
that is my opinion and I hope the commission will consider
that because I think it's
much-needed.
much-needed. >> this is a resolution and you
certainly can make an adjustment
to the amounts that are proposed
for the facilities.
>> I am open to -- go ahead.
>> I guess the question is, do
we have the additional $75,000
in tdrs?
in tdrs?
in tdrs? >> so what would need to happen
in this particular resolution is
whatever we add to the merrick
house, I would recommend
either -- I would recommend
reducing what we put toward the
venetian pool.
venetian pool. So currently as it's written,
so currently as it's written, the tdrs are going to the
alhambra water tower, this
1,035,500 covers the new need
request for fiscal year '25.
This would allow us to provide
this would allow us to provide that funding this year as
opposed to next fiscal year.
And it allows us not to use
and it allows us not to use general funds to fund that
project in what we'll review
tomorrow.
tomorrow.
tomorrow. The same is true for venetian
the same is true for venetian
the same is true for venetian pool, 1,064,740 funds the
majority of the ask of the new
need request for the venetian
pool.
pool.
pool. It
pool. It is short by about 216,000
it is short by about 216,000 which we believe we can find in
this year's funding.
There's some contingency that we
there's some contingency that we have available from a project
that closed out.
And we will be able to fund the
and we will be able to fund the full ask of the venetian pool.
Incincreasing the 75 will allow
full ask of the venetian pool. Incincreasing the 75 will allows
incincreasing the 75 will allows to pull it from one place or the
other.
other.
other. I
other. I recommend pulling from the
venetian pool since that one
doesn't get the full funding.
Then maybe we reduce the 30,000
then maybe we reduce the 30,000 that we are recommending
tomorrow from the merrick house
and take the difference and put
it towards the venetian pool or
something like that.
>> I guess to the mayor's point,
if we move it to merrick house
now we can start working on
merrick house and possibly
complete it as soon as possible
versus if we do it in the
budget, we're talking about
october before we can even start
considering it.
considering it. >> mayor: so my point is that
these are simple items that I
don't even think need a permit.
Except for maybe the exterior
except for maybe the exterior paint, which can be addressed in
24 hours because staff expedites
that very quickly for residents.
You have some simple wire -- I
you have some simple wire -- I think the interior is wire lap.
I didn't want to fall off a
chair looking at the hole
sitting in the ceiling.
There are simple things.
there are simple things. I remember I helped draft the
legislation that removed
interior permitting requirements
for paint, you know, for simple
things like baseboards and
things like that.
But I mean you may need for the
but I mean you may need for the wire lath and may have to pull a
permit for that and may take a
week.
week.
week. This will really spruce up the
this will really spruce up the merrick house and give it that
added just, you know, touch in
preparation for, you know, the
holiday season.
holiday season. One of the things that I don't
one of the things that I don't remember -- I don't remember
when was the last time we
painted the interior of the
merrick house.
merrick house. I'm not sure.
I know it was -- it's okay.
>> I don't know anything about
the facility.
the facility. >> maybe the vice mayor can give
me a little guidance.
>> well, I did do a complete
inside-out tour including where
the air conditioning is.
I looked at the lath in there as
well.
well.
well. >>
well. >> mayor: so it's lath?
>> there is lath in there.
>> mayor: I'm saying in the hole
by the fairp it's lath?
>> no, the ceiling area.
The venetian plaster and what
the venetian plaster and what I'm going to add too we're
ultimately going to save money.
The sooner we fix this, the less
the sooner we fix this, the less damage that's going to be done.
Around the air conditioner
around the air conditioner ducts, it's not apparent where
the leak is.
Because they have need
because they have need additional insulation, they have
to tear into that venetian
plaster to do it correctly
because it's leaking inside of
the wall.
the wall.
the wall. I looked at the ductwork inside
of the closet.
And it's not dripping there.
and it's not dripping there. So I think this is a good choice
so I think this is a good choice because it's going to save us
money in the long run and
prevent, you know, irrepairable
building to this building and
possible mold intrusion which is
quite expensive.
quite expensive. It spirals.
it spirals. It's a labor of love, these
it's a labor of love, these buildings are but they are worth
it.
it.
it. Just
it. Just like this one, we chose to
just like this one, we chose to put the money into the windows
here as a priority to push this
forward as soon as possible to
prevent additional damage to
this building so we don't have
more damage to the plaster and
more damage to the interior.
So I'm happy -- if you are
so I'm happy -- if you are moving, I'm happy to second.
>> if you don't mind --
>> I know fred is having a heart
attack because we're taking
money from the pool.
>> can the pool survive if we
move collectively 75?
Can you still accomplish --
can you still accomplish -- >> can you still swim in it?
>> with 75.
>> we have a lot of long-term
stuff with the pool.
That small amount, there are
that small amount, there are still other projects that are
going to take a long amount of
time.
time.
time. So
time. So whatever needs to be done for
so whatever needs to be done for that.
that.
that. >>
that. >> I didn't say venetian pool,
they said it.
>> no, no, it's fine.
Venetian pool, as you know,
venetian pool, as you know, there's extensive projects.
And it's going to take more tha
there's extensive projects. And it's going to take more thaw
and it's going to take more thaw thing.
thing.
thing. We
thing. We have to plan it out so it's
we have to plan it out so it's okay to look at how the funding
goes in sections.
>> mayor: why don't we -- if you
don't mind, maybe what we can do
is during this assessment, they
may come back and say, listen,
just we may need $100,000.
Let's put a reverter that
let's put a reverter that whatever funds are not used, we
can always find ways to use
funds.
funds.
funds. There are ways to use funds.
there are ways to use funds. There's one additional project.
there's one additional project. But the assessment says that,
but the assessment says that, you know, whatever is not
needed, this is what we need to
do to provide a little touch-up
that will get us through the
next five years, you think we
can put a reverter in the
legislation that says whatever
moneys are not used are directed
back to the venetian pool.
Something that I would like to
something that I would like to see is like what I did with the
whiteway lights, the legislation
that I wrote.
We have to make it a point that
we have to make it a point that staff goes by these sensitive
buildings and just says, look,
when you look at the underhang
of this building -- it's a
beautiful property.
beautiful property. We have to get it cleaned.
we have to get it cleaned. We can't allow the cobwebs and
we can't allow the cobwebs and dust.
dust.
dust. You
dust. You can see it, it's white.
you can see it, it's white. So anything that's on it, it
so anything that's on it, it starts building up and building
up and building up and building
up.
up.
up. So
up. So I
up. So I think that we need to have
so I think that we need to have like some sort of checks and
balances where we say, look,
once a year, like what zeta does
with our private tenants who
rent buildings from us, say
something to the effect we'll
just do a quick cursory review
of the building and say, look,
everything looks clean,
everything looks up to snuff.
Because I think what ends up
because I think what ends up happening is that the caretakers
of the merrick house can't be
expected to do certain things.
There are limitations.
there are limitations. Only staff can do that or an
only staff can do that or an outside company that has the
equipment that can do that.
Especially talking about an
especially talking about an historic building of this
magnitude.
magnitude. >> I'll go ahead and amend the
legislation to move the
additional 75 to merrick house.
And as the mayor said, any funds
and as the mayor said, any funds that aren't used to go back to
venetian pool.
venetian pool. I think that way we cover all
the angles.
the angles. So I make that amendment.
so I make that amendment. >> yes, I second that.
>> just to be clear then, the
funding toward the merrick house
will be 150,000 and the funding
for venetian pool -- I rely on
paula to do the math, that
amount less $75,000.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> with the language that any
funds not used by the merrick
house go back to venetian pool.
>> mayor: and I would like --
for me personally, I would like
to see through the manager's
office, through zeta, through
whoever is responsible or even
the historic department, just
once a year, you know, pop in
what is pending so we start
building actual knowledge and
budgets based on not, hey, by
the way, the following building
is having catastrophic issues.
No, we need to be aware of
no, we need to be aware of what's happening.
what's happening. A little bit of preventive
a little bit of preventive maintenance goes a long way.
We see it everywhere.
we see it everywhere. So I think we need to, you know,
so I think we need to, you know, make sure that we're at least
doing that once a year,
especially talking about a
building of this magnitude.
The same thing with the museum.
the same thing with the museum. We're about to spend massive
we're about to spend massive funds on the museum.
We need to make sure we don't
we need to make sure we don't look back after five years and
say, hey, what happened.
That's why I wrote that
that's why I wrote that legislation
that's why I wrote that legislation for the whiteway
lights.
lights.
lights. Some of the whiteway lights now
some of the whiteway lights now are orange as a result of the
sprinklers that are c corroding
them.
them.
them. They are simple fixes.
they are simple fixes. We have to ask the residents in
we have to ask the residents in those areas to not point the
sprinklers in that direction or
remove the sprinklers.
Ever time we fix them, we spend
ever time we fix them, we spend millions of dollars bringing
them up to the standard that we
appreciate.
appreciate. >> thank you.
>> mayor: we have a motion and
second.
second.
second. >> all in favor.
[ayes]
[ayes]
[ayes] >>
[ayes] >> mayor: we have a time certain
at 10:30.
at 10:30.
at 10:30. Item f-1, before I pass it over
item f-1, before I pass it over to the sponsor, I'd like to
welcome our esteemed mayor
slesnick here with us today.
Thank you always for your
thank you always for your continued guidance and
everything you do for the city.
It is truly an honor to have you
it is truly an honor to have you here.
here.
here. And
here. And we appreciate it and ask you
and we appreciate it and ask you to please join us.
>> f-1 is name the primary
thoroughfare of the gables
family literacy festival within
the war memorial youth center in
honor of the former coral gables
commissioner jeanette slesnick
with literacy row.
>> it should be commissioner
because I think we should
recognize her for her service to
our city.
our city.
our city. I'd like to amend that
resolution.
resolution. This is a resolution I would
this is a resolution I would love to take the credit for the
idea being mine, but it is not.
It is something that several
it is something that several city boards did prior to our
literacy festival.
literacy festival. And I thought it should be
and I thought it should be something that we as a city
something that we as a city officially di.
officially di. Jeanett served this city not
jeanett served this city not just as a member, but on a daily
basis.
basis.
basis. I
basis. I think all five of us benefited
from her support.
We always gave us her advice,
we always gave us her advice, whether it was positive or
negative.
negative.
negative. She would make sure to give her
she would make sure to give her opinion on what we were doing
and how we were doing it in
order to make this a better
city.
city.
city. And
city. And the literacy festival is
and the literacy festival is something that she took
personally on as something she
wanted to do.
And, don, you have continued
and, don, you have continued that work over the last couple
of years ensuring that we have
books for children who don't
need them.
need them. I know you also did the little
schoolhouse -- the little --
>> mayor: library.
>> library that's outside of the
coral gables country club.
This was a passion of hers.
this was a passion of hers. And I think it's a small token
and I think it's a small token that we can do to remember
jeannett and what she did for
our city, for literacy.
And I'm looking forward to
and I'm looking forward to having the literacy festival on
commissioner jeannett slesnick
literacy row for many years to
come.
come.
come. >>
come. >> mayor: mayor, thank you for
being here with us.
>> thank you, mr. Mayor and vice
mayor and commissioners.
Let me
mayor and commissioners. Let me say that, first of all --
let me say that, first of all -- okay.
okay.
okay. First of all, from the slesnick
first of all, from the slesnick family and from the board member
of my heart, since jeannett's
passing, each of you, each of
you have been so generous and
kind in your outreach and
recognitions and things that you
have done in her name or for her
and for the family.
So I thank you, thank you, thank
so I thank you, thank you, thank you for that.
The literacy festival was very
the literacy festival was very meaningful to jeannett.
Literacy was meaningful to her.
literacy was meaningful to her. Books were meaningful to her.
books were meaningful to her. And she loved working with sam
and she loved working with sam josephs.
josephs.
josephs. I mean she and sam were quite a
team.
team.
team. And
team. And I mean what sam does for the
and I mean what sam does for the city and for the literacy
festival goes without saying
that he is quite a personage.
And we think highly of him.
and we think highly of him. And I know jeannett did.
and I know jeannett did. And I have today with me susie
and I have today with me susie davis who worked with jeannett
on these various projects hand
in hand on different projects.
So I can only say this is a very
so I can only say this is a very unexpected honor and something
that we receive with gratitude.
And I will note for you all that
and I will note for you all that in the next coral gables
magazine, not the one that you
may receive currently, but
another month away, my little
article that I do, non-political
article, is all about the
literacy festival.
literacy festival. So it's about the literacy
so it's about the literacy festival and what happened out
there.
there.
there. I
there. I hope people will enjoy that
and show their support next
year's festival and be out
there.
there.
there. And I have to tell you, I know
and I have to tell you, I know you all were there.
I had a meeting that morning.
I came out later.
And what a wonderful moment for
and what a wonderful moment for the city and for the community
recreation department.
recreation department. I mean they worked so hard.
And they do so many things, but
and they do so many things, but this is one of the things that
they do so well.
And fred and carolina and the
and fred and carolina and the whole staff, a great deal of
compliments to you all.
I can't believe fred is still
here.
here.
here. [laughter]
[laughter] >> he can't either.
[laughter]
[laughter] >> and, you know, I was noticing
earlier, I knew billy when he
looked like a kid.
