[0:11] Test.

[0:11] >> mayor: lengths get the meeting started.

[0:14] Good morning, I would like to welcome everyone to the june 11, 2024, commission meeting.

[0:19] I'll reiterate.

[0:20] We're blessed to have you here today.

[0:22] We hope if you have any questioners, concerns or ideas you can voice them here at the commission.

[0:27] We have multiple opportunities for that to happen.

[0:30] If you're not here, we hope to hear from out on zoom or through the phone.

[0:34] Please feel free to call and we'll more than welcome to have you.

[0:39] We would like to get started by welcoming this morning chaplain jerry beverly from the fellowship of christian athletes at the university of miami.

[0:49] Join us.

[0:50] This is the first time that you and I have the pleasure of meeting each other.

[0:54] >> it's a blessing.

[0:56] Thank you.

[0:56] Can I help us in prayer?

[1:00] >> mayor: yes, sir.

[1:10] >> okay.

[1:13] Okay, let us pray.

[1:14] Oh god, we come before you with gratitude this morning.

[1:17] We thank you for being a god who loves us.

[1:24] Thank you for everyone that's in this room right now.

[1:27] Thank you that you never leave us or forsake us, lord.

[1:32] Your grace has brought us thus far and your grace will bring us home.

[1:37] We thank you for calling us here in these positions to be good stewards of your creation and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

[1:45] I thank you this morning, god, for these, your servants, our mere, our city managers, our city staff, our city council members.

[1:58] Help us, lord, to entries you more each day.

[2:01] May we learn to lien on your ever kansas city lasting

[2:10] may we learn to lien on your ever kansas city laslasting arm.

[2:11] We pray your kingdom will come in coral gables.

[2:21] We pray for wisdom, for strength, for courage to do what is right and good for all of our citizens.

[2:29] We may put the interest of others above our own, we may act with love for our common good.

[2:36] May we be good neighbors, recognizing your image in every percent.

[2:41] 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.

[2:53] In the name of the father, the son, the holy spirt, who perfectly loves us and sets us free from all our fears.

[3:05] Amen.

[3:05] >> mayor: amen.

[3:06] Chaplain, thank you for being here with us.

[3:08] We extend our best wishes to your congregation and look forward to have you again.

[3:14] >> god bless.

[3:15] >> mayor: now the pledge.

[3:17] Commissioner castro, will you please do us the honor.

[3:21] [pledge of allegiance] >> mayor: moving on to presentations and protocols.

[3:45] A1, congratulations to the fire department special response team.

[3:52] >> good morning, sir.

[3:53] >> mayor: thank you for being here.

[3:54] >> good morning.

[3:54] Good morning.

[3:55] >> good morning.

[4:09] This morning, I'm very proud to recognize our special response team.

[4:13] They're also known as the vehicle extradition team.

[4:18] We competed in a competition hosted by palm beach county, palm beach county f fire-rescue.

[4:26] There were teams represented from all over the state of florida, some as far as canada came to the competition.

[4:31] The team placed and performed exceptionally well.

[4:35] This team is known for performing well at the highest levels.

[4:39] They're recognized around the world as one of the best teams in vehicle extraction.

[4:45] I want to welcome the members here and some of the past members supporting them.

[4:49] We have driver engineer nick -- the team coordinator.

[4:55] [speaker off mic] driver engineer hill.

[4:58] 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.

[5:08] He wishes he could be here today.

[5:10] The scenarios in these competitions are broken into three different scenarios.

[5:14] One is called unlimited.

[5:16] 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.

[5:25] The limited scenario is they can't use the jaws of life, they have to use other types of hand tools and what not.

[5:31] 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,

[5:48] and third in the rap tied scenario.

[5:50] We also had the best paramedic in the competing, which is niko fernandez, and the best incident commander, which is the captain chris.

[6:01] These are the situations they deal with.

[6:04] These aren't normal fender benders that you see.

[6:07] We respond to car accidents every day.

[6:09] You might see this, say it won't happen, but scenarios like this happen in the real world.

[6:25] 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.

[6:36] We've been doing it a long time.

[6:38] 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 conversation.

[6:59] With that, I wanted to recognize their team and a round of applause for their great performance in palm beach county.

[7:07] >> mayor: congratulations.

[7:08] Thank you for always shining a great light on the city of coral gables.

[7:11] If anybody would like to say a few words, you're more than welcome.

[7:15] If not, let's take a

[8:25] item a2, congratulations to firefighter richard fernandez recipient of the city of coral gables firefighter of the month award for may 2024.

[8:38] >> now we're recognizing driver engineer richards, ricky fernandez, another firefighter of the month for the month of may.

[8:45] 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.

[8:55] We wanted to make sure he was recognized before he departed the city next month.

[9:01] .

[9:02] Ricky has excelled in his career throughout the fire service.

[9:11] He's knowledgeable, dedicated, organized, hard working, these are words recognize.

[9:19] He's only made the department better.

[9:20] He's a student of the fire service.

[9:22] He's taught at the fire academy for many, many years.

[9:26] 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.

[9:40] 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.

[9:48] With that, I'm going to miss you, rick, next month, and I want to give you the firefighter of the month for may.

[10:03] [applause] >> mayor: good morning, congratulations.

[10:05] >> good morning.

[10:05] Thank you, mayor, thank you, commissioners.

[10:07] Thank you, chief, kind, kind words.

[10:10] It's going to be sad to leave, but I'm very happy with what I've accomplished in the city.

[10:15] You're only as good as your coworkers, and we wouldn't be so good.

[10:21] So I appreciate the award.

[10:23] 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.

[10:36] Thank you very much.

[10:38] >> mayor: congratulations.

[10:40] I hope you enjoy your retirement, well-deserved.

[10:44] >> thank you very much.

[10:45] >> mayor: thank you for your

[11:42] moving on to item a3, congratulations of captain gregory atwood recipient of the city of coral gables firefightern't month award for june 2024.

[11:56] >> recognize captain greg atwood another firefighter of the month for the month of june.

[12:01] 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.

[12:14] Captain atwood jumped into action, he went and assisted with performing abdominal thrust, also known as the heimlich maneuver.

[12:25] At first, it wasn't working and the patient collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.

[12:33] 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.

[12:46] He continued patient care, assisting miami-dade rescue, which was successful and the patient did regain a pulse and was transported to the hospital.

[12:55] 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.

[13:07] We were informed by a police officer on the scene and he was really impacted by the performance that captain atwood displayed that afternoon.

[13:17] 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.

[13:36] The he got ahold of the battalion and I nominated him for this.

[13:43] Police officer's words were he played a direct role in the survival of this patient.

[13:50] Without his intervention, she probably would not have survived so with that, we honor captain atwood today.

[14:01] [applause] >> thank you, sir.

[14:03] Thank you to chief.

[14:04] Thank you, commission.

[14:05] Just want to say thank you very much.

[14:08] I'm honored, I'm humbled.

[14:09] Like my chief, chief hernandez said, I hope the outcome was a positive one.

[14:19] Thank you v very much.

[14:21] >> mayor: thank you, sir.

[15:31] >> 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.

[15:41] Chief, good morning.

[15:41] >> good morning.

[15:49] >> rowdy bunch out there today.

[16:16] >> good morning, everybody.

[16:19] 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.

[16:31] Today, we're here to honor officer julio gonzalez as the officer of the month for february 2024.

[16:38] Back in february, approximately 12:10 in the morning willing, , when everybody's sleeping, officer gonzalez observed two males walking in the 3900 block of lejeune road.

[16:54] 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.

[17:02] He continued to follow them in his marked car.

[17:06] They started to conceal themselves blind a tree.

[17:10] He investigated a little bit further.

[17:12] Eventually stopped the two individuals, they were two juveniles.

[17:17] 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.

[17:25] In fact, the one kid was on probation for two other auto theft cases that he had, so what this show assist an example.

[17:33] 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

[17:49] that are so dedicated to what they do.

[17:51] 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,

[18:12] somebody drove through the area and struck him with that car.

[18:15] Thank goodness he was not hurt.

[18:19] The minor things we do can be very dangerous for an officer out there, so thank you very much for your work.

[18:26] Congratulations for being officer of the month.

[18:27] >> thank you.

[18:35] [applause] >> mayor: fi >> first off, thank you for the commission for having me here, thank you for everything you do.

[18:43] Thank you for the commander for hiring me and giving me an opportunity to be here.

[18:47] This is the first department that I've been here and I love being here.

[18:51] I appreciate everything that you guys do and always looking out for me.

[18:54] 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.

[19:05] My peers, it's not just me, it's my peers that were working with me, they all helped me out on that call.

[19:11] They were always there.

[19:12] We do a great job of responding to calls and getting to each other very quick.

[19:16] 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

[19:29] out.

[19:29] It's not just me, but it's everybody else that I work with.

[19:32] My sergeant on midnight I was with, my ftos prior to that that give me the confidence and showed me the way.

[19:42] 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.

[19:57] Me for who I'm being becoming now and into the future.

[20:01] I thank you for all you've done.

[20:10] [applause] >> mayor: officer, thank you for everything you do.

[20:12] How long have you been with the force now?

[20:14] >> two and a half years.

[20:16] >> mayor: well-deserved.

[20:16] You're setting the benchmark very high and setting an example for those stepping into your shoes as a police officer.

[20:24] Thank you for your work.

[20:25] 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.

[20:32] Thank you again for your hard work.

[20:34] 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.

[20:45] >> thank you for those

[22:46] >> mayor: moving on to the approval of minutes for the regular commission meeting schedule may 7, 2024.

[22:52] >> move it.

[22:53] >> I'll second.

[22:55] >> all in favor?

[22:57] [chorus of ayes] >> thank you.

[22:59] >> mayor: regular city commission meeting may 21, 2024.

[23:01] >> I'll move it.

[23:03] >> second.

[23:03] >> all in favor?

[23:05] [chorus of ayes] >> thank you.

[23:07] >> mayor: moving on to public comment.

[23:08] >> first speaker today, mr.

[23:12] Mayor, mrs.

[23:12] Mary cruz.

[23:18] >> mayor: really quickly, I want to take care of one issue.

[23:24] Item h4 is being deferred at the request of staff.

[23:27] >> thank you, sir.

[23:29] >> mayor: good morning.

[23:32] >> gogood morning, mrs.

[23:37] Maria cruz, 1447 miller road since 1976.

[23:42] 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.

[23:56] Have a wonderful day.

[24:01] >> mayor: mr.

[24:01] Clerk?

[24:01] >> roberta newway.

[24:10] >> I'm roberta, 1236 south alhambra circle, 33416.

[24:16] I'm here to talk in support of resolution f4, which is bike lanes down alhambra and in support of complete streets in general.

[24:25] I know all of you are committed to vision zero, public health, physical and emotional, lessening traffic whenever possible, and to quality.

[24:36] Complete streets addresses all of these goals.

[24:39] I went door-to-door along several blocks of alhambra last sunday and the support for bike lanes was overwhelming.

[24:47] It was really very, very positive, and one thing I noticed was the younger the person, the hire the enthusiasm.

[24:57] 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.

[25:16] Children are kind indicator species.

[25:18] If we can build a successful city for children, we will have a successful city for everyone.

[25:25] Complete streets can do this.

[25:29] Thank you for your time and have a great day, and stay dry.

[25:33] >> mayor: thank you very much.

[25:34] >> thank you for doing that.

[25:38] >> jack con holmes.

[25:39] >> mayor: good morning, sir.

[25:50] >> depletings.

[25:51] Let me see if I can give you something to ponder as a solution.

[25:54] We have a police and union agreement today.

[25:59] 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.

[26:20] We're not getting enough applicants and it turns out that this is a nationwide problem.

[26:26] I googled it, be nbc has reported on it, a number of quasi police agencies have reported on it.

[26:34] It's a national problem.

[26:35] I started thinking, why are.

[26:37] What happened nationally that discouraged people wanting from being police officers, and you think of george floyd.

[26:45] 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?

[26:58] >> cable tv will put up the video for you, sir.

[27:03] >> can you believe this?

[27:04] 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.

[27:12] They arrested the wrong police officer and the wrong police officer as to who choked out george floyd is in prison.

[27:27] So if you look at this slide, you see the guy we saw in the video, he has an elongated face.

[27:33] 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.

[27:43] These are not the same people.

[27:44] If you remember in that video, it's the guy on the left so why isn't he under arrest?

[27:49] He's the one who choked out george floyd.

[27:51] Why is the guy on the right, supposedly of the same name, the one who got arrested and is in prison?

[27:59] Something strange here.

[28:00] Can we go to the video?

[28:12] It doesn't add up.

[28:13] Maybe we'll get more police and applicants.

[28:16] Trying to get the video going.

[28:18] >> okay, we're all familiar with the george floyd -- [audio difficulties] >> okay, we're all familiar with the george floyd -- [audio difficulties] >> okay, we're all familiar with the george -- [audio difficulties] okay, we're all familiar

[28:51] with the -- >> stop playing it, sir.

[28:55] >> mayor: I think we're having a issue with the video, is mr.

[28:59] Clerk.

[28:59] >> it's not playing.

[29:00] Seems to be an issue with the video.

[29:04] >> should I come back and finish up?

[29:06] The video is important.

[29:12] >> mayor: perfect.

[29:14] Mr.

[29:14] Clerk?

[29:14] >> jessica keller.

[29:15] >> good morning.

[29:16] I'm out of breath.

[29:19] My name is jessica keller, I've been a member of this community for more than 12 years now.

[29:24] I came to speak today regarding the legislation sponsored by kirk menendez, rhonda anderson and ariel fernandez.

[29:39] I ran up the steps.

[29:41] I was happy to see this legislation for city staff.

[29:44] Four items I think needs to be addressed.

[29:48] The trial board needs to be addressed in order for this legislation to have any teeth.

[29:52] Number one, specific procedures need to be outlined in the charter for the trial board.

[29:59] No one knew what to do when I personally participated.

[30:04] The trial board members were not aware of the limits, if any, of their four.

[30:10] Two, appoint trial board members like any other board, not when needed.

[30:14] This eliminates stacking the board against employees.

[30:18] Three, develop and administer training for employees so that know what to do if they find themselves in a position and need protection.

[30:28] Four, elected officials -- >> mayor: sorry to interrupt you.

