[9:28] Good evening ladies and gentlemen I would ask that you
[9:31] please take your seats. We are going to begin with
[9:33] special presentations in advance of the council meeting tonight. Council
[9:37] Members please come to the well. It is the well.
[9:46] It's a well of the chamber. All right. So with
[9:51] that tonight we are here to honor or we're going
[9:55] to start our night by honoring some special individuals. Two
[9:58] of whom gave their lives to Public Service in the
[10:02] form of providing Public Safety to the community, not only
[10:06] in Miami Lakes, but beyond. And also to the Ruiz
[10:09] family that our legends here in the town. So with
[10:13] that we're going to get started. We're going to take
[10:15] them one at a time in turn. And I want
[10:18] to begin with Deputy Carlos Ortiz. If you would please
[10:21] come up here. Deputy Ortiz has
[10:31] been with us since we were founded. So basically since
[10:35] 2001, right, we were founded December 5th 2000, you know,
[10:39] but obviously it takes a little time to start putting
[10:40] the organization together. So he's one of what the kids
[10:43] would say the OG's here. So. With that in recognition
[10:48] of your many years of service, we're issuing you a
[10:50] proclamation, making August 20th, 2026 Deputy Carlos Ortiz Day in
[10:56] this town. And the Proclamation reads, whereas Deputy Carlos Ortiz
[11:01] began his law enforcement career on January 22nd, 1996 in
[11:07] the Cutler Ridge District as a road patrol officer and
[11:10] later transferred to the newly formed Town of Miami Lakes
[11:13] in 2001, continuing his service in road patrol, whereas Deputy
[11:18] Ortiz later served the Special Services Unit, now the neighborhood
[11:22] resources unit as a bicycle officer strengthening community partnerships and
[11:26] enhancing Public Safety through numerous town - sponsored events, including
[11:31] Battle of the Stars Football Tournament, Hurricane Irma Recovery Efforts,
[11:36] post - COVID food distributions, the culinary bike ride, the
[11:40] Reindeer run. The Veterans Day Parade, the 4th of July
[11:42] event, the bike rodeo, the spring fling, the Birona Vegaria
[11:47] 5k and coffee with the cop. Whereas Deputy Ortiz, are
[11:51] you sure you didn't miss one there? Whereas Deputy Ortiz
[11:54] served as a police explorer advisor from 2007 to 2013.
[11:59] And again, from 2021 to 2026, a member of the
[12:04] Honor Guard from 2021 to 2025 and received over 50
[12:08] commendations for his professionalism dedication and exemplary service. Whereas throughout
[12:15] his career, Deputy Ortiz received numerous honors, including a recognition
[12:20] of exemplary performance, five certificates of commendation, a recommendation for
[12:25] department award, officer of the quarter, and police officer of
[12:29] the month. And, and his last one, whereas after 30
[12:33] years of dedicated Public Service, we congratulate Deputy Carlos Ortiz
[12:38] on his well - earned retirement and wisher many joyful
[12:41] years ahead with his beloved wife, daughter, and son. Now,
[12:47] I, Joshua Diego, is by virtue of the authority vested
[12:50] in me as the mayor of the town of Miami
[12:52] Lakes. And on behalf of the town council and 33,
[12:55] 000 Miami Lakers, do hear by proclaim August 20th, 2026,
[13:00] as Deputy Carlos Diaz'day. Part of so please. Sorry, we're
[13:09] going to have to change that out. There's a little
[13:10] misprint at the end there. So sorry about that. Here,
[13:12] come join us over here in a second. And then.
[13:15] One brother.
[14:27] Next up. We have retiring from the Tanami Lakes another
[14:33] OG in the town police department. Sergeant George Soto, please
[14:37] come up. We recognized. Congrats, man. So that way, this
[14:47] way you don't have to fight with him. You know,
[14:49] we gave you a separate day. So. The proclamation for
[14:53] Sergeant Soto reads, whereas Sergeant George Soto began his law
[14:58] enforcement career on September, excuse me, everyone, please take your
[15:02] seats quietly. We are honoring our law enforcement officers who
[15:05] are retiring. Mr. Barron, please take a seat when you
[15:10] can. Thank you. All right, whereas Sergeant George Soto began
[15:14] his law enforcement career on September 25, 1995, serving in
[15:19] road patrol in the northwest district before assignments to the
[15:22] priority services unit and the community - oriented policing squad.
[15:26] Whereas in 2001, Sergeant Soto joined the newly formed town
[15:31] of Miami Lakes as a bicycle officer continuing his commitment
[15:34] to community - oriented policing and Public Safety. Whereas promoted
[15:39] to Sergeant in 2005, Sergeant Soto served as a road
[15:43] patrol supervisor before joining the neighborhood resources unit. Where he
[15:49] served as a unit and administrative sergeant organizing and overseeing
[15:54] numerous town - sponsored events, including the Battle of the
[15:57] Stars football tournament, Hurricane Irma Recovery Efforts, post - COVID
[16:01] food distributions, the colonate bike ride, the reindeer run, the
[16:04] veterans they parade, the fourth of July event among others.
[16:07] You guys are in a competition then. You know, whereas
[16:10] throughout his career, Sergeant George Soto received over 60 commendations,
[16:16] recognizing his rapid response, dedication to duty, teamwork, astute powers
[16:21] of observation, and enthusiasm, and professionalism, along with numerous recognitions,
[16:26] including police officer of the year finalist, multiple officer of
[16:30] the court of recognitions, and a recognition for exemplary performance
[16:35] from Miami - Dade Police Department, director Carlos Alvarez, and
[16:39] whereas after more than 30 years of dedicated Public Service,
[16:42] we congratulate Sergeant George Soto on his well - earned
[16:46] retirement and wish him. Many joyful years ahead with his
[16:49] beloved wife and two daughters. Now, therefore, I, Joshua Diego's,
[16:55] by virtue of the authority vested in me as the
[16:57] mayor of the Town of My Lakes, and on behalf
[16:59] of the town council in 33, 000 Miami Lakers, do
[17:02] hereby proclaim August 21st, 2026 as Sergeant George Soto Day.
[17:09] You want to say anything.
[20:10] Thank you both for your service to the community.
[20:20] At this time, and everyone, please keep your volume low.
[20:24] We are in the process of honoring members of our
[20:26] community, please. So please keep your conversation to a minimum.
[20:32] Okay. I may have to use the gavel here. Okay,
[20:40] I'm going to invite Richard Ruiz to please come up
[20:42] here with the family. Anyone else that is with you?
[20:45] For those who don't know, his father, Mara Ruiz, was
[20:51] recently passed away, unfortunately. He cut many of our hairs
[20:55] here in the town, including mine when I was a
[20:57] kid. So the Miami - League's barbershop has been a
[21:00] staple of the community for many, many years. And so
[21:04] it was a fitting honor to go ahead and recognize
[21:08] the contributions of his father. They brought an image here
[21:10] as well for those who maybe want to put a
[21:12] face to their name. And I'm sorry for your lost,
[21:15] though. Sincerely. We are proclaiming August, 2026, the entire month
[21:21] as Mario Ree's Month in the town of Miami -
[21:24] Lakes. Whereas Mar Ruiz was born on January 19, 1934.
[21:29] In Placeta's Cuba, and later immigrated to the United States
[21:32] in the 1950s, building a new life and raising a
[21:36] family, whereas Mario dedicated his new home and career in
[21:39] the United States to the barbering profession, eventually proudly owning
[21:44] and operating his own business. Whereas in the 1960s, alongside
[21:48] his brother, Mario opened his barbershop in the town of
[21:51] Miami Lakes. Please, I would ask everyone, please cease your
[21:56] conversations. Thank you. Whereas outside of work, or pardon me,
[22:00] in the 1960s, alongside his brother, Mario opened his barbershop
[22:04] in the town of Miami Lakes, where it became a
[22:07] cherished gathering place for community leaders, neighbors, and locals alike.
[22:11] That made everyone who visited feel welcomed. Whereas outside of
[22:15] work, Mario's faith was central to him with being a
[22:19] member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church serving as an usher,
[22:23] and later as an active member of Our Lady of
[22:25] the Lakes Catholic Church. And whereas Mario made a lasting
[22:29] impact on his community and leads behind the legacy of
[22:32] love, service, and a family that includes his wife Hilda,
[22:37] his four children, five grandchildren, and five great - grandchildren.
[22:41] His memory will continue to live in the hearts of
[22:44] all who had the privilege of knowing him. Now, I,
[22:47] Joshua Diego's, by virtue of the authority vested in me
[22:51] as the mayor of the Town of Miami Lakes, and
[22:53] on behalf of the town council and 33, 000 Miami
[22:56] Lakers do hear by proclaim the month of August, 2026,
[23:00] as Mario Ruiz Month. Congratulations, Richard. And I'm sorry again
[23:03] for your loss.
[23:16] Good afternoon, on behalf of my family. I want to
[23:19] sincerely thank our community and everyone who made this special
[23:23] honor possible. Today's in a motion today for us. My
[23:31] dad. Was not only a great father. And a loved
[23:38] one, but also business man who was proud of his
[23:41] community. He worked hard to build, relationship. And served others.
[23:51] And giving back to the place he called home. Although
[23:55] he's no longer with us. Seeing him honored. With this
[23:58] proclamation reminds us of the impact of a person's life
[24:01] continues long after they're gone. His business was more than
[24:04] just a livelihood. He was part of the connection to
[24:07] this community. And to the many people he met and
[24:11] helped and worked alongside throughout the years. I noticed the
[24:15] community meant everything to my dad, and I can only
[24:18] imagine how proud and humbled he will be to receive
[24:21] this recognition. To everyone who supported his business believed him,
[24:28] worked with him, became his friend, and helped make this
[24:30] honor possible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
[24:37] That we miss you every day. We're incredibly proud of
[24:42] what you, and we'll continue to carry your memory and
[24:45] your legacy with us. Thank you very much. Congrats, ma'am.
[25:44] Thank you. That concludes the Special presentations. We will start
[25:47] promptly at 6. 30 p. m.
[29:15] All right, one. Minute.
[29:51] Ready? 6. 30. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The time
[29:58] is 6. 30. I am now calling this regular council
[30:01] meeting of the town council to order, Madam Clerk. Please
[30:04] call the roll. Councilmember Quadra Garcia. Council Member Fernandez. President.
[30:14] Councilmember Garcia. Present. Councilmember Herrsberg. Council Member Sanchez. Present. Vice
[30:22] Mayor Morera. Present. Mayor Diegas. Here. Mayor, you have quorum.
[30:27] Excellent. And Major Ulloa, please make sure that all the
[30:31] doors are closed because the noise is going to filter
[30:33] in here and it's going to interrupt our proceedings. With
[30:35] that, everyone please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, which
[30:37] will be led by Councilman Sanchez.
[30:53] Thank you. Please remain standing for the Moment of Silence,
[30:57] which we'll be led by Councilmember J. C. Fernandez. Please
[31:00] bow our heads. Heavenly Father, we come before you with
[31:03] humble hearts, asking for wisdom, clarity, and unity as this
[31:07] council gathers to serve. Guide our minds to seek truth.
[31:11] Our words to build up and our actions to serve
[31:13] with integrity and grace. Help us listen well, to respect
[31:16] one another, and to pursue the common good. We ask
[31:19] these things in your name. Amen. Amen. Thank you. You
[31:23] may all be seated. Councillor, we're now in the order
[31:27] of business. Um, before I get there, I was just
[31:32] approached by Miss Soto asking that because her son is
[31:35] sick to move up. The education advisory board report to
[31:37] before Public comments. So that's one change there. Does anyone
[31:40] else have additional changes? Yes, Mayor. Councilman Garcia. Like to
[31:46] move new business item. If it's okay with the Vice
[31:50] Mayor, because Jakey's family's here. Number J of New Business
[31:56] Items. So after Public Commons. Or actually after the education
[32:01] board, does it? So before Public comments, but after the
[32:04] Education Advisor Board? Yes. And also my item as well.
[32:08] Which is in the same vein. I don't see it
[32:11] here. K, okay. Okay. Adam K as well? Can you
[32:16] say the names again? Uh, in the order that you
[32:17] want them, or the item numbers? Your J and K.
[32:21] 16j. 16 Jay and 16K. Yeah, right after. At the
[32:26] Education Advisor Board Report. So, um, and then I device
[32:29] mayor since we're both items are almost the same. Would
[32:32] you like to combine them, sir? We can combine them,
[32:34] and I was going to invite the entire council to
[32:36] co - sponsor. Absolutely. Co - sponsor, absolutely. Okay, so
[32:38] 16J and K will be heard together. Um, after item
[32:42] 10A counts, I think it's H and K. H and
[32:45] K, okay. Okay, so. Yeah, H and K. Okay, so
[32:50] H and K, 16 H and K will be heard
[32:52] together after 10A. And then I propose moving the items
[32:58] related to the Gratiny ramp to immediately after Public comment.
[33:02] Um, so that would be, let me pull them up
[33:04] again. There we go. 16a and B. And wait, wasn't
[33:13] the third one related to the. Well, related to the
[33:19] cutter traffic. Which one was that? Because they should be
[33:25] taken up. Okay, got it. Okay, counts. I'm going to
[33:29] read it back. So the changes we are making is
[33:31] immediately following this, uh, motion. We have item 10a, 16h,
[33:37] and K, then Public comments, and then following Public comments,
[33:40] we have 16a, B, and I. Anything else. Okay, see,
[33:45] none is their emotion. It's been moved. It's just a
[33:49] second. Seconded. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All
[33:53] oppose no. You guys have it, the motion carries, and
[33:55] the item, or the agenda is amended as stated. With
[33:59] that, Madam Clerk, we are now in Public Comments. Go
[34:01] ahead and read the rules into the record. Good evening.
[34:03] Welcome to the regular council meeting. If you're here and
[34:07] you would like to provide public comments, please, you may
[34:10] do so now. You just... I apologize, Madam Clerk. Again,
[34:14] I'm just force of habit because this is normally the
[34:16] technique, but I just rewritten. Let's begin with Miss Soto
[34:19] from the Education Advisory Board to go ahead and present
[34:21] her report so we can handle that. My apologies.
[34:32] Okay, good evening, Council Members. Thank you so much for
[34:34] letting me go. Um, so for the education advisory board,
[34:39] for our, so far, our Proof Budget is a thousand
[34:41] dollars, which covers our spelling bee, which has been very
[34:44] successful. And the educational awards of excellence at the end
[34:47] of the year in May. And we have two proposed
[34:50] new initiatives. The first one would be for a Miami
[34:54] Lake School Olympian, which would be a field day event
[34:57] at Roberto Alonso Community Center, the month of February to
[34:59] highlight and showcase the six schools on their educational programs
[35:02] in the community. It's only going to be around 500
[35:05] dollars really for us, maybe less, because most of the
[35:07] expenses will be covered by the schools themselves. And our
[35:10] fundraising from the graduate banners that we've been doing and
[35:13] the food that we will sell at the event. And
[35:15] the book fair, which I believe you approved already, which
[35:18] is coming up would be for November 7th. That's the
[35:21] second initiative. And that's run by the good news book
[35:25] fair, a nonprofit that promotes the joy of reading and
[35:27] young children through clean reads that promote virtue and love
[35:30] of country. And that one's going to be held at
[35:32] the Mary Collins Center on the 7th of October. I
[35:36] may have November, excuse me. I moved to approve both
[35:38] of the events. Is there a second? Also, I can
[35:40] for discussion. Second day by Conspence for discussion. We go
[35:43] to you to begin the discussion. Thank you, Ms. Horror.
[35:45] Good to see you. Um, for the Olympiad, it sounds
[35:48] more like a school fair where parents can come and
[35:51] see what potential schools their kids can be going to.
[35:53] And Olympia to me is more of a event where
[35:56] schools compete against each other, like a spelling beach. There
[35:57] will be. There will be a competition between the schools.
[35:59] So it's a combination really of both. Do you have
[36:01] categories more or less of what they're going to be
[36:02] competing with? We're going to have a meeting, a subcommittee
[36:04] meeting on Monday of next week, and that's where we're
[36:06] going to finalize all those little details once you all
[36:08] approve for it to go forward. Yes. Would it be
[36:10] both mental challenges as well as business? Yes, we're going
[36:13] to try to have both for a variety to meet
[36:14] a different needs. Yes, absolutely. We'll not just be physical.
[36:17] Okay. Yeah. The number, thank you. Any other discussion on
[36:22] this item. KC, none, all those in favor say aye.
[36:25] Aye. All oppose no. The eyes have it. The motion
[36:28] carries. Anything else? That's it. Thank you so much. Have
[36:32] a good evening. I'm wishing your son of Speedy Recovery.
[36:35] Next up, we have 16H. You're recognized to go ahead
[36:40] and introduce the item. Oh, first and foremost, I'll actually
[36:42] just move a waiver of Section 7. 2 of the
[36:45] Specials of Order. Alright, the emotions are second on the
[36:48] way. And solely on the issue of the waiver, all
[36:50] those in favor of say aye. Aye. All opposed no.
[36:53] The ayes have it. The rule is waived. Thank you,
[36:56] Mayor. Um, I think most of you took the opportunity
[36:59] to read my item. And obviously, uh, this was written
[37:03] at a time where the statue of Jakey Duke was
[37:06] still missing. I did want, if it's okay with you,
[37:09] Mayor, uh, to open the floor to the Duke family,
[37:11] who I believe wanted to make a statement, uh, so
[37:14] at this time, I'd like to invite them to the
[37:15] podium. Yeah, yeah, they can come on up and present
[37:19] here at the podium. Are they here? Oh, I think
[37:23] they were right outside of someone who wants to call
[37:24] them in. Hey, can somebody get the Duke family, please?
[37:27] And let them know that we're, thank you, uh, director
[37:29] Bagdam. Oh, perfect. Excellent. Welcome guys. Come on. Up. The
[37:36] mic should already be on, by the way. We just
[37:43] wanted to say thank you personally. Um, the amount of
[37:46] man hours technology, just how many hours were spent, um,
[37:52] recovering Jakey Statue, Jake Easter, is of our son, but
[37:57] it, um, means so much to Miami Lakes. I think
[38:00] it was a representation of that logo. And that's how
[38:03] cliche I heart Miami leaks. My Malyks has big heart.
[38:06] And that's what this was about this Sergeant James, Detective
[38:11] Morales and the entire team, the outpour of people that
[38:15] literally would drive down and just like in disbelief. The
[38:19] amount of tips. The outpour that we got and we
[38:23] continue to get, we wanted to say thank you personally
[38:26] because it means a lot to us and it doesn't
[38:27] go unanswered. Um, Jakey started a big movement and tugged
[38:31] at so many people's hearts. And we see that and
[38:34] it continues. So we are very adamant to say that
[38:36] this isn't our park. And I think it's evident. And
[38:39] we just wanted to say thank you. I don't know.
[38:43] Appreciate it. Of course. We're glad that the, that it
[38:46] was recovered. And we look forward to when we reinstall
[38:49] it with appropriate security measures moving forward, um, to also
[38:52] go ahead and have a nice community event with you
[38:54] guys, um, we'll coordinate that as soon as possible. Yeah.
[38:58] Um, about that. I know that the officers and observation
[39:02] of all this lighting and surveillance is super important in
[39:05] that area. So we definitely want to see if we
[39:06] can have help with that. And I did talk to
[39:09] Lopsy Dobsy from Joe Di Majo. And she's on board
[39:11] for the re - unveiling of the park and is
[39:14] ready to do it. Um, and bring back to RDA
[39:17] Lakes, Jakey, where he belongs in the park. Awesome. Thank
[39:20] you. Thank you. God bless you guys. Likewise.
[39:35] Because no, what we said was to combine H and
[39:38] K. Or yeah. So number one, I wanted to thank
[39:42] the Duke family for coming out. Obviously, this was important
[39:45] to them. This was important to our town. That's why
[39:48] the new business item for it. But that's also why
[39:50] there was so much discussion online on the Facebook groups,
[39:54] uh, on WhatsApp chats, uh, I saw all sorts of
[39:57] community involvement on this. And I will say, right on
[40:01] the one hand, this act of stealing the statute shows
[40:08] potentially some of the worst that our society has to
[40:11] offer, right? Someone of that level of a depraved mind
[40:15] taking stealing the Statute of a child in fiber member
[40:18] correctly. There's a little plaque that says exactly what happened
[40:21] with Jakey. And that that would be there and that
[40:23] they would still make the decision to take it. It
[40:25] just shows that the brave state of mind. But at
[40:27] the same time, this also shows us the best of
[40:31] our times, right? When this family, this community came together,
[40:36] uh, to, to look out for the Duque family to
[40:40] submit the tips, assist law enforcement and ultimately arresting the
[40:44] suspects. And it was really very much a looking out
[40:48] for your neighbors kind of, uh, ordeal. But that being
[40:52] said, my item, uh, is primarily related to, I'm not
[40:56] going to lie to you. I didn't think that statue
[40:58] was coming back. Uh, I thought it was a goner.
[41:01] And I'm incredibly happy that I was wrong about that.
[41:04] Um, but I, the intention of my item, it was
[41:09] originally going to be to make an insurance claim because
[41:11] it is an expensive statue to make an insurance claim
[41:15] and get the ball rolling as something that you guys
[41:18] know how government is. Government doesn't work. Today shipping like
[41:21] Amazon. So we take long to do things. So I
[41:24] wanted to get the ball rolling on an insurance claim,
[41:27] get it funded and get it replaced as quickly as
[41:29] possible. Thankfully, we no longer really need to do that.
[41:32] Um, but I do want to have a discussion amongst
[41:36] my colleagues, uh, potentially any repairs or changes that are
[41:41] needed to the statute, uh, because I did see in
[41:44] a photo the fish that he was holding was separated.
[41:47] I don't know if that's that it's broken or what
[41:49] it is. What needs to be done to bring it
[41:51] back, but also any potential modifications that need to be
[41:54] made to it, to accommodate extra security, uh, measures that
[41:58] are going to be discussed today. And thank you for
[42:00] bringing your item because it's more up to date with
[42:03] the current events, right? Of, let's specifically look at, um,
[42:07] lighting, security, cameras. I think we already, Mr. Manager, do
[42:11] we already have power at that little park. I don't
[42:15] think so, Jeremy, right? No. But there may be other
[42:18] alternatives, solar power. And some, there's some solutions that maybe
[42:22] will not require actual power there. Okay. So, so I
[42:25] think at this point we'd be simply, I'm going to
[42:28] move to direct the manager to explore all options. But
[42:32] I'm willing to hear from my colleagues what options they
[42:34] would like to see him come back to us. And
[42:36] I would like to see it come back at the
[42:38] September council meeting. Is there a second? Second. It's been
[42:42] seconded and we'll go to Councilman Garcia. Thank you so
[42:44] much. Thank you Vice Mayor. Again, I want to thank
[42:48] the family. God heard their prayers and the town's prayers
[42:54] to bring back the statue. And as the Vice Mayor
[42:57] said, we can always find something good out of this.
[43:00] And I believe the re unveiling of the statue, um,
[43:05] will bring attention and much needed funds to, uh, childhood
[43:09] cancer and with the Joe DiMagio, um, hospital and whatever
[43:13] we can do as a town to continue to remind
[43:15] us that life is fragile. And we need to protect
[43:18] it and do everything we can. So the Vice Mayor
[43:21] mentioned and I would love all my colleagues to co
[43:23] - sponsor this. Um, if you can. We'd love to
[43:26] see what we can do. We need to get lighting
[43:29] at that park. We need to get cameras at that
[43:31] park. And we need to do anything we can to
[43:33] strengthen the base so that won't happen again. So that
[43:37] would be an additional motion or adding to the Vice
[43:41] Mayor's motion to make sure that doesn't happen again. And
[43:44] also I noticed, uh, the issues with the fencing and
[43:48] some issues at the park that need addressing. Perhaps we
[43:52] can take opportunity there to also make sure that park
[43:54] is at the standards that the Duke family deserves. And
[43:58] Miami Lakes deserves. So that would be my motion at
[44:01] the time. I'll second. And co - sponsores and co
[44:06] - sponsor. Oh, I'm sorry. Hold on guys. Remember like,
[44:09] you know, to give me a chance to catch up.
[44:10] So with that, uh, it's been seconded by Conspend Sanchez
[44:14] and Madam Clerk, please let the record reflect that we
[44:16] are all co - sponsors on this item. Are there
[44:19] any other, is there any more discussion on this item.
[44:23] And I would ask that everyone, please silence your cell
[44:25] phones. Thank you. It's gone off a few times with
[44:27] that. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Polo Pose.
[44:31] No. The ayes have it. And the motion carries. Congratulations,
[44:36] gentlemen. Okay. Before we go. Can I make one? I
[44:40] know. I'm going to reopen the. No, no, but the
[44:43] ROS. Okay. There are apparently some folks that, uh, somehow
[44:48] got, uh, were parking over here in the, uh, eastern
[44:51] parking lot inside the black gate. That's the police parking
[44:55] area. And they need, if you're parked in there, they
[44:59] need you to go over there now and move your
[45:01] car. They, uh, may start towing cars in about 15
[45:05] minutes. So. If you're parked over here on the east
[45:08] side, inside the black gates, that is a restricted parking
[45:13] area only for law enforcement vehicles. Thank you, Mr. Manager.
[45:19] With that, I'm going to move to reopen the order
[45:20] of business in order to, well, let me start there.
[45:25] It's in second divided by the Vice Mayor. All his
[45:27] in favor of CI. All opposed no. The ads have
[45:30] it. Hey, the Sports Hall of Fame Committee would like
[45:34] to also move up their presentation. So item 10 B,
[45:37] um, I would like to hear it now so we
[45:39] can allow them to go home already. Um, is there
[45:42] with that? That is my motion. Second. And seconded, uh,
[45:46] all those in favor of say aye. Aye. Aye. All
[45:48] opposed no. You guys have it. The agenda is amended
[45:51] as stated. And we now go to the sports Hall
[45:53] of Fame committee to make their recommendations. Why does it
[45:56] feel like this.
[46:07] Good evening. Mayor Vice Mayor, Town Council. Mr. Manager, Ms.
[46:10] Clerk. Thank you for having us this evening. My name
[46:13] is Roman Garcia. I'm honored to serve as the chairman
[46:17] of the Sports Hall of Fame Committee. This will be
[46:20] our 10th year in existence. And we look forward. We
[46:25] will be recommending our ninth class for induction. Um, this
[46:28] year we have the honor of, by the way, I'm
[46:33] joined by my secretary and council and committee Jim Hamilton
[46:39] and our vice chair Miriam Ochoa was trying to make
[46:41] it, but she's running a little bit behind. We've met
[46:44] numerous times over the last couple of months trying to
[46:47] secure our class for 2026. And at the last meeting,
[46:51] we were able to come up what we feel is
[46:53] a very solid class for our ninth induction ceremony in
[46:56] December. So, uh, I'd like to present to you guys,
[47:00] um, the nominees for induction. Our first nominee is a
[47:05] former coach at both college and pro levels, including being
[47:07] the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 92 to
[47:09] 96. And he's the son of former of a member
[47:14] of the first pastor of the Hall of Fame. David
[47:16] Schule will be our first inductee this season, this year.
[47:20] Our second inductee this year is a former professional football
[47:23] player who crafted his game at highly at Miami Lakes
[47:26] High School. Uh, went on to play at Penn State
[47:29] where he won a national title holds numerous track and
[47:33] field records in NCAA, including a national championship in football
[47:37] with Penn State in 1986, went on to play in
[47:40] the NFL for the Patriots, among other teams. His name
[47:43] is Michael Timson. Our third inductee this year is a
[47:48] former quarterback at HML. Went on to play four seasons
[47:52] at the University of Miami. And his name is Ryan
[47:56] Collins. And our last inductee this year is a community
[48:01] builder who willingness to volunteer leads into this honor. He
[48:06] was an assistant coach just to be around his kids,
[48:09] led him to become a head coach. From there, he
[48:11] became the commissioner of the soccer program here in the
[48:14] town, uh, became the commissioner for the Miami Lakes Optimus
[48:17] Club at the time. From then to become the tournament
[48:19] director at the junior Orange Bowl where he led it
[48:22] to where it is nowaday. And his name is Don
[48:25] Tufts. Um, so that would be our recommendation for a
[48:29] class. Our event will be on the second Saturday of
[48:32] December. December 12th, I believe it is at the Optimus
[48:35] Park. We would love to see you guys there. Um,
[48:38] and I am here and Jim's here for any questions
[48:40] on, on these nominations. Any questions. Seeing none, I moved
[48:46] to accept the denominations. Is there a second? Second. I'll
[48:49] second all those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed
[48:54] no. The nominations are accepted. Thank you very much gentlemen.
[48:57] Thank you. Thank you. Have a wonderful evening. Now Madam
[49:00] Clerk, we move to you for Public comments and to
[49:02] read the rules into the record. Thank you. Good evening.
[49:04] And welcome to the regular council meeting. As always going
[49:08] to state earlier, all the Public comments will be heard
[49:11] now at the beginning of the meeting and three minutes
[49:14] will be afforded to each speaker. Old Comments and Questions
[49:18] from this Public shall be directed to the mayor in
[49:21] a court's tone and to ensure the orderly conduct and
[49:25] efficiency of a meeting three minutes maximum per person. As
[49:29] well, I always welcome the people, the individuals that are
[49:33] participating online via remote Public comments. And we will begin
[49:39] now. Just approach the podium state your name and address
[49:43] for the record. And welcome. Good evening. Mayor, vice mayor
[49:48] members of the town council, William Perez 7280 Miami Lakeway
[49:51] South. I'm going to do a closing argument. I'm going
[49:54] to present five reasonable doubts against this project. Each one
[49:59] of these reasonable doubt is enough to vote no. Reasonable
[50:03] doubt number one. What is geomex's motive and intent. When
[50:08] I was at the meeting with Councilman Sanchez, he asked
[50:11] a direct question about removing the two exit lanes. The
[50:14] two expert ramps. And GMX said we'll have to look
[50:18] whether or not it is profitable. Because they profit off
[50:23] of toll revenue. Their whole business model is to make
[50:28] money from tolls. So that tells you something huge. That
[50:33] tells you that GMX's business model is about maximizing total
[50:36] revenue. It's not about a leaving any traffic. They hope
[50:39] that traffic becomes more congested on 67. They hope it'll
[50:44] be thousands of vehicles. The one thing we haven't seen
[50:46] is the monetary business model. They didn't include that in
[50:49] the package. But they have one because they have to
[50:52] analyze whether or not removing those except ramps will make
[50:54] it fiscally feasible now. Reasonable doubt number two. What happens
[51:00] to the property values in that area. The realtor knows
[51:03] what happens. With more noise, more congestion, more activity surrounding
[51:08] those neighborhood, those property values are going to sync. It
[51:13] would affect quality of life. And when a quality of
[51:15] life declines, property values decline. And people lose their life
[51:19] savings that was built in that equity. We should not
[51:25] approve a project that creates a foreseeable reduction in property
[51:30] value. Reasonable doubt. Number three. What happens to crooked palm.
[51:39] Crook of Palm will be blocked in. When the GMX
[51:42] engineer was asked about that, his response was, we'll put
[51:47] a streetlight, put a signal light. One asked about who
[51:51] funds that. He said the county. We all know the
[51:54] county is broke. We know it. I mean, I found
[51:59] out, I took chamber meeting. They told me directly, we're
[52:02] broke. So, and also you got to ask yourself, why
[52:07] would a county fix something. That we created. We create
[52:11] that problem and we expect the county to fix it.
[52:13] So GMX saying that they want to help us approach
[52:16] the county and stuff like that. It's empty promises. Reasonable
[52:20] doubt number four. Excessive noise. I really appreciated the, uh,
[52:26] engineer talking to me. I got the environmental report that
[52:28] they had. I read the entire environment report. It identified
[52:31] 67 areas where the noise level will meet or exceed
[52:35] the legal threshold. They admit that due to the residential
[52:40] area and due to the topography of the area, but
[52:44] their mitigation will be minimally effective. The other thing they
[52:49] emitted, and this is a councilman sound's question, which was
[52:52] really a good one was when he asked, have you
[52:55] done similar projects to find out if I've made, just
[52:59] got one more 10 seconds to conclude your remarks. Thanks.
[53:02] If they could find similar projects that could, that they
[53:05] did noise studies on after they've built them, they said,
[53:07] no, they don't do that. Reasonable doubt number five, uh,
[53:13] recourse for predictable secondary effects. The impact and traffic, the
[53:17] people running shortcuts will go through my Malikway South. And
[53:20] the way to address that. Thank you. Thank you very
[53:22] much. Thank you. And that additional 10 seconds will be
[53:24] afforded. An additional 10 seconds will be afforded to everyone.
[53:34] Um, as well so that we are fair with the
[53:36] time allotted. But keep in mind that as, you know,
[53:40] because the so many of us in this room, we
[53:41] need to be considered to our other neighbors and give
[53:43] them an opportunity to speak. So please try to adhere
[53:46] within the time frame. So thank you very much. Madam
[53:49] Clerk. The timer is set for three. No, no, that's
[53:52] fine. I will manually, you know, in my mind, I
[53:55] will go ahead and do the countdown. But again, I
[53:57] want to afford everybody opportunity to have a little extra
[53:59] attempt to conclude. But again, we have a lot of
[54:01] people, as you can see in the room. So in
[54:03] order to hear everyone, um, you know, I ask you,
[54:06] please be considered to our fellow residents. Go ahead, please
[54:09] state your name and address for the record and you
[54:11] may proceed. Thank you. Lattice Almagear 14008 Lake George Court.
[54:19] Thank you everybody for being here. Uh, I was supposed
[54:23] to go first, by the way, um, because tonight the
[54:26] speakers are longtime residents, business owners, parents and grandparents and
[54:30] neighborhoods. Uh, they're not pay consultants. They're not lobbyists. Uh,
[54:35] they've spent countless of hours reviewing engineering studies, environmental studies,
[54:40] traffic reports, analysis and scientific data. Not because they were
[54:44] paid, but because they have something to lose. Their concern
[54:48] is not opposing progress. It's not a desire to stop
[54:52] Miami Lakes from growing. It is a commitment to ensuring
[54:55] that growth is responsible. But engineers are supposed and meant
[55:00] to solve problems, not create one. The proposal does not
[55:05] simply address the congestion somewhere else. It is creating a
[55:09] new expressway axis at northwest 67th Avenue. It will bring
[55:13] additional traffic lines into Miami Lakes and place new pressures
[55:17] on the streets that serve our homes, our community and
[55:20] our neighborhoods essentially. You cannot introduce additional vehicles into a
[55:24] residential community and call the resulting contrassion and improvement. That
[55:28] is not solving a problem. It is creating a new
[55:30] one. Good engineering are supposed to accommodate growth while protecting
[55:34] the community that that growth is meant to serve. You
[55:37] will hear about the concerns of increased crime along with
[55:41] noise, the pollution and the loss of simple of the
[55:44] peaceful character, the Miami Lakes has been defined for generations.
[55:48] You will also hear about the birth century and the
[55:51] environmental resources that can no longer, and cannot simply be
[55:54] replaced once they're lost. And as well as potential impact
[55:59] on our property values. For many families here, their home
[56:03] is their largest investment that they will ever make. They
[56:06] should not be asked to place that investment at risk
[56:08] for no benefit. Above all, listen carefully when they speak
[56:12] about the safety of our children. Buried within GMAX, PDNET
[56:17] study. It's a word that should concern everybody in this
[56:19] room. Is the word fair. That is the rating assigned
[56:23] to a child's safety. Fair. Not good, not excellent, fair.
[56:28] Every school day, children walk through the area that it's
[56:32] affected by this proposal. Summer is young at six years
[56:35] old. No parent should ever accept. Fair as an adequate
[56:40] standard for their child safety. And nobody here should do
[56:43] that. When you're designing infrastructure for around children, fair is
[56:47] not enough. If they cannot simply rate our child safeties
[56:53] higher than that should have serious consideration. The additional traffic
[56:59] will be here. The noise will be here. The environmental
[57:02] impacts will be here. Safety concerns will be here. Now
[57:08] this does not mean the Miami Lakes cannot grow. Of
[57:10] course it can grow. But community. Thank you. A community
[57:15] that can grow without surrendering what it's worth protecting. They're
[57:20] asking you to find a new solution, not to create
[57:23] a new problem. They will speak carefully. They will speak
[57:26] respectfully and with evidence. Please listen to them. Thank you
[57:28] very much. Jose, you want to come up?
[57:39] Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Council members and staff. My name
[57:45] is Jose Soberan. I live at 6870 bamboo street. And,
[57:50] uh, I'm at Lake Hilda resident for the last 37
[57:53] years where I raised our family. Uh, I want to
[57:57] state my opposition to the Gratiny Expansion Project. For many
[58:01] reasons. Uh, this project has very limited physical space to
[58:06] get everything that they want to build. Starting with a
[58:09] staging area that is in a very limited space. I
[58:13] don't know how they're going to do it. But it's
[58:15] going to be very hard. And also, um, through a
[58:18] build what they propose is already a lot of restrictions
[58:22] to the space and things that can be damaged irrepublique.
[58:27] So, um, they have not provided us with Lancer race.
[58:32] No tree surveys. Uh, to see what is being affected.
[58:38] The drawings that they have provided lack many dimensions and
[58:41] specifications as to the space taken. And it's very critical
[58:45] because it's a lack of space. So anytime you're going
[58:48] to move a canal towards the lake and the buffer
[58:51] zones are there with trees and, you know, a lot
[58:55] of space that is very limited. And you start bringing
[58:58] them through together and putting a ramp, uh, with, um,
[59:03] several lanes. That's going to bring a lot of problems.
[59:07] Um. They also, I said the drawings, they also like
[59:13] many dimensions provided for specification. Like in the bulkhead walls,
[59:17] retention walls and this kind of thing. Uh, one important
[59:20] item is pile driving. Pile driving is going to be
[59:24] done extensively. There's sheet files made out of steel. Or
[59:29] pretty large and they get driven into the ground. And
[59:31] they also have four by four. I'm sorry two by
[59:36] two pilings made out of pre - stress concrete and
[59:39] reinforced seal. Those are square in the size of a
[59:43] telephone pole. Big ones. So that's a problem when they
[59:47] start driving those a good word for driving is hammering.
[59:52] Cause that's what they're going to do. They're going to
[59:53] take through the ground and pound it until it mechanically
[59:57] enters. That causes vibrations and it causes waves to travel.
[1:00:02] Through the land. That reminds me of what's happening through
[1:00:07] our neighbors in the West. With dynamite. And the actual
[1:00:13] blasting. So we can anticipate, you know, by the shaking
[1:00:19] that takes place. We can anticipate foundation damage walls cracks.
