[30:24] [Music]
[47:55] [Music]
[54:49] [Applause] [Music]
[57:09] [Music]
[57:25] [Music]
[57:38] [Applause]
[59:52] Hey pretty pretty nice week
[59:54] here in miami, don't you think?
[59:56] Uh, OCTOBER is here. I don't
[59:57] want to say it out loud because
[59:58] I don't want to jinx us, but
[1:00:00] boy, the weather seems to be
[1:00:01] changing from what we had over
[1:00:03] the summer. It's great to be
[1:00:05] here in chambers for the
[1:00:07] OCTOBER 22nd a commission
[1:00:09] meeting and as we always do,
[1:00:12] uh, we start with honoring and
[1:00:14] recognizing people and
[1:00:16] organizations that make a
[1:00:18] difference in our community
[1:00:20] because that's what makes miami
[1:00:22] so amazing. We have people in
[1:00:24] every neighborhood doing things
[1:00:26] to keep us safe, make our life
[1:00:28] more interesting, develop our
[1:00:31] kids, uh, and and much more. So
[1:00:33] our first presentation today,
[1:00:36] um, this presentation, this
[1:00:38] award recommendation actually
[1:00:40] came from a resident. Uh, often
[1:00:43] we don't get that it comes from
[1:00:45] one of us, but officer rafael
[1:00:48] barrientos from miami-dade
[1:00:50] public schools police
[1:00:52] department has been serving the
[1:00:56] kids right. Good morning. The
[1:00:59] children the educators um at
[1:01:01] doctor charles r drew k-8
[1:01:03] center and when you're serving
[1:01:06] at a school you're serving the
[1:01:07] whole neighborhood in the
[1:01:10] community. And so we wanted to
[1:01:13] recognize you on behalf of the
[1:01:15] families and the kids that you
[1:01:17] mentor and keep safe and keep
[1:01:19] on the right path, um, on
[1:01:21] behalf of the neighborhood. So
[1:01:23] we're very happy and grateful
[1:01:24] that you are here this morning.
[1:01:25] And commissioner pardo, do you
[1:01:26] want to say a few words about
[1:01:27] our beautiful northeast
[1:01:29] district? I do very much so.
[1:01:32] Uh, this is a proclamation and
[1:01:34] the parents we received several
[1:01:36] emails. There's no better
[1:01:37] proclamation than one that
[1:01:39] comes from residents and people
[1:01:41] asking to have someone
[1:01:42] recognized. So I think that
[1:01:44] really speaks to your work. I'm
[1:01:45] proud that you're an edgewater
[1:01:47] resident and so we just want to
[1:01:49] honor you and thank [Applause]
[1:01:50] You for your service and all
[1:01:51] the work you do every day.
[1:01:58] Thank you. Thank you. Sure.
[1:02:01] Good morning. So first and
[1:02:03] foremost on on behalf of chief
[1:02:04] lopez, I do have a message from
[1:02:06] the chief. He wanted me to tell
[1:02:08] you that we're hiring, we're
[1:02:10] accepting applications and you
[1:02:11] don't have to go through doral.
[1:02:13] You can go right to the city of
[1:02:16] miami. Um, but I do want to
[1:02:17] congratulate you. You know, as
[1:02:19] the mayor as the commissioner
[1:02:20] mentioned, it's great to be
[1:02:22] recognized by your department
[1:02:24] or by a government entity. But
[1:02:26] when you're being recognized by
[1:02:28] the people that you serve, it
[1:02:30] makes it just that much more
[1:02:31] special. So congratulations.
[1:02:33] Thank you for representing your
[1:02:34] department but more [Applause]
[1:02:35] Importantly our profession the
[1:02:37] way that you do every single
[1:02:41] day. So thank you. Would you
[1:02:44] like to say a little word about
[1:02:47] your kids your school? No. Yes
[1:02:49] I do. I'm grateful every day to
[1:02:50] be able to get up every
[1:02:51] [Applause] Day and do what I
[1:02:53] do. Thank you. Thank you. We
[1:03:00] appreciate it. Our
[1:03:01] photographers are telling us
[1:03:10] we're not in shape or in space.
[1:03:10] Okay.
[1:03:33] >> okay. [Laughter]
[1:03:42] [Applause] Thank [Laughter]
[1:03:48] You. [Laughter] Anything you
[1:03:48] need to do to.
[1:03:51] >> [Applause] Doing your job.
[1:03:54] [Laughter] Okay. And do we need
[1:03:57] a chair. For him? We'll see if
[1:03:59] terrence wants us to have a
[1:04:01] chair. Or something like that.
[1:04:11] >> yeah. All right. And now,
[1:04:14] um, I'd like to bring up a
[1:04:16] group of people that I have
[1:04:18] learned so much from and
[1:04:20] particularly the museum's
[1:04:22] director at the historic black
[1:04:25] police museum. Uh, terrence,
[1:04:29] please come on up. And we have
[1:04:30] so many of the board members
[1:04:34] here. This is a place, um, in
[1:04:36] christine king's district that
[1:04:39] has a lot of meaning to our
[1:04:42] community as a place where
[1:04:45] black police officers worked,
[1:04:47] um, cared for their neighbors,
[1:04:50] kept them safe and now is
[1:04:52] really a legacy about that
[1:04:55] teaches us it's not just an
[1:04:56] educational place and a
[1:04:58] gathering space, but it is a
[1:05:00] place where it teaches the next
[1:05:02] generation of children and
[1:05:05] young adults and people like me
[1:05:07] about the history of our
[1:05:09] community, not all of which is
[1:05:11] good. Uh and so I am just
[1:05:14] forever grateful for you being
[1:05:16] in the neighborhood for
[1:05:20] reminding us of the work of our
[1:05:22] police department, but also the
[1:05:25] work towards repairing the the
[1:05:27] wounds of racism and what that
[1:05:29] meant in miami, what it still
[1:05:31] means in miami and how
[1:05:32] important that is for our
[1:05:34] community and also for our
[1:05:35] nation. Let me just turn this
[1:05:37] over to commissioner king to
[1:05:39] say a few words. And she's also
[1:05:40] helping with the proclamation.
[1:05:43] Good morning. Congratulations.
[1:05:47] The work that terrence does to
[1:05:49] keep the legacy alive of our
[1:05:51] first officers is so important
[1:05:54] to the community and I'm proud
[1:05:57] that the museum is in the
[1:06:00] historic overtown and
[1:06:02] rightfully so. I've learned
[1:06:04] about the struggles of our
[1:06:05] first police officers and to
[1:06:08] keep the story alive when we
[1:06:11] are living in a culture that
[1:06:14] wants to forget our past,
[1:06:16] terrence does not allow that to
[1:06:18] happen. So congratulations and
[1:06:20] to the board members thank you
[1:06:23] because we can't and our
[1:06:25] founder because we can't do
[1:06:29] that without volunteers that
[1:06:30] support us in this [Applause]
[1:06:32] Journey. So thank you and
[1:06:33] congratulations. Yes.
[1:06:37] >> [Applause] [Laughter]
[1:06:38] Terrence, would you like.
[1:06:41] >> to say a few words? I'd like
[1:06:43] to thank this. Well, you can
[1:06:45] come tuesday through saturday
[1:06:48] from 1030 until 3:00 and book
[1:06:50] your tour today. Don't wait
[1:06:51] until FEBRUARY. Right. I want
[1:06:54] to thank the city of miami for
[1:06:56] remembering how important it is
[1:06:58] to preserve and protect and
[1:07:01] share history so miami doesn't
[1:07:03] get rid of all of our
[1:07:04] preservation locations. So just
[1:07:06] know that. And to lieutenant
[1:07:11] otis davis I would not be able
[1:07:13] to stand here as the director
[1:07:14] if it wasn't for your
[1:07:17] determination to ensure that we
[1:07:20] had this history protected. So
[1:07:22] this is the man who made us a
[1:07:23] museum [Applause] Who helped us
[1:07:26] to become a museum. So we
[1:07:27] [Applause] Want to say thank
[1:07:27] you.
[1:07:34] >> thank you. [Applause] Are we
[1:07:36] are we put him in the middle of
[1:07:39] us? Yeah. Let's see do you
[1:07:41] mind? Here, let me hold this.
[1:07:43] Scooch over. Just a little bit,
[1:07:44] commissioner king okay. There
[1:07:46] you go. Right under. Right
[1:07:50] under the seal. That's better I
[1:07:50] love it.
[1:07:52] >> you pick your spots.
[1:07:57] [Laughter] [Applause] Get your
[1:08:09] steps in getting our steps.
[1:08:17] Thank you.
[1:08:21] >> okay. Thank you, thank you
[1:08:23] appreciate you. Thank you.
[1:08:28] Okay. Yeah. [Laughter]
[1:08:30] [Applause] You can.
[1:08:34] >> all right. We like to get
[1:08:45] folks up.
[1:08:52] Yeah.
[1:09:03] >>
[1:09:29] all right. Is anybody wondering
[1:09:31] why I'm wearing hot pink today?
[1:09:34] Uh well I'm sure you know
[1:09:35] [Laughter] It's cancer
[1:09:37] awareness. Oh, see, we our city
[1:09:40] attorney knows, uh, um, it is
[1:09:43] cancer awareness month, uh, at
[1:09:44] the city of miami. What you
[1:09:47] will find is all month long
[1:09:49] every one of our departments,
[1:09:51] uh, whether it's solid waste to
[1:09:52] our police department to our
[1:09:55] fire department, um, is raising
[1:09:58] awareness on the importance of
[1:10:00] getting screened for cancer
[1:10:02] and raising money for research.
[1:10:05] Uh, and saturday is a very big
[1:10:07] day in the city of miami. We
[1:10:09] have lots and lots of employees
[1:10:12] ,uh, that will be at the
[1:10:14] cancer walk at marlins park
[1:10:16] loandepot stadium on friday
[1:10:17] morning. So it's friday
[1:10:19] morning. Sorry I'm giving the
[1:10:22] director um a kind of uh, heart
[1:10:23] palpitations because he doesn't
[1:10:25] have to have this race set up
[1:10:26] till saturday saturday morning.
[1:10:28] So if you want to join us it
[1:10:30] costs nothing. You just have to
[1:10:31] wear pink and a pair of
[1:10:33] sneakers. But today I want to
[1:10:36] um I just want to say thank you
[1:10:39] to the american cancer society
[1:10:42] uh, for all you do to raise to
[1:10:45] to organize this entire month's
[1:10:47] activities and to make sure,
[1:10:50] um, that people know, right?
[1:10:51] They know that this is a
[1:10:53] disease that if you get
[1:10:55] screened early, you can survive
[1:10:57] and you can survive very well
[1:10:59] and live for for decades and
[1:11:01] decades longer than that and
[1:11:03] and for also making sure that
[1:11:05] this event is a real gathering
[1:11:07] space for all of us. We have
[1:11:08] our fire chief here today.
[1:11:10] We've got our police department
[1:11:13] and um, a couple of [Applause]
[1:11:15] Survivors here we we're all
[1:11:21] scooch over here. Come on in.
[1:11:24] And and so we wanted to
[1:11:26] recognize you for this in part
[1:11:28] to recognize your work but in
[1:11:29] part to make sure that we're
[1:11:30] not just raising awareness,
[1:11:32] we're also okay, everybody get
[1:11:34] your steps in, get your steps
[1:11:36] in and get get all steven out
[1:11:37] because we are going to be
[1:11:40] walking on saturday. So um,
[1:11:41] probably you all need to
[1:11:42] practice right? Yeah. Okay.
[1:11:44] There we go. Um but we
[1:11:46] appreciate that you're raising
[1:11:47] awareness for the race and
[1:11:48] encourage absolutely everybody
[1:11:51] to be out there. I will be out
[1:11:52] there in my pink sneakers. Uh,
[1:11:55] so so please, uh, please join
[1:11:57] join us in that day
[1:12:00] commissioners. Anybody want to
[1:12:02] add anything? Okay here I'll
[1:12:03] trade you. Okay.
[1:12:05] >> you're going to get.
[1:12:07] >> it anyway. Cancer awareness
[1:12:10] is very personal to me. Um my
[1:12:13] father had cancer and when you
[1:12:15] think of cancer you don't
[1:12:19] think of men having cancer but
[1:12:23] they do and um my dad had a
[1:12:26] double mastectomy and one of my
[1:12:29] dearest friends this month rang
[1:12:33] the bell for her last her last
[1:12:35] treatment. So it it is very
[1:12:37] personal to me and she wanted
[1:12:40] me to share that with the
[1:12:43] community. So it's on my
[1:12:45] socials with her ringing the
[1:12:47] bell and I remember her first
[1:12:48] treatment. I was there with
[1:12:55] her. I sat with her and. So
[1:12:59] many people lives are touched
[1:13:02] from cancer. I lost my dad but
[1:13:03] not to cancer. He survived and
[1:13:06] he was more than a five year
[1:13:09] survivor of it. Early detection
[1:13:12] saves lives and I can't say
[1:13:14] that enough. Early detection
[1:13:17] saved lives and there are for
[1:13:19] those who are uninsured or
[1:13:21] underinsured there are
[1:13:23] organizations that are
[1:13:26] providing mammograms for free.
[1:13:30] So please take someone and get
[1:13:32] screened get screened because
[1:13:34] this is one of the most curable
[1:13:36] diseases once it's caught
[1:13:40] early. So absolutely yeah. On
[1:13:42] that note I wasn't going to
[1:13:43] speak but what I want to say is
[1:13:44] that for the people in district
[1:13:46] one, we gave the cancer last
[1:13:48] year about $500,000 to be spent
[1:13:50] on that. So I encourage anybody
[1:13:51] anybody in my district we're
[1:13:53] going to be in the park in
[1:13:54] grapeland throughout the year
[1:13:55] to get informed. We put it up
[1:13:57] on our website, uh, to to do
[1:13:58] this prevention cancer
[1:13:59] prevention. Thank you. Yeah.
[1:14:02] >> and if you don't do it in
[1:14:04] OCTOBER, schedule it like your
[1:14:06] birthday. You never forget your
[1:14:07] birthday. So have your
[1:14:09] mammogram screening on or
[1:14:11] around near your birthday so
[1:14:12] you don't forget it.
[1:14:13] >> that's a good idea. Okay. I
[1:14:15] know you have. Yes, absolutely
[1:14:18] .We have mammograms screenings
[1:14:19] this saturday at manolo reyes
[1:14:21] park. All the information is on
[1:14:23] our social media ladies.
[1:14:26] Absolutely. Check it out. And
[1:14:27] then. Maybe you'd like to tell
[1:14:29] us a little bit about the work
[1:14:31] of um your the organization and
[1:14:34] the event on saturday. Well
[1:14:36] yeah. Yeah. Awesome. Thank you
[1:14:38] and I apologize for not wearing
[1:14:40] pink. I'm ran out of my pink
[1:14:42] clothing this month already but
[1:14:43] the american cancer society um,
[1:14:45] the great partnership that we
[1:14:46] have with the city. I want to
[1:14:47] thank all the commissioners. I
[1:14:48] want to thank everybody that
[1:14:50] made this possible. This
[1:14:51] proclamation is about awareness
[1:14:53] .We've already talked about it
[1:14:55] right. Getting screened early
[1:14:57] early detection is the key and
[1:14:59] a lot of great programs are out
[1:15:00] there. Take advantage of it.
[1:15:01] But as the american cancer
[1:15:03] society we want to make sure
[1:15:04] that we're advocates for those
[1:15:06] going through this. It impacts
[1:15:08] everyone friends, your
[1:15:10] daughters, mothers, fathers
[1:15:12] that we hear we hear a lot of
[1:15:14] those cases coming through. So
[1:15:15] it's about being aware and
[1:15:16] that's what this month is
[1:15:18] about. And this walk that we
[1:15:19] talked about that's happening
[1:15:22] this saturday, OCTOBER 24th at
[1:15:25] loandepot park from 7 A.M. To
[1:15:26] 10 A.M. 11 A.M. It's going to
[1:15:27] be a great opportunity to
[1:15:29] celebrate not only the
[1:15:30] survivors that we have here,
[1:15:32] but we're also going to
[1:15:33] celebrate those caregivers and
[1:15:34] those thrivers that are
[1:15:36] continuing to battle this
[1:15:37] disease. Thank you again for
[1:15:39] the city of miami for your
[1:15:40] partnership and your continued
[1:15:42] partnership. Together we will
[1:15:43] end cancer as we know it. Thank
[1:15:45] you. Well congratulations and
[1:15:46] last but not least before we
[1:15:48] take the pictures our police
[1:15:49] department, our fire department
[1:15:52] we have our pink uh vehicles
[1:15:54] out there. If anyone if there
[1:15:55] are items not being heard till
[1:15:57] later, sneak out and take a
[1:16:00] picture so you can help us
[1:16:01] raise awareness for um for
[1:16:04] [Applause] Cancer. All right.
[1:16:15] Thank you.
[1:16:33] Thank you very much. Appreciate
[1:16:44] it. We'll see you saturday.
[1:16:49] MR. King. Catch you did well.
[1:16:50] [Laughter] You understood the
[1:16:52] assignment. You understood the
[1:16:55] assignment all right. And now
[1:16:57] it's not that I've saved the
[1:16:58] best for last because all these
[1:17:00] people have been pretty pretty
[1:17:02] fantastic. But we have oh thank
[1:17:05] you. We have a group of young
[1:17:08] people here from latino artbeat
[1:17:11] uh this is an amazing group.
[1:17:14] Obviously it's a not for profit
[1:17:16] um that is working in lots of
[1:17:18] cities in the us and we are so
[1:17:20] fortunate um that they work
[1:17:23] here in the city of miami. So
[1:17:26] folks don you're up here and
[1:17:28] all the students we've got
[1:17:30] teachers, we've got coaches. So
[1:17:33] let me just read off we have so
[1:17:35] many amazing students and I'll
[1:17:37] talk a little bit about
[1:17:39] everybody's saying this is the
[1:17:40] most creative presentation.
[1:17:42] Look at this. All right here
[1:17:43] let me scooch in the middle. I
[1:17:44] don't want to block anybody
[1:17:46] everybody up. So this morning
[1:17:49] we are recognizing uh seven
[1:17:53] amazing students for all kinds
[1:17:56] of artistic uh, things. Uh, for
[1:17:58] example we have gabriela duque
[1:18:00] who has won first place for
[1:18:06] [Applause] Amistad comunidad.
[1:18:09] We have rosemary gaviota for
[1:18:11] para la guajira la vida novia.
[1:18:15] We have madeline pineda who is
[1:18:17] not here today but her mom is
[1:18:21] uh nuestro sabor. We have emily
[1:18:24] melendez also for art in la
[1:18:27] bentonita we all love that and
[1:18:30] isabella grau also our cafecito
[1:18:32] con miami there's a lot of
[1:18:34] caffeine up here I think in
[1:18:37] energy. Uh, dylan rice for film
[1:18:40] sent away brought home and then
[1:18:43] nicolas castillo also for film
[1:18:46] for housekeeping. So eddie will
[1:18:48] and then let me talk don't you
[1:18:50] want to help us um give out the
[1:18:51] we have some medals and others
[1:18:53] to give to the students. All
[1:18:54] right. Let's and then you can
[1:18:56] tell us a little more about the
[1:18:57] organization. No, this is so
[1:18:59] pretty sure. Good morning.
[1:19:01] >> I'm donna rossi nuccio I'm
[1:19:02] PRESIDENT Of latino art beat.
[1:19:05] We have offered scholarships
[1:19:08] for visual art students here in
[1:19:11] miami for 29 years. And as I
[1:19:13] was telling MADAM Mayor, we've
[1:19:16] now surpassed a million and a
[1:19:17] half dollars that we've
[1:19:19] contributed to various miami
[1:19:21] students and on a national
[1:19:23] basis we've given out over
[1:19:25] [Applause] $6 million. You can
[1:19:29] applaud. You can applaud. We're
[1:19:32] very thankful for the support
[1:19:34] of MADAM Mayor and her office
[1:19:36] also miami dade county public
[1:19:38] schools, our partnership with
[1:19:40] the miami convention and
[1:19:43] tourist bureau that and the
[1:19:45] hyatt regency hotel miami that
[1:19:47] make these presentations
[1:19:49] possible. Uh and above all, I
[1:19:51] want to thank all of the
[1:19:53] teachers who are here.
[1:19:54] [Applause] Teachers stand up
[1:19:56] please because without you guys
[1:20:00] it wouldn't happen. And miami
[1:20:02] dade county public schools has
[1:20:04] been our partner for 29 years.
[1:20:06] And I see somebody from miami
[1:20:09] dade we're going to start
[1:20:11] calling the winners up. They're
[1:20:13] going to get a medal with a
[1:20:15] ribbon, an award certificate
[1:20:17] and then the mayor is going to
[1:20:19] give them an official uh,
[1:20:22] proclamation letter. So I'll
[1:20:26] begin calling them up. You want
[1:20:26] to call them up by name?
[1:20:27] >> yeah. Okay.
[1:20:34] >> the medals right? Yes we do.
[1:20:36] Do they have names. On this
[1:20:38] first? Yes.
[1:20:40] >> we'll leave first place till
[1:20:44] last. Second place next. So you
[1:20:45] tell us what you. Yeah.
[1:20:47] >> honorable mentions come up
[1:20:51] first. Okay and then and then
[1:20:54] that'll go there. All right.
[1:20:56] And then there's third. Is
[1:20:59] there third place someplace? Do
[1:21:00] you want to call.
[1:21:02] >> the name? Yeah no I'll call.
[1:21:03] >> the name. Okay. These are
[1:21:04] this is. All right.
[1:21:06] >> and then you can. Find the
[1:21:06] certificate. There.
[1:21:07] >> yeah I.
[1:21:11] >> know. Okay we're ready. Um
[1:21:12] first I'm going to call up
[1:21:14] nicolas castillo. Sometimes the
[1:21:15] students aren't here because
[1:21:17] they go to college, you know,
[1:21:18] out of town but [Applause]
[1:21:32] Nicolas castillo. All right.
[1:21:36] And then that's his medal we'll
[1:21:43] do. She she forgot to take this
[1:21:48] .Okay. Next we're calling up
[1:21:50] dylan reese [Applause]
[1:21:52] Honorable mention film
[1:21:55] competition. Are you dylan? Oh,
[1:22:01] well, let me get in the photo.
[1:22:05] All right. And here, take your
[1:22:10] certificate. And then dylan,
[1:22:11] I'm going to meet all of you
[1:22:12] guys in the lobby afterwards.
[1:22:15] Okay. [Applause] Uh, next is
[1:22:33] isabella grau. Isabella.
[1:22:37] This is yours. And then if you
[1:22:39] put the medal on. Okay,
[1:22:42] [Applause] Next we have emily
[1:22:53] melendez. I know emily is here.
[1:23:02] Congratulations. And put your
[1:23:06] medal on. Now we [Applause]
[1:23:14] Have rosemary gabata.
[1:23:25] [Applause] Hold on. Rosemary.
[1:23:31] [Applause] Congratulations. And
[1:23:36] if you put your mother on. And
[1:23:48] we have there should be more.
[1:23:50] Okay. We have honorable mention
[1:23:58] film. [Applause] [Applause]
[1:24:01] Gabriela duque she's first
[1:24:09] place. Here. Gabriela hold on.
[1:24:11] And if you put your medal on
[1:24:12] and then we'll take a photo
[1:24:13] with the mayor.
[1:24:14] >> yeah, we'll do that. At the
[1:24:14] end.
[1:24:16] >> we're really organized so
[1:24:17] sorry about this. This and then
[1:24:18] you will take a photo with
[1:24:22] everybody's medal at the end.
[1:24:25] Fantastic. You all right? And
[1:24:26] who do we have? Who do.
[1:24:28] >> we have? Madeline. I know
[1:24:30] she's not here but he didn't
[1:24:32] get a medal. Yeah, we're
[1:24:33] missing a medal. An honorable
[1:24:34] mention. Yeah.
[1:24:35] >> so one of those. Yeah.
[1:24:42] >> perfect. All right.
[1:24:44] >> so that should be it.
[1:24:45] [Applause] Madeline, right?
[1:24:48] >> yes. Madeline's mom is here.
[1:24:52] Madeline. All right so let's
[1:24:55] see everybody we need a picture
[1:24:59] here. Where's madeline? She oh,
[1:25:08] she's at university. Okay. All
[1:25:10] right.
[1:25:11] >> and then can you get
[1:25:12] everybody in a picture?
[1:25:18] Fantastic. Gabby.
[1:25:19] >> yeah. Come in the middle.
[1:25:21] >> your first. Place you're in
[1:25:22] first place. Get in here. All
[1:25:33] right. Perfect.