And now look -- he's a
and now look -- he's a distinguished older gentleman.
[laughter]
[laughter] >> distinguished.
>> distinguished. >> but thank you, commissioner.
Thank you, mayor, vice mayor,
thank you, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, thank you.
>> mayor: thank you, mayor.
Thank you for being with us.
thank you for being with us.
thank you for being with us. [applause]
[applause] >> what I would also like to see
is that we place a street sign
out there with the name of
commissioner jeannett slesnick
literacy row.
literacy row. I know we spoke about it.
>> there are some possibilities
to do at the entrance of it and
maybe -- I'm always thinking of
events.
events.
events. It would be great to do an
it would be great to do an unveiling at the start of the
next literacy festival in may.
And in our opening of the
and in our opening of the festival will be the unveiling.
I think something that we do
like a bronze kind of plaque, I
think that would be the way to
go.
go.
go. And
go. And obviously, we'll work with
and obviously, we'll work with the family as we have done
before on many things and get
something that's appropriate
there.
there.
there. >>
there. >> mayor: perfect.
>> that means I have to live
until next year.
[laughter]
[laughter] >> you do.
>> it gfs me a goal.
[laughter]
[laughter] yes.
yes.
yes. >>
yes. >> always moves the goal post.
>> thank you, mayor.
Appreciate it.
appreciate it. >> after you're through this, I
want to make a comment from the
landmarks board.
landmarks board. It will be a quick comment.
it will be a quick comment. Do you want it now?
do you want it now? >> mayor: please.
>> as chair of your landmarks
advisory board, I wanted to say
thank you from the citizens of
coral gables.
coral gables. The citizens sometimes don't
the citizens sometimes don't realize that the landmarks that
comprise the beauty of this
city, venetian pool, merrick
house, the desoto fountain, the
entranceways and so forth, the
water tower, these are
100-year-old things that are so
critical.
critical.
critical. And I just wanted to say, as I
and I just wanted to say, as I sat here, from our board, from
the citizens, thank you for
doing what it takes to keep them
up.
up.
up. I
up. I mean this is constant.
This commission will do this,
this commission will do this, the next commission will do it,
I hope and pray and so forth.
As we get ready for our 100th
as we get ready for our 100th birthday, you're doing the exact
right thing.
right thing. Again today I say thank you,
again today I say thank you, thank you, thank you.
>> thank you for your service on
the board.
the board. >> mayor: thank you, mayor,
great work.
great work. >> I'll make a motion.
>> second.
>> second. >> mr. Mayor, we have a member
of the public requesting to
speak on the public.
>> mayor: okay.
>> mrs.
>> mayor: okay. >> mrs. Maria
>> mayor: okay. >> mrs. Maria cruz.
>> mrs. Maria cruz, 1447 miller
road.
road.
road. As
road. As I sit here, I can only
as I sit here, I can only imagine jeannett smiling from
heaven.
heaven.
heaven. That's all I have to say.
that's all I have to say. Thank you.
thank you. >> mayor: anything else?
>> that's it, sir.
>> mayor: we have a motion and
second.
second.
second. >> commissioner castro.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> commissioner fernandez.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> commissioner menendez.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> vice mayor anderson.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> mayor lago.
>> mayor: yes.
We will take a five-minute break
we will take a five-minute break
>>
>> mayor:
>> mayor: madam city attorney. >> item 2-1 is a resolution from
the historic preservation board
requesting the city commissioner
authorizing ad valorem tax
relief for the property a 112
through 116 alhambra circle,
block 22, coral gables section l
according to the plat in plat
book 8 of the public records of
miami dade county florida.
>> assistant historic
preservation officer for the
city of coral gables.
I'm sure you guys know, but the
ad valorem program is
I'm sure you guys know, but the ad valorem program is our
incentive.
incentive. This project we are excited to
this project we are excited to bring to you because it is
incredibly worthy of having this
commendation.
commendation. If you can run the powerpoint,
if you can run the powerpoint, please.
please.
please. So property location, you guys
so property location, you guys are probably familiar with the
alhambra hotel.
alhambra hotel. This is a 1926 photograph of the
this is a 1926 photograph of the property.
property.
property. And this is a photo dated last
and this is a photo dated last month.
month.
month. This is a very early permit
this is a very early permit number 86 in the city.
It was constructed in 1924,
it was constructed in 1924, 1925.
1925.
1925. Prior to the current ownership
prior to the current ownership taking hold of the property, it
had been gutted outside of the
scope of the demolition permit
and left to sit for many, many
years.
years.
years. So
years. So to say that these owners
so to say that these owners rescued this building and
brought it back to life could
not be a truer statement.
I'm going to go through some
photos of the before-and-after
and show you a little bit of
what they did while I tell you
what they did.
So structural repairs,
so structural repairs, structural reinforcement of the
entire building from the
interior with no impact on the
exterior.
exterior.
exterior. New impact
exterior. New impact resistant casement
new impact resistant casement windows and doors to match the
original.
original.
original. Existing cast iron hanging
existing cast iron hanging lightings, windows, doors,
reliefs, columns, removal of
existing non-original attic
vents, restoring the original
wood lattice work, restoration
of the existing wood fire
stairs, cart yard in the alley,
new barrel tiled roof,
restoration of the original
window grill, reintroduction of
two door openings that were
previously closed.
previously closed. Stuck repair, paint, new
previously closed. Stuck repair, paint, new mep
stuck repair, paint, new mep systems, new tenants,
installation of a new elevator
on the interior and they
replaced the front door system
with one that lets the original
entry read much more
appropriately.
appropriately. Restoration of these gates and
restoration of these gates and the full courtyard, you name it,
they did it.
This is the courtyard and that's
this is the courtyard and that's a great photo.
This is the interior of
a great photo. This is the interior of the
this is the interior of the courtyard.
courtyard. This is what they inherited.
this is what they inherited. [laughter]
[laughter] what they purchased.
Thankfully.
thankfully. And then you can't really quet
and then you can't really quet any great interior shots because
it's all built out.
But it's, you know, wonderful.
but it's, you know, wonderful. So we obviously recommend
so we obviously recommend approval.
approval.
approval. The historic preservation board
the historic preservation board recommended approval.
recommended approval. The owners of the property are
the owners of the property are here if you wish to hear from
them or wish to thank them.
>> mayor: I just want to briefly
say thank you to the owners.
I had the privilege of visiting
the site and actually walking it
prior to them owning it because
there was a lot of issues that
were happening probably six,
seven years ago in the city.
And this was a contentious issue
and this was a contentious issue as a result of what had happened
with the property with the
previous owners and the removal
of the tdrs, gutting of the
building and the situation it
was in.
was in.
was in. Thank you so much for coming in,
thank you so much for coming in, making a huge investment in the
city and what you have done
there is not only bring back
this incredibly historic
building important to our city,
but you've gone above and
beyond.
beyond.
beyond. You brought two world-class
you brought two world-class restaurants, a bunch of great
tenants in an area that needed
it.
it.
it. It's
it. It's a little bit of a difficult
it's a little bit of a difficult area as a result of a location
that's kind of tucked away
behind a building.
But I also want to mention
but I also want to mention something that you didn't
mention.
mention.
mention. This building has a distinction
this building has a distinction that they will always have.
Besides the fact that it's
besides the fact that it's historic, they are the only
ones, the first that brought a
michelin rated restaurant to the
city of coral gables.
They are the first michelin
they are the first michelin rated restaurant in the city of
coral gables.
coral gables. And that, to me, is something
and that, to me, is something amazing.
amazing.
amazing. It's a testament to the quality,
it's a testament to the quality, how you curated the tenants, how
you went out and spent the
time -- not just found any
tenant just to plug into your
building just to hopefully start
making money and covering cost,
which as you know is very, very
difficult in today's day and
age, especially with the
millions and millions and
millions of dollars that you
spent in renovating this
building, following the
guidelines of our staff and the
city requirements.
city requirements. So I just want to congratulate
so I just want to congratulate you and thank you for being good
stewards of this building.
And taking it to new heights
and taking it to new heights because it's a testament to the
work that you do as a real
estate developers and owners of
property here in this community.
I want to thank you for that.
>> michelin star is not my
purview at all.
But I did want to note that they
but I did want to note that they actually took it upon themselves
to list the building on the
national register as well.
So they have really gone above
so they have really gone above and beyond what we would have
wanted for this buildings.
>> mayor: they brought two
world-class restaurants.
world-class restaurants. I mean again the other
I mean again the other restboushonand we congratulate .
Would you like to say a few
would you like to say a few words?
words?
words? Mr. Clerk, any public comment?
mr. Clerk, any public comment? >> no.
>> no.
>> no. >>
>> no. >> mayor: entertain a motion.
>> so moved.
>> second.
>> second. [roll call]
[roll call] >> mayor: yes.
Thank you very much.
thank you very much. Great work.
great work. Congratulations.
congratulations. Well deserved.
well deserved. Well
well deserved. Well deserved.
well deserved. I'm trying to see if we have
enough time to sneak in e-8 and
e-9 prior to 11:30.
We have almost 20 minutes.
we have almost 20 minutes. Do you think that we can --
do you think that we can -- let's hear e-8 and e-9 that are
together.
together.
together. >> mayor, I'll start with e-9, a
resolution of the city
commission
resolution of the city commission with attachments for
the period of october 1, 2023
through september 30th, 2025.
E-8 is an ordinance of the city
e-8 is an ordinance of the city commission amending chapter 46
of the code of the city of coral
gables entitled pensions,
plelting provisions of the 2023
to '25 collective bargaining
agreement between the f.o.p.
Amending section 46-25,
amending section 46-25, definitions amending
amending section 46-25, definitions amending section
46-253, providing for
codification and providing for
effective date.
effective date. >> mayor: do we have our finance
director or raquel here?
>>
director or raquel here? >> I believe our.
>> mayor: I can always move on
to another item, not a problem.
I know it's a long time coming
and we've been trying to get
this done for years so I think
it's great to get this done
before lunch.
before lunch. >> it would
before lunch. >> it would be.
>> mayor: really quick, I'm
going to move to item f-5 which
is a simple one.
Mr. Clerk, I'm moving on to
mr. Clerk, I'm moving on to something very simple.
This is an item I put on the
this is an item I put on the agenda, item f-5 deals with --
>> that's the old agenda.
>> mayor: I don't have the new
one.
one.
one. >>
one. >> they are renumbered.
>> mayor: so let me have f-6 is
the item that I want to put up
as the san marti sculpture.
Do you know if staff sent the
do you know if staff sent the photos?
photos?
photos? >> they did.
>> mayor: before we put the
photos up there, this is an
important sculpture in the city,
not only because it's called san
marti, but every culture is
important no matter what.
important no matter what. This sculpture was adopted to
this sculpture was adopted to the city of coral gables.
In my opinion, I was out there
in my opinion, I was out there two weeks ago with my father and
activists on both sides of the
issue.
issue.
issue. I
issue. I think we have to be very, very
thoughtful and very methodical
on how we conduct ourselves here
as a city.
You know, these are one side of
you know, these are one side of the discussion where individuals
take advantage of that
sculpture.
sculpture. And then you also have some
and then you also have some other photos that I have
included.
included.
included. To me, we have to be very
to me, we have to be very careful to make sure that this
doesn't happen here in the city.
And I'll tell you why.
and I'll tell you why. I am all for individuals being
able to demonstrate their
constitutional rights, all for
it.
it.
it. But
it. But we cannot allow people to
but we cannot allow people to deface a sculpture here in the
city.
city.
city. We
city. We cannot.
we cannot. In my opinion, I think this
in my opinion, I think this sends the wrong message and it
only infuriates both sides of
the issue because I get people
who tell me, you know, we want
to be able to do things
peacefully.
peacefully. We want to be able to send a
we want to be able to send a message.
message.
message. But then we have these kind of
but then we have these kind of incidents that kind of infuriate
both sides.
both sides. Then the other side wants to put
then the other side wants to put a cuban flag on the memorial in
recognition of jose marti's
leadership.
leadership. I'm bringing this to your
attention because I was not
there at this moment.
Our police handled the issue and
our police handled the issue and did a great job.
We have to be very thoughtful.
we have to be very thoughtful. And I think we have to send a
and I think we have to send a strong message that we want
people to respect on both sides
of the issue, both sides of the
issue any of our monuments.
No matter what the monument is,
no matter what the monument is, today it was jose marti.
Just bringing this to your
just bringing this to your attention because I imagine you
have probably seen it on social
media.
media.
media. It
media. It painted the city as a city
it painted the city as a city that was allowing this to
happen.
happen.
happen. And there was a little bit of
and there was a little bit of confusion.
confusion. There was a little bit of
there was a little bit of confusion.
confusion. I talked to the city attorney.
I talked to our police chief
about the issue.
I think we have to be proactive
in sending a message that again
this type of behavior is not
welcome in our city and that we
will do everything in our
toolbox to be able to protect
free speech.
free speech. But there has to be limits and
but there has to be limits and there has to be respect.
Mr. Clerk.
mr. Clerk. >> mrs. Maria cruz would like to
make some
>> mrs. Maria cruz would like to make some comments.
>> good morning again.
Mrs. Maria cruz.
mrs. Maria cruz. I think it is important to give
credit where credit is due.