[30:32] Can you repeat number three?

[30:33] I didn't catch it.

[30:35] Take your time.

[30:36] I don't want to rush you.

[30:37] .

[30:38] I let people speak as long as they want to.

[30:40] >> I have to run out of here gone to my job.

[30:44] Number three, develop and administer training for employees so they know what to do if they find themselves in a position and need protection.

[30:53] Four, elected officials should not be permitted to communicate with the trial court members to avoid tampering.

[31:00] Thank you.

[31:01] >> mayor: mr.

[31:01] Clerk, will you do me a favor, please?

[31:03] Will you take those minutes and hopefully when this item comes up, we can include those minutes in the item?

[31:11] >> yes.

[31:12] We'll go to zoom next, the first speaker is mark troabridge.

[31:19] >> mayor: mr.

[31:22] Troabridge, good morning.

[31:29] Mr.

[31:30] Trowbridge?

[31:30] >> he's on.

[31:30] >> good morning, everybody.

[31:32] 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.

[31:43] I'm mark troa goods bridge with thed coral gables chamber of commerce.

[31:49] The company I want to talk about is jolt, some of you may have heard of them before.

[32:00] Thety has been looking at this opportunity but they've become active with our chamber.

[32:05] With opportunities like this, we like to promote.

[32:11] They are operated and maintained at I highest level with no cost to the city.

[32:18] As a matter of fact, they can be additional resource to the city with support.

[32:24] Each day, they give seven kilowatt charging of every user who will utilize their services.

[32:32] 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.

[32:51] Jolt establishes and exclusively installs these fast chargers.

[32:55] They take about 31 minutes, which aligns with the retail opportunities in getting that great cup of joe.

[33:03] About 73% of their users responded that they will run an errand during that time frame, supports all of our local businesses downtown.

[33:11] 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

[33:31] their ios or android app.

[33:34] They'll be offering interactive wayfinding, allowing users and pedestrians to locate and visit those local businesses.

[33:44] The chamber operates the city's welcome center, so we see that as a great partnership with the work that jolt will be doing.

[33:53] 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

[34:11] 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.

[34:21] We look forward to hearing your discussion on that.

[34:23] Thank you very much from our chamber.

[34:26] >> mayor: thank you very much.

[34:28] Mr.

[34:28] Clerk?

[34:28] >> next feeker, mr.

[34:31] Mayor, is akey fernandez.

[34:33] >> good morning.

[34:34] Can you hear me?

[34:37] >> yes.

[34:39] >> okay.

[34:39] Good morning, commissioners.

[34:40] My name is akey fernandez, 1542 mendave avenue.

[34:45] 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.

[34:54] 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.

[35:06] My fear assist that it will politicize the board that has the authority to infringe on people's property rights.

[35:12] This should be based on merits, not politics or personal relationships.

[35:16] 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.

[35:24] I would welcome discussion from the rest of the commission on this matter.

[35:28] Also, I wanted to ek toe the sentiments of ms.

[35:32] Kneeway regarding f4 in anything that provides more transit options.

[35:40] I think it's a win for the city.

[35:44] Thank you >> mayor: thank you.

[35:49] Mr.

[35:50] Clerk?

[35:51] >> cable tv is ready for the video with mr.

[35:56] Holmes.

[35:56] >> mayor: mr.

[35:58] Holmes, welcome back.

[36:02] We're

[36:06] back. Wel.

[36:06] >> okay, we're all familiar with the george floyd video and murder case in the video, it shows him choking mr.

[36:17] Floyd to death and it's very shockining.

[36:24] However, it turns out that there appear to be some very startling disprap pan sees in the case.

[36:39] First of all, we know that this is the officer we saw in in the video choking out mr.

[36:48] Floyd, derek chauvin of minneapolis.

[37:01] The smoking thing, the person under arrest appears to be this person.

[37:06] They show derek chauvin's first court appearance.

[37:09] These two people don't lookalike, do they.

[37:12] This fellow has an elongated face.

[37:15] Are, that's the one we saw in the video.

[37:17] His is more of a round face.

[37:19] These are not the same person.

[37:31] So this is a cnn video.

[37:35] You can see derek chauvin charged with third degree murd, the same as the guy below.

[37:41] This also, abc news, same as the second guy below.

[37:49] 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.

[38:09] Strange.

[38:09] 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.

[38:20] He's also called derek chauvin.

[38:21] We saw him choke him out and this is not.

[38:25] Why is this so called derek chauvin and not this one locked up and facing life in prison?

[38:38] Now, as you get further into it, it turns out that this fellow looks like -- do you remember the tv show cash cab?

[38:48] ?

[38:48] What do you think, you're the judge here?

[38:51] Do they lookalike?

[38:57] And that fellow's name is ben bailey and there's speculation that they might be the same person.

[39:04] 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.

[39:26] You know, justice does not involved being choked to death without a trial and all of that.

[39:36] However, we have this terrible discrepancy now.

[39:41] He's the one in jail now, not him.

[39:44] You be the judge and actor -- >> mayor: mr.

[39:50] Holmes, if I may.

[39:51] >> the tv show cash cab.

[39:53] >> mayor: we keep going in circles.

[39:55] >> okay, yeah, so look.

[39:58] Unfortunately, the problem of the lack of police officer applicants cont continues.

[40:10] It's a national problem, maybe solve a national problem.

[40:16] If any city, it's us.

[40:19] What I'm hoping is with the various police officials and so on, we can push the media to raise these questions.

[40:28] I mean, what's the bottom line here ?

[40:32] ?

[40:33] The guy who presumably murdered george floyd got away with it and the wrong person is in prison.

[40:38] The whole case is suspect.

[40:43] .

[40:43] 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.

[40:52] There's something wrong here.

[40:53] Maybe they say, maybe I will become a police officer.

[40:55] Thank you.

[40:56] >> mayor: thank you, sir.

[40:57] Just to put it on the record.

[40:59] 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

[41:14] to our police officers.

[41:15] 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.

[41:22] 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.

[41:34] Thank you for being here as always.

[41:36] Mr.

[41:36] Clerk?

[41:37] >> that's it, mr.

[41:38] Mayor.

[41:38] >> mayor: moving on to consent agenda.

[41:40] >> before the vote is taken; there anyone who wishes additional discussion or review of any item on the consent agenda?

[41:49] >> we had a request for one item to be pulled.

[41:53] >> it was pulled.

[41:54] >> was it pulled?

[41:55] >> if it's a resident request, normally it's pulled.

[41:59] >> I'm just clarifying.

[42:01] I'll move it.

[42:02] >> second.

[42:03] >> all in favor?

[42:05] [chorus of ayes].

[42:07] >> agenda item d3.

[42:13] >> mayor: as a sponsor of the item, would you like to?

[42:21] >> sure.

[42:21] Mr.

[42:21] Banos is happy with serving in the board of adjustment where he's serving, where I had appointed him to.

[42:26] His name came up as a recommendation by my prior appointee to this ?

[42:31] recommendation by my prior appointee to this ?board, mr.

[42:32] Brett gillis, who has moved out of coral gables and could no longer serve because of the residency requirement and he recommended mr.

[42:42] Banos.

[42:43] Additionally, ms.

[42:43] Carbon of the historic preservation association spoke very highly of mr.

[42:49] Banos qualifications to sit on this board.

[42:51] As far as I know right now, the only vacant

[42:56] as far as I know right now, the only vaca vacancy can be served by any resident of the city of coral gables.

[43:00] There's no specific requirements.

[43:02] There's requirements that we have architects, attorneys and different requirements, all of those is satisfied at the moment.

[43:09] Mr.

[43:09] Banos is an attorney so he would qualify additionally under that category and for that reason, I'm bringing his name up.

[43:15] >> I do have a question for you.

[43:17] 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.

[43:29] Do you have any comments on that?

[43:31] >> I don't think there's any influence by any publication in the city.

[43:36] We have many coral gables insider, appointees.

[43:39] 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.

[43:49] I trust mr.

[43:51] Banos judgment when it comes to this.

[43:53] He's never taken advantage of his position of the board adjustment, which is another quasi-judicial board in this city.

[43:59] I don't see this as an issue.

[44:01] >> no, I just felt we needed to respond to the resident.

[44:05] >> agreed.

[44:05] I appreciate mr.

[44:06] Fernandez bringing up the concerns.

[44:07] 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.

[44:17] 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.

[44:31] He was happy serving with the board of adjustment.

[44:34] 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.

[44:49] >> I just wanted to make sure we get these issues of the residents, I should say the concerns.

[45:00] When I recommended ms.

[45:03] Anne alvarez, I also consulted with other individuals that had been serving on the boards because I'm not an architect.

[45:11] Although, I appreciate good architecture and it is a very powerful board.

[45:15] 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.

[45:32] >> I just have a question for the city attorney.

[45:34] I know when item from the historic preservation board comes to tsunami, usually on appeal, we sit as a quasi-judicial body, right?

[45:44] >> right.

[45:44] >> but the historic preservation board, do they sit also as quasi-judicial?

[45:48] >> that is correct.

[45:50] The hearings before them are quasi-judicial hearings.

[45:52] >> so I guess the same rule would comply, not to make comments publicly.

[46:06] >> they should remain unbiased and they have to make that discovery at every case and make any ex-parte communications.

[46:15] >> based on that, I'm confident that mr.

[46:19] Banos understands that the rules that applies to us applies to every board members.

[46:23] If we and the board members comply, I understand that he will, too.

[46:27] Since it's quasi-judicial, it would be easier to follow and monitor, so I'm comfortable with it.

[46:36] >> mayor: anything else?

[46:39] I would like to add my few comments to the issue.

[46:42] I want to address an important agenda item concerning the appointment of mr.

[46:46] Banos to my board in the city.

[46:48] I have significance concerns about this appointment and I believe it's crucial to discuss these openly.

[46:53] 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.

[47:02] 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.

[47:19] While being an attorney does not express the relevant experience for this board's position.

[47:23] Of the gentleman you had before had extensive background in regards to historic preservation.

[47:29] Our boardses are more effective with the necessary backgrounds and expertise in this field.

[47:35] Mr.

[47:35] Ban knows does not meet this.

[47:40] Mr.

[47:40] Banos has a clear political agenda.

[47:42] 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

[47:55] interest of our community.

[47:56] Let me give you an example n an article I was reading yesterday about a supposed incident that occurred here in city hall, mr.

[48:04] 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.

[48:17] It's the continued narrative and innuendo that is disturbing and leaching out pertinent information which can help make up people's minds.

[48:28] Very combative behavior.

[48:30] Mr.

[48:30] Banos previous tenure on the pension board was marked by behavior.

[48:35] His interactions were so contentious that his colleagues were willing to resign if it remained.

[48:40] This behavior is detrimental to the collaborative behavior we try to maintain on our boards.

[48:46] He has a conflict of interest in my opinion.

[48:49] A community blog that often publishes one-sided pieces fildz with unfounded pieces and misallegations, basically covering himself by saying this is a rumor, this is what I heard, but there's no facts.

[49:02] This role presents a significant conflict of interest.

[49:05] Can we trust mr.

[49:06] Banos to make impartial decisions on matters that could have a financial impact on a property owner's rights?

[49:14] His position with the gable insider cast doubts on his ability to be an unbiased board member.

[49:20] Censorship concerns.

[49:21] Lastly, there's concerns about censorship on the gables insider blog.

[49:26] Multiple residents have spoken that the comments that go not align with the agenda are often moderated or censored.

[49:34] Many individuals have told me that's their personal experience in ready rahs to the blog.

[49:39] This raises questions about his dialogue, which is essential for effective board functioning.

[49:45] In collective bargaining, by appointing mr.

[49:47] 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 decision.

[50:14] I think brett did a good job because he had a skill set and knowledge of historic preservation and emersed in it for decades.

[50:23] I think we should be very thoughtful and very careful.

[50:27] The vice-mayor had an pop to the advisory board, who was not appointed, and was disabled.

[50:34] 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.

[50:47] 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.

[50:56] Thank you very much.

[50:58] >> 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.

[51:09] I stand by my appointment and I move to appointed javier banos to the historic preservation board.

[51:15] >> I'll second that.

[51:21] >> mr.

[51:21] Mayor, I have members of the public who has signed up to speak on the item.

[51:28] First speaker is mr.

[51:30] Jackson holmes.

[51:31] >> mayor: mr.

[51:32] Holmes, welcome.

[51:32] >> thank you for squeezing me in.

[51:36] I disagree with your take on the situation.

[51:40] We have a democracy problem in coral gables.

[51:48] Mr.

[51:48] Banos, games insider, are trying to restore democracy and there's nothing improper about that.

[51:54] Thank you.

[51:54] >> mayor: thank you, sir.

[51:59] >> ms.

[52:02] Maria cruz.

[52:08] >> gogood morning again.

[52:10] Maria cruz.

[52:10] 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

[52:36] 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

[53:03] to the board, that's number one.

[53:10] Number two, number two, attacking a publication seems to be a little hypocritical because we send flyers, we attack people.

[53:29] We used to put ads in magazine to attack people and we didn't have any problems doing that.

[53:37] 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 preservation.

[54:04] .

[54:04] He has gone through the city to make sure that everything that happens in that house is by historically approved procedures, and I think we have really gone down to the cesspool today by making this appointment a political appointment.

[54:28] Javier banos deserves to be on this board.

[54:31] 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.

[54:49] Thank you.

[54:51] >> robert romano.

[54:55] >> mayor: mr.

[54:55] Romano.

[54:55] >> yes, you can hear me?

[54:59] >> yes, sir.

[55:00] >> hi, good morning.

[55:00] 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.

[55:10] I don't know mr.

[55:11] Banos, I've never met him.

[55:13] I read his publication from time to time, but let's be honest.

[55:18] It's a blog.

[55:19] It's not journalism.

[55:21] .

[55:21] With all due respect to mr.

[55:24] Fernandez, to ariel fernandez, really, it's been a blog.

[55:31] It isn't strict journalism.

[55:33] I'm upset that the mayor makes it about himself and about him being on there because when mr.

[55:40] 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.

[55:53] So just let it go.

[55:55] I mean, if brett gillis and ms.

[55:58] 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.

[56:11] Thank you.

[56:12] >> mayor: thank you.