[1:25:37] And a big round of [Applause]
[1:25:38] applause for everyone. Thank
[1:25:46] you. Bravo. Oh.
[1:25:49] >> and if anyone wants to see
[1:25:51] all this artwork, you can go to
[1:25:53] the hyatt regency tonight at
[1:25:55] 530 and you can see all of the
[1:25:57] work live and in [Applause]
[1:25:59] Person. Congratulations. Thanks
[1:26:10] for coming everybody.
[1:26:29] [Laughter] Yes.
[1:26:33] >> go ahead. Oh, you are what
[1:26:39] happened? I got it no two.
[1:26:41] Whether you want to do that.
[1:26:43] All right. Folks um we're going
[1:26:45] to take we'll be back in less
[1:26:46] than five minutes. We're going
[1:26:47] to go out and take pictures
[1:26:48] with the fire truck and then
[1:26:50] we'll be back. If anybody wants
[1:27:01] to join us, come with us.
[1:32:57] Now that we've had a nice time
[1:32:58] celebrating so many people
[1:33:00] doing good works, we also have
[1:33:02] the opportunity to be blessed
[1:33:04] by father stephen o'malley from
[1:33:05] cathedral of saint mary. Thank
[1:33:07] you so much for opening our
[1:33:09] meeting. Please rise if you are
[1:33:21] able and bow your heads.
[1:33:31] Let us pray. GOD of justice,
[1:33:34] love and peace we come before
[1:33:38] you today in gratitude for this
[1:33:40] opportunity to serve the people
[1:33:44] of our city of miami. We
[1:33:46] acknowledge your presence among
[1:33:48] us and ask you to bless our
[1:33:51] meeting. Open our hearts and
[1:33:54] minds to receive your divine
[1:33:57] inspiration and guidance. Help
[1:33:59] us to act with character as
[1:34:02] well as conviction to listen
[1:34:06] with understanding and goodwill
[1:34:10] and to speak with charity and
[1:34:14] humility. Give us the wisdom
[1:34:16] that will enable us to
[1:34:19] deliberate and decide wisely
[1:34:23] and well. For the good of those
[1:34:26] we are here to serve. MAY your
[1:34:28] holy spirit guide our thoughts,
[1:34:30] words and actions so that
[1:34:32] everything we MAY do with
[1:34:35] everything we do MAY be for the
[1:34:37] good of those we serve here in
[1:34:39] our city of miami. And so bring
[1:34:44] glory to your name. Amen. Thank
[1:34:49] you. Thank you very much.
[1:34:50] Commissioner gabel, would you
[1:34:52] lead us in the pledge. Pledge
[1:34:54] allegiance to the flag of the
[1:34:55] united. States of america to
[1:34:57] the republic for which it
[1:34:59] stands one nation under GOD,
[1:35:01] indivisible with liberty and
[1:35:06] justice for all. Thank you. All
[1:35:07] right.
[1:35:09] >> good morning everyone.
[1:35:11] Welcome to the OCTOBER 22nd
[1:35:13] commission meeting, uh, in our
[1:35:16] historic chambers. Um show that
[1:35:18] all to the clerk all
[1:35:20] commissioners are present city
[1:35:22] attorney, city manager as well.
[1:35:24] Um, MR. City attorney, would
[1:35:26] you like to read your opening
[1:35:28] remarks? Yes, MADAM Chair,
[1:35:29] thank you. George vice city
[1:35:31] attorney, city of miami
[1:35:32] detailed information about the
[1:35:33] processes order of business,
[1:35:34] rules of procedure and
[1:35:35] scheduling or rescheduling of
[1:35:36] city commission meetings can be
[1:35:38] found in chapter two article
[1:35:39] two of the city code, a copy of
[1:35:43] which is available online at
[1:35:44] www.Municode.Com. Any person
[1:35:46] who is a lobbyist pursuant to
[1:35:47] chapter two, article six of the
[1:35:48] city code must register with
[1:35:50] the city clerk and comply with
[1:35:51] related city requirements for
[1:35:52] lobbyists before appearing
[1:35:54] before the city commission. A
[1:35:55] person MAY not lobby a city
[1:35:57] official, board member or staff
[1:35:58] member until registering a copy
[1:35:59] of the code section about
[1:36:00] lobbyists is available in the
[1:36:02] city clerk's office or online
[1:36:05] at www.Municode.Com. Any person
[1:36:06] making a presentation, formal
[1:36:08] request or petition to the city
[1:36:09] commission concerning real
[1:36:10] property must make the
[1:36:11] disclosures required by the
[1:36:13] city code and writing a copy of
[1:36:14] the city code sections
[1:36:15] available at the office of the
[1:36:17] city clerk or online at
[1:36:20] www.Municode.Com. The city of
[1:36:21] miami requires that anyone
[1:36:22] requesting action by the city
[1:36:23] commission must disclose before
[1:36:25] the hearing any consideration
[1:36:26] provided or committed to anyone
[1:36:28] for support agreement to
[1:36:30] support or withhold objection
[1:36:31] to the requested action
[1:36:33] pursuant to city code section
[1:36:34] 2-8 any documents offered to
[1:36:35] the city commission that have
[1:36:37] not been provided seven days
[1:36:39] before this meeting as part of
[1:36:40] the agenda, materials will be
[1:36:42] entered into the record at the
[1:36:43] city commission's discretion in
[1:36:45] accordance with section 2-33, f
[1:36:47] and g of the city code. The
[1:36:48] agenda and the material for
[1:36:49] each item on the agenda is
[1:36:50] available during business hours
[1:36:51] at the city clerk's office and
[1:36:54] online 24 hours a day at
[1:36:55] www.Miami.Com. The meeting of
[1:36:57] the miami city commission is a
[1:36:58] limited public forum. Any
[1:36:59] person MAY be heard by the city
[1:37:00] commission through the chair
[1:37:01] for not more than two minutes
[1:37:02] on any proposition before the
[1:37:04] city commission unless modified
[1:37:05] by the chair. Public comment
[1:37:07] will begin at approximately
[1:37:09] 9:50 A.M. And remain open until
[1:37:10] public comment is closed by the
[1:37:12] chairperson. Any person making
[1:37:13] offensive remarks or becomes
[1:37:14] unruly in the commission
[1:37:16] chambers will be barred from
[1:37:17] further attending city
[1:37:18] commission meetings and MAY be
[1:37:20] subject to arrest. No clapping,
[1:37:21] applauding, heckling or verbal
[1:37:23] outbursts in support or
[1:37:24] opposition to a speaker or his
[1:37:25] or her remarks shall be
[1:37:27] permitted. No signs or placards
[1:37:28] shall be allowed in the
[1:37:29] commission chambers. Persons
[1:37:30] exiting the city commission
[1:37:32] chambers shall do so quietly.
[1:37:33] Members of the public wishing
[1:37:35] to address the body MAY do so
[1:37:36] by submitting written comments
[1:37:37] via the online comment form.
[1:37:40] Please visit
[1:37:41] www.Gov.Com/meeting
[1:37:42] instructions for detailed
[1:37:43] instructions on how to provide
[1:37:45] public comment using the online
[1:37:46] public comment form. The
[1:37:48] comments submitted through the
[1:37:49] comment form have been and will
[1:37:50] be distributed to the elected
[1:37:52] officials, their staff and city
[1:37:53] administration throughout the
[1:37:54] day so that the elected
[1:37:55] officials MAY consider the
[1:37:56] comments prior to taking any
[1:37:57] action. Additionally, the
[1:37:59] online comment form will remain
[1:38:00] open during the meeting to
[1:38:01] accept comments and distribute
[1:38:02] to the elected officials, their
[1:38:03] staff and the city
[1:38:04] administration up until the
[1:38:05] chairperson closes public
[1:38:06] comment. Public comment MAY
[1:38:08] also be provided here live at
[1:38:10] city hall located at 3500 pan
[1:38:11] american drive, miami, florida
[1:38:12] subject to any and all city
[1:38:14] rules as they MAY be MAY be
[1:38:16] amended if the proposition is
[1:38:17] being continued or rescheduled.
[1:38:18] The opportunity to be heard MAY
[1:38:19] be at such later date before
[1:38:20] the city commission takes
[1:38:21] action on such proposition when
[1:38:22] addressing the city commission,
[1:38:24] the member of the public must
[1:38:25] first state their name, their
[1:38:27] address and what item is to be
[1:38:29] spoken about any person with a
[1:38:29] disability requiring
[1:38:31] assistance. Auxiliary aids and
[1:38:32] services for this meeting MAY
[1:38:34] notify the city clerk. The city
[1:38:35] has provided public comment
[1:38:36] methods to indicate, among
[1:38:37] other things, the public
[1:38:38] support or opposition or
[1:38:40] neutrality on the items and
[1:38:41] topics to be discussed here at
[1:38:42] the city commission meeting in
[1:38:44] compliance with section
[1:38:46] 286.01144 c florida statutes
[1:38:48] the public has been given the
[1:38:49] opportunity to provide public
[1:38:50] comment during the meeting
[1:38:51] within reasonable proximity and
[1:38:52] time before the meeting. Please
[1:38:53] note commissioners have
[1:38:55] generally been briefed by city
[1:38:56] staff and city attorney's
[1:38:57] office on items on the agenda
[1:38:59] today. Anyone wishing a
[1:39:00] verbatim record of an item
[1:39:01] considered at this meeting MAY
[1:39:03] request that the office of
[1:39:03] communications or view it
[1:39:07] online at www.Miami.Com for the
[1:39:08] planning and zoning items.
[1:39:09] These items shall proceed
[1:39:11] according to section 7.1.4 the
[1:39:13] miami 21 zoning ordinance
[1:39:15] parties for items including any
[1:39:16] applicant, appellant, appellee,
[1:39:18] city staff and any person
[1:39:19] recognized by the decision
[1:39:20] making body as a qualified
[1:39:22] intervenor as well as the
[1:39:23] applicant's representatives and
[1:39:24] any experts testifying on
[1:39:25] behalf of the applicant.
[1:39:27] Appellant or appellee MAY be
[1:39:28] physically present here at city
[1:39:29] hall to be sworn in by oath or
[1:39:30] affirmation by the city clerk.
[1:39:32] The members of the city
[1:39:33] commission shall disclose any
[1:39:34] ex parte communications to
[1:39:35] remove the presumption of
[1:39:36] prejudice pursuant to florida
[1:39:39] statute section 286.0115 and
[1:39:42] section 7.1.405 of the miami 21
[1:39:44] zoning ordinance. The order of
[1:39:45] presentation shall be set forth
[1:39:47] in miami 21 in the city code
[1:39:48] staff will briefly present each
[1:39:50] item to be heard. The applicant
[1:39:51] will present its application
[1:39:52] and request to the city
[1:39:53] commission. If the applicant
[1:39:54] agrees with staff
[1:39:55] recommendation, the city
[1:39:57] commission MAY proceed to its
[1:39:58] deliberation and decision. The
[1:39:59] applicant MAY also waive the
[1:40:00] right to an evidentiary hearing
[1:40:02] on the record for appeals. The
[1:40:03] appellant will present its
[1:40:05] appeal to the city commission
[1:40:06] followed by the appellee. Staff
[1:40:07] will be allowed to make any
[1:40:08] recommendation they MAY have.
[1:40:10] Please silence all cell phones
[1:40:11] and other noise making devices.
[1:40:13] This meeting can be viewed live
[1:40:14] on miami tv city's facebook
[1:40:16] page, cities twitter page
[1:40:17] city's youtube channel and
[1:40:19] comcast channel 77. The
[1:40:21] broadcast will also have closed
[1:40:22] captioning. Thank you MADAM
[1:40:23] Chair. Great thank you, MR.
[1:40:25] Attorney. MR. Clerk now over to
[1:40:28] you please. Thank you chair.
[1:40:29] The procedures for individuals
[1:40:31] who are providing testimony be
[1:40:32] sworn in for planning and
[1:40:33] zoning items and any quasi
[1:40:34] judicial items on today's city
[1:40:36] commission agenda will be as
[1:40:37] follows the members of city
[1:40:38] staff or any other individuals
[1:40:40] required to be sworn in who are
[1:40:41] currently present city hall be
[1:40:42] sworn in by me the city clerk
[1:40:43] immediately after I finished
[1:40:44] explaining these procedures.
[1:40:46] Those individuals who are or
[1:40:47] who are appearing remotely MAY
[1:40:49] be sworn in now or at any time
[1:40:50] prior to the individual
[1:40:51] providing testimony for
[1:40:52] planning and zoning items and
[1:40:53] or quasi judicial items.
[1:40:54] Commissioners, are you
[1:40:55] comfortable with all those
[1:40:56] provisions set forth in these
[1:40:57] uniform rules and procedures we
[1:40:58] have established for this
[1:41:00] meeting, CHAIRMAN, administer
[1:41:01] the oath for the planning and
[1:41:02] zoning items. Yes, please.
[1:41:03] >> thank you chair. Good
[1:41:04] morning ladies and gentlemen.
[1:41:06] If you will be speaking on any
[1:41:07] of today's planning and zoning
[1:41:09] items. Those are the items MAY
[1:41:10] please have you stand and raise
[1:41:18] your right hand. Do you
[1:41:19] solemnly swear or affirm that
[1:41:20] the testimony you're about to
[1:41:21] give at today's hearing is the
[1:41:22] truth, the whole truth and
[1:41:23] nothing but the truth in your
[1:41:25] responses? Thank you chair.
[1:41:27] Thank you very much. All right,
[1:41:30] MR. City manager, do you have
[1:41:31] any changes? I think [Laughter]
[1:41:33] There are a few so go slow for
[1:41:35] us please. Good morning, MADAM
[1:41:36] Mayor. Commissioners city
[1:41:39] attorney, city clerk. At this
[1:41:40] time the administration would
[1:41:42] like to defer and or withdraw
[1:41:44] the following items and as you
[1:41:45] said it's quite the extensive
[1:41:47] list so bear with me. I'll go
[1:41:52] nice and slow. So a two to be
[1:41:54] deferred to the NOVEMBER 19th
[1:41:56] meeting ca2 to be deferred to
[1:42:01] the NOVEMBER 19th meeting re9
[1:42:07] to be withdrawn. R e ten to be
[1:42:09] deferred to the NOVEMBER 19th
[1:42:12] meeting r e tend to be deferred
[1:42:14] to the NOVEMBER 19th meeting
[1:42:18] fr2 to be indefinitely deferred
[1:42:21] fr2 to be indefinitely deferred
[1:42:25] I one to be deferred to
[1:42:28] NOVEMBER 19th meeting di1 to be
[1:42:30] deferred to the NOVEMBER 19th
[1:42:34] meeting and di2 to be withdrawn
[1:42:38] di2 is being withdrawn pz8 to
[1:42:41] be deferred to NOVEMBER 19th
[1:42:46] that's pz8pz9 to be deferred to
[1:42:50] NOVEMBER 19th p z ten to be
[1:42:54] indefinitely deferred pz11 to
[1:42:59] be indefinitely deferred. Pz12
[1:43:01] to be deferred to the NOVEMBER
[1:43:04] 19th meeting pz13 to be
[1:43:06] deferred to the NOVEMBER 19th
[1:43:11] meeting pz15 to be indefinitely
[1:43:15] deferred and last but not least
[1:43:17] pz19 to be indefinitely
[1:43:19] deferred. That completes all
[1:43:22] the items. All right. Um, MR.
[1:43:24] Clerk commissioners any other
[1:43:26] changes from your points of
[1:43:28] view? Okay and MISS You have
[1:43:29] some pocket items I think.
[1:43:30] Right MADAM Mayor MR. Sato.
[1:43:30] Yes.
[1:43:33] >> I was going to defer re six
[1:43:35] to the next meeting. Okay.
[1:43:43] >> deferred and also uh sr one.
[1:43:47] Okay um. For deferral.
[1:43:50] >> okay. My apologies
[1:43:52] commissioner. To the next yes
[1:43:53] sorry to the next meeting.
[1:43:53] Thank you.
[1:43:56] >> sir and um correct me if I'm
[1:43:58] wrong MR. Clerk, but pz5 is
[1:44:00] very much connected to that. Do
[1:44:03] they need to go together should
[1:44:04] that be deferred as well or
[1:44:06] could we do pz5 today? I'll
[1:44:08] defer to MR. City attorney. I
[1:44:09] think what. Oh yeah you're
[1:44:10] right. Yes we should go ahead
[1:44:11] and defer it as well.
[1:44:13] >> yeah pc5 also deferred to
[1:44:14] the next meeting. Okay.
[1:44:20] >> and MADAM Mayor on pz8 um
[1:44:22] when this comes back we would
[1:44:24] seek direction from the city
[1:44:25] commission to have it amended.
[1:44:28] The title of the item refers to
[1:44:30] closing of a public alley. In
[1:44:32] fact it's a public street so we
[1:44:33] should defer it. But um
[1:44:35] included in that motion should
[1:44:37] be a direction to us to correct
[1:44:38] the title so that it when it
[1:44:40] comes back um it would be
[1:44:41] correct. Okay.
[1:44:44] >> yes yes please do that. All
[1:44:46] right. Any any other changes
[1:44:47] todd we have pocket items that
[1:44:49] need to be read in I think two
[1:44:51] if I'm not mistaken. Thank you
[1:44:53] very much chair. Um a couple of
[1:44:55] matters. Yes. Number one um
[1:44:57] commissioner king has a pocket
[1:44:58] resolution that the city
[1:44:59] attorney will read the title
[1:45:02] into the record momentarily. Um
[1:45:03] there are some co-sponsor
[1:45:05] requests. Mayor higgins will be
[1:45:09] co-sponsoring re8re ten and sr2
[1:45:11] and I need to read a brief
[1:45:12] statement about the
[1:45:13] indefinitely deferred items
[1:45:15] pursuant to section 62-22 of
[1:45:16] the city code indefinitely
[1:45:17] deferred action initiated by
[1:45:19] the city will cost city mail
[1:45:20] noticing advertising and
[1:45:21] posting of properties as
[1:45:25] applicable. Thank you chair.
[1:45:27] Okay so I think correct me if
[1:45:30] I'm wrong everyone oh I. See
[1:45:32] need me to read the d five
[1:45:33] pocket item. Yes please thank
[1:45:35] you sorry about that. That's
[1:45:36] okay. A resolution of the miami
[1:45:38] city commission confirming and
[1:45:39] approving the appointment of
[1:45:40] nancy nieves as acting
[1:45:42] executive director of the
[1:45:43] virginia key beach park trust
[1:45:45] approving her compensation as
[1:45:47] acting executive director at
[1:45:49] her current salary as finance
[1:45:50] coordinator providing that any
[1:45:52] increase in compensation shall
[1:45:53] be subject to approval by the
[1:45:55] virginia key beach park trust
[1:45:56] following a performance
[1:45:57] evaluation conducted in
[1:45:58] accordance with procedures of
[1:45:59] the trust MAY hereafter
[1:46:00] establish and further subject
[1:46:02] to city commission approval
[1:46:03] providing for the termination
[1:46:05] of the acting appointment upon
[1:46:06] the appointment of a permanent
[1:46:08] executive director or her
[1:46:09] earlier removal by the trust
[1:46:10] and providing for an effective
[1:46:11] date. Thank you, MADAM Mayor.
[1:46:12] All right.
[1:46:14] >> any other changes? Um I have
[1:46:16] a motion to set the agenda
[1:46:17] including the amendment that
[1:46:19] our city attorney read to one
[1:46:21] item that will come back. And I
[1:46:22] apologies chair. I didn't catch
[1:46:24] the mover and seconder I'm
[1:46:26] sorry. Second okay. Second all
[1:46:28] in favor say aye. Aye.
[1:46:31] >> all right so the agenda set
[1:46:33] now we will open for the public
[1:46:35] to be heard. Please go ahead
[1:46:38] and make two lines. Uh when you
[1:46:39] come up please give your name
[1:46:40] and address for the record and
[1:46:42] everyone has two minutes to
[1:46:52] speak.
[1:46:56] Come on up. Anyone? All right.
[1:47:02] Good morning. How are you? Good
[1:47:03] morning, mayor and
[1:47:04] commissioners. My name is
[1:47:05] matthew tarnoff. My address is
[1:47:07] 125 jefferson avenue, miami
[1:47:09] beach and I'm the chair of
[1:47:11] miami-dade miami-dade tipos
[1:47:13] bicycle pedestrian advisory
[1:47:14] committee. Today I'm speaking
[1:47:16] on sr three the micromobility
[1:47:19] ordinance. Thank you to the
[1:47:20] commissioners and staff that I
[1:47:21] met with and to commissioner
[1:47:24] escalona for agreeing to attend
[1:47:26] our NOVEMBER 10th meeting. We
[1:47:27] learned about this ordinance
[1:47:29] after its first reading and
[1:47:31] we're concerned that people who
[1:47:33] depend on these devices are
[1:47:35] unaware and appear to have had
[1:47:37] limited opportunities to help
[1:47:40] shape this legislation for
[1:47:41] workers and families who cannot
[1:47:44] afford a car, micromobility is
[1:47:46] basic transportation outreach
[1:47:47] through unions, community
[1:47:49] organizations and other
[1:47:50] stakeholders could identify
[1:47:53] practical concerns before
[1:47:55] enforcement begins. A police
[1:47:56] stop should not be someone's
[1:47:58] first introduction to the new
[1:47:59] rules. Please consider these
[1:48:02] two narrow changes first,
[1:48:04] please clarify that the rule
[1:48:05] limiting riding to streets
[1:48:07] posted at 30mph or less applies
[1:48:09] only to city controlled roads,
[1:48:12] not county or state riders
[1:48:14] cannot be expected to know each
[1:48:17] streets jurisdiction a a map
[1:48:19] would be helpful. Second,
[1:48:21] please consider an exception
[1:48:24] allowing children under 16 to
[1:48:25] ride when accompanied,
[1:48:27] accompanied and supervised by a
[1:48:29] parent or legal guardian. The
[1:48:32] bpac took no formal action on
[1:48:34] this ordinance, but we recently
[1:48:36] adopted resolutions targeting
[1:48:39] high powered illegal motos that
[1:48:42] are marketed as legal e-bikes
[1:48:44] and also on a county wide
[1:48:45] micromobility safety
[1:48:47] roundtable. As the police chief
[1:48:48] noted at first reading, an
[1:48:50] effective date of at least 90
[1:48:51] days after adoption would give
[1:48:53] riders and families time to
[1:48:55] learn the new rules before
[1:48:57] enforcement begins if the
[1:48:58] sponsor is open to more
[1:48:59] community input before
[1:49:00] adoption, we'd welcome that
[1:49:03] too. We share the goal of safer
[1:49:04] streets while preserving
[1:49:05] transportation access. Thank
[1:49:06] you for considering these
[1:49:08] requests and we look forward to
[1:49:09] working with you all. Thank
[1:49:11] you. Thank you.
[1:49:14] >> good morning. Morning mayor.
[1:49:16] Good morning commissioners city
[1:49:18] officials. My name is marcus
[1:49:22] loredo. I live on 627th street
[1:49:24] edgewater. I'm a vice PRESIDENT
[1:49:26] Of bna. I selected two topics
[1:49:29] to talk today. Number one is sr
[1:49:31] micro micromobility e-bikes
[1:49:34] scooters and sidewalk
[1:49:36] regulations. We strongly
[1:49:38] support the intent of sr three
[1:49:41] but believe the commission must
[1:49:43] codify critical pedestrian
[1:49:45] safeguards before final passage
[1:49:47] .The ordinance should
[1:49:50] explicitly prohibit motorized
[1:49:51] scooters and throttle assisted
[1:49:54] e-bikes on sidewalks in dense
[1:49:56] urban areas with high
[1:49:58] pedestrian volumes when
[1:50:00] adjacent streets or bike lanes
[1:50:04] provide an alternative route. I
[1:50:08] was in a two close encounter
[1:50:10] with a bike walking on biscayne
[1:50:13] boulevard personally number two
[1:50:16] rt five district two donation
[1:50:17] fund through the miami
[1:50:19] foundation resolution we
[1:50:21] support rt five philanthropic
[1:50:23] and private sector
[1:50:24] contributions to could provide
[1:50:26] additional funding for district
[1:50:28] two priorities including
[1:50:31] edgewater parks pedestrian
[1:50:33] safety, streetscape
[1:50:34] improvements and other quality
[1:50:37] of life initiatives. Bna urges
[1:50:39] the city to adopt transparent
[1:50:41] procedures for accepting
[1:50:43] donations, selecting eligible
[1:50:45] projects and publicly reporting
[1:50:48] all funds received and spent.