Thank you, mayor, for bringing
thank you, mayor, for bringing this up.
this up.
this up. >> mayor: mr. Clerk, do you have
any other comments?
>> no, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: just bringing it to
your attention.
your attention. I don't know what we can do.
If you'd like to sit down with
if you'd like to sit down with the city attorney, people have
constitutional rights for
freedom of speech.
I stand by that.
Stand by that.
stand by that. But let me tell you one last
but let me tell you one last part of this and then we'll move
on hopefully back to f-8 and
f-9.
f-9.
f-9. When
f-9. When there was
f-9. When there was a week later a
when there was a week later a gathering from pro democracy and
pro freedom from different cuban
organizations in south florida
that met in front of the
sculpture, the police had
cordoned off the entire park.
What's good for the goose is
what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
They said, listen, why are we
they said, listen, why are we being, you know, picked on
because we notified the city
that we were going to be coming
to do a pro-democracy, pro human
rights protest?
rights protest? We wanted to make sure there's
we wanted to make sure there's no confrontation.
no confrontation. The police did an amazing job.
the police did an amazing job. I had a conversation with
officer hoff.
officer hoff. She was front and center, very
she was front and center, very proactive and everything worked
out well.
out well.
out well. The issue is I think we have to
the issue is I think we have to be careful when our officers are
interacting with these
individuals because there's a
wrong message that's sent by
these individuals who are coming
here to the city of coral
gables.
gables.
gables. One side says, why do you allow
one side says, why do you allow them to do this?
We never allowed them to do
we never allowed them to do this.
this.
this. The
this. The second part is, well, I want
the second part is, well, I want to do the same thing.
It doesn't work in anyone's
it doesn't work in anyone's favor.
favor.
favor. I
favor. I know some of these things just
pop up from one minute to the
next.
next.
next. They are not preplanned.
they are not preplanned. I just wanted to bring to your
attention because you may get
calls about this.
I know it was on social media
painting the city as we were
being tolerant of this type of
behavior.
behavior.
behavior. I'm not tolerant of this
behavior.
behavior.
behavior. I will not stand for this
behavior.
behavior.
behavior. I am 110% on the other side of
this issue.
this issue. There's no discussion on it, in
there's no discussion on it, in my opinion.
my opinion. Yes, ma'am.
yes, ma'am. >> fortunately, this time it
wasn't, you know, spray paint or
something permanent.
something permanent. But no, we cannot be tolerant.
but no, we cannot be tolerant. Because then the stepbrother --
because then the stepbrother -- and the rules apply to both
sides.
sides.
sides. >>
sides. >> I think we are a law-abiding
city and law-abiding community.
Quite honestly, if we need to
quite honestly, if we need to take a step back and look at
what our local laws and our
rules of engagement are with
regards to this type of
activity, maybe it's something
we should do, take a look.
Because the world is very
because the world is very volatile.
volatile.
volatile. And the hostilities are running
and the hostilities are running rampant internationally, miami,
south florida?
south florida? , coral gables, we're no
exception.
exception. We do believe in the rule of
we do believe in the rule of law.
law.
law. So
law. So I
law. So I think it's time to perhaps
so I think it's time to perhaps take a look at what we have on
the books and to see if maybe we
have to tweak it in accordance
to what's unfolding around us.
>> echoing some of the comments
that have already been made,
individuals do have a first
amendment right to protest.
That is something that they have
that is something that they have a constitutional right to do so.
It has to be done in a
it has to be done in a respectful way.
respectful way. Just like the way that, you
just like the way that, you know, discourse is handled.
It is important that those who
it is important that those who are coming to coral gables to
protest understand that you have
the right to protest, but you do
not have a right to deface
something that means so much to
members of this community who
have fought for freedom for so
many years.
many years. As the mayor's dad and others
as the mayor's dad and others who came before us who have
fought for freedom in our
community, do it in a respectful
way.
way.
way. I
way. I commend chief hudak.
He told me it was something
he told me it was something handled by the officers on the
scene.
scene.
scene. Our officers have been properly
our officers have been properly trained to address and
de-escalate situations like
this.
this.
this. And
this. And I appreciate the training
and I appreciate the training that we have offered our
officers and their commitment to
preserving the rule of law and
preserving those individuals'
rights to the first amendment as
well.
well.
well. >>
well. >> mayor: okay, mr. Clerk, we
have another public comment?
>> yes, mr. Mayor.
On zoom, we have myra jollee who
on zoom, we have myra jollee who would like to make some comments
on this item.
>> mayor: ms. Jolee, good
morning.
morning.
morning. >> good morning.
>> mayor: I'm sorry to interrupt
you.
you.
you. We
you. We can barely hear you, I
we can barely hear you, I apologize.
apologize. >> what about now?
>> mayor: can you put it a
little bit higher if you don't
little bit higher if you don't mind?
mind?
mind? >>
mind? >> okay.
>> okay.
>> okay. That's as high as it go.
that's as high as it go. >> mayor: okay.
>> can you hear me if I talk
louder?
louder?
louder? >> mayor: it's still low but we
want to hear what you have to
say.
say.
say. Please go ahead.
please go ahead. >> okay.
>> okay.
>> okay. My video is not coming through?
my video is not coming through? >> your video, no.
>> mayor: your video is not
coming through, now it's just a
blank screen.
blank screen. Just says your name on it.
just says your name on it. >> let me fix it, okay, because
I need you guys to see me and
what I'm going to say.
I don't want anybody to think
that I'm hiding.
Let me see if I can do it like
let me see if I can do it like that, okay.
that, okay. All right.
all right. That's the best I can do.
that's the best I can do. I understand and I applaud the
fact that we are protecting our
monument.
monument.
monument. In this case, what somebody
in this case, what somebody tried
in this case, what somebody tried to do to the jose marti.
In the same predicament I find
in the same predicament I find myself.
myself.
myself. And I ask this body if there is
and I ask this body if there is the same as me being offended
because our american flag is
being displayed and having
another flag of the lgbtq+
community under the flag of the
united states
community under the flag of the united states of america.
If we are going to protect our
if we are going to protect our monument, the flag is the
representative of all of us.
That union of everybody.
that union of everybody. I realize that there is another
side of city hall in which is
flown -- I think the city of
coral gables flag or the city of
miami, I'm not sure.
And I suggest, and I will ask,
and I suggest, and I will ask, that the flag of the lgbtq be
moved to that side.
At least allow the flag of the
at least allow the flag of the united states of america, which
is the flag that unite us all,
to be flown by itself.
Not with any other flag because
not with any other flag because that is going to create more
division and more hostility and
it is something that shouldn't
be part of the city hall of our
government to take any position
whatsoever.
whatsoever. And if that's the case, I would
and if that's the case, I would suggest then if the flag have to
be flown, I will suggest that a
flag of the heterosexual pride
be flown also or the flag of the
10 commandments.
10 commandments. Thank you.
thank you. >> mayor: thank you very much.
Have a wonderful day.
have a wonderful day. Mr. Clerk.
mr. Clerk. >> mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: okay, perfect.
Worry not taking any action.
worry not taking any action. Moving to item f-8 and f-9.
moving to item f-8 and f-9. >> mayor, it's e-8 and e-9.
And I already read them into the
and I already read them into the record.
record.
record. >> we're doing the resolution
first?
first?
first? >>
first? >> I think so.
That would be appropriate.
that would be appropriate. >> good morning, raquel risk
management for the city.
We have reached a two-year
we have reached a two-year agreement with the fraternal
order of police.
The agreement is from october 1,
the agreement is from october 1, 2023 through september 30th of
2025.
2025.
2025. The
2025. The agreement has been approved
the agreement has been approved by the f.o.p. And it is before
you pending your final
ratification and approval.
Under the agreement, police
under the agreement, police officers receive significant
salary increases, improvements
to the pension plan and
additional benefits which I can
go into detail if you would
like.
like.
like. The
like. The city views this as a very
the city views this as a very favorable and financially sound
contract beneficial to both the
city and the employees.
>> mayor: thank you.
Do we have any public comment?
do we have any public comment? >> yes, mr. Mayor.
Mrs.
>> yes, mr. Mayor. Mrs. Maria cruz.
mrs. Maria cruz. >> mrs. Maria cruz, 1447 miller
road.
road.
road. I
road. I want to make it simple.
I support both e-8 and e-9.
Very supportive.
very supportive. >> mayor: I have a motion.
>> a move it.
>> second.
>> second. >> just to be clear, we're
voting on the resolution first.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> commissioner menendez.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> vice mayor anderson.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> commissioner castro.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> commissioner fernandez.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> mayor lago.
>> mayor: yes.
Moving on to e-8.
moving on to e-8. >> so e-8 is the pension
ordinance implementing the
pension changes that you just
ratified in the collective
bargaining agreement and those
pension changes are allowing
about $300 of overtime to be
pensionable, removing the
retirement cap and making the
fdle pay that will start in
fiscal year '25 pensionable.
>> I'll move it.
>> second.
>> second. >> mayor: mr. Clerk, do we have
any public comment on e-8?
>> no, mr. Mayor.
Vice mayor anderson.
vice mayor anderson. >> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> commissioner castro.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> commissioner fernandez.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> commissioner menendez.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> mayor lago.
>> mayor: yes.
>> thank you.
>> I just wanted to take a
moment to thank you, madam
director, the chief, the manager
and everybody who was part of
this negotiation, our police
union president challenger for
the efforts made to find a
consensus and reach an agreement
that will make sure that we
adequately pay our officers and
begin filling our vacancies as
quickly as possible.
I think this is a great step
forward for our city.
And I appreciate the work that
and I appreciate the work that all of you put into this.
>> chris challenger did want to
be here today but he is out of
town and I believe in orlando in
an f.o.p. Conference.
>> mayor: thank you.
>> thank you.
>> mayor: moving on to -- we
have a time certain item at
11:30.
11:30.
11:30. Maybe we can hear one more, item
maybe we can hear one more, item f-8 and go through something
very quick.
very quick. F-8 is something I have been
f-8 is something I have been working on for the last probably
year and a half and change.
It was brought to me by a
it was brought to me by a resident during office hours.
And it's been something that,
and it's been something that, you know, I think is going to be
a positive, positive opportunity
for the city.
Thank you for jumping up here,
thank you for jumping up here, my friend, I appreciate it.
I don't know if we have some --
do we have some -- do we have
any slide?
any slide? >> we have a couple of slides.
>> mayor: okay, perfect.
This was something brought to me
this was something brought to me by a resident.
We started talking about it.
we started talking about it. I brought matt in, solange, what
I have been doing a long time
besides recycling like everybody
else, trying to recycle our
plastic bags, since preempted by
plastic bags, since preempted by styrofoam and plastic bags,
credit where credit is due, my
daughters are fan oocts of
environmental stewardship.
environmental stewardship. They want to put away the
they want to put away the plastic bags and not throw them
away because you can't put them
in recycling.
in recycling. We tell people that's
we tell people that's contaminants.
contaminants. What we are doing is -- this
what we are doing is -- this interesting individual brought
this forward.
this forward. She was incredibly enthusiastic.
she was incredibly enthusiastic. We brought it to the commission
we brought it to the commission I think two times.
We are trying to find the proper
we are trying to find the proper fit over the last two years.
This is an opportunity that
this is an opportunity that instead of having to go to
publix to drop off your plastic
bags because it gets full very
quickly, you can now start doing
something at home.
Save all your plastic bag bags
save all your plastic bag bags and we'll be able to deliver
them to three locations in the
city of coral gables and it will
give us an opportunity to
really get some rewards in the
future.
future.
future. With that, I'd like for our
with that, I'd like for our incredible team, who does a
wonderful job, to take a away.
>> good morning, mayor,
commissioners.
commissioners. We have a few slides to talk a
we have a few slides to talk a little bit about the impact of
the program, just always like to
start on the impact we're having
in our community through our
keep coral gables beautiful
program.
program.
program. Since we became an affiliate in
since we became an affiliate in july of 2020, we have done over
176 events and programs in that
short period of time.
We have been really, really busy
we have been really, really busy between solange and myself and
my team that is back in the
office.
office.
office. We have been busy.
we have been busy. We just had a cleanup event at
we just had a cleanup event at ingraham park this past friday.
So we have engaged with over
so we have engaged with over 28,000 participants.
28,000 participants. And we have been able to remove
and we have been able to remove over 790,000 pounds from the
waste stream basically.
So go to the next slide.
so go to the next slide. So the program that we launched
so the program that we launched actually on may 31st, we had a
launch event -- is you can now
bring your plastic bags, all
listed there, take them to one
of three facilities.
We have bins located in the
we have bins located in the lobby at the adult activity
center, at the youth center and
at our new parking and mobility
services offices in the new
minorca garage.
minorca garage. So we have those three bins
so we have those three bins located in those locations.
You have see the list of items
you have see the list of items that you can bring.
And we picked this program
and we picked this program because we were able to set this
program up.
program up. We were looking at two different
we were looking at two different programs.
programs.
programs. The
programs. The n nextrex and tara recycle,
the n nextrex and tara recycle, because this is zero cost to the
city, zero impact to the city.
We were able to get these bins
we were able to get these bins for free.
for free.
for free. And my team is going to be the
and my team is going to be the ones handling logistics when the
bins are full.