[56:13] >> next speak ser jer is jessica keller.

[56:18] >> good morning, again.

[56:19] This is very short.

[56:20] 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.

[56:42] We can make an argument about each board about the board appointments.

[56:46] Thank you.

[56:46] >> that's it, mr.

[56:48] Banos.

[56:49] >> mr.

[56:49] Mayor, if I may real quick.

[56:56] 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

[57:10] and there's no discussions, there's no debates.

[57:14] 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.

[57:27] 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.

[57:41] It's their appointment and I think we go down a slippery slope if we start challenging our colleagues on their personal appointments.

[57:49] So we had a mater, I

[57:54] appointments. 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.

[58:06] I did so because I believe it's the proper policy to respect each others appointments.

[58:15] 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, macer, appointment, my appointment, going down.

[58:34] That's it.

[58:35] And.

[58:35] [roll called] >> mayor: moving on, we have a time certain at 10:30, maybe we can get a few things done before then.

[58:53] Moving on to e 1.

[58:56] >> 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

[59:16] city attorney will provide an update.

[59:18] >> good morning, mayor, vice-mayor, commissioners, there's been no changing since the first reading.

[59:22] This just conforms sunday sales to the rest of the week.

[59:27] >> I wanted to thank you for your work on this.

[59:33] Thank you for putting it forward.

[59:35] >> just modernizing times.

[59:37] I'll move it.

[59:39] >> second.

[59:39] [roll called] >> mr.

[59:48] Mayor, can we confirm there were no public speak seniors.

[59:51] >> no public speakers, ma'am.

[59:53] >> sorry, I rushed.

[59:54] >> mayor: moving on to item e 2.

[59:56] >> 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

[1:00:11] zoning code from the coral gables museum property, located at 285.

[1:00:19] [unintelligible] be placed in the city's historic building fund and providing for a severabilities clause and effective date.

[1:00:26] This is a public hearing and ask the manager to provide an update.

[1:00:30] >> good morning, mayor and commissioners.

[1:00:32] >> mayor: good morning, how are you?

[1:00:33] >> there's been no changes since first and second reading, and if you have any questions.

[1:00:37] >> no questions.

[1:00:38] I'll move it.

[1:00:41] >> second.

[1:00:41] >> mr.

[1:00:42] Mayor, we have a member of the public requesting to speak on the item.

[1:00:47] >> mayor: okay.

[1:00:48] >> mrs.

[1:00:51] Maria cruz.

[1:00:58] >> mrs.

[1:00:58] Maria cruz, 1447 miller road.

[1:01:00] I told you today was a good day.

[1:01:02] I strongly support this.

[1:01:05] Thank you.

[1:01:06] >> mayor: by the way, put on the record, just want to give some context in regards to how we got here today.

[1:01:13] 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.

[1:01:25] 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.

[1:01:37] 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

[1:01:52] assisted in the efforts on items g3 and i5.

[1:02:01] 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

[1:02:18] commission, the manager, has done a good job to do this, so thank you.

[1:02:22] [roll called] >> mayor: moving on to item e 3.

[1:02:32] >> an ordinance of the cities amending the code of the city of coral gables, chapter 2, administration, article 3, boards, commissions and committees.

[1:02:44] Division three, trial board by creating section 2-124 procedures and amending chapter 2 entitled administration, article -- [indiscernible] the deputy city attorney can present the item.

[1:03:04] >> mayor: if I may one second.

[1:03:05] I see there's a bunch of people cosponsoring this.

[1:03:08] Commissioner menendez was the original sponsor of this item.

[1:03:12] 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

[1:03:26] the record, and to see if the sponsor will allow that to be included.

[1:03:31] >> I'm happy to address those points one by one.

[1:03:34] Let me grab my note.

[1:03:35] >> we received an e-mail with the details a moment ago, I believe, from -- >> mayor: I know that, but the issue included the legislation.

[1:03:43] >> 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

[1:03:57] mediation or arbitration prior to a full hearing of the trial board with cost shared by all parties, that was added since first reading.

[1:04:06] 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.

[1:04:20] That is a new addition to the code so to the extent that it addresses ms.

[1:04:26] 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.

[1:04:32] 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.

[1:04:43] 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.

[1:04:52] 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

[1:05:07] staff to make sure that employees on up-to-date open rights and protections.

[1:05:11] We all ready have extensive training, but we want specific to the trial board, with he can work with that.

[1:05:19] 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

[1:05:33] the record presented before them that would apply to the trial board just the same.

[1:05:38] There's not a sunshine violation law issue there.

[1:05:41] 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.

[1:05:56] 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

[1:06:09] touched upon this ordinance and the other.

[1:06:11] >> 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.

[1:06:32] 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.

[1:06:45] 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.

[1:07:04] 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,

[1:07:23] the administration to make sure that our employees truly know what they can and can't do and what's available.

[1:07:28] >> 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

[1:07:41] 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.

[1:07:52] >> 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

[1:08:05] rights are.

[1:08:06] >> we're certainly happy to address that through the manager and the hr department.

[1:08:12] Those are trainings that hr does related to employment protections and we can work with them on that.

[1:08:17] 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.

[1:08:26] >> 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.

[1:08:37] I know you're going to confer, but the rest of us needs to know what's happening.

[1:08:42] >> >>: of course, we're happy to facilitate however we can and work with the manager's office.

[1:08:47] >> 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

[1:09:06] 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.

[1:09:15] I just want to commend everybody for working together on trying to make something really special come out of this.

[1:09:21] >> thank you.

[1:09:24] >> mayor: do we have a motion, mr.

[1:09:26] Clerk?

[1:09:26] Do we have any public comment?

[1:09:28] >> no, sir.

[1:09:28] >> I'll move it.

[1:09:30] >> second.

[1:09:30] [roll called] >> mayor: thank you very much.

[1:09:39] Move og ton e 4.

[1:09:41] >> 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

[1:09:56] multifamily and mixed use projects, providing for an effective date, planning official can present any update.

[1:10:03] >> jessica gasser

[1:10:07] update. >> jessica gass garcia, planner.

[1:10:09] 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, communications, code enforcement and myself to know when there's going to be door hangers in a certain area

[1:10:26] are.

[1:10:28] That's it.

[1:10:28] >> mayor: any public comment?

[1:10:30] >> yes, mr.

[1:10:33] Mayor.

[1:10:34] Ms.

[1:10:38] Maria cruz.

[1:10:46] >> mrs.

[1:10:46] Maria cruz, 14 1447 miller road.

[1:11:02] >> mayor: I'm listening.

[1:11:04] >> would you listen, please.

[1:11:07] >> mayor: sorry.

[1:11:07] >> like I said at the beginning, it's a wonderful day.

[1:11:10] It's a beautiful day in the city of coral gables and I'm very happy to say this is a great idea.

[1:11:16] Thank you.

[1:11:16] >> thank you.

[1:11:16] >> I just wanted to add a comment.

[1:11:21] 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.

[1:11:35] 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.

[1:11:45] >> mayor: mr.

[1:11:46] Clerk, do you have any public comment?

[1:11:52] >> 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.

[1:12:02] I'll move it.

[1:12:04] >> I'll second.

[1:12:09] [roll called] >> mayor: moving on to item e5.

[1:12:15] >> 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,

[1:12:31] application process.

[1:12:32] Providing vacation of the built more drive between lots -- [indiscernible] coral gables, florida, providing for seven raibilityd clause and providing an effective date.

[1:12:43] The public works director can present.

[1:12:45] >> good morning.

[1:12:46] >> mayor: good morning.

[1:12:47] >> may I have the presentation, please?

[1:12:49] >> mayor: are there any changes?

[1:12:52] >> no.

[1:12:53] >> mayor: same?

[1:12:53] >> yep.

[1:12:54] >> mayor: do we have any public comment?

[1:12:55] >> no, mr.

[1:12:56] Mayor.

[1:12:56] >> mayor: would you like to move forward or see the presentation again?

[1:13:00] >> no, we're good.

[1:13:00] >> I'll move it.

[1:13:02] >> second.

[1:13:08] [roll called] >> mayor: moving on to e6.

[1:13:17] >> 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,

[1:13:31] providing for repealer provision, severability clause, codification and proifdzing an effective date.

[1:13:38] We have a legal intern who will present this item.

[1:13:41] >> good morning, mayor, commissioners.

[1:13:45] I'm pleased to present elizabeth duran, who is rising at st.

[1:13:50] Thomas law school, she worked hard on this ordinance and I would like for her to introduce the item to you.

[1:13:56] >> mayor: thank you for being with us.

[1:13:57] We're happy to have you.

[1:13:59] >> good morning, mayor, vice-mayor and commissioners.

[1:14:01] This is a ordinance on first reading sponsored by vice-mayor and commissioner lago.

[1:14:09] 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.

[1:14:20] 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

[1:14:33] boards.

[1:14:33] It amends the code to reflect the name change.

[1:14:36] Thank you.

[1:14:36] >> thank you very much for the presentation.

[1:14:38] You did an excellent job.

[1:14:40] >> thank you.

[1:14:41] >> mayor: madam vice-mayor, quick two points.

[1:14:45] Number one, great job.

[1:14:46] Thank you for being here.

[1:14:47] We look forward to your great work on the summer.

[1:14:51] 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

[1:15:08] myself and to the commission, and getting it implemented last year.

[1:15:11] Thank you very much.

[1:15:14] >> excellent.

[1:15:14] Any other comments?

[1:15:16] I'll move it.

[1:15:18] >> second.

[1:15:18] [roll called] >> mayor: moving on to e 7.

[1:15:27] >> 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

[1:15:42] clause, cod fashion and providing an effective date.

[1:15:44] >> 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.

[1:15:58] As it currently stands, some of the trial board members are appointed for a 2-year term, some for a 1-year term.

[1:16:06] The mechanisms two selected by the commission, two selected by the employees, and one bip the whole four.

[1:16:13] That is not changing.

[1:16:14] 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.

[1:16:29] We would set that.

[1:16:30] 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

[1:16:44] positions filled as smoothly as possible.

[1:16:46] The only change is some terms extended from one to two and adding in the dates of the terms.

[1:16:51] >> I have a quick question.

[1:16:53] We got an e-mail and probably -- maybe not related to this item specifically but the trial board in general.

[1:17:01] Those mention of employees would have to pay, make a payment to, I'm not quite sure the details, to be protected.

[1:17:09] Is there any payment required of employees?

[1:17:12] >> 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.

[1:17:19] The only mention of a fee is if there's arbitration prior to a full herring of the board, those costs would be shared.

[1:17:26] 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.

[1:17:39] >> and it would be optional in any event.

[1:17:43] Mediation or arbitration would be optional.

[1:17:45] >> 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.

[1:18:02] >> there's no fee for invoking the trial board.

[1:18:05] >> all right.

[1:18:06] >> commissioner, there is no fee.

[1:18:09] However, could you hire your own personal attorney.

[1:18:11] >> yeah.

[1:18:12] >> there's no fee to invoke the trial boards.

[1:18:15] It's not like an appellate procedure where you might appeal with a fee.

[1:18:20] >> thank you.

[1:18:20] >> mayor: any public comment?

[1:18:21] >> no, sir.

[1:18:22] >> mayor: any further comments or a motion?

[1:18:24] >> move it.

[1:18:30] >> second.

[1:18:32] [roll called] >> thank you.

[1:18:36] >> mayor: let's do e 10, we'll skip e 8 and 9 to get one more item.

[1:18:42] >> 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

[1:18:59] gables museum, 75,000 for the merrick house -- towards the venetian pool, and toward the alhambra water tower.

[1:19:11] >> 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.

[1:19:26] 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.

[1:19:41] I think very happy to have this legislation.

[1:19:43] >> just a couple of comments.

[1:19:53] 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.

[1:20:02] I know there's a long history to when this started.

[1:20:07] 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.

[1:20:19] Glad to move it.

[1:20:22] >> I'll second.

[1:20:22] >> mayor: before we take a roll call; there any comments?

[1:20:25] >> yes, mr.

[1:20:27] Mayor.

[1:20:27] >> mayor: okay.

[1:20:31] >> ms.

[1:20:33] Maria cruz.

[1:20:38] >> mrs.

[1:20:40] Maria cruz, 1447 miller road.

[1:20:41] I told you, it's a good day in the city of coral gables.

[1:20:44] Strongly support this one.

[1:20:51] >> one.

[1:20:53] [roll called] >> I had a few comments I wasn't able to make.

[1:21:01] >> mayor: very quickly.

[1:21:04] Is this coming back for a second?

[1:21:07] >> no, this is a resolution, this is it.

[1:21:09] >> mayor: so number one, like I mentioned, I wanted to repeat again, so that the history is very clear.

[1:21:15] This was achieved in 2022 with a prior commission.

[1:21:18] 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.

[1:21:34] 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.

[1:21:45] Number 23, this is the fruit, what you're seeing here is the fruit of legislation that was written in 2022.

[1:21:51] My second point that I have a concern on is the issue of the merrick house.

[1:21:56] I've been to the merrick house, I was there this past week, I know some of my colleagues were there also.

[1:22:02] There's several issues that I think need to be address there'd that falls short of the $75,000.

[1:22:06] 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.

[1:22:16] I think there's issues of interior drywall, issues of paint, issues where the exterior needs to be cleaned.

[1:22:24] 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

[1:22:40] historic preservation.

[1:22:40] Bringing this up, while 75,000 was a great number, I was never consulted on that $75,000.

[1:22:45] I think that it falls short, especially when you see the amount of work that has to be done there.

[1:22:51] 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.

[1:23:02] I think that 75 is going to fall short.

[1:23:04] 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.

[1:23:19] >> I know, comforted has something to say.

[1:23:22] I have a question regarding the tdrs, whoever can answer.

[1:23:28] Can I amend the legislation to increase the dollars for the merrick house and bump it up to 150?

[1:23:39] Are those dollars available?

[1:23:41] >> you can certainly amend this item.

[1:23:43] 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.

[1:23:50] So currently, the merrick house does have some funding for some repairs that they need interior.

[1:23:59] 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.

[1:24:09] So the 75,000 was discussed to put aside to address any damage and any needs that come out of that assessment.

[1:24:17] >> mayor: what I would recommend, if I may -- and I appreciate -- >> certainly.