[1:50:52] Thank you very much. Good
[1:50:53] morning. Elisa margulies rice
[1:50:55] street center grove in support
[1:50:59] of fr6 you know how almost
[1:51:01] every parent thinks their kid
[1:51:03] is gifted? Well most pet owners
[1:51:04] believe their dog is friendly
[1:51:06] but when an off leash dog
[1:51:08] charges you and the owner yells
[1:51:10] don't worry he's friendly. What
[1:51:12] you're actually hearing is are
[1:51:14] you feeling lucky today I love
[1:51:16] dogs. My mother still laments
[1:51:18] that my first word wasn't mama
[1:51:20] it was gog. But even a dog
[1:51:22] lover feels terrified when
[1:51:23] chased or approached by a
[1:51:25] snapping snarling dog that's
[1:51:27] running loose. A leash isn't a
[1:51:29] punishment it's a safety net.
[1:51:32] Stronger penalties incentivize
[1:51:33] responsibility, but it's the
[1:51:35] manpower for enforcement that's
[1:51:37] actually preventing a walk in
[1:51:39] the park from becoming a trip
[1:51:41] to the urgent care fr5 and fr6.
[1:51:44] You don't have to be a pet
[1:51:45] owner to be sickened by animal
[1:51:47] abuse and neglect like trees,
[1:51:49] animals can't advocate for
[1:51:51] themselves. They need good
[1:51:53] people to protect them from the
[1:51:55] evil ones. Take the strongest
[1:51:57] elements of both proposals and
[1:51:59] give us one comprehensive
[1:52:01] ordinance with maximum fines,
[1:52:03] stronger protections and clear
[1:52:05] enforceable language. And
[1:52:07] finally r e ten vision zero.
[1:52:08] I'm glad this item was
[1:52:11] deferred. I hope you'll use the
[1:52:12] opportunity to make it more
[1:52:13] specific with clear goals,
[1:52:15] measurable objectives and
[1:52:16] regular not just periodic
[1:52:18] updates. And please include a
[1:52:21] mandate for city and county
[1:52:23] cooperation. Too often we hear
[1:52:25] it's a county issue. If it
[1:52:26] affects the people who live
[1:52:28] here it's a we problem not a
[1:52:30] they problem. The city should
[1:52:32] be proactive in finding
[1:52:33] solutions. It's a very
[1:52:35] important goal so I hope you'll
[1:52:36] take that into consideration.
[1:52:44] Thank you. Hello my name is
[1:52:48] karen and I represent the J.W.
[1:52:50] Warner house a very very
[1:52:53] wonderful gem of miami historic
[1:52:57] house and it is also the center
[1:53:00] for the cultural center for the
[1:53:03] miami hispanic cultural arts.
[1:53:06] Um we this zoning is really
[1:53:09] important for us because we
[1:53:13] really need to keep the house
[1:53:15] up. We have a lot of work to do
[1:53:18] and part of that would be we
[1:53:20] could sell the air rights to a
[1:53:22] developer so that we can then
[1:53:25] have all that wonderful funding
[1:53:28] to restore this beautiful,
[1:53:31] beautiful building and um,
[1:53:33] aaron will speak. I would just
[1:53:35] like to add on that we do so
[1:53:36] many amazing programs for the
[1:53:37] community. We're such an
[1:53:38] important building for the
[1:53:40] whole neighborhood. People can
[1:53:41] come see a play in their
[1:53:42] neighborhood. We put on the
[1:53:44] international ballet festival
[1:53:46] of miami and um we would love
[1:53:48] to in the future expand our
[1:53:50] programing to build a second
[1:53:51] building in the nearby vicinity
[1:53:52] so that we can provide
[1:53:54] additional programs to our
[1:53:56] community, especially our many
[1:53:57] programs for free. And it is
[1:53:59] our hope that the air rights
[1:54:01] would help restore the current
[1:54:03] J.W. Warner house and unlock
[1:54:05] the funding for our future
[1:54:06] projects as well. Thank you.
[1:54:07] >> chair.
[1:54:09] >> my apologies. Yeah. I have
[1:54:10] your name for the for the
[1:54:11] record. Yeah, we just need name
[1:54:12] and address for the record.
[1:54:12] Thank you.
[1:54:14] >> aaron ruszkowski I
[1:54:16] apologize. Thank you very much.
[1:54:18] Thank you. Hello.
[1:54:19] >> good morning. My name is
[1:54:21] lindsey cain. I'm at 66 west
[1:54:23] flagler street. I'm speaking on
[1:54:25] bbc two related to the tree
[1:54:26] committee as I've been heavily
[1:54:28] involved in filing tree
[1:54:29] appeals. So much so I believe I
[1:54:30] caught the attention of certain
[1:54:32] commissioners the last time I
[1:54:35] was here was JULY 23rd 2026. I
[1:54:36] made a public comment and after
[1:54:38] I left a false statement was
[1:54:40] made directly about me with my
[1:54:41] name displayed by commissioner
[1:54:44] pardo who stated that there was
[1:54:46] no appeal filed for the tree
[1:54:47] removals at margaret pace park.
[1:54:49] I have all of the paperwork
[1:54:51] that proves at the time of his
[1:54:52] statement an appeal had been
[1:54:54] filed and paid for with a
[1:54:55] gofundme with the public asked
[1:54:57] me to create. If anyone wants a
[1:54:59] copy of this documentation let
[1:55:01] me know. As far as I know this
[1:55:02] was not an official item on the
[1:55:04] agenda. I was not given notice.
[1:55:06] I was also not here to defend
[1:55:08] myself and the facts were not
[1:55:09] checked. I've experienced a lot
[1:55:10] of crazy things in my life but
[1:55:12] this was amongst the craziest.
[1:55:14] While this was a dangerous
[1:55:15] allegation and an attempt to
[1:55:17] discredit me, I've continued my
[1:55:18] work and engagement with the
[1:55:20] public who update me regularly
[1:55:21] and still watch in horror and
[1:55:22] alert me about these tree
[1:55:24] removals all over the city. The
[1:55:25] city is currently doing
[1:55:26] everything in its power to
[1:55:27] invalidate the appeals, and I
[1:55:29] will forever feel remorse for
[1:55:30] the ones that we didn't win. I
[1:55:31] felt it necessary to clear my
[1:55:33] name in a public forum even
[1:55:34] though all the evidence is
[1:55:35] already online as this is where
[1:55:37] the false allegation was made.
[1:55:39] When everyone votes regardless
[1:55:40] of party we have officials who
[1:55:41] attempt to intimidate and also
[1:55:43] don't care to end the agreement
[1:55:45] with ice or stop cutting down
[1:55:46] the trees regardless of what
[1:55:48] their greenwashing on social
[1:55:49] media attempts to put forward
[1:55:51] and the tree committees formed
[1:55:52] as someone fighting for the
[1:55:54] trees. I've been flipped off by
[1:55:56] a south of miami commissioner
[1:55:57] lisa bonnett followed out of
[1:55:58] meetings by officials
[1:56:00] questioned about my work and
[1:56:02] defamed but I and I just
[1:56:04] started doing this work. The.
[1:56:06] Currently the tree code isn't
[1:56:08] protecting the trees much on 36
[1:56:09] and biscayne three mahogany
[1:56:11] trees are supposed to be
[1:56:12] protected are going to be moved
[1:56:13] which puts them at risk because
[1:56:15] of an arbitrary city code about
[1:56:16] building to the edge of the
[1:56:18] property line. I implore
[1:56:19] everyone who wants to see
[1:56:20] change. Make your voice heard
[1:56:22] whatever way that means through
[1:56:24] art, protest or prayer. The
[1:56:26] city officials so far have not
[1:56:26] listened to us. Thank you.
[1:56:28] >> appreciate you. Good
[1:56:30] morning. How are you doing?
[1:56:32] Good morning. How are you? My
[1:56:34] name is vanessa candy. I'm an
[1:56:35] edgewater resident. I'm here
[1:56:37] speaking as a bee and a board
[1:56:38] member and I happen to be an
[1:56:39] advisory board member of
[1:56:41] miami-dade animal services. So
[1:56:43] I have a deep interest in fr4.
[1:56:45] In my first meeting with chief
[1:56:46] lopez I described what we see
[1:56:48] in edgewater pets left on
[1:56:49] balconies abuse, abandonment.
[1:56:51] We agreed to strengthen the
[1:56:53] partnership between miami and
[1:56:54] miami-dade animal services with
[1:56:55] training possible volunteer
[1:56:57] programs in the academy and
[1:56:58] empathy building for officers.
[1:57:01] Less than a week later the door
[1:57:02] balcony case happened. The
[1:57:03] chief has since scheduled a
[1:57:05] visit to animal services along
[1:57:06] with two to understand their
[1:57:08] process. I've also reached out
[1:57:09] to commissioner pardo's office
[1:57:12] about new legislation and those
[1:57:14] discussions begin very soon.
[1:57:15] Our ordinances on animal
[1:57:16] protection were written some
[1:57:18] time ago and occasionally
[1:57:19] amended. We do need to
[1:57:20] consistently evolve them
[1:57:22] because global warming, for
[1:57:24] example, has us at 100 plus
[1:57:26] degree days is a large dog in a
[1:57:27] small backyard kennel with a
[1:57:29] bowl of lukewarm water is
[1:57:31] acceptable or is that cruelty?
[1:57:32] I welcome these amendments, but
[1:57:33] three commissioners are
[1:57:35] amending the ordinance with
[1:57:37] different language and mdas the
[1:57:38] experts haven't been asked to
[1:57:40] the table until now with
[1:57:42] district two a higher fine is
[1:57:43] great but if an officer issues
[1:57:45] a fine and walks away leaving
[1:57:46] the animal with its abuser,
[1:57:48] what have we accomplished? We
[1:57:49] need confiscation, medical
[1:57:50] care, rehab, foster and
[1:57:52] adoption and the county
[1:57:53] operates under a different
[1:57:55] ordinance. So who does what to
[1:57:56] what degree and with whom? It
[1:57:58] took a drowned dog in a viral
[1:57:59] balcony rescue to put this on
[1:58:01] the radar. But right now as I
[1:58:02] speak animals are being
[1:58:03] abandoned, abused and killed
[1:58:05] and not only by typical animal
[1:58:06] abusers but by mobile groomers,
[1:58:08] trainers, boarding facilities
[1:58:10] and yes even children statewide
[1:58:11] we have dexter's law
[1:58:13] compounding charges, fines and
[1:58:14] jail time. The new house bill
[1:58:15] offers child abuse provisions
[1:58:17] on top of animal abuse. There's
[1:58:19] a new statewide animal abuse
[1:58:20] registry and troopers law makes
[1:58:21] it a felony to leave your pet
[1:58:23] behind in an evacuation. So
[1:58:24] let's use them and educate
[1:58:26] people about them. The point is
[1:58:28] the the the topic is bigger. So
[1:58:30] I urge you to co-sponsor and
[1:58:32] work with me and the police.
[1:58:33] Miami is a great city but in
[1:58:35] this area we're still behind so
[1:58:37] let's get it right. Thank you.
[1:58:44] Thank you. And if one of you
[1:58:46] wants to come over to this
[1:58:48] podium or you ready elvis okay
[1:58:50] go ahead. Good morning.
[1:58:52] >> my name is yolanda berkowitz
[1:58:54] and I live at 160 edgewater
[1:58:55] drive. Um, I'm an animal
[1:58:57] welfare advocate. I run the
[1:58:59] friends of miami animals
[1:59:00] foundation and I'm also a
[1:59:01] member of the advisory board.
[1:59:03] I'm speaking on items fr4, five
[1:59:06] and six. I support stronger
[1:59:07] animal welfare protections and
[1:59:08] meaningful penalties for
[1:59:10] cruelty and neglect. The
[1:59:11] concern is not with the intent
[1:59:13] but with their implementation
[1:59:14] before adopting additional laws
[1:59:17] and substantial fines we need
[1:59:18] to understand who will
[1:59:20] investigate violations, who has
[1:59:21] the authority to issue
[1:59:22] citations, how animals
[1:59:24] requiring intervention will be
[1:59:26] handled and what specific
[1:59:28] enforcement capacity will exist
[1:59:30] the day these ordinances take
[1:59:31] effect that do not already
[1:59:33] exist today, those of us
[1:59:34] working in animal welfare
[1:59:36] welcome increased legislation
[1:59:37] and enforcement of animal
[1:59:39] crimes and appreciate this
[1:59:41] board's leadership. I know that
[1:59:42] all of us on the advisory board
[1:59:43] and all of us working in this
[1:59:45] arena are happy to help in any
[1:59:51] way that we can. Thank you.
[1:59:51] Folks.
[1:59:53] >> do me a favor and line up at
[1:59:54] both podiums because it keeps
[1:59:56] it moving quicker. Go ahead
[1:59:56] ma'am. Hi.
[1:59:58] >> good morning. Um my name is
[2:00:01] renee rivoli lemur 6381 north
[2:00:03] bay road, miami beach. Uh, I'm
[2:00:05] also the PRESIDENT Of the
[2:00:06] animal welfare society of south
[2:00:09] florida and I'm here speaking
[2:00:12] also for fr4, five and six. I
[2:00:14] am also a member of the
[2:00:15] miami-dade animal services
[2:00:18] advisory board. Um I wanted to
[2:00:20] explain about animal welfare
[2:00:21] society is a nonprofit
[2:00:22] veterinary hospital here in
[2:00:24] miami. For more than 54 years
[2:00:26] we have provided affordable and
[2:00:28] often free veterinary care to
[2:00:29] pets throughout south florida.
[2:00:32] Over the years I have seen
[2:00:33] things no animal should ever
[2:00:35] have to endure. We have treated
[2:00:37] dogs and cats who were victims
[2:00:38] of horrific cruelty and
[2:00:40] neglect, including injuries
[2:00:43] associated with dog fighting as
[2:00:44] well as animals who were
[2:00:45] injured, abandoned and left
[2:00:48] helpless. I can tell you
[2:00:49] firsthand that animal cruelty
[2:00:51] is real heartbreaking and
[2:00:53] demands further action. Thank
[2:00:54] you commissioner rosado for
[2:00:55] strengthening this ordinance
[2:00:57] and working to strengthen
[2:00:59] animal welfare protections in
[2:01:00] our community. I do realize
[2:01:03] that we do need to reach out to
[2:01:04] animal services to coordinate
[2:01:06] the efforts on doing on having
[2:01:08] changes made increasing the
[2:01:10] penalties for animal cruelty
[2:01:12] sends an important message
[2:01:14] abuse and neglect and neglect
[2:01:15] excuse me must have
[2:01:17] consequences. I also support
[2:01:18] checking animal abuse
[2:01:20] registries before animals are
[2:01:22] transferred. However we must
[2:01:24] address the bigger picture. I
[2:01:26] cannot support the sale of pets
[2:01:27] when our shelters and rescues
[2:01:29] are already beyond capacity. We
[2:01:31] must crack down on
[2:01:32] irresponsible backyard breeders
[2:01:34] who put profit before animal
[2:01:36] welfare and contribute to
[2:01:38] abuse, neglect and
[2:01:40] overpopulation. We should be
[2:01:42] promoting adoption, spaying and
[2:01:43] neutering and helping the
[2:01:45] animals who are already here
[2:01:46] and desperately need homes. My
[2:01:48] hope is that miami will set an
[2:01:50] example for other
[2:01:51] municipalities and miami-dade
[2:01:53] county. So when animal safety
[2:01:55] does not depend on where it
[2:01:57] lives, I respectfully urge you
[2:01:59] to support this ordinance.
[2:02:01] Animals deserve more than our
[2:02:02] sympathy after they've been
[2:02:03] harmed. Thank you. They deserve
[2:02:05] our protection before it
[2:02:06] happens. Thank you ma'am. Thank
[2:02:06] you.
[2:02:08] >> appreciate it MR. Cruz.
[2:02:08] Thank you.
[2:02:11] >> elvis cruz 631 east 57th
[2:02:13] street here on item 14. It
[2:02:16] would enable a huge upzoning in
[2:02:18] little havana, riverside and
[2:02:20] shenandoah. This is the maximum
[2:02:22] density potential study done by
[2:02:24] the city of miami's planning
[2:02:26] department. And that study
[2:02:29] revealed that we already had 88
[2:02:31] times more housing units
[2:02:33] allowed to be built than we had
[2:02:35] in 2010 and therefore
[2:02:37] potentially eight times the
[2:02:40] population. That staggering
[2:02:42] number is before any additional
[2:02:43] upzoning like special area
[2:02:47] plans or ztsnd and many more
[2:02:49] like the one today miami is
[2:02:52] already hugely over zoned. It's
[2:02:55] an inconvenient truth that the
[2:02:57] city does not want to admit.
[2:03:00] Miami should not be upzoning it
[2:03:02] should be down zoning if you
[2:03:04] think traffic is bad now just
[2:03:06] wait until we have twice the
[2:03:08] population or three times or
[2:03:10] four times or double that to
[2:03:12] eight times which is how many
[2:03:14] housing units were already
[2:03:17] zoned for eight times the
[2:03:18] population. How much is enough?
[2:03:21] How much is too much but that's
[2:03:22] just traffic. What about
[2:03:23] potable water supply, sewage
[2:03:25] treatment capacity, garbage
[2:03:27] disposal capacity or hurricane
[2:03:30] evacuation time? Also this
[2:03:32] proposal is a huge violation of
[2:03:33] miami 21 successional
[2:03:35] transition principle. Here's
[2:03:40] what it is before t4 t5 t6 this
[2:03:41] is a proper successional
[2:03:44] transition after you would have
[2:03:47] t4 to t6 improper and on the
[2:03:49] south side of eighth street
[2:03:51] before you have t4 to t3 that's
[2:03:55] proper. Afterwards you have t5
[2:03:57] abutting t3 that's an improper
[2:03:59] successional transition again
[2:04:00] we're already zoned to allow
[2:04:02] eight times the population is
[2:04:04] the unspoken goal to cram as
[2:04:06] many housing units into miami
[2:04:08] as possible. Shouldn't miami be
[2:04:10] more concerned with preserving
[2:04:11] our long term quality of life
[2:04:13] than in enabling developer
[2:04:15] profits? Please vote no. Thank
[2:04:19] you. Good morning. How are you
[2:04:22] all doing? I'm here on fr4I
[2:04:24] believe it is. Um so I'm not a
[2:04:26] city of miami resident. I'm the
[2:04:27] organizer of the big wolf
[2:04:29] festival which takes place at
[2:04:30] regatta park um, coming up
[2:04:31] early next year. It's a
[2:04:34] festival dedicated to promoting
[2:04:36] responsible dog ownership and
[2:04:38] adoptions. Um, there's a direct
[2:04:40] correlation between cruelty to
[2:04:42] animals and cruelty to human
[2:04:46] beings. And so I really applaud
[2:04:47] commissioner, uh, pardo's
[2:04:49] efforts in this and we hope to
[2:04:50] get this moving forward. Thank
[2:04:52] you. We just need your name and
[2:04:53] address for the record. Carlos
[2:04:55] blanco yeah. And address
[2:04:56] please. Thank you. Thanks.
[2:04:57] Address?
[2:05:00] >> yeah 191 southwest 102nd
[2:05:01] street. Appreciate it. Thank
[2:05:03] you very much. Good morning.
[2:05:05] Good morning. My name is frank
[2:05:08] halpern. I'm at 236 southwest
[2:05:09] fourth avenue. I'm also an
[2:05:10] attorney here in miami,
[2:05:13] florida. I'm here to speak in
[2:05:15] favor of the up zoning in
[2:05:16] little havana for a number of
[2:05:17] reasons. One, I believe one of
[2:05:19] the most important reasons I
[2:05:20] believe is that right now the
[2:05:22] zoning that was spoken about
[2:05:25] before is concentrated only
[2:05:27] east of I 95 for a very
[2:05:28] particular group of people who
[2:05:30] can afford that lifestyle, the
[2:05:31] up zoning that would be
[2:05:33] occurring in little havana
[2:05:34] would be for everyone. It's not
[2:05:37] a giant up zoning where all of
[2:05:38] a sudden 80 story buildings are
[2:05:40] going to be cropping up in
[2:05:41] little havana. I own a property
[2:05:44] directly on jose marti park. I
[2:05:45] want everyone here to know that
[2:05:47] when we talk about transitional
[2:05:48] zoning, I'm going to have 80
[2:05:50] and 70 story buildings
[2:05:51] literally across the street
[2:05:53] from me with the river
[2:05:55] development and across the
[2:05:56] river they're going to be
[2:05:58] putting in a hotel and a
[2:05:59] nightclub that's going to be
[2:06:00] going on to 3 or 4 in the
[2:06:02] morning currently on my side of
[2:06:04] the river where I own a
[2:06:05] property you can only build
[2:06:07] four units. You can only build
[2:06:10] 36 units per acre and only
[2:06:12] three floors. I'm directly on
[2:06:15] the miami river if there's even
[2:06:17] a single small storm surge, any
[2:06:19] amount of water from that river
[2:06:20] is going to spill over and
[2:06:21] destroy that entire
[2:06:23] neighborhood. The only solution
[2:06:25] to dealing with these problems
[2:06:28] both density and height, is to
[2:06:29] create an up zoning that allows
[2:06:31] people to build upwards to
[2:06:32] protect them from both the
[2:06:34] problems that we're having in
[2:06:36] terms of funding, in terms of
[2:06:38] financing and in terms of
[2:06:40] space. But in addition to that
[2:06:41] it's an issue of safety as
[2:06:44] well. I urge everyone here to
[2:06:46] consider the upzoning in little
[2:06:47] havana and to approve it. Thank
[2:06:50] you for your time. Good
[2:06:53] morning. Um, I'm elijah jean
[2:06:55] baudrillard 300 biscayne
[2:06:59] boulevard way uh and um, I rise
[2:07:02] to support the city's um
[2:07:04] expansion of venture miami, our
[2:07:07] tech venture here and, um, I
[2:07:09] just want to add some comments,
[2:07:11] uh, from this, um, miami dade
[2:07:13] digital commission our
[2:07:15] community of enterprise
[2:07:17] technology, um, community here
[2:07:19] in miami. Uh, that history does
[2:07:22] not repeat but arrives to the
[2:07:24] same beat. New technology comes
[2:07:26] in, old systems become obsolete
[2:07:28] and I commend the mayor for
[2:07:30] leaning in at this moment. Um,
[2:07:32] we just had a great grow with
[2:07:35] ai the first one that we had um
[2:07:37] but I my suggestion is to
[2:07:39] expand what venture miami to
[2:07:40] include an ai workforce
[2:07:42] readiness and public sector
[2:07:44] governance to put ai policy in
[2:07:46] the city state and federal
[2:07:47] lobbying agenda while the rules
[2:07:49] are being written and return
[2:07:51] with a 90 days with ai
[2:07:53] readiness and contingency plan.
[2:07:56] Um because if you ask the elon
[2:07:58] musk or jeff bezos or mark
[2:08:00] zuckerberg, jamie dimon, larry
[2:08:02] fink some of the top people in
[2:08:06] our society you can hear every
[2:08:08] day the warnings that they're
[2:08:12] having to not take this
[2:08:14] technology as other
[2:08:17] technologies. It's hard for us
[2:08:20] to see the future or to imagine
[2:08:23] a world that is totally not the
[2:08:25] one that we're in right now,
[2:08:27] but we're here to avail
[2:08:30] ourselves to sincerely
[2:08:32] volunteer to press so that
[2:08:36] miami is protected. And I'll
[2:08:38] lead us with a, uh a scripture
[2:08:40] but as in the days of noah were
[2:08:42] so shall also the coming of the
[2:08:44] son of man be. For as in the
[2:08:46] days where before the flood
[2:08:47] they were eating and drinking,
[2:08:49] marrying and giving in marriage
[2:08:51] until the day that noah entered
[2:08:53] into the ark knew not until the
[2:08:55] flood came and took them all
[2:09:02] away. Thank you. Thank you.