We are coordinating with sprouts
we are coordinating with sprouts on 27th avenue.
And my team will be taking those
and my team will be taking those items over.
items over. And they have a much larger
and they have a much larger brand that they coordinate with
nextrex and we will deposit
those there.
those there. And then nextrex picks up the
and then nextrex picks up the programs from there.
Again, keeping cost at a minimum
again, keeping cost at a minimum to no cost to the city was
important to us.
And establishing programs like
and establishing programs like this.
this.
this. We
this. We have seen a lot of success in
we have seen a lot of success in the programs we have
from
from the
from the reverse vending machine to the battery program,
to the drug disposal program we
started, so we anticipate this
having the same level of
success.
success.
success. These are just items that we
these are just items that we aren't accepted into the
program, so folks can take those
and throw these out in their
regular garbage.
regular garbage. We have all of these marketing
we have all of these marketing materials up on the bins
themselves and on our city
website, on our keep coral
gables beautiful website.
>> something important that we
wanted to make sure that our
residents and visitors are going
to be using this program
understand is that while they
can recycle these items at these
specific bins, this is not
something they can recycle at
home.
home.
home. We
home. We had the additional signage
we had the additional signage printed and they are on the side
of each bin.
We have a smaller decal as well
we have a smaller decal as well that's going to be right behind
the bin itself at each of the
locations, providing the same
information.
information. We want to make sure that they
we want to make sure that they don't throw these plastic bags
at home, only in here.
The printing of these signs and
the printing of these signs and materials are essentially at no
cost to the city because we are
able to use our fdot grant fund
that coral gables received
earlier in the year to do this
printing, which is why you see
the fdot logo on the bottom.
>> mayor: first, I want to
commend you both for working on
this over the last year and a
half, thank you for that, and
the resident who brought it to
us, she's amazing.
She was never deterred.
she was never deterred. It was the most efficient way
it was the most efficient way and to do something for the
environment.
environment. It's to divert is much waste as
it's to divert is much waste as possible from the stream so it
doesn't land up in landfills,
rivers or parks, and it also
offers, for example, people who
are recycling, the opportunity
to save it, so severe quarter, I
have a big bag that I have, I
put all of the plastic bags into
it along with everything else
you accept, I usually take it to
publix.
publix.
publix. Now I have an opportunity take
now I have an opportunity take it to three facility in coral
gables.
gables.
gables. I'll mention it in my news
letter.
letter.
letter. I
letter. I ask you to send the
information out there because we
can have a real impact and
divert as much waste and re
recycle it from the waste
stream.
stream.
stream. Thank you to your entire team.
thank you to your entire team. I was happy to see when we got
this started.
this started. The best part about it, the best
the best part about it, the best part is we're being more
sustainability we're saving
money, but the best part about
it is that we will be able to
get a bench out of this or two
or three or four.
>> we have two more slides just
showing the products that once
we reach certain thresholds that
we're able to get.
Mostly focusing on is the bench
mostly focusing on is the bench and this will be a great
partnership that once with you
get to the thresholds, we can
put it out on a park and
highlight ting that circular
product which would be waste,
but turning it into an item.
When we were looking for
when we were looking for locations, they were always
volunteering to say the youth
center or even the adult
activity center.
activity center. They were very excitedded to
they were very excitedded to have the launch event there
because they've had a lot of
residents asking for similar
residents asking for similar type
.
. >>
. >> the
. >> the residents who spoke to
the mayor on this, we discussed
it on the board as well, marlin
everett, again, resident driven
and bringing the program through
fruition is something we're
excited about.
excited about. >> mayor: two last points for
consideration.
consideration. I sent the manager probably
about a month and a half ago
photos of our solar benches,
which is something I brought to
the city.
the city.
the city. They're rusting out there.
they're rusting out there. We need to address that, we
we need to address that, we sneed to figure it out.
It's looking really bad,
it's looking really bad, especially in ponce circle
park.
park.
park. These benches, since their free
these benches, since their free and we're collecting all of the
material I think it's a
opportunity to potentially month
ties it, so we can put
somebody's name on it, whatever
staff thinks is appropriate.
500, a thousand dollars, do it
on behalf of somebody, somebody
doing an incredible job,
employee of the year, somebody
dedicated to sustainability or
maybe there's a company that
they want to cut a check and
that money can be used for other
sustainability events, like the
donations we accept for the
cleanups, which I donate
regularly personally so we can
give people an inconsistent to
go out there and find as much
garbage as possible.
Maybe we can use these benches
maybe we can use these benches and say, sponsor this bench, a
thousand dollars, $5,000,
whatever the number is, and
we'll get these companies to put
their name on t it's in
perpetuity as long as the bench
last.
last.
last. These are made of plastic so
these are made of plastic so they will last for a long, long
time.
time.
time. I
time. I think it's an opportunity to
month ties it and use the funds
we get to even more sustainable
we get to even more sustainable products.
products.
products. Yes, ma'am.
yes, ma'am. >> I do have
yes, ma'am. >> I do have questions there's
dog food bags and stuff.
>> all of that information, we
not only have on the events
themselves, but on the website
with additional details in the
links to the locations and what
can and can't be recycled, then
we've sent out in our keep coral
gables beautiful newsletter last
week I believe, we'll continue
to promote the program like we
do the battery recycling
throughout the year.
>> mayor: you all e-mails and
liaisons are on the news letter
list.
list.
list. Let
list. Let is know if it's not getting
let is know if it's not getting to you, but we added you all, we
did that about a month ago, so
you guys are seeing when we're
having events and launch events,
so let us know if you have any
questions.
questions. And this material is attached to
and this material is attached to the agenda item and we'll make
sure you have it for your
newsletters and be able to share
with residents.
with residents. >> okay.
>> okay.
>> okay. >> mayor: thank you very much.
>> mayor: thank you very much. Awesome work.
awesome work. >> exciting, I can clean out my
garage.
garage.
garage. >> mayor: moving on to f 3.
>> resolution of the city
commission authorizing a maximum
reimbursement not to exceed --
for the labor and materials
necessary to install a new ada
ramp and railings leected at 280
miracle mile, coral gables,
florida, as previously
authorized by resolution
2024-96.
2024-96.
2024-96. >> at this time, I'd like to
welcome barbara stein, executive
producing director of actors
playhouse to help discuss this
issue, this item so that we can
better be informed and make a
decision.
decision.
decision. >> thank you very much.
>> mayor: good morning.
>> thank you for the opportunity
to be here today and for
proposing the resolution.
I'd like to introduce our
general manager of actors
playhouse, brook noibl, and our
production manager and director
of facility management at the
theater, carlos, who works very
close with the city for all
facility matters over the
years.
years.
years. We're grateful for the
we're grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve
the community better with this
ramp.
ramp.
ramp. Thank you for the opportunity to
thank you for the opportunity to consider it.
consider it. We've submitted two additional
we've submitted two additional bids as requested by the
commission at the last meeting
and I'm happy to address any
questions you may have about
questions you may have about this situation.
this situation. >> I pr appreciate the time
to be able to speak to you
yesterday, view the facility,
and look at the needs and
various ways to address that.
Also wanted to bring up to the
also wanted to bring up to the attention of the manager, too,
that we could facilitate the
facility better by adding a
dropoff area, just moving one of
the regular parking spots I
and handicap spots to one
central dropoff because there's
people who are dropped off by
people who can walk well into
the facility, and I'll do remote
parking if I can ever get my
husband to come along, is but I
don't need to occupy a
handicapped parking space, but
he cannot do the walk to get to
the distance, but I appreciate
the time being able to walk
through the facility, see the
mezzanine area and the needs as
well.
well.
well. I
well. I did go over with your
facilities manager a couple of
other items that are necessary.
I also appreciated your
willingness to consider doing a
loan and I'd like to challenge
my colleagues here to raise
money necessary to pay this off
rather than the taxpayer dollars
going in that because I looked
at the lease and it does cause
some concern that what we do for
one, we have to do for another.
We have that same issue with
we have that same issue with whether it's protesters thinking
that they are, treated
differently, and we have that
with tenants as well.
I'm willing to go to the
challenge of talk to other folks
who are supporters and were not
aware that this need existed,
and they're willing to donate as
well to fill this need that is
an opportune time to be mable to
make this renovation inside the
facility.
facility.
facility. >> thank you, vice-mayor.
I would like to substantiate
your request for the holding
zone out in front of the
theater.
theater.
theater. We have many requests from
we have many requests from people who have special needs
and it's difficult to get in.
I appreciate that
recommendation.
recommendation. >> thank you.
>> mayor: anything else?
>> I mean, that's my suggestion
on how we handle this matter
because we have a fiduciary
responsibility of the funds of
the city and to maintain the
terms of the lease.
>> I just want to add that when
I was talking to the city
attorney and her team regarding
this legislation and this
matter, I think it's important
and I'm grateful that was added
from the city attorney's office,
that this body has the authority
to expend the funds for valid
municipal purpose.
municipal purpose. I think helping with provide ada
compliant ramp and railings is a
valid municipal purpose, so I
just wanted to make sure that
folks understand that in the
legislation itself, it does
recognize that we have the
authority to do so.
I can understand the concerns
about you do for one, you do for
the other, but we've encountered
a lot of issues, even with
historic preservation.
historic preservation. Where we vote?
where we vote? Favor for one and not the other,
favor for one and not the other, so that's our role.
Our role is to go case by case,
our role is to go case by case, item by item and make, sometimes
the easy decision, sometimes the
more challenging decisions, but
I'm
more challenging decisions, but I'm not concerned abouter others
who may have an issue, like the
museum, because quite hoinltd,
we're here to go on a case by
case manner.
case manner. I honestly believe this is a
community purpose that we're
doing.
doing.
doing. >>
doing. >> I have no doubt it's a
municipal purpose, but I will
make a motion to convert it to a
loan and challenge you to raise
a portion of the money.
Each one of us if we raise
each one of us if we raise $8,000 roughly speaking, we'll
be able to fill this need
without causing an issue in the
city about doing for one and not
doing for another because this
will come back, this will come
back to address each and every
one of us if we treat them
differently.
differently. If we deviate from terms of
if we deviate from terms of leases on one and not another.
>> one of the issues and
probably may explain, there's a
window that you have -- I'm
sorry, through the mayor.
>> mayor: we have a motion.
You made a motion?
you made a motion? >> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> mayor: does anybody want to
second the motion?
I'll second the motion.
Mr. Clerk, do we have public
mr. Clerk, do we have public comment before I move forward?
>> yes, mr. Mayor.
Ms. Maria
>> yes, mr. Mayor. Ms. Maria cruz.
ms. Maria cruz. >> mrs. Maria cruz.
$41,900 to provide ada complaint
ramp and railings for people
that need that.
, and we're debating whether we
need to fund raise, whether we
need to get people to volunteer
to donate, but yet I'm sitting
here wondering how did we
approve the remodeling, repair,
refinishing, whatever we call
burger bob's, that is a facility
for people to go have lunches,
breakfast, maybe dinners, that
we started with I think half a
million dollars or maybe less,
and now because we wanted to
make it a world class place,
it's up to more than a million
dollars.
dollars.
dollars. But yet, this is a need, and we
but yet, this is a need, and we cannot keep postponing it.
This needs to be done.
this needs to be done. It's our facility, 41
it's our facility, 41 $41,900 is laughable when we
spend money for things that are
not needed that could have been
done for much less.
I am sorry, I support the item
as written and I think it's long
overdue that we do this.
>> okay, so I just want to
clarify something. No one is
saying it's not going to be
approved.
approved.
approved. It's called a loan and the money
it's called a loan and the money would be immediately provided.
>> so I think we will need some
clarification on that.
>> mayor: before we move, madam
city attorney, I think there
were some comments that were
made that I think may have to be
corrected.
corrected. Number one, when you talk about
number one, when you talk about burger bob's, that's a
city-controlled asset.
city-controlled asset. There is no tenant in that
there is no tenant in that property.
property.
property. No one is making money on that
no one is making money on that property.
property.
property. The city in the long discussion
the city in the long discussion that we have, the city will
control that property and we
will run it just like we're
doing with other entities here
in the city.
And number two, that project was
and number two, that project was dealt through the budgeting
process.
process.
process. We had a budget cycle, we
we had a budget cycle, we discussed it.
discussed it. We wanted to find out how much
we wanted to find out how much money to allocate to that
project.
project.
project. We took money from different
we took money from different line items.
line items. Case in point, correct me if I'm
case in point, correct me if I'm wrong, I think $500,000 from the
land acquisition line item was
moved over where it was 250.
And I'm not sure exact what it
and I'm not sure exact what it was, I can't remember at this
moment, but we went through a
budgeting process.
budgeting process. It wasn't brought up to the
it wasn't brought up to the commission as an emergency that
needed to be addressed, so those
are things that need to be
corrected on the record to make
sure that we have the right
information.
information. Before we move on to the city
before we move on to the city attorney and further comment, I
want to make sure we address all
public comment.
public comment. Mr. Clerk, do we have anything
mr. Clerk, do we have anything else?
else?
else? >>
else? >> no, mr. Mayor.
>> mayor: I'll close public
comment.
comment.
comment. Madam city attorney, sorry to
madam city attorney, sorry to interrupt you.
interrupt you. >> yes, we would need
clarification for the motion
because the city is not in the
business of loaning money.