[1:24:22] >> mayor: I think, first off, $30,000 for assessment is a pretty significant amount of money.

[1:24:26] I don't think we need to spend $30,000 on an assessment.

[1:24:30] >> we may not need all that.

[1:24:32] >> mayor: finish.

[1:24:33] >> we may not need it all.

[1:24:34] That was the number.

[1:24:35] >> mayor: I know it's a budget but I think you can do it a lot less.

[1:24:39] 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.

[1:24:49] I have worked with them in the past.

[1:24:50] They are renowned architects in this community.

[1:24:54] 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.

[1:25:00] I know there's been a lot of renovations in the merrick house over the last few years that are long overdue.

[1:25:09] A lot of deferred maintenance done two years ago, three years ago.

[1:25:12] 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.

[1:25:20] 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.

[1:25:32] It has to be taken care of.

[1:25:34] You can't just go in there and repair that stucco.

[1:25:36] You have to bring in a person who is versed in that style of stucco repair, drywall repair.

[1:25:44] It's like a venetian plaster finish so it matches properly.

[1:25:49] You're not just going to do that little hole.

[1:25:52] You've probably got to repair pretty significant portions so it matches.

[1:25:55] You have issues with window sills that I have seen.

[1:25:59] You have wood framing around entrance features that have to be finished in a proper way.

[1:26:03] I think the exterior of the building needs to be cleaned, especially the overhangs when you're walking around the facility.

[1:26:09] You know, this can't be done just with a simple pressure washer.

[1:26:12] It has to be done in a way that is thoughtful in regards to not destroying the facilities.

[1:26:17] There are wood beams and things have to be done very, very carefully.

[1:26:22] I'm not a historic preservation expert burr the cost is significant in regards to regular construction.

[1:26:27] 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.

[1:26:38] 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.

[1:26:50] Because I know we need every single dollar in the budget.

[1:26:53] That is my opinion and I hope the commission will consider that because I think it's much-needed.

[1:26:57] >> this is a resolution and you certainly can make an adjustment to the amounts that are proposed for the facilities.

[1:27:04] >> I am open to -- go ahead.

[1:27:06] >> I guess the question is, do we have the additional $75,000 in tdrs?

[1:27:13] >> 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.

[1:27:26] 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.

[1:27:39] This would allow us to provide that funding this year as opposed to next fiscal year.

[1:27:44] And it allows us not to use general funds to fund that project in what we'll review tomorrow.

[1:27:51] 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.

[1:28:02] It is short by about 216,000 which we believe we can find in this year's funding.

[1:28:09] There's some contingency that we have available from a project that closed out.

[1:28:12] And we will be able to fund the full ask of the venetian pool.

[1:28:19] Incincreasing the 75 will allow

[1:28:20] full ask of the venetian pool. Incincreasing the 75 will allows to pull it from one place or the other.

[1:28:22] I recommend pulling from the venetian pool since that one doesn't get the full funding.

[1:28:27] 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.

[1:28:37] >> 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

[1:28:52] it.

[1:28:52] >> mayor: so my point is that these are simple items that I don't even think need a permit.

[1:28:59] Except for maybe the exterior paint, which can be addressed in 24 hours because staff expedites that very quickly for residents.

[1:29:08] You have some simple wire -- I think the interior is wire lap.

[1:29:14] I didn't want to fall off a chair looking at the hole sitting in the ceiling.

[1:29:19] There are simple things.

[1:29:20] 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.

[1:29:31] But I mean you may need for the wire lath and may have to pull a permit for that and may take a week.

[1:29:40] 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.

[1:29:50] 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.

[1:29:56] I'm not sure.

[1:29:57] I know it was -- it's okay.

[1:29:58] >> I don't know anything about the facility.

[1:30:02] >> maybe the vice mayor can give me a little guidance.

[1:30:05] >> well, I did do a complete inside-out tour including where the air conditioning is.

[1:30:12] I looked at the lath in there as well.

[1:30:16] >> mayor: so it's lath?

[1:30:17] >> there is lath in there.

[1:30:19] >> mayor: I'm saying in the hole by the fairp it's lath?

[1:30:23] >> no, the ceiling area.

[1:30:25] The venetian plaster and what I'm going to add too we're ultimately going to save money.

[1:30:31] The sooner we fix this, the less damage that's going to be done.

[1:30:34] Around the air conditioner ducts, it's not apparent where the leak is.

[1:30:38] 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.

[1:30:45] I looked at the ductwork inside of the closet.

[1:30:48] And it's not dripping there.

[1:30:50] 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.

[1:31:05] It spirals.

[1:31:05] It's a labor of love, these buildings are but they are worth it.

[1:31:08] 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.

[1:31:24] So I'm happy -- if you are moving, I'm happy to second.

[1:31:27] >> if you don't mind -- >> I know fred is having a heart attack because we're taking money from the pool.

[1:31:33] >> can the pool survive if we move collectively 75?

[1:31:38] Can you still accomplish -- >> can you still swim in it?

[1:31:43] >> with 75.

[1:31:43] >> we have a lot of long-term stuff with the pool.

[1:31:46] That small amount, there are still other projects that are going to take a long amount of time.

[1:31:50] So whatever needs to be done for that.

[1:31:52] >> I didn't say venetian pool, they said it.

[1:31:54] >> no, no, it's fine.

[1:31:55] Venetian pool, as you know, there's extensive projects.

[1:31:58] And it's going to take more tha

[1:32:01] there's extensive projects. And it's going to take more thaw thing.

[1:32:01] We have to plan it out so it's okay to look at how the funding goes in sections.

[1:32:08] >> 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.

[1:32:19] Let's put a reverter that whatever funds are not used, we can always find ways to use funds.

[1:32:26] There are ways to use funds.

[1:32:28] There's one additional project.

[1:32:29] 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

[1:32:45] are not used are directed back to the venetian pool.

[1:32:48] Something that I would like to see is like what I did with the whiteway lights, the legislation that I wrote.

[1:32:58] 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.

[1:33:10] We have to get it cleaned.

[1:33:12] We can't allow the cobwebs and dust.

[1:33:14] You can see it, it's white.

[1:33:16] So anything that's on it, it starts building up and building up and building up and building up.

[1:33:21] 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

[1:33:36] of the building and say, look, everything looks clean, everything looks up to snuff.

[1:33:41] Because I think what ends up happening is that the caretakers of the merrick house can't be expected to do certain things.

[1:33:48] There are limitations.

[1:33:50] Only staff can do that or an outside company that has the equipment that can do that.

[1:33:55] Especially talking about an historic building of this magnitude.

[1:33:59] >> I'll go ahead and amend the legislation to move the additional 75 to merrick house.

[1:34:04] And as the mayor said, any funds that aren't used to go back to venetian pool.

[1:34:08] I think that way we cover all the angles.

[1:34:10] So I make that amendment.

[1:34:12] >> yes, I second that.

[1:34:13] >> 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.

[1:34:25] >> yes.

[1:34:25] >> with the language that any funds not used by the merrick house go back to venetian pool.

[1:34:34] >> 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

[1:34:55] actual knowledge and budgets based on not, hey, by the way, the following building is having catastrophic issues.

[1:35:04] No, we need to be aware of what's happening.

[1:35:06] A little bit of preventive maintenance goes a long way.

[1:35:09] We see it everywhere.

[1:35:10] 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.

[1:35:16] The same thing with the museum.

[1:35:18] We're about to spend massive funds on the museum.

[1:35:21] We need to make sure we don't look back after five years and say, hey, what happened.

[1:35:25] That's why I wrote that legislation for the whiteway lights.

[1:35:33] Some of the whiteway lights now are orange as a result of the sprinklers that are c corroding them.

[1:35:41] They are simple fixes.

[1:35:42] We have to ask the residents in those areas to not point the sprinklers in that direction or remove the sprinklers.

[1:35:50] Ever time we fix them, we spend millions of dollars bringing them up to the standard that we appreciate.

[1:35:58] >> thank you.

[1:35:58] >> mayor: we have a motion and second.

[1:36:00] >> all in favor.

[1:36:02] [ayes] >> mayor: we have a time certain at 10:30.

[1:36:07] Item f-1, before I pass it over to the sponsor, I'd like to welcome our esteemed mayor slesnick here with us today.

[1:36:15] Thank you always for your continued guidance and everything you do for the city.

[1:36:18] It is truly an honor to have you here.

[1:36:20] And we appreciate it and ask you to please join us.

[1:36:27] >> 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.

[1:36:47] >> it should be commissioner because I think we should recognize her for her service to our city.

[1:36:52] I'd like to amend that resolution.

[1:36:54] This is a resolution I would love to take the credit for the idea being mine, but it is not.

[1:36:59] It is something that several city boards did prior to our literacy festival.

[1:37:05] And I thought it should be something that we as a city officially di.

[1:37:16] Jeanett served this city not just as a member, but on a daily basis.

[1:37:26] I think all five of us benefited from her support.

[1:37:28] We always gave us her advice, whether it was positive or negative.

[1:37:32] 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.

[1:37:39] And the literacy festival is something that she took personally on as something she wanted to do.

[1:37:45] 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.

[1:37:52] I know you also did the little schoolhouse -- the little -- >> mayor: library.

[1:37:58] >> library that's outside of the coral gables country club.

[1:38:00] This was a passion of hers.

[1:38:02] And I think it's a small token that we can do to remember jeannett and what she did for our city, for literacy.

[1:38:11] And I'm looking forward to having the literacy festival on commissioner jeannett slesnick literacy row for many years to come.

[1:38:20] >> mayor: mayor, thank you for being here with us.

[1:38:22] >> thank you, mr.

[1:38:22] Mayor and vice mayor and commissioners.

[1:38:26] Let me say that, first of all -- okay.

[1:38:33] 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

[1:38:50] her and for the family.

[1:38:53] So I thank you, thank you, thank you for that.

[1:38:55] The literacy festival was very meaningful to jeannett.

[1:38:59] Literacy was meaningful to her.

[1:39:00] Books were meaningful to her.

[1:39:02] And she loved working with sam josephs.

[1:39:04] I mean she and sam were quite a team.

[1:39:08] And I mean what sam does for the city and for the literacy festival goes without saying that he is quite a personage.

[1:39:18] And we think highly of him.

[1:39:19] And I know jeannett did.

[1:39:21] And I have today with me susie davis who worked with jeannett on these various projects hand in hand on different projects.

[1:39:29] So I can only say this is a very unexpected honor and something that we receive with gratitude.

[1:39:37] 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.

[1:39:54] So it's about the literacy festival and what happened out there.

[1:39:58] I hope people will enjoy that and show their support next year's festival and be out there.

[1:40:05] And I have to tell you, I know you all were there.

[1:40:08] I had a meeting that morning.

[1:40:10] I came out later.

[1:40:11] And what a wonderful moment for the city and for the community recreation department.

[1:40:18] I mean they worked so hard.

[1:40:21] And they do so many things, but this is one of the things that they do so well.

[1:40:25] And fred and carolina and the whole staff, a great deal of compliments to you all.

[1:40:31] I can't believe fred is still here.

[1:40:35] [laughter] >> he can't either.

[1:40:38] [laughter] >> and, you know, I was noticing earlier, I knew billy when he looked like a kid.

[1:40:43] And now look -- he's a distinguished older gentleman.

[1:40:47] [laughter] >> distinguished.

[1:40:48] >> but thank you, commissioner.

[1:40:51] Thank you, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, thank you.

[1:40:53] >> mayor: thank you, mayor.

[1:40:54] Thank you for being with us.

[1:41:00] [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.

[1:41:13] I know we spoke about it.

[1:41:15] >> there are some possibilities to do at the entrance of it and maybe -- I'm always thinking of events.

[1:41:21] It would be great to do an unveiling at the start of the next literacy festival in may.

[1:41:28] And in our opening of the festival will be the unveiling.

[1:41:31] I think something that we do like a bronze kind of plaque, I think that would be the way to go.

[1:41:35] And obviously, we'll work with the family as we have done before on many things and get something that's appropriate there.

[1:41:43] >> mayor: perfect.

[1:41:44] >> that means I have to live until next year.

[1:41:47] [laughter] >> you do.

[1:41:48] >> it gfs me a goal.

[1:41:51] [laughter] yes.

[1:41:52] >> always moves the goal post.

[1:41:53] >> thank you, mayor.

[1:41:54] Appreciate it.

[1:41:55] >> after you're through this, I want to make a comment from the landmarks board.

[1:41:59] It will be a quick comment.

[1:42:00] Do you want it now?

[1:42:02] >> mayor: please.

[1:42:02] >> as chair of your landmarks advisory board, I wanted to say thank you from the citizens of coral gables.

[1:42:09] 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.

[1:42:26] 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.

[1:42:34] I mean this is constant.

[1:42:35] This commission will do this, the next commission will do it, I hope and pray and so forth.

[1:42:41] As we get ready for our 100th birthday, you're doing the exact right thing.

[1:42:46] Again today I say thank you, thank you, thank you.

[1:42:49] >> thank you for your service on the board.

[1:42:50] >> mayor: thank you, mayor, great work.

[1:42:52] >> I'll make a motion.

[1:42:55] >> second.

[1:42:56] >> mr.

[1:42:56] Mayor, we have a member of the public requesting to speak on the public.

[1:43:01] >> mayor: okay.

[1:43:01] >> mrs.

[1:43:05] Maria cruz.

[1:43:10] >> mrs.

[1:43:13] Maria cruz, 1447 miller road.

[1:43:14] As I sit here, I can only imagine jeannett smiling from heaven.

[1:43:20] That's all I have to say.

[1:43:24] Thank you.

[1:43:24] >> mayor: anything else?

[1:43:26] >> that's it, sir.

[1:43:26] >> mayor: we have a motion and second.

[1:43:28] >> commissioner castro.

[1:43:29] >> yes.

[1:43:29] >> commissioner fernandez.

[1:43:30] >> yes.

[1:43:30] >> commissioner menendez.

[1:43:31] >> yes.

[1:43:32] >> vice mayor anderson.

[1:43:33] >> yes.

[1:43:34] >> mayor lago.

[1:43:35] >> mayor: yes.

[1:43:35] We will take a five-minute break

[1:46:04] >> mayor: madam city attorney.