[1:00:27] That could happen anywhere. Um, so that's one of the
[1:00:30] problems. A very serious problem because it's very costly illustrate
[1:00:35] homes and make them less valuable. Also that traffic that
[1:00:41] is being brought closer to us is going to be
[1:00:44] very hard. There's also that I think more seconds. Just
[1:00:49] eight more seconds. Eight, I'll do that. Look at the
[1:00:52] room. There's, I know. There's the land taking that is
[1:00:55] going to take place. Uh, at the end of, um,
[1:01:01] of the lake. And that's going to, um, that's on
[1:01:06] a ramp from the sidewalk at 67th Avenue. I really
[1:01:11] got to move on. Just property you're talking about from
[1:01:13] when we were at your house yesterday. You're talking about
[1:01:15] the last house, the townhouse theory in crooked poem. Yeah.
[1:01:18] So they're taking the land there and it's a sloping.
[1:01:20] So whatever they bring, it's down the slope closer to
[1:01:22] the, um, thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Jose. And I'm
[1:01:25] sorry about that. Next speaker, please. Either side, either side.
[1:01:34] Perfect. Yes. Good evening to Mr. Mayor. Council Vice President,
[1:01:40] Kenneth Wilcox won 39 20 Lake Kendall accord. When it
[1:01:45] was brought to my attention about a GMX project, took
[1:01:48] into consideration. I looked at a lot of factors. Being
[1:01:51] that I'm a police officer for 24 years for the
[1:01:53] city of high Aaliyah. Uh, I know what the traffic
[1:01:56] congestion will do to 67th Avenue. I've monitored with my
[1:02:01] unit. We come here, we travel down 67th Avenue a
[1:02:04] lot. Just trying to commute from 57th Avenue. That runs
[1:02:08] into Miami Lakes East. You know, we run into traffic.
[1:02:11] I've monitored the traffic in the morning time going to
[1:02:13] work day shift now. Uh, one thing that's been a
[1:02:17] first responder and worked whether you work in as a
[1:02:21] police officer. You working as paramedic. When we get calls,
[1:02:27] especially when it's the emergency call, sometime we run into
[1:02:29] issues with traffic. And believe me. The last thing you
[1:02:33] want to do is be stuck in traffic, run an
[1:02:37] emergency calls. That puts a lot of stress on the
[1:02:39] police officer. It puts a lot of stress on the
[1:02:41] fire personnel, especially when you're trying to get to a
[1:02:43] call. For the citizens. I bought a home here in
[1:02:46] the town of Miami Lakes. I was a police explorer
[1:02:49] here in the town of Miami leaks in 1986, graduated
[1:02:52] from Miami Lake Senior High. What tomamic senior? I mean,
[1:02:56] Senior High School and graduated from the police academy. But
[1:02:59] when I did decide to buy a house here, I
[1:03:02] choose several cities. In Miami Lake's was where I wanted
[1:03:07] to have my home at because it's probably one of
[1:03:09] the safest communities. And if you look at statistics and
[1:03:13] you compare statistics with, I mean, Ed County, what the
[1:03:16] city of Hialeth is probably the safest place to travel
[1:03:18] in a rollway here. Okay. The last thing we want
[1:03:22] to do is have citizens here get hurt, okay? Because
[1:03:26] what happens is when people are pressed for time, people
[1:03:29] usually have times when they try to go from point
[1:03:32] A to point B, whether it's a parent dropping off
[1:03:34] a child to school or just trying to get to
[1:03:36] work to a doctor's appointment. And I know that because
[1:03:39] I give a lot of citations. I stop people always
[1:03:41] afford doing opportunity to explain to me what was the
[1:03:43] purpose of you driving faster. What was the purpose of
[1:03:45] you doing what you did. And they tell me, Hey,
[1:03:47] I'm just trying to get to work. And I understand
[1:03:49] that. So, you know, the last thing I want to
[1:03:51] do is see the citizens here in the, in the
[1:03:54] town of Miami Lakes, where we put a lot of
[1:03:56] trust in law enforcement. To begin cited. Accidents is going
[1:04:00] to happen if we have more traffic coming out, 67th
[1:04:04] Avenue. And if you look at when you get to
[1:04:06] Miami League's drive, okay, how congested it was. When I
[1:04:09] came over here today, I looked at the traffic and
[1:04:11] it was horrendous. So the last thing we need is
[1:04:13] more traffic over here. All he's going to do is
[1:04:15] create more accidents. And most of the acts that you
[1:04:17] see happen out here when people are traveling, whether they
[1:04:20] going north, you should have a rear end accents. And
[1:04:23] what does that happen? It's because either the traffic up
[1:04:26] front was congested and a vehicle in front of the
[1:04:28] other vehicle stopped. The other driver wasn't paying attention. If
[1:04:30] you got commercial vehicles coming through here and God forbid
[1:04:34] if it's in the school zone. And I know because
[1:04:35] I work traffic unless you stood out there and you've
[1:04:38] been on the busy area and you direct traffic, you
[1:04:40] wouldn't really know what it is. It's very dangerous. So
[1:04:44] please accept you taking consideration that, uh, to reevaluate this
[1:04:48] project, you know, for the safety of the citizens of
[1:04:51] the town of Miami leaks. And I think it's probably
[1:04:53] one of the best places to live at in the
[1:04:55] safest place. Crying rate is very low here. So that's
[1:04:57] something we got to take in accountability. Thank you, sir.
[1:05:10] Good evening Mayor Council and members. My name is Patrice
[1:05:13] Morales. I live at 6291 Lake Butcher Shadrive. Thank you
[1:05:16] all for your service and GMX for the project that
[1:05:20] they've completed. Um, I'm here tonight asking the council to
[1:05:24] oppose the Gratini interchange at 67th. I understand this project
[1:05:28] stems from efforts 10 years ago. And with past counsels
[1:05:32] as a result of the continued construction and development by
[1:05:37] our developers. However, a decision of the past does not
[1:05:40] have to dictate a decision today. After reviewing the GMEX
[1:05:45] Public Hearing Materials and its detailed interchange justification report, I
[1:05:50] believe GMX's own numbers raise a fundamental question about this
[1:05:54] project. The project at the interchange will increase traffic on
[1:05:59] 67th Avenue, 8 percent resulting in thousands of additional cars
[1:06:04] passing through there every day. Likely non - residential and
[1:06:08] commercial coming off at 57th cutting into 67th. At the
[1:06:12] same time, GMX projects modest reductions at 5726 and 154,
[1:06:19] combined for an average of 6. 7 percent. So the
[1:06:22] project does provide benefits. However, only by redistributing the traffic
[1:06:28] onto 67th Avenue, neighborhoods, and to the elementary school. So
[1:06:34] that raises an important question. If the congestion, the town
[1:06:38] is trying to relieve is primarily west of 67th Avenue,
[1:06:44] an associated with access to the Palmetto Expressway, why is
[1:06:49] it proposed solution and interchange at 67th? We don't have
[1:06:53] a problem there, so why add one now. Why isn't
[1:06:58] Northwest 87th Avenue interchange that's part of the master plan,
[1:07:02] the furthest west where the actual congestion exists, not the
[1:07:06] priority. This is an important because the residents of Patricia
[1:07:11] Hilda and Catherine will have to live with the consequences
[1:07:15] every day of increased traffic, changes in access, cut -
[1:07:19] through traffic of hundreds of cars a day, noise, pollution,
[1:07:23] exposure to pedestrian, bicyclists, including our own police officers on
[1:07:27] bicycles, right? This, in addition to property values, I believe
[1:07:31] the council should require answers to two questions. First, why
[1:07:36] should 67th Avenue accept the eight percent traffic increase to
[1:07:40] achieve relatively modest reductions elsewhere? Second, Y is 67th Avenue,
[1:07:47] the location when the congestion being addressed is further west
[1:07:52] and why the alternatives, including 87th Avenue. Are not the
[1:07:57] priority. Miami - late should solve the congestion where the
[1:08:02] problem exists, not simply relocate it from one part of
[1:08:06] the community to another until it is demonstrated that the
[1:08:10] benefits clearly outweigh the impacts on our residential communities. I
[1:08:14] respectfully ask the council to oppose the project. Thank you.
[1:08:17] Thank you. Before you speak, Mr. Manager has
[1:08:27] their final vehicle, move their car. I got a text
[1:08:31] from you saying that there was one more. Yeah, there
[1:08:32] was one more car, a Mazda, a black Mazda CX5
[1:08:37] is still in the police parking lot. Unless you want
[1:08:40] it to be towed, you please need to get out
[1:08:43] there and move it away from the law enforcement parking.
[1:08:45] Okay, well, with that, thank you very much. Welcome, please
[1:08:49] state your name and address. Thank you. Mary Lorenzo14365 Lake
[1:08:53] Candlewood Court. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council Member Town
[1:08:58] Clerk. I'm speaking today as a Miami - electric resident,
[1:09:01] a homeowner, a real estate broker, a mortgage broker, and
[1:09:04] most importantly a mother. I strongly oppose a proposed entrance
[1:09:08] and exit ramps connecting the Gratiny Parkway to northwest 67th
[1:09:12] Avenue. As a real estate and mortgage professional, I see
[1:09:15] every day how important property values are to a family's
[1:09:18] financial future. A home is not simply where we live.
[1:09:22] For most families, is their largest investment. Their equity, their
[1:09:25] retirement security, and an important source of generational wealth. This
[1:09:30] is why I'm extremely concerned about the huge impact. They
[1:09:33] increased traffic will have on our property values. There's research
[1:09:36] supporting this concern. A study conducted by James E. Larson
[1:09:40] of Rights State University examined 9, 670 single family homes,
[1:09:46] home sales in catering Ohio from January 1998 through March
[1:09:50] 2011. The study found that homes located on or adjacent
[1:09:54] to high traffic streets sold for an average of 8.
[1:09:56] 1 percent less. I am not suggesting that Miami -
[1:09:59] leg's home will automatically lose April 1 percent. Our market
[1:10:02] is different, but we cannot ignore evidence that increased traffic
[1:10:06] and negatively affect residential property values. Homeria are valued at
[1:10:11] about 800, 000 dollars in value
[1:10:23] As the mortgage broker, I also know that property value
[1:10:25] affects power in power. A reduction in value can mean
[1:10:29] less equity available for refinancing, education, retirement, investment, or emergencies.
[1:10:35] This is not only about money. My oldest daughter recently
[1:10:38] started driving. And as a mother, that changes the way
[1:10:40] I look at traffic and safety in our community. Every
[1:10:44] time she gets behind the wheel, I worry. We can
[1:10:46] teach our children to drive carefully, sell their phones, watch
[1:10:49] their speed. You can tell how emotional arm about this.
[1:10:52] What we cannot control the drivers around them, adding highway
[1:10:55] access at Northwest 67th could change or will change traffic
[1:10:59] patterns and potentially bring more vehicles and cut through traffic
[1:11:03] onto the residential streets. I'm on Lake Countywood right by
[1:11:05] there. Once this runs are built, we cannot easily undo
[1:11:08] the consequences. Miami - Lakes families has spent decades building
[1:11:12] this community and investing in their homes. We should not
[1:11:15] be asked to risk our safety, our quality of life,
[1:11:18] and hundreds of thousands of dollars in family equity to
[1:11:21] solve a traffic problem. Please find another solution. Protect our
[1:11:25] neighborhoods, protect our property values, protect our families and our
[1:11:29] children. Thank you.
[1:11:39] Good evening, Mayor Vice Mayor, and members of the Town
[1:11:42] Council. My name is Joanne Ewert, my address is 14021
[1:11:48] Lake Candlewood Court, and I am asking you to deny
[1:11:51] that GMX Gratiny Project at Northwest 67th Avenue. I come
[1:11:55] before you not only as a resident and mother, but
[1:11:58] as a Public School Teacher who has served children and
[1:12:01] families for over 26 years. I understand what it means
[1:12:05] to make decisions that affect children's daily lives. Their safety
[1:12:09] and their future. That is why this project is deeply
[1:12:12] personal to me. My son attended highly am I Milake
[1:12:16] Senior High School, or I played on the basketball team.
[1:12:19] On game days, he and his teammates would often walk
[1:12:21] to Dominico's restaurant for a slice of pizza, and then
[1:12:25] continue their walk to our home. Those were ordinary, beautiful
[1:12:28] moments in a community where young people should be able
[1:12:31] to walk, gather, and get home safely. A highway ramp
[1:12:35] project that brings more fast - moving traffic into this
[1:12:38] area makes those ordinary moments less safe. This is not
[1:12:42] just about convenience, it is about risk. The Miami Herald
[1:12:46] Article titled Florida Second Deadliest State for Pedestrians rising toll
[1:12:51] and epidemic reported that Miami Dade in Broward are among
[1:12:54] the most dangerous places in the county for pedestrians, and
[1:12:58] that the Miami, Fort Lauderdale Pompano Beach Area ranked 14th
[1:13:01] among the 100 largest metro areas where pedestrians are most
[1:13:05] likely to be struck and killed by a driver. The
[1:13:08] Article also reported that the greater Miami, Fort Lauderdale area
[1:13:12] had a total of 954 pedestrian deaths from 2016 through
[1:13:17] 2020. Florida Atlantic Universities, April 27, 26 study found that
[1:13:23] pedestrian and bicycle assess of risen and now account for
[1:13:30] about one in five traffic deaths and posing a far
[1:13:33] higher risk per mile traveled than driving. That describes exactly
[1:13:38] the concern here. This area is not just a roadway
[1:13:41] on a map, it is near schools, homes, restaurants, and
[1:13:44] the past our children's and families use. GMX says this
[1:13:48] project will improve and provide congestion relief for my molylakes
[1:13:52] and hialia, but the verifiable Public Reporting I found is
[1:13:56] not give a clear percentage of traffic alleviation for Miami
[1:14:00] Lakes. What it does say is that the project is
[1:14:03] intended to accommodate a projected 17 percent increase in traffic
[1:14:07] over 25 years. I respectfully ask this council to stand
[1:14:14] with residents, family, students and homeowners, please do not approve
[1:14:17] a project that may shift regional traffic burdens into a
[1:14:20] local community. The decisions you make today will help shape
[1:14:24] Miami Lakes for decades to come. This is part of
[1:14:26] the legacy you will leave behind. The true measure of
[1:14:29] that legacy will not be how many vehicles move through
[1:14:32] our town, but how well you protected the people who
[1:14:35] call it home. For these reasons, I respectfully urge you
[1:14:40] to deny that GMX Gratny Project at Northwest 67th Avenue.
[1:14:58] Good afternoon. Uh, my name is Maximo Alvarez and I
[1:15:02] am a resident. I'm a resident and registered voter that
[1:15:06] lives on Lake Counterwood Court. I actually recognize some of
[1:15:09] your faces because they came knocking on my door, uh,
[1:15:12] during election time. So now here I come knocking on
[1:15:15] your door asking for your help. My company Sunshine Gasoline
[1:15:23] is the owner and operator of the mobile gas station
[1:15:25] on 13901 Northwest 67th Avenue. It used to be an
[1:15:29] Exon station, but if you haven't been by there recently,
[1:15:32] we converted it to mobile. Uh, I'm standing here opposed
[1:15:38] as a business owner and a resident of Miami -
[1:15:41] Lakes to the proposed 924 Grattenge Parkway Partial Interchange. On
[1:15:47] the basis of how it will drastically harm our business.
[1:15:50] Looking at the proposal for Rent B exit, we see
[1:15:53] that GMX has proposed to close driveway A and driveway
[1:15:57] B of the shopping center and limiting it to a
[1:15:59] single entrance between the mobile station and the shopping center.
[1:16:03] This will effectively kill our business. And our service station.
[1:16:08] The ingress and egress of any gas station that equally
[1:16:13] important is pricing and location. Our business model is predicated
[1:16:16] on ease of access the property known as the convenience
[1:16:22] part of the convenience tour. Simply put, if we make
[1:16:25] it inconvenient for our customers to get in and out
[1:16:27] of the site, we lose business. This has been proven
[1:16:30] time and time again in our retail industry. In addition,
[1:16:34] GMAX also plans to build a protruding median along 67th
[1:16:38] Avenue that will present left - turned into the site
[1:16:41] and outside. This is going to definitely negatively impact the
[1:16:47] rest of the tenant adjacent to the shopping center. Not
[1:16:51] just for us, but for other, the tenants there are
[1:16:53] the shopping center as well. We are projecting up to
[1:16:55] a 65 percent decrease because of these restrictions. The harm
[1:17:00] of these proposals cannot be overstated. Sunshine gasoline has made
[1:17:05] significant investment in the property between the remodeling upgrade, dispenser,
[1:17:09] fueling equipment, overhauled car wash tunnel. Our company has spent
[1:17:12] well over a million dollars in arena and renovations on
[1:17:15] this one location alone. These improvements were based on the
[1:17:19] current traffic count. Had the GMX project gone out sooner,
[1:17:24] we would have never spent this kind of money. Into
[1:17:27] this site. Please take these points into consideration. And also
[1:17:32] one last thing that my neighbor Jose brought to my
[1:17:35] attention that I was not aware of. We have three
[1:17:38] underground storage tanks. 10, 000, 12, 000, 20, 000 gasoline
[1:17:43] and diesel. These tanks were not rated for any type
[1:17:46] of shockwave damage of low frequency shockwaves. If there is
[1:17:52] any kind of rupture, I would not want to be
[1:17:55] held liable for any underground contamination as this site has
[1:17:58] had before, which we had had to clean up when
[1:18:00] we bought the property. Thank you for your time. Thank
[1:18:05] you. Next speaker. Mr. Mayor
[1:18:15] Town Council, town manager. And Madam Clerk. My name is
[1:18:19] Jim Hamilton. I live at 8528 Glenn Karen, Lane and
[1:18:24] Miami Lakes. I am here tonight with my neighbors to
[1:18:28] strongly oppose the expansion of the Gratinae Expressway to 67th
[1:18:33] Avenue. We understand the urge to optimize traffic flow and
[1:18:39] expand the feeder system for commuters. But convenience for passing
[1:18:44] motorists cannot come at this steep, permanent, expense of the
[1:18:48] people who actually live here. Quality of life must take
[1:18:53] a priority over a minor reduction in traffic times. There
[1:18:58] are 76 townhomes in Lake Hilda with a resident count
[1:19:03] of 222. Many of these homeowners are retired and never
[1:19:09] thought they would be challenged like this project presents. Currently
[1:19:14] it is difficult to enter and exit the Lake Hill
[1:19:17] the Townhouse section. But it would be a nightmare if
[1:19:21] this Project were approved. Between a median, the increasing heavy
[1:19:26] traffic flow and the closing of an entrance to the
[1:19:29] Lake Patricia's Shopping Center would make it impossible to turn
[1:19:33] left and head north. This alone should be a non
[1:19:39] - starter for the proposed road expansion. Lake Hilda Townhouses
[1:19:45] are the closest to the project and will suffer the
[1:19:48] most damage as presented tonight. Now Miami Lakes prides itself
[1:19:54] with a slogan growing beautifully. But it should not grow
[1:19:59] over the residents with detrimental projects that downgrade our quality
[1:20:04] of life. The human element is missing in this decision,
[1:20:08] but it should be the first and most important part
[1:20:12] of a formula to protect the homeowner while looking for
[1:20:16] ways to improve Miami Lakes. This road expansion has too
[1:20:21] many unanswered questions, and we the homeowners respectively request you
[1:20:26] to vote no on this road expansion project. Thank you.
[1:20:41] Good evening. Gentlemen. My name is Maggie Caceres. Oh, sorry.
[1:20:48] Maggie Caeras, and I reside at 14131 Lake Candlewood Court.
[1:20:55] I want to continue with everyone's conversation. So as if
[1:20:58] all of that, we're not enough. Um, what's already been
[1:21:02] mentioned. You know, I want to talk about the Graham
[1:21:06] Derrick Canal. So as you know, most of the man
[1:21:10] - made canals or lakes in Miami - Lakes are
[1:21:13] drainage stitches. But the Graham Dair Canal is different. The
[1:21:17] Gram Dairy Canal influences our local waterway sits above and
[1:21:22] connects hydrologically to the Biscane aquifer and feeds into the
[1:21:26] Florida everglades watershed boundaries. Realigning it, which basically means moving
[1:21:31] it over. And adding several acres of impervious ramp service
[1:21:37] alongside it changes how water will move through this basin.
[1:21:41] This realignment will not only eliminate some of our precious
[1:21:44] decades - old canopy and brush. It will destroy local
[1:21:48] urban wildlife and sensitive migratory corridors that tie back to
[1:21:53] the Everglade system. I'd like to mention I wasn't going
[1:21:56] to get into detail, but there have been, you know,
[1:22:02] documented sightings of Bald Eagles, adult and minor, along hunting
[1:22:08] along the Grand Derrick Canal on the side of Lake
[1:22:11] Patricia. And on the side of Lake Hilda, we actually
[1:22:14] have videos from a neighbor and pictures of manatees in
[1:22:18] the water. Both of those are federally protected species. So
[1:22:21] that's something that we need to keep in mind. Okay?
[1:22:25] Okay, so this build also puts us at risk of
[1:22:29] severe local flooding and contamination of the canal and our
[1:22:32] lakes could be adversely affected. And affecting the receiving waters,
[1:22:38] which are the biscane aquifer and the protected Florida everglades.
[1:22:44] As you know, in order to protect our sensitive ecosystem,
[1:22:47] we have reached out to local conservation advocacy groups for
[1:22:51] assistance. We needed to do that. But let's take a
[1:22:55] step back for a second. And just bird's eye view
[1:23:00] this whole thing. So aside from endangering our children. Lowering
[1:23:04] our property values, increasing traffic by turning the heart of
[1:23:07] Miami - lakes into a release valve for 57th Avenue,
[1:23:12] Commercial and Non - residential traffic. Trapping and ruining the
[1:23:17] quality of Lake Hilda residents ruining the quality of life
[1:23:22] for the Lake Patricia Section 1, and that is Via
[1:23:25] Noise, because I have it in my backyard. And I'm
[1:23:27] going to even that close. I'm midway through. And also
[1:23:31] ruining the Lake Catherine, which is here represented, they decided
[1:23:34] to join us. Um, damaging the small businesses and causing
[1:23:39] local job losses in the Lake Patricia Center basically just
[1:23:43] turning. The beloved East side of Miami Lakes into an
[1:23:48] undesirable place to live. We are treading on thin ice
[1:23:52] when we threaten our federally protected waterways and wildlife. Thank
[1:23:56] you. Thank you. Thank you. Before I
[1:24:05] begin, we're going to be putting a video on while
[1:24:10] I speak. He's getting it ready. There we go. Okay,
[1:24:20] Alex Ariano. Lake Lanellan. Ordinance 23 - 315 was codified
[1:24:29] to make sure that my Emile Lakes continues to be
[1:24:33] a recognized as bird sanctuary. A local photographer captured the
[1:24:41] bird species. We are blessed with from an Osprey by
[1:24:44] the lake to the 2015 story of nesting Bald Eagles
[1:24:49] that halted the 87th Avenue expansion and roadway improvement project
[1:24:54] on 181st Street. Hope still remembers nesting owls that used
[1:25:02] to be underneath the Palmetto Expressway, never to be seen
[1:25:05] again. Falcons, Egyptian geese, birds that spread their wings to
[1:25:10] capture our sun ray as they dry after fishing in
[1:25:14] our lakes. Trees and birds, their habitat and tree canopy
[1:25:19] loss along the canal corridor would be devastating. The canal
[1:25:25] corridor and the adjacent tree and brush ecosystems function as
[1:25:30] an urban wildlife refuge supporting mammals, species, and resident and
[1:25:35] migratory birds. Canopy removal, brush clearing, and heavy construction activity
[1:25:42] will displace the wildlife and will not be reversed by
[1:25:47] replacing trees after the fact. When homes were originally purchased
[1:25:52] in the first communities Lake Patricia Hilda and Catherine, the
[1:25:56] beauty and tranquility of our surroundings was sincerely appreciated. We
[1:26:02] want you to resolve to be against Ramps on or
[1:26:05] off. At 67th Avenue. You may have campaigned to resolve
[1:26:10] traffic concerns, but the council continued to approve developer projects
[1:26:15] which increase our traffic. GMX chief operation officer clearly said
[1:26:22] on record that GMX would not proceed and go elsewhere
[1:26:27] if the council or the residents were against the project.
[1:26:37] Well. Property owners are a hundred percent against it. Please
[1:26:42] hear us and represent our interest, leaving no doubt that
[1:26:46] after the due diligence done by the property owners, you
[1:26:50] understand the serious issues that would surface otherwise, the unified
[1:26:55] homeowners and residents of Miami Lakes are against GMX ramps.
[1:27:02] Just say no.
[1:27:13] Good evening. Mr. Mayor and council members. My name is
[1:27:17] Juliana Colombo. I live at 14031 leg candle with core.
[1:27:22] I'm a retired pharmacist, healthcare is very important to me.
[1:27:25] And I moved here into Miami Lakes because Miami Lakes
[1:27:29] and the Graham Company build an excellent community master plan
[1:27:33] community that was renowned with envy of many developers winding
[1:27:39] roads, quiet, uh, friendly place to raise your children. And
[1:27:45] that's why I bought here. I didn't buy for noise.
[1:27:48] I want to explain to you and I hope that
[1:27:51] you hear me. What noise does. The biggest study on
[1:27:56] noise was done by the World Health Organization. It was
[1:28:01] a study that involved 53 countries. And it was over
[1:28:06] 39 years. They actually followed patients for 20 years. The
[1:28:11] result of that study is that continuous noise 65 decibels
[1:28:17] and over leads to is linked to cardiovascular disease. Type
[1:28:22] 2 diabetes, insomnia, dementia. Uh, weight gain. Uh, and in
[1:28:30] children, a loss of learning ability. Loss of memory, permanently
[1:28:38] autistic children are severely impacted by noise. This just on
[1:28:44] that alone, this project should be rejected completely. They will
[1:28:49] not do a noise abatement that's going to reduce that
[1:28:53] noise below 65. In fact, according to their draft, which
[1:29:00] I looked over, it's a draft. Okay. First of all,
[1:29:04] the numbers are inaccurate. Why are they inaccurate? The rush
[1:29:09] hour is 7 to 9. 30 in the morning. And
[1:29:13] 4 to 7. If you look at what they at
[1:29:17] their numbers, they took most of them at 9 something
[1:29:23] in the morning, 9 45 at 6 52 way past
[1:29:29] the rush hour. And even so they documented right there
[1:29:34] on that intersection where the, um, gas station is 77.
[1:29:41] And that's an inaccurate number because it was done at
[1:29:44] 652 in the evening. That means and their conclusion of
[1:29:49] the study is that there will be no further noise
[1:29:52] abatement done on the gratiny. Only on the ramp going
[1:29:56] up. And that by the noise abatement criteria only has
[1:30:01] to go down seven decimals to two sectors. Two sectors.
[1:30:08] That's it. So of the 229 residences that are going
[1:30:15] to be impacted, you're talking maybe 11 are going to
[1:30:19] be, um, have a noise abatement of less than seven.
[1:30:24] If you're hitting a noise level of 80 minus seven
[1:30:27] is 73. That's way above 65. Okay. Thank you.
[1:30:40] Good evening. I'm Sam Bud Long. I live at 14411
[1:30:44] Lake Child's court. I am 72 years old, a baby
[1:30:49] boomer and a child of the 1960s. My parents fought
[1:30:54] in World War II. A part of America's greatest generation.
[1:30:59] People who sacrificed wore their country and then rebuilt America
[1:31:04] for the greater good. People of strong character. Hard work
[1:31:10] and substance. They understood their meaning of doing the right
[1:31:15] thing. Something deeply ingrained in me. The 60s were a
[1:31:21] decade of great turbulence. Unrest and challenged for our country.
[1:31:26] I saw a president get his head blown off. His
[1:31:32] brother. Shot and killed at point blank range. I saw
[1:31:37] the greatest American advocate. For civil rights murdered. I saw
[1:31:44] Detroit decimated. By violence. Brought on by police brutality. I
[1:31:51] joined a half a million brothers and sisters. Protesting the
[1:31:54] Vietnam War. In front of the United's. Oh. And I
[1:31:59] also got to see the Beatles on Ed Sullivan and
[1:32:02] managed to attend a festival you may have heard of
[1:32:04] Woodstock. The 60s were a time of great pain and
[1:32:10] violence for Americans. And peaceful protests throughout the land emerged.
[1:32:15] Seeking change. They sought a better direction. A better life.
[1:32:23] Better Governmental Rentation of the will of the people. These
[1:32:30] people, these peaceful protests came to find four words. That
[1:32:35] were used again and again and again to put into
[1:32:39] perspective what we, the people wanted. Peace. Fairness to others,
[1:32:46] and that our voices were not just to be heard.
[1:32:48] But to be acted upon by those of authority. I
[1:32:54] want to say those four words. And I ask that
[1:32:58] after I say them, those of you here tonight, who,
[1:33:02] like me, wish to deny the Gratiny Project, raise up
[1:33:05] the paper with this symbol. And phrase. And repeat with
[1:33:10] me, as I say those words, three more times, those
[1:33:13] four words are power to the people, power to the
[1:33:18] people, and power to the people.
[1:33:32] Now you gentlemen know a little bit about what it
[1:33:37] was like to be in the 1960s. It was a
[1:33:41] great time to be an American standing up for what
[1:33:44] the Bill of Rights tells us whom we are to
[1:33:46] the core. We are here to ask, help, to help
[1:33:50] us 60 years later, to remember those four words and
[1:33:54] act as your constituents'voices beckon the right thing to be
[1:33:59] done. Show us your character, your substance. And vote unanimously
[1:34:03] for the right thing and deny this project. Remember the
[1:34:06] word spoken last month at 7. 50 p. m. by
[1:34:09] GMXC0 Claudio DS Fario. It won't happen unless we get
[1:34:13] the support of the council. The time pass, correct? I
[1:34:20] do have one sec. I have one sentence for the
[1:34:23] clerk. I will end my comments by asking Madam Clerk,
[1:34:28] please read into the record all the names of emails
[1:34:30] opposing the Gratiny Project at 67th Avenue. Thank you very
[1:34:34] much. Thank you. Well, I don't think I'm going
[1:34:44] to top that, but I have some comments. Uh, my
[1:34:48] name is Karina Nogueras. My address is 7014 Holly Road.
[1:34:52] Good evening, town manager, mayor and members of the town
[1:34:56] council. I am here tonight to strongly oppose the Gratiny
[1:34:59] partial interchange on 67th Avenue. As is evident from the
[1:35:03] number of Redis and who have spoken tonight, I am
[1:35:05] not alone. You have heard from many residents tonight who
[1:35:08] do not want this expansion in their community, each with
[1:35:12] their own valid reason. We have yet to hear from
[1:35:15] a resident that supports it. People choose to live in
[1:35:24] Miami Lakes because of its small town character. It's tree
[1:35:28] - lined streets and its well - kept neighborhoods. Those
[1:35:31] things don't just happen. They exist because the town's administration.
[1:35:35] It's elected body and residents. Have time and time again
[1:35:39] chosen to embrace our town slogan growing beautifully. While development
[1:35:43] and change in South Florida is inevitable, this proposed interchange
[1:35:47] comes at the expense of the town's identity. Instead, it
[1:35:51] risks what is now a welcoming gateway into a small
[1:35:55] town highlighting the difference between our neighbor to the south
[1:35:59] into a gridlock afterthought, like we see in Hialiyah where
[1:36:02] developments are approved without a second thought. The people who
[1:36:06] purchased homes here did not choose Miami - Lakes because
[1:36:10] it looks and feels like every part of my. They
[1:36:13] chose it because it doesn't. The difference is stark and
[1:36:16] the premium, in my opinion, is worth it. We should
[1:36:20] not be asking not only whether this project can accommodate
[1:36:23] more traffic, but whether it is compatible with a community,
[1:36:27] so many before me, have worked so hard to preserve.
[1:36:30] The proposed project contradicts the motto growing beautifully, entirely, creating
[1:36:35] an eyesore of an interchange that will fundamentally change the
[1:36:40] town's character that makes people want to live here in
[1:36:42] the first place. Again, you have heard from so many
[1:36:45] residents who oppose this project and not one comment and
[1:36:49] support. I trust that you will consider our comments when
[1:36:52] a resolution is brought up for a vote. Thank you.
[1:37:03] Hello, Derek Cintron14821, Lewis Road. Greetings everybody. And thank you
[1:37:11] so much for those of you who wrote me back.
[1:37:14] From the email I sent out. I really appreciate that.
[1:37:18] Um. This is so much to say, but a lot
[1:37:22] of people have said it so eloquently before, so I'll
[1:37:25] try to stick to something that hasn't really been mentioned
[1:37:28] a lot. Um, they're all, there are alternatives to this,
[1:37:34] as you know, because I've talked with you about them.
[1:37:37] That will work better for our traffic situation that will
[1:37:40] work much better. Right now what's going to happen if
[1:37:43] you put in these ramps, even just the on -
[1:37:45] ramps is people are going to either, if you put
[1:37:50] on the off - ramps too, they're going to get
[1:37:52] off on 67th instead of 57th. And they're going to
[1:37:56] drive into town and they're going to turn west on
[1:37:59] Miami Lakes drive, and they're then going to be at
[1:38:03] the same intersection. That is the heart of all of
[1:38:05] our problems, which is the Palmetto and Miami Lakes Drive.
[1:38:10] That is the worst intersection by far in this town.
[1:38:14] And it is created because it is the only conduit
[1:38:18] between the East and West sides. So no matter where
[1:38:21] you put a connection to the Gretignee, those people will
[1:38:25] still have to make their way over to my Emile
[1:38:29] Lakes drive. Now, if you connect 87th Avenue to I
[1:38:34] - 75. You take thousands of cars. Out of the
[1:38:38] equation for the intersection of the Palmetto and Miami Lakes
[1:38:43] Drive. If you put in ramps on our side on
[1:38:49] 170th to connect with I - 75. And on the
[1:38:52] highlight side, 154th, you have no pass - through traffic
[1:38:57] yet you still have access if people want to go
[1:39:00] through the towns and just discourages them from going through
[1:39:02] the town to pick up the Palmetto. They can just
[1:39:05] get on I - 75 and then get to the
[1:39:08] Palmetto. So these three things that are relatively easy constructions,
[1:39:16] it's just a ramp up to a bridge, which has
[1:39:20] already existing. And that's it. A light at that intersection,
[1:39:24] and it's a done deal. These are very simple construction
[1:39:27] projects. As far as roads are concerned. And, um, they
[1:39:32] would do 10, 000 times more to relieve all the
[1:39:38] pressure in my Emile Lakes traffic. And I know there,
[1:39:44] you know, oh, well, what if they start, you know,
[1:39:45] overdeveloping the middle of town or, you know, the development
[1:39:49] that happens on the east side. That can also be
[1:39:52] addressed by this, because as you reclaim those points of,
[1:40:00] well, you'd have to also, you'd have to also synchronize
[1:40:04] the lights on 67th and 57th. So that they, they
[1:40:09] have better access there to the Palmetto, but you'd now
[1:40:12] have three reclaimed intersections to the Palmetto, and you wouldn't
[1:40:16] need the Gretignee. The second technique connection, because we already
[1:40:20] have one. On 57th. Okay, thank you, sorry. No, appreciate
[1:40:23] it.
[1:40:35] Good evening, Mr. Mayor Weiss, and on the councilman. I
[1:40:41] am resident, Lenelland. Long time. And this time not only
[1:40:47] come for myself on behalf of all my friends, my
[1:40:52] residents, all the living here. The problem we have with
[1:40:56] the date county, which cannot take no longer exercise classes.
[1:41:02] And we need that. Most of them, most of us
[1:41:05] have no rights. Cannot drive, and does the program we
[1:41:10] like it. And we requested to you and the console
[1:41:15] of the Miami Lake, please take apart and continue this
[1:41:20] program. For us. We need it. Okay, we need that
[1:41:26] program because of most of them is just cannot even
[1:41:29] drive it there. And we need for our, you know,
[1:41:32] like keep us in our health, in shape. And we
[1:41:36] need that. And we hope very hopefully with the Mr.
[1:41:39] Mayor that you can support us and take the cause
[1:41:43] of the program. And we'll be very thankful and we'll
[1:41:47] be very happy. If you give us a chance again,
[1:41:50] and we count on you, we love you, we love
[1:41:52] our town. We love Miami. And then hopefully in the
[1:41:56] future, we're going to look further for you, for your
[1:41:58] help, your cooperation. Yeah, no, can you say your address
[1:42:01] for the record? Okay. We were missing that, yeah. Your
[1:42:08] name and address. Okay, and here are you. Your name
[1:42:11] and address. Okay. See, there is something wrong. With that.
[1:42:14] Give it to you. No, just say it out loud.
[1:42:19] Yeah, my name is ASLMKNCont151303FINTRY PL place, ma'am illeg, Florida
[1:42:28] 33016. Please, and I receive your letter to appreciate for
[1:42:32] that letter. Yeah, no, and again, sorry, there must be
[1:42:35] something going on here with the mic. I don't know.
[1:42:37] You know, but that said, it directed back down. It's
[1:42:40] going to meet with you to address that. I know
[1:42:42] that was some of our programs. We've had some issues
[1:42:45] with certain partners not signing off when they need to.
[1:42:48] Um, but absolutely. We're here for you and the director
[1:42:50] will take care of you. He's the gentleman right over
[1:42:52] there in the green blazer. Thank you very much again.
[1:42:57] No, of course. Recorrence. We appreciate that. No, thank you
[1:42:59] so much. Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Council, my name is
[1:43:08] Sean Schwinghammer. I live at 14501 Dade Pine Avenue. The
[1:43:14] older I get, the younger the council gets. Um. But
[1:43:19] a little word of advice from when I was elected
[1:43:21] in this city, uh, 25 years ago or whatever, um,
[1:43:25] look to the gray hairs. And there are a lot
[1:43:26] of gray hairs here, including me, um, we've been around
[1:43:29] a long time. We've seen all these things before. We've
[1:43:32] had a lot of things hyped up to be great.
[1:43:34] You know, we were going to have Texas turnarounds on,
[1:43:36] uh, 67th Avenue at 57th Avenue as well. That didn't
[1:43:40] happen. This monstrosity on the golf course, where's the right
[1:43:43] - hand turn lane that we were promised in all
[1:43:45] the beautiful pictures? That's not happening. We promised a lot
[1:43:48] of other things as well. I don't want to get
[1:43:49] too much into it, but the reality is, we all
[1:43:52] accept that growth happens. But one of the reasons that
[1:43:55] we created this town was to make sure that the
[1:43:57] burdens of others don't fall upon us and that we
[1:43:59] don't change as a community because of the problems and
[1:44:02] the paddling planning problems of other areas. And it's, I
[1:44:06] think it's incumbent upon anyone in elected office to see
[1:44:08] where we came from and decide where we're going. Um,
[1:44:11] and I'm, I was, I didn't want to repeat what
[1:44:15] everyone, the wonderful statistics and everyone put out there, but
[1:44:17] I kept looking up at the logo. And I asked
[1:44:18] you to look at our town logo as well. Cause
[1:44:20] I remember when it was drafted, I remember the different
[1:44:22] decisions. And the one that we chose, we chose a
[1:44:25] logo that didn't represent where we were at the time
[1:44:29] or even our past. We chose the logo and someone
[1:44:31] said, this is what I want Miami Lakes to be
[1:44:34] until I die. And that was Mary Collins. She said,
[1:44:39] this is what we're looking for is to preserve this
[1:44:41] and Oasis in Northwest state county. Now things do change.