[2:09:05] Good morning. All right. Um
[2:09:08] good morning commissioners and
[2:09:11] mayor I'm jonathan fultz 488
[2:09:13] north east 18th street. Um I
[2:09:16] lead the ai collective a ai
[2:09:19] community. We have 1500 members
[2:09:21] and I've also launched uh and
[2:09:22] founded over 30 companies in
[2:09:24] technology including a
[2:09:25] acquisition to a public
[2:09:27] company. I'm speaking about
[2:09:28] venture miami because
[2:09:30] attracting innovation is only
[2:09:32] half the job. Um, the preparing
[2:09:35] our people, our businesses and
[2:09:36] the government is actually the
[2:09:39] other half in SEPTEMBER of last
[2:09:41] year while leading a government
[2:09:43] ai workshop in nepal, I warned
[2:09:47] them about civil unrest. Days
[2:09:49] later there was a revolution
[2:09:52] and they actually set fire to
[2:09:54] parliament. That experience
[2:09:55] made preparedness and public
[2:09:59] trust very real to me. Miami's
[2:10:00] circumstances MAY be different
[2:10:02] but we need to prepare our
[2:10:04] people, the businesses and
[2:10:05] government for disruption
[2:10:07] before it becomes a crisis. The
[2:10:10] scale of ai disruption demands
[2:10:12] that we prepare right now. I
[2:10:14] would ask the commission to
[2:10:15] connect us with the leaders of
[2:10:17] venture miami or the
[2:10:18] appropriate city leaders for a
[2:10:21] meeting on ai preparedness. We
[2:10:23] worked hard to build miami and
[2:10:26] this technological revolution
[2:10:28] unfolds. We have a duty to
[2:10:30] protect the city and the people
[2:10:33] that built it. Thank you. Thank
[2:10:37] you. Good morning. Good morning
[2:10:41] billy corbin box 403 00433140.
[2:10:44] I'm here on re one and re two
[2:10:46] of course you should vote no
[2:10:48] and not raise the budget for
[2:10:49] the administration building by
[2:10:50] another five plus million
[2:10:52] dollars you're going to do it
[2:10:53] anyway I get it but you just
[2:10:54] need to know how nauseating it
[2:10:56] is for a city where the median
[2:10:58] household income is $60,000. To
[2:10:59] hear you guys talk about
[2:11:01] taxpayer dollars like it's
[2:11:03] monopoly money 5 billion here,
[2:11:05] $1 billion there. It really is
[2:11:07] irritating because you are on a
[2:11:08] collision course with
[2:11:09] bankruptcy and before you
[2:11:10] bankrupt the city you're going
[2:11:12] to bankrupt all of us the
[2:11:13] residents and the business
[2:11:15] owners and the stakeholders
[2:11:17] which is why it's so important
[2:11:19] to vote no not only on all
[2:11:21] three of the city of miami
[2:11:23] referendum items but especially
[2:11:25] referendum item one. It is a
[2:11:27] robbery that they want you to
[2:11:28] be a coconspirator to and it
[2:11:30] doesn't matter what it says on
[2:11:31] the ballot it's a lie. They're
[2:11:32] not changing the millage rate.
[2:11:33] They're still raising your
[2:11:35] taxes and doubling the debt of
[2:11:37] the city from 1 to $2 billion.
[2:11:39] Miguel gabela voted to raise
[2:11:40] your taxes. Rolando escalona
[2:11:42] wants to raise your taxes.
[2:11:43] Ralph rosado wants to raise
[2:11:44] your taxes and mayor eileen
[2:11:45] higgins wants to raise your
[2:11:47] taxes. Mayor, I have to say it
[2:11:49] you are a liar and a thief.
[2:11:51] You're a liar because last year
[2:11:53] you spent the entire campaign
[2:11:54] promising us you would do a
[2:11:55] deep dive into this budget,
[2:11:56] identify the tens of millions
[2:11:58] if not hundreds of millions of
[2:11:59] dollars in waste and you not
[2:12:00] only didn't do it which makes
[2:12:02] you a liar but you did the
[2:12:03] opposite which makes you a
[2:12:04] thief. You took 30% more money
[2:12:06] for your office. You increased
[2:12:07] the budget of the city by tens
[2:12:08] of millions of dollars and now
[2:12:10] you want $1 billion credit card
[2:12:12] under this miami referendum,
[2:12:14] one and half $1 billion of that
[2:12:16] money doesn't go to you or any
[2:12:17] community benefits. It goes to
[2:12:19] bankers and lawyers and
[2:12:19] lobbyists and insurance
[2:12:21] companies, all of whom are
[2:12:22] going to kick that money back
[2:12:23] to these folks, to the
[2:12:24] commissioners and to the mayor
[2:12:26] in the form of donations to
[2:12:28] pacs and campaigns. So vote no
[2:12:30] on city of miami referendum one
[2:12:32] because you can't spell eileen
[2:12:38] without lie thank you. Good
[2:12:41] morning. Good morning. Good
[2:12:42] morning commissioners. My name
[2:12:43] is isaac sembler. I'm a
[2:12:45] district three resident living
[2:12:46] on southwest second street. My
[2:12:48] address for 3436 southwest
[2:12:50] second. Um I'm not against
[2:12:51] development. I'm actually here
[2:12:52] because I believe quality of
[2:12:53] life should be just as
[2:12:54] important as the growth
[2:12:55] happening around us. First I'd
[2:12:55] like to acknowledge the
[2:12:57] commissioner and his efforts in
[2:12:58] district three, but I want to
[2:12:59] raise a few concerns about the
[2:13:00] lack of transparency and the
[2:13:01] growing impact development is
[2:13:02] having on our neighborhood.
[2:13:03] Let's start with jose marti
[2:13:04] park. This is one of the few
[2:13:06] accessible green spaces along
[2:13:07] southwest river drive,
[2:13:07] especially for residents with
[2:13:09] pets. Yet we've received very
[2:13:10] little information about the
[2:13:11] construction phases, the
[2:13:12] closures and we can when we can
[2:13:14] expect full access again we
[2:13:15] hear the project can take up to
[2:13:16] two years. But where is the
[2:13:17] communication? You guys spend
[2:13:18] millions of dollars in
[2:13:19] political mailers, but I can't
[2:13:20] get one thing in the mail about
[2:13:22] my park closing so transparency
[2:13:23] shouldn't be something the
[2:13:24] residents have to chase down.
[2:13:25] Now regarding the proposed
[2:13:27] rezoning for pc 14, my concern
[2:13:29] is that the development is
[2:13:29] outpacing the infrastructure
[2:13:30] and the oversight needed to
[2:13:31] support it. We're already
[2:13:32] dealing with constant
[2:13:33] construction noise, dust
[2:13:35] traffic and concerns about
[2:13:36] improperly permitted work.
[2:13:37] We've already seen two serious
[2:13:38] construction equipment
[2:13:40] collapses in miami and the most
[2:13:41] recent months raising important
[2:13:42] questions about inspection
[2:13:44] resources and public safety.
[2:13:45] How are we ensuring that
[2:13:46] increased development doesn't
[2:13:47] come at the expense of
[2:13:49] residents safety and peace?
[2:13:51] Southwest third street was most
[2:13:52] recently configured and by my
[2:13:53] observation we're going to be
[2:13:55] left with no parking. So
[2:13:56] commissioners please do
[2:13:57] something about this. Me as a
[2:13:58] local resident I was born and
[2:13:59] raised here. I want to stay
[2:14:00] here. I don't want to get
[2:14:01] priced out. Thank you. Thank
[2:14:01] you.
[2:14:04] >> um I is anyone else waiting
[2:14:07] to speak? Okay, come on up so I
[2:14:08] don't MISS MISS folks. Anybody
[2:14:10] that wants to speak get come up
[2:14:12] to the podium, please. Okay.
[2:14:14] Good morning. We'll start over
[2:14:15] here. Good morning. Good
[2:14:17] morning. MADAM Chair
[2:14:18] commissioners. My name is
[2:14:21] miriam and I'm here
[2:14:22] representing alvarado community
[2:14:25] action. Thank you. I'm sorry.
[2:14:27] I'm here representing our
[2:14:31] community action located at
[2:14:33] 2257 northwest north river
[2:14:39] drive in miami in the area. Um,
[2:14:45] today I'm here, uh, to, uh. I'm
[2:14:47] here to talk about our
[2:14:51] community and the mission of
[2:14:53] allapattah community action,
[2:14:56] uh, and the elderly center uh,
[2:14:58] that is to enhance the quality
[2:14:59] of life of our elderly
[2:15:02] individuals by providing
[2:15:04] nutritious meals, services,
[2:15:06] opportunities for social
[2:15:09] engagement and access to
[2:15:10] resources that promote
[2:15:13] independence, dignity and
[2:15:15] healthy aging. Since its
[2:15:18] establishment in 1978,
[2:15:20] allapattah community action has
[2:15:22] demonstrated an enduring
[2:15:23] commitment to the elderly
[2:15:26] residents of city of miami as
[2:15:29] the organization approaches its
[2:15:33] 50th anniversary in 2028, it
[2:15:35] remains dedicated to preserving
[2:15:37] its history of community
[2:15:39] service and ensuring that
[2:15:41] elderly residents continue to
[2:15:44] receive the care, respect and
[2:15:47] assistance they deserve. For
[2:15:49] nearly five decades, our
[2:15:51] community action inc. Has
[2:15:53] remained committed to one
[2:15:55] fundamental principle no
[2:15:58] elderly individuals should be
[2:16:01] forgotten, isolated or deprived
[2:16:03] of the essential services
[2:16:05] necessary to live with dignity
[2:16:08] and independence. The elderly
[2:16:11] center has become more than a
[2:16:13] location where meals are
[2:16:16] provided represents a place of
[2:16:18] companionship, security,
[2:16:20] dignity and belonging for many
[2:16:23] elderly individuals who might
[2:16:25] otherwise experience
[2:16:27] loneliness, food insecurity and
[2:16:30] limited access to community
[2:16:32] services. For many
[2:16:34] participants, the center serves
[2:16:36] as an important part of their
[2:16:38] daily life providing not only
[2:16:41] nutritional assistance but also
[2:16:42] opportunities to remain
[2:16:45] connected to their community.
[2:16:47] The organization extends its
[2:16:49] special appreciation to the
[2:16:51] commissioners providing not
[2:16:54] only nutrition. I'm sorry for.
[2:16:56] I'm sorry the elderly center.
[2:16:56] We.
[2:16:58] >> we have to. The organization
[2:17:00] extends a special appreciation
[2:17:01] to the commissioners,
[2:17:03] especially commissioner gabella
[2:17:05] for his continued support and
[2:17:08] commitment to our community, to
[2:17:10] the elderly center and the
[2:17:12] senior it serves. It's your two
[2:17:14] minutes are up. Thank you very.
[2:17:15] >> much but thank you for
[2:17:17] coming and we know your good
[2:17:18] work. We see it every day.
[2:17:20] Appreciate it. Okay go ahead
[2:17:25] ma'am I. Hi good morning. My
[2:17:27] name is alyssa zepeda. I reside
[2:17:29] at 531 northeast 76th street.
[2:17:32] Um I'm here today to speak on
[2:17:34] two items that are very
[2:17:37] important um to myself and to
[2:17:39] the upper east side community.
[2:17:42] They are ph seven and r e for
[2:17:44] the freebie item and the palm
[2:17:45] grove guidelines. I'm here
[2:17:48] today to ask on both of these
[2:17:50] items that you commissioners
[2:17:52] the four of you please support
[2:17:53] my district five commissioner
[2:17:55] who has worked very hard to
[2:17:57] bring these items that will,
[2:17:58] you know, significantly improve
[2:18:00] the life of the residents in
[2:18:02] palm grove and the upper east
[2:18:04] side and surrounding areas like
[2:18:06] little haiti and they will help
[2:18:08] with our mobility. For example,
[2:18:10] freebie will be I mean an
[2:18:13] amazing and amazing addition to
[2:18:15] help with our parking problems,
[2:18:17] our traffic problems and all
[2:18:18] sorts of things like that. I
[2:18:20] personally have asked for this
[2:18:22] for approximately eight years
[2:18:23] through three different
[2:18:25] commissioners. So this is a
[2:18:27] huge deal today. So if you can
[2:18:28] please support this I would
[2:18:29] greatly appreciate it. And as
[2:18:31] far as the palm grove
[2:18:32] guidelines this will simplify
[2:18:35] chapter 23 for a lot of people.
[2:18:36] Hopefully my neighborhood is
[2:18:38] the first and these guidelines
[2:18:39] will make it easy for people to
[2:18:41] update their homes, repair
[2:18:43] them, change their roofs and do
[2:18:44] things like that where it is
[2:18:45] all spelled out and it's easy
[2:18:47] for them to understand and it's
[2:18:48] not complicated and they don't
[2:18:50] get stuck in the city's
[2:18:51] building department vortex for
[2:18:53] nine months to change windows.
[2:18:56] So I would really appreciate
[2:18:57] your support. Thank you so
[2:19:02] much. Thank you. All right.
[2:19:04] Good morning. Brenda betancourt
[2:19:07] 1436 west sixth street. Um just
[2:19:10] in reference fr3 about the
[2:19:14] motor vehicles and traffic um
[2:19:19] are we are going to really do a
[2:19:22] changes to actually give the
[2:19:25] police the opportunity to make
[2:19:28] sure it gets control of not
[2:19:32] just bicycles, motorcycles,
[2:19:34] electric scooters who normally
[2:19:37] drive against traffic and the
[2:19:39] sidewalks even though there is
[2:19:40] a resolution in the state,
[2:19:41] especially in eighth street,
[2:19:44] they're not supposed to be any
[2:19:48] type of bicycles or any type of
[2:19:50] motor vehicles in the sidewalk
[2:19:52] that is being ignored for
[2:19:55] decades. Um that's the
[2:19:59] questions about fr3 is so many
[2:20:03] different um resolutions that
[2:20:05] you the elected officials have
[2:20:07] the responsibility when you see
[2:20:10] a scooter in the middle of the
[2:20:13] street between cars almost
[2:20:16] hitting seniors or a regular
[2:20:17] citizen who's walking on the
[2:20:20] sidewalk. But what exactly the
[2:20:22] changes are you are really
[2:20:23] going to do? Are you really
[2:20:27] going to do a new resolution to
[2:20:29] give the power to the police to
[2:20:32] actually make any changes, or
[2:20:34] is it going to be just as many
[2:20:35] resolutions that this body
[2:20:39] creates that is just for look
[2:20:41] reads really nice and the paper
[2:20:44] but actually doesn't have no
[2:20:46] way for the police to enforce
[2:20:52] it. Many of us have seen that
[2:20:54] constantly. You have promised
[2:20:55] you guys are going to work on
[2:20:58] it. So fr3 actually going to do
[2:21:00] something concrete or not.
[2:21:03] That's a question. And another
[2:21:05] question that I have is we have
[2:21:10] no report of any kind stating
[2:21:12] that you guys. Thank you.
[2:21:13] That's two minutes. Thank you
[2:21:14] [Laughter] MISS Betancourt. I
[2:21:17] didn't hear the beep. The beep
[2:21:21] went off confirmed MR. Clark,
[2:21:23] the keeper of the keeper of our
[2:21:25] beeper. All right. Thank you
[2:21:26] very much for coming.
[2:21:27] Appreciate it. All right.
[2:21:29] Seeing no one else, the public
[2:21:32] comment period is closed. All
[2:21:34] right, colleagues, uh, let us
[2:21:36] move on to the consent agenda.
[2:21:37] Does anyone want to bifurcate
[2:21:40] any of the items? Seeing none,
[2:21:42] I'll take a motion. So moved.
[2:21:45] >> second. All in favor say
[2:21:45] aye. Aye.
[2:21:46] >> chair. Chair. Yes.
[2:21:49] >> MR. Clark. Ca3 will be
[2:21:50] amended on the floor to change
[2:21:51] the name of the case and the
[2:21:53] title of the resolution from
[2:21:55] angela beltran versus city of
[2:21:57] miami to rhoda doyle versus
[2:21:59] city of miami. So c three as
[2:22:00] amended. Okay.
[2:22:01] >> so we have a motion as
[2:22:02] amended and a second all those
[2:22:06] in favor say I. I so those
[2:22:07] items passed. My apologies just
[2:22:09] for the record that'll be for k
[2:22:10] one three and four. Absolutely
[2:22:11] .
[2:22:13] >> all right public hearing
[2:22:14] items does anybody wish to
[2:22:16] bifurcate any of the public
[2:22:18] hearing items seeing none I'll
[2:22:20] take an motion on that. So
[2:22:22] moved. Second. Second all those
[2:22:24] in favor say aye aye. Any
[2:22:27] opposed those carried
[2:22:28] unanimously. All right moving
[2:22:32] on to the resolutions uh we've
[2:22:34] had a lot of them that are
[2:22:35] deferred but I do I does anyone
[2:22:37] want to bifurcate the remaining
[2:22:40] items. I'll do re5. Okay re5
[2:22:42] we'd like to bifurcate any
[2:22:45] others? Okay. MR. Clark, I
[2:22:47] think we need to amend re8. I'd
[2:22:50] like to, um, pull re8re8. Okay.
[2:22:52] >> and I know we need an
[2:22:53] amendment on that I think. All
[2:22:55] right, so I would entertain a
[2:23:02] motion on re1234re6re6 is
[2:23:12] deferred. Is deferred. Yeah so
[2:23:15] re123471112 and 13. So motion
[2:23:17] second. Okay all in favor say
[2:23:18] aye. Aye any opposed those
[2:23:21] carry unanimously. MADAM Mayor.
[2:23:23] Yes ma'am. Why was re6
[2:23:25] deferred? It was deferred at
[2:23:26] the setting of the agenda. I
[2:23:28] know um I've been looking for
[2:23:30] this item. I thought it was
[2:23:34] going to be in second reading.
[2:23:36] I'm just asking why it was
[2:23:38] deferred. Asked the
[2:23:39] commissioner who sponsored it.
[2:23:41] Yeah, no, I moved it to the
[2:23:43] next meeting. Oh it's okay. So
[2:23:46] what I'm. What I'm asking is my
[2:23:48] item the protocol item? First
[2:23:50] reading, last commission
[2:23:52] meeting. It's not here for
[2:23:54] second reading. Somebody tell
[2:23:56] me why. Um.
[2:23:59] >> generally like if. The way
[2:24:00] they do the agenda is if it's
[2:24:03] on the first meeting a second
[2:24:04] reading is on the first meeting
[2:24:06] of the month. Okay they match
[2:24:06] the month.
[2:24:07] >> yeah just just. Checking
[2:24:08] [Laughter] And it's also a
[2:24:10] notice issue as far as
[2:24:11] advertising the title. Okay
[2:24:12] just checking. Okay.
[2:24:14] >> all right um commissioner
[2:24:17] pardo you bifurcated re5. Yeah
[2:24:19] I had a lot of questions about
[2:24:20] re5 so I just wanted to explain
[2:24:22] it a little bit. The um
[2:24:25] everyone knows that our ways of
[2:24:26] increasing revenue are
[2:24:28] increasing taxes increasing
[2:24:30] fees and I think we could do a
[2:24:32] much better job of bringing in
[2:24:34] other revenue thinking more
[2:24:36] outside the box more
[2:24:38] innovatively and looking at
[2:24:39] private people and corporations
[2:24:41] that have the wherewithal and
[2:24:42] that are moving to miami
[2:24:44] district two has a lot of
[2:24:46] affluence moving into district
[2:24:48] two in the past I've had
[2:24:50] residents come to me and say
[2:24:53] I'm willing to give $250,000 as
[2:24:54] part of this street project if
[2:24:56] you'll do my curb and gutter it
[2:24:58] has been impossible because we
[2:24:59] don't have an established
[2:25:02] process or system to take in
[2:25:04] that money and by the time we
[2:25:06] actually get to well maybe we
[2:25:08] can put it on an agenda they're
[2:25:09] gone donors. The moment a
[2:25:12] serious donor looks at the city
[2:25:14] and feels like they're not
[2:25:15] being treated professionally,
[2:25:17] they're whatever gift they're
[2:25:19] going to give isn't going to
[2:25:21] pan out. They're going to go
[2:25:23] away. They have other places to
[2:25:25] give that money. I want the
[2:25:27] city of miami to be a place
[2:25:29] where a private donor can come
[2:25:31] here and say, I want to give to
[2:25:32] this park, I want to this
[2:25:34] happen to on the street and I'm
[2:25:35] willing to pay for it. There
[2:25:37] are a lot of people out there
[2:25:38] who who believe they've been
[2:25:40] very fortunate, very blessed
[2:25:42] and they're willing to give and
[2:25:43] they're philanthropic and we
[2:25:45] don't really have a path for
[2:25:47] those people. So re5 looks to
[2:25:48] the miami foundation. I've been
[2:25:50] a trustee on the miami
[2:25:51] foundation. They're a
[2:25:53] fiduciary. They're an outside
[2:25:55] organization. They can hold a
[2:25:57] donor advised fund for people
[2:25:59] in this case specifically in
[2:26:00] district two because I'd like
[2:26:03] to be able to have supervisory
[2:26:04] capacity over what happens. I'd
[2:26:06] also like to be able to be
[2:26:08] transparent to the public and
[2:26:09] show the progress of these
[2:26:11] different projects. I think
[2:26:13] that a donor advised fund with
[2:26:14] and I know there are other
[2:26:15] donor advised funds with the
[2:26:17] city and in other districts
[2:26:18] would really go a long way.
[2:26:20] That's well established and
[2:26:22] that really delivers for
[2:26:23] philanthropists because then
[2:26:24] they know they you start
[2:26:25] building a trust relationship
[2:26:27] with your city that they're
[2:26:29] going to treat your money with
[2:26:31] respect, not waste it be
[2:26:32] efficient and effective. And
[2:26:34] that's really the point of re5.
[2:26:36] Would you move your item? Yep
[2:26:37] I'll move. All right.
[2:26:38] >> is there a second. Second
[2:26:41] all those in favor say aye. Aye
[2:26:42] show that passed unanimously
[2:26:44] commissioner king um you
[2:26:46] bifurcated re8 and I know
[2:26:48] there's a possible amendment
[2:26:51] from the clerk. So I was just
[2:26:52] wondering um commissioner
[2:26:55] rosado, is it really necessary
[2:26:58] to commit this to legislation
[2:27:00] because with mpa they already
[2:27:02] notify the commissioners before
[2:27:05] they take any action. And I was
[2:27:07] wondering if maybe you tried to
[2:27:09] resolve this before creating
[2:27:11] legislation because we have a
[2:27:13] really good working [Applause]
[2:27:16] Relationship with mpa. I just.
[2:27:18] There was there was an I agree
[2:27:19] with that that we do have a
[2:27:20] good working relationship, but
[2:27:22] there was a recent instance
[2:27:24] where uh, pay by phone signs
[2:27:24] were installed in a
[2:27:26] neighborhood where there's no
[2:27:27] commercial establishments in
[2:27:29] the vicinity. And I got a
[2:27:30] series of complaints and the
[2:27:32] residents were under the
[2:27:33] impression that that was my
[2:27:34] idea or that that's a thing
[2:27:36] that we need to prove. And so I
[2:27:37] want to be I want to be
[2:27:39] notified in this particular
[2:27:40] instance when I brought it to
[2:27:41] their attention, all the
[2:27:42] complaints we got they had to
[2:27:43] do a re analysis and they said,
[2:27:44] you know what, it makes sense.
[2:27:45] Let's go ahead and remove them
[2:27:47] all. If they let me know in
[2:27:48] advance I'd say why are you
[2:27:49] putting those there? The folks
[2:27:50] that are going to be parking
[2:27:51] their parking there because
[2:27:53] they live in apartment
[2:27:54] buildings with no parking
[2:27:54] garages. They're going to be
[2:27:56] there dependent on the street
[2:27:57] parking so we could have saved
[2:27:59] them time and money on this. So
[2:28:01] I would like to codify this.
[2:28:01] Yeah.
[2:28:04] >> can I weigh in? Um you know
[2:28:06] I've always found that mpa is
[2:28:07] very responsive very uh you
[2:28:10] know, uh uh they cater to our
[2:28:12] needs. I mean I had a call on
[2:28:14] 17th ave um from the from some
[2:28:16] business owners there and from
[2:28:17] the public that you know, they
[2:28:18] were charging there and I, I
[2:28:20] called and said, can you let up
[2:28:21] for a while? You know, to you
[2:28:22] know, we're in bad times.
[2:28:23] People don't have a lot of
[2:28:24] money right now and they they
[2:28:26] they did it. I found them to be
[2:28:28] very you know, very uh, I agree
[2:28:30] with the with the commissioner.
[2:28:33] Uh, sure. If I if I could just
[2:28:34] add two things again, this is
[2:28:36] just for us to be notified in
[2:28:37] advance in this instance we
[2:28:39] weren't so that MAY be a
[2:28:41] practice but if it's not always
[2:28:42] followed that's a that's a
[2:28:43] problem. And we actually worked
[2:28:45] with the mpa on this
[2:28:47] legislation. So they they are
[2:28:51] fine with this as written. Any
[2:28:53] other discussion? Commissioner
[2:28:55] rosado, would you like to move
[2:28:55] your item.
[2:28:57] >> so. Moved and do we have an
[2:28:59] amendment as amended as a
[2:29:00] substitution I think right.