My understanding, as drafted,
my understanding, as drafted, the item provided for a
reimbursement, so the project
would be completed or they would
make request for rght once the
work is done once the city
received documentation to the
satisfaction of the city and
staff and there would be a
reimbursement.
reimbursement. I would need clarification as
what's meant.
what's meant. You mean funding, then
you mean funding, then incorporate something for that
to be repaid, but my understand
r understanding is that we
wouldn't give them anything up
front because they'll seek
reimbursement once it's done?
>> it could
reimbursement once it's done? >> it could be rephrased.
In the meantime, there are
in the meantime, there are people willing to donate and I
feel strongly that actors
playhouse is a very important
piece of our city, is but the
devil is in the details.
I cannot take a lease that is in
writing right now and we have
similar terms for other tenants,
that had to pay for things that
are apart of the terms of their
lease and treat them differently
than another tenant and just
reimburse for things at the last
minute here.
minute here. So that's why I rephrase this
so that's why I rephrase this and I think it's the fair way to
do it.
do it.
do it. I
do it. I do think that there's fund
raising that could be done for
this 501c3.
this 501c3. It's a very vibrant facility in
it's a very vibrant facility in our community.
our community. I know from the folks that I
spoke to that if a call for this
particular item had been done
for donations, that they would
have been willing to open up
their pocketbook and pay, so
there's no need for it to come
from our city cafrs when there's
people willing to do so.
>> madam city attorney, last
meeting, didn't we all ready
vote to approve the funds?
>> there was an approval to
authorize this, but the amount
had not been set.
>> okay.
>> okay.
>> okay. >> without a maximum amount,
then there's, you know, we need
that direction today to have the
maximum amount, but also
commission meeting there was
approval for authorizing the
reimbursement, but the maximum
had not been set.
>> my understanding is that we
had set the dollar amount.
>> no.
>> no.
>> no. It
>> no. It was subject to the actors
it was subject to the actors playhouse providing the
additional quotes and the
commission setting what the
amount of what the reimbursement
would be.
would be.
would be. >> I disagree with you.
I think the motion was because I
believe either I made the motion
or you made the motion and I
seconded it, was to approve no
more than 41,900, but we were
asking them to come back with
three offers or proposals for
the commission to give the final
approval.
approval.
approval. >> so I'm happy to go back and
review the triple, but my
recollection is that it was not
specified it would be up to that
amount.
amount.
amount. Rather come back and the
rather come back and the commission would come back and
set the final amount.
I'm happy to go back.
>> that's my not recollection
either.
either.
either. >> mayor: we have a motion and a
second.
second.
second. Do you want to keep moving
do you want to keep moving forward, madam vice-mayor, for a
vote?
vote?
vote? >>
vote? >> yeah, might as well get the
vote done.
vote done. >> to your motion, appreciate
the creativity, but the prior
commission went down that road
once with burger bob's.
Much the mayor agreed that his
much the mayor agreed that his company would find a way to get
it done cheaper.
Burger bob's never got done, so
burger bob's never got done, so we cannot task individual
members of the commission with
trying to raise money for the
project when this is an ada
issue, which the city ultimately
could be liable for a ada
lawsuit on any issues at the
neater because it is our
property.
property.
property. In my opinion, we are putting
in my opinion, we are putting money into a city asset to
improve that city asset, whether
it's for actors playhouse who is
running it or the miami harmonic
band that comes in the future,
this is something that will be a
long-term investment on our
asset as a city to ensure that
will are no ada issues.
Last time we heard about there's
last time we heard about there's a lift and the lift is perfect.
The lift is not, it's far from
the lift is not, it's far from perfect.
perfect.
perfect. In fact, there was a gentleman
in fact, there was a gentleman who was on the lift while I was
there and he was on a walker,
and it was difficult for him to
get the walker turned with
enough space to get to the
second floor landing.
There's definitely no space for
there's definitely no space for an electric wheelchair f they
come in one, they have to get
off and --
>> may I respond.
>> mayor: can I just add
something, please?
something, please? Mr. Clerk, will you do me a
mr. Clerk, will you do me a favor, please?
favor, please? >> yes, sir.
>> mayor: it doesn't have to be
for today.
for today. Fof the next commission meeting
fof the next commission meeting ladies and gentlemen you provide
me a transcript in regard to my
comment in regards to bugger
bob's.
bob's.
bob's. There's a litany of things that
there's a litany of things that happened at burger bob's that
resulted.
resulted.
resulted. And also, please put together a
and also, please put together a memo, you can have staff through
the manager put something simple
together, explaining what
happened when we started the
demolition process and how zeta
can remind everyone here that
once we commenced the demolition
process and exposed the interior
guts of the project, we found
massive, mastiff structural
issues that you could not see
unless you're clark kent and you
have x-ray vision.
I think it resulted in hundreds
of thousands of dollars of
additional costs that nobody
could have foreseen unless they
were able to see f could you do
me a favor, I would love to have
that additional information,
circulated to the commission to
make sure we're speaking
correctly on those matters.
>> mr. Manager, I don't need you
to spend staff time preparing
to spend staff time preparing that information.
that information. [overlapping speakers]
[overlapping speakers] >> you
[overlapping speakers] >> you were finished with your
comment.
comment.
comment. The comment by burger bob's, the
the comment by burger bob's, the prices pitched to you in front
of staff was way too high and
above the market, so your
company was going to take care
of it.
of it.
of it. Now you're saying there was
now you're saying there was issues with the demolition, x,
y, or z, that's not the question
at hand here.
There was a commitment from a
there was a commitment from a member of this commission to
their former colleagues that
they were going to take care of
the renovation of burger bob's
and that never happened.
>> mayor: may I respond?
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> mayor: first off, it is
illegal and against the charter
as the city attorney will tell
you for my company to do
anything here in the city in
regards to public dollars, so
there's no way I would have said
that on the record.
I don't have a contract with the
city, I've done anything with
the city when it talk about
public dollars so that's not
possible.
possible.
possible. Mr. Clerk, number one.
mr. Clerk, number one. Number two, the issue with, I'm
number two, the issue with, I'm not blaming it on demolition.
What I'm stating is very
what I'm stating is very clearly, that once you opened up
the walls of the build through
the demolition process, you
encounter, this is why the
previous city manager brought
back to the commission all of
the things that were found in
regards to structural integrity
of the building what I'm asking
the clerk, don't want to go lou
the manager, fine.
I can request through the
manager that this get
requested.
requested. I would like the clerk to find
the information, the transcript,
and I would ask for the manager
through his staff to provide a
simple memo, half page, one page
to address the comments I made
on the commission that my
company was supposedly going to
take care of this.
That doesn't work that way.
that doesn't work that way. We can get to the bottom of it.
we can get to the bottom of it. It's very simple, it's not a big
it's very simple, it's not a big issue, but at the end of the
day, burger bob's will be
completed.
completed. I also in the budgeting process
25,000, 500,000, I can't
remember the exact number, from
land acquisition into burger
bob's to ensure we could make up
from the delta.
I wasn'tdone in regards to my
point, but I'm going to reserve
my comments with my opinion in
regards to this until after the
vote because we don't have the
votes.
votes.
votes. I
votes. I had the pleasure of sitting
down with this nice lady for
about 45 minutes and with staff,
and we had a very good
conversation, a very candid
conversation.
conversation. If you would like to have a
if you would like to have a vote, or madam vice-mayor --
>> I do need to respond.
Commissioner fernandez, I'm
commissioner fernandez, I'm certainly glad that we have
other tenants in the audience
here and I'm certain that
they're very glad to hare your
hear your comments about
the city's willingness to pay
for ada remediation.
There may be very good reasons
there may be very good reasons to modify terms in leases and if
they're going to have items such
as this, they should be
negotiated as modifications of
the least.
the least. I'm familiar with titles in the
state of florida because I have
brought them against venders
within parks and other
facilities owned by
municipalities and/or the state
itself, okay.
itself, okay. That being said, we have a
that being said, we have a lease, okay, and the lease
requires us to comply with its
ternls, for the good and
transparency of our residents.
There's ways to get things done
there's ways to get things done other than having a
reimbursement on an item based
on
reimbursement on an item based on a bid.
on a bid.
on a bid. I shared with many and people
and I didn't realize I had gold
many my garage in the way of
four sheets of plywood because
the way the bids were coming in,
it went from absurd to
ridiculous in the way of the
pricing on it.
With that being said, happy to
with that being said, happy to approve this as being a loan to
the facility, and we can get the
supporters, reach out to
supporters to help reimburse
instead of them having to pie
pay back the loan itself.
We can work out reasonable
we can work out reasonable terms.
terms.
terms. For the good of our residents,
for the good of our residents, we should not be deviating from
the terms of our lease that our
city attorney's office works
hard to negotiate in order to
preserve the assets of our city
because it's not just our tenant
we're talking about, it's every
single tenant in our city that
we rent to.
We've been criticized in the
we've been criticized in the past for mismanaging facilities
in the city, okay, because we
don't stick to the terms of
lease, or we don't enforce the
terms of the lease.
It's time that we utilize the
it's time that we utilize the proper procedures and don't
deviate for one and now we'll
have to deviate for the rest,
that's why I made the motion.
>> I have a question.
Do we still have any doubts or
do we still have any doubts or questioning regard being
do we still have any doubts or questioning regard
questioning regard regarding the pricing?
I know that was one of the
concerns from a previous
commission meeting?
commission meeting? >> mayor: do you want me to
respond or are you
commissioner?
commissioner? >> you can respond.
>> mayor: I do at the end of the
day, I have doubts.
I haven't been afforded the
actual pricing.
actual pricing. I haven't looked at the unit
quantity.
quantity.
quantity. I find it impossible to believe
that price is that much.
Also, you're talking about a
also, you're talking about a ramp, you're talking about an
existing building that is ada
compliant.
compliant. It's not out-of-compliance.
it's not out-of-compliance. You're in compliance right now,
you're in compliance right now, so I don't want to rush into
nothing.
nothing.
nothing. At the end of the day, I have a
at the end of the day, I have a lot of questions.
Have you read the contract, the
have you read the contract, the contract for -- did you read the
contract?
contract?
contract? >> there was --
>> mayor: did you read the
contract between the city --
>> no, I haven't.
>> mayor: did you also read the
ada report that was given to the
city that was done by the city
on july 2019?
>> no.
>> no.
>> no. >>
>> no. >> mayor: do you know the
miracle theater is in the
report?
report?
report? >> where are these questions
referring to?
referring to? >> mayor: I'm asking because
these are all -- I'm speaking
into the record.
I think it's important that a
lot of residents and business
owners don't know because they
don't have access to these
documents.
documents. I didn't have access to this
document, the ada, I had to
request it.
request it. Much for example, the miracle
much for example, the miracle theater chest not included in
the ada review.
I've reviewed the entire
document.
document.
document. If you look at, it all of the
if you look at, it all of the facilities reviewed by the ada
consultant, right here.
To me, I think there's a lot of
to me, I think there's a lot of unanswered questions.
unanswered questions. I don't want to get into that
I don't want to get into that fact.
fact.
fact. We
fact. We need to understand moving
we need to understand moving forward what we can do to avoid
scenarios.
scenarios. >> mr. Mayor, am I aloud to
speak at this point or wait for
the vote?
the vote?
the vote? >> mayor: we do things
differently but out of respect
for you, you can speak.
>> thank you very much.
I appreciate the comments from
everybody and the ideas from
everybody, they're very
creative.
creative.
creative. I must remind everybody that 28
years ago we created a
partnership with the city of
coral gables, the city officials
at that time took a big risk not
knowing basically much about our
organization, except for the
reputation we've established,
which is quality, integrity, and
follow through in the seven year
of our existence as a prosks nal
amortization at that time.
We fill a need when the city's
we fill a need when the city's downtown was dying and we
created a need by creating foot
traffic by building the theet
near a three-stage performing
arts center over seven years,
10 million-dollar project, which
we funded and implemented over
that time.
that time. Many of you may be residents of
many of you may be residents of the city, but may not be known
what an amazing private, public
partnership that was to achieve
that and we were very honored
and pleased to have this
relationship with you.
So 28 years ago when this
so 28 years ago when this contract was made, it was very
important for the city to cover
every aspect of the integrity of
our organ following
through with projects, and of
course, ada compliance was apart
of t over the years, we've
continually rebuilt, redone, and
upgraded our equipment, even
during covid.
during covid. We raised funds and grants to
we raised funds and grants to replace all of the toilets, the
touch toilets and the sinks
throughout the whole building
and the back stage of the
dressing rooms and everything.
We are constantly upgrading our
we are constantly upgrading our hearing impaired equipment and
we're now redoing our website to
be ada complaint.
This particular situation has
this particular situation has been under our radar for the
last year n fact, in 1998, when
we did the second phase of the
building, which was the second
floor and the balcony, we
explored the option to put a
ramp and we chose to do a lift
because the space is very small
and we wanted to have an ambient
lobby and experience up there.
It was a great opportunity at
it was a great opportunity at that time.
that time. Now our audience is aging out
now our audience is aging out and we have people coming in
with walkers, a lot of walkers
in matinees.
in matinees. It's very difficult to get them
it's very difficult to get them up a squeaky lift.