[1:44:45] There are things we need to do. But I ask
[1:44:50] that your number one responsibility be to preserve the legacy
[1:44:54] that was handed to you. And you get to, you
[1:44:56] were lucky enough to serve us and we're grateful that
[1:44:58] you serve us. But we elected you to keep the
[1:45:02] other people's problems away and to preserve what we are.
[1:45:05] And I look at that entrance in 67th Avenue. I
[1:45:07] say, my goodness, every time you walk into my legs,
[1:45:09] you go under the dungeon that is the parkway. And
[1:45:12] then you've got the lake on this side, the canal
[1:45:13] on this side. And you see more trees in most
[1:45:15] places. This project eliminates the view of the canal on
[1:45:18] the right eliminates the view of the Cadalon left destroys
[1:45:21] even more trees, puts an extra lights and blocks off
[1:45:23] one of our oldest business operations in Miami Lakes. That's
[1:45:28] not the legacy some of us are looking to preserve.
[1:45:30] And I don't think it's a legacy you want to.
[1:45:32] So when you look back and you're a legacy, when
[1:45:34] you're my age, you say, wow, I really got that
[1:45:36] eight percent traffic better on 57th Avenue. Is that what
[1:45:39] you're going to think about? Are you going to think
[1:45:40] about? I preserved the essence of our community. And that's
[1:45:42] what I'm asking you to think about now. Thank you
[1:45:44] guys.
[1:45:58] Hello, my name is Lourdes Tayyin. I live at 1
[1:46:01] 43 11 like child's court, Lake Patricia. Of course my
[1:46:05] area is going to be very, um, impacted by these
[1:46:10] ramps, which I strongly oppose. So I stand with everyone
[1:46:14] here who has given a lot of facts and a
[1:46:18] lot of opinions that are very valid. I'm not going
[1:46:21] to go over that again. I think they've all done
[1:46:23] a wonderful presentation. And I hope that the council is
[1:46:28] listening to us and our concerns. I don't know how
[1:46:31] many of you live in Miami Lakes. And if that's
[1:46:34] a requirement to be a council member. So great. I
[1:46:37] don't know how many of you live east. Of, okay,
[1:46:42] great. So you will know what that's going to do
[1:46:45] to us. So I do oppose it for the very
[1:46:49] many reasons, good reasons that have been expressed here already.
[1:46:54] Uh, I have another reason why I'm here today. And
[1:46:57] I appeared here at the last council meeting. And I
[1:47:01] received a very nice letter from Mr. Hursberg. Thanking me
[1:47:05] for being here. And the topic and the problem that
[1:47:10] I presented to counsel the last time I was here
[1:47:13] is the lack of, um, services in the sense of,
[1:47:19] um, classes for the elderly, for the seniors. I'm a
[1:47:23] senior. And our classes exercise classes have been suspended. Of
[1:47:28] course, those, I understand are funded by the school board.
[1:47:32] And apparently they're not very, uh, reliable. And they have,
[1:47:38] um, not even advised the teachers. Now we were supposed
[1:47:43] to start classes again yesterday. And they don't even know
[1:47:47] why we're not having that classes. So we're all wanting
[1:47:52] to know what's going on with that. And I thank
[1:47:55] the council for giving us one week here. And we
[1:47:59] did the exercise right here. It was very nice. Um,
[1:48:02] but what are your plans to be able to help
[1:48:06] us the seniors, not only the exercise classes, but the
[1:48:10] other classes that are very important to the seniors. And
[1:48:15] the computing, the sowing, there's many classes that apparently the
[1:48:21] seniors are not getting, um, so please look into it.
[1:48:24] Uh, your letter, Mr. Hurstburg says that you were going
[1:48:27] to work diligently towards seeing if there's something that can
[1:48:31] be done funding. So I hope the council finds funding
[1:48:37] for us to seniors who are taxpayers. And I don't
[1:48:42] know about the school board. They forget about us. You
[1:48:46] know, in our taxes, we fund them. So where is
[1:48:49] the funding for the seniors. Very good question. So please
[1:48:53] consider it. And please, I would like to know what
[1:48:57] your thoughts are, what you're planning to do. Well, just
[1:49:02] so you know, we do not go into a back
[1:49:04] and forth during public comments. Of course, we will be
[1:49:06] more than happy to, uh, happy to work with you.
[1:49:08] Jeremy, just to just off top of my head, the
[1:49:12] issue that we had with some of these classes was
[1:49:13] that there was a school board official that had not
[1:49:15] signed off timely on, on these classes. All I know
[1:49:18] is that there was a. Signatory issue. On there. Anyway.
[1:49:24] Okay. Okay. Yeah. So the issue is not even funding.
[1:49:27] The issue is just the school board dragging its feet.
[1:49:30] I know. They're very inconsistent with the services to the
[1:49:34] seniors. So maybe Miami Lakes, the town of Miami Lakes
[1:49:38] can do something for the seniors that live here. And
[1:49:40] I have a lot of my. Friends. And again, I
[1:49:45] was, I was with you guys. We did an exercise
[1:49:47] and I'm telling you the issue is unfortunately the school
[1:49:50] board is probably the worst bureaucracy that exists in my
[1:49:53] opinion. Hopefully with any superintendent, we'll see some changes. You
[1:49:56] got it. But yeah. But from you guys from the
[1:49:58] council, when can we hear whether you can do something
[1:50:00] about it. Through Miami Lakes, not the board? Got it.
[1:50:06] Yeah. Um, but we'll have to address that at another
[1:50:08] time. Uh, thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thank you.
[1:50:17] Speranza Rentals 8465 Mindy Esteres. Last June 29th was my
[1:50:24] 57th anniversary of arrival in the United States. On that
[1:50:28] day, some bot long asked for my support against highway
[1:50:32] entry and exit ramps on 67th Avenue. I replied, why
[1:50:36] would I get involved? We can even resolve our own
[1:50:39] special tax and district issues. But Mr. Butler inspired me
[1:50:43] to help East Side Property owners. And I have met
[1:50:47] many intelligent dedicated and passionate individuals. Over 30 published articles.
[1:50:54] Countless GMX Serio Hialea and Town of Miami Lakes Public
[1:50:59] Records Request to date. Last night we learned new insight
[1:51:02] from Jose Soberon who explained how ramps are built. Cruise,
[1:51:08] remove rocks, trees, and old buildings from the construction zone.
[1:51:14] Bulldozers and excavators move dirt around to create the correct
[1:51:18] slope. Workers back down layers of crushed stone and gravel
[1:51:23] for a strong road foundation. Bridges and walls go over
[1:51:28] and under another road. Workers build concrete pillars and said
[1:51:33] giant steels on concrete bridges beams in place. Pounding noise
[1:51:39] pollution, a direct conflict with the existing layout of the
[1:51:42] local waterway. In fact, it will require a complete realignment
[1:51:47] of the Graham Derrick and Al. Everyone on this council
[1:51:50] has been involved with blasting issues. And what with an
[1:51:55] ongoing legal case, we're willing to create the same trauma
[1:51:59] on eSIT properties. Why would Lester Collins say about tampering
[1:52:04] with leg patricia his first 1962 drawing. What would the
[1:52:10] Graham founders think of our evolution? Over 400 Miami Lakers
[1:52:14] have signed the petition to stop this project on the
[1:52:18] record GMS Chief Operating Officer Claudio Diaferia said that GMX
[1:52:24] will not do something that is against the wishes of
[1:52:28] the council, nor the residents. So hold them to that
[1:52:30] promise. So what is our hope and prayer since you
[1:52:34] don't like hope and change for tonight. Wave section 7.
[1:52:40] 2 of the Special Rules of Order, which we frequently
[1:52:43] listen to. Motion second and unanas may lead past a
[1:52:47] resolution against GMXON and Off Ramps project as it has
[1:52:53] not achieved the consent of the Government. Times of the
[1:52:56] Essence. Procurement of Design Building Team is scheduled to be
[1:53:06] completed by FOL 2026. So just say no. If anyone
[1:53:11] is not sure where the community is saying, just answer
[1:53:14] straightforward. What part of no don't you understand? Next speaker,
[1:53:23] please. Come on up. I don't. Want this. Good evening
[1:53:30] Mayor Vice Mayor and Council Member. My name is Maria
[1:53:33] Santelices. I live in Lakeland Island 15205 Don't Barton Place.
[1:53:39] I am completely, completely. I'm going to speak as a
[1:53:42] teacher. Completely against the MGEX project. I taught at Miami
[1:53:49] Lakes K3 Center for over 30 years. I am a
[1:53:52] retired teacher from that school. But it's not only the
[1:53:55] Hayalea Miami Lake Sr. School. It is my school. It
[1:54:01] is Legal and Ellen. It is the middle of Miami
[1:54:04] - Lakes Middle. But the other one is also the
[1:54:07] Optimus Park. That that part have the kids at night
[1:54:12] and he's seven and ten o'clock from 10 from nine
[1:54:15] to 10 o'clock at night plane. And lately. I've also
[1:54:19] seen coming from the Shula Gym people running. All over
[1:54:25] and taking 67th Avenue. To do their running exercise, whatever
[1:54:31] it is, to me it is dangerous. Okay. But my
[1:54:38] thing besides completely against this on 67th Street, I think
[1:54:43] you should take time to look at 154th Street. Okay.
[1:54:48] Because it's getting jam - packed. That traffic is horrendous.
[1:54:54] They're building that horrible looking building at Miami. What is
[1:55:01] that called? The golf course. Okay? They have built it
[1:55:05] right at the sidewalk. Anybody can go. Then I was
[1:55:09] counting from there. They have to put a traffic like
[1:55:12] at the entrance. From there, 282nd Montreals wrote. It is
[1:55:18] seven traffic lights. Okay. Something needs to be done on
[1:55:23] 154th. I don't recall the exact number, but I think
[1:55:27] we have five more years before opening 154th all the
[1:55:32] way over to 1005. Okay. And then the other stuff
[1:55:38] that happened when we were presenting the senior building that
[1:55:44] they were going to supposed to construct back there. They
[1:55:48] kept saying about how much will they will be sold.
[1:55:53] And we were told that it was not being sold.
[1:55:55] That it was be rental. So I imagine all the
[1:55:58] 541 apartments that are going to be built are rental.
[1:56:02] And the answer from one of the grand people were
[1:56:06] here to make money. That was their answer. And I
[1:56:09] walked out. And then the other stuff that, um, was
[1:56:14] brought up, and I have it in my little notes
[1:56:16] about the seniors, things that we've been taken away from.
[1:56:21] And I enjoy it. I look forward for social and
[1:56:25] mental. Exercise. So I wish you'd do something, but please
[1:56:29] keep 67 completely off. And start 154th. Thank you. Okay.
[1:56:37] You're welcome. Good evening. My name is Rick
[1:56:46] Comaz. I'm at 6335 Lake Patricia. I too am opposed
[1:56:52] to the 67th Project. Maybe not so much the on
[1:56:57] - ramps, but definitely the off - ramps cannot be
[1:57:02] approved or shouldn't be approved. Um, the other item that
[1:57:07] I would like to talk about, I know this might
[1:57:09] not be the appropriate time, but I want to put
[1:57:11] the seed in your mind is I am really focused
[1:57:16] the remaining of the year and next year on trying
[1:57:19] to modify the rules of having your boat on your
[1:57:26] property for 24 hours. I would like to extend it
[1:57:29] to 36 or 48. There's many reasons why people that
[1:57:34] have campers, people have boats. Uh, we're not allowed to
[1:57:38] keep them on the property. But we should be able
[1:57:40] to keep it a little bit more than 24 hours.
[1:57:43] When 12 of the hours is nighttime. So if you're
[1:57:48] going to work with that, I'd be grateful. Thank you.
[1:57:50] Thank you. Next speaker. All right. Good afternoon guys. Alex
[1:57:57] Degani 6920 bamboo street. May it please the council. Some
[1:58:03] attorney jokes. Okay. Um, I, um, I'm here on behalf
[1:58:07] of a lot of neighbors of mine, people that live
[1:58:10] on bamboo street along the canal and my community. Um,
[1:58:14] I understand and I don't think the person here that's
[1:58:16] against progress. I don't think the person here that loves
[1:58:19] traffic, right? I think traffic is an issue. Obviously everybody
[1:58:22] can see it. It took some time to get here
[1:58:24] for God's sakes, you know? But at the end of
[1:58:26] the day, you know, there, you know, you guys were
[1:58:30] the ones that ultimately decide whether sometimes the juice is
[1:58:34] ultimately worth the squeeze. Right. And I think, and I've
[1:58:38] heard a lot about, you know, reports and, you know,
[1:58:41] citing numbers and percentages like gospel, right? You know, that
[1:58:44] we got a GMX report. We got six million dollars
[1:58:47] from Renee Garcia to get a DOT report. And it's,
[1:58:51] you know, by golly, it's awesome. Right. At the end
[1:58:53] of the day, the numbers that are thrown around and
[1:58:57] sometimes, you know, you got to go ahead and look
[1:58:58] at who drafts these numbers, who are behind somebody that
[1:59:01] is numbers. I think, I think the good colonel here
[1:59:03] a little while ago just specified that GMX was a
[1:59:05] good part of a lot of these reports. And go
[1:59:08] figure they're recommending it a certain way. Right. Shocker, right?
[1:59:12] Um, and my line of business, that's called the conflict
[1:59:14] of interest. So, um, you know, and I remember, I
[1:59:18] think some of you here have experience, I guess in
[1:59:20] the white quarry, you know, issues, you know, back in
[1:59:22] those days. And I remember a lot of those reports
[1:59:24] and nobody mentioned an explosions and damage that cracks the
[1:59:27] houses and all that. Uh, you know, so I mean,
[1:59:30] here we are and it's almost like deja vu. We're
[1:59:33] talking about another project that a lot of people that
[1:59:36] stand to make a lot of money are ultimately recommending
[1:59:40] and saying that nothing's going to happen to those people.
[1:59:43] And then ultimately at the end of the day when
[1:59:45] things ultimately do happen to people, things that are exploding,
[1:59:47] cracks start happening. Insurance is don't cover it. We have
[1:59:51] committees. And then you got a lot more people over
[1:59:53] here making complaints and more Laker columns. At the end
[1:59:57] of the day, we have an opportunity to go ahead
[1:59:59] and see if we can stop it. I frankly am
[2:00:01] concerned about the noise, right? A lot of people, we've
[2:00:05] heard a lot about a lot of things in here,
[2:00:06] but nobody's really talking about the potential noise issue. The
[2:00:09] noise pollution and the quality of life of some of
[2:00:11] these people who live along this roadway, right? At the
[2:00:15] end of the day, I mean, I don't know if
[2:00:16] you guys know this, but construction workers don't typically work
[2:00:19] during the day. It's too damn hot. They work at
[2:00:22] night. We all sleep at night. That is what a
[2:00:31] lot of us are going to be hearing. Not for
[2:00:34] one month, not for two months, but for quite a
[2:00:37] while, I'm actually know a couple of people in here.
[2:00:39] One of them has a three month old, four month
[2:00:41] old. These are kids. Some of these people couldn't be
[2:00:42] here because they're taking care of their little kids. They
[2:00:45] have a hard enough time keeping those kids asleep at
[2:00:48] night, let alone with. All right. So that's an issue.
[2:00:55] Fascination, that's an obvious concern. I understand progress, but I
[2:00:59] don't know how much of 154th is going to get
[2:01:03] alleviated by this monstrosity. Maybe it will. Maybe it won't.
[2:01:08] But at the end of the day, I personally think
[2:01:10] you might be just because alleviating eight percent there to
[2:01:14] increase traffic on 67 by quite a bit, you know?
[2:01:17] Thank you. Mr. Coot. Welcome back, Mr. Coop. Mr. Mayor,
[2:01:26] Mr. Vice Mayor, council members, Mr. Town Manager. Madam Clerk.
[2:01:32] Mr. Town attorney, and our law enforcement. Good evening. My
[2:01:35] name is Michael Coot. I live in Miami Lakes. My
[2:01:39] address is protected by 119. Let me say to some
[2:01:42] degree. I understand the argument in favor of the project.
[2:01:47] Insofar as a proposed interchange may relieve congestion at some
[2:01:52] locations, including traffic approaching the existing, Gratini and Palmetto connections.
[2:01:59] Having said that. The point I would like to make
[2:02:01] is a simple one. What is good for the regional
[2:02:04] traffic network. Is not necessarily good for the people who
[2:02:08] live in Miami leaks. I reviewed the GMX Traffic Presentation
[2:02:18] and one number really caught my attention. GMX own study
[2:02:22] project that the proposed interchange will put an additional 1,
[2:02:26] 000 to 2, 500 vehicles per day on to 67th
[2:02:31] Avenue. An increase of three to eight percent. And this
[2:02:35] isn't just a theoretical concern by GMX's own account. It's
[2:02:39] a traffic analysis that shows that conditions a key intersections
[2:02:43] within Miami Lakes at 154th Miami Lakes Drive and Northwest
[2:02:48] 67th. We'll actually worsen with the interchange. So while this
[2:02:54] project may improve traffic in some places, it will make
[2:02:57] traffic conditions worst here on the east side of Miami
[2:03:00] Lakes. Those cars don't disappear when they leave the expressway.
[2:03:05] They enter our town. They enter a road network that
[2:03:08] was designed for a relatively low density community and they
[2:03:12] will have to go somewhere onto 67th Avenue, past the
[2:03:16] Miami Lakes K through eighth school onto Miami Lakeway South.
[2:03:20] Miami Lake Strive and other roads that are residents use
[2:03:23] every day. And that's where I think we need to
[2:03:26] think beyond the immediate benefit of relieving congestion somewhere else.
[2:03:30] Are we relieving congestion or we simply moving regional traffic
[2:03:34] into my Abbey Lakes. There's another issue, I think, that
[2:03:38] deserves a very serious answer. GMX is using 2025 traffic
[2:03:43] conditions as its existing baseline projecting conditions out to 2050.
[2:03:51] The presentation anticipates substantial growth, including 21 percent population. But
[2:03:57] Miami Lakes is already experienced significant residential and commercial construction.
[2:04:01] We have 541 residential units approved on the West 278
[2:04:07] residential units with commercial development on this side. We're all
[2:04:11] of those already approved and underway developments incorporated into the
[2:04:16] traffic projections. Or are we looking at even greater numbers.
[2:04:20] So because if we're going to make a decision about
[2:04:23] transportation infrastructure that affects us a community, I think we
[2:04:27] need to, one last point, and that is we need
[2:04:30] to consider induced demand. When you make access to an
[2:04:34] expressway easier, you don't necessarily just redistribute the traffic that
[2:04:38] already exists. You create new travel patterns and attract additional
[2:04:42] traffic onto roads that feed into the interchange. Thank you,
[2:04:45] Mike. I'm sorry. But I do want to cut you
[2:04:47] off there. Thank you. Anyone else in chain? Is there
[2:04:55] anyone else in chambers wishing to speak? Welcome. Thank you.
[2:04:58] Good evening. Mayor, vice mayor council. My name is Gonzalo
[2:05:02] Guna. I live on one four 111 Lake Serenack Avenue.
[2:05:06] And I like to thank some of you because you
[2:05:09] replied to my email and I appreciate that. Appreciate your
[2:05:11] time and support. I moved into my Emile Lakes about
[2:05:15] 30 plus years because this is a town. Not a
[2:05:18] city. And it's a beautiful town with a lot of
[2:05:22] parks, a lot of bike waves. If you know where
[2:05:27] Lake Serenac is, I'm right by 67. And actually traffic
[2:05:31] as it stands, take my road to miss the school.
[2:05:36] And miss the traffic. So I can only imagine with
[2:05:39] this project we'll do. My kids live here now, my
[2:05:43] grandkids live here. We go to the park. I have
[2:05:46] two parks straight. I bike. My kid's bike. I'm not
[2:05:54] sure this project is going to benefit that. And so
[2:05:58] I diddle wet a lot of my residents or should
[2:06:01] I save my neighbors, residents, community. But I please, I
[2:06:06] plead you to hear us. Um, been involved in other
[2:06:10] presentations with a gram and it's never been positive. So
[2:06:13] I hope this is not a done deal. And we
[2:06:16] voiced because we live here. And I actually commute an
[2:06:20] hour and 15 minutes every day because I work downtown.
[2:06:23] And the reason why I do it is because I
[2:06:25] come back home to my town. And I don't have
[2:06:27] to worry about traffic here. I thank you. And please
[2:06:31] hear us. Thank you very much. Are there any other
[2:06:36] speakers in chambers. Seeing none, Madam Clerk? Is there anyone
[2:06:42] online that wishes to speak? Yes, we have several participants
[2:06:46] and I'm going to be calling their name as I
[2:06:48] see them in my screen. The first one is Miss
[2:06:53] Amy. No last name. And I see your hand is
[2:06:56] raised. Good evening. Amy. Aye. Can you hear me? Yes,
[2:07:01] we do. Go ahead. I'm Amy Lipsa Morales. I live
[2:07:05] at 6944 bottle brush drive. Uh, good evening everybody. I'm
[2:07:10] speaking tonight as a parent and I honestly cannot understand
[2:07:13] how we are even considering taking one of our towns
[2:07:17] traffic problems and deliberately redirecting it into a residential community
[2:07:21] and practically into a K8 school zone. The proposed Gratiny
[2:07:26] ramp would put cars and trucks coming off an expressway
[2:07:28] within about a block of a 15 mile per hour
[2:07:32] school zone. So think about that. Drivers would come off
[2:07:35] and expressway and almost immediately be expected to recognize that
[2:07:38] they are entering a school zone and slow from 40
[2:07:41] miles per hour to 15 in an area where children
[2:07:45] are crossing 67th Avenue. There's a bus stop directly across
[2:07:48] from the school and pedestrian. Sorry, I got so nervous.
[2:07:52] Traffic is extremely high during arrival and dismissal. What are
[2:07:56] the odds that every driver unfamiliar with the area realizes
[2:07:59] where they are and slows from 40 to 15 in
[2:08:02] time? Why would we intentionally create that risk? And that
[2:08:06] concern is in hypothetical. Research using insurance institute for highway
[2:08:09] safety analysis of federal fatality data has identified pedestrian and
[2:08:14] bicycle fatalities occurring in the vicinity of highway entrance and
[2:08:19] exit ramps. Research also shows pedestrian fatalities are heavily concentrated
[2:08:25] on major arterial roads. So why would we introduce an
[2:08:28] expressway ramp practically at the edge of an active K8
[2:08:32] school zone. But here's what should concern every resident. We
[2:08:37] haven't even experienced the traffic we're planning around yet. The
[2:08:40] shuler's golf course development is in finished hundreds of additional
[2:08:43] residential units are still coming online and the Palmetto exit
[2:08:47] is already a mess. We know that situation is only
[2:08:50] going to become worse once that development is fully occupied.
[2:08:53] But the congestion of the palm metal is concentrated at
[2:08:56] a major expressway interchange away from residential neighborhoods and away
[2:09:01] from the school zone. Trying to alleviate that congestion by
[2:09:04] dumping it into a residential area is not a solution.
[2:09:08] It is unfair and it is irresponsible. These ramps would
[2:09:11] create an obvious alternative route for that additional traffic through
[2:09:14] Miami Lakeway South directly past Miami Lakes K8 and onto
[2:09:19] 67th Avenue toward the proposed ramps. We would literally be
[2:09:22] creating the cut through ourselves. So think about what we
[2:09:25] would be concentrating in this small area. Existing commuter traffic
[2:09:30] freight traffic cars coming on and off the Gratiny hundreds
[2:09:33] of additional residential units feeding traffic into the area school
[2:09:37] traffic buses pedestrians. And most importantly children crossing the street.
[2:09:42] So before we even contemplate something this traffic, what happened
[2:09:46] to the traffic improvements that were already supposed to mitigate
[2:09:49] the shuler development? What is the status of the two
[2:09:52] additional right - turn lanes that were reportedly funded through
[2:09:55] escrow? When are those being built and will a signal
[2:09:58] be reconfigured so vehicles going straight or turning left don't
[2:10:01] prevent writing traffic from reaching those two lanes and continuing
[2:10:04] backing traffic toward the Palmetto? Why aren't we implementing these
[2:10:08] improvements fixing the existing traffic flow and evaluating their effectiveness
[2:10:12] before even entertaining an entirely new interchange into a residential
[2:10:17] in school area? This is not about moving cars. This
[2:10:20] is about more traffic. More freight trucks, more noise, more
[2:10:24] exhaust, more cutthroat traffic, pedestrian safety. Thank you. I'm sorry.
[2:10:30] That was an additional second. I just want you to
[2:10:32] know that. No worries. Yeah. Um, I do want to
[2:10:37] ask all the members of the audience is not to
[2:10:39] clap while they're speaking because it makes it very hard
[2:10:42] for us to be able to hear their input. Um,
[2:10:44] so keep your, your applause for after they speak, that
[2:10:48] helps us out. Uh, with that, my next speaker. I
[2:10:51] will call the next speaker and IT. I will ask
[2:10:53] you to please time so that participant online can see
[2:10:58] it as well. Please use the timer. Mr. Frank Pellegrino.
[2:11:05] Hi, hi. Can you hear me? Good evening. We hear
[2:11:07] you, sir. Awesome. Uh, thank you for the time. Frank
[2:11:12] Pellegrino14851ubis Road Miami's Florida 33014. Um, I just want to
[2:11:18] say acknowledging all the concerns raised here today. I still
[2:11:21] find it important to think about the average Miami Lakes
[2:11:24] Communer. For example, every evening my commute home requires me
[2:11:28] to decide whether I'll take the exit Off I -
[2:11:32] 75 via a 26 Northamp into Miami Lakes. We're continuing
[2:11:36] on the Gratiny to exit 57th. An additional exit off
[2:11:40] the Gratiny at 67th, the proposed project would be, would
[2:11:44] save an invaluable amount of time each day. That would
[2:11:47] allow me to return home to my wife and soon
[2:11:49] to be newborn baby. Um, all that being said, honestly,
[2:11:54] I would rather have to park my car on I
[2:11:57] - 75 and Miami Gardens Drive, be given a broken
[2:11:59] Pogo stick and forced to Pogo myself all the way
[2:12:02] home to Lake Catherine rather than see this project to
[2:12:05] prove. I say all that to demonstrate given the Spectrum
[2:12:10] of concerns raised here tonight with Public Safety on the
[2:12:13] most significant end, good business sense in the middle. And
[2:12:16] commuter, convenience on the least significant end. There aren't really
[2:12:21] any tangible benefits to be gained from this project. And
[2:12:24] I don't think it takes a structural engineer to say
[2:12:27] that. Um. My, my family's been a part of this
[2:12:31] community for the last 57 years. And I know all
[2:12:34] it takes to see. The lack of benefits from this
[2:12:37] project are well - intentioned. Miami likes residents. That's see
[2:12:40] this community for what it is, their family and their
[2:12:43] home. So I respectfully requests that you give this project
[2:12:48] a seriousness. It deserves. Um, and not approve it. Thank
[2:12:52] you. Thank you. Madam Clerk, any of the speakers? The
[2:12:59] next speaker. I don't say a name, but it's a
[2:13:02] telephone number 786. 602. And it ends at 47. I
[2:13:10] see the hand race. So I assume you want to
[2:13:14] speak. Again, it's a telephone number
[2:13:21] 78660. And it ends in 47. The hand is raised,
[2:13:30] which means that you would like to participate in Public
[2:13:33] comments. Just unmute yourself. Okay. Moving on. The next speaker
[2:13:42] is Mr. Oscar. R. Corvera. If you want to speak,
[2:13:48] please just unmute yourself and welcome to the meeting. If
[2:13:52] not, I will continue down the list of names that
[2:13:55] I see of participants. Yeah. We're just here for that.
[2:14:04] No question. We hear you very. You're very muffled. Yeah.
[2:14:11] It's not very clear. Mr. Corvera, do you want to
[2:14:15] participate in public comments. I'm not sure if you can
[2:14:21] hear me a little clearer. No, no. We hear you,
[2:14:26] but thank you. We're moving on with the list. Mr.
[2:14:29] Ben Pierce. Next Speaker, Mr. Adonis
[2:14:39] Sardinias. I'm just making sure that I don't leave anyone
[2:14:44] out. I'm calling everyone by the name that I see
[2:14:47] on the screen. Uh, no, I'm good. Okay. Thank you,
[2:14:51] sir. Mr. Keith Henning. Okay. Again,
[2:15:01] if you are in remote public comments and you want
[2:15:05] to participate, it is the time now to unmute yourself.
[2:15:08] I have called everyone. I just don't want to leave
[2:15:10] anyone out. So I just want to make sure if
[2:15:14] you want to participate, just unmute yourself and welcome to
[2:15:16] the meeting. Okay. Mayor. I don't think anyone else participating
[2:15:24] online, but I do have a long list of emails
[2:15:28] that were sent that I need to read into the
[2:15:30] record as I always do. We only read the names
[2:15:34] and the subject matter. So I'm going to start with
[2:15:38] Jennifer Rodero. In Opposition to the proposed Offramp. State Route
[2:15:44] 924 Gratny Parkway interchange. And again, let the record reflect
[2:15:50] that all these emails that I'm reading the name and
[2:15:53] the subject matter. We're shared with the town council. Mr.
[2:15:58] Frank Murphy. In opposition to the Gratiny 67th Avenue. Mr.
[2:16:06] Franke Murphy and Josefina Murphy. Two different emails. Mesayana Colombo
[2:16:13] in opposition to GMX project. Ms. Ileana Hamilton. In opposition
[2:16:22] to the proposed exit. Ramps onto 67th Avenue. Madam Clerk.
[2:16:28] Yes. I apologize. But because there are those that spoke
[2:16:32] that are being repeated in those names and we really
[2:16:34] got to get moving with this meeting. I'm going to
[2:16:36] ask that we dispense with the reading of the names.
[2:16:40] And I don't know if perhaps, uh, you know, we'll
[2:16:42] get started in the discussion. And at some point you
[2:16:44] can just tally the number four and the number against.
[2:16:47] That'll make it easier. That'll just, you know, uh, you
[2:16:50] know, for, for our purposes, obviously this is a public
[2:16:52] record, you know, so anyone that wants to see where
[2:16:56] the emails broke down and more detail can request that.
[2:16:58] But otherwise we're going to spend another half hour, you
[2:17:01] know, just, well, I can state from memory. That all
[2:17:04] of them were in opposition with the exception from Mr.
[2:17:09] Louis O'Martinez from the Grams Company. He's in support of
[2:17:13] the project. And. Excuse me. And, um, former Vice Mayor
[2:17:22] Jeffrey Rodriguez. He specifically stated that he's in favor in
[2:17:28] support of Mayor Diegas item 16a. And as well, I
[2:17:32] need to read this into the record. He is in
[2:17:37] support of the item that just got approved earlier tonight.
[2:17:40] The Jakey Dookie Memorial Statue as well. We received an
[2:17:45] email from Mr. Albert Aguiar. Again, questioning questions about the
[2:17:53] police budget. Mr. Sorry. Mr.
[2:18:02] Bryan Patchen in support of the Jackie Dookie Memorial item.
[2:18:09] Miss Eli Simon. Also in support of Jake Duke Park.
[2:18:18] And again, what I always do, I include the names
[2:18:21] of all these individuals in the minutes. What I can
[2:18:25] do for this time, if it is your wish of
[2:18:28] the council, I can include the names, but I can
[2:18:31] also include the emails. They can be part of the
[2:18:35] minutes. I don't mind at all. Maybe that's more fair
[2:18:38] so that people see it. The councilman Herzberg. Um, I
[2:18:41] think it's a good idea. First, we all got the
[2:18:44] emails. I agree with your recollection, the vast majority were
[2:18:47] in opposition. So I think you should just add the
[2:18:49] emails to the minutes. That's a Public Record anyway. And
[2:18:53] then it will be clear on the record, uh, who
[2:18:55] opposed or didn't. Very well. I will do that in
[2:19:00] the minutes from this meeting. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Thank
[2:19:04] you. All right. So we're now done with Public Compton.
[2:19:08] Unfortunately, I see a big chunk of the crowd has
[2:19:11] dispersed, which I think is unfortunate because part of our
[2:19:13] job here is to not only debate these things among
[2:19:18] ourselves, but also to provide an education function as well.
[2:19:23] So, but before I continue with that, I want to
[2:19:25] first thank the Soberons for inviting me to their home
[2:19:28] yesterday and to meet with the residents and for taking
[2:19:31] the time to educate me some more about the construction
[2:19:34] side of the project, which has prompted me to ask
[2:19:37] some more questions about that. We do have a representative
[2:19:39] of GMX here that at some point, I hope would
[2:19:42] address some of those concerns and some of the other
[2:19:43] concerns that he's heard. But before I get there, I
[2:19:46] need to introduce my item to get us in the
[2:19:48] proper posture for discussion. And before I begin, I want
[2:19:52] to also start up by reminding everyone that I am
[2:19:55] also a lifelong Miami Laker. I have been here with
[2:19:59] my family since 1989. My office is here. My family
[2:20:03] continues to live here. My kids, my kids, not yet.
[2:20:06] But my, my nephews and my niece play in our
[2:20:10] parks. Those are my priorities. And to preserve that small
[2:20:13] town feel that I grew up with, right? Going again,
[2:20:17] I've brought up before, but I'll reiterate it again. I
[2:20:20] still remember having the arts and craft show there on
[2:20:22] Main Street by my pop guns in the sand art
[2:20:24] and everything with my family. As my mom would buy
[2:20:27] orchids. Those were the special core memories for me that
[2:20:30] I remember growing up here. I remember looking at my
[2:20:33] window. I grew up at 7220 Point Sienna Corps. Right.
[2:20:38] And I was there until I was 30 years or
[2:20:40] so old when I could afford my own place. Cause
[2:20:43] obviously it's not cheap to buy here Miami Lakes. Right.
[2:20:45] So growing up there, I also saw much of the
[2:20:49] wildlife, right? At night you see the possums during the
[2:20:52] day. You can see the mockingbirds of blue jays. I
[2:20:54] even saw Baltimore Orioles, at least one outside my window
[2:20:57] growing up there in my corner room. I have a
[2:21:01] deep loving abide. Don't you give me that smile? I
[2:21:04] have a deep loving abide for this community. The idea
[2:21:08] that any one of us would want to do something
[2:21:11] that is going to take away from that. I think
[2:21:15] just, uh, you know, I understand that there are many
[2:21:17] people who are frustrated, but I need to dissuade you
[2:21:19] from believing that way. Right. We're here. And you know,
[2:21:24] obviously many people are not going to put themselves up
[2:21:25] here in the day is to, you know, be pylorid,
[2:21:28] you know, just because they enjoy it. They're doing it
[2:21:30] because they care. And the truth is that I want
[2:21:35] to clear up something about development in this town that
[2:21:37] unfortunately many people don't understand because many of the laws
[2:21:40] are actually written Tallahassee far away from public view, right?
[2:21:44] Here you can come to town hall. You can see
[2:21:46] us. You can talk to us. But with Tallahassee, you
[2:21:49] know, who's going to drive up there in most cases,
[2:21:51] right? But here's the reality. In the state of Florida
[2:21:55] and in terms of the recent projects that you've seen,
[2:21:57] there is a trend to benefit the developers, unfortunately. Right.
[2:22:02] The most recent law is live local. Whichever year they
[2:22:05] continue to tighten. And the gist of that law is
[2:22:08] in essence to allow developers, if they meet certain requirements,
[2:22:12] do bypass local Governing Boards like us to be able
[2:22:15] to develop these projects. And these are not low -
[2:22:18] income projects, right? These aren't Section 8 projects. And they're
[2:22:21] not, and in some cases, there were force housing, but
[2:22:24] in other cases, it's just, uh, whenever a project has
[2:22:27] rents that reach a certain percentage of what's called area,
[2:22:31] medium income, right? So it's not low income. I just
[2:22:35] want to, you know, reiterate that. And you'd be surprised
[2:22:38] how many of the grand properties actually, even with the
[2:22:41] rents that they charged now, as high as they are,
[2:22:43] you know, a mortgage payment in many cases, not more
[2:22:45] than a mortgage payment, actually qualify for that standard. And
[2:22:49] again, as long as they meet that standard, they can
[2:22:51] bypass public approvals. They don't have to sit here and
[2:22:55] hear what you have to say about the project. And
[2:22:58] they also are entitled to all sorts of tax benefits
[2:23:01] in the process that can range, I think it's from
[2:23:03] 25 percent all the way to 75 percent for their
[2:23:07] projects for a period of 30 years or so. And,
[2:23:11] you know, that's an example of just how bad things
[2:23:13] are getting in Tallahassee. The word is preemption. They are
[2:23:16] literally preempting us from being able to control local development.
[2:23:20] And it's getting, unfortunately, worse a year after year. That's
[2:23:22] number one. And with that frame of mind, I want
[2:23:26] to agree with you. That the numbers are off on
[2:23:30] these studies. They're way off. Why? Because they're accounting for
[2:23:36] conditions today. And the population growth that those studies are
[2:23:40] accounting for don't include projects that are not permitted or,
[2:23:44] or, or, or going through that process. Isn't that correct
[2:23:46] that, for example, um, well, I'll come back to you
[2:23:49] in a second, sir. You know, and I, when I
[2:23:51] ask you to come up and please explain it, but
[2:23:53] to my knowledge, these studies don't account for the courtyard
[2:23:56] department. That would be the older apartments right next to
[2:23:59] the Catholic church, you know, right next to our Lady,
[2:24:01] the lakes, that the grams have acquired. And currently sits
[2:24:05] at, I just had it here at 448 units. If
[2:24:11] the numbers I got from staffer correct, you know, under
[2:24:14] the Town Center district, which was approved also in around
[2:24:16] the 2015, 2016 era, they can redevelop that project to
[2:24:21] bring it up to 800, or pardon me, to 900
[2:24:25] units. So from 448 to a maximum of 900, even
[2:24:28] if they go lower, do the math on that, multiply
[2:24:30] that by at least two people, right? And without our
[2:24:33] approval, because they already have that zoning change. So they
[2:24:35] don't, they would only be coming to us for what's
[2:24:37] called a site plan approval, which is basically the placement
[2:24:39] of things on the property. It has nothing to do
[2:24:41] with the scale of the development itself. Additionally, the executive
[2:24:45] apartments right next to the current golf course project that's
[2:24:48] going on. And it's, I think they're oldest project right
[2:24:50] now. You know, from there, they're in a, what's called
[2:24:53] a BU2 district. That is a commercial district. Exactly the
[2:24:56] sort of district that a live local project can go
[2:24:58] into. That current district is approximately, I believe, RM36, Mr.
[2:25:03] Attorney, correct? That's correct. Currently they have 158 units, Mr.