[2:29:02] Thank you chair re eight will
[2:29:03] be amended pursuant to a
[2:29:05] substitution memo dated OCTOBER
[2:29:09] 19th, 2026 as amended. So it's
[2:29:10] moved and second as amended.
[2:29:12] All those in favor say aye. Aye
[2:29:15] aye. Any opposed? What was the
[2:29:16] I'm sorry what was the
[2:29:19] amendment? Bear with me for
[2:29:22] just a moment. The amendment
[2:29:23] was to limit the notification
[2:29:25] to properties that are
[2:29:27] residential in nature as well
[2:29:29] as I believe it changed it from
[2:29:30] 30 days to seven days. Got it.
[2:29:31] >> thank you.
[2:29:33] >> gave them a little more
[2:29:35] flexibility. All right. So that
[2:29:39] item passed unanimously. We'll
[2:29:42] move on. I think that's all the
[2:29:44] resolutions second reading we
[2:29:46] have two sr two sr three. Would
[2:29:49] you read the titles. Yes MADAM
[2:29:57] Chair. Sr two an ordinance of
[2:29:58] the miami city commission
[2:29:59] amending chapter 38 article two
[2:30:00] of the code of the city of
[2:30:01] miami, florida as amended
[2:30:03] titled parks and recreation use
[2:30:06] regulations by amending section
[2:30:07] 38-65 titled peddling vending
[2:30:08] and merchandizing more
[2:30:10] specifically establishing a
[2:30:11] park use approval process for
[2:30:13] the operation of farmers
[2:30:14] markets in the city of miami
[2:30:15] parks containing a severability
[2:30:17] clause and providing for an
[2:30:19] immediate effective date. Then
[2:30:24] we have sr three. Sr three an
[2:30:25] ordinance of the miami city
[2:30:26] commission amending chapter
[2:30:27] eight of the code of the city
[2:30:29] of miami, florida as amended
[2:30:30] titled bicycle skateboard
[2:30:32] scooters and other similar
[2:30:33] devices by creating article
[2:30:35] three section 8-20 of the of
[2:30:36] the code regulating the
[2:30:38] operation of micro mobility
[2:30:39] devices, electric bicycles and
[2:30:41] motorized scooters in the city
[2:30:42] of miami providing definitions,
[2:30:44] regulations for operation of
[2:30:45] micro mobility devices,
[2:30:47] electric bicycles and motorized
[2:30:49] scooters on city rights of way
[2:30:51] providing enforcement pursuant
[2:30:52] to chapter two article ten of
[2:30:54] the code in chapter 318 florida
[2:30:55] statutes providing for
[2:30:57] severability clause and an
[2:30:59] effective date. Would we like
[2:31:01] to by MR. Clark I see you have.
[2:31:03] My apologies. Um, just for the
[2:31:05] record, sr three uh will be
[2:31:07] amended pursuant to a
[2:31:09] substitution memo dated OCTOBER
[2:31:10] 14th 2026. Thank you.
[2:31:10] Excellent.
[2:31:13] >> um would you like to
[2:31:14] bifurcate either of these two
[2:31:15] items? Anyone not I'll
[2:31:17] entertain a motion on both.
[2:31:19] Second all right all those in
[2:31:22] favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed
[2:31:24] show those items passed
[2:31:26] unanimously. All right on to
[2:31:28] the first readings. Would you
[2:31:30] want to read the titles?
[2:31:31] There's quite a few of them.
[2:31:33] Yes MADAM Chair, for one first
[2:31:34] reading ordinance an ordinance
[2:31:36] of the miami city commission
[2:31:37] amending chapter ten article
[2:31:38] one division two of the code of
[2:31:40] the city of miami, florida is
[2:31:41] amended city code titled
[2:31:42] buildings in general building
[2:31:44] administration fees and waivers
[2:31:46] to revise the fee provision set
[2:31:47] forth in sections ten dash 18
[2:31:50] of the city code to comply with
[2:31:51] permit fee requirements as set
[2:31:52] forth by florida statutes and
[2:31:54] to make other conforming and
[2:31:55] cleanup provisions making
[2:31:56] findings containing
[2:31:58] severability clause and
[2:32:01] providing for an effective date
[2:32:02] fr2 was indefinitely deferred
[2:32:05] fr three an ordinance of the
[2:32:06] miami city commission with
[2:32:07] attachments amending chapter 35
[2:32:09] article five of the code of the
[2:32:10] city of miami, florida as
[2:32:11] amended titled motor vehicles
[2:32:13] and traffic coconut grove
[2:32:14] business district design
[2:32:15] district, wynwood wynwood north
[2:32:17] and downtown flagler district
[2:32:19] parking improvement trust funds
[2:32:21] more particularly by amending
[2:32:23] section 35-220 titled required
[2:32:25] off street parking and payment
[2:32:27] in lieu of required off street
[2:32:28] parking and establishing
[2:32:31] section 35-245 titled parking
[2:32:32] improvement trust fund
[2:32:35] established section 35-246
[2:32:36] titled funds made available
[2:32:39] financial report section 35-247
[2:32:41] titled schedule of fees and
[2:32:43] charges for parking improvement
[2:32:45] trust fund and section 35-248
[2:32:47] titled parking waiver
[2:32:49] certificates revocation refunds
[2:32:52] to establish the parking
[2:32:53] improvement trust fund making
[2:32:54] findings containing a
[2:32:55] severability clause and
[2:32:57] providing for an effective date
[2:32:59] fr4 first reading ordinance an
[2:32:59] ordinance of the miami city
[2:33:00] commission amending chapter six
[2:33:02] article three of the code of
[2:33:03] the city of miami, florida as
[2:33:04] amended titled animals
[2:33:07] enforcement to update the city
[2:33:08] of miami's animal cruelty
[2:33:09] enforcement provisions
[2:33:10] establishing enhanced civil
[2:33:12] penalties for specified
[2:33:13] violations authorizing
[2:33:15] enforcement by animal control
[2:33:16] officers as provided by law
[2:33:17] containing a severability
[2:33:19] clause and providing for an
[2:33:21] immediate effective date. Fr5
[2:33:23] an ordinance of the miami city
[2:33:24] commission amending chapter six
[2:33:26] article two article three of
[2:33:27] the code of the city of miami,
[2:33:29] florida as amended titled
[2:33:30] animals, dogs and cats
[2:33:31] enforcement to provide for
[2:33:33] updated fines for those who
[2:33:34] commit violations of the city
[2:33:35] of miami's animal welfare
[2:33:36] chapter and include additional
[2:33:37] violations containing
[2:33:38] severability clause and
[2:33:40] providing for an immediate
[2:33:42] effective date. Fr6 an
[2:33:43] ordinance of the miami city
[2:33:45] commission amending chapter six
[2:33:46] article one of the code of the
[2:33:47] city of miami, florida as
[2:33:49] amended city code titled
[2:33:50] animals in general chapter six
[2:33:52] article one of the city code
[2:33:53] titled animals, dogs and cats
[2:33:54] and chapter six article three
[2:33:56] of the city code titled animals
[2:33:57] enforcement to provide for
[2:33:58] updated language regarding
[2:34:00] enforcement of leashing laws
[2:34:01] for domesticated animals and
[2:34:03] public and private property and
[2:34:04] to update definitions to meet
[2:34:05] current, codified and statutory
[2:34:06] definitions from both
[2:34:08] miami-dade county and the state
[2:34:10] of florida containing a
[2:34:11] severability clause and
[2:34:12] providing for an immediate
[2:34:13] effective date. That is the end
[2:34:14] of the first reading. Thank
[2:34:15] you.
[2:34:18] >> um so colleagues uh fr45 and
[2:34:19] six there's a little
[2:34:21] duplication so we probably need
[2:34:22] to turn on how to move forward
[2:34:25] but uh fr one and fr three does
[2:34:27] anybody want to bifurcate fr
[2:34:30] one or fr three that's the
[2:34:31] building fees and parking
[2:34:33] improvement trust fund. Okay so
[2:34:35] we could probably take those as
[2:34:36] a block if someone would move
[2:34:39] them motion. Second all right
[2:34:41] all those in favor say aye. Aye
[2:34:44] any opposed show fr one and fr
[2:34:47] three passed unanimously um fr
[2:34:49] four and five and six I
[2:34:51] presume. I'd like to pull yeah.
[2:34:53] Yeah I presume we want to chat
[2:34:54] probably all about all three of
[2:34:55] them more or less at the same.
[2:34:57] Time for for first because I
[2:34:58] think that will.
[2:35:00] >> open yes yes okay so let's
[2:35:02] um let's start with fr four
[2:35:04] because a lot of fr four is
[2:35:06] actually in fr five so maybe we
[2:35:08] can separate those items. So
[2:35:08] commissioner carter would you
[2:35:10] like to start. I did there's
[2:35:12] two issues. One is a process
[2:35:14] issue and and I spoke with the
[2:35:17] city attorney about this and we
[2:35:19] submitted a file id on
[2:35:21] SEPTEMBER 30th with for for fr
[2:35:23] five came about five days later
[2:35:26] fr six day came ten days later
[2:35:27] and speaking about this with
[2:35:29] the city attorney it would have
[2:35:31] been and it has happened to me
[2:35:32] before I've been told another
[2:35:34] commissioner is working on this
[2:35:36] topic and I'm like great, I'll
[2:35:37] co-sponsor and you know,
[2:35:38] whatever I'll do I'll do a
[2:35:40] substitution or on the dais and
[2:35:42] we collaborate. That's not a
[2:35:44] big deal. I enjoy that in this
[2:35:46] case there are three separate
[2:35:48] items and I don't want to see
[2:35:49] this happen again, which is why
[2:35:51] I'm bringing up this issue. I
[2:35:53] was told that by saying that
[2:35:54] another commissioner is working
[2:35:56] on an item that that is a
[2:35:57] violation of sunshine. I don't
[2:35:59] believe it is. I've talked to
[2:36:00] other municipal attorneys. They
[2:36:02] don't believe it is. I feel
[2:36:03] that we're being we're
[2:36:05] duplicating work and we're
[2:36:07] spending money we don't need to
[2:36:08] spend. And it would simply be
[2:36:10] much easier to just hold hold
[2:36:13] that topic and have other
[2:36:17] people add to it. Okay.
[2:36:19] >> um commissioner the animal
[2:36:20] cruelty side I'll say something
[2:36:22] else. I don't know how you want
[2:36:25] to deal with. Yeah. Um,
[2:36:27] commissioner pardo, your item
[2:36:29] you might want to explain it it
[2:36:31] it basically brings us into
[2:36:32] compliance with state law right
[2:36:34] and allows our penalties to be
[2:36:36] basically as as strong as they
[2:36:38] possibly could be under the
[2:36:38] state law. Right.
[2:36:40] >> so this came to us from
[2:36:41] vanessa, one of our residents
[2:36:44] from the bna and it does take
[2:36:45] our penalties to the maximum.
[2:36:48] That's $2,500 for the first
[2:36:49] offense, 5000 for the second,
[2:36:52] 7500 for the third. So it
[2:36:53] reflects the seriousness of
[2:36:55] what is happening. These
[2:36:57] instances have been growing in
[2:36:59] in frequency. We had someone
[2:37:00] here say that this is the
[2:37:01] beginning of criminal behavior.
[2:37:04] A lot of psychopathic behavior
[2:37:06] starts this way. So we want to
[2:37:07] make sure we crack down as much
[2:37:09] as possible. And this really
[2:37:12] represents a first step. Uh, as
[2:37:14] we go and we move we move more
[2:37:16] legislation forward and
[2:37:17] coordinate with the county and
[2:37:18] coordinate with groups that are
[2:37:19] working on this already. Great.
[2:37:20] >> good.
[2:37:22] >> MADAM Mayor. Yes,
[2:37:23] commissioner rosado yes.
[2:37:25] Commissioner I think our items
[2:37:26] are definitely have the same
[2:37:27] spirit. I know that there's a
[2:37:29] difference in the penalties.
[2:37:30] I'm happy to support the
[2:37:31] penalties that you proposed. So
[2:37:33] I remove the penalties from
[2:37:35] mine and we can make them
[2:37:39] complimentary and approve both.
[2:37:42] The only thing left is fr6 and
[2:37:44] my legislation is born out of
[2:37:47] an email that I received about
[2:37:49] pets being in public spaces
[2:37:51] without having leashes on it.
[2:37:54] What administration has done
[2:37:58] was blend the item our city
[2:38:00] item to match what the county
[2:38:02] has because the county is um
[2:38:06] really the enforcement arm. But
[2:38:08] this allows the city of miami
[2:38:10] to take enforcement and I don't
[2:38:14] mind adding my legislation to
[2:38:17] your legislation. Um but mine
[2:38:19] is different because it's
[2:38:21] addressing pets and I don't
[2:38:22] know why they put cats because
[2:38:24] we don't walk our cats on
[2:38:27] leashes but okay. Um but my
[2:38:30] legislation addresses um pets
[2:38:32] being without a leash in public
[2:38:34] in parks and like one of our
[2:38:36] constituents said, you know,
[2:38:38] when you're walking and someone
[2:38:40] doesn't have their dog on a
[2:38:41] leash and they say, oh, they're
[2:38:44] not going to I was told that
[2:38:47] any dog with teeth can bite. So
[2:38:49] while you know like I know
[2:38:51] cinnamon is not going to bite
[2:38:54] someone but someone who is
[2:38:55] afraid and someone who doesn't
[2:38:58] know cinnamon she has teeth she
[2:39:00] can bite in theory. So that's
[2:39:03] why this was put forward. MR.
[2:39:05] Attorney, it seems as if
[2:39:06] commissioner king's item we
[2:39:08] could take separately because
[2:39:11] there's no overlap. What what
[2:39:12] are your thoughts? You've
[2:39:13] you've worked on all of these
[2:39:15] items right. So um commissioner
[2:39:18] king's item is fr six um it
[2:39:23] does add the um on um we don't
[2:39:24] call it unleashed in the
[2:39:25] ordinance we call it
[2:39:27] unrestrained but that's
[2:39:29] different from fr four and fr
[2:39:32] five um there's language that
[2:39:33] is removed which is consistent
[2:39:36] with all three and also
[2:39:38] citations. So it is a good
[2:39:41] basis for amending it. Um there
[2:39:42] wouldn't be much conflict
[2:39:45] between fr six and then fr four
[2:39:52] and five other than. Yeah. So
[2:39:54] um I was just advised that um
[2:39:56] there's a provision of the
[2:39:57] ordinance that talks about
[2:39:58] remove unneeded. Well we talked
[2:40:00] about that all citations issued
[2:40:02] per 2823 city code or chapter
[2:40:04] five of the city code. We could
[2:40:06] we could remove language from
[2:40:09] fr six that would make it just
[2:40:10] a standalone where it would
[2:40:12] just apply to the um the leash
[2:40:13] and so we could make that
[2:40:15] change now before second
[2:40:18] reading. MADAM Mayor, one thing
[2:40:19] I just wanted to add that's
[2:40:21] important we we don't currently
[2:40:23] have people that can actually
[2:40:25] give these citations. So they
[2:40:26] do have to go I think through
[2:40:28] an 18 hour certification course
[2:40:30] and and uh, I'm saying that so
[2:40:32] that as many of us as possible
[2:40:33] can go through that course and
[2:40:35] there'll be as many of us as
[2:40:37] possible out there being able
[2:40:38] to give actually give the
[2:40:44] citations. I'll give our
[2:40:57] attorneys a minute to. All
[2:40:59] right. So the the requested
[2:41:00] amendment would be to just
[2:41:04] remove the amendment to 6-71 of
[2:41:06] fr six and that would
[2:41:07] deconflict it with all the
[2:41:09] others. Commissioner king is
[2:41:11] that okay with you? All right
[2:41:13] so I think we can move if I'm
[2:41:14] correct commissioner can you
[2:41:16] want to move your item as
[2:41:18] amended motion. Second. Second
[2:41:19] all those in favor say aye.
[2:41:20] Aye.
[2:41:22] >> okay that can move forward
[2:41:23] to second reading. Okay
[2:41:27] colleagues on fr four and five
[2:41:30] um it sounds as if commissioner
[2:41:32] rosado you will remove all of
[2:41:33] the references of your anger
[2:41:34] that language that conflicts
[2:41:37] with fr four um MR. City
[2:41:39] attorney do you have other
[2:41:41] advice for us on deconflicting
[2:41:42] those two items or should they
[2:41:44] be merged or what are your
[2:41:47] thoughts? Um ideally I think
[2:41:48] the commission should probably
[2:41:50] pick one and decide to go with
[2:41:53] that um to avoid um replication
[2:41:55] etcetera. Um so that would be
[2:41:58] my advice. Um I think the
[2:42:00] language in fr four which is
[2:42:02] commissioner partos is a little
[2:42:04] bit more straight as far as the
[2:42:07] fines in 2-671 so we could we
[2:42:10] could take that language but
[2:42:11] then commissioner rosado has
[2:42:13] additional language that he has
[2:42:14] added that is not included in
[2:42:15] fr four which is.
[2:42:17] >> I think we're good with
[2:42:18] folding them and he'll
[2:42:19] co-sponsor. Yes.
[2:42:22] >> and we will also co-sponsor
[2:42:25] kings and king. So we're all
[2:42:27] on. Everybody's co-sponsor.
[2:42:29] Okay so. I'm sorry we're
[2:42:30] showing a unanimous co-sponsor
[2:42:33] for fr four and then fr6. Yes
[2:42:35] commissioner cabella are you
[2:42:37] also um okay just want to
[2:42:39] confirm yes understood. And
[2:42:41] then you have all the clarity
[2:42:42] you need to bring back a second
[2:42:45] reading item that um blends
[2:42:47] them both together. Excellent
[2:42:49] word blend. Blend so we'll have
[2:42:52] a blended we'll have fr 4.5 or
[2:42:54] something. You can tell we're
[2:42:59] dog parents okay. Um so so MR.
[2:43:02] Attorney what do we do we
[2:43:06] withdraw fr five and amend fr
[2:43:07] four. Yes that.
[2:43:09] >> would I'm fine with that.
[2:43:13] Okay so show um. So move. Okay
[2:43:16] all in favor aye. Fr5 is
[2:43:19] withdrawn fr four can I have a
[2:43:21] motion to amend this to include
[2:43:22] what used to be fr five. So
[2:43:23] moved.
[2:43:24] >> second. All right all those
[2:43:27] in favor. Aye any opposed show
[2:43:30] show fr 4.5 minus five
[2:43:33] approved. As amended. As
[2:43:35] amended. Thank you all for
[2:43:40] working through that yeah. All
[2:43:42] right now we move on to boards
[2:43:44] and committees MR. Clerk. Thank
[2:43:47] you chair bc1 code enforcement
[2:43:48] award commissioner escalona
[2:43:50] would like to appoint jason
[2:43:53] benowitz to the at large seat.
[2:43:53] Motion.
[2:43:54] >> second.
[2:43:55] >> second. All those in favor?
[2:43:56] Aye.
[2:43:57] >> any opposed? Show that
[2:44:00] appointment made bc two. Bc two
[2:44:02] miami tree ordinance advisory
[2:44:03] committee commissioner escalona
[2:44:05] would like to appoint risa
[2:44:06] fernandez to his seat on the
[2:44:08] board. Motion.
[2:44:10] >> second in favor? Aye.
[2:44:12] >> any opposed? Show that
[2:44:14] appointment made. All right,
[2:44:16] colleagues, we'll move on to
[2:44:18] the planning and zoning items.
[2:44:20] My understanding is pz20 has to
[2:44:22] have a separate vote. Is that
[2:44:23] correct, MR. Clerk?
[2:44:24] >> that is yes, ma'am. Okay.
[2:44:27] >> or we have a unanimous yes.
[2:44:29] it has to be separate. Uh all
[2:44:31] right so then let's talk about
[2:44:37] the other ones pz12346 and
[2:44:40] seven. Does anyone want to
[2:44:42] bifurcate any of oh no there's
[2:44:51] more sorry guys. Pz123467141617
[2:44:54] and 18. Does anyone want to
[2:44:56] bifurcate any of those. I'd
[2:45:04] like to pull pz4pz4. All right
[2:45:05] I'll entertain a motion. Oh you
[2:45:07] do have to read the titles. I'm
[2:45:08] sorry about that.