We have young people coming with
we have young people coming with special needs that can't
absolutely get into the lift,
that it's a problem and other
individuals and adults as well.
I remember at the last
commission meeting, vice-mayor,
you made a very good point about
we should have a ramp to go up
the steps.
the steps. We do actually, but in order to
we do actually, but in order to get up the steps with a small
space, we have to put an
individual in a wheelchair
inside the elevator, hold the
elevator door open so the
incline can ramp them up the
lift and that won't even cover
handling the major heavy
equipment or large equipment.
We have a window of time which
we have a window of time which is very unusually for the
organization.
organization. You know we're 24/7 with our own
you know we're 24/7 with our own production and rentals to groups
and our camps, and this is a
unique time when the city is
installing a system, so our
theater organization has been
asked to close down for four
months.
months.
months. That's actually a very costly
that's actually a very costly proposition
that's actually a very costly proposition for us.
We're grateful to get the air
we're grateful to get the air conditioning first, and we've
accepted that, but losing oo
$150,000 of guaranteed income of
the timeframe we're closing
down, but that makes the
timeliness of this very critical
because there's no other time
we'll be closed down to build
this ramp.
this ramp. It isn't just a ramp and it's
it isn't just a ramp and it's not just a little bit of
plywood.
plywood.
plywood. There's very little plywood
there's very little plywood because I've checked with our
contractors and we have three
bids, two are very comparable.
The cost of the railings alone
the cost of the railings alone in today's market is almost
$12,000.
$12,000.
$12,000. You have demolition, you have
you have demolition, you have building, you have all kind of
aspects of what you have to do,
drywall, painting.
drywall, painting. Had the costs been comparable,
had the costs been comparable, except for one bid which was
very high, so you see the cost
is not out-of-line for the
work.
work.
work. We
work. We really investigated that and
we really investigated that and I might tell you it was
difficult to get extra bids
because a lot of people did not
want to get involved with
bidding because they work with
the city fairly enough, we
understood that.
understood that. We're happy we were able to show
we're happy we were able to show the comparison of a price being
equal so that you didn't think
it was too high.
We're very good negotiating with
we're very good negotiating with the city, we're also very good
at getting in-kind, and we've
tried in many ways to see where
support can come from, but the
timeliness of this is critical
to get done.
One more thing I would like to
one more thing I would like to add.
add.
add. Going over this process for the
going over this process for the last year, we've also
investigated the fact of a
larger lift, which we didn't
bring up brrr, but I'd like to
bring to your attention that the
larger lift would cost the same
amount of money with
construction and the cost of the
lift as it would to build a ramp
that allows more comfort to
people disabled, more
people disabled, more independence, without having to
go up a squeeze
independence, without having to go up a squee squeaky
lift.
lift.
lift. People would have to squeeze in
people would have to squeeze in on the size and the cost of it
would equal the same.
The lift alone would be over
the lift alone would be over $20,000 for the larger lift.
We've been putting in a lot of
we've been putting in a lot of time into this and we brought it
to your attention now because of
the income that we could use the
support with from the city and
your building, and the fact that
it will make a big difference in
the attitude of people coming to
the theater and there's people
who have not come for a long
time because they're not
comfortable.
comfortable. I cannot get to the balcony
theater.
theater.
theater. We do at least two productions a
we do at least two productions a year in the main stage in the
upstairs balcony theater.
So I can answer any more
so I can answer any more questions you'd lying about the
work and research our team has
done in this, but the energy has
been magnificent and a lot, and
we we appreciate the opportunity
to serve the community at the
highest level.
highest level. >> mayor: thank you
highest level. >> mayor: thank you very
highest level. >> mayor: thank you very much.
[speaker off
>> mayor: thank you very much. [speaker off mic]
[speaker off mic]
>> mayor: why don't we try to
adhere if possible so we can get
everything on the record and not
have conversations from the back
of
have conversations from the back of the ro room it's out
there, let's address the issue.
>> the transcript mentioned when
we were getting to the motion, I
believe it was commissioner
fernandez's amendment.
fernandez's amendment. My amendment would be for the
my amendment would be for the three option offers to come
back.
back.
back. Commissioner menendez said I'm
commissioner menendez said I'm fine with that, and then later
on, we said we have a motion and
a second.
a second.
a second. Commissioner menendez said let's
commissioner menendez said let's vote, then I said I'm sorry, so
you said you said have it come
back because I heard that but I
don't know if it was apart of
the motion.
the motion. Mayor lago says it's moving
mayor lago says it's moving forward with the lowest vote and
get two additional prices.
Commissioner fernandez said
commissioner fernandez said bring it back to the commission,
so once they have the lowest,
the amount would be approved.
The way I interpreted that is it
the way I interpreted that is it has to come back to the
commission to approve the
amount.
amount.
amount. Otherwise, if it was getting two
otherwise, if it was getting two additional quotes and going with
the lowest, staff wouldn't have
to come back, but it's up to you
today to decide.
>> mayor: I think we're caught
on minutia.
on minutia. Iif the votes are there, it's
iif the votes are there, it's going to be approved.
I don't think we need to debate
it back and forth whether it's
an issue or not.
I don't see it that way.
If it's on the minutes, it's on
if it's on the minutes, it's on the minutes. Do we have the
minutes, like the actual
transcript?
transcript? >> that was the transcript I was
reading through.
reading through. >> so basically, my motion that
had the 41-9 was amended only
one way, which was commissioner
fernandez says bring back three
quotes, so that portion of 41-9
was not touched, so it remains
in the legislation.
>> it's up to the commission how
you want to move forward what
you'd like to do.
>> that's not my question.
>> what did we approve -- I want
clarification because we have
folks that are here and folks
that are watching via tv and
cable what we approved was the
original legislation as written,
as submitted, which was up to --
before we voted was commissioner
fernandez saying I would like to
see three quotes because at no
point did I change the language
on 41-9.
on 41-9.
on 41-9. Others can comment about it, but
others can comment about it, but it was my motion and I was the
sponsor.
sponsor.
sponsor. >> and I seconded it main I ask
a quick question?
Madam city attorney, you say you
madam city attorney, you say you have a difference of opinion.
Do you stick with that or are we
do you stick with that or are we -- do you stick with that
difference of opinion or are you
moving forward with commissioner
menendez's recollection?
menendez's recollection? >> so there was a change to the
resolution as drafted, as
presented.
presented. There was a change here that was
there was a change here that was done via amendment.
Once that happens, it's my
once that happens, it's my office's responsibility to draft
the resolution and the
resolution, as I revised it, was
so that the proposals would come
back.
back.
back. The
back. The purpose is to set the amount
the purpose is to set the amount because for some reason or
another, the commission may have
decided to go with a different
amount.
amount.
amount. Sometimes proposals are not
sometimes proposals are not exactly apples and oranges, and
there was multiple times when
commissioner fernandez said
bring it back, for the offers to
come back, and so the resolution
that I approved was so that
there were subject to the actors
playhouse obtaining two
additional quotes and coming
back to the commission for the
commission to set the maximum
amount, so that's why we're here
today and that was the
resolution that was approved.
>> and though t that wasn't
the intent of what I said.
In about fact, commissioner
in about fact, commissioner menendez is correct.
We voted on the 41-9.
we voted on the 41-9. The only reason I wanted those
the only reason I wanted those three coming back so that if
there was a change in the
number, then we would change it,
but vice-mayor anderson and
mayor lago had said they thought
the cost was too high.
I w wanted to make sure on
the record we got those three
proposals and they were apart of
the public record.
In my opinion, we voted on this
in my opinion, we voted on this last time.
last time. It was approved, unless there
it was approved, unless there was a change in the proposals
that were proposed, there's no
reason for this item to come
back for a second vote.
>> it says to bring back to the
commission.
commission. >> as a presentation, unless
there was a change in the actual
dollar figure, the intent of my
second to his motion was to
approach the 41 dwch 9 as it
was.
was.
was. >>
was. >> I
was. >> I think we can have that
clarification done here.
It's something that can be done
it's something that can be done today.
today.
today. >>
today. >> mayor: moving forward,
obviously, there's a little bit
of confusion on the motion, the
verbiage, what was approved and
what was not.
At the end of the day, we can
at the end of the day, we can clarify it here with a vote.
Madam city attorney's, what
madam city attorney's, what happens to the vice-mayor's
ploation?
ploation?
ploation? >> there's been a motion and a
second.
second.
second. >> mayor: can we take a vote?
>> wouldn't that be to
reconsider the last vote since
we all ready approved the 412-9
--
--
-- >>
-- >> at
-- >> at this point, her motion was
to ask to convert it, so it's a
motion to --
[overlapping speakers]
[overlapping speakers] it's not a motion to
reconsider.
reconsider. She's making a motion to amend
she's making a motion to amend it.
it.
it. It's
it. It's really a motion to amend
it's really a motion to amend the prior resolution, and
frankly, the rlts has drafted
and signed and approved, says
that the commission has to set a
maximum amount.
maximum amount. >> but that's not what the will
of the commission was, at lease
my will and the will of the
sponsor was at the time.
That's the problem with
that's the problem with interpretation.
interpretation. >> I understand, but there was a
lot of discussion that happened
very quickly that day and that's
what I interpreted came of that
was that resolution, that that I
revised to reflect that
intention.
intention. We are here today, you all can
we are here today, you all can decide how you want to move
forward.
forward.
forward. >> mayor: moving forward, what I
recommend, we try to do things
through the mayor, that we have
a real, you know, we ensure that
the quality -- quality on all
fronts.
fronts.
fronts. Mr. Clerk, we have a motion and
mr. Clerk, we have a motion and a second.
a second.
a second. >> okay.
>> okay.
>> okay. [roll
>> okay. [roll called]
[roll called] >> because as barbara stein
explained, there's a window of
opportunity with the ac system
being installed this summer, we
can't go on a hail mary that
funds will be raised, so I vote
no.
no.
no. >>
no. >> vice-mayor anderson.
>> because it will not display
the process to convert it to a
loan, yes.
loan, yes. >> mayor lago.
>> mayor: in agreeance with the
vice-mayor's comments, it's a
loan at the end of the day.
It can be addressed immediately
it can be addressed immediately and addressed later as
assistance for our friend here,
so I'm yes.
Now that failed.
now that failed. Moving on, I would like to speak
moving on, I would like to speak -- I would like to speak to zeta
if possible.
if possible. Are you asking the manager if we
are you asking the manager if we can come up?
>> hold on, but we've all ready
approved -- there was a motion
to amend what was all ready
approved last time.
Now you're bringing it up for
now you're bringing it up for reconsideration.
reconsideration. >> mayor: commissioner, I'm not
bringing up anything.
I can have a conversation.
I would appreciate it if you
didn't interrupt it me.
So, zeta, I have a few questions
so, zeta, I have a few questions for.
for.
for. >>
for. >> where can I help?
>> mayor: where are we going to
get the funds for this if it's
approved today?
approved today? Let's start somewhere else.
let's start somewhere else. Madam city attorney; this
madam city attorney; this approved moving forward?
Are we done?
are we done? If we don't take any action
if we don't take any action today, do we move forward?
>> we would need clarification
because the transcript said, at
some point I said once they have
the lowest, it would come back
to approve the amount, so I
think we need approval.
The resolution we drafted for
the resolution we drafted for today, sponsored by commissioner
menendez contemplated last time
and says it's setting the
maximum amount, which is why we
do have a resolution on the
agenda today.
agenda today. >> mayor: I think we have to
come to terms on that and move
on.
on.
on. Of
on. Of the votes are here, this is
of the votes are here, this is just clarification.
just clarification. My point is, zeta, first off,
my point is, zeta, first off, thank you for your hard work on
this issue, I appreciate it.
We're moving forward.
we're moving forward. Where would we get the money
where would we get the money from?
from?
from? What line item would we draw
what line item would we draw upon in the city's budget?
>> that, I would have to leave
up to paula but I believe it's
just coming out of general
just coming out of general fund.
fund.
fund. Paula?
paula?
paula? >>
paula? >> mayor: thank you, paula.
>> an electric ramp to come up
these stairs.
these stairs. The discussion was that once the
the discussion was that once the commission decided on a
mechanism, either for
reimbursement or to fund this
particular item that the funds
would come from, we have a ada
project within our capital
budget that has funds, which is
intended to be used for ada
improvements in facilities, and
so that's where that funding
would come from.
>> mayor: so we have the funds,
we
>> mayor: so we have the funds, we?
we?
we? >>
we? >> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> mayor: we have no issues.
Two more things.
two more things. Number one, is the building
number one, is the building currently ada compliant, yes or
no?
no?
no? >>
no? >> well, it is my understanding,
sir, that --
>> mayor: she told me yesterday
that it is ada compliant?
?
?
? >>
? >> it
? >> it is my understand being
that the lift as it is right now
is complaint.
is complaint. >> mayor: fine.
Moving on
>> mayor: fine. Moving on from there, I'm a
moving on from there, I'm a believer and I ask for your
guidance that this sets a
dangerous precedent in regards
to our fiduciary
responsibilities in the city
because as a owner of commercial
real estate, when you have a
contract with a tenant, you have
to stick to that contract.