[2:25:07] Mayor, and they can go up to 366. You know,
[2:25:10] so, so these are, and again, as somebody said it,
[2:25:13] and, you know, I forgot where she went. It was
[2:25:16] actually, um, one of my friends from the other first
[2:25:19] committee, but the grams, you know, they are in business
[2:25:23] to make money. It's just a fact. So, you know,
[2:25:27] the, and the reality is that again, laws in Tallahassee
[2:25:30] are not making things easier for us. And we have
[2:25:32] to live within that framework. And again, I just gave
[2:25:34] you two projects that are primed for redevelopment. So I
[2:25:37] just want you to also think about the other projects
[2:25:40] within this area, like born apartments, metal walk, uh, new
[2:25:45] barn, you know, and think about potentially what could be
[2:25:48] coming our way there. With that frame of mind, looking
[2:25:52] five to 10 to 15 years from now, thinking about
[2:25:55] the town we want to be. And if we want
[2:25:57] to preserve our character, we have to start getting serious
[2:25:59] about how we address traffic. And to me, I understand
[2:26:02] the concerns, but it would be irresponsible not to seriously
[2:26:06] consider this potential option. And I want to also, as
[2:26:12] part of that, address a couple of things, right? And
[2:26:15] Conspensa's eventually I'll get to the motion, but if you
[2:26:17] don't mind, I'm going to kind of amend mine to
[2:26:20] incorporate with your item ones. Well, just one of them,
[2:26:25] the remove over MP. Um, but what I want to
[2:26:28] bring up in particular as well is that we don't
[2:26:32] have to go to Ohio to look at those studies,
[2:26:35] you know, to know what's going to happen to property
[2:26:38] values here. Miami is ultimately a different community. Just look
[2:26:42] at what happened at the northwest 170th Street Bridge when
[2:26:45] that opened up. I guarantee you property values have not
[2:26:49] tanked there. You know, and I think that that would
[2:26:51] be probably the closest correlation and similarity in terms of
[2:26:59] examples of what would happen. I, I don't believe, I
[2:27:03] actually believe it would be worse for a property value
[2:27:06] to sit back and do nothing. This is the second
[2:27:07] time now over multiple generations that this project has been
[2:27:11] rejected. If we've rejected now, I highly doubt. In fact,
[2:27:17] the executive director has said they won't be coming back
[2:27:18] for a third. So we could be missing the boat
[2:27:20] here and dooming ourselves to a very sad polluted future.
[2:27:30] Okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm addressing you. And so
[2:27:33] I'm asking you to please let me finish my thoughts.
[2:27:36] We were here listening to all of you. And I
[2:27:39] think to be honest with you, I respectfully disagree. As
[2:27:44] somebody again who grew up here lives on the east
[2:27:46] side still by the way, you know, and it has
[2:27:48] been studying this issue for some time. And the most
[2:27:51] common thing I want to bring up is that it
[2:27:54] seems as if the concern from most of you even
[2:27:57] now has to do with what's called ramp B. That
[2:28:00] would be the off ramp onto 67th Avenue. I would
[2:28:03] like to go ahead, and this was accountsman sanchez have
[2:28:06] proposed and give direction to the manager to go ahead
[2:28:10] and add and request that, uh, GMX go ahead and
[2:28:15] redo the traffic study. But without rant B. And to
[2:28:19] come back and also to incorporate all the Resident concerns
[2:28:22] that we have heard throughout this public hearing process, not
[2:28:25] only in our council meetings, but in their Public Churettes.
[2:28:28] And also to come back with a recommendation as to,
[2:28:31] you know, whether they would move forward without Rent B
[2:28:33] or not. And again, but again, showing us some strong
[2:28:36] numbers as for Rampy. Again, it doesn't mean that it's
[2:28:39] moving forward. That is just getting even more information. I
[2:28:43] thanks to the soberunds. I want to get more information
[2:28:45] on what the construction impact would be to their homes.
[2:28:49] You know, if this were to move forward. But again,
[2:28:51] we need to really think about this and not just
[2:28:56] let it go. Because we are one community at the
[2:28:58] end of the day, right? You know, what happens on
[2:29:02] Miami Lake's drive will affect you. I mean, just look
[2:29:04] at how bad today was. Right? So we need to
[2:29:07] really look at all these options seriously. Again, I even
[2:29:11] gave you some numbers again. These are numbers. And at
[2:29:13] some point, I don't know when these, these communities will
[2:29:16] be redeveloped. And then work, you know, the reality is
[2:29:20] they're having a ramp on the west side, which we
[2:29:22] are working on, right, is not going to be enough
[2:29:24] to resolve traffic here on the east side. And by
[2:29:26] then, that ship may have sailed. But that is my
[2:29:29] motion. Um, and I'll open it up for a rather,
[2:29:34] is there a second? I'll second. It's been seconded by
[2:29:36] Councilman Sanchez. Um, go ahead and, uh, and, and, you
[2:29:40] know, kick us off in discussion. Sure. So I was
[2:29:43] here for the Public Workshop that GMX did about a
[2:29:47] month and a half ago. And I saw everything and
[2:29:49] I, during public comments, I got up and spoke about
[2:29:52] the Offer and specifically in 67th Avenue. We also had
[2:29:56] a traffic today on 67th Avenue going northbound. Today was
[2:29:59] a bit of an outlier just because it was an
[2:30:01] accident in front of already the leaks. But even on
[2:30:03] a regular school day, we're outside of summer already. We're
[2:30:06] back in the normal routine. Everybody's back to school. Everybody's
[2:30:09] back to work. It's we're getting back into the flow
[2:30:11] of things. North of Miami Leake's drive toward 67th, the
[2:30:15] backup is just not fair. To get out of my
[2:30:20] Emile Lakes. Right. When you're going north on 67th Avenue.
[2:30:22] So to add more cars into 67th Avenue from that
[2:30:25] off ramp, just doesn't make any sense. On a street,
[2:30:28] that's already ready between a DNF, which they rate A,
[2:30:31] B, C, D, E, and F. Dnf is just bad
[2:30:34] no matter what time of day that you're in. To
[2:30:36] add more cars to that, just doesn't make sense. In
[2:30:39] addition to that, it was brought up earlier the gas
[2:30:41] station that the Lake Patricia shopping Center. I'm happy to
[2:30:44] hear from Sunshine Gass about how they are opposed. They
[2:30:48] didn't have their contact information. However, Lake Patricia Shopping Center
[2:30:51] is owned by those of you that had a little
[2:30:54] bit of a response to it by the Graham company
[2:30:56] and Louis Martinez. So the email that he sent in
[2:30:59] reply to being in favor of it was in Representation
[2:31:02] of the Lake Patricia shopping Center. However, that is very
[2:31:06] true. The Grams do own Lake Patricia shopping Center. The
[2:31:10] gas station, they do not, but they do own the
[2:31:11] shopping center with Chase and Viggy Bakery and the barbershop.
[2:31:16] So. One of my biggest things has always been since
[2:31:18] I've been up here. And even before is traffic mitigation.
[2:31:22] During my prayer at the last council meeting, I said
[2:31:25] specifically, let us represent the needs of the many over
[2:31:28] the needs of the few. I said that and I
[2:31:31] was applauded for it. We need to see this as
[2:31:35] a macroscope instead of a microscope. Of the four of
[2:31:39] us that live up here and that live on the
[2:31:41] east side of the tunnel of my mid - aches,
[2:31:42] I am one of them. I didn't grow up in
[2:31:45] Miami - Lakes, but I've spent more than half my
[2:31:47] life here after I've returned from the U. S. military
[2:31:50] from the Navy. I grew up next door in Hyalea.
[2:31:53] And my goal was always to be in Miami -
[2:31:55] Lakes because of what it is, the jewel that it
[2:31:57] is. But it can, right now my Emilyx was good
[2:32:00] and it could be great. We, my item specifically of
[2:32:04] the three ramps, the two on - ramps and the
[2:32:06] Off - ramp completely eliminates the off - run because
[2:32:09] we know exactly how fast cars come off of a
[2:32:11] highway, especially in two school zone. Into Miami - X
[2:32:15] - Kade Center. My son 20K Center, my father, now
[2:32:19] he's much elderly. Was his cool crossing guard at Miami
[2:32:21] Lakes Cade Center. My kids are here. My entire family,
[2:32:25] we're here on the east side. West of 67th and
[2:32:30] just north of Miami Lakeway South. So this isn't falling
[2:32:34] on deaf ears. Now, I had a meeting with GMX
[2:32:38] where Colonel Bull Perez was present, as he mentioned at
[2:32:40] the beginning of his comments. And a lot of questions
[2:32:43] were asked about sound mitigation, about traffic concerns for later
[2:32:47] on for crooked palm. And I also have an item
[2:32:50] here in the agenda for tonight instructing staff to work
[2:32:53] with FDOT, the county, NGMX, on traffic mitigation solutions for
[2:32:58] Lake Saronak for many streets where cutthroughs could be possible.
[2:33:03] But even those cutters would be possible would be made
[2:33:06] by town residents. But there is one factor that isn't
[2:33:08] being spoken about. And it's related to the schools. And
[2:33:12] like the mayor says there is decisions that are made
[2:33:14] up in Tallahassee that we do not control down here.
[2:33:16] That's called school choice. We have the blessing of having
[2:33:20] some of the best schools in Miami - Dade County.
[2:33:23] And even then, some schools in Miami - Dade County
[2:33:26] are currently closing. But our schools are still to a
[2:33:30] good amount of capacity because we have A schools in
[2:33:33] Miami - Lakes, which drives individuals from other areas, not
[2:33:36] even just state county, from Hollywood. My son's go to
[2:33:40] school in Miami - Lakes. They have classmates from Hollywood
[2:33:43] Beach, from Miramar, from Purmoke Pines. ADRIVESTO's cars into Miami
[2:33:46] - Lakes. Those border schools that we used to have
[2:33:49] when we went to grade school no longer exist. You
[2:33:52] can go to any school you want to. And because
[2:33:54] of the accidents that we have, we drive those cars
[2:33:57] into Miami Lakes. Yes, we had a project years ago,
[2:34:02] and that was on the horizon to do Texas futures
[2:34:04] on 57th Avenue to extend 167th Street from the west
[2:34:08] side of Miami - Lakes into the east side into
[2:34:10] the perimeter road. Unfortunately, that was put on the back
[2:34:12] burner due to some gas line issues. And who was
[2:34:15] going to pay the Moose gas lines. But if we
[2:34:18] don't do something now, what is there later on when
[2:34:22] every single industrial commercial zone can potentially turn into a
[2:34:27] live local, which completely bypasses every single one of us
[2:34:29] here and the county. They have every single company or
[2:34:35] every developer that owns an industrial commercial zone doesn't have
[2:34:38] to come to the town of Amuleakes, or even the
[2:34:41] Board of County Commissioners. To ask them, can we build
[2:34:44] this? They completely bypass us. So what's going to happen,
[2:34:47] for example, the Senior Village that right now has 540
[2:34:50] units. That was 22 acres of industrial commercial that could
[2:34:53] have been 1, 100 units. What's to say that they're
[2:34:56] going to come back to us later on and say,
[2:34:58] nevermind, we're going to do it. We're going to do
[2:35:00] it anyways. They can't do it anymore because we resounded
[2:35:02] to Residential. They can no longer do it. But there's
[2:35:04] still a lot of Miami - Lakes, especially here on
[2:35:06] the east side between 67 and 57. That is zoned
[2:35:09] industrial commercial. And in business, we all know everything can
[2:35:14] change from one month to the next from one owner
[2:35:16] to the next. So my idea is to have them.
[2:35:20] This is not going to happen from today tomorrow. What
[2:35:23] we're asking GMX to do by eliminating the off -
[2:35:25] ramp is giving us a buffer of three to four
[2:35:27] months while they do that research. To come back to
[2:35:29] us. And that buffer of time gives us more time
[2:35:32] to do or due diligence. To come back with f
[2:35:35] dot and the county to do traffic mitigations. Does it
[2:35:40] take like they do on coral gables, the roundabouts in
[2:35:45] streets that enhance the image of Miami Lakes with plants.
[2:35:48] What things can we do? Are police officers can enforce
[2:35:52] our traffic. You haven't heard it tonight, but after this,
[2:35:56] our police major is going to give us a full
[2:35:57] rundown of how many tickets have been given. What is
[2:36:00] crime like in Miami Lakes? That's going to happen right
[2:36:02] after we have this vote. So that's why I second
[2:36:06] my original motion that the mayor brought forward to let's
[2:36:09] look at the numbers once they come back with the
[2:36:11] removal of the off - ramp. To not have those
[2:36:14] cars coming off of the Gratiny. And give us a
[2:36:17] chance. Instead of taking seven streetlights to get from Miami
[2:36:22] Lakeway South to the Palmetto to be able to get
[2:36:25] on top of Pometo and get out of Miami Lakes.
[2:36:28] Give us a chance to be able to get onto
[2:36:29] the Gratini and alleviate traffic. For the east side to
[2:36:32] get to the Pulmetto. And from those that are going
[2:36:36] northbound. And for those that are going northbound together. So
[2:36:42] please, I need you just to let him speak. We
[2:36:46] had the Public Opportunity to be heard. At this time,
[2:36:49] the councilman has the floor. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
[2:36:52] Mayor. Now somebody brought up the idea of an exit
[2:36:55] on 87th Avenue. If you bring up over the bridge
[2:37:00] that crosses into Hyalea, if you low an aerial view
[2:37:03] on that bridge, 10 feet away from the that underpass,
[2:37:07] you have an exit on to 138th Street. It's way
[2:37:10] too close. They won't have thought will not approve that
[2:37:14] exit. That entrance being so close to an on -
[2:37:17] ramp. 1070th Street. One of the first things that we
[2:37:21] introduced when I came on this day is was a
[2:37:23] Resolution supporting on - ramps onto I - 75 at
[2:37:26] the bridge on 170th. Little did I know that was
[2:37:29] a project that was already in the works for quite
[2:37:30] some time. And earlier this year, we received six million
[2:37:33] dollars from representative from Congressman, Moreald to start the PDNE
[2:37:38] study to create those on - ramps to help the
[2:37:40] West side. That's already in the works. But what's in
[2:37:44] front of us now gives all of us the entire
[2:37:47] town, 35, 000 residents. Those parents that are at home
[2:37:51] right now because their kids are working on their school
[2:37:54] assignments. And can't be here. But they call. We're here
[2:37:59] for them. It's all encompassing. It's all encompassing. We are
[2:38:05] here to represent you. We are here. If I may
[2:38:12] just for a moment. Actually. We are here. I need
[2:38:14] you to suspect. I need there to be order. If
[2:38:18] you cannot be part of this meeting, then I need
[2:38:21] you to please step outside. If not, the Sergeant at
[2:38:23] Arms will have to maintain order. We need to allow
[2:38:26] others to speak. Thank you. We are here to represent
[2:38:29] you. But you equals 35, 000 residents of the tunnel
[2:38:33] Miami - likes. 35, 000 residents that when they leave
[2:38:36] their homes by Royal Oaks Park on 87th Avenue, takes
[2:38:39] them 45 minutes to reach the Palmetto. We are here
[2:38:43] to represent the residents in this town that when they
[2:38:46] try to go north on 67, 512, get on the
[2:38:49] A26 highway to go either southbound or eastbound to get
[2:38:52] to I - 95 or the Golden Glaze interchange. Takes
[2:38:55] them an extended amount of time. But doing it in
[2:38:58] a safe and proper way. There's no blocking white. It's
[2:39:04] doing it in a safe and proper way. As doing
[2:39:07] it in a way that it's beneficial for all -
[2:39:10] encompassing. And not just a few. Excuse me. Sir, I'm
[2:39:18] sorry. But I cannot have these outbursts. I don't know
[2:39:21] how many times I've had to say it. Okay. We
[2:39:23] are all adults here. We are all capable of just
[2:39:26] listening to one another. Okay. We were listening to you.
[2:39:30] And so now I'm asking you to let us have
[2:39:31] our deliberations. And, you know, to hear us out because
[2:39:35] we are trying to address your concerns as best as
[2:39:37] possible. Thank you. I've traveled the world. I see I've
[2:39:42] seen how bad the world can be. I've seen it.
[2:39:45] On deployment, even on visiting pork countries that you would
[2:39:48] assume were nice for vacation. And I've seen things there
[2:39:50] that I don't want to see here. Miami - lakes
[2:39:54] is a jewel. It will always be a jewel. It
[2:39:57] will continue to be a jewel. But the quality of
[2:39:59] life is also in the balance here. If it gets
[2:40:03] to the point where we go from 35, 000 residents
[2:40:05] and live local affects it to get to 45, 50,
[2:40:08] 000 residents. What then? It's going to take an hour,
[2:40:12] hour and a half to get to the Palmetto. So
[2:40:16] it's an all - encompassing. It's an ecosystem with many
[2:40:19] layers. That's what I have to say about this. Thank
[2:40:27] you. Next we go to Councilman Garcia. Thank you. And
[2:40:30] I want to thank everybody for being here. Taking time
[2:40:33] of your busy lives. This is very important. The ton
[2:40:36] of Miami Lakes. I'm going to keep it simple. Um,
[2:40:38] I'm against the Off - Framps and the on -
[2:40:41] ramps. And I'll tell you why. We just celebrated one
[2:40:45] of the oldest businesses in the town. Um, my leaks
[2:40:50] Barbershop that the one of the oldest shopping center, the
[2:40:55] oldest neighborhoods, uh, I've talked to people in those neighborhoods,
[2:40:59] crooked palm. There are two schools. Even if we just
[2:41:03] do the on - ramps, which vice mayor, Cuyazo fought
[2:41:09] a long time, and so did I to get the
[2:41:11] school zone extended to crook it palm? Because people were
[2:41:14] racing through there. Um, and then the kids coming from,
[2:41:18] you know, highly in Miami Lakes, they're trying to cross
[2:41:19] back into our town. We put off ramps there. It's
[2:41:23] going to make it a lot more difficult. It's just
[2:41:25] way too much infrastructure for that little space. And the
[2:41:29] one thing that I know every town member loves is
[2:41:32] leaving the town. Coming back to the town. And once
[2:41:35] you get under the underpasses, you know you're in Miami
[2:41:37] Lakes. Because of the trees, because of the lakes, because
[2:41:41] of the canals. If we had underpasses, I mean, on
[2:41:45] ramps and off ramps, that's just going to kill that.
[2:41:47] Plus, we don't know what's going to happen to the
[2:41:49] Lake Patricia area. People cutting through. What's going to happen
[2:41:52] with that traffic that we just can't see. To me,
[2:41:56] it's just not the area to put it in because
[2:41:59] we have 57th Avenue entrance to the Gratiny, less than
[2:42:03] a mile away. If we didn't have that, then I
[2:42:06] would say maybe the on - ramps. But it's just,
[2:42:11] that area is just too tight, too close to homes.
[2:42:15] The noise mitigation is not guaranteed. But I agree, and
[2:42:20] I understand everything the mayor said and my colleagues say
[2:42:22] about that, you know, if it was any other area,
[2:42:26] or if it was on the other side in the
[2:42:27] highly area and wouldn't affect us too much, but it's
[2:42:29] just going to destroy the character of one of the
[2:42:32] oldest neighborhoods, the oldest neighborhood and the oldest shopping center.
[2:42:35] And it's going to be horrible for people in crooked
[2:42:38] palm won't be able to get out. So I'll be
[2:42:40] against that. Uh, I'm going to let my colleagues speak.
[2:42:44] But I'm going to, before the motion that we tell
[2:42:49] GMX, and by the way, thank you for coming, because
[2:42:51] they spent a lot of time and a lot of
[2:42:52] effort to explain to us. But it's just way too
[2:42:56] much right now. But I'm going to be putting emotion
[2:42:57] later on to just put a resolution to say we're
[2:43:01] against the entrances and the exits. All right. Catherine Herzberg.
[2:43:10] Thank you, Mayor. First, thank you for coming. Uh, it's
[2:43:14] important that residents participate. It's nice to see people come
[2:43:18] and speak. Uh, I will tell you that. Right now,
[2:43:23] the way the project is, whether with or without Offrams,
[2:43:27] I was told that GMX would want to answer today.
[2:43:31] However. And I'm not going to vote for a project
[2:43:34] without the numbers, right? That's my problem. The numbers we
[2:43:39] have right now, I don't like the project. I don't
[2:43:42] think it provides enough mitigation. I don't think it solves
[2:43:45] the real problems. Like 154th and a 26, uh, one
[2:43:51] of the numbers is a 12 second and a 15
[2:43:53] second AM and PN savings. I'll rather sit in traffic
[2:43:57] for 15 seconds and then build, build on ramps or
[2:44:00] off ramps. But, um, the, the question is. If we
[2:44:07] move forward with the mayor's item is GMX going to
[2:44:11] come back to us and give us the data. For
[2:44:13] example, I don't believe this data, I had a discussion
[2:44:16] at the Town Planner. I don't believe this data shows
[2:44:17] us, is there savings for Northbound in 675? Which is
[2:44:21] a choke point too. I don't have the numbers here.
[2:44:24] So I can't vote for it without the numbers. If
[2:44:26] it's a matter of GMX coming back and saying, well,
[2:44:29] here are the numbers for just on - ramps because
[2:44:31] I am a hundred percent against the off - ramp.
[2:44:35] Is useless, especially 57th Avenues right there. I've never had
[2:44:38] issues of 57th Avenue. A little bit of the irony
[2:44:41] is a lot of the people that would benefit the
[2:44:43] most from these ramps are the people that live here,
[2:44:46] live in the area. And a lot of them don't
[2:44:48] want these ramps too, right? But I understand traffic is
[2:44:52] regional. And we have very, very limited tools as a
[2:44:57] town, especially a town of our tax base and our
[2:45:00] low tax rate to fix traffic. So these ideas that
[2:45:06] say, Hey, let's do 875. Let's do I - 75.
[2:45:09] Those are massive projects. We don't have the money for
[2:45:12] those. Those are different levels of projects that we have
[2:45:16] no idea if they'll ever come to us. And if
[2:45:19] the opportunity to mitigate traffic, we have to take it
[2:45:22] very seriously. And that's something I've done. I've looked at
[2:45:24] the numbers over and over and over again. I spoke
[2:45:27] into a lot of residents. About it. If the vote
[2:45:33] today is to vote on the project on itself, I
[2:45:35] would just vote no all around. If the vote today
[2:45:38] is to have GMX come back with real numbers, with
[2:45:43] a no off - rant project, then I'm okay with
[2:45:45] looking at more numbers. I'm not promising I'm going to
[2:45:48] vote for it. Because I do believe there's a character
[2:45:50] of the area issue. You know, I studied geography in
[2:45:55] GW. It's funny. One of my projects in my senior
[2:46:00] year was discussing the history of trans in Washington, DC.
[2:46:03] And there was this big fight express or metro lines.
[2:46:07] I get it. That's not, it's not that big of
[2:46:08] a fight. But DC made the right choice. They didn't,
[2:46:12] they didn't choose expressway. It's cutting through their cities, right?
[2:46:15] Here the express rates are already there. This is about
[2:46:18] whether or not it makes sense to add more cars.
[2:46:22] Cause no matter what we do, more cars will be
[2:46:23] added to 67th Ave. It's what relief does it provide.
[2:46:28] So if JMX wants to come back to us and
[2:46:32] say, here's the data, here's why the two on -
[2:46:35] ramps with no off - ramps work. I'll look at
[2:46:37] the numbers. I'm not promising anything. The numbers need to
[2:46:41] make max. The numbers here don't make sense for me.
[2:46:44] It's just too little of mitigation at choke points and
[2:46:48] adding too many cars. I assume when you get rid
[2:46:52] of the off ramp, adding the cards to the area
[2:46:55] should go down. I don't know. Um, and that the
[2:46:58] good point about the population studies and what type of
[2:47:02] numbers they're using in their traffic data, because we want
[2:47:04] accurate numbers. And the mayor you made of a good
[2:47:07] point that we can't control the future development on the
[2:47:11] East or West side for the majority of our zoning,
[2:47:15] right? That's just what Tallahassee has given us, unfortunately. So
[2:47:22] I will allow GMX to come back to us. If
[2:47:25] GMX says, no, we don't want to come back, then
[2:47:27] I'll just say no, because I don't have the numbers
[2:47:28] to be able to prove to any resident, whether they're
[2:47:31] on the West side or the east side that this
[2:47:33] makes sense. If we can get numbers that prove it,
[2:47:35] I'll look at it again. I can't tell you if
[2:47:38] I'm a yes or no in the future. But right
[2:47:41] now the numbers just don't make any sense. So they
[2:47:45] want to give us new numbers. It makes sense. And
[2:47:46] I'll take a look at it. Calcioenquadra Garcia. I'm not
[2:47:54] going to speak much. I'm a no - nonsense person.
[2:48:00] After listening on these two sessions, to our residents. Okay?
[2:48:08] I have traveled through the area. I live in the
[2:48:10] West Side. I go pick up my pizza, Domenico. I
[2:48:17] have not seen any issues the need for it. So
[2:48:20] my philosophy is, if it ain't broken, we don't need
[2:48:25] to fix it. And that is the bottom line. And
[2:48:30] I will not support. I will listen to what the
[2:48:33] people want. And we'll need to figure something out, but
[2:48:37] it's a no for me.
[2:48:48] Mr. Vice Fair. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to
[2:48:56] start off by thanking the residents for coming for all
[2:48:58] the emails. The text messages, Ms. Colombo, I got all
[2:49:02] those text messages. Uh, while I was on my cruise.
[2:49:06] I, it's important that you come out here. Because I
[2:49:10] don't want you to think that you're hearing what some
[2:49:13] of our colleagues are saying up here and that that
[2:49:15] doesn't mean you were heard. It simply means that we
[2:49:19] do have considerations beyond one particular area or one particular
[2:49:23] person's opinion. Sometimes even contrary to our own. And I'll
[2:49:28] be one of those that puts their hands up and
[2:49:29] say, I live on the east side. I live on
[2:49:31] Lake Hilda. I am directly affected by this. Um, but
[2:49:35] I'm reminded of another time in our town's history when
[2:49:38] this desire to let, let's, what was the word someone
[2:49:42] said, preserve the essence of our community. Or keep our
[2:49:46] town small, which for no one here is increasing the
[2:49:50] size of our town. At least nothing in this decision
[2:49:52] is increasing the size of our town. Uh, it's simply
[2:49:55] addressing the way in which our town addresses the fact
[2:49:59] that we have already grown. I'm reminded of a different
[2:50:05] time. And that's back when this town had the opportunity
[2:50:08] to annex what is now the high Aaliyah annex. When
[2:50:13] we had the opportunity to take over all that land
[2:50:16] to the west of I - 75. And we said,
[2:50:18] nope. And why did we say no? Because we wanted
[2:50:21] to stay small. Well, as a direct result of us
[2:50:25] taking that position, the city of Hialeah said, okay, we'll
[2:50:29] take that. And then they decided to sell almost every
[2:50:33] inch. Of those hundreds, if not thousands of acres to
[2:50:37] Lenar to build the most high density possible, uh, housing
[2:50:42] that they could, how many residents are there? Like 10,
[2:50:45] 000 plus. More than that? I'm sorry. Uh, I thought
[2:50:47] I was being conservative. Uh, 10, 000 plus, uh, units
[2:50:52] being built out there clogging up our roadways because then
[2:50:56] they forced the opening of 170th on us. And then
[2:50:59] every single one of those cars on that side started
[2:51:01] crossing 170th. On to 87th Avenue and then making a
[2:51:06] left on 154th and clogging up that intersection even more
[2:51:09] than it already was. And we're all kicking ourselves because
[2:51:13] hindsight is 2020. Well, doing nothing on this. Is absolutely
[2:51:19] one of those things that not tomorrow, not even two
[2:51:25] to three years from now, are we going to be
[2:51:26] seeing the fruits of what we do here, but rather
[2:51:30] 10 to 15 years from now. Because I guarantee you,
[2:51:34] you will see population increases in this town. And you
[2:51:39] will see the redevelopments that the mayor was talking about.
[2:51:41] By the way, he left out, if you look at
[2:51:43] that map over there, you see all those little white
[2:51:45] squares on the bottom right side of that map. That's
[2:51:49] 60th Avenue. That's those big warehouses on 60th Avenue, very
[2:51:53] close to the cemetery, like half of that is owned
[2:51:55] by the grams. That can also be redeveloped into multifamily
[2:51:59] residential, just like what you have around the golf course.
[2:52:03] Just all those recent developments, they can do those there
[2:52:05] too. There's a lot that they can do, unfortunately, our
[2:52:09] legislature has handcuffed us in the ability to protect you
[2:52:13] from that. That being said, I am more than open
[2:52:18] to listening to the residents. And I am more than,
[2:52:23] um, hesitant on the off - ramp, on ramp B.
[2:52:29] My issue with the off - ramp, uh, for my
[2:52:32] colleagues is, number one, the apparent taking of private property.
[2:52:42] Or not taking, let me, let me rephrase. Obstructing, because
[2:52:46] it would involve the closure of one of the entrances
[2:52:49] to the gas station. Um, and I actually do agree
[2:52:54] with the owner of, um. Sunshine. Thank you. Uh, of
[2:52:58] the gas station that it would truly detrimentally harm that
[2:53:03] gas station, the exit ramp specifically. Almost every single one
[2:53:07] of the concerns that have been raised here are directly
[2:53:10] addressed by removing the off ramp. Noise, the noise, if
[2:53:15] you look at the two on ramps, they don't really
[2:53:18] change the shape of the, uh, well, first of all,
[2:53:21] one of them is in high Aaliyah. One of the
[2:53:24] on - ramps is in high Aaliyah. So it really
[2:53:25] doesn't affect us at all. The other one maintains the
[2:53:29] exact shape and contour of the Gratiny and, at least
[2:53:33] in the current renderings, has a very large, I think
[2:53:36] it was like eight or 15 feet sound walls. So,
[2:53:43] and I believe in the most recent versions from my
[2:53:46] meetings, it was a, like half of it would be
[2:53:49] the concrete, the other half would actually be a visual
[2:53:51] screen, but it has the same sound properties. That's at
[2:53:54] least what I was told. Like I said, I live
[2:53:57] on Lake Hilda. I'm not trying to increase any amount
[2:54:01] of noise. Because I hear it, it bounces off of
[2:54:05] the lake. And it actually, the lake serves to increase
[2:54:09] the sound. Um, so I'm not trying to do anything
[2:54:12] that would increase that. But to try to argue that
[2:54:16] the on ramp, either one would increase noise in our
[2:54:20] town. I think that that's superfluous argument. However, the off
[2:54:24] - ramp, it really needs to be looked at. I
[2:54:27] was also, by the way, told that there was some
[2:54:29] sort of deadline. So I would like some clarification on
[2:54:33] that. If the gentleman from GMX wants to clarify, well,
[2:54:36] actually, or are you talking about the email that we
[2:54:38] received? Oh, no, not, not from anything today. It was
[2:54:41] actually during my meeting. Hey, Mr. Manager, can you address
[2:54:43] that? Repeat the question, please. Is there some sort of
[2:54:47] deadline on us saying yay or nay or one ramp,
[2:54:52] two ramp, three ramp to GMX? I think that they
[2:54:55] are looking to move forward. Uh, I think a difference
[2:54:59] of a month or two would not jeopardize the project.
[2:55:03] So, I mean, if you tell them, uh, you know,
[2:55:06] we want to tell you a year from now, I
[2:55:08] think that they would move on and redirect the money
[2:55:10] to some other project within their network. So just to
[2:55:17] make it, can you clarify or restate your motion real
[2:55:21] quick? Just, uh, can I just basically, you know, telling
[2:55:24] them that we won't accept, you know, this ramp, unless
[2:55:28] project, and let's Rent B is taken away and that
[2:55:31] we want to study and they would have to do
[2:55:32] the study anyway to come back to us with what
[2:55:35] that change looks like. Because their main concern is additional
[2:55:38] traffic coming to the town. Obviously without the offer, that
[2:55:42] solves most of the issues we're having. Certainly solves Mr.
[2:55:44] Alvarez's concern with the gas station. So, you know, we,
[2:55:48] but we need to know what those numbers are right,
[2:55:50] you know, and they need to know what those numbers
[2:55:52] are too, to make sure that they can make it
[2:55:53] make sense on their end as well. Um, and then
[2:55:56] obviously I also wanted them to include all the feedback
[2:55:59] that we have had in these meetings, our town meetings
[2:56:03] and their Public Shahurets. That is what the motion was
[2:56:06] about. Thank you. So, so just to be crystal clear,
[2:56:09] yes or no, yours is right now as of right
[2:56:12] now, if we were to vote yes, it's, we, we
[2:56:14] do oppose, uh, any solution for now that includes the
[2:56:20] off firm. Yes. We're opposed to anything that, that includes
[2:56:23] Rampy. Okay. So that to me is the most important
[2:56:27] thing because I don't see a gigantic. During my meeting,
[2:56:32] I even started already discussing other options with them. If
[2:56:36] we were to proceed forward with the on - ramp
[2:56:39] only design, including doing something like what was done on
[2:56:43] 57 with the always go lanes, um, you know, the
[2:56:46] ones that are like the green arrows, uh, with the
[2:56:49] protected left turn. For the people coming north, that way
[2:56:54] it's, cause I'm trying to minimize the traffic light. Because
[2:56:58] the last thing I want to see this town council
[2:57:00] make the mistake of doing is what happened on 154th
[2:57:03] with 47 intersections, you know, lined up right next to
[2:57:07] each other. Uh, I don't want to see that on
[2:57:10] 67th. Already adding one very close to the 138th intersection
[2:57:15] is already kind of making me cringe. The thought of
[2:57:17] potentially having to add one, uh, Lake Patricia. That scares
[2:57:22] the daylights out of me. Um, and I don't like
[2:57:25] how nonchalantly that was thrown out by GMX because again,
[2:57:29] it's kind of like not their problem, not their concern.
[2:57:31] Um, but it's very, very much our concern. Um, so
[2:57:35] yeah, as long as we're voting on no. Off ramp,
[2:57:41] no RAM B, then I'm okay with that. Yeah. No
[2:57:45] ramp B. And before we, we go to our second
[2:57:47] round, um, I would like to invite the gentleman from
[2:57:50] GMX to come up and address some of the concerns
[2:57:53] that have been raised for example. You have a fellow
[2:57:55] engineer in Jose Soberan here who has concerns about what
[2:57:59] the impact would be with the pylons, you know, and
[2:58:03] the impact on those adjacent homes along the Gratiny there
[2:58:07] on bamboo street. And again, just please address a couple
[2:58:10] other things. Mr. Alvarez, I did want to go ahead
[2:58:12] and also you ask me yesterday, Max, you had asked
[2:58:15] me if, um, uh, if the town would have to
[2:58:18] issue a permit, we do not have to issue permits.
[2:58:20] So I just want to be clear about that. But
[2:58:22] sir, if you can to the best, I know there
[2:58:24] was a lot mentioned here today, but to the best
[2:58:27] as you can, if you can alleviate as many concerns
[2:58:30] and answer as many questions, I think that would go
[2:58:32] a long way. Thank you, Mr. Maya. My name is
[2:58:37] Ed Godfrey Lamke. I'm actually a business known in Mami
[2:58:39] Lakes. My office is in a 14750, notice 77 car
[2:58:44] Miami Lakes, 32016. So I'm pretty much, I use the
[2:58:48] Roadsier every day. Um, as far as the construction, this
[2:58:53] project basically is going to be, uh, is being designed
[2:58:57] based on the FDOT standards. GMX, you know, follows the
[2:59:01] FDOT, all the FDOT processes. Currently, where we are, we
[2:59:05] are in the project development environment steady phase. And basically
[2:59:10] what that phase is looking at different alternatives. We have,
[2:59:14] you know, the concept that we have currently is one
[2:59:18] of the alternative that we chose as the prefeit alternative.
[2:59:22] However, we always listen to what's the residents as well
[2:59:26] as the electoral officials also have in place. And then
[2:59:30] we take some of those. And then we add that
[2:59:33] as part of our final, uh, evaluation to determine what
[2:59:36] is the best option to go with as far as
[2:59:39] a project is concerned. So by no means is this
[2:59:42] project at its being basically like finalized. It's something that
[2:59:47] is still ongoing. And that is why we keep coming
[2:59:49] to you all to be able to understand and get
[2:59:51] input from you and understand your positions. Now, as far
[2:59:55] as the construction is concerned, FDUT, as I mentioned, GMX
[3:00:00] follows FDOT. And FDOT has a process in a way
[3:00:04] construction, uh, is basically when they are doing construction, that
[3:00:08] involves pile driving. That requires them to monitor. You know,
[3:00:13] the buildings that are, you know, within the media vicinity
[3:00:16] of that area, uh, so they have, you know, vibration
[3:00:19] monitoring as well as also settlement mode monitoring. All of
[3:00:24] these are taken into consideration any projects in ODAT involves
[3:00:27] any POW driving or anything that goes into the ground.
[3:00:30] So all of that processes will be followed. These are
[3:00:33] done for any projects, you know, that involves any bridge
[3:00:37] construction of, you know, as I mentioned, pile driving or
[3:00:42] sheet piles or anything like that. So the project would
[3:00:45] follow that process. If it gets into construction to make
[3:00:48] sure that it ensures that we are not going beyond,
[3:00:52] we are not causing any settlements or any vibrations that
[3:00:57] are, you know, beyond what it needs to be. They
[3:01:00] ask standards that I established based on FDOT specifications. And
[3:01:03] that is what we follow. And that is done throughout
[3:01:06] the state. Um, I know there were a couple of
[3:01:12] other questions that were asked as it pertains to the
[3:01:16] traffic. Traffic is original. Okay. So as far as the
[3:01:22] traffic is concerned, if you have different connections, the issue
[3:01:27] that currently is faced in Miami Lakes is they are
[3:01:29] very few access points. From the town. And I think
[3:01:35] we all know that. As I said, I work here.
[3:01:38] I own a business here and I come here every
[3:01:40] day. Today, um, 87th, I have no 154th was basically
[3:01:46] jammed from 87th Avenue all the way to Palmeira. Same
[3:01:50] thing coming up here to this meeting, 67th Avenue, as
[3:01:53] you mentioned, it was all jumped. Okay. We need to
[3:01:56] have the way you help alleviate traffic. It's by providing
[3:02:03] additional access points. So that the traffic basically does not
[3:02:07] off funnel through one point. They go through different points.
[3:02:10] And that is pretty much the essence of this project
[3:02:13] to be able to have that redistribution of the traffic
[3:02:16] to ensure that all the major roads are able to,
[3:02:21] you know, handle some amount of the traffic and not
[3:02:23] all funneling to just one point. Same thing you did
[3:02:25] mention, uh, I 75. That is currently in the PDNE
[3:02:30] study right now. Uh, similar to what we are doing.