[2:45:10] >> all right um. Pz4 being one
[2:45:17] of them. So pz1 is a resolution
[2:45:19] pz2pz3 is a second reading
[2:45:20] ordinance an ordinance of the
[2:45:21] miami city commission with
[2:45:22] attachments amending the zoning
[2:45:24] atlas of ordinance number 13114
[2:45:25] the zoning ordinance of the
[2:45:27] city of miami, florida as
[2:45:28] amended miami 21 code by
[2:45:29] changing the zoning
[2:45:31] classification from t68l urban
[2:45:33] core transect zone limited to t
[2:45:36] five urban center transect zone
[2:45:37] open for the properties
[2:45:44] generally located at
[2:45:46] 625645675685650640630 and 626
[2:45:52] northeast 64 terrace and
[2:45:54] 629635645655669 and 685 north
[2:45:57] west 64th street and the east
[2:45:59] portion of 610 northeast 64
[2:46:00] terrace, miami, florida more
[2:46:01] particularly described in
[2:46:02] exhibit a attached and
[2:46:03] incorporated making findings
[2:46:05] containing a severability
[2:46:06] clause and providing for an
[2:46:10] effective date. Pz4 first
[2:46:11] reading ordinance an ordinance
[2:46:13] of the miami city commission
[2:46:14] with attachments amending
[2:46:15] ordinance number 13114 the
[2:46:16] zoning ordinance of the city of
[2:46:18] miami, florida as amended miami
[2:46:20] 21 code by amending article one
[2:46:21] section 1.2 titled definition
[2:46:24] of terms to define electric
[2:46:25] vehicle ready in article three
[2:46:28] section 3.6 titled off street
[2:46:29] parking and loading standards
[2:46:31] to remove electric vehicle
[2:46:33] capable parking requirements
[2:46:34] article four table four titled
[2:46:36] density intensity and parking
[2:46:38] t4 density intensity and
[2:46:41] parking t5 density intensity in
[2:46:44] parking t6 density intensity
[2:46:46] and parking c density intensity
[2:46:48] and parking c I density
[2:46:50] intensity and parking c I dash
[2:46:53] h d density intensity and
[2:46:55] parking d one density intensity
[2:46:58] and parking d two and density
[2:46:59] intensity and parking d three
[2:47:01] to reduce parking requirements
[2:47:02] when electric vehicle parking
[2:47:04] is provided making findings
[2:47:05] containing a severability
[2:47:07] clause and providing for an
[2:47:09] immediate effective date then
[2:47:12] all right five was deferred six
[2:47:15] and second reading ordinance an
[2:47:16] ordinance of the miami city
[2:47:17] commission with attachments
[2:47:19] amending ordinance number 10544
[2:47:20] as amended the future land use
[2:47:22] map of the miami comprehensive
[2:47:23] neighborhood plan pursuant to
[2:47:24] small scale amendment
[2:47:26] procedures subject to section
[2:47:28] 163.3187 florida statutes by
[2:47:30] changing the future land use
[2:47:31] designation from single family
[2:47:32] residential to duplex
[2:47:33] residential of the acreage
[2:47:35] described herein of real
[2:47:37] property at approximately 3520
[2:47:38] southwest 17th terrace, miami,
[2:47:39] florida as more particularly
[2:47:41] described in the attached and
[2:47:42] incorporated exhibit a making
[2:47:43] findings containing
[2:47:44] severability clause and
[2:47:47] providing for an effective date
[2:47:49] pz7 also a second reading
[2:47:50] ordinance an ordinance of the
[2:47:51] miami city commission with
[2:47:52] attachments amending the zoning
[2:47:53] atlas of ordinance number 1311
[2:47:55] for the zoning ordinance of the
[2:47:56] city of miami, florida as
[2:47:58] amended miami 21 code by
[2:47:59] changing zoning the zoning
[2:48:02] classification from t3r
[2:48:03] suburban transit zone
[2:48:05] restricted to t three suburban
[2:48:07] transit zone open for the
[2:48:08] southern property of the
[2:48:09] southern portion of the
[2:48:11] property generally located at
[2:48:12] 3520 southwest 17th terrace,
[2:48:14] miami, florida with such
[2:48:16] portion as more particularly
[2:48:17] described in the attachment
[2:48:18] incorporated exhibit a making
[2:48:20] findings containing a
[2:48:21] severability clause and
[2:48:22] providing for an effective
[2:48:24] date. Z eight has been deferred
[2:48:27] pz9 has been deferred p z ten
[2:48:30] has been deferred p 111213 have
[2:48:33] been deferred pz14 first
[2:48:35] reading ordinance an ordinance
[2:48:36] of the miami city commission
[2:48:37] with attachments amending
[2:48:39] ordinance number 10544 as
[2:48:40] amended the future land use map
[2:48:41] of the miami comprehensive
[2:48:43] neighborhood plan pursuant to
[2:48:44] the expedited state review
[2:48:47] process subject to section
[2:48:49] 163.3184 florida statutes by
[2:48:50] amending the future land use
[2:48:52] designation from medium density
[2:48:53] restricted commercial to
[2:48:54] restricted commercial for
[2:48:55] certain properties west of
[2:48:57] northwest north river drive
[2:48:59] between northwest sixth street
[2:49:00] and northwest fourth street by
[2:49:01] amending the future land use
[2:49:03] designation for medium density
[2:49:04] restricted commercial to
[2:49:05] restricted commercial for
[2:49:06] certain properties between
[2:49:08] southwest south river drive
[2:49:09] southwest two street southwest
[2:49:11] five avenue and southwest one
[2:49:13] street by amending the future
[2:49:14] land use designation from
[2:49:16] medium density multifamily
[2:49:17] residential to restricted
[2:49:18] commercial for certain
[2:49:19] properties between southwest
[2:49:22] fourth avenue. Interstate I-95
[2:49:23] southwest sixth street,
[2:49:24] southwest fifth avenue and
[2:49:26] southwest first street by
[2:49:27] amending the future land use
[2:49:29] designation for medium density
[2:49:30] restricted commercial to
[2:49:31] restricted commercial for
[2:49:33] certain properties fronting
[2:49:34] southwest seventh street
[2:49:37] between interstate 95 and
[2:49:38] southwest 12th avenue by
[2:49:40] amending the future land use
[2:49:41] designation from low density
[2:49:43] multifamily residential and low
[2:49:44] density restricted commercial
[2:49:46] to medium density multifamily
[2:49:48] residential and medium density
[2:49:49] density restricted commercial
[2:49:51] for certain properties on the
[2:49:52] north side of southwest ninth
[2:49:54] street between southwest eighth
[2:49:55] avenue and southwest 12th
[2:49:57] avenue by amending the future
[2:49:58] land use designation from
[2:50:00] medium density multifamily
[2:50:01] residential to restricted
[2:50:03] commercial for certain
[2:50:05] properties fronting southwest
[2:50:06] seventh street between
[2:50:08] southwest 17th avenue and
[2:50:09] southwest 22 avenue and by
[2:50:11] amending the future land use
[2:50:12] designation from low density
[2:50:13] restricted commercial to
[2:50:15] restricted commercial for
[2:50:16] certain properties along
[2:50:17] southwest eighth avenue between
[2:50:19] southwest one street and
[2:50:20] southwest sixth street miami,
[2:50:21] florida as more particularly
[2:50:23] described in the attachment
[2:50:24] incorporated exhibit a making
[2:50:25] findings containing
[2:50:26] severability clause and
[2:50:29] providing for an effective date
[2:50:32] pz15 has been deferred pz16 is
[2:50:34] a first reading ordinance an
[2:50:35] ordinance of the miami city
[2:50:36] commission with attachments
[2:50:37] amending ordinance number 10544
[2:50:39] as amended the future land use
[2:50:41] map of the miami comprehensive
[2:50:42] neighborhood plan pursuant to
[2:50:43] small scale amendment
[2:50:45] procedures subject to 163.3187
[2:50:47] florida statutes by changing
[2:50:48] the future land use designation
[2:50:50] from duplex residential to
[2:50:52] restricted commercial of the
[2:50:53] acreage described herein for
[2:50:54] the properties fronting
[2:50:56] northwest 36 court on the west
[2:50:58] between northwest sixth street
[2:50:59] and northwest flagler terrace
[2:51:01] by changing the future land use
[2:51:02] designation from duplex
[2:51:04] residential to low density
[2:51:05] multifamily residential of the
[2:51:07] acreage described herein for
[2:51:08] the properties fronting
[2:51:09] northwest 36th street on the
[2:51:11] east between northwest sixth
[2:51:12] street and northwest flagler
[2:51:14] terrace by changing the future
[2:51:15] land use designation from
[2:51:17] duplex residential to low
[2:51:18] density restricted commercial
[2:51:20] of the acreage described herein
[2:51:23] for 613 northwest 36 court 31
[2:51:27] northwest 36 court 15 northwest
[2:51:30] 36 court and 3655 northwest.
[2:51:31] >> sixth court and by changing
[2:51:32] the future land use designation
[2:51:34] from duplex residential to
[2:51:35] restricted commercial of the
[2:51:37] acreage described herein for
[2:51:39] 3670 northwest sixth street.
[2:51:41] 3675 northwest fifth street
[2:51:43] 3684 northwest fourth street
[2:51:45] and 3651 northwest three street
[2:51:47] miami, florida. As more
[2:51:48] particularly described in
[2:51:49] exhibit a attached and
[2:51:50] incorporated making findings
[2:51:51] containing a severability
[2:51:53] clause and providing for an
[2:51:56] effective date. The 17 first
[2:51:58] reading ordinance an ordinance
[2:51:59] of the miami city commission
[2:52:00] with attachments amending
[2:52:02] ordinance number 13114 the
[2:52:03] zoning ordinance of the city of
[2:52:04] miami, florida as amended miami
[2:52:06] 21 code by changing the zoning
[2:52:08] classification from t3o
[2:52:10] suburban transit zone open to
[2:52:12] t4o urban general transit zone
[2:52:13] open for the properties running
[2:52:15] north and south fronting
[2:52:16] northwest sixth street and
[2:52:17] northwest fifth street by
[2:52:18] changing the zoning
[2:52:19] classification from t3o
[2:52:22] suburban transit zone open to
[2:52:25] t4o urban general transit zone
[2:52:27] open for the properties running
[2:52:28] north and south fronting
[2:52:29] northwest fourth street
[2:52:31] northwest three street and by
[2:52:32] changing the zoning
[2:52:33] classification from t3o
[2:52:35] suburban transit zone open to
[2:52:38] t4r urban general transit zone
[2:52:39] restricted for the properties
[2:52:41] fronting northwest 36 court to
[2:52:43] the east and west between
[2:52:44] northwest seventh street and
[2:52:45] northwest flagler street.
[2:52:47] Miami, florida as more
[2:52:48] particularly described in
[2:52:49] exhibit a attached and
[2:52:50] incorporated making findings
[2:52:51] containing a severability
[2:52:53] clause and providing for an
[2:52:55] effective date. Pz18 first
[2:52:56] reading ordinance an ordinance
[2:52:58] of the miami city commission
[2:52:59] amending ordinance number 13114
[2:53:00] the zoning ordinance of the
[2:53:01] city of miami, florida as
[2:53:02] amended specifically by
[2:53:03] amending article four table
[2:53:05] four titled density, intensity
[2:53:07] and parking to clarify parking
[2:53:09] regulations for uses within the
[2:53:11] podium by amending article five
[2:53:13] titled specific zones to update
[2:53:14] development incentives for
[2:53:16] podium liners, podium design
[2:53:17] and parking structures and
[2:53:19] allowable cantilevered building
[2:53:21] encroachments and by amending
[2:53:23] article six section 6.1 titled
[2:53:25] intent and exclusions to update
[2:53:27] micro dwelling unit regulations
[2:53:28] making findings containing a
[2:53:29] severability clause and
[2:53:31] providing for an effective
[2:53:34] date. Pz 19 has been deferred
[2:53:37] and pz 20 is a resolution.
[2:53:38] Thank you, MADAM Chair.
[2:53:39] >> all right, take a breath.
[2:53:41] [Laughter] George that was that
[2:53:45] was a long I should take it
[2:53:48] exactly. Have a sip. All right
[2:53:50] folks we have bifurcated prs
[2:53:53] for prs 20 must be voted on
[2:53:55] separately. Um, MR. Clark, I
[2:53:57] think you have something to
[2:53:58] read into the record on prs
[2:54:02] two. Thank you chair. Um prs.
[2:54:04] >> two will be amended pursuant
[2:54:06] to a substitution memo dated
[2:54:08] OCTOBER 20th 2026. Prs 14 will
[2:54:10] be amended pursuant to a
[2:54:12] substitution amendment dated
[2:54:14] OCTOBER 20th 2026. Pc 16 will
[2:54:16] be amended to a pc ab meeting
[2:54:17] information in the first
[2:54:19] whereas clause and prs 17 will
[2:54:21] be amended to add prs ab
[2:54:22] meeting information in the
[2:54:23] first whereas clause. Thank you
[2:54:25] chair. Um MR. Clark I believe
[2:54:27] prs three also needs the pc ab
[2:54:29] information as well. I've just
[2:54:30] been informed it might not be
[2:54:32] on your list. Prs three will be
[2:54:33] shown as amended as well.
[2:54:51] Understood. Okay um. One more.
[2:54:54] All right. Do I have a motion
[2:54:56] on everything except for prs
[2:54:59] four and pc 20. Please move
[2:54:59] motion. Second.
[2:55:02] >> all right all those in favor
[2:55:02] say aye. Aye.
[2:55:04] >> any opposed? Show those
[2:55:07] passed unanimously. Um I think
[2:55:09] we'll go to prs 21st just
[2:55:10] because we're paying outside
[2:55:12] counsel and if we could save
[2:55:14] whatever 30 minutes of time
[2:55:16] let's do that. Um do you mind
[2:55:19] reading that one into. It's a
[2:55:20] resolution but I'll read it
[2:55:22] anyway just so everybody knows
[2:55:23] what's going on. No it's it
[2:55:25] makes sense. Um prs 20 is a
[2:55:27] resolution of the miami city
[2:55:28] commission granting or denying
[2:55:29] the appeal filed by elvis cruz
[2:55:34] of the intended decision for bd
[2:55:36] 23-006209-001 issued on AUGUST
[2:55:38] 25th, 2026 for the city of
[2:55:39] miami public right of way
[2:55:41] located at approximately 5215
[2:55:42] northwest seventh avenue,
[2:55:44] miami, florida and with the
[2:55:46] parties state their appearances
[2:55:50] please. Uh good morning amanda
[2:55:52] corgan, outside counsel on
[2:55:54] behalf of city staff on this
[2:56:00] appeal. MR. Cruz, would you
[2:56:01] like to start your
[2:56:04] presentation? Yes, ma'am. Let
[2:56:06] me just hook up here. How much
[2:56:08] time do you think you'll need?
[2:56:09] A little over ten minutes.
[2:56:11] >> try to keep it to ten,
[2:56:13] please. I'm sorry. Try to keep
[2:56:15] it to ten. I think I can.
[2:56:16] >> I think you can. I'd like to
[2:56:17] remind you that a couple
[2:56:18] meetings ago there was a tree
[2:56:20] appeal on irvington. They took
[2:56:22] 18 minutes before you told them
[2:56:23] to land the plane. Remember
[2:56:26] that one I was good. I did so I
[2:56:28] know give us give it a whirl
[2:56:29] and let's try for ten. Thank
[2:56:34] you. Is there going to be a
[2:56:36] standing challenge today? Uh,
[2:56:38] the city does not waive
[2:56:39] standing and will preserve it.
[2:56:42] For the record yes. Are you
[2:56:43] challenging my standing? Is
[2:56:45] that what I understand. The
[2:56:47] city is reserving the, uh the
[2:56:48] standing argument and we can
[2:56:49] address that first if you'd
[2:56:52] like to. Well, normally the way
[2:56:54] the commission does it you
[2:56:55] address standing first. Okay,
[2:56:57] great. Because if I don't have
[2:56:58] standing I don't get to
[2:56:59] present. I thought you were
[2:57:00] going to present your standing
[2:57:02] and then I can I can
[2:57:08] cross-examine you. Okay, so
[2:57:09] we're going with standing
[2:57:17] first. Elvis cruz 631 north
[2:57:20] east 57th street. My legal
[2:57:21] standing for this appeal is
[2:57:25] based on miami city code
[2:57:28] section 178 b quote any
[2:57:29] aggrieved party having standing
[2:57:31] under state law MAY appeal to
[2:57:33] the city commission. Any
[2:57:34] decision by the department on
[2:57:36] matters relating to tree permit
[2:57:37] applications for the
[2:57:39] departments of public works or
[2:57:41] capital improvements program or
[2:57:45] to their contractors and also
[2:57:48] section 1702 which reflects the
[2:57:51] state law intervenor a person
[2:57:52] whose interests in the
[2:57:54] proceeding are adversely
[2:57:56] affected in a manner greater
[2:57:58] than those of the general
[2:58:00] public. In addition to living
[2:58:02] two blocks from the park since
[2:58:03] 1977 and visiting it at least
[2:58:05] three times a week, my interest
[2:58:07] in this proceeding both
[2:58:10] financial and personal, are
[2:58:12] adversely affected in a manner
[2:58:14] far greater than those of the
[2:58:16] general public. I know of no
[2:58:17] other member of the public who
[2:58:19] has spent more of their own
[2:58:21] time and money to protect,
[2:58:23] maintain and advocate for
[2:58:26] morningside park than I have. I
[2:58:29] paid for the planting of the
[2:58:32] four monkeypod trees some
[2:58:33] enhancements that were
[2:58:36] destroyed by acts of
[2:58:37] malfeasance and are the subject
[2:58:39] of the intended decision I'm
[2:58:42] appealing today. Here is one of
[2:58:44] those trees. Correction these
[2:58:46] are four of them those four
[2:58:50] trees the day they were planted
[2:58:53] MAY 17th 2018. Here is one of
[2:58:54] that same group of monkey pods
[2:58:56] that was not killed
[2:58:58] photographed last week. So you
[2:59:00] can see the tree the size of
[2:59:02] the trees that were lost. I've
[2:59:05] also paid $907 for this appeal
[2:59:07] even though it was the city's
[2:59:08] fault through their contractors
[2:59:10] that those trees were cut down
[2:59:12] which the contractors said they
[2:59:14] were going to replace but then
[2:59:16] reneged. I've spent countless
[2:59:17] hours and thousands of dollars
[2:59:19] to maintain and improve
[2:59:21] morningside park since 1993,
[2:59:22] including thousands of
[2:59:23] volunteer hours planting,
[2:59:24] trimming, fertilizing,
[2:59:27] irrigating and weeding. Anybody
[2:59:29] who doubts that is invited to
[2:59:31] ask park manager chi chisholm,
[2:59:33] former park managers albert
[2:59:35] mora, michael belletti and
[2:59:37] elizabeth zapata, groundskeeper
[2:59:39] claudio evora and former parks
[2:59:41] department directors kevin
[2:59:44] kirwan and chuck ellis. I
[2:59:46] worked long and hard to get the
[2:59:47] park declared historic by the
[2:59:49] hep board. Unfortunately, the
[2:59:50] city commission voted against
[2:59:53] the district commissioner and
[2:59:57] rescinded it. I've conducted 70
[2:59:59] free educational tours of the
[3:00:02] park for 1117 individuals
[3:00:05] including elementary, middle
[3:00:08] and high school students, boy
[3:00:11] scouts, girl scouts and the
[3:00:13] general public. All my tours
[3:00:16] are free. If any of you or
[3:00:17] anyone wants to bring a group
[3:00:19] for a free educational tour,
[3:00:22] please email morningside
[3:00:25] tours@gmail.Com. What I do is
[3:00:27] officially encouraged by the
[3:00:29] city. Here's the city's website
[3:00:32] .Thank you for your interest
[3:00:34] in volunteering. It is a top
[3:00:36] priority for us to strengthen
[3:00:38] environmental conservation and
[3:00:40] educational outreach efforts in
[3:00:42] partnership with local, state,
[3:00:43] private and nonprofit
[3:00:45] organizations park
[3:00:47] beautification landscaping,
[3:00:49] gardening, removing weeds we
[3:00:50] welcome your interest
[3:00:52] assistance and help and invite
[3:00:54] you to become part of our
[3:00:57] volunteer team. In order to
[3:00:59] volunteer in the park I had to
[3:01:01] be verified by the city
[3:01:02] including fingerprinting, drug
[3:01:04] testing, chest x-ray for
[3:01:06] tuberculosis and a background
[3:01:07] check by the florida department
[3:01:09] of law enforcement. I've
[3:01:11] donated and planted at least 60
[3:01:13] trees in the park all at my
[3:01:15] expense all with permission
[3:01:18] from the city that includes
[3:01:19] planting memorial palms for
[3:01:21] distinguished neighbors that
[3:01:22] passed away, including for
[3:01:25] departed city official alice
[3:01:26] robertson. I created and
[3:01:28] maintain a spreadsheet of the
[3:01:29] approximately 200 palms in the
[3:01:31] morningside park palmatum I
[3:01:33] obtained donations from the
[3:01:35] south florida palm society and
[3:01:36] myself to place educational
[3:01:38] identification signs on all the
[3:01:41] palms in the palmatum I donated
[3:01:43] and installed a drip irrigation
[3:01:45] system all at my expense as I
[3:01:48] was requested by the city. My
[3:01:49] efforts in the park have been
[3:01:51] supported by fairchild tropical
[3:01:52] garden, montgomery botanical
[3:01:54] center and miami-dade county
[3:01:56] public schools. I've appeared
[3:01:58] at dozens of city commission
[3:01:59] meetings over decades
[3:02:00] advocating for the park, all
[3:02:03] too often trying to protect it
[3:02:06] from harmful things the city
[3:02:07] did just like this appeal
[3:02:09] today, including building a
[3:02:11] dumpster corral on the
[3:02:13] bayfront, placing an eyesore, a
[3:02:16] cargo container by the softball
[3:02:18] field blocking the park's
[3:02:20] original drainage ditches
[3:02:21] resulting in flooding that
[3:02:23] continues even now 14 years
[3:02:26] later neglecting the city's
[3:02:28] swimming pool maintenance that
[3:02:30] was a tough loss as the city's
[3:02:32] very bad habit of demolition by
[3:02:34] neglect claimed another victim.
[3:02:36] I've been advocating for trees
[3:02:38] for decades. My efforts were
[3:02:40] even written up in the
[3:02:41] newspaper back when I had
[3:02:44] better hair. Lastly,
[3:02:46] morningside park opened on JUNE
[3:02:48] 13th, 1953. I wasn't born then
[3:02:51] but I was there for its 70th
[3:02:52] birthday when I hosted a
[3:02:54] birthday party for the park
[3:02:56] with cake and ice cream.
[3:02:58] Commissioner pardo, you came to
[3:03:00] that birthday party and as
[3:03:01] someone who has lived in
[3:03:03] morningside since 1999, you're
[3:03:05] very aware of my many years of
[3:03:07] volunteering in and advocacy
[3:03:10] for morningside park. In light
[3:03:12] of all this evidence, it is
[3:03:14] clear that my interests are far
[3:03:16] greater than that of the
[3:03:18] general public and so I qualify
[3:03:20] for intervenor status as per
[3:03:22] sections 1780 and 172 of the
[3:03:24] miami city code. Because of the
[3:03:26] egregious nature of the code
[3:03:28] violations done to this park
[3:03:31] recently, I filed this appeal.
[3:03:33] Lastly, there was an agenda
[3:03:34] item earlier today about
[3:03:36] philanthropic donations to
[3:03:38] district two. I've already been
[3:03:40] doing that for over 30 years
[3:03:41] and if I had to sum up my
[3:03:43] experience in one sentence I
[3:03:45] would say no good deed goes
[3:03:48] unpunished. I've made many
[3:03:51] donations to the city over the
[3:03:52] years and I'm offering another
[3:03:55] one today. Please don't punish
[3:03:59] me for it. Thank you. MR. Cruz.
[3:04:01] Under renard and renard county
[3:04:03] and solaris versus the city of
[3:04:04] miami you have to allege a
[3:04:06] special injury. This is an
[3:04:08] intended decision for an after
[3:04:09] the fact removal of trees. Do
[3:04:11] you have a special injury with
[3:04:12] regard to the replacement of
[3:04:14] trees? Yes I do as you'll
[3:04:17] recall I showed you the
[3:04:18] receipt. I planted those
[3:04:21] original trees so I have a
[3:04:23] financial interest. Now I have
[3:04:25] to ask you do you mean strictly
[3:04:28] financial interest or personal
[3:04:29] interest? Because under state
[3:04:31] law it's not limited to
[3:04:32] financial interest. It can also
[3:04:33] be a personal interest. You are
[3:04:35] aware of that as an attorney
[3:04:37] I'm sure. Okay so this is a
[3:04:38] this is an intended decision
[3:04:41] for the replacement of trees.
[3:04:43] Do you have a special injury
[3:04:44] with regard to the replacement
[3:04:46] of trees in morningside park?
[3:04:48] Yes I do because as I showed
[3:04:50] you in my powerpoint the park
[3:04:52] was designed in a very elegant
[3:04:53] style the american romantic
[3:04:55] park movement by the city of
[3:04:57] miami's parks director who was
[3:04:58] also a landscape director
[3:05:00] excuse me a landscape architect
[3:05:02] ray plummer. The park was
[3:05:03] designed with an elegant
[3:05:05] uniform planting of large
[3:05:07] canopy shade trees along the
[3:05:09] loop road and some of the
[3:05:11] walkways. What is being
[3:05:12] proposed as the mitigation
[3:05:14] would disrupt that planting,
[3:05:16] which I have been working on
[3:05:19] for decades. Do you have any
[3:05:20] documents or other evidence
[3:05:22] that the city gave you
[3:05:23] permission to plant the trees
[3:05:26] that were removed during
[3:05:27] construction? Yes.
[3:05:29] >> I showed you the
[3:05:32] documentation in my powerpoint.
[3:05:35] Um and by the way, if you doubt
[3:05:37] that talk to kevin kerwin. He
[3:05:38] was the parks director at the
[3:05:40] time. He's the one that gave me
[3:05:43] permission. Um can you please
[3:05:45] allege with specific
[3:05:46] specificity what is your
[3:05:48] special injury for the
[3:05:50] replacement of the trees in
[3:05:52] morningside park? I will be
[3:05:54] covering that in my main
[3:05:56] presentation but this is only
[3:05:57] about standing. You are aware
[3:05:59] of that that this is only the
[3:06:00] standing hearing. There's going
[3:06:01] to be a whole nother
[3:06:03] presentation ten minutes long
[3:06:05] once we actually get into the
[3:06:06] substance which is happening
[3:06:08] here is the city's basic
[3:06:10] maneuver of trying to prevent
[3:06:11] people from even presenting
[3:06:13] their case on standing. Okay.
[3:06:15] >> um we reserve our right to
[3:06:17] further object to standing as
[3:06:19] you make your presentation and
[3:06:22] and will allege further facts.
[3:06:24] I presume that means we're
[3:06:26] allowed to we'll let MR. Cruz
[3:06:27] go ahead with your
[3:06:28] presentation. Thank you. So am
[3:06:30] I to understand I have been
[3:06:31] granted standing mayor? No,
[3:06:33] there is no determination on
[3:06:35] standing. There is no
[3:06:36] independent determination on
[3:06:37] standing. You can make your
[3:06:40] presentation. Okay, so even
[3:06:42] though the commission has not
[3:06:44] granted me standing I'm to give
[3:06:46] my presentation is that what
[3:06:50] I'm understanding? So um if the
[3:06:52] commission wishes to make a
[3:06:55] motion on standing now they can
[3:06:57] do that um otherwise it appears
[3:06:59] that counsel has no objection
[3:07:01] to MR. Cruz making his case.
[3:07:03] You can hear his case and at
[3:07:05] the end um make a determination
[3:07:09] on um either standing at that
[3:07:11] point and or on the merits of
[3:07:16] the appeal. [Laughter] I think
[3:07:18] we should go ahead and hear the
[3:07:22] presentation. Okay here we go.
[3:07:25] Elvis cruz 631 north east 57th
[3:07:34] street. Morningside park was
[3:07:36] designed in the american
[3:07:37] romantic style with a curved
[3:07:39] boulevard and walkways lined
[3:07:41] with elegant uniform tree
[3:07:43] plantings by ray plummer,
[3:07:45] miami's park superintendent and
[3:07:47] brilliant landscape architect.