[1:46:05] >> 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

[1:46:22] plat book 8 of the public records of miami dade county florida.

[1:46:31] >> assistant historic preservation officer for the city of coral gables.

[1:46:33] I'm sure you guys know, but the ad valorem program is our incentive.

[1:46:45] This project we are excited to bring to you because it is incredibly worthy of having this commendation.

[1:46:51] If you can run the powerpoint, please.

[1:46:54] So property location, you guys are probably familiar with the alhambra hotel.

[1:46:59] This is a 1926 photograph of the property.

[1:47:04] And this is a photo dated last month.

[1:47:07] This is a very early permit number 86 in the city.

[1:47:11] It was constructed in 1924, 1925.

[1:47:15] 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.

[1:47:25] So to say that these owners rescued this building and brought it back to life could not be a truer statement.

[1:47:33] 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.

[1:47:40] So structural repairs, structural reinforcement of the entire building from the interior with no impact on the exterior.

[1:47:48] New impact resistant casement windows and doors to match the original.

[1:47:54] 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

[1:48:15] tiled roof, restoration of the original window grill, reintroduction of two door openings that were previously closed.

[1:48:21] 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.

[1:48:39] Restoration of these gates and the full courtyard, you name it, they did it.

[1:48:45] This is the courtyard and that's a great photo.

[1:48:48] This is the interior of the courtyard.

[1:48:55] This is what they inherited.

[1:48:57] [laughter] what they purchased.

[1:49:01] Thankfully.

[1:49:01] And then you can't really quet any great interior shots because it's all built out.

[1:49:06] But it's, you know, wonderful.

[1:49:13] So we obviously recommend approval.

[1:49:16] The historic preservation board recommended approval.

[1:49:17] The owners of the property are here if you wish to hear from them or wish to thank them.

[1:49:22] >> mayor: I just want to briefly say thank you to the owners.

[1:49:25] 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.

[1:49:36] 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.

[1:49:45] 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.

[1:49:57] You brought two world-class restaurants, a bunch of great tenants in an area that needed it.

[1:50:02] It's a little bit of a difficult area as a result of a location that's kind of tucked away behind a building.

[1:50:08] But I also want to mention something that you didn't mention.

[1:50:11] This building has a distinction that they will always have.

[1:50:17] 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.

[1:50:27] They are the first michelin rated restaurant in the city of coral gables.

[1:50:30] And that, to me, is something amazing.

[1:50:32] 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,

[1:50:46] 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.

[1:50:56] So I just want to congratulate you and thank you for being good stewards of this building.

[1:51:02] 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.

[1:51:12] I want to thank you for that.

[1:51:14] >> michelin star is not my purview at all.

[1:51:16] But I did want to note that they actually took it upon themselves to list the building on the national register as well.

[1:51:23] So they have really gone above and beyond what we would have wanted for this buildings.

[1:51:28] >> mayor: they brought two world-class restaurants.

[1:51:31] I mean again the other restboushonand we congratulate .

[1:51:44] Would you like to say a few words?

[1:51:50] Mr.

[1:51:50] Clerk, any public comment?

[1:51:54] >> no.

[1:51:55] >> mayor: entertain a motion.

[1:51:57] >> so moved.

[1:51:59] >> second.

[1:51:59] [roll call] >> mayor: yes.

[1:52:02] Thank you very much.

[1:52:02] Great work.

[1:52:03] Congratulations.

[1:52:05] Well deserved.

[1:52:07] Well deserved.

[1:52:10] I'm trying to see if we have enough time to sneak in e-8 and e-9 prior to 11:30.

[1:52:16] We have almost 20 minutes.

[1:52:17] Do you think that we can -- let's hear e-8 and e-9 that are together.

[1:52:23] >> mayor, I'll start with e-9, a resolution of the city commission with attachments for the period of october 1, 2023 through september 30th, 2025.

[1:52:37] 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.

[1:52:50] Amending section 46-25, definitions amending section 46-253, providing for codification and providing for effective date.

[1:53:02] >> mayor: do we have our finance director or raquel here?

[1:53:05] >> I believe our.

[1:53:11] >> mayor: I can always move on to another item, not a problem.

[1:53:17] 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.

[1:53:24] >> it would be.

[1:53:28] >> mayor: really quick, I'm going to move to item f-5 which is a simple one.

[1:53:32] Mr.

[1:53:32] Clerk, I'm moving on to something very simple.

[1:53:38] This is an item I put on the agenda, item f-5 deals with -- >> that's the old agenda.

[1:53:45] >> mayor: I don't have the new one.

[1:53:49] >> they are renumbered.

[1:53:52] >> mayor: so let me have f-6 is the item that I want to put up as the san marti sculpture.

[1:54:01] Do you know if staff sent the photos?

[1:54:05] >> they did.

[1:54:05] >> 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.

[1:54:17] This sculpture was adopted to the city of coral gables.

[1:54:19] In my opinion, I was out there two weeks ago with my father and activists on both sides of the issue.

[1:54:24] I think we have to be very, very thoughtful and very methodical on how we conduct ourselves here as a city.

[1:54:29] You know, these are one side of the discussion where individuals take advantage of that sculpture.

[1:54:38] And then you also have some other photos that I have included.

[1:54:43] To me, we have to be very careful to make sure that this doesn't happen here in the city.

[1:54:47] And I'll tell you why.

[1:54:49] I am all for individuals being able to demonstrate their constitutional rights, all for it.

[1:54:56] But we cannot allow people to deface a sculpture here in the city.

[1:55:00] We cannot.

[1:55:00] 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.

[1:55:11] We want to be able to send a message.

[1:55:13] But then we have these kind of incidents that kind of infuriate both sides.

[1:55:17] Then the other side wants to put a cuban flag on the memorial in recognition of jose marti's leadership.

[1:55:27] I'm bringing this to your attention because I was not there at this moment.

[1:55:31] Our police handled the issue and did a great job.

[1:55:34] We have to be very thoughtful.

[1:55:35] 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.

[1:55:46] No matter what the monument is, today it was jose marti.

[1:55:52] Just bringing this to your attention because I imagine you have probably seen it on social media.

[1:55:57] It painted the city as a city that was allowing this to happen.

[1:56:01] And there was a little bit of confusion.

[1:56:04] There was a little bit of confusion.

[1:56:05] I talked to the city attorney.

[1:56:06] I talked to our police chief about the issue.

[1:56:09] 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.

[1:56:21] But there has to be limits and there has to be respect.

[1:56:26] Mr.

[1:56:26] Clerk.

[1:56:27] >> mrs.

[1:56:27] Maria cruz would like to make some comments.

[1:56:36] >> good morning again.

[1:56:37] Mrs.

[1:56:38] Maria cruz.

[1:56:38] I think it is important to give credit where credit is due.

[1:56:41] Thank you, mayor, for bringing this up.

[1:56:48] >> mayor: mr.

[1:56:48] Clerk, do you have any other comments?

[1:56:50] >> no, mr.

[1:56:51] Mayor.

[1:56:51] >> mayor: just bringing it to your attention.

[1:56:53] I don't know what we can do.

[1:56:54] If you'd like to sit down with the city attorney, people have constitutional rights for freedom of speech.

[1:57:00] I stand by that.

[1:57:01] Stand by that.

[1:57:02] But let me tell you one last part of this and then we'll move on hopefully back to f-8 and f-9.

[1:57:08] 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.

[1:57:28] What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[1:57:31] 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?

[1:57:44] We wanted to make sure there's no confrontation.

[1:57:47] The police did an amazing job.

[1:57:48] I had a conversation with officer hoff.

[1:57:53] She was front and center, very proactive and everything worked out well.

[1:57:57] 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.

[1:58:10] One side says, why do you allow them to do this?

[1:58:12] We never allowed them to do this.

[1:58:14] The second part is, well, I want to do the same thing.

[1:58:17] It doesn't work in anyone's favor.

[1:58:21] I know some of these things just pop up from one minute to the next.

[1:58:24] They are not preplanned.

[1:58:26] I just wanted to bring to your attention because you may get calls about this.

[1:58:30] I know it was on social media painting the city as we were being tolerant of this type of behavior.

[1:58:36] I'm not tolerant of this behavior.

[1:58:37] I will not stand for this behavior.

[1:58:40] I am 110% on the other side of this issue.

[1:58:42] There's no discussion on it, in my opinion.

[1:58:44] Yes, ma'am.

[1:58:44] >> fortunately, this time it wasn't, you know, spray paint or something permanent.

[1:58:48] But no, we cannot be tolerant.

[1:58:51] Because then the stepbrother -- and the rules apply to both sides.

[1:58:57] >> I think we are a law-abiding city and law-abiding community.

[1:59:04] 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.

[1:59:17] Because the world is very volatile.

[1:59:20] And the hostilities are running rampant internationally, miami, south florida?

[1:59:28] , coral gables, we're no exception.

[1:59:31] We do believe in the rule of law.

[1:59:32] 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.

[1:59:43] >> echoing some of the comments that have already been made, individuals do have a first amendment right to protest.

[1:59:50] That is something that they have a constitutional right to do so.

[1:59:53] It has to be done in a respectful way.

[1:59:56] Just like the way that, you know, discourse is handled.

[1:59:59] 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

[2:00:16] so many years.

[2:00:17] 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.

[2:00:27] I commend chief hudak.

[2:00:31] He told me it was something handled by the officers on the scene.

[2:00:35] Our officers have been properly trained to address and de-escalate situations like this.

[2:00:39] 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.

[2:00:52] >> mayor: okay, mr.

[2:00:52] Clerk, we have another public comment?

[2:00:54] >> yes, mr.

[2:00:54] Mayor.

[2:00:55] On zoom, we have myra jollee who would like to make some comments on this item.

[2:01:03] >> mayor: ms.

[2:01:03] Jolee, good morning.

[2:01:04] >> good morning.

[2:01:06] >> mayor: I'm sorry to interrupt you.

[2:01:07] We can barely hear you, I apologize.

[2:01:10] >> what about now?

[2:01:12] >> mayor: can you put it a little bit higher if you don't mind?

[2:01:19] >> okay.

[2:01:19] That's as high as it go.

[2:01:23] >> mayor: okay.

[2:01:24] >> can you hear me if I talk louder?

[2:01:27] >> mayor: it's still low but we want to hear what you have to say.

[2:01:30] Please go ahead.

[2:01:30] >> okay.

[2:01:31] My video is not coming through?

[2:01:33] >> your video, no.

[2:01:35] >> mayor: your video is not coming through, now it's just a blank screen.

[2:01:38] Just says your name on it.

[2:01:41] >> let me fix it, okay, because I need you guys to see me and what I'm going to say.

[2:01:50] I don't want anybody to think that I'm hiding.

[2:01:54] Let me see if I can do it like that, okay.

[2:01:57] All right.

[2:01:58] That's the best I can do.

[2:02:02] I understand and I applaud the fact that we are protecting our monument.

[2:02:13] In this case, what somebody tried to do to the jose marti.

[2:02:23] In the same predicament I find myself.

[2:02:26] 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 of america.

[2:02:47] If we are going to protect our monument, the flag is the representative of all of us.

[2:02:54] That union of everybody.

[2:02:55] 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.

[2:03:09] And I suggest, and I will ask, that the flag of the lgbtq be moved to that side.

[2:03:16] At least allow the flag of the united states of america, which is the flag that unite us all, to be flown by itself.

[2:03:26] 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.

[2:03:42] 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.

[2:03:58] Thank you.

[2:03:58] >> mayor: thank you very much.

[2:03:59] Have a wonderful day.

[2:04:02] Mr.

[2:04:03] Clerk.

[2:04:03] >> mr.

[2:04:03] Mayor.

[2:04:04] >> mayor: okay, perfect.

[2:04:05] Worry not taking any action.

[2:04:07] Moving to item f-8 and f-9.

[2:04:11] >> mayor, it's e-8 and e-9.

[2:04:14] And I already read them into the record.

[2:04:16] >> we're doing the resolution first?

[2:04:18] >> I think so.

[2:04:19] That would be appropriate.

[2:04:19] >> good morning, raquel risk management for the city.

[2:04:26] We have reached a two-year agreement with the fraternal order of police.

[2:04:31] The agreement is from october 1, 2023 through september 30th of 2025.

[2:04:35] The agreement has been approved by the f.o.p.

[2:04:37] And it is before you pending your final ratification and approval.

[2:04:41] 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.

[2:04:50] The city views this as a very favorable and financially sound contract beneficial to both the city and the employees.

[2:04:57] >> mayor: thank you.

[2:04:58] Do we have any public comment?

[2:05:00] >> yes, mr.

[2:05:01] Mayor.

[2:05:01] Mrs.

[2:05:12] Maria cruz.

[2:05:13] >> mrs.

[2:05:15] Maria cruz, 1447 miller road.

[2:05:16] I want to make it simple.

[2:05:19] I support both e-8 and e-9.

[2:05:26] Very supportive.

[2:05:26] >> mayor: I have a motion.

[2:05:28] >> a move it.

[2:05:31] >> second.

[2:05:32] >> just to be clear, we're voting on the resolution first.

[2:05:37] >> yes.

[2:05:38] >> commissioner menendez.

[2:05:39] >> yes.

[2:05:39] >> vice mayor anderson.

[2:05:40] >> yes.

[2:05:41] >> commissioner castro.

[2:05:42] >> yes.

[2:05:42] >> commissioner fernandez.

[2:05:43] >> yes.

[2:05:43] >> mayor lago.

[2:05:44] >> mayor: yes.

[2:05:44] Moving on to e-8.

[2:05:46] >> 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

[2:06:01] making the fdle pay that will start in fiscal year '25 pensionable.

[2:06:05] >> I'll move it.

[2:06:07] >> second.

[2:06:07] >> mayor: mr.

[2:06:08] Clerk, do we have any public comment on e-8?

[2:06:10] >> no, mr.

[2:06:12] Mayor.

[2:06:12] Vice mayor anderson.

[2:06:13] >> yes.

[2:06:13] >> commissioner castro.

[2:06:14] >> yes.

[2:06:14] >> commissioner fernandez.

[2:06:15] >> yes.

[2:06:15] >> commissioner menendez.

[2:06:16] >> yes.

[2:06:17] >> mayor lago.