[3:02:32] They're a little behind us. But they're also going to
[3:02:35] be looking at different ramps. That connects to, you know,
[3:02:38] 178th as well as also, I believe, uh, there was
[3:02:40] a time they were looking at 154 as well. So
[3:02:43] having all these different access points helps to redistribute the
[3:02:46] traffic. And this project, what it does is not a
[3:02:49] capacity improvement project. It is a project that redistributes the
[3:02:52] traffic. You have some alleviation at 57th Avenue as well
[3:02:56] as also 150 folds, you know, so. And I know
[3:02:59] you did mention about the, um, having only just a
[3:03:03] few seconds, but just consider that it's only per vehicle.
[3:03:08] If you account for all the vehicles that use that,
[3:03:12] that is a lot of time that is being saved
[3:03:15] as well as if you convert that to travel time
[3:03:18] savings, uh, monetize it. That is a lot of money
[3:03:21] on an all basis. So this project basically is not
[3:03:25] just, uh, going to provide just impact on 67th Avenue.
[3:03:33] But it's basically looking at the entire area to be
[3:03:36] able to redistribute that traffic and help alleviates, you know,
[3:03:39] traffic for the entire Miami Lex Tanamilix. Thank you. What
[3:03:43] is a good email perhaps that the residents can email
[3:03:47] you their questions directly out? Cause I know again, I
[3:03:50] know Mr. Jose Sobron has a lot of questions. And
[3:03:54] I think that's more detail on some. They have, um,
[3:03:57] Teregacia. She is the PIO, the Publican World Officer. I
[3:04:03] have to look it up. But I think a lot
[3:04:05] of the residents have been emailing her. And Jose Jambari
[3:04:11] has the emails. So she have the contact. You have
[3:04:15] it. Okay. Can you read it, read into the record
[3:04:17] just so that for those, like for Jose and others.
[3:04:19] So the email for TED Garcia is T Garcia. At
[3:04:25] GMX. - way WAY. com. So I know you have
[3:04:33] a bunch of questions, a lot of, uh, variables that
[3:04:35] you wanted them to, you know, actually home in on
[3:04:39] that. So I would recommend that you get into contact
[3:04:41] with Terry and, you know, she can probably guide you
[3:04:43] better. But for now, again, this is about opposition to
[3:04:48] ramp B, right, and, and getting the study, you know,
[3:04:51] that is without it. You know, so we're going to
[3:04:56] begin our second round. We're going to start with constant
[3:04:57] sanctions. And he had asked me before we went to
[3:04:59] the gentleman here. And then we'll go to you, Mr.
[3:05:01] Vice Mayor. And then, uh, we'll go to Councilman Herzburg
[3:05:05] and to Consume Garcia. So to what the Vice Mayor's
[3:05:08] point earlier about, if this is going to extend the
[3:05:11] timeline, one of my questions during my one - on
[3:05:13] - one session with the GMX team was if the
[3:05:16] Off - ramp component is removed, what happens then? They
[3:05:19] said they would go back to the drawing table. It
[3:05:21] would take somewhere between the two to four month range
[3:05:24] for them to do the complete analysis to see the
[3:05:27] toll gantry where it would be located, things of that
[3:05:29] nature before they would come back and say, yes, it's
[3:05:32] feasible. Yes, it's not feasible, which is why I brought
[3:05:34] up the whole thing about this just, this isn't a
[3:05:36] decision saying, yes, we're going to do this right now.
[3:05:38] It's for them to do that study and come back
[3:05:40] to us at a later date to see if this
[3:05:42] is something that can work for all parties involved. That
[3:05:46] was the one point that I wanted to touch on.
[3:05:48] And you were part of that meeting as well. Yes,
[3:05:49] correct. Thank you, Councilman Sanchez. I'll go ahead and come
[3:05:52] over to me. Um, my question is actually, it seems
[3:05:57] like one of the biggest impediments towards feasibility of the
[3:06:03] removal of ramp B seems to be the relocation of
[3:06:07] the toe gantry. However, I don't see how the removal
[3:06:12] ramp B at all affects the location of the TOGA
[3:06:16] entry. Right now you're renderings and your plans show, uh,
[3:06:20] a new TOG entry on the entrance ramp A. It
[3:06:25] does not show one on RAMP C, but it says
[3:06:30] here a existing mainline tolling gantry to be relocated. But
[3:06:36] it kind of seems like you guys are relocating it
[3:06:37] because you feel like it because it's way after Ramsey,
[3:06:42] like way after. So I don't think that that needs
[3:06:44] to be real. If you're relocating it, fine. But it's
[3:06:48] not because the rams are making you do it. And
[3:06:51] then I see no toll gantry on rant B. Most
[3:06:54] importantly of all. So how exactly would the removal ramp
[3:06:58] B affect to use a vulgar term? The profitability of
[3:07:04] GMX's project because it doesn't seem like it would at
[3:07:06] all when it comes to the financial, that is beyond
[3:07:11] my, but let me explain to you how the Sogantry
[3:07:19] gets affected. So rump B. In order to be able
[3:07:23] to have an exit ramp coming off from the freeway.
[3:07:27] You need to have what we call a deceleration lane.
[3:07:30] So basically cast coming off from the, let's say they
[3:07:34] go in westbound, you know, as they get to the
[3:07:38] ramp, they have to decelerate. You say maybe you are
[3:07:41] doing 65, 70 on a, uh, Gratine. As you get
[3:07:45] to the ramp, you automatically slow down. So the way
[3:07:47] we design it is that we need to have a
[3:07:50] deceleration lane so that the cast can slow down. Before
[3:07:53] they get to, you know, the intersection. So that deceleration
[3:07:59] lane requires additional, um, whitening of the main line. And
[3:08:04] that white hand of the main line is what affects
[3:08:07] the toe country. So that is why you'd need, you
[3:08:11] know, to relocate that to organic. Because that is, you
[3:08:15] know, where it is located right now, it is actually,
[3:08:18] uh, in the way of the deceleration lane. Same thing
[3:08:21] with the Isbound on ramp. When you are getting onto
[3:08:25] an expressway, you need to accelerate. We need to provide
[3:08:29] you that additional room to be able to accelerate and
[3:08:32] almost, you know, be equal with the mainline speeds. And
[3:08:37] that is the additional lane that we also provide. And
[3:08:40] that also impacts the toe gun tree that is on
[3:08:43] the mainline as well. So that is why we needed
[3:08:46] to relocate the two country because it's in the way
[3:08:49] of those acceleration ramps. Just to be clear, and I
[3:08:59] don't know how much this really, the location of the
[3:09:02] toll entry goes into engineering, which I know is your
[3:09:05] forte. But again, just the way I see it. In
[3:09:11] this most recent version, I guess I'm looking at the
[3:09:15] TOG entry at the deceleration. I guess what you're saying
[3:09:19] is I can see how, how maybe saying that the
[3:09:22] Tolga entry would need to be modified. Maybe, but not,
[3:09:27] it doesn't need to be relocated. It would probably just
[3:09:30] need a minor modification to extend it, make it a
[3:09:33] little wider so that it catches that deceleration lane so
[3:09:36] that you're trying to get off. Sorry. You're still getting
[3:09:38] charged. I get it. You know, you guys got to
[3:09:42] pay for that. Um, but, um, I just don't, what
[3:09:47] I don't want to hear right is I don't want
[3:09:49] to hear this come back in a few months or
[3:09:51] whenever and say it's not feasible because of a financial
[3:09:55] issue because of the location of the toga entry. I'm
[3:10:00] saying, I'm calling as the young kids would say now
[3:10:03] cap on that. That is not, uh, at all, uh,
[3:10:07] the case. You already have an incoming TOG entry on
[3:10:11] ramp A. Ramp C would be covered by the existing
[3:10:15] total grand tree as modified. Actually even more so ramp
[3:10:20] B being there negates the need to relocate. So again,
[3:10:26] I don't see, you just actually said it yourself, nevermind.
[3:10:30] Taking out Rambini completely, we have to go back and,
[3:10:35] as you said, as I said earlier, we have to
[3:10:36] go back. It makes the project a lot cheaper. Yes,
[3:10:40] it would make the project a lot cheaper. And we
[3:10:44] would have to look at whether we can save the
[3:10:47] toe gantry if we take out Run B. Yes. Yes.
[3:10:50] I can answer that one for you. You could definitely
[3:10:54] can save the TOG entry as long as it's working
[3:10:55] today, which I'm pretty sure it charged me today. So
[3:10:57] it's working. All right, all you. With that, we go
[3:11:01] to Councilman Herzberg. Thank you, Mayor. A few questions. You
[3:11:05] mentioned the vibration monitors and things like that. How is
[3:11:09] that done? Is that done on site? Do you provide
[3:11:11] vibration monitors to the homes nearby? What precautions are taken,
[3:11:17] because that's something I know that interest them. Yeah, they
[3:11:20] do install monitors. To be able to monetize the vibrations.
[3:11:27] You know, that is not my area of expertise, but
[3:11:29] I do know that they do install monitors so that
[3:11:34] they, and they, you know, as on a daily basis,
[3:11:37] they would, you know, get readings from all these monitors
[3:11:41] to see what's the level of vibration, what is the
[3:11:43] level of settlement or anything like that. You know, so
[3:11:47] that is something that is done on any projects. As
[3:11:50] I said, most of the big projects have that's provisions.
[3:11:54] Right. I guess now ask somebody else, but you just
[3:11:57] don't know if they install them only at the project
[3:12:01] and certain geographical location away from the project. There is
[3:12:05] typically, that they typically go. I don't recall that of
[3:12:11] the top of my head, but there is a buffer
[3:12:13] zone the way they monitor all the properties in those
[3:12:17] areas so that they can be able to determine what
[3:12:20] is the level of vibration and settlements that is going
[3:12:22] on. Okay. And again, this is a big concern of
[3:12:26] mine on what this motion is. I don't know if
[3:12:29] you have the answer to that. The direction I'm okay
[3:12:32] with giving is that you look at the project, determine,
[3:12:36] take rid of Rent B because I think that's off
[3:12:38] the table for us. I believe it is. And come
[3:12:42] back to us. And then we can deceive the figures.
[3:12:45] Do you have any idea how long that would take
[3:12:46] to provide different traffic data on that? I think we
[3:12:51] had mentioned in some of our discussions with you all
[3:12:54] that you're going to be looking at maybe three to
[3:12:55] four months to get a good assessment because the way
[3:12:59] it's going to be is when you take out the
[3:13:01] ramp, we use the original model. That is, this was
[3:13:05] the model that is used by all three of the
[3:13:07] tricouunity. Mommy date broward and push county. It's the same
[3:13:10] model, all three counties use. And that model basically has
[3:13:16] all the, you know, the roadway network, developments that are
[3:13:19] ongoing, all the new projects and everything. And that is
[3:13:21] what we use to fork as a traffic. So if
[3:13:23] we want to know how traffic is going to get
[3:13:25] redistributed, you add a link into that model. And then
[3:13:29] the model will tell you basically, okay, when you add
[3:13:32] this link, this is the amount of traffic that is
[3:13:33] going to get diverted. And it's all based on, you
[3:13:36] know, traffic. Basically, everybody's looking for what is the fastest
[3:13:40] way. Can I get from point A to point B?
[3:13:42] So that's what the model does. The model has, you
[3:13:44] know, different things in there. And it's able to determine,
[3:13:47] you know, what will be the fastest way, what will
[3:13:49] be the best route to use. And it reroutes a
[3:13:51] traffic redistribute them. And that's what we use for this.
[3:13:53] So when we take that ramp out, we have to
[3:13:55] rerun the model again to understand it. And do you
[3:13:58] believe that, or is it common for projects at the
[3:14:01] scale to move forward with, for example, a four to
[3:14:04] six percent savings or do projects typically proceed with those
[3:14:11] type of numbers? Well, for this, you know, for this
[3:14:14] project, we are able to demonstrate that we can be
[3:14:18] able to provide benefits. Okay. Now ask to level of
[3:14:23] servers just looking at level of service and stuff like
[3:14:24] that. You know, they are some intersections that you need
[3:14:28] to do a lot more to be able to get
[3:14:29] it to work. For example, I'll give you a very
[3:14:31] good example on this project. 138 and 67th avenue. That
[3:14:37] is a major intersection that if you don't do anything,
[3:14:40] no matter what you, you know, just the traffic growing
[3:14:42] by itself, it's going to be failing. Right now it's
[3:14:44] failing. This proposed project is adding additional lens to that
[3:14:48] intersection to make it operate from a level of service
[3:14:51] F all the way, I believe, to a level of
[3:14:54] service D or something like that. So that's a huge
[3:14:57] improvement. Another intersection is 138 and 57th Avenue. You also
[3:15:02] experience significance improvements as well as also, um, the Miami
[3:15:07] - Leakes drive and the palmital rum terminals. So these
[3:15:12] are all improvements that we have. You know, that shows
[3:15:15] that this project is viable. And that is really what
[3:15:18] we look out for on any project, the viability of
[3:15:21] the projects. Thank you. Before we go there, again, Mr.
[3:15:27] Peterman, I just came over and I just asked you
[3:15:29] about, if we can get more detail about that home
[3:15:32] monitoring and everything else and count spin, Herzberg was asking,
[3:15:34] I think we're all interested in the answer to that.
[3:15:37] So just if you can BCC, the council on that.
[3:15:39] Account spin Garcia. And then we're going to bring this
[3:15:41] in for a landing. Thank you, Mayor. Um, thank you
[3:15:44] for being here again. I have a question on the
[3:15:45] entire Gratny ecosystem. Are there any exits or entrances that
[3:15:51] are 100 feet. From a end of a school zone
[3:15:55] or 100 yards less to a school. I'm not aware
[3:16:01] of there is any, you know, on the Gratin. I
[3:16:04] mean, the Gratine basically has 57th Avenue and then 37th
[3:16:08] Avenue. 37th Avenue is practically next to the Miami -
[3:16:12] Date college. It's not a K2A. Well, no, I mean,
[3:16:15] they call it pretty far away. Yeah, so it's a
[3:16:18] no. So I'm not aware. Let's put it like that.
[3:16:20] I'm not aware. In the entire, um, GMX system. Well,
[3:16:24] the entire exits that are 100 feet from a school
[3:16:28] zone or less than 100 words. I'm not a way
[3:16:31] at the moment. The answer is probably no as well.
[3:16:34] I mean, we can look, but my, again, is it
[3:16:39] can it help? Will it help a little bit? Yes.
[3:16:41] Is it even the entrant ramps? Is it too close.
[3:16:45] To a neighborhood and a schools? Highly a Miami Lakes
[3:16:48] entrance. On the other side, on the Hyale side or
[3:16:53] our side, it's just way too close to a school
[3:16:56] zone way too close to a neighborhood. Way too much
[3:16:59] infrastructure. The pile driving, the moving of the canal is
[3:17:02] just honestly, to me, that is my issue with, with
[3:17:06] that. Um, and I already did some of the research.
[3:17:10] And I looked at maps for, for a while. And
[3:17:12] I couldn't see a school zone that close or school
[3:17:14] that close to an entrance or an exit. And that
[3:17:18] would be my, uh, and I would ask the mayor,
[3:17:21] would you rather wait to all of us speak before
[3:17:22] I make a motion or would you rather me make
[3:17:24] a motion now? I want to make it as easy.
[3:17:26] Like I said, I want to bring you for a
[3:17:28] landing. So I don't want to waste anybody's time. I
[3:17:31] don't want to, GMX's time, which you've done a great
[3:17:32] job in educating everybody. And the residents. My motion right
[3:17:36] now is to not only include the exit ramp, but
[3:17:39] also the entrance ramp. And at this time, not approve
[3:17:43] or not as a council, not approve an entrance or
[3:17:46] an exit ramp to the phrasing that we're not approving
[3:17:50] anything. It's about a recommendation, a favorable recommendation or not.
[3:17:53] A recommendation not to accept an entrance or an exit
[3:17:56] at this time. Is there a second. Promotion dies for
[3:18:04] lack of a second. Anything else, Conspecia. Okay. Madam Clerk,
[3:18:09] please call the roll. So when the motion by Mayor
[3:18:16] Diegas, which was seconded by council member Sanchez, council member
[3:18:21] Garcia. No. Councilmember Cuadra Garcia. No. Councilmember Hersberg. Yes.
[3:18:33] Council member Sanchez. Yes. Councilmember Fernandez. No. Vice Mayor Morera.
[3:18:41] Yes. Mayor Diegas. Yes. The motion passes. Thank you by
[3:18:46] your vote. The motion carries and we now move to
[3:18:48] 16i by Council Member Sanchez. Yeah. That would be the,
[3:18:54] uh, the road improvements to the, uh, the Lake Patricia
[3:18:57] area. Thank you very much, sir, for your time. Thank
[3:19:01] you. Appreciate it. All right. So to speak a little
[3:19:03] bit on the background of this is, has to do
[3:19:05] with the atom that we just voted on is anticipated.
[3:19:09] Please, please pause, Councilman Sanchez, while we wait for the
[3:19:13] chambers to Empty. Oh, we before. 7. 2. Oh, okay.
[3:19:24] Yeah. So I need to take care of that. Go
[3:19:27] ahead. A motion of section 7. 2 of the Special
[3:19:30] Rules of Order. There's a motion to wave section 7.
[3:19:34] 2 of the Special Rules of Order. There's been a
[3:19:36] second by the Vice Mayor. All those in favor say
[3:19:38] aye. Aye. Aye. All opposed no. The ayes have it.
[3:19:42] And the rule is waived. Go ahead. Thank you. So
[3:19:45] the proposed GMX interchange that we just discussed project is
[3:19:49] anticipated to result in an increase of vehicular volume and
[3:19:52] elevated vehicle speeds along Miami Lakeway north and south. Lake
[3:19:57] Patricia Drive Lake Saronak Avenue and Lake Candawood Court. At
[3:20:01] present, no traffic calming infrastructure exists in these corridors, leaving
[3:20:05] police enforcement as the soul means of speed mitigation. It
[3:20:09] is recommended that the town council spent councilmen. Again, if
[3:20:15] you're having conversations and chambers, that includes you, David, I
[3:20:18] see you. I'm sorry. Please move outside. Thank you. All
[3:20:23] right. You may resume. An anticipation and to get ahead
[3:20:32] of what could possibly be. It is recommended that the
[3:20:36] town council direct the Public Works Department to coordinate with
[3:20:38] Miami - Dade County to evaluate the implementation of appropriate
[3:20:41] traffic calming measures, including, but not limited to Speed Humps
[3:20:46] roundabouts or other engineers in the affected corridors. In order
[3:20:50] to proactively mitigate, anticipated increases in traffic volume and vehicle
[3:20:54] speed resulting from the possible GMX interchange project. Second. All
[3:21:00] right. It's been moved in second. Mr. Vice Mayor, do
[3:21:03] you have any discussion? Just to say, as far as
[3:21:07] Miami - Lake Wade, north and south, I definitely think
[3:21:10] that we've already seen an uptick and speed there. Uh,
[3:21:14] so I think that this is very beneficial for that.
[3:21:16] Um, I do want to just point out, I also
[3:21:19] don't think that we need to. How do I say
[3:21:21] answer a problem that doesn't yet exist as far as
[3:21:25] some of the other streets mentioned Lake Patricia, uh, drive
[3:21:29] Lake Saranak Ave and Lake Handlewood Port. Those were referenced
[3:21:33] by several members of the several residents that live in
[3:21:39] those areas as though those were going to be used
[3:21:42] as back alley speedways for people avoiding traffic on 67.
[3:21:47] And as someone who loves back alley Speedways, I have
[3:21:51] a lot of experience in this. Those streets do not
[3:21:53] make turns as back alley speedways. They're kind of like
[3:21:57] off the beaten path. But just also, but I only
[3:22:00] say that in the sense of, I don't think we
[3:22:03] need to rack our brains over it, but as far
[3:22:05] as your motion is asking for the manager to look
[3:22:08] into potential options that we have there, I'm not going
[3:22:11] to oppose that at all. Right. Uh, always give me
[3:22:15] more information rather than less. Um, but, but I also
[3:22:18] just want to caution my colleagues on kind of going
[3:22:20] crazy and trying to do all the mitigations when it
[3:22:25] really might be overkill. Miami Lakeway North and South have
[3:22:29] already been requesting this kind of relief. So I definitely
[3:22:32] agree with moving forward on that. And I would only
[3:22:34] ask that in the research that the manager includes more
[3:22:39] than just merely speed bumps, that that includes potentially adding,
[3:22:43] uh, three or four way stops were applicable. Um, as
[3:22:48] well as maybe small roundabouts where the right of way
[3:22:51] is large enough for it, I can never say this
[3:22:54] word right chickens, which naturally possibly also, um, curbing to
[3:23:02] narrow the road. All of that, which naturally reduces the
[3:23:08] speed of traffic rather than just speed humps. Cause I
[3:23:11] can tell you as someone who used to live in
[3:23:13] Satori and had to take 13 speed bumps to get
[3:23:15] in and out every single time. It sucks. And so,
[3:23:19] uh, we don't want to also cause an unenjoyable ride
[3:23:23] in and out of town for our residents. So, you
[3:23:26] know, Mr. Manager, if you heard me, just consider non
[3:23:28] - Speedbump options non - speed bump options. Yeah. Also
[3:23:32] consider Speed Bums were applicable, but don't make that like
[3:23:35] the limit of exploration. If I may, one thing that
[3:23:39] you want to just may want to start to think,
[3:23:42] you don't have to decide today is some of these
[3:23:44] areas have already been assessed for speed humps. For instance,
[3:23:48] Lake Candlewood was a speed study was done. It qualified.
[3:23:52] But when we went to get concurrence from the residents,
[3:23:56] they said no. So not today, but at some point
[3:23:59] when we report back to you, you have to consider
[3:24:01] whether you want, because that's a self - imposed restriction,
[3:24:04] right? That we get concurrence from the neighboring residence. So
[3:24:07] one of the things that you're going to have to
[3:24:08] consider is whether we want to put them in, whether
[3:24:12] people say yes or no. So just future decision. And
[3:24:15] just to be clear, if we were to say no
[3:24:17] because we don't want to overrule the residents on that,
[3:24:20] uh, that nothing stops that if somehow this project does
[3:24:23] get built and it does suddenly start creating back alley
[3:24:27] speedways, they can come back and ask for it again.
[3:24:29] We're not prohibiting that. Right. Okay. Councilman Fernandez. So this
[3:24:35] item actually, I was waiting for something like this because
[3:24:40] I had a meeting with my brother. My brother lives
[3:24:42] on Lake Crescent Place. And these were the streets actually
[3:24:45] that he all, he brought up. I mean, I spent
[3:24:48] two hours with him. So I was waiting for, for
[3:24:51] this project to whether or not we were going to
[3:24:54] know if it was going to move forward or not.
[3:24:56] But I do think that even though we may not
[3:24:59] have gotten the some agreements from some of the residents,
[3:25:04] if it did move forward, I think. And I think
[3:25:06] that we could find some of them. There may be
[3:25:09] some that opposed putting in speed bones, but I think
[3:25:11] we could find residents, it would be okay with them
[3:25:15] if they had the one that I know for a
[3:25:17] fact that we did it and we couldn't get candle.
[3:25:19] It was Lake Candlewood. So some of we'll assess all
[3:25:21] of them and work with the county and seeing what
[3:25:23] other alternatives other than speed humps may be available. Some
[3:25:27] of them may be costly roundabouts or not cheap. Right.
[3:25:29] A lot more than speed humps. But you know, the
[3:25:33] space there, especially on Miami Lakeway South, that the space
[3:25:37] there that could tolerate a roundabout. I would include also
[3:25:42] the no left. So what he included in, you know,
[3:25:46] regarding roundabouts regarding speed humps, speed bumps. And also no
[3:25:51] left turns because that would actually deter people from using
[3:25:55] those cut through to be able to move further north
[3:25:58] and south on 67th Avenue. A left turn off of
[3:26:01] Lake Patricia. No left turn on Lake Patricia. It was
[3:26:04] installed at one point. My brother brought that up in
[3:26:07] my meeting with him. But it somehow it fell down
[3:26:09] and it was removed and it was never reinstalled. So
[3:26:12] I think that would be. Yeah. And it could be
[3:26:13] something that's time sensitive, right? So only two or three
[3:26:17] hours in the afternoon or those kinds of things, those
[3:26:19] restrictions. We can look at all that. Okay. Okay. Any
[3:26:25] countsman sanchez. Just to get back us, the reason why
[3:26:28] I put these items into those specific streets, Mr. Vice
[3:26:31] Mayor is because of the experience with Royal Oaks being
[3:26:35] used 79th Avenue as a cutthrougth. For those individuals that
[3:26:38] go down 82nd Avenue Cut into Royal Oaks and they
[3:26:41] speed down 79th to get to my Miliks Drive. So
[3:26:44] the path that I see here is if individuals are
[3:26:46] trying to get to the Gretni Expressway, for example, from
[3:26:48] Eagle Nest, they wouldn't have to go all the way
[3:26:51] to 67th Avenue. They would cut through possibly my Molecoi
[3:26:54] South and into all those streets. They kind of were
[3:26:57] like Patricia. Um, and use those streets to get into
[3:27:00] an easier access, especially in the morning rush hour when
[3:27:03] there's a school zone right at the intersection of Miami
[3:27:06] at Qua, um, south and 67, 000. That's why I
[3:27:09] included those in there as a precautionary. Yes. North and
[3:27:12] South? Absolutely. But I added those just because of the
[3:27:14] experience from 79th Avenue inside of Roilos. Anyone else? Councilman
[3:27:21] Herzberg and the Councilman Quadra Garcia. Thank you, Mayor. So,
[3:27:25] um, one thing I want to talk about just on
[3:27:28] this, and you're going to hear about it from next
[3:27:29] month is the timeline for improvement, ASAP, two reasons why.
[3:27:34] One, I think we got to make sure to give
[3:27:35] the manager an idea. And two, maybe this is a
[3:27:40] good idea regardless, but obviously there's no guarantee that the
[3:27:43] Gratini Project moves forward by the GMX comes back to
[3:27:45] us or even We Vote for it. I was really
[3:27:47] being really serious about that. I really, it's difficult for
[3:27:50] me to vote for the project. But, um, that's why
[3:27:52] I just want to make sure that we're using resources
[3:27:54] correctly. Regardless, there's a speed issue in Lakeway anyway. And
[3:28:00] I do want to look at other, other mitigation efforts
[3:28:02] other than just speed bumps. Because the Speed Bums, they're
[3:28:05] okay. They can work in smaller streets, but maybe the
[3:28:08] things, but of course, the cost. May I rip it.
[3:28:13] To respond, yes. So the implementation is not the implementation
[3:28:17] of the actual barriers is the implementation of them going
[3:28:22] out to get the ideas. No, I understand that. Because
[3:28:25] I know it's not going to take from one day
[3:28:26] to the next. Agreed. You'll, you'll hear from me next
[3:28:29] month about on that that issue. Okay. Thank you, counseling.
[3:28:33] Councilman Quadra Garcia. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Chair. Um,
[3:28:36] you guys, uh, took, uh, my word away roundabouts. You
[3:28:41] get to see them in different parts of the county.
[3:28:45] Coral Gables. You need to, uh, look into these, uh,
[3:28:48] roundabouts there. They're going to be, they're the things that
[3:28:53] will help us with the issue of the speeding. So
[3:28:57] that's, that's the key right there. Roundabouts. It'll be my,
[3:29:01] uh, next meetings MBI. I put it in roundabouts. Yep.
[3:29:09] Anyone else. All right. Out those in favor say aye.
[3:29:12] Aye. All opposed no. The ayes have it. The item
[3:29:15] passes. That was 16i. We are now on appointments, uh,
[3:29:20] being appointed to appoint it and sworn in, we have
[3:29:24] Audrey Tomlinson, the blasting advisory board by Councilman Steven Herzberg.
[3:29:29] We have two individuals who resigned. We have an individual
[3:29:32] who was removed due to absences. And we have an
[3:29:37] individual who requires a waiver. That is Mr. Eddie Mena,
[3:29:40] who is right here to the Veteran Affairs Committee by
[3:29:42] Council Member JC Fernandez, Councilman Fernandez is currently awake. So
[3:29:46] I will go ahead and move the waiver. I want
[3:29:49] to note that he is a veteran as well. So
[3:29:52] even though he may not live within our town boundaries,
[3:29:55] just like Mr. Uh, cardinals, you know, Gary Cardenas, uh,
[3:29:58] he is somebody who obviously cares about that community a
[3:30:01] whole lot. So with that, that is my, uh, second.
[3:30:05] I will second for discussion. Okay. Oh, I won. Well,
[3:30:08] what do you want to do? I have to correct
[3:30:09] the mayor and calling Mr. Manna a veteran. Mr. Mena
[3:30:13] is a Marine. And one submarine always a maringy. There
[3:30:19] you go. Okay. I'm sorry. Fred Navy Marine guys, you
[3:30:21] know, like go figure. But with that said, um, it
[3:30:26] was seconded by the Vice Mayor. All those in favor
[3:30:28] of the waivers say. All opposed no. The ayes haven't.
[3:30:32] And congratulations, Eddie. Welcome to the well, yeah, the club.
[3:30:35] I mean, you're always here anyway. So. Sure. Absolutely. Eddie,
[3:30:41] you want to say anything really quick? I'm sorry. No.
[3:30:44] Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Vice Mayor. Thank you. Council
[3:30:46] people. Thank you, the manager. Uh, I've been part of
[3:30:51] Mammy League's for a long time. I used to live
[3:30:53] here in Miami Lake. So you used to live in
[3:30:55] Wimbled Gate. I got married, moved to Hyale. But I
[3:30:59] am very, very active, very, very active here in Miami
[3:31:03] Leagues. I'm involved with the church. Lady the leaks. I'm
[3:31:07] involved with the veterans Day Parade. I'm involved with the
[3:31:11] forfeit of July party. I always bring people there. I've
[3:31:13] been doing that for 20, I think 24 years. So
[3:31:17] yeah, I'm a very active person. You're Remy Lakes. And
[3:31:19] I do care about Miami Lakes a lot. And I
[3:31:22] am honored to be, uh, in the veterans board committee.
[3:31:27] And I would do my best to help out the
[3:31:30] Resident Mami Lakes. The thank you once again. Councilman Garcia.
[3:31:36] You're going to thank you. My son's a Marine. He's
[3:31:38] a Norway right now training with NATO. Yeah. And, um,
[3:31:42] you know, he's, he's loving it, man. I was in
[3:31:46] for 84 through 88. Awesome. So yeah, I traveled the
[3:31:50] world as well. So it was pretty cool. He's loving
[3:31:52] it, man. Not that long ago. He's a strong height
[3:31:53] right now. He's loves it. Norway is beautiful, he says.
[3:31:55] Oh, that is a beautiful place. Yeah. And I'll tell
[3:31:57] you, by the way, just as the last concluder point,
[3:32:00] um, and I'm sure councilman Sanchez will echo my statement
[3:32:03] here. It's the same statement I've made to every single
[3:32:05] member of the of the VC, which is you need
[3:32:07] something. Let me know. And I'm sure he'll echo my
[3:32:10] sentiment on that. All of us really. It's one of
[3:32:13] our, our several. We have a lot of little treasures,
[3:32:15] but that one we hold really close to us. It's
[3:32:18] hard to your car. Yeah. Very close to our heart.
[3:32:21] So thank you for serving. Thank you. And both the
[3:32:23] military and in our committee. Thank you once again. All
[3:32:26] righty with that, we are on to the next item,
[3:32:29] which is the monthly police report.
[3:32:40] Oh, good evening all. For the month of July. Obviously
[3:32:45] our numbers continue to stay down, uh, we're currently at
[3:32:49] a 38 percent deficit crimes within the town. Um, as
[3:32:55] a part of like the mitigation process in reference to,
[3:32:57] I know a lot of concerns obviously were traffic related.
[3:33:01] We issued 176 citations. And also, uh, educated a total
[3:33:07] of 88 times in reference to the drivers for any
[3:33:10] infractions that they may have caused, tolding to 264 contacts
[3:33:14] for the month of July. Um, uh, besides obviously the
[3:33:18] obvious that we had, obviously, uh, you know, last week
[3:33:20] of the Statura theft, I'm really happy, obviously, that, uh,
[3:33:25] the community came together and our guys did a magnificent
[3:33:28] job in reference closing out that case. And, uh, you
[3:33:31] know, obviously we continue to do the very best that
[3:33:33] we can in reference to mitigate any issues that you
[3:33:35] guys bring upon. Sanchez. You recognize. Well, as always, outstanding
[3:33:43] job and great job on the first day back to
[3:33:45] school. I know the street lights were a little bit
[3:33:47] of a, uh, of a nightmare there on 79th. But
[3:33:51] you know, the whole department handled it the way that
[3:33:54] we know the ecclesia gold standard. That is Miami Dade
[3:33:58] County. And you're the crown jewel of Miami Dean County.
[3:34:02] On Saturday, though, around 3 p. m. I was coming
[3:34:06] off the Palmetto heading home. And I dialed 911 because
[3:34:09] of what I saw. There were a group of about
[3:34:12] 20 to 30 teenagers on dirt bikes doing wheaties. Passing
[3:34:17] in front of the golf course, heading westbound. I know
[3:34:19] the item later on on the agenda that addresses it
[3:34:22] from Councilman Garcia about creating a task force. Are there
[3:34:26] different things that we can do to try to mitigate
[3:34:29] that just before we get to the task force item?
[3:34:33] Or is just 911 the best thing that we can
[3:34:34] do. I mean, absolutely. I mean, um, you know, comedy
[3:34:38] is the truth of the matter is, is like when
[3:34:40] it comes to like anything referenced the bikes, dirt bikes,
[3:34:43] whatever. Those are all traffic mitigation issues. Right. Uh, so
[3:34:46] those get addressed the same exact way as speeding car
[3:34:50] or illegal U - turns. It's, it's really mitigating no
[3:34:53] different. Um, obviously, you know, more eyes and ears obviously
[3:34:57] better for us. Um, obviously, you know, like everybody knows
[3:35:00] we can't be everywhere at once. And obviously, you know,
[3:35:02] we drive big Christmas trees with lights on top. Uh,
[3:35:07] so obviously when they see us anywhere near, they typically
[3:35:10] don't do it. And they just kind of write along
[3:35:13] like they're supposed to. And when obviously mommy and daddy
[3:35:19] are not around, obviously they, they act accordingly, I guess.
[3:35:22] So with that being said, I mean, obviously, you know,
[3:35:24] the best router obviously is obviously called dispatch. Obviously to
[3:35:29] do it in a timely manner, obviously. Um, you know,
[3:35:32] and I know that obviously the concerns in reverence to
[3:35:34] e - bikes and scooters and, and eMotos, et cetera.
[3:35:38] But again, those are all like factions that we have
[3:35:41] to deal with no different than any traffic concern. Because
[3:35:45] again, it just runs into the same issues that we
[3:35:48] always run. It's, they're allowed to be on the road.
[3:35:50] Obviously they're not allowed to do Willie's and that kind
[3:35:52] of stuff. That's a different, that's totally different animal. But
[3:35:55] nonetheless, you know, the mere fact that they're on sidewalks
[3:35:58] or on the road and writing, unfortunately enough, that is
[3:36:01] part of what is allowed and references to the state
[3:36:03] laws. Um, you know, and obviously I understand the whole
[3:36:06] task force aspect of it, obviously for safety reasons. But,
[3:36:11] you know, unfortunately enough, a lot of those things are
[3:36:13] tied into traffic mitigation issues. The worst thing we can
[3:36:16] do ourselves is take physical action. We cannot go after
[3:36:18] them. Obviously law enforcement. We are now law enforcement, new
[3:36:22] or law enforcement. Right. Okay. Yeah. I mean, like, I
[3:36:25] mean, a lot of like, um, like, you know, some
[3:36:28] towns like Palmetto Bay. I know that Dave, you know,
[3:36:31] tried to do like educational campaigns in reference to like
[3:36:33] the e - bikes and stuff like that. I mean,
[3:36:34] that should be something that we should probably look into.
[3:36:37] I figure like what, you know, the Public Safety Committee.
[3:36:41] Now those are things that we can obviously work with.
[3:36:42] I know that, uh, just like golf carts, no different.
[3:36:46] Like golf cart safety. You know, these are the same
[3:36:48] exact same exact things, you know, and unfortunately enough. They
[3:36:51] are part of traffic mitigation. Thank you, Major. Any other
[3:36:56] comments or questions? Councilman Bada Garcia. Thank you, Mr. Major.
[3:37:00] Uh, great work. Congratulations on the team effort of getting
[3:37:06] that stature back. I thought it wasn't, uh, wasn't going
[3:37:10] to be recuperated, but it was great job. I had,
[3:37:15] I had an encounter with those, uh, those gentlemen. Actually,
[3:37:19] not one time, but two times with these gentlemen's popping
[3:37:23] willies going northbound on 79. And literally just popping the
[3:37:29] wheelie and I'm going like, okay, where are you guys
[3:37:31] going? And they're doing this to me. Yeah. I mean,
[3:37:34] literally doing the birdie and I'm going, okay, so my
[3:37:37] wife is, so I happened to, I happened to be
[3:37:42] able to talk to one of them. And I said,
[3:37:43] well, I'm sure that your mom and dad educated you
[3:37:48] a little more. Why don't you tell me where your
[3:37:50] mom and dad are? She says, come on, follow me.
[3:37:53] So they took me all the way into the guard
[3:37:55] gate and passed JC's street there and they made elect
[3:37:59] there. But what happened is the dead end, the dead
[3:38:02] end, right? So right, I said, well, where do you,
[3:38:05] what are you guys taking me? Are we close to
[3:38:07] your house. And right when we got to the dead
[3:38:10] end, they just left through the dead end. Have you
[3:38:14] seen them before these kids that are popping the wheelies?
[3:38:17] I mean, we see them around the town, obviously, but,
[3:38:20] um, there's been, there's been instances where, for example, I've
[3:38:23] addressed it, like seeing it at Main Street. Like obviously
[3:38:26] I live in the town as well. So those are
[3:38:29] things that I've been able to, you know, mitigating address
[3:38:32] at that moment. But once they're gone, they go right
[3:38:36] back to it. And it is, it is a social
[3:38:38] media trend. You know, there is like a very cult
[3:38:42] following in reference to what these kids are doing on
[3:38:44] the bikes and reference to Willis. So it's, it's, it's
[3:38:47] more geared to a trend more so than, you know,
[3:38:51] them being rembunctious in reality. So. Councilman Herzberg. Thank you
[3:38:59] very much, Mayor. And you just said Main Street. So
[3:39:01] reminded me, I got a phone call for my resident
[3:39:04] about Minshire. I think you might have been on Thursday,
[3:39:06] but it was sort of during summertime. They said there's
[3:39:09] just a lot of teenagers out there past 8 p.
[3:39:12] m. 10 p. m. Obviously that's a private property rule.
[3:39:14] I think the curfew's 11 p. m. right on weekdays?