[3:07:49] In 2025, the morningside park
[3:07:51] shoreline project removed 60
[3:07:54] trees with permits but then
[3:07:57] later removed another 16 trees
[3:07:59] without permits or public
[3:08:02] notice. Then to avoid applying
[3:08:04] for a permit, the contractor
[3:08:06] deliberately flooded an area of
[3:08:08] the park with saltwater
[3:08:10] poisoning eight trees the
[3:08:12] neighbors were not happy. The
[3:08:14] city told us that they would
[3:08:15] wait a year before removing any
[3:08:17] trees to see if they would
[3:08:19] recover. The neighbors believed
[3:08:21] that promise. I was especially
[3:08:23] concerned with five of the
[3:08:25] poisoned trees four monkey
[3:08:28] pods, botanical name samanea
[3:08:31] saman and one huge specimen
[3:08:34] java plum botanical name
[3:08:37] syzygium cumini this healthy
[3:08:38] surviving monkey pod planted
[3:08:40] the same day as the four that
[3:08:41] were poisoned reflects their
[3:08:44] size. The four poisoned monkey
[3:08:46] pods were part of an elegant
[3:08:48] uniform tree planting seven in
[3:08:50] a row I paid for those four
[3:08:53] trees to be planted. The
[3:08:54] consultant for the project,
[3:08:56] curtis rogers, monitored the
[3:08:58] monkey pods but misidentified
[3:09:01] them as mimosa, which MAY have
[3:09:03] caused the misinformation
[3:09:06] you'll soon hear two of the
[3:09:08] monkey pods never recovered,
[3:09:10] but two others bounced back as
[3:09:14] the consultant's own reports
[3:09:16] showed both trees had new leaf
[3:09:18] growth only one month after the
[3:09:21] salt water damage and continued
[3:09:24] recovering and as late as MARCH
[3:09:26] 12th, the consultant's report
[3:09:28] says both trees were recovering
[3:09:32] with new growth then without
[3:09:35] any public notice or permit
[3:09:36] completely in violation of city
[3:09:39] code on APRIL 13th, 2026, all
[3:09:41] four monkeypod trees were cut
[3:09:44] down. Was that gross
[3:09:47] malfeasance or malice?
[3:09:48] Afterwards, curtis rogers said
[3:09:50] they would replace those four
[3:09:52] trees with new monkey pods, but
[3:09:56] now they want to renege on that
[3:10:01] promise. As for the specimen
[3:10:04] java plum, it was one of about
[3:10:07] 35 planted when the park opened
[3:10:11] in 1953. 25 of them still
[3:10:13] thrive there today. The
[3:10:15] contractors deliberate
[3:10:17] saltwater flooding caused this
[3:10:19] specimen to drop all of its
[3:10:21] leaves. Then it started
[3:10:23] recovering and there was much
[3:10:25] happiness because the city
[3:10:28] promised to wait a year. Leaves
[3:10:30] sprouted on upper branches
[3:10:31] including healthy tissue up to
[3:10:34] their. But unknown to the
[3:10:35] public, the consultant
[3:10:37] bizarrely reported that the
[3:10:39] tree was defoliated and
[3:10:42] nonviable. Then on APRIL 15th
[3:10:44] the java plum was cut down
[3:10:47] again with no public notice and
[3:10:50] no permit. Yes it's that crazy
[3:10:55] it's that evil. It was 52in in
[3:10:57] diameter. I met with the city
[3:10:58] manager to ask for the same
[3:11:00] trees to be replanted. He
[3:11:03] seemed agreeable so I was quite
[3:11:05] surprised by the new intended
[3:11:06] decision. I emailed the city
[3:11:08] and the reply clearly showed
[3:11:10] that they had been given much
[3:11:13] misinformation. The city wrote
[3:11:15] monkey pod trees are considered
[3:11:17] category one invasive species
[3:11:20] that is completely false. The
[3:11:22] category one lists from the
[3:11:23] florida invasive species
[3:11:25] council is easily found online
[3:11:27] and does not include monkey
[3:11:30] pods. Even so that council is a
[3:11:32] private 501 c three it is not
[3:11:34] regulatory. The miami-dade
[3:11:36] county prohibited species list
[3:11:38] also does not include monkey
[3:11:41] pods. The county codes list of
[3:11:44] prohibited species at section
[3:11:46] 24499 also does not include
[3:11:49] monkey pods. Curtis rogers
[3:11:51] misidentified the monkey pod as
[3:11:54] the mimosa tree, which is on
[3:11:57] the invasive species list. That
[3:11:58] error MAY have caused the
[3:12:00] mistaken belief that monkey
[3:12:04] pods are invasive. Monkey pods
[3:12:05] were first planted in
[3:12:08] morningside park by the city of
[3:12:13] miami itself back in 2006 20
[3:12:16] years ago more were added later
[3:12:19] for a total of 19. There is
[3:12:21] simply no invasion of monkey
[3:12:23] pod trees anywhere in
[3:12:26] morningside park. As for the
[3:12:28] java plum, I was surprised to
[3:12:32] see that it is listed on the
[3:12:33] category one invasive species
[3:12:36] list. However that list is from
[3:12:39] a private 501 c three not the
[3:12:41] state of florida and it is not
[3:12:45] regulatory miami code 1702
[3:12:47] defines prohibited species as
[3:12:49] those listed in the county
[3:12:52] code. Java plum is not listed
[3:12:55] as prohibited by the county and
[3:12:57] they are the agency having
[3:12:59] jurisdiction. However, java
[3:13:02] plum is listed as a controlled
[3:13:04] species by the county which
[3:13:06] says it MAY not be planted
[3:13:10] within 500ft of natural plant
[3:13:11] communities. But morningside
[3:13:13] park does not have any natural
[3:13:16] plant communities. The entire
[3:13:17] park is an artificial landscape
[3:13:22] created in 1953. Java plum can
[3:13:24] be legally planted there no
[3:13:27] problem java plum cannot invade
[3:13:29] the park's shoreline nor tidal
[3:13:32] basin which are both saltwater
[3:13:34] because java plum is not salt
[3:13:37] tolerant as proven by the
[3:13:40] saltwater flooding. Java plums
[3:13:44] have been in morningside for 73
[3:13:46] years. I've lived nearby since
[3:13:49] 1977 and I've never seen a
[3:13:51] single java plum tree invading
[3:13:54] the park. The city also wrote
[3:13:56] replacement trees shall be of a
[3:13:58] native or non-native species,
[3:14:01] but neither monkey pod nor java
[3:14:04] plum are listed as invasive by
[3:14:06] miami-dade county as I've shown
[3:14:08] you. The city also wrote that
[3:14:10] lightning caused the
[3:14:12] destruction of the java plum
[3:14:15] that is simply false. The java
[3:14:17] plum was recovering nicely when
[3:14:19] workers cut it down and the
[3:14:21] workers caused a high voltage
[3:14:24] power line to snap, fall and
[3:14:26] start a small grass fire which
[3:14:27] happened here. That act of
[3:14:29] carelessness was used as a
[3:14:31] cover story for cutting down
[3:14:33] the java plum without public
[3:14:36] notice nor permit despite the
[3:14:38] city's promise that it would be
[3:14:41] monitored for a year next, the
[3:14:43] consultant has chosen native
[3:14:45] coastal species for mitigation
[3:14:47] but wants to plant them outside
[3:14:50] the coastal zone, which is on
[3:14:51] the coastal side of the new
[3:14:53] seawall not 400ft inland. More
[3:14:55] importantly, native coastal
[3:14:57] species were already planted
[3:15:00] inland in morningside park 16
[3:15:02] years ago and they've done
[3:15:05] poorly. Miami-dade county
[3:15:06] aerial photographs first show
[3:15:10] them in 2010. 16 years later
[3:15:12] they're stunted. I'm six foot
[3:15:14] one so I'm using my height for
[3:15:17] scale. This tree is only 18ft
[3:15:20] tall with only 14ft of canopy.
[3:15:22] Notice how little they've grown
[3:15:25] over those 16 years and how
[3:15:26] little shade canopy they
[3:15:29] provide. Evidently the soil in
[3:15:32] morningside park does not suit
[3:15:34] coastal native species but even
[3:15:35] in good conditions those
[3:15:38] species do not develop a large
[3:15:40] canopy. On the other hand,
[3:15:42] monkeypod trees were first
[3:15:45] planted by the city itself in
[3:15:49] 2006. 20 years later they've
[3:15:51] grown by the way that little
[3:15:52] circle that's me in there. I'm
[3:15:54] six feet tall. That's me. Look
[3:15:56] at that. Compared to the size
[3:15:58] of the tree 20 years later
[3:16:00] they've grown as much as 50ft
[3:16:03] tall and 96ft wide providing
[3:16:06] excellent shade canopy a far
[3:16:08] better choice. The proposed
[3:16:09] mitigation planting of
[3:16:11] scattered coastal native small
[3:16:13] canopy species would disrupt
[3:16:16] and disrespect the park's
[3:16:18] historic landscape design of
[3:16:19] elegant uniform large shade
[3:16:22] tree plantings and be a
[3:16:24] disservice to the public. So
[3:16:26] summarizing the bad behavior 16
[3:16:28] trees cut down without permits
[3:16:31] during construction salt water
[3:16:32] deliberately pumped into the
[3:16:35] park the city said they'd wait
[3:16:36] a year before removing any
[3:16:38] saltwater poison trees, then
[3:16:40] reneged on that promise. Eight
[3:16:43] saltwater area trees cut down
[3:16:45] without public notice or permit
[3:16:47] even though three were
[3:16:49] recovering as shown by the
[3:16:52] contractor's own records,
[3:16:54] curtis rogers said they would
[3:16:55] replant new monkey pods. Now
[3:16:57] they've reneged.
[3:16:59] Misidentification and much
[3:17:00] misinformation was used to make
[3:17:03] decisions. Someone lied about
[3:17:05] the java plum being struck by
[3:17:08] lightning and last, even though
[3:17:10] it was the city's or their
[3:17:11] contractor's fault that the
[3:17:12] trees were illegally cut down,
[3:17:15] I had to pay $907 for this
[3:17:16] appeal. So I respectfully
[3:17:19] request replant four new monkey
[3:17:21] pods in the same location where
[3:17:22] they were as the public was
[3:17:24] promised to respect the
[3:17:26] original elegant uniform
[3:17:28] plantings of the same tree
[3:17:30] species relocate a green
[3:17:31] buttonwood that was recently
[3:17:33] planted there as it disrupts
[3:17:34] the elegant landscape design of
[3:17:36] uniform tree plantings
[3:17:39] replanted java java plum to
[3:17:41] make up for the large specimen
[3:17:43] that was cut down offset to
[3:17:44] avoid the power lines restore
[3:17:46] the other missing original java
[3:17:49] plum trees over time do not
[3:17:51] allow the scattered planting of
[3:17:52] coastal native species because
[3:17:55] they don't grow well there they
[3:17:57] provide little shade and they
[3:17:58] would disrupt the park's
[3:17:59] elegant design of uniform tree
[3:18:02] plantings instead have the
[3:18:04] contractor pay into the tree
[3:18:07] trust fund and in light of the
[3:18:10] egregious behavior of the
[3:18:10] city's contractors refund the
[3:18:13] $907 I spent to file this
[3:18:15] appeal and here's what I'm
[3:18:18] offering in return I will
[3:18:21] gladly arrange for and pay for
[3:18:23] the installation of the new
[3:18:25] monkey pods and java plum trees
[3:18:27] and maintain them for the rest
[3:18:31] of my life. It won't cost the
[3:18:34] city a penny it'll be free just
[3:18:36] like my educational tours. The
[3:18:37] only stipulation is that the
[3:18:39] new trees will not be large
[3:18:40] when planted because larger
[3:18:42] size of those trees generally
[3:18:45] aren't available locally but
[3:18:47] they grow quickly as you've
[3:18:49] seen again there was an agenda
[3:18:51] item earlier today about
[3:18:52] philanthropic donations to
[3:18:54] district two. I've already been
[3:18:57] doing that for over 30 years
[3:18:59] and if I had to sum up the
[3:19:00] experience in one sentence it
[3:19:03] would be no good deed goes
[3:19:05] unpunished. I've made many
[3:19:07] donations to the city over the
[3:19:09] years and I'm offering another
[3:19:11] one today. Please don't punish
[3:19:14] me for it. In closing, if
[3:19:19] anyone has any doubts about
[3:19:22] anything I've presented, please
[3:19:24] visit the park with me so I can
[3:19:28] show you the evidence. I have a
[3:19:29] handout for the city clerk to
[3:19:31] hand out to the commission with
[3:19:35] my offer in writing so you can
[3:19:36] hopefully consider it. Thank
[3:19:36] you.
[3:19:39] >> thank you, MR. Cruz. Um, I'd
[3:19:50] like to call ida curtis. MR.
[3:19:51] Cruz, can you let her have the
[3:19:53] podium, please? I'm sorry. MR.
[3:19:54] Cruz, can you let MISS Cruz
[3:19:56] speak? Yes, I'm disconnecting
[3:19:58] my computer or should I leave
[3:19:59] it plugged in? I MAY have to
[3:20:00] refer to it later. Let me leave
[3:20:08] it plugged in. MISS Curtis, can
[3:20:11] you state your relation to the
[3:20:13] morningside park project and
[3:20:14] your experience? Yes.
[3:20:17] >> thank you. Um, good morning
[3:20:19] commissioners MADAM Mayor um
[3:20:22] city attorney and my name is
[3:20:24] ida curtis. I'm a registered
[3:20:25] landscape architect with 40
[3:20:27] years of experience here in
[3:20:28] miami, florida. I am a
[3:20:30] certified arborist with 11
[3:20:33] years of experience here. Um I
[3:20:34] have been working on
[3:20:36] morningside park for about uh
[3:20:39] since 1920. We started the work
[3:20:42] on um developing the coastal
[3:20:45] resiliency element along the
[3:20:46] waterfront, which is consistent
[3:20:48] with the resilient 305
[3:20:50] strategy. Can you correct the
[3:20:51] date? I think you said
[3:20:52] [Laughter] 1920. 1920 I'm
[3:20:53] sorry.
[3:20:55] >> what [Laughter] 1920. I'm
[3:20:58] sorry 2022. Young I [Laughter]
[3:20:59] Thought that. You look great.
[3:21:02] Young I'm operating. On one cup
[3:21:04] of coffee one [Laughter] Cup of
[3:21:06] coffee. You look fantastic.
[3:21:06] Okay.
[3:21:08] >> you look great. Okay.
[3:21:10] >> please proceed. So.
[3:21:13] >> um, we were contracted by
[3:21:16] the city to develop plans and
[3:21:19] respond to a grant that was
[3:21:21] given by the nature conservancy
[3:21:23] to restore a living shoreline,
[3:21:25] to create a living shoreline as
[3:21:28] a resilient strategy to build a
[3:21:30] seawall in accordance with the
[3:21:33] miami city of miami code and to
[3:21:34] build a baywalk in accordance
[3:21:35] with the city of miami code. So
[3:21:37] we have been working on those
[3:21:38] plans and we have been working
[3:21:40] on the implementation of those
[3:21:41] improvements along the
[3:21:46] morningside park. And the 16
[3:21:47] trees that are issued at issue
[3:21:48] in the intended decision. Are
[3:21:50] the trees in existence at the
[3:21:51] park today? No.
[3:21:53] >> those trees have been
[3:21:53] already removed.
[3:21:55] >> can you tell us what
[3:21:56] happened with the trees? Okay.
[3:22:00] >> um we one of the concerns in
[3:22:04] the park is that we have um a
[3:22:06] drainage lagoon and there is
[3:22:10] some mangroves that are uh were
[3:22:11] obstructing the outfall from
[3:22:14] the drainage lagoon into the
[3:22:19] bay. So we we um submitted a
[3:22:21] permit to trim the mangroves
[3:22:24] and restore that free flow so
[3:22:26] that the water could flow back
[3:22:30] to the bay. Um so when we we
[3:22:33] secured the permit, we issued a
[3:22:34] notice to the contractor who
[3:22:36] was already working on the
[3:22:38] improvements over the park to
[3:22:42] trim the mangrove trees and
[3:22:45] clean the outfall pipe out of
[3:22:47] debris so that the flow of
[3:22:49] water could be restored to the
[3:22:52] bay upon cleaning [Laughter]
[3:22:54] That and the contractor had all
[3:22:55] the proper permits. In fact,
[3:22:56] they have had proper permits
[3:22:58] for all of the improvements in
[3:23:00] the park. When the contractor
[3:23:02] was cleaning the pipe, the
[3:23:05] error was that he used a vacuum
[3:23:09] kind of a suction mechanism to
[3:23:11] bring in, you know, clean the
[3:23:14] outfall. And the mistake that
[3:23:15] the subcontractor made was that
[3:23:18] instead of taking that water
[3:23:20] out of [Laughter] The park and
[3:23:22] disposing it somewhere else, he
[3:23:25] disposed it inside the park in
[3:23:28] an area you know, adjacent to
[3:23:30] where we were doing the
[3:23:33] improvements that debris that
[3:23:37] came from the pipe is was
[3:23:38] brackish water which means it
[3:23:42] had salt water. So when the
[3:23:44] water went into those trees we
[3:23:45] were notified of the mistake
[3:23:47] that the contractor made. We
[3:23:49] immediately went and looked. We
[3:23:51] took a look at all the trees
[3:23:53] and we started doing the
[3:23:54] monitoring of it. And yes, MR.
[3:23:57] Cruz is correct. We did say we
[3:23:59] were going to monitor the trees
[3:24:01] for a year um to see how they
[3:24:04] recovered [Laughter] In the
[3:24:05] midst so I continue yeah. Okay.
[3:24:09] In the midst of that year we
[3:24:11] would do monthly reports and
[3:24:13] you can see that some of the
[3:24:15] trees were recovering. Um some
[3:24:18] of the trees were not doing
[3:24:23] very well and so one I guess
[3:24:26] one weekend in APRIL I think
[3:24:27] was [Laughter] APRIL a sunday
[3:24:29] in APRIL we got a report that
[3:24:32] the java plum had gotten fire.
[3:24:35] [Laughter] When I got the
[3:24:37] notice that the java plum had
[3:24:38] caught fire and I don't know if
[3:24:39] it was lighting we were not
[3:24:40] told if it was lighting. We
[3:24:42] were not told if it was a spark
[3:24:45] from from fpl or not. But the
[3:24:48] my point as a professional is
[3:24:52] this is a tree that is planted
[3:24:57] underneath the wires of fpl. It
[3:24:57] had already been trimmed and
[3:25:00] compromised by fpl more than it
[3:25:01] needs to be to be a [Laughter]
[3:25:04] Good specimen tree it is in a
[3:25:09] public park it catches fire and
[3:25:11] the branches start falling. To
[3:25:14] me that is a huge liability red
[3:25:16] [Laughter] Flag that's the last
[3:25:18] thing we need in our public
[3:25:19] parks is for trees to be
[3:25:22] catching on fire. Okay at that
[3:25:24] point in my professional
[3:25:26] opinion I made the
[3:25:28] determination that neither the
[3:25:33] city nor we could take on the
[3:25:37] liability of having these trees
[3:25:40] semi-living that could possibly
[3:25:42] endanger anybody in a public
[3:25:45] park. Even if the trees would
[3:25:49] recover they would not going to
[3:25:51] recover to the state that they
[3:25:54] were before because of the way
[3:25:56] that the some portions of the
[3:25:58] trees had died. Okay.
[3:26:01] >> so um for the record, uh, I
[3:26:02] think that that it has been
[3:26:04] submitted into the record we
[3:26:05] have one black olive, one green
[3:26:07] buttonwood, eight coconut palms
[3:26:09] and four monkey pods, one
[3:26:11] bracelet wood and one java palm
[3:26:12] that were removed during
[3:26:13] construction, correct? Yes. Let
[3:26:16] me clarify the record. The the
[3:26:19] black olive and the buttonwood
[3:26:22] were removed prior to that in a
[3:26:24] separate incident. And the
[3:26:26] reason for that is when we
[3:26:29] developed the plans the coastal
[3:26:32] fringe was there was a lot of
[3:26:34] trees there and we met with
[3:26:35] environmental services and we
[3:26:37] said, listen, we're going to
[3:26:38] give these trees a chance.
[3:26:40] Let's put them there.
[3:26:41] [Laughter] Let's keep them
[3:26:43] there. Let's evaluate once we
[3:26:45] start the construction and see
[3:26:46] how the contractor is
[3:26:47] proceeding with the
[3:26:49] installation of the seawall
[3:26:51] when they install these
[3:26:53] seawalls the piles are
[3:26:55] extremely deep. They use these
[3:26:57] big cranes. They come in and
[3:27:00] the by the time that we when
[3:27:02] the piling was there we
[3:27:04] realized that these huge black
[3:27:07] olive. Half of the roots had
[3:27:08] been trimmed because of the
[3:27:11] installation of the piles. That
[3:27:13] creates a liability because the
[3:27:15] tree is no longer stable
[3:27:16] because half of the roots has
[3:27:18] been cut. So we removed the
[3:27:20] black olive and the green
[3:27:21] button was in the same
[3:27:23] situation of the removal. The
[3:27:25] coconut [Laughter] Palms were
[3:27:27] removed upon request of the
[3:27:29] parks department. The parks and
[3:27:33] recreation department is no
[3:27:36] longer wanting coconut palms in
[3:27:37] public parks again talking
[3:27:40] about the liability of the nuts
[3:27:42] falling on anybody in the park.
[3:27:44] So they are we are in the
[3:27:45] process of removing all of the
[3:27:46] coconut palms from the public
[3:27:50] parks. Okay ladies. And along.
[3:27:51] Thanks. Understood.
[3:27:55] >> um okay so MR. Cruz has
[3:27:58] proffered um has has made a
[3:28:00] request to the to the city we
[3:28:01] have a removal of 16 trees. I
[3:28:03] believe the city staff would
[3:28:04] like to correct the record that
[3:28:06] the replacement is a minimum of
[3:28:08] 96 trees at a minimum of
[3:28:09] minimum diameter of two inches.
[3:28:11] So he has requested for new
[3:28:14] monkey pods um in the original
[3:28:15] location. Can you please
[3:28:16] comment on that for your
[3:28:18] professional opinion? I'm sorry
[3:28:19] what was that. Again the
[3:28:21] replacement of four monkey pods
[3:28:21] .
[3:28:25] >> so. The city has committed
[3:28:27] to a what we call a resilient
[3:28:30] 305 strategy. Our times have
[3:28:34] changed. We are now facing sea
[3:28:37] level rise storm surge,
[3:28:40] saltwater intrusion, bigger
[3:28:42] threats from our environment in
[3:28:44] this commitment that the city
[3:28:46] made for the resilient 305
[3:28:49] strategy is the restoration of
[3:28:51] the coastal ecology. It makes a
[3:28:55] commitment to use our parks as
[3:28:56] resilient part of the
[3:28:58] infrastructure of the city, and
[3:29:00] it commits to planting native
[3:29:04] trees in our parks. That is
[3:29:06] what we are doing. We are
[3:29:08] restoring the ecology of the
[3:29:10] coast. We are planting native
[3:29:13] trees, native shrubbery. We are
[3:29:15] increasing the biodiversity.
[3:29:16] This is what we need to be
[3:29:18] educating our children about.
[3:29:20] So is it your professional
[3:29:21] recommendation that the monkey
[3:29:22] pods are not a native tree that
[3:29:24] should be planted in this
[3:29:26] location? The monkey pod is not
[3:29:29] a florida native tree. Okay it
[3:29:32] is. It MAY have been doing well
[3:29:35] but it will not take the salt
[3:29:38] spray. It will eventually start
[3:29:39] deteriorating. It is not the
[3:29:41] right species to be planted
[3:29:43] now. What about the java palm?
[3:29:46] The java plum is considered a
[3:29:49] category one invasive species.
[3:29:54] That means that this tree is
[3:29:56] shade's native plants and
[3:29:59] disrupts the local ecosystem.
[3:30:01] Miami dade county will not
[3:30:02] allow this tree to be planted
[3:30:05] in the parks as a professional
[3:30:07] trying to restore our
[3:30:10] ecosystems, I do not recommend
[3:30:12] the installation of a category
[3:30:14] one invasive species tree.
[3:30:14] Okay.
[3:30:18] >> thank you. Um just one one
[3:30:20] additional fact. MR.
[3:30:24] Santamaria, are you here?
[3:30:28] Hurry, hurry. MR. Santamaria,
[3:30:30] do you have any information on
[3:30:31] whether um MR. Cruz had the
[3:30:33] permission to to plant the
[3:30:34] monkey pods in morningside
[3:30:37] park? Um I do um I spoke to
[3:30:40] kevin kirwan um who was the
[3:30:42] parks director at the time and
[3:30:43] MR. Cruz alleged that, uh,
[3:30:45] kevin kirwan gave him
[3:30:47] permission to plant the monkey
[3:30:49] pods and uh, director former
[3:30:51] director kirwan indicated to me
[3:30:53] that that that was not the
[3:30:54] case. In fact, he stopped MR.