[2:06:18] >> mayor: yes.

[2:06:18] >> thank you.

[2:06:19] >> 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

[2:06:32] will make sure that we adequately pay our officers and begin filling our vacancies as quickly as possible.

[2:06:38] I think this is a great step forward for our city.

[2:06:40] And I appreciate the work that all of you put into this.

[2:06:44] >> chris challenger did want to be here today but he is out of town and I believe in orlando in an f.o.p.

[2:06:49] Conference.

[2:06:50] >> mayor: thank you.

[2:06:50] >> thank you.

[2:06:52] >> mayor: moving on to -- we have a time certain item at 11:30.

[2:06:56] Maybe we can hear one more, item f-8 and go through something very quick.

[2:07:03] F-8 is something I have been working on for the last probably year and a half and change.

[2:07:10] It was brought to me by a resident during office hours.

[2:07:13] And it's been something that, you know, I think is going to be a positive, positive opportunity for the city.

[2:07:20] Thank you for jumping up here, my friend, I appreciate it.

[2:07:24] I don't know if we have some -- do we have some -- do we have any slide?

[2:07:28] >> we have a couple of slides.

[2:07:30] >> mayor: okay, perfect.

[2:07:31] This was something brought to me by a resident.

[2:07:33] We started talking about it.

[2:07:35] 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 styrofoam and plastic bags, credit where credit is due, my daughters are fan oocts of

[2:07:57] environmental stewardship.

[2:07:57] They want to put away the plastic bags and not throw them away because you can't put them in recycling.

[2:08:03] We tell people that's contaminants.

[2:08:06] What we are doing is -- this interesting individual brought this forward.

[2:08:11] She was incredibly enthusiastic.

[2:08:14] We brought it to the commission I think two times.

[2:08:16] We are trying to find the proper fit over the last two years.

[2:08:19] 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.

[2:08:28] 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.

[2:08:37] With that, I'd like for our incredible team, who does a wonderful job, to take a away.

[2:08:43] >> good morning, mayor, commissioners.

[2:08:45] 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.

[2:08:53] Since we became an affiliate in july of 2020, we have done over 176 events and programs in that short period of time.

[2:09:01] We have been really, really busy between solange and myself and my team that is back in the office.

[2:09:07] We have been busy.

[2:09:08] We just had a cleanup event at ingraham park this past friday.

[2:09:13] So we have engaged with over 28,000 participants.

[2:09:16] And we have been able to remove over 790,000 pounds from the waste stream basically.

[2:09:24] So go to the next slide.

[2:09:26] 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.

[2:09:39] 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.

[2:09:51] So we have those three bins located in those locations.

[2:09:54] You have see the list of items that you can bring.

[2:09:57] And we picked this program because we were able to set this program up.

[2:10:01] We were looking at two different programs.

[2:10:03] The n nextrex and tara recycle, because this is zero cost to the city, zero impact to the city.

[2:10:11] We were able to get these bins for free.

[2:10:13] And my team is going to be the ones handling logistics when the bins are full.

[2:10:19] We are coordinating with sprouts on 27th avenue.

[2:10:21] And my team will be taking those items over.

[2:10:23] And they have a much larger brand that they coordinate with nextrex and we will deposit those there.

[2:10:28] And then nextrex picks up the programs from there.

[2:10:31] Again, keeping cost at a minimum to no cost to the city was important to us.

[2:10:36] And establishing programs like this.

[2:10:37] We have seen a lot of success in the programs we have

[2:10:41] 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.

[2:10:51] 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.

[2:10:59] We have all of these marketing materials up on the bins themselves and on our city website, on our keep coral gables beautiful website.

[2:11:07] >> 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.

[2:11:22] We had the additional signage printed and they are on the side of each bin.

[2:11:26] 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.

[2:11:37] We want to make sure that they don't throw these plastic bags at home, only in here.

[2:11:45] 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.

[2:12:02] >> 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.

[2:12:10] She was never deterred.

[2:12:12] It was the most efficient way and to do something for the environment.

[2:12:19] 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,

[2:12:41] I put all of the plastic bags into it along with everything else you accept, I usually take it to publix.

[2:12:48] Now I have an opportunity take it to three facility in coral gables.

[2:12:53] I'll mention it in my news letter.

[2:12:55] 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.

[2:13:07] Thank you to your entire team.

[2:13:08] I was happy to see when we got this started.

[2:13:10] 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.

[2:13:23] >> we have two more slides just showing the products that once we reach certain thresholds that we're able to get.

[2:13:30] 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.

[2:13:50] When we were looking for locations, they were always volunteering to say the youth center or even the adult activity center.

[2:13:57] They were very excitedded to have the launch event there because they've had a lot of residents asking for similar type

[2:14:12] .

[2:14:13] >> 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.

[2:14:26] >> mayor: two last points for consideration.

[2:14:28] 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.

[2:14:37] They're rusting out there.

[2:14:38] We need to address that, we sneed to figure it out.

[2:14:42] It's looking really bad, especially in ponce circle park.

[2:14:46] 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.

[2:15:01] 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

[2:15:18] 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.

[2:15:30] 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.

[2:15:44] These are made of plastic so they will last for a long, long time.

[2:15:48] I think it's an opportunity to month ties it and use the funds we get to even more sustainable products.

[2:16:04] Yes, ma'am.

[2:16:04] >> I do have questions there's dog food bags and stuff.

[2:16:19] >> 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

[2:16:36] last week I believe, we'll continue to promote the program like we do the battery recycling throughout the year.

[2:16:42] >> mayor: you all e-mails and liaisons are on the news letter list.

[2:16:47] 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.

[2:17:02] 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.

[2:17:10] >> okay.

[2:17:10] >> mayor: thank you very much.

[2:17:15] Awesome work.

[2:17:18] >> exciting, I can clean out my garage.

[2:17:22] >> mayor: moving on to f 3.

[2:17:24] >> 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

[2:17:41] by resolution 2024-96.

[2:17:44] >> 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.

[2:18:00] >> thank you very much.

[2:18:01] >> mayor: good morning.

[2:18:07] >> thank you for the opportunity to be here today and for proposing the resolution.

[2:18:11] 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.

[2:18:29] We're grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve the community better with this ramp.

[2:18:32] Thank you for the opportunity to consider it.

[2:18:36] 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 this situation.

[2:18:49] >> 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.

[2:19:00] 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

[2:19:21] 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,

[2:19:39] but I appreciate the time being able to walk through the facility, see the mezzanine area and the needs as well.

[2:19:47] I did go over with your facilities manager a couple of other items that are necessary.

[2:19:52] 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

[2:20:11] some concern that what we do for one, we have to do for another.

[2:20:14] We have that same issue with whether it's protesters thinking that they are, treated differently, and we have that with tenants as well.

[2:20:28] 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

[2:20:46] the facility.

[2:20:47] >> thank you, vice-mayor.

[2:20:48] I would like to substantiate your request for the holding zone out in front of the theater.

[2:20:53] We have many requests from people who have special needs and it's difficult to get in.

[2:20:58] I appreciate that recommendation.

[2:21:00] >> thank you.

[2:21:01] >> mayor: anything else?

[2:21:04] >> 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.

[2:21:15] >> 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

[2:21:35] to expend the funds for valid municipal purpose.

[2:21:41] 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.

[2:22:04] 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.

[2:22:12] Where we vote?

[2:22:13] Favor for one and not the other, so that's our role.

[2:22:16] 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 not concerned abouter others who may have an issue, like the museum, because quite hoinltd, we're here to go

[2:22:38] on a case by case manner.

[2:22:40] I honestly believe this is a community purpose that we're doing.

[2:22:46] >> 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.

[2:22:57] 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

[2:23:10] one of us if we treat them differently.

[2:23:13] If we deviate from terms of leases on one and not another.

[2:23:20] >> one of the issues and probably may explain, there's a window that you have -- I'm sorry, through the mayor.

[2:23:27] >> mayor: we have a motion.

[2:23:28] You made a motion?

[2:23:31] >> yes.

[2:23:31] >> mayor: does anybody want to second the motion?

[2:23:33] I'll second the motion.

[2:23:39] Mr.

[2:23:39] Clerk, do we have public comment before I move forward?

[2:23:42] >> yes, mr.

[2:23:45] Mayor.

[2:23:45] Ms.

[2:23:47] Maria cruz.

[2:23:57] >> mrs.

[2:23:59] Maria cruz.

[2:24:04] $41,900 to provide ada complaint ramp and railings for people that need that.

[2:24:14] , 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

[2:24:45] 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.

[2:25:07] But yet, this is a need, and we cannot keep postponing it.

[2:25:11] This needs to be done.

[2:25:14] 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.

[2:25:27] I am sorry, I support the item as written and I think it's long overdue that we do this.

[2:25:34] >> okay, so I just want to clarify something.

[2:25:37] No one is saying it's not going to be approved.

[2:25:40] It's called a loan and the money would be immediately provided.

[2:25:44] >> so I think we will need some clarification on that.

[2:25:47] >> mayor: before we move, madam city attorney, I think there were some comments that were made that I think may have to be corrected.

[2:25:55] Number one, when you talk about burger bob's, that's a city-controlled asset.

[2:26:00] There is no tenant in that property.

[2:26:01] No one is making money on that property.

[2:26:05] 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.

[2:26:17] And number two, that project was dealt through the budgeting process.

[2:26:23] We had a budget cycle, we discussed it.

[2:26:25] We wanted to find out how much money to allocate to that project.

[2:26:29] We took money from different line items.

[2:26:32] 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.

[2:26:40] And I'm not sure exact what it was, I can't remember at this moment, but we went through a budgeting process.

[2:26:47] 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.

[2:26:57] Before we move on to the city attorney and further comment, I want to make sure we address all public comment.

[2:27:03] Mr.

[2:27:03] Clerk, do we have anything else?

[2:27:05] >> no, mr.

[2:27:06] Mayor.

[2:27:06] >> mayor: I'll close public comment.

[2:27:09] Madam city attorney, sorry to interrupt you.

[2:27:11] >> yes, we would need clarification for the motion because the city is not in the business of loaning money.

[2:27:16] 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

[2:27:31] there would be a reimbursement.

[2:27:33] I would need clarification as what's meant.

[2:27:36] 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?

[2:27:50] >> it could be rephrased.

[2:27:59] 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.

[2:28:13] 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

[2:28:33] at the last minute here.

[2:28:35] So that's why I rephrase this and I think it's the fair way to do it.

[2:28:40] I do think that there's fund raising that could be done for this 501c3.

[2:28:46] It's a very vibrant facility in our community.

[2:28:49] 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

[2:29:08] people willing to do so.

[2:29:12] >> madam city attorney, last meeting, didn't we all ready vote to approve the funds?

[2:29:17] >> there was an approval to authorize this, but the amount had not been set.

[2:29:21] >> okay.

[2:29:21] >> 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.

[2:29:34] >> my understanding is that we had set the dollar amount.

[2:29:37] >> no.

[2:29:37] It was subject to the actors playhouse providing the additional quotes and the commission setting what the amount of what the reimbursement would be.

[2:29:47] >> I disagree with you.

[2:29:48] 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

[2:30:07] final approval.

[2:30:08] >> 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.

[2:30:15] Rather come back and the commission would come back and set the final amount.

[2:30:20] I'm happy to go back.

[2:30:23] >> that's my not recollection either.

[2:30:24] >> mayor: we have a motion and a second.

[2:30:26] Do you want to keep moving forward, madam vice-mayor, for a vote?

[2:30:30] >> yeah, might as well get the vote done.

[2:30:32] >> to your motion, appreciate the creativity, but the prior commission went down that road once with burger bob's.

[2:30:41] Much the mayor agreed that his company would find a way to get it done cheaper.

[2:30:45] 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

[2:31:02] because it is our property.

[2:31:05] 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

[2:31:26] on our asset as a city to ensure that will are no ada issues.

[2:31:31] Last time we heard about there's a lift and the lift is perfect.

[2:31:33] The lift is not, it's far from perfect.

[2:31:36] 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.

[2:31:48] There's definitely no space for an electric wheelchair f they come in one, they have to get off and -- >> may I respond.

[2:31:59] >> mayor: can I just add something, please?

[2:32:01] Mr.

[2:32:01] Clerk, will you do me a favor, please?

[2:32:04] >> yes, sir.

[2:32:04] >> mayor: it doesn't have to be for today.

[2:32:06] Fof the next commission meeting ladies and gentlemen you provide me a transcript in regard to my comment in regards to bugger bob's.

[2:32:13] There's a litany of things that happened at burger bob's that resulted.

[2:32:18] 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

[2:32:34] 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.

[2:32:45] 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

[2:32:58] to make sure we're speaking correctly on those matters.

[2:33:01] >> mr.

[2:33:02] Manager, I don't need you to spend staff time preparing that information.

[2:33:11] [overlapping speakers] >> you were finished with your comment.

[2:33:17] 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.

[2:33:27] Now you're saying there was issues with the demolition, x, y, or z, that's not the question at hand here.

[2:33:33] 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.

[2:33:45] >> mayor: may I respond?

[2:33:47] >> yes.

[2:33:47] >> 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.

[2:33:59] 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.

[2:34:07] Mr.

[2:34:07] Clerk, number one.

[2:34:08] Number two, the issue with, I'm not blaming it on demolition.

[2:34:13] 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

[2:34:27] to structural integrity of the building what I'm asking the clerk, don't want to go lou the manager, fine.

[2:34:34] I can request through the manager that this get requested.

[2:34:37] 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

[2:34:51] to take care of this.

[2:34:52] That doesn't work that way.

[2:34:54] We can get to the bottom of it.

[2:34:55] It's very simple, it's not a big issue, but at the end of the day, burger bob's will be completed.

[2:35:02] 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.

[2:35:15] 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.

[2:35:25] 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.

[2:35:35] If you would like to have a vote, or madam vice-mayor -- >> I do need to respond.

[2:35:42] 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.

[2:35:59] 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.

[2:36:12] 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.

[2:36:26] 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.

[2:36:39] There's ways to get things done other than having a reimbursement on an item based on a bid.

[2:36:49] 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.

[2:37:05] 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.

[2:37:24] We can work out reasonable terms.

[2:37:25] 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

[2:37:39] every single tenant in our city that we rent to.