[3:39:18] Well, so in reference to the private property, the grant
[3:39:21] of property is private property. Yeah. But the Grams Institute
[3:39:24] have added, I mean, and obviously Garcia knows this, um,
[3:39:30] their curfew's APM, but they have to enforce that. Right.
[3:39:33] Uh, they're security. No, because we have to go based
[3:39:37] off state law now since it is private property. What
[3:39:39] we do is that we, we're like a secondary line
[3:39:42] of defense for them. So if they, if they're enforcing
[3:39:45] their, their curfews, um, and they encounter issues. And obviously
[3:39:48] then at that point we trespass Warren and do that,
[3:39:51] that backend, because it is private property. But somewhere is
[3:39:55] over now, so weekday shouldn't be an issue. I know
[3:39:58] on Friday and Saturdays, usually some units there. I assume
[3:40:01] those are overtime. Those are off duties that are hired
[3:40:04] by the Grand Company. But those are only on Fridays
[3:40:07] and Saturdays? Fridays and Saturdays, correct. And so in the
[3:40:09] summer, we have a bigger footprint. So it turns out
[3:40:13] to be more officers on Friday, Saturdays and they add
[3:40:16] Sundays during the summer. We do that also during spring
[3:40:20] break. So winter break, those are times when the kids
[3:40:23] are out of school, obviously, you know, obviously they support
[3:40:26] us in that end. And it obviously helps a lot.
[3:40:29] Um, unfortunately enough, it's like, it's the same thing. It's
[3:40:32] like the footprint typically concentrates itself on the main portion
[3:40:36] of Main Street itself. And I have to obviously, you
[3:40:40] know, send my guys over to like the Park at
[3:40:42] Milowak, et cetera, because obviously when we start giving them
[3:40:45] a hard time that they have to leave and they're
[3:40:47] being, you know, pushed out, they just scattered to other,
[3:40:50] to other locations. And so it's, you know, it's just
[3:40:54] kind of like a kind of mouse game with them
[3:40:55] the entire time. Okay. Perfect. Just want to get some
[3:40:58] details on that. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other comments.
[3:41:02] Just, you know, great job on getting the statue back.
[3:41:07] I know, like he said, I thought it was gone.
[3:41:09] Um, and I think I saw some of our detectives
[3:41:13] were involved directly and figuring out where it was, as
[3:41:17] well as accumulating all the tips and all that stuff.
[3:41:20] So, you know, thank you guys for everything you guys
[3:41:22] done and for the numbers, which still do not lie.
[3:41:26] Uh, thank you. And shows that you guys are doing
[3:41:28] a phenomenal job. Thank you. Thank you so much. All
[3:41:30] right. Have a good evening. Thank you. All righty. We
[3:41:32] are on to 8b Public Works Monthly Infrastructure Report. Director
[3:41:38] Santos. Good evening, Council.
[3:41:49] So I'll go ahead and highlight two items. First one
[3:41:54] is the Miami Lakes Drive Traffic Ops and Feasibility Analysis.
[3:41:59] That report has been completed. The manager distributed to the
[3:42:03] council just to get a quick review. And then we
[3:42:06] plan to, we're planning to bring the consultant to do
[3:42:10] a formal presentation during the next meeting. Just some highlights.
[3:42:14] The consultant concluded that the four options are feasible to
[3:42:18] some point. And they, they do recommend proceeding with the
[3:42:22] next phase of doing a further analysis to determine if
[3:42:27] they are completely feasible to get to a construction. Um,
[3:42:30] but we'll go into more detail as far as the
[3:42:35] findings of the, of the analysis during the presentation. Omar,
[3:42:39] before you leave that item, I just want to talk
[3:42:41] to the council. And I may have mentioned it to
[3:42:44] some of you in our briefings is my intent, as
[3:42:47] long as there's no objection is with that feasibility study
[3:42:51] since it is four different options is to get a
[3:42:56] developer, a field trip with all of the stakeholders, FDOT,
[3:43:01] TPO, Date County Public Works, you, obviously the council, our
[3:43:07] county, uh, elected official, our state officials and get them
[3:43:12] out there so they could see it in person. And
[3:43:16] that way whenever we go to take the eventual hopefully
[3:43:20] next step, which is for asking for assistance with appropriations
[3:43:24] with funding some of these, uh, alternatives that they have
[3:43:28] a much better grasp on what it is that we're
[3:43:30] talking about. So as long as there's no objection, I'm
[3:43:32] going to start working towards that, uh, that end. Okay.
[3:43:38] The next one would be our 59 52 project. Our
[3:43:42] consultant has already responded to FDOT comments. We're waiting for
[3:43:46] the feedback on that. So yeah, we can close out
[3:43:49] this review phase. And the same has occurred for the
[3:43:52] county DTPW reviews. Uh, those have been uploaded into the
[3:43:56] portals and we're currently waiting for feedback to see if
[3:43:59] we could wrap up this phasing continuing to our 90
[3:44:02] percent. And then the last project I would like to
[3:44:05] highlight is like I did last time as our Park
[3:44:07] West, we've completed our negotiation face of the CEI and
[3:44:11] currently in the process of getting the contract executed to
[3:44:15] begin construction soon when the next few months. And that's
[3:44:19] it. Comments questions through the chair. Councilman Fernandez. It's not
[3:44:24] a common related to anything that you brought up. I
[3:44:27] just wanted to state this on the record that I
[3:44:29] got a phone call from a resident in Royal Oaks
[3:44:33] where he reported Sinkhole in front of his house, or
[3:44:37] at least something that could be developing. Um, I brought
[3:44:40] it up to O Morrent Santos as well. I copied
[3:44:44] the manager. And I'm not, I'm not even not exaggerating,
[3:44:47] but an hour maybe within an hour, I happen to
[3:44:51] drive by. I wanted to see whether it was present
[3:44:54] from the 82nd Avenue. And there was already a cone
[3:44:59] placed on where the supposed sinkhole is. So it was
[3:45:02] just addressed immediately. And I think that that shows the
[3:45:06] staff and specifically you, the great job you're doing. Thank
[3:45:10] you. Councilman Quadra Garcia. I don't know. It's for public
[3:45:14] works, but I sent a pictures to our town manager
[3:45:18] this morning reference to how the area over at advanced
[3:45:24] auto part area starting to look. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Manager,
[3:45:28] did you see them? He started to look like a
[3:45:30] pig pen over there. Yes. Really bad. That wouldn't be
[3:45:34] Public Works. That would be code enforcement. But would you,
[3:45:37] uh, look into that, please? Yes. Thank you. But now
[3:45:40] that I've got, uh, the director here. Where we at
[3:45:45] with, uh, my baby, the canal. So like I mentioned,
[3:45:50] we are in the process of developing NITB, which was
[3:45:53] the, I guess, the consensus during our last discussions. So
[3:46:01] to get a contract for repair and maintenance. And then
[3:46:04] we would budget, which we already, already made a note
[3:46:07] to have in our allocation and repair at maintenance budget.
[3:46:10] To do repairs on the canal bank. Okay. So basically
[3:46:15] let's say we approve the budget and all the good
[3:46:18] stuff. What warranty, what warranty are we going to get.
[3:46:22] Are we going to get a great warranty? So part
[3:46:25] of the repair would be a documentation of findings. And
[3:46:28] that we would determine if the cost for action against
[3:46:32] the warranty. And okay. No, but if we do decide
[3:46:35] to do the maintenance that you're stating that are we
[3:46:39] going to have a better warranty than the one that
[3:46:41] we have now, typically the standard warranty on labor and
[3:46:45] materials of the year. So. Okay. So we're working. We're
[3:46:50] working on it. Yes. Thank you. Um, vice Mayor. Bounceman
[3:46:56] Hermit. I guess let me clear up. So I make
[3:46:58] sure I'm the same page. Maintenance there usually isn't a
[3:47:02] warranty on the maintenance. Right. We're just repairing it or
[3:47:05] we're getting a contractor to make actual repairs that they
[3:47:08] would then warrant for a year. Yes. It's like our,
[3:47:12] our, our roadway contract. If they have the patches that
[3:47:16] we've done in several areas, so that fails within a
[3:47:18] year, we will go look at it. It's a due
[3:47:20] to the workmanship or the material that they use. So
[3:47:23] then we request for them to replace it. If it's
[3:47:26] not, if it's a truck fell on it, then it's
[3:47:27] something different. Right. So, so the, the actual areas of
[3:47:31] the canal bank that are repaired, replaced, repaired. Those would
[3:47:35] be under a year warranty. And of course, of course,
[3:47:39] it depends on how it's used. And the funding for
[3:47:42] the maintenance comes from stormwater, right? Stormwater, correct. Okay. Perfect.
[3:47:44] So you got a year to look at them, right?
[3:47:47] To make sure they're doing a good job. Got it.
[3:47:49] Thank you. When we actually get started, let me take
[3:47:53] one more privilege. Give me one second, Target. And it's,
[3:47:58] I just don't recall. Voting in favor of the repair
[3:48:04] part. I remember, yeah, the maintenance. Yeah. Obviously we maintain
[3:48:07] what's ours. But I don't remember voting for the, like
[3:48:10] the piece by piece. I remember me moving, uh, the
[3:48:15] canal bank stabilization project. And then getting voted down, including
[3:48:19] by Councilman Clarcia. So like that's what I just remember
[3:48:22] that getting shut down. So, so what project are we
[3:48:25] doing here? So it's not a project. So there was
[3:48:28] an extensive discussion. And at the end, the agreement was
[3:48:30] we have to do something. So one of the things
[3:48:33] I mentioned was we can do an invitation to bid
[3:48:36] to have a, uh, on an ass needed basis repairing
[3:48:41] maintenance contract. Similar to how we have in the roadway.
[3:48:45] My understanding that the agreement was yes, let's proceed with
[3:48:47] that. And then we would budget to determine when it
[3:48:51] becomes needed. Well, we know the need for repair now.
[3:48:55] So we'll have that just add up to more than
[3:48:58] whatever was the proposal that got shot down. Over time.
[3:49:02] No. If I may. So the numbers were there. I
[3:49:06] remember one number is like 700, 000. Another one number
[3:49:09] was about a hundred thousand a year or something like
[3:49:11] that. That was your estimate. That was an all -
[3:49:13] in approach. The 700 was all in. Yes. So this
[3:49:16] would be on an ass needed basis. So we would
[3:49:18] determine based on what is approved. The budget every year.
[3:49:22] Like priority, this is what needs to be repaired first.
[3:49:25] And here's your hundred thousand. I mean, for all I
[3:49:27] know, you might run out of the money in the
[3:49:28] first three months based off the condition. We would do
[3:49:32] it in sections. We'll say if we only have enough
[3:49:33] to do the first 30 feet, we'll do the first
[3:49:35] 30 feet. So I guess right now we don't even
[3:49:37] have this item budgeted. We would be budgeting it in
[3:49:40] this fiscal year now. Right. And but in stormwater. Yes.
[3:49:42] Out of stormwater. Okay. All right. Councilman Gladiator Garcia. What
[3:49:50] does it cost us every time we do, I don't
[3:49:53] know if you call it flag or a piece of
[3:49:56] concrete. I think some people call it a flag. Some
[3:50:00] call it a slab. So every time we do a
[3:50:03] slab because a root is lifting it up. What are
[3:50:08] we roughly pay whatever contractor. I'm going to hit you
[3:50:14] with some numbers of Yahweh Calculator pull it up. Heach
[3:50:18] five by five flag is about 2. 78 square yards.
[3:50:22] I think right now our contract don't quote me on
[3:50:25] this. But well, quote me for now, but I'll double
[3:50:28] check. Thing is around 55 dollars a square yard plus
[3:50:31] a 10 percent mobilization fee. So from that you can
[3:50:34] get your Pur flag cost. Okay. No, it's not too
[3:50:38] dollar per square foot flag. Five by five per five
[3:50:46] by five. But these are these flags are not five
[3:50:49] by five. The typical ones are yes. The residential ones.
[3:50:53] The only ones you get bigger are like commerce way.
[3:50:55] Miami Lake where you get some bigger ones. That's super
[3:50:58] cheap. Okay. All I can tell you is that I'm
[3:51:01] up. Okay. So all I can tell you is that
[3:51:04] there's a lot of them that are being done and
[3:51:06] they're not even a year old and they're cracking. They're
[3:51:11] lifting up because the roots are doing it again. We're
[3:51:15] not putting root barriers. So we're going to be talking
[3:51:19] about those root berries real soon again. But have you
[3:51:22] recall, I don't know if you were a council member
[3:51:24] by them, but we discussed this in several meetings in
[3:51:27] the past. Depending on the size of the tree, we
[3:51:31] may not be able to install a root barrier. And
[3:51:34] that's something we can discuss later. I'm going to more
[3:51:37] detail instead of, you know, taking over the time here.
[3:51:39] But if you want, we can discuss that later. Beautiful.
[3:51:42] Um, like Councilman Fernandez, my point is not really one
[3:51:46] of the things that are mentioned here. And you can
[3:51:49] feel free to keep your answers brief as you want.
[3:51:53] And we can discuss it more offline. But it's something
[3:51:56] you said earlier about the options on Miami Lakes drive
[3:51:59] kind of just jog my memory. That time that we
[3:52:01] met and discussed the whole AI timing thing with the
[3:52:07] synchronization of the lights. The last I heard about that
[3:52:10] was like a while ago. And we were still waiting
[3:52:13] to hear back on some permits from Miami Dade County.
[3:52:16] What has happened since then? Has it finally gone active?
[3:52:19] What's going on? So since then the county, we had
[3:52:21] to do some leg work on our end. The county
[3:52:24] has approved our documentation. And the final part is for
[3:52:27] the contractor to schedule an inspection on site with the
[3:52:31] Miami - Dade County inspector. They'll close our permit. As
[3:52:35] far as that portion going live, that is something the
[3:52:39] county would work on. I know they've been upgrading the
[3:52:45] cabinets with new hardware. You know, I don't know if
[3:52:51] the ultimate goal is to get that live in the
[3:52:53] Miami - Lex area, but they haven't working on upgrades
[3:52:55] to the system. Does that, when you say the hardware?
[3:53:01] Does that mean essentially that whatever we paid for as
[3:53:04] a town, the whole AI thing was basically just a
[3:53:07] waste or is not a hundred percent? Well, not a
[3:53:09] hundred percent. That's what I'm not understanding. Yeah. Some of
[3:53:11] the things we did understand what exactly we paid for
[3:53:14] and what's going to happen when it goes active and
[3:53:16] will it ever go active. That I would have to
[3:53:19] get the answer about the adaptive civilization. That's what you're
[3:53:24] talking about. But other things that the town worked on
[3:53:27] were the cameras that are currently be used by police.
[3:53:29] I don't see those being taken out by the county
[3:53:32] as part of the work they're doing now. And they
[3:53:34] are being used. Okay. Alrighty. Any other questions? Go ahead.
[3:53:41] Keep it. Short. Coming from my house on 79th, going
[3:53:46] towards 154th Street. You've got the hotel there. I call
[3:53:52] it the Motel. What's it called? The kinta. I called
[3:53:57] it the Kinta Motel. Right there, when you get to
[3:54:00] the light. To make a left, it doesn't even give
[3:54:04] you a minute. To be able to make a left.
[3:54:08] And it just backs up there. What is going on?
[3:54:11] Isn't Eli supposed to give you at least a minute
[3:54:13] for cars to be able to turn. That would be
[3:54:16] up to the county traffic timing engineer to determine what's
[3:54:19] appropriate timing for those movements. And it may change on
[3:54:24] the time of the day. Rush hour, uh, midday and
[3:54:28] afternoon rush hour, it changes. Uh, JC, you live Councilor
[3:54:32] McJ. You live in my, have you experienced the same
[3:54:35] issue. Make it rough, but I think that it's not
[3:54:40] really through the town that makes those moves on the
[3:54:43] timing. I think it has to do with the county.
[3:54:46] So if they're having an issue, which we sometimes I
[3:54:49] feel it, sometimes I don't. It depends on the time
[3:54:52] of day. But, uh, but I think we got to
[3:54:54] take that up with the county. It's early in the
[3:54:56] morning. I've had the residents. Tell me. Sorry to interrupt,
[3:55:00] but that's what I was going to mention. Have you
[3:55:01] ever specific time? We could always send the questions to
[3:55:04] the county. So, I mean, the specific time is always
[3:55:07] because when I'm driving a nine, 10 o'clock at night,
[3:55:10] it just makes no sense. Obviously in the morning we
[3:55:14] hear from residents a lot, I'm thankfully avoid that area
[3:55:16] in the morning. But I think on the Saturday at
[3:55:20] 10. 30 at night, I get off, I get a
[3:55:23] ride, it goes too green, then it's red again. It
[3:55:25] makes zero sense. I mean, in my opinion, there's been
[3:55:28] absolutely monkey is deciding the timing change because nothing makes
[3:55:33] sense. And I feel like it's different every single day.
[3:55:37] I know it's not, but it just, it doesn't make
[3:55:40] any sense. And I would love for there just to
[3:55:42] be, I like that at night when they used to
[3:55:45] turn the lights off. I don't know why Dake County
[3:55:47] stopped doing that. I guess it was a safety thing.
[3:55:49] It made a lot of sense. Yeah. That was great.
[3:55:51] I mean, I feel like it, the few lights in
[3:55:54] town that do it, but not many. Most lights stay
[3:55:57] on. I don't know why the need for a lot
[3:55:58] of these stoplights at night. But I would love to
[3:56:02] just, how do we see, isn't there like, can't we
[3:56:05] ask the county for like, this is the current signalization
[3:56:08] plan? Or is it just random, like I think it
[3:56:10] is. A question. Is there a way for the town
[3:56:16] through the manager to ask the county, like, what is
[3:56:20] their plan. For this? There's got to be a number.
[3:56:25] Oh, what's the setup? Right. It's got something that says
[3:56:29] seven and nine. This is what the timing is between
[3:56:31] 10 and 12. I would love to just see that
[3:56:33] and then say, well, this doesn't make sense. Is you
[3:56:36] just going back to the both items, the concerns specifically
[3:56:39] to the 795 new intersection or just that entire? It's
[3:56:43] a whole thing. In my opinion. I'm going to ask
[3:56:45] this last question and then I think we really should
[3:56:48] just move this into a sunshine, honestly. Because I think
[3:56:52] this is actually a very prudent discussion. Um, and it's,
[3:56:57] could something be done sort of like what was done
[3:56:59] with the speed bumps where maybe the town, sorry, the
[3:57:04] county relinquishes that very tight grasp that they have over
[3:57:07] the signals and allows us to do it under certain
[3:57:10] criteria. The way it is with the speed bones where
[3:57:13] we don't have free reign to its stall speed bunts
[3:57:16] wherever we want. We have to do the study. We
[3:57:18] have to meet all the criteria as the manager said
[3:57:21] earlier about, uh, I forgot which street it was met
[3:57:24] the criteria for it. And if it doesn't, then, then
[3:57:27] we can't do it without the county's approval. Can we
[3:57:30] have something like that with this? My initial thought is
[3:57:34] no but. We can always ask a question, but the
[3:57:37] reason I would say no, it's because that is equipment.
[3:57:40] A software system that they manage internally. So that was
[3:57:43] essentially mean they would give the town authority to access
[3:57:49] their system to control the lights within the town. And
[3:57:52] then we wouldn't know how that impacts traffic coming from
[3:57:55] IA type of. So that's the difficulty. And that's why
[3:57:59] they, they maintained this umbrella coverage or authority. I think
[3:58:05] that it's a fruitful discussion to be able to do
[3:58:08] make the ask, right? Uh, like if they say no,
[3:58:11] they say no, but, but I think that that you're
[3:58:13] saying about the concern about how it affects highalio or
[3:58:16] unincorporated data or whatever. I think that that's where the
[3:58:18] criteria come in. Obviously we cannot set all of our
[3:58:21] lights to permanent green so that we're just jamming up
[3:58:24] all of Hyalea streets, obviously. There has to be as
[3:58:28] great as that would be just getting, but, but at
[3:58:31] the end of the day, we can ask. And if
[3:58:33] they say no, we say no. And we, and we
[3:58:35] move on. All right. Thank you, Director Santos. Anything else
[3:58:38] from your report. No? No. All righty. Connect. Well, the
[3:58:43] mayor's back, but we're on to the next manager's report,
[3:58:47] which is the chamber display and dias presentation AV enhancements.
[3:58:52] Mr. Cure, welcome back to the podium. It's been a
[3:58:55] minute.
[3:59:05] Very nice. Yeah. It goes hard to find something like
[3:59:10] what's good. Uh, Goodybring Council member, staff. Member of the
[3:59:15] Public, uh, this is Herman Cure, Technology Officer for the
[3:59:18] Etano Miami Leaks. Before you, uh, is the report that
[3:59:22] provides modern upgrade options and codes estimates for improving visibility
[3:59:27] presentation capabilities. And there were all meeting experience within the
[3:59:31] council chambers. These reports followed in 16C from the May
[3:59:35] agenda presented by councilmember Garcia. During the discussion of that
[3:59:41] item, additional input was received from the council members regarding
[3:59:45] opportunities to improve related aspects of the chambers. Including displays
[3:59:49] at the dais and podium. Additional ideas were incorporating this
[3:59:55] report. So that we could evaluate improvements as one comprehensive
[3:59:59] effort. The goal of this report is to provide counsel.
[4:00:03] We're available options and estimated costs to help guide the
[4:00:06] location of funds when they cancel determine it is appropriate.
[4:00:12] So the report is divided in three main areas. Chambers
[4:00:16] display options. Dias display enhancements and podium displays improvements. On
[4:00:24] page one and two, we have a summarize each area.
[4:00:29] Starting with the chamber display options, we evaluated four potential
[4:00:34] approaches. Number one, install TV monitors on each side of
[4:00:38] the seating area behind you. Number two will be installing
[4:00:43] two projectors on each side of the chambers. Which is
[4:00:46] an alternative display solution to the monitors. Number three will
[4:00:51] be installed in three projectors. To projectors on the rear
[4:00:55] wall behind the council. For viewing by the Public and
[4:00:59] one projector facing the AV room to provide display for
[4:01:02] the council members. And the four options is using rolling
[4:01:06] TV displays. Any questions on the first? Through the chair.
[4:01:14] Yeah. Councilman Garcia, but I just want to state for
[4:01:17] all my colleagues. We now have less than an hour
[4:01:20] before we need to start having motions to extend. And
[4:01:23] remember that Purt of Charter, we have a hard cutoff
[4:01:25] at midnight and we still have, uh, a lot to
[4:01:28] cover in the agenda. So let's just keep our, our
[4:01:30] discussions brief and to the point. Councilman Garcia. Thank you
[4:01:33] Mayor. And I will be brief. And I, Mont, thank
[4:01:36] you for much for taking the time and doing this.
[4:01:39] I mean, the options look great. What I have an
[4:01:43] incredible trouble with is the price. I'm on the best
[4:01:46] buy website. There's a hundred inch TV for less than
[4:01:49] a thousand dollars. They're correct. Yes. Okay. You have two
[4:01:53] TVs here. That and a rolling cart for 6, 000
[4:01:59] dollars. I don't know where you got that. Those prices
[4:02:02] I love to ask you. But Best Buy is telling
[4:02:05] me I can get a hundred inch TV for a
[4:02:06] thousand bucks. And I'm sure a cart is not more
[4:02:08] than 200 bucks. So if I look at what's on
[4:02:12] Best Buy and what I can get compared to the
[4:02:14] prices. And these are rolling carts which require Wi -
[4:02:17] Fi. No connections. It's 6, 000 dollars. Can you explain
[4:02:21] that the disparity between what I can get at Best
[4:02:23] Buy. And what I get for probably cables or anything
[4:02:32] like that? Where's the disparity and the cost? It varies.
[4:02:36] Yes. You can get from Best Buy from a CW
[4:02:41] from any suppliers. Uh, copro items or things that you
[4:02:45] have to keep in mind, you know, is going to
[4:02:47] be these places are going to be turning on and
[4:02:49] off. You're going to be stay on for a long
[4:02:51] time. Uh, number of output or input that you need.
[4:02:56] So yes, you might find something, no really good feed
[4:03:02] for the town. Probably 2000 dollars will be more in
[4:03:05] range of what we'll require. So of course if the
[4:03:09] decision is made, we will look for the best price,
[4:03:12] but this is like an overall. Also one thing that
[4:03:14] drives a lot is technology is very in a lot.
[4:03:18] So I can say a thousand dollars now with a
[4:03:20] time that I'm going to place the order is going
[4:03:21] to be 1500. So 2007 within this is a very
[4:03:24] conservative numbers. And rolling cards. Yes. Again, you can find
[4:03:29] some very sturdy. Something cheaply made. So at the Initiative
[4:03:32] number that we have in there. You're telling me that
[4:03:35] 6, 000 dollars for 200 inch TVs and two cards.
[4:03:39] 6, 000 dollar is a conservative number. Yes. You have
[4:03:43] to, uh, run some maybe electrical. We have to find
[4:03:46] it. We have an outlist close by. So, okay. One
[4:03:51] more question. Sorry, Mr. Mayor. Okay. Because I think this
[4:03:55] is an eye opener to all of us here. And
[4:03:57] no disrespect because I know this is your, you're an
[4:04:00] expert. You're just me in this. The whole point of
[4:04:02] my item was to help the audience. You saw today
[4:04:06] they had to be looking sideways and backwards. Right. And
[4:04:09] that's very uncomfortable, especially if you're a senior, you have
[4:04:11] problems with your neck. So I'm willing just to do
[4:04:14] that little, um, you know, the rolling cards or for
[4:04:17] the presenters, that little arm with a 22 inch thing.
[4:04:20] So they can see what they're doing here in the
[4:04:21] podium. Yeah. The cost for that is a thousand dollars.
[4:04:28] With an arm is a thousand dollars. Just the money
[4:04:31] throws himself. It could be 600 dollars more or less.
[4:04:35] And then you have to add the labor. How can
[4:04:36] a 22 inch monitor cost 600 dollars when a hundred
[4:04:40] inch monitor cost? I'm just maybe because I'm not into
[4:04:44] that. But again, electronics, the wiring. You have wiring installation
[4:04:50] and cabling 21, 000 almost two thirds of the cost
[4:04:53] of the actual upgrades. If we put two screens which
[4:04:57] are projectors up here. Yes. We can get a local
[4:05:01] AV guy from Best Buy to come on. This is
[4:05:03] a local AB guy. What drives the most of the
[4:05:06] calls on this installation? Hardware is a small percentage. Labor
[4:05:10] is the big ticket admin here. If you see this
[4:05:13] building, when it was constructor, usually fine in new construction
[4:05:19] that you are forcing the future expansion. So all these
[4:05:23] cable has to be run. It's a pretty high building.
[4:05:25] Uh, you have maybe a lifter or two. And you
[4:05:28] have to run all the warnings from here all the
[4:05:30] way back to the other room. And that includes also
[4:05:33] electricity and everything cabling and anything related to the AV
[4:05:37] connection. Okay. What I would ask is obviously we're not
[4:05:41] going to spend all that money. But I honestly think
[4:05:43] that this is way, way out of line of costs
[4:05:48] that, I mean, honestly, I know what you're saying, but
[4:05:51] two hundred inch televisions on two, what was it, two
[4:05:55] cards? Roaring cards, yes. Man, that shouldn't be more than
[4:05:58] two grand. And I think that, you know, I can't,
[4:06:02] we need this here. But even that, even that little
[4:06:04] arm with the 22 inch, I'm sorry, man. What if
[4:06:08] I go by a 22 inch TV with an arm
[4:06:11] and get it for 400 bucks? Would you install it?
[4:06:13] Of course. So if I can do it, that's what.
[4:06:18] No, if you find it, yes. Yeah. I just found
[4:06:21] our best spot. I'm just saying guys. I'm a little
[4:06:22] frustrated with the exaggerated cost. There has to be local
[4:06:26] construction guy, electrolectrical guy that'll give us a better price
[4:06:30] than almost 25, 000 dollars, 21, 000 dollars for installation.
[4:06:36] Now when the building was built, and this wasn't considered
[4:06:40] possible future AV conduits or anything like that, was it
[4:06:43] put in? No, that's what I'm saying that everything has
[4:06:46] to be built for a scratch. Okay. I don't want
[4:06:49] to waste your time. Guys, my colleagues, is anybody else
[4:06:53] who feels, and I know that this is just way,
[4:06:57] way too much. For stuff that we can get for
[4:07:00] a third to price on the stream. Mr. Mayor, real
[4:07:05] quick, I know we're pressed for time. I'll take seconds.
[4:07:08] We're going to go, we're going to go, uh, still
[4:07:09] in order. I'm still, I wasn't trying to say that
[4:07:11] we need to rush like through everything at the speed
[4:07:14] of light, but let's also just be cognizant of how
[4:07:16] much time we're taking. I will come to you now.
[4:07:19] Let's begin with the vice mayor and then we'll go
[4:07:20] to Councillor Quadra Garcia. I don't know if Councilman Hersburg
[4:07:22] had anything to add. Okay. Fine. So we'll after consent
[4:07:26] quadration. Go ahead. I'm not going to, I actually don't
[4:07:31] think the price is that crazy. Um, I've, I've seen
[4:07:36] IT costs before. They do seem that way. Right. To
[4:07:40] the average person. In option one, for example, 14, 464
[4:07:47] dollars out of, uh, out of the, they're charging 17,
[4:07:52] 000 for, for, for the hardware plus the AV upgrades
[4:07:59] plus the accessories. What exactly are the AV upgrades and
[4:08:01] the accessories that we're talking about there? That's a good
[4:08:03] question. Uh, if you see how many TVs we have
[4:08:06] here, we have one, two, three here outside, inside the
[4:08:09] room probably have an over two or three. Uh, everything
[4:08:12] that connects to the AV switch is already maxed out.
[4:08:16] So there is a need to fix, I'm sorry, to
[4:08:18] upgrade data AV switch. Okay. So, so my, my experience
[4:08:25] in my own purchasing for like my law firm is
[4:08:29] quality in these kinds of things matters. The last thing
[4:08:31] you want, especially, and personally, I just have to say,
[4:08:34] I don't like the projector option. It is the most
[4:08:37] expensive option. Um, and I just don't like the idea
[4:08:41] of having a projector hung 20 feet down from the
[4:08:45] ceiling. It's just going to look weird. Um, the, the,
[4:08:48] the TV option is far superior. But then now you
[4:08:52] have to wonder if very considerable period of time, it
[4:08:57] is going to literally show something that looks like that.
[4:09:00] Right. Kind of like a placeholder image. The last thing
[4:09:03] you want, you buy a bad quality TV. It's going
[4:09:06] to burn the image into that TV. And it will
[4:09:09] never come off. And then it'll look like bad quality.
[4:09:13] This is one of those areas where I'm just trying
[4:09:15] to say honestly we're not poor. We're really not. And
[4:09:21] I do really appreciate you originally bringing this item up,
[4:09:24] but this is now a council item. And I'll just
[4:09:27] go ahead and do it just to sake of moving
[4:09:29] time. Uh, I'm going to move option one for the
[4:09:32] chamber display. And I'm going to move option. Whoa, option
[4:09:38] one, the only one for the dais display options. And
[4:09:41] I'm going to move the C podium display, alter them.
[4:09:48] All right. Is there a second? Second. It's been seconded
[4:09:52] by, uh, the, uh, by consent member for hand is,
[4:09:57] can you go again now? So option one. Option one,
[4:10:01] which is the two TVs for 30, 000. Okay. Yeah.
[4:10:05] One, one and one. Yeah. In each category. In each
[4:10:07] category. Personally, I'm not crazy though. Even about the TVs.
[4:10:11] I mean, for all the money that we're going to
[4:10:12] spend there, I mean, you know, like, and the truth
[4:10:16] is like, look, even, even I, you know, from here,
[4:10:19] I have that TV right there, you know, I can
[4:10:20] see, you know, what's going on. I mean, to me,
[4:10:23] it just, if it's going to cost as much, we're
[4:10:25] better off just not doing it at all. I mean,
[4:10:27] that's just my two cents, but I understand where you're
[4:10:29] coming from. Like you said, we were just trying to
[4:10:30] move this forward. A constant quadriccia and then councilman's Herzberg.
[4:10:34] Thank you. Um, Hanaman, I know you love this town.
[4:10:41] If we can't do better, if we can't shop and
[4:10:43] get a better deal, I'm going to agree with, uh,
[4:10:47] with the, uh, with a mayor, it's either a better
[4:10:50] deal or nothing. So try, if we're going to have
[4:10:54] it, try to, try to do the negotiation and try
[4:10:58] to get us a little better deal. Of course. We
[4:11:00] always do. Yeah. Thank you. Councilman Herzberg. So, um, I
[4:11:04] don't, I don't, I don't even like option one. I
[4:11:06] don't like the look of it. And I really don't
[4:11:07] think how much we're going to use it. I'm all
[4:11:09] four option four. I think it is a little overpriced.
[4:11:12] I think we would get a decent quality TV, which
[4:11:17] should cost between 1500 dollars each four is a conservative
[4:11:22] number. I agree if you, it's definitely not what I
[4:11:24] would expect the town to spend on it. Uh, but
[4:11:27] I understand, you know, wife sometimes you want to put
[4:11:30] conservative numbers. Uh, but I honestly don't like having, and
[4:11:34] God, we trust a seal, nothing else. I don't want
[4:11:36] to put TVs behind us. I don't see the need.
[4:11:39] How often we go use this for site plan reviews.
[4:11:44] Someone has a presentation. Uh, I don't even see, I
[4:11:47] mean, I have my computer here. I can just log
[4:11:48] on to, uh, wherever I need to go where, where
[4:11:51] the manager can just provide us the PowerPoint ahead of
[4:11:53] time. Right. I do believe, right, no, but I'm, that's
[4:11:56] why I've said, I think option four is good to
[4:11:59] when we need it. You bring it out when you
[4:12:01] don't need it. We don't have it. And then I
[4:12:03] put a hundred percent we got to put something on
[4:12:05] the podium. The people that present to us should have
[4:12:09] that benefit. So do you have an amendment? Yeah. All
[4:12:11] men. I would amend the motion to then go with
[4:12:14] instead of option one, option four, um, I don't believe
[4:12:17] we need any, um, dais visibility. We all have our
[4:12:22] own computers and iPads and then go with, um, the
[4:12:25] podium visibility. So option four for chamber display and option
[4:12:30] one for summary for podium display. I'll second that. It's
[4:12:33] been seconded by council member Garcia. I have a question
[4:12:36] before, uh, we continue though. What are we solving again
[4:12:40] by putting it at the podium? Is that for presenters?
[4:12:42] Is that okay. Okay. Okay. Because now they're looking sideways.
[4:12:45] They can't see either. Okay. Got it. Yeah. I just
[4:12:47] wanted to clarify that. Okay. Uh, Vice Bear Mordead. I
[4:12:49] believe you had your hand though. Yeah. Out of all
[4:12:51] the options. That's not my least favorite because my least
[4:12:54] favorite is the projectors, but it's very close to being,
[4:12:58] uh, tied for my least favorite primarily because I don't
[4:13:01] know. It just gives me PTSD from school when they
[4:13:04] just rolled in the little TV cart. But also I
[4:13:08] think it's a gigantic waste of space in our council
[4:13:10] chambers, whether you put it there. Also, where are you
[4:13:13] going to store it? Because, um, we have a lot
[4:13:16] of special events in this chambers. And that thing's going
[4:13:19] to break if you just leave it out here. So,
[4:13:22] so you could try in there, nothing fits in there.
[4:13:25] Yeah. I'm into the amendment. No, I'm just saying I'm
[4:13:28] going to vote no on the amount of. Okay. Yeah.
[4:13:30] Sora shit is a challenge for those TVs. If you
[4:13:32] see the room is already packed. Thank you, Hey Man.
[4:13:35] Uh, Madam Clerk, please call the role on the, uh,
[4:13:38] on the amendment. The amendment by. Council member Hersburg seconded
[4:13:43] by council member Garcia. Council member quadra Garcia. It's a
[4:13:47] big no. Council Member Garcia. It's a yes. If you
[4:13:52] can find a better price. Council member Fernandez. Yes. Council
[4:13:57] member Sanchez. No. Council member Hersberg. Yes. Vice Mayor Morera?
[4:14:07] No. Mayor Diegas. No. The motion fails. Thank you. All
[4:14:12] right. So that's an amendment. I'll try one more amendment,
[4:14:14] which is just to do the podium display. Second. Okay.
[4:14:17] It's been seconded by. No, no, no. Let's move on.
[4:14:21] Let's move on. All right. So it's been second of
[4:14:23] a councilman Hersberg. All those Madam Creek, please call the
[4:14:25] road just on my, on my amendment, which is a
[4:14:28] strike all amendment just to do, uh, item C, option
[4:14:31] one. The thousand dollars for the podium, uh, and who
[4:14:37] seconded the amendment by me. That's been Herzberg. Oh, okay.
[4:14:40] Perfect. Council member Hersberg? Yes. Councilmember Sanchez? No. A council
[4:14:48] member quadra Garcia. Councilmember Fernandez? Yes. Councilmember Garcia. Yes. Vice
[4:14:56] Mayor Morera. Yes. Mayor Tiegez. Yes. The motion passes. Thank
[4:15:01] you. Now on final passage of the of the main
[4:15:03] motion as amended, uh, all his in favor say aye.
[4:15:06] Aye. Holopose no. The ayes have it. The motion carries.
[4:15:10] All right. So it's just a podium item. Just a
[4:15:13] podium. Thank you. Sorry. Thank you. Okay. Too late now.
[4:15:23] All right. So with that, we are now on protecting
[4:15:26] the town's tree canopies. And I know director backdown will
[4:15:29] do a good job at moving us as quickly as
[4:15:31] possible through this. Good evening Mayor and council director Parks
[4:15:36] Mercuryation. Jeremy back down. The Adam B had before you
[4:15:38] is coming off of direction from the council to look
[4:15:41] at ways to establish potentially a policy and fines for
[4:15:44] vendors that do harm to our trees. Um, unknowingly to
[4:15:47] the residents that hired them. Essentially the report in front
[4:15:50] of you goes out. All the due diligence done by
[4:15:52] the town and by staff to look at different various
[4:15:55] permits that are issued by the county, other types of
[4:15:58] programs that have been done in the past by other,
[4:16:00] um, communities of high standards for their arbor, um, management
[4:16:06] and existing town limitations as far as what we can
[4:16:09] already do. Um, in review of that, essentially what you'll
[4:16:12] see in the report is the, um, recommendation, um, due
[4:16:16] to some florid statutes and due to some, um, prohibitions
[4:16:19] on what we can and cannot license or create a
[4:16:21] registry that requires these levels of standards. We would look
[4:16:26] to develop and coordinate a educational initiative that looks at
[4:16:30] getting ahead of before any resonance higher any of these
[4:16:34] landscapers. Kind of some quick facts, some flyers that we
[4:16:37] can develop, some social media, uh, campaigns that we can
[4:16:40] push around that looks at educating our residents to what
[4:16:43] we should be looking for, what are some of the
[4:16:45] town standards as far as the vendor's we use. Documents,
[4:16:52] uh, these social media campaigns and even printed documents, um,
[4:16:56] at our community meetings, our HOA meetings, tax and district
[4:17:00] meetings and kind of getting the word out about different
[4:17:02] ways that looking at how you should be looking at
[4:17:04] the vendors that you were hiring. And that is the
[4:17:07] report. Are there any questions? Councilman Garcia will go to
[4:17:10] you since this is partly your item. Thank you so
[4:17:12] much. I appreciate the time you put into this. And
[4:17:14] the whole point of this was to avoid poor citizens
[4:17:17] getting, um, bamboozled into cutting a tree when the actual,
[4:17:21] you know, landscaper knows you can't do that here. Um,
[4:17:24] so as far as the encouraging use of tree care
[4:17:27] professionals and recognizing that, what are we going to do
[4:17:30] as a town? I know we already do something, but
[4:17:32] to make sure that, uh, we have a list of
[4:17:34] recognized landscapers that we approve. So we do have, um,
[4:17:39] it's a voluntary program at looking at tree trimming vendors
[4:17:42] within the town that have met all of our standards.