[3:30:56] Cruz from planting trees
[3:30:58] throughout the park, uh,
[3:31:00] because they were uh, against
[3:31:02] the master plan that the city
[3:31:03] had commissioned with
[3:31:05] kimley-horn back at that time.
[3:31:05] Okay.
[3:31:07] >> in conclusion, on behalf of
[3:31:09] city staff, we request we would
[3:31:10] respectfully request that you
[3:31:12] deny the appeal based on the
[3:31:13] findings of fact that have been
[3:31:15] stated on the record today. Um
[3:31:17] ,this park has been uh this
[3:31:18] project has been going on for a
[3:31:19] long time. The goal is to get
[3:31:21] it the park reopened by
[3:31:23] DECEMBER 31st of 2024. And so
[3:31:25] in furtherance of that goal we
[3:31:26] respectfully request the denial
[3:31:27] of the appeal so that the
[3:31:38] replanting can commence.
[3:31:41] All right. Um, MR. Cruz. Yes,
[3:31:44] ma'am? Would you like to rebut
[3:31:45] for a few minutes? I certainly
[3:31:49] would. About three minutes.
[3:31:50] >> that's all I get. Yep.
[3:31:51] >> they said a lot more than
[3:31:52] three minutes. You're very
[3:31:53] accurate stuff.
[3:31:55] >> no she was within ten
[3:31:56] minutes I we were keeping track
[3:31:58] of the time and I gave you 12
[3:31:59] so okay. Plus your standing
[3:32:03] time so. So up on the screen um
[3:32:05] there's an email from kevin
[3:32:08] kirwan, the aforementioned
[3:32:10] former parks director. Thank
[3:32:12] you for calling him. I will be
[3:32:14] also calling him and reminding
[3:32:15] him that he told you something
[3:32:17] that was not quite right. So
[3:32:19] here's the email elvis please
[3:32:24] proceed with planting. I had
[3:32:25] extensive conversations with
[3:32:27] MR. Kirwan about planting for
[3:32:30] the palmetum and when I wanted
[3:32:32] to plant monkey pods he came
[3:32:36] out to the park and we drove
[3:32:38] around the park and I pointed
[3:32:40] out the existing monkey pods
[3:32:43] which were there since 2006 and
[3:32:46] kevin kirwan said they are
[3:32:49] gorgeous. Yes. Go ahead. So it
[3:32:51] was certainly done with his
[3:32:54] permission. Um what else can I
[3:32:56] uh this this total fabrication
[3:33:00] that there was a fire caused by
[3:33:02] lightning or what or even if it
[3:33:05] was the power line the power
[3:33:07] line fell but I checked with
[3:33:08] the miami fire department.
[3:33:10] There's no record of any fire
[3:33:12] dispatch to the park regarding
[3:33:16] that java plum java plum is not
[3:33:20] a prohibited species in
[3:33:22] miami-dade county. Miami dade
[3:33:24] county is the authority having
[3:33:26] jurisdiction. That is false. It
[3:33:29] is not a prohibited species. It
[3:33:30] is controlled. But as I
[3:33:32] explained that doesn't preclude
[3:33:34] it being planted. It just can't
[3:33:37] be within 500ft of a native
[3:33:41] plant community. Uh also am I
[3:33:42] allowed to cross-examine your
[3:33:45] witness? Uh, MISS Curtis
[3:33:47] misidentified her firm,
[3:33:48] misidentified the monkey pods
[3:33:52] as being mimosa. So this very
[3:33:53] experienced landscape architect
[3:33:55] and consultant couldn't even
[3:33:58] identify a tree species.
[3:34:00] There's other things I could
[3:34:02] mention. Uh, the park project
[3:34:05] that she is supervising has
[3:34:06] been delayed six months.
[3:34:08] Commissioner pardo, you're
[3:34:09] familiar with the park. You
[3:34:10] walk your dog there every day.
[3:34:11] You're very familiar that it
[3:34:13] was supposed to have reopened
[3:34:15] back on JUNE 1st, but it's been
[3:34:17] a disaster because of that
[3:34:19] project. We now have the worst
[3:34:21] flooding we've ever had in
[3:34:23] morningside park ever. And as
[3:34:25] you told us at our last
[3:34:26] morningside zoom meeting or the
[3:34:27] one before the city is going to
[3:34:29] hire another engineer to try to
[3:34:32] fix the problems that have been
[3:34:35] happening in the park. So I've
[3:34:37] given you my offer you'll save
[3:34:39] money. It'll be in the best
[3:34:40] interest of the park. The idea
[3:34:42] that trees that have been in
[3:34:45] the park for 73 years are now
[3:34:48] suddenly persona non grata, or
[3:34:49] trees that have been in the
[3:34:51] park for at least 20 years and
[3:34:53] have performed remarkably well
[3:34:55] are suddenly persona non grata.
[3:34:57] That doesn't make any sense and
[3:34:59] you're not required to plant
[3:35:00] native trees. Your own code
[3:35:04] says it can be native or non
[3:35:05] invasive. These are noninvasive
[3:35:09] trees by the county's own and
[3:35:11] the city's own code. Thank you
[3:35:12] MR. Cruz. Okay colleagues
[3:35:14] commissioner pardo. I certainly
[3:35:15] want to comment. I would
[3:35:17] assume. First of all what's
[3:35:18] happening with morningside
[3:35:19] shoreline project is absolutely
[3:35:21] not a disaster. It's kind of
[3:35:23] shameful to describe it that
[3:35:26] way. I want to say we've been
[3:35:28] very, very considerate and as
[3:35:29] you appropriately stated, I
[3:35:31] walked my dog there every
[3:35:32] morning. I love morningside
[3:35:34] park and we have been
[3:35:36] incredibly considerate as to
[3:35:37] input from the entire
[3:35:40] community. Part of that was one
[3:35:42] of the issues you came with.
[3:35:43] You came with several other
[3:35:45] neighbors. We looked at the
[3:35:47] paving, the the boardwalk, the
[3:35:48] materials being used for the
[3:35:49] boardwalk. You didn't like it.
[3:35:51] A few other neighbors didn't
[3:35:52] like it either. We had to go
[3:35:55] and find different material for
[3:35:56] that boardwalk that takes time.
[3:35:59] The drainage in the park wasn't
[3:36:01] working the way we expected. We
[3:36:04] don't want to open a park with
[3:36:05] floors. We don't want to
[3:36:07] deliver a park to our residents
[3:36:09] and the public with floors that
[3:36:11] makes absolutely no sense. So
[3:36:13] delaying it a few months and it
[3:36:15] will open before the first of
[3:36:16] the year was exactly what we
[3:36:18] should have done. We got the
[3:36:19] right material, we got the
[3:36:20] right drainage system, we're
[3:36:21] working on it. That is going to
[3:36:23] be a longer term project. It's
[3:36:24] not you know that's not
[3:36:26] something you do in a few
[3:36:28] months and the park is going to
[3:36:29] be spectacular. Beautiful state
[3:36:31] of the art resiliency project
[3:36:33] in the city of miami. I think
[3:36:35] the first of its kind. So we
[3:36:37] should be very proud of the
[3:36:39] efforts as a city that we're
[3:36:40] delivering in morningside park.
[3:36:43] This dispute the way I see it
[3:36:47] is these trees are gone. Our
[3:36:49] experts are consultants in this
[3:36:50] area. Curtis and rogers are
[3:36:53] recommending trees that will be
[3:36:54] appropriate for the future for
[3:36:57] the next 50 years. It is
[3:36:59] important that I tell you thank
[3:37:01] you for everything you have
[3:37:03] done in that park and all of
[3:37:05] your volunteer hours and
[3:37:06] everything you have put
[3:37:08] forward. It is absolutely
[3:37:10] commendable. You also reference
[3:37:12] the item we had about
[3:37:14] philanthropy and I know
[3:37:15] sometimes it's difficult in
[3:37:17] philanthropy when you give a
[3:37:19] gift or you do something to let
[3:37:22] that go. But in this case the
[3:37:24] people that are hired that are
[3:37:26] experts in the job, the people
[3:37:28] that we have recourse to, the
[3:37:29] people who are giving us
[3:37:32] guarantees for years on those
[3:37:33] trees and their maintenance are
[3:37:35] the ones we have to proceed
[3:37:37] with and they are the ones
[3:37:39] giving us their expert opinion.
[3:37:41] That's why I'm in my my opinion
[3:37:43] I would deny this appeal
[3:37:44] because we have the experts
[3:37:46] weighing in. They're very
[3:37:48] clear. Your passion is obvious.
[3:37:49] You should be commended for
[3:37:51] everything you've done. But we
[3:37:53] can't control a gift 50 years
[3:37:55] after they've been made or 20
[3:37:56] years after they've been made.
[3:37:58] It's it's in the spirit of
[3:37:59] giving that it sometimes we
[3:38:01] just have to let go of that
[3:38:02] gift and understand times
[3:38:04] change. People change. The
[3:38:05] circumstances are different. We
[3:38:07] didn't have sea level rise. We
[3:38:08] didn't have climate resiliency.
[3:38:10] A lot of the things we face
[3:38:12] today I think the more we align
[3:38:14] that means you and me and the
[3:38:16] neighbors and the city the
[3:38:18] better our projects will be and
[3:38:19] the better everyone will move
[3:38:21] forward. This appeal has cost
[3:38:23] time on the morningside project
[3:38:24] the very thing you're
[3:38:26] complaining about and we've had
[3:38:28] to hire attorneys to represent
[3:38:30] the city of the city of miami
[3:38:32] in this case and with other
[3:38:34] appeals. So is this an
[3:38:37] efficient way of us all moving
[3:38:38] forward together or just
[3:38:40] another obstructive tactic in
[3:38:42] the long run? I really think we
[3:38:45] should consider that just as a
[3:38:48] community. So I personally
[3:38:50] would be against uh I would
[3:38:52] recommend the against the
[3:38:54] repeal. Motion motion to deny.
[3:38:57] So MAY I respond? I'm sorry.
[3:39:00] One moment. So do we need to
[3:39:01] include, uh, an understanding
[3:39:03] of standing in that motion to
[3:39:06] deny? Um yes. So since we
[3:39:08] discussed the standing issue,
[3:39:10] um that can be a part of the
[3:39:13] motion and even even if you um
[3:39:15] deny standing, you can also
[3:39:18] make a finding on the merits of
[3:39:20] the case based on the testimony
[3:39:22] given today and the fact that
[3:39:25] um the permit complies with
[3:39:28] chapter 17. I mean I'm not an
[3:39:29] attorney so understanding
[3:39:30] question I would look to the
[3:39:33] city attorney. Would you make a
[3:39:34] recommended motion on how we
[3:39:36] would do that please? Yes.
[3:39:38] >> so um we heard from MR.
[3:39:40] Cruz. It seems as though his
[3:39:42] special injury was that he
[3:39:44] donated these specific trees.
[3:39:47] Um the the the attorney
[3:39:50] representing the city um I
[3:39:52] believe she indicated that it
[3:39:55] was a donation um and that the
[3:39:57] financial interest isn't there
[3:40:03] any longer. Um I in this case I
[3:40:06] would probably recommend erring
[3:40:08] on the side of caution um since
[3:40:10] it appears anyway that his
[3:40:13] motion that his appeal um is
[3:40:15] going to be denied on the
[3:40:17] merits um we might want to just
[3:40:19] allow allow the standing
[3:40:21] acknowledge the standing um and
[3:40:24] then if the board wants to deny
[3:40:25] it on the on the merits rather
[3:40:27] than standing that's probably
[3:40:28] how I would recommend to
[3:40:29] proceed.
[3:40:31] >> the motion would be to grant
[3:40:32] standing and deny the appeal on
[3:40:36] its merits. Is there a second
[3:40:38] colleagues any more. Do I get
[3:40:39] to respond to what commissioner
[3:40:42] pardo said? Uh no sir, I don't
[3:40:46] believe so. MADAM Attorney, is
[3:40:48] there a need for a response?
[3:40:50] No, only if the commissioner
[3:40:52] has a question for for the
[3:40:55] appellant. Okay commissioner no
[3:40:57] questions. No question. Okay.
[3:40:59] There's a motion on the table
[3:41:01] and there's a second. All in
[3:41:02] favor say aye. Aye.
[3:41:06] >> any opposed? So that passed
[3:41:07] unanimously. Thank you for your
[3:41:09] time. Appreciate it. And thank
[3:41:11] you for demonstrating how the
[3:41:12] city of miami takes good care
[3:41:14] of people who donate their time
[3:41:16] and money to the city. Thank
[3:41:18] you, MR. Cruz. All right. I
[3:41:20] think we have one last item
[3:41:22] before we move on to our
[3:41:25] virginia key beach trust. Um,
[3:41:27] and that's for uh I know,
[3:41:28] commissioner, you made some
[3:41:30] very good, uh, modifications to
[3:41:31] this item, so thank you for
[3:41:32] that. Thank you.
[3:41:34] >> if staff could come forward.
[3:41:44] I just have one question. I
[3:41:46] director snow, could you walk
[3:41:51] me through the where the funds
[3:41:52] would be placed? We talked
[3:41:53] about this in my agenda
[3:41:56] briefing. Yes.
[3:42:00] >> good morning commissioners
[3:42:04] and MADAM Mayor. Um so the the
[3:42:07] the recent amendment to the prs
[3:42:11] for legislation will allow for
[3:42:15] the uh reduced parking uh for a
[3:42:18] payment to be made into the uh,
[3:42:20] established transit trust fund
[3:42:22] which is in chapter 62. Okay.
[3:42:25] >> but various districts have
[3:42:27] parking trust funds, correct.
[3:42:30] So there there are uh,
[3:42:32] independent trust funds that do
[3:42:34] exist in specific neighborhoods
[3:42:35] design district wynwood,
[3:42:38] wynwood naught the grove, uh,
[3:42:40] recently established little
[3:42:43] havana. Uh, those are
[3:42:44] independent, uh, parking
[3:42:47] districts. So what I would like
[3:42:49] to propose is an amendment to
[3:42:53] this that monies generated that
[3:42:55] have parking trust funds, for
[3:42:59] example the design district um
[3:43:02] wynwood. What else did you say.
[3:43:04] When when naught the grove and
[3:43:04] little havana.
[3:43:07] >> and little havana. I would
[3:43:10] like the monies generated in
[3:43:12] those districts to go to those
[3:43:15] parking trust funds instead of
[3:43:20] one collective pot. I've got
[3:43:24] two nods over here um then
[3:43:25] because then we're going to
[3:43:27] have the allapattah coming up
[3:43:28] soon and then that money could
[3:43:30] go to that. So I would like to
[3:43:32] make a friendly amendment to
[3:43:34] allow for when the funds are
[3:43:35] generated to go into the
[3:43:36] neighborhood trust parking
[3:43:38] trust fund. And that's my only
[3:43:41] comment and if I might have a
[3:43:42] motion for that. Yeah, I think
[3:43:44] we. Can move. Yeah. Second we
[3:43:45] can move that as amended. Okay.
[3:43:47] All right. Um any other any
[3:43:49] further discussion I see our
[3:43:50] clerk. Yes sir. And I
[3:43:50] apologize.
[3:43:52] >> chair for the interruption.
[3:43:53] Um so in addition to
[3:43:54] commissioner king's amendment
[3:43:56] uh there's also another
[3:43:58] amendment um pursuant to a
[3:43:58] substitution amendment dated
[3:44:00] OCTOBER 20th, 2026. Thank you
[3:44:03] chair. All right. Um moved as
[3:44:05] amended and amended uh all in
[3:44:06] favor say aye. Aye.
[3:44:09] >> any opposed? So that item
[3:44:13] passed. Um have I missed
[3:44:14] anything else, MR. Clerk? MR.
[3:44:16] Attorney, you have a couple of
[3:44:17] things to read into the record
[3:44:17] I believe. Yes.
[3:44:19] >> I just have two shade notice
[3:44:25] requests. Um oh all right,
[3:44:26] MADAM CHAIRWOMAN and members of
[3:44:27] the commission pursuant to the
[3:44:29] provisions of section 286.011
[3:44:30] parentheses eight florida
[3:44:32] statutes. I'm requesting that
[3:44:33] the city commission meeting of
[3:44:35] NOVEMBER 19th, 2026 an attorney
[3:44:36] client session closed to the
[3:44:37] public be held for the purposes
[3:44:39] of discussing the pending
[3:44:40] litigation the matters of
[3:44:41] william o. Fuller martin penny
[3:44:42] of the second, the arlington
[3:44:44] group llc, kyoko marketplace
[3:44:49] llc yo amo chi chi llc little
[3:44:51] havana arts building llc little
[3:44:53] havana arts building two llc
[3:44:55] tower hotel llc brickell
[3:44:58] station llc pedro villas llc
[3:45:00] futurama llc el shopping llc
[3:45:02] beat stick llc vienna cultural
[3:45:04] cultural fridays inc. Little
[3:45:06] havana bungalows llc and lhab
[3:45:09] trust llc versus city of miami
[3:45:14] et al. Case number 23 cv
[3:45:15] 24251-drg pending in the united
[3:45:16] states district court, southern
[3:45:18] district of florida and qbe
[3:45:20] specialty insurance company
[3:45:21] versus city of miami joe
[3:45:23] carollo, arthur noriega,
[3:45:25] victoria mendez, rachel dooley,
[3:45:28] ace acl marrero, daniel s
[3:45:30] goldberg, william ortiz, luis
[3:45:32] torres, adrian plasencia, rene
[3:45:34] diaz, yvonne bayona, altos
[3:45:37] mexicanos llc, dba taqueria el
[3:45:39] mexicano beat stick llc
[3:45:41] brickell station llc, kogo
[3:45:43] marketplace llc, el shopping
[3:45:45] llc, william fuller futurama
[3:45:47] llc, la gran fiesta llc, el
[3:45:49] trece llc little havana arts
[3:45:51] building llc little havana arts
[3:45:53] building two llc little little
[3:45:54] havana bungalows llc piedra
[3:45:57] villas llc el shopping llc
[3:45:59] martin pinilla the second the
[3:46:01] burlington group llc the mad
[3:46:03] room llc doing business as ball
[3:46:04] and chain tower hotel llc,
[3:46:06] viernes cultural fridays inc.
[3:46:09] And yo amo llc and denise
[3:46:12] galvez torres case number 124
[3:46:16] dash cv 21854-e pending in the
[3:46:17] united states district court
[3:46:18] southern district of florida to
[3:46:20] which the city is presently a
[3:46:21] party. The subject of the
[3:46:22] meeting will be confined to
[3:46:23] settlement negotiations or
[3:46:24] strategy sessions related to
[3:46:26] litigation expenditures. This
[3:46:27] private meeting will begin at
[3:46:28] approximately 10 A.M. Or as
[3:46:29] soon thereafter as the
[3:46:30] commissioners schedules permit
[3:46:32] and conclude approximately one
[3:46:34] hour later. The session will be
[3:46:35] attended by the members of the
[3:46:36] city commission which include
[3:46:37] commissioners miguel angel
[3:46:39] cabello, damien pardo, rolando
[3:46:41] escalona, ralph rafael rosado
[3:46:42] and christine king, city
[3:46:44] manager james reyes, city
[3:46:45] attorney george kay, third
[3:46:47] deputy city attorney kevin
[3:46:49] jones, assistant city attorney
[3:46:50] supervisor eric eaves and
[3:46:51] outside counsel raquel
[3:46:53] rodriguez, angel cortinas,
[3:46:55] jonathan kaskel, steven a
[3:46:57] marino junior esquire and
[3:46:59] christine gorditas, esquire a
[3:47:00] certified court reporter will
[3:47:01] be present to ensure that this
[3:47:03] session is fully transcribed
[3:47:04] and the transcript will be made
[3:47:05] upon the conclusion of the
[3:47:06] litigation at the conclusion of
[3:47:07] the attorney client session,
[3:47:09] the regular commission meeting
[3:47:10] will be reopened and the person
[3:47:11] chairing the commission meeting
[3:47:12] will announce the termination
[3:47:14] of the attorney client session.
[3:47:15] That's the first one. The
[3:47:18] second one is MADAM CHAIRWOMAN
[3:47:19] and members of the city
[3:47:20] commission pursuant to the
[3:47:22] provisions of section 286.011
[3:47:23] parentheses eight four statutes
[3:47:25] I'm requesting that the city
[3:47:27] commission meeting of NOVEMBER
[3:47:28] 19th, NOVEMBER 19th, 2026 an
[3:47:29] attorney client session closed
[3:47:31] to the public be held for
[3:47:32] purposes of discussing the
[3:47:33] pending litigation in the
[3:47:34] matter of city of miami versus
[3:47:39] miami-dade county. Case number
[3:47:40] 2023-028335cao2 pending in the
[3:47:41] in the 11th judicial circuit
[3:47:42] court of miami-dade county to
[3:47:44] which the city is presently a
[3:47:45] party, the subject of the
[3:47:47] meeting will be confined to
[3:47:48] settlement negotiations or
[3:47:49] strategy sessions related to
[3:47:50] litigation expenditures. This
[3:47:52] private meeting will begin at
[3:47:53] approximately 10 A.M. Or soon
[3:47:54] thereafter as the commissioner
[3:47:55] schedules permit and conclude
[3:47:56] approximately one hour later.
[3:47:58] The session will be attended by
[3:47:59] the members of the city
[3:48:00] commission which include
[3:48:01] commissioner miguel angel
[3:48:02] abella, commissioner damian
[3:48:03] pardo, commissioner rolando
[3:48:05] escalona, commissioner ralph
[3:48:07] rafael rosado and commissioner
[3:48:08] christine king, city manager
[3:48:09] james ray, city attorney george
[3:48:12] k, third deputy city attorney
[3:48:13] kevin r jones, deputy city
[3:48:16] attorney javi javier e alban
[3:48:17] litigation appeals division
[3:48:19] chief eric j. Eaves, land use
[3:48:21] division chief amber l ketterer
[3:48:22] and assistant city attorney
[3:48:24] marguerite snyder, a certified
[3:48:25] court reporter will be present
[3:48:27] to ensure that the session is
[3:48:28] fully transcribed in the
[3:48:29] transcript will be made public
[3:48:30] upon the conclusion of the
[3:48:31] litigation at the conclusion of
[3:48:32] the attorney client session,
[3:48:33] the regular commission meeting
[3:48:35] will be reopened in the person
[3:48:36] chairing the commission meeting
[3:48:37] will announce the termination
[3:48:38] of the client attorney client
[3:48:39] session. Thank you, MADAM
[3:48:41] Chair. All right.
[3:48:42] >> thank you. MADAM Chair.
[3:48:44] >> before we leave, I would
[3:48:46] like to give a directive to the
[3:48:47] administration to have
[3:48:50] procurement do and I within the
[3:48:52] pool members of the landscaping
[3:48:54] services pool to provide
[3:48:56] retrieving services to public
[3:48:58] works. We have a lot of
[3:48:59] requests and we know public
[3:49:01] works is doing a great job in
[3:49:02] my opinion, but they are a
[3:49:04] little behind so if you can do
[3:49:07] that please. Thank you. Um so
[3:49:11] MR. Attorney, um we have one
[3:49:12] item that theoretically we
[3:49:14] can't approve until after the
[3:49:16] virginia key beach park trust
[3:49:18] meeting. Is there a possibility
[3:49:20] we can approve it contingent of
[3:49:22] a positive decision? Yes.
[3:49:24] >> yes that would be if it's
[3:49:25] not a positive decision we
[3:49:26] would bring it back at the next
[3:49:27] commission meeting. Right.
[3:49:29] >> and that would mean we could
[3:49:31] conclude this meeting. Um is
[3:49:33] that would that be an option..
[3:49:34] >> that would certainly be an
[3:49:36] option. So the the idea is on
[3:49:40] the docket item. Um um we could
[3:49:42] just say um subject to the
[3:49:44] approval of the virginia key
[3:49:46] park trust and then that way we
[3:49:47] would obviate the need of
[3:49:47] coming back.
[3:49:49] >> okay. Motion. All right
[3:49:51] motion second all in favor say
[3:49:53] aye. Aye aye. Any opposed? Show
[3:49:57] that passed unanimously. Um MR.
[3:50:00] Clark have we missed anything?
[3:50:01] No.
[3:50:03] >> that concludes the business.
[3:50:05] There you go at 1159. Good job
[3:50:07] everyone. Thank you very much.
[3:50:08] Appreciate it, MR. Attorney.
[3:50:10] Anything? We're good. All
[3:50:11] right. Show the meeting
[3:50:12] adjourned. Chair, I just need
[3:50:25] 60s to flip the tape.