If you start making, you know,
if you start making, you know, opportunities for your tenants
to wiggle their way out of
certain responsibilities, it
only
certain responsibilities, it only -- this is the law.
You sign the contract, you have
you sign the contract, you have to abide by the contract and the
contract says within the
envelope of the building, the
city of coral gables is
responsible -- execution me,
te tenant is responsible for
what is being responsible.
As I read the contract, that's
as I read the contract, that's my understanding.
my understanding. Am I wrong or am I correct?
am I wrong or am I correct? >> the city attorney and I have
both read the contract.
The language is actually in the
the language is actually in the commission memo.
commission memo. It does make the tenant
it does make the tenant responsible for ada compliance
in the building.
>> mayor: I have no further
questions.
questions. >> I do.
>> I do.
>> I do. I'm saying for me.
>> mayor: I know you do.
>> city attorney, you and I
spoke and it was clear, and it's
in the resolution.
The city commission as a body
the city commission as a body has the legal authority, if it
chooses to, to allocate funds
for a municipal purpose, which
obviously, providing ada ramps
and railings, we have the legal
authority, whether we vote yes
or no, but the legal authority
exist?
exist?
exist? >>
exist? >> correct.
>> correct. The proposed resolution is not
the proposed resolution is not illegal.
illegal.
illegal. You can make the determination
you can make the determination and do this.
>> a good example or parallel
universe is when folks with or
projects come before us, that
they want additional height or
density, changes to their
project, and everybody goes
you're violating our zoning
code, but we as the body has the
authority to make changes,
variances, we have as a body the
legal authority to go and take
additional steps, and that's
what we have here.
We have an agreement, but we
we have an agreement, but we have the legal authority to
tweak it and I find it offensive
for anyone, especially with
barbara stein here to use the
phase wiggle out of the
responsibilities because what
barbara stein and her team is
doing is not wiggling out of any
responsibility.
responsibility. We are for politics over
we are for politics over people.
people.
people. There are children, there are
there are children, there are seniors that need to get there
and feel like h human beings,
and we're letting politics
dictate the day and I'm not
going to allow it.
I'm moving forward and I know my
position.
position.
position. It's people over politics and I
it's people over politics and I apologize to barbara and your
team to have to go through the
ringer for something that is so
common sense and so log
ringer for something that is so common sense and so lo so
log
common sense and so lo so logso logical for people
in need and I apologize for this
circus.
circus.
circus. >> it's a double standard to put
this up here and start fighting
over $42,900 for miracle theater
when this commission unanimously
voted on an insurance waiver for
one of our largest contracts in
this city.
this city. So you can't have it both ways.
so you can't have it both ways. I'm against offering waivers,
but I'm okay with giving waivers
to larger contracts, which could
potentially have put the city in
a major risk had we been hit by
a hurricane.
a hurricane. So we can't are have a double
so we can't are have a double standard here.
standard here. I'm going to make a motion to
reaffirm the motion.
>> through the mayor.
>> mayor: I think you need to
step back on the comments that
were made.
were made. I appreciate
were made. I appreciate the enthusiasm, and
barbara and I had a great
conversation yesterday.
conversation yesterday. We talked a lot about theater
we talked a lot about theater and her engagement in the city,
what she's done in this
community, and it was nice to
have you here and sit down with
you for over 45 minutes.
>> thank you.
>> mayor: while I appreciate the
>> mayor: while I appreciate the comments -- of the
>> mayor: while I appreciate the comments -- of th of the
biltmore.
biltmore.
biltmore. As zeta can tell you, the
as zeta can tell you, the conversation was a long
consideration.
consideration. Boards were activated.
boards were activated. You know, specialists in
you know, specialists in insurance were activated and
we're very clear that the city
would not be compromised as
owners of the biltmore.
Am I correct or am I wrong?
am I correct or am I wrong? >> mayor, I don't understand the
question, I'm sorry.
>> mayor: the question is in
regards to what we did about the
insurance discussion about the
built moor because that's what
commissioner fernandez is
bringing up.
bringing up. I want people to understand
because it's very hyperbolic
about the conversations that
we're potentially putting the
biltmore in jeopardy and I don't
want people to think that.
I would like you to explain what
we did as a commission and voted
unanimously in regards to the
insurance for the biltmore.
>> okay.
>> okay.
>> okay. Well, I think that I'm not
well, I think that I'm not actually the right person --
>> mayor: it could be
actually the right person -- >> mayor: it could be racquel.
>> thank you.
There's been two amendments and
there's been two amendments and I think the one that
commissioner fernandez is
referring to is two years ago,
where we allowed the biltmore to
obtain less property insurance
in the event of a hurricane just
because the property market was
so tough and it would have
resulted of millions of dollars
in increases in premiums, and
there wasn't enough volume out
there for the biltmore to
purchase the insurance that was
required under the lease, so
what we did is we amended.
It had to be an ordinance and it
it had to be an ordinance and it came before the city
commission.
commission. The least was amended for that
the least was amended for that year to allow them to have
reduced property insurance and
for security for the city, we
made them get a
10 million-dollar letter of
credit so in the event it was
hit by a storm and they were
unable to cover the deductible
or the amount of the damage, we
would be able to draw on the
10 million-dollar letter of
credit.
credit.
credit. >> mayor: I appreciate that.
On that point, what happened
on that point, what happened after that when the renewal came
for the ?ins.
>> this year was much better.
So that happened last year.
so that happened last year. So this year in 2024, they renew
so this year in 2024, they renew in march of 2024.
The property market
the property market significantly is better.
They were able to obtain the
they were able to obtain the full 50 million that the lease
currently requires so they are
in compliance with the lease.
That was only a one-year
that was only a one-year amendment.
amendment. >> mayor: that happened across
the board, both in the private
and public sector, and I
appreciate you offering a little
clarity on that front.
In regards to commissioner
in regards to commissioner menendez's comments about
politicizing this, it's not
politics.
politics.
politics. This is just talking about
this is just talking about financially what we're doing
here in the city.
I had the same opposition when
we talked about the country club
cafe.
cafe.
cafe. Very clear.
very clear. We were talking about running
we were talking about running the numbers and offering a rent
of $5 per square foot.
I adamantly opposed that.
I liked the tenant allot, they
were amazing, but I couldn't
side with a tenant and the
commission as a whole freed with
me and we moved in a different
direction.
direction. I think we're doing pretty well
with the tenant we have now and
paying a significantly higher
rent that was being proposed at
that moment.
that moment. Again there's is not politics.
again there's is not politics. We can bring up issues.
we can bring up issues. I'm happy that you were able to
bring us up-to-date with the
built to show us where we stand
because I don't want people to
get scared about a jewel like
the biltmore.
the biltmore. In my opinion, it's not a good
in my opinion, it's not a good look for the city.
Vice-mayor dj you want to say
vice-mayor dj you want to say something?
something? >> no, to conflate this, people
over politics is very sad that
members of the commission would
do such a thing because I did do
a complete walk-through of the
facility.
facility.
facility. I identified a couple of other
things that could be done, but
when we're dealing with tenants
we have to realize that we have
to treat all equally within the
confines of the terms of the
lease.
lease.
lease. Unfortunately, ms. Stein and I
unfortunately, ms. Stein and I didn't have a chance to speak
before you first brought the
thing.
thing.
thing. I
thing. I would have made other
suggestions that could have
possibly resulted in the same
way if not better.
If you're going to set the
if you're going to set the example here for the rest of the
tenants in our city that all
they need to do is ask for rct
because of the press
they need to do is ask for rct because of the pres
precedent you've set, so I was
trying to convert it into
something more palatable, that
it's not going to come back and
haunt our taxpayers, our
commission in the future.
Yes, a ramp is the best option
yes, a ramp is the best option and I'll give you a simple
reason why.
reason why. Because when you're trying to
because when you're trying to empty out a theater and you have
a row of individuals that might
be coming in there that are all
disabled, that are either in a
power chair or a rolling chair,
you're going to have to wait for
the lift to come up and down,
and up and down, as opposed to
being able to roll them out, so
I concur that a ramp is the best
choice.
choice.
choice. How we do the semantics of
how we do the semantics of providing either a reimbursement
or a loan or raising the money
for it so you don't have to pay
the loan is all semantics,
okay.
okay.
okay. The
okay. The purpose of doing that is so
the purpose of doing that is so we have consistency between our
leases and our tenants.
Very happy to help support and
very happy to help support and very, very happy to see that the
theater is doing well.
Thank you for all your time and
thank you for all your time and dedication to our city.
The efforts that you've made,
the efforts that you've made, the monies you have invested,
you've invested a significant
amount of money, I recognize
that, but it's not about you and
it's not about trying to
distinguish anything.
distinguish anything. It's about being uniformed among
it's about being uniformed among all of our tenants.
>> mayor: was with you
yesterday, correct.
yesterday, correct. I looked at all of the
resolutions.
resolutions. I had the clerk provide us all
of the red lights over the last
few years whenever I've had to
engage with miracle theater,
anything that comes before us.
Extensions of leases, finding
extensions of leases, finding ways to be more flexible,
providing the necessary
flexibility that you needed to
be able to run your business in
regards to an extension of
lease, even before it was
required.
required.
required. If you look at every single one
if you look at every single one of the votes, I have them all
here going back even to 2015, I
have it here.
I have voted unanimously for the
miracle theater when I didn't
have to.
have to.
have to. This is not whether I support
this is not whether I support you or not.
I love what you're doing, I
think it's great for the
community, I just have to be
very careful when we open a door
that could potentially offer the
same opportunity for our tenants
and deviate from our contract,
so I don't want you to get the
feeling that for some reason,
like I said, there's an ax to
grind.
grind.
grind. There's no ax to grind, but
there's no ax to grind, but thank you for being here.
Did you have something?
did you have something? >> madam direct edge, I don't
think the question was fully
answered about the biltmore.
If the damage is, if we had been
if the damage is, if we had been hit by a hurricane, the damages
would have been $100 million,
the city would have been on the
hook for about $40 million,
correct?
correct?
correct? >> technically, the biltmore
would have had to --
[overlapping speakers]
[overlapping speakers] >> if they didn't have the
financial resources, I guess we
could take legal action.
Ultimately, would have the city
ultimately, would have the city have been on the hook,
probably.
probably.
probably. >> thank you.
>> mayor: I want to explain
something to explain something
about insurance as a property
owner.
owner.
owner. You can tell us.
you can tell us. There wasn't capacity.
there wasn't capacity. They couldn't get the
they couldn't get the insurance.
insurance. >> not last year.
>> mayor: but I want to put that
on the record.
They couldn't get the
they couldn't get the insurance.
insurance. Could go to market, let's do the
could go to market, let's do the simple math.
simple math. I need to you get a hundred
million dollar insurance
company.
company.
company. They came back with 10 examples,
they came back with 10 examples, I can't get the insurance.
What do we do?
what do we do? Do we go uninsured you need the
do we go uninsured you need the insurance.
insurance. They went back, here we go
they went back, here we go again.
again.
again. We
again. We can't get you the insurance.
we can't get you the insurance. They tried multiple times.
they tried multiple times. That's when we took that action
that's when we took that action and we said after this year, the
property markets have gotten
better, we have to holds you
accountable.
accountable. We need you to bump back up to
we need you to bump back up to the regular amounts and they did
that.
that.
that. >>
that. >> you did that and they tried,
mr. Prescot was a gentleman who
said can we stay at the previous
rates, but we came to an
agreement that this is a city
treasure, but it's disengine
with
treasure, but it's disengine disingenuous we did them
a favor.
a favor.
a favor. I wanted it to come pro
from you, not from me.
Did we have any opportunity for
did we have any opportunity for them to binds at a higher
amount, yes or no?
>> for the amount requiressed
under the lease was not
sufficient capacity.
sufficient capacity. The city had to take a little
the city had to take a little bit less that year and we did
we
we did
we did like a cost sharing in something similar to like the
biltmore as well.
>> mayor: we have a motion and
second.
second.
second. Unless there is further comment,
unless there is further comment, we can move forward.
>> I'm sorry.
Who made the motion?
who made the motion? >> mayor: the motion was made by
commissioner --
commissioner -- >> fernandez.
>> fernandez. >> mayor: fernandez and seconded
by commissioner menendez.
>> thank you.
Commissioner fernandez.
commissioner fernandez. >> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> commissioner menendez.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> vice mayor anderson.
>> no.
>> no.
>> no. >>
>> no. >> commissioner castro.
>> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> mayor lago.
>> mayor: no.
Thank you very much.
thank you very much. Good to see you.
good to see you. >> thank you very much.
In closing, I want to thank you
in closing, I want to thank you all very much and let you know
that actors playhouse, we have a
long-term lease with you.
We are dedicated to continue to
we are dedicated to continue to present the highest quality of
programming there and follow-up
with everything that we do.
And I'm only sorry this caused
and I'm only sorry this caused some commotion among this
commission and we appreciate the
opportunity to move forward.
Thank you very much.
thank you very much. >> mayor: like I told you
before, like I told you
yesterday when we met, I have no
doubt you are committed to
excellence.
excellence. >> I want to make you a
subscriber.
subscriber. >> mayor: I love theater.
But I try to limit certain
but I try to limit certain things.
things.
things. Thank you very much.
thank you very much. >> and barbara, I apologize to
you for having to endure this
and to your team.