[4:17:44] They would meet the same standards that are contractors do,
[4:17:46] uh, that are licensed to trim on the town. And
[4:17:49] essentially our goal here would be to go out and
[4:17:51] solicit more vendors that we know are of statute that
[4:17:54] have these accreditations that maintain the criteria and looking at
[4:17:56] putting them on our website. The more vendors were able
[4:17:58] to get to buy in to the process, the more
[4:18:01] options our town residents can look at different vendors that
[4:18:03] we know won't create these types of issues. Yeah. So
[4:18:06] that's great. So I know my colleagues have questions, but
[4:18:08] at this point I like to go ahead and move
[4:18:10] that we accept your recommendations and develop the protector canopy
[4:18:15] education initiative, including all the bullet points that you've included
[4:18:18] here. Second. I'll second. It's been second of a consentz.
[4:18:23] Is there really any discussion on this. Okay. All those
[4:18:25] in favor of say aye. Aye. All opposed no. The
[4:18:28] ayes have it. Motion carries. Thank you very much director.
[4:18:31] Excellent job. All right. We're now in the attorney's report.
[4:18:34] Mr. Attorney. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council. I have nothing
[4:18:37] to report. Amazing. All right. We're now in the consent
[4:18:40] calendar. Is there motion. It's been moved by Council Member
[4:18:45] Fernandez. I'll second it all those in favor. Say aye.
[4:18:48] Aye. All opposed no. The ayes have it. The motion
[4:18:51] cares and deconst calendar is passed. We now move to
[4:18:53] 13a ordinances on first reading employee performance review policy. Mr.
[4:18:57] Turney read the ordinance to the record. Thank you, Mr.
[4:19:00] Mayor. Um, boy performance review policy and ordinance of the
[4:19:04] council, the town of Miami Lakes, Florida. I'm ending chapter
[4:19:06] two administration article three officers and employees of the town
[4:19:09] of Miami Leafs Code of Ordinances creating Section 2 -
[4:19:11] 57 titled Employee and Performance Reviews providing for a baseline
[4:19:15] performance review requirement, providing for an ongoing review schedule, providing
[4:19:19] for town manager discretion and delegation, providing for outcomes and
[4:19:22] review to remain within the discretion of the town manager,
[4:19:24] providing inclusion to the code, providing for repeal award instances
[4:19:26] and conflict, providing for severability and providing for an effective
[4:19:29] date. Thank you. And I remind everybody that this is
[4:19:33] first reading, but I go now to Councilman Herzberg to
[4:19:35] go ahead and make his motion. We already approved the
[4:19:39] concept that just the minimum, uh, standard for employee, any
[4:19:42] reviews of town managers already implementing his own standard, which
[4:19:45] meets this ordinance once it's passed. So I move that
[4:19:48] we passed ordinance. Excellent. Second. Second if I count member
[4:19:51] Fernandez, uh, Madam Clerk, please call the role. Ordinance in
[4:19:55] first reading item 13a. Council member Hersberg. Yes. Councilmember Fernandez.
[4:20:01] Yes. Council member Guadalajara Garcia. Council member Garcia. Yes. Councilmember
[4:20:08] Sanchez. Yes. Vice Mayor Morera is absent Mayor Diegas. Yes.
[4:20:13] The origins and first reading item 13 A passes. Excellent.
[4:20:16] We are now on ordinances on in second reading beginning
[4:20:19] with 14A modification of chapter 35 article two. Utility facilities
[4:20:24] in Public Rights of Way by Directors. But first Mr.
[4:20:27] Turning Reed, the ordinance of the record. Thank you, Mr.
[4:20:29] Mayor. And ordinance of the town council, the town of
[4:20:31] Miami League's Florida. I'm ending chapter 35 Utilities Article 2,
[4:20:34] Utility Facilities in Public Rights of Way of the Talon
[4:20:37] Code of Ordinances to align with the town regulation covering
[4:20:39] the installation maintenance and removal of utility facilities within the
[4:20:42] rights of way with current Florida statutes providing for amendments
[4:20:45] of definitions, registrations, insurance, identifications, terminations, permitting, and other related
[4:20:51] provisions providing for severability, providing for collusion to the code,
[4:20:54] providing for complex and providing for an effective day. Excellent.
[4:20:57] Thank you. This being, um, a public hearing. I'm opening
[4:21:01] the Public Hearing. Seeing no members of the Publican Chambers,
[4:21:05] Madam Clerk, anyone online. I say two individuals. I'm just
[4:21:10] going to ask. They don't have their hands raised, but
[4:21:12] I'm going to ask if anyone is participating online. Remote
[4:21:17] Public Commons for ordinance in Second Reading 14 - 8.
[4:21:24] Please unmute yourself now. It is the opportunity to speak
[4:21:28] right now. Okay. The Public hearing is now closed. Directors,
[4:21:36] you're recognized to introduce the item and then we'll have
[4:21:39] a long - term motions from there. Okay, good evening.
[4:21:42] So this item, like I mentioned in the last meeting,
[4:21:44] it's more of a cleanup item for chapter 35 article
[4:21:47] two. Our attorneys did a review of the item and
[4:21:51] to make sure it's in compliance occurred in Florida statute.
[4:21:54] And the changes that you see reflected are here are
[4:21:57] based on that. Thank you. Is there a motion. I'll
[4:22:02] move it. Moved by Councilmember Garcia. Is there a second?
[4:22:05] Second. Second did by Councilman Sanchez. Madam Clerk, any discussion?
[4:22:10] Okay. Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the role. Ordinance
[4:22:13] and second reading item 14. 8 council member Garcia. Yes.
[4:22:18] Councilmember Kwadragarcia. Council member Sanchez. Yes. Council member Hersberg. Yes.
[4:22:25] Councilmember Fernandez. Yes. Vice Mayor Morera is absent Mayor Diaguez.
[4:22:31] Yes. The ordinance in second reading item 14. 8 passes.
[4:22:35] Excellent. We're now taking up 14 B amending chapter 38
[4:22:37] of the town code Special Tax and Districts abide director
[4:22:40] back down. Mr. Attorney. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Inordinate to
[4:22:43] the town council of town of Miami Leaks, Florida. I'm
[4:22:46] ending chapter 38 Special Taxing Districts of the town Code
[4:22:49] Awardances. Amending section 38 - 2 to provide a definition
[4:22:52] of capital improvements and to establish a uniform process for
[4:22:55] the adoption of special assessments for capital improvement projects within
[4:22:58] the town Special Tax and Districts, providing for severability, providing
[4:23:01] for inclusion to the code, providing for conflicts and providing
[4:23:04] for an effective day. Mr. Director, you may proceed. Good
[4:23:09] evening, Mayor and Council. Um, the Adam before you and
[4:23:11] its second reading is essentially looking at cleaning up chapter
[4:23:13] 38 and adding the definition of a capital improvement defining
[4:23:18] its parameters as well as going ahead and creating an
[4:23:21] establishing the same policy identical to adjusting the ordinance itself.
[4:23:25] But in order to create a one - time assessment
[4:23:27] or a capital improvement, um, the process for approving a
[4:23:31] capital improvement project. At this time, I'm opening up the
[4:23:35] Public hearing, seeing no one in chambers, Madam Clerk, anyone
[4:23:39] online, just the same two. Same individuals. Okay, we'll give
[4:23:42] them five seconds for one of the. Listening to the
[4:23:46] remote Public comments right now, section of the agenda. Please
[4:23:49] unmute yourself if you want to participate and provide feedback,
[4:23:53] provide public comments. On 14B. On 14B, yes. Ordinance in
[4:23:58] second reading, amending the town code for special taxing districts
[4:24:03] definition. Okay. No one. Closing the Public hearing. And with
[4:24:08] that, um, I'll go ahead and move it. Is there
[4:24:11] a second? Second. It's been seconded by Conspend of Garcia.
[4:24:14] Any discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk, please call the role
[4:24:16] on this item. Ordinance in second reading item 14b, council
[4:24:21] member Hersberg. Yeah. Council member Fernandez. Yes. Councilmember Cuadra Garcia,
[4:24:28] council member Garcia. Yes. Councilmember Sanchez. Yes. Vice Mayor Morera
[4:24:33] is absent. Mayor Diagus. Yes. Ordinance in Second Reading item
[4:24:37] 14 B passes. Excellent. We are now on 14C budget
[4:24:40] amendment for contribution of 1. 56 million for Senior Center
[4:24:45] Project provided by the Grams. This is between Ms. Director
[4:24:49] Grant and director Hernandez over there. Uh, with that, Mr.
[4:24:54] Attorney, go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. In order to
[4:24:57] the town of Miami - Leafs, Florida, amending ordinance 2025,
[4:25:00] 346, approving fiscal year 2025, 2026 annual operating budgets recognize
[4:25:05] an appropriate contribution from the Graham companies in the amount
[4:25:08] of 1, 560, 000. For the construction of a Senior
[4:25:11] Center Project, providing for increased capital funds, park improvements, revenues,
[4:25:15] and appropriations in the amount of 1, 560, 000 dollars,
[4:25:21] providing for implementation, providing for a repeal of ordinances and
[4:25:24] conflict, providing for severability, providing for inclusion, and providing for
[4:25:27] an effective date. Okay. Um, well, you know what? Uh,
[4:25:31] does anybody really want to need them to present it?
[4:25:33] Again, this is just, yeah. All right, so perfect. Uh,
[4:25:36] so with that, I'll move it. Is there a second?
[4:25:38] Second. It's been seconded. Oh, wait, before I forget, just
[4:25:41] proceed to be correct. The Public Common is now, or
[4:25:45] the Public hearing is now open. Seeing no one in
[4:25:47] chambers, Madam Clerk, once again, nobody online willing to comment
[4:25:50] on 14C. Nope. I don't see anyone. But again, I'm
[4:25:55] all just stress. If anyone is participating online and wants
[4:25:59] to provide public comments in ordinance in second reading, item
[4:26:04] 14C, please unmute yourself now. Okay, Public Comics now closed.
[4:26:09] It's been moved in seconded already, actually. So with that,
[4:26:12] any discussion, seeing none, Mattler, please call the Royal Corking
[4:26:15] Seat. 14C, Ordinance in Second Reading, Council Member Sanchez. Yes.
[4:26:20] Councilmember Guada Garcia. Council Member Herrsburg. Yes. Councilmember Garcia. Yes.
[4:26:27] Council Member Fernandez. Yes. Vice Mayor Morera is absent, Mayor
[4:26:31] Diagon. Yes. Ordinance in Second Reading, item 14, C passes.
[4:26:35] Excellent. Okay. We are now on 15A. Authorization to apply
[4:26:39] to the Florida Recruition Development Assistance Grant Program by Ms.
[4:26:44] Shock. Go ahead. Shock us. Hi there. So this would
[4:26:49] be a grant program that we were looking to apply
[4:26:51] to read you two of the pocket parks, replace Playground
[4:26:54] Equipment, um, at P79 in 83. This would be 50,
[4:26:58] 000 dollars each program. Excellent. I'll move it. Is there
[4:27:03] a second? Second. It's been second that any discussion. Seeing
[4:27:06] none, all in favor say aye. Aye. I'll post no.
[4:27:09] You guys have it, 15A passes. You're back up, Miss
[4:27:12] Shock, for the authorization to apply to the Resilient Florida
[4:27:15] implementation grant program, Lakeland Island phase. Of phase one. Again,
[4:27:20] that's 15b. I'll go ahead. Yeah, absolutely. So again, this
[4:27:24] is a drainage improvement project that would provide for a
[4:27:27] construction of a new drainage system over in the Lake
[4:27:30] Glen Ellen neighborhood. Project map is attached. Um, this is
[4:27:33] a program requires a 50 percent cost match with a
[4:27:35] total cost being 1 million 638, 000. So that'd be
[4:27:40] 819 coming from the grant and 819 from the town
[4:27:43] out of stormwater maintenance fund. Excellent. Okay. I'll move it.
[4:27:48] Second. It's been seconded by somebody here. Tay, take, take
[4:27:51] your pickle. Council Member Grossia. All right. Any discussion seeing
[4:27:55] none. All this various AI. Aye. Aye. All opposed no.
[4:27:59] The ayes have it. 15 B passes and we are
[4:28:00] now on 15 C once again by director shock authorization
[4:28:04] to apply to the Biscuit Bay water quality improvement grant
[4:28:08] for Florinda Estates. I have my two in the wrong
[4:28:12] order. Sorry. So for Florinda Estates, there we go. Um,
[4:28:16] this one is again, this program is for, again, drainage
[4:28:19] improvements, same lower scope replacing a drainage infrastructure along in
[4:28:24] the Florida state's neighborhood. Um, this was a total project
[4:28:27] cost of one million seven hundred ninety six, And this
[4:28:32] program requires a 20 percent cost share match. Again out
[4:28:41] of stormwater funds. Thank you. It's been moved by the
[4:28:45] vice marriage. Second, seconded by who was it again? A
[4:28:48] council member Garcia. All right. Any discussions seen none, all
[4:28:52] those favorites say aye. Aye. All opposed no. The ads
[4:28:55] have it by your vote 15 C passes. And we're
[4:28:58] now in 15 D authorization to apply to the Biscayne
[4:29:01] Bay water quality improvement grant for rural gardens estates. Go
[4:29:05] ahead. Yep. So same thing as the last one same
[4:29:08] grant program just again in the Royal Gardens neighborhood again
[4:29:11] draining improvement infrastructure. Similar twenty percent cost match. So this
[4:29:15] is about 1. 6 million in total cost 1. 2
[4:29:18] coming from the grant and about 321 coming from the
[4:29:21] town. So we're going to set a stormwater maintenance or
[4:29:23] a stormwater. Second. If that counts memory grecia, he was
[4:29:26] fast when he brought me interest. Sorry. Um, with that
[4:29:29] any discussion seeing none, all those in favor say aye.
[4:29:32] Aye. All opposed. No. Dyes have it. Item 15 D
[4:29:36] passes. And thankfully we are now on 15 or yeah,
[4:29:39] 15 eauthorization to apply to the Florida local Government Cybersecurity
[4:29:43] Grant Program. Go ahead. So this one just provides the
[4:29:46] town with cybersecurity software. Proof point email protection software that
[4:29:50] we've been, we were rewarded this grant about two years
[4:29:52] ago. So we've been operating with that software. We didn't
[4:29:54] receive it last year, but we'd like to apply again
[4:29:56] to receive this. There's no funding and no match source
[4:29:59] for this. Again, it's just for the software license. I'll
[4:30:02] move. On that one council member Fernandez. I think that's
[4:30:05] where our second. But all right. Second hit by the
[4:30:07] Vice Mayor. All those in favor say aye. All opposed
[4:30:13] no. The ads have it. 15 he passes. And thankfully
[4:30:16] we are now in 16 C by Councilman Hersberg Commercial
[4:30:20] Waste franchise fee. Okay. Here we go. Fun. Um, well
[4:30:26] everyone loves fees, right? Listen, I don't like bringing this
[4:30:30] up. I don't take pleasure in saying let's charge a
[4:30:35] fee, but it's the fiscal reality we might be in
[4:30:39] come November. Um, I've had discussions with the town manager.
[4:30:43] I mean, there is an argument to just do this
[4:30:45] regardless. My position is we implement this if amendment three
[4:30:49] passes because that is the consequence. And I've been telling
[4:30:52] people that. People talk to me. I said listen there's
[4:30:56] pauses and negatives of amendment three. It's up to the
[4:30:59] voters. They can decide. This is what going to be
[4:31:01] one of the consequences of amendment three because we have
[4:31:04] police officers in UVPAID. We have roads that need to
[4:31:07] be paved. Um, so I think it's responsible for us
[4:31:12] to at least get the wheels moving on a waste
[4:31:15] franchise fee. Uh, in this town. The ordinance is already
[4:31:19] there. There needs to be some touching up. My position
[4:31:24] personally. I don't know what you guys feel is we
[4:31:27] implement this if amendment three passes because we're going to
[4:31:30] have a budget deficit. It's going to the money just
[4:31:33] won't isn't going to go be there next year. Uh,
[4:31:35] and this will help soften the blow and allow us
[4:31:38] to continue to, to provide the services. We just heard
[4:31:41] from residents. They want us to fund services. Right. That's,
[4:31:47] that's, this is what it takes. Right. So, um, my
[4:31:52] motion is to. Have a direct staff to proceed with
[4:31:57] drafting the ordinance. I think staff could come back to
[4:32:01] us next, next meeting with a draft ordinance for first
[4:32:06] reading. And then we can discuss in more detail or
[4:32:10] we can discuss it now. The biggest issue would be
[4:32:13] what is the percentage that we want to charge, what
[4:32:15] is typical, um, in Day County. But that's my motion
[4:32:20] to have staff come back to us with an ordinance.
[4:32:23] I can, sorry Councilman Fernandez. Get him next time. All
[4:32:26] right. Discussion beginning with the Vice Mayor. Yeah. I definitely
[4:32:31] think that this is a more likely than not something
[4:32:34] that it's regardless of what happens with the amendment. I
[4:32:37] agree. Um, and, and the primary reason is, you know,
[4:32:41] we see what's been happening with our police budget. It's
[4:32:43] just ballooning. And it's not really a cost that we're
[4:32:48] able to control. Um, so I do see this as,
[4:32:52] you know, a secondary source of funding to possibly fill
[4:32:55] some gaps. The only question I really had was whether
[4:32:57] we knew whether we know or have any estimates of
[4:33:01] what that would generate. Yeah. We did some, uh, estimating
[4:33:08] extrapolating from some information that we got from some of
[4:33:11] the bigger, uh, entities in the town that used private
[4:33:15] haulers. We believe that the revenue should be somewhere in
[4:33:21] the neighborhood of between four and 500, 000 dollars And
[4:33:24] that's why it may be something in order to truly
[4:33:27] budget this and really have a better idea. My personal
[4:33:31] recommendation would be to implement it no matter what, like
[4:33:34] you were saying. That way we can get a track
[4:33:36] record and see what the, uh, what it'll be. Because
[4:33:41] currently in our current version of the budget, there is
[4:33:46] no allocation for funding of the sinking fund. And last
[4:33:49] year the sinking fund was underfunded by over 200, 000
[4:33:53] dollars. So this could be something that could be targeted
[4:33:57] for the sinking fund. And that way you're not really
[4:33:59] altering operations, but you're at least funding the sinking fund.
[4:34:04] And then, uh, we can have several months of track
[4:34:07] record be able to know what the revenues are truly
[4:34:09] going to be. So through the mayor to Councilman Herzburg,
[4:34:12] was the motion tied to the amendment? No, honestly, the
[4:34:16] motion is for staff to come back with an ordinance
[4:34:19] regardless. We can decide, um, well, I mean, we can
[4:34:24] decide if, if the will of the council is to
[4:34:26] just push it through October, like we'll vote second reading
[4:34:28] October, then the, we don't know the results of the
[4:34:31] map. Hold on. The Town attorney's kind of question. Just
[4:34:33] through the mayor council member. We already have an ordinance
[4:34:35] on the book. So it would be just to kind
[4:34:37] of tweak it and bring it back. Right. But, but
[4:34:40] to clarity, my, my, that is my personal take is
[4:34:43] on the Mem in three. If the will of the
[4:34:46] council or someone can convince me that we're ready, just
[4:34:48] do it regardless, which honestly, it's not a terrible idea.
[4:34:51] Based off our budget, that's something we can discuss in
[4:34:55] second reading, honestly, on the, that's what I wanted to
[4:34:59] stress is that, you know, look, regardless of, of whether
[4:35:02] he meant it to only be conditional on amendment three
[4:35:05] passing or whether in the case as you pointed out,
[4:35:08] um, and others, I'm sure that we should do it
[4:35:11] regardless. And we will have plenty of opportunities to hammer
[4:35:14] that out. Uh, we remember first and second reading to
[4:35:17] Hammer the South. All right. Council Member Fernandez. Well, no,
[4:35:22] I was going to suggest that exactly that we just,
[4:35:24] that we move it. And if we have, if we
[4:35:28] want to remove it or later on, um, you know,
[4:35:32] just pull it back. We could do that in first,
[4:35:34] second reading. But I do think that we should move
[4:35:35] it. Um, to ask staff to come back with, uh,
[4:35:40] I think is just tweaking of the, of the current
[4:35:43] ordinance right now. Yeah. If I may, Mayor. Absolutely. Go
[4:35:47] ahead. The biggest question I have, and I think staff
[4:35:49] should have is what's the percentage. What's the tax percentage
[4:35:53] that they're going to come back with first or maybe
[4:35:56] staff can tell you what their position is? Yeah, I
[4:35:58] mean, I've shared some of it with councilman Hersburg is
[4:36:02] we've done some analysis of what other municipalities do. And
[4:36:06] it's, it's a little bit of a wide range. I
[4:36:08] would say they range somewhere between 15 to 25. So
[4:36:12] our recommendation would be to come back with this. In
[4:36:16] our code. At 15 percent, I recommend that we put
[4:36:20] it at 20 percent of where most of the cities
[4:36:24] are. And I think that's the estimate that we use
[4:36:27] or the percentage that we use to estimate the four
[4:36:29] to 500, 000 dollar potential revenue. Council member Fernandez. So
[4:36:35] I just, in thinking about this, who is going to
[4:36:38] be paying for it? I mean, somebody ends up paying
[4:36:40] for it. Commercial owners. And the consumers will. Right? Consumers
[4:36:46] or whenever we go and we shop and we spend
[4:36:48] money in the retail spaces. So, you know, we'll end
[4:36:52] up paying for it. But it's not going to be
[4:36:54] attached to our tax bill. Yeah. And, and look, I'm
[4:36:58] interested in this. This was something that was previously passed.
[4:37:01] It just, we, you know, it was paused on the
[4:37:02] collection side. And to me as another opportunity to eventually
[4:37:06] provide tax relief and become less relent on property taxes
[4:37:09] anyway, uh, I think this is worth exploring. So with
[4:37:12] that, all those in favor say aye. Aye. All of
[4:37:15] those no. No one know, Madam Clerk. And with that,
[4:37:20] um, okay, preventing illegal use of vehicles on our roads
[4:37:23] for council member Garcia. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I'll
[4:37:26] try to be as brief as possible. I think we've
[4:37:28] all seen what's happening in our streets nationwide. We've seen
[4:37:30] it on Instagram and Facebook, illegal writers or writing legal
[4:37:35] vehicles, uh, not following laws. So what I'd like to
[4:37:39] do in order to save a life before it becomes
[4:37:41] a tragedy here in Northwest Date is coordinate with the
[4:37:43] Sheriff's Office, coordinate with, um, our colleagues, Mr. Mayor. Perhaps
[4:37:47] we can coordinate with the League of Cities as well.
[4:37:50] And put it together a task force to see what
[4:37:51] we can do not only to strengthen the choices that
[4:37:56] our police officers have given them more tools, make any
[4:37:59] changes to our ordinance to beef them up, to be
[4:38:01] given them the maximum amount of leeway to do what
[4:38:05] they have to do. Work with the county and also
[4:38:07] our at Tallahassee to strengthen these laws. Because again, not
[4:38:11] only do we have children writing these illegal vehicles, but
[4:38:15] they're also writing legal vehicles illegally, but also, uh, we
[4:38:19] start, we got to start holding parents available accountable. If
[4:38:23] a parent buys a quad or a dirt bike for
[4:38:25] a 12 year old, he's running around the streets and
[4:38:27] something happens. God forbid to that child or God forbid
[4:38:30] to a citizen. We've seen cars being hit. They get
[4:38:33] out. They complain. They get attacked. The parent should be
[4:38:35] held responsible. They should also, uh, you know, get fined.
[4:38:39] And that vehicle should be confiscated. And that money should
[4:38:41] be taken to be used for police, uh, police, uh,
[4:38:45] for this, this actual enforcement, uh, when it comes to
[4:38:49] stopping this. So I guess it's to ask the town,
[4:38:52] talk to the major, see what we can do to
[4:38:54] talk to other towns like Miami Gardens, hi Ailea, Hyalia
[4:38:58] Gardens in our area to strengthen our position and give
[4:39:01] the police officers everything they need to stop to set
[4:39:03] from happening. And also an education program. So we can
[4:39:06] quickly identify these, these number of writers and have police
[4:39:10] officers come out and try to stop them or try
[4:39:13] to, uh, use some, um, they're there. They flesh the
[4:39:18] lights. They're going to go away. So I was talking
[4:39:20] for discussion. It's seconded by council member sanchez, counseling. So
[4:39:24] I love the spirit of this hand. I really do
[4:39:26] account some of Garcia. I just, I see this more
[4:39:29] fitting with endoscope and the mission statement of the Public
[4:39:32] Safety Committee. They love to do publicity. They love to
[4:39:35] do those trainings types of videos where they can reach
[4:39:37] out to those other municipalities, especially with the success that
[4:39:40] we had last year with Cars for Heroes where we
[4:39:42] had first responders from as far as Homestead come to
[4:39:45] our town. Um, so I really do believe instead of
[4:39:48] doing a separate body in its own is feeding this
[4:39:51] through the Public Safety Committee and developing it through that
[4:39:54] methodology. And I understand that. Um, and I agree that
[4:39:57] that's part of their, their scope. And they should be
[4:39:59] part of this. However, this has become a huge national
[4:40:02] and regional problem. And I think it's to the point
[4:40:04] where regular citizens and ourselves are tired of it. We
[4:40:08] got to stop it. The only way to do that
[4:40:10] is get to the next level. And the other way
[4:40:11] to get to the next level is talk to our,
[4:40:13] our town, our county, our representatives in Tallahassee and strengthen
[4:40:17] the laws to give the police officers the ability to
[4:40:19] stop this. And if someone runs away from a police
[4:40:22] officer and given a lawful order, even if it's on
[4:40:24] a tricycle, a bike, a skateboard, a roller skates, a
[4:40:28] roller blades, they should be held accountable. And that has
[4:40:30] to stop. We have to stop this here. We should
[4:40:32] be, I think we should take, I know you like
[4:40:33] to take leadership and a lot of things. And if
[4:40:35] we can all co - sponsor this and as a
[4:40:37] town, take leadership in our area of northwest Miami -
[4:40:40] Dade and maybe make this a county - wide. And
[4:40:42] I reached out to Pembroke Pines, Councilman Fernandez up there.
[4:40:46] He also was trying to pass an ordinance as well
[4:40:49] to beef it up for the police. Maybe we can
[4:40:51] make a regional as well. So just take a leadership
[4:40:52] position. But I understand that our safety committee should be
[4:40:56] part of the education part of it. Yeah. Councilman, Quadric
[4:41:00] Garcia. All right. Anybody else. Anyone else? Okay. Uh, all
[4:41:06] those in favor say aye. Aye. All of those. No.
[4:41:09] The ayes have it. Sorry. Um, the, uh, I have
[4:41:15] it. The item passes. And we are now on, uh,
[4:41:19] 16E by accountsman quadriga request for improved street lighting. A
[4:41:23] jacar in the lane and my live grade south intersection.
[4:41:28] Thank you, Mr. Chair. Basically, I just want to, uh,
[4:41:33] when we're talking, my apologies, that requires aware of 7.
[4:41:38] 2nd. Thanks in favor, say, all right. Can you, Mr.
[4:41:46] Mayor? Olipos no. The ayes have it, the world is
[4:41:49] weight. I have secondhand embarrassment. Is it Danny Angel's beautiful
[4:41:59] shirt. Ah, now I got it. I'm slowing. I got
[4:42:06] it. You got at least where I at least robbie
[4:42:13] some fun, right? Okay. Um, basically, um. After getting several
[4:42:19] calls from residents in that Jacaranda, um, street of having,
[4:42:26] um, guys, please, this is serious. Mr. Mayor, this is,
[4:42:32] you know, when, when a resident calls me and tells
[4:42:34] me they're cats, they're animals. They're like part of our
[4:42:38] family. They've been killed due to light outage there, you
[4:42:45] know. Basically what I'm asking that when we are in
[4:42:48] the process of a budgeting that we can budget to
[4:42:52] get a couple of light poles in that area to
[4:42:55] get better lighting right there at that intersection of Jack
[4:42:59] Aranda. There has been four accidents. For Christ. So do
[4:43:04] you have a motion. My emotion is to request. Funding
[4:43:12] to get better lighting in that area. Second. It's been
[4:43:16] second of a constant Hersberg. Discussion beginning with constant Herzberg.
[4:43:22] No, I don't have. I'm supposed. So, uh, Mr. Weisman,
[4:43:27] go ahead. Just a friendly amendment to go along with
[4:43:29] it is just to have the staff, uh, analyze and
[4:43:33] check out that intersection. See if there are existing lights
[4:43:37] that may potentially be out and need repair or replacement.
[4:43:41] Um, if not, what the cost would be to get
[4:43:44] power to that area. And what exactly would be needed
[4:43:47] to properly illuminate that intersection. And then potentially present it
[4:43:50] to us in time for the budget season. I'll second
[4:43:53] that motion. All right. That's been seconded on the amendment.
[4:43:56] All those in favor say aye. Aye. I'll oppose no
[4:43:59] any discussion on the main motion as amend. The count
[4:44:02] spin sanches. Yes. Councilman Angelo Guadal Garcia. The four accidents,
[4:44:07] three of them were in the daytime. One of them
[4:44:09] was in the nighttime and it's been over in the
[4:44:11] span of four years. So adding lights for the, it
[4:44:14] would really be for one accident in the span of
[4:44:15] four years. Now, if I'm a councilman quadra Garcia, there's
[4:44:20] also, you know, there's, there's a few of us that
[4:44:23] live right along that street. And I drive it every
[4:44:26] single night. Yes, there are parts that are dimmer, but
[4:44:29] there's also the neighboring, um, the people that live in
[4:44:32] that neighborhood, like on Jacaranda and on Big Cyprus that
[4:44:36] enjoy literally that darkness. Now for those residents that led
[4:44:39] their animals free Rome, I do remind that we have
[4:44:42] ordinances where your animals are supposed to be leashed when
[4:44:44] they are not within the home. If they are letting
[4:44:46] them roam free, that's kind of their, they're willing to
[4:44:49] take that risk of animals crossing to street and cars
[4:44:53] coming along. Because even if there are lights, the amount
[4:44:56] of speed, um, even going at 20 miles an hour
[4:44:59] and an animal darts out, it's very unlikely you'll be
[4:45:02] able to fast enough in order to prevent hitting that
[4:45:06] animal. But do we remember that we do have ordinances
[4:45:09] county ordinance? Is where animals do need to be leached
[4:45:11] when they are not within the home. So we also
[4:45:13] have to make the owner somewhat responsible for what happens
[4:45:16] to their animals when they're not doing their proper methodology.
[4:45:20] Can I rebuttal on that one? Yes. Yes. I agree
[4:45:23] with you. We have 15 minutes. Yes. I agree with
[4:45:26] you. But it is extremely too dark over there. Let's
[4:45:32] consider looking on getting more light. Mr. Manager. Yeah. We
[4:45:41] can do an assessment of the lighting and that corner
[4:45:44] and then come back with a recommendation. Thank you. Okay.
[4:45:48] All those in favor say aye. Aye. Pose no. The
[4:45:51] ayes have it. The item passes and we are now
[4:45:54] moving on to item 16 F. License plate reader cameras
[4:45:58] inquiry staff response and proposed resolution, which this requires a
[4:46:02] waiver of 7. 2. It's been moved by advice mayor.
[4:46:06] Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Garcia. All
[4:46:09] those in favor of the waiver's AI. All opposed no.
[4:46:12] The ayes have it. The rule is waived. And Mr.
[4:46:14] Vice Mirror recognized proceed. Thank you Mr. Mayor. I'm going
[4:46:17] to try to make this as brief as possible and
[4:46:19] not completely long winded like my NBI is. Um, and
[4:46:23] I hope, uh, you all had a chance to kind
[4:46:25] of review it. This is basically a constitutional protection scheme.
[4:46:30] Right. Um, we have seen the proliferation of flock style
[4:46:32] cameras throughout the country and the privacy concerns that arise
[4:46:37] with their proliferation. Um, this is aim that number one
[4:46:40] ensuring that the concern originally arose in me, Hey, we
[4:46:44] have these LPR cameras that were incredibly proud of and
[4:46:47] they serve a very legitimate law enforcement function. However, my
[4:46:51] concern was, okay, well, what's being done with the information
[4:46:54] that is being collected from these cameras and can that
[4:46:58] information potentially be fed and turned into flock style surveillance.
[4:47:03] Um, my, that definitely got a lot louder. Uh, my,
[4:47:08] my, um, understanding from the response from, from the town
[4:47:13] staff is under the current contract with the privacy policy
[4:47:17] that is in place, the answer is no. Um, you
[4:47:20] guys know very much though that I like to make
[4:47:22] sure that this council, which is smarter than all future
[4:47:27] councils ties the hands of future councils, uh, so that
[4:47:30] they can't create flux style cameras or at least they
[4:47:34] have to go through some loopholes or through hoops. Thank
[4:47:39] you. Uh, in order to do so. So that's why
[4:47:41] I presented the attached resolution where basically the town council
[4:47:45] affirms that Public Safety is the primary paramount concern of
[4:47:50] this council. However, not at the cost of essential liberties.
[4:47:54] And so with that, I will move the option of
[4:47:56] the resolution. The second that by consumer fernandez. Oh, good
[4:48:00] job. All right. Uh, any discussion on this. Yeah. Really
[4:48:03] quick. Consume Garcia and Coutzberg. Is your concern that of
[4:48:06] course any, any video or data is only used by
[4:48:09] our police officers. Not sure what the general public. To
[4:48:13] strengthen those, those rules here. And for any contracts we
[4:48:16] have with these camera with LPRs or with simple manner.
[4:48:21] Yes. Okay. I just, the only thing I don't want
[4:48:23] to do is tie the hands of our police officers
[4:48:26] who can use it as tools that are, you know,
[4:48:28] cameras are used as tools and they're able to trace
[4:48:31] back even when they don't have OPRs. They able to
[4:48:33] trace back, uh, suspects walking through neighborhoods, driving through parking
[4:48:37] lots and a lot of, a lot of suspects of
[4:48:39] it. So I just don't want to make sure that
[4:48:41] anything we do doesn't tie the hands of my understanding
[4:48:44] is that as it stands, they cannot do that. That
[4:48:47] they can, they only really have live pings of the
[4:48:50] license plate readers. No, don't talk about the LPRs. You're
[4:48:53] talking about flock cameras. Those are two different things. Well,
[4:48:55] what I this all started because my concern was that
[4:48:58] the data from the LPRs could, in theory, be manipulated
[4:49:03] and turned into flock. Okay. So this is specifically aimed
[4:49:07] at preventing flock. It doesn't tie their hands at all.
[4:49:10] That makes sense. Like the mosaic theory that we learned
[4:49:12] in law school, you know, they're the Fourth Amendment. All
[4:49:15] right. So with that, if nobody's a second, I forgot
[4:49:19] that. I forgot the council Herzberg also had something. You
[4:49:22] good? No, yeah. I have a comment. Thank you, Mayor.
[4:49:25] All right. Um, first I appreciate the Ben Franklin quote.
[4:49:29] That's nice. I'm more of a Madison guy, but Ben
[4:49:31] Franklin's a good one too. Um, I, I'm going, obviously
[4:49:36] I'm going to approve this, but I would like to
[4:49:38] see this come back as an ordinance. Resolution, we could
[4:49:42] say, I don't care what they did 10 years ago.
[4:49:44] So my recommendation, I'm not making amendment. I would like
[4:49:47] you to bring this back as an ordinance as well.
[4:49:50] We really want to, it still doesn't, it still doesn't
[4:49:52] codify. It still isn't tight. A council's hand, but then
[4:49:54] they got to go through two readings. Right now all
[4:49:58] they have to do is in 10 years from now
[4:50:00] flocks are the best thing ever. And let's just ignore
[4:50:02] the resolution. So I would like you to bring back
[4:50:05] an ordinance on the same time. But moving in front
[4:50:08] of the majority requirement. Yeah. Exactly. So let's, let's bring
[4:50:11] an ordinance back on this. So are you unmenting the
[4:50:13] motion. No, I'm just going to ask him to bring
[4:50:16] back to ordinance. Well, okay. We were going to bring
[4:50:19] it back anyways because that's been the practice of the
[4:50:21] council, even when Resolutions ordinances are attached. We always bring
[4:50:25] it back similar to like the ordinance on the employee
[4:50:30] policy. So we can bring this back, we can massage
[4:50:33] it into an ordinance instead of a resolution. And we'll
[4:50:36] bring it back next month. Okay. Yeah. As long as
[4:50:39] the vice mayor is okay. It's his item. Then let's
[4:50:40] do that. Matt will also give us to council member
[4:50:44] Garcia's point. That'll give us an opportunity to really look
[4:50:47] at the fine print with the Miami - Dade Sheriff's
[4:50:49] Office and make sure that we're good. Okay. All those
[4:50:53] in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed no. The ayes
[4:50:56] have it. And we are now on 16J Veterans Memorial
[4:50:58] at Veterans Park, which requires a 7. 2 waiver. Some
[4:51:02] of them. Wait, what? Gary Cardenas, the veterans commit. Oh,
[4:51:06] my apologies. Yes. You are correct. Okay. So let's go
[4:51:10] back to 16G. I crossed it off by accident and
[4:51:14] anticipation of it being next. So that's what happened on
[4:51:17] my list. All right. So 16G, Gary Cardenas VC. So
[4:51:21] waiver. Yes, I need a weaver. Okay. Two by the
[4:51:26] Vice Mayor second. Second. Second. Second hit by Council Member
[4:51:28] Garcia. All those in favor of the waiver aye. Opposed
[4:51:32] no. Ayes have it. Rule is waved. Go ahead, countsman.