[2:37:42] 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.

[2:37:56] 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.

[2:38:08] >> I have a question.

[2:38:09] Do we still have any doubts or questioning regard being

[2:38:16] do we still have any doubts or questioning regard regarding the pricing?

[2:38:17] I know that was one of the concerns from a previous commission meeting?

[2:38:22] >> mayor: do you want me to respond or are you commissioner?

[2:38:27] >> you can respond.

[2:38:27] >> mayor: I do at the end of the day, I have doubts.

[2:38:30] I haven't been afforded the actual pricing.

[2:38:33] I haven't looked at the unit quantity.

[2:38:35] I find it impossible to believe that price is that much.

[2:38:39] Also, you're talking about a ramp, you're talking about an existing building that is ada compliant.

[2:38:45] It's not out-of-compliance.

[2:38:46] You're in compliance right now, so I don't want to rush into nothing.

[2:38:51] At the end of the day, I have a lot of questions.

[2:38:53] Have you read the contract, the contract for -- did you read the contract?

[2:39:01] >> there was -- >> mayor: did you read the contract between the city -- >> no, I haven't.

[2:39:05] >> mayor: did you also read the ada report that was given to the city that was done by the city on july 2019?

[2:39:16] >> no.

[2:39:16] >> mayor: do you know the miracle theater is in the report?

[2:39:19] >> where are these questions referring to?

[2:39:23] >> mayor: I'm asking because these are all -- I'm speaking into the record.

[2:39:27] 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.

[2:39:32] I didn't have access to this document, the ada, I had to request it.

[2:39:36] Much for example, the miracle theater chest not included in the ada review.

[2:39:41] I've reviewed the entire document.

[2:39:42] If you look at, it all of the facilities reviewed by the ada consultant, right here.

[2:39:48] To me, I think there's a lot of unanswered questions.

[2:39:51] I don't want to get into that fact.

[2:40:02] We need to understand moving forward what we can do to avoid scenarios.

[2:40:06] >> mr.

[2:40:06] Mayor, am I aloud to speak at this point or wait for the vote?

[2:40:12] >> mayor: we do things differently but out of respect for you, you can speak.

[2:40:16] >> thank you very much.

[2:40:17] I appreciate the comments from everybody and the ideas from everybody, they're very creative.

[2:40:23] 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,

[2:40:39] which is quality, integrity, and follow through in the seven year of our existence as a prosks nal amortization at that time.

[2:40:47] 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

[2:41:06] that time.

[2:41:07] 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.

[2:41:18] 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

[2:41:38] rebuilt, redone, and upgraded our equipment, even during covid.

[2:41:42] 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.

[2:41:52] We are constantly upgrading our hearing impaired equipment and we're now redoing our website to be ada complaint.

[2:42:05] 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

[2:42:18] the space is very small and we wanted to have an ambient lobby and experience up there.

[2:42:24] It was a great opportunity at that time.

[2:42:27] Now our audience is aging out and we have people coming in with walkers, a lot of walkers in matinees.

[2:42:33] It's very difficult to get them up a squeaky lift.

[2:42:37] 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.

[2:42:46] 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.

[2:42:53] 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

[2:43:11] major heavy equipment or large equipment.

[2:43:16] We have a window of time which is very unusually for the organization.

[2:43:20] 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.

[2:43:35] That's actually a very costly proposition for us.

[2:43:46] 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

[2:44:01] be closed down to build this ramp.

[2:44:03] It isn't just a ramp and it's not just a little bit of plywood.

[2:44:08] There's very little plywood because I've checked with our contractors and we have three bids, two are very comparable.

[2:44:14] The cost of the railings alone in today's market is almost $12,000.

[2:44:24] You have demolition, you have building, you have all kind of aspects of what you have to do, drywall, painting.

[2:44:32] 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.

[2:44:40] 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.

[2:44:53] 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.

[2:45:03] 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.

[2:45:14] One more thing I would like to add.

[2:45:16] 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

[2:45:33] the cost of the lift as it would to build a ramp that allows more comfort to people disabled, more independence, without having to go up a squeeze

[2:45:57] independence, without having to go up a squee squeaky lift.

[2:45:58] People would have to squeeze in on the size and the cost of it would equal the same.

[2:46:03] The lift alone would be over $20,000 for the larger lift.

[2:46:07] 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

[2:46:21] people coming to the theater and there's people who have not come for a long time because they're not comfortable.

[2:46:29] I cannot get to the balcony theater.

[2:46:32] We do at least two productions a year in the main stage in the upstairs balcony theater.

[2:46:38] 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.

[2:46:56] >> mayor: thank you very much.

[2:47:08] [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 the ro room it's out there, let's address the issue.

[2:47:40] >> the transcript mentioned when we were getting to the motion, I believe it was commissioner fernandez's amendment.

[2:47:48] My amendment would be for the three option offers to come back.

[2:47:52] Commissioner menendez said I'm fine with that, and then later on, we said we have a motion and a second.

[2:47:57] 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.

[2:48:08] Mayor lago says it's moving forward with the lowest vote and get two additional prices.

[2:48:14] Commissioner fernandez said bring it back to the commission, so once they have the lowest, the amount would be approved.

[2:48:21] The way I interpreted that is it has to come back to the commission to approve the amount.

[2:48:27] 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.

[2:48:40] >> mayor: I think we're caught on minutia.

[2:48:44] Iif the votes are there, it's going to be approved.

[2:48:46] I don't think we need to debate it back and forth whether it's an issue or not.

[2:48:51] I don't see it that way.

[2:48:52] If it's on the minutes, it's on the minutes.

[2:48:55] Do we have the minutes, like the actual transcript?

[2:49:00] >> that was the transcript I was reading through.

[2:49:02] >> 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.

[2:49:22] >> it's up to the commission how you want to move forward what you'd like to do.

[2:49:26] >> that's not my question.

[2:49:27] >> 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

[2:49:50] fernandez saying I would like to see three quotes because at no point did I change the language on 41-9.

[2:49:58] Others can comment about it, but it was my motion and I was the sponsor.

[2:50:06] >> and I seconded it main I ask a quick question?

[2:50:11] Madam city attorney, you say you have a difference of opinion.

[2:50:14] 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?

[2:50:23] >> so there was a change to the resolution as drafted, as presented.

[2:50:27] There was a change here that was done via amendment.

[2:50:30] 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.

[2:50:40] The purpose is to set the amount because for some reason or another, the commission may have decided to go with a different amount.

[2:50:47] 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

[2:51:03] 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.

[2:51:12] >> and though t that wasn't the intent of what I said.

[2:51:15] In about fact, commissioner menendez is correct.

[2:51:18] We voted on the 41-9.

[2:51:20] 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.

[2:51:32] I w wanted to make sure on the record we got those three proposals and they were apart of the public record.

[2:51:39] In my opinion, we voted on this last time.

[2:51:41] 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.

[2:51:53] >> it says to bring back to the commission.

[2:51:55] >> 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.

[2:52:08] >> I think we can have that clarification done here.

[2:52:10] It's something that can be done today.

[2:52:13] >> mayor: moving forward, obviously, there's a little bit of confusion on the motion, the verbiage, what was approved and what was not.

[2:52:24] At the end of the day, we can clarify it here with a vote.

[2:52:29] Madam city attorney's, what happens to the vice-mayor's ploation?

[2:52:34] >> there's been a motion and a second.

[2:52:36] >> mayor: can we take a vote?

[2:52:38] >> wouldn't that be to reconsider the last vote since we all ready approved the 412-9 -- >> at this point, her motion was to ask to convert it, so it's a motion to -- [overlapping speakers] it's not a motion to reconsider.

[2:52:55] She's making a motion to amend it.

[2:52:57] 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.

[2:53:07] >> 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.

[2:53:14] That's the problem with interpretation.

[2:53:16] >> 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.

[2:53:27] We are here today, you all can decide how you want to move forward.

[2:53:35] >> 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.

[2:53:52] Mr.

[2:53:52] Clerk, we have a motion and a second.

[2:53:57] >> okay.

[2:53:59] [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.

[2:54:21] >> vice-mayor anderson.

[2:54:22] >> because it will not display the process to convert it to a loan, yes.

[2:54:27] >> mayor lago.

[2:54:29] >> mayor: in agreeance with the vice-mayor's comments, it's a loan at the end of the day.

[2:54:33] It can be addressed immediately and addressed later as assistance for our friend here, so I'm yes.

[2:54:39] Now that failed.

[2:54:40] Moving on, I would like to speak -- I would like to speak to zeta if possible.

[2:54:51] Are you asking the manager if we can come up?

[2:54:54] >> hold on, but we've all ready approved -- there was a motion to amend what was all ready approved last time.

[2:55:01] Now you're bringing it up for reconsideration.

[2:55:04] >> mayor: commissioner, I'm not bringing up anything.

[2:55:07] I can have a conversation.

[2:55:08] I would appreciate it if you didn't interrupt it me.

[2:55:11] So, zeta, I have a few questions for.

[2:55:13] >> where can I help?

[2:55:16] >> mayor: where are we going to get the funds for this if it's approved today?

[2:55:19] Let's start somewhere else.

[2:55:21] Madam city attorney; this approved moving forward?

[2:55:24] Are we done?

[2:55:25] If we don't take any action today, do we move forward?

[2:55:29] >> 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.

[2:55:37] 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.

[2:55:48] >> mayor: I think we have to come to terms on that and move on.

[2:55:50] Of the votes are here, this is just clarification.

[2:55:53] My point is, zeta, first off, thank you for your hard work on this issue, I appreciate it.

[2:55:59] We're moving forward.

[2:56:01] Where would we get the money from?

[2:56:04] What line item would we draw upon in the city's budget?

[2:56:08] >> that, I would have to leave up to paula but I believe it's just coming out of general fund.

[2:56:22] Paula?

[2:56:22] >> mayor: thank you, paula.

[2:56:24] >> an electric ramp to come up these stairs.

[2:56:27] 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

[2:56:42] be used for ada improvements in facilities, and so that's where that funding would come from.

[2:56:47] >> mayor: so we have the funds, we?

[2:56:54] >> yes.

[2:56:54] >> mayor: we have no issues.

[2:56:56] Two more things.

[2:56:57] Number one, is the building currently ada compliant, yes or no?

[2:57:01] >> well, it is my understanding, sir, that -- >> mayor: she told me yesterday that it is ada compliant?

[2:57:08] ?

[2:57:09] >> it is my understand being that the lift as it is right now is complaint.

[2:57:14] >> mayor: fine.

[2:57:14] 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,

[2:57:30] you have to stick to that contract.

[2:57:33] If you start making, you know, opportunities for your tenants to wiggle their way out of certain responsibilities, it only -- this is the law.

[2:57:53] 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.

[2:58:08] As I read the contract, that's my understanding.

[2:58:11] Am I wrong or am I correct?

[2:58:13] >> the city attorney and I have both read the contract.

[2:58:16] The language is actually in the commission memo.

[2:58:19] It does make the tenant responsible for ada compliance in the building.

[2:58:28] >> mayor: I have no further questions.

[2:58:31] >> I do.

[2:58:31] I'm saying for me.

[2:58:32] >> mayor: I know you do.

[2:58:34] >> city attorney, you and I spoke and it was clear, and it's in the resolution.

[2:58:41] 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

[2:59:03] exist?

[2:59:04] >> correct.

[2:59:05] The proposed resolution is not illegal.

[2:59:08] You can make the determination and do this.

[2:59:10] >> 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

[2:59:32] 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.

[2:59:42] 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

[3:00:01] not wiggling out of any responsibility.

[3:00:03] We are for politics over people.

[3:00:04] 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.

[3:00:16] I'm moving forward and I know my position.

[3:00:18] 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

[3:00:28] ringer for something that is so common sense and so lo so log

[3:00:34] common sense and so lo so logso logical for people in need and I apologize for this circus.

[3:00:38] >> 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.

[3:00:54] So you can't have it both ways.

[3:00:56] 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.

[3:01:09] So we can't are have a double standard here.

[3:01:13] I'm going to make a motion to reaffirm the motion.

[3:01:18] >> through the mayor.

[3:01:19] >> mayor: I think you need to step back on the comments that were made.

[3:01:22] I appreciate the enthusiasm, and barbara and I had a great conversation yesterday.

[3:01:28] 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.

[3:01:39] >> thank you.

[3:01:39] >> mayor: while I appreciate the comments -- of the

[3:01:51] >> mayor: while I appreciate the comments -- of th of the biltmore.

[3:01:54] As zeta can tell you, the conversation was a long consideration.

[3:01:58] Boards were activated.

[3:02:01] You know, specialists in insurance were activated and we're very clear that the city would not be compromised as owners of the biltmore.

[3:02:09] Am I correct or am I wrong?

[3:02:11] >> mayor, I don't understand the question, I'm sorry.

[3:02:13] >> 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.

[3:02:23] 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.

[3:02:34] I would like you to explain what we did as a commission and voted unanimously in regards to the insurance for the biltmore.

[3:02:41] >> okay.

[3:02:41] Well, I think that I'm not actually the right person -- >> mayor: it could be racquel.

[3:02:56] >> thank you.

[3:02:58] 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

[3:03:10] 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.

[3:03:23] It had to be an ordinance and it came before the city commission.

[3:03:26] 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

[3:03:40] deductible or the amount of the damage, we would be able to draw on the 10 million-dollar letter of credit.

[3:03:46] >> mayor: I appreciate that.

[3:03:46] On that point, what happened after that when the renewal came for the ?ins.

[3:03:51] >> this year was much better.

[3:03:53] So that happened last year.

[3:03:54] So this year in 2024, they renew in march of 2024.

[3:03:59] The property market significantly is better.

[3:04:01] They were able to obtain the full 50 million that the lease currently requires so they are in compliance with the lease.

[3:04:07] That was only a one-year amendment.

[3:04:10] >> mayor: that happened across the board, both in the private and public sector, and I appreciate you offering a little clarity on that front.

[3:04:17] In regards to commissioner menendez's comments about politicizing this, it's not politics.

[3:04:23] This is just talking about financially what we're doing here in the city.

[3:04:27] I had the same opposition when we talked about the country club cafe.

[3:04:36] Very clear.

[3:04:36] We were talking about running the numbers and offering a rent of $5 per square foot.