>> we understand.
>> the city deserved better and
you deserved better.
And I apologize on behalf of my
and I apologize on behalf of my colleagues.
colleagues. >> I just want to say we don't
take this personally, anybody
among us.
among us.
among us. We understand that everybody has
we understand that everybody has a difference of opinion.
And no apology is necessary.
and no apology is necessary. We understand we are a strong
we understand we are a strong people.
people.
people. That's why we have lasted this
that's why we have lasted this way and that's why we are
sustainable and why we're going
to be here for the city at the
highest level for years to come.
>> mayor: thank you very much.
We're going to skip f-4 and try
we're going to skip f-4 and try to get into f-5.
I think that's quick.
I want to see if we can get a
few things in before our lunch
at 1:00.
at 1:00.
at 1:00. >> f-5 is resolution of the city
commission authorizing satchmo
blues bar and grill, inc. Doing
business as fritz & france
bierhaus to utilize the public
space for a uefa european
championship and copa america
watch party.
watch party. >> mayor: before we get started,
is someone from the staff going
to be speaking in regards to
staff?
staff?
staff? >>
staff? >> the deputy city attorney can
explain what the resolution
says.
says.
says. >>
says. >> yeah.
>> yeah.
>> yeah. >> mayor: that's what I would
like to hear.
>> again, good afternoon, mayor,
vice mayor, commissioners, as
the city attorney stated, I'll
defer the details to fred.
But wanted to let you know how
but wanted to let you know how we got here today.
My understanding, again these
my understanding, again these two gentlemen can correct me if
I'm wrong is the city received
an application for a special
event in the middle of last
week.
week.
week. After the deadline for this
after the deadline for this agenda had already passed.
The application as presented
the application as presented does not currently meet all of
the requirements of the special
events guidelines and as such,
in order to proceed, the
applicant has asked for
commission approval.
commission approval. The resolution authorizes the
the resolution authorizes the public event, the special event
to use the public space located
at 60 merrick way for various
days between june 20th and
july 15th.
july 15th. There are certain conditions
there are certain conditions that are tied to the approval
along with any other reasonable
conditions deemed necessary by
city staff.
city staff. Happy to answer any questions
happy to answer any questions about the resolution.
As to the details of the event,
as to the details of the event, I'll leave it to these two.
>> mayor: before we get into the
details of the event, I'd like
to understand a little bit what
are the particulars that are
missing from the usual
protocols.
protocols. >> just it is my
understanding -- again I'll let
fred confirm that the city's
community recreation department
has certain guidelines related
to number of events, number of
days events can be in a row,
number of events can be held in
a certain location during the
year as well as set up and
takedown of events and as to the
details of that, I'll let fred.
>> mayor: mr. Director, thank
you for being here.
>> thank you.
So a few years back, we brought
so a few years back, we brought to the city commission at the
request of the city commission
some guidelines to set policy
for how we did special events.
A few of the things that were
a few of the things that were made into those guidelines were
first that if you had a
multi-day event, it would take
place between thursday and
sunday.
sunday.
sunday. If there was a location that was
if there was a location that was adjacent to residential
properties, you couldn't have
events at more than 24
instances, 24 days of events in
a given year.
So with those two guidelines and
so with those two guidelines and how it pertains to fritz &
franz's application, it would
require them to at the end of
every four-day period take down
their screen and their setup
each and
their screen and their setup each each and every time.
They are requesting to have it
they are requesting to have it up for the month for these two
tournaments.
tournaments. In 2022, it was a similar
in 2022, it was a similar request for the world cup.
And because it was the same two
and because it was the same two things that we're discussing on
the guidelines, harold came to
the commission and we were able
to discuss the event.
And he was given approval and he
and he was given approval and he had the world cup which had an
extension of those gleans and
allowed him to have certain
exceptut on the plaza and do the
games.
games.
games. The things that came into play
the things that came into play here is leaving the screen up
and then also there is a couple
of tuesdays where there will be
games.
games.
games. The games aren't too late at
the games aren't too late at night so we think we're okay
there.
there.
there. And there's a possibility that
and there's a possibility that maybe a tuesday or wednesday, if
the semifinals end up being
something that's of note with
teams that will be popular and
the people would come like
brazil or u.s. Or something like
that.
that.
that. >>
that. >> my name is harold norvai,
owner of fritz & franz bierhaus.
I'm basically asking the plaza
setup for not the whole month
but for 17 days.
We can still bring it down to 15
we can still bring it down to 15 days if necessary.
17 days would give us the 24
days of the year, with three
days, we have st. Patrick's and
four days oktoberfest in
october.
october.
october. 17 days and I believe you all
have the days there when these
events occur.
events occur. Some of these days, like sunday
some of these days, like sunday the 23rd, there's a 9:00 p.m.
Game with grand panama, we will
game with grand panama, we will not have the screen on.
What we are asking you today is
what we are asking you today is not to bring the screen down and
put it back in the restaurant,
nor to take the tents down
basically because it will -- if
the games are on the weekend
until 11:00 at night, it is too
much for us to bring the tents
down and the tables in if we
have to bring it back out the
next morning.
next morning. So where you have a red line,
so where you have a red line, there is no games the next day.
So we could bring in the tables
so we could bring in the tables and store them inside of the
restaurant.
restaurant. But basically it's for two days
but basically it's for two days and then we have to bring it
back out again.
So what we are asking the city
so what we are asking the city commission is give us the seven
days, let us keep the setup as
it is.
it is.
it is. We
it is. We set it up one day before and
we set it up one day before and we break it down on july 15th
and everything will be gone.
And we're going to pressure
and we're going to pressure clean the plaza like usual.
And when there is games, like
and when there is games, like fred mentioned at 9:00 p.m. As
on thursday night, argentina and
canada, first we didn't want to
show these games outside.
But we do expect a lot of people
but we do expect a lot of people at that time.
So it's up to the city
so it's up to the city commission to decide if you
allow us to keep the 17 days the
plaza set up.
>> mayor: first off, thank you
for being here.
I want to mention something very
quickly.
quickly.
quickly. I haven't got a complaint in
months.
months.
months. So I want to commend you for
so I want to commend you for your efforts.
your efforts. I usually have gotten
complaints, obviously a lot of
high-traffic events.
high-traffic events. Just sidewalk being a little
just sidewalk being a little dirty or a lot of noise.
Not a lot but noise.
not a lot but noise. I haven't gotten one.
So I love giving credit where
so I love giving credit where credit is due.
>> thank you.
>> I know you're working hard.
We haven't agreed on certain
we haven't agreed on certain issues in the past, but I want
you to understand you have been
working hard.
working hard. You're in an area that has a lot
you're in an area that has a lot of people and you also have
residents living really right on
top of you.
So I want to commend you on
so I want to commend you on that.
that.
that. I
that. I don't have an issue with the
extension as long as staff feels
comfortable with it and they are
okay with it.
You have police presence.
you have police presence. You are obviously going to keep
you are obviously going to keep cleaning everything.
cleaning everything. >> yes.
>> yes.
>> yes. >> you're going to make sure the
garbage is picked up.
Do you ever encounter -- I am
do you ever encounter -- I am asking because I notice in high
traffic situations, as people
leave your establishment, they
take a plastic cup and they
throw it away at a garbage can,
let's say 30 feet away from you?
>> what we do immediately after
each game --
>> mayor: and it's overflowing.
It's not your responsibility but
it's not your responsibility but our responsibility.
our responsibility. Then when it ends up happening,
then when it ends up happening, we're not supposed to pick it up
for two days from the moment of
your event.
your event. It's overflowing for two days.
it's overflowing for two days. Do you encounter that?
do you encounter that? >> I think we have this pretty
much under control.
After every game, I send my crew
after every game, I send my crew around and we clean up even on
the street when the people toss
the plastic cup.
No problem, we pick it up.
no problem, we pick it up. We ask the waste management for
we ask the waste management for an extra pickup if need to.
We ask for that.
we ask for that. We have -- like you said, we
we have -- like you said, we have no incidents.
I think we are very good with
organizing all this.
We have had no problems with the
we have had no problems with the traffic flow in and out.
What was beneficial to the city,
what was beneficial to the city, we are continuously filling the
parking lot when there's big
games.
games.
games. The city is going to benefit
the city is going to benefit with the 6,600 plaza fee.
The restaurant around us -- we
the restaurant around us -- we talk to them and they benefit.
They have a lot of people coming
they have a lot of people coming also to them.
And with the barricades around
and with the barricades around the plaza, we are controlling
underage drinking with wrist
bands and controlling the flow
of how many people can come in.
When the police says, look,
when the police says, look, there's enough people in the
plaza, we stop.
And on certain games like the
and on certain games like the semifinal, we do charge
admission because it also keeps
people out and keeps people in.
And we monitor also the 3 feet
and we monitor also the 3 feet from the sidewalk, the people --
that nobody stands and watch the
game from outside.
>> mayor: my potent was -- and I
know you're doing that because
you haven't got any complaints.
Is for the director, if we can
is for the director, if we can take a look at just
monitoring --
monitoring -- we're doing a lot of pickups.
Haven't got any complaints
haven't got any complaints either.
either.
either. I
either. I just witnessed it after a big
soccer game -- which I love the
soccer games.
soccer games. After a big soccer game, I
after a big soccer game, I notice when people walk away,
they throw their garbage in a
city-owned garbage can.
We're not picking that up for
we're not picking that up for three or four days.
That's regular programming.
that's regular programming. We don't need to pick it up more
we don't need to pick it up more than we are picking it up
because it's not being filled
that fast.
that fast. But when you have 200, 300
but when you have 200, 300 people show up and as they are
leaving they are walking to
their car and eating something,
it gets full.
It's not his fault.
it's not his fault. It's not the city's fault.
it's not the city's fault. Instead of people disposing of
instead of people disposing of it at his restaurant, they are
disposing as walking to the car.
We all do it.
we all do it. Are you concurrenting that?
are you concurrenting that? Have you seen that?
have you seen that? >> did you see that after the
event on these specifically, I
don't recall from the world cup
which is last time a couple of
years ago.
years ago. But it happens.
but it happens. When we have certain things,
when we have certain things, even if they are not permitted
special events, it's just like
an opening somewhere or opening
night, we do see that.
But I have event staff that goes
but I have event staff that goes and checks so I'll make sure
that they are checking.
And then we can call our green
and then we can call our green space management that handles
those or whichever department it
is that handles the cans whether
block by block or whatever and
have them take care of it.
>> just for the record I just
wanted to clafer a few things
about the resolution that's
presented here today.
Our understanding from the
our understanding from the application was that 13 days.
I understand from the applicant
today he's requesting 17 days,
so that will need to be modified
if that's the will of the
commission.
commission. We hadn't been presented with
we hadn't been presented with the list previously.
That will be incorporated as the
that will be incorporated as the dates if that's what the
commission approves.
commission approves. I just wanted to go over some of
the conditions.
the conditions. Obviously, staff could not
obviously, staff could not approve this in the regular
course of business so that's why
they are here today.
But staff does have some
but staff does have some conditions they would like to
add if it's the will of the
commission to approve the
special event.
special event. That would be identifying
that would be identifying these -- that the sales of food
and alcohol on the plaza are
only permitted when those
special event matches are
televised from opening of the
business through 11:00 p.m.
Amplified sound from remote
amplified sound from remote speakers is prohibited except
during the special event
matches.
matches.
matches. Applicant will not allow
applicant will not allow customers or participants to
have instruments on the plaza at
any time regardless whether it
is a day or special event match
to be televised.
Off-duty police will be hired as
off-duty police will be hired as city staff determines it is
necessary during one of these
special event matches.
And failure to follow those
and failure to follow those directions or any other
conditions may result in the
revocation of the permit as well
as any other conditions that
staff determines are reasonable.
He mentioned the total of 24
he mentioned the total of 24 days, but should any special
events exceed that 24 days, they
would obviously need to come to
the commission for approval as
well.
well.
well. Another thing I want to clarify,
another thing I want to clarify, it was our understanding in
drafting this resolution on
behalf of the applicant that it
was only the television screens
to remain up.
So if it is more than just the
so if it is more than just the television screens to be set up,
we would want commission
direction on that as
we would want commission direction on that as well.
>> and barricade.
>> or whatever amount of the
setup, we would need that
permission from the commission
because, as fred explained, the
guidelines do not allow for
setups to be remaining that
long.
long.
long. >>
long. >> I think what he was
requesting was the tables to be
there for -- the tables not to
be taken down.
>> what?
>> what?
>> what? >> I think what you were
requesting was for the tables to
stay there, right?
>> we can have the total amount
of 15 tables on the plaza.
And also we could remove them
and also we could remove them in.
in.
in. But
in. But like I said, 11:00 at night,
but like I said, 11:00 at night, if it is folding tables, they do
make some nice.
I think it is not beneficial to
take them down but would leave
them up.
them up.
them up. If there is no game the next
if there is no game the next day, we don't even turn on the
big screen.
big screen. So there will be no service on
so there will be no service on the plaza at all or there will
be no service at 9:00 a.m. In
the morning, not necessary to
show a 9:00 a.m. Game.
So what we ask --
so what we ask -- >> to clarify, the tents or
setup includes tents, the
screen,