[4:51:36] So Doodle, a personal family health related issues. Gary Cardenos
[4:51:39] missed several meetings with cause causes removal from the Veterans
[4:51:42] Committee. Since then, his situation, his family situation has improved
[4:51:46] quite well. Um, and it is my recommendation that Gary
[4:51:51] comes back to the committee with a waiver of committee
[4:51:54] rule 11h due to the 180 day requirement. I'll second
[4:51:59] your motion. And we'll start with you for discussion if
[4:52:02] there is any. All right. Does anyone have discussion? All
[4:52:04] right. All those in favor of CI. I'll oppose no.
[4:52:07] The ayes have it. And the motion carries, which brings
[4:52:10] us now to 16J, veterans or more of veterans Park,
[4:52:13] which requires 07. 2 waiver. So moved. So moved. Is
[4:52:17] there a second? Second. It's been seconded. All those in
[4:52:19] favor of the waivers say aye. Opposed no. The ayes
[4:52:22] have it. The rule is weight. Ms. Vice Mayor. Thank
[4:52:24] you Mr. Mayor again. Uh, this, uh, NBI speaks for
[4:52:28] itself as written. But I did just kind of want
[4:52:32] to give the quick background that I was approached by
[4:52:34] the kernel, uh, at the last, um, Miami - Dakes
[4:52:38] chamber of Commerce Luncheon, at which Mr. Brian Avila, as
[4:52:43] well as Tom Fabricio and Alex Rizzo were present. And
[4:52:46] apparently he was able to actually get Senator Avila to
[4:52:52] commit, hey, if you guys make the request, we can
[4:52:55] probably get you the money right now, better in items
[4:52:58] are kind of hot and not getting the veto pen.
[4:53:02] So, so, uh, if we amend our appropriations priorities to
[4:53:08] include this, that the solid chance of getting it. So
[4:53:11] this is simply that, uh, again, I provided a proposed
[4:53:14] resolution if the town staff wants to massage it. They're
[4:53:18] more than welcome to. Also second, okay, perfect. I'll give
[4:53:21] it a councilman sanchez and discussion. Do you mind if
[4:53:24] we co - sponsor it with you? I mean, it's
[4:53:26] going to be part of our amended list. I'd love
[4:53:28] to call it. Madam Kirk Reflect the entire council as
[4:53:32] a sponsor on this. With that, all those in favor
[4:53:34] of say aye. All opposed no. You guys have it.
[4:53:37] The motion carries. And before I continue, I'm going to
[4:53:40] ask for a motion to extend to 11 10 p.
[4:53:44] m. It's been moved. Well, you mean, uh, yeah, you're
[4:53:48] right. I asked for it. All right. I'll second that.
[4:53:50] And, uh, with that, all those in favor of the
[4:53:52] motion to extend, say aye. Aye. Opposed no. The ideas
[4:53:56] have it. And so we have now then until 11,
[4:53:59] 10 to wrap up our business. And the only two
[4:54:01] more left. So we are now on 17 a. Mayor
[4:54:03] and council member reports beginning with the standards of conduct
[4:54:05] and competence. I want to begin by saying that repeatedly
[4:54:10] over the last couple of months, especially the last couple
[4:54:13] of years, I've made a very abundantly clear that there
[4:54:16] is an expectation that we live up to what is
[4:54:19] expected of us as council members and that we comport
[4:54:23] ourselves that way, but also that we are prepared. And
[4:54:26] I have to say respectfully, counseling quadric Garcia, I feel
[4:54:30] as if you have been giving us a lot of
[4:54:32] harburn lately. You did good today. You were with it.
[4:54:36] You know, you weren't, uh, you know, confuse as to
[4:54:38] what we were voting on. And you were not, um,
[4:54:42] you were able to keep up, which I appreciate. But
[4:54:44] we need that effort all the time. More importantly though,
[4:54:49] I was very disappointed. And this is the only chance
[4:54:51] really that I get to speak about it. So, you
[4:54:53] know, I need to bring it up. I was very
[4:54:54] disappointed to read the cease and desist letter that we
[4:54:56] received by the owners of Vister Memorial, uh, gardens. Um,
[4:55:00] and, you know, I, I just want to say that
[4:55:03] I expect so much better out of all of us.
[4:55:05] Okay. When we were the shirt that says council member
[4:55:08] or in my case mayor, we are representing the town.
[4:55:11] Our conduct needs to reflect that. You know, and we
[4:55:14] also need to respect the responsibilities that properly reside with
[4:55:19] the code department and let them, if you have some
[4:55:22] concern about something going on, you communicate it to them
[4:55:25] through the manager, right? But again, that could result, like
[4:55:29] your actions that you took could result in legal jeopardy
[4:55:31] for the talent and is a problem, you know, and
[4:55:34] it's not the first time that I've been contacted by
[4:55:36] the way, you know, and the manager knows what I'm
[4:55:39] talking about, you know, where there have been others that
[4:55:41] have complained about your conduct while you're carrying yourself as
[4:55:44] accounts member. And that is just something that I specifically
[4:55:47] needed to call to your attention to make sure that
[4:55:51] you understand the seriousness of this. Understood. Because again, the
[4:55:56] certain standard that when we are elected, that we are
[4:55:58] expected to hold ourselves to and running around conducting freelance
[4:56:02] inspections, you know, wearing accounts membership is not one of
[4:56:04] them. Right. You know, and it's a violation of their
[4:56:07] fourth amendment right I would add. So from what I
[4:56:10] understand, Mr. Attorney. You know, the attorney, Mr. Yaffe has
[4:56:13] indicated that he is not taking any further action. Is
[4:56:16] that correct? That is correct. At this time, he's not
[4:56:18] thinking any further action. Okay. But you know, that, that
[4:56:21] again, I do not want to see that happen again.
[4:56:24] And I just want to be abundantly clear about that.
[4:56:27] Understood. I think we have, uh, the information totally confused.
[4:56:34] It would take some time. I want to clarify that.
[4:56:38] But it ain't going to be right now. So we
[4:56:39] need to prepare. Sunshine meeting so I can explain everything
[4:56:43] so we can clarify it because I need to make
[4:56:45] it very clear. And basically, and I'll tell you this
[4:56:48] in front of whoever, I am so, I will bring
[4:56:51] the media. You want to that day so we can
[4:56:53] put it on TV. Well, if wing the media then
[4:56:56] do essentially. I mean, when you can just say right
[4:56:57] now on the record. That's good. Let's take it on.
[4:57:00] So let me, let me make sure that I clear
[4:57:02] myself. Okay. There's things going on stating that I have
[4:57:08] a vendetta with this funeral home. Let me tell you
[4:57:14] something real brief. Okay. I do not. But. There are
[4:57:21] numerous, numerous. Pay attention to me because I'm going to
[4:57:25] be very clear now. You opened it up. I'm going
[4:57:28] to close it. Good. Okay. Um, this cemetery has hundreds
[4:57:35] of hundreds of violations. And they have hundreds of letters
[4:57:42] that I can bring them to whoever they want. They
[4:57:45] have numerous complaints. Whoever tells you that a building not
[4:57:50] having proper painting for 35 years is not a violation.
[4:57:54] And having rebar popping out of the concrete is not
[4:57:57] a violation. And let me clear it again. I went
[4:58:00] there and I went there with my shirt. I was
[4:58:03] told by somebody else that I didn't commit a violation
[4:58:06] by using my shirt. Okay. Let's say I use the
[4:58:09] shirt, but I never went there to tell them what
[4:58:12] to do. I went there. Representing myself. My family is
[4:58:18] there. I have over eight family members there. I have
[4:58:21] talked to them in the past. Over 20 years ago,
[4:58:24] I have talked to them. So what actually got me
[4:58:27] upset was so you guys all know it. In 14
[4:58:31] years ago, my little brother died of cancer and I
[4:58:36] call them from hospice. They sent me an individual to
[4:58:39] go pick up my brother six foot three inch body.
[4:58:43] And the gentleman that came to pick up the body
[4:58:46] must have been on some type of meth. I told
[4:58:49] the guy, I said, buddy, you're not picking up my
[4:58:51] brother. Well, make a long story short. He went into
[4:58:54] the room. He didn't listen to me. And he dropped
[4:58:56] my brother's body. From the gurney. Happens to be that
[4:59:01] once he drops my brother's body, he opened a hole
[4:59:06] in my brother's forehead. I did a grieving son. I
[4:59:11] said, and I'm going to follow you. It's two o'clock
[4:59:14] in the morning. I'm going to follow you to the
[4:59:15] cemetery. I'm sorry. I'm a little emotional. And I think
[4:59:18] that if some of you would have passed through this,
[4:59:21] you guys would probably be emotional also. So make a
[4:59:24] long story short. Okay. He made a hole in my
[4:59:28] brother's head. I went to the cemetery. The next day.
[4:59:32] And they, I said, bring all my brother's body. He
[4:59:35] brought my brother's body. I said, this hole wasn't there
[4:59:38] when my brother passed. So they, and I, and I,
[4:59:42] I did what I had to do. I have no
[4:59:44] vendetta with them. Somebody needs to go there. To see
[4:59:50] what I'm talking about. They have the place is falling
[4:59:53] apart. They haven't painted the place in years. And if
[5:00:00] violations aren't what I have videos, pictures of, I have
[5:00:04] pictures of, but listen, I have pictures of right where
[5:00:08] my, where my dad is buried. Listen, this is important.
[5:00:11] Peace is a concrete almost killed my mom one day.
[5:00:14] And I never, so there are violations that we're looking
[5:00:19] and looking and using the blind eye. So you know
[5:00:24] what? I'm going to let it cool down. But somebody
[5:00:27] else is, and I believe that God is going to
[5:00:32] take care of it. But you know what? When somebody
[5:00:34] from here goes there and sees it. We don't need
[5:00:38] to be scared of people. The dead don't scare. The
[5:00:42] live ones are going to scare me, but they are
[5:00:44] violations. They are violations. But to you, it might not
[5:00:50] be a violation. But anyways, um, I never went in
[5:00:54] there to tell them anything I just said, here are
[5:00:59] letters that people have sent in where, um, there's complaints
[5:01:04] on how you've treated their family members. Well, they're going
[5:01:08] through a grievance. And they go, no, no, no, it's
[5:01:11] not here. It's over there. And over there said, no,
[5:01:13] it's over there. We're John is. All I want to
[5:01:17] do is just nicely went to talk to them. And
[5:01:20] just talk to them on my name. I never used
[5:01:23] it down in my name. But the problem is that
[5:01:26] when you're wearing our uniform, regardless of what you intended
[5:01:30] and then you start bringing up legal concepts, like code
[5:01:33] violation, which is not your call to make by the
[5:01:37] way, you know, that creates a problem for us. The
[5:01:40] only issue is that they had an issue. A lady
[5:01:43] told me with an elevator. And they said they took
[5:01:46] care of it. But I never told them, I never
[5:01:48] told them, I never went in there telling them how
[5:01:53] to do things. Um, and if I did use my
[5:01:56] shirt, um, uh, you did use your shirt. You had
[5:02:00] not, that you acknowledge as much. I did use my
[5:02:02] shirt. And I was, I never even intended to even
[5:02:06] use my shirt. I even told Gazzesny, I'm probably not
[5:02:08] even going to wear that shirt anymore. Yeah. And for
[5:02:10] the record, I was already working closely with, uh, Danny
[5:02:13] Angel and the manager and the folks there at Vista
[5:02:17] to resolve that elevator issue. You know, like you did
[5:02:20] not need to go and handle it yourself, right? Their
[5:02:23] appropriate channels to go through. But with that, Mr. Vice
[5:02:25] Mayor, he's been chomping at the bit to add something.
[5:02:28] Yeah. So first and foremost, I want to say at
[5:02:31] a ground level and all this, this is the first
[5:02:34] time I've heard you say what happened with, with your
[5:02:37] brother and the incident with his body. And it's the
[5:02:39] first time I've heard it from you. I won't lie
[5:02:42] though. I'm no problem telling you. I had heard the
[5:02:45] story before from others. Uh, so I had an idea
[5:02:47] of, of what was going on in the background. But
[5:02:50] I also do want to point out that you're saying
[5:02:53] on the one hand that you don't have a vendetta,
[5:02:56] but you quite literally said the words, but what really
[5:02:58] upsets me is and then you began saying the story
[5:03:01] about your brother. So it's quite literally a vendetta. It
[5:03:05] is, I have something against this entity, this, this cemetery,
[5:03:11] because of what they did to my brother. So I
[5:03:13] have an axe to grind with them. And so now
[5:03:15] I'm looking at every single little defect that they could
[5:03:18] potentially have to bring justice, whether that's right or wrong,
[5:03:22] right? Whether that's right or wrong. It is quite literally
[5:03:25] a vendetta. Um, I also want to point out, I
[5:03:29] don't really care whether or not you were wearing your
[5:03:32] shirt. You show up just like we do on almost
[5:03:36] every issue of the Miami Laker. So your face is
[5:03:39] known. People see you and they generally speaking will know
[5:03:44] who you are. They'll know that they at a minimum
[5:03:47] saw you. They know who you're faced from somewhere. And
[5:03:49] then they'll connect the dots. So even if you're not
[5:03:51] wearing your shirt to me whether or not you're wearing
[5:03:53] it, it's kind of irrelevant. It's are you acting in
[5:03:56] your capacity as a member of the council. And everything
[5:03:59] that I saw in that season, the cyst letter indicated
[5:04:02] to me that you absolutely were trying to use your
[5:04:06] position as a member of this council to effectuate some
[5:04:10] behavior or action from the cemetery. I also have to
[5:04:16] say, I did see the pictures that you submitted to
[5:04:19] the town manager and to, uh, the building director and
[5:04:23] building director. You're welcome to chime in if I'm wrong.
[5:04:26] My understanding is you have not yet photographed a single
[5:04:29] actual, actionable violation that is actionable under our town's code.
[5:04:35] There may be certain things that are beyond the town
[5:04:37] code and included in things that are enforced at the
[5:04:41] county level, maybe, uh, from, from, you know, more, what
[5:04:47] is the structural safety point of view? But that's not
[5:04:50] really the towns. The other point that I wanted to
[5:04:53] bring up is that, you know, I think everyone up
[5:04:57] here has run on a small government platform. Right. You
[5:05:02] can't run on a small government platform and then run
[5:05:05] around violating people's constitutional rights. That business is a landowner.
[5:05:10] It is entitled to its fourth amendment protections under the
[5:05:14] Constitution, which you violated because you performed, uh, warrantless inspection.
[5:05:20] And search of their property. Without even notifying us about
[5:05:24] it. And just to be crystal clear, and I'm only
[5:05:30] now saying this because it's been indicated that they don't
[5:05:34] intend to take any legal action. And at the end
[5:05:37] of the day, I also don't find that the town
[5:05:39] has any liability because I think it's been abundantly clear
[5:05:43] that the town did not, does not and does not
[5:05:46] support your actions. Um, as far as the cemetery is
[5:05:49] concerned. And I'm not sure what else the mayor was
[5:05:52] referring to other activities, but, um, you know, you need
[5:05:56] to understand. You have attended those ethics courses with us,
[5:06:01] with me and consuman sanchez. You can't let what you
[5:06:04] hear and there go in one ear and out the
[5:06:06] other. You know, I'm just going to say it out
[5:06:08] there. I need you to also remember what the sunshine
[5:06:12] rule says. I get a lot of phone calls from
[5:06:14] you and I have to constantly stop you, stop you,
[5:06:16] stop you because you're teetering on the line. And it
[5:06:21] gets very draining. At a certain point to have to
[5:06:25] constantly be, you know, when I get phone calls from,
[5:06:28] from Councilman Sanchez or from Mayor Diegas, I don't have
[5:06:34] to have my guard up. They know what they can
[5:06:37] and cannot tell me. And I don't have to have
[5:06:39] my guard up nine times out of 10. If he's
[5:06:41] calling me, it's either some attorney stuff or some scheduling
[5:06:44] stuff because he can't make it somewhere. So he's seeing
[5:06:46] if I can make it, that's what it is. Or
[5:06:49] this one's calling me to tell me about, you know,
[5:06:55] what was it? Well, yeah, when the next cruise is.
[5:06:58] And when his new car is finally coming in, uh,
[5:07:01] but, but, you know, we talk about things other than
[5:07:04] that. And I don't have to worry that he's suddenly
[5:07:05] going to pick up the phone and say, Hey, I
[5:07:07] need to tell you about this issue that's going to
[5:07:09] come up. And I'm like, eh, put the brakes on,
[5:07:12] you know, and that's where it can get a little
[5:07:17] draining. So just, just be on the lookout for it.
[5:07:19] Be cognizant of it and, you know, let's just do
[5:07:23] best so that we can serve the residents within the
[5:07:27] rules established by the state for us serving the residents.
[5:07:31] Councilman Sanchez. Councilman Cuadra Garcia completely understand where you're coming
[5:07:36] from. Okay. Because family means everything to all of us.
[5:07:40] It's not just you. It's to all of us. And
[5:07:41] I can understand the frustrations that you went through. But
[5:07:44] we also have to set aside something that I said
[5:07:46] for a long time. They're professional. From the personal. Okay.
[5:07:51] We are in a position of public trust. Okay. Even
[5:07:55] when I was working for the federal government, I had
[5:07:57] a security clearance. I got to a point of autopsecret
[5:08:00] one, but the first one was a clearance of Public
[5:08:03] Trust. And that word means a lot. The people have
[5:08:06] trusted us, seven, two represent them. But it's not just
[5:08:11] a residence, it's the businesses and everything else. We are
[5:08:14] not overarching the body of authority over Miami Lakes. We
[5:08:19] have law enforcement. Anyway, at the federal level, there's a
[5:08:22] balance. Between judicial legislative and executive. Where the president can't
[5:08:27] even speak to, for example, the Supreme Court justice, right?
[5:08:30] Because the balance of power. For us to say, oh,
[5:08:37] I'm a councilman and I can do this. We can't.
[5:08:39] We can't. We're here to make sure that the body
[5:08:42] of Miami Lakes moves in a positive way. We're here
[5:08:46] to set ordinances and resolutions for others to carry out,
[5:08:50] but not ourselves. So if you feel like therefore, I
[5:08:53] see a neighbor and I feel like his house needs
[5:08:55] pain. It's a violation of ordinance 13 - 1306. Part
[5:08:59] of me, Councilman Mama Bear is watching and reminded me
[5:09:02] that we're one minute away from our time limit. So
[5:09:04] I'm going to move to extend to 1130 just to
[5:09:06] save a second. We know we have that report. Okay.
[5:09:08] It's been moving second. Did it all do in favor
[5:09:09] say aye. Aye. Opposed no. The ayes have it. The
[5:09:13] council meeting is not extended to 11. What'd I say?
[5:09:16] 1130? Yeah. 1130 PM. So I don't knock on that
[5:09:19] neighbors door and tell them, Hey, you're pain is bad
[5:09:20] and your roof is dirty. I'm like, you know what?
[5:09:23] This seems a bit suspicious. So I reach out to
[5:09:25] the town manager and he filters it out to the
[5:09:27] proper departments. Or if I see a pot horror lifted
[5:09:30] sidewalk or something that just doesn't look right. But for
[5:09:33] me to say, Hey, or I'm going to pull over
[5:09:35] a car because I see them speeding. We don't have
[5:09:37] the ability to do that. We don't. We're not law
[5:09:40] enforcement. We're not quoting fortunate. We set the guidelines for
[5:09:42] them to do their duties. But we do not carry
[5:09:47] out those students. Now. As a safeguard, okay. Because I
[5:09:54] know that this is going to take some time to
[5:09:55] digest and some acclimating to get used to. As a
[5:09:58] safeguard to protect the town from potential litigation, because if
[5:10:02] as a representative of the town, they can turn around
[5:10:04] and say, the Tanja Millicks is harassing me. For example,
[5:10:07] what happened in a neighboring city with one of their
[5:10:09] county commissioners, I was harassing a restaurant, that restaurant came
[5:10:12] after that city. And it's a very large city in
[5:10:16] South Florida. Okay. And they ended up losing and had
[5:10:19] to pay millions into that restaurant. Okay. I am going
[5:10:22] to move to center that type of conduct. So that
[5:10:27] we cannot go in there and just say, this is
[5:10:30] what we're going to do. And just go the proper
[5:10:32] way of filtering it through the proper departments. I am
[5:10:35] moving to do that tonight. I'll second it. With that,
[5:10:41] any discussion on the censure motion? I just think that
[5:10:44] in general, uh, Central Motion has to specifically mention the
[5:10:47] member that's being censured. Okay. Then to Centrus specifically, a
[5:10:53] councilman quadra Garcia. For that occurred doesn't happen again. Through
[5:10:57] the chair. Councilman Garcia. I appreciate everybody's opinion on this.
[5:11:02] And I'm sorry about your brother. Man, I have my
[5:11:06] whole family's buried there. And to me, it seems like
[5:11:09] it, uh, you're a disgruntled customer. You were, uh, you
[5:11:13] had some issues there, but you did cross the line
[5:11:16] certain things. But I think it's not to the point
[5:11:20] of censure. I think it's to the point of redoing
[5:11:24] some of the, um, ethics training that you have reaching
[5:11:28] out to our attorney. If you're not sure on something,
[5:11:33] you should reach out to the turn. Don't do it
[5:11:34] going forward. But I think century is something that, um,
[5:11:40] is one of the most serious things that this body
[5:11:42] can do. And I'm willing to chalk it up as
[5:11:46] you were emotional. You were not happy with service there
[5:11:50] at that point, which we've all been. I've been at
[5:11:52] restaurants and all in my lakes with my shirt. I
[5:11:54] haven't been happy with service and say, Hey, listen, this
[5:11:56] food is cold. Can you send it back? Does that
[5:11:58] mean that I'm, you know, inspecting their kitchen? No. But
[5:12:02] you need to admit also that maybe, no, maybe you
[5:12:05] took it too far. And then you're going to do
[5:12:07] everything you can as a elected official not to do
[5:12:09] it again. If you give me that, you know, that
[5:12:13] commitment, I'm going to vote no for century because I
[5:12:16] think censure is way too far at this point. Um,
[5:12:20] you continue to do this. And I'll be, I'll be
[5:12:22] the first one to say yes. But I, I, I
[5:12:25] think that two things could be true at the same
[5:12:27] time. You were motion or discontinued customer. You admit you
[5:12:32] took it too far. They're not going to pursue this.
[5:12:36] And you can learn from this and move on. But
[5:12:37] censure to me is saying we have no, um, no
[5:12:43] trust in your abilities to, to, um, to do your
[5:12:46] job. And the only person I think the only people
[5:12:48] that can actually make that decision, I believe is the
[5:12:51] rotors. And they voted for you. And they voted for
[5:12:53] you overwhelmingly. So. Is that what you're. Planning to. Propose.
[5:13:02] He just made the motion for essentially. Yes. So again,
[5:13:06] I just asked my colleagues. If we do everything we
[5:13:11] can for Mr. Gualer Garcia to make sure that this
[5:13:15] doesn't repeat. And we work with him. And I think
[5:13:19] a century is too far right now. And I think
[5:13:21] the residents are the only people I think they can
[5:13:22] really say, Hey, you're not doing your job. And if
[5:13:25] he decides to run in a couple of years and
[5:13:27] he gets voted out, well, the people have spoken. That's
[5:13:30] just my two cents on this. I'll be voting no
[5:13:31] on the center. I respect where you're coming from Councilman.
[5:13:34] But the reason why I seconded it is because last
[5:13:36] year, the manager and I had to deal with your
[5:13:39] neighbor as well. Also complain about the fact that you
[5:13:41] trespassed unto their property to cut at their tree. They
[5:13:44] showed us the photos. And again, just based, like for
[5:13:48] me, this is why I'm agreeing with the censure. Because
[5:13:50] now this is twice now that, you know, like I
[5:13:53] don't know how else to get you to stop and
[5:13:54] really take it seriously to stop going on people's property
[5:13:56] and doing things you shouldn't be doing. And, you know,
[5:13:59] and, you know, again, I know you're looking at me.
[5:14:01] Like if I'm crazy, but, but the pattern here, there
[5:14:05] is a pattern here. And to me, this is the
[5:14:08] step. You will have your transfers phone. But my point
[5:14:11] is that this is a pattern now that is emerging.
[5:14:15] And this is twice now for me. So that's why
[5:14:17] I'm agreeing with the century here because I don't know
[5:14:20] how else to get you to take it seriously. So
[5:14:22] I just wanted to throw in that context for you.
[5:14:25] I understand where you're coming from. But for me, this
[5:14:27] is becoming a problem. We're now again, we're talking about
[5:14:29] people's property rights being infringed and aside from the privacy
[5:14:33] angle that the vice mayor was angling at earlier. And
[5:14:36] before we get to you to respond to us, a
[5:14:39] councilman Herzberg had a comment. Yeah. Thank you, Mayor. So
[5:14:44] first, obviously I was disappointed when I saw the letter.
[5:14:48] Um, I believe even he's a council member of his
[5:14:51] own, that attorney in Bay Harbor. I've met him a
[5:14:54] few times. Uh, I believe you know what you did.
[5:14:58] You took it too far. Right. Uh, what I ask
[5:15:01] you to do is remember that how many votes you
[5:15:04] got. Right? You got to every day, no matter, shirt,
[5:15:09] not shirt here in Publix. You're representing those people, all
[5:15:14] people, but especially someone that, that received so many votes
[5:15:17] and got the trust of the voters like that. Right.
[5:15:20] Um, on the century, I mean, I don't know if
[5:15:25] legal exactly what the procedure or the raffica. I'm, I'm
[5:15:29] torn because I do believe the council member realizes he
[5:15:33] took it too far. I understand the mayor and councilman
[5:15:37] sanchez's point. I also, like I've always said, we're very,
[5:15:41] we're different here. We I think we hold ourselves to
[5:15:43] higher standards and most municipalities. Cause let's be honest, a
[5:15:47] lot worse has happened in other visibilities. But this for
[5:15:51] us, we hold ourselves to a different standard. Uh, the
[5:15:55] highest, right? So I really don't know who I am
[5:15:58] on the center. What exactly, I mean, it's just a
[5:16:01] resolution basically. Is that correct? Through the mayor, uh, councilman,
[5:16:06] the act of century is the act of basically, it's
[5:16:11] a, it's a discipline. It's a discipline among yourselves. And
[5:16:15] you're disciplining the person and the action that they took.
[5:16:19] Um, obviously, uh, it's, you've all discussed it. It's a
[5:16:23] policy issue that you have to decide among yourselves because
[5:16:26] you do discipline yourselves and the charter does provide for
[5:16:28] that. You create your own rules. Um, now the action
[5:16:32] itself, uh, it's important. And that's what we have communicated
[5:16:36] to the other, uh, attorney. That is not an action
[5:16:38] that you sanctioned. Yes. It was, it's you're not allowed
[5:16:42] to go on to the cemetery and be taking photographs.
[5:16:46] That is, as the vice mayor said a fourth amendment
[5:16:48] violation. And that's not something I know this council would.
[5:16:52] I would tell you you can't do it. If you'd
[5:16:53] asked me for opinion, then you want to do a
[5:16:55] resolution and go on there and take that kind of
[5:16:57] action. I would tell you, you can't do it. So
[5:17:01] obviously I know again, and I feel for the pain
[5:17:06] that Councilman Garcia Quadra voiced, uh, but I am not
[5:17:11] here really to be emotional. I'm here to be your
[5:17:13] legal counsel. And so the action is pretty much letting
[5:17:17] the other attorney know the other and Vista know that
[5:17:20] the action of this council was not to allow that
[5:17:23] to have happened. Um, and that's basically what you're doing
[5:17:26] today. Okay. So, um, so I'll, I'll be for just
[5:17:31] because I want to be clear of the high standard
[5:17:33] we expect of everybody here. Right. And, and one thing
[5:17:37] I do ask from you and we, we've had this
[5:17:39] discussion before. I, and I'm sure many others are willing
[5:17:43] to schedule sunshine meetings and discuss the things you want
[5:17:48] to discuss before because I understand we're limited here. Right.
[5:17:52] Uh, and I, and I know you have a lot
[5:17:54] of good ideas that you want to get out. Let's,
[5:17:57] let's schedule sunshine meetings. As so the Public can attend
[5:18:01] if we want. So then we can have those free
[5:18:03] flowing discussions. Could be about anything. So that's, that's my
[5:18:06] ask for you is that we do more of those.
[5:18:08] So then we can really get your ideas out there
[5:18:10] and get them voted on, uh, and be more proactive.
[5:18:14] Because I know you have a lot of good ideas.
[5:18:16] I know that you have, you've had the trust of
[5:18:19] the people. So let's get that working. But I will
[5:18:20] vote for just so we're clear of this standard that
[5:18:24] we're expected here. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Please call the
[5:18:28] roll. Oh, my apologies. You're right. I did. I did
[5:18:32] give you an opportunity to respond. Mr. Mayor, I talk
[5:18:36] with clarity and what you have stated of my neighbor.
[5:18:43] I have asked my neighbor kindly if all his debris,
[5:18:48] all of his trees fall over to my side. I
[5:18:52] have the right to take a picture and I was
[5:18:55] told by the town manager, take a picture. And if
[5:18:59] all his stuff is over on the side, you could
[5:19:00] trim it. So I can't, you know, if you go
[5:19:04] over to his backyard, it looks like a zoo. Okay.
[5:19:09] You could keep your zoom. However, he's got possums in
[5:19:12] there and everything. But he can't be having all his
[5:19:16] trees hanging over to my side. So I have the
[5:19:19] right and I incorrect me, Mr. Manager, if I spoke
[5:19:22] to you about that, you told me, take a picture.
[5:19:25] If those trees are leaning towards your side, you have
[5:19:29] the right to clear them because they're in your side.
[5:19:32] So how can I do, you know, damn, if I
[5:19:36] don't and damn if I do. So I'm actually trimming
[5:19:40] the trees that are on my side. So I don't
[5:19:43] understand how you take side on my neighbor when I've
[5:19:47] talked to my neighbor. I've even said, let me cut
[5:19:50] all the way to the actual tree. No, sir. It
[5:19:53] wasn't just a part that was going over. Mr. Mayor,
[5:19:55] do you let me make sure that I clear this
[5:19:58] with you? Do you have evidence that I did that.
[5:20:03] Do you have the proof that I just admitted that
[5:20:06] that was bothering you. You repeatedly. Mr. Mayor, I'm in
[5:20:10] my property. I'm in my property and it comes over
[5:20:13] to my side. I have to write to trim it.
[5:20:15] Do I have the right to treatment or not? It's
[5:20:17] in my side, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Manager. If the tree
[5:20:22] goes into my yard, can I trim it. And that's
[5:20:27] what I did. That's not what was shown to us.
[5:20:29] And, you know, again, the pattern here. Can we clarify
[5:20:32] that? Can we clarify that? Look, the reason why I
[5:20:37] hadn't brought it up earlier before, right? But I need
[5:20:40] you to know that this is not going to happen
[5:20:42] again, right? So with that, I'm going to go to
[5:20:44] the vice mayor because we got to move on. You
[5:20:46] know, we have the council member Hersberg's report. So we
[5:20:50] have to move on. You're not going to embarrass me,
[5:20:53] Mr. Mayor. I'm not. You're not. But it's called about
[5:20:55] telling the truth. Okay. Okay. You're not going to embarrass
[5:20:57] me. I'm telling you that right now, nobody here on
[5:21:00] this council's respectfully nobody's trying to embarrass you, but you
[5:21:03] are embarrassing yourself. No, I'm so, sir. Okay. Through the
[5:21:06] chair, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Mr. Viceman. So let me,
[5:21:10] let me see if I can put a pin on
[5:21:11] this. Um, first and foremost, ascensure is a slap on
[5:21:15] the wrist. It is, Hey, we don't like what you
[5:21:18] did. It is not a removal from office. Cause I
[5:21:21] think earlier it was kind of meant to seem that
[5:21:23] way. We don't have that power, nor are we trying
[5:21:26] to do that. Uh, nor is there like a three
[5:21:29] century rule and you're out. Like that doesn't exist. This
[5:21:33] is simply just our formal way, our formal mechanisms of
[5:21:37] saying, we don't like what you did. It doesn't go
[5:21:39] with the standards of this body. Please don't do it
[5:21:42] again. That's all it is. So I just want to
[5:21:44] kind of put that out there. Uh, number. I'm still
[5:21:47] speaking. I still have the floor. At this point, I
[5:21:50] also wanted to point out that as far as this
[5:21:55] discussion about the tree, I haven't heard anything that suggests
[5:21:59] that you used your position on the council as it
[5:22:02] relates to that. That kind of seems as though it
[5:22:04] was a neighbor to neighbor dispute just like there are
[5:22:07] thousands throughout the town. So I'm just saying like that
[5:22:10] one's just not convincing to me. There have been others
[5:22:12] that have been other circumstances relating to cause in quadra
[5:22:16] Garcia that are more concerning. I won't bring those up
[5:22:18] because that's not what we're trying to do here. Um,
[5:22:20] but I do just want to ask one thing of
[5:22:23] councilman Guadalajara Garcia. Councilman Garcia said that he won't support
[5:22:29] the censure. If you do X, Y, and Z. Can
[5:22:32] you please repeat the conditions that he said. Counciling Garcia
[5:22:41] said, I don't want you to do X, Y, and
[5:22:45] Z in the future. Uh, or sorry, I would like
[5:22:48] you to do X, Y, and Z as a condition
[5:22:51] of his not supporting the censure. I would like you
[5:22:55] to repeat what those conditions were. Because the reality is
[5:23:00] I heard how quickly you said, sure thing. And I
[5:23:04] don't think you were actually listening, which is something that
[5:23:06] happens a lot, uh, with you on this dais.
[5:23:16] Nobody here is going to embarrass me because I'm an
[5:23:20] adult and I'm here to, but I will tell you
[5:23:24] if next week, somebody decides to state something else about
[5:23:27] me like the tree. Then now there's something else. We
[5:23:32] have to take case by case. And I think that
[5:23:37] it was not fair. What. My colleague, the mayor just
[5:23:42] stated that I went into the gentleman's property. That is,
[5:23:45] that is not fair to say that Mr. Mayor. I
[5:23:49] mean, are you tired of tarnish my name? I've had
[5:23:52] enough of this. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Through
[5:23:54] the chair, I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor. Can I ask? Can
[5:23:56] I please ask for your understanding? I understand. Just say,
[5:24:00] okay. Then I want this to wrap up. It will.
[5:24:03] But, you know, we got to move on. No, understood
[5:24:05] we have to move on. However, this is one of
[5:24:07] the most serious votes we're ever going to take, right?
[5:24:10] Centering a colleague. No, no, I know. You think it's
[5:24:13] clear. I just want to make sure that he as
[5:24:15] a, not only someone who he says an adult, someone
[5:24:19] who's voted in, a member of this body gets every
[5:24:22] opportunity to defend themselves, even to the last second, right?
[5:24:25] So I know you, you might not agree with what
[5:24:27] he says, but I think we all deserve that. The
[5:24:30] question from the Vice Mayor. What I asked you to
[5:24:33] do so this won't happen again. Are three things or
[5:24:38] a couple of things. Is there a common sense things
[5:24:40] that ask you to do? And what's the first thing
[5:24:42] I ask you to do. In regards to what you
[5:24:46] did. Would be what. Now to do it again. Not
[5:24:49] to do it again. Okay. Now, committed to the state.
[5:24:53] Okay. Another thing is, if you have a question about
[5:24:57] something that you're not sure of, what are you going
[5:24:59] to do? You're going to ask. And if you're not
[5:25:04] sure about how the procedures are. Going to ask, you're
[5:25:06] going to ask. Okay. I mean, to me, that's enough
[5:25:09] to say, Hey, he understands he's an adult. He understands
[5:25:11] that. No. That's great. But I just also want to
[5:25:13] remind everyone, right, that the mayor is the one that
[5:25:16] percents with the meetings. If you want to appeal the
[5:25:18] ruling of the chair, you're welcome to. But when I
[5:25:19] say I'm calling the vote, the vote is going to
[5:25:21] move unless you appeal the ruling of the chair. I
[5:25:24] appreciate where your heart is coming from, but we're moving
[5:25:26] on. Madam Clerk, please call the rule. Council member Sanchez.
[5:25:31] Yes. Council Member Herrsberg. Yes. Councilmember Garcia. No. Councilmember
[5:25:40] Fernandez. Yes. Councilmember Guada Garcia. No. Vice Mayor morera. Yes.
[5:25:49] Mayor Diegas. Yes. The motion to censure passes. Thank you.
[5:25:53] With that, Mr. Hersberg, Councilman Herzberg with four minutes to
[5:25:56] go. Yeah. This will be quick. Uh, I've had discussions
[5:26:00] with town manager. We've shared some contracts back and forth.
[5:26:03] The next step, I do want to have a contract
[5:26:05] presented for everybody for approval in September. Uh, I might
[5:26:08] have a few MBIs tied to that contract as well.
[5:26:11] So we're all on the same page moving forward. I
[5:26:13] do want to set a sunshine meeting. So we can,
[5:26:16] uh, and I've asked the town manager not to attend
[5:26:18] so we can have a very good and fluid discussion.
[5:26:20] And he's okay with that. He's actually asked me what
[5:26:23] my preference is. So I appreciate that. Um, about a
[5:26:27] few of the Remaining items. I really do think we're
[5:26:29] close to a final contract. I guess it would make
[5:26:33] sense to provide you that contract once we go through
[5:26:35] one more draft before that meeting so you guys can
[5:26:38] take a look at it. Uh, the Reamey items term,
[5:26:42] um, not salary. There's some benefit issues we want to
[5:26:44] discuss. Uh, I will say the KPI, I've reviewed over
[5:26:49] 15 to 20 town manager contracts and date and broward.
[5:26:52] The KPI issue is non - existent in anybody's contracts.
[5:26:56] I did do my best to try to tie the
[5:26:58] contract to some of the grievances that I believe we
[5:27:00] have to make sure that we're on the same page.
[5:27:03] So I'm, I'm excited to share it to you. There's
[5:27:05] a few big two or three big items. We need
[5:27:08] to agree on and then provide it to, uh, to
[5:27:11] vote in September. So I'll ask the town clerk to
[5:27:13] make sure to get you guys sunshine meetings that we
[5:27:15] can all make. So then we can get those, um,
[5:27:19] so I can understand where you're at to complete the
[5:27:22] negotiations. Perfect. Thank you very much for that report with
[5:27:25] that. There've been no further business. This council is a
[5:27:28] journey that 1127 PM. Mayor, I know the meeting is
[5:27:34] over. I just want to. Oh, yes, my apologies. Go
[5:27:36] ahead. I just want to say for the record that
[5:27:38] in the last month, we've had three elected officials with
[5:27:43] birthday starting by council member, Hey Garcia, followed by council
[5:27:47] member Fernandez. And today is a birthday of council member
[5:27:51] Hirschberg. We bought a cake for the three of you.
[5:27:54] So let's sing happy birthday. Ah, baby. Now. I can't
[5:28:01] hear you birthday to you. Happy birthday. Dear Mr. Hirtberg.
[5:28:12] Happy birthday to you. All right. Now, now we're adjourned.