[3:04:42] I adamantly opposed that.

[3:04:44] 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.

[3:04:52] 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.

[3:05:00] Again there's is not politics.

[3:05:01] We can bring up issues.

[3:05:02] 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.

[3:05:15] In my opinion, it's not a good look for the city.

[3:05:18] Vice-mayor dj you want to say something?

[3:05:20] >> 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.

[3:05:34] 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.

[3:05:49] Unfortunately, ms.

[3:05:49] Stein and I didn't have a chance to speak before you first brought the thing.

[3:05:54] I would have made other suggestions that could have possibly resulted in the same way if not better.

[3:06:00] 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

[3:06:10] 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.

[3:06:21] Yes, a ramp is the best option and I'll give you a simple reason why.

[3:06:26] 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

[3:06:39] 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.

[3:06:48] 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.

[3:07:00] The purpose of doing that is so we have consistency between our leases and our tenants.

[3:07:07] Very happy to help support and very, very happy to see that the theater is doing well.

[3:07:15] Thank you for all your time and dedication to our city.

[3:07:19] 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.

[3:07:34] It's about being uniformed among all of our tenants.

[3:07:40] >> mayor: was with you yesterday, correct.

[3:07:42] I looked at all of the resolutions.

[3:07:43] 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.

[3:07:53] 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.

[3:08:03] If you look at every single one of the votes, I have them all here going back even to 2015, I have it here.

[3:08:13] I have voted unanimously for the miracle theater when I didn't have to.

[3:08:19] This is not whether I support you or not.

[3:08:21] 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

[3:08:35] feeling that for some reason, like I said, there's an ax to grind.

[3:08:38] There's no ax to grind, but thank you for being here.

[3:08:42] Did you have something?

[3:08:44] >> madam direct edge, I don't think the question was fully answered about the biltmore.

[3:08:48] 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?

[3:08:59] >> technically, the biltmore would have had to -- [overlapping speakers] >> if they didn't have the financial resources, I guess we could take legal action.

[3:09:08] Ultimately, would have the city have been on the hook, probably.

[3:09:11] >> thank you.

[3:09:12] >> mayor: I want to explain something to explain something about insurance as a property owner.

[3:09:15] You can tell us.

[3:09:17] There wasn't capacity.

[3:09:19] They couldn't get the insurance.

[3:09:20] >> not last year.

[3:09:21] >> mayor: but I want to put that on the record.

[3:09:24] They couldn't get the insurance.

[3:09:26] Could go to market, let's do the simple math.

[3:09:28] I need to you get a hundred million dollar insurance company.

[3:09:32] They came back with 10 examples, I can't get the insurance.

[3:09:36] What do we do?

[3:09:37] Do we go uninsured you need the insurance.

[3:09:41] They went back, here we go again.

[3:09:44] We can't get you the insurance.

[3:09:45] They tried multiple times.

[3:09:47] 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.

[3:09:55] We need you to bump back up to the regular amounts and they did that.

[3:10:01] >> you did that and they tried, mr.

[3:10:03] 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

[3:10:14] treasure, but it's disengine disingenuous we did them a favor.

[3:10:16] I wanted it to come pro from you, not from me.

[3:10:22] Did we have any opportunity for them to binds at a higher amount, yes or no?

[3:10:27] >> for the amount requiressed under the lease was not sufficient capacity.

[3:10:31] The city had to take a little bit less that year and we did

[3:10:37] we did like a cost sharing in something similar to like the biltmore as well.

[3:10:44] >> mayor: we have a motion and second.

[3:10:46] Unless there is further comment, we can move forward.

[3:10:48] >> I'm sorry.

[3:10:49] Who made the motion?

[3:10:50] >> mayor: the motion was made by commissioner -- >> fernandez.

[3:10:54] >> mayor: fernandez and seconded by commissioner menendez.

[3:10:56] >> thank you.

[3:10:57] Commissioner fernandez.

[3:10:58] >> yes.

[3:10:58] >> commissioner menendez.

[3:10:59] >> yes.

[3:10:59] >> vice mayor anderson.

[3:11:00] >> no.

[3:11:01] >> commissioner castro.

[3:11:01] >> yes.

[3:11:02] >> mayor lago.

[3:11:03] >> mayor: no.

[3:11:04] Thank you very much.

[3:11:04] Good to see you.

[3:11:06] >> thank you very much.

[3:11:07] 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.

[3:11:13] We are dedicated to continue to present the highest quality of programming there and follow-up with everything that we do.

[3:11:22] And I'm only sorry this caused some commotion among this commission and we appreciate the opportunity to move forward.

[3:11:28] Thank you very much.

[3:11:28] >> mayor: like I told you before, like I told you yesterday when we met, I have no doubt you are committed to excellence.

[3:11:37] >> I want to make you a subscriber.

[3:11:39] >> mayor: I love theater.

[3:11:40] But I try to limit certain things.

[3:11:43] Thank you very much.

[3:11:44] >> and barbara, I apologize to you for having to endure this and to your team.

[3:11:49] >> we understand.

[3:11:49] >> the city deserved better and you deserved better.

[3:11:52] And I apologize on behalf of my colleagues.

[3:11:54] >> I just want to say we don't take this personally, anybody among us.

[3:11:58] We understand that everybody has a difference of opinion.

[3:12:01] And no apology is necessary.

[3:12:03] We understand we are a strong people.

[3:12:06] 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.

[3:12:14] >> mayor: thank you very much.

[3:12:14] We're going to skip f-4 and try to get into f-5.

[3:12:17] I think that's quick.

[3:12:18] I want to see if we can get a few things in before our lunch at 1:00.

[3:12:23] >> f-5 is resolution of the city commission authorizing satchmo blues bar and grill, inc.

[3:12:31] Doing business as fritz & france bierhaus to utilize the public space for a uefa european championship and copa america watch party.

[3:12:44] >> mayor: before we get started, is someone from the staff going to be speaking in regards to staff?

[3:12:49] >> the deputy city attorney can explain what the resolution says.

[3:12:52] >> yeah.

[3:12:53] >> mayor: that's what I would like to hear.

[3:12:54] >> again, good afternoon, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, as the city attorney stated, I'll defer the details to fred.

[3:13:00] But wanted to let you know how we got here today.

[3:13:03] 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.

[3:13:10] After the deadline for this agenda had already passed.

[3:13:12] 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.

[3:13:23] 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.

[3:13:33] There are certain conditions that are tied to the approval along with any other reasonable conditions deemed necessary by city staff.

[3:13:40] Happy to answer any questions about the resolution.

[3:13:42] As to the details of the event, I'll leave it to these two.

[3:13:45] >> 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.

[3:13:54] >> 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

[3:14:07] location during the year as well as set up and takedown of events and as to the details of that, I'll let fred.

[3:14:14] >> mayor: mr.

[3:14:14] Director, thank you for being here.

[3:14:17] >> thank you.

[3:14:17] 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.

[3:14:26] 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.

[3:14:36] 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.

[3:14:49] 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

[3:15:08] their screen and their setup each each and every time.

[3:15:09] They are requesting to have it up for the month for these two tournaments.

[3:15:14] In 2022, it was a similar request for the world cup.

[3:15:19] 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.

[3:15:28] 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.

[3:15:38] 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.

[3:15:47] The games aren't too late at night so we think we're okay there.

[3:15:50] 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.

[3:16:01] Or something like that.

[3:16:03] >> my name is harold norvai, owner of fritz & franz bierhaus.

[3:16:11] I'm basically asking the plaza setup for not the whole month but for 17 days.

[3:16:17] We can still bring it down to 15 days if necessary.

[3:16:21] 17 days would give us the 24 days of the year, with three days, we have st.

[3:16:26] Patrick's and four days oktoberfest in october.

[3:16:31] 17 days and I believe you all have the days there when these events occur.

[3:16:36] Some of these days, like sunday the 23rd, there's a 9:00 p.m.

[3:16:45] Game with grand panama, we will not have the screen on.

[3:16:48] 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

[3:17:03] tents down and the tables in if we have to bring it back out the next morning.

[3:17:08] So where you have a red line, there is no games the next day.

[3:17:13] So we could bring in the tables and store them inside of the restaurant.

[3:17:19] But basically it's for two days and then we have to bring it back out again.

[3:17:23] So what we are asking the city commission is give us the seven days, let us keep the setup as it is.

[3:17:30] We set it up one day before and we break it down on july 15th and everything will be gone.

[3:17:36] And we're going to pressure clean the plaza like usual.

[3:17:41] And when there is games, like fred mentioned at 9:00 p.m.

[3:17:46] As on thursday night, argentina and canada, first we didn't want to show these games outside.

[3:17:53] But we do expect a lot of people at that time.

[3:17:58] So it's up to the city commission to decide if you allow us to keep the 17 days the plaza set up.

[3:18:06] >> mayor: first off, thank you for being here.

[3:18:08] I want to mention something very quickly.

[3:18:10] I haven't got a complaint in months.

[3:18:13] So I want to commend you for your efforts.

[3:18:16] I usually have gotten complaints, obviously a lot of high-traffic events.

[3:18:21] Just sidewalk being a little dirty or a lot of noise.

[3:18:24] Not a lot but noise.

[3:18:25] I haven't gotten one.

[3:18:27] So I love giving credit where credit is due.

[3:18:29] >> thank you.

[3:18:29] >> I know you're working hard.

[3:18:32] We haven't agreed on certain issues in the past, but I want you to understand you have been working hard.

[3:18:38] You're in an area that has a lot of people and you also have residents living really right on top of you.

[3:18:43] So I want to commend you on that.

[3:18:46] I don't have an issue with the extension as long as staff feels comfortable with it and they are okay with it.

[3:18:50] You have police presence.

[3:18:52] You are obviously going to keep cleaning everything.

[3:18:54] >> yes.

[3:18:54] >> you're going to make sure the garbage is picked up.

[3:18:58] 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?

[3:19:11] >> what we do immediately after each game -- >> mayor: and it's overflowing.

[3:19:15] It's not your responsibility but our responsibility.

[3:19:16] Then when it ends up happening, we're not supposed to pick it up for two days from the moment of your event.

[3:19:22] It's overflowing for two days.

[3:19:24] Do you encounter that?

[3:19:26] >> I think we have this pretty much under control.

[3:19:29] After every game, I send my crew around and we clean up even on the street when the people toss the plastic cup.

[3:19:36] No problem, we pick it up.

[3:19:37] We ask the waste management for an extra pickup if need to.

[3:19:40] We ask for that.

[3:19:43] We have -- like you said, we have no incidents.

[3:19:46] I think we are very good with organizing all this.

[3:19:48] We have had no problems with the traffic flow in and out.

[3:19:53] What was beneficial to the city, we are continuously filling the parking lot when there's big games.

[3:20:00] The city is going to benefit with the 6,600 plaza fee.

[3:20:06] The restaurant around us -- we talk to them and they benefit.

[3:20:09] They have a lot of people coming also to them.

[3:20:11] 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.

[3:20:22] When the police says, look, there's enough people in the plaza, we stop.

[3:20:28] And on certain games like the semifinal, we do charge admission because it also keeps people out and keeps people in.

[3:20:35] And we monitor also the 3 feet from the sidewalk, the people -- that nobody stands and watch the game from outside.

[3:20:45] >> mayor: my potent was -- and I know you're doing that because you haven't got any complaints.

[3:20:49] Is for the director, if we can take a look at just monitoring -- we're doing a lot of pickups.

[3:20:56] Haven't got any complaints either.

[3:20:58] I just witnessed it after a big soccer game -- which I love the soccer games.

[3:21:02] After a big soccer game, I notice when people walk away, they throw their garbage in a city-owned garbage can.

[3:21:08] We're not picking that up for three or four days.

[3:21:10] That's regular programming.

[3:21:11] We don't need to pick it up more than we are picking it up because it's not being filled that fast.

[3:21:16] 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.

[3:21:23] It's not his fault.

[3:21:24] It's not the city's fault.

[3:21:26] Instead of people disposing of it at his restaurant, they are disposing as walking to the car.

[3:21:32] We all do it.

[3:21:33] Are you concurrenting that?

[3:21:34] Have you seen that?

[3:21:35] >> 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.

[3:21:42] But it happens.

[3:21:43] 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.

[3:21:53] But I have event staff that goes and checks so I'll make sure that they are checking.

[3:21:56] 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.

[3:22:08] >> just for the record I just wanted to clafer a few things about the resolution that's presented here today.

[3:22:13] Our understanding from the application was that 13 days.

[3:22:15] 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.

[3:22:23] We hadn't been presented with the list previously.

[3:22:25] That will be incorporated as the dates if that's what the commission approves.

[3:22:28] I just wanted to go over some of the conditions.

[3:22:30] Obviously, staff could not approve this in the regular course of business so that's why they are here today.

[3:22:35] But staff does have some conditions they would like to add if it's the will of the commission to approve the special event.

[3:22:40] 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.

[3:22:51] Amplified sound from remote speakers is prohibited except during the special event matches.

[3:22:55] 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.

[3:23:04] Off-duty police will be hired as city staff determines it is necessary during one of these special event matches.

[3:23:09] 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.

[3:23:19] 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.

[3:23:27] 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.

[3:23:36] So if it is more than just the television screens to be set up, we would want commission direction on that as well.

[3:23:48] >> and barricade.

[3:23:49] >> 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.

[3:24:00] >> I think what he was requesting was the tables to be there for -- the tables not to be taken down.

[3:24:09] >> what?

[3:24:09] >> I think what you were requesting was for the tables to stay there, right?

[3:24:13] >> we can have the total amount of 15 tables on the plaza.

[3:24:21] And also we could remove them in.

[3:24:22] But like I said, 11:00 at night, if it is folding tables, they do make some nice.

[3:24:27] I think it is not beneficial to take them down but would leave them up.

[3:24:31] If there is no game the next day, we don't even turn on the big screen.

[3:24:35] So there will be no service on the plaza at all or there will be no service at 9:00 a.m.

[3:24:40] In the morning, not necessary to show a 9:00 a.m.

[3:24:45] Game.

[3:24:46] So what we ask -- >> to clarify, the tents or setup includes tents, the screen,

City Commission - Agenda Item F-5 Has Been Added

Agenda

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